February 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board Meeting

Rationale: 

Notice to visitors: If you wish to speak, please obtain a “Request to be Heard” form from the entry table and return the completed form to the table attendant or the Board of Education Director.

The agenda will be kept current and available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary of the Board of Education at the Administrative Building during regular working hours. 

Board members may request specific agenda item(s) be moved to a different place on the agenda.  Please attend the entire meeting to ensure you hear discussion on a particular agenda item.

Pursuant to Section 84-1412 of the Nebraska Statutes, the public is hereby informed that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the Board meeting room on the north wall.

Agenda items are subject to reordering at discretion of the board president, please attend the entire meeting to ensure you're able to hear any discussion. If you would like to rehear any discussion, please listen to our podcast located on the District Web Page, district.ops.org.

Rationale:  The Vision:  Every Student.  Every Day.  Prepared for Success.

The Mission:  To prepare all students for success in college, career, and life.

Rationale:  The #OPSProud Spotlight recognizes Carter Hiley, Central High swimmer, for his record-breaking times in the 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. 

Rationale:  At this time, any Board member may request that any item in the consent agenda be removed from the consent agenda and be considered and voted on separately. 

Rationale:  FUND: 1 General Fund
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services
DEPT: 7062510 Information Management Service
SUPPLIER: 24091 CDW Government Solutions, LLC
POLICY: 7000 III., K., 7000, VII., A
AMOUNT: $274,814.15

Administration recommends approval to award CDW Government Solutions, LLC. for Bid No. 26-010 to purchase network switches, wireless access points, and switch modules to update the existing District network infrastructure. The equipment is fully compatible with the District’s current environment, including existing wireless controllers, identity services engine, and access points.

The network upgrades support continued operations at the following schools: Benson High, Benson West Elementary, Burke High, Catlin Elementary, Edison Elementary, Harrison Elementary, Kennedy Elementary, North High, Norris Middle, Skinner Elementary, and Sunny Slope Elementary.

The District also received bid responses from CSI, LLC. and Questivity Inc., but CDW Government Solutions, LLC., provided the most reasonable offer.

The bid complied fully with E-rate competitive bidding requirements for Funding Year 2026. The network components qualify for Priority 2 E-rate funding, a federal program that provides discounts on telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections for eligible schools. The District receives an 85% discount on eligible purchases.

The total award amount to CDW Government Solutions, LLC. is $1,832,094.10, with an estimated net District cost of $274,814.15 after the projected E-rate discount of 85%. 

Administration recommends approval of this award and associated purchases as the most cost-effective and compatible solution for the District’s network infrastructure needs.
 

Network Switches and Wireless Access Points	Qty	*CDW LLC	CSI LLC	Questivity Inc
	Qty	Unit $ (ea)	Unit $ (ea)	Unit $ (ea)
Switch: Catalyst 9300X 24-port 25G/10G/1G, Advantage Lic 5yr, 2x 715W AC Power Supply, 2 x power cord (NEMA 5-15), 8 x 10G/25G Network Module, or equivalent	2	$13,799.29	$15,634.60	$18,131.31
Switch: Catalyst 9300 48-port PoE+, Advantage Lic 5yr, 2 x 715W AC Power Supply, 2 x power cord (NEMA 5-15), 8 x 10GE Network Module, or equivalent.	118	*$8,619.78	$9,793.53	$11,290.11
Switch: Catalyst 9300 24-port mGig and UPOE, Advantage Lic 5yr, 2 x AC Power Supply, 2 x power cord (NEMA 5-15), 8 x 10GE Network Module, or equivalent.	27	*$8,930.16	$11,342.16	$11,689.86
Access Point: Cisco Wireless 9176I (W7,3 radio, 3 band 4x4, UWB), Global, or equivalent. No license needed.	214	*$907.46	$1,028.15	$1,044.81
Switch Module: Cisco 10GE LRM Fiber SFP Transceivers, or equivalent.	696	*$505.82	$558.21	$510.48

*Apparent low offeror meeting specifications

For complete bid documentation, contact bryan.dunne@ops.org.

Rationale:  FUND: Various (Charged back to respective schools)
PROGRAM: Various (Determined by School)
DEPARTMENT: Various (Charged back to respective schools)
SUPPLIER: Segra (Formerly Unite Private Networks) 
POLICY: 7000 III., K., 7000, VII., A
AMOUNT: $28,420.00 per month before E-Rate Discount

Staff recommends approval of Proposal No. P006-26 and Contract to Segra for Wide Area Network (WAN) fiber optic services for all District schools and facilities for a 5-year initial term with two optional 1-year renewals.

The District received one responsive bid for this solicitation which was from Segra, the District’s incumbent WAN service provider. While the District sought competitive responses, the specialized nature of District-wide fiber infrastructure and the extensive existing network footprint limited the number of viable providers.

The agreement will provide a dedicated, high-speed fiber optic WAN that significantly enhances data transmission capacity and reliability needed to support instruction, statewide and standardized testing, cloud-based enterprise systems, safety and security platforms, and day-to-day District operations. The network design supports current instructional and operational demands while allowing for future growth without increasing monthly service costs.

Under this agreement, the District will lease lit, dedicated fiber connections to approximately 203 District locations, with each site receiving a minimum of 10 Gbps bandwidth. The solution also includes highly resilient, redundant connections between the District’s primary data centers. The District will continue to manage and control the WAN, ensuring a secure environment and preserving flexibility to adjust services as operational and instructional needs evolve.

The 5-year contract will begin July 1, 2026, and continue through June 30, 2031, with two (optional) 1-year extensions, through to 2033. All services under this agreement remain fully E-Rate Category 1 eligible, and the District will continue to receive 90% ($306,936.00) federal reimbursement per year, with the District responsible for only 10% ($34,104.00) of the gross monthly cost per year.

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report A is a listing of all District expenditures and are organized and presented to the Board by which fund the expenditure is being made from (e.g. General Fund, Bond Fund, etc.).

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of funds for which the District serves as custodian.  Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report B is a listing of expenditures from the various Student Activity Funds for which the Board serves as custodian.

Rationale:  Board Members are prohibited by Nebraska law from voting on items which may personally benefit them.  Expenditures which may personally benefit individual Board Members are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a separate Claims Report in order to permit those Board Members to abstain from voting on items which may personally benefit them.  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Claims Report C is a listing of expenditures that may relate to individual Board Members or Organizations that employ them.

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Payroll expenditures are presented to the Board for ratification in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report D is a summary of payrolls processed and is presented by payroll and pay date.

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Payroll expenditures are presented to the Board for ratification in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report E is an estimation of payrolls to be processed prior to the next Board meeting and is presented by payroll and pay date.  Board authorization is requested for amounts not to exceed the totals in the Claims Report.

Rationale:  The Board of Education serves as the Board of Educational Service Unit 19.  The Board of Educational Service Unit 19 is required to approve all expenditures of District funds as well as funds for which the District serves as custodian.  Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report.  Educational Service Unit No. 19 Claims Report is a listing of all expenditures to be paid from the Education Service Unit's funds.

Rationale:  State Statue 79-584 requires the Secretary to the Board of Education to audit all accounts of the Class V school district and to submit that audit to the Board of Education Audit Committee for review and approval.   The objective of the audit is to obtain and review sufficient claim documentation to determine the risk of material misstatement.   The audit methodology is set forth on the Claims Audit Report.

Rationale:  Administration recommends the approval of the attached contract with The Reserves Network to provide temporary staff for essential positions and to provide temporary staffing during the upcoming District ERP project. The District prefers to hire staff directly for these roles. However, when no viable candidates are available, contracted staffing agencies may be consulted for unique specialized staffing needs or for limited temporary projects. The Reserves Network would support by identifying candidates for temporary classified staffing in clerical and technical areas, as well as by providing temporary support for functions when needed. The cost would depend on the actual position requirements and the length of time the temporary worker is needed. Funding would be based on position and department. This contract will expire on July 31, 2027.

Rationale:  Administration recommends approval of an agreement renewal with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) for February 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, to facilitate the High School Alliance program, pursuant to Policy 6121. The agreement facilitates cooperation between UNMC and Omaha Public Schools in the provision of instruction of courses on UNMC’s campus for Omaha Public School high school credit through the program. Omaha Public Schools provides staffing of up to three staff members for the UNMC High School Alliance program and in return, Omaha Public Schools is provided up to ($30,000) thirty thousand dollars per each school year. There is no cost to the District. The UNMC High School Alliance program is a component of the Omaha Public Schools Career Center.   

Rationale:   Policy 4001 and 4035 require that the election of employees shall be by action of the Board of Education upon recommendation of the Superintendent or designee.  Additionally, Policy 4008 requires that the Chief Human Resources Officer process all retirements, resignations, cancellations, contract amendments and terminations of employment making a recommendation for appropriate action to the Superintendent and Board of Education.  Therefore, the District recommends the approval of the attached Staffing Adjustments.

Rationale:  FUND: 4070 Depreciation Reserve Fund
DEPT: 7062560 Districtwide Technology
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services
SUPPLIER: Riverside Technologies Inc.
POLICIES: 7000, III. K.,7000, V. G.
AMOUNT: $283,587.00

Administration recommends approval of the purchase of 178 HP Probook 4 laptops for use by staff at TAC as replacements for previously purchased devices that are aging out at a cost of $227,662.00. Administration also recommends the purchase of 25 HP Elitebook laptops for use by select service center staff for $55,925.00. Both purchases utilize the NASPO statewide contract: NASPO Master Agreement #23011, State Contract #15919OC. The total cost will be $283,587.00. This purchase is part of the IMS Technology Purchase Plan and ensures that all staff have a device that is no older than 4 years.  This purchase also ensures that all staff have a device that is able to be updated to Windows 11.
 

Rationale:  FUND: 4070 Depreciation Reserve Fund
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services
DEPT: 7062560 District-wide Technology
SUPPLIER: Apple Inc.
POLICIES: 7000, III. K.,7000, V. G.
AMOUNT: $11,284,376.00

Administration recommends approval of the purchase of 8,140 iPads and required accessories for elementary students, 8,000 iPads and required accessories for secondary students, and 3,540 iPads and required accessories for classroom devices to renew and replace for student use in the 2026-2027 school year. This purchase will allow for new devices for incoming kindergarten students and for renewed devices for students in 3rd, 6th, and 9th grades, as well as for special education students entering a post-senior year in an Omaha Public Schools program. These devices will ensure that all students have a device and necessary accessories that are less than 4 years old, can stay updated and secure, and are developmentally appropriate for the curriculum they will use in their classrooms.

Administration also recommends approval of the purchase of 870 iPads and required accessories for deployment to 1st- and 4th-grade teachers, as well as to new teachers in the 2026-2027 school year. The purchase for 1st- and 4th-grade teachers was requested by CIS administration to maintain teacher-student continuity during iPad modeling.

The total purchase of $11,284,376.00 will be financed with Apple at 0% interest, with four annual payments of $2,821,094.00.

In keeping with the provision of policy 7000, V. G. (Sole Source), no bid was required for these purchases, as Apple is the sole source provider.

Rationale:  FUND:1 General Fund
PROGRAM: 2520 (70%) Transportation—Other
            2750 (1%) Student Transportation--Regular
            2760 (23%) Transportation—SPED School Age
            3102 (6%) Early Childhood SPED Transportation
DEPT: 7162800 Transportation
SUPPLIER: Carahsoft Technology Corp
POLICIES: 7000.V.B.: Contract Purchases
AMOUNT: $194,107.75

Administration recommends approval to purchase Samsara Vehicle Gateways, Engine Immobilizers and Connected Form Solutions which, combined, is a comprehensive fleet management program provided by Carahsoft Technology Corp. The Samsara Fleet Management program will be placed on a total of two hundred and fifty (250) District vehicles.  This includes all seventy-five (75) activity buses assigned to middle and high schools and all one hundred seventy-five (175) Operations and Maintenance Fleet units. The program will assist the District in meeting Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) requirements for tracking activity bus usage and annual odometer readings. The program will also support the dispatch of and provide oversight of vehicle condition for the District's Operations and Maintenance Fleet.

This program will require a pre-trip inspection to be conducted before the vehicle's engine starts.  It will also track activity bus odometers and require confirmation that there are students on board for transportation to meet NDE reporting requirements. 

This program has a tentative installation timeline of March/April 2026. Administration recommends purchasing this product from Carahsoft Technology Corp through Sourcewell, which is an exception to bidding under Board policy 7000 V.B. (Cooperative Purchases).  The contract number is 102924.  The total cost of this purchase for the first year includes the hardware for immobilization and tracking, installation, and a one (1) year license is $194,107.75.

Rationale:  Administration will provide an update on College & Career Academies and Pathways in the Omaha Public Schools.

Rationale:  Administration will present an update to the Board on preliminary budget planning for the 2026-27 school year and an updated long-range forecast.  

Rationale:  The Nebraska legislature created the School Finance Review Commission during the last legislative session. The commission, which includes a representative from the District, met for its initial meeting on Tuesday, August 12.  Dr. Holman, who was appointed by the Governor to represent the District, will give an update to the Board regarding the commission meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Rationale:  Administration is requesting the May Improvement Days for 2025-26 and 2026-27 be approved to be modified to full instructional days. The specific dates are May 5, 2026, and May 4, 2027. 

There will be three (3) AP tests on May 5, 2026:

AP Chemistry            (87) students
AP Government & Politics  (222) students
AP Human Geography      (602) students

Across these three classes, approximately 911 students will be testing that day.

Rationale:  The Legislative Committee, in keeping with the provisions of Policy 8150, recommends approval of its findings and recommendations as set forth in the attached summary of bills introduced before the Nebraska Legislature.  The summary has been prepared with the assistance of Kissel Kohout ES Associates and generally includes legislation which may affect the District.  The Committee continuously monitors legislative activity and may, from time to time, recommend that the Board take or update a position on a particular bill, resolution or amendment.  Committee recommendations typically include one of the following: Support, Oppose, or Monitor with Research.  In the absence of one of those recommendations, the Committee is recommending that the District take no position.  Given the fluid nature of the legislature, the Committee may need to present new bills, resolutions or amendments, including some that may not have appeared on the bill summary, to the Board for consideration.  In addition to the bill summary, the Committee, on occasion, recommends Board approval of position statements to guide the Board President and/or Superintendent when dealing with legislative debate on issues particular concern to the District that arise between Board Meetings.  The Committee is recommending that the Board adopt the following new positions with this report:
 

Rationale:  The purpose of this report is to present information pertaining to class size and pupil-teacher ratios in regular classes in the Omaha Public Schools (OPS). Measurements of class size and pupil-teacher ratio offer valuable insights into the efficiency of staff assignments and their alignment with the student population they serve.

Rationale:  The Omaha Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.