September 22, 2025 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 the Omaha Public Schools students who qualified as semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Daniel Cox, Central High 
Joshua Shapiro, Central High 
Adelan Gholami, Central High 
Austin McGrath, Westview High

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: 

Rationale:  FUND: 42 2018 Bond Program Proceeds Fund
PROGRAM: 2620 Maintenance School/District Buildings
DEPT: 7166500 Maintenance
VENDOR: Cerris Systems North Central, Inc.
POLICIES: 7000, IV., C. 
AMOUNT:$77,014.00

Administration recommends the award of Bid No. 25-007 to Cerris Systems North Central, Inc. for the Bryan High School Boiler Retubing Project. This project will include all labor, materials, equipment, utility modifications, structural modifications, and related work necessary to install two hundred and twenty-two (222) new steam boiler tubes within a Kewanee L3S400 boiler. The existing tubes within the unit have corroded past their useful life and can no longer efficiently or safely conduct heat to the building-wide steam system.  Replacement of these tubes is expected to extend the life of the boiler an additional twenty (20) years.

The District received two bids, one from Cerris Systems North Central, Inc. and one from American Boiler Company. Cerris Systems North Central, Inc. was the lowest compliant bidder.  The total price of the bid is $77,014.00. This project is expected to be completed by January 2026.
 

Vendor	Lump Sum Base Bid
Cerris Systems North Central, Inc	$77,014.00
American Boiler Company	$132,800.00

For complete Bid documentation contact brian.mccoy@ops.org.
 

Rationale:  FUND: 01 General Fund      
PROGRAM: 2261 Audio-Visual Services
DEPT.ID: 7166500 Maintenance    
SUPPLIER: NEW Electronic Sound Inc.
POLICY:7000, III.,D, 7000, III., K
AMOUNT: $337,680.00

Administration recommends award of Bid No. 26-001 for the purchase and installation of overhead intercom control devices, master clocks, and related cabling and installation accessories to Electronic Sound Inc. The devices will be installed in the following facilities: Wilson Focus, Ashland Park Robbins, Belvedere, Blackburn, Central Park, Dundee, Fontenelle, Kellom Educare, Indian Hills, Jackson, Jefferson, Joslyn, Kennedy, Liberty, Minne Lusa, Mount View, Pawnee, Ponca, Prairie Wind, Rose Hill, Saddlebrook, Saratoga, Sherman, Standing Bear, Walnut Hill, Washington.  The replacement of the outdated  paging systems will enable the District to better integrate with our updated security systems. While Electronic Sound Inc. was the only bidder, the total amount of the bid, $337,680.00, is within the projected  budget for this project.
 

OPS Classification Code	Product Item	Electronic Sound Inc.
	Overhead Intercom Control Devices	*$337,680.00
Total		*337,680.00

* = Awarded a low-priced item meeting specifications from a compliant bidder.
NC = non-compliant does not meet the specifications within the bid document

For complete bid documentation, contact lenora.nelson@ops.org.
 

Rationale:  FUND: 1 General Fund
PROGRAM: 2261 Audio-Visual Services
DEPT.ID: 7166500 Maintenance    
SUPPLIER: NEW OES System Solutions
POLICY: 7000, III, D. 7000, III, K
AMOUNT: $247,575.90

Administration recommends approval to award Bid No. 26-007 to OES System Solutions for the purchase and installation of Barix Devices for each location, which allows a single action (pressing an already installed emergency button) to lock all doors and announce a lockdown in an emergency situation to OES System Solutions.  The devices will be installed at each of the District’s educational facilities and will be integrated with existing audio and security systems.  While OES System Solutions was the only bidder, the total amount of the bid, $247,575.90, is within the projected budget for this project.
 

OPS Classification Code	Product Item	OES System Solutions
M44	Barix Devices	*$247,575.90
Total		*247,575.90

* = Awarded low-priced item meeting specifications from a compliant bidder.
NC = non-compliant does not meet the specifications within the bid document

For complete bid documentation contact lenora.nelson@ops.org.
 

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:  Funds: 1, 153   General Fund, Special Education - IDEA
Department: 7194010   Special Education Administration
Programs: 1214, 1215, 1222, 1231, 1234, 1235,1236, 1265, 1266, 1270 - Speech Therapy School Age, Speech Therapy Ages 3-5, Nursing Services, Nonpublic Therapists, Nonpublic Teachers, Tuition to Agencies
Project: 461025, 461026, 460025, 460026 - IDEA Base/EP Grant
Policy: 7000 
Amount:  $392,474.00

Administration recommends approval of the attached annual Special Education Services contracts.  Every year, the Special Education Division, within Curriculum and Instruction Support, negotiates and renews contracts with outside agencies for special education services that are required under Rule 51 and Rule 52.  This is the sixth set of agency contracts going to the Board of Education for approval for the 2025-2026 school year and is part of the District's annual practice.  In keeping with the provisions in Policy 7000, contracts that may exceed $50,000 are being placed on the agenda for Board of Education approval. Attached you will find: a service provider rate sheet, contracts and a contract cost sheet for your review for contracts that exceed or may exceed $50,000. The contract rate sheet includes NDE approved rates for services that need to be purchased by Omaha Public Schools from outside agencies that will provide special education services to students ages birth-21. The contract cost sheet includes the agency, address, type of service the agency provides, the estimated number of students that receive services from that agency and 2025-2026 contract rate. The sheet includes an estimate of the total cost for special education services provided by contract agencies. The rates and contracts are budgeted for within the 2025-2026 school year. Per their agreement with Omaha Public Schools, all providers must receive NDE approval to provide special education and related services. The total cost to the District for this group is estimated to be $392,474.00 and is an allowable reimbursable special education expenditure. Included in these contracts is a one-year extension of the District’s contract with Pairaphrase, LLC, originally approved by the Board of Education on May 20, 2024, for document translation services.  Also included in these contracts is a one-year extension of the District’s contract with Curriculum Associates, originally approved by the Board of Education on August 5, 2024, for online diagnostic and progress monitoring tools.

Rationale:  Fund: 176 and 5195, Misc. Federal Grants and ESU19 Educational Services
Dept: 7043300 and 7045000, Staff Development Dept. and ESU19 Literacy
Program: 2251, Staff Development
Grant 466425, Title IIA-FY25 and Comprehensive Literacy State Development
Supplier: Bailey Education Group
Policy: 7000, III.K., V.D., VII.A.
Amount: $1,425,000.00
 
Administration recommends approval of the attached contract with Bailey Education Group for teacher instructional coaching and support in consultation with Curriculum and Instruction Support.  This contract is for the 2025-2026 school year and provides consulting services, including, but not limited to: 570 instructional coaching sessions supporting English Language Arts and math teachers; 3 high schools (Buena Vista, Burke, North); 13 middle schools; and 3 programs (Blackburn, ILP, SSP). The total amount of this contract is $1,425,000.00 and is grant funded.

Rationale:  FUND: 42 - 2018 Bond Program Proceeds Fund 
PROGRAM:2510 Maintenance School/District Buildings 
DEPT. ID: 7166600 Schoolhouse Planning 
SUPPLIER: Boiler Chiller Systems LLC
POLICIES: 7000, III.K, 7000, VII.A, 7000, VII.D 
AMOUNT:  $636,700.00
 
Administration recommends approval of the contract with Boiler Chiller Systems LLC for the OPS North and Northwest Cooling Tower Replacement Project from Bid No. 26-004, which was awarded to Boiler Chiller Systems LLC at the September 8, 2025, Board Meeting. The project includes the labor, equipment, electrical, piping, and structural modifications required to remove and replace one cooling tower at North High School and one cooling tower at Northwest High School.  Both towers have reached the end of their useful service life and are no longer serviceable. The replacement tower will improve the indoor air quality and lower the energy cost for the building while providing a better instructional environment for students. The total price of the contract is $636,700.00. These projects are expected to be complete by January 2026.

Rationale:  FUND: 1 General Fund
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services
DEPT: 7105700 School Safety
SUPPLIER: Prime Secured
POLICIES:  7000, IV. C
AMOUNT: $443,510.39

Administration recommends renewal of the attached Master Services Agreement (MSA) with Prime Secured, formerly Prime Communications, for Genetec Advantage Security Network for a period of three (3) years through August 2028.  In 2020, the District undertook major security improvements and subsequently selected Prime Secured to provide its Genetec software and support for the District’s security system.  The initial two-year agreement was renewed by the Board in 2022 for a period of three years expiring August 31, 2025.  The parties have agreed upon the terms and conditions set forth in the attached MSA in order to avoid an interruption in service.  The District and Prime Communications are negotiating possible changes to several software agreements which will be presented to the Board of Education at a future meeting for approval.  The total contract price for 3 years of service is $443,510.39.
 

Description	Price	Qty	Extended Price
Genetec Advantage Renewal for 1 Intrusion Alarm panel 3-Year	$152.94	7	$1,070.58
Genetec Advantage Renewal for 1 AutoVu fixed camera connector 3-Year	$183.53	2	$367.06
3-Year renewal of Advantage for K-12 Education Offer-camera connection	$86.03	4373	$376,209.19
3-Year renewable Advantage for K-12 Education Offer-reader connection	$33.46	1959	$65,548.14
3-Year renewal of Advantage for K-12 Education Offer-Sipelia connection	$52.57	6	$315.42
Total:			$443,510.39

Rationale:  Fund:  5193 - EAU19 ERP System Fund
Program: 2510 - Business Support Services
Dept ID: 7062100 - Accounting & Finance Office
Supplier: Kevin Long
Policy: 7000,III.K., 7000,V.D.
Amount:  $234,000.00

Administration recommends approving the attached consulting services agreement extension with Kevin Long to provide Project Coordinator services between the District and AXIA Consulting for the Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) System Replacement Project.  The attached agreement provides services from October 2025 through September 2026 and will not exceed 1,800 hours at $130 per hour.  The total cost of the agreement will not exceed $234,000.00.

Rationale:  FUND: 176, Misc. Federal Grants
PROGRAM:   1170, English Language Learners
DEPT: 7198170, English As a  Second Language
GRANT:  464925, Title III LEP FY25
VENDOR: Pacific Learning
POLICIES: 6121, 7000, V.A.
Amount:  $126,638.40

Administration recommends El camino al éxito (The Road to Success) and El próximo paso (The Next Step) as a Spanish foundational skills resource for Tier 2 instruction in grades K-2 at our Dual Language elementary schools: Castelar, Crestridge, Gomez, Jackson, Liberty, and Spring Lake. During the spring and summer of 2025, a review was conducted to find a resource for Dual Language that is allowable under Title III EL funds. The resource was thoroughly reviewed by representatives from the EL Office, Dual Language elementary principals, the Early Literacy Coordinator, Dual Leads, and K-2 Dual Language Spanish-side classroom teachers. Based on the review, stakeholders agree El camino al éxito and its follow-up kit, El próximo paso, are a strong fit for small group instruction, making it ideal for targeted intervention. This item is being presented to the Board for approval in keeping with the provisions of Policy 6121, which requires approval by the Board of curricular materials. In keeping with the bid exceptions contained within Policy 7000, V.A. (Academic Prerogative), no bid was required for this purchase. The total cost of this purchase is $126,638.40.

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: 

Rationale:  FUND: 154, Title I A 
PROGRAM: Various
DEPT:  7192010 - Elementary Education
SUPPLIER: The Nebraska Department of Education 
POLICY: 3570
AMOUNT: $36,000.00

The Title I Homeless Tutoring Grant provides supplemental funding to support the Tutoring Program at the Open Door Mission to help students meet state academic standards.  The Board has approved contracts with the Open Door Mission for the past five years.  The collective total of these contracts is greater than $50,000 so this contract is being presented to the Board.

Rationale:  It is recommended that the grant fund budget be amended to include the receipts and expenditures of the attached grant awards.

Rationale:  The purpose of this presentation is to review data from the 2024-2025 Behavior and Discipline Report to provide an overview of the disaggregated suspension and expulsion data for the 2024-2025 school year (included on the agenda as a Receipt of Report). The presentation includes a discussion of Multi-tiered Systems of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B) and next steps for the behavior support and response process.

Rationale:  The Chair of the Accountability Committee will provide an update.

Policy 8120 stipulates the Board of Education shall cause policies and regulations to be revised as necessary.  The Policy Committee will provide recommended changes to the following policies:

7000 - Purchasing and Contracting
7003 - Construction Manager at Risk

Rationale:  In keeping with the provisions of Nebraska Revised Statute 79-3405, Administration recommends that the Board of Education approve the attached resolution increasing the base growth percentage used to determine the District’s property tax request authority under Nebraska Revised Statute 79-3403 by an additional four percent. The revenue generated from the additional four percent will be utilized in its entirety for salary and benefits for our current and future employees as the District continues its efforts to remain competitive in the Omaha market. Administration notes that, notwithstanding the increase in the base growth percentage, the District will be able to decrease its tax levy.

Rationale:  The Board will consider the attached resolution to set the 2025-2026 Douglas County School District 0001 property tax requests as follows:

General Fund - $336,476,010
Bond Fund - $57,933,154
Special Building Fund - $10,863,281
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund - $3,955,320

The public hearing to hear support, opposition, criticism, suggestions or observations of taxpayers related to the property tax requirements for Douglas County School District 0001 (Omaha Public Schools) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year was held at 6:05 PM on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

Rationale:  The Board will consider the attached resolution to set the 2025-2026 ESU No. 19 property tax request at $5,431,641.

Rationale:  The Board will consider the attached resolution to approve the 2025-2026 General Fund local operating fund budget in the amount of $850,000,000, supported by tax requirements of $336,476,010 plus reimbursable programs in the amount of $100,465,000 for a total General Fund Budget of $950,465,000.

Rationale:  The Board will consider the attached resolution to approve the 2025-2026 Douglas County School District 0001 budgets, which require a tax levy, excluding the General Fund as follows:

Bond Fund - $180,300,000
Special Building Fund - $29,100,000
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund - $5,500,000

Rationale:  The Board will consider the attached resolution to approve the 2025-2026 non-levy budgets for Douglas County School District 0001 which includes the following:

School Lunch - $51,861,944
School Activities - $10,500,000
Central Stores - $4,000,000
Depreciation - $65,000,000
Employee Benefit - $14,800,000
Student Fees - $1,000,000
Contingency - $19,100,000
Cooperative - $5,500,000

Rationale:  The Board will consider the attached resolution to approve the 2025-2026 ESU No. 19 budget of $30,800,000.

Rationale:  The attached 2024-2025 Behavior and Discipline Report provides an overview of the disaggregated suspension and expulsion data for the 2024-2025 school year.

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.