Omaha Public Schools Board of Education

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters All Board members are in attendance. Superintendent Cheryl Logan @OPS_LoganSupt and interim Superintendent Matthew Ray are also in attendance. I believe this is the Board’s second fully-attended meeting of the year as well as the second consecutive fully-attended meeting.

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters @OPS_LoganSupt Tonight’s #OPSProud spotlight is for the district’s spelling bee champion and runner-up. The final word was ‘foreseeable’.

The runner-up said they missed the first ‘e’, and they’re in good company, as my browser tells me that ‘forseeable’ is not a word. https://t.co/46C0TARALY

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters @OPS_LoganSupt Next: Board and Superintendent Communications.

The Treasurer’s financial statement for February is submitted with no discussion. Superintendent Logan @OPS_LoganSupt offered congratulations to several students and staff as well as information on upcoming testing days.

Next: Board Comments.

Erdenberger @JErdenberger highlights Consent Agenda items 2 and 3, athletic facility improvements which used leftover funds from previous bond referendums, and 5, a construction project which came in under budget, freeing up funds.

https://twitter.com/anthonyzarzycki/status/1642249427061547011?s=20

@JErdenberger Next: Public Comment.

Donnie Johnson says the Board should consider implementing bathrooms for men, women, transgender men, and transgender women. https://t.co/G8q5IkaY5m

@JErdenberger Next: Consent Agenda.

Holman @DrShavonna motions, Thielen seconds.

Casady @trcasadyops and Holman abstain from Item 8 Claim C.

Consent Agenda passes 9-0, with Item 8 Claim C passing 7-0 with 2 abstaining.

Here’s what is in it: https://twitter.com/anthonyzarzycki/status/1642249423861305344?s=20

https://twitter.com/anthonyzarzycki/status/1642249423861305344?s=20

@JErdenberger @DrShavonna @trcasadyops Next: Information Items.

First, the Board is presented an update on the College & Career Academies and Pathways program at Buena Vista High @OPS_BuenaVista. https://t.co/DNWdZXpQpU

@JErdenberger @DrShavonna @trcasadyops @OPS_BuenaVista Holman @DrShavonna asks about who was allowed to be in the Leadership Camp at Buena Vista High @OPS_BuenaVista.

Response: freshmen were allowed to apply to the Sophomore Leadership Camp. Over 100 attended and this will be offered every Summer going forward. https://t.co/2nEJswJH10

@JErdenberger @DrShavonna @trcasadyops @OPS_BuenaVista Next Information Item is a presentation on recommendations for new High School Science textbooks. https://t.co/u1gX4m95SQ

@JErdenberger @DrShavonna @trcasadyops @OPS_BuenaVista This adoption process including reviewing books with teachers, community, OPS Science Advisory Committee, English Learner Parent Involvement Program, Diversity Team Review, and field tests.

Those interested in advisory committees can go here: https://www.ops.org/Page/546

Erdenberger @JErdenberger asks about a previous idea of students using all digital textbooks.

Response: That applies to the Middle Schools, grades 6 through 8. https://t.co/y4phuOeSfv

Erdenberger @JErdenberger asks why some textbooks seem old copyright-wise, citing a 2016 and 2018 textbook recommendation.

Response: All textbooks are updates from the already existing textbooks, but some, like forensics science, didn’t need the most up-to-date info. https://t.co/BiaqfCVeep

Full @advocacybri asks how this affects teachers’ lessons plans.

Response: Teachers were worked with to develop a 3D-approach to curriculum so that they should know what and how to teach the material they need to. They want the teachers to be able to use any textbook, ideally. https://t.co/tWl07nwDgY

That’s the conclusion of the Information Item on High School Science textbook recommendations, but they are not yet approved. That will come at a future Board meeting.

Next: OSERS Ad-Hoc Committee Update.

Erdenberger @JErdenberger provided an updated on OSERS, the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System. There was an issue with Federal tax IDs and district IDs being mixed up but it is now fixed and doesn’t seem to have affected any benefits.

Next: Student Assignment Plan Committee update.

Casady @trcasadyops says families will be updated on student transportation eligibility changes via email and mail this week.

More context: https://www.wowt.com/2022/12/12/omaha-public-schools-review-changes-student-bus-ride-policy/

https://www.wowt.com/2022/12/12/omaha-public-schools-review-changes-student-bus-ride-policy/

Casady @trcasadyops says of those who listed a High School selection that was not in their neighborhood district, 77% received their first preference. Including those who did not submit a selection form, 90% of students received their first preference/neighborhood school. https://t.co/B5Mlm4N6EM

Next: Approval of first reading of policy changes.

These were presented at the last meeting. They are accepted with a vote of 9-0. https://t.co/qaziMW8JNL

Next: Approval of legislative positions.

Full @advocacybri says the committee originally supported “The First Freedom Act” #LB277 but now only supports some of the bill and will oppose the rest.

More context: https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/judge-allows-lakota-hair-cutting-case-to-move-forward/

https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/judge-allows-lakota-hair-cutting-case-to-move-forward/

The Board opposes Sections 1 through 5 but supports Sections 6 through 8. https://t.co/PGKWfyCzrD

Full @advocacybri and staff member say #LB277 would get rid of restrictions based on compelling government interest (ie. religious exemption to masks) and supercedes local non-discrimination measures, which are stronger in OPS (ie. teacher saying they won’t teach trans students).

@advocacybri Also, Full @advocacybri says she is proud of the students who walked out on Friday to voice their concerns over anti-trans bills such as #LB574.

Board accepts the new position 9-0. There is no executive session. https://t.co/TUPJjhUPeg

Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. This concludes the Omaha Public Schools (@OmahaPubSchool) Board of Education meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2023. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org. #OmahaEd