OPS School Board meeting

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters Guest wifi is currently down—@oma_documenters, reporters, and Boardmembers alike are having difficulties connecting to the Internet. What the modern era giveth, the modern era taketh away.

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters President Head @spencer_head, in opening the meeting, announced that Board meetings from October to December will take place at @OPS_NorthHigh. https://t.co/TD3Ts1dSLV

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters @Spencer_Head @OPS_NorthHigh Roll call. All present except for Vice President Smith and Holman
@DrShavonna. Head says both provided an excuse to the Board.

Erdenberger moves to excuse Holman, @advocacybri seconds. Carries 7-0.

Casady moves to excuse Smith, Juarez seconds. Carries 7-0.

Attendance Report:
1. Smith 11/12, 92%
2. Full 11/12, 92%
3. Thielen 12/12, 100%
4. Holman @DrShavonna 11/12, 92%
5. Head @Spencer_Head 11/12, 92%
6. Kratky 10/12, 83%
7. Erdenberger 12/12, 100%
8. Juarez 10/12, 83%
9. Casady @trcasadyops 11/12, 92%

All excused.

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops Next, Board communications.

Erdenberger highlights consent agenda items H8, a $6,981,300 construction bid for a Benson High @OPS_BensonHigh addition, and H15, a $1,500,000 bid for call center services. https://t.co/cKb5fe38Y1

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh President Head @Spencer_Head reads from a prepared statement regarding the report about mismanaged retirement funds. He says employee contributions were not affected and communications went out to parents.

News » https://www.ketv.com/amp/article/nebraska-state-auditor-retirement-funds-omaha-public-schools-mismanaged/44301799 https://t.co/t6iPzSky2o

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh Next: Public Comment.

Suzanne Watson is speaking on behalf of @StopTheBleed, asking the Board to allow time to train staff for emergency medical training in events such as mass shootings. https://t.co/55x6yF3eDN

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh @StopTheBleed Jim Vecchio oversees the non-profit Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education @NEWorkforce. He says his group’s T.O.O.L.S. program works with high school students to train them in trades. Asks the Board to continue the funding for their program. https://t.co/aOQAAlZ6j3

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh @StopTheBleed @NEWorkforce Ron Kaminski @Rlkaminski with Omaha Building, Construction, and Trades Council. Says they’re relying on out-of-state labor because not enough students are being trained. Hopes their partnership with OPS continues. Quote: “everything big in Omaha you’ve seen, our members built.” https://t.co/mGW13wT3S5

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh @StopTheBleed @NEWorkforce @Rlkaminski Sheriff Aaron Hansen @DCSheriffNE says schools need more skilled trade exposure.

I am tagging the Douglas County Sheriff account instead of his personal account as he presented his position and is uniform, so for intents and purposes, I believe he spoke in his official capacity. https://t.co/7bunqksMB6

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh @StopTheBleed @NEWorkforce @Rlkaminski @DCSheriffNE Next: Consent Agenda.

Casady @trcasadyops exempts herself from item H18. Passes 7-0 with one exemption on item H18. https://t.co/OfpfX9JCxF

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh @StopTheBleed @NEWorkforce @Rlkaminski @DCSheriffNE The Consent Agenda is the quickest item to pass but contains millions of dollars of funding. Here’s what’s in it: https://t.co/loUD2NuZhV

@DrShavonna @Spencer_Head @trcasadyops @OPS_BensonHigh @StopTheBleed @NEWorkforce @Rlkaminski @DCSheriffNE Thielen presents the Policy Committee update and moves to accept the four changes that are in second reading. Full @advocacybri asks about Thielen to summarize the changes to academic coaching, asking if it’s paid or volunteer. https://t.co/29ORLX1Yfi

Staff says those who do academic coaching are paid, Thielen adds that this policy streamlines the labeling of that position. https://t.co/sNRPMHJUq5

Full @advocacybri asked how many students in pre-K to 2nd grade have been expelled as state law now prevents students in those grades from being expelled.

News » https://www.wowt.com/2023/03/08/nebraska-bill-aims-prohibit-suspension-preschoolers-early-grades/

Thielen said he’s been looking for an answer and will provide it when he finds out. https://t.co/dlj7u8r2CZ

@advocacybri Kratky says as a former teacher, nobody wants to suspend these students, but the skills to train some students to be in a classroom might not be available at OPS. Mentions students with scissors.

Thielen clarifies to Kratky that violent behavior is an exemption in the bill. https://t.co/BK7VBtCYz7

@advocacybri Full @advocacybri asks what guidelines there are to the individual behavioral adjustments required. Anne MacFarland answers that the “systemic plan for implementing” is being fleshed out but the requirement and language in the second reading is required by statute. https://t.co/OybTMhhGFa

@advocacybri Vote to accept the second reading of policies passes 7-0.

@advocacybri The Board revisited the Consent Agenda as Anne MacFarland explains that they did not motion correctly. Thielen motions to accept the Consent Agenda, Erdenberger seconds, Board votes same 7-0.

https://twitter.com/anthonyzarzycki/status/1672023584108052481?s=20

@advocacybri Casady @trcasadyops motions to move into executive session, Juarez seconds. Passes 7-0. That will be all the business tonight!

@advocacybri @trcasadyops While we wait for the OPS Board to come back to adjourn, you can get meeting coverage from other public bodies across Omaha emailed to your inbox with the Omaha Documenters newsletter!

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Meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m. This concludes the Omaha Public Schools (@OmahaPubSchool) Board of Education meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for July 17, 2023. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org.