We are moving forward together as one district community. Omaha Public Schools’ Strategic Plan of Action focuses our work on staff, academics, financial accountability and our ethic of care. Our district values guide how we reach the destination.

From early childhood through senior year, we are one team working toward the Portrait of an Omaha Public Schools Graduate. Our students are prepared to succeed and lead.

Enjoy a wonderful school year ahead.

Cordially yours,

Cheryl Logan, Ed.D.

Superintendent

It was a back-to-school celebration so big that only Omaha Public Schools could have hosted it.

Saturday, thousands of people packed the parking lot at Baxter Arena to kick off the 2022-23 school year. After two years on hold due to the pandemic, the event was bigger than ever.

“I wasn’t expecting this large of a crowd,” said parent Cheryl Madsen. “I like it. We need to get back to community; we need to get back to being a village and really caring about all children and our future.”

All 65 elementary schools had a welcome table to visit with families. DJ Houston Alexander, school mascots, cheerleading squads and dance teams kept the energy up all day. “It’s crazy. We know Omaha Public Schools is a huge district, but you see something like this, how many people are here? It boosts your energy. School means something to people,” said South High student Hannah Kubiak.

Board of Education members adopted this plan in February 2020. Their approval followed months of future-focused work. Students, staff, families, community members and national experts all played a role. Two “futures labs” explored needs and opportunities years down the line.

Our Strategic Plan of Action focuses on four priorities. They are:

Weeks after approving our plan, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated some goals. One example is our 1:1 technology adoption in just five months. In late 2021, our Board of Education updated several goals based on the opportunities and challenges of our new environment.

The work to come includes a deeper focus on early literacy, environmental stewardship and growing participation in advanced courses. Look for continued updates in Inside OPS, Sup for the Soul, on our district website and more.

Families filled gymnasiums and made their way through classrooms this summer as Omaha Public Schools opened four new schools.

While each new building benefits our school communities, more work is underway to improve the quality of education for our students. Our district's $409.9 million 2018 Bond Program includes 25 projects. As of this month, all but five are complete and remain within budget and on schedule.

"The bond program helped our district work toward alleviating capacity issues in high-growth areas of the city," said Brad Boganowski, Omaha Public Schools bond administrator. "It also allowed us to address high priority items outlined in our existing facilities plan."

Aside from new schools, projects include significant capital improvements and renovations at existing schools and programs.

At North High, for example, work continues to address mechanical, electrical and plumbing needs. South High's projects include a new chiller in the mechanical room, chimney stack repairs, flooring improvements and more.

At Central High, the domed skylight received new panels and brightened the indoor courtyard. Upgrades to the building's HVAC system also took place along with several other capital improvements. Crews replaced Blackburn's skylight this summer too, and paving is underway to upgrade the building's parking lot.

“Once we started peeling back the layers of the onion, we identified areas of need tied to the health and safety of each building,” Boganowski explained.

The 2018 Bond Program also allowed for classroom additions at some schools and other renovations that will directly benefit students for many years to come.

Omaha Public Schools updates each project, including the cost, scope of work and timeline, regularly at www.ops.org/bond.

Omaha Public Schools hosted a guest presenter from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence this summer. Staff participated in the RULER Summit. The RULER method helps school communities understand the value of emotions, build emotional intelligence and support a positive school climate. The Summit supported our Strategic Plan of Action goal of reducing behavioral incidents in schools.

More information about the RULER Summit is available in the video below or on our website under District News.

Get ready for back to school with these August STEM programs. Search our comprehensive catalog for current and upcoming offerings for students, educators, and professionals. Here are some of our top picks for August.

To register for these opportunities or to find more STEM programs, visit the STEM Community Platform Portal.

... to Jannette Castro-Gomez of South High for receiving the John Parr Youth Award for extraordinary civic engagement and leadership.

… to Joseph Bristol of Wakonda Elementary for being recognized by the Nebraska Art Teachers Association as the 2022 Art Educator of the Year.

… to those who participated in opening celebrations for Omaha Public Schools’ new elementary schools, Forest Station and Pine.

… to our elementary students for logging more than 1.5 million minutes of reading in our Summer Reading Challenge.

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