A review of Omaha Public Schools Board of Education meetings.

Sept. 6 2024


Following each Board of Education meeting, District Communications recaps the board meeting in the Board Digest.

 Board of Education Budget Hearing

Presentation of the 2024-25 Proposed Budget for Douglas County School District 0001 and the 2024-25 Property Tax Requirements and Proposed Budget for Educational Service Unit No. 19

Chief Financial Officer Shane Rhian presented the 2024-25 proposed general fund budget and ESU19 budget to the Board of EducationThe proposed budget focuses resources on key initiatives in the Strategic Plan of Action, investing in the future of our students and staff salaries and benefits.


Revenue and expenses for the general fund are both budgeted at $812 million for the 2024-25 school year. That is an increase of 11.69% from last year. All general fund budget increases are going to staff salaries and benefits. This includes updated negotiated agreements with all bargaining units that shifted stipend amounts into base pay scales, additional pay for special education teachers and paraprofessionals and additional compensation for teachers with advanced degrees. Benefits and salaries make up 76% of the budgeted expenses. 


The total proposed property tax levy is $1.10793, a decrease of 10.9 cents for 2024-25.



A breakdown of the general fund budget is as follows:

 

General Fund Revenues: 

  • Property Taxes: $307.3 million 
  • Other Local Receipts (motor vehicle taxes, interest on investments, court fees, fines, licenses, etc.): $52.5 million 
  • Other State Receipts: $75.1 million 
  • State Aid: $316.7 million 
  • General Fund Reserves $60.4 million

 

General Fund Expenditures: 

  • Salaries and Benefits: $617.3 million
  • Contracted or Purchased Services: $112.5 million
  • Supplies and Materials: $27.8 million
  • Equipment and Other Costs: $14.7 million
  • Actuarial Required Contribution (ARC) for Omaha School Employees' Retirement System (OSERS): $39.6 million

 

The budgeted Omaha School Employees' Retirement System ARC is based on an actuarial study completed in January each year. Thirty-nine point six million dollars ($39.6) is included in the 2024-25 budget for next year’s ARC payment.


The proposed budget includes a Board of Education override of the LB243 revenue cap.


A proposed budget was also shared for Educational Service Unit (ESU) No. 19. Revenues and expenses are budgeted at $29.6 million, a $6.2 million increase from the previous year. The ESU provides core services to our district that include staff professional development, printing and publication services, technology and technology support.


View the Omaha Public Schools budget at a glance

#OPSProud Spotlight

2024 Summer Reading Challenge Winners

The #OPSProud Spotlight celebrated Bancroft Elementary, where students read the most minutes as part of the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge.

 Board of Education Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda Items

Consent agenda items are packaged into one agenda item. They are often routine and garner very little discussion.


The consent agenda items were:

  • Proposed Staffing Adjustments
  • Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for North High School: Capital Improvements & Renovation Project – 2018 Bond Program
  • Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for Northwest High School: Capital Improvements Project – 2018 Bond Program
  • Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for OPS Hydration Stations – Project 2 Various Schools
  • Approval of Change Order No. 001 for Bid 23-085 OPS Hydration Stations Project 2 Various Schools – Add $25,983.85 Revised Total: $570,903.85
  • Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for OPS Hydration Stations – Project 3 Various Schools
  • Approval of Change Order No. 001 for Bid 23-086 OPS Hydration Stations Project 3 Various Schools – Add $61,840.13 Revised Total: $589,540.13
  • Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for OPS Hydration Stations – Project 4 Various Schools
  • Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for OPS South High School Capital Improvements
  • Approval to Accept a Grant and Agreement from the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 School Years ($3,434,528.83)
  • Approval of Amendment No. 001 to the Agreement with Lueder Construction – Burke High School Stadium Improvements Project ($2,958,836.00)
  • Approval to Award Bid No. 24-054 and Contract to Eyman Plumbing Inc. for Plumbing at Burke High School Stadium Improvement Project, Fall of 2024 ($740,677.00)
  • Approval to Award Bid No. 24-055 and Contract to Prairie Mechanical Corporation for HVAC at Burke High School Stadium Improvement Project, Fall of 2024 ($218,430.00)
  • Approval to Award Bid No. 24-056 and Contract to Downs Electric Inc. for Electrical at Burke High School Stadium Improvement Project, Fall of 2024 ($702,000.00)
  • Approval to Award Bid No. 24-084 and Contract to Duffy Brothers Construction, Inc. for Masonry at Burke High School Stadium Improvement Project, Fall of 2024 ($302,280.00)
  • Approval to Award Bid No. 24-074 to Midwest Tennis and Track Co. for Burke High Track Resurfacing ($694,000.00)
  • Approval of the Consulting Services Agreement with Barbara Wild for the 2024-2025 School Year ($51,000.00)
  • Approval of the Consulting Services Agreement with LuAnn Jacobs for the 2024-2025 School Year ($65,000.00)
  • Approval of Contract with Agencies for Special Education Services for the 2024-2025 School Year ($2,537,786)
  • Approval to Extend Licensing for Gale in Context Database Subscription from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025 ($80,014.22)
  • Approval of the Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Family Support Workers Division for the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 School Years
  • Approval to Purchase Ten (10) Additional Brand New Tractors and Related Equipment from AKRS Equipment Solutions Per Bid 24-067 ($127,102.35)
  • Approval of Services Agreement with Child Saving Institute to Provide Social Emotional and Behavioral Services Through KidSquad for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 School Years ($790,479.00)
  • Approval of Title I Homeless, Delinquent & Neglected Agency Contracts for the 2024-2025 School Year (Estimated $473,566.00)


View the entire consent agenda.

Board of Education Information Items

Update to Policies 6211 and 8273

The Board of Education Policy Committee recommends changes to the following district policies:

  • 6211 - Curriculum - Assessments
  • 8273 - Removals and Vacancies


The policy updates will come before the Board at a future meeting for approval.

Board of Education Action Items

Adoption of the Proposed Goal Indicators and Timeline for the Evaluation of the Superintendent

The Board approved the proposed superintendent goals and evaluation timeline.

Approval of 2024-25 Budget Requests for Douglas County School District 0001 and Educational Service Unit No.19

The Board of Education approved the budget requests for Douglas County School District 0001 and Educational Service Unit No. 19. This includes:

  • Approval of the 2024-25 Property Tax Request - Educational Service Unit No. 19
  • Approval of the 2024-25 General Fund - Douglas County School District 0001
  • Approval of the Douglas County School District 0001 2024-25 Budgets Which Require a Levy - Excluding General Fund
  • Approval of the Douglas County School District 0001 2024-25 Budgets Which Do Not Require a Tax Levy
  • Approval of the 2024-25 Budget - Educational Service Unit No. 19


Approval of the 2024-25 Property Tax Request - Douglas County School District 0001 will come before the Board for approval at the Sept. 16 meeting.

Approval of Second Reading of Policies 6230, 6240, 6380

The Board of Education Policy Committee recommended changes to the following district policies:


  • 6230 - Curriculum Guides
  • 6380 - Equal Opportunity: Instruction Program


Policy 6240 was removed for further update considerations. It will come before the Board at a future meeting The Board approved the updates to Policy 6230 and 6380.

Next Omaha Public Schools Board of Education Meeting

The next Board meeting is Sept. 16, 2024. It is tentatively scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Teacher Administrative Center. There will be a budget hearing at 5:30 p.m.


Board of Education Agenda

To review previous Board of Education agendas, click here. If you need help accessing direct links, please access the entire Board of Education Agenda to view presentations and other documents.


How Can I Watch a Previous Board of Education Meeting?

Video from Board of Education meetings/workshops is most often available by noon the day after the meeting. The video can be viewed by clicking here.

Omaha Public Schools | 531-299-0220 | www.ops.org

Questions or feedback? Email us at: BoardDigest@ops.org
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