A review of Omaha Public Schools Board of Education meetings.
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Sept. 8, 2023
Following each Board of Education meeting, the Office of District Communications recaps the board meeting in the Board Digest.
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Presentation of the 2023-2024 Proposed Budget for Douglas County School District 0001 and the 2023-2024 Property Tax Requirements and Proposed Budget for Educational Service Unit No. 19 | |
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Chief Financial Officer Shane Rhian presented the 2023-24 proposed general budget and ESU19 budget to the Board of Education. The proposed budget focuses resources on key initiatives in the Strategic Plan of Action, investing in the future of our students and staff and ensuring facilities needed to learn and grow are available to all students.
The total budget includes an increase of $17 million in the general fund budget. The proposed budget also includes a levy decrease of 1.4 cents for 2023-24.
Revenue and expenses for the general fund are both budgeted at $727 million for the 2023-24 school year. That is an increase of 2.4% from last year. Benefits and salaries make up 78% of the budgeted expenses. The total proposed property tax levy is $1.2170, a decrease of ($0.0141) from the previous year.
A breakdown of the general fund budget is as follows:
General Fund Revenues:
- Property Taxes: $312.6 million
- Other Local Receipts (motor vehicle taxes, interest on investments, court fees, fines, licenses, etc.): $50 million
- Other State Receipts: $66 million
- Federal Receipts: $700,000
- State Aid: $285.2 million
- General Fund Reserves $12.5 million
General Fund Expenditures:
- Salaries and Benefits: $531 million
- Contracted or Purchased Services: $108.8 million
- Supplies and Materials: $45.4 million
- Equipment and Other Costs: $7.3 million
- Actuarial Required Contribution (ARC) for Omaha School Employees' Retirement System (OSERS): $34.5 million
The budgeted Omaha School Employees' Retirement System ARC is based on an actuarial study completed in January each year. Thirty-four and a half million dollars ($34.5) is included in the 2023-24 budget, for next year’s ARC payment.
Our district will participate in a joint property tax request public hearing with other political subdivisions in Douglas County on Sept. 20. This is required for any entity requesting an increase in property tax receipts greater than 2%. The budget and property tax request will come back before the Board on Sept. 21 for approval.
View the Omaha Public Schools budget at a glance.
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2023 Summer Reading Challenge Winner | |
The #OPSProud Spotlight celebrates Crestridge Elementary for reading the most minutes in the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge. | |
Board of Education Consent Agenda | |
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Consent agenda items are packaged into one agenda item. They are often routine and garner very little discussion.
The consent agenda items were:
- Staff Adjustments
- Approval to Accept a Grant from the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties for the 2023-2026 School Years ($4,421,218.60)
- Approval of an Agreement with Teleteacher to Provide Virtual Speech Therapy Services for the 2023-2024 School Year ($2,277,860.00)
- Approval of Amendment to the Agreement with Waste Management of Nebraska, Inc. to Provide an Adjustment to the Performance Bond Annually (August 2024 through August 2026)
- Approval of the Annual Participant Interlocal Agreement with the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties for the 2023-2024 School Year ($538,839.17)
- Approval to Award Bid No. 23-062 to CDW Government LLC. (CDWG) for Digital Pencils for Use by All Omaha Public Schools Elementary Teachers ($60,400.00)
- Approval to Award Bid No. 23-063 to Egan Supply Company for Autonomous Floor Cleaners ($1,160,000.00)
- Approval to Award Bid No. 23-064 to Rife Construction for Blackburn Access Control System & Exterior Door Upgrades at Blackburn Alternate Program, Winter of 2024 ($496,213.00)
- Approval to Award Bid No. 23-075 to Digital Scoreboards LLC., for the OPS High School LED Video Scoreboards – Package “C”, Fall 2023 to Summer 2024, ($698,933.00)
- Approval to Award Bid No. 23-087 to Collaborative Student Transportation, LLC. (CST) for Student Transportation for Title I, Pre-Kindergarten Students, and Homeless Students (Approximately $1,632,000.00)
- Approval to Award Bid No. 23-090 to Digital Scoreboards LLC., for the OPS High School LED Video Scoreboards – Package “D”, Fall 2023 to Summer 2024, ($698,933.00)
- Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for Adams Elementary School: Capital Improvements & Renovation Project – 2018 Bond Program
- Acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for North High School: Capital Improvements & Renovation Project – 2018 Bond Program
- Approval of the Construction Agreement with Dostals Construction Company, Inc. for Educare of Omaha at Kellom Playground Renovation ($0.00)
- Approval of Contract with Agencies for Special Education Services for the 2023-2024 School Year ($4,658,480.00)
- Approval of Financial Results from the June 8, 2023 District Surplus Auction Provided by Auction Mill L.L.C. ($55,616.42)
- Approval of Financial Results from the June 14, 2023 District Surplus Auction Provided by Auction Mill L.L.C. ($31,632.91)
- Approval of the Funding Agreement with the Omaha Public Schools Foundation for Renovations to Educare of Omaha at Kellom Playground
- Approval of the Proposed Negotiated Agreement with the Nutrition Services Division for the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 School Years
- Approval of Rental Contract with Insane Impact for Temporary Scoreboards for Use at Bryan High School & Buena Vista High School, Fall of 2023 ($43,400.00)
- Approval of the School and Family Enrichment (SAFE) Service Agreement for the 23-24 School Year ($235,000.00)
View the entire consent agenda.
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Board of Education Action Items | |
Approval of First Reading of Policies 5004 and 5205 | |
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The Board of Education Policy Committee recommended changes to the following district policies:
| Adoption of the Proposed Goals and Timeline for the Evaluation of the Interim Superintendent | |
The Board of Education Accountability Committee, in conjunction with Interim Superintendent Matthew Ray, established a set of goals and timeline which he will be evaluated on during the 2023-24 school year. State statute (79-828(2)) requires districts to complete an evaluation of interim superintendents twice during their first year. The Board approved the goals and timeline. | |
Board of Education Information Items | |
Update to Policies 6000, 6010, 6117 | |
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The Board of Education Policy Committee recommended changes to the following district policies:
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Next Omaha Public Schools Board of Education Meeting
The next Board meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 11, 2023. It will be a Board workshop. It is tentatively scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Board of Education Agenda
To review previous Board of Education agendas, click here. If you have trouble 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 are most often available by noon on the day after the meeting. The video can be viewed by clicking here.
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