Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board Meeting

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters Attendance is called.

Kratky (Subdistrict 6) is absent. Here is the Omaha Public Schools Subdistrict map if you aren’t aware who represents you. The brown unlabeled section is Full’s @advocacybri Subdistrict 2 and below that in purple is Casady’s @trcasadyops Subdistrict 9. https://t.co/3Acu2a0QBb

@OmahaPubSchool @oma_documenters @advocacybri @trcasadyops Holman @DrShavonna moves to excuse Kratky’s absence, and Smith seconds. Mid-vote, Thielen asks if anybody has heard from Kratky. Smith said he heard from her early but she might be running late. Thielen and Full @advocacybri vote no. Kratky’s absence is excused 5-2.

Tonight’s #OPSProud Spotlight is for three state wrestling champions, two from @OPS_NorthHigh and one from @OPSCentralHigh. https://t.co/onrbYda83n

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh Next: Board and Superintendent Communications.

Superintendent Logan @OPS_LoganSupt mentions @OPS_Virtual enrollment and that the Board will be taking votes to shuffle around Board staff positions coming from Mathew Ray’s appointment to the interim Superintendent position. https://t.co/MGx2gGvowo

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual Thielen says he has stepped away from the Accountability Committee which is leading the Superintendent search. Holman @DrShavonna will be replacing his position there.

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna Erdenberger @JErdenberger has also resigned from the Accountability Committee. She says she hopes everyone on the committee will have their voice heard but it doesn’t seem like that applied to her. She does not know who will replace her position. https://t.co/BLOq7vEdVf

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger Next: Public Comment.

Jeffrey Williams thanks Superintendent Logan @OPS_LoganSupt for her service and notes her historicity in being Omaha Public Schools’ first African American Superintendent. https://t.co/QzT40PY7xL

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger More Public Comment.

OPS art teacher Rebekah Pilaypaitis invites the Board and community to attend Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo’s @OmahaZoo Art for Conservation event this Saturday, Earth Day. Students make and sell art which goes to global and local conservation efforts. https://t.co/123ZiGVi32

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger @OmahaZoo Next: Consent Agenda.

Smith motions, Holman @DrShavonna seconds.

Casady @trcasadyops and Holman abstain from Item 11 Claim C.

Consent Agenda passes 8-0, one absent, with Item 11 Claim C passing 5-0 with 2 abstaining.

Here’s what’s in it: https://twitter.com/anthonyzarzycki/status/1647981489911414785?s=20

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger @OmahaZoo @trcasadyops A note of personal privilege: I think Casady may have needed to abstain from Item 3 as well because of OPS Foundation @OPS_Foundation. I don’t believe she has anything personal to gain from this project but she is on the Board of Directors for the org.

https://twitter.com/anthonyzarzycki/status/1647981493090766849?s=20

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger @OmahaZoo @trcasadyops Next: Information Items.

The Board is presented an update on the College & Career Academies and Pathways program at Westview High School @OPS_Westview. https://t.co/NMeP38U6Wa

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger @OmahaZoo @trcasadyops CORRECTION: I did math bad. Item 11 Claim C passes 6-0, 2 abstaining and 1 absent.

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger @OmahaZoo @trcasadyops @OPS_Westview More Information Items.

Anthony Moss (spelling?) is sharing revisions to Nebraska’s mathematics standards which are required every seven years. These standards will be submitted for a Board vote on May 1, 2023. https://t.co/Oy3fYnnCPn

@OPS_NorthHigh @OPSCentralHigh @OPS_LoganSupt @OPS_Virtual @DrShavonna @JErdenberger @OmahaZoo @trcasadyops @OPS_Westview I’m going to take more intensive notes at this point because it appears the OPS livestream is down.

Erdenberger @JErdenberger is “flabbergasted” that Reasoning was not previously on the standards. It is now and she’s glad.

Full @advocacybri asks what the most common constructive feedback is from teachers. RESPONSE: They have monthly meetings with teacher, nothing specific.

Juarez asks what they do for students who struggle with math. RESPONSE: Strongest asset is the teacher but they also have software tools available to students.

The District’s livestream is back up so I will be ending my stenography.

Next: Policy Committee Update.

Thielen says the only thing the committee considered is “academic eligibility in sports” and that it will likely be brought up again. https://t.co/A1iiqug5zx

Next: Budget & Audit Committee Update.

Juarez says the District is operating above budget and that this is largely from less teachers and student transportation workers than budgeted for. Notes all ESSER I and ESSER II funds will be used by September 2023, ESSER III by 2024. https://t.co/QVxZnNdC5K

Next: Policy Committee Update.

No update. Bills are still working through the #NELeg. https://t.co/cFpaHjIpKd

Next: Action Item.

Administration is presenting their recommended textbooks for Social Studies from K-12. The total cost is $8.6 million although the agenda notes general funds will be reimbursed from Covid Federal Grants. https://t.co/1Ivc8xpgcE

Feedback from teachers who field tested materials and students are quoted in the presentation. I’ll note there were several events where the public was invited (I attended) to provide input but it doesn’t seem to have made it to the Board presentation.

https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Documents/WebViewer/120?file=478d7da2-2e4f-4d27-a2e7-be99cc2b847e https://t.co/CooIqFI88y

While President Head @Spencer_Head is reading the $8,635,960.65 pricetag, there is an audible but quiet “shit” after the eight million part from an audience member.

Holman @DrShavonna moves to approve, Full @advocacybri seconds. https://t.co/uppmXKvoFU

Juarez brings up community input, specifically saying that former Boardmember @KimaraSnipes and South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance wasn’t invited.

Erdenberger @JErdenberger says some community organizations were invited for feedback, like @UrbanLeagueNeb but others weren’t. https://t.co/cekUPopIY8

There are questions of who was invited (they don’t have a list of them), why (some were a part of the diversity process), and who sent invites (Curriculum Instruction team). It seems the issue is neighborhood organizations may have been treated differently.

The roll is called. The textbook purchase is approved 8-0 with 1 absent.

Next Action Item.

President Head @Spencer_Head says the Board recommends appointing Anne M. MacFarland to be the Interim Secretary of the Board of Educatino. Holman @DrShavonna moves, Casady @trcasadyops seconds. Approved 8-0 with 1 absent. https://t.co/QVogqfpcaq

Vice President moves to go into closed session. Approved 8-0 with 1 absent. This is the end of any public measures! While I wait for the Board to reconvene to adjourn, please share with me your thoughts!

What did you think of this livetweeting of the OPS Board? #OmahaEd

Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. This concludes the Omaha Public Schools (@OmahaPubSchool) Board of Education meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2023. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org. #OmahaEd

@OmahaPubSchool *8:24