OPS board approves legislative positions and authorizes testimony on several state bills
Summary
The Omaha Public Schools board on Feb. 19 approved its legislative committee's updated positions on bills in the Nebraska Legislature, including support and opposition letters and planned testimony; the board voted to approve the committee report by an 8-0 tally.
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 19 approved the legislative committee's updated matrix of positions on bills before the Nebraska Legislature and authorized staff and district representatives to submit testimony and letters on selected bills.
President Erdenberger directed the board to packet pages 34'39 (new bills and recommendations). The committee recommended a mix of positions: written support was submitted for LB 745 (which would make it easier to obtain a GED), the district submitted opposition testimony to LB 730 (a bill concerning restroom and locker-room designations), and outside counsel testified in support of LB 825 (changes to retiree return-to-work timing for substitute teaching), according to the legislative report.
Treasurer Ryan and district lobbyists are slated to testify in person this week in the revenue committee in opposition to several revenue or levy-related measures identified by the committee, including LB 1183, LB 1219 and constitutional amendment LR 317, which the district said could adversely affect local education funding.
The committee also recommended submitting an opposition letter to LB 1207 (a proposal, as described in the packet, to provide five mental-health days to every full-time school employee). The board's legislative report estimated substitute-teacher costs alone could exceed $4,400,000 if the change were enacted; committee members framed that as an adverse effect on students, classrooms and district finances.
Board action and vote: Because the recommendations were made by committee, no second was required; the board then voted on the committee's recommended positions and the motion carried on roll call with eight ayes.
Why it matters: Several of the bills cited relate to funding and operations that the district said would materially affect classroom staffing costs and levy calculations. The board authorized staff to proceed with the planned testimony and written correspondence identified in the committee matrix.
Next steps: Treasurer Ryan and district representatives will appear before the Legislature in the days ahead as noted in the legislative report; the board packet highlights the specific bills and the committee's recommended positions for public review.
