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Public commenters question $10M iPad purchase, call for sick‑leave bank and math pathway fixes
Summary
At the Omaha Public Schools meeting March 23, public commenters raised procurement and personnel concerns, including questions about a planned purchase of more than 8,000 iPads estimated at just over $10 million, proposals for a sick‑leave donation bank, and calls to revisit accelerated math placement policies.
Three members of the public used the district’s public‑comment period to raise procurement, personnel and curriculum concerns.
Scott Prohaskca asked the board to review agenda item I21, which lists a planned purchase of more than 8,000 iPads for just over $10 million, and flagged a line item showing $1,238.86 and roughly $900 in accessories; he asked the district to justify accessories and questioned benefit‑cost tradeoffs. Prohaskca also urged the board to consider a sick‑leave bank and to strengthen anti‑retaliation protections for employees reporting safety issues.
Marlon Harrison urged the district to preserve strong athletic programs and community support to keep student athletes in OPS rather than leaving for other districts or private schools.
Anna Peters, an eighth‑grade teacher, urged changes to math acceleration pathways. Peters said current placement practices can lock students out of honors coursework if they are not accelerated by fifth grade; she described language proficiency and maturity barriers and argued many students who become ready later cannot regain access to accelerated tracks until 11th grade under current practices.
The board listened but did not take formal action on these public‑comment items during the meeting. Board policy limits individual public‑comment time to five minutes, and the clerk confirmed three submitted speakers for the evening.
