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Board hears legislative roundup; district flags $72 million shortfall in March revenues
Summary
The board's legislative committee reported on the just‑ended session, noting LB 937 passed without the amendments the district opposed and LB 1050 (third‑grade retention) failed; March revenues were below forecast, creating about a $72 million shortfall in the district's budget.
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education received its legislative committee's after‑action report on May 4, which reviewed the recently concluded legislative session and highlighted several bills of interest to the district.
The committee reported that LB 937, a Department of Education cleanup bill the district tracked, passed without several amendments the district had opposed. The committee also said LB 1050, a proposal that would have required retention of third graders who are not reading on grade level, failed after a cloture vote did not reach the 33‑vote threshold.
Committee leadership thanked lobbyists and senators who worked with the district and said the board would continue monitoring interim study resolutions, including LR 463 to analyze learning community data and LR 466 on suspension and exclusionary disciplinary practices affecting elementary students.
The committee also told the board that March state revenues were below forecast, putting the district's recently approved budget about $72 million in the red and raising the possibility that further legislative or budget action could follow. The committee said it will meet in May to debrief and consider outreach to state senators over the summer.
Board members asked whether the committee would debrief directly with state legislators; the committee said it would continue meetings with senators and provide a follow‑up report after the debrief.
