With time to rest over break, longer days and warmer weather, we all share the excitement for spring. Seeing such a dramatic improvement in our community’s health conditions, there is renewed hope for greater normalcy. Though we cannot predict the future with certainty, we know our schools are well-positioned to meet any challenges ahead, as we have together since 2020.

Our four new schools, set to open in August 2022, bring even more excitement. As you will read below, we are happy to report that each school is nearing completion. Principals are working with families to enroll young people and build student schedules. Our Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) recently toured the new construction and we have additional sneak peeks planned. Stay tuned to our website and social media in the month ahead.

Looking to August with anticipation, we know there is very important work to accomplish this school year. Returning from Spring Break, our students and teachers enter the final quarter of the year and the time for many annual assessments. As I’m sure our schools and teachers will echo, please make sure students are rested and participate in school breakfast to be ready on testing days. These are one of the many ways we continuously monitor a student’s strengths and opportunities for growth in the classroom. With great care for the young people we serve, our district is using both immediate and long-term strategies to support student success after three disrupted years. Our engaged families and supportive community are essential partners in that work, alongside our dedicated students and staff.

A fifth new school, Bluestem Middle, is scheduled to open in August 2023.

At the same time, crews are updating mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems at more than a dozen existing schools.

“I am still in awe that the whole bond program is on time and on budget,” said Lacey Merica. Merica is a former Board of Education member and now sits on the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee, part of Omaha Public Schools’ community engagement through construction.

“Despite a multi-year pandemic, global supply chain issues and extreme weather events, we have been able to build world-class educational facilities that reflect the 21^st Century learning environment,” Merica added.

Omaha Public Schools has taken many steps to plan for the five new schools.

Our district communicated regularly with families to share updates as staff developed and finalized plans. That work included letters and direct phone calls to families and community engagement sessions.

“I remember talking about whether the community would entrust the new board with seeing this massive project through to fruition,” Merica remarked. “I am so thankful our Omaha community did. We’re now seeing the payoff with first-class learning environments for all of our students.”

The 2018 bond work is scheduled for completion in fall 2023. A timeline with project updates and details is available at www.ops.org/bond.

“The bond program is benefitting our community in so many ways,” said Merica. “We were able to address safety, make mechanical upgrades, ease overcrowding, lessen our reliance on portable classrooms and so much more.”

"Mark and Devin were able to find and develop a skillset really quickly. One is a really good driver, and the other is an excellent programmer," said Peters.

"As coaches, we're more cheerleaders and locksmiths than anything," Peters explained. Parents, teachers and adults are not supposed to help with anything. Officials examine robots and interview teams about the design process to ensure only students participated. "The whole point is the kids are supposed to build these bots, come up with the ideas, fail over and over again, and finally find that one spark of inspiration that works."

Many of the skills learned in robotics help prepare students for future careers. With companies like NASA and Texas Instruments sponsoring the world championship, there's a world of exciting job opportunities for students interested in robotics and STEM. Coding, engineering, problem-solving, and collaboration are all skills practiced in robotics - many required for high-paying jobs in the tech sector.

"The skills kids learn are skills they'll use forever, and having confidence in that one experience will encourage them to do other things in life," Peters explained.

Sanchez and Henk didn't qualify for the world tournament, but they learned a lot this season and are excited to compete at state again next year.

"Robotics is so much more than the 40 teams that go to state," said Peters. "The memories that will stick with me are the kids that came in with no skills and left with something. Robotics has something for everyone to learn."

Community Members Join the Omaha Public Schools Concierge Team

New and familiar faces are lending a hand throughout Omaha Public Schools, from the lunchroom to the mailroom.

They are serving students as members of our district’s Concierge Team. The team includes employees who help fill various non-instructional roles working five, 10, 15 or 20 hours per week.

“It’s been a gift to have the Concierge Team support,” said Valerie Varas, Crestridge Elementary principal. “They’ve made getting through the pandemic possible.”

Omaha Public Schools announced the program last fall amid staffing challenges that hit school districts and businesses nationwide. The program is one of many short-term and long-term initiatives to help recruit and retain quality staff.

Peyton Holman learned about the program through a family member who works for Omaha Public Schools. She applied to serve Belvedere Elementary as a Concierge Team member. She supports lunch service and helps students between classes and during dismissal. She said the opportunity suits her well since she is pursuing a degree in education.

“I’m going to school for secondary education, so it’s new to be around such smaller kids,” Holman said. “I like it. I might even change to elementary education. I think everyone should try it.”

Since the program began, our district has hired nearly 70 Concierge Team members. They are supporting 37 schools. In some cases, this part-time support leads to a long-term solution.

“It’s been fun to hear from schools about the excitement of the Concierge Team helping,” said Brandi Rossman, an administrator for Omaha Public Schools Human Resources. “We’ve had a few individuals start as Concierge Team members who we later hired as paraprofessionals in more traditional positions.”

Trey Jones used to be a paraprofessional at Liberty Elementary. He’s been working in the private sector but decided this would be an excellent opportunity to reconnect with a career he loved.

“It was my passion,” Jones said. “I just felt a void. It’s such a big difference working at a desk all day from working with kids.”

Concierge Team roles include the following:

Those interested in the opportunity can visit our website to learn more and apply.

“It’s a great way to keep the community engaged in their local schools,” Rossman remarked.

This year, student athletes from Omaha Public Schools joined hundreds of others statewide for the inaugural season of NSAA Girls Wrestling.

The season brought a lot of firsts for our high school teams, including participation at the district tournament and state championship. Here is a look at some of our teams in action during this historic season.

The Board of Education approved amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund at the March 7 meeting.

Distribution of funds is categorized into four pillars: Academics, Student/Staff Well-Being, Infrastructure and Family/Community. More than $23 million of the infrastructure pillar's funds were shifted to the Academics pillar.

Some of the shifted funds will be used to support our students and teachers through professional development, graduate level classes for qualified teachers and the expansion of Next Level Learning for middle school students.

More information about the ESSER amendments can be found in the presentation made at the March 7 Board of Education meeting.

Omaha Public Schools invites high school students to explore teaching as a profession as a paid student intern.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Interns will support Next Level Learning at various elementary schools from June 8-20 and July 6-22. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. at $12 an hour.

Applications can be found on the Omaha Public Schools jobs listings website.

Our Strategic Plan of Action-aligned work to enhance our digital presence continues with the launch of our new middle school websites on April 1.

The layout of our middle school sites will mirror our district site, placing key points of information and good news on the homepage.

Our district will publish the new websites Friday afternoon, but it may take individual web browsers up to 48 hours to reflect the change.

New elementary school websites will launch later in the year.

Benson High School's exceptional commitment to student success leads to recognition from a global non-profit organization. Cognia selected Benson to receive its Values Driven Award of Excellence.

The non-profit organization selected Benson for clearly demonstrating the Cognia Values by ensuring students are known, heard and connected to their school. Cognia highlighted Benson's bold and daring innovations that meet the needs of each learner and help them find success.

"Benson High exemplifies what tenacious commitment to continuous improvement can achieve," said Shannon Vogler, Cognia regional director. "They should be commended for their dedication to achieving excellence."

Cognia conducts rigorous, on-site reviews of various educational institutions and provides resources, tools and support to education leaders across the globe to ensure all learners realize their full potential.

To register for these opportunities or to find more STEM programs, visit the STEM Community Platform Portal.

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