OPS board to honor Bancroft teacher's state award Monday, then weigh $1 million device buy and donor-funded North High labs
The OPSProud Spotlight comes right after roll call. The consent agenda also includes a $270,795 audit contract.
OMAHA - Right after roll call at its Monday, Nov. 2, meeting, the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education is set to recognize Christina Schik, a Bancroft Elementary fourth-grade teacher who earned a 2027 Nebraska Excellence in Teaching Award from the Nebraska Department of Education, according to the posted agenda.
The board will then take up a $1,000,524.80 purchase of laptops and tablets for school administrators and a renovation of North High School's science labs paid for by the Omaha Public Schools Foundation. Both items are on the consent agenda, which the board takes up in a single vote unless a member asks to pull an item and vote on it separately. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Teacher Administrative Center, 3215 Cuming St.
Devices for administrators
The district is asking to buy 430 MacBook Airs and 424 iPad Pros with cases from Apple as the sole source, for principals, assistant principals, program directors and other school administrative staff. The agenda notes that teacher devices were updated during the 2025-26 school year.
North High science renovation
A construction management agreement with MCL Construction would cover the renovation of eight science classrooms and nearby instructional spaces at North High, including chemistry, physics and medical/life science labs. The agenda lists it at no cost to the district: under a funding agreement the board approved June 15, 2026, the Omaha Public Schools Foundation pays all project costs. The foundation chose BCDM Architects and MCL, and the agenda says the project is expected to be substantially complete by August 2027.
Other items
- An Eide Bailly audit contract for fiscal 2025-26, $270,795, of which $230,895 is for the district and $39,900 for Educational Service Unit 19.
- Special education contracts with outside agencies for 2026-27, an estimated $1,025,640.
- A Sierra-Cedar change order of up to $119,600 for data-conversion help in the move from PeopleSoft to Oracle Fusion.
- A $64,512.13 LED lighting upgrade at Field Club Elementary, after an assessment found several classrooms did not consistently reach 50 foot-candles.
- A $20,000 Britannica Education online encyclopedia for K-2 students in English and Spanish.
- A five-year Verizon Wireless lease for cellular equipment at Bryan High School Stadium, at $26,400 a year starting April 1, 2027.
- Amendment No. 4 with Schemmer Associates for the OPS Transportation South remodel. The item's title says it adds $48,000, while its rationale says $48,500; both put the new total at $287,900.
Later, Dr. Holman, whom the agenda describes as the governor's appointee representing the district on the state School Finance Review Commission, is scheduled to update the board on the commission's Oct. 5 and Oct. 20 meetings.
The agenda also includes the monthly Head Start report and a request for a closed session. Members of the public who want to speak can fill out a request form at the meeting. These are proposed actions; the board has not voted.
Source: Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and ESU 19, Nov. 2, 2026, meeting agenda (Sparq Meetings); OPS board meeting listing with location (Sparq Meetings).