Nebraska Family Forum

1. The subtitle is “It is a credit to the Superintendent’s vision, leadership, and willingness to be an agent of change."   This subtitle would lead one to believe that the changes mentioned in this article lay squarely at the feet of Mr. Evans.   I would challenge that the changes listed in this editorial lay squarely at the feet of an extremely hard working, engaged, passionate school board and those changes have been implemented effectively by Mr. Evans, OPS staff, and classroom teachers.  

2. Let’s look at the achievements mentioned.  The first four bullet points lay out specific rates which have been rising over the last 3 – 4 years.   That is great but Mr. Evans has only been in his position for the last 2 years.  How do test scores and academic performance increase?  Yes, leadership and a clear mission is important, but it is the magic that happens every day in the classroom by motivated, innovative, passionate teachers and engaged kids.   I find it disheartening that once again we have an article talking about all of the achievements of a district without mentioning the classroom teacher.  

3. The editorial mentions the “Public’s resounding endorsement at the ballot box last fall” with the passing of the bond.  Let us remember that the first referendum the public did was a year before that, to shrink the board size and vote in a new board.   The public said loud and clear that we were done with a top down leadership approach of previous administrations and that we no longer wanted a rubber stamp board.  The public (parents, teachers, taxpayers, community interests) wants a voice at the table. 

4. The editorial mentions possible divisiveness on the OPS board.  “OPS board members need to pursue a common constructive, collaborative approach”.   I challenge this author that the board and superintendent need to follow this advice with the public.   I also challenge this author that I do not want a rubber stamp vote on agenda items.  I want to hear debate and concerns from my board members and watch them work through issues.  I want my board member to represent his or her constituents. 

5. I find it disheartening that once again we are talking about how “administration” is doing all of these great things and no mention of the hard work that classroom teachers, parents and the kids have been doing.  There would have been no bond if not for the teachers and parents hitting the streets and supporting this effort.  There would not be any increases in student achievement if it weren’t for the efforts of classroom teachers and the kids. 

6. OPS IS on the move and heading in the right direction because of a lot of hard work from EVERYONE.   But the last two years have not been without controversy.

       a.  Some leadership that still doesn’t seem to understand that parents deserve and want a voice at the table, not just sometimes but for all critical issues. 
       b.  A very controversial vote taken about extending the school day without notification or  consideration of parental or teacher input.
       c.  Questions about teacher contract negotiations done in bad faith by the administration.
       d.  A student death at Nathan Hale that from all accounts put the family last in the communication process.
       e.  A parent harassed and threatened for participating in public comment to the board.
       f.  Sanctions after OPS doesn’t meet federal regulations regarding suspension rates and a lack of communication by the administration to the board.
       g.  Busing and student assignment issues that still have not been addressed.
       h.  Public concerns with SRO’s that have not been addressed, although another school year is about to begin.

The following post was written by Gina Miller, an OPS parent who is actively engaged with her children's schools and the Omaha Public School Board.  In spite of her ongoing communication with the board, Gina was one of thousands of parents and teachers who were completely blindsided by the board's vote last week to extend the school day, which takes already overstressed children away from their families, their rest, and their enriching activities for an even longer period of time.

ATTENTION OPS PARENTS!

It is time to have a discussion about national education movements that are sweeping the nation and having a direct effect on our children and families.

I am tired of our PUBLIC schools telling parents what is right for my child with NO input from the parent. I am tired of our individual school districts and states hopping on any National Ed Reform Bandwagon that comes along with little to NO research for its effectiveness. 

The Omaha Public School board is considering extending the school day by a significant amount of time--20 to 25 minutes per day--keeping the youngest students in school until after 4:00 PM.

It is the position of the Nebraska Family Forum that children do not need to spend even more time sitting at a desk. They need rest, they need play, and most importantly, they need family time. Keeping these kids away from their parents longer, in a forced "learning" environment, will not make them "smarter" and certainly won't make them happier, more productive or more successful young people.  It will also not solve the problem of poverty, which is the single most important factor in the educational achievement gap.  All it will do is make children more tired, more stressed, and more distant from their families.

The Nebraska Family Forum supports Sen. Beau McCoy’s Legislative Bill 29.

In response to a quote in the Omaha World-Herald by Kate Heelan, professor and director of the physical activity and wellness lab at UNK, that "BMI belongs in school health screenings" because it can identify diseases such as diabetes:  Maybe it can, maybe it can't. Personally, I think BMI is a bogus measure of health and my own son is living proof of that. But let's say for the sake of argument that BMI is indeed helpful in identifying diabetes. How does that translate into BMI screenings belonging in schools? Pap smears help identify cervical cancer. Rectal exams help identify colon cancer. Does that mean those screenings belong in schools? These are medical issues, not educational issues, and their rightful place is between the family and their medical provider—just like weight and BMI.


The NFF strongly opposes DHHS having unregulated authority to order our schools to do medical inspections of our children without parental consent. We fear the collection of BMI data is another step on a slippery slope and could easily lead to all sorts of medical mandates in our schools. Our schools should be focused on educating our children and leave the practice of medicine to doctors. While some parents may appreciate the schools assisting them with health care (and nothing in this bill prevents that), assistance should be optional and up to the parent's discretion.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT LB 29:

1.  Testify in support of the bill on Tuesday, March 10 at 1:30 PM in Lincoln.








Roy Baker