Learning community council changes adopted

The Omaha Learning Community coordinating council will prioritize early childhood education under a bill passed by the Legislature May 2.

LB585, introduced by Papillion Sen. Jim Smith, changes numerous responsibilities of the coordinating council.

Currently, the coordinating council has a 2 cent levy authority for elementary learning center facility leases and focus school capital projects. An additional 1 cent levy is dedicated to learning community pilot projects and elementary learning center employees and contracts.

LB585 reduces the 2 cent levy authority to one-half cent. The 1 cent levy will be increased by one-half cent to fund early childhood education programs for children in poverty. This will result in a net decrease of 1 cent in levy authority.

Current free transportation requirements will not apply for open enrollment students who have not previously been accepted if the student is transferring to another school within the home district or to a school district that does not share a border with the home district.

Learning community advisory committees, comprising superintendents of member districts, will be required to:
• submit a plan to the coordinating council providing for the implementation and administration of early childhood education programs for children in poverty;
• provide recommendations for improving the learning community diversity plan;
• review issues related to open enrollment;
• review proposals for focus programs, focus schools, magnet schools and pathways;
• provide recommendations for improving academic achievement across the learning community; and
• provide input to the coordinating council on other issues as requested.

The advisory committees will seek input from member school districts and community resources in order to maximize opportunities and resources. The committees also will make a special effort to establish programs that are readily available and accessible to children located in high poverty areas.

The bill passed on a 41-0 vote.