Restructuring of OPS board of education stalls

A bill that would have restructured the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) board of education stalled on general file April 3.

LB720, introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would have reduced the size of the board from 12 members to five. The bill also called for term limits of two consecutive four-year terms and a $20,000 annual salary for all board members.

A Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee amendment instead would have reduced the board to seven members from 12, while making no mention of term limits or salaries for board members.

Lautenbaugh said he believes student achievement issues at OPS could be addressed by a more innovative and creative board of education.

“I’m not telling you change will come tomorrow, but OPS is in desperate need of new ideas and new blood,” Lautenbaugh said.

Omaha Sen. Brenda Council opposed the bill, saying that reducing the size of the board would not achieve that goal.

“To change the size of the board without a compelling reason is not action we should be taking at this time,” she said, noting the recent hiring of a new OPS superintendent and the impending election of at least four new board members. “Where’s the guarantee that you get new ideas and new blood by reducing the number of members?”

Council moved to bracket the bill until April 12. The motion failed on a 15-23 vote.

After prolonged debate, Lautenbaugh moved to refer LB720 back to the committee and senators obliged without objection.