Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.An Omaha state senator will introduce legislation proposing to shake up the Omaha school board as new concerns emerge about whether the 12-member board is effectively overseeing the Omaha Public Schools.
State Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, who represents northwest Omaha, said Tuesday that he will propose cutting the board to five members, each to be paid $20,000. Under his proposal, board members would still be elected by district but would be limited to two four-year terms.
Currently, board members are unpaid and have no limits on how long they can serve. Five current members are serving at least their fourth terms, and the longest-serving member was first elected in 1978.
If approved, the proposal would take effect before the 2012 fall election. It would set up a situation in which every board member would have to run — potentially against other sitting members — if they want to keep a seat on the smaller board.
Lautenbaugh's proposal comes as a dispute has flared between new Omaha school board member Justin Wayne and the rest of the board.
In a story in the Sunday World-Herald, Wayne said that the board has granted too much authority to the superintendent and that the board is restricted from doing its job. Wayne, who has become a voice of dissent on a board that prides itself on unity, has been denied access to a district organizational chart and was criticized by other board members for speaking publicly about his views.
Other board members say they see no problems in how the board operates or in the division of authority. Superintendent John Mackiel, who will retire at the end of this school year, says the school board's responsibilities and superintendent's authority are in proper balance.
Lautenbaugh said the issues raised in the Sunday World-Herald story were "disturbing and disappointing."
"I just think we need to change the way we do business," he said.
Two lawmakers in the Omaha delegation questioned Lautenbaugh's proposal.
State Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha, a member of the Legislature's Education Committee who also formerly served on the Omaha school board, said she doesn't believe the number of school board members has any bearing on issues in the district. If some people are suggesting the board holds lockstep views, she said, "what changes if you have five or 12?"
"I see no reason for it to change," Council said.
State Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha, another Education Committee member, said she is more concerned about seeing results from the new Douglas-Sarpy County Learning Community than dealing with "the inner workings of the Omaha school board."
The Legislature formed the Learning Community in part to address low student achievement within OPS.
"I wonder why now we would be looking at the Omaha situation," Howard said.
But Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha said he believes that taking a hard look at the governing structure within OPS is an extension of the Learning Community debate. Ashford called Lautenbaugh's proposal "a good start."
"The debate has to go on this year," Ashford said. "Hopefully we can bring it to some positive conclusion."
OPS officials declined to comment on the substance of the proposal. Luanne Nelson, the district's spokeswoman, said Tuesday that the school board has not been given details of the proposal and has not had an opportunity to discuss it.
Lautenbaugh said he wants to pay board members to raise the profile of the office and get more people thinking about running for election. If board members are paid, he said he would expect them to bring more supervision, scrutiny and management to the board.
If ultimately approved, the bill would make the Omaha school board the first paid school board in Nebraska.
New election districts already are being considered for the current 12-member board using the latest census population counts. If Lautenbaugh's proposal were approved, five new election districts would need to be drawn.
Lautenbaugh is proposing a candidate filing deadline of Aug. 1. A primary election would not be held as the board gets re-established for the first time, leaving the fall general election to decide the vote.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com
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