Briefing: Omaha Public Schools

Participants learned about student enrollment, race and class from leaders of Omaha, NE as they shared the district plan that began as an effort to consolidate public schools located inside the Omaha city limits that were controlled by suburban or independent districts and ended with a new state law that divides the school system into three racially identifiable districts, one largely black, one white and one mostly Hispanic.

Presider:

• Jill Wynns, CUBE Steering Committee member and board member, San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, CA

Presenters:

• Sandy Jensen, Board President, Omaha Public Schools
• John J. Mackiel, Superintendent, Omaha Public Schools
• David Pedersen, Attorney, Omaha Public Schools
• Ben Gray, Photo Journalist and TV Producer and Chair, Omaha Public School’s African American Achievement Council