Welcome back to the 2017-2018 school year! I hope your summer was filled with relaxation, fun, fond memories and quality time spent with your families. I am honored to continue on as a part of the OPS family for another year and would like to take this opportunity to thank the OPS community for your dedication, hard work and commitment to ensure the success of our students. I value every member of the OPS team and our successes during the 2016-2017 school year would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication. I look forward to celebrating further successes this school year.
This year we continue to stay focused on our five-year Strategic Plan and achieving the goals we set in 2014. As a team, we have already made significant progress and will continue to do so in the future. Our goals are attainable because we have the talent, the drive and the resources to accomplish them.
As you are aware, this year brings with it the following changes: a new student assignment plan, renewed efforts to improve our families’ customer service experience through student transportation, a new standardized grading scale, the expansion of the district’s Virtual School to include ninth graders and the implementation of new middle school alternative programs. If you are unfamiliar with any of these initiatives, I encourage you to access the district’s website at district@ops.org to learn more about them. All are positive steps that will continue to help improve student achievement, develop greater two-way communication and help us use resources efficiently. We have much to be proud of.
We ask for your continued support as our Board of Education begins another superintendent search and works to consider a potential second bond referendum to put before the voters. Both will require a united effort on the part of the district, the school board and the Omaha community.
As I review all that we have accomplished and all that we endeavor to take on this school year, I’m grateful for our amazing OPS family. They make a difference in the lives of our students each day through infectious enthusiasm, caring attitudes and the ability to know what matters most in the lives of our students. Our dedicated staff are part of the foundation that keeps us grounded as a district and ready to listen and learn each and every day. Thank you for your support of the Omaha Public Schools.
Now more than ever, our students look to us as role models. We must make sure that every student feels welcomed, nurtured, safe, valued and that their rights and liberties are respected every day. Never underestimate the worth of what you do. You indeed make a difference.
All the best in the coming year!
Sincerely,
Mark Evans
Superintendent of School
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