In a significant decision affecting Omaha-area schools, the State Board of Education has approved a learning community plan following a pivotal abstention by one of its members. This decision came after a week of debate, during which some board members expressed concerns about the involvement of certain partners in the plan.
Initially opposed to the plan, Sherry Jones, along with other conservative board members, voted against it earlier in the week. The opposition stemmed from the participation of OneWorld Community Health Centers, known for providing transgender health care services outside the scope of the learning community. However, by Friday, Jones had learned that the revised plan no longer included specific references to partner organizations.
Jones explained her stance during Friday’s special meeting: “My stated reason for voting as such was because of OneWorld Health being included as an integral part of the plan. I stated four of my specific concerns during the February board meeting, which can be found on NDE website. I stand by these concerns and believe they are justified according to statute,” she said. Despite her concerns, she acknowledged that her reasoning fell outside state statute requirements, leading to her abstention. “I cannot, in good conscience, vote yes, and I cannot, due to the statute requirements, vote no,” Jones stated.
This abstention resulted in a 4-3 vote, allowing the plan to pass. The decision saw three other Republican board members, Kirk Penner, Lisa Schonhoff, and Elizabeth Tegtmeier, voting against the plan. Meanwhile, the four Democratic members—Kristin Christensen, Maggie Douglas, Deborah Neary, and Liz Renner—supported it.
The Learning Community initiative involves 11 Omaha-area school districts, such as Omaha, Ralston, Millard, and Papillion La Vista. It comes with approximately $10 million in state aid, crucial for the involved districts. The community’s CEO, Gerald Kuhn, previously indicated that failure to approve the plan might have jeopardized the operation of 25 preschool programs, potentially affecting around 700 students in Omaha.
Before the Tuesday vote, the learning community clarified that “no learning community resources — including state funding or levy funds — may be used to provide, support, subsidize, or reimburse gender-affirming medical care, reproductive health care services, prescription medications, or any clinical medical procedures.”
Despite resolving the OneWorld Health issue, other board members maintained their opposition. Lisa Schonhoff pointed to the declining attendance, graduation rates, and ACT scores in Omaha Public Schools, alongside poor performance in standardized English and math tests. She argued that the current plan fails to address these issues effectively. “There are a great deal of things that we can do to improve this plan, but by voting yes today, you are reinforcing the very conditions that are holding students back, rather than correcting the course of action,” Schonhoff remarked.
Board President Elizabeth Tegtmeier echoed these concerns, criticizing the absence of clear metrics showing the plan’s impact on student achievement. “This plan falls short, and as I’m always faced with the question, personally, if we’re not teaching kids how to read, write and do math. What are we even doing here?” she asked.
