Village Profile® Home Page | About our Company | Sales Opportunities | Community eStore | vpmobile.us®

150 Years of Making a Difference in Education

November 1, 1859 – The School District of Omaha opens classes for 225 students in four rented buildings, a fledgling school district in a fledgling city.

1860 – A federal government funding shortage during the Civil War forces the Omaha Public Schools to close for three years.

1915 – The City of Omaha annexes South Omaha and the Dundee area. As part of the city’s annexation process, South High School and Dundee Elementary School automatically become part of the Omaha Public Schools.

1976 – The Omaha Public Schools desegregation plan, and its peaceful implementation, prove to be a model for the country.

2006 – The Nebraska Legislature passed a law establishing a “learning community” comprised of all 11 Douglas and Sarpy County school districts.

As the City of Omaha continued to annex and grow, so did the Omaha Public Schools. Today, a century-and-a-half after its humble founding, Nebraska’s largest school district educates approximately 47,000 students a year—pre-k through 12th grade—from all ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

“Our students learn, study and play side by side—sharing discoveries and solving problems together,” said Dr. John Mackiel, superintendent of the Omaha Public Schools.

The 150th anniversary festivities kicked off in August 2009 at The Durham Museum with a reception and the debut of a new exhibit detailing the beginning and growth of the Omaha Public Schools.

“The reception provided our school district staff and families with a first view of the photographs, artifacts and historical documents,” said Mackiel. “Now, we are using the exhibit as a teaching tool for our third graders who study Omaha as part of their curriculum.”

To further mark this anniversary year, Omaha Public Schools is planning four family festivals in October, privately funded and free of charge. Anniversary banners will hang at each OPS school and commemorative medallions for graduating seniors will be part of the tribute as well. “Each school has also been given the opportunity to develop and create activities that will include as many of their students and staff as possible,” explained Mackiel.

Funded by mini-grants, those projects include historical displays and anniversary murals, even original plays.

“It is a way to keep the 150th anniversary school-based, student-based and family-based,” he added.

Keeping abreast of the latest in technology will also be a district priority. “Our students will need to have the tools to be prepared to go on to college and to enter the world of work.”

A list of area school systems, pre-k through high school, and institutions of higher learning is available on the Chamber’s Web site, www.OmahaChamber.org.