If any of you are in and around the Omaha-metro area, you are probably aware of the fight that has been brewing over the last year about the city's jurisdiction over its public schools. If not, here's a brief overview:
The key sides in this debate are Omaha Public Schools, and Millard Public Schools. Millard, a suburb of Omaha, was annexed by the city in the 1970s, but its schools were not absorbed. OPS, last June, called for all schools in Omaha's city limits to be absorbed into Omaha Public Schools. This included the Westside schools, in west central Omaha, that were also not members of OPS. "One city, one school district" became the slogan of OPS' movement.
It quickly became more than a territorial dispute. Minority communities championed OPS' cause, and it became about integration. Westside and Millard schools are predominantly white, and OPS schools in east Omaha have more minorities. Over the past three months, the Nebraska legislature has debated this issue, and, as we are two days away from the end of the legislative session, we are dangerously close to seeing institutionalized segregation in the city of Omaha... as proposed by the most liberal politician in the state, and the only black Senator in the unicameral.
What?
Ernie Chambers is a liberal independent Senator who has been in the Nebraska unicameral for 30+ years. He's made a lot of enemies in the state - the term limits that go into effect this year were designed to kick him out - but he's a giant in the legislature. He's a fiery debater and master of parliamentary procedures who isn't afraid to be on the floor of the Senate in a plain T-shirt and jeans.
He proposed an amendment that was overwhelmingly approved by the body, that split the Omaha Public Schools into three districts: North, Southeast, and West. In essence, the African-American district in North Omaha, the Hispanic district in South Omaha, and the white district in West Omaha. The plan, as it stands now, would create a "learning community" between Douglas County (Omaha) and Sarpy County (Bellevue, Papillion, etc.) where the money would be shared, but the districts would remain autonomous. OPS decried the original plan as a "separate but equal" violation of the Constitution. Obviously, they are very upset at this plan.
The bill passed the first round of voting today, by a blowout vote of 39-9. There are two more rounds of voting before the bill is sent to acting Governor Dave Heineman for approval. With only two days left in the legislative session, however, it's unclear if they'll beat the clock. In fact, this sense of urgency may have caused them to do something drastic in the name of a solution.
It's not a solution, and though I have all the respect in the world for Sen. Chambers, I can't figure out what he expects this to accomplish. The legislature is trying to fasttrack this thing so they can get out and get home. In the end, they're doing a lot of harm to the schools here in Omaha, and we're not getting a full and open debate on the issues.