Omaha Mayor Addresses Safety Concerns for New Schools

News Summary

Omaha Mayor John Ewing has reassured the community regarding the safety of two new elementary schools in Elkhorn, stating they are safe for student attendance despite construction activities. After hearing public concerns, Mayor Ewing convened meetings with school officials and confirmed that inspections revealed some compliance issues, but the decision to proceed with opening the schools rests with the school district. To improve communication with parents, an update outlining safety protocols and project timelines will be sent out soon.

Omaha – Omaha Mayor John Ewing addressed public concerns regarding the safety of two new elementary schools in Elkhorn, Iron Bluff and Stone Pointe, which are currently under construction. Despite the ongoing building activities, the mayor confirmed that the schools are safe for students to attend.

The Elkhorn school district, in partnership with the city’s building and inspections officials, made the decision to open the schools amidst growing safety concerns. Mayor Ewing became aware of these concerns through a voicemail received on Wednesday evening. In response, he convened a meeting the following day with key officials, including Elkhorn Superintendent Bary Habrock, Ryan Lindquist from the district, and Steve Rease from Prairie Construction.

The mayor expressed that the meeting reassured him about the completion of unfinished items and the broader project timelines. On Monday, the construction company is expected to provide an updated schedule detailing the remaining work on the projects. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the use of heavy equipment at the construction sites has been halted for now.

Additionally, Mayor Ewing acknowledged that there is an unrelated construction project underway by another developer nearby. However, he made it clear that closing the schools was not part of the plan as long as satisfactory progress continues. The mayor noted that better communication surrounding similar projects in the past had contributed to smoother transitions and less anxiety among stakeholders.

Though the Elkhorn Public Schools administration maintains that both schools are safe for students and staff, certain parents have raised concerns. Issues highlighted by parents include incomplete construction areas, the presence of heavy machinery near students, and classrooms that currently lack essential utilities such as electricity and air conditioning.

A recent investigation revealed that the two schools have not passed all required final inspections mandated by Omaha city regulations. This has led to questions regarding the schools’ certificate of occupancy, stirring concerns about legal compliance and overall safety. Mayor Ewing confirmed that the city’s fire division conducted inspections on the schools, finding several compliance issues that must be resolved before full occupancy approval can be granted.

It’s important to note that while the inspections revealed safety concerns, this does not grant inspectors the authority to prevent the schools from opening. The decision to proceed, ultimately, rests with the school district and city inspectors. Ongoing dissatisfaction among parents regarding transparency and communication with the school administration has also been expressed. They feel left in the dark about the evolving situation and the safety measures being implemented.

The Nebraska Department of Education has indicated it has not received any formal complaints related to the new school constructions. In a joint statement, Elkhorn Public Schools and Prairie Construction asserted that safety features and necessary inspections were concluded prior to the occupancy of students, despite some work remaining unfinished.

In a move to improve communication and address parent concerns, Mayor Ewing announced that a follow-up update would be sent to families on Friday, August 15. This communication aims to outline current safety protocols and provide clarity on the project timelines as construction progresses.

As discussions continue regarding the opening of Iron Bluff and Stone Pointe, the community remains watchful and engaged, seeking assurance that the safety and well-being of students will always remain the top priority.

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HERE Resources

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Concerns Arise Over New Elkhorn Elementary Schools’ Safety

Additional Resources

• WOWT: City of Omaha says Elkhorn schools with unfinished construction are violating law
• Wikipedia: School safety
• KETV: Elkhorn elementary schools violating city code, officials say
• Google Search: Elkhorn Schools construction issues
• Omaha World-Herald: Elkhorn schools safety concerns
• Encyclopedia Britannica: School
• WOWT: Omaha Mayor no plans to shut down 2 Elkhorn schools
• Google Scholar: School construction safety
• WOWT: City says Elkhorn schools are violating law
• Google News: Elkhorn Schools city code