Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. Responds to Elkhorn School Code Violation Concerns

When schools open their doors, parents expect a safe and ready environment for their children. But in Omaha, two newly opened Elkhorn elementary schools — Stone Pointe and Iron Bluff — are under scrutiny. Why? They’re being accused of violating city code. Naturally, this has sparked concern among families, and Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. has stepped in to address the issue.

Inspections

Let’s start with the main issue: these schools haven’t passed all their final city inspections. Despite this, students began attending classes on Tuesday. That’s led to worry from parents who say the construction zones are unacceptable as learning environments. But according to Mayor Ewing, there’s more to the story.

After meeting with Elkhorn Public Schools’ superintendent and the construction company, Ewing said progress is being made. The city requested a schedule for when the remaining work would be completed. The district promised to deliver that timeline by Monday. For now, city officials seem cautiously optimistic.

Safety

Now, is it safe for kids to be there? According to both Ewing and the district, yes. The Omaha Fire Department has completed fire and life safety inspections at both sites. Ewing emphasized that heavy machinery is no longer part of the construction zone at the schools themselves, though nearby development might still involve equipment that’s not affiliated with these school projects.

On top of that, each school has onsite security checking in visitors, and no children are near any dangerous construction activity. The district has confirmed that all necessary safety features and inspections for basic occupancy have been completed.

Progress

While classrooms are up and running, the schools are still dealing with ongoing construction. What’s still being worked on? Art rooms, music classrooms, kitchens, and playgrounds — all vital, but not essential for day-one learning. The district says they’ll clarify completion dates within the next few weeks.

Ewing said that, as long as the district keeps making visible, meaningful progress on the construction to-do list, the city won’t take any action to close the schools. He made it clear that shutting down a school is the last thing they want.

Here’s a quick look at what’s still pending:

Area Under Construction	Status
Art & Music Classrooms	In Progress
Kitchens	In Progress
Playgrounds	In Progress
Heavy Machinery	Removed

Communication

One of the key takeaways from this situation? A breakdown in communication. Mayor Ewing pointed out that the city wasn’t made fully aware of when the schools would start. He’s now pushing for a more formal communication process between the city and school districts to avoid surprises in the future.

That way, if there are issues — like missed inspections or unfinished construction — they can be addressed before students walk in the door.

History

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. According to Ewing, Elkhorn Public Schools and even other districts have opened schools without having their full occupancy permits in place. It’s not a best practice, but it’s also not unheard of.

Still, that doesn’t mean it should continue. The mayor is clearly using this moment to push for improved coordination, better timelines, and more transparency going forward.

In the end, this is a reminder that building schools is about more than pouring concrete and installing lockers. It’s also about keeping communication open, meeting safety standards, and ensuring families are never left in the dark.

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