EDUCATION COUNCIL
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Friday, November 18, 2005, 9:30 a.m.
Governor’s Mansion – Lower Level Conference Room
1425 H Street, Lincoln, Nebraska
MINUTES
VOTING MEMBERS/ALTERNATES PRESENT:
Mr. Arnold Bateman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mr. Clark Chandler, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Mr. Dennis Baack, Alt. for Michael Chipps
Mr. Kent Gydesen, Alt. for Linda Richards
Ms. Yvette Holly, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Dr. Jack Huck, Southeast Community College
Mr. Jeff Johnson, Centennial Public Schools;
Mr. Chuck Lenosky, Creighton University
Mr. Rich Molettiere, Omaha North High School
Mr. Al Schneider, Educational Service Unit 5
Mr. Alan Wibbels, Educational Service Unit 10
LIAISON/ALTERNATES MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ms. Brenda Decker, Chief Information Officer
Mr. Terry Dugas, Alt. for Mike Winkle, NET
Mr. Mike Kozak, Department of Education
Dr. Marshall Hill, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Ms. Linda Engel, Nebraska City Public Schools
Mr. Wayne Fisher, Department of Education
MEMBERS/LIAISONS ABSENT:
Stan Carpenter, State College Board; Dr. Terry Haack, Bennington Public Schools; Joe LeDuc, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln; Dennis Linster, Wayne State College; and Dr. Ed Rastovski, Wahoo Public Schools
Others Present: Jim Zemke, William Scheideler, Lavay Rinehart, Kristie Jergensen, Bev Lauby, Jodi Banks, Jay Sears
CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING, ROLL CALL & INTRODUCTIONS
Dr. Jack Hack, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. There were 11 voting members present at the time of roll. A quorum was present to conduct official business. The meeting notice was posted to the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar on October 1, 2005. The meeting agenda was posted to the NITC website on November 15, 2005.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR THE NOVEMBER 18, 2005 MEETING
Ms. Holly moved to approve the November 18, 2005 agenda as presented. Mr. Chandler seconded. Roll call vote: Bateman-Yes, Baack-Yes, Chandler-Yes, Gydesen-Yes, Holly-Yes, Huck-Yes, Johnson-Yes, Lenosky-Yes, Molettiere-Yes, Schneider-Yes, and Wibbels-Yes. Results: Yes-11, No-0. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 MEETING
Mr. Molettiere moved to approve the September 23, 2005 minutes as presented. Mr. Lenosky seconded. Roll call vote: Bateman-Yes, Baack-Yes, Chandler-Yes, Gydesen-Yes, Holly-Yes, Huck-Yes, Johnson-Yes, Lenosky-Yes, Molettiere-Yes, Schneider-Yes, and Wibbels-Yes. Results: Yes-11, No-0. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
DISTANCE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT TASK FORCE (DEETF) UPDATE
Mr. Rolfes, Mike Beach and Wayne Fisher have assisted with staffing the task force. Education Council members, Dr. Huck and Mr. Kozak, also serve on the task force. Some of the recommendations and items discussed at yesterday’s DEETF staffing meeting included:
- decision making at the local level regarding distance education
- encouragement and incentives for participation in the statewide network
- local level upgrades
- CIO to arrange opportunities for school districts to link to Network Nebraska
- CIO to bid for distance education equipment per Technical Panel standards
- Equipment reimbursements up to $20,000 (synchronous) for those who participate to be matched by $5,000 by the school,
- Schools will be obligated to provide 2 classes/year, and
- Establish a distance education council to explore statewide scheduling program
Discussion followed regarding tax equity and opportunities for school aid funding. As recommended, ESU’s would also be eligible for the technology allowance. It was recommended that the definition of synchronous and asynchronous needs to be defined. The Task Force will be reviewing and discussing a draft report at their final meeting on December 7th. The submission deadline for the report is December 31, 2005.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: ALAN WIBBELS
Brenda Decker, Chief Information Officer
Since the inception of the Education Council in 1998, Dr. Huck and Mr. Wibbels have served as co-chairs. Mr. Wibbels’ expertise, input and skills have contributed to the work and accomplishments of the council. ESU 10 was the first customer on Network Nebraska. Ms. Decker conveyed Governor Heineman’s and Lieutenant Governor Sheehy’s regrets for not being able to attend. On their behalf, Ms. Decker presented an appreciation certificate and plaque. Mr. Wibbels made some farewell remarks and thanked the council.
NOVEMBER 8 NITC MEETING UPDATE
Steve Henderson, I.T. Administrator, Planning and Project Management
Dr. Janie Park, president of Chadron State College, representing the general public on the NITC, was installed as a new commissioner. This afternoon, the NITC will be providing a legislative briefing to the Appropriations Committee and the Transportation and Telecommunication Committee. Education Council members/alternates are invited to attend. On November 21st, Lieutenant Governor Sheehy, along with the State Government Council, is meeting with agency directors to discuss security & business resumption, as well as to discuss what services should be restored and in what order. During this legislative session, legislation will be proposed to integrate I.T. operational services and policy together under the direction of the CIO for the State of Nebraska. The Statewide Technology Plan was discussed. Several NITC Commissioners’ terms will expire in April 2006. Dr. Doug Christensen’s term will be expiring. Mr. Henderson suggested that the Education Council may want to discuss how this position should be addressed.
AUGUST 9 JOINT TECHNICAL PANEL AND ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING PROJECTS; MEETING SYNOPSIS (PDF 16k) AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES
The CIO’s office will convene the work groups to identify and discuss the five cooperative initiatives developed at the meeting.
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEFICIT REQUEST (PDF 84k) AND TECHNICAL REVIEW (PDF 26k) UPDATE
Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager
The Technical Panel’s review evaluated the NDE technology proposal as technically feasible and provided the agency an opportunity to address reviewer comments. Department of Education recognized that the funding and impact of LB 689 will be superseded by a new bill to be introduced in the upcoming session of the Legislature.
STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY PLAN (PDF 405k)
The NITC has approved the Statewide Technology Plan 1.0 which contains 8 initiatives. The advisory groups have been charged to further develop action items to accomplish the initiatives. The Education Council has taken the lead for the following three initiatives: Network Nebraska, Statewide Synchronous Video Network, and Digital Education.
A question was raised regarding collaboration of the Education Council’s action items and the Community Council’s Telehealth initiative. Consideration and discussions must occur regarding federal regulations and confidentiality and the pros and con of having two separate networks. There may be a requirement to have two separate systems because of the policy and privacy issues on a public network. Homeland security and CALEA requirements must also be considered by Network Nebraska.
Mr. Rolfes is meeting with the Library Commission advisory council this afternoon to inform them about Network Nebraska.
EDUCATION COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS (Word 138k) DISCUSSION
After providing input and suggestions, the council directed Mr. Rolfes to draft action items for the January 20th meeting.
NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the NITC Education Council will be a videoconference meeting to be held on Friday, January 20, 2006, 9:00 a.m.
Mr. Chandler offered to host the March 17, 2006 meeting at Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska.
With no further business, Dr. Huck adjourned the meeting at 11:57 a.m.
Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Tom Rolfes, Office of the CIO/NITC.
Meeting Minutes