EDUCATION COUNCIL
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Friday, February 20, 2004, 9:00 a.m.
Millard Public Schools
5606 South 147th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
APPROVED MINUTESVOTING MEMBERS/ALTERNATES PRESENT:
Mr. Arnold Bateman, University of Nebraska
Ms. Renee Bose, Nebraska City Public Schools
Mr. Terry Haack, Elkhorn High School
Mr. Jerry Harnisch, Midland Lutheran College
Ms. Yvette Holly, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Mr. Jeff Johnson, Centennial Public Schools
Mr. Joe LeDuc, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
Mr. Chuck Lenosky, Creighton University
Mr. Dennis Linster, Wayne State College
Mr. Michael Pate, Millard Public Schools
Dr. Ed Rastovski, Wahoo Public Schools;
Mr. Alan Wibbels, Educational Service Unit 10
LIAISON MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Mike Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission
Mr. Wayne Fisher, Department of Education
MEMBERS/LIAISONS ABSENT:
Ms. Brenda Decker, Division of Communications; Dr. Jack Huck, Southeast Community College; Dr. Tom Krepel, Chadron State College; Dr. Jerry Moskus, Metropolitan Community College; Dr. Rob Manzer, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Dr. David Powers, Coordinating Commission for Post Secondary Education; and Mr. Al Schneider, Educational Service Unit 5.
CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING, AND ROLL CALL
Alan Wibbels called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. The Meeting Notice was posted to the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar and NITC Web sites on November 24, 2003. The meeting agenda was posted to the NITC Web site on January 12, 2004, with revisions posted on February 16th and 18th, 2004. There were nine voting members present at the time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official business.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 20, 2004 AGENDA
Mr. Bateman moved to approve the February 20, 2004 agenda as presented. Mr. Haack seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Bateman-Yes, Bose-Yes, Holly-Yes, Johnson-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Lenosky-Yes, Linster-Yes, Pate-Yes, and Wibbels-Yes. Results: 9-Yes, 0-No. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER MINUTES
Mr. Pate moved to approve the November 21, 2003 minutes as presented. Mr. Lenosky seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Wibbels-Yes, Pate-Yes, Linster-Yes, Lenosky-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Johnson-Yes, Holly-Yes, Bose-Yes, and Bateman-Yes. Results: 9-Yes, 0-No. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Mr. Haack arrived to the meeting at 9:05 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
WORK GROUP/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Training Advisory Work Group. No Report
NET Distance Learning Report, Mike Beach. For the first time in two years, NET has been having conflicts with Network3 class scheduling. There’s been a slight decrease in NVCN usage. Beginning next month, Mark Weakly will be the new Chief Engineer. He has been with NET for many years and is knowledgeable about various systems. NET is in the process of renovating their building and in early April the systems division will be moving up one floor. During the months of April-September, there will not be regularly scheduled field maintenance for distance learning but staff will be available to assist whenever necessary.
UPDATE: STATEWIDE SYNCHRONOUS VIDEO NETWORK WORK GROUP
Mike Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission
Approximately two years ago, the original audio and video standards were approved by the Technical Panel and the NITC with the condition that it be a reviewed after two years. The Technical Panel has approved the work group’s membership (Word 28k) but a second telehealth representative is still being sought. The replacement of JPEG codecs over the next five years will cost an estimated nine million dollars. The timeline for the next six months was provided. The next steps for the work group include exploring funding options, scheduling and management of the system. Mr. Beach expressed thanks to past and present work group members.
UPDATE: NETWORK NEBRASKA
Rick Golden, University of Nebraska
Legal council has been developing the formal agreement between the University of Nebraska and the State of Nebraska Division of Communications. Project 42 is being serviced by Network Nebraska. Central Community College, Wayne State College, and several other Educational Service Units are likely to join Network Nebraska this year. There is a lot of interest from other entities to be part of the network.
UPDATE: NEBRASKA SEGP APPLICATION FOR INTERNET2
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
The application for Internet2 SEGP status will soon be filed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to UCAID on behalf of K-20 education entities across Nebraska. The application requires a recommendation of three representatives to serve on the Internet2 K-20 Initiative Advisory Council (K12, universities, state and community colleges, and private institutions). The next meeting of this advisory council is scheduled for April 19, 2004 in Arlington, Virginia.
The Education Council broke into K-12 and higher education caucuses to decide their respective nominees.
Dr. Haack moved to approve the following nominations and alternate nominations to serve as Nebraska’s representatives:
K12 – Woody Ziegler, Department of Education (John Stritt, Tri-Valley DLC, alternate)
K-20 – Pam Holly-Wilcox, UNL, (Terry Dugas, NET, alternate)
Higher Education - Eddie Alfers, Wayne State College
Mr. Bateman seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Johnson-Yes, Holly-Yes, Haack-Yes, Bose-Yes, Bateman-Yes, Wibbels-Yes, Pate-Yes, Linster-Yes, Lenosky-Yes, and LeDuc-Yes. Results: 10-Yes, 0-No. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
Mr. Golden shared that he is planning to set up Internet2 kick-off presentations across the State sometime in July.
Dr. Rastovski arrived to the meeting at 9:57 a.m.
NITC REPORT
Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer
January 14, 2004 Legislative Briefing. Lieutenant Governor Heineman wanted to provide information to policy makers regarding the state’s aggregation efforts in telecommunications. The January 14 briefing included the Education and Transportation/Telecommunications Committees. The agenda included the following presenters and presentations: President L. Dennis Smith on the University of Nebraska efforts; Walter Weir on Internet2; Dr. Doug Christensen on the K-12 perspective; Alan Wibbels on Project 42; and Mike Beach on the Statewide Synchronous Video Network. The briefing was well received and those Senators in attendance went away with a better understanding of Network Nebraska. These communication efforts with policy makers will continue. A similar briefing was also provided to the Appropriations Committee.
Timeline for Agency Comprehensive Technology Plans and Budget Submission, Proposed Changes to “Policies and Practices for Guiding Investments in Information Technology (Word 48k). One of the roles of the NITC is to prioritize I.T. budget requests for the Legislature. Since its inception, the NITC has gone through this cycle three times. The Technical Panel, as well as each of the Councils, has been part of the recommendation process. The NITC would like to assume a more proactive role to help guide the State's strategic information technology investments. The Budget and Fiscal offices are aware and supportive of the changes. Changes that are being proposed are as follows:
- Statewide Technology Plan. Strategic initiatives would represent a manageable number of priorities or topics that the NITC can promote.
- Agencies will use these strategic initiatives as guidance in their comprehensive technology plans (due in August) and budget requests (due September 15th). This summer, the NITC will discuss and finalize these strategic initiatives. A gap analysis of agencies efforts will be done - what is in place and/or happening in agencies and what needs to take place.
- The final report to Legislature would include the ranking of projects but would also include the NITC’s recommendations and analysis of topics pertaining to the strategic initiatives.
RECOMMENDATION OF 2-3 ENTERPRISE I.T. PROJECTS FOR 2005-07 BIENNIAL BUDGET PROCESS
Discussion followed regarding the action items and issues, support and benefits of Network Nebraska to K-12, higher education, and life-long learning.
Mr. Linster moved that the Education Council approve the following three initiatives for the 2005-07 biennial budget process in priority order: Network Nebraska’s infrastructure out to the local level; Statewide Synchronous Video Network, and the E-learning Initiative. Mr. Bateman seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lenosky-Yes, Linster-Yes, Pate-Yes, Rastovski-Yes, Wibbels-Yes, Bateman-Yes, Bose-Yes, Haack-Yes, Holly-Yes, Johnson-Yes, and LeDuc-Yes. Results: 11-Yes, 0-No. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
UPDATE FROM ACTION ITEMS TASK GROUPS (Word 32k)
There were still members who had not signed up to serve on a task group. The sheet was passed around. Mr. Rolfes encouraged the Council to focus on a smaller number of action items for next year so that more progress can be made. Members expressed that several issues made it difficult to meet as task groups: Budget cuts, dealing with staff shortage and priorities, implementation and preparation for the No Child Left Behind Legislation, and the development of the new K-12 student database. The Council strongly recommended that task groups be allowed time to meet prior, during or after the scheduled Education Council meetings beginning with the March 19th meeting.
UPDATE: NEBRASKA EDUCATION PORTAL ENHANCEMENTS
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
This project began about one year ago. The Council forwarded four projects as Education Portal enhancements: IT training calendar, a single web-enabled application for admission into Nebraska higher education institutions; a searchable database of I.T. courses and programs; and an on-line recertification process for teachers. The Department of Education is on track with the on-line teacher certification. The Chief Information Officer has received grant money from the State Records Board for NOL to focus on the remaining three topics. By the March meeting, a working model of the web-enabled admission form will be available for demonstration. So far, all higher education institutions have agreed to receive Ed Portal requests for college information packets. Some concerns were expressed regarding the additional and/or unique needs of institutions regarding the admissions process. Members would like to see a better process to respond to Ed Portal content questions, dead links, problems with content source and/or responses from the web master.
Rick Becker, Government Information Technology Manager, tracks and updates any technology related bills on the NITC website daily. Mr. Rolfes called attention to LB904, LB1159 and LB1221.
OTHER
There was no other business.
NEXT MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the NITC Education Council will be held on Friday, March 19th, 9 a.m. at Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln, Nebraska. A location is needed for the May meeting.
With no further business, Mr. Wibbels adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m.
Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Tom Rolfes of the Office of the CIO/NITC.
Meeting Minutes