EDUCATION COUNCIL
Friday, March 15, 2002, 9 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 1023
Lincoln, Nebraska
APPROVED MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Keith Bartels, Boards of Education
Dr. Woody Ziegler, (alt. for Con Dietz, Creighton University)
Mr. Jeff Johnson, Centennial Public Schools
Mr. Kent Hendrickson, (alt. for Harvey Perlman, UNL)
Dr. Jack Huck, Southeast Community College
Mr. Joe LeDuc, Lincoln Diocese Catholic Schools
Dr. Robert Manzer, (alt. for Tip O’Neill)
Dr. Joe Preusser, Central Community College
Dr. Ed Rastovski, Wahoo Public Schools
Mr. Alan Wibbels, ESU 10
LIAISONS PRESENT:
Mr. Bob Huber, Nebraska Education Telecommunications Commission
Dr. Dean Bergman, Nebraska Department of Education
MEMBERS AND LIAISONS NOT PRESENT: Dr. Bill Berndt, UNMC; Ms. Brenda Decker, Division of Communications; Ms. Linda Engel, Nebraska City Schools; Dr. Sheila Stearns, Wayne State College; Dr. David Powers, Coordinating Commission for PostSecondary Education; Dr. Tom Krepel, Chadron State College; Mr. Al Schneider, ESU 5; and Dr. Rob Ziegler, Madison Public Schools.
CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING, ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS
Alan Wibbels, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Introductions were made after roll call. There were ten voting members present at the time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official business. Mr. Wibbels stated that the meeting notice and agenda were posted to the NITC and Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar Web sites on February 14, 2002. Revised agendas were posted to the NITC Web site on March 7th, 13th and 14th, 2002.
APPROVAL OF MARCH 15, 2002 AGENDA
Dr. Hendrickson moved to approve the March 15, 2002 agenda as presented. Dr. Preusser seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Bartels-Yes, Ziegler-Yes, Huck-Yes, Johnson-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Mantzer-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, Preusser-Yes, Rastovski-Yes, and Wibbels-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 18, 2002 MINUTES
Dr. Preusser moved to approve the January 18, 2002 minutes as presented. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Wibbels-Yes, Rastovski-Yes, Preusser-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, Manzer-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Johnson-Yes, Huck-Yes, Ziegler-Yes, and Bartels-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
REPORTS – TRAINING ADVISORY WORK GROUP
Tracy Klosterman, Nebraska Educational Television
The grant information and application have been posted on the NITC web site since February 1st. The web site had over 460 hits. This funding cycle, applicants were asked to submit the application electronically. As of today, one grant application has been received. The deadline is Tuesday, April 2nd. Sara Cunningham has resigned from the Work Group leaving a vacancy. The Education Council will need to make a recommendation for a new member.
REPORTS – NET DISTANCE LEARNING
Bob Huber, Nebraska Educational Television
The written statistical report was briefly reviewed. Network2 has increased by 11% from last year. Network3 has remained the same as last year, however, classes have increased by 14% on the total network. NVCN hours are the same as last year. The year-to-date help desk usage is up 20%. The DSL team visits are down by 26% and the system down hours has decreased by 33%.
Dr. Huck reiterated his concern regarding the lack of use of the videoconference room site at Southeast Community College-Energy Square and possibly relocating it to where it is better utilized. Mr. Huber informed him that NET has no authority regarding the videoconference sites and that he would need to contact the Division of Communications. Mr. Rolfes stated that it would be helpful to have a videoconference site for large groups in the Lincoln area.
REPLACEMENT FOR TRAINING ADVISORY WORK GROUP REPRESENTATIVE
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
Dr. Hendrickson moved to approve the nomination of Noel Stanley, Lifelong Learning Center Coordinator, Northeast Community College, to serve on the Training Advisory Work Group as a community college representative. Dr. Preusser seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Johnson-Yes, Huck-Yes, Ziegler-Yes, Bartels-Yes, Wibbels-Yes, Rastovski-Yes, Preusser-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, Manzer-Yes, and LeDuc-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
ADDITION OF A K-12 REPRESENTATIVE ON THE TECHNICAL PANEL
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
The Technical Panel recommended a change in the charter to include a K-12 representative. The NITC will have to officially approve the membership expansion at the April meeting.
The Technical Panel requested that the Education Council make a recommendation. After discussion, the Council agreed by group consensus to have Mr. Wibbels present this at the next ESU’s Network Operations Committee meeting for a recommendation to the Education Council.
RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW MEMBERS ON THE EDUCATION COUNCIL
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
Dr. Joe Preusser will resign from the Education Council. George Mihel, President of Mid-Plains Community College Area, was recommended by the Nebraska Community College Association, to serve on the Education Council.
Dr. Pruesser moved to approve the nomination of Dr. George Mihel as a new member on the Education Council representing Community Colleges. Mr. Hendrickson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Rastovski-Yes, Wibbels-Yes, Bartels-Yes, Ziegler-Yes, Huck-Yes, Johnson-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Manzer-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, and Preusser-Yes. The motion was carried by majority vote.
Mr. LeDuc moved that the Education Council recognize Dr. Pruesser for his contribution and work on the Education Council. Dr. Huck seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Bartels-Yes, Ziegler-Yes, Huck-Yes, Johnson-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Manzer-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, Preusser-Abstained, Rastovski-Yes, and Wibbels-Yes. Results: 9-Yes and 1-Abstained. The motion was carried by majority vote.
Mike Beach, NET liaison, requested to serve as Alternate to the Council and to have Bob Huber serve as official member on the Education Council.
Dr. Hendrickson moved to approve Bob Huber as the official NET Liaison on the Education Council and for Mike Beach to serve as alternate. Dr. Ziegler seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ziegler-Yes, Huck-Yes, Johnson-Yes, LeDuc-Yes, Manzer-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, Preusser-Yes, Rastovski-Yes, Wibbels-Yes, and Bartels-Yes. The motion was carried by majority vote.
TASK GROUP REPORT – INFRASTRUCTURE
Alan Wibbels
Mr. Wibbels was available to entertain questions regarding the Infrastructure Task Group Report. Mr. Wibbels serves on the Public Service Commission’s Universal Service Fund Board. He informed the Council members that the Nebraska Universal Service Fund (USF) has met all of its financial obligations and has a surplus of about $50 million. The USF Board’s recommendation was to not return the excess funds until the Nebraska K-12 schools review their needs. The Public Service Commission and the USF Board is also interested in determining needs in telehealth. The Universal Service Fund supports education, communities and telehealth. Legal use of the fund included telecommunication, internet access and internal connections cost.
There is a hearing scheduled for next week and members were encouraged to testify. Due to the overall increase of bandwidth needs for K-12, Wayne Fisher will be testifying on behalf of the Nebraska Department of Education. The following suggestions and comments were offered:
- Recommend a change in the USF criteria to not just depend on free and reduced lunches to determine eligibility.
- Site specific examples of need where school are only getting 25% of rate rather than qualifying for 50%
- Develop a business plan for the use of Nebraska’s excess USF monies for the hearings.
Mr. Hendrickson moved that the Education Council support the efforts and recommendation of the Nebraska Department of Education for the Nebraska USF surplus to be utilized to advance and enhance the telecommunications needs of Nebraska schools. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: LeDuc-Yes, Johnson-Yes, Huck-Yes, Ziegler-Yes, Bartels-Yes, Wibbels-Yes, Rastovski-Yes, Preusser-Yes, Hendrickson-Yes, and Manzer-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.
TASK GROUP REPORT – LIFE CYCLE FUNDING
Keith Bartels
The funding sources for technology in education are being exhausted. There needs to be a means of replacing or refunding these sources. K12 had an Education Technology Consortium to put a business plan together but need to do some coordination between K12 and higher education on how monies are being spent and used. It was suggested to conduct an inventory of educational resources as to what do we have and how can we use it better. There is a P16 initiative occurring and perhaps a subcommittee could be established in this group to address the inventory and questions but this group has not been approached with this idea.
TASK GROUP REPORT – NEEDS OF THE LEARNER
No report was available.
TASK GROUP REPORT – LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY
Mr. LeDuc, Mr. Johnson and Dr. Rastovski presented the Leading Edge Technology Task Group Report and were available to entertain questions. It was suggested to review the language in the NITC statute that refers to the Ed Tech Consortium to determine how the consortium can be of assistance to the task group.
REVIEW OF EDUCATION COUNCIL PRIORITIES FOR STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY PLAN AND REVIEW OF EDUCATION COUNCIL’S ACTION ITEMS FOR STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY PLAN
Mr. Rolfes reminded members that the Education Council Priorities (PDF 8k) and Action Items (PDF 11k) need to be reviewed for the Statewide Technology Plan update. This was tabled until next month’s meeting.
NETCOM UPDATE – PILOT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT (PDF 75k)
Sid McCartney, Division of Communications
The Division of Communications received approval by the NITC to conduct a Pilot Project for Proof of Concept related to the NETCOM Project. Scottsbluff is being proposed as one of the pilot communities. Currently, the Division has a 100% commitment from the University and is getting commitment from the other entities involved. Other sites are being evaluated as pilot project sites. A question was raised as to whether the NITC and the Division of Communications would be open to other ideas for pilot projects. Mr. McCartney thought that they would be open to suggestions and recommendations.
NEBRASKA NETWORK WORK GROUP UPDATE
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
The Nebraska Network Work Group has met twice – February 11th and March 14th. All entities involved are supportive and speaking in a single voice for a network for all educational purposes. Recommendations and feasibility study are due to the NITC by September 1st. An inventory resulted in 30-40 maps of existing networks in Nebraska (state agencies, educational institutions, national guard, and telehealth.) The Nebraska Network Work Group is not replacing NETCOM. Both groups are working collaboratively. Meeting notices, agendas and minutes can be accessed through the web site.
Mr. Hendrickson, has been involved with Internet2 for several years and reported that the Quilt* Project is attempting to aggregate Internet1 services to get better costs. The University of Nebraska is currently paying $300/month for this service. When the aggregation is completed, there will be a 2/3 reduction in cost for the service. The QUILT is offering this opportunity to Nebraska educational institutions through the University. It is anticipated that the aggregation will be completed and available within the next one to two months.
(*Quilt is a UCAID-University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development Project whose participants are non-profit advanced regional network organizations dedicated to advancing research and education in the United States.)
WORK STATION CONFIGURATION GUIDELINES FOR K-12
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
At the March 12th meeting, the Technical Panel recommended the proposed Work Station Configuration Guidelines for K-12 (PDF 110k) for a 30-day public comment period. The Educational Service Units Network Operations Committee had put a task group together to develop the guidelines. These will go out for public comment before they are officially approved by the Technical Panel and the NITC.
PROJECT UPDATES – STATEWIDE IT TRAINING CALENDAR
Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager
Mr. Rolfes provided an update on the Statewide IT Training calendar. The Training Advisory Work Group had made several suggestions on how it could be improved. It is proposed that Nebraska Online (NOL) would host the web site. Questions were raised regarding posting to the web site by educational institutions. This would be a secured process through Mr. Rolfes working with NOL for password access and security. It was by group consensus to try it for six months.
OTHER BUSINESS
Members were encouraged to share the following announcement with their sector members and any others who may be interested:
The Nebraska Symposium on Information Technology in Education (NSITE), is being held May 15-17, Embassy Suites Motel, 11th and P Street, Lincoln. An email will be going out to members from NCITE (Nebraska Center for Information Technology in Education).
Building Information Age Communities, is being held on Friday, April 12th, Leadership Center, in Aurora, Nebraska.
The Annual NETA Conference is being held April 25-26, at the Holiday Inn Central, in Omaha, Nebraska
The Lincoln Downtown Technology Fair, will be held on April 26th.
ASSIGN LOCATIONS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS AND ADJOURNMENT
April 19th - Mr. Rolfes will work on a location. Norfolk had extended an invitation to host a meeting at their location.
May 17th - Mr. Rolfes will work on a location. The NCITE conference is also scheduled on this same day. The May Education Council meeting date may need to be rescheduled.
Mr. Wibbels adjourned the meeting at 12:10 p.m.
Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Tom Rolfes of the Office of the CIO/NITC.
Meeting Minutes