Thursday,
April 16, 2009, 1:00-4:00PM CT
Host site: Public Service
Commission Hearing Room, Atrium 3rd Floor, 12th & N Streets, Lincoln
Remote Site 1: ESU 10, 76 Plaza Boulevard, Kearney
Remote Site 2: Connell Hall, Wayne State College, 1000 Main, Wayne
Remote Site 3: Tekamah High School, 112 N. 13th St., Tekamah
VOTING MEMBERS/ALTERNATES PRESENT:
Mr. Arnold Bateman,
Dr. Michael Chipps,
Mr. Ron Cone, ESU 10 (
Dr. Terry Haack, Bennington Public Schools (
Mr. Stephen Hamersky,
Mr. Jeff Johnson, Centennial Public Schools (
Mr. Chuck Lenosky,
Mr. Dennis Linster, Wayne State College (
Mr. Art Tanderup, Tekamah-Herman Community Schools (Tekamah
site)
Dr. Bob Uhing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (
LIAISONS/ALTERNATE MEMBERS PRESENT: Ms. SuAnn Witt, Nebraska Dept. of
Education, Alt. for Mike Kozak; Steven Stortz, Norfolk
Lutheran Schools, Alt. for Steve Hamersky (was present and voting until Steve
Hamersky arrived); Mr. Ken Clipperton, Midland
Lutheran College, Alt. for Chuck Lenosky
MEMBERS/LIAISONS ABSENT: Mr. Stan Carpenter, Nebraska State
College System; Mr. Clark Chandler, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Dr. Eileen
Ely, Western Nebraska Community College; Dr. Marshall Hill, Coordinating
Commission for Postsecondary Education; Ms. Yvette Holly, UN Medical Center;
Mr. Craig Pease, Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools; Ms. Linda Richards, Ralston
Public Schools; Ms. Brenda Decker, DAS-CIO; and Mr. Michael Winkle, NET
CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING,
LOCATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW DOCUMENTS, ROLL CALL, INTRODUCTIONS
Dr. Chipps called the meeting to
order at 1:04 p.m. There were nine
voting members present at the time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official
business. The meeting notice was posted
to the NITC Web site and the Nebraska Public Meeting
Calendar on February 24, 2009. The
meeting agenda was posted to the NITC Web site on April 13, 2009.
CONSIDER
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR THE APRIL 16, 2009 MEETING
Mr. Bateman moved to approve the April
16, 2009 agenda as presented. Mr. Stortz seconded. Bateman-Yes, Chipps-Yes, Cone-Yes, Haack-Yes, Stortz-Yes,
Johnson-Yes, Linster-Yes, Tanderup-Yes, and Uhing-Yes. Results:
Yes-9, No-0. Motion carried.
Mr.
Lenosky arrived at the
CONSIDER
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 5, 2009 MEETING
Mr. Johnson moved to approve the February
5, 2009 minutes as presented. Mr.
Bateman seconded. Roll call vote:
Uhing-Yes, Tanderup-Yes, Linster-Yes, Lenosky-Yes, Johnson-Yes, Hamersky-Yes,
Haack-Yes, Cone-Yes, Chipps-Yes, and Bateman-Yes. Results:
Yes-10, No-0. Motion carried.
There was some concern from
members regarding the timeliness of receiving the meeting minutes. The record of minutes should be posted within
the ten days of a public meeting. Staff will
make every attempt to get them posted within this time frame. It was noted that
the agenda and minutes were posted on Monday.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was
no public comment.
Jessica Zywiec, Project Manager, Nebraska.gov
Nebraska.gov has been in contact
with the task group members on additional information that is needed for the
website. Jessica has received information
for needed links from some of the group members. Since March 31st was the deadline for the
group to get information to Jessica, Nebraska.gov will proceed with development
of the website and will continue to be in contact with the Education Council.
There will
be a prototype demonstration of the portal to at the June Education Council
meeting.
Council
members raised the issue of the maintenance of the portal’s links. Nebraska.gov has discussed this issue. One approach being considered is to have one “links”
database. This would make maintenance
easier. Council members requested a link to the updated portal to review prior
to the June meeting.
The
question was raised as to whether the Education Portal should be one of the
council’s action items. Mr. Rolfes stated
that it could go under the eGovernment NITC
initiative with the Education Council taking the lead. Issues and concerns regarding the maintenance
and update of the portal would be addressed by the Education Council. Several members stressed the potential importance
of the website to educators, parents and citizens.
Mr.
Hamersky arrived at the
NITC
UPDATE: COMMISSION, TECHNICAL PANEL, COUNCILS
Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager
· Received reports from
all five Councils and Technical Panel
· Received
informational updates about OCIO, Network
· Forwarded the deficit
request from the
· Approved the
recommended designations for Enterprise Project and Project Reporting
http://www.nitc.nebraska.gov/nitc/meetings/documents/20090303/EP_Recommendations.pdf
Council members received the NITC and other advisory council
reports prior to the meeting. Council
members did not have any questions regarding the report. Mr. Rolfes reported that the other I.T. Managers
were impressed with the report and plan to utilize it with their councils as
well. Mr. Linster was acknowledged for making
this suggestion. Mr. Rolfes has been checking
on the use of stimulus monies for educational purposes.
NETWORK
Tom
Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager
Network
TASK GROUP REPORTS
Funding/Erate. Steve Hamersky. The task group met in February to review
their plan to determine progress and accomplishments. The task group report
indicated that the
(Meeting started experiencing video conference connection
difficulties. Still picture frame
stuck.)
Services Task Group. The work group has
not met since the last meeting but the following progress has been made:
The Network
Nebraska website has been updated to show a few of the services but there has
been no formal list of services developed.
There has been no progress on bandwidth threshold issues. It is hoped that a Governance Task Group will
be established to address these issues.
Contact
was made with to entities to get feedback regarding the need for? So far, the
results indicate that this is not a great need.
In
February, this topic was taken to the Distance Education Advisory committee. Mr.
Roethemeyer reported that a committee has
established a work group to develop recommendations. It is anticipated that a recommendation will
be made at the June Education Council meeting.
Efforts
are underway to develop more dual credit enrollment opportunities between
Educational Service Units 1, 2, 7, 8 and 17 and their associated higher
education institutions. There has been
some progress.
Marketing Task Group, SuAnn Witt. SuAnn
Witt and Arnold Bateman met with the CAP (Collaborative Aggregation
Partnership) group and the NITC Technical Panel to present the Network Nebraska
survey report. It was well received. Both groups will discuss next steps regarding
the report. The next step for the task
group is to develop a marketing plan by the June meeting.
Governance Task Group, Mr. Linster. The
task group has met once since the last Education Council meeting and will be
meeting two more times to formalize the process. The Council’s input would be
appreciated. It is anticipated that a
recommendation for the advisory group structure and membership will be ready by
the June meeting. The Task Group was
reminded that equal representation between K-12 and higher education should be top
consideration.
Task Groups broke into smaller action items work groups to
determine review and evaluate the completion and status of the Education
Council’s action items.
TASK GROUP WORK
SESSIONS AND ACTION ITEM PRODUCTS
NETWORK
N1A -
Action: The CAP will
work with communities that express an interest in aggregating their public
sector transport. Lead: Network
RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE AS IS
N1B - Action: The CAP will use the Network Nebraska website to showcase
examples of successful public sector network and/or Internet service
cooperation. CAP will encourage interaction and sharing between public
entities. Lead: Network
RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE AS IS
N2A – Action: The Network Nebraska network design/support team will
develop a memorandum of agreement with local and regional education entities in
order to develop a cooperative support system for the statewide network that
will mitigate data transport and synchronous video problems. Lead:
Network
RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE AS IS
COMMENT:
Currently, there is no written agreement between Network
N2B Action: The Chief Information Officer will annually update the
State master purchase contracts for edge devices and codec equipment and
monitor the local site purchases of such equipment in order to promote and
encourage network equipment and codec equipment standardization. Lead:
Chief Information Officer
RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE AS IS
N3A Action: The CAP will accept new orders for Internet service and
continue to aggregate purchasing demand to secure a more economical price for
statewide Internet service. Lead: Network
RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE WITH
REVISION
COMMENT:
The Network Nebraska advisory group should consider developing different
service levels and pricing.
N4A Action: Develop an appropriate catalog of services and bandwidth
thresholds for Network
RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE WITH
REVISION
COMMENT:
The Network Nebraska advisory group should consider developing different
service levels and pricing. It was recommended to revise to include all
educational entities and to provide more information for non-public education
regarding requirements. It would be beneficial to include the Network Nebraska
Ad Hoc Committee. The question was raised
as to whether libraries should be included.
There was no decision made at this time regarding libraries.
N4B - Action: Charter a work group to research advanced network services
for Network
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE AS IS
N4C Action: Implement a statewide on-line presentation and meeting
software solution. Lead: Network Nebraska (CAP),
Technical Panel for needs assessment
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE WITH REVISION
COMMENT:
Utilize the Network Nebraska Customer Survey to determine the following needs:
§
Online
statewide assessments for K12 and effect on schools
§
Online
and virtual schools
N4D Action: Develop a formula for E-rate cost allocation that allows
affordable fees for adult education and other ineligible population services to
take place in K-12 settings. Lead: Distance Education Council
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE AS IS
N4E Action: Work to amend Nebraska Department of Education policies to
include Pre-K as an eligible population for Universal Service Fund (E-rate)
purposes. Lead:
RECOMMENDATION:
DISCONTINUE
COMMENT:
The work group pursued this with the Nebraska Department of Education legal
section and the Legislator’s Education Committee and found it to be not feasible
at this point in time.
N4F Action: Work to change the federal E-rate policies that create
impediments and financial disincentives for collaborative usage of networks and
videoconferencing by ineligible populations (Pre-K, adults, telehealth,
etc…). Lead:
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE AS IS
COMMENT:
The task group hopes to continue advocating for positive and responsive change
in the E-rate program at the Federal level.
N4G Action: Create a Network Advisory Group and meeting structure for
education entities to provide input to Network Nebraska (CAP). Lead:
Network
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE WITH REVISION
COMMENT:
The Governance Task Group will seek nominations from the Education Council for
the Network Nebraska Ad Hoc Committee at the June meeting. After which time, the task group will confer
with the State CIO and include timelines and meeting frequency that will meet
the CIO’s request for the first meeting to be held in July. The advisory group
will periodically report back to the Education Council who will make further
recommendations for governance and leadership.
N4H Action: Review the Network Nebraska governance and leadership
structure. Lead: Network
RECOMMENDATION:
COMPLETED
COMMENT:
This action item could be declared completed.
New action items for Network
N5 Action: Annually
reissue and utilize the Network Nebraska Market Survey Report to drive Network
RECOMMENDATION:
CREATE NEW ACTION ITEM
N6 Action: Annually update the Network Nebraska Marketing
plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
CREATE NEW ACTION ITEM
N7 Action: Research and pursue grant writing that would
assist with deployment of statewide technology services (e.g. MCU/Bridge).
RECOMMENDATION:
CREATE NEW ACTION ITEM
DIGITAL EDUCATION ACTION
ITEMS
D1 Action: Set a deadline, and establish standard(s) related to the administration
and maintenance of learning management systems and content management systems
by K- 12 schools. Lead: NITC
Technical Panel
RECOMMENDATION:
DISCONTINUE OR CONTINUE WITH REVISION
COMMENT:
This action item should be eliminated due to the council not having the
technical expertise. Responsibility should remain with the Technical
Panel. It was recommended to include a
statement recommending that the Technical Panel seeks the council’s input. It was also recommended to work toward a more
efficient and agnostic Content Management System rather than a Learning
Management System.
D2 Action: Negotiate a statewide purchase of the National Repository of
Online Courses.
RECOMMENDATION: COMPLETE
D3 Action: Develop an affordable plan to provide access to learning management
system software for every teacher and learner who uses synchronous video
distance learning and to also train teachers in effective instructional design
to integrate synchronous and asynchronous technologies. Lead: Distance Education Council
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE WITH REVISIONS
COMMENT: Substitute
content management system for learning management system. Suggest sustainable
funding strategies.
D4 Action: Encourage
higher education entities to list all dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment
course opportunities on the statewide clearinghouse and scheduling software
system. Lead: Distance Education Council
RECOMMENDATION:
CONTINUE WITH REVISIONS
COMMENT:
Provide training and encourage all
education providers to list all dual enrollment,
concurrent enrollment, and all enrichment opportunities on the statewide
clearinghouse and scheduling software system.
New action items for Digital
Education were recommended:
D5 Action: Help develop a
governance and leadership structure for the administration of online, virtual
schools.
RECOMMENDATION:
CREATE NEW ACTION ITEM
D6 Action: Monitor the Nebraska Statewide
Assessment System (NeSAS) and develop strategies that
will assure its continued success and use of the most efficient and scalable
technology infrastructure.
RECOMMENDATION:
CREATE NEW ACTION ITEM
D7 Action: Promote the deployment
and use of the National Repository of
Online Courses.
RECOMMENDATION: CREATE NEW ACTION ITEM
OTHER/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Rolfes
wanted to alert the council that the following members’ terms are up for renewal: Stan Carpenter, Michael Chipps, Yvette Holly,
Chuck Lenosky, Steve Hamersky, Craig Pease, Art Tanderup, and Bob Uhing. Mr. Rolfes was directed to contact these subsectors
regarding their representation.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE 6/XX/2009
MEETING, CONSIDER LOCATION FOR THE 6/XX/2009 MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Rolfes will poll the members to
determine a date for the June meeting.
The meeting will be spent finalizing the action items. If there are other items council members wish
to have on the agenda, they are to contact Mr. Rolfes.
Mr. Bateman moved to adjourn. Mr. Johnson seconded. All were in favor. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at
3:12 p.m. CT.
Meeting minutes were taken by Lori
Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Tom Rolfes of the Office of the CIO/NITC.