EDUCATION COUNCIL
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Friday, October 18, 2002
Southeast Community College, Conference Room G-1
88th and O Street, Lincoln, NE
MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Keith Bartels, Nebraska Association of School Boards
Ms. Yvette Holly, UNMC
Mr. Con Dietz, Creighton University
Mr. Terry Haack, Elkhorn High School
Dr. Jack Huck, Southeast Community College
Mr. Dennis Linster, Wayne State College
Dr. Jerry Moskus, Metropolitan Community College
Mr. Tip O’Neill, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Nebraska
Mr. Al Schneider, ESU 5
Mr. Alan Wibbels, ESU 10
ALTERNATES PRESENT:
Mr. Don Mayhew, Lincoln Public School
Mr. Robert Manzer, Nebraska Wesleyan University
LIAISONS PRESENT:
Mr. Wayne Fisher, Nebraska Department of Education
Mr. Bob Huber, Nebraska Education Telecommunications Commission
MEMBERS AND LIAISONS NOT PRESENT:
Dr. Jerry Harnish, Midland Lutheran College; Ms. Linda Engel, Nebraska City Public Schools; Mr. Jeff Johnson, Centennial Public School; Dr. Tom Krepel, Chadron State College; Mr. Joe LeDuc, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln; ;Dr. Harvey Pearlman, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Dr. Sheila Stearns, Wayne State College; Ms. Brenda Decker, DAS-Division of Communications; Dr. David Powers, CCPE.
CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING, ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS
Co-chair, Dr. Jack Huck called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. ; There were 10 voting members present at the time of roll call. ; A quorum existed to conduct official business. Dr. Huck stated that the meeting notice was posted to the NITC and the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar Web sites on September 23, 2002 and that the meeting agenda was posted to the NITC Web site on October 15, 2002. ;Members and visitors introduced themselves.
Mr. Dennis Linster moved to approve the October 18 agenda. Mr. Bartles seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Bartles--yes, Holly--yes, Dietz--yes, Haack--not present, Huck--yes, Moskus--not present, Manzer--yes, Schneider--yes, Linster--yes, Wibbles--yes. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2002 MEETING MINUTES
There was a typo in the minutes that was addressed. Ms. Yvette Holly motioned to approve the September 20 minutes as changed. Mr. Bartles seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Bartles--yes, Holly--yes, Dietz--yes, Haack--not present, Huck--yes, Moskus--not present, Manzer--yes, Schneider--yes, Linster--yes, Wibbles--yes. All were in favor, motion carried.
Mr. Terry Haack arrived.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
WORKGROUP/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Training Advisory Workgroup—Mr. Thomas Rolfes reported that the NETC did include the discontinuation of NEB*SAT in the mini grants and that the fund is needed. NETC is working to provide the return of the fund in the future and would like to continue their work when legislations deem it appropriate within the budget.
NET Distance Learning Report— Mr. Bob Huber reported on NET Distance Learning by using the handout (Excel 112k) he distributed. He outlined that the number of Network 2 hours have decreased by 2%, the number of class are down, however the number of hours are up. Link to sheet.
Mr. Huber reported that NET are going to swap out Network 2 receivers that will allow to the encoding scheme to change and they currently have a transponder that is dedicated to video transfer.
Discussion.
Don Mayhew arrived.
PRESENTATION: I-SAFE (Background Material (PDF 317k))
Ms. Myrta Hansen is an Educational Trainer and Midwestern Regional Rep for I-SAFE, based out of Carlsbad, California. I-SAFE is a non-profit foundation, founded in 1989. The founder of I-SAFE received 3.5 million dollars from the Justice Department to drive internet safety.
Ms. Hansen gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the I-SAFE program, its goals, and mission. Ms. Hansen also explained why there is a need for I-SAFE in our schools and at home. The program as two basic elements that include education and outreach. I-SAFE currently has five classroom lessons that meet curriculum standards in Health, Safety, Language Arts, and Social Studies among others. ;
UPDATE-- NEBRASKA EDUCATION PORTAL
Mr. Rolfes reported that he has been meeting with Nebrask@Online to develop the Education Portal. The Portal currently has 12 subcategories that would hold information and resources targeting a certain population like students, parents, educators, citizens/community, and adult learners, among others. Mr. Rolfes is attempting to re-package information that is already on state websites in a user-friendly format that would accessible via the State of Nebraska homepage.
Nebrask@Online will work with the Education Council to develop appropriate content and vertical architecture to best fit the user needs. Each subcategory will be populated with resources and links that are valuable to the target audience.
Discussion.
The Education Council took a 15-minute break.
DISCUSSION: NEBRASKA NETWORK FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS (Word 172k)
RECOMMENDATION 9; NEBRASKA STATEWIDE IP-CENTRIC NETWORK (NAWG CHARTER/MEMBERS (PDF 41k) )
Dr. Huck summarized what actions and decisions need to get accomplished at this Education Council meeting in regards to the Nebraska Network Final Report and Recommendations. The Final Report was approved at the last Nebraska Information Technology Commission meeting that was held on September 16, 2002. Dr. Huck just reminded members of their involvement with the final report. The Final Report requires the initiation of new groups being the Network Architecture Work Group (NAWG) and the Collaborative Aggregation Partnership (CAP) groups.
The CAP group members are established having representation from the State of Nebraska - Division of Communications, University of Nebraska and the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications. Their responsibilities will include, but are not limited to; bandwidth aggregation, contract management and network design.
The Education Council attempted to discuss the NAWG group structure. Mr. Rolfes provided a list of names of individuals who were involved with the initiation architecture drive for the potential network. Mr. Rolfes stated that the list of names are only those involved earlier and that these people do not currently make up the NWAG group, they should be used as a reference.
Dr. Huck drove the conversations by asking the question: Does the list of people Mr. Rolfes provided reflect the scope and objectives of the NAWG focus? Discussion.
The members discussed and attempted to define who the “stakeholders” are in the NAWG. The group agreed that the “stakeholders” need to have a role in the NAWG. The council also agreed that the Education Council is a “stakeholder” in the potential network. As an organizational sheet that Mr. Rolfes provided, the NAWG group is a work group of the Technical Panel. The Education Council has a concern with the NAWG’s position under the Tech Panel, for the NAWG would only have to report to the Tech Panel, which isn’t the only “stakeholder” under the NITC structure. Discussion.
Ms. Brenda Decker is holding a meeting on October 28 to discuss the Network Architecuture Work Group. After discussion, Mr. Con Dietz moved to ask Ms. Decker to post-pone her meeting until the Education Council is comfortable with NAWG’s position/level in the organizational chart, its objectives and have recommended individuals or entities that should be represented to the NAWG. Mr. Schneider seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Bartles--no, Holly--no, Dietz--yes, Haack--no, Huck--no, Moskus--yes, Manzer--no, Schneider--yes, Linster--yes, Wibbles--no. ; Roll Call Results: 6-No and 4-Yes. Motion fails. Discussion.
It was clarified that the organizational sheet was a staff effort after the Nebraska Network Final Report was approved by the Nebraska Information Technology Commission on September 16, 2002. All members agreed that the organizational chart that placed the NAWG under the Technical Panel needs to be re-configured by the next meeting to prompt further discussion.
The group referred the Nebraska Network Final Report and Recommendations number 9 under the Governance section that states,
“Under the auspices of the NITC, an interim work group composed of stakeholders should coordinate implementation of a shared Nebraska statewide IP-centric network (Recommendation 6). ; The work group should include stakeholders, with some representation of the Community Council, Education Council, and State Government Council. ; The work group should address technical requirements, network management, quality assurance and security needs.” ;
The Educational Council is concerned that as the organizational chart represents, the NAWG is not under the auspices of the NITC, but rather under the auspices of the Technical Panel. Discussion.
Mr. Dietz moved to restructure the organizational chart so it reflects the NAWG’s role as stated in the Final Report as being under the auspices of the NITC, reporting jointly to the three councils, for they are all stakeholders. The organizational chart should reflect the discussion held at the October meeting and brought to the November meeting for review. Mr. Bartles seconded the motion. ; Roll Call Vote: Roll call vote: Bartles--yes, Holly--yes, Dietz--yes, Haack--yes, Huck--yes, Moskus--yes, Manzer--yes, Schneider--yes, Linster--yes, Wibbles--yes. All were in favor, motion carried. Discussion.
Mr. Dietz moved to recommend the individuals who were on the Nebraska Network Work Group and generated the Final Report to be identified as the revitalized NAWG group. There is not a second. Motion dies.
Due to lack of time, the group agreed to end discussion on the Nebraska Network Final Report and Recommendations.
RECOMMENDATION 12; NEBRASKA STATEWIDE SYNCHROUNOUS VIDEO WORK GROUP (DRAFT CHARTER (PDF 94k))
Mr. Rolfes reported that the group has a draft charter, but currently doesn’t have members and is about to be activated by the technical panel. Dr. Huck asked the members to look over the charter, and email Mr. Rolfes with comments and suggestions. Dr. Huck emphasized that everything is up for review and Mr. Rolfes will take all recommendations and concerns to the November 8, 2002 Technical Panel meeting. That meeting will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus Union. The room will be posted.
CONFIRM LOCATIONS FOR NOV. 15 AND DEC. 20 MEETINGS
The November 15, 2002 Education Council meeting will be based in Omaha with satellite sites in needed locations.
The December 13, 2002 Education Council meeting will be hosted in Lincoln, Nebraska at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Bartles motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Manzer seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned.
Meeting minutes were taken Jen Soucie Kitt of the NITC and reviewed by Tom Rolfes, Education IT Manager.
Meeting Minutes