EDUCATION COUNCIL

Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 9:00 am CT
Host site: Varner Hall Board Room, 3835 Holdrege, Lincoln

Meeting Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Mark Askren, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Mr. Burke Brown, Palmyra School District

Mr. Mike Carpenter, Doane College

Ms. Cassandra Joseph, Alt. for Mr. Matt Chrisman, Mitchell Public Schools

Mr. John Dunning, Wayne State College

Mr. Steven Hamersky, Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School

Dr. Dan Hoesing, Schuyler Community Schools

Mr. Steve Hotovy, Nebraska State College System

Mr. Greg Maschman, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Mr. Gary Needham, ESU 09

Mr. Mary Niemiec, University of Nebraska

Mr. Randy Schmailzl, Metro Community College

 

LIAISONS/ALTERNATES PRESENT:   Ms. SuAnn Witt, NDE

MEMBERS/LIAISONS ABSENT: Mr. Derek Bierman; Mr. Ted DeTurk, ESU 02; Dr. Mike Lucas; and Mr. Darren Oestmann; Mr. Ed Toner; Mr. Gary Targoff; Dr. Kathleen Fimple, CCPE

 

CALL TO ORDER, ELECTRONIC POSTING, LOCATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW DOCUMENTS, ROLL CALL, INTRODUCTIONS

 

Co-Chair, Mary Niemiec, called the meeting to order at 9:02 am CT. The meeting notice and the meeting agenda were posted to the NITC Web site and the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar October 19, 2015.  The Open Meeting Statutes were located on the south wall of the Varner Hall Board Room. Ms. Lopez-Urdiales called the roll and found twelve voting members or alternates present. A quorum was reached in order to conduct official business. Members and guests introduced themselves.

 

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR THE OCTOBER 21, 2015 MEETING*

 

Mr. Dunning moved to approve the October 21, 2015 meeting agenda.  Mr. Askren seconded.  Roll call vote:  Askren-Yes, Brown-Yes, Carpenter-Yes, Joseph-Yes, Dunning-Yes, Hamersky-Yes, Hoesing-Yes, Hotovy-Yes, Maschman-Yes, Needham-Yes, Niemiec-Yes, and Schmailzl-Yes.  Results:  Yes-12, No-0, Abstained-0.  Motion carried.

 

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 27, 2015 and AUGUST 19, 2015 MEETINGS*

 

Mr. Brown moved to approve the May 27, 2015 meeting minutes as presented.  Mr. Hotovy seconded. Roll call vote: Hotovy-Yes, Hoesing-Yes, Hamersky-Yes, Dunning-Yes, Joseph-Yes, Carpenter-Yes, Brown-Yes, Askren-Yes, Schmailzl-Yes, Niemiec-Yes, Needham-Yes, and Maschman-Yes.  Results:  Yes-12, No-0, Abstained-0.  Motion carried.

 

Mr. Hotovy moved to approve the August 19, 2015 meeting minutes as presented.  Mr. Dunning seconded.  Roll call vote:  Dunning-Yes, Hamersky-Yes, Hoesing-Yes, Hotovy-Yes, Maschman-Yes, Needham-Yes, Niemiec-Yes, Schmailzl-Yes, Askren-Yes, Brown-Yes, Carpenter-Yes, and Joseph-Yes.  Results:  Yes-12, No-0, Abstained-0.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

CONSIDER RECOMMENDING 2015-17 NETWORK NEBRASKA AND DIGITAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ACTION ITEMS TO THE NITC FOR THEIR 11/12/2015 MEETING*

 

Discussion Version.  The vision committee has been meeting since March to review and develop the action items for the NITC Statewide Technology Plan for the Council’s review and recommendation to the NITC.  The Cloud Strategy and IT Spending Initiatives were added by the NITC to the Statewide Technology Plan. Discussion followed regarding the pros and cons of having one Learning Management system for the state.  It was suggested to conduct an inventory and have a “tools” discussion rather than a data discussion.  This would be more usable for the school districts and the state.

 

NITC Meeting Version

 

NETWORK NEBRASKA

Objective: To develop a broadband, scalable telecommunications infrastructure that optimizes the quality of service to every public entity in the State of Nebraska.

 

1.     Action: Prepare for the future of Network Nebraska as a statewide, multipurpose, high capacity, scalable telecommunications network that shall meet the demand of state agencies, local governments, and educational entities as defined in section 79-1201.01.

·         Add 1.5 under NN, “Identify and monitor network security services already provided and determine enhancements.”  The Council will need to determine what it looks like financially, identify best practices.  What about level of measurement….existence of security service catalog, if monitoring there are some inherent metrics, and presence of security document for NN.  Should this be a separate item 3.0?

 

2.     Action: The Education Council and NITC staff will serve as the communication hub for existing and potential Network Nebraska Participants.

·         Funding – Emphasize that this is member driven and funded by stakeholders.

 

NETWORK NEBRASKA RECOMMENDED MEASURABLES:

·         Network Nebraska backbone uptime

·         Network Nebraska Internet access uptime

·         Network Nebraska backbone bandwidth utilization (actual)

·         Network Nebraska membership growth

·         Network Nebraska Internet growth (purchased and actual)

·         Network Nebraska unit cost of Internet

·         Number of public and non-profit, non-education entities (e.g., libraries) connected to Network Nebraska

It was recommended to include a measurable regarding bandwidth growth and usage. 

 

Discussion followed regarding the Education Council’s role versus NNAG or the CIO’s roles in regards to the “measurables”.  At a future meeting, the Council would like to discuss expanding Network Nebraska services.

 

Dr. Hoesing moved to approve and recommend the Network Nebraska action items to the NITC for their review and approval.  Mr. Carpenter seconded.  Roll call vote: Schmailzl-Yes, Niemiec-Yes, Needham-Yes, Maschman-Yes, Hotovy-Yes, Hoesing-Yes, Hamersky-Yes, Dunning-Yes, Joseph-Yes, Carpenter-Yes, Brown-Yes, and Askren-Yes.  Results:  Yes-12, No-0, Abstained-0.  Motion carried.

 

DIGITAL EDUCATION

Objective: To promote the effective and efficient integration of technology into the instructional, learning, and administrative processes and to utilize technology to deliver enhanced digital educational opportunities to students at all levels throughout Nebraska on an equitable and affordable basis.

 

Under “Collaborators” section, it was recommended to add parochial and private institutions.

 

Dr. Dunning moved to approve and recommend the Digital Education action items to the NITC for their review and approval.  Mr. Hotovy seconded.  Roll call vote:  Maschman-Yes, Needham-Yes, Niemiec-Yes, Schmailzl-Yes, Askren-Yes, Brown-Yes, Carpenter-Yes, Joseph-Yes, Dunning-Yes, Hamersky-Yes, Hoesing-Yes, and Hotovy-Yes.  Results:  Yes-12, No-0, Abstained-0.  Motion carried.

 

NETWORK NEBRASKA UPDATE

 

NNAG Update.  The next meeting will be held on November 16.  The advisory group plans to develop a Participation Criteria draft document for Education Council approval.

 

Upcoming RFP.  Originally, October 1 was the date set to release the RFP but that did not occur.  The revised release date is October 23.  It will be open for at least 60 days.  There are approximately 350 circuits that will be implicated with an estimated $15-$20 million per year contract value.  Another RFP will be released in January to increase the statewide backbone capacity.

 

SUBSECTOR UPDATES

 

State colleges.  Former Council member, Ed Hoffman, extended greetings to the council.  Mr. Hotovy will have a report for the December meeting.  Mr, Dunning reported that they have been working with Northeast Nebraska on a Network Nebraska fiber loop, as well as working on data replication and collaboration.

 

Community colleges.  No report.

 

Independent colleges. No report.

 

University of Nebraska.  Mark will update in December, combining data support groups.

 

Coordinating Commission.  No report.

 

K-12 public.  The Fall NETA conference was high quality and well attended.  Student testing was challenging at some schools due to the network going down.  Mr. Needham commented that he would like to see more technical sessions offered at NETA as well as other educator conferences.   Dr. Hoesing informed the council that during parent/teacher conferences, Schuyler public schools held a technology session for parents.  The event was a collaborative effort with the schools, colleges and vendors.

 

K-12 private.   No report.

 

Nebraska Department of Education.  An E-rate internal infrastructure clinic was recently held for educators at ESU 10 in Kearney, with attendance of about 80 people.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

Agenda Items for the 12/16/2015 Meeting

·         Recap from the NITC meeting

·         Ed Toner, meet the new Chief Information Officer

·         Nebraska Transfer Demo

 

Consider location(s) for the 12/16/2015 Meeting

 

Co-chair, Mary Niemec, offered University of Nebraska-Varner Hall.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Mr. Hotovy moved to adjourn the meeting.  Mr. Dunning seconded.  All were in favor.  Motion carried.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:29 a.m.

 

 

Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Tom Rolfes of the Office of the CIO/NITC.