Members Present: Frank Pantoja-Gordon, Ed Hollinger-Hemingford, Allen Gross-Minatare, Jerry Williams-Kimball, Wayne Ferguson-Morrill, Lew Gellett-Garden County, Jim Calder-Bridgeport, Dale Eberhart-Chadron, Gary Fisher-Crawford, Dan Schartz-Hay Springs, Roy Ingram-Banner County, John Cruzeiro-Sioux County, Chuck Squier-Rushville, Don Hague-Gering, Terry Miller-ESU#13, B.J. Peters-WNDLC

Members Absent: Scottsbluff, Mitchell

AGENDA

1. Final Lottery Grant Report - B.J. Peters distributed the narrative of the final lottery grant report developed by Dr. Roger Wess of Chadron State, the project's evaluator. Wess' report indicated that it was a success and was able to document both increases in usage and in teacher and student satisfaction.

2. Fall Progress Report - Peters indicated that the fall semester was going rather smoothly. He said that 99 students participated in the recent ACT Prep course taught by Gering High School. Very few complaints were received over the fact that it was broadcast in a one-way fashion. Most schools liked the fact that they all could receive the series at a number of times during the day. The ACT class will be repeated again for the April testing date.

3. Spring 2002 Schedule - Peters shared the Spring 2002 schedule with the group. He indicated that the only changes were from our college partners. WNCC is offering seven courses to high school students this spring, most are follow-up classes to fall offerings. He indicated that there are still openings in the Intro to Psychology course from WNCC. It is being taught on the WNDLC bell schedule (12:45-1:35 p.m.) because they are using an adjunct professor. Contact B.J. if you have any students interested. Chadron State is offering two graduate courses in the spring, the Reading class is full (CSC, Banner County, Rushville, Hemingford) but there is still one slot available for the Special Ed class (CSC, Gering, Kimball).

4. Adult Education Report - Peters said that he was hoping to have a report from Lori Mayor of WNCC but she was unable to attend. She is supposed to have another set of classes coming after the first of the year. He said there has been some frustration because of the high level of class cancellations but many indicated that that is the nature of adult ed. Peters said that Mayor is working with Regional West in Scottsbluff to offer EMT and HazMat training over the DL system.

5. Field Trip Policies - There was quite a bit of discussion on the liability involved in allowing individual DL students drive themselves to participate in field trips. Most said that they have checked with their insurance carriers and their students are covered. Discussion also was held on whether is was appropriate to have these students missing a whole day's worth of classes for such field trips. Peters indicated that it probably should be a case by case basis, how many students are involved, how far the students have to travel, and if the students cannot go they shouldn't be penalized for it and allowed to do make-up work in place of the field trip. Peters was instructed by the Board to design a field trip policy that teachers and schools can follow in the future.

6. E-Rate Workshops - Peters said that Jim Copley will have a few more e-rate workshops over the next couple of weeks. There will be one in Chadron on Dec. 4, two in Scottsbluff on Dec. 11 & 12, and two in Sidney on Dec. 13 & 14.

7. Update Distance Learning Interlocal Agreement - Peters said that original distance learning interlocal agreement had a three-year time frame and needed to be extended. There was a motion by Chadron, and a second by Morrill to extend the distance learning interlocal agreement indefinitely. Roll call vote was as follows: Banner County-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Crawford-yes, Garden County-yes, Gering-yes, Gordon-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Kimball-yes, Minatare-yes, Mitchell-absent, Morrill-yes, Rushville-yes, Scottsbluff-absent, Sioux County-yes, ESU #13-yes. Motion passed 15-0.

8. Consortium Membership Applications - Peters said that because of the new distance learning grant, he has received official applications from seven school districts to join WNDLC. He has also received an application from ESU #14 in Sidney to join WNDLC. There was a motion by Crawford, a second by Sioux County to approve the WNDLC membership applications of ESU #14, Bayard, Leyton, Potter-Dix, Sidney, Lodgepole, & Chappell. Roll call vote was as follows: Banner County-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Crawford-yes, Garden County-yes, Gering-yes, Gordon-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Kimball-yes, Minatare-yes, Mitchell-absent, Morrill-yes, Rushville-yes, Scottsbluff-absent, Sioux County-yes, ESU #13-yes. Motion passed15-0. There was a motion by Crawford, a second by Sioux County, to accept the application from Alliance Public Schools to join the WNDLC contingent upon Alliance joining Educational Service Unit #13. Roll call vote was as follows: Banner County-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Crawford-yes, Garden County-no, Gering-yes, Gordon-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Kimball-no, Minatare-yes, Mitchell-absent, Morrill-yes, Rushville-yes, Scottsbluff-absent, Sioux County-yes, ESU #13-yes. Motion passed 13-2.

9. From the Group - Terry Miller of ESU #13 told the superintendents that they will looking for their input in the near future on what they are looking for from the ESU in the area of technology. He is organizing a task force to re-focus the ESU efforts in that are.