Western Nebraska Distance Learning

Governing Board

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

11 a.m. via DL

(ESU 13-Sidney, ESU 13-Scottsbluff, Bridgeport High School, Chadron State College)

AGENDA

• Call to Order/Roll Call - Members attending: Larry Ross-Alliance, Lana Sides-Banner County, Allen Gross-Bayard, Randy Butcher-Bridgeport, Sherlock Hirning-Chadron, Paul Calvert-Creek Valley, Merrell Nelsen-Crawford, Paula Sissel-Garden County, Don Hague-Gering, Bill Tuma-Gordon/Rushville, Ernie Griffiths-Hay Springs, Casper Ningen-Hemingford, Jim Calder-Leyton, Chuck Bunner-Minatare, Roy Ingram-Morrill, Kevin Thomas-Potter/Dix. Members Absent: Kimball, Mitchell, Scottsbluff, Sioux County, ESU #13.

·        Erate information – Jim Copley – Funding commitments have started several months earlier that last year. Because of this Jim is asking that schools that use the ESU for Internet service fill out a Form 479 earlier than last year. The 479 verifies that the school district filling out the form is filtering their Internet traffic in accordance with the Children's Internet Protection Act. Also last year, because of new e-rate regulations, we asked each superintendent to sign off on giving ESU #13 authority to file Internet and distance learning e-rate applications in your district’s name. We also had a formal vote at our May consortium meeting do the same. We will be doing the same this year. Following is the language we will be using for the formal vote.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that employees of Educational Service Unit No. 13 are hereby authorized by the WNDLC to complete and sign E-rate forms on behalf of the consortium and/or it’s individual members for the E-rate funding years 2005 (the last funding year), 2006 (the current funding year) and 2007 (the next funding year) requesting discounts on any and all E-rate eligible services including distance learning circuits, telecommunications circuits and Internet access services.

     Motion by Crawford to approve the above Letter of Agreement resolution authorizing ESU #13 to file e-rate applications on behalf of the member schools, motion seconded by Gordon/Rushville. Roll call vote: Alliance-yes, Banner County-yes, Bayard-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Creek Valley-yes, Crawford-yes, Garden County-yes, Gering-yes, Gordon/Rushville-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Leyton-yes, Minatare-yes, Morrill-yes, Potter/Dix-yes. Motion passed 16-0.

• LB 1208 Update – The distance learning update bill that was passed this spring by the Unicameral. It offers incentives to schools using lottery dollars but also taps into state aid dollars. The bill will upgrade all of the JPEG video systems across the state to IP based video systems allowing for statewide connectivity and offering greater Internet bandwidth for schools. BJ reviewed some of the pieces of LB1208 and how it possibly will affect our member schools. The bill takes effect July 2007 and BJ said that because of some of the uncertainty in the implementation of the bill he has told the state that the WNDLC would prefer to wait to do our updgrade the summer of 2008. Some of the fiscal impact of LB1208 for members schools. The TEEOSA (state aid) certified for school fiscal year 2007-08 will include a distance education and telecommunications allowance for school districts.  The allowance will be the districts reimbursement of costs to connect to the new statewide network (85% of the costs after e-rate discounts). School districts will also have two additional budget (spending) exclusions for money spent to any distance ed consortium and for money received in teaching DL classes. On or before Dec. 31, 2006, each DL consortium will need to decide on an ESU to take over distance education services because on July 1, 2007, ESUs will assume responsibility for distance education service. All DL consortium interlocal agreements will terminate at that time. State lottery dollars are also being allocated for use by schools as incentives to use their DL system. $20,000 for equipment needed to upgrade to IP video and $1000 to send or receive a DL course. All incentive money will be a year in arrears. After discussion a motion was made by Bridgeport and seconded by Hay Springs to designate ESU #13 to assume responsibility for the distance education services of the Western Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium on July 1, 2007. Roll call vote: Alliance-yes, Banner County-yes, Bayard-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Creek Valley-yes, Crawford-no, Garden County-yes, Gering-yes, Gordon/Rushville-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Leyton-yes, Minatare-yes, Morrill-yes, Potter/Dix-yes. Motion passed 15-1.

• Fall 2006 Distance Learning schedule – You will find the schedule online at http://dl.esu13.org/WNDLCfall2006.htm  BJ commended the principals and counselors at the WNDLC member schools for increasing their use of the DL system for next year. Every school will use their room at least one or two periods a day and a majority will be using the system 4 or 5 periods every day. The schedule continues to be updated.

• WNDLC 2006-2007 Operating Budget – BJ sent out a draft in April for review. The total budget of $123,408 reflects a 4% increase from last year. The budget reflects an operating assessment of around $4000 per school district, a upgrade/reserve payment of $1500 per classroom, and a $100 maintenance charge. School districts should expect to pay an annual assessment of $5,648. Those with two classrooms should add another $1600 to that total. The assessments are billed on a monthly basis. The WNDLC Reserve is now estimated to be around $114,000. We gain approximately $36,000 annually now in the reserve fund. By the summer of 2008 when we anticipate upgrading our system, the reserve should be close to $200,000 allowing us some flexibility in handling equipment costs not covered by LB1208. Motion was made by Gordon/Rushville and seconded by Crawford to approve the WNDLC 2006-2007 Operating Budget as presented.

  Roll call vote: Alliance-yes, Banner County-yes, Bayard-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Creek Valley-yes, Crawford-yes, Garden County-yes, Gering-yes, Gordon/Rushville-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Leyton-yes, Minatare-yes, Morrill-yes, Potter/Dix-yes. Motion passed 16-0.

   

• Title II D Grant - BJ indicated that because Title II D funds have been cut in half for this next year that Craig Hicks is working on a joint grant application with ESU #16. The will be dealing with training staff in "Enhancing Communication Skills for the 21st Century." He wants to explore how technology can improve student communication skills and enhance student achievement in all content areas. The grant application is due by the end of June so BJ and Craig will be knocking on school doors to get agreement forms signed over the next few weeks. There was also discussion that since the Title II formula funds have been cut as well that there may be a need to have smaller schools consort those dollars as well. BJ said that he would visit with Craig Hicks and relay info back to the superintendents.

• WNDLC Executive Board - BJ said the group needed to act on a slate of officers for the 2006-2007 school year. This group only meets in the instance of an emergency between regular governing board meetings. The current officers are President: Kent Halley/Mitchell, Vice President: Don Hague/Gering, Central Representative: Larry Ross/Alliance, South Representative: Paul Calvert/Creek Valley, North Representative: Merrell Nelsen/Crawford, ESU Representative: Terry Miller/ESU #13. Motion by Gordon/Rushville and seconded by Minatare to approve the officers as presented with one change, naming Paula Sissel/Garden County as the South Representative. Roll call vote: Alliance-yes, Banner County-yes, Bayard-yes, Bridgeport-yes, Chadron-yes, Creek Valley-yes, Crawford-yes, Garden County-yes, Gering-yes, Gordon/Rushville-yes, Hay Springs-yes, Hemingford-yes, Leyton-yes, Minatare-yes, Morrill-yes, Potter/Dix-yes. Motion passed 16-0.

   

• Adjourn - meeting was adjourned at 12 Noon.