OFFICIAL MINUTES, BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT NO. 13 

Tuesday, January 19, 2010                  HATC – 2620 College Park, Scottsbluff, NE                            Videoconference site:    ESU #13 Satellite Office – 1114 Toledo, Sidney, NE                        Videoconference site:    Alliance High School – 14^th and Box Butte, Alliance, NE                        Videoconference site:    Crawford High School – 908 5^th Street, Crawford, NE 

The regular meeting of the Board of Educational Service Unit No. 13 was called to order by President Ray Richards on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Harms Advanced Technology Center, 2620 College Park, Scottsbluff, NE, and at the following videoconference sites:  ESU #13 Satellite Office, 1114 Toledo, Sidney, NE; Alliance High School, 14^th and Box Butte, Alliance, NE; and Crawford High School, 908 5^th Street, Crawford, NE.  Previous public notice was given in the Star-Herald on January 15, 2010.  Agendas were mailed/delivered to the Board on January 14^th/15^th respectively.  

Reference was made to the Nebraska Open Meetings Act posted at each site.           

Present:         Scottsbluff site:  John Bays, Bill Knapper, Tom Millette, Ray Richards, Mark Sinner,  Marilyn Wimmer, Dr. Jeff West-Administrator, Marsha Hegwood-Business Manager, Doris Christensen-Clerk/Treasurer.  Alliance site:  Patricia Dobry, Phyllis Pebley.  Sidney site:  Don Egging, Rachel Smith, Mark Hardy-Executive Director of Satellite Offices.  Crawford site:  Rosalene Tollman.          

Absent:          None.           

Reorganization of the Board.  Call for nominations for President.  Knapper nominated Ray Richards for President.  Smith seconded that nomination.  Moved by Knapper, seconded by Bays, that nominations cease and that a unanimous ballot be cast.  Aye:  Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  None.  Carried.  Ray Richards was elected President.

President Richards called for nominations for Vice President.  Wimmer nominated Don Egging for Vice President.  Bays seconded that nomination.  Moved by Wimmer, seconded by Knapper, that nominations cease and that a unanimous ballot be cast.  Aye:  Dobry, Knapper, Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Abstain:  Egging.  Carried.  Don Egging was elected Vice President.           

President Richards called for nominations for Secretary.  Knapper nominated Tom Millette for Secretary.  Bays seconded that nomination.  Moved by Sinner, seconded by Smith, that nominations cease and that a unanimous ballot be cast.  Aye:  Egging, Knapper, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Abstain:  Millette.  Carried.  Tom Millette was elected Secretary.           

President Richards called for appointment of Treasurer.  Moved by Richards, seconded by Dobry, that Doris Christensen be appointed Treasurer.  Aye:  Knapper, Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.  Doris Christensen was appointed Treasurer.           

All Board members were in attendance.Moved by Sinner, seconded by Smith, that the agenda be approved as presented.  Aye:  Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.           

Moved by Wimmer, seconded by Tollman, that consent action items be approved as listed (minutes of regular meeting, treasurer’s report, budget report, claims for disbursement).  Aye:  Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.   Carried.   The following General Fund claims were approved for payment: 

 Calendar:

1. February 16, 2010 – Regular Meeting of the Board – ESU #13 Center
2. January 24-25, 2010 – ESUCC Meeting at ESU #18 and NASB Legislative Issues Conference - Lincoln
3. January 27, 2010 – NASB School Board Leadership Videoconference – HATC, Scottsbluff – 6:00 to 8:30 PM
4. March 2, 2010 – The School Board As Judge and Jury – ESU #13 – 6:00-9:00 PM (green brochure enclosed in Board packet)

Public Forum – no items. 

Reports:

Administrator Report:

1. New cars ordered.
2. ESUCC Meeting in January (will attend).
3. ESUCC Legislative Issues in January (will attend):

·         Some legislation will impact ESUs directly and some not.  Will share more specific information with the Board in February.

4. WNA Meeting (attended).
5. 2010 goal setting for Administrator:

·         Would like to develop goals with the Board at the February meeting.

6. NEVA Advisory Meeting:

·         Met with NEVA Advisory Committee (Don Hague, Dan Hoesing, Dick Lesher, Merrell Nelsen, Troy Unzicker, Lana Sides and Bruce Hird).  This group had not previously met because individual visits were made to all 21 member districts to determine needs; NEVA was tailored to meet those needs.  However, we felt it necessary to meet at this time in light of the Governor’s Race To The Top Grant which includes a new Nebraska virtual high school.

·         The Committee developed a focus for NEVA which will be shared with ESU #13’s Administrative Advisory Committee on Wednesday.  Areas of focus include:  training for site coordinators, improved coordination with counselors and principals, access to technology, funding for laptops (incentive money), and 24-7 access to courses offered.

·         If we are going to use NEVA as a statewide model for online learning, then we want all 21 member districts to be supportive of our efforts regardless of whether or not they are currently using the program.  Currently, enrollment numbers and success rates are not where we’d like them to be.

·         We see the potential for this program to expand within the ESU #13 service area and across state lines into Wyoming.

7. New Scottsbluff Superintendent (welcome).
8. NASB Board workshop on Board’s role as a hearing officer.
9. Recognize ESU #13 Board members (for excellent boardmanship).

 Executive Director of Satellite Offices/Human Resources Report:

1. External visit at ESU #10 (team member).
2. External visit at ESU #15 (co-chair).
3. NASA/NASB Labor Relations Conference in Kearney (will attend).
4. WNA Meeting (attended).
5. Sidney Satellite Office is used for two DL classes offered through WNCC.

Old Business.  Moved by Knapper, seconded by Dobry, that the proposed Board policy regarding Safe Driving Record be approved.  Aye:  Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette, Pebley.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.           

New Business. 

ESU #13 Chadron Satellite Office was discussed (cost-effective location, imperative to have presence among Highway #20 districts, should regular visits be made to ESU staff at Chadron?).  No action taken. 

Nebraska Race To The Top (RTTT) Grant discussion as follows:

• Don Hague is a member of the RTTT Steering Committee.
• This initiative will serve as a blueprint for Nebraska education for the next five years with or without federal funding (state funds may be allocated).
• Governor, State Board of Education, and Commissioner of Education are united in this effort.
• NDE Commissioner (Dr. Breed) emphasizes the partnership between NDE and ESU to help ensure the success of RTTT.
• RTTT discusses the new Nebraska Virtual High School that will offer language arts, mathematics, science and advanced placement courses.
• Matt Blomstedt (CEO for ESUCC) will use NEVA as a model during statewide virtual high school and   P-16 discussions.  It is important to support multiple formats (Moodle/Angel [phasing out to Blackboard]) as it relates to developing a common vision for online learning.
• Concern with sufficient personnel to carry out RTTT initiatives; for example, eight regional specialists to help low-performing schools.  Regional specialists would be housed at ESUs.  Since the state has placed a freeze on hiring, existing NDE staff would be used.  ESU #13 currently houses an NDE staff person who would serve in this capacity (Rachel LaBounty).
• RTTT also discusses a single evaluation instrument for teachers and principals both tied to student performance.

No action taken. 

Moved by Bays, seconded by Pebley, that ESU #13’s current telecommunications providers, with the exception of 1-800 services which will be provided by Allo Communications, be approved for the 2010-2011 E-rate funding year.  Aye:  Sinner, Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette, Pebley Richards.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.           

Moved by Millette, seconded by Wimmer, that the current ESU #13 depositories be approved with the latitude to shift money when in ESU #13’s best interest.  Aye:  Smith, Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.           

Moved by Richards, seconded by Knapper, that Dick Douglas be approved as ESU #13’s legal counsel.  Aye:  Tollman, Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.           

Moved by Tollman, seconded by Sinner, that the above-listed minutes be approved as read.  Aye:  Wimmer, Bays, Dobry, Egging, Knapper, Millette, Pebley, Richards, Sinner, Smith, Tollman.  Nay:  none.  Absent:  none.  Carried.           

President declared meeting adjourned.  Next regular meeting will be held Tuesday,   February 16, 2010, at 7:00 PM at the ESU #13 Center, 4215 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, NE. 

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