January 15, 2019 at 8:45 AM - Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Meeting called to order at 8:45 AM.

Staff:  David M Ludwig, Deb Hericks, Scott Isaacson

Guests:  Dave Patton, Russ Masco, Shannon Vogler, 

Discussion:  Approval of November minutes.  

Discussion:  Dr Joseph Goins, NS4ED was present to share Pathway 2 Careers.  Pathway2Careers is associated with NS4ED, an educational research and development company.  Dr Goins shared statistics on education.  Students who have a pathway will finish 81% of the time.  Dr Goins shared the New Mexico Public Education Department site.  They helped write the policies for the school. (Free download: Early College High School Policy Manual).  Policy, research, and practice are there three main goals.  Pathways2Careers promotes education with destination, with specific emphasis on preparing students for employment success.  The P2C provides straightforward tools that can identify high-value career destinations, as well as effective resources and materials that can sustain progress on the pathway to career-readiness.  High value, easy to use, low cost are the company's value.  

Discussion:  Shannon Vogler and Becky Densmore, Advanced Ed were present to share updates from AdvancED.  eProve Platform aligns improvement efforts through seven comprehensive elements that empower education institutions to make sense and use their data, offering a valuable companion on the journey of continuous improvement.  Analytics is a few years  out.  Modeling best practice and demonstrating quality.  Supporting schools to improve by focusing on "the right work."  Making the connections to requirements and existing initiatives.  Perspective:  needs to be focused on the mission (continuous improvement).  eProve Pilot is happening in some ESU 6 schools.  They did a crosswalk between AQuESTT Tenets and AdvancED standards.  This help provide the data for their school improvement plans.   

Discussion:  Steve Kindel, Learn360 was present to share about Learn360/Infobase/Facts of File.  Learn360 has worked with NE ESUs for several years.  Learn360 continues to add new content to the website.  Continue to bring on new publishers.  Learn360 has worked to enhance tools for student research. They are continually evolving to make the process easy and integrating into your others systems seamless.  Learn360 also offers training with their help center, webinars, and in-person workshops.  All ESUS who choose to renew Learn360 for 2019/2020 will receive the following:  price reduced to 2016 rates ($112,00) and one free database of your choosing for one year with 200,000 student price.  The following year, you would purchase that database and then can add another free database of your choosing.  The database is housed in the COOP Marketplace.  Offer is available to ALL Nebraskas ESUs.  Price increase will not exceed 2% but may be able to keep rates the same.  Database pricing is calculated using the population the resources.  Requesting information that compares Learn360 and others like Discovery Ed.  Cost saving is the main factor.  If we fall below the 200,000 students, how does that affect us.  The price increase will be increased to $.45/student from $.40. 

Discussion:  Executive Director shared his appreciation of the collaborative meeting that we continue to have with NDE.  

Discussion:  Lane Carr, NDE was present to discuss CCSI/ELLC/NLLN.  He shares his appreciation of the collaboration with the ESUCC/ESUs.  Thanks to all that helped work on the EBA and those reaching out to their schools for support.  Lane Carr cold called the needs improvement schools in ESU 13 to help set precident and share the data that shows.  Lane would like some feedback on how the classification went this time.  What can we do better to help make the process smoother in the coming year.  ESU access to NEP Secure.  NDE is developing the access for ESUs.  There is a survey that they would love ESU staff to fill out in the January Talking Points.  Work to get data released earlier.  The Districts that get a bump, they had to short of a turn around.  Reviewers said that it was a very time intense process.  Those eligble for bump added too much data to review, need for narrow down data needed.  The classification was in the way of schools, that is not acceptable.  Clarity of reports that schools saw?  How detailed were the needs improvement schools?  Do they have to follow up with questions?  Generally, they do follow-up on.  The system is based solely on assessment which is a good indicator on the report.  Absenteeism, English Learners - need for clarification for all classifications.  How do you get rated to get yourself on a priority/needs improvement schools beyond assessments?  NDE felt they did communication prior to classification but then had to follow-up after classification.  Provide more clarity to our Professional Developers so they know when working with schools.  Lane is will ing to speak to individual ESUs Professional Developers regarding the how/why of classification.  Are you stuck on the needs improvement list for three years.  No, classification will occur yearly.  Can they provide data to move them up in classification?  Chronic absentee or ELL can not be used against a school.  Extenuenuating circumstance would be in filling out the EBA.  Data quality, and clear data are very improtant.  Schools need to be sure to report data when data is due so not to scew data.  The two page document shared at Admin Days was a good document to share with schools that summarized the process.  Show schools how to use the NEP site, helps them with process.  Communication with ESUs?  Sooner the better.  Create a timeline of process to keep in front of the Board.  Communicate process for the CSI Schools.  Bring priority schools together to create a professional learning community within the schools.  Possbile to create a handbook of the process on what to expect throughout the process.  Need to separate the AQuESTT and ESSA out for better understanding.  CSI Process - comprehennsive support improvement - 27 schools on this list.  These schools will be supported by Federals funds (Title I set aside money.)  The schools have to complete a comprehensive needs assessment.  They need to creape a plan for improvement and also the application for the funds.  Very autonomis for the schools, hands off for NDE.  Lane to share a copy of the needs assessment with Board.  NDE has set up of four (ESU 16, 10, 3, 1) support for improvement workshop for these schools and would love to have ESUs involved in the process.   NDE will provide these schools support for the process to build a quality plan.  SDA - do the want the KLK faciliatators?  It would be nice to have the connection but not expected.  Can the schools who don't have CSI schools attend the meetings?  The point of the workshop is capacity building so it would like all hands on deck but realize space is a factor.  It would be nice to have the help in faciliating tables.  Is their a plan for schools who do not have a trained CSI Facilitator?  Facilitator training (6 are SDA, 1 TLT, 1 LPS)  Thoughts to have a team wide approach to include SDA, ESPD, etc.  Facilitators have a meeting on January 22-23 at LPS with Dr Kennedy, this will be more hands on work on Day One and on Day Two they will be visiting a school to see the process in action.  The continues to be some uncertainity on what is expected of the facilitators.  The OWH Article highlights what we a trying to accomplish.  The negative piece was making the investment in the state.  This facilitator training is to provide another tool to help them with the school improvement process.  How do we share our resources across ESUs who have no facilitator in the training?  Going through SDA, coordinate through the ESUCC/PD Committee.  ESUs have an understanding to share resources.  The issue is how much time the facilitators will have to help others.  There is a need to create sustainability of the training those faciltators are going through and to scale up those facilitators to meet the needs of the state.  PD Committee had a discussion regarding ESU getting resources to help those needs improvement schools.  Lane Carr will do some research on how this could roughly look.  Hoping to have a second co-hort begin next year.  Do the schools across the state know who the faciliators are and if they have one in there areas.  No, when talking with schools, Lane always says to reach out to their ESUs and the ESUs can point them in the right direction.  Facilitators are suppose to get director form the CEOs, when will the CEOs know what they need to know?  Possible to have another Zoom meeting to discuss needs.  

Kim Snyder, NDE Director of Teacher and Principal Support, she has been working with ELLC and have a wonderful working relationship iwth ESUs.  They would like to create a support network acorss the state for Principals.  NDE wants to work with ESUs to help create a sustainable plan.  They are looking for 5-6 principals from the CSI Schools to design what this would look like.  They would also like to include ESU that have capacity to help with the design team process.  Could you help Kim Snyder help to identifiy these areas?  This would help determine readiness in the NLLN process.  The ELLC and Wallace Foundation will be involved and would like to begin in March.  Process shouldn't take a lot of resources besides time.  

Discussion:  Kim Larsen, NDE was present to discuss the Family and Community Engagement.  She has recieved some Title 4A funds to hold meetings to help communiate about this work she is doing.  She would to host 7 meetings across the state, this meeting would include a meal.  Family and community engagement is identified as a goal in Nebraska’s ESSA plan, AQuESTT (Positive Partnerships, Relationships, and Student Success), and the NE State Board of Education’s Strategic Plan. For this reason, NDE and the ESUs will host regional input sessions across the state on the topic of family and community engagement. The goal of the meetings is to provide NDE and ESUs with input from key stakeholders representing families and community partners from across Nebraska regarding ways we can utilize their expertise and better engage them in the work of schools.

This is a one-time commitment at this point; however the work of engaging families and community members in the work of schools will be ongoing.

The steps to accomplish this goal include:

1. Identify ESU representatives interested in the work of family and community engagement-ideally at least one person per ESU;
2. Identify locations for seven regional meetings and local ESU people who will co-host the meetings with Kim Larson (NDE Family and Community Engagement);
3. Kim and identified ESU staff will jointly plan meeting logistics including agenda, discussion questions, and possible meeting participants (approximately 30 per meeting-10 school leaders, 10 community leaders, and 10 family representatives);
4. Potential attendees will be contacted;
5. Meetings co-hosted by NDE and the ESUs will be held-spring 2019;
6. Meeting Summary Report will be created and disseminated to key stakeholders for use in the continuous improvement process. Key stakeholders will include school leaders, ESU staff, NDE staff, and the NE State Board of Education.

• Interested ESUs as of today:

ESU 16, Ogallala
Cheryl Roche and Deb Paulman

ESU 10, Kearney
Susan Evans and Dallas Lewandowski

ESU 8, Neligh
Stephanie Wanek
 
ESU 3/19

ESU 9

Potential participants:
Teams of 3 including a school representative, a family member, and a community partner.

Potential questions for discussion:

• What matters to you most regarding the education of children and youth?
• What are your hopes/dreams for your children and those in your community?
• What are your recommendations to school administrators and teachers to improve relationships between schools-families-community partners?
• What talents/skills do you have that you could contribute to your local school/district?
• What are the barriers that keep you from participating in the work of schools or your child’s education?
• Feedback on revised wording for the Positive Partnerships, Relationships, and Student Success AQuESTT tenet?
• Would you like to be involved in continuing conversations

My questions for this group:

1. Do you have recommendations for when these regional meetings should be held?
2. I have money in the budget for a meal for 30 people for each site. What are your recommendations for the best time of day? (e.g., brown bag lunch and early afternoon discussion; late afternoon discussion and brown bag dinner)
3. What do you need from me to communicate this opportunity to your school leaders?
4. Who else is interested in co-hosting a regional meeting?
5. What are the best ways to communicate with you to share updates, research/best practices, current initiative

Discussion:  Jolene Palmer, NDE School Safety was present to share the three grants that she has received for school safety.  First grant, Jolene and UNL Public Policy did a study done on safety in schools and law enforecement - distinct difference between schools who have law enforcements in their building to those who do not.  Schools as a law enforcement officer on their teams.  ie: emergency repsonse, crisis, etc.  Part of the grant is to get more enforcement into the schools.  Second grant is to get threat assessment in every schools.  There have been major threats in smaller schools this fall.  They will subsidizes those school to attend the trainings.  It will finish funding the security assessment, to be completed this Spring.  This will give data they need and then will be able to bring shools in to build the capactiy of safety in those schools.  Third grant, stop violence grant - violence prevention education grant.  They will be working with school climate on school safety.  They will be able to do training to help schools manage their threats.  They also want to build a prevention tool kit that will have pieces and parts like code of silence - breaking the silence, etc.  REport line will be anonymous for students to call and give threat, to be done through Boystown.  Please provide Jolene Palmer feedback also through the talking points.  Will there be extra funding to help bring in speakers from Columbine, I love you guys, etc.  School Safety Summit will be on October 9 at the Younes Center.  

Discussion:  Executive Director will be going to Washington DC for the Federal Advocacy meeting.  

Discussion:  Dave Patten  from Learning Community is11 years old.  Legislative session made them looked like ESU not a school.  LC is focused on Intensive Early Childhood programs, Parent University (mmental health, money management, health and wellness, future early childhood training program.  etc.), South Center house Family Learning,  Learning English.  Pilot programs out in the schools, jumpstart, instructional coaching, etc.  They fund the superintendents early childhood plan.  Everything is evaluated by UNMC.  Over 19,000 individuals did some type of service through the Learning Community.  Learning Community has a Foundation.  Dave Patten would be willing to discuss further what they do for early childhood if anyone is interested.  Senator Erdman has a bill to disolve the Learning Community.  Continue to educate the senators on their plans.  There is a need for a third Center in the Ralston/Millard area would be a good area.  Poverty in the metro area is spreading and has more than doubled.  The LC has over 100 partners they work with throughout the metro area.  

Discussion:  Executive Director reports is reflective of the Bold Step Committee reports.  

Discussion:  Executive Direor reports will be within Bold Step Committee Reports.  

Discussion:  Executive Director shared the NDE representation for each committee.

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared that their committee has created a matric that compares the standards, AdvancED, Nebraska Frameworks.  The committee will begin to analyze the crosswalk and create the standard outcome for each standard.  They divided themselves into work groups reflective of the AdVandced Ed:  Purpose and Leadership; Program Services; Stakeholders, Resource Capacity.  

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared that committee has not met since in October. Executive Director has been working with CCSI, OER, etc.  There will be a meeting over lunch tomorrow to start the discussion with NDE to start the communiucation process.  

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared that the service inventory committee.  They are working to get a service inventory from each ESU.  There will be work done during the PDO meetings this week to help everyone get the services listed.  The SIMPL teams will take the inventories and put an ESUCC number to them to identify like services.  ESU 11 would like to start logging time on services.  Do we have a guideline?  There is a SIMPL Manual that addresses those processes.  The delivery of service is what gets log.  

Discussion:  Committee shared that the committee decided to do the value add serivces ourselves.  If Legislature ask for more than we can talk about paying someone to create this.  What services do we offer across ESU, the value add metric will come through SIMPL for the first time.  The committee created a video.  Review of the value add metric that will be copied and shared for each schools.  Please watch the attached video from this bold step committee.  First year they will only be looking at PD and Cooperative Purchasing.  The help create the cost savings per ESU/Statewide.  This work will also tell if we are working effienctly and effectively.  

Discussion:  Committee Chair has developed a value propistion statement.  What would happen if ESUCC did not exist?  Without ESUCC, there would be inequitable access to programs/services and expertise. The ESU’s would lack a common direction. Collaborative work and conversations would not occur and resources would be duplicated. ESUCC is a network (not a system) that should exist to help resolve statewide issues in a cost-effective manner. Their statement is as follows: The ESUCC provides advocacy, leadership, structure, support and guidance for Nebraska’s seventeen ESUs and their respective schools.  Next steps: share with committee and get feedback on what their next steps should be.  Possible to revamp brochurse, website, etc to include this statement.  Main intent of comittee was to create the elevator speech.  Committee will work to align with Bold Step #4.  

Discussion:  The Executive Director shared the timeline of the Bold Steps Committee.  There are as follows:   ESUCC Monthly Updates; NDE/ESUCC Talking Points; Affiliates Update; NDE Representation; Annual Redesign Review in May.  the committee Chiars to help decided the review process to help provide sustainability and decided next steps.  At some point, we will need to discuss the infrastrucure to make sure it shows the works we do with all groups?  

Discussion:  President shared Committee report. MOU with NDe is being drafted by legal.  

Discussion:  President shared the Exec Committee to accept the resignation/retirement of the Executive Director and the next steps to find a suitable replacement.  Dr Schnoes has reached out ot each of the Executive Committee that he will lead the committee in the search for the new administrator.  It would be good to have a good solid leader in this position.  Committee has talked with KSB to make sure they do.  They will open the position for the next ten days.  They will share this internally first to see if there is any interest from within. If any administrator is interested please send a note to Dr Schnoes prior to January 25.  Then the Executive Committee will meet to discuss process of interviews, etc.  If they commplete the work and deicides on candidate, they will bring to the February meeting.  If there is a need to adviertised outside and the Executive Committee will still do the interviews, etc.  The decision is for the ESUCC and Executive Committee, Executive Director will be available for advise only.  Discussion that it is good to hire within and that the possible conversation of the candidates coming from the Executive Committee, should the whole Board should be involved in the process.  ESUCC is at a critical juncture and decisions needs to be by group as a whole and possibly add others to the process as well.  Some feel strong that it should not only be an inside search but reach outside to a qualified candidate.  KSB shared that all possiblities discussed are legal and we could do either way.  It is perfectly legal to only do an internal search.  If the committee gets too big they would have to follow open meetings law.  Would it slow down the committee if bringing someone from the outside in that is not familiar our new bold step process. Statutue states that we may hire, if we don't find a qualified candidate we can do some other things like go without a director for a year.  Concerns for the timeline, that we are pushing it too fast but it also could leave an ESU in a bind to find a replacement for the ESU.  

Discussion:  There was no public comment

Discussion:  Committee Chair discussions in committee.  NDE has included 2% for both years of the biennium.  Committee discussed long term fiscal goals.  

Discussion:  Committee Cahir shared reports for November and December 2019.  

Discussion:  Committee Cahir shared expenses to be paid.  

Discussion:  Commmittee Chair shared discussions in committee.  TLT is amending Special Projects request - fewer people signed up so want to use that money for the mentors/participants to attend a conference here at ESU 10.  Hosting sustainability was also discussed.  Open up to RFP to see who is interested in applying.

Discussion:  Committee chair reviewed ISKME contract.  

Discussion:  Co-chiar shared committee discussions.  

Discussion:  Coop Director shared/reviewed the contracts needing approval.  

Discussion:  Extensions for AEPA Agreement Bid 016, 017, 018

016 Extensions:

1. Facility Management Software
   1. SchoolDude
2. Synthitic Turf
   1. AstroTurf Corp
   2. FieldTurf USA
   3. Hellas
   4. The Motz Group
   5. Shaw Sports Turf.
3. Track & Court Surfaces
   1. FieldTurf USA
   2. Hellas
4. Digital Resources
   1. Mackin Educational Resources
5. Scoreboards & Marquis Signage
   1. Daktronics

017 Extensions:

1. Roofing
   1. Weatherproofing Technologies
   2. Progressive Roofing
2. Athletic Lighting
   1. Techline Sports Lighting
3. Digital MFD/Copiers, Printers and Managed Document Services
   1. Konica Minolta Business Solutions
   2. Kyocera Document Solutions America
4. Hardwood and Synthetic Flooring
   1. Sports Surfaces Distributing

017 Extensions:

1. Technology Catalog
   1. CDW Government
   2.  MNJ Technologies
2. LED Lighting 
   1. Facility Solutions Group
3. Furniture
   1. BioFit Engineered Products
   2. National Business Furniture
   3. School Specialty
   4. SICO America
4. Maintenance, Repair and Operations
   1. Best Plumbing Specialties
5. Industrial Arts and Career and Technical Education
   1. Midwest Technology Products
6. Athletic Equipment and Supplies
   1. Partac Peat Corp
   2. School Health Corp
   3. School Specialty
   4. Kranos, dba Schutt Sports

Discussion:  Approve Contract Extension with It was noted that many bid prices are higher this year. We also had a couple vendors that did not bid this year, therefore we have several "no-bid" items.

Discussion:  New 3-year contract

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared committee discussion.  PDO event Wednesday/Thursday this week.  Brad giese will be the trainer for May PDO.  NDE were present to give updates.  REquests for budget due by end of the month.  Review ESUCC/PDO calendar.  

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared discussion in committee.  SRS timeline and rollout if updated.  Full implementation before beginning of next year.  June 11-12 for the NE School Mental Conference.  Call for proposals have been extended, please submit.  Critical Issues Forum in February facilitated by UNL, Nick Pace.   This will be help at Southeast Community College.  

Discussion:  Committee Chair shared committee discussions.  Bromm's were available for an legislative update.  This is a ninety day session. there are 13 new senators.  Discussed the Education Committee being a balanced group.  Senator Groene was elected the Education Chair.  There have been over 250 bills introduced already.  Last day to drop a new bill will be January 23.  Reviewed some of the bills that have already been dropped.  NCSA Coalition Meeting held today at noon.  Suggest to work with Senator Walz to help get ESUs back up to where we should be.  Govenor budget was released.  Senator Luncheon, February 13 at the Bromm's Conference Room.  Please sign up for attendance for planning purposes.  After NASB Legislative Conference on January 28, group to meet at Broom's to discuss bills.  

Discussion:  Meeting adjourned at 2:21 PM