February 10, 2021 at 6:30 PM - REGULAR MEETING

Discussion:  The regular business meeting of ESU 15 was called to order at 6:30P.M. on February 10, 2021, at ESU 15 Trenton Office and DL.

Discussion:  We will deliver the oath of office to our newly appointed board member Larry Gossen.  

Discussion:  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

Discussion:  President Repass verified that the ESU 15 Board meeting was advertised according to policy.

Discussion:  Present were: Cheri Burke, Marty Conroy, Larry Gossen, Jason Loop, Don Remington, Kate Repass, Allison Sandman and Jesse Stevens.

Discussion:  Absent board members: 

Discussion:  Aaron Thompson attended via DL.

Discussion:  ESU 15's Directory of Technology Services, Todd Weimer, presented to the board on the technology changes over the last year.  The data breech of Solarwinds, they run a lot of state wide resources. Government entities and a few school districts in Nebraska have been hacked. Phishing is an ongoing problem.  Know be 4 is a program to help educate our employees on phishing attacks. The use of zoom meetings have greatly increased in the last year and hackers have found ways to attack the meetings. All of ESU 15 school districts are using PRTG software that alerts them when networks are down.  
Todd has also been working on Scratch with Southwest Schools via zoom and is working on getting other schools set up too. 

Discussion:  February Payables of $114,024.15 and Payroll of $71,123.11.

Discussion:  The board would like to thank Stephanie Malcolm for her two years of service at ESU 15.

Discussion:  The board would like to thank Vicki League for her years of service at ESU 15.

Discussion:  Board discussed the administrator salary for 2021-22 fiscal year.

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on the financial status of the ESU 15 as we are at the half way point threw the fiscal year. Expenditures are down this year due to Covid-19. The decrease in registration fees as most workshops are virtual and less travel and accommodations for workshops is a big factor in the decrease in expenditures. 

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on the legislative session. They are accepting letters more than allowing people to speak due to Covid-19. 
Some of the bills that effect education include: 
-3% growth cap on expenditures
-virtual meetings
-ESU and ESUCC to have 75% of meetings virtual
-mental health
-increase in SPED reimbursements
-Covid liability protection bill
-catch up bill for core service dollars for ESUs
-tax credit for private schools
-lotto funds for schools and ESUs
-education lobbyist paid transparence act. 

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on the board workshop held on Feb 3rd, 2021. Justin knight did a school law session, I love public schools and a session on school board procedures.  Mental health issues and Covid-19 were presented on by I love public schools.  Board members Sandman and Repass had positive feedback from attendees.  Over forty-five people attended the virtual Board Workshop.

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on the Census in 2020. They will be redistricting the lines in our ESU. We hope to keep the district lines around the school districting lines. 

District SPED contracts went out last week to help with the direction of next years services. Mr. Calvert has received feedback that it is preferred to have in person services. 

The Dept of Education is talking about rewriting Rule 10 and 14. Hopefully, Administration and teachers will be included in this discussion. 

Schools and teachers are scheduled to get vaccines, ESU are about a month out before they will be in line to get a vaccine. 

 

Discussion:  Meeting adjourned at 7:39 pm.  Next board meeting on March 10th, 2021 @ 6:30pm at ESU #15 and via distance learning sites.