Subject: Tri-Valley Executive Council Meeting
Date: October 15, 2002

Attendance: President - Caroline Winchester; Ron Wymore, Mike Teahon, Alan Wibbels, Craig Peterson (de system), Phyllis Brunken (Phone); John Stritt.

1. Minutes are attached.
Alan Wibbels moved that the minutes be approved as read. Craig Peterson second.
Discussion:
Motion approved.

2. Budget Report:
Ron Wymore moved that the budget report be approved as presented. Mike Teahon second.
Discussion: Question was asked how much cash reserve do we currently have and if we continue to deplete that reserve at the rate we are going, when would be in the red? John Stritt will provide a reserve report for the next meeting.
Motion Approved.

3. Distance Education Update:

Phyllis Brunken provided an update of the Crossroads hookup. Impact on the Tri-Valley:

• A new gateway will be in place that will connect Tri-Valley to all of northeast Nebraska. It should be in place by January. This could open up class opportunities from CCC-Columbus as well as other schools in the northeast area.
• Twin River (Genoa) is looking to connect with the Crossroads pod. With that, they will be membes of that consortium. As they fall under the Tri-Valley created contract, they will apply for erate benefits through that contract. Phyllis Brunken will handle the erate process for Twin River (Genoa). When the connectivity is finalized, a check for $28,000 will be mailed to Qwest for installation services. This amount was part of the 1999-2001 Excellence in Education grant.

Alan Wibbels provided an NITC report:

• A statewide backbone with emphasis on data transport is being discussed at the state level. Benefits will be realized in terms of the reduced cost per MB purchased.

4. Distance Education Issues:

At the July meeting of the Executive Council, there were several topics of discussion regarding member fees, teacher and school benefits for providing classes, teacher training. John Stritt is currently asking other consortium directors to complete a survey related to these issues. John will share the results of these surveys at the next executive council meeting.

5. Director Update:

• Training and conferences:
  • Level I training has been set for June 24-26. Tri-Valley currently has grant money to fund 22 $300 stipends.
  • The annual NDLA conference will be held at Kearney on May 28-30, 2003. John Stritt is part of the planning committee.
• Director Goals:
  • John Stritt presented a list of goals for 2002-03.
• TVDEC Logo was presented for approval. Members of the executive council approved adoption of the logo.

6. TVDEC President Comments:

Caroline Winchester, president for the TVDEC, wished to share some goals she had for the consortium and recommendations from a study she did for her graduate paper:

• Goals:
  • Increase untilization of the system
  • Enhance non-traditional classes
  • Develop guidelines or recommendations for teachers that teach on the system such as additional planning time, extra compensation, etc.
• Recommendations from summative qualitative study on distance learning
  • Compensation for teachers that teach on the system.
  • More planning time.
  • Visits to all sites
  • Comptuers in distance learning rooms
  • Training for aids in DL classrooms
  • Funding to maintain equipment or upgrade equipment
  • Larger monitors
  • Telephone in dl room
  • Train teachers in pedagogy as well as equipment
  • Policies for snow days, equipment failures, and unexpected inturruptions
  • Develop a video taping routine for absent students
  • Common school calendar
  • Leave room up for 10-15 minutes after class to allow students to ask questions.
  • Summer pay to allow teachers to create materials for classes
  • Have teachers teach a non DL class in the room to get used to the equipment
  • Train students to use equipment in case teacher is not there.
  • Have studetns email or call teachers with questions.

7. Strengths - Concerns for distance education

Executive council shared the following strengths and concerns for distance learning:

To view a list of strengths and concerns that were shared at principals meeting, go to the following site: http://tvdec.k12.ne.us/0203/Minutesfall02.htm

8. Next meeting - The next meeting will be announced during December.

Meeting Adjourned.