In attendance: Caroline Winchester, President; Mike Teahon, Gothenburg; Ron Wymore, Pleasanton; Phyllis Brunken, ESU 7; Craig Peterson, ESU 11; John Stritt, TVDEC Director.

1. Minutes are attached.
Ron Wymore moved that the minutes from December 18th be approved. Craig Peterson second.
Discussion:
Motion approved.

2. Budget Report:
Ron Wymore moved that the budget report be approved as presented. Phyllis Brunken second.
Discussion: Explanation for non-fixed expenses is included at the bottom of the budget printout. Note - Comparison of 02-03 budget to 01-02 budget shows that 41% of the 02-03 budget compared to 37% of 01-02 budget has been expended.
Motion Approved.

3. Old Business:

Flowthrough Report: John S. presented a summary report of the flowthrough account from 1999-2003. The current positive balance of that account is $2,997. The account will have additional receipts of about $1,000.

Scholarship Proposal: John S. presented a proposal to provide scholarships to administrators and teachers to attend the NDLA conference to be held in Kearney on May 28-30. Phyllis Brunken moved that 30 scholarship be offered to teachers and administrators in Tri-Valley. Ron Wymore second. Discussion: Where would these funds come from? John Stritt reported that the flowthrough account has receipts that were paid to Tri-Valley for the purpose of teacher support. Additional funds could be taken from the professional development account. Motion approved.

Site merger and teacher advocacy committees have not met. These items were tabled and John Stritt will work with those committees to report at the next meeting.

4. New Business:

DFS/Charter Contract - Each year, member schools of Tri-Valley south have the option to notify DFS/Charter that the existing contract could be terminated at the end of three more years or if no notification is given, the contract will continue to be in force with an extra year or 4 year contract in place. The life of the original contract is 10 years or from 1999-2009. John Stritt has initiated discussion with DFS/Charter to determine when the anniversary date. Executive council discussed pros and cons of extending the contact. No action was taken.

Ron Cone, ESU 10, shared that new types of technology is being reviewed that can prioritize bandwidth. The benefits for TVDEC members is that this will allow the purchase of portable video stations (Polycom) to enhance the current distance education network.

In order to expand opportunities of the distance education network throughout Tri-Valley north and south, STEPS, and to non-profit educational centers. John Stritt presented a proposal to the executive council to purchase two Polycom 128 Viewstations. The estimated cost for these two items were $2,500 each or $5,000. Ron Wymore moved that TVDEC director seek to purchase two Polycom viewstations. Craig Peterson second. Discussion: Funds for this project could be taken from the computer ($1500) and test equipment ($500) budget items and from the flowthrough account with surplus from the VOIP balance ($1915). The remainder of the funds could be allocated from other surplus funds in the flowthrough accout. Motion approved.

5. Director Update:

• Public Service Commission met on March 18 to discuss the future of distance education. A synchronous video workgroup has been organized to review the state of distance education and to propose a plan for the future of distance education.
• Enrichment programs are taking place to schools in Tri-Valley north or south. These lessons are being presented from NDE in Lincoln.

6. Next meeting:

The next meeting has been tentatively set for May 5.

Meeting Adjourned.