The annual meeting of the Tri-Valley Distance Education Consortium was called to order by President Caroline Winchester. The meeting was held at a split site - ESU 10 and Fullerton Public Schools. The meeting connection was by polycom. Due to technical issues, the Fullerton site was only able to participate in a limited way.

Schools in Attendance at ESU 10: Alma, Amherst, Axtell, Bertrand, Central Community College, Centura, Cozad, Elba, Elm Creek, ESU 11, Franklin, Gibbon, Gothenburg, Greeley, Holdrege, Litchfield, North Loup-Scotia, Ord, Pleasanton, Ravenna, SEM, Shelton, St. Paul, Wilcox/Hildreth, Wolbach, and UNK.
Schools in attendance at Fullerton: Cedar Rapids, Clarks-High Plains, ESU 7, Fullerton, and Palmer.

1. August 1, 2002 Minutes
Gibbon moved that the minutes of the August 1, 2002 annual meeting be approved. Elm Creek second. Motion carried.

2. 2002-03 Financial Report
Pleasanton moved that the 2002-03 financial report be approved as presented. Holdrege second. Motion carried.

3. 2003-04 Budget Proposal
Holdrege moved that the proposed budget for 2003-04 be approved as presented. Gibbon second.
Discussion: John Stritt noted that membership dues are less then the yearly expenses. Some of the extra expenses are covered by grant awards. The executive council will be reviewing this shortfall and make recommendations for the next year’s budget.
Motion carried.

4. Bylaw Proposal Change - Subsection 3 Annual Meeting Date Change
St. Paul moved that subsection 3 dealing with the annual meeting date within the interlocal agreement be approved for change. SEM second.
Discussion: If approved, each School Board must then discuss the bylaw proposal and approve to amend this resolution. Upon approval, each district must forward the signed Resolution form to John Stritt - TVDEC director. Note: Schools who may have already sent in board approval will be contacted by John Stritt to verify approval.
Click on this link to view Bylaw Proposal
Motion approved.

5. Bylaw Proposal Change - Subsection 6 Budgeting Change
Amherst moved that subsection 6 dealing with the budgeting timeline within the interlocal agreement be approved for change. Gibbon second.
Discussion: If approved, each School Board must then discuss the bylaw proposal and approve to amend this resolution. Upon approval, each district must forward the signed Resolution form to John Stritt - TVDEC director. Note: Schools who may have already sent in board approval will be contacted by John Stritt to verify approval.
Click on this link to view Bylaw Proposal
Motion approved.

6. 2003-04 Executive Officers Election
The ballot for the 2003-04 TVDEC Executive Officers was presented as follows:
President - Mike Teahon - Gothenburg
President Elect - Ron Wymore - Pleasanton
Secretary - Caroline Winchester - Elba
Supt. Representative - Jeff Anderson - Fullerton (Phyllis Brunken placed nomination during meeting)
Principal Representative - (Principals will elect at fall meeting)
ESU 7 Rep - Phyllis Brunken
ESU 10 Rep - Alan Wibbels
ESU 11 Rep - Craig Peterson
Centura moved that nominations cease and that a unanimous ballot be approved. Ord second. Motion carried.

7. State of Distance Education Report - John Stritt TVDEC Director

• Membership:
  
  • St. Paul Public Schools is a new member starting in 2003-04.
    
  • Lexington & Grand Island have each been approved for a DENC distance education grant for 2004-05. Both could be members starting in the 2004-05 school term.
    
  • Wilcox/Hildreth is now a consolidated district. As Hildreth is not upgrading their site and they will only have an internal connection through Wilcox, they will no longer be considered as an independent member in the consortium.
    
• IP Upgrade:
  
  • TVDEC south upgrade should be completed by the middle of October.
    
  • A statewide committee is proposing a statewide IP network standard. As jpeg schools contracts become due, a new system will need to take its place. The statewide committee is seeking support from the PSC, NITC, and the Education Council. Funds to support the conversion will be addressed by this committee.
    
• Enrichment opportunities:
  
  • Expansion of enrichment activities for all students K-12 will provide new opportunities for students. Sites that will be creating lessons include Henry Doorley Zoo, Homestead National Park, MONA, and Edgerton Science Center.
    
• Planning team meetings:
  
  • Three principal meetings will be held during the coming year. A fourth meeting for guidance counselors will be scheduled to provide and gather information about course offerings.
    

  
  8. Distance Education Compensation Proposal
  Greeley moved that the Compensation Proposal as presented by the Executive Council serve as a guideline for TVDEC schools. ESU 11 second.
  Discussion: Caroline Winchester, President lead discussion on why this proposal was presented:
  

  • At the May 19th administrators meeting, a compensation proposal was discussed
    
  • TVDEC north schools had adopted a compensation plan last spring
    
  • A compensation plan could increase course offerings.
    
  • Schools who were sending were providing a teacher at their cost and many times were not able to receive a class in return.
    
  • Creating such a proposal would be a proactive step when dealing with schools outside of the TVDEC. (The TVDEC south upgrade will provide connectivity to 70 schools in the southeast consortium)
    

  The proposal read as follows:
  

  • When an instructor is hired for purposes of providing a distance education class, receiving sites will share in the contractual cost for that class period. An interlocal agreement will be created and signed by contracted parties.
    
    
  • When districts both send and receive a class between each other, they could (delete would) agree to no compensation for this exchange of classes. (Suggested by St. Paul to change the original proposal terminology from would to could.)
    
    
  • When a distance education class is offered, the sending site may charge a standard rate of $150 per student per semester.
    

  Motion Carried.
  The executive council will continue to study this issue and also teacher compensation alternatives.
  
  9. Meeting adjourned at 3:30.