February 7, 2024 at 11:00 AM - Information Services Committee Meeting

Discussion:  Meeting called to order at 11:00 AM.  

Staff:  Kraig Lofquist, Deb Hericks, Priscila Quintana

Discussion: 

We are waiting for reimbursement from NDE for $100,548.24 for the last robotics item purchase. I follow up with our contacts at NDE to help us receive this payment as soon as possible. This is the last item to close out the GEER process.

Discussion: 

The Proofpoint, Duo, and Canvas consortium projects continue with steady numbers:

• Proofpoint: 141 school districts and ESUs have registered 14,098 users.
• Duo Security: 45 school districts and ESUs are participating, with 8,600 licenses purchased. 1,400 licenses remain at the subsidized price of $2 per user for this contract year.
• Canvas: 186 school districts and ESUs are participating, totaling 90,149 licenses

We are working with our Instructure team on a report of usage analytics across the Nebraska Canvas instances.

We will be working with participating ESUs this month and next to determine license counts and billing going forward.

Discussion: 

The Nebraska state committee for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program awarded funding to all 3 ESU-related proposals in year 1. The grant award notifications have been completed and work is beginning on these projects. An ESUCC project that was awarded includes funding for 2 days per week of additional staffing for our team to support the Duo security and Proofpoint projects. We are working with a number of ESUs and a hiring process to determine the best way to fill this position.

The application window for year 2 projects using this grant funds closed on February 4th, 2024. Our state committee has a meeting at 1:00 PM on February 8, 2024 where we will learn thevoverall numbers for this round of applications and begin the review process.

There is $500,000 in ESSER III state level funding will be available for cybersecurity training and consulting services during the first half of 2024. 

Discussion:  The Executive Director reviewed the MSA for 2024-2025 and the changes for next year. Discussion on Andrew Easton's presenting to ESUs/others.

Discussion:  The NOC budget should stay the same as last year.  We will invoice for only those attending a training and the onsite registrations fees.  They will be meeting on February 13, 2024 to make their final decision.  

Discussion:  Jason Everett and Rhonda Eis shared the TLT budget requests.  

Discussion:  SIMPL workgroup advisory met and not many changes this onth.  

Discussion: 

The SRS team is upgrading the software to keep it on current versions and has two new forms being reviewed by our legal counsel, along with other fixes and enhancements for release this spring. We are reaching out to ESUs and SRS districts to ask for feedback on the system and which future needs and enhancements they would like to see.

The software development team has released a testing version of the new NVIS site and made it available to all distance learning coordinators for their testing and feedback. We are working with that group to determine the best process and timeline for launching the new system.

The ESUCC will be taking on more responsibility (and funding) for the Project Para system. Our Canvas team is working on improving the registration process and access for paras taking the training, and improvements to the course content.

Discussion:  The Digital Learning Director was present to share highlights from his report. 

Discussion:  The Digital Learning/Instructional Materials Project Coordinator was present to share highlights from her report. 

Discussion:  The meeting adjourn at 12:01 PM.