May 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM - ESUCC Regular Board Meeting
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 5/15/2026 at 8:32 AM | |
| Dr. Laura Barrett | Present |
| Dr. Kanyon Chism | Present |
| Corey Dahl | Present |
| Geraldine Erickson | Present |
| Drew Harris | Present |
| Dr. Bill Heimann | Present |
| Mitch Hoffer | Absent |
| Dr. Brian Maschmann | Present |
| James McGown | Present |
| Dr. Brenda McNiff | Absent |
| Dr. Takako Olson | Present |
| Marci Ostmeyer | Present |
| Phillip Picquet | Present |
| John Poppert | Present |
| Gregg Robke | Absent |
| Dr. Dan Schnoes (NE) | Present |
| Dr. Melissa Wheelock | Present |
| Present: 14, Absent: 3 | |
|
Comments:
Gerald Kuhn not present.
|
|
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 5/15/2026 at 11:16 AM | |
| Dr. Laura Barrett | Present |
| Dr. Kanyon Chism | Present |
| Corey Dahl | Present |
| Geraldine Erickson | Present |
| Drew Harris | Present |
| Dr. Bill Heimann | Present |
| Mitch Hoffer | Absent |
| Dr. Brian Maschmann | Present |
| James McGown | Present |
| Dr. Brenda McNiff | Absent |
| Dr. Takako Olson | Present |
| Marci Ostmeyer | Absent |
| Phillip Picquet | Present |
| John Poppert | Present |
| Gregg Robke | Absent |
| Dr. Dan Schnoes (NE) | Present |
| Dr. Melissa Wheelock | Present |
| Present: 13, Absent: 4 | |
|
Comments:
Gerald Kuhn not present.
|
|
| Minutes | |
|---|---|
|
1. Call to Order
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Discussion:
The Board Meeting was called to order at 8:32am.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
1.1. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
|
|
|
2. Welcome Visitors
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
No additional visitors present.
|
|
|
3. Public Comment
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
No public comments were provided.
|
|
|
4. Consent Agenda Items
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
|
|
|
4.1. Approval of Minutes
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
4.2. Policy 3027. Internet Safety Policy
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
4.3. Policy 4013. Leave Time
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
4.4. Policy 4014. Workers' Compensation
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
4.5. Policy 4015. Tort Claims
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
4.6. Policy 4016. Outside Employment/Non-ESUCC Employment
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
4.7. Travel Expenses Exceeding Per Diem
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
|
|
|
4.8. Cooperative Contracts
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
5. Nebraska Council on Teacher Education Update
Speaker(s):
Dr. Ashley Tomjack
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
ESUCC CEO Dr. Polk introduced Dr. Ashley Tomjack. Dr. Tomjack reviewed the attached NCTE State Statute 79-810 Information_ESUCC Regular Board Meeting and Equivalent professional education approval - DRAFT documents.
Would additional staffing be billed out to the districts? - There is no funding attached. It is unclear if a consortium can take place. ESUs cannot be considered an accredited school district. The ESUs are not interested in being the default at this time. If there is additional feedback, send it to Dr. Polk, so the feedback can be compiled and sent to Dr. Tomjack by the end of May. The board meeting recessed at 8:56am to attend the NDE Sped webinar as a group.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
6. Coop Project Profile
Speaker(s):
Project Leaders
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
The board meeting resumed at 9:22am.
Craig Peterson, Cooperative Purchasing Director, reviewed the attached Coop - Board Project Profile document.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
7. Petitions and Communications to the Board
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
|
|
|
7.1. Learning Community Update
Speaker(s):
Gerald Kuhn
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
No one from the Learning Community is present.
Goals:
|
|
|
7.2. NCSA - Ambassador Program Updates
Speaker(s):
Kevin Wingard, NCSA
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Kevin Wingard, NCSA Ambassador, reviewed the attached NCSA Ambassador ESU ESUCC May 15, 2026 Report document.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
7.3. State Board of Education and Nebraska Department of Education Report
Speaker(s):
Shirley Vargas, NDE
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Dr. Shirley Vargas, NDE School Transformation Officer & Office Administrator, provided a quick update and encouraged the board to review the linked NDE Updates 2025-26 document.
Links:
|
|
|
7.4. Association of Education Service Agency (AESA) Report
Speaker(s):
AESA Representative
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Dr. Dan Schnoes, ESU 3 Administrator, reviewed the attached AESA 2026-27 (Spring) Program Guide document.
Dr. Schnoes shared that he recently participated in a trip with AESA to Beijing 101, one of the top schools in China. During the visit, AESA participated in the school’s 80th anniversary celebration, and an agreement was signed to continue the collaborative partnership for the next five years. Dr. Schnoes, with AESA, went to visit Portugal and Spain shortly after the trip to China. The Summer Leadership Conference will be held in California in July. The Central Region Symposium will be held in North Dakota in October.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
|
|
|
8. Sparq Negotiations Update
Speaker(s):
Dr. Brian Maschmann
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Dr. Brian Maschmann, ESU 6 Administrator, reviewed the attached Revised SPARQ negotiations document and the attached SPARQ Other Bargaining Units Position Reference document. SPARQ Negotiations will be discussed at the June Business Manager meeting. Dr. Maschmann would like to have suggested edits to Darion Miller - SPARQ, by the end of May.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
9. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Report
Speaker(s):
CEO Polk
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
ESUCC CEO Dr. Polk reviewed the attached CEO Report to the Board - May 2026 document.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
10. SMART Committee Report
Speaker(s):
Committee Chair
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
ESUCC CEO Dr. Polk provided the SMART Committee Report. ESUCC CEO Dr. Polk, ESUCC CIO Scott Isaacson, and Nathan McClenahan — ESU 10, were able to meet on May 13, 2026, to draft a SMART roadmap.
|
|
|
11. Committee Reports
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
|
|
|
11.1. Executive Committee Report
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.1.1. Claims, Financial Statements, and Assets for the Month of April
Speaker(s):
ESUCC Treasurer
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
ESUCC CEO Dr. Polk reviewed the attached Budget Summary April 2026 document.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.1.2. April expenses to be paid in May
Speaker(s):
ESUCC Treasurer
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.1.3. Employment contract for Nikki Muller, PowerSchool Support Specialist
Speaker(s):
CEO Polk
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.1.4. Employment Contract for Ellie Schroeder, PowerSchool Support Specialist
Speaker(s):
CEO Polk
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.1.5. Revised Contract for Shara Johnson, Canvas Specialist
Speaker(s):
CEO Polk
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.2. Education Resources
Speaker(s):
Committee Chair(s)
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Dr. Laura Barrett, ESU 13 Administrator, provided the update for the Educational Resources Committee Meeting.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.3. Legal Committee
Speaker(s):
Committee Chair(s)
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
Phillip Picquet, ESU 15 Administrator, provided the Legal Committee update.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.3.1. Board Member Mileage
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
11.4. Information Services Committee
Speaker(s):
Committee Chair(s)
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
James McGown, ESU 16 Administrator, provided the Information Services Committee meeting update.
Attachments:
()
|
|
|
12. ESU Share Out and New Chief Administrator Topics
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Discussion:
The board expressed its appreciation for the NDE Board meeting notes provided by Dr. Kanyon Chism, ESU 19 Administrator. Geraldine Erickson, ESU 17 Administrator, shared concerns regarding a potential property tax issue in her district related to uncertainty involving an LLC. |
|
|
13. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Discussion:
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 11:42am.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mindy Reed, ESUCC Executive Secretary to the CEO. |
