Services

Network and Information Services

Instructional Materials
The media collection consists of approximately 15,000 titles and has increased recently with the addition of a streaming media server. Students and faculty can search the collection (by title, abstract, series, copyright date, state standards, etc.) using their web browser and reserve items online.   This collection includes videos, audio books, DVDs, print materials, models, kits, portable planetariums, and more.

High-speed Internet access in most districts allows for new approaches to delivering digital curriculum resources.  Currently there are over 8,000 digitized and indexed video titles.  These titles can be downloaded or streamed depending on the curriculum needs.

Information Specialist 
Often teachers don't have enough time to research a topic and find the resources available at ESU 10 or on the web.  An information specialist is on staff at ESU 10 to help teachers locate instructional materials or web resources.

Satellite Downlink
Satellite downlink capabilities (analog and digital) are available for use at the service unit. Rooms for 2 to 200 people are available for viewing a video conference.  Sessions can be recorded if written permission is given by the program provider.

Lamination 
ESU 10 has the capability to laminate documents ranging in size from a drivers license to items that are 27" wide regardless of length.  Over 1.5 miles of materials were laminated by ESU 10 this past year.

Teacher Centers 
The Teacher Centers are located at the Grand Island Public School’s Administration Building, Kearney Public School’s Sunrise Middle School, and Broken Bow School's North Park Elementary.  The centers are equipped with “make it and take it” equipment including Ellison letter/shape-cutting machines and numerous dies.

Internet Service and Network Support 
Available services include but are not limited to:  Internet access; filtering and reporting; helpdesk via email, phone, web and remote access; technology planning and consulting; and hardware/software installation and configuration support and limited maintenance.

ESU 10 delivers Internet access to 45,000 students and manages over 10,000 faculty/staff email accounts for schools in central, southwestern, and western Nebraska.  Technical support, equipment repair, and network design/management are also offered.  Support is available from 7:00am to 5:00pm during school days and emergency support is available 24/7.  Over 25,000 requests for support have been logged in the ticket-tracking database.

ESU 10's technology staff provides assistance with wired and wireless network issues; offers advice on matters of networking, hardware and software procurement; and helps with service issues related to network management.  ESU 10 also provides a variety of hosted and/or on-site technical training needed to help district staff meet the demanding needs of a technology-enriched educational environment.

Computer Audio-Visual Service Center 
Our service center provides repair and diagnostic service on many types of computers, audio, and video equipment.  As an Authorized Apple Service Center, ESU 10 is able to perform warranty service on Macintosh computers in addition to the other PC brands.  Training on preventive maintenance of equipment for school personnel or technical consultations can be scheduled at ESU 10 or local districts.

Tri-Valley Distance Education Consortium (TVDEC)
TVDEC was formed in 1998 to help member school districts send and receive classes, to invigorate current curriculum offerings, and to increase educational opportunities for adult members of the community in a real-time, two-way, audio and video environment.  Participants have received assistance in classroom design, equipment selection and purchase, and training.  Various state grants helped form and fund the consortium.  Other funding comes from annual fees assessed to member districts, training fees, and other non-grant funds.  ESU 10 is a member and the fiscal agent for the consortium which is now comprised of 34 public school districts and 3 ESUs.  The University of Nebraska at Kearney and the Central Community College system also work with the consortium.

Technical Training and Integration Support 
Our technical workshops feature some of the latest software and ideas for educators.  These are presented with a focus on integration into curriculum with hands-on, practical examples for the best participant experience.  Some workshops are funded by grants which allow educators and schools to receive training and/or equipment at low or no cost.  Some of the newest training sessions include Designing Manila Web Site Templates, Cascading Style Sheets, Photo Story, Podcasting, and Digital Storytelling.

Our training staff continually receives and provides updates to districts about regulations and programs that may require changes within their data, network, and reporting systems.  Training sessions allow ESU 10 to assist districts in implementing the required changes and facilitate discussion on other learning initiatives to improve teaching and learning.  Some of the recent changes and initiatives include The Learning Web, Internet Safety, e-learning, Nebraska Student and Staff Reporting System (NSSRS), and Laptop Learning Initiatives.

Special Services

Special Education Supervision Cooperative
ESU 10’s director of special education assisted schools in the development and maintenance of special programs for special students in addition to helping with interpretation of special education laws.

Audiology 
ESU 10 offered several audiological services including hearing evaluations, on-site school consultations, the fitting and adjusting of amplification systems, central auditory processing disorder testing, and assessment of classroom acoustics.  Infant hearing screening was also available with otoacoustic emissions equipment.

Deaf Education 
ESU 10 employed 2.5 FTE deaf educators that provided services in ESU 10 and 11.  They provided direct services, consultative services and assessment services to school districts.

Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy
ESU 10 had staff available to provide PT/OT services to 34 school districts.  One physical therapist provided services to 40 students.  Three occupational therapists provided services to 125 students.

Preschool Handicapped 
Upon referral of local school districts, ESU 10 provided services to homebound handicapped youngsters and students in speech who had not yet reached school age.  The area school districts plan for implementation of birth to three services through the Early Development Network and Region 10.

Summer School
This program is provided at the request of school districts for individual students with disabilities that need extended school year services.  ESU 10 provided services in Speech/Language Pathology, Resource, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. 

Resource Teachers
At the request of local school districts, 4 resource teachers served approximately 60 students in 8 school districts.  These are students who are in regular classes the majority of their learning time in school.

Speech Pathology 
Twelve speech and language pathologists served 500 students who were referred from 28 schools in the ESU 10 area.

Psychological Cooperative 
ESU 10 served 20 schools during the 2005-2006 school year through a psychological cooperative.  There were approximately 350 psychological evaluations performed by the 4 FTE of school psychologists on staff. 

Vocational Transition 
A Vocational Transition Counselor Consortium for 23 school districts continued to provide on-site assistance.

Professional Development

ESU 10 professional developers planned, coordinated, and trained school district personnel both at ESU 10, regionally, and on site at schools with more than 77,000 contact hours (number of participants X number of hours of training) of professional development facilitated by ESU 10 Professional Development in 2005-2006. 

These trainings were planned and delivered to promote the improvement of student achievement through the development of support staff, teacher, and administrator competencies in areas of school improvement, curriculum, instruction, assessment, student safety and behavior, and specialized areas such as high ability learners, working with students of poverty, Quantum Learning techniques to increase student engagement in learning, and a Professional Learning Community for music teachers.

Training topics included:  assessment literacy, improving standards-based assessments, high ability learner identification and differentiation, interdisciplinary curriculum development, multicultural, Nebraska-Based School Improvement Process (SIP), North Central Association (NCA) school improvement process, Language Assessment Scales (LAS), crisis team training, school safety plans, Developmental Assets, anti-bullying/harassment, Instructional Theory Into Practice, brain research pertaining to teaching and learning, Six-Trait Writing Instruction and Assessment, Early Literacy workshops, DIBELS training and other specific areas as requested by schools or administrators. ESU 10 professional developers facilitated workshops on site that focused on consensus-building, school improvement planning, articulation and review of K-12 curriculum, high ability classroom issues, and instructional practices, and assisted districts in meeting requirements of No Child Left Behind Act.

School Leadership has been an area of focus, requested by ESU 10 district building administrators.  Professional Development hosted three sessions of leadership development, including one with noted author Dr. Elaine McEwan.  The Gallup organization conducted a workshop on leadership strengths at ESU 10.  A two-day Quantum Learning session for administrators where QL is implemented or will be implemented was a third leadership session.

Testing sessions continued to meet the requirements for highly qualified paraprofessionals under the No Child Left Behind Act were facilitated by ESU 10 Professional Development.

Multicultural
This program included materials for teachers and students, training, and coordination of local, state, and regional ethnic resources which provided in-services, school assemblies, classroom demonstrations, and discussions.

The Connector
This newsletter, published bi-monthly September through May by the Professional Development Department, kept more than 3,500 area administrators and teachers apprised of upcoming in-services, workshops, and current happenings in the field of education.

Federal and State Grants

Autism Program
The Central Region Autism Team provides assistance to schools in ESUs 9, 10, 11, 15; Lincoln County in ESU 16; and ESU 17 except Cherry County.  The purpose of the Central Region Autism Team is to provide direct assistance to school districts in the areas of assessment, program planning, and program implementation for children in the region with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Carl Perkins Vocational Consortium
This program provided 32 school districts with professional development and materials to improve instruction and student achievement.  Various workshops were offered in an effort to help vocational educators remain current in knowledge of subject areas, teaching strategies, and assessment practices.  The consortium also provided funding for the enhancement of equipment, technology and delivery systems.

Every Child Prepared for Tomorrow (ECPT) Grant
In October of 2002 ESU10, in partnership with Central Community College, was awarded a five-year $1,900,000 grant to work with paraprofessionals in central Nebraska.  The primary focus of this grant is to improve instruction to Limited English Proficient (LEP) students by improving the quality of training available to teachers and paraprofessionals.  Toward this goal, in 2005-2006 the grant provided assistance to 65 paraprofessionals in earning their Associate of Arts degree, eight paraprofessionals who are finishing their Bachelor of Arts degree, and 30 teachers who are earning their ESL endorsement.  The grant also provides additional training opportunities, classroom materials, and support to participants.

Migrant
The Nebraska Migrant Education Program, developed in 1967, was designed to provide services to assist in educating migrant children.  ESU 10 is part of this state program.  The Migrant Education Program works closely with other state migrant programs to provide students with the best possible education and to increase the number of migrant students who graduate from high school.  Migrant children may receive supplementary basic skill instruction, supportive health services, and social agency services.  The Migrant Program includes Parent Coordinator Programs.  In 2005-2006, 249 students were identified and served in 13 school districts.

Nebraska Educational Assistive Technology 
A federally funded program to provide equipment, assistance, and training for using assistive technology devices for students with disabilities continued to grow.  Expanded services for computer and assistive technology recycling were provided through an online service, techconnectors.net.  Another new web service was created, neatinfo.net.  The provision of assistive technology loans and discount offers continued.  Staff was available to demonstrate, use, and train district staffs concerning assistive technology.  NEAT utilized regional statewide sites to provide expanded services.  NEAT operates out of ESU 10's Cozad facility.

No Child Left Behind: Title I Cooperative 
A Title I cooperative assisted 13 school districts in the management of their Title I grant resources.  The Title I coordinator served as liaison between school districts and state and federal Title I agencies.  Information and services related to improving educational reading and math programs were shared among member school districts.

No Child Left Behind: Title II-A Consortium for Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting  included 47 districts in ESU 10. This grant replaces the former Eisenhower Professional Development, Title II, Grant and the Class Size Reduction Grant. Funds from this grant were used to improve standards implementation, classroom instruction, and specific student learning strategies with multi-day trainings in high need areas, such as Write Traits and the Spalding reading workshop series. Collecting Data in the Classroom for Student Improvement and analytical scoring of 4th, 8th, and 11th grade writing samples in the fall for School Improvement were some examples of other sessions that addressed identified needs in ESU 10 schools.

No Child Left Behind:  Title III Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Immigrant Education Program 
This program served 32 districts via a consortium of schools in Educational Service Units 10, 9, 11, 15 and 16.  Services supported through consorted funds included:  professional development for teachers, technical assistance, language testing, record keeping, and reporting of baseline and improvement data to the Nebraska Department of Education for compliance with NCLB.

No Child Left Behind:  Title IV Consortium for Safe & Drug-Free Schools & Communities
Funds from this grant were used to establish, implement,  and  augment early-childhood-through-grade-12 tobacco, alcohol, other drug and violence prevention programs.  Areas of focus for the 62 member school districts included Youth Congress, Kids CAN, Developmental Assets training, support for Red Ribbon Week activities, prevention curriculum development, crisis training, anti-bullying/harassment training and parent/community involvement.

S.T.A.R.  (School-based, Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting) Grant  Forty-seven districts in ESU 10 pooled their STAR funds for nine days of standards-based assessment revision and curriculum alignment in June.  Three Saturdays during the school year were spent by teachers and administrators working on reliability of assessments and setting of mastery cut scores.  Data analysis for School Improvement and curriculum development/alignment in science were other opportunities supported by the S.T.A.R. grant.

Statewide Mathematics/Science Partnership grants
For the third year, ESU 10 was the fiscal agent for a statewide M/SP grant with science/health focus. Partners were the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Wayne State College.   This spring ESU 10 became one of the partners in the new M/A Partnerships grant for professional development for teachers of middle school and high school mathematics. Three training sessions for participating math teachers in Central Nebraska will be held at ESU 10 in the 2006-2007 year to focus on improving teaching skills and knowledge of complex mathematical topics in algebra, the Year 1 emphasis.

Student Activities

ESU 10 staff planned a variety of activities which directly involved more than 1,400 students: the Academic Quiz Bowl, 600 students; Youth Leadership Days, 238 students; Regional Science Olympiad, 320 students; and Math Fun Day, 107 students, Invention Convention, 65 students; Kids CAN...stop bullying, 86 students. Students were provided with opportunities to engage in competitive events and activities and to develop leadership skills.