Bulletin. NASB School Leaders. Health insurance rates will not rise for the plan year

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1 NASB School Leaders Bulletin Published as a Member Service of the Nebraska Association of School Boards March 2011 Health insurance rates will not rise for the plan year There will be no increase in health insurance premium rates for groups and early retirees participating in the Educators Health Alliance (EHA) for the plan year, beginning September 1, 2011, according to EHA Board of Directors Chairman Dan Ernst. This is great news for school districts and school employees across Nebraska, said Ernst. The zero percent increase in rates is made possible in large part because school employees and their families have made wise decisions regarding their health care. Additionally, the EHA announced that the premium rates for the year, beginning September 1, 2012, will be limited to an increase of no more than 4 percent from the current year s rates. This action provides an unprecedented pause in rate increases during this time of budget certainty for EHA participants. Ernst said the one-year freeze in premium rates and the second-year 4 percent cap on the increase is made possible due to a number of factors, including: A significant decline in medical inflation trends; Recent lower than anticipated utilization rates in The job of serving on a school board has grown to be a much more demanding task over the past decade. And the prospects for the future look like some tough decisions are about to be laid on your board table. That means that now, more than ever, you and your fellow board members need to be up-to-date on the expectations and challenges as they unfold. The most comprehensive and convenient way to do that is through your membership with the Nebraska Association of School Boards. When your district joins NASB, it connects your board with more than 250 other school governance boards from throughout the state. Your board can benefit by joining together with districts that have already survived a Reduction In Force, or a school district reorganization. Your board also benefits from the wide array of programs, services and representation that NASB offers from its Lincoln headquarters. hospital and physician services; Pharmacy benefit management leading to reduced pharmacy trends; A program designed to assist in the management of a chronic diseases; Holding the line on health and administrative cost increases; The projected impact of the 2011 implementation of a statewide wellness and health promotion program and; Prudent management over time in the design and choices of benefit plans. EHA health insurance rates for the plan year apply to all available seven active employee health benefit plans, three early retiree benefit plans, and five dental benefit plans. The EHA plan will offer the same benefit plans in the plan year. Additionally, the benefits and offerings will be enhanced to comply with the provisions of the new health reform law including 100 percent coverage of preventative services, removal of the lifetime benefit continued on page 3 NASB membership parlays service into savings for boards Because we believe in the importance of your membership, and we can also see the tough economic horizons ahead, NASB is rolling back dues to the levels paid by members in Information about membership has been sent to every superintendent and board member in the state. NASB s fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31. There are several direct benefits to renewing your NASB membership early. First, you assure your district of continuing to receive the information and services that have made NASB so important to school board members throughout the state. From the monthly School Leaders Bulletin, to the weekly Legislative Newsletter, to our array of workshop opportunities, we are the primary source for school board-related information. Also, responding by April 1 will assure your district continued on page 10

2 Association News Legislation Committee seeking nominees for seven positions The NASB School Leaders Bulletin The NASB Legislation Committee is seeking nominees for seven seats on the 24-member panel that receives member input and fashions it into an annual set of legislative resolutions and standing positions for the Delegate Assembly to consider. The Legislation Committee s work begins in July, after receiving member proposals for legislative direction and belief statements that guide the Association s lobbying efforts throughout the year, both in Lincoln with the Legislature and the State Board of Education, as well as in Washington, D.C. with Congress. This year, the Legislation Committee is scheduled to meet on July 16 at the Kearney Holiday Inn. After that meeting, the work of the Committee is presented to the NASB Board of Directors for review, and then sent out to members annually in the Action Book. The Delegate Assembly then allows each member an opportunity to send a representative (the Delegate Assembly meets on the Friday morning of the State Education Conference in November) to vote on final approval of NASB s resolutions and positions for the coming year. The Committee also meets during State Conference and at the Legislative Issues Conference to discuss emerging issues and provide input to NASB s lobbying team. The 18 elected members of the Committee represent NASB-member districts of like enrollment sizes. Every year, six of those members are elected for three-year terms. One Legislation Committee member lost her local election, forcing a seventh opening for the two years of that unexpired term. Legislation Committee Seats 3 (Omaha), 6 (Millard), 9, 10, 12, 15, and 18 (NESUBA) are up for election this year. Nomination forms have been sent out to the affected districts. The deadline for those nominations is March 18. The election for contested seats will begin April 1. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Vicki Walter-Winters at or vwinters@nasbonline.org. The School Leaders Bulletin is published on a monthly basis by the Nebraska Association of School Boards as a member service. Advertising is available in every issue. Please call Brian Hale for further information on advertising. We also welcome article submissions from the public. We reserve the editorial privilege to reduce the size of any submission to fit the space or refuse to run a submission altogether. The articles or advertising contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Nebraska Association of School Boards. Address all correspondence to NASB, 1311 Stockwell, Lincoln, NE (800) Brian Hale, Editor John Bonaiuto, Publisher Richard Zimmerman, President (Fairbury) Brian Holcomb, Pres.-Elect (Coleridge) Dave Anderson, Vice Pres. (Millard) Suzan DeCamp, Imm. Past Pres. (St. Paul) John Wurdeman, Past Pres. (ESU #7) Patty Bentzinger, Region 1 (Norris) Bill Gess, Region 2 (Papillion-LaVista) Freddie Gray, Region 3 (Omaha) Kevin Keller, Region 4 (Lincoln) Richard Meginnis, Region 5 (Lincoln) Nancy Huston, Region 6 (Omaha) Nancy Kratky, Region 7 (Omaha) Rick Kollar, Region 8 (Ralston) Alan Moore, Region 9 (ESU #3) Mike Tomes, Region 10 (Centennial) Marcia Mahon, Region 11 (So. Sioux City) Heidi Vahle, Region 12 (Grand Island) Marilyn Bohn, Region 13 (Ravenna) Jon Anderjaska, Region 14 (Wauneta-Palisade) Michelle Zlomke, Region 15 (Broken Bow) Francis Kuehler, Region 16 (Columbus) Jacque Collison, Region 17 (Pierce) Doug Keener, Region 18 (Mitchell) Linda Poole, Region 19 (Millard) NASB STAFF John Bonaiuto Executive Director John Spatz Assoc. Exec. Director Burma Kroger, Board Development Brian Hale, Communications Jim Luebbe, Policy Services Marcia Herring Supt. Search/Member Services Sallie Svatora Operations Manager Vicki Walter-Winters Administrative Assistant Rachel Horstman Accounting Administrator Megan Boldt ALICAP Administrator Craig Caples Information Systems Jason Menagh Web Programmer Zoe McManaman Administrative Assistant Page 2 NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011

3 EHA unveils two-year plan to contain health insurance costs continued from page 1 maximums, expansion of coverage to qualifying dependents up to the age of 26 and removal of preexisting conditions exclusions for dependents under the age of 19. The EHA Board appreciates the expertise provided by its insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, and will work with its representatives in early 2012 to determine the rates, said Ernst. Based on our claims experience, cost-saving measures and current projections, the Board is pleased to be able to assure participants that those rates will reflect no more than a 4 percent increase. The EHA Board understands the financial concerns of our education members as well as the fiscal constraints facing school districts, said John Bonaiuto, executive director of the Nebraska Association of School Boards. We are pleased to be able to hold the line on health insurance premiums for both districts and individual employees. The decision to freeze premium rates was made only after careful review of the plan s financial status, said Mike Dulaney, executive director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. This is the result of the cost-saving measures taken by the EHA Board, as well as by employees and their families. The EHA has taken action to help plan participants be careful stewards of their health and informed consumers of health care, said Craig R. Christiansen, executive director of the Nebraska State Education Association. This is one of the many benefits of our statewide risk pool. It ensures affordable health care insurance for members of the plan. The Educators Health Alliance is a non-profit corporation that was created to procure quality, affordable health care insurance for Nebraska education employees. The EHA is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of members selected by the Nebraska State Education Association, the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. The EHA plan provides medical and dental insurance coverage for more than 70,000 Nebraskans. School Specific Insurance What are school leaders saying about it? Fast, convenient service, and very helpful people. Shawn Scott, Adams Central Superintendent ALICAP is owned and operated by its members. As owners of the pool, member districts receive a return of surplus funds off future premiums. The ALICAP pool offers property, liability, workers compensation, errors and omissions, crime, and automobile coverage. Call NASB for a free quote at or find out more about ALICAP at NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011 Page 3

4 Articulating what we expect from teachers and administrators A 40-member group of education leaders from K-12 and higher education gathered in February to begin drafting a set of standards and characteristics by which educator effectiveness could be measured in the State of Nebraska. The effort is part of the Nebraska Department of Education s work to develop a Comprehensive Educator Effectiveness System for Nebraska. Retired Superintendent Jim Havelka is leading the effort as a consultant to NDE. Nebraska currently has no such uniform standards for teachers or administrators, and the lack of such frameworks have been among the criticisms received by the state in its application for Race to the Top grants and in other federal measures of Nebraska s education effectiveness. Many districts have adopted teacher evaluation frameworks from Charlotte Danielson or Bob Marzano, but administrator evaluations have historically been done in much less formal structures across the state. Lincoln Board Member Kathy Danek and NASB staff member Brian Hale represented NASB in the drafting process, which included superintendents, principals, school district human resources professionals, classroom teachers, representatives of teacher training institutions throughout the state, and NDE officials. There were two different sets of performance standards discussed during the February drafting session: one for classroom teachers, and the other for building-level administrators. While many other states have ventured down this path in past years, the group used the work of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) as a springboard for Nebraska s outlines. The CCSSO has created the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards for teachers, and the Interstate School Leaders The development of a Comprehensive Educator Effectiveness System will continue through the spring, culminating in the Effective Educator in 2020 Summit on June 7-8 in Omaha. Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards for school administrators. The drafting group not only had access to the work of the CCSSO, but also reviewed the various ways in which other states support the training, development, recruitment, and retention of high-quality educators. During the past decade, education stakeholders increasingly have identified improvement in educator quality and effectiveness as a pathway to enhancing student learning and achievement. Subsequently, policy and programming have been developed to address individual components of the educator career continuum. Many of these components, such as preparation or professional development, have been addressed at the district, state, and federal levels, but not with much coordination. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the more recent provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, encourage the active involvement and leadership of states in planning, monitoring, and thinking innovatively about improving educator quality. Thus, the State Board of Education has initiated these efforts as a way to generate a statewide discussion on these issues. This effort will continue through the spring, culminating in the Effective Educator in 2020 Summit on June 7 and 8 in Omaha, being planned by NDE and co-sponsored by the Nebraska Parental Information Resource Center, and other private foundations. In support of the effort to develop the Comprehensive Educator Effectiveness System for Nebraska, the primary objective of the June Summit will be to define the ideal profile of the 2020 educator (what would they look like and what would they be able to do) and then to create a framework for a roadmap that supports the development of that educator. This roadmap framework will impact the development of both current and future educators, and is envisioned to ultimately include: * Attraction and Preparation Identifying the right characteristics for candidates in a teacher/leader program and the processes and programs that effectively prepare candidates for work in the field * Effective Professional Transition Recruitment, hiring, and the responsibilities districts and higher education programs have to insure successful transition to work * Continuous Growth Processes to support continuous learning and professional development * A Foundation of Process and Policies Policies, procedures, and legislation the state needs to have in place to support the entire process, including certification and recertification processes. As this process matures, we will continue to provide information to NASB members, and ultimately, a framework will be presented to the State Board of Education for adoption as a statewide baseline for teacher and administrator evaluations across Nebraska. Page 4 NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011

5 Studies reveal which characteristics make boards effective by Patte Barth What makes an effective school board one that boosts student achievement? From a research perspective, it s a complex question that involves evaluating virtually all of a board s functions, from internal governance and policy formulation to communication with teachers, building administrators, and the public. But the research that exists is clear, according to a brief published by NSBA s Center for Public Education (CPE) in late January. The brief, which examined seven research studies conducted between 1993 and 2008, says high-achieving boards exhibit habits and characteristics that are markedly different from those of their low-achieving counterparts. What makes a board effective? Here are eight characteristics found in the research: High expectations, clear goals: Effective school boards make a commitment to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and quality instruction. They define clear goals to meet the vision, make sure the goals remain the top priorities, and allow nothing to detract from them. Belief that all children can learn: Effective school boards have strong shared beliefs and values about what is possible for students and their ability to learn, and of the system and its ability to teach all children at high levels. In high-achieving districts, poverty, lack of parental involvement and other factors are described as challenges to be overcome, not as excuses. Board members expect to see improvements in student achievement quickly as a result of initiatives. Focused on achievement: Effective boards are accountability driven. They spend less time on operational issues and more time focused on policies to improve student achievement. Collaboration and communication: Effective boards have a collaborative relationship with staff and the community. A strong communications structure is in place to inform and engage key groups internal and external in setting and achieving the district s goals. Data savvy: Effective school boards embrace and monitor data, even when the information is negative, and use it to drive continuous improvement. In high-achieving districts, board members identify specific student needs through data, and justify decisions based on that data. Goals and resources aligned: Effective school boards align and sustain resources, such as professional development, to meet district goals. This occurs even during the most severe budget challenges. Team leadership: Effective school boards lead as a united team with the superintendent, each from their respective roles, with strong collaboration and mutual trust. Boards in successful districts define an initial vision for the district and seek a superintendent who matches this vision. We have your school needs covered! Glenwood Telephone Blue Hill, NE Team training: Boards that are effective take part in team development and training, sometimes with their superintendents, to build shared knowledge, values, and commitments for the district s improvement efforts. Training is formal, deliberate, and often on specific topics. Though the research on school board effectiveness is in the beginning stages, the studies included in this report make it clear that school boards in high-achieving districts have attitudes, knowledge, and approaches that separate them from their counterparts in lower-achieving districts. In this era of fiscal constraints and a national environment focused on accountability, boards in high-performing districts can provide an important blueprint for success. In the process, they can offer a road map for school districts nationwide. Patte Barth (pbarth@nsba.org) is the director of NSBA s Center for Public Education. The full report, The Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards, is available at Security Systems Video Surveillance Telephone Systems Computer Sales Computer Repair IT Consulting Networking NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011 Page 5

6 Nebraska s top youth volunteers selected for national awards Kayla Blackwell, 17, of Bellevue and Justine Bauer, 13, of Elm Creek today were named Nebraska s top two your volunteers for 2011 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 16 th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Kayla was nominated by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension of Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Omaha, and Justine was nominated by Elm Creek School in Elm Creek. As state honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America s top youth volunteers for 2011 at that time. Kayla, a junior at Bellevue East High School and a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, helped organize a dress-making venture that resulted in new dresses for 1,100 little girls in Honduras and Haiti. While searching for a community service project that would be out of the box and innovative, Kayla became fascinated by the idea of making dresses after a fellow Girl Scout returned from a church mission trip to Honduras and reported that many girls there weren t able to come into town because they didn t have any clothes. On average, most girls only went to school until third grade before they outgrew their hand-me-downs, said Kayla. Kayla, her friend, and another Girl Scout decided to produce 500 new dresses for the poor girls in Honduras. It was the most fun and heartwarming thing I have ever done. -- Kayla Blackwell, Bellevue East 2011 Prudential Award Winner They came up with a financial plan, showing how they planned to raise the money to buy fabric, advertise their project to recruit people to sew, and ship the dresses. Kayla designed dress patterns and instructions on how to sew reversible dresses, and then asked local church members, school classmates, 4-Hers, neighbors and friends to help. After several months, 1,100 dresses had been completed. Three hundred were sent to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake there. Kayla and her friends personally delivered the rest to Honduras last summer. It was the most fun and heartwarming thing I have ever done, said Kayla. She hopes to return to the Central American country to distribute more dresses soon. Justine, an eighth-grader at Elm Creek School, planned and implemented a series of regular visits to a local nursing home to increase the social interaction of residents there, and encouraged others at her school and in her community to help alleviate the loneliness of nursing home residents. Justine s great-grandmother lives at the nursing home and each time Justine visited her, she was struck by how few visitors there were at the facility. This concerned me, she said, so she spoke with the facility s director and the nurses and discovered that more than a third of the residents were never visited by friends or family members. This made me really sad, but it made me want to get involved and make a change, Justine said. She selected four residents to visit on a regular basis and set up a schedule. Over the next several months, she met numerous times with each one individually to chat about family, sports, school, and other topics of mutual interest. In an attempt to get others involved, Justine persuaded her class at school to make treats for elderly friends, and began making presentations to school and 4-H groups about the loneliness of nursing home residents. She also placed an article in her school newsletter, community newspaper, and on the school website to encourage people to visit their elderly friends and relatives. These award recipients have proven that young people across America are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our nation, and our world, said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. Each and every one of these honorees deserves our respect and admiration, and we hope by shining a light on them, they will continue to serve as an example for others. While in Washington, D.C., the 102 state honorees will tour the capital s landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them five middle level and five high school students will be named National Honorees on May 2 by a prestigious national selection committee. Those selected will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants from the Prudential Foundation for a non-profit, charitable organization of their choice. Page 6 NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011

7 Nominations sought for Community Service, Impact Awards (Lincoln, Neb.) ServeNebraska is accepting nominations to honor individuals and organizations throughout Nebraska with the 2011 First Lady s Outstanding Community Service Awards and Impact Awards. The nomination deadline for these awards is March 14, Honorees will be recognized at the First Lady s Awards Luncheon on April 28, 2011 at The Thompson Alumni Center on the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus. The First Lady s Outstanding Community Service Awards reflect Nebraska First Lady Sally Ganem s passion for education, and honors adult, youth and group nominees in a variety of categories. These include Lifetime Achievement in Volunteerism, as well as outstanding achievement in Service-Learning, School Leadership and Environmental Education programs. The Good Life we enjoy and the high national volunteerism ranking we honor will only continue if the ethic of service and commitment to community we all have is continued in future generations of Nebraskans, said First Lady Sally Ganem. The Impact Awards honor individuals and groups who have gone above-and-beyond in addressing the needs of their communities and bettering the quality of life for their fellow Nebraskans. Among the Impact Awards is the Debra Hartmann Award which honors a staff member whose efforts in the areas of volunteerism or national service have significantly improved the quality of life of their fellow Nebraskans. Details including award categories, nomination forms and instructions, and past honorees are available online at or by contacting ServeNebraska at or ServeNebraska mobilizes Nebraskans to strengthen their communities through volunteering, collaboration and national service programs. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberle Hall, Be There Moment for March When doing laundry, ask your child to pour the detergent and show them how to save water by using the right amount of water depending of the size load. Children love to help if you give them a chance to do it themselves. They may actually come to enjoy doing laundry, and it certainly helps them to monitor their own laundry pile. Whether or not you develop a regular laundry partner, your child will at least know how to operate the machines, and that may save you problems later. Be There. Sign up for free material for your school at nasbonline. org/bethere. Get to the Core of your negotiations with the NASB Negotiation Software More Facts, Less Fuss Is it time to build an array of districts for comparability? With the Negotiation Software Program you choose which schools you want in your array & have a complete report the same day. The program places your staff on the salary schedules of other districts, calculates the salary and benefit totals and shows where your school places in the array you ve selected. If you have questions or would like to see a demonstration contact: Sallie Svatora - ssvatora@nasbonline.org NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011 Page 7

8 Architects Alvine Engineering 1102 Douglas on the Mall, Omaha, NE Mechanical, electrical, plumbing & technology design Steve Alvine Archi+Etc., LLC 2436 N. 48th Street, Lincoln, NE Architectural planning and design Cristy Joy Bahr, Vermeer, Haecker Architects 440 N. 8th Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE Architectural planning and design Jim Berg Beringer Ciaccio Dennell Mabrey 1015 N. 98th Street, Ste 300, Omaha, NE Architectural landscape, interior designs Mike Benck Cannon Moss Brygger & Assoc., P.C Carleton Ave., Ste. A, Grand Island, NE Architecture, interiors, and planning Brad Kissler, Jim Brisnehan Carlson West Povondra Architects 5060 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE Architecture, planning, feasibility studies Jon Carlson Davis Design 211 N. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE Architecture, engineering, interior design Marilyn Larson DLR Group 400 Essex Court - Regency Park, Omaha, NE Architecture, engineering, educational facility planning Patrick Phelan pphelan@dlrgroup.com Joseph R. Hewgley & Associates Inc. 702 South Bailey Avenue, North Platte, NE Architectural design, interiors, construction, facility mgmt Joseph Hewgley joe@jrharchitectural.com Prochaska & Associates Chicago Circle, Omaha, NE Planning, architecture, engineering, interiors, facility mgmt Donald Prochaska cjones@prochaska.us The Schemmer Associates Inc North 115th St., Ste 300, Omaha, NE Architects & engineers, design services R. William Cramer, AIA bcramer@schemmer.com NASB Affiliate Members Awards and Plaques Awards Unlimited 1935 O Street, Lincoln, NE Trophies, awards, plaques & etc. Larry King larryking@awardsunlimited.com Building Controls/Services Control Management Inc. PO Box 12038, Omaha, NE Energy savings, service, custom integration, retrofits Nathan Haug nathan@cmiomaha.com Centurion Ind., Inc., Div. of A-Lert Roof Systems 2065 FM 1102, New Braunfels, TX Standing seam metal roofs Michele Evola acarrillo@centurionind.com Morris Group Associates 3830 N.W. 16th St., Topeka, KS Representative for Duro-Last roofing system Mark Akagi Purifan, Inc. 625 N.Carriage Parkway, #105, Wichita, KS Purifan classroom air filtration systems Stan Brannan , ext.12 stan@purifan.com Tremco, Inc. P.O. Box , Kansas City, MO Roofing products & services Jerry Strother jstrother@tremcoinc.com Construction Services Ayars & Ayars, Inc N. 48th Street, Lincoln, NE Construction management/design-build Mike Collins mcollins@ayarsayars.com Beckenhauer Construction Mgt., Inc. P.O. Box 866, Norfolk, NE Construction management Lowell Beckenhauer Jr Fisher Tracks, Inc th Street, Boone, Iowa All weather tracks Jordan Fisher jfisher@fishertracks.com Johnson Controls, Inc Hillsdale Circle, Omaha, NE Building efficiency, renewable energy Matthew Leaper matthew.r.leaper@jci.com TRANE 5720 S. 77th Street, Ralston, NE Building construction services/performance contracting Dave Raymond or dave.raymond@trane.com Energy Services Seminole Energy Services, LLC 414 East Ave., Ste. 130, Box 402, Holdrege, NE Natural gas Brenda Christensen bchristensen@seminoleenergy.com Equipment and Furniture Cornhusker State Industries 800 Pioneers Blvd, Lincoln, NE Manufacture office & library furniture, chairs, filing cabinets, janitorial products, Braille services Kate Severin Kate.Severin@nebraska.gov FAX Csi.salesandmarketing@nebraska.gov Creative Sites, LLC Pierce Street, Omaha, NE Playground equipment and site furnishings Julie Kutilek jkutilek@cox.net FAX Crouch Recreational Design, Inc N. 97th Circle, Omaha, NE Playground and athletic equipment Eric and Nicole Crouch eric@crouchrecreation.com Front Runner Fab., Inc. 101 Broadway St., Fullerton, NE Portable bleachers Bryan Dubas fullertonwelding@hamilton.net Heartland Seating, Inc W 62nd Terrace, Shawnee, KS Indoor and outdoor bleachers, spectator seating Carroll Sliva / carroll@heartlandseating.com Mid-States School Equipment Co. Inc. 810C N.W. Main St., Lee s Summit, MO Auditorium seating/indoor-outdoor bleachers/cafeteria tables/classroom and library furniture Ron Wuebben rwuebben@msseci.com Musco Sports Lighting, LLC PO Box 808, Oskaloosa, IA Sports lighting Frank Heys frank.heys@musco.com continued on page 9 Page 8 NASB School Leaders Bulletin, March 2011

9 2011 Directory of NASB Affiliate Members (continued) continued from page 10 Northern Agri-Services, Inc. P.O. Box 576, Henderson, NE Water reels, pump and irrigation Jill Robertson / sales@northernagriservices.net School Specialty - Education Essentials Laurel Cr., Omaha, NE School supplies, furniture & equipment Linda Hutchison Karie Kirkland linda.hutchison@schoolspecialty.com VIRCO, Inc. P.O. Box 6356, Lincoln, NE Equipment for Educators Matthew Kirkland Ext 1737 matthewkirkland@virco.com Financial Services Ameritas Investment Corp. 440 Regency Parkway Dr, Ste. 222, Omaha NE Bonds, Refunding Bonds, Bond election services, TANs, NASB Lease-Purchase Jay Spearman, Scott Keene, Al Eveland, Marc Munford, Bruce Lefler jspearman@ameritas.com D.A. Davidson & Co North 102nd Ct, Ste. 300, Omaha, NE Bond Financing/Election Services, Lease Purchase Daniel Smith Paul Grieger dsmith@dadco.com pgrieger@dadco.com First National Capital Markets 1620 Dodge St, Omaha, NE Comprehensive school financing services. Jennifer Kobza jkobza@fnni.com NE Public Agency Investment Trust PO Box 82529, Lincoln, NE Safe, liquid, appropriate investment option for Public Schools offering a competitive yield. Becky Ferguson becky.ferguson@ubt.com PFM Asset Management, LLC Lakepark Lane, Hastings, NE Liquid Asset Fund, financing programs Barry Ballou (c) balloub@pfm.com Wells Fargo Bank 1248 O Street, Lincoln, NE Banking Services Russell Ripa Russell.j.Ripa@wellsfargo.com Food Services Lunchtime Solutions P.O. Box 2022, North Sioux City, SD School Food Service Management Chris Goeb chris@lunchtimesolutions.com Sodexo, Inc Highfield Rd, Middleton, WI Food & Facilities Management Services John Klopstein john.klopstein@sodexo.com Insurance Services National Insurance Services 9202 W Dodge Road, Ste 302, Omaha, NE Custom crafted life & long-term disability insurance, vision, 403(B) and health reimbursement plans Steve Ott / sott@nisbenefits.com Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE 1233 Lincoln Mall, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE Insurance services Kent Trelford-Thompson kent.trelford-thompson@bcbsne.com Public Risk Management 2211 North 91st Court, Omaha, NE ALICAP, Insurance services Sheri Shonka / sheri.shonka@daviscompanies.com Legal Services Mueller Robak, LLC 530 South 13th St., Suite 110, Lincoln, NE Lobby firm William Mueller mueller@ruthmueller.com Public Relations Nebraska Assoc. of Teachers of Mathematics Promoting mathematics education across Nebraska Jill Edgren jedgren@esu10.org Technology Services Hawkeye Vision, Inc J Street, Ste 103, Omaha, NE Security systems Jon Driscoll jdriscoll@hawkeyevision.net One Source, The Background Check Co., Inc Oak St., PO Box 24148, Omaha, NE Background Checks / Employee Screening Nick Jasa njasa@onesourcebackground.com SchoolDude.com Regency Pkwy, Suite 200, Cary, NC Web-Native Solutions designed exclusively for schools. Brad Hunter bhunter@schooldude.com Telecommunication Services Glenwood Telecommunications 510 West Gage Street, Blue Hill, NE Surveillance cameras, phone systems, computer maintenance/sales, wiring, wireless networking, security systems, access control. Troy Stickels / troys@glenwoodtelcom.net Unite Private Networks 3880 VerMaas Place, Suite B, Lincoln, NE Build District Optic Networks, and offer Voice Services and Internet Services. All 100% E-Rate approved services. Stuart Howerter II / stuart.howerter@upnllc.com Testing Services ACT 3131 South Vaughn Way #218, Aurora, CO Assessment, research and information for education and workforce development Jim Ekerberg ekerberj@act.org Transportation Products Master s Transportation, Inc East Hwy 30, Kearney, NE New and used school buses & motor coaches, complete material and body shop services Russ Folts / russf@masterstransportation.com Gotta know what that acronym stands for PDQ? The Education community in Nebraska, and throughout the country, seems to have an acronym for every program, service, and organization. NASB now has an Acronym menu item on its website that allows you to access many of the common education acronyms so you are G2G. Go to nasbonline.org and go to Acronyms on the left-hand menu bar. NASB School Leaders Bulletin,March 2011 Page 9

10 1311 Stockwell, Lincoln, NE Return Service Requested Non-profit org. U.S. Postage PAID Nebraska Assn. of School Boards Website: Telephone (800) FAX (402) NASB is committed to be your partner during tough times continued from page 1 of all of the benefits of membership at an additional 2 percent discount from the bylaws-determined dues amount. This lets you join NASB, and begin saving money on your membership from Day One. But don t let that be the last savings you realize. Members regularly recoup more than the cost of their dues by using our ALICAP insurance, Medicaid reimbursement, and money management programs. What s more, NASB is developing an NASB Bucks program that will provide to all NASB members a credit that can be used to attend NASB board development and other activities. The details of this program are anticipated to be presented at the March 19 NASB Board of Directors meeting in Lincoln. We hope to provide details of further saving opportunities for members in the April School Leaders Bulletin. Most importantly, you can continue to be a part of an organization that is an active, member-driven organization dedicated to enhancing public education by working as advocates for volunteer school board members thoughout the state. In the past year, our agendas have been dotted with local board workshops, NASB Policy Service visits, Superintendent Searches, and legislative presentations. Our staff has performed for both individual boards and larger educational gatherings. Of course, our statewide toll-free phone line, and our website have also kept us at our members fingertips. But the strength of this operation comes from within each of our members. Without your input, we can t possibly produce your desired output. Join before April 1 and know that this won t be the year your board attempts to go it alone. To see the superintendent openings offered by NASB s Superintendent Search Service, go to If you have an opening developing, contact Marcia Herring (mherring@nasbonline.org) for information on how NASB can help.