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Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC)

General Information
  • Formal Name:
    Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC)
  • Contact Person:
    Dr. Kraig J. Lofquist
  • Purpose:
    Nebraskas ESUCC is a dynamic organization that works closely with each of Nebraskas seventeen educational service units. The ESUCC Board is made up of each ESU Administrator. Together, the ESUCC provides critical, cost-effective services to Nebraska students, teachers, school leaders and school districts.The ESUCC does this in a variety of ways. First, it employs professionals that address statewide projects such as Cooperative Purchasing, Instructional Materials, Digital Education Courses, Digital Education Training, Grant Management, and an Online Special Education Student Software (SRS). Additionally, the ESUCC leverages the expertise of regional ESU staff members to ensure internet access, communications, network security, the infusion of the latest technology into the curriculum, assessment expertise, special education training, leadership and much more!!Importantly, the ESUCC also works closely with the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) to develop comprehensive plans, leveraging its resources to address challenges confronting Nebraska schools.
  • How Many Affectable:
    330,000 Students, All school administrators and teachers
  • How Many Served:
    See above
  • Year Created:
    2007
  • Year Active:
    2008
  • Sunset Date:
    NA
Authorization
  • Authorization Citation:
    LB 603 (2007)
  • Parent Agency:
    NA
Memberships and Meetings
  • Number Of Members:
    17 ESUs
  • Who Appoints:
    Each ESU Administrator is a board member as a part of their job responsibilities.
  • Legislative Approval:
    NA
  • Qualifications Of Members:
    A School Superintendency Degree, which is the equivalent of an Educational Specialist (beyond a Masters Degree) or Doctorate Degree is required.
  • Per Diem:
    blank
  • Expense Reimbursement:
    mileage
  • Term Length:
    As long as they are employed as the ESU Administrator
  • Terms Rotate or Expire At Once:
Meetings Required In:
  • Required FY 17-18:
    9
  • Held FY 17-18:
    9
  • Required FY 18-19:
    9
  • Held FY 18-19:
    9
  • Required FY 19-20:
    9
  • Held FY 19-20:
    28, Due to Covid-19 (all virtually, held legally in conjunction with Governor's executive order)
Operations
  • Support Staff:
    10
  • Shared or Separate:
    9 Separate 1 shared
  • FY 17-18 Budget:
    $4,9111,040
  • FY 18-19 Budget:
    $5,327,266
  • FY 19-20 Budget:
    $4,931,695
  • Other Funding Sources:
    Grants (intermittently)
  • Spending Authority:
    blank
Accomplishments
  • Since July 1, 2016:
    During the Pandemic, Nebraska's ESUCC helped coalesce personal protective equipment (PPE) for it's 244 school districts. For example, 3 million masks were purchased and the ESUCC streamlined their delivery, communicating numerous updates during the process. Additionally, the ESUCC worked with the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska Ethanol Board to provided thousands upon thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer free of charge to public and private Nebraska schools. Delivery of the product was streamlined through the ESUCC, and was distributed to all public and private schools in the state through their local ESUs.Moreover, when the pandemic hit, the Nebraska Commissioner of Education, Dr. Matt Blomstedt asked that schools hold frequent regional meetings through their ESUs. The ESUCC coalesced local concerns to be addressed at the weekly statewide meeting, which included ongoing communication with the governor.When the pandemic hit, the governor asked that ESUs work with local health departments to develop plans to address the pandemic. During regularly scheduled meetings led by the ESUCC, administrators shared local plans so the state could learn and benefit from them. Due to the "shutdown" when school was in session, the ESUCC worked with each ESU to help deliver quality online instruction through it's digital learning expertise. Plans were also improved and disseminated to overcome any online challenges that occurred during the spring.At this writing, the ESUCC is working with the NDE developing plans that will be using CARES ACT as well as GEERs funds. These include the use of a learning management system (LMS), internet access and the purchase of tech devices.2018-19The ESUCC Cooperative Purchase Program helped save local school districts (and some local municipalities) $4.85 million dollars (This is an annual program the continual saves these organizations several million dollars each and every year).2017-18The Student Record System (SRS) is a comprehensive student information system that addresses a panoply of legal special education requirements for local school districts. The program received a major update over the course of the year and was eventually rolled out to area schools.Also, a "service inventory" management system was created. It includes a data-driven process to systematically identify the needs of Nebraskas districts and develop services to fill any gaps.2016-17The Nebraska Department of Education's board created a new "strategic plan." Nebraska's ESUs are instrumental to its success and implementation. Each and every October as well as April, the common goals are addressed and updated. The ESUCC has been helping to lead this work.