There is a challenge to add extra sections of a foreign language when student numbers are already very high in most of the schools. A suggestion of possibly having the ESU hire a foreign language teacher and being reimbursed was brought up. Terry Miller thought the idea has some merit and will be explored. Teacher stipends were discussed. Scottsbluff is the only high school teaching on the DL system this fall and does not offer their teacher any extra compensation or planning time.
General consensus is still that the issue is an individual school district decision.
All Phase One schools have been approved for E-Rate discounts on the distance learning line charges. Since the lottery grant already paid the upfront charges from the US West, most schools should have most, if not all monthly charges wiped out by the discounts. The application period for Year three of the E-Rate program is expected to begin sometime in November. Most of the offerings this first semester have come from Western Nebraska Community College. We had two offerings from Chadron State College but did not have any students register.