Technology Services

 

Technical Services to Schools

As the first Internet Service Provider for our schools, ESU 9 has been involved in supporting school Internet connections and hosting software services for three decades. What began as providing Internet access, e-mail, DNS, and school web sites (all in our own building) now looks like this:

  • Partner with Network Nebraska for Internet and WAN connectivity, including bidding, working with vendors, and troubleshooting connectivity.
  • Provide LAN troubleshooting services regarding switching and wireless connectivity.
  • Assist school leaders in the budgeting and planning process for network infrastructure, including E-rate funding.
  • Provide consortium E-rate bidding for firewall purchasing and maintenance.
  • DNS domain registration and zone hosting

Additional services are offered beyond the Core services:

  • Firewall management and troubleshooting
  • E-rate consulting
  • On-site configuration of new network equipment
  • Hosting virtual wireless controller services
  • Hosting eduroam authentication services (yes, we have eduroam at K-12 as members of Network Nebraska)

Cyber Security has always been important but has moved to the forefront recently.  In addition to the firewall management network service, ESU 9 leads districts in their cyber security efforts by

  • Assisting with cloud system configurations.
  • Providing server and client cloud backup options.
  • Connecting schools with volume license opportunities for EDR, security awareness training, and MFA.
  • Providing configuration and management of security awareness training.
  • Offering an annual, guided, district self-assessment opportunity.
ESU 9 is a long-time Apple Authorized Repair Center, offering Apple warranty repair. We can also repair other computing devices including Windows PCs and Chromebooks.
Centralized Device Management can save your technicians days of staff time while also ensuring that each device is configured and running properly.  Utilize ESU 9 Device Management Services to get your MDM off the ground, or even on an annual basis to ensure a consistent technology experience for your staff and students!

For regularly scheduled on-site tech support, look no further than ESU 9! Our technician time is available in half-day-per-week increments to supplement your district staffing. We believe that classroom environments are best supported with regular, scheduled, and relational support, so FTE-based contracts are favored over contracting for a set number of hours.

We understand that some projects require focused blocks of staff time. If you have such a special project, make an inquiry and we will connect you with the right support if it is not something we can provide.

School technology work requires a lot of hats.  Our Technology Coordinator's Meetings each fall, winter, and spring allow technology coordinators to keep up on current technology trends and also to connect with and learn from each other.  We also provide a growing documentation library of How-To guides for them on commonly used technologies.

Technology Resources for Teachers

The ESU 9 Print Center currently offers Poster Printing and Lamination services.  Visit our Print Center page for more details.
ESU 9 Creative Print Center

Schools participating in the Curriculum Technology Contract may check out ESU 9 maker space kits to use in their classrooms.  Kits are available for grade ranges of K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 in the areas of Circuits, Coding, and Engineering.  Each kit has one or more activity components and a set of challenge cards to focus the student group using the kit.  Some kits also have related books that can act as an anticipatory set.

Kits may be reserved by contacting Janine Uden at 402-463-5611 or filling out the inquiry form below.

 
Lending Library
Schools participating in the Curriculum Technology Contract provide schools with E-books in the Nebraska Shared Collection and as licensed by ESU 9's OverDrive Advantage account.  Log in here!
Overdrive / Sora Login
NebraskAccess is a service of the Nebraska Library Commission.  Public and School Libraries who register their IP addresses are automatically granted access to the included resources without requiring an ID number to prove residency.  (Individual users may use appropriate ID regardless of location.) Multiple resources are available, the most relevant of which are the EBSCOhost research databases.
NebraskAccess High School
NebraskAccess Elementary / Middle School

Years ago, this was a main activity of the department. ESUs provided film, VHS, and DVDs for checkout, along with the equipment to display them.  The film and videos are gone, but playback equipment is still available, along with A-V production equipment such as cameras, green screens, and microphones. 

In addition to the A-V equipment, robotics and programming kits are available.  Search the Checkout Catalog to see if we have what you are looking for.

Nebraska Schools can also get access to Public Library Resources through NebraskAccess.

Lending Library

Distance Learning and Blended Learning services are offered in collaboration with the ESUCC.

NVIS is the Distance Learning course clearinghouse, offering a catalog of available distance learning courses, virtual field trip opportunities, and necessary reporting for NDE regarding course participation.

Blended Learning is supported best on Canvas through the Nebraska Canvas Consortium.  We also have many districts using Schoology, which is supported on a best-effort basis.

NVIS
Canvas Consortium
ESU 9 Canvas
Network Nebraska provides volume licensing opportunities for Zoom video-conferencing.  ESU 9 covers the cost and administrative processing for our educators and administrators to utilize Zoom licenses.

Collaborative Purchasing

ESUs of Nebraska have joined together for ESUCC Cooperative Purchasing on the ESUCC Marketplace.  Known best for the "paper buy" and "annual buy catalog," Cooperative Purchasing also offers significant savings opportunities for schools through technology hardware and software purchase agreements.  If you're looking for a better deal than you can get from the vendor, be sure to check here!
Through the ESU 9 E-rate Consortium, schools have been able to both save and standardize on firewall hardware, and to do so without individualized bid processes.