Section 92-89-004 - Reimbursement for Purchase of Hardware and Software004.01 For fiscal years 2007-08 through 2013-14, the State Department of Education shall provide distance education equipment reimbursement to school districts and educational service units from the Education Innovation Fund as provided in section 79-1336 R.R.S. Such reimbursements shall be for hardware or software purchased after July 14, 2006 for use in distance education and shall be limited to a total through fiscal year 2013-14 of twenty thousand dollars multiplied by the number of high school buildings for each school district and twenty thousand dollars for each educational service unit.004.02 The reimbursements may include installation costs for such hardware or software. Applications shall be accepted by the department beginning in the first year that the school district or the educational service unit accesses Network Nebraska and ending June 30, 2013.004.03 Applications shall be submitted on or before July 1 of each year on a form specified by the department (available at http://www.nde.state.ne.us/TECHCEN/DistanceEducation.html and reproduced in Appendix C of this Chapter) and shall include: 004.03A A description of the hardware or software purchased and how the hardware or software will be used for distance education;004.03B Copies of receipts for the purchases to be reimbursed; and004.03C For school districts, a commitment to either send or receive two-way interactive video distance education courses through the Distance Education Council each semester, or the equivalent of two semester courses each year, for four years and to apply for distance education incentives pursuant to section 79-1337 R.R.S. and004.03D An assurance that the district will retain all records of distance education courses sent or received for five years after termination of reimbursement provided an audit under section 79-1089 R.R.S. has been completed to show that the commitment was met.004.04 On or before August 1 of each year, the department shall certify the reimbursements to be paid to each school district or educational service unit on or before September 1 of each year, along with notice of denial of any requested reimbursement to the affected school districts or educational service units and the reasons therefor.004.05 The department shall use the applications for distance education incentives submitted pursuant to section 79-1337 R.R.S to verify that each school district that received a reimbursement completes the commitment to either send or receive two-way interactive video distance education courses through the Distance Education Council for four years. Any school district failing to complete such commitment shall repay the Education Innovation Fund for the amount of any reimbursements received pursuant to section 79-1336 R.R.S. Districts and educational service units shall also report school and teacher identification, the distance education course name, the grade in which the course is taught, the number of semesters taught, the number of sessions per year, and the total number of students taught through the utilization of online scheduling software coordinated by the Distance Education Council. Access to this data will be provided to the department electronically by the Distance Education Council.004.06 On or before September 1 of each year, the department shall notify any school district failing to complete the commitment for the prior school year that repayment of the reimbursement is required and the amount of such repayment. Repayments shall be due on or before the immediately following December 31. Late repayments shall accrue interest at the rate prescribed in section 45-104.02 R.R.S. from the date of the initial reimbursement. 004.06A Such notification will be in writing and notification shall be considered accomplished on the date of mailing or facsimile transmission.004.07 On or before October 1 of each year, a school district or educational service unit may appeal the denial of reimbursements or a school district may appeal the requirement to repay reimbursements to the State Board of Education. 004.07A The board shall allow a representative of the school district or educational service unit an opportunity to present information concerning the appeal to the board at the November board meeting.004.07B If the board finds that the department denied the reimbursement in error, the department shall pay the district or educational service unit from the Education Innovation Fund as soon as practical the amount which was denied in error.004.07C If the board finds that the department erred in notifying a school district that a reimbursement is required to be repaid, such notification shall be void.004.07D Appeals under this section shall be filed with the State Board on the form in Appendix A. The service of such appeal, as indicated in the certificate of service, shall be no later than October 1.92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 89, § 004