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N.D.E. Board President Elizabeth Tegtmeier outlines state role, standards review and flags AI in visit to Cozad Board
Summary
N.D.E. Board President Elizabeth Tegtmeier told the Cozad Board of Education on March 12 that the State Board sets policy and statewide educational standards, reviewed every seven years, while local districts retain curricular control; she also identified artificial intelligence as an emerging challenge for K-12 education.
Elizabeth Tegtmeier, N.D.E. Board President, told the Cozad Board of Education during a March 12 special meeting that the State Board's role is policy-setting and that local school districts set curriculum within the state's standards. The visit included an overview of the department's strategic priorities and a caution that artificial intelligence is an emerging challenge for schools.
Dr. Dan Endorf, superintendent of Cozad Community Schools District No. 11, opened the meeting by introducing Tegtmeier and thanking Board President Joel Carlson for arranging the visit. Tegtmeier said she is entering her fourth and final year of the current term and is running unopposed for another term.
Tegtmeier described the State Board as a policy-setting body that establishes statewide educational standards, which the board reviews about every seven years. She said teams of teachers participate in reviewing and developing those standards, and separate teams of teachers write the assessments aligned to them. She emphasized that while the State Board sets standards, decisions about local curriculum remain the responsibility of individual school districts.
Tegtmeier also distributed a copy of the department's strategic plan and summarized how the board approaches legislation: the State Board advocates for or takes positions on bills that align with its stated strategic priorities but does not take positions on funding-related legislation, she said. The strategic plan materials were provided to board members and guests during the meeting.
On emerging challenges, Tegtmeier identified artificial intelligence (AI) as a force shaping how students learn and think and urged school leaders to stay informed so policies and practices can respond. The transcript records this point as part of her remarks about challenges the State Board is monitoring.
The meeting included routine governance items; there was no public comment. The session concluded at 2:58 p.m. after a motion to adjourn by Board member Kiley Goff, seconded by Board member Michele Starman. The vote was recorded as Joel Carlson: Yea, Kiley Goff: Yea, Stacey Mundell: Yea and Michele Starman: Yea, and the motion passed 4-0.
