Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

October 8, 2002

Call to Order: Vice-Chair Chris M. called the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.

In Attendance: Nick Waldoch, Braham School District #314, Susan Merritt, Communities Investing in Families/Pine Technical College, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Sharon Prahl, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Schools, John Schlagel, JoAnn Faust, RISE Employment Innovations, Lois Munsterteiger, RISE Employment Innovations, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Kathi Schaff, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Bridget Petersen, Greater Minnesota Credit Union, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Kathy Burski, Lakes and Pines, Sara Treiber, ECRDC, Chris O. Miller, Oak Land Vocational, Mary Ann Straley, Princeton Public Schools, Keith Lester, Mora Schools, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Schools and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Vice-Chair Chris M. asked members to introduce themselves. JoAnn Faust, now with RISE was welcomed back and she introduced her co-worker Lois Munsterteiger.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of September 10, 2002 were approved upon motion by Darwin B. seconded by Robert M. Motion carried.

Families Forward Grant Criteria: Marty H. distributed a sheet listing criteria suggestions for determining eligibility for McKnight Families Forward training grant. The grant covers a two-year period and totals $250,000. It will be used to fund training and give support to 110 employed family members with low income who have potential for advancement.

She prefaced discussion on the criteria by asking what employers would need to do to meet employment law when selecting and assisting an employee who would like to receive the training and support help funded by the grant. Consensus was that normal hiring practice of making the opportunity available to all employees would suffice. Applicants would then be judged and selected based on grant criteria.

Employers present pointed out that they can’t guarantee promotion or advancement, for one, there may not be any openings. A question was asked about focusing grant dollars on soft-skill training and contract with employers to teach hard skills of the particular business. Language changes were suggested for a number of the criteria listed on the suggestion sheet. These changes were duly noted and will be included in a revised listing.

Bridget P., Ginger G. and John S. agreed to review the revised list and give feedback to Marty H. The revised criteria will be brought to the November Partnership meeting.

North Carolina Department of Labor Apprenticeship Conference Report: Sharon P. who serves on the Minnesota State Apprenticeship Advisory Board attended the conference on behalf of the advisory board. She told members what she saw and learned at the conference that was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. North Carolina has a business sponsored apprenticeship program that includes large numbers of students in many different career areas. She distributed samples of materials from companies visited and mentioned that both large and small companies have apprentices. She didn’t feel the state supported the apprenticeship program with financial incentives, it appeared to be completely sponsored by the participating businesses. Members thanked Sharon P. for her report.

Employer Conference 2003: April 18, 2003 the suggested date for the conference is Good Friday, so April 11, 2003 was selected as the conference date. Izaty’s is available on the 11^th. Members discussed location options, but decided to have the conference at Izatys, as other sites do not have adequate facilities for hosting this conference. Members also spent some time discussing the conference theme and were invited to attend a conference committee planning session following the Partnership meeting.

Career and Technical Education Power Point Presentation: Presentations given to date to the Cambridge-Isanti school board, I-35 Tech Prep governing board and Minnesota Workforce Association convention were discussed. Additional presentations were scheduled for Pine City school board on October 14, 2002, Braham and Mora school boards on October 21, 2002 and Oak Land Vocational school board on November 6, 2002. It was mentioned that this information should be presented to parents and that members find a way to combat the notion and misunderstanding that students who take career and technical education classes are locked into a “tracked” mode.

Members discussed extending an invitation to legislators and school board representatives for the December 10, 2002 Partnership meeting. Considerable discussion ensued about format, space, meeting time and location. Kathy B. mentioned this presentation as a potential involvement with an MPR special issues broadcast and will make an inquiry.

Information Sharing: Princeton’s December 3^rd Understanding Learning and Working Styles workshop flyers were made available again. - Robert M. gave ribbon-cutting dates for new and remodeled facilities at Pine Technical College. - Representatives from Pine City told of their upcoming employee recognition luncheon during manufacturing week that is jointly sponsored by Chamber and Star City committee. Princeton is having a similar activity. - Sara T. invited those interested to an October 30, 2002 Minnesota Planning Listening Post session in Mora. She will e-mail details. - Marty H. complimented Cambridge-Isanti Schools for hosting Jim Grant and his excellent presentation on the culture of poverty as it affects education.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m., motion Ginger G., second Kathy B. Minutes by Ray Hoheisel