Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

February 11, 2003

Call to Order: Chair John N. called the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.

In Attendance: Patrick Conn, Braham School District #314, Susan Merritt, Communities Investing in Families/Pine Technical College, Sharon Prahl, People Focus, John Schlagel, Kathi Schaff, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Chris O. Miller, Oak Land Vocational, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Natalie Kuehl, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Terry Dalbey, WorkForce Centers, Lois Munsterteiger, RISE Innovations, Kathy Ferrin, Mora Public Schools, Bridget Petersen, Greater Minnesota Credit Union, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, Mary Ann Straley, Princeton Schools, Vicki Elliott, People Focus, Melanie May, Park Mfg. and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Chair John N. welcomed Vickie Elliott and asked members to introduce themselves.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of January 14, 2003 were approved upon motion by Darwin B., seconded by Robert M. Motion carried. February 4, 2003 Executive Committee meeting minutes were distributed.

Career and Technical Education Presentations and Legislation Contacts: A presentation was made to the school board at Princeton on January 28, 2003. Mary Ann S. gave a brief report on the presentation and the school board response. John N. said he had sent letters to legislators, but had not received any responses. A copy of a letter sent by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce was shared, no response to date.

John N. asked members to share information on how state cuts impacted their organizations. Pine Technical College was cut $109,000.00, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services had its summer youth program cut, affecting 120 youth for a total of $160,000, Pine City Schools estimated $40,000.00 cuts in ABE/GED funds and had $8,000.00 Youth Grant involving Habitat for Humanity terminated. Also mentioned were proposed changes in federal Perkins Act funds that are up for reauthorization. For Pine Technical College this amounts to $114,000.00 and does not include Perkins money that each K-12 school district receives. It was pointed out that never has it been more important for members to work together to leverage and lessen impact of funding reductions.

Regional Planning Conference: Natalie K. presented information on the February 19, 2003 Regional Planning Conference. She reminded the group that this is an effort to bring together representatives from economic development, workforce development and education to discuss a regional vision for the future. She reviewed the agenda and distributed registration brochures. Twenty-five people are registered to attend thus far.

Employer Conference: Susan M. reported for the committee and asked members to give feedback on potential changes in make-up and number of breakout sessions. She circulated a copy of the conference registration brochure. Considerable feedback was given, but decisions on recommended changes were relegated to the committee meeting, which was scheduled immediately following the Partnership meeting. Members suggested that brochures be made available by e-mail so they could be distributed as soon as completed. It was also mentioned that the web site needed updated regarding this year’s conference.

Progress on Implementing Families Forward Grant: No report.

School-To-Work Report: Ray H. presented a report that summarized five-year School-To-Work effort in region. The report noted that four grants had been awarded to East Central. It included a brief description and the dollar amount for each grant. Total grant funds awarded were $607,604.66. Also included in the report was a listing of funds distributed to school districts/committees. Approximately 75% of the grant funds went directly to local school district committees in the form of sub-grants. Finally the report-contained excerpts from East Central Minnesota Year V Narrative Report that illustrated local activities and accomplishments. The excerpts featured the work in the communities of Mora, Pine City and Cambridge-Isanti.

Following the report Kathy F. told the group what the grant funds have done for the Mora students. She thanked the Partnership for their leadership and mentioned that Mora has renamed its committee the Mora Community Partnership and will continue the work started by the School-To-Work grant. Pat C. told of the impact the grant funds have had on programs and classes for Braham students and that career development and planning are embedded in social studies and English classes beginning in 9^th grade. John N. mentioned that his firm will host 40 math students from Hinckley/Finlayson Schools this coming Friday.

The discussion concluded with John N. thanking Ray H. and Pine Technical College for their work and the leadership provided to make this a very successful program in east central Minnesota.

Mission and Goals Review to Target Next Partnership Effort: Following is a listing of member suggestions to continue and to focus on next. Consensus was that the Partnership should assist communities and schools with School-To-Work activities. Members felt it important to continue School-To-Work Coordinator meetings in order to keep ideas flowing and exchanged.

The Partnership is essential if member organizations are to seek out and obtain workforce related grants. Most grants require a collaborative involving wide sections of the community, especially business participants and to seek these out each time a grant is written is cumbersome and impractical. It was also mentioned that it is important to have an organized base and ability to have a regular forum to discuss ideas and share information. Because the Partnership exists individual member ideas have a chance for fruition. It assists K-12 and post-secondary schools to work together and accomplish more for students than if done independently. Members concluded that the Partnership continue to look for grants since we have a partnership of business, higher education, K-12 schools and public and private agencies. It was suggested that a central group or individual in the Partnership be alerted about potential grants and as a screening mechanism.

The power of what has been and can be accomplished was pointed out. It was also pointed out that we should identify needs of individual member organizations as part of the process of focusing on “what next.”

Members pointed out that Partnership meetings serve as a clearinghouse and base for diverse members. Members indicated that when dollars go away the organization becomes more valuable than ever and just because government dollars are not available it doesn’t mean that valuable things cannot be accomplished. The importance of proper attitude and realization that people have different learning styles was pointed out. Several members referenced the Kaleidoscope workshop at Princeton as an eye opening experience.

April Partnership Meeting Date and Location Change: Nancy M. and Robert M. extended an invitation to have the April Partnership meeting at Pine Technical College on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. as part of Grand Opening Week. The major focus of the meeting will be building and program tours showing the new facilities. They also gave a brief overview of the weeklong schedule and welcomed participation by anyone interested.

Executive Committee members shared their recommendation that Executive Committee meetings be incorporated into the Partnership meeting as demand for committee action has subsided due to the completion of the School-To-Work grant.

Information Sharing: Ray H. briefly commented on Minnesota Future Work Scan papers he distributed. He also asked members to review the brochure created by People Focus. Members responded by asking Sharon P. and Vickie E. to tell about their newly established business.

Adjournment: John N. adjourned the meeting at 9:00 a.m.

Minutes by Ray Hoheisel