Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

April 1, 2003

Call to Order: Chair John N. called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

In Attendance: Jason Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Sharon Prahl, People Focus, John Schlagel, Chris O. Miller, Oak Land Vocational, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Natalie Kuehl, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Kathy Ferrin, Mora Public Schools, Bridget Petersen, Greater Minnesota Credit Union, Vicki Elliott, People Focus, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Sara Treiber, ECRDC, Tim Griffin, Conifer Group, Sally Griffin, Conifer Group, Theresa Grugel, Conifer Group, Hamid Eydgahi, Pine Technical College and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Chair John N. welcomed guests from Conifer Group and asked them and members to introduce themselves.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of March 11, 2003 were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Robert M. Motion carried.

Financial Report: A treasurer’s report through March 2003 was distributed. Treasurer John S. reported the balance as $52,959.09. Regional Planning Grant and interest earnings made up the receipts. Expenditures were to Pizza Pub for STW/Tech Prep Coordinators meeting and for services of Executive Director. Upon motion by Robert M., seconded by Chris M. the report was accepted and filed. Motion carried.

Executive Director Payment for Services and Mileage: Upon motion by Nancy M., seconded by John S. members approved payment for six days for director services in February and March 2003. Mileage reimbursement for January-March 2003 for 661 miles was also approved. Motion carried.

Career and Technical Education Legislative Bills and Contacts: Members reported on contacts made with area legislators, their response and told of discussions at local community partnership meetings. Nancy M. and Chris M. informed members that President Bush’s budget contains a 25% cut in Carl Perkins Act funding for Tech Prep. It was recommended that any contact with federal legislators supporting Tech Prep funding include mention tying this funding to “no child left behind”, specifically Pillar #4 “Opportunities for children to learn in different ways.”

Employer Conference: Marty H. shared information on registration numbers. To date the number of conference attendees stands at 120, this includes 76 registrations, 15 verbal commitments, 23 who returned postcards but have not sent in registration materials and 12 presenters. The Employer Conference is April 11, 2003.

Toyota Foundation Grant: Ray H. briefed members about submitting a grant application to the Toyota Foundation that would involve means and methods to improve teaching and learning of science and mathematics via a “real world” connection. It was discussed at the coordinators meeting and the Mora Community Partners meeting. Mora Public Schools has written a grant to the State of Minnesota for funding that could be used as a prototype. The state grant dollars are no longer available due to state budget problems. The next steps in the grant writing process will be taken after the new state mathematics standards are completed. Sally G. said she would advise in the grant writing process as she has written and received a grant from the foundation. She also recommended looking into the Honda Foundation grant program.

Communities Investing in Families Donated Computers: Marty H. told members that Con Agra has donated 120 computers, including monitors and some laptop units to Communities Investing in Families. The computers are for low-income families. The first 24 computers have been delivered and are being installed at the Creative Center in Isle. The Center will have an IT division and will teach people computer skills for entrepreneurial business applications. This training will allow individuals to work and market their products from their home.

Advanced Technology Conference: Nancy M. asked members for any help they might give to encourage area high schools to send students to the April 4^th Advanced Technology Conference which is the capstone effort of the grand opening week celebration. She outlined the impressive list of professionals that will present at the conference, one example being the U of M Institute of Technology.

Pine Technical Presentation and Tour of New Facilities: Robert M. gave members a brief history about the project. It has been 5 years in the making, involved $1.7 million in bonded funds with a $1.3 federal match and other assorted donated funds for a total project of $3.2 million. Ground for the project was broken a year and a half ago and is about 99% complete. He recapped grand opening activities that are scheduled for the week of April 1-4, 2003. He and Nancy M. led a 45 minute tour following the presentation. Members appreciated the tour and expressed admiration for the new programs and facilities they had seen.

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 a.m.

Minutes by Ray Hoheisel