Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

May 13, 2003

Call to Order: Chair John N. called the meeting to order at 7:07 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, Keith Lester, Mora Public Schools, 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, Terry Dalbey, MDES, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Susan Merritt, Pine Technical College, Nick Waldoch, Braham Area Schools, Kathy Sweeney, Governor’s Workforce Development Council, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Schools and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Chair John N. welcomed Kathy Sweeney from Governor’s Workforce Development Council and asked members to introduce themselves.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of April 1, 2003 were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Robert M. Motion carried.

John N. thanked Dr. Musgrove for hosting the April 1, 2002 Partnership meeting and showing off the new Pine Technical College facility that is a real positive for our region.

Employer Conference: Marty H. asked members for feedback on conference. Feedback was very positive. A total of 149 people attended including presenters. She shared a sheet that included summarized evaluation data. Rewarding employees and employability skills had the highest attendance of the breakout sessions, but noted that the health insurance session participants were very interested in the topic. Marty H. also distributed a budget recap sheet. There were 125 paying registrants, that along with the East Central Energy speaker sponsorship of $2500 provided the revenue for the conference. Expenditures exceeded revenue by $621.85. Robert M. moved, seconded by Keith L. to use Partnership funds to make up the difference. Motion carried.

Marty H. also discussed the conference marketing strategy employed, some of which involved Sarah Lund and Dennis Tollefson informing employers in the region when they met with them. It also involved mailings to people who previously attended and information provided by various Chambers and HR groups. She said the booth location worked well and told of a suggested theme for next year’s conference and advertising campaign. It will involve “Ad” visors with the theme being “Hats off to employers, employees.” This would continue the effort to honor employees and employers that contributes to the well being of community. Individual members were asked to get known conflict dates to Marty H., specifically Initiative Foundation conference, MASA spring conference, etc.

National Apprenticeship Curriculum Information and Feedback: Conifer Group representatives Sally and Tim Griffin led the discussion. They framed the issue by asking, “How to get more students involved in technical education programs?” Sally presented background information on their work and offered numerous observations. She shared data showing percent of workers nationwide categorized as unskilled, skilled and professional for 1950, 1990 and 2000. The professional category held steady at 20%, however the skilled and unskilled category saw a complete flip-flop from 1950 to 2000. Only 15% of jobs are now categorized as unskilled, with 65% requiring training. They told of information learned at a conference they had just attended, Focus 2003 1^st National Skills Conference and recommended a book by Dr. Kenneth Gray, entitled Getting Real – Helping Teens Find Their Future.

They briefly explained the process and structure of the curriculum designed and being used by building construction apprentices. The apprenticeship leads to a portable license good anywhere in the United States. Curriculum content is based on reaching minimum content and taught by engaging students in learning. Apprentices are engaged and responsible for their own learning. Learning is organized by levels according to Bloom’s Taxonomy around the following structure: Knowledge (What?), Comprehension (How Come?), Application (So What?), Analysis (How to Break Down?), Synthesis (How to Build Up?) and Evaluation (Compared to What?). They have found this approach helps students know the “how and why” of their work.

Following the presentation members were asked what can be done to get more students knowledgeable and interested. Members felt it was important that students be told of the advantages to having the “how and why” skills. They also discussed ways to get more women involved. It was pointed out that some trades are not as welcoming to women as others are, but that this changing, however, slightly. As part of the discussion Sally G. and Tim G. pointed out that after initial use of the curriculum requests were made to include professionalism, team building, supervisory skills and project management. They also found that in some regions of the country basic math and reading skills have been added. They also mentioned that research indicates that a high school student’s career choice is most influenced by his/her mother and the biggest indicator is the mother’s level of education.

Following are member’s suggestions:

n Make trades acceptable way of life.

n Presently Minnesota companies don’t use registered apprenticeship program.

n Make it clear via high counseling how you enter program.

n Get statistics about future jobs into high school career centers.

n Get this information to general public.

n Have apprentices and journeymen make presentations in schools.

n Know what to expect – do job shadowing.

n Perception is that it is difficult to get into trades unless “you know someone.”

John N. thanked Sally G., Tim G. and Theresa G. for their presentation and leading discussion on this topic.

Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Council: Kathy Sweeney of the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Council told about the work and goals of the Council. She distributed a brochure that shows their work centering on, labor and skill shortages, incoming career progressions and building a coordinated system involving education, economic development and workforce development. It was mentioned that the Council has been hired by the McKnight Foundation to oversee the Families Forward Grant program. Families Forward grants are aimed at solving challenges of working families. As part of her presentation Kathy S. distributed a foldout showing the various state programs involved in workforce development. It illustrated the complexity of the statewide system. She also told of an upcoming statewide conference hosted by the Council. It is entitled “Doing the Right Thing Better” and will be held at St. Cloud on May 20-21, 2003. John N. thanked Kathy S. for her presentation and attending the meeting.

Information sharing: Marty H. distributed Families Forward flyers and asked that employers post and encourage employees to apply for grant “scholarships” to improve their skills through additional training or certificate programs. Sarah T. told of the meeting held with economic development staff and other interested parties to explore potential to submit a Job Opportunity Building Zone (JOBZ) grant application if this Governor Pawlenty initiative becomes law. She briefly explained the concept and said a second meeting is scheduled at Pine Technical College on May 30, 2003. Jason S. told of a newly available safety-training course at Pine Technical College.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

Minutes by Ray Hoheisel