Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

February 10, 2004

Call to Order: Acting Chair Terry D. called the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.

In Attendance: Sharon Prahl, People Focus, Nick Waldoch, Braham Area Schools, Joan B. Danielson, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training, Terry Dalbey, Cambridge WorkForce Center, Kathy Burski, Lakes & Pines, CAC, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, Jan Austad, ARCC – Cambridge Campus, Jason Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Sara Treiber, ECRDC, Keith Lester, Mora Public Schools, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, Diane Knutson, DEED and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Joan Danielson was welcomed and introduced. Members introduced themselves to Joan. Later in the meeting Diane Knutson was welcomed and she introduced herself to group.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of January 13, 2004 were approved upon motion by Robert M., seconded by Darwin B. Motion carried.

Financial Report: Executive Director Ray H. reported a balance of $41,608.59. Revenue was from interest. Expenditures were for Executive Director services, contract payment to The Conifer Group and down payment to Izaty’s Golf and Yacht Club for Employer Conference. Moved by Nick W., seconded by Robert M. to approve financial report. Motion carried.

Presentation on Graduation Standards and Impact on Elective Offerings: Superintendents Nick W., Braham, Darwin B., Pine City, Keith L., Mora and Ken R., Cambridge-Isanti, shared information from their respective districts. A brief summary of their presentations follows.

Braham – The district will need to add mathematics and science offerings to meet new standards, which means additional staff. Without additional funding cuts will need to be made. Since they have single business, family and consumer education and industrial technology teachers they probably will not cut those areas. They will continue to use ECMECC to offer selected classes.

Pine City – The district will have to add only 1 or 2 sections of mathematics because in recent past they added electives in mathematics and science. The biggest difficulty is finding certified teachers, especially in chemistry and physics. Vocational funding is down to a $10,000 levy causing erosion of offerings in technical education.

Mora – The district added mathematics classes two years ago so they are fine. They also face the issue of finding certified and qualified teachers. They will be able to keep present programs in industrial technology, business and consumer family education. New standards will not have much impact on Mora Schools.

Cambridge-Isanti – The district is a member of Oak Land Vocational, but basically has its own program and offers classes in metals, woods, automobile, construction, computer networking, photography and family and consumer education. The district also supports a Career Center that has four career counselors. The new standards will impact the district in 2004-2005 when an additional 2-4 mathematics and science teachers will need to be added. This means that electives are somewhat at risk. Previous cuts have reduced staff in the Career Center.

Nancy M. shared information on Tech Prep grants that districts have used to fund staff development and purchase textbooks to support career and technical education. She said there is serious consideration at the Federal level to eliminate the Perkins and Tech Prep grants and reduce the level of funding. Any money appropriated would be sent to states to be distributed as competitive grants.

A question was raised as to how other states fund career and technical education. A number of states, specifically Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania fund technical schools as a regular education program. Given present circumstances in Minnesota the future of vocational/technical education is unpredictable.

Members discussed various issues and made suggestions as to what Partnership members could do to stem this tide. One suggestion was that schools put together an informational packet that members could use to support these programs. Another suggestion was to inform local chambers and businesses about the situation and have them address policy makers, namely legislators. One way to accomplish this would be to publish success stories, example being successful apprentices that have finished school and are employed.

It was mentioned that Representative Eastlund is a member of the House education policy committee. It would be good to involve him in this effort.

Diane K., DEED is the Governor’s point person and liaison to state manufacturing associations. She stated that this is a large concern of theirs and is concerned about skill levels. She told of an effort to address this in the Minneapolis Schools. They are using Project Lead the Way that has student’s design and make a product to solve an immediate problem. The University of Minnesota is training Project Lead the Way teachers. She stated that this is a statewide issue for manufacturers.

She also shared Governor Pawlenty’s report developed following roundtable discussions with state manufacturers and provided a list of people who are addressing this issue. The list included lobby staff for trade associations and state department staff. She concluded by saying, “this is a big, big issue with manufacturers.”

Ray H. agreed to contact several of the individuals Diane K. recommended and explore ways to work together.

HIB Training Grants Follow-up: Postponed to next meeting.

Audit Follow-up – Sign Conflict of Interest/Recusals Policy: Those not present at the January meeting received and returned forms acknowledging they received the policy.

Employer Conference Planning: Marty H. told that main speaker is set and members reviewed and finalized breakout sessions. She then distributed a sample postcard and asked members to select theme for conference and color format for post card and brochure. The theme selected was “WEAVING A WORKFORCE today’s fabric = tomorrow’s success.” Members thanked Marty H. for her efforts and creative thinking. Committee members were asked to meet following the meeting to proof post card mailing.

Executive Director Payment for Services: Upon motion by Darwin B., seconded by Jason S. members approved payment for four days for director services in January 2004. Motion carried.

Information sharing: Marty H. reminded members that Family Forward grants are available and asked them to encourage qualified people to apply. Ray H. distributed Region 7E Labor Market Update he received from Cameron Macht. He also mentioned that the health care group and Anoka Ramsey Community College – Cambridge Campus is considering submitting a Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership Grant.

Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on March 9, 2004.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m. Minutes by Ray Hoheisel