Education Advisory Group

December 6, 2007

8:30 a.m. — 10:30 a.m.

Calhoun ISD

Meeting Minutes

Members and Alternates Present: Mike Hoffner, EAG Chair/ISD Representative; James Hund, Barry ISD Representative; Joe Lopez, Quincy/Branch Representative; Fred Clarke, Albion/Calhoun Representative; Kris Jenkins CTE Administrator CISD/CACC; Brita Blue, Administrative Assistant, Calhoun ISD; LeeAnne Nagle, Academic Educator/BACC; Dennis Bona, KCC/Post-Secondary Institution; Al Miller, Calhoun Education Representative; Janet McDonald, Non-WDB Employer; Michele Streets, Non-WDB Employer; Joy Clawson, Branch Parent Advisor; Guests/Presenters: Elaine Furu-Baker, Calhoun ISD/Workforce Development The meeting was called to order by EAG Chair Mike Hoffner Welcome and Introductions: Mike welcomed committee members; introductions were made. Minutes: The October 3, 2007 EAG meeting minutes were approved as printed. WIA Youth Plan – Michigan Works!:

Elaine Furu-Baker updated the committee with WIA Youth numbers for the Barry, Branch and Calhoun region. A meeting was held November 20 to go over program design issues, as it was found that performance standards were met or exceeded in the younger youth group, but not in older youth. The program is re-bid every other year and the re-bid falls into this program year. Elaine gave a detailed explanation on recommended changes in the WIA Youth Program RFP design which are listed below (please see the yellow handout in your packet for more details on these bulleted items):
- Stronger emphasis on preparation for employment through occupational skills training
- Stronger emphasis on job development/placement
- Continue the mentoring component
- Parent/caregiver involvement and outreach
- Entrance and referral process
- GED preparation
- Business involvement
- Apprenticeships
- Youth Advisory Council

Dennis Bona motioned for the EAG committee to support the proposed changes to the WIA Youth Program and for this plan to be brought to the Workforce Development Board. The motion was seconded by Joe Lopez and carried unanimously. MyDreamExplorer Grant:

BACC received a MydreamExplorer grant last year in the amount of $12,000. A committee of EDP Coordinators from many districts in our tri-county region met throughout last year for in-put on developing a resource guide. Deb Sarno and Josie Smith took time out of their personal schedules this summer to compile the data, information and resources into a website which is attached to Branch ISD’s site. Kris gave a presentation of the site to the committee. This site makes an abundance of EDP resources available to counselors and/or coordinators working with their students on the EDP process. Word of the site got out and without BACC applying, they received an additional grant of $20,200 for 2007-08 for continuation of the project. BACC is encouraging districts to send any valuable EDP information and site links to Deb and Josie so they can be added to the site. Part of the additional funding will be used support extra time spent by Deb to revise and maintain the site, support existing committees that work with EDPs and MDX, and funds to coordinate leadership and PD for teachers to use this in their classrooms. The grant will also help fund registration costs for Deb and Josie to give a presentation of this project at the Career Education Conference; the goal being to share this project with other educators.

Kris and Mike also noted there have been struggles with EDPs. The state made a law requiring EDPs by 7^th grade, but the Governor did not give guidelines for requirements in maintaining them. However, if you want to modify your curriculum, it has to be tied to the EDP so students will have to update them. A committee member asked if we are monitoring EDP compliance and the question was answered with a “yes”. CISD EDP coordinator Tony Warren meets four times a year with district EDP coordinators and they submit a survey at the end of each year. Tony can also pull up each district’s information on the MDX web site to check on progress. Mike noted that we are seeing a significant improvement in curriculum movement – mostly movement within the pathway. We are also seeing much better placement from the schools using EDPs, but are struggling with the districts that are not doing well with EDPs.

Excellence in Practice Award:

We offer congratulations to Kristin Dogan’s Hospitality Program at BACC for being chosen as one of the Excellence in Practice Awards that will be given out at the State Careers in Education Conference in February. Through this program, some of her students are getting full-ride scholarships to culinary schools. We hope there will be a large group attending from our region to see them accept this honor.

Perkins Funding Formula:

Kris again updated members with Perkins grant history and explained that at an EAG meeting last year, a question was asked how the Perkins grant funding formula was put in place. Mike Hoffner contacted Mike Beckwith (former EAG Chair) and Kris contacted JoAnne Miller (former regional Career Development Consultant) and Amy Maurer, Perkins Coordinator, to get the answers to:
- Where did this funding formula come from?
- Is the 20/20/60 still accurate and equitable?
Have the populations in Barry, Branch and Calhoun counties changed much? What are current student populations?

Mike and Kris found out that this formula was set in the beginning years of the Tech Prep Perkins grants through the CEPD committee and was handed

down each year without change. Fifty percent of the grant was based on

CTE student enrollment; the other 50% was broken into the 20/20/60 split,

which was in line with how the Workforce Development Board splits their funding. Discussion as to what would be fair and equitable to all took place at the September 3 EAG meeting with the consensus being that these funds really pertain to the CTE programs in Barry, Branch and Calhoun, and that the parties it most affects, Mike Hoffner, Jim Hund, Mary Gehrig and Kris Jenkins (who are also the CDC Advisory Committee members) should meet to figure out the best solution that will be fair to all and bring the recommendations back to the committee at today’s meeting. After much discussion, four different proposals were studied on student enrollment or student hours or combinations of both. It was decided by Mike, Kris and Jim that the second 50% of funding in question should be changed each year based on student hours based on enrollment (A detailed description of funding is located on the blue sheet in your packet). It was noted that even though the amount will fluctuate each year, the variations will not be so great as to be a major loss to any of the three counties and this formula could be handled best. Jim Hund made it very clear that though Barry is the smallest of the 3 counties, this has been a fair and equitable settlement between colleagues to find the best solution and he is comfortable with the decision to choose the following funding formula The portion of the formula that was in question and that will be changed is in bold italics):

- Five percent of the total grant will cover administrative expenses for Barry, Branch and Calhoun ISDs. Approximately $10,000 will be directed to regional marketing efforts, promoting non-traditional enrollment and completion of CTE courses/programs; and regional planning and professional development for CTE staff in the region. The remainder of the grant will be allocated to this agreed upon formula:
  - 50% will be distributed to CTE programs in each ISD with 20% to Barry, 20% to Branch and 605 to Calhoun.
  - 50% will be distributed to CTE programs in each ISD based upon the previous year’s student hours from the Added Cost Report (X1070 – January).

Dennis Bona Motioned that the formula proposal outlined in the handout be used to distribute Perkins funding in upcoming years. Seconded by Jim Hund. Motion carried unanimously.

Tech Prep Updates:

All districts in our tri-county region have applied for the $900 in 2007-08 Tech Prep Local District Funds available to them. Project final reports are due no later than April 19, 2008. A summary of the applications is included in the packet.
- Many districts are using their funds to send staff to the State Career Education Conference in February, sending staff to other PD on Tech Prep Courses or purchasing technology items to be integrated into 11^th – 12^th grade Tech Prep classes.
The State Career Education Conference will be held February 10-12 at the Renaissance Center in Detroit.

Tony Warren, Counselor Consultant for CACC and EDP/Articulation Coordinator for Calhoun ISD and Steve Yurisich, Assistant Principal at CACC attended the National Tech Prep Conference in Louisville, KY through Tech Prep regional funding.

OCTP Fall Update:

A Gap Analysis will be held January 21, 2008. Mike and Kris will meet with staff from BACC and CACC to audit and see how the curriculum meets state standards in the six Michigan Career Pathways. After a procedure is formed from information gathered at this meeting, the process will be shared with Barry ISD and then local districts.

The following questions were brought up during discussion on Gap Analysis:
- How will this involve post-secondary?
  - Mike: Not comfortable telling post-secondary what to do; KCC will need to work through their Deans and the region’s centers will work through their instructors, then meet with post-secondary to share results.
- Assessments: Who will pay and who will grade them?
- Holding people accountable
- Can have huge financial implications?

Academic Integration Discussion (BACC and CACC):

Leigh Hicks and LeeAnne Nagle have been observing CTE programs at BACC to learn what they do and to use Work Keys with staff. LeeAnne gave examples of ELA curriculum they are using to incorporate into some of the CTE courses. They are partnering with the instructors and are having good success in establishing accountability to get students ½ of an academic credit in certain programs. The same procedure has been used by CACC academic educators Bill Fisher and Denny Hunt in working with CACC CTE instructors to integrate math and science into programs for some time.

Open Discussion/Sharing:

Elaine mentioned that they would like to hold an event to bring information to young people and their parents on the outlook of jobs where a lot of people will leave vacancies through retirement. They will be seeking input from the community and educators on how to encourage youth to cultivate life-long learning skills in skilled trade areas and to encourage them to stay in the region to fill these jobs.

A statement was made that there is a dilemma: Students will be getting imbedded credit through the centers, yet they many cannot pass the MME and are not meeting expectations. What can we do?

Kris mentioned that WorkKeys Occupational Opportunities information is included in the packet. Please share this information with your counselors.