Early Childhood Iowa State Board Iowa Workforce Development East 4 th and Grand Des Moines, IA DRAFT September 10, 2010 Voting Members Present: Ms. Alice Atkinson, Citizen Mr. John Calhoun, Citizen Mr. Mikeal Cass, Citizen Ms. Judy McCoy Davis, Citizen Mr. John Dotson, Citizen Director Kevin Fangman, Dept. of Education Dr. Amy Kimball, Citizen Director Charles Krogmeier, Dept. of Human Services Ms. Marguerite Macek, Citizen Ms. Julie McMahon - for Director Tom Newton, Department of Public Health (9:40 am) Ms. Cathy Ryba, Citizen Voting Members Absent Ms. Elisabeth Buck, Director, Dept of Workforce Development Mr. Preston Daniels, Director, Department of Human Rights Mr. Bret Mills, Dept of Economic Development Mr. Jerome Mohr, Citizen Ms. Sara Monroe-Huddleston, Citizen Ms. Patti Ritchie, Citizen Mr. Daniel Vogeler, Citizen Mr. John White, Citizen Ex-Officio Members Present: Sen. Nancy Boettger Rep. Mary Mascher (9:45 am) Rep. Jodi Tymeson Ex-Officio Members Absent: Sen. Brian Schoenjahn Others Present (non-voting): Mr. Jeff Anderson Ms. Tasha Beghtol Kate Bennett (phone) Ms. Ginny Bidwell (phone) Ms. Rhonda Boltz Ms. Laura DeBoer Ms. Sherri Edwards (phone) Ms. Tami Foley Ms. Shelia Hansen Rep. Dave Heaton Ms. Beth Heifner (phone) Ms. Stephanie Heitman Ms. Pam Herzberg (phone) Ms. Sherri Hunt (phone) Ms. Paige Hollinger (phone) Ms. Janet Horras Ms. Jean Johnson Ms. Lori Johnson (phone) Mr. Marcus Johnson Ms. Sue Junge Ms. Chris Kivett-Berry (phone) Ms. Molly Kottmeyer Ms. Jenny Kreiter (phone) Ms. Carrie Kube Ms. Robin Madison Ms. Pat McReynolds (phone) Ms. Diane Moore Ms. Laurie Nash (phone) Rep. Dawn Pettengill (phone) Mr. John Pollock Ms. Heidi Schminke (phone) Ms. Deb Schrader Ms. Deb Scrowther Ms. Ginger Shaw (phone) Ms. Dawn Sickelka Ms. Vicki Sickels (phone) Ms. Elizabeth Stanek (phone) Ms. Ann Stewart Ms. Joyce Vermeer (phone) Ms. Shanell Wagler Ms. Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson (phone) Welcome/Introductions With quorum present, Board Chair, Judy McCoy Davis called the meeting to order at 9:35 am. Introductions from those attending in person and participating by phone were made. Review of Agenda Ms. McCoy Davis reviewed the agenda before the board. Approval of June 4, 2010 Meeting Minutes Ms. McCoy Davis asked board members to review the minutes that were sent to them in their mailed packet. She asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, she asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Mr. John Calhoun made a motion to accept the minutes of the June 4, 2010 meeting. Ms. Peg Macek seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. 1
Approval of July 29, 2010 Meeting Minutes Ms. McCoy Davis asked board members to review the minutes that were sent to them in their mailed packet. She asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, she asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Mr. Mikeal Cass made a motion to accept the minutes of the July 29, 2010 meeting. Ms. Alice Atkinson seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. Administrative Update Ms. Shanell Wagler provided an overview for the board of the administrative update that was included in their mailed packet. Upcoming ECI state board meeting schedule is set and is on the state website Mr. Dan Vogeler resigned from the board. The board has several vacancies that need to be filled. Staff is waiting for the Governor s Office to approve applicants for the board. Ms. Wagler noted that a larger pool of applicants would be helpful and encouraged board members and the public to actively recruit new members. For the last several meetings the state has made available a telephone connection for board members and other members of the public to participate in the meetings. It is not required to offer that option to be in compliance with Open Meetings Law. It cost the state $380 to offer that option for the two-hour meeting on June 4, 2010. It was noted that this option may not be available in the future. A discussion incurred regarding less expensive alternatives. Skype and Go To Meetings were both mentioned as alternatives to explore. Ms. Wagler will explore those alternatives and report back to the board. Ms. Wagler noted that the administrative update contains information regarding the work that has occurred to implement Senate File 2088. The formal advisory group for the state board (Early Childhood Iowa Stakeholders Alliance) meets on September 14 at the Johnston Library. Board members may contact Ms. Wagler for more information or to be placed on the distribution list for meeting notices. Ms. Wagler noted a correction that needed to be made to page 3 of the administrative update. Clarke County Empowerment has completed all items needed on their corrective action plan. Ms. Wagler noted that the Early Childhood Iowa Congress will be held this fiscal year. A save the date note was included in the board packet. Board members are encouraged to attend. Ms. Wagler asked Ms. McCoy Davis to provide a brief summary of the Early Childhood Iowa Leadership Retreat. The Build Institute provided facilitation for the event. Ms. McCoy Davis felt it was a good meeting with varied viewpoints offered. She also noted that the new legislation that eliminates providers of services from serving on the board makes the ECI Stakeholders Alliance even more critical to the state board. Ms. Wagler discussed the Early Childhood Advisory Grant funding which is made available by the Head Start Reauthorization Act. ECI Alliance was designated by the Governor as the Early Childhood Advisory Council named in the legislation. ECI office partnered with the Iowa Department of Public Health and other early childhood partners to apply for the grant and coordinate with other existing grants or efforts at the state-level. We received a grant of approximately $800,000 to be provided over the next three years. Priorities for the funding are: 1) staffing for Professional Development Coordination, 2) support to the ECI Stakeholders Group, and 3) development of an integrated data system. Finalize By-Laws On June 4, 2010 changes to the ECI state board by-laws were reviewed. They are being presented today for adoption. Representative Tymeson, Ms. Judy McCoy Davis and Dr. Amy Kimball served on the review committee. Mr. John Calhoun made a motion to approve the by-laws as presented. Mr. John Dotson seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. Election of Board Officers Ms. Wagler discussed that a committee of the board had been formed to nominate officers to the board. Committee members were Ms. Cathy Ryba, Mr. John Calhoun and Director Tom Newton. Ms. Ryba presented the committee s recommendation of Ms. Judy McCoy Davis to serve as Chairperson and Mr. Mikeal Cass to serve as Vice Chair. The Chair asked if there were any other nominations. Hearing none, the nominations closed and Director Krogmeier made the motion to accept the nominations committee recommendations. Mr. John Dotson seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. 2
The board thanked Ms. McCoy Davis and Mr. Mikeal Cass for their willingness to serve in a leadership role. Letters of Intent regarding Merging Ms. Scrowther informed the board that they had 19 letters of intent from boards that have voluntarily chosen to merge. She also directed the board to a color-coded map that was included in their packet. She reminded the board that the state board has the authority to set boundaries and approve boundary changes. At the July 29, 2010 meeting, the board set July 1, 2013 as the date that all boards not meeting the approved criteria would need to be merged or granted an exception to policy. Tool U provides the guidance to local boards that desire to change their boundaries. These letters of intent, if all boards follow through on their intent, would reduce the number of local areas from 57 to 46 on July 1, 2011. A letter of intent can be withdrawn during the year. Next spring the state board will designate the new area for those that complete the process as described in Tool U. The state team reviewed the documentation that accompanied the Letters of Intent. State board members and other interested parties may contact Ms. Scrowther if they desire to review the materials. Rep. Mascher inquired if areas that did not submit a letter of intent but appear they will need to merge are talking to their surrounding areas. Ms. Scrowther confirmed that the state team is aware that all are having initial conversations. Director Krogmeier clarified that the board is only being asked to approve the letters of intent at today s meeting. Ms. Scrowther confirmed that was accurate. Director Krogmeier expressed concern that Boone appears to be left dangling and what is the state team doing to move that along? Ms. Wagler relayed that she has attended a meeting with the Boone board and they are in conversation with surrounding boards. Rep. Mascher stated that the areas color coded blue on the map did not need to merge but noted that some were. She asked if there were any areas that were close to the 5000 children 0 5 threshold. Ms. Wagler answered that Dallas and Story were two impacted boards. Rep. Tymeson inquired how many Coordinators would lose their jobs because of these planned mergers. Ms. Wagler responded that no Coordinator has lost their job at this point but acknowledged some may in July, 2011. Ms. Lori Johnson wanted the state board to know that Tama and Benton have been in conversations and intend to merge by July 2012. This was not presented to the board in the materials as the timeline is beyond the parameters set in Tool U. Ms. McCoy Davis explained that due to a conflict of interest the letters of intent would be voted on in two groups. Mr. Mikeal Cass and Dr. Amy Kimball both serve on boards that submitted letters of intent. The first group included: Emmet, PAK, Winnebago Ida, Woodbury Hardin, Marshall Adams, Ringgold, Union Clarke, Decatur, Wayne Fremont/Page and Taylor Mr. John Calhoun made a motion to accept the letters of intent from group one. Ms. Alice Atkinson seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. The second group contained letters of intent from the following: Adair, Dallas, Madison, Warren Director Krogmeier made a motion to accept the letters of intent from group two. Ms. Peg Macek seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor of the motion with the exception of Dr. Amy Kimball and Mr. Mikeal Cass who both abstained from voting. Motion carried. Ms. Julie McMahon commended the areas that had submitted letters of intent for moving forward to reduce duplication and create efficiencies. Ms. McCoy Davis requested that a letter from the state board be sent to each of the areas commending them for putting children first and realigning to achieve better results for children and families. 3
Levels of Excellence Ms. Wagler provided historical information to the board on the Levels of Excellence tiered system that will replace the current redesignation system. Ms. Wagler also summarized the development of the draft that is before the board today. Director Fangman asked if this will be conducted as a desk audit or an onsite audit. Ms. Wagler responded that the current vision calls for both. Ms. Wagler stated that the state team would like to pilot the Levels of Excellence tiered system with one urban and one rural area this winter/spring. Ms. Wagler had board members number off into four groups to more carefully review the draft criteria in a small group setting and have the large group reconvene at 11:10 am. Large group report out: Group One: May need legislative assistance to collect data Private data not as readily available as public Group Two: Make the criteria more clear about who is responsible for each item May need to revisit the 20% carry forward limit Group Three: Some concerns expressed regarding public awareness through the newspaper that puts an area at the mercy of their local paper if they will be published or not. May need more flexibility to measure effectiveness Explore social networking (facebook) for marketing Expand advocacy with public officials beyond state legislators. Include city council members, mayors, boards of supervisors and other local elected officials Group Four: Noted a need for clear definitions. What does contract monitoring mean? Is it an audit for the program or an audit of the organization? Private organizations may be reluctant to share their audit with an organization subject to public records. Does their audit then become public? Competitive process needs refinement. Is it a formal bid? Does it mean solicit bids? Are there exceptions? Mr. John Calhoun made a motion to move forward with the pilot of the Levels of Excellence. Dr. Amy Kimball seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor. Motion carried. Notice of ECI Rules Ms. Scrowther stated it is the state board s responsibility to set administrative rules for the implementation of policy for the Early Childhood Iowa initiative. The Early Childhood Iowa office took a lead in developing the rules. The Iowa Code and Administrative Rules are both parts of Iowa Law. One should not repeat the other. The purpose of Administrative Rules is to provide additional guidance to Iowa Code. If something is clearly stated in Iowa Code it does not need to be repeated in Administrative Rules. This is the first step in the process. The Rules may not look like what they do today when the process ends. DHS has rules for the Early Childhood funds and are in the process of reviewing their rules for updating. DOM has authority for fiscal oversight which is another set of administrative rules. Ms. Scrowther walked the board through the Rules. Mr. John Dotson motioned to adopt the notice of rules to move forward. Director Fangman seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor. Motion carried. Child Care in Iowa Mr. Jeff Anderson, Bureau Chief of Child Care and Community Services, Department of Human Services presented information about child care in Iowa including the DHS role. Please refer to the PowerPoint handouts for more information. Federal Home Visitation - Update Ms. Laura DeBoer and Ms. Janet Horras provided an update to the board about the federal home visitation grant. Please refer to the PowerPoint handouts for more information. Adjourn Ms. McCoy Davis reminded the board that their next meeting will be on November 5, 2010, from 9:30 to 1:00 at Department of Economic Development, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. Board Room. 4
Mr. John Dotson made a motion for the meeting to adjourn. Mr. John Calhoun seconded the motion. Ms. McCoy Davis called for a vote. All those present voted in favor. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 PM. Respectfully Submitted by Janet Horras 5