Region X Head Start Association
Board Meeting Agenda
August 1-2, 2002
Meeting Minutes
Members Present
| |
Director |
Staff |
Parents |
Friends |
|---|
|
Alaska |
Pam Gingue | Absent | Absent | Not Elected |
|---|
| Idaho |
Fran Schofield | Jay Thurber | Virginia DeSpain | Ed Black |
|---|
|
Oregon |
Ronnie Herndon | Absent | Mandy Markham | Yvonne Roberts |
|---|
|
Washington |
Suzanne VanOrman | Diane Hollstrom | Marty Varela | Not Elected |
|---|
Guests Present:
Debbie Ellis, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, and Carrie Olmsted, Connie (Washington Special Ed), Quality Center.
The meeting was called to order at 9:11 a.m.
There were no additions or revisions to the agenda.
Pam Gingue moved the March meeting minutes be accepted with the addition of Mandy Markham's name to the top of page 3. Yvonne Roberts seconded. All approved. Motion carries.
Jay Thurber handed out the 2002 Budget, providing the Board with the most recent totals, as of July 31 when the last check was written. Pam Gingue moved that the budget report be approved. Yvonne Roberts seconded. All approved. Motion carried.
Debbie Ellis gave the NWREL report. Minimal work was needed from NWREL since the last meeting, but she reported that there was a lot that could be done between this meeting and the annual meeting and conference. She discussed the needed changes and updates to the web site, and requested regular updates from the Board. She also discussed possible changes to the annual report that is distributed at the annual conference—suggesting creating another bookmark and revising the format and content of the annual report. The possibility of a PowerPoint presentation at the conference was discussed. Items were tabled for further discussion in the afternoon committee meeting. The committee will meet on these things and bring back for approval in the morning
Pam Gingue presented the Alaska report, Ed Black presented the Idaho report, Mandy Markham gave the Oregon report, and Diane Hollstrom gave the Washington report. (See attached reports.)
Ronnie Herndon gave the National report. Approximately two weeks ago, Sarah Green and Ronnie Herndon met with Wade Horn, Wendy Hill (Associate Commissioner), and Joan Ohl (Commissioner) to discuss the less than desirable relationship between NHSA and the current Administration. Wade Horn started the meeting off saying they want a good relationship. Things did not turn out too well though. Also on NHSA's agenda is the 2003 Reauthorization of Head Start. They believe this is when President Bush's proposal to move Head Start to the Department of Education will come to light. Our only hope is to get our Congressmen into local programs and educate them as to what Head Start is doing for literacy, numeracy and language development.
Issues to discuss at next National meeting include: 1) Getting a resolution to the Democratic Convention in Las Vegas to encourage them to keep Head Start in the Department of Health and Human Services, and 2) Getting reports from the National office regarding what is being raised per Region and per State in regards to Dollar Per Child.
Quality Center:
Carrie Olmstead and Connie, from the Quality Center gave the report. Carrie discussed training and technical assistance planning; the upcoming National events; the CIRCLE training; National initiatives; the Fatherhood Survey; the RFP for the Quality Center; the 2002 Regional Conference in Seattle, WA; and the 2003 Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Committees:
The Board adjourned to work in sub-committees for the remainder of the afternoon. Ed Black, Diane Hollstrom, and Pam Gingue worked on the Scholarships Committee. Fran Schofield, Marty Varela, and Mandy Markham worked on the Resolution Committee. Jay Thurber, Virginia DeSpain, Yvonne Roberts, and Suzanne Van Orman worked on the Communications Committee.
Committee Reports
Award winners for Region X were announced, as follows:
- Beating the Odds — Christa Hitt, Head Start of Lane County
- Parent of the Year — Mandy Markham, Head Start of Yamhill County
Suzanne Van Orman will sign and mail the Scholarships to the National Head Start Association. A copy of the signed form will be sent to NWREL for the Scholarship files. Pam Gingue made a motion to accept these nominations. Yvonne Roberts seconded. There was no further discussion. All approved, motion carries.
Communications:
- Web site: Two deadlines were established—March 1 and December 1—for Board members to review the web site and send changes and additions to NWREL. If changes and additions are received by these dates, the web site will be updated after elections and before the annual conference. Program stories—family stories, parent stories, kid stories—will be submitted by Board members for inclusion on the site. These stories will be used to highlight what is happening in the Region and to be shared as examples of the excellent things that Head Start is doing for children and families.
- Annual Report: The Annual Report will be revised to include State information, Scholarship information, and a short section on "Things Accomplished." Report will be formatted in a four-fold brochure instead of the original three-fold version.
- Bookmarks: Another bookmark will be printed which will contain the web address and Regional contact information.
The Resolution Procedure was revised to create an efficient way for States to give issues to the Region. They will then be forwarded to the National Head Start Association as appropriate. Marty Varela moved that the new Resolution Procedure be approved. Jay Thurber seconded. All approved, motion carries.
Marty Varela, Diane Hollstrom, and Suzanne Van Orman will put together an orientation flyer so the membership will understand more about the Association and to show them what they are going to get from membership. The focus will be on Association accomplishments such as: The most National Scholarships going to Idaho programs; Showing how much money programs have received; National legislation for quality and COLA dollars; and the consumer price index which has resulted in billions of dollars to programs. Focus should be on what has happened for programs from State Association's/Regional Association's happenings.
Also discussed was a nice 15 - 20 slide PowerPoint presentation that could be sent to programs. Once the flyer is finished, it will be sent to Ed Black, who will create a PowerPoint presentation. Including an org chart/flow chart was also suggested, as well as a slide on governance and funding stream (only for information, not for marketing).
Resolution on move from DHHS to DOE:
Yvonne Roberts brought up the need to be able to share with programs, staff members and parents the importance of the move from DHHS to DOE, and to have all concerned parties be able to discuss this issue with knowledge and with the same vocabulary (for instance, "Oppose the move to Department of Education" or "Support keeping it in DHHS.") We need to have consistent materials and use what NHSA is producing.
Options for sharing information included:
- Using the NHSA position papers with Talking Points. (Action: Ask Joel to e-mail members of the Board to distribute to programs. Also ask Joel for his letter on the FACES Study.)
- If additional materials to support this resolve are needed, asking NHSA to produce it.
- Taking article on research on Parents, article from bureau of economic research (article about Head Start from a year ago) (Action: Debbie will contact Lisa at Albina Head Start and get articles, then email them to board.), and the position letter (Action: Debbie will get from Pam.) Action: sent to Board prior to the meeting.
A motion to ask States to meet with their editorial boards, Governors, and State Superintendents of education/public instruction to discuss our position and explain the reasons for Head Start to stay in the Department of Health and Human Services was made by Pam Gingue. Mandy Markham seconded. All approved. Motion carries.
Although not currently a line-item in the budget, States appreciated the visits by the Association President. It was suggested that Suzanne continue to work with States on travel. She will also work with Ronnie Herndon as often as possible to discuss both Regional and National issues.
Suzanne Van Orman attended the last meeting. At the meeting, they distributed the Standard Rankings, Teacher Credentialing data, Health and Medical services, and received the results of the findings of on-site reviews. The most important finding was that programs need to pick up health (dental, medical) numbers. Other issues included: Record keeping (14), Ongoing monitoring and reporting (20), and Organizational Structure (10). (Numbers in parenthesis equal programs out of compliance on those issues). Training will be developed and presented around these issues.
(Only Region X documents—not program specific documents—were given out at RCC meeting for the purpose of having the RCC reps and Quality Center develop training around the issues found. Board members asked how RCC Representatives share information with the Region, States, and programs. It was mentioned that information is generally shared at Director's meeting, but Suzanne would be willing to email the RCC meeting minutes to the Board.)
The new review process was discussed. Now it is done by a group consensus, which is very different than it has been done in the past.
Do not have time to discuss at this meeting. Will defer until November meeting.
Regional Office:
Nancy Hutchins and Steve Henigson joined us for lunch and discussion. Issues discussed included: Challenge for the Regional Association if Quality Center is no longer able to assist with the Regional Conference; Medical/dental access and service delivery; facility development and outcomes; Fatherhood applications, Early Head Start expansion; and new Bureau priorities.
The changes to the By Laws that were proposed and distributed at the last meeting were discussed. Issues regarding staggered terms for officers of the Board, election within the Board, Robert's Rules of Order, and Article 3 (Members of the Regional Association) were discussed. Motion: After much discussion, the President asked someone to make a motion. Ed Black moved that the Board ratify the By-Laws as presented. Marty second. For = 5, Opposed = 4, Abstained=1. Motion did not pass.
Because of the late time, a decision was made for all Board members to carefully review the Bylaws. Any proposed changes have to be e-mailed or mailed to all Board members 30 days before the November meeting. Then it can be discussed again and voted on at the November meeting. Determination of whether or not the election will by held with the Membership or within the Board will be decided by the vote in November.
Next meeting — November 14 and 15, 2002
Agenda Items: Regional Office lunch and discussion on Friday, By Laws (staggered terms, election within Board, etc.), 2003 Conference, Scholarships, Strategic Plan, Budget Committee - approve budget for next year, Annual Report, Calendar.
Meeting was adjourned.
Meeting minutes respectfully submitted by Yvonne Roberts.
