Region V Professional Development Council 
Minutes of the Wednesday, Jan. 10th, Meeting 
Florida Atlantic University, Davie Campus,
Liberal Arts Building, Room 152

January 10, 2001 Region V PDC Meeting Minutes
Meeting convened at 10:30am 

Present:
Sandra Hannah (Sandy)
Carrie Mickey
Dan Vega
Myung Hyun
Connie Hicks-Evans
Pam Shrestha
Sheila Long
Darlene Kostrub
Valerie Bryan
Colleen Britt

1.      Review/approval today’s agenda: 6.1 (overview of web site moved to take place at 11:30 in another location due to network connection requirements)

2.      Review/approval of minutes of October 10, 2000: Reviewed silently.
Comments: Val- 4.1; correction: extra period in http address (fau..)
P. Shrestha- Chaykin misspelled in item 2; take “i” out of Marzel
Nov. 8 meeting minutes: Never received from Doug Smith. Colleen will contact Myung to fax.

3. Welcome members and introduction
Carrie Mickey, Chair

          3.1 Miriam Kovacs
            3.2 Sandra Hannah- introduced herself as new member
            3.3 Nelson Perez
            3.4 Linda Wilkins

4.  Review status of new project proposals

V. Bryan in process of  re-writing proposal.
Connie Hicks-Evans announced that the new commissioner , Charlie Christ may make some changes in the requirements. As of 1/09/01 there are new people on board and  changes are possible.
The green apple logo is no longer the Florida DOE logo. It has been replaced with the  Florida Seal. Info Pam passed around (Getting Down to Business) pamphlet with old graphic. All NEW things must have the new logo- the Florida Seal; ESSENCE of the theme must be consistent.

4.1 Proposal #1 ($100,000)

Pam Shrestha passed out a Pre-approval Project Plan. Breakdown is same as in minutes. The $50,000 is an activity that all regions are engaging in. A template has been created. We are responsible for creating the INSIDE only. Promotional Opportunities—vendors, refreshments.
3 day conference . Waiting on approval.
Proposed list of topics on Pre-approved Project Plan.
Connie Hicks-Evans: The second page is NOT accurate- it has been modified quite a bit. Once we get pre-approval, we will be more specific. This gives more leeway. We are NOT limited- that is what should be discussed today.

Let’s decide the topics TODAY.
Region I is having Conference in Feb. Connie Hicks-Evans passed around their flyer. Funding Guide included.
We are not attaching workshops on to that- we will have Grant Writing Workshop:
1) Assist in writing proposals ( no major changes from last year) Adult Ed. Grants will be due April 1. Book 1 is for continuing grants and Book 2 is for new proposals.  Due date is same.
Final information about grants should be on Florida DOE web site Feb. 1, 2001.
No location yet.

2) Invite all persons that are currently funded to come in for a 1-day workshop to go through procedures correctly and smoothly.

-         You will need BOARD APPROVAL as before , but not BEFORE you turn in the Proposal. In JUNE, we will know what has been funded.- Letters will be received by you as of June 1,2001.

-         Vocational Ed. Grant Proposals will be due in May.

-         (25, 000?) Include BLANKET areas in the proposal. There are at least 5 task force charges that have to piggyback on us. Don’t want you Val to be locked in. The Adults with Disabilities is definite. RPDAC will set up space and sponsor these workshops even though may not be present.
Coordinate with Rochelle. We don’t want to repeat with the 5,000 what is already going to be done.

4.1.1 Web-Based Mgmt. - $5,000:  is there to upkeep web page for personnel
4.1.2 Regional Technology Emphasis - $45,000: For EQUIPMENT: Computers to update everyone  

      Stage 1: Acquiring equipment
Stage 2: Needs Assessment
Stage 3: Training 

-         No assessment has been done to identify who needs what

-         In proposal, include a needs assessment. Include COMPUTERS, SOFTWARE, and possibly training.

***Deliverables include needs assessments, criteria, computer requirements.

PERSONS need to be included in deliverables

-         This is a great opportunity to get everyone up to date technologically so communication and production can be possible between people and organizations.

-         Criteria may come from needs assessment. (This will be difficult because many people don’t know enough technical info about their computers to answer the questions correctly.)

-         People need to be trained on the equipment they are going to use.

-         Discussion on teaching station –

-         What we submit and what they approve : They must agree on the language.

-         Needs Assessment

-         Most in need or those that are close and could end up the superstars?

-         Connie: CBO’s and LEA’s are in the language and must be included. LEA’s include Indian Tribes. 

-         With the DOE, CBO do not get money transported to them electronically—this is an example of what needs to be able to happen.

-         These $$ are a one time shot for STAFF DEVELOPMENT. Purchase a set amount of computers or laptops with all needed software on it and give to who needs it according to assessment. The online access is a cost issue. The people that get the computers will have to set up their own access.

-         To bridge gap b/t Literacy and Workforce we must look at a package that will work. Right now, Microsoft is IT.

-         Literacy Pro – sounds great for CBO’s but not for LEA’s.

Connie Hicks-Evans: When you write a proposal it is all you have at the time. Make sure the deliverables are written so you can get the money.

Mobile unit idea (Carrie Mickey) was brought up a possibility for training on computers but after being discussed the idea was dismissed.

4.1.3 Conference/Summit: Getting Down to Business - $50,000
May  -  the second week. Preferred days: 9-11 or 16-18 were mentioned as available. May 16-18 was later agreed upon to take place concurrently with BRIDGES training scheduled for May 18-19. The Region V conference could be scheduled either before or after BRIDGES.

1.      BRIDGES, Two groups on Fri (18^th)

2.      (Darlene Kostrub) Adult Literacy Volunteers. VOLUNTEERS IN LITERACY- strengthening these programs . There is a new manual to be unveiled at the conference (time needed for training- 2 hr block)

3.      ESOL – do not know their promised deliverables. BRIDGES is the only one required to be six hrs. that we should have TWO hr blocks for the others.

4.      ABE

5.      GED

6.      Family Literacy

7.      Data/Technology (blanket space) – this will require pre-registered people for the web training

8.      (blanket space)

For this Conference two-hour blocks should be sufficient. Web Based training will take longer – 4 to 6 hour blocks are needed.

If it is a three-day conference it will be hard to get 3 days for teachers. We set three days in on specialty ones. This is a drive in Conference. Tech/Web training should be on sat with 2^nd BRIDGES training.

4.2.2 $5,000 to include Adults with Disabilities: a stipulation from the Florida DOE for this.

There was a break to visit Rm. 303 to view Web site (11:30am) – Received some feedback on minor changes to be completed by January 19, 2001 by Colleen Britt.

12:00pm:  V. Bryan recorded on chart paper some ideas for tracks to take place at the conference.

What about LCP’s and OCP’s?  LCPs are under adult education and OCP’s fall under vocational education.

Vendors will be used to offset the cost of conference (will most likely exceed $50,000 allotted for this event). 

4.2 Proposal #2 ($30,000)

4.2.1 $25,000 to RPDACS ( Region V PDC) in each region:  for administration, the council, etc.
Four meetings are required- two have taken place.
Two more meetings will take place– the conference could probably be included as one of the two meetings.
Connie said last time money was used for travel, reimbursement, meetings, web based training

Deliverables that have been completed:

1. Portfolio
2. Updated website

It would be helpful for Val as TSI if we met at other people’s places so she can identify needs. The stakeholder list on the web site needs to expand.

Online Directory of Resources is NEEDED.

V. Bryan: Suggested a workshop for the Council on Technology – Web Based Training. It was decided that the site for the training would be at DOE in Tallahassee.  *Travel $$- will go through list of members and decide who DOE needs to pick up.

-Move the Council in the direction so that it would be more on the Vocational side as well as Adult Ed.

-Need some exemplary programs or showcase some programs

- Region V will take the lead in coming up with criteria for best practices

There is no current plan for all the 5 councils to meet.

Valerie Bryan requested a  list of what has been funded. Then a criteria list could be submitted to those programs and they could have the opportunity to submit the program information for review to be recognized as exemplary.
To move the state forward, to be progressive, the regions need to come together and teach each other rather than stay individualized by region.
When a criteria list (act as PILOT) has been created, it will be given to the Chair (Carrie Mickey) and she will bring it to the oval team to buy into it. 
We can video actual projects in action (in this Region only) and put it on the web site.
We can create “store fronts” for these projects and where they are located. All target areas covered, # served

4.2.2. $5,000 to include Adults with Disabilities 

-BRIDGES Training
Region V Literacy Center has taken care of the schedule.
Do people get paid to come to this?  Connie does not believe this is legitimate- it may be double dipping.  She said it may be different for other Regions.

Purpose: Train people to recognize disabled or special needs without them coming forward to identify themselves and their area of need.   (for the $5,000)
identification, how to provide services, how to teach

It would be helpful if promotion is taken on by the Literacy Center as well as the PDC

OUR ROLE:  PLACE and PROMOTION

5.1 Vacancies/5.2 Suggested persons for positions
Resignations:   Melody Chaykin  (new job- K-12) 

Carrie Mickey appointed Dan Vega to serve on the Nominating Committee. They are assigned to find:  

(1) replacement for Melody. (preferably from Broward in the area of curriculum). Suggestions:   Neeta Rancourt, Maria Koontz (but she is ESOL) Discussed at last meeting - Miracola was invited to join the committee. He declined the invitation. Pam will call him for a recommendation. If he gives one, Sheila will be informed.  

(2) Need someone from workforce/business. (Pam Shrestha mentioned possibility of a lady from BellSouth she has had contact with. Will follow up.)  

(3)The new position not specified. (either a Vocational or Adult Education Director) Volunteer? Hispanic Unity? Another business/workforce related person? (We have only had to fill three in the last three years- good. Connie Hicks-Evans feels that we need to have a plaque or certificate for those members that have left)

Sheila Long felt that the Council may want to consider a Vocational representative.

The question is “Since these leadership $$ are for Adult Education do we want to propose that we involve Vocational Education in this Council also?” We don’t have Vocational Ed. $$ 

Miami-Dade is the only Community College that is doing Adult Ed. Four are doing Vocational Ed.

Connie Hicks-Evans said that we may be able to justify working with both arenas.

FOURTEEN is the number of people on the Council once the three positions are filled.  

5.3 Verification of current Council Member list

Linda Wilkins is with Area Agency on Aging

6. New Business:  THIS WAS MOVED TO 11:30 this morning
6.1 Overview of website- moved up to 4- now 4.3

7. Other Council items/announcements:

Carrie Mickey passed out newly revised bylaws. Changes made on the following:  4.1, 5.2, 5.4, added a 6.2, 6.2.0 and 6.2.1; omit 6.3 Other Officers and replace with new 6.3 Term of Office, 7.1, 8.1, add 9.2,

Need a removal clause for TSI – make it 9.3 – wording not established yet. Changed after discussion to a “recommendation” to not fund that particular TSI again.

The corrections will be made on the web site as soon as all changes are definite.

In bylaws 8.1: Part “a” through “e” need explanations.

*Bylaw 10.1 says bylaws can be amended by majority (2/3) vote of the full council- so changes cannot be voted on due to only five members present at the meeting today.. Voting will take place at the next meeting.

Darlene Kostrub shared information about the recent Literacy event – it was very successful.

Proposals will be emailed by Valerie Bryan to people in attendance today. Any changes, suggestions or concerns may be dealt with by directly speaking with Valerie via phone and/or email.8. Next Meeting – Vote on changes to bylaws if full council is present.

All of Connie Hicks-Evans’ staff is going to help plan the conference wherever needed.  

8.1 Teleconference: No date as of yet.
8.2 On Site: No date as of yet.