Minutes of the Board Meeting

October 16, 2007 at 5:15 P.M.

Board Members Present: Joni Block, Michele Brown, Joyce Diorio, Carol Godfrey, Joyce Harriman, Ruthie Harris, Deborah Macomber, Deborah McDonald, Pamela Memmolo, Lela Spekin, Nancy Sullivan, Karen Voisine

Board Members Absent: Patricia Foley, Barbara Lee, Inez Springer

Council Members Present: Lenore Erwin

Guests: Judith Rousseau

I. WELCOME

(M. Brown) The meeting was called to order by Council Co-Chairperson, Michele Brown at 5:25 P.M.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the Board meeting of September 18, 2007 were approved unanimously.

III. PROGRAM UPDATES

A. Brockton Public Schools

(J. Block) Joni distributed a written report indicating that 110 children are enrolled at the Keith School and 22 are at the Paine School. Transportation services are stable. Enrollment efforts are underway and there should be an increase by next month.

B. Head Start

(N. Sullivan) Nancy distributed a written report indicating that 56 children are enrolled in the Brockton CPC extended day program. There are 19 children on the waiting list.

C. Home Health and Child Care

(C. Godfrey) Carol distributed a written report that details the child care subsidy statistics and lists the training calendar events. Carol highlighted the NAEYC Accreditation trainings that are being offered for directors and teachers. There is also a series of support group sessions planned for family child care providers. The accreditation / CDA status of each participating center and family child care provider was listed on Home Health and Child Care’s written report. Carol also mentioned that currently, HHCC is not enrolling children for BCPC subsidies due to the budget cuts of July 1, 2007. She does not foresee enrolling any new families anytime soon.

A motion to accept the program reports as presented was approved unanimously.

IV. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

(J. Block) Joni suggested that following the reports from any subcommittee who has had action, the Board should spend some time deciding upon goals for subcommittees for this year.

A. Appeals / Tuition Reimbursement/ Accreditation/CDA

(L. Erwin) Lenore stated that she had forgotten to write the letter of extension to the providers and proposed that providers should be granted permission to submit their total year’s points (January – December 2007) with a submission deadline of February 15, 2007.

The Board unanimously approved the proposed deadline as recommended.

B. Workshops

(J. Block) Joni stated that she has started developing ideas for workshops and is considering the possibility of collaborating with the Children’s Support Services professional development trainings.

C. Subcommittee Goals

· Appeals: Will meet as needed.

· Accreditation: Subcommittee can examine what we can do to support programs that have staff qualification concerns under the new NAEYC regulations.

A discussion about the new validation visit took place.

· Provider Contract Agreement: The provider contracts will be reviewed as needed.

· Budget Review / Evaluation: A suggestion to determine what our programmatic goals are was made in view of the fact that the grant this year only calls for a budget.

Another suggestion was to focus on a way to pool resources for training. (C. Godfrey) Carol noted that CPC cannot fund workshops but can fund college courses, PDP’s, CEU’s.

· Governance/Nominations: The Bylaws are due for review.

· Outreach PR / WOYC: Increase publicity of meetings; Update CPC page website; Write to the “Views” column of the Enterprise; Participate in CSGB meetings; Choose a more visible location for the WOYC event.

· School Readiness: Goals were not addressed

· Workshops: Collaboration with CSS as noted previously.

V. OLD BUSINESS – There was no old business brought forth.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

A. CSS Project: Children’s Support Services

(J. Block) Joni explained this new program in detail and provided a written description that included steps of the referral process. Julie DaCosta is the (BPS) school adjustment counselor for the project. Jenna Callahan (BAMSI) is the part-time social worker. Lela Spekin (BPS) is the CSS convener; contact person. Joni Block (BPS) is the CSS Coordinator.

Joni described this grant as a great opportunity to bring back mental health initiatives. Technical assistance and professional development with staff are key components of the project. The CPC/CSS staff is welcoming suggestions about the needs of the child care community.

(C. Murphy) Cassandra mentioned that any child under the age of 3 may be services through South Bay Early Intervention and a risk assessment in the home would be done within 7 days of the referral. (J. Block) Joni stated that she would have Julie DaCosta contact SBEI regarding collaborative efforts.

Center directors were receptive and anxious to have CSS staff involved in assisting their staff.

B. CDA at Kiddie Haven

(K. Voisine) Karen informed the Board that she has openings in a center-based CDA training that Kiddie Haven has paid for. If anyone is interested they should contact her right away. The first session is October 23, 2007. There will be 7 sessions extending into February 2008.

C. Governor’s Town Hall Forum

(J. Block) Joni announced that Governor Patrick will be holding a forum in Somerset on October 25, 2007. Further information can be obtained on the EEC website.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

The Board meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:40 P.M. The next Board meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at approximately 7:15 p.m. at the Shelton Head Start Center at 370 Howard Street, Brockton, MA.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for November 13, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Shelton Head Start Center.