Text

The Joint Board of Directors of the Head Start Consortium of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties met in a regular session on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 in the Board Room at the Lafayette Center, 245 North Lombardy Drive, Suite A, South Bend, Indiana, 46619.

I. Call to Order

As President of the Head Start Consortium, Mark Mow called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.

II. Roll Call

President Mark Mow called for the roll call with a reminder to identify yourself when making a motion or seconding a motion.

Jim Conner Middlebury Community Schools

Kathy Guajardo Executive Director, Head Start

Steven Mills School City of Mishawaka

Mark Mow Elkhart Community Schools

Larry Phillips Union-North United School Corporation

Dick Reese John Glenn School Corporation

Joe Sabo Wa-Nee Community Schools

Dr. Bruce Stahly Goshen Community Schools

Jerry Cook Baugo Community Schools

Dr. Jerry Thacker Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

Dr. Robert Zimmerman, South Bend Community School Corporation and
George Dyer, Concord Community Schools, were absent from the meeting.

III. Public Speakers

No one from the Public requested to speak at today’s meeting.

IV. Adoption of Agenda

President Mark Mow asked for a motion for approval of the adoption of the agenda. Jerry Cook made the motion for approval and the second was made by Dr. Jerry Thacker. All were in favor.

President Mark Mow asked for a motion for approval of the minutes of the last meeting which was held on June 19, 2007. Steve Mills made the motion for approval the motion was seconded by Dick Reese. All were in favor.

The new management team for the Elkhart & St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium was introduced. Kathy Guajardo stated that it’s been a busy summer and full enrollment was met on August 22, 2007 at noon, 1020 children. On the first day of school attendance was at 886 students with 134 absent due to change of status, (transportation changes, daycare providers, etc.) Vacancies will be filled within the next week to stay in regulations to make sure we are within the 30 days. The PIR Report (Program Information Report) that was due August 31 and sent to Washington, D.C was discussed. Areas where the Consortium fell below 80% or 90%, an action plan to correct the areas have been attached. The largest areas are training modeling and support. Attached is the approval of the FAA Award document given to the Board and Policy Council to move forward with the restructuring and budget process. The Refunding Grant is in the final stages of approval for the November draw down of our budget. Screenings for the children were piloted this year where all the screening teams came together at the Parent Orientation to get all the screenings done at that time. It was successful and a few minor things need to be worked out for next year. For Staff development, a teaching team was randomly selected for High Scope. All the teachers will be going through this process in the next few weeks. Ivy Tech will be having a training here at the Lafayette Center on “Workplace Spanish” to help staff function with the diverse cultures. Child Outcomes - some of the process has been refined after working with Deb Sura and Damon Pittman, County Coordinators, to have a more user friendly and easier identification of children transitioning into Kindergarten. A letter from HHS has been received confirming that we have been on time in sending our reports into HHS.

Dr. Bruce Stahly made the motion for approval of Personnel Actions included in the Human Resources Report and proposed that their increase of the Executive Director’s salary by 1% above the cost of living be approved. The adjustment was not made previously when discussed and he proposes it to be done now. The second was made by Joe Sabo. All were in favor.

Steve Mills made the motion for approval of Distribution of Payroll, Summary of Actual Expenditures. The second was made by Jim Conner. All were in favor.

Mr. Mow asked if Kathy would like to discuss anything before a motion was made. Kathy discussed that some basic items needed to be revised and updated. Dick Reese had a question as to the meal amount of $75.00 per day. He asked how Kathy arrived at that amount. Kathy discussed that there is a Government guideline that we go by and that some of the areas that are travel to be quite expensive. We do make sure that we are not spending the daily allowance; it is not a per diem. Dick Reese, Mark Mow and some of the other Board members said their amount is lower than the $75.00. Larry Phillips made the motion for approval to Amend the Employee Handbook. The second was made by Joe Sabo. All were in favor.

07-0919-04 Approval for “Resolution” of the Interlocal Agreement for the Elkhart & St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium

Steve Mills discussed that it is too bad that Fairfield didn’t work out and that they couldn’t continue with the program. Dick Reese made the motion for approval for “Resolution” of the Interlocal Agreement for the Elkhart & St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium. The second was made by Dr. Bruce Stahly. All were in favor.

07-0919-05 Approval to Amend the Elkhart & St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium Budget

Dr. Bruce Stahly would like to move that we allow the Executive Director to amend the budget and add to the current employees, retroactively, an additional 1% toward their retirement fund for the 2006-2007 school year. This percentage should reflect the retirement fund to permanently be set at 5%. In addition, purchase the needed equipment and the remainder of the funds is to be used for much needed transportation reimbursement. Dr. Bruce Stahly made the motion of approval to Amend the Elkhart & St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium Budget as stated above. The second was made by Jerry Cook. All were in favor.

Steve Mills made the motion for adjournment. The second was made by Dr. Bruce Stahly. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned.