May 16, 2008

 

The Policy Council of the Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium met in a regular session on Friday, March 28, 2008 at the Lafayette Center.

 

Those present were:

 

Richard Darling                                                                    Woodview     * Chairperson

Maribel Romero                                                                  Waterford      * Vice-Chairperson

Heather Saunders                                                                                Lafayette        * Secretary 

Dwight Noble                                                                        LaVille

Lorena Rojas                                                                       West Side

Christina Rutz                                                                      York

Brandy Trosper                                                                    Jimtown

Tanya Plencner                                                                    Liberty

Chris Gregorich                                                                    Executive Secretary to the Executive Director

Kathy Guajardo                                                                  Head Start Executive Director

Pastor Greg Robertson                                                        Parliamentarian

 

Absent from the meeting were:

 

Gail Banks                                                                            South Side

Janine Larkin                                                                       Twin Branch

Jasmine Torres                                                                     Beardsley

Jody Auer                                                                              Walkerton

Krystal Anderson                                                                 Roosevelt

Misty Mraz                                                                           Bristol

Nicole Beavo                                                                        Lafayette

Vanity Clark                                                                         Lafayette

Shakeyna Williams                                                             Lafayette

 

* Policy Council members discussed enforcing the attendance policy outlined in the rules of operation.  Secretary Heather Saunders will be writing the letter that needs to be sent to those members who are in violation of the attendance policy.

 

I.                    Call to Order

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Richard Darling at 10:35 am.

 

II.            Roll Call

 

Roll Call was taken by Vice-Chairperson, Maribel Romero. A quorum was met for the purpose of conducting business.

 

III.          Approval of Minutes

 

                        A motion to approve the minutes as written with amendments to follow was made by Christina Rutz, seconded by Brandy Trosper.  Motion was carried by a unanimous vote.

 

IV.          Communications

 

                Executive Director’s Report

 

                Kathy Guajardo’s information is enclosed with the packet and she discussed the following:

 

·         Full Enrollment as of today March 28^th, 2008.  Attendance is great and holding steady.

·         Kathy shared information about the meetings she has attended this past week in Chicago.  She shared that the new changes from the Reauthorization Act are still very fluid.  She will likely have to review the Program Management Structure.  We are up for our review audit anytime after November 1^st.  Data management and staff accountability will be a part of the new procedures.  The Policy Council will see and be asked to approve all of these changes, so you will be very busy in the next few months.

·         Kathy explained how the Risk Management process will take place on April 1^st.  This will begin with a conference phone call from Region V.

·         She provided information about some recent phone calls with the attorney about making sure we are ready to defend actions of employment issues that will come up in court cases.

·         She turned to discussions about the Self Assessment reports and they are coming soon.  Discussions about open registrations.  There will be a bus route run in the Goshen area to help get parents to the registration opportunities.  There will be lunch provided to policy council members who volunteer to help parents to register their children for Kindergarten on Friday April 4^th from 8 am-noon and 1-4 pm.  Dwight Noble volunteered for the afternoon shift if able to be there.

Report on MERSA/Health Advisory Committee

Dwight Noble gave a report on MERSA and how the Health Advisory Committee reviewed a draft policy of how to handle an outbreak, and making sure that the privacy laws are not violated.  A five step process was provided to each member in their Policy Council packets.  Richard Darling noted that the process is taken care of in a 24 hour period which is a great idea.  It was noted that this may be a guide to some of the school systems putting a plan into place.

Policy Council Chairperson’s Report

 

Richard provided information about the recent Governing Board meeting.  They were very engaging with him.  The Board Members liked some of the suggestions that are coming from the Policy Council and impressed with the Fatherhood conference.  He said that he shared his concerns with the Board about parent participation and the quality of the site meetings improving and needing to continue to improve.  There was a discussion in the Board meeting about advertising opportunities and places to set up booths at various festivals.

 

Board Members Report

 

                No Board member was present to give a report.

 

 

V.            Action Agenda

 

08-0222-01 Approval of Personnel Actions included in Human Resources Report

 

A motion to approve the Personnel actions was made by Dwight Noble, seconded by Christina Rutz, motion was carried by a unanimous vote.

 

08-0222-02 Approval of Distribution of Payroll, Summary of Actual Expenditures

 

A motion to approve was made by Christina Rutz, seconded by Brandy Trosper, motion was carried by a unanimous vote.