MINUTES

 

MANSFIELD ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Mansfield Town Hall, Conference Room C

6:30-8:30 PM

 

PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), J. Buck (Chair), A. Bloom, S. Baxter (staff), M.J. Newman, S. Tucker, K. Stone, A. Bladen, J. Goldman, J. Stoughton, M. Esquilin (Graustein Foundation), B. Lehmann

 

REGRETS: N. Hovorka, P. Wheeler, L. Dahn, K. Paulhus

 

I.         INTRODUCTIONS/MINUTES:

A.     Introductions: The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM; members introduced themselves.

 

Adoption of minutes of October 4, 2006: J. Buck passed on a correction from K. Paulhus regarding her comment that she had suggested adding another member to the decision-making process.  Her corrected comment is, “K. Paulhus made an off-handed remark, not intended as a suggestion, that perhaps four additional members of MAC might not be too many.” With that correction the minutes were accepted as written.

 

B.   Thank You: 

 

Movement and Music for Young Children -Connections Team Event:  Kate Vallo, Judy Stoughton, Barbara Giardina

Northwood Apartments Last Event: Jane Goldman, Becky Lehmann, and People’s Bank Storrs Manager Kathleen Caron

School Readiness Special Task Force:  Lisa Dahn, Mary Jane

Newman, Katherine Paulhus, Susan Daley, Anne Bladen, Jane Goldman

Week of the Young Child Sub-Committee:  Ande Bloom, Joan Buck, Pam Wheeler, Ande Bloom, Becky Lehmann, Community Center Staff:  Curt Vincente, Bette Day Stern, Jay O’Keefe,

 

II.       COMMUNICATIONS (Consent Agenda, unless otherwise noted)

 

A.     Discovery Assessment and Planning Tool

B.     School Readiness Space Allocation Policy with amendment for final approval vote on 11/1/06

C.    Additional Child/ren in Care Policy Draft: this was distributed to members to consider for future work by the Task Force, and eventual vote by this Council. 

D.    Janice Grundel: CT Early Childhood Cabinet -Ready by 5 Fine by 9 Update.

E.     Email from Kristine Stone re: the need for Before School Programs: S. Baxter explained that she agreed to include the

 

 

 

F.     letter in the Communications, but that we would not have the time to consider this issue at this meeting.  K. Stone provided some

 

G.    background for her email, which concerns the lack of a before school program at Goodwin Elementary School.  She is requesting that MAC undertake a survey prior to March 2007 to determine the need for a before school program at Goodwin.  B. Lehmann has done some work on this issue before, and expressed a willingness to work with K. Stone on this.  A. Bloom suggested that K. Stone could explore this with a potential provider and bring this to the principal regarding the commitment of interested parents.  J. Goldman stated that she feels that MAC should advocate for changes around this issue for the sake of equity.  J. Buck, K. Stone and B. Lehmann will meet around this issue and report back to the Council. 

 

      III.        NEW BUSINESS:

 

A.     Discovery Assessment and Planning Tool: this process was facilitated by M. Esquilin.  She explained that the tool focuses on the Collaborative to assess our work around our primary mission (collaboration).  The Memorial Fund has asked liaisons to get involved in this process partly due to the potential for continued funding after 2007.  This is intended to give the group the opportunity to look at the kind of work that we need to do in 2007 to position ourselves for continued funding.  Trustees and staff will be looking at how the assessment tool is incorporated into our action plan for 2007.  S. Tucker suggested that our Council should be more involved with the Town Council so that if we need their resources, we have them 'embedded in our work'.  K. Grunwald mentioned that the Town Council will be embarking on a town-wide strategic planning process, and that will provide an opportunity for this group to have input regarding the needs of young children in the community.

 

 

A.                 Small Groups Short Reports:

Northwood Apartments Outreach Group-Event 10/7/06: this activity was not successful, although the branch manager of a local bank attended as a volunteer.  No parents attended and only two middle school students.  The group will continue to work to conduct outreach to other apartment complexes.  Through Northwood they have explored possible ways of contacting residents.  M. Esquilin encouraged the group to ask UConn to send a letter to residents as a partner to get information out.  A. Bloom also suggested contacting the Office of Graduate Studies, and J. Stoughton encouraged attaching something to an existing communication vehicle.

Week of the Young Child: J. Buck reported on meetings with Parks and Recreation, Advertising and Scheduling and

 

 

 

request for Volunteers: She referred to minutes from the meeting with the Community Center staff that were distributed to members.  While NAEYC has designated a different week in April as the week of the young child, it would be feasible to use the Community Center to offer activities for the first week of April.  There would also be activities planned over the month of April.   Please let Joan know if you would like to be involved in any of these activities.  A. Bladen suggested that we may want to consider changing the name to differentiate it from NAEYC’s week.

 

B.                 School Readiness Task Force Policy on Space Allocations:

MAC to vote on the adoption of this new policy

Questions re: Policy on Additional Child/ren in Care Policy draft: S. Baxter pointed out that there was a change in the wording regarding the addition of a member selected by MAC.  The Council voted to accept this policy with the noted corrections.

 

IV.    Next Meeting(s)- December 6, 2006, Wednesday.  The primary focus will be the completion of the Discovery Planning & Assessment Tool.

             

·        Meetings are held from 6:30- 8:30 PM at a location to be determined.   Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed, or removed as not needed.

 

V.                 Adjournment:  the meeting adjourned at 8:35  PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Grunwald