MINUTES
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
6:30PM-8:00 PM
PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), S. Baxter (staff), J.
Stoughton (staff), D. McLaughlin, Jessica Higham (guest), K. Paulhus, J. Buck,
A. Bladen (Chair), R. Leclerc, J. Goldman, B. Lehmann, E.A. Aschenbrenner
(Eastconn), C. Guerreri (Graustein), L. Dahn
REGRETS: L. Oransoff, S. Patwa, N. Hovorka, M.J.
Newman
Time Item Discussion Outcome
6:30 PM-6:40 PM
|
-Call to order
Introduction: E.A.
Aschenbrenner EASTCONN-Collaborative Agent Announcements
- PEP Program
Update
-Discovery
Stone Soup registration reminder -Candidates’
Night Questions about
early care and ed. |
Chair
A. Bladen called the meeting to order at 6:40 PM. Guests introduced themselves. S.
Baxter announced that PEP is starting next week with 3-4 enrollees; still
recruiting for new members. Reminder
that the Stone Soup Conference will be held on Oct. 24; still time to
register. LWV is sponsoring candidates’
night Oct. 18; we are looking for1-2 questions for the candidates re: ECE
issues. |
-Sub committees and ad hoc groups
list suggestions for project for PEP group
- recruitment of PEP grads and
parents -work on questions for candidate’s
night |
6:40 PM-7:05 PM
|
Approve minutes of 9/5/07 E.A.Aschenbrenner from EASTCONN
to discuss collaborative agent’s role Review 2008-09 Discovery Action
Plan (see small groups) to decide how sub committee or
ad hoc group will move the action plan in the 2008-09 Discovery work when in
small gr. |
Minutes: Note that J. Goldman was
a member of the Infant/Toddler’s group.
E.A. Aschenbrenner provided a
brief overview of EASTCONN as an agency.
Their job is to support member communities. They provide professional development and
support for early care providers through state grants. She has reviewed the Action Plan that MAC
has submitted; asked what our vision is re: being influential locally and statewide? J. Buck asked if Eastconn can help to
mobilize support on a regional basis?
Eastconn is mobilizing local communities to advocate for enhanced
school readiness funding. S. Baxter
asked what MAC can do to support these regional efforts? One of the issues is parity in funding
between priority school districts and competitive school readiness
programs. Some discussion of
professional development opportunities.
J. Goldman stated that at MDD the emphasis for professional
development is on receiving academic credit.
C. Gurreri questioned whether or not E.A. is the right person from
Eastconn to play an active role as the collaborative agent for this
community? E.A. answered that the role
is different in different communities, and partly depends on the funding that
is available to support this role. C.
Gurreri asked if there is a plan re: how to target all of the political
representatives of the various communities represented? This depends on the support and interest of
the communities that are involved.
There needs to be some discussion and negotiation re: the role of the
collaborative agent and the fee that will be paid for these services. K. Paulhus asked why a collaborative agent
is required and what they do for this fee?
An external collaborative agent is a grant requirement; Eastconn
essentially serves the role of a fiscal agent for a fee of 5% of the
grant. J. Goldman asked that Eastconn
look at assuming a more active role around the issue of
parent engagement. Eastconn has
applied for funding to support regional parent training initiatives and
disseminating information. Feedback
on the Action Plan and Narrative of the grant application: J. Buck noted that
the use of parent stipends is a creative way of involving parents. She is also glad to see that we are
continuing other activities that disseminate information. J.
Buck also felt that in the area of local leadership the strategies support
what we have been doing for some time.
J. Goldman announced that the town-wide strategic planning
community has started to work and will be inviting individuals to participate
in this effort. |
Minutes accepted with that
correction. S. Baxter invited E.A. to attend
monthly MAC meetings. Executive Committee will meet with
representatives of EASTCONN to discuss whether or not they are the
appropriate agency to fulfill this role and if so, to prepare a working
agreement. This will be completed by
the end of the year. |
7:05 PM-8:00PM
|
3 Small groups: Assess where group is and next
steps and any future meeting necessary
Who are we
reaching, who are we not
reaching?
|
Small groups began discussions,
but time was too short to accomplish the stated goals. Groups will meet between now and the next
MAC meeting and report on their progress at the next MAC meeting 11/7/07 |
-Each sub committee creates action
steps toward outcome accomplishment -and who will be responsible for
the action step |