December 11, 2002

 TO:                  Steering Committee Members

                        Early Success – Right from the Start

FROM:             Karen Schneider, Director

 RE:  Minutes of the December 11, 2002 Steering Committee Meeting

 Attendance:                 

Karen Schneider, Trish McHugh, Pam Forbes, Betsy Cope, Sherry Marks, Leona Moreno, Becky Johnson, Mary Margaret “Mike” Winkelmann, Cindy Bay-Barron, Michelle Gabalis, Julie Vanhala, LouAnn Gregory, Diana Bongard, Dave Borth, Denise Robinson, Linda Myers, Joyce Harmsen, Andi Strickler, Linda Hayes, Carol Larimer, Paulette DeVries, Shannon Lindquist, Barb Ader, and Bridget Cordes.

I.          Chair, Dr. Linda Myers, opened this session with a welcome and asked each person to introduce themselves with their name, agency and title. 

II.         Update: Schneider reported:

a.       Enrollment.  Numbers have decreased this period, particularly due to kindergarten eligibility.  Early Success – Right from the Start’s current enrollment is 808 families, including 1,110 children.

b.       Personnel. Parent Educator, Jeremy Smith resigned his position at Morley/Stanwood.  Two weddings took place: Parent Educators, Cindy (Mason) Streeter at Reed City and Andi (Wilson) at Big Rapids were married. Amy Peasley will begin working for us at the Morley Stanwood office as a full time Parent Educator beginning January 6, 2003.  We have contracted 15 hours/week to Latonya Williams (former intern), also beginning January 6, 2003.  Williams will assist the districts in activities, as required.

c.       Evaluation.  Ing updated session on the State evaluation.  State evaluators have requested additional data.  We are in process of formatting this information into the database.  All grant recipients are required to conduct Emergent Literacy screening.  Ing stated this screening is “region” based (i.e. a card with a couch must be identified with the term “couch” - “davenport” or “sofa” is not accepted).  There were some questions raised regarding the cultural sensitivity of this tool.    

Local Evaluation:

1.             Ing mailed out a survey to enrolled families requesting their “impression” of the Early Success – Right from the Start program.  Of 500 mailings, over 250 have been returned.  Data will be processed with a report to follow.

2.             A second survey (about 5000 families in our district) will be mailed out to families soon asking “what they know” about the program.

3.             Sometime in late January or early February a parent focus group will be held in each district.  Michigan State University will submit topics for discussion.  The sessions will be kept at two to four hours with childcare provided.

4.             Information received from the MOISD shows an increase of referrals to them. (Records for 2000, 2001 and 2002 school years by district will be compared.) However, a decrease in the number of referrals for special education services will hopefully be indicated at school entry.

d.       District Reports.   

1.             Morley Stanwood: 

a.       Moreno reported that the December family fun night was attended by 120 people. Santa Clause was on hand to have his picture taken with each child.  A hand-crafted picture frame, complete with this photo was sent home with the family.  Moreno added that she was pleased School Superintendent, Dr. Linda Myers attended.

b.       This month’s Dad’s Pancake Breakfast was a great success.  Pictures of dad with each child, individually, were taken upon arrival. After breakfast dads and their children were busy decorating a hand-crafted Christmas tree ornament. The picture was placed on the ornament and ready to go home to the family Christmas tree.

c.       District’s newspaper, Buy Line, regularly carries articles on Early Success – Right from the Start’s family activities. Thank you to Jennifer Waite, who is one of our families and also a member of the Steering Committee.

d.       Parent Educator, Cordes, promoted the program at the American Legion’s food pantry and Morley’s Santa Parade. She was not able to bring new families into the program, because all those who attended her display were already in the program!

2.             Big Rapids:

a.       Bongard reported that Santa also attended the Big Rapids family fun night. Approximately 131 people attended, consuming 27 pizzas, applesauce and yogurt.  Four classrooms and the gym were used for age-appropriate activities.

b.       Teen groups have proven to be very successful.  Two are held in the district with seven attending at New Direction and six at Alternative Education. A parenting class is also being held at Alternative Education.  Planned Parenthood was one of the groups brought in to help with this class. 

c.       Eleven playgroups are held within the Big Rapids district. The evening sessions are well attended.  The daytime sessions will be re-evaluated due to low attendance.

d.       New enrollments continue, partly due to presentations at hospital childbirth classes and at the schools.

3.      Osceola District (Evart/Reed City):

a.       Gregory reported on the November family fun nights in each of these school districts. Grandparents were invited.  A Thanksgiving feast was enjoyed by the 84 attending.

b.       Staff promoted the program during the Evart Santa House and Reed City Parade events.

c.       Young Parents Groups have begun in the district, with 12 to 14 attending in Reed City and 2 to 4 at Evart . 

d.       Playgroups meet twice a month at both Reed City and Evart.  Once a month is story time at the Reed City library.

e.       Fifty-nine vision screenings of three and four year olds have been made. Follow-up and re-screening resulted in six referrals.

4.      Chippewa Hills:

a.       Marks informed committee of the much appreciated support of new Superintendent, Cheryl Hahnenberg.

b.       Six playgroups are held in the district each month. Due to limited space in the elementary schools, all but one playgroup are held at churches.

c.       Program promotion during Barryton’s Santa Parade resulted in new enrollments.

d.       Parenting classes in the district are conducted through the High School’s Home Economics course. Marks plans presentations with the teacher  on topics, such as discipline, positive parenting, and music development in young children.

e.       Story hour for young children is held at the Weidman Library.

f.        Chippewa Hills’ program calendar has been printed on advertising placemats at restaurants  in the district.

III.               Committee Reports:  

            1.   Evaluation: nothing to add

2.   Advertising/Project Promotion: Schneider reported that Y-102’s Diane Scarpelli has customized a new commercial, featuring family testimonials regarding our program activities. She is also looking in obtaining sponsorship for t-shirts for Month of the Young Child (MOYC).  The t-shirts will have our logo and would be worn by children marching in April’s MOYC parade in Big Rapids. New brochures have been printed and distributed.

3.       Resource and Referral:  Winkelmann stated that calls have been increasing.  The Resource and Referral Connection is a member of Osceola County’s “Safe Kids” chapter.  She asked the committee to advocate for dental assistance, as she receives many requests and has very limited resources. Discussion offered that “Mobile” dentists accept Medicaid and may provide for those who had no means to make payment. Local dentists have donated toothbrushes for screenings held during family fun night events. 

4.       Curriculum Committee:  Lindquist reported the committee is looking at “Help at Home”, a curriculum for birth to age five.  It is user friendly and inexpensive and would be a supplement to “Parents as Teachers”.

5.       Advocacy:  Schneider spoke about the program’s involvement with advocacy at the state level and reminded all of the importance of educating our new legislature due to the recent elections and the fact that with term limits much of the institutional memory is lost. 

IV.       Financial Report:  Robinson reported at months of the fiscal year our expenditures come to approximately 36% of that budgeted, leaving the program in good financial status.

V.        Other Issues:

1.   Forbes offered an invitation to committee to attend an Open House held at the WISE Shelter on Thursday, December 12, 2002 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

2.   Bay-Barron informed group of teams currently working on expulsion programs.

3.   Borth brought forth the issue of area homeless.  Children placed in homes outside the district due to homelessness, are transported to school by their home district with the possibility of costs being shared (by law) with the district in which they now reside.  If proved homeless, a child can enter school without the “usual” required paperwork and without a parent’s signed approval. All schools in the state have to designate a “homeless” coordinator. The average age of the homeless throughout the United States is nine. The Salvation Army is the expert in this area when it comes to working with these families to locate adequate housing.

Adjournment:  10:15 a.m.

The next Executive Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2003 at the Early Success - Right from the Start office (North end of the Alternative Education Building of the MOISD), starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.

The next Steering Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2003, Miller Wing, starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Original signed by Karen Schneider

Distribution:  All Committee Meeting Members