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School
Readiness Council
Actions
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NOVEMBER 10, 2004
ATTENDANCE: Betsy Bain, Chair; Maryhelen Burk; Lynn Sadlon; Jenny Lynn Carey;
Jeanne Taylor; Pat Balaban; Chris Dudek-Ratushnuk; Victoria Schilling; Mary
Peniston; Shari Konn-Andrade; Aida Frese; Mary Windt; Dona Ditrio; Carlin Hill;
Curtis Law; Lauriston Avery; Devon Rayment.
STAFF: Linda Wilock; Mary Budrawich.
OTHERS: Michael Callis, NEON Executive Director; Sally Grose, NEON Board of Directors.
MEETING CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. by the Chair and everyone introduced themselves.
APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER MINUTES
The following correction was made: Ms. Scullane’s name was added to attendance.
** MS. SCHILLING MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Sadlon asked what LISC stands for; the response was that it stands for “Low Income Service Corporation”.
UPDATES
SCHOOL READINESS GRANT, PROGRAMS AND ISSUES
Ms. Wilock said that the final allocation is $2,262,255. The State had carryover into their base allocation. The State always pays one month behind. We have a few one-time slots. All in all, we did very well this year. There is talk about more expansion next year. We need to work on a plan to use money more effectively if we receive more.
MONITORING REPORT
Ms. Budrawich reviewed the final report from the State Department of Education and State Department of Social Services on the State monitoring services that took place in March. Working notes were issued, to which Norwalk was able to respond in June; we then received the final report in September. Norwalk did not have one single case of non-compliance. The Executive Committee is looking at the recommendations and discussing them to consider any changes needed in the procedures of the monitoring visits.
The Chair introduced Mike Callis, who made a presentation on what is taking place at NEON. Ms. Hill also helped with the presentation. Sally Grose, NEON Board of Directors, said she is very impressed with Mr. Callis and Ms. Hill. However, they should be held accountable.
The Chair said one of the significant changes is that they are able to accept criticism for and are working on correcting their deficiencies.
Ms. Windt asked for a breakdown between child care/Head Start and the rest of the services of NEON. Mr. Callis said it is 60-65% of the agency’s funding. Losing Head Start funding would probably cause them to lose all of their childcare funding. They are changing the culture of the agency, but that takes time.
Mr. Callis asked Ms. Ditrio if she wished to comment. Ms. Ditrio said she has heard very good things. It is important for NEON to retain its image of being an advocate in the community. She has heard good things about Mr. Callis and Ms. Hill and what they are trying to do.
Ms. Avery said that the NEON staff is very low paid and that is where the weakness seems to be. Ms. Hill said some of the teachers have received 50% increases.
The Chair thanked Mr. Callis and Ms. Hill for their presentation.
Mr. Callis said since the Clinton and Bush administrations, a key focus is to partner with other childcare agencies. The Federal government no longer funds Head Start expansions.
CAPACITY COMMITTEE UPDATE/ESTIMATE OF POTENTIAL SPACE NEEDS AND COSTS
Ms. Wilock said much of the attention of the Capacity Committee was put toward working on this document. The State wants to estimate the space needs and what it will cost. Ms. Wilock reviewed the report.
Ms. Sadlon asked if three and four year olds (traditional nursery school) were included in the report, and Ms. Wilock responded affirmatively.
Ms. Wilock said this had been a very interesting exercise.
Ms. Sadlon said there are a number of nursery schools in houses of worship providing three hours a day. Ms. Budrawich said all had been contacted. Ms. Sadlon said it may be the case that some of the preschool children attend outside of Norwalk. The Chair said this has to be looked at more closely – 959(the number of three and four year olds still needing early care and education) is high.
CHEFA
The Chair said there is no information as to whether the application has been accepted. Ms. Wilock said that the application had been forwarded to DSS along with others, according to Mr. Schmidt.
QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
Ms. Wilock said they have their letter of award for the amount expected. They can now start to implement the plan.
KIDS START SMART: THE NORWALK DISCOVERY INITIATIVE
INTRODUCTION OF PARENT OUTREACH COORDINATOR
They are moving to an action stage. Through the United Way, they were able to engage Aida Frese, who will be the facilitator of all community efforts for outreach. She will be meeting everyone in the community with parent outreach efforts. She will be the communicator of the parent perspective.
The Chair said they are working on developing a tightly focused work plan to explain themselves to the community, focusing on what is to be done. She distributed “Guiding Principles for Kids Start Smart Collaborative” and reviewed it. She said that potentially by January, after input is received, this could be adopted. Ms. Budrawich said there is potentially a very strong role for this Council to help to implement the identified community goals.
Ms. Balaban asked who makes up the collaborative. The Chair said it consists of herself, Mayor Knopp, the Superintendent of Schools, the United Way and a parent as part of the Graustein Initiative. It expanded to include the Healthy Families Collaborative, the Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Scullane and the Human Services Council. Ms. Budrawich said participation has been open all along. Betsy Bain and Ms. Peniston are co-chairs of the Collaborative. The Chair said that Graustein is very proud of Norwalk.
Ms. Ditrio asked if it was appropriate to look at the State coordinated effort to see if there is any overlap. The Chair said they have tried to be cognizant of what happens at the State level.
Ms. Peniston said this (early care and education) is an area that Governor Rell wants to shine in. “Kids Starting Smart” is not intending to tell anyone how to do their business or be a policy setting mechanism. Kids Start Smart is a coordinating body that helps to avoid duplication and inefficient use of resources.
The Chair said that Ms. Budrawich and Ms. Wilock had attended the Connecticut Network of School Readiness Council meeting and CCM (CT Conference of Mayors) has a task force on early childhood education.
More detailed conversation about early childhood initiatives around the state will take place at the January meeting.
Ms. Sadlon said they don’t have City-wide data with which to make their decision. The data is there but it is not being collected. There is a huge achievement gap in Norwalk and no one is discussing it. She wants this to be on the agenda in January. The Chair said there is a subcommittee on data in “Kids Start Smart”. Ms. Peniston asked Ms. Sadlon to join her committee; they will report back in January.
APPROVAL OF SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS
VOTE FOR APPROVAL
HOURS OF OPERATION
** MS. DITRIO MOVED APPROVAL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
** MS. DITRIO MOVED APPROVAL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
FIRST READING: Continuation of School Readiness Funding
Ms. Budrawich reviewed the proposed revised policy. This has been discussed at the Provider meeting. Ms. Wilock noted that the State requires an open bidding process. Ms. Carey said she has not received any e-mail input from the providers.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
TRANSITION
Ms. Smart, reporting for Ms. Scullane, stated that there were a total of 100 preschool and “K” teachers in attendance at the Building Bridges Conference, which was a success. There were over 60 parents at the Parent Workshop presented by Scott Noyes. She is currently working on the Kindergarten orientation package for parents and she is distributing the “K” Orientation Booklets to preschool programs.
UPDATES (CONT’D)
FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT
Ms. Budrawich said they received this grant for a mental health consultation initiative in the amount of $25,000. They have been implementing this grant. She is submitting their interim report. They have collaboration with Mid Fairfield Child Guidance. Dr. Melanson has been providing mental health consultation services. On November 3rd, there was a workshop that 23 early childhood providers attended. All center-based early care and education providers can avail themselves of these services.
Ms. Schilling mentioned the Yale study. Ms. Rayment said this is a partnership that she works for. They are collaborating to do an evaluation of intervention for social and emotional issues. Yale will provide assessment of classrooms. They will be providing programs with an incentive program. Her partnership is the research tool. It is free and an opportunity for programs throughout the State. Ms. Smart has sent this notice out to all providers.
OTHER
Ms. Avery said that Mary Ann Zacardi would be at Barnes & Noble on December 7th to discuss choosing great literature and encouraged everyone to stop by.
Ms. Ditrio said that the Hartford-area Collaborative was involved in an initiative regarding The Creative Curriculum.
Ms. Budrawich asked about including regional updates on the agenda. The Chair said they should be sent to Ms. Smart so that she can distribute them.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services
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