Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 24, 2018 – Approved

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING Minutes – Approved

Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. 2536 Countryside Blvd., Suite 500

Clearwater, FL 33763 Members Present: Craig Phillips, Phillip Russell, Jack Geller, Elliott Stern, Marcie Biddleman,

Jennifer Brackney, Faith Bornoff, Joshua Drechsel, Harry Fogle, Ray Hensley, Ellen Lasher, Eric Lynn, Paula MacDonald, Yvonne Malague, Anne Ryan, Nancy St. Arnold and Jackie Lang.

Absent: Comm. Karen Seel, Susan Johnson, Nick Meza, Dr. Shana Rafalski, Erica

Bolline, Lounell Britt, Dr. Ricardo Davis, Celeste Fernandez and Jessica Hooper.

Guests: Bonnie Mettetal, Teri Statton and Nayana Garnica Coalition Staff: Lindsay Carson, Merita Kafexhiu, Patti McAvoy, Angela Loring, Kate

Bauer-Jones and Eva Stoddard

I. CALL TO ORDER Craig Phillips, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Quorum present (14/26) Motion Majority (9/17) 2/3 Vote (12/17)

A. Craig Phillips called for a motion to accept the May 24, 2018 Agenda.

MOTION: Elliott Stern moved to accept the May 24, 2018 Agenda as

presented; seconded by Jack Geller. No further discussion, all in favor; motion carried.

B. Craig Phillips called for a motion to approve the Consent Items.

1. Approval of March 22, 2018 Board Minutes 18.05.01i. 2. Finance Report 18.05.01ii. 3. Program Development Report April 2018 18.05.01iii. 4. Advancement Report 18.05.01iv. 5. SR Provider Enforcement Policy 18.05.01v. 6. VPK Provider Enforcement Policy 18.05.01vi. 7. 2018 Sliding Fee Schedule 18.05.01vii. 8. Antifraud Plan 18.05.01viii. 9. Disposal of Surplus Inventory 18.05.01ix.

10. 2018-19 Budget 18.05.01x.

MOTION: Ellen Lasher moved to approve the Consent Items as presented; seconded by Elliott Stern. No further discussion, all in favor; motion carried.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 24, 2018 – Approved

II. RECOGNITION A. Provider Gold Seal Accreditation

1. Lynda Johnson B. Professional Development Institute (PDI) Degree

1. Carol Johnson A.S. 2. Courtney Houser A.A. 3. Jennifer Schreiber A.A.

III. ACTION ITEMS

A. Florida First Start

MOTION: Elliott Stern made a motion to remove this Action from the table,

placed by Susan Johnson at the last Board of Directors meeting on March 22, 2018. Jack Geller seconded the motion. No further discussion, all in favor; motion carried.

Early Learning Coalitions are required to allocate 1% of the school readiness budget toward quality activities for infant and toddler care. Pinellas allocates $380,408 to infant toddler quality. The coalition must submit a description of its quality activities for infant and toddler early learning with its SR Program plan. (s. 1002.85(2)(d)2., F.S.) A SR Program plan a coalition submits must include a detailed description of the coalition’s quality activities and services for infant and toddler early learning. Coalitions must limit activities to (s. 1002.89(6)(b), F.S.)

Training and technical assistance for school readiness providers and staff on standards and teacher-child interactions specific to infant and toddler children birth to 36 months.

Coalition services provided through contracted agencies or as direct services to providers in their respective areas.

Training and other initiatives that focus on selecting age-appropriate materials, creating developmentally-appropriate environments and using an infant/toddler mental health consultant.

Other infant and toddler quality initiatives identified and approved in the early learning coalition’s school readiness program plan.

Current activities include: 1. The Infant Toddler Program which operates within the Coalition’s

Professional Development department focusing on training and technical assistance for providers and teachers working primarily with children aged 0-3. The Coalition supports the adoption and implementation of approved developmentally appropriate curriculum for infant and toddlers through a series of trainings in addition to the professional development sessions available in alignment with the Florida Birth to 4 Standards.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 24, 2018 – Approved

Right from the Start provides scholarship assistance and coaching to infant and toddler instructors to improve the quality of the learning environment. There are (2) paths that a teacher may take in order to complete credentialing. A. QUEST- prep course (85) hours of coursework in addition to variations of 35 hours as progress towards NCDA through leveraging of TEACH dollars. B. AS degree to begin with the Infant Toddler Certificate (12 credits) through SPC utilizing TEACH Annual cost: $141,408 Annual Impact: 26 infant and toddler teachers; Approximately 156 children

2. The Coalition has a contract with the Pinellas County School Board for

the Florida First Start Program. Florida First Start program is a home visitation program designed to give young children school readiness skills and to give parents strategies to be their child’s first and lifelong teacher. A complete Program Summary is attached. Annual cost: $239,000 Annual Impact: 145 children between the ages of birth to five years from 93 families were served during the 2016-17 program year. Inadequate access to quality infant and toddler care is frequently cited by parents, community partners and a Coalition staff. (Formal study is underway with the Office of Early Learning to explore access to quality).

Lindsay Carson presented an alternative investment for the Infant Toddler Quality funds towards the Right From the Start Provider program addressing the serious lack of capacity for quality infant and toddler care in Pinellas County. A copy of the presentation is attached. On behalf of the Florida First Start Program, the Board heard Public Comments from Bonnie Mettetal and Nayana Garnica. The Board permitted an informal statement from Teri Statton who requested Board consideration to allow a phase out period, if possible, if it was the Board’s decision to discontinue the Florida First Start Program. Ray Hensley opened up Board discussion opposing the Action to discontinue the Florida First Program citing its importance to the families served, especially in the areas where other programs do not reach. Yvonne Malague asked if there had been a discussion regarding phasing out the program as another option than discontinuing at the end of the contract. Lindsay Carson reported there it had not. Ray Hensley asked if ELC was aware of any agencies or programs that might be able to pick up Florida First Start, but not at this time. Further Board discussion revolved around the readiness of the Right From the Start program to begin at the end of the Florida First Start contract and start of the new FY18-19 budget and there would be some staffing and training delays involved per Angela Loring, the Quality Initiative Manager.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 24, 2018 – Approved

RECOMMENDED COALITION ACTION Discontinue the Florida First Start Program effective July 1, 2018 and redirect Infant Toddler Quality funds to support increased capacity and quality in formal early learning settings. MOTION: Ellen Lasher made the motion, seconded by Yvonne Malague to:

Discontinue the Florida First Start Program, effective July 1, 2018, and redirect Infant Toddler Quality funds to support increased capacity and quality in formal early learning settings. The current contract between ELC and Florida First Start Program ends June 30, 2018.

No further discussion; the vote in favor was 9 (Phillips, Russell,

Brackney, Drechsel, Lasher, Lynn, Biddleman, Bornoff and Lang), the vote against was 7 (Hensley, Fogle, MacDonald, Malague, St. Arnold, Ryan and Geller) and 1 abstaining (Stern). The motion required a majority of the voting Directors present, therefore the motion carried.

MOTION: Yvonne Malague made the motion, seconded by Jack Geller to:

Amend the Action to allow time for ELC and Florida First Start to work together on a possible transition plan before the current contract ends June 20, 2018. No further discussion; all in favor, the motion carried.

IV. CEO REPORT

A. CEO Report presented by Lindsay Carson.

Lindsay Carson introduced to the Board, Kate Bauer-Jones, new Director of Thrive by Five Pinellas initiative. Lindsay Carson also reported the current changes and challenges facing Providers regarding School Readiness Rates. The ELC Clearwater office continues to have building issues regarding, leaking windows, regulation of air conditioning and possibly air quality, as well. Lindsay Carson has requested Counsel to review the current Lease for resolution with the Landlord.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 24, 2018 – Approved

V. DISCUSSION

A. PreK 5K Readiness Run Results

Mary Burns reported a Race profit of $7,355 and presented a video to the Board highlighting the participants and activities from the day’s event.

VI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

A. Herald Tribune Article B. Public Meeting Notices

1. Remaining Committee meeting dates for FY 17-18 2. Proposed Board and Committee meeting dates for FY 18-19

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

In accordance with the Florida Government in the Sunshine, all meetings of the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc. and its committees are open to the public. Those in attendance who wish to address the Coalition must submit a public comment card to the recorder prior to addressing the Coalition.

VII. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. 2536 Countryside Blvd., Suite 500 Clearwater FL 33763

__________________________July 26, 2018 ________ _________________ Craig Phillips, Chair Date Jack Geller, Secretary Date