Dan Borton, McLaren Hospital

Beverly Brown, GASC Technology Center

Larry Ford, Flint Chamber of Commerce

Sharon Ganssley, Shiawassee RESD

John Hagel, Shiawassee RESD

Rhetta Hunyady, Genesee Regional CC

Jenean Kleinedler, Technical Edge, Inc.

Renita Mikolajczyk, Shiawassee CC

Troy Napier, Baker of Owosso

Brian Pyles, Shiawassee RESD

Gary Tower, Vice Chair, Genesee ISD

 

Others Present:

Chris Bien, Immersive Engineering

Sherry Bradish, Mott Community College

Donna Burmeister, Genesee ISD

Craig Coney, Career Alliance

Jim Driesbach, Immersive Engineering

Lewis Driskell, Career Alliance

Cindy Hodge, Genesee ISD

Matt Pakula, Mott Community College

 

 

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Vice Chair Gary Tower called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.

 

I.                    Introductions

 

All in attendance introduced themselves and their organization.  A special welcome was given to new member Renita Mikolajczyk, who will be replacing Marsha Lyttle.  Renita is the new CEO at the Shiawassee Chamber of Commerce.

 

II.                  Career and Employability Skills Presentation - Immersive Engineering

 

Gary Tower informed the group that Genesee ISD is a member of Automation Alley serving on an educational subcommittee.  Gary introduced Mr. Chris Bien from Immersive Engineering who has developed two web-based software applications related to career preparation.  Chris presented the web-based Career and Employability Skills Assessment Program and also a Career Exploration Portal designed to increase opportunities for business and education to increase career exploration in the community.  A copy of the presentation is available by contacting Cindy Hodge at chodge@geneseeisd.org .

 

III.                Letters of Intent/New CTE Programs

 

Shiawassee County - Brian Pyles reported that a Letter of Intent for an Occupational Child Care program in Owosso was received.  He will submit the letter to the EAG at the December 4 meeting.

 

Genesee County - Gary Tower reported that Letters of Intent have been received from districts for the following programs:

 

GASC Technology Center

Education General - Teacher Cadet

Agriscience changed to Natural Resources

Drafting/Design and Fabrication/Prototype

Medium/Heavy Truck Technician - Diesel

 

Flint Northwestern

Business Administration Management and Operations

Accounting/Finance

 

Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools

Public Safety/Protective Services

Information Technology/Network Administration

CAD Drafting/Design

Building Property Maintenance and Management

 

Gary stated that the Superintendents CTE Committee will also review the LOIs at their October 3 meeting.  The EAG received the Letters of Intent and recommended moving forward in the approval process. 

 

IV.                Career Planning/EDP Updates

 

Donna Burmeister reported that Career Cruising training sessions have taken place for teachers new to the program this year.  Additional training sessions are planned for October and December.  Also, instructors of 8^th grade career classes and 12^th Grade Senior Exit classes met to discuss career planning.  In addition, a Focus Group, comprised of 7^th grade instructors, counselors and administrators, met to discuss new EDP requirements for 7^th grade students.

 

Brian Pyles reported that he and Sharon Ganssley will be attending a Career Cruising presentation tomorrow.  Staff at Shiawassee RESD are scheduled to be trained also.  Donna Burmeister will be assisting Brian in setting Career Cruising standards for his counseling/guidance comprehensive system.  Staff from Shiawassee have just completed the National Career Development Facilitator Training.  A graduation ceremony for them will take place on October 25, 2006.

 

V.                  Perkins and Tech Prep

 

Gary Tower reported that the 2005-06 Career Initiative End-of-year Report and the 2006-07 Career Initiative Plan were both accepted and approved by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth - Office of Career and Technical Preparation.  Funding for Perkins is $1.3 million and $188,000 for Tech Prep.  Funds are used to improve technical programs, provide professional development and support of instructors, and to support special needs.

 

Gary reported that the TRAC On-site Review will take place February 27 - March 1, 2007.  A team from the State will be performing the three-day review.  Staff from Genesee ISD and Shiawassee RESD will be attending a training session in Lansing on Friday, September 29, to prepare for the review.  It is anticipated that the programs selected for review will be named at the training session.  The review process will include student interviews as a part of the teacher accountability piece.

 

Sherry Bradish distributed a list of Tech Prep activities that were held last year and activities planned for the 2006-07 school year.  She reported that Tech Prep received a $5,000 decrease in funding from last year.  The National Tech Prep Network Conference, November 1-4, 2006, Dallas, Texas, should prove beneficial with new accountability measure information.

 

Sherry also reported that Mott Community College and Mott Middle College High School received a five-year $800,000 grant last year for Tech Prep demonstration.  This grant is bringing Tech Prep options to students on both campuses.  Students from the middle college can take programs at the GASC Technology Center or Mott Community College.  The pilot has 15-20 students.  Over 200 high school instructors are also being provided professional development and career awareness.  The Regional Tech Prep Advisory Board is scheduled to meet October 19, 2006.

 

VI.                WIA Updates

 

Genesee ISD and Shiawassee RESD received an equal reduction (42%) in their WIA contract.  Gary Tower reported that Genesee ISD and Shiawassee RESD report no overhead costs for the summer programs.  Positive feedback has been received on the program.

 

Donna Burmeister reported that Genesee County operated a summer program for 35 disabled students, ages 14-18 years, focusing on career and employability skills.  All districts in Genesee County participated with the exception of Flint and Beecher which have their own programs.  The Career Exploration Program included Auto Mechanics, Culinary Arts, Small Business and participation at the GASC Base Camp.  Students developed strong friendships with peers from other districts.  Parents were invited to a culmination ceremony. 

 

Sharon Ganssley, Shiawassee RESD, reported that their summer program, which focuses on work experience, served 24 students.  With a budget cut of 42%, the program was reduced from 144 students last year to 24 students this year.  Also, there were staff layoffs.  A main focus of the program is dropout prevention.  Students are classified as disabled and offenders.  A transition coordinator also assisted students in the program.

 

Troy Napier reported that Baker College of Owosso served 44 students, half the usual number in past years.  There were students who asked to be put on a waiting list.  Every student successfully completed the program.  Attendance was great, and the kids loved the program.  Memorial Health Care provided food for the program.

 

Rhetta Hunyady asked Craig Coney from Career Alliance questions regarding the funding cuts of WIA.  Craig responded that Career Alliance board members have been communicating with congressmen regarding these funding issues.  Brian noted that there are still approximately $1 million not yet allocated to youth WIA programs.  Craig will be sending Brian Pyles documentation.  Craig also mentioned the 21^st Century Initiative.  The goal of this program is to entice students to remain in Genesee County through internship programs.

 

Rhetta also reported that the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce runs a summer program that could also serve WIA youth and partner to better serve special needs students.

 

VII.              Handouts

 

Ø      National School Boards Association Newspaper, School Board NEWS,

“Perkins Act was signed and renewed by President Bush”

 

Ø      High Schools That Work provides framework for reform that includes career preparation programs

 

VIII.            Other Business

 

Gary reported the following results from the 2005-06 12^th Grade Followup Study:

 

Student Data

80%     continued education

56%     are in four-year postsecondary programs

39%     are in two-year postsecondary programs

3.4%    are in apprenticeship/business/trade schools

0.2%    are unemployed

0.1%    are in the military

 

CTE students understand the need for additional career-focused education and training beyond high school.

 

IX.               Meeting Dates for 2006-07

 

Monday, December 4, 2006, 8:00 a.m., Baker College of Owosso

Monday, March 12, 2007, 8:00 a.m., Broome Center, Flint

Monday, May 7, 2007, 8:00 a.m., Broome Center, Flint

 

 

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approval of Minutes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. M. Richard Shaink, Co-Chair, EAG                                      (Date)

 

 

 

 

Mr. Tim Herman, Co-Chair, EAG                                                (Date)

 

 

 

MRS/TH:ch