HOME

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (WDB)

Of Genesee and Shiawassee Counties

Meeting Minutes

Sarvis Conference Center

1231 E. Kearsley Street

Flint , MI   48503

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

10:15 a.m.

PRESENT:   Michael Zelley, Marilyn Allor, Harry Blecker, Edward Donovan, Lewis Driskell, Erik Eastman, Robert Hardy, Suzanne Howell, Kevin Keane, Jimmy King, Ivan Love, Vera Perry, Jerry Ragsdale, Gary Smith, Mary Sumpter, and Benjie Williams

ABSENT:  Cheryl Gifford (excused), Margaret Gulick (excused), Alan Hartter (excused), Willie W. Middlebrooks (excused), David Miller (excused), Lawrence E. Moon (excused), Cheryl Peterson (excused), Khalil Saab (excused), Sheryl Thompson (excused), and Katie Wolf (excused)

STAFF PRESENT:   Pamela Loving, QB Pittman, Lila Lipscomb , John Rhymes , Sharon Bowen, Craig Coney , Nichole Taylor, Tanesha Malone , Carol Piesko , Peggy Kendrick , William Hetchler, Debbie Rose , Kim Etheridge, Tammy Irving , Helen Brown, Koya Murphy, Brenda Thomas ,  Marilyn Manning, Edythe Brown, Michelle Buckner, Audra Moore, David White, John Howell, Nancy Osipo-Peera, Janet Haggard, and Martres Brown

OTHERS PRESENT:  Peter Goodstein and Mike Tanner

I.                   Meeting called to order at 10:26 a.m.

II.                PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

Mr. Benjie Williams, who resigned from the Board, was presented with special memorabilia.  He expressed gratitude to CAI staff and board members and also introduced Ms. Cunesha Sanders, new Center Director.

III.             ACTION ITEMS:

A.     Election of Officers for 2007:  Mr. Kevin Keane presented the following recommendations from the Nominating Committee for the election of officers for 2007:

Chair:                    J. Michael Zelley
Vice Chair            Lewis Driskell

Treasurer:            Jimmy King

Secretary:             Katie Wolf

The nomination was repeated three times and a motion was made by Mr. Jerry Ragsdale and supported by Mr. Robert Hardy.

                        MOTION PASSED

B.     Approval of WDB Minutes of September 22, 2006:  A motion to approve the minutes of September 22, 2006, was made by Mr. Ivan Love and supported by Mr. Ragsdale.

MOTION PASSED

C.     Appointment of EAG Alternate:  A motion to appoint Renita Mikolajczyk, President of Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce to the EAG, replacing Marsha Lyttle, was made by Mr. Jimmy King and supported by Mr. Love.

      MOTION PASSED

IV.              PRESENTATION:

A.     New Plans for the Flint Schools:  Ms. Linda Thompson, Executive Director of School Transition, addressed the drop out rate in the Flint Schools and the high school reform where 7^th through 12^th grade students are housed in one facility.  She outlined the changes Dr. Milton, Superintendent, has proposed for better student performance and success rates. 

V.                 PARTNER UPDATES:

A.     MDLEG Rehabilitation Update:  Ms. Sue Howell discussed the partnership of the Department of Human Services (DHS) with the JET Program. 

B.     Department of Human Services Update:  no report

C.     EAG Update:  Mr. Gary Tower discussed Automation Alley and the drop design.  He spoke of new state academic standards saying that without the integration of Tech Ed into those standards that there could be a possibility of losing their programs.  He asked the community to send support letters to the state.

VI.              PRESIDENT’S UPDATE:  Ms. Loving stated that adults now have access to Career Cruising and thanked Gary Tower who first brought this before the Board.  She discussed the YouthBuild initiative, the Microsoft Grant and the Mott Foundation contribution of $125,000 toward the YouthBuild initiative.  She discussed the representatives from Tokyo visiting CAI and commended the staff for doing an exceptional job.

CHAIR’S UPDATE:  Mr. Zelley discussed the retreat with David Bradley and Ed Donovan.  He touched upon the YouthBuild project and the Mott Foundation contribution.  He discussed the end of the ODEP Grant after three years.  Mr. Zelley stated that CAI was awarded the Navigator Grant.  He also informed members that Washington was abuzz with the change in leadership during his attendance at the National Association of Workforce Boards.    

VII.           Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Katie Wolf

________________________________

Ms. Katie Wolf

            Secretary, Workforce Development Board

                                                                        Date: 2/8/07

“Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.  Auxiliary aids and services

 are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.”