Workforce Network of Kansas

WORKFORCE NETWORK OF KANSAS BOARD
January 24, 2002
Board of Regents, Board Room
1000 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, Kansas

Council Members in attendance: Ken Bell, Ed Berger, Rick Beyer, Karin Brownlee, Gerald Cook, Val DeFever, Eddie Estes, Dave Foster, Dannette Jackson, Jim Keele, Jim Kessler, Lloyd Lavin, Larissa Long, Marie Mareda, Shirley Martin-Smith, Tim McNally, David Moore, Dwayne Peaslee, Lynn Peterson, Candy Shively, Curt Stephens, Jack Strukel, Jack Wempe, and staff Barb Reavis

Guests: Pat Anderson, KBOR; Steve Baru, Local Area III; Liz Boesche, Adult Education; David Brennan, Local Area II; Sue Choens, Butler County Workforce Development Center; Armand Corpolongo, KDHR; Tim Cotter, Local Area IV; Ardie Davis, KDOA; Beverly Davis, Butler CCC; Jim DeCoursey, Local Area II; Diane Dykstra; Randy Fisher, KDHR; Glenn Fondoble, Local Area I; Dick Gabriel, KDHR; Sarah Gilbert, Local Area IV; Dianne Glass, KBOR; Gladys Groves, Allen CCCC; Nancy Guthrie, Local Area I; Michelle Harvey, Allen CCC; Paul Hobleman; Robert Hull, CPRF; Steve Jack, KDHR; Clark Jacobs, Hutchinson Workforce Center; Randy Kettler; Kris Kitchen, Local Area II; Jerry Lonergan, KDHR; George McAtee, KDHR; John McLoughlin, KDHR; Mike O-Hara, KDHR; Paul Osborn, Regents; Jon Pettus, KDHR; Kathy Petz; Diedra Powell-Franklin, KSA Alternative School; Linda Ramirez-Gonzalez, KDHR; Al Rolls, KDHR; Vicki Romig, KDHR; John Shipley, USDOL; Linda Sours, Ft. Scott CC; Jim Stowell, KDHR; Maureen Toll, Salina WDC; Linda Weaver, KDHR; Kim Wilcox, Regents

Chair Ken Bell called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Kim Wilcox, Executive Director, Kansas Board of Regents gave a brief welcome to the attendees. Self-introductions were offered from the balance of the attendees. Bell led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes from the November 30 meeting were approved following a Martin-Smith/Mareda motion.

Bell made the Chair's Report. He reviewed the Workforce Network of Kansas vision, mission and guiding principles. The Leadership Team has endorsed these documents. The Leadership Team will undertake responsibilities of strategic planning. Bell asked the Labor representatives to provide an alternate member to the Leadership Team since a vacancy was left with Bill Moore's resignation. Lloyd Lavin was chosen to fill that slot.

Bell noted that while researching on the Internet, he ran across a site, www.dtae.org, with workforce training programs ranked. Kansas ranks 10th in a poll conducted by Expansion Management magazine. These programs are the programs managed David Moore, Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing.

Bell reported that Reavis and Kitchen had testified before the House Business, Commerce and Labor committee and that he is also scheduled to present to that committee on January 30.

Reavis presented the definition for the term workforce development. The Kansas Interagency Resource Network crafted this definition for Workforce Development (KIRNWD) in response to a continuing debate within the Joint Committee on Economic Development. Members of KIRNWD felt it was important to include a list of possible activities that might be used to accomplish the program goals. The definition and list were approved following a Strukel/Keele motion:

Activities that increase employment, retention, earnings, and occupational skill attainment to improve the quality and self-sufficiency of the Kansas workforce and to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the State and National economies.

The following are examples of resources that may be provided to support employment and training activities but are not necessarily exclusive to that use:

Education and Training
registered apprenticeship
adult basic education
assistance applying for financial aid, federal Pell and entitlement grants
basic literacy training
cooperative education
customized training
degree/certification training
GED services
internships
job-specific skill training
on-the-job training
retraining and skill upgrading
vocational/technical education
work experience

Career Planning
assessment services
education and skill requirements for jobs
labor market information
youth career development

Employment Services
electronic job listings
employment counseling
job development, job matching and job placement
job search assistance
labor exchange services
outplacement services
rehabilitation services
screening and referral services

Transition Services
layoff counseling
layoff outplacement services
planning for transition from school to work
relocation assistance
unemployment insurance

Employment Support Services
child care
clothing
court services
domestic abuse counseling
drug abuse rehabilitation services
employee bonding services
glasses and dentures
health care and insurance
housing
job retention services
mentoring services
personal counseling
specialized services for at-risk individuals
substance abuse
tools and equipment
transportation assistance
wage and labor standards

Business/Employer Services
alien labor controls
business and industrial management consultation
business relocation standards
business retention incentives
employer outreach
job skill requirement listings
labor consultation
labor exchange services
layoff aversion services
liability legal consultation
new business attraction incentives
screening and referral services
workplace safety initiatives

Job Readiness Training
budget awareness
independent living skills training
interview techniques
English as a second language training
mentoring services
resume preparation
social skills
work habits
work experience

Bell asked Beyer to update the Board on the Unemployment Insurance ability to handle lay offs and its relationships in Local Areas. Beyer reported that meetings are being scheduled to negotiate with Local Areas, the first one being in Local Area II. Internal negotiations at KDHR are underway as well with the goal of putting a UI staff person in local offices. Beyer explained the challenge in responding to lay offs is within the system. They are prepared to handle 115,000 claims a year. Annualized, the volume currently is nearer 350,000 with probably 70,000 of those occurring since the end of August. Several avenues are available for filing unemployment claims. People being laid off en masse learn through employee meetings. Members pointed out that people being laid off one at a time do not know how to file for benefits.

Osborn reported for the Quality Task Force that all Local Area plans for continuous improvement had been approved and Areas could start spending and being reimbursed. He noted that about 30 people were registered to attend the training to be held January 25 by the Kansas Award for Excellence staff. In addition, the Quality Task Force has asked the Board to develop a definition of success for the Board.

Reavis reported for the Marketing Task Force, briefly discussing the method to be used to protect the logo and Workforce Network of Kansas "brand." The following was approved following a Kessler/Martin-Smith motion.

Workforce Network of Kansas--Protecting the Brand

The Workforce Network of Kansas name and logo were designed to provide unity to a diverse set of state and local services engaged in similar work. Appropriate use throughout five local areas, more than twenty one-stop centers, thirty state programs and six state agencies will reinforce and strengthen the network's identity and image. To insure logo usage by bona fide partners in the Workforce Network of Kansas, the following guidelines are recommended:

Entities encouraged to use the Workforce Network of Kansas logo include:
** Workforce Network of Kansas Board
Local Area Workforce Investment Boards
** Sub-sets of the Local Area Workforce Investment Boards such as Youth Councils, committees or task forces
** Approved one-stop operators
** Service providers with negotiated and signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Area Workforce Investment Board

To maintain control of the logo, the primary source for logo distribution will be the Director of Marketing and Communications, Kansas Department of Human Resources.
** The Workforce Network of Kansas Board, Local Area Boards and Local Area Administrative Entities may get logo decals and supplies directly from the marketing and communications director.
** Approved one-stop operators and service providers may get logo decals and supplies from their respective Local Area Administrative Entities.
** State level partners without local presence but wishing to identify with the Workforce Network of Kansas will make that request of the marketing and communications director. If a question exists concerning whether the requesting program is a bona fide partner, the request will be referred to the Workforce Network of Kansas Leadership Team.

Requests from local service providers for waivers from the established process will be heard by the appropriate Local Area Workforce Investment Board. Other requests for waivers from the established process will be heard by the Workforce Network of Kansas Leadership Team.

Glass provided information about Adult Education, the performance standards for that program and the consequences of not meeting the standards. Legislation for Adult Education and Literacy is also a part of the Workforce Investment Act; it is Title II. Incentive monies to a state are dependent on all programs meeting their standards, not just one program (or Title). Incentives for meeting standards could be as high as $3 million. The Adult Education Act of 1973 was rolled into WIA along with its accompanying performance standards. The Adult Education program implemented data collection system a year in advance of WIA beginning in Kansas. Adult Education met their standards this year but won't be receiving incentive funds since not all WIA Titles met the negotiated standards. This points out another reason programs need to work together and support each other's efforts. Another funding issue for Adult Education has been that a match is required and State General Funds have not been budgeted to provide that match. As a result, about $80,000 will be returned to the Feds this year.

Jack clarified some previous information about WIA, Title I performance standards. Title I is the program about which the WNK Board has heard the most--funding for Adult, Youth and Dislocated Workers services. There are seventeen categories, divided into four separate groupings. Statewide, standards were exceeded in seven categories; five were satisfactory; four were unsatisfactory. Local Areas each met standards in two of the four groupings. The consequences of not meeting standards are that Kansas is not eligible for incentive awards for Program Year 2000. Jack believes some reasons for not meeting the standards include the time spent building the system with one-stops, new equipment, getting the LWIB's in place. The state has requested corrective action plans from Local Areas and will get technical assistance from U.S. DOL.

Wilcox offered a brief description of the current structure of the Regents and their recently completed study. In 1999, the six universities, 19 community colleges, ten technical schools and one municipal university were moved under the supervision and coordination of the Board of Regents. The first effort undertaken in the new structure was to develop a plan. Consultants were hired to conduct a statewide study. The report on the completed study was released November 2001and can be viewed at www.kansasregents.com/downloads/agency/NOREDfinal.pdf. Concepts embodied in the report are that Kansas post-secondary education is doing well. The Board of Regents should be coordinating and dealing with policy, not administration. The Regents should be the group to set priorities, be responsible for educational standards and the effective use of resources, and focus on accountability.

Baru reported for Local Area III. The LWIB has been discussing becoming a 501(c)(3) organization and hiring an Executive Director. He expressed the transition from a Private Industry Council to the Local Workforce Board structure continues. They have hired John Metcalf to assist them. Rolls also reported on bi-state efforts. A group has formed called Kansas City United. It was convened by UMKC and involves the Full Employment Council from the Missouri side and Local Workforce Investment Area III from the Kansas side. More can be learned about their activities at www.kansascityunited.com.

Kitchen updated the group on activities in Local Area II. They have conducted Rapid Response sessions with several companies, including Ottawa Truck, Farmland, Payless and Hills. In addition, they continue to get a number of referrals from the Non-Custodial Parent project. Besides their own board, the Workforce Centers in their Area plan to apply for the Kansas Award for Excellence this year.

Cotter reported for Local Area IV. They have been working with Via Christi Medical Center on an H-1B Visa grant for health care. On January 18, the LWIB selected an organization to do a labor market survey. They are working with the State on a grant application for a National Emergency Grant. Their local CBS television station has begun something with them called the Résumé Cam and their Youth Council is having a brochure printed on child labor laws. The Youth Council is also planning a two week activity next summer for 30 youth called Sum Fun and the City of Wichita will be holding Youth Job Fairs.

Fondoble described activities underway in Local Area I. They are putting a continuous improvement plan in place through out the Area and the one-stops. Their youth program numbers have been low. In the past they have had a summer youth program. Now they are doing specific training for youth counselors. They have seen some manufacturing plant closings but that seems to be slowing down.

Stowell gave the update on Local Area V. They are working on a formal one-stop certification. They have received four letters of intent from within the seventeen county Area. It is expected the Certification Committee will evolve into the Quality Committee. The Pittsburg center will be moving February 18-20 to accomplish collocation.

Under Announcements, Bell invited suggestions for improvement on Board activities. He also reminded members that the National Association of Workforce Board meeting is March 2-4 in Washington, DC. The State Board Chairs' meeting is the week before, also in Washington, DC.

Hull announced some changes have been made to the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation application for the U.S. DOL Work Incentives grant. The WNK Board will be signing as being supportive of their grant application. Goodwill Industries is also applying for these funds which seek to enhance the integration of services to individuals with disabilities.

Strukel spoke about the Mid American Labor Management conference, an annual conference that is typically held in the summer in Missouri. He reported that many participants at that conference serve on workforce boards. Beyer also urged attendance at this conference.

Beyer introduced Jerry Lonergan, a grant writer hired by KDHR for securing funding for workforce development. It was noted the Full Employment Council (Kansas City, MO) has over 40 funding sources that are non-federal.

Having no other business, Bell adjourned the meeting at approximately 1:40 p.m.