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Minutes

KANSAS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (KWIP) COUNCIL
June 22, 2001
Flint Hills Technical College
3301 W 18th Street, Emporia, Kansas

Council Members in attendance: Ed Berger, Rick Beyer, Karin Brownlee, Gerald Cook, Val DeFever, Eddie Estes, Dave Foster, Dannette Jackson, Jim Kessler, Larissa Long, Marie Mareda, Tim McNally, Dwayne Peaslee, Lynn Peterson, Donna Roush, Alicia Salisbury, Candy Shively, Jack Strukel and staff, Barb Reavis

Guests: Pat Anderson, KBOR; Dale Barnum, SRS; Steve Baru, Local Area III; Kelvin Batten, TeleTech; Liz Boesche, Flint Hills Technical College; David Brennan, Local Area II; Sue Choens, Butler CCC; Armand Corpolongo, KDHR; Ardie Davis, Dept. on Aging; Dale Davis, Emporia Chamber of Commerce; Sam Demel, S.E.R.; Ron Donner, KDHR; Tim Downs; Randy Fisher, KDHR; Glenn Fondoble, Local Area I; David Gaither, USDOL; Sarah Gilbert, Local Area IV; Julie Govert-Walter, Flints Hills AAA; Nancy Guthrie, Local Area I; Sandra Hazlett, SRS; Connie Hubbell, Dept. on Aging; Steve Jack, KDHR; Kris Kitchen, Local Area II; Keith Lawing, Local Area IV; Bob Lininger, SW AAA; Dave McEachern, KDHR; John McLoughlin, KDHR; Denise Miller; Paul Osborn, KBOR; Jon Pettus, KDHR; David Reyes, KETCH; Chuck Scott, Flint Hills Tech. Coll.; Rebecca Scott, Cowley CCC; John Shipley, USDOL; Linda Sorrell, SRS; Shirley Spittles, Flint Hills AAA; Jim Stowell, KDHR; Maureen Toll, Salina WFC; Jason Warren, TeleTech; Linda Weaver, KDHR

In the absence of KWIP Chair Ken Bell, Vice-Chair Cook called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Chuck Scott, incoming President of Flint Hills Technical College, welcomed the group to the campus. He acknowledged the efforts of Steve Griffin, KDHR, and Jim Kessler, KWIP member in setting up the meeting. Scott told attendees the National Teachers Hall of Fame induction ceremony would be occurring that weekend, for any that could stay.

Cook introduced new KWIP members Long and McNally and returning KWIP member Salisbury. In addition, he recognized Steve Jack's transition from a position shared by Kansas Departments of Commerce and Housing (KDOCH) and Department of Human Resources (KDHR) to being on the payroll exclusively of KDHR.

Self-introductions were offered from the balance of the attendees. Cook led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes from March 23, 2001 were approved following a Peaslee/Mareda motion.

Cook offered the time set aside for Chair's Report for announcements. David Reyes, KETCH, announced that two KWIP representatives and up to two individuals from each local area may attend at no charge the July 17 & 18 conference called "Putting the Pieces Together, Integrating People with Disabilities Into the Workforce System."

Weaver and Donner presented background and recommendations for the definition of "substantially met performance" which the Workforce Investment Act requires the state workforce board (KWIP in Kansas) to define. Local Area comments had been considered in the recommendations. KWIP members raised questions about whether the recommended standards of having to meet delivery of service to ten or more customers on 10 of the 17 performance measures was sufficient. Another question arose about whether meeting 60% and 70% respectively, in the first two years of implementation sets the standard of excellence KWIP and the state would want. Since a decision was not required by June 30 but needs to be resolved as soon as possible, the issue was referred to KWIP's Quality Task Force. A Strukel/Peaslee motion was approved to work with Local Areas, Weaver and Donner and report back at KWIP's September meeting on recommendations for "substantially met performance."

Reavis reported the Conference Task Force is on track for an event October 17 and 18 in Wichita. All primary speakers have been confirmed. Since KWIP is planning this event in response to a request for training from Local Areas, it seems appropriate KWIP subsidize the costs as opposed to soliciting from businesses. An Estes/Mareda motion was approved to dedicate up to $14,000 of the funds previously held for marketing to use for keeping conference costs affordable for participants.

Reavis reported for the Marketing Task Force that a communication firm, Fleishman-Hillard, has been hired. Representatives from Fleishman-Hillard met with a few Task Force members on June 14. Notes from that meeting will be shared with all Task Force members and a conference call is scheduled for June 26 to build on the results from the first meeting.

Osborn read the charge to the Quality Task Force. He reported the Task Force had the following four recommendations:

• KWIP should view one of their roles as the leader for continuous improvement for the Workforce Network of Kansas.
• KWIP should apply for the Level One Kansas Award for Excellence next year.
• In addition to encouraging Local Area Boards to apply for KAE next year, KWIP should encourage Partner Agency employment and training programs and one-stop career centers to apply for Level One Kansas Award for Excellence.
• KWIP should seek applicant training from KAE for the Workforce Network of Kansas as a body.

The recommendations were approved following a Kessler/DeFever motion.

Cook reported for the Leadership Team.

• Funding for the activities of KWIP will come from the WIA's allowed Fifteen- Percent State Set Aside. In addition, KDHR has identified $500,000 that KWIP could use for allowable activities. The Leadership Team will meet and gather input from interested parties about the best use of those funds and report back to the September KWIP meeting.
• Members present were directed to meet with peers from the sectors they represent (business, government, education, labor, community based organization) to select Leadership Team members and alternates. Caucus groups reported their chosen members:
• Ken Bell, Chair (automatic)
• Gerald Cook, Vice-Chair (automatic)
• Jerry Hiatt, Business representative
• Dave Foster, Business alternate
• Rick Beyer, Government representative
• Robert Knight, Government alternate
• Val DeFever, Education representative
• Ed Berger, Education alternate
• Dwayne Peaslee, Labor representative
• Norm Scott, Labor alternate
• Marie Mareda, Community based organization representative
• Jerry Hiatt, Community based organization alternate
  The roster for Leadership Team for FY 2002 was adopted following a Peterson/DeFever motion.

• Reavis briefly described the white paper she had crafted to support Bell's vision of a cradle-to-grave approach to workforce invest. Members present offered feedback on the paper titled, Kansas: The State with 2020 Vision. Reavis will incorporate suggestions made which include strengthening the statement on quality day care and Parents as Teachers, adding a recommendation for research and the development of a statewide employment plan, adding a recommendation for a policy to encourage older worker participation, making a tie between child care and apprenticeships, making child care an economic development issue, trying to address the teacher shortage. Concern was expressed about recommending additional groups be formed and preference given to directing existing groups to achieve goals through partnering and non-duplication of tasks. Reavis thanked members for feedback and promised copies would be available for non-KWIP members to review once KWIP members have finalized the paper and their recommendations.

Cook rearranged the agenda slightly and asked McEachern to report of the status of Kansas Job Link, the electronic job search and service database of the Workforce Network of Kansas.

• Based on expenditures to date, the cost per transaction on kansasjoblink.com is $.75 and dropping.
• On August 1st statistical information from Labor Market Information Services will be integrated into the system.
• Problems with speed have been noted and are being addressed to triple the current capacity.
• KDHR has terminated the agreement with the consultants, Accenture (formerly Anderson), and now has total responsibility for the system. Current estimates are that it will cost less than $1M annually to maintain the system.
• KDHR has actively recruited other states to be a part of America's Job Link Alliance. Those that have joined so far are Ohio, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Vermont, Missouri, Arizona, Texas and Massachusetts. This alliance has leveraged over $2.5M from USDOL to develop the Alliance and then to help new states and bring Unemployment Insurance claims into the online service.
• User groups have formed to gather feedback about Job Link and Service Link.
• It is planned to fully integrate Unemployment Insurance claims online incrementally but late Winter or early Spring.
• By the end of March, Kansas Job Link should be fully accessible to people with disabilities. The State standards are higher than federal standards for this issue.
• Outstanding issues include beginning to press partners to use the service and accessibility must be solved.

Cook excused himself to return to Salina and asked the group to allow Reavis to facilitate the balance of the meeting.

Gaither announced $185M is available in H1B grants to Local Areas. These are funds generated through applications for H1B visas and targeted toward furthering education for high technology and dislocated workers to be licensable or receive certification. The point of contact is Lance Potts, USDOL in the Kansas City office.

Fondoble reported for Local Area I and presented copies of materials Westco present to the Local Workforce Investment Board as well as samples of training materials used with One Stop Operators.

Kitchen reported for Local Area II. One Stop Centers opened in Lawrence and Manhattan in April, making their total of five centers in operation in the area. They have been providing customized training for employers.

Baru reported for Local Area III. A Strategic Planning Retreat is set for Local Area III on July 20 and 21, using John Metcalf and Nina Babich. They want to engage private members in the process and will invite KWIP members from the area.

Sorrell reported for Local Area IV. Samples of their graphic artist's design for a logo were passed around. The Alliance has approved a consortium of Butler County Community College, Cowley County Community College, KDHR and the City of Wichita to be operator for the system. Three one-stops will be established in Local Area IV: Eldorado, Strother Field and at the KDHR office in Wichita. The Alliance has incorporated and is becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Stowell reported for Local Area V. Reavis delayed his report long enough to read an excerpt from Jerry Hiatt, complimenting Stowell and Pettus and their staff on their response to the Downsizing at Cessna. Stowell then reported they are reviewing bylaws, updating their structure and considering a name change. Their board is already a 501(c)(3). They are working with youth activities. They have an adult mentoring component with certified instructors who were involved before as summer volunteers--delivering basic math, reading and life skills.

Reavis adjourned the meeting at approximately 2:00 p.m. Members able to stay participated in an informative tour led by Jenny Ripple of Flint Hills Technical College.