Regular Meeting of the Missouri Head Start Association Board of Directors
February 4, 2008

Roll Call conducted by sign in sheet
                       
Members Present
Linda Bleything (DCS)                                      
Pam LaFrenz (MVCAA)                                     
Ann Smith (SCMCAA)                                       
Erica Hinton (GHSH)
Gabbie Hodgkiss (DAEOC)                              
Kathy Nicholson (DCS)
Lynn Cantrell (SCMCAA)                                   
Veronica Woolfolk (GHSH)
Harriet Jones (DAEOC)                                     
Claudia Ryan (OAI)
Margie Goss (OAI)                                            

Ex-Officio Members Present

Shawntay Myers, MOCOH                                 
Holly Otto, DSS, CD, ECPS
Donna Veatch, MHSA                                       
April Noe, The Donna Veatch Group, LLC
Carolyn Stemmons, MHSSCO                           
Stacey Owsley, MHSSCO

Members Absent
Dave Leyland (CAP St. Joseph)

Call to Order
Pam LaFrenz, MVCAA, MHSA President called the meeting to order. Members were asked to introduce themselves and share something with the group that is new or good in the last 2 weeks.  Pam asked for changes/additions to the agenda. Hearing none the agenda stands as submitted.

Minutes
Minutes of the December 2007 meeting were reviewed. Kathy Nicholson, DCS moved, Erica Hinton, GHSH, second, to approve minutes as presented. Motion carried.

Financial Report
A recommendation was made by the Board to liquidate the MHSA laptop computer through a bid process. The information regarding the computer would be distributed via the director’s listserv and available for purchase by dues paying agencies only.  April Noe, DVG presented the financial report.  Ann Smith, SCMCAA, moved, Harriet Jones, DAEOC, second. Motion carried.

Election of Officers
President: Nominations are accepted from the floor. Claudia Ryan nominated Pam LaFrenz. Kathy Nicholson called for nominations to cease. Motion passed.

Vice-President: Nominations are accepted from the floor. Lynn Cantrell nominated Ann Smith. Claudia Ryan moved, Erica Hinton second nominations to cease. Motion passed.

Secretary: Nominations are accepted from the floor. Lynn Cantrell nominated Kathy Nicholson. Margie moved, Harriet second for nominations to cease. Motion passed. Election by unanimous consent.

Treasurer: Nominations are accepted from the floor. Kathy nominated Harriet Jones. Erica moved Lynn second nominations cease. Motion passed. Election by unanimous consent.

Parliamentarian: Veronica Woolfolk , GHSH, self-nominated. Claudia Ryan, OAI, moved to accept nomination, Harriet Jones, DAEOC, second. Motion passed.

Partner Reports (Action Items)

MHSSCO: Stacey Owsley shared a brief oral report

• No action items

• The new Reauthorization legislation has expanded the role of the collaboration office and MHSSCO will have a call week of April 11 for Directors to explain and share information on new mandates. Announcement will go out on HS Directors Listserv.

• Traditionally the MHSSCO and MHSA have had a strong relationship. With Reauthorization this significance will be heightened.

Executive Services Report: Donna Veatch reporting (*)

• Ms. Veatch attended the NHSA Leadership Institute in Washington DC last week. Pat Brown., OHS & staff members were on hand to talk about Reauthorization. One of the main focuses of MHSA’s for 2008 will be to support programs through the changes and mandates resulting from Reauthorization.

• The federal budget appropriations process is a huge legislative priority.  A packet of information has been prepared and will be shared with member paying programs regarding the breakdown of changes in reauthorization and appropriations as we know it today according to Ted Waters, Attorney for NHSA.

• Kristen Donze, MVCAA, R7HSA & NHSA Parent Representative and Donna Veatch made Hill visits last week in Washington, DC. All visits were positive. Information was shared at each visit stressing the unfunded mandates written into Head Start Reauthorization. Legislators were asked to support funding from Congress to support the mandates in order to ensure the quality of Head Start remains intact.

• Frank Fuentes, OHS made a formal request to participants at the recent NHSA Leadership Conference regarding the proposed State Training System. The Board was asked to consider the state training system and why and if MHSA should consider responding to an upcoming RFP for the position of being considered the lead agency for this effort.

• Kathy Nicholson, DCS, shared that as a parent educator she feels that MHSA should be the core of this effort. It needs to be this agency – an organization that knows the intricate INS & outs of Head Start. Ms. Veatch shared that Region VII Head Start Association will host the upcoming Coordinated Training Think Tank to discuss the state training system as well as how an association should be positioned to respond to this effort.

• It was noted that Directors Networking calls have been scheduled throughout the year and a request for input has been sent out to the director’s listserv. Those calls will include a featured topic or issue open for discussion.

Unfinished Business

• MHSA will continue to recruit a Friend representative to fill the vacant 2 year position.

New Business

• 2008 Legislative Priorities

• Stacey Owsley, MHSSCO, shared the working document re: Missouri Coordinating Board for Early Childhood 2008 Legislative and Administrative Interests.

• Elaine West, MACA, Executive Director has requested information regarding the MHSA legislative priorities.

• Information was heard regarding the volume of paperwork which is required for Accreditation. It was noted that some of the required documentation required by QRS is duplicative. Completing the paperwork is duplicative and time consuming and presents a burden to programs.

• The Family Development Credential is being offered? The following information is still not clear at this time: will college credit be offered with the credential? How does this credential fit into reauthorization requirements? There is also legislation with Parents as Teachers for credentialing home visitors. Question, How will this impact or relate to reauthorization?

• AEYC-MO recently released a position statement regarding Universal Pre-K, QRS, and Child Care Subsidy.

• Discussion was heard regarding the Region VII Children’s Champion state award. Kathy Nicholson, DCS, moved to nominate Deborah Scott, Director of Missouri Dept. of Social Services for the MO award. Harriet Jones, DAEOC, second. Motion carried. Stacey Owsley, MHSSCO will assist with application. Region VII will send out letters notifying state champions with an invitation to attend the opening session of the RVII Annual Leadership Conference.

• Pam LaFrenz, MVCAA, reported that Mike Able, President AEYC-MO called and reported that the AEYC-MO Board has accepted the breakdown in payments to the two partnering agencies for the Early Childhood Summit. Ms. LaFrenz requested a letter be sent to the association office for issuance of a check to AEYC-MO according to the conference financial report.

QRS Presentation, Denise Mauzy, OPEN
Ms. Mauzy presented an update on the current status of QRS in MO. Ms. Mauzy also explained that she is seeking sign on support of statewide organizations for the QRS effort. The following information regarding QRS was discussed:

• Changes in QRS since first introduced include: a process with other national organization to streamline the forms across the programs and avoid duplication of work, etc. Childcare program’s goal will be tied to subsidize funding.  QRS is no longer introduced as mandated, however, if your organization receives state quality dollars you would have to participate. QRS is designed as an accountability system. Linda Bleything, DCS, made motion to sign as an endorser of QRS and sign the letter of endorsement requested of Ms. Mauzy... Kathy Nicholson, DCS second to endorse QRS Sign-On letter. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, April Noe, The Donna Veatch Group, LLC