August 9, 2010
Early Learning Partnership
Board Meeting Minutes
Attending: Jim Vining, Stephen Cox, Sylvia Echols, Tom Faulkenberry, Suzanne Merritt, Sue Gover, Anne Suite, Dan Holloway, Laurie Leader, Jean Marshall, Lauren Powell, Mark Sosne, Jane Turpin
Staff/Guests Present: Donna Wooldridge, Teresa Creech, Cindy Hunt,
Karen Hill
Stephen welcomed everyone to the monthly ELP board meeting and thanked Cindy Hunt for hosting us.
Sylvia introduced the new board members: Dan Holloway, a returning board member and pastor of Unity Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill; Lauren Powell, President of the Junior Welfare League from Rock Hill; John Gettys, attorney from Rock Hill (not present); and George Gessner, President, Research Resources International (not present). She also introduced Karen Hill, who will be the Literacy Coordinator and administrative staff since Hannah Gregory will be doing her student teaching this semester. Sylvia shared a recent article from The Herald. Kids Count reports that South Carolina is ranked 45th in the nation for children’s well-being. There is still a lot of work to do to have children ready for school and subsequently for life. Despite continuing local efforts, we continue to rank higher than only 5 other states. The article discusses the role of the #1 Question in this community and its goal to involve businesses, civic groups, and others in the community in understanding the importance of child development and school readiness.
The Junior Welfare League has been a great supporter of ELP, both financially and by providing volunteers for many of our programs and resource centers.
JWL has decided to retire The Tapestry Cookbook. There are 4000 copies left. They will be sold at the event and many of the artists that participated in the creation of the book will be available for signing a new copy. The party is being planned for early November at the White Home. Admission will be $35 a person or $50 a couple and will be catered. Lauren hopes to have food and drink donated so more proceeds from the Tapestry Retirement Party can come to ELP. JWL is asking ELP board members to help promote the event and sell tickets.
Sylvia made a motion that ELP pay the $750 for the rental of the White Home. The motion was seconded and carried.
Cindy reviewed the annual report for the Rock Hill Resource Center. The report included the number of children and families served last year in programs through home visits and parent groups, the number of at- risk families and children identified and served, as well as, special activities and new initiatives. She reported that the annex across the street is for sale. First Steps of York County will relocate
to the Resource Center. They hope to be opening a new exam room soon for
the new Nurse Practitioner to see patients. An infant room will be added for parents who are in GED or ESL classes at the Center.
August 28 is the SummerFest Festival in York. First Steps, the Resource Centers and ELP will be represented and have information about programs and services. She distributed a signup sheet for anyone interested in volunteering to be at the booth that day. It is difficult to staff all the back to school events that are happening around the county that day including the Library, Earth Fare and Northside Baptist to name a few.
Suzanne reviewed the June and July financial reports. Amounts are as follow:
YTD June 2010 $241,260.84 Total Assets and Total Liabilities & Capital
$356,321.32 Total Revenue
$350,994.35 Total Expenses
$ 5,326.97 Net Income
July 2010 $293,752.69 Total Assets and Total Liabilities & Capital
$64,060.00 Total Revenue
$11,568.15 Total Expenses
$ 52,491.85 Net Income
Steven reviewed the 2010-2011 budget, going over the programs and financial needs/financial resources. He reviewed the SCANPO report as a way of salary review. Donna is slightly under average, and this was discussed. A bonus as opposed to raise was approved for Donna and Teresa. A motion was made and carried unanimously for a $1500 bonus for Donna and a $500 bonus for Teresa. The budget was approved with Total Revenue equal to $378,700 (including $30,000 for Other Income which is being pulled from “Cash Reserves”), Total Expenses of $378,566, and Net Income reflecting $134.
Cindy reported for First Steps in David Lisk’s absence. ELP will receive $8000 for the medical management fee as in the previous year. First Steps is having a cookout Thursday evening for their Countdown to Kindergarten families. They are expecting
about 300 in attendance. The event will be held at Manchester Meadows. First Steps is in the early stages of exploring a Nurse Family Partnership grant. They would partner with Chester, and Lancaster, along with some tribal money, for a second nurse practitioner. FS has a partnership with Earth Fare from July through September. On the second Thursday of the month, children can have a free meal.
Teresa reported on the activities of the Resource Centers and Medical Clinics - 1623 people were seen in all of the clinics during the 20092010 school year. 32,000 people were seen in the Resource Centers last year. She and Donna distributed and reviewed the 2008-2009 annual report. Any board member who would like to take annual reports to share with groups or funders about ELP, may contact Donna. The Children’s Attention Home needs luggage for the children to use when they leave the Home.
Dr. Steve Oehme, a substitute doctor, lost his mother recently. If you would like to send a note of sympathy, his address is 524 Teal Court, Rock Hill, SC 29732.
Teresa proposed a slogan to go along with the ELP logo that best describes what we do - “Ready to Read, Healthy to Learn”. The board unanimously voted to have that added to the logo package.
Donna went over a change in the Strategic Plan. The board unanimously voted to change the strategic plan to reflect our current objectives.
Increase school readiness by providing children from birth to 6 with quality literacy experiences
The Sisters of Mercy granted ELP $62,000 for a nurse practitioner to increase patient access to the medical clinics, available both in the mornings and afternoons. This person can treat and write prescriptions. Target awarded a $2000 grant to ELP for Reach Out and Read. The Junior Welfare League gave ELP $1500 in proceeds from the cookbook. Dr. Vernon Prosser made a donation to Dolly Parton in memory of one of his board members. A Duke Endowment site visit is set for September 14th after our next board meeting in York. We will know in November if we will receive funding for a nurse and clerk, along with other support funds for the clinics.
3260 children are currently enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Strikers bowling alley is having a school supply drive for resource center children. Donna updated the Board on the current situation in Fort Mill. She met with Ann Bogan and the head of the school nurses, Robin Brown. Agreements were made on various responsibilities. Ann agreed to buy a dehumidifier for the FM clinic because of the moisture problem and its affect on medicines etc.(she bought 2) and she has secured Wifi access for the clinic to receive data on patients and other immediate information at her expense. Robin Brown is located at the FM Resource Center and is checking medications 2x a day and logging per DHEC standards. The staff at the clinic seems to be doing well and seeing a lot of patients. The volunteer interpreters and receptionist are back in the Center working every Wednesday. Ellen Crouch, a home visitor, will be meeting with ELP staff and the other RC coordinators and assume the role, in terms of some participation from FMRC in ELP activities and services i.e. Born To Read, Coordinator meetings, left vacant by the departure of the Fort Mill Resource Center Director and LEAP Ahead Coordinator, Ms. Julie Durham. Herald insert, Rejuvenate Magazine featured a picture of the winning team of the Bowl-a-thon benefitting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library held last May. Our own Sue Gover’s husband was pictured.
