March Minutes

March 9, 2010

Early Learning Partnership

Board Meeting Minutes

Attending: Julie Case, Stephen Cox, Ouida Dest, Sylvia Echols, Sue Gover, Laurie Leader, David Lisk, Susan Martoccia, Suzanne Merritt, Susan Roberson, Marc Sosne, Anne Suite, Jim Vining

Staff/Guests Present: Donna Wooldridge, Teresa Creech, Penny Sanders

Stephen welcomed everyone to our monthly ELP meeting and thanked Penny for her hospitality in hosting our meeting.

Stephen and Anne succinctly summarized the latest executive decisions at the Fort Mill School District that may affect ELP, because of financial Julie Durham, our Fort Mill Family Resource Center Director and LEAP AHEAD Parenting Coordinator was notified that LEAP was being eliminated and her staff was being moved to other parts of the district and her position was being eliminated. The night before, Stephen, Anne Teresa, Donna, Julie and others attended the Fort Mill School Board Meeting. David Lisk, First Steps Director, made a statement to the board explaining the directives of the FS grant and the necessity of having a coordinating entity in the Resource Center to work with FS families with PAT, collect, analyze, report, and oversee other state directives of First Steps families and data. Stephen, on behalf of ELP, did the same in terms of keeping the synergy among the 4 FRCs and being accountable to our grantors, especially the accountability and DHEC directives needed for the medical clinic located in the Center. Another Fort Mill administrator reported to the board that she expected all grants and services would stay as is currently. A meeting among David, Stephen and this administrator will be scheduled. Other specific information will remain at board level.

Penny Sanders, York Family Resource Center Director reported on the activities of the Parenting Partnership Program and Family Resource Center. Penny reported that they will be hosting a Parent Day and continue with their monthly teen parent meetings they share with Clover. She still offers story time to her families through collaboration with the York County Library. Parenting Partnerships have activities planned to celebrate the Week of the Child the week of April 1^st. She distributed a handout on a zero to 3 curriculum on Preventing Child abuse and Neglect.

David Lisk, Executive Director of York County First Steps, gave the First Steps report. He shared that First Steps will probably experience more budget cuts and these reductions will not be able to be absorbed by the State. Programs will be affected; particularity literacy programs and direct services. He reported that he is researching the possibility of a Community Literacy Pilot Program. He and his board of directors are also very concerned about the direction the Fort Mill SB is taking with the FMRC and the PAT program they support. Other information stays at board level. He feels like stimulus money will be coming. Child care vouchers will be available for more children; 25-30 children on vouchers through Endowed Scholarship Matching funds of $70,000.

Suzanne Merritt reviewed the February General Ledger, assets and liabilities. This month the board is able to see all of the restricted and unrestricted funds broken down and see balances by program. All assets have been moved and everything is closed at the other bank.

Julie Case updated the board on the Bowl-a-Thon .She and Teresa reported that Teresa will be working with Signs Now to produce the banners for the B-a-T at $19 apiece and the owner will display his company at the gold level. The 2^nd annual Bowl-a-Thon will be held at Strikers on Saturday, May 15^th, from 9-11:30 with registration from 8-9. Each board member is responsible for at least one lane sponsorship and one silent auction item. Teresa has spoken to Kohls and will get a $500 corporate check and volunteers to help with the Bowl-a Thon on that day. Julie has brought in over $2800 to date selling banner sponsorships. Her personal goal is $5000. Let’s all follow her example!!

Teresa Creech reported on the number of children served through the Resource Centers and Medical Clinics for February 2010

Resource Center*		Medical*
Clover	186	19
Fort Mill	1323	40
Rock Hill	1800	89
York	301	50

*Unduplicated

1,131 children were served in the medical clinics from August to March 2010. Teresa reported that she sent a Valentine remembrance to the medical staff as a token for all they do for ELP. She sent the doctors a dinner gift card in appreciation. The Parenting lunch is on the 18^th. Teresa also worked at the #1 Question Fair for the City of Rock Hill on behalf of ELP.

Donna reported that the DPIL is back up to 3366 children. York Rotary donated $2,071 from matching grant written to match donations from York DO employees last year for DPIL. The Clover Rotary donated $1000 from their TV raffle for DPIL. Bank of York sent $135 for the York DO for this year for DPIL. The ELP strategic plan was sent out last month to be looked at in terms of changing an item to reflect more of a literacy component. This will be visited later. Suggestion: Increase school readiness by providing children from birth to 6 with quality literacy experiences)

• County Council Grant due March 5
• United Way due Feb 26-better known as
• ROAR 6 month reports are due on the 31
• Lake Wylie Lioness Club- App for DPIL
• Nurse Practitioner approval for sisters of Mercy Grant due April 1
• Scanpo membership-$300 (see attached) unanimously approved.

Submitted by Donna