EXECUTIVE COMITTEE MEETING
March 17, 2016
Unapproved Minutes
4:00 P.M. until business is concluded
5735 Rio Vista Drive
Clearwater, FL 33760
Attendance:
Committee Members: Craig Phillip –Chair, Patsy Buker, Jack Geller, Jim Madden, Elliott
Stern
Coalition Staff: Lindsay Carson, Merita Kafexhiu
Official Recorder: Rachel Meadors
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Craig Phillips called the meeting to order at 4:18 p.m.
A. Chair Craig Phillips called for the approval of the March 17, 2016 agenda.
A motion was made by Jim Madden and seconded by Elliott Stern to:
Approve the March 17, 2016 agenda
The motion passed unanimously.
B. Chair Craig Phillips called for the approval of the January 21, 2016
minutes.
A motion was made by Jim Madden and seconded by Jack Geller to:
Approve the January 21, 2016 minutes
The motion passed unanimously.
Unapproved Minutes—March 17, 2016
II. ACTION ITEMS:
A. School Readiness Provider Enforcement
16.03.01E
Lindsay Carson presented the School Readiness Enforcement.
The Statewide School Readiness (SR) Provider Contract (Contract) establishes
the requirements providers must meet for delivery of the SR Program. The
Contract also establishes the Coalition’s authority to enforce the provisions of
the Contract and grants the ability to take action for noncompliance under
certain circumstances.
The Coalition’s SR Provider Enforcement Policy establishes local authority and
outlines specific enforcement actions the Coalition will take for SR Contract
noncompliance.
A motion was made by Elliott Stern and seconded by Jim Madden to:
Approve the revised SR Provider Enforcement Policy (ELCPC61.2)
Discussion:
Patsy Buker asked if it is legal for an insurance company to back date.
Jack Geller replied as long as there is not a claim, the insurance company
has the right to do so.
The motion passed unanimously.
B. Volunteer Prekindergarten Provider Enforcement Policy
16.03.02E
Lindsay Carson presented the Voluntary Prekindergarten Provider Enforcement
Policy.
The Statewide Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Provider Contract (Contract)
establishes the requirements providers must meet for delivery of the VPK
Program. The Contract also establishes the Coalition’s authority to enforce the
provisions of the Contract and grants the ability to take action for noncompliance
under certain circumstances.
The Coalition’s VPK Provider Enforcement Policy establishes local authority and
outlines specific enforcement actions the Coalition will take for VPK Contract
noncompliance.
A motion was made by Elliott Stern and seconded by Patsy Buker to:
Unapproved Minutes—March 17, 2016
Approve the revised VPK Provider Enforcement Policy (ELCPC71.2).
Discussion:
Elliott Stern asked if the state could decline a termination.
Lindsay Carson replied they can. The Coalition responds according to Office of
Early Learning’s (OEL) instructions.
Elliott Stern made the statement that before the Coalition sends anything to OEL
the Coalition must be absolutely confident of the findings.
Patsy Buker asked if the five (5) year is still statue.
Lindsay Carson replied it still stands.
Craig Phillips asked how frequent does terminating a VPK provider occur.
Lindsay Carson replied it is not common. The most recent term occurred due to
lapse in insurance coverage, and the other was due to suspected fraud.
Patsy Buker asked if the Coalition terms a contract and the parents must obtain
a transfer, does that use up the child’s one transfer.
Lindsay Carson replied there is some “good cause” flexibility. And it can be
looked at situational; but it does count as their transfer.
The motion passed unanimously.
C. Pinellas County School Board- Florida First Start Program Contract SR16-01
16.03.03E
Lindsay Carson presented the Pinellas County School Board- Florida First Start
Program Contract DR16-01.
The Coalition has a contract with the Pinellas County School Board for the
Florida First Start Program. Florida First Start program is a home visitation
program designed to give young children school readiness skills and to give
parents strategies to be their child’s first and lifelong teacher.
Certain members of the Board of Directors of the Coalition are mandated by the
“School Readiness Act”. The mandated members consist of executive directors
of child care providing agencies or government agencies. As a result, in order to
achieve its objectives, the Coalition enters into related-party transactions with
Unapproved Minutes—March 17, 2016
the organizations in which the Coalition’s Board Members are actively involved.
The related-party members include Assistant Superintendent for Elementary &
Special Education of Pinellas County.
Section 1002.84(20), Florida Statutes (F.S.) provides instructions each entity
must comply with before contracting with governing board members,
employees, or relatives of either group. “Such contracts may not be executed
without the prior approval of the office.” The Florida First Start contract is
considered related party contract and is required to be presented to the
coalition’s entire governing board for a vote.
In addition, the Coalitions are prohibited from entering into contracts equal to or
greater than $25,000 without prior approval from the Office of Early Learning
(OEL) when the contract is with employees, governing board members or
relatives of either group. In addition, the minutes must discuss the vote on this
contract too and the conflicts of interest must be disclosed. The member must
be abstaining from the vote. Also, the details of how each member voted must
be provided to the OEL.
A motion was made by Jim Madden and seconded by Elliott Stern to:
Approve the contract with PCSB for the Florida First Start Program
for $230,220. The contract term is July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017.
The motion passed unanimously.
D. Approve Budget Amendment #3
16.03.04E
Chair Craig Phillips presented the Budget Amendment #3 action item.
Total budgeted revenue has increased from $47,915,946.00 to $48,018,596.00
equaling an overall increase of $102,650.00 as follows:
The OEL/SR Program: The Coalition Notice of Grant Award has been revised to
incorporate additional funding as result of the restitution obligation in the amount
of $13,850.
The University of Florida /Pay for Performance grant in the amount of $88,800.
The grant funds are used to cover expenditures (based on a set dollar amount
paid) related to the CLASS pre-observations and CLASS post-observations
conducted by the Coalition staff or contracted vendor. In addition the Coalition is
required to use thei r Web-based Early Learning System that serves as the
early learning classroom support system where CLASS observers upload
CLASS assessment data.
A motion was made by Elliott Stern and seconded by Jim Madden to:
Unapproved Minutes—March 17, 2016
Approve Budget Amendment # 3 as presented by the Coalition
staff
The motion passed unanimously.
E. 2016 Sliding Fee Schedule
16.03.05E
Chair Craig Phillips presented the 2016 Sliding Fee Schedule.
Important issue families often face when they transition from being a recipient of
the School Readiness funds to economic self-sufficiency is the adjustment of
having to pay the full cost of child care. The Coalition strives to support families
in moving toward economic self-sufficiency and supports the efforts to help
families gradually increase their proportional share of their children child care
costs in order to ensure a smooth transition for services for these families.
The Child Care Development Block Grant of 2014 (658E (c) (5)), requires that
the sliding fee scale that provides for cost sharing is not a barrier to families
receiving assistance. The Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, 45CFR, Part 98 and 99, issued on July
24, 1998 suggests a benchmark of ten percent of eligible family’s income for
copayment. This benchmark continues to be consistent with the new law.
The 2016 Federal Poverty Guidelines have been released. The Coalition will be
implementing the new sliding fee scale based on the 2016 Federal Poverty
Guidelines. Implementing a graduated sliding fee scale helps better prepare
families as they move toward economic self-sufficiency.
A motion was made by Jack Geller and seconded by Elliott Stern to:
Approve the updated 2016 Sliding Fee Schedule for
implementation June 1, 2016
The motion passed unanimously.
III. DISCUSSION:
A. Legislative Update
Lindsay Carson presented the Legislative Update beginning with the passing of
the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF).
The Budget has also passed. No increases to VPK, and ten million dollars have
been added to School Readiness; five hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars
Unapproved Minutes—March 17, 2016
slated for Pinellas County. The additional funding is for specific providers to
hold slots; and the Coalition send children to those specific slots. More
guidelines and requirements will be given at a later date by the state.
The VPK Readiness Rate is being taken from the 2012 – 2013 data. Teaching
Strategies Gold will not be required for 2016 – 2017. It is still a requirement for
the 2015 – 2016.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comments were made.
V. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Next meeting: Scheduled for Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at the Early
Learning Coalition Training Room, 2536 Countryside Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33763
until the conclusion of business.
Please see the Coalition’s meeting calendar on the ELC website for more
information.
____________________________
Craig Phillips, Committee Chair
_______________
Date
Unapproved Minutes—March 17, 2016