October Meeting Minutes

Meeting
October 13th, 2011
10am-12pm

Guest speakers: Dena Roberts and Amy Dimmler, Accreditation Facilitation Project

Amy and Dena came and presented a power point on the expanded services offered by the Accreditation Facilitation Project (AFP). AFP has a goal of helping 350 centers become accredited in the next 3 years. They will work with any DHS-approved accreditation (not just NAEYC) and help cover fees, offer monthly consulting, resources, training, and support. If you are interested, you can set up a meeting and someone from the project can come out to your center to provide information and consulting. Services are FREE if you have at least 1 child considered at risk (Special needs, IEP, CCAP or other scholarship, ESL/ELL, Free or Reduced meal on food program).

For more information, see this flyer or visit the MNAEYC AFP website.
To apply, you can submit this application.

We talked about pay scales and setting teaching staff rates and came up with a survey that we would LOVE for you to complete. It will probably take 15-20 minutes but we will sit down and discuss all the data at our next meeting so please take the time so you can benefit from the information gathered. Please share this with other directors you may know!

We also welcomed Nancy Johnson from Resources from Child Caring today who will be taking over the directors group and blog this December so Nicole can focus on directing. Nancy has a lot of great experience in the field and will bring a wealth of resources and insight to the group. Nancy can be reached at njohnson@resourcesforchildcare.org.

Meeting Reminder

Don't forget to come to our next meeting. October 12th, 2011 starting at 10am and goes until 12 noon at the Minneapolis Resources for Child Caring location. The Accreditation Facilitation Project will be there to talk about the services they offer to child care centers looking to become accredited. We will also work together to create a survey for followers and members regarding employee wages, benefits and costs to attend child care in your area. 


See you there!

September Meeting Recap

Greetings Directors! Here is the recap from our September meeting.

 

1. Sandy Myers, RCC - came to speak about several offerings from RCC including:

• The Getting Rady Project (see this flyer)
• Pathways to Professionald Development (for really committed staff who may be stuck at aide or assistant teacher level because they are missing some core skills to advance; there are scholarships available to help them get basic ed and assessments completed; cohort-based program) - contact Micki Lechner-Riehle 651-233-2276
• Building Quality (similar to Getting Ready for those outside the Parent Aware pilot area, statewide, RCC is looking to start a list of interested programs who would like money to help with training and equipment needs; sites should serve a significant number of at risk families) - contact Carol Stromme 651-641-6644

2. Cory Woosely, Eager to Learn - came to speak about programming for directors

• Free webinars - sign up for email list by contacting coryw@mnchildcare.org
• Director's Crediential cohort starts in January, $940, NAEYC-credential
• CDA program, 10 months, $600, all online, community based.

3. Upcoming training on the Go Green rating scale! See flyer for more info.

4. Cathy Clair, RCC - came to talk about changes with the Debra S. Fish library

• You will now need to register your library card if you don't have a St. Paul Public Library card in order to check out books - Cathy will be here next month from 11:30-12:30 to help directors register their cards.
• You can pick up, return and request books at any public library using the online system.
• Some flyers about the changes: flyer 1 and flyer 2 (sorry, scans are kind of cut off)

5. Linda Magle, Mn Child Care - came to talk about available grants and scholarships

• TEACH
• RETAIN - FREE money for child care providers to be used however they wish $1,000-$3,500. Rewards longevity and professional development. Must have a CDA or degree.
• Check out mnchildcare.org's scholarship page for more info on other available grants and scholarships.

6. Alicia Frosch, Child Care Works - came to talk about 2011 legislative outcomes.

• Check out this great summary sheet.
• Reimbursement rates will actually change starting November 28th not October 31st.
• No exceptions to new absent day policy.
• They may make some changes in the $20 background study fee related to returning staff.
• QRIS (Parent Aware) will probably be moved through by the Administrative Branch (Gov Dayton) and not the legislature.
• Hannah's Law PASSED. As of 8/1/11 all Assistant Teachers and Teachers should be trained in CPR within 30 days of employment.

7. Discussion

• Job Description hints, tips and practices:
• Give out when fill out the application so they know what they are applying for
• Include in employee handbook
• Include the key phrase, "And other duties as assigned by director"
• Include cleaning, daily maintencnace tasks, team work
• If staff aren't following, one way to give a reminder is to highlight area in question on job description and hand to them.
• Break down by classroom and title (i.e. Infant aide, Infant lead, Preschool assistant teacher, etc)
• Insurance agent may be of help when developing this.
• Including "Must see and hear"....ADA questions...
• Employee Reviews hints, tips and practices:
• Have employees do a self evaluation using the same form (can be harsher on themselves)
• Areas commonly assessed: general job performance (on time, dress code, cooperation); relations with kids; relations with parents
• Good time for goal setting (where do you see yourself in ...? Training plan fo the following year)
• Mixed opinions on giving raises for review result.
• Mixed opinions on giving reviews on anniversary or all at once (some do new staff at 90 days, 6 months, 1 year and then annually at a year round review process)
• Probationary periods - risky because can give staff past the period a false sense of security in an at-will employment state

8. Suggestions for next month:

• A more in-depth survey on rates and pay scales for teachers
• See if we can get the information collected by CCR&R broken down by city.
• Discuss a salary cap and other compensation (PTO, Training)