|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterans Service Building (Conf. Room 'B', Fifth Floor), St. Paul, MN
Council Members present:
Council Members absent:
Guests present:
Council /Committee Staff present:
Welcome & Introductions: Mr. Hale welcomed the Council members and guests present at today's meeting and stated that due to legislative committee hearings scheduled for this morning several Council members would either be arriving late or be absent from today's meeting. Due to several substitutes sitting in at today's meeting for Cabinet members, Mr. Hale asked that members introduce themselves. Approval of 12/15/00 Council Meeting Summary: Discussion of "Getting to Pre-Eminence" Draft Document: Chairman Hale introduced to the Executive Committee (at the February 2 meeting) the notion of "pre-eminence" as a useful way to frame our goals for Minnesota's workforce system. For a state to be "pre-eminent" in a given field suggests that there are several tangible indicators that, at a given time, the state has demonstrated it has (met or has exceeded). Embedded in the notion of pre-eminence is a common vision of what the state's role is (or should be) with respect to workforce development, e.g., what it should look like in terms of these qualities. Governor Ventura said early in his tenure that he had two goals for Minnesota's workforce development system: (1) Keep Minnesota businesses competitive by supporting a flexible, skilled workforce; and (2) Support effort to increase personal income. The State of Washington has outlined seven outcomes/conditions which describe what Washington's goals are. The GWDC's Executive Committee reviewed Washington's work and felt that most, if not all, were appropriate goals for Minnesota to achieve. Roger Hale visited with staff and leadership in Washington State during February to learn first-hand about workforce efforts in that area. Staff have had individual follow-up discussions with peers in Iowa and Michigan about systems measures work in those states. The Systems Excellence Committee met on 2/13/01 & 3/9/01 to review background material and to add their own ideas and from this came the draft "Getting to Pre-Eminence" document. The discussion at today's meeting will form the basis for dissemination of a discussion document for local councils to consider in April and May. After Chairman Hale's recap on the draft "Pre-Eminence" document, in the absence of Wayne DeBruin, the Chair of the Creating System Excellence Committee, Mr. Hale called on Dave MacKenzie, the Committee's Vice Chair, to walk through the draft document with the Council. Mr. Hale commented that the Committee has had some excellence discussions on the draft document, and the goal for the Council at today's meeting is to get additional reactions and input to document. Comments by the GWDC regarding the draft "Getting to Pre-Eminence" document included the following: Roger Hale: The document sets forth the state's plan to support the Governor's two long-term goals for the state's workforce and economic development system, and those goals (on page #2 of the document) are: (1) Keep Minnesota business competitive by supporting a flexible, skilled workforce; and (2) Support efforts to increase personal income. These goals address both sides----business side and worker side. Bob Bruininks: Regarding "Challenge One: The Skills Shortage" on page #2, the workforce shortage and the demographics need to be addressed in the goals....not just skills. Gary Fields: In response to Mr. Bruininks' comment, this is considered an economic development issue. If we are really talking about developing our workforce, we are adding more weight to something that is already pretty heavy. Roger Hale: The issue of workforce development and economic development overlap. We may not always be able to draw a fine line. Gordon Aanerud: Regarding "Challenge One: The Skills Shortage" on page #2, we need to address employers' needs. Maybe move employers out to where prospective employees are? Bob Bruininks: Regarding the three challenges on page #2, the workforce should act as a magnet to keep people in the state and this should somehow be incorporated in this wording. Tom Moss: "Challenge Three: System Building" on page #2 seems more like a strategic challenge and is not directly vital to the goals. This one seems inconsistent with the other challenges. Gary Fields: Regarding "Objective 1.1: Strengthen public-private partnerships that enable individuals to move up job and careers ladders throughout their lives." On page #3, the way the sentence reads....what are we trying to emphasize? Mechanism by which we deliver services? Changing systems and bureaucracies? Dave MacKenzie: Responded to Gary Fields' question/comment above by indicating that perhaps the Committee did not word it quite well enough because they did struggle with the language. LaDonna Boyd: Regarding "Objective 1.1" on page #3, what are needs are on the local level is what I had in mind when I read this objective. Bob Bruininks: Don't want to lose the concept.... Gary Fields: Regarding "Objective 1.1", if we are trying to state: "to increase the participation of the business community", it ought to be stated more explicitly because it is vitally important. Tom Moss: Regarding the objectives under "Challenge One: The Skills Shortage", there needs to be discussion about measures. Could the Department of Revenue do a sample of tax returns? Which objectives are about real results for people? And which are strategic objectives? Public-private partnerships are a strategic objective. Need to differentiate between the objectives which are for employers and which are for workers. Dave MacKenzie: The Creating System Excellence Committee attempted to create a document along the lines that Tom Moss just commented on. Roger Hale: Our goal is that we will get a manageable number of specific measures out of the document. Jean Eaton: Specific measures are already being tracked for customized training. Sandra Peterson: Regarding "Challenge Two: Income and Career Progression" on page #4, an important piece of the puzzle is missing....we do not have counseling and resources available to help students make decisions on careers available in schools and the workforce centers to the scale with which they are needed. Michael Murphy: Glad to see that "Goal #2" under "Challenge Two" deals with all Minnesota workers of all ages in advancing their skills and earning potential. Wendy Brower: Regarding "Objective 1.2" on page #3, maybe we should be really looking at overall career guidance. Joan Barrett: Could we take advantage of virtual reality and technology to address career guidance? SCTC currently has 800 students that are "reverse transfers." If a family could go through a computerized simulation to see what types of new jobs are out there (i.e., health/medical industry, etc), we could help people make better choices earlier in their careers. Web site addresses for mentors would be good, etc. Roger Hale: It is mind-boggling what is out there. What is available through I-SEEK is excellent. Gary Fields: Regarding "Objective 1.1", there is an initiative in the Governor's budget (and DTED budget?) for students in gaining access to career information. Sandra Peterson: Regarding "Objective 1.3", increasing the number of training programs does not seem to address the issue. It is vague. Should include the dollars earmarked for secondary vocational education. Dave MacKenzie: In response to Sandra Peterson's comment, do we want to make specific recommendations of what should be funded or not? Roger Hale: In response to Dave MacKenzie's question, our charge is to develop recommendations for workforce policy, not necessarily to recommend funding for specific programs. Larry Mareck: Regarding "Objective 1.3", there needs to be strong emphasis on apprenticeship programs and to show support of them. Many times jobs that require apprenticeship training are looked down upon. Minnesota has the best in the country on how to train our employees. Joan Barrett: I would hope we would do a study... "2 + 2" Program....Tech. Prep. ....St. Cloud Technical College has many articulation agreements with their area high schools. We need to examine how we go into the future with technical education and how we bring parents and student together to understand opportunities in technical colleges. The GWDC should really look at this issue. Tom Moss: How many vacancies will there be four years from now? Do we have enough students to meet those needs in the future? Gary Fields: We already have supply and demand figures available. We need to educate the consumer about where the opportunities are. Then schools could afford to be more responsive to the marketplace. Gordon Aanerud: Regarding "Objective 1.3", timely direction of students by counselors is needed. I have seen first hand the affect of reductions in vocational-technical education in northeastern Minnesota. We need more school counselors to direct kids. Need to emphasize that "all" work and occupations are valuable. Sandra Peterson: Regarding "Objective 1.3", we need a statement on retaining secondary vocational education and its Importance ("2 + 2" Program or something). Use industry standards....taking one of three tracks (vocational school, college, etc.) and introduce students to what is out there and available to them. Wendy Brower: "Objective 1.4" is good. Perhaps use the word "expand" rather than "support" in the third strategy under "Objective 1.4". Tom Moss: Suggested using the words: "Increase the number of Minnesotans" somewhere in "Objective 1.4" or the strategies under that objective. Michael Murphy: Regarding "Challenge Two: Income and Career Progression", consider loosening immigration laws. Concerned that in our rush to get people into employment and the acquisition of immediate skills that they continue to have flexibility and capacity to acquire new skills. Consider moving tech. prep. area to a degree based program. Kathy Sweeney: H1B funding from the US Department of Labor will help us with our goals of building a skilled workforce here in Minnesota and could help to draw some resources into Minnesota. There are two groups currently working on this. One group is dealing with the information technology area and the other in the health care area. We are working with the USDOL Regional Administrator to get our share of the funds available. Bob Bruininks: Are general education skills (math, communication, etc.) sufficient enough? We have to have multiple ways to get access to training. Have to keep our eyes open to make sure our general education skills are good. We will never be able to put highly skilled people into the workforce without refreshing general education skills on a continuous basis. Michael Murphy: Regarding the above comment of Bob Bruininks', link with SCANS efforts. Jim Korkki: One goal we have is to provide more services for universal customers in workforce centers. We need to expand the hours of operation and resource rooms at workforce centers. Roger Hale: For the first time it is to business's best interest to get involved in workforce development programs. There is not the source and selection of possible employees for employers. We are going to continue to have a workforce shortage here at all levels in the years to come. The private sector needs to work with the public sector (workforce centers, community colleges, etc.). Bob Bruininks: Need to get people to where the jobs are. Tom Moss: Regarding "Objective 3.1" under "Challenge Three: System Building", institutions should include "businesses". Dave MacKenzie: Responded to Tom Moss' above comment by indicating that we certainly would include "businesses" throughout the document. No comments or questions offered by the Council for "Objective 3.2". Roger Hale: Regarding marketing, there is a need for parents and teachers to know more about services such as I-SEEK. Joan Barrett: Shouldn't it be "communication and information" delivered to public rather than "marketing?" Tom Moss: Important that we (the GWDC) go to Legislature and ask for
"marketing money." Roger Hale: We may want to consider going through the Minnesota Business Partnership and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to get help with marketing efforts. Michigan has invested $70 million of their tobacco settlement and used it for workforce development issues, including emphasis on marketing. Joan Barrett: Regarding "Challenge Two: Income and Career Progression" on page #2, add the wording "Ensure Minnesota workers have opportunities to transfer their skills." After the above comments and questions were taken regarding the draft "Pre-Eminence" discussion document, Mr. Hale reported that the next steps will be to: (1) Revise the draft document per today's discussion. (2) The revised draft will be mailed to the Local Workforce Council Chairs and WSA Directors with a cover letter encouraging local council review and discussion of the document in April and May. (3) The framework for this will also be presented and discussed at the Spring Institute scheduled for April 17-18. (4) The GWDC will see a final draft in June reflecting conversation among Local Workforce Councils, and the GWDC will review a final draft to be forwarded as a recommendation to the Governor at the June 15th meeting. Update on Departmental Reorganization Efforts: The Governor announced on March 9 a proposal for restructuring three state agencies that provide programs to workers and businesses—the Departments of Trade & Economic Development, Economic Security and Labor & Industry. Under the administration plan, the functions of the current three agencies will be divided between two new departments: the Department of Economic and Workforce Development (DEWD) and a revamped Department of Labor and Industry. DEWD will be responsible for the state's economic development and workforce development policy and programs, while the Department of Labor & Industry will handle the state's workforce stabilization programs, such as OSHA and unemployment insurance. A transition team, headed by Morrie Anderson, the outgoing MnSCU Chancellor, will facilitate the restructuring. The plan is to have the restructuring of the state agencies completed by July 1, 2002. The administration plan was presented to a legislative committee on March 2. Since early March there have been several hearings on the reorganization bill. Transition team meetings are being held. After providing his report, Mr. Hale called on Luke Weisberg, Roger Hughes and Kelly Keegan (of Senator Dave Johnson's office) to provide the latest information on the bill(s) regarding the departmental reorganization. And they reported the following from this morning's (3/23/01) legislative hearing(s): The Senate still has two bills moving forward. Senator Ellen Anderson's
bill contains much of the Governor's original language, asking for a reorganization,
and leaving much of the detail to a transition team to report back to
the legislature for the 2002 session. Senator Dave Johnson has more prescriptive
language about where certain functions shall be housed and what governance
arrangements shall exist. Senator Johnson's bill includes the creation
of a Department of Employment Services for many of the vocational rehabilitation
and related programs and also calls for an expanded governance role by
the Job Skills Partnership Board. The House bill which is more similar
to Senator Anderson's bill, is moving through committees. Mr. Hale summed up the discussion on the reorganization by indicating that moving boxes around in a reorganization is not the goal. The goal is: Do we have a real strategy? Do we have measures and goals, good quality programs, etc.? This is what is important. And the draft "Pre-Eminence" document helps us move forward with a real workforce development strategy. We anticipate that with the reorganization legislation there will be more linkage between the GWDC and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board and greater coordination between workforce development and economic development. Mr. Hale also reported that he learned yesterday that Representative Bob Gunther (replacing Jim Rostberg) has been appointed to the GWDC from the House and the IR caucus. Bernard Brommer commented that with the reorganization legislation they are doing more than just moving boxes around. Thy are carving up the Unemployment Insurance Program, breaking up the Worker's Compensation Program in DOLI, etc. and these areas are of grave concern to the Minnesota AFL-CIO. Mr. Hale concluded this section of the meeting by noting that he feels the GWDC is in a strong position to keep focused on the strategic opportunities at today's meeting, the "Pre-Eminence" paper, and our other efforts underway. Committee Updates: Supporting the Emerging Workforce Committee Report - Mr. Hale called on Sandra Peterson, the Committee Chair, and she reported that the Committee met on February 23. There was discussion on the apprenticeship program, and why there is a recommendation for shifting it out of the Department of Labor & Industry. The Committee discussed the need for more guidance counselors in schools, and how guidance counselors can work with the workforce centers, and how the workforce centers work with schools. Ms. Peterson pointed out to the Council several excellent publications that were available today at the information table outside the meeting room, among them was the report entitled: "Building a Knowledge Economy for Minnesota's 21st Century: A Report to the People of Minnesota" dated December 2000. Ms. Peterson also commented that the Gunther Report (the inventory of all of Minnesota's employment & training programs) was a good compilation and would be good for high school counselors to receive copies of. She also suggested that the Gunther Report ought to be updated every year. She also recommended that training counselors go out and speak with schools on the training programs available through the MN WorkForce Center. And finally, Minnesota Careers publication is excellent and funding is needed for it. Ms. Peterson mentioned that the Committee also discussed various groups that put information out on the web and the need to stay with current groups (i.e, ISEEK, etc.), and that all should be maintained. She emphasized that the Committee felt that K-12 and vocational technical prep. education should be funded appropriately otherwise we will not have support in place for the future workforce. After concluding her committee report, Ms. Peterson mentioned that the number of workers in the healthcare field is dwindling and is a growing issue. She called on Tom Moss who pointed out publications he had available on the information table outside the meeting room for the Council's information. The publications were reports entitled: "Project 2030 Health and Long Term Care Issue Paper" dated January 1999 and "Project 2030 Final Report Summary. Both publications were prepared by the Aging Initiative Office of the Department of Human Services. Creating System Excellence Committee Report - This committee chaired by Wayne DeBruin met on February 13 and again on March 9 to prepare the draft "Getting to Pre-Eminence" document presented to the GWDC membership at today's meeting by Dave MacKenzie, the Committee Vice Chair. The work of this committee and the full Council (at today's meeting) will form the basis for dissemination of a discussion document for local councils to consider in April and May. Supporting Self-Reliance Committee Report - There was no committee report
provided at today's meeting. Mary Haug is the Committee Chair and was
not available at today's meeting. Other Business: Spring Leadership Institute - Roger Hale encouraged the GWDC members and interested parties to register for the Spring Training Institute for Workforce Development Leaders scheduled for April 17-18, 2001 at the Minneapolis Hilton Inn in Brooklyn Center. This is the second annual training institute and there are excellent speakers and information sessions planned. (A supply of registration forms was available at today's meeting for persons interested in attending.) Questions regarding the Spring Leadership Institute can be directed to either Kathy Sweeney or Luke Weisberg. Meeting Schedule & Adjournment:
|