Child Development & Education
Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes
March 12, 2007
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mt. San Jacinto College
MenifeeValleyChildDevelopmentCenter, Room 723
Members Present:
Marcia Bonafede (Temescal Canyon High School), Richard Collins (MSJC Career Education), Lorraine Slattery Farell (MSJC Americorps/TANF-CDW, Adrienne Garrison (Riverside County Office of Education), Donna Greene (MSJC CDEC), Michelle Harper (MSJC Child Development Training Consortium), Kimberly Harts (Alternatives to Domestic Violence), Sharon Hopfer (MSJC CDE), Rita Hurt (MVC CDEC), Sheila Kramer (SJC CDEC), Mark McGregor (Menifee Union School District), Linda Middleton (MSJC CDE), Wendy Orcajo (MSJC CDE), JoAnna Quejada (MSJC Outreach), Donna Roberts (Mulberry Child Care and Preschool), Sandi Schwartz (MSJC CDEC), Cecilia Thay (PITC West Ed), Kathy Turner (MSJC CDE), Cherie Ward (California State University, San Bernardino)
Welcome and Introductions:
Kathy Turner began the meeting by having everyone introduce themselves and the program they were representing.
Child Development Training Consortium:
Michelle Harper presented an overview of the CDTCand stated that during the Fall 2006 semester, forty students had applied and will receive a stipend of $14/unit. The deadline for applying for the Spring 2007 semester is March 21, 2007 and students will receive a $17/unit stipend. The MSJC CDTC has also purchased textbooks for library usage.
Ms. Harper also mentioned that the website for the CDTC has been significantly updated. In addition, one can renew their permits online at .
Foster Youth Emancipation Program
Michelle spoke about her involvement with the Foster Youth Emancipation Program that MSJC has contracted with RiversideCommunity College. MSJC specifically serves foster youth who live in southwest portion of RiversideCounty, from San Jacinto through Temecula.
The program provides textbook and educational supplies, RTA passes, food/gas cards and other financial help when needed by foster youth who are transitioning out of foster care. In addition, the program offers a weekly Independent Daily Living Skills Class that meets on Monday nights. Students can earn money to use towards housing and education once they are emancipated.
For further information, Ms Harper asked that she be contacted at (951) 487-3317.
State of the College
Rick Collins reported that the college has begun a search for a new college President/Superintendent with hiring expected to be completed by August 2007. In the meantime, Jon Tyler is acting as interim college president as well as Vice President, Human Resources. He also reported that the college has just experienced the highest percentage of growth in the college’s history and is the fastest growing community college in the state.
Mr. Collins stated that the new TemeculaEducationCenter is expected to open for the 2008-2009 academic year and will consist of approximately 35,000 square feet. The Center is expected to offer courses in continuous 8 week tracks to allow for the formation of cohort groups and will include classes from the Child Development and Education Department.
Mr. Collins went on to report that land in Banning has been purchased and the college has a lease option on 90 acres in Wildomar. The College has won the eminent domain court case against Azusa Pacific for the building adjacent to the MenifeeValley campus but at this time there have been no decisions made on the future of the building. Mr. Collins also reported that RCOE will be breaking ground for a LearningCenter adjacent to the SJC CDEC. The programs will share an infant playground area and the Center will house a variety of educational programs for all ages.
Child Development and EducationCenters
Sheila Kramer, SJC Site Supervisor stated the Center is looking forward to the infant playground being updated in anticipation of the opening of the RCOELearningCenter. Ms. Kramer went on to say that the site is currently utilizing nine student interns who are monitored by Master Teachers for a maximum of 30 hours a week. Ms. Kramer invited anyone to come by and view the documentation of children’s work in the lobby of the SJC CDEC.
Rita Hurt, MVC Site Supervisor, stated that the Young Toddler program has nine enrollments and that the site is utilizing six student interns. Ms. Hurt mentioned that the site will be participating in RiversideCounty’s Mock Disaster Preparedness drill to be held on April 10, 2007.
Donna Green, Program Director, mentioned that both sites are at full capacity and that funding is currently stable.
Parenting Classes
Sandi Schwartz, Parenting Consultant, is offering, through teacher referral and local advertising, parenting classes at both campus CDEC’s. The MVC classes meet one evening a month while the SJC classes meet once a month in the morning, the afternoon and the evening. In addition, Ms. Schwartz is providing one-on-one consultations with parents and teachers.
Week of the Young Child Celebration
Sharon Hopfer, Coordinator of the Young Child Celebrations, stated that there was still time to volunteer to participate in the event(s) or to help with the coordination of the event(s). Both events will be held from 10am-2pm and the MVC event will be held on Saturday April 14th, while the SJC event will be held on Saturday April 28th. Ms. Hopfer reminded everyone that there is a $40.00 vendor fee if an organization wishes to sell items at the event.
Mentor Selection Committee
Kathy Turnerstated that the program currently has seven mentor teachers and one director mentor. Applications are due by 3/16/07 for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Course Schedules
Kathy Turner distributed copies of the summer ’07 and fall ’07 class schedules and stated that on March 31st there is a Special Topics class being offered that deals with Children and Stress. The class will be taught by an art therapist and will deal with art and bibliotherapy.
Ms. Turner mentioned that some of the course offerings were listed as “staff” due to the department’s new full-time faculty hire.
CDE Student Group
Donna Greene stated that the Student Group is doing well and will co-sponsor with the Mid-County Child Care Council a Leadership Training day on June 2nd at the MenifeeValley campus. Ms. Greene also stated that the group received a $2,000 grant through Alternatives to Domestic Violence to provide Mandated Reporter Training geared for program directors. For information, Ms. Greene asked that you contact her directly at .
Americorps/TANF-CDE
Lorraine Slattery Farell stated that the TANF-CDE program has fifteen enrolled students with eight currently working in the MSJC centers (6 at the SJC CDEC and 2 at the MVC CDEC). The Americorps program has twenty-six slots and currently has twenty enrolled students. All twenty are currently working at one of the MSJC CDEC’s or through the LakeElsinore and TemeculaValleyUnifiedSchool Districts. The program is hoping to partner with MenifeeUnionSchool District to provide more placement options. Most of the enrolled students have more than twenty semester units of Child Development and Education while some have as few as six units.
Group Discussion
Kathy Turner began the discussion by distributing copies of several flyers regarding the Curriculum Alignment Project that is an effort to ease the transition from CA community colleges to the California State Universities by ensuring that all early childhood courses are the same regardless of where the students takes the course. At this time, the project is asking for suggestions on which courses to include in the alignment program and Ms. Turner asked for suggestions.
Donna Roberts suggested that Infant/Toddler courses be included since that is the fastest growing area of child care and there is a shortage of qualified individuals to work these positions.
Cherie Ward stated that Infant/Toddler courses are critical for mental health professionals and that First 5 is re-training anyone who works with children ages 0-5 years.
Marcia Bonafede stated that she thought the Health, Safety and Nutrition courses are essential to provide quality child care programs.
Mark McGregor thought that Language and Literacy courses should be included since 75% of students with an IEP can’t read at grade level.
Donna Greene suggested a Bilingual Education course.
Cherie Ward wondered about the possibility of a course focusing on research methods and statistical analysis. Kathy Turner stated that that type of class would probably fall under general education. Lorraine Slattery Farell mentioned that the MSJC course MATH 140 is equivalent to the CSUSB MATH 210 course (statistics). Kathy Turner mentioned that she was considering putting together a student handout that lists all of the required GE and CDE classes that students should take depending upon their career and/or academic goals.
Cherie Ward also mentioned that CSUSB has a blended Liberal Arts/CDE program called The School Age Child.
Donna Greene suggested Classroom Management Techniques.
Mark McGregor suggested an English Language Learner class.
Kathy Turner asked for additional course suggestions and received the following recommendations:
Mark McGregor suggested a class regarding the legal aspects of teaching, including IDEA, Licensing, Mandated Reporting, and Federal vs State Laws. Donna Greene stated that many of these topics are covered in the MSJC Administration 1 class (CDE 126).
Kathy Turner suggested a class on how to work effectively with parents, staff and colleagues.
Sandi Schwartz mentioned a class on how to be an authentic teacher.
Kathy Turner thanked everyone for their suggestions/comments/participation and the meeting adjourned at 3:03 pm
Page 1 of 4