NORTHWEST ARKANSAS LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD

Minutes of Meeting – March 7, 2001

A meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) was held Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at the Best Western Eureka Inn in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Board Members present were:

MR. BOB KILLION, SPRINGDALE (BUSINESS)

MR. STEVE HALL, MOUNTAIN HOME (BUSINESS)

MS. LORENE WATKINS, FAYETTEVILLE (LABOR)

MR. BOBBY FERRELL, FAYETTEVILLE (BUSINESS), Proxy for Steve Ward

MR. HAROLD LEMONS, FAYETTEVILLE, (EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT)

MR. RONALD MONTGOMERY ROGERS, (BUSINESS)

MR. JERRY MCFARLAND, HARRISON, (BUSINESS)

MR. JIM STEWART, ROGERS, (BUSINESS)

MR. JAMES MORRIS, HARRISON (ED VOC ENTITY/TITLE II ADULT ED & LITERACY)

MR. BILL BROWN, ROGERS, (CSBG-CBO)

MR. B. RAY MORGAN, LEAD HILL (SUPERINTENDENT)

MS. GINNY MCWILLIAMS, HARRISON (VOC REHAB SERVICES FOR THE BLIND)

MS. JANICE SMITH, HUNTSVILLE, (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)

MS. LESLIE EVANS, HUNTSVILLE, (BUSINESS)

MR. TOM KNAPP, LESLIE (VOCATIONAL EDUCATION)

MR. BOB PENQUITE, HARRISON (SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION)

MR. JOHN DYESS, YELLVILLE, (BUSINESS)

MR. BOB HOLLINGSHEAD, LOWELL, (BUSINESS)

MS. DOLORES MYERS, PELSOR (BUSINESS)

MR. MICHAEL KELLY, YELLVILLE, (BUSINESS)

MR. DAVID BELL, BERRYVILLE, (BUSINESS)

MR. JIM STEVENS, MOUNTAIN HOME, (BUSINESS)

MR. ROY EIDSON, FAYETTEVILLE (DHS – TEA – WtW)

MS. JOY PRATER, HARRISON (CSBG-CBO)

Board Members absent and excused by Chair were:

MS. LINDA TUHACEK, MOUNTAIN HOME (BUSINESS)

MR. BENNY MAGNESS, COTTER (BUSINESS)

MR. SAM PATTON, HARRISON, (BUSINESS)

MR. BILL SEEGER, HARRISON (BUSINESS)

MR. BOBBY BISHOP, BERRYVILLE (BUSINESS)

MS. BECKY EDMISTEN, HUNTSVILLE (BUSINESS)

MR. CHARLES CHRISTIAN, MT. JUDEA, (BUSINESS)

MR. WAYNE THOMPSON, ST. JOE (BUSINESS)

MR. JEFF MAYS, MARSHALL (BUSINESS)

MR. STEVE PERCIVAL, FAYETTEVILLE (BUSINESS)

MR. WILLIAM KNIGHT, FAYETTEVILLE (DISABLED)

MR. WAYLAND STUMBAUGH, FAYETTEVILLE (VOC REHAB/PARENT)

MS. KATHLEEN RANDALL, FAYETTEVILLE (CSBG-CBO)

MR. KEITH VIRE, BENTONVILLE (COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS)

MS. CATHY DANIELS, JASPER (COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS)

MS. DEE MEARS, HARRISON (EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE)

MR. GORDON SMITH, SPRINGDALE (EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE)

MS. MARY KITTERMAN, ROGERS (ORGANIZED LABOR)

MS. NADEAN RANEY, HARRISON (OLDER WORKER)

Others present were:

Ms. Susan Sangren, Harrison, NWACDC

Mr. Doyce Hill, Rogers, AESD

Ms. Diana Tucker, Rogers, NWACDC

Mr. Henry E. Walker, Fayetteville, NWAEDD

Mr. Sam Pack, Fayetteville, AESD

Ms. Susan Daniel, Fayetteville, NWACDC

Ms. Jane Wheeler, Harrison, NWACDC

Ms. Amy Bell, Harrison, NWAEDD

Mr. J. Michael Norton, Harrison, NWAEDD

Mr. Ross Parker, Harrison, AESD

Ms. Linda Beene, Little Rock, Arkansas Workforce Investment Board

Ms. Sandra Allen, Berryville, Arkansas Department of Human Services

Mr. Ed Johnson, Rogers, AESD

Mr. Bill Smiley, Fayetteville, NWAEDD

Mr. Marvin Wallace, Fayetteville, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services

Mr. Al West, Fayetteville

Meeting was called to order by CHAIR JERRY MCFARLAND at 1:00 p.m.

CHAIR JERRY MCFARLAND introduced Dr. Linda Beene, Executive Director, Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. Dr. Beene was "pleased to announce the forthcoming appointment of J. Michael Norton, Executive Director of NWAEDD to fill the position of Local Administrator on the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board.

CHAIR JERRY MCFARLAND recognized the appointment of two new LWIB members by the Chief Elected Officials: Mr. Roy Eidson, Arkansas Department of Human Services, who filled the position vacated by Ms. Deanna Sullivan; and Ms. Nadean Raney, Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas, who filled the position vacated by Ms. Sheila Ward.

The minutes of September 19, 2000, were approved on a motion made by MS. DOLORES MYERS and seconded by MR. JIM STEWART. Motion carried.

CHAIR JERRY MCFARLAND presented the actions taken by the Executive Committee on October 2, 2000. MS. DOLORES MYERS made a motion to ratify the following actions taken by the Executive Committee on October 2, 2000:

1.Approval of the following recommendations of the Youth Council.

a.Approval of Career Opportunities Budget, Line Items 1,2,3,5, and 7.

b.Approval of funding for the American Careers for Kids publications and the Bank Teller training provided by the Department of Workforce Education, as set out in the Career Opportunities Budget, under “Contractual.”

c.Set aside $4,999.00 in discretionary funds to be used by the Career Opportunities Director, at his/her discretion, to help with developing programs.

d.Provide stipends, travel, and other incentives for educators to attend regional training for the American Careers for Kids Publications.

e.The rest of the Career Opportunities funds in the Line Item Budget, classified as “Contractual”, be spent through the issuance of a general RFP.

2.Approval of the following RFP schedule to disburse Career Opportunities funds:

Announce RFP – 10/20

RFPs available for pickup – 10/23

Q&A period

Responses due – 11/22

Evaluation by Youth Council – 11/30

Approval by LWIB – 12/06

  1. Change the date of the next LWIB meeting from November 1, 2000 to December 6, 2000.

4.Schedule regular LWIB meetings for the 1st Wednesdays of March, June, September, and either November or December.

5.For the purposes of serving Title I WIA clients, “Self Sufficiency” be defined as 200% of the poverty level.

  1. Approval of the Grievance Procedure and Policy.

MR. BOB KILLION seconded the motion. Motion carried.

CHAIR JERRY MCFARLAND requested the Planning Committee Report from CHAIR STEVE HALL.

MR. STEVE HALL made a motion to approve the recommendation of the Planning Committee of the following modifications and definitions to be added to the 5- Year Local Plan:

  1. Vision: To assist job seekers and job holders to pursue strategies of training and development which leads to ever increasing wage levels, to reach a level of self-sufficiency, with a benefit to employers of workforce retention and higher levels of productivity.
  1. Funding of core, intensive, and training services: Core and intensive services will be fully funded, with the balance of funds being applied to training services. There will not be sufficient funds to provide all training services, therefore, in accordance with the Workforce Investment Act, the training funds will be available to the economically disadvantaged residents of the area, on a basis of those who can benefit most from such training.
  1. Core, intensive and training services must be provided to employers: Core services will begin with the historic employment service provisions for job order postings, application taking and some referral. Intensive services will include testing, screening and some soft skills readiness programs. Training services may include brokering and coordination of funding sources and training providers.
  1. Wage Progression: Core and intensive services will be offered in a manner to enhance the wage level of the job seeker and jobholder, while assisting the employer in the retention of employees in order to enhance productivity and business profit.
  1. Performance Standards: WIA programs are evaluated on 17 performance standards. The standards which are most difficult to meet are related to “wage increase” for adult customers, “meeting or exceeding the wage level at the time of lay-off” for the dislocated worker, and “wage increase” for older youth (18-21 year-old customers). These measures are almost $4.00 per hour and may be in excess of local wage levels, even if those levels are raised substantially.
  1. On-the-job training (OJT) / Customized Training (CT): The Career Development Center must offer On-the-job training (OJT) or Customized Training (CT) based on the employer’s need to raise employees to full capacity and ensure job holders have sufficient skills to reach their full potential and capability in the workplace. Earlier programs have avoided OJT and CT because of the intense reporting and documentation requirements. A simple system of accountability and responsibility must be used, AND it must be customer friendly and respond to customer needs.
  1. Business Input: Business needs to validate and/or prescribe the services provided by the Career Development Center in the Local Workforce Investment Area.
  1. Self-Sufficiency: Self-sufficiency must be based on the individual’s income with relation to family size, without including wages or benefits of household members (spouses or children).
  1. Adult Self-Sufficiency: Self-sufficiency for an adult should be 200% of the poverty level for adults and youth.
  1. Dislocated Worker Self-Sufficiency: Self-sufficiency for a dislocated worker needs to be 110% of the lost wage, or 200% of the poverty level, whichever is the larger.
  1. Funds for Training: Business needs Economic Development funds and training funds brought to the WIA clearinghouse to assist in the purchase of training. Funds for training need to come, in descending order of funding, from the business, the business association, basic education of other “free” funding source programs, economic development sources, area training consortia, scholarships, grants (including Pell Grants), and finally workforce investment funded scholarship funded sources.
  1. Credential: A Credential is a written certificate or document which an association, industry, or training organization presents, declaring the holder to have skills or abilities needed for employment or advancement. The credential should also be recognized as a standard for increasing the holder’s wage level. The credential must be industry based. Nursing certificates are an example of training organization credentialing. Certification of MIG welding may be an industry-based credential.
  1. Intensive Services: Intensive services include pre-vocational training of less than six months which does not include a certificate or credential, but aids in gaining employment or increasing wages to the level of self-sufficiency.

14,Employed: Employed is defined as working at least 40 hours per week and not less than 8 hours per week, for wages equal to or in excess of minimum wage.

Full time employment shall equal or exceed 40 hours per week.

Part time employment shall be no less than 8 hours per week, and no greater than 39 hours per week.

  1. Unemployed: Unemployed is defined as an individual who earns less than $48.00 in any

seven day period

  1. Incentive: An Incentive is an award or reward (cash or material purchased as an award)

for participation in a program or attaining a level of success in the program which has been prescribed in advance and published by the program. In the case of youth, an incentive may also include participation in a focus group or research group which develops youth program(s).

  1. Under employed: Underemployed is defined as an individual who is either not

working 40 hours per week, has not reached the level of self-sufficiency, or is not working at a skill level equal to their score on a standardized testing system such as ACT Work Keys.

  1. Poor: Poor is defined as an individual who has not reached the poverty level for the size

of their family, in the area they reside.

  1. Working Poor: Working Poor is defined as an individual who has not reached 185% of

the poverty level for their size family, in the area they reside.

  1. Not Attending School:
  1. A youth, 14 years of age or older,
  2. who has not graduated from school or does not have a GED,
  3. and has missed more days of school than the local school board allows for a semester
  4. The youth does not intend or plan to return to any school program offered by the local school district
  5. Regardless of whether or not local truancy processing is being followed.
  6. Self-attestation from the youth is acceptable.

Summary: Agreement should be sought on programs focusing on “wage progression” for job

seekers and jobholders, and employee retention being the focus of business. Self sufficiency

levels should be set in a manner to eliminate undo rules and bureaucratic stress on OJT, CT, and

overall program implementation. There must be are core, intensive, and training services

available in the Career Development Center for business, as well as for the job seeker and

jobholder.

The motion was seconded by MR. JAMES MORRIS. Motion carried.

MR. STEVE HALL then made a motion for the staff of the Career Development Centers to organize Business Focus Groups in Harrison, Rogers and Fayetteville to work with the Career Development Centers to develop plans to improve services for business in the Centers. MR. STEVE HALL requested that the One-Stop Operator give those reports to the Planning Committee at their next scheduled meeting of June 6, 2001.

MS. SUSAN SANGREN, Executive Director of NWACDC gave the WIA Program Operations Report. She also outlined partner contributions to the One-Stop Centers.

MR. HENRY E. WALKER presented a power point presentation entitled “How to Engage Business.”

MR. HENRY E. WALKER gave each LWIB member an attendance form for the WIA One-Stop Conference scheduled for May 1-2, 2001 in Little Rock. DR. LINDA BEENE explained that the conference was targeted at local WIA providers and would have no business component. She explained that a conference was being planned for the fall to obtain needs input from business and industry leaders. MR. JIM STEWART then questioned the decision of the State Workforce Investment Board not to include business input, up front, to determine the needed services of the One-Stop Centers. Dr. Beene further explained the intent of the One-Stop Conference scheduled for May 1-2, 2001 and again extended an invitation for any LWIB member to attend.

MR. BILL BROWN asked Dr. Beene to explain how the State AWIS computer system works in terms of tracking and data sharing among the Local Workforce Investment Areas. She explained that the AWIS system was developed to track Title I WIA information, based on the needs of the Local Workforce Investment Areas. The Department of Information Systems put the AWIS system together. She expressed disappointment at the State level in the development of the system, with the development of the system running about 6 months behind the contracted dates with the Arkansas WIB.

A motion to approve the hotel room charges for LWIB members who attended the NAWB conference in Washington D.C. was made by MR. MICHAEL KELLY and seconded by MR. JOHN DYESS. Motion carried.

MR. HENRY E. WALKER then explained to the LWIB that the WIA Youth Provider would like to place a participant in work experience at LaBarge, Inc. in Berryville. Ms. Leslie Evans, and LWIB member, works at LaBarge, Inc. in Huntsville. In order to avoid any appearance of impropriety, Mr. Walker asked if there were any objections by LWIB members. There were none.

There being no further business, meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m. on a motion made by MR. JIM STEWART seconded by MR. JOHN DYESS. Motion carried.

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Jerry McFarland, ChairmanDolores Myers, Secretary