Council Agenda:	10/21/03
	Item:	5.1
ALL CHILDREN ACHIEVE COMMITTEE
Meeting Report
October 9, 2003

PRESENT: Chair Ken Yeager, Vice-Chair Judy Chirco, and Councilmember Terry Gregory

ABSENT: Vice Mayor Pat Dando

STAFF: Kay Winer, Barbara Jordan, Julie Shioshita, Tess Reyes, Sara Hensley, Albert Balagso, Maria Hurtado, Angel Rios, Nora Pimentel, Betty Montoya, Janette Elizondo, Mario Maciel, Mike Rodriguez, Cathy Morrey, Gordon Yusko, Andrea Schacter, Avo Makdessian, Lydia Folles, Emily Moody, Tona Duncanson

OTHERS: Erica Garcia, Sean Deleev

a. August/September 2003 Youth Commission Bi-Monthly Report (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services)

Albert Balagso, Assistant Director, PRNS, introduced Maria Hurtado, Deputy Director. She gave a brief summary of the Youth Commission report for the months of August and September. She stated that that Hugo Jimenez, a new Council Assistant with Council District 7, attended the September meeting and offered his support. She also mentioned that Assistant City Manager Mark Linder and PRNS staff members will be leading a workshop at the upcoming Search Institute on October 23-25. She added that Commissioners Tom and Garcia will be presenting a workshop on the City of San José’s policy of inclusion at the conference. She also mentioned that a website is being developed for the Youth Commission.

Councilmember Gregory inquired about the status of the vacancies on the Commission. Maria replied that the Council Offices are now in the process of making their selection. She stated that 27 applications were received for the four vacancies. She stated the new Commissioners will be sworn in on October 21 at the evening Council session.

Upon motion of Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Vice Chair Chirco, the Committee accepted the report.

b. Youth Commission 2003-04 Strategic Work Plan (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services)

Deputy Director Maria Hurtado gave a PowerPoint presentation on the 2003-04 Youth Commission Strategic Work Plan. Maria stated that staff initiated a re-engineering strategy based on information from the office of Councilmember Terry Gregory, Council Liaison to the Youth Commission, SWOT analysis conducted with Public Allies (the agency previously contracted to work with the Youth Commission), the Youth Commission Executive Committee, previously assigned PRNS staff, and one-on-one meetings with current Commissioners.

Maria stated that staff will place emphasis on accomplishing the following for FY 2003-04:

· Ensure that the Youth Commission fulfills its charge as stated in the City Charter;

· Build a cohesive and team-oriented Commission;

· Ensure that Commissioners understand their roles and responsibilities;

· Ensure that City-sponsored youth related projects are heard and reviewed by the Commission;

· Ensure that each Council district maintains an effective Youth Advisory Council; and

· Ensure that Commissioners participate in leadership opportunities.

Maria reported staff conducted an overnight retreat for the Youth Commissioners on September 19-20, 2003 where they went through team building exercises and a comprehensive orientation on their roles, responsibilities and expectations as Commissioners. At this retreat, the Commissioners were able to develop the strategic work plan for 2003-04 and developed criteria for recruiting and selecting new Commissioners.

Maria introduced two of the Youth Commissioners, Erica Garcia and Sean Deleev, who were present at the meeting. The both spoke about what they learned at the retreat.

Vice Chair Chirco inquired about how current members are going to get the incoming members up to speed on the organization of the Commision. Erica replied that the Commission will implement a “buddy” system where a current Commissioner will personally mentor a new member. She added that the Commission normally holds two retreats per year, one in the Fall, when they set the groundwork for the next year, and the other in the Spring, to evaluate where they are and what they need to do to complete the goals set for the year.

Maria also added that staff and the Commission will work with the individual Council Offices to develop a district-specific implementation plan, and that they are also working with the City Clerk’s Office to streamline the Commission recruitment and selection process. She also announced that on October 15, the Parks and Recreation and the Youth Commssions will have a joint meeting to look at how they can coordinate their agendas.

Chair Yeager asked whose responsibility it would be to make Council aware of issues tht the Youth Commission can advise Council before the items are on the agenda for consideration. As an example, Chair Yeager cited the case of the upcomiing Library assessment district financing. He stated that it would be good for the Youth Commission to be involved and up to speed in that discussion.

Albert Balagso stated that it is for the same purpose that PRNS will conduct a joint meeting between the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Youth Commission so that they can discuss related items and each Commission would be able to give its endorsement. Albert also added that bringing the Commissions in on related issues should be a discussion for the City Service Area (CSA).

Chair Yeager added as we look at midyear budget issues and next year’s, it would be beneficial to include the Youth Commission’s analysis of how any of the proposed cuts would affect youth issues.

Gordon Yusko and Andrea Schacter, staff members from the Library, both agreed that the Youth Commision should be involved in library issues, especially in the Teens Reach Program of the library. Maria added that the Library and PRNS are scheduled to meet to discuss better coordination of programs and projects between the two departments.

Upon motion of Vice Chair Chirco, seconded by Councilmember Gregory, the Committee accepted the report.

c. Early Care and Education Update on the Integration of Quality Standards (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services)

Maria Hurtado gave a brief overview of the City’s Smart Start Program. She stated that program quality is a key element of the City’s Early Care and Education Strategic Work Plan, and described the five indicators for program quality: a comprehensive and age appropriate educational curriculum; health and safety standarnds; low adult/child ratio; qualified and well-trained teachers; and an enriching, supportive environment.

She also explained how staff have integrated the quality standards both in the Center-based and home-based facilities.

Maria also reported that the City has a two-fold strategy for integrating and raising the awareness of the quality standards, which are through training and giving technical assistance to existing providers and to continue providing training to early and education educators and primary education teachers.

She also mentioned that the City is implementing a Citywide Public Awareness Campaign through distribution of posters throughout San José.

Councilmember Gregory asked if staff have a strategy for determining by area where there is a need for centers. Maria introduced Angel Rios, Recreation Superintendent, who replied that staff have made a Citywide assessment and have identified where existing licensed centers and family child care homes exist, and based on this, have identified priority areas. He stated that the Early Care and Education Commission has a sub-committee that identifies and recommends site location for both center-based and home sites. Angel added that information is being collected and would be provided to every Council district.

Vice-Chair Chirco made a comment that in regards to the public awareness campaign, staff should consider having posters in pediatricians’ offices, as well as libraries and other facilities that have services for children. Angel mentioned that Kaiser Permanente has shown interest in setting up a smart start center at their facilities. Vice-Chair Chirco also suggested partnering with First Five. Maria added that staff are also having preliminary discussion with United Way regarding their Success by Six Program on how they can incorporate the quality standards into their funding mechanism. Albert Balagso also mentioned that some government agencies have partnered with television stations so that program advertisements are shown during prime time.

Chair Yeager asked if there is a way to gauge the success of the smart start programs by looking at a child’s performance as he/she enters an elementary school, and not just by looking at quality standards.

Angel replied that staff have developed in-house school readiness criteria and from that, they have developed a pre and post test where they test a child as he/she enters the child care and post tests them right before he enters kindergarten. He stated that staff have conducted a pilot test and it resulted in a 90% success rating. He stated that this instrument was developed by a child care professional. Chair Yeager requested a copy of the report. Maria suggested that an informational memo would be sent to the Mayor and Council.

Ken asked if there are any facilities that currently test children before they enter elementary school. Angel stated that presently, most schools start testing at Grade 3 and that there is interest in going towards that direction. Maria added that one of the training components is to create a link between child care providers and the K-12 system. Ken suggested a survey of Smart Start teachers and comparing that workforce to the general child care workforce.

Upon motion of Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Vice Chair Chirco, the Committee accepted the report.

d. Oral Petitions

None.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

Ken Yeager, Chair

All Children Achieve Committee