SARASOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

School Advisory Council

Minutes

April 1, 2003

 

MEMBERS Present: Gene Witt, Peter Straw, Alice Higgins, George McGonagill, Roland Piccone, Mickey Anderson, Tim White, Bill Costello, Regina Stinson, Jerome Greenstein, David Winterrowd, Bruce Andersen

 

MEMBERS Absent: Norm Stockton, Lynn Whisman, Harriette Laronge, Suzanne Jones, Ron Turner, Paige Eastman, Judith Ferrell, Jenna Mitchell

 

GUESTS Present: Sandra Holley, Bruce Hinson, Barbara Witte, Eddy Boynton, Mary Ribaudo, Art Gaudet, Terri Minter, Roland Chalbot

 

I.          Welcome by Chairperson

Peter called the meeting to order and welcomed the group.

All members and guests introduced themselves.

Carol Darling asked the members of the committee to indicate their intention to attend the two dinners and one luncheon during the COE/SACS visit.  

 

II.            Minutes of the last meeting on March 11

The minutes were reviewed and a correction was made to page 2 of 3.The COE/SACS Strategic Plan for Excellence was presented by Peter Straw for Carol Darling.  Also, a typographical error was made on page 2, paragraph 2: “thins” should be things. Bill moved that the minutes of the last meeting be approved and Mickey seconded the motion.

 

III.        The Budget for 2003-2004

                                   

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the budget for SCTI.  Gene expressed his appreciation for the participation of the group members.  There was a one-week time frame for the budget.  He wanted to get questions and answers on the table and perhaps have one more meeting, if necessary. 

 

Gene told the group that Bruce was involved in the staffing and budget and was online to present the staffing/program-planning portion of the proposed budget.  The process was lengthened by the transfer of all or most of the ACEC staff from the Landings.  All of the data is not available on the ACEC staff transfers.

 

A.                  Bruce presented three challenges that face SCTI for the 2003-2004 school year.

1.      Integrate ACEC and SCTI

                                                               i.      Use personnel efficiently

                                                             ii.      Streamline to reduce or eliminate duplication

                                                            iii.      Capitalize on economy of scale

                                                            iv.      Establish structure for the future

                                                              v.      Use the strengths of the staff

 

2.      Review SCTI Systems

                                                               i.      Program efficiency

                                                             ii.      Enrollment trends

                                                            iii.      Support services

                                                            iv.      Review and improve processes

 

3.      Establish Future SCTI Direction and Focus

                                                               i.      Technical High School?

                                                             ii.      Adult education and training needs

                                                            iii.      Workforce needs

                                                            iv.      Community needs

 

B.                  Ken distributed the 2003-2004 Budget.  A district staff person, who made an assumption by increasing the part time hours, completed the budget.  Page 1 was Workforce Development, page 2 FEFP, page 3 the referendum funds, page 4 fee support money, page 5 allocation by category.  Part of the problem with the current budget, according to Ken, is the collapse of ACTI, ACEC, and the 1300 Group into one.  The control of the budget this year is at SCTI.  Last year the consumables, travel, and equipment category in the budget totaled $550,000 for all three groups.  This year, the consumables, travel, and equipment category totals $200,000, for all three groups collapsed into one.  According to Ken, the three groups cannot survive on the budget for this category.  Ken stressed that the unification of the two schools is good. The schools can make each other successful.  Each school will be more aware of the needs of the other and the two schools will be more efficient with their resources.

 

 

C.                  There are 188 staff members on the SCTI and ACEC staff.  ACEC will keep 8 full time employees to run the adult enrichment area.  The rest (180) are SCTI.  The administration only has an unofficial list of ACEC employees.  Gene indicated that a real list has been requested from Human Resources.  The administration used assumptions to develop the 2003-2004 budget.  They considered staffing and organization.  The will be looking for a good fit for vacancies that exist.  George pointed out that the overall reduction is approximately $600,000.  Tim inquired about the date on which the decision was made to unite SCTI and ACEC.  Ken and Gene indicated that it was February 18.  Tim was also concerned about a decision regarding the personnel who will be transferred to SCTI and those that will not.  Gene responded that decisions had to be made at the Landings and the administrators made some assumptions when they budgeted.

 

 

D.                  Program changes are as follows:

 

              Construction                .6

              Lodging Operations              close

              Nursery /Landscape Operations          .6

              Phlebotomy                 .6

              Medical Lab Assisting                 .6

              Public Works               .6 (Fee based Program)

              Machine Tools              close

 

During the next year, administration, SAC, and SDMT will look at how the programs can be revamped and made vital again.

 

Expansion is possible in Auto Tech, Cosmetology, and Health.

 

Bruce indicated that the community would be contacted to determine their needs and SCTI could develop a program to support this.  As enrollment and desire increase, changes will be made. 

 

Art Gaudet indicated that both programs started in 2002.  Both have a pre-apprenticeship component.  The count of students given for January 20 does not add up to the actual enrollment at present and fee support students are not included in the count.  The construction industry has pushed for a recruiter, Karen Wilson. The contractors pay for the recruitment and the equipment has been donated.  At night, part time instructors teach the apprenticeship programs.  Sandra indicated that the apprenticeship programs are self-sustaining and self-sufficient.  They do not generate FTE dollars. 

 

George spoke to the loyalty issue with construction workers in recent years.  Competitors have an advantage when one employer educates an employee.  They offer them a slight increase in pay and the employee will change jobs.  Tim said that that competition was a reality in all industries.  Roland asked about MTI.  Sandra informed the group that MTI has the population base and the labor pool.  They hired marketing people and they turned their situation around in the last five years.  Apprenticeships will not suffer as a result of the .6 position.  The working class has shifted to Manatee and Charlotte counties because they cannot afford the housing in Sarasota County. 

 

Mickey reported that MTI has 310 high school students and 95% of them are adult students. 

Bruce and Peter agreed to curriculum revamping, community outreach, resource commitment, and business community involvement in seeking more enrollment for these programs.

 

E.                  Roland Chalbot spoke about the Machining program.  It is only been in existence for two years.  He had his first two completers Thursday.  The enrollment went from 0 to 6 adult students (at one point had 9).  The high school Engineering Assisting program is not even in the school catalog.  Manatee and Sarasota are pursuing apprenticeship element because of the machine shops in Manatee County.  He feels strong support from his volunteers.  Gene complimented Roland on his recruitment efforts. Perhaps a champion in the industry can be found to fund the position. 

 

 

F.                  Tim reminded the group to think “outside the box” through marketing and packaging programs.  Since he became a volunteer involved at SCTI in 1989, marketing and packaging of programs have been problems. Marketing can and will work.

 

 

G.                 Mary indicated that the blending of SCTI and ACEC will provide some progression for students from the ACEC programs to the training programs.

 

 

H.                  Ken reminded the group to focus on the budget.  OCPs matter.  Cosmo has one OCP and is 1300 hours in length.  Auto has 6 or 7 OCPs.  We only get extra dollars when people hit the OCPs.  We get 85% of last year as a basis of this year on the budget.  Remainder if from OCPs form the prior year and placements from two years ago.  Other budgets (K-12 and university) have grown and ours has remained the same.

 

 

I.                     Gene and Ken noted that workforce education is underfunded on a student-by-student basis.  Mary said that 95% of program completers are tracked.  Less than 5% cannot be located.  The placement is about 90%.  Those who are working, in the military, or continuing their education are counted as a placement.

 

 

J.                   Janice Sean, SDMT Vice Chairperson, presented the recommendations of the SDMT. 

·                     Reconsider decreasing staff hours in Construction and Phlebotomy.

·                     Reconsider using funds being allotted for instructor on special assignment, who are not in the classroom with students and use these funds for existing programs which directly serve students.

·                     Reconsider combining the ACEC budget since we are all one starting in July.

·                     Request the Sarasota School Board to reconsider their action: taking the $1,000,000 from the SCTI budget due to an insurance claim.

·                     In the future, involve the SDMT earlier in the decision-making process and supply the SDMT with the budget information in a timely manner to enable the SDMT to do its job.

 

K.                  George inquired about the impact of the changes.  Ken assumes that $560,000 will be saved and there will be a contingency fund.

 

 

L.                   David inquired about the number of students in ACEC.  Barbara Witte reported that there are 400 adult, 800 ABE/GED, 400 Corrections, and 900 ESOL.  With 534 high school students, that brings the total at SCTI to 3754 students.

 

 

M.                 There is no line item for marketing.  It is necessary to use internal funds for create a line item. Bruce will use internal funds to fund marketing. He will also use focus groups.

 

 

N.                  Jerry suggested that there should be a combined SDMT and SAC Task Force and that it should be created as soon as possible.

 

 

O.                 Mickey suggested the creation of a method of understanding the segments of the budget.  Gene said that a part of the agenda should be devoted to that at every meeting.

 

 

P.                  George moved that SAC approve the budget as presented.  Jerry seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.

 

 

Q.                 Mickey suggested a change to the method for next year, and that SAC be included in the process earlier.  George noted that SCTI has control of the distribution this year, and that fact is positive.

 

 

R.                  Gene emphasized that a year round, concentrated marketing program is needed, with emphasis on the programs with low enrollment. The equipment budget is also inadequate.

 

 

S.                  Peter also emphasized the need for new revenue sources and more effective marketing.

 

 

Mickey moved that the meeting be adjourned.  Jerry seconded.

 

Next Meeting: Monday, April 14, 2003, 6 pm.

 

 

 

 

Mission Statement: The Sarasota County Technical Institute provides quality technical education to meet workforce development and community needs.