Attending: Commissioner Johnson, William Steinhaus; Scott Hoffman; Michael Hoffman; Rod Dressel; Carolyn French; Sam Haines; Executive Deputy Commissioner Dave Wehner; Commissioner Mills; Gerard Pierce; Michael Kauffman; Paul Slobodian; Amelia Betanzos; Charles Callahan; Albert Catalano; Joe McDermott; Sherryl Weems; Rich Calo
The meeting opened with the welcome of a new State Board member, Albert Catalano. Mr. Catalano is a representative of the New York Building & Construction Trades Council and, in his capacity with the Bricklayers Local in Albany, spends about 40% of his time on apprenticeship issues.
The Chair also welcomed two Local Board members to the meeting: the vice chair of the Columbia-Greene Workforce Investment Board and the chair of the Capital District Workforce Investment Board.
Federal WIA Program Funding
The Board had an extensive discussion around an approach to get to local boards through all the compliance issues (plan approval, MOUs, and certification). Board members focused on two different approaches - one to encourage local boards through the use of technical assistance and guidance from NYSDOL; the other a more directive approach more forcefully telling local boards the importance of achieving and completing these milestones so the State Board can assist moving local boards to a higher level. There was consensus among the board members that it was incumbent upon them to ensure that the State Board is doing all it can to get to local boards through certification and drive some to drive additional execution for those areas lagging behind.
Action: After much discussion, it was decided that a letter from the State Board chair to the local chief elected officials and the local board chairs would be sent to those boards lagging behind. The letter would offer technical assistance and would contain a date certain by which items of compliance would be completed. If not, technical assistance would be imposed upon those local boards yet to attain certification with a report back to the State Board.
Local Area Certifications
The State Board reviewed the status of local boards seeking certification. It was noted that the numbers are increasing and the Board was pleased this is finally moving in the right direction. It was stressed that the message on the need for certification does have a shelf life and that staff should continue to work with areas on certification to ensure continued progress.
NYC Implementation Issues
As a follow-up to the Board’s discussion in its March meeting, Executive Deputy Commissioner Dave Wehner reported out to the State Board on actions taken to move New York City closer to compliance with implementation of the Workforce Investment Act. The Board had asked at its March meeting for Commissioner Angello to reach out to appropriate officials in New York City to express the concerns of the State Board about the lack of movement in terms of developing a system of employment and training services as outlined in WIA. Mr. Wehner reported that several meetings have been held with New York City officials and that they do recognize the seriousness of the situation. The dialog has been good and staff have been working to try to move forward a real and effective transition. There is a stronger dialog between the New York City LWIB Chair Stuart Saft and NYC DOE Commissioner Wu and it is hoped that this dialog will lead to more timely and meaningful meetings of the New York City WIB.
The State Board then discussed the need for it to be more of a catalyst for a number of reasons. There was a lengthy discussion about how the SWIB might influence and support the LWIB to move NYC into fuller implementation as outlined in the WIA.
Action Item: It was suggested that a letter be sent highlighting the SWIB concerns but not derailing any efforts that NYC has been working to achieve. The letter would indicate that the SWIB is on the scene and wants to help. At the next meeting NYSDOL will again brief the board on what has transpired in NYC and the Board will seek to get a sense of whether these efforts are making a difference.
Update on Statewide Marketing
Executive Deputy Commissioner Wehner reported to the State Board that NYSDOL will be rolling out a multi-media campaign commencing in late June. NYSDOL has used statewide level activities funds to underwrite the start of this marketing campaign. The campaign will get underway in those media markets where certification has already been approved and will continue to roll out in those areas which attain certification over the next several months.
Local Board Subcommittee Report Out
Carolyn French, co-chair of the subcommittee reported out on the April meeting of the subcommittee. The full report is posted but the following highlights were offered:
Emerging Workers Subcommittee Report Out
Subcommittee has moved to have the State Board adopt a policy related to youth services in the one-stop system. Commissioner Mills stated that one of the key goals is to get increased business input; the policy is designed to ensure a connection between resources of one-stops and all the other players (education, employment, business and other community groups); to identify a person in each one of the local boards to undertake training (practical) to assist them with the resources to link. At the September Board meeting the Subcommittee will outline what that training package will be but they will also need to listen very carefully to the local contacts before identifying the actual training. The Subcommittee is not asking through this policy that local areas spend more; the Subcommittee is looking to take an existing staff person and to ensure that this person has full access to all the information and resources. The concern started with young people in OCFS facilities; the three Commissioners took it to the Subcommittee and the Subcommittee worked on it and this is a low cost practical way to harness the knowledge.
The full subcommittee report out is posted separately.
Motion on the Floor: To adopt this policy; Mr. McDermott seconded the motion and the policy was approved.
Incumbent Worker Subcommittee Report Out
The Subcommittee is moving forward on working with the National Institute for Literacy on the development of a Worker Readiness Credential. Staff from NYSED and NYSDOL discussed the details with the NIFL and will proceed with the formal acknowledgement to the NIFL of the State Board’s interest in participating in this project.
Further details are posted separately.
Wegman’s Presentation on Youth Apprenticeship Model
The State Board had a presentation from Sarah Amering of Wegman’s. Wegman’s has developed a long term strategy to serve their business needs anywhere they do business. As the largest employer of youth in Monroe County, they really sought to develop a model that closely aligned with the educational standards set by the Board of Regents and their need for a skilled workforce. Their youth apprenticeship model combines many components including job coaching, parent involvement, strong involvement of the school system. Wegman’s offered this presentation at the request of the Emerging Worker Subcommittee as a way to seek stronger business involvement in the use of this type of model to address workforce needs.
Local Board Chairs Dialog
The two local board chairs discussed various issues with the State Board including the need for on-going training of new board members; the level of business participation on their local boards and on-going issues with business services. Both board chairs felt they had overcome a number of hurdles and felt they were on their way to achieving the goals set forth in WIA. Both acknowledged that it is a daunting task but one in which their boards seem fully engaged to tackle.