At 8:40 a.m., Chairman Michael Summers called the meeting to order and welcomed those present.

In attendance: Donna Maria Alvarado, Carol L. Ball, Richard H. Brown, Dr. Deborah Bingham Catri, Dr. Joseph J. Christen, The Honorable Martha H. Dorsey, The Honorable Linda J. Furney, Linda L. Gentile, Patricia A. Grischow, The Honorable Bill Harris, Ann B. Higdon, Robert A. Hill, Jr., Ed Jackson, C. Lee Johnson, David W. Johnson, Joan W. Lawrence, J. Luke McCormick, James B. McGregor, Sr., The Honorable George M. McKelvey, The Honorable Darrell W. Miller, Keith Molihan, Patricia A. Moss, Patricia R. Nowak, John W. Partridge, Jr., Robert L. Rabe, Robert F. Reichert, Myron Robinson, Gary L. Schaeffer, Jacqueline Romer-Sensky, Jodie L. Stearns, Peter S. Strange, Ernest L. Sullivan, Chairman Michael P. Summers, Rebecca S. Tracey, Stu Vosler, Lee Wilkins, Robert C. Winzeler, Jr., Jacqueline F. Woods, Paul Worstell, Dr. Ron D. Wright, Bruce A. Wyngaard, and Dr. Susan Tave Zelman.

Absent with Representative present: Roderick G. W. Chu by Michael Taggart.

Absent: The Honorable Robert A. Gardner, The Honorable Nancy Hollister, Peggy Mativi, Alan A. Mayne, Kyle McKnight, James J. Mermis, Curtis E. Moll, Bradley R. Ohlemacher, The Honorable Vicki D. Pegg, David C. Phillips, Peter S. Redding, and Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton.

Chairman Summers began the meeting by reviewing the agenda for the day. He stated the primary goal for the day was to develop a "road map" for the next eight months and greater clarity of what the Board's short-term and long-term work should be. During his comments Chairman Summers:

- spoke about the importance of the WIA five year state plan and reviewed the process by which the plan would be finalized;

- announced that the Board's June and September meeting dates may be changed so that Board members who serve in the state legislature will not have schedule conflicts. The Board will begin to meet quarterly after the March meeting;

- stressed the importance of the WIA technical assistance conference on February 28-29, 2000, noting this conference would provide valuable information on the "nuts and bolts" of compliance and will also give local leaders the opportunity to begin writing their plans;

- discussed the recent visit by some Board members to the Dayton Job Center. Summers praised the center as one of Ohio's best and encouraged other Board members to tour the facility; and

- announced that the Performance Measures Committee and the Communications Committee have been formed and that individuals interested in either committee should contact either him or Lisa Gray.

Presentation on Delivering the Vision
Chairman Summers began the vision presentation by noting the Board has spent the past two months developing a common understanding of the vision and now it is time to begin achieving that vision.

The vision has three core principles:

1) improving workforce quantity;

2) improving workforce quality; and

3) creating a match system.

The next steps for meeting these three goals are:

1) identifying and setting up outcome priorities;

2) capturing improvements;

3) capturing system successes; and

4) developing a short-term plan.

As part of the eight month plan, Chairman Summers stated that all workforce development programs will be placed on a grid for the purpose of performing a gap analysis. This process will look for breakthrough results and compare desired outcomes to current output.

Chairman Summers asked the Board's committees to develop the critical outcomes for this grid during their meetings. He also announced that Andersen Consulting would assist in this process by providing facilitation services at this meeting.

He said that goals for the next six months should include:

1) "quick wins";

2) two or three critical (i.e. breakthrough) ideas that can be included in Governor Bob Taft's next budget; and

3) helping ensure the 49 local boards across the state are fully functional.

He further stated the State Board must support the local boards and that the Operations Committee will serve as a liaison to the local boards. Chairman Summers’ planned letter offering technical advice to the local board chairs (see January 12, 2000 meeting minutes) was delayed because there were only 11 local board chairs appointed over the past two weeks. The letter will be sent when more local board chairs are appointed.

The State’s workforce development efforts should be focused on the roughly 65 percent of the workforce that is currently employed with a link to the emerging workforce. The roughly five-percent unemployed will also continue to receive assistance. This represents a major departure from the past. Criteria will be developed to evaluate current development programs to determine whether resources need to be reallocated.

Chairman Summers introduced Larry L. Kite of Andersen Consulting, to discuss what other states are doing.

Andersen Consulting Presentation
Mr. Larry Kite began his presentation by stating that no state is a workforce development “leader” at this point.

He stated that a major issue is that many employers are not high on many workforce development systems’ lists of customers, and that “95 percent” of the effort is focused on WIA and TANF customers. He encouraged Board members to not just talk to those employers that use the system, but to also talk to those who do not use the system. Kite also said:

- the system must be market driven and that system operators must have their “finger on the pulse of the economy”;

- the system must improve access to services;

- services must be integrated;

- achievements and outcomes must be measured;

- information must be collected and disseminated; and

- the skill gap is equally important to both workers and employers.

Kite’s presentation led to questions and comments by Board members regarding establishment of criteria for skill needs, matching skills, and the importance of determining local needs through the use of labor market information statistics. The Board also discussed the roles of the county commissioners and business members in leading local workforce development activities.

There was also discussion among Board members regarding the role and importance of workers in the system. Chairman Summers concluded this discussion by noting that both employers and workers are the workforce development system’s customers and that there is a lot of discussion about who are the system’s customers because business is “at the table” for the first time.

Chairman Summers concluded the morning session by stating the primary goal for the day: identifying quantifiable, measurable outcomes linked to the Board’s vision.

At 9:55 a.m., the board proceeded to committee meetings and lunch.

Afternoon Session
The Board reconvened at 1:10 p.m.

Chairman Summers announced changes in the afternoon agenda and postponed the presentation on Ohio Works. He suggested that Board members explore the Ohio Works web site before the next Board meeting. He also announced that the Board would wrap-up business by 3:00 p.m., so that the business members could caucus to discuss what measures are needed to keep the business community involved. He noted that the frustration felt at the state level would no doubt be amplified at the local level.

Presentation on the Ohio Draft WIA Plan
Luke McCormick, chair of the Operations Committee, presented information to the Board on Ohio’s draft WIA plan.

McCormick began his presentation by noting the plan is a compliance document and that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) is the true audience. Board members had received a copy of the draft plan about one week prior to the meeting, and each of the Board’s committees had reviewed and commented on it. A web version was also being prepared for Ohio Workforce Connection. Five public hearings were scheduled to provide a venue for public comment. Public comment can also be sent directly to OBES.

Melissa DeLisio of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services provided an overview of the draft state plan. She said:

- the plan is a compliance document that provides a broad, strategic approach;

- the plan is a “work in progress,” and will be subject to change;

- the plan’s public comment period would last through March 19, 2000. The public comment period is being advertised through a news media release, mailings, and Ohio Workforce Connection;

- the draft plan is business driven, with a powerful vision that emphasizes strong labor market analysis and local control;

- the plan does not diminish the old system and allows the State to build upon past successes;

- there is a renewed emphasis on youth programs;

- the plan commits the State to build a system that is performance-based; and

- the plan provides for single-point accountability and increased, local flexibility.

General discussion about the plan followed DeLisio’s presentation. This discussion included the roles of both employers and workers in the development of the new system, and how different funding streams can be used to train disadvantaged and incumbent workers.

Chairman Summers concluded the segment on the draft plan by encouraging Board members to read it and be prepared to vote on the final version at the next meeting.

Committee Reports
Business Issues and Economic Development Committee
Dr. Joseph J. Christen reported the following workforce development system outcome goals developed by the Business Issues and Economic Development Committee:

- short-term goal: understand employer priorities. This includes a system to locate employers;

- short-term goal: all 49 local boards operating, with communication between the State and local level;

- long-term goal: national recognition as a state that provides quality work and quality workers through a quality system; and

- long-term goal: workforce development system usage by employers and employees.

Education and Training Committee
James B. McGregor, Sr., reported the following workforce development system outcome goals developed by the Education and Training Committee:

- development of mechanisms to communicate best practices around the state. (The opportunity to post ideas);

- robust curricula that includes academic and occupational skill standards. (Integrates private-public partnerships, driven by local areas);

- knowledge for all workers of labor opportunities. (Continual awareness of assessment tools, skill standards, and opportunities available);

- illustrate current and future career opportunities, based on business and individuals needs and wants; and

- retain Ohio employees and attain more Ohio employees.

Youth Committee
Ernie Sullivan reported the following workforce development system outcome goals developed by the Youth Committee:

- the education community will deliver skilled workers who complete high school with an individual career plan and ready to enter the workforce. (Topics: skilled workers, youth completing high school, employability/employer expectations, individual career plan, paid/unpaid work experience);

- produce youth who become productive citizens (Topics: community involvement, life-long learning, self-sufficiency, and parental involvement);

- be all-inclusive while impacting and including youth with special needs and the under-represented. (Topics: out-of-school youth, at-risk youth, youth with disabilities, and early identification); and

- reduce the factors that derail youth from engaging in the workforce. (Topics: substance abuse/mental health, teen pregnancy, truancy, and delinquency).

Review of the Ohio Option Board
Jacqueline Romer-Sensky, director of the Ohio Department of Human Services, presented an overview of the Ohio Option Board. In her presentation, Romer-Sensky stated that members of the Governor’s Workforce Policy Board (GWPB) who do not live in Ohio Option counties will be ineligible to serve on the Ohio Option Board. Governor Bob Taft will inform those members of the GWPB whom he wishes to serve on the Ohio Option Board.

Romer-Sensky stressed that the Ohio Option Board must function autonomously from the GWPB to ensure USDOL compliance.

Presentation on County Commissioners’ Roles in WIA Implementation
Chairman Summers invited Jerry Collamore of the Collamore Group, Ltd. to make a brief presentation regarding the county commissioners’ roles in local WIA implementation.

Collamore noted that the local WIA boards are “policy boards,” and that the local boards would work with the local elected officials to implement the changes to the system. This means the local boards are relieved of the administrative duties associated with these changes. WIA sends funding to the local elected officials, who set up the fiscal agencies. The local WIA boards can not prevent the local elected officials from spending the funds on their own, but funding priorities will be established by the local WIA boards.

After a brief discussion the motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Summers concluded this segment by reviewing a matrix that showed local WIA implementation progress by county.

The Board adjourned at 2:55 p.m.