Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

Summary of the April 13, 2005 Board of Directors Meeting
Technology Conference Center

Functionality Study
Bob Havrilla updated the Board on the master plan for Great Oaks facilities to ensure their continuation as a quality-learning environment and a resource for the community.  Planning began with a study of the Scarlet Oaks campus that included an analysis of the buildings and input from our internal and external stakeholders about future needs.  Five important messages emerged that Michael Schuster and Associates are incorporating into a plan for the Scarlet Oaks campus.  These messages include: maintain a safe environment, accommodate emerging industries, enhance facilities to provide quality career programs, create easily identified and accessible entrances, and improve building communication technologies.  Decisions will be made about what parts of the plan to implement, and then to analyze the needs of our other campuses.

2005-2006 Student Service Fee
The Student Service fee is the amount charged when students from outside the Great Oaks Career Technical Planning District enroll in Great Oaks high school programs.  The Board of Directors approved setting the fee for 2005-2006 at $8,641 for Non-Consortium school districts and $4,321 for Consortium School Districts.

Tax Levy Certification
The Board of Directors approved accepting the certification of the Great Oaks tax levy in the amount of $38,413,359 as determined by the Hamilton County Auditor. The effective millage rate was 2.7 mils when the levy began in 2000 and is now 2.0 mils.

Achievement Academy - Opportunity Center Resolution
Two years ago Great Oaks began an alternative school called the Achievement Academy with two components: the Opportunity Center, serving students deficient in requirements for high school graduation; and the Alternative Center, serving students as an alternative to suspension or expulsion from a Great Oaks campus.
 
The Board of Directors authorized a request to the Ohio Department of Education to waive the required seat time for the Achievement Academy in order to use mastering competencies as the criteria for recommending credit. 

Enrollment Applications Analysis
Presently, 1,396 applications have been accepted as full-time new students for the 2005-06 school year.  Applications from additional students who do not currently meet program requirements are being reviewed. Other students will undoubtedly enroll since affiliated districts are still in the process of scheduling.

Third Quarter Attendance Report
The average student attendance rate for the district was 90%, which is consistent with previous years.

Leadership Academy
To ensure a quality pool of future teacher and administrative leaders, Great Oaks began it’s own Leadership Academy.  Based on the nationally accepted ISLLC Standards for school leaders, the yearlong program focuses on one or two standards each month. The successful model utilizes internal and external speakers, field trips, projects, and shadowing experiences to develop individual and organizational leadership skills.  A request for applications has been distributed for the 2005-2006 school year.  Participants from Butler Tech and Warren County JVS will join Great Oaks associates in this class that will be the sixth to date.

Ohio ACTE Conference Attendance
The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education’s annual conference will be held in Cincinnati August 3-5.  Great Oaks professional associates and Board of Directors are encouraged to attend.

Disposal of Obsolesced Property
The Board of Directors approved holding an auction on June 23 to dispose of obsolesced property.

Placement Status for the Class of 2004
The survey of the Secondary Class of 2004 shows that one-year after graduation:
· 96.8 % of the students are employed and/or in post-secondary programs. 
· 79.2% of the students are employed in the field in which they were trained.
· 36.2% of the students are in continuing education.

The survey of the Adult Class of 2004 shows that one-year after graduation:
· 98.6% of students are employed or in two or four year programs.
· 91% are employed in the field in which they were trained.
· 10.7% of students are in continuing education.

Placement Status for the Class of 2005
At the end of the third quarter, 28.1% of this year’s senior class is employed. More students will be placed during the fourth quarter.

Adult Workforce Development Enrollment – Third Quarter
Enrollment in full-time adult programs increased 3.8% over the same quarter last year.
§ Two new programs began at Laurel Oaks - Practical Nursing and Aviation Maintenance Technician.
§ Enrollment in Public Safety Services was up 9%.

Carl Perkins FY05 Reallocation
Career and Technical Education Planning District (CTPD) #044 – which includes Great Oaks - will receive an additional $138,101 in Carl Perkins funding.  The funds will be used to support the CTPD Strategic Plan.

Access Grant
The Board of Directors approved participating in a grant from the Ohio Department of Education Office for Exceptional Children.  The $50,000 grant will support professional development for teaching differentiated instruction and other strategies aimed at improving achievement for all students.

Positive Behavior Support Grant
The Board of Directors approved participating in another grant from the Ohio Department of Education Office for Exceptional Children.  This $25,000 grant will support instructional research and professional development on instructional practices to increase positive student behaviors.

Public Pre-School Grant
The Board of Directors approved participating in a grant from the Ohio Department of Education Office of Early Childhood Education.  This grant for $78,026.00 to support licensed day care centers will be used for the Acorn Center at Scarlet Oaks.

Project SEARCH Program Expansion
The Board of Directors approved expanding Project SEARCH programs.  These workforce development programs for students with disabilities will be offered at these new locations:
· Xavier University
· Hamilton County Park District
· Fifth Third Bank

Report of the Board Chair
Dr. Lorenz reported the following:
· The Reception for Great Oaks employees who retired within the last year will be held at the Manor House in Mason on April 21 at 4 PM.
· The Campus Senior Recognition Ceremonies will be held on:
- May 23 – Scarlet – Tri-County Assembly of God – 7 PM
- May 24 – Laurel – Roberts Centre – 6:30 PM
- May 25 – Live – Tri-County Assembly of God – 7 PM
- May 26 – Diamond – Tri-County Assembly of God – 7 PM
· The Southwest Region OSBA Executive Committee recognized several Great Oaks Board of Directors.  Members and their awards include:
- Bill Brandenburgh  - Award of Achievement, Master Board Member, and Member of the Southwest Region Executive Committee
- Frank Fullam - Fifteen years of service to the Hamilton County Educational Service Center
- Barbara Parry - Fifteen years of service to the Hamilton County Educational Service Center
- Jim Perdue - Member of the Southwest Region Executive Committee
- J.B. Stamper - Member of the Southwest Region Executive Committee
- Tim Young - Member of the Southwest Region Executive Committee

Report of the President/CEO
Dr. White reported the following:
· Great Oaks is embarking on two collaborative relationships with German exchange programs that are providing opportunities to strengthen our secondary and adult programs.  Through the Hamilton County ESC collaboration with Munich, we have already hosted principals from Munich trade schools, and will send teachers there in June.  With the strong German emphasis on quality technical schools, we are looking forward to the benefits of sharing information.  We are also sending Gary Gebhart, Director in Adult Workforce Development, to Germany with a Blue Ash delegation to study collaborating on workforce development programs.  Both of these exchanges offer an opportunity to learn new ways of providing improved programming that can impact our students and communities.
· Greg Fiebig, an associate in our community-policing program, is president of the Ohio Crime Prevention Association.  Greg and the organization presented Great Oaks with the President’s Award for our outstanding support of community policing efforts.
· Project Search, our nationally recognized program for providing employment for students with special needs, is expanding career-training opportunities.  Xavier University, Fifth Third Bank and Hamilton County Park District will now be offering training and employment at their locations.
· Bob Scarborough, Director of Adult Workforce Development and president-elect of the Association for Career and Technical Education, is testifying on April 14 in Washington, D.C. before the Democratic Steering Committee on Higher Education.  Senator Hillary Clinton chairs that committee.
· Great Oaks has over 225 winners in local, regional and state competitions sponsored by their five student organizations.  These organizations include: Business Professionals of America; DECA, an Association of Marketing Students; FFA, Agriculture Education; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; and SkilllsUSA.  The competitions are an integral part of the curriculum at Great Oaks and involve many hours of preparation on the part of our students and staff.  Through these competitions, students not only master skill sets in their career majors, but also develop the confidence and maturity that comes from setting and accomplishing goals.  The organizations are in the process of holding state competitions to determine national participants.  Already, Great Oaks has 19 students continuing on to national competitions.