In Attendance: Chief Ray Rose, Mundelein Police Department
Representative Kathy Ryg, 59th District
Mary Penich, Lake County Regional Office of Education
Alex Marx, Mundelein Park District
Barbara Daudelin, Mundelein Park District/Round Lake Park District
Michelle Michaels, State’s Attorney office
Bruce Johnson, Round Lake Park-Hainesville Police Department
Lisa Sheppard, Gurnee Park District
Brenna Versgrove, Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s office
Demar Harris, Lake County Workforce
Buddy Hargett, Lake County Workforce
Jennifer Tempest Bova, Woodland District 50
Anne Buck, Round Lake, District 116
Kimberly Kim, Lake Forest Country Day School
Evelyn Dalenheim Russell, YWCA Lake County
Migdalia Diaz, Omni Youth Services
Pat Garrity, Lake County Health Department
David Husemoller, Lake County Planning, Building & Dev.
Jennifer Adams, Northern IL Food Bank
Liz Nelson, Lake County In Touch
Jim Sipes, Abbott
Wallace Brandies, NICASA
Judy Fried, NICASA
Evelyn Dalenheim-Russell, YWCA
Betty Lindquist, Connections Day School
Salli Martin, UCAN
Cheryl Carlson, volunteer
Gail Hendrickson, volunteer
Loomis Mayfield, Illinois After-school Alliance (phone)
Theresa Loerch, State Representative Kathy Ryg’s office
The next After School Coalition Leadership Committee meeting will be held at
8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2005 at the Mundelein Police Department.
Announcements:
Loomis Mayfield, Illinois After-school Alliance called in for today’s meeting and announced that NOW is the time to let your legislators know about your concerns about any budget issues on education or human services. The legislature will try to pass a budget before the end of May, as after May 31 it will require a 3/5 vote to pass any legislation. One program, the Teen REACH after-school program, was cut by more than $2.6 million from last year, or over 13.1%, in the Governor’s FY06 proposal. As per the action alerts sent out previously, the Governor and all state Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents to restore these funds. An action alert explaining what to do is available at: www.icvp.org/afterschoolalliance.asp For more information, you can contact Loomis Mayfield (312-986-9200, or lmayfield@icvp.org).
Kathy Ryg also mentioned that once members are appointed to the One-to-One Mentoring Task Force, anyone interested may testify or attend hearings. Hearing dates to be determined.
Betty Lindquist, Connection Day Schools reported that the Girls Wise conference at CLC on Saturday, May 7th was a great success with approximately 110 junior high and high school girls participating in presentations and workshops. Judy Fried reiterated that gender specific programs are very important.
Betty also reported that the Juvenile Justice Council from State’s Attorney Mike Waller’s office is developing a task force to address the issue of truancy in Lake County. They are in the initial stage of sending out surveys to schools to identify significant issues regarding
truancy. For more information, call Betty at 847-680-2715 x227.
Chief Ray Rose, Mundelein Police Department announced that the Mundelein After
School Coalition is seeking assistance from the community in order to establish a teen center. Letters were sent out to local business and parents of students (grades 5-8) asking for their support with this project. They have received several phone calls from interested parents. The coalition is also working on a luau dance to be held on July 1st during Mundelein Days at Kracklauer Park.
Elizabeth Nelson spoke about St. Martin de Porres High School, a new Catholic coeducational college preparatory school located in Waukegan modeled after Cristo Rey High School in the Chicago Pilsen neighborhood. The school is committed to academic excellence made affordable through each student’s participation in the Corporate Internship Program. It strives to develop the full potential of each student in an atmosphere of mutual respect for the religious and cultural heritage of every individual. Elizabeth’s top priority is recruiting students for the '05-'06 school year. The school is also looking for volunteers for various projects, such as driving students to and from their corporate internships, and business partners and would also appreciate the opportunity to speak to students, parents, community organizations, faith-based organizations, local governments, etc. to help spread the word about St. Martin de Porres High School and recruit students. For more information, call Elizabeth Nelson at 847-543-2854.
DeMar Harris and Buddy Hargett announced that Lake County Workforce Development partners (contracts out to) with local organizations to serve in and out of school youths. For in school youth, their goals are to keep youth in school and improve on basic skill deficiencies when present. For out of school youths, their goals are to acquire GEDs when appropriate, improve on basic skills, and secure gainful employment.
Currently, for in school students, they work with The North Shore Academy (Special Ed), North Chicago High School, Zion Benton High School and SER Jobs for Progress (Latino after school program). For out of school youths, they partner with Daisy's Resource Center for CNA certification, Youth Conservation Corp for construction and The First Institute for basic computer training. In order to be in these programs, a participant must either be low income or special ed (focus is on low income). They will be sending out request for proposals in the fall for programs to run next year.
Cheryl Carlson, a former Warren Township High School board member brought attention to a void in representation of school districts in the After School Coalition and discussed the potential of reaching out to the 45 public and nonpublic schools in Lake County. There was discussion focused on reaching out to superintendents, principals and school board members. Chief Ray Rose reiterated the importance of bringing ‘after school’ issues to the attention of school board members. It was also mentioned that non-elected board members who have an interest and passion in school issues might be included. Suggestion was made to form a subcommittee to handle outreach to this group.
Report from Strategic Planning Committee: Mary Penich, Lake County Regional Office of Education reviewed the Recommended Action Plan which included the Committee’s Role, Actions Mandated by By-Laws, Action Taken, and Impending Actions to be Assigned and Completed ASAP (attached). There was also discussion on when and where the Lake County After School Annual Meeting should take place. Several volunteered to work on this committee to work out details. More information to follow.
Report from Assessment Committee: Barb Daudelin, Mundelein Park District/Round Lake Park District announced that the assessment committee will be meeting on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 – 2 p.m. at the Mundelein Park District to discuss tabulation of surveys and summary results as well as how to reach out to those who have not filled out the survey yet.
Treasurer Report: Judy Fried, NICASA reported that there is currently $483 in the
Lake County After School Coalition fund.
Judy Fried presented an overview of the Nicasa’s LifeStar Program, an after school program that focuses on avocational interests as well as vocational potential. It addresses the needs of students in the critical after school hours. Myriad studies show that substance abuse and other problem behaviors jump exponentially from 6th to 8th grade. LifeStar intervenes at the middle school years that are a time when problem behaviors may emerge and negative peer pressure and the need to “fit in” are most powerful. A more detailed overview of the LifeStar program is attached to today’s minutes. Please call Judy Fried at Nicasa at 847-546-6450 for questions regarding LifeStar or for a copy of their manual.
Chief Bruce Johnson, Round Lake Park/Hainesville Police Department in cooperation with Nicasa began teaching a class called LifeStar: Science and Technology at the Crime Scene. Bruce presented highlights of this program during the meeting. This current program consists of 20 Round Lake High School freshmen that are learning forensic and crime scene analysis. Classes include a variety of crime scene investigation tactics, including crime scene and K-9 search techniques, firearms examinations and evidence collection. Two field trips have been scheduled; the first will be to the Lake County Coroner’s office in Waukegan and the second will be to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab in Rockford. The program which runs from April 8 to May 20 has been a huge success.
Next Meeting: Dr. Janet Ring, Waukegan Public Schools will be presenting Establishment of the Jesse White Tumbling Team Affiliate at the next Lake County After School Coalition Leadership Committee meeting to be held on Monday, June 13, 2005 at
8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department.