The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, September 8, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Pat LaVigne and Jeff Metzger, Sr..  Mr. Osborne, Ms. Fullerton and Mr. Stoddard were absent.  Others present were Mary Ramp, Gil Morrison and Tatia Beckwith.  A quorum was not present.

REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ANNUAL REPORT

            Mr. Gil Morrison, the DeKalb County Regional Superintendent of Schools, presented his 2007-2008 Annual Report to the committee (attached to these minutes).  He mentioned that Dr. Beckwith and himself are state employees.  However, the County supplies them with their building, staff and other expenses.  He was the State Chairman for the GED this year.  He also mentioned that his office works with many cooperative county programs, as seen on page 2 of his report.  He informed the committee that the DeKalb County Special Education Association (DCSEA) withdrew from the cooperative because they are dissolving. 

Mr. Paul Stoddard arrived at 6:40p.m.

            Dr. Beckwith, Assistant Superintendent, supervises the DeKalb County Truancy Intervention Program at his office.  The program is funded through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education and is administered through the Regional Superintendent’s Office with the Assistant Regional Superintendent serving as the DCTIP director.  Truancy Outreach Workers, Emily Zerull, Dick Stipher, Cathey Stoddard, Denis Curran and Mary Curran work with truant students and their families to improve attendance by providing early intervention services.  They act as liaisons between the home and the school, referring children and families to various DeKalb County service agencies, and coordinating a credit-recovery program.

            During the 2007-2008 school year, DCTIP provided services to 156 truants and 151 chronic truants and 153 potential dropouts in DeKalb County.  Dr. Beckwith mentioned that there is an online program that the kids can do for credit recovery where they can earn online credits.  Fifty kids graduated in the County on time through this program that may not have if the program was not offered.

Ms. Julia Fullerton arrived at 6:47p.m.  We now have a quorum.

            Mr. Morrison said that there are 18,000 students that attend the public schools in the county.  There are 18,500 total students that attend public and private schools.

            Dr. Beckwith then mentioned that 396 bus drivers have been trained for bus driving. 

            She also mentioned that the Department of Child and Family Services awarded the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education a grant to support at-risk middle school students academically.  The students do have some classes that they need to pass to go on to high school.  What they can do is that the middle school can use the services as summer school if need be, said Dr. Beckwith. 

            Mr. Morrison said that by law the Regional Superintendent of Schools is the ombudsman for the homeless in DeKalb County.  They received a grant to establish a homeless liaison in his office.  Emily Zerull is the coordinator for this program. 

            Ms. Fullerton asked Mr. Morrison how many children in the County are homeless?

            Ms. Ramp said that there is usually between 20 to 30 kids at Home Haven at any given time.  That does not include the children that are living with a relative.  

            The committee thanked Mr. Morrison for a very information report.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

            Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from August, 2008.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

            Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

EXEMPT EMPLOYEE EVALUATION – COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR

            The committee discussed the Standard Work Plan for Ms. Mary Ramp, the Director of the DeKalb County Community Services Department.  Ms. Ramp said that she had successfully completed all of her goals and continuing education.

            Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Metzger, Sr., and it was carried unanimously that Ms. Ramp had successfully completed her Standard Work Plan.

            Before adjourning the committee briefly discussed whether Ms. Ramp should notify the agencies one more time about a one-time allotment request before December 2008.  The committee also discussed the GAP funds that Elder Care has.  These funds are used to help the everyday person with medical costs, medical equipment, etc., to help prevent the premature institutionalization of senior citizens. 

            The committee asked Ms. Ramp to send out another email notice to all the agencies with regards to the Senior Services Tax Levy for one-time allotments.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                            Respectively submitted,

                                                            _________________________________  

                                                            Chairman Robert Rosemier

_____________________________ 

Mary C. Supple, Secretary