PV STEMNET EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

MARCH 13, 2008

KITTREDGE BUSINESS CENTER

HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

2:10 – 4:15 PM

PARTICIPANTS: Holly Hargraves, Janice Doppler, Zvi Rozen, Tom Gralinski, Cecilia Buckley, Walter Breau, Bob Dickerman, Patricia Crosby, Mort Sternheim, Allan Feldman, and Kathy Baker

MINUTES

The PV STEMNET Executive Committee meeting was called to order by Allan Feldman, at 2:10 PM, on March 13, 2008.

Following brief introductions, Mort Sternheim began the meeting with an update of the most recent BHE/Pipeline grant awards (January '08). The partnership was the recipient of a grant for $313,000 to expand and extend the STEM RAYS program to include Amherst and Northampton, as well as Franklin County schools. The higher education partners are UMass, Greenfield Community College, and Smith College. (A PowerPoint detailing the proposal development proposal can be found at http://k12s.phast.umass.edu/pvnet/SteeringCommittee/2008GrantReportPPT.htm).

Zvi Rozen, who participated in the BHE grant review process spoke about the selection process. While there were numerous proposals submitted to the BHE for review, it was clear that this new round of funding was not for "new" projects or materials. Zvi also mentioned briefly the evaluation criteria and the need for quality evaluations. Data currently being reported is inconsistent. In the future, evaluation will need to quantify outcomes.

Janice Doppler reported on the development of the Vision, Mission, and Goals for the Network and provided the group with a draft document. This committee composed of Mort Sternheim, Anne McKenzie, Helen Gibson, Zvi Rozen, Janice Doppler and Allan Feldman, have been meeting and working on these 3 areas since November 2007. Using the work of the Executive Committee in November as a guideline, they crafted a draft for discussion. Those attending had the opportunity to have input into the Vision, Mission and Goals. A lengthy discussion followed, which resulted in the Vision, Mission, and Goals statements attached. Zvi then led a discussion to develop Objectives. The results of that discussion are attached to these minutes.

With time running out, Allan spoke briefly on his thoughts about responding to future RFPs.

· Some are only for the Network to apply (e.g., Pipeline funding grants from BHE);

· Some need the Network's written support (e.g., recent BHE RFP);

· Some don't even mention the Network (e.g., current MA DOE RFP).

Allan suggested that we need to develop a set of procedures to respond to these differing RFPs. He suggested that we consider guidelines to help us respond more efficiently and fairly. It was decided that the Executive Committee would decide how the Network should respond to RFPs. An email will be sent to Executive Committee members asking for their thoughts about the Network's response to the current MA DOE RFP.

Terri Howard suggested that we include grant managers once we have identified the partners.

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen M. Baker

PV STEMNET Project Manager