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High School/High Tech Call Session HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH SOLICITATION INFORMATION CONFERENCE CALL THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2003
MR. RICHARD HORNE: HI. THIS IS RICHARD HORNE AGAIN. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT ABOUT ONE MORE MINUTE AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN AGAIN OFFICIALLY. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, MR. RICHARD HORNE. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR GRANTS OFFICE AND WE'LL BEGIN OUR CONFERENCE CALL. MS. CASSANDRA WILLIS. MS. CASSANDRA WILLIS: GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE PRESOLICITATION CONFERENCE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH STATE DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. MY NAME IS CASSANDRA WILLIS. I AM THE GRANT OFFICER'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE. THE GRANT OFFICER IS LAWRENCE KUSS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONFERENCE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROJECTS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TOPICS THAT MUST BE AVOIDED, SUCH AS THE DISCUSSION OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION FROM ONE GRANTEE THAT IS NOT TO BE DISSEMINATED IN ADDITION TO THE TECHNICAL APPROACH TO BE SUBMITTED BY ANY OF THE RESPONDENTS. IN ORDER TO ENABLE YOU TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION BENEFICIAL IN PREPARING YOUR PROPOSALS, I'M GOING TO TURN THIS CONFERENCE OVER TO RICHARD HORNE FROM THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU, CASSANDRA. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF YOU OUT THERE ON THE LINE. AGAIN, I'M RICHARD HORNE, A SUPERVISORY POLICY ADVISOR HERE WITH THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY. LET ME INTRODUCE OUR OTHER STAFF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE OFFICE. AS YOU KNOW, JODY WILDY IS HERE FROM OUR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SIDE. JODY HAS BEEN ODEP'S PROGRAM OFFICER OVER THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM. HER SUPERVISOR, LISA LAHRMAN IS THE SUPERVISOR FOR OUR GRANTS MANAGEMENT TEAM, ALSO HERE, PAUL HIPPOLITUS FROM OUR GRANTS TEAM. FROM OUR YOUTH POLICY TEAM, RHONDA BASHA IS REPRESENTED HERE, AS WELL AS RACHEL DORMAN WHO SERVES ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM. AND ONE OF OUR INTERNS FROM THE Workforce RECRUITMENT PROGRAM, JESSICA HUNT FROM KENTUCKY. JUST A COUPLE OF REMINDERS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE JUST JOINED US, WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL IN JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS HERE. IF YOU'RE USING A CONFERENCE PHONE, PLEASE PUT YOUR PHONE ON MUTE TO PREVENT DISTRACTING NOISE THAT MIGHT PREVENT EVERYONE FROM HEARING THE INFORMATION THAT WE'LL EXCHANGE HERE. AND PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE ON, PLEASE SILENCE IT. THAT WOULD GREATLY HELP THE TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE HERE. ALSO, SO THAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRANSCRIBING THIS ENTIRE CALL. IT WILL BE PUT UP ON OUR ODEP WEBSITE FOR FUTURE FOLLOW UP AND REFERENCE AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THIS PARTICULAR TIME HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE ALL RECEIVING. SO ONE MORE THING I WILL ASK YOU TO DO IS, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF BY A FIRST AND LAST NAME AND THE STATE FROM WHICH YOU'RE CALLING FROM OR THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING. AND I WILL CERTAINLY REMIND FOLKS OF THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AS CLEAN A TRANSCRIPT AS POSSIBLE. WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO RUN THROUGH A ROLL CALL OF FOLKS WHO REGISTERED FOR THIS SPECIAL CONFERENCE CALL. WE HAVE KIND OF TRIED TO ORGANIZE THIS BY STATE. SO WE'RE GOING TO FIRST ASK THE REPRESENTATIVES. I HAVE THREE FOLKS IDENTIFIED FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA TO SIGN IN. PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING. KRISTAN BELL? >> OKAY. THIS IS JIM BURTON WITH ACCESS ALASKA. I REPRESENT THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH MOVEMENT HERE FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA. >> THIS IS RUTH HOMMEDIEU. I SERVE ON THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND I'M THE LIAISON TO THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAMS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE SUPPORTS. >> I'M KRISTAN BELL ALSO WITH ACCESS ALASKA AND I'M AN INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA? THANK YOU. CALIFORNIA? >> THIS IS REBECCA FINO FROM DISABLED ADVOCACY IN SAN DIEGO. I'M A HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM MANAGER. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM CALIFORNIA? OKAY. THANK YOU. COLORADO? >> HI THIS IS LINDA LAVECK, THE DIRECTOR AND ALSO THE STATE LIAISON FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM COLORADO? >> NO. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU. CONNECTICUT? ANYONE ON THE LINE FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT? OKAY. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA? >> GIL SHAMIR FROM THE AT PROJECT. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM D.C.? THE STATE OF FLORIDA? >> JOHN MEEHAN FROM GULFSTREAM GOODWILL INDUSTRIES. >> DONNA MUNDY, FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH. >> CATHERINE CONOVER, SCHOOL DISTRICT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM MANAGER. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM FLORIDA? MOVING ON. STATE OF GEORGIA? >> LEE MILLER. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU, LEE. >> AND THIS IS RON WILLIAMS FROM ATLANTA. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU. INDIANA? ANYONE ON THE LINE FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA? >> CARL AMERSON FROM JUST PUBLISHING. >> THIS IS MARK KEVITT FROM INTERLOCAL, THE STATE INVESTMENT BOARD. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM INDIANA? OKAY. THE STATE OF MARYLAND? >> LAVERNE BOYKIN FROM CAPITAL COMMITMENT. >> LEAH LOWE FROM TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL FOR WESTERN MARYLAND. >> FRANK FROM WESTERN MARYLAND. >> ARNETTA COOK FROM WESTERN MARYLAND. MR. RICHARD HORNE: FRANK, REPEAT THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION SLOWLY FOR OUR TRANSCRIBER. >> IT'S FRANK PETO AND THE AGENCY IS THE REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY OF WESTERN MARYLAND. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> LAVERNE BOYKIN, CAPITAL COMMITMENT. MR. RICHARD HORNE: WE'VE GOT YOU. OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. ANYONE FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON THE LINE? NEW MEXICO? MR. RICHARD HORNE: NEW MEXICO? >> ANDY WINNEGA FROM THE DIVISION OF VOC REHAB. MR. RICHARD HORNE: OKAY. THE STATE OF NEVADA? >> JERRY ADAMS, RENO NEVADA. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM THE STATE OF NEVADA? THE STATE OF NEW YORK? >> TOM THORPE FROM NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES. MR. RICHARD HORNE: NORTH DAKOTA? NORTH CAROLINA? OKAY. MICHIGAN? >> ANGELA MCCANTS. >> MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT STATEWIDE LIVING COUNCIL. MR. RICHARD HORNE: IS THIS VALERI? >> VALERI YARGER. >> I'M WITH THE REHABILITATION SERVICES REHAB AGENCY. >> I'M WITH THE STATE WORK FORCE INVESTMENT BOARD. >> DARLENE MALLOY EXECUTIVE FROM THE REHAB COUNCIL. >> JANET FROM THE MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VOC REHAB AGENCY. >> GENIE JOHNSON WITH THE STATE REHABILITATION COUNCIL. >> BRIAN WITH THE GRAND RAPID SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY REHABILITATION COUNCIL. MR. RICHARD HORNE: YOU ALL HAVE GOT THE WHOLE STATE ON THE LINE. >> PAT GRAHAM WITH THE STATE PROJECT FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. WE HAVE A GOOD COLLABORATION HERE IN MICHIGAN! MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM MICHIGAN? I'LL HOLD ON. >> JULIE ECKHARDT. MR. RICHARD HORNE: IS THAT ALL FROM MICHIGAN? >> NO, SIR. MR. RICHARD HORNE: OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE STATE OF MISSOURI. >> ANITA HENRY, THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. >> PAT DRE, DIVISION OF WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. >> SUE MCBRIDE WITH THE DIVISION OF WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM MISSOURI? OKAY. STATE OF OHIO? >> LUCILLE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. >> DERRICK MORELAND WITH THE WORK FORCE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. >> DALE ABLE WITH THE LIVING CENTER IN TOLEDO. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANYONE ELSE FROM OHIO? TENNESSEE? ANYONE ON THE LINE FROM TENNESSEE? GOING BACK. ANYONE ON THE LINE FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT? STATE OF NEW JERSEY? NORTH DAKOTA? ANYONE WHO HAS CALLED IN AND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME, SPELLING YOUR LAST NAME CLEARLY WITH THE STATE THAT YOU ARE CALLING FROM. OKAY. THAT COMPLETES OUR ROLL CALL. WE'RE NOW GOING TO JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBE the SGA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE MAXIMUM TIME FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US, LEE MILLER FROM OUR NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE ON WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH HAS BEEN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM WITH OUR TA COLLABORATIVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND LEE IS GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY -- AND THANK YOU, LEE, FOR BEING WITH US, AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE FEELING BETTER -- ON SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES THAT HAVE GOTTEN US WHERE WE ARE TODAY ON HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH. AS YOU ALL KNOW AND YOU'VE SEEN, CONTAINED IN THAT SGA, HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH REALLY HAS, UP UNTIL THIS POINT ABOUT A YEAR AGO REALLY BEEN LOCALLY MANAGED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN, AT LEAST THROUGH THE FORMAL PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE FROM THE LATE 80'S TO WHEN ODEP WAS CREATED IN 2001, WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONTINUING THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM. THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE, WE INITIATED SOME EVIDENCE BASED FACT FINDING TO REALLY GET AT WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF THIS PROGRAM THAT ARE YIELDING THE RULES THAT WE'RE SEEING AT THAT LOCAL LEVEL. AND THROUGH THE WORK OF THE COLLABORATIVES, CERTAINLY WITH LEE'S ASSISTANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP WHAT WE ARE CALLING DESIGN FEATURES FOR THE PROGRAM THAT WE BELIEVE, IF INSTITUTIONALIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL ACROSS AGENCIES, CAN SUSTAIN THIS PROGRAM IN THE LONG-TERM. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FOUR DESIGN AREAS SUCH AS PREPARATORY EXPERIENCES, CONNECTING ACTIVITY, WORK BASED EXPERIENCES, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. AND AS INDICATED IN THE SGA, THERE'S A DIRECT LINK TO THE NEW RECENTLY RELEASED HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM MANUAL ON THE SITE OF OUR NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE. AND WE CERTAINLY THINK THAT YOU CAN GET MORE BACKGROUND THERE. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR COMPETITION, AGAIN, WAS FOR US TO EXPAND HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH AND HAVE IT SUSTAINED IN THE STATES. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE BELIEVED WE NEEDED TO BEGIN AT THAT STATE LEVEL AND BEGIN PARTNERING OUR EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH SITES WITH STATE SYSTEMS THAT ALL HAVE AS A GOAL IMPROVING TRANSITION RULES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND WE HAVE CERTAINLY EXPERIENCED THAT THROUGH THE YEARS OF LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, IN THESE DAYS OF TIGHT FEDERAL BUDGETS AND COMPETING REQUESTS FOR FUNDING, THAT REALISTICALLY WE MAY NEVER HAVE THE KINDS OF FEDERAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT EVERY LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BELIEVE THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE BEST LEVERAGED AT THE STATE LEVEL IN ORDER TO BRING PARTNERS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS -- NOT ONLY STATE AGENCIES BUT EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES AND CONSUMER, AND FAMILIES, AND ADVOCATES, IN ORDER TO STRATEGICALLY THINK ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT MAY HELP YOU LEVERAGE OTHER RESOURCES IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH INDEFINITELY. AND THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL OF THIS COMPETITION. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE EMPHASIZED ISSUES AROUND THE DESIGN FEATURES AS A REQUIREMENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROGRAM ROLL OUT. WE'RE ASKING FOR CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY AND WHERE THE STATES BELIEVE THEY CAN BE IN FIVE YEARS. AND WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO BE SURE THAT THEY PAY ATTENTION TO EVALUATION DESIGN THAT SUPPORTS ODEP'S STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE GOAL THAT ARE PART OF HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REPORTS ITS PERFORMANCE TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND TO THE CONGRESS. AND SO WE ARE PARTICULARLY LOOKING FOR THE KINDS OF OUTCOMES THAT SHOW US DATA THAT THE EXPERIENCES OF HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH LEAD TO POSITIVE EMPLOYMENT, POST SECONDARY EDUCATION, ET CETERA, RESULTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. SO I BELIEVE THAT, AMONG ALL OTHER PIECES INCLUDED IN THE SGA THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, THIS IS REALLY WHERE WE BELIEVE AT ODEP THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM GO THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR GRANT INITIATIVE. SO WE'RE HOPING EVERYONE WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE ISSUES AND ADDRESS THEM IN THIS PROCESS. AS YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO, WE ESTABLISHED -- WHICH HAS BEEN A LABORATORY FOR THIS LONGER AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL SGA, TWO STATES IN THIS INITIATIVE, IN CONNECTICUT AND IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. AND LEE, IF YOU CAN JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES JUST TO KIND OF DESCRIBE WHERE THOSE STATES ARE AND WHERE SOME OF THE OBSERVATIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED THAT YOU MAY BE SEEING FROM THERE THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. LEE MILLER: I WOULD BE GLAD TO. CONNECTICUT BEGAN A YEAR AGO WITH A GRANT TO SHELTER CONNECTICUT. FROM THAT, THEY BUILT THEIR STATE LEVEL HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT GRANT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT GRANT. AND MANY OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE SGA. THEY NOW HAVE, BASED UPON THEIR COLLABORATIVE, NEW GROWTH, THEY'RE DEVELOPING MATERIALS. AND IN JUST GENERAL OUTREACH, THEY NOW HAVE FIVE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND THEY'RE RUN BY DIFFERENT ENTITIES. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN SOME AREAS, GOODWILL IN OTHERS, WORK FORCE INVESTMENT BOARD. AND AS I SAID, IT'S RUN THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES. AND IS THE CHAIR OF THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT. THE GEORGIA PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1977 WITH AN EMPHASIS ON STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION. IT RECEIVED A STATEWIDE GRANT LAST YEAR THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THROUGH THE STATE OF GEORGIA. AND RON WILLIAMS IS ON THE LINE, BY THE WAY. HE'S THE STATE DIRECTOR OF HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH IN GEORGIA. AGAIN, THE SAME FORMAT, PUTTING TOGETHER ALL OF THE COLLABORATIVES THAT CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND ALSO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM POST FUNDING, POST FEDERAL FUNDING. RON, I BELIEVE, NOW HAS ABOUT THIRTY HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAMS. AND IT'S GROWING VERY RAPIDLY. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE POPULATION THAT YOU'RE SERVING IN HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH, THEIR NATURAL PARTNERS. AND OF COURSE THE SGA SAYS THAT. RICHARD, DO YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR HAVE I GIVEN ENOUGH OF A BACKGROUND? MR. RICHARD HORNE: NO, LEE. I THINK THAT'S PERFECT. AND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO DIRECT TO YOU, I HOPE YOU'LL STAY WITH US. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ENOUGH OF THE TALKING THEN. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL IS REALLY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, AND CERTAINLY CASSANDRA WILL PROVIDE US WITH GUIDANCE ON THAT. SO AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, FIRST, I NEED TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, AND THE STATE THAT YOU'RE CALLING FROM. SO ANYONE OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN? DONNA MUNDY: OKAY. MY QUESTION IS, WE STARTED STATEWIDE IN '98 AND WE HAVE FIFTEEN PROGRAMS AT THIS POINT WITH ABOUT 400 PLUS STUDENTS. AND WE'RE WANTING TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. I'M A LITTLE UNCERTAIN OF WHICH OF THESE GUIDELINES WE FALL UNDER? IMPLEMENTATION OR DEVELOPMENT? WE ARE EXPANDING OUR STATEWIDE CONNECTION BUT ALSO DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS. MR. RICHARD HORNE: LET ME DIRECT YOU TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER, PAGE 33,991 PART 5. PAGE 33,991. AND I'M ACTUALLY REFERRING TO THE ACTUAL FEDERAL REGISTER ANNOUNCEMENT, THE THREE COLUMN PUBLISHED PAPER. LISA, ARE YOU USING THE HTML VERSION? >> IT'S PAGE FOUR. DONNA MUNDY: I'M ON THE ROAD TRAVELING. MR. RICHARD HORNE: PULL OVER THEN. DONNA MUNDY: NOBODY ELSE KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE HERE EITHER SO I'M OKAY. MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN, I THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, YOU NEED TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE ELIGIBILE APPLICANTS, THEY ARE THE STATE INVESTMENT BOARDS, STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABORS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -- DONNA MUNDY: WE ARE, UNDER OUR GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE, WITH OUR STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THEN YOU NEED TO INTERPRET WHETHER OR NOT THAT STRUCTURE MATCHES THAT STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY. DONNA MUNDY: THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU, DONNA. ANOTHER QUESTION? ARNETTA COOK: I'M CALLING FROM CALIFORNIA. THERE ARE TIMES THAT THE WHOLE CONFERENCE CALL IS BLINKING IN AND OUT FOR ME. SO IT'S LIKE IF SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY STRATEGIC. IS THIS A BY-PRODUCT TO ME OR WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CAUSING THEM? MR. RICHARD HORNE: I'VE ASKED FOLKS TO MUTE THEIR PHONE AND NOT HAVE ANY CELL PHONES ON. IT COULD BE JUST YOUR CONNECTION. I HAVEN'T OBSERVED ANY BREAKING HERE BUT AGAIN, IT IS A GOVERNMENT LINE. ARNETTA COOK: THE REASON FOR ASKING THE QUESTION IS, IN THE BEGINNING I THINK I MISSED SOMETHING IN THE VERY BEGINNING AS YOU INTRODUCED THE CONFERENCE CALL TODAY. OF WHAT I'VE SEEN THUS FAR, IT WOULD TEND TO SUGGEST THAT THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF ELIGIBLE AGENCIES, NOT NECESSARILY AT THE STATE LEVEL. IS THAT CORRECT? MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN, I WOULD REFER YOU TO PAGE 33,991 OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER. THE ELIGIBILITY APPLICANTS ARE STATE AGENCIES AND THE SGA, I THINK, IS CLEAR IN THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> JIM BURTON FROM ALASKA. MY QUESTION IS, IN PREPARING THE APPLICATIONS SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED WITH ADDRESSING ONE AREA OR THE OTHER? MR. RICHARD HORNE: I WOULD REFER YOU, JIM, AGAIN, TO THE PAGE 33,992 OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER, PART 7, THE GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS AND STATEMENT OF WORK. THE FINAL PARAGRAPH STATES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HOWEVER, DOES NOT EXPECT THE APPLICANT TO INCORPORATE EVERY ITEM LISTED AS PART OF THEIR STRATEGY IN PROPOSAL DESIGN. THE DOL RECOGNIZES THAT THE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF EACH STATE MAY BE DIFFERENT, AND THEREFORE SOME OF THE OPTIONS IDENTIFIED MAY BE MORE RELEVANT THAN OTHERS IN A PARTICULAR STATE. JIM BURTON: THANK YOU! MR. RICHARD HORNE: YOU'RE WELCOME. >> I'M ANGELA MCCANTS FROM RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA. MY QUESTION, IS WILL THIS GRANT BE A NEW GRANT OR WILL THIS BE A CONTINUING GRANT AND HOW MANY WILL BE AWARDED? MR. RICHARD HORNE: PAGE 33,989 ON THE FEDERAL REGISTER, THE OPENING PARAGRAPH, THE NOTICE ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF 1.8 MILLION TO AWARD UP TO 8 GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $225,000 TO ASSIST STATES IMPLEMENTING THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM ON A STATEWIDE BASIS. THIS INCLUDES ONE COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION FOR A GRANT APPLICATION, SGA, THAT WILL BE USED TO AWARD BOTH HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS AND HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. >> HI, THIS IS GIL SHAMIR FROM D.C. MR. RICHARD HORNE: HOLD ON, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? ANGELA MCCANTS: YES, THANK YOU. GIL SHAMIR: I'M HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS. IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: SURE. ESSENTIALLY -- AND I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE REFERENCE IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. SO YOU NEED TO GIVE ME A CHANCE TO LOOK. GIL SHAMIR: IT'S ESSENTIALLY A MATTER OF DEGREE OF ESTIMATION. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THERE'S A PLACE WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT EVALUATING THE GRANTS. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE AWARD. IT'S UNDER THE REVIEW OF THE BUDGET THAT, WHEN WE SCORE THE APPLICATION, THE TOP SIX WILL BE IMPLEMENTATION AND THEN THE NEXT TWO WINNERS, YOU KNOW, THAT SCORE IN THAT RANK, WOULD BE THE DEVELOPMENT STATES, THE NEXT THREE. AND THOSE THAT RECEIVE THE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, WE WOULD GO BACK TO THOSE FOR ABOUT A 45 DAY PERIOD TO RETOOL THE BUDGET AND RETOOL THE SCOPE OF WORK. LET ME FIND THAT. >> RICHARD, I BELIEVE IT'S FIVE AND THREE. MR. RICHARD HORNE: LEE, THANK YOU. GIL SHAMIR: I GUESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD WAS HOW DIFFERENT YOU SEE THESE. MR. RICHARD HORNE: I WOULD REFER YOU TO NUMBER 1, HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. SUCCESSFUL STATE PARTNERS WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT ALL PARTNERS RELATIVE TO THE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE ARE IN PLACE, SUCH AS EDUCATION, WORK FORCE INVESTMENT ACT FOLKS, THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY COUNCIL. ONE REQUIREMENT, AND THE STATE HAS THE CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH DESIGN FEATURES DISCUSSED BELOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IN ADDITION, SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE A STRONG PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM WHEN FEDERAL FUNDING CEASES. THEN DOWN ON NUMBER TWO, THE STATE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS WILL BE TARGETED TO STATE APPLICANTS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM DESCRIBED ABOVE IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IF PROVIDED WITH APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 23
PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, AT WHICH TIME, THOSE GRANTEES WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FUNDING. DEVELOPMENT GRANTS WILL NOT BE RENEWABLE. AGAIN, ON 33,988 IN THE SECOND COLUMN, THE SECOND FULL PARAGRAPH DOWN, THE APPLICATION AND EVALUATION SELECTION CRITERIA FOR BOTH TYPES OF GRANTS ARE THE SAME. THE FIRST APPLICANT SELECTED, WHEN EVALUATED PURSUANT TO THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN PARTS 7 AND 8 OF THIS SGA WILL BE AWARDED HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. THE NEXT THREE APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. REVISED SCOPE OF WORK AND BUDGET DOCUMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED FROM ALL DEVELOPMENT GRANTEES WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THE REWARD TO REFLECT THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? GIL SHAMIR: IF I COULD REPHRASE THE QUESTION, MAYBE IT WOULD HELP. IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, THE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS ARE KIND OF LIKE STARTERS. AND THE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS ARE KIND OF LIKE FULLY -- >> MORE FULLY DEVELOPED, FURTHER ALONG IN THE PROCESS. RHONDA BASHA: I WOULDN'T SAY THE DEVELOPER ONES ARE STARTERS EITHER, BUT A LOWER LEVEL THAN THE OTHER ONES. BOTH ARE ASSUMING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PREPAREDNESS. GIL SHAMIR: THANK YOU. LEE MILLER: IS THE BASIC QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE TO DECLARE WHICH PARTICULAR BRANCH YOU'RE GOING FOR? MR. RICHARD HORNE: NO YOU'RE APPLYING AS IF YOU'RE APPLYING FOR AN SGA QUESTION. NO, YOU DON'T CHECK OFF A BOX, ONE VERSUS THE OTHER. >> LUCILLE FROM OHIO. IF SOMEONE IS GRANTED THE ONE YEAR GRANT, DO THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO REFUSE THE FUNDING? AND WILL THE FUNDING BE OFFERED THE NEXT YEAR IF THEY WANT TO REAPPLY? MR. RICHARD HORNE: I WOULD HAVE TO PASS THAT TO CASSANDRA. MS. CASSANDRA WILLIS: CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION AGAIN? LUCILLE: LIKE IF SOMEONE COMES IN, YOU KNOW, 6TH, 7TH, OR 8TH. SO THEY'RE AWARDED THE ONE-YEAR GRANT. CAN THEY REFUSE THE GRANT AND IT GO TO THE 9TH PLACE? AND THEN NEXT YEAR WILL THE FUNDING BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR A FIVE-YEAR GRANT? MR. RICHARD HORNE: MY ANSWER TO THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE FUTURE FISCAL YEAR FUNDING. THAT'S COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON THE APPROPRIATION FROM CONGRESS. SO IT WOULDN'T MAKE YOU AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE MONEY. YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN. I MEAN, ANYONE CAN CHOOSE NOT TO ACCEPT A GRANT, BUT IN TERMS OF NONACCEPTANCE, IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOU A WINNER IN FUTURE APPLICATIONS. LUCILLE: I UNDERSTAND IT WOULDN'T MAKE YOU A WINNER. BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO TURN BACK THE MONEY. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BASICALLY BEEN ASKING. MR. RICHARD HORNE: LET ME SEE IF I'VE UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION CORRECTLY. IF AWARDED A DEVELOPMENT GRANT, AND YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN'T EXECUTE IT IN A YEAR, THE TERMS OF THE GRANT WOULD MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT. SO YOU WOULD NEED TO THINK VERY CRITICALLY ABOUT THE CAPACITY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE SGA IN TERMS OF MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SGA, BOTH AS AN IMPLEMENTATION OR A DEVELOPMENT STATE. MS. CASSANDRA WILLIS: THEN YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THE REQUIRED 45 DAY TO SUBMIT A REVISED BUDGET. SO YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO RE-EVALUATE THAT. AND IF YOU STILL CAN'T, THEN YOU CAN WITHDRAW YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION. LEE MILLER: BUT THERE'S ANOTHER SECTION. AND THAT'S TWO. AND I DON'T HAVE THE PAGE NUMBERS. THIS IS SECTION TWO. AND THAT'S NOT ME RINGING! IT DISCUSSES WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FIRST YEAR PERIOD. IT SAYS THE DEVELOPER WILL BE AWARDED FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE, AFTER WHICH TIME GRANTEES WILL BE ELIGABLE TO APPLY FOR IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FUNDING. SO THAT MAY ANSWER THE QUESTION. >> WE JUST NEED SOME CLARIFICATION AGAIN. THIS IS MICHIGAN. WE JUST NEED SOME CLARIFICATION. MICHIGAN, THIS WOULD BE THEIR FIRST TIME IN APPLYING. ARE WE GETTING THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS BOTH, WE'RE APPLYING FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION? MR. RICHARD HORNE: THAT IS EXACTLY THE INTENT OF THE SGA. IT'S EVERYONE'S FIRST TIME. THIS IS A NEW COMPETITION. >> PEG FROM MICHIGAN. COULD YOU ALSO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REVIEW PROCESS WHEN ALL APPLICANTS COME. HOW WILL YOU GO THROUGH AND MAKE THE DETERMINATION. MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN I WOULD REFER YOU TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE 33, 595 TOWARD THE END OF THE HTML DOCUMENT, PART 9, REVIEW PROCESS OF EVALUATION CRITERIA. ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS NOTICE, A CAREFUL EVALUATION OF THE NOTICE WILL BE MADE BY A TECHNICAL REVIEW PANEL WHICH WILL EVALUATE THE AGAINST THE CRITERIA LISTED IN THIS SGA. THE PANEL RESULTS ARE NOT BINDING ON THE GRANT OFFICER. THE DOL MAY ELECT TO AWARD GRANTS EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT DISCUSSION OF THE APPLICANTS. IN SITUATIONS WITHOUT DISCUSSIONS AN AWARD WILL BE BASED ON THE APPLICANT'S SIGNITURE ON THE SF 24, WHICH CONSTITUTES A BINDING OFFER. THE GRANT OFFICER MAY CONSIDER ANY INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE AND WILL MAKE THE FINAL AWARD DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT IS MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT, CONSIDERING SUCH FACTORS AS PANEL FINDINGS, GEOGRAPHIC DIRECTION OF FEDERAL APPLICATIONS, AND THE CURRENTLY EXISTING STATE GRANT’S, CONNECTICUT, AND GEORGIA, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. >> MARLENE MALLOY FROM MICHIGAN. WHAT PILOT SITE FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION GRANT WILL BE WORKABLE? MR. RICHARD HORNE: IF YOU GO TO THE STATEMENT OF WORK -- AGAIN I'LL REFER YOU TO PAGE 33,992. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BOTH IN THE STATEMENT OF NEED, THE SECTION ON COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE OF STRATEGY, PARTICULARLY, LETTER B, WHERE NUMBER ONE DESCRIBES THE ROLES SET FORTH TO SUSTAIN HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH, IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH SITES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, DESCRIBE THE STRATEGY IN THE EXISTING STATE AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAMS IN THE STATE. AND AGAIN, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN THAT STATE. >> ROSEANNE FROM MICHIGAN. WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO ANNOUNCE THE AWARDED STATES? MR. RICHARD HORNE: I'LL ASK CASSANDRA OR LISA TO ANSWER THAT. WE HOPE TO ANNOUNCE THEM BY THE END OF AUGUST. >> FOR A START DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1. LISA LAHRMAN: START DATE OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, AT LEAST. >> LAVERNE FROM MARYLAND. I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARITY ON THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. ARE YOU SAYING A NONPROFIT OR COMMUNITY BASED MUST BE A PARTNER OF THE STATE WORK FORCE? MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN I'M GOING TO REFER YOU TO ELIGIBILITY SECTION, PART FIVE. INCLUDES STATE INVESTMENT BOARDS, STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, STATE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY COUNCIL, STATE DEPARTMENTS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, AND THOSE AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, QUOTE, STATE IN THIS CONTEXT, INCLUDES THE 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, CONSORTIA OF STATE AGENCIES (INCLUDING COMMUNITY AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS, ET CETERA, AND LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SITES ARE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS) PRIOR AWARDEES ARE INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING UNDER THIS SOLICITATION. >> THANK YOU. >> PEGGY FROM SAN DIEGO. I GOT THAT SAME ANSWER, IF WE HAVE A LOCAL HIGH-TECH SCHOOL HERE, IF WE ARE TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF REHAB. WILL THAT QUALIFY? MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN, I THINK YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DEFINITION OF STATE IN THE AREA THAT I JUST REFERENCED IN THE SGA ON 33,991. THE PARAGRAPH BEGAN WITH THE QUOTE, STATE, UNQUOTE, THROUGH THE REST THAT I JUST READ. PEGGY: HERE'S MY OTHER QUESTION. THE THIRD PARAGRAPH THERE THAT STARTS WITH REQUIRED PARTNERSHIPS, IT SAYS THAT THE WORK FORCE INVESTMENT BOARD IS A MANDATORY PARTNER. IS THAT -- MR. RICHARD HORNE: IT'S VERY CLEAR. IN ADDITION TO THE STATE WORK FORCE BOARD WHICH IS A MANDATORY PARTNER IN THESE GRANT ACTIVITIES, EACH GRANTEE MUST, AT A MINIMUM, DEMONSTRATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THREE OF THE OTHER STATE LEVEL GROUPS, STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES. PEGGY: THANK YOU. DONNA MUNDY: OKAY. I HAVE A THREE PART QUESTION. THE FIRST PART, ON PAGE 17 STARTS ABOUT LETTERS OF COMMITMENT. WE HAVE FIFTEEN SITES. NINE OF THOSE ARE FILLED WITH CENTERS -- DIFFERENT CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. DO I NEED A LETTER FROM EACH OF THOSE NINE SITES OR WOULD A LETTER FROM THE STATE ORGANIZATION? MR. RICHARD HORNE: LET ME TRY TO RESPOND TO THAT? WE'RE LOOKING, FOR YOUR REFERENCE, FEDERAL REGISTER, 33,994, THE MIDDLE COLUMN SAYS LETTERS OF COMMITMENT. I WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT BACKWARD TO THE FIRST COLUMN WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT ODEP, THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH. ODEP CONSIDERS DETAILED COMMITMENTS FOR SPECIFIC NEW ACTIVITIES TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROMISES OF INKIND SUPPORTS IN DEMONSTRATING SUSTAINED SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECTS. IT GOES ON TO DESCRIBE SPECIFICALLY THE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR'S COMMITMENTS ENVISIONED. , AND THEY LIST SEVERAL EXAMPLES. THEN THE LETTERS OF COMMITMENT AREAS REFER, I FEEL MORE SPECIFICALLY, TO DOCUMENT THOSE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS AS OPPOSED TO HI, I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. AND I THINK THE SGA IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE LETTERS OF COMMITMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE -- APPLICANTS MAY INCLUDE LETTERS OF SUPPORT IF THEY PROVIDE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS TO THIS SOLICITATION, SUCH APPLICANTS CAN -- THE SCORE IS SHOWING THIS AS BY ACTUAL COMMITMENT. FOREIGN LETTERS WILL BE CONSIDERED NOT RESPONSIVE. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM ALL EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAMS IN THEIR STATES. DONNA MUNDY: OKAY. ONE OTHER QUESTION. SO FAR WE'RE WORKING WITH TEN WORK FORCE BOARDS. SO IN TURN, WE SHOULD HAVE LETTERS OF COMMITMENT FROM EACH OF THOSE BOARDS IN ADDITION TO THE STATE BOARDS. MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN, APPLICANTS -- IF THEY PROVIDE SPECIFIC COMMITMENT TO THE APPLICATION. DONNA MUNDY: THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> DALE ABLE FROM OHIO. UNDER THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STATE WORK FORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, GIVEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE LETTERS AND SO FORTH, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO HAVE FROM THEM A SPECIFIC COMMITMENT RELATED TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE PROJECT? MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN I'M GOING TO REFER YOU NOT TO THAT SECTION BUT BACK TO PAGE 33,991, PART 5, ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AND REQUIRED PARTNERSHIPS. I THINK THAT IS THE SECTION THAT DRAWS FOR YOU, NUMBER ONE, WHO IS AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT AND WHAT THE REQUIRED PARTNERS ARE. SPECIFICALLY IT SAYS REQUIRED PARTNERSHIPS. DOES THAT HELP YOU? DALE: I GUESS I CAN READ -- MR. RICHARD HORNE: IT HAS TO BE A MANDATORY STATE AGENCY. DALE ABLE: BUT THE AGENCY HAS TO BE A INVESTMENT WORK BOARD. AND I GUESS I'M LOOKING FOR WHAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED? IF YOU WANT A LETTER SAYING THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, GO AHEAD AND DO IT -- MR. RICHARD HORNE: I GUESS WHAT I WOULD REFER YOU TO, PROBABLY AGAIN IS -- LISA LAHRMAN: RIGHT THERE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT REQUIRED PARTNERSHIPS, IT ACCESS YOU MUST DEMONSTRATE INVOLVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS OVER THREE OF THE OTHER ABOVE GROUPS IN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES. SO DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? DALE. I THINK SO. MR. RICHARD HORNE: I WOULD CROSSWALK THAT ON PAGE 33,992, PART 7, THE GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS, THE STATEMENT OF WORK FOR THE PROJECT NARRATIVE, PARTICULARLY STATEMENT OF NEED NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE STRATEGY. NUMBER THREE, SUSTAINABILITY. AND NUMBER FOUR, MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES. JIM BURTON: WHAT WAS THAT WEBSTER PAGE AGAIN? MR. RICHARD HORNE: PAGE 33901 -- I'M SORRY. WRONG ONE. 33,992, MIDDLE COLUMN, PART 7, GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS/STATEMENT OF WORK (PROJECT NARRATIVE). AND THAT SECTION RUNS THROUGH FEDERAL REGISTER PAGE 33,994. GIL SHAMIR: DOES THIS CONFERENCE CALL CONSTITUTE THE SOLE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS? MR. RICHARD HORNE: IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, THE SGA DIRECTS YOU TO CONTACT CASSANDRA IN OUR GRANTS OFFICE. GIL SHAMIR: THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MIKE ZELLIE: IT SEEMS THE WAY THE SGA IS DESIGNED -- THIS IS NOT BASED ON A COMMENT, BUT STATES WITH EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAMS THAT -- OBVIOUSLY MANY ARE FUNDED ALREADY, THAT THEY CAN BE AWARDED A DEVELOPMENT GRANT, THEN IT SEEMS THAT REGARDLESS OF THE COMMITMENT ALL THE PARTNERS THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY OVER A NEW STATE, THAT STATES WANTING TO DEVELOP A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM -- MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN, THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE ODEP, THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY. I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, THE INTENT OF THIS COMPETITION IS TO LEVERAGE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES, IN THIS CASE, ODEP IS RESOURCE, TO BRING HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH TO SUSTAINABILITY IN A STATE. AND SO WHETHER OR NOT A STATE IS -- >> THIS IS BETH FROM MICHIGAN. DEVELOPING IN THIS IS GOING TO GET A HIGHER CONSIDERATION THAN A STATE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY COMMITTED MONEY TO IT? MR. RICHARD HORNE: I'M GOING TO REFER YOU AGAIN TO THE END OF THE SGA, PAGE 33,995. THAT IS HOW THESE GRANTS WILL BE REVIEWED AND SCORED. >> THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JIM BURTON: DO I TAKE IT THAT, BESIDE YOUR OFFERS, THE STATES OF GEORGIA AND CONNECTICUT WILL BE A RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION? MR. RICHARD HORNE: IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THIS SGA, IT IS CLEARLY STATED THAT YOU ARE TO CONTACT CASSANDRA IN THE GRANTS OFFICE. SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON AUTHORIZED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT RELATED SOLICITATION. >> THIS IS CLAY CATES FROM INDIANA. HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT GETTING A TRANSCRIPT? MR. RICHARD HORNE: THIS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE ODEP WEBSITE FOLLOWING THE CALL. THE INTENT IS FOR YOU TO HAVE AS REFERENCE AS WELL AS FOR PEOPLE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CALL DUE TO RESTRICTIONS AND TIME CONSTRAINTS. IT'S AT WWW.DOL.GOV/ODEP. >> THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CARL AMERSON: OF COURSE, I'M NOT APPLYING FOR THE ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, THE GRANT. BUT I'M A PUBLISHER. WE PUBLISH CAREER MATERIALS. AND I WANTED TO KNOW IS THERE SOME TYPE OF NOTIFICATION AS TO WHEN AND WHO ACTUALLY WILL AWARD THE GRANT? MR. RICHARD HORNE: YES. OUR NORMAL PROCESS, AS LISA AND CASSANDRA ELUDED TO, WE'RE LOOKING FOR START UP ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. OUR NORMAL PROCEDURE IS TO DO THIS VIA A PRESS RELEASE WHICH IS PUT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND WEBSITES AND OTHER COMMUNICATION VEHICLES. SO I WOULD LOOK FOR THAT SOMEWHERE AROUND SEPTEMBER 30TH. CLAY CATES: WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR GRANT SUBMISSION? MR. RICHARD HORNE: JULY 21ST. IF YOU LOOK AT SGA, THIRD COLUMN DATES, APPLICATIONS WILL BE COMMENCING FOR EXCEPTION IN 2003. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 4:45 P.M. EASTERN TIME AT THE TIME IDENTIFIED IN THE SGA. ANGELA: THE DATES FOR THE APPLICATION, THE REFERENCE IS PAGE 33,989, THIRD COLUMN. DATES, APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED STARTING ON JUNE 6TH, 2003. THE CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS UNDER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS JULY 21ST, 2003. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 4:45 P.M. EASTERN TIME AT THE ADDRESS INDICATED IN THE SGA. >> PEG FROM MICHIGAN. CAN YOU TELL US HOW MANY STATES HAVE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS? >> TWENTY ONE. THIS IS LEE. WE HAVE 21 STATES. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU, LEE. >> I'M FROM MISSOURI. ARE THOSE STATES LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE? MR. RICHARD HORNE: THE ODEP WEBSITE WILL TAKE YOU TO OUR NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE ON WORKFORCE AND DISABILITY FOR YOUTH. THERE'S A SPECIFIC LINK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH WEBSITE. LISA LAHRMAN: THE WEBSITE IS PAGE 33,990, CATEGORY THREE. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> HELLO. HI, THIS IS BRUCE KASTNER. I JUST JOINED. I WAS IN ANOTHER CONFERENCE. I AM FROM NEW JERSEY. MR. RICHARD HORNE: DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS? BRUCE KASTNER: I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE STILL ON THE LINE BUT I WAS HOPING TO HEAR OTHER QUESTIONS SO I WOULDN'T REPEAT MINE. MY QUESTION IS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A STATE AGENCY BEING IN HUMAN SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY. I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN GROUPS THAT CAN REQUEST GRANT MONEY. WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I THINK IT FOLLOWS A MODEL THAT CAME FROM HERE. DO WE HAVE TO GO -- MAYBE THE BEST WAY TO ASK THIS IS IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION OTHER THAN WHAT'S LISTED ON THE WEBSITE? MR. RICHARD HORNE: I WOULD FORWARD YOU TO VOLUME 68 ON 1169, ON FRIDAY JULY 6TH 2003. IF YOU NEED A LINK GO TO WWW.DOL.GOV/ODEP. THAT CONTAINS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO FILL OUT THE INFORMATION. >> SO AGENCIES THAT CAN APPLY -- I GUESS A STATE CAN? RHONDA BASHA: STATE ENTITIES AND CONSORTIUMS OF, NON PROFITS. AND STATES. >> ONE LAST QUESTION. IF WE WERE TO BE CREATING A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR, LET'S SAY, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE OF THE PROPER AGE, IN SCHOOL, AND THEY HAPPEN TO BE BLIND, MAYBE HAVE OTHER DISABILITIES, THIS TYPE OF FUNDING, WOULD IT BE APPLICABLE, I GUESS, OVERLAPPING WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN COME IN? I MEAN, IF WE PROVIDED ALL THE COMPONENTS OF IT AND THEY WERE DIGGING BACK ON A TRANSITION HOUSING OPPORTUNITY -- MR. RICHARD HORNE: LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE REFERENCES IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION DIRECTLY. LET ME REFER YOU TO PAGE 33,989, THE BEGINNING OF THE SGA WHERE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS ARE. IT STATES THAT SUCCESSFUL STATE APPLICATIONS WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT ALL PARTNERS ARE RELEVANT TO THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM IN THE STATE, ARE IN PLACE, INCLUDING EDUCATION, WORK FORCE INVESTMENT ACT, WORK FORCE DISABILITY COUNCIL, AND THAT THE STATE HAS THE CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH DESIGN FEATURES DISCUSSED BELOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THEN I WOULD ALSO THEN REFER YOU TO PAGE 33,992, PART 7, THE GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS/STATEMENT OF WORK. BRUCE KASTNER: OKAY. VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOT FROM ME. RHONDA BASHA: ANYBODY ELSE? >> I CAME IN AND OUT AGAIN. THIS IS ARNETTA FROM SAN DIEGO. ONE BASIC QUESTION. WILL A TRANSCRIPT BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM? MR. RICHARD HORNE: THIS TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.DOL.GOV/ODEP FOR THE WORLD. ARNETTA COOK: OKAY. IF WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AFTER THIS -- MR. RICHARD HORNE: THE SGA DIRECTS YOU SPECIFICALLY. THE ONLY PLACE TO GET INFORMATION IS TO CALL CASSANDRA FROM THE GRANTS OFFICE. ARNETTA COOK: FANTASTIC. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS AVAILABLE. MR. RICHARD HORNE: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF THERE ARE NOT, WE WILL BE ENDING OUR CALL PREMATURLY BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO PRECLUDE ANYONE WHO MAY NEED A MOMENT TO REFLECT AND ASK ANOTHER QUESTION. ANITA HENRY: IF WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH SITE, ARE WE ELIGIBLE EVEN TO BE CONSIDERED? MR. RICHARD HORNE: SURE. I WOULD REFER YOU AGAIN TO THE FIRST COLUMN, HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH STATE GRANTS DEMONSTRATE THIS THE DEPARTMENT IS ELIGIBLE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH PROGRAM IN PLACE AND THAT THE STATE HAS THE CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH DESIGN FEATURES. ANITA HENRY: BY THAT I WOULD TAKE THAT WE'RE NOT ELIGIBLE. MR. RICHARD HORNE: IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY, AGAIN, I WOULD REFER YOU TO PART FIVE ON PAGE 33,991, WHO ARE THE ELIGIBLE PARTNERS ARE. ANITA HENRY: THANK YOU. LEE MILLER: THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT. I HOPE THAT IS A VERY UNDERSTANDABLE POINT. MR. RICHARD HORNE: I'M BEING ADVISED THAT I CAN'T GO BEYOND THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S LIKE I'VE BEEN THROUGH MY DISSERTATION. DID YOU ALL FIND THIS A USEFUL WAY OF LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SGA OR ODEP'S PRIORITIES? OR THE DIRECTION OF HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH? I'M SORRY. IF YOU COULD SPEAK UP. GIL SHAMIR: I GUESS AS A COMMENT, YOU ARE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN ETHICAL GUIDELINES. AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE -- I GUESS THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANT INFORMATION THAT YOU SIMPLY ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE OR THAT THE QUESTION THAT ARE ASKED MIGHT SEND YOU DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE. SO I THINK THAT THERE'S REALLY NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT. ALTHOUGH, I DO THINK THAT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE ON THE CALL WHO ARE NOT TERRIBLY FAMILIAR WITH HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH AND THE PAST EXPERIENCES OVER HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH, I THINK SOME MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LOST OF OVERWHELMED WHICH JUST IS BASICALLY INCUMBENT UPON THOSE ATTENDEES TO LEARN ABOUT THIS. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB REFERENCES THROUGH OUR NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE BOTH TO THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH MANUAL AS WELL AS THE OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH SIDE OF THAT WEBSITE. BUT THAT'S A VERY GOOD INSIGHT FOR YOU TO GIVE US, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. ARNETTA COOK: TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT THE GENTLEMAN JUST SAID, I THINK ANOTHER KEY -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE BUT FOR ME, OVER THE YEARS WITH THE FEDERAL REGISTER, THE GOVERNMENT JARGON, IF YOU'RE NOT ACTIVELY INVOLVED, IT CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED. SO I THINK THAT IF NOTHING MORE THAN JUST TO ASSURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE CONTENTS OVER THAT DOCUMENT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AS YOU'VE REFERENCED IT, I THINK THAT'S THE SUCCESS OF THIS CALL. I ALSO DO REALIZE THAT AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID PREVIOUSLY, THAT YOU'RE LIMITED IN THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN SAY. BUT NONETHELESS, IT'S STILL VERY HELPFUL WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE CONTENTS OF THE DOCUMENT SAYS BECAUSE SO OFTEN IT APPEARS THAT THERE'S MORE TO IT AND MAYBE YOU'RE NOT SEEING IT AND SOMEONE ELSE CAN CLARIFY IT FOR YOU. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'VE KIND OF HAD PAGES SEPARATED HERE. ARNETTA COLE: WELL I'M TRYING TO RUN TO THE PAGE WHEN YOU SAY IT. AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOT A FIND TOOL HERE AT THE MOMENT BUT I'M VERY ABLE TO FOLLOW. IN ESSENCE, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU READ IT, YOU'RE NOT CERTAIN THAT WHEN YOU'RE READING SOMETHING IT'S FOR WHO'S ALREADY INVOLVED OR IF IT ALLOWS START UP PROGRAMS. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, I'M A START UP PROGRAM. I'M BEGINNING TO MAKE THESE ALLIANCES. HOWEVER, I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT IT'S ALLOWABLE IF I WANT TO APPLY FOR A GRANT. SO THIS IS VERY BENEFICIAL FOR ME. GIL SHAMIR: I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF PREBIDDING CONFERENCE CALLS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY DO CONSTITUTE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS WHICH ACTUALLY BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION. WILL QUESTIONS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO MS. WILLIS, WILL THOSE QUESTIONS AND HER RESPONSES BE MADE AVAILABLE? MS. CASSANDRA WILLIS: ONLY THE QUESTIONS ASKED HERE AND THE ANSWERS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. GIL SHAMIR: I WOULD CERTAINLY URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT THESE CONFERENCE CALLS BEFORE OTHER COMPETITIONS. MR. RICHARD HORNE: THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I WILL THANK, AGAIN, EVERYONE FROM ODEP WHO WAS HERE TO ASSIST ME, AS WELL AS LEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT AND YOUR PERSPECTIVES IN TERMS OF THIS. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. IT WAS GOOD HAVING RON AND DONNA WHO WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN OUR GRANT INITIATIVES AROUND HIGH SCHOOL HIGH-TECH TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT INTO THIS. I HOPE DONNA'S NOT STILL DRIVING? DONNA MUNDY: I'M STILL DRIVING, BUT I'M STILL FOLLOWING THE SAME TRUCK. MR. RICHARD HORNE: AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. WE WILL MAKE THIS TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE ON-LINE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO A WONDERFUL COMPETITION WITH MANY APPLICATIONS. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTION, PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONTACT CASSANDRA. AND CASSANDRA, IF SHE BELIEVES IT REQUIRES OUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SHE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH US. BUT AGAIN, IT WILL BE CASSANDRA WHO WILL BE ADDRESSING THE QUESTIONS. AND WE WISH EVERYONE GOOD WRITING AND ADDRESSING AND GOOD LUCK! >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD-BYE! [APPLAUSE]. |
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