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
AND IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT THOSE GRANTS WILL BE FOR A
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 GRANTS, 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 GOVERNORS 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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