Annual SEK-CAP Governance Training
Annual SEK-CAP Governance Training
The Governing Board and the Policy Council met at the Labette Community College on January 9, 2010 for SEK-CAPâs annual governance training. The event is a focal point of the year. Information relayed during the day is designed to give participants an opportunity to explore and ask questions about their governance roles.
Each year, our Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding requires a monitoring visit by the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation. The CSBG Act and the State CSBG Plan has specific governance requirements for the Board and expects the grantee to develop a calendar of training opportunities that fully prepare the Board to oversee the CSBG and other funding. In addition to that annual review, the 0-5 Head Start program has specific requirements of the grantee Governing Board and Policy Council. Head Start is scheduled for the triennial Peer Review in 2010. This specific training event is always important, but it assumes even more significance in a peer review year.
As we await the Peer Review of our Early Childhood programs, we leave nothing to chance in terms of preparation. Governance of this program and of our entire agency is a substantial and meaningful responsibility and requirement. While the specific roles of the Board and Policy Council changed as a result of the revision of the Head Start Act in 2007, our approach to training has been consistent. We like to bring both groups together in one location in order to promote teamwork and networking. Over the past ten years, the relationship between our Board and Policy Council has been extremely collaborative. Attending the training allows participants to build upon the existing governance partnership, learn some new things about their leadership roles, interact with each other, and meet new members while having some FUN!
Trainers for this yearâs event included: Executive Director, Steve Lohr; Deputy Director, Linda Broyles; Assistant Head Start Director, Joanie Burke; Accounting Services Director, Kelly Mooney; and the Board Chairperson, Boyd Koehn.
The day began with a teamwork exercise designed to show participants that though we are all different, we can work together and be effective. The remainder of the day was filled with discussions focused upon accountability and accomplishments, the History of Community Action and SEK-CAP, a review of fiduciary responsibilities, and a complete overview of governance responsibilities of both the Board and the Policy Council. Members learned how the Policy Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Board and how their actions are an important part of a collaborative decision making process.
Governance notebooks were developed by the presenters for the participants to use as a reference during the event and as a means of reflection and review after the day concluded. Each attendee completed a checklist that will be included in their permanent file. Members who were unable to attend will receive their notebooks. Board and Policy Council members will have an opportunity to schedule time with the presenters for the same focused attention to help them more fully understand their respective roles and responsibilities.