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CAEP Consortium Fiscal Administration Declaration: 2022-23 39 Palo Verde River Consortium

Status: Consortium Approved

California Adult Education Program : CFAD : 2022-23 Produced: Apr 28, 2022, 06:10 PM UTC Mary McNeil

39 Palo Verde River Consortium

Fiscal Declaration - Consortium Approved

Consortium Name
39 Palo Verde River Consortium
Funding Channel
Fiscal Agent
Fiscal Agent
Palo Verde CCD
Narrative
As described in the current three-year plan, the consortium is committed to expanding and improving adult education programs constrained only by regional capacity and allocations. Both geographic constraints and workforce needs and opportunities remain unchanged from the previous Three-Year Plan. the consortium consists of three members: Palo Verde College District and Palo Verde and Needles Unified School Districts. Active partners include the Fort Mohave and Chemehuevi Indian Tribes. Evolving partners include Progressive Farmers Association, City of Blythe, City of Needles, The Vertical Companies, Epic, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and San Bernardino and Riverside Regional Workforce Boards. Regional economic development is static. The region suffers from talent drain due to limited workforce opportunities. Retail is impacted by negative growth while agriculture continues to thrive with indications of near-term significant workforce opportunities from evolving cannabis investments in both Needles and Blythe. Nearby prison employment opportunities are capped with no indications of growth. Palo Verde College is the only adult education/workforce provider in the consortium. However, the consortium has launched and funded projects designed to benefit parents and at-risk 18-year-olds associated with both Palo Verde and Needles Unified School Districts. Similar relationships and projects are developing with both the Fort Mohave and Chemehuevi Tribal Nations, regional farmworkers and adults with disabilities. As described in the current three-year plan, the consortium’s commitment to expansion of adult education programs is constrained only by regional capacity and allocations. 2017 consortium allocation was $773K enhanced by tactical leverages. The plan focused on scalable pilots, and to that end, during the plan’s three-year period, pilots were begun and scaled in the following areas: • Career Cruising, electronic career portfolios in English and Spanish • Expansion of Basic Skills, ESL and Citizenship classes • Beginning GED preparation and testing in English and Spanish • Auto, Construction and Welding CTE classes – Partnership with Needles USD • Parent Education – to enhance K-12 student achievement • WIOA 2 Grant. Given the gradual increase in allocations ($773K to $834K), and given additional leveraging opportunities, pilot project development for the evolving three-year plan includes the following areas: • Health Career Pathways • Agricultural Pathways • Culinary Pathways • ESL satellite locations • Expansion of Parent Programs • Adults with Disabilities Feasibility Study • Reader-friendly measurement of outcomes. The challenges facing the River Consortium extend beyond adult education and job training and instead require planning, capacity, resources, and tools partially funded by the California Adult Education Program and partially funded by strategic use of leveraged resources: • Economic development and employment opportunities • Marketing and communications • Tracking, assessment and analytics • Leveraging resources • Resident retention • On-the-job training. Adult education/workforce resources have allowed this consortium to expand, improve and create programs designed to impact regional/global employability for adults within our consortium boundaries. Our biggest challenge continues to be driven by economic growth and employment opportunities.
Changes
The Palo Verde River Consortium added Palo Verde USD and Needles USD as funded, voting members for the 2022-2023 FY per Board vote on April 22, 2022.

Member Allocations

Member Name (2022-23) (2021-22) (2020-21)
Needles Unified $100,000 n/a n/a
Palo Verde CCD $712,536 $845,126 $851,704
Palo Verde Unified $100,000 n/a n/a
Total Allocated to Members $912,536 $845,126 $851,704
Total CAEP Funds $912,536 $866,359 $832,637
Total Remaining $0 $21,233 $-19,067

Consortia Report on Governance Compliance of Rules and Procedures v.1

1. Have all community college districts, school districts, county offices of education, or any joint powers authority, located within the boundaries of the adult education region been allowed to join the consortium as a member?

Yes

2. Have all members committed to reporting any funds available to that member for the purposes of education and workforce services for adults and the uses of those funds?

Yes

Available funds are reviewed regularly at Palo Verde River Consortium Board meetings. Discussions are ongoing about carry over funds and adhering to the guidance from CAEP regarding percentage of carry over allowed.

All members of the Palo Verde River Consortium Board have submitted a document (memo) to their respective governing board to designate them as the official representative for their district. Each member will send the Consortium Director minutes from their respective board meeting indicating their designation as the representative.

The Palo Verde River Consortium recognizes the benefits of full and active participation by all members in the decision-making process and implementation of Consortium Plans. Therefore, a calendar of meetings and each meeting agenda will be sent to members in advance. Agendas will be posted on the Consortium website. Email notifications and reminders will be sent to all members. Minutes from meetings will be distributed to members and posted to the Consortium website. Agencies participating in Palo Verde River Consortium have agreed to act in accordance with applicable CAEP law, the Palo Verde River Consortium Annual Plans, and Palo Verde River Consortium Three-Year Plan. Palo Verde River Consortium Members participate annually in shared, or peer-to-peer monitoring for member effectiveness, adherence to Palo Verde River Consortium Plans, and CAEP performance measured outcomes.

6. What will be the relative voting power of each member?

1 member = 1 vote

7. How will decisions be approved?

by majority vote of 51%

From the onset of the AB86 planning phase, the Consortium Board discussed various governance models and decided upon the method that best suits this consortium. Each member’s Board of Education will designate, via agenda item, a voting representative to the Palo Verde River Consortium Board and ensure attendance at and participation at regular Consortium Board meetings.

Each member district (K-12, County Office of Education, College) shall have one (1) vote. One K-12 Member District plus 1 Community College constitutes a quorum. In the case of a vacated position by a voting member, the “Interim” or “Acting” individual in the vacated position would be allowed to vote in their place. If a voting member is not able to attend a Palo Verde River Consortium Board vote in person, votes may be cast via telephone and documented in the minutes, in accordance with the Brown Act. The vote of each officially designated member shall be recorded when cast. The names of the members making and seconding each motion shall be recorded in the Consortium minutes.

All Palo Verde River Consortium meetings shall be conducted in accordance with CAEP guidance, the Palo Verde River Consortium Governance Plan, and all applicable laws. Decisions will be made by consensus of members of the Consortium. All voting is publicly noticed per Brown Act and other applicable laws.

The Palo Verde River Consortium Board encourages all interested persons to attend monthly Board meetings and to address the Consortium Board concerning any item on the agenda or within the Consortium’s jurisdiction.

The Palo Verde River Consortium Board will act in accordance with the Brown Act of 1953 as contained in section 54950 et seq. of the California Government Code.

The following rules are intended to facilitate a presentation to the Palo Verde River Consortium Board:

A. For matters not listed on the agenda:

I. Any individual who wishes to address the Consortium on any item of interest to the public that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Consortium and not listed on the agenda may do so under the agenda item entitled “Public Comments.”

II. Without taking action, Consortium Board members may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by the public about items not appearing on the agenda.

III. In keeping with its right to determine the length of time to be allotted to agenda items, the Consortium Board has determined that the overall time to be allowed for the agenda item entitled “Public Comments” shall not exceed three (3) minutes per person, and a total time of 20 minutes, unless there are extenuating circumstances, in which case the Palo Verde River Consortium Board may extend the overall time limit.

B. For matters listed on the agenda, a person who wishes to address the Palo Verde River Consortium Board may do so by completing a brief form (including name, address, and agenda item). Upon recognition, the person should state his or her name and may address the Palo Verde River Consortium Board. The order of public comments on the agenda item will be determined by the order received. Individuals shall be allowed up to three (3) minutes to address the Palo Verde River Consortium Board on each agenda item during the general public comments section of the agenda, unless there are extenuating circumstances, in which case the Palo Verde River Consortium Board may extend the time limit for individual remarks.

Palo Verde River Consortium recognizes the benefits that are derived when input from the public is included as part of a transparent decision-making process, and will act in accordance with the Brown Act of 1953 as contained in section 54950 et seq. of the California Government Code. The Members will include the public in Palo Verde River Consortium activities and programs whenever appropriate. The Palo Verde River Consortium will provide the public with adequate notice of a proposed decision and consider any comments submitted by members of the public. Monthly meetings will include a designated time for public comment. Agendas will be posted on the Palo Verde River Consortium website and emailed in advance to Palo Verde River Consortium Member Districts. Palo Verde River Consortium Members are encouraged to post the agendas at their individual web sites. A summary of comments submitted by members of the public will be recorded in the meeting minutes and distributed publicly on the Palo Verde River Consortium website.

Several regional partners (libraries, WIB and community-based organizations) participate in the annual and three-year planning phases and are kept abreast of Consortium activity. In addition, the Consortium Director attends regional meetings where all these entities are present and proposed decisions can be announced.

Community partners and other entities are invited and encouraged to participate in all Consortium meetings. Palo Verde River Consortium works with the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties Workforce Development Boards. Community agencies not benefiting from formal partnership with Palo Verde River Consortium, but with an interest in adult education, are encouraged to engage with Member Districts to benefit the region as appropriate until a formal partnership can be established

The Palo Verde River Consortium Board will vote on a distribution schedule pursuant to section 84913 at a regularly scheduled open meeting. This distribution schedule will encompass the active Three-Year Plan. The Palo Verde Community College District was chosen by the consortium members to be the fiscal agent, and receive / distribute the funds monthly to each Member District.

14. Has the consortium A) designated a member to serve as the fund administrator to receive and distribute funds from the program or B) chosen to have a funds flow directly to the member districts based upon the approved distribution schedule?

A) designated a member to serve as the fund administrator to receive and distribute funds from the program

Per AB104 Legislation section 84917 those entities listed shall become a participating member of the Palo Verde River Consortium pursuant to receiving funds from the listed areas. In addition, new members will need to agree to and sign this governance template indicating they are aware and will abide by the consortium governance structure. For Member Districts to leave or be dismissed, section 84914 outlines characteristics such as a member is no longer willing to provide services, a member cannot provide services or a member is consistently ineffective in providing services as reasons for reduced funding, the Palo Verde River Consortium will use these measures to determine if a member needs to leave or be dismissed from the consortium

The Consortium will adhere to the membership guidelines as defined by AB104, Education Code, and the Palo Verde River Consortium Member Contracts.

Considerations for dismissal from the Consortium include:

• The member no longer wishes to provide services consistent with the adult education plan;

• The member cannot provide services that address the needs identified in the adult education plan; or

• The member has been ineffective in providing services that address the needs identified in the adult education plan, and reasonable interventions have not resulted in improvement.

In addition to the considerations specified in AB104:

• Regular attendance is expected at monthly Palo Verde River Consortium Board meetings.

• Dismissal from or admission to the Consortium shall be accomplished with a simple majority vote from the Palo Verde River Consortium Board.

• If the member initiates leaving the Consortium, Palo Verde River Consortium will require the member’s Governing Board approval.

• If the Palo Verde River Consortium Board initiates dismissal, the Palo Verde River Consortium will inform the member’s Superintendent and Governing Board and follow due process.

• Palo Verde River Consortium Members may be dismissed from Palo Verde River Consortium for failure to demonstrate member effectiveness.

• A record of intervention steps and dismissal actions shall be kept in the official minutes of the Palo Verde River Consortium Board Meetings.

• If the Palo Verde River Consortium dismisses a Member, the Consortium Director shall notify the CAEP State office immediately.


The Palo Verde River Consortium Board meets regularly to discuss carry-over funds and votes on allocation amendments when the voting board deems them necessary. Palo Verde River Consortium complies with the CAEP Fiscal Management Guide and guidance regarding carryover funds.

The Palo Verde River Consortium does not have bylaws regarding carryover funds, but ensures that all Member Districts adhere to the guidance for carryover funds from CAEP as outlined in the Fiscal Management Guide and other CAEP guidance.

Member effectiveness is determined by the Palo Verde River Consortium Board via an examination of: DIR data, MIS data, fiscal expenditures, per pupil spending, and open discussions about student/agency success.

Palo Verde River Consortium does not have bylaws but relies on CAEP/TAP guidance for member effectiveness.

20. Does the consortium have a formal document detailing its work beyond the questionnaire?

Yes

Palo Verde River Consortium has bylaws that are posted to the Consortium website and uploaded to NOVA.

https://prod-swp-attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/aebg/consortia/institution366/2016/15328039paloverde10.31.15governancetemplate.pdf


Member Agencies

Member AgencyMember TypeContactPhone
Palo Verde CCDDistrictMs. Lale Cilenti(760) 326-5033
Needles UnifiedUnified School DistrictDr. Mary McNeil(760) 326-3891
Palo Verde UnifiedUnified School DistrictTracie Kern(760) 922-4164 ext: 1239

Certification & Assurances

By clicking "Approve" on the approval cards below, you are certifying the CFAD as well as confirming that you and ALL consortium members agree to the Assurances listed below.

Assurances

Membership & Decision-Making
  • I certify that any community college district, school district, or county office of education, or any joint powers authority consisting of community college districts, school districts, county offices of education, or a combination of these, located within the boundaries of the adult education region shall be permitted to join the consortium as a member (EC 84905 (a)(b). (See Membership Box above).
  • I certify that only members as described above (and in EC 84905) are allowed to join my consortium as members and participate in decision making and approvals whether in a public meeting, or via the NOVA planning, budgeting & expense reporting system.
  • I certify that as a condition of joining a consortium, as a member, I shall commit to reporting any funds (as described in EC 84916) available to that member for the purposes of education and workforce services for adults and the uses of those funds through the annual Program Area exercise in NOVA for reporting leveraged funds, and instructional hours.
  • I certify that as a member of the consortium my district shall be represented only by an official designated by the governing board of the member (EC 84905 (c)).
  • I certify that as a member of the consortium, I shall participate in any decision made by the consortium (EC 84905 (d)(1)(A)).
  • I certify that all decision made by the consortium and its members is final (EC 84905 (d)(1)(F)).
  • I certify that I will adhere to the consortium rules and procedures and, as agreed upon by the consortium members, to any additional by-laws, charters, etc.
Public Meetings
  • I certify that a proposed decision is considered at an open, properly noticed public meeting of the consortium at which members of the public may comment (EC 84905 (d)(1)(B)).
  • I certify that the consortium has provided the public with adequate notice of a proposed decision and considered any comments submitted by members of the public, and any comments submitted by members of the public have been distributed publicly (EC 84905 (d)(1)(C)).
  • I certify that the consortium has requested comments regarding a proposed decision from other entities located in the adult education region that provide education and workforce services for adults (EC 84905 (d)(1)(D)(i)).
  • I certify that the consortium has requested comments regarding a proposed decision from other entities located in the adult education region that provide education and workforce services for adults (EC 84905 (d)(1)(D)(i)).
  • I certify that the consortium has considered input provided by pupils, teachers employed by local educational agencies, community college faculty, principals, administrators, classified staff, and the local bargaining units of the school districts and community college districts before it makes a decision (EC 84905 (d)(1)(E)).
  • I certify that in addition to the meeting requirements listed in EC 84905, and as agreed upon by the consortium members, that I will follow the public meeting requirements listed in the Ralph M. Brown Act as the Brown Act applies to the governing body of any “local body created by state or federal statute.” (Ed. Code, section 54952.)
Reporting Requirements
  • I certify that I will participate in completing and updating any consortium long range and/or short range planning efforts and/or budget work plans (EC 84906, 84914(a)).
  • I certify that all CAEP expenses have been expended in the CAEP seven program areas, and services provided are consistent with the 3-year plan, the annual plan, and my district’s work plan & budget as submitted in NOVA (EC 84913 (1-7), 84906, 8914(a)).
  • I certify that my expenditures of CAEP funds match the objectives/activities included in the annual plan and the member work plan (EC 84906, 84914(a)).
  • I certify that my expenditures of CAEP funds adhere to the allowable uses of funds as identified in the CAEP Fiscal Management Guide.
  • I certify that I will report student level enrollment data and outcomes as prescribed by the State CAEP Office (EC 84920).
  • I certify that I will share financial expenditure and progress reports with the members of my regional consortium.
  • I certify that I understand that as a member if I do not meet any of these items I have certified, I will be deemed an ineffective member which may result in a loss or reduction of CAEP funding (EC 84914(b)).
  • I certify that all CAEP expenses have been expended only for the education of persons 18 years of age or older (EC 84901(a)).

Needles Unified - Member Representative

Approved by Dr. Mary McNeil

04/28/2022 11:09 AM PDT

Palo Verde CCD - Member Representative

Approved by Ms. Lale Cilenti

04/25/2022 11:10 AM PDT

Palo Verde Unified - Member Representative

Approved by Tracie Kern

04/25/2022 12:31 PM PDT