Mona Lee Locke and Melinda French Gates, Co-Chairs, Kathryn Barnard, Kim Cook, Yolanda Cortinas-Trout, Robbin Dunn, Sheri Flies, Marty Jacobs, Rep. Lynn Kessler, Mary Ellen O'Keeffe, Dee Ann Perea, Rep. Gigi Talcott, Yvonne Ullas, Dee West, Rev. Lawrence White, Diana Yu, and Robin Zukoski.

Special Guests

Governor Gary Locke, Dave Sharp, Kris Mitchke, Shelley Baker from Bozell Worldwide, and Geoff Stuckart from Cocker/Fennessy

Meeting Summary

Melinda Gates opened the meeting. She explained that the goal for this meeting was to review progress toward the Commission's goals.

TEACH Update

Mona Locke announced that the license to administer the TEACH ® Early Childhood project (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) statewide has been awarded to the Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network. They are already working with the Child Care Services Association of North Carolina and the City of Seattle to expand the Seattle pilot.

Mrs. Locke noted that lots of work is happening around community college course articulation. An all day meeting with two- and four-year schools was held last week. The purpose was to share information and begin to figure out how the schools can accept each other's credits and make transfers easier. It is very gratifying that this effort is beginning at the same time we are embarking on TEACH.

Foundation Update

Melinda Gates announced that the Foundation filed for 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status on April 28, 2000. Founding board members are: Mona Lee Locke, Jim Sinegal (Costco), Jim Dagnon (Boeing), and Kathryn Barnard. She also reported that the two commission members were selected to provide for greater continuity between the Commission and the Foundation.

Editor's note: Tax exempt status was granted on June 2, 2000.

The executive search firm Walgron and Company is conducting the search for the Foundation's Executive Director. We are working to have someone in place by September 1, 2000.

Final Report

Robin Zukoski presented the Commission's final report. Copies were enclosed in the Commissioners' packets and made available to the public following the meeting.

Robin identified the following groups for distribution of the report:

• The GCEL mailing list
• All Legislators and elected officials (statewide)
• All county councils
• Media, as part of the public engagement roll out effort
• Legislative staff
• State agencies with child care and early learning programs

Commissioners made the following additional suggestions:

School boards and/or superintendents
Professional newsletters
Parent Teacher Association publications
ESDs
Community Action Councils
Community Health and Safety Networks

Public Engagement Campaign Update

Kris Mitchke from Bozell Worldwide presented the final plans for the public engagement campaign. The campaign will begin with two print ads in the Washington editions of national publications like Time, Newsweek and People. There will also be a 30-second TV ad featuring children from Washington State and their caregivers. Radio advertising and additional print ads will be added as sponsorship agreements are made.

Geoff Stuckart from Cocker/Fennessy described the plans for the press rollout of the public engagement campaign and announcements about the new foundation.

Mona Locke announced that the Public Engagement Campaign kick-off event would take place June 6, 7, and 8 as a press tour of the state. She noted that Rob Reiner, Founder of the I am Your Child Foundation, has agreed to accompany the co-chairs on June 6. Mona invited all the Commission members to attend as many of these events as possible.

Robbin Dunn suggested using the print ads as posters that could be distributed to child care providers. Dave Sharp noted that Bozell is currently seeking a private partner to fund that element of the campaign.

Public Comment

Nick Temple, with Yakima Success by Six, expressed his excitement about the public engagement campaign. He offered some ideas that they have used in Yakima: 1) Developing a new mother/baby package that can be distributed at hospitals; and 2) Target at-risk neighborhoods for advertising.

Val Robinson, of the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association, wants to re-emphasize the importance of provider education and the partnership with children that the Montessori programs provide. She also thanked the Commission for all their hard work.

Susan Enaro, President of the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association applauded the Commission's efforts. They are excited to be a part of the TEACH program and about Montessori education.

Chris Carr, with the Parent Education Network of Olympia shared her excitement about the Commission, the Foundation and the goal of making parent education accessible.

Jean Hueston is excited by the "road trip" (public awareness campaign kick-off). "Great job!"

Linda Crisalli, Healthlink and the Adele Maxwell Education Center, says "Thank you for your hard work."

Comments from Governor Gary Locke

Governor Locke individually thanked each commission member for their hard work and praised the Commission's accomplishments. He said he had read the Final Report and the recommendations.

The Governor shared his belief that:

Nothing is more important to the future of our state, of our families, of the human race than our children. And for every parent you educate, for every child who receives more hugs, more songs, more books read to her, more stimulation the quality of life for all of us increases exponentially.

He commented that most Commissions go no farther than making recommendations. The creation of an ongoing entity to implement the Commission's findings is a unique accomplishment.

Closing Comments

Melinda Gates said that she had learned a lot from all the Commission members. She particularly enjoyed the hardest aspects of the work: the debate, discussion and different points of view.

She noted that she's taken for granted walking into the room and knowing all the commission members. She didn't know anyone except Mona and Dee Ann prior to the first meeting. Both she and Mona are surprised and please by the time each and every member dedicated to the Commission's efforts. They both appreciate all the hard work and time each member sacrificed for the Commission.

Mona Locke said that she learned a lot over the past two years and enjoyed the healthy debates this topic inspired. She is impressed and gratified by intensity of involvement of individual commission members. She encouraged every Commissioner to keep in touch with the work of the Washington Early Learning Foundation and urged everyone to encourage organizations in their communities to apply for parent education funding and support TEACH.

Melinda Gates adjourned the Commission.