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- Environmental Education Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - 2006 - May
- EEAB Meeting Minutes
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
May 4, 2006
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Members Present:
Lee Ann Landstrom, Chair (District 5), Michelle Kelly (District 2), Christine Petersen (District 3), Brinkley Prescott (District 4), Susan Hanker (District 8), Mike Sullivan (EQB), Clark Erickson (Dept. of Education), Kathy Carlson (Dept. of Health), David Weinand (Dept. of Agriculture), Allen Hoffman (Board of Teaching), Nate Meyer (U of M Extension Service), Patty Selly (Citizen At-Large), Tracy Fredin (Citizen At-Large), Pete Cleary (Citizen At-Large), Jeff Ledermann (MPCA), Mark LaBarbera (DNR).
Members Absent:
Billeye Rabbe (District 1), Mary Johnson (District 6), Peter Raeker (BWSR), Becky Rennicke (District 7).
Staff:
Su Beran, Staff Liaison (MPCA), Denise Stromme (MPCA), Mike Kennedy (MPCA).
Lee Ann Landstrom, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m.
Approval of Agenda: No additions to Agenda. May 4, 2006 EEAB Agenda Approved.
Minutes: The minutes were approved with the following amendments: Cathy Moeger -Member absent.
Legislative Report/Discussion - Cathy Moeger, MPCA
Cathy Moeger reported on projects that may be funded in the bonding bill: Fridley Springbrook Nature Center $2,500,000 and Prairie Wetland Environmental Learning Center $2,000,000. The bonding conference committee hasn't made much progress. New money for Clean Water Legacy Act, it's funded at $10 million in the House and $20 million in the Senate. Regarding education, the Clean Water Council shall develop strategies for informing, educating, and encouraging the participation of citizens, stakeholders, and others regarding the identification of impaired waters, development of TMDL's, development of TMDL implementation plans, and implementation of restoration for impaired waters. Note the education component. Public agencies shall be responsible for implementing the strategies. This bill is also in conference committee. Currently, only $10 million is proposed for a two-year start-up.
There was a U. S. House hearing on improving K-12 science education and garnering more positive attitudes towards science.
New Members Introductions - Su Beran
All EEAB positions are filled. Su Beran introduced new members:
* Kathy Carlson with the MN Dept. of Health, Environmental Health Division, specifically children lead poisoning project.
* Clark Erickson with the Dept. of Education, science teacher.
* David Weinand with the Dept of Agriculture, livestock issues, dairy grant program for dairy farmers.
Committee Workgroups
Broke off into two sub-groups, ELM and Environmental Education Literacy Assessment to discuss the following:
What needs to be done?
Timeline for the task
Committee Reports and Discussion
ELM: Mike Kennedy presented some wording changes to the former OEA Form A proposal. Fairly close to having a summary sheet revised. Further discussion showed that we did not have a funding recipient worked out (state employees cannot fundraise). The MN Association for Environmental Education may be able to do this. The LCMR could be the start of fund, and other donors could then be approached. LCMR needs to be re-authorized and then they will be asking for citizen input as to their funding priorities (everyone should advise LCMR to include EE!). This group will be working on strategies for applying to LCMR and for garnering other stakeholders' support.
The Assessment group needs to collect more information. What research already exists? Nate will work on this. Define exactly what needs to be measured. What are the goals and identify. Stakeholders' assessments and GreenPrint and Scope and Sequence. Does knowledge really mean a behavior change? How to address that. Many questions, what will it do for reading and math? Where's the research? Environmental Education as integrated context. "Closing the achievement gap" publication. Question end product and timeline, Su Beran, Cathy Moeger, and Lee Ann will talk about it.
Break
Report Card Presentation - Dr. Tony Murphy
Dr. Tony Murphy, Assistant Professor, Education Department, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Murphy is also an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has been involved in various science education programs at the state and national level for many years. He has published articles in various journals and presented at state and national conferences. He is the principal author of both editions of the Minnesota Report Card on Environmental Literacy.
Dr. Murphy went through the Report Card PowerPoint Presentation and discussed Report Card process and results. This report not only describes the environmental literacy of Minnesotans, but also compares Minnesotans' literacy on related phone survey questions to that of Pennsylvania residents and United States citizens. These comparisons are based on a similar studies performed by Pennsylvania and nationally. Minnesota is frequently above the national average. An interesting point: people think they know more than they do; there are gender differences. Su Beran will get copies of presentation to those who request it.
Questions from Board members regarding Report Card:
* Is it more important to have attitude or behavior. Relationships exist between environmental knowledge and self-reported attitudes, and behaviors of Minnesota residents.
* What's next step? Have done two surveys, maybe do three. Good baseline data. The next survey could include air pollution focus.
* Interested in knowing how people feel empowered, do they know what to do or how to find out?
* Pennsylvania, other states coming up with self-reporting to survey, is there another form of taking this survey? How to improve the self-reporting.
* Where do people get their environmental information? Internet, environmental learning centers, etc.
* In regard to doing the survey on-line, pros and cons to that is, possibly narrowing your audience, it may be something for the future, a fear would be that demographics would be skewed. Internet, cell phone, mail, home phone, all could be costly
* Use different methodology for renters versus homeowners.
* Due to skyrocketing costs, another future question can be on Gasoline consumption, and energy conservation.
* What role does this Board have to play in the MN Report Card on Environmental Literacy? Is this used for anything else? Some data was used for other agencies' strategic planning.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Board recommendation regarding funding, what is the role of this Board?
Motion: Kathy Carlson motioned that the Board recommends to the MPCA Commissioner that funding and staff support be provided to complete the MN Report Card on Environmental Literacy in Fiscal Year 2007. Motion seconded by David Weinand. Motion was approved.
Sharing/What's happening in EE?
* Kathy Carlson hired Emergency Communication and Outreach ECHO to do a multi-lingual TV piece on lead paint poisoning. A good resource for other EE communication productions. (Fish consumption advisories are already done).
* Michelle Kelly shared that the Fish & Wildlife-Conservation Education group's Benchmarks and Concepts have been approved. Mark LaBarbera has the full document. He will get it to Su who will get that information to members.
* The Living Green Expo is this weekend.
* The GreenPrint focus group contract has been awarded to the University of Minnesota Extension, Leadership and Civic Engagement section. Mike Kennedy will have them update us at an appropriate time.
* The Environmental Ethics conference is this Saturday May 6.
* Grist.org is a good online environmental talk site. Nate Meyers, U of M Extension Service.
* Lee Ann reminded the Board that the next meeting is June 1st, and July's meeting is July 6th, possibility of no meeting in July.
With no other business, the meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.- For more information, contact:
Su Beran
Staff Liaison
Environmental Education Advisory Board
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Phone: 507-692-2020
su.beran@state.mn.us- Posted: 3/22/07
- Revised: 3/23/07
- EEAB Meeting Minutes
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