The Coalition is mandated by Florida Statute to provide an integrated and seamless system of school readiness services with a developmentally appropriate education component for the state’s eligible birth-to-kindergarten population. This effort focuses on an enhanced, coordinated county-wide system of high quality affordable and accessible early education and childcare that optimizes children’s readiness to learn and succeed upon entering school.

Our Coalition Board is comprised of mandated community representatives and appointed members from the private and public sector. Additionally, community representatives are encouraged to be a part of appropriate Coalition committees.

PURPOSE: Coalition Business
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in these meetings should contact us at (386) 961-0134 or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice) Florida Relay Service at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Notice has been made of these meetings to cover the Government in the Sunshine Law through publication and distributions of same.

Sunshine Law

The ELCFG  is a not-for-profit agency that adheres to the requirements of the “Sunshine” law as described in Section 119.01, Florida Statutes.

Q: What is the Sunshine Law?
A: Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels. It applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action. There is also a constitutionally guaranteed right of access. Virtually all state and local collegial public bodies are covered by the open meetings requirements except the judiciary and the state Legislature which has its constitutional provision relating to access.

Q: What are the Requirements of the Sunshine Law?
A: The Sunshine law requires that:
1) Meetings of Boards or Commissions must be open to the public;
2) Reasonable notice of such meetings must be given; and
3) Minutes of the meeting must be taken.

Q: What Agencies are Covered Under the Sunshine Law?
A: The Government in the Sunshine Law applies to “any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation or political subdivision.” Thus, it applies to public collegial bodies within the state at both the local as well as state level. It applies equally to elected or appointed boards or commissions.

Q: What Qualifies as a Meeting?
A: The Sunshine law applies to all discussions or deliberations as well as the formal action taken by a board or commission. The law, in essence, applies to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission. There is no requirement that a quorum is present for a meeting to be covered under the law.

Q: What is a Public Record?
A: The Florida Supreme Court has determined that public records are all materials made or received by an agency in connection with official business which is used to perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge. They are not limited to traditional written documents. Tapes, photographs, films and sound recordings are also considered public records subject to inspection unless a statutory exemption exists.

Q: How can I find out More About the Open Meetings and Public Records Law?
A: Probably the most comprehensive guide to understanding the requirements and exemptions to Florida’s open government laws is the Government-in-the-Sunshine manual compiled by the Attorney General’s Office. The manual is updated each year and is available for purchase through the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee. For information on obtaining a copy, contact the First Amendment Foundation at (850) 224-4555.

For a 2009 Electronic Edition of the A Reference For Compliance with Florida’s Public Records and Open Meetings Laws, Volume 31 please follow this link.

For more information on Sunshine Law, please CLICK HERE.

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2024–2025 Board of Directors Meeting Schedule

Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Gateway, Inc.
All meetings held at 1104 SW Main Blvd, Lake City, FL 32025 unless otherwise notified.
Contact: Patty Reeves, Administrative Manager/HR – (386) 961-0134 | preeves@elcgateway.org
Dates and times are subject to change

July
No meetings scheduled

August
• August 26 – 8:15 AM – Executive/Finance Committee
• August 28 – 9:30 AM – Board of Directors

September
No meetings scheduled

October
• October 28 – 8:15 AM – Executive Committee
• October 30 – 9:30 AM – Board of Directors

November
No meetings scheduled

December
No meetings scheduled

January
• January 27 – 8:15 AM – Executive/Finance Committee
• January 29 – 9:30 AM – Board of Directors

February
No meetings scheduled

March
• March 31 – 8:15 AM – Executive Committee

April
• April 2 – 9:30 AM – Board of Directors

May
• May 22 – 8:15 AM – Executive Committee
• May 28 – 9:30 AM – Board of Directors

June
• TBD – 9:00 AM – Executive/Finance Committee
• TBD – 9:30 AM – Board of Directors

Emergency Meetings – Scheduled as needed
Marketing/Outreach and Appeals Review Hearings – Added as scheduled

ELCFG Board of Directors
1104 SW Main Blvd
Lake City, FL  32025

Board of Directors

Connie Anderson
Chair (Appointed by the Governor)
Millennium Bank
151 NW Commons Loop, Lake City, FL 32025
Email: latressata@gmail.com
County: Columbia
Term: 11/01/2022 – 10/31/2026

John Burns III
Private Sector (Appointed by the Governor)
State Farm Insurance
P.O. Box 3658, Lake City, FL 32056
Email: john.burns.cnj5@statefarm.com
County: Columbia
Term: 05/29/2023 – 04/30/2027

Mantha Young
Private Sector (Appointed by the Governor)
MAC Media Services (Retired)
8513 SE 123 Ct, Jasper, FL 32052
Email: manthayoung@gmail.com
County: Columbia
Term: 05/01/2024 – 04/30/2028

Stacy Allbritton
Department of Children & Families
1389 W US Hwy 90, Ste 110, Lake City, FL 32055
Email: stacy.allbritton@myflfamilies.com
Counties: Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee
Term: 09/01/2024 – 08/31/2028

Stacey Rimes
District Superintendent (Union County)
Union County Schools
55 SW 6th St, Lake Butler, FL 32054
Email: rimess@union.k12.fl.us
County: Union
Term: 07/01/2024 – 06/30/2028

Diane Head
North Florida Workforce Development Board
400 W Base St, PO Box 267, Madison, FL 32341
Email: Diane.Head@CareerSourceNorthFlorida.com
Counties: Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette
Term: 10/01/2024 – 09/30/2028

Kerry Waldron
County Health Department Director
Suwannee/Lafayette County Health Dept.
P.O. Box 6030, Live Oak, FL 32064
Email: Kerry.Waldron@flhealth.gov
Counties: Lafayette, Suwannee
Term: 07/01/2023 – 06/30/2027

Dr. Pamela Carswell
Florida Gateway College
149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
Email: pamela.carswell@fgc.edu
County: Columbia
Term: 10/01/2023 – 09/30/2027

Carol Milton
County Appointee (Chamber of Commerce)
Jasper, FL 32052
Email: carol.milton@hamiltonfl.com
County: Hamilton
Term: 08/01/2022 – 07/31/2026

Michele Ward
Head Start Director
Suwannee Valley 4C, Lake City, FL 32025
Email: mward@sv4cs.org
Counties: Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee
Term: 12/01/2021 – 11/30/2025

Harriette Williamson
Private For-Profit Child Care Provider
Harriette’s Right Way Nursery
879 NW Sunshine Pl, Lake City, FL 32055
Email: harriettesrightw@bellsouth.net
County: Columbia
Term: 05/01/2025 – 04/30/2029

Jackie Jones
Faith-Based Child Care Provider
Ebenezer Nursery & Preschool
411 Parshley St SW, Live Oak, FL 32064
Email: eamec411@aol.com
County: Suwannee
Term: 05/01/2025 – 04/30/2029

Elizabeth Johnston
IDEA Representative
Suwannee County Schools
1729 Walker Ave SW, Live Oak, FL 32064
Email: elizabeth.johnston@suwannee.k12.fl.us
County: Suwannee
Term: 02/01/2025 – 01/31/2029

Eva Jallah
DCF Child Care Regulation Representative
Department of Children & Families
5920 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville, FL 32211
Email: Eve.jallah@myflfamilies.com
Counties: Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee
Term: 03/01/2022 – 02/28/2026

Melanie (Mel) Howard
Private Sector Business
Ho-Bo Tractor Company
462 SE SR 238, Lake City, FL 32025
Email: howard@hobotractor.com
County: Union
Term: 07/01/2023 – 06/30/2027

Brandon Fernald
Private Sector Business
First Federal Bank of Florida
804 Ohio Avenue S, Live Oak, FL 32064
Email: fernaldb@ffbf.com
Counties: Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee
Term: 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2026

Patricia Brantley
Private Sector Business
Suwannee County Schools
1729 Walker Ave SW, Live Oak, FL 32064
Email: patricia.brantley@suwannee.k12.fl.us
County: Columbia
Term: 11/01/2024 – 10/31/2028

Myron McClendon
Private Sector Business
Millennium Bank
514 SW SR 47, Lake City, FL 32025
Email: MyronM@millenniumbank.com
County: Suwannee
Term: 04/01/2024 – 03/31/2028

Ex-Officio Members (Non-Voting):

Dawn Odum
Columbia County School District
Email: odumd@columbiak12.com

Annie Pinello
Hamilton County Schools
Email: annie.pinello@hamiltonfl.com

Lisa Newman
Lafayette Elementary
Email: lnewman@lcsbmail.net

Jennifer Barrs
Suwannee County School District
Email: jennifer.barrs@suwannee.k12.fl.us

Diana Duque
Columbia/Hamilton County Health Department
Email: diana.duque@flhealth.gov