OFFICIAL MINUTES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF THE

ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

The Board of Trustees for the Arkansas School for the Blind met for their monthly meeting on December 18, 2007.

Present: Dr. Douglas Watson, Chairperson, Henrietta Williams, Vice-Chairperson; Andrew Tolbert, Board Member; Beth Gray, Board Member; Jim Hill, ASB Superintendent; Dr. Marcella Dalla Rosa, ASD Superintendent; Katie Becker, Zania Musteen, Interpreters; Amy Ford, Office of the Attorney General; Marc Harrison, Governor’s Office; Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community

07-B-024 Motion to Approve Consent Items

Dr. Watson asked for a motion to approve the November board minutes and the November Financial Statement. Ms. Gray made the motion and Ms. Williams seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hill explained that Thomasina Robinson was terminated, but she resigned and her resignation was accepted. This should be reflected as a resignation. Florence Nelson, Cook II, moved out of state.

Action Items

None

Discussion Items

None

Superintendent’s Report

Mr. Hill introduced Tara Manthey, who is the educational reporter from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Mr. Hill reminded the board members that they need to complete Financial Interest Statement and send it to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Mr. Hill said the school treated the Wrightsville Prison Braille unit with a Christmas party. The Braille unit provides the school with a significant amount of Braille books.

Mr. Hill, board member, and Sharon Berry, parent representative, attended a NAPVI Board meeting in Rogers, Arkansas. Mr. Hill said that NAPVI has become prominent in promoting activities designed to assist parents who have blind and visually impaired children. A.S.B. and NAPVI will host Cookies with Santa for the parents in the Little Rock area on Dec. 22.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

December 18, 2007

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Mr. Hill said he attended the yearly business meeting of the Lions World Services for the Blind. This organization provides assistance to adults who are blind.

Division of Services for the Blind provides many A.S.B. students with college assistance. Mr. Hill said he and Mrs. Berry, who is on the DSB board, recently attended DSB’s yearly meeting. Mr. Hill mentioned that Jim Hudson, the director of the program, whose wife teaches at A.S.B. died unexpectedly. Mr. Hill said Mr. Hudson was a great tribute to what blind people can do, and a great role model. He was totally blind and very functional and competent.

A.S.B. elementary cheerleaders, grades 1-6, attended a cheerleading competition and won first place. Mr. Hill said he really enjoys watching the little cheerleaders perform. Students in grades 1-6 attended the performance of The Nutcracker this week.

The school’s Christmas Concert will be December 20 at 7:00 p.m., with a Parent Appreciation Dinner prior to the concert. Mr. Hill invited the board members to this event. The elementary students had a Christmas party today. Mrs. Berry raised more than $3000 for gifts for the students and Santa visited to give the students their gifts. Mr. Hill said enough money was left and that the secondary students will get a little gift of cash for a Christmas present.

On December 19, Pre-K and Kindergarten will have a Christmas Tea. Mr. Hill said this is a very nice activity for the parents and the students. Mr. Hill invited the board members to this tea, which will be at 1:30 p.m. and invited them to the Christmas Staff Lunch on December 20. Christmas Holidays begin December 21. Semester tests will be given January 14-18. Martin Luther King, Jr. Salute to Greatness will be January 18. Mr. Hill said he has made reservations for all of the board members if they are interested in going to this event.

Mr. Hill said he has received notice that A.S.B. met the AYP standards. He said he is very pleased with that report and a report will be given to the board at a later date.

NCASVH Wrestling Conference will be January 25-26 in Wisconsin. Mr. Hill said the school will compete with all other schools for the blind in the central part of the country. In addition to the conference, the school will be participating in two-way matches and three-way matches, and these will be held in the state. Forty teams in the state have signed up for wrestling and hopefully wrestling will be sanctioned in the state.

Mr. Hill said that the Birth-3 program continues to grow. He explained that part of motivating a child to read is for parents to read with the child. However, when a child reads Braille and the parent does not, there is a problem. Mr. Hill showed the board members books that have printing and Braille, which will be an asset to encourage parents to become involved with reading with their child.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

December 18, 2007

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Mr. Hill gave each board member a Christmas gift of a ham. He thanked the board members for their support during the past year.

There being no further business for the Arkansas School for the Blind, the meeting moved to the Agenda for the Arkansas School for the Deaf.

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Dr. Douglas Watson, Chairperson

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Secretary (vacant at this time)

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

December 18, 2007

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