OFFICIAL MINUTES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF THE
The Board of Trustees for the
Present: Henrietta Williams, Chairperson; Pam Hyneman, Vice Chairperson; Beth Gray, Secretary; Andrew Tolbert, Board Member; Dr. Douglas Watson, Board Member (via teleconference); Johnny McGehee, A.S.B. Parent Representative; Jim Hill, A.S.B. Superintendent; Dr. Marcella Dalla Rosa, A.S.D. Superintendent; Katie Becker, Zania Musteen, Interpreters; Amy Ford, Office of the Attorney General; Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community
08-B-003 Motion to Approve Consent Items
Ms. Williams asked for a motion to approve the Minutes, Financial Statement and Personnel Items. Mr. Tolbert made the motion and Dr. Watson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Action Items
None
Discussion Items
None
Superintendent’s Report
Mr. Hill welcomed new board member, Pam Hyneman.
A.S.B. students recently returned from a wrestling
conference in
Steve Sullivan was grand marshal for the A.S.B. Homecoming parade, which was February 1. The wrestling tournament was held at the School for the Deaf with 18 teams participating. Mr. Hill thanked Marcella for the use of the A.S.D. gym.
Senator Steve Faris visited with Mr. Hill and Dr. Dalla Rosa on February 5. They discussed issues that they feel are important for the next legislative session. Mr. Hill said one issue is to try finding funds to assist schools to cover transportation for students to and from the School for the Blind. Mr. Hill said that local schools pay their own transportation which is a big expense. Additional funds are also needed for the Birth to 3 program, which has grown tremendously and there are now 70 children in the program and still growing. Mr. Hill said they are concerned about the special language that is
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going to come out of the new pay plan for state employees. As originally written, the plan did not leave much flexibility to be competitive with the public schools in the way of salaries. Mr. Hill said he thinks he will come out alright and the director of OPM has assured him of this. Mr. Hill said they are also going to try to secure more funds for the facilities. He said in his opinion the schools are not keeping up with the public schools as far as facilities money is concerned and he feels the governor will help with this.
The A.S.B. Health Committee met on February 7. This committee is made of 8-10 administrators and teachers. Health issues involving the students and staff are reviewed and decisions are made about improving or changing eating habits and exercise habits to make the students and staff healthier. Some of the issues discussed are healthy eating, physical activities and surveying the eating habits of students. From this study, the committee will see what the most important health needs are for the school. Mr. Hill said he thinks the committee has been very effective in having an influence on the dietary habits of the students and some activities are more physical than previously. The committee will have a fitness walk to emphasize walking for health. Mr. Hill said it has been rumored that the superintendent is going to walk around in a bunny outfit. In connection with the Spring Concert, there is going to be a parent appreciation dinner, and the committee will provide information to parents about how they can help support healthy eating and living, and a video on healthy eating will also be shown to the parents that night.
February 11, A.S.B. was audited by Medicaid. Mr. Hill said the auditors had glowing remarks about how well the books were kept and Mr. Hill said this is a compliment to Sharon Berry, who supervises this department, and her administrative assistant. Mr. Hill said Sharon Berry will give a report to the board when the school receives the final report.
Mr. Hill said the visit by the Governor and the First Lady
on February 14 went well, and the First Lady is very much interested in the
welfare of the people of
The high school drama class and Grades 1-6 attended the
performance of Annie at
On February 15, A.S.D. hosted a meeting in Woolly Auditorium
for officials from the test publishing companies, A.D.E. staff, and test
administrators from public schools in
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made in test structures and test format for the coming year. He said he was proud to be
able to support the state with the activity. Mr. Hill said the school does several things
throughout the year to improve public relations with the Department of Education. He mentioned that the Community Theatre of Little Rock, the Top of the Rock singers, and the Arkansas Brass Band also use the auditorium throughout the year. He said this is the school’s attempt to reach out to the state and show good citizenship, as well as showing that the facility belongs to the state.
Mr. Hill talked about NAPVI, the association for parents
with visual impairments. He said the
school feels the organization is very effective in encouraging parents to
participate in activities with their child’s education. Mr. Hill gave each
board member a handout with pictures and information about various activities
that NAPVI has sponsored and explained how the organization’s activities help
educate parents in raising a blind child. This information also gives the
parents a sense of confidence that all is not lost because their child is blind. Ken Fowler showed a video that the American
Foundation for the Blind produced and featured a student from the
Mr. Hill said he will be traveling to
Mr. Hill discussed other events and activities that will be taking place on the campus during the next few weeks.
On May 17-18 a group of A.S.B. students will have the
opportunity to meet with Eric Weinhmayer, who is the blind man who climbed
Mr. Hill gave each board member a map that shows the county
in which each A.S.B. student lives and gives the board an idea of how many
children the school is touching in the state of
Ms. Williams said the board sent a plant to Mrs.
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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.
_______________________________
Henrietta Williams, Chairperson
________________________________
Beth Gray, Secretary
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