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 July 15, 2008.

Present: Henrietta Williams, Chairperson; Pam Hyneman, Vice Chairperson; Beth Gray, Secretary; Andrew Tolbert, Board Member; Dr. Doug Watson, Board Member; Johnny McGehee, A.S.B. Parent Representative; Janice Vaughn, A.S.D. Parent Representative; Jim Hill, A.S.B. Superintendent; Dr. Marcella Dalla Rosa, A.S.D. Superintendent; Katie Becker, Cherie Courtwright, Interpreters; Amy Ford, Office of the Attorney General; Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community

08-B-011 Motion to Approve Consent Items

Ms. Williams asked for a motion to approve the Consent Items. Mr. Tolbert made the motion to approve and Ms. Gray seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Action Items

08-B-012 Motion to Approve A.S.B. to Withdraw from

North Central Association Accreditation

Mr. Hill said that North Central Association (NCA) has been an agency on the cutting edge as far as evaluation of a school program and that it still does a good job. He said he has the utmost respect for Emma Bass and NCA but that NCA is no longer the force that determines the program. State standards have become tougher and more is required to meet those standards. The cost to belong, along with other expenses, is approximately $1500 per year. Mr. Hill asked the board’s opinion regarding withdrawing from the NCA process since the school has an in-house evaluation process. Ms. Williams said she did not have a problem with Mr. Hill’s decision and asked for a motion to allow the school to withdraw from the North Central Association Accreditation. Dr. Watson made the motion and Ms. Gray seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

08-B-013 Motion to Approve Administrative Position

Ms. Williams said she talked with Mr. Hill in March regarding the principal’s position. She said she has been spending a lot of time at both schools, looking at the programs, what is offered, and how the schools are being run. Unlike A.S.D., A.S.B. has a full academic program with certified teachers and the infant program is growing, as well as the start of the Gifted and Talented program.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Deaf

Arkansas School for the Blind

July 15, 2008

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Ms. Williams said the school really has their hands full and she said she feels that a separate position for that is warranted.

Mr. Hill said adding this position will make a clean definition of responsibilities. Under the current system, Mrs. Berry has been the overall principal and Mr. Fowler has been the assistant principal and that has worked, but for clarity of responsibility and clarity of who is responsible for what, the position would greatly facilitate the administration of the school’s program. Mr. Hill said he thinks a lot of people do not understand the role of a principal at a special education school. He said there are four curriculums and a functional curriculum, which involves braille, orientation and mobility, and life skills, which is another curriculum. Mr. Hill said that Mr. Fowler is the athletic director, in addition to his position as principal, and he is responsible for supervising most of the reports as they relate to general education. Mrs. Berry is responsible for reports as they relate to special education as well as general education. Mr. Hill said he would like for Mrs. Berry to have some time for grant writing and the change in responsibilities would allow Mrs. Berry time to write grants, which would generate new funds for some of the school’s programs. Mr. Hill said he thinks the school could easily justify having two full time positions with Mr. Fowler being the secondary principal and Mrs. Berry being the elementary principal, adding responsibilities of curriculum supervisor, the responsibilities of athletic director, and the responsibilities of grant writing, all of which the school does not have. Mr. Fowler would be promoted to a Grade 23 and normally that would result in an increase of 6% but that would not be a raise for him. Currently he is a Grade 22, which is a lead teacher in a secondary principal position and he is fully certified as a principal. Mr. Hill said if Mr. Fowler moves to a Grade 23, he will be required to work 12 months and he will not be able to earn extra money during the summer months, as he is doing at the present time.

Ms. Williams said she looked at the responsibilities that individuals need to separate to make sure the programs are continuing like they need to continue. Mr. Tolbert asked how many teachers Mr. Fowler and Mrs. Berry are responsible for at this time. Mr. Hill said Mrs. Berry does 22 evaluations and Mr. Fowler does 18; Mrs. Berry has 18 certified and Mr. Fowler has 18 certified. Ms. Williams asked for a motion to approve the administrative position. Dr. Watson made the motion and Mr. Tolbert seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion to Approve A.S.B. Leave Policy, Catastrophic Leave Application, Catastrophic Leave Policy, and Employee Conduct Standards

Motion to approve took place during the Joint Meeting (08-J-009).

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Deaf

Arkansas School for the Blind

July 15, 2008

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Superintendent’s Report

Mr. Hill said the school has been involved with two different meetings with parents, one of which is NAPVI. This organization has been very supportive in getting parents interested in becoming involved and knowing how to become involved with the early pre-school skills that a child needs to be able to enter preschool with skills equal to

their sighted peers. Mr. Hill introduced Shelli Moore, Director of the Early Intervention Program, and asked her to give a short report on the program. Mrs. Moore said she is also involved with the NAPVI organization and that several staff members from the Arkansas School for the Blind presented at a recent two-day NAPVI meeting in Bentonville. NAPVI is a fund raising organization and some of the proceeds benefit Kiddie Camp, which is held at A.S.B. Kiddie Camp is designed for children 0-3 years old. Activities this year included horse rides, a cookout, a parent round table, water mobility, discussion of Parent Rights, and one evening was spent at Pump It Up. Mr. Hill said the school provided lodging for parents who came from across the state. He said it was very interesting and enjoyable to see the parents begin to share with other parents what has happened to them and to discover that life is not over because their child cannot see.

Thirty-three students attended Summer School. Computer skills and academic skills were provided in the CSI lab. Other activities included braille, mobility, social skills, recreational activities, ice skating. Mr. Hill said that two students were legal eagles and asked Janice Vaughn to explain. She said her office sponsored a student for three weeks and she would like to have the student back next year. Another student was placed with Peter Miller and he also wants that student to return next year. Other students worked at ASB state resource center, the Lighthouse for the Blind, Rhea Drug Store, the vending program, which is supported by Division of Services for the Blind, Mainstream, Boys and Girls Club, Paris Towers, Cumberland Nursing Home, and one student assisted the photography at the State Capitol. Jump Start students attended classes in the afternoon.

Mr. Hill said he and Sharon Berry represented Division of Services for the Blind at an NCSRC meeting in St. Louis. This organization brings together organizations who serve many different kinds of handicaps.

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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Henrietta Williams, Chairperson

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Beth Gray, Secretary

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Deaf

Arkansas School for the Blind

July 15, 2008

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