OFFICIAL MINUTES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF THE
ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
The Board of Trustees for the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired met for their monthly meeting on May 20, 2010.
Present: Beth Gray, Chairperson(telephone conference); Andrew Tolbert, Vice Chairperson (telephone conference); Dr. Doug Watson, Secretary; Dr. Henrietta Williams, Board Member; Khayyam Eddings, Board Member; Jeanne Tribett, A.S.B. Parent Representative; Janice Vaughn, A.S.D. Parent Representative; Jim Hill, A.S.B. Superintendent; Mike Phillips, A.S.D. Interim Superintendent; Zania Musteen, Katie Becker, Interpreters; Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community
10-B-008 Motion to Approve Consent Items
Dr. Watson made a motion to approve the Consent Items and Dr. Williams seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Action Items
None
Discussion Items
None
Superintendent’s Report
Mr. Hill welcomed Mike Phillips as the full time superintendent for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and said he looks forward to working with Mr. Phillips.
Mr. Hill asked the board for approval to allow a student from Turkey to attend ASBVI next year as an exchange student. The student is blind and presently lives in the Little Rock area with a couple who are also blind. The only expense for the school would the student’s lunch and her books, which the school already has. Mr. Hill said ASBVI students would have the opportunity to be exposed to another culture and what life is like in Turkey. The student’s enrollment would be subject to the student coming through the Youth Exchange Study, being enrolled in the Little Rock Public School System, and then being referred to the School for the Blind.
10-B-009
Motion to Approve Foreign Exchange Student at
Arkansas School for the Blind
Dr. Watson made a motion to approve Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired accepting a foreign exchange student from Turkey for the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Tolbert seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Board of Trustees Meeting
Arkansas School for the Blind
and Visually Impaired
May 20, 2010
Page 1 of 2
Mr. Hill brought the board up to date on construction projects. He said the team of the architect, the construction company, Jim Kernan and himself met to discuss issues that have been brought to their attention in reference to the schedule. The bids on the projects were higher than expected and the decision was made to reduce the construction projects to include Shults House, the dorm, Prewitt Hall and the West Wing. The replacement of the air in the infirmary and the Cottage will be delayed until 2011. The Vocational Building, the Learning Center will be completed in 2011. Mr. Hill discussed other changes and projects that will need to be done if money is available at the end of the other construction.
The art teacher and the Braille teacher will be retiring this year; Fred Spears, maintenance, retired earlier this year. A retirement party for all of them will be Tuesday, June 1. A teacher’s aide is leaving to teach at a charter school.
Mr. Hill thanked Chris Hart for his legal assistance regarding a trust, in the amount of $1,000,000, that is being set up for the school by a man in Mountain Home.
Mr. Hill said several parcels of land were left to the school through the Scudamore Trust and the school signs leases for the mineral rights.
Mr. Hill reintroduced Alma Valley, the new assistant business manager, and LaShonda Versey, assistant personnel director.
10-B-010 Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business for the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Mr. Tolbert made a motion adjourn and Dr. Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
____________________________________________
Beth Gray, Chairperson
____________________________________________
Dr. Doug Watson, Secretary
Board of Trustees Meeting
Arkansas School for the Blind
and Visually Impaired
May 20, 2010
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