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 (via telephone conference); Dr. Doug Watson, Board Member; Johnny McGehee, A.S.B. Board Member; Janice Vaughn, A.S.D. 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; Mandy Abernethy, Office of the Attorney General: Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community
08-B-016 Motion to Approve Consent Items
Ms. Williams said the September Board minutes are not ready for approval, but the Financial Statement is ready and there are several personnel items. She asked for a motion to approve the Consent Items. Ms. Gray made the motion to approve and Dr. Watson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Action Items
None
Discussion Items
None
Superintendent’s Report
Mr. Hill thanked the board members for attending the Night for Sight fundraiser. He thanked Mrs. Hyneman for the gift she donated in support of the fundraiser. Mr. Hill said he estimates that the event raised between $15,000-$18,000. He said that the summer bowling fundraiser raised about $2000.
Mr. Hill said that he, James Caton, and Sharon Berry
attended the American Printing House (
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Mr. Hill said he attended the Governor’s
Mr. Hill said he met with Stan Bryant this week to discuss the budget and ways the school might cut back if it becomes necessary. He said that the governor found it necessary to take some of the school’s money, which was about $120,000. He said he and Stan looked at some of the items in the budget that the school might cut back on at this time and save having to cut staff later, if there is a severe cut. Mr. Hill gave the board members a copy of the deferred maintenance and general improvement items for review. He said the school is going to try to cut back on electricity and natural gas and mentioned other ways the school will monitor their funds. The school has approximately $200,000 for deferred maintenance and $250,000 for general improvement. He said approximately $147,160.90 has been spent from the general improvement, and about $257,000 remains between the two funds. The school will hold back on the general improvement as much as possible but if a heating unit or something of that nature comes up, the money will have to be spent. Mr. Hill said there is a cushion that can be used, which is the salaries from unfilled positions, which is used mostly for summer school. However, rather than lay off staff, summer school could be cut and that would add $70,000-$80,000. He said cutting personnel would be the last thing considered.
Mr. Tolbert: Under deferred maintenance what do you normally, what does that entail? Mr. Hill: Because there are so many things that need to be repaired at the School for the Blind, we usually use that to repair parts of the building, refurbish the building.
Mr. Tolbert: Okay. Have you prioritized those in terms of need?
Mr. Hill: Yes, we’ve actually almost cut them all out, but the priority would be anything that was absolutely necessary to keep the school going. If a heating unit were to burn up, or we would have a major disaster with some of the equipment, that would be priority one and unless it is the health, safety, welfare and comfort of the children, those are the three priority areas that would be covered.
Mr. Tolbert: Okay. Thank you.
Ms. Williams: You think with these cuts, Jim, that you’re going to be able to be okay with the money that you’ll have?
Mr. Hill: Yes.
Ms. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Hill: Yes. Well, I say yes. I can’t predict what the cuts might be. My guess would be the way the revenues have been running by January we ought to know how it’s going to go for the next 6 months and be able to get into the ballpark, but the governor had us make two budgets, three budgets out. One is what we wanted; one is with a small percentage. I forgot what that is. Marcella, do you remember?
Dr. Dalla Rosa: Well, one was the 7% decrease.
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Mr. Hill: The 7% was the budget buster and, you know, we have a budget in place that would amount to a 7% decrease in revenues and that’s when you start having to cut personnel. But, you know, it could be anywhere from 7 down to 1% or, depending on how the revenues go from here on out.
Mr. Tolbert: But I did understand you, Jim, to say that as you look at budgetary restraints, you are going to make sure that one, the academic part of it was not taking a blow, nor maybe having to cut personnel, and whatever you did with maintenance was going to make sure that kids were warm, they were safe and they were dry. Did I understand you to say that?
Mr. Hill: Yes, sir. Those are our priorities right there.
Mr. Tolbert: Okay. Thanks.
Mr. Hill said the author of the book Hanni and Beth, which is the story of a blind lady and her dog,
visited the school and talked with students from A.S.B. as well as students
from
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
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