OFFICIAL MINUTES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF THE

ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

The Board of Trustees for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind met for their monthly meeting on January 19, 2010.

Present: Beth Gray, Chairperson; Andrew Tolbert, Secretary; Dr. Doug Watson, Board Member; Dr. Henrietta Williams, Board Member; Khayyam Eddings, Board Member; Janice Vaughn, A.S.D. Parent Representative; Jeanne Tribett, A.S.B. Parent Representative; Jim Hill, A.S.B. Superintendent; Mike Phillips, A.S.D. Interim Superintendent; Katie Becker, Zania Musteen, Interpreters; Christopher Hart, Office of the Attorney General; Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:28 p.m. The next board meeting was scheduled for February 16.

10-J-001 Motion to Approve Consent Items

Dr. Williams made a motion to approve the Consent Items and Mr. Tolbert seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Action Items

10-J-002 Motion to Approve Yearly Expense Reimbursement

Mr. Tolbert made a motion to approve the yearly expense reimbursement and Dr. Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

A.S.D. Parent Representative – Janice Vaughn

Mrs. Vaughn had nothing to report this month.

A.S.B. Parent Representative – Jeanne Tribett

Mrs. Tribett reported on events that have taken place in December. These included the Christmas Dance, Christmas Tea, Christmas Concert and Parent Appreciation Dinner. Events and activities in January include semester tests, elementary teachers were awarded

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

Arkansas School for the Deaf

January 19, 2010

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a check from ADE for elementary excellence, Conference wrestling in Tennessee, 100^th Day of School on Jan. 29. February events include Homecoming activities, Black History Assembly with Sen. Joyce Elliott as the guest speaker, ADE Test Coordinator’s Meeting in the Woolly Auditorium.

Summer School

Mr. Hill said because of budget cuts, this will be the first year since he has been at ASB that there will not be summer school. In order to spend the stimulus money in an appropriate time frame, the school needs the whole summer to complete the projects and the buildings need to be empty to do this. The buildings that are scheduled to be worked on are Prewitt Hall, the Infirmary, Parent Resource Center, Shults House, the West Wing and part of the Learning Center. He said the construction presents problems with blind and visually impaired students moving in and out of the buildings. Mr. Hill said that both schools have received large budget cuts and approximately $90,000 is spent on summer school which is another reason for not having summer school. Mr. Tolbert asked if summer school is for remediation or credit recovery. Mr. Phillips said it is for enrichment and not for credit recovery. On the ASD campus, there will be construction in the dorms, plumbing projects, work in the home economics department and the crisis alert system. Mr. Phillips said he regrets not being able to have summer school, but that would be added expenses with the budget cuts and does not see any other way around it. Mrs. Vaughn asked if the budget could be cut in some other area so the schools could have summer school. Mr. Hill said he is trying very hard not to cut positions and if something isn’t cut, he will have to use cash. Mr. Phillips said if the money is reinstated, ASD would be able to have summer school. In answer to Dr. Watson’s question, Mr. Hill said that barring any other budget cuts, the school will probably be able to have summer school next year. Mr. Hill also said ASB has not ruled out having Jump Start. Mr. Phillips said ASD can leave the topic open for discussion.

There being no further business of a Joint nature, the meeting moved to the Agenda for the Arkansas School for the Deaf.

______________________________________

Beth Gray, Chairperson

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Dr. Douglas Watson, Secretary

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

Arkansas School for the Deaf

January 19, 2010

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