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 Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf met for their monthly meeting on October 21, 2008.

 

Present: Henrietta Williams, Chairperson; Beth Gray, Secretary; Andrew Tolbert, Board Member (via phone conference); Johnny McGehee, 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, 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

 

Call to Order

 

Ms. Williams called the meeting to order at 4:00 p .m. The next board meeting will be November 18, 2008 and will begin at 4:30 p.m.

 

Consent Items

 

The minutes were not ready for approval.

 

Action Items

None

 

Discussion Items

Johnny McGehee – A.S.B. Parent Representative

 

Mr. McGehee introduced the A.S.B. track coach and track team.  Coach Maggie Mathis, A.S.B. girls’ track coach, told the board members that the girls won first place and the boys came in third place and competed against 10 states. She said there were a lot of personal best records broken. She said the girls did a great job and she is very proud of them. He said he was not only proud of the honors the teams won, but he was also proud of the students’ conduct and they represented the school very well.

 

Mr. McGehee said he went to the Fair with the students on Wednesday and had a good time. He said on Friday, he went to the fundraiser, A Night for Sight, for NAPVI. He said it was a very nice evening. On Sunday, he went to the Silent Sunday and he said it was wonderful. Mr. McGehee said this was the first time he has gone to the fundraiser and it was a wonderful evening.

 

 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

Arkansas School for the Deaf

October 21, 2008

Page 1 of 3

Janice Vaughn - A.S.D. Parent Representative

 

Mrs. Vaughn she thoroughly enjoyed the party Friday night but she could not go to Silent Sunday because she had an out of town commitment. She said the Friday night party was wonderful and thanked Mr. Hill for inviting her.

 

Mrs. Vaughn reported that there was meeting with the group involved with the After School Program. She said they came to the consensus that the After School Program would continue in Adcock Hall and the PRIDE Program would stay where it is. She said there were some stipulations that some things be done, such as painting and making the building a lot more cheerful and doing some lighting. Ms. Williams said she is glad about the stipulations and that everything worked out. Mrs. Vaughn and Dr. Dalla Rosa said some very good ideas were presented at the meeting. She said it was suggested that different groups would take a room and try to shape it up.

 

Leadership and Service Learning Class

 

Dr. Dalla Rosa introduced Melissa Higginbotham and her class. One of the students told the board that this is a new class and it is called Leadership and Service Learning. The class is about helping people and solving problems and they try to encourage each other. The student said they learn about different organizations and see if the organizations need help. She thanked Dr. Dalla Rosa for letting Ms. Higginbotham attend workshops so she can provide the class and that the class has been a benefit. Another student said they are learning about being involved and not just sitting back, volunteering, being motivated. The class got together and discussed what they really wanted to do and they decided to help the Pulaski Humane Society. The students in Ms. Higginbotham’s class will be sewing blankets for the animals and donations can also be made to the Humane Society.

 

Action Item

08-J-012 Motion to Approve Application for Title VI B Funds

 

(This item was not listed on the Agenda, but needs board approval.)

 

Dr. Dalla Rosa explained that the item is related to the monies from the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education, VI B and the board must approve the application. Dr. Dalla Rosa said the money funds three teacher aides at A.S.D. and it is also used to partially fund occupational therapy and physical therapy. Ms. Williams asked if the document has changed since last year and Dr. Dalla Rosa said it has not changed.

 

 

 

 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

Arkansas School for the Deaf

October 21, 2008

Page 2 of 3

Ms. Williams asked for a motion to approve the VI B Application, approving the application for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the application for the Arkansas School for the Blind. Dr. Watson made the motion to approve and Ms. Gray seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        Henrietta Williams, Chairperson

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Beth Gray, Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Arkansas School for the Blind

Arkansas School for the Deaf

October 21, 2008

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