OFFICIAL MINUTES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF THE

ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

           

The Board of Trustees for the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf met for their monthly meeting on January 15, 2008.

 

Present: Dr. Douglas Watson, Chairperson, Henrietta Williams, Vice-Chairperson; Andrew Tolbert, Board Member; Beth Gray, Board Member; Johnny McGehee, A.S.B. Parent Representative; Jim Hill, A.S.B. Superintendent; Dr. Marcella Dalla Rosa, A.S.D. Superintendent; Katie Becker, Zania Musteen, Interpreters; Bishop Woosley, Office of the Attorney General; Marc Harrison, Governor’s Office; Members of the Deaf Community; Members of the Blind Community

 

Prior to the opening of the meeting, Mr. Hill introduced Bishop Woosley, who was representing the Office of the Attorney General, in Amy Ford’s absence.

 

Call to Order

 

Dr. Watson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

 08-J-001 Motion to Approve Henrietta Williams

  Chairperson for the Board of Trustees

 

Dr. Watson said the first order of business was to entertain a motion to replace himself with Henrietta Williams as chairperson for the Board of Trustees for the year 2008. Mr. Tolbert made the motion and Beth Gray seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Dr. Watson congratulated Henrietta on her appointment and wished her well during the coming year. Mrs. Williams extended her thanks to the board for the manner in which the board meetings were conducted during the past year, the member’s hard work, and their commitment to the board.

 

Mrs. Williams reminded the board of the next board meeting, which will be February 19, 2008.

 

Mrs. Williams told Andrew Tolbert that the board would be thinking of him as he traveled to the National Superintendent’s Association meeting.

 

08-J-002 Motion to Approve Consent Items

December Board Minutes

 

Mrs. Williams asked for a motion to approve the Minutes from the December board meeting. Ms. Gray made the motion to approve and Dr. Watson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Joint Session

January 10, 2008

Page 1 of 3

Action Items

08-J-003 Motion to Approve Yearly

 Expense Reimbursement

 

Mr. Hill explained that each year the board has to approve the stipend board members receive for attending the board meetings. Dr. Watson made the motion and Mr. Tolbert seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Discussion

Johnny McGehee – A.S.B. Parent Representative

 

Mr. McGehee reported that he and his son were invited to attend the wrestling meet with the A.S.B. high school students and the students all had a good time.  He also congratulated Mr. Tolbert on his accomplishment.

 

A.S.D. Parent Representative – position vacant

 

Mr. Hill said it probably won’t be long before someone is appointed as A.S.D. parent representative, as well as the appointment of another board member.

 

Comments by Jim Hill, A.S.B. Superintendent

 

Mr. Hill also congratulated Mr. Tolbert on his accomplishment. He said the recognition is well deserved and it gives a higher profile to the board as well as the schools. Mr. Tolbert thanked Mr. Hill for his kind words.

 

Mr. Hill said he talked with Taco Williams who is with the governor’s office. He said he thinks the sequence of appointments to the board has been turned around and the wrong expiration date was put on Brenda Gullett’s appointment letter. Mrs. Gullett questioned the date and the governor sent her another appointment letter with her term ending in 2010. If this schedule is followed, the terms of two board members will end the same year. Mr. Hill said this would not lend continuity to the board and the governor’s office is checking on this. He said the term of the person replacing Mrs. Gullett would end 2010. The expiration dates for the members serving on the board at this time are: Henrietta Williams, 2009; Beth Gray, 2011; Dr. Doug Watson, 2008; Andrew Tolbert, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Joint Session

January 10, 2008

Page 2 of 3

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    ­­­­­­­­­­______________________________

                                                                                    Henrietta Williams, Chairperson

                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________

                                                                                    Beth Gray, Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Joint Session

January 10, 2008

Page 3 of 3