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July 28, 2006 MINUTES

Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), was held in Room 116 of the Administration Building, located at 1100 West 45th Street, Austin, Texas on July 28, 2006.

Call to Order: Frankie Swift, Board President, called the meeting to order at 8:55am. In addition to Ms. Swift, the following board members were in attendance: Mary Sue Welch, Dr. Gene Brooks, Jamie Wheeler, Jesus Bautista, Toby Galindo, and Donna Clopton.

Introduction of Audience: Others in attendance at the meeting included Dr. Phil Hatlen, Superintendent; Miles Fain, Principal; Carol Vaughan, School Attorney; Barney Schulz, Administrator for Business, Operations and Technology; Malcolm Cleveland, Director of Accounting; John Daude, Facilities Manager; Susan Houghtling, Program Supervisor; Debra Nesbitt, Human Resources Director and Russell Gregorczyk, Internal Auditor.

Public Comments/Open Forum: Claude Martin, formerly of Dark Horse Riders Motorcycle Club, reported on his charity motorcycle trip to Chicago. The owners of Chicago restaurant Merle's BBQ pledged to donate $1 per mile of the trip to TSBVI, and challenged others to follow suit. Mr. Martin and his wife Faye traveled 1,388 miles to reach the restaurant, where he cooked a large vat of chili. One dollar from each bowl of chili sold at Merle's in the month of July was also added to the pool, and other donors contributed as well. The donations totaled over $3,000 at the time of the meeting. Phil Hatlen indicated that he intended to ask the Board to approve using the donation proceeds for private music lessons for some students, and to partially fund a ski trip for students.

Consideration of Approval of Minutes of May 24, 2006 Board Meeting: Donna Clopton moved to accept the minutes as presented. Mrs. Welch seconded the motion. The motion to pass was unanimous. Jesus Bautista asked that from now on, the minutes include the titles of the various audience members who work at the school. Carol Vaughan pointed out that the minutes do not need to be as detailed as they have been. Frankie Swift asked that they continue to be detailed, and other board members agreed.

Consideration of Approval of Operating Budget for 2006-2007: Barney Schulz explained that General Revenue Funds are the money allocated to the school from the state. Those funds make up most of the General Operating budget, which encompasses all of the operations that go on at the School.

Mr. Schulz went on to explain that one of the differences between the FY 2006 and 2007 budgets is the following state-mandated salary increases for 2007: the greater of 3% or $50/month for classified staff, and a probable average of a 7.5% increase in teaching professionals' salaries. The Legislature appropriates funds for these salary increases.

Mr. Schulz said that TSBVI will not be affected by the reduction in property taxes across the state. He also told the Board that TSBVI expects an increase in revenues of about $40,000 from local districts' travel reimbursements, and of about $100,000 from increased enrollment. The total operating budget is anticipated to be $14,255,000.

Mr. Schulz also noted that TSBVI expects an increase in revenue from the Broday Trust, and that the Board will receive an update as to how the School plans to use the additional revenue. TSBVI has also joined the wind farm coop in Roscoe, Texas.

He further explained that the overall budget increased by about $1 million. This is primarily due to increases in classified staff salaries, educator staff salaries, the addition of three more TAs due to increased student enrollment, an increase of $10,000 in the SWEAT program budget, merit and career ladder salary increases totaling approximately $65,000, and additional funding for the curriculum department of about $11,000 due to increased printing and production costs.

Mr. Schulz, in answer to a question from Mrs. Clopton regarding increased fuel costs, announced that he and Dr. Hatlen had discussed setting aside approximately $75,000 for gasoline and utilities costs and $100,000 for possible litigation and settlements from the approximately $500,000 expected to be carried over from fiscal year 2006.

He also said that if the legislature mandates that the 2007-08 school year start two weeks later than the current school year, the School would save two week's worth of salaries in August 2007. He estimated that the school spends $40,000 per day on staff that are not 12-month employees.

Following a discussion of the budget for food and the various places on campus in which food is prepared, Dr. Hatlen told the Board that the School would look into the need for students who work in the Bistro to obtain food handler certification.

Mr. Schulz noted that the curriculum development budget is now broken into four different cost accounts, to facilitate budgeting in the different areas that fall under curriculum. These accounts are: curriculum departmental expenses, production and sales of books, business office and warehouse support staff, and copy center.

Mrs. Clopton moved to approve the proposed operating budget with the following amendments: Add $60,000 to utilities by adding $40,000 for electricity, $8,000 for natural gas, $7,000 for wastewater and trash, and $5,000 for water; add $15,000 for gasoline; add $18,500 for emergency repairs; add $6,500 to increase the time of the Internal Auditor; and $200,000 to contingency funds. Mrs. Welch seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

At 11:50 AM, Board President Frankie Swift stated that the Board would go into closed session to discuss the salary of the Superintendent in conformance with Texas Government Code Section 551.074.

At 1:25 PM, President Swift called the Board back into open session.

Discussion of Facilities Master Plan: Paul Woodard of Halff Associates, project manager for the campus improvement project, outlined the work of his firm thus far, and introduced architect Kathryn Helm. He then introduced the master plan report. The report includes the final version of the master plan, which is a flexible, living document intended to guide the school in development of construction plans into the future.

Mr. Woodard highlighted some of the features of the master plan:

• The center of campus will include a building complex featuring a fine arts center, student activity center, natatorium and cafeteria.
• More space is allocated for instructional areas.
• The road in the middle of campus is slated to be turned into a pedestrian walkway.
• Outreach will be moved closer to the front of campus, where Dorms D, E and F are currently situated.
• A challenge course and natural area will take the place of the current track, and a new, larger track will be built in what is currently the community gardens.

Mr. Woodard explained that the master plan includes aspects of the campus that are not yet funded. The construction is divided into three funding phases, the first two of which have already been funded. Phase 1 includes the elementary residential complex, elementary playground, a new duplex on the east side of campus, and a four-unit apartment on the north side- these features are currently being designed. Phase 2 consists of the main instructional building, the central building complex, and the roadway network that supports them, including fire lanes and parking areas. Phase 3, which has not yet been funded, will be the fulfillment of the remaining features of the master plan.

Ms. Helm and Mr. Woodard estimated that the new buildings would have an approximate lifetime of 40 years before their aging systems or changes in patterns of use require the School to renovate or replace them.

Mr. Woodard showed some preliminary designs for the elementary complex and the new four-plex. The architects also presented a tactile map of the campus master plan.

Consideration of Approval to Transfer Funds Between Budget Codes: Mrs. Clopton moved to allow the Superintendent to transfer up to 12.5% from any one appropriation item to another appropriation item in the annual 2006-2007 operating budget. Toby Galindo seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Approval of Legislative Appropriations Request for the 2008-2009 Biennium: Ms. Swift reported that the governor's office had indicated that they would not tolerate a reduction in services as a response to their mandate that all state agencies submit Legislative Appropriations Requests at 90% of their baseline budget. Dr. Hatlen said that Marisha Negovetich from the governor's office indicated that it is unlikely that the School will have its budget reduced by 10%, and that in fact the state expects to have a budgetary surplus.

Mrs. Clopton said that the School could consider charging for summer school admission to reduce the general revenue funds that go into that area of instruction.

Approval of method of achieving a 10% budget reduction in fiscal years 2008-2009: Mr. Galindo moved to require the Superintendent to develop a 10% budget reduction proposal by reducing each departmental budget by 10%. Jamie Wheeler seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Approval of Administrator’s Statement: Mr. Galindo moved to accept the Administrator’s Statement as presented. Mrs. Clopton seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Approval of proposed riders and special provisions: Mr. Galindo moved to accept the proposed riders and special provisions as presented. Dr. Brooks seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Approval of proposed exceptional items: Mr. Galindo moved that Dr. Hatlen ask Senator Duncan whether the School should seek the entire $66 million it seeks in the facilities master plan in the next biennium or whether the request should be broken into two separate exceptional item requests. If Senator Duncan believes the request should be split, Mr. Galindo moved that Phase 1 be requested along with an Outreach/Vocational Center and a new Health Center that are currently presented within the Phase 2 request. Dr. Brooks seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Superintendent’s Salary: Dr. Brooks moved to increase the Superintendent’s annual salary to $95,000. Mr. Galindo seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Management of the Broday Trust: Mrs. Clopton moved to support a petition to the court to diversify the Broday Trust. Mr. Galindo seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Reclassifying a Post-Secondary Program Position: Dr. Brooks moved to reclassify the position of Manager of the Post-Secondary Program as a teacher and not post the position. Ms. Swift seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Approval of New Contract Staff: Mr. Galindo moved to approve the new contract staff as presented to the Board and Dr. Brooks seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion except for Mrs. Clopton, who abstained.

Consideration of Approval of TSBVI Annual Improvement Plan for 2006-2007: Mrs. Wheeler moved that the Plan be approved as presented. Dr. Brooks seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Approval of Policy FFA: Mrs. Clopton moved that Policy FFA be approved as presented. Mr. Galindo seconded the motion and the motion to pass was unanimous.

Consideration of Future Board Meeting Topics:

Ms. Swift said that superintendent appraisal training will occur on September 23.

Dr. Brooks asked that Dr. Hatlen present to the Board the speech on roles for the school for the blind that he gave at the CEC conference in Salt Lake City. This item will take place during lunch of the September 22 meeting.

Ms. Swift asked for a report on the peer review of Internal Auditor Russell Gregorczyk.

Announcements: Dr. Hatlen announced that the American Foundation for the Blind will hold its board of trustees meeting at TSBVI on November 2 and 3, 2006.

He also announced that on Monday, July 31, the traveling Callahan Museum will begin its two-month stay in Dorm K.

Adjournment: Ms. Swift adjourned the meeting at 4:00pm.

Frankie Swift Date Board President

Gene Brooks Date Board Secretary

John Botti Date Recording Secretary