Call to Order
Julie Prause, Board Vice President, called the October 1, 2025, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Board of Trustees meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge
A TSBVI student led the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge for the Board and audience. The student also recited the Texas Pledge in Spanish in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Introduction of Board Members and Audience
Board members present were Julie Prause, Dan Brown, Belinda Rudinger, Ernest Worthington, Beth Jones, and Brenda Lee. Board members present via Zoom were Lee Sonnenberg and Hillary Rodriguez. Maghan Gautney was not present.
Audience members present were Marlo Kibler, HR Director; Matt Schultz, Residential Director; Miles Fain, Principal; Ann Du, CFO; Scott Bracket, IR Director; Janet Bean, Assessment and ESL Coordinator; Ana Villarreal, ESL Coordinator; Eric Grimmett, CSR Director; Ellen Grimmett, Retiree; Kayla Brock, Comprehensive Programs; Wendy Weeks, Residential Programs; Alex Arguello, Head of Community Engagement; Angela Wolf, Curriculum Director; Erica Cairns; Outreach Director; Belinda Fayard, Asst. Outreach Director; Susan Houghtling, Planning and Evaluation Coordinator; Eden Hagelman, STP Principal; Veronica Keating, Executive Assistant; Jenny Wells, General Counsel; Tiayr Bradshaw, Program Supervisor;
TSBVI students, parents, and families. Audience members present via Zoom were: Kendra Dorty, Outreach; Nathan Widener, Outreach, and parents and family of TSBVI students.
Recognition of Students for Outstanding Performance on Statewide Assessments
Julie Prause and Miles Fain presented awards to students for their outstanding performance on their statewide assessments.
Recognition of Retiring Employees
Julie Prause, the Board, and Matt Schultz recognized retiree Ellen Grimmett for her 27 years of service to students, families, parents, and the community across the State.
Report from Family Lynx Program
Amy Reese-Potts gave a report from the Family Lynx Program. She stated that, on registration day, Family Lynx members welcome new and returning families before beginning the registration process. The Family Lynx Program is also involved in parent weekend, which takes place in November. She added that they share resources in their spring and fall meetings, at which staff attend to help answer parent questions. The spring meeting is geared toward promoting parent involvement, and the fall meeting focuses on transition. She said TSBVI families are not all local. This gives them fewer opportunities to bring things for staff to show their appreciation. Family Lynx honors TSBVI staff with periodic gift card drawings and awards staff with APaws certificates.
The Board thanked the program and staff for their dedication to students, families, and the community.
Public Comments/Open Forum
There was no one signed up for public comment.
Consideration of Approval of Minutes of August 7 and 8, 2025 Board Meetings
Dan Brown made a motion to approve the August 7 and 8, 2025, board meeting minutes. Ernest Worthington seconded the motion. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Report from the Audit, Compliance, and Management Review Committee
Report from Garza/Gonzalez and Associates
Ernest Worthington reported that Garza/Gonzalez and Associates performed procedures to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s (TSBVI) internal control structure over the Outreach Referrals Area (the Area), as well as its compliance with established policies and procedures, for the seven months ended March 31, 2025.
The audit procedures determined that TSBVI’s internal control structure over the Area was generally adequate, and no material instances of noncompliance were noted.
Consideration of approval of TSBVI’s 2025 Internal Audit Annual Report, including the Audit of Outreach Programs and prior year recommendations
The Audit, Compliance, and Management Review Committee recommended the approval of TSBVI’s 2025 Internal Audit Annual Report; therefore, a second was not required. All members present voted unanimously in favor of the motion.
Report from the Finance Committee
Lee Sonnenberg reported to the Board the information from the Finance Committee.
Consideration of Adoption of a Resolution To Appoint TSBVI’s Alternate Investment Officer
Mr. Sonnenberg stated that the Finance Committee recommended the adoption of a resolution to appoint Jeanette Hawrylo as TSBVI’s alternate investment officer; therefore, a second was not required. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Consideration of Approval of Investment Report
The total earnings for the 12-month period ending August 31, 2025, totaled $50,607. The Finance Committee recommended approval of the Investment Report; therefore, a second was not required. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Consideration of Approval of Receipt of Gifts and Donations of Over $500
The Finance Committee recommended approval of the donation totaling $519.69; therefore, a second was not required. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Consideration of Approval of Request for Expenditure of Gifts and Donations
There were no requests for expenditure of gifts and donations.
Review of Budget Reports
Operating Budget Expenditure Report
The benchmark for the percent of the Operating Budget expended as of August 31, 2025 was 100%. The total percentages of the budget expended were: classroom instruction – 101%; residential program – 95%; summer and short-term program – 97%; related services – 95%; technical assistance – 94%; teacher preparation – 85%; educational professional salary increases – 0%; central administrative – 94%; and other support services –101% with the total budgets in state treasury expended at 96%.
Legacy Revenue Budget Report
The benchmark for the Legacy Revenue for the 12 month period ending August 31, 2025 was 100%. The percentage of the budget received was 110%.
Legacy Operating Expenditure Budget Report
The benchmark for the Operating Budget expended as of August 31, 2025 was 100%. The total percent of the budget used was 78%.
Report from the Program Committee
Beth Jones reported to the Board the information from the Program Committee.
Report from Comprehensive Program Principal
Statewide Assessment Results
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) administered STAAR assessments to students in Grades 3-8 and those enrolled in courses requiring End of Course (EOC) assessments in the spring of 2025. Similarly, STAAR Alternate 2 (STAAR Alt 2) assessments were administered to the students who met the required criteria. There were 2 students whose parents chose for them not to participate in state assessments; their tests
were scored and considered to be non-passing. There were no changes to the format for state assessments for the 2024-2025 school year, and at this time, none are anticipated for the 2025-2026 school year.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Analysis
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) implemented a pull-out program model for ESL instruction. Within this model, Emergent Bilingual (EB) students received English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) instruction from ESL-certified teachers. The English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) were systematically integrated into instruction and service delivery to ensure that students could access grade-level academic content while simultaneously developing English language proficiency.
Plan to Promote Academic Excellence and Improve Student Performance on the
STAAR
The School completed all three of the planning activities to promote academic excellence and improve student performance on the STAAR. The student performance improvement plan activities were set to be monitored through the 2025-2026 school year.
Consideration of Approval of Student Code of Conduct
The Program Committee recommended the approval of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2025-2026 school year; therefore, a second was not required. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Consideration of Membership to the School Health Advisory Council
The Program Committee recommended the approval of the members: parent/guardian representatives – Jennifer Schneider (Co-chair), Kilari Pavani, Elsie Medina, Jefferey Nowakowski, and TSBVI staff member representatives – Nancy Fitch (Co-chair), TSBVI School Counselor, and Angela Wolf, Curriculum Director to the School Health Advisory Council; therefore, a second was not required. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Library Update and Consideration of Approval of New Library Materials
The Program Committee recommended the approval of new library materials; therefore, a second vote was not required. All members present voted unanimously to approve the motion.
Report from Curriculum Director, Angela Wolf
TSBVI Student Progress Measure Results
Ms. Jones explained that the School met one of three criteria and had a firm plan to meet the two criteria for the coming school year.
Report from Short-Term Programs Principal, Dr. Eden Hagelman
Summer 2025 Programs
There were 362 applicants for summer programs. They offered 256 slots and served 202. There were many outside factors as to why the Program did not serve the 256 slots offered. The program served students from 17 of 20 Education Service Centers and 113 districts.
Short-Term Program update
The Short-Term Program will hold an elementary program called “Move Your Body” this week. There will be several other programs in the weeks ahead.
Report from Outreach Director, Erica Cairns
Outreach Program update
Ms. Jones stated that Belinda Fayard was the new Assistant Director in Outreach. Coffee hour programs are still being held. The 2025 Introduction to the Intervener Team Model will be held on October 8 and 9, 2025. The 2025 Southwest Orientation and Mobility Association Conference will be on November 6 and 7, 2025, and it will be virtual.
Consideration of Approval of TSBVI Organizational Chart
The changes to the organizational chart list Marlo Kibler as the HR Director and Jeannette Hawrylo as the Accounting Lead.
Dan Brown made a motion to approve the TSBVI organization chart. Lee Sonnenberg seconded the motion. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Consideration of Approval of Administrator’s Contract with Outside Agency Pursuant to House Bill 3372
Erica Cairns requested to work with Texas Tech as a University Supervisor outside of her contract with TSBVI. She anticipates making $800 for the work. Brenda Lee motioned to approve Erica Cairns’ work with Texas Tech outside of her contract with TSBVI. Dan Brown seconded the motion. All members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.
Final Update on Completion of Action Plans in the 2024-2025 Annual Improvement Plan
Ms. Coleman gave the final update to the action plans in the 2024-2025 Annual Improvement Plan.
Report from the Superintendent
Campus activities
Ms. Coleman stated White Cane Day is scheduled on October 15, 2025. Family Day will be on November 15, 2025, and the USABA National High School Goal Ball Championships will be held at TSBVI on December 5-7, 2025.
Superintendent activities
Ms. Coleman reported that she is still attending Region 13 meetings. She continues to serve on the Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB) board. There is a new season of the podcast “A Sense of Texas”. American Printing House for the Blind is publishing a new Early Focus; she is writing the foreword. She added that she will be chairing the Ed Action Sub Committee on Braille. She is working on her dissertation for her doctoral program. She added that she looks forward to the Blind Travelers Summit taking place on campus.
Consideration of Superintendent’s Formative Evaluation
Julie Prause announced that the Board would recess the open session and convene in a closed meeting to discuss the following item listed under agenda item #16 – ‘Consideration of Superintendent’s Formative Evaluation’ in conformance with Texas Government Code Section 551.074 – Personnel Matters.
No voting would take place in the closed meeting. Any action the Board wished to take as a result of discussions in a closed meeting would take place after the Board reconvened in the open meeting. It was 6:02 p.m.
At 7:00 p.m., the Board convened in open session. No action was taken on this agenda item.
Personnel Update
There was no action taken on this agenda item.
Discussion of Future Board Meeting Topics and Meeting Dates
The Board stated they would discuss board meeting times and dates at the December meeting.
Announcements
Ms. Jones stated that her son would be the keynote speaker at the Collin County Farm Bureau county meeting. Ms. Rodriguez stated that her daughter went to Costa Rica on a Spanish immersion trip. She has also been participating in various extracurricular activities and was given the final approval for a guide dog.
Adjournment
At 7:14 p.m., Brenda Lee made a motion to adjourn the October 1, 2025, board meeting. Beth Jones seconded the motion. All board members present voted unanimously to pass the motion.