BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes from Board of Trustees
Meeting
Board Members
Participating:
Ex-Officio Members
Participating:
Board Members Absent: Joe Fram
Ex-Officio Members Absent: Bonda Albers (
Parent Meeting – Washington
Terry
called the meeting to order at
Kathleen
Brown welcomed everyone to the meeting. Dr.
Stenehjem provided a brief overview on WSSB and the services it provides. The school was established in 1886 and has undergone
numerous changes in its history. Over the last 15 years, the Outreach Department
has grown dramatically with approximately 40-45 partnerships with local and
educational school districts. The school continues to examine new and different
ways of helping meet the growing demand for services.
Dr.
Stenehjem reported that WSSB anticipates operating a summer school program this
year. These programs will be contingent
on the state having matching funding to be able to partner with the following
projects: Sports Camp (partnership with
Alan
Garrels provided an overview on services available from DSB Child and Family
Services and DSB in general. Alan and
Dee Amundsen have traveled to
Alan
stated that DSB signed two letters of agreement with WSSB focusing on transition
services that will make a significant difference with transition services in
the future. Cindy stated she appreciates
the Child and Family Program and Alan’s participation in IEP’s. Representatives
from both blind consumer organizations mentioned it is important for DSB to
mention to students that there are annual scholarships available. Annually WCB gives $20,000 in scholarships
through its state chapter and also provides national scholarships. Mike
reported that the NFB gives two state scholarships ($2000 and $3000) and over
$100,000 on a national level.
Mr.
and Mrs. Alyxa Conlee discussed the OTC program. Cindy felt that her attendance in OTC was
very important and built her confidence.
Terry
asked if there are other parent organizations.
There are two organizations that are active, NW Parents of Blind
Children, which is part of the NFB of WA and Washington Association of Parents
of Visually Impaired children. Alan
stated that DSB is willing to facilitate parent meetings.
The
meeting adjourned at
Terry called the meeting to order at
Business Meeting
Old Business:
Approve board minutes of
New Business:
Terry reported that the state of
The
Superintendent’s evaluation falls under the Management Committee’s duties. As chairperson, Noel will work with her
committee to prepare the evaluation and bring it to the session in March for
Board approval and submittal to the Governor’s office.
The
Plant Manager will host the annual facility tour. The Facility Committee consists of: Jerry,
Joe, and Terry. This tour will take
place at the March Board of Trustees meeting.
The
legislative committee annually travels to
Education
Committee: Cindy, Noel, Denise, Kay,
Bonda, Carol and Craig. This committee
can be a great resource to the school in the review of the program focus.
The Council for the Blind was commended for the $10,000 they
committed to WSSB’s K-8 summer school.
Rod Humble, Director of Outreach provided a report on outreach
services. Currently Rod and staff are
working with administration in the
Discussion was held regarding Regional
Programs. Rod felt that having a co-op
program in the
Denise asked for ideas on what can be done to address the “aid-dependent”
student dilemma, which can often occur if a para–professional is too attached
to the student with whom they are working.
It was stated that this is not always a para-professional issue of lack
of training, but sometimes an issue that the local district wants the
para-professional with the child at all time (district concerned based upon
liability). Dr. Stenehjem asked if Denise could assemble two or three
para-pro’s and maybe a teacher to come up with best practices to address this
issue. Discussion was held on how to educate parents and special administrators
on this issue. Dr. Stenehjem stated this could be addressed at the Summer
Institute.
Rod asked the board’s opinion on whether WSSB should once again
operate the Summer Institute that was well received for many years. The program was discontinued when OSPI moved
summer institute funding under one unified program. Rod stated the intent of the summer institute
was to train school district staff who were going to have a blind child in their
district. Denise suggested we approach
WSDS for a grant to hold a summer institute at WSSB since this is where the
funding seemed to move to. Dr. Stenehjem
asked Noel if we could get DSB involved, i.e. collaborative effort in
partnership with WSSB and WSDS. Noel
said we could but feels WSDS needs to be held accountable. Terry re-read the motion by Noel at the last
meeting. Mike feels we should have a contingency plan if WSDS does not provide
funding. Kay, Cindy, Denise, and Rod
volunteered to be on a committee to pursue funding.
Dr. Stenehjem read a written report from Cherie Willhide, Human
Resources Manager. Dr. Stenehjem stated
that the service we have received from Cherie is outstanding. The WSU Vancouver program has given us an
intern, Chris Nye. The Department of Personnel is identifying what is going on
in other state’s regarding the Civil Service Reform; surveys have been sent to
state employees to see what is important. All staff attended Fall Workshops and
Safety Training in September. More
training will be available throughout the year. Employee Recognition is another
focus for Human Resources this year.
WSSB currently has employee of the year and team of the year. Cherie is working on a new program for
recognition of our employees.
WSSB Program Focus. Craig stated that at the last Board meeting
he handed out copies of WSSB’s Program Focus. Craig said the movement in
Special Education is now disability--non-specific. Craig feels we should focus
on the things that we do that are blindness specific. We should be able to define how long students
stay for specific tasks they gain. The
staff worked on the program focus with the mission of coming up with
objectives, philosophies and definitions of service areas. Phase II is to bring it to the board (this
has been sent to parents of students who attend WSSB). On November 7, Kathleen and
Craig will host a meeting from
Daily
Living Skills. Denise feels we should put in our original document in the
definition “blind or visually impaired person”.
Cindy suggested putting that statement throughout the document. Noel asked about the relationship of
curriculum to these documents. Craig
said we are using a number of curriculums; one is the
Orientation
and Mobility. Noel does not like this
one entirely because she feels it is based on route travel. Kay did not think it referenced specific
route travel, which Craig confirmed. Noel
and Mike feels that technology should be struck from the definition. Denise
stated she has a statutory concern; “certified” should be changed to “qualified.”
The suggestion was made to move
technology to the objectives.
Social
Skills. Craig asked how we can assess this to run empirical data. Denise feels
that demonstrations can be done to measure adeptness by posing questions or
experiences, i.e. set up a situation and do an inventory.
Braille.
Mike suggested adding one more skill; provide training in the technique of
reading Braille, i.e. using both hands, etc.
Mike felt this skill area was superb.
Noel suggested adding technology.
Assisted
Technology. Cindy felt it was a good list.
Kathleen asked about adding educational and employment goals.
Vocational
Education. Kathleen asked if technology was in the objectives. Denise asked if
utilizing other public agencies should be included as well. Kay suggested adding self-advocacy. Craig felt that it may be pertinent to add it
to every program focus.
Craig said he will be meeting with consumer groups, parents,
former students, etc. to gain more information and input. Craig suggested that people send him e-mails
and suggestions. Kay said she felt Craig
did a great job and this is a superb start to the process.
DLS: Renee, Karen Reynolds, and Kayline
Erceg, reviewed different curriculums on DLS, one of which was
Policies: Cherie, Craig and Renee are working on
policies, one of which is day and weekend transportation. Another policy that
is required by OSPI is bullying and harassment which includes the legal
requirement to train staff and students.
Video report cards: Renee would like to video the progress
of students and send them home with report cards. Renee feels it could help assist parents in
instruction and show them what their child can do. Mike asked what kids think about this
idea.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Stenehjem reported the current budget
states a positive balance of $100,000. Mary Sarate, Business Manager, and staff
have been examining all procedures and are tightening up operating practices. This will require us to hire one more person
in the business office. The Business
office is in a discovery process, which has been good for WSSB. Noel asked where we were getting the FTE
from. Dr. Stenehjem stated we had some
flexibility within our system and examining how we count FTE.
Capital Projects:
Old
Main/Irwin/Kennedy/Dry (Fries Auditorium) is behind schedule due to contractor
problems. The project will be complete
in 1-2 weeks.
Distance
Learning Project is about six months behind schedule. WSSB has requested continuance of funds. The
bid will open in December with work beginning in January (6-7 months of work).
General campus
preservation (cardlock/camera upgrade, paving/sidewalk/lighting) will occur in
the spring.
Future Budget:
Transportation. WSSB
requested an additional $150,000 (biennial request). A survey of all residential schools for the
blind was completed and of 17 surveys received, LEA’s are responsible for day
student transportation in 13 of 17 states.
Weekend transportation: LEA’s are responsible for 11 of 17 states. If funded through OSPI, funds can be adjusted
for mileage, etc. Mike asked if this
will require a legislative resolution.
Dr. Stenehjem stated if OSPI determines we are not an LEA, it may be
able to resolve this issue through Inter-agency agreement.
Distance
Learning. WSSB is requesting 2 FTE’s; one will be a Chief Information Officer
that would handle oversight of all technology on campus. This person would also
need to be a certified Network Specialist.
The other person would be a curriculum development specialist in the
area of distance learning.
Independent
Living. WSSB requested Capital Project expenditure for a duplex and 2 FTE staff.
Future Capital Projects (re-appropriation for):
Irwin/Kennedy/Dry,
New:
General campus
preservation: $770,000
Commercial
kitchen in Old Main: $425,000
Preservation
work on Irwin, Kennedy/Old Main/Dry (mostly Kennedy): $2,279,000
Independent
Living unit: $471,000 (2800 square foot duplex).
State Budget situation reported on October 30, reported $2.5 billion dollar deficit. Some of the reviews they are performing:
Agency
Performance Review (88 agencies are going through this). The state contracted with a firm in
Price of State
Government study group. Dr. Stenehjem
stated that the state is looking at what types of services and programs can be
afforded in the future based upon the states budget situation.
WSSB continues
to examine new and creative ways of helping pay for services to children. Mary is examining the third party billing process
to make sure that we are claiming everything we can.
Sustainable Practices–Governor’s
Executive order. If any services are put
into place how will it be sustained? We
have documentation that needs to be put forth by 2004.
The interagency
agreement between DSB and WSSB has been seen as a very positive step in
generating additional federal dollars to assist in meeting transitional needs
of children from throughout the state.
The Governor sent a memo regarding the WASL so it is more in line
with what will be looked at on a Federal level. WSSB needs to push on what is
an appropriate test for blind and visually impaired students and continue work
with OSPI in modifications to the WASL so a valid measure can occur for blind
and visually impaired children.
Technology has been a huge concern this year. Things that needed to be in place by fall are still not there. WSSB has brought
in Shared Client Services who is an oversight company for some of the community
colleges. WSSB has approached
Dr. Stenehjem stated the WCCW,
Ex-Officio
Reports
Mike reported the NFB
convention will be in
Kathleen reported
that she is working on a student/parent directory that will include phone
numbers, e-mails, addresses, etc. to use as a tool for kids to stay in touch
over breaks or after graduation.
Kathleen plans to include their e-mail addresses to her own computer so
she can let people know about meetings across the state.
Miscellaneous
Noel stated that
Jan Ames was the Director of WTBBL since the 1970’s. The Seattle Public Library who administers
the funds, decided not to fill that position.
Advocates stepped forward to discuss the importance of filling this
position. Since then the Seattle Library
System has decided to move forward in a search for a new Director of WTBBL. Noel feels it is important for the board to
support and endorse the hiring of a Director. The quality of the recruitment
effort should be stated and that a national search be performed. Susie moved to
approve the motion; Cindy seconded. Kay
feels we should write the letter in the context of a thank you and encourage
them to proceed in this manner. Jerry
feels that the board should not overstep our bounds as a board. Noel feels that this is the only WTBBL in the
state and sighted peers have the opportunity to go to a public library anywhere.
Dr. Stenehjem suggested that a letter go to the Seattle Library, commending Jan
Ames for the excellent direction and leadership in the establishment of a
nationally renowned regional library and follow with the hope that they continue
in a search that brings in a caliber person.
The motion passed unanimously.
Terry
has to be at a trade show in March (at the same time as the WSSB Board meeting)
in
The meeting adjourned at
Superintendent