WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting

April 27, 2005

Conference Call

Board Members Participating: Steve Rainey, Annabelle Fitts, Jerry Farley, Denise Colley, Kay Adamson, Chuck Nelson, Sherry Perry and Eric Wiseman.

Board Members Absent: Joe Fram

Ex-Officio Members Participating: Berl Colley (Washington Council of the Blind), Michael Freeman (National Federation of the Blind of Washington), Bonda Albers (Washington Federation of State Employees Local #1225), and Kathleen Brown (Parent Representative).

Ex-Officio Members Absent: Theresa Tate (WSSB Teachers Association).

Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) Staff Members Participating: Dr. Dean Stenehjem (Superintendent), and Janet Merz (recording secretary).

April 27, 2005 – 8:30 – 9:02 p.m.

Jerry called the meeting to order at 8:34 p.m.

Purpose of the meeting was to discuss the non-funding of the new physical education building at WSSB and the funding of a Comparative Study that as stated in Section 709 of the capital budget document, is to study both WSSB and WSD. In preparation for this meeting Dr. Stenehjem sent a copy of the language from Section 709 and copies of studies that were conducted by Evergreen State College “Washington State Institute for Public Policy” on the School for the Deaf – 2002, and the WSD - JLARC Study that was completed in 2002.

Dr. Stenehjem attended a Small Agency Cabinet meeting today in Olympia. Dr. Stenehjem is impressed with the Governor’s office and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Fred Olson. Dr. Stenehjem met with Wolfgang Opitz, OFM and also with Fred Olson to discuss the upcoming comparison study. Eric stated he has spoken to two legislators regarding the need for the PE building and support for WSSB. Dr. Stenehjem will be working with Roxanne Leib, Director of the Institute who will be heading up the study and also discuss the up-coming study with Kari Burrell, Executive Policy Office. Dr. Stenehjem will be contacting them ASAP to get the study started. The study has to be completed by December 1, 2005.

WSSB will submit a supplemental capital request to the Governor’s office this fall, which should work well with the study. Hopefully, the study results will help facilitate the funding of the building during the interim study, which would only result in about a 6 – 12 month delay in the project and still meet with the city building department’s timelines, which would save a tremendous amount of time and money.

Discussion was held regarding where the oversight of WSSB should be. Dr. Stenehjem feels it should remain directly under the Governor’s office. Michael asked if the consumer groups would be contacted so they could let them know the importance of the school that being directly under the Governor’s office has made a huge difference for blind and visually impaired children in our state.

Dr. Stenehjem feels the consumer groups, parents and Teachers of the Visually Impaired will be very important voices in this study and that WSSB is very data-rich and we will look good in this department. Kay stated that the AER would be happy to write something on behalf of the TVI’s across the state. Kay will contact Katherine Botsford, AER to let her know about the study. Dr. Stenehjem will contact Senator Pridemore, Representative Fromhold, etc. to invite them to the school. The board felt it would be good to invite Representative Dunshee to the school.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m. The next Board meeting will be held via conference call on Thursday, May 5, 2005.

Jerry Farley, Chair Dean O. Stenehjem, Ed.D.

Superintendent