WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting

September 23-24, 2005

Vancouver, Washington

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

Board Members Absent: Joe Fram and Kay Adamson

Ex-Officio Members Participating: Berl Colley (Washington Council of the Blind), Kathleen Brown (Parent Representative), Judy Koch-Smith (WSSB Teachers Association), and Michael Freeman (National Federation of the Blind of Washington).

Ex-Officio Members Absent: Bonda Albers (Washington Federation of State Employees Local #1225)

Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) Staff Members Participating: Dr. Dean Stenehjem (Superintendent), Mary Sarate (Business Manager), Rob Tracey (Plant Manager), Craig Meador (Director of On Campus Programs), Dee Amundsen (Director of Outreach), and Janet Merz (recording secretary).

September 23, 2005 – 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.

Chuck called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Department Updates: The Department managers presented their reports (attached to the board minutes).

Dr. Stenehjem added that Mary Sarate found that WSSB is able to carry funding forward for Outreach services. Due to this, WSSB will be able to carry approximately $103,000 forward to the next fiscal year.

GMAP

Mary Sarate, Business Manager, presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding GMAP.

WASL

Dr. Stenehjem reported that Nancy Arnold, OSPI representative, has taken another position, therefore, when OSPI hires a replacement, we will be working with them regarding the WASL. Karen Mowry, Supervising Teacher, will be contacting other schools for the blind to determine if there are other math and science tests. Discussion was lead by Dee regarding math needs and the importance of the itinerant vision teacher’s relationship with the local classroom teacher, as well as a math specialist. Judy Koch Smith asked if we could secure a grant and then have JoAnn Gatley and Lisa Hodge create a math test for the blind.

Dee stated one of the biggest areas she will be focusing on will be recruitment. There are many open positions in the state. Dee discussed one situation where Taholah has 11 students that need low vision evaluations. Dee would like to coordinate a low vision clinic to travel to Taholah and then open the opportunity to adults in the community. Annabelle asked if she was going out to the 20 campus’ to recruit directly. Dee said yes. Dr. Stenehjem stated that Digital Learning can help fill the gaps.

The meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m. An Executive Session was called to order and adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

September 24, 2005 – 8:04 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Chuck called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. Annabelle provided an update on Kay. Kay’s mom passed away on September 8, 2005. Dr. Stenehjem reported that Joe was not at the meeting due to health issues.

Business Meeting:

Facility Tour/Department Update (Rob Tracey, Facility Manager):

Rob provided a tour for the board members.

Old Business:

Approval of June 10, 2005 Board of Trustees meeting minutes: Steve moved to approve the minutes; Sherry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of June 14, August 17, and August 24, 2005 Board of Trustees executive session meeting minutes: Annabelle moved to approve the minutes; Sherry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

New Business:

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Stenehjem reviewed his report (attached to the minutes):

Dr. Stenehjem presented Cherie’s report.

Capital Projects. WSSB is resubmitting the Kennedy building project. Due to the one year delay and huge increases in material costs, mostly steel and concrete, the inflation factor will cost roughly an additional $1 million dollars. If approved construction will begin November 2006 or earlier.

Berl stated that Representative Karen Frasier has expressed an interest to visit WSSB. Dr. Stenehjem stated that Representative Jim Moeller has visited WSSB and is on the capital projects committee.

Dee stated that if anyone is interested in touring the WCCW inmate braille prison program to inform Colleen Lines. Annabelle asked if any WSSB graduates were interested in learning proofreading. Dee said we did work with one former graduate and it did not work out, but we are always willing to try other students or former students. Dee said she is interested in working with the consumer groups to find interested individuals. Denise asked if the proofreader would need to have their certification. Dr. Stenehjem said it would not be required at first, and that WSSB would work with the person to get their certificate.

Foundation. The Foundation raised $29,000 for the June 24 event. The money will go towards seniors for technology equipment. The goal is to have technology in the hands of the seniors by October of their graduating year. WSSB is finishing tech evals currently to find out what the students need. There will be some financial responsibility from parents (on a sliding scale), based on the USDA Food Service Program (free/reduced) whereby students will have minimal financial impact on parents. Eventually the Foundation’s goal is to have technology available to all seniors statewide. A Fundraising concert will be held in Spokane on October 22; Doug Smith and Mark Hanson will be providing the entertainment for this event. Angie Armstrong, Executive Director has four sponsors for this event. November 19^th will be the next event in Seattle. Annabelle would like to give Angie her contact information to help with the Seattle event. Talks have also begun on having an event in Olympia.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP).

Mike Freeman asked if the consumer groups would be contacted for the study. Dr. Stenehjem stated that he will contact Annie Pennucci to see if she was interested in contacting the consumer groups. FOLLOW-UP: Dr. Stenehjem has contacted Annie Pennucci and she should be contacting the consumer groups. Annie was given Mike Freeman’s and Berl Colley’s phone numbers.

Transition of Superintendent.

Dr. Stenehjem visited staff members as well as a conference call with Outreach teachers last week to inform them of his decision to take the position of President at the Hadley School for the Blind. Chuck asked what the next step would be. Dr. Stenehjem stated the Governor’s Office would do a National search through their executive office. Dr. Stenehjem would like to see them include both consumer groups, teachers, employees, parents, students, and the board. Chuck asked about an interim director. Dr. Stenehjem feels we could either do an interim with the current administrative team, or a local retired school district superintendent that has good administrative skills. Dr. Stenehjem would like to see the position require a superintendent’s credential or have to acquire one within one year. Dr. Stenehjem suggested we invite someone from the Executive Search Committee to attend the November Board meeting. Eric would like to see that the fiduciary, personnel, changes, etc. be kept status quo until a permanent superintendent is hired. Dr. Stenehjem will be meeting with the Governor’s office on September 28^th to start the process. Steve Rainey and Dr. Stenehjem will meet on September 30^th to begin to move the process forward. The full board (including all ex-officio trustees will be kept informed of the process, once the school knows what will unfold through executive search with the Department of Personnel.

Location of November 4-5, 2005 Board of Trustees Meeting

November 4-5, 2005 Board of Trustees meeting will be held in Olympia, Washington.

Ex-Officio’s Reports/Miscellaneous

WSFE (submitted in written from by Bonda Albers): Local 1225 Board Report: We are happy to be back to work. We are holding special convention in October to begin the selection process for the next collective bargaining team (already!). Local 1225 plans to contribute to the Louisiana School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf in lieu of Hurricane Katrina donations. Election of officers will be in October.

National Federation of the Blind. NFB held it’s convention in Louisville this summer. The NFB has been involved in the hurricane efforts in Louisiana. NFB’s Louisiana Center for the Blind, is housing 40 blind persons and worked in effort with the Council of the Blind. There is a Hurricane Katrina fund set up and they are disbursing supplies and trying to keep track of people who are in Louisiana. The state convention will be held October 14-16 at the Ramada Inn at the Governor House in Olympia. Accessible voting will be another topic and area of interest. A student will be talking about a camp that she went to for prospective medical students.

Washington Council of the Blind. Berl Colley reported that their convention was held in Las Vegas, NV. The convention was successful. The WCB is involved in the signaling at intersections particularly now that it is with speech rather than sound. The state convention will be held October 27-29 in Pasco. WCB has the first blind person from Louisiana who will be coming to Seattle.

Parent Representative. Kathleen said that her son is a senior so a new parent rep will need to be sought. Kathleen will give some thought to some prospective parents who may want to take the position.

Teachers Representative. Judy Koch Smith reported that the teachers are trying to decertify from their union. The teachers feel that their current union, WSFE, has ignored their concerns. The teachers started to explore decertification due to a loophole that was found in verbiage relating to a ‘closed shop’. Judy said the teachers wanted to, as a group, work directly with administration. The teachers would like to work with the legislature to be able to be represented by the Vancouver Education Association. There were timelines associated with disassociation. There was a formal hearing in August, whereby Cheri DeLyria and Lori Pulliam, along with Don Barber, WSFE and attorney and other representation attended. The teachers are waiting for a transcript from that meeting. Judy read the letter that was sent to the Public Employees Relations (PERC). Eric asked if that was a unanimous teacher decision. Judy said that the letter represented all of the teachers who (all but one) requesting decertification. Discussion was held that the VEA could have coalition bargained but chose not to due to the time commitment.

Education Committee: No update yet.

Legislative Committee: In November strategies need to be discussed with the WSIPP study being released in December 1, 2005. Chuck said that it is important to stay in touch with your local representatives in your area.

Facility Committee: Eric said that the only thing missing was viewing the tunnels and that can wait. Eric said the Lock Out Procedure was good and that he added two additional items for the procedure. Eric said that everything that was suggested earlier in this year was completed.