COLORADO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND
Board of Trustees Meeting
June 9, 2011
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
OPENING SECTION
CALL TO ORDER: The Board of Trustees met in the Lions Conference Center at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. Dr. Morris Ververs, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.
ROLL CALL: The members of the Board of Trustees in attendance were: Mr. David Dawson, Mr. John Dickinson, Mr. Dave Ek, Dr. Kay Ferrell, Mr. Chris Madison, Dr. Carolena Steen, and Dr. Morris Ververs.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ms. Hilty requested that the order of items #12 and #13 on the agenda be switched. Mr. Dawson moved to approve the agenda as amended. Dr. Ferrell seconded. Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mr. Ek moved to approve the minutes of the Board meeting held April 14, 2011. Mr. Dickinson seconded. Discussion: Dr. Ferrell requested the following statement be added to the end of the last paragraph which begins on page 3 of the minutes of the April 2011 Board meeting: “Dr. Ferrell stated she had not been informed of a specific personnel change.” Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.) Minutes were revised as requested by Dr. Ferrell and signed by Dr. Ververs, Board Chairperson.
GENERAL BOARD DIALOGUE:
Board Meeting Dates for SY 2011-2012: After discussion, the Board of Trustees determined the meeting dates for the 2011-2012 school year to be as follows: August 11, 2011 (Board Retreat); September 15, 2011; October 13, 2011; November 10, 2011; January 12, 2012; February 9, 2012; March 8, 2012; April 12, 2012; and June 14, 2012.
Board Retreat Date/Planning: The Board of Trustees’ Retreat will occur August 11, 2011. Discussion topics will include: Board governance, state financial forecast for FY 2012, Senate Bill 10-191 (teacher effectiveness), Board self-evaluation process, Board focus areas for SY 2011-2012, and Board development plan. Ms. Hilty was asked to contact Dr. Jane Urschel, Deputy Executive Director of the Colorado Association of School Boards, to invite her to the Board Retreat to provide training relative to the discussion topics identified.
Regulation/Exhibit Re: Board Self-Evaluation: Dr. Ververs provided an example of a self-evaluation form for use by Board members to evaluate the work of the Board of Trustees as a whole. He suggested discussion of this topic continue at the Board Retreat. Each Board member will receive an electronic copy of the proposed form to complete, relative to the Board’s work during the 2010-2011 school year, prior to the Retreat.
INFORMATION SECTION
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: Ms. Audrey Levy, community member, addressed the Board of Trustees relative to licensure of administrative staff at CSDB, the same topic upon which she addressed the Board at their April Meeting. She also provided a hard copy of the information she shared, which is on file with the Board minutes in the Superintendent’s Office.
CONGRATULATIONS/CELEBRATIONS/BOARD MEMBERS’ COMMENTS: Mr. Dawson, Dr. Ferrell, and Dr. Steen confirmed their attendance at the Class of 2011 commencement exercises was a wonderful experience. Mr. Ek agreed and also indicated his enjoyment of the Staff Recognition Breakfast held May 20. Mr. Dawson reminded the Board that Carlos Ramirez, Salutatorian, read his speech in Braille, showing positive support for our braille literacy program. Mr. Dickinson shared his experience as guest speaker at the Louisiana School for the Deaf commencement exercises.
Ms. Hilty advised the Board of the positive feedback received from parents and staff members relative to the student performances and the community performance held in April and May.
Dr. Steen attended Career Day, held April 8, and complimented the presenters for tailoring their presentations for our students. She felt the planning for Career Day was well done.
Ms. Hilty informed the Board three students represented CSDB at the state track meet held in May. In addition, three CSDB students were winners in the 2011 Helen Keller International Art Show, and their art was chosen for the 2011 Helen Keller International Tour. Ms. Hilty also advised that sixteen young athletes who are blind/visually impaired are on the CSDB campus this week participating in the Colorado Sports Education Camp sponsored by CSDB, the United States Association of Blind Athletes, the Association for Blind Athletes of Colorado, and the Lions Club.
Mr. Madison expressed appreciation to the Outreach Department for their hard work to create a Family Learning Day on the Western Slope. Although this year’s schedule and program were developed based upon input from families, the expected response was not received and the event had to be cancelled. The format for next year’s event will be reviewed.
Ms. Hilty advised that plans for Homecoming Day 2011 are underway. Discussion is underway about how to include students in public school districts who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or blind/visually impaired in our homecoming events as well as other events held on our campus throughout the school year.
2010-2013 STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE: Each member of the Board received a copy of the 2010-2013 Strategic Plan which included the current status for each data-based outcome. Co-facilitators of each focus area (Academic; Employability; Early Education; Outreach) provided a summary of the progress made during the 2010-2011 school year and responded to questions from members of the Board of Trustees.
2010-2011 SCHOOLWIDE PLAN SUMMARY: Mr. Jon Vigne, Director of Special Education; Ms. Tera Wilkins, Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator; and Ms. Tera Lynn Gray, Program Coordinator in the Employability Center; presented data results for the 2010-2011 Schoolwide Plan. They reviewed the goal areas, shared information/data collected relative to each goal, and responded to questions from the Board.
ACTION SECTION
2011-2012 SCHOOLWIDE PLAN APPROVAL: Ms. Hilty reminded the Board they had reviewed the draft of the proposed 2011-2012 Schoolwide Plan at their April meeting. No changes have been made to the plan since that time. Mr. Vigne reviewed the process used to develop the plan, which included review by the Accountability Team, as well as staff members.
Mr. Ek moved to approve the 2011-2012 Schoolwide Plan as written. Mr. Dawson seconded. Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS: Mr. Dickinson moved to approve the personnel appointments made since April 14, 2011. Mr. Ek seconded. Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
2011-2012 BUDGET APPROVAL: Ms. Janelle Donley, Controller, reviewed the 2011-2012 budget and responded to questions from the members of the Board. Mr. Dawson moved to accept the 2011-2012 Budget as presented. Dr. Ferrell seconded. Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
FIRST READING OF POLICIES: Ms. Hilty reviewed the policies scheduled for first reading with the Board. Mr. Dawson moved to approve the policies listed below on first reading as revised. Mr. Ek seconded. Motion Carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
Policy EEBA: School-Owned Vehicles
Policy EFC: Free and Reduced-Price Food Services
Policy EFEA: Nutritious Food Choices
SECOND READING OF POLICIES: Ms. Hilty summarized and reviewed changes made per discussion at the April Board meeting. Mr. Dickinson moved to approve the policies listed below on second reading as revised. Mr. Ek seconded. Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
Policy EB: Safety
Policy EBBA: Prevention of Disease/Infection Transmission
Policy EBB/EBBB: Accident Prevention/Accident Reports
Policy EBCE: School Closings and Cancellations
Policy ECA/ECAB: Security/Access to Buildings
Policy EDC: Authorized Use of School-Owned Material and Equipment
CLOSING SECTION
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: Ms. ZoeAnn Holmes, community member, requested an update relative to the renovation of the Gottlieb Building, to include the intended use of that building, and the celebrations planned for Homecoming Day 2011.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: In addition to the agenda items for the Board Retreat discussed earlier in this meeting, election of officers and approval of personal appointments will also occur at the Board Retreat.
Mr. Dawson would like to invite Ms. Beth Gustin to visit the CSDB Employability Center and meet with the Board of Trustees at a future meeting.
CLOSING COMMENTS: In response to a question from Mr. Dickinson, Ms. Hilty confirmed Mr. Jim Cole, Legislative Liaison, will be invited to attend a meeting of the Board of Trustees in the fall.
Ms. Hilty reminded the members of the Board that a tour of the Gottlieb Building will be provided for them following the adjournment of this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Madison moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:54 pm. Mr. Ek seconded. Motion carried. Vote: Aye (Mr. Dawson; Mr. Dickinson; Mr. Ek; Dr. Ferrell; Mr. Madison; Dr. Steen; Dr. Ververs.)
________________________________________________________________________
The minutes of the Board meeting held June 9, 2011, were approved by the Board of Trustees at their meeting of August 11, 2011.
________________________________________
Dr. Morris Ververs, Chairperson Date