ISBVI Board Meeting
March 19, 2007
9:30 a.m.
ISBVI Board Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Mr.
Donald Koors, Chair
Ms. Shirley Amond,
Vice-Chair
Mr. Gary Bates
Mr. John Hill for Dr.
Robert Marra
Ms. Kathy Botkin
Ms. Cynthia Pttman
Members Not Present: Senator Teresa Lubbers
Administration Present: Mr. Jim Durst, Superintendent; Mr.
I. Call to Order
Mr. Koors called the meeting to order and took roll.
II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes from January 20, 2007 meeting were reviewed. Ms. Amond moved for approval of the minutes as
distributed. Ms. Botkin
seconded the motion; motion carried.
III. Special Recognition
Mr. Durst recognized the Business Office for their success
in passing the Financial Audit done by the State Board of Accounts. The audit was passed “without
exception” which means that this was a detailed audit. All financials were checked in all areas and
accounts, and no exceptions were found.
Mr. Owens introduced the staff of the Business Office to the Board. First he introduced Chris Becker (not
present) who has worked with the Business Office for 10 years; Ms.
Mr. Durst recognized the
Ms. Nicole Smith presented to Mrs. Adams the
Mr. Dalas Mitchell presented Mrs. Adams with the 2006/2007 Wrestling Competition Trophy. Mrs. Adams explained that wrestling is a very hard sport, but not only that but the students must be academically eligible to participate in wrestling, which they do.
Mr. Durst explained that there are 15 schools in our conference and at least 12 actively participate. Ms. Melissa Smith took third place in the Outstanding Cheerleader competition.
Mr. Koors congratulated the students on their accomplishments. He also thanked the Business Office for their outstanding work for ISBVI.
IV. Chair Remarks
Mr. Koors congratulated the students and staff on their accomplishments. He also thanked the Business Office for their outstanding work for ISBVI.
V. Superintendent’s Report
A. New Employees
Mr. Durst introduced and welcomed Mr. Ryan Davis who is a new hire. He works under the supervision of Ms. Ringwalt in Keever. Mr. Durst also explained that there are
several new hires in Residential Services, but because of the shift
differences, they could not be in attendance at the meeting. They are Tonya Morrison, Synetria
Meriweather, and Jackie Blades. Also Ms. Carol Williams has returned to
Dietary as a re-hire. She worked for
more than 30 years as a cook and then retired.
She has been hired back as an intermittent and working part time.
B. School Update
The school received complimentary tickets to a performance of “10 Little Indians” at Beef N Boards Dinner Theater. 80 students from 8 – 12th grades attended. Many students wrote thank you letters in their language art classes.
A group of over 50 Master Gardeners came to the greenhouse on February 12 for a meeting and plant propagation class. The students displayed their skills in dividing pot-bound plants and received a round of applause for that. They also demonstrated air layering.
Five students from Mrs. Stearns-Porten’s
class had the opportunity to speak to over 150 Kindergarten and 1st
graders at
The Junior Varsity Little NC’s went to
Both the boys’ and girls’ Goal Ball teams came home from Conference as Champions! Goal Ball is a sport specific for blind and visually impaired. The goal is roll a ball that has bells in it past your opponents in a gymnasium to the other end. If you have any sight at all, a blindfold is worn. Therefore, no one has an advantage of sight.
Ms. Mika Baugh who is a student at ISBVI and also goes to North Central was selected as the “Student of the Month” at North Central’s World Language Department. The award is given each grading period to recognize the efforts of an outstanding student among all the classes currently taught by each teacher. Mika took her first two years of Spanish at ISBVI under Mrs. Reynolds.
Mrs. Adams, 25 students and the Social Studies teachers went to the State House to tour the facility. They had to opportunity to meet Rep. Orentlicher for about ½ hour. They sat in the Chamber. Senator Lubbers met with the students while they were eating lunch and then took them to a Committee hearing on Autism. The students represented ISBVI very well.
Mrs. Harvey’s class has tapped the maple trees for syrup.
The Spring Program was wonderful. The Aldur/Lambert children did a wonderful job under the direction of Ms. Klopp and Mrs. Francisco.
Jungle John and his animals came to campus to visit for hand on experiences.
C. Monthly Financial Statements
Mr. Owens presented the financial statements (Attachments 2A and 2B).
Attachment 2A, January 31, 2007, the year was 58.3% over and 56.29% of the
Allotment had been spent. Mr. Durst and Mr. Owens met with
D. Personnel Actions Updates
Attachment 3A is the February Personnel Actions with 4 new hires, one
promotion, and on transfer from intermittent to full-time. Attachment 3B is March Personal Actions with
4 separations and one rehire. Attachment
4A is February Personnel Status Summary 183 FTE’s filled with 6 pending
for a total of 189 with 21 intermittent filled; Attachment 4B is March
Personnel Status Summary with 180 FTE’s filled with 9 pending for a total
of 189 with 22 intermittent.
E. Vacant Positions
Refer to Vacant Positions - Pending (Attachment 5A and 5B). Some of
these positions are pending and posted.
Some of these are pending and we are holding these positions at this
point to see where we are in terms of need and financial resources.
F. Physical Plant Update
Mr. Durst recognized Mr.
Improve Campus Security: The Contractor has replaced the card readers at
the front gate and resolved all issues at the front gate system. Only one known issue remains, the door to Aldur/Lambert does not work. There are still glitches with the front gate.
Replace Exterior Campus
Lighting: The old pole lights have been removed by IPL. Building mounted lights will be installed for
the parking lot for Aldur/Lambert.
Repair Roofs: The Project is complete and closed out.
Waiting for reimbursement for damages caused during this project from the
contractor.
Tuck Pointing Renovation: Contractor will need to complete the
waterproofing on F Building and the tower once the outside temperature becomes
more stable and are above freezing.
Re-coring Campus: Waiting for the contractor to furnish the computer
software so that we can identify key distribution. Contractor also needs to furnish us with
additional keys for the last set of lock cores that were installed. (Our original representative from Best Access
Systems has been transferred to another state, and we have been trying to work
these problems out with the new representative.)
Fire Alarms: All design issues have been resolved, and the project is
moving into the bidding stage. We are
meeting with the State Budge Committee on March 12, 2007, to request that
$207,000 from the State’s general fund be transferred into this project
to enable the completion of a fire sprinkler system to be installed in Aldur/Lambert dormitories.
Electrical Grounding: The contractor is currently working in “B”
Dormitory and is almost complete. We are
meeting with the State Budget Committee on March 12, 2007 to request that $525,000.00
from the general fund be added to this project.
These additional funds will correct electrical code violations,
electrical faults, and removal of old lighting systems. These problems were identified by Eagle
Electric during the course of their current electrical project.
Churchman Dining Room Skylight: The
contractor has ordered the skylight and they are waiting for delivery.
Replacement of Wrought Iron Fencing: We will be contacting another
fencing company. The style of fence that
is in place now cannot be found. Another
style which is similar will be placed there.
Resurfacing the Track: Two separate bid openings have been scheduled, no
companies have submitted a bid. The
project will be rebid.
Mr. Koors
questioned if the strobe lights were required to be installed. Mr. Rahn explained
that they were required. The contractor demonstrated
a mock panel with the strobes and alarms.
These are acceptable. The system
will have a voice activated announcement instead of loud sirens or horns.
VI. New Business
A. Donations and Contributions
Attachments 6A and 6B includes Donations and
Contributions under $499 through February 21, 2007. Attachment 6A totaled $515.00 unrestricted
use and $350.00 restricted use.
Attachment 6B totaled $250.00 unrestricted use. Attachment 7 includes Donations and
Contributions over $500 through January 24, 2007. Attachment 7 total donations were $2,500.00
with $2,000.00 being restricted for Braille books by the Lions of Indiana and
$500.00 unrestricted donation from Mrs. Moriarity. Mr. Bates moved to approve the Donation and
Contributions received over $500. The motion was seconded by Ms. Pittman; the
motion carried.
B. 2nd
Issues/Concerns and Commendations – Policy 0-41: This will be a formal way of addressing
parental and constituency and visitor issues and concerns in a timely fashion
in order to document those kinds of things.
This will also provide a formal way for parents, constituents, and
visitors to help us acknowledge the outstanding work that some of our staff
members do. This policy provides a venue
for parents, constituents, and visitors to bring their issues and concerns forward
in writing either through various dormitories or the Education Office so they
can be documented and addressed. Ms. Amond moved to approve Policy 0-41. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bates. The motion carried.
Use of State Property for Personal Use Policy 0-27:
Specifically identifies what individuals may borrow or use including the use of
telephones on break times or non-state time, use of the computers on break
times or non-state time, use of copy machines for a fee of .07 per page, and
the use of the fax machine at the rate of .10 per page and any additional long
distance charges. No other state property may be used for personal use on
or off campus. Also, the following has
been added to the policy “Employees of the Indiana School for the Blind
and Visually Impaired may not use any property owned by the State of Indiana
for the purpose of conducting personal business, and is not for the purpose of
generating financial or personal gain.”
Ms. Pittman moved to approve Policy 0-27. The motion was seconded by Ms. Botkin. The motion
carried.
C. Procedure Change
This is a Procedural change not a Policy change pertaining to the Guidelines to
Treat Accidental Blood Exposure Caused by Human Bite. If one student bites another student or staff
person and we require them to be tested, how do we know what to do as a follow
up after the testing.
The following was added “from the Physician or Nurse Practitioner
employed by the
Mr. Bates also brought up a question regarding student
health and food allergies. Does ISBVI
have in place a procedure regarding food handling for students with allergies
to certain foods such as peanuts, fish, etc. The
D. Bingham McHale LLP
Mr. Durst recommended to the Board that ISBVI move forward with the Attorney General’s Office in looking at entering into a contract agreement with Bingham McHale LLP to legally represent us in situations where the Attorney General’s Office is not in the position to do so. Bingham McHale LLP is a comprehensive law firm. They can meet ISBVI’s needs across the board in terms of school law, personnel issues above and beyond what State Personnel can provide us. Ms. Botkin moved to seek permission from the Attorney General’s Office to proceed with a contract between ISBVI and Bingham McHale LLP. The motion was seconded by Ms. Amond. The motion carried.
Discussion ensued regarding the funds for these services will come out of Point 3 of the budget. The rate is $345 -$350 per hour. Bingham McHale LLP has a contract with ISD. ISD has not spent more than $10,000 over any given year. There will not be a retainer fee and not to exceed $75,000 per year.
E. Outreach & Additional Personnel
The Short Course program is “busting at the seams”. Ms. Toni Hughes explained that Short Course already have 30 students signed up for next fall. We are short of staff and beds for these students. Many of these students are multi-handicapped. More money is needed to hire more staff and for additional resources.
Mr. Durst explained that the Pre-School program is also in need of another Teacher’s Assistant. We are about to move to 9 full-time students in the Pre-School class and Article 7 states that 8 students or more an additional Teacher’s Assistant must be added.
ISBVI is in a collaborative program with the DOE which will
launch a Prison Braille Project. DOE has
committed significant resources. DOC has
committed “man-power”. ISBVI
has committed to providing the administration oversight and direction for this
project through the prisons. They will
produce Braille for school aged children in the state and possibly for school
age students in other states. The
director will require very specific credentials. This person will be difficult to find. This position has been advertised nationally
at a conference in
F. Re-organization
Mr. Durst is actively looking into doing some administrative reorganization in terms of the program aspect of the school. As a state agency there are significant issues in terms of job classifications, and negotiations between administrators needing to meet the needs of the children. One example is House Parents and Teachers Assistants. On the organizational chart, at the state level, they are comparable positions. However, I cannot move a House Parent to a day job or a Teachers Assistant to a night job because they are different classifications. They can work out of their class for 20 days. Mr. Durst would like to talk to State Personnel and creating a classification of a Program Assistant. This would give ISBVI the latitude of moving people where they are needed.
Mr. Durst has also approached State Personal to moving some of the Wraps to full-time positions. We are having difficulty filling Wrap positions. The positions pay a fair dollar amount, the people want benefits.
Mr. Durst is also exploring to go to a Director of Programs that will oversee all programs at the school. Mr. Owens oversees the operation, physical and business side. The Director of Programs would oversee the Education, Outreach, Residential, IERC – to promote some collaboration and shipping of staff and resources. There isn’t anything definite at this point. He is looking at moving in that direction. This is just an FYI.
G. Scout Program
Mr. Durst recognized Mr. Todd Malone, Mr. Mike Wills and Mr. Arnold and the Scouts who did a wonderful job this past weekend cleaning up the lower 40. They split a lot of wood, and put some flag posts up. In April we will host the North Star District Spring Camporee which will include about 300 campers.
VII. Public Comments
No Public Comments that had been
discussed during the meeting.
VIII. Board Comments
Ms. Pittman – no comments
Mr. Hill – no comments
Ms. Amond – The Board needs to recognize Mr. Lovati for all of his service and accomplishments at ISBVI.
Mr. Bates – Congratulated the Business Office on their
hard work and dedication.
Ms. Botkin – no comments
Mr. Koors – He stated some comments regarding
Mr. Lovati’s dedication to ISBVI and the
students. ISBVI Commencement is
Thursday, May 24, 2007. The speaker will
be Mr. Michael Hingson.
IX. Next Meeting
May 14, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in the Aldur/Lambert
Multipurpose Room.
X. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 am.