Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
7725 North College Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46240


ISBVI Board Meeting
March 20, 2006
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 Mr. Robert Marra
                                  Ms. Cynthia Pittman
                                  Ms. Kathy Botkin
                                  Senator Teresa Lubbers

Members Not Present:  Dr. Eugene White

Administration Present:  Mr. Jim Durst, Superintendent; Mrs. Rosemary Adams, Principal; Mr. Hal Owens, Asst. Superintendent.

I. Call to Order
Mr. Koors called the meeting to order and took roll.

II. Approval of Minutes
The minutes from January 23, 2006 meeting were reviewed.  There were no additions or corrections.  Ms. Amond moved for approval of the minutes with no changes; Mr. Bates seconded the motion; motion carried.

III. Chair Remarks
Mr. Koors welcomed everyone to the meeting and encouraged anyone who had an issue or concern to always feel free to address the ISBVI Board.

A.  Special Recognition
Mr. Durst recognized the Business Office. The Business Office is an outstanding group of individuals who are fiscally prudent and keep the books balanced to the penny.  Mr. Hal Owens introduced the staff:  Barb Diemer, David Hiatt, Chris Becker, Trisha Franklin, Joan Thoben, and Teresa Mynatt.  Mr. Durst then recognized and thanked Mr. Owens for  the direction that he provides to the Business Office as well as the supervision provided to many other departments at ISBVI.  They all received a round of applause and a "job well done" from the board. 

Next Mr. Durst recognized the Laundry Department.  The Laundry Department not only does all the laundry for ISBVI, but they also do all the laundry for Indiana School for the Deaf.  Mr. William Neal introduced the staff:  Linda Walker, Glenn Stubbs, and Tia Banks.  They all received a round of applause and a "job well done" from the board.

Next Mr. Durst introduced a student, R.J. Crace, to the Board.  Mr. Durst explained that Senator Lubbers had introduced a Resolution on behalf of R.J. at the Indiana Senate.  R.J. is a student who has benefited from the school as well as being a wonderful diplomat for the school.  He is a recent recipient of the Abe Lincoln Scholarship Award for $15,000.00.  We are very proud of him and all that he has done on behalf of the school.  R.J. plans to attend Ball State University in the fall of 2006 and major in Telecommunications.

R.J. thanked Mr. Durst.  R.J. commented that he and Mr. Durst started at ISBVI at the same time in 1990.  The school has done wonders for him.  He learned vital basic skills that other people take for granted such as daily living, Braille, Orientation and Mobility.  The school follows the CORE 40 and curriculum that the State Board of Education sets forth, yet at the same time gives opportunities to take more advanced classes at J. Everett Light and North Central High School.  He will always have a debt of gratitude to the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  He was honored and humbled by the recognition from the ISBVI Board. 

Senator Lubbers then commented that it was a pleasure to have R.J. at the Senate.  Without any reservations, R.J. received a standing ovation from the Senate.  The Senate on a regular basis honors people, sports teams, and people who need to be honored because of professional accomplishments, but several Senators commented that of the several Resolutions that they had done this year, by far the one that the Senate did to honor R.J., they were the proudest of  because of what R.J. had accomplished.  She thanked R.J. for the note and told R.J. to thank his family for their efforts in going the extra mile in making a difference in his life.

R.J. received a round of applause from the Board.

IV.  Superintendent's Report

A. School Update
The Middle School and High School Choir preformed at St. Malachy in a joint concert that was very well received.

The Lamber/Aldur and Keever students held their Spring Program on March 3, 2006.  They did a wonderful job.  Ms. Francisco and Ms. Klopp do a wonderful job giving all the student opportunities to participate.

On March 25, 19 piano students from ISBVI will participate with 500 other area students in the Indiana Federation of Music Clubs district contest, which will be held here at ISBVI.

The high school language arts classes will hold a poetry reading on March 24, 2006 in the Student Center.  All are invited.  This is funded by a grant from VSA Indiana.

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are going to Circle Theater to learn about the Indianapolis Symphony in April.

The ISBVI Girls' Goalball team won the 2006 Goalball Championships in St. Louis.  The boys' placed second.  Mr. Gasko was the boys coach and Mrs. Gasko was the girls coach.

The Band/Choir Spring Concert will be Friday, April 21, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the auditorium.  The piano recital will be Friday, May 12, 2006 at 7:30 pm in the auditorium.  Please mark your calenders for these events.

Mr. Roth's science class did an interesting egg drop experiment, by designing a container of 5 sheets of paper and 1 meter of tape.  The object was to drop the egg 20 feet without it breaking.  One student was successful in doing so.

The Aldur and Lambert students are involved in a nutrition grant from the DOE trying new fruits and vegetables.  This is the second week of this experiment.

Keever students visited St. Augustine to collect sap for syrup from the trees.  We have several buckets on maple trees on our campus, and the students will be making maple syrup.

Mrs. Harvey's class went on a visit to the State House to learn how government works.

Mrs. Kirsch's class are doing an experiment with rats.  They are feeding them different things to see whose rat gains the most weight.

B. Monthly Financial Statements

Mr. Owens presented the January 31, 2006  financial statement (Attachment 2A).  57% of the allotment has been spent and the year is 59% over.  We are a little bit ahead of schedule.  We have calculated that we will probably be a half a million over the allotment at the end of the year (June 30, 2006) that the Budget Agency alloted to us.  Due to the increase in natural gas prices, we have had an increase in our budget as well.  The State Budget Agency is aware of this and understands our situation.  

Mr. Owens then presented the February 28, 2006 financial statement (Attachment 2B).  The year is 66.6% or 2/3 over  and we are still a little over 1% under the allotment numbers.  Point one is fine.  Point two is getting hit hard with the natural gas prices.  Point three has had to have some money moved into it because of the changes from the State Auditor and what needs to be paid out of Point three as far as personal service contracts, etc.  Preventative maintenance is running a little short, but the carryover of $164,395.00 was not carried over to our budget last July.  We have asked for half of that carryover amount be carried over into our budget now.  They have agreed to do this.  They are willing to let us have our money from the carryover back, which is a help.

C. Personnel Actions Updates

Personnel Actions Updates (Attachments 3A-3B and 4A-4B).  On Attachment 3A are the actions for February 2006 and the actions taken.  The actions where there is not an action listed are personnel actions that are of a confidential nature.  On Attachment 3-B are the actions for March 2006.  On 4A and 4B are pending positions and plans to fill various positions.

D. Vacant Positions

Refer to Vacant Positions - Pending (Attachment 5A-5B).  Mr. Hill questioned Mr. Durst regarding the Dietitian position.  Mr. Durst explained that at the last Board meeting, the Board approved moving in the direction of hiring a food services manager due to the inability to hire a dietitian.  After the meeting, three applicants applied for the dietitian position.  One was interviewed, and we extended the job offer.  The applicant elected not to accept the offer.  The other two applicants elected not to pursue an interview.  We will hire a food services manager to oversee both the of the dietary programs of ISBVI and ISD, and to contract with Mrs. Overton to handle the dietary nutritional issues on a contractual basis.

Mr. Durst explained that the OT position had been filled full time with an increase in the salary to $28.00 per hour.

E. Physical Plant Update

Churchman Air Conditioning:  Two meetings have been held to replace the milk cooler in the kitchen.  We are still waiting on the replacement table for the donut fryer and drain pans for the serving lines. Then that project will be completed.

Improve Campus Security:  The project is ahead of schedule.  This is the proximity cards that will used for different doors on campus.  Most of the electrical conduit has been installed in E, F, G, and the boys and girls dorms.  The wiring began this past week.

Exterior Campus Lighting:  $25,180 was removed from this project to complete emergency repairs to the Aldur/Lambert electrical system (a new transformer).  The additional $25,000 will be requested from The State Budget Agency from the $80,000 that is being held by the Budget Agency.

Renovation of Tunnels:  The project is underway to upgrade the infrastructure, replace the water valves, replace the pipe hangers, and installation of sump pumps.  The cost of this project is $264,000.

Re-roof Churchman and Keever:  We have elected to work primarily on Keever due to the funding limitations. We are installing a new room on Keever.  New soffits and gutters will also be installed.  The problem areas on Churchman will be patched.
 
Repair Roofs:  The repairing of the roofs on F Building is being completed.  During that process some of the roof was removed and was open during a downpour.  As a result of that, there was extensive damage to the Auditorium and Mr. Owens' office and the classroom above that.  We are waiting for reimbursement of damages from the contractor.

Re-coring Campus:  We are in the final phase of this project and it should be done in the next two weeks.
 
Fire Alarms:  This project is in the 2nd phase to determine the "scope of work".  This should begin shortly.

Electrical Grounding:  This project is in the 2nd phase as well.  Half of the campus has been grounded from the Power House to F Building.  This grounding will continue from F Building to the remainder of the campus.  This is an $828,000 project.  Eagle Electric was awarded this project which will begin shortly.

V.  New Business

A. Donations and Contributions

Refer to Donations and Contributions Under $499.00 and Donations and Contributions Over $500.00 (Attachment 6A-6B).  There were no donations over $500.00 in January and February.  We had several under $499.00, both restricted and unrestricted.  There were also no donations over $500.00 in February and March.  There were several under $499.00, both restricted and unrestricted.

C. Utility Costs

Mr. Durst reported the November natural gas bill was $42,264.00, the December natural gas bill was $33,274.61, and the January natural gas bill was $34,664.00.  The water bill is relatively stable in cost between $1,600 - $1,700 each month.  The electric bill is between $12,000 and $14,000 each month. 
 
D. New Employee

Mr. Durst introduced and welcomed his new secretary, Lisa Cox.  The Board welcomed Ms. Cox to ISBVI.

E. 2nd Reading

    - Cellular Phones - Policy that states that ISBVI will provide cellular phones for emergency purposes to staff when they are leaving campus and have students with them.  Mr. Bates moved to approve.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Botkin.  Approved by ISBVI Board.

    - Child Identification - Policy that addressed how ISBVI assists local school corporations in identifying students who are blind and visually impaired from birth to 3 years of age.  Ms. Amond requested adding First Steps and other agencies.  Mr. Durst explained that the Outreach Program works closely and in conjunction with First Steps.  Most of the referrals are received through First Steps.  The policy will be expanded to include "All individuals and/or agencies as identified by law who can benefit from the information for future programs and/or educational opportunities will be included in the identification process".  The Board will wait to vote on this policy until May when the corrected wording is added to the policy.

    - Signing In and Out when Leaving Campus - Policy that requires individuals let their whereabouts be known.  The policy is to request permission from the appropriate supervisor when leaving campus for the purposes of health, safety and welfare.  If an emergency occurs, we have to account for everyone on campus.  If individuals leave campus without signing out, we may be spending valuable time looking for a person who is indeed not on campus at that point and time.  This outlines the  responsibility of staff to follow the policy and sign out and to follow specifics from their immediate supervisor before they leave campus.  The motion to approve was made by Ms. Amond and seconded by Ms. Pittman.  Approved by ISBVI Board.

F.  Proposed Calendar for 2006-2007 School year

Mr. Durst explained that it is very similar to the 2005-2006 School year calendar with the exception that two additional staff training days are being added at the beginning of the school year.  School would begin August 9, 2006.  August 9, 10, and 11 would be staff reporting days which will be opportunities for in services that are required as well as training opportunities that will assist staff in better performing their jobs.  It would increase the number of contract days for staff from 205 days to 207 days.  This will have a budgetary impact and the school is in a position to assume those additional costs.  Ms. Amond moved for approval of the calendar.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Pittman.

Mr. Hill questioned if the increase in the contracted days for this year would impact the amount of contracted days in later years.  Mr. Durst explained that in the past that the contracted days have been as high as 211 days.  The amount of contracted days is based primarily on resources that are available.

The motion was approved by the ISBVI Board.

G. Social Worker Position

Mr. Durst explained that ISBVI has "trained" 13 different social workers in the 15 years he has been with ISBVI.  One of the dilemmas is the salary issues of the Social Workers.  They are primarily paid on a scale listed as Psychiatric Social Service Specialist 3, and that scale is significantly less than institutional teachers.  They cannot be moved to teacher classifications because they lack the appropriate licensing.  One of our Social Workers took the initiative to move forward to get a teacher's license.  Mr. Durst proposed and requested the Board's approval to move the Social Worker to a vacant institutional teacher position and pay accordingly which would be at a Master's level with 0 years experience coming in as a new teacher.  The budgetary impact is roughly $10,000.00.  Ms. Botkin moved for approval and Mr. Bates seconded the motion.  The ISBVI Board approved the motion.
 
VI. Public Comments

None

VII. Board Comments

Ms. Amond expressed her appreciation of the fiscal management and strategic planning.  This shows true leadership.

Mr. Hill thanked Mr. Durst for all of his hard work.  He also thanked Sen. Lubbers for all of her help during the Legislative Session.

Ms. Botkin thanked whomever was responsible for getting the clock fixed in the Multipurpose Room.

Mr. Koors thanked the staff, Mr. Durst and the ISBVI Board for their continued hard work and willingness to meet challenges as they advance over the years.  We do need to provide more services to more people on a statewide basis.  If young individuals do not have the necessary preparation for services that they need when they leave this school, it is going to be very difficult for them to be successful in life and whatever they wish to do.  It as continual challenge of this school and every school to provide educational services to students,  especially students who have extra challenging needs.

VIII. Next Meeting
May 15, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. in the Aldur/Lambert Multipurpose Room.  Commencement will be May 25, 2006 at 10:00 am and the speaker will be Carl Agusto from AFP.

IX. Adjournment