WASHINGTON
STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
Minutes
from Board of Trustees
Meeting
March
25, 2005
Vancouver,
WA
Board Members Participating: Steve
Rainey, Kay Adamson, Denise Colley, Joe Fram, Kay Adamson, Sherry Perry, Chuck
Nelson, and Eric Wiseman.
Board Members Absent: Annabelle Fitts and Jerry Farley
Ex-Officio Members Participating: Berl
Colley (Washington Council of the Blind), Michael Freeman (National
Federation of the Blind of Washington), and Bonda Albers (Washington Federation
of State Employees Local #1225).
Ex-Officio Members Absent:
Theresa Tate (WSSB Teachers
Association) and Kathleen Brown (Parent Representative).
Washington State School for the Blind
(WSSB) Staff Members Participating: Dr.
March 25th - 5:30-6:40
p.m.
Dr. Stenehjem reported that he received a phone call from
Representative Jim Moeller, on behalf of the House Capital Budget
Committee. Representative Moeller stated
that the committee was not going to recommend any major capital projects for
WSSB or WSD, pending an efficacy study as to whether
residential school have outlived their usefulness. The following items were discussed:
Dr.
Stenehjem contacted Representative Fromhold who advised Dr. Stenehjem to work
with Senator Pridemore. Representative
Fromhold also suggested that WSSB speak to Senator Karen Fraser and Senator
Zarelli. (Dr. Stenehjem has an
appointment with Senator Pridemore early Monday afternoon).
Eric
asked if the board could get the parents to contact Representatives. Dr. Stenehjem stated he would contact
Kathleen as Parent Representative to ask for her assistance.
Mike
reported that the NFB will send a letter to
Representative Dunshee with their position on this issue. Mike will also send a letter to Senator
Pridemore. Mike will contact Denise
Mackenstadt to talk to Rosemary McAuliffe.
Dr.
Stenehjem spoke to Jerry and he is going to contact Alex Deccio in his
area.
Dr.
Stenehjem stated he talked to Fred Olson, Deputy Chief of Staff in the
Governor’s office; Fred reported that the Governor is supportive of the
school. Dr. Stenehjem also contacted WSSB’s
Capital Analysts in Olympia and everyone is on board and receiving the same
information.
Dr.
Stenehjem’s position is that we would welcome a study as we have an open
door. Dr. Stenehjem stated that a number
of study’s across the United States have resulted in suggestions for a number
of things that WSSB has done. Iowa’s
study is being released on March 29th; Dr. Stenehjem attached the
study to his correspondence to the Board, Representatives, Senators, etc.
Dr.
Stenehjem stated we are two weeks away from submitting our documents to the
City and that we could be in the new facility in January of 2007; if this is delayed WSSB could be in the new building 2010. Dr. Stenehjem feels the building is not safe
as it is not seismically sound and waiting for a study to be completed would
not be in the best interest of students or the state when it comes to student safety
and the states liability.
Eric
asked what the feel about approaching the press would be; beneficial or
not. Mike feels it is something to
consider. Mike feels if we do this
right, this could be stopped immediately.
Dr.
Stenehjem stated by the end of this week we should see the House and Senate’s
budget.
Berl
stated that one of the things that the Washington Council of the Blind is
willing to do is to get a number of people to testify at the hearings in the
House and the Senate. Berl feels we could
go statewide with press.
Dr.
Stenehjem stated that we are looking at two last major capital projects; PE and
Independent Living.
Joe
asked if we could send the information to the Representatives and
Senators. Dr. Stenehjem said yes.
Denise
stated she is surprised that even with knowing the dangers of the Kennedy
Building; that they are willing to put students’ lives at risk should there be
a seismic situation. Discussion was held
regarding partnerships with the community, i.e. over 50,000 community members
use our campus per year.
Discussion
was held regarding the 11% of parents who have relocated to Washington so their
children could attend WSSB. Requests have come from Guam and British Columbia to attend
WSSB on a tuition based. Dr. Stenehjem will
invite the capital committee to come to WSSB to visit the campus and to see how
capable the students are and the multitude of services provided both on campus
and throughout the state.
Dr.
Stenehjem asked the board to read over the information submitted to them
today. Berl suggested that Dr. Stenehjem
try to get in to see Senator Karen Fraser on Monday and that he could meet with
them on Monday morning.
Dr.
Stenehjem would like to set another conference call up for 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
May 28th.
Dr.
Stenehjem met with Vice Provost Louis Fox, University of Washington to see if
they would be willing to assist in the Digital Learning Portal for the Blind
with the group. This may open the door
and the potential is tremendous.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:40
p.m. The next Board meeting will be held
on via conference call on: March 28,
2005 at 7:30 p.m.; and May 5, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Chuck Nelson, Vice-Chair Dean
O. Stenehjem, Ed.D.
Superintendent