WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

Minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting

January 14, 2015

Vancouver, Washington

 

Board Members Participating:  Denise Colley, Ed Snook, Nancy McDaniel, and Michelle Farrell.

 

Board Members Absent:  Jim Kemp, Lorna Walsh, Dennis Mathews, Cindy Bennett, Yang-su Cho, and John Glenn.

 

Ex-Officio Members Participating: Berl Colley (Washington Council of the Blind).

 

Ex-Officio Members Absent: Scott Hone (Washington Federation of State Employees Local #1225), Doug Trimble (Teachers Association), Lilly Longshore (Parent Representative), and Michael Freeman (National Federation of the Blind of Washington).

 

WSSB Staff Members Participating: Dr. Dean Stenehjem (Superintendent) and Janet Kurz (recording secretary).

 

January 14 - 7:30pm

Ed called the meeting to order at 7:35pm.

 

Business Meeting:

*      Old Business:  There was not a quorum, therefore the approval of the November 14, 2014 and December 19, 2014 Board of Trustees meeting minutes will be tabled to the March 13, 2015 Board of Trustees meeting.

 

*      New Business

 

Superintendent’s Report

*      Dr. Stenehjem reviewed his report that was submitted (included in notes below):

o   Funding for the two positions that were submitted in the budget process (decision packages) were not approved.  WSSB was encouraged to apply for Safety Net. Hans Michielsen, Principal will be meeting with Dennis Mathews, who used to be on the Safety Net committee, to make sure WSSB has all of the information needed.

o   Dr. Stenehjem stated that the new phone system that is being purchased with Capital Project funds is progressing.  WSSB plans to have administrative assistants and administrators test the new phone system.  This will be done by the end of January with the new system being rolled out in mid-April (after spring break).

o   WSSB received a bid for the Capital Project relating to HVAC issues in Old Main (replacing fire dampers that are faulty).  WSSB budgeted approximately $70,000 for this project and electrical engineer specs for the job was for $110,000.  Rob felt this was an inflated figure considering the Electrical Engineering firm listed the controller for the dampers at twice what we would have to pay for the controls.; WSSB is considering purchasing the controllers and have the contract install the equipment to bring the potential bid closer to what we felt was a true market value.

o   Dr. Stenehjem reported that Hans contacted the National Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS) to start the accreditation process. 

o   WSSB’s B-3 services are moving forward at a fast pace. DeEtte Snyder, WSSB’s B-3 Coordinator is on road more than on campus. DeEtte is receiving many requests from agencies and organizations to provide training, etc.  Dr. Stenehjem met with the Department of Health to find out what the process is to look at getting Orientation & Mobility (O&M) and Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) services licensed for Birth-3 and O&M licensed for Birth-adulthood under the Health Care Authority.  If this can occur, it would open up Medicaid 3rd party reimbursable services. Currently, 22 states tap into these reimbursable dollars. Part of the roadblock is that Medicaid reimbursable services are considered “medical”.  This could be a lengthy, but very worthwhile, endeavor.

o   The Pacific Northwest Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired (PNWAER) will be holding their annual conference in Vancouver on February 27-28.  WSSB’s Outreach TVI, Emily Coleman is currently the President of the PNWAER.  Many WSSB staff will be attending this conference.

o   The annual WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference will be held in Olympia on March 1-2; Dr. Stenehjem and Ed are planning to attend; Dr. Stenehjem feels it is not the best time to meet individually with representatives and senators but attendance and presence at the conference is good.  Dr. Stenehjem asked if any other Board members are interested in attending to let him know. 

o   Dr. Stenehjem stated there is no new news on the tort claim at this time.  The AG’s office is wrapping up their investigation at this time.    

 

Committee Updates

*      Management Committee (Superintendent’s Evaluation)

o   Ed reported that the Superintendent’s evaluation is long overdue. Ed stated that he has not seen a draft or completed version of the evaluation yet.  The evaluation was due in June, 2014.  Ed will call Lorna and if she is unable to complete the evaluation in the next few weeks, Ed will get this done. 

 

*      Education Committee (Program Highlight-March 2015 Board Meeting)

o   Dr. Stenehjem stated Dennis will work with Hans on the safety net application process.

o   Janet will contact John Glenn to see if he would like Steve Lowry to come to the March meeting in lieu of having all department managers come to the meeting to present.

 

*      Update Regarding Superintendent’s Pay Increase

o   Ed stated that last year, the Board unanimously passed a motion in favor of increasing Dr. Stenehjem’s salary. The motion was for a modest increase due to the salary cap for the Superintendent’s position.  Ed and Lorna met with Dr. Stenehjem’s supervisor, Kelly Wicker last July to discuss this and they were told that she would take it under advisement.  Ed followed up and was informed that due to the recent start of the legislative session and the uncertainty with the state’s budget that she has not yet made a decision. Kelly did commit to contacting Ed when she has the chance to look at it again. Ed stated the motion for the salary increase was retroactive to the start of the school year and also supported that if governor’s office didn’t approve the increase with state appropriated funds that WSSB would like to propose the use of private local funds.  Ed will contact Dr. Stenehjem to get his expertise to see how we can proceed.

 

*      Buildings and grounds Committee

o   Berl has no updates since the last meeting.

 

Miscellaneous

*      During this past week, WSSB has had visitors from the St. Mary’s School for the Blind in South Korea. Their Chief School Administrator and 10 teachers are on campus this week learning how WSSB provides services.  Yang-su, WSSB Board of Trustee member has been a key person in helping form these connections with South Korea.

*      WSSB staff, Angela Vargas, who works in Ogden Resource Center was interviewed today by a group who is doing a documentary on women who were released from prison and their successes and challenges.  The state of Washington’s recidivism rate is much lower than other states, and therefore the interest in successful programs.  Ed asked Dr. Stenehjem to let the Board know when it will be aired. 

*      Representative Jim Moeller will be nominating former Representative Val Ogden for the Washington Medal of Merit.  Val passed away about a year ago and was an outstanding advocate for blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals and also for others with disabilities.  WSSB has a building on campus named after her (the Ogden Resource Center).  Dr. Stenehjem was asked to write a letter of support and suggested that the Board of Trustees also write a letter on her behalf.  The National Federation of the Blind of Washington and the Washington Council of the Blind will also be receiving requests to submit letters of support.  The deadline for submission is May, 2015, however Dr. Stenehjem plans to get something submitted in the next two weeks.

*      Nancy asked if anyone saw the news piece on Cindy Bennett and her boyfriend.  Cindy and her boyfriend attempted to board a bus in downtown Seattle but was told, by the bus driver, that there were no ADA seats left and she would have to take the next bus.  Cindy has been interviewed regarding this situation; the bus driver misunderstood the rules for the seating and the Seattle Public Transit publicly apologized for this situation.  Dr. Stenehjem stated so much education needs to be done in this area.    

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.  The next Board meeting will be held at WSSB on March 13, 2015 at 11:00am.     

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Ed Snook, Chair                                                                 Dean O. Stenehjem, Ed.D., Superintendent

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

Superintendent’s Report

 

During the month of December, WSSB provided services to 593 students. The breakdown is as follows:

 

·         On Campus:  67

·         Birth-3 Services:  10 

·         Low Vision Evaluations:  8

·         Outreach Direct Services:  263

·         Technology Evaluation and Direct Services (outreach):  14

·         Technology Support to Local School Districts:  75

·         Volunteer hours:  39 volunteers provided 208.5 hours of volunteer services

·         YouTube “Video Clips On Blindness Tips” Hits:  2,611

·         Video Clips on Blindness Tips Hits (through WSSB website):  183

 

The above doesn’t include production of Braille materials through the Braille Access Center; WCCW inmates work in the production of Braille materials for adults and children.  The above also does not include approximately 400 other vision-related services provided each month.

 

Budget: 

·         Current Operating: In the current operating budget, WSSB has a deficit of $17,455 in the area of state general funds (GFS).  This number would be inflated by approximately $95,000 if we were not picking up one of the assistive technology positions (which serves both on campus and outreach) through private local funds and if we had been able to fill our School Psychologist position, would equate to about a 5% deficit in GFS.  

o   This deficit is due to:

§  Two one-on-one positions have not been funded but are required for two high cost students (one medically fragile, and one deaf/blind student that requires an interpreter).

§  Technical error that should be fixed through a supplemental budget adjustment which is due to the lack of dollars transitioning back from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) with the return of those support services to WSSB.

§  Additional one-on-one aide for an autistic blind young man to fly home on the weekends.  The airline is requiring a one-on-one adult due to behavioral concerns on the plane; this results in additional staff time and an additional ticket every Friday and Sunday. 

o   Safety Net:  The Office of Financial Management (OFM) denied our supplemental decision package for the two one-on-one positions and wants WSSB to apply for Safety Net. We will do this, but need to see if there is some way to eliminate the state threshold requirement (approximately $25,000) and is eliminated from the total dollars requested if a safety net grant is provided. This is based upon per pupil dollars that flow to LEAs and associated dollars from many areas, which flow to districts through OSPI.  WSSB doesn’t receive the per pupil funds except some basic IDEA funding which is on a per pupil basis and is about ½ of what the LEAs receive; this amounts to about $800 per year per student. From conversations with OFM, I believe they would like to work with us and OSPI to see about possibly eliminating the state threshold for the two special schools that are funded entirely in a different manner.

·         Capital Budget:

o   Two projects to finish up with capital budget funds are:

§  Phone system/technology projects tied to infrastructure.

§  HVAC project work, which focuses on the Old Main building and replacement of about 100 damper controls, which falls under HVAC and Life Safety projects.

o   Major project on waiting list:

§  Swimming pool gutter work and replacement of a failing pool liner.

 

2013-2015 Supplemental: 

·         Governor’s budget includes:  technical correction with an additional $101,000 for the second year of the biennium to cover services that returned to WSSB from DES, where services returned but the funding didn’t.

 

2015-2017 Budget:

·         Operating [Governor’s Budget Recommendations for WSSB]:

o   Book II:  (Governor’s budget with additional revenue recommendations to help meet the demands for needed services).

A few key factors:

§  Current funding moving forward with the addition of funding for B-3 Coordinator and services ($250,000 per year).

§  Technical correction to make sure that funding returns to WSSB with service provisions coming back to WSSB from DES.

o  Book I: (Mandatory budget that the Governor has to submit that cannot include additional revenue packages beyond the state economist’s projects):

§  Same as above for key factors

§  Reduction not included in Book II: 

·      $70,000 for the biennium (taken from travel and equipment)

·         Capital Budget:

o   Have not received the Governor’s Capital Budget at this time.

§  Listed on OFM website is 10-year plan for WSSB:

·         2015-2017 [this is not the official Gov. Cap. Budget]

o   Study and design for Independent Living      $506,000

o   Preservation projects                                                            $820,000

                                Total:                                               $ 1,326,000               

 

WSSB Audit:

·         Plans have been put in place to guarantee that all checks and balances are in place, processes that needed to be changed have been completed and systems put in place to more accurately track employees time that are working from multiple sources of funding.

 

Accreditation: 

·         WSSB will be starting the process for re-accreditation through the Northwest Accreditation Commission.  Dr. Hans Michielsen will chair the steering committee and the process for self-study and onsite review. The steering committee will be formed within the next month and work on the self-study this spring/fall with formal report completed by mid-December, 2015. On-site team reviewers will also be chosen by WSSB and by the Commission with the intent to complete the process by the spring of 2016. The accreditation cycle occurs every six years.

 

Birth–Three Services:

·         Ms. DeEtte Snyder has been doing a great job in providing training and services to many individuals and organizations throughout the state. She is starting to become a statewide name that many folks are beginning to know and therefore we continue to see an increase in request for services and an increase in the number of students being identified.

·         Ms. Kim Curry (school counselor) has been working with the Health Care Authority (HCA) in making sure all of our paperwork and forms are filled out in the area of third party billing.  Kim may also play an important role in the near future when WSSB and other agencies/ organizations throughout the state push forward in trying to get Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) (Birth–3 Services) and Birth through Adult services in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) recognized for billable services under Medicaid.  

§  Kim is also working on the possible implementation of tele group intervention – kind of a social networking with BVI students with possible expansion to family intervention in the future. More to come.

·         Dr.  Stenehjem has been meeting with the Dept. of Early Learning (DEL), HCA, and will be meeting with the Dept. of Health (DOH) to discuss the process to move forward authorization for TVI and O&M services to be included in the Special Program Authorization (SPA) that would open up 3rd party billing. This could be huge in helping to pay for increased services to BVI students and their families.

 

Pacific Northwest Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind (PNWAER):

·         The annual conference will be held in Vancouver on February 27-28, 2015.  WSSB will be encouraging employees to attend and will cover their expenses.

 

WASA/WASDA (School Administrator and School Directors) Legislative Conference: 

·         Olympia – March 1-2, 2015.  Dr. Stenehjem plans to attend would like 1-2 board members to consider participating in the conference.  I’m not sure that WSSB will get a lot out of the time spent this day meeting with Senators and Representatives, but it is very good to have our presence known, learn from the sessions and also can be a productive time to meet with various agency staff. If interested please let me know.

 

Board Vacancy:

·         Congressional District #10:  Still trying to get individuals to apply so the Governor has a number of candidates to choose from. Denise Colley has graciously agreed to continue to serve until a new individual has been appointed.