Vice President Report:
No Report

Secretary’s Report:
No Report

Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer William Bowman reported on the BOT accounts.  The Petty Cash balance remains $526.10.  Mr. Bowman explained that there was a slight increase in the investments managed by Ferris, Baker, Watts (FBW).  There have not been any transactions with these accounts recently. 

Since FBW manages the funds, they will be responsible to prepare the tax forms.  The audit report will be sent to Mr. Bowman once it is complete.

It was recommended that there be a representative from the Board for each campus on the MSD Foundation.

Old Business:
President Raimondo suggested that a committee needs to be formed to develop the agenda for the next Board retreat.  This committee would help plan the retreat using the ideas which were discussed at the November Board meeting. Topics could include future enrollment at MSD, day care, marketing of the school, community relations with the BOT.

It was recommended that the event start mid day on a Thursday and continue through the day on Friday.  A discussion was held in regards to having community members come to join the Board during the retreat to offer their opinions on the above mentioned topics.  Groups invited to attend would be members of the PTCA, the Foundation, individual managers from both campuses, and alumni.  An evening event for the community might be more successful.

The following people volunteered to be on the committee:  Charles Poyer, Ben Bahan, Barbara Raimondo, Cynthia Neese-Bailes, and Anjali Desai-Margolin.  Dr. Bahan and Ms. Raimondo will be co-chairs for the committee.

The minutes to the two November 2006 BOT closed session meetings were passed around for Board review.
A MOTION was made to approve both sets of minutes from the closed session meetings - SECONDED – PASSED.

Superintendent Tucker shared with the Board members that the Staffing Plan is revised annually and submitted with our grant application for Federal Funds.  The purpose of the Staffing Plan is to show that there is maintenance of effort on the part of the school for the education of children with IEP’s. 

A MOTION was made to approve the 2007-2008 Staffing Plan - SECONDED – PASSED.

Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent Tucker shared with members of the Board that he attended the inauguration of the new governor along with some staff and students from both campuses.  Mr. Tucker also attended the State of the State address.  He was honored to sit among cabinet members in the House Chamber.

Mr. Tucker informed everyone that Ms. Eloise Foster is back as the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.  The Superintendent worked with her in a previous administration.

The Superintendent shared that the schools budget increased by 2.3 million dollars this year.  While the school’s budget analyst recommended a cut in the budget based on staff vacancies, the school was able to explain that most of these vacancies are now filled and the school needs the funds. A discussion was held regarding the difficulty the school has experienced in filling several of the vacancies.  Currently, we have filled six of the eleven openings.  The school is waiting on the decision hearings to get the final word on the next fiscal year budget.

The Capital Budget hearing will be held in March.  The school is asking for equipment money at this time for the new elementary school/Family Education center as well as design money for the dietary department and cafeteria in the new building.

Mr. Tucker explained that CEASD is working with schools for the Deaf across the nation in an effort to assist those who are struggling.  The Idaho School for the Deaf is in danger of being closed and the Oregon School for the Deaf and the Mississippi School for the Deaf have merged with the School for the Blind.  The North Dakota School for the Deaf now has an enrollment of 29 students.  The Superintendent informed the Board members that MSD currently has an enrollment of 475; 15 more students than last year at this time.

Mr. Tucker has discussed with Dr. Carol Ann Baglin, Assistant State Superintendent – Division of Special Education of the Maryland Department of Education (MSDE), the idea of accepting hearing students who are fluent in ASL at MSD.  She is very supportive of the idea as is State School Superintendent, Dr. Nancy Grasmick.  Admission of hearing students at MSD can only be accomplished through the passage of a Bill by the General Assembly.  Superintendent Tucker explained that it is his hope that such a Bill would be co-sponsored by MSD and MSDE.

Mr. Tucker also shared that the administration is currently investigating the possibility of adding a program for children with additional needs and instituting a day care program on the Frederick Campus. 

The Superintendent shared his idea of adding a position to the administrative team in the summer of ’07.  The position would be that of Director of Outreach. The Director would oversee three staff members (Larry Newman, Celinda Rother and Kriste Kovarcik). The office will be responsible for community relations, marketing and grant applications.

Mr. Tucker informed the Board members that the five snow days will be made up in June.

The members were informed that the students will be performing Arsenic and Old Lace this year for the annual school play.
Graduation this year will be held on June 2nd and Dr. Nancy Grasmick has been invited to be the graduation speaker.

Mr. Tucker explained that four faculty members are currently enrolled in the Gallaudet Leadership Program.  Seven people enrolled initially but three have withdrawn.

There are currently nineteen children enrolled in the cochlear implant program on the Columbia Campus.

Executive Committee Report:
Chairman Bowman shared that the committee would be moving forward soon on some old issues.

A presentation regarding the Annual Yearly Progress for the school was presented to Board members by Mr. Chad Baker.  A copy of the power point presentation was handed to Board members.

Ms. Demetria Titus clarified the use of Persona Non Grata (PNG) in accordance with the law.  It was explained that the Superintendent and/or the Board of Directors have a wide discretion when putting people on or taking them off of PNG status.  A discussion was held regarding reasons to put people on PNG at MSD.  It was explained that the burden to get removed from the list is on the individual, not on the school or Board.  If a person on the PNG list wishes to be removed from the list, it is their responsibility to contact the school and make the request. 

Education Committee Report:
Dr. Neese-Bailes shared with the members that the Education Committee was very impressed with the program on the Columbia Campus.  The children were curious and the staff very welcoming. 

The Committee plans on visiting the Frederick Campus before the end of the school year.

Laurie Yaffe explained to the members of the Board that she was involved with Governor O’Malley’s transition team on the subject of interpreters in the public schools.  A discussion was held regarding the report which was provided to the Governor’s office. Topics included new born screening, and counseling for the Deaf in the State of Maryland.  Ms. Yaffe recommends that the Education Committee investigate ways they can get involved in these issues in the future.

Fiscal Matters/Facilities Management Committee:
No Report

Personnel Committee Report:
President Raimondo reported that Mr. Tucker met with Committee chairperson David Severn recently to discuss his performance.  Mr. Tucker explained that they discussed issues such as the Superintendent Roundtable, quarterly meetings with the teacher’s union representative, the Superintendent’s visits to the Columbia Campus and the fact that Mr. Tucker is guest teaching classes on both campuses.

Mr. Tucker shared that the performance reviews for the members of the Orioles Management Team will be done in the spring.

Student Life Committee:
Mr. Palmer told the Board members that the committee will be meeting with the Student Life Counselors before the May meeting in an effort to get their input.

The SL Committee and the Education Committee will meet in early May to review the requests for changes in the Parent/Student Handbook.

Trusteeship Committee:
Ms. Harriman shared that, with the departure of Elliot Rosen, we now have two openings on the BOT. 

Ms. Harriman also told the members of the Board that she met recently with Celinda Rother, agency grant writer, to review possible sources for grant opportunities in the Columbia area.

Accreditation Committee:
A consultant has been hired by the school to assist the Unity and Diversity committee.  The committee has been working with the community in an effort to set up priority goals.  The committee is now working on developing action plans and will present their draft goals to the Orioles Management Team.

By Law Committee –
No report

Ms. Carol Stevens announced that she is working on a new program known as Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC).  This program would ensure that deaf children needing foster care would be placed in a home with either deaf adults or adults who are fluent in ASL.  The program is also working on having KODA’s placed with deaf families so they do not lose their ASL skills while away from their parents.
Open Forum: 
No one signed up for Open Forum

Mr. Ken Moreseon presented his findings in regards to the Accreditation mid-point review visit.  He explained to the Board members that he had observed on the Frederick Campus the previous day and had been observing here in Columbia all day.  During his visit he interviewed faculty, dietary staff members and students.  He expressed how impressed he was with the high level of communication between the departments in regards to student’s needs and also shared that he has seen an improvement in communication between the two campuses.  The Implementation teams for the action plans have been meeting regularly and their progress is evident. 

A consistent message Mr. Moreseon has received from the community on both campuses is that the Smart Boards have made a big difference in how the children learn and the ease with which the faculty can teach concepts. 

Mr. Moreson stated that his report will send the message that MSD is making great progress towards their goals and the plans in place are comprehensive and future oriented.

At 3:14 p.m. a MOTION was made to go into Closed Session to discuss a Personnel matter – SECONDED – APPROVED.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D.; Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D.; David S. Birnbaum; William J. Bowman; Ernest Hairston, Ph.D.; Sandra Harriman; Robin Kittleman; Anjali D. Margolin; E. Bernard Palmer; Charles Poyer; Barbara Raimondo, Esquire; Carol Stevens; Laurie Yaffe.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Connie Briscoe-Woodruff; John Ertel, Ph.D.; H. Mitchell Goldberg; David A. Severn, Esq.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Demetria Titus

INTERPRETERS: Roberta Quinn; Brenda Kelly-Frey.

At 3:40 p.m. a MOTION was made to go into Open Session. – SECONDED – APPROVED.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D.; Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D.; David S. Birnbaum; William J. Bowman; Ernest Hairston, Ph.D.; Sandra Harriman; Robin Kittleman; Anjali D. Margolin; E. Bernard Palmer; Charles Poyer; Barbara Raimondo, Esquire; Carol Stevens; Laurie Yaffe.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Connie Briscoe-Woodruff; John Ertel, Ph.D.; H. Mitchell Goldberg; David A. Severn, Esq.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Demetria Titus

INTERPRETERS: Roberta Quinn; Brenda Kelly-Frey.

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Anjali Desai-Margolin
Secretary