MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2007
Columbia Campus

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D.; Connie Briscoe-Woodruff; William Bowman; John Ertel, Ph.D.; H. Mitchell Goldberg; Ernest Hairston, Ph.D.; Sandra Harriman; Robin Kittleman; Anjali Desai- Margolin; E. Bernard Palmer; Charles Poyer; Barbara Raimondo, Esq.; Carol Stevens; Laurie Yaffe

MEMBERS ABSENT: Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D.; David Birnbaum; David Severn, Esq.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Demetria Titus.

INTERPRETERS: Myra Foley; Roberta Quinn.

President Raimondo called the meeting to order at 9:22 a.m.  Roll call was called by passing around the roll call sheet. 

A MOTION was made to approve the agenda. -SECONDED – PASSED.

A MOTION was made to approve the Open Session minutes of the May 2007 Board meeting with one correction -SECONDED – PASSED.

Minutes of the May closed session meeting were distributed for Board review.

A MOTION was made to approve the Closed Session minutes for the May 2007 Board meeting with one correction-SECONDED – PASSED

President’s Report: 
President Raimondo explained that she and the FM/FM committee met with the Superintendent and the MSD CFO to review the budget for FY 09.  The budget will be presented to the full Board during the meeting today.

Ms. Raimondo also shared with the members that a Request for Proposal for the Superintendent’s evaluation had been put out and that former Board member Elliot Rosen’s company had won the bid.  He will begin the review soon.

Vice President Report:
No Report

Secretary’s Report:
No Report

Treasurer’s Report:
No Report

Superintendent’s Report:
Mr. Tucker shared with everyone that school opened successfully for its 140th year of instruction.

The Department of Education shared a preliminary report with MSD letting us know that the school did better on the High School Assessment tests than the Frederick County public schools (FCPS) this year in two areas – English and Government studies.  In Algebra and Biology, MSD scores were just slightly below FCPS scores. The percentage of MSD students who have passed the test has increased greatly since last year.  Mr. Chad Baker will report on the results of the testing at the November meeting.

We had a large number of seniors receive the MSDE HS diploma this year.  Dr. Nancy Grasmick, graduation speaker this year, congratulated MSD for its excellent work and proclaimed it the best Deaf school in the nation.

Mr. Tucker explained that there have been many discussions regarding the mainstreaming of children and MSD’s plan on how to encourage these children to attend MSD.  Mr. Tucker shared that the general public is not well versed in MSD’s programs and the options we offer.  The school’s enrollment has gone down slightly.  The senior class this year is large (40 students) and the Freshman class is larger (50 students).  The school has to look at options to replace these students.  Enrollment is a priority this year.

Chad Baker, Deputy Superintendent and Compliance Officer for MSD, has added three people to his department – Celinda Rother, Grant writer
                                            Kriste Kovarcik, Communication specialist
                                            Larry Newman, Production specialist

We have manned booths at several fairs this year along with the MSD Foundation in an effort to reach out to the general public and inform them about MSD.
The Superintendent shared that the new elementary building in Frederick is going up quickly.  The contractor hopes to be under roof before the weather turns.

The task forces, developed at the May Board meeting, have been formed and will start meeting in early September. The committees will report back to the Board at the November meeting.

Mr. Tucker gave a report of the positions which still need to be filled on each campus as well as listing the positions which had recently been filled.

Education Committee Report:
Robin Kittleman shared information regarding a program in many of the public schools known as “Best Buddies”.  Friendships between students with Special needs and students without special needs are fostered through a buddy system.  This is a volunteer program.

Fiscal Matters/Facilities Management Committee:
Chairperson Mitch Goldberg explained that MSD’s CFO, Ms. Suzanne Schwertman,
had presented the proposed budget to the committee and would attend the Board meeting later to present the FY ’09 budget to the full Board.

At 10:27 a.m. a MOTION was made to go into Closed Session – SECONDED – APPROVED.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D.;Connie Briscoe-Woodruff; William Bowman; John Ertel, Ph.D.; H. Mitchell Goldberg; Ernest Hairston, Ph.D.; Sandra Harriman; Robin Kittleman; Anjali Desai- Margolin; E. Bernard Palmer; Charles Poyer; Barbara Raimondo, Esq.; Carol Stevens; Laurie Yaffe

MEMBERS ABSENT: Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D.; David Brinbaum; David Severn, Esq.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Demetria Titus.

INTERPRETERS: Myra Foley; Roberta Quinn.

At 11:10 a.m. a MOTION was made to go into Open Session – SECONDED – APPROVED.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D.;Connie Briscoe-Woodruff; William Bowman; John Ertel, Ph.D.; H. Mitchell Goldberg; Ernest Hairston, Ph.D.; Sandra Harriman; Robin Kittleman; Anjali Desai- Margolin; E. Bernard Palmer; Charles Poyer; Barbara Raimondo, Esq.; Carol Stevens; Laurie Yaffe

MEMBERS ABSENT: Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D.; David Brinbaum; David Severn, Esq.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Demetria Titus.

INTERPRETERS: Myra Foley; Roberta Quinn.

Ms. Suzanne Schwertman presented the proposed FY ’09 budget to the Board.
Ms. Schwertman explained that the Cost of Living increase for the employees this year will have to come out of MSD’s budget therefore several projects on the campuses have been put on hold.

Budget discussions were held with regards to the cost of the Enhanced Services program, emergency building repairs and planned improvements. 

Ms. Schwertman was asked to attend the November Board meeting and give a review of the 15 year Master Plan.
 
No one signed up for Open Forum

Student Life Committee:
No report.

Trusteeship Committee:
Ms. Harriman reported that there are two vacancies on the Board.  One person has responded to a posting for the position on the Leadership Maryland website. 
A discussion was held regarding the process that should be used to approve potential Board members.  It was suggested that the committee should develop a selection plan for Board review.  The criterion for membership is already set by Maryland State law.  The plan will be presented at the November Board meeting.

It was suggested that the committee needed to follow up with the Alumni Association in order to solicit potential candidates for the Board.

Bylaw Committee:
The committee still needs to review the recommended changes.  There is no new report at this time.

A MOTION was made to approve the FY ’09 budget as presented – SECONDED – APPROVED.

A MOTION was made to adjourn at 1:15 p.m. – SECONDED - PASSED.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Anjali Desai-Margolin