In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees Committee of the Whole of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Monday, February 15, 1999, at 6:03 p.m. in the Board Room (201) of the Highland Business Center of the Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Beverly Watts Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer [arrived at 6:40 p.m.]; Allen Kaplan, Vice Chair; Hunter Ellinger, Secretary; Lillian Davis; Della May Moore; Carol Nasworthy [arrived at 6:05 p.m.]; Rafael Quintanilla; Beverly Silas; and John Worley. Trustee Della May Moore was absent from the meeting.

It is further found and determined that in accordance with the policies and orders of this Board, the notice of this meeting has been posted and return thereof made pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, and there has been full compliance with the terms and provisions of said act, including the timely posting of the subjects of this meeting.

Vice Chair Allen Kaplan welcomed the following participants to the Work Session with the Board of Trustees: Richard Fonte, Ana M. "Cha" Guzman, Milton Gatewood, Tyra-Duncan Hall, John Herndon, W. Lee Hisle, Janis Koenig, Sonia Koerner, Joe Lostracco, Dolores Segura, Gerry Tucker, Janet Valenza, and Tomi Welch. Steve Kinslow and Gloria Walker were absent.

Mr. Kaplan introduced the item and Trustee Hunter Ellinger distributed information. Provided information on current practices, merit pay, promotion and reclassification. He stated reclassification involved different duties and not quality or quantity of work performed.

Mr. Kaplan asked for comments from participants to address the current status of compensation issues, the future direction, and what needs to be codified. The following comments were provided:

• Difference in pay between full-time and adjunct faculty;
• Opposition to merit pay unless supervisors follow the rules for merit pay and that it does not replace a cost-of-living raise;
• Market value of employees;
• Different level positions/different levels of pay for adjunct faculty for year-long positions;
• In-equity with other community colleges;
• Contribution of 6.5% to retirement for non-faculty and full-time faculty versus 1.5% for adjunct faculty;
• Merit pay--more pay for bigger job;
• No way the College can guarantee a raise every year;
• Bonus pay for extraordinary performance;
• Currently a system to not only get more steps but also move across columns based upon experience;
• Possibly a policy on merit pay at time of evaluation;
• Need to receive information from colleges outside Texas (John Cise distributed a document entitled "FY-99 Texas Metro Colleges, 9 Month Sector Salaries/Sector Averages";
• Need to gather data on positive/negative morale as a result of merit pay;
• Amount of contribution by College to Social Security;
• Need for cost-of-living raise every year; cost-of-living increase should be the same for all employees;
• Would like to look at ranges; antiquated system at ACC--should not matter how long you have been at ACC;
• If salaries could be increased, going to a salary range scale would be welcomed;
• College is currently determining the number of work days/pay per work day and a dollar amount for holidays.
• Adjunct and full-time faculty do not get holiday pay; full-time faculty receives sick leave pay;
• Professional-Technical Employees Association desires benefits to remain as they currently are;
• Classified Employees Association feel the benefits are more important than the money;
• Applicants are looking at dollars more than time off; ACC is not able to compete in the market because salaries are not competitive;
• Need to be more competitive salary wise and make ACC a good workplace;
• Not all employees would need to work during Spring Break since there are no students; therefore, ACC may need to have some flexibility--corporations are moving toward flex time;
• Value of one employee should not be discounted over the value of another employee;
• Needs of the College should be determined during Winter and Spring Breaks and any unmet needs could be addressed by staff or temporary personnel; which positions are involved and determine budget to meet these needs;

Ms. Davis expressed appreciation to faculty and staff participants and Board members for the informative discussion. This item will be placed on the agenda for the March 1, 1999, meeting of the Board of Trustees. Items 4 and 11 will be discussed during a forty-five minute work session on that date. Participants were reminded that the Board meeting on March 1 will begin at 6:30 p.m. following rededication of the Highland Business Center at 5 p.m.