7088d

MINUTES
Special Meeting/Retreat - Board of Trustees
May 21-22, 1999

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Friday, May 21, 1999, at 4:07: p.m. in the Student Commons, Room 2100 of the Eastview Campus of Austin Community College located at 3401 Webberville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Beverly Watts Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer; Allen Kaplan, Vice Chair; Hunter Ellinger, Secretary; Lillian Davis [arrived at 4:15 p.m.]; Della May Moore; Carol Nasworthy; Rafael Quintanilla [arrived at 5:20 p.m.]; and Beverly Silas. Trustee John Worley was absent. Other participants included: Richard Fonte, Ana M. "Cha" Guzman, Lee Hisle, Steve Kinslow, Tyra-Duncan Hall, Janis Koenig, Jerry Miller, Dilip Anketell, Barbara Bolin, Maggie Culp, Donetta Goodall, Gerry Tucker, Ed Osborn, Brian Donnelly, Dolores Segura, John Herndon, Milton Gatewood, Tomi Welch, and Hector Tristan, Jr.

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.

Announcements

Ms. Davis recognized Allen Kaplan who advised of the death of Pat Dobbs, a member of the adjunct faculty. Ms. Dobbs taught government and history at Austin Community College for 25 years. He stated that Ms. Dobbs' family asked that memorial contributions be made to the Austin Community College Foundation in care of the Pat Dobbs Scholarship Fund. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, May 30, 1999, at Burger Center, Austin.

Dr. Fonte, College President, said the College completed the search process for the Executive Vice President for Instruction. There were two finalists. An offer was extended to Dr. Elva Allie from Tarrant County Community College, Fort Worth, Texas.

Ms. Davis recognized Marta DeLuna, former secretary in the Board of Trustees' Office, and currently employed at the Eastview Campus.

I. Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Discussion
Jerry Miller, Vice President for Business Services, distributed copies of the proposed FY2000 Budget, and discussed the changes and responded to questions from Board members concerning: the market study of professional-technical positions including lower level positions and the construction industry; turnover rate and number of applicants; lapsed salary money; funds for mandatory staff development training; changes in the diversity of the workforce/adjunct faculty/evaluations; student services/retention/financial aid; unmet funding needs of the College; and student outreach/marketing and advertising. Board members discussed the need for additional staff in the Human Resources Department to provide unmet staff development needs. It was the consensus of the Board that the Administration should include funds in the budget for additional staff in the Human Resources Department to provide needed training.

Dr. Fonte stated that the administration would respond to any additional questions at the June 7 Board meeting. He advised that the Fiscal Year 2000 Budget will be included on the agenda for possible action on June 7.

II. Compensation Proposals from Employee Groups

Classified Employees Association - Tomi Welch, President, stated the Association will support the President's Three-Year Compensation Plan with a minor change and assurances. The Association requests that frozen employees receive the equivalent of a step increase in the third year of Dr. Fonte's plan; positions to be targeted for a market adjustment for each year of Dr. Fonte's plan be selected with all employee group's input; the selected group be confirmed in print prior to budget hearings; and that the Board of Trustees direct Dr. Fonte to include in his Three-Year Plan a commitment to allocating a significant amount of any new revenue to employee market adjustments. She also discussed the need for step and cost of living increases to be included in the compensation policy; professional development and travel money be allocated for classified use; career paths; managerial training for supervisors; and fair compensation for training and supervising co-workers.

Professional-Technical Employees Association - Milton Gatewood, President, stated the President and the Three-Year Compensation Plan are supported; there is concern regarding professional development; and suggested that the College solicit donations in the area of High Technology, enabling the College to alleviate that cost and use the money to meet other College needs.

[Lillian Davis left the meeting at 6:00 p.m.]

Adjunct Faculty Association - John Herndon, President, stated that it appears that the College is truly interested in bringing all employees to a market-level comparative and the plan is moving in the right direction. He spoke regarding compliance with SACS Criterion 4.8.3 and asked for parity with the full-time colleagues. He distributed and discussed FY 2000 budget proposals: (1) Proposal for achieving parity pay in five years; (2) Proposal for increasing operations budget for Adjunct Faculty Association; and (3) Proposal for parity pay for adjunct faculty members working on committees and Task Forces.

Recess
The May 21-22, 1999, Special Meeting/Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees recessed on May 21, 1999, at 6:15 p.m. for dinner.

[Della May Moore left the meeting at 6:15 p.m.]
[Allen Kaplan left the meeting at 7:10 p.m.]

Reconvene
The May 21-22, 1999, Special Meeting/Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees reconvened in public session at 7:10 p.m. on Friday, May 21, 1999, pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.

Full-Time Faculty Senate - Dolores Segura, President, stated that it appeared that two of the three elements requested by the Senate have been met:

Request to reach market average in two years - She said Dr Fonte has proposed that market value will be achieved in three years and she is optimistic that the Senate will support a three-year plan if the end goal is to be at or above market average.
The Board's commitment to set aside monies for salaries just as monies are set aside for facilities and technology - She said Dr. Fonte's proposed resolution, and the Board's favorable response to it at the last Board meeting, demonstrate commitment to human resources as well as to facilities and technology.
The Senate's request for 5.34 percent over each of the next three years to get everyone up to or above market average - She said Dr. Fonte's proposal for next years is only 4 percent and suggested that a mere $300,000 more would achieve the Senate's goal for next year.

She advised that John Cise and the Salary Committee would review the pay scale and the survey material prior to the next meeting.

Staff responded to questions from Board members regarding the information presented by the employee associations and discussed positions in the Marketing and Public Information Department; expectation of high level of performance/importance of evaluation structure at the College; and the need for a process to be put in place to enable staff to know on what they are being evaluated.

III. Multi-Year Financial Planning
Dr. Fonte called attention to the materials provided regarding multi-year financial planning and Dr. Cha Guzman, Executive Vice President for Administration, Institutional Advancement, and Community Relations, explained that the Citizens' Advisory Committee reviewed the College's Strategic Plan and resource requirements for each item were developed. All items were included within three broad categories: Program Expansion and Improvement; Student Access and Retention; and Technology and Infrastructure. She called attention to the unmet needs and stated the Citizens' Advisory Committee was very concerned about the under-representation of minorities in the student population and staff. The Committee inquired regarding how the College could diversify and met the needs. Dr. Guzman said benchmarks used by other colleges are being developed. Board members and participants discussed unmet needs and appropriate phase-in years.

Dr. Gerry Tucker distributed information regarding employees hired by the College since September 8, 1997, in the area of workforce education.

Recess
The May 21-22, 1999, Special Meeting/Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees recessed on May 21, 1999, at 8:17 p.m. until Saturday, May 22, 1999, 8:30 a.m.

Reconvene
The May 21-22, 1999, Special Meeting/Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees reconvened in public session at 8:50 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, 1999, in Room 2100 of the Austin Community College Eastview Campus pursuant to Texas Government Code 551. The following Board members were in attendance: Beverly Watts Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer; Allen Kaplan, Vice Chair; Hunter Ellinger, Secretary; Lillian Davis; Della May Moore; Carol Nasworthy; Rafael Quintanilla; and Beverly Silas. Trustee John Worley was absent. Other participants included: Richard W. Fonte; Cha Guzman; Lee Hisle; Steve Kinslow; Jerry Miller; Myra McDaniel, College Legal Counsel; Howard Falkenberg, Staats Falkenberg Partners, Inc.; and Jorge Rodriguez, Coastal Securities.

IV. Strategic Plan Financing
Jorge Rodriguez, Coastal Securities, provided information and responded to questions from Board members regarding Consideration for an Election Authorizing Increases in Maintenance and Operation Tax Rate for Austin Community College. He discussed: Additional Funding Goals; Financial Alternatives for Addressing Operations and Infrastructural Funding; Tax Rate Election; Each 1 Cent Ad Valorem Tax Generates Approximately $3 Million; General Obligation Bond Election Issue; Tuition/Fee Increases; Existing ACC Debt Structure; Current ACC 1998 Pledged Revenue Analysis; Asset Reallocation; Potential Issues with Additional Operations and Maintenance Tax; Potential ACC Pledged Revenue Analysis; and Asset Reallocation.

Myra McDaniel, Bickerstaff, Heath, Smiley, Pollan, Kever & McDaniel, L.L.P, and College Legal Counsel, discussed: Time Line for an Election Authorizing Increases in Maintenance and Operation Tax Rate for the Austin Community College; Time Line for an Election Authorizing Increases in Maintenance and Operation Tax Rate for the Austin Community College; Uniform Election Date Issues; Proposed Legislative Election Changes; What Type of Election Does ACC Need to Call; Decision on Election Rests with Need; Effect of Calling Both Elections: Bond Election and Maintenance Tax Rate Election; Election Efforts and Conclusions. She responded to questions from Board members. Trustees discussed Senate Bill 36; a possible timeline/election date; and possible composition of a leadership campaign committee.

[Allen Kaplan left the meeting at 10:40 a.m.}

Howard Falkenberg, Staats Falkenberg Partners, Inc., presented information and responded to questions from Board members regarding: Communication Goal; Objectives, Strategies, and Critical Choices.

Board members and participants expressed appreciation to Mr. Rodriguez, Ms. McDaniel, and Mr. Falkenberg for the information presented.

V. Board Self-Evaluation
Board members discussed areas of concern, including the need for widely-shared information and the ways in which Trustees can most effectively ensure that Board-mandated goals are addressed.

Dr. Fonte suggested that the Board may want to schedule a retreat for late August or early September to discuss policy governance, servant leadership, and other topics.

Adjournment
The Special Meeting/Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, 1999.

Approved By
Hunter Ellinger, Secretary