MINUTES
Board of
Trustees Special Meeting with Legislative Delegation
November 20,
2000
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 Monday, November 20, 2000, at
4:10 p.m. in Building 3000, Room 3154-3156 of the Eastview Campus of Austin
Community College located at 3401 Webberville Road, Austin, Texas 78702, with
the following members present: Lillian Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer; John
Worley, Board Secretary; Allen Kaplan [arrived at 5:00 p.m.]; Barbara Mink; and
Rafael Quintanilla. Trustees Beverly
Watts Davis, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, and Beverly Silas were absent. Also in attendance were: Richard Fonte, College President; Steve
Kinslow, Executive Vice President; Linda Young, Special Assistant; Rey Garcia,
Executive Director of the Texas Association of Community Colleges; State
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, State Representative Elliott Nashitat; State
Representative Dawnna Dukes; Eddie Rodriguez of State Representative Glen
Maxey's Office; Rodney Airheart from State Representative Dawnna Dukes' Office;
and Shelton Green from State Representative Terry Keel's Office.
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.
Key Education
Issues for Upcoming Legislation
Legislators
and legislative staff presented information regarding the key issues which are
proposed for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature.
Presentation
of Texas Association of Community Colleges' Legislative Priorities
Dr.
Rey Garcia, Executive Director, Texas Association of Community Colleges,
discussed the following legislative priorities to help community and technical
colleges provide higher education access and service to more Texans: (1) Formula Funding; (2) Workforce
Development; (3) K-16 Partnerships; (4) Employee Benefits.
Presentation
of Austin Community College's Priorities
Dr.
Fonte provided information on the following ACC-Specific Legislative Priorities
for the Seventy-Seventh Session of the Texas Legislature: (1) TPEG Legislative Change to provide
community and junior colleges the latitude to set aside a higher percentage of
funds, more in line with the allowable percentages for four-year institutions;
(2) State Financial Need for the Most Needy targets increased funds for
financial aid for those students who most need financial support to attend
college; (3) Expansion of Adult Education funding for those on TANF to request
that legislative set-asides from existing TANF funding be increased for Adult
Education programs; (4) Tuition Waivers for recent high school or GED TANF recipients
to extend the length of time allowed for TANF eligible high school or GED
completers to receive tuition waivers; (5) Tuition flexibility to offer
discounted or reduced tuition, with community college boards of trustees
allowed broader powers for determining; (6) In-District tuition for students in
specialized technical programs from higher education institutions in Mexico to
attend certain ACC programs (such as Semiconductor Manufacturing) where the
college has agreements with those partner institutions; (7) Community college
boards could convert to single-member districts without requiring the entire
board to run (to allow single-member district elections in which board members
can serve out unexpired terms before running for re-election); (8) Williamson
County higher education facility in which Southwest Texas State University is
the lead university for the Multi-Institution Teaching Center serving North
Austin and Williamson County and ACC would be, along with other MITC partners,
co-located at the facility; and (9) Health insurance under Teacher Retirement
System for adjunct faculty.
Austin
Community College Update
Dr.
Fonte called attention to information included in the agenda which provided
updated enrollment information for Austin Community College.
Discussion and
Questions
Trustees
and participants discussed the Austin Community College tax base; possibility
of partnering with local industry during any future tax referendum; and transportation,
criminal justice, etc., working together with education for additional funding
during the next legislative session.
Senator
Barrientos stated he would like to see a summarized budget and would like to
meet again before the 77th Session begins. Dr. Fonte stated information would be provided early in December.
Senator
Barrientos stated that Austin Community College has done very well considering
the challenges and that they were all very proud of the College.
Adjournment
Having
no motion before the Board, the November 20, 2000, special meeting of the
Austin Community College Board of Trustees with the legislative delegation was
adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Approved By
John
B. Worley, Secretary