MINUTES
Regular
Meeting – Board of Trustees
In accordance with the terms
and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of Texas Government
Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened
in public session on Tuesday, May 3, 2004, at 6:05 p.m. in the Board Room (201)
of the Highland Business Center of Austin Community College located at 5930
Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the
following members present: Rafael Quintanilla, Chair/Presiding Officer; Barbara
P. Mink, Board Vice Chair; Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary; Lillian Davis; John
Hernandez; Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:15 p.m.]; and
John Worley. Trustee Beverly Silas was
absent from the meeting. Trustee Beverly
Watts Davis resigned effective
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.
Recognitions
·
Mike Dellens, Math Instructor, and Stephanie Diina Dempsey, ACC Foundation, recognized student winners
of the national math competition sponsored by the Math Association of 2-Year
Colleges. Mr. Dellens
stated students compete in individual rounds in the Spring
and Fall of each year. Mr. Dellens expressed appreciation to the Austin Community
College Foundation, Holt Rinehart & Winston Publishing Company, and the
Math faculty for contributions to the awards.
Out of the 158 community colleges which participated in the competition,
the Math students from
·
Misoran Chang from
·
Joon Chung from
·
Hoon Park of South Korea was the third highest scoring
student at ACC in Spring 2004
·
Charles Medford of Austin was fifth in the Nation overall, out of
approximately 6,000 students competing; first in the Region; and received a check
from the Texas affiliate of the national association for finishing first last
year.
Awards were presented to the
students by Board Chair Rafael Quintanilla.
Trustees extended congratulations and expressed appreciation for the
excellent representation of
·
Gail Miller, Executive Director, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas,
provided information regarding the Literacy Coalition concerning scholarships,
an available hotline, networking luncheons, a provider directory, and
website. She expressed appreciation to
the Board of Trustees for continuing support and introduced Rhetta
Kelley, Chair, of the Literacy Coalition Board.
Ms. Kelley expressed appreciation to Dr. Mary Hensley, ACC Associate
Vice President, and Mary Harris, Executive Director of Adult Education at ACC
for participation in activities of the Coalition. Ms. Kelley expressed appreciation to the
Board of Trustees and ACC and presented a plaque created by Ben Sargent. Mr.
Quintanilla expressed appreciation for the plaque and the recognition.
[Trustee Nan McRaven arrived.]
Citizens
Communication
·
Mark Goodrich, President of ACC/AFT, spoke regarding the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) findings and provided suggestions.
·
James Yawz, student, spoke regarding the ACC
upholstery program and classes.
·
Mary Porter, student, spoke regarding the ACC upholstery program and
classes.
·
John Cise, ACC faculty, spoke regarding compensation.
·
Judith Riney, student, spoke regarding the
ACC upholstery program and classes.
·
Noreen Hardwick, student, spoke regarding the ACC upholstery program
and classes.
·
Betty Edgemond,
Reports from
Associations
·
Adjunct Faculty Association – Don Becker, President, spoke regarding
employee target compensation, health benefits, proposed the new position of
Lecturer, and Senate Bill 1370 funding for health benefits.
·
Classified Employees Association – Judy Green, President, spoke
regarding a joint forum for candidates for the ACC Board of Trustees; requested
additional positions for the new campuses; compensation; and proposed changing
the market value funding of positions from 95 percent to 100 percent.
·
Full-Time Faculty Senate – Daniel Traverso,
President, distributed information and stated that the Faculty Senate voted on
·
Professional-Technical Employees Association – John Kennie,
President, spoke regarding compensation; master planning; staffing; and invited
participation in the Association’s May 7 meeting at Highland Business Center.
·
Student Government Association – Scott Stewart, President,
advised that this was his last meeting as President and spoke regarding a
recent Retreat; Campus Student Activities; Board activities of ACC Student
Life; Association’s upcoming elections; and the May 7 “Passing of the Gavel”
program and dinner. Trustee Allen Kaplan
recognized Scott for his many accomplishments as Association President and the
exemplary assistance he provided to the College, students, and community.
Reports to the
Board
·
Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Bill Carter, Associate
Vice President for Informational Technology, distributed the Kudos Report and
called attention to recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs,
staff, students, and
·
Financial Report – March 2004 – Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business
Services, called attention to the March 2004 financial report noting that the
College will have a positive balance of revenues versus expenditures for the
current fiscal year and will meet the expectations of the Minimum Reserves
Level policy (G-6) or the corrective action plan requirements. Mr. Ferrell stated enrollments remain below
expectations for the year.
CONSENT AGENDA
Agenda Item
7911
Minutes of
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve
the minutes as presented.
Agenda Item
7912
Proposed
Revisions to Board Policy G-1, College Budget
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
proposed Revisions to Board Policy G-1, College Budget.
The President shall, prior to the end of June each year, develop and submit to the Board and for public review a proposed annual budget that:
[1] Demonstrates compliance with all existing budget-related policy provisions and with debt obligations.
[2] Describes all expected fiscal activity of
the District in an integrated form consistent with generally accepted
accounting practices, showing what values are predicted for the main financial
statements for the budget year based on the proposed budget targets and the
most recent estimates for current-year performance.
[3].Provides adequate support for the
educational programs of the College, based on
efficient operation of both direct and support services.
[4] Distributes resources primarily on objective
criteria based on student enrollment and program needs, and provides a
justification or plan for correction of any substantial disparities in the
resources supplied to serve students in similar programs at different campuses.
[5] Budgets revenues and expenses for each
category listed in the budget summary based on actual expected performance,
with comparisons to both budget and current estimates for the previous
year. When there is substantial
uncertainty about performance in an area, the associated budget project should
be moderately conservative; in such cases, the administration should describe
its targets for the area and the budget effects of the range of plausible
outcomes.
[6] Budgets total revenue from recurring sources
at least equal to total budgeted expense, including appropriate
capital-asset depreciation. Nonrecurring
expenses may be budgeted to be funded from prior-year surpluses to the extent
that the ratio of net assets to total expenses exceeds the standard declared in
the current master plan (or the prior five-year average if no standard has been
declared).
[7] Budgets appropriate capital-equipment
purchases and facilities development for the year, consistent with a
multi-year master plan developed in compliance with policy E-1 on Master
Planning, in amounts at least equal to projected depreciation.
[8] Provides a recent history and (to the extent
feasible) a three-year plan for tuition/fee levels, enrollment, overall
revenues and expenses, principal and interest payments, capital-asset
expenditures, net-asset levels, and minimum unrestricted-cash levels, with a
description of planning assumptions and significant changes.
When
deemed appropriate by the administration, capital items in an annual budget may
be purchased during the period after budget approval but prior to the start of
the fiscal year.
The
President shall inform the Board whenever the actual performance of the College
differs significantly from the approved budget, and shall propose corrective
budget amendments if projected performance differs from the budget target for
increase in net assets by more than ˝% of total revenues.
The
President shall provide the Board a monthly financial report detailing
year-to-date expenditures and revenues against the budget and a monthly revised
fiscal-year projection of revenues, expenses, capital transactions, and cash
levels. The external auditor shall
annually review the availability of timely data under the reporting system and
make any recommendations to the President and Board of any improvement in the
monthly reporting system that may be necessary.
The format of monthly statements shall include reports that match that
of the annual budget and the audited annual statement to the extent feasible.
Agenda Item
7913
Proposed
Revisions to Board Policy G-6, Cash Reserves (Minimum Reserve Levels)
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
proposed revisions to Board Policy G-6, Cash Reserves (Minimum Reserve
Levels).
Agenda Item
7914
Proposed
Deletion of Board Policies G-4, Facilities Improvement and Maintenance, and
G-5, Capital Equipment Projects
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
proposed deletion of Board Policies G-4, Facilities Improvement and
Maintenance, and G-5, Capital Equipment Projects.
Each annual budget shall make transfers to Plant
Funds sufficient to meet all bond debt payments, maintain the debt payment
reserve levels required by the bond agreements, and meet the year's installment
of the current multi-year master plan for facilities improvements and
maintenance. The building fee charged by
the college per credit hour shall be budgeted at the level which, together with
any other funding sources dedicated to these uses, is sufficient to generate
the needed funds.
Each annual budget shall transfer not
less than 4% or more than 6% of projected annual revenues to a fund from which
Education and General Fund capital expenditures are made. The full amount budgeted each year shall be
based on the projected multi-year average budget for capital expenditures. In those years in which the increase in
annual revenue for the Education and General fund is projected to be below 4%,
the annual transfer may be less than 4%.
Agenda Item
7915
Proposed New
Policy, Capitalization and Depreciation
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
proposed new Board Policy, Capitalization and Depreciation.
Capitalization and depreciation practices shall comply with generally accepted accounting practices, and shall provide information about the useful lives of physical assets for use in financial planning. Appropriate bond financing shall be used to approximately match depreciation to reinvestment.
All assets with useful lives of more than one year and cost more than $500 shall be capitalized. Assets shall be depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Facilities shall be depreciated based on industry-recognized major categories of building components, rather than by the facility as a whole.
Agenda Item
7916
Proposed
Approval of
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees authorize
staff to hire an architectural/engineering firm to conduct an analysis of
redevelopment options for the Rio Grande Campus. The cost of the study will not exceed
$75,000. Funding for the project is
included in the 2003 General Obligation Bonds.
Agenda Item
7917
Proposed
Approval of
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve
a contract with Bartlett Cocke, LLP, in the amount of
$131,700 for construction of code-required and safety upgrades for the Austin
Community College Service Center.
Funding for the Service Center Safety Upgrades is to be provided from
the remaining Revenue Bonds.
Trustees
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda
items 7911 - Minutes of March 22, 2004, Board Work Session; March 24, 2004,
Special Meeting; March 25, 2004, Special Meeting; April 6, 2004, Regular
Meeting; and April 19, 2004 Board Work Session; 7912 – Proposed Revisions to
Board Policy G-1, College Budget; 7914 – Proposed Deletion of Board Policies
G-4, Facilities Improvement and Maintenance, and G-5, Capital Equipment
Projects; 7915 – Proposed New Board Policy, Capitalization and Depreciation;
7916 – Proposed Approval of Rio Grande Campus Redevelopment Analysis; and 7917
– Proposed Approval of ACC Service Center Upgrades as presented.
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR: Lillian
Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSTAINING: Mr. Kaplan abstained from the vote on Agenda
Item 7917 -Proposed Approval of
ABSENT:
Trustee Beverly Silas
Agenda Item
7913
Proposed
Revisions to Board Policy G-6, Cash Reserves (Minimum Reserve Levels)
Trustee John Worley inquired regarding the proposed deletion of the second paragraph of the current policy. Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services and liaison to the Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget, provided information.
Trustees John Worley moved and Allen Kaplan
seconded that:
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR:
Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSENT: Trustee Beverly Silas
Items for
Discussion/Possible Action
Agenda Item
7918
Matters
Related to Conduct of
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Linda Young provided information regarding
the proposed amendments to the Order setting the polling places and election
officials for the
Allen
Kaplan moved and
MOTION: That the Board of Trustees approve the
proposed amendments to the Order setting the polling places and election
officials for the
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR:
Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSENT: Trustee Beverly Silas.
Ms.
Young called attention to subsequent information provided by
Allen
Kaplan moved and John Worley seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees authorize
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR:
Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSENT: Trustee Beverly Silas.
Agenda Item
7919
FY2005
Full-Time Faculty Positions
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Dr. Steve Kinslow
provided information concerning the Administration’s request to hire additional
full-time faculty to ensure that Fall 2004 sections
remain as planned. The additional
full-time faculty would help ensure that ACC would not reduce the number of
sections offered and it would also respond to a long-standing SACS suggestion
that ACC should increase full-time faculty and decrease reliance on adjunct
faculty.
Allen
Kaplan moved and
MOTION: The Board of Trustees authorize
the Administration to begin the hiring process for full-time faculty, including
26 additional positions, for Fiscal Year 2005.
Trustees discussed the SACS credentials issue,
advertising process, class sections, and diversity opportunities.
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR:
Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSENT: Trustee Beverly Silas.
The agenda was re-ordered.
Agenda Item
7921
Consideration
and Action Approving a Resolution Authorizing the Appointment of Underwriters
and the Approval and Use of the Preliminary Official Statement in Connection
with the Issuance of $24,000,000 Austin Community College District Limited Tax
Bonds, Series 2004
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell introduced Jorge Rodriguez of
Coastal Securities and College Financial Adviser. Mr. Rodriguez presented information regarding
a handout on Limited Tax Bonds Series 2004 and spoke regarding interest rates,
bond index, and cost of funds. He stated
the recommended syndicate was JPMorgan as Senior
Manager; Estrada Hinojosa, Co-Senior Manager; and RBC Dain
Rauscher, as Co-Manager. Mr. Rodriguez provided a financing timeline
including:
·
May 3 – Board Action:
Appointment of Underwriters, Approval of Reimbursement Resolution, and
Approval of Financing and Preliminary Official Statement
·
May 9 – Del Valle Election
·
May 20 – Send documents to rating agencies and insurance companies
·
June 1 – Ratings and insurance bids due
·
June 3 – Pricing
·
June 7 – Board Action: Execution
of Bond Purchase Agreement; Approval of Bond Resolution
·
June 30 – Closing and Delivery of Funds
Mr. Rodriguez expressed the need for early discussion and Board action due to recent movements in interest rates and responded to questions from Trustees.
Allen Kaplan moved and
MOTION:
The Board of Trustees approve the Resolution Authorizing the Appointment
of Underwriters and the Approval and Use of the Preliminary Official Statement
in Connection with the Issuance of $24,000,000 Austin Community College
District Limited Tax Bonds, Series 2004, as presented.
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR:
Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSENT: Trustee Beverly Silas.
Agenda Item
7920
Presidential
Contract
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and stated this would be discussed in Executive
Session.
The Austin Community College
Board of Trustees recessed into Executive Session at
The Austin Community College
Board of Trustees reconvened in Public Session at
Agenda Item
7920
Presidential
Contract
MOTION: That the Board Chair continue
negotiations on the Presidential Contract along the parameters as discussed in
Executive Session.
VOTE: The
Motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR:
Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST:
None.
ABSENT: Trustee Beverly Silas.
[Trustee Nan McRaven
left the meeting.]
NEW BUSINESS:
Agenda Item
7922
Master Plan –
Annual Update
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Dr. Kinslow
stated the item was an overview of the process and additional information would
be presented at the June meeting. He
called attention to changes in the process and expressed appreciation to Ron Brey for the leadership role in the Master Planning
Process; Andrew Christie and Bill Carter and staff for programming activities;
Richard Smith and Elizabeth Fararr in Instructional
Resources Technology for assistance.
Ron Brey, Associate Vice
President for Instructional Resources and Technology, presented an ACC Master
Plan overview; guiding principles, strategic priorities and key objectives;
Master Plan initiatives/objectives/measurable outcomes/web site/on-line data,
initiative level; shared governance cluster groups; FY05 initiative funding;
funds requested; positions requested; Institutional Planning Committee
prioritization of 486 initiative objectives recommended; South Austin Campus;
impact on facilities; criteria to prioritize initiatives; initiative
objectives; and criteria for all initiative objectives.
Ben Ferrell provided information regarding funding
implications for the Master Plan. Mr.
Ferrell and Mr. Brey responded to questions from
Trustees
Agenda Item
7923
Review of
Fiscal Year 2005 Projected Expenses
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell. He called attention to the format and stated the College’s 2005
budget would be presented in that format, including revenues and
expenditures. Mr. Ferrell responded to
questions from Trustees.
Announcements
·
Vice Chair Barbara Mink stated that a reception would be held on May 17
to honor Trustee Beverly Silas who was not seeking re-election.
·
Dr. Mink provided Trustees with the self-assessment document.
·
Dr. Mink expressed appreciation for the recent College art festival and
the incredible professionalism within the arts community at
·
Trustee John Hernandez reminded Trustees of the Del Valle election on
May 15.
Meeting Review
Trustees commented regarding
the meeting:
What we did well: very good meeting,
appreciated report on Master Plan, it is good to see the pieces pulling
together, did very well and actually took some actions; very good meeting, I
think how we started with students getting the Math awards and how well they
are doing competing against other institutions speaks well of the institution,
we should keep that in mind that it is how are our students doing, that’s what
we should keep track of; liked the way we stayed on the macro perspective on
revising the policies, looking through financing of bonds; particularly like
the report on the Master plan, it didn’t just repeat what was in our agenda
materials, it told us something new and helped us understand what was in the
materials; good meeting; good meeting, was well planned and we worked through
our topics sufficiently.
What we can do better: at the
beginning of the meeting we need to remind the speakers of the three-minute and
five-minute and remind them of what the red light means.
Adjournment
Having no motion before the Board, the
May 3, 2004, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees
was adjourned at
Approved By
Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary