ACTION ITEMS
SUMMARY OF THE APRIL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS
OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Held on Long Island, New York
April 23 and 24, 2007
David Johnson, Secretary
Board of Regents
THE BOARD OF REGENTS
The Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York held a public session on Tuesday, April 24, at 12:30 p.m. pursuant to a call duly sent to each Regent.
MEETING OF THE FULL BOARD, Tuesday, April 24, 12:30 p.m.
Board Members in Attendance:
Robert M. Bennett, Chancellor
Merryl H. Tisch, Vice Chancellor
Saul B. Cohen
James C. Dawson
Geraldine D. Chapey
Arnold
B. Gardner
Harry Phillips, 3rd
James R. Tallon, Jr.
Milton
L. Cofield
Roger B. Tilles
Karen Brooks Hopkins
Natalie M. Gomez-Velez
Bendit, Charles R.
Also present were the President of The University and Commissioner of Education, Richard P. Mills, Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs, Kathy A. Ahearn, and the Secretary, Board of Regents, David Johnson. Regents Anthony S. Bottar and Joseph E. Bowman, Jr., were absent and excused.
Chancellor Bennett called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m.
Charter Applications
BR (A) 1
MOVED,
that the Regents approve each application in accordance with the recommendations contained in the respective Summaries.
Motion by: Regent Milton L. Cofield
Seconded by: Regent Roger B. Tilles
Action:
Motion carried unanimously
Summary of the March 2007 Meeting
BR (A) 2
MOVED,
that the Summary of the March 2007 Meeting of the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York be approved.
Motion by:
Regent
Milton L. Cofield
Seconded by: Regent James R. Tallon, Jr.
Action:
Motion carried unanimously
State Education Department March 2007 Fiscal Report
BR (A) 3
The Board received for review and acceptance the March 2007 Fiscal Report.
General fund and federal accounts are in structural balance.
Revenue accounts are in structural balance, allowing for normal reimbursement delays in the planned use of prior year balances. After expending prior year funds, the Archives Partnership Trust (APT) will use sufficient revenue from the APT endowment, pursuant to Chapter 399 of the Laws of 1998, to maintain structural balance.
MOVED, that the Board of Regents accept the March 2007 State Education Department Fiscal Report as presented.
Motion by: Regent Harry Phillips, 3rd
Seconded by: Regent Geraldine D. Chapey
Action: Motion carried unanimously
Charter School Revisions
BR (A) 4
MOVED, that the Board of Regents approve the revision to the initial charter of the Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy I Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and the provisional charter is amended accordingly.
MOVED,that the Board of Regents approve the revision to the initial charter of the Green Tech High Charter School as proposed by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, and the provisional charter is amended accordingly.
Motion by:
Regent Harry Phillips, 3rd
Seconded by: Regent Saul B. Cohen
Action: Motion carried unanimously
Charter Schools: Renewal Charter
BR (A) 5
In accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision two of New York State Education Law Section 2852, the Board of Regents reviews applications for the renewal of existing charger schools and may either (a) approve an application and issue a renewal charter for a term of up to five years, or (b) deny the application.
The Harriet Tubman Charter School is requesting a third renewal of its charter. Its current renewal charter, issued in December 2006, is short-term based upon concerns about student achievement, fiscal viability and Board governance. Based upon these concerns, the school was placed on probation on February 17, 2007 and will remain in that status until June 30, 2007.
Following a discussion of these issues, the Board modified the recommendation of staff and voted as follows:
MOVED, that the Board of Regents approve the renewal application of the Harriet Tubman Charter School, that a third renewal charter be issued, and that the provisional charter be extended for two years, ending June 30, 2009. Concurrently, Department staff will return to the June monthly meeting with a report on the probationary status of the school and a report on the overall performance of Edison Schools, Inc.
Motion by:
Regent Saul B. Cohen
Seconded by: Regent Geraldine D. Chapey
Action: Motion carried unanimously
Emergency Adoption of the Proposed Amendments to the Regulations of the Commissioner Relating to Contracts for Excellence
BR (A) 6
Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2007 authorizes the Commissioner of Education to establish allowable programs and activities, criteria for public reporting by school districts of their total Foundation Aid expenditures and other requirements for the preparation of contracts for excellence by certain specified school districts.
The Board received for review and emergency action proposed amendments to the Regulations of the Commissioner establishing the requirements for preparing contracts for excellence. Upon approval, there will be continuing Board review and comment and a 45-day public comment period.
The emergency amendments will become effective on April 27, 2007. A second emergency adoption will be necessary at the June Regents meeting to ensure that the amendments remain continuously in effect until the regulation can be submitted to the Board of Regents for confirmation as a permanent rule in July.
MOVED, that section 100.13 of the Regulations of the Commissioner be added and that paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of section 170.12 be amended as submitted, effective April 27, 2007, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to immediately establish criteria for the allowable programs and activities, criteria for public reporting by school districts of their total Foundation Aid expenditures and other requirements for purposes of preparing contracts for excellence so that affected school districts may timely prepare such contracts for the 2007-2008 school year pursuant to statutory requirements.
Motion by:
Regent Saul B. Cohen
Seconded by: Regent Milton L. Cofield
Action: Motion carried unanimously
Berkley College: Regents Authorization for the College to award the Bachelor
of Science (B.S.) Degree at its Westchester Campus and master plan
amendment authorizing that campus to offer a B.S. degree program
in Justice Studies-Criminal Justice
BR (CA) 1
MOVED,that the Board of Regents authorize Berkeley College to award the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree at its Westchester branch campus and approve a master plan amendment to authorize the College to offer a B.S. degree program in Justice Studies-Criminal Justice at that campus. This amendment will be effective until April 30, 2008, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.
Motion by: Regent Saul B. Cohen
Seconded by: Regent Milton L. Cofield
Action: Motion carried unanimously
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Commissioner’s Report to the Board
The Commissioner’s written monthly report focused on three subject areas: Roosevelt at the Tipping Point; Reforming the Federal Reform: No Child Left Behind; and Contract for Excellence: Defining the Rules.
Board Activities and Visitation
The Board convened its monthly meeting with a conversation on the reauthorization of NCLB with members of Congress, Carolyn McCarthy and Timothy Bishop and followed by a luncheon at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. In the afternoon, Board members visited schools in the Roosevelt UFSD in three groups: Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School; Washington Rose Elementary School; and Centennial Avenue Elementary School. Following these visits, the Board joined an audience at the Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School for a public forum on improving low-performing schools, including presentation by Amityville UFSD and Westbury UFSD and a reaction panel. The public was provided with an opportunity to comment in a 90 minute open-microphone session. In the evening the Board hosted invited guests from the leadership of education, business and community-based organizations, for student entertainment and dinner at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Long Island University – C.W. Post Campus. Mr. Matthew Crosson and Dr. Bruce Stillman presented remarks on the need for a quality education related to improving economic development and for global success in the areas of bioscience and technology.
On the morning of April 24, Board members visited three sets of schools: Wyandanch Memorial High School and Half Hollow Hills High School East, Dix Hills; South Side Middle School, Rockville Center and Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School, Hempstead; and Syosset High School and Westbury High School.
The meeting concluded with a luncheon and meeting of the Board at the Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center, Westbury.
Appendix I
NEW YORK
STATE BOARD OF REGENTS CHARTER ACTION
CULTURAL EDUCATION
PROVISIONAL CHARTERS
FRIENDS OF HARMONY HALL – JACOB SLOAT HOUSE
Sloatsburg
, Rockland County
The board of trustees has petitioned the Board of Regents to form a museum to advocate and plan for, in collaboration with the current owner, Town of Ramapo, and any future owner(s), the preservation and restoration of Harmony Hall – Jacob Sloat House, located in the Village of Sloatsburg, Town of Ramapo, County of Rockland, State of New York; to promote the interdependent relationship and community benefits of preservation and restoration; to promote the quality of life and downtown revitalization in the Village of Sloatsburg; to serve the needs, interests, and ideas of all residents and visitors; to make available space for individuals, and community and civic groups to conduct meetings, lectures, programs, classes, and similar activities; to organize events related to history, historic preservation art, literature, the environment, culture, music, and other appropriate subjects for the public; to collect, own, hold, maintain, preserve, and make available appropriate historical objects, artifacts, documents, photographs, furnishings, and decorations; to promote and support historical research and scholarship, and issue publications in any format; to arrange, create, maintain and promote appropriate historical exhibits and displays; to raise awareness and gain support for restoration and preservation for the site; to provide a facility for the Sloatsburg Historical Society and their collections, and to cooperate with the Society in projects and activities of mutual interest; and to keep the owner, Town of Ramapo, and any future owner(s), fully informed as to activities and plans. The Office of Cultural Education recommends that a provisional charter be granted for a period of five years.
MUSEUM
OF MAGIC
Brooklyn, Kings County
The board of trustees has petitioned the Board of Regents to form a museum to establish and maintain a magic museum relating to the art of magic from different periods and places; as well as things associated to the conjuring arts; to collect, own, hold, maintain, preserve, and make available appropriate magic objects and artifacts; to arrange, create, maintain and promote appropriate magic exhibits and displays; to establish and maintain a magic reference and research collection; and to promote and support magic research and scholarship, issue publications in any format, and organize historical and cultural activities, programs and events for the public. The Office of Cultural Education recommends that a provisional charter be granted for a period of five years.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
HISTORIC ELMIRA
Elmira
, Chemung County
The board of trustees has petitioned the Board of Regents to form a corporation to protect historic architecture, old neighborhoods and places of historical significance in the Elmira, New York area; to lead and assist individuals and corporations in preserving, adapting and revitalizing Elmira’s endangered landmarks; to advocate, support and promote public awareness of preservation efforts; to secure financial support for the aforementioned purposes. The corporation is not authorized to operate or maintain a library, museum or historical society, or to own or hold collections in connection therewith. The Office of Cultural Education recommends that a certificate of incorporation be issued.
A
PPLICATION FOR REGENTS CONSENT TO FILE A CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME
STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Staten Island, Richmond County
An absolute charter in the first instance was granted to this corporation by action of the Board of Regents on August 26, 1966 tomaintain a cultural and educational center devoted to the advancement of music, art, science, natural history, adult education, children’s programs, literature, concerts and exhibits.The board of trustees has requested that the Board of Regents consent to the filing of a certificate of assumed name pursuant to General Business Law §130to authorize the corporation to use the assumed name “Staten Island Museum.” The Office of Cultural Education recommends that the consent of the Board of Regents to the filing of such certificate of assumed name be granted.