THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:

The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

FROM:

David Johnson

COMMITTEE:

Full Board

TITLE OF ITEM:

Summary of the May 2003 Meeting

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

May 30, 2003

PROPOSED HANDLING:

Approval

RATIONALE FOR ITEM:

Approval for Public Distribution of the Summary of the Monthly Meeting

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goal #4

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

            Attached for approval is the Summary of the May 2003 Meeting of the Board of Regents.

            Your review should focus on the summaries of discussions in Full Board. Motions adopted in Full Board were already approved as presented.

            It is recommended that the Regents take the following action:

            VOTED, that the Summary of the May 2003 Meeting of the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York be approved.

 

 

 

 






SUMMARY OF THE MAY MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK





Held in Bronx County, New York
 


May 21 and 22, 2003



David Johnson, Secretary
Board of Regents

THE BOARD OF REGENTS

 

 

            The Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York held its public session on Thursday, May 22, 1:00 p.m., pursuant to a call duly sent to each Regent.

MEETING OF THE FULL BOARD, Thursday, May 22

Board Members in Attendance:

Robert M. Bennett, Chancellor
Adelaide L. Sanford, Vice Chancellor
Diane McGivern
Saul B. Cohen
James C. Dawson
Anthony S. Bottar
Merryl H. Tisch
Geraldine D. Chapey
Harry Phillips, 3rd
Joseph E. Bowman, Jr.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
James R. Tallon, Jr.
Milton L. Cofield

            Also present were the President of The University and Commissioner of Education, Richard P. Mills, the Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs, Kathy A. Ahearn, and the Secretary, Board of Regents, David Johnson. Regents Robert M. Johnson, Arnold B. Gardner and Judith O. Rubin were absent and excused.

            Chancellor Bennett called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

ACTION ITEMS

State Education Department April 2003 Fiscal Report

BR (A) 1

 

            The Board received for review and action the April 2003 Fiscal Report.  The spending projections in this report reflect the General Fund cuts recommended in the Executive Budget, to be adjusted with the enacted 2003-2004 budget.

 

            General Fund accounts are in structural balance, allowing for reconciliation of negative personal service balances after the year-end.  All revenue accounts are in balance, allowing for normal reimbursement delays and the planned use of prior year balances.  Federal accounts are in structural balance.

 

 

            MOVED, that the Board of Regents accept the April 2003 State Education Department Fiscal Report as presented.

 

            Motion by:                Regent Milton L. Cofield

            Seconded by:         Regent Saul B. Cohen

            Action:                      Motion carried unanimously

 

Summary of the April 2003 Meeting

BR (A) 2

 

 

            MOVED, that the Summary of the April 2003 Meeting of the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York be approved.

 

            Motion by:                Regent Geraldine D. Chapey

            Seconded by:         Regent Saul B. Cohen

            Action:                      Motion carried unanimously

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Commissioner's Report to the Board of Regents

 

            The Commissioner's written report focused on five subject areas:  closing the gaps in student achievement; Bronx Educational Alliance; medical practitioners - child health and student results; school visits; and, progress report on assessment of critical operations.

 

New York State Association of School Nurses Presentation

 

            Donna Cashin, Past President of the Association, informed the Board of a service project initiated by the Association.  Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, it was agreed by the membership that school nurses in New York City and adjoining counties were going to face the enormous challenge of caring for students and staff affected by the tragedy.  It was decided that through member donations, to be matched by the Association, appropriate books would be purchased for school nurses to help students, especially young students, with their grief and loss.  Having begun the distribution of these books, and continuing to receive donations and therefore purchasing more books, the Association is now presenting the books to the Board of Regents for donation to the NYC Department of Education for distribution to school nurses citywide.

 

Statewide Test Results

 

            The Board received an overview of the recently released results of the elementary and middle school English tests.  Student achievement in elementary English has improved statewide every year since the test began in 1999, narrowing the achievement gap for high need districts and for minority students.  In the middle schools, after four years student achievement has not shown any improvement statewide.

 

Board Activities and Visitations

 

            The Board convened its monthly meeting with a hosted luncheon at Lincoln Hospital, followed by a meeting with medical practitioners regarding child health and student results.  In the afternoon, Board members met at Bronx Community College with more than 40 representatives of the Bronx Educational Alliance, joining them in small group discussions that focused on strengthening student achievement in the Bronx.

 

            On the morning of May 22, Board members visited four pairs of schools in the Bronx:  Health Opportunities School and Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice; PS179/PS220, CSD 7 and PS154, CSD 7; PS159, CSD 10 and MS143, CSD 10; and, PS160, CSD 11 and PS111, CSD 11.

 

            The monthly meeting concluded with a luncheon and meeting of the Full Board hosted by Herbert H. Lehman College.