SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
August 21, 2008
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Special
Meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at the System Administration Building, 3100
Main, 2nd Floor, Seminar Room A, Houston, Texas.
Board of Trustees Present:
Yolanda Navarro-Flores, Chairwoman
Bruce A. Austin, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Mills Worsham, Deputy Secretary
Abel Davila
Christopher Oliver
Neeta Sane
Richard M. Schechter
Dr. Michael P. Williams
Administration Present:
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor for Instruction
Dan Seymour, Interim Vice Chancellor, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Cheryl Sterling, Interim Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford-Fisher, President, Northeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College/Interim President, Coleman College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Irene Porcarello, Interim President, Southeast College
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Others Present:
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Gene Locke, Counsel, Andrews Kurth
Brad Deutser, Consultant, Yaffee|Deutser
Catherine Campbell, Consultant, Yaffee|Deutser
Mary Page, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
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Special Meeting – August 21, 2008 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Flores, Chairwoman, called the meeting to order at 3:43 p.m. and declared the
Board convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College
System as listed on the duly posted meeting notice.
RESOLUTION PUBLISHING AND ADOPTING A REVISED SERVICE PLAN FOR
ALL OF THE TERRITORY WITHIN THE ALIEF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT AFTER PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS RELATED THERETO
Mrs. Flores announced that comments will also be accepted on the service plan.
(Dr. Williams stepped out at 3:45 p.m.)
Dr. Spangler provided an overview of the service plan centers for Alief. She
apprised that the plan centers on the college’s vision of being relevant, providing
opportunity, and demonstrating that the college is essential to the community. She
noted that reference made to the resources expended in the Alief community. She
noted that the Board commits its best effort to using the entire hundred percent
(100%) of the tax dollars from the effort to support education in Alief. Dr. Spangler
apprised that the plan also include benefits to the community such as reducing
tuition for residents by fifty percent, returning $5.10 for every dollar of taxes,
completing the Alief Campus on Hayes Road, working with Alief ISD to address the
community’s request to develop an Early High School College; working to expand
the career/technical vocational pathways, expanding dual credit academic offerings,
traditional library, expanding electronic resources for business, and working with
community partners to provide access to childcare services.
(Dr. Williams returned at 3:46 p.m.)
Dr. Spangler apprised that it has been indicated in the plan that plans for the Early
College, Career/Technical, and Dual Credit programs will be proposed to the HCC
Board working with the Alief ISD by December 2009. She noted that the tax rate
and tuition are also included in the plan as required by law. She noted that there are
no proposed plans for increase in taxes after annexation. She noted that it included
a listing of the partners in the community and the college’s relations with them.
Mrs. Flores asked if there was any one present who would like to speak on the
service plan.
Mrs. Sarah Lee Winkler, President, Alief ISD Board
Ms. Winkler expressed appreciation to the Chancellor, Mrs. Flores, Mr. Schechter
and Mrs. Sane for their efforts to come out to speak with Alief. She announced that
there were focus groups after the last proposed annexation who met several times to
determine some of the issues to address. She noted that one of the things
mentioned was a community meeting location. Ms. Winkler mentioned that there
has been a change in law for public schools and apprised that as new programs are
planned it should be noted that there may be a different audience.
Ms. Winkler noted that she is aware of the requirements for publishing of the service
plan; however, she expressed concerns that the only place it was published is on the
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Special Meeting – August 21, 2008 – Page 3
website and noted that she wants to make certain that the residents in Alief are
aware of what they are voting for. She also expressed concerns regarding the
Board representation in Alief and requested that the Board ask legislature to
increase HCC Board to eleven in order to keep the Alief area together.
Ms. Winkler thanked the Annexation Committee for changing the language in the
plan to not commit Alief in advance.
Ms. Winkler extended an invitation to the Board to attend the Reach Out to Dropouts
Campaign scheduled for September 6, 2008 at 8:15 a.m., Hastings High School
North Cafeteria.
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved to adopt the resolution publishing and adopting the
revised service plan for all of the territory within the Alief Independent School District
after public hearings and matters related thereto. Mr. Worsham seconded the
motion.
Dr. Williams asked if the wordsmith issue has been resolved.
(Mr. Davila arrived at 3:56 p.m.)
Mrs. Flores mentioned that the issue was resolved during the oral summation
provided by the Chancellor.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 9-0.
RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ORDER CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE
HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SUBMITTING TO QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE TERRITORY WITHIN THE
ALIEF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT A PROPOSITION FOR OR AGAINST
THE ANNEXATION OF THE TERRITORY WITHIN THE ALIEF INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT INTO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM;
AND MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT
Motion – Dr. Williams motioned and Mr. Oliver seconded.
Mr. Austin asked for clarification as to rather the college legal name is “district” or
“system” and asked if the term needs to be amended. Mr. Locke stated that it
should be revised.
Motion - Mr. Austin moved to amend the resolution language to reflect District
instead of System. Dr. Williams seconded. The motion passed 9-0.
Mr. Schechter inquired if the caption presented will be the same caption on the
ballot. Mr. Locke apprised that that language in the resolution is what will be on the
ballot.
Vote on Resolution – The motion passed with a vote of 9-0.
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Special Meeting – August 21, 2008 – Page 4
Mrs. Flores recessed the meeting at 4:02 p.m.; the meeting reconvened at 4:25 p.m.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Davila, Flores, Guzman, Schechter, Sane, Worsham,
and Dr. Williams)
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mrs. Flores adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 4:26 p.m., notice having
previously been given and reiterated in accordance with Sections 551.071, 551.072,
and/or 551.074 of the Open Meetings Law. Mrs. Flores stated that any final action,
vote or decision on any item discussed in Executive Session would be taken up in
Open Session or in a subsequent Public Meeting.
Mrs. Flores reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 5:20 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Guzman, Oliver, Sane, Schechter, Williams and
Worsham)
Motion – Mr. Austin moved to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate a contract
regarding the Lyerly Avenue property to pursuant to the terms discussed in
Executive Session and any other related actions. This action will constitute final
approval by the Board. Dr. Williams seconded. The motion passed 8-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 5:21
p.m.
Minutes recorded and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
October 23, 2008