(0:00 - 0:18)
OK, it is 6.03, and we have a quorum, and we'll call the meeting to order. Let us begin with the invocation and the pledge led tonight by Regent Susan Moore-Fontenot. Everybody stand.

(0:20 - 0:26)
Bow your heads. Father God, we come tonight. We're thankful and grateful for all of your many blessings.

(0:27 - 0:43)
We thank you, Lord, for this college, as we count a very important blessing. We thank you for the faculty, the staff, the administrators, the leaders. And most of all, we thank you for our precious students who are coming to empower their lives.

(0:43 - 0:55)
Lord, we ask that you give us guidance as we work tonight on the deliberations of the college. Keep us clear in our thinking. And Lord, we ask these and many blessings in your name.

(0:55 - 1:17)
Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag.

(1:17 - 1:38)
I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. OK, next up we have student spotlight. I'd like to invite Joe Ganakos and our amazing debaters.

(1:38 - 2:00)
Are they all coming up, too, or what's happening, Joe? I understood we were getting a five-minute presentation from each student on quantum, no, metaphysics. Absolutely. Really? Really? It's the Breaking Bad version? I threw an iPad, so you might get what you asked for.

(2:00 - 2:16)
Oh, gosh, I'm in trouble. Oh, no, it's not an iPad. Yes, thank you.

(2:19 - 2:29)
We do have paper copies of the slideshow for everyone, as requested. Yeah, because we ain't going to see it on these monitors. That we have permanent copies of their smiling faces? Yeah.

(2:33 - 2:37)
Thank you. See how far that gets you. Leave one for her.

(2:37 - 2:42)
She'll be here in a minute. She's got a lot of projects. Didn't you say she's coming? She's got a lot of time.

(2:42 - 2:53)
She's on the screen. Thank you. Thank you.

(2:53 - 3:00)
Thank you, sir. Thank you. Of your shirt, it looks awesome.

(3:00 - 3:21)
Thank you. So Board of Regents, Dr. Villanueva, and assembled guests, before you stands a lot of people who will be leaving Lee College, sadly, but under the best of possible circumstances. And it's always a bittersweet moment whenever we appear before you at the end of the season, because it's easy to celebrate the successes.

(3:21 - 3:37)
I think that you've hopefully not become immune to the fact that we're pretty good about bringing back as much positive mention of Lee College as we can. But losing students, especially some of these kids that I've worked with for four years, does hurt a little. I won't lie about that.

(3:38 - 3:52)
As a result, apparently I'm getting soft in my daughterage. Because if you look at the image that's up here and on the front page of it, you have the fun picture, which I never, ever, ever published, because I don't like any of them deep down. But I'm a curmudgeon, and now it's harder to maintain that.

(3:52 - 4:08)
So now that's their fun picture. They get to have that little bit of glory. Your support of the Lee College debate team over the past, well, quite frankly, 11 years, since its inception, since Dan Mendoza, obviously, had had a very successful program in the 1970s and 80s.

(4:08 - 4:37)
And then the field went fallow for a bit. And when we were able to bring it back with the support of this board, it's always been my number one goal that the students get as much out of it as they can, because they are proof positive of what the Lee College student can do when given the time, when given the support, and when being given, quite frankly, simply the belief that things are possible. And that rings true today with the students that we have now more than a decade later, with that ideal of the ideal student experience.

(4:37 - 4:50)
It's an idea, but it becomes manifest when you see what these students are capable of doing. In many cases, and the most senior member of the team at this point is Rebecca Curry, for example. Her sister, Rachel, has now joined the team.

(4:50 - 4:55)
So now we're seeing a generational aspect. But when Rebecca joined, it was during the pandemic. And everybody was wearing masks.

(4:55 - 5:03)
And we were separating by usually about 12 to 15 feet. We were stuck in John Brett Hall in separate rooms. And it was the least fun that any of these kids could ever imagine.

(5:03 - 5:15)
It was the least fun that I could imagine. We were coming off a season where at the very last second, and very unfortunately, Dr. Vinoeva had to make a horrible decision that she was kind of to come about. We had to cancel the nationals.

(5:15 - 5:21)
And luckily, nationals had to get canceled altogether. So we didn't really waste the money on a bus. But it instilled in the coaching staff.

(5:21 - 5:36)
It instilled in the volunteers. And it instilled, I think, in Dr. Vinoeva and all her folks that this is something that we could keep doing, even if it wasn't perfect. And what happened is that kids like Rebecca and Diego Moreno, who's unfortunately on a senior trip with his mother, Dr. Marissa Moreno, they stuck with it.

(5:37 - 5:45)
And they recruited more students. And those students recruited more students. And what we found is that it's become increasingly difficult to keep recruiting traditional college students.

(5:45 - 5:53)
We find ourselves beating our heads against a wall because now it seems like most of them simply don't want to travel. They find it to be burdensome. They find it maybe to be a little bit scary.

(5:53 - 6:11)
Maybe they're happier in front of their computers. But these kids, all of them, right here in front of you from Impact Early College High School, have not only gone toe-to-toe with the best universities in the country, but also in the world. And that's demonstrative of what they're capable of doing when we provide them the ideal student experience.

(6:11 - 6:19)
Because it's more than just the classroom. One of my passions since the first day I arrived at Lee College in 2006 has been the co-curricular engagement. Not just extracurricular, but co-curricular.

(6:20 - 6:37)
Teaching them to apply the things they learn in a paraprofessional or applied setting. And that picture shows the kind of joy they have. While I think that some people in the community here have gotten used to us winning, and it's always a nice thing, for them every championship is special.

(6:37 - 6:50)
And it marks their heart in a way that I think it's going to transform where they go next. And maybe they're going to some of the top tier R1 universities in the country. I want to give you an overview of what they've done this season, and some things that are special and unique.

(6:50 - 7:03)
And also about a changing of the guard that's taking place with the debate program. So as far as the 23-24 season, we travel to tournaments in Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. So we're limited by how far we can go.

(7:04 - 7:17)
Flying on a plane is wonderful, but it's a rare thing for any team in the country to do. And thankfully, we are given enough resources to be able to travel to places like, where did we go? Warrensburg, Ohio, I think, or Missouri, rather, was the longest trip. 13, 14, 15 hours.

(7:17 - 7:21)
And the students are in for it. And they juggle schoolwork. They juggle other organizations.

(7:21 - 7:37)
In fact, the student government of Lee College is well-represented with members of the debate team, as is every other club at Lee College and Impact Early College High School. These kids are tireless in terms of how they apply themselves. But I can say, without exception, debate seemed to be the one thing that never got short shrift.

(7:38 - 7:51)
They were always ready to do more. They won over 50 individual and team awards this season, with multiple individual, divisional, and team championships thrown in there. We were community college championships at basically every tournament we attended that wasn't virtual.

(7:51 - 8:02)
If they offered it, we were lucky enough to win it. Some of that is due to team size. We were able to recruit and maintain a large program on par with some of the top universities, programs that are perennial national champions.

(8:03 - 8:11)
But by the same token, you're looking at students who are 15 years old taking on students who are 22, 23 years old who are university seniors. And that's what made us unique. That's what made us special.

(8:13 - 8:31)
Now, in the middle of the season, we were lucky enough to be invited as the first community college ever to be attached to the United States United Kingdom Montgomery Cup. And this was something that was not an inexpensive undertaking. It was time consuming.

(8:31 - 8:54)
It was fun, but it was also stressful because we didn't know what to expect. And not only is the first community college students ever to participate in the Montgomery Cup in its 27-year history, but they were also the first high school students to participate in this. So what happened when they got there? Not only did they hold their own, but they left lasting marks on some of the top universities in the world, including the number seven-ranked team in the world, Imperial College.

(8:55 - 9:17)
They got to see sites in Scotland and England, things like, at least from my perspective, the coolest one was the old course at St. Andrews. But they also saw things like Sterling Castle, like Durham Cathedral, Tower of London. We were lucky enough to be able to go see a showing of Hamilton in London's West End and representing America very well as hooting and hollering whenever we talked about how horrible the British were.

(9:19 - 9:44)
And even though we were all exhausted when we came back, they hit the ground running one more time because that led us into the 23-24 national championships hosted by Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. I think it's fair to say that being ninth in the nation for the season out of 214 programs speaks volumes about what community colleges, not just Lee College, but what community colleges are capable of doing. All of these students are receiving interest from universities to want to come and debate.

(9:44 - 10:03)
And if it doesn't fit their academics, I think rightfully and thankfully they're pursuing academics over debate. But for a handful of students, including a person who's out here tonight, Emma Jaramillo, she'll be competing on behalf of the national championship Mississippi State University program starting next year. Most of these kids seem dead set on going to University of Texas in Austin.

(10:04 - 10:14)
And they have also made it their plan to apparently start a debate program so the Longhorns can have Lee College part two as opposed to us being a four-year program today. A great place for you. A great place for you.

(10:14 - 10:33)
Karis Gray, one of our, and again unfortunately she's in San Diego right now, one of our top honor students has presented at honors conferences. She was named the 23-24 IPA junior varsity debate speaking national champion. The second year in a row Lee College has had a junior varsity national champion, Priscilla Laguerre, winning the year before for the national tournament.

(10:33 - 10:47)
Not only that, but when we got to the tournament, we won the tournament championship. We also won the team division community college championship and ranked fifth place overall amongst all programs attending this year's national title. That is due to them, not us.

(10:47 - 11:01)
The coaching staff comprised of Ethan Arbuckle, our assistant coach, Rigo Ruiz, the new head coach of the program, and myself as director of forensics. I was in the tab room the entire time helping run the tournament. And they took it upon themselves with each of these kids stepping up and helping coach one another.

(11:02 - 11:26)
Students like Priscilla and Rebecca, who were varsity debaters by this point, the toughest division in the country, were immediately helping prep the younger kids, rolling into their own debates, and running back from rounds to do it all over again. Fatigue, it can be answered through enthusiasm. And I think that's a good metaphor for what they've been able to accomplish over the past four years coming out of the pandemic and into whatever we have now.

(11:27 - 12:01)
Now, to me, why all of this is so important is because it not only proves that they're capable of presenting themselves as well-spoken, thoughtful, critical thinkers, but it also demonstrates that they are worthy of going to some of the top programs in the country. And I do say, as somebody who did very briefly attend the University of Texas Austin for a doctoral program before I found out how expensive Austin was, but we have 10 Lee College graduates, and the vast majority seem dead set on going to UT. The camaraderie that they have, again, it's unlikely to diminish once they set foot in Austin.

(12:01 - 12:15)
Although they will help keep it weird in their own special ways, the weirdness would be if they let each other go. Because the friendships, even though they fight like family members, are lifelong. We have other debaters heading off to places like Texas State University that's special to their programs.

(12:15 - 12:34)
We have students who want to now become debate coaches. A young man named Carlos Reyes has decided that he wants to go down the same path that I was, whether lucky enough or foolish enough to go down, nearly 25 years ago. Debater Elias Perry, who's also unfortunately not here this evening, has decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, and will be serving his country for the foreseeable future.

(12:34 - 12:49)
He's wanting to make a career out of it. These are the students that Lee College shares with Goose Creek. And it's something that we've been lucky enough that people like Dr. Walters, for example, they've helped fight the battles for us with the Goose Creek administration when they used to maybe quibble a bit about how much class these students were missing.

(12:50 - 13:02)
But I think they also realize that this demonstrates that if they want to grow giants, these tower amongst all of the other students in Goose Creek ISD. So that's what you've invested in. That's why the budgets are there.

(13:03 - 13:12)
That's why the course releases for the coaching staff are there. That's why we've asked for space and John Burt Hall to be dedicated to us. It's not just as a special project.

(13:12 - 13:30)
It's not a goof. It changes lives, not just for them, but for people like me. And the reason I say this is because after 11 years and having won 11 national titles in those 11 years and being second in those others, I also recognize the fact that my time here at Lee College, it's time to do other good things.

(13:30 - 13:39)
I'm not moving away from debate, but I'm stepping to the side. And Rigo will be taking lead of this program. Why is Rigo special? Well, he's probably the most amazing grants manager on the planet.

(13:39 - 13:57)
Lee College is lucky enough to have him. So not only does he spend his time working in grants, but he's been a tireless assistant coach for the team, starting as a volunteer, then as a paid part-timer, and now working thanks that Dr. Walters was able to find a way to cleave the Gordian knot, he's able to do both jobs simultaneously. And he'll be taking on a lot more responsibilities.

(13:57 - 14:02)
I have full faith in him. Why? Because he's one of mine. He's one of the kids that started with the program in its second year.

(14:03 - 14:21)
As somebody who just wanted to come to Lee College, get a two-year degree, and run the family business after that, he got the bug. And it wasn't debate coaching at first, but now it's heading towards doctoral work, running a debate program at Lee College, and making this the family that he had when he first arrived. And that really is the theme that every one of these kids knows that I hold dear, and that's the theme of family.

(14:22 - 14:32)
Ethan Arbuckle has been instrumental, has been a part of other national championship programs, and he brings his expertise to this team. I can't think of better hands to leave it in. And my job will be to be a parent, maybe more of an emeritus.

(14:33 - 14:46)
I'm looking forward to giving all the John Brick anecdotes and repeat the same stories a couple of times. And hopefully, as much love as we express for John, they'll express for me one day, because I still will be around the team. But the neat thing is, I know these kids, they'll come back.

(14:46 - 15:02)
Whether it's just to go to a banquet that we do every summer at Fogo de Chaux, whether it's to hang out, or whether it's just to catch up, that door is always open, and they walk through it on a pretty regular basis. So Lee College produces amazing alums, that's no secret to you. Most of you on this panel are alums of Lee College.

(15:03 - 15:20)
These students had the ability to get it for more than just the two years that many of you had. And while many of our students may take four or five years to graduate, these kids juggled their high school diplomas, their Lee College diplomas, and multiple national championships all within that same window. So I appreciate your time tonight.

(15:20 - 15:33)
I thank you for always, whenever I've asked, supporting this team, and supporting the students more importantly, that make up, I think, some of the best and brightest that Lee College has ever been able to offer. Thank you. Bravo.

(15:48 - 16:05)
I need to eject my flash drive so I don't corrupt everything. All right. Wait, there's more.

(16:07 - 16:15)
I don't know all of them. Maybe you want to call their names, even if they're not here. Maybe you want to call their names, even if they're not here.

(16:19 - 16:34)
Okay. Kimberly Truong, is she here? David's gonna help me. Thank you.

(16:35 - 16:38)
Paris is not here. Okay, call her name. Paris Gray.

(16:39 - 16:57)
Paris is not here. Should we give it to Coach? Reuben Capetier. Priscilla Guerra.

(17:06 - 17:29)
Nathan Mostafa. Diego is not here. Rihanna? Not here.

(17:30 - 17:44)
Unfortunately, some of our high school students need to run away. Romberon. Romberon's the last name.

(17:50 - 18:08)
Rachel. Elias. Joshua.

(18:08 - 18:14)
Joshua, he's supposed to be here, but he's not here. Blaina. Also not here.

(18:15 - 18:23)
I think she's in the support list. Washington. Vacations to take.

(18:24 - 18:40)
Joe, why did you say I made a horrible decision? And Lorenzo, did you see me trying to recover, because I knew he was gonna be here? No. Barrera? No. Erlano? Giovanni? Erlano.

(18:41 - 18:46)
Giovanni Erlano. It was difficult. I know that you, I remember the phone call.

(18:46 - 18:52)
You were more excited than he had to be. Yeah, stupid. I was giving you a hard time.

(18:53 - 18:58)
Adrian Delberato. Adrian. Adrian.

(18:59 - 19:02)
Adrian. Adrian. Adrian.

(19:02 - 19:05)
Adrian. Adrian. Adrian.

(19:05 - 19:14)
Jerry McCauley. Jerry. Carlos Reyes.

(19:17 - 19:21)
Looks like they all have one, Daryl. They all have one, Daryl. They all have one.

(19:22 - 19:26)
Yeah. Daryl. It's B-H-O-U.

(19:26 - 19:30)
None of the rest of them are here. I think we all got one. Yeah, they all got one.

(19:30 - 19:34)
Everybody got one? Everybody's got one. There's three left. They're not here.

(19:34 - 19:38)
They're not here. They all have one. Oh, you all, everybody else? All right, so everybody that's here got one.

(19:38 - 19:41)
Yes. All right. Thank you for pointing that out.

(19:41 - 19:43)
Just call everybody that's here. That's good. Look at that.

(19:44 - 19:46)
He was busy. Yeah. He was busy.

(19:46 - 19:54)
So why don't we love to take a group picture together and email it? Yes. I'd like the photographer to tell us how to apply this. I know.

(19:57 - 20:05)
I think it would be great if he wanted to, but not, you know, or just holding him like that is fine. Thank you, Joel. Maybe hold it from the hinge.

(20:05 - 20:23)
Here's the table. Keep it up. Sir.

(20:37 - 20:43)
Is it the sorority thing we're gonna do this summer? No. No. Yeah, that would be great.

(20:43 - 20:47)
Here, I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll. Golly. Sorority thing.

(20:50 - 20:55)
That came across as super arrogant, so I didn't see it. It's something you would say. Wonderful.

(20:55 - 20:58)
They're big ones. Yeah, you might fool other people. You get fooled.

(21:02 - 21:16)
Pretty good, actually. Are we, do you want us to decide a term, or do you want us to? Right here, here. Ready to respond? Okay, let's do one.

(21:19 - 21:34)
Is there a moment you'd be in the background? Yeah. That would be me. Raise yours up, or what? These are just.

(21:35 - 21:38)
Are they? They got things down there. I don't know what they do, though. Right, though.

(21:38 - 21:43)
You know, I've got everything. Yeah, I'm afraid I'll do it, and I'll fall back on some of them. You have to get all of this over here.

(21:44 - 21:51)
I'll just leave it alone. I like the other chair, though. It's back, and you can move this.

(21:51 - 21:58)
It's all right. So we can get under. Yeah, I mean, I've been making those ergonomic chairs for a long time.

(21:58 - 22:08)
Okay, next on the agenda, we have the disposition of the minutes. Special board meeting, May 9th. Building committee meeting, May 15th.

(22:08 - 22:16)
Board budget workshop, May 23rd. Board meeting, May 23rd. Board workshop retreat, May 31st.

(22:16 - 22:22)
And board workshop retreat, June 1st. Do we have a motion on the minutes? So moved. Second.

(22:24 - 22:37)
Okay, Gina was the motion, and Regent Hall was the second. Any discussion on the minutes? Hearing no discussion, all in favor say aye. Aye.

(22:38 - 23:03)
Any opposed? Okay. Okay, report of the chairman. I only have one thing that I want to mention, and that is two weeks ago, three of us, Regent Morfano and Regent Santana and I were blessed to get to attend Mike Splitter's send-off.

(23:03 - 23:32)
He is in the paper today, if you didn't get to see it. And attending something like that is where we as regents really get a feel for how special Lee College is. To hear the heartfelt testimonials from the staff, from the students, to hear what an impact Lee College had on Mike's life.

(23:32 - 23:48)
I commented to my fellow regents afterwards that that's how you experience how special Lee College is. You don't experience it sitting up here on the dais. You experience it by going to an event like that, and it was very special.

(23:49 - 23:59)
So best of luck to Mike in his future endeavors. Based on my discussion with him that night, he's probably already in Wisconsin. Sounded like his bags were packed.

(24:00 - 24:09)
So anyway, that is all I have to report. So building committee. Mr. Chair, the building committee met Tuesday, June 18th, 2024.

(24:10 - 24:27)
We reviewed three items that will be presented a little later in this meeting for consideration. One is related to our I-10 property and an easement the city of Baytown is requesting. We also discussed the demolition bid for TV-10, and the renovations, upgrades for the student center elevator.

(24:27 - 24:43)
All three of those will be up later for approval. We also continued our discussions on the Rita's House move or demolition. It looks like we're leaning towards the demolition once all the bids are finalized.

(24:43 - 24:57)
And we also got an update on the status of the facilities master plan, RFP, I think we call it. And we do have several, at least half a dozen companies that are interested. And so we look forward to that being complete.

(24:57 - 25:16)
We also discussed an appraisal for the executive catering building, very contiguous to the Lee College property. So we'll be possibly looking at that a little farther down the road. We also got an update on the walk downs for classroom and lab furniture across the campus, a consistent look.

(25:17 - 25:29)
Everyone will have the same thing in certain areas of the campus. And we're looking to upgrade in that area. So we also received updates on the projects that are continuing at the campus.

(25:29 - 25:41)
And a lot are either closed or very close to being complete. And we look forward to the ADA phase two and security life health projects that will be starting up here pretty soon. Other than that, that was it.

(25:42 - 25:49)
Anybody have any questions? That's all I have. Policy committee. We have not met, sir.

(25:50 - 25:58)
Okay. Judy's not here. Regent Gerald's is not here, but audit and investment, anybody? We have not met.

(25:58 - 26:02)
You have not met, okay. Very good. Madam President.

(26:02 - 26:16)
Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also wanted to start off by thanking the many individuals who came out to celebrate Mike Splitter's retirement party. I actually wasn't able to attend because I was at a meeting.

(26:16 - 26:36)
But he was, I can tell you after hearing from others that he was just incredibly touched by the many people who came to honor him and to thank him for his years of service. And he was just greatly loved by our community. And he will always be a part of the Lee College family.

(26:36 - 26:47)
And I do believe that he's probably already off to the cooler weather of Wisconsin. But we miss him and we wish him the best. And he knows that he always has a home here with us.

(26:47 - 26:57)
So we're very happy for him. Next, I wanna talk about enrollment. So starting with summer, I'm pleased to report that we're currently up 2% over last summer.

(26:58 - 27:12)
And anywhere on the upside is a great place to be. For fall enrollment, we are currently 19% higher this year compared to the same point we were last year. Our main campus enrollment is up 8%.

(27:12 - 27:22)
Dual credit enrollment is up a whopping 28%. And Huntsville Center has yet to start their enrollment. But we're optimistic that their enrollment will also continue to grow.

(27:23 - 27:45)
I think this is incredibly impressive given the FAFSA debacle that the entire country has been dealing with. And I know that a lot of colleagues are really having a tough time with enrollment because they're finding it very difficult to get through the FAFSA process. And I don't want to jinx anything.

(27:46 - 28:00)
But I have talked with both Dr. Bennett and Dr. Walzers. And we think it's possible, just possible, cross our fingers, knock on wood, that this fall may mark another enrollment record. That would be three years in a row.

(28:01 - 28:09)
And it would be the highest enrollment in the college's then 90 years history. So fingers crossed. I'm glad you guys aren't getting excited.

(28:10 - 28:22)
No one's even moving or flinching at all. And I'll continue to keep you posted as we learn more. But what I can say is we have been very dedicated to a long-term strategic enrollment management approach.

(28:23 - 28:33)
We're not doing, you know, a lot of colleges will look at their numbers and they get in a room and they freak out. And what are we gonna do? What are we gonna change? And we don't do that, right? We look at the data. We study it.

(28:33 - 28:38)
We look at where we are weak. We look at where we're strong. And we're engaged in continuous improvement.

(28:38 - 28:45)
And we implement those strategies. We monitor, see how they're working. We adopt those things that are working, improve it.

(28:45 - 29:11)
And we drop the things that aren't and we keep moving on. But led by these two gentlemen, I'm very pleased. It's really an entire, it involves almost everyone, from financial aid to advising to counseling to registration to the, we don't call it the bursar's office, we call it the cashier's office, everyone.

(29:11 - 29:29)
And so it really is a strong team approach and I'm so grateful to everyone for ensuring that our enrollment is smooth. So thank you. I recently shared with the board the imminent departure of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Commissioner, Harrison Keller.

(29:30 - 29:50)
He has been named the sole finalist for the president of the University of North Texas. I have to tell you that when I heard, I texted him and said, congrats, but this really sucks. Because he really was the strongest advocate of community colleges to be in this role.

(29:50 - 30:16)
And the fact that any of us could just, at any time, pick up the phone and call him really kind of speaks to the affinity he had for our sector. But we're optimistic that we'll find another friend of community colleges in the next commissioner. And it's not gonna be an easy task, but I'm pleased to share that one of our colleagues, Dr. William Serrata, who is the president of El Paso Community College, he has been asked to serve on the search committee.

(30:17 - 30:35)
And this is a really significant thing, as no community college member or president has ever been asked to serve on this search committee, ever. So this is a big move. And I think it speaks very well to our role in the field of higher education and also to our sector.

(30:36 - 31:32)
I'll continue to keep the board updated as we learn more, but for now, as I indicated in a communication to the board, our primary goals are to continue to focus on implementing House Bill 8, and for the first time, we are submitting an appropriations, a supplemental appropriations bill necessary to fully fund HB 8. And that's because it's about $40 million, and it's a result of our collective efforts in Texas to exceed the outcomes that were laid out for us. So we are also focused, though, on developing a unified communication plan to key stakeholders, including legislative members, to ensure that we have their continued support of the new funding model. So I will continue to keep you updated, especially as we all go to the capitol and update our legislators, and when we meet them here.

(31:33 - 32:11)
So recently, I shared with the board the draft runs for Lee College and all of the 50 colleges in the state of Texas for HB 8, and I wanted to share with you that we have received an updated draft from the coordinating board, and our allocations, I just want you to know, are still listed exactly the same, didn't go up, didn't go down, as when I sent them out. So the official funding, though, has to be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's board in July, and we will know then the exact amount of that funding. Next, I want to share some news from our nursing program.

(32:11 - 32:47)
So earlier this year, I shared that the department underwent an extremely rigorous accreditation process from the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing, or what we commonly called to call ASIN, and we recently received notification that our nursing program has successfully been reaccredited through 2031, which is a neat thing. It's the first time I've listed a 30 in any of the communications that I've been able to see. So I want to emphasize the importance of this accreditation as the college, in all transparency, has historically had some difficult times with the ASIN accreditation.

(32:47 - 33:23)
So this was an extremely smooth process because of the amazing leadership of Dr. Helen Manabusan, the Director of Nursing for our program, our amazing nursing faculty, but also Dr. Norris, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. But I also wanted to give you an update on our NCLEX tests, or licensure rates, and let you know that of our May graduates, we have 39 that graduated, and thus far, and this is all of them that have taken it. So we're what, 30 now? Okay, I was gonna say 29.

(33:24 - 33:35)
30 have taken it, and all 30 of them have passed. So that's, it's almost unheard of, and it's just amazing. So others have not yet sat for the exam.

(33:35 - 33:55)
We're waiting for them to do it, and I know we're prodding them, and we're telling them, gotta do it soon, right? But so far, we're at 100%, making us just incredibly proud of our students, and grateful to our amazing nursing faculty, and the administration in that area. So thank you so much. A foundation gift.

(33:55 - 34:21)
I'm pleased to announce that the foundation received an incredible $858,164, and if Cella was here, I think it's also 64 cents, in addition to that gift from Mr. Paul Edwards. Paul was on the foundation board for many years, and he actually hired Gary Englert for his first job in a bank. He was the first foundation board member to achieve emeritus status.

(34:22 - 34:41)
He led by example, and was passionate about Lee College, and the foundation. He and his wife, Tassie, were scholarship creators, and gave generously to the Lee College Foundation over the years. Paul was well-known and beloved as a banker here in Baytown, and helped tremendously with the finances of the Lee College Foundation.

(34:41 - 35:05)
My understanding in talking to Cella is that it's their desire to have half of that go to scholarships, 25% go to facilities and renovations. I was just amazed by that, and 25% to student basic needs. So we are incredibly grateful to the family for this very kind and generous gift.

(35:06 - 35:17)
So that concludes my report, Mr. Chairman. I'm so pleased to hear about that gift from Paul. Several of us knew Paul from Rotary, that's how I knew him.

(35:17 - 35:34)
Some of us know him from other ways around town, but my experience with him was through the, he was always very welcoming when I first joined the Rotary Club. Okay, next we have informational reports. Report of Lee College resignations and retirements.

(35:34 - 36:03)
So we've already reluctantly accepted Mike Splitter's retirement, but we also have Rebecca Conejo, Marjean Lenneman, Portia Hopkins, Rinaldo McFadden, Sybil Rollins, John Purdon, and Demetrius Hill. Next up is a financial report. Annette, did you make it in without any flashing lights chasing you down 290? I did, I did.

(36:03 - 36:11)
But she had Douglas cued up to do the financial report in case he wasn't here. She was absolutely in a sigh of relief over there. I think.

(36:11 - 36:21)
Because neither Leslie nor I were going to touch it. Dr. Walzers and Dr. Bennett have been kind of struggling to see which one gets to do it. Oh, okay, well.

(36:25 - 36:32)
We'll have them thumb wrestle for it or something. Yeah, there we go. Rock, paper, scissors, something.

(36:32 - 36:52)
Something, something. But someone else should get to enjoy this. So the financials that we'll be covering tonight are year-to-date through May 31st, ninth month, and 75% of our operating expenses.

(36:53 - 37:13)
Really, we're already like in the 85% range on revenue, but our expenses are pretty much allocated over 12 months. And so that's the reason it is 75%. Cash still is very strong.

(37:14 - 37:24)
We're doing well in that regard. Tuition, we've talked about this numerous times. We'll be pretty tight right on.

(37:26 - 37:48)
State appropriations, we have received our final allocation from the state in the month of June. So when we report next month, we'll be at 100%. Our revenue from taxes, you can see we are exceeding what we had budgeted, most of that coming from in lieu of.

(37:50 - 38:07)
Other revenue, our interest has been well above what we had budgeted. And then our other revenue, we're still looking all right on that. Our restricted funds, you can see our financial aid, which is right here.

(38:08 - 38:27)
We have drawn down everything that has been awarded. We do still have some other direct loans and Perkins to be drawn down, and as soon as it is available, we will do so. Budget versus year-to-date projected actual.

(38:27 - 38:41)
Again, we're projecting that we will be right on target. With our budget revenue. Projected net revenue, right now we are projecting a operating surplus.

(38:45 - 39:03)
When we look at our expenses, got a little bit of a shift here between operating expenses and salaries, but still nothing to be concerned about. We are still operating below our budget on operating expenses. The salary and benefits are closer.

(39:05 - 39:33)
The thing about operating expenses is they're so, it's hard to determine sometimes when those bills are gonna hit and when they get paid. So, sometimes I don't get too excited when I see that there's a big gap there, because it could come back and slap me the next month. But overall, we're still looking really good on our budget versus actual as far as expenses go.

(39:34 - 39:46)
We're projecting that we will be under on salary and operating costs, and then debt service. Of course, we know what that number is. And that is it, unless y'all have any questions for me.

(39:48 - 40:16)
Yeah, I do, and this looks really good. I think we learned on the delinquent tax collection that there is a report now, or that we've been getting from Goose Creek, who we have the MOU with. Can we somehow incorporate that into our reports, or get an update, or what's your thinking on that? Yes, I'm still trying to, I guess, get my hands around that.

(40:16 - 40:26)
So, some of the first reports I got didn't really give us any information. It gave me a list of accounts and names. It didn't give me any dates or amounts.

(40:27 - 40:56)
And so, I know that in correspondence that I've had with Brandon, he's been trying to improve that. And I've gotten some monthly reports, but it still isn't exactly what I need to be able to present to you guys, an overall picture of what we have that is delinquent, how long it remains delinquent on average, and that sort of thing. So, I am still working on trying to get a better understanding of where we stand as far as delinquent taxes go.

(40:56 - 41:07)
So, we can't put that in, include that monthly in our reports going forward? Yes, sir. I'll take that. As soon as I get it where I feel we need to be.

(41:07 - 41:15)
Okay. Yes, sir. And can we possibly maybe get a presentation from them on how this thing works? Because I don't really understand it.

(41:15 - 41:36)
I've spoken with the team, and relayed both the desire of the board to have the information in the board report, and request a presentation as well. Would that be from Goose Creek, or would that be from the attorney? It's our deals with Goose Creek, right? That's who we deal with. We have an interlocal agreement with Goose Creek.

(41:36 - 41:42)
They contract with a third party to actually do those collections. Right, okay. That's what I thought.

(41:45 - 41:53)
Maybe they need to come, I don't know. I have a question on your report. You're forecasting that in our operations budget, we're gonna come in under.

(41:53 - 42:27)
Is there any one area that is creating that savings, or is it just a combination of a lot of things? It's really a combination of a lot of things. We are gonna have some money left in our repairs and maintenance budget. We have several projects slated for this summer, and it kinda depends on when those wrap up as to whether they're gonna fall into the current year, or maybe bleed over into next year, because we have to complete the work by the end of the year in order to expense it in the current year.

(42:27 - 42:48)
So there's some wiggle room right there, but let me pull that back up and see. I was just curious. I know in salaries and benefits, we know what creates that gap between budgeted and actual, but in operations, that includes a whole lot of things.

(42:49 - 43:07)
Right, so part of it is an increase in revenue, right? So we have about a million dollars more in interest revenue than what we had budgeted. Also, about a million more in lieu of tax, and then about a million just in regular taxes, so. I'm clear, let me just clarify my question.

(43:07 - 43:28)
I'm clear on the excess revenue part. I was just talking about your forecasting we're gonna be under in our operations budget while we budget it, and I know that adds to this maybe excess revenue, but within the budgeted amount, I just didn't know if there was anything that was. So this is kind of a summary right here of what it's looking like as far as expenses go.

(43:28 - 44:10)
So we got a little over a million in payroll, about 1.7 in other expenses, and as I said, about a million dollars in repairs and maintenance at this point. Yeah, one of the things we've been trying to do is ramp up our maintenance budget, right? So when we don't spend it all, we got a question, why do we keep adding when we can't spend it? And I think there's a timing issue. So this might be helpful to know that when we look at excess revenue at the end of the year, if it's a timing on projects that we tried to start but we just didn't make payments, might be a good way to say we should roll that money into next year's budget.

(44:10 - 44:40)
Absolutely. So that we can continue, but we can't have excess at the end of every year, otherwise we're just rolling forward, so. Right, so since I've been here, which is basically the first full fiscal year would have been 2019, we have experienced operating surplus, and we've allocated that surplus either to board reserves or to projects, or this last time we split it between board reserves and furniture.

(44:41 - 45:22)
And so this is a conversation that Dr. V and I have had going forward, is right now, as far as facility projects go, we're kind of at capacity. I mean, we hired Mr. Ditto, and then we added Phillip as well. And in order for us to continue on the pace that we would like to continue on, we're gonna need to add another, whether it's a contracted position, or whether it's a full-time position, we feel like we need to add another person to help with project management, as far as facilities go.

(45:22 - 45:41)
And so that's one of the requests that's gonna be in the budget that we present to you guys. Yeah, no, I'm clear on the excess revenue and what we've done with it. It's just specifically the maintenance budget, and we grow it in order to make it effective if we need to hire more folks to make it, to use that money, then that's what we need to do.

(45:41 - 45:55)
So that's what I was looking for there, was how are we gonna begin to spend more money on our maintenance needs without the personnel, because obviously we need more personnel. Right, and that is in our budget request. Okay, good.

(45:56 - 46:28)
Following up on his suggestion, is there any legal way for us, since we've budgeted something, is there any way for us to set that aside instead of increasing the budget again with the same dollars? In other words, if we've got projects we couldn't quite get to, they can fund them out of previous year's budget. Is that legal? I don't know that it is. Well, I mean, that's kind of what we've been doing, as far as when we recognized an operating surplus, then we've allocated it over to specific projects.

(46:28 - 46:39)
We don't have to reallocate it or rebudget it. Is that what you're saying? Right. Probably budget like we've been doing, but then reallocate the excess revenue like we've been doing as an amount of money.

(46:39 - 46:47)
As both. We did 3.8 million, we did four million another year. Well, that's like budget a certain amount and then say, okay, we've still got this $2 million.

(46:48 - 47:14)
Left over from the previous year. The budget has been allocated basically without, I'll say without identified projects specifically, where any surplus that was rolled over into the next year budget had a very specified purpose. So it wasn't just rolled over to spend however we saw fit.

(47:14 - 47:34)
It was rolled over for whatever that project was, be it the ADA phase one, ADA security or safety, or whatever it was. Right now, we don't have identified projects to consume what we budgeted. Oh, we have projects.

(47:35 - 47:40)
Projects is not the issue. But not, yeah. The example I would give.

(47:40 - 47:50)
But actual moving forward on those projects. You made the statement that they have to be completed before the end of the budget year. Did I hear that correctly? Right.

(47:51 - 48:08)
The project has to be completed in order for us to issue payment. And that all has to happen before the end of the fiscal year in order for it to be expensed in that year. If it's like halfway done, halfway not done, then it goes into construction and progress.

(48:09 - 48:14)
It doesn't hit your financials. It's just kind of in this holding state, if you will. Okay.

(48:14 - 48:21)
So Annette, I just want to say that we just missed you Tuesday. So we're just hitting you up now. Thank you.

(48:22 - 48:33)
The example that I would. Thank you for thinking of me. The example that I would use to address what Regent Hall brought up is that the $4 million, and keep me straight here, Building Chair.

(48:33 - 48:57)
The $4 million came from surplus from fiscal year 22. We presented the projects in May of 23 to use those and we voted to use those surplus funds for the projects that were listed then. So sometimes it can take a few months to get the specific projects identified.

(48:58 - 49:06)
Yeah, those were called ADA phase two. And then if you recall, we sort of modified that to include some life health projects. Some safety issues, yeah.

(49:06 - 49:18)
Yeah, life safety issues. So yeah, it's, I'm just saying that we've got this maintenance budget. So the excess revenue that's maintenance should be identified as let's allocate that to continued maintenance and projects.

(49:18 - 49:31)
Absolutely, that would be our recommendation. Great. So I would just add that Annette, you really were missed because I was a very poor substitute in the building committee meeting as Regent Santana.

(49:32 - 49:44)
We asked a couple of questions and we got answers and we quit asking. Yeah, it was kind of like that. But I also just wanted to say that we're, our team is very grateful to the board for allocating these additional dollars.

(49:45 - 50:11)
And while it is taking longer to finish some of these projects, it's a great problem to have and why we also in the building committee did discuss that we are proposing in the budget and hiring an additional person to help us oversee the project so we can spend this money quicker and get things fixed faster. Thank you. Okay, next up is public comment.

(50:12 - 50:19)
No one signed up, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Okay, items of action.

(50:19 - 50:30)
Consent agenda. Consideration of new hires. The administration recommends that the board approve the new hires as presented below.

(50:31 - 50:35)
Do we have a motion on these? So moved. Okay. Second.

(50:36 - 50:48)
I have a motion by Regent Morfano and a second by Regent Warford. Is there any discussion of this consent agenda? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.

(50:48 - 51:09)
Any opposed? Okay. Now, moving on to new business. Consideration of sale of library books that were removed from circulation.

(51:09 - 51:23)
The administration recommends that the board authorize the sale of library books that have been removed from circulation to students and employees of Lee College as well as the general public at a rate that may be below the fair market value. So moved. Okay.

(51:23 - 51:34)
I have a motion by Regent Guillory and a second by Regent Cotton. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.

(51:34 - 52:07)
Any opposed? Okay, next we have consideration of approval of right-of-way initial offer letter from the city of Baytown. The administration recommends that the board accept the initial offer letter from the city of Baytown in the amount of $20,201 for .3092 acres in connection with the city of Baytown I-10 lift station project. Do we have a motion on this? So moved.

(52:07 - 52:17)
Second. I have a motion by Regent Santana and a second by Regent Hall. Any discussion on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

(52:17 - 52:45)
Aye. Any opposed? Okay, consideration of approval to demolish the technical vocational building number 10 at 418 South Pruitt Street. The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate final terms to have the technical vocational building number 10 demolished.

(52:46 - 52:51)
Do we have a motion on this? So moved. Second. I have a motion by Regent Cotton and a second by Regent Warford.

(52:52 - 53:05)
Is there discussion on this item? I would just make a comment that I would prefer to wait until we get our master plan. Have a little more, but that may not be. So at this time, I would be opposed to it.

(53:06 - 53:19)
And this property is on the other side of Pruitt Street, is that right? This was the old ice house building from? But it's historical property. I don't know what it was, but. They're shaking their head, yes, it was the.

(53:19 - 53:27)
I don't know if it was. Yeah, I mean that's a masonry building, I think, yeah. Pretty good sized building.

(53:28 - 54:10)
It is, and if you've taken a walk through that building, you will see that the structure is failing there are literally huge gaps in exterior walls and the structure is failing. And it was recommended even back in 2018 when Sledge Engineering did the analysis of all the facilities on campus, that facility was like number one slated and recommended nobody be in that building and that it be demolished sooner rather than later. And the building committee toured that six months ago? Toured it a while back, yeah.

(54:12 - 54:29)
Is there any opportunity to sell the property and not spend the 90,000 and maybe sell it for 100 or 200 or whatever in net? Because we probably won't use that on the other side of. Of course, the master plan, we'll grow another, we'll get a master plan. Yeah, we're growing very rapidly.

(54:30 - 54:39)
Right now, administration would like to hang on to the property is the feeling right now. I would agree with that. It's a large piece of property.

(54:39 - 54:45)
We're landlocked right now. And even though it's across the street, it's not a major thoroughfare. We've been using it for years.

(54:46 - 55:11)
And so until we complete the master plan process and determine whether it's useful to us or not, I think demolition of the building is just to get rid of a safety issue and a liability. So that was the building committee consensus was that we agreed with the demolition. But Regent Hall did express the same concern at the building committee, so.

(55:15 - 55:21)
So it makes sense to tear it down before we get a master plan. It's in really bad shape. It's failing already.

(55:22 - 55:33)
Yeah, it's just a liability and a... I drew a bylaw. I didn't see any evidence from the outside that it had failing walls, but whatever. We can, let's vote.

(55:35 - 55:41)
Okay, if there's not any further discussion, then we move on. All in favor say aye. Aye.

(55:42 - 55:55)
Any opposed? Aye. Okay, so let the record show we have one, two, three, four, six in favor and two opposed and one absent. Okay.

(56:09 - 56:44)
Okay. Okay, next item is consideration of approval of the Student Resource Advocacy Center's elevator modernization. The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate final terms and award the Student Center Food Bank and Resource and Advocacy Center's elevator modernization to Cone Inc. 

for the sum of $154,415.25. Do we have a motion? So moved. Okay, motion by Regent Hall, second by Regent Santana. Any discussion on this item? So we're not replacing it.

(56:45 - 56:51)
We're just working on it. And this is a hydraulic elevator? I understand. Yes.

(56:51 - 57:02)
Are we replacing the hydraulics under the ground? I don't know the answer to that. Phillip, do you know? Are we replacing the hydraulics under the ground? Yes. No, we're actually working on it.

(57:02 - 57:14)
We're replacing all the hydraulics, the motor, the cab. Everything except for the structural integrity. You said the hydraulic is, the cylinders are being replaced? No, the motors are being completed, not the hydraulic lift shaft.

(57:16 - 57:39)
But the actual cab, everything else will be replaced and recladded and the integral structure will be complete. It still has a structural integrity, but everything within it is actually being replaced. The control boards, motors, hydraulic sinks, and actually the actual car brakes and safety issues.

(57:41 - 57:46)
Well, only the box is good. You're gonna fix everything else. Thank you.

(57:46 - 57:53)
Thank you. That's right. Except the cylinder, the lipset underground is the same.

(57:55 - 58:11)
I guess electric elevators are not, it's not an option or just- Not feasible for a two-floor. If it went above a two-floor, the change out everything on the elevator would be feasible if it's over a three to four. But on a two-stop elevator, usually it's just a hydraulic piston.

(58:17 - 58:43)
And we're not using the low bid this time? The building committee reviewed the recommendation from the administration and there were concerns over the low bid and therefore the second bid was the preferred. Contractor. Any further discussion on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

(58:43 - 58:59)
Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Okay, consideration of campus computers bulk purchase.

(58:59 - 59:15)
The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate final terms and approve the purchase of computers from Dell Corporation for the sum of $431,900. $917.19. So moved. Second.

(59:15 - 59:26)
I have a motion by Regent Gillery and a second by Regent Morfano. Any discussion on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.

(59:26 - 59:59)
Any opposed? Okay, consideration of approval of an order of the board of regents authorizing the redemption of certain outstanding bonds. The administration recommends that the board pass the order authorizing the redemption of the Lee College District Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds Series 2013 principal amount of $2 million. Do we have a motion on this item? So moved.

(59:59 - 1:00:12)
Second. I have a motion by Regent Santana and a second by Regent Cotton. Discussion on this item? I just would comment that philosophically I'm opposed to this, but that train left the station.

(1:00:14 - 1:00:22)
All right, any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay.

(1:00:24 - 1:00:43)
All right, and we do not have executive session. We have matters of concern for future agendas. My only concern is that we have to look at moving the date possibly, because I've heard at least three regents who have a conflict with the next regularly scheduled meeting, so we may want to start exploring that.

(1:00:44 - 1:00:57)
Leslie and David, please note that. Thank you. Any other matters of concern for future agenda? Okay, we will adjourn our regular board meeting.

(1:00:57 - 1:01:03)
We're gonna take a five minute break. Romero needs a little bit of time to get things.