Media Board Meeting

December 3, 2004

Present: Jean Alicandro, Chris Drewry, Gil Gigliotti, Shannon Howard, Otis Mamed, Vivian Martin, Lee Sawyer, Susan Sweeney

I.      Call to Order    

Ms. Sweeney called the meeting to order.

II. Roll Call

III.   Welcome

Ms. Sweeney introduced herself and Ms. Alicandro.  Ms. Sweeney notifies the board that Ms. Alicandro is the interim Associate Director of Student Activities/ Leadership Development (SA/LD) and the will transition in as the Executive Secretary for the board. 

IV.  Vacancies on the Media Board

Ms. Sweeney also reviewed the various seats on the Media Board, both voting and non-voting.  Ms. Sweeney notified everyone that there is not a full board. Two student seats are open.  The faculty position is open as well; Mr. Cannella’s appointment has expired.  A new faculty member must fill that position.  It was also mentioned that a Chair of the Media Board must be elected.

Discussion ensued of various faculty members who might take the position of the vacant faculty seat.  Ms. Martin will ask someone in the Communication department to take the seat.  Ms. Martin will communicate the results to Ms. Alicandro.

V. Budget

Ms. Sweeney reviewed the budget from 2003-2004.  Ms. Sweeney offered advice for the budget for 2004-2005.

Ms. Sweeney presented an enrollment figure of 12,500 students for the 2004-2005 school year

Motion: (L. Sawyer /S. Howard) To  approve estimate enrollment figure of 12,500 for school 2004-2005. 

Motion Passed (4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained)                                           (MB 05-001)

Motion: (L. Sawyer /S. Howard) To  approve budget  $125,000.00 for  2004-2005.

Motion Passed (4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained)                                           (MB 05-002)

Motion: (L. Sawyer /S. Howard) To  approve 10% of budget to be placed in new reserve account equaling $12,500.00. 

Motion Passed (4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained)                                           (MB 05-003)

Motion: (l.Sawyer/S.Howard) Allcocate $28,125.00 for each account: Helix, The Recorder, WFCS.

Motion Passed (4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained)                                           (MB 05-004)

Ms. Sweeney suggested the need for a claim on cash from the previous year to serve as  a supplemental account each year.  She is working with the Business Office to determine an official balance.

It was stated that an actual budget plan is due from the Helix, The Recorder, and WFCS before the next meeting showing how each organization plans to spend the allocated $28,125.00. 

VI.  Questions regarding The Recorder

Ms. Sweeney discussed the completion of a project of putting all past Recorder issues on microfiche in the school library.  It was suggested that a standing line item be put in the budget to have each year’s Recorder be transferred to microfiche.

Ms. Sweeney noted that The Recorder stipends were too high and need to be reviewed by the Media Board.  It was explained that there are nine criteria that need to be met.  If the stipends increase too much, they are considered a wage.

Ms. Howard asked about trying to get a stipend for writers.  Ms. Martin and Ms. Sweeney indicated that the Board of Trustees have approved a process some years back to provide for this.

VII. Media Board Business Support

Ms. Sweeney shared a proposal for a Media Board by laws.  A handout was given to all members to review for a future meeting. 

Motion: (L.Sawyer/S.Howard) Create an account for the previous years remaining funds to be called supplement account.

Motion Passed (4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained)                                           (MB 05-003)

Mr. Gigliotti asked about the impact of hiring a business support staff person at $14,00.00 a year. 

Mr. Mamed, Mr. Gigliotti, and Mr. Sawyer expressed their concern of voting on a business staff person without a full board. 

Motion: (l.Sawyer/S.Howard) Allocate $4,000.00 for the phone, $7,000.00 for business support staff, $2,000.00 for postage costs to come from the Operations account totaling $13,000.00. 

Motion Passed (4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstained)                                           (MB 05-004)

VIII. Vacant Seats

Mr. Gigliotti and Ms. Martin expressed their opinion of having an open style of filling the open seats.  It would allow students to have control over the learning experience. 

Meeting times were discussed. 

The next meeting will be held February 11, 2005 at 1 pm

Respectfully Submitted,

Jean Alicandro, Executive Secretary

Last updated:  Thursday March 10, 2005