The called meeting of the Board of Regents of the Del Mar College District opened in Room 102 of the Barth Learning Resources Center, Del Mar College West Campus, Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas, at 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18, 2000, with the following present:

From the Board:
Mrs. Chris Adler, Mr. Ralph Diaz, Rev. Willie Davila, Mrs. Olga Gonzales, Mr. Jacob Munoz, Mrs. Dorothy Spann, Mr. William Whittle (arrived at 3:10 p.m.), and Mrs. Beverly Winters.

From the College:

Dr. Terry Dicianna, President; Dr. Richard Armenta, Vice President of Instruction and Student Development; Mrs. Vickie Natale, Dean of Administrative Services; Ms. Claudia Jackson, Assistant to the President for Community Relations; Ms. Barbara Riley, Executive Secretary to Vice President of Business and Finance; and other administrators, faculty, and staff.

From the Attorney's Office:

Mr. J. W. Gary and Mr. Stephen Hilmy.

Others:

Mr. Jack Solka, Coordinating Architect; and Mr. Gordon Landreth and representatives, Cotten/Landreth Architects, Inc.; and other interested citizens.

Mr. Ralph Diaz, president of the Board, presided and with a quorum present, called the meeting to order and opened with Public Comments.

Mr. Anthony Raposa, a Del Mar College student, addressed the Board concerning problems he and others encountered during a recent TASP testing at the College. Mr. Raposa reminded the Board that the events would reflect on the College, and asked the Board to investigate all complaints made concerning the testing issue.

Ms. Sue Cameron Cook, retired director of placement for Del Mar College, spoke on behalf of the testing office and procedures used during testing. She asked that the Board consider the entire situation when reviewing the problems students encountered during that particular testing incident.

The first item on the agenda was related to the Resolution on the Old Nueces County Courthouse. Mr. Joe McComb addressed the Board as a citizen of the community, and pointed out that he was not representing the commissioners court with his comments at today's meeting. Mr. McComb summarized the events leading to the present situation, and the criteria for applying for the grant for funds to renovate the courthouse. He requested that the Board consider the Resolution for foreclosing on the property.

Mr. Bill Durrill, representing the Foundation that owns the old Nueces County courthouse, commented on the grant, taxes owed on the property, and the community's involvement in the issue. Mr. Durrill requested the Board's support for the opportunity being presented to the Foundation.

Mr. Elmon Phillips, speaking for the Nueces County Historical Commission, asked the Board for its favorable consideration on the old courthouse proposal and noted their support.

Mr. J. W. Gary explained the problem the College faces, from a legal standpoint, in conveying its interest in the property, and stated that the College would not have a problem if the Court determined the value of the courthouse to be zero ($0). Mr. Gary pointed out that the County was not satisfied with the reversion provision in the Resolution that had been prepared. Mr. McComb explained that the renovation completion date of 2003-2004 in the clause was unrealistic.

After a lengthy discussion, Mrs. Adler made a motion to change the date in the reversion clause to the year 2010. After a brief discussion, the motion died for lack of a second.

After further discussion on the wording of the Resolution needed by the County, Mr. Munoz made a motion, seconded by Rev. Davila, to change the paragraph beginning with NOW, THEREFORE, of the Resolution by the Board of Regents of the Del Mar College District in support of the Nueces County Commissioners Court in their effort to regain ownership of the Old Nueces County Courthouse and authorizing the court to begin tax foreclosure proceedings and hereby granting the College District's interest upon foreclosure to Nueces County for public purposes, to read:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE DEL MAR COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF REGENTS that the District supports the foreclosure of the tax liens held against the Old County Courthouse and hereby grants its interest upon foreclosure for the consideration of the exclusive use by the District of a classroom in the renovated Old County Courthouse in accord with the schedule approved by the President of the District, each year.

Mrs. Spann expressed her dissatisfaction for the seemingly lack of devotion to restoring the old courthouse. The motion carried with Mrs. Spann voting against. (This Resolution will be recorded as Document #00-01 in the document section of the Official Minutes Book of the Board.)

Dr. JoAnn Luckie, assistant dean of Special Services and Testing, provided a PowerPoint presentation on TASP testing. Dr. Luckie reviewed background information, staffing concerns, and solutions for the testing area. She also reviewed in detail the events leading up to, and problems arising during, the recent TASP test given on January 6, 2000. Several Board members expressed their feelings that the issue was being addressed appropriately and requested that the Board continue with the agenda.

Mr. Diaz announced that there were 12 candidates for the vacancy on the Board, of which 11 were confirmed as registered voters. He informed the Board that interviews would be scheduled on Tuesday, January 25, 2000, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Diaz suggested each Board member decide on two questions and all of the candidates would be asked the same questions. The interviews would last approximately 20 minutes each, and interviews could not be rescheduled.

Mr. Whittle arrived at 3:10 p.m.

The next agenda item related to Mrs. Spann's request for audio tapes had been resolved. The issue will be discussed at a Policy Committee meeting.

There were no calendaring dates to be announced.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:16 p.m.

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