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MISSISSIPPI AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION

Regular Telephonic Meeting of the Board of Directors

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

9:30 a.m.

Board Room

MAET Administration Building

3825 Ridgewood Road

Jackson, Mississippi

Directors present: David Allen, Chair, Bob Sawyer, Vice-Chair, Dr. Andrea Mayfield, Jennifer O’Neal, Peggy Holmes and Pete Smith

Directors participating telephonically:  None

Staff present: Ronnie Agnew, Teresa Collier, Roy Davis, Cedric Grizzell, Jason Klein, Jillian Lehman, Paul Moore, Claudia Morris, Maggie Stevenson, Henry Williams and Tara Wren

Others present: Clare Hester, Evelyn Johnson and David Scott

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion was made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board approve the agenda, and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.

WELCOME

Chairman Allen welcomed new board member, Dr. Andrea Mayfield, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Director Holmes and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board approve the Minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors held on November 10, 2015 and December 8, 2015 and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Chairman Allen recognized Clare Hester and Evelyn Johnson from Capitol Resources, LLC.

Clare Hester gave a legislative overview for the upcoming session and noted that there are 24 freshmen in the House of Representatives and 8 freshmen in the Senate.

Clare Hester stated that the Legislative Budget [Office] Report suggested a 6.3% budget cut for MPB.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Paul Moore presented the financial report and noted that MPB has not to date received the requested money from Foundation for Public Broadcasting.  Paul Moore added that education enhancement funds monies to MPB had been tracking lower than expected, but are now catching up

A copy of the financial report is included as a part of these Minutes as Exhibit A.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Ronnie Agnew gave a report on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant that we receive and noted that one thing considered by the Community Service Grant team is how strongly each station is supported by donations.

Ronnie Agnew commended MPB’s TV department for their excellent work in broadcasting the inauguration of Governor Phil Bryant and stated that MPB was the station providing the feed for other channels.

Ronnie Agnew announced that MPB will be airing the Governor’s Arts Awards on February 11 and invited Directors to attend the ceremony and related events, following the board meeting to be held that day.

STAFF UPDATES

Ronnie Agnew recognized staff members to give updates on their departments.

Cedric Grizzell and Jillian Lehman presented the way they are presently approaching potential MPB program sponsors with customized packaging.

Tara Wren reported that MPB Day at the Capitol will be Thursday, February 18.  Tara Wren added that we will feature education, weather/emergency services and our new health initiative. 

Maggie Stevenson stated that MPB is a recipient of a $100,000 Ready to Learn grant.

[Pete Smith joined the meeting.]

Maggie Stevenson reported on the success of the December 2015 Stop the Drop summit. 

RECOGNITION

Chairman Allen read a resolution to be signed and sent to former Board member Perry Sansing, commending him for his many years of service to the Board of MPB, including time spent as Chair and serving on the Foundation and EdNet Boards as well.

A copy of the Resolution is included in these minutes as Exhibit B.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

A motion was made by Director Holmes and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board go into a closed determination session to consider whether it had cause to go into executive session.  The motion to go into closed determination session was unanimously passed by the Board members present.

In closed determination session, a motion was made by Director Holmes and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board go into executive session for the following reason:

Strategy or negotiations with respect to prospective litigation, litigation or issuance of an appealable order when an open meeting would have detrimental effect on the litigating position of the Authority.

The motion to go into executive session was unanimously approved by the Board members present.

Upon conclusion of the business for executive session, the Board voted, upon a motion made by Vice Chair Sawyer and seconded by Director Holmes, to adjourn.

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE BOARD