MISSISSIPPI AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
Regular Telephonic Meeting of the Board of Directors
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
9:30 a.m.
Board Room
MAET Administration Building
3825 Ridgewood Rd.
Jackson, Mississippi
Directors present: Perry Sansing, Chair, David Allen, Vice-Chair, Eric Clark, Alan Perry, Bob Sawyer and Pete Smith
Staff present: Ronnie Agnew, Teresa Collier, Roy Davis, Ryanne Duffie-Saucier, Jason Klein, Claudia Morris, Paul Moore, Maggie Stevenson, Henry Williams and Tara Wren
Others present: LeAnne Brewer, Leyser Hayes, Seetha Srinivasan and Onetta Whitley
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Director Sawyer and seconded by Vice-Chair Allen that the Board approve the agenda, and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Allen and seconded by Director Sawyer that the Board approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors held on January 22, 2015 and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Building Report
Paul Moore reported on the issues within the building following a flood that occurred in the radio department due to aging and faulty pipes and valves. Paul Moore added that it has been unclear as to which items are to be covered by Institutions of Higher Learning and their insurance as the owner of the building, and which are to be covered by MPB as the tenant and that this issue has brought about useful, needed and positive communication. Paul Moore noted that IHL paid all costs for the clean-up and that a Memorandum of Understanding is being drawn up which will delineate the responsibilities of each for any situations going forward.
[Director Smith joined the meeting.]
Operating Budget and Grants
Paul Moore presented the Operating Budget and Grants report and highlighted information concerning income from tower lease. The Operating Budget and Grants report is made a part of these Minutes as Exhibit A.
[Leyser Hayes joined the meeting.]
Personnel Report
Henry Williams presented the personnel report and answered questions about the hiring processes required by Mississippi State Personnel Board (SPB). Director Perry suggested MPB executive director and human resources staff pursue getting changes made due to staff positions at MPB which do not fit the descriptions of SPB.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Chairman Sansing recognized Executive Director Ronnie Agnew to report on activities within the agency.
Ronnie Agnew stated that MPB has the remarkable achievement of being approved for level funding by unanimous vote in the Mississippi Legislature.
Ronnie Agnew reported that he was elected to be the Professional Vice-Chair of Association of Public Television Stations which will lead to being Chairman the following year. Ronnie Agnew added that he continues to attend the Community Service Grant review meetings held at Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington D.C. monthly.
Ronnie Agnew noted that Mississippi’s statewide spelling bee, the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and the Mississippi Musicians Day have all been broadcast on MPB.
Ronnie Agnew stated that MPB’s work with the American Graduate program continues, with our education department taking the lead and all MPB departments involved.
Ronnie Agnew reported that the visit to Mississippi by StoryCorps was well-received. The total number of interviews recorded in Jackson was 133. The number of interviews that will be archived at the Library of Congress is 127.
Ronnie Agnew noted that several members of MPB’s production staff have recently received Telly awards for outstanding in-house productions.
Ronnie Agnew recognized Ryanne Saucier to give an update on spectrum sale. Ryanne Saucier explained the terminology used and reported that MPB is not presently in a situation that requires any decision.
STAFF UPDATES
Ronnie Agnew recognized MPB staff to give updates from departments.
Maggie Stevenson reported that the education department hosted a legislative reception which gave staff an opportunity to highlight the work with Cradle to Career.
Maggie Stevenson highlighted work done by those in the education services department in the area of dropout prevention, specifically participation in the Parents & Kids Metro Jackson career fair.
Jason Klein reported that in the fall Nielson ratings, all MPB Think Radio’s local shows were up in listenership by 17%, and that the Southern Remedy shows were up 39%.
Jason Klein stated that there have been 18,000 installs of the free MPB Radio app.
Jason Klein noted that the radio studio from which Bill Ellison has broadcast GrassRoots since 1982 has been named The Bluegrass Cabin and that Bill Ellison was honored at the unveiling.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Chairman Sansing recognized LeAnne Brewer for a report from the Foundation for Public Broadcasting.
LeAnne Brewer stated that overall contributions are up over last year at this time and that direct mail gifts were up 126% over last year. LeAnne Brewer added that the number of sustainer givers has quadrupled since 2013.
LeAnne Brewer noted that planned giving is now “on the map” in the Foundation’s work and that numbers are down 4.9% on underwriting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Allen and seconded by Director Smith that the Board consider going into a closed session for the purpose of determining if there was cause to go into executive session, and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.
In closed determination session, a motion was made by Director Perry and seconded by Director Sawyer that the Board enter into executive session
- To discuss personnel matters relating to the professional competence of a person holding a specific position when holding such a discussion in public could result in litigation against the agency.
The Board sits in Executive Session
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Allen and seconded by Director Smith and unanimously passed that the Board come out of executive session.
No action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.