MISSISSIPPI AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
Regular Telephonic Meeting of the Board of Directors
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
9:30 a.m.
Board Room
MAET Administration Building
3825 Ridgewood Rd.
Jackson, Mississippi
Directors present: David Allen, Chair, Bob Sawyer, Vice-Chair, Karen Cummins, Andrea Mayfield and Jennifer O’Neal
Directors present telephonically: Peggy Holmes
Directors not present: Pete Smith
Staff present: Ronnie Agnew, Teresa Collier, Roy Davis, Joel Gatlin, Claudia Morris, Maggie Stevenson and Henry Williams
Others present telephonically: Ann Becker, David Scott
OPENING OF MEETING
Chairman Allen called the meeting to order.
It was established that a quorum was present to do business.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Chairman Allen introduced the new member of the MPB Board of Directors, Ms. Karen Cummins, who is the representative from the IHL Board to the MPB Board.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Sawyer and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board approve the agenda, and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Sawyer and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board approve the minutes of the March 15 and April 28, 2016 meetings of the board of directors, and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
In the absence of CFO Paul Moore, Ronnie Agnew presented the financial report through April 30, 2016. Ronnie Agnew noted that the state returned some Education Enhancement funds (EEF) to MPB as tax revenues improved over the year.
Ronnie Agnew provided information to the board about the expected effect of the legislation regarding inter-agency fees.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET
Ronnie Agnew presented the fiscal year 2017 budget to the board. Ronnie Agnew highlighted the effect of the $1M+ state funding cut to MPB. Ronnie Agnew noted that the income from EdNet is not ongoing, but that in the future there will be a yearly check.
A motion was made by Director Mayfield and seconded by Director O’Neal that the Board approve the fiscal year 2017 budget, and upon a unanimous vote, the motion carried.
A copy of the budget is included in these minutes as Exhibit A.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ronnie Agnew restated that the interagency fee legislation will have a major effect on how MPB does business with other agencies.
Ronnie Agnew added that it is possible that MPB’s documentary Mississippi’s Free State of Jones will play before the Hollywood premiere of Free State of Jones at Malco theatre in June in Madison, Mississippi.
Ronnie Agnew mentioned that MPB has a new Legislative Budget Office (LBO) analyst who has met with the executive director and the CFO.
Ronnie Agnew announced that Victoria, the show PBS has set to replace Downton Abbey, has been well-received.
Ronnie Agnew informed the board that @Issue will become a 9-month series this coming fall rather than being produced and aired only during the legislative session.
UPDATE ON FLSA
Ronnie Agnew recognized Henry Williams to update the board on new regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and how they will affect MPB. Henry Williams stated that under new federal regulations, the threshold of pay is being nearly doubled, and as a result, 82 more MPB staff will be classified as “non-exempt”. Henry Williams explained that a non-exempt employee must be paid time and a half for any hours over 40 in any given week. Henry Williams added that each year the threshold will be updated (as had not been done for many years).
STAFF UPDATES
Teresa Collier stated that MPB News has been the recipient of many awards in recent months.
Maggie Stevenson noted that recently the Education department conducted a graduation for those who have being trained to be leaders during this summer’s Can I Kick It? camp.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion was made by Director Cummins and seconded by Director Mayfield 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 Vice-Chair Sawyer 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 Director Cummins and seconded by Director Mayfield, to adjourn.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE BOARD
