[Speaker 1] (0:02 - 0:23)
Good evening, I hereby call the meeting of the Lee College Board of Regents to order on June 25, 2025 at 6 p.m. We do have a quorum, so we will move on through our agenda and the next item that we start with always is the invocation and pledge the United States flag and the Texas flag. Regent Mark Hall will lead us, please stand.

[Speaker 6] (0:25 - 1:49)
Please join me in prayer. God, we thank you for the enormous blessings that you have given us, Lord, the blessing of living in this country, this experiment in liberty that we have enjoyed and do enjoy. Lord, we understand and see firsthand with the uncertainty the cost of that liberty.

We pray your hand's direction on our leaders, we pray protection for all of those all around the world that life will be preserved. So, God, as we enjoy that liberty, the liberty to learn and expand, Lord, we ask that you will guide us to make this college the best that it can be so we can impact the lives and make them all that you have designed us to be. So, God, we thank you, we pray that the continued blessing in Christ's name we ask all of these things.

Amen. Please join me in the pledge to the United States flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

And to the Texas flag, honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.

[Speaker 1] (1:49 - 1:58)
Thank you. Thank you, Regent Hall. Next item on the agenda is Athletic Coaches Appreciation.

[Speaker 3] (1:59 - 2:14)
Okay, we're our amazing coaches. I'm going to ask that Jacob Atkin start us off, then we can all join in.

[Speaker 2] (2:19 - 3:16)
So, it's my pleasure today to honor and thank our athletic coaches for the spectacular work that they have done this last year. As many of you know, our men's basketball team made it to the semifinals of Region 14 Tournament. This is also the first year for our women's volleyball, and this is going to turn out to be a foundational year for us, something that we can build an amazing program on moving into the future.

They have amazing leadership, they're hustlers by every definition of the word, and they are going to do great things for us. So, I'd like to take this time to turn it over to our athletic director and men's basketball head coach, Nick Wade, to introduce his team and to give you an opportunity to ask them any questions that you might like as a board.

[Speaker 5] (3:19 - 4:30)
Thank you so much for having us. Good evening, everybody. I'm going to start with our volleyball coaches first.

First and foremost, I want to thank all you guys. Super appreciative for everything you allow us to do and continue to support us. It really means a lot, and we take that very, very seriously.

First, I want to introduce my volleyball coaches, if Kylie and Coach Abby could come up here. I mean this, since I've been here, we've always had a competitive edge, but our volleyball coaches are pushing that to the brink. They never stop working, they never stop recruiting, they're always around, they're incredibly supportive, they're at all the games, and it's been great.

Coach Kylie just finished her first year, and again, she was able to learn, grow from it, and I'm super excited about what we brought in and what we're doing this next year. So I can't wait to see you guys at the games. And Coach Abby, her assistant, is the exact same way.

There's not one time I can't lean on either of them for anything, community-wise, in the department-wise, game-wise, anything like that, and that's reciprocal. So we're really, really excited to have both of them on board. So I'll take it.

[Speaker 21] (4:33 - 4:36)
I'd like to offer some comments.

[Speaker 3] (4:38 - 5:54)
I'd like to offer some comments. So it's always nice to recognize our athletes, but it's just as important for us to recognize each of you as our coaches. And I just want you to know that we recognize that you've done an incredible job of coaching our athletes, all of you.

But more importantly, I think it's important to recognize that you have developed some amazing scholars, you have created mentors and leaders, and you have all instilled in them strong values that will serve them their entire lives. We talk all the time about our mission to improve the quality of life for those we serve. Well, you guys are the living embodiment of that in your daily roles with our students, and you're making them great human beings, and I'm so proud of that.

Our athletics program has truly changed our brand as a college, and our community has elevated our prominence as a college in our community. So now our citizens are able to come to a great game at no cost, and they are rallying around our teams. So I will just say, keep up the great work and go Navs!

[Speaker 5] (6:00 - 8:20)
And then next, my two assistants, I would just like to give some greetings to. First is Casey Apetre. He just finished his third season here.

And I don't know if many of you got to know, but he was actually last year's Assistant Coach of the Year by Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. So truly, truly great to the day-to-day of what we do here, making sure our kids are in class numerous times. I call him, he's in the car either going to Walmart for the guys, showing up with certain things for the guys, and he's been truly special.

And keeping our guys on track to graduate, which we've been able to do with all our guys. And he also takes the lead in getting our guys recruited and keeping those different relationships with coaches at four-year schools. So Casey, if you want to come up.

And then last, but certainly not least, is Russell Bundage. And I'm going to spend just a smidge more time, Russ is actually a volunteer coach. Everything he does with us, he just volunteers his time.

That's it. Russ works at Peter Highland. I've known Russ for numerous years.

We were actually part of, we kind of got our coaching start together with a local group called the Baytown Cougars. And we were just coaching off of pure pride and passion. We didn't really know how it was, and we've kind of formed this bond ever since.

Coach Russ is one of those people that you can just always depend on, and he's always been great. And he just elevates us to a whole different stratosphere. Because everything he does, not only is it out of just sheer want to, but his care for our student-athletes is second to none.

But the thing I'm most proud of is not only do we sing his praises, but he was also Peter Highland Goose Creek's Teacher of the Year this year. And that's just a testament to just who the person he is, and where he's come from, and things like that. So again, everything we've been able to do, super important.

But it's people like Coach Russ that are really taking us to the next level. So welcome. And did anybody have any questions or anything?

[Speaker 3] (8:21 - 8:32)
Well, I was going to offer the opportunity for our board members to provide any comments and or reflections, if they would so choose.

[Speaker 5] (8:34 - 8:42)
Just a gentle reminder, we've got the Region 14 Tournament here again this next year. So that's going to be super exciting as well. And we're going to try to stick around the whole week for you.

[Speaker 18] (8:43 - 8:52)
Well, Coach, I love coming to watch y'all compete. And with only graduating one sophomore, we're expecting a deeper run next year.

[Speaker 1] (8:53 - 8:54)
I got you.

[Speaker 5] (8:55 - 8:57)
Thank you all so much. Oh, sorry.

[Speaker 1] (8:58 - 9:09)
Any other questions or comments? I was hoping somebody would ask you how our season was going to go. I know we'll look forward to the tournament and sticking around that whole week.

[Speaker 5] (9:09 - 9:18)
Yeah, absolutely. How's your team look? Well, here, I want our head coach to come up, our head volleyball coach.

I want you to hear about both teams because they're really good.

[Speaker 15] (9:21 - 9:46)
This year, I have three returners from last year's team. I have 10 freshmen coming in. A lot are actually from the Houston area.

I do have one Kansas kid and I do have one international from Hungary. But that big freshman class is going to be a really big game changer for us and just kind of shifting the culture and like the skill level a little bit. And so we're really, really excited about what we have to offer next year.

[Speaker 5] (9:49 - 10:47)
And like I said, they've been doing a tremendous job. I'm super excited about them as well. As far as our team, we're excited.

I think that went from the youngest, you know, team in the conference by far to one of the oldest. We had to take some of those lumps. And so we're really excited about that.

And the one thing I'm most proud of at this moment is just that our sophomores have turned into big brothers. It's really been awesome to see, you know what I mean? Just getting those guys right, forming that bond and they're asking and talking to each other because, you know, we were at the TABC this past week in Dallas and three or four formerly college players are there and they come and see us and talk to us.

But more importantly, they still talk to each other. These JUCO ties are something that will be with them for the rest of their lives. And it goes quick, but it's lifelong.

So we're really excited about that. But as far as our team, we'll be ready to compete. And again, if we can stay healthy and, you know, unselfish, I think the sky's the limit for this team.

Absolutely.

[Speaker 1] (10:49 - 10:50)
Looking forward to both seasons.

[Speaker 5] (10:50 - 10:51)
Thank you all so much.

[Speaker 11] (10:53 - 10:58)
All right. All right. If we could get the coaches to come up for a picture.

[Speaker 1] (12:37 - 12:47)
All right, folks. Next item on the agenda is student spotlight. We'll have a report on the Texas Junior College Student Government Association Conference.

[Speaker 3] (12:47 - 12:52)
I'd like to invite Jo Gray's house to the podium so that she can introduce our speaker.

[Speaker 13] (12:54 - 14:10)
Oh, you're already there. Sorry. Well, I injured my knees, so I thought it would be better if I just slid on up here.

So I am thrilled to introduce our speaker, Laila Leah, who is the previous treasurer of Student Government Association. She was active in SGA last academic year, and unfortunately, she's had to relinquish her SGA duties. But she was willing to come back and tell us about the conference at the state conference that happened in Galveston.

Laila is an art student, and she plans to transfer to university to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts. She also is working in the art department with the students in our camp, and she became a student worker in the art camp. She did not give up cheer, so she's still with our cheer squad.

And she's a great student, and it's a true pleasure to introduce her and let her tell you about our state conference.

[Speaker 4] (14:20 - 14:26)
I'm a little tall. Can you hear me?

[Speaker 1] (14:27 - 14:27)
Yeah, we can hear you.

[Speaker 4] (14:28 - 19:25)
Okay. As long as everyone can hear? Okay, okay.

Oh, thank you, thank you. All right. Thank you, Ms. Cho. Hello, everyone. My name is Laila Lea, as Ms. Cho said, and I am the 2024 through 2025 Student Government Association treasurer. And on behalf of the Lee College SGA, I wanted to present this recap of our experience at the TJC SGA State Convention.

Texas Junior College Student Government Association, or TJC SGA, is an organization that represents the students and interests of Texas community colleges through student-run state and regional boards. The TJC SGA organizes leadership workshops, various award opportunities, regional meetings, and an annual state convention, which we are grateful to have been a part of. For context, each annual state convention has an overarching symbolic theme, and this year's was waves of change.

The TJC SGA State Board stating that, like the ocean's waves reshaping the shoreline, we, too, are driving change across Texas. The convention was hosted at Moody Gardens in Galveston from April 10th through the 13th, and the attending members of our Lee College SGA were Secretary Camille Warren, myself as treasurer, Parliamentarian Laila Quaye, Advisor Michael Pounds, and Co-Advisor Joe Greathouse. Scheduled throughout the three days were six different leadership workshops, regional meetings, and general assemblies, including a keynote speech from Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, voting on various resolutions and nominations, the amending of TJC SGA Constitution and Bylaws, recreational events, and an awards ceremony.

Our attending members' favorite workshop was one led by Katie Fufur, a student life program specialist at the University of Texas Medical Branch with six years of experience in team building and activities for all ages and abilities. We were taught experiential or hands-on learning. Our students, along with many others, were in one large meeting room and then split into groups.

We were given tasks with restrictions to work through, one example being, line yourself in alphabetical order of your high school mascot without speaking. It was a lot of fun. And Katie's workshop allowed our SGA to focus on accessibility and outreach for all as we began to rethink the ways we learn and interact with our college's student body.

We were taught how to break up groups or cliques in fun and encouraging ways and provide a safe space to allow those who may be quieter to connect with an entire room. And since 2024, our goal as SGA officers has been to create a solid foundation for Lee College's student government. Being able to interact with other student governments has been crucial for our intentions.

As our officers made connections with other schools left and right, we were able to learn how other community colleges' SGAs function with differences that we could adapt within our own or discuss as possible routes. We were able to observe how an SGA meeting should be conducted in a formal fashion with certain ways to address officers and give speakers the floor. Our officers also took it upon themselves to create and share a collaborative Google Drive for any college to add their SGA constitution and bylaws.

This allowed our college and other colleges to benefit from comparisons and the distribution of knowledge. And as we socialized, we found out that there were other community colleges who had not heard of Lee College, but all this meant was that we were even more proud to represent our school as it became recognized as an involved community at the state level. And with that, the Lee College SGA received an award for Outstanding Delegation.

Yes. And this award is a recognition of our SGA's demonstration of exceptional collaboration, leadership, and overall positive impact. With everything we had learned at the convention, it was time to bring it home.

We were equipped to make Lee College's SGA more approachable and interactive by implementing changes within our following meeting. Rather than rows of tables, we encouraged interaction and equality between SGA officers and club officers by changing seating to a more circular, conversational arrangement. Like the state SGA board did, we created a slideshow as a visual aid to go alongside our agenda, with the agenda, sign-in, and any voting being made accessible through a simple QR code.

We also implemented the use of a microphone during meetings as a show of respect for those speaking and to the benefit of those who may be quieter or hard of hearing. We had a better understanding and practice of meeting formalities overall and were able to show the ropes to the rest of the SGA efficiently. Finally, our knowledge was not only shared by our officers, but also our advisors, who will be the ones to continue each SGA chapter using the basis we have all worked to create.

So on behalf of the Lee College SGA, thank you for allowing us to enrich our student government for the present and the future.

[Speaker 17] (19:42 - 19:46)
I have a question. You mentioned you guys' favorite session.

[Speaker 4] (19:47 - 19:47)
Yes, ma'am.

[Speaker 17] (19:47 - 19:55)
And the person there, her name was Katie. Yes, ma'am. Did she happen to mention that she was from Baytown?

She did not. She's a graduate of Lee High School.

[Speaker 4] (19:55 - 19:55)
Oh, wow.

[Speaker 17] (19:55 - 20:03)
Yes, she is. No, she did not mention it. Absolutely.

Her maiden name is Katie Kinney, graduate of Lee High School.

[Speaker 4] (20:04 - 20:09)
She was really helpful. She really provided a fun experience.

[Speaker 11] (21:27 - 21:28)
Thank you.

[Speaker 18] (22:01 - 22:04)
And thank you for coming to the Juneteenth parade.

[Speaker 11] (22:21 - 22:22)
All right.

[Speaker 1] (22:23 - 23:02)
Those are always fun to do. Folks, we're going to move on with our agenda. Next, we have disposition of minutes.

We have several to consider. We have a special board meeting and tour that was May 1st, 2025, audit and investment committee meeting May 13th, 2025, building committee meeting May 14th, 2025, board meeting May 14th, 2025, special board meeting and tour May 29th, 2025, special board meeting and budget workshop on May 29th, 2025. I'm open for anyone who would like to make a motion to approve.

[Speaker 11] (23:04 - 23:04)
Second.

[Speaker 1] (23:05 - 23:14)
Motion, Regent Cotton. Second, Regent Geralds. Anyone who had a chance to read all these, any comments or questions?

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (23:14 - 23:15)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (23:15 - 25:42)
Opposed, no. The minutes I listed are approved. Thank you very much.

Going to move to report of the chairman. This is going to be a little different. First of all, I want to take just a minute and recognize we have Councilman Ken Griffith with us from Baytown City Council with us tonight.

Thank you for being with us. Hope we're as entertaining as your meetings are. All right.

Instead of report, I want to make a special presentation in memory of Roger Schoenbeck. Roger Schoenbeck lived a life marked by service, intellect, and an unwavering curiosity about the world. A proud graduate of Lane Tech High School in 1966, he often spoke of how that early education ignited his lifelong pursuit of knowledge.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, Roger was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service, an enduring testament to his courage and commitment. Following his military service, he built a distinguished 30-year career at Exxon Mobil, earned his law degree from the University of Houston, and served as chairman of the Texas Bar Law Student Division. Roger's commitment to education and civic engagement extended into his service at Lee College, where he served as member of the Board of Regents from 1992 through 1998, and as Assistant Secretary from 1996 to 1998.

His leadership, insight, and steady presence contributed meaningfully to the growth and direction of the college. Among his greatest joys were his family, his partner of 27 years, Karen Crumley, and the incredible adventures they shared while traveling to more than 120 countries, and his son Byron, of whom he was immensely proud. And they're both with us tonight.

Will you please just stand for just a second? Thank you. Thank you.

His life was a testament to resilience, love, and a deep appreciation for learning and connection. On behalf of the Board of Regents and the Lee College District, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Schoenbeck for his dedicated service to our college, our students, and our community. His legacy of kindness, quiet leadership, and public service will not be forgotten.

May he rest in peace. We do have a special presentation for you as well. If y'all would come up.

Dr. Ben-Wayman? I want the whole board to come up. Exactly, right?

[Speaker 11] (25:56 - 27:52)
Y'all up there. Thank you. Thank you.

All right.

[Speaker 1] (28:01 - 28:10)
Next, we're going to move on to committee reports, and we'll begin with the building committee. I think Regent Hall's giving us that update today? I could do it.

[Speaker 5] (28:10 - 28:11)
Regent Hemsel.

[Speaker 1] (28:11 - 28:18)
No, Hemsel. Were you the one doing it? How about you do it?

Got it right here. Let's have you do it. Okay.

I'll do it.

[Speaker 7] (28:19 - 28:20)
The building committee met.

[Speaker 1] (28:21 - 28:22)
I wanted to see the look on your face.

[Speaker 7] (28:22 - 32:10)
On June the 18th. All the committee members were present, as well as Board Chair Santana, college administration, and the college facilities team. Chairman, Committee Chair Fontenot asked CFO Jacob Atkin to start our discussions.

Jacob reviewed with the committee the terms and usage numbers for natural gas and electricity under the current contracts. Jacob would like approval to be proactive in renegotiating these contracts to secure the best possible rate. There will be an agenda item tonight to further discuss and provide guidance on utility contracts.

The building committee supports the administration to renegotiate. The committee received an update on the current lawn care services contract with Rotallo Consultants. We're in the final months of a three-year of the five-year agreement.

Administration wishes to exercise a renewal for the year four. Administration wishes to exercise, I'm sorry, year four. We have a proposal from Rotallo which includes a three percent increase.

The facilities team and administration are pleased with the services from Rotallo. There will be an agenda item tonight to further discuss and provide guidance on the lawn care services contract. The building committee supports the administration on the renewal.

The committee reviewed the request for furniture updates for TV 1 and TV 2. The proposed furniture will follow the standard for all new furniture on campus. Furniture Marketing Group will provide the services under the Harworth-Omano 80435AA contract.

Funding is set aside from the 1.6 million dollar furniture approval from the 2024 budget. The building committee recommends the approval of this request. The committee was made aware of property that is available for sale.

The committee also asked administration for additional details, possible usage needs, and site reports that we can obtain. The building committee is obligated to review offerings that are presented to the college. Annette Ferguson presented inquiry from a citizen concerning a purchasing property from the college near the McNair site.

At this time, we do not have any details. The proposed usage or acreage needed. The committee is willing to discuss if we receive additional information.

Annette provided the committee on the facility's master plan. The work by PB Caritex involves two aspects, assessment of building condition and current building usage. Annette reported the final master plan may not be available until late 2025 or early 2026.

The committee also inquired on the usage changes of the main campus facilities when the Barber Seal Campus opens. The facilities team provided a detailed spreadsheet on completed projects and projects ongoing. Their report included updates on the cosmetology project, ADA phase 2 and life safety, and furniture purchasing.

Of the 4 million approved, about 1 million is expected to remain after projects are completed. It was reported the cosmetology project is about 60% complete, the water damage beam has been replaced, drywall is being completed, and the rooftop HVAC units have been installed. The board is scheduled to tour the West Texas Avenue properties on the 25th, which we did today, including the cosmetology project.

The committee appreciates the diligent work performed by the administration and the facilities team to ensure the college maintains a quality student experience and professional workplace for our staff. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer those.

[Speaker 1] (32:11 - 32:34)
Questions for Regent Hemsel? Not all? All right.

Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Yeah.

All right. Next, we'll move on to the policy committee report. Yes.

My report will be considerably shorter. We have not met this month. Thank you.

Thank you, Regent Hall. All right. Audit and Investment Committee.

Regent Geralds.

[Speaker 12] (32:34 - 32:36)
We will be meeting on July 21st.

[Speaker 1] (32:37 - 32:40)
Great. Thank you. We'll move on to report of the President.

Dr. Villanueva.

[Speaker 3] (32:41 - 38:36)
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Did anyone hear that Regent Hemsel and his wife, Debbie, blew up a building last weekend? Yes.

Yeah. So, yeah. So, he blew up a really huge building, the White House, where ExxonMobil housed their I guess it was their executives, right, for many, many years.

And he, I don't know why you decided to explode it on that day and whatnot, but you were just available and asked to do it? Yes. Okay.

Well, there you go. You just have to, you never know what can happen if you ask. But we're very proud of Regent Hemsel because he also went in 50-50, I guess, with ExxonMobil to provide us with a $10,000 endowed scholarship for students who wish to transfer in the area of engineering.

And so, we are very grateful for your contribution, and you did a good job of exploding the building. It really went well. Okay.

Thank you very much. You're welcome. At your place, you each have a copy of the Greater Baytown Magazine, and I'd just like to bring to your attention that, and there's little tabs here that I'm sure David provided because he's such a perfectionist, that highlight the story that I want to bring to your attention.

It's entitled, Lee College Students Build Basketball Court for Costa Rica School. And that kind of says it all, but it was the Rotaract Club who traveled to Costa Rica, and they built a basketball court for an underprivileged school that serves both elementary school students and high school students, and it was something that the kids have been asking for for years. And so, our Rotaract team, under the leadership of Dr. Greg Leteer, was able to deliver on that promise, and it was just a wonderful occasion for all of them who attended and went to Costa Rica. As you know, Dr. Leteer has retired, and we certainly miss his smiling face and his leadership, and just great that he was able to do many, many of these trips and provide so much service above self in many, many ways in many years. So, it was a pleasure to be a part of the first commencement ceremony at the Women's I never get tired of celebrating the accomplishments of our students and seeing their smiles as they receive their awards, but I want to thank Regent Santana, Hall, Hemsel, Thomas, and Fontenot for attending. It means so much to our students, to their families, and to all of us here, our faculty, staff, all of our employees, that you support all of our students no matter where they are, and it really means a lot.

Lee College welcomed employees from the coordinating board, and we usually don't get excited about them attending the college, but, and I don't know if we were excited about this one. Would you say, Dr. Walzers, we were excited about having them attend? Okay, I wasn't really excited, but it turned out to be really good.

So, they came to do a two-day site visit of our Perkins grant program, and the team met with 50 different staff at all levels, as well as seven different students who were receiving services sponsored through Perkins funding and to hear about their experiences with that equipment. One of the two reviewers from the coordinating board shared that she loved being in the company of a team of caring individuals who are committed to student success. So, using their performance matrix, Lee College received an overall score of, I'm sorry, earned a score of 293 out of 325.

So, based upon that overall score, Lee College earned an exceptional rating. So, we're very, very proud of that. A special thanks goes out to Karen Asencio for her hard work in directing this program.

So, congratulations to the team and to all of us. Four things. I wanted to tell you a little bit about the Kids College, which is occurring right now, and it's just gone off without a hitch.

So, we had 426 campers attend camps in the first four weeks, which is almost twice as many that attended camp for all of last summer, which we were impacted by Hurricane Beryl, but still, nonetheless, very important. We held our first camp at the Liberty Center last week, and 60 students attended. And we estimate that by the end of the summer, attendance will exceed 800 students, which is more than triple last year, and that's where we were affected by Beryl, too, and more than double two years ago.

So, camps are offered for children from kindergarten to 12th grade in arts and crafts, literature, science and engineering, sports, and specialty areas including cosmetology, gardening, Spanish, and a specialty program, a special program called Humane Heroes that is a partnership with the City of Baytown Animal Shelter. And I got to meet one of the students, a really cute young tyke who's a son of one of our employees, and he loves working with those animals and had a special penchant for one particular dog who he described as being orange, and big. So, that was great to hear.

But big thanks go out to Marcia Tooha and her team for the impressive growth and the service that we are providing our community, including the Liberty Center. That concludes my report.

[Speaker 1] (38:37 - 38:56)
Thank you, Dr. Villanueva. Any questions for Dr. Villanueva and her report? All right, board.

At this time, I'm going to take the liberty of making a little adjustment in our agenda. I'm going to ask, we're going to go down to public comment. Do we have anyone signed up for public comment tonight?

[Speaker 11] (39:02 - 39:15)
Okay. We'd like to call them up. Tell me when you're ready.

[Speaker 8] (39:17 - 39:19)
Ready. And go.

[Speaker 20] (39:19 - 39:20)
We're always ready.

[Speaker 8] (39:20 - 42:18)
Like that. And go. First, I want to congratulate the winners of the last election cycle.

Mr. Daryl Fonda, who's not here. That's a shame. He should be here since my number one criticism was that I may not be available since I own a company.

But, hey, we'll see him next time. Thank you, Ms. Warford, who was also on the ballot, also not here. And I want to congratulate Mr. Heron Thomas on his historical run. What he achieved, I think, is historical and magnanimous, if I'm saying that correctly. What he had to overcome, he had to overcome a Baytown Sun that saw several letters to the editor put in the paper but never actually reached the public. The Baytown Sun failed to report to the public the letters to the editor that was filed on Mr. Heron Thomas. Unfortunately, the Baytown Sun also failed to get the whole word out there. Ms. Morfano was able to have the liberty of walking into the Baytown Sun office and telling her side of the story, unlike any other person who ran for any sort of seat. That's high-tier journalism, Mr. Chairman. I also want to congratulate the Baytown Sun for allowing Mr. Regent Hall, my former political opponent, to call the Baytown Sun and to change words in the paper, such as the fact that I got more votes than Mr. Hunter Hall two years ago, Mr. Mark Hall's son. Mr. Hall thought it was appropriate to call the Baytown Sun and get that change, per Mr. Dave Rogers' request. So thank you, Mr. Rogers, for proving to us that even Mr. Heron Thomas can overcome that sort of oppression here in this town, these historical institutions Fred Hartman would be terribly disappointed to know about. I also want to talk about these public endorsements. I find it troubling that sitting regents on this board are willing to go out into the public and write those letters to the editor and support incumbents who don't need your help, by the way. There might as well be nine different mayors of Baytown here.

We don't need a caked-up social capital of everybody's friend helping each other, running against Heron Thomas all at once. This is probably why I was able to lend a hand in that. We had the Baytown Sun cover up several things from our former regents, one of which I won't name, but I will say running against his best friend, Mr. Fontenot, did add a taste of transparency to the public. And finally, last but not least, I believe that the 500 voters that came out to vote for me spoke loudly when they said that they want these meetings to be video recorded. I don't think that's a problem. We got the money here.

If Goose Creek can do it, if Baytown City Council can do it, I think this college can take a step and be a little bit more transparent, just a little bit more transparent in video recording these meetings. If you're going to make these important decisions, we want to see it. And if you guys don't like it, I'm sorry.

I'll see you in two years. We can go at it again. We can see who else is willing to step up.

So thank you very much for your time. Thank you for being absent, even though you're saying that I would be, and we'll see you in two years. Thank you very much.

[Speaker 1] (42:19 - 42:47)
Thank you, Mr. Isaac. All right. In order to provide an opportunity for all of the regents that are present now to participate in one of our agenda items a little farther down, and I not have to look at the clock and worry whether or not we're going to get to it, I'm going to move down to new business.

I'm going to handle XB5 at this time.

[Speaker 11] (42:53 - 42:56)
This item is very important to Lee College.

[Speaker 1] (42:57 - 43:28)
This is consideration and review of interlocal agreement and lease agreement with Barbers Hill ISD for a Lee College branch campus in Mt. Bellevue, Texas and related actions. The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate final terms and enter into the proposed interlocal agreement and lease agreement with Barbers Hill ISD for the creation and operation of a Lee College branch campus in Mt.

Bellevue, Texas. Motion from Regent Hemsel.

[Speaker 11] (43:29 - 43:29)
I second.

[Speaker 1] (43:29 - 43:57)
Second from Regent Hall. During this discussion, I'll simply add the purpose of this agreement is to establish a Lee College branch campus within Barbers Hill ISD, increase the enrollment, persistence and degree completion of Barbers Hill ISD graduates at Lee College, and to expand the educational opportunities for all residents of Barbers Hill ISD. Are there any other comments on this item?

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a comment.

[Speaker 6] (43:58 - 46:29)
Only Regent Hemsel and I were around back in those days when, 23 years ago, we began when I first got on the board, we began to discuss as a board the changes that Lee College faced, the growth to our east and how Lee College was going to be able to meet the demands of that growth. And other members came on and this was an ongoing discussion. There were lots of challenges that were faced, but of all those years and many people contributed to this, former presidents even of the college, we finally reached a point, and I think it's a pivotal point in the history of Lee College, that we have an agreement with the Barbers Hill Independent School District that works to both of our benefits and will greatly enhance our capability to reach students in our service area that extends far east of our campus here. And so I want to compliment all that have worked on this, but I particularly want to compliment our president, because when we say hammered out a deal, that's a pretty apt description of what's gone on for particularly the last two or three or four years. And so I want to say thank you to the president to work out the details.

And if any citizens have a question of whether this is just like pro forma, there's no game plan for to work out a deal like this. It just has to be done. And a lot, lot of details had to be worked out.

And so this has been fine tuned, fine tuned, fine tuned over and over. And I'm very pleased with the agreement. I want to, again, congratulate you and your team that have worked on this.

And I know there are many others. And to say thank you for for bringing this finally and working out an agreement that we can see the future of Lee College. If I didn't say it before, I think this is a pivotal action that we're taking, like 50 year pivot.

And I believe it will enable us to meet those needs. Something that we looked at, you know, over 20 years ago and even beyond that, former board members were involved in that, too. And so this is very important.

It's good for both taxing entities and it's good for the students that live here and east of our district. Very important. Thank you.

[Speaker 16] (46:29 - 46:49)
Thank you, Regent Hall. Any other comments? Yes, Mr. President. As I was listening to you, I heard Barbers Hill, Barbers Hill, Barbers Hill. And this is a Barbers Hill campus of Lee College. It is for anyone and everyone who wishes to attend.

It is not strictly for Barbers Hill students.

[Speaker 6] (46:50 - 46:53)
It's to reach all of the east of our district. Yes.

[Speaker 16] (46:53 - 46:57)
That's helped us to it's an outreach campus, really.

[Speaker 6] (46:57 - 47:11)
All of Chambers County, all of Liberty or most of Liberty County. It's it's quite expansive. The other 12 districts, they're involved in our service area.

Are there 12 additional districts besides?

[Speaker 3] (47:12 - 47:18)
Depends on how many we count on the day that we're counting them. Right. So what is the number now?

[Speaker 21] (47:18 - 47:20)
Is Dr. Moreno here? How many?

[Speaker 11] (47:25 - 47:31)
Yeah. I'll just say the most exciting thing.

[Speaker 1] (47:55 - 48:30)
I do appreciate Regent Cotton clarifying. The only reason Barbers Hills mentioned so many times is because the Barbers Hill voters are the ones who approve the tax to pay for this campus to be there. But it will serve any student that walks in those doors that wants to sign up for Lee College.

Any student, not only in our service area, in the state of Texas, all the way to international, just like we do here. So just to clarify, this is not strictly a Barbers Hill ISD campus, but the voters did vote for it for their students. So that's just a clarification.

[Speaker 12] (48:30 - 48:32)
They will be Lee College students.

[Speaker 1] (48:32 - 48:53)
These are Lee College students. That is correct. All right.

Comments? All right. So I have a motion and a second for consideration of the interlocal agreement and lease agreement with Barbers Hill ISD for a Lee College branch campus in Mount Bellevue, Texas, and related actions.

All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no.

Motion is approved. Thank you.

[Speaker 22] (49:00 - 49:04)
Can I leave now? No. Is that a present?

I mean, just for tonight.

[Speaker 1] (49:05 - 49:37)
No, no. We do appreciate the fact that we are meeting at an unscheduled day and time of the month, and that always creates scheduled problems for everyone. Wednesday night is not our night of choice.

We're going to do everything we can to keep from meeting on Wednesday nights from this point forward, but unfortunately, tonight is Wednesday night. All right. I'm going to move on back to informational reports, and we'll go to the report on Strategic Horizons Network.

Who's providing that?

[Speaker 3] (49:38 - 49:44)
We have an entire amazing group who are coming up to speak to us about SHN.

[Speaker 11] (50:03 - 50:03)
Good evening.

[Speaker 12] (50:08 - 50:33)
Thank you, Dr. Villanueva and Board of Regents. Tonight, we are going to share our experience attending the Strategic Horizon Network Colloquium in Cleveland, Ohio, focusing on AI and the changing world of work. I'm Karen Guthmiller, and presenting with me is Katherine Poppin, Sophie Winters, and Molly Santana.

[Speaker 10] (50:39 - 51:54)
I'm a little shorter. SHN is a unique, collaborative community of leading industry partners and community colleges focused on organizational learning. The network embraces the values of alternative futures, disruptive innovation, and strategies of transformation that lead to extraordinary performance and growth in community colleges.

I'll just hold it. There are nine members of SHN. Lee College was chosen for its proven commitment to embracing innovative practices, building strong industry partnerships, and consistently seeking new ways to enhance student success and institutional effectiveness.

The environment in which community colleges operate is changing at an ever-accelerating and increasingly complex rate. Social, technological, and political forces are fundamentally altering the educational landscape in ways that are not easily understood. The Strategic Horizon Network believes that unprecedented challenges require unconventional solutions that can only be found through uncommon learning.

Each year, the network focuses on disruptive innovations that help us navigate the ever-changing landscape of community colleges.

[Speaker 9] (51:58 - 52:55)
This year's SHN team brings together individuals from across Lee College, faculty, staff, and administration, selected for their ability to think creatively, collaborate across departments, and lead change. As representatives, we were invited to engage in bold conversations about AI and disruptive innovation, exploring how these forces can reshape education and uncover new ways to serve our students in our community. Our team participated in a 30-day AI Agility Challenge to prepare for the SHN Network Colloquium, where we focused on building shared understanding and momentum for integrating AI into our institutions.

This team was not only chosen just to attend, but to bring back ideas that can inspire growth across programs, systems, and culture at Lee College. Through this experience, we aimed to challenge traditional models and reimagine what is possible for our institution.

[Speaker 14] (53:01 - 54:16)
At the SHN conference, we heard directly from major industry leaders in Cleveland. Leaders who not only drive innovation within their own organizations, but actively partner with community colleges to shape the future workforce. These companies recognize that community colleges are uniquely positioned to adapt quickly, meet workforce demands, and prepare students for careers shaped by AI and rapidly evolving technologies.

From AI-driven competency-based learning to the reshaping of organizational culture and workforce development, each speaker emphasized the value of collaboration with colleges like ours. Their message was clear. Community colleges are not just part of the workforce pipeline.

We are critical partners in preparing agile, future-ready talent. These sessions gave us front-row seats to how leading employers are embracing disruptive innovation and how they see community colleges as key allies in the process.

[Speaker 9] (54:23 - 55:51)
So, as part of our SHN experience, we had the opportunity to visit some of Cleveland's leading innovation hubs, organizations that are not only shaping their industries, but also redefining how technology and creativity are applied to real-world problems. At Cleveland Clinic, we saw how quantum computing is being used in biomedical research and how generative AI is transforming clinical care and operations, giving us a clear picture of how advanced technology is reshaping healthcare at every level. During our visit to Nottingham Spurk, it showcased how product innovation happens through the integration of design, engineering, and business strategy.

Their process of vertical innovation was a powerful reminder that creativity and structure can go hand-in-hand when it comes to building solutions that scale. At Magnet, we saw a remarkable transformation of a former elementary school into a hub for manufacturing innovation, where workforce development and regional economic growth are deeply connected to creative problem-solving and hands-on training. These visits reinforced that innovation isn't a buzzword, it's a necessity.

And as technology continues to evolve rapidly, it's critical that institutions like ours stay connected, adaptive, and proactive in preparing students for the world that they're stepping into.

[Speaker 12] (55:57 - 57:11)
So, at the heart of everything we've learned and experienced through the SHN is our shared purpose, improving the lives of students we serve. When we partner with industry leaders, we're not just aligning our curriculum, we're building pathways to careers that offer stability, living wages, and the ability to support families. These employers are telling us directly what they need, and as the world evolves, so must we.

Our programs, our teaching, and the systems that support our students. Innovation isn't just about technology, it's about improving how students experience Lee College. From the first time they engage with us to the moment they step into the workforce, our job is to ensure that they are prepared, adaptable, and empowered to keep learning.

The work happens on the ground. It requires cross-campus collaboration through change and a commitment to continuous improvement. And through it all, the student remains the center of what we do.

[Speaker 10] (57:18 - 58:18)
As AI continues to reshape education, work, and daily life, we have a choice in how we respond. Some will bury their heads, hoping AI is just a passing trend. Others will fight against it, trying to hold on to the way things have always been.

But at Lee College, we choose to dance with it, to move with the change, to learn its rhythm, and to use it with intention and care. Not for the sake of novelty, not for efficiency alone, but for our students. To prepare them for a future that will demand adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to work alongside evolving technologies.

Dancing with AI means meeting students where they are and helping them thrive in a world that is rapidly changing. It means rethinking our practices, our programs, and our systems with student success at the center. We're not just preparing them for a job, we're preparing them for the future.

And for that, we need to keep moving forward with curiosity, courage, and purpose.

[Speaker 1] (58:22 - 58:32)
Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, we'll move to report of Lee College resignations and or retirements.

Dr. Villanueva.

[Speaker 3] (58:33 - 58:47)
Yes. I have the following resignations to report. The first is Leonore Calderon.

The second is Tristan Eggener. The third is Sandra Richardson. And that is it.

[Speaker 1] (58:47 - 58:57)
That's it. All right. Thank you very much.

Next, we'll move to our financial report. Jacob Batkin, our Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. Jacob, come on up.

[Speaker 2] (58:59 - 1:06:23)
Good to be with you this afternoon. Starting with cash and investments, as you can see, at the end of May, we had $28 million in our operating fund, $31 million in board reserves, which includes insurance reserves, as well as the standard reserves that you've been working on for the past several years. We have a little over, almost, we have almost $10 million in our construction accounts.

This is primarily lost revenue reimbursements from CARES Act, as well as construction funds that we've set aside. In total, we have $69 million in cash. This time last year, we had $65.7 million in cash. And so, you can see, from last year to this year, we've grown our cash totals by almost $4 million. In terms of our regular operating budget, you can see that through the end of May, we've collected $43 million in district taxes. This is only 96% of what we had budgeted.

We did not adjust that after reducing the rate last year. We will collect a few more dollars, but obviously, we're not going to hit our target in terms of district taxes. We've collected the vast majority of our tuition and fees for the year.

We're at 99% at $16.5 million. That's a slight increase over last year's collections of $16.457 million. State appropriations, we still have one quarter of our payment total allocation that we will receive in June.

As of today, we still haven't received that yet, but we expect that in the next day or two from the state. And then finally, our other local income is at 86% of the total budget. At $4.7 million, that's a 21% increase over what we earned last year in other income. That's primarily due to return on investment. Looking at notices from the Fed, they are not proposing a rate cut in July and may postpone rates cuts later in the year due to potential inflation from changes to tariffs. And so, we expect to be able to maintain some of these higher earnings on our investments through the rest of this year and potentially into next year.

In terms of expenses, you can see that salaries are at $29.9 million or 72%. Through the end of May, we should be closer to 75%. And so, we are going to experience some vacancy savings with our salaries by the end of the year.

Benefits, obviously, are aligned with our salaries, and they're running at 70%. Benefits does have a post-closing entry as we apply OPEB and other retirement benefits that we receive from the state at the end of the year. And so, that will see an increase when we post those transactions in September.

In terms of our general operating funds, we are at 60%. At $18.2 million, we are spending at a higher rate than we did last year, but we are operating under budget on our operating expenses, and I'll cover that in a later slide. And then, of course, debt, we're at 22%, but we make most of our debt payments in August.

And so, you'll see that level out to 100% by the end of the year. Here is our projected net revenue as we look at our position at the end of May. Right now, we are projecting a $3.7 million surplus as of the end of the year. In terms of revenues, our revenues are actually trending under budget at $804,000 under budget. However, we're projecting a $4.7 million savings on our expense side, which, of course, will net to the $3.7 million. Now, we still have several months left in the year, and we are trying to address some of these issues from an administrative perspective, but we do expect to have a small surplus at the end of this year.

We also manage capital projects. So, we have our operating fund, we have our capital projects fund, and then we have our grant and contracts fund. And unlike we have done in the past, we will actually present each of these budgets to you in the budget adoption process so that you will approve these each year so that we can track these separately.

We've been tracking them separately, but we'll actually go through a formal budget approval process to make sure that you understand how we're tracking all of these funds succinctly in the future. As you can see, and these projects have been ongoing for a lot of years, and the building board reviews these carefully, we have the cosmetology renovation, which still has $2.5 million remaining in the budget. You can also see that in May we spent $473,000 on that project.

And then, with our other construction funds, we had several projects that are in process. Many of those are winding down, of course, with the exception of ADA Phase 2. Finally, with our restricted funds or our grant funds, this activity is not included in the operating budget.

So, this is activity above and beyond what I showed several slides prior. With our grants and contracts, these funds operate on a grant approval process and a reimbursement basis. And so, expenses are always intended to equal the total revenues, and you can see that we're quite close.

The $337,000 loss at the end of May represents reimbursements that we have yet to receive. We don't post grant revenue until we receive the funds, and so that's why this shows as a deficit. By the end of the year, that deficit will clear as we spend the rest of the grant funds.

This has become more important for us to monitor closely as we consider the potential changes the feds have proposed regarding to some of these funds, particularly C-Campus, TRIO, and Perkins may all be affected by changes in legislation that is being considered currently by Congress. And so, part of the reason that we want to bring this to you for approval each year is to ensure that you, as board members, understand all of our revenue sources and the commitments that we're making with these funds and the potential for changes based on changes to legislation that might have future impacts for the institution. With that, I will take any questions.

[Speaker 1] (1:06:24 - 1:06:43)
Are there any questions for Jacob? I don't have any questions. I just have a comment.

You give us a very clear picture of our financial situation. Very much appreciated, but it's not in our agenda packet. Can we have that presentation as well?

[Speaker 2] (1:06:44 - 1:06:45)
Yes, we can provide this to you.

[Speaker 1] (1:06:45 - 1:08:05)
Yeah, the agenda packet is very detailed, all the nuts and bolts and in the weeds, which some of us go through, but your presentation is very concise, and I think some of us would like to have that as well. Thank you. Anything else for Jacob?

Other comments? Okay, thank you very much. Okay, we're going to move to, unless someone else has signed up for public comment.

Anyone else, David? Okay, all right, good. Move to items of action.

We have a consent agenda up here. All right, consideration of new hires. The administration recommends that the board approve the new hires as presented below.

I'm going to read each one. I think it's important to welcome these folks to Lee College. Ms. Leslie Cummings, Mr. Gary Denson, Ms. Huda El-Tayeb, I'm sorry, Ms. Jasmine James, Mr. Matthew McGinnis, Mr. Jordan Macias, Mr. Samuel Mosley, Mr. Jeremy Richardson, Ms. Jordan Salazar, Mr. Carl Taylor, and Mr. Brandon Warren. Motion from Regent Guillory. In a second, was it Lesley Cotton? Mr. Cotton?

Thank you very much. All right, any questions or comments on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:08:05 - 1:08:06)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:08:06 - 1:08:46)
Any opposed, no. Consideration of new hires is approved. Next item on the agenda, consideration of non-renewal of James Bullion's contract for fiscal year 25-2026.

The administration recommends that the board approve the non-renewal of the contract for James Bullion, full-time faculty, English and Humanities, for academic year 2025-2026. We had a motion from Regent Cotton, a second from Regent Geralds. Any comments or questions on this item?

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:08:46 - 1:08:47)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:08:47 - 1:09:10)
Opposed, no. Motion is approved. Consideration of non-renewal of Jeffrey Clayton's contract for fiscal year 2025-2026.

The administration recommends that the board approve the non-renewal of the contract for Jeffrey Clayton, full-time faculty, English and Humanities, for academic year 2025-2026.

[Speaker 11] (1:09:12 - 1:09:13)
Second.

[Speaker 1] (1:09:14 - 1:09:22)
Motion from Regent Cotton, second from Regent Geralds. Any comments or questions on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:09:22 - 1:09:23)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:09:23 - 1:09:47)
Opposed, no. Motion is approved. Consideration of non-renewal of Wanda Williams' contract for fiscal year 2025-2026.

The administration recommends that the board approve the non-renewal of the contract for Wanda Williams, full-time faculty, ADN, for academic year 2025-2026.

[Speaker 11] (1:09:49 - 1:09:50)
Second.

[Speaker 1] (1:09:51 - 1:09:59)
Motion from Regent Cotton, second from Regent Geralds. Any comments or questions on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:10:00 - 1:10:00)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:10:00 - 1:10:43)
Opposed, no. Motion is approved. We'll move on to new business.

First item on the agenda is consideration of approval of Furniture Marketing Group furniture updates. The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate final terms and approve Furniture Marketing Group for furniture updates at TV1 and TV3 for the sum of $329,399.04. Second. Motion from Regent Hemsel, second from Regent Guillory.

Any discussion on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:10:43 - 1:10:44)
Aye.

[Speaker 20] (1:10:44 - 1:10:46)
Opposed, no. Motion is approved.

[Speaker 1] (1:10:50 - 1:11:24)
Next item, consideration of approval of Lee College Lawn Care Services contract renewal year four with Rotolo Consultants. The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate final terms and approve the contract renewal year four with Rotolo Consultants for the amount of $402,303.71. Got a motion from Regent Hemsel, second from Regent Cotton. Any discussion on this item?

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:11:24 - 1:11:25)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:11:25 - 1:11:51)
Any opposed, no. Motion is approved. Next item, consideration of compensation for college employees impacted by weather-related closure of the college.

The administration recommends that the board approve the resolution authorizing compensation for full and part-time hourly employees impacted by the closure of the college due to inclement weather on June 12, 2025.

[Speaker 11] (1:11:52 - 1:11:53)
Second.

[Speaker 1] (1:11:53 - 1:12:03)
Motion from Regent Guillory, second from Regent Geralds. Any discussion on this item? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:12:03 - 1:12:04)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:12:04 - 1:12:50)
Any opposed, no. Motion is approved. Next item, consideration of approval to contract for future natural gas and electricity supply.

The administration recommends that the board authorize the president or her designee to negotiate and or enter into contracts for future natural gas supply when pricing is available at or below $4.50 per decatherm and contracts for future electricity supply at or below wholesale rates of $50 per megawatt hour. Got a motion from Regent Hemsel, second from Regent Cotton. Any discussion on this item?

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:12:51 - 1:12:51)
Aye.

[Speaker 20] (1:12:52 - 1:12:55)
Opposed, no. Motion is approved.

[Speaker 11] (1:12:57 - 1:13:00)
All right, last item on the agenda.

[Speaker 1] (1:13:12 - 1:19:45)
Okay, last item. Consideration of resolution to award the honorary title of Board of Regent Emeritus to Susan Moore Fontenot. The administration, on behalf of the Board of Regents, recommends the adoption of the resolution to award the honorary title of Board of Regent Emeritus.

Motion from Regent Hemsel, second from Regent Cotton. I'm going to read this resolution. I'm going to wear ass you to death.

So just bear with me. It's worth reading. The resolution authorizing Board of Regents of Lee College District to give commendation, special tribute, due honor and recognition and to bestow the title of Board of Regent Emeritus on Susan Moore Fontenot.

Whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot has been a long-term supporter of Lee College and served as a dedicated and valued member of the Lee College Board of Regents from her election in May of 1988 to her retirement in May of 2025. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot served in every leadership role with the Lee College Board of Regents, including serving as Board Chair, Board Vice Chair, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, as well as Chair of the Board Policy Committee. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot served as a member of various presidential search committees, beginning with the retirement of Dr. Vivian Blevins and the hiring of Dr. Jackson Sasser in 1992, Dr. Martha Ellis in 2002, Dr. Michael Murphy in 2008 and Dr. Dennis Brown in 2012. In 2019, Ms. Moore Fontenot was appointed by the Lee College Board of Regents as the Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and led the college and community in hiring our current president, Dr. Linda Villanueva, in 2020. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot has been a longtime supporter and donor of the Lee College Foundation since 1988 and established a student scholarship in her name. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot has been an advocate for the access, success and completion of all students enrolled at Lee College.

And along with the board and college leadership, the college aggressively participated in student success initiatives such as Achieving the Dream and the American Association of Community College Pathways Project, which transformed the college's focus and investment in student success, including the strategic allocation of tuition revenue and other resources to enhance such work. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot was instrumental in the Board of Regents committees that worked on various general obligation bond and revenue bonds between her first general obligation bond in 1989 to the most recent revenue bond in 2018. These bonds have afforded the college to create state-of-the-art academic, workforce training and student support facilities to include the McNair Center, the Sports Arena, the Performing Arts Center and the complete renovation of Rundell Hall, as well as many infrastructure improvements around campus, enabling the college to continue to grow and serve the increasing number of students who enroll each year. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot, along with the Board of Regents, was instrumental in initiating and implementing the performance evaluation process used to evaluate the performance of the Lee College president. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot provided extraordinary leadership on the state level while serving as chair-elect, chair and immediate past chair on the Board of Rectors of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees and served as past chair of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees Resource Development and Sustainability Committee and past chair of the CAT Trustee Education Committee in an effort to advance the mission of Lee College as well as the 50 community colleges in the state of Texas. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot served on the national level in an at-large position on the Association of Community College Trustees Board of Directors supporting nearly 1,200 community colleges across the nation.

Ms. Moore Fontenot also served on the ACCT Public Policy and Advocacy Committee and the ACCT Member Communications and Education Committee and the ACCT Constitution and Bylaws Committee. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot retired after serving 38 years in public school administration and 15 years as an adjunct professor at two community colleges. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot attended Lee College prior to graduating magna cum laude from Sam Houston University, earning a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology and continued on to earn a master's degree in educational supervision from Lamar University.

And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot's community service includes leadership roles with Pilot Club of Baytown, Baytown Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., the Houston Metropolitan Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Education Foundation, and Houston Methodist Baytown Women's Advisory Board. And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot is a 36-year member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, serves on the Deaconess Board, the Women's Guild, Seniors Ministry, and the Courtesy Corps. She volunteers with the League of Women Voters.

And whereas, Susan Moore Fontenot is the proud mother of one son, Brian, and the new bride of David Rupert Smith. And whereas, Lee College Board of Regents and administration expresses its sincere appreciation to Susan Moore Fontenot for her many years of dedicated and valuable service to Lee College, its students, faculty, and staff, and the communities in the region now. Therefore, be it resolved by the Lee College Board of Regents that commendation, special tribute, due honor, and recognition is hereby given to Susan Moore Fontenot for her 37 years of service to post-secondary education and is hereby designated as Board of Regent Emeritus of Lee College District, Harris County, Texas.

Congratulations.

[Speaker 11] (1:20:06 - 1:20:07)
I thought I lost something.

[Speaker 1] (1:20:08 - 1:20:37)
I thought I lost your old certificate. And I did. I thought I had it.

I believe we're going to present it to you at your event next Monday. Okay? What I would like to do for today is to have you and David come up, and we're going to take a picture with all of us here.

Yeah. We'll take a picture with the where asses document.

[Speaker 19] (1:20:40 - 1:20:46)
Mr. Chairman, you haven't had a vote on this yet. You do have a motion and a second. I don't know when you want to do it.

[Speaker 1] (1:20:46 - 1:20:51)
They're all excited about the where asses, and we thought we were done. All right.

[Speaker 19] (1:20:51 - 1:20:52)
It's been a long time ago.

[Speaker 1] (1:20:53 - 1:21:03)
I have read the resolution. The motion was made probably still within the statute of limitations. We had a motion and a second.

Any other comments or discussion on this item?

[Speaker 11] (1:21:04 - 1:21:07)
Well deserved. Well, thank you very much.

[Speaker 1] (1:21:22 - 1:21:34)
Well, that's even more special. I know. You're fine.

All right. Before we take the picture, we're going to close this out with the vote. All in favor, say aye.

[Speaker 11] (1:21:34 - 1:21:35)
Aye.

[Speaker 1] (1:21:35 - 1:21:48)
Any opposed, no. The motion to consider this resolution of the award, the honorary title of Board of Regent Emeritus of Susan Moore Fontenot, which I believe you are the only Lee College Regent Emeritus. Congratulations.

[Speaker 11] (1:21:49 - 1:23:16)
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

[Speaker 1] (1:23:17 - 1:23:37)
We do have a reception planned for Regent Emeritus Susan Morfantino next Monday, 530 in Rundell Hall. So, everyone's invited to attend. All right.

We have no need for executive session this evening, is that correct?

[Speaker 3] (1:23:37 - 1:23:41)
We do not. After hearing all of your where-asses, I'm worn out.

[Speaker 1] (1:23:41 - 1:23:45)
Where-assed out, okay. You're where-assed out, okay. Any matters?

[Speaker 11] (1:23:45 - 1:23:47)
It sounded like that to him.

[Speaker 1] (1:23:47 - 1:24:07)
Any matters of concern for future agendas tonight no matters future concern Well, you don't have anything else We tricked you we distracted you great. All right. Well, we'll hearing nothing further.

We're we are adjourned