NCDTSEA Board of Directors Minutes
March 5, 2009

The NCDTSEA Board of Directors met in Raleigh on March 5, 2009.  The following were present: Kathy Powell, Phil McGirt, LeeRoy Ledford, Henry Geddie, Chuck Lehning, Ronnie Fisher, Charles Lee, Gary King, Gary Davis, Reggie Flythe, Ed Tysinger, Joe Shrader, Conrad Kurtz, David Norman, Rhonda Reid, Kent Teeter, Ray Sparks, Tyronne Spellman and Connie Sessoms Jr.

Gary Davis called the meeting to order with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and welcoming everyone. Kathy Powell read the minutes of the last meeting.  Joe Shrader made a motion to approve with Chuck Lehning seconding.  The motion carried. Phil presented the financial report with explanations given for several line items. Joe Shrader made a motion to approve the report.  LeeRoy Ledford seconded the motion and the motion carried. Phil informed the group that there were 611 current members with a few new members added due to their conference registration.
Phil distributed Gene Causby’s report due to Gene attending the Joint Transportation Appropriations Committee. Basically there has been no word on cutting any funds for driver education. A couple of other handouts were Senate Bill 287 on health care and a House bill which was introduced by Leo Daughtery on community colleges to offer driver safety courses.

From the unintentional death subcommittee, Joe Shrader reported that there appears to be a bill that will be introduced to fund out of existing funds a full-time driver education coordinator for the state.  He thinks it looks very positive. Joe made a motion that NCDTSEA endorse this bill to provide for a full-time driver education position at DPI.  Gary King seconded it and the motion carried.  Joe also mentioned that using a model from Oregon that an advisory board will be formed for driver ed to serve along side this DPI position.   The committee is also looking into parent supervision during Level 1 and is discussing if this should this be a specific number of hours or just a total logged time period.  The committee is still looking at the NC curriculum and the Proficiency Exam to be revised.  Joe is going to use some of the Early Bird session time to brainstorm some ideas for these areas.  Connie Sessoms gave a report on NHTSA standards which suggest a 45/10/10 format and again is looking for suggestions on the number of hours and what will be covered in this extra phase of the course. It was also mentioned that Johnston County is doing a pilot by including a 3 hour program called “Alive at 25” in its current driver ed course.

Under old business, Charles Lee told the group that the attendees at the SERA/ADTSEA conference were down about 50 participants.  North Carolina again won the state award at the conference.
Ronnie Fisher reported that the 2009 NCDTSEA conference speakers were all confirmed and that any area that wished to contribute door prizes would be much appreciated. At this time, there are only 212 pre-registered compared to 400 last year with 85 registered for the Early Bird session. Joe Shrader will be compensated for the Early Bird session the same as he was last year. Connie Sessoms has 7 exhibitors confirmed so far with two more interested but who have not paid yet. A nominating committee for 2nd Vice-President will be LeeRoy Ledford, Chuck Lehning and Rhonda Reid. Reggie Flythe brought the coordinator booklet for review to the meeting and will complete it by the conference.  At this time, there are 17 registered for the coordinator’s luncheon. Only one application was received this year for Teacher of the Year award.
Chuck announced that the 2009 ADTSEA conference will be held at the University Hilton in Charlotte on July 26-29, 2009. 
Phil McGirt told the group that he has purchased some additional software for the website which was received and that Bill DiPetrio will no longer be the webmaster. Zundria V. Baldwin who works for Connie will take over that duty.
Connie Sessoms made a motion that the 2010 NCDTSEA conference be held in Charlotte at the University Hilton on April 15-17.  The room rate will be $109.LeeRoy seconded the motion and the motion carried.  A discussion was then held on online instruction noting that NHTSA standards should be considered and number of hours had to be determined.  After much discussion, Gary Davis tabled the discussion until the next meeting
LeeRoy made a motion to adjourn, Ronnie seconded.  The motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy L. Powell
Recording Secretary