BLINN EXECUTIVE CONTRACTS QUESTIONED AT TRUSTEE MEETING
Any expected fireworks at last (Tuesday) night’s Blinn College Board of Trustees meeting occurred behind closed doors, if at all.
A standing room only crowd filled the Boardroom of the Blinn Administration Building last (Tuesday) night in Brenham. During the public comment portion of the meeting, only two people had signed up to speak. Both were current Blinn employees….Kay Donahoo, an administrative assistant in the Registrar’s office, and Shawn Fazzino, the Enrollment Services Manager on the Bryan campus. Only people who had signed a piece of paper at one of the entrance doors were allowed to speak. Both Donahoo and Fazzino read statements in support of Blinn Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley and her plan to change the college’s organizational structure. Over the past year or so, a large number of long-time Blinn executives and faculty members have either resigned, were dismissed or were reassigned to other positions. Several Blinn employees stood in a coordinated effort while Donahoo and Fazzino read their prepared statements.
Blinn's Communications Director Richard Bray released a statement today (Wednesday) regarding the college's faculty readjustment.
"Blinn College recently conducted a small reconfiguration of staff positions designed to improve the College's operations, enrollment management, fiscal responsibility, and institutional effectiveness. As Blinn prepares for the upcoming academic year, the College looks forward to creating an even better experience for current and future students while building upon its tradition of affordable educational excellence."
During the consent portion of the agenda, Blinn Board member Stacy Aschenbeck questioned three of the items that were being rubber-stamped by the Board, all dealing with personnel. Although the three items were moved to the “action” portion of the agenda so the Board could discuss them, only one was talked about in the open meeting. Aschenbeck questioned the removal of the grievance procedure as an option for non-contract employees. After an explanation about Texas being an “at will” employment state by Blinn attorneys, the Board approved the change.
Aschenbeck also questioned an item dealing with a change to Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley’s employment contract. She said she had not even seen a copy of the change, and wanted to see what she was voting on. Board member Richard Powell echoed those concerns, asking that each Board member be supplied with the details of the contract changes.
Aschenbeck’s other question involved the approval of contracts for new executive level employees. She said “The positions were created because we renamed positions where some people have left their position, or they are no longer on the executive council. And that’s concerning. I don’t know why.” Dr. Hensley immediately suggested that the item be discussed in Executive Session behind closed doors. The Blinn Board then recessed before reconvening in Executive Session. After discussion, both the changes to Dr. Hensley’s contract and the contracts for new executive level employees were approved unanimously by the Board.
I’ve been hearing the same sorts of comments as the ones posted here about Hensley for a couple of years now. Those comments have come from students, current and former Blinn employees at all levels, and from friends in community who have had the misfortune to have dealt with her. I know that there are two sides to every story but when everyone tells you the exact same story, it’s hard to believe that one person whose story is different.
It’s a shame that the success or failure of Blinn has been put in the hands of someone who, from all accounts, appears to be an egomaniac who doesn’t care who she has to walk over or stab in the back to get her way. A person whose thirst for power looks to be having a negative impact on the education of Blinn’s student body and the lives and livelihood of the faculty and staff. Many of the people who have left, been dismissed, or reassigned are from this area and have a vested interest in the success of the school; Hensley on the other hand couldn’t care less. As long as she is employed at Blinn she will continue to build a monument to herself no matter what the cost, as soon as something better comes along she will be gone, leaving a smoking pile of rubble for others to rebuild. To the members of the board of trustees, we have put our trust in you to handle these things appropriately. When this person destroys Blinn College it will be you who ultimately gets blamed for your inaction. It won’t be just laying the blame on the board as a whole. You will be personally identified as one of the board members associated with this mess.
It’s time for some open records requests and serious investigation into the claims being made by these students, staff/faculty (FORMER staff/faculty in some cases), and others. We COULD have heard from them at this meeting but Hensley and her minions were smart enough to not disclose that you had to sign in before the meeting in order to be allowed to speak. Interestingly enough, the two who knew to sign in were “fans” of her…. and had been given a script from which to read. Lets see if they end up getting a promotion for their loyalty to the crown.
I have quite a few friends who are employees of Blinn. I can tell you how grateful they are to have the support of the community. I know their hope is to have continued support, especially at election time. These staff members are taxpayers of Washington County too, but have lost a voice due to Board Policy changes and a lack of trust in management. IF you were one of them, would you NOT be afraid to lose your job for speaking out? I can tell you, they are. I am afraid for them. The Board Policy that now silenced them is BBE (Local). Read it for yourself and see what you think. I have had a lot of questions in my head the past couple days. In fact, way too many to list here, so I will close my comment with just a few. What does the “Chancellor” have on the Board to make them think she is actually competent? Does the Board truly know what is going on or do they just not care? As a taxpayer, potential parent of a student or a possible student of Blinn College, do you care enough to help to make sure the much needed change happens?
Wonder how much longer Stacy Aschenbeck will be on the Board after her little faux pas of questioning the great, infallible Dr. Hensley! And in front of a crowd, no less! Just a word of caution from the trenches, Ms. Ascheneck, Dr. Hensley has ways of making those who question her pay. Just look at what has been happening to all these people over the last few years. Any pushback and you better watch out! And it seems no one is exempt from this retaliation. I would suspect not even a board member such as yourself.
This is truly heartbreaking. Blinn employees are scared to speak up, they fear they too will be “reassigned” as “special projects” and slowly kicked to the curb.
To the Blinn Board, please open your eyes. Reach out to real employees that are in fear of speaking up in front of a board room podium with their job, insurance, and retirement on the line.
I am proud of good-hearted local people like Becky Krebs, Andi Liner, and Dennis Crowson. These locals go the extra mile to support this community.
If Hensley’s approach is to weed out all our locals, what will become of Blinn? Do you really think out-of-towners will support our Blinn/Brenham like Krebs, Liner, and Crowson? How can these newly hired out-of-towners build relationships and school spirit if they don’t even live here. Pretty hard to give back and financially support our economy if you don’t live here.
Why am I paying Blinn taxes if locals are discouraged to work there? So Blinn pushes to buy locally right. As a small business owner, I fear these newly appointed outsiders will take their business else where just to save pennies on the dollar.
Where exactly is my tax money going to? Hensley’s “beautification” project of the month apparently.
I’ve sent my kids to Blinn knowing there are still good-hearted professors there to guide them. It’s nicknamed Blinn-dergarten for a reason. There is someone there to hold your hand and wipe your tears in your growing years. You will always remember those Blinn professors who shaped you and gave you life lessons beyond the text book.
This why Blinn is here. This is what Blinn was build on…genuine good-hearted people serving their community and shaping our youth. And this is why the narcissistic Chancellor does not fit in. Being a good-hearted person myself, I will gladly help pack her bags.
Very Well Said!
Dr. Hensley should be removed. She has been disliked since day one and is not effective as “Chancellor” (and how ridiculous that she devoted time and energy to that title change). She is bad for Blinn students and employees.
Welcome to the age of zero democracy, funded by….the taxpayers. No surprises really with board behaviors in this day and age of executive entitlements. Blinn has become a political stew sanctioned by unwitting voters. Many remember the fine institution of 60 years ago, at least I do. It is missed.
As the mother of an incoming freshman, I find this “shady” at best. The only two who happened to be signed up to speak were in support of Dr. Hensley and when things appeared to get out of her comfort zone the meeting was conveniently reconvened in Executive Session. Why no, not suspicious at all. Perhaps the people making comments on the previous article should take their concerns to Austin?
I’ll be following this and will need to re-examine whether I want my son’s education placed in the hands of Blinn.
I would not let my child and recomend all her fellow classmates Not to attend this college due to the Lack of Maintenance on ALL Halls. Absolutely Disgusting! Ask past students through Twitter and listen to their responses, heck they may even post pictures of Mold in the Air Ducts, Mold in the Bathroom. Mushrooms growing from the bathroom floor!.
Twitter #blinn14 #blinn15 #blinn16 #blinn17 and #blinn18
The well being of the Students should Come First, Period. Meaning where they are housed, the buildings they learn in and the building they eat in. Fix What’s Wrong With Those Things First, then what budget is left over buy unnecessary items for the office.
Board Backbone?? What happened?
Her contract should be an Exit Soon before we lose anymore Superior Staff Members such as Dr. Dennis Crowson, Andi Liner and Becky Krebs. What was done to them was heartless, unprofessional and Down Right DIRTY!.
Shame On You!
I agree with the above comment. Where is the board’s backbone on this? Unbelievable that they are letting this person get away with the things she is doing. She should be the one – GONE! Someone needs to take a good hard look at what she is doing and why! Come on, Board – do your job!