The Galveston College Board of Regents on Wednesday voted unanimously to elect George Black as chair of the board, Armin Cantini as vice chair, and Raymond Lewis, Jr. as Secretary.

During the meeting, Lewis, Barbara Crews, Tino Gonzalez and Karen Flowers were sworn in for their new terms in office. Flowers replaces Dr. Greg Roof in Position 3 on the board. Executive Assistant to the President Carla Biggers administered the oath of office to the regents.

The board voted to approve and accept a United States Department of Education TRiO-Upward Bound Program Grant for 2012-2013.

The grant is for five years, with the college receiving $250,000 per year for the Upward Bound program, which provides college opportunities for low-income high school students at Ball High School. The program will host 57 students.

The board voted to adopt a resolution granting a residential homestead tax exemption for the 2012 tax year.

The exemption allows all homeowners to claim a $5,000, or 20 percent, whichever is greater, exemption from the value of their homestead. Taxpayers who are 65 years of age or older also receive an additional $10,000 exemption from the value of their property.

The board voted to terminate a lease agreement with McCoy Corporation for the lease of property from the company. The lease will end September 30. The college will no longer require the leased property following the completion of renovations at the college's vocational-technical center.

The board voted to confer tenure on Janene Davison, an instructor of speech.

The board voted to discontinue an Emergency Medical Services Level One Certificate Program, and to instate a Culinary Arts Level One Certificate Program.

All items were approved. All votes were unanimous. Regent Karen Flowers left the meeting following the oath of office and was not present for the votes. Regent Carl Kelly arrived later in the meeting. Agenda