The Apportionment Board has had trouble with attendance in the past.

AB wants that to change next year.

AB normally meets at 7 p.m. every Thursday in the Arcola/Tuscola room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, but a proposal at tonight’s meeting could change the meeting time of AB for the next academic school year.

Some AB members disagree with the proposal.

“A lot can change,” AB member Eric Wilber said. “I don’t know if we want to lock next year’s AB into a certain time.”

The change would be made to mainly benefit faculty members of AB.

AB chairwoman Leah Pietraszewski said the time change would concern for the AB faculty representatives.

Faculty representatives often have trouble meeting because they don’t live close to Charleston, and it makes it difficult for them to travel, Pietraszewski said.

Wilber said faculty members also have other things to attend including their family.

Karen Gaines, a biology professor, and Michael Mulvaney, a recreation administration professor, are the two faculty representatives on AB.

A third faculty position on AB is open.

Pietraszewski said at last week’s AB meeting Gaines had wanted to not be a member of AB.

“She really wants to quit AB, but she doesn’t want to leave until a replacement can be found and the Faculty Senate has not found one yet,” Pietraszewski said. “She has other obligations at night and a family at home that she understandably wants to spend time with.”

Pietraszewski said she has talked to a couple of AB members about the time for next year’s AB, but there’s no definitive time for next year.

“There’s a couple of ideas,” Pietraszewski said.

This year AB has canceled three meetings. Two meetings were canceled due to weather conditions. Another meeting was canceled due to a three-day weekend.

AB plans on meeting tomorrow, despite winter weather that affected the area on Tuesday.

“After looking at the weather forecast, there should be no reason for a cancellation,” Pietraszewski said in an e-mail to AB members. “It is vital that everyone plans on being at the meeting.”

Wilber said the main attendance problem of AB is whether or not they know if the meeting is going to be held.

In other business, AB will read and listen to more budget proposals.

AB advisor Ted Hart will present the AB budget.

The University Board will also present their budget.

Wilber said he expects the budget for UB to be higher because AB cut around $70,000 from UB’s proposed budget.

“In the past it’s gone pretty smooth,” Wilber said. “Everyone pretty much knows it works.”

Wilber said the budget proposals will be voted on March or in early April.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7942 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.