December
2, 2008
The
Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative
building at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of a regular business meeting.
Board Members Present
B. Wendell Jones, Chair Penny J. Franklin
Phyllis T. Albritton W. Wat
Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.
David G. Dunkenberger, II
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Judith K. Barylske Anita P. Johnston
Daniel A. Berenato Katie Miano
Christine C.
Christina T. Gilley Carol A. Reynolds
Harvey C. Goodwin Walter L.
Lois T. Graham Laura Williams
Carol
Call to Order
Mr.
Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 6:02
p.m.
Adoption
of Agenda
On motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a revised agenda changing the meeting time for closed session from 6:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed Session
Ms. Franklin
moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to enter
into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of
Virginia at 6:03 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of the following
specific matters:
Student
Matters: Discussion or consideration of student
disciplinary matters, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 (A)(2) of the Code
of Virginia.
Personnel
Matters: The
discussion or consideration of prospective candidates for employment;
assignment; appointment; promotion; performance; demotion; salaries;
disciplining or resignation of specific public school officers, employees or
appointees, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1) of the Code of Virginia.
Return to Open Session and Certification
Dr. Hopkins moved,
seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open
session at 7:32 p.m.
Dr. Hopkins moved,
seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the County School Board of
convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative
recorded vote and in accordance with provisions of the Virginia Freedom of
Information Act; and
WHEREAS, Section
2.2-3711(d) of the Code of
requires a certification by this School Board that such closed meeting
was conducted in conformity with Virginia Law;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the County School Board of
hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge (i) only
public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by
Ayes: Phyllis
T. Albritton W. Wat
Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.
David G. Dunkenberger, II B. Wendell Jones, Chair
Penny J. Franklin
_________________________ December
2, 2008
Clerk
of the
Action
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr.
Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to readmit a student to Montgomery
County Public Schools (MCPS).
Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded
by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to expel a student from MCPS.
Public Address
No one spoke during public address.
Item 12/08-185 Personnel
Report: On motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, the
Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel report with an addendum.
The report is attached and made a part of
these minutes as pages A1-A4.
Item 12/08-186 Payment
of Bills: On motion by Mrs. Albritton, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, the
Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.
Operating Fund:
Utilities, 11/20/08, Ck. Nos. 453168-453196,
$152,263.39
Bills, 12/02/08, Ck. Nos. 453197-453446, $427,023.45
Payroll, 11/04/08, supp. Ck. Nos. 46187-46194, $2,050.25
Fixed Charges, 11/04/08, Ck. No. 46195,
$159.74
Payroll, 11/07/08, supp. Ck. Nos. 46196-46199, $1,398.69
Fixed Charges, 11/07/08, Ck. No. 46200,
$108.04
Payroll, 11/25/08, Ck. Nos. 46201-46224,
$5,411,618.80
Fixed Charges, 11/25/08, Ck. Nos. 46225-46286, $1,910,669.97
Cafeteria:
Bills, 11/25/08, Ck. Nos. 2746-2764,
$110,925.26
Payroll, 11/25/08, Ck. Nos. 5333-5334, $158,863.88
Item 12/08-185 and Item 12/08-186
Fixed Charges, 11/25/08, Ck. Nos. 5335-5355, $38,259.21
Item 12/08-187 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general
consent:
1.
Field Trips:
a.
The Christiansburg High School (CHS) wrestling team
to travel to
b.
The Blacksburg Middle School (BMS) Matthews Team to
travel to the Biltmore Estate in
c.
The Blacksburg High School (BHS) wrestling team to
travel to
d.
The BHS wrestling team to travel to
e.
The Auburn High School Scholastic Bowl team to
travel to
2. Supplemental Appropriation: A
request to the Board of Supervisors for a supplemental appropriation to the
2008-2009 School Operating Budget, Code 640000, Operations and Maintenance, in
the amount of $38,158.
Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations,
Announcements:
Item 12/08-188 Kipps Kangaroos Push for Veggies Grant
Proposal (Action): Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mr. Ivers,
and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Kipps Kangaroos Push for Veggies
Grant Proposal.
Item 12/08-186
(Continued), Item 12/08-187, and Item 12/08-188
Item 12/08-189 Water Sustainability Research and Education
Grant Proposal (Action): Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton,
and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Water Sustainability Research
and Education Grant Proposal.
Item 12/08-190 Discussion of
Inclusion Program (Information/Discussion): Chris Gilley, Director of Special
Education, provided the School Board with a presentation on inclusion, which
she said is a philosophy not an educational strategy. Ms. Gilley briefed the Board about the
origins of the inclusion program in
Mr. Dunkenberger stated that there
has been no substantial evaluation of the inclusion program since 1995 and he
would like to see more recent data on the program. He said the school division is spending more
money for inclusion, but not seeing better test results for students.
School Board Attorney Brad King
told Board members that the most important thing to remember is that inclusion
is the law and students with disabilities must be educated in the least
restrictive environment.
The Board debated surveying
teachers, parents and students about inclusion but did not reach a consensus
about a possible survey.
Item 12/08-191 Discussion of
Item 12/08-189, Item 12/08-190, and Item
12/08-191
Item
12/08-192 Architect for Auburn Strand Project (Action):
Mrs. Bond moved, seconded by Mr. Ivers,
and the Board voted unanimously to select RRMM Architects with Benjamin Motley
of the
Item
12/08-193 Capital Planning Funds for
Item
12/08-194 School Improvement Plans (Action): Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Ms.
Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the school improvement
plans.
Item
12/08-195 School Crisis Plans (Action): Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Mrs.
Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the school crisis plans.
Item
12/08-196 Report from School Board Members on
Item 12/08-197 Announcements/Calendar
for December (Information):
Dr. Anderson made no announcements.
Unfinished Business by School Board Members
There
was no unfinished business.
New Business by School Board Members
Mrs. Albritton asked if the school division provides funds for field trips for students who cannot afford to pay for them. Walt Shannon, Assistant Superintendent, replied that the schools do provide funding for students who cannot afford field trips.
Mr. Jones said he would be interested in information on how to make a personal finance class a requirement for graduation.
Items
12/08-192-197
Ms. Franklin asked if the school division typically purchases advertisements in publications such as the one recently published in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) program. Mr. Jones said he and members of the administration thought it would be a good idea. Ms. Franklin said something like this should be brought before the entire Board for a decision.
Agenda Preparation
January 6, 2009 Reorganization
of School Board
Budget
Work
January 2009 Budget
Work
Report
on Student Cases Coming Before the Board
Recognition
of BHS Girl’s Cross Country Team – Group AA State Champions
Recognition of BHS Boy’s Cross Country
Team - Group AA State Runner-ups
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. on motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mrs.
Bond, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board