December 5, 2006

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of a regular business meeting.

Board Members Present

Penny J. Franklin, Chair B. Wendell Jones (7:30 p.m.)

Jamie M. Bond Amy U. Lythgoe

W. Wat Hopkins Susan K. Morikawa

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Daniel A. Berenato Patricia Talbot

Harvey C. Goodwin Jeanette D. Warwick

Anita P. Johnston Laura Williams

Mark Pasier Brad King, Attorney

Carol Reynolds

Call to Order

Ms. Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 6:30 p.m.

Adoption of Agenda

On motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a revised agenda adding real estate matters during closed session.

Closed Session

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia at 6:31 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.

Real Estate Matters: The discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real estate for the construction of a new school, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711(A)(3) of the Code of Virginia.

Return to Open Session and Certification

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:55 p.m.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board unanimously adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the County School Board of Montgomery County has

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 Virginia

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 Montgomery County

hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the meeting were heard, discussed, or considered.

Ayes: Jamie M. Bond Susan K. Morikawa

W. Wat Hopkins Penny J. Franklin, Chair

Amy U. Lythgoe

Mr. Jones abstained from voting, as he was not present during closed session.

_______________________________ December 5, 2006

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Action

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted five to zero (Mr. Jones abstained from voting) to grant religious exemptions from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for students A and B.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted four to one (Mr. Jones abstained from voting) to expel student C from MCPS. Voting in favor were Dr. Hopkins, Mrs. Lythgoe, Mrs. Morikawa, and Ms. Franklin. Voting against was Mrs. Bond.

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted five to zero (Mr. Jones abstained from voting) to long-term suspend student D from MCPS until the end of the first semester.

Mrs. Bond moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted five to zero (Mr. Jones abstained from voting) to expel student E from MCPS.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted five to zero (Mr. Jones abstained from voting) to authorize the chair to sign the addendum to the real estate contract, which was discussed during closed session.

Public Address

Kelly Passek asked the Board to review its hiring policy. Ms. Passek said she was denied employment at Blacksburg High School because her husband works in the same building, although she was the most qualified candidate. She also asked that the decision not to hire her be reversed.

Mary Biggs, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, presented the School Board with information regarding the Virginia Association of Counties’ (VACO) legislative program.

Andrew Cohill, a Blacksburg resident, urged the School Board to re-evaluate its decision to build the Blacksburg High School stadium on Price’s Fork Road due to increased costs associated with the project. Mr. Cohill also noted that the minutes and agenda on the website need to be updated.

Item 12/06-181 Personnel Report: Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the personnel report with an addendum.

The report is attached and made a part of the minutes as pages A1-A3.

Item 12/06-182 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Bills, 12/05/06, Ck. Nos. 440916-441143, $301,344.27

Utilities, 12/01/06, Ck. Nos. 441144-441161, $139,322.91

Payroll, 11/08/06, supp. Ck. Nos. 43659-43670, $5,888.46

Fixed Charges, 11/08/06, Ck. Nos. 43671-43672, $463.49

Payroll, 11/30/06, Ck. Nos. 43673-43704, $4,731,118.49

Fixed Charges, 11/30/06, Ck. Nos. 43705-43781, $1,609,978.89

Cafeteria Fund:

Payroll, 11/30/06, Ck. No. 4785, $140,547.78

Fixed Charges, 11/30/06, Ck. Nos. 4786-4810, $32,383.89

Item 12/06-183 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general consent:

Item 12/06-181, Item 12/06-182, and Item 12/06-183

1. Minutes: Minutes from the October 17, 2006 work session, the October 24, 2006 special session, the November 7, 2006 regular session, and the November 20, 2006 special session.

2. Field Trips:

a. The forensics team at Blacksburg High School (BHS) to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, on January 25-28, 2007. Students will travel via personal car. Accommodations are to be provided by a tournament hotel in Atlanta. The cost per student is $300.

b. The forensics team at BHS to travel to Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 16-19, 2007. Students will travel via personal car. Accommodations are to be provided by a tournament hotel in Boston. The cost per student is $600.

c. Eighth grade students at Shawsville Middle School (SMS) to travel to Washington, D.C. on June 4-6, 2007. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by the Country Inn and Suites in Manassas, Virginia. The cost per student is $300.

3. Grants:

a. Auburn High School (AHS) Equine Management Project: A grant to allow the AHS Future Farmers of America (FFA) equine management class to mentor children ages nine to eleven who are residents at the Women’s Resource Center on horse safety, care, and handling.

b. Belview Elementary School (BES) Overnight Trip to Richmond: A grant to provide funding for the planned BES fifth grade trip to Richmond, Jamestown, Norfolk, and Petersburg.

Item 12/06-183 (Continued)

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations, Announcements:

Item 12/06-184 Board Discussion on Handling Discipline Cases (Information/Possible Action): The Board discussed the possibility of having committees of Board members, rather than the entire Board, handling discipline cases. Brad King, School Board Attorney, told Board members that establishing committees to hear discipline cases would require a change in policy and students would be able to appeal to the full Board if decisions were not unanimous at the committee level.

Carol Reynolds, Coordinator of Student Services and 504, provided the Board with information on Roanoke City’s procedure.

Board members agreed, by consensus, not to proceed with the idea of having committees to review discipline cases at this time.

Item 12/06-185 School Operating Budget, Payment of December Bills (Action): Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to authorize the chair to review and approve the December bills for the School Operating Budget and the Superintendent to approve the bills for the School Nutrition Budget.

Item 12/06-186 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 School Calendar Guidelines (Information/Discussion): Mark Pasier, Director of Human Resources, provided the Board with the School Board’s calendar guidelines for the past two years. Mr. Pasier asked Board members to provide the administration with direction for the upcoming calendars.

Mrs. Lythgoe said she really likes the early release days spread throughout the week. Dr. Anderson noted that she would recommend that the early release days be spread throughout the week except for Monday. She said having early release days on a Monday created substantial problems for the transportation department this past year.

Items 12/06-184, Item 12/06-185 and Item 12/06-186

Dr. Hopkins stated that he wants to emphasize that the committee would be recommending the calendar, but it’s the Board’s responsibility to approve the calendar.

Item 12/06-187 Board Member Updates on the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Conference (Information): Board members provided information on seminars they attended at the VSBA Conference in November. All members agreed that the sessions were informative and helpful.

Item 12/06-188 Announcements/Calendar for December (Information): Dr. Anderson reminded Board members about the joint legislative meeting on December 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the County Government Center.

Ms. Franklin reminded Board members about the joint planning commission meeting on December 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the County Government Center.

Dr. Anderson asked if Board members would be interested in having Lego League students attend a Board meeting for a presentation. Board members agreed.

New Business By School Board Members

Mrs. Bond asked about the possibility of having the eighth grade baseball program at Christiansburg Middle School (CMS) sanctioned by the school. Dr. Anderson said she would have Patricia Gaudreau, Supervisor of Science, Health and Physical Education, look into the issue.

Board members asked to review hiring policies at a future meeting.

Mrs. Morikawa announced that the social justice training she attended was wonderful. She said she would like to see further training done. Ms. Franklin agreed.

The Board agreed to hold the meeting on January 9, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. rather than 7:30 p.m.

Agenda Preparation

December 7, 2006 Joint Meeting with the Montgomery County Planning Commission – 7 p.m. at the County Government Center

Item 12/06-186 (Continued), Item 12/06-187, and Item 12/06-188

December 11, 2006 Legislative Meeting with the Board of Supervisors – 6:00 p.m. at the County Government Center

January 9, 2007 Reorganization Meeting

Rollover Budget

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. on motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board