February 17, 2009

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date at the administrative building at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a work session.

Board Members Present

B. Wendell Jones, Chair Penny J. Franklin

Phyllis T. Albritton W. Wat Hopkins

Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.

David G. Dunkenberger, II

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Judith K. Barylske Mark J. Pasier

Daniel A. Berenato Carol A. Reynolds

Lois T. Graham Walter L. Shannon

Anita P. Johnston Nelson W. Simpkins

Katie Miano Rick D. Weaver

Diane R. Naff Brad King, Attorney

Call to Order

Mr. Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 7:00 p.m.

Adoption of Agenda

On motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.

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 7:01 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.

Legal Matters: Consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters requiring legal advice by counsel, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia.

Return to Open Session and Certification

Mrs. Bond moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:37 p.m.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board 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: Phyllis T. Albritton W. Wat Hopkins

Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.

David G. Dunkenberger, II B. Wendell Jones, Chair

Penny J. Franklin

_________________________ February 17, 2009

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Action

Mr. Ivers moved, seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to grant religious exemptions from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for three students.

Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to grant religious exemptions from MCPS for three additional students.

Mrs. Bond moved, seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to expel a student from MCPS.

Honors, Awards and Recognitions

Continuing the commitment of recognizing student achievement and accomplishments, four new “Senior of the Month” selections have been made by high school principals in Montgomery County. Their activities reflect the full range of opportunities in the school division, ranging from fine arts to vocational experiences to athletic accomplishments. The four students for February are:

Auburn High School (AHS) Kaitlin Leann Clower

Blacksburg High School (BHS) Hannah Lewis

Christiansburg High School (CHS) Andrew Ray Kingrea

Eastern Montgomery High School (EMHS) Jacob Foutz

Chelsea Kenley, November 2008 Senior of the Month from AHS, was also recognized by the Board.

The BHS boy’s cross country team was recently named the Group AA State Runner-up. The School Board recognized the following members of the team: Matt Howard, George Carter, Frank Locascio, Cayman Skelton, Brian Hencke, Brad Schmitt, and Eric Ferguson. The coaches of the team (James DeMarco, Ingrid Burbey, Marcia Barrow, and Trevor Johnson) were recognized as well.

The School Board recognized Hollie Millirons Ferguson and Reba Hoffman, teachers at Blacksburg Middle School; Rebecca Novy, a teacher at Christiansburg Elementary School; M. K. Preston, a librarian at Belview Elementary School; and Jennifer Trotter, a teacher at Auburn Elementary School, for achieving National Board Certification.

The Board recessed at 8:10 p.m. and reconvened at 8:17 p.m.

Public Address

No one spoke during public address.

Item 02/09-24 Personnel Report: On motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel report as presented.

The personnel report is attached and made a part of the minutes as pages A1-A5.

Item 02/09-24

Item 02/09-25 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mrs. Albritton, seconded by Mr. Ivers, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Utilities, 02/04/09, Ck. Nos. 454405-454419, $196,717.11

Bills, 02/17/09, Ck. Nos. 454420-454663, $272,943.62

Cafeteria:

Bills, 02/10/09, Ck. Nos. 2823-2836, $67,628.96

Work Session

Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mr. Ivers, and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 8:19 p.m.

Item 02/09-26 College Zone: Nelson Simpkins, Director of Secondary Education, presented the Board with information on the College Zone, a new program that would allow students to earn an associate degree as they graduate from high school.

Mr. Simpkins told Board members that the program would be available to students next year beginning with the junior class. He added that it would allow eligible high school students to earn up to 62 hours of transferable college credit while completing high school diploma requirements.

Mr. Simpkins provided Board members with program flyers on the College Zone as well as the MCPS Engineering Academy and the MCPS Heating, Air Conditioning and Electricity Academies, which will be distributed to students and other stakeholders.

Return to Regular Session

Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 8:48 p.m.

Item 02/09-25 and Item 02/09-26

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations, and Announcements

Item 02/09-27 2009-2010 School Calendars (Action): Mark Pasier, Director of Human Resources, presented the School Board with the 2009-2010 School Calendar and the 2009-2010 12-Month Employee Calendar as proposed by the MCPS Calendar Committee.

Dr. Hopkins expressed his concern about the length of Spring Break prior to Standards of Learning (SOL) testing.

Mrs. Bond and Ms. Franklin noted that they have also had feedback opposing the long spring break.

Mr. Pasier told Board members that the calendar committee had extensive discussion about spring break.

Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, to approve the 2009-2010 School Calendars.

Mr. Ivers said he is also concerned about the length of spring break in relation to the testing window.

Mr. Dunkenberger stated that he believes the Board should support the calendar committee’s recommendation.

Mr. Jones said he plans to support the calendar committee’s recommendation. However, he does have concerns about the time students are in school after SOL testing until the end of the school year.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to table the motion until the next School Board meeting.

Board members asked Mr. Pasier to obtain more input from parents, staff and community members regarding the length of the spring break. They also asked Mr. Pasier to reconvene the calendar committee for further discussion.

Item 02/09-27

Item 02/09-28 Summer Academy Salary Scale 2008-2009 (Action): Mr. Pasier provided the Board with the proposed Summer Academy Salary Scale for 2008-2009, which he said remains unchanged from last year.

Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, to approve the 2008-2009 Summer Academy Salary Scale.

Mr. Ivers expressed concern about the fact that nurses are paid more than teachers on the salary scale. He said he cannot support this.

The Board voted six to one to approve the salary scale. Voting in favor were Mrs. Albritton, Mrs. Bond, Mr. Dunkenberger, Ms. Franklin, Dr. Hopkins, and Mr. Jones. Voting against was Mr. Ivers.

Unfinished Business by School Board Members

Ms. Franklin asked when the School Board would hear a report on discipline cases coming before the Board. Dr. Anderson said this report would be presented at the second meeting in March.

New Business by School Board Members

Dr. Hopkins asked the School Board attorney to clarify information regarding exemptions from compulsory attendance. Mr. King provided Board members with more information on this subject.

Announcements/Information

Mr. Jones reminded Board members about the League of Women Voters’ social.

Mrs. Albritton said she attended the BHS talent show and poetry slam, and it was wonderful.

Dr. Anderson provided the Board with cards imprinted with the MCPS Mission and Vision statements.

Agenda Preparation

March 3, 2009 School Board Appreciation

Youth Art/Music Presentation

Discussion of the School Board Retreat

Item 02/09-28

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. on motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board