January 24, 2006

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of a work session.

Board Members Present

Penny J. Franklin, Chair B. Wendell Jones

Jamie M. Bond Amy U. Lythgoe

David G. Dunkenberger, II Susan K. Morikawa

W. Wat Hopkins

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Daniel A. Berenato Rhonda Poindexter

Kathy A. Duncan Carol Reynolds

Christina T. Gilley Walter L. Shannon

Harvey C. Goodwin Jeanette R. Warwick

Carol Jennings Brad King, Attorney

Anita P. Johnston

Call to Order

Ms. Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 5:30 p.m.

Adoption of Agenda

On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.

Closed Session

Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia at 5:32 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 Matter: 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

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, 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: Jamie M. Bond B. Wendell Jones

David G. Dunkenberger, II Amy U. Lythgoe

W. Wat Hopkins Susan K. Morikawa

Penny J. Franklin, Chair

_________________________ January 24, 2006

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Action

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to grant a religious exemption for student A.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to long-term suspend student B from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) until the end of the first semester (time served).

Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to expel student C from MCPS.

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to long-term suspend student D until the end of the second grading period.

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 January are:

Auburn High School (AHS) Charissa Michele Duncan

Blacksburg High School (BHS) Andrew Steven Walker

Christiansburg High School (CHS) Adrienne Nichole Kingma

Eastern Montgomery High School (EMHS) Bridgette Dawn Creed

Charissa Michele Duncan, AHS Senior of the Month for January; Andrew Steven Walker, BHS Senior of the Month for January; and Bridgette Dawn Creed, EMHS Senior of the Month for EMHS, were not present and will be recognized at a future meeting.

Katie Van Horn, a third grade teacher at Belview Elementary School, and Kathleen O’Connell, a reading specialist at Falling Branch Elementary School, were recognized for achieving National Board Certification.

The School Board recessed at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 7:50 p.m.

Public Address

Angie Scott, an Auburn Middle School (AMS) parent, voiced her concern that the Parent Teacher Organization at AMS donated thousands of dollars last year to the school to purchase Standards of Learning (SOL) and other teacher materials when the school administration did not spend its entire budget. Ms. Scott urged the School Board to maintain the new leadership at the school.

Linda Burcham, an Auburn parent, asked the Board to address facility issues in the Auburn area and maintain the interim principal at AMS.

Allison Goforth, an AMS parent and AHS teacher, expressed support for recent changes at AMS. Ms. Goforth told Board members about student safety issues during the past administration.

Angie Vaughn, the AMS PTO president, voiced concern about facility issues in the Auburn area.

Karen Eggers, an AMS parent, urged the Board to maintain the interim principal at AMS.

Todd King, an AMS parent, told Board members that he is worried about all the changes taking place at the school this close to SOL testing. Mr. King said the students are the ones who will be affected by these changes.

Kathy Oliver, an AMS parent, voiced concern about teacher behavior, the curriculum, discipline, and safety issues during the school’s previous administration.

Vicki Campbell, an AMS parent, asked the Board to address facility issues in the Auburn strand.

Ted Dobson, an Auburn resident, questioned the superintendent’s placement of teachers in the division. Mr. Dobson said he doesn’t believe it is appropriate to have students watch teachers being reassigned with sheriff’s deputies present.

Item 01/06-13 Personnel Report: On motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Mrs. Bond, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel report with an addendum.

The personnel report is attached and made a part of the minutes as pages A1-A8.

Item 01-06-14 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Utilities, 01/12/06, Ck. Nos. 435608-435628, $208,229.33

Item 01/06-13 and Item 01/06-14

Bills, 01/24/06, Ck. Nos. 435629-435827, $204,126.71

Cafeteria:

Bills, 01/12/06, Ck. Nos. 1869-1886, $109,010.01

Work Session

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 8:20 p.m.

Item 01/06-15 Budget Discussion: Walt Shannon, Director of Management Services, presented the Board with two options for the 2006-2007 School Operating Budget. Mr. Shannon said option one would require $4,307,508 from the Board of Supervisors (includes a 7 percent compensation increase, the athletic trainer stipend, middle school nurses, and deletes the elementary band director) while option two would require $6,358,556 (includes a 9.4 percent increase in compensation, an increase in fuel to $3.00 per gallon, and a utility increase).

Return to Regular Session

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 8:30 p.m.

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and Announcements

Item 01/06-16 2006-2007 School Operating Budget (Action): Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, to approve option one for advertisement as the 2006-2007 School Operating Budget.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, to amend option one to include a 9.4 percent compensation increase rather than a 7 percent compensation increase. The Board voted six to one to approve the amended option one. Voting in favor were Mrs. Bond, Mr. Dunkenberger, Dr. Hopkins, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Lythgoe, and Mrs. Morikawa. Voting against was Ms. Franklin.

Item 01/06-14 (Continued), Item 01/06-15, and Item 01/06-16

The Board voted six to one to approve the amended option one budget for advertisement as the 2006-2007 School Operating Budget. Voting in favor were Mrs. Bond, Mr. Dunkenberger, Dr. Hopkins, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Lythgoe, and Mrs. Morikawa. Voting against was Ms. Franklin.

Mr. Shannon told Board members that the amended option one budget of $91,277,405 would require $5,886,619 (a 18.94 percent increase) from the Board of Supervisors.

Item 01/06-17 Update on Schools Not Accredited (Information): Rhonda Baker, interim principal at Belview Elementary School, and Guylene Wood-Setzer, interim principal at Auburn Middle School, presented the Board with program and other changes implemented at the schools since they began as interim principals.

Item 01/06-18 Supplemental Appropriations (Action): Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to authorize a request to the Board of Supervisors for a supplemental appropriation to the 2005-2006 School Operating Budget, Code 610000, Instruction, in the amount of $200,108, and Code 640000, Operations and Maintenance, in the amount of $194,560.

Unfinished Business By School Board Members

Ms. Franklin asked that Board committee assignments be placed on the next agenda.

The Board set the retreat for May 19-20, 2006 at the Hotel Roanoke. Possible topics mentioned for discussion are alternative education and Career and Technical Education.

Ms. Franklin asked Board members to let the clerk know if they would like to attend an early bird session at the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Conference and if they would attend the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Legislative Conference.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to cancel the January 26, 2006 budget work session.

Item 01/06-16 (Continued), Item 01/06-17, and Item 01/06-18

New Business By School Board Members

Mrs. Morikawa announced that she attended an excellent seminar at the VSBA Convention about bullying prevention. She asked if this group might make a presentation on this topic. Dr. Anderson said she would look into this.

Mr. Jones said he would like an update on Student Congress. Dr. Anderson stated that she would include dates for Student Congress in the Board Update.

Mr. Jones expressed concern about safety issues raised at AHS and AMS. Dr. Anderson noted that many of these issues have already been addressed and she will update the Board in the future on these issues.

Ms. Bond asked when the chaperoning at Christiansburg Middle School will be discontinued. Dr. Anderson said chaperoning should be declining by the end of January, as there have been no serious incidents at the school.

Dr. Hopkins told Board members that many states provide more support for National Board Certification than Virginia. He said the process is an arduous one.

Announcements/Information

Mrs. Jones complimented Dr. Anderson and Mr. Shannon on their work with the budget.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. on motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board