July 11, 2006

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of a regular 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 Mark J. Pasier

Christina T. Gilley Rhonda Poindexter

Harvey C. Goodwin Walter L. Shannon

Lisa R. McAlexander

Call to Order

Mrs. Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 7:30 p.m.

Adoption of Agenda

On motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the revised agenda as presented to include a public address.

Public Address

Kathy Calvert spoke on behalf of the Montgomery County Education Association. She explained that she is the co-chair of the compensation committee. Ms. Calvert thanked the School Board members for their efforts and their willingness to support pay raises for employees. Ms. Calvert encouraged Board members to stay as close to the proposed scale as possible even though she said everyone recognizes there isn’t enough money to fund the proposed salary scale. Concerns were noted about freezing the beginning step of the teachers’ salary scale, and a longevity step was proposed for teachers at the top of the scale.

Item 07/06-110 Personnel Report: Dr. Hopkins noted that the personnel

report reflects that his wife will be going from full-time status to part-time status. However, Dr. Hopkins stated that he does not feel that his voting in favor of the personnel report constitutes a conflict of interest for him.

On motion by Mrs. Lythgoe, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, the Board voted unanimously to approve the amended personnel report (in view of the addendum presented).

This report is attached and made a part of these minutes as pages A1-A14.

Item 07/06-111 2006-2007 School Operating Budget: Dr. Hopkins moved,

seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the School Board voted unanimously to approve the superintendent’s recommended budget for FY 2006-2007 (at a total increase of 9.3% in the amount of $86,418,348).

Although voicing some discomfort with the idea of closing old Blacksburg Middle School, School Board members discussed the savings as a result of closing this facility. Mr. Berenato, Director of Facilities, explained that a wing of the building would remain open and available for certain programs/functions.

Dr. Anderson indicated that she would be exploring options with the New River Valley Health Department in terms of servicing secondary schools to complement programs already in place at those schools. Mrs. Lythgoe asked about possibly working with Virginia Tech’s School of Osteopathic Medicine as well. Dr. Anderson agreed to also contact Virginia Tech to discuss other possibilities.

Dr. Hopkins along with other Board members voiced support for athletic trainers even though this is an area that was cut in the budget. Dr. Anderson talked about her work with athletic directors and their efforts to look at creatively working to support athletic trainers in other ways.

Item 07/06-112 Salary Scales: On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Dr.

Hopkins, the School Board voted unanimously to approve the salary scales presented for all employee groups for FY 2006-2007.

It was noted that the average salary increase is 5.5% and that the specific increase for each employee may vary based on each individual’s placement on his/her respective salary schedule.

Item 07/06-113 Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance Resolution:

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the School Board unanimously approved the attached Resolution to Adopt the Member Agreement to Join the Virginia Association of Counties Group Self Insurance Risk Pool.

This resolution is attached and made a part of these minutes as page B1.

Unfinished Business by School Board Members

BHS Stadium: Dr. Hopkins said he asked for this item to be placed on the agenda since he missed the joint meeting with the Blacksburg Town Council and the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. He proposed that this item be placed on an upcoming liaison meeting agenda so that there could be a discussion about possibly looking for more land outside the town limits of Blacksburg to build a stadium since there seems to be an impasse involving the property inside the town limits. Ms. Franklin said one of the items discussed at the recent liaison meeting was scheduling a joint meeting to discuss facilities. The following potential dates were proposed: August 8 and August 29. August 29 seemed to be the best meeting date for School Board members.

New Business by School Board Members

Board Discussion: There was no board discussion since the joint meeting date to discuss facilities was determined above.

Announcements/Information

There were no announcements.

Closed Session

Mr. Jones 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 9:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of the following specific matters:

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 Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 9:26 p.m.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, 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 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 Amy U. Lythgoe

David G. Dunkenberger, II Susan K. Morikawa

W. Wat Hopkins Penny J. Franklin, Chair

B. Wendell Jones

_______________________________ July 11, 2006

Deputy Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Agenda Preparation

August Recognition of Special Education Advisory Member

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m. on motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Deputy Clerk of the School Board