June 20, 2006

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 6:00 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

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Nancy L. Ballinger Carol Reynolds

Judith K. Barylske Marilyn M. Session

Daniel A. Berenato Walter L. Shannon

Harvey C. Goodwin Jeanette R. Warwick

Anita P. Johnston Brad King, Attorney

Call to Order

Ms. Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 6:00 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 Mr. Jones, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia at 6:01 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.

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 7:40 p.m.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, 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 Amy U. Lythgoe

David G. Dunkenberger, II Susan K. Morikawa

B. Wendell Jones Penny J. Franklin, Chair

_________________________ June 20, 2006

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Action

On motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the School Board voted unanimously to grant a religious exemption for student A.

On motion by Mr. Dunkenberger, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board voted unanimously to expel student B from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board voted unanimously to expel student C from MCPS.

On motion by Mrs. Bond, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board voted unanimously to expel student D from MCPS.

On motion by Mrs. Lythgoe, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, the Board voted unanimously to grant a religious exemption for student E.

Honors, Awards and Recognitions

The School Board recognized outgoing administrators for their years of service to the school district. Patricia Agnew, principal at Christiansburg Elementary School; Corie Franklin, principal at Christiansburg High School; and Pamela King, supervisor of payroll were recognized.

The Board recessed at 7:50 p.m. and reconvened at 8:00 p.m.

Public Address

Jake Altizer, a parent of a student at Independence Secondary School (IS), reiterated to the Board how much IS has helped his daughter. Mr. Altizer urged the Board to consider all of the issues when making a decision to move the school.

Jennifer Bertrand, a student at IS, asked the Board to maintain IS at its current location.

Item 06/06-98 Personnel Report: On motion by Mrs. Lythgoe, seconded by

Mrs. Bond, 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-A6.

Item 06/06-98

Item 06/06-99 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by

Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Utilities, 06/07/06, Ck. Nos. 438419-438441, $127,394.56

Bills, 06/20/06, Ck. Nos. 438442-438736, $743,068.66

Cafeteria Fund:

Bills, 6/14/06 Ck. Nos. 1979-1987, $44,382.78

Work Session

On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board voted unanimously to enter into work session at 8:05 p.m.

Item 06/06-100 Gifted Advisory Committee (GAC) Report: The Board heard a presentation from members of the GAC. The GAC recommended the following:

· Implementation of nationally normed group achievement and ability tests;

· Continuation of cluster grouping across all schools holding principals accountable for implementation;

· Reinstatement of funding for DEP/TDP planning days with release time for teachers via use of substitutes;

· Full funding for one teacher of the gifted in the 2006-2007 budget and adding one additional position annually until the Virginia Standards of Quality (SOQ) recommendation is met;

· Training of administrators and teachers of students that are identified as gifted in the area of differentiated instruction;

· Continued support for the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School; and

· Support for the continued development of Advanced Placement (AP) and honors classes for high school level students.

Item 06/06-99 and Item 06/06-100

Item 06/06-101 Annual Report on Gifted Numbers: Nancy Ballinger, supervisor of gifted education, presented the Board with an annual report on gifted numbers. Ms. Ballinger told Board members that there were 1,161 identified gifted students in the district during the 2005-2006 school year.

Item 06/06-102 Year-End Accomplishments: Dr. Anderson presented the Board with a report on accomplishments for the most recent school year in the areas of management services, instruction, hiring and staffing, technology, building relationships, and facilities.

Return to Regular Session

Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 8:45 p.m.

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and Announcements

Item 06/06-103 Governor’s School Agreement (Action): Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the agreement for fourteen seniors and ten juniors to attend the Governor’s School next year.

Item 06/06-104 Title IIA, Title IID, Title IIIA, and Title IVA Applications (Action): Jeanette Warwick, assistant superintendent, told Board members that the applications are based on the current year’s funding but the amount of the awards could decrease substantially.

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to submit all of the title applications.

Mrs. Warwick reported that she was recently notified that the school division received a $47,000 grant for a student assistance counselor. She added that MCPS has also applied for a $64,000 bully prevention program grant but the award has not been made at this time.

Item 06/06-105 Cancellation of July School Board Meetings (Action): Dr. Anderson explained that the Board would need to have a meeting in July to approve salary schedules and a final budget.

Items 06/06-101-105

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to establish a meeting date on July 11, 2006.

Item 06/06-106 Budget Update (Information/Action): Walt Shannon, director of management services, told Board members that a provisional budget needs to be adopted to begin the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Mr. Shannon said this would not be the final budget because the Board will be asked to approve a final budget in July.

Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to approve a 2006-2007 provisional School Operating Budget in the amount of $86,336,163 and a 2006-2007 provisional School Nutrition Budget in the amount of $3,585,718.

Item 06/06-107 Fiscal Year 2005-2006 School Operating Budget, Payment of Final Bills (Action): Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to authorize the chair to review and approve payment of the final June invoices and invoices for the month of July for the 2005-2006 School Operating Budget.

Item 06/06-108 Fiscal Year 2005-2006 School Nutrition Budget, Payment of Final Bills (Action): Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent to review and approve payment of the final June invoices and invoices for the month of July for the 2005-2006 School Nutrition Budget.

Item 06/06-109 Alternative Programs and Use of Facilities (Action): Dr. Anderson told Board members that the administration is recommending that Wilson Avenue be consolidated with Rivendell and that Independence Secondary School be moved to the old Christiansburg Middle School building.

The Board discussed the logistics of moving the programs, a prospective timeline, communication issues, and costs associated with the proposal.

Item 06/06-105 (Continued) and Items 06/06-106-109

Mr. Jones expressed concern about moving students into the lower building at the old Christiansburg Middle School when it was not deemed suitable for elementary students.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the proposal presented for alternative programs and use of facilities.

Unfinished Business By School Board Members

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to cancel the July 4 and the July 18 School Board meetings.

The Board discussed the joint meeting, which was held on June 19 among the School Board, the Board of Supervisors, and the Blacksburg Town Council. Mr. Jones expressed his dissatisfaction with the meeting and the extensive discussion of issues other than the Blacksburg High School stadium.

Mr. Dunkenberger brought up plans for new subdivisions in the county that will impact school enrollment numbers in the future. Ms. Franklin talked about plans to educate the planning commission members on the impact of development on schools, fire/rescue, roads, etc.

New Business by School Board Members

Mr. Dunkenberger mentioned that Shawsville Elementary School and Belview Elementary School are currently in the process of raising funds for playground equipment. He asked if there is a possibility for schools to partner with the parks and recreation departments for joint use of playgrounds as was done recently with the baseball fields. Dan Berenato, Director of Facilities, said that the Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Department has previously provided funds for playground equipment to schools located in the town, but the other localities have not. Dr. Anderson told Board members that she would look into this.

Mr. Dunkenberger said he would like to discuss old Blacksburg Middle School and the money lost in operating the building in the near future. Dr. Anderson said this would be discussed during budget conversations.

Dr. Anderson told Board members that she would send the Board a copy of the proposed budget and reductions discussed at the retreat.

Ms. Franklin said she would like to schedule some community dialogue meetings for the fall.

Item 06/06-109 (Continued)

Mr. Jones stated that he would like to discuss ways to support the recommendations of the GAC. Dr. Anderson said the administration has issues with some of the recommendations, but said she would keep the Board informed on progress.

Mr. Jones mentioned the letter Board members received from Barbara Allen, the facilitator at the retreat. He said Ms. Allen suggested the Board do additional work on School Board/superintendent communications and discussion. Mr. Jones said he would like to see this continue. Dr. Anderson told Board members that she would be having a follow-up conversation with Ms. Allen about this in the near future.

Agenda Preparation

June 10, 2006 Special Meeting at 12:00 p.m.

June 11, 2006 2006-2007 School Operating Budget

Salary Schedules

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. on motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board