June 5, 2007

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 session.

Board Members Present

Penny J. Franklin, Chair W. Wat Hopkins

Jamie M. Bond Amy U. Lythgoe

David G. Dunkenberger, II

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Judith K. Barylske Mark J. Pasier

Daniel A. Berenato Carol Reynolds

Kathy A. Duncan Rochelle

Patricia A. Gaudreau Walt L. Shannon

Christina T. Gilley Patricia Talbot

Harvey C. Goodwin Jeanette D. Warwick

Carol Jennings Laura Williams

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 6:31 p.m.

Adoption of Agenda

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

Closed Session

Mr. Dunkenberger 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 6:32 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 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

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:42 p.m.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, 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 Penny J. Franklin, Chair

W. Wat Hopkins

_________________________ June 5, 2007

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Action

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to expel a student from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

Honors, Awards, and Recognitions

Blacksburg High School (BHS) was recognized for receiving Virginia Honor Band status and as a Blue Ribbon School.

Christiansburg High School (CHS) was recognized for receiving Virginia Honor Band status and as a Blue Ribbon School.

Blacksburg Middle School (BMS) was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School.

The School Board recessed at 7:45 p.m. and reconvened at 7:55 p.m.

Public Address

Alan Mandzak told Board members that 10 months ago he gave the director of facilities a list of 15 items or crimes against the citizens of the county. Mr. Mandzak said he resigned from the school division because he is embarrassed to work for a management team that fosters nepotism and uses threats to control employees.

Sharon Hartline, a Blacksburg parent and a member of a group of concerned parents for responsible growth, urged the Board to speak out against a plan to build a big box store near Margaret Beeks Elementary School.

Item 06/07-104 Personnel Report: On motion by Dr. Hopkins, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, 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-A14.

Item 06-07-105 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Dunkenberger, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Utilities, 05/30/07, Ck. Nos. 444045-444065, $775,698.78

Bills, 06/05/07, Ck. Nos. 444066-444445, $816,230.06

Payroll, 05/07/07, Ck. No. 44122, VOID, P/R Check,($250.25)

Payroll, 05/08/07, supp. Ck. Nos. 44337-44342, $5,949.80

Fixed Charges, 05/08/07, Ck. No. 44343, $441.93

Item 06/07-104 and Item 06/07-105

Payroll, 05/31/07, Ck. Nos. 44344-44366, $4,722,727.11

Fixed Charges, 05/31/07, Ck. Nos. 44367-44440, $1,595,324.64

Cafeteria:

Bills, 05/30/07, Ck. Nos. 2267-2282, $156,690.60

Payroll, 05/31/07, Ck. Nos. 4948-4949, $139,164.54

Fixed Charges, 05/31/07, Ck. Nos. 4950-4974, $33,795.10

Item 06/07-106 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general consent:

1. Minutes: Minutes from the April 3, 2007 regular session, the April 24, 2007 work session, the May 1, 2007 regular session, the May 3, 2007 budget work session, the May 15, 2007 work session, and the May 22, 2007 special session.

2. Donations:

a. Ms. Beth Levinson to donate a piano to Blacksburg Middle School (BMS).

b. Mr. Jim Owen to donate a boiler to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

3. Field Trips:

a. The marching band at BHS to travel to Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, from July 29 through August 3, 2007. Students will travel with parents. Accommodations are to be provided by the college dorm. The cost per student is $205.

b. MCPS National History Day students to travel to the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, on June 10-14, 2007. Students will travel via county car. Accommodations are to be provided by the Holiday Inn in Greenbelt, Maryland. The cost per student is $100.

c. The CHS Black Student Awareness Club to travel to Winston Salem, North Carolina, on June 18. Students will travel via charter bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $25.

Item 06/07-105 (Continued) and Item 06/07-106

d. The BHS forensics team to travel to national competition on June 16-22, 2007. Students will travel via airplane. Accommodations are to be provided by a tournament recommended hotel. The cost per student is $900.

e. Students in the Gilbert Linkous Elementary School (GLES) after school program to travel to the North Carolina Zoological Park on June 22, 2007. Students will travel via charter bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $35.

4. Grants:

a. Christiansburg Elementary School (CES) FIRST LEGO League Program: A grant to provide extracurricular science enrichment for CES students by offering the FIRST LEGO program and participation in the Southwest Virginia Regional LEGO League Tournament.

b. What’s on Stage? at Harding Avenue Elementary School (HAES): A grant to continue funding for What’s on Stage?, an HAES after-school program that exposes at-risk third through fifth grade students to cultural events while expanding their language arts and technology skills.

c. Hamburger Helper’s My Hometown Helper.com Grants:

1) What’s on Stage? at HAES: A grant to continue funding for What’s on Stage?, an HAES after-school program that exposes at-risk third through fifth grade students to cultural events while expanding their language arts and technology skills.

2) A Safe Trail – CES: A grant to enhance the safety of the walking trail by rerouting it so that all sections of the trail are visible from the playground area.

3) Community Literacy at Price’s Fork Elementary School (PFES): A grant to build community ties and enhance the literacy of area pre-schoolers (ages 1-5) by making visits to children’s homes and providing them with literacy-related toys, activities, games, and books.

Item 06/07-106 (Continued)

4) What’s on Stage? at HAES: A grant to continue funding for What’s on Stage?, an HAES after-school program that exposes at-risk third through fifth grade students to cultural events while expanding their language arts and technology skills.

5) Youth Survey Grant for MCPS and Radford City Public Schools (RCPS): A grant to administer the Pride Risk and Protective Factor Questionnaire to 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th graders in Montgomery County and Radford City Schools.

5. Cancellation of Checks: Approval to cancel the following checks:

Check Number Vendor Amount

442071 Wade’s Supermarket $772.87

442099 Winston Sales University $100.00

442528 R. E. Michel Co., Inc. $519.14

442601 Southern Farm Bureau $200.00

442805 Office Depot $ 32.09

442997 Character Counts $ 32.75

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and Announcements

Item 06/07-107 MCPS Project Graduation 2007 Combined Summer Academy Grant Proposal (Action): Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the MPCS Project Graduation 2007 Combined Summer Academy Grant Proposal.

Item 06/07-108 Project SUCCESS in MCPS Alternative Schools Grant Proposal (Action): Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Project SUCCESS in MCPS Alternative Schools Grant Proposal.

Item 06/07-109 Efficiency Review Organizational Chart (Action): Dr. Anderson explained that she is recommending changes to the organizational chart based on the efficiency review. She said the efficiency review team recommended that Walt Shannon, Director of Management Services, be promoted to an Assistant Superintendent and she is recommending this change.

Item 06/07-106 (Continued) and Items 06/07-107-109

Dr. Anderson stated that although the efficiency review team suggested that the Human Resources Department be placed under the assistant superintendent for operations, it is being maintained under the superintendent’s office at this time. She added that Judy Barylske, Supervisor of Language Arts, Foreign Language, and English as a Second Language (ESL), is recommended as a lead curriculum supervisor with expanded duties such as professional development. A pool of administrative assistants is also recommended for the curriculum department.

Dr. Anderson said the efficiency review team recommended that a Director of Elementary Education and a Director of Secondary Education be hired. She stated that she would like to hire the elementary director this year. This person would report to the superintendent but might be moved under the assistant superintendent for instruction in the future. Dr. Anderson noted that Nelson Simpkins, Principal at Eastern Montgomery High School (EMHS), has expressed an interest in taking on supplemental duties to assist with secondary schools. She said he would continue as principal at EMHS but would be paid a supplement for the additional duties.

Dr. Hopkins stated that he would vote for the recommended changes to the organizational chart but noted that six department heads reporting to the superintendent does not look efficient.

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the organizational chart as presented.

Item 06/07-110 Real Estate Update (Information): Dr. Anderson told Board members that the Board of Supervisors has announced a contract to purchase land for a new elementary school in Elliston. Dan Berenato, Director of Facilities, explained the timeline for the project. Mr. Berenato said property acquisition, planning, and zoning would take approximately 60-90 days. He added that project design would take six to twelve months depending on the scope of design (prototype versus custom design).

Item 06/07-109 (Continued) and Item 06/07-110

Dr. Anderson said an item would be placed on the next agenda to discuss next steps for the project.

Item 06/07-111 Update on Progress of Air Conditioning for Schools (Information): Mr. Berenato told Board members that the design for the air conditioning project was completed three weeks ago. Mr. Berenato said bids are due on June 7 and he would update the Board on the project after this date. He added that the expected completion date for the project is January 15.

Item 06/07-112 Testing Update (Information): Carol Jennings, Coordinator of Testing, told Board members that online testing was expanded this year with Auburn Elementary School (AES), Elliston Lafayette Elementary School (ELES), GLES, HAES, and Margaret Beeks Elementary School (MBES) testing entirely online. Mrs. Jennings noted that all middle and high schools as well as Independence Secondary, Rivendell and Phoenix tested entirely online except for Auburn Middle School (AMS), which tested all subjects online except math (as was suggested by the academic review team). The academic review team also suggested that Belview Elementary School maintain the paper/pencil test this year. Mrs. Jennings briefed the Board on interruptions to testing that occurred. She said Shawsville Middle School was impacted significantly by the interruptions. Mrs. Jennings noted that the preliminary results are promising with results at some schools such as ELES increasing by 32 points. She said ELES also had a 100 percent pass rate in fifth grade science.

Mrs. Jennings said the school division would not have all preliminary results for three or four more weeks and would not receive final results until August or September.

Item 06/07-113 Title I Plan (Action): Rochelle informed the Board that most of the funding for Title I lies within the area of personnel. She added that Kipps Elementary School and Margaret Beeks Elementary School are grandfathered in for the coming school year but did not meet the countywide average for free and reduced lunch to continue with Title I after this year.

Item 06/07-110 (Continued) and Items 06/07-111-113

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Title I Plan as presented.

Item 06/07-114 Title II A, Title III A, Title IV A, and Title V A Plans (Action): Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Title II A, Title III A, Title IV A, and Title V A Plans as presented.

Item 06/07-115 Grades 11 and 12 Advanced Placement (AP) English Textbook Adoptions (Information): The Board reviewed recommended grades 11 and 12 AP English textbook adoptions. This item will be placed on the next agenda for approval.

Item 06/07-116 Clarification of Topics for the Retreat (Action): Dr. Hopkins said the Board previously agreed to discuss the Board’s self-evaluation and goals for next year at the retreat; however, Mr. Jones and Mrs. Morikawa suggested other topics and are not in attendance at the meeting. Therefore, discussion on this topic would have to be continued. The Board agreed to inquire with Paula Wilder, the Virginia Schools Boards Association, and the National School Boards Association about facilitators for the retreat.

Item 06/07-117 Announcements/Calendar for June (Information): Dr. Anderson made no announcements.

Unfinished Business By School Board Members

Mrs. Lythgoe asked for an update on the development planned behind Margaret Beeks Elementary School. Mr. Berenato updated the Board on what he knows about the project. He said the School Board is free to comment and make recommendations on proposed development, traffic, etc. but the Town of Blacksburg would make these decisions. Brad King, School Board Attorney, told Board members that he would give a lot of thought to weighing in on something that will be determined by another political body.

Item 06/07-113 (Continued) and Items 06/07-114-117

Dr. Hopkins said he would like to respond that the School Board isn’t taking a position as a Board if there is no research to show the impact of this development. The Board agreed to have Dr. Anderson speak to the police department about crime rates in the vicinity of a big box store. Board members also asked for local and national research on the topic.

Ms. Franklin told Board members that she would like to add an item to the next School Board agenda to discuss moving ahead with other capital projects since acquisition of property for Price’s Fork Elementary School does not seem to be moving along.

New Business By School Board Members

Ms. Franklin said the Board should make plans for a joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors in the fall.

Mr. Dunkenberger said he would like information on the School Resource Officer (SRO) program and the SRO grant on a future School Board agenda.

Announcements/Information

Mr. Dunkenberger noted that the flashlights he handed out were from Christiansburg High School. He added that the ELES Singing Eagles recently placed second in a musical competition at Hershey Park Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Lythgoe thanked all the teachers and staff for their hard work this year.

Agenda Preparation

June 12, 2007 Special Session – Superintendent’s Evaluation at 6:00 p.m. (closed session)

June 19, 2007 Grades 11 and 12 AP English Textbook Adoptions (Action)

Payment of Final Bills, Regular Operating

Payment of Final Bills, School Nutrition Program

Update on Wellness Plan

Discussion of Career and Technical Education Programs

Title IID Plan

August 3-4, 2007 School Board Retreat – Wyndham Hotel in Roanoke

August 6, 2007 GIS Study Report

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. on motion by Mrs. Lythgoe, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board