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
Ms.
Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag
at 6:31 p.m.
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).
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.
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 8th, 10th,
and 12th 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.