March
20, 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 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 Carol Reynolds
Christine C. Burton Walter L. Shannon
Kathy A. Duncan Patricia Talbot
Harvey C. Goodwin Jeanette R. Warwick
Anita P. Johnston Richard D. Weaver
Betti C. Kreye Sharon J. Zuckerwar
Mark J. Pasier Brad King, Attorney
Call
to Order
Ms.
Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag
at 6:30 p.m.
Adoption
of Agenda
On motion by Mrs. Lythgoe, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board voted unanimously to adopt an amended agenda adding real estate matters to closed session and adding Item 03/07-60 (Review of School Safety and Discipline Report) under Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations, and Announcements.
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 6:31 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.
Morikawa moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to
return to open session at 7:33 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 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
W. Wat Hopkins Penny J. Franklin, Chair
B.
Wendell Jones
_________________________ March
20, 2007
Clerk
of the Montgomery Date
County
School Board
Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to expel student A (with alternative placement at Rivendell) from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to long-term suspend student B from MCPS with time served.
The Board heard a musical presentation from the Elliston Lafayette Elementary School Singing Eagles in celebration of Music in Our Schools/Youth Art Month. Kathy Duncan, Fine Arts Supervisor, thanked the Board for its continued support of fine arts and presented Board members with ceramic artwork pieces made by students.
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 March are:
Auburn High School Allison Michelle Bishop
Blacksburg High School Gilan Karl Salehi
Christiansburg High School Kayleigh April Calloway
Eastern Montgomery High School Melissa Michelle Dunlea
Allison
Michelle Bishop, AHS Senior of the Month, was unable to attend the meeting.
Jessica
Vance, a sixth grade student at Blacksburg Middle School (BMS), was recognized
for receiving a 2007 Prudential Spirit of Community Award for outstanding acts
of volunteerism.
Marcus
Ford, Seth Vanhoozier, Zac Evans, and Patrick Asconi, members of the BHS boy’s
indoor track mile relay team, were recognized for winning the Group AA State
Championship.
The
Board recognized the CHS wrestling team for winning its sixth consecutive Group
AA State Championship. Members of the
team include:
State
Champions:
Drew Squires, Timmy Miles, Andrew Clement, Luke Brugh, Sam Rakes, Brett Buckner, Charles Weber, and Cody Gardner.
Second
Place: Devin Carter Third
Place: Andrew Robertson
Fifth
Place: John Weber Eighth
Place: Derek Woody
Other
members of the championship team include Ian Squires and D. J. Weightman. Daryl Weber, Brian Shortridge, and Alvin
Sheppard, coaches, were also recognized.
The School Board recognized Jonathan E. Schulz, a teacher at Belview Elementary School, for receiving the Virginia Council Teacher of Mathematics (VCTM) William C. Lowry Teacher of the Year Award.
The School Board recessed at 8:15 p.m. and reconvened at 8:25 p.m.
Kristen Snyder, an eighth grade student at Auburn Middle School (AMS), expressed her concern about the lack of facility changes at AMS. Miss Snyder told Board members that a new stadium for BHS is not as important as educational facilities at AMS. She added that students are not able to wait five years for a new school.
Item 03/07-49 Personnel
Report: On motion by Mrs.
Lythgoe, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, the Board unanimously voted to approve
the personnel report with two addendums.
The personnel report is attached and made a
part of the minutes as pages A1-A5.
Mr. Jones asked if current
resignations/retirement rates are normal for this time of year. Mark Pasier, Director of Human Resources,
said these numbers are average or low compared to recent years.
Item
03-07-50 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs.
Lythgoe, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.
Operating Fund:
Bills, 03/20/07, Ck. Nos. 442611-442923,
$259,124.24
Utilities, 03/20/07, Ck. Nos. 442924-442948,
$162,059.86
Cafeteria:
Bills,
02/27/07, Ck. Nos. 2188-2195, $69,244.26
Bills, 03/13/07, Ck. Nos. 2196-2211, $87,295.14
Work Session
Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mr.
Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 8:30
p.m.
Item
03/07-51 Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Presentation: Dale Clark, chair of the CTE Advisory Council, told Board
members that this presentation is the culmination of a study that started in
2005. Mr. Clark said the government
mandates that school divisions have a CTE advisory council committee in order
to receive Perkins funds. He stressed
that the study included input from teachers, parents, students, and the
business and industry community regarding CTE.
Mr. Clark stated that the advisory council desires to see growth in the
CTE offerings in Montgomery County in the form of CTE academies.
Rick Weaver, Supervisor of CTE,
told Board members that eight out of ten students plan to attend college, but
only six out of ten actually attend. He
noted that only four of these six students would complete college with two
actually being employed in their college major. Mr. Weaver said this illustrates the need for enhanced CTE
programs.
Mr. Clark informed the Board that
surveys completed by the business and industry community revealed that there is
a need to improve the work ethic of students and to strengthen business
partnerships.
Item
03/07-50 and Item 03/07-51
Owen Gallagher, a student at BHS,
said he sees several issues impacting CTE offerings in the county such as
scheduling differences among the high schools; student participation (lack of
accessibility for some students); and the management of students between their
home schools and a CTE center. Mr. Gallagher
noted that the advisory council is recommending a countywide AB schedule (four
periods per day plus lunch alternating each day – mimics a college setting).
David Bernard, owner of Aquarius
Plumbing and a member of the CTE advisory council, told Board members that many
areas such as Chesterfield County and Virginia Beach have CTE centers.
Brian Hamilton of the economic
development office said CTE offerings and certificates are needed now more than
ever with the expansion of the corporate research center and other economic
development. Mr. Hamilton added that
students need a focused career path with professional certifications and
technology experience.
Peggy Dunn of New River Community
College (NRCC), a career coach within the school division, told Board members
that NRCC plans to implement a pilot program in the fall offering college
credit courses and certification at no cost to students in the school division.
Mr. Weaver informed the Board that
the consensus of the committee is to develop and expand CTE offerings based on
workforce needs and realistic career options; closely work with businesses and
industry in planning and implementing specific academies; develop a countywide
CTE course catalog for student/counselor use; create a common high school
schedule across the county and provide busing to move students to the academy
of their choice; improve career guidance by supporting the career coach
concept; and plan for a new academy center that would provide CTE expansion and
equitable access for all students.
Mr. Weaver said that a CTE model
that better serves the needs of students and workforce needs in the community
is needed.
Item
03/07-51 (Continued)
Dr. Hopkins stated that he would
like an item placed on the agenda for discussion on some of these issues (such
as the schedule change) at a future Board meeting. Mr. Jones agreed.
Return to Regular Session
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa,
and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 9:10 p.m.
Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and
Announcements
Item
03/07-52 Social Justice Update (Information): Dr.
Anderson told Board members that the achievement gap among the various
subgroups of students in the school division is narrowing and is almost
nonexistent at schools such as Shawsville Elementary School. She said principals are looking at
information from other counties where there is no achievement gap to see what
they are doing.
Sharon Zuckerwar, supervisor of
social sciences and character education, presented the Board with a slide show
from the Social Justice Coalition.
Ms. Franklin expressed that the work that has gone on so far
with the Social Justice Coalition has been at a level to move the district
forward. Mrs. Morikawa noted that being
part of this endeavor has been a journey of discovery for her.
Item
03/07-53 Academic Review Team Report of Findings
(Information):
Dr. Anderson told Board members that the overall report from the
academic review team was included in the Board packet.
Jeanette Warwick, Assistant
Superintendent, said the academic review team has recommended benchmark testing
division-wide; a research-based mathematics program on the approved list for
middle and high schools be implemented; and a revision of school improvement
plans.
Dr. Hopkins expressed his concern
about the emphasis on high stakes testing and taking time from other programs
such as electives, art, physical education, music, etc.
Item
03/07-51 (Continued), Item 03/07-52, and Item 03/07-53
Dr. Anderson said the academic
review team presented some items as suggestions and mandated other essential
actions. Mrs. Warwick added that the
school division has until the next school year to implement the essential
actions.
Item
03/07-54 Belview
Elementary School (BES) Improvement Plan (Action): Rhonda Baker, principal at BES, and her
staff presented the Board with information on the BES Improvement Plan.
Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded
by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted six to one to approve the BES Improvement
Plan. Voting in favor were Mrs. Bond,
Mr. Dunkenberger, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Lythgoe, Mrs. Morikawa, and Ms.
Franklin. Voting against was Dr.
Hopkins.
Item
03/07-55 Auburn
Middle School (AMS) Improvement Plan (Action): Guylene Wood-Setzer, principal at AMS, and her staff presented
the Board with the AMS Improvement Plan.
Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by
Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the AMS Improvement
Plan.
Item
03/07-56 2007-2008
12-Month Employee Calendar (Action):
Mr. Pasier told Board members that the administration is not recommending that
12-month employees receive an additional holiday during Thanksgiving break (as
is listed in the 12-month calendar) since there are already 14 holidays
provided per School Board policy.
Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by
Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the 2007-2008 12-Month
Employee Calendar without the additional holiday at Thanksgiving Break.
Item
03/07-57 Summer
School Update (Information):
Mrs. Warwick provided the Board with an update on summer school. Dr. Anderson said summer school would
continue to operate on a four-week schedule and the school division would
recruit internally and then externally for summer positions.
Item
03/07-53 (Continued) and Items 03/07-54-57
Item
03/07-58 2007-2008
Fiscal Year School Operating Budget Update (Information/Discussion): Walt Shannon, Director of Management
Services, told Board members that the school division is expected to receive
about $1.5 million in additional funding from the county. Mr. Shannon noted that the projected funding
would leave the school division $5.7 million short of the budget request and
the Board would have to work on the budget once final numbers are received from
the state. He noted that the Board of
Supervisors has delayed setting the tax rate until April 5.
Item
03/07-59 Discussion
of Second Board Meeting in April (Information/Action): Ms. Franklin said several School Board
members will be returning late from the National School Boards Association
(NSBA) Conference on April 17, a scheduled Board meeting day. She asked if the Board would like to change
the date for this meeting.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr.
Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to reschedule the April 17 School
Board meeting to April 24.
Item
03/07-60 Review
of School Safety and Discipline (Information): Dr. Anderson shared student discipline data with the
Board. She said the infractions
reported involve between 0 and 4 percent of students depending on the
infraction and the school.
Patti Talbot, Director of
Instructional Services and Professional Development, told Board members that
safety audits are performed at schools every three years as mandated by the
state. Dr. Talbot said the
administration has been collecting the audits during the last few weeks. She added that the administration has also
asked law enforcement agencies to provide walkthroughs of the buildings to
develop an effective division-wide safety plan.
Item 03/07-58, Item 03/07-59, and Item
03/07-60
Unfinished Business By School Board Members
Mrs. Lythgoe
expressed her desire for the Board to receive feedback from the administration
on what is happening with homework across the division and the beliefs and
thoughts of teachers and administrators based on the research. Dr. Hopkins said he would be interested in
the district philosophy on homework.
Dr. Anderson stated that she would talk with principals at the next
principal’s meeting to ask their views on the homework policy and have the
principals discuss the issue with staff to report back to the Board. Board
members agreed.
Mr. Jones stated
that based on the editorial in the Roanoke Times, he would like to review
unedited student surveys with regard to drug, alcohol and other issues. He said the School Board should decide the
content of the surveys.
Mrs. Morikawa
asked if the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects approved at the last
meeting would increase operating costs for the district. She said she would like to know how much the
School Board could expect to add to the operating budget when the new schools
are built.
New Business By School Board Members
Ms. Franklin said
she would like to discuss increased support for the alternative facilities in
the future. Board members agreed.
Agenda Preparation
April
3, 2007 School Improvement Plan for
SMS
Capital Maintenance Projects
April
17, 2007 Feasibility Study Results
School Improvement Plan for
CMS
Technology Plan
Salary Scales
Special Education Plan
(Information)
May
1, 2007 Report on Drug and Alcohol
Issues
Discussion of Youth Survey
Options
Special Education Plan
(Action)
May
15, 2007 Efficiency Study Results
August
3-4, 2007 School Board Retreat – Wyndham
Hotel in Roanoke
August
6, 2007 GIS Study Report