May
5, 2009
The
Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative
building at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of a regular business meeting.
Board Members Present
B. Wendell Jones, Chair David G. Dunkenberger, II
Phyllis T. Albritton W. Wat
Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers,
Jr.
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Christina T. Gilley Diane R. Naff
Harvey C. Goodwin Mark J. Pasier
Lois T. Graham Carol A. Reynolds
Anita P. Johnston Walter L.
Katie Miano Brad King, Attorney
Call
to Order
Mr.
Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 5:30
p.m.
Adoption
of Agenda
On motion by Mrs. Albritton, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.
Closed Session
Mr. Ivers moved,
seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a
closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia
at 5:31 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.
Legal
Matters: Consultation with legal counsel
regarding specific legal matters requiring legal advice by counsel, as
authorized by Section 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia.
Return to Open Session and Certification
Dr. Hopkins moved,
seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open
session at 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Hopkins moved,
seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board unanimously 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
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: Phyllis T. Albritton W.
Wat
Jamie M. Bond Joseph
T. Ivers, Jr.
David G. Dunkenberger, II B. Wendell Jones, Chair
_______________________________ May
5, 2009
Clerk
of the
Action
Mr. Ivers moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board
voted unanimously to readmit student A to
Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to expel student B from MCPS.
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to expel student C from MCPS.
Public Address
Mike Kaylor, a
teacher at Blacksburg High School (BHS), addressed the Board regarding the
administration’s decision to discontinue supplemental pay for staff teaching an
extra period. Mr. Kaylor said he and
other teachers have built successful programs at BHS, and it’s not right to
discontinue the supplement.
Kat McDearis, a
senior at BHS, told Board members that Mr. Kaylor should be compensated for
going above and beyond for his students and the program at the school. Miss McDearis said she has been deeply
affected by Mr. Kaylor’s teaching.
Kelly Showalter, a
teacher at BHS, told Board members that the programs taught by Mr. Kaylor are
not elective classes but are designed to prepare students for the world of
work. Mr. Showalter stated that the
stipend for teaching extra periods needs to remain in place.
Linda Majors
briefed the Board on her son’s experiences in having Mr. Kaylor as a
teacher. Ms. Majors urged the Board to
retain the supplement for staff teaching extra periods.
Matthew Pickett, a
junior at BHS, informed the Board that Mr. Kaylor’s photographic and cinematic
productions class is invaluable. Mr.
Pickett said removing the stipend might not allow other students to take these
classes.
Susanna Rinehart, a
parent of one of Mr. Kaylor’s students and the associate theater director at
Virginia Tech, told Board members that she has a clear picture of what
separates Mr. Kaylor’s students from other students. Ms. Rinehart strongly urged the Board to
continue supplements for teachers that go above and beyond for students.
Steve Hulbert,
science department chair at BHS, told Board members that he is concerned with
the precedent that would be set by discontinuing the supplement for staff
teaching six subjects and only being paid for five. Mr. Hulbert asked the Board to reconsider
taking away the supplement.
Angie Cornett,
president of the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), thanked the
Board for restoring items cut from the previously approved budget. Ms. Cornett requested that the Board
reinstate salary scale increases as soon as possible.
Leo Piilonen voiced
his opinion that teachers need to get paid for what they do. Mr. Piilonen told Board members that Mr.
Kaylor’s programs at BHS are strong and have a waiting list of students. He said it would be immoral to cut the
supplement for teaching extra periods.
Item 05/09-61 Personnel
Report: On motion by Dr. Hopkins, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, the
Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel report as presented.
The report is attached and made a part of
these minutes as pages A1-A4.
Item 05/09-62 Payment
of Bills: On motion by Mr. Ivers, seconded by Mrs. Bond, the Board
unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.
Operating Fund:
Bills, 05/05/09, Ck. Nos. 455750-455945, $232,702.42
Utilities, 05/05/09, Ck. Nos. 455946-455965,
$169,815.03
Payroll, 03/31/09, Ck. Nos. 46520-46530,
$5,262,768.10
Fixed Charges, 03/31/09, Ck. Nos. 46531-46578, $1,908,897.47
Payroll, 04/30/09, Ck. Nos. 46579-46584, $5,214,498.20
Fixed Charges, 04/30/09, Ck. Nos. 46585-46628, $1,897,690.49
Cafeteria:
Payroll, 04/30/09, Ck. No. 5434, $149,196.53
Fixed Charges, 04/30/09, Ck. Nos. 5435-5448, $37,924.50
Item 05/09-61 and Item 05/09-62
Item 05/09-63 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general
consent:
1.
Field Trip: The Future Business
Leaders of America (FBLA) club at Christiansburg High School (CHS) to travel to
Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations,
Announcements:
Item 05/09-64 Special Education Annual Plan (Action): Dr.
Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to
approve the Special Education Annual Plan as presented.
Item 05/09-65 2009-2010 School Operating Budget (Action): Mrs.
Albritton moved, seconded by Mr. Ivers, to approve the 2009-2010 School
Operating Budget and the 2009-2010 School Nutrition Budget as presented.
Walt Shannon, Assistant Superintendent, told Board members that
the only change in the proposed budget is the addition of the supplement for
technology resource teachers as requested by the School Board. Mr. Shannon said this item is offset in the
equipment category.
Mr. Ivers asked if the supplement for the BHS instructors
that teach extra periods is in the budget.
Mr. Shannon replied that it’s not a budget issue but a scheduling item.
The Board voted
unanimously to approve the 2009-2010 School Operating Budget and the 2009-2010
School Nutrition Budget as presented.
Item 05/09-66 Year-End Closeout Plan (Action): Mr.
Shannon informed the Board that although the year-end closeout list has 12
items, the school division would probably only have enough funds to accomplish
five or six of the items with year-end money.
Items
05/09-63-66
Mr. Ivers moved,
seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the year-end
closeout plan as presented.
Item 05/09-67 Update on
Dr. Hopkins suggested, and Board members agreed, that
Mr. Jones would follow the progress on the land deal and, once it’s closed,
place the item back on the agenda.
Item 05/09-68 School Board Retreat (Discussion/Possible
Action): Dr. Anderson asked the Board to postpone discussion of the retreat
until the next meeting when Ms. Franklin would be present as she has been the liaison
with the consultant.
Dr. Hopkins said he is fine with placing the item on
the next agenda for discussion, but it would be hard for him to approve $15,000
for a facilitator. He added that he
supports the topic of the retreat but doesn’t want to pay this much for a
provider without obtaining other quotes.
Dr. Hopkins also voiced his support for continuing the retreat until a
new superintendent is in place. Mr.
Jones agreed.
Mr. Ivers stated that he has spoken with the proposed
consultant, and she said she has never worked with school boards. He also proposed some other options for the
retreat. Mr. Ivers concurred with
waiting to have the retreat after a new superintendent is hired.
Item 05/09-69 Announcements/Calendar for May (Information): Dr. Anderson made no announcements.
Item 05/09-66
(Continued) and Items 05/09-67-69
Unfinished Business by School Board Members
Dr. Hopkins said he doesn’t think it’s necessary for the Board to wait until the Requests for Proposals (RFP) are received from the superintendent search firms to start discussing the qualities desired in a new superintendent.
The Board proposed holding a public hearing on June 1 or
June 3 at
New Business by
School Board Members
Mr. Jones requested that the administration provide the
Board with information on the scheduling issue at
Announcements/Information
Mr.
Ivers announced that he recently attended a very entertaining professional
wrestling match in Shawsville.
Mrs.
Albritton announced that she recently attended fabulous musicals at
Mrs.
Albritton distributed information from a Virginia School Boards Association
(VSBA) conference that she recently attended.
Mrs.
Albritton said she attended a Reading Recovery event at
Mr.
Ivers announced that three of the middle school principals participated in the
Boy’s and Girl’s Club of the
Dr.
Hopkins noted that he attended the Price’s Fork Elementary School Brunswick
stew dinner, and it was very successful.
Agenda Preparation
May 19, 2009 Senior Recognition – May and June
Recognition
of BHS FFA Parliamentary Procedure Team – State Champions
Recognition
of Virginia Honor Bands and
Recognition
of MCPS – “Best Communities for Music Education”
Presentation
from Poetry Slam Students at BHS
Kindergarten
Report Card
July 10-11, 2009 School Board Retreat - CrossPointe
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m. on motion by Mrs. Albritton, seconded by Mrs.
Bond, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board