November
18, 2008
The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of a public hearing/work session.
Board Members Present
B. Wendell Jones, Chair Penny J. Franklin
Phyllis T. Albritton W. Wat
Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers,
Jr.
David G.
Dunkenberger, II
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Daniel A. Berenato Mark J. Pasier
Christina T. Gilley Carol Reynolds
Lois T. Graham Walter
L.
Anita P. Johnston Nelson W. Simpkins
Katherine Miano Brad
King, Attorney
Rebecca N. Mummau
Call
to Order
Mr.
Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 6:30
p.m.
Adoption of Agenda
On motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mr. Ivers, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a revised agenda adding real estate matters during closed session and recognition of a student during honors, awards, and recognitions.
Closed Session
Mrs. Albritton
moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, 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.
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. Albritton
moved, seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to return to
open session at 7:05 p.m.
Mr.
Jones noted that the Board would return to closed session after honors, awards,
and recognitions and would certify closed session at that time.
Public Hearing on the 2009-2010 School
Operating Budget
Angie
Cornett, Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) president, thanked the
School Board for its past support and acknowledged the tight economic
times. Ms. Cornett urged the Board to
provide employees with at least a step increase and a cost of living
allowance. She stressed to the Board
that the most important thing in the budget is to keep benefits as they are now
(i.e., single subscriber health insurance paid in full). She told Board members that an extra personal
leave day would also be a morale booster.
Ms. Cornett also outlined requests for support staff such as
instructional aides and nurses to include personal leave, wellness leave, and
sick leave days.
Gina
Gardner, a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee, asked the School
Board to continue to do what’s best for all students in the coming budget year.
Ramona
Brown, an administrative assistant in the human resources department and
president of the Montgomery County Secretarial Association, voiced concerns
about the administrative assistants’ salary scale. Ms. Brown asked Board members to consider
allocating funds to revise the 10-month salary scale. She also urged the Board to continue to fund
the single subscriber health insurance at 100 percent and base the family rate
on the salary of the employee. Ms. Brown
asked the School Board to place central office staff on level two of the scale
because they perform many of the bookkeeping duties that administrative
assistants in the schools perform. She
said there should also be a higher ceiling on the scale and funding given to
administrative assistants with advanced degrees and certifications.
Danny
Knott, president of the Montgomery County Principal’s Association (MCPA), asked
Board members to decrease the number of steps on the administrator’s salary
scale, increase the length of contract for assistant principals from 11-month
to 12-month contracts, and provide assistant principals at Auburn and
Shawsville Middle Schools.
Richard
Workman, a
Honors, Awards and Recognitions
Continuing
the commitment of recognizing student achievement and accomplishments, four new
“Senior of the Month” selections have been made by high school principals in
Eastern
Amber
Shepherd, EMHS Senior of the Month for October, was also recognized by the
School Board.
Chelsie
Lorriane Kenley, AHS Senior of the Month, was not present and will be
recognized at a future School Board meeting.
Kayla
Price, a former Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) student, was recognized
for her contribution of five sensory integration kits to MCPS special education
students through her Girl Scout Gold Award project.
The
following members of the BHS golf team were recognized for winning the Group AA
State Golf Championship:
Brian
Langley, Courtney Ellenbogen, George Perkovich, Jake Mondy, Michael Bekken,
Stephen Duetsch, Kevin Yoon, Zach Wall, Kyle Henderson, Sam Jones, Michael
Yourshaw, Jack Jennings, and Tobin Weiseman.
Coaches Doug Day and Rick Mattox were also recognized.
Shelley
Blumenthal, BHS boy’s soccer coach, was recognized for being selected to the
2008 Virginia High School Hall of Fame.
The
Board recessed at 7:50 p.m. and reconvened at 8:03 p.m.
Closed Session
Mrs. Albritton
moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a
closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia
at 8:04 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.
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
Ms. Franklin
moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to return to
open session at 8:20 p.m.
Ms. Franklin
moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board adopted the following
resolution:
WHEREAS, the County School Board of
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
hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge (i) only
public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by
Ayes: Phyllis T. Albritton W. Wat
Jamie
M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers,
Jr.
David
G. Dunkenberger, II B. Wendell Jones,
Chair
Penny
J. Franklin
_________________________ November
18, 2008
Clerk
of the
Action
On motion by Mrs. Albritton, seconded
by Mr. Dunkenberger, the Board voted unanimously to long-term suspend a student
from MCPS.
Public Address
No one spoke during public address.
Item 11/08-179 Personnel
Report: On motion by Ms. Franklin,
seconded by Mr. Ivers, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel
report.
The personnel report is attached and made a
part of the minutes as pages A1-A3.
Item 11/08-180 Payment
of Bills: On motion by Mr.
Dunkenberger, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, the Board unanimously voted to
approve the bills as presented.
Operating Fund:
Utilities, 11/05/08, Ck. Nos. 452921-452934,
$173,490.86
Bills, 11/18/08, Ck. Nos. 452935-453167,
$560,621.22
Cafeteria:
Bills, 11/07/08, Ck.
Nos. 2733-2745, $96,996.57
Item 11/08-179 and Item 11/08-180
Work Session
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by
Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 8:22
p.m.
Item 11/08-181 Transportation
Department Update: Rebecca Mummau, Supervisor of Transportation, provided
the School Board with an update on the transportation department including the
number of buses in the fleet, the routes traveled, the VersaTrans routing program,
field trips, the maintenance garage, the bus driver training program, special
equipment, and security cameras.
Return to Regular Session
Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond,
and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 8:50 p.m.
Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and
Announcements
Item 11/08-182 Cancellation
of the Second December Meeting (Action): Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted
unanimously to cancel the December 16, 2008 School Board meeting.
Item
11/08-183 Establishing the First Meeting Date in
January 2009 (Action): Dr. Hopkins
moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to
establish the first meeting date of 2009 on January 6, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the
School Board Office.
Item
11/08-184 Bids for Construction of the New
Elliston/Shawsville Elementary School (Action): Walt Shannon, Assistant
Superintendent, informed Board members that the lowest bid received for
construction of the new Elliston/Shawsville elementary school was received from
Branch and Associates in the amount of $18,686,000 (the amount excludes
architectural fees, etc.). Mr. Shannon
said the administration is recommending approval to accept this bid and to
authorize the chair to sign all pertinent documents.
Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted
unanimously to approve the bid from Branch and Associates for construction of
the new Elliston/Shawsville elementary school and to authorize the chair to
sign all related documents.
Items 11/08-181-184
Mr. Jones noted that the bids came in
significantly under budget.
Unfinished Business by School Board Members
Ms. Franklin
asked if information was distributed about the no smoking policy on school
property. Dr. Anderson relayed that no
smoking signs were posted around the exterior of all buildings and stadiums in
the school system. She added that
principals were also asked to strictly enforce the no smoking policy on school
property.
New Business by School Board Members
Mrs. Bond asked
for information on incidents of fighting at the secondary level. She said she wants to make sure that the
school division is enforcing bullying policies at all schools and with all
genders.
Mr. Ivers
expressed his concern that the School Board is reviewing cases of students who
have been disruptive 20-30 times before they are seen by the School Board.
Mrs. Albritton
said she would really like to know students’ reading abilities when the cases
come to the Board for review.
Mr. Jones
expressed concern about the increase in speeding he has seen in school zones.
Announcements/Information
Mrs.
Albritton thanked the art teachers for the artwork displayed in the resource
room.
Dr.
Anderson told Board members that two copies of the school improvement plans and
school crisis plans are available for review in the executive board room. She noted that the administration will be
asking for approval of the plans at the December 2 School Board meeting.
Agenda Preparation
December
2, 2008 School Improvement Plans
Crisis Plans
Discussion of old BMS
Discussion of Inclusion
Program
Report from School Board
Members on VSBA
January
2009 Reorganization
Budget Discussions
Report on Student Cases
Coming Before the Board
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m. on motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Dr.
Hopkins, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board