November 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 public hearing/work session.

Board Members Present

Penny J. Franklin, Chair W. Wat Hopkins

Phyllis T. Albritton B. Wendell Jones

Jamie M. Bond Susan K. Morikawa

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Judith K. Barylske Anita P. Johnston

Daniel A. Berenato Mark J. Pasier

Amy French Walter L. Shannon

Patricia A. Gaudreau Richard D. Weaver

Lois T. Graham

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. Morikawa, seconded by Mr. Jones, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.

Closed Session

Mrs. Morikawa 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:

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

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, 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: Phyllis T. Albritton B. Wendell Jones Jamie M. Bond Susan K. Morikawa

W. Wat Hopkins Penny J. Franklin, Chair

_________________________ November 20, 2007

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Public Hearing on the 2008-2009 School Operating Budget

Gina Gartner, a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee, urged the Board to continue its support of the special education program in order for the inclusive system to function well.

Angie Cornett, representing the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), asked the Board to focus on compensation and benefit issues in the budget this year. Ms. Cornett told Board members that the MCEA is also asking for an amended sick leave reimbursement program and an increase in personal leave days.

The Board recessed at 7:07 p.m. and reconvened at 7:30 p.m.

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 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 November are:

Auburn High School Nicole Lee Campbell

Blacksburg High School Joey Phillips

Christiansburg High School Elizabeth Saunders Childress

Eastern Montgomery High School Justin O’Brien Shelton

Eastern Montgomery High School’s October Senior of the Month, Brianna Noel Cochrane, was also recognized. Nicole Lee Campbell, AHS November Senior of the Month, and Elizabeth Saunders Childress, CHS November Senior of the Month, were not able to attend this School Board meeting and will be recognized at a future School Board meeting.

Dr. Anderson also recognized Joe Ivers, the recently elected District F representative of the School Board.

The Board recessed at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 7:50 p.m.

Public Address

No one spoke during public address.

Item 11/07-203 Personnel Report: On motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, 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-A6.

Item 11/07-204 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Utilities, 11/13/07, Ck. Nos. 446751-446779, $192,870.21

Bills, 11/20/07, Ck. Nos. 446780-447028, $1,112,652.54

Item 11/07-203 and Item 11/07-204

Cafeteria:

Bills, 11/13/07, Ck. Nos. 2403-2417, $62,017.12

Work Session

Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 7:52 p.m.

Item 11/07-205 Action-Based Learning Lab Pilot Program: Patricia Gaudreau, Supervisor of Science, Health and Physical Education; Denise Boyle, Principal at Elliston Lafayette Elementary School (ELES); Kelly Sutphin, physical education teacher at ELES; and Susan Miller of Radford University provided the School Board with a presentation on the ELES Action-Based Learning Lab, which operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30-8:50 a.m.

Ms. Boyle told Board members that the group is optimistic that the program is helping students become better readers and enabling them to score higher on standardized tests.

Return to Regular Session

Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 8:08 p.m.

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and Announcements

Item 11/07-206 Blacksburg High School (BHS) Stadium Update (Information/Action): Dan Berenato, Director of Facilities, informed the Board that the BHS stadium is still on schedule to be completed by August 2008. BHS Booster Club President Richard Mitchell provided the Board with information on the booster club’s plans to construct a field house adjacent to the stadium. Mr. Mitchell said the booster club has raised around $436,000 for the project, which is expected to cost $500,000. He said the booster club is asking that the School Board provide approximately $100,000 for utility installation for the planned field house as work is being done on the stadium. Mr. Berenato told Board members that the ideal time to install the utility lines is while the stadium work is being done.

Item 11/07-204 (Continued), Item 11/07-205, and Item 11/07-206

Mrs. Morikawa asked where the $100,000 would come from. Walt Shannon, Assistant Superintendent, said the funding would have to come from contingency money in the original project allocation.

Mrs. Bond voiced her concern that the School Board is being asked to help fund a half-time facility/locker room facility in Blacksburg when none of the half-time and locker room facilities are adequate at any of the high schools in the county.

Ms. Franklin agreed that there are issues of equity involved. She said the School Board has already had to provide additional funding for the stadium project and is now being asked to provide another $100,000.

Mr. Berenato reminded Board members that the $100,000 would come from funds already allocated to the stadium project.

Mrs. Morikawa asked if the stadium project is far enough along that the administration is sure the contingency funds won’t be needed for something else. Mr. Berenato replied that he cannot guarantee that.

Dr. Anderson noted that the School Board might want to think about providing funding to all schools that raise at least 90 percent of the funds for a project.

Mr. Jones said he believes Board members are making it very clear that there will be no more funding provided for the BHS stadium project if this request is approved.

Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, and the Board voted unanimously to allow approximately $100,000 of the funding allocated for the BHS stadium to be used for utility installations for the half-time facility/locker room project being completed by the booster club.

Item 11/07-206 (Continued)

Item 11/07-207 Rosa Parks Resolution (Action): Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution to honor Rosa Parks annually in the school division.

The resolution is attached and made a part of the minutes as page B1.

Item 11/07-208 Agenda Items for the Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors (Action): Board members proposed the following agenda items for discussion at the joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors:

· Update on bond issues

· Discussion of real estate

· Update on old Blacksburg Middle School

· School Resource Officers

Board members were reminded that the joint meeting will take place on November 27 at 6:00 p.m. at Christiansburg High School.

Item 11/07-209 Cancellation of Second Meeting in December (Action): Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to cancel the December 18, 2007 School Board meeting.

Item 11/07-210 Establish First Meeting Date in January 2008 (Action): Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to schedule the first School Board meeting of 2008 on January 8, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the School Board Office.

New Business by School Board Members

Mrs. Bond expressed concern about continued problems she has heard about at Christiansburg Middle School. She said she would like additional information about discipline related issues and other things taking place at the school.

Items 11/07-207-210

Announcements/Information

Ms. Franklin asked that an item be added to the December 4 meeting for Board members to share their experiences from the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Conference. She noted that the school division’s social justice presentation was very well received by other School Board members.

Agenda Preparation

November 20, 2007 Meeting with Legislators – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – KES, BMS, the Inn at Virginia Tech

November 27, 2007 Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors – 6:00 p.m. at CHS

December 4, 2007 Calendar Committee Discussion Guidelines

Recognition of Susan Morikawa

February 2008 Report on Drug, Alcohol and Gang Activity

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. on motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board