November
4, 2008
The
Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative
building at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of a regular business meeting.
Board Members Present
B. Wendell Jones, Chair Penny J. Franklin (7:35 p.m.)
Phyllis T. Albritton (7:42 p.m.) W. Wat
Jamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.
David G. Dunkenberger, II
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Christine C. Burton Walter L.
Harvey C. Goodwin Nelson W. Simpkins
Lois T. Graham Laura Williams
Anita P. Johnston
Call to Order
Mr.
Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 7:30
p.m.
Adoption
of Agenda
On motion by Mr. Dunkenberger, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.
Public Address
Geoff Rowland, Chief Executive
Officer and coach for the New River Valley Lacrosse Club (NRVLC), urged the
School Board to establish Virginia High School League (VHSL) lacrosse programs
at the four high schools in
Item 11/08-170 Personnel
Report: On motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mr. Ivers, the Board
unanimously voted to approve the personnel report with an addendum.
The report is attached and made a part of
these minutes as pages A1-A5.
Item 11/08-170
Item 11/08-171 Payment
of Bills: On motion by Mr. Dunkenberger, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, the Board
unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.
Operating Fund:
Utilities, 10/23/08, Ck. Nos. 452640-452658,
$131,145.67
Bills, 11/04/08, Ck. Nos. 452659-452920, $377,457.89
Payroll, 10/06/08, supp. Ck. Nos. 46099-46109, $3,872.96
Fixed Charges, 10/06/08, Ck. No. 46110,
$298.48
Payroll, 10/31/08, Ck. Nos. 46111-46120,
$5,159,289.70
Fixed Charges, 10/31/08, Ck. Nos. 46121-46186, $1,893,715.98
Cafeteria:
Bills, 10/29/08, Ck. Nos. 2717-2731,
$150,435.47
Payroll, 10/31/08, Ck. Nos. 5310-5311, $155,087.46
Fixed Charges, 10/31/08, Ck. Nos. 5312-5332, $37,973.96
Item 11/08-172 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general
consent:
1.
Minutes: Minutes from the regular session on September
2, 2008, the special session on September 9, 2008, the work session on
September 16, 2008, and the regular session on October 7, 2008.
2.
Donation: Alan and Shannon Sherman to donate $225 to
sponsor 15 Christiansburg High School (CHS) students who are participating in
the Memory Portrait Project.
3.
Field Trips:
a.
The CHS chorus to travel to
Item 11/08-171 and Item 11/08-172
b.
Cosmetology students at Blacksburg High School (BHS)
to travel to
c.
The forensics team at BHS to travel to
d.
Marketing students at Eastern Montgomery High School
(EMHS) to travel to Washington, D. C., on December 5, 2008. Students will travel via school bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $130.
4.
Grants:
a.
SMART Board for CHS: A grant to
enhance instruction by upgrading technology at CHS.
b.
SMART Tools for Smart Kids: A grant to
enhance instruction at Belview Elementary School (BES) by equipping additional
classrooms with SMART Boards.
c.
Projectors for BMS: A grant to enable Blacksburg Middle
School (BMS) teachers to better integrate technology-based content into
instruction through the installation of video projectors.
d.
What’s on Stage?: A grant requesting continuation
funding for What’s on Stage?, a Harding Avenue Elementary School (HAES)
after-school program that exposes at-risk third through fifth grade students to
cultural events while expanding their language arts and technology skills.
e.
Belview Book Club: A grant to enhance student reading
skills at BES through a before-school book club for students arriving before
the morning bell.
f.
Target Field Trip Grants:
(1.) Jamestown
Field Trip for Fourth Grade Students at BES: A grant to enable fourth grade
students to visit the Jamestown Settlement in
Item 11/08-172
(Continued)
(2.)
Virginia Field Trip for Fifth Grade Students at BES: A grant to enable
fifth grade students to visit
(3.)
Wolf Creek Field Trip for Second Grade Students at
5. Supplemental Appropriation: To
authorize a request to the Board of Supervisors for a supplemental
appropriation to the 2008-2009 School Operating Budget, Code 610000,
Instruction, in the amount of $89,354 and Code 640000, Operations and Maintenance,
in the amount of $204,333.
Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations,
Announcements:
Item 11/08-173 Prevention Programming for Montgomery County
Public Schools (MCPS) Grant Proposal (Action): Ms. Franklin moved,
seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the
Prevention Programming for MCPS grant proposal.
Item 11/08-174 Learning without Boundaries Grant Proposal
(Action): Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs.
Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Learning without
Boundaries grant proposal.
Item 11/08-175 Naming of
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Ms. Franklin, and the
Board voted unanimously that the “Bill Brown Stadium” name be transferred to
the new stadium.
Item 11/08-172 (Continued) and Items 11/08-173-175
Dr. Hopkins noted that “Old Bill Brown Stadium” and
“New Bill Brown Stadium” will need to be used as long as the old stadium is
still in use/standing. Bill Brown was a
long-timer teacher and coach at BHS.
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by
Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously that the field and playing surface
at the
Dr. Hopkins said Dave Crist is a wonderful person
and coach. He related a story to
illustrate Mr. Crist’s supportive coaching style.
Item 11/08-176 Budget Calendar (Action): Mr. Ivers
moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the Board voted unanimously to approve
the budget planning calendar for 2009-2010 as presented.
Item 11/08-177 Legislative Priorities (Action): Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Ms.
Franklin, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the following legislative
priorities for 2009:
1.
Full Funding of Standards of Quality (SOQ)
Positions & JLARC Efforts
- At this time,
Item 11/08-175 (Continued), Item 11/08-176, and Item 11/08-177
2.
Funding for School Construction -
There continues to be a significant need for new facilities and renovation of
old and/or outdated facilities across the state. School division needs in this area are
critical.
3.
Continued Support and Expansion of the
Four-Year-Old
4.
Flexible Spending for Funding Received from
the General Assembly
- School Boards and the school district leadership have the key knowledge to
make the best decisions about allocation of funds. Every effort should be made
to allow localities to make the best decisions for their students. The School Board opposes legislation that
strives to restrict or regulate the School Board’s ability to utilize resources
(including facilities) efficiently.
5. Increase
in Funding for Salaries
- Salaries in
Item 11/08-177 (Continued)
6.
Oppose Vouchers or Tuition Tax Credits - Resources are already very limited. Some view this as having no impact on
schools. However, if some students leave
public schools, it will not reduce the number of teachers needed. In most cases, this will create a greater
financial burden.
7.
Opposition to any Change to Charter Schools
Legislation – The
School Board has conducted a public hearing and indicated a willingness to
accept charter applications. This
process should be allowed to work and then be evaluated before any changes are
made to the law.
8.
National
Board Certified Teachers
– In the past, the General Assembly and State Board of Education have made a
commitment to recognize teachers who achieve National Board Certification. The School Board requests that the current
incentive amounts be fully funded and that this support be increased so that
Ms. Franklin told
Board members that she recently spoke to Delegate Dave Nutter. She said he would like some information at
the legislative meeting about the recently released on-time graduation
rate. Dr. Anderson stated that she would
make sure that this information is provided at the meeting.
Item 11/08-178 Announcements/Calendar
for November (Information):
Dr. Anderson made no announcements.
Unfinished Business by School Board Members
Mr.
Ivers apologized for being abrupt and rude with Mrs. Bond at the last meeting.
Item 11/08-177 (Continued) and Item 11/08-178
New Business by School Board Members
Mr.
Dunkenberger asked for a presentation on the inclusion program and its
history. Dr. Anderson said she would
place this on a future agenda. Dr.
Hopkins noted that the School Board Attorney should also be present during the
presentation to provide legal information.
Announcements/Information
Mrs.
Bond announced that the undefeated CHS junior varsity football team won the
district this year.
Mrs.
Albritton thanked the art teachers for the wonderful artwork displayed in the
resource room.
Agenda Preparation
November 10, 2008 Meeting
with Legislators (6:00 p.m.) at CHS
November 11, 2008 Special
Session (Closed Session – Personnel Matters) – 6:00 p.m. at the SBO
November 18, 2008 Public
Hearing on the 2009-2010 School Operating Budget – 7:00 p.m.
Transportation
Briefing
Report
on Student Cases Coming Before the Board
Recognition
of BHS Golf Team – Group AA State Champions
Senior
Recognition
Recognition
of Shelley Blumenthal, Virginia High School Hall of Fame
December 2, 2008 Cancellation
of Second December Meeting
Establish
First Meeting Date in January 2009
School
Improvement Plans
Crisis
Plans
Discussion
of Old BMS
Report
from School Board Members on
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m. on motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mr.
Ivers, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board