November
6, 2007
The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a regular session.
Board Members Present
Penny J. Franklin, Chair David
G. Dunkenberger
Phyllis
T. Albritton W. Wat
Jamie M. Bond B. Wendell
Jones
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Daniel A. Berenato Mark J. Pasier
Christine C.
Harvey C. Goodwin Richard D. Weaver
Lois T. Graham Laura
Williams
Anita P. Johnston Brad King, Attorney
Call to Order
Ms.
Franklin called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag
at 7:00 p.m.
Adoption of Agenda
On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.
Closed Session
Mr. Jones moved,
seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a
closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia
at 7:01 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
Dr. Hopkins moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, 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 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
David
G. Dunkenberger, II Penny J.
_________________________ November
6, 2007
Clerk
of the
Public Address
Amy Shea, an Elliston Lafayette Elementary School (ELES) parent, urged the School Board to keep ELES a small school rather than a combined school.
Item 11/07-194 Personnel
Report: On motion by Dr. Hopkins, 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-A5.
Item 11/07-194
Item 11/07-195 Payment
of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones,
seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills
as presented.
Operating Fund:
Utilities, 10/31/07, Ck. Nos. 446402-446432,
$213,221.99
Bills, 11/06/07, Ck. Nos. 446433-446750,
$442,175.66
Payroll, 10/04/07, Ck. Nos. 44918-44954, $13,549.63
Fixed Charges, 10/04/07, Ck. Nos. 44955-44959, $2,160.54
Payroll, 10/09/07, supp. Ck. Nos. 44960-44963, $1,922.56
Fixed Charges, No check number $147.08
Payroll, 10/31/07, Ck. Nos. 44964-44994,
$4,679,316.64
Fixed Charges, 10/31/07, Ck. Nos. 44995-45069, $1,772,129.04
Cafeteria:
Bills, 10/31/07, Ck. Nos. 2387-2402,
$168,866.49
Payroll, 10/31/07, Ck. Nos. 5060-5061,
$142,417.07
Fixed Charges, 10/31/07, Ck. Nos. 5062-5087, $34,145.45
Item 11/07-196 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general
consent:
1.
Minutes: Minutes from the September 4, 2007 regular
session, the September 5, 2007 special session, the September 18, 2007 work
session, the October 2, 2007 regular session, and the October 16, 2007 work
session.
2.
Field Trips:
a.
Art guild/art class students at Christiansburg High
School (CHS) to travel to Seagrove and
Item 11/07-195 and Item 11/07-196
b.
Eighth grade band students at Christiansburg Middle
School (CMS) to travel to
c.
DECA/Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students
at Blacksburg High School (BHS) to travel to Washington, D.C., on December 7,
2007. Students will travel via charter
bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $105.
d.
Chorus students at CMS to travel to
e.
The forensics team at BHS to travel to
f.
The singing eagles’ choir at ELES to travel to
g.
The Crockett/McGuigan team at Blacksburg Middle
School (BMS) to travel to
3.
Grants:
a.
Increasing Literacy Using Sixth Grade Social Studies
Content: A grant to enhance social studies and literacy learning for 92 sixth
graders on the CMS Mimosa team by providing a classroom library of
content-based leveled literature to meet the needs of all students, especially
those who do not read on grade level.
Item 11/07-196 (Continued)
b.
(1)
Artistic Artist Statements, Proficient Portfolios,
and Right On! Written Commentaries, I at BHS: A grant to enhance art students’
ability to document and make written commentary on their work for inclusion in
their portfolios. This portion of the
project will fund the purchase of a digital camera and supplies.
(2)
Artistic Artist Statements, Proficient Portfolios,
and Right On! Written Commentaries, I at BHS: A grant to enhance art students’
ability to document and make written commentary on their work for inclusion in
their portfolios. This portion of the
project will fund the purchase of a printer/copier/CD burner and supplies.
c. Technology to Enhance Social Studies
Instruction: A grant to enable BMS social studies teachers to better
integrate technology-based content into instruction through the installation of
video projectors.
Superintendent’s
Reports, Recommendations and Announcements
Item 11/07-197 Budget
Calendar (Action): Mr. Dunkenberger
moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, and the School Board voted unanimously to
approve the budget planning calendar for fiscal year 2008-2009 as presented.
Item 11/07-198 Naming of
Item 11/07-199 National Board Certified Teachers Bonus
Payment (Action): Walt
Shannon, Assistant Superintendent, told Board members that the amount of funds
the state has provided for the bonus to National Board Certified teachers is
less than the full bonus amount originally allocated. Mr. Shannon said the administration is asking
the Board to approve the expenditure of $6,884.60 to make up the shortfall from
the state.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Albritton, to approve the expenditure
of $6,884.60 for the National Board Certified teachers.
Item
11/07-196 (Continued) and Items 11/07-197-199
Dr. Hopkins noted that although his wife
would benefit if the motion passes, he doesn’t believe it’s a conflict of
interest to vote in favor of the motion.
The Board voted unanimously to approve the expenditure of $6,884.60 for
the National Board Certified teachers.
Item 11/07-200 Social Justice (Action): Ms. Franklin announced that she and some of
the staff members in the school division would be presenting on the social
justice program at the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) conference
this year. She noted that she would like
the Montgomery County School Board to endorse the program to other boards in
the state.
After much discussion about the
meaning of social justice and requests for additional information on the
program, Board members agreed to Ms. Franklin’s request.
Mrs. Albritton moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted
unanimously to endorse the social justice training provided within the school
division to other school boards in
Mr. Dunkenberger stated that all
Montgomery County School Board members should go through the training as
well. Board members agreed.
Item 11/07-201
Mrs. Albritton noted that she is confused about how the
project moved from being a school just for ELES to a combined school. Mr. Dunkenberger stated that these
discussions have progressed over time.
Dr. Hopkins said these same conversations will have to take
place when a new school is built for Price’s Fork Elementary School (PFES)
because of the need to alleviate growth at
Item 11/07-199
(Continued), Item 11/07-200, and Item 11/07-201
Lois Graham, Director of Elementary Education, stated
that there is a lack of agreement about what constitutes a small school and the
research is not conclusive.
Mr. Jones said he would like to dispel the myth that
people are going to be losing their jobs if the schools are combined. He noted that highly qualified staff is
always needed in the school division.
Mr. Jones added that when land is purchased for PFES, redistricting will
have to be done, and people will not like that either.
Mr. Jones moved,
seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to direct the administration
to build a 600 student (core and classroom) school in the Elliston area and
consolidate ELES and SES.
Item 11/07-202 Announcements/Calendar for November
(Information): Dr. Anderson made no announcements.
Unfinished Business by School Board Members
Mrs.
Bond suggested having a state trooper that she knows be involved in the
presentation on drugs, alcohol and gang activity at an upcoming meeting.
Ms.
Franklin suggested that the Board approve a resolution which would honor Rosa
Parks annually. Board members agreed to
discuss this at the next meeting.
New Business by School Board Members
Mrs.
Albritton reported that her visit to Rivendell was wonderful.
Mr.
Jones expressed that design team meetings for the new schools being constructed
need to be convenient for parents who work.
Dr.
Hopkins suggested that an item for Board member priorities for the upcoming
budget be placed on an upcoming School Board agenda. Board members agreed to discuss this at the
December 4 meeting.
Mrs.
Bond asked about when online report cards will be instituted. Dr. Graham said online report cards are being
piloted in two schools now. She added
that the school division is in the process of instituting this division-wide.
Item 11/07-201 (Continued) and Item 11/07-202
Announcements/Information
Mr.
Jones announced that a marketing class from
Agenda Preparation
November 20, 2007 Meeting with Legislators – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m.
November 20, 2007 Public Hearing on the 2009-2009 School
Operating Budget
Report on Action-Based Learning Lab Pilot
Program
BHS Stadium Update
Cancellation of Second Meeting in December
Establish First Meeting in January 2008
November 27, 2007 Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors
December 4, 2007 Calendar Committee Discussion Guidelines
February 2008 Report on Drugs, Alcohol, and Gang
Activity
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. on motion by Mrs. Albritton, seconded by Mr.
Jones, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board