October 3, 2006

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 5:45 p.m. for the purpose of a regular business meeting.

Board Members Present

Penny J. Franklin, Chair (5:50 p.m.) B. Wendell Jones

Jamie M. Bond Amy U. Lythgoe

David G. Dunkenberger, II Susan K. Morikawa

W. Wat Hopkins

Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Harvey C. Goodwin Carol Reynolds

Anita P. Johnston Walter L. Shannon

Mark Pasier Laura Williams

Call to Order

Mr. Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 5:45 p.m.

Adoption of Agenda

On motion by Mrs. Morikawa, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.

Closed Session

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to enter into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia at 5:46 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.

Dr. Hopkins, Mr. Jones and Mrs. Morikawa left at 6:50 p.m.

Return to Open Session and Certification

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

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, 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 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: Jamie M. Bond Amy U. Lythgoe

David G. Dunkenberger, II Penny J. Franklin, Chair

W. Wat Hopkins (certified prior to leaving the meeting)

_______________________________ October 3, 2006

Clerk of the Montgomery Date

County School Board

Action

Mr. Dunkenberger moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to grant religious exemptions from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for students A and B.

Mrs. Bond moved, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, and the Board voted unanimously to long-term suspend student C from MCPS through the date of the meeting (October 3, 2006).

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to expel student D from MCPS.

Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to deny the relief sought in the appeal brought by employees one and two.

Public Address

Donna Thornton, founder of the Adventure Club, provided the Board with a synopsis of survey results from parents and staff members regarding the Adventure Club and its services.

Julie Snyder, an Auburn Middle School parent, urged the Board to request from the Board of Supervisors planning money for new or renovated facilities in the Auburn strand.

Item 10/06-147 Personnel Report: Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the personnel report with an addendum.

The report is attached and made a part of the minutes as pages A1-A4.

Item 10/06-148 Payment of Bills: On motion by Mr. Dunkenberger, seconded by Mrs. Lythgoe, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:

Utilities, 09/20/06, Ck. Nos. 439684-439710, $139,978.83

Bills, 10/03/06, Ck. Nos. 439711-439928, $502,298.87

Utilities, 10/03/06, Ck. Nos. 439929-439946, $112,879.05

Payroll, 09/08/06, Ck. Nos. 43395-43403, $7,511.82

Fixed Charges, 09/08/06, Ck. Nos. 43404-43409, $1,123.63

Payroll, 09/29/06, Ck. Nos. 43410-43430, $4,418,690.92

Item 10/06-147 and Item 10/06-148

Fixed Charges, 09/29/06, Ck. Nos. 43431-43506, $1,593,757.50

Cafeteria Fund:

Bills, 9/26/06, Ck. Nos. 2050-2066, $154,651.66

Payroll, 09/29/06, Ck. Nos. 4734-4735, $143,303.41

Fixed Charges, 09/29/06, Ck. Nos. 4736-4759, $32,627.24

Item 10/06-149 Consent Items: The following items were approved by general consent:

1. Minutes: Minutes from the September 5, 2006 regular session.

2. Donations:

a. Rebecca Loehrer to donate a copier to Christiansburg

High School (CHS).

b. Londa Matthews to donate a computer to MCPS.

3. Field Trips:

a. The wrestling team at CHS to travel to Cleveland, Ohio, on December 2-3, 2006. Students will travel via rental van. Accommodations are to be provided by the Ramada Inn in Cleveland, Ohio. There is no cost to students.

b. The wrestling team at CHS to travel to Walsh-Jesuit High School in Ohio on December 7-9, 2006. Students will travel via rental van. Accommodations are to be provided by the Comfort Inn in Ohio. There is no cost to students.

c. The wrestling team at CHS to travel to the University of Delaware on December 15-17, 2006. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by the Quality Inn in Wilmington, Delaware. There is no cost to students.

d. The wrestling team at CHS to travel to Canon MacMillian High School in Pennsylvania on December 27-29, 2006. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by the Comfort Inn in Washington, Pennsylvania. There is no cost to students.

Item 10/06-148 (Continued) and Item 10/06-149

e. The “B” wrestling team at CHS to travel to North Lincoln High School in North Carolina on December 8-9, 2006. Students will travel via school bus. Accommodations are to be provided by the Comfort Inn in Mooresville, North Carolina. There is no cost to students.

f. CHS DECA and marketing students to travel to Orlando, Florida, on February 7-10, 2007. Students will travel via airplane. Accommodations are to be provided by Disney’s All-Star Resort. The cost per student is $750.

g. CHS DECA and marketing students to travel to Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2006. Students will travel via charter bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $75.

h. The Christiansburg Middle School (CMS) Future Farmers of America (FFA) club to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 24-28, 2006. Students will travel via county car. Accommodations are to be provided by a hotel assigned in a lottery for the convention. The cost per student is $250.

i. The Blacksburg Middle School (BMS) Crockett/McGuigan team to travel to the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, on November 8, 2006. Students will travel via charter bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $50.

j. Fashion-merchandising students at Blacksburg High School (BHS) to travel to New York, New York, on December 15-19, 2006. Students will travel via airplane. Accommodations are to be provided by the Doubletree Hotel in New York City. The cost per student is $650.

k. Choral students at CHS to travel to New York, New York, on April 19-22, 2007. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by a hotel in New York City. The cost per student is $600.

l. Choral and art students at Eastern Montgomery High School (EMHS) to travel to New York, New York, on March 14-17, 2007. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by the Belvedere Hotel in New York City. The cost per student is $498.39.

10/06-149 (Continued)

m. Eighth grade students at Auburn Middle (AMS) School to travel to New York, New York, on May 31 through June 1, 2007. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by a New Jersey motel. The cost per student is $200.

n. Marketing students at EMHS to travel to Orlando, Florida, on February 7-11, 2007. Students will travel via airplane. Accommodations are to be provided by Disney’s All-Star Resort. The cost per student is $750.

o. Cosmetology students at BHS to travel to New York, New York, on March 10-13, 2007. Students will travel via charter bus. Accommodations are to be provided by the Doubletree Suites in New York. The cost per student is $600.

p. Biology I students at BHS to travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on November 6, 2006. Students will travel via charter bus. No accommodations are needed. The cost per student is $45.

4. Grants:

a. Community Foundation of the New River Valley, 2006 Fall Grant Cycle:

(1) Technology Enhanced Instruction for EMHS Students: A grant to enhance student achievement by improving the quality of instructional delivery through the use of effective electronic presentation methods.

(2) Bird Watching Program at Falling Branch Elementary School (FBES): A grant to provide funds to begin a weekly after-school bird-watching program for fifth grade students.

(3) Learning Living Systems at Shawsville Elementary School (SES): A grant to provide materials to enhance learning in the living systems area in the reference and nonfiction sections of the SES library. This would allow enriched instruction in the science Standards of Learning (SOL) area.

10/06-149 (Continued)

(4) Price’s Fork Elementary School (PFES) Homework Club for Fourth and Fifth Graders: A grant requesting continuation funding for the homework club, a PFES after-school program that helps fourth and fifth graders complete their homework with the assistance of Virginia Tech students.

(5) COAST – BMS Peer Mediation Group: A grant to allow BMS COAST members to be trained in the Olweus Bully Prevention Program. All BMS seventh and eighth graders will be presented with specific strategies used by bystanders to deal with bullying in the school environment.

(6) What’s On Stage? at Harding Avenue Elementary School (HAES): A grant requesting continuation funding for a HAES after-school program that exposes at-risk third through fifth grade students to cultural events while expanding their language arts and technology skills.

b. Partners for Safe Teen Driving: A grant to support a parent education initiative (parent night event) for the MCPS driver education program with the goal of developing and improving safe driving habits for all teenagers learning to drive in Montgomery County.

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations, Announcements:

Item 10/06-150 Belview Bullying Prevention Program Grant Proposal (Action): Mrs. Lythgoe moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Belview Bullying Prevention Grant Proposal.

Item 10/06-151 Scheduling of Strand Meeting (Action): The Board agreed by consensus to hold its first strand meeting at Eastern Montgomery High School in the commons area on October 24, 2006 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Item 10/06-152 Announcements/Calendar for October (Information): Dr. Anderson made no announcements.

Item 10/06-149 (Continued) and Items 10/06-150-152

New Business By School Board Members

Mrs. Lythgoe asked if the Board should consider requesting planning money from the Board of Supervisors for the Auburn strand project. Dr. Anderson noted that capital projects discussed during the joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors included funding for planning.

Mrs. Lythgoe mentioned a program she read about recently, which instituted armbands for kindergarteners. She asked if this would be beneficial for the school division. Mr. Dunkenberger said feedback from staff would be important in considering something like this. Dr. Anderson said procedures for identifying students vary from school to school.

Mrs. Lythgoe asked that the Board consider the homework policy at a future meeting. Board members agreed.

Announcements

Mr. Dunkenberger announced that Beth Dunkenberger, women’s head basketball coach at Virginia Tech, would be joining students at a Shawsville Elementary School function on October 5 at approximately 6:30-7:00 p.m.

Agenda Preparation

October 17, 2006 Debt Service Projects

Review of School Board Procedures

Accreditation Results

District SACS Accreditation

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. on motion by Mrs. Lythgoe, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board