September
18, 2007
The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 7:15 p.m. for the purpose of a work session.
Board Members Present
David G. Dunkenberger, Vice Chair
Phyllis T. Albritton B. Wendell Jones
Jamie M. Bond Susan K. Morikawa
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Daniel A. Berenato Mark J. Pasier
Harvey C. Goodwin Walter L.
Lois T. Graham Nelson Simpkins
Anita P. Johnston
Call to Order
Mr.
Dunkenberger called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the
flag at 7:15 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
Mr. Jones 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 7:16 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.
Return to Open
Session and Certification
Mrs.
Morikawa moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond, and the Board voted unanimously to
return to open session at 7:32 p.m.
Mr. Jones moved,
seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, 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 Susan K. Morikawa
Jamie
M. Bond David G. Dunkenberger, V
Chair
B. Wendell Jones
_________________________ September
18, 2007
Clerk
of the
Action
Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, and the Board voted
unanimously to approve a religious exemption from Montgomery County Public
Schools (MCPS) for student A.
Mr.
Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, and the Board voted unanimously to grant
an exemption from compulsory attendance in MCPS for student B.
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
Shane Duncan, AHS Senior of the Month, was not present and will be recognized at a future meeting.
Amy Lythgoe, former School Board representative for District A, was recognized with a plaque for her service and dedication to the students and staff of MCPS.
Russell Altizer and Josh Simpkins were recognized for placing first in the School Bus Road-e-o, a state safety competition.
The School Board recessed at 7:52 p.m. and reconvened at 8:04 p.m.
Public Address
Alan Mandzak, a former MCPS employee, spoke to the Board
regarding asbestos and black mold, which he said is being covered up at the old
Michael Hemphill, president of the Shawsville Elementary
School (SES) Parent Teacher Association (PTA), urged the Board to allow
citizens from SES to be part of the discussions held about a new
Item 09/07-163 Personnel
Report: On motion by Mr. Jones,
seconded by Mrs. Bond, 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-A8.
Item 09/07-163
Item 09-07-164 Payment
of Bills: On motion by Mr. Jones,
seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board unanimously voted to approve the bills as
presented.
Operating Fund:
Bills, 09/18/07, Ck. Nos. 445586-445825,
$408,483.76
Bills, 09/13/07, Ck. Nos. 445826-445851,
$87,110.92
Cafeteria:
Bills, 09/11/07, Ck. Nos. 2345-2359,
$164,628.76
Work Session
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa,
and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 8:10 p.m.
Item 09/07-165 Tenth
Day Enrollment: Lois Graham, Director of Elementary Education, updated the
Board on tenth day enrollment numbers.
Dr. Graham said the school division experienced an increase of 38
students from last year to this year with elementary numbers increasing by 52
students and secondary numbers decreasing by 14 students. She added that all
average pupil teacher ratios are within the school division’s guidelines.
Return to Regular Session
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa,
and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 8:20 p.m.
Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations and
Announcements
Item 09/07-166 Appropriation
of Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Carryover Funds (Discussion/Action): Walt Shannon,
Assistant Superintendent, told Board members that the appropriation of
carryover funds was presented at the last meeting; however, the Board of
Supervisors postponed a decision on the appropriation. Mr. Shannon told Board members that the Board
of Supervisors is asking the School Board to consider using a portion of the
carryover funds for a one-time employee bonus.
He added that the school division could use approximately $887,574 of
the carryover funds for a one-time bonus and use the remaining $1 million for one-time
only capital projects.
Item
09/07-164, Item 09/07-165, and Item 09/07-166
Board members expressed their
support for this idea but asked that the bonus be applied consistently to
employees regardless of their classification (other than alternate amounts for
those working hours other than full-time).
Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, and the Board voted
unanimously to approve using $887,574 of the carryover funds for a one-time
employee bonus with a plan to be developed by the administration.
Mr. Shannon said the administration would
bring the one-time bonus plan back to the Board for approval as well as an
updated capital project listing.
Item 09/07-167 Teacher
Salary Placement Practices (Information): Mark Pasier, Director of Human
Resources, presented the Board with information on teacher salary placement
practices and state certification requirements.
Mrs. Albritton asked if the
Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) recognizes the Virginia Association of
Independent Schools as an accrediting agency.
Mr. Pasier said he believes the VDOE only recognizes the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) but he will check on this.
Unfinished Business by School Board Members
Mrs. Morikawa
asked for a brief summary from Dan Berenato, Director of Facilities, on the
traffic study recently completed for the area near
Mr. Jones
commended Mr. Berenato for his handling of the community meeting last week in
Elliston.
Mr. Dunkenberger
told Board members that he has had requests from both the
Item 09/07-166 (Continued) and Item 09/07-167
Mr. Shannon stated
that information on consolidation should be gathered from an instructional
viewpoint as well as an economic viewpoint.
The Board agreed
to hear this information at the next School Board meeting.
Mr. Dunkenberger
noted that he would also like for the School Board to hold another community
forum so that residents can voice their opinions about consolidation. He said Spectrum Design would also like to
take Board members on a tour of schools they have designed in the area.
New Business by School Board Members
Mrs. Albritton
announced that the Boys and Girls Club would be holding an event on October
18. She said she would send Board
members this information.
Mrs. Morikawa
said she would like the Board to spend some time in the future looking at items
from the efficiency review and the climate survey. Dr. Anderson said she would put this item on
the next School Board agenda.
Announcements/Information
Mrs. Morikawa
suggested that someone on the Board serve as a mentor for Mrs. Albritton. Mr. Jones agreed to serve in this capacity.
Mr. Jones
announced that the Governor’s School would like to do a presentation for the
Board on an upcoming agenda.
Agenda Preparation
September 20,
2007 PFES Community Meeting – 7:00-8:30
p.m.
October 2, 2007 Report on Drug, Alcohol, and Gang Activity
Recognition of Accredited
Schools
Accreditation and AYP Results
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. on motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs.
Bond, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk
of the School Board