SCHOOL BOARD
OF THE CITY OF
MINUTES OF
SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 21,
2008
The
School Board of the City of
MEMBERS
PRESENT:
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Mr. Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, Chairman |
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Ms. |
Mr. Edward F. Fissinger, Sr. |
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Mr. William J. Brunke, IV |
Mr. Dan R. Lowe |
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Mr. Todd C. Davidson |
Ms. |
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Ms. Emma L. “Em” Davis |
Mr. Michael W. Stewart |
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Ms. Patricia G. Edmonson |
Ms. Carolyn D. Weems |
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Dr. |
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Members
ABSENT: None |
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1.
Convene School
Board Informal Meeting: Chairman Edwards convened the Board in the einstein.lab at 3:45
p.m. All Board members were present with
the exception of Ms. Weems who arrived during the first workshop at 4:08 p.m.;
and Mr. Davidson who arrived during the second workshop at 4:30 p.m.
2.
Workshop:
A. CUBE Conference Presentation by Attendees: Ms. Edmonson and Ms. Smith-Jones presented highlights of site visits, programs and workshops they attended at the 2008 Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) Annual Conference entitled “School Board Leadership: Equipping Urban Students with 21st Century Skills” held at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, September 25-28, 2008. Topics reviewed were workforce readiness, fostering healthy and successful students, developing policies to prepare students for 21st century learning, and federal legislative updates. Discussion concluded at 4:22 p.m.
B. 2007-2008 SAT Results: Dr. Jared A.
Cotton, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment; and
Dr. Douglas G. Wren, Assessment Specialist, presented a report on the analysis
of the 2007-2008 SAT results including characteristics of test takers, participation
rates, and overall performance of Virginia Beach students compared to the
region, state and nation, by subgroup, and performance targets. Mr. Rodney J. Burnsworth, Director of
Secondary Instruction in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, presented
an overview of SAT improvement initiatives put into place in 2007-08 and those to
be implemented for 2008-09. Discussion concluded at 5:01 p.m.
C. 2009
Legislative Agenda: In the absence
of the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Mr.
3.
Closed Meeting:
Motion for Closed Meeting in Accordance with VA Code § 2.2-3711, Part A: Vice Chairman Bellitto made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lowe, that the Board adopt a motion to recess into a closed meeting pursuant to exemptions from open meetings allowed by Section 2.2-3711, Part A, Paragraphs 1 and 7 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the following purpose:
Personnel Matters: Discussion of or consideration of interviews
of prospective candidates for employment, assignment, appointment, promotion,
performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific
public officers, appointees, or employees, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711, (A)
(1); namely to discuss: appointment
of an administrator.
Legal Matters: Consultation with legal counsel and briefings
by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation
where such consultation or briefing in an open meeting would adversely affect
the negotiating or litigating posture of the Board or consultation with legal
counsel employed or retained by the Board regarding specific legal matters
requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel, pursuant to Section
2.2-3711 (A) (7); namely to discuss: Conflict
of Interest Act issues.
The
motion was unanimously approved and the Board entered into a closed meeting at 5:17
p.m.
Individuals present for discussion:
Personnel Matters: Board members; Superintendent
Merrill; Dr. Sheila S. Magula, Deputy Superintendent; Ms. Kamala H. Lannetti
and Mr. Roderick R. Ingram, Deputy City Attorneys; and Ms. Dianne P. Alexander, Clerk of the Board.
Legal Matters: The purpose for this topic was determined no
longer needed and the item eliminated.
The Board reconvened in an open
meeting at 5:34 p.m.
Certification of Closed Meeting: Vice Chairman Bellitto made a motion, seconded by Ms. Smith-Jones, that the Board certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed; and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered. The motion was unanimously approved.
4.
Hearing of
Citizens and Delegations on Non-Agenda Items:
The
Board heard comments from the following citizens and delegations on non-agenda
items:
John Fenter regarding security measures taken during the 2008 graduation commencement exercises; and
Jeffery Bates regarding status of the appointment of the Director of Equity Affairs.
5.
Formal Meeting
Call to Order and Electronic Roll Call: Chairman Edwards
called the formal meeting to order in the School Board Room at 6:13 p.m. All Board members were present.
6.
Student, Employee
and Public Awards and Recognition :
A. 2008
B. 2008 CUBE Benjamin E. Mays Award Recipient: The Board recognized former School Board member, Dr. Ulysses Van Spiva, as the recipient of the Benjamin Mays Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) given to an individual who, for the span of his lifetime, has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to representing the educational needs of urban school children.
C. Outstanding Attendance – September
2008: The School Board recognized
the following schools for having the highest percent of student attendance for
the month of September 2008:
7.
Invocation
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance : Pastor Danny
O’Neal, Associate Pastor of Youth at Virginia Beach Free Will Baptist Church,
gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
8.
Superintendent’s
Report : In addition to recognizing the many awards and accomplishments of
students and staff throughout the division, Superintendent Merrill reported the
Virginia Department of Education had released On-Time Graduation Rates for
every school district in the state and Virginia Beach students in the Class of
2008 had exceeded the state rate of 81 percent with almost 83 percent
graduating on time. Additionally, he
presented highlights of activities throughout the division including the
annual United Way campaign, the Teachers of the Year celebration, high school
students’ participation in the preliminary SAT or PSAT, activities of the
advisory group discussing the Parent Connection initiative designed to increase
student access by supporting parents; and the first of four sessions with the
new advisory group – Teacher Assembly – made up of one representative per
school designated to participate in discussion and share brief outcomes with
the larger teaching staff.
9.
Hearing of
Citizens and Delegations on Agenda Items: The
Board heard comments from the following citizens and delegations on agenda
items:
Catherine Taylor, Julie Brown, and Myrtle Brown-Kinard, teachers at Plaza Middle School, in support of the Project X-CD program; and
Diane Gillespie regarding the Strategic Plan to 2015 and reference to the Council of PTAs.
10.
Approval of Minutes:
A.
October 7, 2008 Regular Meeting: Ms. Smith-Jones made a motion, seconded by Mr.
Stewart, that the Board approve the minutes of their October 7, 2008 regular
meeting as presented. The motion was unanimously
approved.
11.
Adoption of the
Agenda: Prior to a motion, Chairman
Edwards announced changes to the published agenda to move Consent Items 12A4 –
Virginia U.S. History Textbook Adoption, and 12C – Kellam High School
Right-of-Way Dedication/Nimmo Parkway to Action as Items 13B and 13C,
respectively. Mr. Stewart then made a
motion, seconded by Ms. Smith-Jones, that the Board adopt the agenda as
amended. The motion was unanimously approved.
12.
Consent Agenda: Mr. Davidson made a motion, seconded by Ms. Edmonson,
that the Board approve the Consent Agenda.
The motion was unanimously approved and the following items adopted as
part of the Consent Agenda:
A. Textbook
Adoptions for implementation in the fall of 2009:
1.
Advanced
Placement Computer Science A
|
Title: |
Java™ Software Solutions for AP* Computer
Science A, Second Edition |
|
Author: |
Lewis, Loftus,
and Cocking |
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Publisher: |
Pearson
Education/Addison Wesley |
|
Copyright: |
2007 |
2.
Advanced
Placement Statistics
|
Title: |
Statistics in Action: Understanding a World of Data, Second Edition |
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Author: |
Watkins,
Scheaffer, and Cobb |
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Publisher: |
Key Curriculum
Press |
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Copyright: |
2008 |
3.
Advanced
Placement Language and Composition
|
Title: |
The Language of Composition: |
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Author: |
Shea, Scanlon,
Aufses |
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Publisher: |
Bedford/St.
Martin’s |
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Copyright: |
2008 |
|
Title: |
The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition |
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Author: |
Fowler and Aaron |
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Publisher: |
Pearson |
|
Copyright: |
2004 |
5. Art
Appreciation
|
Title: |
Themes and Foundations of Art, First Edition |
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Author: |
Elizabeth Katz,
L. Lankford & J. Plank |
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Publisher: |
West Publishing
Company |
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Copyright: |
1995 |
B. 2007-2008 Field Trip
Report
D. Monthly Attendance
Report – September 008
E. Appointments, Resignations and
Retirements as presented on the October 21, 2008 Personnel Report. In addition, Superintendent Merrill
presented, and the Board affirmed, the administrative recommendations to
appoint
13.
Action:
A. 2009-2015 Strategic Plan for Student Success: Prior to a motion, Chairman Edwards remarked the proposed 2009-2015 Strategic Plan for Student Success was the product of workings for more than a year in its making and derived from the Board’s August 2007 retreat with lots of input. Superintendent Merrill provided a brief overview of the process and advised of the creation of an implementation steering committee for each of the five strategic objectives. Vice Chairman Bellitto made a motion, seconded by Mr. Fissinger, that the Board approve the proposed 2009-2015 Strategic Plan as presented. Following brief remarks by Board members, the motion was unanimously approved and the following mission, vision, goal, outcomes for student success, and strategic objectives including key strategies and key measures adopted:
Compass
to 2015: A Strategic Plan for Student Success
The Virginia Beach City
Public Schools, in partnership with the entire community, will empower every
student to become a life-long learner who is a responsible, productive and
engaged citizen within the global community.
Vision
Every student is
achieving at his or her maximum potential in an engaging, inspiring and
challenging learning environment.
Strategic Goal
Recognizing that the long
range goal of the VBCPS is the successful preparation and graduation of every
student, the near term goal is that by 2015, 95 percent or more of VBCPS
students will graduate having mastered the skills that they need to succeed as
21st century learners, workers and citizens.
VBCPS Outcomes for Student Success
Our primary focus is on
teaching and assessing those skills our students need to thrive as 21st century
learners, workers and citizens. All VBCPS students will be:
·
Academically proficient;
·
Effective communicators and collaborators;
- Globally aware, independent,
responsible learners and citizens; and
- Critical and creative thinkers,
innovators and problem solvers.
Strategic Objectives
1) All teachers will engage every student
in meaningful, authentic and rigorous work through the use of innovative
instructional practices and supportive technologies that will motivate students
to be self-directed and inquisitive learners.
|
Key Strategies |
Key Measures |
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Implement successful student
engagement models. |
Student success in meeting 21st
century skills by using performance-based assessments |
|
Integrate 21st century themes and
skills into K-12 curriculum and instruction, with emphasis on critical
thinking, problem solving and authentic application of learning. |
Augmented curricula addressing 21st
century skills |
|
Define, develop, communicate, and
require effective teaching practices that maximize rigor and meaningful
engagement for all students. |
Instructional practices ensuring that
daily instruction is rigorous and relevant for all learners |
|
Engage all students in rigorous
learning. |
Follow-up data from employers and
colleges to assess graduates’ college and work readiness of VBCPS graduates |
|
Develop strategies to increase
enrollment of minority students in honors, advanced placement, IB, dual
enrollment and similar advanced courses. |
Success on state standards for
attendance and promotion and a reduced drop-out rate |
|
|
Positive trends in discipline
referrals and suspension rates |
|
|
Positive enrollment trends in honors,
advanced placement, IB, dual enrollment and similar advanced courses |
|
|
Increased number of advanced diplomas |
2)
VBCPS will develop and implement a balanced assessment system that
accurately reflects student demonstration and mastery of VBCPS outcomes for
student success.
|
Key Strategies |
Key Measures |
|
Develop and/or
adopt performance-based assessments and rubrics to measure critical thinking
and other division outcomes for student success. |
New authentic assessments |
|
Provide training for teachers and
administrators on developing, using and scoring performance-based
assessments. |
Evaluation, collection and
dissemination of student work products |
|
Monitor assessments to ensure quality
and fidelity. |
Student performance data |
|
Develop a process
to monitor student performance on districtwide performance-based assessments. |
Staff and student feedback and
surveys |
|
|
Reliable teacher scoring methods and
results |
3)
Each school will improve achievement for all students while closing achievement
gaps for identified student groups, with particular focus on African American
males.
|
Key Strategies |
Key Measures |
|
Expand the
Extended Day Kindergarten (EDK) program. |
Number of students served by the EDK
program |
|
Develop and implement the K-12
literacy plan, with an emphasis on monitoring K-2 reading achievement. |
3rd grade students reading at or
above grade level as measured by the Developmental Reading Assessment,
version 2 results |
|
Develop and implement a Response to
Intervention (RTI) model. |
Minority representation in special
education proportionate to minority percentage of the total student
population |
|
Support the use
of professional learning communities to create a culture of success in
improving academic achievement of all students. |
Meet or exceed accreditation/AYP
standards |
|
Review and revise the school
improvement process so it aligns with the strategic plan. |
Narrow achievement gaps on SOL tests |
|
|
Improved PSAT/SAT, Stanford 10 and
ACT achievement for all students |
|
|
Increased minority enrollment
percentage in and successful completion of advanced courses and programs |
4)
VBCPS will create opportunities for parents, community and business
leaders to fulfill their essential roles as actively engaged partners in
supporting student achievement and outcomes for student success.
|
Key Strategies |
Key Measures |
|
Develop resources
for parents and other stakeholders showing how they can support the VBCPS
outcomes for student success. |
Positive trends on Parent
Satisfaction Survey |
|
Provide resources for parents to
monitor students’ academic progress. |
SchoolNet Parent
Portal launched |
|
Ensure that processes exist to
involve parents and stakeholders in district initiatives. |
Increased
parent/volunteer involvement |
|
Implement parent training and provide
resources. |
Increased community partnerships |
|
Strengthen the VBCPS volunteer
mentorship initiative. |
Attendance at Parent Connection |
|
Continue to develop and implement
outreach to under-served families. |
Increased participation in the
National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) |
|
Strengthen the division’s partnership
program with emphasis on workforce and college readiness. |
Increased mentorships |
|
Improve collaboration with city
agencies, civic groups, PTA(s), and community organizations that have similar
educational missions. |
Increased
Education Foundation funding |
|
|
Improved collaboration |
5)
VBCPS will be accountable for developing essential leader, teacher and staff
competencies and optimizing all resources to achieve the school division’s
strategic goal and outcomes for student success.
|
Key Strategies |
Key Measures |
|
Ensure that all
professional development programs emphasize strategies for integrating 21st
century themes and skills. |
Learning walks systemwide to assess
progress |
|
Provide opportunities for school
leaders and teachers to observe successful practices that maximize high
levels of student engagement |
Aligned professional development
evaluations |
|
Develop and provide equitable access
to quality learning tools and technologies. |
Improved parent/staff/student
perception of equitable access to quality learning tools and technologies |
|
Revise and align
evaluation instruments. |
Schools’ access to quality learning
tools and state-of-the-art technology |
|
Develop a model for teacher and
administrator training and capacity building. |
Training opportunities |
B. Textbook
Adoption: Virginia and U.S. History: Prior to a motion, Chairman Edwards stated
although textbook adoptions are reviewed in advance and approved as part of the
Consent agenda, he wanted to provide a visual of what the Board is being asked
to approve – an approximate 1300 page, 7.5 pound textbook for Virginia and U.S.
History to be used over the next six years coinciding with the newly approved
Strategic Plan period. In particular, he
commented each chapter was equipped with sections that allows for analytical
questioning and critical thinking in line with the Board’s new Strategic Plan,
and encouraged the state to shift their focus as far as expectations of a
testing standpoint, while Virginia
Beach
|
Title: |
The American Vision, 2008 Copyright |
|
Author: |
Joyce Appleby,
Alan Brinkley, Albert Broussard, James McPherson, and Donald Ritchie |
|
Publisher: |
Glencoe McGraw
Hill |
|
Copyright: |
2008 |
C.
14.
Information:
A. 2009 Legislative Agenda: In the absence
of the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Mr.
B. An
Evaluation of the Project X-CD Program at Three Middle Schools: Dr.
C. 2007-2008 SAT Results: Dr.
D.
E. Interim Financial Statements – September 2008: Mr. A. Samuel Cohen, Director of Business Services, provided a brief overview of the September 2008 interim financial statements noting expenditures and revenues appear to be on an acceptable trend, although the sales tax was being closely monitored.
15.
Committee Reports: Ms. Weems reported
she attended the quarterly SECEP meeting at which new officers were elected, and
a resolution approved to put into place a new GASB-45 structure. Also reported was a successful school opening
and training opportunities for new teachers including a course of autism
available to SECEP teachers as well as public school teachers.
Ms. Davis reported she attended the quarterly meeting for the Governor’s School for the Arts at which officers were elected, the budget was reviewed as well as handbooks, and a complete listing of upcoming performances provided.
16.
Vote on Remaining
Action Items: None
17.
Adjournment: There
being no further business before the Board, Chairman Edwards adjourned the
meeting at 8:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Approved: