SCHOOL BOARD OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH

MINUTES OF SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 4, 2008

The School Board of the City of Virginia Beach held a regular meeting Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at the School Administration Building.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, Chairman
Ms. Rita Sweet Bellitto, Vice Chairman	Mr. Lyndon S. Remias
Mr. Todd C. Davidson	Ms. Sandra Smith-Jones
Ms. Emma L. “Em” Davis	Mr. Michael W. Stewart
Mr. Dan R. Lowe	Ms. Carolyn D. Weems

Dr. James G. Merrill, Superintendent

Members ABSENT: Ms. Patricia G. Edmonson and Mr. Edward F. Fissinger, Sr.

1. Convene School Board Informal Meeting:

Chairman Edwards convened the Board in the einstein.lab at 4:35 p.m. All Board members were present with the exception of Vice Chairman Bellitto and Mr. Davidson who arrived at 4:48 p.m. and 4:50 p.m., respectively, and Ms. Edmonson and Mr. Fissinger who were absent from the meeting.

2. Workshop:

A. FY2008/09 & 2009/10 School Operating Biennial Budget and FY2008/09-2013/14 Capital Improvement Program (CIP): Mr. Farrell E. Hanzaker, Chief Financial Officer, advised there was nothing to report relative to the state budget; Chairman Edwards noted transportation was a huge distracter for the legislature at the moment. Mr. Hanzaker provided a review of the Additional Needs in Priority Order, page 60 of the budget document, reflecting changes discussed at the February 26 workshop. In addition, he provided a draft budget resolution and draft ordinance resolution. Chairman Edwards suggested the Board make a motion during the action section of the formal meeting to defer adoption of the budget until after the state budget had been determined on March 8. A special meeting was scheduled for March 11, 2008 for the Board to discuss and possibly act on the biennial budget and CIP. In addition, it was announced that the Board will also receive a report on the Healthcare Program Planning from the Benefits Executive Committee at the special meeting in tandem with City Council’s presentation. Discussion concluded at 4:48 p.m.

B. Benefits Executive Committee Recommendations: Postponed until the March 11, 2008 special meeting when the committee will be prepared to brief the School Board and City Council.

C. Parent Involvement Plan Update: Ms. Kathleen E. O’Hara, Assistant Superintendent for Media and Communications Development, and Ms. Melissa T. McQuarrie, Director of Community Relations, provided an executive summary of activities and update on progress since June 2007 relative to the Parent Involvement Plan designed to address the School Board’s Program of Work Goal of Meaningful Involvement of Community, Parents and Partners. Discussion concluded at 5:23 p.m.

D. Pinnacle Update: Ms. Roberta Gourley, Project Manager in the Department of Technology, provided an overview of the Pinnacle program, an integrated system for recording grades and taking attendance electronically. The presentation concluded at 5:38 p.m. See Item 15 for continuation of the Pinnacle update.

E. Online Learning Update: See Item 15

F. Program of Work: Board Committee Reports: See Item 15

The workshop concluded at 5:35 p.m.

3. Closed Meeting: None

4. Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on Non-Agenda Items: The Board heard comments from the following citizens and delegations on non-agenda items:

Sonya Benshoff, Windsor Woods Elementary teacher, regarding Pinnacle concerns;

Iva Nash, president of the Virginia Beach Education Association (VBEA) regarding School Board workshop procedures; and

Sarah D’Amato and Edie Compo, Princess Anne Elementary School teachers, in support of the Pinnacle program.

5. Formal Meeting Call to Order and Electronic Roll Call:

Chairman Edwards called the formal meeting to order in the School Board Room at 6:15 p.m. All Board members were present with the exception of Mr. Remias who was in attendance but not present for the electronic roll call, and Ms. Edmonson and Mr. Fissinger who Chairman Edwards announced were absent from the meeting due to being ill.

6. Student, Employee and Public Awards and Recognition: None

7. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: The invocation was given by Reverend James Griffin of Saint Mark Catholic Church followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

8. Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on Agenda Items: None

Chairman Edwards announced commencing March 18, School Board workshops will be aired with the rebroadcast of the Board’s regular formal meetings. He reported other technologies were forthcoming as well that will provide a more effective web-based transmission of information to the public.

9. Approval of Minutes:

A. February 19, 2008 Regular Meeting: Mr. Stewart made a motion, seconded by Ms. Smith-Jones, that the Board approve the minutes of their February 19, 2008 regular meeting as presented. The motion was approved (ayes 8, nays 0, Remias absent for the vote).

B. February 26, 2008 Budget Workshop: Ms. Smith-Jones made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lowe, that the Board approve the minutes of their February 26, 2008 budget workshop as presented. The motion was approved (ayes 8, nays 0, 1 abstention – Davidson). Mr. Davidson noted his abstention was due to his absence at the February 26 workshop because he was ill with the flu.

10. Adoption of the Agenda: Prior to a motion, Chairman Edwards affirmed a continuation of the afternoon workshop will take place under Item15 and announced the Benefits Executive Committee Recommendation workshop is postponed until the March 11 special meeting when the committee will be prepared to brief both the School Board and City Council. Mr. Davidson then made a motion, seconded by Mr. Stewart, that the Board adopt the agenda as amended. The motion was approved (ayes 9, nays 0).

11. Consent Agenda: Mr. Lowe made a motion, seconded by Ms. Smith-Jones, that the Board approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved (ayes 9, nays ) and the following items adopted as part of the Consent Agenda:

A. Religious Exemption Case Numbers RE-07-15:

B. The Board authorized a contract with Dills Ainscough Duff Architects in the amount of $1,075,000 for architectural / engineering (A/E) and design services associated with the pupil transportation services maintenance facility

C. Recommendation of General Contractor

1. The Board authorized the Superintendent to execute a contract with Blueridge General, Inc. in the amount of $13,878,599 for the replacement of Windsor Oaks Elementary School

2. The Board authorized the Superintendent to execute a contract with T. R. Driscoll, Inc. in the amount of $657,900 for roof replacement at Rosemont Forest Elementary School

D. Appointments, Resignations and Retirements as presented on the March 4, 2008 personnel report.

12. Action:

A. FY2008/09 & 2009/10 School Operating Biennial Budget: Chairman Edwards noted in the afternoon workshop the Board learned estimated revenues from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the coming year are still in doubt and the General Assembly is not scheduled to complete action until March 8. Mr. Stewart made a motion, based on the fact that the state budget is still unclear, that the Board defer action on its budget until the March 11 special Board meeting called for purposes of taking action. Ms. Smith-Jones seconded the motion. Chairman Edwards stated the Board is very cognizant of the city’s need for the schools budgetary information to be included with the overall City Manager’s budget to be presented to City Council later in the month, and regrets that it can not be finalized at this time. The motion was approved (ayes 9, nays 0).

13. Information:

A. Waiver of Pre-Labor Day Opening for Year-Round Schools: Dr. Jared A. Cotton, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, presented to the Board for information the proposed application for continued approval of the waiver for the pre-Labor Day opening requirements for the division’s year-round schools – Seatack, Corporate Landing, Plaza, and Point O’View elementary schools – for the 2008-2009 school year.

14. Committee Reports: On behalf of the Board’s Legislative Committee, Mr. Lowe distributed to the Board a status report on the General Assembly.

Ms. Davis thanked the Art Department for the gifts provided to the Board commemorating Youth Art Month.

The Board recessed at 6:29 p.m. and moved to Room 113 to continue their afternoon workshop.

15. Workshop (continued):

D. Pinnacle Update (continued): Mr. Ramesh Kapoor, Chief Information Officer, Ms. Roberta Gourley, Project Manager in the Department of Technology, along with other Administrators responded to Board members questions and addressed concerns regarding the Pinnacle program. Discussion concluded at 7:28 p.m.

E. Online Learning Update: Mr. William Johnsen, Director of Instructional Technology, presented a report on online learning including current status of non-traditional learning opportunities such as SAT online, video conferencing within the division and outside the division, Math First Algebra tutorials, webinars, SharePoint student portal, online homebound, alternative education, distance learning courses, online correspondence courses, advanced placement (AP) course offerings, non-AP course offerings, state LED online programs, and Virginia Beach online courses. He also reported the vision for the future includes providing high school online summer school programs by 2010, expanding online courses for high school students based upon student and community input by 2015, provide all Virginia Beach students with an online learning experience by the time they graduate beginning with the class of 2015. In summary, Mr. Johnsen reported Virginia Beach students have been successful in online learning and there is potential to expand learning opportunities for students, however, availability of courses will continue to impact program expansion, and administrative and clerical support are needed as the program expands. Recommendations were to continue the partnership with WHRO for the development of online courses, accelerate the development of online courses to meet the goals for 2010 and 2015, and explore options to provide necessary administrative and clerical support for an expanding online learning program. Chairman Edwards commented, in looking forward, the Board may want to consider reviewing attendance policies because online learning opportunities has the potential to influence the size of future buildings, and the transportation system. Discussion concluded at 7:57 p.m.

F. Program of Work: Board Committee Reports: Board committee chairs provided an informal update on activities of the following Program of Work Board committees: Board Training, Orientation/Curriculum and Self-Evaluation (Stewart); Committee Structure (Davidson); Strategic Planning Committee (Fissinger); Retreat Planning for 2008 (Davis); Revenue Sharing (Edwards); CIP/Modernization (Lowe); and Advocacy (Smith-Jones). Discussion concluded at 8:17 p.m.

16. Vote on Remaining Action Items: None

17. Adjournment: There being no further business before the Board, Chairman Edwards adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Approved: Dianne P. Alexander, Clerk of the Board