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MEMBERS
PRESENT: |
MEMBERS
ABSENT: |
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Mr.
Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, Chairman Ms.
Rita S. Bellitto, Vice Chairman Mr.
William J. Brunke, IV Mr.
Todd C. Davidson Ms.
Emma L. “Em” Davis Ms.
Patricia G. Edmonson |
Mr.
Dan R. Lowe Mr.
Brent N. Mckenzie Mr.
Patrick S. Salyer Ms.
Sandra Smith-Jones Ms.
Carolyn D. Weems |
None |
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Dr.
James G. Merrill, Superintendent |
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1.
Convene
School Board Informal Meeting: The Board convened in the School Board Room at 6:00
p.m.
2.
Hearing of
Citizens and Delegations on Non-Agenda Items:
None
3.
Formal
Meeting Call to Order and Electronic Roll Call:
Chairman Edwards called
the formal meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
All Board members were present.
4.
Student,
Employee and Public Awards and Recognition
A. District of
Excellence Distinction in School Nutrition: The School Board recognized
the Office of Food Services as recipients of the School Nutrition Association’s
District of Excellence in School Nutrition distinction for having met the
national best practice standards that support the School Nutrition
Association’s Keys of Excellence in the area of nutrition and nutrition
education, communication and marketing, administration, and operations.
B. SkillsUSA
National Competition Winner: The School Board recognized Daniel Alcantara,
Computer Network Administration II student and recent graduate of the Advanced
Technology Center and Landstown High School for placing second in Technical
Computer Applications at the national SkillsUSA competition competing against
nearly 30 state SkillsUSA high school representatives from across the nation.
C. Outstanding
Attendance – June 2009: The School
Board recognized the following schools for having the highest percent of
student attendance for the month of June 2009:
Old Donation Center with 97.49 percent, Kemps Landing Magnet School with
98.41 percent, and Green Run High School with 96.91 percent.
D.
Most
Improved Attendance – June 2009: The School Board recognized the following
schools for having the highest percent of most improved student attendance for
the month of June 2009: Old Donation
Center with 0.48 percent, Kemps Landing Magnet School with 0.27 percent, and Open
Campus High School with 4.60 percent
E.
Most Improved
Attendance for 2008-09 School Year: The School Board recognized the following
schools for having the most improved attendance for the 2008-09 school
year: Kemps Landing Magnet School with
0.06 percent and Virginia Beach Central Academy with 5.01 percent.
5.
Invocation
by Reverend Clark Cundiff of Nimmo United Methodist Church followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance
6.
Superintendent’s
Report: Superintendent Merrill began his traditional
monthly report with an announcement regarding the division’s Standards of
Learning (SOL) test results. He advised
based on the preliminary analysis of data by the Department of Research,
Evaluation and Assessment, 100 percent of the division’s schools is projected
to earn full SOL accreditation. He
provided a few district level highlights reporting science pass rates equal or
exceed 92 percent at all middle schools, English pass rates equal or exceed 90
percent at 13 of 14 testing middle schools, pass rates for all core subjects
meet or exceed 85 percent at the high school level, and pass rates for both
English and history exceed 80 percent at all 56 testing elementary
schools. Additionally, he reported
Bettie F. Williams Elementary School’s unadjusted pass rate for fifth-grade
history increased 39 percentage points – the largest increase of any test at
any level – and reminded the Board that the school missed full accreditation
last year based on the school’s history scores.
He then went on to recognize the many accolades of schools, students and
staff throughout the division, and highlighted events including the division’s
annual retirement dinner, and 2009 commencement exercises noting more than
$25.7 million scholarships had been accepted by the Class of 2009. Also recognized were the 2008-09 principals
and assistant principals of the year selected by their respective Virginia
Beach Association of School Principals.
Finally, he announced award recipients for two Virginia High School
League (VHSL) annual honors: the 2009 Claudia Dodson VHSL Sportsmanship,
Ethics and Integrity Award presented to First Colonial, Kempsville, Landstown,
Princess Anne and Tallwood high schools for demonstrating that “sportsmanship
is a priority and expectation within their schools and school communities;” and
Wachovia Cup for Athletics among Group AAA schools awarded to Cox High School
for the fourth consecutive year bestowed to schools in each group
classification that have achieved the best overall record in VHSL state-level
competition noting this year the Falcons won state championships in field
hockey and boys soccer, and earned additional Wachovia points for their success
in boys and girls tennis, boys and girls volleyball, girls soccer, baseball,
golf, and wrestling.
7.
Hearing of
Citizens and Delegations on Agenda Items:
None
8.
Approval
of Minutes: June 30, 2009: Mr.
Davidson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Salyer, that the Board approve the
minutes of their June 30, 2009 regular meeting as presented. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0, 1
abstention – Weems who affirmed her abstention was because she was absent from
the June 30 meeting).
9.
Adoption
of the Agenda: There being no proposed changes to the published
agenda, Ms. Smith-Jones made a motion, seconded by Ms. Edmonson, that the Board
adopt the agenda as published. The
motion was unanimously approved.
10.
Consent
Agenda: Ms. Edmonson made a motion, seconded by Ms.
Smith-Jones, that the Board approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was unanimously approved and the
following items adopted as part of the Consent Agenda:
A.
Monthly
Attendance Report – June 2009 (Chairman Edwards noted the final attendance
report for the 2008-09 school year was several hundred above projections for
the year)
B.
Appointments,
Resignations and Retirements as presented on the Personnel Report dated July
21, 2009
11.
Action
A. Recommendation
of General Contractor: Great Neck Middle
School: Ms. Davis made a motion, seconded by Mr.
Brunke, that the Board adopt a motion authorizing the Superintendent to execute
a contract with Blueridge General, Inc. in the amount of $35,027,000 for the
replacement of Great Neck Middle School.
Prior to a vote, Mr. Anthony L. Arnold, P.E., Director of Facilities,
Planning and Construction, provided a brief overview of the project , bid results
and timeline indicating a projected completion date for occupancy in fall of
2011. Following brief discussion, the
motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Davidson
departed the meeting at 6:27 p.m.
B.
Procurement
of Architectural/Engineering (A/E) Services for Kellam High School: Prior to a motion, Mr. Anthony L. Arnold, P.E.,
Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, introduced Mr. C. Michael
Ross, AIA, REFP, Principal in Charge of Education Facilities with HBA
Architecture and Interior Design who provided rationale and value of moving
ahead with the programming phase for the replacement of Kellam High School
prior to a site being determined. Mr.
Arnold noted the Site Selection Committee has been working the past 18 months
to locate a replacement site and expects to bring a recommendation to the Board
by the end of the calendar year in order to achieve a 2014 school opening. Following discussion, Mr. Brunke made a
motion, seconded by Mr. Mckenzie, that the Board approve the A/E firm of HBA
Architecture and Interior Design to perform the preplanning services for a fee
of $72,885 and once a site is finalized, will negotiate a fee for the balance
of design services to be brought back to the Board for approval. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0;
Davidson absent). Chairman Edwards
announced Mr. Davidson had to depart the meeting early for an emergency.
12.
Information
A.
New Website
Design: Ms. Kathleen O. O’Hara, Assistant
Superintendent of Media and Communications Development, demonstrated the newly
redesigned vbcps.com website, specifically the new Strategic Plan web page
predicated on fostering a strengthened understanding among stakeholders of the Compass 2015 Strategic Plan for Student
Success.
13.
Committee
Reports: Chairman Edwards noted a brief Legislative workshop
would be held at the conclusion of the formal meeting. As a member of the Oceanfront Enhancement
Committee, Ms. Edmonson announced the new lighted exhibit at the end of I-264
was a product of the committee and was intended to create a welcoming site for
those entering the beach area, known as Beach Street USA, and to promote
relaxation and fun in the heart of the city.
The Board
recessed at 7:00 p.m. and reconvened in workshop format in the School Board
Room at 7:03 p.m.
Chairman Edwards
briefly reviewed plans for the Board’s annual retreat clarifying the process
for Friday evening was basically for teambuilding activities.
14.
Workshop: Legislative Committee Update: As chair
of the Legislative Committee, Ms. Weems reviewed the committee’s Plan of Action
for the 2010 General Assembly Session.
She advised committee members would be meeting individually with
targeted senators and delegates by September 1, following up in October, and
initiating meetings with newly elected officials after the elections, to
establish and maintain a line of communication for any education-related
issues. Also reported were plans for a
breakfast to be hosted by the division in November for legislators and any
other interested parties including key legislative committee members. Additionally, she advised of plans to meet
with local or state entities that may have a say-so in the pre-Labor day
opening legislative issue and possible compromise to the school calendar, as
well as plans to contact representatives from the Virginia School Boards
Association (VSBA), Virginia Beach Education Association (VBEA), Virginia
Education Association (VEA), Virginia Association of School Superintendents
(VASS), and the Parent Teacher
Association (PTA) to obtain input on the division’s legislative packet and
discuss similar issues they may be proposing.
She then distributed the 2010 Legislative Program Agenda previously
adopted by the Board including priority items of interest and the Board’s
position relative to 1) changes to the Composite Index (CI); 2) re-benchmarking
of the Standards of Quality (SOQ); 3) 21st century initiatives; 4)
the school calendar; 5) uniform grading policy; and 6) firearms on school
property. Finally, she reported as a
member the VSBA Legislative Policy and Resolutions (LPR) Committee, she would
be attending the July 23 meeting scheduled to discuss four new items, two of
which were submitted by Virginia Beach relative to a uniform grading scale and
the school calendar.
In response to a
Board inquiry subsequent to the rise in discussion at the state and federal
level, Mr. Freddie P. Alarcon, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent,
provided a brief synopsis and historical background on Charter Schools.
15.
Vote on
Remaining Action Items: None
16.
Adjournment: There
being no further business before the Board, Chairman Edwards adjourned the
meeting at 7:29 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted by:
S E
A L
Dianne P.
Alexander, Clerk of the Board
Approved:
Daniel
D. Edwards, Chairman