SCHOOL BOARD OF THE CITY OF
MINUTES OF SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR MEETING
JULY 24, 2007
The School Board of the City of
MEMBERS PRESENT:
|
Mr. Daniel D.
“Dan” Edwards, Chairman |
|
|
Ms. |
|
|
Mr. Todd C.
Davidson |
Mr. Dan R. Lowe |
|
Ms. Emma L. “Em”
Davis |
Mr. Lyndon S.
Remias |
|
Ms. |
Ms. |
|
Mr. Edward F.
Fissinger, Sr. |
Ms. Carolyn D.
Weems |
|
|
|
|
Dr. |
|
Members ABSENT: Mr. Michael W. Stewart
Chairman Edwards convened the Board in Room 113 at 4:33 p.m. All Board members were present with the exception of Ms. Smith-Jones who arrived at 5:00 p.m., and Mr. Stewart who was absent from the meeting.
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. Stewart who Chairman Edwards announced was convalescing from eye surgery.
B. Most Improved Attendance – June 2007: The School Board recognized the following
schools for having the highest percent of most improved attendance for June
2007:
C. Most
Improved Attendance – 2006-2007 School Year: The School Board recognized
D. 2008 Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teacher of the Year: The School Board Erika C. Hitchcock, a grade 3-8 visual arts teacher at Old Donation Center (ODC) for having been named the citywide 2008 Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
E. 2007 Virginia Department of Education School Stars: The School Board recognized Amanda Ash of Open Campus High School, Darcy Parker of Center for Effective Learning, and Carlos Seward of Virginia Beach Central Academy, for being chosen a “School Star” by the Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Improvement, after being nominated by their principal by submitting a lesson plan suitable for an alternative setting.
F. 2007 National Social Studies League Champions: The School Board recognized Kemps Landing Magnet School Social Studies teams from 6th, 7th and 8th grades for having placed 1st in the nation as top scorers in the 2007 National Social Studies League Examination, a division of the Continental Mathematics League established to promote student improvement in the areas of American Studies, Geography of the United States and United States government.
G. 2007
H. 2007 State Honor Bands: The School Board recognized Kellam,
Kempsville, Princess Anne and
I. 2007 Blue Ribbon Music Schools: The School Board recognized Princess Anne High School, Kempsville High School, Corporate Landing Middle School, Great Neck Middle School, Independence Middle School, Kemps Landing Magnet School, Kempsville Middle School and Plaza Middle School as 2007 Blue Ribbon schools designated by the Virginia Music Educators Association for music programs awarded distinction after earning superior ratings for each ensemble at their respective district festivals.
J. 2007 All-Virginia Chorus Recipients: The School Board recognized students from Cox, Kempsville, Landstown, Ocean Lakes, Princess Anne and Salem high schools as well as the Visual & Performing Arts Academy, for having been selected for participation in the 2007 All-Virginia Chorus.
K. 2007 All-Virginia Concert Band: The School Board recognized students from
Kempsville,
L. 2007 All-Virginia Symphonic Band
Recipients: The School Board
recognized a recent graduate from
M. 2007 All-Virginia Orchestra
Recipients: The School Board
recognized a
B. July 12, 2007 Organizational/Special Meeting: Mr. Lowe made a motion, seconded by Ms. Davis, that the Board approve the minutes of their July 12, 2007 organizational and special meeting as presented. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0).
|
Sandra
R. Brown |
Assistant
Principal, |
|
Matthew
D. Delaney |
Assistant
Principal, |
|
Penney
B. Fonville |
Assistant
Principal, Bayside High School |
|
Bermina
M. Nickerson |
Assistant
Principal, Bayside High School |
B. Monthly Attendance Report – June 2007
C. Appointment of Board members to Boards, Organizations & Commissions for FY2007-08 as follows:
|
Retreat Planning Ad Hoc Committee for 2007 |
|
|
ACCESS – Tidewater Scholarship Board |
|
|
CUBE – National Affiliate Advocacy Information
Network (NSBA) |
All members encouraged to attend within allocated
funds |
|
Governor’s School for the Arts |
|
|
Mayor’s Committee on the Disabled |
Pat Edmonson |
|
Southeastern Cooperative Education Programs
(SECEP) |
Pat Edmonson, Alt. |
|
|
Responsibility of Legislative Committee |
|
National School Boards Association Federal
Relations Network (NSBA FRN) |
Responsibility of Legislative Committee |
|
|
All members encouraged to attend within allocated
funds; Chair / Vice Chair to vote at Delegate Assembly on VSBA policy |
|
WHRO Board a/k/a |
|
|
Building Utilization Committee a/k/a Redistricting |
|
|
Diversity Task Force |
|
|
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Modernization
Review Committee |
Rita Bellitto |
|
Kempsville/Princess Anne Intersection &
Witchduck Project (up to I-264) Citizens Advisory Committee |
|
|
Oceanfront Enhancement Committee a/k/a City Behavior Committee |
Pat Edmonson |
|
School Site Selection Committee |
Rita Bellitto, Chair |
|
Internal Audit Committee |
Ken Palmer, Chair |
|
Legislative Committee |
Pat Edmonson |
A. School Board Reaffirmation of their Code of Ethics: A Guide of Conduct for School Board Members of the City of Virginia Beach: Ms. Davis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lowe, that the Board reaffirm its continuing commitment to the Code of Ethics: A Guide of Conduct for School Board Members of the City of Virginia Beach as established and enacted on September 19, 2006, by the incumbent School Board, and on display in the School Board Chambers. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0) and the Code of Ethics reaffirmed as follows:
Code of Ethics
A Guide of Conduct for School Board Members of the City of
This Code of Ethics signifies the strong commitment
on the part of the School Board to base our decisions and actions on ethical
standards. It recognizes the role and
defines professional behavior needed in order to fulfill our obligations of
being effective and responsible Board Members. This Code reflects the deeper
sense of purpose and direction which governs our work. Our ethical behavior
“speaks” loudly as an example to the young people we serve. It is, in fact, one of the wisest lessons in
teaching and learning we can offer.
While serving as a member of the Virginia
Beach School Board, I will accept the responsibility to improve education, and
I will:
1.
Remember
that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all
students attending
2.
Obey
the laws of
3.
Respect
the confidentiality of privileged information;
4.
Recognize
that as an individual Board Member I have no authority to speak or act for the
Board;
5.
Respect
the right of other Board Members to have and express ideas that differ;
6.
Work
collaboratively with other Members to establish effective Board policies;
7.
Delegate
authority for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent and
staff;
8.
Encourage
ongoing communications among Board Members, students, staff, and the community;
9.
Be
open, fair and honest;
10.
Render
all of my decisions based on available facts, appropriate public input and my
independent judgment;
11.
Make
every effort to attend all Board meetings;
12.
Come
to Board meetings informed concerning the issues under consideration;
13.
Give
staff members the respect and consideration due skilled professional employees;
14.
Improve
my ability to serve as a School Board Member by studying educational issues
and participating in appropriate
professional development;
15.
Support
the employment of staff members based on qualifications;
16.
Cooperate
with other Board Members and Administrators to establish a system of regular
and impartial evaluations of all staff;
17.
Avoid
conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof;
18.
Refrain
from using my Board position for benefit of myself, family, or other business
associates;
19.
Express
my personal opinions, but once the Board has acted, accept the will of the
majority; and
20.
Maintain
professional decorum when discussing school matters.
I acknowledge that the following are
unethical behaviors and will refrain from such actions:
1.
Seek
personal advantage from membership on the Virginia Beach School Board;
2.
Make
disparaging remarks about other Board Members;
3.
Discuss
confidential business in public or to anyone not privy to such information;
4.
Place
the interests of individuals or groups ahead of the interests of the district
and all students in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools; and
5.
Conduct
unauthorized activity on the Board’s behalf away from the School Board
meetings.
Adopted
by the School Board of the City of
A. 2006-2007 Report of the Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education: Mr. Hugh Greene, Chairperson-Elect, Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education for 2007-2008, presented the annual report of the Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education to include an overview of the identification of gifted students, the delivery of services, curriculum development, professional development, parent and community involvement and recommendations as follows:
· Increase the support of the continuum of gifted services offered in the division
· The Committee continues to search for alternatives to the one-day per week pullout programs in Visual Arts and Dance for identified students at the middle school level.
· Request for a minimum of at least one full-time gifted resource teacher in all elementary schools by providing funding for at least two additional positions for the school year 2008-2009 in order to begin to reach the goal and the acquisition of four new positions.
C. FY2007-08
Cooperative Agreement for Legal Services:
Ms. Kamala Hallgren Lannetti, Deputy City Attorney, presented to the
Board for information the proposed Cooperative Agreement for Legal Services provided
by the City Attorney’s Office for the 2007-08 school year. She noted the City Attorney’s Office will
provide 4,125 (or 2.5 attorney’s time) and one secretarial position at an
annual cost of $300,581, an approximate $5,000 decline from the previous year.
D. Resolution in Support of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Improvements: On behalf of the School Board’s Legislative Committee, Mr. Freddie P. Alarcon, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, presented to the Board for information a proposed resolution in support of H.R. 648 – the NCLB Improvements Act of 2007 created at the request of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to build on major reforms of NCLB that would address many of the unintended consequences of the federal legislation unveiled in January 2005 while holding states and school districts accountable. Specifically, H.R. 648 will:
·
Increase
flexibility for states to use additional types of assessments for measuring
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), including growth models;
·
Grant
states more flexibility in assessing students with disabilities and students
not proficient in English for AYP purposes;
·
Create
a student testing participation range, providing flexibility for uncontrollable
variations in student attendance;
·
Allow
schools to target resources to those student populations who need the most
attention by applying sanctions only when the same student group fails to make
AYP in the same subject for two consecutive years;
·
Ensure
that students are counted properly in assessment and reporting systems;
·
Allow
supplemental services to be offered in the first year of “improvement”;
·
Strengthen
federal responsibility for funding; and
·
Require
NCLB testing and reporting for non-public schools for students receiving Title
I services.
There being no objection, the Board agreed to take action on the resolution under Item 17 – Vote on Remaining Action Items.
Ms. Edmonson reported on the
NSBA/CUBE Issues conference she and Ms. Smith-Jones attended June 21-24, 2007. In addition, Ms. Smith-Jones announced the
40th Annual CUBE Conference to be held in
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 purposes:
A. 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:
1. Consideration of recommendations of
Fact-Finding Panel for Case No. 433-04-06-07.
B. Consultation with Legal Counsel: 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:
1. Legal requirements for consideration
of Fact-Finding Panel recommendation for Case No. 433-04-06-07.
The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0) and
the Board recessed at 7:32 p.m. to move to Room 113 and entered into a closed
meeting at 7:42 p.m.
Individuals present for discussion:
B. Consultation with Legal Counsel:
1. Legal requirements for consideration of Fact-Finding Panel recommendation for Case No. 433-04-06-07: Board members; Ms. Kamala H. Lannetti, Deputy City Attorney; and Ms. Dianne P. Alexander, Clerk of the Board.
A. Personnel
Matters:
1. Consideration of recommendations of
Fact-Finding Panel for Case No. 433-04-06-07: Board members and Ms. Dianne P. Alexander,
Clerk of the Board.
The Board reconvened in an open meeting at 8:01 p.m.