SCHOOL BOARD OF THE CITY OF
MINUTES OF SCHOOL BOARD ANNUAL RETREAT
AUGUST 3-5, 2007
The School Board of the City of
|
Mr. Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, Chairman |
|
|
Ms. Rita Sweet Bellitto, Vice Chairman |
Mr. Dan R. Lowe |
|
Mr. Todd C. Davidson |
Mr. Lyndon S. Remias |
|
Ms. Emma L. “Em” Davis |
Ms. Sandra Smith-Jones |
|
Ms. Patricia G. Edmonson |
Mr. Michael W. Stewart |
|
Mr. Edward F. Fissinger, Sr. |
Ms. Carolyn D. Weems |
|
Dr.
James G. Merrill, Superintendent |
|
Friday, August 3, 2007 (6:00 p.m.)
As a prelude to their retreat, the
School Board gathered at Ocean Way Condominiums,
Saturday, August 5, 2006 (8:44 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Sunday, August 6, 2006 (8:35 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
The Board convened each day in the Virginia Beach City Economic Development Conference Room under the direction of Dr. Connolly.
Saturday’s session began with discussion of concepts relative to the role of the Board including trusteeship, governance, management, working together, continuous improvement, and micro-management. Topics included public inquiries received by the Board being directed through the chain of command or forwarded to the Superintendent, school visit strategies to enhance the Board’s Communication Plan, a desire for a more intensified new Board member orientation coupled with a mentoring program, a Board self-evaluation process established, the role of the chair and vice-chair defined, a request for quarterly meetings for the Board to review its overall direction and discuss long-range planning, the creation of a Board officer and committee leadership succession plan, Board advocacy, special interest groups, and Board member compensation.
The Sandler Performing Arts Center hosted lunch on Saturday,
which included a virtual as well as walking tour of the new Performing Arts
Center located at
Working in groups of 3, Board members and Superintendent Merrill discussed common goal categories identified during the facilitator’s individual interviews with Board members and the Superintendent prior to the retreat in the area of strategic planning, budget and finance, teaching and learning, communications and boardsmanship.
Below is a summation of consensus for each goal category:
Strategic
Planning:
Ø
Develop
a new strategic plan
Ø
Board
delegates to the Superintendent to return an outline to include
o
Breadth
of community engagement
o
Timeline
for completion
o
Budgetary
impact
budget
and finance:
Ø
Improve
the budget process and timelines
Ø
Make
a case for funding
Ø
Return
to a one year budget
Ø
Revisit
the Revenue Sharing Formula
Ø
Involve
and educate stakeholders
Ø
Present
a budget of needs
teaching
and learning:
Ø
Improve
Special Education
o
Response
to Audit
o
Study
& Modify
Ø
Examine
the demands on elementary teachers’ work day
Ø
Address
the issue of the student performance of African-American males
communications: Committee of Board &
Administration
Ø
Educate
stakeholders, keep them informed and involved
Ø
Examine
internal processes to improve communications
Boardsmanship:
Ø
Develop
a curriculum for Board member orientation and ongoing member development
Ø
Establish
a format/protocol for the Board and ad hoc committee reports
Ø
Officer
and committee leadership succession planning
Ø
Job
description for Chair and Vice-Chair
Ø
Quarterly
Meetings / “Board” Workshop
Ø
Board
Self-Evaluation
Ø
Board
Socials
Ø
Process
for Workshop Reports
Ø
Next
Board Retreat
o
When
o
Transition
due to change in elections from May to November
The retreat concluded Sunday, August 5, at 2:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Approved:
Daniel D. Edwards, Chairman