SCHOOL BOARD OF THE CITY OF
MINUTES OF SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 16, 2007
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. Dan R. Lowe |
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Mr. Todd C. Davidson |
Mr. Lyndon S. Remias |
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Ms. Emma L. “Em” Davis |
Ms. |
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Ms. |
Mr. Michael W. Stewart |
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Mr. Edward F. Fissinger, Sr. |
Ms. Carolyn D. Weems |
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Dr. |
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Members ABSENT: None
Chairman Edwards convened the Board in the einstein.lab at 4:34 p.m. All Board members were present with the exception of Mr. Remias who arrived at 4:38 p.m.; and Ms. Smith-Jones who was absent from the first workshop but arrived at 6:00 p.m.
Discussion concluded at 5:09 p.m.
Motion for Closed Meeting in Accordance with VA Code § 2.2-3711, Part A: Vice Chairman Bellitto made a motion, seconded by Mr. Davidson, 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, Paragraph 1 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.
the salary adjustment for an administrator.
The motion was
approved (ayes 10, nays 0, Smith-Jones had not yet arrived) and the Board
entered into a closed meeting at 5:13 p.m.
Individuals present for discussion:
A. Personnel Matters:
1. The salary adjustment for an administrator: Board members with the exception of Ms.
Smith-Jones who had not yet arrived; Superintendent Merrill; Dr.
The Board reconvened in an open meeting at 5:27 p.m.
Certification of Closed Meeting: Vice Chairman Bellitto made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lowe, 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 approved (ayes 10, nays 0, Smith-Jones had not yet arrived).
Mr. Fissinger made a motion, seconded by Ms. Davis, that the Board grant the Superintendent the authority to adjust secondary administrators’ salaries until the study is completed on the unified salary scale until June 30, 2008. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0, Smith-Jones had not yet arrived).
The Board heard comments from the following citizens and delegations:
Terry Elliott, security
officer at
Carl Wright regarding concerns with the Virginia Grade Level Assessment (VGLA) and impact on the academic performance of African-American male students;
Upon conclusion of the hearing, Chairman Edwards thanked the number of groups in attendance offering their services and commented the Board will be engaging the community in fulfilling their goal regarding closing the achievement gap.
Chairman Edwards called the formal meeting to order in the School Board Room at 6:30 p.m. All Board members were present.
A.
2007
B. 2007 Wachovia Cup: The School Board recognized Frank W. Cox High School for receiving the 2007 VHSL Wachovia Cup awarded to the school for the ninth time for standing atop all others in VHSL athletic success for the 2007 school year.
C.
Outstanding Attendance – September 2007: The School Board recognized the following
schools for having the highest percent of student attendance for the month of
September 2007:
1. National School Bus Safety Week resolution as follows:
NATIONAL SCHOOL
BUS SAFETY WEEK, OCTOBER 21-27, 2007
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the School Board of Virginia Beach has set high
standards for school bus safety as a fundamental principle of caring for and
protecting the school children of Virginia Beach; and
WHEREAS, the safety of our school buses is vital for the
protection of school children in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools; and
WHEREAS, school bus administrators, school bus drivers,
school bus assistants, and mechanics work diligently each day to ensure the
safe and efficient transportation of 62,000 school division students to and
from their places of learning; and
WHEREAS, The Virginia Beach City School Board recognizes the
outstanding safety record of its school bus personnel; and
WHEREAS, motorists are urged to assist in school bus safety
by obeying the law and stopping when buses are picking up and discharging
students.
Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Virginia Beach City School Board
take official cognizance of the exemplary work performed by pupil
transportation personnel; and be it further
RESOLVED: That
the Virginia Beach City School Board recognizes October 21-27, 2007, as
National School Bus Safety Week and call its significance to the attention of
all Virginia Beach citizens; and be it further
RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread across the official minutes of this Board.
2. National Safe Schools Week resolution as follows:
AMERICA’S SAFE SCHOOLS
WEEK
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, excellence in education is dependent on a safe,
secure, and peaceful school setting; and
WHEREAS, all children deserve to have a learning environment
free of verbal, physical and emotional abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of all citizens to enhance
the learning experiences of young people by helping to ensure fair and
effective discipline, promote good citizenship, and generally make schools safe
and secure; and
WHEREAS, schools make substantial contributions to the future
of America and to the development of our nation’s young people as
knowledgeable, responsible, and productive citizens; and
WHEREAS, the safety and well-being of students, staff, and
visitors are of utmost importance in our schools; and
WHEREAS, the observance of America’s Safe Schools Week and Day
of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence will substantially
promote efforts to provide all our nation’s schools with positive and safe
learning climates.
NOW, ThEREFore, be it
RESOLVED: That the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
recognize the week of October 21-27, 2007, as America’s Safe Schools Week; and
be it
FURTHER
RESOLVED: That the School Board of the City of Virginia
Beach recognize Wednesday, October 24, 2007, as School Resource Officer and
Security Assistant Recognition Day; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
calls on all citizens and school division employees to support the observance
of these dates; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread across the official minutes of this Board.
C. The School Board approved the administration’s recommendations that were proposed in response to the evaluation of the extended-day kindergarten program expansion at the non-Title I schools
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PROGRAM
EVALUATION RECOMMENDATIONS |
ADMINISTRATION’S
RECOMMENDATIONS |
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1.
Implement
strategies to improve communication between the school and parents to provide
parents with more information regarding the EDK program and ongoing
communication about their child’s academic progress. (Schools) 2.
Review survey
comments from parents, kindergarten teachers, and school administrators to
determine if suggestions for improvement are feasible to implement
divisionwide. (Curriculum and Instruction and School Administration). 3.
Continue the
program as a part of the standard program of the schools designated and
consider expanding the program to two EDK classes at non-Title I schools that
demonstrate a sufficient need for additional services. (School
Administration) 4.
Using baseline
data from this evaluation, define measurable objectives and targets for the
EDK Program at non-Title I schools.
provide an update to the School Board regarding the achievement of
these objectives after the second year of the program’s operation. (Curriculum and Instruction, School
Administration and Accountability) |
· The administration concurs with and supports all of
the program evaluation recommendations as proposed. · The administration will make recommendations by
January 2008 regarding additional EDK classes to be offered at non-Title I
schools for the 2008-09 school year, subject to available funding. Prior to making recommendations, the
administration will identify criteria for selecting schools that demonstrate
a need for additional services. |
D. Religious Exemption Case Nos: RE-07-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 and 10
E. Monthly Attendance Report – September 2007
F. Appointments, Resignations and Retirements as presented on the October 16, 2007 Personnel Report
G. The School Board approved the appointment of Ms. Edmonson as the voting delegate to represent the School Board at the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), November 15, 2007, regional meeting during the 2007 VSBA Annual Convention, November 14-17, 2007. Chairman Edwards and Vice Chairman Bellitto shall remain named Delegate and Alternate, respectively, at the November 15, 2007, VSBA Delegate Assembly.
H. The School Board approved supporting the nomination of Ms. Edmonson for consideration by the Regional Nominating Committee of Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) as secretary for the Tidewater region.
A. Tallwood High School Global Studies
and World Languages Academy Year-Two Evaluation: Dr.
B. Interim Financial Statements – September 2007: The Board received for information the September 2007 interim financial statements and Mr. A. Samuel Cohen, Director of Business Services, responded to questions.
Ms. Davis advised she attended the October 10 Governor’s School for the Arts meeting where the executive director reported the school was fully staffed for the 345 students enrolled for the upcoming school year – 152 from Virginia Beach. He further advised that space and facilities continues to be a problem and discussion of the Capital Improvement Program between the Governor’s School and Old Dominion University personnel resulted in a possible request for school districts to share the cost. Ms. Davis noted one of the Superintendents in attendance raised the question of the General Assembly allocating funds to provide capital improvements for the Governor’s School since they are the ones who created the schools. Additionally, it was suggested districts consider including in their legislative packets a request to change existing language that would provide for funding on a limited basis such as one time funding or limited funding. She then announced the Gala Benefit to be held May 17, 2008 at the Virginia Beach Pavilion in celebration of the school being in operation for 20 years.
Mr. Lowe reported the Modernization Committee met earlier in the day and is continuing to develop the school division’s presentation to City Council.
Ms. Weems advised minutes for the October 10 SECEP meeting is available upon request. She also announced SECEP’s annual pansy sale on Friday, October 19, and noted the next SECEP meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2008.
Ms. Smith-Jones
presented a conference report on the National African American School Board
Members Association 7th Annual “Closing the Achievement Gap”
Ms. Edmonson reported on the VSBA Leadership Conference “A Closer Look at Taxing Authority.”
The Board recessed at 7:38 p.m. to reconvene in Room 113 in workshop
format at 7:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Approved: