October 20, 2009
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Mr. Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, 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 |
Ms. Rita S. Bellitto, Vice Chairman |
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Dr. James G. Merrill, Superintendent |
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1.
Convene School Board Informal Meeting: Chairman Edwards convened the Board in the
einstein.lab at 4:02 p.m. All Board
members were present with the exception of Vice Chairman Bellitto who was
absent due to illness. Chairman Edwards
announced the scheduled Grading Scale workshop was being postponed due to one
of the primary presenters being absent.
Ms. Weems commented she and Vice Chairman Bellitto had provided to the
Board two different proposals on October 6, and invited individual Board
members to submit other proposals. She
explained the intent of the scheduled workshop was for the Board to determine
how they wish to proceed and emphasized the need for the Board to seek public
input
2.
Closed Meeting:
Real Property: Ms. Davis made a
motion, seconded by Mr. Lowe, that the Board adopt a motion to recess into a
closed meeting pursuant to the exceptions from open meetings allowed by Section
2.2-3711, Part A, Paragraph 3, of the Code
of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the following purpose:
Acquisition of Real Property:
Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property
for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held property where
discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining, position,
or negotiating strategy of the public body, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711, (A)
(3); namely to discuss: disposition
of school property as a result of proposed improvements to the Princess Anne
Road/Kempsville Road interchange.
The
motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0) and the Board entered into a closed
meeting at 4:06 p.m.
Individuals
present for discussion: Board members
with the exception of Vice Chairman Bellitto who was absent from the meeting;
Superintendent Merrill; Dr. Sheila S. Magula, Deputy Superintendent; Mr.
Anthony L. Arnold, P.E., Director of Facilities Planning and Construction; Ms.
Kamala H. Lannetti, Deputy City Attorney; and Ms. Dianne P. Alexander, Clerk of
the Board.
The Board reconvened in an open
meeting at 4:14 p.m.
Certification of Closed Meeting: Ms. Davis 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).
3.
Workshop:
A.
Gifted Program Delivery:
Dr. Kelly A. Hedrick, Director of Gifted Education, presented an
overview of the K-12 continuum of gifted education services in the division. She provided a research summary on best
practices in programs for gifted learners and an analysis of the programmatic
impact of each of the facilities options for Old Donation Center and Kemps
Landing Magnet school presented during the September 1, 2009 School Board
workshop. Following Board discussion,
Chairman Edwards suggested a process be developed to provide for further Board
discussion and to allow for input regarding program structure, delivery models,
program capacity, and facilities.
Discussion concluded at 5:23 p.m.
B.
Gifted Community Advisory Committee Discussion on
Recommendations: Mr. Hugh Green, Chair of the Gifted Community
Advisory Committee, along with five other committee members, engaged in
discussion with the Board regarding gifted services and recommendations. Discussion concluded at 5:47 p.m. and the
Board recessed to Room 113 for a brief reception with committee members.
4.
Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on Non-Agenda Items: None
5.
Formal Meeting Call to Order and Electronic Roll Call: Chairman Edwards called the formal meeting to
order at 6:13 p.m. All Board members
were present with the exception of Vice Chairman Bellitto who Chairman Edwards
announced was absent due to illness.
6.
Student, Employee and Public Awards and Recognition
A.
2009 Virginia Association for the Deaf Job Turner Award: The Board recognized Barbara Bullock-Smith,
from Corporate Landing Elementary School, as the recipient of the 2009 Job
Turner Award for excellence in teaching deaf students.
B.
2009 VHSL Hall of Fame Inductees: The Board recognized Bruce Phelps, Student Activities
Coordinator, and Kevin Denson, Kempsville High School soccer coach, for being
named to the 2009 Virginia High School Hall of Fame by the Virginia High School
League (VHSL); an honor bestowed upon exceptional individuals for their
meritorious contributions to high school activity programs.
C.
Virginia Outstanding Career and Technical Educator of the
Year: The Board recognized Dr. Daniel Smith,
Coordinator of Trade and Industrial Education in the Office of Technical and
Career Education, as recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Career and Technical
Educator of the Year Award.
D.
2009 VHSL Wachovia Cup Recipient: The Board recognized Frank W. Cox High School
for receiving the 2008-09 VHSL Wachovia Cup award. The school celebrates a state record eleventh
VHSL Wachovia Cup awarded to the school in each group classification that has
achieved the best overall record in state competition in 27 different sports.
Cox student-athletes scored a total of 360 points, winning state titles in
field hockey and boys soccer, as well as scoring points in boys volleyball,
girls volleyball, golf, girls soccer, girls tennis and wrestling.
E.
Outstanding Attendance – September 2009: The School Board recognized the following
schools for having the highest percent of student attendance for the month of September
2009: Fairfield Elementary School with 98.49
percent, Kemps Landing Magnet School with 98.31 percent, and Ocean Lakes High
School with 97.40 percent.
7.
Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
8.
Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent
Merrill provided a progress report on the division’s strategic plan, Compass to 2015, with a concentration on
work related to Strategic Objective 2 which calls for the implementation of a
balanced assessment system that accurately reflects student mastery of 21st
century skills. He reported on
activities within individual schools that support the objectives, as well as assessments,
and presentations. Also reported were
other school events that occurred over the past month to include the Teacher
Forum Leadership Council National Speaker Series featuring Dr. Tim Tyson, the
Teachers of the Year citywide dinner, implementation of the Beach Bags program to provide food
supplies for select students through a collaborative effort between the Office
of School Social Work Services and Parent Connection with the Foodbank of
Southeastern Virginia, Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow “Read for the Record”
program, and award of supplies by OfficeMax to teachers at five elementary
schools who were nominated and selected for their exemplified passion,
dedication, and innovation in the classroom.
Finally, Superintendent Merrill recognized individual Board members on
behalf of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) to acknowledge their
participation in the VSBA School Board Academy.
9.
Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on Agenda Items: None
10.
Approval of Minutes:
A.
October 6, 2009 Regular Meeting: Ms. Davis made a motion, seconded by Ms.
Edmonson, that the Board approve the minutes of their October 6, 2009 regular
meeting as presented. The motion was
approved (ayes 7, nays 0, 3 abstentions – Davidson, Edwards and Lowe who were
absent from the October 6 meeting).
11.
Adoption of the Agenda:
Prior
to a motion, Chairman Edwards announced two adjustments to the published agenda
to move Information Item 14B – Disposition of Old Kemps Landing Property to
Action Item 13A; and to delete and postpone Workshop Item 19A – Grading Scale
to the next regular meeting. Ms.
Smith-Jones then made a motion, seconded by Mr. Davidson, that the Board adopt
the agenda as amended. The motion was approved
(ayes 10, nays 0).
12.
Consent Agenda: Mr. Lowe made a
motion, seconded by Ms. Edmonson, that the Board approve the Consent
Agenda. The motion was approved (ayes
10, nays 0) and the following items adopted as part of the Consent Agenda:
A.
Budget
Calendar FY2009-10 as follows:
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BUDGET CALENDAR BIENNIAL OPERATING BUDGET FY2010/11 – FY2011/12 FY2010/11 – FY2015/16 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) |
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October 6, 2009 |
Biennial Operating Budget FY2010/11 –
FY2011/12 and FY2010/11 – FY2015/16 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget
Calendar sent to School Board for information |
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October 7, 2009 |
Budget Orientation Workshop conducted;
Operating Budget request forms and instructions are distributed to budget
managers and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) request forms are sent to
schools and offices |
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October 20, 2009 – December 4, 2009 |
Budget Office receives Operating Budget
requests from budget managers |
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October 30, 2009 |
Deadline for Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) information from schools and offices |
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November 3, 2009 |
Five-Year Forecast presented to
Superintendent and Cabinet Members (pending receipt of revenue estimates from
city budget staff) |
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November 4, 2009 |
Public Hearing conducted on the Biennial
Operating Budget FY2010/11 – FY2011/12 and the FY2010/11 – FY2015/16 Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) in the School Board Room |
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November 17, 2009 |
Five-Year Forecast presented to School Board
and City Council |
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December 4, 2009 |
Human Resources submits recommended
part-time hourly rate increases to the Budget Office |
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December 11, 2009 |
Draft Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
prepared for the Superintendent’s review |
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December 2009 (3rd week) |
Budget Office receives State Revenue
estimates from the Department of Education (DOE) |
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January 5-12, 2010 |
Budget Office reviews, refines, and
summarizes Operating Budget requests |
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January 12, 2010 |
Presentation of Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) to Superintendent and Cabinet Members |
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January 19, 2010 |
Presentation of recommended Operating
Budget to Superintendent and Cabinet Members |
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January 19, 2010 |
Presentation of the Superintendent’s
Proposed FY2010/11 – FY2015/16 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the
School Board in the School Board Room |
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February 2, 2010 |
Presentation of the Biennial FY2010/11 –
FY2011/12 Superintendent’s Estimate of Needs to the School Board, in the
School Board Room (note: depending on
having budget information from State Legislature) |
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February 9, 2010 |
Workshop #1, 6-9 P.M. School Board Budget
Workshop |
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February 16, 2010 |
Workshop #2, 2-5 P.M. School Board Budget
Workshop |
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February 16, 2010 |
Public Hearing conducted on the Biennial
FY2010/11 – FY2011/12 Superintendent’s Estimate of Needs and the FY2010/11 –
FY2015/16 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) (Sec. 22.1-92) |
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February 23, 2010 |
Workshop #3, 6-9 P.M. School Board Budget
Workshop |
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March 2, 2010 |
Workshop #4, (if needed), 2-5 P.M. School
Board Budget Workshop |
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March 2, 2010 |
School Board Biennial Operating Budget
FY2010/11 – FY2011/12 and FY2010/11 – FY2015/16 Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) adoption held in the School Board Room |
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April 2010 TBD |
Present School Board Approved Biennial
Operating Budget FY2010/11 – FY2011/12 and the Approved FY2010/11 – FY2015/16
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to City Council |
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NLT May 15, 2010 |
Operating Budget and CIP approved and adopted
by City Council (Sec. 22.1-93; 22.1-94;
22.1-115) |
B.
Religious
Exemption Case Numbers RE-09-06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12
C.
Local
Assessment Program: Evaluation Readiness
Report Update recommendation to conduct the initial program implementation evaluation
of the Local Assessment Program during the 2010/11 school year.
D.
Monthly
Attendance Report – September 2009
E.
Appointments,
Resignations and Retirements as presented on the Personnel Report dated October
20, 2009
13.
Action:
A.
Disposition of Old Kemps Landing Property: Mr. Anthony L. Arnold, P.E., Director of
Facilities Planning and Construction, presented a brief overview of Agreements
of Sale required as a result of the proposed improvements to the Princess Anne
Road/Kempsville Road interchange. He
explained, the city is in the real estate acquisition phase of the interchange
improvement project scheduled to start construction in summer of 2010, and the
Agreements of Sale are for the entire old Kemps Landing property, both the
building site and the ball fields, as well as the small strip of property along
the front of Kempsville Elementary School.
He advised the purchase price is just under $6 million and will be
returned to the school division’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). He noted the school has served well as swing
space currently being used to house the SECEP and CEL programs which will be permitted
to stay in the existing building through the latter part of February when they
are scheduled to move into the new Renaissance Academy. In response to an inquiry, he confirmed
proceeds from the sale could be used to cover shortfalls in PAYGO funds for the
next fiscal year. Ms. Davis then made a
motion, seconded by Mr. Brunke, that the Board authorize the Chairman to
execute the three Agreements of Sale required as a result of the proposed
improvements to the Princess Anne Road/Kempsville Road interchange. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0).
14.
Information:
A.
Tallwood High School Global Studies and World Languages
Academy Full Implementation Evaluation: Dr.
Jared A. Cotton, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Evaluation and
Assessment, provided background for the full implementation evaluation conducted
during the 2008-09 school year and introduced Dr. Hope E. White, Program
Evaluation Specialist, who presented information related to student enrollment,
progress made toward achieving the program’s goals and objectives, and
recommendations regarding the continuation of the academy beyond June 2010. As a result of the information gathered for
the full implementation evaluation of the academy, Dr. White reported the
overall recommendation is to continue the Global Studies and World Languages
Academy at Tallwood High School without modifications, but with continuous
improvement focus areas to include efforts to improve student enrollment,
implement efforts to encourage enrollment into the dual enrollment courses,
strengthen and expand local partnerships, and ensure the process for the senior
project is organized and provides guidance regarding the purpose of the project
as well as its usefulness. Dr. Cotton
reported based on the information provided, the administration supports the
recommendation as proposed. Following
responses to Board inquiries, at the Chairman’s request, an announcement and
overview of the Annual Academy and Advanced Academic Program information night
and related activities scheduled for October 22 was presented.
C. School Board Standing Rules Revised
for Invocation Guidelines Brochure Update:
Chairman Edwards presented the proposed revision to the School Board
Bylaws, Appendix B – Standing Rules, Paragraph B, to replace the document
provided to clergy delivering the invocation at regular Board meetings with a
publication entitled “Guiding Principals for Inclusive Public Prayer” developed
by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities recommended by the division’s
Director of Equity Affairs, Dr. Esther Monclova-Johnson, as a suitable
replacement for the current publication by an entity that has discontinued or
is no longer active. He explained the
Board adopted the current process in schedule and method for invocations in
November 1999 with adjustments made due to threatened litigation regarding the
Board’s ability to sustain utilizing an invocation to start regular School
Board meetings. He noted part of the
process was a request that the clergy be provided a copy of guidelines for the
delivery of a non-sectarian invocation.
D. Interim Financial Statements –
September 2009: Mr. A. Samuel Cohen,
Director of Business Services, reported as of September 30, the expenditure and
revenue trends overall appear acceptable.
He explained Pupil Transportation was appearing unfavorable due to a
$2.5 million carryover encumbrance which distorts the actual-to-budget
percentage and in reality is acceptable.
He noted the basic school aid formula based on the school division’s
composite index will make up $3.2 million of the projected $7.6 million
decrease from the current budget for sales tax by the Commonwealth of Virginia. He further noted although the Commonwealth’s revenue
source is projected to break even based on March 31 ADM at this time, the
arrival of a new governor could change that projection. Finally, he presented a supplement to the
financial statements representing the Federal ARRA/SFSF Program expenditures to
date which will be provided as part of the interim financial statements in the
future.
15.
Committee Reports: Ms. Weems reported she attended the Special
Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) meeting and reiterated upcoming events and
activities originally announced October 6.
Ms.
Smith-Jones stated she attended the CUBE Annual Conference in Austin, TX, and
briefly summarized the workshops and presentations offered noting information
provided during the conference could be accessed by Board members online at the
CUBE website. She thanked the Chairman
and Superintendent for their participation in a DVD prepared by Media and
Communications Development for presentation at the conference regarding School
Board leadership.
Prior
to a recess, Chairman Edwards restated the workshop on the grading scale was
postponed due to the illness of one of the two co-presenters, and referred
guests who may have been in attendance for that discussion to Ms. Weems.
The
Board recessed at 7:22 p.m. and reconvened in workshop format in the
einstein.lab at 7:30 p.m.
16.
Closed Meeting (as
needed): None
17.
Vote on Remaining Action Items: None
18.
Workshop: (einstein.lab)
A.
Grading Scale:
Postponed due to the illness of one of the two co-presenters.
B.
Board Training on Paperless Processes: The School Board participated in a training
session on laptops provided for implementation of a paperless process for Board
materials.
19.
Adjournment: There being no
further business before the Board, Chairman Edwards adjourned the meeting at 8:18
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Dianne
P. Alexander, Clerk of the Board
Approved:
Daniel
D. Edwards, Chairman