Ms. Sheri H. Bailey, Mr. James E. Bridgeford, Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, Mrs. Elizabeth Hudgins, Mr. Byron P. Kloeppel, Mr. B. Keith Nance, Sr.

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1 The Portsmouth City School Board Portsmouth, Virginia Minutes The members of the Portsmouth City School Board held their informal session on Thursday, October 20, 2005, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room, which is located in the City Hall Building, 801 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia. The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. The following Board members were present: Ms. Sheri H. Bailey, Mr. James E. Bridgeford, Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, Mrs. Elizabeth N. Hudgins, Mr. Byron P. Kloeppel, Mr. B. Keith Nance, Sr., Mrs. Linda D. Ridenour, Mrs. Jean H. Shackelford, Dr. Mark M. Whitaker. The members of the Portsmouth City School Board held their regular meeting on Thursday, October 20, 2005, in the City Council Chamber, which is located in the City Hall Building, 801 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia. Call to Order Mr. Byron P. Kloeppel, School Board Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Mrs. Kathy L. Chambliss, the Clerk, recorded the proceedings of the meeting. Mathew J. Stanek, a sixth-grader at John Tyler Elementary School led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Melissa J. Cintron, also a sixth-grader, offered a statement. Mrs. Shackelford presented each student with a pin as a token of the Board s appreciation for their participation in the meeting. The board and the audience paused for a moment of silence. Roll Call The following Board members were present: Ms. Sheri H. Bailey, Mr. James E. Bridgeford, Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, Mrs. Elizabeth N. Hudgins, Mr. Byron P. Kloeppel, Mr. B. Keith Nance, Sr., Mrs. Linda D. Ridenour, Mrs. Jean H. Shackelford, and Dr. Mark M. Whitaker. The following members of the professional staff were also in attendance: Dr. David C. Stuckwisch, Superintendent, Dr. Patricia H. Fisher, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Mr. Dan Pendarvis, Assistant Superintendent for Budget and Planning, Mr. Joseph L. Wiggins, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, Dr. Margaret R. Buxton, Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Nita R. Mensia, Director of Operations, and Mr. George M. Willson, School Board Attorney/Deputy City Attorney. Approval of the Agenda Mrs. Shackelford moved for the approval of the agenda for the October 20, 2005 board meeting, as amended (Add Funding of First College and a Discussion of School Board Prayer under New Business). The motion carried by common consent.

2 Board Minutes October 20, 2005 Page 2 of 5 Recognition Dr. Stuckwisch recognized Dominion for their educational partnership formed with Stephen H. Clarke Academy. In appreciation of their continuing investment in children, representatives of Dominion, Chuck Penn, Vernon Morris, Lizzie Lawrence and Mike Ellis were presented with the Distinguished School Partnership Award. Dr. Stuckwisch also acknowledged Mr. Junius Williams, a tremendous contributor to the school system. Dr. Stuckwisch recognized Kenneth Wright of Wright s Engineering/M&S Marine for the educational partnership formed with Hodges Manor Elementary School. In appreciation of his continuing investment in children, Dr. Stuckwisch presented Mr. Wright with the Distinguished School Partnership Award. VSBA Academy Awards Dr. Stuckwisch presented awards to the following board members for their participation in various staff development activities provided by the Virginia School Boards Association during the school year. Dr. Stuckwisch received an Award of Achievement. Ms. Sheri H. Bailey, Award of Achievement Mr. James E. Bridgeford, Certificate of Recognition Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, Award of Distinction Mrs. Elizabeth Hudgins, Award of Achievement Mr. Byron P. Kloeppel, Award of Honor Mr. B. Keith Nance, Sr., Certificate of Recognition Mrs. Linda Ridenour, Award of Excellence Mrs. Jean Shackelford, Award of Distinction Minutes Mr. Bridgeford moved to approve the minutes for the Special Meeting/ Public Work Session held on Thursday, September 1, 2005 and the Regular Monthly Meeting held on Thursday, September 15, The motion carried by common consent. Music And Art Program Grant Ms. Nancy Perry of the Portsmouth Museums offered a detailed report on the After- School Music and Art Program Grant. Ms. Perry reported that it is an after school Visual and Performing Arts program between Portsmouth Museums and Portsmouth Public Schools. She reported that the program is being funded through a grant by the U. S. Department of Education. The grant is $114, over a two-year period. The program titled Smart Art is located at Brighton Elementary and Churchland Primary and Intermediate Schools. There are twenty fifth and sixth-grade students from each school. The first semester will be held at the Courthouse Galleries in the new art room and the second semester will be held in the schools. The overall goal is to provide cultural opportunities for students who are not normally exposed to the performing and visual arts, and to provide opportunities for family interaction and involvement, and to develop communications skills in their educational and personal lives.

3 Board Minutes October 20, 2005 Page 3 of 5 Monthly Report Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Fisher offered a report on the following: 1) instructional initiatives, 2) school and staff recognitions, and 3) grant awards. Dr. Fisher also provided information on the middleschool reorganization and a calendar for the month of November. School Health Advisory Board Members Mrs. Hudgins moved to approve the appointment/reappointment of School Health Advisory Board members. The motion carried by common consent. Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Mrs. Hudgins moved to approve the appointment/reappointment of members to the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). The motion carried by common consent. Monthly Report Human Resources Dr. Buxton offered a report on the following: 1) study classes for paraprofessionals, 2) the PARAPRO examination scheduled for November 19, 2005, 3) a meeting held October 4, 2005 at Woodrow Wilson for paraprofessionals identified as not highly qualified, 4) a licensure conference held on October 17, 2005, 5) the Teacher of the Year Banquet scheduled for Thursday, March 30, 2006, 6) compensation study, and 7)) early commitment contracts and recruitment efforts. Human Resources Report For October 2005 Dr. Daniels moved for the approval of the Human Resources Report and the addendum for October The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Monthly Report Budget and Finance Mr. Pendarvis provided an update of items underway in the offices of Information Technology, Operations and Finance. Hunt-Mapp Transfer Mr. Pendarvis recognized Julie Poulin, Supply Supervisor, and Lee Stroud, Zoning Administrator, for their assistance in the closing of Hunt-Mapp Middle School. Mr. Pendarvis presented Ms. Poulin and Mr. Stroud with a Certificate of Appreciation. (Mr. Stroud was on vacation). Mr. Bridgeford moved to approve a resolution regarding the transfer of the Hunt-Mapp middle school property to the City of Portsmouth. The motion carried by a roll-call vote of eight yes votes (Ms. Bailey, Mr. Bridgeford, Dr. Daniels, Mrs. Hudgins, Mr. Kloeppel, Mrs. Ridenour, Mrs. Shackelford, and Dr. Whitaker) to one no vote (Mr. Nance). Technology Resolution Mrs. Shackelford requested that the word district in the resolution be changed to division in the notes and in the motion. It was so noted that the resolution itself was correct.

4 Board Minutes October 20, 2005 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Nance moved to approve a resolution to reimburse expenditures made by the school district in support of the SOL Web-based technology initiative from funds provided by the Virginia Public School Authority Educational Technology notes. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Financial Report For September 2005 Mr. Nance moved for the approval of the Financial Report for September The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Superintendent s Report Dr. Stuckwisch s report included the following: 1) provided copies of the Staff Directory to Board members, 2) development of the School Board Operating Budget, 3) the district-wide staff development meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 8:30 a.m., 4) announced that the Superintendent would attend the Virginia Association of School Superintendents Annual Legislative Conference on October 26-27, 2005 in Lynchburg, Virginia, 5) shared an article on First College that will appear in the TCC Chronicle, 6) new initiatives taking place at Channel 47, 7) the Brighton cameo slot produced by the Virginia Lottery, and 7) the current status of the division s new Web site. Time Change For Special Meetings And Work Sessions Mrs. Hudgins moved to amend the time for Special Meetings and Work Sessions during the School Year (The First Meeting of Each Month). The motion carried by common consent. Board Member s Reports Mrs. Ridenour (NSBA, CUBE s 37 th Annual Conference) Mrs. Shackelford (VSBA, Leadership Conference) (Federal Legislation/Hurricane Relief Fund Vouchers) Mrs. Hudgins (Regional Board Meeting for the Governor s School for the Arts) New Business Mrs. Shackelford moved that the School Board authorize the Superintendent to pay from school funds one-half of the tuition costs for Portsmouth Public Schools students enrolled in the First College Program during FY The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Mrs. Hudgins requested that the following words be read into the minutes concerning the vote on a Moment of Silence since she was unable to attend the work session: First: When I left the last regular meeting of the school board, September 15, 2005, I was under the impression that we had postponed the vote on a Moment of Silence vs. Prayer at meetings until this regular meeting and I feel it is unfortunate that it was dealt with at a work session, where only seven of the nine members were present.

5 Board Minutes October 20, 2005 Page 5 of 5 Second: I would like to read from Kerry Daugherty s column because it reflects my feelings exactly...the board has voted 5-2 to abandon an opening prayer. This is part of a disturbing trend. Around the country, timid elected officials have allowed themselves to be cowed by non-believers, crazy federal judges and others who won t rest until it s socially unacceptable- or illegal- to whisper the word GOD in public. Third: There is no reference to the so called separation of church and state anywhere in the Constitution. The first amendment explicitly states: Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof thus protecting, not prohibiting prayer. As I mentioned last time we had this discussion, Congress opens each session with a prayer, the Legislature opens each session with a prayer, and our City Council opens each session with a prayer. There is absolutely nothing illegal or immoral about praying. And last: As far as prayer is concerned, in my opinion, if you don t defend that in which you believe then your beliefs may not be worth defending. Public Comment Mr. Thomas Wood, 29 Century Drive, Portsmouth, VA Mrs. Kathy Hood, 107 Elmhurst Court, Portsmouth, VA Miss Danielle Fisher, 1504 David Lane, Portsmouth, VA Mrs. Reena Mulder, 605 McLean Street, Portsmouth, VA Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Byron P. Kloeppel, Chairman Kathy L. Chambliss, Clerk November 10, 2005 Date of Adoption by the Board