The Board of Education, Regular Meeting March 19, 2012

Transcription

1 The Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Lakewood, County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, met in regular session in the Roosevelt Elementary School Gymnasium, Athens Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, 7:05 p.m. Board President Shaughnessy asked for a motion to appoint a Treasurer Pro Tempore in the absence of the Treasurer. TREASURER PRO TEMPORE Mrs. Shaughnessy moved and Mr. Favre seconded the motion to appoint Mr. Einhouse as Treasurer Pro Tempore. Mrs. Shaughnessy called upon the Treasurer Pro Tempore to call the role. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Mrs. Shaughnessy Mr. Favre Ms. Petrie Barcelona Mrs. Beebe Mr. Einhouse None #42/12 ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mrs. Beebe moved and Mr. Favre seconded the motion that the Agenda for the Regular Board of Education Meeting Held on March 19, 2012, be approved. Mr. Favre - Yea

2 DISPOSITION OF MINUTES Board President Shaughnessy called for a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Board of Education Meeting Held on March 5, 2012 and the Special Board of Education Meeting Held on March 12. Ms. Petrie Barcelona moved and Mrs. Beebe seconded the motion to approve the minutes as published. Yeas: Nays: Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Beebe, Mr. Einhouse None REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS The Superintendent introduced Ms. Eileen Griffiths, Principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. Ms. Griffiths introduced Roosevelt second grade teacher Ms. Laura Strauss. Ms. Strauss provided the Board with a report on the use of netbooks in the second grade classrooms. Ms. Strauss and fellow second grade teacher Ms. Melissa Hare introduced the netbooks, made available through a grant, to students in their classrooms. Students used a number of programs to enhance academic learning in a variety of subjects. Ms. Strauss reported that students are highly engaged, have improved their technological vocabulary, learned keyboarding techniques, and have communicated how much they enjoy learning through netbooks. The Superintendent called on Mr. James Marras, Coordinator of Information & Technology, to report to the Board on Erate Funding. Mr. Marras explained that Erate Funding is a federal program funding technology to public schools and libraries. It is basically a rebate program on materials and services the District has purchased. At this meeting, the Board will be asked to approve renewals on four one-year contracts with companies that provide the District with Erate Funding dollars. The savings are significant. This ended the Superintendent s Report. COMMUNICATIONS. Board President Shaughnessy asked if there were any communications received by the Treasurer Pro Tempore, the Superintendent or members of the Board. Mr. Favre stated that recently there have been a number of discussions relating to what the District can do with new technology when the time comes to plan Phase III of the construction project. Green items have been mentioned, such as, geothermal, wind power, solar panels, and how those could be incorporated into the new construction. Mr. Favre suggested that the high school Fenn Academy engineering students might take on a research

3 project in advance of Phase III in which they could explore the use of these types of technologies for possible application in new construction. Mrs. Shaughnessy reported that she received many compliments regarding the Community Leaders Breakfast as well as for the teachers involved in the presentation at this event. Mrs. Beebe suggested that letters be placed in each of these teacher s personnel files thanking them for their contribution. Board President Shaughnessy asked if any members of the public would like to speak. Lou McMahan, Lake Avenue: Expressed concerns over the resignation of a high school baseball pitching coach, who also volunteered with the Recreation Department as a coordinator. Mr. McMahan referred to a number of issues that concerned the individual who resigned and hoped that the Board would investigate fully. Mrs. Shaughnessy read the following statement: The Board of Education engaged legal counsel to review your allegation that the current composition of the Recreation Commission poses a conflict of interest. Our legal counsel confirmed that the current structure and composition of the Recreation Commission does not pose any legal or ethical conflict of interest under Ohio law. Just to clarify for you and the community, the Recreation Commission members are not compensated in any way and do no influence or participate in employment decisions related to Recreation Department personnel. Kevin Roche, 1284 Lakeland Avenue: Expressed concerns about the Recreation Commissions, his requests for public documents, and other issues for which he sought responses. Mrs. Shaughnessy read the following statement. Mr. Roche, please understand that the majority of your questions relate to personnel matters and the Board will not discuss facts related to personnel matters in public session. However, on behalf of the Board, I am able to respond to certain parts of your issue. It is my understanding from the Superintendent that you made a number of public records requests related to matters that you had just mentioned. I also understand that the District has provided you with responses to each of your public records requests in a responsive and timely manner. In fact, within a matter of a few days, the District had provided you with over a thousand documents in response to your requests, including documentation of the fact that Mr. Favre abstained from voting on his daughter s hiring with the District in 2004, which is eight years ago. I also can respond to your issue by way of providing a brief explanation of the Board of Education s authority when it comes to employing personnel. Only the Board of Education may act to hire employees; no individual Board member has the authority or ability to hire District employees. The Board hires employees by a collective vote of its membership and does so in public session. Please understand that I cannot provide you with any further information related to a specific personnel matter due to employee privacy concerns.

4 CONSENT AGENDA Ms. Petrie Barcelona moved and Mr. Favre seconded the motion that the Consent Agenda items be approved. Mr. Favre - Yea

5 HUMAN RESOURCES I. Report of the Human Resources and Community Services Chairpersons: Mr. Favre, Mr. Einhouse 1. Certified Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Beebe seconded the motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Favre - Yea 2. Classified Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Beebe seconded the motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Favre - Yea 3. Community Recreation and Education Mrs. Beebe moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Favre - Abstain

6 4. Administrators Contracts Mr. Favre moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to approve the resolution on one reading. Mr. Favre - Yea

7 a. Resolution for Administrator Contract Nonrenewal Mrs. Beebe moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to approve the resolution on one reading. Mr. Favre - Abstain

8 OTHER BOARD BUSINESS 1. Classified - Resignation Mr. Favre moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion that the resolution be approved on one reading. Yeas: Nays: Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Beebe, Mr. Einhouse None

9 2. Items in Excess of $10,000 & Agreements of the Building, Sites and Major Purchases Committee Technology Service Providers for Erate Funding Mr. Favre moved and Mrs. Beebe seconded the motion that the resolution be approved on one reading. Yeas: Nays: Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Beebe, Mr. Einhouse None

10 3. OSBA Student Achievement Liaison Quarterly Report - There was no report at this time. 4. OSBA Legislative Liaison Quarterly Report - There was no report at this time. 5. New Board of Education Member Training Report Ms. Petrie Barcelona attended training for new Board members in January and reported on the topics covered over a two-day training program, among them were boardsmanship, communications, legal issues, and labor relations. In addition, Ms. Petrie Barcelona met with several other members and returned with several resources to share. Asked about the two biggest concerns expressed by those attending, Ms. Petrie Barcelona responded that an understanding of the Sunshine Law and public records requests topped the list. A third major concern was any pending legislation in Columbus. 6. Other There being no other business, Board President Shaughnessy called for a motion to recess to Executive Session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mrs. Beebe moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to move to one Executive Session for Consideration of the Appointment, Employment, Dismissal, Discipline, Promotion, Demotion or Compensation of a Public Employee Mrs. Shaughnessy - Yea Mr. Favre Yea Mrs. Petrie Barcelona Yea Mrs. Beebe Yea The Board recessed to Executive Session at 7:42 p.m. The Executive Session ended at 8:29 p.m. The Board returned to public session at 8:29 p.m. No action was taken. Board President Shaughnessy called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

11 ADJOURNMENT Mrs. Beebe moved and Ms. Petrie Barcelona seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. Yeas: Nays: Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Favre, Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Beebe, Mr. Einhouse None The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. Board President Treasurer Pro Tempore