FREDERICKSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Fredericksburg, Virginia

Transcription

1 FREDERICKSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Fredericksburg, Virginia A regular meeting of the Fredericksburg City School Board was held at 6:30 p.m. on March 7, 2011 in City Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street. Board members present were: Mrs. Patricia B. Green, Chairman Rev. Jarvis E. Bailey, Vice-Chairman Ms. Jannan W. Holmes Ms. Malvina Rollins Kay * Mrs. Barbara A. Miller-Richards Absent: Others Present: Mr. Michael J. Gillenwater Dr. David G. Melton, Division Superintendent Mr. G. David Baker, Jr., Deputy Clerk of the Board The meeting was called to order at 6:29 p.m. by the Chairman. * Ms. Kay arrived during closed session : BOARD CONVENES INTO CLOSED SESSION: RECONVENES INTO OPEN SESSION. A recommendation was made by the Superintendent that the Board convene into closed session under FIA (A), Section 1 - Personnel (discussion regarding employee credentials/salaries/contracts) and Section 3 Real Property (discussion regarding use of public school property). A motion to approve the Superintendent s recommendation was made by Rev. Bailey, seconded by Ms. Holmes, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote. The Board convened in closed session at 6:30 p.m. On a motion by Rev. Bailey, seconded by Ms. Kay, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:38 p.m. and approved Certificate of Closed Meeting No which involves a statement concerning items discussed in closed session. A copy of Certificate of Closed Meeting No is attached to the minutes : APPROVAL OF AGENDA. The Chairman called for a motion to approve the agenda. A motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Ms. Kay, seconded by Mrs. Miller- Richards, and unanimously approved by the Board : APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 7, 2011 REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. Minutes of the February 7, 2011 Regular School Board Meeting were presented for approval. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Ms. Miller-Richards, seconded by Mr. Bailey, and unanimously approved by the Board : RECOGNITIONS. As part of the school division s character education program, Mr. Matthew Terry, Assistant Principal at Walker-Grant Middle School, introduced Mr. Joseph Moore, Art Teacher. Mr. Moore introduced art students, Kaitlyn Hagen, Angel Soto Pellot, Megan Lam, Greg Hinds, and Maxine Myles who presented the Word of the Month for March Perseverance. Mrs. Marjorie Tankersley, Principal of Hugh Mercer Elementary School, introduced the following students who were recognized as school and/or district level winners in the PTA Reflections Contest:

2 Musical Composition Delia Rabatin Visual Arts Kameryn Daniels (not present) Madison Haug-Lloyd (not present) First Place School and District Level First Place School Level School Level Mrs. Tankersley also introduced winners of the Black History Art/Essay Contest: Erick Marte Katie Fidler Jennifer Ordonez (not present) Rebecka Rabe Sofia Shewfelt (not present) First Place Mr. Jonathan Russ, Principal of Lafayette Upper Elementary School, recognized the following grade level winners in the Black History Essay Contest: Emily Kabza Will Bowles Jalynn Thompson Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Mr. Matthew Terry, Assistant Principal at Walker-Grant Middle School, served as Coordinator of the Division-wide Spelling Bee. Mr. Terry recognized the following top spellers for the Spelling Bee: Third Grade Suzette Rea (not present) Myraim Arbid Fourth Grade Lila Cobey William Rowe (not present) Fifth Grade Margaret Walsh (not present) Isaiah Wilson Sixth Grade Tevion Morake (not present) Carter Boyd Seventh Grade John Leahy Hannah Rock Eighth Grade Yanni Fallon (not present) Ian Ismail (not present) Nye Lott (not present) Hannah Sky Wilson (not present) Grade Level and Division

3 Mr. Terry then recognized the following students who participated in the All-District Choir: Hannah Rock Summer Dunwoody (not present) Markeith Deas (not present) Tyler Morgan (not present) Alexa McNeil Temple Wyatt Percy Burt (not present) Mr. Terry also announced that the Bragg Hill Family Life Center held a poster contest in conjunction with their Bridging the Dream event in celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. The winners were chosen by popular vote of attendees at the event, and first place went to the following Walker-Grant student: Wittney Vite : PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED SCHOOL DIVISION OPERATING BUDGET. The Chairman opened the public hearing portion of the meeting for comments on the proposed school division operating budget. There being no citizens who wished to comment concerning the proposed budget, the Chairman declared the public hearing closed : HEARING OF CITIZENS. The following citizens expressed a desire to address the Board: Dr. Thomas Tomzak Dr. Tomzak was unable to attend the meeting to discuss the topic of the Confederate Veterans Monument. Col. Michael Landree Col. Landree addressed the Board concerning the monument to Confederal veterans which is located near Maury Field and Maury Commons on Barton Street. As background information, Col. Landree stated that in 1861 land had been set aside for the burial of soldiers and African American citizens. Since that time, graves of some African Americans have been moved. However, there are still 51 Confederate soldiers buried under a parking lot in addition to some African Americans. In 2007, the Sons of Confederate Veterans placed a monument to the Confederate soldiers on the site and worked with members of the African American community to put a marker at Liberty Town. Col. Landree commented that due to various issues, the City has voted to remove the Confederate monument from its current site. Pending litigation will finalize this matter. Col. Landree asked the School Board to set aside a sliver of land for relocation of the Confederate monument and for a monument to the African Americans who are buried there : CONSENT AGENDA. The following item was included on the consent agenda: VSBA Northeastern Regional Officers Nomination A recommendation was made that the School Board approve the nomination of Jarvis Bailey to serve as Vice-Chairman of the VSBA Northeastern Region. The Superintendent recommended approval of the consent agenda item. A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Mrs. Miller-Richards, seconded by Ms. Kay, and unanimously approved by the Board. A copy of the consent agenda item is attached to the minutes.

4 : PERSONNEL MATTERS. The Superintendent recommended approval of the personnel list as presented. A motion to approve the Superintendent s recommendation was made by Mrs. Miller-Richards, seconded by Ms. Holmes, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote. A copy of the personnel list is attached to the minutes : APPROVAL/ADOPTION OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION OPERATING AND SPECIAL REVENUE (GRANTS) BUDGET(S) FOR AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN AND BUDGETS FOR The Superintendent informed the Board that state revenue figures had been received and a savings of $400,000 was possible for health insurance and retirement contributions. The budget proposal was updated to reflect new information. Based on the new information, the request for City funding has been reduced to $968,646. Therefore, the Superintendent recommended approval of the Operating Budget in the amount of $32,758,412 and the Special Grants Budgets in the amount of $5,167,627 along with the Capital Improvements Plan and Budgets for and that the budgets be forwarded to City Council. A motion to approve the Superintendent s recommendation was made by Mrs. Miller- Richards and seconded by Ms. Holmes. Ms. Kay then recognized Dr. Melton and his staff for the hard work in developing the budget but stated that she would not be able to support the budget because it included the Capital Improvements Plan. Ms. Kay objects to the planned mobile classrooms for Hugh Mercer Elementary School which are included in the Capital Improvements Plan. Dr. Melton noted that the Board could vote separately on the Capital Improvements Plan with an amended motion. Mrs. Miller-Richards then amended her motion to state that the Board approve the Operating Budget and Special Grants budgets. The amended motion was seconded by Ms. Holmes and unanimously approved. Mrs. Miller-Richards then proceeded with a second amended motion to approve the Capital Improvements Plan for The motion was seconded by Ms. Holmes and approved by a 4-1 vote. (Ms. Kay voted no.) Mrs. Miller-Richards reiterated the Board s appreciation for the hard work of developing the budget and for Ms. Kay s reminder of the importance of looking for extra space at Hugh Mercer. Copies of the approved budgets and the Capital Improvements Plan are attached to the minutes : INSTRUCTIONAL PRESENTATION JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS PROGRAM. James Monroe High School teacher Patrick Foley along with team mentors and team members provided an overview of the James Monroebotics program. The mission of James Monroebotics is to inspire and motivate young people to pursue math, science and technology related careers in a fun, creative and competitive environment and through a partnership among students, teachers, engineers and adult mentors. Team members develop skills in computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering and teamwork that extends learning beyond the classroom. James Monroe s program is under the larger FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program. A video presentation summarized the locomotion challenge this year in which students were given six weeks to construct their robot. Community representatives and scientists from the Naval Surface Warfare Center work with students in this program. Mr. Foley noted some of the accomplishments of the students which can be attributed to their participation in the program : FINANCIAL REPORT. Mr. David Baker, Chief Financial Officer, provided an update on the school system s financial status through the month of January Mr. Baker noted that the budget has been revised to include state stabilization funds of about $338,000. Mr. Baker also outlined upcoming changes in the costs for energy management and for the rate structure for energy costs. The fund balance from the previous year should be posted to appear on the February budget status report.

5 : OLD BUSINESS. The following items of old business were addressed: Work Session with City Council School Board members were reminded that a work session with City Council is scheduled for March 29, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. The budget work session will be held at City Hall. Next Regular School Board Meeting - The next regular School Board meeting will be held on April 4, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall : GOOD OF THE ORDER. The following comments were made under Good of the Order: Ms. Holmes thanked Walker-Grant for the day of activities in honor of School Board Appreciation Month. Ms. Holmes enjoyed the presentations and instruction during the day. Ms. Holmes also thanked first graders at Hugh Mercer for the Around the World Dance concert. Ms. Holmes congratulated participants in the Odyssey of the Mind competition which was hosted at James Monroe High School recently. Ms. Kay expressed appreciation to Hugh Mercer for the presentation honoring her mother, Marie Rollins, during Black History Month. Ms. Kay also toured the elementary school and witnessed some of the great things being done there. Rev. Bailey thanked James Monroe High School for his School Board Appreciation Day. Mrs. Green expressed appreciation to Ms. Diane Struebel for filling in for School Board Clerk Debbie Wright at the meeting. Mrs. Green thanked everyone for making Fredericksburg City Public Schools a wonderful system. Mrs. Miller-Richards thanked Mr. Russ and his staff at Lafayette for a great visit. They are doing wonderful things there even amidst some large class sizes. Rev. Bailey mentioned conversations with the President of the University of Mary Washington and the Dean of the College of Education. They have discussed the long standing relationship with Fredericksburg City Public Schools. College officials are excited about the possibilities of more formal relationships with the school systems : ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business to conduct at this regular meeting of the Fredericksburg City School Board for March 7, 2011, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m. on a motion by Ms. Holmes, seconded by Rev. Bailey, and unanimously approved. Patricia B. Green, Chairman Fredericksburg City School Board G. David Baker, Jr. Deputy Clerk of the Board

6 MOTION: Rev. Bailey SECOND: Ms. Kay CERTIFICATE OF CLOSED MEETING WHEREAS, the Fredericksburg City School Board has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and WHEREAS, Section (A) of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this School Board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fredericksburg City School Board hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered. VOTE: AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1 (Mr. Gillenwater) Deputy Clerk of Fredericksburg City School Board March 7, 2011 Meeting Date