PINE BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education Meeting. Minutes August 15, :00 p.m.

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1 Minutes August 15, :00 p.m. 1 Call to Order At 6:00 p.m. by Henry Dabner 2 Roll Call Members Present: Aaron Branscomb, Henry Dabner, Lakeisha Hill, Herman Horace, Harold Jackson, Andrea Roaf-Little, Gwendolyn Woods Members Absent: 3 4 Moment of Silence/ Pledge of Allegiance 5 Approval of Agenda Motion by Roaf-Little; seconded by Jackson; Vote: Yes-all 6 Approval of Minutes Motion by Jackson; seconded by Horace; Vote: Yes-all 7a Superintendent s Update Welcomed new board members Mr. Branscomb and Ms. Hill. Update on district s K-2 Assessment; district will stay with Renaissance Learning since the district is currently using this program; NWEA-Map Assessment (recommended by the ADE), Imagination Station, and Renaissance Learning. Asking board for a vote on the K-2 Assessment selected. Motion by Roaf-Little to receive recommendation by the superintendent, Jackson seconded the motion. Discussion: Horace asked if that information was in the packet and Robinson stated it was in the packet two meetings ago. Roll Call Vote: Branscomb- yes Dabner yes Hill-yes Horace-yes Jackson-yes Roaf-Little-yes Woods-yes Robinson said the Phonics Programs the district uses does not meet the state standard. Professional development will be provided to teachers, principals, and instructional leaders in the district. Roaf-Little asked about the cost of the program. Dr. Robinson says each teacher will have a kit and the strategies have to be imbedded. For the Art Gilliam Program. Motion by Roaf-Little to accept recommendation by superintendent to accept the Art Gilliam Phonics Program; Horace seconded the motion, Vote: Yes-all.. 1

2 Radio purchase for Jack Robey and Pine Bluff High School; the radios purchased will be used at the elementary schools but the high school will need a different radio capable of switching channels for communication with local authorities. Chartwells Community Day had an opportunity for the community to taste the school menu at Pine Bluff High School and Jack Robey. Scholars have given feedback and loved the offerings. Thank you to Chartwells for sponsoring this event. Thank you to BRAVES for helping to sponsor the Back to School Bash held on last Saturday, August 12 th. The students were able to receive a bag of school supplies and in many instances the scholars received several bags. Welcome Back First Day Volunteers-Thank you to Ms. Jolivette and Ms. Johnson for organizing the community engagement to help welcome scholars to their school sites. We had an enormous turn out at each school. The support the district received from the community was outstanding. Thank you to the community, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Hatley, Ms. Robbie Williams, and Ms. Jolivette. We had other individuals who volunteered on the weekend to ensure our schools were in shape to receive the scholars this year. Mr. Booker Franklin has worked himself tirelessly to make sure we were ready. Novel T s will partner with 34 th Avenue Elementary in support for our entrepreneurial school and Broadmoor Elementary. Freedom School was intended to a summer only program but parents have asked if the district can continue the program during the school year. We will have Freedom School After School Program up and running in October and the program will be housed at First Ward School. The district now has ZebraTV. Thank you to Mr. Lewis and Mr. Clayton who are spear heading this endeavor. Scholars in the district will be the broadcasters. We will highlight district programs with this component. Outstanding recognition of Ms. Bolton, pre-k teacher at Greenville Center. She has students from China whose parents insisted they be placed with her due to her success from having had other children from China. She is communicating in a prenominal way with the children who don t speak English. 2

3 We need to go back and handle insurance for the cafeteria workers for the summer break. Years ago, some employees had their insurance deducted as it should be, but there were others who opted not to have insurance taken out. Both groups will have to be covered for July and August. In September they will have to pay for September and Chartwells will pick up the employees in October. Chartwells will then repay the district for the employees in September. The employees can opt out of paying for September. Approval needed to pay from the board. Roaf-Little motion to accept recommendation, Woods seconded the motion; Vote: Yes-all. Enrollment update: district at 3,982 scholars. Staffing Update-Dexter Lee Pine Bluff High needs a technology teacher due to the teacher resigning at the last minute. two security vacancies Jack Robey needs two science vacancies two technology vacancies-we have prospects for these and will conduct interviews on Friday 34 th Avenue is fully staffed Broadmoor needs an art teacher and there is a prospect for this position WT Cheney is fully staffed Southwood needs a music teacher and may need a K-1 teacher Greenville/Forrest Park is fully staffed G/T needs a secretary ALE-Secondary (7-12) needs a science teacher a math teacher ALE-Elementary-no hires yet; but interviews are ongoing Incentives of $2,000 are being offered for math, science, English, and Special Education. With $1,000 paid in December and $1,000 paid in May. 7b Adoption of Remaining Policies have been sent to the board and they need to be adopted. There are new ADE requirements for 9 th graders in order for graduation. A personal finance class, a state mandate for all 9 th graders and the policy will have to be created for the district policies manual. Policies 1, 2, 4, 6, & 8: part is policy on fixed assets one of our audit findings from last year. 3

4 Horace motion to accept recommendation from superintendent for the adoption of the remaining policies; Woods seconded the motion; Vote: Yes-5; Abstained-2. Hill abstained from voting due to not having time to read through all of the policies.. 7c 7d Technology Infrastructure IK Electric gave update on internet infrastructure. Summary documents show urgent needs, recommended, and needs to be addressed items. Will be a two-three year process; some things have been fixed and updated. Feeding Programs: Community Empowerment Council: Jermaine Anderson stated the feeding program sponsored by Community Empowerment Council, Inc. Partnered with district since 2010 and have enrolled 280 students in their feeding program. Have Summer Camp at Oak Park School. Contract ends September 30, 2017 and new contract begins October 1, Will provide $300 per month rental fee for each school for afterschool programs. Would like to continue for next four years. Chartwell: Jason King-Regional Director Looking to expand schools feeding program to after school meal program called After the Bell. Include all students on a campus as long as tutoring is available. The idea is to feed children breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reimbursement is $3.23/meal/student. Fiscal impact for district: Chartwells receives $0.11/meal, 70% of all students before the go home. 2,821 scholars per day, $9, of additional reimbursement per day for the district. $4,073 total expenses, profit for district would be $5, per day into the district and would go into food service fund. This would total approximately $799,000 per year for the after school feeding program. Empowering Writers Professional Development: Funds would come out of professional development fund and not out of district operational funds. Just a FYI for teachers needing to be trained for the new statewide initiative/mandate. Superintendent recommended Jackson motion to accept superintendent s recommendation to provide professional development for the Empowering Writers state initiative/mandate. Woods seconded the motion. Vote: Yes-all Arkansas School Board Association certificate in board packet to let board know the PBSD is in good standing. 4

5 8a Business, Finance, State & Federal Programs Rowlett informed the board of the month s expenditures, revenues, and balance. Athletic fund started the year in the negative $51, Revenue of $100,970.00, expenditures of $136,749.00, ending balance of - $86,000.00: funds from the operating account will have to be transferred to the athletic account. It has been standard practice in the district but this was not done last year. The district works on a cash flow system. Box seats are available for $130.00; there is not a deadline on when they can be purchased from Ms. Fannie Austin. 8b Preliminary ADE Allocation: Title 1 allocation of $2,466, School Improvement, 4 schools: Broadmoor- $48, Robey-$124, PBH-$218, Southwood-$53, Laura Strickland: gave an overview of the monthly documents that are submitted to the ADE fiscal unit. Title II: $260, (bonuses and incentives); 8c 8d Proposed Cafeteria Renovations-Jason King How to improve cafeterias to café concepts; making it easier access for the students and help them get through the lines quicker. A refresh from the funds built into the proposal for the district. Suggested flow updates were presented for each school. Strickland sought approval to move forward with updates to the cafes in the district. Roaf-Little motion to go forth with recommendations presented by Chartwells on behalf of superintendent; Horace seconded the motion; Roll call vote Branscomb: yes Dabner: yes Hill: yes Horace: yes Jackson: no Roaf-Little: yes Woods: yes 6:1 Cafeteria Prices for adult meals: Lunch will stay at 3.50 Breakfast will increase by $0.25 to $2.00 5

6 Request for board to approve the increase for breakfast to $2.00 and lunch at $3.50. Jackson motion to approve prices for lunch and breakfast for adults; Branscomb seconded the motion. Vote: Yes-all 8e GCA Update Jackson expressed concern that GCA would not help move furniture, poor cleaning and in some instances waxing over food spills in the cafeteria. Community volunteers had to help get the schools together. Roaf-Little expressed concerns with disrespect exhibited by GCA workers to teachers and district personnel. Dabner expressed concern that some tasks are not GCA s responsibility including moving furniture from buildings. Expressed concern that district custodians hid in closets, did not clean, and other tasks. Robinson stated that after meeting with GCA, clarity was given on desired tasks, there were several hick-ups along the way, and that this year with transfers some of the issues will not happen next year. Jackson said his understanding is that the custodians don t have insurance. Jackson motion that the superintendent send GCA a certified letter letting GCA know that the district no longer needs their service. Branscomb seconded the motion. Roll call vote Branscomb: yes Dabner: no Hill: no Horace: yes Jackson: yes Roaf-Little: no Woods: no 4:3 9 Student Services and Special Education Special Education Monitoring Report-Stephaney Bennett Special Education Update-Letter from ADE a summary of the audit finding last year ( ). A review of 31 folders, the district received 91 citations. The District has to develop a corrective action plan and the district has until August 31 st to complete this task. Staffing: Special Education department is fully staffed. Contract for Physiological Services- Needs board approval so district can keep up with federal guidelines 6

7 Roaf-Little motion to approve contract for physiological services for district; there was no second for the motion. Motion failed for lack of second. [Board revisited item after executive session.] 10 Executive Session Board recessed at 8:10 p.m. to discuss personnel actions; Board reconvened at 8:33 p.m. Horace motion to go back and rescind lack of second for the Student Service/Special Education motion; Woods/Roaf- Little seconded the motion; Vote: Yes-all. Roaf-Little motion to accept the Personnel Action recommendation from the superintendent; Woods/Jackson seconded the motion; Vote: YES all 11 CPPC-Classified Personnel Policies Committee 12 PPC-Personnel Policies Committee 13 PBEA-Pine Bluff Education Association Jewelette Courtney asked question about the GCA motion, Dabner stated the motion failed. Submitted a proposal to amend personnel policy in regards to employees who were non-renewed and be switched to RIF employees so they can be eligible for other positions in the district. Request for all outsourcing to become part of RIF process. Harriett Warren, vice chair of committee. PPC is preparing for elections and there is no report. Harriett Warren, president of PBEA. PBEA is preparing for elections and there is not report. 14 Adjournment Branscomb/Roaf-Little Motion for adjournment at 8:50 p.m. 7