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 September 10, 2012 in the Lecture Hall of James Monroe High School, 2300 Washington Avenue. Board members present were: Others Present: Mrs. Barbara A. Miller-Richards, Chairman Ms. Malvina Rollins Kay, Vice-Chairman Rev. Jarvis E. Bailey ** Mrs. Patricia B. Green Ms. Jannan W. Holmes Mrs. Elizabeth R. Rehm * Dr. David G. Melton, Superintendent Mrs. Deborah B. Wright, Clerk of the Board The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by the Chairman. * Mrs. Rehm arrived at 6:36 p.m. **Rev. Bailey left at 7:59 p.m : BOARD CONVENES INTO CLOSED SESSION: RECONVENES INTO OPEN SESSION. The Superintendent recommended that the Board convene into closed session under FIA (A), Section 1 - Personnel (discussion regarding employment recommendations, change in positions/contract adjustments/corrections, extra-duty assignments, resignation recommendations, retirement recommendations, transfer between school sites, substitute teacher recommendations, substitute custodians, substitute bus drivers and car drivers, bus monitors not employed in another capacity with FCPS, volunteers for athletic programs, and student teachers and practicum student placements). A motion to approve the Superintendent s recommendation was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Rev. Bailey, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote. The Board convened in closed session at 6:36 p.m. On a motion by Mrs. Green, seconded by Ms. Kay, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:32 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 approval of the agenda as presented. A motion to approve the agenda was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Ms. Kay, and unanimously approved : APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 6, 2012 SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION AND THE AUGUST 6, 2012 REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. Minutes of the August 6, 2012 School Board Work Session and the August 6, 2012 Regular School Board Meeting were presented for approval. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Rev. Bailey, and unanimously approved by the Board.

2 : RECOGNITIONS. On behalf of the School Board, Mrs. Miller-Richards extended an official welcome to new School Board member Elizabeth Rehm. Mrs. Rehm was recently appointed by the Board to fill an interim position representing Ward 1 and will be running for the position in the November 6 election. As part of the school division s character education program, Director of Head Start Trudy Smith, with assistance from members of the Head Start three-year olds class and teachers, presented the Word of the Month for September Fairness. Mrs. Miller-Richards announced the winners of the Birthday and Holiday Card Design Contest. The division Holiday Card is sent by the Superintendent to all division employees and numerous other recipients each year. This year s winning design was created by Noland Butler, currently a junior at James Monroe High School. Throughout the school year every Fredericksburg City Schools employee receives a birthday card from the Superintendent. This year s card was designed by Kari Forsberg, currently a senior at James Monroe High School. The students were unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments. A Certificate of Appreciation and a framed print of their winning designs will be presented to each of the students. The following individuals were recognized by their principals as Teachers of the Year for 2013: Molly Roohi (not present) Cecilia Oakley Linda Robinson Hugh Mercer Elementary School Lafayette Upper Elementary School Fredericksburg City Public Schools and James Monroe High School James Monroe High School Principal John Gordon also announced that Mrs. Linda Robinson has been named the Fredericksburg Jaycees Outstanding Educator of the Year. Each school s Teacher of the Year received a monetary award of $250 with the Fredericksburg Teacher of the Year receiving a $500 award. The following individuals were introduced and congratulated for their recent selection as Employee Incentive Award winners for 2012: Michelle Woolfolk Kathleen Cicholski Kimberly Hulick Cheryl King Steven Schwartz Mary Anderson (not present) Connie Laskowski Elaine Garner Original Walker-Grant School Hugh Mercer Elementary School Lafayette Upper Elementary School Walker-Grant Middle School James Monroe High School Ms. Trudy Smith announced that the Head Start program has received a grant in the amount of $14,000 from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Ms. Smith stated that the funds are used by Head Start to assist in efforts to continue to improve family life through the parent empowerment program : PUBLIC HEARING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Mrs. Miller-Richards opened the public hearing for comments on the Comprehensive Plan for There being no citizens wishing to speak on this topic, the public hearing was declared closed.

3 : CONSENT AGENDA. The following items were included on the Consent Agenda : Head Start Approvals A recommendation was made that the School Board approve the following items as requested for the Head Start Program: Head Start Self-Assessment Results and Action Plan for Head Start Policy Council By-Laws Revision 3. Playground, Gym and Street Safety Policy Revision 4. Staff and Volunteer Health Policy Revision 5. Classroom Behavioral Guidance Policy and Protocol Revision Trip Request James Monroe High School Band and Orchestra A recommendation was made that the Board approve a trip for the James Monroe High School Band to Orlando, Florida to perform in Disney s Performing Arts Onstage Program. The Superintendent recommended that the Board approve the consent agenda items. A motion to approve the Superintendent s recommendation was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Ms. Kay, and unanimously approved by the Board. Copies of the consent agenda items are attached to the minutes : PERSONNEL MATTERS. The Superintendent recommended approval of the personnel list as distributed. A motion to approve the Superintendent s recommendation was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Ms. Holmes, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote (Rev. Bailey was not available at the time of the vote). A copy of the personnel list is attached to the minutes : INSTRUCTIONAL PRESENTATION ADMINISTRATIVE RETREAT. Mrs. Taneshia Rachal, Assistant Principal at James Monroe High School, provided an overview of the Administrative Leadership Retreat which was held on June 28 th and 29 th. The program was planned by a team of staff members including Pam Steinkoenig, Sandra Gillenwater, Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Marjorie Tankersley, Laura Baxter-Christopher, and Taneshia Rachal. Mrs. Rachal noted that the group hosted both local and nationally recognized speakers including retired Lt. Gen. John Sattler who presented a session on leadership. Additional activities on leadership were also provided by various staff members. Other retreat topics included Limited English Proficiency training for English Learners, a session on legal matters impacting personnel supervision was provided by attorney Brad King of Sands Anderson, and a detailed overview of the new teacher evaluation process was presented by Charles Ostlund : FINANCIAL REPORT. Mr. David Baker, Chief Financial Officer, provided a brief financial update. Mr. Baker reported that there have been no significant changes to the previous year-end report for June which was presented earlier. A Petty Cash Voucher summarizing recent activity was presented as required by Virginia Code. Mr. Baker also mentioned that the city audit is underway a little earlier than usual this year. Mr. Baker commented that the school division has ended the year on a positive note : SUMMER PROGRAMS. Mr. Harry Thomas, Director of Instruction, presented a summary of the 2012 summer programs. There was a 29% increase in participation with 519 students taking part in the summer remedial programs this year. Mr. Thomas attributed this increase to the separation of the summer remediation programs and the Summer Scholars Program which had been a suggestion from the School Board. There was positive growth shown in reading and math during the summer programs. In regard to the Summer Scholars Program, Mr. Thomas reported a 9% increase in participation. It was noted that this was the 20 th anniversary for Summer Scholars and Dr. Richard Garnett was recognized for his vision in establishing the program. Staff members are

4 beginning to plan for some changes in next year s summer school programs. Mr. Thomas thanked all schools for their work with various summer programs : REPORT ON OPENING OF SCHOOL. The Superintendent informed the Board that the opening of school this year has gone very smoothly with fewer bus issues than in past years. This is believed to be due to the implementation of a new computer scheduling program for transportation. There are more students than expected with an enrollment of 3,148 students at the end of the first week of school. A student enrollment study by the Weldon Cooper Institute indicates that the school enrollment may increase by another 500 students over the next five years. Currently there are 600 more students than five years ago and there is concern about the capacity of present school facilities. Administrators are looking into a detailed demographic study of facilities in order to handle student growth throughout the system. More detailed enrollment information will hopefully be available in October after enrollment settles down for the year : ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING. Mr. Robert Burch, Director of Operations, provided the Board with an update on the energy performance contracting process. Staff members and representatives have identified all areas in the buildings which they wish to improve. The main focus of this project is primarily on Walker-Grant Middle School and Hugh Mercer Elementary School. Improvements in other buildings will also include lighting in various areas, exterior lighting, and changing lamps throughout the buildings. Major improvements for the HVAC systems are being looked at for Walker-Grant and Hugh Mercer. The scope of the entire project is $3.69 million which will be paid by savings generated by the improvements. At this time, the attorney is working on the contract before it is presented to the Board. This may be available in November but the exact timeline is not yet known : SUPERINTENDENT S ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT. Mr. Baker informed the Board that the Superintendent s Annual School Report for has been submitted to the Department of Education. This is the major financial report for the school year. Mr. Baker noted changes such as the separation of the Special Education Maintenance and Effort Funding to a separate report as well as the separation of the Required Maintenance Effort into a separate report. Dr. Melton and Board members commended Mr. Baker for his work on the Annual School Report : COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. Mrs. Miller-Richards briefly described the Comprehensive Plan as the overall plan or strategy for the division that the schools develop with input from teachers, parents, administrators, and the School Board. This is a five-year plan with specific strategies and information as to whether or not the system is meeting the goals as established : OLD BUSINESS. The following items of old business were discussed: VSBA Annual Conference The VSBA Annual Conference will be held in Williamsburg on November 14-16, All Board members are planning to attend the conference : ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business to conduct at this regular meeting of the Fredericksburg City School Board for September 10, 2012, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. on a motion by Ms. Kay, seconded by Mrs. Green, and unanimously approved. Barbara A. Miller-Richards, Chairman Fredericksburg City School Board Deborah B. Wright Clerk of the Board

5 MOTION: Mrs. Green 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: 6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 Clerk of Fredericksburg City School Board September 10, 2012 Meeting Date