HIGHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING March 1, 2010 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER The Highland County School Board met at 7:00 p.m. March 1, 2010 in the library of Highland High School for their regular monthly meeting. The meeting was called to order by John Moyers, Chairman. The following were present: John L. Moyers, Jr., Chair Kirk Billingsley, Vice-Chair James Blagg, Member Percy C. Nowlin, Superintendent Karen L. DeVore, Clerk PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mr. Nowlin said that because of all of the snow days we weren t able to celebrate School Board Clerk s Appreciation Week. Gwen Cauley read a resolution declaring 2010 the year of Karen DeVore. A delicious cake made by Mrs. Nowlin was served with drinks. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the agenda be approved. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION None CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the consent agenda be approved. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. HCEA Julia Blanchard said that the HCEA appreciated the continued communication with the school board. B. Mr. Wilmore
Said that the Blue Ribbon School application was sent and thanked Sarah Harman and the English department for all of their help. Invited all parents and interested persons to come Friday for the assembly on Internet Safety. VMI will do a free assessment of our heating system next spring. SOL writing tests will be tomorrow. Recommended Treva Hull for assistant girls softball coach and Hillary Smith as a volunteer. Thanked the students for their good behavior. C. Ms. Blum Karla Obaugh reported that Kroger has 1964 points, Food Lion is up and running, and Martins has $68.24. Ms. Blum said that the elementary has rescheduled their SOL tests for March 17 and 18. The DI team came in third at their competition on Saturday and gave a presentation for the Board. Nancy Vance, HES librarian, showcased all that she does for the Board. D. Senior Trip Rachel Murray and Lori Beverage said that the senior class plans to go to Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Hershey Park, Adventure Aquarium, and Gettysburg. They will be going by Quick s bus through Shenandoah Tours. They currently have $14,449 and the trip will cost $11,361. E. Project REACH (Rural Education and Cultural Heritage) Anne Adams spoke on behalf of the loose-knit group consisting of Betty Mitchell, Sarah Harman, Cappie Hull, Julia Blanchard, Nancy Vance, Ginny Neil and others. The group is a think tank that tries to find ways of preserving the school system in Highland County especially in light of funding cuts, enrollment decline, and economic crisis. F. School Board Members Mr. Billingsley thanked Project REACH for their work. He said that so often school board members have to react to situations and their research is a big help. G. Meeting Dates March 15 th 7:00 p.m., and Public Hearing on March 29 th at 7:00 p.m. The regular April meeting date will be set a later date. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Mutual Aid Agreement The Board of Supervisors haven t acted on it yet. NEW BUSINESS
A. Personnel Treva Hull assistant girls softball, Hillary Smith - volunteer B. Highland Historical Society Report Jim Blagg spoke on behalf of the Historical Society and explained that the old records that they would like to have are teacher payroll records from 1917 to 1937, and census records. He suggested that we use the federal cut off of 72 years as a time line. Attendance books contain personally identifiable information and should not be removed from the school. C. Waiver for Pre-Labor Day Opening We meet the criteria of missing more than 8 days in 5 of the past 10 years. PUBLIC COMMENT Sue Cornelius spoke as a parent and a teacher when she expressed concern about the money that was returned to the board of supervisors at the end of the year being used as matching money for a grant that the county applied for the replace the windows in the high school. She said that we need the support of more than one person at the Board of Supervisors meeting the next night. John Moyers said that 80% of the county s population does not have kids in school. Parents need to voice these concerns and needs to the supervisors. Mrs. Cornelius wanted to know what the purpose was to fix the school building if we don t have a school system. Mr. Billingsley said that it is not going to help cutting the education of our children. Karla Obaugh said that it was hard enough to ask the supervisors for money with the HCEA asking for an increase (in pay). She further stated that they should be thankful that they have a job since many people elsewhere do not. Mr. Moyers said that he felt that he was on a see saw trying to keep everything balanced and it is a tough job. ACTION AGENDA A. Personnel - Mr. Blagg made a motion that Treva Hull be approved as assistant softball coach and Hillary Smith as volunteer. Mr. Billingsley seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. B. Historical Society Request - Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the payroll records dated 1917-1937 and school census records dated 1930-1938 be handed over to the Historical Society for preservation. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. C. Pre-Labor Day Waiver to Start School Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the waiver to start school before Labor Day be approved. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT
CONTINUATION Mr. Nowlin said that 13 days had been missed due to bad weather. He requested that the 2 Maple Mondays be changed to a regular school day instead of a 2 hour delay. The calendar committee hasn t been able to meet because we have missed too many days. The Rockbridge School system has two geothermal units that have paid for themselves in two years. Department of Education hasn t released school division disbursements yet. We could be looking at a $250,000 shortfall which could mean the loss of 4.5 to 5 teachers. If this is the case we could lose accreditation. Hopefully, we can use escrow money. We will need to go back to the supervisors and have as few cuts as possible. We now need to go into executive session. Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the meeting be continued. EXECUTIVE SESSION Upon a motion by Mr. Billingsley the Board unanimously voted to go into executive session regarding personnel (Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A) (1). Upon a motion by Mr. Blagg the Board unanimously voted to return to regular session. The Board approved the following resolution: RESOLUTION PRESENT Mr. Blagg Mr. Moyers Mr. Billingsley VOTE WHEREAS, the Highland County 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 2.2-3711(A) (1) 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 Highland County School Board hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only
public business matters were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the School Board.
HIGHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING March 15, 2010 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER The Highland County School Board met at 7:00 p.m. March 15, 2010 in the library of Highland High School for a budget meeting. The meeting was called to order by John Moyers, Chairman. The following were present: John L. Moyers, Jr., Chair Kirk Billingsley, Vice-Chair James Blagg, Member Percy C. Nowlin, Superintendent ACTION A. Mr. Billingsley made a motion to advertise the proposed budget, with the notation that it called for NO increase in taxes, flat county funding, and use of the school debt retirement fund. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. B. Mr. Blagg made a motion that the meeting be continued until March 29 th at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Billingsley seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting was over at 7:29 p.m.
HIGHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL BUDGET March 29, 2010 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER The Highland County School Board met at 7:00 p.m. March 129, 2010 in the library of Highland High School for the Public Hearing on the 2010-11 school budget. The meeting was called to order by John Moyers, Chairman. The following were present: John L. Moyers, Jr., Chair Kirk Billingsley, Vice-Chair James Blagg, Member Percy C. Nowlin, Superintendent Karen L. DeVore, Clerk PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the agenda be approved. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET Mr. Billingsley presented a power point of the proposed 2010-2011 school budget.
The Main Issue State Funding Total State Funding Total State Funding 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000-2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 What we have been doing about it 2,962,200 3,000,000 2,605,415 2,657,394 2,869,279 2,790,240 2,625,771 Administration 2,500,000 2,000,000 Transportation and Facilities 1,500,000 1,000,000 947,219 916,605 804,236 787,925 819,791 790,909 Instruction 500,000-173,477 194,850 196,367 205,950 155,166 137,434 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
What we are asking Highland to do Total County Funding Total County Funding 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000-2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Total Highland County Public Schools Budget 4,500,000 4,150,277 4,160,773 4,338,998 4,443,178 4,245,138 4,034,831 4,000,000 School Foods Technology Administration Transportation and Facilities Instruction 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Budget Breakdown 2009 Expense Breakdown 2011 Expense Breakdown Instruction 67% Instruction 65% School Foods 4% Technology 7% Administration 4% Transportation and Facilities 18% School Foods 5% Technology 7% Administration 3% Transportation and Facilities 20% The most asked question is why not cut. The reply has been, We haven t cut and hope we don t have to. The decrease in retirement contributions has been a big help in cutting the budget. Next year we will lose $100,000 more. Mr. Nowlin said that this year re-benchmarking was ignored, so the state will have to come back in 2012 and do that. Hopefully, the supervisors will appreciate that the budget has been cut. We can hope that the state will remove the cap on support staff needed to meet the mandates, and give the teachers a raise for their third year without one. A bill to establish a floor in the composite index of 400 students would help with the disproportionate distribution of state funds. PUBLIC COMMENT None NEW BUSINESS A. Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the rest of the 2009-10 budgeted money be appropriated. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. B. Mr. Billingsley made a motion that the proposed 2010-2011 school budget be approved and sent to the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Blagg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Upon a motion by Mr. Billingsley the Board unanimously voted to go into executive session regarding personnel (Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A) (1). Upon a motion by Mr. Blagg the Board unanimously voted to return to regular session. The Board approved the following resolution: RESOLUTION PRESENT Mr. Blagg Mr. Moyers Mr. Billingsley VOTE WHEREAS, the Highland County 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 2.2-3711(A) (1) 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 Highland County School Board hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the School Board. The next meeting will be the regular April meeting on the 12 th at 7:00 p.m.