The Portsmouth City School Board Portsmouth, Virginia Minutes The members of the Portsmouth City School Board held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2008, in the Little Theatre at Woodrow Wilson High School, 1401 Elmhurst Lane, Portsmouth, Virginia. Call to Order Chairman Bridgeford called the regular meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Ms. Kathy L. Chambliss, the Clerk, and Mrs. Laura C. Chandler, the Deputy Clerk, recorded the proceedings of the meeting. Cassandra N. Whitlow, a twelfth-grader at Woodrow Wilson High School, led the Pledge of Allegiance and Derrick L. Elliott, an eleventh-grader, offered a statement. Mrs. Ridenour presented each student with a pin as a token of the Board s appreciation for their participation in the meeting. The board and the audience paused for a moment of silent prayer. Attendance The following Board members were present: Ms. Sheri H. Bailey, Mr. James E. Bridgeford, Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, Mr. James M. Hewitt, Mrs. Elizabeth N. Hudgins, Mr. B. Keith Nance, Sr., Mrs. Linda D. Ridenour, Mrs. Jean H. Shackelford, and Dr. Mark M. Whitaker. The following members of the professional staff were also in attendance: Dr. David C. Stuckwisch, Superintendent, Dr. Patricia H. Fisher, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Mr. Dan Pendarvis, Assistant Superintendent for Budget and Planning, Dr. Margaret R. Buxton, Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Nita R. Mensia-Joseph, Director of Operations, Mr. Joseph L. Wiggins, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, and Mr. George M. Willson, School Board Attorney/Deputy City Attorney. Approval of the Agenda Mr. Nance moved to approve the agenda for Thursday, April 17, 2008. The motion carried by common consent. Outstanding Youth Citizens of the Year Dr. Stuckwisch recognized Courtney L. Cross, Outstanding Youth Citizen of the Year. Mrs. Vivian Pharr, Assistant Principal, accepted the award on behalf of Courtney Cross who was unable to attend. Recognition Schools Mr. Wiggins recognized the following schools for receiving the highest percentage of student attendance for March 2008. Each school will display an attendance flag.
Board Minutes April 17, 2008 Page 2 of 5 Resolution Elementary Douglass Park Elementary (97.58 percent) Middle William E. Waters Middle School 95.69 percent) High Churchland High School (93.47 percent) Center Mount Hermon Preschool Center (93.60 percent) Chairman Bridgeford and Dr. Stuckwisch presented Mrs. Miguela A. K. Wiseman, teacher of the year, with a resolution representing all teachers. Mr. Nance moved to approve the resolution recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-10, 2008. The motion carried by a unanimous rollcall vote. Minutes Mr. Nance moved to approve the minutes for the Annual Winter Retreat held on Friday, March 7, 2008 and Saturday, March 8, 2008, the Special Meeting/Public Work Session held on Thursday, March 13, 2008, and the Regular Monthly Meeting held on Thursday, March 20, 2008. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Monthly Report (Curriculum and Instruction) Dr. Fisher offered a report on the following: 1) standards of learning (SOL) benchmark assessments, 2) curriculum enhancement, 3) staff recognition, 4) Youth-Risk Prevention, and 5) grant awards. Dr. Fisher also shared information on the Governor s committee for Cradock Middle School, and noted that phase three of the new teacher orientation has been completed. Health and Physical Education Ms. Sharon Moore, Specialist, and Mr. Jimmie Williford, Supervisor of Health and Physical Education, offered a report on the revised health curriculum for grades 7-10, the revised tenth grade driver education curriculum, the new kindergarten curriculum, (K-6), new textbook information and an update of the program. Annual Special Education Plan Mr. Nance moved to approve the Annual Special Education Plan and Part B Flow-Through for the 2008-09 School Year. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Monthly Report (Human Resources) Dr. Buxton offered a report on the following: 1) the summer school process, 2) transfer forms, 3) the Retirement Banquet scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 4) Portsmouth Economic and Development Job Fair, 5) the Regional TASPA (Tidewater Association of School Personnel Administrators) meeting, and 6) a MUNIS update.
Board Minutes April 17, 2008 Page 3 of 5 Human Resource Report April 2008 Dr. Whitaker moved that the person listed on page 8 line 1 be removed from the report to be voted on at a later date, until further information is given from the administration. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Mr. Hewitt moved to approve the remainder of the Human Resources Report for April 2008. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Monthly Report (Budget and Planning) Mr. Pendarvis offered a report on items in the areas of Finance, Operations and Information Technology. Mrs. Hudgins moved to enter into an agreement with Blueridge General, Inc. to provide labor, material and equipment for Woodrow Wilson High School s Culinary Arts Laboratories in accordance with invitation to Bid #687-B-07. The total contract price is $1,600,000.00. The motion carried by a roll-call vote of six yes votes (Mr. Hewitt, Mrs. Hudgins, Mrs. Ridenour, Mrs. Shackelford, Dr. Whitaker, Mr. Bridgeford), two no votes (Ms. Bailey, Mr. Nance), and one abstention (Dr. Daniels). Mrs. Shackelford moved to enter into an agreement with TJ Distributors, Inc. to remove and replace the gym bleachers at Woodrow Wilson High School in accordance with Request for Proposal #691-P-07. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Mr. Hewitt moved to enter into an agreement with R. L. Dresser, Inc. to install a new wood gym floor at Woodrow Wilson High School in accordance with Request for Proposal #692-P-07. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Mrs. Hudgins moved to enter into an agreement with Steiner B. Moore Corporation to install new PE lockers at Woodrow Wilson High School in accordance with Request for Proposal #694-P-07. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Mr. Hewitt moved to enter into an agreement with Virtexco Corporation to provide labor, material and equipment for wall tile improvements at Victory Elementary School in accordance with
Board Minutes April 17, 2008 Page 4 of 5 Invitation to Bid #690-B-07. The total contract price is $ 182,844.00. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Mrs. Hudgins moved to approve an agreement with International Flooring and Protective Coatings, Inc. for floor tile replacement at Churchland Elementary School. The total contract price is $ 94,307.00. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Finance Report Mrs. Hudgins moved to approve the Financial Report for March 2008. The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Board Members Comments and Concerns Mrs. Ridenour City Manager s budget in relation to funding the School Board requests and the questions submitted to Council members Ms. Bailey an employee not getting paid Mr. Hewitt Subcommittee assignment (visit to Parent University) Superintendent s Report Dr. Stuckwisch offered a report on the following: 1) spring faculty meeting visits, 2) the Starbase-Victory Annual Golf Tournament scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2008, Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club, 3) reminded Board members of the VSBA Tidewater Regional Forum, April 24, 2008, 4) recognized Dr. Sandra H. Smith, recipient of the Safe Harbor Award for 2008, 5) commented on the crisis management tabletop exercise held on April 14, 2008, 6) announced that the Superintendent will be on vacation the week of April 28 - May 2, 2008. Dr. Stuckwisch also recognized that Administrative Professional Appreciation Week is April 20-26, 2008, National and Global Youth Service Days is April 25-27, 2008, and National Nurses Week is May 6-12, 2008. He further reported that the Portsmouth Schools Foundation Auction will be held at Bide-A-Wee Golf Course on Saturday April 19, 2008. Motion to Close Schools Mr. Nance moved to approve the motion to close schools on the 23 rd of May, 2008, as a holiday in observance of Memorial Day, and to amend the instructional calendar designating June 13, 2008, as the last day of student attendance (Portsmouth Public Schools follows a 182 day student calendar which includes two snow days. These days were not used during the 2007-08 school year). The motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote. Review of School Board Policies It was so noted that this item was discussed during the Board s early session.
Board Minutes April 17, 2008 Page 5 of 5 Public comment None Adjournment Chairman Bridgeford adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m. James E. Bridgeford, Chairman Kathy L. Chambliss, Clerk May 22, 2008 Date of Adoption by the Board