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Guilford County Board of Education
Regular Board Meeting
August 12, 2003

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2003, at 900 English Road, High Point, North Carolina. The following Board members were present: Garry Burnett, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Johnny Hodge, Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, Nancy Routh, and Anita Sharpe (departed at 11:34 p.m.). Board members Deena Hayes and Marti Sykes were absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order

Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence

Board member Johnny Hodge led the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence.

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan called on the following members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the Board:

Bobby Smith, 3827 Lillie Street, High Point, NC 27265
Neil Belenky, 1514 Burlwood Drive, Greensboro, 27410
Wendy Blackwell, 8104 Mapleway Lane, Greensboro, NC 27455
Jacob Blackwell, NEM student, 8104 Mapleway Lane, Greensboro, NC 27455
Davita Mack, 4703 Coltssot Road, Greensboro, NC 27455
Gary Michael, 1532 Rankin Mill Road, Greensboro, NC 27405
Margie Lester, 1704 Westminster Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410
Yvonne Halley, 4500 Honeydrew Drive, McLeansville, NC 27301
Katrina White, 4108 Landerwood Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405
Charles Veasey, student at Northeast Middle, 5305 Arborlinda Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405
Stephanie Mitchell, 210 G Yester Oaks Way East, Greensboro, NC 27455
Myra Johnson, 2002 Potomac Drive, Greensboro, NC 27403
Tara Kilgo, Northeast High student, 554 Whistling Swan Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Daryle White, Northeast High student, 4108 Landerwood Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405
Pam Donnell, 4 Crape Myrtle Circle, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Teesha White, Northeast High student, 4 Crape Myrtle Circle, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Tanicia Barnes, Northeast High student, 111 Arcard Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Alonzno Bullock, 1701 Foust Road, Greensboro, NC 27405
Cheyenne Streeter, Northeast High student, 3902 Peterson Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405
Jeff Solomon, Early College student, 803 Jefferson Wood Lane, Greensboro, NC 27410
Lori Nan-Kaye, P.O. Box 10391, Greensboro, NC 27404
Pete Coward, 113 Church View Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Audrey Lewis, 5402 Keenan Drive, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Lori Bradley, 5302 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405
Heather Coward, Northwest High student, 113 Church View Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Paul Gilmore, 5416 Pine Level Drive, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Julia Church, 2209 Scalesville Road, Summerfield, NC 27358
Ray Combs, 4550 Peeples Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Gary Swager, 7512 Strawberry Road, Summerfield, NC 27358
Anna Swager, Northwest High student, 7512 Strawberry Road, Summerfield, NC 27358
Sara Logan, 4102 Summer Glen Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Kenneth Logan, 4102 Summer Glen Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Chad McPherson, Southeast High student, 6501 Woodlane Court, Jamestown, NC 27282
Andrew Grubbs, Northwest High student, 5732 Pepper Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Pat Turner, 2047 Beeson Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Joe Stafford, 4604 Forest Village Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked Board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or revise it. Superintendent Grier requested the addition of a Personnel Action Report. Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to approve the agenda as revised. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments for Community Input Regarding Proposed Bond Projects for the November 2003 Bond Referendum

Chairman Duncan opened the floor to those members of the audience who wanted to address issues relating to the proposed list of project to be included in the November 2003 bond referendum as approved by the Board on July 1, 2003. The following members of the public addressed the Board:

Laurie Wiley, 4018 Quarter Gate Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Mike Heustess, 4308 Southern Oak Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Debora Mauser, 7507 Willey Bailey Road, Summerfield, NC 27358
Delaine Williams, 7708 Sorrel Run Court, Summerfield, NC 27358
Julie Ann Jones, Buffalo Tom Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Sue Smith, 6007 Morganshire Drive, Summerfield, NC 27358
Lucy Smith, 6004 Morganshire Drive, Summerfield, NC 27358
Cathy Greene, 102 Monnell Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Joe Stafford, 4604 Forest Village Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Michael Garrett, 8003 Willow Glen Trail, Greensboro, NC 27455

Chairman Duncan indicated that the Board would not vote on the bond projects until August 5, 2003 at which time the Board would hold a special called meeting.

Approval of the Early College Agreement with Guilford College

Attorney Wilson presented the Board the revised agreement between Guilford College and Guilford County Schools for Early College at Guilford for the 2003-04 school year. She reviewed the revised agreement with the Board.

Attorney Wilson indicated that the agreement had been revised to address the Board's concerns regarding the previous provision that prohibited the Board of Education from having any program similar to or competing with Early College. She discussed the Board concern's with representatives from Guilford College and they understood, thus agreed to remove that wording. Section 2.3, item f, was re-written to read, "The School System shall not, during the Initial Term and during any renewal term, establish, maintain, or provide support to any early college other than the School."

Attorney Wilson also indicated that other provisions were added to better address the manner in which public schools operate. She specifically noted Section 1.3, Budget, which requires representatives of Guilford County Schools and Guilford College to work collectively to create a budget that reflects the school district's funding no later than January 15, 2004.

Superintendent Grier discussed his concerns regarding provision 2.3f, but noted that his concerns are tempered by the one-year contract. He suggested the Board review its needs for Early College each year prior to renewing the contract with Guilford College to determine if the district needs an additional Early College program. Attorney Wilson indicated that if the Board determined it in fact needed an additional program, they would need to notify Guilford College 120 days prior to the renewal date, of their desire to not renew the contract as currently written.

Early College Principal, Tony Burks, informed the Board that the committee who applied for the charter school status had agreed to withdraw their application if an agreement could be reached between Guilford County Schools and Guilford College.

Motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Dot Kearns, to accept the agreement as presented. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 7 to 1 to 1 as follows: Ayes - Kris Cooke, Garry Burnett, Nancy Routh, Darlene Garrett, Susan Mendenhall, Johnny Hodge, and Dot Kearns; Noes - Anita Sharpe; Abstain - Alan Duncan as his law firm represents Guilford College.

Board member Kris Cooke requested that the Board be informed at such time that the charter application for Early College had been withdrawn.

Report of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Results

Dr. Terrence Young, Chief Information Officer, presented the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results for the 2002-2003 school year. He reported that based on the preliminary results, of the 97 schools in Guilford County included in the No Child Left Behind analysis for the 2002-2003 school year, 50 schools or 51.5 percent of the district's schools, met their AYP goals. More elementary, 68.3 percent, than middle, 27.8 percent, and high, 23.5 percent, schools met their AYP goals. Of the district's 44 Title I schools, 27 or 61.4 percent met their target goals. Dr. Young noted that five schools, Erwin Montessori, Guilford Primary, Laughlin Primary, Tomlinson Montessori, and Weaver Academy were not included, as they did not have any students in testing grades. He also noted that twenty-five schools in Guilford County that did not meet their targeted goals had three or fewer sub-groups that were not within the required guidelines.

Three schools, Bessemer Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Kirkman Park Elementary, formerly "on watch" met their AYP goals and would be removed from the watch list of schools subject to No Child Left Behind sanctions pending confirmation by the state. He reminded the Board that schools become subject to increasingly severe sanctions if they do not meet target goals for two consecutive years.

Superintendent Grier expressed his disappointment in the number of middle and high schools that did not make AYP. He indicated that staff would be focusing on these grades to improve the results for the coming school year.

Review and Discussion of 2003-04 Budget

In response to a number of requests to keep the ROTC program at Northwest High School, Superintendent Grier presented the Board a proposal that would allow Northwest High School to keep the ROTC program. Under the proposal, Northwest High School would make budget cuts in an amount that would fund half of the local costs of the program and the administration would fund the remaining half of the local costs for the program. Chief Financial Officer informed the Board that the administration would fund half of the local costs, $35,621, with funds from growth dollars received from the County Commission. Superintendent Grier emphasized that the funding proposal would be for the 2003-2004 school year only to allow the ROTC commander to increase student enrollment in the program. Superintendent Grier expressed his expectations that the Northwest High School ROTC program increase its enrollment to a minimum of 60 for the 2003-2004 school year, a minimum of 80 students the following year, and an additional increase to 100 the following year. Board members expressed their concerns that all schools with the ROTC program be informed that it is the district's desire to maintain at least 100 students in a program.

Following a discussion, motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Kris Cooke, to approve the proposal to retain and grow the Northwest High School ROTC program as presented by Superintendent Grier. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Ms. Ozment then presented the Board an overview of the 2003-2004 budget process and timeline as well as detailed school and department budgets. She reported the district received its initial state allocations on July 14, 2003 based on the state budget adopted July 1, 2003. These allocations were adjusted for the following provisions included in the 2003 budget bill: average salary increases of 1.81 percent for teachers; average salary increases of 1.86 percent for principals and assistant principals; a one-time lump-sum bonus of $550 for classified employees; an increase of .39 percent in the employer retirement rate (3.42 percent versus 3.03 percent); and an increase of 12.75 percent in employer hospitalization insurance cost ($3,307 versus $2,933). Then, on July 15, 2003, the district received allotment revision #001, which reflected charter school adjustments.

Given that the initial allocations and allotment revision #001 were adjusted to reflect legislated salary/fringe benefit increases and charter school reductions, Ms. Ozment used the Joint Conference Report data to determine the amount of state budget reductions per the approved budget. While the Joint Conference Report data reflected total budget reductions of $3.8 million versus the $3.4 million and school-based reductions (textbooks + classroom materials/supplies + discretionary funds) of $2.5 million versus $2.4 million, she did not recommend making any additional budget cuts to compensate for the increase in state funding reductions. Receiving the total local funding request from the County Commissioners means that the district's 2003-2004 growth in student enrollment dollars will not be impacted or depleted as in previous years by unfunded cost increases associated with legislated salary and fringe benefit cost/rate increases; additional air-conditioned space; new and/or renovated square footage; increases in utility/energy and gas/diesel fuel costs; and 30-35% increase in various insurance premium costs. Ms. Ozment reported that the district could earmark $400,000 of the growth dollars to offset the additional state budget reductions and thus avoid making additional budget reductions of approximately $5 per pupil.

Ms. Ozment also updated the Board on the district's 2003-2004 local budget: She reported that the district's 2003-2004 local budget request was based on the salary and fringe benefit cost information provided by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and included in the House budget proposal. The changes in budgeted versus legislated salary increase and fringe benefit rates/costs are virtually a wash. Ms. Ozment informed the Board that the net effect of these changes is an increase in local operating costs of only of $38,204. She recommended that the district cover these additional costs with funds received for growth in student enrollment.

Superintendent Grier shared with the Board that the High Point Enterprise had reported that the High Point Police Department was removing the two officers they were funding at Allen Jay Middle and Southwest Middle School. In an effort to maintain the SRO staffing plan as presented in the Superintendent's budget message, Ms. Ozment reported that the district would fund those SRO positions from the local growth dollars received from the County Commission.

The Board reviewed and discussed the budget information presented by Ms. Ozment. Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to not reduce any amount from the budgets of Triangle Lake Montessori, $15,309.40, and Gillespie Park Elementary, $9,711.40, in light of the fact that both are new schools and do not have resources from previous years and to cover the total amount of $25,020.80 from local growth funds. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 8 to 1 as follows: Ayes - Nancy Routh, Anita Sharpe, Darlene Garrett, Susan Mendenhall, Johnny Hodge, Dot Kearns, Alan Duncan, and Kris Cooke; Noes - Garry Burnett.

The Board also discussed its travel budget. Motion was made by Susan Mendenhall, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to increase the Board's travel line-item budget to $22,000 by reducing the Board's legal line-item budget by $8,500. The motion failed upon majority vote of 5 to 4 as follows: Noes - Anita Sharpe, Nancy Routh, Garry Burnett, Alan Duncan, and Johnny Hodge; Ayes - Kris Cooke, Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, and Darlene Garrett.

Superintendent Grier also informed the Board that in response to the concerns expressed during the Public Comment period, he would work with the Principal of Northeast High to add a half-time position, which would allow the band director to remain at the school full time.

Ms. Ozment presented to the Board for approval, a budget resolution for the 2003-2004 fiscal year (copy of resolution included in minutes). She clarified that the district's budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year amended with state and federal dollars is $492,523,411. Upon review and discussion, motion was made by Garry Burnett, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to adopt the budget resolution for the Guilford County Board of Education for the 2003-2004 fiscal year as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Board member Anita Sharpe departed at 11:34 p.m. and did not return for remainder of meeting.

Consent Agenda

Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A. June 2003 Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the June 3 and 4 Public Forums, June 10 Regular Monthly Meeting, June 11 Special Called Meeting, June 22 Special Called Meeting, and June 26 Work Session.

B. Water Line Easement for Old Monticello School Site

The Consent Agenda included the Board's approval of the City of Greensboro's request for a permanent utility easement for a water line in the northern margin of NC Highway 150 at the Old Monticello School site. The easement area would be 19.5 feet wide and approximately 600 feet long and would run from the eastern boundary line to the church at the western boundary line. The City of Greensboro has offered to pay the district $20,190 for the easement.

Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Susan Mendenhall, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 8 to 1, with Alan Duncan abstaining on item B, as his law firm represents the City of Greensboro.

Reports from the Chairman

Discussion of Proposed House Bill 1233, Efficiency: School Board Sales Tax
Chairman Duncan called upon Vice-Chairman Dot Kearns to lead the Board in a discussion regarding the Proposed House Bill 1233, Efficiency: School Board Sales Tax. Vice-Chairman Kearns alerted the Board to House Bill 1233, which would exempt school boards from state tax. Tied to Bill 1233, is a provision that would modify the admission requirements for entrance into kindergarten.

Dr. John Wright, Associate Superintendent for Administrative Services, updated the Board that House Bill 1233 had become a study bill but that in the rush to adjourn the legislature session, no study commission appointments were appointed. The Board asked Dr. Wright to draft a letter on their behalf to the Guilford County Legislative delegation to urge an appointment for the study commission and to express the importance of the sales tax exemption.

Closed Session

At 11:43 p.m., motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Dot Kearns, to move to closed session to preserve the attorney client privilege and to discuss personnel matters protected by N.C.G.S. 115C-321. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote. (Board member Anita Sharpe was absent from the vote).

The Board returned to open session at 11:55 p.m.

Personnel Action Report

Superintendent Grier presented the Board an Addendum to the Personnel Action Report for the period ending June 21, 2003, which included the following administrative appointments to be effective August 1, 2003: Mary Lynn Amedy, Principal, location to be determined; Michael Scott Hanson, Assistant Principal, Andrews High; Judy Flake, Assistant Principal, Allen Middle; Cathy Batts, Assistant Principal, Grimsley High; Edgar Zimmerman, Assistant Principal, Grimsley High; Alisa Taliaferro, Assistant Principal, Jesse Wharton; Christian Borkowski, Assistant Principal, Mendenhall Middle; Robert Ash, Principal, Page High; Charles Foust, Assistant Principal, Hampton Elementary; Lucia Hinton, Assistant Principal, Northwest Middle; Susan Kossoff, Assistant Principal, Eastern Middle; Jacqueline Coates, Assistant Principal, Aycock Middle; Aaron Woody, Assistant Principal, Allen Jay Middle; Trina Bethea, Assistant Principal, Dudley High; Mark Duckworth, Assistant Principal, Smith High, and Joncarlos Miller, Assistant Principal, Dudley High. The Addendum also included the approval to rescind the non-renewal of Cindy Bishop, and to accept her resignation effective June 30, 2003.

Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to approve the Addendum to the Personnel Action Report as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote. (Board member Anita Sharpe was absent from the vote).

Board Comments

Board members were each allowed two minutes to make remarks, as they deemed appropriate.

Adjournment

With no further business, at 11:57 p.m., motion was made by Johnny Hodge, seconded by Garry Burnett, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.