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Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
April 6, 2004

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Thursday, March 25, 2004, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following Board members were present: Kris Cooke, Garry Burnett, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes (arrived at 7:29 p.m.), Johnny Hodge (arrived at 6:53 p.m.), Dot Kearns (arrived at 6:53 p.m.), Nancy Routh, Anita Sharpe, and Marti Sykes. Board member Susan Mendenhall was absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Reid Phillips attending in the absence of Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order

Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 6:47 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence

Board member Garry Burnett led the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence.

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan recognized the following citizens who addressed comments to the Board:

Tim Mann, 3115 Peninsula Drive, High Point, NC 27282
Michael Murphy, 3918 Gisbourne Drive High Point, NC 27282
Beth McClary , 3525 Lynhaven Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Debora Mauser, 7507 William Bailey Road, Summerfield, NC 27358

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked Board members to review the meeting agenda called for a motion to approve or revise it. Superintendent Grier requested that Policy GAE be removed from Consent Agenda item B until Attorney Wilson is present. Board member Kris Cooke requested an update on the registration process for the High Point High Schools Choice/Magnet Program. Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

High Point High Schools Choice/Magnet Plan Update

As requested by the Board, Superintendent Grier gave an update on the implementation of the High Point High Schools Choice/Magnet Plan. He informed the Board that the registration material for students would not be ready until Monday, March 29. Therefore, he and staff proposed that the Board move the step one deadline from April 1 to April 8 for those accepting placement under the sibling preference provision and that the step two deadline be moved from April 8 to April 19. The step two deadline refers to those students applying for magnet or academy programs. He also reported that staff was reviewing the other deadlines, would revise if necessary, and include the revised timeline in Friday Notes.

Lisa Cooke, Magnet Schools Director, shared that the High Point high schools were holding open houses on Saturday, April 3 and would schedule additional tours for interested parents.

It was the consensus of the Board to accept the revised timeline (copy included in the minutes).

Recognitions

Hunter Elementary Named North Carolina's Title I Distinguished School

The Board recognized Hunter Elementary School for being selected North Carolina's Title I Distinguished School for exemplary performance and significantly closing the Achievement Gap between sub-groups. Hunter was one of 32 schools in the United States recognized at the Title I National Conference in New Orleans. The "Together We Can" motto and a "can-do" attitude set the focus which has moved the number of students reaching grade level proficiency from the 44th percentile to the 87th in six years. Marti Sykes presented Hunter Principal Joe Ferrell and Hunter staff members the Commendation on behalf of the Board with sincere appreciation and congratulations.

Red Carpet Schools

The Board also recognized 15 out of 30 schools that were selected as Red Carpet Schools. This award is given to schools that provide an exceptionally friendly and welcoming environment for visitors and parents. Each school was presented with an actual "red carpet" symbolizing their success. The following Red Carpet schools were recognized:

Allen Middle
Frazier Elementary
Gibsonville Elementary
Jesse Wharton Elementary
Laughlin Primary
Lindley Elementary
Madison Elementary
Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary
Nathanael Greene Elementary
Sedalia Elementary
Smith High
Sternberger Elementary
Summerfield Elementary
Southeast High
Vandalia Elementary

The remaining 15 schools will be recognized at the April 6 Board meeting.

Staff Reports

Designation of Title I Schools for 2004-2005

Beth Copenhaver, Chief Student Services Officer, and Dr. Bill Stewart, Executive Director of Student Services, presented a recommendation to set the criteria for Title I schools for the 2004-2005 school year to include those schools with 50% of the student population receiving free and reduced meals. Dr. Stewart reminded the Board that in determining Title I schools eligibility for 2003-2004 school year, the following percentages for Free and Reduced meal students were used: elementary 40%, middle school 65%, and high school 45%.

Dr. Stewart then proposed using 50% Free and Reduced meal status at the elementary, middle school, and high school level to determine Title I eligibility for 2004-2005. He reported that doing so would result in changes in Title I eligibility for elementary and middle schools. Specifically, Irving Park, Jamestown, Gibsonville, Erwin, Madison, and Southern Elementary Schools would no longer be eligible. At the middle school level, Welborn, Eastern, Allen Jay, and Aycock would qualify as Title I schools. There would be no changes at the high school level.

Following a discussion regarding Title I and Equity Plus dollars, the Board requested staff provide additional information before making a final decision. The Board will continue its discussion of Title I designation at its April 6 meeting.

Recommendation for Hampton Academy for 2004-2005

Lisa Cooke, Director of Magnet Schools, presented a recommendation on behalf of the staff, parents, and administration of Hampton Academy to make magnet program changes to Hampton for the 2004-2005 school year. Those changes include adopting a Leadership Magnet theme, a year-round calendar, no extended hours, and no Saturday school. She clarified that the year-round calendar would include nine weeks of instruction followed by a break which would include five days of intersession with level I and II students in grades three through five. The winter break would not include an intersession period.

Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Kris Cooke, to accept the recommendation of changes to Hampton Elementary School effective with the 2004-2005 school year. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Washington Street Property - GTCC Building Lease

Superintendent Grier and Dr. John Wright, Chief Administrative Officer, updated the Board on the status of Guilford Technical Community College's (GTCC) lease of the Washington Street property. Superintendent Grier reminded the Board that the Washington Street property is currently leased to GTCC for $1 per year and that the lease expires on June 30, 2004. GTCC is in the process of constructing a new east campus and because of construction delays they have asked that the Board consider extending the lease for an additional six months through January 1, 2005. Superintendent Grier informed the Board that he and Dr. Wright had discussed the request with GTCC and indicated the Guilford County School District's need for the first floor of the building for administrative space. GTCC has agreed and request use of the top two floors.

Motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to approve extending GTCC's lease of the Washington Street facility for a six month period and authorize staff to execute such lease for a minimal fee. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Consent Agenda

Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A. Contract with First Student, Inc. for Transportation Services

The Consent Agenda included the Board's approval to extend a contract with First Student, Inc. for the 2004-2005 school year. The estimated state-funded expenditures for contract transportation services for the 2004-2005 school year are $2,900,000.

On March 13, 2001, the Board of Education awarded contracts for transportation of students with special needs or enrolled in special programs to the following three providers: (1) Child Transportation, Inc., (2) First Student, Inc., and (3) Mazzeo Transportation. However, due to its failure to provide required documentation to the Guilford County Schools Purchasing Department, Mazzeo Transportation did not meet the terms of its contract with the Board. Therefore, this company provided no services.

The original bid specifications included an option whereby, if agreeable with both parties, the contract entered into for the 2001-2002 school year could be extended for four additional 12-month periods. During the 2001-2002 school year, Child Transportation, Inc. and First Student, Inc. satisfactorily met the terms of its contracts with the Board. Therefore, their contracts were renewed by the Board of Education for the 2002-2003 school year.

As stated in the Specified Terms and Conditions for Contract Transportation Services, in the interest of student safety, preference is given to companies using buses to transport students. Because Child Transportation, Inc. does not own/operate buses, they provided no vehicles during the previous or current school years.

During the 2003-2004 school year, First Student, Inc. provided 63 school buses to transport 463 students.

B. First Reading - Policy GAAA, Equal Opportunity Employment; Policy GAE, Grievances- Employees; and Policy GBIA, Action Plans for Licensed Employees

The Consent Agenda included a recommendation to approve for first reading Board Policy GAAA, Equal Opportunity Employment; Policy GAE, Grievances-Employees; and Policy GBIA, Action Plans for Licensed Employees.

Policy GAE was pulled from the Consent Agenda and will be placed on a future Board agenda. Motion was made by Garry Burnett, seconded by Marti Sykes, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the exception of Policy GAE. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Closed Session

At 8:54 p.m., motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Marti Sykes, to go into closed session to preserve the attorney-client privilege, to discuss personnel information protected by N.C.G.S. 115C-321, and to give advice or instructions to its staff and attorneys and to receive advice from its attorneys with regard to the terms of a contract, proposed contract or other means to acquire real property pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

The Board returned to open session at 10:14 p.m.

Personnel Action Report

Upon return to open session, motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Dot Kearns, to approve the Addendum to the Personnel Action Report which included the appointment of Terrence Yarborough as Principal of Brown Summit Middle School effective July 1, 2004. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 8 to 2 as follows: Ayes - Anita Sharpe, Marti Sykes, Nancy Routh, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Dot Kearns, Johnny Hodge, and Darlene Garrett; Noes - Garry Burnett and Deena Hayes.

Board Comments

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

Board members Darlene Garrett and Deena Hayes requested that an update on the SCALE program be placed on a future Board meeting agenda.

Adjournment

With no further business, at 10:21 p.m., motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Marti Sykes, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
HIGH POINT HIGH SCHOOLS CHOICE/MAGNET PLAN
Adopted March 16, 2004
Revised March 25, 2004

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The Guilford County Board of Education is committed to improving the socioeconomic diversity of the High Point high schools through a program of controlled school choice to support academic success for all students and to increase the effective use of school facilities. To this end, the Board has set as a goal that the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch at each high school should be no greater than 50% and the enrollment at each school should be between 85% and 120% of the building capacity.

OPERATIONAL PLAN

The assignment of high school students living within the High Point high school zone will occur in the order listed below with a goal of honoring the dates as outlined:

1. First, the new school assignment plan will apply to rising 9th graders entering high school in the 2004-2005 school year.

2. Second, rising 9th graders who are siblings of students currently attending 9th, 10th or 11th grade in a High Point high school will be allowed to attend the same high school as their sibling if they sign a letter of enrollment by April 8 of their 8th grade year. If a letter of enrollment is not signed by the deadline, the student will be assigned according to the steps below. By April 15, the district will verify the sibling preference requests and notify the parents of their student's school assignment.

3. Rising 9th graders who complete the specialized program in the middle school magnet program that is the companion to a High Point high school magnet program (e.g., Penn-Griffin Middle School of the Arts/Southwest High School Arts Program) will be allowed to attend the companion high school if they sign a letter of enrollment by April 8 of their 8th grade year. If a letter of enrollment is not signed by the deadline, the student will be assigned according to the steps below. By April 15, the district will verify the completion of the middle school magnet program and notify the parents of their student's school assignment.

4. Between April 1 and April 19, students will be permitted to apply for:

• Magnet programs within the High Point zone that have limited seats (e.g., Early College Academy of Business - 40 seats) or have early commitment seats (e.g., IB Diploma program - 50 seats).
• Magnet programs that do not exist within the High Point zone.

Students applying under the two bullets listed above will be notified of their acceptance by April 26.

5. All remaining rising 9th graders in the High Point high school zone will make application to high school by April 22 by listing their first, second and third choice of attending Andrews, High Point Central or Southwest High School. Students will be assigned to schools based on a random selection process that takes into account student preference, capacity and socioeconomic diversity. Students will be notified of their assignment by May 3.

6. On or about May 3, after these school assignments have been made, students within the High Point high school zone will permitted to register for the remaining seats in the specialized programs within their assigned school. High Point high school registration will be expected to be completed by May 13.

7. After Step 6 is completed, (following High Point high school registration), students living outside the High Point high school zone will be permitted to apply for admission to any of the High Point high schools. At this step students living within the High Point high school zone will also be permitted to apply for the remaining seats in magnet programs outside of their assigned school. In both cases, a random selection process will be used that takes into account capacity, proximity, and socioeconomic diversity. These applications will be due May 14 with students being notified of their assignment by May 21.

The High Point Choice/Magnet Operational Plan will be reviewed annually and presented to the Board of Education for modification.