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Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
May 11, 2004

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following Board members were present: Garry Burnett, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes (arrived at 7:39 p.m.), Johnny Hodge, Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, Nancy Routh, and Anita Sharpe. Board member Marti Sykes was absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and 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 Nancy Routh 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:

Scott Archie, Andrews High student, 1521 Rice Court, High Point, NC 27265
Carol McKinney, 4402 Forest Walk Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Paula Andrews Murphy, 6304 Thornblade Court, Greensboro, NC 27410
Steve Bray, 3600 Brookhaven Court, Greensboro, NC 27406
Margaret Akingbade, 8554 Tamo'shanter Drive, Greensboro, NC 27409
Barbara Ann McAbee, 6414 Ivy Stone Drive, Jamestown, NC 27282, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Bernita Sims, 607 Willougar Terrace, High Point, NC 27250
Patty Palmer, 3000 Campfire Court, High Point, NC 27282
Jennifer Metcalfe, 2 West Burkwood Court, Jamestown, NC 27282, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Ronda Evans, 111 Sagewood Road, Jamestown, NC 27282, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Terrina Picarello, 15 Owls Roost Court, Greensboro, NC 27410
Rev. Mazie Butler Ferguson, 1000 Ross Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27406
Dorothy Artis, 515 Mobile Street, Greensboro, NC 27406
Monica Adams, 4727 Weston Place, Jamestown, NC 27282, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Charyline Bell, 5210 Frieden Church Road, McLeansville, NC 27301, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Terry Fuchs, 4728 Westin Place, Jamestown, NC 27282
Lauren Fuchs, Southwest Middle student, 4728 Westin Place, Jamestown, NC 27282, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Tim Mann, 3115 Peninsula Drive, Jamestown, NC 27282
Ruby McGee, 3006 Honor Court, Jamestown, NC 27282, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
Cynthia Cole, 2402 Lake Brandt Place, Greensboro, NC 27455, who deferred her time to Mazie Ferguson
David Thompson, 3016 Havasu Way, High Point, NC 27265
Turner Wiley, 2516 Glenhaven Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Jeff Reep, 4320 Southern Oak Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Deborah Compton-Holt, 3103 Pinecroft Road, Greensboro, NC 27407

At the end of the designated 45 minute public comment period, it was the desire of the Board to further hear from Mazie Ferguson as a number of speakers wanted to defer their 3 minutes to her. Based on the Board's desire, Chairman Duncan indicated that at the end of the business portion of the meeting, the Board would allow Ms. Ferguson additional public comment time.

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked Board members to review the meeting agenda called for a motion to approve or revise it. Board member Deena Hayes moved and Garry Burnett seconded that Staff Report Item B be deferred to the next available meeting agenda to allow for further review with staff and community members. Motion was then made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Nancy Routh, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

Staff Reports

Proposed Amendments to the 1999 Student Assignment Plan

Beth Copenhaver, Chief Student Services Officer, and Eric Hoekstra, District Demographer, presented proposed amendments to the 1999 Student Assignment Plan. Ms. Copenhaver reminded the Board that at its March 16 meeting, the administration was asked to notify families residing in the areas of the proposed amendments and to place the recommendations on the district website for public comment. Letters were mailed to the affected families on March 19 and the proposed amendments were placed on the district website for a public comment period.

The following amendments to the 1999 Student Assignment Plan were proposed:
1. The Halcyon Street area that was left assigned to Ragsdale in the 1999 plan was recommended to be assigned to Western High School effective with the 2005-2006 school year. The street is in an area assigned to Alderman Elementary School. The Alderman area has been assigned to Guilford Middle for the coming school year. The change moves toward a clean feeder plan of Alderman, Guilford Middle, and Western High.

2. The Administration also recommended that the Oak Hill satellite in High Point be assigned to Parkview Elementary for the 2005-2006 school year. This satellite has a very small number of elementary students and is adjacent to the Parkview area. The area is assigned to Welborn and Andrews, as is Parkview.

Motion was made by Susan Mendenhall, seconded by Dot Kearns, to accept the administration's recommendation to amend 1999 Student Assignment Plan by reassigning the Oak Hill Elementary satellite zone to Parkview Elementary effective with the 2005-2006 school year.

Board member Dot Kearns amended the motion, seconded by Susan Mendenhall, to add that this is the last satellite area to be reassigned to Parkview according to the 1999 Student Assignment Plan. The amended motion passed upon a majority roll call vote of 8 to 2 as follows: Ayes - Deena Hayes, Susan Mendenhall, Johnny Hodge, Dot Kearns, Alan Duncan, Kris Cooke, Garry Burnett, and Anita Sharpe; Noes - Darlene Garrett and Nancy Routh.

Motion was then made by Susan Mendenhall, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to accept the administration's recommendation to amend the 1999 Student Assignment Plan by reassigning the Halcyon Street area from Ragsdale High to Western High effective with the 2005-2006 school year. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Hoekstra noted that two satellite areas remain and they will be reassigned by the 1999 Student Assignment Plan in the next two years.

Short-Term Out-of-School Suspension Plan

This agenda item was deferred until a future meeting.

Second Reading - Policy JD, Student Discipline

Dr. Delores Fogg, Chief Academic Officer, and Arnita Dula, Hearing Officer, presented Board Policy JD, Student Discipline for second reading. They also shared with the Board the proposed Administrative Policy JD-P, Violations of the Code of Conduct. Together the proposed policy and procedure will replace the former Administrative Policy JD. Dr. Fogg noted that the Board approved Policy JD for first reading on January 13, further discussed it at its February 11 retreat meeting.

Ms. Dula shared with the Board, public comments received on Administrative Procedure JD-P. The Board then further discussed some concerns regarding the procedure and the importance of consistently applying the rules as outlined. Superintendent Grier reminded the Board that in North Carolina, principals have the authority to suspend students for up to 10 days.

Board member Dot Kearns requested that language be added to Procedure JD-P item 21c that indicates that principals have discretion. Dr. Wright suggested adding the following language to the beginning of item 21c: "Except with prior approval of the principal and at the discretion of the principal". Board members were in agreement to the language as suggested.

Following discussion, motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve Board Policy JD, Student Discipline to be effective July 1, 2004. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 6 to 4 as follows: Ayes - Susan Mendenhall, Anita Sharpe, Nancy Routh, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, and Dot Kearns; Noes - Johnny Hodge, Deena Hayes, Darlene Garrett, and Garry Burnett.

Consent Agenda

Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A. First Reading - Policy JCE, Grievances - Students/Parents
B. First Reading - Policy GAE, Grievances - Employees
C. First Reading - Policy IFCB, Field Trips and Policy LEB, Parent Organizations

The Board discussed its process for reviewing and accepting public comment on proposed policies.

Following some discussion, motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to table the first reading of Policies JCE, GAE, IFCB, and LEB. Chairman Duncan requested that the Board's Governance Review Committee along with appropriate staff members have discussion with affected groups prior to bringing policies to the Board. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Board Discussion

Attendance Zone Considerations

The Board continued its discussion regarding the Attendance Zone Considerations and Educational Operational Standards as discussed at its March 25 meeting and tabled at the April 6 meeting.

Beth Copenhaver provided Board members with suggested revisions offered by Board member Dot Kearns. The Board then reviewed each item.

Board member Nancy Routh suggested Section 2, item b, be revised to read as follows: "anticipating and communicating to the public needs for additional schools in areas of high growth as development and growth occur within Guilford County," and remove the wording "in a timely way."

Dr. Routh also suggested Section 2, item c, be revised to read as follows: "anticipating and communicating to the public the need to have all existing facilities meet approved health, safety, and environmental standards established for public schools as well as effective educational standards."

Board member Deena Hayes suggested that the footnote defining diversity in both the Attendance Zone Considerations and Educational Operational guidelines be revised to include "race and cultural".

Following review and discussion of the Attendance Zone Considerations and Educational Operational Guidelines, a motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Dot Kearns, to approve the first section of the Attendance Zone Considerations including Ms. Kearns' and Ms. Hayes' suggested revisions. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 6 to 4 as follows: Ayes - Dot Kearns, Alan Duncan, Kris Cooke, Garry Burnett, Nancy Routh, and Susan Mendenhall; Noes - Anita Sharpe, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, and Johnny Hodge.

The Board then voted on the second section of Attendance Zone Considerations by individual item:
Item a: Motion was made by Alan Duncan, seconded by Nancy Routh, to approve item a as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Item b: Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Susan Mendenhall, to approve item b as follows: "anticipating needs for additional schools or additions to existing facilities in areas of high growth and communicating to the public these needs in a timely way." The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 9 to 1 with Alan Duncan opposing.

Item c: Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Susan Mendenhall, to approve item c as follows: "anticipating and communicating to the public the need to have all facilities meet approved health, safety, and environmental and educational standards applicable to public schools." The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 9 to 1 with Alan Duncan opposing.

Item d: Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Garry Burnett to approve item d as revised by Dot Kearns. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote of 9 to 1 with Anita Sharpe opposing.

The Board deferred its discussion of the Educational Operational Guidelines until a future meeting. Board members were asked to send Ms. Copenhaver any suggested revisions in advance.

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan called upon Rev. Mazie Butler Ferguson, 1000 Ross Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27406 to continue her public comments as several speakers chose to defer their time to her.

Closed Session

At 10:55 p.m., motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Kris Cooke, to move to closed session to preserve attorney client privilege. The motion was passed unanimous voice vote.

The Board returned to open session at 11:46 p.m.

Personnel Action Report

Superintendent Grier presented an addendum to the Personnel Action Report dated March 21, 2004. The addendum included the appointment of Maria Palmer, Principal, location to be determined, and Rodney Boone, Assistant Principal, location to be determined. These appointments are to be effective July 1, 2004.

Motion was made by Johnny Hodge, seconded by Susan Mendenhall, to approve the Personnel Action Report Addendum as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Board Comments

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

Adjournment

With no further business, at 11:49 p.m., motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Johnny Hodge, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
ATTENDANCE ZONE CONSIDERATIONS

Adopted April 20, 2004

The school attendance plan for Guilford County Schools is designed to foster the mission of public education, to include promotion of higher levels of academic achievement and good citizenship development, by:

a. recognizing and valuing diversity 1 ;

b. using clearly defined boundaries, where practical;

c. working toward common feeder patterns throughout the district;

d. organizing schools in a K-5, K-8, 6-8, and 9-12 pattern generally;

e. seeking to avoid changing an attendance zone more often than every four (4) years; and

f. encouraging participation by all citizens in our schools.

The plan should serve the economic interests of taxpayers by:

a. efficiently utilizing transportation dollars;

b. anticipating needs for additional schools or additions to existing facilities in areas of high growth and communicating to the public these needs in a timely way;

c. anticipating and communicating to the public the need to have all facilities meet approved health, safety, environmental, and educational standards applicable to public schools; and

d. seeking to utilize school facilities fully and efficiently.

1The Board defines diversity broadly including race and culture, ethnicity, gender, socio-economics, special needs, geographic areas, native language, and academic achievement.