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The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following Board members were present: Walter Childs (arrived at 5:35 p.m.), Kris Cooke (arrived at 5:38 p.m.), Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Susan Mendenhall, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh, Anita Sharpe (departed at 11:22 p.m.), and Marti Sykes. Board member Dot Kearns was absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.
Call to Order
Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Board member Anita Sharpe led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
Recognitions
Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month for September 2005
The Board recognized Julius Ellison, a custodian at Northeast High School, as Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month for October 2005.
Operation H.O.P.E. – Hurricane Katrina Relief
Through the Guilford County Schools’ district-wide relief effort, Operation H.O.P.E., Helping Other People Everywhere, pennies were collected, blue ribbons were sold and bake sales and car washes were conducted to help people in the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Board presented a check in the amount of $141,556.59 to Ed Welch, Red Cross volunteer, in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Funds were raised by schools, central office facilities and Board members.
Public Comments
Chairman Duncan called on members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the Board.
Kevin Littlejohn, 3219 Cherrydale Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Kim Worrell, 1001 Pebble Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410
Heidi Chapman, 100 Europa Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Linda Duckworth, 1221 Onslow Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408
Erin Vazquez, 5982 Pepper Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Logie Meachum, 308 Aloe Road, Greensboro, NC 27409
Linda Mozell, 4701 Whitby Place, Greensboro, NC 27406
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. Board member Anita Sharpe requested that Consent Agenda item E, Activity Bus Fee Increase, be pulled from the Consent Agenda and discussed as a staff report. Board member Nancy Routh requested that Consent Agenda Item D, 2005-2006 Budget Resolution, be pulled from the Consent Agenda and discussed as a staff report. Board member Deena Hayes requested an additional work session be scheduled to discuss the Middle College at NCA&T and that staff members from the university be invited. Motion was made by Susan Mendenhall, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the agenda as revised. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.
Consent Agenda
Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:
A. September 2005 Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the September 1 Emergency Called Meeting, September 13 Regular Meeting, September 15 Public Forum, September 20 Public Forum, September 25 Retreat, September 27 Public Forum, and September 29 Regular Meeting
B. Personnel Action Reports
The Consent Agenda included personnel actions as noted in the monthly Personnel Action Report requiring Board approval as well as an addendum to the report. The addendum included the appointment of Kevin Lear, Chief Operations Officer, effective November 9, 2005 and Wanda Brooks, Principal of Northwood Elementary School, effective November 5, 2005.
C. 2004-2005 Budget Amendments and Transfers
The Consent Agenda included State, Local, Federal, Capital Outlay, Child Nutrition Fund, and After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) budget amendments/transfers for the 2004-2005 school year as follows:
State Public School Fund Amendment #10 reflected:
- year-end adjustments to align position/months of employment/categorical allotment budgets with actual expenditures
- the receipt of April 2005 substitute reimbursement ($18,011)
- the receipt of January, February, and March, 2005 interest ($3,569) and April 2005 fines and forfeitures ($78,616) for School Technology Fund
- the receipt of Group home allotment for Children with Special Needs ($37,045);
- the receipt of Special fuel allotment for Transportation ($124,948)
- transfers due to site-based requests and expenditures as of June 30, 2005
Local Current Expense Fund Amendment #10 reflected:
- the receipt of Medicaid Administrative Claim reimbursements for quarters ending March 31, 2004 ($1,681) and September 30, 2004 ($130,216)
- the receipt of InfoHandler reimbursement ($393,021)
- the receipt of 21st Century Grant reimbursement from United Way of Greensboro ($56,200)
- the receipt of Smaller Learning Communities Grant revenue ($731,959)
- the receipt of Smart Start reimbursements for April 2005 ($23,075), May 2005 ($23,075) and June 2005 ($44,665)
- the receipt of More at Four reimbursement for May 2005 ($69,000)
- the receipt of State Improvement Grant revenue ($10,000)
- the receipt of NC Quest reimbursements for March 2005 ($45), April 2005 ($360), May 2005 ($1,356) and June 2005 ($15,614)
- the receipt of High Point Communities in School reimbursement ($43,729)
- the receipt of Harris Teeter Together in Education donation ($12,843)
- the receipt of United Way of Greensboro reimbursement ($101,405)
- the receipt of United Way of High Point reimbursement ($31,000)
- the receipt of Time Warner Grant quarterly reimbursement ($7,698)
- the receipt of Chess Helps Every Student Succeed revenue ($8,463)
- the receipt of GrandPals reimbursement ($11,063)
- the receipt of Tech Girls Summer Camp donation ($1,000)
- transfers due to site-based requests and expenditures as of June 30, 2005
Federal Grant Fund Amendment #10 reflected:
- adjustments due to receipt of actual versus planning allotments for the following grants: McKinney-Vento - Homeless Assistance Act ($9,304), Title IV - Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities ($3,795), Title V - Innovative Education Program Strategies ($693), IDEA Title VI-B ($16,785), and Title II - Improving Teacher Quality ($3,073)
- and transfers due to site-based requests and expenditures as of June 30, 2005
Capital Outlay Fund Amendment #11 reflected:
- the receipt of allotment from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) for fourth installment payment for the lease/purchase of replacement school buses ($808,701)
- the transfer of funds within the Southwest High School project from construction to technology ($65,000)
- the transfer of funds within the McLeansville Elementary School project from construction to furniture and equipment ($300,000)
- the transfer of funds due to site-based requests and expenditures as of June 30, 2005
Child Nutrition Fund Amendment #1 reflected:
- the actual revenues and expenditures as of June 30, 2005
After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) Fund Amendment #8 reflected:
- the receipt of 2005 summer program revenue
- the transfers due to site-based requests and expenditures as of June 30, 2005.
D. 2005-2006 Budget Resolution
This item was pulled from the Consent Agenda.
E. 2005-2006 Activity Bus Fee Increase
This item was pulled from the Consent Agenda.
F. Auction of Surplus Property
The Consent Agenda included the Board's approval to declare the provided list of items surplus property and to allow the Administration to dispose of these items via a public auction. The auction is scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2005 and will be held at the warehouse located at 529 W. Grimes Street in High Point. Dave’s Auctions, Inc. of Greensboro will conduct the auction.
Motion was made by Marti Sykes, seconded by Walter Childs, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented noting that items D and E were removed from the Consent Agenda. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Marti Sykes, Nancy Routh (no on item B), Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Anita Sharpe (no on item B), Amos Quick, Susan Mendenhall, Deena Hayes, and Darlene Garrett (no on item B).
Staff Reports
Early and Middle College Update
Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Academic Officer, and Barry Williams, Instructional Improvement Officer for Learning Alliances, presented an update to the Board on the district’s early and middle colleges. Early and middle colleges began in 2001 with Greensboro Middle College and GTCC Middle College. The district currently has seven early and middle colleges serving 864 students. Those seven schools are: A&T Middle College, Bennett Middle College, Greensboro Middle College, GTCC Early/Middle College, GTCC Middle College East, GTCC Entertainment & Technology Middle College, and The Early College at Guilford.
Dr. Thompson noted that since 2001, the number of college courses taken by students attending early and middle colleges has increased as has the attendance rate. She also reviewed the number of long-term and short-term suspensions as well as the graduation rate for each of the schools.
Principals Jennifer Topper, GTCC Middle College East, Tony Watlington, GTCC Early/Middle College, and Russell Harper, A&T Middle College, updated the Board on their respective schools sharing information on the schools’ focus and academic progress. Principals also answered Board members’ questions and discussed individual concerns.
Achievement Gap Update
Dr. Gongshu Zhang, Executive Accountability and Research Officer, and Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Academic Officer, presented an update regarding the district’s achievement gap. Dr. Zhang noted that the school district has had some successes in decreasing the achievement gap over the past five years. Much research has been generated about achievement gaps between and within subgroups. The research reflects that many casual factors may influence the achievement gap. Among those are school influences such as rigor of the curriculum, teacher experience and preparation and class size.
Dr. Zhang reviewed achievement gap data among a variety of student groups such as ethnic disadvantaged groups, gaps in the percentage of students scoring Level IV on End-of-Grade tests, gaps in End-of-Grade scale scores, gaps in end of course proficiency and scale scores, and gaps in SAT scores. He summarized that the gaps as measured by percentage proficiency between minority/academically disadvantaged groups and majority groups have been closed in End-of-Grade tests but have not changed in end of course tests. Although the gaps of percentage at Level IV have been closed, there remain large disparities. The gaps as measured by scale scores between minority/academically disadvantaged groups and majority students have not been closed in the End-of-Course tests, End-of-Grade reading, and elementary End-of-Grade math. The gap has increased in End-of-Grade math at the middle grades. The gaps in SAT scores have also increased. Dr. Zhang further reported that strong and effective measures must be taken in order to accelerate minorities and academically disadvantaged students achievement and to close the gaps. Instead of using Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results to monitor the minority and disadvantaged groups’ progress, he suggested actual percentage proficiency of the groups on the right track should be monitored annually. Most importantly, scale score progress of these groups should be examined annually. School, family, and community should work together to support children. He also noted the importance of using scientifically based research findings in teaching and learning practices.
Dr. Zhang also reviewed gaps among students in Academically Gifted (AG) Programs. He reported that the district’s high achieving students have academically performed well. However, most of them are at the lower part of the Level IV score range. Achievement gaps also exist among the high achieving students. The gaps exist not only among the ten No Child Left Behind subgroups but also between each subgroup’s mean scale score and the top bound Level IV score range.
To close the achievement gap, Dr. Zhang indicated that the district must focus on six main factors related to student learning and achievement. Those factors are: metacognition, classroom management, quantity of instruction, student to teacher social interaction, classroom climate, and peer group influence.
Instructional Management System – Scantron Update
Dr. Peggy Thompson, Chief Academic Officer, and Valerie Collins, Chief Curriculum and Organizational Development Officer, updated the Board on the district’s Instructional Management System – Scantron. This is a system that enables the district to do formative assessment in grades 3-12, and provides immediate feedback by student, teacher, grade level/content, and district data. It provides individual student data to determine objective mastery.
Superintendent Grier noted that Scantron replaced the previously used instructional management system and Yearly Progress Pro.
The Board asked staff to communicate with teachers and principals about the status of Scantron.
2005-2006 Activity Bus Fee Increase
Sharon Ozment, Chief Finance Officer, presented a recommendation that the Board approve an increase to the 2005-2006 activity bus mileage fee from $0.9586 to $1.2086 in order to generate an activity bus replacement account. The 2004-2005 activity bus mileage fee was increased from 83.44 cents per mile to 88.11 cents per mile (an increase of 4.67 cents) in April of 2005 due to the significant increase in fuel costs.
Effective October 1, 2005, the 2005-2006 activity mileage fee increased approximately 8.8 percent or 7.75 cents (from 88.11 cents per mile to 95.86 cents per mile) due to a 31 percent increase in fuel costs along with modest increases in labor, benefits, parts and oil costs. In 2005-2006, the district intended to purchase six additional buses from our regular capital outlay funds-- three yellow buses and three activity buses. However, due to increased ridership, (caused by an increasing student enrollment and increasing fuel costs) the district is purchasing six yellow buses to address the overloading conditions encountered to date.
Motion was made by Susan Mendenhall, seconded by Marti Sykes, to approve the Administration’s recommendation to increase the activity bus mileage fee from $0.9586 to $1.2086. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 6 to 4 as follows: Ayes – Marti Sykes, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Amos Quick, Susan Mendenhall, and Deena Hayes; Nays – Nancy Routh, Alan Duncan, Anita Sharpe, and Darlene Garrett.
2005-2006 Budget Resolution
Sharon Ozment, Chief Finance Officer, presented the 2005-2006 Budget Resolution and recommended the Board’s adoption. The resolution reflected:
- current projections for state, federal, child nutrition and After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) funding
- a county appropriation to the Local Current Expense Fund of $141,665,521 or $2,018.11 per pupil based on an enrollment of 70,197 students (actual 10 th day GCS enrollment of 68,722 students + projected charter school enrollment of 1,475 students)
- appropriations to the Capital Outlay Fund of $3,576,001 in Public School Building Capital Funds (PSBCF) and $10,000,000 in county appropriations
Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Deena Hayes, to adopt the 2005-2006 budget resolution as presented. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8 to 2 as follow: Ayes – Marti Sykes, Nancy Routh, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Amos Quick, Susan Mendenhall, and Deena Hayes; Nays – Darlene Garrett and Anita Sharpe.
Reports from the Chairman
Chairman Duncan informed the Board that the October 27 Board meeting agenda would include a continued discussion of redistricting proposals. The Board will conduct the superintendent’s annual performance review at the November 8 meeting.
Closed Session
At 10:24 p.m., motion was made by Deena Hayes, seconded by Walter Childs, to move to closed session to preserve the attorney client privilege, to give instruction to staff and the Board’s attorney regarding the price or other material term for a contract or proposed contract for the purchase of real estate as protected by N.C.G.S. 143-318.1, and to discuss personnel matters protected by N.C.G.S. 115-321. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
The Board returned to open session at 11:22 p.m.
Board Comments
Board members were each allowed two minutes to make remarks, as they deemed appropriate.
Adjournment
With no further business, at 11:25 p.m., motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Marti Sykes, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.
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