Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
November 8, 2007

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett (arrived at 6:09 p.m.), Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe. Board members Walter Childs and Dot Kearns were absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order
Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Board member Nancy Routh led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Recognitions

GCS Employee of the Month for October 2007
The board recognized Leigh Hebbard, assistant principal at Eastern High, as the district’s October Employee of the Month. Board member Anita Sharpe presented Leigh with a certificate of recognition. In a prior ceremony, Mr. Hebbard received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, which has partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program.

GCS Volunteer of the Month for October 2007
The board recognized Wanda Cornwell, a volunteer at Alderman Elementary, as the district’s October Volunteer of the Month. Board member Jeff Belton presented Wanda with a certificate of appreciation. Ms. Cornwell received a $25 gift card from American Express, which has partnered with GCS to support the volunteer recognition program.

2007 GCS Principal of the Year and Finalists
The board recognized Valerie Akins, principal at Aycock Middle, as the district’s Principal of the Year. The board also recognized Revonda Johnson as the district’s secondary school Principal of the Year, as well as finalists Grenita Lathan from Washington Elementary, Darcy Kemp from Morehead Elementary and Pam Misher from Pearce Elementary. Board member Amos Quick assisted in the presentation of the awards.

As the district’s 2006-07 overall winner of Principal of the Year, Valerie received $1,000 from Wachovia as well as $500 as the elementary level winner. As the district’s secondary school winner, Revonda received $500. The remaining finalists received $300 each from Wachovia Bank. Additionally, Valerie will have her choice of $2,000 to attend an educational conference or a gift card combination to Harris Teeter Markets ($1,000) and Friendly Shopping Center ($1,000). Each of the Principal of the Year finalists will also receive a $500 gift card to Harris Teeter. 

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan called on members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the board.

Mary Wakeman, 2710 Azalea Drive, Greensboro, NC27407
Susan Tawney, 502 Hannah McKenzie Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Susan Antin, 1807 Bearhollow Road, Greensboro, NC 27410
Rhonda Frazier, #9 Creekstone Court, Greensboro, NC 27407
Kathy Headen, 226 Webster Road, Apt. 1, Greensboro, NC 27406
Rose Bate, 4547 Peeples Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Thomas Soth, 1902 Basset Trail, Greensboro, NC 27410
Brenda Chappell, 916 Fowler Road, Walnut Cove, NC 27052
Mary Muntyan, 1678 Deer Run Court, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Jacob Mannerstrale, 5114 Hartridge Way, Greensboro, NC 27407
Terrina Picarello, 15 Owls Roost Court, Greensboro, NC 27410
Janet Daw, 5407 Rutledge Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Melinda Waegerle, 2013 Trosper Road, Greensboro, NC 27455

Board member Amos Quick departed at 6:29 p.m.

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or amend it. Chairman Duncan asked that an item be added under Staff Reports entitled “Update on Advanced Learner (AL) Program.” Motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Deena Hayes, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

Consent Agenda
Superintendent Grier presented the following consent agenda items:

A.  September Meeting Minutes

The minutes of the September 13 Regular Meeting, September 22 Retreat and September 25 Regular Meeting were presented for approval.

B.  Personnel Action Reports

The consent agenda included personnel actions as noted in the monthly Personnel Action Report requiring board approval. 

C.  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 2006-07 school year as follows:

State Public School Fund Amendment #8 reflects:

• the year-end adjustments to align position/months of employment/categorical allotment budgets with actual expenditures and/or actual versus projected budgets (denoted by an asterisk on the attachment)
• the receipt of additional allotment for second semester Early College Program Transportation costs [only expenditures for mileage that would not otherwise have been expended (such as shuttle routes, routes operating on days when other schools are not in session, etc.) were considered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.] ($86,693)
• the funds returned to NCDPI that were allotted to GCS in error for a Principal Fellow Intern who was assigned to Winston-Salem Forsyth  (-$7,735)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Local Current Expense Fund Amendment #8 reflects:

• the receipt of:
• Medicaid Direct Services Reimbursement Program reimbursements received from April 12, 2007 through June 30, 2007 ($177,660)
• Smart Start reimbursements for April, May & June, 2007 ($126,965)
• More at Four reimbursements for April, May & June, 2007 ($491,873)
• United Way reimbursement for Gateway Education Center ($539,746)
• Registration and sponsor fees for Large City Schools Superintendents' (LCSS) Conference hosted by GCS June 27-30, 2007 ($40,000)
• Human Resources Wellness Program donations ($400)
• United Way of Greater High Point funds for the Middle School Chess Program ($43,604)
• College tuition reimbursements from Greensboro Middle College students ($14,200)
• Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro donation for the Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) Initiative to purchase defibrillators ($1,500)
• Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) School Library Collection Development Grant from State Library of NC for Eastern Guilford High School (EGHS) ($4,721)
• EGHS donations ($1,628)
• the 2005-06 encumbrance reserve ($3,338,711)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Federal Grant Fund Amendment #8 reflects:

• the allotment adjustment for the following grants:
• Title I - Low Performing Schools (-$11,707) 
• FIE - Low Performing Schools CSRD Grant ($-64,811)
• Abstinence Education ($10,815)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Capital Outlay Fund Amendment #7:

• Reflects the transfer of available funds within projects from construction to furniture/equipment as follows: Eastern High ($500,000), Ferndale Middle ($810,000), Florence Elementary ($100,000), Gibsonville Elementary ($120,000), Guilford Elementary ($300,000), Morehead Elementary ($5,774.86), Northeast High ($46,000), Northern Elementary ($270,000), Oak View Elementary ($190,254.58), Pearce Elementary  ($300,000), Peeler Elementary ($10,000),  Southern High ($126,038.62), Southern Middle ($600,000) and Stokesdale Elementary ($60,000). [$3,438,068.06]
• Reflects the transfer of available funds within the Smith Academy project ($31,417.99) and the Southwest High School project ($30,758.27) from furniture/equipment to construction. [$62,176.26]
• To correct posting error on Amendment #3 ($8,000,000) and Amendment #6 ($3,024,000)

Child Nutrition Fund #1 reflects:

• the actual revenues and expenditures as of June 30, 2007
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) #7 reflects:

• the receipt of revenue for summer programs at Florence, Hunter and Oak Ridge elementary schools
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

D.   2007-08 Budget Resolution

The consent agenda included a recommendation for the board to adopt the 2007-08 budget resolution. The resolution reflects:

• 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 $165,165,521 or $2,276.54 per pupil based on an enrollment of 72,551 students (actual 10th day GCS enrollment of 71,176 students + projected charter school enrollment of 1,375 students) and
• $20,977,127 in Capital Outlay Funds consisting of $4,708,235 in Public School Building Capital Funds (PSBCF) [$2,573,937 carryover from 2006-07 + $2,134,298 for 2007-08]; $3,602,956 in state lottery distributions; $9,105,454 in county appropriations ($7M appropriated for 2007-08 + $2,105,454 from Medicaid Swap Proposal to offset reduction in 2007-08 PSBCF appropriation); $2,472,982 in fines and forfeitures (red light camera monies); $37,500 from Colfax Elementary School project mediation settlement; and $1,050,000 in fund balance appropriated ($800,000 carryover from 2006-07 to complete Eastern Guilford High School Modular Village + $250,000 settlement from Eastern Guilford Middle School roof failure).

E.  Designation of Official Depositories and Appointment of School Treasurers for 
2007-08

The consent agenda included a recommendation to approve the official depositories and treasurers for the 2007-08 school year. The North Carolina General Statute (N.C.G.S.) 115C-444 requires boards of education to designate the official depositories for all funds of the school district including the accounts of the individual schools. In addition, N.C.G.S. 115C-448 requires boards of education to appoint a treasurer for each school within the administrative unit. The administration recommends approval of the official depositories and treasurers for 2007-08 as presented and further that (a) if an individual school wishes to do business with any financial institution which does not appear on the official depository listing, the account(s) will be established and maintained in accordance with GCS local school fund accounting procedures and collateralization requirements; and (b) if any school treasurer vacancy occurs during the fiscal year, the vacancy and/or replacement appointment will be reported to you via the monthly personnel action report.

Motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Deena Hayes, to approve the consent agenda as presented. Items A, B and E passed upon unanimous roll-call vote. Item C passed upon majority roll-call vote of 7-to-1as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Garth Hébert. Item D passed upon majority roll-call vote of 7-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert and Nancy Routh; Nays – Anita Sharpe.

Staff Reports

Approval for Naming of New Wing at Oak View Elementary

Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer, presented to the board information regarding the naming of the new wing at Oak View Elementary. As reported at the September 13, 2007 board meeting and pursuant to the procedure on the naming of schools (FDCA-P), a nomination form and accompanying support documents have been turned in for review and consideration regarding the naming of the new wing. The nomination was brought forward by Ms. Janet Curlee, on behalf of the project team, in honor of an individual. The name being proposed for the board’s consideration is: Doris T. Davis Hall.

After reviewing the materials and hearing from members of the public, the board voted to post the proposed name on the district Web site for a period of public comment and feedback.  Five public comments on the name have been received. The comments are summarized as follows: four in favor of Doris T. Davis Hall and one in favor of Doris Davis Hall.  

Chairman Duncan called on members of the public to share comments regarding their support of the proposed name. No speakers came forward.

Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Deena Hayes, to approve the use of the name Doris T. Davis Hall for the new wing at Oak View Elementary with the stipulation that Doris T. Davis be consulted regarding whether her middle initial should be included and direct staff to move forward with appropriate efforts regarding signage. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.  

Approval for Naming of the New Gymnasium at Northwest High School

Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer, presented to the board information regarding the naming of the new gymnasium at Northwest High School. As reported at the September 13, 2007 board meeting and pursuant to the procedure on the naming of schools (FDCA-P), a nomination form and accompanying support documents have been turned in for review and consideration regarding the naming of the new gymnasium.  The nomination is being brought forward by Mr. Stan Morgan and Mr. Randy Hunter, on behalf of the Northwest Gymnasium Committee and surrounding community, in honor of an individual. The name being proposed for the board’s consideration is: Roger L. Nelson Gymnasium. After reviewing the materials and hearing from members of the public, the board voted to post the proposed name on the district Web site for a period of public comment and feedback.  One public comment on the name has been received. The comment is summarized as follows:  In favor of Roger Nelson Gymnasium.

Chairman Duncan called on members of the public to share comments regarding their support of the proposed name. One person spoke in support of the name Roger L. Nelson Gymnasium stating that Mr. Nelson supports the use of his middle initial in this name. No one spoke in opposition to the name.

Motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the use of the name Roger L. Nelson Gymnasium for the new gymnasium at Northwest High School and direct staff to move forward with appropriate efforts regarding signage. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Update – Diversity Office

Monica Walker, diversity officer, presented to the board an update on the diversity office activities. Chairman Duncan provided board members the opportunity to make comments and ask questions.

Board member Amos Quick returned at 8:14 p.m.

Eastern Guilford High School Cash Flow

Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, presented to the board a recommendation for a phased replenishment of the funds proposed to be temporarily transferred from the existing capital improvement projects to the Eastern Guilford High project.  

Based on information provided  by Barnhill Construction (the CM@Risk or Construction Management at Risk Contractor for the EGHS project), $30M is needed for construction and soft costs for Eastern Guilford High School (EGHS) in fiscal year 2007-08 (see chart and calculation below).

  $28,714,752          2007-08 EGHS cash flow projections less modular village costs
  $  1,300,000          soft costs
  $30,014,752          estimated construction + soft costs needed for EGHS in 2007-08

Staff proposes using $14 million in insurance proceeds and making $16,014,752 in temporary transfers from various existing Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects in order to fund the $30M. Attorney Jill Wilson and the county attorney have been working on language for a resolution that will address how the funds that are temporarily transferred are to be replenished by the Board of County Commissioners. At the Commission meeting of September 20, 2007, GCS was asked to calculate how the replenishment of such funds might be phased versus recouped in a lump sum.

Finance and facilities staff members have met and recommend phasing the replenishment of funds as follows:
     
  $  1,492,593 in 2007-08
  $10,669,635 in 2008-09
  $  3,852,524 in 2009-10
  $16,014,752

Board discussion followed. The suggestion was made that the board’s attorney and chairman enter into negotiations to finalize terms for a memorandum of understanding and bring this memorandum of understanding back to the board for approval when completed. Chairman Duncan stated that a special called meeting of the board will be held on September 17 for this purpose.

Motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Amos Quick, to approve the phased replenishment of $16,014,752 in funds proposed to be temporarily transferred from existing CIP projects to EGHS as outlined above and, upon board approval, authorize staff to contact County Manager David McNeill and ask that the resolution addressing how the funds that are temporarily transferred to EGHS are to be replenished by the Board of County Commissioners be revised so as to incorporate the phased replenishment outlined above and that the revised resolution be placed on the County Commission agenda of October 18, 2007 and to further authorize the board’s attorney and chair to enter into negotiations to finalize terms for a memorandum of understanding; upon conclusion of the negotiations the board will reconvene to approve the terms of the memorandum of understanding. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Kris Cooke.

Update on Advanced Learner (AL) Program

Chief Academic Officer Mack McCary provided to the board an update on the Advanced Learner program. Chairman Duncan provided board members the opportunity to share comments and ask questions. Board members were asked to forward any questions they receive regarding the AL program to Dr. McCary so they can be addressed. Dr. McCary stated that staff will investigate to be certain all schools are following the plan and that children are being placed appropriately.

Board Discussion

North Carolina State Board Association (NCSBA) Conference Delegates

Chairman Duncan led a discussion of North Carolina School Board Association delegates. NCSBA will hold its annual conference on November 5-7, 2007 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Guilford County Board of Education is eligible to have four board members serve as voting delegates at the conference.

Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to name board members Walter Childs, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns and Nancy Routh as North Carolina State Board Association Conference Delegates. The motion passed upon majority show of hands of 8-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Garth Hébert.

Board Comments

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

Adjournment

With no further business, at 9:52 p.m., motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Deena Hayes, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.