Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
April 10, 2007

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe. Board members Kris Cooke and Deena Hayes 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
Board member Nancy Routh led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moment of Remembrance and Silence
Chairman Duncan led the board in a moment of remembrance and silence in honor of students who have tragically lost their lives during this school year.

Recognitions

Arts Education Teacher of the Year
The board recognized GCS recipients of the Kindermusik and United Arts Council Arts Educator of the Year award.

For her commitment to arts education, Paula Owens, elementary music specialist at Morehead Elementary, is the 2007 Arts Education Teacher of the Year. Mary Beth Boone, elementary art specialist at Summerfield Elementary, and Lennis Cooper, Jr., choral director at Mendenhall Middle School, are the two finalists.

Board member Anita Sharpe presented the recipients with certificates from the board in appreciation of their teaching excellence. Additionally, Paula received a plaque and $1,000 for professional development. Mary Beth and Lennis each received a plaque plus $300 to use toward professional development.

Public Comments

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

Jayne Vosloh, 5710 Forbes-Tate Road, McLeansville, NC 27301
Karen DeNaples, 23 Oleander Point, Greensboro, NC 27407
Glenda Torres, UNCG, 316 Ferguson Building, Greensboro, NC 27402
Eric Huey, 6213 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410
Joseph Alston, 1713 Scarborough Road, High Point, NC 27265
Bernita Sims, 1720 Candlewood Court, High Point, NC 27265
Kimberly Williams, 3604 Gardenplace Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
Joe Stafford, 4604 Forest Village Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Ruth Spaulding, Three Yardarm Court, Greensboro, NC 27455

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or amend it. He requested that the board’s Closed Session be moved to be held after completion of the Consent Agenda.

Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

Consent Agenda
Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A.   Personnel Action Report

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

B.  Budget Amendments and Transfers

The Consent Agenda included State, Local and Federal budget amendments/transfers for the 2006-07 school year as follows:

State Public School Fund Amendment #4 reflects:

• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Local Current Expense Fund Amendment #4 reflects: 

• the receipt of:
• Medicaid Administrative Claim reimbursement for quarter ending 06/30/06 ($135,250)
• Smart Start reimbursement for January, 2007 ($14,625)
• High Schools That Work reimbursements for site visits at Andrews, High Point Central and Page high schools ($6,000)
• State Improvement Grant - Exceptional Children professional development expenses ($2,000)
• UNC System/GCS Math Project - Mission Possible recruitment/retention incentives for math teachers at Eastern and Southern Guilford high schools ($192,794)
• Fullan Training grant from the Bryan Foundation ($138,000)
• Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Health Foundation Student Mentoring Awareness and Resource Team (SMART) grant payment ($66,250)
• Eastern Guilford High School (EGHS) donations ($283,769)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Federal Grant Fund Amendment # 4 reflects:

• allotment adjustments for IDEA VI-B Capacity Building Improvement ($11,600), Title IV - Safe & Drug-Free Schools and Communities ($130), ESEA Title I - Basic Program ($500) and IDEA VI-B Handicapped ($255,987)
• the receipt of 2006-07 allotments for Abstinence Education ($10,815) and ESEA Title I - School Improvement ($474,614)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

C.  First Reading – Policy GAMAA, Sexual Harassment of Students

The consent agenda included a recommendation to approve for first reading Policy GAMAA, Sexual Harassment of Students.

D.  First Reading – Policy GAMA, Sexual Harassment of Staff

The consent agenda included a recommendation to approve for first reading Policy GAMA, Sexual Harassment of Staff.

E.   First Reading – Policy JR, Student Records

The consent agenda included a recommendation to approve for first reading Policy JR, Student Records.

F.   Expansion of Montessori Program at Triangle Lake

The consent agenda included a recommendation, based on the number of parent responses, not to expand the Triangle Lake Montessori Program to grade seven for the 2007-08 school year. Both Erwin and Triangle Lake Montessori programs would have grades Pre-Kindergarten through sixth for the 2007-08 school year. 

Dr. Grier stated that since the development of this item for the Consent Agenda, staff has been notified by the principal of Erwin Montessori that 11 of the current 27 fifth-grade students have opted to remain at the school for sixth grade.

Therefore, staff recommends that the grade configuration for Erwin be PK-5, not PK-6, and Triangle Lake be PK-6 for the 2007-08 school year. The school administration is in support of this recommendation.

Motion was made by Amos Quick, seconded by Dot Kearns, to table the portion of this item as it pertains to Erwin Montessori until the April 26 board meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Walter Childs, to approve the consent agenda as amended. Consent agenda item A passed upon majority roll call vote of 8-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Alan Duncan, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Darlene Garrett. Consent agenda items B-F passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Closed Session

At 6:55 p.m. motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Walter Childs, to go into closed session to preserve the attorney client privilege. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

The board returned to open session at 7:08 p.m.

Staff Reports

Eastern High School Update

Kevin Lear, chief operations officer, presented to the board an update on Eastern High School and presented photographs showing the progress of demolition on the site.

The modular village portion of the project is on track and is in the shop-drawing process. The fabrication of the individual units is ongoing with the first unit expected to be completed on April 5, the second unit on April 15, the third unit on April 30 and the remainder complete by mid-July to ship as finished. The designers are continuing to work on the design for the intercom systems, fire alarms, telephones, utility connections, etc.

The main school portion of the project is 75-percent complete, with expected design completion by the end of April. The bid phase will be complete during May with awarding of the project in early June. This project is on track and on schedule.

Approval has been received from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to build the road to connect the school’s back drive (Painter Lake access drive). The maintenance department will schedule that work shortly.

Chairman Duncan reported that he spoke to interim principal Steve Hodgin. Mr. Hodgin has examined the physical education situation in some detail at the school and concluded that it would not be feasible to have physical education in the auxiliary building that will still be used. Therefore, when it is necessary to have indoor physical education, the school will have an additional activity bus dedicated to transporting students to the Gibsonville Elementary gymnasium, which is approximately five miles away. This plan is being reviewed carefully but has not been finalized. Should that occur, it would require a partition in the Gibsonville project, which was within the scope that was value engineered out. Mr. Lear and his staff will follow up on this plan.

Reedy Fork Elementary Change Order
Staff has negotiated a change order with Barnhill Contracting, Inc. to accelerate the construction of Reedy Fork Area Elementary School. Barnhill has agreed to a new substantial completion date of August 20, 2007 at a cost of $250,000. Funds are available within the project for this change.

In response to a question by board member Anita Sharpe, Chief Finance Officer Sharon Ozment stated that uncommitted funds available were $716,843.86 prior to the request for this change order.

Motion was made by Walter Childs, seconded by Garth Hébert, to approve a change order to Barnhill Contracting in the amount of $250,000 to accelerate the construction of Reedy Fork Elementary School. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Contractual Agreement with Barnhill Contracting Company for Phase I of the Eastern Guilford High School Project
At the February 20, 2007 board meeting, a contract was approved by the board of education for pre-construction services at Eastern High School in the amount of $200,000 with Barnhill Contracting Company.

On March 20, 2007 Barnhill received bids for Phase I of the project. Phase I is for the preliminary grading and modular village layout. The Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) is $2,941,570. As required by General Statute 143-128.1 regarding construction management at risk, the board of education is required to approve the GMP.

Facilities and purchasing staff attended the bid opening conducted by Barnhill and also reviewed the bids for compliance with general statutes including MWBE requirements. Bids were found to be in compliance with general statutes.

Motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Nancy Routh, to award a contract to Barnhill Contracting Company in the amount of $2,941,570 for Phase I of the Eastern Guilford High School project. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Certificates of Participation for Eastern Guilford High School
Chief Finance Officer Sharon Ozment presented information regarding certificates of participation (COPS) for Eastern High. Ms. Ozment and Assistant Finance Officer Angie Henry met on March 13 with Guilford County Manager David McNeill, Guilford County Budget Director Mike Halford, Guilford County Finance Director Brenda Fox and Guilford County Attorney Sharon Kurtz to discuss the next steps for using COPS as a potential financing option for the rebuild of Eastern High and looked at the timeframes needed to proceed with the bidding. It was advised to have a motion to authorize staff to reach a memorandum of understanding to be taken before the Board of County Commissioners.

Motion was made by Walter Childs, seconded by Jeff Belton, to authorize the board chairman, attorney and staff to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Guilford County Board of Commissioners to finance school construction by issuance of certificates of participation or other appropriate means for financing school construction including, but not limited to, the reconstruction and associated capital costs for Eastern Guilford High School, in an amount not to exceed $53 million. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Magnet Grant Proposal Update

Dr. Eric Becoats, chief of staff, presented to the board an update on the magnet grant proposal. The schools and programs included in the proposal are: Washington Elementary as a Montessori school; Northwood Elementary, Ferndale Middle and Hairston Middle to have international baccalaureate (IB) programs.

At the current time, the projected budget is approximately $5 million over three years. Since the time of submitting this proposal, there has been discussion with Guilford Technical Community College in reference to an aviation program, which is in place at GTCC. Staff is looking at the possibility of including in the grant an aviation academy as well as a science and technology academy. The aviation academy is projected to be housed at Andrews High School, with the science and technology academy at Welborn Middle School. There are some available seats at those schools which could accommodate additional students. These two options are being studied for inclusion in the magnet program. Staff is waiting for a return call from the magnet school assistance program director in the federal government to see if these two programs would strengthen the magnet grant in order to secure the funding which would be needed to implement these programs over the next three years.

Chairman Duncan requested that this proposal be brought back at the next board meeting with enhancements to include an aviation academy at Andrews and a science and technology academy at Welborn.

Changes in Middle School Scheduling

Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, presented to the board an overview of the middle school scheduling. Instructional Improvement Officers Lewis Ferebee and Jocelyn Becoats presented information on the options and recommendations that were developed. Dr. Teresa Daye, Hairston Middle School Principal, as well as other middle school principals and teachers, presented their views of the recommended schedule and how they believe these changes will foster improvement at the middle school level. Board discussion on the pros and cons of the proposed middle school schedule followed.

Chairman Duncan stated that the board as a whole has expressed concerns that we are not progressing in our middle schools like we should. Recognizing this concern, the right changes need to be made at the middle school level.

The main concern is not that schools have additional time in certain core subjects. Chairman Duncan stated that science has been overlooked for years and, in fact, legislation has caused this. Social studies has also been overlooked. Chairman Duncan went on to say that social studies, in many respects, should be part of how we teach our children to read. Additionally, Chairman Duncan feels that the board should not lose foreign languages. It is a goal of this board that all students in Guilford County leave with some proficiency in language. The whole middle school effort has to have a greater emphasis on language and, if anything, we should have more foreign language teachers, not less. Instruction in a foreign language area is extremely helpful to reading, grammar and structure of the English language. Furthermore, music and arts has twofold importance. For many students, it unlocks the keys to learning that go far beyond their participation in that subject. More importantly, for a lot of students, it becomes the thing that causes them to embrace school. Middle school is when some children truly start to struggle with their sense of belonging to school, and the arts are the key that can make the difference. The board needs to figure out some way to have arts exposure, to have more meaningful language exposure and still have the opportunity in other core subject areas.
 
In drawing this discussion to a close, Chairman Duncan has asked that this topic be revisited at the April 10 board meeting with further refinement to the extent that staff gives the board a better perception of the full-day look in terms of how GCS will balance these difficult competing priorities.

Superintendent’s Goals for 2007-08

Superintendent Terry Grier presented to the board information regarding the superintendent’s proposed goals for 2007-08. Following discussion, the following goals were presented for approval:

• Ensure greater stability in principal positions within the district.

Motion was made to approve goal 1. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

• Reduce student suspensions while enhancing positive school environments.

Motion was made to approve goal 2. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Garth Hébert.

• Materially increase the percentage of third grade students reading on grade level.

Motion was made to approve goal 3. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

• Decrease the achievement gap in middle school mathematics.

Motion was made to approve goal 4. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

• Increase the district’s graduation rate (include five-year data analysis as well).

Motion was made to approve goal 5. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

• Follow up on employee survey of working conditions for implementation when financially feasible.

Motion was made to approve goal 6. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

• Improve communication and foster collaboration.

Motion was made to approve goal 7. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 6-to-3 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Darlene Garrett, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns and Anita Sharpe; Nays –Alan Duncan, Nancy Routh and Amos Quick.

Bond Referendum Update

Joe Hill, facilities, presented to the board an update regarding the 2007 Bond Referendum. Each board member provided individual priority lists of projects to be included in the bond. There was board discussion in an effort to set priorities and reach agreement on a total dollar amount for the bond.

Motion was made by Garth Hébert, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to direct Joe Hill, facilities, to bring to the board at the April 10 meeting the prioritized bond project list using the information provided by individual board members with a total of $450 million in projects which includes a 16 percent inflation rate. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 5-to-4 as follows: Ayes – Walter Childs, Darlene Garrett, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns and Nancy Routh; Nays – Jeff Belton, Alan Duncan, Amos Quick and Anita Sharpe.

Board Discussion

Second Reading – Policy DK, Participation by Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses

The chairman called on board member Nancy Routh, convenor of the governance committee, to lead the board in a discussion regarding the second reading of Policy DK, Participation by Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses. Dr. Routh stated that there is one error on the bottom of the first page of the policy. In the last paragraph, the words, “in excess of $300,000” are crossed out. The words “in excess of” were crossed out in error and need to remain.

Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Darlene Garrett, that the board adopt Policy DK, Participation by Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Proposal for Attendance Optional Zones in High Point

The chairman called on board member Garth Hébert to lead the board in a discussion regarding a proposal for attendance optional zones in High Point. Mr. Hébert stated that this plan will help resolve several significant problems. While allowing the families affected by the redistricting known as H77-80 and M125-128 the choice between attending the schools they are assigned to under the redistricting or attending their choice of either Andrews High School, Southwest High School, Welborn Middle School or Southwest Middle School as grade assignment is appropriate, a real choice and opportunity in school attendance without a district-imposed magnet program or lottery. He continued by saying that a true and open choice plan provides real, non-lottery choice for those among the poorest and most adversely affected families who are currently being bused past and/or away from two grade-appropriate schools closer to their homes and neighborhoods. Right now, open seating to an assigned school may require daily bus rides longer than one hour in each direction, causing undue constraints and hardships upon their families.

While this plan is not designed around cost savings in transportation and student resources, this may actually be an unintended consequence/benefit. Because of the limited number of actual participants, there will be little impact to the overall demographics/environments of the schools involved.

Mr. Hébert believes this plan has many benefits, little to no potential cost or impact on local school population demographics and has the potential to keep students from leaving GCS by either relocating, home-schooling, dropping out, etc. The majority of students affected by this plan are from very low income homes and public housing projects. These students live within walking distance of a high school and middle school with enough open seats to easily accommodate them, having resources such as social workers, support staff and Mission Possible teachers. Last year’s redistricting forced them into long bus rides and, in many cases, out of after-school activities. It has hindered parental involvement as many of these families cannot get to the assigned school for meetings, activities and emergencies. Implying that these students were not wanted in their neighborhood school because of their impoverished condition was just one unintended consequence of the redistricting. It is hoped and estimated that the majority of the students will choose to stay at their recently reassigned schools where they are welcome and, in most instances, doing well. But they should have the unhindered choice when needed. This choice plan can and should be implemented in such a way as to not imply any single student or group of students is not wanted at their current schools as was done with their redistricting. Any after-school and athletic activities have almost all been ruled out in these instances.

Another unintended consequence of the redistricting was the abandoning of the public school system or geographic area. It has also increased public distrust of GCS among voters that have previously been active supporters of our public schools. Mr. Hébert believes this simple choice will go a long way to heal the disenfranchisement, but it is very doubtful that the many who have left will return. It is estimated that as many as 250 have chosen other vehicles of education costing GCS significant support and discretionary resources. For every discretionary dollar spent on these children, GCS has elected to spend two dollars on free and reduced lunch children.
Mr. Hébert proposed that the board implement an open choice attendance zone involving the areas currently known as H77, 78, 79, 80 and M125, 126, 127, 128 (also known as the areas redistricted under map C* between Southwest Middle and High School and Welborn Middle and Andrews High School). This choice plan would allow these students to be given the choice of either Welborn Middle School or Southwest Middle School and Andrews High School or Southwest High School as appropriate. This choice would be clearly provided at initial registration and annually during magnet school and class selection registration. The administration would provide obvious and clear instructions to these students so that they are aware that a choice is available to them annually. If no choice is made during the magnet school and regular class assignment timeframe, the default school will be the one suggested by: first, the prior year’s school attended or second, the default attendance zone assignment. This will not be construed to interfere with existing grandfathering, petitioned reassignments, magnet programs and administrative reassignments.

Motion was made by Garth Hébert, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to implement an open choice attendance zone involving the areas currently known as H77, 78, 79, 80 and M125, 126, 127, 128 (also known as the areas redistricted under map C* between Southwest Middle and High School and Welborn Middle and Andrews High School).

A substitute motion was made by Walter Childs, seconded by Dot Kearns, to table this item to the next board meeting so that the board members who were not present have the opportunity to consider the information presented. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 6-to-3 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Alan Duncan, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick and Nancy Routh; Nays – Darlene Garrett, Garth Hébert and Anita Sharpe.

Reports from the Chairman

Legislative Update

The chairman called on board member Dot Kearns, convenor of the Legislative Committee, to lead the board in a discussion regarding bills currently under consideration by the General Assembly. The following bills were discussed to identify board support:

HB 174 / SB 135 Funds for the School Connectivity Initiative
Board members voted in agreement with the staff’s recommendation to support this bill by majority electronic vote of 8-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Darlene Garrett, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Alan Duncan.

HB 137 Funds for Children with Disabilities
Board members voted in agreement with the staff’s recommendation to support this bill by unanimous electronic vote.

Board Comments

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

Adjournment

With no further business, at 12:09 a.m., motion was made by Walter Childs, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.