 |
 |
|||||||||||
  |
|
|
Guilford County Board of Education |
|
GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION |
|
Thursday, August 30, 2007 |
|
The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Thursday, August 30, 2007, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson. Call to Order Moment of Remembrance and Silence Motion was made by Garth Hébert, seconded by Deena Hayes to move board discussion item A, Second Reading – Policy KG, Use of School Facilities and board discussion item B, Second Reading – Policy KI, Distribution of Materials in Schools before Public Comments and as the first two items of discussion after Approval of Agenda. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote. Approval of Agenda Second Reading – Policy KG, Use of School Facilities At its meeting on July 26, 2007 the board approved for first reading Policy KG, Community Use of School Facilities. This policy has been posted on the district Web site for a public comment period per the board’s policy. Based on feedback from the Web site, from staff regarding requests and review of current procedure, the Governance Committee has reviewed Policy KG and recommended the following changes to this policy.
Motion was made by Alan Duncan, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to accept Policy KG, Community Use of School Facilities, for second reading and direct the administration to receive additional input per the board’s policy. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote. At its meeting on July 26, 2007 the board approved for first reading Policy KI, Distribution of Materials in Schools. This policy has been posted on the district Web site for a public comment period per the board’s policy. Based on feedback from the Web site, from staff regarding requests and review of current procedures, the Governance Committee has reviewed this policy and recommended the following change to the policy:
Following board discussion of this policy, Chairman Duncan requested that policy item #3, “community sports or cultural activities (non-profit),” in paragraph three, which begins, “Information materials or announcements from any other organization …” be moved up to become item #4 in paragraph two, which begins “For district and school-specific materials or announcements …” Motion was made by Alan Duncan, seconded by Walter Childs, to accept Policy KI, Distribution of Materials in Schools, with recommended changes incorporated, for second reading and direct the administration to receive additional input per the board’s policy. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8-to-3 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Alan Duncan, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Kris Cooke, Darlene Garrett and Dot Kearns. Public Comments
Board member Amos Quick departed at 8:30 p.m. Consent Agenda A. Personnel Action Reports B. Duke Energy Carolinas Right-of-Way Agreement at 319 Stage Coach Trail The location of the proposed right-of-way crosses a portion of this property that is not of sufficient width for any foreseeable school use or activity. As such, it was deemed a feasible location for the requested right-of-way. The right-of-way agreement tendered by Duke Energy is the same document form that has been submitted and approved by the board and recorded on multiple occasions during 2007. Legal counsel has reviewed the Duke Energy document submitted for this agenda item and is of the opinion that in the context of this agreement and the rights being requested by Duke Energy, the words “easement” and “right-of-way” are used interchangeably. Legal counsel has determined that the use of either label in this document would not adversely impact GCS. F. Portable Classrooms Chairman Duncan stated his objection to the inclusion of the word “easement” in the Right-of-Way Agreement documentation for consent agenda item B. Duke Energy Carolinas Right-of-Way Agreement at 319 Stage Coach Trail and consent agenda item C. Duke Energy Carolinas Right-of-Way Agreement at Grimsley High School. He stated that the documentation should be amended to either delete the word “easement” or to contain an accompanying statement from the utilities that they do not claim a property right or interest, or, if they do claim a property right or interest, then the utilities should pay what is typically paid for easements. Board members were in agreement. Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the consent agenda as amended. Consent agenda items B, C, E and F passed upon unanimous roll call vote. Consent agenda item A passed upon majority roll call vote of 8-to-1as follows: Ayes – Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Darlene Garrett. Consent agenda item D passed upon majority roll call vote of 7-to-2 as follows: Ayes – Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Deena Hayes, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Darlene Garrett and Garth Hébert. Board member Jeff Belton was not present for this vote. Staff Reports Eastern High School Update Union Hill Elementary School Update – CM at Risk Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer, presented to the board a recommendation that staff and the board attorney enter into negotiations with J.H. Allen, Inc. to provide services as Construction Management at Risk for Union Hill Elementary. Request for Proposals for Construction Management at Risk for Union Hill Elementary was advertised on July 12, 2007. A mandatory pre-proposal conference was held on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 with 17 contractors in attendance. Seven proposals were received on August 7, 2007. After an extensive review by GCS staff and the Architect Selection Committee, three companies have been selected to be forwarded to the board. The three companies in order of ranking are: J.H. Allen Inc., Asheboro, NC; Samet Corporation, Greensboro, NC; and New Atlantic Contracting Group, Winston Salem, NC. The number one ranked company has an excellent construction history with GCS. This history includes: Gibsonville and Guilford Elementary Schools. Their minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) participation for these projects ranged from 17.46% to 30.13%. Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Walter Childs, to follow the recommendation of the Architect Selection Committee to authorize staff and the board attorney to enter into negotiations with J.H. Allen, Inc. to provide services as Construction Management at Risk for Union Hill Elementary School. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8-1-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Garth Hébert; Abstain – Deena Hayes. Dr. Eric Becoats, chief of staff, presented to the board an update on the first day of school for students. AYP, ABC and SAT Update Dr. Gongshu Zhang, chief accountability and research officer, presented to the board an AYP, ABC and SAT update. Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Advisory Committee Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, presented to the board an update on the HUB Advisory Committee. At the board meeting of March 13, 2007, a motion was approved directing staff and an ad hoc committee of the board to work together and come back to the board with a recommendation in regard to composition and purpose for a stand-alone advisory committee to review and make recommendations for HUB firms. A document providing a recap of the various HUB Advisory Committee models that were reviewed/considered in developing a proposed framework for the GCS HUB Advisory Committee was presented. Information was gathered on the following categories of information: mission, membership, terms, chair, compensation, meetings, quorum, vacancies, removal, limitations and responsibilities. Recommendations were received from consultant Kenneth Johnson. Information was gathered on existing HUB Advisory Committees at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the State of North Carolina. Also included in the report was the proposed framework for the GCS Hub Advisory Committee. The ad hoc committee of the board opted to propose the recommendations received from consultant Kenneth Johnson with some minor revisions as follows: In regard to “membership,” 13 members were proposed. Ms. Johnson recommended three members representing non-minority businesses. The committee opted to reduce that to two and to add representation from the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. For the “terms” Ms. Johnson recommended that the committee commence on July 1. The committee proposes the date be changed to September 1. In regard to the “chair” category, Ms. Johnson had indicated the chair shall be a member representing the board for the initial term and then elect someone from the advisory committee. It was Ms. Ozment’s understanding from the motion that the convenor or chair would always be a board member and that person would also be a voting member of the committee. Under the “compensation” category, Ms. Johnson had recommended no salary but did recommend a per diem. The committee eliminated the per diem payment. Under “meetings,” Ms. Johnson had recommended that the superintendent convene the first meeting of the committee within 30 days of July 1 and that meetings be held bi-monthly or more frequently as determined by the committee. The change recommended by the committee is that the board member identified as the convenor or chair would convene the first meeting, and that meeting would be within 30 days of September 1, assuming board approval of the format structure. Board discussion and comments followed. Chairman Duncan recommended that a member of staff be named as co-convenor so meetings can go forward should the convenor be unable to attend. The suggestion was made to name the newly-hired MWBE coordinator as co-convenor. It was also suggested that the change be made to reduce the number from three members to two members representing historically underutilized businesses and from three members to two members representing GCS (one being a board member named as convenor and the other being the MWBE coordinator named as co-convenor). It was agreed by Ms. Ozment that she would attend meetings as a liaison to the committee, not as a regular member. This would take the total membership number on the HUB Advisory Committee from 13 to 11. Board member Deena Hayes suggested that when the minority contractors have reached the same goal as the GCS MWBE goal and sustain that goal for one year, then continuation of the task force would no longer be necessary. Chairman Duncan stated that for all task forces that do not have sunset dates, it should be made a matter of board policy that on an annual basis the board review the continuation work of these task forces. Motion was made by Alan Duncan, seconded by Deena Hayes, to adopt the HUB Advisory Committee Report as recommended with the revision that the total number of members be changed from 13 to 11, with one reduction being from three to two members representing historically underutilized businesses and one reduction being that the representative currently employed by GCS in a management and administrative role for capital development come out as a voting committee member and instead be designated as a liaison to the committee as appropriate to the committee’s desires and that the new GCS MWBE Coordinator be named as the vice-chair or vice-convenor for the purpose of assuring the continuity of meetings in the event the chair or convenor is not able to be present. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8-to-2 as follows: Ayes –Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Jeff Belton and Garth Hébert. Review of the 2007-08 Capital Budget Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, presented to the board a review of the 2007-08 capital budget (GCS FY08 Capital Outlay Budget spreadsheet in minutes file). At the board meeting of August 14, 2007, staff was directed to prepare a revised 2007-08 capital outlay budget for presentation at the board meeting scheduled for August 30, 2007. The spreadsheet reflects the revised 2007-08 capital outlay budget in columns (C) – (H) and, for information/reference purposes, the original 2007-08 capital outlay budget is reflected in columns (I) – (N). The revenues/sources in the original 2007-08 capital outlay budget were based on the budget request approved by the Board of Education and submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for funding consideration. The revenues/sources in the revised 2007-08 capital outlay budget are based on the budget approved locally by the commissioners and the budget approved at the state level by the legislature. The revised 2007-08 capital outlay budget document reflects total revenues/sources of $37,337,873. Of that amount, $10,980,234 are county appropriation dollars; $4,708,235 are Public School Building Capital Funds (PSBCF); $14,158,922 are state lottery distributions; $2,472,982 are red light camera monies; $287,500 are funds received from mediation settlement agreements related to the construction of Colfax Elementary and the Eastern Middle roof failure experienced in fiscal year 1999-2000; and $4,730,000 are anticipated May 2008 bond funds. County Appropriation:
These are carryover funds from fiscal year 2006-07 that are earmarked for completing the Modular Village at Eastern Guilford High School (EGHS).
The capital expenditures eligible for funding from PSBCF dollars and lottery distributions are defined by state statutes. These expenditures are essentially bricks and mortar construction of public school buildings and equipment which is an integral part of the buildings (i.e., excludes administrative and maintenance facilities, mobile/modular classrooms, and movable equipment). During the exercise of assigning revenue sources to expenditure line-items in the 2007-08 capital outlay budget, it was determined that $1,074,780 more in state lottery funds were available from 2006-07 than eligible state lottery expenditures budgeted in 2007-08; therefore, it is recommended that $1,074,780 in 2006-07 expenditures be reclassified from county appropriation to lottery funds – thus freeing up $1,074,780 in 2006-07 county appropriation dollars to carry forward to 2007-08 and use to fund the $1,074,780 in 2007-08 capital outlay expenditures that are not eligible for funding from either PSBCF dollars or state lottery distributions.
The board requested $10M in county appropriation dollars for capital outlay. The Board of County Commissioners funded $7M.
In fiscal year 2007-08, the state will “assume” 25% of county Medicaid costs beginning 10/1/07 and GCS must “forego” a portion of its PSBCF dollars in order to fund this Medicaid Relief initiative. However, the county must, in turn, allocate to GCS for school construction an amount from its Medicaid Relief funds equal to the GCS reduction in or loss of PSBCF dollars. Based on information available on the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Web site, the amount by which the 2007-08 PSBCF dollars is to be reduced and, thus, the amount of Medicaid Relief funds that the county must “swap” with GCS is $2,105,454. Public School Building Capital Funds (PSBCF):
These are carryover funds from fiscal year 2006-07 (see PSBCF RECAP FY04 THRU FY07 for carryover calculation – spreadsheet included in minutes file).
$ 4,239,752 projected 2007-08 PSBCF allocation per NCDPI
FY08 estimated lottery distributions per NCDPI Web site as of August 23, 2007. Red Light Camera Money:
$ 995,524.91 received from the City of Greensboro Settlements: The board received $250,000 from a mediation settlement agreement related to the construction of Colfax Elementary School and $37,500 from a mediation settlement agreement related to the Eastern Middle roof failure experienced in fiscal year 1999-2000. May 2008 Bond Funds:
The Board of Education requested approval from the Board of County Commissioners to place a bond referendum for school construction/renovation on the November 2007 ballot. The request was denied. While no formal action has been taken by the commissioners with respect to setting the date for the requested referendum, the anticipated date is May 2008 to coincide with scheduled county-wide elections. Superintendent Terry Grier led the board in discussion regarding specific line item expenditures/uses as listed in the capital outlay budget spreadsheet. Chairman Duncan presented three ideas for consideration by the board.
Recommendation: (a) approve the 2007-08 regular capital outlay budget in the amount of $32,607,873 as reflected on the attached spreadsheet ($37,337,873 total per attached spreadsheet less $4,730,000 in May 2008 bond funds); Motion was made by Alan Duncan, seconded by Walter Childs, to follow staff’s recommendation above with respect to the FY08 Capital Outlay Budget with the proviso that those items that do not need to be immediately spent be delayed long enough for staff to be able to report back on the feasibility of spending on any of the items raised, if it be the pleasure of the board, with respect to a possible central office, with respect to phasing in Smith High air conditioning, with respect to looking at the possibility of computerizing the records and with respect to investigating land options for tennis courts at Northwest High. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 9-to-1 as follows: Ayes –Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns and Nancy Routh ; Nays – Anita Sharpe. Board Comments Adjournment
|
In compliance with federal laws, Guilford County Schools administers all educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law. Refer to the Board of Education's Discrimination Free Environment Policy AC for a complete statement. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Guilford County Schools Compliance Officer, 120 Franklin Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27401; 336.370.2323. All Guilford County Schools facilities, both educational and athletic, are tobacco-free learning environments. © 2008 Guilford County Schools, 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 336.370.8100 |
