Background material for each agenda item is available online under the Board Meeting Materials link

Recognition

Visiting International Faculty Principal of the Year
The board recognized Jake Henry, principal of the GCS Newcomers School, as the Visiting International Faculty Principal of the Year.

Consent Agenda
The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

• Personnel Action Reports
• Budget Amendments and Transfers
• Second Reading – Policy IHA, Grading and Reporting Student Progress
• Second Reading – Policy JBC, School Admission

Public Hearing on the 2008-09 Budget
Chairman Duncan called on members of the public who wished to address the board regarding 2008-09 budgetary matters of the school district.

Staff Reports

Purchase of Replacement School Buses
The board approved the authorization of appropriate staff members to proceed with ordering 23 replacement school buses at the cost of $1,780,260.72.

Construction Update
Andy LaRowe, executive director of facilities, presented to the board an update on the district’s construction projects.

Academic Improvement Strategies Update
Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, and Dr. Beth Folger, chief curriculum and organizational development officer, presented to the board an update on academic improvement strategies.

Discussion of Changing Grade Scale
Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, presented to the board information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of moving from a 7-point to a 10-point grading scale.

Discrimination Within Schools
The board deferred discussion of this item until the May 22, 2008 meeting.

Update on Technology Services and Student Information
The board deferred discussion of this item until the May 8, 2008 meeting.

2008-09 Superintendents' Budget Recommendations
The board approved the following items from the superintendents’ budget recommendations, as presented by Sharon Ozment, co-interim superintendent:

• The board voted to support House Bill 906, which abolishes the $50 per day deduction from teacher pay for personal leave days taken

• The board voted to add 16 teacher assistant positions in elementary schools and to pay for those positions by slightly increasing the student-teacher ratio at highly impacted elementary schools

• The board voted to expand the GCS Newcomers School to include third and fourth grades

Board Discussion

Long Term Suspension Appeal Hearings
The board voted to attempt to have one out of every three hearings scheduled in the evening hours.

Superintendents' Goals for 2008-09
The board deferred discussion of this item until the May 8, 2008 meeting.

Search Process for New Superintendent
Chairman Duncan led the board in a continued discussion regarding the search process for a new superintendent.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.