Guilford County Board of Education
Regular Meeting
March 26, 2009

I. Call to Order
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will call the meeting to order. 

II. Pledge of Allegiance
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will call on a member of the board to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Moment of Remembrance and Silence  
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will lead the board in a moment of remembrance and silence in honor of those students who have tragically lost their lives this school year. 

IV. Recognition   
2009 Arts Educator of the Year and Finalists
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, the board will recognize the 2009 Arts Educator of the Year Lawrence “Andy” Mock, music specialist at Jefferson Elementary, and the two finalists Dena Adams, choral director at Northwest Middle, and Lisa Woods, art teacher at Weaver Academy. If you have any questions regarding this item, please contact Nora Carr, chief of staff, at 370-8106, prior to the meeting.

V. Public Comments
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will call on members of the public who have requested an opportunity to address the board.

VI. Approval of Agenda
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will ask board members to review the meeting agenda and will call for a motion to approve or revise it.  If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Chairman Duncan at 378-5315, prior to the meeting.

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Personnel Action Reports
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, the consent agenda includes personnel actions as noted in the monthly personnel action report requiring board approval.  Should there be any additional personnel action requiring board approval, you will receive notification prior to the meeting. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Dr. Peggy Thompson, chief human resources officer, at 370-8340, prior to the meeting.

B. 2008-09 Budget Amendments/Transfers Report
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, the consent agenda includes a recommendation that the board approve the State, Local, Federal, Capital Outlay and After-School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) budget amendments/transfers for 2008-09 school year as follows:

State Public School Fund Amendment #6 reflects:

• discretionary budget reductions as approved by the Board of Education on December 18, 2008:
  • Classroom Teachers (-$918,893)
  • Non-Instructional Support Personnel (-$271,739)
  • Instructional Support (-$30,523)
  • Career and Technical Education-Months of Employment (-$302,351)
  • Career and Technical Education-Program Support (-$1,306)
  • Mentor Positions (-$842)
  • Teacher Assistants (-$200,740)
  • Academically/Intellectually  Gifted (-$4,653)
  • Transportation of Pupils (-$28,605)
  • Classroom Materials/Instructional Supplies and Equipment (-$1,059,000)
  • At-Risk Student Services (-$16,013)
• adjustments to align categorical allotment budgets with actual expenditures:
  • Non-Contributory Employee Benefits ($4,044,897)
  • Compensation Bonus ($232,670)
• the receipt of:
  • reimbursement for new teacher orientation [All newly certified teachers (local and state) who have never taught before, or taught less than 6 months, are eligible for up to three extra days of employment for orientation and classroom preparation.] ($193,109)
  • substitute reimbursement for December 2008 ($6,655)
  • School Technology Fund interest for November and December 2008 ($10,045)
  • Children with Special Needs group home funding [The Exceptional Division reimburses local boards of education for the educational cost of children with disabilities assigned to group homes, foster homes or similar facilities. These funds are based on the availability of state and federal funds.] ($235,437)
  • transportation allotment adjustment ($89,534)
  • highway use tax refund ($3,000)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Local Current Expense Fund Amendment #6 reflects:

• the receipt of:
  • Balance of Teaching American History - Building Bridges Grant ($48,480)
  • School Impact Grant reimbursement for December 2008 ($9,350)
  • Donation to the Maintenance department for the custodial equipment repair technician to attend a training session ($600)
  • Clearwire Wireless Broadband lease payments ($800)
• the transfers for school allotments, site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Federal Grant Fund Amendment #6 reflects:

• the following adjustments due to receipt of initial versus planning allotments:
  • Title I - Low Performing Schools ($-2,610)
  • Title II-B Math and Science Partnership ($-28,181)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Capital Outlay Fund Amendment #6 to:

• allocate the Public School Building Capital Fund budget as approved by the Board of Education on September 23, 2008 ($4,291,861)
• reflect the receipt of allotment from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for installment payment for the lease/purchase of replacement school buses ($77,611)
• allocate the balance of capital outlay budget as approved by the Board of Education on September 23, 2008
• the transfer of available funds within the Eastern High School project from construction to furniture and equipment ($500,000) and technology ($500,000)
• the transfer of available funds within the Parkview Elementary School project from construction to technology ($25,000)
• the transfer of available funds within the Southeast High School project from construction to furniture and equipment ($30,000)
• the transfer of available funds within the Union Hill Elementary School project from construction to furniture and equipment ($200,000)
• reflect the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

After-School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) Fund Amendment #6 reflects:

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

If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Sharon Ozment, chief financial officer, at 370-8343, prior to the meeting.

C. Randleman Dam Feeder Main Water Easement Request – Sumner Elementary School
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, the consent agenda includes a recommendation that the board accept compensation from the City of Greensboro in the amount of $6,900 for the requested permanent utility easement affecting the Sumner Elementary School campus and approve the execution and delivery of an appropriate Deed of Easement prepared by GCS counsel to include the provisions outlined in the attachment. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer, at 370-3482, prior to the meeting.

VIII. Staff Reports
A. Construction Update
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer, will present to the board an update on the district’s construction projects. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Mr. Bobadilla at 370-3482, prior to the meeting.

B. 2008 Bond Project/Program Management Support Services
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer, will present to the board a recommendation that the board authorize staff to negotiate contracts with Arcadis G&M of North Carolina, Inc. to provide Project/Program Management Support Services for 2008 Bond Projects. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Project / Program Management Support Services was posted on July 1, 2008. Two addendums were posted on July 14, 2008. Addendum 1 extended the deadline for submissions from July 17, 2008 until July 24, 2008. Addendum 2 included responses to several questions related to the RFQ. A total of 12 proposals were received on July 24, 2008. After reviewing the qualifications for each of the firms, staff recommends moving forward with contract negotiations with Arcadis G&M of North Carolina, Inc. The cost of these services is included within the budget for each 2008 bond project. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Mr. Bobadilla at 370-3482, prior to the meeting.

C. Proposed Changes for Newcomers School
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Dr. Beth Folger, chief academic officer, and Jake Henry, Newcomers School principal, will present to the board an overview of the proposed changes for the Newcomers School. They will also present a recommendation to approve the following changes to be implemented for the Newcomers School at the start of the 2009-10 school year: operate on a traditional 180-day academic calendar with an instructional day of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and to allow over-age ninth-graders the option to remain enrolled at the school for more than one year. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Dr. Folger at 370-2313 or Mr. Henry at 316-5883, prior to the meeting.

D. Proposed Opt-Out Schools
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Dr. Barbara Zwadyk, interim chief curriculum and organizational development officer, will present to the board a recommendation to approve an additional 10 Title I schools as opt-out options for the 2009-10 school year. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Dr. Zwadyk at 370-2308, prior to the meeting.

E. Approval of Proposed 2009-10 Non-Traditional Calendars
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Lekan Oguntoyinbo, district relations officer, will present to the board a recommendation to approve the proposed 2009-10 non-traditional calendars for Extended Year - Brooks Global Studies and Johnson Street Global Studies; Year-round - Hampton Leadership Academy, GCS Newcomers School* and Oak Hill Elementary; Middle Colleges and Academy- The Middle College at Bennett, The Middle College at NC A&T, The Academy at Smith, The Middle College at GTCC-High Point, The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro and The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown; The Early College at Guilford; Greensboro College Middle College and Washington Montessori.   

The administration further recommends approval of calendar waivers for the following schools: Brooks Global Studies, Johnson Street Global Studies, The Middle College at Bennett, The Middle College at North Carolina A&T, The Academy at Smith, Greensboro College Middle College, The Early College at Guilford and Washington Montessori.

* Board of Education approval of the school’s request to move to a traditional calendar would nullify this recommendation.  If the request is declined, the school would follow the non-traditional calendar for 2009-10 as presented. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Mr. Oguntoyinbo at 370-8386, or Nora Carr, chief of staff, at 370-8106, prior to the meeting.

F. Revised 2009-10 Academic Calendar
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Lekan Oguntoyinbo, district relations officer, will present to the board a recommendation to approve the revised 2009-10 academic calendar (option 1). In light of recent legal and policy issues, it would allow the final school day for students to be June 10 in the event of missing up to seven days of school due to inclement weather. The administration also recommends giving members of the public an opportunity to comment on option 1 as well as option 2, which was approved by the Board of Education on December 18, 2008. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Mr. Oguntoyinbo at 370-8386, or Nora Carr, chief of staff, at 370-8106, prior to the meeting.

G. Strategic Plan: Regionalization (Geographic Regions)
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Lewis Ferebee, instructional improvement officer on special assignment, will present to the board an update on the strategic plan: regionalization (geographic regions). If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Mr. Ferebee at 370-8301, prior to the meeting.

H. Budget Update
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Sharon Ozment, chief financial officer, will present to the board an update on the budget. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Ms. Ozment at 370-8343, prior to the meeting.

IX. Board Discussion
Second Reading – Policy JCDB, Student Dress Code
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will call on board member Nancy Routh, convenor of the governance review committee, to lead the board in a discussion regarding the second reading of Policy JCDB, Student Dress Code. If you have questions regarding this item, please contact Dr. Routh at 674-7083 or Dr. Peggy Thompson, chief human resources officer, at 370-8340, prior to the meeting.

X. Reports from the Superintendent, if needed
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Superintendent Green will share information about the district, should there be any to be reported.

XI. Reports from the Chairman, if needed
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, Chairman Duncan will share reports of the board’s activities, should there be any events to be reported.

XII. Board Comments 
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, board members will each be allowed two minutes to make remarks, as they deem appropriate.

XIII. Closed Session, if needed
At the meeting of March 26, 2009, the board will address business requiring a closed session, if needed.

XIV. Adjournment