August 18, 2009
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Mr. Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, Chairman Ms. Rita S. Bellitto, Vice Chairman Mr. William J. Brunke, IV Mr. Todd C. Davidson Ms. Emma L. “Em” Davis Ms. Patricia G. Edmonson |
Mr. Dan R. Lowe Mr. Brent N. Mckenzie Mr. Patrick S. Salyer Ms. Sandra Smith-Jones Ms. Carolyn D. Weems |
None |
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Dr. James G. Merrill, Superintendent |
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1.
Convene School Board Informal Meeting:
The
Board convened in the einstein.lab at 4:30 p.m.
2.
Workshop: Chairman Edwards called the
workshop to order at 4:37 p.m. All Board
members were present.
A.
Board Member Sign Up for FY10 School Visits and Advisory Committee
Meetings: Chairman Edwards advised the workshop would
run concurrent with the next workshop to allow for Board members to remain in
their seated order to sign-up for schools to visit during the 2009-10 school
year. A sign-up sheet was passed around until all
school sites had been assigned.
B.
Revised Secondary Mathematics Course Sequence:
Mr. Rodney J. “Joe” Burnsworth, Director of Secondary Instructional
Services, presented the new secondary mathematics sequence proposed for a
phased-in implementation beginning in the fall of 2010. He explained the proposal was driven by data
and related test scores, changes in graduation requirements, revisions to the
Standards of Learning (SOL), and implementation of the division’s Compass to 2015. Additionally, he reported the sequence is to
provide equitable access to higher level math courses to all students so that
an Advanced Studies Diploma is within reach, and to ensure that all students
who wish to attend an institution of higher learning can meet the established
entrance criteria. Discussion concluded
at 5:23 p.m.
3.
Closed Meeting: Acquisition of
Real Property: Vice Chairman Bellitto made a
motion, seconded by Mr. Lowe, that the Board adopt a motion to recess into a
closed meeting pursuant to the exceptions from open meetings allowed by Section
2.2-3711, Part A, Paragraph 3, of the Code
of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the following purpose:
Acquisition of Real Property – Discussion or consideration of
the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of
publicly held property where discussion in an open meeting would adversely
affect the bargaining, position or negotiating strategy of the public body,
pursuant to Section 2.2-3711, (A) (3); namely to discuss acquisition of
school sites.
The
motion was unanimously approved and the Board entered into a closed meeting at
5:25 p.m.
Individuals
present for discussion: Board members; Superintendent
Merrill; Dr.
The Board reconvened in an open meeting at 5:39
p.m.
Certification
of Closed Meeting: Vice Chair Bellitto made a motion, seconded
by Mr. Lowe, that the Board certifies that, to the best of each member’s
knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting
requirements by Virginia law were discussed; and only such public business
matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was
convened were heard, discussed, or considered.
The motion was unanimously approved.
4.
Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on Non-Agenda Items: None
5.
Formal Meeting Call to Order and Electronic Roll Call: Chairman Edwards called the formal meeting to order at
6:11 p.m. All Board members were present
with the exception of Mr. Davidson who was present at the meeting, but not
available for the electronic roll call.
6.
Student, Employee and Public Awards and Recognition
A.
International School Bus Road-eo Transit Competition Winner:
The School Board recognized Tyler Reynolds from the Office of
Transportation, a seven year bus driver, for placing second in the Transit Bus
Category at the 39th Annual International School Bus Driver Safety
Competition, and currently considered to be one of the two most outstanding
school bus drivers in the United States and Canada.
7.
Invocation by Reverend Milton Marks of
8.
Superintendent’s Report: In addition to recognizing the
many accolades of schools, students and staff throughout the division,
Superintendent Merrill highlighted events including the new student
transportation main facility celebration, summer events hosted by the Office of
Student Activities at Virginia Wesleyan College to help students and staff
prepare for the upcoming school year, Advanced Technology Center’s annual
summer camp, the Scenarios, Options, Action and Results (S.O.A.R.) symposium,
and presentation of $25,000 by the Virginia Beach Education Foundation for
“School-Wide Grants” presented to seven schools.
9.
Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on Agenda Items: None
10.
Approval of Minutes:
A.
July 31 – August 2, 2009 Annual Retreat:
Prior to a motion, Chairman Edwards noted the Retreat lasted 2-1/2 days
prohibiting several Board members from being present throughout the entire
event, but advised the Board to vote either for or against the motion to
approve the minutes vice abstaining if they were present for any portion of the
Retreat. Mr. Salyer then made a motion,
seconded by Ms. Edmonson, that the Board approve the minutes of the July
31—August 2, 2009 Board Annual Retreat as presented. The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0; 1
abstention – Bellitto who was unable to attend any portion of the Retreat due
to being ill).
B.
August 4, 2009 Regular Meeting: Mr. Davidson made
a motion, seconded by Mr. Brunke, that the Board approve the minutes of their
August 4, 2009 regular meeting as presented.
The motion was approved (ayes 10, nays 0; 1 abstention – Edmonson who
was absent due to the death of an immediate family member).
11.
Adoption of the Agenda: Chairman Edwards
affirmed the closed meeting listed as needed on the published agenda was needed
and conducted in the afternoon. There
being no proposed changes to the published agenda, Ms. Smith-Jones made a
motion, seconded by Ms. Edmonson, that the Board adopt the agenda as
presented. The motion was unanimously
approved.
12.
Consent Agenda: Ms. Edmonson made a motion,
seconded by Mr. Salyer, that the Board approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was unanimously approved and the
following items adopted as part of the Consent Agenda:
A.
Revision
to Student Placement Policy 5-25 as required by legislation approved by the
2009 General Assembly directing local school boards to develop and implement
policies to allow a parent of twins or higher order multiples to request that
the children be placed in the same classroom or separate classrooms if they are
in the same grade level at the same elementary school
B.
Authorization
for the Chairman to execute a Deed of Easement for a utility easement at
C.
Family
Life Education (FLE) Video Resource Materials for grades 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10
as recommended by the adoption committee for implementation in the 2009-10
school year
D.
Appointments,
Resignations and Retirements as presented on the Personnel Report dated August
18, 2009. In addition, Superintendent
Merrill announced, and the Board affirmed the following administrative
appointments:
-
David
A. Bergren from Assistant Principal at Salem Middle School to Assistant
Principal at Tallwood High School effective August 19, 2009;
-
Christopher
Lawler from Administrative Assistant at Virginia Beach Middle School to
Assistant Principal of Salem Middle School effective August 19, 2009;
-
Janet
A. Lewis from Administrative Assistant at Birdneck Elementary School to
Assistant Principal at Birdneck Elementary School effective August 19, 2009;
and
-
Leeane
Turnbull from School Improvement Specialist at
13.
Action: None
14.
Information
A.
Pupil Transportation Services Maintenance Facility Project Briefing:
Mr. David L. Pace, Director of Transportation Services, presented a
briefing on the new Pupil Transportation Services maintenance facility
project: a $20 million state of the art
84,000 sq ft LEED Gold certified facility on a 20 acre site. Groundbreaking was in April 2009 and is scheduled
for completion in summer 2010 including renovations to the Glenwood Bus Garage
and demolition of the existing Oceana facility.
Mr. J. Tim Cole, Sustainable Schools Project Manager provided an
overview of sustainable design features to provide for the building to be used
as a teaching tool. Some of the design
features reported included geothermal heating and cooling, daylight design,
light sensors in offices, improved indoor air quality, an 18,000 sq ft green
roof, a rainwater collection system, solar radiant floor heat, wind energy, and
zero storm water runoff.
B.
Energy Performance Contracting Projects:
Mr. Jim Morris, Assistant Director for Environmental and Energy
Management, presented an overview of the scope of work contained in the energy
performance contract proposal with NORESCO in the amount of $480,000. The scope included upgrades to lighting at
C.
2009-10 Program Evaluation Schedule: Dr. Jared
A Cotton, Assistant Superintendent of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment,
reviewed annual reports/activities conducted by the department, program
evaluations to be presented in the fall representing programs scheduled for
evaluation during the 2008-09 school year, the proposed schedule of program
evaluations that will be completed during the 2009-10 school year, and criteria
for ranking existing educational programs for evaluation.
D.
Proposed 2010-11 School Calendar: Mr.
Richard P. Sidone, Director of Elementary School Education in the Office of
School Administration, presented the proposed 2010-11 school calendar
consisting of 183 instructional days and 10 staff days plus 22 hours of
professional development for teachers.
He reviewed characteristics taken into consideration by the calendar
committee in developing the proposal and presented a comparison to the 2009-10
calendar. Board members commented on the
complexities and obstacles in developing a school calendar and noted efforts
underway with the General Assembly delegation to seek legislation enabling
school systems the flexibility the start prior to Labor Day when it falls in
the second week of September. There was
also a request for the committee to explore a possible creative solution
without any impact on the number of instructional days or to the budget to
allow for the federal holidays such as President’s Day whenever possible.
E.
Revised Secondary Mathematics Course Sequence:
Mr. Rodney J. “Joe” Burnsworth, Director of Secondary Instructional
Services, provided a public presentation of what was presented to the Board in
the afternoon workshop relative to the new secondary mathematics sequence
proposed for a phased-in implementation beginning in the fall of 2010. He explained the proposal was driven by data
and related test scores, changes in graduation requirements, revisions to the
Standards of Learning (SOL), and implementation of the division’s Compass to 2015. Additionally, he reported the sequence is to
provide equitable access to higher level math courses to all students so that
an Advanced Studies Diploma is within reach, and to ensure that all students
who wish to attend an institution of higher learning can meet the established
entrance criteria.
15.
Committee Reports: Chairman Edwards reported he and Vice
Chairman Bellitto met with their counterparts on City Council on August 17, and
had a good discussion on a wide-range neutral issues. He invited Board members to contact either
one of them to discuss further if they so desire.
Chairman
Edwards noted a simple survey had been distributed to Board members relative to
potentially going to an optional paperless agenda. He explained the survey was prepared to serve
as a catalyst for the Board to discuss their interest in exploring a voluntary,
low cost option to the agenda packet process at a workshop in September.
Finally,
Chairman Edwards advised he would be contacting individual Board members over
the next two weeks and asked that they provide him contact information for that
time period.
16.
Vote on Remaining Action Items:
None
17.
Adjournment: There being no further business
before the Board, Chairman Edwards adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted by:
S E A L
Dianne
P. Alexander, Clerk of the Board
Approved:
Daniel D. Edwards, Chairman