I'll be "Live Bloggin'" during the meeting.
Stay tuned.
Here's the agenda...
1. CLOSED SESSION - 5:30 P.M.
2. MEETING OPENING - 7 p.m.
3. ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION
Action
3.01 Certification of Closed Session 4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHANGES IN THE AGENDA
5. PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
6. REPORT BY STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Interesting report. The students on the advisory council were split over the ten point scale issue.
7. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 10-POINT GRADING SCALE
Several people spoke, including RCEA president, Tammy Wood. All speakers spoke in favor of the ten point scale. Tammy shared results of the recent RCEA survey of members on the ten point scale issue. In that survey, members who returned the survey supported the ten point scale by a wide margin.
8. HEARING OF CITIZENS AND DELEGATIONS
- Several people spoke out against the block schedule plan for high school including Barry Tucker, head of the music program in the county. He asked for a split block that would meet daily in order to foster the repetitiveness needed to master the instruments and scripts. He also pointed out that the elimination of the zero periods will eliminate the Jazz band program at our schools.
- Mindy Sarver also spoke to the length of the blocks at the middle school, especially how it may affect her students in playing their instruments. She further spoke in support of the zero periods.
- Greg Denton spoke as well. He's concerned that the new scheduling system will negatively impact the highly recognized music programs in our county. Greg stressed that with music instruction being skills based, they HAVE to meet every day.
- A parent asked the "why" question. Why are we doing this? She went on to asked many other valid questions, for example will students be able to participate in Science fairs even if they aren't in Science class that semester.
- See heated discussion in 10.03 below
9. CONSENT AGENDA
10. ACTION ITEMS
Action
10.01 Superintendent's Contingency Fund Request - Dr. Cecil Snead Action
10.02 Revision to Policy 6.43 to Include Virginia High School League Exception - Dr. Cecil Snead- $13,000 to transfer for Olsats, etc.
- Allow low revenue teams to use school buses when they need to travel beyond 125 miles. He Mr. Wymer was concerned about provisions to compensate the teachers and drivers on multi-day events.
- Mr. Canada moved the change to block scheduling. He spoke to his motion and suggested that the board find money for zero period classes. He thinks that high school students in band should be able to handle the 90 minute odd/even block (8th-12th). He would like to see a split block program worked out for middle school (6th and 7th). He said he would vote for the block. IN the end every school will do this zero period differently. He pointed out that Tim Gaylen at NHS will make a zero period happen by coming in early and leaving early.
- Dr. Lange: In high school, we have 7 periods plus a zero period. There are some misconceptions. GHS principal, Joe Haffey, spoke to how students would still be able to take the same number of band classes as in the past. Dr. Lange said that all teachers were talked to about this.
- David Wymer spoke to the financial aspects of the block plan. David was concerned that the people affected by the block need to be involved and at the table. What concerns him the most is that the only advantage as he sees it is that teachers are just weary trying to go through a seven period day. We need to look at what we can do and not what we can't do (referenced to the ability to fully schedule band in the 8 period day). Dr. Lange spoke to the "singleton classes" and our ability to schedule.
- Dr. Canada asked why we can't fund a split period (create skinnies).
- Drew Barrineau interjected at this point and asked Dr. Lange why a teacher couldn't take a duty period to teach a zero period.
- GMS principal spoke to the skinny issue. She suggested that skinnies most likely could be done, but with a cost. Also, she insisted that the middle school program must work for "the total child."
- Mr. Wymer stressed that teachers need to have adequate training before implementation.
- Mr. Barrineau spoke to the potential $7 million cut staring us in the face. Expressed his disappointment that more people aren't getting fired up about the states pending lack of education funding support. He's sympathetic to his employees. He's afraid that the current 7 period plan is unsustainable, especially with the general lack of raises. He gave a tristifical appraisal of the despondent times in which we are wading where the rules have changed rapidly and the way we've done things in the past no longer hold sway. He's convinced that this block business will work. He again told the public to get out there and contact legislators.
- Fuzzy Minnix echoed much of what was said in prior discussion. "Folks, change is scary... a lot of times we're reluctant to embrace change."Change is scary. Let's embrace it and work to get everything [everyone] needs...I think you'll find a year from now that you'll be very satisfied with the block system."
- Mr. Canada asked again if NHS will have a zero period. Dr. Lange said, "No."
- Mr. Stovall stated that he is in favor of it. He thanked the people for coming.
- The vote: all in favor...Canada cast a reluctant "yes."
11. INFORMATION AGENDA
Action (Consent), Information
11.01 Request for Acceptance of 4th Quarter Report of Revenues and Expenditures for Fiscal Year 2009-10 - Mrs. Penny Hodge Information
- Presented and accepted...
11.02 Annual School Report for 2009-10 - Mrs. Penny Hodge
Action (Consent), Information
11.04 Request for Acceptance of 1st Quarter Report of Revenues and Expenditures for Fiscal Year 2010-11 - Mrs. Penny Hodge Action (Consent), Information- Formal request. Ended the year under budget by $2.1 million. State cut our budget at the end of the FY. Did not draw down second year of fed stimulus dollars which the state had forwarded to us...long story short... Net surplus of $6.0 million.
- Will send 2/3 to major capital and 1/3 to minor. We can play with the minor how we want.
- Emergency reserve: Up from $2 million to $2.6 million...after a few transactions between the county and the school board. Take the excess over $2 million and send it to minor capital.
- Budget for the year based on 14,200 (200 less than last year but in accordance with actual trends)
- Sales tax collections last month were really good...
11.05 Revisions to Purchasing Policies for Purchasing Authority and Capital Outlay - Mrs. Penny Hodge Information
- A jobler task involving contracts and lawyers.
11.06 Technology Assessment - Dr. Cecil Snead and Mrs. Penny Hodge
Information
11.07 Revisions to Policy 7.11, Rule 1 Weapons and Dangerous Instruments - Mr. Allen Journell - Penny spoke of a technology replacement plan. She summarized the state of the county technology program now. Dr. Snead spoke to the next steps. "We need to maintain a certain level of functionality." His team analyzed basic needs (SOL electronic testing). Will evaluate a purchase lease program. Will identify basic needs at middle and elementary schools. Since we've introduced item analysis... So we need to be able to formatively assess and address our needs in this area. Looked into teacher laptop replacement plan. Asked for a group to look into the priorities as outlined. Penny called this a needs assessment.
- Mr. Canada: concerned about laptop carts used for middle school testing. Can we be successful this year using these machines? Ben Williams said that yes we can. In future years, we will run into challenges.
- Mr. Barrineau wants a report of current reserves as of 6/30/10.
- Battery running low...
- Wymer and Canada were concerned about losing data on old laptops. Spent $752,000 for new labs at middle schools according to Jeff Terry.
Information
11.08 Approval of New Course/Program Refinements - Dr. Cecil Snead - Hanging in as long as I have battery power...
- Modified the language of what weapons are in the mandated expulsion.
Information
11.09 Revisions to the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) - Dr. Cecil Snead - Culnary arts and Mechatronics programs at BCAT (Burton) for 2011-12. Some money will come from Perkins grant money (Fed govt for economically disadvantaged.)
- Want to develop choices for foreign language and band in 8th grade. The state will allow 8th grade PE to be an elective. RCPS currently requires PE in 8th grade and 9th and 10th. We must offer it. Mr. Canada is concerned about relaxing the PE standard.
Information
11.10 Technology Plan 2010-2015 - Dr. Cecil Snead - A plucky jobler, Dr. Snead stated that an update is needed to address mobile devices and bullying in a tidy fashion.
Information
11.11 2010 Comprehensive Plan - Dr. Cecil Snead- Submitted to the board to give us direction. Not an absolute, but rather a plan. It was required by the state by December.
- Plan presented as a growing document. Mr. Canada acknowledged the amount of time that was needed to create the document.
12. REPORT BY SUPERINTENDENT
- None
13. REPORTS AND INQUIRIES OF BOARD MEMBERS
- Late discussion about how minor capital money can be spent by principals. Software, books, cd's are all fine. Consumable things are fine (like levelized books) according to the school board. Copy paper, crayons. are all okay.
- Mr. Wymer asked if Formative Assessments have been finished. He wants the data as soon as possible.
14. ADJOURNMENT
- at 9:40pm
