OPEN SESSION MINUTES EDGECOMBE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Regular Meeting of the Board Held at West Edgecombe School Rocky Mount, NC September 9, 2002 3:00 P.M. Board Members Present:
Charlie Cobb Keith Pittman
Board Members Absent:
Asbury Batchelor
Others Present:
Ann Kent Evelyn Wilson
D. R. Edmundson Janice Davidson
Steve Stone, Superintendent Jay Randall, Associate Superintendent Roland Whitted, Associate Superintendent Sandra Jones, Associate Superintendent Juanita Westry, Executive Assistant Jonathan Blumberg, Board Attorney
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair Evelyn Wilson. Mrs. Wilson thanked staff members for preparations which had to be made to accommodate the Board for school tours held earlier in the day. She informed the public that touring the schools gave Board members The Board pledged allegiance to the flag. RECOGNITION: Mrs. Diane LeFiles, Director of Community Schools and Public Information, provided information on the Tracy Lea Calhoun Memorial Award, an award given to an outstanding bus driver who goes beyond their regular duties in providing service and maintains a safe driving record. Mr. James Vines was presented with a certificate presented by Superintendent Steve Stone and Chair Evelyn Wilson for receiving this honor for the 2001-2002 school year. HOSTS Representatives Robbie Woody and Jan Deans, and ECS Title I Executive Director, Carol Kidd, recognized Bulluck, Carver, and Stocks Elementary Schools’ staff for receiving the Award for Quality Assurance on the local and national levels. Schools and their staff were recognized with plaques and books presented by the Superintendent, Board Chair, and HOSTS representatives. Students whose art was selected to be on display in the Superintendent’s Art Gallery were recognized by Board Chair Evelyn Wilson and Superintendent Steve Stone and presented with certificates and mementos for their accomplishments. PUBLIC COMMENTS – Ms. Lavonne White addressed the Board in support of thee Cyber Camp that was offered during the summer for ECS students. She informed the Board that her daughter had truly enjoyed the program and had learned to use technology to the point of wanting a digital camera for Christmas.
Open Session Minutes of the Edgecombe County Board of Education Meeting Held August 12, 2002 Page 2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Superintendent Stone requested removal of Item (8.5.B) ECS Organizational Chart and the move of Items (8.7.B) Resolution for Tobacco Free Schools as an item for information to be listed as Item (6.4). Member A.C. Batchelor requested that Consent Items (8.2.A) and (8.3.A) be moved to items for action and discussion to be listed as Items (8.8.B) and (8.9.B). A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor approve the July 8 and 20, 2002, Open Session minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION – The Board received information on the Cyber Camp that was offered to ECS students during the summer. A summary of the program was provided by Dr. Ken Sheldon, ECS Lead Psychologist and Mrs. Lois Clement, Liaison for the 21st Century Learning Grant. The program was held at Phillips Middle School and was held in two sessionsone for 4th and 5th grades and the other for grades 6-8. There were three components that the program focused upon- animal enrichment, technology infusion, and having fun learning. Assistance was received from Dr. Marshall Brooks of NC Wesleyan College, the NC Zoological Park of Asheboro, and NC State University. Three Edgecombe County students presented PowerPoint presentations on subjects their groups had researched while participating in the Cyber Camp Summer Program- Lee Harrison (South Edgecombe), the African Elephant; Tyesha White (Martin Middle), the Polar Bear; and, Jamar Armstrong (Phillips), the Southern White Rhinosaurus. Mrs. Clement informed the Board as to how well the students did in the program and asked for their support to offer the program continuously each year. Superintendent Steve Stone informed the Board that ECS had received $17,500 in matching grant dollars for Carver, Coker-Wimberly, Pattillo, and Phillips schools from the State Library of North Carolina. In addition the grant will generate $35,000 for books for the schools’ libraries. Superintendent Steve Stone informed the Board that the copies of the K-8 Curriculum Overviews for parents that was sent to them was distributed to each K-8 student. The next step being proposed is to develop the guides in Spanish. Chair Evelyn Wilson suggested that examples of some of the items listed in the guides be added to allow parents to visualize subject content. Superintendent Steve Stone informed the Board that the Smoke Free Tobacco Policy was pulled from the Action Items in order to send it to the Policy Committee to study further and bring back to the Board to consider for adoption. SESSION BREAK – The Board recessed for a two-minute break to allow students to leave. COMMITTEE REPORTS – There were none. CONSENT AGENDA – A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve Consent Agenda Item (8.1.A) and (8.4.A) through (8.11.A).
Open Session Minutes of the Edgecombe County Board of Education Meeting Held August 12, 2002 Page 3
Contract with Early Childhood Associates (Laura Mast) for staff development at Stocks at cost of $11,200.00; Executive Summary for Community Technology Learning Center seeking a grant in the amount of $90,000 for South Edgecombe School, as written; Roofing bid for the H Building at North Edgecombe High School at a cost of $170,344.00 (East Coast Roofing & Metals, Inc. for $159,200.00 and architect fee for Dove, Knight, & Whitehurst for $11,144.00), as presented; Purchase of a grass-cutting tractor at state contract price of $14,118.46; Contract with GE Capital for the set-up and rental of two classroom mobile units for Bulluck and Carver Schools at a cost of $18,860.00; Contract with Anderson and Company for the removal of a fuel tank and paving at West Edgecombe School at cost of $13,524.00; Collaboration with East Carolina University Speech Language Department in a research project with no cost to ECS; Contract extension with Tri-County Industries for the Exceptional Children’s Program at cost of $85,992.56 Approval to participate in proposed grant for the licensing of the Before and After School Program of KidStation.
The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. ITEMS FOR ACTION – A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve the purchase of computers for South (classrooms) and SouthWest Edgecombe (vocational classrooms) Schools in an amount up to $23,000.00, as presented. The motion was seconded by Member Ann Kent and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve the school proposal plan for the Center for Educational Achievement for 2002-2003, as written. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. A motion was made by Member Ann Kent to approve contracting with East Carolina University/Americorps Recruitment Office (Project HEART) to provide services to the students of Edgecombe County Schools, as presented. The motion was seconded by Member Janice Davidson and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. The Board heard from Mrs. Sandra Joyce, ECS Exceptional Teacher, on the development process for the English/Language Arts Instructional Delivery System. The guide will be used as a guide for new teachers, a countywide pacing guide, and to set standards for reading and writing in the classroom. A motion was made by Member Janice Davidson to approve the English/Language Arts IDS, as presented. The motion was seconded by Member Keith Pittman and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. The Board discussed the proposed Cable TV Channel 3 broadcasting project. The project will be housed at Tarboro High School. Concerns were raised on the extent of the viewing area. Expansion of the project will be forthcoming. A motion was made by Member Ann Kent to approve the concept, funding, and operating of the broadcasting project, as presented. The motion was seconded by Member Janice Davidson and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board.
Open Session Minutes of the Edgecombe County Board of Education Meeting Held August 12, 2002 Page 4 A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant for 2002-2003, as presented. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. The Board discussed contracts with Susan Kovalik and Associates and four in-house ITI Coaches providing training on the model implementation at Stocks. Both contracts are a part of Stock’s integrated thematic instruction. A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve the contract with Susan Kovalik at a cost of $5,000.00 plus $2,000 for expenses (first sessions), and $10,000 plus $3,000 in expenses (second sessions) and Paula Flythe, ITI Coach, at cost of $1,350 (75 hours at $18 hr.), as presented. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. Member Ann Kent thanked the Board for their vote of confidence in voting her to serve as ViceChairperson to the Board for 2002-2003. A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor, under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law, Sections 143-318.11(a) (1), (a)(5), and (a) (6), to go into Closed Session to consider personnel matters, to prevent the disclosure of students records rendered confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g and to discuss the purchase of real property that may consist of negotiations of price and terms of contract. The motion was seconded by Member Keith Pittman and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. OPEN SESSION - A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation for personnel management, as presented in Closed Session. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. A motion was made by Member Keith Pittman to approve the Closed Session Minutes of July 8 and 20, 2002, as written. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Cobb and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. ITEMS BROUGHT BY MEMBERS/SUPERINTENDENT FOR CONSIDERATION/DISCUSSION – The Board discussed the planning date for its next retreat. The dates and times were finalized for September 6, 2002, from 3:00 – 9:00 p.m. and September 7, 2002, from 9:00 –12:00 noon The Board will travel to Franklin County on September 11, 2002, for their annual District 3 Board Meeting. The Board discussed opening days at schools. Superintendent Steve Stone informed the Board that September 16, 2002, will be the kick-off day for Edgecombe County Schools’ Literacy Campaign. A motion was made by Member A.C. Batchelor to nominate Chair Evelyn Wilson to be considered for a seat on the North Carolina School Boards Association’s Board of Directors.
Open Session Minutes of the Edgecombe County Board of Education Meeting Held August 12, 2002 Page 5 The motion was seconded by Member Janice Davidson and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. There being no further business, a motion was made by Member D.R. Edmundson to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Member Janice Davidson and, with a unanimous vote, approved by the Board. Respectfully submitted, __________________________________ W. Steve Stone, Superintendent Approved by the Edgecombe County Board of Education By:
____________________________ Evelyn Wilson, Chairperson
Date:
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