Culpeper County School Board

Culpeper County School Board 4/20/2011 ~ 12:40:29 PM

Minutes

April 11, 2011

Page 4 of 6

CULPEPER COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

Minutes

April 11, 2011

A meeting of the School Board of Culpeper was held April 11, 2011 at the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room at 302 N. Main Street, Culpeper, VA. Present were: George Dasher (Stevensburg District); Elizabeth Hutchins (Cedar Mountain District); Robert Beard (East Fairfax District); Robert A. Houck (West Fairfax District); Russell E. Jenkins (Catalpa District); Anne C. Luckinbill (Salem District); Leanne Malulani (Jefferson District); Director of Finance/Clerk Jeff Shomo; Superintendent Dr. Bobbi Johnson; Director of Administrative Services Dr. Russell Houck; Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Rob Hauman; Director of Human Resources Dr. Stacey Timmons; Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction Hunter Spencer, and Deputy Clerk Pearl Jamison

At 7 p.m. Mr. Dasher called the meeting to order and Ms. Jamison called the roll.

A closed session was not deemed necessary prior to the meeting.

Those present observed a moment of silence. Mr. Dasher led the Pledge of Allegiance.

On motion of Mr. Houck seconded by Mr. Beard, the School Board approved the agenda. Motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.

Presentation/Recognitions

Dr. Johnson and Mr. Dasher presented ZAPP (Zealous Appreciation for Positive Performance) Awards to the following:

Ø  For participating in the 2011 VSBA Central Regional Art Contest – Dany Brito, Brittany Buser, and Solveig Barklund

Ø  For Placing Second in the 2011 Destination Imagination State Tournament in the “Triple Take Road Show” category and earning a spot at The Global Finals Competition on May 25-28th in Knoxville, TN – Lucy Bednarski, Nick Coladonato, Mike Hedlund, Adam Jordan, Tara Kerr, and Kaitlyn Riggs

Delegations

Mr. Dasher said persons may present ideas or concerns regarding Culpeper County Public Schools. He said there would be no action taken by the Board at this meeting and that such items would be referred to the appropriate administrators for future information and research. He said the personalities and behavior of employees are not to be presented during this period but are to be reported to the employee’s immediate supervisor. Mr. Dasher noted there would be a three minute limit for speakers.

There were no delegations.

Consent Agenda

Mr. Dasher reviewed the items on the agenda for approval. Mr. Houck said the Finance Committee met and reviewed the bills and recommended they be approved. Dr. Johnson read the resolutions recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week and Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week.

On motion of Mr. Beard seconded by Ms. Luckinbill, the School Board approved the consent agenda.

(a)  Approval of Minutes – February 28, 2011 & March 8, 14, & 28, 2011

(b)  Payroll and Payment of Bills

(c)  Personnel Recommendations

(d)  Second Reading of Policies/Regulations

Ø  IKE R-3 (Request for Exemption from Full Day Schedule)

Ø  JECB (Admission of Non Public Students for Part-time Enrollment)

Ø  JECB R-1 (Admission of Non Public Students for Part-time Enrollment)

Ø  JECB E-1 (Application for Part-time Enrollment)

(e)  Approval of CCPS Technology Plan 2011-2015

(f)  Approval of Special Education Annual Plan

(g)  Teacher Appreciation Resolution (May 1-7, 2011)

(h)  Child Nutrition Employee Week Resolution (May 2-6, 2011)

Ms. Hutchins noted some grammatical errors in the Technology Plan that do not affect the overall content of the plan.

Motion carried 6-0-1 by voice vote. (Mr. Jenkins abstained.)

The board considered the following action items:

(a)  Appoint Anne Luckinbill to Serve as Alternate on PREP Board through December 31st

On motion of Mr. Beard seconded by Mr. Jenkins, the School Board appointed Anne Luckinbill as the alternate to the PREP Board.

Ms. Malulani thanked the board for taking action on the alternate position. She said it has been seven years since we have had an alternate and it will be nice to have another board member involved for when she steps down.

Motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.

(b)  First Reading of Policies/Regulations

On motion of Ms. Hutchins seconded by Mr. Houck, IICA R-1 (Educational Tours Out-of-Country) regulation was approved on first reading.

Ms. Luckinbill said chaperones on out-of-country field trips will be required to have a full background check including fingerprinting. Dr. Houck said yes.

Motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.

The board heard the following reports

(a)  Student Advisory Council Report

No report was given.

(b)  Construction Updates

Eastern View High School – Mr. Spencer said the pond excavation has been performed and the contractor has seeded and mulched the excavated area.

Mr. Spencer said he is working on completing the scope of what needs to be done to finalize the dugouts.

Yowell Elementary School - Mr. Spencer said the contractor will start work on the pond next week. He said the first item to be addressed will be the drain line.

CCHS Plant Replacement – Mr. Spencer said the equipment is operational. He noted that a few items need to be finalized on the control side.

Mr. Spencer said the engineer is helping to develop a scope for the next phase of the plant replacement.

CCHS Auditorium Seats - Mr. Spencer said the balcony auditorium seats are being refurbished now.

CCHS Sign – Mr. Spencer said apparently the sign was originally installed without a permit. He said he is working with VDOT to resolve the issue.

CCHS/PS Roof – Mr. Spencer said he is working on bid documents for replacement of the roofs at Culpeper High School and Pearl Sample.

Mr. Dasher asked if the Yowell punch list issues have been resolved. Mr. Spencer said the contractor agreed to do several punch list items but they have not been acted on.

Mr. Dasher asked how much it will cost to replace the CCHS sign. Mr. Spencer said VDOT agreed to replace the sign in an earlier agreement.

(c)  Instruction Report

Mr. Hauman said Culpeper has joined Madison and Fauquier County in an educational consortium to provide professional development experiences through Lord Fairfax College. He said the sessions will take place this summer. He noted several courses that will be offered. He said all classes will be held at Liberty High School in Fauquier County at about $17 per person vs. $100 per person.

Ms. Hutchins asked if teachers will receive recertification points. Mr. Hauman said yes and they also have the option to earn college credit.

Mr. Dasher asked if the classes are geared toward secondary. Mr. Hauman said it is across the board.

Mr. Hauman shared with the board the fall 2010 writing and non-writing testing scores. He noted that new standards were issued for history this year. He said as the years progress the scores will increase as the teachers become more familiar with the new standards.

Ms. Hutchins asked if they typically release the new standards mid-year. Mr. Hauman said no.

Mr. Beard asked if the standards mean there is a higher level of comprehension. Mr. Hauman said statistically speaking we get better at what we teach so the students do better. Mr. Beard said it doesn’t make sense to raise the standards when the students are doing well.

Dr. Johnson noted that the way students are tested is much more rigorous. Ms. Hutchins said this is what is happening at Pearl Sample. The students start doing well and then they change the test.

Ms. Malulani said it is frustrating that we are not allowed to succeed. She said if they keep raising the bar we will never succeed.

Mr. Beard said if students today took the initial test offered they might have passed – but we continue to raise the bar. He said the system we are being judged by is questionable.

Mr. Hauman said the Pearl Sample restructuring meeting was very well attended and was eye opening for parents. He noted an “Understanding AYP” meeting that will be held at the end of the month.

(d)  Principal Report

Mrs. Renee Wootten, Emerald Hill Principal, shared some of the positive things happening at Emerald Hill.

Ms. Metzgar, EHES Assistant Principal, noted the following events:

·  EHES Fun Fair

·  Music and Education Month

·  Movie Nights

·  Food Drive

·  Teacher sponsored after-school events (chorus, tone chimes, reading clubs, chess clubs, and archery)

Ms. Wootten shared with the board several examples of 21st Century Skills:

·  5th graders apply for a job and receive a salary

·  3rd grade recycling activity (made recyclables into a treasure or new invention)

·  PE/gifted raised trout as part of an environmental study and will release them this weekend at Graves’ Mountain Lodge

Ms. Fiscus, ITRT, shared how the teachers incorporate technology to help with reading using a program called “Audacity”.

Ms. Fiscus shared a program used in Henrico County that helps students with fluency using IPODS. She said she is excited to launch project IREAD at EHES.

Ms. Hutchins asked how the students are identified for the program. Ms. Fiscus said the reading specialists identify the students.

Ms. Luckinbill asked how many IPODS Emerald Hill has. Ms. Fiscus said five.

Ms. Hutchins asked if the PTO has an opportunity for parents to bring concerns and discuss issues with staff. She asked how a parent volunteers to help within the school. Ms. Metzgar said they can attend a monthly meeting, go through their teacher, or notify the office.

Board Member Reports

Mr. Houck said the teachers at Pearl Sample are doing a good job. He said he appreciates everything the school is doing to continue to work on these issues.

Ms. Hutchins said at the last Town Hall meeting there was concern regarding a plan to help struggling students. She said there is no single plan because every child is different; everyone learns a different way. She said there can’t be a single plan to solve all the problems for all our children. She said teachers can’t do it by themselves – we need the help of the community. She said teachers are doing their job and working very hard for every child.

Mr. Dasher thanked Dr. Johnson and staff for all the work done on the budget projections for next year. He said he feels it was well received by the Board of Supervisors. He noted the Board of Supervisors will hold their public hearing on April 25th at 7 p.m. and on May 3rd at 10 a.m. they will set the tax rate.

Dr. Johnson said last year she presented a School Renewal Plan to the board. She noted that three schools are on cycle to be reviewed this year – FTBMS, YES, and CCHS. She said once the process is concluded they will be shared with the board.

Mr. Dasher noted the E-Squared Competition will be this Thursday at EVHS.

Information Items

* March 31, 2011 Membership

* Summary of CCSB Committee Reports

Future Meeting Dates

* April 14, 2011 – CCSB Capital Planning Committee Meeting, 2:30 p.m. at the School Board Office

* April 18, 2011 – CCSB Closed Session at 6 p.m. immediately followed by Business/Work Session at the School Board Office

* April 25, 2011 – Culpeper Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on Budget, 7 p.m. at the County Admin. Office

* April 27, 2011 – CCSB Administration Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m. at the School Board Office

* May 3, 2011 – Culpeper Board of Supervisors to Set Tax Rate, 10 a.m. at the County Admin. Office

On motion of Ms. Hutchins seconded by Mr. Beard, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.

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JEFFREY R. SHOMO, CLERK GEORGE T. DASHER, CHAIR