sb minutes december 7 2010 (2)

8/7/2019 SB Minutes December 7 2010 (2)

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sb-minutes-december-7-2010-2 1/12

December 7, 2010 Regular Session

December 7, 2010

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in theMontgomery County Government Center at 7 p.m. for the purpose of a worksession.

Board Members PresentB. Wendell Jones, Chair Penny J. FranklinPhyllis Albritton W. Wat HopkinsJamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.Drema B. Foster

Staff Members PresentBrenda B. Blackburn, SuperintendentDan Berenato Mark J. PasierBrenda Drake Bowdel Amy PoffHarvey C. Goodwin Walter L. ShannonLois T. Graham Nelson SimpkinsKatherine Miano Laura Williams

Brad King, Attorney

Call to OrderWendell Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegianceto the flag at 7 p.m.

Adoption of AgendaOn motion by Joe Ivers, seconded by Wat Hopkins, the Board votedunanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.

Closed SessionPhyllis Albritton moved, seconded by Penny Franklin, and the Boardvoted unanimously to enter into a closed meeting pursuant to Section2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia at 7:01 p.m. for the purpose ofdiscussion of the following specific matters:

Student Matters: The discussion or consideration of the legal

release of a student(s), as authorized by Section2.2-3711(A)(2) and (A)(4) of the Code of Virginia.

Drema Foster arrived at 7:20 p.m.

Return to Open Session and CertificationPenny Franklin moved, seconded by Wat Hopkins, and the Board votedunanimously to return to open session at 7:30 p.m.




Wat Hopkins moved, seconded by Phyllis Albritton, and the Boardunanimously adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the County School Board of Montgomery County hasconvened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to anaffirmative recorded vote and in accordance withprovisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;and

WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3711(d) of the Code of Virginiarequires a certification by this School Board that suchclosed meeting was conducted in conformity with VirginiaLaw;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEDthat the County School Board of Montgomery Countyhereby certifies that, to the best of each member’sknowledge (i) only public business matters lawfullyexempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia lawwere discussed in the closed meeting to which thiscertification applies, and (ii) only such publicbusiness matters as were identified in the motionconvening the meeting were heard, discussed, orconsidered.

Ayes: Phyllis Albritton W. Wat HopkinsJamie M. Bond Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.Drema B. Foster B. Wendell Jones, ChairPenny J. Franklin

_______________________________ December 7, 2010Clerk of the Montgomery DateCounty School Board

ActionPhyllis Albritton moved, seconded by Penny Franklin, that the schoolboard exempt four students from attendance in Montgomery CountyPublic Schools (MCPS) on religious grounds. Phyllis Albritton, JamieBond, Penny Franklin, Wat Hopkins, Joe Ivers and Wendell Jones votedin favor of the motion. Drema Foster abstained.




Public AddressJack Selkovitz stated his belief that there are problems in the MCPSfacilities department. He stated that facilities documents should bereviewed and followed up on.

Jeff Mitchum thanked the school board for their perseverance. He askedthe school board to look to the future during their meeting tonight.Mitchum spoke to the audience and asked them to deal with thesuperintendent regarding personnel issues and to ask the board tosupport the PPEA guidelines.

Barbara Brady stated her support for the progress that has been madethis year. She said she believes that Blacksburg students need to beback in the Town of Blacksburg in a safe building with a qualifiedperson looking after the building. She asked the board to move forwardwith the PPEA guidelines.

Brad Hill, an Auburn resident, asked the Auburn community members inthe audience to stand. He thanked the board for the hope that theAuburn community now has. Hill asked the board to take the next stepand move forward with the Auburn projects.

Suzanne Ducker, a Blacksburg parent, asked the board to pass the PPEAguidelines. She stated that trying times demand an open mind. She saidthat the PPEA process could reduce construction time by up to 18months. She asked the board to be creative in this time of need andcooperation and to pass the PPEA guidelines.

Imer Brennar asked the board to adopt the PPEA guidelines so that theCounty can move forward with Blacksburg and Auburn schools in the mostefficient way. She stated her confidence that the board will moveforward with a thorough investigation regarding building permitting.She asked for transparency and accountability as the board movesforward.

Ron Flanary, a Blacksburg resident, thanked the board for supporting

the new schools in Auburn and Blacksburg. He asked the board to explorethe PPEA option for Blacksburg High School. He stated that the PPEAprocess results in a reduced project timeline and a reduced projectcost. He continued that PPEA can be completed six to 18 months soonerthan design-bid-build. He believes that PPEA will empower privateindustry to build a new Blacksburg High School.

Jane Aronson, a Blacksburg parent, asked the board to pass the PPEAguidelines.




Item 12/10-211 Personnel Report : On motion by Penny Franklin, secondedby Phyllis Albritton, the Board unanimously voted toapprove the personnel report and addendum as presented.

The report is attached to these minutes.

Item 12/10-212 Payment of Bills: On motion by Phyllis Albritton,seconded by Wat Hopkins, the Board unanimously voted toapprove the bills as presented.

Operating Fund:B

ills, 12/7/10, Ck. Nos. 464053-464274, $299,8581.70

Utilities, 12/7/10, Ck. Nos. 464029-464052, $150,506.65

CafeteriaBills, 12/7/10, Ck. Nos. 3360-3374, $95,933.84

Item 12/10-213 Consent Items: The School Board agreed to approve thefollowing items by general consent :

1. Field Trip:a. The Advanced Choir Bel Canto at Blacksburg Middle School to

travel toChicago, Illinois, from March 8 to March 13, 2011,

for auditions to participate in the National Honor Choir.Students will travel with their parents. Cost per student is$1,600.

b. The Forensics team at Blacksburg High School to travel toCharlotte, North Carolina, from January 7 through January 8,2011, to participate in a national competition. Students willtravel via school bus to the event. The total cost perstudents is $200.

c. The Eighth Grade Class at Blacksburg Middle School to travelto Washington, D.C., from April 7 through April 8, 2011, toexplore civics curriculum topics. Students will travel viacharter bus to the event. The cost per students is $196.

d. The wrestling team at Blacksburg High School to travel toBristol, Tennessee, from January 7 through January 9, 201,for a wrestling tournament. Students will travel via countycar to the event. The total cost per students is $45 plusfood.

e. The choral department at Christiansburg High School to travelto New York City, New York, from April 14 through April 17,




2011, for a music touring trip. Students will travel viacharter bus. The total cost per students is $775.

2. Grants:a. BHS Y Street Program, $2,000.b. EMHS School Library Project, $6,000.

3. Donations:a. An anonymous donor to donate $25,000 to be used to purchase

SMART Boards at Auburn Elementary School.

Penny Franklin stated her support for the EMHS grantthat provides transportation for students. She said thatthe $25,000 anonymous donation that was received is thetype of support that public education currently needs.

Superintendent’s Reports, Recommendations, and AnnouncementsItem 12/10-214 People’s Garden School Pilot Project Grant Proposal:

On motion by Joe Ivers, seconded by Phyllis Albritton,the School Board voted unanimously to approve thePeople’s Garden School Pilot Project Grant Proposal.

Item 12/10-215 PPEA Presentation: Christopher Lloyd, McGuire WoodsConsulting, presented information to the board on thePublic Private Educational Infrastructure Act (PPEA). Acopy of this presentation is attached to the minutes.

The board clarified that the PPEA process can be usedfor non-capital projects.

The board emphasized that funds not used for evaluationfees would typically be returned to the submitter, notkept by the school division.

Item 12/10-216 RRMM Presentation on Auburn Projects: Ben Motley, RRMMArchitects, presented information to the board onproposed Auburn campus improvements. A copy of thispresentation is attached to the minutes.

The board discussed the possibility of relocating thecannery and cabin at the Auburn facilities.

The board discussed clarification of traffic issues atthe Auburn facilities.




Brenda Blackburn asked the board to consider approvalof Auburn project priority as building a new highschool and renovating the current high school for themiddle school.

Jamie Bond moved, seconded by Drema Foster, and theboard voted unanimously to accept the plan to build anew Auburn High School and renovate the current AuburnHigh School for Auburn Middle School.

Item 12/10-217 PPEA Policy: Brenda Blackburn, division superintendent,presented proposed guidelines for the PPEA process.

Joe Ivers moved, seconded by Penny Franklin, and theschool board voted unanimously to adopt the PPEA guidelines.

The board discussed the fact that the purpose of PPEAis to add another option for capital construction.

Item 12/10-218 Resolution from the Board of Supervisors: BrendaBlackburn, division superintendent, presented theresolution passed by the Board of Supervisors onNovember 22, 2010, in response to the School Board’sresolution from September 10, 2010.

Joe Ivers asked that point 4(b) in the resolution beexpanded to include “when this property is no longerneeded for educational purposes.”

Wat Hopkins stated concern regarding the last sentencein the resolution, that the Board of Supervisors hopesthere will be no tax increase until 2013.

Penny Franklin agreed with Hopkins and stated concernsabout the ability to sell properties within the Town ofBlacksburg.

Ivers stated that the school board needs to moveforward to facilitate getting un-used buildings readyfor surplus by emptying them of educational programs.

Annette Perkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors,stated that the Board of Supervisors is committed tocapital construction and doing what this resolution




says. Monetary amounts were not included because theresolution was drafted to allow the school board tobegin facilities design immediately. She continued bysaying that the money will come.

Hopkins asked Perkins for clarification on the lastsentence in the resolution. Perkins responded sayingthat the Board of Supervisors will make every effortnot have a tax increase until 2013, but that is not aguarantee.

Penny Franklin stated that it is the school board’scharge to see the needs and that there are many parentsin dire financial circumstances that cannot afford atax increase or increase of goods as passed on frombusinesses through a tax increase.

Joe Ivers moved, seconded by Wat Hopkins, and theschool board voted unanimously to approve the Board ofSupervisors’ resolution, with clarification on item 4(b) to include “when this property is no longer neededfor educational purposes.”

Item 12/10-219 Discussion of Capital Planning Design Funds: BrendaBlackburn, division superintendent, presented

information on an appropriation request for the Boardof Supervisors asking for funds to begin planning anddesign work for the Auburn and Blacksburg projects. Therequest asks for $4.8 million, paid for with unusedfunds borrowed for the Price’s Fork and EasternMontgomery elementary projects.

Phyllis Albritton moved, seconded by Jamie Bond, andthe school board voted unanimously to approve theappropriation.

Item 12/10-220 MCPS Technology Plan:

Penny Franklin moved, seconded by Phyllis Albritton,and the board voted unanimously to approve the MCPSTechnology Plan.

Item 12/10-221 Discussion of Second December Meeting:




Joe Ivers moved, seconded by Wat Hopkins, and theschool board voted unanimously to cancel the meeting onDecember 21, 2010.

Item 12/10-222 2011 Legislative Priorities: Brenda Blackburn, divisionsuperintendent, presented the board’s 2010 legislativepriorities with suggestions for 2011. Blackburn notedthat the Virginia School Boards Association has not yetposted their priorities for 2011.

The board discussed the proposed additions to thelegislative priorities and how they align with theboard’s priorities from 2010.

Phyllis Albritton asked that Brenda Blackburn combineher suggestions with the 2010 priorities.

Wat Hopkins asked if the 2010 items 3 and 8 could beremoved. Blackburn responded that there are stillsignificant conversations surrounding those two items.

Penny Franklin asked for support of the expansion ofthe four-year-old preschool initiative.

The school board directed the administration to combine

the new priorities with the priorities from 2010 andbring them back to the January 11, 2011, school boardmeeting.

Unfinished Business by School Board MembersSchool Board Meetings with Legislative Representatives: The schoolboard discussed availability for a lunch meeting with Senator Edwards.The administration was directed to ask Delegate Shuler to come to theJanuary 11, 2011, school board meeting at 5:30 p.m.

New Business by School Board MembersReport on VSBA Conference: The report on the VSBA Conference was moved

to the January 11, 2011, meeting date.

January, Anti Bullying Month: Brenda Blackburn, divisionsuperintendent, shared that the MCPS Bullying Prevention Brochure willdebut in January and will be sent out to all students. In addition,each school’s coordinating committee will be sent a toolbox to use asthey continue to educate students. A booster training will be held forstaff members who serve on the bullying prevention training committee.




In addition, special speakers will be scheduled during the month ofJanuary.

Phyllis Albritton shared information from the Southern Poverty LawCenter about bullying and asked Brenda Blackburn to distribute theinformation to the board.

Penny Franklin asked that the administration try to coordinate withother school divisions to create bullying public service announcements.

Federal Relations Network Conference, Washington, D.C. – February 6-8:Wendell Jones informed board members about the conference.

Video on Concussions: Wendell Jones shared that he attended the parentmeeting related to basketball where the trainer showed a video onconcussions. Jones asked that the video be viewed by all board membersduring a school board meeting. The board discussed the severity ofconcussions. The school board directed the administration to includethe video on the January agenda.

Joe Ivers noted that he attended lunches during the division’sdiversity training and asked how staff will move forward after thetraining. Phyllis Albritton asked for feedback from staff members aboutthe training. Brenda Blackburn indicated she had feedback sheets fromthe training and could condense those and share major points with theboard. She also said that she has a conference call scheduled with thepresenters to discuss their viewpoints and possible next steps. Sheindicated she would talk to the presenters about whether they couldtalk to principals and teacher leaders about how to integrate thetraining in the school building. Penny Franklin noted that previouslyRuby Payne material had been incorporated into the new teacherexperience and that it would be helpful if diversity training was alsoincluded.

Phyllis Albritton requested minutes from the superintendent’s meetingswith PTA/PTO leaders.

Joe Ivers asked for follow up from the one-one-one meetings withstudents related to student achievement. Brenda Blackburn stated thatthe student achievement team has met three times and will meet again inJanuary. Principals are being encouraged to follow up with students whowere involved with the meeting. In addition, the administration will betalking to other districts in regard to sharing student achievementmeasures. Ivers stated that he would like to know the effect of thesemeetings on the students.




Wat Hopkins stated that he was concerned about an email regarding anAAU basketball team that was having trouble scheduling a practice timeat an MCPS school. Brenda Blackburn requested a copy of the email soshe could respond.

Wat Hopkins responded to an article about the history of the problemsat Blacksburg High School. He stated that he was concerned about thearticle and the response. He said that the article does not state thatthings were not done; it states that there are no documents that provethat things were done. Hopkins stated his support for Dan Berenato andthe job that he does for the school division.

Wendell Jones asked for additional information on what theadministration will be doing from this point forward related toinspection of the buildings. He asked what has changed from previouspractices. Proposed questions were: How are we evaluating ourfacilities? What are the monthly checks? He said that some informationneeds to be brought to the board related to lessons learned to makesure MCPS does not head down the same path again.

Wendell Jones commended the school board for the great workaccomplished during this meeting and stated that there will be someimplication on the temporary housing measures for Blacksburg students.Jones asked for information from the administration on the impact ofthe current solution during the long term. Wat Hopkins asked foralternatives to the current solution, including options for returningBlacksburg Middle School students to their home school. BrendaBlackburn stated that the administration has started asking the schoolswhat they will need to be at their current facilities for additionaltime. Preliminary lists have already been compiled, and meetings withthe principals still need to take place. Jones asked that these listsbe shared with the school board.

The board discussed past facilities issues and the lack ofdocumentation during previous years. Brenda Blackburn stated that shewill follow up on the issue.

Announcements/InformationJamie Bond congratulated the Eastern Montgomery High School footballteam for their success at the state semi-final game.

Drema Foster congratulated the Christiansburg High School football teamfor their successful season.

Drema Foster stated that the Eastern Montgomery High Schooladministration made a wise decision by turning around the band and




cheerleader bus due to inclement weather. She invited all board membersto the state final game on Saturday in Salem.

Phyllis Albritton shared that she attended the DECA Variety Show atChristiansburg High School. She continued that she will not be at theJanuary 11, 2011, meeting because she will be chaperoning a trip toNicaragua.

Agenda PreparationJanuary 11, 2011 (6 p.m.) Reorganization (Action)

2011-2012 Operating Budget (Discussion)

January 18, 2011 (tentative) Seniors of the Month (Recognition)Published MCPS Authors (Recognition)Virginia Association of ScienceTeachers (Recognition)Blacksburg High School Cross CountryTeam (Recognition)

January 25, 2011 (tentative) Tentative Budget Work Session

February 1, 2011 (tentative) Alternative Programs Presentation(Information)Capital Plan (Discussion)Update on Price’s Fork ElementarySchool (Information)




AdjournmentThe meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. on motion by Penny Franklin,seconded by Phyllis Albritton, and passed unanimously.

School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board

Attachments:1. Bound Agenda for December 7, 2010 Regular Session2. Personnel Report3. PPEA Presentation

4. RRMM Presentation on Auburn Projects

sb minutes december 7 2010 (2)

Documents