Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
February 8, 2007

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a special called meeting to update the board on the progress of important issues on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick and Nancy Routh. Board members Walter Childs and Anita Sharpe were absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order

Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence

Amos Quick led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Approval of the Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or amend it. It was requested by Chairman Duncan to move the item “2007 Legislative Agenda” before “School Construction Update.” Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Amos Quick, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

2007 Legislative Agenda

Chairman Duncan called on board member Dot Kearns, interim convenor of the legislative committee, to lead the board in a continued discussion of the 2007 Legislative Agenda.

District Relations highlighted suggested revisions in the agenda.

Support for High Quality Teaching

The committee has inserted language regarding differentiated pay scales for highly-impacted schools as follows:

1. Provide differentiated salary incentives for:
1. Acquisition of teachers in critical disciplines such as math, science and special education.
2. The enticement of well-prepared teachers into schools highly impacted by poverty.

Support for High Quality Learning

The committee has inserted the following statement:

1. Should the legislature establish an earlier date for kindergarten entry, we urge that you also provide increased funding for pre-kindergarten programs.

In addition, a slight adjustment is recommended to amend the last bullet in this section to read as follows:

1. Adequately address the classified/non-licensed salary pay scale in order to attract and maintain high-quality staffing needs.

Local Board Operation and Authority

The committee has revised the last bullet in this section to read as follows:

1. Give boards of education the authority to establish school start and end dates within an expanded range of dates.

Critical Federal Issues

The committee recommends that the language for the final bullet in this section read as follows:

1. Develop and implement national (normed) education standards in reading, math and science (as endorsed by the Council of Great City Schools.)

Chairman Duncan asked board members for comments or suggestions to the modifications made by the committee.

Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Kris Cooke, to approve the revisions recommended by the Legislative Committee and therefore finalize the 2007 Legislative Agenda. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

School Construction Update

Dave Burnett, executive director of facilities and construction management, presented to the board an update on the school construction projects throughout the district.

Proposed Bond Referendum Update

Joe Hill, contracted services, presented to the board a proposed 2007 bond referendum update. Board members discussed items on the staff’s proposed list.

Alan Duncan opened the floor for suggestions to make revisions to the list before taking it to the public. There was general consensus that the bond referendum be targeted to the November 2007 timeframe. Mr. Hill will come back to the board with additional information as requested by board members.

Closed Session

At 9:49 p.m., motion was made by Deena Hayes, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to go into closed session to preserve the attorney-client privilege and to discuss the lawsuit captioned John S. Clark v. Guilford County Board of Education and the lawsuit captioned North Carolina School Boards Association, et al v. State of North Carolina, et al. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

The board returned to open session at 10:09 p.m.

Upon return to open session, motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Deena Hayes, to authorize the attorneys and the board chair to resolve all claims of John S. Clark regarding the Grimsley construction project for $287,500.00 and to further authorize staff to seek approval of the county commissioners to allocate sufficient funds from other project ordinances from the 2000 bond projects to facilitate the settlement. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Motion was made by Amos Quick, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to approve the resolution to join in filing a Notice of Dismissal of North Carolina School Boards Association, et al. v. State of North Carolina, et al., 06 CVS 002544. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote. (A copy of the resolution is included in the minutes file.)

Adjournment

With no further business, at 10:11 p.m., motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.