Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
March 13, 2007

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan (arrived at 6:58 p.m.), Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe. Board member Amos Quick was absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order
Board member Dot Kearns called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Board member Nancy Routh led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Recognitions

2006 National Board Certified Teachers
The board recognized 72 GCS educators who have received National Board Certification.

School Recognitions – Kernodle Middle, Morehead Elementary and Pleasant Garden Elementary
The board recognized Kernodle Middle, one of only 107 middle schools nationwide to be named a “School to Watch,” Morehead Elementary, one of the top 10 North Carolina “Real D.E.A.L.” award schools and Pleasant Garden Elementary, a 2007 North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development “Lighthouse” award winner.

Public Comments
Board member Dot Kearns called on members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the board.

Melissa Adams, 5100 Deep Forest Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Joseph Alston, 1713 Scarborough Road, High Point, NC 27261
Linda Welborn, 4903 Warfield Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Cindy Wood, 4809 Edinborough Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
Yvonne Hunt-Perry, 3904 Hobbs Road, Greensboro, NC 27410
Luther Falls, 303P Avalon Road, Greensboro, NC 27401
Karl Brustmeyer, 1012 Bloomfield Road, Gibsonville, NC 27249
Derrick Giles, 100 North Elm Street #138, Greensboro, NC 27410
Linda Mozell, 4701 Whitby Place, Greensboro, NC 27406
Helen Vines, 2604 Kilpatrick White Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
Sara Carpenter, 400B South Spring Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
Roy D. Moore, 1500 Marboro Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Joe Stafford, 4604 Forest Village Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406

Approval of Agenda
Board member Dot Kearns asked board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or amend it.

Motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Walter Childs, to approve the agenda as presented.

A substitute motion was made by Deena Hayes, seconded by Kris Cooke, to approve the agenda with the understanding that “Second Reading – Policy DK, Participation by Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses” under Board Discussion will be deferred until a later date. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

Consent Agenda
Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A.   Personnel Action Report

The consent agenda included personnel actions as noted in the monthly Personnel Action Report and addendum requiring board approval.

B.  Budget Amendments and Transfers

The consent agenda included State, Local, Federal, Capital Outlay and After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) budget amendments/transfers for the 2006-07 school year as follows:

State Public School Fund Amendment #3:

• reflects the charter school adjustments to the following allotments:
• Classroom Teachers ($30,467); Instructional Support ($3,696); Career and Technical Education-Months of Employment ($3,034); Career and Technical Education-Program Support ($167); Teacher Assistants ($3,939); School Technology Fund ($91); Academically/Intellectually Gifted ($526); Classroom Materials/Instructional Supplies and Equipment ($686); At-Risk Student Services ($1,979); and Improving Student Accountability Standards (-$567)
• adjusts the Incentive Award allotment to agree with actual expenditures (-$17,184)
• reflects the receipt of:
• Reimbursement for new teacher orientation ($228,323)
• Substitute reimbursement for November and December, 2006 ($40,727)
• Interest for School Technology Fund for November and December, 2006 ($13,456)
• Disadvantaged Students Supplemental Fund ($834,295)
• Transportation special fuel allotment ($615,861)
• Transportation use tax allotment ($1,365)
• reflects the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

           
Local Current Expense Fund Amendment #3 reflects:

• the charter school adjustment to the state textbook allotment ($851)
• the receipt of:
• Smart Start reimbursements for December, 2006 ($14,625)
• Career and Technical Education Oracle mini-grant ($5,000)
• Career and Technical Education metals program donation ($200)
• Time Warner Cable Grant quarterly payment ($8,121)
• Greensboro College Middle College refunds to the Middle School Chess Program ($1,535)
• Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro donation to the Hearing Impaired Program ($1,492)
• Eastern Guilford High School (EGHS) donations ($39,963)
• EGHS property insurance payment from Department of Public Instruction ($3,000,000)
• Exceptional Child Pre-School donation ($250)
• Revenue for Character Education from sale of seized vehicle [10% of storage costs collected on vehicles seized under North Carolina's DWI law are released to owner or lien holder] ($4,673)
• the transfer from local current expense fund to capital outlay fund for Eastern Guilford High School insurance proceeds received to date ($8,000,000)
• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Federal Grant Fund Amendment #3 reflects:

• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures
  

Capital Outlay Fund Amendment #3 reflects:

• the receipt of:
• prior year sales tax refunds ($78,462)
• education lottery revenue ($1,652,515)
• the transfer to capital outlay fund from local current expense fund for Eastern Guilford High School insurance proceeds received to date ($8,000,000)
• the transfer of available funds within projects to purchase furniture/equipment and transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures
  

After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) #3 reflects:

• the transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

C. Revised 2007-08 Hampton Leadership Academy Calendar

The consent agenda included a recommendation to approve the revised 2007-08 Hampton Leadership Academy Calendar. The Hampton Leadership Academy calendar, previously approved by the board on February 8, contains a miscalculation on the third grading period that affects the total number of student days in the calendar. The incorrect calendar contains 178 student days versus the required 180 days.

There was consensus by the board that the vote on Consent Agenda Item A, Personnel Action Reports, be postponed until after closed session.
                               
Motion was made by Jeff Belton, seconded by Walter Childs, to approve Consent Agenda Items B and C as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous roll call vote.

Staff Reports

Contractual Agreement with Barnhill Contracting Company for Pre-Construction Services at Eastern Guilford High School

Kevin Lear, chief operations officer, presented a recommendation that the board award a contract to Barnhill Contracting Company for pre-construction services at Eastern High in the amount of $200,000. The fee covers services provided by Barnhill during the pre-construction phase of the project, including the design phase and procurement phases.

Motion was made by Garth Hébert, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to award a contract to Barnhill Contracting Company for pre-construction services at Eastern Guilford High School in the amount of $200,000. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Renewal of Contracts for Mowing Various School Grounds

John Mann, purchasing officer, presented to the board a recommendation to award contracts to J.W. Wright & Associates for the mowing of the 28 school grounds comprising group one; and Professional Touch for the mowing of the 28 school grounds comprising group two in accordance with the specifications of Bid Number 4265.

Group one includes the following schools: Nathanael Greene Elementary, Alamance Elementary, Southeast Middle, Southeast High, Southern High, Southern Elementary, Sumner Elementary, Allen Middle, Frazier Elementary, Pleasant Garden Elementary, Smith High, Welborn Middle, Andrews High, Ferndale Middle, High Point Central High, Penn-Griffin Middle, Northwood Elementary, Allen Jay Middle, Allen Jay Elementary, Ragsdale High, Millis Road Elementary, Jamestown Middle, Southwest Elementary, Southwest Middle, Southwest High, Gillespie Elementary, Peck Elementary and Weaver Center.

Group two includes the following schools: Oak Ridge Elementary, Stokesdale Elementary, Guilford Middle, Kernodle Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Page High, Cone Elementary, Mendenhall Middle, Brightwood Elementary, Laughlin Primary, Summerfield Elementary, Northwest Middle, Northwest High, Colfax Elementary, Northeast Middle, Northeast High, Madison Elementary, Dudley High, Lincoln Middle, Grimsley High, Brooks Global, Kiser Middle, Eastern Middle, Eastern High, Gibsonville Elementary, Bluford Elementary, Rankin Elementary and Washington Elementary.

On March 10, 2005, the board awarded contracts to J. W. Wright & Associates (MBE) of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Professional Touch (MBE) of Greensboro, North Carolina, for mowing various school grounds within the district. This contract was for a one-year term, with the option to renew for two additional years. On February 21, 2006, the board exercised the option to renew these contracts. These contracts are now again due for renewal under the terms of the original bid. The services performed to date have been satisfactory. The renewal term will be March 10, 2007 through October 31, 2007. Both Contractors have agreed to maintain their base price for mowing, with a request to add a fuel surcharge/minimum wage salary adjustment. The specifications of the bid contained an escalation clause that allows for this requested increase.
 
J.W. Wright & Associates (MBE) of Greensboro, North Carolina, has requested a 5.4 percent increase for mowing. The total annual contract is estimated to be $244,402. This amount includes $224,502 ($9,354.25 x 3 x 8) for mowing each site three times per month for eight months; $12,900 ($6,450 x 2) for trimming each site twice annually and $7,000 for mulching each site once annually.

Professional Touch (MBE) of Greensboro, North Carolina, has requested a 5.4 percent increase for mowing. Additionally, Professional Touch has requested adjustments in price for mulching and maintaining of beds. This is due to additional lawn and landscaped areas on campuses that were previously under construction. The total annual contract is estimated to be $315,267.27. This amount includes $282,851.52 ($11,785.48 x 3 x 8) for mowing each site three times per month for eight months; $18,200 ($9,100 x 2) for trimming each site twice annually and $14,215.75 for mulching each site once annually.

Motion was made by Walter Childs, seconded by Deena Hayes, to award a contract to J.W. Wright & Associates for the mowing of the 28 school grounds comprising group one; and Professional Touch for the mowing of the 28 school grounds comprising group two in accordance with the specifications of Bid Number 4265. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Staffing Update – Assistant Principal Allocations

Dr. Peggy Thompson, chief human resources officer, and Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, presented to the board a staffing update regarding assistant principal allocations.

Lottery Revenue Update

Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, presented to the board an update on the lottery revenue.

Intervention Team Model Update

Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, presented to the board an update on the GCS Intervention Team model. Staff members assigned to Bessemer Elementary and Welborn Middle spoke about the work being done in those schools.

Newcomer Center Update

Dr. Don Hare, executive director of federal and special programs, and Mayra Hayes, director of ESOL, presented to the board an update on the newcomer center.

Reports from the Chairman

Governance Committee Update
The chairman called on board member Nancy Routh, convenor of the governance review committee, to give an update on the work of the committee relating to Policy DK, Participation by Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses. Additional revisions to the wording of the policy are being considered. This policy will be brought back to the board at a later date.

Legislative Committee Update
The chairman called on board member Dot Kearns to give an update on the work of the legislative committee. She provided a list of the various bills that NCSBA is tracking and asked board members to review this list. Chairman Duncan asked District Relations to condense the list to include items pertinent to the board. This list will be brought back to the board for review at its March 13 board meeting.

Board Discussion

Second Reading – Policy DK, Participation by Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses

This item was deferred until a later date.

Closed Session

At 9:43 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 personnel matters protected by state law. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

The board returned to open session at 10:33 p.m.

Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to approve the Personnel Action Report and addendum as presented. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8-1-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert and Dot Kearns; Nays – Anita Sharpe; Abstain – Nancy Routh.

Board Comments

Board members were each allowed two minutes to make remarks, as they deemed appropriate.

Adjournment

With no further business, at 10:36 p.m., motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Walter Childs, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.