Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
June 12, 2007

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
JOINT MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners and the Guilford County Board of Education met in a duly noticed Joint Meeting on February 20, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. in the Blue Room, located on the first floor of the Old County Courthouse, 301 W. Market Street to discuss matters of mutual concern.

Members of the Board of County Commissioners present were: Chairman Paul Gibson, Vice Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston, Commissioners Carolyn Q. Coleman, Kay Cashion, John Parks, Kirk Perkins, Linda Shaw. Also present were Guilford County Manager David McNeill, Guilford County Attorney Sharron Kurtz, Michael Halford, Budget Director, Clerk to Board Effie Varitimidis and Deputy Clerk to Board Crystal Maurer.

Members of the Board of Education present were:  Chairman Alan Duncan, Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Darlene Garrett, Garth Herbert, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier, Board of Education Attorney Jill Wilson, and Chief Financial Officer Sharon Ozment.   

Chairman Gibson welcomed everyone present and called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

Discussion Items
Budget Issues

Superintendent Terry Grier informed the Board about the increasing student enrollment, and the need for more teachers. Chief Finance Officer Sharon Ozment stated there are no anticipated costs for new programs but there are fixed cost increases such as health care and other benefits for teachers. Board of Education Chairman Duncan addressed the Eastern High School facility and the schools operating budget.        

Topics of discussion among County Commissioners and Board of Education Board members included cost of purchasing or leasing PODS and their breakdown.

Commissioner Coleman suggested moving PODS from other schools to Eastern High School, if it was cost effective.

Commissioner Cashion asked about the life of a temporary modular unit in which School Board Chairman Duncan responded approximately 20 to 25 years.       

Commissioner Alston requested figures on the dropout students. Commissioner Shaw requested a breakout of student dropouts and newcomers.

Commissioner Perkins expressed concern about the timelines for the opening of Eastern High School. School Superintendent Grier said they were working with the State, negotiating with the insurance company and were on time with their various deadlines for the project. Commissioner Alston asked if the schools were taking the insurance company at their word or if they were negotiating. School Board Attorney Jill Wilson said they were negotiating on an ongoing process.    

School Funding Formula

Commissioner Coleman said the schools funding process must begin to look at a funding formula with a base. She said funding couldn’t continue the same way as in the past because in her opinion, it is not the best way to fund schools.

Commissioners Chairman Gibson said he has had discussions with other jurisdictions using a funding formula that are successful. School Board Chairman Duncan said he has concerns about the use of a formula but he is willing to have staffs meet.

Commissioner Coleman said she would like to be a part of a committee consisting of Board of Education and County Commissioner members to discuss funding. The following County Commissioners volunteered to serve on the committee: Kay Cashion, Carolyn Coleman, Mike Winstead. Chairman Duncan said the schools have a standing budget committee and School Board member Kris Cooke said she would facilitate the first meeting along with Commissioner Coleman at a date to be determined by them in the future.

School Board member Dot Kearns said she would like to work together but expressed concern regarding a realistic base on tax evaluation.

School Bonds

School Board Chairman Duncan said they were working on a bond package and starting to prioritize school projects for a November 2007 Bond.

Several Commissioners asked specifically about Jamestown Middle School, Ragsdale High School, and Gateway West.

Commissioner Parks expressed his concern and added many constituents had contacted him regarding funding school projects for Gateway West, Ragsdale High School and Jamestown Middle School. 

Superintendent Grier said is has been difficult to find a location in High Point for Gateway West. School Board members Kearns and Cooke said they serve on the construction project team for Gateway West and assured the County Commissioners that there is a strong commitment from the School Board to move forward on Gateway West. Both Boards then discussed methods of funding.

Commissioner Alston asked if the November School Bond does not pass what funding options will be available for school projects. He indicated Certificates of Participation (COPS) should be a funding alternative.

Commissioner Parks asked about lottery funds and Chairman Duncan reported they are not coming in as projected. He indicated lottery funds should not be thought of as a consistent revenue source.

Public/Private School Construction 

School Board member Garth Herbert presented the Board with a concept of determining the cost of new schools. He addressed cost savings and maximizing tax credits through retrofitting, repairing, and converting a school but indicated his proposal would require great trust.  Members of both Boards asked Mr. Herbert several questions on his proposal. Board members also discussed COPS funding for school construction and the lottery in more detail.

½ ¢ Sales Tax

School Board Chairman Duncan said the legislators could approve a ½ ¢ sales tax but such Bills have failed in the past. He said the Board of Education has no position on the sales tax matter. Commissioner Coleman said a sales tax is a regressive tax and she is not in favor of this funding option. She challenged the Board to provide 21 million dollars in a program as an alternative to incarceration for a 600-bed jail.

Other Issues

Commissioner Perkins then asked about a scholarship program at GTCC and said he would like to see more public/private partnerships.

Superintendent Grier explained the program. School Board member Kearns said the landscape has changed and opportunities to fill jobs need a workforce.      

Commissioner Shaw expressed concern about the legality of the scholarship program.  

Commissioner Cashion said she liked the idea about the parity and fairness for each student if they want to go to GTCC.
 
Commissioner Coleman said closing the educational achievement gap was very important to her. She asked the School Board if they had set goals to close the achievement gap in low performing schools. She also asked questions concerning the school suspension policy asked if their is a goal to eliminate school suspensions or allow them only in special circumstances.  Superintendent Grier said there are goals to eliminate the achievement gap by a date certain but no goal on school suspensions. He explained in detail the subjects and grades in which students should be at grade level. He also said the schools do have a community service component as an option in suspensions.  Commissioner Coleman said her concerns should be a community goal.

Commissioner Alston acknowledged his program, “Men of Dudley” mentoring program.  Other community programs were also referenced in trying to reach students.

Members of the School Board provided those present with handouts of the Guilford County Schools Legislative Agenda 2007.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.