Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
June 12, 2007

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan (arrived at 7:31 p.m.), Darlene Garrett (arrived at 6:05 p.m.), Deena Hayes (arrived at 7:59 p.m.), Garth Hébert, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe. Board members Walter Childs and Dot Kearns were absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order

Vice-Chairman Amos Quick called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Board member Jeff Belton led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Recognitions

GCS Employee of the Month for May 2007

The board recognized Randall Hackett, athletic director at Eastern Guilford High, as the district’s May Employee of the Month. Board member Anita Sharpe presented Mr. Hackett with a certificate of recognition. In a prior ceremony, Mr. Hackett received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, which has partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program.

GCS Volunteer of the Month for May 2007

The board recognized Vita Alligood, a volunteer at Erwin Montessori Magnet School, as the district’s Volunteer of the Month for the month of May. Board member Jeff Belton presented Ms. Alligood with a certificate of appreciation. Ms. Alligood received a $25 gift card from American Express, which has partnered with GCS to support the volunteer recognition program.

Project Fit America All-Star Teacher of the Year

The board recognized Gary Martin, elementary physical education specialist at Rankin Elementary, as the recipient of the 2006 All-Star Teacher of the Year award. Board member Nancy Routh presented Mr. Martin with a certificate of recognition from the board and a plaque from Project Fit America.

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan called on members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the board.

Sharon Johnston, 3014 Redford Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408
Jennifer Hance, 5305 Nantucket Road, Greensboro, NC 27455
Michelle Schneider, 906 Longview Street, Greensboro, NC 27403
Kurt Seeber, 1010 Twyckenham Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408
Ed Kimbrough, 4304 Hepatica Court, Summerfield, NC 27358
Tyrone Melton, 3401B Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27407
Joe Stafford, 4604 Forest Village Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or amend it.

Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous electronic vote.

Consent Agenda
Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A. Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the April 10 Regular Meeting, April 18 Budget Work Session and Business Meeting, April 20 Special Called Meeting, April 24 Budget Work Session, April 25 Public Forum, April 26 Regular Meeting and April 30 Public Forum were presented for approval. 

B. Personnel Action Reports
The consent agenda included personnel actions as noted in the monthly personnel action report requiring board approval.

C. Sale of Storage Building Constructed by the Eastern High School Construction Technology
The consent agenda included a recommendation that the board approve the sale of a storage building constructed by the Eastern High School construction technology program by public auction. The auction is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the Eastern High School Brown Summit campus site.  Dave’s Auctions, Inc. Greensboro, NC, will be the auctioneer. The building is 24’ long x 12’ wide x 9’ high at the peak.  There are two 3’0” x 6’8” exterior metal double doors on one end.  The roof is shingled and the siding is T111.  The building is on skids to allow for removal. The storage building will be sold “as is.”  The materials purchased for construction are valued at $3,625.  Staff recommends a minimum bid of $3,625 to ensure the replenishment of funds for future building projects.

D. Auction of Surplus Property
The consent agenda included a recommendation that the board approve to declare the provided list of items surplus property and to allow the administration to dispose of these items via a public auction. The auction is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, 2007 and will be held at the warehouse located at 529 W. Grimes Street in High Point. Dave’s Auctions, LLC of McLeansville, NC, will conduct the auction.

E. Duke Energy Carolinas Right-of-Way Agreement, The Academy at Smith
The consent agenda included a recommendation that the board approve a right-of-way request by Duke Energy Carolinas affecting a 20-foot strip to permit the construction or modifications of facilities presently proposed at 2225 S. Holden Road, Greensboro, North Carolina for the purpose of extending three phase underground primary installation to the new transformer location. The requested right-of-way would have a width of 10 feet on each side of a centerline determined by the centerline of the electrical facilities as installed, to construct, maintain and operate underground lines and conduits with other apparatus and appliances, either above ground or below ground, to include transformers and service connectors, for the purpose of transporting electricity. This right-of-way would permit the construction or modifications of facilities presently proposed. This would also include the rights to inspect and maintain these same lines as needed. This item was deferred from the April 26 meeting. 

F. Duke Energy Carolinas Right-of-Way Agreement, Northern High School
The consent agenda included a recommendation that the board approve a right-of-way request by Duke Energy Carolinas affecting a 20-foot strip to permit the underground primary installation for the school lighting system at Northern High School.  The requested right-of-way would have a width of 10 feet on each side of a centerline determined by the centerline of the electrical facilities as installed, to construct, maintain and operate underground lines and conduits with other apparatus and appliances, either above ground or below ground, to include transformers and service connectors, for the purpose of transporting electricity. This right-of-way would permit the construction or modifications of facilities presently proposed. This would also include the rights to inspect and maintain these same lines as needed. This item was deferred from the April 26 meeting.

G. Easement Agreement for BellSouth at Alderman Elementary School Property
The consent agenda included a recommendation that the board approve an option for an easement to permit the location and maintenance of communications equipment owned by BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (now AT&T) affecting the Alderman Elementary School property. The requested easement area is 20 feet by 20 feet and is located at the northwest corner of the school campus; it will be used to construct, maintain, operate, add and/or remove such systems of communications, facilities, or related services as BellSouth may from time to time require. Further, GCS will agree that BellSouth employees can park temporarily in the northwest corner of the school parking lot from time to time to service the BellSouth communications equipment.

There was consensus by the board to add two stipulations for BellSouth employees parking on school grounds to require workers to obtain a parking pass and to park only in designated parking spaces. Attorney Jill Wilson stated that this will be done by letter agreement.

Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the consent agenda as amended. Consent agenda items A, C, D, E, F and G passed upon unanimous roll call vote. Consent agenda item B passed upon majority roll call vote of 5-to-2 as follows: Ayes –Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Garth Hébert, Amos Quick and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Darlene Garrett and Nancy Routh.

Staff Reports

Eastern High School Update
Kevin Lear, chief operations officer, presented to the board an update on Eastern High School.

Modular units are beginning to arrive and are in the process of being set up. The grading for the entire site is continuing with good progress being made keeping the project on schedule. Most, if not all, modular units will be completed by mid July with no fabrication delays expected at this time. The designers have completed the design on the infrastructure, and bids are expected on May 15 for the sidewalks, decks, ramps, electrical, plumbing, general cleaning, curbs, gutter and asphalt paving.

The main school project construction consists of approximately 40 bid packages. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for May 17 with bids being due on June 7. This portion of the project is currently on schedule.

Northern High School Update
Mack McCary, chief academic officer, and Joe Yeager, principal at Northern High School, presented to the board an update on the progress of Northern High School. Mr. Yeager provided information in regard to registration; staffing; curriculum; parent, student and community involvement; schedule; facilities; transportation; athletics; administrative cooperation and coordination.

Chairman Alan Duncan arrived at 7:31 p.m. and board member Deena Hayes arrived at 7:59 p.m.

Continued Discussion of the 2007-08 Budget
Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, led the board in a continued discussion regarding the FY08 Local Current Expense Fund Line-Item Detail and the Proposed FY08 Capital Outlay Budget.

Ms. Ozment also provided information on Guilford County Schools Title I funding for FY08 versus FY07. Several board members expressed concern regarding the reduced funding in FY08 for all Title I schools as well as the loss of Title I funding in FY08 for Lindley Elementary School and Aycock, Penn-Griffin and Welborn middle schools.

Board member Garth Hébert questioned the accuracy of the $230,819.15 amount budgeted for Homework Hotline for FY08. After reviewing the calculation, Ms. Ozment indicated that the $230,819.15 figure was in error and the correct figure was $106,186.00, a difference of $124,633.15.
 
Superintendent Grier asked that the board consider distributing the $124,633.15 to the four schools that will no longer be Title I schools in FY08 in an effort to help soften the loss of federal funding to be incurred by these four schools. The Superintendent indicated that the proposed distribution/reallocation of the $124,633.15 keeps the original local current expense fund budget amount balanced. Board discussion followed.

Motion was made by Jeff Belton, seconded by Darlene Garrett, to split equally the $124,633.15 identified by Chief Finance Officer Sharon Ozment as a miscalculation in the Homework Hotline item between Lindley Elementary School and Welborn Middle School. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 5-to-4 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Darlene Garrett, Garth Hébert, Amos Quick and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Deena Hayes and Nancy Routh.

Motion was made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Garth Hébert, to adopt the proposed 2007-08 budget with a county appropriation fund request in the amount of $172,452,471 which represents an increase of $15,786,950 or 10.08 percent. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 7-to-2 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Amos Quick and Nancy Routh; Nays – Darlene Garrett and Anita Sharpe.

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

Adjournment
With no further business, at 10:51 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Kris Cooke, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.