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The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Thursday, December 20, 2007, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following board members were present: Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke (arrived at 7:20 p.m.), Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert (arrived at 6:15 p.m.), Dot Kearns, Amos Quick, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.
Call to Order
Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Board member Amos Quick led the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence.
Moment of Remembrance and Silence
Chairman Duncan led the board in a moment of remembrance and silence in honor of those students who have tragically lost their lives this school year.
Recognitions
2007 National Board Certified Teachers
The board recognized 61 educators who have recently achieved national board certification.
Marcellus E. Waddill Excellence in Teaching Award
The board recognized Sally Smith, a teacher at Kernodle Middle, as the recipient of the Marcellus E. Waddill Excellence in Teaching Award. Board member Darlene Garrett presented Sally with a certificate of appreciation.
North Carolina Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year
The board recognized Russ McHenry, physical education teacher at Northern Middle, as the North Carolina Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Board member Walter Childs presented Russ with a certificate of appreciation.
Public Comments
Chairman Duncan called on members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the board.
Emily Reichard, 2505 West Market St., Greensboro, NC 27403
Eric Huey, 3003 Butterwood Drive, Jamestown, NC 27282
Erik Beerbower, 5713 Friendswood Drive, Greensboro, NC 27409
Shirley Spears, 508 Willoughby Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27408
Jennifer Worrells, 2907 Shamrock Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408
Steve Bernstorf, 12 Hatteras Court, Greensboro, NC 27455
Kelly Wainscott, 4300 Vinsanto Way, Summerfield, NC 27358
Christie Peters, 4109 Sunbury Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405
Jennifer Hance, 5305 Nantucket Road, Greensboro, NC 27455
Jane McKinney, 6104 Gold Dust Trail, Greensboro, NC 27455
Heidi Holley, 2406 Sherwood St., Greensboro, NC 27403
Cathy Daniels Lee, 1804 Carlton Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27406
Peter Perret, 4230 Stonybrook Road, Clemmons, NC 27201
Raymond King, 3211 Woodlea Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406
Kerri Lowe, 1939D Eastchester Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Dr. Karol Wolicki, 2708 Southwick Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
Jody Henley, 215 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, NC 27403
Michaux Crocker, 1158 Stonebrier Court, High Point, NC 27265
Alma Adams, 300 North Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603
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 Anita Sharpe, seconded by Deena Hayes, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.
Consent Agenda
Superintendent Grier presented the following consent agenda items:
A. Personnel Action Reports
The consent agenda included personnel actions as noted in the monthly Personnel Action Report and addendum requiring board approval.
B. Approval of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) State Approved Providers
The consent agenda included a recommendation to approve the following Supplemental Educational Services (SES) state approved providers for the 2007-08 school year: Academics Plus - $547,848, Brame Institute - $443,500, Bright Futures - $201,626, MasterMind Prep - $400,814 and University Instructors - $170,890. SES are tutoring and other academic enrichment services offered outside of the regular school day to help students improve reading and mathematics skills as required by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal law. Title I schools must offer supplemental educational services after not making Adequate Yearly Progress in the same subject for three or more years. Only students who are approved for free or reduced-priced lunch are eligible to participate under the current NCLB law.
SES Providers are approved by the State Board of Education and school districts must contract with these approved providers. Once a parent selects a provider, a contract is established between the school district and the selected provider. SES providers are paid directly by the school district from Title I funds.
Motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Walter Childs, to approve the consent agenda as presented. Item A passed upon unanimous roll call vote. Item B passed upon majority roll call vote of 9-to-2 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Amos Quick and Nancy Routh.
Staff Reports
Construction Update
Andy LaRowe, executive director of facilities, presented to the board an update on the district’s construction projects.
Eastern Guilford High Pod Village
Final Certificates of Occupancy have been issued for all 10 pod units. Loading area canopies are installed. An additional canopy to cover 390’ center walkway will be installed over the holidays. Numerous improvements have been completed to address wet weather concerns. A security camera proposal has been authorized.
Eastern Guilford High
All underground utilities to site are complete. Footings are complete. Erection of pre-cast panels are proceeding at a rate of 20-25 panels a day. Panels for interior common areas are completed.
Academy at Smith High
Furniture has been delivered and installed. Final cleaning has been completed. Final inspections are scheduled for late December. Meetings are scheduled with principals and facilities staff to finalize move-in, start-up and facility turnover. Occupancy for teachers and students is expected to occur at the beginning of spring semester.
Northern Elementary
Final cleaning is in progress. Furniture is on site. Heat is on in the building. Ceiling grid, lighting and diffusers are complete. Installation of kitchen equipment, the gym floor, metal roofing and prefab soffits is in progress. Installation of sewer system is complete. Landscaping is in progress. Playground equipment installation is complete. The Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) is expected to be issued in late December. Meetings are scheduled with principals and facilities staff to finalize move-in, start-up and facility turnover. Occupancy is planned for early January.
Northern High
Grading around the school is 95 percent complete and 90 percent of the sidewalks have been installed. Sports lighting is 65 percent complete (tennis courts and stadium work remaining). Site lighting is 85 percent complete. Landscaping around the site is being installed. Grandstand footings are 75 percent complete (grandstand materials are on site). Heat is on in the building. Installation of flooring, doors and hardware, marker boards, oak trim, final paint, toilet partitions and accessories is in process. Gym striping work is occurring. Kitchen equipment is being installed. Storefront doors have arrived and are being installed. The exterior canopy is being installed. Meetings are scheduled with principals and facilities staff to finalize move-in, start-up and facility turnover. Occupancy is projected for late January.
Parkview Elementary
Site work continues including sidewalks and final finish grading. All aluminum framing has been installed including windows and storefront. Painting and floor finishes have been completed. Ceiling grids are complete. Discussions are underway with the contractor and principal to relocate playground and sidewalks. Furniture delivery and occupancy is planned for late January.
Pleasant Garden Elementary
Grading is 85 percent complete. Storm drain systems are complete. Asphalt paving is 35 percent complete and utilities installed underground to building. Footings are 95 percent complete. Work on exterior block walls is underway.
High Point SCALE Project (English Road Building)
Building is now unoccupied. Design is complete. Total bid package is complete and has been sent to appropriate reviewing agencies. Asbestos abatement is underway. Staff is evaluating contractor proposals.
Union Hill Elementary
Contract has been awarded for pre-construction services. Demolition and construction bid packages are being broken out separately to expedite the project. Demolition and erosion control measures are expected to begin and continue in the first quarter of 2008.
Special Education Center West
Initial programming discussions are underway with the design team. Staff continues to evaluate proposed sites working with owners and conducting preliminary due diligence.
Southeast High
Bids have been received and are being evaluated for cafeteria expansion project.
Southern High
Design, layout and construction of tennis courts is underway. The base is down. The contractor anticipates completion by end of 2007.
Southwest High
Installation of instructional lab adjacent to media center is underway.
Contract for Oak Ridge Elementary HVAC Renovations
Bids were received on December 6, 2007 for HVAC renovations at Oak Ridge Elementary. The construction budget for this project is $430,000. Six bids were received with the lowest responsive responsible bid made by Lomax Construction Company in the amount of $409,100 (including alternate 1 duct coils and controls for dehumidification cycle).
Motion was made by Walter Childs, seconded by Nancy Routh, to award a contract to Lomax Construction Company for HVAC renovations in the amount of $409,100. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 10-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Nancy Routh and Anita Sharpe; Nays – Amos Quick.
Contract for Southeast High Cafeteria Renovations
Nine bids were received on November 29, 2007 for expansion and renovations to the Southeast High cafeteria. The construction budget for this project is $1,381,843. The plans on this project were completed several years ago. Since that time Child Nutrition has requested the addition of more current ventilation and safety measures. In order to accommodate that need and bring the project under the C-cap, GCS has requested Moser, Mayer & Phoenix Associates, Architect, to modify the existing scope of expanding and renovating the cafeteria to include the addition of a new ventilation system and addition of an exhaust hood in the kitchen area. The work shall include, but not be limited to, new heating and cooling ductwork, a new roof top unit, new electrical power requirements, new smoke duct detectors and a new fire suppression system for the new exhaust hood. The change in completion date will not materially affect the operation of the school.
Motion was made by Nancy Routh, seconded by Walter Childs, to follow the administration’s recommendation and reject all bids for the expansion and renovations at the Southeast High cafeteria due to a change of scope in the work to be performed with the understanding that, upon rejection approval, the project will be re-advertised. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 10-to-1 as follows: Ayes – Jeff Belton, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett, Deena Hayes, Garth Hébert, Dot Kearns, Amos Quick and Nancy Routh; Nays – Anita Sharpe .
Elementary and Middle School Electives Update
Dr. Peggy Thompson, chief human resources officer, and Dr. Mack McCary, chief academic officer, presented to the board an update on elementary and middle school electives and scheduling options. They reviewed information on the issues related to allotments including curriculum implementation and staffing parameters. Also present to provide information were Michael D. Rettig, Professor Emeritus, James Madison University; Dr. Lynn Canady, Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia; Charles Burns, principal, Kernodle Middle; and Mark Harris, principal, Murphey Traditional Academy.
FLEX-GCS in ACES Program Update
This item was deferred until the January 8, 2008 meeting.
Review of Existing Magnet Programs
This item was deferred until the January 8, 2008 meeting. Chairman Duncan stated that if a board member wants specific information regarding evaluation of the status of the schools of choice, he or she should send a copy of that request to Director of Magnet Schools Tony Burks copying all board members so all are aware of the request.
Board member Kris Cooke departed the meeting at 10:14 p.m.
Magnet Grant Implementation
Tony Burks, director of magnet schools, presented to the board projected transportation costs associated with the implementation of the magnet grant. Director of Transportation Jeff Harris and Director of Planning Donna Bell were present to answer questions.
Board Comments
Board members were each allowed two minutes to make remarks, as they deemed appropriate.
Closed Session
At 10:45 p.m., motion was made by Deena Hayes, seconded by Walter Childs, to go into closed session to preserve the attorney client privilege and to give instruction to our attorney and staff regarding the price or other material term to be included in a proposed contract for real property. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.
The board returned to open session at 11:11 p.m.
Adjournment
With no further business, at 11:12 pm., motion was made by Darlene Garrett, seconded by Walter Childs, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.
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