Background material for each agenda item is available online under the Board Meeting Materials link

Recognitions

Sustained Professional Purchasing Award – GCS Purchasing Department

The Board recognized the Guilford County Schools Purchasing Department for being awarded the Sustained Professional Purchasing Award for 2005 by the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing.  This is the highest award a purchasing department can obtain within the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing.  

Project Fit America 2006 All Star Teacher of the Year

The Board, along with the Moses Cone Wesley-Long Community Health Foundation, recognized Bradley White, elementary physical education specialist at Madison Elementary, as recipient of the Project Fit America 2006 All Star Teacher of the Year award.

National Board Certified Teachers

The Board recognized Guilford County Schools’ teachers who earned their National Board Certification in 2005.  (See the Quick Notes column for a list of names)

Consent Agenda

The Board approved the following Consent Agenda items:

• First Reading – Policy IHA, Grading and Reporting Student Progress (Grading Systems)
• Proposed 2006-2007 Extended-Year and Year-Round School Calendars
• Proposed 2006-2007 Early/Middle College Calendars
• Contracts for Mowing Various School Grounds
• Extension of Contract for Cost Per Copy Program

Board Discussion

Update on Discussions with the City of High Point

The Board voted to table a resolution of the High Point Simeon Stadium agreement until      the Board’s next meeting. 

Continued Discussion of Redistricting Plans
(Visit www.gcsnc.com/redistricting for more comprehensive information.)

Murphey/Peck/Foust/Frazier/Wiley

The Board voted to adopt attendance zone changes affecting Foust, Frazier, Peck, and Wiley without making Murphey a dedicated magnet school or shifting students out of the Murphey attendance zone. 

Southern/Sumner Elementary Schools

The Board voted to continue K-5 programs at Southern and Sumner and not combine the attendance zones but rather move the two pre-kindergarten classes from Sumner to Southern, allow the siblings of students in the pre-kindergarten program to transfer to Southern, and allow the pre-kindergarten students to remain at Southern for the K-5 program should they choose to do so. 

Madison/Northeast Middle/High (Area east of US Highway 29)

The Board voted to assign the Rankin area east of US Highway 29, known as area H124, to Madison Elementary, Northeast Middle, and Northeast High School effective with the opening of Reedy Fork Elementary in the 2007-2008 school year. 

Penn Griffin

The Board voted to approve the staff recommendation for Penn-Griffin to add ninth grade to the arts magnet for 2006-2007 and add other grade levels each year, reduce the middle school attendance zone as outlined for 2007-2008, with auditions at the high school level and no auditions for the middle school magnet program.

The Board agreed that the high school arts magnet students would attend Penn-Griffin on the same east/west attendance lines as used for the middle school program when duplicate programs are offered in Greensboro and High Point.

Northern Elementary/Northern Middle/Northern High

The Board voted to approve the attendance lines as discussed at the January 29 Retreat for Northern Elementary, Northern Middle, and Northern High. 

Reedy Fork Area Elementary

The Board voted to approve the attendance lines as discussed at the January 29 Retreat for Reedy Fork Area Elementary. 

Guilford Elementary/Jefferson Elementary

The Board voted to approve the attendance lines as discussed at the January 29 Retreat for Guilford Elementary and Jefferson Elementary. 

Northwest Area Elementary

The Board voted to approve the attendance lines as discussed at the January 29 Retreat for the Northwest Area Elementary School. 

High Point Area

The Board voted to Map C with a modification for High Point area middle and high schools effective with the 2006-2007 school year.

Reports from the Chairman

• Board member Darlene Garrett requested to be added to the achievement gap committee
• Walter Childs agreed to serve as a liaison to the High Point Visitors and Convention Bureau Board
• Chairman Duncan announced that the Joint Task Force meeting had been scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on March 16 at Western High School.  Board member representatives serving on the Joint Task Force are Kris Cooke and Alan Duncan
• Chairman Duncan informed the Board that he was nominating Superintendent Grier for the Jay Robinson Award sponsored by the Public Forum of North Carolina
• Board member Susan Mendenhall shared draft copies of the 2006 Legislative Agenda and requested that Board members review and provide feedback.  She also asked that the Legislative Agenda be added as an agenda item at the next meeting for discussion