Athens City Board of Education s1

1 1 ATHENS CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION 2 3 MINUTES 4 5 Monday, February 8, 2010, 5:30 p.m. 6 7 The Athens City Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, 8February 8, 2010, at Ingleside School, 200 Guille Street, Athens, Tennessee. 9 10CALL TO ORDER 11 12 Mr. Bevins called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Chair Mike Bevins, 13Chris Liner, Jim Nelson, Brian Heatherly, Chris Adams, Harold Powers, and 14Director of Schools Craig Rigell were present for the meeting. A quorum was 15present. 16 17PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE 18 19 The Board and guests stated the Pledge of Allegiance. A moment of 20silence was observed. 21 22RECOGNITION OF GUESTS 23 24 Mr. Bevins welcomed everyone to the meeting. Guests present were Teresa 25Riggin, Principal at Ingleside School; Chrissi McConkey and Jennifer Walker, Co- 26Presidents of the Athens Education Association; Becky Simpson, Supervisor of 27Instruction; Diane Frank, Supervisor of Finance; Holly Owens, Principal at North 28City School; Pete Harrell, Supervisor of Transportation; personnel from Ingleside 29School; and Richard Edwards, Managing Editor of The Daily Post Athenian. 30 31PUBLIC COMMENTS 32 33 Mr. Bevins explained that at this time of the meeting the attendees were 34provided an opportunity to discuss topics with the Board. No one addressed the 35Board.

2 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 2 2 1CONSENT AGENDA 2 3 Mr. Bevins reviewed the Consent Agenda: 4 5 A.) Approval of the Agenda 6 7 1.) February 8, 2010 8 9 B.) Approval of Minutes 10 11 1.) January 11, 2010 – Regular Meeting 12 2.) January 19, 2010 – Executive Committee Meeting 13 3.) February 1, 2010 – Called Meeting 14 15 C.) Enrollment and Attendance 16 17 Total student enrollment as of January 26, 2010, was 1,678 18 compared to 1,671 one year ago. Attendance average was 94.5049 19 percent as of January 26. 20 21 D.)Student Travel Requests 22 23 Recommended student travel requests were approved for: 24 25 1.) SCOPE Conference – Athens Junior High School 26 March 11-12, 2010 – Nashville, Tennessee 27 2.) VICTOR Program – Westside School 28 May 11, 2010 – Biltmore Estates, Asheville, North Carolina 29 30 E.) Bid for Custom Wall/Shelving Unit for Media Center/Library at 31 North City 32 33 The Board approved purchase of the custom wall/shelving unit from 34 the low bidder, The Braley Company. The total cost for the custom 35 wall/shelving unit is $8,868. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 3 2 1Consent Agenda continued… 2 3 F.) Board Policy Review – Section 4, Instructional Services 4 5 The Board approved the majority of Section 4, Instructional 6 Services of the Board’s on-line policy manual. Four policies will 7 require two readings: 8 1 4.406 Use of the Internet 2 4.502 Parent/Family Engagement 3 4.601 Reporting Student Progress 4 4.603 Promotion and Retention 9 10 Mr. Powers made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Second was 11made by Mr. Nelson. Motion carried. 12 13CELEBRATING SUCCESS 14 15 Dr. Rigell introduced Teresa Riggin, Principal at Ingleside School. Mrs. 16Riggin welcomed the Board and guests to Ingleside. Mrs. Riggin read several 17statements and some staff from Ingleside School publically thanked Zully Vasquez 18for her dedicated work to Ingleside School. Mrs. Vasquez is an Instructional 19Assistant who goes above and beyond normal duty to translate paperwork into 20Spanish for Ingleside School and the school system. She interprets and assists 21Spanish speaking parents and students. Mrs. Vasquez is a naturalized citizen of 22the United States who gives so much to Ingleside School’s staff, students, and 23parents. 24 25VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH 26 27 Mrs. Riggin introduced Tim Crockett as Ingleside’s volunteer. Mr. 28Crockett was not able to attend the board meeting. 29 30PERSONNEL UPDATE 31 32 Dr. Rigell reviewed the personnel update (a copy is included in the Minutes 33Book). 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 4 2 1SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2010-2011 2 3 Dr. Rigell informed the Board that the School Calendar for the upcoming 4school year is scheduled for approval at the April Board meeting according to the 5Board’s Annual Agenda. The Board has charged the administrative staff to align 6the Athens City School Systems calendar with McMinn County Schools. The 7recommended school calendar for 2010-2011 is in alignment with McMinn 8County’s school calendar for all student attendance days. McMinn County will 9vote on their calendar Thursday, February 11. 10 11 Pete Harrell, Supervisor of Transportation, explained the process of 12preparing the school calendar. Becky Simpson, Supervisor of Instruction, Kelley 13Key and Ginger Robinson, representatives of the Athens Education Association, 14and he met with personnel from McMinn County, Meigs County, and Etowah City 15Schools. The calendars were prepared; all agreed that student attendance days 16would be the same. The Athens Education Association was polled and the 17majority of the responses received were positive. 18 19 Mr. Adams made a motion to approve the recommended School Calendar 20for 2010-2011. Mr. Nelson seconded the motion. Motion carried. 21 22FY09 AUDITS 23 24 Dr. Rigell informed the Board they had received clean audits for 27 years. 25The FY09 Audits consisted of four major accounts contained in the Financial 26Report. For the first time in his tenure, the segregation of duties write-up in the 27Financial Report for the Activity Funds was removed. The Athens City Schools’ 28staff is to be congratulated for this great accomplishment. 29 30 Diane Frank, Supervisor of Finance, discussed specifics of the Audits. Mr. 31Bevins asked what was done different this year to remove the write-up of the 32segregation of duties in the Activity Funds. Mrs. Frank said the procedures has 33been fine tuned. Teachers are now keeping logs of funds they collect. The 34vendors are removing the money from the coke machines and the school is given a 35check for the funds received. Previously, employees were removing the money. 36Basically, there are more checks and balances in place. 37 38 Mr. Heatherly made a motion to approve the FY09 Audits as presented. 39Mr. Liner seconded the motion. Motion carried. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 5 2 1FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2009 2 3 Dr. Rigell stated the Board had received the financial reports for the quarter 4ending December 31, 2009, at the work session on January 27, 2010. Dr. Rigell 5recommended Board approval of the financial reports for: 6 7 1.) General Purpose 8 2.) Education Capital Outlay 9 3.) Federal Projects 10 4.) Food Service 11 12 The Board approved the financial reports on a motion by Mr. Nelson and a 13second by Mr. Powers. 14 Motion carried. 15 16BANK UPDATE 17 18 Dr. Rigell informed the Board that procedure has been to bid the banking 19services every five years. Spring 2010 is the next scheduled bid date. This 20procedure has been discussed with the Board at previous meetings. The majority 21of the revenue received for the school system is now received thru electronic 22financial management with on-line banking. The electronic process is an 23important component in the funds received from the state and federal government, 24including ARRA and potential funds thru “Race to the Top”. Dr. Rigell stated that 25bidding and possibly changing banking services could potentially cause serious 26issues or delays in receipt of the electronic revenue funds. 27 28 Dr. Rigell referenced the letter detailing some of the terms of the banking 29relationship with Athens Federal Community Bank (copy of the letter included in 30the Minutes Book). Dr. Rigell recommended the Board delay the bid process for 31five years and approve the continued use of the current bank, Athens Federal 32Community Bank. 33 34 Mr. Liner made a motion to delay the bid process for bank services until the 35Spring of 2015 and continue using the services of Athens Federal Community 36Bank. Mr. Powers seconded the motion. Mr. Adams abstained from discussion 37and voting since he is an employee of Athens Federal Community Bank. All other 38members voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 6 2 1FIRST READING OF BOARD POLICY CHANGES 2 3 Dr. Rigell informed the Board that due to the recent activities of the 4administrative staff and the Board’s schedule, the Administrative Council had not 5reviewed the recommended policy changes. They would be reviewed at the next 6meeting and any changes will be provided to the Board prior to the second reading 7of these policies: 8 1 4.406 Use of the Internet – current Use of the Internet - proposed 2 4.502 Parent/Family Engagement – current Parent/Family Engagement – proposed 3 4.601 Reporting Student Progress 4 4.603 Promotion and Retention 9 10 Dr. Rigell stated policies 4.406 and 4.502 were being updated due to 11legislation changes. Recommended changes to policies 4.601 and 4.603 were 12being made to align with the 9-week grading periods for grades 4-9. 13 14 The policies were approved on first reading on a motion by Mr. Powers and 15a second by Mr. Adams. Motion carried. 16 17 18(Mr. Powers left the meeting to attend the 100 year celebration of the Boy Scouts.) 19 20JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ATHENS CITY 21COUNCIL 22 23 Dr. Rigell confirmed the meeting of the Board and Athens City Council for 24Thursday, February 18, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Library at the Athens Junior 25High School. 26 27BOARD’S SPRING RETREAT 28 29 Dr. Rigell confirmed the Board’s Spring Retreat had been scheduled for 30Wednesday, March 10, 2010, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Board Room at the 31Administration and Maintenance Building. He asked the Board to provide him 32with topics. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 7 2 1BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 12, 2010 2 3 Dr. Rigell informed the Board that April 12 is the first day of Spring Break. 4The Board has two important meetings scheduled for that day: (1) regular monthly 5Board meeting and (2) called meeting to select candidates for the Director of 6Schools Search. Dr. Rigell asked the Board if they wanted to consider 7rescheduling this date should there be a possibility that a quorum may not be 8present. After discussion, it was decided to have the called meeting at noon on 9April 12 and the regular meeting will remain at 5:30 p.m. on April 12. 10 11DISCUSSION OF COVERED WALKS FOR INGLESIDE SCHOOL 12 13 Dr. Rigell said the Board received estimated cost for covered walks at 14Ingleside Schools at the January 27 work session. The next step would be to 15employ an architect to design and prepare bid specifications. Mr. Adams asked if 16it would be possible to have cost estimation for a drive connecting Ingleside 17Avenue to parking lot. Dr. Rigell said the Board can request the estimation be 18received for consideration. The door locks were considered the priority for the 19remaining renovation funds. The bid opening for the door locks is February 22 at 2010:00 a.m. Once the bids are opened, the Board will have cost of the door locks 21and know if renovation funds are left. Mr. Liner asked if the Board could use 22some of the funds in Capital Outlay. 23 24 Mr. Heatherly made a motion to move forward to obtain architectural cost 25to complete the initial review of the covered walkways at Ingleside School. Mr. 26Liner seconded the motion. 27 28 Mr. Bevins said the Board agreed the door locks were the highest priority 29on the list of items suggested for the remaining renovations money. He 30recommended the Board consider reconfiguration of the Ingleside’s office which 31would be more of a safety priority. He suggested the Board wait on making a 32recommendation on any work at Ingleside School until the bids for door locks 33were open. 34 35 After further discussion about the road way, Mr. Heatherly amended his 36motion to include having the architect provide cost estimation for a road way 37connecting the road to the parking lot on the pool side of the building. Mr. Liner 38agreed with the amended motion. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 8 2 1Discussion of Covered Walks for Ingleside School continued… 2 3 Mr. Bevins asked for a vote on the motion to obtain an estimate for 4architectural fees to complete the initial review of the covered walkways at 5Ingleside School and to obtain cost estimates for a road way connecting the street 6to the parking lot on the pool side of Ingleside School. Mr. Heatherly, Mr. Adams, 7Mr. Liner, and Mr. Nelson were in favor of the motion. Mr. Bevins was opposed. 8 Motion 9carried. 10 11UPDATE ON THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING THE NEW DIRECTOR 12OF SCHOOLS 13 14 Mr. Bevins stated the Board had adopted the selection criteria for the new 15Director of Schools. Applications can now be received at TSBA. The deadline 16for submission of the applications is March 26. The next step for the Board will 17be to select candidates at the called meeting on April 12. 18 19REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS 20 21New Legislation 22 23Dr. Rigell informed the Board that the new law could have serious impact on 24education. 25 26  Academic Achievement Schools would create a state run school for the 27 schools that are not meeting AYP and NCLB guidelines. Additional 28 funding could be provided to help these schools obtain higher scores. The 29 state administrators will have definite challenges in reviewing current staff 30 and deciding to keep or dismiss them. 31  Evaluation Committee would be formed. This committee would determine 32 what percentage of TVAAS and other testing should be considered as part 33 of the teacher’s evaluation. The committee would also have to determine 34 how to place value on teachers where testing does not apply, for example, 35 librarians, physical education, etc. These guidelines will be established and 36 will begin with the 2011-2012 school year. 37  Impartial Hearing Officers would be created. When a tenured teacher is 38 dismissed, this legislation would allow the facts to be considered by a 39 Hearing Officer first before being presented to the Board. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 9 2 1Report from the Director of Schools continued… 2 3FY11 Budget 4 5 News for the upcoming proposed budget is not good. The estimated 9 6percent cut, which included extended contract, family resource, etc. is now back in 7the budget for legislators to consider. The Governor proposes to use “rainy day 8funds” to fully fund the FY11 Budget. Also included in the proposed budget is a 9one-time state bonus of 3 percent for all certified staff. 10 11Chamber of Commerce Banquet 12 13 Dr. Rigell announced that Beth Caulfield, teacher at Ingleside School, had 14been named Teacher of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and was 15recognized at their annual banquet. 16 17Bus Inspections 18 19 Dr. Rigell announced that buses were undergoing yearly inspections and 20that half of the Athens City Schools buses passed inspection at 100 percent. He 21thanked Mr. Harrell and bus drivers for their hard work to achieve this terrific 22goal. The remaining bus fleet will be inspected at a later date. 23 24COMMUNICATIONS 25 26 Mr. Bevins reviewed the communications: 27 28 1.) Letter from Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. regarding School Board 29 Appreciation Week. 30 31UNFINISHED BUSINESS 32 33 There was no unfinished business. 34 35NEW BUSINESS 36 37 Mr. Heatherly thanked Mark Pickel, Principal at City Park School, for his 38efforts in leading City Park to raise $800 for the Haitian relief fund. An assembly 39was held this afternoon. 1Athens City Board of Education Minutes – February 8, 2010 Page 10 2 1New Business continued… 2 3 With there being no other business before the Board, Mr. Bevins adjourned 4the meeting on February 8, 2010, at 6:50 p.m. 5 6APPROVED ON: ______7 (Date) 8APPROVED BY: 9 ______10 Chair 11 12______13 Director of Schools