FREDERICKSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Fredericksburg, Virginia A regular meeting of the Fredericksburg City School Board was held at 6:30 p.m. on September 13, 2004 in the A-V Room of Hugh Mercer Elementary School, 2100 Cowan Boulevard. Board members present were: Mrs. Janice R. Walsh, Chairman Mr. Anthony L. Bennett, Sr., Vice-Chairman Mr. Michael J. Gillenwater * Mrs. Patricia B. Green Mrs. Malvina R. Kay * Mrs. Barbara A. Miller-Richards Others Present: Mr. Dale E. Sander, Superintendent Mrs. Deborah B. Wright, Clerk of the Board The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by the Chairman. * Mr. Gillenwater and Mrs. Kay arrived at 6:35 p.m. 04-05-45: BOARD CONVENES INTO CLOSED SESSION: RECONVENES INTO OPEN SESSION. The Superintendent recommended that the Board convene into closed session under FIA 2.2-3711(A), Section 1 - Personnel (discussion concerning salaries and new employee credentials) and Section 2 – Student Matters (discussion regarding student disciplinary matters). A motion to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation was made by Mr. Bennett, seconded by Mrs. Green, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote. The Board convened in closed session at 6:33 p.m. On a motion by Mr. Bennett, seconded by Mrs. Green, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:40 p.m. and approved Certificate of Closed Meeting No. 04-05-4 which involves a statement concerning items discussed in closed session. A copy of Certificate of Closed Meeting No.04- 05-4 is attached to the minutes. 04-05-46: APPROVAL OF AGENDA. The Chairman called for a motion to approve the agenda. A motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Mr. Bennett, seconded by Mrs. Green, and unanimously approved by the Board. 04-05-47: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 2, 2004 SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION AND AUGUST 2, 2004 REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. Minutes of the August 2, 2004 School Board Work Session and the August 2, 2004 Regular School Board meeting were presented for approval. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Mr. Gillenwater, and unanimously approved by the Board. 04-05-48: RECOGNITIONS. As part of the school division’s character education program, Board member Malvina Kay read a narrative description of the “Word of the Month” for September – Fairness. Mrs. Gail Stone, Director of Administration and Instruction, provided background information on the Employee Incentive Awards program and selection process. Recognition and monetary awards are presented to one teacher from each of the four school sites and to one support staff member from the school division. Mrs. Stone then introduced the following winners of the Employee Incentive Awards for 2004: Stamo Poulos Support Staff Marcia Samuels-Fortune Original Walker-Grant School Anita W. Scott Hugh Mercer Elementary School Sarah S. Cook Walker-Grant Middle School George G. Cralle, Jr. James Monroe High School Dr. Daryl Chesley, Principal of James Monroe High School, recognized the following students who have been selected as SCA Officers for the 2004-2005 school year: Tameka Christopher President Briana Burns Vice-President Meredith Caldwell Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Chesley also introduced the following Senior Class Officers for 2004-2005: Shylan Bumbrey President Krysten Grymes (not present) Vice-President James Fortune (not present) Secretary/Treasurer 04-05-49: PUBLIC HEARING – FREDERICKSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SIX YEAR PLAN. The Chairman opened the public hearing portion of the meeting for comments on the Fredericksburg City Public Schools Six Year Plan. There being no citizens wishing to speak, the Chairman declared the public hearing portion of the meeting closed. 04-05-50: CONSENT AGENDA. The following items were included on the consent agenda: • Contract with Cosmetology Training Center – A recommendation was made that the School Board formally approve the contract with Cosmetology Training Center for the provision of cosmetology instruction services for eligible Fredericksburg City Public Schools’ students for the 2004-2005 school year. A copy of the contract is attached to the minutes. • 2004-2005 Supplemental Appropriations/Revisions – A recommendation was made that the School Board approve the $20,018.18 carryover and supplemental appropriation from the Department of Education in the form of a federal grant called “Comprehensive School Reform Program”, CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) number 84.332 under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by Public Law 107-110, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The Superintendent recommended approval of the items which were included on the consent agenda. A motion to approve the Superintendent's recommendation was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Mr. Gillenwater, and unanimously approved by the Board. Copies of the consent agenda items are attached to the minutes. 04-05-51: PERSONNEL MATTERS. The Superintendent recommended approval of the personnel list as presented. A motion to approve the personnel actions as distributed including the contract adjustments discussed in closed session was made by Mr. Bennett, seconded by Mrs. Green, and unanimously approved by a roll call vote. A copy of the personnel list is attached to the minutes. 04-05-52: ADOPTION OF SCHOOL BOARD GOALS FOR 2004-2005. The Superintendent noted that the School Board held a work session on August 2, 2004 to assess the status of 2003-2004 goals and to develop the Board’s goals for 2004-2005. Following the work session, a draft of the School Board’s goals for 2004-2005 including revisions was prepared and distributed to the Board for review. The Superintendent recommended that the Board approve the School Board goals for 2004-2005 as listed on the attachment. A motion to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation was made by Mrs. Green, seconded by Mr. Bennett, and unanimously approved by the Board. 04-05-53: BUILDING UPDATE. Mr. Doug Westmoreland, Vice-President of Moseley Architects, provided the Board with an update on construction progress on the school building projects. Mr. Westmoreland reported that both projects are moving along as scheduled. Construction progress has not been hindered by the rainy weather in the region. At the upper elementary school, the gymnasium is now taking shape, steel is being installed to begin the second floor and work on the ballfields is beginning. Most subcontractors including masons, electricians, and mechanical contractors for the project have being finalized and will soon be on-site on a daily basis. The first meeting of the Color and Furniture Committee has been tentatively scheduled for October. Mr. Westmoreland showed pictures of the work taking place at the upper elementary school site. At the high school site, foundations are progressing. Bids have been received for the high school and as with the upper elementary school, some of the costs are higher than originally estimated. Mr. Westmoreland reminded the Board that there is a guaranteed maximum price which will not be affected by the higher bids. Masonry work will be beginning soon. The Color and Furniture Committee will also be established later this fall. Questions from the public about the project should be addressed to Director of Operations and Construction Robert Burch. Mr. Westmoreland noted that Board members will soon be provided with copies of site designs and building layouts. Mr. Bennett asked if there are minority sub-contractors slated to work on the projects. Mr. Westmoreland responded that the general contractor has been talking to minority contractors. The Board will be provided with a report on minority as well as local contractors employed for the projects. Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Kay noted the clause in the general contract stating that there will be minority contractors to work on these projects. In response to a question from Mr. Gillenwater, Mr. Westmoreland stated that the ballfields at Walker- Grant Middle School are progressing well. Grass will be planted by the growing season. Mr. Sander commented that the fields behind the school and the practice field will be seeded. If timing is not right for seeding the stadium field, it may possibly be sodded to make sure it is ready for baseball season. 04-05-54: REPORT FROM THE SCHOOL NAMING COMMITTEE. Earlier this summer, the School Board appointed a School Naming Committee and adopted procedures for naming the new upper elementary school. The Committee is made up of School Board members Patricia Green and Anthony Bennett, City Council member Kerry John, Andrea Fortune, school administrator, teachers Tera Addair and Sarah Cook, and parents Marjolin Bijlefeld and Nancy Koch. The committee was given the task of considering suggestions submitted by citizens and researching historical information to determine other possible names for the new upper elementary school. Mrs. Green presented the committee’s report and recommendations. These recommendations were the Washington-Lewis Upper Elementary School which honors both Betty Washington Lewis, sister of George Washington, and Fielding Lewis, who sacrificed their wealth to support the Revolutionary War or the James Farmer Upper Elementary School as a reflection of Dr. Farmer’s significant contributions to the civil rights movement and his strong local connection. The committee acknowledged this name does not fit the criteria of the honoree having been deceased at least ten years. Mrs. Green also presented one additional name which was discussed during the process but continued to receive citizen support as well as that of a local historian. This recommendation was Lafayette Upper Elementary School which reflects the historical significance of the first Lafayette Elementary School. Mrs. Green stated that the Board may wish to suggest other names or return the matter to the committee for additional work. Mrs. Kay challenged the committee to consider names other than individuals or historical names.