January 4, 2012

GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
January 4, 2012
GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL

SPECIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Linda Underwood called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Present were:
Mr. Michael E. Payne
Mr. W. Kevin Hazzard
Mr. John L. Lumpkins, Jr.
Mr. John D. Wright
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Hardy
Dr. Linda A. Underwood, Superintendent

Also attending were:
Pete Gretz, Assistant Superintendent
Thomas DeWeerd, Director of Secondary Education
Dr. Steve Geyer, Director of Elementary Education
Ernie McLeod, Director of Finance and Operations
Lisa Landrum, Supervisor of Nutrition
Betty Thurston, Supervisor of Transportation
Sonny Turner, Supervisor of Maintenance
Connie Foreman, Enrichment and Interim Elementary Instruction Specialist
Tina McCay, Principal, Goochland Elementary School
Francie Ball, Principal, Goochland High School
John Hendron, Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Diane Bennett, School Board Clerk

The Media was represented by:
Ken Odor, The Goochland Gazette

MOMENT OF SILENCE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ANNUAL SCHOOL BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Dr. Underwood called for nominations for Chairman. 

On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Payne, the Board voted 5-0 to elect Mrs. Hardy as Chairperson of the Goochland County School Board for CY 2012.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

STATEMENT BY CHAIR:
Mrs. Hardy thanked Dr. Underwood and staff, as well as the public.  The School Board wants to restore credibility and trust and plan to have open conversations with the public.  She stated the budget is the next task at hand.
 
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Hardy called for nominations for Vice-Chairman. 

On a motion by Mr. Payne, seconded by Mr. Lumpkins, the Board voted 5-0 to elect Mr. Wright as Vice Chair of the Goochland County School Board for CY 2012.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

APPOINTMENT OF THE CLERK
On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Hazzard, the Board voted 5-0 to elect Diane Bennett as the Clerk of the Goochland County School Board for CY 2012.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEES
On a motion by Mr. Hazzard, seconded by Mr. Wright, the Board voted 5-0 to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation that in her absence or inability, Peter M. Gretz, Thomas DeWeerd, and Ernest McLeod be approved as her designees to attend meetings of the School Board and be authorized to sign reports, requisitions, and other official correspondence for the period January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

APPROVAL OF THE SCHEDULE FOR REGULAR MEETING
Dr. Underwood presented the proposed CY 2012 Calendar of meetings.  The Board discussed changing the April 10 and December 25 meetings as they fall during Spring Break and Winter Break respectively.  The addition of the February 13 Joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors was also discussed, as well as changing the time of all meetings to 7:00 p.m.

On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Hazzard, the Board voted 5-0 to accept the proposed CY 2012 Calendar of Meetings, changing the April 10 meeting to April 4, changing the December 25 meeting to December 18, adding the February 13 Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors, and changing the time of all meetings to 7:00 p.m.  Regular meetings will be on the second Tuesday of each month with workshops on the fourth Tuesday of each month, all at Goochland High School.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAGGIE WALKER GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL BOARD
On a motion by Mr. Lumpkins, seconded by Mr. Wright, the Board voted 5-0 to appoint Mr. Hazzard as the Maggie Walker Governor’s School Board Representative for CY 2012.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BLUE RIDGE VIRTUAL GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL BOARD
On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Payne, the Board voted 5-0 to appoint Mr. Lumpkins as the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School Board Representative for CY 2012.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

CODE OF ETHICS
On a motion by Mr. Hazzard, seconded by Mr. Payne, the Board voted 5-0 to sign a Code of Ethics, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.  Roll Call:  Payne Aye, Hazzard Aye, Hardy Aye, Lumpkins Aye, Wright Aye.

ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/CHANGES TO PROPOSED AGENDA
None.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA
On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Lumpkins, the Board voted 5-0 to adopt the agenda as proposed.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS
A. Regular Meeting:  Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at GHS
B. Special Meeting:  Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at GHS
C. Regular Workshop:  Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at GHS
D. Special Meeting:  Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at GHS

FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

• Karron Myrick thanked the board for their commitment, said she would like to see them lead the system with a strategic roadmap, research based communication, and inspirational culture.

• Michael McDermott congratulated the board on their victories and offered the following suggestions to the Board:  increased government transparency, improvement of the closed disciplinary logistics, video streaming of all meetings, posting audio of meetings on website, move meetings to Board of Supervisors meeting room, quarterly town hall meetings, additional relevant advisory committees, all meetings to begin at 7:00 p.m., regularly scheduled joint meetings with Board of Supervisors, make presentations available to public before the last minute, career and technical education program using old middle school building, stop using activities accounts, stop double standards, continue consolidation efforts with the county, and review advisory committees for multi-terms and stop paying stipends for those positions.

CONSENT ITEMS
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
MINUTES
BILLS/PAYROLL

The following Personnel Action item was presented for approval:

Supplemental Appointments:

Preston Gordon, Head Boys Basketball Coach
Matt Singleton, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach
Wilbur Athey, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach
David Falconer, Middle School Boys Basketball Coach
Sarah Voyack, Head Girls Basketball Coach
Courtney Rodgers, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach
Dib Oglesby, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach
Rebecca Cox, Middle School Girls Basketball Coach
Liz Ford, Swim Coach

Resignations:

Suzanne Taylor, BES, Instructional Assistant
Roger Watkins, Bus Driver

On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Lumpkins, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the personnel action as presented.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

ACTION ITEMS:
REVISION TO BUDGET CALENDAR
On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Lumpkins, the Board voted 5-0 to approve revisions to the budget calendar as presented.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

VRS ELIGIBILITY OF PART-TIME STAFF
VRS advised that certain employees under their current contract status are no longer eligible to receive VRS benefits. VRS administrators have found an inconsistency with the way some employees with non-traditional contracts have been accruing benefits. Most of these contracts and position decisions predate any personnel staff currently employed (as early as mid 1990s), so it is a challenge to gain perfect clarity regarding how the decisions were made.

It is clear, however, that when individuals were employed for two, non-covered part-time positions, they were considered to be full-time and were given access to benefits, including VRS.

VRS discovered the error while discussing an un-related matter with payroll, and recently has established that it is no longer allowable.

Additionally, teachers who have been employed for part-time contracted positions have been offered benefits. Since these positions are less than the required .75 FTE suggested by VRS and implied in board policy, these positions are also ineligible.

NOTE: Access to VRS benefits is entirely separate from access to any other GCPS benefits. VRS is not concerned with what other benefits may/may not be offered to any employees, regardless of their contract status. VRS is only responding to GCPS policy regarding what is/isn’t eligible for benefits. If GCPS finds a position eligible, VRS will allow that position to receive VRS benefits. If GCPS does NOT regard a position as eligible, however, the position cannot receive VRS benefits when it is paired with another non-eligible position.

Additional Information:

• GCPS policy currently defines “full-time” employment as including 30 hours per week or more (.75 FTE) for the purpose of determining eligibility for sick leave.
• GCPS policy does not address eligibility for VRS benefits but defers to VRS eligibility requirements.
• The VRS policy handbook offers suggestions regarding eligibility requirements but ultimately defers to local school board policy to determine eligibility for VRS.

IMPACTED EMPLOYEES AND RECOMMENDED RESOLUTIONS:

Group 1 - Individuals who currently have two part-time contracts, both of which employ the individual in the same capacity (for example, a bus driver with two separate bus runs has a part-time, non-eligible contract for each run).

Recommendation: Individuals who are currently employed in two, same capacity part-time positions should be offered a new, single contract that combines the two jobs into one eligible position. The job titles would need to be revised and new positions created. The board would need to recognize the new positions as eligible to receive benefits.

Group 2 - Individuals who currently have two part-time contracts, each of which employs the individual in two different capacities (for example, a bus driver who also works part-time in the cafeteria and has a separate contract for each position).

Recommendation: Individuals who are currently employed in two, different capacity part-time positions should retain the two separate contracts they currently have. Those contracts should reflect VRS requirements and should remain non-eligible positions.

Group 3 - Individuals who have been hired for a part-time, non-eligible position that do not meet board policy minimum eligibility requirements (30 hours per week or .75 FTE - for example, a teacher who is offered a half-time contract).

Recommendation: Individuals who are currently employed in non-eligible positions should retain their eligibility through a “grandfather” status. Any individuals hired from this point forward for positions that are less than the required 30 hours per week (.75 FTE) would be ineligible for benefits, including participation in VRS.

On a motion by Mr. Lumpkins, seconded by Mr. Hazzard, the Board voted 5-0 to approve that individuals currently employed in two, same capacity part-time positions be offered a new, single contract that combines the two jobs into one eligible position, that job titles be revised and new positions created, and recognize the new positions are eligible to receive benefits.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

Mr. Lumpkins made a motion to defer the decision regarding Group 2.  The motion failed due to lack of a second.

Mr. Lumpkins withdrew the motion to defer the decision regarding Group 2.

On a motion by Mr. Lumpkins, seconded by Mr. Hazzard, the Board voted 4-0 to approve that individuals currently employed in two, different capacity part-time positions should retain the two separate contracts they currently have and are ineligible for VRS benefits.  Ayes:  Payne, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.  Nay:  Hazzard

On a motion by Mr. Lumpkins, seconded by Mr. Payne, the Board voted 5-0 to defer action on Group 3.  All Ayes:  Payne, Hazzard, Hardy, Lumpkins, Wright.

INFORMATION ITEMS
OVERVIEW OF FY13 BUDGET
Dr. Underwood presented an overview of the FY13 budget.

OLD BUSINESS
None.

NEW BUSINESS

• The School Board is considering drafting Bylaws.  Counsel will review.
• The School Board will be reviewing policies, specifically the RIF policy, benefits policy, GCD, and BG.
• Announcement:  January is VSBA Bullying Prevention Month.
• Announcement:  Justin Verlander’s parents will be the keynote speakers at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner on January 26, 2012.
• A recommendation was made for the Safe Teen Driving Program.  Representatives of the program want to come to Goochland some time in February or March.

SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

• Jo D. Hosken asked the following questions: 1) Are textbook funds limiting on what textbooks are used and asked for a list of guidelines.  2) If instructional assistant days were reduced would that also lower their pay?  Were they included in furlough days?  Is it possible to know how much they will be losing? 3) Is the technology grant-matching fund already included in the budget?  She thanked the Board for stepping forward, sacrificing evenings, days and emails, and for what they have done for the children.

• Michael McDermott spoke about signing up prior to speaking, transparency, textbook money, and high-level administrative cuts.  He thanked the Board for stepping up to serve our children.

• Jane Christie said she would like to see more details in the budget, advocated for reinstatement of the Library Media Specialist position as well as retaining the two assistants in the media centers, and spoke about the VRS and health insurance discrepancies.

• Patrick Gannon thanked the Board for their service, reminded them that it is about the kids, and asked how much we spend on legal and staff fees and time to defend ourselves against lawsuits against people who are no longer with us.

CLOSED MEETING
None.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by the Chairman.

Attachments:
Code of Ethics