October 12, 2010

GOOCHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
OCTOBER 12, 2010
GOOCHLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDIO B
7:00 p.m.

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
Maxwell G. Cisne, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Present were:
Maxwell G. Cisne, Chairman
Ivan O. Mattox, Sr., Vice Chairman
Mr. James L. Haskell
Mr. Raymond A. Miller
Dr. Linda A. Underwood, Superintendent

Absent:
Mr. Andrew A. Meng, III

Also attending were:
Tom DeWeerd, Director of Secondary Education
Ernie McLeod, Director of Finance and Operations
Francie Ball, Principal, Goochland High School
Johnette Burdette, Principal, Goochland Middle School
Stacey Austin, Principal, Goochland Elementary School
James Hopkins, Principal, Byrd Elementary School
Andrea Erard, Legal Counsel
Diane Bennett, School Board Clerk

The Media was represented by:
None.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/CHANGES TO AGENDA
None.

FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

• Sekou Shabaka said the Education Committee of the NAACP is requesting a town hall meeting with the community and would like for at least two of the Board members to attend.  The following topics would be discussed: preschool initiatives, disproportionality, achievement gap, and community outreach.  They feel these topics will give their constituents a good understanding of the Board’s position.  Mr. Shabaka shared some initiatives of other school divisions.

• Kalisha Jackson, a Class of 2000 graduate of Goochland High School, said the youth in this county are increasing their activity involvement in many negative activities such as violence, bullying, drugs, alcohol, gangs, and a lack of interest in higher education.  The recent acts of violence in the county have inspired her to start her own volunteer program call Youth Interceding, a program that focuses on information on colleges, vocational training, apprenticeships and scholarship programs; working with local charities in the Goochland County community to organize youth summits; and possibility working with or encouraging the Goochland County school system to organize and execute a youth summit yearly at GHS and GMS on youth issues during school hours just as you would a pep rally every home game at GHS.  The definition of a youth summit is a program that gives young people a better understanding of law and equips them with accurate information and strategies that would deter them from negative behavior such as violence, drugs and alcohol, and repeated juvenile delinquency.  The goal is to get GMS and GHS students involved in the planning process. 

• Corey Howell, a former GCPS student, said he does not think GCPS offers a quality education.  He said that just this year, thanks to the Virginia Advanced Strategies Studies grant, more advanced placement classes were offered.  He said that in the past GHS offered fewer than 5 AP classes.  He said that any decent high school offers a multitude of AP classes and that even the rural districts like Louisa and Powhatan offer more AP classes.  Mr. Howell stated that before the grant, GCPS only had about 4.  He stated this is a hindrance for students to be competitive in the college admissions process and that it says a lot about the school district and what they offer the more serious student.  He feels that any time we have an elective such as horticulture and auto mechanics and that number of electives overrides our college level offerings, he does not think that says a lot about the school system.  He said that in his junior year at GCPS he took 5 online classes because of the district’s lack of AP classes.  He feels the district should have had the AP classes that are available this year a long time ago.  Mr. Howell said he is not downing the school, that he enjoyed his time here, but he feels our mission of having a 21st Century education is basically overtaking the quality education.  He feels there is too much emphasis put on technology.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS

• Regular Monthly Workshop - Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Annex Building

• Board of Supervisors’ Meeting on November 3, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the County Administration Building regarding the process, timeline, considerations and criteria to be used for the redistricting in Goochland county

• Goochland’s Internet Safety Day - October 26, 2010

• John Hendron published another article in ISTE magazine.  A copy of the article was provided for the Board.

CONSENT ITEMS
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
MINUTES
BILLS/PAYROLL

The following Consent Agenda items were presented for approval:
September 14, 2010 regular meeting minutes, and September 28, 2010 workshop minutes, Bills and Payroll for September, and Personnel Actions.

Appointments:

Ann DeArras, GES, Instructional Assistant
Ashley Garrett, BES, Instructional Assistant

Supplemental Resignation:

Liz Kuhns, Color Guard

Supplemental Appointment:

Elizabeth Gentry, Color Guard

Transfers:

Whitney Colwell, GES, Transferred from
Instructional Assistant to Classroom Aide

Sally Hodges, GES, Transferred from
Instructional Assistant to Classroom Aide

Mr. Haskell made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Mattox, to approve the Consent Items as presented.  The motion was approved unanimously.

ACTION ITEMS: 
FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Dr. Underwood presented two additional recommendations for the Facilities Committee, as follows:  Tommy Whitaker (District 1) and Kristin McNaron (District 2).

Mr. Miller made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Haskell, to approve the Facilities Committee recommendations as presented.  The motion was approved unanimously.

BUDGET AND CIP CALENDAR
Dr. Underwood presented the Preliminary 2010-2011 Budget and CIP Development Timeline for approval.

Mr. Haskell made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Mattox, to approve the 2010-2011 Budget and CIP Development timeline as presented.  The motion was approved unanimously.

LOCATION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
Dr. Underwood presented a schedule of meetings approved in January 2010. Since that time all meetings and workshops have moved to Studio B at GHS.  A concern has been expressed that conversation is difficult in this setting.  A suggestion was made that we move back to the annex building for the workshops and move the location when there will be a large attendance.

Mr. Mattox made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Haskell, to approve the change in location of the workshops to the Annex Building.  The motion was approved unanimously.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Dr. Wayne Worner presented information regarding the comprehensive plan.

GRASP
Francie Ball presented information on the Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP).  Goochland has been chosen as one of the seven schools in the state to participate in the pilot program.  They are targeting 15 10th graders this year, and will follow those students through their junior and senior years.  The students can get up to $2,000 in scholarship funds.  Each year there will be additional students chosen to participate in the program.  There will be counselors available to help the students find other scholarship opportunities, help them set goals, and teach them what it takes to be a good high school/college student.

OLD BUSINESS

• Mr. Miller offered an update on Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School (BRVGS).  The Class of 2010 has 72 students.  Of those students, 69 went on to college and 1 went to the Coast Guard, and 1 is unknown.  Goochland has 58 students at BRVGS.  Mr. Miller provided the Board with a list of schools participating in BRVGS.

NEW BUSINESS
None.

SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT

• Jercreta Woodson, a parent and former Goochland student, now has an autistic son in school.  Last year her son attended Goochland Academy, but this year the Academy has been closed and he is now attending GHS and it is overwhelming for him.  She feels that somewhere along the way the autistic children have been left behind.  She asked that the School Board take into consideration that there are special needs and autistic children in the system and they are not being considered.  She asked the School Board to consider those students in preparing the budget and strategic plan.

• Michael McDermott said he finds it offensive that he is being recorded and no one else is.  He said he did not know we were going to hear such blathering bureaucratic balderdash from a consultant.  If we have to pay for a consultant, then we have elected and hired the wrong people.  The consultant even said, “it’s not rocket science.” He said if we can measure it, we can improve it.  He said the overhead was being used, but wondered why only the agenda was being shown and not the packet.  Again, it is misdirected technology.  He is still waiting for the organizational chart that was tabled a few months ago. He asked that we put the check registers in a format that is searchable.  He made a request to the School Board about where the student fee comes from. Now meetings are moving back to the other building.  He said this is a good place to have a meeting.  He feels there is no real discussion that goes on here.  He said at the last few meetings there have only been four members in attendance.  He finds the argument for a move to be ludicrous.  He said he sees light at the end of the tunnel if we keep meeting here and do a better job of being transparent.

CLOSED MEETING
Mr. Mattox made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Miller, to go into closed meeting pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(3) for the discussion or consideration of a student disciplinary matter because discussion in open meeting would disclose information from student scholastic records and pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) for the discussion or consideration of the annual evaluation and contract of the Superintendent.  The motion was approved unanimously.

END CLOSED MEETING
Mr. Mattox made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Haskell, for the Board to come out of Closed Meeting.  The motion was approved unanimously.

CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING
Mr. Miller made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Mattox, to certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting by the Board.  The motion was approved unanimously.

ACTION ITEM
Mr. Miller made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Haskell, to long term suspend student no. 3-10 through the end of the first semester (January 3, 2011) and that student no. 3-10 be permitted to receive transportation and educational services through Project Return.  The motion was approved unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by the Chairman.