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October 25, 2004
The Catawba County Board of Education met in regular session on October
25, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. at the County Schools’ Administration Building
with Chairman Charlie Wyant presiding. The following members were
present: Mr. Biggerstaff, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Sherrill, Mr. Scott, Mrs.
Butler and Mr. Sigmon. Also in attendance were Superintendent Ann Hart,
Assistant Superintendents Pat Hensley, Rick Sherrill and Nancy Yount,
Attorneys Crystal Davis and Jonathon Blumberg, Finance Director Sondra
Wolfe, Chief Technology Officer Terry Bledsoe, Public Information
Officer/Grant Writer Beverly Lampe, Exceptional Children’s Director
Sharon Fox White, Testing and Accountability Director Kelly Rhoney,
Arndt Middle School Principal Jeff Taylor, Clyde Campbell Elementary
School Principal Walter Zahler, Instructional Technology Facilitators
Donna Rudisill and Linda McCray and students from Lenoir-Rhyne College.
Christina Cupo represented the Hickory Daily Record and Tracie
Setzer represented the Observer News Enterprise.
The meeting opened with a Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by Mrs. Butler. Chairman Wyant welcomed those in
attendance and recognized the students from Lenoir-Rhyne College. Two
corrections were made to the minutes by Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Blackburn.
Mrs. Butler then made the motion to approve the minutes of the September
27, 2004 meeting including the two corrections. Mrs. Sherrill seconded
the motion with no opposition. The Consent Agenda was amended by
Superintendent Hart to move the Closed Session portion of the meeting
prior to the Public Hearing portion, and to add six additional overnight
field trip requests. After the amendments, the agenda was unanimously
approved upon a motion by Mrs. Blackburn and seconded by Mrs. Sherrill.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Butler and seconded by Mrs. Blackburn, the Board
unanimously went into Closed Session pursuant to G.S.143-318.11 for the
following three purposes: under subsection (a)(3) to receive advice
from the School Board Attorney regarding the following lawsuit: Oxford
Baptist Church vs. Catawba County Board of Education, under subsection
(a)(5) to discuss the acquisition of real property and under subsection
(a)(1) to prevent the disclosure of privileged and confidential
personnel information pursuant to G.S. 115C-319-321.
CLOSED SESSION (Separate minutes for Closed Session are prepared and
kept confidential.)
The Board returned to Open Session with a motion by Mrs. Sherrill,
seconded by Mrs. Blackburn with no opposition.
Public Hearing:
Attorney Crystal Davis conducted the Public Hearing
phase of the meeting for comments concerning any agenda items. No person
present wished to address the Board on any agenda item.
Superintendent’s Report:
At the September 27, 2004 Board of Education
meeting, Testing and Accountability Director Rhoney presented the
2003-2004 Annual Report of Student Performance. After that
presentation, members requested additional information on SAT and ACT
testing. At tonight’s meeting, Testing and Accountability Director
Rhoney distributed to members and presented the requested information.
After the update, Mr. Sigmon asked Director Rhoney an additional
question about SAT statistics. Director Rhoney addressed his question.
Superintendent Hart then updated the Board on the
following items:
•The ABC Celebration format has
changed. The celebration will be a luncheon, instead of a reception as
done in the past, following the November 30th K-12
Principals’ meeting at the Holiday Inn. The luncheon will begin at
12:00.
•Congratulations were extended to Rene
Sigmon who was named the 2004 North Carolina Dance Elementary Educator
of the Year.
•The Transportation Department was
commended for “Buster the Bus”, a bus safety presentation. The program
has been a tremendous success in the schools. “Buster the Bus” will be
brought to an upcoming meeting for members to view.
•Members were given a copy of the draft
agenda for the Joint Boards of Education Meeting on November 8, 2004 in
the new Boardroom. Superintendent Hart asked members for any
suggestions for caterers. Suggestions included Hopewell United
Methodist Church, Bennett’s and Boxcar. The meeting will begin at 6:00
p.m. and conclude by 8:00 p.m. The focus of the meeting will be on the
FORESIGHT Report.
•Meteorologist Eric Thomas, with WBTV
Channel 3, welcomed Catawba County Schools and featured the “Weather Bug
Achieve” weather network in the school system on the news cast last
week. Superintendent Hart thanked the Technology Department, the
Curriculum and Instruction Department and the Maintenance Department for
their work in facilitating the weather project. Instructional
Technology Facilitators Donna Rudisill and Linda McCray briefed members
on the weather network.
•Ms. Donna Staton, music teacher at
Maiden Elementary School, was recently appointed as the National
Conference Chair for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA).
Congratulations were extended to Ms. Staton on the outstanding
recognition.
•Ms. Martha Lamb, teacher at Mill Creek
Middle School and our current Teacher of the Year, is a finalist for
Regional Teacher of the Year.
•Members were given a draft agenda and
School Improvement Plans’ presentation timeline for the upcoming Board
of Education School Visit at Sweetwater Elementary School on November
10, 2004.
•On behalf of the Catawba County
Schools’ principals, Arndt Middle School Principal and Principal
Association President Jeff Taylor extended thanks to members for their
continued support and the salary supplement adjustments.
The following Consent Agenda items were
transacted:
Budget Amendments:
Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe presented budget amendments for the Board’s
consideration budgeting additional funds allocated by the State Public
School Fund, Local Current Expense Fund, Federal Grants Fund and Capital
Outlay Fund. A copy of these amendments may be found between pages ___
and ___ and become an official part of these minutes
Field Trip Requests and Camp:
*Bandys High School JROTC to Lake Norman State Park,
November 6-7, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School Jazz Band to Winston-Salem, North
Carolina, November 14-15, 2004
*St. Stephens High School Choral Department to
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, November 13-14, 2004
*St. Stephens High School Choral Department to Greensboro,
North Carolina, January 28-29, 2005
*St. Stephens High School Choral Department to Los Angeles,
California, February 2-6, 2005
*St. Stephens High School Choral Department to Mars Hill,
North Carolina, February 11-12, 2005
*Maiden High School Cheerleaders to Atlanta, Georgia,
February 18-20, 2005
*Maiden High School Cheerleaders to Orlando, Florida, March
24-26, 2005
*Mill Creek Middle School Cultural Arts Students to New
York, New York, March 30-April 3, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School FFA to Surry Central High School,
April 1-2, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School FFA to Raleigh, North Carolina,
April 4-5, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School FFA to Raleigh, North Carolina,
April 15-16, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School FFA to Ellerbe, North Carolina,
April 22-23, 2005
*Mt. View Elementary School Second Grade Classes to
Columbia, South Carolina, April 29, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School FFA to Raleigh, North Carolina,
June 7-9, 2005
Personnel Requests:
*approved certified employees
Renae Amrani, Derek Chase, Delene Huggins, Sally Periconi and Scott
Powell;
*approved administrative contracts
to certified employees Ralph Bumgarner and Beverly Lampe;
*approved rehire of retirees Gail
Hildebran, Mike Kelly, Debbie Miller and Kathy Powell;
*approved classified employees
Leslie Bekemeier, Elizabeth Brinkley, Jennifer Guthrie, Karen Lay,
Kimberly Little, Maria Robles and Crystal Shook;
*granted leave of absence request
of classified employee Judith Evans;
*accepted the resignations of certified
employees Billy Baker, Bill Kinard and Sue Moore;
*granted the retirement requests of
certified employees Michael Kelly, Jeannie Little, Curtis Loftin, Debra
Miller, Kathryn Powell, Deborah Sullivan, Pamela Wagoner and Donna
Waldron;
*accepted the resignations of
classified employees Timmie Bowman, Sarah Patton and Annie Ramseur; and
*granted the retirement request of
classified employee Wanda Hefner.
The Board was also furnished a listing of
substitute teachers.
Mr. Scott made the motion to approve
the presented Consent Items with Mrs. Sherrill seconding the motion.
Mr. Sigmon abstained from the vote because of the possibility of a
family member’s name being on the personnel portion. The motion
carried.
The following items of New Business were then
transacted:
NB#1:
The Board of Education annually hosts a meeting of the Advisory
Council. Superintendent Hart asked members for their suggestions
regarding the date and location for this year’s Advisory Council Dinner
meeting. In the past, the dinner was held in January but due to the
possible weather-related issues, members recommended to host the dinner
during the month of March. Superintendent Hart recommended the new
Boardroom as the location. Members agreed with the location. Available
dates will be given to members at their November 10, 2004 Board meeting.
NB#2:
Voting delegates were selected to officially represent the Board on all
voting matters at the 2004 NCSBA Annual Conference in Greensboro, North
Carolina. Mr. Scott made the motion to select Chairman Wyant, Mrs.
Blackburn and Mrs. Butler as voting delegates. Mr. Sigmon seconded the
motion with no opposition.
NB#3:
Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe presented the proposed 2005-2006 budget
calendar to the Board. This calendar will be the timeline for building
the budget requests for 2005-2006. There being no questions or
discussion, Mr. Scott made the motion to approve the presented budget
calendar. Mrs. Sherrill seconded the motion with no opposition.
NB#4:
Last year, the Board of Education granted authority to Superintendent
Hart to make the decision of conducting school on Saturday, if the need
would arise, due to inclement weather. Taking action on this item of
business would allow advance notification to parents and the community
about the procedures the system would follow. School would be conducted
on Saturday if the system is closed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or
Thursday and road conditions improve so that schools reopen by Friday,
schools would be in session that Saturday. Mrs. Butler made the motion
to grant the authority to Superintendent Hart. Mr. Scott seconded the
motion with no opposition.
NB#5:
Assistant Superintendent Sherrill updated members on the Annex and
Central Office renovations. Members were given detailed information
including the work that has been completed, what will be completed
including the timeline component and the reorganization structure.
Assistant Superintendent Sherrill recognized the outstanding work of the
Maintenance Department who has made these projects a great success.
Public Comments:
Attorney Davis conducted the
Public Comments section of the agenda at which time, Priscilla
Rosenfeld, a parent in the Catawba County School system, desired to
address the Board. She voiced her concern about the high school exam
exemption policy. She asked members to consider changing the current
policy. Chairman Wyant informed Ms. Rosenfeld that her concerns and
short-term and long-term solutions would be taken under advisement.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Blackburn and seconded by Mrs. Butler, the Board
unanimously went into Closed Session pursuant to G.S.143-318.11 for the
following purposes: under subsection (a)(5) to discuss the acquisition
of real property and under subsection (a)(1) to prevent the disclosure
of privileged and confidential personnel information pursuant to G.S.
115C-319-321.
CLOSED SESSION (Separate minutes for Closed Session are prepared and
kept confidential.)
The Board returned to Open Session
with a motion by Mr. Biggerstaff, seconded by Mrs. Blackburn with no
opposition.
There being no other items of business to be conducted, Mr. Biggerstaff
made a motion to adjourn. Mrs. Blackburn seconded the motion with no
opposition. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Charlie C.
Wyant, Chairman
__________________________
Ann Y.
Hart, Secretary
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