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March 21, 2005
The
Catawba County Board of Education met in regular session on March 21,
2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the County Schools’ Administration Annex Building
with Chairman Charlie Wyant presiding. The following members were
present: Mr. Hilton, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Spencer, Mr. Scott, Mrs.
Butler and Mr. Sigmon. Also in attendance were Superintendent Ann Hart,
Assistant Superintendents Pat Hensley, Nancy Yount and Rick Sherrill,
Attorney Crystal Davis, Finance Director Sondra Wolfe, Director of Media
Service Judith Ray, NCWISE Project Manager Angela Blalock, Exceptional
Children’s Director Sharon Fox White, Public Information/Grant Writer
Beverly Lampe, Construction Coordinator Ernest Williams, Transportation
Director Cecil Davis, TIMS Specialist Bonnie Cash, Preschool Coordinator
Brenda Sigmon, Maintenance Director Mark Bumgarner, Federal Programs
Director Barbara Piekarski, Arndt Middle School Principal Jeff Taylor,
Claremont Elementary School Principal Chris Gibbs and Robert Smith with
CBSA Architects.
Christina Cupo represented the Hickory Daily Record.
The meeting opened with a Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by Mr. Sigmon. A motion was made by Mr. Scott to approve
the minutes of the February 28, 2005 meeting. The motion was seconded
by Mrs. Butler with no opposition. The Consent Agenda was amended by
Superintendent Hart to add three additional field trip requests and one
camp request. Chairman Wyant also amended the Consent Agenda to add Old
Business #3 – Land Purchase at Startown Elementary School.
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:
Superintendent Hart began her report by extending
congratulations to the three chorus groups from Arndt Middle School who
received superior ratings at the recent Western Middle School Choral
Festival.
Other items of update included:
•Anna Taylor, a fourth grader at St. Stephens Elementary
School and daughter of Arndt Middle School Principal Jeff Taylor,
represented her school at the North Carolina State Championship of the
Reader’s Digest Word Power Challenge at Weddington High School. Anna
was the highest scoring fourth grader in the competition which included
participants in grades fourth through eighth. As a result of her
efforts, Anna received a certificate of commendation. Also, her school
library will receive a gift from Reader’s Digest in Anna’s name. Anna
advanced to the state championship by winning the school-wide
competition at her school among students in grades four through six.
•The Tuttle Middle School Cheerleaders recently competed
in the North Carolina Middle School State Championships held at the Dean
Smith Center in Chapel Hill and were named the Middle School North
Carolina State Champions. This is the fifth state title the
cheerleaders have won during the past six years.
•Cynthia Thompson-Schmidt, drama teacher at Claremont and
Murray Elementary Schools, recently received one of four southeastern
TRIO Achiever Awards (an affiliate of the Upward Bound Program) for her
contributions to her community.
•Nan Barker, teacher at River Bend Middle School, was
awarded a study fellowship in Munich, Germany from the international
youth library. Ms. Barker will live in Munich for one month this summer
while she works on a children’s literature project.
•The Catawba County Association of Teacher Assistants
Banquet has been rescheduled. The banquet will be held at Oxford
Elementary School on March 22nd beginning at 6:00 p.m.
•Snow make-up days will be April 22nd (for
February 28th) and April 26th (for March 17th).
•Spring break will be March 25th-April 1st.
The Central Office will be closed on March 25th and March 28th
for the Easter holidays.
•The Employment Forum will be held on April 25th
from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the multipurpose room at CVCC. This forum
will be a joint effort between the Catawba County Schools, the
Newton-Conover City Schools and the Hickory City Schools.
To conclude her report, Superintendent Hart introduced
members and coaches of the St. Stephens High School Track Team. Members
thanked the Board and Superintendent Hart for the generous allotment of
funding for improvements/renovations on the school’s track facilities
and bleachers.
The following Consent Agenda items were transacted:
Budget Amendments:
Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe presented two budget amendments for the
Board’s consideration budgeting additional funds allocated by the State
Public School Fund and the Federal Grants Fund. A copy of these
amendments may be found between pages ___ and ___ and become an official
part of these minutes.
Field Trip Requests/Camp:
*Fred T. Foard High School Girls’ Basketball Team to Winston-Salem,
North Carolina, March 4-5, 2005
*Bandys High School Winterguard to Fort Mill, South
Carolina, March 19, 2005
*Bandys High School Winterguard to Duncan, South Carolina,
April 2, 2005
*St. Stephens High School Science Olympaid Team to Raleigh,
North Carolina, April 15-16, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School AFJROTC to Shaw Airforce Base,
South Carolina, April 23, 2005
*St. Stephens High School FCCLA to Greensboro, North
Carolina, April 24-27, 2005
*Bunker Hill High School DECA to Anaheim, California, April
26-May 1, 2005
*Jacobs Fork Middle School Football Camp, August 8-11, 2005
Personnel Requests:
*approved certified employees Laura Wachsmuth and Amy Worsley;
*approved the rehire of retiree Suzanne Eller;
*approved the administrative contracts of Pat Hensley, Rick Sherrill and
Nancy Yount;
*approved classified employees Jodi Buckland, Jody Cook, Connie
Henderson, Tammie Marley, Rhea Mitchell and Susan Setzer;
*granted the leave of absences to classified employees
Kristi Fulbright and Donna Potter;
*granted the resignation requests of certified employees
Delia Canterbury, Elizabeth Jones and Jennifer Milotte;
*granted the retirement requests of certified employees
Nancy McGhee and Patricia Seale; and
*granted the retirement request of classified employee
Brenda Sheldon.
There being no questions, the motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded
by Mrs. Blackburn to approve the budget amendments, presented and
additional field trips/camp and personnel requests. The motion
carried.
The following items of Old Business were transacted:
OB#1:
At the February 28, 2005 Board of Education meeting,
members reviewed redistricting options. Members agreed upon Option #5
with several additional modifications. Modifications were made (Option
#5a and Option #5b) and mailed to members for their review. Also, a
revised School Capacity Summary which reflected enrollment numbers for
St. Stephens High School were mailed to members. The proposed
redistricting timeline was discussed among members. Mrs. Spencer
recommended that meetings be held on a Monday and a Tuesday of the same
week. Members agreed upon the following dates: April 11, April 12, May
9 and May 10. It was also the consensus of the members to begin the
redistricting meetings at 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Butler made the motion to
adopt the redistricting timeline as presented by Assistant
Superintendent Sherrill including the adjustment of dates and times.
Mrs. Blackburn seconded the motion. The public will be notified of the
meetings through advertisements in the newspapers and information sent
home with students. The vote was taken and all members were in favor of
the motion.
Mr. Hilton asked for discussion from fellow members regarding
“grandfathering issues.” Mrs. Butler expressed her feelings of
“grandfathering” juniors and seniors. After some discussion among
members, Mr. Hilton made the motion to “grandfather” juniors and seniors
with Mrs. Butler seconding the motion. There was no opposition. This
will be included in the presentation at each redistricting community
meeting.
OB#2:
Bids were received on March 17, 2005 for the renovations at Tuttle
Elementary School and Maiden Middle School. Currently $2.6 million
dollars have been allotted for both projects. Members were emailed bid
tabulations for their review. Construction Coordinator Williams
presented the information from the single prime contracts and
multi-prime contracts which included base bids, alternate bids and total
bids. Other bid information included: five plumbing contractors, six
mechanical contractors and four electrical contractors. Comparison data
between single prime contracts and multi-prime contracts were
discussed. Construction Coordinator Williams also briefed members of
the thirty percent increase in construction costs. An additional
$517,000 will be needed for both projects. After funding issues were
discussed, Mr. Hilton asked about the time factor of submitted bids.
Mrs. Butler made the motion to make every effort to pursue and award all
presented bids. Mr. Scott seconded the motion. Additional information,
including conversation with County officials, will be brought back to
members for discussion including possible funding that is needed to
pursue with the renovations. All members were in favor of the motion.
The following items of New Business were then transacted:
NB#1:
Law requires a construction agreement between the County and the
Catawba County Board of Education in connection with improvements and
renovations to schools. Superintendent Hart read a resolution
approving such improvements and renovations at Tuttle Elementary School
and Maiden Middle School. There being no questions or discussion, Mrs.
Butler made the motion to approve the resolution as presented by
Superintendent Hart. Mr. Scott seconded the motion with no opposition.
OB#3: At last month’s meeting, Assistant Superintendent Sherrill
and administration was authorized to begin negotiations with Mr. Hal
Abernathy, representative of Startown Area Development Association,
regarding the district’s purchase interest of a small plot of land
(approximately 1.3 acres) adjacent to Startown Elementary School. This
land contains 253 feet of road frontage with an asking price of $25,000
(tax value of $16,900). After negotiations between Mr. Abernathy and
Maintenance Director Mark Bumgarner, Mr. Abernathy agreed to reduce the
asking price to $23,000. Chairman Wyant also spoke with Mr. Abernathy
and shared their conversation with members. Mrs. Butler asked Finance
Officer Wolfe about available funding for the purchase. Finance Officer
Wolfe stated that funds were available in Capital Outlay. Mr. Scott
made the motion to purchase the small plot of land from Mr. Abernathy
for the price of $23,000. Mr. Hilton seconded the motion. All members
were in favor. Attorney Davis will conduct a title search of the land.
NB#2:
G.S. 115-C-518 provides that before a school administrative unit may
dispose of property, the local Board of Education must declare the
property as undesirable for public school purposes and declare said
items as surplus property. Assistant Superintendent Rick Sherrill
provided a list of such items to the Board. The recommended date for
the auction was Saturday, May 14, 2005 beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 2:30
p.m. to be held on the grounds behind the Central Office. Mrs. Spencer
made the motion to declare said items as surplus property and to conduct
the auction on the recommended date. Mr. Scott seconded the motion
with no opposition.
NB#3:
Bids for re-roofing at several locations were opened on March 17, 2005.
Members were given a copy of the bid tabulations. The re-roofing
projects included: the Central Office, Webb A. Murray Elementary
School, St. Stephens High School (partial), Balls Creek Elementary
School (partial – old cafeteria) and Arndt Middle School (partial).
Roofing contractors submitting bids included: AAR Roofing, Affordable
Roofing, Allied Roofing and Carolina Roofing. Allotted funds for these
projects in the 2004-2005 budget was $627,000. Construction Coordinator
Williams presented the bid tabulations recommending Affordable Roofing
with a total bid of $347,823. Affordable Roofing has done work in the
past displaying good results. Mr. Robert Smith with CBSA Architects
spoke with the company to reassure the submitted low bid of $347,823.
Mrs. Blackburn asked about the location of Affordable Roofing, which is
in Eden, North Carolina. There being no discussion, the motion was made
by Mrs. Blackburn to award the re-roofing projects to Affordable
Roofing. Mr. Hilton seconded the motion with no opposition.
NB#4:
In September 2000, Catawba County deeded 31.37 acres of land in the
River Bend area to the Catawba County Board of Education designated as a
potential site for a new elementary school. If the land was not used
for a new elementary school by December 2008, then the land would revert
back to the Catawba County. In December 2004, conversation began
between the County and the administration of the Catawba County Schools
about the placement of a telecommunications tower on a half acre plot.
Also, an adjacent property owner requested permission to buy a half acre
plot for $5,000 for the placement of a mobile home. The two half acre
plots were surveyed. Construction Coordinator Williams informed members
that losing these two half acre plots would not interfere with the
future construction site of a new elementary school. Superintendent
Hart and County Manager Tom Lundy have discussed the two proposals.
Construction Coordinator Williams reiterated the “good neighbor effort”
with the two proposals. Upon a motion by Mrs. Butler and seconded by
Mrs. Blackburn, the board unanimously approved the County’s placement of
a telecommunications tower on one half acre plot and to sell the other
half acre plot for $5,000 for the placement of a mobile home.
NB#5:
At the request of several members, the review of Board of Education
Policy 7.3100 Administrative Procedure/Board of Education Policy 4.2330
was the next item of business. Several members have been contacted
regarding the possibility of waiving tuition for out-of-county
employees’ children. Assistant Superintendent Hensley opened the floor
for discussion and direction from members. Mrs. Butler asked if there
was an idea of the number of students this possibility may involve. Mr.
Scott asked if principals could survey their staff. Currently, there
are seven employees paying tuition for their children to attend Catawba
County Schools. Assistant Superintendent Hensley asked members if they
would like for administration to survey employees and bring back the
results at the April 25, 2005 meeting. Mrs. Spencer stated that waiving
tuition for employees’ children would be a strong benefit if it is
financially possible. Results will be provided at the next meeting on
April 25, 2005.
NB#6:
Last spring, the Employee Assistance Network (EAN) was awarded a
one-year contract to administer the district’s Employee Assistance
Program (EAP). Members were mailed two proposals for their review.
Assistant Superintendent Hensley stated that there have been no concerns
with the EAN’s work and administration recommended renewal of their
contract. Included in the EAN proposal was a fee increase to $9.00 per
employee. Administration also recommended the contract extension to at
least two years if not three years. Mrs. Spencer asked if the $9.00 fee
per employee would exist for the length of the contract extension. She
then made the motion to accept the recommendation of the continuation
with the Employee Assistance Program with the length of contract whether
two or three years be at the discretion of conversation between Attorney
Davis, Assistant Superintendent Hensley and EAN based on fee of $9.00.
Mrs. Blackburn seconded the motion with no opposition.
NB#7:
Superintendent Hart introduced Ms. Brenda Sigmon, Preschool Director
for Catawba County Schools and Newton-Conover City Schools. Ms. Sigmon
presented a detailed power point presentation of the Preschool Program
services. Data presented included: class structure, funding, locations
of preschool classrooms, staff and their duties, the referral process
and services provided. Ms. Sigmon ended her presentation with comments
from parent surveys. She thanked the Board for their support of the
Preschool Program.
Ms. Sigmon also presented a proposal for rate increase for fee (private
pay) students in the preschool classes. The current rate of $90.00 per
week for private pay students was set by the Catawba County Board of
Education two years ago. Those rates were based on data showing a
sampling of the various childcare rates for childcares in the county at
that time. However, effective January 2005, many of the childcares in
the county have substantially increased their fees to support the
requirements that higher levels of licensing demand. The recommendation
from the Preschool Program is to increase the weekly rates for fee
payers to $100.00 per week and continue the rate of $25.00 for the
initial registration fee. Mrs. Butler commented about the low rates at
church daycares. There being no discussion, Mr. Scott made the motion
to accept the proposal as presented by Ms. Sigmon. Mrs. Butler seconded
the motion with no opposition. Ms. Sigmon extended thanks to Ms.
Barbara Piekarski for her continued support and assistance with the
Preschool Program.
NB#8:
In January, the five high school principals met and asked for the
possibility of adding introductory courses to the high school course
lists in the areas of U.S. History, Biology, Physical Science and
English I. Assistant Superintendent Yount emphasized that these courses
will allow struggling students the time to grasp the difficult concepts
as well as the opportunity for remediation. Also, these courses will
allow the teacher time to teach and review the basic skills that are
needed to be successful on state-mandated tests. After some discussion,
Mrs. Spencer made the motion to approve the addition of introductory
courses to the high school course lists. Mrs. Blackburn seconded the
motion. Before the vote was taken, Mrs. Butler asked if these
introductory courses would be included in the current tabloids.
Assistant Superintendent Yount stated that students would be identified
for these courses. All members were in favor of the motion.
NB#9:
Assistant Superintendent Yount presented information regarding the
offering of a one-week Summer Fiesta of Learning for seventy-five
Academically Intellectually Gifted students in grades four through six.
The week of enrichment, meeting goals of Closing the Gap, AIG Plan and
Strategic Plan, would be on July 25-29, 2005 at the Green Room. The
targeted audience would be rising fifth and sixth graders. The goals of
the one-week summer learning program would be to provide an opportunity
for gifted students to learn about the Hispanic culture; to engage
students in a variety of activities using Multiple Intelligences; to
allow students time and space for interaction with gifted peers; and to
offer fun and challenging learning experiences. Snacks would be
provided each day (lunch not provided) and parents would have to provide
transportation. Assistant Superintendent Yount stated that funding of
the Summer Fiesta week would be provided from the AIG budget. There
being no questions, Mrs. Butler made the motion to conduct the one-week
Summer Fiesta of Learning and use AIG funds to cover the expenses. Mrs.
Spencer seconded the motion. All members were in favor of the motion.
Public Comments:
Attorney Crystal Davis conducted the Public Comments section of the
agenda at which time no person present wished to address the Board.
There being no other items of business to be conducted, Mrs. Butler made
the motion to adjourn. Mr. Scott seconded the motion. All members were
in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Charlie
Wyant, Chairman
__________________________
Ann Y.
Hart, Secretary
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