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August 26, 2003
The Catawba County Board of Education met in regular session on
August 26, 2003
at
5:30 p.m.
following the two-day Board Retreat 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, Attorney Crystal Davis, Finance Director
Sondra Wolfe, Technology Director Terry Bledsoe, Public
Information/Grants Writer Sonya Gordon, Federal Programs Director
Barbara Piekarski, Exceptional Children’s Director Sharon Fox White and
Transportation Director Cecil Davis.
Sarah Newell represented Observer News Enterprise.
The meeting opened with a Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by Mrs. Blackburn. A motion was made by Mrs. Sherrill
and seconded by Mrs. Blackburn to approve
June 23, 2003
and
August 11, 2003
minutes. All members were in favor. The agenda was unanimously
approved upon a motion by Mr. Biggerstaff and seconded by Mrs. Sherrill.
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 updated the Board on the following items:
·Paramount
Kia, a franchise of Benny Yount’s Paramount Automotive Group,
has donated the lease of a new Kia Sedona van for one year to the winner
of this year’s Catawba County Schools’ Teacher of the Year title. Once
the award winner is announced at the Board’s luncheon on September 5th
at the Holiday Inn Select, Paramount Kia will present the winner with
the keys to the new van. The winner will be able to drive the new van
without payments for one year. In addition, Paramount Automotive Group
will provide a $500 discount to any Catawba County Schools’ employee
towards a new or pre-owned vehicle at any of its dealerships. This
offer will continue indefinitely. Superintendent Hart commended Sonya
Gordon, Public Information Officer, who worked with Benny Yount on the
donation of the van.
·SAT
scores officially released by the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction are up for Catawba County Schools’ Class of 2003. The Class
of 2003’s average SAT combined score was 1016, fifteen points above the
state average of 1001. The score increased twenty-four points from last
year’s combined score of 992 for the district. On the Verbal SAT test,
Catawba County Schools’ seniors scored an average of 492, as compared to
the state’s average of 495 and the nation’s average of 507. On the Math
portion of the SAT, students averaged 524 while overall at the state
level the average was 506 and the nation was 519. Fred T. Foard High
School achieved a record high for the entire district with a combined
score of 1066 – 520 Verbal and 546 Math. Last year, the Foard’s
combined score was 1013. In addition, Bunker Hill High School increased
from 953 to 998 and St. Stephens High School increased from 1015 to
1029.
·The
new addition at Fred T. Foard High School is nearing completion. In mid
to late September, students and staff are scheduled to move into the new
area which will add 44,000 square feet to the school. The eight mobile
learning cottages located at the school will no longer be necessary with
the additional space; therefore, the cottages will be removed from the
school site and be used at other school locations in need. The
expansion will add fifteen classrooms, a new administrative area and a
new media center. Upon completion, the school will have a new entrance
and additional parking spaces.
·Officer
Tammy Johnson of Tuttle Middle School was recognized this summer as the
North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers’ Officer of the
Year. She was presented the award at the North Carolina Officers’
School Resource Officers’ Conference. Officer Johnson is a deputy with
the Catawba County Sheriff’s Department and serves as Tuttle Middle
School’s Resource Officer. She has worked at Tuttle for four years and
her involvement goes above and beyond the duties of her job. In the
classroom, Officer Johnson serves as the DARE ambassador and teaches a
two-week course to seventh grade students during their health class
about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and tobacco. She also serves as a
resource to classes with questions concerning the law. Officer
Johnson’s involvement at the school also extends outside of the
classroom in many capacities.
·Five
Fred T. Foard High students won awards at the National 25th
Annual Technology Student Association National Conference held in
Orlando, Florida this summer. Winners in the various events included:
Tyler Elliott – Transportation Modeling
Adam Frye, Flight Endurance
Greg Crump and Chris Hewitt – Construction Systems
Chris Hewitt and Will Bass – Problem Solving
Adam Frye – Dragster Design (fourth place)
Chris Hewitt and Will Bass – Technology Challenge (sixth
place)
·The
above students previously competed at the state conference in Greensboro
and placed first in their event.
·The
high school-level AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
Program has expanded to Bandys High School this school year with
thirty-two sophomores enrolled in the program. Maiden High School
started the program last year with sophomores, who now participate as
juniors (thirty total), along with thirty new sophomores this year.
Both schools are in need of more adult tutors, who are trained by
Jo-Nell Ward, the district’s AVID Program director. AVID was designed
to increase school-wide learning and performance and ensure all
students, especially the least-served students, succeed in a rigorous
curriculum and eventually attend a four-year college. The AVID Program
works within the regular school day and includes an elective class,
trained tutors, an AVID teacher and a site team of teachers focusing on
college preparation, writing, inquiry, collaboration and reading. There
will be an AVID Open House on August 26th at 7:00 p.m. at
Bandys High School in the media center.
·The
Five C’s Café has opened again this year at the American Legion
Fairgrounds on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The student-run café, under
the guidance of teacher Janet Ward, will operate between noon and 2:00
p.m. The cost of the meals will be $5.00. Lunch menus will be posted
weekly on the Catawba County Schools’ website. Funds raised will
support student training in culinary arts and participation in the
student organization Family, Career and Communities Leaders of America (FCCLA).
FCCLA provides leadership, service and competition opportunities for
students in Family and Consumer Science classes. This school year, all
five Catawba County Schools’ high schools and Hickory High School have
culinary students learning their skills at the café.
·Bandys
High School and Bunker Hill High Schools were two of only 148 schools
statewide to not have any athlete, coach or fan ejections from games
last year. In recognition, the North Carolina High School Athletic
Association will present these schools with a certificate at the
regional meeting this Fall. The award is given for exemplary behavior
and sportsmanship, as well as for those who serve as positive role
models.
·Sweetwater
Elementary School will be receiving new playground equipment in mid to
late September thanks to generous donations received from several
community supporters. There will be $26,000.00 worth of swings, slides
and other equipment installed, according to in-school and after-school
certification requirements. The Beaver Family Foundation alone granted
the project $10,000.00. Other donations came from Shurtape, doctors,
Hickory Springs, Bumgarner Oil Company and many others.
·Board
members were given new portfolios. Superintendent Hart commended Karmen
Bixby, daughter of Sandra Bixby in Human Resources, for her design of
the logo on the portfolios.
·Lastly,
Superintendent Hart reminded the Board of the Teacher of the Year
Luncheon on September 5th at the Holiday Inn Select. The
luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The following Consent Agenda items were transacted:
Personnel Requests:
*employed certified employees Janice Campbell, Amber Ervin, Abby Haxton,
Brenda Pope, Cameron Sloan and Margaret Willis;
*employed non-staff coaches Felicia Burgess, Todd Cook, Randy
Dillingham, and Dana Tuttle;
*employed classified employees Rita Barger, Julie Barker, Michael Hollar,
Julie Kisser, Bonita Lester, Amy Ruggles, Kathy Setzer, Regina Shook,
Selena Speagle and Cynthia Yount;
*granted leave of absence to certified employee Yue Xiong;
*accepted the resignation of certified employee Wayne McGillen; and
*accepted the resignations of classified employees Angela Daughtrey,
Cindy Powell and Selena Speagle. The Board was also
furnished a listing of substitute teachers.
Field Trip Requests:
*St.
Stephens High School
NJROTC to
Easley, South Carolina,
September 27,
2003
*Fred T. Foard High School TSA to
Greensboro,
North Carolina,
October 3-4,
2003
*St. Stephens High School
NJROTC to
York, South Carolina,
October 25, 2003
*Mt. View Elementary School
6th Grade to
Hendersonville, North Carolina,
October 29-31,2003
*St. Stephens High School
NJROTC to
Kings Mountain,
South Carolina,
November 8, 2003
*Fred T. Foard High School Winter Guard to
Nashville,
Tennessee,
February 19-22, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School Concert Band and Symphonic Band to
Lexington,
Kentucky and Cleveland, Ohio,
March 10-14, 2004
*Jacobs Fork Middle School
8th Grade to
Outerbanks, North Carolina,
March 10-13, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School Winter Guard to
Jacksonville,
Florida,
March 18-21, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School Chorus to
Atlanta,
Georgia,
April 2-4, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School TSA to Greensboro, North Carolina,
April 4-6, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School Masonry to
Greensboro,
North Carolina,
April 6-7, 2004
*St. Stephens High School
NJROTC to
Florida,
April 10-14, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School Winter Guard to
San Diego,
California,
April 13-18, 2004
*Fred T. Foard High School TSA to Nashville, Tennessee,
June 19-25, 2004
There being no questions or discussion, a motion was made by Mrs. Butler
and
seconded by Mr. Biggerstaff to approve the presented field trips and
personnel requests. The motion carried.
The following item of Old Business was transacted:
OB#1:
At the August 11th Board of Education School Visit at Mt.
View
Elementary School, members were addressed during the Public Comments
portion of the meeting requesting the consideration of transportation
needs at Miss Millie’s Daycare. After discussion among members,
direction was given to the Central Office administrative staff to gather
additional information regarding daycare transportation issues and
present at the August 26th meeting. Assistant Superintendent
Sherrill along with other administrative staff members gathered the
requested information and presented the findings to the Board.
Questions were asked from members regarding the capacity on the bus and
actual number of students being transported. After some discussion, Mr.
Scott made the motion to transport the daycare students with Mr. Sigmon
seconding the motion. Chairman Wyant asked members for any additional
questions or discussion. Mrs. Butler then expressed her concern with
the motion not aligning with the current board policy. She recommended
the possibility of revisions to the current policy. Superintendent Hart
and Attorney Davis discussed the current policy and received recommended
changes from members. Mr. Scott then made the motion to withdraw his
previous motion. Mr. Sigmon seconded the motion. All members were in
favor. It was the consensus of the Board to give direction to
Superintendent Hart and Attorney Davis to allow them to make the
recommended changes to the current policy. The revised policy would be
presented to the Board on first reading at the September 8th
school visit meeting and second reading at the September 22nd
regular meeting.
The following item of New Business was transacted:
NB#1:
Earlier at today’s Board Retreat, Superintendent Hart and Sondra Wolfe
presented the 2003-2004 Budget Resolution for State, Local, Federal,
Capital Outlay and Child Nutrition Funds. Members were given the
opportunity to discuss and ask any questions regarding the Resolution.
The Resolution included an average 1.8% salary increase for all teacher,
principal and assistant principal salaries, and a one time $550 bonus
for all other positions. There was an increase in retirement rate from
3.03% to 3.42%. Hospitalization insurance also increased from $2,933
per year per employee to $3,307 per year per employee. The State Budget
is based on initial allotments from the Department of Public Instruction
with amendments being done as changes occur. The Federal Budget is
based on projects submitted and approved by the Department of Public
Instruction. The Capital Outlay Budget included carry-over projects in
addition to new funding for buses, roof-work at Banoak and Claremont
Elementary Schools, completion of the addition at Fred T. Foard High
School, Annex renovations, asbestos removal, land acquisition at Bunker
Hill High School and per capita. The Local Budget restores 5% of the 7%
reduction imposed last year plus 2% for growth. The State Budget
included reductions of $843,713.00. Mr. Scott asked the question if the
presented budget included the supplement increase. Finance Officer
Wolfe responded to his question. There being no additional discussion
regarding the resolution, Mrs. Butler made the motion to approve the
Budget Resolution as presented. Mrs. Blackburn seconded the motion with
no opposition.
Public Comments:
Attorney
Davis
conducted the Public Comments section of the agenda at which time no
person present desired to address the Board.
There being no other items of business to be conducted, Mr. Scott made
the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Sherrill seconded the motion with no
opposition. The meeting adjourned at
6:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Charlie C. Wyant, Chairman
__________________________
Ann Y. Hart, Secretary
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