Guilford County Board of Education
Board Meeting
March 7, 2006

GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

The Guilford County Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2006, at 712 North Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina. The following Board members were present: Walter Childs, Kris Cooke (arrived at 6:06 p.m.), Alan Duncan, Darlene Garrett (arrived at 5:42 p.m.), Deena Hayes, Dot Kearns (arrived at 5:41 p.m.), Amos Quick, Nancy Routh, Anita Sharpe and Marti Sykes. Board member Susan Mendenhall was absent. Also present were Superintendent Terry Grier and Attorney Jill Wilson.

Call to Order

Chairman Duncan called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence

Board member Walter Childs led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Recognitions

Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month for February 2006

T he Board recognized Cynthia Latham, School Counselor at Bluford Elementary, as the district’s February 2006 Employee of the Month. Board member Amos Quick presented Ms. Latham a certificate of achievement on behalf of the Board.

Southwest High School Design Award

The Board recognized the Adams Group Architects, P.A. for receiving an award in Educational Design Excellence, sponsored by American School & University magazine for the Southwest High School Renovation and Addition project. Kevin Lear, Chief Operations Officer, recognized the Southwest High School Project Team for the role it played in the project.

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan called on members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the Board.

Jeff Chrismon, 5748 Osceola Road, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Bobby Ann Hayes, 4120 Birch Garden Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Bill Mericka, 5963 Summit Avenue, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Greg Schlaudecker, 2609 Glasshouse Road, Jamestown, NC 27282
Allan Kenney, 4100 Quartergate Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Martin Phillips, 4357 Southern Oak Drive, High Point, NC 27265
Polly Snellgrove, 4013 Cole Avenue, Jamestown, NC 27282
Tom Luibrand, 4041 Tutbury Drive, Jamestown, NC 27282
Deborah Kelly, 705 N. Greene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
Estela Moreno, 3309 Creek Ridge Road, Greensboro, NC 27405
Tiffany Davis, 3100 Honor Court, Jamestown, NC 27282
Marie Mackay, 1799 Ridge Oaks Drive, Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Wayne Miracle, 4106 Queens Grant Road, Jamestown, NC 27282
Amanda Corbett, 2800 Big Oak Court, High Point, NC 27265
Cynthia Johnson, 6089 Barmot Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455

At the end of the designated 45-minute public comment period, Chairman Duncan indicated that additional time would be allowed for public comments at the end of the business portion of the meeting for those persons who had registered to speak and had not yet been afforded the opportunity to do so.

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Duncan asked Board members to review the meeting agenda and called for a motion to approve or revise it. He requested the addition of an update on the Federal Relations Network Conference from Board members Kris Cooke and Dot Kearns as Board Discussion item B. Motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Deena Hayes, to approve the agenda as revised. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.

After the agenda had been approved, the Board via consensus added a report on a building near Smith High School as item A6 under Board Discussion.

Consent Agenda

Superintendent Grier presented the following Consent Agenda items:

A. Personnel Action Reports
The Consent Agenda included personnel actions as noted in the monthly Personnel Action Report requiring Board approval.

B. 2005-2006 Budget Amendments and Transfers
T he Consent Agenda included State, Local, Federal, Capital Outlay, and After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) budget amendments/transfers for the 2005-2006 school year as follows:

State Public School Fund Amendment #4 reflected the

• reversion of unexpended balance of ABC Incentive Award allocation for eligible state and locally funded positions ($-27,395)
• receipt of November and December 2005 substitute reimbursement ($36,630)
• receipt of September, October, and November 2005 interest for School Technology Fund ($8,034)
• receipt of transportation special fuel allotment ($466,280)
• receipt of additional assistant principal intern funding ($5,625), and
• transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Local Current Expense Fund Amendment #4 reflected the

• receipt of reimbursement for additional $75/month + benefits per locally funded teacher and assistant principal position for November, December and January ($144,528)
• receipt of Smart Start reimbursement for November and December 2005 ($30,550)
• receipt of Performance Acceleration Academy grant aimed at improving Career and Technical Education (CTE) End-of-Course scores in the lowest performing CTE courses ($5,000), and
• transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Federal Grant Fund Amendment #4 reflected the

• adjustments due to receipt of initial versus planning allotment for ESEA Title I School Improvement ($111,483), and
• transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

Capital Outlay Fund Amendment #4 reflected the

• 2004-2005 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) carryover ($306,827,613), and
• transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

After School Care Enrichment Services (ACES) Fund Amendment #4 reflected the

• transfers due to site-based requests and year-to-date expenditures

C. Second Reading – Policy AEA, School Calendar
The Consent Agenda included a recommendation to approve for second reading Board Policy AEA, School Calendar. At the meeting on January 10, 2006, Policy AEA, School Calendar, was approved for first reading. Since the first reading, the policy has been posted on the district web site for a public comment period and will continue to be posted until February 6, 2006. Several comments were received; however, all but one was in reference to the 2006-2007 calendar as adopted rather than policy. The one comment received regarding the policy has been addressed in the policy revision. Should any additional comments be received after the comment period has ended, they will be provided to your prior to the meeting.

D. Consideration of Recommended Name for the Media Center at Sternberger Elementary School
The Consent Agenda included a recommendation that the Board study and fully consider the nomination from the Kiwanis Club of Greensboro, following a period of public comment, or direct the administration to request the proposers to provide any further information as may be required by the Board in order to more fully consider the request and to make a decision.

Pursuant to the applicable procedure FDCA-P, the Kiwanis Club has provided a nomination submission and provided accompanying materials. The name proposed by the Kiwanis Club of Greensboro for the Sternberger Elementary School Media Center is: David Helberg Media Center.

Motion was made by Marti Sykes, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed upon majority roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Alan Duncan (no on item C), Kris Cooke, Walter Childs, Nancy Routh, Marti Sykes, Dot Kearns, Darlene Garrett (no on item A), Deena Hayes (no on item A), Anita Sharpe (no on item C), Amos Quick.

Staff Report

Financial Audit for Fiscal Year 2004-2005
Randy Brodd, auditor with Dixon Hughes, PLLC, presented the district’s audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. Mr. Brodd reported that the district had received an unqualified opinion on the general purpose financial statements. An unqualified or “clean” opinion indicates that financial statements have been prepared on a consistent basis with prior years using generally accepted accounting principals and such statements fairly represent the Board’s financial position, cash flows, and results of operations. Mr. Brodd informed the Board of two findings regarding the School Food Service Program. The findings, he noted, have been addressed and fully taken care of.

Mr. Brodd commented that the district’s unreserved or undesignated fund balance of $528,000 is very small compared the size of the district’s budget. He also noted that the auditors had provided some suggestions for strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency in the areas of the after-school program; using debit cards for school food service and ACES payments; replacement school buses; and scholarship funds. Chief Finance Officer Sharon Ozment discussed these suggestions with the Board and informed them that staff members were looking at ways to incorporate them into the district’s daily operations.

Ms. Ozment informed the Board that upon an analysis of the audited financial statements for the years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, the district received $3.1 million less state funds in 2004-2005 than in 2003-2004. Chairman Duncan pointed out that while the district had received less funds, it had grown by 1,750 students.

Board members expressed their appreciation to Ms. Ozment and her staff for a clean audit.

Board Discussion

Update on the Federal Relations Network (FRN) Conference

Board members Kris Cooke and Dot Kearns shared information they received while attending the Federal Relations Network Conference in Washington, DC.

Continued Discussion of Redistricting Plans

The Board continued its discussion of redistricting maps as discussed at the August 9, August 25, September 13, September 29, October 27, November 8, November 17, December 6, December 19, January 10, and January 29 meetings.

Prior to redistricting discussions, Chairman Duncan announced that the Board would hold a work session on February 20 at 6:00 p.m. to continue its discussion of redistricting. He also reminded the Board that they had previously agreed to make decisions at the February 21 meeting. He also announced that Vice-Chairman Quick would not be able to attend the February 21 meeting due to a work-related commitment and asked the Board to consider allowing Mr. Quick to participate and vote via conference call. Attorney Wilson advised that the Board would need to amend its policy in order to allow such a request.

Motion was made by Dot Kearns, seconded by Kris Cooke, to amend the Board’s policy to allow a member to participate and vote in meetings via conference call unless the Board’s attorney finds a reason to do otherwise in the next few days.

A substitute motion was made by Alan Duncan, seconded by Anita Sharpe, to allow Board member Quick to participate and vote in the Board’s February 21, 2006 meeting via conference call assuming that the technology is available and assuming that the Board’s attorney finds that to be acceptable and to then refer the matter to the Board’s Governance Committee for further study and recommendation regarding the Board’s policy in this matter. The motion passed upon unanimous 10 to 0 vote.

The Board then continued its discussion of redistricting. District Demographer led the Board in a discussion of areas in the maps that had not yet been agreed upon. Chairman Duncan asked Board members to get any questions to staff by the end of the week to allow ample preparation time for the next meeting.

Murphey Traditional Academy Dedicated Magnet

Map A recommends Murphey Traditional Academy become a dedicated magnet school in 2006-2007. Mr. Hoekstra noted that doing so would create attendance line changes for Foust, Frazier, Peck, and Wiley elementary schools. Peck Elementary would gain 42 students from the Foust area west of Freeman Mill Road and would gain the Murphey attendance zone. With this change, Peck’s demographics would change from 91 percent non-white and 95 percent free and reduced meals to 92 percent non-white and 93 percent free and reduced meals.

Wiley would gain the Foust area north of and including Garrett Street and the Foust area east of Randleman Road. This change would result in a student population of 280 students, a gain of 83 students from Foust. Wiley’s demographics would change from 99 percent non-white and 82 percent free and reduced meals to 97 percent non-white and 77 percent free and reduced meals.

Foust would gain the Frazier area west and north of Business I-85 and north of Long Street including streets off of Creek Ridge Road. Foust would lose the area east of Randleman Road and west of Freeman Mill Road. The proposed change would result in a student population of 314, a net gain of 10 students. Foust’s demographics would change from 94 percent non-white and 83 percent free and reduced meals to 95 percent non-white and 84 percent free and reduced meals.

Frazier would lose the area west and north of Business I-85 and the area north of Long Street. The proposed change would result in a student population of 333 students, a loss of 135 students. Frazier’s demographics would change from 94 percent non-white and 64 percent free and reduced meals to 95 percent non-white and 61 percent free and reduced meals.

These changes would also affect Jackson Middle as it would gain the Allen Middle area served by Frazier that is west of Business I-85 and the Frazier area north of Long Street a total of 58 students. This is the area proposed for inclusion with Foust.

The Board requested the capacity (state standards and programmatic) for all of these schools as well as the free and reduced meal data for these schools broken down by ethnicity.

Southern/Sumner

Mr. Hoekstra explained that the district was experiencing growth in the northern sector of the Sumner attendance zone and that in order to better utilize facilities in that area, the administration recommended combining the two districts. Students in grades K through 1 would be assigned to Southern and students in grades 2 thru 5 would be assigned to Sumner. Mr. Hoekstra reported that Sumner has a capacity of 647 students with 527 students enrolled, 68 percent of which are non-white and 83 percent were receiving free and reduced meals. Southern has a capacity of 313 with 273 students enrolled, 16 percent non-white and 32 percent free and reduced meals.

Superintendent Grier clarified that this proposal was to be effective for the 2007-2008 school year at which time the new Southern Middle School would be open.

The Board requested the following information regarding this proposal: 1) if Sumner does not make AYP, what will the opt-out school be; 2) what would be the demographics and capacities of Southern and Sumner under the proposal; 3) what would the transportation arrangements be and would there be increased costs; 4) would we consider staggered start times for the two schools; and 5) how would teachers be allocated under the proposal.

Page/Eastern/Northeast

Chairman Duncan reminded the Board that at the January 29 Retreat, it was not in support of the proposal to reassign students between Page, Eastern, and Northeast schools. He noted that the area identified on Map A as H120, the Brightwood area including Voss Avenue is scheduled to shift to Northeast from Eastern in the fall of 2006 as part of the 1999 Redistricting Plan.

The area remaining to be decided is the area identified on Map A as H124. The proposal is that the area be reassigned to Madison to fill empty seats caused by the opening of the Reedy Fork area elementary. To maintain consistent feeder patterns, this area would attend Northeast Middle and Northeast High.

The Board requested the following information regarding the proposal: 1)how many students would be affected in this proposal, and 2) how would this proposal affect the demographics and capacity at Madison, Northeast Middle, and Northeast High as well as Reedy Fork, Eastern Middle, and Eastern High.

Chairman Duncan also requested that staff review the attendance lines for Northern Middle and High school to determine if any adjustments could be made to address concerns of Northeast parents.

Board member Darlene Garrett also asked Mr. Hoekstra to review the Northern Middle and High school attendance lines to determine if the lines could be revised to include Bee Jay Road/Bee Jay Drive area.

Penn-Griffin Dedicated Arts Magnet for Grades 6-12

Chairman Duncan reminded the Board that it previously voted to create a dedicated arts magnet for grades six through 12 at Penn-Griffin for the 2006-2007 school year. Staff has asked that the Board delay the decision for one school year so as to be effective with the 2007-2008 school year.

Chairman Duncan asked staff if it would be possible to continue the middle school program for one more year and to also begin a ninth-grade class for magnet students for the 2006-2007 school year and requested the capacity and demographic data for such a configuration. Superintendent Grier indicated that the configuration described was possible.

The Board also requested copies of the survey conducted by the school, demographic data for schools where neighborhood students would attend if they did not attend the Penn-Griffin magnet program, and information on the current year’s attendance zone.

High Point Area

The Board discussed maps A, B Star, and C as they related to the High Point area. The Board requested the following additional information: 1) the total number of students being moved in each of the High Point maps; 2) resurrect the map presented in 2004 that included all four high schools in the area for the Board to review; 3) give consideration to Map B Star to determine if the Board could shift the Johnson Street area to Southwest and shift Union Hill from Ragsdale into High Point Central which could free up space at Ragsdale to possibly shift the Guilford College Corridor into Ragsdale; 4) what are the number of elementary, middle, and high school students in the area bounded by West Wendover, Guilford College Road, and Gibson Park; 5) what are the building capacities, programmatic capacities, and demographics of Jamestown Elementary, Jamestown Middle, and Ragsdale High School; 6) under Map C, how many students are affected in the Oak Hollow Estates community (two streets immediately across Skeet Club – Chilton Way and Lauren Place – they appear to have entrance right by Barrow Road); 7) what are the number of elementary, middle, and high school students in the southern Florence area (Meadows at Jamestown) and what are the feeder patterns; 8) what adjustments can be made to avoid splitting the Shadybrook Elementary area as it moves to middle school (2 of the maps split Shadybrook) and provide the demographic and capacity data for all scenarios; and 9) under each map for High Point, list the federal housing groups and where they are assigned.

Chairman Duncan asked staff to consider televising the February 20, 2006 Work Session and to alert him of any concerns.

Smith Academy Facility

Superintendent Grier reminded the Board that at the January 26 meeting, he had recommended the Board create an Academy Program for Smith High school students to be house at a site on Holden Road near the current Smith High property. The Board authorized staff to enter into an option to purchase the property at a price of up to $2.4 million on January 28, 2006.

Superintendent Grier then recommended the Board direct the administration to do the following: 1) the pursuant to N.C.G.S. 115C-426.1(f), request that the Board of County Commissioners approve of the price to be paid for real estate ($2,350,000) on the terms described in the option; 2) request the Guilford County Board of Commissioners to join in applying to release funds from the 2005-2006 Public School Building Capital Funds (PSBCF), which, when joined with the requisite matching regular capital outlay funds (one dollar for every three dollars of PSBCF dollars) will be used to fund the purchase and renovation of the site; and 3) request approval, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 115C-433, to transfer an amount equal to the match requirement from Jamestown Area Middle School project to a Relocation of Mobile Units project, freeing up regular Capital Outlay dollars to be applied to the match. He informed the Board that the renovation costs were estimated to be approximately $1.5 million when combined with the purchase price totals approximately $3.9 million.

Superintendent Grier reviewed that the proposed academies are Academy of Health Science and Academy of Construction Technology/Engineering. The academies would serve students in 10 th and 11 th grades (60 students in each grade). As seniors, students would enroll in GTCC and take college courses for dual high school-college credit.

Following discussion of the funds required for the purchase and the manner in which those funds would be obtained, motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Alan Duncan, that the accounting for the relocation of mobile units caused by the projects by the projects in the $300 million bond be directly chargeable to the individual projects. The motion passed upon majority show of hands vote of 9 to 0 to 1. Board member Nancy Routh abstained.

Motion was then made by Kris Cooke, seconded by Walter Childs, to approve the administration’s recommendation 1) to purchase the property on Holden Road at a price of $2,350,000; 2) to request the Guilford County Board of Commissioners to join in applying to release funds from the 2005-2006 Public School Building Capital Funds (PSBCF), which, when joined with the requisite matching regular capital outlay funds will be used to fund the purchase and renovation ($1.5 million) of the site; and 3) to request approval, to transfer an amount equal to the match requirement from Jamestown Area Middle School project.

Marti Sykes made a motion, seconded by Dot Kearns, to reconsider the motion by Anita Sharpe regarding the accounting of relocating mobile units as it relates to bond projects. The motion to reconsider failed upon a majority show of hands vote of 7 to 1 to 2 as follows: Nays – Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Amos Quick, Anita Sharpe, Deena Hayes, and Darlene Garrett; Ayes – Marti Sykes; Abstain – Dot Kearns and Nancy Routh.

The Board then voted on Ms. Cooke’s motion to approve the administration’s recommendation regarding the purchase of property for the Smith Academy. The motion passed upon majority electronic vote of 8 to 2 as follows: Ayes – Dot Kearns, Marti Sykes, Nancy Routh, Walter Childs, Kris Cooke, Alan Duncan, Amos Quick, and Deena Hayes; Nays – Anita Sharpe and Darlene Garrett.

Reports from the Chairman

Chairman Duncan shared that Board members Kris Cooke and Marti Sykes as well as Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lear would represent the district on Action Greensboro’s Greenway Project Committee. He announced that the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce had requested that the district provide them with the top three agenda items for the Guilford County Delegation.

Chairman Duncan also announced that the Board had been invited to send a representative to participate in a summit on intergovernmental collaboration scheduled for May 3. He asked that Board members interested in participating inform him or the Superintendent’s Office.

Public Comments

Chairman Duncan recognized the following citizens who had registered to speak to the Board and were not afforded an opportunity to do so at the beginning of the meeting:

Jerry Kilpatrick, 4130 Queens Grant Road, Jamestown, NC 27282
Jim O’Connor, 4154 Queens Grant Road, Jamestown, NC 27282
Randy Fields, 770 Hogan Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
Laura Hicks, 4748 Weston Place, Jamestown, NC 27282
Robert Hartman, 7916 Bee Jay Drive, Brown Summit, NC 27214
Martha Harris, 5871 Old Randleman, Greensboro, NC 27406
Joe Stafford, 4604 Forest Village Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406

Closed Session

At 10:30 p.m., motion was made by Deena Hayes, seconded by Amos Quick, to move to closed session to preserve the attorney client privilege and to discuss student matters protected by N.C.G.S. 115C-402 and FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

The Board returned to open session at 10:45 p.m.

Board Comments

Board members were each allowed two minutes to make remarks, as they deemed appropriate.

Adjournment

With no further business, at 10:55 p.m., motion was made by Anita Sharpe, seconded by Deena Hayes, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed upon unanimous voice vote.