School Board of the City of Norfolk
Minutes of the School Board Meeting
April 18, 2007

EXECUTIVE SESSION—CLOSED

The School Board convened the executive (closed) session at 3:40 p.m. in the School Administration Building, located at 800 E. City Hall Avenue, in Norfolk, Virginia.  Present were:  Chair Bishop, Mr. Cook, Mr. Driggers, Dr. McCluney, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.  Vice Chair Rhodes was absent.  Superintendent Jones, Chief of Staff Young, Chief Academic Officer Boone, and Clerk Rhodes were present.   Mr. Pishko and Mr. Mungo were present from the City Attorney’s office.   

A roll call vote was taken on the motion and it was approved unanimously.

The Board came out of closed session at 4:45 p.m. and the School Board recessed for a dinner break. 

FORMAL OPEN SESSION

A. CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME

Mr. Bishop called the formal session of the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in Room 1202 of the School Administration Building.   Present were Chair Bishop, Mr. Cook, Mr. Driggers, Dr. McCluney, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.  Vice Chair Rhodes was absent.

Also present were Superintendent Jones; Chief Officers Young and Boone, Executive Directors Jones, Lassiter, O’Konek, and Thomas; and Clerk Rhodes.   

Mr. Bishop asked for a moment of silence out of respect for the students and staff of Virginia Tech who lost their lives in the recent tragedy.

B. RESOLUTION CERTIFYING AN EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION

It was MOVED and seconded that whereas, the School Board of the City of Norfolk convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance   with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and whereas, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the School Board of the City of Norfolk that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law; now, therefore, be it resolved by the School Board of the City of Norfolk:

That the School Board of the City of Norfolk hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the Board.

A roll call vote was taken on the motion and it was approved unanimously.

C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mr. Bishop led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

D. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

The Superintendent reported:
 
1.  He is one of ten superintendents serving on the College Board Advanced Placement Advisory Committee.  The panel held its second meeting for 2 days in conjunction with the National School Boards Association Conference. The purpose of the committee is to develop strategies that will allow for more minority student participation in AP courses and to respond to a recent nationwide audit of the AP program conducted by the College Board. The panel also will try to influence the educational agenda of the next president. The College Board is laying plans to have this panel meet with the leading presidential candidates of both parties.

2.   As part of the National School Boards Association meeting held in San Francisco this past week, three of our Board members — Mr. Driggers, Dr. McCluney, and Dr. Wright — presented as part of a panel discussion in recognition of the Board’s recent selection as the top Urban School Board in the country by the Council of Urban Boards of Education.

     Over 7,000 school board members from across the country attended the NSBA conference which featured keynote addresses from the former president of South Africa, F.W. DeKlerk, and former President of the United States, Bill Clinton.

3.  The third Leadership Associates Program or LAP meeting will take place May 3-5 in New Orleans. These sessions provided through our partnership with the Panasonic Foundation provide us with valuable time to develop and refine our strategic plan and key tasks for the year. Mr. Driggers and Dr. Tonelson will represent the Board at this meeting.

4.  Daun Hester, Billy Cook, Mike Spencer, and Elsie Harold had the opportunity last week to visit an alternative school in Orlando, Florida. We have not had the opportunity to fully debrief that trip yet, but look forward to updating the Board soon on their observations at a future date.

5.  The Superintendent met with the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce to outline the district’s future needs and budget proposal.  This was very productive meeting. The Chamber voted unanimously to send a letter to City Council supporting full funding of our 2007-2008 budget request.  This is a tremendous show of support from our business community and we thank them for their advocacy and support.

6.   The new President for the Panasonic Foundation, Skipp Orr, will visit Norfolk Public Schools on May 15.  Panasonic Foundation staff selected Norfolk Public Schools as a model district reflective of their partnership work. He will spend a day in the district touring a few schools and meeting with administrators, the Board Chair, and others to learn more about the Foundation’s partnership program.

7.   The Superintendent talked with Shurl Montgomery, Executive Director of the NRHA, and has set a meeting for our Administrative team to meet with NRHA staff on April 26 to discuss a variety of issues including: an overview and discussion of current services, programs and projects jointly sponsored by NPS and NRHA; discussion on future creation of a committee to develop joint working goals; discussion of the future of public housing in Norfolk; discussion of the Grandy Village Plan; and housing for teachers.

8.  On April 10, the Superintendent participated in a leadership round table discussion hosted by Dr. Courtney McBath, pastor of Calvary New Revival Church.  During this time, he talked about ways to get more community members and parents involved in public education.  We are now working together to plan a fall event that will bring hundreds of parents together with local ministers to talk about how parents and others can best support their students in becoming powerfully literate.

E. ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.  Brenda Alluisi, the Instructional Technology Resource Specialist at Azalea Gardens Middle School is a proven expert in the field of technology. She was recently honored with the Excellence in Technology Award by WHRO during the Great Computer Challenge competition at Old Dominion University.

2.  Thomas Paul, a junior at Granby High School, achieved a perfect score of 36 after taking the American College Test, also known as the ACT. Thomas was the only college-bound student in Virginia and one of 26 in the U.S. to achieve a perfect score. 

    Approximately, 4,500 Virginia students and over 350,000 from across the nation completed the ACT last     December.   He also scored a 2300 out of a possible 2400 on his SAT.
 
3.  Sharon Oberne, a Title I Reading Specialist at Willoughby Elementary School, is the author of three distinguished books published in 2006, “Are You Sure It's ADHD?”, “Is It Really Autism,” and “From Hell to Heaven: Is It Bipolar Disorder or Something Else?”   All three books address the needs of children having hidden disabilities and how they can overcome the odds on becoming successful.   Her books are being distributed world-wide and are listed on various web sites including BestBuyBooks.com and Forbes.com .

4.  Debbie D’Angelo, the music teacher for Taylor Elementary School and eight of her students were selected to participate in the Virginia Elementary Music Educators Association’s All-State Chorus in Fairfax, VA in March. This is their third year auditioning and performing for this event. 
 
5.  Muscles and brains go hand in hand for Rashaan Grady, an 8th grade student & wrestler at Blair Middle School.   Rashaan was named the 2007 Virginia Challenge Middle School State Champion in the wrestling category of 190 lbs. He also won the VAC President’s Award.  The highest award given at the tournament. His record is an impressive 10 victories and 0 losses in the VAC Middle School State Dual Meet Championships that garnered him to win the gold medal and named Outstanding Wrestler. This is the first time any Norfolk Public Schools’ student has won these two awards.  Not only is Rashaan a champion wrestler but he’s also an honor roll student with a GPA of 2.875.

6.   In recognition of Governor Tim Kaine’s Proclamation declaring March as “Mediation Month in Virginia,” a unique program is being offered by the Virginia Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution that seeks to use fairy tales to teach children about a more collaborative and constructive way to resolve conflicts through the use of the mediation process.

7.  Students from Maury High School’s Drama Dept. performed, “The Three Little Pigs Go to Mediation” for Taylor Elementary.  Another fine example of Norfolk Public Schools’ journey to World-Class.

F. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND STATEMENT

Vizel Townsend, Senior Director of Accounting gave the Financial Highlights and Statement for March.  She reported that as of March 31, 2007, we have encumbered or expenses $210,461,116 or 68.0% of budgeted funds.  Overall, this compares to 69.5% at the same time last year and 67.3% in 04.  It is anticipated that we will be at 99.9% at year end.  It was moved by Dr. Tonelson and seconded by Mr. Cook to receive and file the financial highlights and statement for March.  The motion was approved.

G. CITIZEN COMMENT ON AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

There were no citizen comments.

H. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

The Consent Agenda was presented for approval and contained the items listed below.

            1.         The minutes for the March 12 and March 21 meetings;
            2.         The March 2007, Bills and Payroll Report;
            3.         The Personnel Report, as amended on page 1;
            4.         The Pupil Personnel Docket for April 18, 2007, with the following items: 
One suggested long-term suspension with special conditions, the Long-Term Suspension Report for the month of March, and the Out-of-District Report for March 1-21, 2007;
            5.         The March Use of School Facilities Report;
            6.         A school rental request from Grace Temple Community Church for a six-month
                        extension from the original date of November 2006-April 207 to October 2007, for the use of                                    Campostella Elementary School for religious services;
            7.         A school rental request from Garrett Community Baptist Church for the use of                                                       Chesterfield Academy for religious services;
            8.         A resolution authorizing the Superintendent to make application for Title IV, Part A (Safe and Drug                         Free Schools and Communities Act) funds;

 Application for Funds under Title IV, Part A - (Safe and Drug-Free
Schools and Communities Act)

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, it was

MOVED that Superintendent be authorized to file, as required by the United States Department of Education, an application for Local Educational Agency Grants under Title IV, Part A, - Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  And further that Superintendent be authorized to act as the representative of the Norfolk Public School Board in connection with this application.

            9.   Adoption of textbooks for use in middle and high school foreign language classes:

                        Spanish:         “Expresate”, Holt Rinehart, Winston, 2008
                        French:           “Discovering French”, McDougal Littell, 2007
                        German:         “Auf Deutsch”, McDougal Littell, 2004
                        Latin:              “Latin for American”  Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2007
                        Japanese:      “Basic Japanese”, National Textbook Co., 1992 
                        Italian  :           “Prego”,  McGraw-Hill, 2004
                        Spanish 7:      “Exploring Spanish”  EMC, 2008
                        French  7:       “Exploring French”,  EMC, 2008
                        German 7:      “Exploring German” EMC, 2008
                        Latin 7:           “First Latin”, Prentice Hall, 1998
                        Japanese 7:   “Yookoso! Started with Contemporary Japanese”, McGraw-Hill, 1998 
                        Exploratory Foreign Languages:    “Invitation to the Languages”, McGraw-Hill, 2007
                        AP Spanish: “Nuevas Vistas, Holt Rinehart, Winston, 2006, “Encuentros Maravillosos-Gramatica a Traves de la Literatura”, Prentice Hall, 2005, “AP Spanish, Preparing for Language Examination” Prentice Hall, 2007
                        AP French:     “Une Fois Pour Toutes”, Pearson Education, 1993, “Triangle”, Pearson Education/Wayside Publishing, “Advanced Placement French”, Pearson Education, 1998 “Schaum’s Outline of French Grammar”, McGraw-Hill, 1999
                        AP German:   “Kaleidoscop: Kultur, Literatur, und Grammatik” Houghton Miffin, 2007
                        AP Latin:         “A Song of  War, Vergil”  Pearson, Prentice Hall, 2004, “Horace, Selected Odes and Satire”,Bolchazy – Carducci, 2004
                        AP Italian:       “Crescendo!” Thomson Heinle Higher Learning, 2007

 Mr. Cook moved and Dr. McCluney seconded to approve the consent agenda as amended in the personnel docket.  The motion was approved.  Mr. Driggers voted “no.”

I. SPECIAL EDUCATION ANNUAL PLAN AND APPLICATION FOR FUNDS

Dr. Melinda Boone reported on the 2007-08 Special Education Annual Plan including Part B and 619 Preschool Funding Applications.  Under the provisions of the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (January 2001, revised March 2002), Norfolk Public Schools is required to submit an Annual Plan and application for providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.  The 2007-08 Special Education Annual Plan will serve as the formal agreement between the School Board and the Virginia Department of Education for the implementation of federal and state laws governing this program.  The disbursement of State and federal funds appropriated for the education of children with disabilities is Contingent upon the approval of this plan and application. The motion was made by Mr. Cook and seconded by Dr. Wright to approve the Special Education Annual Plan and Application for Funds.  The motion carried.

J. STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Yvonne Young, Chief of Staff, gave an update on the Strategic Plan.  The Norfolk Public Schools District Strategic Plan, 2006-2010, supports the district mission.  It identifies the Norfolk Public Schools’  targets, power standards and power strategies to become a world-class school system.  The indicators of success, metrics, and benchmarks provide strategic direction for district action.

K. SCHOOL BOARD MATTERS

The informal session adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

Minutes approved by the School Board:  May 16, 2007