SCHOOL BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK

Minutes of the Monthly School Board Meeting
February 20, 2008

Closed Executive Session (Superintendent's Conference Room/1200) - 4:00pm

The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Mr. Bishop in the Superintendent’s Conference Room of the School Administration Building, 800 E. City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia.  Present were:  Mr. Bishop, Vice Chair Rhodes, Mr. Driggers, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.  Mr. Cook was absent due to military obligations and Dr. McCluney was absent due to illness.  Others in attendance were Superintendent Jones, Chief of Staff Young, Chief Academic Officer Boone, Chief of Operations Spencer, and Clerk Rhodes along with Mr. Cloud and Mr. Mungo from the City Attorney’s office. 

The School Board went into executive (closed) session at 4:08 p.m.

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

The Board came out of closed session at 5:15 p.m.  

Open Informal Session (Superintendent's Conference Room/1200) - 5:00pm

Mr. Bishop called the informal session of the meeting to order at 5:21 p.m. in Room 1200 of the School Administration Building.   Present were Chair Bishop, Vice Chair Rhodes, Mr. Driggers,  Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.   Mr. Cook and Dr. McCluney were absent.

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.

Topics discussed during the informal session included:

1. Communications Audit Report
2. School Board Retreat Follow-up
3. Annual Report of the Special Education Advisory Council
4. PTA Issue Review
5. MGT Facilities Committee

The School Board took a short dinner break at 6:48 p.m.

Open Formal Session (Room 1202) - 7:00pm

Mr. Bishop called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in Room 1200 of the School Administration Building.   Present were Chair Bishop, Vice Chair Rhodes, Mr. Driggers, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.  Mr. Cook and Dr. McCluney were absent.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

Mr. Bishop gave a summary of the informal session of the meeting.  The board heard a report on the communications audit and a report from the special education advisory council.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

1. Dr. Jones announced that the Governor would cut his budget cut an additional $1.4 billion for the remainder of the current fiscal year and for the 2008-2010 biennial budget that begins July 1st.  The plan for this new biennial budget includes a 5.4% reduction in state funding to local governments excluding SOQ and car tax funding.  He mentioned this because the Superintendent’s budget proposal is based on the initial proposal that was forwarded from the Governor’s office.  Some adjustments may need to be made in light of what the legislature does.
    
2. The administration will meet March 3 with the Norfolk Federation of Teachers to talk about a number of issues associated with the proposed budget.  One of those issues involves competitive salaries for teachers.
   
   
3. Relay for Life recognition for Norfolk Public Schools will take place at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 26th. 
   
   
4. Monday, March 3rd we will be celebrating Reading Across America and many will be in the schools reading to students.
   
   
5. Tuesday, March 4th, there will be a joint mini-retreat between Norfolk City Council and the School Board.  The meeting is scheduled in City Hall from noon until 4 p.m.
   
   
6. Wednesday, March 5th, the School Board will conduct a work session at Fairlawn Elementary starting at 4:30.  The final budget public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. The students of Norfolk Public Schools honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by learning about his dream of unity and equality for all. 
   
   
1. Willard Model School students wrote poetry and songs expressing their dreams for their community and families. 
2. The students at Madison held a debate on, “If Martin Luther King, Jr. was to return today, what would he think of our society?”
3. Lafayette-Winona Middle School participated in a parade supporting the “Build the Dream” Foundation.
4. Larrymore Elementary created images of Dr. King, read stories, talked about what it means to have a dream for their future.

2. Willard Model School held their first Winter Carnival/Science Fair.   They had all sorts of games, face painting, and crafts.  Booz-Allen-Hamilton, one of their community sponsors, was on hand to judge the science fair entries and assist at the various booths.

3. Kristen Turietta, a teacher at Richard Bowling Elementary, was awarded a Teacher Incentive Grant in the amount of $300 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.  The program was established to help support education in and through the arts in elementary and secondary schools.

4. Bay View Elementary School held its 9th annual Jump Rope for the Heart - fund raiser.  Principal, Deb Mansfield and Assistant Principal Dawn Lawrence were on hand to help out with the event.  The students and staff helped raise over $3,000 for the American Heart Association.
   
   
5. Helping today’s youth meet life’s challenges is the motto of the Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or the NJROTC.   Lake Taylor High School’s NJROTC program follows that same motto.  Teaching students discipline and leadership prepares them for whatever life has to offer.  Part of that training is a scheduled inspection of the young cadets.  What made this inspection so unique was a visit from Rear Admiral Stephen S. Voetsch.  Usually, Capt. Garrett does the inspections, but he wanted his cadets to have the experience of a high ranking officer.
   
   
6. Dr. Jones’ third annual State of the Schools address made history in Norfolk Public Schools by being the first live television broadcast while simultaneously streaming it on the world wide web.  Thanks to the team effort of the Web Technologies staff, the Communications Department, and WNPS-TV 47 over 300 people were reached on site  and on line, not including the potential viewing audience of around 7,000 homes in the city of Norfolk.

For other stories, visit the Media Production web page at www.npsk12.com.

These are the Items of Interest for February 008.

A survey was distributed before the meeting and Mr. Bishop asked to fill in the survey and stated that the School Board depends on feedback to improve its performance.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW ADMINISTRATORS

Mr. Michael Spencer, Chief Operations Officer, introduced the following:

1. Joakim Jader who was promoted from Network Engineer, Information Division to Directory Services Network Engineer, Information Division.
   
2. Erica Silver, who elected as Staff Accountant, Accounting Department.
3. Janice James-Mitchell, who elected Senior Coordinator, Special Educational Services

CITIZEN COMMENT ON AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

1. Karen Woodhouse, regarding Freshman Honors Program
2. Tawanna Hardy, regarding Stuart Early Childhood Center
3. Tamilah Richardson, regarding Stuart Early Childhood Center
4. Christine Chzasz-Cornell, regarding Stuart Early Childhood Center

OPEN FORMAL SESSION - CONSENT AGENDA

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

1. The Personnel Docket for February 20, 2008
2. The Pupil Personnel Report containing
   1. Suggested Suggested Long-Term Suspension with Special Conditions
   2. The Long-term Suspension Report for the month of January 2008
   3. The Out-of-district Report for the month of January 2008
3. The School Board minutes from the January 16 School Board meeting, the January 18-19 School Board Retreat, the January 19 work session to evaluate the Superintendent, and the February 13 School Board recognition ceremony.
4. The January 2008, Bills and Payroll Report;
5. The January Use of School Facilities Report;
6. The request from Renewing of the Mind Ministries for the use of Willard Elementary School for religious services January 2008 until June 2008;
7. Resolution recognizing March 2008 as Youth Art Month;
8. Resolution recognizing February 4-8, 2008, as Virginia School Counseling Week.
9. Approval of two requests to home school based on the Religious Exemption Act;
10. Approval of resolution authorizing the Superintendent to apply for Title II, Part D (Educational Technology) funds;

The motion was made by Dr. Tonelson and seconded by Mrs. Rhodes to approve the consent agenda.  The motion was approved unanimously.   

Mr. Rhodes read the resolution recognizing March 2008 as Youth Art Month and the board presented the resolution to Barbara Laws, senior coordinator for art education. 

OPEN FORMAL SESSION - DISCUSSION/DECISION AGENDA

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND STATEMENT

Mr. Schmitt presented the Financial Highlights for January and the Financial Statement for January 2008 Month and Budget Report Period 7.  The motion was made by Dr. Tonelson and seconded by Dr. Wright to receive and file the financial statement for January.  The motion was approved unanimously.

FY 2008-2009 SUPERINTENDENT’S PROPOSED GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET

Dr. Jones presented his Proposed FY2008-09 General Fund Operating Budget for the Board to review.   He recognized the work of the Chief Financial Officer Fred Schmitt and Senior Budget Director Jane Pellegrino and their staff.

The School Board must adopt a budget and submit it to the City Council before April 1 each year.  The City will combine our budget request with the total city budget and schedule a public hearing on the entire city budget in May.  The Board will be asked to formally adopt our official FY 2009 General Operating Budget at our June meeting.  Any changes made by the Council will be incorporated at that time.

The Board announced they would have a work session on the budget at Fairlawn Elementary School on March 5 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a public hearing on the budget at 6:30 p.m.

RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE CLOSING OF OAKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The enrollment at Oakwood Elementary School continues to decline. A significant factor in this is the change within the community serving the school from primarily residential to commercial. A committee was established to study the proposed closing and two public hearings were held.

The Board discussed the recommendation that Oakwood Elementary School remain open as a comprehensive PK-5 school until the opening of the proposed new Crossroads PK-8 School. At that time, students residing in the Oakwood Elementary School attendance zone will be rezoned to the Crossroads attendance zone. It was further recommended that a moratorium be issued on new out of district permits to attend Oakwood Elementary School effective the 2008-09 school year.  For the 2008-09 school year, it is also recommended that prekindergarten classes currently housed in Stuart be relocated to Oakwood and Monroe Elementary Schools. This is in line with the proposal to close the Stuart building and relocate existing programs and services.

The Board took no action on the above recommendation.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Minutes approved by the School Board:   March 19, 2008