SCHOOL BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK

Meeting of the School Board of the City of Norfolk • April 16, 2008
Central Administration Building • 800 E. City Hall Avenue

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

The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m. by Chair Bishop in the Superintendent’s Conference Room of the School Administration Building (800 E. City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia).  Present were:  Chair Bishop, Vice Chair Rhodes, Mr. Driggers, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.   Dr. McCluney and Mr. Cook were out of town on business.  Others in attendance were Superintendent Jones, Chief of Staff Young, Chief Academic Officer Boone, and Clerk Rhodes along with Bernard Pishko, Jack Cloud, Derek Mungo, and Tasha Scott from the City Attorney’s office. 

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

It was duly MOVED and seconded that the members of the School Board go into closed session for the purposes set out in clause 1 of subsection (A) of section 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, as amended:
  
(2)        Discussion or consideration of prospective candidates for employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, discipline, or resignation of specific officers, appointees, or employees of the Norfolk Public Schools including consideration of the personnel docket and supplement of this date.
(3)        Discussion or consideration of disciplinary matters concerning students in Norfolk Public Schools, specifically the pupil personnel docket of this date.
(7)        Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members, consultants, or attorneys, pertaining to actual or probable litigation, or other specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by counsel.  

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

The Board came out of closed executive session at 5:36 p.m. 

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

Mr. Bishop called the informal session of the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. in Room 1200 of the School Administration Building.  Present were:  Chair Bishop, Vice Chair Rhodes, Mr. Driggers, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.   Dr. McCluney and Mr. Cook were out of town on business.  Also present were Superintendent Jones, Chief Officers Young, Boone, Schmitt, and Sullivan, Executive Directors Lassiter, O’Konek, and Thomas, and Clerk Rhodes.

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. Update on Special Education Reorganization
2. Update on Implementing the new logo and brand

 
The School Board took a short dinner break at 6:43 p.m. 

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

Mr. Bishop called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. in Room 1200 of the School Administration Building.   Present were Chair Bishop, Vice Chair Rhodes, Mr. Cook, Mr. Driggers, Dr. McCluney, Dr. Tonelson, and Dr. Wright.   

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

1. Dr. Jones thanked Dr. Gloria Hagans and her staff for an outstanding Spring Parent University.  The event was held on Saturday, April 12 at Norfolk State University.  This event connects parents and community members more closely with our schools.  Over 800 people attended.

2. The Greater Norfolk Corporation has been sponsoring a Leadership Academy for Norfolk Public Schools administrators.  The final session for the current cohort of leaders will be held at the Dollar Tree headquarters. The topic will be “The Five Dysfunctions of Teams.”

3. Upcoming meetings and events include: 
• The final Guiding Coalition meeting will be held on Monday, April 21st at 2:30 p.m. at Maury High School;
• The School Board work session on Continuous High School Improvement will be held on Tuesday, April 22nd here in the conference room from 5-7 p.m.;
• Our annual Inspiration Awards will be held on April 24th at 6:30 p.m. at Norview High School;
• The Coleman Place dedication ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 27th at 2 p.m.; and
• The final LAP conference will be held Apr.30-May 2nd in New Orleans
4. The White House will make an announcement regarding the selection of the National Teacher of the Year on April 28.
5. Norfolk Public schools has established the Facilities Citizen Advisory Committee to review the MGT Facilities Study and provide feedback to the School Board and administration.  The committee convened on April 1st at 6:30 p.m. at Coleman Place Elementary School.  They will meet once a month through the summer. The next meeting is scheduled for May 6th at 6:30 p.m. at Dreamkeepers Academy.  The committee will provide an assessment of the recommendations made by the MGT Facilities Study.  The administration will look for a report in the fall.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Boy Scout Troop #188 pulled together to improve the appearance of Camp E. W. Young for students and visitors.  They spent the entire day painting, repairing, and clearing debris throughout the camp and along the Intercoastal Waterway.  The troop is comprised of students from Rosemont and Azalea Gardens Middle, Norview and Granby High and Bay View Elementary Schools.

Ghent School Literacy Teacher, Rochelle McMorris, recognized that not all learning takes place in the classroom, so she started the Ladies and Gentlemen’s Club.  The goal was to assist young men and women in the 6th through 8th grades to become responsible mature adults through role models, demonstrations, and presentations from various groups or individuals throughout the community.

Mrs. Dornita Smith was named the 2008 Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Smith has been with the school system for over 10 years.  Her daily goal is to provide our students with a world class education, an education powerful beyond measure.  Mrs. Smith will go on to represent Norfolk Public Schools at the Virginia Teacher of the Year competition.

Students at the Norfolk Technical Center are going strong in developing their job readiness skills.   Cosmetology II students, Chennell Elliott and Jasmine Gallop, both seniors at Booker T. Washington High School, are now published stylists in a popular salon magazine.  They will be taking their cosmetology licensure exam with the state board in May.

To promote student achievement and career development in the field of engineering, NTC had James McLurkin, an MIT doctoral student and a visionary in robotic systems came out to speak to the students in the Norfolk Technical Center’s Robotics Program.  Mr. McLurkin is known for his “swarm bots” or mini-robots that work together to perform a single task.  He wanted to show the students that science & engineering can be a lot of fun.  His message to the students, “Follow your passions, discover what you like to do, and then do it to the best of your ability.”

Hampton University W.E.B. Dubois Honors Conference held their annual Academic Quiz Bowl and Oratorical Contest.   Meadowbrook students Brandon Santiago, Lashay Lucas, Dreama Johnson, Mareka Belcher, and Kiana Murden participated in that contest and competed against middle school students from as far as Wisconsin.  They won all preliminary rounds and placed 2nd in the Championship Round bringing home a trophy.

The Ocean View Maritime Rangers received first prize for their entry in the Virginia Children’s Museum’s exhibit contest.  The challenge was to create an exhibit they would like to see on display at the museum.  They designed a presentation based on the environmental stewardship program at Ocean View Elementary entitled, “A Clean Environment Starts with #1.”  Their interactive, learning exhibit directs visitors in determining how to be more environmentally conscious.

The Maury High School Chamber Orchestra performed at the District II Orchestra Festival at Norview High School.  Under the direction of Ryan Featherer, the students were ready to perform for a panel of judges from the University of Michigan, Chapman University and Shenandoah Conservatory.  They received a superior rating, with one judge giving them a superior-plus. Each judge commented on their superb musicianship and attention to detail.  The Maury Chamber orchestra is comprised of 38 of the best string players at Maury High School.

The Maury Concert Orchestra which consists of 115 9th – 12th graders received superior ratings as well.  The judges also marveled at their attention to detail and heart warming performances of two complex compositions.

Superior ratings, superior students, and superior teachers, that’s Norfolk Public Schools.

For more on these and other stories, visit our website at www.npsk12.com and click on the Channel 47 logo.

CITIZEN COMMENT ON AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

1. Sam Bray, regarding school plant
2. Ginny Bobby, regarding Autism Awareness Month
3. Marian Flickinger, regarding teacher pay raise
4. Ingrid London, regarding teacher pay raise

OPEN FORMAL SESSION - Consent Agenda

The motion was made by Mr. Driggers and seconded by Dr. Tonelson to approve the consent agenda excluding the pupil personnel docket and containing the items listed below:

1. The Personnel Docket for April 16, 2008;
2. The School Board minutes from the March 5, 2008, work session, the March 19, 2008, School Board meeting, and the April 2, 2008, recognition ceremony.
3. The March 2008, Bills and Payroll Report;
4. The March Use of School Facilities Report;
5. The request from New Living Sacrifice Ministries, Inc., for the use of Larchmont Elementary School for religious services;
6. The proposal to require uniforms at Lafayette-Winona Middle School in the fall of 2008;
7. The proposal to require uniforms at Norview Elementary School in the fall of 2008;
8. The resolution authorizing the Superintendent to make application for Title IV, Part A (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Community Act) funds;
9. The Local Special Education Annual Plan for 2008-2009.

The motion was approved unanimously. 

The motion was made by Dr. Tonelson and seconded by Mrs. Rhodes to approve the Pupil Personnel Report containing:

1. Suggested Long-Term Suspension with Special Conditions Report; and
2. The Long-term Suspension Report for the month of March 2008;

The motion was approved with one opposing vote from Mr. Driggers.

OPEN FORMAL SESSION - DISCUSSION/DECISION AGENDA

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND STATEMENT
 
Mr. Schmitt presented the Financial Highlights for March and the Financial Statement for March
2008 Month and Budget Report Period 9.   The motion was made by Mr. Driggers and seconded by Mrs. Rhodes to receive and file the financial statement for March.  The motion was approved unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Minutes approved by the School Board:   May 21, 2008