A REGULAR MEETING OF THE YORK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD

AT YORK HALL, 301 MAIN STREET, YORKTOWN, VA.

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006

  

REGULAR SESSION

 7:00 P.M.

 

PRESENT:                MR. MARK A. MEDFORD, CHAIRMAN

                                    MR. R. PAGE MINTER, VICE CHAIRMAN

                                    MRS. BARBARA S. HAYWOOD  

                                    MRS. LINDA S. MEADOWS 

ABSENT:                   MR. BARRENT M. HENRY                         

ALSO PRESENT:     DR. STEVEN R. STAPLES, DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT

                                    MR. RICHARD M. HIXSON, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT

DR. JAMES R. TUCKER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR INSTRUCTION

DR. CARL JAMES, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

DR. SUZANNE CREASEY, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

DR. JENNIFER PARISH, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT

DR. LUCIA SEBASTIAN, DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SERVICES AND ACCOUNTABILITY

                                    BETSY OVERKAMP-SMITH, COMMUNITY PUBLIC RELATIONS      

                                    OFFICER

                                    MARILYN V. STATON, CLERK

 

Mr. Medford opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.  Mr. Medford stated that Mr. Henry is unable to attend tonight’s meeting due to illness.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Alaysha Daicoria Shearn, a third grade student at Magruder Elementary School led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS:

Seniors of the Month: BHS- Tiara Monet Hicks     GHS-Ashley Moore   THS- Christopher Valdes and YHS- Prateesh Maheshwari.

 

Student Service Awards:

 GBES- Lisa Underwood – BHS- Jennifer Deskins.  

 

 

Community Volunteers:

Mrs. Jamie Massengale received the March Volunteer of the Month, for GBES.  Mrs. Deborah Poitras received the March Volunteer of the Month Award for BHS.

 

“Read Across America” Awards:  Dr. Steven R. Staples, Superintendent, asked Mrs. Carol Bauer to come forward as YEA representative for these awards.  Each school that met their reading goals for “Read Across America” month received a certificate from the Board Chairman and drew for a framed print. Dr. Staples noted that all ten elementary schools plus Grafton Middle, Queens Lake Middle, Yorktown Middle, Tabb High and York High School met their reading goals and that “Read Across America” is a joint effort by the School Board and the York Education Association.

 

Mr. Minter, Vice Chair, declared a short recess at 7:30 p.m. for the Board to meet student and adult award recipients. Mr. Mark A. Medford, Chairman, reconvened the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None

 

PRESENTATIONS:  

Construction Report – Jim Wilkins, Director of Maintenance and Facilities Report, gave the following construction update:

·        THS- Project has slipped a couple of weeks; however, punch list should happen next week and everything finished by Spring Break.

·        SBO- The contractor is scheduled to place about 60% of the addition floor slab on March 29.  The roof on the existing building is scheduled to start on April 3.  These two events open up the chance for several other functions to begin, i.e., once the existing building is dried in, sheetrock can start. They are still a couple of weeks behind, but the opportunity to make them up is about to happen.

·        YHS- This project is still making good progress.  All the new windows are in except for the old Extend Center and the gym.  The gym is scheduled for Spring Break. Approximately 200 of the 360 wells are in. Painting is scheduled to start late this week/early next week.

 

COMMENTS OF CITIZENS

There were no citizens signed up to speak under Comments of Citizens.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

MATTERS BY BOARD MEMBERS   

Mrs. Meadows urged parents to keep their students focused for the end of the year tests.  Mrs. Haywood asked citizens to be mindful and knowledgeable of the budget. Mrs. Haywood noted that on Saturday she attended the Bruton High School of the Arts dance group who performed a snippet of what their show in April will be.  Mrs. Haywood also noted that the Tidewater Regional Forum will be held on April 27, 2006. Mr. Minter stated that he and Mrs. Meadows attended Career Day at Grafton Complex noting that 150 students attended. Mr. Minter noted that he read to a fourth grade class at Mt. Vernon Elementary School on March 15. Mr.Minter also noted from the York County Tip Sheet that York County School Division received a Gold Medal from Management Magazine. Each year, Expansion Management compares more than 2,800 schools districts across the country on how well the district is preparing its students to be part of the work force after graduation. Dr. Staples noted that we will make that presentation at the April meeting. Mr. Minter also quoted from the Tip Sheet that York County School Division received special designation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement as a 2005-06 Super System for Quality Schools.  Only 54 school divisions in Virginia were awarded this honor, given to districts that have all eligible elementary, middle and secondary schools accredited. Mr. Medford said he would save his comments for the adoption of the budget section.

 

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Mrs. Haywood summarized the items under Financial Matters.

  1. Approval of Claims Certified for Payment.
  2. Consideration of approval of Resolution No. 06-14 Authorizing Specific Procurement.

 

A motion was made by Mrs. Haywood and seconded by Mr. Minter to approve Financial Matters.  Motion passed 4-0.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

Mrs. Meadows summarized the items on the Consent Calendar.

  1. Approval of Previous Minutes: March 6, 2006 Regular Meeting and the March 13, 2006 Special Meeting/Work Session.
  2. Personnel Actions
  3. Donations
  4. Consideration of a motion to approve a Proclamation for Administrative Professionals Week April 24 – 28, 2006.
  5. Consideration of a motion to approve a Proclamation for National Volunteer Week April 24 – 28, 2006.
  6. Consideration of a motion to approve a Proclamation for National Library Week April 2 – 8, 2006.

A motion was made by Mrs. Meadows and seconded by Mrs. Haywood to adopt the Consent Calendar as amended.  Motion passed 4-0.

 

ACTION ITEMS

a.         A motion was made by Mrs. Meadows and seconded by Mr. Minter to approve Resolution No. 06-13 A Resolution approving the proposed FY2007 Operating Budget and the FY2006 Expected Budget.  Motion passed 4-0. Dr. Staples noted that the budget will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval of the local share.  Mr. Medford noted that this has been a long process.  We first had a Joint Meeting with the Board of Supervisors and agreed upon a revenue sharing formula that has been used for years. We work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors.  Mr. Medford also noted that the Department of Education noted that York Count School Division had one of the lowest per student spending costs for all Hampton Roads School Divisions. Mr. Medford quoted a statement from Standard & Poor’s – “When compared to the state as a whole, the district produces well above average Reading and Math Proficiency with moderately below average core spending per student.”  Mr. Medford stated that we volunteered for the State Department to send an Audit Efficiency Review team to rate the efficiency of the division. These were all good examples of outside reviews showing good financial management.

b.         The minutes of the March 1, 2006 Special Meeting were pulled due to a lack of quorum and will be brought back at the April 24, 2006 School Board Meeting.

c.          A motion was made by Mrs. Haywood and seconded by Mrs. Meadows to approve the minutes of the March 6, 2006 Special Meeting.  Motion passed 3-0. Mr. Minter abstained.

 

DISCUSSION – Chapter 7 – Personnel – Section 7.1.9 Work Schedules

FIRST READING –

SECOND READING –

            1. Section 7.1.12 – Other Full-time Employee Fringe Benefits – Sub-Section F – Tax Sheltered Savings Plans.  A motion was made by Mrs. Haywood and seconded by Mrs. Meadows to approve Section 7.1.12 – Other Full-time employee fringe benefits – Sub-Section F – Tax Sheltered Savings Plans.  Motion passed 4-0.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Steven R. Staples, Ed.D., Superintendent stated:

·        that Dennis R. Jarrett, Chief Financial Officer, is at a NAFIS (an organization of federally impacted schools) meeting in Washington D.C. with a contingent from Hampton Roads.

·        that our next Regular Meeting will be on Monday, April 24, the first day back from Spring Break.  Spring Break begins on April 17, 2006.

·        Mr. Jim Wilkins will give Board Members a tour of York High School prior to the June meeting.

·        After YHS students return to their renovated high school, the trailers will be used by Yorktown Middle students while YMS is renovated. The YMS students will be able to use the YHS cafeteria and gym while in the trailers.  York High should be completed in November 2006.

·        89.7% of our third grade students are reading at above average level which is a testimony to the Boards’ focus on reading.

·        Congratulations to Mrs.Thomas who is retiring and who was Audrey Staples’ first teacher.

·        Special congratulations to Mrs. Marsha Brown who is retiring after 40 years and who still has the energy and enthusiasm she had when she started. 

 

 

Mr. Minter noted a significant sentence stated by Mr. Medford before the Board of Supervisors meeting. “This School Board takes its responsibility as good shepherds of the tax payer’s money as seriously as our responsibility to educate the students of our schools.”

 

ANY MATTER NOT ABOVE SET FORTH:

 

 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

 

 MARK A. MEDFORD, CHAIRMAN

MARILYN V. STATON, CLERK