A REGULAR MEETING OF THE YORK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD

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

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2006 (Rescheduled from February 27, 2006)

  

REGULAR SESSION

 7:00 P.M.

 

PRESENT:                MR. R. PAGE MINTER, VICE CHAIRMAN

                                    MRS. BARBARA S. HAYWOOD  

                                    MRS. LINDA S. MEADOWS 

                                    MR. BARRENT M. HENRY  

                                    MR. MARK A. MEDFORD, CHAIR                        

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

                                    MR. RICHARD M. HIXSON, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT

DR. JAMES R. TUCKER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR INSTRUCTION

MR. DENNIS R. JARRETT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

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

 

Mr. Medford opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.  

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Allison Makenzie Deaver, a third grade student at Grafton Bethel Elementary School led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS:

Seniors of the Month: BHS- Jane Kim, GHS-Erik Sorensen, THS- Dina Tarek Abdel and YHS- Chervon M. Moore.   Erik Sorensen was unable to attend tonight’s meeting.

 

Student Service Awards:

 Adam Demharter CES – Nicholas Onesty- QLMS and Haley Mitchell – DES.

 

 

Community Volunteers:

Mrs. Martha Owens received the February Volunteer of the Month, for Coventry Elementary School.  Mrs. Sheila Evans was unable to attend – Mr. Manuel Dillard, Principal, QLMS received the February Volunteer of the Month, in her absence and Mr. Frank Lia received the February Volunteer award for DES.    

 

Dr. Staples read a letter from Senator George Allen to Mark Tschirhart, Supervisor of Resource and Security Controls, for the commendation he received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for York County School Division being one of eighteen organizations and three school divisions that have achieved significant energy savings.

 

Mr. Minter, Vice Chair, declared a short recess for the Board to meet student and adult award recipients. 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None

 

PRESENTATIONS:  

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

·        THS- The project will be complete by March 31st. Only a few minor items remain.

·        GHS- The project is complete with the exception of a couple of punch list items that are weather dependent.

·        SBO- The project is progressing quite well at this time. Only about 12 steel beams or columns remain to be installed. Once completed, this allows several other trades to begin. Project is now about two weeks behind schedule, but has time to return to the original schedule of September 1st.

·        YHS- Project is about two weeks ahead of schedule. All heat pumps, with the exception of the cafeteria and gym, are installed and water and duct work are connected to them.  Approximately 50 percent of the wells are drilled. Eighty percent of the new windows are installed.

·        YMS- Briefed the Board regarding the concept building plan.

 

 

Dr. Steven R. Staples, Superintendent gave an overview of the Superintendent’s FY07 Operating Budget. A copy of the slides is attached to the minutes.

 

Mr. Mark A. Medford, Chairman opened the Public Hearing on the FY07 Operating Budget. There being no speakers, Mr. Medford closed the Hearing.

 

COMMENTS OF CITIZENS

The following citizens spoke against not being allowed to display Christmas traditions and symbols in the schools: Dawn Whitcomb; Casey Burkett; Lesley Snyder; Dr. Robert George; John Blum; Bob Hall; Ken Virgil; Stan Treleven; Bobby Ashe; Clare Britcher; Julie Forbes and Billy Swain. The group asked the Board to adopt a formal policy on recognizing holidays in schools.

 

Dr. Steven R. Staples, Superintendent, thanked the speakers’ for coming out and sharing their concerns and comments. Dr. Staples noted that there has been no change in practice for this subject since he arrived in York County in 1991 and that the School Board has no formal policy on celebrating Christmas or any other holidays in schools. If there has been a substantial change in the Division, he would like to hear about it.  Dr. Staples referenced some speakers noting they could not say “Christmas” in schools and Dr. Staples replied that that was not true.  Dr. Staples stated that if the holidays are incorporated into a study unit then students will learn about all holidays.

 

MATTERS BY BOARD MEMBERS   

Mr. Henry stated that he is seventy five years old and that policy on celebrating holidays in schools has not changed but practice has changed.  We are not trying to take religion out of public schools but we are trying to live by guidelines and that sometimes those guidelines are confusing.  We will do a little more sole searching and have more discussion on the speakers’ comments. Mrs. Meadows stated that she has not seen schools trying to take Christmas out of the schools.  Mrs. Meadows urged parents to keep their students focused on school and studies while we are nearing the end of the school year.  Mrs. Haywood thanked Queens Lake Middle School Art Guild for the pictures given to the Board tonight. Mrs. Haywood noted that she attended a breakfast held during Black History Month at Queens Lake Middle School. Mrs. Haywood also noted that this Board will revisit the matter the speakers brought to their attention tonight. Mr. Minter stated that he attended the Reflections’ Awards ceremony along with Dr. Staples and Mrs. Meadows. Mr. Minter also stated that he read to middle schoolers last week and attended the Waller Mill Elementary School Fine Arts Magnet production of The Mystery of the Great Kapok Tree.  Mr. Minter thanked the speakers for coming out tonight and urged them to get together with Dr. Staples for discussion.  Mr. Medford announced that the “Read Across America” program is still going on.  Mr. Medford thanked the citizens for coming to the meeting and speaking and assured them that this Board will continue to look into their concerns. 

 

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Mrs. Haywood summarized the items under Financial Matters.

  1. Approval of Claims Certified for Payment.
  2. Consideration of approval of Resolution No. 06-10 Authorizing Specific Procurement.

 

A motion was made by Mrs. Haywood and seconded by Mr. Henry to approve Financial Matters.  Motion passed 5-0.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

Mrs. Meadows summarized the items on the Consent Calendar.

  1. Approval of Previous Minutes: February 3, 2006 Special Meeting.
  2. Personnel Actions
  3. Donations

A motion was made by Mrs. Meadows and seconded by Mrs. Haywood to adopt the Consent Calendar.  Motion passed 5-0.

 

ACTION ITEMS

a.         A motion was made by Mr. Minter and seconded by Mrs. Haywood to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2006 Regular meeting, the January 23, 2006 Special meeting and the January 25, 2006 Special meeting. Mr. Medford abstained.  Motion passed 4-0.

b.         A motion was made by Mrs. Haywood and seconded by Mrs. Meadows to authorize the Division Superintendent to transfer $1,000,000 from the FY06 Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund to the School Capital Improvements Program fund as partial up-front funding of the cost of the addition and renovation of York High School.  Motion passed 5-0.

c.          A motion was made by Mr. Minter and seconded by Mr. Henry to increase the FY06 School Division’s Capital Improvements Program revenue and expenditure budget by $112,500 from funds to be provided by New Horizons Regional Education Center (New Horizons) for architectural and engineering costs associated with the New Horizons facility addition at Yorktown Middle School.  Motion passed 5-0.

 

 

DISCUSSION – None

FIRST READING –

            1. Section 7.1.12 – Other Full-time Employee Fringe Benefits – Sub-Section F – Tax Sheltered Savings Plans.  After discussion, Administration recommended bringing this back for Second Reading March 27.

            2.  Procedures for Adjusting Grievances (8 VAC 20-90 et.seq) May 2, 2005 edition. (First and final reading)

SECOND READING –

            1.  Section 9.12 – Parental Involvement Policy – Title 1 (Expedited Second Reading) 

A motion was made by Mrs. Meadows and seconded by Mr. Henry to approve both Procedures for Adjusting Grievances (8 VAC 20-90 et.seq) May 2, 2005 edition and Section 9.12 Parental Involvement Policy – Title 1.  Motion passed 5-0.

 

Mr. Minter noted that he received letters requesting money from the School Board for After Prom activities for Grafton, Tabb and York High Schools.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

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

·        that in February we celebrate “Read Across America” and to please keep reading – we also celebrate “Black History Month” and “School Board Appreciation”. Dr. Staples gave a special thanks to the Board for all the time that they give to this job.

     

 

ANY MATTER NOT ABOVE SET FORTH:

 

Mr. Medford asked if there was anyone in the audience who did not speak under Comments of Citizens.  Diana George stated that the County schools are not being consistent with the way Christmas and holidays are handled in the schools. Belinda Williams stated she met with a school board employee who gave her a list of what to do and what not to do in reference to Christmas and holidays in schools.  

 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

 

 

____________________________

MARK A. MEDFORD, CHAIRMAN

 

___________________________________

MARILYN V. STATON, CLERK