Fayetteville Board of Education
Minutes of the April 24, 2003 Regular Meeting
The meeting convened at 5:00 PM in the Adams Leadership Center with President Steve Percival presiding. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by students from Asbell Elementary School.
The roll was called and board members Laura Underwood, Howard Hamilton, Steve Percival, Susan Heil and Malcolm McNair were present.
Rafe Essary was honored for his work with the auto collision program at West Campus.
West Campus students Sherri Bottoms, Gizelle Chavez, Natasha Hammond, Jason Marx, Andrew McGill, Brandi Thompson, and Justin Wolf received awards for winning gold medals at the 2003 Arkansas Skills USA VICA competition.
West Campus Culinary Arts students Meredith Anderson, Asha Forbes, Jimmy Key, Joleen McMullen, and America Smith were honored for achieving ServSafe national certification.
The Northwest Arkansas Leadership Xperience Class of 2003 was also recognized, including Ryan Norman, who was selected as the Honor Student and will receive a $500 scholarship from the Northside Rotary Club.
Susan Heil made a motion to approve the consent agenda including the slip sheet. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Dr. Lisa Morstad, chief financial officer, presented the revised FY03 budget. The primary change to the budget is an increase in salary expenditures related to the December 2002 bonus given to all staff members. Malcolm McNair made a motion to approve the revised FY03 budget. Howard Hamilton seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
2nd Lien Bonds
Dr. Morstad announced that the Fayetteville School District
received $1.06 million in second lien bonds through the QZAB zero-interest bond
program. The funds will be used for
technology projects in the elementary schools.
Dr. Morstad added that this QZAB award was the highest given in
Arkansas. Howard Hamilton made a motion
that the School Board authorize Stephens, Inc. to file an application with the
State Board of Education to issue second lien Qualified Zone Academy Bonds in
the estimated amount of $1,060,000 for the purpose of acquiring equipment. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which
passed by a 5-0 vote.
2003-04 District Calendar
David Hartz, director of human resources, presented four options of the 2002-03 district calendar to the Board. Proposed calendars A & B include a full week of vacation during the week of Thanksgiving and set the first day of school as Thursday, August 14th. Proposed calendars C & D follow a more traditional school year with three days off during the week of Thanksgiving and the first day of school set for Monday, August 18th. Current Arkansas law does not allow public schools to begin classes earlier than August 19th, unless August 18th falls on a Monday. A waiver from this law would have to be granted by the Arkansas Department of Education for the district to adopt Calendar A or B.
Malcolm McNair made a motion to approve Calendar A for the 2003-04 school year with the provision that if the district does not receive the waiver to begin school on August 14th, then we would adopt Calendar D. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 3-2 vote.
Mr. Hartz then presented two options for the Continuous Learning Calendar used by Happy Hollow Elementary School for the 2003-04 school year. One of the proposed calendars would be used if district calendar A or D was adopted and the other would be used if the district calendar B or C was adopted. Howard Hamilton made a motion to adopt the Continuous Learning Calendar that goes with proposed district calendar A or D. Susan Heil seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
David Hartz presented the new policies on business and financial management, which would replace the existing 3000 series policies. Malcolm McNair made the motion to table the vote until the May Board meeting due to the fact that several changes needed to be made to the proposed policies. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote. Mr. Hartz requested that board members contact him with any further changes or recommendations.
Susan Cromwell, director of district technology programs, presented the District Technology Plan. She added that the document is a report that meets the criteria and addresses issues set for by the State. Ms. Cromwell noted that the report identifies technology projects that will coincide with long-term capital planning projects in the district. Susan Heil made the motion to approve the 2003-2007 district technology plan. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Denise Airola, interim director of instructional services,
presented the adoption materials for secondary education in the areas of fine
arts, ESL, Arkansas history, career orientation, and workforce education. Ms. Airola added that these materials are
for areas other than core curriculum.
In addition, the State Department of Education mandates that
instructional materials must support the curriculum. Howard Hamilton made the motion to approve the textbook
adoptions. Susan Heil seconded the
motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
At 6:24 PM, the Board adjourned to closed session. At 6:49 PM the board returned to regular session. Ron Jared, assistant superintendent for secondary education, recommended that Student A be expelled for the remainder of the 2002-03 school year. Howard Hamilton made a motion to approve the expulsion of Student A. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Mr. Jared recommended that Student B be expelled for the remainder of the 2002-03 school year. Susan Heil made a motion to approve the expulsion of Student B. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Howard Hamilton made a motion to adjourn. Susan Heil seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM.
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Stephen M. Percival, President Christine Bell, Secretary