Minutes of the April 26, 2001 Regular Meeting of the
Fayetteville Board of Education
The meeting convened at 5:00PM in the Adams Leadership Center with President Steve Percival presiding. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by students from Happy Hollow Elementary School.
The roll was called and board members Pam Grondin, Howard Hamilton, Laura Underwood, Steve Percival, Reed Greenwood and Malcolm McNair were present.
Students from West Campus and Fayetteville High School were honored for winning first place in the Arkansas 2001 Skills Olympics. Those honored were Lawrence Cortez, Ben Inez, Ryan Love, Nate Marks, Brandon Odom, and Jaclyn Young.
West Campus printing instructor Sabra Whittenburg received an Impact Award of excellence for being named the Skills Advisor of the Year in Arkansas.
Reed Greenwood made a motion to accept the consent agenda. Howard Hamilton seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote.
Denise Airola presented the recommendation of the Secondary Science Textbook Committee to adopt a series of instructional materials for use in grades 6-12, beginning with the 2001-02 school year. Laura Underwood made a motion to accept the adoption of the secondary science materials. Pam Grondin seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote.
Lisa Morstad asked the Board to approve a bid by Dean Witter Reynolds to issue bonds for the district at an interest rate of 4.87%. Howard Hamilton made a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the issuance and delivery of $17,375,000 in Refunding and Construction bonds. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote.
Lisa Morstad presented the monthly financial report for the district.
The Board voted to hear the PPC recommendation regarding the May 4th district holiday. In December, the school calendar was changed making May 4th a district holiday. The calendar was later changed again making May 4th an instructional day. The PPC is recommending that any teacher who has made plans for the May 4th holiday may request a day of emergency leave after filing the correct form and a narrative explaining the extenuating circumstances that would result in a monetary loss or harm. Dr. New explained that a teacher would need to decide on which calendar they would work. They can take off May 4th and make the day up on June 5th or they can work on May 4th and complete their contract on June 4th. Dr. New added that a teacher is encouraged to work through their principal and provide documentation that he/she has lost money, then the district would pay for the substitute. Rudy Moore pointed out that the PPC has the authority to recommend policies or proposed amendments to policies, but they do not have the authority to interpret a policy. No action was taken on the PPC recommendation.
Concluding a six-week study, Dr. New and his
staff presented the Administration's recommendation to annex the Bates
Elementary School building to Fayetteville High School effective July 1, 2001.
Dr. New noted five factors that influenced
the recommendation:
1. The district must pay approximately $4.5
million as part of the Amendment 59 lawsuit settlement. The amount must be paid
in the next thirteen months.
2. The newly enacted $3,000 teacher raise
passed by the Legislature and the Governor. State funding provided for the
raise includes only 80% of the amount needed and does not provide funds for
matching or for equal raises for support staff.
3. The newly approved district Strategic
Plan, which has as its number one goal to increase our effectiveness in
recruiting and retaining quality staff. Our administrative team interpreted
this goal as a Board mandate to place a premium on improving salaries and
benefits of current and future employees.
4. The ever-escalating cost of utilities and
fuel.
5. Two major demographic shifts in the
district:
Ø A population shift from the inner city to the
northeast and northwest quadrants of the city.
Ø Next, over the last several years our main
high school campus has not only grown in population, but also in
programs--technology and special education to mention only two. The current
high school building is at 85% capacity, with virtually no chance to expand the
current structure.
The Administration also recommended that the
Board set aside a day in late May to officially honor former and current Bates
teachers, principals, students and parents and that the Board strongly consider
naming the next new elementary school building "Bates Elementary
School."
The School Board will hold a special meeting
on Tuesday, May 1 at 5:30 PM in the Adams Center to vote on the recommendation.
Parents of Bates students, Bates staff
members and citizens spoke regarding the closing of Bates Elementary School.
Reed Greenwood made a motion to adjourn to
Executive Session. Laura Underwood
seconded the motion which passed by a 6-0 vote. The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7:40PM.
The Board returned to regular session at
8:02PM. Laura Underwood made the motion
to adjourn. Reed Greenwood seconded the
motion which passed by a 6-0 vote. The
meeting was adjourned at 8:03PM.