Fayetteville Board of Education
Minutes of the
November 15, 2001 Regular Meeting
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 Fayetteville High School, East Campus.
The roll was called and board members Shannon McCuin, Laura Underwood, Steve Percival, Susan Heil and Christine Bell were present. Board member Malcolm McNair arrived after roll was called.
Alan Wilbourn announced that West Campus graduation will be held on Thursday, December 13th at 7:00PM at the Jones Center. The December Board of Education will be on Thursday, December 20th. Also, elementary schools will be dismissed at 12:30PM on Friday, December 21st. Middle schools, junior highs, and high schools will be dismissed at 1:00PM on that day.
Christine Bell made a motion to accept the consent agenda. Susan Heil seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Dick Johnson proposed changes to Policy #5130. The changes will bring the district policy into compliance with new changes in guidelines from the Arkansas Department of Education, which now supervises extracurricular activities. The previous policy was developed under guidelines from the Arkansas Activities Association, which monitored extracurricular activities at that time.
Laura Underwood made a motion to approve the changes to Policy #5130. Susan Heil seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Roy Karr presented an offer for twelve acres of land from Mr. and Mrs. Bill Meadows. The land is adjacent to the Stonebridge Golf Club in southeastern Fayetteville and would be used for the future construction of a new elementary school.
Laura Underwood made a motion to accept the offer of the twelve acres in principle subject to negotiation with the Meadows. Christine Bell seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote. The final legal contract will be brought back to the board for approval after negotiations are completed.
Christine Bell nominated Susan Heil as a delegate to the ASBA meeting in Little Rock on Thursday, December 6th. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
Dr. Lisa Morstad asked the board to approve the final contract with Educators Preferred Corporation (EPC) to administer a one-time Employee Severance Plan. School district attorney Rudy Moore has reviewed the contract and made a few minor changes, which were accepted by Tim Bell from EPC. Laura Underwood made a motion to approve the contract. Shannon McCuin seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.
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Susan Cromwell discussed the new Student & Faculty Computer Use Policy (Policy #4202). Included in the new policy are changes that are required as a result of federal and state legislation. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is the main piece of federal legislation governing computer usage in the schools. Rudy Moore has reviewed the policy. It will also be reviewed by PPC. Ms. Cromwell will bring the policy to the Board for final approval in December.
Dr. Lisa Morstad informed the board that the pending budge cuts from the state will cost the district as much as $1.5 million, if not more. Dr. Morstad added that the state Board of Education will be responsible for deciding which categories of funding will be cut. Superintendent Dr. Bobby New added that the school district will not be hiring any new positions and will not be making any large capital expenditures as initial steps toward conservative spending.
Dr. Morstad then presented the monthly financial report to the board.
Alan Wilbourn reported to the Board on progress made on Strategic Plan Goal #6, which calls for the school district to “develop a coordinated system to build and maintain community partnerships with businesses, organizations, and individuals.” Mr. Wilbourn outlined the current district-level communication and partnership activities, as well as several new initiatives in both areas that the district is pursuing.
Barbara Prichard, director of Gifted and Talented Education, reported to the Board on the progress the program has made in the last year. She announced that the Fayetteville program was recently selected as one of the 19 programs nationally recognized for the exemplary accomplishment of national standards. Fayetteville is the only program in Arkansas that is represented. She added that students in the Advanced Placement program continue to fare will when compared to their counterparts both in the state and region.
After Citizen Participation, Malcolm McNair made a motion to adjourn. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:08PM.