Fayetteville Board of Education
Minutes of the November 21, 2002 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 Ramay Junior High.
The roll was called and board members Shannon McCuin, Laura Underwood, Howard Hamilton, Steve Percival, Susan Heil, Malcolm McNair, and Christine Bell were present.
Fayetteville Career academy @ Bates teachers Lori Atkins, Darene Bingham, Lynn Burnett, Jonna Dodd, John Mills, Gail Sager, Nancy Smith, Donna Stephens, Wendy Westmoland, and D’Ann Whittle and UA student teacher Samantha Cooksey were named as the Above & Beyond winners for November by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.
Melva Ball and Holly David received Impact Awards of Excellence for their work with the Migrant Education program.
Alan Wilbourn announced the following early dismissal times on Friday, December 20th. The middle schools will dismiss at 12:20pm, elementary schools will dismiss at 12:30pm, and the junior and high schools will dismiss at 1:00pm.
Malcolm McNair made a motion to accept the consent agenda. Howard Hamilton seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote.
Laura Underwood made a motion to elect Steve Percival as a delegate to the Arkansas School Board Association conference in December. Christine Bell seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote.
David Hartz presented policy changes and additions that are required as a result of the Arkansas Department of Education Standards Assurance visit. The first change is to the Pupil Entrance and Transfer Policy (Policy #5111). The changes are made due to statutory changes. Malcolm McNair made a motion to adopt the changes to Policy #5111. Howard Hamilton seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote. The second change is to the Grading Policy (Policy #5124). These changes will reflect the changes in the standards of accreditation. Christine Bell made a motion to adopt the changes to Policy #5124. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote. The proposed new policy is regarding Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment. This policy in currently included in the CAP book and has been in actual practice in the district and needs to be adopted as a formal policy. Howard Hamilton made a motion to approve the addition of this policy. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote.
November 21, 2002 Board Minutes
Page 2
Dr. Lisa Morstad, chief financial officer, asked the board to approve a bonus for contracted staff members. She noted that the bonus would be consistent with Goal #1 of the district’s strategic plan, which calls for “increasing our effectiveness in recruiting and retaining quality staff.” Dr. Morstad added that the district is able to give the bonuses due to conservative budgeting practices and the defeat of Amendment 3 by voters. Certified staff members who work a 185-day contract will receive a $1,500 bones (before taxes and teacher retirement). Those certified staff members who work a shorter or longer contract will receive a pro-rated amount in addition to (or less than) the $1,500. The bonus amount will be capped at $1,900. Non-certified contracted staff members will receive a bonus equivalent to 4% of their gross salary, also with a cap of $1,900. The bonus checks will be distributed on December 2nd. Laura Underwood made a motion to approve the bonus. Shannon McCuin seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote.
Dr. Lisa Morstad asked for approval of the issuance of $1.245 million in second lien bonds. Howard Hamilton made a motion to approve the bond issuance. Christine Bell seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote.
Michelle Boles, director of federal programs and assessment, reported to the Board on the district’s progress in the state’s ACTAAP program. Ms. Boles noted that this program is linked with Goal #2 of the strategic plan to “…support …a comprehensive assessment program that prepares all students to reach their full potential.” The district scores in both the norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests how improvement over the five-year span of the program. New benchmark test will be added to the program in graded 3, 5, and 7 as well as in science.
David Hartz, director of human resources, reported that the first round of the three-year cycle for tuberculosis testing of staff members has been concluded. The second round of testing will be done on December 3. Those in the first group being tested are employees who have ten years or more of service to the district.
Dr. Lisa Morstad gave an update on the finances of the district through October 31, 2002. All revenues and expenditures for the district are on schedule.
Denise Airola, interim director of instructional services, reported that the committees to choose instructional materials for music, art, Arkansas history, business education, marketing, career orientation, general cooperative education, ESL and workforce education for K-12 will soon be meeting. The board will be asked to approve the recommendations for elementary material in January and for secondary material in March.
Page 3
Mike Gray, associate superintendent for operations, briefed the board on the upcoming formation of a committee to study the capital needs of the district. The Multiple-Year Strategic Capital Improvement Study committee will be formed in December and will include several community members, as well as district staff members. The committee’s mission will be to develop a comprehensive plan to link growth, facility, and capital resource needs with a financial strategy. The committee may explore utilization of a third party consultant to facilitate the process and to provide benchmarking information from a national perspective. The plan is for the committee to report to the Board at the January 2003 board meeting and conclude its work by the end of the 2002-03 school year.
Dr. Bobby New, superintendent, spoke briefly on the landmark Lakeview decision that was recently handed down by the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding the state’s inadequate funding of public education. Dr. New said that the decision will touch financial and adequacy issues. The work of the Blue Ribbon Commission has provided the state with a head start on making the necessary changes. Dr. New added that we must keep in mind that the student comes first.
Howard Hamilton made a motion to adjourn. Laura Underwood seconded the motion, which passed by a 7-0 vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 PM.
_________________________________________ __________________________________
Stephen M. Percival, President Christine Bell, Secretary