Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:15:32 -0400
From: Mia Munn
Subject: My notes from the July 21, 2014 CCS School board meeting
Sorry this was delayed:
New format – closed session at the end of open session. Meeting started just after noon. Two community members (Angela Millsaps and myself) were in attendance.
Agenda
http://board-of-education.district.chatham.k12.nc.us/modules/groups/group_pages.phtml?gid=3618610&nid=444310&sessionid=35c5561d77a5e4df772410aa61fab29e
*Consent agenda approved*
*Code of Student Conduct *
Review of policies – multiple policies, changes in laws
Revision, new format with infractions in Levels 1-5, clarifies expectations, easier to follow for students, parents, admin. Lots of discussion in preparing these changes, particularly around proposed consequences – principals can deviate. Insure common standards and compliance.
Replaces other policies – would need to rescind those policies.
Hamm – I brought up school bus – glad that they are separate – but some offenses may need school consequences as well as bus consequences.
Turner – K-5 consequences too much
Hamm – bus consquences have to be quicker and more severe – bus is moving down the road, behind driver’s back. Privilege.
Turner – not privilege – required to provide bus transportation.
Howard – getting student to school is on parents not students
Turner – why not put second adult on bus. Some students won’t comply. Anything that makes them miss school is too much.
Hamm – parents legal responsibility to get them to school
Jordan – already hardship finding bus drivers – not having strong consequences will make more difficult.
Jordan – atypical to give suggested consequences for specific offenses – more districts don’t have. We have had to increase consistency.
Hamm – if deviate, then next parent will complain
Jordan – counsel said to make sure principals understand aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Every tweak has been around suggested consquences.. Levels have maximum consequences. More problems if spell out consequences – clear that there can be deviations. Within school, needs to have consistency.
Turner – K doesn’t understand in the same way – same consequences for different grades?
Jordan – laborious to break out for every grade. Principal has discretion to take into consideration (K less understanding of breaking rule).
Leonard – move to rescind policies.
*Approved 4-0*
Leonard – move waive first reading and adopt student code of conduct.
*Approved 4-0*
*Schedule for Supt Evaluation schedule and process* – from attorney based on state rubric with 2 small tweaks
July 30 – discuss initial thoughts on goals. Then before Sept mtg – self-assessment. Sept mtg, set goals for year.
*Approved 4-0*
*Graduation requirements*
Four areas of changes
P 2-5 – tables (clarify state requirement and CCS requirement)
Language in red – college and career promise – give HS credit for college course (in college and career promise pathway)
P 1-2 – seat time – state board no longer requiring seat time – share more info later – credit through demonstrated mastery – district can grant credit – doesn’t contribute to gpa. Native language speakers, very advanced students. Putting together team to define process (state doesn’t have all of the particulars)
Jordan – NCPVS didn’t require seat time
Access more rigourous coursework
P 6 – EOC – no longer require score of 3 to get course credit. State tests 20% of grade (in past, CCS was higher than state – 25%)
P 7 – diploma endorsements – focus area/pathway – addition to diploma – don’t have info from state. Not required to have endorsement to graduate.
For mastery – student passes test and does project.
Howard – mastery – how express intent?
In Orange – pilot district. Process – have to apply to go through (end of semester before) . Same requirements across district. Timeframe to complete test and project. Guidelines around courses exempt from process.
*Approved. 4-0*
(Howard called for a vote, took the vote, then asked for discussion)
Del – we are graduating people that don’t have mastery. Take a test – give them the test, give them the answers.
Hartness – Credit by mastery process is Rigorous –Orange had to get 94%, and then do project. State board requirement that we offer option.
Hamm – in Orange how many?
Hartness – Only in Foreign language native speakers– 4 apply, 2 passed test, zero passed project. Harder than they expected
Jordan – came from DPI AIG dept – initially, many kids think they can get credit without course, but most realize they can’t – exceptional students.
Hamm – like early admin to K – only handful state wide.
*Reg 7510R Education Leave for employees*
Previous allowed employee for only a short time – now licensed employees have to have been employed 5 years, and have to be enrolled full-time.
Previously – can’t be in consecutive years – now, only in exceptional circumstances (principal academy)
Jordan – reward long-term employees. Instance in past year – newer employee, hard to fill position.
Regulation doesn’t require approval – but want board feedback.
Howard – good idea. Benefit to employee/investment.
Jordan – love the word “investment†.
*Regulation 5030R – community use of facilities*
Worked on for several months – policy match practice (and practice match policy).
Blice – discussions on request to waive fees. Need to have requirement for timeline (so not after the fact). If waive – 45 day notice. Embedded in regulation and application.
Howard – paper applications?
Electronic – school fills it out and submits.
Hamm – what if submit late, 42 days? Admin wants to hear that board will back.
Jordan – can appeal.
Turner – why 45 not 30
Blice – timeline – can’t request space more than 60 days in advance. Need to have time for board meeting.
Turner – fee if cancel?
No cancellation fee. Not sure if application fee is refundable.
Turner – think there should be. What if several groups want at same time. Group miss out. Limit ourselves if don’t have cancellation fee.
Howard – app fee is indication intend to go forward. Bad taste – looks like we are a money making enterprise.
Turner – I get it – we’re not looking to make money..
Jordan – to even break even, substantially increase. With 45 days – if thought enough in advance, not fly by night or in conflict with intent of policy.
*Fee Schedule for community use of facilities*
Comparison with other districts
(Jordan – always asks staff “have we benchmarked?†)
Didn’t look at Wake (not comparable). CHCCS, Harnett, Lee, Orange, Moore, Randolph) – lots of variation.
Generally lower than everyone but Randolph – look to be middle of the road. Recoup costs and keep facilities in good shape.
Hamm – is $25/hour enough for lights at football field?
Messer – varies school to school.
Jordan – have allowed use of theater lights – blown bulbs fall back to district. Sound system has a certain lifetime.
Hamm – sound board – usually students run. Do students get paid? (Y)
Is $25/hr custodian/supervisor – if that enough?
Blice – had been vetted previously.
Messer – y. would cover – gets normal hourly rate.
Jordan – have heard that some groups couldn’t afford to use..
Leonard – concerned about doubling (everything but app fee and classrooms) – message sending to community. When our students/community uses – win/win situation for schools. Need to do better job at school level policing (if don’t take care – don’t rent to that group).
Jordan – policy said “bring suggestions for changes to fee structure annually†– last time was several years ago. No “right’ answer – look at neighbors and stay in the middle (or on low side).
Staff will live with whatever board decides. Obligated to maintain facilities.
Leonard – if says look at every year – then could modify next year.
Jordan – (lunch prices – increase more than minimum, so don’t have to increase every year.)
Hamm – move non-profit from $50 to $35, and increase to $50 next year. Leave for-profit.
Turner – $30 and damage deposit?
Howard – how much? Could be a lot more.
Hamm – damage deposit wouldn’t cover glass backboard.
Jordan – concessions – eliminate (like other districts) – stock and health inspections.
Blice – can’t nail down cost of lighting.
Jordan – not required to bring back every year now, but we could.
*Revised schedule (non-profit $50 lowered to $35) – approved 4-0.*
(Howard called for a vote, took the vote, then asked for discussion)
Reconsider when implement – what if someone applied tomorrow and wanted waiver, but within 45 days.
Hamm – could apply – in transition.
Jordan – feels less clean.
Howard – do we delay for-profit as well?
Applications submitted on or after September 1 –
*Motion to revisit approval of fees – approved 4-0*
*Motion to make new fee schedules effective Sept 1. Approved 4-0*
*Waiver of rental fees *
Jordan – Mr. Blice address use of lights. Should we waive cost of using lights?
Leonard – don’t waive lights
Howard – request waiver of specific things or all fees?
Blice – just general – discovering as try to refine rules.
*Leonard – motion to approve (including lights) *
*Approved – 4-0*
Jordan – Add to regulation – no light waivers in future (in consensus)
*YMCA Memorandum of Understanding*
Reviewed – on summer Fridays, allowed Y to use. Charge $60 utility fee for Fridays – not in MOU. Needed to do. Y folks have no concerns.
Hamm – do in June before summer (haven’t done recent years)
*Approved 4-0*
*Rescind logo discussion*
Received feedback after May meeting when adopted logo. Changes have cost. $5-15K. Continue, or step back, and look at logo again. Will keep logo 10 years or more. Require marketing. Want it to say “world class schools†. Slightly different or completely different direction.
Howard – which cheaper?
Stay with adopted (and revise). Cleanup – or look at new firm or new bunch of logos with different starting point.
Business cards, letterhead, etc – costs associated with rollout.
Hamm – concerned that reopen after 4-0 vote *(NOTE: vote was 3-1, Turner against)*. Accepted with potential changes to colors or font. Shocked they are charging for those minor changes. There are cheaper alternatives (friend with new business- $300 for 500 alternatives).
Jordan – not just minor tweaks. Colors – we have exhausted a number of color combinations. Nothing says “world-class†– says courthouse, tower, busy.
Request to include courthouse from EDC.
Howard – we had a process. Survey. Vote. Fix what was adopted.
Hamm – how many times vote till get it right?
Howard – Jordan got feedback.
Turner – design doesn’t meet requirement of job – CCS schools – courthouse doesn’t say that
Leonard – we need to get there – spending
Compass 47% survey, selected – 43%.
Leonard – if accept one of 2 – only a little money to cleanup. If new one, lots of money.
Need to be on website, paper, color and b&W – complicated.
Howard – stick with what approved –
Jordan story of parts of logo (describing) – don’t get from just looking at it
Hamm – can we get price estimated?
Jordan – get more info, and bring back July 30? What changes wanted?
Howard – don’t like font. Make compass more clear. Colors. Tell them expect <$5k. Start with compass version – change font (to font on others), make compass more identifiable. Show Haw River Christian Academy logo so it is not as similar. For courthouse – make less busy – (remove shield, make book smaller?) Or go forward with what voted on? Howard – rescind prior decision and go with compass. *Approved – 3-1 (Hamm opposed)* *Adjourn to closed session* – items included personnel agenda (I didn’t stay). Approved Personnel agenda http://board-of-education.district.chatham.k12.nc.us/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=3618610&fid=25917358&sessionid=5a4536036a40b83c9e105e38624b599d Angie Brady-Andrews named new principal of Silk Hope. http://district.chatham.k12.nc.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/2394738/File/Angie%20Brady-Andrew%20-%20SHS.htm Silk Hope AP Toomer named new AP at Northwood. Philip Little was also named new AP at Northwood. Effective dates to be determined. -- Mia Munn Candidate for Chatham County (NC) School Board District 3 Email me your school or campaign concerns at Mia4Chatham at gmail.com My campaign website is Mia4chatham.com