Board of Education Meeting Summary – Sept. 8, 2008

Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 15:34:32 -0400
From: Gene Galin
Subject: Board of Education Meeting Summary – Sept. 8, 2008

The Chatham County Board of Education met at the central office on Monday, September 8.

Good News
Dr. Robin McCoy, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, shared data from the 2008 SAT results.  (See the district’s online press release from 8/25/08 for details.)

Superintendent Robert Logan gave the Board an update on student membership through today, the tenth day of the school year.  The district currently has 7731 students in kindergarten through grade twelve, 100 less students than projected. Logan noted that area charter school enrollment has increased which may account for the difference in students enrolled
versus projected.

McCoy noted last week’s Algebra I curriculum guide training.

New Business
The Board approved a bid for advanced site work for the new middle school in the Briar Chapel development.

Susan Little, Chief Operating Officer, presented the capital outlay budget reconciliation that the Board approved.

The Board approved the following fundraiser requests submitted by schools:
o   Scholastic Book Fair ($1.00 -$50.00) – Bonlee Elementary School
o   Students submit family and friends addresses for magazine subscriptions to Computers in Education (no sales involved
by students) – Bonlee Elementary School
o   Chicken tender suppers to benefit 8th grade class trips ($5.00 per plate) – Bonlee Elementary School
o   8th Graders Love Lines for Yearbook ($10.00) – J.S. Waters School
o   Yearbook Fall Pre-Sale ($20.00) Spring Sale ($25.00) – J.S. Waters School
o   Picture Sales throughout year (varies by package) – J.S. Waters School
o   Scholastic Book Fair (.39 – $29.99) – J.S. Waters School
o   Fall/Spring Pictures ($20.00-$35.00) – Pittsboro Elementary School
o   Yearbook Sale ($25.00) – Pittsboro Elementary School
o   4th and 5th grade classes at Siler City Elementary will be providing lunch to the teachers of Siler City Elementary on Required Workdays.  Students’ families will donate the items needed for the lunches and 4th and 5th grade teachers, students and families will help prepare and serve SCE teachers.  Cafeteria manager at SCE, in kind donation of her time, will prepare the food items for use  ($5.00 per plate) – Siler City Elementary School
o   Make & sell buttons & soap (.50 – $2.00 each) – Northwood High School
o   Collect & recycle used ink cartridges to Eco Phones (school receives profit from collections) – Northwood High School
o   Acting Ensemble will take a trip to visit the theatre district of London, England.  The students will travel with
several chaperones to London for 6 days.  Money for this trip will be raised through fundraising, PTSA Thrift Shop work
hours and student contributions. ($2500 for the trip per student)-Northwood High School
o   Selling Century Pride (cheeses & sausage), & Century Rich (chocolates)-(selling price per item
$5.00-$10.00)-Northwood High School
o   Jr. Cheer Camp for ages 4-14 (11/1/08 & 5/2/09) (selling price $30.00)-Northwood High School
o   Sell advertisements to fund printing of newspaper (varies due to size and number purchased)-Jordan-Matthews High
School
o   Fall & Spring pictures with Lifetouch (varies by package) – Paul Braxton
o   Homecoming Dance-($5.00 per ticket)-Chatham Central High
o   Fall/Spring Pictures ($14.00-$45.00) – Horton Middle School
o   Yearbook Sale ($30.00-$35.00) – Horton Middle School

Logan shared information about the state ABCs accountability bonuses.  The state reduced the bonus amounts from previous
years by approximately thirty percent.  Certain staff in schools that met expected growth or high growth on the 2007-08
ABCs scores are eligible for the bonuses.  533 certified teachers and 180 teacher assistants in Chatham County Schools
are eligible for bonuses.  Like the majority of districts across the state, the Board decided it is not able to commit
additional local funds to make up the $152,491.37 difference in the bonus amount as it does not have a fully reconciled
budget.  The Board asked Logan to draft a letter to legislators about its displeasure at the state budget constraints
affecting these bonuses.

The Board discussed flag etiquette related to flags flown at its schools.  The Board voted to purchase American and
state flags for all schools.

Old Business
The Board approved a contract for Chatham New School that was discussed at previous meetings.

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