Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:10:38 -0500
From: Mia Munn
Subject: Notes from Feb 3, 2014 School board meeting
My notes from the February 3, 2014 school board meeting.
I got to meeting late (6:35)
Northwood student spoke during public comments about the excessive amount of work in honors courses.
Parent/student left after public comment.
1 community member was in attendance, plus John Hunter from the newspaper for part of the meeting
Good news –
· Ms. Lashonda Hester principal at Pollard introduced
· MS bball tournament at JS Waters 2/17-21 (dates changed because of weather)
· Employee recognition program shared during retreat is launched – some nominations received
· Budget survey complete – 1300 responses. Data being analyzed. Presentation at future mtg
Snow day schedule – 1025 hours OR 185 days. CCS is 1025 – allows more flexibility for weather. Stayed within threshold even with days out – built in cushion at every school (have had some power outages at schools). Historically, have had snow days in March, so need cushion. Would not need additional makeup days unless 2 more days/hours are missed.
1. Use February 14th and March 7th (already approved by the BOE as a part of the current calendar) as student make – up days.
2. Change April 11 th from an early release day to a full day.
3. Add additional make – up options. (Saturdays, April 14-17, June 11)
This proposal allows us to meet the minimum number of required hours with time to spare. If we don’t miss any other days this year, this plan would allow us to avoid using Saturdays and would not affect Spring Break.
Order of make-up days is not necessarily the priority order.
Approved
Snow makeup For staff:
1. Change January 22, 2014 from a required workday to an optional workday.
2. Designate January 29, 2014 as an annual vacation leave day.
3. Change April 21, 2013 from an annual vacation leave day to an optional workday.
“This proposal allows us to fulfill the requirement of G.S. 115 -C-84.2 to include a minimum of 10 annual vacation leave days in the calendar.”
Jan 29 – why designate that as annual leave? Policy 7550 indicates that when school district is closed, can’t allow staff to use as workday. On optional workdays, can come in, take annual leave, other leave, make up
time missed, or take unpaid.
Ask to waive 7550 for 1/22 to allow staff maximum flexibility to make up – approved
Approve change of 1/29 to annual vacation
More flexibility than many districts – don’t want anyone in harms way.
Substitution of Counsel for Central Carolina Community College
Board law firm may have conflict of interest. If proceed with lawsuit, need alternate counsel. Selected firm use same fee structure.
KH – benefits of staying in lawsuit v risks (can’t advise)
Could not hear lawyer’s comments – except she suggested it be moved to the end after closed session discussion.
Amended agenda to move to the end.
AMOs
Who are our students?
Slide 2 (10 month #s)
Monitor ELL for 2 years after exit services
ACCESS – test given by 33 states
3 ways
1. Grow composite by 0.5
2. Change level
3. Reading, writing, listening, speaking. Need to meet 3 goals (composite of 4.8, AND at least 4 in both Reading and Writing.
Students should exit within 5 years
Proficiency and participation in regular tests
Haven’t meet all 3 – usually 2 of 3, but different
Changed approach of funding/support based on what each school needed
This year met all 3
Proficiency15.8% goal 13.5%
Progress – 57.1% (equal to goal)
5% increase
6 schools 10% increase
3 schools 5% increase
Only Asheboro and Lee also met of neighbors
Challenge
Students dual identified as EC
Paste slide text
Audit contract accepted
Quarterly financials
Kudos to everyone involved in this year’s budget process – numbers line up very well.
Right at 50% remaining for state and local funds. Federal at 61% remaining (usually come in later, and need to carryover into school year.)
Highest expenditures are the usual – teachers and transportation.
Old business – 25% contracts
106 slots. Identify teachers eligible for opportunity. Teachers will return applications (have to agree to accept). If 106 or fewer, then all get (and no additional offered). If more, then board will need to make decisions on who offered. Other districts don’t think they will be able to fill all slots, but based on survey of teachers, we believe we will have teachers willing to accept the 4 years contract/bonus/no tenure.~ 43% said they would accept. Some have said definitively yes to get the raise, others definitively no. Unfortunate that we have been put in this position.
Return to closed session
Agenda with attachments
http://board-of-education.
Mia Munn
Candidate for Chatham County (NC) School Board District 3
Email me your school or campaign concerns at MiaMunnforChathamSchoolBoard
at gmail.com or check my Facebook campaign page
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