School board mtg Monday Aug 2 at 6:30 at the Central Office in Pittsboro

[munn5]

CHATHAM COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
PITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
WORK SESSION
 
Central Office Board Room
Monday, August 2, 2010
Items of note:
Board Priorities http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/board/priorities.html
2010-11 budget update http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/board/meetings/2009-2010/08_02_10_boemtg/Agenda%20Item-Budget%20Update%202010-2011.pdf
Preliminary dropout data http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/board/meetings/2009-2010/08_02_10_boemtg/Agenda%20Form-Prelim%20Drop%20Out8_2_10.pdf

Open Session – 5:45 p.m.
(BOE members will likely vote to adjourn to a closed session to discuss privileged matters.)
Closed Session
Open Session – 6:30 p.m.
(The public is welcome to attend this open meeting.)
I. Call to Order Chairwoman McManus
II. Closed Session
A.   Attorney/Client Discussion: 143-318.11(a)(3)
B.   Personnel: 143-318-11(a)(6)
C.   Student Records: 143-318.11(a)(1)
D.   Approval of June 21, 2010 Closed Minutes Board Members
III. Invocation & Welcome of Visitors Robert L. Logan
IV. Pledge of Allegiance Board Members
V. Adoption of Agenda [pdf | rtf] Board Members
VI. Consent Agenda Board Members
A.   Personnel Agenda (For Action)
B.   June 21, and July 19, 2010 Minutes (For Action) 
VII. Public Comments 
VIII. Superintendent's Announcements Robert L. Logan
 A.   Convocation – August 19, 2010 @ Northwood High Auditorium
B.   TOY - Retiree Banquet Date – September 23, 2010 @ Western Chatham Senior Center
C.   Parent/Student Handbook
D.   Bus Driver Orientation – August 20, 2010 @ Northwood High Auditorium
E.   Open Houses for Schools
IX. New Business
A.   Staff Wellness Activities (For Information) George Greger-Holt &
B.   Ellie Morris, School Health Liaison
C.   Policy 4100 Age Requirements For Initial Entry (For Action) Dr. Robin McCoy
D.   STARS Award Recipient (For Information) Dr. Tina S. Hester
E.   Margaret B. Pollard Middle School Construction Update (For Information) Randy Drumheller, Construction Mgr.
F.   Board Priorities for 2010-2011 (For Discussion) Board Members
G.   Budget Amendments 2009-10 (For Action) Susan J. Little
H.   Budget Update 2010-2011 (For Information ) Robert L. Logan
I.   Preliminary Drop Out Report (For Information) George Greger-Holt/Dr. Robin McCoy
X. Old Business
 A.  Do Not Resuscitate Policy (Second Reading) (For Action) Dr. Robin McCoy
 B.  Approval of AIG Plan for 2010-2013 (For Action) Dr. Robin McCoy
XI. Adjournment Chairwoman McManus

[munn5]

Meeting summary from CCS (I'll post my comments tomorrow).

The Chatham County Board of Education met on Monday, August 2, at the Central Office in Pittsboro.

CONSENT AGENDA - approved

NEW BUSINESS

Staff Wellness Activities - presented for informational purposes only

Policy 4100 Age Requirements for Initial Entry- approved

STAR Award Recipient - presented for informational purposes only, 2010-2011 STAR recipient- Erica Essex, music teacher at Moncure School

Margaret B. Pollard Middle School Construction Update  - presented for informational purposes only

Board Priorities for 2010-2011 - approved

Budget Amendments 2009-10 - approved

Budget Update 2010-2011 - presented for informational purposes only

Preliminary Drop Out Report - presented for informational purposes only

OLD BUSINESS

Do Not Resuscitate Policy - approved

Approval of Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Plan for 2010-2013 - approved

[munn5]

I made the following public comment last night - please read and take action, all of you.

I am asking the board to weigh in on the NC DOT Phase II Study Report on the US 64 Corridor. Your comments individually or as a board can be submitted to the Board of Commissioners by August 14 to be included in their response to the DOT. I have brought maps of the proposal for you to see. (see links below)

The BOC told the NCDOT last year in no uncertain terms that the potential impacts of the plan on Chatham were far too negative and not in Chatham's best interests, and that the plan should be abolished. When the NCDOT’s second study was released in April of 2010 it was clear that the commissioners’ pleas were ignored. The DOT’s goal is to provide an alternative route from Raleigh to Charlotte, with the intention of increasing traffic on US 64, no matter what the impact on Chatham County.

In the short-term (2015-2025), the proposal would turn 5 intersections on US 64 east of the bypass into U-turn “superstreets” like the new intersection in Chapel Hill on 54 at Europa Dr. At this type of intersection, you can’t drive straight through or make a right hand turn. Instead, you have to turn right, and then make a U-turn. At that point, you go straight (what would have been a direct left turn) or turn right (what would have been going straight through the intersection. The superstreet at Europa takes you about 3/10 of a mile out of your way, adds a traffic light, and almost guarantees you will have to wait at that light.

The intersections affected are Firefox Trace (just east of where the bypass starts), Mt. Gilead Church/Pea Ridge, Big Woods/Seaforth, Farrington/Beaver Creek (Wilsonville), and NC 751/New Hill. All other access points on to US 64 and all other crossovers would potentially be eliminated. This would add 7 new traffic lights to US 64 east of Pittsboro.

Given that all of our schools (even in the long-range plans) are west of the lake and north of 64, this will significantly impact travel times of the students who already have the longest bus rides in the county. I believe it will also affect the safety, since many buses will have to be on US 64 for a longer period of time since there will be fewer access points and because of the added distance required by the U-turns. Because of the longer travel times, it will also increase the cost of transportation for our system.

The long-term plan (2025-2035) would eliminate the access at Firefox Trace, and turn the other 4 intersections into cloverleafs, turning US 64 into a complete controlled-access freeway. This will be even worse for our students, leading to longer bus rides on a freeway with even more traffic.
Both the short-term and long-term plans would also limit the potential location of a new elementary school, which will be needed east of Pittsboro in this time-frame.

I think this is a bad idea for a lot of reasons, not just because of the negative effect on the school system, but also because of the impact on emergency response time, access to recreational facilities at Jordan Lake, and access to the small businesses that cater to Jordan Lake visitors. The DOT is considering the needs of Wake County, and ignoring the needs and the character of Chatham County.

I ask that you as a board at next week’s meeting approve a resolution against the proposed changes to US 64. Your opposition, in addition to the commissioners’, would show DOT that the county is unified against the proposal.

Notes:
Individuals can send comments to Melissa Guilbeau, the county’s Sustainability Transportation Planner Melissa.Guilbeau@chathamnc.org by August 14 for inclusion in the Chatham County Commissioners submission to DOT.
Short-term maps http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/tpb/SHC/pdf/US64_Corridor_Study_Report_Short_Term.pdf
Long-term maps
http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/tpb/SHC/pdf/US64_Corridor_Study_Report_Long_Term.pdf
Executive summary
http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/tpb/SHC/pdf/US64_Corridor_Study_Report_Executive_Summary.pdf

(The board agreed that they want a resolution/letter to send to approve at next week's board meeting.)

[munn5]

There was a fair amount of discussion about the standard district handbook, which is currently being reviewed by the lawyers. The athletic participation form (included in the handbook) goes farther than the NCHSAA rules, and there is some board concern that it goes too far, even though Mr. Logan said the language was approved by all ADs and coaches. The board requested to see the handbook before it is distributed. Each school has a separate handbook, but the district handbook includes all the legal language, statutes, and board policies, as well as forms. Mr. Logan said that he asks each principal to send him the school handbook, but that no one looks at them. Ms. McManus asked for copies so she could read them. The district handbook will be on the district website, and each school handbook will be on each school's website.

The STAR award (with a $1,000 gift) winner is Ms. Erica Essex, music teacher at Moncure. The award goes to a teacher who works with students outside of class to raise their achievement. Ms. Essex was appreciative, but said she was just doing her job.

Pollard construction - building is 83% complete, 78% of funds spent. Only $70K in change orders (that is very little!). It is still tracking to complete in late Nov. The developer is working on improvements to Andrews Store Rd, with a target of Oct. Then the DOT will do work, which will likely last until May.

The board decided to add a priority to its strategic plan priorities - that high schools will graduate all students in 4 years. Strategies will include expanding AVID methodologies of highlighting and prereading.

There were a few small budget amendments for 2009-10 to reflect revenues late in June.

[munn5]

Budget update for 2010-11

The state discretionary cuts are $206.53 per student - using an ADM of 7795, that means a cut of $1,609,926 for Chatham. That is equal to 29 positions and 13,534 from non-instructional support category. Last year, the cut was $1.2M or $152.60 per student.

We are receiving $2,179,034 in federal subsidies (ARRA funds), an increase over the $1.9M last year. There are a lot of strings attached to this money, particularly if it is used for non-personnel reasons (competitive bidding using the federal computer system for any purchase over $5k, for example), so it is being used primarily to fund positions. DPI has approved of the way the district has moved funding around.

For 2011-12, the district is planning on a state cut of the same size, $1,609,926, as well as the loss of the $3.352,846 in ARRA funds (I know, that doesn't add up from the previous paragraph - I'm just transcribing my notes). Those 2 amounts total $4,962,772 which at this point is the expected shortfall in the budget for next year. The governor's early budget could include a state cut of $4,656,209 for Chatham. Add that to the loss of federal funds, and we could be facing an $8 million dollar shortfall in next year's budget. There is no where to cut the budget $5-8 million, except large cuts in staff. The district has cut $4.6 million in the past 2 years, with no layoffs (only reductions through retirement or other voluntary means). THERE WILL BE CUTS IN TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF IN 2011-12, UNLESS THE ECONOMY IMPROVES DRAMATICALLY.

(This is why I was so against committing funds for iPads - we know we are going to be cutting staff in 2011-12, so I don't want to commit funds to technology that will lead to more teachers losing their jobs.)

The state is in essence charging back for last year's usage of the NC Virtual Public School. The district was charged $108,741. If usage increases, that amount will likely increase next year.

[munn5]

There was a very preliminary report on the 2009-10 dropouts. http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/board/meetings/2009-2010/08_02_10_boemtg/Agenda%20Form-Prelim%20Drop%20Out8_2_10.pdf The state includes the first 20 days of the next school year in the rate, so if students don't return to school the numbers will go up (and if they do return, the number will go down).

School	2009-10	2008-09
Chatham Central	13	28
Jordan Matthews	39	46
Northwood	38	45
SAGE	11	15
District	101	134

There were 61 males and 40 females. 28 were in grade 9, 26 in grade 10, 33 in grade 11, and 14 in grade 12.

The numbers have gone up and down - 2001-02 was 126, 2002-03 105, 2003-04 124, 2004-05 108, 2005-06 90, 2006-07 112, 2001-08 92.

The most common reason given for dropping out was that the student was going to go to community college (35 students). Second was attendance (though there are many reasons for lack of attendance - 30 students). The reason for 10 students was unknown (didn't get a response) with other reasons in the single digits.

Mr. Gregor-Holt followed up with the community college and found that 32 of the students contacted the college, 9 are currently enrolled, 10 enrolled and dropped out, 7 have earned an adult HS diploma, 1 earned a GED, 2 moved, and 3 plan to attend in the fall.

There does seem to be an interested correlation between the number of short-term suspensions and the number of dropouts - when there are more suspensions the dropouts increase, and when there are fewer dropouts decrease.

From the DPI website,
 A dropout is an individual who
    * was enrolled in school at some time during the reporting year;
    * was not enrolled on day 20 of the current year;
    * has not graduated from high school or completed a state or district approved educational program; and does not meet any of the following reporting exclusions:
         1. transferred to another public school district, private school, home school or state/district approved educational program,
         2. temporarily absent due to suspension or school approved illness, or
         3. death.

Mr. Gregor-Holt did not know the calculation for dropout rate (which won't be available until well after the 20th day of school), but the DPI website gives it:
STEP 1: Include all cases of reported dropouts (grades 9-12) in the numerator.
STEP 2: To determine the denominator,
• include the twentieth day membership for the reporting (previous) year;
• from this membership, subtract the number of initial enrollees present on day 20 (FM20s) and add the current year's twentieth day membership;
• divide by two; then add the numerator to this average.
STEP 3: Calculate a rate by dividing the numerator by the denominator; round off to the nearest one hundredth for a grade 9-12 dropout rate.

Numerator = Total Number of Dropouts
Denominator = [(20th Day Membership 2008-09 - FM20s + 20th Day Membership
2009-10) / 2 ] + Numerator

[munn5]

Ms. Clark gave an update on the AIG plan. http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/board/meetings/2009-2010/08_02_10_boemtg/Agenda%20item-AIG%20Plan.pdf

The committee did meet again to see the plan, and made some adjustments. A focus was added on monitoring. The AIG plan monitoring will be included in each school's School Improvement Plan.

[munn5]

Board members had several questions/observations for Mr. Logan.

Ms. McManus asked about how teachers learn about benefits. There is a presentation yearly on the cafeteria benefits (more than half signed up for dental, which was not district-paid this year). For other benefits (annuities, etc.), it is up to principals to schedule presentations. Ms. Little provides a list of approved vendors. She will send an email to all employees about what is available, and post on the district website.

Ms. McManus asked about cuts in teacher assistants - 2 principals told her they were told to eliminate the media assistant. The board had asked that principal's have discretion on what assistant positions to cut. Mr. Logan said (and was backed up by the June 2 minutes) that the state had directed that classroom positions had to be protected, and that he had told the board that all the media assistants would be eliminated. (People were reshuffled to other jobs.)

Mr. O'Brien raised the issue that the iPad proposal was sent to the commissioners before the school board voted on it. Mr. Logan said that he was trying to expedite the approval based on when the commissioners' meeting was, but agreed that the proper order was for the school board to approve and then make a request to the commissioners. He said that this wasn't the first time the commissioners voted on something before the school board. The two chairs (Deb McManus and Sally Kost) will try to coordinate better. (Note: the school board meeting was a week later than normal, on the same night as the commissioners needed to vote. Mr. Logan made that meeting schedule.)

Mr. Leonard requested that agendas be reordered, so that people who are attending the meeting to make a presentation are first on the agenda.

[munn5]

The main items on next week's agenda are a presentation on transportation for 2010-11 and a comprehensive construction update (maintenance projects). The board also asked (earlier in this meeting) to review/approve the district handbook.

In September, the meeting agendas will be heavier, with reports on student data.

There was a little discussion on the Superintendant evaluation instrument that was piloted in some districts last year. Mr. Hamm said he was told that some boards had to add 4 meetings to cover all the steps and materials required by the evaluation. Mr. Logan had also heard that the work required of the superintendant was extensive. He also said the the teacher and principal evaluations require hours of work on both sides.

Ms. McManus asked for a presentation at some point on Response to Intervention.

[rickrack]

We're going to graduate all students in four years by expanding the use of highlighting and pre-reading?  Really?  seriously?

I'm all for graduating all kids in four years, that would be awesome, but do we really think kids are dropping out for want of a highlighter?

[munn5]

We're going to graduate all students in four years by expanding the use of highlighting and pre-reading?  Really?  seriously?

I'm all for graduating all kids in four years, that would be awesome, but do we really think kids are dropping out for want of a highlighter?

It is really a focus of study skills (which, when I was growing up, we focused on in 4th-6th grade) - learning how to determine what's important, how to take notes or mark up a text so that you can review it in a meaningful way later.

I'm sure that won't be the only strategy, but (I think) it is a part of the AVID methodology - teaching kids organization, time management, and study skills so they can be more successful. All of the middle school and high school teachers have had AVID training, so that kids will hear a consistent message throughout middle and high school.

[Silk_Hope]

I am glad to see they are addressing the needs and goals of the AIG program, IMO it has always been treated like the red headed step child.

[truedemocrat]

I am glad to see they are addressing the needs and goals of the AIG program, IMO it has always been treated like the red headed step child.

I think AIG programs (or whatever other school systems in the US call it) across the country are the "red-headed step children" of the educational system. 

From an August 2007 Time Magazine article:

American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs. But it can't make sense to spend 10 times as much to try to bring low-achieving students to mere proficiency as we do to nurture those with the greatest potential.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1653653,00.html

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