The Smyth County School Board met today in a regular meeting at 5:00 P.M., in the board meeting room, 121 Bagley Circle, Suite 300, Marion, Virginia.
Chairperson Hall called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.
The roll was called by the clerk, and the following members were present: Laura Hall, Roger Nipper, Jesse Choate, Charles Doane, Jerry Catron, and Kimberly Clark. Susan Sneed was absent.
Pursuant to § 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, on motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Mr. Nipper, by 6-0 vote, a closed meeting was declared for the purpose of discussing the following: personnel issues as authorized by § 2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia.
On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Mr. Nipper, by 6-0 vote, closed session ended.
WHEREAS, the Smyth County School Board has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative-recorded vote in accordance with the provision of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and
WHEREAS, § 2.2-3712(D) of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this school board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia Law:
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Smyth County School Board, by roll call, hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia Law were discussed and (ii) only such public business as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered.
VOTE: Ayes: 6, Nays: 0. Ms. Sneed was absent.
On motion by Mr. Catron, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the agenda was removed from the consent agenda and amended as follows: item IX. J. Adjourn - change to continuing this meeting on either Tuesday, July 31, 2007, or Thursday, August 2, 2007, to consider personnel.
On motion by Mr. Catron, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the following was approved.
There were no informational reports included from the superintendent.
Brandon Ratliff, Principal of Marion Middle School, introduced Ferris Ellis, a seventh grader. Ferris's honors algebra score from Johns Hopkins University was the highest in Virginia this year.
No other students or employees were present for presentations or recognitions. Attendance recognitions will continue again in the fall.
No citizens were present to speak during public comment.
Elizabeth Ballard, Business Decision Support Analyst, reviewed revenue, expenditures, and cash flow figures for the month of June, 2007, fiscal year 2006-2007.
Dr. Robinson updated the board on the Efficiency Study progress report.
Mrs. Hall updated the board on the A. Linwood Holton Governor's School meeting she had attended in June.
There were no questions from any of the board members.
The board considered bids for waste disposal. On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the bid from Allied Waste at a rate of $2,919.30 monthly for the 2007-2008 school year.
On motion by Mr. Nipper, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the board approved Chilhowie High School, Marion Senior High School, and Northwood High School for 2007-2008 membership in the Virginia High School League.
The board considered actions in regards to the 2007-2008 Anthem Health and Dental Insurance coverage. Mr. Doane reported on the Insurance Committee's meeting held prior to the board meeting and their recommendation. On motion by Mr. Doane, seconded by Mr. Catron, by 6-0 vote, the board approved using the full rate stabilization fund balance to reduce the amount of increase in rates, freezing enrollment in Key Care 300, and renewing health and dental insurance with Anthem.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Nipper, by 6-0 vote, the board approved Virginia Highlands Community College's request to use one (1) bus and one (1) driver for Virginia Highlands Community College's Summer Tech Prep Camp for middle school students on July 23-26, 2007.
The board considered bids for the Facility Study. On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Mr. Doane, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the bid from MGT of America, Inc., Olympia, Washington, in the amount of $132,570.00 as recommended by the superintendent. They will provide a presentation for the board at the August 13, 2007, meeting.
The board considered compensation for one (1) teacher at Chilhowie High School (Spanish) and up to two (2) teachers (English and Spanish) at Marion Senior High School to teach an additional section. On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the additional compensation for these teachers.
The board considered capital improvement recommendations to be presented to the Smyth County Board of Supervisors and a request to the Board of Supervisors to use $1,495,000.00 of the remaining fund balance from the 2006-2007 school year to be used for capital improvements. On motion by Mr. Catron, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the capital improvements to be presented to the Board of Supervisors by the superintendent.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the board accepted the following resignations:
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Nipper, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the following:
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 5-0 vote, the board approved the following transfers. Mr. Doane abstained.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Nipper, by 6-0 vote, the board hired Matt Blevins as a full-time bus driver to replace Jeff Powers.
On motion by Mr. Catron, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the meeting was continued until Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 5:00 P.M., at the school board office.