The Smyth County School Board met today for a called meeting at 6:00 p.m., in the board meeting room, 121 Bagley Circle, Suite 300, Marion, Virginia. The purpose of this meeting was to close-out the 2007 fiscal year, conduct a policy work session, and enter closed session to discuss personnel issues. A Retiree Appreciation Reception was held prior to the called meeting at 5:00 p.m.
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, Jesse Choate, Susan Sneed, Charles Doane, Jerry Catron, and Kimberly Clark. Roger Nipper was absent.
Pursuant to § 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, on motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Ms. Sneed, 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 Mrs. Clark, 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. Mr. Nipper was absent.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the agenda was approved with the following changes: add item IV. D. Mrs. Hall to read a letter from a retiree; move item V. F. Consider approving final invoices for 2006-2007 school year to item V. H.; move item V. G. A request for the use of two buses and one bus driver by the Appalachian Girl Scout Council to item V. F.; move item V. H. Action on closed session items to item V. G.; add item V. I. Consider nominations for the VSBA All Virginia School Board; and make item V. I. Adjourn item V. J.
Dr. Robinson announced the 2008 Teachers of the Year and the 2008 Smyth County Teacher of the Year. They are as follows:
| Atkins Elementary School | Shirley Pratt |
| Chilhowie Elementary School | Misty Boardwine |
| Marion Intermediate School | J. Vincent Groseclose |
| Marion Primary School | Tena M. Hubble |
| Rich Valley Elementary | Toni F. Yates |
| Saltville Elementary | Michael Colston |
| Sugar Grove Combined School | Monica Porter |
| Chilhowie Middle School | Tracie Brooks |
| Marion Middle School | Yvette Sauls |
| Northwood Middle School | Mark Roberts |
| Chilhowie High School | Kermit Nelson |
| Marion Senior High School | Kristie Allison Jennings |
| Northwood High School | Randall S. Roberts |
| Smyth Career & Technology Center | Nina Call |
The Smyth County Teacher of the Year for 2008 is J. Vincent Groseclose.
Dr. Robinson reviewed 2006-2007 fiscal year estimated close-out figures. He will present final figures at the Monday, July 16, 2007, school board meeting.
Dr. Robinson reviewed a proposal for health and dental coverage for the 2007-2008 school year.
Mrs. Hall read a letter from Patricia A. Phillips thanking the board for the Retiree Appreciation Reception held prior to the board meeting.
The board considered changing a part-time science position at Marion Senior High School to a full-time science teacher position. On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Catron, by 6-0 vote, the position was changed to full-time.
The board considered approving payments for the July debt service in the amount of $887,019.92 from the County School Debt and Capital Outlay Fund, the same to be listed in the July warrant register. On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the payments were approved as follows:
| Treasurer of Virginia | Chilhowie High | $104,500.00 |
| US Bank | Marion Primary | $14,427.73 |
| The Bank of New York | MMS/NHS | $221,101.43 |
| Treasurer of Virginia | Atkins Elementary | $76,880.00 |
| Treasurer of Virginia | Northwood Middle | $5,580.00 |
| Treasurer of Virginia | Marion Intermediate | $11,835.44 |
| US Bank | Saltville Elementary | $152,400.26 |
| US Bank | WWTP | $7,550.16 |
| Treasurer of Virginia | CM/CHS | $137,757.13 |
| Treasurer of Virginia | CES | $154,987.77 |
The board considered approving Hicok, Fern, Brown & Garcia, Abingdon, Virginia, as auditors for each school's general fund accounts and the division's cafeteria accounts for years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, in the amount of $17,000.00. On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Catron, by 6-0 vote, the auditing firm was approved.
The board considered approving policy 7.05 School Attendance Guidelines (second reading). On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Ms. Sneed, by 6-0 vote, the policy was approved.
The board considered approving policy 7.39 Student Physical Examination and Immunization (second reading). On motion by Ms. Sneed, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the policy was approved.
The board considered approving a line item transfer for school board raises in the amount of $8,900.00 for the 2007-2008 school board budget. On motion by Mr. Catron, seconded by Ms. Sneed, by 6-0 vote, the line item transfer was approved.
The Appalachian Girl Scout Council is requesting the use of two buses and one bus driver for Saturday, July 14, 2007, to transport girl scouts from the Luther Church camp site at Hungry Mother Park to the Marion Town Pool. Mr. Donald Viles will be driving one of the buses. On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the request was approved.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the board accepted the resignation of Jamison C. Smith, Technology Specialist at the Smyth County School Board, effective July 23, 2007.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Catron, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the following transfers as recommended by the superintendent:
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Ms. Sneed, by 6-0 vote, the board approved the following transfers as recommended by the superintendent to begin work with the 2007-2008 school year:
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the board hired Bernice Sharon Griffey as a part-time cafeteria worker at Northwood Middle School to replace one-half of the position held by Ruth Love.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Ms. Sneed, by 6-0 vote, the board hired the following as recommended by the superintendent to begin work with the 2007-2008 school year:
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Catron, by 6-0 vote, the board approved a five percent increase for the 2007-2008 school year for Dr. Michael M. Robinson, Superintendent of Smyth County Schools, effective July 1, 2007.
On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Ms. Sneed, by 6-0 vote, the board approved education sabbatical leave for Elizabeth R. Ballard, Business Decision Support Analyst, effective August 27, 2007, through January 3, 2008.
The board considered approving final invoices for the 2006-2007 school year. On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Ms. Sneed, by 6-0 vote, the board approved to pay $581,128.57 from the County School Operating Fund, the same to be listed in the June warrant register.
On motion by Mr. Choate, seconded by Mrs. Clark, by 6-0 vote, the board approved to pay $125,835.00 from the Capital Outlay category as follows, the same to be listed in the June warrant register.
| Marion Roofing | RVES | $44,550.00 |
| R & M Heating | SCTC | $22,950.00 |
| W-L Construction | MSHS | $22,925.00 |
| W-L Construction | CHS | $35,410.00 |
The board considered nominations for the VSBA All Virginia School Board. On motion by Ms. Sneed, seconded by Mr. Catron, by 6-0 vote, the board nominated Laura Hall.
On motion by Mr. Catron, seconded by Mr. Choate, by 6-0 vote, the meeting was adjourned.