Minutes of the May 9^th, 2005 meeting of the Smyth County School Board, as approved by the School Board at its June 13^th, 2005 meeting

Marion, Virginia
May 9, 2005

The Smyth County School Board met today with the following members present: Jerry Catron, Laura Hall, Roger Nipper, Charles Doane, and Kimberly Clark. The meeting was held at 6:00 P.M., in the school cafeteria at Northwood Middle School, 156 Long Hollow Road, Saltville, Virginia. Mr. Catron, Vice-chairman, presided and welcomed all present.

On motion by Mr. Nipper, seconded by Mrs. Hall, the board voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the April 11, 2005, meeting as presented.

On motion by Mr. Nipper, seconded by Mrs. Hall, the board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

Mr. Sullivan thanked Jeff Comer, Principal of Northwood Middle School, and his staff for hosting the meeting.

Larry Estep, Director of Secondary Education, introduced participants of Youth Government Day. Mr. Sullivan reviewed the responsibilities and duties of school board members, clerk, and superintendent.

During citizens' time, Beth Layell, a parent, expressed her concerns about a recent Enrichment Resource Program trip to Washington, D.C. Mr. Sullivan assured her that the board would check into these concerns.

Chris Crawford, PTO President for Northwood Middle School, asked the board for their help in funding for athletic uniforms for the middle school. Mr. Sullivan told him the school board budget did not include funding for uniforms for athletics, but they would explore possibilities in the future.

Sugar Grove Combined School had the highest attendance percentage in the elementary category for the month of April. Sam Hambrick, Principal of Sugar Grove Combined School, introduced Emily Long, a seventh grader, for winning the County Spelling Bee. The school received a certificate and a flag to fly at the school.

Jeff Comer, Principal of Northwood Middle School, introduced Nelson Carter, a sixth grader; Denisha Woodward, a seventh grader; and Tiffany Cowan, an eighth grader, for having perfect attendance. The school received a certificate and a flag to fly at the school.

Northwood High School had the highest attendance percentage in the high school category. Stan Dunham, Assistant Principal of Northwood High School, introduced Perry Armstrong, an eleventh grader, for having perfect attendance. The school received a certificate and a flag to fly at the school.

Chilhowie Elementary School had the most improved attendance percentage for the month of April. Mike Sturgill, Principal of Chilhowie Elementary School, introduced Lucas Profitt, a fourth grader, for having perfect attendance and for being the County Mental Math Bee Champion. The school received a certificate and a flag to fly at the school.

Stan Dunham, Assistant Principal of Northwood High School, introduced and recognized the following teams and their coaches:

1. Members of the English SWAC team that finished in second place;
2. Members of the All-Around team that finished in second place;
3. Members of the Social Studies SWAC team that finished in first place this year and finished the third straight year as undefeated champions;
4. Karlee Dunham for being nominated for Who's Who in the State of Virginia for her FBLA competition for the past four years; and
5. Megan Halsey for winning first place in the State VFW Ladies Auxiliary Art contest.

Ed Worley, Director of Vocational Education, reviewed with the board some of the clubs available for students at the Smyth Career and Technology Center. He introduced Larry Adams, Electricity Instructor at the Smyth Career & Technology Center. Mr. Adams introduced Michael Perkins, a post-graduate, which attends the Smyth Career & Technology Center three days a week. Michael won first place in the District and Virginia Skills USA Competition in Industrial Motor Control. He will represent our county in a competition in Kansas City next month. Mr. Adams introduced T. J. Bise for scoring the highest on the written test in an electronics contest at Wytheville Community College.

The board considered adoption of the Career and Technical Education Funds Annual Plan for the 2005-2006 school year in the amount of $102,076.00 as presented at the April 11, 2005, board meeting by Ed Worley, Director of Vocational Education. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Clark, the board voted unanimously to adopt the plan as presented.

The board considered adoption of the Special Education Annual Plan as presented by Gary Collins, Director of Special Education. Adoption of the plan will be considered at the Thursday, May 19, 2005, continued board meeting.

On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to approve the use of a bus to transport identified gifted students to Wytheville Community College's Appalachian Summer Regional Governor's School June 15-28, 2005.

On motion by Mr. Nipper, seconded by Mrs. Hall, the board voted unanimously to approve the use of a bus to transport Northwood Middle School's sixth grade students to the Annual 6th Grade Day at Virginia Highlands Community College conducted by their Educational Talent Search Department on Thursday, May 12, 2005.

On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to approve a field trip request for the sixth grade science class at Marion Middle School to travel to Bays Mountain Park on Monday, May 31, 2005.

The board heard a presentation from Sam Musick, Director of Transportation and Maintenance, on the implementation of a "fitness for duty" commercial driver's license program as a part of the required yearly bus driver physical form beginning with the 2005-2006 school year. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Clark, the board voted unanimously to approve this program.

The board considered bids for purchasing a lawn mower for Northwood Middle School. On motion by Mr. Doane, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to approve the low bid in the amount of $14,400.00 for the Kubota Lawn Mower from Skyview Equipment Company, Inc., Marion, Virginia, as recommended by Sam Musick, Director of Transportation and Maintenance. This was already included in the 2004-2005 school board budget.

Sam Hambrick, Principal of Sugar Grove Combined School, reviewed the school's Three-Year School Improvement Plan as part of the Academic Review Process. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Clark, the board voted unanimously to approve the plan as presented.

Jeff Comer, Principal of Northwood Middle School, reviewed the school's Three-Year School Improvement Plan as part of the Academic Review Process. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Clark, the board voted unanimously to approve the plan as presented.

Sue Tilson, Principal of Chilhowie Middle School, reviewed the school's Three-Year School Improvement Plan as part of the Academic Review Process. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Clark, the board voted unanimously to approve the plan as presented.

The board considered a request for financial help in sending a Destination Imagination Team from Marion Middle School to Global Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to fund one-half the cost.

Ron Bostic with Bostic, Tucker, and Company, P.C., reviewed with the board an audit report as of April 30, 2005, on the status of the 2004-2005 school board budget. Mr. Sullivan reviewed revenue, expenditures, and cash flow figures through the month of April, 2005.

The board considered recommendations for adoption of the following textbooks: Math K-12, Language Arts 6-12, and Foreign Language beginning with the school year 2005-2006 as presented by Dave Bockes, Director of Elementary Education. On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Clark, the board voted unanimously to approve the textbook adoption as presented.

On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to approve the April payroll, paid April 29, 2005, checks #47787-47958.

On motion by Mrs. Clark, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to approve and pay current invoices in the amount of $375,136.60 from the County School Operating Fund, the same to be listed in the warrant register.

On motion by Mr. Nipper, seconded by Mrs. Hall, the board voted unanimously to approve and pay a current invoice in the amount of $13,110.00 to Sunshine Construction Services, Inc., from the County School Debt and Capital Outlay Fund, the same to be listed in the warrant register.

On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to approve invoices for utility payments made prior to the May 9, 2005, school board meeting in the amount of $34,948.06 from the County School Operating Fund, the same to be listed in the April warrant register.

Pursuant to §2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, on motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to convene a closed meeting for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters: personnel issues as authorized by §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia.

On motion by Mr. Doane, seconded by Mr. Nipper, the board voted unanimously to return to the open meeting.

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: 5 Nays: 0

Mr. Choate and Ms. Sneed were absent.

On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Doane, the board voted unanimously to approve the following:

1. Accept the resignation of Carrie L. Bailey, Guidance Counselor at Atkins Elementary School and Sugar Grove Combined School;
2. Accept the resignation of Paul Scott, PreK Teacher at Marion Primary School;
3. Accept the resignation of Gene Walker, Social Studies Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
4. Accept the resignation of Marilyn Walker, Spanish Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
5. Accept the resignation of Ashlee Medley, Physical Therapist, Smyth County Schools;
6. Accept the resignation of Brandyn K. Doss, Special Education Teacher at T-CAP;
7. Accept the resignation of Amy Ashby, Social Studies Teacher at Chilhowie High School;
8. Accept the resignation of Stephen B. James, History Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
9. Accept the resignation of Nancy Grubb, Secretary at Marion Primary School;
10. Accept the resignation of Teresa Crawford, Bus Driver at Northwood High School;
11. Accept the resignation of Rebecca E. Ewald, Coordinator of School Health Services, Smyth County Schools, as of June 30, 2005; and
12. Accept the resignation of Eric Pennington from his position of Junior Varsity Baseball Coach at Marion Senior High School for the remainder of the 2005 season.

On motion by Mrs. Hall, seconded by Mr. Doane, the board voted unanimously to approve the following as recommended by the superintendent:

1. Hire Randy Glass as the Junior Varsity Baseball Coach at Marion Senior High School;
2. Hire Pamela Hagy as the Art Teacher for Atkins, Marion Primary, Saltville, Rich Valley, and Marion Middle;
3. Hire Jillian Eddy as a Sixth Grade Teacher at Marion Middle School;
4. Hire Keith Holley as a Social Studies Teacher at Chilhowie High School;
5. Hire Amanda Lester as a Social Studies Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
6. Hire Megan Dixon as a Social Studies Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
7. Hire John Tilson as a Spanish Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
8. Hire Angela Brookes as a part-time Spanish Teacher and a part-time ESL Aide at Marion Senior High School;
9. Hire Merle Obregon as a French/Drama Teacher at Chilhowie High School;
10. Hire Jennifer Echard as the Biology Teacher at Marion Senior High School;
11. Hire Michael Evans for Computer Systems Teacher at Smyth Career & Technology Center;
12. Hire Couliette Goodwin as Technology Resource Teacher for Smyth County Schools;
13. Hire Dennis Carter as the Principal for Sugar Grove Combined School;
14. Hire Patricia Warren as the Principal for Atkins Elementary School;
15. Hire John L. DeBusk, Jr. as a Bus Driver for Northwood High School;
16. Transfer Judy Kelly to Marion Middle School and Sugar Grove Combined School;
17. Transfer Angie Blevins from Marion Middle School to Marion Primary School;
18. Transfer K. W. Lawson from Marion Senior High School to Chilhowie High School and Northwood High School.

The board was reminded of the Public Hearing on the school board's budget amendments for 2004-2005 to be held on Thursday, May 19, 2005, at 4:00 P.M. at the Smyth County Board of Supervisor's boardroom.

On motion by Mr. Doane, seconded by Mrs. Hall, the board voted unanimously to continue the meeting to Thursday, May 19, 2005, at 5:00 P.M., in the board meeting room at the Smyth County School Board.