The Hall County Board of Education met for a work session at 5:00 P.M.
on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, in the conference room of the Hall County School
District Central Office Building. The following were present:
Board Members:Richard
Higgins, Chairman
Nath
Morris, Vice Chairman
Craig
Herrington
Sam
Chapman
Brian Sloan was unable to attend.
Administrative Personnel:
William Schofield, Superintendent
Lee Lovett, Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Richard Hill, Associate Superintendent for Human
Resources
Dr. Eloise Barron, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and
Learning
Jewel Armour, Executive Director of Operations
Dr. Aaron Turpin, Exec. Director of Information, Technology,
& Assessment
Jerry Huguley, Construction Manager
Dr. Gary Stewart, Exec. Director of Adm. Services, School
Safety, & Security
Kathy Culver, Director of Special Education
Dr. Cindy Blakley, Director of Middle and High Schools
Jim Sargent, Director Student Services
Gordon Higgins, Director of Community Relations and
Athletics
Chairman Higgins
called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.On motion of Sam Chapman, seconded by Craig Herrington, the board voted
4-0 to adopt the amended agenda, moving Curriculum and Instruction items A.
Recognitions, and C. Charter School Presentations, to first and second, on the
agenda.Superintendent Schofield
proceeded with the following:
II.Curriculum
and Instruction – Dr. Barron made introductory comments.
A.Recognitions
– The following students were recognized by Gordon Higgins and board members
from their districts presented framed certificates to them, as follows:
·Daniel
Drummond – FBHS – 2009 GHSA AAA State Track Championships, 1st Place
Discus, 1st Place Shot Put - Coach Jimmy Sorrels made comments and
accepted on Daniel’s behalf as he was in Atlanta on athletic scholarship at
Georgia Tech.
·Cody
Barger – NHHS – 2009 GHSA AAA State Track Championships – 1st Place
3200 Meter – Coach Joe Bradshaw, made comments and accepted on Cody’s behalf as
he was at Chestatee for a cross-country track meet.
·North
Hall High School Girls Soccer – 2009 GHSA AAA State Champion Runner-up – Coach
Nathan Wallace made comments and five of the team members introduced
themselves. NHHS administrators present were: Joe Gheesling and Harold Daniels.
·West
Hall High School Boys Soccer – 2009 GHSA AAA State Champion Runner-up –
Comments were made by Coach Wolfgang Yager and 14 of the players introduced
themselves. WHHS administrators present were: Dr. Jackie Adams and Dr. Greg
Williams.
·David
French – FBHS – 2009 1st Place State 4-H Congress History Project –
Judy Tilford, 4-H County Agent, made introductory comments and recognized David
French for his 4-H speaking project on “Music in the Civil War Period”.David made comments in response to
being asked how he came up with the idea for choosing this project.David’s father was also present.
C.Charter School Presentations – Gerald
Boyd made introductory comments.
§Chestatee
Middle School Enrichment Academies - Principal, Suzanne Jarrard, and 7th
grade teacher, Dawn Richards, made presentations on the enrichment academies
planned for Chestatee Middle School’s charter school.Mr. Boyd said they would be asking for approval of the
charter petition next month.
§Wauka
Mtn. Elementary School Multiple Intelligences Academy
– Principal, Jo Dinnan, made introductory remarks prior to Leah Hulsey, 2nd
grade teacher, and Michelle Truelove, music teacher, making presentations on
the Multiple Intelligences Academy charter school planned for Wauka Mountain
Elementary charter school. Other WME staff were present.
D.Charter
Petition Approval (Wauka Mountain Elementary) – On motion by Sam Chapman, seconded by
Craig Herrington, the board voted 4-0 to approve Wauka Mtn. Elementary’s
charter petition to become Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy in the
fall of 2010, as recommended by the superintendent.
E.Planning Grant Approvals – Gerald Boyd
announced that the $8,000 grants for McEver Elementary’s Fine Arts and Spout
Springs School Enrichment Schools have been approved.
I.School Board Operations
A.Policy IFBG, Internet Acceptable
Use – On motion by Craig Herrington, seconded by Nath Morris,
the board voted 4-0 to approve Policy IFBG, Internet Acceptable Use--for
students and staff--that was on the table for a couple of months, as
recommended by the superintendent. The policy is hereby made a part of these
minutes by reference.
B.Policy GBRI, Professional Personnel
Personal Leaves and Absences –Dr. Richard Hill and the superintendent discussed
changes made to Policy GBRI due to work schedule changes.The policy will sit on the table for 30
days.
C.Policy
JBC (1), Homeless Students – Jim Sargent reported on changes drafted on Policy
JBC (1) addressing DOE Title 1’s monitoring visit last March, and said detailed
guidelines for schools to use are also being drafted with specific procedures
for identifying and dealing with homeless students. Also , a general enrollment
policy with clearer language regarding district/school district attendance
zones will be brought to the Board next month.The superintendent followed with comments and said a
standardized process needed to be used across the board in dealing with all of
these students.
II.Curriculum and Instruction – (continued)
B.Precipitous
Decline – Title I – Dr. Eloise Barron shared information with the Board on
how the Title I funds in the amount of $887,792 as designated on the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) Precipitous Decline Plan, would be
used.No action was necessary.
(Addendum for documentation purposes)
F.Partnership for Success Grant Award – After comments by Kathy
Culver and Dr. Barron, on motion by Sam Chapman, seconded by Craig Herrington, the board voted
4-0 to approve the annual Partnership for Success Grant Award contract between
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hall County School
System for the period August 1, 2009, through July 31, 2010, as recommended by
the superintendent. A copy of the contract is hereby made a part of these
minutes by reference.
G.H1N1 – Mamie Coker gave an update on the H1N1
flu virus saying it is mainly hitting school age and young adult populations
and recommended measures to take for combating the spread of it. She said it is
known that there are cases of H1N1 in the county, but all flu cases are treated
the same until lab results confirm it. Closing schools is considered a last
measure according to the CDC.
I.Field Trips – After review and recommendation of Dr. Barron, on motion by Craig
Herrington, seconded by Sam Chapman, the board voted 4-0 to approve field trip
#’s 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22 & 30 (7 of the 32 currently listed for September),
as recommended by the superintendent.The list of trips is hereby made a part of these minutes by reference.
III.Fiscal Management
A.Approval of Payments – July 2009 – Mr. Lovett
said they were the usual payments for July.
B.Tax Anticipation Note Bids & Resolution
– On motion by Sam Chapman, seconded by Nath Morris, the board voted to accept
the bid from Bank of America for the best fixed rate of interest (1.13%) on the
Tax Anticipation Note, and also to approve the Resolution to enter into the Tax
Anticipation Note in the amount of $9,000,000, payable December 31, 2009, as
recommended by the superintendent.A copy of the bid tabulation and resolution are hereby made a part of
these minutes.
IV.Facility Expansion Program
A.SPLOST
Report-
1.Analysis
of SPLOST III Revenues – August 2009 – Reviewed by Mr. Lovett.Nath Morris asked for the June 09
revenues listed for Buford to be followed-up on as the figure looked incorrect.
The superintendent said a cash flow projection for all of SPLOST III should be
available by next week.Discussion
followed regarding future SPLOST funds.The importance of employees knowing during this time of cut backs that
SPLOST money can only be spent for particular expenditures—not salaries--was
stressed by a Board member.
B.SPLOST
Request-
1.Technology
Discussion – A drawing of a new Tech wing at the old South Hall Middle School
was discussed by Dr. Turpin and the superintendent. The location is close to
Lanier Tech and Gainesville College high bandwidth line and would provide
enough electricity and air conditioning.The present Technology Center at the McEver campus warehouse is
undersized and has encountered some major technical failures. Discussion
followed.
2.SPLOST
Request – September 8, 2009 - On motion by Sam Chapman, seconded by Craig
Herrington, the board voted 4-0 to approve the September 8, 2009, SPLOST funds
requested as shown below, as recommended by the superintendent:
Renovations
Pavilion at LCA Kindergarten$ 9,000
HVAC Unit at Myers ES$40,000
New Roof Drains at NHHS$ 4,814
Repair Undermined Road &
Sidewalk at Lanier ES$14,588
Letters for sign at Lula ES$ 1,172
New Roofs on Walk-in Coolers
at Lula ES, CHS,
JHS & FBHS$ 5,000
Controls for Carrier Units$15,800
Screen & Coat WHS Gym
Floor$ 2,200
Build-Up Roof at Friendship
ES$11,272
Wireless
Access to DDC Controls for Maintenance Dept.$
3,850
The list is hereby made a part of these minutes
by reference.
C.QSCB
Letter of Intent – The superintendent discussed a Declaration of Intent
that was submitted to GDOE to Request Allocations for local Qualified School
Construction Bonds (QSCB) issuance for 2009 and for 2010, in the amount of
$2,000,000, for each year.
V.Personnel
A.Personnel - Report by Dr. Richard Hill
VI.Executive
Session for Personnel and Pending Litigation –– (Not needed)
On motion by Nath Morris, seconded by Craig Herrington, the board voted
to adjourn the meeting.The
meeting adjourned at 6:44 P.M.
Dr. Richard Hill, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
Dr. Eloise Barron, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
Jewel Armour, Executive Director of Operations
Dr. Aaron Turpin, Executive Director of Information, Technology, and
Assessment
Jerry Huguley, Construction and Maintenance Manager
Kathy Culver, Director of Special Education
Gordon Higgins, Director of Community Relations and Athletics
Cookie Palmer, Director of School Nutrition
Media:
Jessica
Jordan, The Times
Visitors:
Carrie Moffitt,
Technology.Steve Brock, HCEA
Jimmy Smith, TechnologySteve
Wang, HCEA
Hillary Savage, School Nutrition Coord.Dr.
Jim Puckett, GSBA
Karol Tullis, School NutritionPenny
Jordan, BOE Clerk
CALL TO ORDER AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Chairman Higgins called the
meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.On
motion of Nath Morris, seconded by Craig Herrington, the board voted 4-0 to
adopt the agenda.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Craig Herrington gave the
invocation and Superintendent Schofield led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag.
WELCOME, RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Chairman Higgins welcomed
everyone to the meeting prior to the following recognition:
A.RECOGNITION:
·GSBA
Appreciation of Board Members’ Service – Dr. Jim Puckett - Superintendent
Schofield made introductory comments for Dr. Jim Puckett of GSBA.Dr. Puckett addressed the Board
thanking them for their innovation, creativity, and for thinking outside the
box to provide a quality education for the children of Hall County during these
times of having to make hard decisions.He said Hall County was getting noticed by others for what they have done
and commended them for the way they were keeping the public informed. He also
thanked them for the support they give to GSBA and discussed a task force being
put together by GSBA and GSSA that Superintendent Schofield will be serving on
to come up with a new vision for public education.
Nath Morris
and Richard Higgins followed with comments and thanked Dr. Puckett and the GSBA
for what they do to help them and the system.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
On motion of Nath Morris,
seconded by Sam Chapman, the board voted 4-0 to adopt the minutes of August 3,
2009 (Work Session), August 10, 2009 (Regular Meeting), and August 27, 2009,
(Called Meeting).
REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND POLICIES
A.Curriculum
and Instruction
1.Da Vinci
Academy Update – The superintendent said there are a lot of exciting things
happening at the academy.A local
college professor of paleontology has asked to move his dinosaur collection to
the academy and a partnership on GPS GIS certifications could possibly be offered
to middle grade level learners.A
presentation entitled “Power of One” representative of a curriculum unit DVA
students would participate in was then shown.
2.Field
Trips – On motion by Craig Herrington, seconded by Nath Morris, the board
voted 4-0 to approve the remainder of the 38 field trips for the month of
September, with the exception of #’s 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, and 30, which were
previously approved at the Work Session, as recommended by the superintendent.The list of trips is hereby made a part
of these minutes by reference.
B.Fiscal
Management
1.Financial
Report and Approval of Payments – Lee Lovett reviewed amendments
for the August 31, 2009, Financial Report (Budget Report General Fund
Expenditures for July 2009, and August 2009).Discussion followed. On motion by Sam Chapman, seconded by
Craig Herrington, the board voted 4-0 to approve the Financial Report for
August 31, 2009, and the payments for July 2009, as recommended by the
superintendent.A copy of the
August 31, 2009, Financial Report and July 2009, payments are hereby made a
part of these minutes by reference.
C.Facility Expansion Program
1.SPLOST
Report – Low in terms of funds coming in.
2.SPLOST
Request – September 14, 2009 – Discussion by the
superintendent. On motion by Sam Chapman, seconded by Nath Morris, the board
voted 4-0 to approve the September 14, 2009, SPLOST III fund requests totaling
$400,000,00 for renovations for a Technology Support Center at the old South
Hall Middle School, conditional on switching to QSCB project funds, if they are
approved, as recommended by the superintendent, as follows:
Technology:
Renovation
for instructional technology support center$300,000.00
Renovations:
Renovations
to technology support center$100,000.00
The list
is hereby made a part of these minutes by reference.
3.Architectural Contract for
LCCA/Advertise for Construction Manager – Discussion on the culinary arts
bistro (open to the public) planned at LCCA.On motion by Nath Morris, seconded by Craig Herrington, the
board voted 4-0 to approve the architectural contract from H. Lloyd Hill for
design of the new culinary arts digital media facility addition at LCCA, and
approved to authorize Jerry Huguley to go ahead and advertise on Thursday for a
construction manager for the addition, as recommended by the
superintendent.A copy of the
contract is hereby made a part of these minutes by reference.
D.Business
Management
1.School Nutrition Program Bids – Large Equipment – On motion
by Craig Herrington, seconded by Nath Morris, the board voted 4-0 to approve
the lowest bidder, Citisco, ($2488.00 ea.) for the purchase of the ice machine
for Lula Elementary and lowest bidder, Atlanta Fixtures,($3,000) for the
purchase of milk boxes for Lyman Hall Elementary, as recommended by the
superintendent. A copy of the bid tabulation is hereby made a part of these
minutes by reference.
An online
Bid Bridge system that is being used effectively by several municipalities
around the country which can ultimately drive down prices because of bidders
knowing only their number ranks, was then discussed by Dr. Turpin and the
superintendent. No cell phones are allowed with the system.
E.Personnel
1.Personnel
Packet - Dr. Richard Hill reported on the personnel packet and noted
Chestatee High Principal, Bill Thompson, would be retiring at the end of
September and returning in November at 49% as Assistant Principal, and that
Terry Sapp would serve the remainder of the year as Interim Principal. On
motion by Nath Morris, seconded by Sam Chapman, the board voted 3-0, with Craig
Herrington abstaining (daughter on list), to approve the superintendent’s
certified and classified personnel recommendations as summarized below. The
lists of approved recommendations are hereby made a part of these minutes by
reference.
September
14, 2009
I.Certified Personnel 2008-09
A.0 Resignations
B.0 Recommendations
C.0 Transfers
D.0 Reclassifications from Temporary
to Permanent Status
E.0 Long-Term Substitutes
II.Certified Personnel 2009-10
A.7 Resignations
B.21 Recommendations
C.20 Transfers
D.0
Reclassifications from Temporary to Permanent Status
E.15 Long-Term
Substitutes
F.1 Other
III.Classified Personnel 2008-09
A.0 Resignations
B.0 Recommendations
C.0 Transfers
D.0 Other
E.0 Terminations
IV.Classified Personnel 2009-10
A.21 Resignations
B.19 Recommendations
C.17 Transfers
D.0 Other
E.1 Termination
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:10
P.M., on motion by Craig Herrington, seconded by Nath Morris, the board voted
4-0 to adjourn the meeting.
CITIZENS INPUT/COMMENTS
Chairman
Higgins called for citizens comments.
-Johnny
Varne, a Gainesville Gladiators’ football team volunteer, discussed the
possibility of using the South Hall football field for a new summer
program.Discussion followed with
the Board advising him that it doesn’t fit the board policy as it’s written
currently.
Dr. Barron
announced the SACS team would be visiting October 18-21, and the exit
conference would be October 21st.
The Executive Session
for Personnel and Potential Litigation was cancelled.
