• MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

    MINUTES

     

    February 3, 2014

     

                The Montgomery County Board of Education convened in its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 3, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were as follows:

     

                            Steven W. DeBerry, Chair

                            Tommy Blake, Vice Chair

    Bryan Dozier

    Shirley Threadgill

    Jesse Hill

    Ann Long

    Sandra Miller

     

                Chairman DeBerry called the meeting to order and moved to adopt the agenda as shown.  With a motion by Ann Long and a second from Sandra Miller, the agenda was adopted with unanimous approval from the board. 

     

                Chairman DeBerry opened with a devotional on contentment.  The story was about a farmer who lived his whole life on the same farm.  It was ok for him, but with each year that passed the farmer began to tire of his surroundings.  He wanted something better.  Every day he found a new reason to criticize the old place.  Soon he decided to sell his farm and list it with a real estate agent.  The agent prepared newspapers, listing the farm’s advantages:  ideal location, modern equipment, healthy livestock and acres of fertile ground.  When the farmer read the ad his was stunned.  He realized this was the place he had been looking for all his life.  The moral of the story:  be content with what you have.

     

               The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Montgomery Learning Academy student, Florinda Perez-Leyva.

                Superintendent Ellis presented Page Street Elementary Principal, Anne McLean with a plaque in honor of her recent retirement.  It read as follows:   In appreciation for your life long dedication to education…for believing in children, for guiding through example, for inspiring with passion, for living through loving, for leaving an indelible mark on the future, for touching the human soul…You have made all the difference.  Thank you, Mrs. McLean, for your dedication to education and enjoy your retirement!

      

    Chareta Green and Lynn Maness were presented Montgomery County Schools Certified and Classified Employee of the Month.  Both are from Troy Elementary.  Principal Vance Thomas states Mrs. Green is an “expert” with the PreK program, loved by students and staff, hardworking and child centered.  Mr. Thomas called Mrs. Maness “professional in all parts of her job”, asked for by all teachers, never questions anything asked of her and is a “heck of a bus driver”.

     

               Phillip Brown, Director of Secondary Education, recognized students in the Career and College Promise programs.  Students awarded a certificate were:  Monica Hassell, Dean’s List; Maribel Benitez, Laura Chappell, Madison Chappell, Jayde Chisholm, Will Griggs, Diego Parta, Megan Johnson, Amber Lynthacum, Lauren Morris, Alec Parsons, Brenda Perez and Makena Simmons, Honors List.  Maria De Lourdes Oliver received a certificate for completing her Office Administration course.  Congratulations, students!  

     

     

    Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion that the Consent Agenda be approved.  Sandra Miller made the motion with Ann Long seconding.  With no opposition, the Consent Agenda was accepted as shown:

     

    1.    Board Minutes from the January 6th meeting;

    2.    Personnel and Auxillary Reports as follows:

     

    a.  Upon the recommendation of the principal, approval of the following additions to the

         substitute teacher list:

     

          Noncertified                                 Recommended By                Record Check

     

    1)    Terrie Fields                            Teresa Dunn                                  Yes

    2)    Dale Blankenship                    Jack Cagle                                     Yes

    3)    Larry Emmert                         Jack Cagle                                     Yes

    4)    Ellen McAuley                         Jack Cagle                                     Yes

     

    b.    Superintendent reports the acceptance of the following resignations/retirements:

     

    Resignation/Retirement                        School/Assignment                     Effective Date

         

    1)    Amy Parsons                                    Green Ridge Elementary                 January 21, 2014

    Resignation                                          Assistant Principal

     

    c.    Report of the following transfers:

     

    Transfer/

    Effective Date                     From                                 To                                Replacing

     

    1)    Danielle Hurley          Troy Elementary              Star Elementary                 Bethany Morgan

    1/23/2014                Curriculum Facilitator      Elementary Teacher

     

    2)    Natalie Eddins       Communities in Schools        West Montgomery                   Charlene

    2/3/2014                      Site Coordinator                  Data Manager                   Inkenbrandt

     

    d.    Upon recommendation, approval of the following  interim probationary contracts for 2013-2014 as provided by General Statute 115C-325:

     

           Contract/                             School/                                    Record     

           Effective Date                     Assignment                            Check                Replacing

     

    1)    Frank Cagle                   East Middle School                    Yes                      Kim Long

    1/21/2014                       Interim Math Teacher

     

    2)    Chris Parsons               Star Elementary School              Yes                Melanie Lamonds

    2/3/2014                        Interim 4th Grade Teacher

     

    3)    Heather Nance             Page Street Elementary              Yes                 Janet Blackmon

    02/17/2014                    Interim 3rd Grade Teacher

     

    e.    Upon recommendation of the superintendent, approval of recommendation for employment of the following non-certified personnel:

     

     

     Employee/                           School/                               Record

            Effective Date                     Assignment                        Check                     Replacing

          

    1)    Barbara Pemberton        West Middle School               Yes                        Angela Leak

    1/10/2014                        Interim EC-Teacher Asst.

                                                         (revised from 1/6/14 agenda)

     

    2)    Frances Freeman           County Office                        Yes                       

    1/16/2014                        Child Nutrition Sub

     

    f.     Upon recommendation, approval of the following administrative contract:

     

    ·         Art Smith, Interim Assistant Principal, Green Ridge Elementary, annual eleven-month term, commencing January 21, 2014 and ending June 30, 2014.

     

    ·         Ellen Jones, Interim Principal, Page Street Elementary, annual twelve-month term, commencing January 27, 2014 and ending TBD.

     

    g.    Upon recommendation of the superintendent, approval of recommendation for employment

    of the following bus driver/sub drivers for the 2013-2014 school year that are not dual employees:

    ·         Princess Miller

     

     

    h.    Upon recommendation, approval of the following coaches for the spring 2014 sports season:

    East Montgomery High School

    Coach                               Sport

    Sean Hassell                     Varsity Baseball

    Rodney Webb                   Varsity Baseball

    Mark Reynolds                  JV Baseball

    Scott Blue                         Golf/Field Maintenance

    Chris Hadlock                   Soccer

    Janira Reza                       Soccer

    Ted Harman                      Softball

    Angie Collett                      Softball

    Jerry Spencer                   Track

    Charity Watkins                Track

    Mark Miller                         Athletic Director

    Ray Massey                      Athletic Director

    East Middle School

     

    Coach                               Sport

    Josh Frye                          Baseball

    Kirk Watts                         Baseball

    Tyler Koser                       Softball

    Courtney Britt                   Softball

    April Hurley                       Soccer

    Jackie Baldwin                 Soccer

    Maggie McKinley              Tennis

    Frank Cagle                     Tennis

    West Middle School

    Coach                               Sport

    Neil Williams                     Tennis

    Alicia Blalock                    Tennis

    Caitlyn Batten                   Soccer

    Cody Tucker                     Soccer

    Daniel Jones                     Baseball

    Sean Thompson               Baseball

    Kyle Greene                      Baseball

    Jessica Grooms                Softball

    Larry Johnson                   Softball

     

    West Montgomery High School

    Coach                               Sport

    Sammy Jackson              Varsity Baseball

    Mike Elkins                       Varsity Baseball

    Tom Berriman                  JV Baseball

    Casey Galloway               Varsity Softball

    Leigh Anne Lamonds       JV Softball

    Robin Heath                     Soccer

    Jimbo McIntyre                 Soccer

    Derrick Drake                  Track

    Katie Kimrey                    Track

    Ken Neal                          Golf

    TBD                                 Tennis

     

    Upon recommendation approval of the following overnight school trip is requested.

     

               June 15-18, 2014 – East Montgomery High School 10th grade Civics class

               to New York City.

     

    Upon recommendation approval of the following Montgomery County School students for early graduation is requested.

               East Montgomery High School

               Victor Areola

    West Montgomery High School

               Katie Barringer                                                 Amber Lambert

               Aaron Sanders                                                 Brandon Watson

     

    Upon recommendation approval of the following student transfer is requested.

     

    Montgomery County Schools to Stanly County Schools

    Bladen Cole Gentle

     

     

     

    3.      Budget Amendment #3 as follows:

    NONE
     

    4.    2013-14 Anderson, Smith and Wike Audit Contract;

    5.    2014-15 Montgomery County Schools Calendar.

     

             

                 Superintendent Ellis presented a Voucher Litigation Resolution to the Board, to communicate with elected leaders how detrimental the voucher program is to public schools.  The resolution was unanimously approved by the board with a motion from Ann Long and a second from Sandra Miller.  The resolution reads as follows:

      
     nONE

               The Board approved Superintendent Ellis’ request to use Saturday as a snow make up day.  There are four days are left to use that were built into the calendar.  Saturday school would be from 8 am to 11 am and would be used only if necessary.  The Board approved the Saturday make up day with a motion from Tommy Blake and a second from Jesse Hill.

     

               Montgomery Learning Academy teacher Darlene Chappell discussed Moodle, a free software program that helps educators create online courses with a focus on interaction and collaboration.   Components of Moodle are organization, assessment capability and differentation where needed.  The webpage can be constructed to incorporate the Common Core packet, making the lessons based on it.  Students can watch videos and play learning games, which makes it fun.  Students rarely get off task; they like the fact that Moodle is computer based.  The computer tests are less stressful for the students and they partner together on assignments, learning from each other. 

     

    Next, board member Sandra Miller recapped the NCSBA Policy Conference in Wilmington.  Most of the meeting was roundtable discussions, covering such topics as vouchers, charter schools, accountability and promoting schools by inviting legislators to visit. Other topics included the state of teaching, mainly recruitment, prep, support and evidence based research; negative effects on teaching, mainly being the press and salaries; and needs of teachers including support of beginning teachers and reinstatement of the Teaching Fellows program.      

     

    Bill McLaughlin and George Upton with Carolina Value Village Textiles Repurposing presented a proposal on recycling.  The company places steel boxes at schools for people to deposit their old shoes, belts and clothes.  The items are then taken to their facility and repurposed, paying the school a percentage of each pound collected.  The company is responsible for the upkeep of the box.  After discussion, the board unanimously approved the proposal with a motion from Sandra Miller and a second from Ann Long.       

     

    Nelson Furr, Energy Specialist, discussed a power point on steps the schools have taken to save energy including installing boilers, chillers, windows and old roof replacement, changes that will pay big dividends in the years to come.  Electricity use decreased twenty-two percent with water decreasing twenty-eight percent.  Propane use increased seventeen percent with heating oil decreasing fifteen percent. 

      

                 Superintendent Ellis presented a recap of the Montgomery Commissioner Retreat.  Discussion centered on school facilities.  Plans are to put together a committee to solidify a plan for the future needs of the schools and the children of Montgomery County.  Dr. Ellis encouraged the Board to serve on the committee and get the word out to the public that schools affect everyone in the community.      

     

                Dr. Ellis also spoke on rescheduling the Board visits to the schools.  With the bad weather, the visits had to be postponed.  A date will be decided on and emailed to the Board for approval.

     

               Superintendent closed by reminding everyone that this week is Guidance Counselor week.  Each day, the guidance staff makes sure the social needs of the students are met.  Also, February is Black History month.  

     

               Chairman DeBerry then asked for a motion to adjourn.  With a motion from Tommy Blake, along with a second from Bryan Dozier, the board unanimously approved going into closed session to discuss personnel.

     

                After closed session, Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to adjourn.  With a motion by Bryan Dozier and a second from Shirley Threadgill and the meeting was duly ajourned.  

     

    The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, March 3, 2014.

                                                                         

                                                                          _________________________                                   

                                                                          Steven W. DeBerry, Chairman

                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                            ________________________

                                                                           Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary

Last Modified on March 10, 2014