• MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

    MINUTES

                                                                               July 14, 2014

                 The Montgomery County Board of Education convened in its regular monthly meeting on Monday, July 14, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were as follows:

                            Steven W. DeBerry, Chair

                            Tommy Blake, Vice Chair

    Bryan Dozier

    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 the meeting with a devotional on attitude and success.  Gifted violinist Nicolo Paganini was standing before a packed house, playing through a difficult piece of music. Suddenly, one string on his violin snapped and hung down from his instrument. Nicolo was worried, but kept playing.  After a few minutes, a second string broke and shortly thereafter, a third. Now there were three strings dangling from Paganini’s violin as he completed a difficult composition on the one remaining string. The audience jumped to its feet and filled the hall with shouts and screams, “Bravo! Bravo!” As the applause died down, the violinist asked the people to sit back down. Even though they knew there was no way they could expect an encore, they quietly sank back into their seats.  He held the violin high for everyone to see. He turned to the crowd, and with a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and shouted, ‘Paganini … and one string!’ Instead of leaving the stage, Paganini stood his ground and calmly completed the difficult number on the one remaining string. The mark of a champion is consistency of performance at your highest level, even under difficult circumstances.

                The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Chairman DeBerry.

    Laura Dawkins and Cheryl Johnson are Montgomery County Schools Certified and Classified Employee of the Month.  Both are from East Montgomery High School.  Principal Heather Seawell said, “Laura connects with students to make sure the kids get what they need on a daily basis and Cheryl is the one to call; she’s the “go-to person”.  Congratulations to both these ladies. 

     Dr. Ellis recognized Kathy Johnson (Chief Finance Officer), Lisa Ritter (Assistant Finance Officer), Donna Morris (Accounts Payable) and Lourdes Yarbrough (Accounts Receivable), for being awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR).  This achievement is the hightest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and represents a significant accomplishment by a government and the management.  Dr. Ellis stated the award is a measure of how well the finance office handles funds.  He commended them, along with the school bookkeepers, “these ladies do a tremendous job”.  Mrs. Johnson commended them for being “loyal and dedicated employees that never complain and always get the job done”.  Congratulations on this honor!         

                 Chairman DeBerry asked that the Consent Agenda be held until closed session for discussion.  The board expressed no opposition.

                  Director of Technology, Rodney Neal, presented an overview of Office 365. Office 365 gives you the familiarity of Office with the flexibility of the cloud. With Office in the cloud, your applications and files are with you wherever you go, whether you are working offline at your desktop, online, or on one of your devices. Advantages of 365 include file sharing, mobility, email, calendars, instant messaging, conferencing an office web apps. What you need is accessible from anywhere and always up to date.  Microsoft has invested millions to make this work.  The cost to us is nothing. With the money saved, teachers will be getting new 15” durable Lenovo laptops.  There will be a training session soon with 20 attendees, who can go back to the schools and teach others how to use it.  Mr. Dozier asked about the students using the program, especially the email.  Mr. Neal explained that the email would be closely monitored.          

                 Dr. Lancaster presented a change in technology policy code 3225/4312/7320 for first reading due to the above changes Mr. Neal discussed.  Parents will need to give their permission for their child to use Office 365.   

                 Dr. Ellis gave an overview of the budget stating that this a crucial time.  The governor and house are proposing a 6% raise, which does not require drastic cuts.  The senate is looking at an 11% raise, but with that, teacher assistant positions will be affected.  Superintendent Ellis stated “teachers have been jerked around enough and something needs to be decided”.  He will communicate with teachers and staff and urge them to contact the legislature with their budget concerns.

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

                  During closed session, the Board approved the following consent agenda items with a motion by Bryan Dozier and a second from Tommy Blake.  The Board unanimously approved the motion. 

                       1.    Minutes from the Regular Board Meeting June 2, 2014.

    2.    Personnel and Auxillary Reports as follows:

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

    Resignation/Retirement           School/Assignment           Effective Date

          1)     Courtney Britt                         East Middle School                 June 20, 2014

     Resignation                            ESL Teacher

     
           2)     Barbara Slingerland               Central Office                          July 17, 2014

     Resignation                            Director of Exceptional

                                                    Children

     

          3)    Tarra Barrett                            Candor Elementary                June 16, 2014

    Resignation                             Elementary Teacher

     

    4)    Brenda Darlene Smith            Candor Elementary                June 5, 2014

    Resignation                             Child Nutrition

     

    5)    Angeline Freeman                  East Montgomery High           June 6, 2014

    Resignation                             Child Nutrition Part-time

     

    6)    Lee Ann Griffin                         West Middle School                June 19, 2014

    Resignation                             Communication Skills

     

    7)    Amy Chisholm                       Green Ridge Elementary        June 17, 2014

    Resignation                             3rd Grade Teacher

     

    8)    Josh Frye                                East Middle School                 June 25, 2014

    Resignation                             Health/PE Teacher

     

    9)    Eric Trail                                  West Montgomery High          June 30, 2014

    Resignation                             Social Studies Teacher

     

    10) Sean Thompson                     West Middle School                June 20, 2014

    Resignation                             Health/PE Teacher

     

    11) Lizzie Garner                           County Office                         July 31, 2014

    Resignation                             Pre-K Director

     

    12) Vancy Legrande                     Candor Elementary                June 13, 2014

    Retirement                              Child Nutrition

     

    b.    Upon recommendation, approval of the following probationary contract for the 2014-2015 school year as provided by General Statute 115C-325:

     

     Contract/                       School/                                  Record        

               Effective Date                Assignment                          Check                   Replacing

       

    1)    Miranda Duell                 West Middle School                 Yes                   Re-employment

    08/19/2014                     6th Grade Teacher                                            of non-renewal

     

    2)    Julie Madison                 East Montgomery High            Yes                 Mike Loutzenheiser

    08/19/2014                     EC Teacher

     

    3)     Emily Allen                    Page Street Elementary           Yes                  Betty Harvel

          08/19/2014                     EC Teacher

     

    4)    Ben Misenheimer           West Montgomery High            Yes                   Tyler Wendell

    08/19/2014                     Math Teacher

     

    5)    Jaimie Russell                Star Elementary                        Yes                   Patrice Monroe

    08/19/2014                     EC Teacher

     

    6)    Stacy Corne                   West Middle School                  Yes                   Angela Sorenson

    08/19/2014                     8th Grade Math Teacher

     

    7)    Sara Ceneskie               West Middle School                  Yes                   Carrie Watkins

    08/19/2014                     7th Grade Math Teacher

     

    8)    Nathan McCallum          East Middle School                   Yes                   Tyler Koser

    08/19/2014                     PE Teacher

     

    9)    Colin Milroy                    West Montgomery High            Yes                   Eric Trail

    08/19/2014                     Social Studies Teacher

     

    10) Matthew Germann         East Montgomery High           Pending              Todd McGuire

    08/19/2014                     French Teacher

     

     

     

    c.    Report of the following transfers:

     

             Transfer/

             Effective Date                 From                                    To                           Replacing

    1)     Angie Tofflemeyer      West Middle School          Troy Elem.                Danielle Hurley

                   08/01/2014                  Asst. Principal                    Inst. Facilitator

     

    2)    Carol Parsons              East Montgomery High     Green Ridge             New Position

           08/19/2014                  Media Inst.                        Elementary Testing

                                                                                         Coordinator                                                                             

    3)    Cindy Sweet               West Montgomery             West Middle              New Position

                  08/01/2014                 Asst. Principal                    Special Populations

                                                                               Coordinator

     

    4)    Chris Blake                Candor Elem/                     Candor Elem.           Full Time Needed

                  08/19/2014                  Green Ridge Elem.            EC Teacher

                                    EC Teacher

     

    5)     Sarah Blanton            East Middle School           East Middle/EMHS

           08/19/2014                 ESL                                   ESL

     

    6)    Terrie Thomas            Troy Elementary               Troy Elementary/Page Street

           08/19/2014                 Media                                Media

     

    7)     Sally Britt                    Star Elementary                Star Elementary/East Middle School

           08/19/2014                 Media                                Media

                     

    8)    Teresa Thomas           Candor Elementary          Candor Elementary/East Montgomery

           08/19/2014                 Media                                Media

     

    9)     Jackie Jahns              Mt. Gilead Elementary      Mt. Gilead Elem./Green Ridge Elem.

      08/19/2014                Media                                Media

     

    10)  Lane Morgan              West Middle School          West Middle/West Montgomery

      08/19/2014                Media                                Media

     

    11) Rhonda Thompson     West Middle School          West Montgomery High School

     08/19/2014                 Office Support                  Office Support

     

    12) Leanne Coyle              Green Ridge Elementary      West Middle School

     08/19/2014                 Teacher Asst.                        Office Support

     

    13) Shoua Ly                     West Montgomery High        West Middle School

     08/19/2014                 Office Support                      EC One-on-One

    14) Marie Shaw                 West Montgomery High        Page Street Elementary

     08/19/2014                 EC One-on-One                   EC One-on-One

     

    15) Lilly Young                  West Middle School              Green Ridge Elementary

     08/19/2014                 EC One-on-One                   EC One-on One

     

    16) Mollie Williams            East/West Montgomery        East Montgomery High

     08/19/2014                 Science Teacher                  Science Teacher

     

    17) Sonya Chavez            West Middle School              West Montgomery High School

     08/19/2014                 Spanish Teacher                   Spanish Teacher

     

    18) Angela Everette          Montgomery Learning          Troy Elementary School

     08/19/2014                 Teacher Assistant                 Teacher Assistant

     

    19) Nancy Britton              West Middle School              Troy Elementary School

     08/19/2014                 EC Teacher Assistant           EC Teacher Assistant

     

    20) Shenelle Green           Troy Elementary School       Mt. Gilead Elementary School

     08/19/2014                 EC Teacher Assistant           EC Teacher Assistant

     

    21) Carol Smith               Troy Elementary School        Mt. Gilead Elementary School

     08/19/2014               EC Teacher Assistant            EC Teacher Assistant

     

    22) Marie Ingram                        Troy Elementary School        Mt. Gilead Elementary School

     08/19/2014               EC Teacher Assistant            EC Teacher Assistant

     

    23) Frances Morris          Troy Elementary School        Mt. Gilead Elementary School

     08/19/2014               EC Teacher                           EC Teacher

     

    24) Irene Robledo           East Middle School                Green Ridge Elementary School

     08/19/2014               ESL Teacher                          ESL Teacher

     

    25) Amy Harris                Mt. Gilead Elementary           Green Ridge Elementary School

     08/19/2014               Pre-K Teacher                       Pre-K Teacher

     

    26) Kristy Kissell              East Montgomery High          Candor Elementary School

     08/19/2014               Teacher Assistant                  Teacher Assistant

     

    27) Heather Nance         Page Street Elementary        Candor Elementary School

     08/19/2014               Elementary Teacher              Elementary Teacher

     

    28) Julie Estes                 Page Street Elementary        Candor Elementary School

     08/19/2014               Elementary Teacher              Elementary Teacher

     

    29) Patrice Monroe         Star Elementary School         Central Office

     08/25/2014               EC Teacher/                           Full-time Literacy Specialist

                                      Literacy Specialist

     

    30) Charlotte Burris         Troy Elementary School         Central Office

     08/19/2014               Office Support                        Office Support Maintenance/

                                                    Transportation Dept.

            

     

    d.    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)     Billy Ridgeway             Green Ridge Elem.               Yes                       Michael Dawkins

           05/07/2014                   Part-time Custodian

             

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

    • Ellen Jones, Interim Exceptional Children’s Director, annual twelve-month term, commencing July 21, 2014 and ending TBD.
    •  John Shelton, Assistant Principal, West Montgomery High School, annual eleven-month term, commencing August 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2016, (pending completed criminal history check).

     

    3.    Continuing Budget Resolution;

    4.    Budget Amendments 16, 17 & 18;

     16    

     17

     18

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

    The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, August 4, 2014.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                             Steven W. DeBerry, Chairman

                                                                                                             Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary

Last Modified on August 6, 2014