October 6, 2014

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

MINUTES

October 6, 2014

 

            The Montgomery County Board of Education convened in its regular monthly meeting on Monday, October 6, 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 by reading In IPeter: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.  A group of studies found that people who care for others are physically, emotionally, and mentally healthier than those who concentrate more on their own needs. Many researchers believe that it is an inborn characteristic intended to help boost health and longevity. The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith were originally published by Harvard Student Agencies in 1968 and were often called “The Ten Commandments of Leadership.” Mother Teresa so admired them that she had a version entitled “Anyway” inscribed on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta.  The original version reads as follows:  People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.  Love them anyway.  If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.  Do good anyway.  If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.  Succeed anyway.  The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.  Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.  Be honest and frank anyway.  The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.  Think big anyway.People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.  Fight for a few underdogs anyway.  What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.  Build anyway.  People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.  Help people anyway.  Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.  Give the world the best you have anyway.

           The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Mt. Gilead Elementary students Juliana Inman and Kevin Wallace.

Chairman DeBerry presented the family of Hubert Lindsey, with a Resolution of Esteem.  Mr. Lindsey was a custodian with East Montgomery High School for many years. 

             Dr. Ellis and Mt. Gilead Elementary principal, Beth Lancaster, presented employees Tasha Medley and Christy McIntyre with certificates.  Mrs. Medley, Office Support, was awarded Classified Employee of the Month and Ms. McIntyre, 5^th grade teacher, Certified Employee of the Month.  Mrs. Lancaster had high praise for both women thanking them for their hard work.

             Next, Superintendent Ellis awarded the 2015 Principal of the Year plaque to Donnie Lynthacum, Principal at Candor Elementary.  Mr. Lynthacum has worked with MCS for 17 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, all at Candor Elementary. He holds a Master’s degree in administration/curriculum from UNC Pembroke and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from St. Andrews College. Mr. Lynthacum introduced and thanked his family and his school family who came to support him.  He said he could not ask for a better team to work with each day.

           Chairman DeBerry asked that the consent agenda be held until closed session.  The board unanimously agreed.

           Next, Superintendent Ellis presented proposed graduation dates for board approval.  The dates are:  WMHS on Friday, June 12, 2015 at 9:00 am, MLA on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm (at EMHS) and EMHS on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 7:00 pm.  Tommy Blake made the motion to approve the dates and Ann Long seconded.  With no opposition from the Board, the dates were approved.

           Dr. Ellis discussed PreK operating cost submitting a recurring expense chart for review.  He stated that this was a conservative estimate for running the program, but there will always be unforseen things that come up.  

             Dale Smith, auditor with Anderson, Smith and Wike, presented the audit report for the year.  MCS finance office had a clean audit report, reliable and free from mistakes.  Additionally, at the school level, there were no significant findings.      

           The next item on the agenda reminded everyone that October is National Principal’s Month.  Superintendent Ellis stated that our principals are the most important leaders in the schools, motivating teachers and supporting children.  He said he was very proud of the leaders we have in our schools and presented a proclamation to the board for approval.  Bryan Dozier approved the motion with Sandra Miller seconding.  All members approved the motion.  The proclamation reads as follows:  

 WHEREAS, Montgomery County Schools Principals provide leadership to make public schools great; and

WHEREAS, Principals work to assure that students have the opportunity to open their minds to ideas, knowledge and dreams; and

WHEREAS, Principals keep American democracy alive by laying the foundation for good citizenship; and

WHEREAS, Principals fill many roles, as listeners, role models, leaders, motivators and mentors; and

WHEREAS, Principals continue to influence us long after our school days are only memories;

Now, therefore, I, Steven W. DeBerry, serving as chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Education,

Do hereby proclaim the month of October 2014, as National Principals Month

I urge that we observe this day by taking time to recognize and acknowledge the impact of Principals on our schools and students.

Signed this 6^th day of October, 2014.

             Gina Smith with First Health of the Carolinas School Health Centers discussed a power point summarizing the attendance at the health centers for 2013-14.  There were 8,290 total visits to the centers, including 3,275 nurse visits, 250 medical visits, 2,621 preventive visits, 265 behavioral/mental health visits, 910 nutrition visits and 240 MCS staff visits.  The nurses also completed sports physicals and required immunizations. They also collaborated with school, corporate and community partners to implement the “FYI” Fit Youth Initiative.  The program consisted of 6-week sessions with 45 minutes of fun physical activities like yoga or Zumba and 45 minutes of nutrition information. To date, 58% decreased their BMIs, 64% increase the number of days in the past week they exercised for at least 20 minutes, 34% reported spending fewer hours watching television, 43% reported eating more servings of vegetables and 29% reported drinking soda fewer times.  In the coming year, the nurses plan to proactively and positively address challenges and provide comprehensive, high quality healthcare to students regardless of their ability to pay.       

               With Dr. Lancaster at a conference, Dr. Ellis presented Policy Code 3460 Graduation Requirements and Policy Code 3460R Differentiated Diploma Pathway Policy and Process as an action item.  Tommy Blake made a motion to approve with Sandra Miller seconding.  There was no opposition from the board.  The following policies were presented for first reading:  Policy Code 6140 Student Wellness, Policy Code 6230 Nutritional Standards for Food Selection and Policy Code 6235 Beverage Vending Sales. 

             Superintendent Ellis chose to hold his closing remarks until closed session.      

             Chairman DeBerry then asked for a motion to adjourn and move into closed session.  With a motion from Bryan Dozier, along with a second from Jesse Hill, 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 Board Meetings dated September 8, 2014.

2.    Personnel and Auxillary Reports as follows:

            Noncertified                            Recommended By                Record Check

1)    Christie Wall                        Jack Cagle                               Pending

2)    Christy Rushing                  Donna Kennedy                       Pending

 

Certified                                   Recommended By                Record Check

1)    Cindy Stephens                  Donna Kennedy                           Yes

 

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

Resignation/Retirement        School/Assignment              Effective Date

          1)    Charlotte Burris                  Central Office                         September 30, 2014

Retirement                         Maintenance Clerical

          2)    Shelia Lassiter                    Central Office                         September 17, 2014

Resignation                        Child Nutrition Sub

          3)    Kristy Holder                      Candor Elementary                September 15, 2014

Resignation                        Child Nutrition

           4)    Julie Wittman                     Central Office                         October 15, 2014

Resignation                        Behavior Specialist

            5)    Tera Smith                         Central Office                         October 22, 2014

Resignation                        Occupational Therapist

            6)    Tina Glover                         Central Office                         October 1, 2014

Resignation                        Child Nutrition Sub

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

 

         Contract/                          School/                                  Record        

         Effective Date                  Assignment                          Check                   Replacing

         1)    Jana McCallum         West Montgomery High          Yes                     

09/15/2014                 ELA Teacher

2)    Nancy Williams          Green Ridge Elementary        Pending       

10/16/2014                 EC Teacher

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)    Melinda Greene             Central Office                       Yes                 

     09/16/2014                      Child Nutrition Sub

         2)    Bethany Webb               Mt. Gilead Elementary          Yes

    9/25/2014                         Part-time tutor

         3)    Tina Hare                       Central Office                       Yes

    09/16/2014                       Child Nutrition Sub

         4)    Deborah Haywood         Central Office                       Yes

    09/15/2014                       Child Nutrition Sub

 5)    Michelle Brady               Central Office                       Yes               Delores Mauldin

    09/08/2014                       Payroll and Benefits

          6)    Enchantria Smith           Mt. Gilead Elementary           Yes

    09/15/2014                       Interim One-on-One Asst.

 7)    LaShonda Douglas        Green Ridge Elementary       Yes

    09/22/2014                       Part-time Kindergarten

                                      Support

        8)    Janice Jolene Morris      Central Office                        Yes

     09/29/2014                      Child Nutrition Sub

 9)    David Dutton                  Central Office                        Yes              Kathy Johnson

      09/18/2014                     Interim Chief Financial Officer.

        10) Mitch Taylor                   Central Office                        Pending      David Dutton

10/20/2014                     Chief Financial Officer

        11) Haley Ritzheimer           Troy Elementary                   Pending    

10/6/2014                       P/T EC Assistant

 e.    Report of the following transfers:

 Transfer/

Effective Date            From                               To                                    Replacing

        1)    April Mabe            Star Elementary               Star Elementary             Margaret Chambers

09/15/2014             Child Nutrition P/T            Child Nutrition Asst. Mgr.                    

2)    Wesley Maynor      East Montgomery          East Montgomery             Hubert Lindsey

     09/05/2014             Interim Custodian             Part-time Custodian

        3)    Tina Hare              Central Office                 Star Elementary

     09/23/2014             Child Nutrition Sub           Child Nutrition P/T

        4)    Melissa Bowden    Central Office                 East Middle School           Kristy Holder

10/13/2014            Child Nutrition Sub           Child Nutrition P/T

         5)    Toby Karnes         Troy Elementary              Green Ridge Elementary

09/17/2014            Kindergarten Teacher      Kindergarten Teacher

         6)    Princess Miller      Transportation Dept.        West Montgomery High    Derrick Drake

09/29/2014             Part-time Bus Driver        Part-time Custodian

         7)    Margaret Miller       Central Office                Central Office                   Julie Wittman

     10/16/2014             Compliance Spec.           Behavior Specialist  *Approved to strike from personnel report per employee request.

          8)    John Morton         Montgomery Learning      East Montgomery High

     10/01/2014             TA  One-on-One              TA One-on-One

          9)    Donna Faulkner     Green Ridge Elem.        Green Ridge Elem.

10/06/2014            Child Nutrition Asst.         Child Nutrition Asst. Mgr.

f.     Upon recommendation, approval of the following coaches for the fall 2014 sports season:

West Montgomery High School

Kaitlyn Brown                 Trainer

Upon recommendation approval of the following student transfer is requested.

Moore County Schools to Montgomery County Schools – Auston Joe Britt

                              

3.     First Health Provider Agreement;

4.     Budget Amendment 1:

                          Breakfast a la carte 2014-15                                     Lunch a la carte 2014-15

Breakfast entrée    $1.00                                     Lunch Entrée                                $1.50

Fruit-1/2 cup          $0.60                                   Chef Salad                                    $2.10

Fruit-fresh             $0.65                                   Vegetables (1/2 cup)                      $0.60

Juice                     $0.50                                    Baked Potato (white & sweet)        $1.00

Milk                        $0.50                                  Tossed Salad - (Side)                    $1.00

                                                                          Soup (1 cup)                                  $1.00

Beverages                                                           Fruit – ½ cup                                 $0.60

Tea (Adults only)        $0.60                               Roll-1 oz or Breadstick-1 oz           $0.25                

Milk                            $0.50

Water-bottled            $0.75                                                                   

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

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

                                                                     

                                                                                  __________________________

                                                                                  __________________________

                                                                                  Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary