January 12, 2015
MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
MINUTES
January 12, 2015
The Montgomery County Board of Education convened in its regular monthly meeting on Monday, January 12, 2015, 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 Jesse Hill, the agenda was adopted with unanimous approval from the board.
Chairman DeBerry opened the meeting with a New Year devotional reminding us to start fresh with the New Year by shaking off bad habits and keeping good thoughts working for us. Cherish every moment you are given because time doesn’t come twice to anyone. Be grateful for what you have and whom you have in your life. Resolve to be the best person you can be by building your life on the good foundation of loving God and your fellow man.
Mackenzie and Kohl Greene, students from Troy Elementary, led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Dr. Ellis and Sharon Castelli, Principal at Page Street Elementary School, presented Patsy Brooks and Janet Sechrest certificates for Classified and Certified employees of the month. Mrs. Castelli said, “I appreciate the support that Mrs. Sechrest gives me and her fellow teachers. Mrs. Brooks is one of the first faces the children see each morning, she knows all the kids and they adore her”. Dr. Ellis commended Mrs. Sechrest and Mrs. Brooks on a job well done.
Superintendent Ellis recognized Megan Morse, ninth grade student at West Montgomery High School. Megan’s artwork was featured on the Montgomery County Schools Christmas card this year. Her drawing of a snowman with the words, “all students are worth melting for” was selected as the winning entry by MCS staff. Megan received a certificate and monetary award.
Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to hold the consent agenda until closed session. Sandra Miller made the motion with Ann Long seconding.
Next, Troy Elementary Principal Angie Tofflemeyer and Instructional Facilitator Chris Jonassen, along with teachers Tammy Batten, Melissa Harris, Kristie Lynthacum, Tonya Little and Sabrina Gooch, presented the power point “Raising Student Achievement and Closing Gaps”. Mr. Jonassen discussed the Instructional Facilitator (IF) role in student learning. The Instructional Facilitator leads professional development for teachers, completes PLC’s and leads data driven discussions. For reading, teachers use a data wall to track student progress and discuss intervention planning. For math, teachers use NCDPI math tasks as grade level common assessments. Teachers plan and track data digitally using a Microsoft One Drive spreadsheet. The teachers alternated discussing different forms of student intervention being implemented at Troy. The first is Letterland intervention. With Letterland, students receive instruction in the classroom, as well as small intervention groups of no more than six students per group. Second, teachers use techniques in the classroom that allow all students to participate at the same time, by sharing and giving feedback to each other. Activities such as Think-Pair-Share, Stand Up/Hand Up, Quick Writes, Four Corners and Inside/Outside Circle motivate students and keeps them actively learning. Next, students are placed into differentiated literacy workstations based on student needs. Stations, or centers, are compiled by the use of performance data on each child. Students complete leveled activities based on each need and advance when the skill is mastered. Another learning tool is daily intervention time, placing students in three groups: lower, middle and highest for daily-targeted instruction. The purpose of this intervention is to meet each need by flexible grouping. iReady and personalized instruction is the final piece of the teaching puzzle. These tools are used for reading and math in the classroom and computer lab to support classroom instruction. Data is collected through diagnostic exams and monthly progress monitoring. Reports are available to examine growth and drive further learning.
Superintendent Ellis presented to the Board the results of the Montgomery County Schools Central Support Survey. According to feedback, about thirty percent of the staff completed the survey. Overall, all departments improved or maintained. Department heads were asked to review the results and make changes where needed.
Dr. Ellis asked the Board to choose a date for the mid year review. The confirmed date is Tuesday, February 17th at 5:30 pm.
Kevin Lancaster presented a proposed calendar change to be approved at the February board meeting. The change combines all students getting out for early dismissal at the same time due to childcare issues expressed by parents. Dr. Lancaster then asked for the approval of a change to policy number 5024/6127/7266 concerning emergency Epinephrine Auto Injectors due to recent changes and enactments of state statute. With a motion by Tommy Blake and a second by Sandra Miller, the board moved to suspend the subsequent meeting policy review provision as outlined in policy number 2420 for this policy and this policy only. Bryan Dozier made the motion to approve the policy number 5024/6127/7266 Epinephrine Auto Injectors change with Ann Long seconding the motion. The board approved the change unanimously.
For superintendent remarks, Dr. Ellis introduced the new strategic plan for 2017. The plan featured a new layout, of which the Board approved. The plan can be viewed on the district webpage under the “our district” heading.
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 Tommy Blake, the board unanimously approved going into closed session to discuss personnel.
Upon returning from closed session, with a motion by Bryan Dozier and a second by Shirley Threadgill, the board approved the consent agenda as follows:
1) Board Minutes from December 8, 2014;
2) Personnel and Auxillary Reports:
a. Upon the recommendation of the principal, approval of the following addition to the substitute teacher list:
Noncertified Recommended By Record Check
1) Rita Maness Joan Frye Pending
b. Superintendent reports the acceptance of the following resignations/retirements:
Resignation/Retirement School/Assignment Effective Date
1) Jana McCallum West Montgomery High January 16, 2015
Resignation English Teacher
2) Emily Allen Page Street Elementary January 12, 2015
Resignation EC Teacher
3) Shelby Barton Central Office January 2, 2015
Resignation Speech Language
4) Melissa Moniz Central Office January 5, 2015
Resignation Speech Language
5) Mary Jo Mingin East Montgomery High January 4, 2015
Resignation EC Teacher
6) Tabitha Harris Central Office December 19, 2014
Resignation Substitute Teacher
7) Lakita McDonald West Montgomery High January 23, 2015
Resignation Child Nutrition-Asst.Mgr
c. Upon recommendation, approval of the following interim temporary contracts for the 2014-2015 school year as provided by General Statute 115C-325:
Contract/ School/ Record
Effective Date Assignment Check Replacing
1) Morgan Stewart Star Elementary Yes Shelby Morris
01/05/2015 2nd Grade Teacher
2) Deena Haley Mt. Gilead/Page/Star Yes Melissa Moniz
01/12/2015 Speech/Language
3) Margaret Miller Central Office Yes Re-hire
12/18/2014 EC Compliance Specialist/
Data Manager
4) Susan Ashworth Green Ridge Elementary Yes Johnny Seawell
01/06/2015 EC Self-Contained Teacher
5) Russell Saladin Page Street Elementary Pending Emily Allen
EC Teacher
6) Belinda Boros West Montgomery High Pending Jana McCallum
01/20/2015 ELA Teacher
7) Daniel Coggins West Montgomery High Yes
01/19/2015 Math Teacher
8) Caleb Rushing West Middle School Yes01/06/2015 Social Studies Teacher
9) Benjamin Hammer East Montgomery High Pending
TBD Social Studies Teacher/
Head Football Coach
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) Kimberly Goodwin Central Office Yes Melinda Green
12/15/2014 Child Nutrition Sub
e. Report of the following transfers:
Transfer/
Effective Date From To Replacing
1) Janice Williamson Central Office Green Ridge Elem. Lisa Faulkner
01/05/2015 Child Nutrition Sub Child Nutrition P/T
2) Johnny Seawell Green Ridge Elem. West Montgomery High New Position
01/06/2015 EC Self-Contained EC Self-Contained
Teacher Teacher
f. Upon recommendation of the superintendent, approval of recommendation for employment of the following bus driver/sub drivers for the 2014-2015 school year that are not dual employees:
Curtis Bennett
Letha Dumas - Monitor
g. Upon recommendation, approval of the following coaches for the winter 2014 sports season:
East Montgomery High School
Lance Lamonds – Wrestling
h. Upon recommendation, approval of the following coaches for the spring 2015 sports season:
East Montgomery High School
Bret Kennedy - Baseball (Background Pending)
i. Upon recommendation, approval of the following tutors:
Corina Hill Troy Elementary School P/T
3) Budget Amendment #3:
Chairman DeBerry asked for a motion to adjourn. With a motion by Bryan Dozier and a second from Shirley Threadgill, the meeting was duly adjourned.
The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, February 2, 2015.
__________________________ ________________________
Steven W. DeBerry, Chairman Dale Ellis, Ed. D., Secretary