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LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 810 WEST MARKHAM STREET LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS |
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MINUTES REGULAR BOARD MEETING February 27, 2003 |
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The Board of Directors of the Little Rock School
District held its regularly scheduled meeting at 5:00 p.m.
on Thursday, February 27, 2003, in the Boardroom of the Administration
Building, 81O West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. President Judy
Magness presided. |
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Judy Magness Tony Rose Larry Berkley Micheal Daugherty Baker Kurrus
Katherine Mitchell Sue Strickland |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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None |
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ALSO PRESENT: |
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T. Kenneth James,
Superintendent of Schools Beverly Griffin, Recorder of Minutes |
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I. CALL
TO ORDER I ROLL CALL |
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Board President Judy Magness called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and stipulated the presence of a quorum. Six members of the Board were present; Dr. Daugherty arrived at 5:05 p.m. Lauren Easter, student from Hall High
School, served as the ex officio representative for the month of February;
the teacher representative, Kathleen Cargill, Mabelvale Elementary School,
was absent. |
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 27, 2003 Page 2 |
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II. |
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Ill. |
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PROCEDURAL MATTERS / WELCOMING COMMENTS |
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Ms. Magness announced that the
meeting was convened ½ hour early due to the inclement weather. She thanked
staff members who were present and noted that school had been closed due to
the snow and ice since Tuesday. It was expected that students would be able
to return to school on Friday. |
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REPORTS/RECOGNITIONSIPUBLIC COMMENTS |
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A. |
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Superintendent's Citations |
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None.
Citations, special announcements, and other recognitions were held for
distribution at the March Board meeting. |
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B. |
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Partners in Education - New Partnerships |
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Partnerships that were to be formalized at this
meeting will be announced at the March Board meeting. |
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C. |
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Remarks from Citizens |
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Dr. Chima Uko lgwe addressed the Board regarding
school bus stop safety |
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D. |
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Little Rock Classroom Teachers Association |
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Clementine Kelley was present, but did not
make a presentation. |
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E. |
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Joshua Intervenors |
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No report. |
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 27, 2003 Page 3 |
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IV. |
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REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS |
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A. |
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Remarks from Board Members |
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None. |
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B. |
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Desegregation Update |
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Mr. Babbs reported that enrollment notification
letters for the 2003-04 school year were being prepared and would be ready
for mailing the first week in March.
He responded to questions from the Board regarding enrollment in the
Head Start Centers that are located within LRSD schools. |
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C. |
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Budget Update |
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No report. |
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D. |
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Construction Report: Proposed Bond Projects |
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Mr. Goodman's report was printed in
the Board's agenda. He was present and |
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E. |
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Internal Auditors Report |
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Mr. Becker was present and his report was printed
in the agenda. There were no additional questions or requests for
information. |
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F. |
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Technology Update |
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Ms. Neal provided a brief review of activities
relating to revision of the District's Technology Plan. The plan will be
completed prior to the Board's March meeting and will be submitted for
approval at that time. |
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G. |
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Fine Arts Update |
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Mr. Fletcher reported briefly on efforts to improve
and enhance the District's band program.
Extensive and costly repairs have been made to equipment and
instruments, and plans are underway to begin replacing band uniforms. The VHI
- Save the Music Grant has provided partial funding for programs at
Romine, King, Mitchell and Forest Park. A music education handbook is being
developed and should be ready for distribution at the beginning of the
2003-04 school year. Mr. Fletcher
noted that the piano lab at Romine will be named in honor of Dana Duncan,
long-time music specialist at Romine, who recently passed away. A ceremony will be held in her honor to
celebrate the opening of the piano lab. |
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 27, 2003 Page 4 |
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V. |
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VI. |
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APPROVAL OF ROUTINE MATTERS |
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A. |
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Minutes |
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Minutes from the regular meeting of the Board of
Directors held on January 23, 2003 and from a special meeting held on
February 13, 2003, were presented for review and approval. Mr. Rose made a motion to approve the
minutes as presented; Dr. Mitchell seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. |
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B. |
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Personnel Changes |
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Routine personnel items were printed in the agenda and were submitted
for the Board's review and approval.
Mr. Rose made a motion to approve the personnel items as presented;
Mr. Berkley seconded the motion, and it carried |
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Ms. Magness called attention to the retirement of
Gary Smith, and expressed appreciation for his years of service to LRSD
students and families. Dr. Mitchell
noted the retirement of Mazie Phillips, counselor at Fair High School, who
has been ill. |
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INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION |
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A. |
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Program Evaluation: Elementary Summer School |
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Dr. Lesley was present to review the evaluation
documents and respond to questions.
Each of the evaluations presented for approval was discussed
previously at the Board's February agenda meeting. The Board was asked to approve the Elementary Summer School
evaluation for submission to federal court.
Mr. Rose made a motion to approve the evaluation report for
submission. Mr. Berkley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. |
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B. |
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Program Evaluation: Extended Year Evaluation |
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The Extended Year Evaluation was submitted for
review and approval prior to submission to the federal court. The District's
extended year program initially included Stephens, Mabelvale and Woodruff
Elementary Schools. Two additional schools were added in the fall of 2002,
Cloverdale and Mitchell Elementary Schools.
Ms. Strickland moved to approve submission of the report; Mr. Berkley
seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. |
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REGULAR
BOARD MEETING February 27, 2003 Page 5 |
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C. |
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Program Evaluation: Middle School Transition |
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The program evaluation for the Middle School
Transition was presented for the Board's review and approval. The transition from elementary - junior
high |
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D. |
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Program Evaluation: Lyceum Scholars |
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The Lyceum Scholars program was discontinued at the
end of the 2000-01 school year and students who would have been assigned to
the program were reassigned to their attendance zone schools, or to an
alternative learning environment. The decision to discontinue the program was
based on budgetary restrictions. Ms.
Strickland made a motion to approve the report for submission to the federal
court. Mr. Berkley seconded the
motion and it carried 7-0. |
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E. |
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Grant Proposal: Arkansas Reading First Grant
Program |
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The Arkansas Department of Education receives funds
from the federal Reading First initiative to improve the reading
skills of students from lower socio-economic subgroups in Arkansas schools,
grades K - 3, and in special education for students in K - 12. Twelve schools in the LRSD met the
eligibility criteria: Bale, Baseline, Chicot, Dodd, Fair Park, Mabelvale,
Mitchell, Rightsell, Romine, Stephens, Wakefield and Wilson. If received, these funds would provide assistance
in |
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F. |
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Grant Proposal: Laura Bush Foundation |
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The Laura Bush Foundation provides grants for the
purchase of library books for schools with a high percentage of students who
are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. Eleven LRSD schools met the
criteria and intend to apply for the grant, which would provide up to $5,000
per school. Those schools are Baseline, Brady, Cloverdale,
Fair Park, Franklin, Geyer Springs, Mabelvale Elementary, Mabelvale Middle
School, Mitchell, Watson, and Woodruff. The Board was asked to
approve the submission of these individual school grants. Mr. Rose made a motion to approve the
applications for submission, Dr. Mitchell seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously. |
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 27, 2003 Page 6 |
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VII. |
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VIII. |
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G. |
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Revised Regulations: EDCA-R |
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Lucy Neal presented a recommendation from the
Technology Planning Committee for a revision to the District's regulations
governing policy EDCA, authorized use of computer networks. This review and revision was in compliance
with federal Children's Internet Protection laws. The Board was asked to
approve the revised regulations as recommended by the Technology Planning
Committee. Dr. Mitchell moved to
approve the regulations as submitted.
Mr. Kurrus seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. |
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION |
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No items
presented for review. |
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BUSINESS SERVICES DIVISION |
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A. |
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Second Reading: Policy DGD - - Visa Purchasing Card (Pro-Card) |
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The administration presented Policy DGD - - Visa
Pro-Card guidelines for implementation for second reading and final approval.
The activation of a charge card for purchases which total less than $1,000
will be piloted with a select number of schools and departments, with full
implementation phased in over the next school year. Mr. Paradis was present to review the policy and reported that
staff training was underway, and that the program would begin upon Board
approval. This program is intended to
reduce the costs associated with the requisition and purchase order process
for small-dollar purchases. Mr. Berkley
moved to approve the policy on second reading. Mr. Rose seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. |
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B. |
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Laidlaw Contract 2003-2008 |
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A five-year extension to the contract with Laidlaw
Education Services was negotiated by LRSD administration and was presented
for the Board's review and approval.
The agreement provides for the addition of 70 new buses, and an
increase of 2.2% per year in the daily route rate. The Board was asked to |
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 27, 2003 Page 7 |
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C. |
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Barrow Road Quitclaim Dead |
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The City of Little Rock requested a deed of
property in front of Henderson Middle School on Barrow Road for the purpose
of widening that intersection and providing a traffic signal at the entrance
to the school. The Board had previously
adopted a resolution in support of this traffic control and spoke in favor of
the quitclaim deed. Dr. Mitchell
moved to approve the deed of property. Mr. Rose seconded the motion and it carried
7-0. |
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D. |
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Donations of Property |
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The Board was asked to approve acceptance of recent
donations to the District. Lauren Easter, student ex-officio representative,
read the listed donations. Dr. Mitchell made a motion to accept the donations
as listed; Ms. Strickland seconded the motion, and it carried
unanimously. Donations are
listed in the following chart: |
SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT ITEM DONOR Brady Elementary School Rainbow assortment of paper, valued at approximately
$150.00 Table and sandbox for use in pre-K classroom, 75
stuffed animals, 30 board games, estimated value $850.00 Mr. Charles Babo Barbara Gilkey, State HIPPY program director Forest Park Elementary School Precast concrete caps, valued at $22,000 to cover the
rock wall surrounding the playgrounds Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ramm Forest Heights Middle School Gingerbread houses, valued at $1,000 to be used for
student incentives Eight hours of pressure washing the sidewalks, valued
at $600.00 Seasonal decorations for the main office Treatment Homes, Inc. and Loretta Garland West Little Rock Pressure Washing Carolyn Blome Jefferson Elementary School $100 cash to be applied toward purchase of new stage
curtains Awning, valued at $150.00 to cover pre-K playground
equipment Jim Ginger Maple Leaf Canvas, Mr & Mrs. Jim Wilson Mabelvale Magnet Middle School Two computers valued at $1,050 to CBI classroom Danield Pyne McClellan Community High School $100 cash to the baseball program $1,000 cash to the football program Ray Stalnaker Wal-Mart Foundation
DONATIONS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 27, 2003 Page 8 |
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IX. |
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X. |
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SCHOOL SERVICES DIVISION |
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No items
for review / approval. |
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CLOSING REMARKS |
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A.
Superintendent's Report |
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Dr. James provided brief comments on the success of the LR Public Education Foundation luncheon meeting that was held the previous week. He credited the members of the Foundation staff and Board for moving quickly to plan and implement the foundation process. Dr. Mitchell commended Dr. James and the Foundation staff for the luncheon, and reported that it was very well attended. |
DONATIONS
E. |
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Financial Report |
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Mr. Milhollen reviewed the financial reports
provided in the Board's printed agenda and responded to questions regarding
receipt of notification on any possible reductions in state funds. Since no exact projections have been made,
it is difficult to anticipate how much will be cut, but the Board will be
notified as soon that amount Rose seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously. |
SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT ITEM DONOR McClellan Community High School Sony Mavica MVC-FD83 digital camera, valued at $400
for the Business Ed Department RCA Corporation Mitchell Academy $500 cash to be used to purchase gifts for students School uniforms valued at $220 for uniform closet Sidney and Debra Moncrief Valerie Wyatt and family (3rd grade
teacher at Mitchell) Pulaski Heights Elementary 18 TV/VCR mounts alued at $1,353.00 Pulaski heights Elementary PTA Stephens Elementary School Ellison letter machine starter set valued ta $2,275 Stephens Elementary PTA LR CPMSA $2,500 cash for the SMART program Lisenne Rockefeller LRSD Social Studies Department 15,000 copies of “Guide to the Middle East” valued at
$775.00 for distribution to students in history classes KATV Channel 7
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REGULAR
BOARD MEETING February 27, 2003 Page 9 |
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XI. |
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School had been closed for 3 days, but the Superintendent announced that school would be in session tomorrow (Friday), unless there was additional freezing precipitation during the night. It will be decided within a few days when the three school days will be made up, most likely added to the end of the year. |
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Dr. James also announced that the Board had decided
by consensus to move the March Board meeting to the 20th, so that no meeting
would be held during spring break. |
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Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Daugherty
expressed appreciation to Dr. Bonnie Lesley for her hard work on behalf of
the District, and wished her well in her new position. This was to be Dr.
Lesley's last LRSD Board meeting. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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There being no further business before the Board,
Mr. Kurrus moved to adjourn at 5:55 p.m. Mr. Rose seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously. |
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APPROVED: _03-20-03__ Original
documents signed by: Judy Magness, President Larry Berkley, Secretary |