LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT

810 WEST MARKHAM STREET

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

 

 

MINUTES

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

July 14, 2005

 

The Board of Directors of the Little Rock School District held a special meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2005, in the Boardroom of the Administration Building, 810 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.  Vice President Micheal Daugherty presided.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

           

Micheal Daugherty

Katherine Mitchell

Bryan Day

Baker Kurrus

Tony Rose

Sue Strickland

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

            Larry Berkley

 

 

ALSO PRESENT:

 

            Roy G. Brooks, Superintendent of Schools

            Beverly Griffin, Recorder of Minutes

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

 

Dr. Daugherty called the meeting to order at 5:20 p.m.    Six members of the board were present at roll call; Mr. Berkley was absent. 

 

II.         PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

 

The agenda for the special meeting listed the following items:

 

A.     Contract Extension for Technology Services

B.     Qualified Zone Academy (QZAB) Resolution

C.    First Reading:  Revision of Policy IJOA Field Trips, with Regulations

D.    Personnel Items


 

III.        ACTION AGENDA

 

A.       Contract Extension for Technology Services

 

The administration requested authorization to extend the contract with Education Innovators and Sharon Dowdy for technology consulting services.  The current contract expired on June 30, 2005; Mr. Milhollen presented the request for extension.  The recommendation noted that the services of the consultant were needed to enable the District to continue applications for e-rate funding, to continue evaluation of RFP’s for technology providers, and to evaluate and implement an automated agenda management system. 

 

Mr. Rose spoke in opposition to the request, stating that the Board expected the administration to develop in-house expertise in the area of technology.  Mr. Kurrus and Ms. Strickland agreed with Mr. Rose and stated that it would be preferable to hire or train someone in-house to provide these services instead of continuing to pay an outside consultant.  The Board requested additional information including a comparison between the LRSD and other districts that face similar technology issues. 

 

Mr. Rose made a motion to table action, Ms. Strickland seconded the motion and it carried 4-2, with Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Day voting “no.”  It was agreed by consensus to return the item to the agenda for action at the July regular board meeting.

 

B.      Qualified Zone Academy (QZAB)

 

A resolution authorizing the issuance and delivery of bonds to Crews & Associates and Bank of the Ozarks was presented for the Board’s review and approval.  The board granted approval On February 24 to apply for QZAB funding which provided $2.2 million for heat and air projects in the schools.  Crews & Associates provided the low bid for construction bonds to complete the projects.  Mr. Kurrus moved to approve the resolution as presented.  Ms. Strickland seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0.

 

C.       First Reading:  Revision of Policy IJOA Field Trips,
   with  Regulations IJOA-R

 

Dr. Mitchell presented revisions to Policy IJOA, Field Trips, with regulations.  After a brief discussion, a correction was noted in the number of field trips allowed per teacher - - two per teacher instead of two per grade level.  Mr. Rose moved to approve the revised policy on first reading.  Mr. Kurrus seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. 

 

D.           Personnel Appointments

 

Dr. Brooks introduced several personnel appointments and recommended Board approval.    

 

-         Ann Freeman, Early Childhood Assistant

-         Frederick Fields, Principal, Cloverdale Middle School

-         Betty Mosley, Principal, Cloverdale Elementary School

-         Nancy Swaty, Principal, McDermott Elementary School

 

Mr. Day made a motion to approve the superintendent’s recommendations and Ms. Strickland seconded the motion.  It carried unanimously. 

 

 

V.                 ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Rose and seconded by Mr. Day. 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED:  08-25-05                                           Originals Signed by:  

                        Larry Berkley, President

Katherine P.  Mitchell, Secretary