The
Board of Directors of the Little Rock School District held a special meeting on
Thursday, August 11, 2005, in the Boardroom of the Administration Building, 810
West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.�
President Larry Berkley presided.
MEMBERS
PRESENT:
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Larry Berkley
Micheal Daugherty
Katherine Mitchell
Bryan Day
Baker Kurrus
Tony Rose
Sue Strickland
MEMBERS
ABSENT:
None
ALSO
PRESENT:
Roy G. Brooks,
Superintendent of Schools
Beverly Griffin, Recorder of Minutes
I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Mr. Berkley
called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
All members of the board were present at roll call. In addition, ex-officio representatives to
the Board for the month of August were also present; Carolyn Jennings, teacher
at Southwest Middle School, and Naomi Bland, student at Hall High School.
II. PURPOSE
OF THE MEETING
The agenda for the special meeting listed the following
items:
A.
Presentation: Novus EDU / Novus Agenda On-line / Paperless
Agenda Solutions
B.
Reorganization
Update
C.
Polling Sites for
September Annual School Election
D.
Student
Reinstatement
III. ACTION
AGENDA
A. Presentation: Novus EDU / Novus Agenda On-line / Paperless Agenda Solutions
The Board had been provided with a copy of the executive summary from Novus Edu and Mr. John Kercher was present to provide a brief overview and demonstration of the Novus on-line agenda solution. Sharon Dowdy, the district’s technology consultant, along with other district staff members had met for several months to review proposals and to provide a recommendation for the Board’s consideration. The Novus software was the committee’s unanimous choice for an on-line, paperless agenda product. The Board will be asked to approve the selection at the August 25, regular board meeting.
B. Reorganization Update
Superintendent Brooks presented a PowerPoint overview and reorganization progress report to the Board. Each board member was provided with a copy of the report, and was given an opportunity to ask questions and make comments.
C. Polling Sites for September Annual School Election
The 2005 annual School Board elections are scheduled in September for Zones 1 and 5 in the LRSD. Dr. Mitchell is running unopposed for the Zone 1 seat; Mr. Berkley has an opponent for the seat in Zone 5.
In zones where the race is uncontested, the District has the option of reducing the number of polling sites to one. The reduction to one polling site in Zone 1 would save the district approximately $21,000. All polling sites in Zone 5 would remain open.
The administration recommended Board approval to proceed with the reduction in polling sites for Zone 1. A Notice of Election was presented for review and will be published in the newspaper according to Arkansas law. Mr. Rose moved to approve the administration’s recommendation; Mr. Day seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
The Board recessed to conduct
the agenda meeting, and then reconvened to hear the administration’s
recommendation for student reinstatement at 6:30 p.m.
D.
Student Reinstatement
Dr. Watson presented the summary of recommendations for reinstatement of a student who was a ninth grade student who had been involved in and disciplined for several incidents at McClellan High School. He was assigned to the Alternative Learning Center on February 9, 2004,
On February 28, the student was on the campus of McClellan High School after school, walking on the track with three other students. Witnesses testified that the student pulled a gun and fired three shots into the air, then he ran into the neighborhood outside of the McClellan campus. At approximately the same time, a young man standing near the football stadium on Geyer Springs Road was struck by a bullet.
The student was arrested and was placed in a juvenile detention facility. He was expelled from the LRSD for a full calendar year, and remained incarcerated during this time. He attended classes at the Step-One Program of the Juvenile Justice Center, and successfully earned appropriate credits and a 2.5 grade point average. He has been released from the detention facility and has asked to return to school in the LRSD.
Due to the serious nature of the incident the administration recommended reinstatement and placement at the Felder Alternative Learning Center. He will receive support and counseling in an attempt to ensure that he complies with district rules and regulations. He will remain on strict probation during the time he attends Felder.
Dr. Daugherty moved to support the administration’s recommendation. Mr. Day seconded the motion and it carried 6-1, with Mr. Rose casting the “no” vote.
V.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board,
the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Rose and seconded by Dr.
Daugherty.
APPROVED:
08-25-05 Originals
Signed by:
Larry
Berkley, President
Katherine P. Mitchell, Secretary