LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT

810 WEST MARKHAM STREET

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

 

 

MINUTES

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

September 8, 2005

 

The Board of Directors of the Little Rock School District held a special meeting on Thursday, September 8, 2005, in the Boardroom of the Administration Building, 810 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.  President Larry Berkley presided.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

           

Larry Berkley

Micheal Daugherty

Katherine Mitchell

Bryan Day

Baker Kurrus

Tony Rose

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Sue Strickland

 

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 5:50 p.m.    Six members of the board were present at roll call; Ms. Strickland was absent. 

 

II.         PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

 

The agenda for the special meeting listed the following items:

 

A.     Achievement Challenge Pilot Project

B.     Update:  Special Education Focus Group

C.    Employee Hearing


 

III.        ACTION AGENDA

 

A.      Achievement Challenge Pilot Project

 

The Achievement Challenge Pilot Project provided financial incentives to classroom teachers and other staff members at Meadowcliff Elementary School during the 2004-05 school year.  A private contributor funded the program for the first year, and Dr. Brooks requested Board approval to fund the second year of the pilot at Meadowcliff Elementary School.  The project rewarded teachers and other school employees for significant gains in student academic achievement based on pre- and post-test scores.        

 

Mr. Berkley and Mr. Rose spoke in support of the project, with Dr. Daugherty suggesting that a way be developed to equalize the amounts of the bonuses paid to teachers. 

 

Dr. Mitchell spoke in opposition to the process, not the project, stating that all schools should be included in any incentive programs offered by the district and that she would be in favor of the incentive if all schools were included. 

 

Mr. Rose moved to approve the superintendent’s request and recommendation.  Mr. Day seconded the motion, and it carried 5-1, with Dr. Mitchell casting the “no” vote.

 

B.    Update:  Special Education Focus Group

 

Dr. Olivine Roberts provided information regarding the Special Education Focus Group recommendations during the agenda meeting.  The recommendations will be presented at the regular board meeting in September and the board will be asked to formally accept the report.  Dr. Roberts responded to questions from the Board and introduced members of the task force.

 

C.    Employee Hearing

 

The board convened a closed session at 6:10 p.m. for the purpose of conducting an employee hearing.  The employee was recommended for non-renewal of her contract based on performance evaluations conducted while she was employed as a security officer at a high school. 

 

Mr. Hartz provided background information for the Board’s review and consideration.  In addition, he called Safety & Security Director, Bobby Jones, as a witness. 

 

Grainger Ledbetter represented the employee at the hearing.  He interviewed the employee, but called no additional witnesses.  Mr. Ledbetter contended that the employee may have had areas of previous unsatisfactory performance, as noted on the evaluation documents presented by the administration, but that she had shown improvement and that she had not been given sufficient time to prove herself unable to perform the required responsibilities. 

 

The board went into closed deliberations at 7:53 p.m.  They returned from closed session to report that no action had been taken.  Mr. Rose made a motion to set aside the administration’s recommendation for non-renewal.  Dr. Daugherty seconded the motion and it carried 6-0. 

 

V.                 ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Kurrus and seconded by Dr. Daugherty. 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED:  09-22-05                                           Originals Signed by:  

                        Larry Berkley, President

Katherine P.  Mitchell, Secretary