The
Board of Directors of the Little Rock School District held a special meeting
in conjunction with the regularly scheduled agenda meeting on Thursday, November
11, 2004, 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 5:05 p.m. Six
members of the Board were present at roll call; Ms. Strickland was absent.
Ex officio representatives for the month of November were also present: Dr.
Don Cherepski, teacher at McClellan High School, and Antoine Ghoston, McClellan
student.
II. PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
The agenda for the special meeting listed two items
for the Board's review and consideration; a suspension of the rules added
a third action item.
A.
Update: Organizational
Audit
B. Appointment of West Little Rock School Committee
III. ACTION
AGENDA
A. Update: Organizational Audit
Dr. Dennis Smith and Mr. Bob Klempen, leaders of the organizational audit team, made a presentation of initial and preliminary findings. Copies of the status report were provided and briefly reviewed with the Board.
Specifically, the audit reveals that there are problems that have developed over time, creating "administrative gridlock," multiple layers of bureaucracy, and a lack of understanding regarding lines of communication and authority. Many administrators are unclear as to their responsibilities and there is a lack of support for school level personnel.
Mr. Klempen addressed possible recommendations
and solutions including identification of core programs and positions in order
to create a more efficient, effective and streamlined organization. Each position
should have clearly defined responsibilities, titles, and line of authority.
The Board will be provided with additional information as the process continues
and will be asked to consider and approve a more efficient and effective organization.
Mr. Kurrus asked the auditors to make suggestions for consideration in order to keep good principals in school positions. High achieving building leaders often move into administrative positions to reap the rewards of higher salaries. He asked for suggestions on how to pay principals more in order to keep them in the schools where they are most needed.
Dr. Brooks introduced the internal transition team leaders: Sadie Mitchell, Mark Milhollen, Beverly Williams, Suellen Vann, Olivine Roberts and Karen DeJarnette. Additional staff members will be included in review and discussions as the team compiles research and recommendations to streamline the organization.
B.
Appointment of West Little Rock School Committee
Board policy BDF requires the Board's action to form citizens' advisory committees for specific purposes or to assign individuals to review areas of educational programs, development, change or reorganization. These committees are to report periodically to the Board and will disband once their assigned tasks are accomplished.
The superintendent presented a recommendation for the formation of a planning committee / task force to review and make recommendations for the planning and construction of a west Little Rock School. The Board will nominate members of the community to serve, and a representative from the Board will be appointed by Mr. Berkley. Superintendent Brooks will be responsible for assigning administrative team members.
Dr. Daugherty suggested that Mr. Berkley
serve as the Board's representative on the committee, as the school will be
built within the boundaries of the zone he is elected to represent. Mr. Berkley
agreed to do so.
Mr.
Day moved to approve and officially sanction the formation of a planning committee
/ task force for the new west Little Rock school. Dr. Daugherty seconded the
motion and it carried unanimously.
C.
Suspension of the Rules
Mr. Kurrus made a motion to suspend
the rules to consider an item not previously noted on the agenda. Mr. Rose
seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
There was brief discussion regarding
changing the date of the November board meeting from Thursday, November 18
to Tuesday, November 16, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Kurrus moved that the date
change be approved. Dr. Daugherty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
V.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board,
the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
APPROVED: _ 11-16-04 __ Originals Signed by:
Larry
Berkley, President
Katherine P. Mitchell, Secretary