June 25, 2002
The
Board of Directors of the Little Rock School District held its regularly
scheduled meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2002, in the Boardroom of
the Administration Building, 810 West Markham Street, Little Rock,
Arkansas. President Baker Kurrus
presided.
MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Baker Kurrus
Judy Magness
Tony
Rose
Larry Berkley
Micheal
Daugherty
Sue Strickland
MEMBERS
ABSENT:
None
ALSO
PRESENT:
T.
Kenneth James, Superintendent of Schools
Beverly Griffin, Recorder of Minutes
I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
President Baker Kurrus called the
meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Five
members of the Board were present at roll call; Ms. Strickland arrived at 6:13
p.m. and Dr. Mitchell arrived at 6:40 p.m.
Rebecca Brown, teacher at Fair Park Elementary School, served as
ex-officio representative to the Board for the month of June. The student representative from Parkview
Magnet High School did not attend.
II. PROCEDURAL
MATTERS / WELCOMING COMMENTS
Mr. Kurrus made brief opening remarks
and welcoming comments. He asked Dr.
Daugherty to assist with the citations, recognitions and partnerships.
III. REPORTS/RECOGNITIONS/PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Dr. James recognized the District’s retirees and expressed appreciation
for their many years of service to the LRSD.
Just prior to the board meeting, a reception was held in the
administration office lobby and retirees were presented with certificates of
appreciation and a token gift.
The teacher ex officio representative, Rebecca Brown, from
Fair Park Elementary School, was presented with a certificate of appreciation
for her service during the month of June.
The student representative did not attend.
B. Remarks from Citizens
Bennie Johnson, representing the District’s security officers, addressed
the Board regarding salary issues. He
serves on the LRCTA bargaining team for security officers and indicated that
these employees feel they are entitled to retroactive pay from provisions in
their last agreement. In addition, he
has been working in the senior high summer school at Parkview and he
complimented Jerome Farmer and Ken Moore for the good job they are doing at
Parkview.
Mary Jane Cheatham was present to represent the CTA, but did not have a
report.
D. Joshua Intervenors
No report.
IV. REPORTS
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Magness encouraged the audience to
vote for the bond issue to improve the Hilton on University Avenue. It will become the Peabody hotel, and the
improvements will improve the University and I-630 corridor.
Dr. Daugherty and Mr. Kurrus echoed Ms.
Magness’ comments, and Mr. Kurrus noted that twenty million dollars will be
spent in the improvement of this property.
It will mean an increase in the tax base, therefore an increase in the
revenue collections.
Mr. Babbs reported that student registration continues throughout the
summer months. It is important to
remind parents of kindergarten students and other students who are new to the
District that they need to register as soon as possible. The compliance committee continues to meet
weekly in preparation for the July 22 – 26 hearings.
Dr. Stewart reported that the business office staff is still working to close the books for the 2001-02 school year. All budget requests have been submitted and are being entered into the system. They are continuing to look at revenue projections, but there is nothing new to report at this time.
Mr. Eaton reported for Mr. Goodman; the
construction report was printed as a part of the Board’s agenda. Significant changes since the last month’s
report included the bidding for construction and renovation at Mabelvale Middle
School, and at all five high schools.
He also reported that asbestos abatement in the schools would be
complete by the end of the year.
The Internal Auditors’ Report was printed as part of the Board’s
agenda.
Mr. Becker was present, but provided no additional information.
Ms. Neal was present and briefly reviewed the report
printed in the Board’s agenda. She
reported that the District’s telephone system would switch off of the Alltel
network onto the statewide network next week.
It is hoped that there will be no significant problems. Ms. Neal noted that the four original magnet
schools are installing media retrieval systems over the summer. Teachers will be able to download
instructional materials directly from the Internet.
A.
Minutes
Minutes from the regular meeting of the
Board of Directors held on May 23, 2002 and from a special meeting held on June
6, 2002 were presented for review and approval. Mr. Berkley made a motion to approve the minutes as
presented. Mr. Rose seconded the motion
and it carried unanimously.
B.
Board Meeting Dates, 2002-03
Proposed meeting dates for the
2002-2003 school year were provided for the Board’s review and approval. District policy sets the regular meetings to
be held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, except when those
dates conflict with holidays. Ms.
Magness moved to approve the proposed schedule. Mr. Berkley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Second reading approval was requested for instructional policies, IKACA, IKC, IKEC, and IKF. Changes to these policies were proposed in order to bring our policies into compliance with state accreditation standards. It was noted that many of the changes incorporate language directly from the state standards. First reading approval was granted in May.
Dr. Daugherty made a motion to
approve the policies on second reading.
Ms. Magness seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Dr. Lesley provided a summary of the results of the pre-kindergarten through
second grade literacy program. The
report provided a three-year comparative review of the assessments which are
administered by classroom teachers in the fall, and again in the spring. The results of this assessment provide a
measurement for determining students who are not making progress in learning to
read.
The results of the report were positive in that the majority of the
students are learning to read; significant improvement is noted in kindergarten
and grade two, and there is a narrowing of the achievement gap. Dr. Lesley noted that the state Benchmark
exams that our students will take in the spring of 2004 will be evidence of
success in reading achievement and improvements.
Dr. Lesley provided a summary report on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) “No Child Left Behind” initiative. The District’s implementation plan was printed in the Board’s agenda. It was noted that the District will be required to reallocate its’ federal funds to meet the new requirements, and use local funds to support the improvement of low-performing schools. Additional information will be provided once the state laws have been approved and published. The District’s plan will be submitted to the ADE no later than July 1.
Mr. Adams prepared and presented the Title I District Plan and the Title V Application for 2002 –2003. The Title I funding allocation in the amount of $4,874,994, is to be used to improve educational opportunities for children, with emphasis on improvement in literacy, mathematics, and parent involvement. Title V allocations are $202,431, based on the enrollment of eligible students in the LRSD including private schools within the District. These funds are to be used to support dropout prevention programs, literacy programs for parents, technology training, library services and instructional / media materials. Mr. Berkley made a motion to approve the submissions as presented. Dr. Daugherty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
The U. S.
Department of Education requested proposals for the Teaching American History
program. The LRSD, in partnership with
the UALR Department of History, Colonial Williamsburg, National History Day,
the Central High School National Historic Site and Kagan Professional
Development, prepared the application.
The three-year request was submitted on June 3, 2002, in the amount of
$995,953. If received, these funds will
provide professional development for all fifth, eighth and eleventh grade
American history teachers. Mr. Rose
made a motion to approve the submission of the Teaching American History
grant. Ms. Magness seconded the motion
and it carried 7-0.
A.
Personnel Changes
Routine personnel items were provided for the
Board’s review and approval. In
addition, Dr. Mitchell made a motion to suspend the rules in order to consider
the appointment of principals to Southwest and Henderson Middle Schools. On the motion to suspend the rules, Ms.
Magness seconded, and it passed unanimously.
On the routine personnel items, Ms. Magness made
a motion to approve the items as presented and Mr. Berkley seconded. The motion carried 7-0.
Dr. James introduced David Smith as his recommendation for the position of principal at Southwest Middle
School. Marvin Burton was recommended to the principalship of Henderson Health Sciences Magnet
School. Mr. Smith and Mr. Burton were
selected by interview committees which presented their top three candidates to
the Superintendent for consideration and final approval. Mr. Smith and Mr. Burton were present and
expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve as the educational leader
of these schools. Dr. Mitchell made a
motion to approve the appointments, Ms. Magness seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
B.
Administrative Salary Review
All employee groups have been working under a
three-year salary agreement which provided an annual increase in the amount of
2.875%. Dr. James requested and
recommended approval for the same 2.875% increase to be given to all cabinet
level administrators who are not covered by one of the bargaining unit
agreements. Dr. Mitchell made a motion
to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation. Mr. Berkley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
C.
Executive Session
At 7:20 p.m., Ms. Magness made a motion to go
into executive session for the purpose of discussing compensation issues for
the Superintendent. Mr. Berkley
seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
The Board returned from executive session at
7:55 p.m. and reported that no action had been taken. Mr. Berkley made a motion to increase the Superintendent’s salary
by 2.875%, as has been approved for all other employees. Dr. Daugherty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
A.
Donations of Property
The Board was asked to approve acceptance of
recent donations to the District. Mr. Rose read the listed donations and made a
motion to accept the donations as presented.
Dr. Mitchell seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Donations are listed in the following chart:
DONATIONS
|
SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT |
ITEM |
DONOR |
|
Central
High School |
$1,500
cash for Incentive Program |
Donnie
Pointer / Coca-Cola Bottling Company |
|
Fair
High School |
Polaris
400 4 x 4 four-wheeler, valued at $2,800 for dragging baseball and football
fields |
George
Heer |
|
Forest
Heights Middle School |
$70.00
cash to athletic department $261.00
cash to athletic department Bubble
gum soap powder, valued at $75.00 to athletic department |
Scott
and Nancy Silfies Martin
and Melissa Thoma Larry
Shelman |
|
Forest
Park Elementary School |
$500.00
cash to be used to publish the yearbook |
Howard
McCain / Superior Bank |
|
Pulaski
Heights Elementary School |
$2,500
cash to be distributed between the library, kindergarten, resource classrooms
and student incentives |
Lisenne
Rockefeller |
|
Rockefeller
Elementary School |
Multiple
donations for purchase of books on autism for the school library |
June
& Charles Cahlgren ($20.00) Joyce
A. Bjork ($20.00) Beverly
Alberson ($25.00) Tracie
and Robert Hood ($25.00) Brett
and Nancy Wulek ($25.00) Scott
and Roberta Wheeler ($25.00) Janie
Hall ($25.00) Todd
and Kari Auld ($35.00) Steven
T. Wujek ($100.00) |
|
LRSD
Health Services |
Dental
education kits, valued at $136.00 each.
Total value $4,896.00 Nursing
Textbooks, valued at $4,000 to be used as reference and resource for school
nurses and for students in the health magnet programs |
Delta
Dental Plan of Arkansas\ Baptist
Health School of Nursing |
|
LRSD
HIPPY Office |
Printer
table, valued at $100.00 |
Arkansas
HIPPY office |
|
LRSD
Social Studies Dept / Middle School libraries |
25
books, Telling Your Arkansas Stories, valued at $250.00 |
Arkansas
Department of Heritage |
DONATIONS: (continued)
|
SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT |
ITEM |
DONOR |
|
LRSD
VIPS |
Teacher
of the Year Banquet sponsorships / donations |
Friday,
Eldredge & Clark ($500.00) Moses
Tucker Real Estate ($50.00 gift certificate) Tipton
& Hurst ($25.00 gift certificate) Barnes
& Noble Bookstore ($50.00 gift certificate) Staples
(color jet printer and desk set) John
Riggs IV ($100.00) Downtown
Athletic Club (3-month membership) Twisters
(2 tickets to football game) Dell
Computer Corporation (Dell laptop computer) |
B. Financial Report
Mark Milhollen was present and briefly reviewed
the summary report printed in the Board’s agenda. He noted that eleven months of activity is included in this report
and that the financial services staff will begin closing out the year once they
can close the month of June. The final
report will be provided as soon as possible after the end of the fiscal year. Ms. Magness made a motion to approve the
financial reports as presented. Dr.
Mitchell seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
IX.
SCHOOL SERVICES DIVISION
No report or action presented.
X.
DISTRICT OPERATIONS
A.
Proposed Budget for Annual School Election
Arkansas statute (Code §6-13-622)
requires the Board of Directors of local school districts to publish their
budget not less than sixty days prior to the annual school election. The proposed budget for the 2003-2004 school
year was presented for the Board’s review and approval for publication. Mr. Berkley made a motion to approve the
budget as prepared and presented. Dr.
Mitchell seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
XI.
CLOSING REMARKS
Dr. James reported on summer school enrollment and attendance. He also reminded Board members that he would be attending the annual Milken Awards ceremony in Los Angeles in early July, and that Mabelvale Middle School teacher, Connie Green, would be receiving her award at that time.
XII.
EMPLOYEE HEARING
The Board convened an executive session for the purpose of hearing an
employee appeal. Attorney Clay Fendley
was present to review the District’s recommendation for non-renewal of the
coaching contract of an employee. The
employee was represented by Attorney Mark Burnette.
Mr. Fendley provided background and summary documentation supporting the
recommendation to non-renew the coaching duties of this employee, who was an
Assistant Football Coach at a high school.
It was noted that this action would not have any effect on the employee’s
employment as a civics teacher.
After hearing from witnesses and the employee, the Board recessed for
deliberations at 10:40 p.m.; they
returned at 10:55 p.m. and reported that no action had been taken. Dr. Daugherty stated that the evidence
presented was not conclusive and he moved that the Board not support the
recommendation for non-renewal. Mr.
Berkley seconded the motion and it carried 7-0.
XIII.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board,
Dr. Mitchell moved to adjourn at 11:05 p.m.
Mr. Rose seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously.
APPROVED:
_07-25-02__ Original
documents signed by:
H.
Baker Kurrus, President
Tony
Rose, Secretary