May 9, The Martinsville City School Board met in regular session, Monday, May 9, 2005, at 7:00 P. M. in City Council Chambers.

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1 May 9, 2005 The Martinsville City School Board met in regular session, Monday, May 9, 2005, at 7:00 P. M. in City Council Chambers. Present: James H. Johnson, Jr., Chairman; Dr. Cynthia W. Ingram, Vice-Chairman; Mrs. Nancy L. Baker; Bernie F. Gray, Jr.; Dr. Scott R. Kizner, Superintendent; and Mrs. Lynda W. Pulliam, Clerk The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. Gray. The Board and audience were entertained with a musical selection by Margaret Hurt, Kyle Woolard, and Hakeem Campbell, members of the Martinsville High School jazz band, who recently won overall champion honors at a Myrtle Beach music festival. The Board also recognized the following: 1. Martinsville High School student John Fitzgibbons and Martinsville Middle School students Dana Mahoney, Ameya Chumble, Whitney Armstrong, Juelyn Via, Hillary Mazurek, and Elizabeth Chapman for acceptance to the University of Virginia Summer Enrichment Program 2. Martinsville High School students Elizabeth Clark and Kyle Woolard for acceptance to the Summer Residential Governor s School 3. Martinsville Middle School students Cynthia Knott and Stephen Eason for scoring state distinction on the SAT tests 4. Martinsville Middle School student Skyla Sharp for receiving honorable mention in the 2005 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign poster contest 5. Clearview Elementary School second grade Hispanic student Emmanuel Marmolejo who read a story he had written in English 6. Teaching Assistants who have received or will receive their Associate s Degree this spring - LaTanya Billups, Annette Brown, Arnetta Burnette, Beverly Florence, JoAnn Galloway, Brenda Kirby, Della Morrison, Linda Preston, Linda Robinson, Lisa Thomas, Cynthia Towanicki, and Sharon Watkins 7. First Above and Beyond Employee Awards - Martinsville High School: Stuart Cox and Wilma Stockton; Martinsville Middle School: Mary Ann Wall; Albert Harris Intermediate School: Shirley Crisp and Leon Reed; Clearview Elementary School: Kathy Campbell and Terry Hawks; Druid Hills Elementary School: Donna White and Judy Davis; Patrick Henry Pre-School: Adele Boyle and Gail Reynolds; Bus Division: Lois Hall

2 May 9, 2005 Page 2 Martinsville Middle School teacher Karen Despot appeared before the Board to request additional funding for the fine arts programs. Rev. J. C. Richardson addressed the Board to reiterate recent requests from the community for more summer programs for area youth. Upon a motion by Mrs. Baker, seconded by Mr. Gray, minutes of the April 11 and 19, 2005, meetings were approved. Following discussion, upon a motion by Mr. Gray, seconded by Mrs. Baker, School Board Policies GBEC Tobacco-Free School for Staff, Students, and General Public; JFCH Tobacco- Free School for Staff, Students, and General Public; and KGC Tobacco Use on School Premises were approved with the following vote: Yes - Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Baker, Mr. Gray; No - Dr. Ingram. Dr. Ingram said her vote expressed her position in keeping with the school system s original policy that use of tobacco products not be permitted on school property at any time. An elementary school grade reconfiguration update was postponed pending budget action. Dr. Kizner advised the Board of his immediate plans to increase math, science, and foreign language requirements for students entering the ninth grade for the school year. He is in agreement with recent research studies that increased academic work is necessary to better prepare students for the demands of the real world after high school, whether it be in post-secondary education or employment. Academic requirement changes are currently under review and will be presented to the School Board for final approval in the fall of Upon a motion by Dr. Ingram, seconded by Mrs. Baker, the Board approved the Local Special Education Annual Plan for , indicating a $2,000,000 special education budget with one-fourth funded by the federal government. Dr. Kizner told the Board there are approximately forty vacancies at this time for teaching and support positions for He commended Pam Heath, Director of Accreditation, Human Resources, and Policy Development, for the newly established licensed personnel hiring procedures. The new procedures provide a systematic plan for locating, interviewing, and employing certified, highly qualified personnel for all vacancies. Dr. Kizner reminded the Board of the annual Retiree Banquet scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2005, at 6:30 P. M. at the Martinsville High School Cafeteria. Director of Public Relations Nancy Bell distributed a calendar of school system activities for the month of May, 2005.

3 May 9, 2005 Page 3 Under Superintendent s Report, Dr. Kizner reported on his attendance at the annual Virginia Association of School Superintendents Conference May 1-4, 2005, in Roanoke. Dr. Kizner also told the Board that he has established a Superintendent s Parent Advisory Committee to work with him in providing parental input for his administering of the school system. The Committee is composed of two parents from each school, as recommended by the school principal. A note of appreciation was received from Mary Altice. The following student trips were approved by the Superintendent: Martinsville High School 50 students Greensboro Coliseum Complex Jo Grayson Greensboro, North Carolina May 15, students Ferrum College Helen Howell Ferrum, Virginia April 16, students Yearbook Workshop Chad Ratliff Roanoke, Virginia April 22, students Skills USA - Virginia Spring Activity Linda Secrest Richmond, Virginia May 7, students Carowinds Christy Sellers Charlotte, North Carolina May 13, student State Forensic Competition Tonya Snyder Culpeper High School April 8-9, 2005 Martinsville Middle School 30 students Reynolda House Carolyn Baptist, Yvonne Givens Winston-Salem, North Carolina May 20, students Zoo Will Collier Asheboro, North Carolina June 13, students D-Day Memorial Roy Dalton Bedford, Virginia May 19, students Museum of Life and Science Amy McCollum, Betty Reed, etc. Durham, North Carolina June 6,7, 2005

4 May 9, 2005 Page 4 36 students Sci Works Marla Perry Winston-Salem, North Carolina May 27, students Science Museum Anne Stultz, Angilee Downing Danville, Virginia April 15, students Mabry Mill, Blue Ridge Parkway Lisa Taylor Meadows of Dan, Virginia May 5, 2005 Clearview Elementary School 8 students Fire Department Elizabeth Jent Martinsville April 29, 2005 Druid Hills Elementary School 16 students Sci Works Barbara Stanley Winston-Salem, North Carolina June 1, students Explorer Park Barbara Stanley Roanoke, Virginia June 3, 2005 Patrick Henry Pre-School 12 students Owen s Farm and Harris Nursery Adele Boyle Pittsylvania County May 4, students Owen s Farm and Harry Nursery Linda B. Moore, Lisa Wright Pittsylvania County May 4, students Zoo Linda B. Moore, Lisa Wright Asheboro, North Carolina May 11, students Fairystone State Park Linda B. Moore, Lisa Wright Bassett, Virginia May 25, students Jack Dalton Park Linda B. Moore, Lisa Wright Collinsville, Virginia June 3, 2005 Following a review of the School Budget Financial Statement as of April 30, 2005, upon a motion by Mrs. Baker, seconded by Mr. Gray, payment of expenditures for that period was approved. Mr. Johnson commended Dr. Kizner for his weekly newsletter to the Board keeping them informed from week to week on the business of the school system. May 9, 2005 Page 5

5 Upon a motion by Mrs. Baker, seconded by Dr. Ingram, the following motion to go into closed session was approved by the following roll call vote: Mr. Johnson - Yes; Dr. Ingram - Yes; Mrs. Baker - Yes; Mr. Gray - Yes: Pursuant to Section (A) of the Code of Virginia, I move that the Board convene in closed session for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters: A. Discussion and consideration of the evaluation, employment, assignment, and reassignment of employees of the Martinsville City Schools as authorized by Section (A) (1) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act *** See Minutes of May 9, 2005, Closed Session *** Returning to open session, upon a motion by Mrs. Baker, seconded by Mr. Gray, and by the following roll call vote, the attached certification of the closed session was approved: Mr. Johnson - Yes; Dr. Ingram - Yes; Mrs. Baker - Yes; Mr. Gray - Yes. Upon a motion by Dr. Ingram, seconded by Mrs. Baker, the following resignations were accepted by the Board: M. Rome Buttner Agnes A. Edwards Holly Cox Cynthia T. Reeves - retirement Sarah Denton Susan C. Stone - retirement Upon a motion by Dr. Ingram, seconded by Mrs. Baker, the following appointment was approved: Angela G. Weinerth Upon a motion by Mrs. Baker, seconded by Dr. Ingram, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 P. M. James H. Johnson, Jr., Chairman Lynda W. Pulliam, Clerk

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