Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education
Work Session Meeting
August 10, 2009
Minutes
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education met on August 10, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at the Long Street
Administrative Office with the following members present: Dr. Jim Emerson, Mrs. W. Jean
Kennedy, Mrs. Linda Freeze, Ms. Karen Carpenter, Mrs. Patty Williams, and Mr. Bryce Beard. Mrs.
Norman was absent. Also present were Dr. Judy Grissom, Mr. Gene Miller, Dr. Walter Hart, Dr.
Becky Smith, Mrs. Delores Morris, and Mrs. Bonnie Holder, Clerk to the Board.
Call to Order / Roll Call
Dr. Emerson called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. Mrs. Norman entered the meeting at 5:02
p.m.
Meditation/Pledge of Allegiance
Mrs. Norman offered an opening prayer, and Dr. Emerson officiated the Pledge of Allegiance.
Adopt Agenda
Dr. Grissom requested the addition of discussion on negotiated bids by Mr. Miller.
** Mrs. Norman moved to adopt the agenda as amended. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Superintendent Comments/Board
Dr. Emerson reminded the group that the New Teacher breakfast was Thursday at 8:00 a.m.
Discussion Items
Testing Update for 2008-2009
Dr. Grissom thanked Mr. Colby Cochran for being present to review the results of this year’s test
scores. Mr. Cochran said one thing that had not been in the paper because it was not answered
until 4:15 p.m. today was that not only did we meet District AYP in 3-5, we have now found out
that we made District AYP in 6-8 also. Mr. Cochran said because we met AYP in both, we will not
be in sanctions this school year, and this the most exciting news.
Mr. Cochran presented a power point to show the ABC Standards, Growth Performance, and NC
testing program. He reminded the Board that all schools are required to be 100% proficient by
2013-14. He said our system will not be increasing the targets this year. Mr. Cochran explained
there are two requirements when looking at AYP. One requirement is that 95% of each sub group
must be tested. A second requirement is the flexibility to meet AYP, which is Safe Harbor,
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Confidence Interval, and AYP Growth. He said very few school systems have meet AYP Growth
using the growth model.
Mr. Cochran explained to the Board members that there are many areas to the schools status
labels and recognitions, and when schools begin to have labels attached to them, it becomes more
confusing. He explained some of the changes for 2008-2009:
Retesting grades 3-8 in 2008-09; plus all 10 EOCs in 2009-10 included in ABCs
performance; Retest 1 for all Level I and II scorers
ABCs Changes in Formulas, CUP/CTP; US History Predictors
Science in grades 5& 8 included in ABCs performance composite
Writing in grades in 4 & 7 removed from ABCs performance composite
Reading in grades 3-8 were added back into the ABCs growth calculations (not used in
2007-08 because tests were new)
Mr. Cochran also noted that the federal level changed some of the criteria that helped move our
schools to the proficient level.
Mr. Cochran continued his report by reviewing each of the schools’ testing results. He reviewed
the graduation rate for each of the high schools. He advised that this is the first year that a 4year Cohort Rate has been recorded. He explained there is a window of 20 days for technical
information or anything we might find is wrong with our data that was entered, to make the state
aware.
Dr. Emerson asked about Science and Social Studies. Mr. Cochran said because we have had to
focus on Math and Reading, some of the schools are not offering as many sciences. However, the
schools have been given a message that science is important and that it will be accessed.
Dr. Grissom said that much of this information is reviewed with the principals, and measures are
being taken to make sure that changes are made. She said there are situations that can cause a
discrepancy in the data.
Mrs. Norman noted that Algebra I in the high schools was much different than that of the middle
schools. She also noted that English I was not impressive in any level.
Staffing and Budget Update
Dr. Grissom complimented the entire system in working on the budget. She said she would not be
able to make our budget work if the administrative team had not done what needed to be done. Dr.
Grissom said she could not say enough about her central office staff because they cut their
departments by 25% in order to save the classroom. She said she is very pleased to share the
budget this evening because the classroom has been protected.
Mrs. Tara Trexler explained that although they did not know to what extent the budget cuts would
be, they knew the state revenue was down and locally we lost money because we were kept at a flat
per student rate. She also said that all the facts have not been gathered on the federal stimulus
money.
Mrs. Trexler explained that she would be reviewing the impact of the budget plan that has been
developed at this time.
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1. Total elimination of non-instructional support funding (custodians, clerical, substitute pay) with
the expectation that this will be offset by federal stabilization dollars. ~ approx. $5.65 million
2. State funding for central office will be reduced by 14% ~ approx. $200,000
3. 90% reduction in School Technology Funds for the next two years. ~ $127,000/yr.
4. Total elimination of state staff development funding for the next two years ~ $140,000/yr.
5. Total elimination of Improving Student Accountability funding, ~ $600,000
6. Elimination of State Provided Middle School Literacy Coaches, 3 positions
7. 17.9% reduction in state funding for teacher mentoring, ~ $26,000
8 2.5% reduction in state Limited English Proficiency funding ~ $26,000
9. Approximate 3.9% reduction to transportation funding ~ $165,00
Delay in the adoption of grades 6-12 math textbooks impacting 2009-2010 (However, if you can scale
back on supplies, then you could transfer funds into textbooks, if you don’t retain enough balance for
replacement books.)
Flexible reduction that the local level must identify. There were no class size reductions. Any
reductions were based solely on decrease in student enrollment.
To stay within the allocations, we have enough savings from last year to keep at least one TA for the
third grade classroom at each elementary school. The elementary principals have been told that they
have the flexibility to assign their other three TAs.
Mrs. Norman asked about the job description of each of the assistants. Mrs. Morris said their job
descriptions have been revised to instructional assistants to take care of the flexibility.
Mrs. Trexler said that only 13 TAs were let go. They were some of the last hired. The system has
already been able to hire two back.
Mrs. Trexler said a lot of cuts or changes were made in order to protect the classroom. Those items
were as follows:
Cut middle school Family & Consumer Science
Eliminated some positions the schools had held above and beyond what their formulas allowed for
Cut 14 curriculum coach positions
1 Elementary Art, 1 Elem Music, 1 Elem PE (enrollment is down so still get enough class time)
Commissioners gave us $375,000 for teaching positions instead of to teachers for supply allocations
for this one year.
Will increase charges of indirect cost to certain federal programs
Cut 4 asst principal positions
Cut our 4 Attendance Counselor positions
Sent Middle School SRO’s home
Cut some part-time and seasonal central office folks (clerical) and scaled hours back on two others
Decreased months of employment for instructional support positions in the central office (VOCATS &
some other support position in CTE)
Removed our tuition reimbursement program in order to pick up some expenditures in federal 103
Eliminated assignment of overtime hours with bus drivers, assistants and custodians
Reduced 10 clerical positions
Eliminated 2 part-time guidance counselors
Will use energy savings for summer schedule
Eliminated a technology support specialist position
Eliminated Beginning Teacher mentor position
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Cancelled monthly meetings that will be replaced with electronic meetings to save on travel
Eliminated food at meetings, encouraged to find a sponsor if desire refreshments
Converted some of our newsletters to electronic format only
Cancelled publications
Scaled back on computer instruction programs to which we were subscribing
Directors are prepared to cut back 20% or more from departmental budgets if needed once we know
all of our budget information.
Mrs. Trexler said she hopes to propose a budget resolution at the next meeting if all of the
information is forthcoming from the state.
Mrs. Trexler noted there would be no increases in salaries for any personnel, including a step
increase for teachers and principals. She said the only exception will be in our local teaching
supplement, that if a teacher goes from 4 years to 5 years, the teacher will get a small increase from
local funds.
Mrs. Trexler also advised that there would be no ABC bonuses paid over the next two years.
However, longevity payments are still in effect.
Mr. Beard asked when we do our money, what percentage of a cut could we expect. Mrs. Trexler
said close to double digits, approximately 9 – 10%.
Mrs. Norman said that this work has been an awesome task, and that she hopes the people in the
community, and our staff appreciate the efforts made. Dr. Emerson agreed.
Dr. Grissom said not having to increase class size was a plus for our system.
Negotiated Bids
Mr. Miller explained to the Board that he had some information that could help in obtaining our
security cameras.
Mr. Miller said that the next four schools scheduled to receive the security cameras were SRHS,
ERHS, and NRMS and CGMS are ready to be bid. Mr. Miller said Mr. Bill Hill asked him if it would be
possible to extend the contract on the current contractor since he gave us such a good price. Mr.
Miller told the Board members that he would like to try a negotiated bid, which is legal in NC. He
said the school system has a BOE policy as well that addresses this.
Mr. Miller read the General Statute that substantiated the legal use of negotiated bids. He said he
has gone back to the contractor, C2 Contractors, to see if they would do the next four schools at the
same or lower price of the other schools he installed. Mr. Miller said the contractor has agreed to
look into it. Mr. Miller said if C2 Contractors would do the work for $1900 per camera, we will have
done all 10 schools, and still been $10,000 under budget.
Mr. Miller said he did check with the county regarding the issue, and they found there is nothing
about this process that would not be allowed or inappropriate.
Mr. Miller said he would need the Board’s approval to allow him to do this, and that he would have to
publicize the intent.
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**Mrs. Freeze moved to accept the recommendation, and to authorize Mr. Miller to enter into
negotiated bids for the security camera purchase and installation. Mr. Beard seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Closed Session
Mrs. Kennedy moved to enter into closed session at 6:52 p.m. to prevent disclosure of information
that is privileged or confidential pursuant to state or federal law [NC Gen. Stat. 143-318.11(a)(1),
and to consider personnel action that involves an [officer] or [employee], or [prospective public
officer or employee] of this board. [NC Gen. Stat. #143-318.11(a)(6)]; Mrs. Norman seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
The Board took a 5 minute break at 6:54 p.m.
Report of Closed Session
**Mrs. Kennedy moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to move current North
Rowan Middle School principal, Mr. Darrell McDowell, as principal at North Rowan High School to
fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Rodney Bass. Ms. Carpenter seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Announcements
8/13 New Teacher Breakfast/RCCC, student center/8:00 a.m.
8/18 School Workday - Teachers/staff back
8/19 - 24 Staff Workdays
8/24 BOE Meeting/Long Street/5:00 p.m.
8/25 Students Return
9/7 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
9/28 BOE Meeting/Long Street/5:00 p.m.
Adjournment
** Mrs. Freeze moved to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. Mr. Beard seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Dr. Jim Emerson, Chairman
Secretary
Dr. Judy S. Grissom, Ed. D.,
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