Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education
Emergency Meeting
July 21, 2009
Minutes
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education met via teleconference on July 21, 2009 at the Ellis
Street Administrative Office with the following members present: Dr. Jim Emerson, Mrs. W. Jean
Kennedy, Mrs. Linda Freeze, Ms. Karen Carpenter, Mrs. Kay Wright Norman, Mr. Bryce Beard and
Mrs. Patty Williams. Also present were Dr. Judy Grissom, 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 10:00 a.m.
Adopt Agenda
Dr. Emerson made the request to add discussion of a personnel matter in Closed Session.
**Ms. Carpenter moved approval of the agenda with the addition requested by Dr. Emerson. Mrs.
Kennedy seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Discussion Items
Report of AYP Results
Dr. Emerson immediately turned the meeting over to Dr. Grissom to report on the AYP results.
Dr. Grissom explained that more details would be sent to each Board member at the conclusion of
the meeting. She said she had great news, and reported that 19 of our 34 schools or 55.9%
made AYP. Dr. Grissom said our school system had never had more than 10 schools to make AYP.
She advised that this was an increase of 90% over last year.
Dr. Grissom stated that the district met 56 out of 64 targets, which was an achievement of 87.5%
and the highest ever. She said there has been a steady increase over the years, but this was a
dramatic increase from last year. She feels we may receive no more sanctions, but will know
more about that when reports are released in early August.
Dr. Grissom said additionally, and even more wonderful is that 8 of the 10 schools that were in
school improvement met AYP this year. She said that although they have two years of meeting
AYP before they are no longer in school improvement, they have gone through the first step. Dr.
Grissom said this also means that Koontz will not have to offer choice unless the federal
government makes changes.
Dr. Grissom shared that four middle schools made AYP, which is the first time in four years, and
never had more than one to make AYP. Additionally six additional schools only missed one target,
and 25 were within one target. Mrs. Burnette said Southeast Middle, who has the most targets,
made AYP. Dr. Grissom said that Southeast Middle had never met AYP, and Mr. Kraft was
overjoyed.
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Dr. Grissom noted that Overton and Shive have been on the watch list, but made AYP. Therefore,
both schools are off the watch list.
Mrs. Norman asked about North Rowan Middle. Dr. Grissom answered that they did not meet AYP
this year.
Dr. Emerson congratulated Dr. Grissom, staff and students for their hard work. He said he sees
real progress being made throughout our system.
Dr. Grissom explained that NRMS did make 19 of their 21 or 95% of their goals, and Knox met 25
of 27 targets or 92.6%.
Mrs. Williams asked which subgroups continued to be a problem. Mrs. Burnette said EC and ESL
subgroups keep reappearing. Dr. Grissom said the big let down at the high school level was the
graduation rate, and that none of our high schools made AYP.
Mrs. Norman asked what were some of the other issues with the high schools. Dr. Grissom said
the free and reduced lunch category explained at least three, but at one of the high schools it was
just the graduation rate.
Mr. Beard asked if any of the schools had backed up. Mrs. Burnette said on the elementary level
there were a couple Title I schools that did not make AYP, so they will be in their first year of
school improvement.
Dr. Emerson asked how school choice would be determined this year. Dr. Grissom said there are
seven schools that still have school choice. She said China Grove Elementary School would not
offer choice this year because they came out of school improvement, and that if the other five
schools make AYP next year, they will not have to offer choice.
Closed Session
Dr. Emerson made a motion to recess into Closed Session at 10:34 a.m. 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)]; to prevent disclosure of information that is privileged
or confidential pursuant to state or federal law [NC Gen. Stat. 143-318.11(a)(1) Mrs. Norman
seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Report of Closed Session
None
Adjournment
** Mrs. Williams moved to adjourn at 11:00 a.m. Ms. Carpenter seconded. Unanimously approved.
(7:0)
Dr. Jim Emerson, Chairman
Secretary
Dr. Judy S. Grissom, Ed. D.,
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