Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education
Meeting
June 4, 2012
Minutes
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education met on June 4, 2012 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, Mr. Mike Caskey, Mrs. Kay Wright Norman, Mr. Bryce Beard, and Dr. Richard Miller
Also present were Dr. Judy Grissom, Mr. Nathan Currie, Attorney Mr. Don Sayers and Mrs. Bonnie
Holder, Clerk to the Board.
Call to Order / Roll Call
Dr. Emerson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Bryce Beard officiated the Pledge of
Allegiance. Dr. Miller shared an opening meditation.
Adopt Agenda
Mrs. Norman moved to adopt the agenda as submitted. Mrs. Freeze seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Communication to the Board
None
Superintendent and Board Comments
Dr. Grissom explained that Mr. Gene Miller and Mrs. Tara Trexler were not in attendance because
they were attending the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting and public hearing on their budget.
Consideration of the Consent Agenda
 BOE Minutes of May 21, 2012
 BOE Policy 7-24, Professional Standards of Conduct and Performance for Teachers and BOE
Policy 7-25, Professional Standards of Conduct and Performance for Classified Staff
 2012-2013 Title I Application
**Mrs. Norman moved approval of the Consent Agenda as submitted. Dr. Miller seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Discussion Items
First Reading of new BOE Policy 4-35, Maintenance Van Safety
Mrs. Sharon Gardner addressed the Board. She explained this policy is being put in place for the staff
that drive the vans. She said she would like for the policy to be adopted on first reading in order to have
our vans in compliance with state law.
Mrs. Gardner said that his policy has been reviewed by Surry Insurance, and they are eager to have this
policy in place. She pointed out that one of the items that the policy addresses is that cages are placed
behind the driver and passenger. Mrs. Gardner explained that all vans now have the required cages in
place as of May 30.
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Mrs. Kennedy said that she noticed some grammatical issues that needed to be addressed before the
policy is in print.
Dr. Miller asked if maintenance staff was involved in drafting the policy. Mrs. Gardner said that she sat
down with a committee made up of maintenance supervisors to draft a checklist and followed up with
Surry Insurance before the final checklist was completed.
**Dr. Miller moved the adoption of Policy 7-35, Maintenance Van Safety on first reading with editorial
review and changes. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Review New Policy on Board of Education Meetings Rules of Order
Dr. Emerson said that the Suggested Rules of Procedure for Small Local Government Boards would be
the order of business to follow. However, he felt that some of the rules could be revised to address our
particular Board.
Dr. Emerson said that one of the items that peaked his interest was that in small groups such as our
board, there was no need for a second to a motion. The consensus of the Board was that they would
like to keep a second to the motion.
Length of debate. Every issue should have 20 – 45 minutes of debate. Dr. Emerson said he didn’t feel
there is a time limit on the debate.
Mrs. Kennedy said she had a question with regular meetings. When our meeting date falls on a holiday,
it is not held on the next business day. The consensus of the Board was to follow the current procedure
for changing meetings.
Dr. Miller distributed a list of items that he was interested in reviewing. Mrs. Holder will incorporate the
revisions as a regulation to the policy for review by the Board at their next meeting.
**Mrs. Norman moved to approve the first reading of BOE Policy 1-3, Parliamentary Procedures. Mrs.
Kennedy seconded. Unanimously approved (7:0)
Discussion on the Virtual Charter School Decision and Resolution
Mrs. Kennedy said she was in favor of the resolution because there is strength in numbers. She said the
financial impact for the schools will be enormous. Dr. Grissom explained that the school system could
stand to loose million’s of dollars.
**Mrs. Kennedy moved to adopt of the Resolution for the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to be
added with other LEA’s in the Virtual Charter School litigation. Mrs. Norman seconded.
Mr. Caskey asked if we were suing Cabarrus County. Dr. Grissom said Cabarrus County’s Board of
Education has approved the Virtual Charter School. The NCSBA wants other boards to vote against
allowing Cabarrus County to set this up without any input from the State Board of Education and the
measure that Cabarrus County can hire a for profit company to run the school. She said Cabarrus
County would get back money for every student enrolled from across the state.
Dr. Grissom stated that the Virtual Charter School would have a huge financial impact. She said right
now the school system receives no funds for the students being home schooled, and when the home
school child signs up for the VCS, the system will receive notification. At that time, we will have to pay
for the student going to the VCS with money we have not received from the state.
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Dr. Grissom noted the K-12 company was being sued for taking money where students never attended
the class on line.
Mr. Beard called for the question. Approved (6:1) Mr. Caskey opposed.
Communications to the Board – Dr. Emerson
None
Superintendent/Board Comments – Dr. Grissom
Closed Session
**Mrs. Kennedy made a motion to recess into Closed Session at 5:43 p.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)] and 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)


BOE Closed Session Minutes of May 21, 2012
May Personnel Report
The Board took a five-minute recess.
Report of Closed Session
Dr. Grissom, Mrs. Morris and Mr. Currie returned to the open meeting at 6:12 p.m.
**Mrs. Norman moved to approve the recommendation of the superintendent for Mr. Christopher Smith
as the principal at Millbridge Elementary. Mrs. Kennedy Seconded. (7:0)
**Mrs. Norman moved to approve the May Personnel Report. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Announcements
6/6 - BOE Personnel & Finance Sub-committee Mtg./Ellis St./3:00 p.m.
6/8 - Last Day for Students
6/9 - Graduations (Schedules listed below)
6/28 - BOE Meeting/Long Street/5:00 p.m.
GRADUATION SCHEDULE - Catawba College/Keppel Auditorium
East Rowan/8:00 a.m.
South Rowan/12:00 noon
North Rowan/4:00 p.m.
Henderson/6:00 p.m.
Salisbury/8:00 p.m.
SCHOOL SITE SCHEDULES
West Rowan/8:00 a.m.
Jesse Carson/10:00 a.m.
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Adjournment
**Mrs. Freeze moved to adjourn at 6:16 p.m. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Dr. Jim Emerson, Chairman
Dr. Judy S. Grissom, Ed. D., Secretary
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