Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education
Meeting
March 26, 2012
Minutes
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education met on March 26, 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, Mr. Bryce Beard, Mrs. Kay Wright Norman and Dr. Richard Miller. Also
present were Dr. Judy Grissom, Dr. Rebecca Smith, Mr. Gene Miller, Mr. Nathan Currie, and Mrs. Bonnie
Holder, Clerk to the Board. Attorney Don Sayers was absent due to a conflict.
Call to Order / Roll Call
Dr. Emerson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Caskey officiated the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs.
Kennedy shared an opening meditation.
Adopt Agenda
Dr. Emerson asked for any additions or changes to the agenda. Hearing none, Dr. Miller moved to adopt
the agenda as presented. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Celebrations
 PRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Dr. Ron Turbyfill will make a presentation to the Board of Education for the
contributions made by RSS for the success of CIS programs.
 NCTIES STATE TECHNOLGY AWARDS:
The North Carolina Technology In Education Society (NCTIES) presented the top state award honors
to two Rowan-Salisbury School System Administrators:
Phil Hardin: 2012 Outstanding Leader Award
Judy Grissom: 2012 Making IT Happen Award
 MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATORS RECEIVE DEGREE
Maintenance Director Butch Bivens and Energy Coordinator Mike Austin have received the
Professional Energy Manager (PEM) Degree from NC State University.
 CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS
RSS employees may be nominated to receive the “Customer Service Award,” which recognizes
employees for achieving excellent customer service. Anyone may nominate a RSS employee for this
honor. Forms are located on our website. Employees nominated for the month of March are:
1. Kay Allen
Media - AIG Department
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2.
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John Brady
Jenna Frye
Suzan Lambert
Lynne Mauldin
Teacher - North Rowan Elementary
Secretary - Erwin Middle
Teacher - Knox Middle
Child Nutrition Department
 WEST ROWAN HIGH SCHOOL DECA CHAPTER
The WRHS DECA Chapter is one of North Carolina’s best chapters by growth and excelling in their
pursuit! They have earned the prestigious status of a North Carolina DECA Chapter of Distinction. This
is a high honor that few chapters in the state receive. Kenny Perkins is the Club Advisor. Members are
as follows:
Cassidy Arntsen
McKenna Arntsen
Joshua Barbee
Sara Barbee
Bryson Bogle
Dani Burris
Caleb Cranfield
Aaron Epps
Elizabeth Freeze
Tyler Goodson
Hayden Gurley
Guye Hunt
Jacquez Jackson
Alexis Kemp
Trevor Loudin
Seth Martin
Kendall Poe
Sydney Sides
Zakiya Smyre
Casey Stiller
Trey Sturgill
 WEST ROWAN HIGH SCHOOL FFA MARKETING TEAM
The WRHS FFA Marketing Team received “First Place” in the state competition and now progresses
forward to compete at the National FFA Convention in October. Team members are:
1. Brooke Bonds
2. Emily Satterwhite
3. Elizabeth Satterwhite
 WEST ROWAN HIGH SCHOOL FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TEAM
The WRHS Farm Business Management Team received “Third Place” in the state competition. Team
members are:
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Austin Kinley – also the 3rd high individual scorer
Neely Holloway
Bailey Stolsworth
Taylor Hall
Clark Adams is the Club Advisor and Jason Chester is the Agriculture Teacher
Communication to the Board
None
Superintendent and Board Comments
None
Consideration of the Consent Agenda
 BOE Minutes of February 27, 2012
 February 2012 Budget Amendments
 February 2012 Financial Report
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** Mrs. Norman moved approval of the Consent Agenda as submitted. Mrs. Freeze seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Discussion Items
2011-2012 Financial Audit Contract
Mrs. Trexler said she had received the audit contract for 2011-2012 from Dixon Hughes Goodman. She said
it was $36,000, which was a $1000 increase from last year. However, the amount is $4,000 less than when a
3-year proposal was done in 2010.
**Mrs. Freeze moved to accept the financial audit contract from Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP for 2011-2012.
Mr. Beard seconded. Unanimously approve. (7:0)
Budget Update
Mrs. Trexler said that the Budget and Finance sub-committee reviewed the 2012-13 Budget. She noted that
the large items where the system would see losses were $4.2 million in Edujobs, #1 million in Additional State
discretionary cut ($6,907,800 will be returned), $1 million, $1.9 million of fund balance appropriated in 201112, $200,000 additional transportation costs for the five days being added 2012-13, and $250,000 for the
retirement match and insurance for locally paid employees.
Mrs. Trexler explained there would be a budget hole of $6.5 million. However, we would consider requesting
$1.0 million from the county and make a fund balance appropriation of $1.9 million. She said if that request
was approved, the system would have a remaining hole of $3.6 million.
Mrs. Trexler stated that the Board would need to consider what their request to the county will be, and when
the legislature comes back to session in May, she will get a better feel of what will be appropriated.
However, with this being the 2nd year of the biennium, she pretty much knows what will be distributed.
**Mr. Beard moved to request $1 million to reinstate what was taken last year. Mrs. Norman seconded.
Dr. Miller asked what was the discussion in sub-committee to ask $1 million from the county, because
keeping people employed is going to cost much more. He asked why are we are not asking for the $3.6
million plus $1 million because it would be better to keep people employed.
Mrs. Trexler said there was very little in the way of personnel cuts this year, but positions will be cut. Dr.
Miller noted that any central office cuts would cut the quality of service to our schools and community. Mrs.
Trexler said that with the certified retirees this year, we would not be sending current employees home.
Dr. Miller said that the quality of service is not going to be sustained, if we continue to take bodies away from
students. He asked if we are looking at the best interest of our kids. Dr. Miller said he feels the Board is not
making a big enough request to the county commissioners.
Mrs. Kennedy said she thought it goes beyond simply asking for funds. We have to educate our
commissioners as to what it takes to educate our students.
Mr. Beard said he believes that we have demonstrated over the last several years that we were going to
protect the classroom and have not going to cut the classroom. He said he is tired of the politics.
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Mr. Beard said we are not leaving any rock unturned to get money to educate our children. He said when
there is discussion with others of how we deliver our school system’s education, you may begin to say that
we are not doing as well because we don’t have the funds.
Mr. Beard said the commissioners need to step up and get on board with the school system. He expressed
that these are our county’s children and we all have to do better. He said he would like to say to them, if
these were your children, what would you do.
Mrs. Norman said one of the things that we do understand in politics is that there seems that there is not a
love for educating kids. She said in over 32 years living in Rowan County, there has always been a link
missing that the public officials have not taken on a passion to do what we need to do to educate our
children. Mrs. Norman stated that it will get a lot more expensive if we don’t do something now.
Mr. Caskey said he talked to a few commissioners who said that they were probably going to give us the
same as last year, but giving the system more than that would mean they would have to raise taxes. He said
he thought getting the same amount as we did last year would be good. He said he would like to see us take
a little more out of our fund balance.
Dr. Emerson asked Mr. Caskey about the commissioners large fund balance, and why the Board wouldn’t ask
them to give more from their fund balance. Mr. Caskey said he didn’t agree with raising taxes because it
would keep the recession out there longer.
Dr. Grissom cleared up the notion that if we received the exact the same thing as last year, it will be an
additional cut because we really need $250,000 more to take care of the insurance and retirement.
**Dr. Miller moved for a substitute motion to request that the county commissioners appropriate $3 million.
The motion died for lack of a second.
**Mr. Beard amended his motion to request $1.25 million from the Board of County Commissioners. Mrs.
Freeze seconded.
Dr Miller said he is not comfortable with supporting the motion because he feels it is just getting by, and we
need more than just getting by.
Mr. Beard noted that this amount only gets us back to the 2010-11 school year of two years ago.
Mrs. Norman called for the question. Approved (5.2) Caskey and Miller opposed.
Information Regarding Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and School Choice
Implications
Mr. Currie explained to the Board that what was being presented was for information only. Mrs. Burnette
gave an overview. She said that she knew the Board had heard a great deal about NCLB needing to be
reauthorized, and although that has not happened, in September 2011, states were offered flexibility under
ESEA. This year NC applied, but there are provisions under that flexibility.
Mrs. Burnette said that the flexibility will remove identification of districts in improvement, and this changes
the guidelines the state provides to local systems. She said that if the flexibility is granted, those sanctions
will be eliminated. Mrs. Burnette said this would bring about Mr. Currie’s concerns about school choice. Mrs.
Burnette showed how many children we have in school choice.
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Mrs. Burnette said we are waiting for the Department of Education to grant this flexibility to NC. She said
that although she has not received official word, there is little doubt that we won’t receive it. She stated that
school choice under NCLB will no longer be in place.
Mr. Currie said that there has been some discussion in the sub-committee. He said that the money that is or
can be saved on transportation can be awarded back to the schools.
Mrs. Norman asked if the children may continue to go to another school. Mrs. Burnette said, “Yes, but
transportation ends.” Dr. Grissom said the big issue is the siblings.
Dr. Miller asked how ESEA and RttT are working together. Dr. Grissom said they really are very different.
School Choice and Academy Athletic Data
Mr. Currie had been asked at the last Board meeting to bring an update on the high school academies and
how many athletes were at each school as a part of that schools’ academy program. Mr. Currie presented a
spreadsheet that included the number of students who had chosen to attend academies and the number of
athletes included in that number.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction Updates
Dr. Smith distributed documents on the new Common Core and Essential Standards. She said that the school
system will be moving from the Standard Course of Study model in the fall. Dr. Smith stated that in the
nation, 48 states have adopted the Common Core model, and that North Carolina was one of them. She
stated that with the nation teaching the same curriculum, it will help students when they move from one
state to another to be able to have continuity and the instruction will be seamless.
Dr. Smith said that beginning in 2012-2013, our students will be changing to Common Core in English, Math,
and Literacy and will change to Essential Standards in Social Studies and Science.
Dr. Smith reviewed the documents that would be sent home to parents and information that teachers used in
training. She explained that the teachers had to teach the Standard Course of Study curriculum this year
while being trained in the new model they will be delivering next year, and it had been very hard for them.
Dr. Smith said the idea for the new curriculum is that this standard will have complexity and will move from
grade level to grade level. She said they expect the students to be more college and work ready, and more
grounded in real world relevant practices. Dr. Smith advised that also in the packet was information on the
strategic plan for the roll out of the Common Core curriculum.
Mrs. Kennedy said she fully embraces the intent, but how are we going to assure ourselves that our students
are where they are supposed to be. She wanted to know what was going to happen to the average student.
Dr. Smith said they will continue to provide differentiated instruction. She said the teacher is going to have to
scaffold instruction, and what does blend well is the RTI for our schools. Dr. Smith explained that we
currently have 9 schools that are practicing this, and that it is based upon mastering learning. She confirmed
that the teacher shouldn’t be giving a test only one day during the week.
Mrs. Norman asked how would the staff work with new teachers and assistants that are hired. Dr. Smith said
it would be an ongoing training and that webinars and podcasts will be archived.
New CTE Course
Mr. Roger Withers said he was requesting approval of a new course that has been thrust on the system. He
said there were two courses that required OSHA instruction and in our case in Rowan County, the courses are
masonry and carpentry. This course area has caused concern because if a student took masonry and then
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carpentry, the student would waste a semester taking duplication of OSHA, the safety portion. Mr. Withers
said that across the state, teachers complained.
Mr. Withers said the new course is called Core and Sustainable Construction, and it will be a pre-requisite to
the carpentry course. Mr. Withers stated he was requesting approval from the Board to include this course
next year in the registration efforts.
Mr. Withers said to clarify the issue, instead of the student enrolling in Masonry I, they would take Core and
Sustainable Construction.
**Mrs. Freeze moved to add the Core and Sustainable Construction to the high school guidebook. Mrs.
Norman seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Mobile Classroom Report
Mr. Miller reviewed the list of mobile classrooms in use. He said that they want to keep the mobiles in as
good shape as possible. Mr. Miller noted that other uses for the mobile units have been computer classrooms
and special program classrooms.
Mrs. Freeze said she was concerned when she sees Koontz and Shive, which are new schools that now need
mobile classroom. Mr. Miller reminded the Board that Koontz had to be cut back by six classrooms and two
restrooms when it was built and Millbridge has mobiles added because of school choice.
Rules of Order at Board Meetings
Dr. Emerson said the only thing regarding this topic was a decision on the amount of time to elapse for
discussion. Mrs. Norman said she would like to take the issue of Rules of Order to a work session.
Dr. Grissom said that there could be a June 4 work session, since our regular session is on June 30. The
Board agreed that would be date would be a good opportunity to work on a policy to govern rules of order in
a board meeting.
Communications to the Board – Dr. Emerson
None
Superintendent/Board Comments – Dr. Grissom
None
Closed Session
** Mrs. Kennedy made a motion to recess into Closed Session at 6:50 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)
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BOE Closed Session Minutes of February 27, 2012
February Personnel Report, Special Term Contracts, and Career List
Superintendent’s designee to the JCPC Board
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The Board took a short recess.
Report of Closed Session
Mrs. Kennedy moved to approve the recommendation of the superintendent to appoint Mr. Marvin Moore as
principal of Isenberg Elementary. Dr. Miller Seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Mrs. Freeze moved to approve hiring Mr. Larry Brown as the interim assistant principal of Hanford Dole
Elementary. Mr. Beard seconded. (7:0)
Mrs. Norman moved to approve the March Personnel Report, Special Term Contracts, and Career List. Mrs.
Freeze seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
The Board agreed that Dr. Grissom should re-submit Mr. Nathan Currie’s name for the position on the JCPC
Board to the Board of County Commissioners.
Announcements
3/27
- BOE Curriculum/Technology Sub-committee Mtg./LS/12:00 noon
4/3
- BOE Building & Grounds Sub-committee Mtg./LS/3:00 p.m.
4/3
- Third Report Card Issued
4/4 & 5
- Required Training Day/Students Out
4/6 & 9
- Holiday (Schools and Offices Closed)
4/10 - 13 - Spring Break (Limited personnel in Schools and Offices)
4/23
- BOE Meeting/LS/5:00 p.m.
Adjournment
**Mrs. Freeze moved to adjourn at 7:21 p.m. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Dr. Jim Emerson, Chairman
Dr. Judy S. Grissom, Ed. D., Secretary
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