ROWAN-SALISBURY BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 28, 2013
Minutes
Board of Education Members Present:
Chairman Dr. Richard Miller
Vice-Chair Mrs. Kay Wright Norman
Mrs. Susan Cox
Mr. Chuck Hughes
Mrs. W. Jean Kennedy
Mr. L.A. Overcash
Mr. Joshua Wagner
Staff Present:
Dr. Lynn Moody, Superintendent
Dr. Julie Morrow, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Nathan Currie, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Don Sayers, Attorney
Mr. Richard Swartz, Attorney
Mrs. Patty Overcash, Clerk to the Board
Call to Order / Roll Call
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Hughes officiated the Pledge of
Allegiance, and
Chairman Miller requested that everyone share a moment of silence.
Adopt Agenda
Chairman Miller requested to amend the agenda to add an item: Knox Safety Issues #8
**Mr. Overcash moved to adopt the agenda as amended. Mr. Hughes seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Celebrations
Congratulations to the following staff and students of the Rowan-Salisbury School System for
the following accomplishments:
 PHILLIP KIRK SCHOLARSHIP FOR TOY FOR NCCAT
Mr. Phil Kirk will present the “Phillip J. Kirk, Jr. Honored Educator Scholarship” to the
Rowan-Salisbury School’s Teacher of the Year, Alex Reynolds. The scholarship will cover
the cost associated with a five-day seminar to NCCAT (NC Center for the Advancement of
Teaching).
 ENERGY STAR AWARDS:
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The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has awarded Energy Star
Certificates to the following schools and facilities that have earned “Renewal” of their
national energy status. Mike Austin is Rowan-Salisbury’s Energy Manager.
SCHOOL / Principal
HEAD CUSTODIAN
Morgan Elementary / Derek DiStefano
Billy Sellers
Granite Quarry Elementary / Vicki Booker
Phyllis Padgett
Hanford Dole Elementary / Michael Courtwright
Brenda Pearman
Koontz Elementary / Mary Hemphill
Bill Jackson
Landis Elementary / Beverly Roberts
Nick Fulham
Henderson Independent High / Dr. Chris Vecchione
Randy Neely
Jesse Carson High School / Kelly Withers
Debbie Walters
Ellis Street Annex Central Office / Kristi Rhone
Lowell “Buster” Harris
 CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS:
Rowan-Salisbury employees may be nominated to receive the “Customer Service Award,”
which recognizes employees for achieving excellent customer service. Anyone may
nominate a Rowan-Salisbury employee for this honor. Forms are located on our website.
Employees nominated for the month of October are:
1. Janet Bingham
2. Joy Childers
Secretary, Southeast Middle
Teacher, North Rowan Elementary
 NORTH ROWAN HIGH COACH STEELE RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD
Former North Rowan High School Coach Robert Steele received the “2013
National Coach of the Year for Track & Field” as presented by the National High School
Coaches Association.
Communications to the Board
Scottie Safrit- father of Daniel Safrit spoke about the need for more programs to stop bullying. He
stated no child should be afraid to go to school. School should be a happy and safe place. He said
one child passing away is one child too many.
Megan Brown- a junior at North Rowan High student, wanted to offer her help with educating about
bulling. She did not feel the board’s policies were strong enough and students were not being held
accountable.
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Elizabeth Bailey explained that she felt RSS did not have the programs in place for bullying. She
stated that the majority of our schools did not know about the programs and were not using them.
Superintendent Comments
Dr. Lynn Moody stated that she has enjoyed her first 28 days with our school system. She will have
visited all schools by the end of the month and has started getting acquainted with the community.
She thanked everyone for welcoming her to Rowan County.
Consent Agenda
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September 23, October 3, and October 14, 2013 Minutes.
September 2013 Budget Resolution
Quarterly Purchasing Report
September 2013 Financial Summary
**Mrs. Norman moved the adoption of the Consent Agenda. Mr. Wagner seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Discussion/Action Items
Central Office Update
The school board discussed 11 different locations as potential sites for the consolidated
central office, which included the five recommended sites from the county commissioners. Mr.
Burgin presented sketches of all 11 sites explaining the pros and cons of each site.
The school board selected three sites and asked Architect Bill Burgin to explore in more detail
the feasibility of these sites as possible locations.
The three sites selected by the school board for consideration are:
Summit Corporate Center - (Industrial Park)
Old DSS Building site on West Innes/Old West Innes - The board discussed demolishing the
building and placing a new structure on this site
329 South Main Street - The property owned by the City of Salisbury.
2014-2015 School Calendar
Mr. Colby Cochran, Director of Assessment/Accountability, presented a Proposed Draft of the 2014-2015
Calendar.
**Mrs. Norman made a motion to approve the calendar as presented. Mr. Wagner seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
East Rowan Field House
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Delora Murphy, Assistant Principal at East Rowan High School, presented a committee request to rename
the East Rowan High School Field House in honor of past school principal Kelly Sparger. She described
the dedication and love for the school, students, employees, and community that Mr. Sparger embraced
each day and concluded East Rowan High would like to honor him by renaming the East Rowan Field
House in his name.
** Mr. Wagner made a motion to rename the field house. Mr. Hughes seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Field Trip Requests
Eighth grade teachers from West Rowan Middle School gave an overview of the trip being considered.
**Mr. Overcash moved to approve the field trip for WRMS. Mrs. Kennedy seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
Henderson Local Option Goals
Mr. Cochran explained that the State Board of Education requires that alternative schools submit three
goals selected from eight possible state-identified areas to provide for local input into how alternative
schools are measured within the READY Accountability Model. These goals must be developed at the
school and be approved by the local Board of Education before submission to the State Board of
Education.
**Mrs. Norman moved approval of the Henderson Local Option Goals. Mrs. Kennedy seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Catawba Holiday Tournament
Mr. Nathan Currie stated that Rowan-Salisbury School System has taken part in the Catawba Holiday
Tournament for the last 18 years. Mr. Currie requested Board approval to participate again this year.
**Mrs. Norman made the motion to participate in the tournament. Mrs. Kennedy seconded.
Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Matching Funds Program for 2013-2014
Mrs. Tara Trexler, Chief Finance Officer, and Mrs. Valerie Belk, Construction Secretary, presented the
Matching Funds Program for 2013-2014.
**Mrs. Cox made the motion to accept the program. Mr. Wagner seconded. Unanimously approved.
(7:0)
Safety Issues at Knox Middle
Mr. Hughes discussed the safety issues concerns at Knox Middle. He stated that there are blind spots
that the cameras could not cover and that there are doors with easy access. He felt the security system
needs to be replaced as well as the cameras. Chairman Miller referred this issue back to Dr. Moody to
research.
Discussion/ Information Items – Chairman Miller
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Book Study
Chairman Miller provided members with a schedule for reading the book “ Schools Cannot Do It Alone”.
The Board agreed to read the book in three parts approved a scheduled discussion meeting after each
section.
Discussion on Planned School Visits
Mr. Hughes suggested that each board member make the schools in their district areas as their priority
to visit.
Mr. Overcash suggested that the first school visits should include the full board and Dr. Moody.
Mr. Wagner agreed. The board decided to postpone any descions about school visits until their next
meeting.
**Mr. Wagner made a motion to postpone any descion on school visits until the next board meeting. Mr.
Overcash seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Explanation of Testing Data
Mr. Cochran presented and explained that is the “Base Line” year and the bar is being raised. The
standards are significantly higher and the results will not be comparable to results from previous years.
Tenure review
Ms. Kristi Rhone, Executive Director for Human Resources, shared the Board attorney’s suggestion for
selecting 25% of teachers for a four-year contract.
Bullying
Mr. Currie and Ms. Carol Ann Houpe, Director of Student Services, spoke about programs in place for
bullying. Ms. Houpe discussed how parents and students can go to the Rowan-Salisbury School System
website and report bullying on the Sprigeo site. Any reports that are made on the website go directly to
Ms. Houpe and Mr. Currie.
Audit Bid Process
Ms. Trexler presented. She felt it would be a good idea to not stay with the same firm every year. That
way firms would be more competitive with their prices. Dr. Moody agreed. Mr. Wagner felt we needed
to make sure we were getting the best deal.
Closed Session
**Mr. Overcash moved to recess into Closed Session at 8:45 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. state 143-318.11(a)(1) and 143-318.11(a)(3)]. Mr. Wagner
seconded. (7:0)
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October Personnel Report
Closed Session Minutes of September 23, October 3, and October 14, 2013.
Student Transfers
Legal Updates
Mediation
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Superintendent Recommendation for Principal
**Mrs. Cox moved to approve the October Personnel Report. Mr. Wagner seconded. Unanimously
approved. (7:0)
**Mrs. Norman moved to approve Superintendent Dr. Moody’s recommendation to appoint Ms. Catherine
Hinson as principal of Granite Quarry Elementary School. Mrs. Cox seconded. Unanimously approved.
(7:0)
Announcements
11/5
11/6
11/11
11/20
11/27
11/28
- BOE Finance/Personnel Sub-committee/4:00 p.m.
- BOE Curriculum/Technology Sub-committee/Long St./3:00 p.m.
- HOLIDAY - Veteran's Day/ Schools and Offices Closed
- BOE Meeting/Long St./4:00 p.m.
- Teacher Workday (Students Out)
& 29 - HOLIDAY - Thanksgiving
Adjournment
**Mr. Overcash moved to adjourn at 9:55 p.m. Mr. Wagner seconded. Unanimously approved. (7:0)
Dr. Richard W. Miller, Chairman
Lynn Moody, Ed.D., Secretary
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