Regular Meeting

Location: Morris Education Center, 225 Rosenwald Lane, Brevard, NC

 

 

INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME

 

BUSINESS ITEMS

 

 

A sign-up sheet is available for public comment. Speakers will be asked to limit their comments to two (2) minutes each.

 

 

Attached is a proclamation designating November 16-22, 2008 as American Education Week in Transylvania County. In celebration of American Education Week, all current and retired school system employees will be invited to Thanksgiving lunch as guests of the Board at the school cafeteria of their choice on Thursday, November 20, 2008. A motion is in order to approve the proclamation.

 

Student artwork from BES will be on display at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) for the UNC Board of Governors meeting this fall. The works were created last year by the following six students: Abigail Smith (grade K), Lilian Le (grade 1), Ezrah Brown (grade 4), Lucy Carpenter (grade 4), Carly Onnink (grade 5), and Cameron McCathern (grade 5).

 

At the Land of Sky Band Competition on September 28 at Enka High School, 25 bands took the field in five different classes. The Brevard High School band placed first in Class 3A and took trophies in the following categories: Color Guard (second place), Drum Major (first place), Percussion (third place), and Horn Line (first place). In addition, BHS placed second in the entire Silver Division of sixteen bands in Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A.

 

Brevard Middle School finally has a school song, thanks to Sally Germanaro, BMS music/chorus teacher. Sally wrote the song and enlisted her brother, Brian Fullen, one of Nashville’s top session drummers and a Grammy Award winner, to produce and arrange the song. After adding a drum line to Sally’s melody and lyrics, Brian sent the arrangement to other session artists who teamed up with a number of well-known musicians to complete the soundtrack. Sally is teaching the vocals to the middle school students, and the goal is to hire someone locally to record the BMS choirs singing along with the Nashville accompaniment. Once that is done, it will be sent to Brian for a re-mix, and then produced as a CD. A BMS student has designed cover art for the CD. Sally has copyrighted the song and given the copyright to the school. The school will sell copies of the CD to raise money.       

 

Rosman Elementary, Rosman Middle, and T. C. Henderson Elementary are collecting money to help a local family recover from a fire that destroyed their home. TCH is purchasing a new washing machine for the family, and RES and RMS are collecting money to purchase a tank of heating oil. Any leftover funds will be used to purchase gift certificates for groceries or other needs. Those who would like to help may send their donations to Donna Raspa (RES), Greg Carter (RMS) or Tony Meachum (TCH).

 

Mr. and Mrs. David Collins heard the Davidson River School taiko drums and were very impressed by the experience. They have donated $2,000 to DRS to help support the taiko program.

 

Laura Smith, marketing teacher at DRS, has been awarded a Bright Ideas Grant from Haywood Electric Company to start a small business. The $1,450 grant was used to purchase equipment to make customized vinyl wall lettering. The 24-inch digital die cut machine can reproduce anything that can be created on the computer, in sizes ranges from 3 inches to 24 inches tall for scrapbook toppers, posters, signs, etc. The machine arrived last week. The group is working on a business name and getting set up.

 

Lisa Gillespie, business teacher at RHS, has also been awarded a Bright Ideas Grant from Haywood Electric Company. 

 

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Transylvania County Board of Education that recognition, thanks, commendation and congratulations be expressed to the persons named:

 

Liam Schaefer, BES, for being accepted to the North Carolina Elementary All-State Honors Chorus 

 

Sarah Moser, BES Music and Chorus Teacher

 

 

 

The Board of Education would like to recognize former students from Brevard High School and Rosman High School who are currently serving or have previously served in the U.S. Military. The attached list will be updated as more names are received. The list will be read in its entirety at the November meeting. 

 

 

The minutes of the September 3, 2008 and September 15, 2008 meetings are attached for your approval.

 

The personnel report for October 20, 2008 is attached for your approval.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following new members have been added to the School Health Advisory Council for 2008-2009:   

 

 

 

 

At the September meeting, Donys Merrill presented revisions to the district Technology Plan for 2009-2013. The revisions are attached. The full plan is available online. The plan must be approved by the local board and submitted to DPI by November 1.

 

 

 

Board of Education policy requires the presentation of Safety Net Plans for Student Accountability after the first month of school. New plans were presented last year. Dr. Scott Elliott and Mrs. Lisa Anderson will present changes and additions for 2008-2009 and answer any questions you may have. Changes to the plans are attached. 

 

 

Norris Barger will present bids received for the Rosman old gym renovation project. The bid tabulation from October 8, 2008 is attached. 

 

 

The North Carolina ABC’s model for Alternative Schools Incentive Pay Plans mandates two achievement-based components and three local options. At least one of the local options must be an academic measure of student achievement. Plans must be approved by the local board. Attached for your review are the Davidson River School local option goals for 2008-2009. Dr. Bo Williams and Principal Donna Wilde will discuss the goals and answer any questions you may have. Approval of the plan will be requested at the next regular meeting. 

 

 

Revised Policy GCN/AFC and Regulations GCN/AFC-R (Professional Educator Evaluation System) were discussed at the policy workshop in July and presented as information on August 18. Since that time, the policies have been further revised based on input from Mr. Whitmire and the Board attorney. The new revisions are shown in blue. Dr. Bo Williams will discuss the policies and answer any questions you may have. 

 

 

 

New Policy GCNA (Voluntary Resignation for Professional Employees)was discussed at the policy workshop in July. It was slated as information in August, but tabled due to time constraints. It is presented as information at this time. Dr. Bo Williams will discuss the policy and answer any questions you may have. Approval of the policy will be requested at the next regular meeting. 

 

 

Current Policy GCBDB (Employee Leaves and Absences) is presented for discussion at the Board’s request. 

 

 

Revised Policy JFC-R (Student Conduct/Discipline) is presented as information. Changes reflect the recommendations from the Bully-Free Task Force. Dr. Bo Williams will discuss the policy and answer any questions you may have. Approval of the policy will be requested at the next regular meeting.

 

 

Current Policy IIC (Field Trip Approval and Cancellation) is presented for discussion at the Board’s request. 

 

 

Current Policies IICA, IICA-R and IICA-E (Field Trips and Excursions)are presented for discussion at the Board’s request. 

 

Current Policy IK and Regulations IK-R (Student Accountability for Academic Achievement) are presented for discussion at the Board’s request. 

 

 

Policy IKF (Graduation Requirements) has been revised to reflect the four-credit concentration area requirements that were discussed at the September 15 meeting. It is presented as information. Dr. Bo Williams will discuss the policy and answer any questions you may have. Approval of the policy will be requested at the next regular meeting. 

 

New Policy ACAC (Registered Sex Offenders) is presented as information. Dr. Bo Williams will review the policy and answer any questions you may have. Approval of the policy will be requested at the next regular meeting.

 

 

New Policy ACAD (Student Sex Offenders) is presented as information. Dr. Bo Williams will review the policy and answer any questions you may have. Approval of the policy will be requested at the next regular meeting.

 

 

 

 

An opportunity will be provided for other items from board members or staff.