Regular Meeting

Dates:

Monday, June 21, 2021 - 6:30pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular business meeting on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. at the Morris Education Center, 225 Rosenwald Lane, Brevard. The meeting will be open to the public.

Groups audience:

School Board

I. Opening of Meeting

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Call to Order

Welcome

Groups audience:

School Board

II. Business Items

Groups audience:

School Board

01. Approval of Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

A motion is in order to approve or revise the meeting agenda for June 21, 2021.

Groups audience:

School Board

02. Public Comment

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The board of education, as an elected representative body of the school system, wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school system. In order that the board may conduct an order meeting while providing an opportunity for input, individuals or groups may be heard by the board in accordance with policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, or policy 2300, Board Meetings (subsection D.2).

Each month, the first part of at least one regularly scheduled board meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the board through public comment.

A sign-up sheet will be available 30 minutes before the meeting begins for any individual or group to indicate their desire to address the board.

Each speaker will receive 3 minutes to present comments. The public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the board.

The board chair will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in. Substitute speakers will not be permitted and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. If a speaker is unable to present all of his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the board with additional information in written form. If an unusually large number of people requests to speak, a majority of the board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner.

Board members will not respond to individuals who address the board except to request clarification of points made by the presenter.

Except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received. It will take unanimous vote of the board members present to act on a presentation considered to be of an unusual or emergency nature at the time it is presented.

Disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17.

Complaints about the performance of school personnel, implementation of board policy, the quality of the educational program, or school facilities should be submitted initially for a response to the school system official responsible for the program or facility or to the superintendent. The superintendent or designee shall make available policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, and other relevant grievance procedures to any individual or group submitting a complaint.

The board may choose to offer a second opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting. Sign-ups will not be required for the second public comment opportunity.

No solicitations will be allowed during public comment.

Groups audience:

School Board

03. Good News Report

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

PFES Preschool

We are very excited about our newest Pre-K classroom, the Ranger Station at Pisgah Forest Elementary School. We have 18 children currently enrolled and are looking forward to the youngest Rangers, ages 3 and 4, attending Transylvania County Schools. The addition of the Pisgah Forest Pre-K makes Transylvania a Pre-K through 12 district with a Pre-K classroom in each of our four elementary schools. We see this as a partnership with our families in laying a firm foundation for learning now and in the future.

For more good news from Transylvania County Schools, please visit us at:

Home Page: www.tcsnc.org ǀ Facebook: facebook.com/transylvaniaschools

Twitter: twitter.com/transylvaniasch ǀ Flickr: flickr.com/tcsnc

Instagram: Instagram.com/transylvaniaschools ǀ YouTube: youtube.com/tcsnc

Smartphone App: Transylvania County Schools on Play Store and iTunes

SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/transylvaniacountyschools

Groups audience:

School Board

04. Former Students in the Military

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The board wishes to thank the former students from Brevard High School, Rosman High School, and Davidson River School who are currently serving or have previously served in the U.S. Military. The attached list of names is recognized at every meeting and read aloud twice a year in recognition of Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Additional names will be included as they are received.

Public Attachments:

Military List 6-21-21.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

05. Consent Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators	X	Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The following items are submitted for consent approval (see attachments):

Minutes of the June 7, 2021 meeting & June 7, 2021 closed session
Personnel report for June 21, 2021

A motion is in order to approve the consent agenda items.

Public Attachments:

Minutes 6-07-21.pdf

Personnel Report 6-21-21.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

06. Request for Authorization of School Trip

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Brevard High School Theater Arts teacher Candice Burchill will present a request for students from Brevard High School to attend the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland in August 2022. Invitations to apply for AHSTF are extended to programs that are nominated by state, regional, and national theater organizations from across the country. A Board of Advisors evaluates the applications and selected programs are then invited to perform at the Fringe. The Brevard High School theater department has been selected for the 2022 Festival!

The Fringe is an annual three-week celebration featuring artists and performers in theater, comedy, dance, physical theater, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events. In addition to their four performance dates, the AHSTF participants will get to experience Scotland and the Fringe in addition to time in London upon arrival in the UK.

Details about the trip are included in the attached document. School trips that require travel outside of the continental United States must be approved by the board upon recommendation by the superintendent or designee. Policy 3320 (School Trips), and regulations 3320-R are attached. Dr. McDaris has discussed the trip with Mrs. Burchill and will make a recommendation to the board.

The board may approve the superintendent’s recommendation for the Brevard High School Theater Department’s trip to Edinburgh, Scotland in August 2022.

Public Attachments:

BHS Theatre Department’s Trip to the Fringe.pdf

3320__School Trips.pdf

3320-R__School Trips.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

07. CTE Plan 2021-2022

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

On June 7, Missy Ellenberger presented the Career and Technical Education (CTE) plan for 2021-2022 as first-read information. The local application is attached. Mrs. Ellenberger will answer any questions you may have.

A motion is in order to approve the Career and Technical Education Plan for 2021-2022.

Public Attachments:

CTE Plan 2021-2022.pdf

CTELocalApplication (1).pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

08. Social-Emotional Learning & School Mental Health Plan

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

On November 5, 2020, the State Board of Education adopted the School-Based Mental Health Initiative that requires each LEA to adopt and implement a plan for promoting student mental health and well-being and for assessing and improving upon the supports for the mental and social-emotional health and substance use needs of its students and staff by July 1, 2021.

Missy Ellenberger will present an outline of the Transylvania County Schools Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Plan for 2021-2022 (see attached). The actual SEL Improvement Plan will be a living document to be reviewed/updated at each team meeting and updated quarterly based on data. Mrs. Ellenberger and Mrs. Carrie Norris will answer any questions you may have.

A motion would be in order to approve the Transylvania County School Social-Emotional Learning and Mental Health Plan for 2021-2022.

Public Attachments:

TCS Outline for SEL and MH Implementation Plan.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

09. Policy: Spring 2021 Custom Updates

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action	X
Excellent Educators	X	Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students	X	Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Dr. Brian Weaver will present as first-read information 46 revised polices from the NCSBA Spring 2021 Custom Policy Updates and one revised policy (2310) from our board attorneys. One policy (1610/7800) reflects an impending deadline for a school-based mental health plan. A few policies contain changes from our board attorneys in addition to the NCSBA changes (revisions from our attorneys are shown in blue). Many contain only minor changes such as updates to legal references, statutes that have been recodified, new hyperlinks, and updated terminology. A few are related to the COVID-19 response. Other notable changes are described below. There are no new policies. Dr. Weaver will answer any questions you may have. Approval of the polices will be requested at the next regular meeting.

Policies related to the requirement for a school-based mental health plan:

1610/7800, Professional and Staff Development
6120, Student Health Services

Last year the General Assembly ratified Session Law 2020-7 which requires LEAs to adopt and implement a school-based mental health plan that includes a mental health training program and a suicide risk referral protocol. The plan must incorporate the requirements of State Board of Education Policy SHLT-003 and must be in place no later than July 1, 2021. The Transylvania County Schools mental health plan will be presented at the June 21 meeting. Employees must complete their initial mental health training by the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Policies related to the COVID-19 response:

3300, School Calendar and Time for Learning
4400, Attendance

Other notable revisions:

2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings: Addresses protocols for requests from citizens to place items on the agenda and prohibits discussion of confidential personnel and student matters during public comment.

2440, Policy Review and Evaluation: Gives the superintendent authority to make minor changes to correct typographical, grammatical, or clerical errors in board policy.

3300, School Calendar and Time for Learning: In addition to the COVID-19 changes noted above, this policy has been streamlined to eliminate language that merely duplicated the statutory requirements for school calendars.

3460, Graduation Requirements: The graduation requirement tables have been updated to be consistent with the latest SBE changes through March 4, 2021.

3610, Counseling Program: This policy has been reorganized and updated to better reflect the current terminology, structure, and goals of the counseling program and current mandatory reporting requirements.

4125, Homeless Students: This update makes numerous revisions to the dispute resolution process for homeless students. The revisions are necessary to comply with a new administrative regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education that made changes to the dispute resolution process previously set out in SBE policy.

4400, Attendance: The information on tracking attendance on remote instruction days has been relocated from the “temporary rule” section of this policy to permanent language in Section A of the policy, consistent with an amendment to the DPI School Attendance and Accounting Manual. Other changes include reorganization of some sections, a new section added to address late arrivals and early departures, reference to the Code of Student Conduct for truancy consequences, elimination of the description of a process for potential grade reduction due to absences, and, in alignment with a multi-tiered system of support, the addition of a directive to school administrators to develop positive strategies to address chronic absenteeism.

6125, Administering Medicines to Students: Updates have been added to reflect information in the 2020 edition of the North Carolina School Health Program Manual regarding labeling of medication, access to controlled substances, and prerequisites for self-administration of medication.

7232, Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace: The update clarifies that “sex” as used in the policy also includes pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

8341, Limited Claim Settlement: This policy has been revised to better align the policy with settlement practices that have withstood legal challenge.

Policies with Changes Due to New Administrative Rules: The State Board of Education has recently promulgated new administrative rules (“regulations”) based on existing State Board policies. In most cases, the administrative rule does not change the substance of the underlying policy on which it was based. In some cases, however, the State Board made changes during the rulemaking process, so the new administrative rule varies somewhat from the original State Board policy. Where relevant, policies have been updated to add a reference to the applicable administrative code and have made modifications where necessary to reflect changes made during the rulemaking process. Many of these policies contain only minor changes. A notable exception is policy 4125, Homeless Students, which has significant substantive changes as described above.

A motion is in order to accept the 47 policies listed below as first-read information.

Spring 2021 Custom Updates (first-read information)
1310/4002	Parental Involvement
1510/4200/7270	School Safety
1610/7800	Professional and Staff Development
1710/4020/7230	Discrimination and Harassment Prohibited by Federal Law
2310	Public Participation at Meetings
2440	Policy Review and Evaluation
3102	Online Instruction
3230/7330	Copyright Compliance
3300	School Calendar and Time for Learning
3460	Graduation Requirements
3470/4305	Alternative Learning Programs/Schools
3610	Counseling Program
3620	Extracurricular Activities and Student Organizations
3640/5130	Student Voter Registration and Preregistration
4040/7310	Staff-Student Relations
4050	Children of Military Families
4125	Homeless Students
4240/7312	Child Abuse and Related Threats to Child Safety
4270/6145	Concussion and Head Injury
4335	Criminal Behavior
4400	Attendance
4700	Student Records
5000	Schools and the Community
5020	Visitors to the Schools
5030	Community Use of Facilities
5070/7350	Public Records – Retention, Release, and Disposition
5071/7351	Electronically Stored Information Retention
5210	Distribution and Display of Non-School Material
6120	Student Health Services
6125	Administering Medicines to Students
6140	Student Wellness
6210	Organization of School Nutrition Services
6220	Operation of School Nutrition Services
6230	School Meal and Competitive Food Standards
6305	Safety and Student Transportation Services
6315	Drivers
6320	Use of Student Transportation Services
6321	Bus Routes
6450	Purchase of Services
7100	Recruitment and Selection of Personnel
7130	Licensure
7232	Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace
7430	Substitute Teachers
7720	Employee Political Activities
8310	Annual Independent Audit
8341	Limited Claim Settlement
9020	Facility Design

Public Attachments:

Policy 1310-4002_revised.pdf

Policy 1501-4200-7270_revised.pdf

Policy 1610-7800_revised.pdf

Policy 1710-4020-7230_revised.pdf

Policy 2310_revised.pdf

Policy 2440_revised.pdf

Policy 3102_revised.pdf

Policy 3230-7330_revised.pdf

Policy 3300_revised.pdf

Policy 3460_revised.pdf

Policy 3470-4305_revised.pdf

Policy 3610_revised.pdf

Policy 3620_revised.pdf

Policy 3640-5130_revised.pdf

Policy 4040-7310_revised.pdf

Policy 4050_revised.pdf

Policy 4125_revised.pdf

Policy 4240-7312_revised.pdf

Policy 4270-6145_revised.pdf

Policy 4335_revised.pdf

Policy 4400_revised.pdf

Policy 4700_revised.pdf

Policy 5000_revised.pdf

Policy 5020_revised.pdf

Policy 5030_revised.pdf

Policy 5070-7350_revised.pdf

Policy 5071-7351_revised.pdf

Policy 5210_revised.pdf

Policy 6120_revised.pdf

Policy 6125_revised.pdf

Policy 6140_revised.pdf

Policy 6210_revised.pdf

Policy 6220_revised.pdf

Policy 6230_revised.pdf

Policy 6305_revised.pdf

Policy 6315_revised.pdf

Policy 6320_revised.pdf

Policy 6321_revised.pdf

Policy 6450_revised.pdf

Policy 7100_revised.pdf

Policy 7130_revised.pdf

Policy 7232_revised.pdf

Policy 7430_revised.pdf

Policy 7720_revised.pdf

Policy 8310_revised.pdf

Policy 8341_revised.pdf

Policy 9020_revised.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

10. FY22 Budget Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Dr. McDaris and Mr. Barger will give an update on the local and state budgets for FY22.

Groups audience:

School Board

11. FY22 Interim Budget Resolution

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

At the last regular meeting in June, the board must approve an interim budget resolution in order to pay salaries and normal operating expenses for the period beginning July 1 of the new fiscal year until the final budget resolution is adopted. The interim budget resolution for FY22 is attached. Norris Barger will answer any questions you may have.

A motion is in order to adopt the interim budget resolution for the period beginning July 1, 2021 until adoption of the 2021-2022 budget resolution.

Public Attachments:

FY22 Interim Budget Resolution.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

12. Bond Projects Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Norris Barger will give an update on the school bond construction projects.

Groups audience:

School Board

13. Report from NCSBA Training Activity

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

North Carolina statute requires board of education members to receive a minimum of 12 hours of professional development training every two years. Local board policy states that members who attend a professional development activity will provide a report of the event to other board members. Marty Griffin attended the NCSBA Summer Policy Conference on June 17-18 at Carolina Beach, NC. He will give an update.

Groups audience:

School Board

14. Superintendent's Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Dr. Jeff McDaris will give an update on current and emerging educational issues.

Groups audience:

School Board

15. Important Dates

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The timeline for the superintendent’s annual evaluation calls for the board to meet in closed session on July 19 to prepare a consensus evaluation. Due to scheduled vacations, Mr. Kiviniemi and Mr. Griffin will not be present on July 19. Therefore, the superintendent will recommend that the board work on the consensus evaluation at the following meeting on August 2. The board would then meet with the superintendent on August 16 to review the evaluation and agree upon performance goals for the next school year. A revised evaluation timeline is attached.

July 5	Independence Day holiday
July 13	SPECIAL MEETING	5:30 p.m.	MEC
July 19	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
July 26, 27, or 29	JOINT MEETING (unconfirmed)	TBD	TBD
Aug. 2	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Aug. 9	Regular 5-day schedule resumes
Aug. 9-13	Teacher workdays
Aug. 16	First student day
Aug. 16	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Sept. 3	Remote learning day
Sept. 6	Labor Day holiday
Sept. 20	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC

Public Attachments:

timeline 2020-2021_revised.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

16. Public Comment

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

A second opportunity will be provided for public comment.

Groups audience:

School Board

17. Other Items

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

An opportunity will be provided for comments and/or other items from board members.

Groups audience:

School Board

III. Adjournment

Groups audience:

School Board