ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING MINUTES

ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The Essex County School Board met in the Essex County School Board Room on December 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER
Present:     Carl Slaughter
                  Larry Bullis
                  Keren Ellis
                  Ray Whitaker
                  Kim Hodges, Clerk
                  Joseph Melvin, Superintendent
                  Stephanie Bassett, Assistant Superintendent
                  Darnell Carter, Principal EHS
                  Andrea Roane, Principal EIS
                  Robert Lukacevic, Assistant Principal EIS
                  Patrick Dispirito, Principal TES
                  Fontella Calhoun, Assistant Principal TES
                  Annette Thompson
                  Sharon Saunders
                  Erin Kelley
                  Vanessa Burns
                  David Rector
                  Peg Norman
                  Debra Emery
                  Antoinette Jones
                  Maryemma Zayas
                  Gina Powell
                  Florence Pollard
                  Denise Hammond
                  Jacob Plummer
                  Doris Martin
                  Vernon Keeve
                  Edith Moore

      Mrs. Ellis asked for a moment of silence for Mary Gaskins who was seriously ill at the time.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
The following was added to the agenda:
                  VSBA Voting Member for Insurance Service

Page Two                                                                                      December 12, 2011
Minutes                                                                                         Regular Session

On a motion by Mrs. Ellis, seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board approved the consent agenda.

TITLE VI PART B APPLICATION
Mrs. Bassett presented the Title VI Part B application for approval and informed the Board that $34,872.88 would be awarded to the division.

On a motion by Mrs. Ellis, seconded by Mr. Bullis, the Board approved the Title VI Part B application.

VSBA VOTING MEMBER
On a motion by Mr. Bullis, seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board approved Keren Ellis as the VSBA voting member.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION RECOGNITION
Mrs. Powell explained the process of earning the national board certification and recognized Michelle Atkins for receiving the certification.

TES & EIS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY REPORT
Mr. Dispirito presented a powerpoint presentation on the goals and strategies at TES.

Ms. Roane presented a powerpoint presentation on the goals and strategies at EIS.

GOOD NEWS AT EIS
Ms. Roane informed the Board that Essex Intermediate School has a National Junior Honor Society.   There were 18 inductees who had to meet 5 criteria to be inducted.

Ms. Jones informed the Board that the after school SAFE program at TES won 1st place in the local Christmas parade.

STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST
Mrs. Hodges reminded the Board that the annual statement of economic interest forms are due by January 15th.

WINTER BREAK
Dr. Melvin informed the Board that winter break begins December 20-30, 2011.

Page Three                                                                                    December 12, 2011
Minutes                                                                                         Regular Session

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Melvin reported that the Policy & Procedures Committee met on December 10, 2011.

Rev. Keeve reported on the purpose of the meeting and that the “zero tolerance” law was discussed.   Also, the procedures that are available to parents to help them through the appeal process were discussed.   He stated that the committee plans to meet again.

NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Edith Moore stated that her child has not be provided the appropriate education.   The I.E.P. has not been met and the division is not in compliance with federal law.   She asked that the Board look into the matter.

Mr. Jacob Plummer asked if the Policy & Procedures Committee minutes would be provided to the public.   Mrs. Ellis stated that an agenda can be placed on the division website.   Mr. Bullis also stated that the copier issue that he mentioned at the last meet would be looked at during the budget work sessions.

Ms. Doris Martin stated that no child should be put out of school however to repeat an offense and still come back to school is no right.  She stated that all children should be treated fairly and equally.  Mr. Slaughter stated that the information she was provided was incorrect.

Mr. Bullis thanked the public for their comments at last month’s meeting.   It was a wakeup call for the Board.   He has done 100 hours of research information on drug use by students.

CLOSED SESSION
On a motion by Mrs. Ellis and seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board went into closed session for the following purposes:

1.          Personnel
2.          Pupil Personnel

                                    2.1-344.7.1           Legal  

      REGULAR SESSION
On a motion by Mrs. Ellis and seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board returned to regular session.

Page Four                                                                                      December 12, 2011
Minutes                                                                                         Regular Session

CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED SESSION
      WHEREAS, the Essex County School Board had convened a closed meeting of this
      pursuant to an affirmative record vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of information Act and
      WHEREAS, Section 2.1-344(D) of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this School Board that such closed meeting was conducted with Virginia Law;
      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Essex County School Board hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully
exempted from closed meeting to which this certification applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered. 

      VOTE    
AYES                   4
NAY                 0                 ____________________________________
                                                Clerk/Deputy Clerk (or Supt.) of Essex County

On a motion by Mrs. Ellis, seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board approved updating the current policies.

On a motion by Mrs. Ellis, seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board appointed Jennifer Gilbert as interim Special Education Director.

On a motion by Mr. Whitaker, seconded by Mrs. Ellis, the Board approved Paula Garner as substitute school psychologist.

On a motion by Mrs. Ellis, seconded by Mr. Whitaker, the Board approved the resignation of Wayne Lewis as presented.

On a motion by Mr. Whitaker, seconded by Mrs. Ellis, the Board adjourned.

                                          ____________________________________________
                                                                              Chairman

                                          ____________________________________________
                                                                         Clerk/Deputy Clerk