BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
DECEMBER 11, 2007
10:00A.M.
OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS ARE ON FILE IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE LOCATED AT 1 MAGNUM PASS, MOBILE, ALABAMA36618
The Regular Meeting of the Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, Alabama, was heldin the Board Room of Central Office at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, 2007.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rev. Fleet L. Belle, President; Mr. Ken Megginson, Vice President; Dr. Judy P. Stout,Mrs. Hazel H. Fournier, and Mr. William S. Meredith, Commissioners.
ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL PRESENT:
Dr. Harold Dodge,Superintendent; Mrs. Martha Peek, Interim Deputy Superintendent of Academic Affairs;Ms. Dinish Simpson, Chief Financial Officer; Ms. Andrea Barbour, Dr. Carolyn Taylor,Mr. Fred Marshall, Dr. Lynda Carroll, Ms. Karen Mohr, Ms. Phaedra Fox, and Mr. Paul Tate,Assistant Superintendents; Mr. Tommy Sheffield, Executive Manager Facilities; Mr. David Akridge, Interim Executive Manager Information Technology; Ms. Pauline Scarborough, Executive Director;Ms. Lori Zirlott, Comptroller; Ms. Nancy Pierce, Supervisor of Communications; Mr. William Duffy, Director of Security;and Mr. Derek Atchison,Board Counsel.
OBSERVERS PRESENT:
Wade Perry , Konni Reusser, Eric Beck,
MEDIA PRESENT:
Rena Havner, Mobile Press Register
CALL TO ORDER:
Board President Belle called the Regular Meeting of the Board of School Commissioners to order.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mr. Ken Megginson, Commissioner District 1, offered prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited following prayer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2007, REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2007, AND THE EMPLOYEE HEARING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2007:
Rev. Belle presented the items.
Mr. Meredith moved to approve the minutes of the Special Called Meeting of November 13, 2007, Regular Meeting of November 13, 2007, and the Employee Hearing of November 13, 2007.
Dr. Stout provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
Rev. Belle presented the item.
Dr. Dodge requested Action Item G.18 – Termination of a Probationary Classified Employee and Consent Items H.26.7-13, 18, and 41 – Out-of-County Travel Exceeding $600, be pulled.
Mr. Megginson moved to approve adoption of the agenda as revised.
Mr. Meredith provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
BOARD MEMBERS/SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Rev. Belle stated this would be Dr. Harold Dodge’s last official Board Meeting. He gave accolades to Dr. Dodge for his past service and stated there would be a program and reception following the Board Meeting in honor of Dr. Dodge.
Mr. Meredith spoke regarding the reception held by the Mobile Area Education Association recently and commented how wonderful a tribute to Dr. Dodge it was.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS ART CONTEST:
Rev. Belle called forward Alexander Pendergraft, Drake Ruehmkorf, Tanner Stauter, Morgan Grisset, Elizabeth Aduddell, Zach Anderson, Zach Anderson, Jailyn Huff, DeMarkus Perry, Breanna Scott, Darrius Graham, Sierra Smith, Destiny Stephens-Roberson, Tho Nguyen, Sellena Scogin, Tashea Drew, Kara Wright, Lauren Hobgood, Nathan Dole, Sonny Nguyen, A.J. Mitchell, Lauren Kowal, and Shelby Singletary for Special Recognition. The Mobile Art Council judged art work from elementary, middle, and high schools on November 2, 2007. Twenty-two pieces were selected to be displayed throughout the AcademicAffairsBuilding. Each Board Member presented their district students with a Certificate of Recognition for their accomplishments in the Academic Affairs Art Contest.
BLUERIBBONSCHOOL
Mr. Megginson called forward Principal Diane McWain, Clark School of Math, Science, and Technology and Dr. Harold Dodge for Special Recognition.In October, U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named Clark School of Math, Science, and Technology a ‘No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School’, which is one of the most prestigious education awards in the country. It distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap. Clark is one of three schools in the state of Alabama that received this honor. Mr. Megginson presented Ms. McWain with a Certificate of Recognition. Ms. McWain thanked the Board for the recognition and stated at the Blue Ribbon ceremony, she also received an award wherein she was the only middle school principal and one of only six educators in the United States to receive the esteemed Terrel H. Bell Award for School Leadership, presented to her on November 13, 2007, in Washington, D.C.
SCHEDULED CITIZEN’S REQUESTS:
Delegate 1: Wade Perry spoke regarding the budget crisis.
APPROVAL OF ACTION ITEMS G.1 – CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND USA-PROJECT CRUISE; G.2 – 2008 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION; G.3 – CONTRACT WITH MDI MEDIA GROUP, INC.; G.4 – CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND FREDDA WHITE-CRENSHAW; G.5 – CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND KIMBERELY WARNER; G.6 – CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND TRACY MARTIN; G.7 – CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND KATRINA BALUYUT; G.8 –CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND REBECCA CASH-ROOT; G.9 – CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY AND MELANIE IKERMAN; G.10 – 2ND READING REVOKE CURRENT POLICY MANUAL PENDING ADOPTION OF NEW POLICY MANUAL; G.11 – 2ND READING PROPOSED ADOPTION OF NEW POLICY MANUAL; G.12 – HVAC UP-GRADE AND REROOF OF THE CAFETERIA AT MURPHY HIGH SCHOOL; G.13 – RESIGNATIONS OF CERTIFIED PERSONNEL; G.14 – APPOINTMENT OF CERTIFIED PERSONNEL-TEACHERS; G.15 – RESIGNATIONS OF CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL; G.16 – APPOINTMENT OF CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL; G.17 – TERMINATION OF A PROBATIONARY CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE; AND G.19 – 2008 NIGHT SCHOOL PROGRAM; INCLUDES ALL ITEMS AS REVISED:
Dr. Dodge presented the items.
Mr. Meredith moved to approve Action Items G.1 through G.19 as amended.
Dr. Stout provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Dr. Dodge presented the item.
Mr. Megginson moved to approve Consent Agenda Items H.1 throughH.26, as amended.
Dr. Stout provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
STEP IV GRIEVANCE:
Dr. Dodge presented the item.
Mr. Megginson moved to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation the Step III decision be upheld.
Dr. Stout provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
BOARD MEMBERS/SUPERINTENDENT REQUESTS:
Dr. Stout requested:1) A quarterly briefing be scheduled on the budget before the end of the
fiscal year.
ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE:
Board Counsel Derek Atchison, requested direction regarding three separate discipline agreements.
MOTION TO APPROVE DISCIPLINE AGREEMENT FOR MARSHALL ELY:
Rev. Belle presented the item.
Dr. Stout moved to accept the terms of an agreement of discipline for Marshall Ely.
Mrs. Fournier provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE DISCIPLINE AGREEMENT FOR CALVIN HOLMES:
Rev. Belle presented the item.
Mr. Megginson moved to accept the terms of an agreement of discipline for Calvin Holmes.
Mrs. Fournier provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT FOR NANCY CARROLL:
Rev. Belle presented the item.
Mr. Megginson moved to accept the proposed settlement in the matter of the arbitration for Nancy Carroll.
Mr. Meredith provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
SCHEDULING OF MEETINGS:
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 2:00 p.m. Pre-Board Meeting Board Room
3:00 p.m. Regular Board Meeting
ADJOURNMENT:
Rev. Belle presented the item.
Mr. Megginsonmoved the meeting adjourn.
Mr. Meredith provided a second to the motion.
Rev. Belle called for the vote. The votes were:
Aye – Rev. Belle, Mr. Megginson, Dr. Stout, Mrs. Fournier, Mr. Meredith
No –
Abstain –
Not Voting –
Absent –
Rev. Belle declared the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:00p.m.
______
REV. FLEET L. BELLE, BOARDPRESIDENT
______
DR. ROY D. NICHOLS, SECRETARY / SUPERINTENDENT
DATE APPROVED: ______
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