001good evening a Thursday afternoon welcome we appreciate your attendance at the meeting and at this time I'd like to call the September 3rd board meeting to order it is the 3rd yes we have the presentations of the colors by North Buncombe would you please rise I pledge allegiance I'd ask that you remain standing for a moment of silence thank you at this time I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda so move madam chair thank you is there a second a second thank you all those in favor any opposed the agendas approved at this time we'll hear from our superintendent dr. Tony Baldwin it's always great to have teachers in the audience in my many visits to our campuses throughout our school system I can honestly say that we really had a good first
002week start to the new school year and I want to extend my thanks especially to the North Buncombe elementary school staff and community for their patience with the two-day delay we had a delayed start and we felt that was the safest decision to allow us to address there was a possibility of some carpet mold issue that would have impacted our students and staff so really do appreciate their patience our school performance grades for 2014-15 school year they were officially released yesterday and I'm very proud of the of our first off our 2% increase in our four-year graduation rate I know we have a twenties here and graduation initiative is one of their key programs that was a two percent increase from the year previously we moved from 83 to 85 percent and I hope as
003we continue our efforts not only with the graduation initiative but a lot of a lot of efforts being made through our counseling staff and social working staff that we're going to see that continue to increase as the years go on likewise we are very pleased that 92% of our schools received AC or higher that's compared to 72% of schools across the state of North Carolina seventy-three percent of our schools also either exceeded or math their growth targets and congratulations to our early college and Nesbitt Discovery Academy and I see a few staff from both of those schools here tonight sixteen of our schools received B's which was an increase from the prior year and on the opposite end of the scale we had three of our schools that received DS for Emma and Johnston elementary
004schools that was the second year in the row but I do want to point this out because I think it's extremely important that we realize that while that particular grade was assigned to these schools that both schools made their growth targets and for Emma Elementary this is actually the second year in a road that they exceeded their growth targets now I say this and that it's important that we remember that the particulars for mule it's in place for assigning these grades ways as far as growth very low only 20% of that total grade is based upon growth and for schools such as johnston and emma that growth is absolutely crucial and i would certainly argue that all the way to the general assembly in Raleigh so I hope that's something that particular formula is continued
005to be looked at I think we advocate as a profession that there be a better balance between the growth and actual performance I also want to say this to about with Emin Johnson because I'll tell you I spent a lot of time that first week in both of those schools I've got five grandchildren I've got a six coming in January and I want to just say that being in those schools and going to those classrooms both of those schools if those are those D schools I'll tell you right now I would not blink having any one of my grandchildren inside those schools the teachers are incredibly dedicated they're both nurturing schools and I think that's important and that's just a personal opinion that I'm gonna take a opportunity to share for the board's knowledge will
006actually have mystery Earwood mr. Stevie reward will be presenting the details of that performance report to you at the October board session we've begun a series of presentations that have been led by our central office leadership within our schools regarding improved customer service earlier this summer mrs. Lopez and mrs. cheek they coordinated a training partnership with the Biltmore company and that was focused on their world-class practice and practices in the art of hospitality and service so going through our schools I've received a number of positive comments board members regarding this particular presentation we still have still have probably about 30% of our schools to go as far as that 30 40 % so I think a good start with that you know in closing I do want to reference the recent posting of inappropriate slogans
007that occurred at Irwindale and I really do believe this and I believe this very strongly that a monitored and respectful discussion regarding the issue of immigration is extremely appropriate in fact if we as a society are going to truly believe in the importance of globally educating our kids our students for what's ahead in the future I think those difficult those challenging conversations they need to take place and the perfect place for them to take place is that classroom where that teachers monitoring again it's very respectful now that said I do need to to say this publicly that what is not at all appropriate is for posting any type of slogans in a school hallway or within our school that reflect insensitivity to any group of individuals that's not what we're about and that certainly does
008not reflect the values of respects rights and responsibilities at Irwindale but I believe there's always a silver lining throughout my getting to be a pretty long career I've seen it over and over that there can be silver lining in issues and incidents that occur like this and I think that what can come out of arwen is a very good thing that will be a model for all of us in this school system I can report as a result of the community and parent giving parents giving feedback as well as a student forum dr. Brown held a student forum for about an hour and a half allowing students to to speak I think that was very positive wasn't easy to hear at times but it was very positive thing for that school as a result of
009that dr. Brown has now created a parent community advisory group in fact he's already met with that group as of yesterday afternoon or at least the start of that group he will also have a student Advisory Council that's going to identify positive solutions to address the issues that have been raised at her in high school and that concludes my comments at this time I would ask for dr. Porter I believe he has some employee recognition thank you madam chair dr. Baldwin board members assembled guests and excellent teachers in Buncombe County welcome glad to see this place full if y'all can be here next month - that would be wonderful we're gonna start with our employee service recognitions first tonight at dr. ball I'll to ask you to come up front as well to take a
010picture Alison strosnider I believe from a teacher from Oakley elementary school Alison come on down just a quick question for you Alison 20 years public education when people ask you what you do what do you say I teach the future short sweet to the point thank you very much Alison let's get your picture made with dr. Bowman and thank you for your service next next up principal from Leicester Elementary Carlene finger come on down 20 years I love that people come to Buncombe County and they stay this is really good really comforting Carlene thank you so Carlene we've been going through customer service training so when people ask you what you do what do you say I say I make a difference in children's lives every day every day and she does thank you very
011much we have a lot of school leaders the next is Amy Dupree a principal at Sand Hill Venable Amy come on down years as well Amy thank you very much so what got you into public education in the first place I mix it up honor right what got you into public education and talk about your experience my basketball coach from TC Roberson rich Sizemore got me into public education he made me want to be a teacher and a coach myself well super thank you very much for your service Amy last but not least is our director of student services we could not get along without him mr. David Thompson come on that we call him the fireman because he helps put out fires in our schools he's really good at it too come on I
012call him the fireman maybe I'm the only one but I tell you what David talk about your experience 30 years obviously you love what you're doing talk about what education means to you it means to me working with both parents and students in schools and the community to make kids lives better it's it's putting in place those things that make a difference that go beyond the academics that make a difference in their lives in the future and you do that every day Thank You mr. Thompson 30 years this time I'm sorry thank you we'll ask for dr. Porter to talk to us about some good news we'll begin tonight in our good news section that recognized in our title one high-performance reward schools and with these recognitions I will call up miss Geneva near mere
013our interim superintendent and i bundled that last name and I apologize oh I'm sorry we're gonna make her super now interim director of federal programs Geneva come on out new superintendent retirement is really nice so I'm rethinking that we have a schools are going to recognize tonight and I know that many of you administrators brought some teams from your school if you want to come make your way down to the front that'll help us do this in a kind of an efficient manner these schools the state recognizes we reward schools in two ways one is for having the highest overall performance of all student groups you have to be in the top 10% of title one schools in the state the other way is if you have them the highest progress of all student groups
014again 10% of 10% of the title one schools in the state right this year at the state at last year this is based on 2014-15 the state of North Carolina identified 78 title 1 schools who were reward schools we have age of them in Buncombe County so I think we did a very good job all of our schools are recognized as title 1 reward schools based on the first criteria highest performance of all subgroups so I'd like to recognize Denise Montgomery from Avis Creek principal and her assistant principal charity OMPs and they with them you're going to come forward so they've got some teachers they've got some students they've got some members of their title one staff here with them and congratulations next is Black Mountain Ella Black Mountain elementary the principal is norm Basit
015he's brought with him Ruth shivers who is this reading specialist Black Mountain primary principle is Mallory McGinnis and she's brought with her Deborah Kubiak who is also a reading specialist the elementary the principal is John Barbour and he's brought with him his assistant principal dr. Paula Pinkerton and some teachers with him and he has a instructional coach nice haul Creek Elementary Principal as Jenny Barrett and she has a group of teachers with her Northland Camila mentoree principal is Debbie Devane she has with her assistant principal Cindy Jamison and some teachers Weaverville Elementary Heidi Allison is the principal she has a teacher with her and last but not least is Pisgah elementary the principal is J do also want to mention that out of the 78 schools that were recognized in the state they also recognize
016the top 10% of that 78 Pisgah elementary is one of those there were ten schools recognized in piscis one of those top ten title one schools in the state next up we would like to welcome the Inca High School girls softball champions and for the recognition really we're gonna stop applauding she's coming down yes evening madam chair dr. Baldwin our distinguished representative max Queen and all the other distinguished board members I had the distinct pleasure tonight to introduce you to an awesome group of young ladies and I thought about a lot of adjectives that describe these young ladies but the one that comes to my mind most is fierce they are fierce and I'm going to tell you they're fierce on that softball field I don't want to go up against them and they're fierce
017in the classroom they have an average GPA of over 4.5 nothing else about him these young ladies demonstrate leadership and character like nothing I have ever seen but I'm gonna tell you when they get on that softball field they got these beautiful smiles I tell them all the time they could make a calendar cuz they're gorgeous but let me tell you when you see them and they lower their eyebrows look in their eye and that smile goes away their fierceness comes out and it is sweet it's so good I got to watch it down there in Greensboro and I watched Courtney in particularly her eyebrows lower it does it they all do it's like I got this and then I watched the other team shake a little bit because they won the 2015 state championship
018with a 28 and OC z'n it is with leadership and their head coach standing beside me is by far one of the finest coaches in North Carolina and I'm gonna let her introduce these girls but if you're really really nice to us we'll let you look at the ring for crook not sure how I'm supposed to follow that up but I just want to introduce these wonderful young ladies to you I'm gonna go down who's here and then those that are not with us we have two that are going to college both playing softball one at Appalachian State and one at Florida State which is really amazing and the rest are somewhere playing a sport tonight they couldn't make it they have golf matches and tennis matches so it's really exciting for them I wish
019they could be here this is a great honor but we'll go on without them so I'll start courtney pearson come up please ladies you didn't get all pretty for nothing right Sydney Friday Whitney Fletcher Fletcher not here we have Shruti Patel Jasmine Palmer Michaela Inslee Daniel Harris Katie grace Olinger Jordan Harris and Addison Harris and these ladies I've said it before if you guys read the paper or anything or listen to anything that Miss Robinson just said they are really great softball players but they are much better people and I'm so thankful to their parents so let me have the opportunity to work with them and they are great young ladies thank you guys go jets Thank You Jets it was nice to fall at sugar jets it was it's nice to follow you in
020the paper yeah while we're making a little adjustment our next good news opportunity dr. Baldwin's going to share with us we're gonna continue the theme of leadership and I love that fear just I'm gonna work on my look game face very proud tonight to have two guests members of our Buncombe County school family with us first mr. Dooley Andrew the Andrew Institute for social enterprise and our executive director of Evelyn Charities mr. bill Murdoch they're here to present a very special young Leadership Award so I'm going to ask them to come forward at this time and Evelyn has for the past bill I think we're in four years or three years four years with the Leadercast yep our fourth for the past four years Helen has sponsored a leader cast and we've had the good
021fortune they actually bring leaders from and it's it's all through video through televised out of Atlanta but we've had the opportunity to send a large number of our student government representatives from across Buncombe County to that leader cast and it's just been a been a tremendous opportunity so bill thank you for thank you and Dewey for that opportunity for our kids this time I'll be a little askew and dewy to come to the microphone Thank You dr. Baldwin and remember the school board and first of all congratulate what a great night with all these with all these awards it's such a great reflection on not only the teachers and school but the leeteuk my leadership of the leadership we have in the school board and in the schools and with a student leader some regulations
022too to everyone and dr. bollen and especially right Asians one of our certainly proudest moments one of our flagship programs is the graduation initiative with the Center for social enterprise and this year this past summer we had the opportunity to meet with the school board the Chamber of Commerce the superintendent and some principals up in Waterloo Iowa on the Cedar Valley area that had heard about the graduation initiative and was very interested in what happens and how it works and we spent about three hours I was up there to dr. Baldwin wouldn't fly up to Waterloo Iowa just for the day can't imagine why it only takes like 15 hours to get there I'm by playing but a great group of people were continuing our conversation with them but there but they saw greatness ining
023example of how a culture can change with schools and how how it can affect so many so we're going to continue to work with that our but our second flagship program we're just proud of is the Andrew Institute for leadership and public service then created by Dewey and a longtime friend of Joe Evelyn and all of us one of our founding members and as dr. Baldwin said through our leadership programs Leadercast we also have refresh leadership that Gary Geller Gary Gallagher does with express personnel professionals and we've been able to bring folks not only through video like moose or can't president of coca-cola and Condoleezza Rice and world leaders and thought leaders but also bring folks here like John Maxwell and Senator Bill Frist and Senator Tom Daschle I'm this next year we'll have Dan
024Gable will be here with us former world champ one of the winningest coaches of all time in NCAA history will be here next October with the Andrew Institute for leadership and public service but part of that is this young leader award and this is our third year doing I believe in presenting this award and it's presented to the young man or young woman who's attended some of these programs and I've written an essay about what they see leadership is how it's affected them and what they're going to do with the knowledge that they have and it's not just Buncombe County but it's all the surrounding counties as well so there's dozens and dozens of schools there and entries to this for this award and so I had a chance to meet this year's recipient and
025his mother here just briefly and I can certainly say that if this is any indication of what leadership of the future is I think we're all certainly in great hands so I introduced Dewey Andrew our founder of the Andrew Institute and the presentation good evening okay thank all of you it's a pleasure to be here glad to be here with the school board and all these great teachers and certainly the inka ladies softball team what an honor to go 28 now and win the state championship anyway it's a pleasure for me to be here today and to introduce a young man who is the third recipient of the scholarship funds for attending Leadercast and writing an essay about what he is achieved and learned at Leadercast and this young man is a student leader he's
026on the student he's an officer in the student government he's an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes he is a tennis player captain of the tennis team so he's also an athlete and I think you learned a lot going through that program of those programs so I'll ask him to come on down Cooper Smith but an excellent essay and we're certainly proud to present this to him he already has received a $500 scholarship presentation so Cooper we're happy to have you and thank you again also add that this young man is a proud student-athlete at Irwindale I call on Suzy and swagger to do our curriculum feature but I have to do a little editorial comment it is so hard for me to see all of these teachers that I used to work with
027and be able to hug every one of you but know that this is a verbal hug and I celebrate all of your accomplishments and thank you it's your turn what a perfect lead-in yes we are here to celebrate some of bunkum County's very best teachers it is such an honor to have the teaching excellence noticed by your peers as you were selected teachers of the year you're certainly all models for us to follow I encourage you to open your classroom doors and share your expertise with your peers so congratulations we are excited to recognize you this evening we have an instructional framework that involves read write think speak and move every day so we're doing all of that this evening and more movement because we want each of these individuals to come down and be
028with their board representative so we'll do this by district and I invite the district to gather here and then when we call your name please move toward the center with your board representative for a picture ready smile it's a good evening okay from the inka district please come down we would like to recognize from inca high school Kevin Franklin with Miss Tonya Robinson from Inca middle Don Roberts with principal Leland Blankenship representing Candler elementary Angela Hall with principal Steven Chandler in absentia this evening from hominy Valley miss Emily Anderson from Pisgah elementary clay Stroupe with principal J del representing Sandhill Venable elementary Patsy Prickett with principal Amy Dupree let's give a well congratulations for the ink while they're taking a picture of her when district would come on down representing clad a Irwin high school
029mr. Brian Gonzalez with dr. Jim Brown representin Clyde a orwen middle school miss Vicki Hicks with principal Chris Thompson representing JP Eblen Intermediate School miss alline cuca Rhett's with chip Cody principal from Emma elementary Sarah knows with principal Jeremy stow from Johnston Elementary Jana hakima with Charlotte Hibbs principal Jahna hokum from Leicester elementary Cindy Ellis with principal Carlene finger from west Buncombe Elementary Cathy Burnett with principal Brian Chandler from Woodfin Elementary mr. Upton had a family member ill this evening so Miss Vicky Hensley King is escorting herself up from Lancome County early college mr. Tim Arnold with body Johnston principle from the Nesbitt Discovery Academy mr. John is ill with Nathan Allison principal while that district is gathering for a principal north Buncombe district may come on down representing North Malcolm high school mr. Justin
030Gillespie with Jack Evans principal from North Malcolm middle miss Allison McDevitt with Samantha Searcy principal from North Windy Ridge intermediate miss Sheree Turner with rent wise principal from Barnesville elementary miss Whitney ball with Danna night principal from North Malcolm elementary miss Teresa Hanukkah with Deborah Devane and her assistant principal representing Weaverville elementary kate Hamlin with principal hottie Alison and from Weaverville primary miss Haley Wilson with mr. Gardner bridges principal congratulations to all of the North Buncombe teachers of the year the owain district please come forward representing Owen high school miss Ashley Beauregard with Jim Lewis assistant principal from Charles do in middle Cathy Hani with dr. Hani bond Dolman from Black Mountain Elementary Carol Fogle with norm Basit principal Mountain primary Lila Downs more elf is she is not with us this evening oh she
031is I see her but you guys can't sort there she is boost add one of our teacher ed programs so she's here via Skype congratulations sure yeah McClanahan with principal Kimberly Ward and from commune from community high school Miss Emily Fisher couldn't be with us this evening so Jeff Connor principal will accept on her behalf if you-all would stay and have one district photo those district please come forward finding AC Reynolds high school miss Annie Joyce with mr. Sellars principal representing AC Reynolds middle mr. Bob carpenter who could not be with us this evening so Stanley Wheeless assistant principal extraordinaire will accept dr. Johnson is on maternity leave so Stanley has represented her well Cane Creek middle mr. William Thatcher and his principal Karen Barnhill representing Charles C Bell elementary Cindy McDaniel with Jenny Kline
032principal from Fairview Elementary Jennifer Tatum with principal Jennifer Reed representing Hall Creek Elementary Miss Rebecca Welch and Ginny Barrett principal from Oakley elementary miss April Alexander and congratulations to all the girls gratulations to the rentals district and robertson district please mr. chill if you'll come up he robertson high school mr. Chris Eisenhower with Amy Rani principal representing Valley Springs middle school Leah Jordan with Eddie Burch Ville representing Charles T Coons intermedia miss Laurie Hilliard with Robin board principal representing Averys creek elementary miss melody Warren and Denise Montgomery principal representing William s DS elementary miss Cathy Crowder and John barber principal from Glenarden elementary miss patty ogle representing herself because miss spay had oral surgery today recive education program miss Jennifer freer Teacher of the Year with Larry waggle principal we could have a district picture
033please mr. platts would you join dr. Baldwin for the next presentations we don't want you to feel left out while we're in transition I would like to recognize our Teacher of the Year committee it is the most difficult job to select from the very best and they have a lot of time and energy if we have teachers of the Year committee for the district here we have teachers staff and community members would you please stand now for the moment we've been waiting for this evening we will know who our district winners are we will announce the Buncombe County Teacher of the Year at our banquet later in September so our district winners when I call your name please come forward from the inka district Miss Patti Prickett from Sand Hill Venable congratulations from the Erwin
034district congratulations Brian Gonzalez from the north Buncombe district Alison McDevitt North welcome narrow from the reynolds district April Alexander from the Robertson district miss Laurie Hilliard from the owen district miss Lila Downs morale Black Mountain primary coming to us via technology like can you say anything to the crowd thank you so much I'm so sorry that I thank you Wow congratulations to our district muted hear if you would please exit the regional are the district winners and meet miss Nicole Phelps in the cafeteria area congratulations to all teachers of the year we're very very proud of you Carolina ballgame that's right what kids just so you guys know halftime store score in the Carolina ballgame is 13 to 10 Carolina that would be UNC Chapel Hill only Carolina dr. Barnett fans in the all right
035it's now time for public comment tonight the school board will vote to change an important policy regarding parental inspection of an objection to instructional materials or policy 3210 although parents will still be allowed to inspect classroom materials and file objections to inappropriate novels like The Handmaid's Tale and The Bluest Eye teachers will now be allowed to teach these books during the challenge process I do not believe this policy change is necessary or fair to parents and students let's look at lessons learned from a recent parent objection the school board made a decision in July to keep the sexually explicit novel The Kite Runner on the high school reading list in spite of the graphic descriptions of child rape and its sixth grade reading level as a parent I objected to the novel's I'm sorry I
036need to get this closer the novel suitability for whole class instruction for these reasons asking the school board to respect academic rigor and the proper guardianship of our children at that July meeting some board members said taking the book off the district approved list would be censorship but this was not about book banning or censorship but about judging whether a book is suitable for whole class instruction the book stayed in school libraries public libraries and bookstores and was accessible to anyone who desired to read it word policy dictated that the instructor had to refrain from teaching the supplementary text until the review committee made their recommendation at that July meeting board members felt that opting out that is offering alternative book to a student whose parent objected was a fair option however research shows opting
037out is not a good solution because there is great value in class discussion this situation forces an unequal education unless there is a significant group opting out it can also set up the student who opts out to be ostracized and bullied so please keep your original policy it worked when the AC Reynolds high school teacher suddenly substituted the controversial Kite Runner novel for the classic All Quiet on the Western Front as the saying goes if it's not broken don't fix it thank you thank you this time we'll move to the action agenda we have an application for public school building capital fund in the north to use north carolina lottery funds for that capital work are there any questions from the board madam chair I do have a question regarding so I as I see
038in the document is giving us the numbers as estimated costs and am I correct in my assumption that none of this work has been bid yet is that correct okay it's just merely estimates that we have for this thank you okay any other questions from the board members so when it is bid presumably we will see that information available any other questions at this time I would entertain a motion to approve the application for the use of the capital outlay lottery funds for Phase three of the Nesbitt Discovery Academy do I have a motion I'll make that motion thank you is there a second second madam chair thank you all those in favor opposed the motion passes we also have an item on the action agenda for Robberson high school the approval of the utility
039easement request any any questions I just have one and probably four for board attorney mr. Campbell wants this if it's approved is approved and I know the paperwork still has to be done you have to see what comes from the entity if there's a problem as it relates to the easement or equipment within that easement is financial payment if there's something fall back to Buncombe County Schools or does it fall to the entity from from the point of the even of going forward and for how long and is that is that covered I guess is my question right the motion will be to allow the chair and superintendent to be authorized to execute the document so we will check all legal responsibilities liabilities anytime you're granting a utility easement you're simply granting the use of
040your property and you retain the ownership of your property so any malfunctions with equipments or other things are the responsibility of the grantee at that point but we will check all that if there's some issue with the easement then the chair won't sign and it would come back to you if there's some problem with the equipment down the line that would be the responsibility of the grantee and they would also have liability if something went wrong and our property was damaged as well thank you any other questions from other board members hearing none I would entertain a motion to authorize the board chair and the superintendent to execute a utility easement agreement for the sewer manhole get this number thirty to twenty six six seventy two on the TCC Roberson high school site indicated by
041Kaitlyn Enterprises LLC to serve the Springside Township townhomes development the easement is can contingent upon Kaitlyn enterprises preparing and filling the easement and the survey documentation and paying for that easement which feed which is five hundred dollars do I hear a motion to that effect so I move thank you is there a second thank you good all those in favor please say all right any opposed thank you the next item on the agenda is the consent agenda I would like to call to the attention of the people in the room that the personnel report came with an addendum as did the advisory councilmember additions it also came with an addendum items that we are voting on are the minutes from August 6 2015 the personnel report the record retention and disposal items the approval of
042payroll deduction for a Boleyn Charities or when high school use of capital outlay Athletic allotment the Advisory Council members and names that were also on the addendum Advisory Council members for 2015-16 and the policies for second reading which is policy 3210 do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda here I move that we approve the consent agenda thank you is there a second a second and all those in favor please say aye any opposed likewise we board members have received information on the 2015-2016 yellow bus list and the announcement for future meetings the Board of Education has a regular meeting on Thursday October the 1st at 25th on Twitter I messed up the date last month October 1st 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the minotaur iam and also I'd like to remind people
043in the audience as well as our board members that we have a Teacher of the Year banquet on September the 15th at 6:30 and we will be at the Asheville Renaissance hotel do I hear a motion to adjourn so moved madam chair and a second all those in favor okay we can see the rest of the ball game thank you very much you