LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT=

810 WEST MARKHAM STREET

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

MINUTES

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

April 27, 2006

The Board of = Directors of the Little Rock School District held its regularly scheduled me= eting at 5:30 p.m. on = Thursday, April 27, 2006, in the Boardroom of the Administration Buil= ding, 810 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkan= sas. President Robert M. Daugherty presided.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Robert M. Daugherty

Baker Kurrus=

Larry Berkley

Tom Brock

Bryan Day <= /span>

Katherine Mitchell

Tony Rose

MEMBERS ABSENT:

None=

ALSO PRESENT:

Roy G. Brooks, Superintendent of Schools

= &= nbsp; Beverly Griffin, Recorder of Minutes

I. &= nbsp; CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL <= o:p>

Dr. Daugherty called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. All members of the Board= were present at roll call. In addi= tion, ex officio representatives to the board were also present: Jennifer Dilday, teacher from Dodd Elementary Scho= ol, and Ellen Doramus, student from Central High School.

II. = PROCEDURAL MATTERS / WELCOMING COMMENTS

Dr. Daugherty welcomed the audience and asked Dr. Brooks to proceed with citations and commendations. =

III. = ; REPORTS/RECOGNITIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS

A. Superintendent’s Citations &a= mp; Commendations

Dr. Brooks began by introducing the 2006 Stephe= ns Award recipients. Mary Jacobs, teacher at J. A. Fai= r High School; Amanda Linn, teacher at Parkview Magnet High School; and G= ail McKinnon, teacher at Hall High School.= The student scholarship recipients were: Peter Liu and Laura Soderberg, b= oth from Central High School. Laura was also recognized for being selected as a 2006 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Mit= chell Perry, instructor at Metropolitan Career-= Technical Center, introduced students who = were medalists in the 2006 Arkansas VICA SkillsUSA competition in Hot Springs. The students present were: Doug Pitts, gold medal in diesel technology; Jonathan Modal, silver medal in diesel technology; James Blanchard and Dustin Stewart, bronze medals in collision / auto body repair; Jere= my Barnes, Arkansas’ state pin design winner; Christopher Young, gold medalist, graphic communications; and Alexis Oliver, 3^rd pla= ce in prepared speech. In addition,= it was noted that Director Carol Green was presented with a lifetime com= mitment award from Arkansas SkillsUSA / VICA at the conference.

Athletic Director Johnny Johnson introduced Brian Cox from the Arkansas Children’s’ Hospital sports medicine clinic and Tom Cantwell from O= rtho Arkansas. These volunteers pr= ovided LRSD middle and high school students with annual sports physicals and provi= ded assistance to our students at the state 5A tournament games. In addition, recognition was given = to Beth McKindrick, director of spor= ts medicine at ACH, for her contributions to LRSD athletic events.

&nb= sp;

Dor= othy Doolittle, math coach at Brady Elementary School, was named the 2005-06 Arkansas Elemen= tary School Teacher of the Year by the Oklahoma-Arkansas Mathematical Associatio= n of America. Dr. Brooks asked her= to stand as he read the plaque presented in recognition of this honor.

&nb= sp;

Dr. Brooks asked Junious Babbs, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education, to stand. Mr. Babbs recently received the 2006 Living Legacy Award at the re= cent Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dinner.&n= bsp;

The superintendent recognized the Mann Magnet M= iddle School Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Lab team and their facul= ty facilitators, Rick Washam and Robin Miller-Bookhout. This team recently attended the 200= 6 EAST Partnership Conference in Hot = Springs where they won the Founder’s Award, designating Mann’s EAST tea= m as “the “best of the best in the nation.” The participating students received a superintendent’s citation: Hamza Arshad, Rachel Best, Mari-Anne Caldwell, Catherine Fox, Michael Handy, Katie H= olcomb, Jake Kimmerly, Janey Partin and Orlan= do Roberts.

Th= e final superintendent’s citations were presented to ex-officio representativ= es for the month of April: Jennifer Dilday, teacher from David O. Dodd Elementary Scho= ol, and Ellen Doramus, student fro= m Central High School.

<= /p> &n= bsp; Partners in Education

Debbie Milam introduc= ed new school / business partnership as listed. Mr. Berkley moved to accept the partnership; Dr. Mitchell seconded t= he motion and it carried unanimous= ly.

Martin = L. King, Jr. Elementary School, represented by Diane Rynde= rs, in partnership with the Arkansas F= ederal Credit Union represented by Tam= my Christian

In addition to introducing the partnership, Ms. Milam asked Diane Vibhaker, representing the ViPS Board, to present a mock check representing $10,458,8= 88.00 in volunteer hours.

&nb= sp;

C. Celebrate School Libraries Presentation

District media specialists made a video presentation to the Board in recognition of = School Library Media Month and National Library Week. Those presenting included Mary Gil= lespie from Pulaski Heights Elementary School and Betty Hans= berry Harrison from Hall High School.

D.&n= bsp; Remarks from Citizens

Carol W= ilson addressed the board regarding the district’s cell phone policy. Her daughter’s phone was confiscated by the school principal after the phone was found during the sc= hool day in her backpack. The stud= ent served a three-day in school suspension.

Paul Pi= ghee, Southwest Middle Sc= hool parent and community volunteer, stated opposition to proposed changes at Southwest. He criticized the = faculty at Southwest and expressed concern regarding the disparity in student test results. He expressed support= for the building principal, and asked the board to allow the principal to remov= e poor teachers when they weren’t meeting the needs of the students. He noted that the school campus lo= oks better than it has in 20 years and that the community would not support reconfigur= ation of SWMS to an alternative learning center.

E. = Little Rock Classroom Teachers Association

Grainger Ledbetter ceded time allowed for the teachers u= nion to one of the district’s psychological examiners, Kim Hart, who spoke= on behalf of school all school psychology specialists.

IV.<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> RE= PORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

A.&n= bsp; Remarks from Board Members

Mr. Berkley congratul= ated the ViPs board and staff on the annual volunteer celebration this week and than= ked all volunteers for the time they give to our schools and students.

Mr. Kurrus reported t= hat he had attended a PTA meeting at Forest Heights Middle School; he thanked Judge Vic Fleming for pres= enting information at that meeting on alcohol and drug abuse prevention.

Mr. Kurrus thanked me= mbers of the McClellan community who spoke at the recent meeting there. He acknowledged the students who a= sked for “a pat on the back every once in a while.” Mr. Kurrus noted that it had become routine to place blame on the schools when problems arise in the community. He reminded the au= dience that when community problems end up in the schools, school administrators a= nd teachers do all they can to address these problems, but that the schools ca= n’t be expected to cure the problems. It takes a combined effort between the community and the schools to = make any significant improvements.

Mr. Brock thanked vol= unteers for what they do for our students and schools. He also commented on the meeting w= ith McClellan community members, and noted that the board was there to listen, not to take any action. He echoed Mr. Kur= rus remarks regarding the perception of fault with the schools. He asked that the city do their pa= rt to find a solution. <= /span>

Mr. Rose reported tha= t he had missed the community meeting at McClellan, and noted that it was the first meeting he had missed since being elected to serve on the board. He stated a personal commitment to= do everything possible to make McClellan a great school; however he agreed with other boa= rd remarks that the LRSD doesn’t have the ability to make a great community. “It isn̵= 7;t our responsibility to clean up that community; the city also has to do their part.”

Mr. Rose also noted t= hat he would be having surgery in May and that he would probably miss a few board = meetings.

Dr. Mitchell reported= that she had attended the National School Boards Association meeting in Chicago in early = April. She stated interest in the worksho= ps, and excitement about the motivational speakers who presented, including Col= in Powell and Jane Goodall. She reminded Dr. Brooks that Dr. Anne Bryant had taken a stand on small class s= ize at the primary grades, and again encouraged the district to move in that direction to improve early student success.

Dr. Mitchell thanked = the people who work in our schools and recognized the hard work that the faculty and support staffs do to ensure student success.

Teacher ex-officio Je= nnifer Dilday appealed to the board on behalf of instructional aides who have not = yet succeeded in passing the Praxis exam. There are many aides who have a CDA license and 120 hours of classro= om instruction, but will be dismissed because they cannot pass the geometry se= ction of the Praxis.

B. Student Assignment Report

No report.

C. Budget Update

Mr. Milhollen addressed the board regarding questions on state foundation fundi= ng for next school year. The per-student allocation will increase from $5,400 to $5,528. A portion will go to reimburse dis= tricts for increased obligations to teacher retirement benefits, the remainder wil= l be used to provide employee salary increases, fund school programs and cover increased energy costs. Negotiations with the CTA have resulted in an agreement to provide an additional 1.6% to the base salary of all employees. A formal proposal will be provided= for the board’s approval in May. If approved by the board, the increase would be posted on the June 15 payroll checks, retroactive to July 1 for the current school year.

Mr. Kurrus stated emphatically that he would not vote for any extensions to the teacher contract. He stated emphatically that he expects the contract for next school year to be negoti= ated and finalized on time and without any extensions.

D. Construction Report: Proposed Bond Projects<= /span>

The monthly construct= ion update was provided as an attachment to the board’s agenda.

E. Internal Auditors Report

Mr. Becker’s report was printed in the board agenda. He was questioned about the plans = for providing computers to students who do not currently have computers at home. Mr. Becker has worked with the technology, procurement and financial services staff to develop a plan, a p= rocess, and regulations for this effort. Additional information will be provided to the board next month.

V.&n= bsp; = ; APPROVAL OF ROUTINE MATTERS=

A. Minutes

Minutes from the regular meeting of the Board of Directors held on March 23, 2006, and from a special meeting held on March = 16, 2006, were presented for review and approval.&nb= sp; Mr. Rose moved to approve the minutes as presented, Mr. Day seconded= the motion and it carried unanimous= ly.

VI. = BOARD POLICY AND REGULATIONS REVIEW

A. Posting of Grades and Attendance to Web-Based Reporting Program

A regulation was developed that would provide direction to teachers and build= ing principals for reporting student grades and attendance to EdLine. Mr. Hattabaugh provided a brief ov= erview and responded to questions from the board.= The board members suggested postponing enforcement of the regulation until the start of the next school year.&n= bsp; Administrators agreed to monitor the use of EdLine for the remainder= of this year, and then to negotiate compliance within the contract for the 200= 6-07 school year.

VII. = EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

A. Secondary Mathematics Textbook Ado= ption

The Secondary Mathematics Textbook adoption committee presented their recommend= ation for texts to be used in all secondary mathematics courses beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. Copies= of the selected texts were displayed in the board room for review. Mr. Berkley moved to approve the c= ommittee’s recommendations; Mr. Day seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.&nb= sp;

VIII. = SCHOOL SERVICES<= /b>

A.     Computer Science Education Textbook Adoption

The Computer Science Textbook Committee reviewed available materials to support= the computer science curriculum in the LRSD.&n= bsp; This committee provided their recommendations for the board’s = review; members of the committee were listed in the agenda and the administration recommended approval. Dr. Mit= chell made a motion to approve the committee’s recommendations; Mr. Berkley seconded the motion and it carr= ied unanimously.

B.    Textbook Adoptions for Career Communications Courses

A textbook for use in a Career Communications course at Parkview next school = year was also recommended by a committee who reviewed the curriculum and selecte= d an appropriate textbook for student instruction. This course is a requirement of th= e Arkansas Department of Education Workforce Education program. The administration asked the board= to approve the recommendation. M= r. Berkley moved to approve the committee’s selection. Dr. Mitchell seconded the motion a= nd it carried unanimously. =

IX.      =          HUMAN RESOURCES<= /b>

A.&n= bsp;    Personnel Changes=

Routine personnel changes were printed in the board’s agenda. In addition, items listed as follo= ws were also approved:

&n= bsp;

B. Appointment of High School Summer = School Principal =

Mr. Jerome Farmer, currently the Football Coach and PE teacher at Mann Magnet Middle School was recommended to serve as principal of the high school summer school program.= The 2006 high school summer school= will be held at Hall High School for students in grades= 9 through 11. Twelfth grade stu= dents who only need .5 or 1 credit to graduate will attend the Metropolitan ACC program.

=

C.    Appointment of Middle School Summer School Principal

Ms. Connie Green, currently an Assistant Principal at Mabelvale Middle Sc= hool, was recommended for appointment to the position of middle school summer sch= ool principal.   Summer school for students in= 6^th through 8^th grades will be held at Pulaski Heights Middle School.

On all personnel items presented, Mr. Berkley moved to approve the administration’s recommendations; Dr. Mitchell seconded the motion and it carr= ied unanimously.

D.&n= bsp;   Approval of the 2005-06 Negotiated Agr= eement for School Psychologists

A negotiated agreement between the district and the school psychology special= ists was presented for the board’s review and approval. Director of Human Resources, David= Hartz, responded to questions from the board and recognized that with this late submission for board approval, both parties had agreed to allow the agreeme= nt to continue through the end of the 2006-2007 school year. Any language changes that are adop= ted within the other negotiated contracts would be incorporated within the agreement. = ;

=

Board members commented at length regarding the sixty-page agreement and suggeste= d holding off on approval until July 1, 2006. Mr. Kurrus stated that an agreement of “minutia” was not= an effective way to do business with employees; he asked for this and future contracts to be built on trust and on what is in the best interest of the students in the LRSD.

=

Mr. Ledbetter was allowed to address the board and stated that the board’s policies encourage collective bargaining and that the agreement was negotia= ted in good faith by all parties. Mr. Brock suggested that the district review the policies that regulate these negotiations and make appropriate change where needed.

=

Dr. Mitchell moved to approve the agreement as submitted. Mr. Rose seconded the motion and i= t carried 6-1, with Mr. Kurr= us casting the “no” vote. <= /span>

X.&n= bsp;            = ;    FINANCE & SUPPORT SERVICES

A.     Donations of Property

The Board was asked to approve the acceptance of recent donations to schools and departments within the District. The donations are listed in the following chart.   Ellen Doramus, student ex officio, read the items listed in the Board’s agenda.    Dr. Mitchell made a mo= tion to accept the donated items, Mr. Rose seconded the motion and it carr= ied unanimously.

=

=

SCH= OOL/DEPARTMENT

ITE= M

DON= OR

Chicot Elementary School<= /st1:PlaceType>

KaBoom! Playground Unit, valued at $35,000

KaBoom Foundation

Cloverdale Magnet Middle School

Large wicker baskets, mirrors and lamps, valued= at $150.00, to be used as gifts for parents on EdLine Training Night

$75.00 cash for interpreter for EdLine Training= Night

Drinks for students and staff, valued at $150.00, for EdLine Training Night

Games, coloring books, yoyos and pencils, value= d at $25.00, for student use on EdLine Training Night

30 cases of water, valued at $360.00, for stude= nts and staff on EdLine Training night

Large #10 cans of chili, valued at $25.00, for = EdLine Training Night and Teacher Appreciation luncheon

Loan and set up of tables and chairs, valued at $1,171.00, for use in student achievement testing

Linda Thomas, Kerry = Waller, David Jeffers of Forbing Garage Sales / Silverwood Products, Inc.

Dr. William Rutledge= / Forest Park Med= ical

Donnie Pointer of Co= ca-Cola and Dr. Pepper Bottling Company

Dr. Ronda Henry-Till= man, Associate Professor of Surgery, UAMS / ACRC Cancer Control Outreach Center

Mr. Chuck Finney of = Central Arkansas Water

Clem and Jean Arnold=

David Withem of Sout= hwest Party Time Rental, Inc.

Fulbright Elementary School<= /st1:PlaceType>

$2,000 cash to be used to purchase a Smartboard for the computer lab<= /span>

$500 cash to the kindergarten class to be added to donation to Heifer Project International

Fulbright PTA

Wal-Mart Store #5244

Metropolitan Career & Technical Center

State Police Car, 2000 Chevrolet, valued at $11,000 to the Law Enforcement program. =

Arkansas State Police

Parkview Magnet High School

Sprinkler heads and controller, valued at $1,158.37, for use in irrigating and seed= ing the drill field

The Keeling Company



B.&n= bsp;   Financial Reports

Mr. Milhollen present= ed the monthly financial reports; no formal action was taken.

XI.&= nbsp;    ADJOURNMENT

Prior to the motion to adj= ourn, Mr. Brock announced that he had visited 48 schools and 46 school cafeterias. He thanked the pe= ople who work in our buildings and stated that he was impressed by his observati= ons.

There being no further bus= iness before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Ros= e, seconded by Mr. Brock.   =

APPROVED:&= nbsp; _05-25-06 _             &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Originals Signed by: =

  = ;            &n= bsp;         Robert M. Daugherty, President

Bryan Day, Secretary