Posts filed under ‘Board of Education’
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Search Community Input Schedule
The Atlanta Board of Education’s Superintendent Search Committee has released the schedule for four community input sessions – May 15, 16, 20 and 21. The sessions are designed to give citizens the opportunity to provide feedback on the characteristics they believe are critical in the next Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent.
The Superintendent Search Committee has committed to gathering input from all key stakeholders such as parents, teacher and students. “All members of the search committee affirm the importance of gathering extensive community input in this search,” said committee chair Ann Cramer, who is a retired IBM executive and mother of former APS students. “We hope everyone interested will take advantage of this opportunity, and we pledge to provide full transparency during the process.”
The search committee will also post an online survey to gather input from community members, using it as well as the input from the community sessions to develop a profile for the next Atlanta Public Schools superintendent. The committee will then submit the profile to the Atlanta Board of Education for review and approval. After approval by the Board of Education, the search committee will use the profile to attract and recruit potential candidates. Ultimately the committee will recommend three to five candidates for the Board’s consideration.
The Superintendent Search Committee will hold community meetings at schools in every cluster. The purpose of the meetings is to obtain input regarding the profile for the next superintendent. The meeting dates and locations are listed below. All meetings will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For updates, please visit www.atlantapublicschools.us/superintendentsearch
LIVE BLOG: May 6, 2013 Board of Education Meeting
Thank you for following our live blog of the May Board of Education Meeting for Atlanta Public Schools.
View today’s agenda here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
REFRESH your browser often for updates.
The meeting will begin soon.
2:20pm – Meeting called to order by BOE chair Reuben McDaniel. This is a work session with Chuck Burbridge, CFO giving a brief financial report.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Summary of FY 2013 Expenditures
General Fund
($Millions)
Beginning Balance
FY 12 Actual $79.2, FY 13 May Forecast $80.9, FY 13 Budget N/A, April Forecast N/A, FY 12 Actual N/A
Ending Balance FY 12 Actual $80.9, FY 13 May Forecast $69.5, FY 13 Budget $12.5, April Forecast $0.0, FY 12 Actual N/A
Risks
The district views this Human Capital project as the primary vehicle to refocus our Human Resources organization to deliver services that are operationally sound and, even more importantly, completely aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives and the needs of the core business which is effective instruction. The district wishes to develop a best-in-class Human Resources organization that supports its mission by transcending transactional proficiency and adopting supportive, strategic Human Resources activities.
VIEW THE ENTIRE POWERPOINT:
HR Proposal
2:58pm – The BOE work session has ended and the
Two items will be added under discussion and action:
1. Washington High School, begin process of moving away from small schools and into small learning communities
2. Begin discussion of reconstitution of Douglass High School
3. Superintendent’s score-card approval
What is missing is the ability to support the Jackson cluster. What is missing is how to get the dollars out to the classroom. What is missing is the full context of the FY 2014 budget. I just looked at the HR presentation on guiding principles and strategy and I don’t see that in the agenda for these items.
I come to you today to discuss goals and objectives. I will discuss APS central office budget and antiquated planning. Our charter schools could be destroyed if APS continues on this path. One school, Tech High, immediately shut its doors last year due to the pension fund issue. (Dr. Grant: Again, I would like to remind you that you called in to speak on mission, vision, goals…) Earlier this year Fulton County ruled that APS was violating the law (surrounding charters) and ordered APS to release the money.
2.05: Authorization to Revise Policy JBCCA Student Assignment to Schools (First Reading)
YJohnson: The concern was whether we would routinely consider transfers when we were considering the capacity of a school. This policy will outline how we will determine capacity for students which will then determine the availability for transfers. The capacity as a base level would always be established by the zoned students. That was the conversation. In my mind I thought this was important enough to bring to the BOE.
Superintendent: I think that prior to this revision the view of capacity of the building was a physical capacity, meaning that if we ever have a building that was not at its capacity we could fill it. The policy does make it clear that we will consider the faculty capacity, in essence we will not increase the faculty to accommodate transfers into the school. Once a child is there on an admin transfer, they are included in our capacity count going forward.
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
As outlined in report number 11/12-5116, the board previously authorized the abolishment of thirty-one (31) Human Resources positions. All of the positions were proposed for elimination so that the District can refocus our Human Resources organization to deliver services that are operationally sound and, even more importantly, completely aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives and the needs of the core business, which is effective instruction.
In December, 2012, the District embarked on a HR Transformation initiative, which is funded and supported by the Gates Foundation, and which was approved by the Board of Education on November 5, 2012. The initiative, called Project Thrive, has developed a robust and modern service delivery model that leverages best practices and enables operational efficiency, centers of expertise for Talent, and Strategic HR Partners focused on proactive and strategic services for Regional Directors and Principals. The district designed a best-in-class Human Resources organization that supports its mission by transcending transactional proficiency and adopting supportive, strategic Human Resources.
As mentioned above, the Board previously abolished thirty-one (31) positions, of which seventeen (17) are classified and covered by Board Policy GCKA. The Board, at the same time, approved creation of thirty-two (32) positions. We recommend the transition of funds from the positions created in Report 11/12-5116 to create forty-eight (48) positions in support of the new HR Structure, which includes the thirty-two (32) positions mentioned above, plus sixteen (16) current positions.
Further, to fully support the strategic objectives and desired future state HR capabilities and services, we recommend an additional twenty-four (24) positions for the HR function. We are transitioning funds for positions currently in Curriculum and Instruction, which are currently performing HR activities, to create funding for the additional positions. This action would have the additional benefit of streamlining HR activities across the District, enabling HR expertise services, and allowing it to fulfill its mission to perform as a best-in-class Human Resources organization.
RECOMMENDATION: That the aforementioned positions are abolished and created. And, the attached plan and organizational structure are approved.
REASON: To streamline HR activities across the District, enable HR expertise services, and fulfill its mission to perform as a best-in-class Human Resources organization.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATION: Cost Savings
FUNDING SOURCE: General and Special Revenue Accounts
REASON: To follow established procedures and provide for the implementation of the Atlanta Public Schools capital improvement program consistent with providing a complete project within the approved project budget.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Increase construction contract in the amount of $13,593,989 and the project budget by $13,993,989.
FUNDING SOURCE: The funds are available in the Capital Construction accounts.
Butler-Burks request explanation as to why a principal’s request is being honored as a building request. Increase comes from SPLOST III budget and leaves SPLOST IV unchanged. Asks for cost of reconfiguration of building based on principal’s request. Mr. Hardy will bring that answer back to her at a later time.
Superintendent: No one is disadvantaged in SPLOST IV because of this. Now obviously, if some of those projects had been done in SPLOST III we could have done more in SPLOST IV, but we didn’t know at that time what the close-outs would be in SPLOST III.
Meister: Was there collaboration between past admin team and current admin team? So much work was put into this prior.
Hardy: I can’t answer to the collaboration.
Meister: But you were at those project meetings. I just don’t understand how we change course.
Superintendent: What might be helpful is a deconstruction of what costs drive what. What we know now is that the majority of this ($5.8M) is due to the rocks.
Hardy: 900K = design changes, $1.9M = permit code issues…..
E.Johnson: I’m a little concerned that we are making adjustments based on what an individual wants. That would set a precedent. Are these luxury changes or changes to accommodate a program. (Johnson brings up the fact that requests were made by principals and parents in the past that were denied, but in this case approved).
Butler-Burks concurs and suggests that the money could be used towards another school in SPLOST III.
YJohnson: What is the total?
Superintendent: While he’s looking, if you look at construction costs this is a big building. When you look at cost per student, this is not nearly as expensive, including Mays. Cost per student was much more. Number excludes the land.
YJohnson: REally?
Superintendent: Yes. It’s just a bigger place.
English: In our other schools, were there spaces where we can address a critical need? I want to know what those needs are and if they exist.
Superintendent: We would have to go back and look at SPLOST III projects that have been deemed complete. Those that were not started have been moved to IV and given priority
EJohnson suggests pulling the item.
McDaniel recommends discussing it when it comes back up later on the consent agenda.
2.05, 2.06 pulled off agenda and referred back to policy committee. 2.07 moved to new business. 2.08 moved to discussion and action. 2.09 moved to after executive session. 3.01 moved to discussion and action after executive session. 4.01 moved to discussion and action.
Consent agenda approved with changes.
Item 2.08 now back up for discussion. Principals will now be able to hire full time and/or part time parent liaisons during the next school year. If a principal wanted to hire one part and one full time parent liaison, they could under this agenda item.
Butler Burks: Why don’t we create the number of full time and part time positions…we say we are pushing the decision down but actually we are forcing the decision.
Superintendent: I think the solution to this is some flexibility in the personnel system particularly on non-revenue funds…these are Title funds. Its not our desire to restrict them, its our desire to give them an option. We are not trying to force 94 full time on them. The problem is not with the money, the problem is with the system (HR system that locks positions into position numbers with no flex).
McDaniel: And if we pulled this off the agenda…. (asks about timeline).
YJohnson suggests new language.
McDaniel: We need to get to a point where we have 2 items.
Superintendent: The one thing that is going to cause timing issues is the creation of positions in HR. I’m not sure why abolishment would cause you problems.
Kinnane says she wants to not abolish.
Superintendent: We can deal with them next week in budget discussions.
Kinnane: I thought the reason it came to us now was getting to the gist of…we have a program that supports our classrooms, but we are now saying….
Superintendent: I don’t think you want to go for a net increase.
Karen Waldon: I appreciate the level of concern from Ms. Kinnane, it was a level of concern in C&I also. We are convinced that the model will work. We are using the new teacher center materials and the model will remain intact. The school support on the ground will really enhance what we’ve already done. If the previous model was applauded by the state, this one will be done so even more.
Kinnane: It feels like we’re losing the people that have received this training.
Waldon: The onsite support with master teachers, we believe, is an important part of this program.
McDaniel: We have an item with 2 components (94 new positions created, elimination of 17 positions)
Motion made and 2nd to separate two items.
Now have an item to abolish 17 positions related to the Human Resources transformation.
Kinnane: I don’t think it is, what I am raising is, not I’m saying, I don’t see the benefit….I would say there is a relation between what is going to be created in that division, yes, but I don’t think that is the same thing as saying we are eliminating the 17….
3 opposed (Kinnane, Butler Burks, EJohnson), motion passes.
Moving to Executive Session. Community Meeting will resume at 6pm. Live Blog will continue then.
6:40pm The BOE is back and the community meeting will now begin with the first 30 comments. The remaining speakers, approx 40, will speak after the committee of the whole meeting.
Speaker (Able Mable) I think it was a mistake that Kennedy was closed. I’ve been hearing from parents in the neighborhood about overcrowding (in the new school) and conflicts. Now I hear that Drew is coming into Kennedy. It almost seems that Kennedy is good in physical structure for a whole side of town to come over, but not to keep the kids there and use recruitment to get kids to come to the school. We also heard about the career academies but no real plan on how it will look. We need for Kennedy not to close next year….no closure…what we want to do is to organize in a way that we can bring that school back online. The money you are using at Brown, which is a little out of control, we can bring that back to Kennedy. I’m an alumni also of BTWashington and we believe that we want to go back to one school, one principal. We think the children would be better served with a comprehensive Washington structure. One school, one principal and given the proper academic support from the board and the community.
Speaker: We are from the Street Smart project and I want to present you today with a gift. Our card is inside with our website and we want to build bridges. We are here to reduce underage drinking and we focus on Adamsville and English Park. We just wanted to present this to you. Speaker: I attend Harper-Archer and I came from Sutton Middle School.
Speaker: (Toomer Parent) Our school currently has the desire and the community support to move this (pre-K) program in the coming year. We have the capacity to start an academic 6th grade in the next school year without any additional cost. We are looking for the BOE support in this. We believe this will give the opportunity for the brand of Toomer to continue. As they matriculate they look for other options (charter/private) and we would like to retain more students.
Speaker: (Jackson Cluster) I sent all of you a letter late last week and I’m going to highlight a few pieces. We are really excited in the Jackson Cluster. We have fantastic leadership at all of our schools. You are doing amazing things with the building of Jackson High. What we need for you to do is think more about greater autonomy and equity in all of our schools because we do not want you to undermine our success. Please, think strategically and creatively. Thank you.
Speaker: (ANCS Parent) We are very responsible stewards, and even though the offer has been made to return the funds, that money would have to be given back if we lost. I started a petition online that I understand isn’t going to do much, but in a week’s time we got 1300 students. These are 1300 people who are willing to fight very hard for students in APS. We are really looking forward to working with you. When parents wake up, they don’t say I want to send kids to a charter school, they say they want to send their kids to a good school.
Speaker: (ANCS Parent) I commend you guys, you have been to our school. I do appreciate that you’ve been there. We have people and parents who are private school educated who want to go to a public school and make it work. Take away the politics, take away whatever else is going on and its just kids. They are here today and they are representative or our school and neighborhoods. If you’re spending $45M to feed a school fed by 40% charter students I think you must respect charters and fund them equally.
Next two speakers also speak on behalf of charter schools, Wesley International and ACNS
ACNS student Luke just “rocked the mic.” with a great personal story and advocacy for his school. Great job Luke – you are one amazing kid!
Next speaker represents neighborhood group NAPPS speaks out against the potential sale of the property where Atlanta International School is housed as a possible way to
Following speaker advocates for charter schools becoming a part of the strategic plan for Jackson High School. ”We are the ones coming in and giving our heart to that school.”
Speaker: (ANCS Parent) Able Mable said something interesting which is “neighborhoods change.” I moved to Grant Park in ’89 when couples would come to GP, have kids and leave. Now you look around and there are a million kids. Jackson is on the cusp of greatness. $45M is a huge investment we are making in that school, yet we want to cut the funding to charters. If the charter schools fail, I worry that Jackson is going to fail. We succeed, Jackson succeeds. We can do better, we can make this work.
I am a parent of children at Grady and Inman. Overall your teachers are not teaching and your administrators are waiting for the sky to fall, something to happen. No one knows how to return phone calls, emails, letters (to BOE). I don’t want to wait at the school for 3 hours for the principal not to address me. I would like my kids to be taught a lesson. If my child with an IEP has to do a foreign language, how does he pass the class and how does he graduate? You all sit here and I wait for these answers. I’m not worried about charters…you’re not teaching the kids in your own schools. Whose teaching our students? When are you going to start reprimanding the teachers and administrators. (Huge applause)
Speaker: (Grady Parent) As our reserve fund is dwindling I am afraid that we are all going to find ourselves fighting and clawing for the remaining funds. Really put a plan in place (regarding budget) so that we really have a roadmap.
Speaker: I am here with a group called Neighbors United for West End. Our concern is Brown Middle School and Kennedy. Right now Brown is overcrowded and now it is a bigger problem because we have students stacked on top of one another. There was a situation last week where there were 13 fights before school started. We are going to stay with this because we are concerned about our children. We are concerned there are no books for our kids to take home. We have kids who can’t read, write or do simple math. We are here to stand up for them because they cannot stand up for themselves.
Speaker: (Community Member – West End) Years ago my daughter was preparing for middle school. I live a 2 minute walk from Brown and I went to the school, spoke with the counselor and talked to her about my daughter. I showed her the grades and reports. The guidance counselor walked around the desk, closed the door and said “If you tell anyone I told you this, I will deny it. I would not send my child here.” She gave me the name of Drew Charter and I heeded her good advice and enrolled my child in Drew. I drove to Drew everyday when I lived a 2 minute walk from Drew. That is a crime.
Speaker: (Community Member) We need two schools Brown and Kennedy. It was so great to hear the young man earlier say he reads books, we don’t even have books [at Brown].
Speaker: (Community Member – West End) I would like to say that we have some serious issues, but we also have solutions. We are district 2 and we are serious about our commitment to the young people. We need Kennedy and Brown. Let’s split the population. We’re trying to build a sustainable cluster for success. We have ideas and passion. Brown, the leadership needs help and work. When we came out to the school and said we could help, APS tells us they have to do paperwork. They say all teachers are not bad, but if you are following bad leadership…. We have to do some serious cleansing in our schools. We are fed up. With the increase of the population, the sewage system is backing up. Pay attention charter schools, these are the resources we are getting. They take the kids, crowd them up on top of each other, then suspend them. We need to revisit the approach to discipline in our schools. The only time those kids get to go to the schools is when they get into a fight. Mr. Amos, Mr. English stand up for these communities.
The next speaker talks about the political power and persuasion that went into building Drew High School. ”We did not suspect that Kennedy would be occupied by Drew.”
Next speaker speaks about how the district has divided parents and how we have not been able to communicate to the community what will be done with schools that close.
Speaker: We are fighting like crazy to get a field house at Mays High and we are spending $3M on rocks? (NAHS).
Speaker: (Teacher Union Leader) We are continually having problems finding candidates to serve on the BOE. We are going to ask everyone in the audience to call us and email us your contact information so that we can put the hot irons to the state capitol where the money is being taken from the schools.
Next speaker asks that the classroom teachers not be increased in the 2013-14 budget.
Speaker: Many special ed teachers have been forced to sign a remediation plan. These teachers are highly qualified in the subjects they teach, but you are asking them to become highly qualified in subjects they do not teach or have never taught.
Following speaker asks for a motion on the floor tonight that closes small schools at Washington High School.
Grady High Student speaks about the school’s robotics program and asks that all schools in Atlanta have a STEM based robotics program. States there are 3 major obstacles when starting a robotics program – lack of knowledge, funding and sponsors. Says that she and teammates will work to establish teams. Asks that the BOE makes a public commitment to support robotics as a competitive sport and puts it into every APS K-12 school.
READ TONIGHT’S AGENDA HERE –>http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
This ends the firs part of tonight’s community meeting.
8:00pm COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE now beginning.
The HR agenda item is now back up for discussion.
Butler Burks asks that an amendment is made to the part of the item that speaks to teacher mentors. Motion to amend carries.
Gains and Losses up for vote. Motion carries.
Item 3.01 regarding Career and Tech programs and lab equipment up for discussion. Motion carries.
Item 4.01 regarding NAHS additional funds needed to complete construction. Mr. Hardy says that the principal did not act unilaterally. $450K deals with the chemistry lab and hoods due to the height of the building. The original design had chemistry labs in all for academies, but because of the 10th grade being the time frame you take chemistry, those 10th graders would remain in their 2 level academy and that’s when we changed to floorplan for the labs.
Butler-Burks: You said it was changed from the original design. Would this cost have been in there in the original design?
Hardy: No. In reference to the design at other schools, some campuses were designed as independent schools and were accommodated as individual schools.
Butler-Burks: My recommendation would be to not change the original design. This is a want vs a need. Its a change to wanting grades by floor which adds $450K to a project.
Kinnane: Has NAHS transitioned from small learning communities?
Superintendent: They will still have SLC’s.
Kinnane: But I thought the change was to change the school to grade level floors.
Superintendent: They will be in SLC’s but by grade as well.
Karen Waldon: I don’t have the proposal that was drawn up with me, but one of the concerns at NAHS was that there were issues regarding student access, equity in terms of programming…so they do have the SLC’s. They are separated by grade level but the SLC’s are in tact. Many of the students were not able to access the AP classes and this is a more robust approach to that. Dr. Mays and the head of our SLC’s went out to meet with Dr. Taylor and we know this is a viable approach.
Meister: Is there another place to find the $450k in the budget? If we have to do that is there a place to find those dollars?
Hardy: This is the best way to approve those dollars. I’m not really sure I understand the question.
Meister: If this is a want, is there another place….
Hardy: There is a $1.9M contingency, that is true in all of your budgets.
Kinnane: What threw us are the changes. We do want to build the labs and now is the time to do it. I don’t think we are suggesting we don’t want to outfit labs as we should.
Butler Burks: The initial design allowed for the appropriate # of labs. It was the changing of floors that changed it by $450k.
Superintendent: I agree, but I wouldn’t hold this out as an anomaly. We expanded the music program (building) at Jackson. This is not strangely unusual.
Hardy: It is not uncommon to have programmatic changes.
Kinnane: For the Jackson one it was a little different, the design was to best house the …It wasn’t that someone came in and said I want a whole different approach or plan. We don’t want to shortchange other schools that also want to make those modifications.
Superintendent: If that is the concern you can drop the authorization by this amount and we can figure out how to get the funds from within the budget.
McDaniel: We do need chem labs in the school and floor by floor gives him the physical configuration he needs.
Hardy says that the hoods in the lab re-design represent $450k.
Buter Burks moves that BOE modifies increase by $450k.
Muhammad: Does this mean we won’t have the labs here?
McDaniel: It sounds like two options is that they will either find $450k somewhere else in the budget or put them back in original design and students would have to go to different floors for chemistry.
English: I have an equity question. There are schools around the district without labs period.
Hardy: A high school?
English: I can take you to 3.
Muhammad: They will not be without, they will have a lab.
English: My commentary was on the entire increase.
Kinnane: We all got thrown by hearing changes were requested. But did it come from a safety issue? Is this because of safety concern?
Hardy: It’s because of a student management issue.
McDaniel: Motion on floor is to approve action item less $450K
Motion passes.
Amos brings a motion to the floor asking the BOE to move on Washington High School’s small school model.
YJohnson: I would like to hear from the supt. in relation to that.
Superintendent: As you remember over the last year, we waxed hot and cold on this not so much on a philosophical perspective but over what is politically do-able. We decided during the last process that this wasn’t worth doing and we could get some economies out of the schools by sharing resources. Looking at the performance of the small schools, 9 of the 12 “priority schools” as designated by the state are our small schools. Leadership counts more than structure. The only cost comparisons we’ve ever made is looking at NAHS, Carver EC at one time and saw 6-700k difference. We looked at it this year and said is it worth the fight. We wanted to do away with small schools 2 years ago. We want to get public comment, polling and make recommendations on what we’ve heard. We’ve heard from the Carver community and South Atlanta who are not particularly in favor of doing away with them, but Therrell and Washington…
Amos: I would like to withdraw my motion and put another on the floor. Authorize superintendent to start the process of closing small schools at Washington High Schools and for the superintendent to bring back a plan of transition to the next board meeting.
YJohnson: Is it my understanding that given the input you’ve received you are comfortable moving forward with Washington?
Superintendent: We’ve had strong indication from Washington but there are more people in that community that are not at these meetings. What we would do is have school closing meetings as required by law.
EJohnson asks that the district looks at the data behind the schools.
Muhammad: I think we should do it differently. I think a lot of people didn’t realize what the change was for the schools. There were people there and they were there to listen and they were not able to communicate to the parents or young people in the school. Someone is going to have to talk back to those in the audience to let them know what the plan is.
Superintendent: There are two separate messages you are talking about here. The start process is to take the comment pro and con. The other is a free form exploratory discussion.
Motion passes.
Next up is the discussion item surrounding the reconstituting of Douglass HIgh School. Brought by BOE member English.
English: Douglass had a history of being one of the highest performing schools in the district, now, with the exception of Crim, it is the lowest performing in the district. The motion would be to authorize the superintendent to begin the reconstitution of Douglass High and to provide recommendations of principal autonomy throughout the district. A great deal of talk has been around allowing principals to pick their own staff…if we believe that all problems are leadership problems I would like to see a plan in place to allow principals to choose their own staff.
YJohnson: There are strict state-driven guidelines to reconstitution. That seems like the extreme, what do we gain by reconstitution that we couldn’t gain short of that.
Superintendent: Reconstitution does give the principal the shortest term opportunity to reshape the workforce. This is a school under a school improvement grant. It’s doable and drastic. But when you’re in the bottom, maybe drastic measures…. I’m supportive of it but I want to be able to do it.
YJohnson: Does the principal stay?
Superintendent: Yes (Note – principal is new as of this school year)
Kinnane: My discomfort with it is that there is a process that has to be met with the system and the state and I don’t understand the need for making the changes at the school. I think the process is going to have to happen within parameters.
Superintendent: Actually the answer is no on the principal, but we have put in a new principal…we’ve done that step.
Meister: I have seen something very similar to this go on before and we have to be careful…
Superintendent: Well the student government association has come to us and asked us to reconstitute the school.
Butler Burks: It may be hard to do it between now and the school year but maybe we can think of some short-term things. I struggle with that because we’ve had principals ask for that in the recent past and we have denied them.
Superintendent: I would say never deny the principal of the lowest performing school in the district.
English: It seems counter intuitive to put a principal at a school with a 40% graduation rate and not allow him to choose his staff.
Board members are saying that the superintendent has the right to move forward with this action on his own and that the board should not be the one to bring this action.
Davis explains how during the last hiring process best efforts were made to allow principals to pick their own staff. As long as we have people in leadership who don’t document their staff, he says we will continue to have those issues.
English: You’ve got the LSC, PTA, staff in the school, district representative, students who all want it to happen. I would hope that this board would stand up and say a 40% graduation rate is not acceptable and we need to stand with students. Stand up, stand with the community and say this is not acceptable.
English moves that superintendent bring back a plan in accordance with the ??? (inaudible).
Motion passes.
BOE discusses superintendent’s scorecard.
No questions.
Motion on floor to approve scorecard. Passes.
9:45pm LEGISLATIVE MEETING now beginning.
Amos would like to add to the discussion and action item to the agenda regarding the combining of Brown MS and Kennedy MS.
BOE acknowledges teacher appreciation week and nurses appreciation week! We love our teachers and staff!
McDaniel: I want to encourage community members to participate in meetings in the community around creating a profile around our next superintendent. Meeting dates are May 15, 16, 20, 21st 6-8pm at various school locations. Unveiling of the APS archives will be June 27th.
McDaniel: We will begin our graduation ceremonies on May the 27th.
Davis: I also would like to welcome those who are here as well as those who are viewing on tv. The end of our semesters are drawing close. There are only 12 days left of school for our traditional students. We are in the home stretch and every day counts and I want to see every student in school. I want to take this time to congratulate our Gates Scholars. APS ranks in the top 5 schools in the nation with its number of Gates Scholars for 2013. Kudos to the students and those that help the students get there.
I want to announce retirements: Mr. Sterling Christie, Price MS principal for 7 years with a total 41 years in education. Lastly I join the chair in thanking all APS employees including teachers and principals. Today was teacher appreciation day. May 1st was also school principal day. I’ve visited almost every school in the past 2 years and I am very pleased that the Mayor and Civic Leaders have committed to working with us to share the good in our district. Steve Smith will lead our presentation for National Teacher Appreciation week.
Steve Smith introduces the teacher appreciation video.
{VIDEO PRESENTATION}
Superintendent approves items on the consent agenda.
Amos brings motion to the floor to revisit the final attendance zones and decision made regarding Kennedy Middle school and redistricting.
Motion passes.
Board discusses the resolution requesting class size exemptions for 2013-14 school year.
YJohnson: Are we budgeting based on the maximums?
Chuck Burbridge: Yes, we are budgeting based on the maximums.
Meister: I have an elementary school where they are asking the principal to increase the 5th grade by 34%.
McDaniel: There is obviously some hesitation about making a decision on this tonight. If it is the will of the board maybe we can get clarification on the last date that we can file the waiver….I would expect us to have at least 1-2 special called budget commission meetings before that point.
Resolution will be tabled.
Report up next is the K-8 Pilot Resolution. http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/files/97FVTN8250B4/$file/K-8%20Pilot%20Resolution%202013.pdf
Kinnane suggests naming Toomer as the Jackson cluster school to be used for the K-8 pilot.
After a robust discussion over the resolution and a possible amendment, the motion to move forward with possible K-8 pilot at Centennial and Toomer passes.
Discussion has moved to the budget. Next meeting Butler Burks says that the members should receive a budget book with explanation of changes. Meeting will take place on 5/13
Public Comment continues:
Speaker: (Wesley Charter Parent) 40% of Jackson cluster children attend charters. I am here tonight to ask you to do better, please drop your appeal. The community wants us there and we would like to be there.
Speaker: (Mays High Parent) After watching you all tonight equity just jumps out at me. What I’ve seen over the past few months of attending board meetings is a lack of equity. At Mays we’ve been trying to bring equity…to all of our clusters. When you can sit up here and say $60M on land. Then when I hear 90M for one school and look at every renovation since 1999, no one has gone over $40M. It is ridiculous that you sat up and voted to approve that type of school and then ask others in the district to feel that is equitable.
11:41pm Meeting adjourned
LIVE BLOG: Board of Education Meeting, April 1, 2013
Thank you for following our live blog of the April Board of Education Meeting for Atlanta Public Schools.
View today’s agenda here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
REFRESH your browser often for updates.
The meeting will begin soon.
2:20pm – Meeting called to order by BOE chair Reuben McDaniel. This is a work session with Chuck Burbridge, CFO giving a brief financial report.
Burbridge: We are reflecting the one time e-rate that has come in but we are still showing tight resources. I really want to carry over that theme when I talk about expenditures. We feel confident that we could bring expenditures in below the appropriation authority but it doesn’t happen by accident. It takes management of resources in order to hit this so we will be working closely with Sr. Cabinet and all budget managers to assure that the budget comes in below. We have to spend less thru the remainder of the year, we should be able to do it but it will take diligence to bring the budget in on target.
Muhammad: Can you share with us how we were able to save those dollars, the $10M or so?
Burbridge: Areas where we are spending more than we originally expected are salaries, areas where we are spending less are benefits and supplies. We are having to move and manage our resources between those areas this year. Some of those savings you might say may be a mild winter where natural gas was in our favor. There are a lot of little ways you bring in spending below your estimate. Almost a year ago we budgeted a contingency for a RIF and unemployment compensation…well that wasn’t realized, and we are spending less on that particular benefit line, but more on the salary line. We will have to move those benefits into salaries.
Muhammad: Can you tell me where the expenditure on charter schools per pupil comes in?
Burbridge: It falls into a category called “other uses.” Unfortunately its not the only thing in that category. YTD we’ve spent $32M in other uses, that is where the charter school expenditure comes from. That is the line the charter schools are paid from.
McDaniel: Do you have an idea of what percentage of that line item is on charters, or can you get that to us?
Burbridge: I can get that to you.
McDaniel: Can you give us an update on the budget timeframe and the process.
Burbridge: First meeting with budget commission was on Thursday. We are rexamining and scheduling the meetings going forward. Based on the first meeting we know we will need to reschedule community meetings. Original calendar had a tenative adoption of a budget today, that will not happen. We will compress the meeting schedule. There is a fairly hard end to the budget process in June, but we have some flexibility between now and then to schedule meetings. We were targeting for the week of April 22nd for another budget commission meeting, certainly before the end of April.
YJohnson: I appreciate the diligence the committee has shown, my ultimate question is how much time will we get between when we get the final and have to make a decision.
Butler-Burks: We have asked that we go back and revise the calendar in order to have the time to digest and make the critical decisions that will have to be made.
2:35: Committe of the Whole Meeting now beginning
Butler-Burks: Can we add under discussion and action I would like to add a discussion of the scheduling for the superintendent search.
McDanile: Any additional items?
Muhammad: Yes, I would like to see if we can have some discussion about this unfunded pension liability.
McDaniel: I know we will have some discussion about that in Executive Session, but I can put it on the agenda under our new business, will that be ok?
Muhammad: That’s fine. Thank you.
Motion to approve, motion carries.
Public Comment Period – One person has called in to speak. Public is reminded that they must speak about an agenda item and they will be alloted 3 minutes.
APS Parent: Before you start spending 2.8 million on multi-copier printers and copiers, those are devices that help adults, not children. If you can’t spend enough money to help my daughter, in a charter school to learn, then maybe we can’t afford copiers and printers. I think its something to hold off on and wait and make sure you can treat all the students in Atlanta fairly and equitably before you spend any more tax paper money on technology.
That ends the public comemnt for this evening.
Superintendent Davis will now read the consent agenda. The first 7 items are being taken together for Q&A tonight:
2.01 Report No. 12/13-1738 Authorization to Create Policy JGB Student Aid Programs (Final Approval)
2.02 Report No. 12/13-1739 Authorization to Repeal Policy JGC Student Health Services (Final Approval)
2.03 Report No. 12/13-1740 Authorization to Repeal Policy JGCB Student Inoculations (Final Approval)
2.04 Report No. 12/13-1741 Authorization to Repeal Policy JGCC Infectious Diseases (Final Approval)
2.05 Report No. 12/13-1742 Authorization to Repeal Policy JGD Student Psychological Services (Final Approval)
2.06 Report No. 12/13-1743 Authorization to Repeal Policy JGE Student Social Services (Final Approval)
2.07 Report No. 12/13-1744 Authorization to Repeal Policy IGB Student Support Teams (Final Approval)
Policy GAD has been revised to clarify the professional learning requirements for Atlanta Public Schools’ employees and to remove outdated provisions related to the management of the district’s professional learning program.
The board’s policy review committee met on March 12, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy FDC Naming Facilities. This revision clarifies the process for selecting a naming or renaming committee and the criteria for name selection.
The board’s policy review committee met on March 12, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy IHDA Salutatorian/Valedictorian. This revision states that consideration will be given to shared valedictorian and salutatorian designations in the event of a school closing in the district. The board’s policy review committee recommends that the board waive first reading and adopt this revision with no public comment period.
McDaniel: When we waive something we have to have a unanimous vote.
YJohnson: That looks different than it looked before. I didn’t think we would vote to waive the policy I thought we were looking to make revisions.
McDaniel: We are not voting to waive the policy, we are voting to waive first read.
YJohnson: I would want to have some conversation among board members about it, maybe we can talk on a recess or break and come back to it.
McDaniel: We can move this off the consent agenda.
Butler-Burks: I have a question around the piece being added, are we considering charter schools being public schools or any schools in the area?
McDaniel: The intention was to include charter schools that are APS schools.
Kinnane: I meant to say the superintendent can make some recommendations within…it could be an elementary school, middle school, any school as it reads now.
YJohnson: I am happy to have that conversation, but some people haven’t had it…there is nothing wrong with changing this, I don’t know that will make changes to any particular situation.
McDaniel: The bottom line is that last year Tech High closed and 2 of them (val from Tech and val from Jackson), we as the administration did not give the school any leeway in having co-vals or co-sals. From a policy perspective this gives the administration the ability to do that but they do not have to do it.
Kinnane: What will this mean for this year, are we even looking at it from a timing perspective, the Val/Sal breakfast is tomorrow morning.
YJohnson: I am not opposed to it, but I don’t want people walking away that it leads to a particular end result.
Muhammad: I believe the current (inaudible) allows the administration to make this decision…
McDaniel: No, the current policy does not allow the administration to make this call, the current policy allows there to be one.
Muhammad: There is some latitude.
McDaniel read directly from the policy which states that the superintendent cannot make a regulation inconsistent with policy. The proposed policy change gives a more-than-one option.
More discussion, item moved off of consent agenda.
Davis: 2.11 Report No. 12/13-1748 Authorization to Revise Policy JCDAF Use of Electronic Devices by Students (Final Approval)
The board’s policy review committee met on March 12, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy JCDAF Use of Electronic Devices By Students. This revision allows all students to bring mobile telephones to school with the permission of their parents/guardians. The board’s policy review committee recommends that the board waive first reading and adopt this revision with no public comment period. This policy revision will become effective immediately and remain in effect throughout the 2012-2013 school year upon board approval.
Davis: I have sent a letter to all principals regarding this item.
Kinnane: I thought that at the last meeting we decided that there would need to be a period of information and education regarding bringing cell phones to schools…. (inaudible)
Davis: One policy is for cell usage next year, the other is the extension of usage to elementary and middle schools. I said I would be willing to do that this year but one of your colleagues suggested being uncomfortable with that so I sent out a note that said I anticipate this policy being changed following this meeting.
Kinnane: So its not that this one is different…
Davis: This one is the existing policy with its applicability extended to middle and elementary schools.
Kinnane: I’m fine with this, except the concern raised at that time was that the burden is put on the schools in terms of enforcing this and the thought and education of the students that needs to go into this for the parents and students..have we now gotten feedback that its ok to go forward? That was the restraint of the policy.
Davis: I must admit a tad bit of confusion. We never brought forward a policy change, we are reacting to the Board’s desire for this change.
YJohnson: I thought this was the compromise – we also decided there are some different levels regarding using the technology moving forward. This gives the relief without the punitive use towards kids…
Kinnane: I have to say at a point I was pushing for this to happen, but the concern….I don’t want it to overburden schools.
YJohnson: I think they believe this is the softer way, to still get thru the school year.
Butler-Burks: I want to express the concern I’m hearing from teachers about not feeling supported with the current cell policy. While I think this is good from a parent and student perspective, I don’t want to leave out the support teachers say they are lacking. I don’t know what we do about that, but I fear just continuing to extend latitude to parents and students to use their phones….when they (teachers) have to enforce usage.
Kinnane: It doesn’t really change it in terms of the essence of it (reads from policy), {inaudible} Wants a sentence struck from the policy.
Davis: All we are saying is that this policy will be applicable until we make another revision, next month. We can make the regulations say that even more clearer…
Davis: 2.12 Report No. 12/13-1749 Authorization to Revise Policy JCDAF Student Use of Electronic Devices (First Reading)
The board’s policy review committee met on March 12, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy JCDAF Use of Electronic Devices By Students to go into effect for the 2013-14 school year. This revision allows all students to bring mobile telephones to school with the permission of their parents/guardians. It also permits high school students to use mobile telephones during the lunch period and allows for the incorporation of personal devices into the instructional program.
YJohnson: There were a lot of concerns related to electronics in general, we anticipated that children would be using electronics in the course of their schoolwork and we knew there would need to be discussion around how that is used. We wanted every opportunity to get feedback from teachers and others on this policy. We anticipate education for parents, teachers and students. One of the problems now is that so many people are blatantly violating policy, that if we loosen the reigns a little it will be better for enforcement purposes.
EJohnson: With the Naep tests we found students were taking pictures and posting them to the internet. What has happened tends to tell us that students will use cell phones to undermine the educational process.
Kinnane: In light of what Ms. Butler-Burks said about teachers…the other, beyond using electronic devices in classrooms, we have to be sensitive that the expectation is that students would own these devices (inaudible).
Davis: {To BOE} You’ve raised some pretty large issues between first read and second read, but you’ve raised some large questions. Do you want to continue with this reading or start again. We are doing some research with other districts and I want to make sure we have to incorporate that.
McDaniel: Procedurally, if you are not able to get enough information by next month, the board can hold it for another month.
Muhammad asks about where the money from collected phones currently goes, Davis says school activity fund.
CFO Burbridge answers that Bill Scott’s audit plan does include an audit of the school activity account. He does audit that on a regular basis and these funds would be included.
Davis: 2.13 Report No. 12/13-5124 Personnel Gains, Losses, Promotions, Appointments, Creations, Reclassifications and Abolishments. See the recommendations here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=95WLNN554C10
Davis: 3.01 Report No. 12/13-1130 – Authorization to Enter into and Execute a Contract to Provide Auditing Services.
McDaniel: We pulled this off at the last board meeting, Mr. Johnson are you comfortable with this?
EJohnson: Yes
Kinnane: I want to go back to the losses and gains, the creation of positions on page 7. Are these new positions from requirements of Race to the Top?
Karen Waldon, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction: Yes, these are related to our 4 lowest designated schools for additional support, these are positions they have requested. They also have embedded an individual support person from the state and that person also signs off on the needs and submits it to us for the support.
Davis: 3.02 Report No. 12/13-1131 – Authorization to Enter into and Execute a Contract for Multifunction Copiers.
Kinnane: Let’s keep in mind the comment made by the parent earlier.
Burbridge: We would be changing providers under this contract and it is for the entire district. The majority of the devices are in schools and used for school purposes.
Davis: We are making a concerted effort to reduce the number of copiers in this building (APS Headquarters).
Davis: 3.03 Report No. 12/13-1132 – Authorization to Amend Report No. 10/11-1157 to Increase Funding for a Microsoft Campus Licensing Agreement.
That the Atlanta Board of Education amend Report No. 10/11-1157 to increase the authorized amount from $500,000 to $700,000. This represents an increase of $200,000 from the current authorized expenditure amount.
McDaniel: Any questions? Motion to approve?
Motion on the floor, no discussion, motion carries.
YJohnson: I think the concern is, from an optical standpoint, that we are making policies and there is so much around special services and we don’t want to miss something that needs to be dealt with specifically. If there is not a real urgency, can we not clean up after we tighten up the policies.
McDaniel: Another option is to take them down from the agenda today.
YJohnson: That is probably appropriate.
Buter-Burks: I think the timeframe should be centered around the work of the task force and not the next board meeting. {makes motion, motion carries}
Note: 2.01-2.07 have now been removed from the agenda.
McDaniel: We are now moving on to the Val/Sal issue. Before we make the motion I want to be clear on what this policy is and what we’re voting on.
EJOhnson: I’m really concerned about this particular policy because I know in the past we’ve had co-Vals/Sals, but we start talking about school closings, it looks like we’re micro-managing policies and that’s a mistake. We should just let the administration make a decision on what they want to do.
Kinnane: I think that is a valid concern, the goal with this policy change is to make what we thought we had already, available, the ability for the superintendent to designate a co-val/sal.
McDaniel: Currently the regulation is in violation with a policy we have.
Kinnane: His point is that there could be another exception that gives rise to the reason again.
YJohnson: If we took it out he would still have the flexibility.
McDaniel: The truth is that tie is also in conflict on our policy.
YJohnson: Does supt. Davis have some thoughts on that?
Davis: The regulation we have now is in conflict with the policy in that it allows for a tie but it does not allow for the naming of a co-Val/Sal. Again, to say something should be considered just means it shouldn’t be precluded. There is alot going on around Vals & Sals. This is focused on one school, but we have ongoing investigations surround grade changing and accusations, so the one thing we need to be clear about are the rules. Now the regulation does not address closings but it does address requirements of “being there” and I understand that they were put there at the urging of this board due to those “shopping” for schools to be Val/Sal…there is money involved, the Vals and Sals get Zell Miller scholarships, full rides to state institutions, Univ. of GA system gives automatic admission to Vals…there is a lot more than honor to this. We are dealing with a lot of those issues now.
YJohnson: So removing the language of school closings doesn’t do anything for him (supt) Mr. Johnson.
EJohnson: You can set a policy then you don’t have a choice.
YJohnson: This actually gives more flexibility.
McDaniel introduces new language that replaces “school closings” with “special circumstances.” Motion carries unanimously. 2nd motion carries unanimously.
Note: This policy change allows the administration to designate co-val’s and co-sal’s when there are special circumstances (including the closing of a charter high school), and more than one student is eligible for the designation or a newer student (from the closing) is eligible for the highest honor. Again, this allows the administration the latitude to make that decision.
This ends our consent agenda.
Report No. 12/13-0110 Class Size Resolution
Kinnane and Meister both express concern over a resolution added to the Board agenda at 2pm today regarding class sizes. Here is the resolution:
http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/files/96CJFS4D013B/$file/Resolution-%20Class%20size.pdf
They say the community had no opportunity to voice their concerns (applause from audience).
Butler-Burks says that the upcoming budget commission meeting could help to inform this decision.
McDaniel agrees that there is no harm of tabling this until May.
Conversation continues regarding class size concerns. Davis says that some schools are overly crowded, but others are not. Appreciates that some schools are terribly crowded but that is not the norm at every school. Data tells us that class sizes have gone down, not up.
4:08pm – Board is entering into executive session. Meeting will continue at 5:30pm.
5:58pm – Meeting is called to order
Committee of the Whole meeting will now continue.
Karen Waldon introduces the 6 new principals approved last month.
Committee of the Whole meeting is now adjourned. Community meeting will now begin.
COMMUNITY MEETING SPEAKERS
Parent: Thank you for Ms. Harmon at Gideons Elementary, she’s the right person for the job. There are a lot of things going on with the media surrounding the CRCT cheating scandal. You guys haven’t given us anything about the redevelopment of this test. My daughter standing here goes to Carver. Today I received a call from her Math teacher who says my child should know the stuff I’m teaching her from Parks Middle School. She knows she has a problem. I have not seen a book this year, so why is the teacher calling me about my child not passing…where are the books? I need to know why my child has been falling through the cracks of this CRCT. These babies are suffering. It’s still the same old Beverly Hall up in here.
APS Educator Representative: I want to speak about the new cell phone policy going down to the lower levels. I am a high school teacher and we have a hard enough time regulating cell phone usage at that level and I certainly don’t want it down at the lower levels. It happens with our young ladies with longer hair…they will have their ear buds in their ear and you won’t even know they have the headphones in and they have missed most of the lesson. The lower levels are the formative years. To take it down is a negative thing to do. I heard from the parents that they want to contact their children, but I’m old school and that is what the front office is for. It is difficult to regulate proper usage. There is everything on a cell phone, Facebook, Instagram, everything. It is difficult to monitor and taking that to the lower levels is not a good thing. Moving on to the calendar, I sent an email regarding feedback and I have not received a response.
Community Member: I will remember that Mr. Sam Williams and the people in the community supported the former superintendent. He and they should be in jail too, not just Ms. Hall, not just the teachers, but ya’ll too (the Board). How could you sit here and watch the apple barrel get empty in front of your face and say nothing. When is Ms. Hall going to turn herself in and when are you going to resign. All of you should be tossed, all of you should resign, how you can sit here and rule over this school system is sickening to me.
AFT Teacher Representative: We are asking that you increase the amount of support personnel in the schools. Research shows a direct correlation between class size and achievement. We would like you to consider that our employees are paying more to get to work and stay at work. We would like for you to consider a cost of living increase without increasing the cost of our benefits.
Community Member: I think the solution we need to do…we all know the situation and what happened, we need to talk about how we resolve this situation. Will vouchers or school choice take place here? What about implementing things in the classroom where kids can learn about a business? What about taking their gift to the next level. Just like the woman mentioned before, you talk about too many children in a classroom…how can a kid really learn? We have too many leaders that are taking their position on a lot of different things but no one is being held accountable. We ‘re talking about our representatives and Congressman. The main issue is, when a kid comes home and the parent hasn’t been educated.
Drew Charter Representative: As somebody who worked at Herndon Elementary, Kennedy Middle and now Drew Charter, I can’t tell you how excited we are about collaborating with Kennedy Middle School. Kennedy parents care a lot about their children (an amen from the crowd). I want to tell you how excited we are about the community embracing Drew. (Crowd hold up huge signs that say No Drew, Save Kennedy.
“I don’t know any educator who starts out saying I’m going to do something to hurt children.”
Community Member: (yells) Yes! For the Kids, we got an indictment! —– But the culture still exists, children can’t read. I can say, our kids have been vindicated. These kids have feelings. Let’s put a moratorium on that test this year. How dare you put anything in front of those kids that say CRCT. Kennedy Middle was one of the worst cheating schools in the country and you don’t give them the chance to mend before you ship them to Brown. There is a parent who says her child gets off the bus, jumps the fence and sleeps on the porch all day to get away from the chaos in the school. Then you have 85 kids left at Kennedy, you got Drew Charter coming in with all the resources with the “Drew experience” to share the facility. Who does that? Byron Amos should be here tonight. He had 2 motions to put on the table tonight. He has let the community down more than once.
Former Teacher: I would have to send the books from the elementary school to the Middle school so they could teach them to read. I came to the BOE to tell the board and by the time I returned to my school they had told the school administrators and they retaliated against me. Everyone thought what I was saying sounded crazy. {Tells the story of a 13 year old boy in the 4th grade who could not read. Says he was upset and angry – 13 in the 4th grade – and no one had looked at why}.
Community Member: The last time I came here, I was happy to see the superintendent went up to North Atlanta to address some issues, but I haven’t seen any action in South Atlanta. The situation in SAtl doubles the trouble we saw in NAtl. We see leaders telling us that our kids are not graduating and have records…what is your impact as a leader when you know people are having trouble in the 5th grade, 9th grade and they are pushed on.
Community Member: Everyone knows that good performing schools are proof critical to the vitality of every neighborhood. The decision to close schools in South Atlanta led to a series of issues…lost property values, inability to attract business. The mission of APS is important, but the most important thing here is that the APS learns that the lesson to learn is integrity.
Community Member: On March 2 I attended a meeting where I was given a two page letter stating that I came to the school (Bethune) on the first day of school and asked questions of parents. I asked the principal to retract the statement, it was not true. {Community member continues with the number of people she has contacted} Yes I was at the school watching my neighborhood children go to school. I need to get the principal to write me an apology. {Gives letter to Ms. waldon}
APS Parent: I’ve come to address the new bell proposal. The proposed changes for middle and high school not mentioned in the facts online. I’m distributing some literature on the subject. Please do have middle and high school start later, but the same reasons that later bell times for older kids are good, they are bad for younger kids. While 15 minutes doesn’t sound like much, but it accumulates over days. Elementary school students are the only group too young to be left alone.
Community Member: Good afternoon, I am a community advocate and a grandparent whose grandaughter just finished Washington High School. The small high school structure is not appropriate for Booker T. Washington High School. Washington has produced a lot of home grown leaders. {Parent hold signs asking for one school, no more small schools. Grandparent continues with data that shows that small schools are not working in the area of achievement}. In 2012 you said small schools were not out performing traditional schools. Not enough to continue with the continued expense. Our students deserve to have access to a variety of courses using the same similar program structures that North Atlanta has. NAHS has this program and their students are excelling.
Community Member: Good afternoon Board Members. I’ve communicated to you all via email. SACS action item #1 was to develop a long term communication plan with the work of the school board. You have a constituent services process for the executive branch. If a person has a question for a board member, there is no policy that says you have to respond. It has also come to my attention that there are board members who use their personal email address to conduct business. Once you are no longer a board member, those records are no longer available thru open records. It does not lend itself to best practices, open government or transparency. I’m asking that it is put on the policy review committee. I have received communications from board members from your personal email addresses. You all have received computers from the district, every computer has a unique address. If there are emails sent from that computer to any other computer that does not have an @aps address you have violated your own code of ethics. {Raynard mentions that former board member Asa Yancy recently passed away and that there has been no article, no mention of it on social media}.
APS Parent: With the graduation hovering at slightly over 50%, I think its time to access the high school Academy model in APS. We need a high school model that is effective. {Challenges board to look at the data by academy} We need a graduation rate higher than 50%.
APS Parent: I have 4 kids in the APS system. I would like to know what measures will be in place that will assure our parents in APS that this will not occur in the future? You think our kids are in the 21st century learning, but our kids are really in 19th century learning. More technology needs to be available. Your schools on the south side do not have apple computers, ipads, cameras. I believe that SPLOST money could be used for this technology. SPLOST money is not being built on the south side. Things over there are not being built.
APS Parent: We are tired of dealing with the adults, we need to deal with the children. In 2010 when the governor stated our wrong to right erasures, we had two attempts to remediate those children. One was a default 12 week program under Kathy Augustine and another defaulted 4 week program last summer. We did not post the pre-data or the post data of that program to see if the kids had gains during that time. Our teachers and our community members are loved, they are highly respected in our community and we feel that all things rest on leadership. Our leadership is the key, as Mr. Davis has said many times. The children really need your attention. What have we done? How can we improve this process? What lessons have we learned? We still have principals that are intimidating teachers. I don’t know why we even come here anymore, we only have an hour, its our only forum to express ourselves. We have to be listened to, considered.
Note: Several other speakers have advocated for the return of Booker T. Washington High School to a comprehensive high school instead of 3 small schools.
APS Parent: Where is the support you said we would have for the children and the faculty at Brown Middle School? At Kennedy we don’t know if the kids need support, how are they feeling? With less faculty and students there are not enough books for the students. You have not provided that, I expected that and its not fair.
Community Member: Mr. Davis, we have not healed from CRCT and all the other things that have been mentioned. {Speaker asks that Davis visits and speaks with parents before allowing Drew Charter to share the space}.
Atlanta Charter Middle Parents: The thing that really struck me tonight is all of the people talking about the things that are not working and are broken. Our school is not broken, it is a glorious place. The students want to be there, the parents want to be there. We are the largest of the independent charters and we will close unless there is a temporary financial band-aid is put on our school by APS. This bizarre situation with the inequity of the pension funding. What we are complaining about is the growing gap that is forming. We need to work with you and really show you that these schools work. 5 out of the top 12 elementary schools are charters.
Atlanta Charter School Parent: We have 2 children attending Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School and I will not stop until charters are funded. We heard a lot of positive buzz about up and coming charters in Grant Park. When our school burned down, our neighborhood rallied and rebuilt our school. Our school is magical. It is a place where racial harmony truly exists. It’s a place where guiding principles are something our children use daily. We cannot survive with the pension cuts. I beg you, we beg you to hold APS accountable and restore the funding to charter schools immediately.
{Two more parents speak on behalf of restoring funding to charter schools}. “We are all APS students, the funding should be the same. The 2.8M hits us harder.”
The community meeting has now ended.
The legislative meeting has begun. The live blog has ended.
LIVE BLOG: Board of Education Meeting March 4, 2013
Thank you for following our live blog of the January Board of Education Meeting for Atlanta Public Schools.
View today’s agenda here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
REFRESH your browser often for updates.
2:12pm – Board meeting called to order
First order of business is a presentation by Ms. Sis Henry, Executive Director, Georgia School Boards Association and Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, Georgia School Boards Association District 5 Director.
Dr. Murphy is an elected official and represents the Atlanta, Fulton County and other local districts. Dr. Murphy will discuss the role of the superintendent and school board team.
This presentation will not be a part of today’s live blog.
Chief Sands will give an update on the
After notification last Thursday, we were advised that a student walked in with a gunshot wound to the leg. Medical personnel, police and resource officers were called. The school was placed on lockdown and student transferred to Grady Hospital. The gunshot wound was self-inflicted and there were several witnesses including students in transition from class and a parent. A 380 handgun was recovered from the courtyard. We were once again fortunate to have security personnel on the scene as well as a parent witness. There were a number of students who walked past the handgun and none of them touched it. The administration communicated with the teachers and staff during the incident and a staff debriefing was held the same day after dismissal. Parents were notified within an hour of the incident. A parent meeting was held the next day.
It is critical that we review and revise district protocol in regards to emergency management. It is important that we make students and staff aware of how they can report incidents privately and keep our lines of communication open.
Harsh-Kinnane: I want to say thank you to Chief Sands, the security force, the entire Grady staff and everyone at APS who came to help. It was handled remarkably by everyone involved.
Supt. Davis: I want to thank Chief Sands and her team and the communications team for their performance during this incident. I want to reassure parents and students that student safety remains one of our top priorities and we’ve been working to highlight some of the changes we will bring to you in the future.
2:40 Chuck Burbridge, district CFO, gives the monthly Financial Update
Burbridge: What I want to focus our attention on today is the overall spending trend is downward. Sometimes when we talk about the individual components its hard to see that we’ve been successful in fy13. I want to tell you that as we continue to monitor and examine spending trends for the district there is further downward pressure on that spending number. Together with the decline in revenue and decline in expenses we are expecting to use $17M in fund balance. Our use of fund balance could shrink as much as $10M which would bring us down into a balanced budget situation. The budget is performing, will perform better than we expected when we started this fiscal year.
Meister: Where are we in recapturing those 170something employees we were not able to locate earlier this year?
Burbridge: At one point we had a difference of 300+ employees between budget and actual. The data has taken us in several directions. We’ve been moving to cleanse the data of duplicates between payroll, i.e. an employee that may get regular pay then a stipend and they show up twice in payroll files. Some individuals were paid out of general funds and are not appropriately charged to special revenue funds. Right now, while there is still a difference, I believe that difference is even lower as we move to clean things up and put people in the right places. When we passed the budget we knew we were staffing above the budget to the tune of about 30 employees. The difference between actual and budgeted headcounts is really not as significant as we once thought it would be.
Meister: Was the largest difference in curriculum?
Burbridge: Greatest amount of work was done in curriculum because they have the most complex schedule of employees when it comes to payment (part time coach, stipends, etc), also most likely to have funds coming from special revenue funds.
YJohnson: I remember being told last year a few times that the data wasn’t reliable. Have we addressed the issue so that as we go into the budget season that the information you present to us in a few weeks is accurate and aligned?
Burbridge: There has been a significant amount of work on the part of many people…there is coding behind every employee and when employees move from school to school or general to special revenue, then coding has to be reviewed in c&i, HR and finance. They are doing that by matching Kronos and Infinite Campus database. The data is much more reliable than it once was because it is triangulated. I am of the opinion that it will get better and I believe they have made strides and that we will have a more reliable budget. I think FY14 will be much improved.
YJohnson: Mr. Supt. can you speak to how you feel about the numbers?
Supt. Davis: The work to establish a line of sight of financial control will not be complete before we have to finish a budget. We will have better insights and will be able to do better board level presentations. I will want to point out the significant decisions that will be required by the BOE in order to balance the budget. It’s going to take some difficult decisions to close that gap, particularly decisions with 80% personnel. We continue to make progress to make multiple complex systems to talk to one another and its going to take a while.
Butler-Burks: We were going by a process where we were doing it by regional offices and I guess I’m struggling with a few things. I don’t think that so much of it is board and some of it is not. I think its all board level discussions. Mainly I’m struggling with how we’re having problems in one department and not others. I can tell you from my collegues that I’ve talked to that this is going to be a major problem during our budget process.
Butler Burks says that she doesn’t want to get to a point, as with last year, where the BOE is pushed against a wall due to a timeline.
Supt. Davis: Most of our district is concentrated in one department and if you miss by one or two (at a school site) then you have a lot. You have a responsibility for the budget, there is no doubt about that, what I would ask is at what level do you believe you have that responsibility. I belive we have the responsibility to manage the budget and as long as we The budget…we will have a budget. It will not be perfect in terms of line items details. I want to say that in advance. It is not going to be precise.
Butler-Burks: That is going to be a major issue during the budget process. Coming within budget is one thing, spending it is another so it is our responsibility from the bottom to the top. As budget chair I’ve already seen some concern and I’m trying to give you advance notice… (speaks to possibly taking this up thru policy).
Supt. Davis: I appreciate the heads up and it may be worthwhile to talk offline. We have 50% more policies than the largest school district in the state and I’m not sure that policies are always the answer. … (says that he is open to the discussion).
3:05pm – Presentation has ended.
Committee of the Whole is beginning. Cell phone policy has been added to the agenda based on recent events.
YJohnson: The Policy committee, at its next meeting, will discuss wrap around services. Ms. Meister and H-Kinnane brought recent conversations to my attention that may have been missed in recent discussions about cell phone policy that may have been missed in regards to incidents such as lock-downs.
Meister: I would like to have discussion around policy CG. I’m fine bringing it up in new business. It’s around placing interims. We (Kinnane) had discussion around that over the weekend as well as substitutes.
McDaniel: So CG as well as any other related policy work.
Butler-Burks: Whenever we put together an ad-hoc committee we usually put together a resolution. We always do a resolution. Just some discussion around an official resolution around the superintendent’s search committee.
McDaniel: Discussion or new business?
Butler-Burks: Discussion and action is fine.
McDaniel: We will add under discussion cell phones and the resolution, under new business a discussion on policy CG.
3:11pm – Supt. Davis presents the consent agenda items.
View the entire board agenda here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
Item 2.01
Calendars for traditional and year round schools have been created following a lengthy calendar development process and the board’s decision to maintain consistency from the 2012-13 school calendars to 2013-14. The 2013-14 calendars also include four (4) options for furlough days for all employees.
McDaniel: A reminder that this item is for the 2013-2014 calendar only.
3:24pm – Consent agenda has been approved.
Item 2.01 up for discussion
H-Kinnane: I thought that we left the calendar workshop with…that we were going to look at a possible later start date and I think that what we’ve heard back is that the reason that can’t be considered is that we agreed that we need a 3 day or a 5 day holiday in there. I have 2 concerns that we’ve moved along from the week long breaks due to the burden that that would provide for childcare. But I think in a way that may have created a greater hardship because we don’t have a full week. I also have a concern about attendance, we have such a long break…people may take the days off to fill out the week. I have concerns about the August 5th start date, if we could make it a later start date…we’ve always received problems getting kids there on the first day if it may make sense to start on a Wednesday with open houses going on the first couple of days….
YJohnson: I thought that you all had come up with something at that meeting (workshop)?
McDaniel: Yes, the expectation was that the administration would look at it and make some recommendation. They have the same recommendation and I guess will want to speak to that.
Supt. Davis: I’m going to ask Dr. Kirijan…The start date is easy to explain. Our view given what we asked them to do given all the furlough days that we felt that we did not want to take one more day away from them by starting the school year in mid-week. But I don’t quite understand your other concern because I thought one of the reasons we had these discussions was to shorten the week long breaks and I was comfortable moving away from the balanced calendar is that the board had done the work to provide the support….If you could articulate and point to where you’re talking about on the calendar.
Kinnae: It’s in October where we have a Thursday, Friday and Monday off.
Kirijan: Oct. 10th is a teacher workday, the Friday and Monday following that are days off for students and teachers.
Kinnae: And the other is in February
Kirijan: Yes, that break is for students and teachers
Kinnane: I think that its important to provide a break that is dedicated to teachers. I’m all for supporting teachers and making their lives as easy as we can, but …. (talks about the 3 days off not being critical).
Discussion around taking days out of the calendar/shifting days.
Supt. Davis: What we have for the teachers is an uninterrupted 5 days of planning. That was seen as something that we wanted to focus on. An intense 5 days of planning.
Kinnane: I would like to ask other board members….several of us talked at the meeting about looking at the later date.
McDaniel: Would anyone like to weigh in?
Meister: Thursday and Friday usually ends up being with teachers getting their (inaudible) together and a meet and greet… (rest is inaudible).
Butler-Burks: The 10th could be moved to the 6th or is there something in October where there is a need for a teacher workday? Is October sacred to a teacher workday?
Kirijan: It’s the midpoint of the semester and provides a workday to teachers.
Butler-Burks: I was asking if it could come up in August… (inaudible)
Kinnane: We could go to 89 (days) and 91. Is there anything about there being a greater number of days?
Kirijan: No, but keep in mind the calendar is built around testing days, holidays…there is a lot put into the building of the calendar. Anything you recommend we would need to go back and make sure that nothing interferred with the calendar.
Kinnane: Well we can’t delay the calendar. I was going to amend this…so I don’t know if anybody would be in agreement would that, but if you’re saying those days would need to be checked…
Kirijan: If you’re saying that a day needs to be taken out in October and a day in February then that would keep it aligned.
More discussion on what it means to teachers to take days away, add, etc.
Kirijan: What we heard from Ms. Waldon and C&I was that the 5 days prior to school was something that was needed and starting on Monday the 5th and having that as your whole week of school was a preferred calendar.
Rebecca Kaye from Organizational Advancement gives the start dates for other metro counties. Counties starting on August 12th have all cut instructional days for students.
Kirijan: We have 4 school districts starting on the 5th. It’s more than DeKalb.
Davis: What we’re talking about is starting school 2 days later and taking 2 days away from teachers. The fact that they are starting later does not address the issue of fatigue during the year and we’re trying to build in days that we think are responsive for the workforce.
Kinanne: Having been a teacher…. (inaudible)
Butler Burks: I’m looking at the Fulton County Calendar and they start on the 12th and are doing 177 days vs 180. By starting a couple of days later in August does that help with teacher fatigue….where I’ve seen it happen mostly is that February block.
Kirijan: I would like to remind you that in September, we have scheduled a furlough day. September 2nd.
Butler Burks: But its a holiday, Labor Day, they would be off the 2nd anyway because its a holiday.
McDaniel will delay the vote until Ms. Johnson returns back to the room. We’ve pulled personnel gains and loss items, lets have this discussion.
Meister: I would like to get some clarity around the three interim academy leaders that are on this report to start today. I would like some information around how…it seems like we are living in a world of interims for so many reasons.
Mr. Gray, of HR, now speaking.
Gray: I will take full responsibility for that. We attempted to bring them before you once we reviewed the policy and correct that oversight (time frame for bringing interims before the BOE). Interims are placed for a period of time, not defined as a perm position.
Meister: I’ve had a lot of parent concerns because a lot of these interims were teachers. One of these interims also has the role of athletic directors. After 4 months is that not enough time, can we not get teachers in those classrooms. Our previous interims…there seems to be some inequity for holding positions for some not others. We didn’t place other people that took interim positions with temp contracts, it seems like we’ve changed the playing field for those who stepped up to take the place as interims.
Gray: I agree. Yes , this is new. Didn’t see why we couldn’t accommodate the principal. I don’t see that this presents a legal issue. We are simply trying to be responsible to principals who have needs that we can respond to.
Meister: My last point, is the reason that these interims did not get replaced with full time teachers is that we’re carrying a heavy load of academy leaders?
Gray: I don’t believe that is the case. My understanding is that we simply did not place those people before the board and thus their positions continued to be interim, subsequently their positions were filled with substitute teachers.
Meister: The transition team that we have in place that goes into schools, is that not their job to go into schools until permanent people are placed? What is their role?
Waldon: Our goal was to leave those people in place until the principal requested such. They are continuing their responsibilities.
Butler Burks: There are a lot of effective dates missing which makes this report seem….I mean we have effective dates on some things and not others. One other I had, if I speak too much about it, it’s not about the person, it’s about the position (says that it may be better for executive session).
Muhammad: I want some clarification on some these positions- family support specialist and family engagement manager.
McDaniel: We can discuss these items further in executive session, and vote on this in our evening session.
Waldon: The family support specialist, this position is a part of the work that goes into our student support services. The other is a part of our Title I funded positions.
McDaniel: We are going to return to the calendar issue.
*The motion carries with a unanimous vote.
Y. Johnson: Cell phone policy…it is a fairly complex issue where we were at one point in terms of high school students, middle schoolers, and elementary, and trying to determine what is the best way parents can have access to their students during emergency situations and still maintain discipline and testing integrity in the schools. APS has had a couple of recent incidents that brought to our attention the need of cell phones during a lockdown situation. This is an opportunity for the board to let us know what we need to evaluate when we look at the policy for the last time. Just have this opportunity to tell us what you might want to see based on what has happened over the last month or so, so that we can discuss it in the next policy committee meeting.
Meister: Will it be inevitable that we will have cell phones and iPads in the classroom tied into curriculum and instruction? Should we make this a bigger discussion surrounding electronic devices?
Davis: We do envision a future where your personal digital devices will be a part of the learning. It is going in a direction of more devices.
Harsch-Kinnane: Many parents are telling their kids to carry a cell phone to school for after school safety reasons. We originally said it would be good practice to roll this out at the beginning of the school year. My concern, in light of recent events, is that we still have the safety issue of parents wanting to have a cell phone somewhere on their person when the school day ends right now. This timing issue is critical. I don’t feel like it is right for us to be unresponsive to this request for safety reasons.
McDaniel: I think Meister brings up a good point about the education component of cell phones.
Harsch-Kinnane: As our policy exists right now, during an emergency situation a student can be directed to use their cell phone by APS personnel.
Kirijan: We are proposing that the terminilogy appear in the policy also.
McDaniel: It’s a regulation now, but making that terminology policy would be the recommendation of the staff, correct?
Kirijan: Correct.
McDaniel: What I’d like to do is address the concerns of the policy work and determine what we need to do between now and the beginning of the next school year, because I don’t think we need to delay this.
Davis: I would always question against moving too quickly on policy, but we can make the middle school principals aware that this is the way the policy is going.
McDaniel: He would basically let the middle school principals know we are moving to a cell phone policy in middle schools consistent with the policy for high schools.
Harsch- Kinnane: My only concern is do we have the right to ask our principals to do something that the current policy doesn’t regulate?
Davis: We can ask them in writing to do this.
Y. Johnson: Our change actually is for all students, so theoretically any communication surrounding this would be to all principals.
Muhammed: What happens with the 50 dollar fine enforced after a student’s cell phone is confiscated 3 times?
Kirijan: Fines that are collected go into the school’s general fund.
Mesiter: I take issue with telling principals they can do something that is currently against board policy.
Harsch- Kinnane: There are going to have deal with this issue now in the schools.
Butler-Burks: Since this is under discussion and action, is there a vote we can take, based on recent emergency situations, that we have approved this temporarily until the changes in the policy come forward?
Kirijan: We have discussed this policy change with staff, and one of the reasons we didn’t want to implement this policy at this time of the year is because it is close to testing time.
Prescott: The superintendent can make an adjustment to the regulation regarding middle and elementary schools, which may be a quicker way to do this until a revised policy is set in place.
McDaniel: Are we fine with giving that directive to the superintendent? …Ok, we will now move on.
Butler-Burks: In terms of the superintendent search committee, can we put together a resolution that lists the members, responsibilities, and milestones?
McDaniel: Yes.
*Discussion surrounding Policy CG and following policy in terms of personnel and interim appointments.
Davis: Our problem here with policy is that we depend upon memory to implement every policy, and when someone is new they might not have that memory. You are supposed to follow policy, but they are not embedded in a way that we could hold people accountable. We don’t have a compliance function here. These are huge managerial systems tasks, not willfull violation of policy.
Butler-Burks: There must be some policy around general violation of policy.
Davis: We are responsible for knowing all of the policies, but as that number gets larger, what assurances do we have that people do know those policies? They are being violated, and when they are violated we stop it.
Y. Johnson: One of the questions would be, is there some effort underway to embed those policies? In order to hold anyone accountable you have to have specific regulations.
Davis: These will be embedded into our personnel systems.
Kirijan: You’ve accepted the GSBA policy standards. This summer we have a work review that will help put those policy standards in place to make policies easier to understand and follow. We will also put a policy training program together and create a regular schedule for policy review. There needs to be much more organization and alignment around this. We also need to look at our policy managment system, to improve that as well.
McDaniel: Now that we have had this conversation, what specifically would you like to see?
Meister: It sounds like we don’t have the capability to implement or sanction policies that are violated.
McDaniel: So it seems like what we are saying is, from a policy perspective, it isn’t a policy problem, but a systems policy.
Davis: In the interim when people see policies being violated, they should point them out. We shouldn’t violate policies.
The board recognizes social workers at APS.
The board goes to Executive Session at 5:30 p.m.
7:15 – The Community Meeting will now begin.
Community Member: I am asking that you reconsider something you did last year where you added Collier Heights to Usher Elementary School. Collier Heights was originally a white community named after George Washington Collier who were white, racists and segregationists. When we first moved to Collier Heights we had house burnings, cross burnings, lynchings…we couldn’t even go to the school there. To put that type of name with Ms. Usher seems to be foolish and inappropriate. I want to really think about it and do the research. Find out who GWCollier really was and Ms. Usher see if they should go together.
Community Member: I was very encouraged that you (McDaniel) was open to the idea of the task force for charters. We want to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. I believe we are a strong community that can help you, whether its getting our community to help raise the millage rate or others, utilize me and other folks like that. We hope there is some room for innovation.
Community Member: I too really want to thank you for coming out. It meant a lot to the community to see that we do matter. I want to make sure that you understand how this funding issue for charter schools is affecting us. We have to balance our budget that starts off smaller, if we don’t get some solution and relief we will have to make extremely painful cuts. We need to have our funding restored. It is not an exaggeration to say we will be gone if we don’t get some funding relief. I know the charters are not everybody and only represent 10%, but out of the top 12 elementary schools, 5 are charters. We want to help you as part of that task force to come up with solutions.
Community Member & Washington Alumni: (Speaks about the small school concept) The small schools concept is failing us and causing divisiveness. Please go back and revisit this. As an alumni we want to support you, we support anything that is going on at our school. Thank you Mr. Amos for supporting us. One principal, one school.
Community Member: I had to follow whether my children were going to follow the school rule or break it (regarding cell phones) and we chose to follow it in middle school. Keep in mind that there is cheating going on in High Schools with cell phones by students who are competing for academic placement and (status) in the school. [Speaker continues to talk about the need for more social workers in APS schools to answer all needs of all students]
Parent: The concern we have (regarding guns in schools) are regarding maintaining the gun free zones, there are two pieces of legislation now that want to arm teachers, employees, etc. We have done a lot of research and we have sent a note to Mr. Davis talking about how the gun free zone has improved safety and we would like your support in fighting those two pieces of legislation. We support School Resource Officers (SRO’s).
Community Member: I am here to share an update on DH Stanton Elementary and the effort the community has made to keep Stanton rising. On May 8th 8:30-11:30am we will have leadership day and it will be an opportunity for the community to see the impact of our leadership program on the school as a whole. We’ve worked closely with GAState, the Casey Foundation and others to really create a learning complex on the DH Stanton campus.
Community Member: I’m here this evening to talk about the enrollment issue at DH Stanton. We’ve been working hard to make sure DH Stanton stays open and is prospering. I have a map that shows a highlighted area that shows 8.9% and we are advocating for an open enrollment policy and new zoning to allow kids to come to DH Stanton. [Speaker continues to go thru graph and handout for BOE] What that says is that most of the folks that live in Grant Park are doing well and have a higher income but there are some who are not graduating from high school. We are trying to get a more level playing field.
Parent: I am a parent volunteer at Young everyday. The cleaning crew at night is deplorable. There is never enough tissue or soap in the restroom and the building overall is filthy. As a proud alumni of Washington High School, I would like to talk about one school and one principal for Washington High. As an alum, I am still and will always be interested in what is happening at Washington. The communication to stakeholders is awful. I don’t understand why we have 6 Principals and AP’s with only 800 students. The money could be better used somewhere else.
Parent: I am really concerned about the safety in our school system. The teachers are now the police and the teacher. You claim that you don’t have enough money to put a police presence in the school but we elected you all to keep our kids safe and give them a decent education. Now banning cell phones – how do you expect kids to call 911 when their life is in jeopardy? If you are not going to do the right thing, then resign.
Community Member: It pleases to let me know that the notice for Booker T. Washington HS will not be on the agenda gor this board member, however it displeases me to know how parents were notified. Parents and students are clueless about the 2 hearings that were held as well as the Common Core Curriculum. Students are dropping out of school causing low enrollment which could lead to Washington closing in 2 years. How will APS communicate with parents in the future about public hearings? Why isn’t there enough money to purchase stamps?
Parent of 15 year old Senior at Jackson H.S.: Ronald is being punished because he attended Tech High, a closed school. Now he attends Jackson High School. Ronald has been in the district for 7 years. He transferred at no fault of his own. [Mother explains that son will not be able to be named valedictorian because APS policy states that you must be a student at the school for 2 years in order to be named valedictorian]
Parent (BEST Academy): We as parents and as students have been advocating for improvement at BEST HS. They are keeping this school in a zone of problem students. BEST has a low graduation rate right now and we’ve been trying to get a hold of all the deputy’s, superintendents, principals….the first year the boys were promised certain things in order to continue on and graduate from BEST. There is no brotherhood, constant fighting…I don’t know why you are not looking into BEST Academy. It is so sad that we as a black community, an urban community, that we have to go thru this. We’ve contacted you about BEST and we’ve got no answer from Mr. Davis or Ms. Waldon. We’ve been trying to get this school on track. 125 boys failed summer school. We will graduate 20 boys at this rate.
Parent (Centennial Place): We are worried about the calendar – planning has not occurred for the year round calendar. We’ve rallied support for the balanced calendar and we understand that we will have a year round and traditional calendar. If that is the case we choose to accept the devil we know which is the year round calendar. We ask that the district start much earlier to address the calendar next year. Second, the year round calendar is only a piece of the puzzle to our success. Although it is not on the agenda tonight we ask for support on the class proposal for Centennial Place and that it be brought to vote soon.
Community Member: I would like to urge each board member to speak clearly and directly into the microphone so that those of us can hear you clearly in the audience. On to my second topic, this is in regard to discussion of the cell phone policy. I would ask that the board remain sensitive to the importance of the cell phone policy. If no one else, a child should be able to contact his/her parent for support.
Community Member: [Speaker speaks directly about firing an employee, i.e. discusses a personnel matter, thus this won't be blogged]
Parent (BEST Academy) We have an assistant principal that has acted in dual roles as our academy leader, poor teachers, one full year without a science teacher where 60% of our students failed the end of course test, we went one semester without an ELA instructor or math instructor. We need to identify a principal for our school. We need our principal now. There is a resolution that we would like to address. Children don’t fail, adults do. We are asking the district to scrutinize the process.
Parent: I want to say I’m very pleased in what I have learned has happened, that Carver has been saved from the merger that would have been devastating. I applaud Dr. Battle and all the people that work under her. All of our Carver School of the Arts were replaced which was great. I wish we had AP. When my son who is now a junior applied to Carver School of the Arts he had to audition. He’s now a candidate for the Gov.’s honors program in music. When my younger son came to CSOA, there was no audition and I respectfully ask for the return of auditions. I see no reason why a school of the arts fails to have an audition process.
8:00 – Community Meeting has ended. Legislative meeting will begin shortly. Committee of the Whole meeting will now continue.
Item 2.13 Authorization to Revise Policy BBE School Attorney has been waived for first reading.
School calendar discussion continues.
YJohnson: I understand that that is the case for now, but do we anticipate always maintaining year round for those (3) schools?
Davis: We have been asked to come back with use for 2014-2015. If both calendars are maintained at a minimum we will try to start both calendars as close to one another as possible. We will be looking at all of that over the next 4 months.
McDaniel asks if Kinnane’s amendment included the recommendation of year round schools/calendars.
Kinnane: It did not include the YR schools.
Motion on the floor by Kinnane to keep the YR schools on their current YR calendar.
Passes.
Dr. Grant explains that a seat became vacant on the ethics commission and Mr. David Ross, an attorney and active member of the E.Rivers community was vetted, trained and accepted him as a member of the commission. Bringing him to the board is a process we go through with all members of this commission seeing as it was this board that created this committee.
8:10pm Board moves on legal matters and hears from Bill Prescott, APS General Counsel.
8:12 Committee of the Whole meeting is adjourned.
~This ends our live blog for tonight. The legislative meeting can be viewed beginning tomorrow night on Comcast Channel 22.~
Atlanta Board of Education – March 4, 2013 Meeting notice
March 4, 2013
BOARD MEETING NOTICE
2:00 PM: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE*
Special Presentation
Ms. Sis Henry, Executive Director, Georgia School Board Association
Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, Georgia School Board Association District 5 Director
Board Work Session
Work Session Presentations:
Chuck Burbridge, Chief Financial Officer
· Financial Forecast
Stakeholders are welcome to provide comments at the beginning of the Committee of the Whole meeting on any item on the agenda.
In order to provide comments during the Committee of the Whole, please contact: Dr. Howard W. Grant, Office of the Atlanta Board of Education at 404.802.2200, at least 1 hour prior to the start of the Committee of the Whole.
6:00 PM: COMMUNITY MEETING
The Atlanta Board of Education welcomes input from the students/ staff/ parents and members of the community at its Community Meeting following the Committee of the Whole meeting; March 4, 2013
Speaker sign in: 5:00-5:50 p.m.
The meeting will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m.
7:00 PM: LEGISLATIVE MEETING**
To view this month’s agenda go to https://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf
*An executive session may take place before, during or at the conclusion of the meeting to discuss any appropriate topics.
**Action may be taken
LIVE BLOG: Board of Education Meeting, February 4, 2013
Thank you for following our live blog of the December Board of Education meeting for Atlanta Public Schools.
View today’s agenda here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
REFRESH your browser often for updates.
Meeting has been called to order. Superintendent Erroll Davis acknowledges the 16 years of service by Sharron Pitts, General Counsel. Ms. Pitts has taken a position in Michigan.
FINANCIAL REPORT BY CHUCK BURBRIDGE, CFO
In December, we finally had a month where taxes came in higher than expected. When it comes to revenues, we’ve raised the forecast for local taxes. January forecast is now $7M. We saw a turnaround in our expectations with the December numbers. Ultimately that positive news is really reflected in a reduced dependence on the fund balance. That need has dropped to $17M and hopefully as good news continues to come in we will have even less need to rely upon our fund balance.
Expenditures – not much change here. We are getting better news on our benefit cost and as we move into the fiscal year I’m hopeful that by the end of the year the number of $580M in total expenditures will come down slightly. We are starting to see some good things happening. The best part about the expenditures is that we feel better that there is not upward pressure on the salary number….we are confident that it will stay at this number.
We dropped 46 positions off of payroll. Not necessarily 46 people laid off, but in some areas there was a major re-do in staffing, but more so a change in coding where people were moved appropriately, allowing us to reduce the payroll in December. We are doing continuous monitoring of payroll coding. Hourly subs are down slightly from November and both Nov and Dec are below prior years. We are seeing control of staffing, giving us a sense of optimism.
Again, as a result of the change in revenue, the use of fund balance has diminished slightly. We are still relying on $17M in our savings account to bring this budget home this year. We have not had a reduction in force during this recession.
As you know we’ve had a decade of not receiving E-rate reimbursements. We have funding commitment letters for $33.3M. $16.7 received to date. Submitted letters for $63M.
FY14 Projections: 2 scenarios
FY14 Beginning Balance -
A: $64M – Plus FY14 Projected Rev 547, Less FY14 Projected Expenditures (612)
B: $76M – Plus FY14 Projected Rev 552, Less FY14 Projected Expenditures (605)
FY14 Ending Balance -
A: ($1M) Change in fund balance ($65M)
B: $23M Change in fund balance ($53M)
Important to remember that in FY14 we will not have a back log in e-rate reimbursements. As s result of these assumptions (above) we are talking about a negative fund balance of $1M in scenario A and $23M in B, significantly below where we need to be. Both scenarios depict a spending plan that doesn’t work. That is the starting point of the conversation. How do we close these gaps? That is where the staff is now…in discussions on how we close these gaps. That’s a quick discussion of where we think FY14 will be.
Q&A
YJohnson: Will we have a presentation on Supplemental Services and how that meshes with the task force for wrap around?
Karen Waldon, Deputy Supt of Instruction: It is on the schedule for March
YJohnson: We had conversation, Mr. Chair, about policy changes…
McDaniel (chair) says that committee will meet on Friday.
H-Kinnane: I understand that some of the employees were coded in one fund and now in general fund, but I want to know if that answers the questions about the unaccounted for / unbudgeted for positions.
Burbridge: We found that some were in general revenue and should have been in a special revenue fund and we are working with C&I and HR to ensure that we have controls in place so that when we pass a budget for FY14 we have a better headcount. The fact still remains, we are spending more on salaries this year than originally budgeted.
H-Kinnae: We think that’s going to be an answer entirely? Mostly?
Burbridge: It will take a greater effort than just coding. Paying attention to how staffing information is handled, even before we give out contracts for next year. Some of the factors in the discrepancy in the actuals/budgeted is that we did a very compressed/late budget process after the school redistricting hearings. That ran right up on the May 15 deadline for contracts. What we are trying to do is match existing personnel with new hires to ensure that we don’t end up with a surplus of teachers overall. While we will monitor, we will also make sure we don’t end up with a deficit in critical areas. By starting earlier with a more traditional process we can put in place the controls so that the actual staffing lines up with the budget.
Muhammad asks if there are priorities for budgeting, particularly safety & security. Burbridge says that there are priorities and they will be revealed in and informed by the budget discussions.
End of Presentation
CREDIT RECOVERY PRESENTATION by KAREN WALDON, Deputy Supt. of C&I
“Any Time, Any Place, Any Space” Academic Interventions
How do we respond when our students don’t learn? What do we do when students demonstrate that they have already learned the information being presented? In C&I we are faced with several realities. We know that 52% of students who began grade 9 in ’07-’08 graduated. We know that 15% of our students who drop out are only 3 credits short of what they need for graduation. We know that 52% of our students who DO graduate, 37% go on to attend a public college in GA and 55% require remediation. We have identified a solution that will support our students toward graduation.
A response to this challenge is our credit recovery program for those students who desire those opportunities.
We are excited about this opportunity for our students and how it addresses Senate Bill 289 which says that all GA students should have access to courses online and virtual learning. This will allow our students to receive remediation and reteaching. Students receiving credit recovery will be allowed to receive some face to face with teachers and also online. We will offer all courses required for graduation and foreign language.
For students who are doing well and want to get ahead, can attend Atlanta Virtual Academy AVA, giving students and opportunity to take courses not offered in their school or to get ahead. Currently it will be offered in middle and high, eventually elementary as well.
{Power Point Presentation will be presented later during this meeting}
Q&A
Courtney English: When will program begin.
Raynise Smith: Pilot program in March. Full program in fall. We will pull data by school to determine greatest area/school of need and that will determine our pilot site.
H-Kinnane: I can’t quite figure out how it will work. It will fall on the classroom teacher, who would do this anyway, but this extra…this identifying, intervention, follow up, coming back into the classroom…just how it that going to work in terms of how we support the teacher.
IT: In remediation we are looking to have one person in each course. The deficiency is how the student is flagged. The same for accelerated students.
H-Kinnane: I see how it will work in High but in Middle I’ve already seen how the desire to take more rigorous courses is bumping up against PE/Health.
RSmith: We are looking at the zero periods, before school, after school, during tutoring. We are going to work with our principals around how to create the best schedule that would work for their campus and schedule.
Meister: While I understand it and see the need, but what are we doing to avoid this. What are we doing in the initial delivery of content?
RSmith: This goes back to tier 1, quality instruction to all students that is differentiated. That should be happening currently in all classrooms. What we are looking at is when these interventions are not successful, what then. We want to make sure what one student receives in one school, another student receives in another school.
Butler-Burks: We have some schools who have done exceptionally well with credit recovery programs. Did we take some lessons learned from them? How does this affect what they are doing successfully.
RSmith: Yes, we are looking at how we can take those practices and apply to other schools. We want to honor the work that some schools are doing so we are working with principals who are providing us with feedback as we design our models.
English: I think this is a good first step, but is this enough? 48% of our kids are not walking across the stage. Given that reality, what’s next. Particularly as it relates to dropouts, how are we thinking about partnering with the community, the city, service providers to plug that gap. Finally, acceleration, how does this weave into those students who have demonstrated they’ve learned the standards and are ready to move on?
Waldon: This is one piece. Next month when Mr. O’Connor brings his piece, you will see that this is on part of a larger picture. And no, this alone is not enough. It’s not a sole solution or silver bullet, but important to moving the work forward.
H-Kinnane: {Asks question about summer school}
RSmith: Summer school will be aligned to this program.
YJohnson: How has the special needs population been factored into this?
IT: We have staff members representing special needs who are putting the supports in for those students based on their IEP’s. It is our goal to continue to implement those same accommodations in the remediation piece.
YJohnson: If there is an IEP, then the process for that child has already fallen short. What steps would you take specifically for that population with a graduation rate less than 30%. What would we do differently.
RSmith: Teachers who are identified to support this program will receive professional development, including special needs. As create our models we look to create models that are self-pacing.
English: Are these new teachers we’re hiring?
IT: Same teachers with additional responsibilities, with stipends.
Update on Price M.S.
End of presentation.
Chief Sands
This investigation is ongoing and there are some things I cannot discuss at this time. We are back to business and will have a 5:30 basketball game at Price MS with additional security. We are having continuous conversations to mitigate any future incidents like this on any of our campuses. We are looking at advanced technology to better secure our properties. We are looking at new training for our officers as well as teachers and parents.
Q&A
Muhammad: Who has the responsibility of making sure the cameras and metal detectors are operable and who is responsible for checking them?
Sands: Cameras are web based and we run checks on them everyday. We have 4,000 cameras, so that doesn’t mean that a camera that is up now won’t be out in 30 minutes, but we do our best to check and maintain those. We have stock and shipment so that when things go out we have them on hand. Metal detectors we check every year. Principals and on site officers check and know to contact my office if there is a need to repair or replace.
Muhammad: What is the turnaround for a camera/detector?
Sands: We have a help desk, and if principals call we address the issue immediately. If we have to outsource it through a vendor, we work through the proper channels to address them. When it comes to security systems it is the priority to address them. We have communicated this to our principals. Life systems, such as fire alarms, monitors go out, principals know to contact us immediately. Number or hours for repair depends on circumstances surrounding the needed repair.
Muhammad: If we’ve got 800 students at a school and those students have to come thru detectors and be in class at a certain time, do we have the manpower in our schools to assist? I’m not sure if that’s your question…
Sands: We have challenges around staffing. I met with leadership this morning to see how we can remedy these situations. It will be a join effort between security and C&I. Look to hear about my recommendations in the next few days.
Muhammad: Was there an emergency plan in place for Price and was community aware?
Sands: Correct, there was a plan in place and had it not been the situation would have been much worse. The school community knew exactly what to do. The law enforcement community knew exactly what to do. The parents don’t think we did a good job of passing along that information. We met with APD the next day to find out, in the event of another emergency, that we don’t have any gaps. Communication office was there with me, and perhaps next time instead of getting the information out in 30 minutes, its 10 minutes. While parents may not feel that we communicated in a timely manner, we took care of their kids and our staff. We need to not only give the information, but make sure that it is accurate. The process is not meant to be quick, it is meant to be thorough.
Muhammad thanks Sands for the actions taken by the school resource officer and APD.
English: What happened Thursday was terrifying. How are we thinking about addressing the culture outside of the school. How are we thinking about addressing those conditions? I think the action is the symptom of something much greater.
Supt. Davis: Let me speak to this a little bit. We have been having conversations with the community for the past year to find out how they would like these issues of security addressed. We have some substantial cultural challenges. We have policies in place now, and I need to check if they are policies or regulations, governing the movement of parents inside of schools. We have some schools where parents come in during the morning and walk their students to class and now that is being challenged by parents and we will need to have intense conversations with parents. We have had principals who tried to address those policies and were almost driven out of town by parents who said they were insensitive.
I draw the analogy to airplane travel. I have had discussion with principals and there is an interesting discussion about the average anger level of children coming to school, and they seem to be much higher, and are we prepared to deal with angrier children…we have a lot of work to do and we have been working for a year or so. This incident brings home to me the need for officers to have relationships with children, to understand them and a more continuous presence. If I felt strongly about the suggestions we have made, I feel more strongly now. Again, we are going to move as quickly as we can, but any changes that we do make, particularly in the elementary schools – you are going to hear about it. We will engage elementary school parents beforehand, but there are consistent policies that we will need to enforce. We have policies now on metal detectors and principals believe that they have a license to ignore some of these policies. This is how we end up with books at some places and class sets at others. {Mentions uniforms, standards and force of standards} We have a lot of work to do in this area.
H-Kinnane: You haven’t mentioned the communication to parents on campus. We had terrified parents who rushed to school and could not get answers.
Davis: I empathize with those parents. I understand their anxiety. Our methods must always be focused on the safety of the students and staff. What you always find is that all of your communications is that they can always improve. We used calling posts, robo calls, emails, text messages, tweets…. We are no where near ready to say this is what we learned yet….we are continuing to learn.
Butler-Burks: What we have missing is a crisis communication plan. As board members, we got one email and then nothing else until the next morning at 6:30am.
Davis: I do want to add one note of caution in this age of instant communication. We are not allowed to be inaccurate. Others were. This started out as a young woman being shot at Carver. I can’t communicate that. I’m not disputing anything you say, I don’t think we have adequate crisis communication protocols, but our communications will be slower because there is a burden on us to be accurate. That burden is not shared by others.
Amos: I think we need to gather our parents and speak to them in one place.
Sands: There were a number of situations that were unfolding as to why the Price parents did not go to the reunification site. Price’s site was not in the immediate area and were other schools and we were close to our elementary schools being dismissed and under other assumptions in regards to the other schools. The Atlanta community really came together in this situation, we did not get it all right and we will continue to address those gaps. Hence forth, when we set up the perimeter, we will usher parents to that waiting place.
Muhammad: I would also go to the school, but if I had some information while outside I would go to that place. Every school, school community is different. {Muhammad asks about a security assessment of each of our schools}
Davis: That is a good suggestion. We will take that under advisement. One of the observations I made at Price….our campuses were not designed to be fortresses. This school is multiple buildings, outside, people can walk into the courtyard from off the street, its next to woods. Our schools were designed to be bright, warm, nurturing places. Each one is going to be unique.
EJohnson: We can talk about security but we need to let people know that nothing is 100% guaranteed. We need to thank people for the effort they put forth. I see a lot of sensationalization going on and that put parents into an even bigger panic. You’re dealing with the news media trying to see who can be more sensational than the next. And if you get false information out there, you will be criticized for that. As board members we need to reassure parents that everything that can be done is being done. All of our schools have a plan.
4:00pm Committee of the Whole Meeting now beginning.
No comments from community.
Superintendent is reading from the consent agenda.
2.01 Report No. 12-13-1720 Authorization to Adopt the 2013-14 and 2014-15 School Calendars (First Reading)
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The calendar development process for 2013-14 and 2014-15 included a community-wide survey with approximately 5,900 respondents as well as analysis of student attendance data. As a result of the survey responses, the proposed calendars are consolidated calendars with August start dates. The proposed calendars have been reviewed by a diverse committee representing parents, employees and communities across the city. Feedback from this committee has been incorporated into the proposal. The proposed calendars cover the next two school years to provide advanced planning time for APS employees and families. Frequently asked questions regarding the school calendars are also attached for informational purposes.
Changes from past calendars include the consolidation of all schools to a single calendar as well as changes to the scheduling of some staff work days. For 2013-14 and 2014-15, the superintendent’s proposal provides flexibility to principals and supervisors in the scheduling of one (1) teacher work day and in the scheduling of 200-day and 220-day staff members (e.g. counselors, social workers, assistant principals) outside of the teacher work year. This will allow schools to tailor their staff schedules to best meet the needs of their students and parents.
The 2013-14 calendar also includes four (4) options for furlough days for all employees.
RECOMMENDATION:
The board should accept the 2013-14 and 2014-15 calendars for first reading.
REASON:
To set the working and school days for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.
Harsch-Kinnane: I am concerned because I expected to see some changes to this calendar since last month after the community meetings and input, and it looks like the same calendar.
Davis: The meetings aren’t the only means we had for receiving recommendations. Not changing it doesn’t mean community comments were ignored. I don’t want to give any impression, because there was no change, that they were ignored.
Butler-Burks: How will these extended breaks affect student learning and instruction?
Rebecca Kaye, Policy office: On Wednesday we had our first meeting with community partners. We had a productive meeting with C&I and a few of our community partners. We asked if these partners would fill in the gaps for these students, and what would that look like. They did anticipate adjusting their schedules to provide opportunities for APS students depending on the calendar that is approved. We want to ensure that the programs our students are in are complimentary to what we are providing and the direction we are going instructionally for our kids after school and during any breaks we may take.
Meister: Did you discuss transportation at all?
Kaye: It was a topic of discussion. The YMCA said they didn’t have issues with transportation, the city said they had more concerns regarding transportation.
Butler-Burks: I still struggle with this break time. For a single parent 35/week per child is a lot of money for extended times out of school and funding for parents and the agencies. We’ve had this much time and we really don’t have a solid plan on how we can assist parents and students during these extended breaks.
Can this item be pulled from the consent agenda?
Harsch-Kinnane: We heard a lot about why this doesn’t work and the hardships during breaks for families and teachers. I wonder why we didn’t hear some of the comments and some of the things that strike me about this calendar. It’s about days that don’t make sense. I just want to hear from you (Kaye) in terms of hearing those concerns. To Mr. Davis, in terms of the decision to have a calendar that is different and to not have a year round calendar, the other concern is that the system is going through a lot of changes and whether this is time to put forward another change.
Davis: We have to have a calendar. I will confess that I haven’t been involved in the development of this. Why are the breaks there?
Kaye: It was really what the calendar committee pushed for. This committee has representatives from employee groups, parent groups, cluster groups, etc. What we heard from the calendar committee is that they felt strongly that those breaks needed to be a week long in order to be full breaks. This breaks really came out of the recommendations from the calendar committee. We have higher absenteeism when we have breaks that are short. Having these week long breaks does support student and teacher attendance.
McDaniel: I suggest that the board has a work session on the calendar, whether we pass this now or not for first read. This is not to delay the decision on the calendar, it is to make sure each board member is comfortable with the calendar.
Meister: I would like to add to that I sent an email on the 28th, and I would like to incorporate some of the questions I sent.
Y. Johnson: What would be different about this session than other sessions? What would we do differently?
McDaniel: As board members we have now developed questions of our own or from our constituents, and this would be a time to get these questions answered, since there is some discomfort in where we are. I think this would be a better forum for us to get on the same page. I know there is some time sensitivity on this.
Y. Johnson: So really this is board members presenting questions and trying to get some consensus around the document?
McDaniel: I think this meeting does 3 things: board questions will be answered, we can hear feedback from the community meetings and surveys, and match this calendar against alternative calendars to hear the pros and cons. This would help us debate which calendar is appropriate.
McDaniel: Mrs. Pitts, Can we waive our period of time between the second and final read? Can we have the final read in March? I prefer for us to pull this from the agenda today, meet for a work session for first read, waive the period of time between the second and final read, and present this for final read in March.
Pitts: You would have to vote on that, on a majority vote.
Y. Johnson: Given that we have a plan of action in place, could we not approve it for first read today and then move forward with our plan of action between now and the final read?
McDaniel: I’d like to go ahead and take a vote on whether or not we will pass this for first read now or not.
E. Johnson: I think it’s time for a first read.
Butler-Burks: My suggestion is to pull it from the consent agenda, we vote on it when we get to it, and see where we are.
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
2.02 Report No. 12-13-1721 Authorization to Revise Policy ABB Board Powers and Duties (First Reading)
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The board’s policy review committee met on January 16, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy ABB Board Powers and Duties. This revision aligns the voting requirements for board action with the charter.
RECOMMENDATION:
The board should accept the revision to policy ABB for first reading.
REASON:
To align the board’s voting requirements for transacting business with the charter.
2.03 Report No. 12-13-1722 Authorization to Revise Policy BBAB Board Duties
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The board’s policy review committee met on January 16, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy BBAB Board Duties. This revision removes references to board voting requirements that is also contained in policy ABB Board Powers and Duties.
RECOMMENDATION:
The board should accept the revision to policy BBAB for first reading.
REASON:
To remove duplicate information from the board’s policies.
2.04 Report No. 12-13-1723 Authorization to revise Policy BC Board Meetings (First reading)
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The board’s policy review committee met on January 16, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy BC Board Meetings. This revision removes references to board voting requirements that are also contained in policy ABB Board Powers and Duties.
RECOMMENDATION:
The board should accept the revision to policy BC for first reading.
REASON:
To remove duplicate information from the board’s policies.
2.05 Report No. 12-13-1724 Authorization to Revise Policy BBD Board-School Superintendent Relations (First reading)
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The board’s policy review committee met on January 16, 2013 and recommended the attached revision to policy BBD Board-School Superintendent Relations. This revision clarifies the board’s expectations for communication from the superintendent related to issues that may generate public attention.
RECOMMENDATION:
The board should accept the revision to policy BBD for first reading.
REASON:
To clarify expectations for board communication with the superintendent.
2.06 Report No. 12/13-5120 Personnel Gains, Losses, Promotions, Appointments, Creations, Reclassifications and Abolishments
*One Principal Appointment
2.07 Report No. 12/13-5121 Workers’ Compensation Settlement
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
Monetary savings can be realized with the settlement of this workers’ compensation claim versus ongoing workers’ compensation costs.
RECOMMENDATION:
The approval of workers’ compensation settlement.
1Employee 2Age 3Life Exp. 4Liability 5Demand 6Offer 7Present Value 8Savings
#1 71 15.4 $24,480 $15,000 $7,500 $22,545 $15,045
1. Employee 5. Amount of settlement requested by employee
2. Employee’s current age 6. Amount of settlement offered by APS
3. Projected life expectancy 7. Present Value of Disability Benefits
4. Anticipated disability benefits 8. Monetary savings APS will realize based on
to be paid over the life of the claim settlement of the claim (#7-#6)
REASON:
To effect savings by settling workers’ compensation claim.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Cost to the District of $7,500
FUNDING SOURCE:
General fund account number 100-7650-2500
VIEW THE ENTIRE AGENDA HERE: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
Report No. 12/13-1128 – Authorization to Enter into and Execute a Contract to Provide Credit Recovery Content Services
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The Atlanta Public Schools procurement services department solicited vendors to provide credit recovery content services. Five (5) proposals were received and evaluated (list of bidders attached).
RECOMMENDATION:
That the superintendent be authorized to enter into and execute a contract with Connections Education, LLC to provide credit recovery content services. This contract shall be for one (1) year with four (4) one-year available options to be exercised at the discretion of the superintendent. This contract is conditional upon the firm’s ability to comply with requirements set forth in the solicitation document.
{Discussion by board, Dave Williamson, CIO and Supt. regarding whether the two platforms will speak easily to one another, virtual learning and Infinite Campus}
Report No. 12/13-1129 – Authorization to Enter into and Execute a Contract to Provide an Online Learning Management System
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The Atlanta Public Schools procurement services department solicited vendors to provide an online learning management system. Four (4) proposals were received and evaluated (list of bidders attached).
RECOMMENDATION:
That the superintendent be authorized to enter into and execute a contract with Black Board, Inc. to provide an online learning management system. This contract shall be for one (1) year with four (4) one-year available options to be exercised at the discretion of the superintendent. This contract is conditional upon the firm’s ability to comply with requirements set forth in the solicitation document.
THIS CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA
Before the vote, Muhammad asks Karen Waldon to address the principal selection process and how/why decisions have been made. Muhammad says that there is still a sense of uneasiness in some communities
Waldon: There were a number of questions asked that evening. We tried to get stakeholders to understand that there is no one size fits all for a school leader. Large number of vacancies in the district at one time didn’t make it easy. We want to, as much as we possibly can, bring solid recommendations to the superintendent. One of the items that HR supported the community panels on was the opportunity for the community panels to design questions specific to their schools.
Muhammad: There was a great deal of dialogue after you left the Hope-Hill meeting. The concern was how much of a role does the community play in that selection. How much does their input matter. If they feel like this principal works well with them and the staff and is inclusive, and they are satisfied, how much does that matter?
Waldon: What we know is when the state organized the Local School Councils some years ago, one of their responsibilities was for them to provide input into the principal hiring process. There are certain types of questions that a community panel can design and get responses to, and then there are some things very specific, in the next level of the interview process, that are very specific to instruction. Their role is to provide input into the next stage of the process.
YJohnson: Is there any opportunity to have some education around principal selection or manage the expectation?
Mr. White, HR Director: Part of the process is a panel orientation where we share expectations. We share with them that their level, level 3, in the panel process is not to select the principal but to give input into the principal selection process. One thing that concerns me is that when they leave they think they’ve actually selected a principal. We don’t do the summary scoring while they are there and they don’t get to see the rankings or scorings. The HR reps and others sit down and score and do summation. Then they rank according to score. Then those individuals then move forward to level 4. I’m concerned when they say “our candidate hasn’t been selected.”
YJohnson: I would just encourage you to do that as much as possible.
White: I do understand. They actually do identify the finalists that move forward in the process.
Muhammad: If a school has had 2-3 interims are we looking at who would be a proper fit with the next interim. People get frustrated (with the turnover).
Waldon: We bring the Exec Dir’s of schools in to talk about who might be a suitable interim. We are grateful for those who step up to the plate, but once you step into those shoes, they find they may not be as strong in some areas as others. Their (interims) leadership is on display. One of the challenges in our district is that our core of assistant principals are good people, but what they are lacking across the district is the instructional piece. Finding principals out of the AP ranks is a challenge. Many times they have not had a lot of exposure to the instructional piece of the district. This is unchartered waters. There is not a district in the country we can look to and see that they are filling as many principal vacancies at one time. We try as hard as we can to identify those who would be appropriate.
Davis: We need to take this all the way back to the CRCT scandal, unfortunately. In my first 2 months I had to replace 41 of 100 principals, with no perm structure in C&I. It was clear after that year that many wanted out, it was not the job for them. And for some it was not the job for them even though they might not have shared that view. That brings you to the 12-13 year, where again we for the most part got most of those 40 internally and we didn’t go to the bottom of the barrel but that depleted what people we thought were ready or in training. We’ve taken the view that this is one of the most important jobs we do and its important to get the right person in there. We do want our principals to be instructional leaders. I don’t know if that is a new dimension or if we are simply putting more emphasis on that. As a member of the community, I certainly can comment on community engagement skills, I will have difficulty commenting on technical leadership skills. It is critical that as we transition to the Common Core that we have principals that are teacher-leaders.
Muhammad: {Hope Hill} The community is trying to wrap its arms around the school and its hard to do that when you don’t have stability. If we’re going to be changing people every year, every 2 years…. This is not the only school, there are others.
Butler-Burks: What I want to confirm is not just the LSC but a community based panel, but external principal. I want to confirm that.
White: Yes {names committee members}
Butler-Burks: You talked about the scoring piece and my question is about the external component of the scoring. We have the scoring and its tallied externally. Then the members get together and say what they scored. Then we never communicate back to them about the score. Then they don’t see a name on the end list of names.
White: I’m concerned with sharing those scores because there is another level in the process.
Butler-Burks: What about “we’ve identified x number of candidates to move to the next level.”
White: Yes, we do need to communicate back that there are candidates moving on to the next level.
Muhammad: Can you do the reverse? Vet the candidates first then let the community see the best of the best?
White: That is the criticisms I heard from panels in the past, that there were not enough qualified candidates put before them.
H-Kinnane: Yes they want to see quality candidates, but not viable candidates, but they are slated to go to other schools or more likely to go to other schools.
White: I think this was a unique situation. With the number of positions that needed to be filled and candidates….
English: This HR piece is a huge bucket, just as a suggestion, maybe we can find some time to work session this. I have tons of questions just from tonight.
Amos: There is a motion to pull the calendar item from the agenda and move to discussion and action.
Motion passes.
Amos announces that the BOE will now recognize the counselors of Atlanta Public Schools. 8 school counselors take the stage and shake hands with board members in recognition of school counselors week.
Supt. Davis: Another critically important position is that of school principals. Last month, the BOE approved appointment of 18 principals. Tonight I will be recommending one other principal. I’ll ask Ms. Waldon to introduce the principals who were approved last month.
Schools with permanent leaders:
Benteen Elementary
Dobbs Elementary
DH Stanton Elementary
Connally Elementary
Brown Middle
Inman Middle
Garden Hills Elementary
Smith Elementary
Boyd Elementary
Scott Elementary
Towns Elementary
Usher-Collier Heights Elementary
West Manor Elementary
Woodson Elementary
Deerwood Elementary
Fickett Elementary
Humphries Elementary
Forrest Hill Academy
5:42pm BOE has adjourned to executive session. Committee of the Whole meeting has been suspended.
7:07pm The Committee of the Whole meeting has been suspended, however the public comment period is beginning.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Verdallia Turner: Some of the barriers that prevent teachers from teacher include cell phones. They are asking that all cell phones be banned. Student bullying, inadequate student home, ineffective policies and paperwork all hinder their ability to teach. The pendulum has swung too far to the left and the right. The problem is not unique to Atlanta, but Atlanta can lead the state. We believe in choice, but the only choice our children should have is a great Atlanta Public School system and a greater Atlanta Public School system. The question was asked, “Why was there a gun at school?” The question should be “Why does your child have a gun?”
Bunche Middle Employee: We have strong leaders and I just ask that the one that we have, we can keep. {Speaks about keeping the current leadership at the school}
Bethune Elementary Parent: We have no updates on current PTA balances and we are denied access to the funds to plan events. Funds are being collected from parking at the GA World Congress Center but we don’t know how much is being collected and given to the PTA. We don’t what we should have gotten when the schools merged like counselors and mediators to keep it from being another situation like Price.
Nathaniel Dyer: I’m here to talk about the lack of confidence we have in Price Middle School. It’s the thing I’ve been saying time and time again. You’ve got to get a grip on discipline. The bullying gets stronger and stronger and the real bully is the teacher and administrator who didn’t intervene in the situation. To restore confidence we need to remove the principal. Send him on the road with his pension. This situation didn’t just happen overnight. This is more than a gunshot. I went over there, the police officers were totally rude. They were sitting by the car, bad-mouthing the parents. I’m standing by a young man who was right by the shooting and he said “They asked us some questions and sent us away.” I went to Carver today. Language out the wag-zoo. We create propoganda so that no one will feel any emotion for our children. Mr. Davis I need you to pop up on these schools, I’ll ride with you. You can make a change. If these people are scared of the children, they need to take a hike. This is a school system for these kids to learn. Let’s fire the principal and restore confidence.
Bunche Middle School Parent: I’ve been a part of the community for 18 years and I’m willing to do my part to help this generation. I think we have strong leadership and it needs to stay there.
Bunche Middle School Parent: Please leave our interim principal. Our principal has gained a lot of control over at Bunche. He has gained a lot of authority back in that school. The teachers are pumped and students are ready to learn. I’ve been at lunch for the last 6 years and there have been situations before where the kids don’t feel comfortable but now they feel comfortable.
7th Grade Bunche Student: Please leave Mr. Watkins as principal at Bunche. Mr. Watkins has turned the school around. We have more men visible in the school all day. The morale is back. Please help us to continue to build a better Bunche.
7th Grade Bunche Student: I am proud to be here to speak on behalf of Bunche students. Our principal has helped us to achieve our goals. He has been making our school a better community. I am asking the Board to help us build a better Bunche.
Cynthia Dumas, PTSA President at Bunche Middle: I invite you to see the great things going on at Bunche. What we would like to see is stability in our school. The climate is different when you step into the building. We have mentoring groups…why would we want to change from the person who has made this climate. We are working together to build a better Bunche. Please consider what you have heard and will hear about Bunche Middle School.
LSC Chair of Bunche Middle: I am happy to say since the last meeting I have had a meeting with Ms. Waldon. What we would like to do is meet with you Mr. Davis, Ms. Johnson to make sure that the process and what happens in the building work together. We are building a better Bunche and we would like to see that continue.
Bunche Middle Parent: Bunche has gone through a transformation over the last 6 months. Bunche is trending in the right direction. It would be wrong for you to remove the interim principal. We have to put our kids back at the forefront of education and do what is good and right, day in and day out. I would hope and encourage you to do what is good and right for all of our students, but for me personally, what is right for Bunche.
Community members speak about the need for better safety within the district.
Additional parents request that the principal from Bunch Middle is allowed to stay on as the principal.
END OF PUBLIC COMMENT
7:50pm
Motion to approve the calendar for first read. Motion passes. The board will take up the calendar for first read and have a work session surrounding it later this month to discuss additional items.
Item 6.01 Motion to approve the Proact Search For to conduct the superintendent search. Motion passes.
Item 6.02 Next up is the approval of the superintendent search committee composition. Board chair McDaniel reads the list of names. He suggests taking top 3 of list and move up the first attorney listed as the BOE wanted to include someone with a legal background.
These 4 would represent the areas BOE members wanted represented. McDaniel says that parent community groups will come together to choose a representative. By the end of next week all names will be selected.
Motion carries to appoint the first 4 members of the committee.
6.03 Cascade Elementary School Renaming Task Force Recommendation
There were a number of folks who were asked to participate on the committee, for example Keisha Bottoms sent a representative, parents and leaders. We met and we have respect for Dr. Lowery, however the proposed change would not comply with board policy. The committee’s recommendation is that we not move forward with the renaming at this time. Motion on floor. Discussion.
H-Kinnane: To overturn the policy, the 5 year policy, then we as a board could have overturned it, so my question is whether the process had its due course.
YJohnson: At the meeting we had a full discussion and it was agreed that the committee did not want to go forward. The committee met on the 16th and the comment period was posted to end January 31st. There were some comments. One was, there was no input from the community as it relates to that – no one had reached out to the community. One comment was “We feel very strongly about the history of our community and we don’t think this is an appropriate change.”
Amos: I would question that it came from the committee because I am not sure that there was a quorum present. It was sort of decided by people in the room that we would not go forward because it was known that a board member would vote no. It was surely not the committee that made the decision to stop the process.
Muhammad: There seems to be confusion around this. Let me ask this, how did this come to the committee? If the community and groups were taken aback, how did it come to the community.
YJohnson: I cannot speak to how it came to the floor, but there was a letter addressed to Mr. Amos. Frankly I was taken aback as well. I learned of it here on the dais. As the policy stands, there is no specific outline as to who will be represented on the committee. It didn’t meet the policy, there was no compelling reason to waive the policy and there are board members who would vote no.
McDaniel: The committee’s decision is to not to waive the policy that would lead to the renaming.
YJohnson: The committee’s decision was not to go forward because it did not meet the policy and there was no compelling interest presented to waive the policy.
Davis; I had one question, based on my ignorance of this process. How many people does it take for you to convene a committee?
YJohnson: When I have done them in the past, we have convened a committee based on people who have shown an interest. Sometimes its students, South Atlanta comes to mind, the NPU is actually who brings it. Once we get the written request, we send something out to the school/community.
Davis: The threshold that kicks off the work can be as few as one person? And you’re ok with this?
YJohnson: Yes, and a suggestion was made by a committee regarding policy moving forward….
English: Sounds like we need to take a look at the policy.
Sharron Pitts reads the policy into record.
McDaniel: There should be more ways that are more indicative…not one person waking up in the morning and wanting to change the name of the school.
Muhammad: There was in the past. We would publicize how long people had to submit names. The public would comment for 30 days and the committee would come back. It’s fairly simple.
Dr. Grant: I want to add further clarity to the superintendents question. The letter was put forth by the Cascade Elementary PTA.
Butler Burks asks if YJohnson can separate her passion from the work that has to be done around this issue. She answers yes.
Motion on the floor is not to move forward with the name change.
Robust discussion taking place around whether or not the committee should move forward with exploring other names for the school. YJohnson is clear that the community has not been engaged in this name change conversation to date.
YJohnson: One of the reasons in the committee that I heard that they did not want to engage in a process that was not supported by the community was that it seemed to be a waste of time when it would not move forward with the BOE. We left the comment period open. We got a total of 4 comments.
Butler Burks cites the history of the renaming of Usher to Usher-Collier Heights and how that was a lengthy process that dealt with historic designation, NPU’s etc.
Amos: I think we’ve put a shadow over the process by people feeling that it was not going anywhere. I say we open it back up for 30 days and allow the community to comment without that shadow.
Amos asks that the statement serve as a motion. Withdraws when he is reminded that another motion is on the floor.
YJohnson reads letter from neighbor. One of the 4 comments received. Muhammad withdraws her motion.
Muhammad: I believe the members that represent their districts represent the pulse of the community. Because of that, based on this representative, made up of the community surrounding the area, that it is their recommendation not just hers that they do not move forward. I will withdraw my motion.
McDaniel asks if Amos would like to put forward a motion.
Amos moves to reseat the committee and open up the 30 day comment process again. Then for the committee to meet again and report out. There are titles tied to the people serving on the committee. 2nd by Butler Burks.
Butler-Burks: What was the make-up of the committee?
YJohnson: Some of the people seated were District 2 people, not District 6. It was suggested that it was adjacent but its not, adjacent was Butler Burks’ community. I have no idea why Mr. Amos even served as co-chair of this community. There is a list that I’m happy to work up with Dr. Grant that is District 6 folks.
Motion to reseat the committee carries 7-2.
YJohnson: My concern is that when you don’t like a particular outcome you hold off on an item until you can get the policy changed.
McDaniel: There seems to have been some confusion. It seems appropriate to me that we would try to solve that issue first.
English: The reason I made the recommendation is because from your own committee, members seemed to say they wanted to see some policy changes around this issue.
30 day clock will begin again on Cascade renaming committee. Item of renaming will be added to the agenda of the policy committee.
8:50pm
RESOLUTIONS
7.01 Report to rescind a total of 3 furlough days for designated instructional and support staff; establishing these days as critical work days for the common core training.
As we all know, GE has given us a grant to fund teacher training. This gift will make up for the 3 furlough days for instructional staff.
No discussion.
8:52 Committee of the Whole Meeting is adjourned.
The legislative meeting will begin shortly. Please join us on Comcast Channel 22 to view the results of the Legislative Meeting.
Good night.
LIVE BLOG ENDED.
Give Your Opinion: Proposed 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 APS School Calendars
LIVE BLOG: January 14, 2013 Board of Education Meeting
Update 1/15/13, 9:50am: The public can now comment on the proposed 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 calendars here:
http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Page/34392
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Thank you for following our live blog of the January Board of Education Meeting for Atlanta Public Schools.
View today’s agenda here: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/Public
REFRESH your browser often for updates.
Chuck Burbridge, Chief Financial Officer will bring the first presentation.
Financial Update, Chuck Brubridge, CFO
Download the Presentation: FY 2013 Financial Update Jan 14 Board Meeting (PDF)
Burbridge says that an e-rate update will be available in February. The worst news we’ve received since December is a 2.8M negative impact due to ruling against the district regarding charter schools. We continue to look at payroll information. Expect payroll review to have positive impact in February. Working with IT to get a mapping between multiple systems regarding payroll.
ERate reimbursement status: When we started the year we were talking about 7-10M in reimbursements. The overall revenue picture has not changed much.
End of Presentation
Chief Sands will now give a presentation from the Department of Safety & Security
Safety & Security Presentation, Chief M. Sands
Download the Presentation: Security Department Board Presentation 1-14-13 final without notes
Today’s presentation is an overview of conversations that began last year around climate, culture and safety. APS implemented a new safety program over a year ago, beginning with the Douglass cluster.
Our response tiered across 4 levels: Public Safety, technical Security, Cooperative Partnerships & Emergency Management
55 Atlanta Police Officers assigned to middle & high schools.
233 Atlanta Police Officers on roster to fill positions.
70 percent of our safety personnel report to APD. This structure weakens our ability to proactively address crime issues on campus. When we began our discussions a year ago, we learned that crimes that occur on school property impede learning in one way or another. Many of the incidents originate from bullying or other aggressive behaviors. 46% are crimes against property. The 2011 data was one of the factors that supported searching for an alternative service delivery model. A cross functional work team was developed. As a part of that work, it included hosting focus meetings last January, 2012 in each quadrant of the city. These meetings gave an opportunity for parents to give feedback. This year’s focus, taking place this week, are continuing to gather feedback.
Stakeholders have told us they want a proactive not reactive response by officers. The Douglass cluster was chosen to test the school resource model because Douglass led the district with 106 crimes against persons and 26 crimes against property. 22 officers were assigned in this feeder pattern with 6 at Douglass. This year 7 School Resource Officers with 40 hours of school based training. Already we are recognizing a slight decrease against crimes against people. There is an increase against property.
We anticipate ending the school year with a decrease in both areas.
APS is moving towards the Triad School Resource Officer Model. Counselor/Social Worker-Law Enforcement Officer-Teacher.
The Triad Model consists of full time employees that are armed law enforcement personnel assigned to middle and high schools who are trained in school specific topics. They are taught counseling and resource skills.
The School Resource Officer (SRO) program gives consistency and improved services with focused training that is scalable, leading to safe schools.
End of Presentation.
Davis: What we need is a more full time commitment. With the cluster framework we want to have officers who are there full time and learn all of the kids in the cluster as they move from elementary to middle to high school. The officers can do planning among themselves, identify sensitive relationships and head these issues off much earlier. There is a lot more prevention in this plan than in the past. The question is where do we get full time officers and there we need to be careful as the city is trying to put more officers on the street and we want to be more respectful of that. I don’t want anyone, however, to be surprised about the direction that we are going.
Muhammad: Are we saying we would be limiting or replacing officers?
Sands: We would phase out the school detective unit while maintaining our relationship with APD for additional support.
Muhammad: So we are going to phase out the school detective unit made up of APD officers?
Sands: Yes
Muhammad: And we believe that would work better for us?
Sands: We are exploring 100% Atlanta Public Schools police officers across all areas of safety and security.
Muhammad: Have we looked at how that would impact our relationship with APD when it comes to 911 calls and emergencies?
Sands: Yes, working together, collaboratively is going to work for the entire city.
Muhammad: At some point will we get an outline and you share what this will look like?
Sands: Yes, we are working with leadership on that presentation.
Muhammad: Are we looking at intervention programs? Not just locking them up? Mediation?
Sands: Absolutely, we would have a programmatic focus.
Davis: Like she mentioned earlier we would make sure officers had a cadre of appropriate responses as opposed to “you broke a law, lets lock you up.” Under the present structure we cannot train 233 part time officers who can only work 20 hours a week. Our schools are open more than 20 hours a week. We want trained officers and continuity in our buildings and we want them to have a better understanding of chain of command in regards to safety and security. The APD officers while working with us, do not work for us and every once in a while we learn that.
H-Kinnane: When you say going to 100% I hope you don’t mean going directly to 100% because we lose a lot of… (talks about officers with years worth of internal knowledge about the district). It seems like we could have a need for both.
Davis: We will have some need for part-time officers.
Butler-Burks: In the past, even under better financial circumstances, the start up was so expensive that as a result of that we started building that relationship with APD. I think this information is good but I don’t want to get so far down the line and then come back and say we can’t afford to do it. It was extremely expensive to start up a police department even though we are one of the few districts without one. You’re talking about fleet…there is a lot that goes into putting on human bodies. That’s probably what makes me the most nervous of all. Have we looked at the cost and what that means?
Sands: We have looked at numbers and we will pull it all together and have it available for you. We have a lot of what we need already when it comes to fleet. Training will not be our biggest cost. Uniforms and numbers will be our biggest costs. What we’ve learned from our pilot is that when you have officers who are fully engaged, you don’t need big numbers. Back then we had 6 and 7 officers in schools. With this pilot (at Douglass) we actually cut the number of officers and now we think we can cut it by one more person.
Meister: Have you looked at practices in other districts?
Sands: Yes, metro & statewide and also with Council of Great City Schools. DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Fulton, Cherokee all have their own agencies.
Meister: Have they had them for a substantial amount of time?
Sands: Yes, 12 years for the least amount of time. These programs have been growing since the 90′s. In all of the programs where I have read the research on the programs they all show positive feedback and results. There is limited data showing a decrease in violence, but there are a lot variables that play into that.
Meister: The level of training, how would that compare?
Sands: We would only recruit experienced officers. We would work to ensure that first of all we recruit the best, look at lessons learned from other districts and training. Three years ago, we actually participated with Atlanta in an active shooter training. These are all realities that we can make happen. I don’t see training being a showstopper.
Muhammad: You talk about recruiting the best. Will these officers be post certified?
Sands: Yes, all will be post certified.
Muhammad: Even if they are retired?
Sands: Yes.
Muhammad: Do we actually now have a police department?
Sands: Yes, the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department
Muhammad: These SRO’s will have arrest authority?
Sands: That is correct.
Davis says that a full report will be ready for the board in 2-3 months. McDaniel acknowledges that this presentation was put on the agenda today because of its timeliness.
HKinnane: We are getting a lot of questions about the proposed bell schedules. Will we discuss?
Davis: The bell schedule and the calendar are not the same.
Butler Burks: I think we should look at how we can attract the best ones we currently have. (Cites pension and service time issues).
Bell schedule question arises again. Steve Smith says he will get the information requested to BOE today.
HKinnane: I can tell you what was said…
McDaniel: I put the bell schedule on the agenda…
HKinnane: It was given as proposed and because it was given at these meetings people wanted to respond.
McDaniel says at the appropriate time, BOE can ask questions.
Minutes approved
Bell schedule added to agenda.
Agenda approved.
McDaniel: Tonight we were asked provide a list of names we thought would be good on a committee for Supt. search. (asks for names)
HKinnane: I thought we were going to have a discussion about entities and making sure we have a representative group.
McDaniel says that the names were asked for as a starting point for discussion.
HKinanne: The names themselves won’t…we won’t know some of the names…
Meister: One of the things I had asked in an email last week was that its extremely difficult to pinpoint people when you don’t know their responsibilities and I believe you were going to get back to us about that request.
McDaniel: My email back to you was that we would discuss today. I believe we need to get approval of names and organizations. We discussed this last week and no one brought this up.
Meister: I brought that up.
McDaniel: No you brought up what they would be tasked with.
Meister: I believe I did….
YJohnson: Maybe we should do this now. Is it just an adhoc? What information will they give to us?
McDaniel: We will have that conversation at the appropriate time on the agenda. What I was trying to do was an administrative task. Public Comments?
Dr. Grant says that public comment will now begin. Each individual has 3 minutes.
Atlanta Prep Academy Board Member: I am asking you to vote to renew APA Charter. Over time the Board has experienced tremendous growth. Our building limits us from reaching our student count under our current charter. Now that we are working with a positive cash flow, we have plans to move more funds into teacher development and salary. It has always been the policy of APS to review the charter in it’s 5th year. We are only in our 4th year. We feel that it is unfair to single us out.
Atlanta Prep Academy Board Member: For over 20 years I’ve worked for large insurance companies and banks as well as boards of nonprofits. Today I would like this board to focus on our math curriculum, the source of concern for APS’ charter department. We have switched to Saxon math program and educated our teachers to deliver that program and we expect good results. We take our students as they come. Looking at CRCT tells you one thing, but when you look at what we’ve done with these students over 3 years when we’ve had them, that’s a different story.
Atlanta Prep Academy Supporter: With respect to change, the math and reading scores can be improved. We have worked to bring about significant change with parent involvement as well as improving the academics of the school.
Founder & Director of Afterschool Program for Atlanta Prep: We have 5 great teachers in our program teaching critical thinking, voice lessons, guitar, theater and music production. We provide them with field trips, recitals, guest speakers.
CT Vivian: When Atlanta Prep came in, we were rejoicing for another place to train and better our children. We are all joined together as a part of the community to make sure this school stays. We need that extra year to prove to you. We have a number of children that come to the school each weekend. Their parents bring them and its important to notice that their mothers largely bring them. So many of the children in the area do not have their father in the home and they need men to relate to. We have brought in 12-15 men each weekend and they relate to these young men. We have various subjects for each weekend and they sit and talk and they start bringing up what they have always wanted to talk about but can’t because of so few men in their neighborhood. We have taught them that prepared boys make better men. Each Saturday men we ask them to speak to this and they do. Because of the Academy, we are able to have special programs.
Priscilla Borders: We just found out at Hope-Hill that our principal will not be renewed. My son is a 2nd grader and in the fall he will be operating with his 3rd principal. Lack of consistency hinders our ability to move forward. Parents are coming to me and asking questions that I can’t answer. I don’t know why at this juncture we do not have a permanent principal and we want to be informed.
Billy Hungeling: Next year we will have our 3rd principal. As a community member looking to send my 2 children to Hope-Hill is not something I want to see. You can’t build a school with community involvement if you all don’t put in a principal that will be there permanently. The neighbors would like to start some initiatives.
Centennial Elementary Parent: I’m here to address you about the calendar. Our kids have proven success in a year round school. The system has been proven. We as a community don’t understand how we were presented with three calendars with no data to show the benefits. Boyd backs us as well and they are number 1 one in the district. Our most important thing is the education of our kids. We serve shelters in the area, we had kids to come in 2 weeks ago, we feel they would be at a disadvantage.
End of public comment.
5 minute break.
The board has returned.
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Item 2.01
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
On September 28, 2012, Atlanta Public Schools received a petition from Atlanta Preparatory Academy (APA) to renew the school’s charter for a second five-year term. The current five-year term expires on June 30, 2013.
A staff committee and external reviewers have thoroughly reviewed this petition. The applicant has not met the minimum requirements for a successful renewal petition as contained in board policy IBB, in the Charter Schools Act of 1998 (O.C.G.A. §20-2-2060 through §20-2-2071), and outlined in State Board of Education Rule 160-4-9-.04 Charter Schools and Guidance both effective August 3, 2006.
For renewal petitions, the state rule (160-4-9-.04 Charter Schools) requires the local board to consider 1) how the charter school succeeded in meeting AYP, 2) how the charter school succeeded in meeting the performance-based objectives stated in the charter, 3) how the charter school succeeded in achieving financial stability, and 4) how the charter school succeeded in achieving organizational stability. APA has exhibited significant deficiencies in each of these areas:
1) APA failed to meet AYP in 2011, the final year of Georgia’s participation in NCLB criteria.
2) Atlanta Preparatory Academy ranks in the bottom 20% of schools statewide, across all grades, in each tested subject (Reading, ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies). The school ranks in the bottom 50% of APS schools, across all subjects, in each grade served (Reading, ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies). Of the 30 academic performance goals established by the school, which required a 2% increase in student performance, only 4 were met.
3) Current enrollment (467) is 45% lower than originally projected in the school’s charter application (842). The financial statements of the school reflect a positive cash flow and Atlanta Preparatory meets the standard for the number of days cash on hand, however, there is concern regarding outstanding debt to Mosaica Education, Inc, of $801,384, of which $568,000 is due June 30, 2013. Although the school’s education management company, Mosaica Education, which holds the note, has agreed to restructure payments to eliminate the balloon payment, such a large outstanding debt held by a contracted service provider presents an untenable financial situation.
4) Atlanta Preparatory Academy opened a year late and the school has argued that they should be given an additional year to generate positive results. Although the school’s renewal application includes an aggressive turnaround plan and several talented individuals serve on the board, the petition review committee does not believe that the school will be successful, given past performance and the lack of observed organizational stability observed on the board over time.
RECOMMENDATION:
Given Atlanta Public Schools’ desire to increase quality education experiences for children and given the failure of Atlanta Preparatory Academy to successfully meet the majority of the performance based goals set in its charter, the Superintendent recommends that the board deny Atlanta Preparatory Academy’s petition to renew its charter.
Board has no questions at this time on this item
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4:06pm
Item 2.02 (First Read)
THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS:
The calendar development process for 2013-14 and 2014-15 included a community-wide survey with approximately 5,900 respondents as well as analysis of student attendance data. As a result of the survey responses, the proposed calendars are consolidated calendars with August start dates. The proposed calendars have been reviewed by a diverse committee representing parents, employees and communities across the city. Feedback from this committee has been incorporated into the proposal. The proposed calendars cover the next two school years to provide advanced planning time for APS employees and families. Frequently asked questions regarding the school calendars are also attached for informational purposes.
Changes from past calendars include the consolidation of all schools to a single calendar as well as changes to the scheduling of some staff work days. For 2013-14 and 2014-15, the superintendent’s proposal provides flexibility to principals and supervisors in the scheduling of one (1) teacher work day and in the scheduling of 200-day and 220-day staff members (e.g. counselors, social workers, assistant principals) outside of the teacher work year. This will allow schools to tailor their staff schedules to best meet the needs of their students and parents.
The 2013-14 calendar also includes four (4) options for work calendar reduction days for all employees.
RECOMMENDATION:
The board should accept the 2013-14 and 2014-15 calendars for first reading.
Comment on the proposed new calendars here: http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Page/34392
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On Item 2.03, Gains and Losses Davis notes that There will be no interruptions or disruptions to schools during the 2012-2013 school year.
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On Item 3.02 Authorization to Enter into and Execute a Contract to Provide a Facilities Master Plan Needs Assessment Alvah Hardy explains to BOE member Kinnane that this is a ground up start on the facilities master plan.
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On Item 3.03 Authorization to Enter into and Execute a Contract to Provide a Virtual Desktop Computing Solution Davis explains that we are creating a base technology framework for every school and then and only then will we use Title I funds to support that base framework.
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Item 3.05 Authorization to Purchase Furniture from the State of Georgia, Alvah Hardy explains to BOE member Muhammad that this furniture is used in schools, specifically those receiving renovations.
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End of consent agenda by superintendent. Moving item 2.01, 2.02 & 2.03 into discussion. Consent agenda approved.
Discussion & Action:
2.01- Authorization to Deny Atlanta Preparatory Academic, Inc. Renewal Petition
Gail Burnett (APS Charter School Data Specialist) discusses renewal and specifics of data comparing M. Agnes Jones and Bethune to APA.
Burnett: The data APA put together is wanting in a number of ways. Actual 2012 results for APA:
-1 out 2 students were not passing a particular CRCT.
-6th grade social studies: 3 out of 4 students failed the assessment.
Burnett: Growth data for APA is severely lacking. Based on the results, it would take APA 10 years to get to a place where they are functioning on an average state level for most of these assessments.
H-Kinnane: Any progress between 2011 and 2012?
Burnett: Depending on the grade level and subject, you may find there is some improvement, but the improvements seem to be very small. The growth data gives you a more accurate picture of what is happening in the school. When you look at that data across the state the school doesn’t even come close to 50th percentile in most subjects.
English: It seems like the district has very different view of APA financial situation than APA does.
Allen Mueller, Exec. Director of Innovation, APS : According to their audit they do owe a debt of over $800,000. There are other things that are troubling about the financial situation. Somewhere around 40 percent of their revenue was spent on instruction, which is extremely low.
Amos: How did we get to this 4 year, 5 year place?
Mueller: About a year after the board at the time approved the original charter APA said they weren’t able to get funding for their building site, so they amended their charter to open a year late.
Amos: When we changed the start date, we didn’t begin a new 5 year contract?
Mueller: Correct. It’s the same contract, with the same ending date. No changes.
Muhammad: Could there have been some miscommunication? Maybe they thought they were entitled to another year.
Mueller: I can’t speak to what they ascertained. All I can tell you is that the contract we signed to amend the charter states that no other parts of the contract changed, except for the start date.
Muhammed: So this is the year that the charter would end?
Mueller: Yes, that’s correct.
English: Are there traditional schools in APS that are performing lower than APA?
Mueller: Yes, there are.
English: We’re going to close one school because of low academic performance, but yet leave others open. Help me understand that.
H-Kinnane: The only way we can hold charter schools accountable is when they come up for renewal. It is a very painful thing to close a school. I understand that, but as a charter you have an agreement to meet certain performance goals.
Mueller: The charter schools get a waiver–they get flexibility, which is a different playing field than traditional schools have. It is kind of like comparing apples to oranges.
Muhammad: I’d like to ask Mr. Amos, since APA is in his district, what kind of feedback have you been getting?
Amos: It has been across the board. What I see here is we have had APA board reps come forward and admit their faults, and they are willing to change that moving forward and do something different. I do see an organization that sees some hope, some change, and they have put themselves on a one year deadline to make that change. I am going to put forward a motion that we give them that year.
Amos puts a motion on the table to grant APA the one year. There was no second. The motion dies.
E. Johnson: A contract is a contract. We have to look at the best interest of the students.
E. Johnson puts a motion on the table to deny the one year renewal of the charter. Y. Johnson seconds this motion.
Muhammad: I am concerned about the ability to move the school to where it needs to be and to be turned down by the state. I think the school needs as much time as they can get so they can prepare their students for transition if needed.
Motion to deny APA renewal carries 8-1.
2.02- Authorization to adopt the 2013-14 and 2014-15 School Calendars (First Reading)
Meister: I think we should defer this first read for next month so we can participate in the community meetings. I think our constituents would feel more involved with that.
Davis: I think that is feasible, but we are being subjected to criticism already for being late for those who want to plan around the new calendar. We are feeling the pressure of being late. My understanding is that, in previous years, you have approved it at this meeting. There are a lot of reasons why later can be problematic from a planning perspective.
H-Kinnane: We need to hear from the school community.
Davis: We will listen. We wil come back and highlight what the concerns are and whether we agree or disagree.
E. Johnson: It looks like to me if we do the first read now that won’t stop any community input. I am puzzled why we want to delay the first read. It isn’t like we are doing the final.
English: If we move the first read to Feb., it can almost be a truncated time period. Logistically I don’t know if that would work.
McDaniel: Is this calendar a compromise between traditional and year round or is this a different approach altogether?
Rebecca Kaye, APS: We looked at if there was one calendar that would work for everyone, what would that calendar look like. We ended up with a hybrid of the best of the different calendar options we have before us. This calendar has the same number of instructional days and vacation days as we normally do, it is just structured differently.We expect to see that there will be more uniformity across the district. The proposed recommendation is much more similar to the traditional calendar we have had in the past.
Butler Burks: I am struggling with Summer learning gaps. My motion is that we ask the staff to move forward with the community input as outlined and have the first read on Feb. 4. The final read would be in March.
H-Kinnane: In past years what has been the time frame?
Kaye: The board approved the calendar for 2011-12 and 2012-13 in January of 2011.
The motion carries. The first read will take place on Feb. 4 and the final read will occur in March.
2.03- Personnel Gains, Losses, Promotion, Appointments, Creation, Reclassifications and Abolishments
Butler Burks questions the position title change from Community Outreach Specialist to Family Engagement Specialist. It was noted that only the title would change, not the job description.
Davis: I think we need to address whether there is a community outreach and engagement function outside of this and who is doing that.
Butler Burks: It was originally described to us that these people would be hired in the clusters doing community engagement work. It was brought to us to approve the position in that way. It has been communicated to the public in that way, and now we’re changing it. What are we going to do to communicate that change to the public? You don’t have to answer the question today.
Butler Burks: In terms of the principal selection process, was this process followed correctly?
Davis: Yes, ad nauseam.
Muhammad: We heard from some parents from Hope-Hill earlier. I think they expressed a legitimate concern about the number of principals they’ve had in the school. How can the school ever be successful without a permanent principal?
Davis: What we’ve tried to do is have a well defined process and move through it to bring some stability. Hopefully the people we are putting in place are permanent. We don’t want to leave anyone in place when we don’t believe it is the best option, just because of stability. That is our goal. We need good operators of the school.
Muhammad: As we move forward, especially in schools where we have had turnover, turnover, we need to be mindful that it is not in the best interest of the students to keep having turnover.
Davis: These will not be interim principals. These will be permanent.
Motion carries.
Community Input
Annie Cecil: For the past 11 years I’ve taught at Sarah Smith Elementary. I am here to speak to the compensation of APS teachers. Unfortunately, we are not being compensated for our hard work. Since 2008 we have not received a cost of living raise. The message that has been sent to us on the front lines is to do more and achieve higher results, for less pay. My hope is that you will take this into account. Enough is enough. We are losing far too many qualified and passionate teachers to other districts. You must compensate us fairly.
Mr. William Cook: EPD, in conjunction with the Dept. of Transportation, will provide a grant to APS to help get newer, cleaner school buses in the APS fleet. This will result in dramatically cleaner air inside and outside of the bus.
Mr. Baker: I am the new president of the People’s Town Community. We would like to give our support to the principal at D.H. Stanton. We care about our community and where we are going. Going forward we are with D.H. Stanton and we would like to keep D.H. Stanton rising.
Mr. Crabtree: You are elected to protect public schools and our public dollars–not public in name, but public schools. Please review the document I provided and take it to heart. I hope you will continue to lead and protect your good workers.
Mr. Payne: I am the new president of SNAPPS. I look forward to working with you continuously. Thank you.
Robert Welsh: I am a resident of People’s Town. I am here to show support for our principal at D.H. Stanton. She is available, and there on the weekends. I am here to voice my support for the principal to be made permanent.
Stanton PTA President: DH Stanton PTA President thanks BOE for keeping DH Stanton open & helping to establish a playground. Talks about the strength of the newly established PTA and rise of scores by students. Thank you for keeping our school open.
Rev. Willie J. Webb with Concerned Black Clergy: You have an awesome responsiblity and task to change the culture to make it conducive for children to learn and teachers to teach. In order to do this you need 3 things. You need to be competent, ethical and professional in your job. If you would practice these things that would create the atmosphere we need in the school system. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of not seeing that in many of you. I’ve written you letters with no response. Dr. Howard Grant, he’s a professional man, I’ve got great respect for him but I’ve written every one of you with no response. Please let me know if it is acceptable to write you to get a response.
Bunche Middle School Parent: (parents stand up in audience to support speaker) Parent asks for the district to move forward to hiring a principal for Bunche Middle School. Parents are requesting a meeting with the superintendent. They are concerned about moving into a temporary building next year while the school is renovated with no stable leadership.
Community Member: What is the purpose of me filling out a community inquiry concern form when I have not gotten any response other than a response where the person wanted to talk. It’s time out for talking.
Darlene McKnight: I am a parent at DH Stanton. We are committed to Stanton. The current interim principal has been a tremendous asset to Stanton. She seems to want to be at Stanton, she loves our children and she’s committed to staying. We are asking that you accept our current principal as our permanent principal.
William Teasley: Thank you for the support you have offered as Stanton has worked with the community. Stanton is rising. When you walk in the door there is a banner that says failure is not an option. It went from a low morale school to a school with excited students, teachers, neighbors and leadership. It is aligned with the Jackson IB cluster plan. Just because we are not present does not mean we are not working. We have Pre-K and working now for early learning. We have 9 individuals trained to facilitate 7 Habits training. We have collaborated with GSU and we are looking for your support as we continue to rise.
Gwen Burson: I am a resident of Peoplestown and I have a personal interest in DH Stanton. I’ve had 3 children to graduate from Stanton. Several of our neighborhood organizations have become very involved with STanton. We have embraced the staff and the staff have embraced the community. We have all embraced Dr. Taylor.
Community Member: I am a product of Stanton Elementary school. My son, my daughters have graduated from Stanton. If that community was good enough for me, it is good enough for my kids, my grandkids…its good enough for all of us. We presented a plan to the board, that plan has been implemented. We support the interim principal that was sent to us. She opened the doors to the school. Before her we were told we had to make an appointment. As a community member I’m behind that school and anyone who tries to cross our path again we will be down here in full force. DH Stanton is rising.
Shawna Hayes Tavares: I’ve been an advocate for community engagement but we have too many meetings. I don’t understand why we don’t have one master calendar. (Note from APS – Completely updated APS calendar exists here: http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2) I want you all to support the changes of Dr. Taylor at North Atlanta but I hope that you will pull out the best of what is there and make it equitable.
Gideons Elementary Parent: We too are on our 4th principal in 4 years. Last year we had a permanent principal appointed that did not work for our school. She worked on paper only. We have an amazing interim principal that works for our school and community. This is my home, we are not going anywhere. We will continue to fight for my school and principal.
Ron Shakkur: I would like to ask the question, how many schools in APS are acting under expected enrollment (mentions CSK middle/high). Now we have schools like BEST and Douglass because you built a school that is not necessary. Don’t let our resources be wasted by building schools we do not need.
DH Stanton Community Member: We are committed to making DH Stanton a school of choice and to keep it rising.
Nathaniel Dyer: My concern is about behavior throughout the schools. When you have a community and a strong school the connection is the history. Our young people are being bombarded by ignorance in movies, music. The school is the safe haven. There is a sheer lack of pride. They can make the grade but its not sustaining them from home to school and back to home. Administrators are consumed by the level of what is going on.
Community Meeting has ended.
Bell Schedule Presentation now being presented by John Lyles, Director of Transportation for APS.
Goals of changing the bell schedule is to improve students safety, improve on-time arrival and improve efficiency.
Difference between current and proposed:
Current Elementary Start is 8am, proposed 7:45. High 8:15am, proposed 8:30am. Middle 8:45am, proposed 9:05am.
Current Elementary end time is 2:30pm, proposed 2:15pm. High 3:15pm, proposed 3:30pm. Middle 3:45pm, proposed 4:05pm.
Bell schedule APS has now is inconsistent with all other bell schedules in metro Atlanta. Cobb, Clayton, Henry, DeKalb, Savannah, Gwinnett, Muscogee, Augusta, Cherokee County all have similar bell schedules as to the one being proposed by APS.
Disadvantages of current schedule is student safety, lost instructional time, students late for breakfast, faculty late dismissal, inconsistent arrival times, long rides for special needs students.
Schools at various grade levels share buses, which means that a glitch in the elementary drop off trickles all the way to high school.
Advantages of new schedule is improved on-time arrival, improved breakfast participation, we avoid adding 50 buses next school year and there is improved ride times for special needs students.
Kinnane: This feels very early for elementary.
Meister: So we’ll be picking these kids up at 6:45am?
Lyles: We are looking at 800 that would be picked up prior to 6:50am.
Muhammad: We have two different issues here. One would be a time change for the school. The other is a time change for the buses.
Presentation has ended.
Board is entering into executive session. Expected time back is between 8:00pm and 8:15pm.
9:00pm Meeting has reconvened.
Discussion now taking place around superintendent’s search committee.
YJohnson: Do we have any thoughts on the number of people or anything in particular related to the search committee?
HKinnane: I think it feels like, and I think it was you Mr. English that raised the concern when we first brought up a search committee that it was our responsibility…I like the idea of identifying the 3-5 but some of that would be done by the search firm…
McDaniel: There would be input and I anticipated some of the Board members being on the search committee. I expect once the search committee and search firm complete their work the Board takes over from there and it is our responsibility to interview, review backgrounds and other things to get to a final recommendation.
Butler-Burks: I would hope the search committee would see more than 5. I would hope they would review a certain number.
Muhammad: I have a question about the timeline. You’re saying the search committee will create a timeline around our request or just create a timeline to present to us.
McDaniel: To present to us the search committee working with the search firm.
McDaniel’s recommendation is to have a 15 member committee.
1. 5 positions (ideas: teacher of the year, randomly selected high school student council president, mayor’s office, principal, Council of PTA’s)
2. 5 positions via Board vote (we would all justify why we recommended someone, justify them, rank them and take the top 5)
3. 3 Board Members & 2 Adhoc member selected by BOE Chair
McDaniel calls this his straw man approach.
Butler-Burks: I like most of them but struggling with 2 of them. Sometimes when you add staff members to the mix (teachers, principals) some feel like that gives them an edge. Maybe there is a special session just for principals or just for teachers, perhaps led by the teacher of the year and what that means for them leverage wise.
McDaniel: Do you have suggestions for how we get that voice at the table?
Butler-Burks: Not to say that it can’t work, I’ve seen it both ways, but this is tougher.
McDaniel: Is there a teacher or principal position that is non-APS related?
Butler-Burks: You have 2 or 3 teacher organizations…
HKinnane: 15 seems high.
McDaniel: What do you think should be the number?
HKinnane: 9 (others say 11 and 13)
YJohnson: You assume that not all will come to every meeting so you want to always have enough to do business.
McDaniel: How do people feel about the student?
YJohnson: I like it.
McDaniel: How do we feel about removing teacher of the year and principal and putting in a randomly selected teacher organization and removing one of the chairman’s choice to get us to 13?
YJohns: Yes
General consensus among the group over this idea.
EJohnson: I think you may want to have someone from the administrator organization to represent administrators.
English: We should probably select slots then go to who fills the slots.
McDaniel: Yes, self-selecting will be filled first. We could do…I’m not really familiar with the administrator organizations.
Steve Smith suggests that the board asks teacher organizations for advice on those types of groups.
More light discussion.
YJohnson: I noticed you didn’t have a legal organization represented, was that by design?
(laughter)
McDaniel: I would like to hear from members on the choices and ranking. If you have some ideas or thoughts outside of what we have already….
YJohnson: Are you asking for our individual pick?
McDaniel: Yes, what organizations do you think you will use for your 4 picks.
Meister: One thought is, now that we know what we’re tasking them with, what about passing them around and ranking them?
McDaniel: I like that, but I would like to get organizational thoughts first.
HKinnae offers up foundation partners as a group.
YJohnson: I think there should be someone from the local legal associations.
McDaniel: Tell us what they are bringing to the table.
YJohnson: I believe they bring a framework…there is also a human resources group.
Butler-Burks: I’m struggling with this one and it is really around the APAB, Education Chairs, NPUs…I’m wondering do we have enough…I’m still struggling because we have Atlanta Council of PTA’s and those groups that touch schools more so.
HKinnane: I know we’re going to get a parent with the PTA, but I think the only way we’ll get representation with certain populations of schools, let’s say special needs, is parent representation.
Amos: I’m along the same line as Ms. Burks. Your SNAPPS, your CINS, those that come in front of us on a monthly basis. How do we continue to touch the organized parent groups.
Meister suggests that the 4 established groups get together to pick one to serve.
Muhammad: We still have a lot of charters and that’s another pool of parents and there is a charter association or a parent.
HKinnane speaks to the organized parent groups. Mentions SNAPPS, CINS, NAPPS.
Butler Burks reminds the group of EMC2. ( I believe SEACS may have been mentioned earlier)
EJohnson suggests that the organization themselves come together to decide instead of Board choosing one person from groups.
HKinnane: If we think about what we’re talking about tasking this committee with we need some expertise.
McDaniel: What I would like to recommend is Mayor’s office, student council president, council of PTA’s, teacher organization, one member from organized parent groups.
Amos: What about the higher education piece?
McDaniel: I’ll put that down.
McDaniel names the other groups suggested earlier as well, APAB, etc. Asks that the members consider this as they make their own lists of 3 names for recommendation. Members are to submit the names with resumes and brief synopsis of why they should sit on the committee. All 27 names will be reviewed and ranked.
YJohnson: Do we have a timeline on when we must submit our names?
McDaniel: Dr. Grant will work on that.
Meister: But it won’t be at our Board meeting? Maybe 2 Board meetings next month?
McDaniel: Either in 2 Board meetings or a special board work session. Dr. Grant and I will sit down and figure that out.
English: I want to keep in mind the timeframe for a traditional candidate. If you play out the logic, we bump up against the appropriate time. I would imagine you want them appointed by February.
McDaniel: Dr. Grant and I will take that into consideration. We will now move onto the Executive Search Firm.
Board has moved onto the costs of the 4 search firms to be reviewed.
Board is receiving summary of the 4 search firms with associated costs (provided by Procurement).
McDaniel says the point allocations given by Procurement are a guide and not the final determining factor.
English: I wonder about maintaining the integrity of the process when I’ve already seen the points.
Sharon Pitts: I have a little bit of concern about this discussion since the RFP usually states how many points an item is assigned.
McDaniel: I don’t believe it was.
HKinnane: Didn’t we do something like this before?
YJohnson: Last time we assigned the points. That’s a different thing than was it in the RFP.
McDaniel: There are only 2 things we can do. Select the highest point qualifier or select another process.
Butler Burks: I move that we move forward with the recommendation of Procurement.
Note: Highest points are from ProAct Search.
Burbridge: If you choose to move in another direction due to the results, you have to do more than say you don’t like the results. You have to prove that there was a flaw in what you asked.
English: I would wonder if we are putting ourselves in the best position to get the highest qualified candidates consider the firms that have applied.
McDaniel: I’m not particularly impressed…
E. Johnson: Are we saying we want to throw these out and start over?
English: I’m not prepared to support any of these.
McDaniel: Downside is time. Do we have a list of other firms we’ve used?
YJohnson: If we were to do something different what would we do? How will we ensure that we have a better pool? From a timing perspective when we extended the contract didn’t we allow ourselves a little more time? It may take more time but we have more time.
HKinnae: I feel uncomfortable with this. It feels like we need to have a process that removes us.
McDaniel: This is our process, so if we are uncomfortable with the 4 firms, we can do things differently.
Grant: I want to remind the board that when you went out with the RFP it was because you wanted a process. A specific search firm process.
McDaniel: But as I look at the results of the process I’m not sure we have…
Muhmmad: (not audible)
Chuck Burbridge brings more clarity to the process.
McDaniel: As I reviewed the RFP’s I didn’t believe we had A firms that would do an A job.
The BOE is continuing to discuss the RFP process for search firms for the superintendent’s search.
This is the last agenda item before resolutions for the committee of the whole meeting. Our live blog will end here.
10:20pm Next up is the Legislative Meeting where votes will be taken on items discussed during this meeting. Tune in to Comcast Cable Channel 22 to view the Legislative Meeting beginning tomorrow.
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