WCPSS--Board of Education

OPEN SESSION

CALL TO ORDER - 3 P.M.

QUORUM DETERMINATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

INFORMATION

Chair's Comments
Superintendents Comments

APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. CHARACTER EDUCATION

At the April 5, 2005 meeting, the Board of Education put into policy what has been
practice in the classroom for more than 10 years. The Board gave final approval to
Character Education Policy 5130, which formalizes practices and beliefs related to the
importance of character education and a positive learning environment in the Wake
County Public School System. This policy reflects the eight character traits adopted by
WCPSS in 1993 and focuses on curriculum, climate, and community involvement as core
components of the Character Education Program. The impact of Character Education is
best demonstrated by providing examples from our schools. Character Education is
essential when we look at the learning and life skills required for our students to be
productive citizens in the 21st Century.

PUBLIC COMMENT - 4 P.M.

Citizens who signed up to address the board during public comment will be called on in priority order first for items on the agenda and then for items not on the agenda. Each individual speaker will be allowed three minutes for remarks. Issues or concerns involving personnel matters are not appropriate for this public comment setting. After 30 minutes of public comment, any speakers remaining will be recognized at the end of the agenda for their comments.

PUBLIC HEARING OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET

Citizens who sign up to address the 2009-2010 Superintendent's Proposed Budget will be called on in priority order. Each individual speaker will be allowed three minutes for remarks.

CONSENT ITEMS

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

August 12, 2008-Learning and Equity Committee Minutes
August 13, 2008-Human Resources Committee Minutes
October 8, 2008-Joint Meeting Minutes of the Wake County Board of
Education & the Board of County Commissioners
October 14, 2008-Joint Meeting Minutes of the Board of Education and Town
Councils from Cary and Garner
November 17, 2008-Board of Education Work Session Minutes
February 10, 2009-Facilities and Operations Committee Minutes
February 10, 2009-Student Achievement & Human Resources Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 10, 2009-Policy Committee Minutes
February 24, 2009-Student Achievement Committee Minutes
March 3, 2009-Committee of the Whole Minutes
March 3, 2009-Board of Education Meeting Minutes
March 3, 2009-Closed Session Minutes
March 5, 2009-Board of Education Work Session Minutes

FINANCE

1. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATION APPROVED CONTRACTS

The attached summaries are provided as information in accordance with Board Policy
8361. The summaries list all change orders, and contracts having a value greater than
$50,000 and not over $100,000, and purchase orders in excess of $250,000 for February
2009. Fiscal Implications: Not applicable. Recommendation for Action: Not applicable.

2. GIFTS TO THE SYSTEM

Fifty-five gifts have been donated to the Wake County Public School System. The
approximate value of the gifts is $27,099.00. Fiscal Implications: Not applicable.
Recommendation for Action: No action is required.

FACILITIES

1. BIDS: FUQUAY-VARINA HIGH MODULAR ADDITION

Bids were received on February 27, 2009 for connecting/installing all services (power, water, sewer, data, ADA access, fire protection, and security) and interior fit-up of one eight-classroom modular unit at Fuquay-Varina High School. A separate contract had previously been issued to Comark Building Systems, Inc., for the purchase of the eight-classroom unit, which included delivery to the site, set-up, block, level, and tie-down. Staff and Rotman Architecture, P.A., recommend award of the single-prime contract to C. Blake Lewis, Inc., in the amount of $192,100. Reference the attachment for details of the per classroom costs. Fiscal implications: Funding is available from the total project budget of $12,518,625, all of which is from the CIP 2006 9th-Grade Center project. Recommendation for action: Board approval is requested.

2. BIDS: FUQUAY-VARINA HIGH PARKING LOT ADDITION

Bids for the addition of a 191-space parking lot at Fuquay-Varina High School were received on February 26, 2009. Staff and Rotman Architecture, PA, recommend award of the single-prime contract to Turner Asphalt, Inc., in the amount of $372,596. The 191 spaces include the addition of 169 spaces, 2 handicap accessible spaces, and 20 bus accessible spaces. Due to the current number of parking spaces being below the Town of Fuquay-Varina required minimum, the Town required 171 parking spaces as a condition for placement of an eight-classroom modular unit. The 20 bus spaces were added to meet school needs. Fiscal implications: Funding is available from the total project budget of $12,518,625, all of which is from the CIP 2006 9th Grade Center project. Recommendation for action: Board approval is requested.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

1. PSAT TESTS FOR 10TH AND 11TH GRADES

In accordance with state law, WCPSS pays for students to take the PSAT (Preliminary
Scholastic Achievement Test). For the past several years, WCPSS has paid only for 11th
graders; however, for the 2008-09 year, the decision was made to switch to paying for 10th
grade students. However, this means that for one year, we will also pay for 11th grade
students. In the future, WCPSS will only pay for PSATs for 10th graders.
In 2008-09, 7,017 10th grade students took the PSAT along with 8,231 11th graders at a
cost of $13.00 per student or $198,224.00 to WCPSS. An additional 427 students paid
individually for taking the test bringing the total cost of the test administration to

$203,775.

This change in testing was presented to the Student Achievement Committee. Fiscal
Implications: For the 2008-09 school year funds were repurposed from High School
Programs and Evaluation and Research to ensure that all students in grade 11 would be
given the opportunity to take the PSAT at public expense. For 2009-10 funds were
removed (as a one-time cost) for 11th grade PSAT testing and returned to the High
School programs and Evaluation and Research budget. Recommendation for Action:
Board approval is requested.

2. GRANT PROPOSALS

Competitive (#006509): Sprint Foundation Character Education Grant Program / Individual Schools.
Collaboration (#006609): NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission, Teen Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Initiative Phase IV / Individual Schools.
Fiscal Implications: Any required cash and/or in-kind matching contributions vary by
grant program. Recommendation for Action: Staff is requesting Board approval.

3. FIFTH MONTH K-3 INDIVIDUAL CLASS SIZE WAIVER REQUESTS

Chapter 4, section III B of The School Attendance & Student Accounting Manual states
in part:
Local boards of education are responsible for assuring the class size and teacher daily load requirements set forth in G.S. 115C-301 are met.
The superintendent shall immediately determine whether the requirements have in fact not been met. If the superintendent determines the requirements have not been met, he/she shall make a report to the next local board of education meeting.
The local board of education shall take action to meet the requirements of the statute (area superintendents have worked with individual schools to correct all overages to the extent possible). If the local board cannot organizationally correct the exception and if any of the conditions set out below are met; it shall immediately apply to the State Board of Education for additional personnel or waiver from the standards set above.
Within 45 days of receipt of the request, the State Board, within funds available, may
allot additional positions or grant waivers for the excess class size or daily load if the
exception resulted from exceptional circumstances, emergencies, or acts of God; large changes in student population; organizational problems caused by remote geographic location; or classes organized for a solitary curricular area and if the local board cannot organizationally correct the exception.
Fiscal Implications: None at this time. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is
requested to submit K-3 class size waivers to the State Board of Education.

POLICY

1. POLICY 1035 CODE OF ETHICS FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

New Policy: Second Reading
This policy is recommended by the North Carolina School Board's Association. While
the Board has several related policies, the decision was made to include "Code of Ethics"
as a separate policy. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for Action: Board
approval is requested.

HUMAN RESOURCES

1. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT

a. Professional
b. Support
c. Contract Central Services Administrator

2. REQUEST FOR LEAVE(S)

ACTION ITEMS

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

1. 2009-2010 WAKE EARLY COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND SCIENCES

INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR

The 2009-2010 Wake Early College of Health and Sciences Instructional Calendar meets
all requirements of the calendar law. Fiscal Implications: There are no fiscal implications.
Recommendation for Action: This item is presented for action.

2. 2010-2011 INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDARS (TRADITIONAL, YEAR-ROUND,

MODIFIED)

The traditional, year-round, and modified instructional calendars contain 180 student days
and meets all requirements of the calendar law. Fiscal Implications: There are no fiscal
implications. Recommendation for Action: This item is presented for action.

POLICY

1. BOARD POLICY 5600: PROGRAM EVALUATION POLICY

First Reading; Request Waiver of Second Reading
In accordance with Recommendation 5 of the Curriculum Management Audit, revisions
to Policy 5600 (Program Evaluation) were presented to and adopted by the Board on
January 22, 2009.
The revised policy presented here does not change any of the adopted policy. Rather, it is
presented for Board approval because the format has been revised to conform with the
Board's new policy format. No substantive change has been made. Fiscal Implications:
None. Recommendation for Action: Staff is requesting Board approval.

2. FILING FEE FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS

General Statute G.S. 163-294.2(e) states the following:
"The filing fee for the primary or election shall be fixed by the governing board
no later than the day before candidates are permitted to begin filing notices of candidacy. There shall be a minimum filing fee of five dollars ($5.00). The governing board shall have the authority to set the filing fee at not less than (45.00) nor more than one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought unless one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought is less than five ($5.00), in which case the minimum filing fee of five dollars ($5.00) will be charged. The fee shall be paid to the Board of Elections at the time notice of candidacy is filed."
Information received from the Board of Elections stated that the majority of the elected
bodies within Wake County have determined that they will use one percent (1%) of the
annual salary of the office sought. The exception is usually in offices in which there is no
salary and the filing fee has been set at $5.00. For the Board of Education, 1% of the
annual salary would be $148.00. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for
Action: Staff is presenting to the Board to establish the filing fee for the Board of
Education Election.

RECOGNITION

EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE - 6 P.M.

Four (4) employees were nominated for this month's Employee Excellence Award.

CLOSED SESSION

To consider confidential personnel information protected under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) and 115C-319.
To consider confidential student information protected under G.S. 115c-402 and the Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g.
ACTION ITEMS - Cont'd

HUMAN RESOURCES

1.RECOMMENDATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT(S)

2.RECOMMENDATION FOR ADMINSTRATIVE TRANSFER(S)

ADJOURNMENT

Meetings will be held in the Administration Building, 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC unless otherwise indicated.