WCPSS--Board of Education

OPEN SESSION

CALL TO ORDER - 2 p.m.

QUORUM DETERMINATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

INFORMATION

Chair's Comments
Superintendent's Report

APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA

INFORMATION ITEMS

FACILITIES

1. ASSIGNMENT OF NEW SUBDIVISIONS TO SCHOOLS

The staff of the Growth and Planning Department will present recommendations for the following subdivisions: Augusta Landings, Providence (Phase 1), and Wynbrooke. Fiscal Implications: Transportation costs will increase due to travel time. Other facility-related costs will be avoided. Recommendation for Action: Staff is presenting for information.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM

1.TEACHING AND LEARNING - ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Middle schools have been using formative assessments to inform instruction and determine "what students have learned" as they seek to intervene before students fail. Middle school staff will share the intent and the purpose of this important practice. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for Action: Information only.

2.TEACHING AND LEARNING - WAKE EARLY COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND SCIENCES

The Secondary Team in the Instructional Services Division highlights a video clip done by a local television station as it captures the intent of the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences. In its first year, this innovative high school is supported in part by Governor Easley's Learn and Earn initiative and partners with Wake Technical Community College and WakeMed Health and Hospitals to provide a unique educational experience for students. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for Action: Information only.
PUBLIC COMMENT - 3 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.

CONSENT ITEMS

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

August 15, 2006 - Committee of the Whole for Facilities Minutes
August 29 & 30, 2006 - Board Work Session Minutes
September 14, 2006 - Year-Round Conversion Public Hearing Minutes
September 19, 2006 - Committee of the Whole Minutes
September 19, 2006 - Board Meeting Minutes

FINANCE

1.GIFTS TO THE SYSTEM

Fifty-five gifts have been donated to the Wake County Public School System. The approximate value of the gifts is $18,971. Fiscal Implications: Not applicable. Recommendation for Action: No action is required.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM

1.GRANT PROPOSALS

a.Competitive (#1114): North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Healthy Schools, Abstinence Education/Central Services, Curriculum and Instruction.
b.Competitive (#1115): Ben and Jerry's Foundation/Reedy Creek Elementary School.
c.Competitive (#1116): Ezra Jack Keats/Reedy Creek Elementary School.
d.Competitive (#1117): State Library of North Carolina, LSTA School Collection Development/Ligon Middle and 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.

2.FORESTVILLE ELEMENTARY BLENDED PRESCHOOL

The Forestville Elementary Blended Preschool seeks to duplicate the model for preschoolers with hearing impairments which is currently being implemented at Lacy Elementary. The program offers hearing-impaired preschoolers the opportunity to learn in an environment that includes non-hearing impaired children.
Based on early childhood research, Federal and State guidelines encourage blended programs for preschoolers. Students with hearing impairments benefit greatly from being exposed to the language models of typically developing children.
The program can serve up to 12 children with half being assigned by Special Education Services on the basis of the hearing impairment and the other 6 children are tuition students. Tuition students will be half-day morning students. The students with hearing impairments will be half-day or full-day depending on their IEP. Currently the program is operating with the 6 tuition students and 1 student with a hearing impairment. Three additional students who will turn 3-years old in the next few months or are in the evaluation process may be in need of this program depending on the recommendation of the IEP Team.
Tuition for non-hearing impaired students is $150.00 per month for 5 half-days of preschool per week following the WCPSS school calendar. This is consistent with the cost structure in place at Lacy Elementary.
Fiscal Implications: There is no increase in staff or facility costs. Tuition for non-hearing impaired students will be utilized at the school level to offset the increase in materials and to enhance the program. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested to implement the program at Forestville as outlined.

HUMAN RESOURCES

1.RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT

a.Professional
b.Support

BOARD ADVISORY COUNCIL NOMINATIONS

This represents new nominations to the Board Advisory Councils. The nomination forms are attached for the Board's review and consideration. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendations for Action: Board approval is requested.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS' REPORTS

ACTION ITEMS

FACILITIES

1.BIDS: MODULARS AT EAST MILLBROOK MIDDLE

Staff requests pre-approval of bids and authorization to award, not to exceed $700,000, for the site set-up of three multi-purpose rooms and three eight-classroom size units for swing space at East Millbrook Middle. Bids are scheduled to be received on September 26, 2006. Staff will provide actual contract amounts and bid tabulations at a future Board meeting. Pre-approval will expedite the contracts to complete the swing space by December 31, 2006, in order to accommodate the schedule of this planned renovation project in the next building program. Fiscal Implications: The total proposed budget is $30,824,735, of which $3,470,802 is currently available from PLAN 2004 and $109,089 from PLAN 2000 Start-Up. The remainder of the funds for the total project will come from the next building program. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

2.CONSTRUCTION MANAGER SELECTION: LAUREL PARK ELEMENTARY (E-26)

In accordance with the professional services selection procedures adopted by the Wake County Board of Education, the selection committee recommends the construction management at risk firm of D. H. Griffin Construction Co., LLC for construction of the Laurel Park Elementary project. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2007. Fiscal Implications: Construction management fees will be negotiated in accordance with professional services procedures using the Board approved construction manager at risk contract. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

3. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AGREEMENT: LAUREL PARK ELEMENTARY (E-26)

The next building program includes the construction of Laurel Park Elementary. Negotiations have been completed with D. H. Griffin Construction Co., LLC for the construction manager's pre-construction services only. The form of agreement for Construction Management at Risk has been previously reviewed and approved by the Board. Pearce, Brinkley, Cease + Lee, PA was previously selected as the designer for this project. Fiscal Implications: The total proposed project budget is $20,853,980, of which, $895,000 is from the PLAN 2004 School Building Program and $19,958,980 is from the next building program. The total project budget includes proposed compensation for the Construction Manager of $150,000 for pre-construction basic services and 3.5% of the construction cost for the construction management fee. Funds for this present contract are encumbered from PLAN 2004 Program Contingency. Another pr�cis at this Board meeting will reallocate this $150,000 from Program Contingency to this PLAN 2004 Laurel Park Elementary Start-Up Project. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

4.SCHEMATIC DESIGN: LAUREL PARK ELEMENTARY (E-26)

Staff will present the schematic design documents prepared by Pearce, Brinkley, Cease + Lee for conversion of Bespak Manufacturing Building to Laurel Park Elementary School. Fiscal Implications: The total proposed project budget is $20,853,980, of which, $895,000 is from the PLAN 2004 School Building Program and $19,958,980 is from the next building program. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

5. RESOLUTION: PLAN 2004 LONG-RANGE BUILDING PROGRAM FUNDING REALLOCATION

Resolution requests reallocation of project funds from the PLAN 2004 Start-Up Projects at Elementary E24 and E27, to nine Start-Up Projects. Total reallocation amount is $1,490,000. Funding is not currently needed for design at E24 and E27, but funding is required for other projects in order to begin design in accordance with the proposed master schedule. Fiscal Implications: No additional appropriation of funding is necessary. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

6. NAME SELECTION FOR NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL NEAR WENDELL (M-5)

In 2004, staff located and acquired a site for a school building in the area of the target ring known as M-5 that is scheduled to be completed in 2009. The school is slated to begin operation in the 2007-2008 school year in the existing modular facility on the site, until the permanent school is completed. The site fronts on NC 97 Highway in the Wendell area, just north of Wendell Boulevard, in Mark's Creek Township. It is adjacent to a neighborhood known as Rothgeb Subdivision and across the street from a mobile home community known as Bridgegate Estates. Water from the site eventually drains into Buffalo Creek, and a historic deed reference indicates that the southern border of the track was at one time identified as Sandy Branch. Naming of the school is now required.
Staff considered names for the school including Buffalo Creek Middle, Marks Creek Middle, Sandy Branch Middle and Wendell Middle. Buffalo Creek Middle, Marks Creek Middle and Sandy Branch Middle are not recommended, as the area of the site is not generally known and associated with these geographic or natural features. After discussions with the Town of Wendell, a review of the file documentation associated with the acquisition of the site, and reviewing the Town's early input and involvement in the planning process, staff recommends that the new school currently designated as M-5 be named Wendell Middle. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

7. ASSIGNMENT OF NEW SUBDIVISIONS TO SCHOOLS

The staff of the Growth and Planning Department presented recommendations for the following 17 subdivisions at the Board meeting on September 19, 2006, and subsequently revised the recommendation to reflect the Board's decision on conversion of three middle schools to year-round calendar:
Anderson Pointe Park (Phase 2)Johnsons Landing (Phase 3A)
Austin Creek (Phase 1A)Maybrook Forest (Phase 1)
Baybridge ParkOld Mill Village (Phases 1 and 2)
Bella Casa (Phases 1 and 2)Scotts Mill, Bungalow (Phases 4B-5)
Bloomfield (Phases 3B and 4B)Sumerlyn (Phase 1)
Branch Crossing Thornrose (Phase 2, Section 3)
Falls River (Phases 30, 32-33, 35-36)Westhaven (Phase 2)
Fieldstone Crossing (Phase 2)Wyndcroft
Hampton Pointe (Phases 2-5)
Fiscal Implications: Transportation costs will increase due to travel time. Other facility-related costs will be avoided. Recommendation for Action: Staff recommends Board approval.

LEGISLATIVE

1.EYE EXAM RESOLUTION

This Resolution was developed in response to a recent enactment by the General Assembly and the Governor.
The Wake County Board of Education joined the North Carolina School Boards Association and local school boards across North Carolina to challenge the constitutionality of eye exam legislation.
In July 2006 the General Assembly enacted and the Governor approved H.B. 2699, "An Act to Make Changes to the Vision Care Program."
H.B. 2699 removes the requirement that every incoming kindergarten child obtain a comprehensive eye exam and limits the requirement to children who receive and fail to pass a prescribed eye screening.
H.B. 2699 provides that "No child shall be excluded from attending a school for a parent's failure to obtain a comprehensive eye examination" required under state law.
H.B. 2699 provides that any required comprehensive eye examination be conducted by a duly licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist, but does not limit the providers to professionals licensed in North Carolina.
Due to the changes in the Vision Care Program resulting from enactment of H.B. 2699, the constitutional issues raised in North Carolina School Boards Association, et al. v. State of North Carolina, et al. have been resolved.
The Wake County Board of Education hereby agrees to join in filing a Notice of Dismissal of North Carolina School Boards Association, et. al v. State of North Carolina, et. al., 06 CVS 002544.
Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for Action: Board approval is requested.

RECOGNITION

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS - 5 p.m.
Seventeen students will be recognized as Spotlight on Students award winners.

CLOSED SESSION

To consider confidential personnel information protected under G.S. 115C-319.
To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the board in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the board pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(3).
ACTION ITEMS (cont'd.)

HUMAN RESOURCES

1.RECOMMENDATION(S) FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT

2.RECOMMENDATION(S) FOR CAREER STATUS

ADJOURNMENT

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