Board Agenda for the Week of 5/14/2001

OPEN SESSION - 4:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER

QUORUM DETERMINATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

INFORMATION

Chairman's Comments
Superintendent's Report

APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA

PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

COMMITTEE REPORTS

CONSENT ITEMS

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

April 2, 2001 Program Committee
April 18, 2001 Budget Work Session
April 23, 2001 Board Meeting

PERSONNEL

1. Recommendations for Employment

2. Requests for Leave

FINANCE

1. Elimination of Annuity Vendors
To eliminate annuity vendors deemed substandard or inactive per the recommendation of BOD Investment Consulting Group, Inc. Included in this group will be any vendors refusing to honor or sign Hold Harmless agreements protecting Wake County Public School System

2. Budget Amendments and Transfers 2000-2001
To report changes in the budget resolution for the month of March.

3. Implementation service agreement: Hickman Associates, Inc. for Phase II of
Oracle Project
This is a new contract to hire Hickman Associates, Inc. to implement Phase II requirements of Oracle HR and Payroll applications. Oracle Phase II requirements include custom interfaces, reports and processes that Finance, Budget, Payroll and HR must have available after we go live in Oracle. Many of these tasks are year-end related and can only be accomplished with data on the current Oracle production system. Therefore, timing is critical.

4. Change Order 3: Alliance of Professionals and Consultants, Inc. On June 26, 2000, the Board approved a contract with Alliance of Professionals and Consultants, Inc. to provide outsourcing services such as technical DBA, applications DBA, programming and development. Estimated funding approved at that time would carry us through March 31, 2001. Beginning in early February, additional funding needs have been estimated and change orders have been submitted to and approved by the Board. Change order 1 for $250,000 was approved by the Board on February 12, 2001. Change order 2 for $250,000 was approved by the Board on March 19, 2001. The current change order will fulfill our production support costs for financial applications through June 30, 2001.

5. Change Order 4: Hickman Associates, Inc.
On February 28, 2000, the Board approved a contract with Hickman Associates, Inc. to provide maintenance and support of the HR, Payroll, Finance and Accounting software applications. This included support of "Legacy System Data." On June 26, 2000, the Board approved a change order to retain these services through June 30, 2001. There have been two other change orders that totaled less than $100,000. Costs to carry us through June 30, 2001 have been estimated. The current change order will fulfill our obligations.

6. Change Order 5: Teleconsultants, Inc.
In August 2000, we brought before the Board a contract with TeleConsultants, Inc. for consulting services. We estimated the initial amount needed to carry us through January 2001. As anticipated, additional funding was necessary to continue pre-production work in the development of internal technical documents, programs and procedures relative to Oracle in the areas of payroll, financial applications, budget and HR. Budgetary concerns only allowed us to submit additional change orders to cover the cost of services in blocks of time. When the decision to push the "go live" date for payroll to July 1 was made, expenses to be incurred through April 30, 2001 were estimated and change order 4 was approved by the Board on March 19 for $500,000. The current change order will fulfill our costs through June 30, 2001.

FACILITIES

1.Bids: Roof Replacement - Joyner Elementary
Bids for the roof replacement at Joyner Elementary were received on April 5, 2001. Staff and Roof Engineering, Inc. recommend award of the contract to AAR of NC, Inc., in the amount of $278,660. Fiscal Implications - Funds are available from the total project budget of $350,000. The total project budget consists of $350,000 from the deferred maintenance component of the Phase IIIB Long-Range Building Program. Recommendation for Action - Board approval is requested.

2. Bids: Roof Replacement - Martin Middle
Bids for the roof replacement at Martin Middle were received on April 5, 2001. Staff and Roof Engineering, Inc. recommend award of the contract to AAR of NC, Inc., in the amount of $604,900. Fiscal Implications - Funds are available from the total project budget of $2,340,650. The total project budget consists of $2,340,650 from the board approved 1996 State Bond project budget. Recommendation for Action - Board approval is requested.

3. Bids: Roof Replacement - Pleasant Union Elementary
Bids for the roof replacement at Pleasant Union Elementary were received on April 19, 2001. Staff and Roof Engineering, Inc. recommend award of the contract to Jedco, Inc., in the amount of $378,537. Fiscal Implications - Funds are available from the total project budget of $555,000. The total project budget consists of $555,000 from the deferred maintenance component of PLAN 2000 building program. Recommendation for Action - Board approval is requested.

4.Bids: HVAC Replacement - Wendell Elementary
Bids for the HVAC replacement at Wendell Elementary were received on April 3, 2001. Staff and Padia Consulting, Inc. recommend award of the single-prime construction contract to Mid-South Mechanical, Inc., in the amount of $611,903. Fiscal Implications - Funds are available from the total project budget of $700,000. The total project budget consists of $275,000 from the deferred maintenance component of the Phase IIIB Long-Range Building Program and $425,000 from maintenance and operations' operating funds. Recommendation for Action - Board approval is requested.

5.Design Consultant Agreement - East Garner Middle Addition and Renovations
Negotiations have been completed with Skinner, Lamm & Highsmith, PA, Architects for the design of the PLAN 2000 additions and renovations at East Garner Middle School. The form of agreement is the standard form approved by the board attorney. Fiscal Implications - The total project budget in PLAN 2000 is $10,644,843. The total project budget includes proposed compensation for the design consultant of $575,000. Recommendation for Action - Board approval is requested.

6.Lease Agreement - Former Cardinal Gibbons High Property
Staff requests board approval of a one-year lease with the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh for the Cardinal Gibbons High School Property consisting of approximately 18 acres and all building improvements located off Western Boulevard near Avent Ferry Road. The site will be used during renovation of Underwood Elementary School. The lease period begins July 1, 2002 and ends June 30, 2003. Fiscal Implications - Lease cost for one year $450,000. Funds are available from the project budget in PLAN 2000. Recommendation for Action - Staff recommends board approval of the one-year lease.

7. Service Agreement - Athens Drive High
Negotiations of a service agreement have been completed with All American Moving and Storage, Inc. for the relocation and storage of the contents of Athens Drive High. This agreement covers the move from Athens Drive High to Middle Creek High this year, the move back scheduled for next year and all storage costs. The agreement includes proposed compensation on a time and material basis with a not to exceed price of $230,700. The contract has been reviewed by the board attorney. Fiscal Implications - Funding is available from the total project budget of $12,482,584. The total project budget includes $6,827,930 from the PLAN 2000 School Building Program project budget, $1,300,000 from the Code Compliance component of PLAN 2000, $700,000 from the Environmental Compliance component of PLAN 2000, $992,054 from the Modernization Component of PLAN 2000, $2,400,000 from the Deferred Maintenance component of PLAN 2000, and $262,600 from the board-approved 1996 State Bond project budget. Recommendation for Action - Board approval is requested.

8. Meal Prices for 2001-2002
Child Nutrition Services recommends that student meal prices remain the same for the 2001 - 2002 school year.The meal prices in Wake County are higher than most surrounding counties but are comparable to other large school systems in North Carolina. A la carte prices will be re-evaluated based on the food bids and market prices. Fiscal Implications - Child Nutrition Services 2001 - 2002 budget will be balanced. Recommendation for Action - Budget approval is requested.

PROGRAM

1. Grant Proposals
Entitlement (#548): U.S. Department of Education, Title I Low Income (PRC 050) - $5,500,000; Entitlement (#549): U.S. Department of Education, Title I Migrant (PRC 051) - $194,000; Entitlement (#550): U.S. Department of Education, Title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Math and Science Education Act (PRC 067) - $350,000; Entitlement (#551): U.S. Department of Education, Abstinence Education (PRC 057) - $90,000; Entitlement (#552): U.S. Department of Education, Vocational and Technical Education Improvement Plan (PRC 017) - $885,000; Entitlement (#553): U.S. Department of Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (PRC 048) - $400,000; Entitlement (#554): U.S. Department of Education, McKinney Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act (PRC 026) - $45,000; Entitlement (#555): North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Vocational Education Program Support (PRC 014) - $1,200,000; and Entitlement (#556): North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Vocational Education Months of Employment (PRC 013) - $18,500,000. Fiscal implication varies by grant. Recommended that the board approve the applications.

2. Contract: School Resource Officers for 2001-2002
This contract will be made with the City of Raleigh to provide school resource officers at each of the high schools located within the city. The following is a list of the schools: Broughton, Enloe, Longview/Phillips, Millbrook, Sanderson, Southeast Raleigh, and Wakefield. Funding for this contract, in the amount $264,866 ($37,838 x 7 schools), is available through fund 69 for the 2001-2002 school year. Staff recommends this contract be approved.

3. Contract: School Resource Officers for 2001-2002
This contract will be made with the Town of Cary to provide school resource officers at each of the high schools located within the city. The following is a list of the schools: Athens Drive High School @ Middle Creek campus, Cary High School, and Green Hope High School. Funding for this contract, in the amount $113,514 ($37,838 x 3 schools), is available through fund 69 for the 2001-2002 school year. Staff recommends this contract be approved.

4. Renewal of Richard Milburn Contract
With this contract, WCPSS exercises our option to continue services at Richard Milburn beyond the initial length of the contract. This contract is subject to funding from state at-risk dollars (PRC 069). Board approval is recommended.

5. Salaries for Before and After-School Programs
Please see attached sheet for proposed changes to the before- and after-school program salary schedule. Before- and after-school programs are self-supporting enterprise programs. Board approval is recommended.

6. Academically Gifted
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires local education agencies to submit a three-year plan for academically or intellectually gifted students. In accordance with the guidelines, the Wake County Public School System will continue the present Academically Gifted Plan. This presentation provides an overview of the review process, the current plan, and the status of the program. No fiscal implications at this time. Board approval is requested.

ACTION ITEMS

FINANCE

1. Community Use of Facilities Status Report and Fee Structure
Staff will present information on the two-year study "Community Use of School Facilities." Included in the presentation will be the guiding principles of the group, as well as an update on progress toward the twelve recommendations of the committee. One of the recommendations is the establishment of a new fee structure. The fee structure is being presented for approval.

INFORMATION ITEMS

REDISTRICTING OF BOARD DISTRICTS

PROGRAM

1. Wake Technology Academy
The purpose of this item is to provide a status report on curriculum and program development for the Wake Technology Academy. The proposed program components include: targeting of juniors and seniors in Career Prep and College Tech Prep; providing technology-focused curriculum driven by industry standards; and supporting seamless entry into workforce and lifelong learning. The funding plan for this program has not been developed at this time. This is presented for information only.

2. English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
This overview of the ESL program will provide background information, program description, trends, and information on funding opportunities. The ESL program began in Wake County in 1977. The program has grown from an original 300 ESL students to nearly 4,000. Currently nearly 60% of those students are native Spanish speakers. Funding included in budget. This item is recommended for information.

3. The Effect of School Poverty Concentration in WCPSS
In 1999, E&R published a summary of research on the relationship between student achievement and the concentration of poverty within a school. That review indicated that schools with high concentrations of poverty were less likely to attract the most qualified teachers and that all groups of students-including below average, average, and above average students-had lower achievement in high poverty schools. The national research encompassed schools with concentrations of poverty that ranged from close to zero to well over 75%. How does this national research relate to the situation in WCPSS? Our findings: (1) Previous actions of the district have created a system of schools in which relatively few campuses have a high concentration of poverty; (2) Given the variations in WCPSS schools' performance, it is clear that many factors beyond school poverty are affecting the achievement growth in each school; (3) Analysis of EOG test scores showed that small reductions in the concentration of poverty at a school are unlikely to have a meaningful effect on student achievement growth, although the differences might be statistically significant; and (4) Larger changes in the concentration of poverty in a school would likely produce changes in student achievement growth that would be both statistically and educationally significant.

4. Bell Schedule Recommendations
Proposed bell schedule modifications open and close schools at times the transportation department can more effectively and efficiently provide bus service to students. The major advantages of bell schedule modifications include savings in operating costs, better utilization of equipment, ability to provide better service, and reduction in number of buses and drivers. While costs are certainly important, the ability to provide transportation service would be enhanced through the recommended options. Transportation staff recommends that in order to keep expenses to a minimum, improve student services, and assure maximum state funding for the 2001-2002 school year bell schedule modifications be established by transportation staff. It is important to note the impact of student assignment and growth may result in needed changes of opening and closing times from year to year. Potential savings in current expense funds with an increase in state funding due to increased efficiency. This item is recommended for information.

PERSONNEL

1. Notification of Administrative Transfer

FACILITIES

1. High Performance Design Guidelines
Staff will present information on High Performance Design Guidelines. Fiscal Implications - None. Recommendation for Action - For information only.

CLOSED SESSION

To consider confidential personnel file information under G.S. 115C-319; and
to consider confidential student information protected under the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and G.S. 115C-402
ACTION continued

PERSONNEL

1. Recommendation for Administrative Appointment
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS 6:30 p.m.
Eighteen students will be recognized as Spotlight on Students award winners.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

ADJOURNMENT

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