01. Approval of Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

A motion is in order to approve or revise the meeting agenda for February 18, 2019.

Groups audience:

School Board

02. Public Comment

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The board of education, as an elected representative body of the school system, wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school system. In order that the board may conduct an order meeting while providing an opportunity for input, individuals or groups may be heard by the board in accordance with policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, or policy 2300, Board Meetings (subsection D.2).

Each month, the first part of at least one regularly scheduled board meeting will be set aside for citizens to address the board through public comment.

A sign-up sheet will be available 30 minutes before the meeting begins for any individual or group to indicate their desire to address the board.

Each speaker will receive 3 minutes to present comments. The public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the board.

The board chair will recognize speakers in the order in which they signed in. Substitute speakers will not be permitted and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. If a speaker is unable to present all of his or her information within the specified time limit, the speaker may provide the board with additional information in written form. If an unusually large number of people requests to speak, a majority of the board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and order manner.

Board members will not respond to individuals who address the board except to request clarification of points made by the presenter.

Except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received. It will take unanimous vote of the board members present to take action on a presentation considered to be of an unusual or emergency nature at the time it is presented.

Disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17.

Complaints about the performance of school personnel, implementation of board policy, the quality of the educational program, or school facilities should be submitted initially for a response to the school system official responsible for the program or facility or to the superintendent. The superintendent or designee shall make available policy 2310, Public Participation at Board Meetings, and other relevant grievance procedures to any individual or group submitting a complaint.

The board may choose to offer a second opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting. Sign-ups will not be required for the second public comment opportunity.

No solicitations will be allowed during public comment.

Groups audience:

School Board

03. Good News Report

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action
Excellent Educators	X	Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

TCS Science Fair/Expo

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2019 Transylvania County Schools District Science Fair/Expo that was held in January at the Transylvania County Library:

SENIOR DIVISION

All of these projects are from Brevard High School:

Biological Science A

1st Place: John Nguyen, Nicole Rideout: Antifungal Activity of Cutaneous Bacteria Isolated from the Green Salamander, Aneides aeneus

2nd Place: Isaiah Lefler: A Method of Utilizing Nutrients from Martian Resources For Use in a Hydroponic Plant System

Biological Science B

1st Place: Chase Bishop and Fritz Ruppert: Evaluation of Magnetoreception in Culex quinquefasciatus for Potential Mosquito Control

Earth/Environmental

1st Place: Marli Cohen and Ada Weaver: Testing the Efficiency of Local Cyanobacteria and Microalgae in Biophotovoltaic Solar Cells

2nd Place: Sabra Freeman and Jon Gibson: Degradation of Polyethylene Plastic via Locally Sourced Bacterial Cultures

Engineering (Material Science)

1st Place: Frank Parsons and Ben Caroway: Enhanced Sol-Gel Production and Robocasting for Artificial Photosynthesis

JUNIOR DIVISION

All of these projects are from Brevard Middle School:

Biological Science A

1st Place: Joseph Cole: Dinosaur Gladiators

Chemistry

1st Place: David Diaz-Corn: Diet Coke and Mentos: Best of Friends or Worst of Enemies?

2nd Place: Savanna Ferguson and Amber Hall: Rock Candy

Earth/Environmental

1st Place: Ayden Friedman: Solar Powered Oven

ELEMENTARY DIVISION

Rosman Elementary:

Earth/Environmental

1st Place: Reagan Brown: What Makes a Tornado Twist?

Black History Month

The month of February is celebrated as Black History Month in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Classrooms everywhere have activities throughout the month to commemorate the important people and events of the Civil Rights movement and the contributions and accomplishments of African-Americans in every area of endeavor in history.

National School Counseling Week

National School Counseling Week 2019, “School Counselors: Providing Lessons for Life,” was recognized during the week of February 4-8, 2019 to recognize the unique contribution of school counselors within our nation’s schools. Join us in celebrating our skilled and dedicated school counselors for all that they do to help students explore their potential and achieve success in school and beyond.

“Love the Bus” / School Bus Driver Appreciation Week

February is “Love the Bus” month nationwide, and in North Carolina, February 12-16, 2019 was proclaimed by Governor Cooper as “School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.” In North Carolina, more than 750,000 students board over 13,000 school buses each day. All school bus drivers complete rigorous training and certification standards, and student safety is their top priority. Students nationwide are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely if they take the school bus instead of traveling by car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition, school buses reduce traffic by keeping more than 17 million cars off roads each year, while also saving approximately 2.6 billion gallons of fuel, according to the American School Bus Council. NCDPI Transportation Services Section Chief Kevin Harrison says, that “school bus drivers are entrusted with a great responsibility. They drive their students, watch out for them, listen to them and teach them. We ask so much of bus drivers every day. I hope that all students, parents and staff will take a moment to express their appreciation for the many things their bus drivers do.” We give thanks and appreciation to the fine men and women of Transylvania County Schools who transport students safely each and every day.

For more good news from Transylvania County Schools, please visit us at:

Home Page: www.tcsnc.org ǀ Facebook: facebook.com/transylvaniaschools

Twitter: twitter.com/transylvaniasch ǀ Flickr: flickr.com/tcsnc

Instagram: Instagram.com/transylvaniaschools ǀ YouTube: youtube.com/tcsnc

Smartphone App: Transylvania County Schools on Play Store and iTunes

SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/transylvaniacountyschools

Public Attachments:

Good News Report 2019-02-18 (1).pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

04. Former Students in the Military

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The board wishes to thank the former students from Brevard High School, Rosman High School, and Davidson River School who are currently serving or have previously served in the U.S. Military. The attached list of names is recognized at every meeting and read aloud twice a year in recognition of Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Additional names will be included as they are received.

Public Attachments:

Military List 2-18-19.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

05. Consent Agenda

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators	X	Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The following items are submitted for consent approval (see attachments):

Minutes of the January 16, January 22, and February 4, 2019 meetings
Personnel report for February 18, 2019
Non-faculty coaches for spring sports 2019

A motion is in order to approve the consent agenda items.

Public Attachments:

Minutes 1-16-19.pdf

Minutes 1-22-19.pdf

Minutes 2-04-19.pdf

Non-Faculty Coaches_Spring 2019.pdf

Personnel Report 2-18-19.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

06. Policy

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Revised policy 2670, Business Advisory Council, was presented as first-read information in January. There have been no changes to the policy since that time. Dr. Brian Weaver and Ms. Arleca Chapman will answer any questions you may have.

A motion is in order to approve policy 2670 as presented.

Policy 4220, Student Insurance Program, has been revised based on a recommendation by staff. Dr. Brian Weaver will discuss the changes and answer any questions you may have. The policy is presented as first-read information. Approval will be requested at the March 4 meeting.

A motion is in order to accept policy 4220 as first-read information.

Public Attachments:

Policy 2670_revised.pdf

Policy 4220_revised.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

07. School Improvement Plans 2018-2020

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

Dr. Jeff McDaris will present the school improvement plans for 2018-2020. The plans represent the collaborative effort of each school’s school improvement team to advance student growth and learning for the next two years. Each school has conducted a vote to approve their plan, and the plans are submitted for approval as required by N.C.G.S. § 115C-105.27 and board policy 3430. The school safety components of each plan, which are not public information, will be reviewed with the board in closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 115C-105.27 and § 143-318.11. The plans and a letter from Dr. Jeremy Gibbs are attached.

A motion is in order to approve the school improvement plans for 2018-2020.

Groups audience:

School Board

08. Offer to Purchase Right-of-Way

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has offered $3,160 (the equivalent of $40,000 per acre) to purchase a right-of-way at Brevard High School for a 10’ wide concrete sidewalk connecting the current sidewalk in front of the new gym and the driveway closest to Gallimore Road. Dr. Bryan Abernethy, Norris Barger, and Mick Galloway met with the NCDOT representative and are satisfied that this would be of great benefit to the school system. Mr. Barger has asked the NCDOT representative to check into 2 things:

1. Is there a possibility of adding lights along the sidewalk?

2. Will there be bollards at either end to prevent cars from accessing the sidewalk?

NCDOT would like to begin the project in March. G.S. § 115C-518(b) allows the board to deal directly with NCDOT when dedicating property for rights-of-ways for roads, sidewalks, utilities, etc. Therefore, the requirement to declare the property surplus, offer to the commissioners, etc., are not required.

The board may choose to:

1. Approve the offer and authorize the superintendent to execute the agreement;

2. Approve the offer contingent upon the two items in question; or

3. Reject the offer.

The superintendent recommends Option #2. The offer and a map are attached.

The board may take action on one of the three options described above.

Public Attachments:

BHS right-of-way purchase 2019.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

09. FY20 Budget

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion	X
Operations and Support	X

At its work session on February 4, the board reviewed the initial working drafts of local current expense and capital outlay budgets for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. On February 14, the board conducted day one of its annual school facility tours to evaluate capital needs. The second day of facility tours will be held this Friday, February 22.

Norris Barger is out of town. Dr. McDaris will present any new budget information and answer questions from the board. The most recent draft documents are attached.

Public Attachments:

FY20 fund 2 budget changes_ 2-01-19.pdf

FY20 LCE budget_2-01-19.pdf

FY20 capital needs_2-01-19.pdf

FY20 lottery & fund balances_2-01-19.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

10. Superintendent's Update

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Dr. McDaris will give an update on current and emerging educational issues.

Groups audience:

School Board

11. Important Dates

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

Feb. 22	School Facility Tours (Day 2)	8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.	TCH, RES, RHS, RMS
Mar. 4	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 18	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 22	Teacher workday
Apr. 5	Early release - students	12:00 noon
Apr. 8	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Apr. 15-19	Spring break

Groups audience:

School Board

12. Public Comment

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

The board will provide a second opportunity for public comment.

Groups audience:

School Board

13. Other Items

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students		Discussion
Operations and Support	X

An opportunity will be provided for comments and/or other items from board members.

Groups audience:

School Board

14. Closed Session

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship		Action	X
Excellent Educators		Information	X
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students	X	Discussion
Operations and Support	X

N.C.G.S. § 115C-105.27(c1) calls for the superintendent to review the school improvement team’s safety components for each school improvement plan and make recommendations to the board of education. The board of education shall review the safety components and make findings. Both the superintendent’s recommendation and the board’s findings shall be done in closed session. For obvious reasons, the safety components of a school’s improvement plan are confidential and safety sensitive; therefore, neither the safety components of the plans nor the board’s findings may be set out in the minutes of the board.

A motion is in order to go into closed session to discuss and take action on the school safety components of the Transylvania County School Improvement Plans for 2018-2020.

Groups audience:

School Board

III. Business Items

01. Approval of Agenda

02. Public Comment

03. Good News Report

04. Former Students in the Military

05. Consent Agenda

06. Policy

07. School Improvement Plans 2018-2020

08. Offer to Purchase Right-of-Way

09. FY20 Budget

10. Superintendent's Update

11. Important Dates

12. Public Comment

13. Other Items

14. Closed Session