Regular Meeting

Dates:

Monday, December 20, 2021 - 6:30pm

The Transylvania County Board of Education will hold a regular business meeting on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. at the Morris Education Center, 225 Rosenwald Lane, Brevard. The meeting is open to the public.

Groups audience:

School Board

I. Opening of Meeting

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Call to Order

Welcome

Groups audience:

School Board

II. Business Items (including amendments and recissions)

Groups audience:

School Board

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 December 20 2021.

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 orderly 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 orderly manner.

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

Issues involving individual personnel or student matters are confidential and, therefore, are not appropriate for the public comment session. Concerns related to personnel or student matters should be handled as a complaint and reported to the superintendent or designee.

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 act 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.

No solicitations will be allowed during public comment.

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.

If the board does not hold a regular meeting during a month, the board will not provide a time for public comment at any other meeting held during that month, unless a majority of the board votes to allow public comment at the meeting or unless the purpose of the meeting is a public hearing.

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

Rosman High School Recognized for Outstanding Graduation Rate

Congratulations to Rosman High School for being recognized by the Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education for achieving an outstanding graduation rate of 96% for the 2020-2021 school year.

NCSBA Silver Bell Award

The Transylvania County Board of Education has been awarded the Silver Bell Award by the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) Academy of School Boardsmanship for training excellence and commitment during the 2020-2021 school year. The NCSBA Academy provides high-quality training programs to help school board members effectively fulfill their responsibilities as leaders of public education. In addition, the program provides opportunities to meet the requirement of G.S. 115C-60 mandating 12 clock hours of training every two years. Local board members must also receive 2 hours of ethics training within 12 months of initial appointment or election and again within 12 months of each subsequent reappointment or reelection. The Board Academy achievement levels are listed below. Congratulations!

Total Cumulative Hours	Recognition Level
30	Certificate of Recognition
31-100	Certificate of Merit
101-200	Certificate of Achievement
201-300	Certificate of Advanced Achievement
301-400	Award of Excellence
401-500	Award of Distinction
501-600	Diploma of Honor
601-700	Bronze Award
701-800	Silver Award
801-900	Gold Award
901+	Scholar’s Circle

Transylvania County to Donate Food Warmer to RHS

The Transylvania County Board of Commissioners intends to donate a food warmer to Rosman High School. The Sheriff’s office is no longer using the food warmer, and the county manager has declared it as surplus. N.C.G.S. 160A-280 allows a county to donate surplus personal property to another governmental unit or nonprofit organization. Prior to the donation, the County must post public notice of its intent to donate the property. The donation will be approved through the adoption of a resolution during the commissioners’ regular meeting on January 10, 2022. Thanks!

TCS Teacher Selected as Finalist for NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year Award

Rosman Middle School teacher Ashlee O’Dwyer has been selected as a finalist for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching’s 2022 NC Prudential Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. She has been invited to NCCAT’s Beginning Teacher of the Year Program, scheduled for February 14-18, 2022 on the WCU campus in Cullowhee, NC. The week-long program will offer numerous leadership sessions, opportunities for discussion and sharing of best practices, and an interview. Ms. O’Dwyer’s previously submitted portfolio and her interview scores will be used to determine her final score for the state-wide process. The announcement of the winning candidate will take place on February 17, 2022. Congratulations and good luck!

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

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 12-20-21.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 December 6, 2021 meeting
Personnel report for December 20, 2021

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

Public Attachments:

Minutes 12-06-21.pdf

Personnel Report 12-20-21.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

06. COVID Update and Review of Mask 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

North Carolina law requires local school boards to adopt policies regarding the use of face coverings by employees and students for the 2021-2022 school year and to revisit the mask policy at least once a month and vote on whether to make any modifications. On November 15, the board voted to make masks optional for all Transylvania County Schools facilities.

The board will receive information and data from Transylvania Public Health concerning COVID-19 cases in the school system and will vote on whether to affirm or amend the current mask policy.

Public Attachments:

BOE Covid Update- December 20, 2021 (2).pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

07. Bond Project Timeline

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

At a special called meeting on December 7, the board reviewed options for the revised scope and costs for the school bond construction projects. These changes were necessitated by the global COVID pandemic and the resulting increased costs for labor and materials. The board approved Option 1 for RHS and Option 1 for BHS. Dr. McDaris has worked with the architects and CMAR to develop a proposed timeline for the board’s consideration. The timeline will be provided at the meeting.

A motion would be in order to approve the proposed timeline to be shared with the county commissioners.

Public Attachments:

BondTimelineActions.pdf

BondTimelineDates.pdf

FINAL Revised Contracts Chronology (12-21).pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

08. Policy: Fall 2021 Custom Updates

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

On December 6, the board approved as first-read information 46 revised policies from the NCSBA Fall 2021 Custom Policy Updates. Several updates contain only minor changes to wording, legal references, and/or cross references. Others have more notable changes (see below). Dr. Brian Weaver will request second-read approval of the policies and answer any questions you may have.

Policies related to the COVID-19 response:

1510/4200/7270, School Safety
5020, Visitors to the Schools
5030, Community Use of Facilities
6305, Safety and Student Transportation Services
4400, Attendance

Other notable revisions:

3225/4312/7320, Technology Responsible Use: Revised extensively to incorporate current technology-related practices. Policy 1310/4002, Parental Involvement, contains a conforming change.

3420, Student Promotion and Accountability: Session Law 2021-8 modified the legal requirements of the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program. Some of the requirements are effective this school year, while others take effect next school year.

4120, Domicile or Residence Requirements: Incorporates changes to the law related to residence requirements for, and remote enrollment of, students whose parents or guardians are on active military duty.

4150, Student Assignment: Revised extensively to address student assignments more comprehensively, better distinguish between reassignments and transfers (and the different reassignment/transfer rules applicable to categories of students), and simplify the process for requesting reassignment.

5022, Registered Sex Offenders: Revised to improve clarity and to more closely conform its prohibitions against sex offenders being present on school property to those set out in G.S. 14-208.18 (including incorporating recent changes to the statute). In light of court decisions in recent years that have found various provisions of states’ sex offender registration programs to be unconstitutional, boards are encouraged to consult with the board attorney before adopting prohibitions more stringent than those set forth in this policy.

5030, Community Use of Facilities: In addition to the COVID-19 changes noted above, this policy has been revised to provide clarification, improve organizational structure, and remove unnecessary language.

7262, Communicable Diseases – Employees: Revised to improve organizational structure and to conform to the recent update to policy 4230, Communicable Diseases – Students.

8305, Federal Grant Administration: Revised throughout to incorporate new rules from the 2020 amendment to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

Several policies have small conforming changes in response to recent U.S. Supreme Court and 4th Circuit decisions clarifying legal protections for LGBTQ individuals and legal prohibitions against gender-specific dress codes. These include: 1720/4030/7235, Title IX Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex; 4316, Student Dress Code; 7100, Recruitment and Selection of Personnel; and 7340, Employee Dress and Appearance.

A motion is in order to approve the 46 revised policies listed below as presented.

Fall 2021 Custom Updates
1310/4002	Parental Involvement
1510/4200/7270	School Safety
1720/4030/7235	Title IX Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex
1725/4035/7236	Title IX Sexual Harassment – Prohibited Conduct and Reporting Process
1726/4036/7237	Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Process
2125/7315	Confidential Information
2127	Board Member Technology Use
2302	Remote Participation in Board Meetings
2310	Public Participation at Board Meetings
3100	Curriculum Development
3225/4312/7320	Technology Responsible Use
3410	Testing and Assessment Program
3420	Student Promotion and Accountability
3460	Graduation Requirements
4050	Children of Military Families
4120	Domicile or Residence Requirements
4150	Student Assignment
4152	Unsafe School Choice Transfer
4300	Student Behavior Policies
4316	Student Dress Code
4329/7311	Bullying and Harassing Behavior Prohibited
4400	Attendance
4700	Student Records
4720	Student Surveys
5020	Visitors to the Schools
5022	Registered Sex Offenders
5030	Community Use of Facilities
5210	Distribution and Display of Non-School Material
6305	Safety and Student Transportation Services
6320	Use of Student Transportation Services
6340	Transportation Service/Vehicle Contracts
7100	Recruitment and Selection of Personnel
7110	Information Provided by Applicant or Employee
7130	Licensure
7262	Communicable Diseases - Employees
7340	Employee Dress and Appearance
7400	Job Descriptions
7503	Teleworking
7510	Leave
7520	Family and Medical Leave
7530	Military Leave
7820	Personnel Files
8305	Federal Grant Administration
8310	Annual Independent Audit
9000	Planning to Address Facility Needs
9020	Facility Design

Public Attachments:

Policy 1310-4002_revised.pdf

Policy 1510-4200-7270_revised_CS.pdf

Policy 1720-4030-7235_revised.pdf

Policy 1725-4035-7236_revised.pdf

Policy 1726-4036-7237_revised.pdf

Policy 2125-7315_revised.pdf

Policy 2127_revised.pdf

Policy 2302_revised.pdf

Policy 2310_revised.pdf

Policy 3100_revised.pdf

Policy 3225-4312-7320_revised_CS.pdf

Policy 3410_revised.pdf

Policy 3420_revised.pdf

Policy 3460_revised.pdf

Policy 4050_revised.pdf

Policy 4120_revised.pdf

Policy 4150_revised.pdf

Policy 4152_revised.pdf

Policy 4300_revised.pdf

Policy 4316_revised.pdf

Policy 4329-7311_revised.pdf

Policy 4400_revised.pdf

Policy 4700_revised.pdf

Policy 4720_revised.pdf

Policy 5020_revised.pdf

Policy 5022_revised.pdf

Policy 5030_revised.pdf

Policy 5210_revised.pdf

Policy 6305_revised.pdf

Policy 6320_revised.pdf

Policy 6340_revised.pdf

Policy 7100_revised.pdf

Policy 7110_revised.pdf

Policy 7130_revised.pdf

Policy 7262_revised_CS.pdf

Policy 7340_revised.pdf

Policy 7400_revised.pdf

Policy 7503_revised.pdf

Policy 7510_revised.pdf

Policy 7520_revised.pdf

Policy 7530_revised.pdf

Policy 7820_revised.pdf

Policy 8305_revised.pdf

Policy 8310_revised.pdf

Policy 9000_revised.pdf

Policy 9020_revised.pdf

Groups audience:

School Board

09. FY22 Budget 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

The new state budget includes significant changes to the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF). The NBPSCF is funded with revenue from the NC Education Lottery and is designed to address critical K-12 school facility needs across North Carolina. Due to increased lottery revenues, $395 million will be available for NBPSCF grants in the FY2021-22 award cycle. These changes include:

New maximum grant amounts -- $30m for elementary schools, $40m for middle schools, and $50m for high schools.
Grant funds can now be used for new buildings, additions, repairs, and renovations.
Local matching requirements now range from 0% to 35%, based on property tax data.
New eligibility criteria based on property tax data -- 95 counties are now eligible.
Elimination of the 5-year period of ineligibility for receipt of annual PSBCF capital funds.
Elimination of the 5-year restriction for prior recipients to re-apply for another NBPSCF grant.
Prior NBPSCF grant recipients who have not started construction may apply for increased grant funding.

DPI will publish new program guidance and application materials on Friday, December 17, 2021. The application deadline will be Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

--NCASA Newsletter, December 16, 2021

Groups audience:

School Board

10. Topics for Planning/Work Session

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 hold its annual planning/work session on Monday, February 7, 2022 at the Morris Education Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. A light supper will be provided. Board members are asked to email suggested topics for the work session to the superintendent.

Groups audience:

School Board

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

Groups audience:

School Board

12. 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

Dec. 22	Students dismissed at noon
Dec. 23-Jan. 3	Christmas break
Jan. 3	NO MEETING (holiday for staff and students)
Jan. 4, 5	Teacher workdays
Jan. 6	Students return from break
Jan. 17	MLK day (annual leave; no students)
Jan. 18 (Tue.)	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Feb. 7	PLANNING/WORK SESSION	5:30 p.m.	MEC
Feb. 21	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Feb. 24, 25	Remote learning days
Mar. 7	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC
Mar. 11	Students dismissed at noon
Mar. 14	Teacher workday
Mar. 15	Remote learning day
Mar. 21	REGULAR MEETING	6:30 p.m.	MEC

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

III. Adjournment

Groups audience:

School Board