Putnam City Schools

REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Monday, November 15, 2010

The Putnam City Schools Board of Education of Independent School District No. One of Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma, met in regular session Monday, November 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board room at the Administration Building, 5401 NW 40th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The agenda and meeting notice were posted on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. in accordance with 25 O.S. § 311.

Members present: Julie Jenison, president; Becky Haliburton, vice-president; Gail LoPresto, Mark Bledsoe, and Tammy West, members; Superintendent Paul Hurst; Sandy Lemaster, deputy clerk; and others.

ITEM #1 - INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE, MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – STEPHANIE WALLACE, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, WILEY POST ELEMENTARY.

Stephanie Wallace gave the Inspirational Message, Moment of Silence, and Pledge of Allegiance.

ITEM #2 – TEACH FOR AMERICA PRESENTATION – LANCE TACKETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Lance Tackett, Executive Director of Teach For America in Tulsa provided information about their non-profit organization. Teach For America seeks to reduce gaps in the quality of education received in impoverished communities by recruiting outstanding recent college graduates and providing them with additional training and support for their minimum 2 year teaching commitment. They are currently operating in 39 cities across the nation and seek to expand their partnerships with Oklahoma school districts. Sixty-three percent of the recruits currently continue to teach beyond their 2 year commitment.

ITEM #3 – INFORMATION AND STAFF REPORTS.

Statistics from the certified Annual Site Dropout Report was presented by secondary principals Buster Meeks; Putnam City West, Brian Chastain; Putnam City North and Don Wentroth; Putnam City High School. A total of 89 students were listed on the Dropout Report for the 2009-2010 school year. That total is down 21% from 113 in 2008-2009 and down 42% from 156 in 2007-2008. The principals explained that they use a variety of methods to encourage students to attend and complete their education. Many hours are spent researching and tracking each student who has moved in or out of the district. Faculty form relationships with the students and work with their families to provide support and encouragement. When positive reinforcement doesn’t work and the student exceeds the number of allowed absences, the schools report the truancy to the District Attorney’s office and to the Oklahoma Department of Motor Vehicles which will suspend the student’s driver license.

The district middle schools reported 13 students on the Dropout list for 2009-2010. That figure is down from 18 in 2008-2009 and 28 in 2007-2008.

ITEM #4 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

Mary Hendrix, Social Studies teacher at Kenneth Cooper Middle School, addressed the Board with concerns about disciplinary issues. She encouraged the Board and Administration to work together to improve effectiveness of disciplinary measures to reduce distractions within the classroom.

ITEM #5– CONSENT AGENDA: ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, WHICH CONCERN REPORTS AND ITEMS OF A ROUTINE NATURE NORMALLY APPROVED AT BOARD MEETINGS, WILL BE APPROVED BY ONE VOTE UNLESS ANY BOARD MEMBER DESIRES TO HAVE A SEPARATE VOTE ON ANY OR ALL OF THESE ITEMS. THE CONSENT CONSISTS OF THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

a. Minutes for regular board meeting November 1, 2010.
b. Financial report and bimonthly bills for beginning purchase order
numbers 102532092 through 106320005 for October 25, 2010
through November 9, 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year.
c. Additional approval of purchase orders 106363092, 106365092, 106366092 and
106367092.
d. September Cash Summary Report.
e. Activity Fund Subaccount Requests.
f. Activity Fund Transfer List including Putnam City High School, Putnam City North and Putnam City West
g. Obsolete and/or Surplus Items.
h. Josten’s Publication Agreement for 2011 with Hefner Middle School
i. Elementary and Secondary Fundraisers.

Elementary/Secondary Fund Raisers
Board of Education Meeting
November 15th, 2010

School Date Proposed Activity Fund Money Used For Estimated Profit/ Deposit
Apollo December Singing Christmas Cards Vocal Music Music supplies $200.00
Arbor Grove December Candy Grams 959-Leadership School projects/butterfly garden $400.00
Harvest Hills November-May Intramurals T-shirts & Sweatshirts PE Intramurals/Archery Club, expenses for 2010-11 school year $200.00
Hilldale December Candy Cane Grams Cancer Donation for PC Cancer Research $200.00
Hilldale December Santa Pictures General School supplies, fieldtrips, teaching materials, incentives $500.00
Western Oaks Elem. December Santa Express Candy Grams STUCO STUCO supplies, flowers, and reimbursements for purchases throughout the year $300.00
Putnam City North November-December Little Girls Cheer Clinic Cheer 938 Cheer nationals-registration and transportation $2,200.00

j. Overnight Travel Requests.
k. Out of state trips:
1. Putnam City High School Varsity Cheerleaders to Dallas, Texas
January 7-9, 2011.
2. Putnam City North Band to Waikiki, Hawaii, December 7, 2011.
l. Retirements and resignations as listed on Attachment A.

ITEM #6 - CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON RECOMMENDATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF NEW PERSONNEL AS LISTED ON ATTACHMENT A AND ATTACHMENT A ADDENDUM.

Becky Haliburton made a motion to approve employment of new personnel as listed on Attachment A. Tammy West seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #7 –CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE INCORPORATION OF THE PUTNAM CITY MUSEUM.

Tammy West made a motion to approve Incorporation of the Putnam City Museum. Gail LoPresto seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #8 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE PUTNAM CITY ACE REMEDIATION PLAN.

Gail LoPresto made a motion to approve the Putnam City ACE Remediation Plan. Mark Bledsoe seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #9– CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2010-2011 BUDGET GUIDE.

Mark Bledsoe made a motion to approve the 2010-2011 Budget Guide. Gail LoPresto seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #10 - CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE MATURITIES OF, AND SETTING A DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR THE SALE OF THE $15,385,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION COMBINED PURPOSE BONDS OF PUTNAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Becky Haliburton made a motion to approve the resolution determining the maturities of, and setting a date, time and place for the sale of the $15,385,000 General Obligation Combined Purpose Bonds of Putnam City School District. Tammy West seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #11 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR BOND COUNSEL SERVICES WITH THE FLOYD LAW FIRM, P.C., ATTORNEYS AT LAW.

Gail LoPresto made a motion to approve the agreement for Bond Counsel Services with the Floyd Law Firm, P.C., Attorneys at Law. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #12 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE ADDENDUM TO CONTRACT WITH SPRINGDALE SHOPPING CENTER TO PROVIDE TWO ADDITIONAL OPTION YEARS FOR LEASE.

Tammy West made a motion to approve the addendum to contract with Springdale Shopping Center to provide two additional option years for lease. Mark Bledsoe seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #13 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE WORKSHOP WITH MATH PERSPECTIVES ENTITLED DEVELOPING NUMBER CONCEPTS K-2, JANUARY 10-12, 2011. ($27,000 FROM TITLE I STIMULUS)

Mark Bledsoe made a motion to approve the workshop with Math Perspectives entitled Developing Number Concepts K-2, January 10-12, 2011. Gail LoPresto seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #14 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE REVISION TO POLICY BR, DATA USE.

Gail LoPresto made a motion to approve revision to Policy BR, Data Use. Tammy West seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #15 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE STORAGE AREA NETWORK (SAN) SOLUTION AND OFFSITE DISASTER RECOVERY SOLUTION. ($744,727 FROM 71-190)

Tammy West made a motion to approve Storage Area Network (SAN) solution and Offsite Disaster Recovery solution. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #16 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE THE LOWEST, BEST BID FROM POPE CONTRACTING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AT HILLDALE ELEMENTARY. ($1,485,100 FROM 71-176, 71-174, 79-192, 79-167)

Tammy West made a motion to approve the lowest, best bid from Pope Contracting for construction of additional classrooms at Hilldale Elementary. Mark Bledsoe seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #17 – SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT.

• I want to complement all of those involved in the Cancer Classic on Saturday. The participation was excellent and the organization superb. While we do not know the exact number of participants, it was surely in the 1000 range. We had so many school district personnel involved in the execution of this event and a great number of student and teachers representing the schools in the district. It was a beautiful morning and one that will be well remembered.
• Please join me in congratulating Putnam City North High School’s Technology Student Association for sweeping the high school division at the Wes Watkins New Products Fair. The school had four individual award winners as well, Tyler Watson (first place) for his ironing board upgrade, Yuvraj Rana (second place) for his Touch Screen menu for restaurants, and Veronica Senkowski (third place) for an infrared elevator switch. Mr. Burcham competed in the adult division and won first place in the open division for his Multi Sensory Technology Assisted Reader and second place in the overall. Congratulations to these students and their sponsor.
• Joe Taylor, a senior at Putnam City High School, has recently returned from New York City where he was invited to play double bass at the Metropolitan Opera House.
• Hannah Harberson, Sakeenah Godfrey and Christina Wingfield, fourth grade students at Ralph Downs Elementary School, have been named members of the 2010 National Kodaly Children’s Choir. The Children’s Choir composed of fourth and fifth graders, is one of three choirs associated with the Organization of American Kodaly Educators National Conference in Minneapolis. The students will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, March 16, and then perform at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 19. The students will sing in a choir with approximately 130 other students from across the country.
• Lake Park Elementary School has received a grant from Dairy Max Inc. The “Fuel Up to Play 60” grant is designed to help children make a commitment to healthy eating and 60 minutes of physical activity daily. The school will utilize the grant to implement a walking club that includes pedometers and healthy snacks for students. Grant funds will also provide incentives to encourage students to walk 10,000 to 12,000 steps daily. Sonda Mythen, Lake Park’s school nurse, authored the grant application.
• Chelsea Herndon, biology teacher at Putnam City High School, was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $1850 from the zoo for the study of animal behavior.
• Just for informational purposes, the Board of Education will be conducting a work session next Monday, November 22, at 5:30 p.m. Notice of this special meeting of the board of education is posted. Also, regular meeting scheduled for Monday, December 6, will begin at 5:00 p.m.

ITEM #18 – COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS.

Mark Bledsoe thanked Stephanie Wallace for her inspirational message and appreciated Mary Hendrix sharing her concerns with the Board.

Gail LoPresto congratulated the Putnam City Museum on its incorporation. She appreciated the enthusiasm of all the participants in the Putnam City Cancer Classic and especially enjoyed the encouraging card that she received from Rollingwood students in her packet.

Overholser students reciting the Declaration of Independence was a favorite of Tammy West during recent Veteran’s Day assemblies. She noted impeccable behavior of the students during these assemblies. She also enjoyed WestFest. The students did an excellent job and it was well attended. She also appreciated Mary Hendrix comments and thought Lake Park’s Jay Walking program is a tremendous way for staff to fellowship with students.

Becky Haliburton said the Putnam City North Choir Festival was impressive, especially since many of the music teachers are new. Mrs. Haliburton reminded everyone that the PTSA Council Principal’s Brunch is on December 2nd. She also expressed appreciation for teachers who have influenced her children’s lives as well as the lives of all the students in the district.

Julie Jenison was very interested in the Teach For America presentation as she has heard of the positive results the program has had in other districts.

ITEM #19 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING AN INFORMAL EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, AS REQUIRED BY DISTRICT POLICY.

Mark Bledsoe made a motion 6:47 p.m. to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting an informal evaluation of the Superintendent, as required by District policy. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #20 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AND TO REQUEST THE BOARD CLERK TO RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

Becky Haliburton made a motion 7:54 p.m. to return to open session. Tammy West seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE SESSION: Board Members Mark Bledsoe, Tammy West, Gail LoPresto, Julie Jenison and Becky Haliburton and Superintendent Paul Hurst met in executive session for the purpose of conducting an informal evaluation of the Superintendent, as required by district policy, pursuant to 25 O.S. §307 (B) (1) and (B) (7).

No action was taken.

ITEM #21 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON NEW BUSINESS.

There was no new business.

ITEM #22 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO ADJOURN.

Gail LoPresto made a motion 7:55 p.m. to adjourn. Tammy West seconded the motion. Vote: Bledsoe, aye; LoPresto, aye; West, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.