City Council

September 5, 2017 Work Session with the School Board A special meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia and the Martinsville City School Board was held on September 5, 2017, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 6:00pm, to conduct a strategic planning work session. Council Members present included: Mayor Gene Teague, Vice Mayor Chad Martin, Council Member Kathy Lawson, Council Member Jennifer Bowles, and Council Member Sharon Brooks Hodge. Staff present included: City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Assistant City Manager Wayne Knox, and Finance Director Linda Conover. School Board Members present included: Superintendent Dr. Zeb Talley, Executive Director of Administrative Services Travis Clemons, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Janie Fulcher, Board Member Eric Hruza, Board Member Donna Dillard, Board Member Tonya Jones, Board Member Joan Montgomery and Executive Director of Special Education Dr. Paulette Simington. Mayor Teague opened the Council meeting and Joan Montgomery called the School Board meeting to order. City Manager Towarnicki recommended a list of topics for discussion in order of suggested priority. Superintendent Talley said the follow up meetings with Council and the City Manager had been beneficial. The first District Leadership Team, made up of principles, lead teachers and additional chosen teachers had a meeting with positive results, and said the students appear to have picked up where they left off at the end of the last school year with no “summer loss” over the summer months. Talley said unofficially the majority of the City schools will be accredited within the year. The schools are working towards goals related to student suspension, absenteeism and truancy. School staff vacancies are down from thirty to three and the board is still working to fill those openings. 100% of the senior class of 2017 graduated. Mayor Teague asked what change was made that affected the schools ability to become accredited. Montgomery explained that the schools have changed the culture of the school, the staff’s expectation of the students increased, the schools are more supportive and the staff has become more stabilized than previous years. Talley explained the MAP testing which was given three times each year in addition to SOLs was beneficial also. Talley says the parents have confidence in the school and current enrollment is stable at 1,904 students and continues to increase. Dr. Talley said the school did reach out to those families who did not return to Martinsville City Schools this current year. September 5, 2017 Work Session with the School Board Finance Director Linda Conover summarized budget information. Talley said of the $507,745 fund balance, AVID programming is a definite need along with other requests listed on the report provided. Mayor Teague questioned the importance of those requests since they were not a priority when the budget was passed previously and feels that rolling extra money into capital expenditures should be the priority for when needed to make repairs. Hodges expressed her concern regarding what goes on within the school to continue the progress should be more important than capital improvements. Conover said the changes could be added to the reappropriations list and brought to Council at a later meeting. September 5, 2017 Work Session with the School Board Mayor Teague touched on Council - School relationships especially during budget discussions. Council Member Hodge said they try not to micro-manage but as an elected official, it’s their job to monitor what’s in the best interest of all. Vice Mayor Martin said he feels that with the new Council and the new School board members that everyone is mostly on the same level and in agreement. Council Member Bowles said meetings in previous years did not go smoothly like they did tonight and feels there is a new level of transparency. School Board Member Hruza stated that Dr. Talley has an unparallel sense of urgency to make changes; he’s professional and genuinely concerned for the students. The children don’t have time to wait for issues September 5, 2017 Work Session with the School Board to be fixed. Hodge said it was encouraging to hear the School Boards support of the Superintendent. Council Member Hodge asked if everyone could take a look at the strategic plan related to education prior to the next joint work session. Mayor Teague suggested another strategic planning meeting and bus tour in February. City Manager Towarnicki said there were several updates and improvements that could be added to the strategic plan and will work to provide the School Board access to continuously update the plan. There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Council Member Hodge seconded the motion with all Council Members in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:52pm. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council Gene Teague, Mayor