Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 6 p.m.

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Recognitions

GCS Employee of the Month for April 2012

The board recognized Tammy Gruer, district media and technology specialist, as the April 2012 Employee of the Month.

GCS Volunteer of the Month for April 2012

The board recognized Kendra Johnson, a volunteer at Erwin Montessori, as the April 2012 Volunteer of the Month.

Schools Lead Way in Two Million Book Goal

The board recognized the schools that read the most books during the Two Million Books challenge. The top five schools were Reedy Fork Elementary (127,343 books), Brooks Global Studies (126,061 books), Pilot Elementary (117,396 books), Jones Elementary (111,505 books) and Southwest Elementary (98,721). Northern Middle was the top middle school with 21,927 books, and Northwest High was the top high school with 20,542 books.

GCS Students Shine During Battle of the Books Competition

The board recognized students from the winning Battle of the Books teams at the elementary and middle school levels. Teams from Jones Elementary and Northwest Middle won first place in the district's competition. In the elementary division, Brooks Global Studies placed second and Jefferson Elementary placed third. In the middle school division, Aycock Middle placed second and Northern Middle placed third.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

- Meeting Minutes

- Personnel Action Report

- Approval of High Point Utility Easement, Florence Elementary School Campus

Staff Reports

Approval of Burroughs Wellcome Fund Grant

The board approved an application for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student Science Enrichment Program. If the grant is awarded, The Middle College at UNCG will use the $180,000 in funding over three years to provide inquiry-based science and math activities, summer camp, after-school and weekend enrichment opportunities for students.

Consideration of Naming of the Southeast High Media Center

The board approved posting the proposed name of John A. Cox Media Center for a 30-day public comment period. The name was nominated for the new media center at Southeast High. Comments on the naming should be submitted by email to gcscomments@gcsnc.com or through U.S. mail to the District Relations Department, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401.

Update on Shadybrook Road Property

The board voted to direct staff to enter into negotiations with the City of High Point regarding a possible purchase price for the vacant property owned by Guilford County Schools (GCS) at 301 and 305 Shadybrook Road in High Point.

2012-13 Superintendent's Budget Recommendation

Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green presented his recommendation for an operating budget of $626,541,473 for 2012-13.The recommendation includes adjustments to accommodate a $13.27 million loss in one-time federal Education Jobs funds, an additional $5.21 million anticipated cut in state funding and a $5.05 million increase in operating costs, items previously funded privately and new initiatives to be addressed via redirection of existing resources. These cuts come on top of reductions in state funding from previous years that total more than $40 million.

The budget recommendation includes a request for an additional $9.83 million in funding from the Guilford County Board of Commissioners to help sustain operations ($5.35 million) and provide a 1 percent raise for all GCS employees except the superintendent ($4.48 million).  Green also recommended a request of $7 million in capital outlay from the county.

The board will review budget discussions at a work session at 11:30 a.m. on April 24. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled during the board meeting on April 26.The board must adopt a proposed budget and present it to the county by May 15.

Board Discussion

Calendar Waivers

The board approved for the district to apply for a calendar waiver for the 2012-13 school year.

Closed Session

The board approved to extend the contract for Dr. Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, through June 30, 2014.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and online at http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv . The meetings re-air the day after the meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the Saturday following the meeting at 1 p.m.