The July Guilford County Schools (GCS) employee of the month may not spend much time inside a classroom, but her work affects each of the district's 73,000 students and 10,000 employees. Communications Coordinator Lillian Govus was surprised yesterday with the news that she had been honored for her skill in sharing the GCS story.

As head of the District Relations team, Govus' work touches nearly every department in Guilford County Schools. From organizing thousands of students' attendance at Greensboro Grasshoppers games to writing the GCS annual report and planning major community events such as State of Our Schools, Govus' adept communications skills help promote GCS as an exceptional place to learn.

"Lillian truly works hard, and her work benefits GCS in a huge way," said Sherry Wyche, who submitted the nomination. "She did a phenomenal job coordinating the successful, safe and fun Greensboro Grasshoppers event, and not many people know how much work and management goes into the whole process."

As Employee of the Month, Govus received a $50 gift card from Sam's Club, which has given more than $4,000 to exceptional GCS employees since 2005. During the month of July, Govus' photo will hang at the district's central offices and at the Sam's Club on Wendover Avenue.

GCS is offering 10 grants worth $1,000 each. The money can be used to fund workshops or a series of workshops that focus on health and wellbeing and target low-income families. Workshops targeting "winnable" battles identified recently by the Centers for Disease Control-nutrition, physical activity and obesity; teen pregnancy; HIV; motor vehicle injuries and tobacco use-are preferred. Even though health should be the focus, workshops can include other topics as well.

The workshops will be included in Guilford Parent Academy's calendar of events for the 2012-13 school year.

This is the second year Cone Health Foundation has funded this opportunity for GCS. Last year, the grants were open to Title I schools only. This year, all schools in GCS are eligible to apply.

"We are excited to once again partner with Cone Health Foundation to provide this opportunity for schools," said Lisa Gardner, coordinator for Guilford Parent Academy and community partnerships. "We are especially excited that all schools are eligible to apply. Providing parents with information on health-related topics is one way we can empower them to become full partners in their children's education."

To view the grant application, visit http://gcsnc.com/parentacademy/grants. Applications are due on July 19, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, schools should call the Parent Academy office at 336-279-4924 or e-mail parentacademy@gcsnc.com.

Cone Health Foundation is a supporting organization to Cone Health.

Recognitions

Ragsdale Teacher Named Outstanding Secondary Math Teacher

The board recognized Ragsdale teacher Martha Marshall as the GCS Secondary Math Teacher of the Year.

Cohort I Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy

The board recognized members of Cohort I of the Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy who completed their program on June 14, as well as members of Cohort II who have been accepted to graduate school at UNCG.

N.C. Outward Bound Partners with Greensboro College Middle College
The board recognized the N.C. Outward Bound program for its partnership with Greensboro College Middle College.

GCS Energy WISE Teams Named NEED Youth Awards Winners
The board recognized the six Energy WISE teams that were state winners in the National Energy Development Project Youth Awards.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

- Minutes of the June 12 regular board meeting and

- Personnel action report, including the addendum

- Application for state/federal funding of career and technical education

- 2011-12 budget amendments/transfers report

- 2012-13 interim budget resolution

- Red light camera funds

- Purchase of activity buses

- Approval of contract for fresh bread - School Nutrition Services

- Contract extensions for ice cream, milk/dairy products, produce and food alliance

- Facility use agreement for Craven site

- 2012-13 insurance coverage

Staff Reports

Consideration for Naming of the Dudley High Athletic Facilities

The board voted to open the names of "Jonathan A. McKee, Sr. Field" for the football field; "William N. Boyers Track" for the track; and "William J. Furcron Field House" to a 30-day public comment period beginning June 29 in order to seek comments and provide time for other nominations to be submitted. Comments may be sent to gcscomments@gcsnc.com or through U.S. mail to the District Relations Department, Guilford County Schools, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27401.

Report on Charged Meal Plan for 2012-13

The board voted to approve the staff's recommendation to implement the process to address charged meals effective with the 2012-13 school year.

Approval of Non-Traditional Calendars

After a period of public comment, the board voted to approve the revised 2012-13 calendars for the district's non-traditional schools. The calendars are in keeping with the amended 2012-13 traditional academic calendar which reflects GCS' waiver request for 180 days of instruction as approved by the State Board of Education. 

Construction Update

Robert Melton, executive director of facilities, provided an update on the district's construction projects.

· At Ragsdale High, mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins are nearing completion in the dining area and kitchen area. In the link building, furniture deliveries have begun in the administration area and finishes continue in the media center and gymnasium.

·  At the Hairston-Falkener Autism Wing, bids were received on June 26.

· At Southeast High, annex building renovations are 50 percent complete, and the contractor has completed the majority of overhead mechanical, plumbing and electrical rough-ins.

· At the Southeast Area Elementary School, the schematic design is continuing under Pinnacle Architecture.

· At McNair Elementary, the project is 70 percent complete. The contractor is continuing drywall installation while windows are also being installed.

· At Grimsley High, a groundbreaking was held for the cafeteria addition on June 27. Grading and site utility installation activities are continuing. In the gymnasium, the contractor has begun plumbing and electrical rough-ins in the locker rooms, and the wood floor installation is underway.

· At the Airport Area High School, potential sites are being evaluated.

· At Northwest Middle, the project is 99 percent complete and the contractor is completing punch-list items.

· At Northwest High, the stadium and field house project is 50 percent complete. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins in the field house continue.

· At Allen Jay Middle, Pinnacle Architecture has begun completion of construction documents.

· At Dudley High, construction is 72 percent complete in the athletic facilities. Installation of bleachers is underway, and electrical and plumbing rough-ins continue in the concessions areas.

· At High Point Central High, the contractor has completed steel installation for the lobby's first-level roof. The project is 30 percent complete.

Contractual Agreement for HVAC Improvements at Hampton Elementary

Four bids were received on April 24, 2012, for the HVAC Renovations for Hampton Elementary School. The board voted to award a contract to H.M. Kern Corporation HVAC Renovations at Hampton Elementary School in the amount of $808,500.

Airport Area Land Acquisition Update

On June 5, 2012 the Town of Kernersville, Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to deny the rezoning request submitted by TDO Land Holding, LLC for the property under option located on South Bunker Hill Road. Along with a review of land acquisition efforts to date, staff provided the b oard with updated information related to current and projected enrollments for existing high schools and middle schools in Western Guilford County along with each school's capacity to meet occupancy requirements The board will seek input from the community as next steps are presented and evaluated.

12-Month Pay Option

During discussions with employees regarding the impact of House Bill 720 - School and Teacher Paperwork Reduction Act ( which prohibited prepayment of teachers effective with the 2012-13 school year), staff was asked to revisit our stance on the 12-month pay option.

Therefore, GCS will offer 10- month and 11-month salaried employees a choice of the traditional 12-month option or the SECU Summer Cash Account alternative 12-month installment plan effective with the 2012-13 school year ( hourly paid employees and employees paid as substitutes will not be eligible to participate in this payment option ).

• Teachers opting for the traditional 12-month option in 2012-13 must submit a completed twelve-month salary request (form FIN-F001) to the GCS Payroll Department on or before the first day of the school year.
• GCS will utilize August 22, 2012, the first mandated workday of the 2012-13 traditional calendar, as the cut-off date by which forms must be received in Payroll for the 2012-13 school year.
• The cut-off date by which forms must be received in Payroll for future fiscal years will be the first day of the ten-month traditional calendar.
• Teachers opting for the SECU Summer Cash Account alternative 12-month installment plan in 2012-13 must apply for a Summer Cash Account with the State Employees' Credit Union which can be done on-line via Member Access (for more information go to https://www.ncsecu.org/depositaccounts/SummerCashAcct.html ).

Financial Services staff members will work with Chief of Staff Nora Carr to develop and disseminate information regarding the 12-month salary options available to eligible employees for the 2012-13 school year.

Budget Updates

Superintendent Maurice Green and Sharon Ozment, chief financial officer, presented an update on the budget.

Reports from the Superintendent
Superintendent Green thanked Chief Financial Officer Sharon Ozment for her nearly 40 years of service to GCS.

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.

About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina, serves more than 73,000 students at 122 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district's mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district's website at www.gcsnc.com .

Of the more than 400 GCS students selected by the Duke TIP, 68 students have qualified for State recognition, while three students from The Academy at Lincoln, Ethan Kreager, Vijval Rajan and Depei Yu have qualified for Grand Recognition. These recognitions are awarded annually to honor seventh-grade talent search participants who have met the qualifying scores on their SAT and ACT tests.

Students may begin to enroll in the Duke TIP starting in fourth grade. To qualify students must score in the 95th percentile or higher on a grade-level standardized achievement test or other form of approved aptitude test.

Enrollment for students in fourth- through sixth-grade begins in December, while enrollment for seventh- through eighth-graders begins August 1 each year. Once enrolled in the program, students will have access to programs like Rosetta Stone, Princeton Review online test prep course and others.

The Duke TIP is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1980, dedicated to serving academically talented youth. The program helps to challenge and engage students to push them to their fullest potential. Since its creation, the Duke TIP has benefitted more than two million students.

The Guilford County Board of Education will meet on Thursday, June 28 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administrative Offices, 712 N. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC. The meeting will be preceded by a closed session starting at 4 p.m.

During the meeting, the board will hear reports on proposed names for Dudley High athletic facilities, a charged meal plan for 2012-13, non-traditional school calendars, construction, a contractual agreement for HVAC improvements at Hampton Elementary and the 2012-13 budget. The board will recognize Martha Marshall as the Outstanding Secondary Math Teacher, Cohort 1 of the Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy, North Carolina Outward Bound and the Energy WISE teams that are state winners of the National Energy Education Development Project Youth Awards.

Guilford County Board of Education meetings are broadcast live on GCSTV 2 (cable channel 2) and 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. To watch the meeting online, visit http://media.gcsnc.net/gcstv .