CPS Board, April 14, 2008, eBoard

A brief look at the Cincinnati Public Schools' Board of Education's meetings, compiled by the Public Affairs Department.

April 14, 2008

Board members present: President Eve Bolton, Vice President Chris Nelms, Melanie Bates, Susan Cranley, Michael Flannery, Catherine Ingram and Eileen Reed
Superintendent Rosa Blackwell and Treasurer Jonathan Boyd attended.

The Board's meeting began at 7:23 p.m. in the Education Center, the district's headquarters in Corryville.

Students from North Avondale Montessori School's Student Council led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance. A student Orff drum band then performed two songs. Carmen Hull is the school's principal.

Presentations

Principal Carmen Hull spoke to the Board about the academic program at North Avondale Montessori School. The school, which has earned an Effective rating on the Ohio Report Card for the past six school years, is working toward its goal of moving up into the Excellent category.

David Hester, with SFA Architects, presented the schematic design for the renovation of the three high schools on the Western Hills campus — Western Hills University High School, Western Hills Design Technology High School and Gilbert A. Dater High School.

The first step will be renovating the basement of the Dater building, located behind the Western Hills building, into 26 classrooms, which then will be used as temporary space for the Western Hills students as that building is updated.

The renovation will cover repairs or replacement wherever necessary, including a new fire-protection sprinkler system and fire alarms; new public-address system; new exterior doors, windows and floors; new plumbing, electrical and lighting; and the addition of air-conditioning, modern heating and elevators.

Board Action

APPROVED the superintendent's recommendations including

Moving Donna Fields to principal at W.H. Taft Elementary School, from interim principal at Schwab School, effective August 1, 2008.

APPROVED the schematic design for the full renovation of the Western Hills/Dater campus, part of the district's $1-billion Facilities Master Plan. Work begins Summer 2008.

APPROVED a resolution giving the project schedule and detailed cost estimate for the renovations at Dater Montessori School, also part of the Facilities Master Plan.

APPROVED two resolutions authorizing the start of bidding for projects within the Facilities Master Plan:

Phase I abatement related to the renovation at Hughes Center High School
Phase I, early site work related to the construction of the new Sands Montessori School

APPROVED a resolution awarding contracts for bulk furniture packages for several schools under construction within the Facilities Master Plan:

Continental Office Furniture Corp. — $1,241,500.54 (student activity tables, science tables, music room, music stands and carts, and student computer tables)
Krueger International Inc — $6,632,822.90 (student desks and chairs, art and science room stools, teacher workstations, task chairs, stack chairs, and filing cabinets)
Loth Inc — $594,611.17 (bookcases)
Tom Sexton & Associates — $112,417.57 (art tables)

APPROVED a resolution awarding a contract for bid package No. 1, environmental remediation/asbestos abatement, at the old R. A. Taft High School building:

Environmental Demolition Group, LLC — $109,800

APPROVED a resolution awarding a contract for bid package No. 8, loose furnishings, at the new Pleasant Ridge Montessori School:

Continental Office Furniture Corp. — $234,612

APPROVED a resolution transferring $98,547,691.39 in federal, state and local funds to the Schoolwide Building Program Fund, from the General Fund, Title 1, Title II-A, Title IV, and IDEIA-B. This fund is used to upgrade a school's overall instructional program at schools where at least 40 percent of students are from low-income families.

ACCEPTED the reports of the Board's Policy Committee meetings on Thursday, March 20, 2008, and Saturday, April 12, 2008.

APPROVED seven Board policies recommended by the Policy Committee:

Neola No. 5112 — Entrance Requirements
Neola No. 5409 — Student Acceleration
Neola No. 5410 — Promotion, Academic Acceleration, Placement and Retention
Neola No. 5464 — Early High School Graduation
Neola No. 55.17.01 — Anti-harassment, Anti-intimidation or Anti-bullying
Neola No. 8310 — Public Records
Revision of No. 5123.1 — Commencement Exercises

APPROVED a motion to make the revision of Policy No. 5123.1 effective July 1, 2008.

APPROVED the treasurer's report.

The meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m.

The Board's next regular meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2008, at district headquarters, 2651 Burnet Avenue, in Corryville.