meeting of the Giles County School Board, John Ross, Giles
County Building Inspector and Giles County Schools energy
education manager, gave a presentation to the board on the
energy management process for the school system.
Ross described how, between the time period
of April of 2003 through April of 2009, the energy conservation
program had saved $783,663.00 in avoided costs. In describing
the high level of cooperation and compliance he has received
from all in the schools, Ross stated, "Everyone has been great."
Ross identified teamwork, data analysis capabilities, on-site
training and expertise and the comprehensive facility audits as
being the major success factors.
In describing the program benefits, he
explained the positive contributions to the budget, and the
environment. Ross explained that the energy saved was the
equivalent of that which would be consumed by 1,200 cars over
the course of one year of driving. Projected total savings
through March of 2013 are anticipated to be $1,432,000.
The board also approved a resolution to
nominate the Virginian Leader to the Virginia School
Board Association’s 2009 Media Honor Roll. Board Chairman J.B.
Buckland stated that the board is greatly appreciative of the
support of education exhibited by the local newspaper and that
they were fortunate to have the Virginian Leader in the
county." Board member Drema McMahon added that the coverage is
very good for our schools and that this coverage helps her keep
up with all that’s going on. Superintendent Arbogast added,
"Every week there is a showcase on the schools." Later in the
meeting board member Whitehead expressed his appreciation of the
coverage recently given to various students at the Governors
School who had received awards.
On the topic of personnel, the board approved
the resignation of Shellie Austin, Macy McClaugherty School
(MMS) elementary teacher. Employment was confirmed for Robbie
Spiegel, MMS elementary teacher; Shelia Rice, Giles Technology
Center (GTC) LPN instructor; Rebecca Wagner, Eastern Elementary
(EEMS) teacher; Lori Wilburn, EEMS special education teacher
assistant; Chris Gautier, Narrows High School (NHS) AEP lead
teacher; and Mary Spaur, EEMS bus driver. Athletic supplements
were approved for both high schools. Volunteer agreements were
approved for Sharon Wilson, Norma Lester and Dottie Meredith,
all for EEMS May Day. Chris Townsend was approved as a
substitute bus driver. Donald Vaught had been slated for
approval as a substitute driver also, however, his septic
company business had also won an RFP bid for services. By
policy, he will only be able to have one of the two approved,
therefore, the board elected to ask Vaught which of the two
situations he wishes to have approved.
In closing, Ross added that the on-going
program continued to receive technical support, at no cost, from
the firm Energy Education, original designers of the
comprehensive initiative.
Regarding school policy revisions, the board
approved an extensive list, which will become effective in the
coming school year. The board also approved a new evaluation
form for the Instructional Technology Resource Teachers.
Superintendent Arbogast reviewed the
preliminary levels of SOL academic achievement test results from
all the schools in the areas of English, math, science and
history.
It was announced that GTC Principal and
Director Forest Fowler had received the Outstanding School
Administrator Award from the national Family, Career and
Community Leaders of America. This award will be presented at
the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on
Wednesday, July 15
.
In the concerns and accomplishments section
of the meeting, board member McMahon described her appreciation
to the teachers for all their hard work during the past school
year and offered her congratulation to the schools on their SOL
scores. Board member J. Lewis Webb described the past school
year as "bittersweet". He further explained, "It was
disappointing with the budget issues that they were unable
provide the teachers with the support that they deserved." Webb
explained that, in contrast, the stadium projects at the high
schools and the two renovation projects at EEMS and GTC were
quite exciting. He added, "The students deserve these."
Board member Ronald Whitehead reported that
the Governors School had reduced the number of board meetings
from monthly to quarterly. He added that there had been
revisions in the student handbook.
Board member Joseph Gollehon described how he
had observed much being accomplished in the area of fine arts
Gollehon described how the new bleachers at the schools would be
far more accessible than the previous ones where he had some
difficulty with navigation. He also stated his pleasure at
observing fewer discipline problems over the previous year.
Chairman J.B. Buckland stated, "I wish we
could have done more for our employees and when things bottom
out, we will do everything possible." As a point of reference,
Buckland added that very few counties were able to give step
raises this past year.
Superintended Arbogast reported that the
Giles High School (GHS) home side bleachers would be finished
this week and that final completion, not including punch list
items, is scheduled for August 1