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2 <br /> <br /> Dr. Griffin said that a proposal is on the table to have someone come in to help <br />manage the change process. She said she is planning to act more closely with principals. <br />She said it is also going to take the leadership of Council to be more positive and work <br />together. <br /> <br />Dr. Brown asked for feedback from other Councilors. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peggy Van Yahres, School Board member, said that Mr. Caravati raises an <br />important issue, and noted that the School Board gave an additional. 5% salary increase <br />to teachers after the initial budget was proposed. She said the Board wishes they could <br />do more. She said that a job salary study is to be done on all employees which will help <br />inform the Board next year. She said this will be a good, objective tool. Regarding the <br />morale issue, she said that the School Board has the responsibility to evaluate the <br />leadership team and ourselves and they are continuing to do so. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that salaries are important to him, especially for those who are not <br />making a living wage. He said he has other priorities he sees as higher than strictly <br />salary, such as having a system where all students are successful. He said he is not <br />convinced the Schools are really attacking everything they need to. He asked if school <br />improvement plans are fully funded in the budget. He asked that the Board speak to the <br />recommendations of the academic audit done by the State and whether they have been <br />funded. <br /> <br />Ms. Smith said that the academic audit directly affected the budget. <br /> <br /> Dr. Laura Purnell, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, said a position has been <br />funded to help in the ongoing school improvement plan process. She said that the plans <br />are being reviewed and for the most part funding is not needed above the local funding <br />available. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if the things that were identified are being funded, and Dr. <br />Purnell said yes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked how the academic review is being incorporated, and Ms. Smith <br />said that math initiatives are required and reading initiatives are already in place. <br /> <br />Dr. Griffin said curriculum alignment is also part of this. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he would like to see the academic review document. He asked <br />what the consequences are if they are not followed up on. <br /> <br /> Mr. Harley Miles from School administration, said that accreditation and adequate <br />yearly progress can be affected. He said that beginning in 2007 accreditation can be <br />denied and there is a increasing cycle of sanctions, including school choice, if the schools <br />fail to make adequate yearly progress. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he heard the concern that if the Schools do not meet these <br />requirements then control of the schools could be lost. <br /> <br />Mr. Miles said that the State cannot take over schools in Virginia. <br /> <br /> Dr. Griffin said that the State recommended that some of the City schools could <br />use turn around specialists who would serve as principals, but the School Board decided <br />they did not want to go that route at this time. Dr. Griffin said that sanctions increase <br />yearly if standards are not met. <br /> <br /> Mr. Miles said that sanctions include, choice, offering additional services outside <br />the school day from outside sources; and removal of staff members that affect <br />achievement; and charter schools. <br /> <br /> <br />