1996-11-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I92 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Friday, November 8, 1996 at 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Luncheon meeting With School Board BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox (signed) BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - November 8, 1996 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Cox, Ms. Richards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano. Absent: Ms. Daugherty. Mr. Dan Fielding, Coordinator for Vocational and Technical Education for the Charlottesville Schools, described the Charlottesville-Albemarle School Business Alliance (CASBA), a partnership organization of the Chamber of Commerce, school systems, local governments, and local businesses. The goal of CASBA is to better coordinate business resources in the cornmunitY. Mr. Jim Asher of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center, described the Community and SchoOls of Charlottesville-Albemarle for Partnerships in Education (CSCAPE), formed to provide work-based learning opportunities and other career exposure and experience for studems, and to help prepare youth for success in the workplace. Ms. Laurie Kohler, CASBA Program Coordinator, further discussed the CASBA program. Ms. Mary Susan payne, Chair of the School Board, said the superintendent search has yielded 40 applicants, andi the School Board will conduct initial interviews at the end of November. Ms. Payne said that the School Board is in the process of formulating questions for the applicants and a process for community involvement. Ms. Richards suggested that the School Board consider a history of success in an urban school setting and increasing test scores as an important qualification of applicants. Councilors were asked to provide their priorities and concerns for the Charlottesville SChools. Ms. Slaughter read Ms. Daugherty's list of priorities: increasing teacher salaries; improving student achievement; and improving financial efficiencies. Ms. Richards' priorities included: examining the schoOl's organizational structure for efficiencies (reducing administrative overhead); reducing the school's operating budget in areas such as student tranSportation; strengthening cognitive and social preparation in students' early years; continUing core academic instruction in middle and high schools. Looking at the long-term, Mr. Toscano.said his priorities were; prioritizing expenditure of the schoolsi stressing and improving student achieve; improving teacher salaries; and examining school facilities. Mr. Toscano added that he does not think the schools can continue to asinine that they will receive 40% of all new city revenues in the future. Mrl Cox said his priorities are: emphasis on academic performance and the discrepancies between whi~e and African-American student; commitment to look "outside the b x" · · ' · o to see how the schools provide service (such as magnet schools); and a continued commitment to hiring AfriCan-American teachers, especially males.