Pittsylvania County Schools

October 10, 2012
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Principals
James E. McDaniel, Division Superintendent
HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTION TAKEN AT OCTOBER MEETING
1. The Board approved the following overnight field trips:
SCHOOL(S) ACTIVITY LOCATION DATES
Chatham High Golf – Regional Tournament Farmville, VA September 30 – October 1,
2012
Chatham High Golf – State Tournament Big Stone Gap, VA October 6-9, 2012
Chatham Middle FFA – Block & Bridle Judging Virginia Tech,
March 22-23, 2013
Blacksburg, VA
Chatham Middle FFA – State Convention Virginia Tech,
June 24-27, 2013
Blacksburg, VA
Dan River Middle Jr. Beta – State Convention Virginia Beach, VA February 21-23, 2013
Gretna High Beta – State Convention Richmond, VA March 14-17, 2013
Tunstall High Golf – Regional Tournament Laurel Fork, VA September 30 – October 1,
2012
Tunstall High Golf – State Tournament Penn Laird, VA October 7-9, 2012
Tunstall High Beta – Leadership Summit Concord, NC October 13-15, 2012
Tunstall High Chorus – All Virginia Honors Choir Hot Springs, VA November 15-17, 2012
Tunstall High
DECA – State Leadership
Virginia Beach, VA March 1-3, 2013
Conference
Tunstall High Beta – State Convention Richmond, VA` March 14-16, 2013
Tunstall High AP Social Studies Classes – New York City, NY March 29 – April 1, 2013
Social Studies & Art Tour
Tunstall High Chorus – All State Choir Hanover High,
April 25-27, 2013
Richmond, VA
Tunstall High Beta – National Convention Mobile, AL June 18-23, 2013
Tunstall Middle
FFA – Virginia State Youth
Harrisonburg, VA October 12-13, 2012
Livestock Expo
Chatham Middle National FFA Convention Indianapolis, IN October 23-27, 2012
2. The Board approved the 2013-2014 Budget Calendar as presented.
3. The Board approved the following individuals to serve on the 2012-2013 Special
Education Advisory Committee:
Parent Representatives:
Brosville Elementary – Deborah Broady
Chatham Elementary – Lisa Wells
Chatham Middle – Rose Mitchell
Dan River Middle – Kevin Meadows

Dan River High – Kathy Fisher
Gretna Elementary – Jeanne Younger
Gretna Middle – Kim Walker
Gretna High – Elizabeth Lowe
Kentuck Elementary – Janice Rinker
Mt. Airy Elementary – Michelle Estrada
Southside Elementary – Genell Garland
Stony Mill Elementary – Tiffany Queener
Tunstall Middle – Christy Davidson
Tunstall High – Stephanie Grasty
Twin Springs Elementary – VACANT
Union Hall Elementary – Cynthia Hughes
Business and Community Representatives:
Dennia Burton
Bonnie Gibson
Winfred Logan
Deborah Shelton
Consultants
Ann Cassada
William Sandidge
4. The Board approved the following individuals to serve on the 2012-2013 School Health
Advisory Committee:
Clarence Kirby, DDS
Katherine Blair, PE Teacher
Jeanne Ashworth, LPN, DRMC
Tracey Worley, Director of Finance
Kristin Stathers, Clinic Manger, Centra Health
Verna Burnette, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, District Epidemiologist
Bonnie Meadors, RN, BSN
Peggy Saunders, RN
Ashlee Pickrel, Student Representative, Chatham High School
Barbara Clay, Executive Administrative Assistant
Amy Warren, Edwards, Project Connect Coordinator for Pittsylvania
County Schools
Margie Wilkinson, Director of Operations & Senior Program Officer
Janice Wiles, RN
Dr. William Sandidge, Supervisor of Special Education
Margaret Roach, Pittsylvania County Social Services
Kara Scott, School Nutrition Specialist
Rhonda Yates, Supervisor of School Nutrition
Ann Cassada, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services

5. Ms. Ashlee Pickrel, Student Representative from Chatham High School, introduced the
Character Word of the Month for October which was “Honesty.”
6. The Board recognized the following individuals as recipients of the VSBA 2012 Media
Honor Roll Awards:
Mr. Robert Benson, Editor for the Danville Register & Bee
Ms. Susan Worley, Reporter for the Star-Tribune
Mr. Tim Davis, Editor for the Star-Tribune
7. Ms. Jessica Jones, Teacher at Chatham Middle School and President of the Pittsylvania
Education Association (PEA), addressed the Board to express appreciation to Dr. Lillian
Holland, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Mrs. Wanda Vaughan, Assistant
Superintendent for Instruction, and the Superintendent for serving as guest speakers at the
PEA association training held on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at Chatham Middle
School. There were three (3) major topics of discussion resulting from this training.
These topics included the utilization of technology to host meetings via teleconferencing
or Skype, a Christmas bonus for employees and the use of internal resources such as
retired PEA members providing professional development activities for teachers or
services for students.
8. Mr. Mike Hutson, Director of Maintenance & Facilities, provided an overview of the
completed and ongoing maintenance projects for the school system. These projects
included the following:
o The high school renovations have been completed. However, there are three (3)
additional punch list items at Dan River High School that need to be completed.
The contractor has agreed to allow someone else to be paid to complete this work
and to deduct the costs from the final bill.
o The storage buildings at Dan River High School, Gretna High School and
Tunstall High School have been constructed and are being used.
o The softball, soccer and track fields at Chatham High School have been
completed. Additional grass was planted and is growing on the soccer field and
track infield.
o The kitchen addition at Brosville Elementary School has been completed.
o The gym was painted and the floor was sanded and refinished at Hurt Elementary
School.
o The old yellow fiberglass ceiling tiles were replaced at Kentuck Elementary
School.
o The entrance driveway was expanded for buses at Kentuck Elementary School.
Plans include the installation of a road and turnaround behind the gym at Kentuck
Elementary School to improve the traffic flow.
o The front doors at Kentuck Elementary School will be replaced.
o Other projects included painting, replacing carpet and additional repairs. There
were 4,700 work order completed in the past twelve (12) months. The department
concentrated their summer work on preventive maintenance.

Mr. Hutson expressed appreciation to the Board for its support in the upkeep of the
facilities and grounds. He asked the Board to continue this support for next year and
keep in mind that major repairs may be needed for the next school year. It was noted that
the health department is continuing to recommend that the water systems at Union Hall
Elementary School and Mt. Airy Elementary School be replaced.
9. Ms. M. Elizabeth Craig, Director of Middle/Secondary Education, and Ms. Nancy C.
Towler, Director of Elementary Education, presented the results of the Discipline Survey.
There were 665 teachers completing the survey. Overall the results of the survey were
positive. There were three major areas of behavior identified: for middle/high schools
they were classroom disruption, disrespect and dress code violations and for elementary
schools they were classroom disruption, disrespect and bullying. These results will be
shared with the school principals with the expectation that they will examine the data and
identify positives and negatives for their schools. Mr. Kenyon Scott, Principal of Gretna
High School, has implemented a 10-member team to examine discipline issues. All
Board members were invited to attend the first meeting of this team which is scheduled
on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at 8:45 a.m.
The Student Representatives were asked to provide their prospective relative to discipline
in the schools. Opinions expressed included the following: schools had tightened up on
discipline for tardies and dress codes; there were some classroom disruptions but it is
improving; there is some disrespect displayed by students; and there are some dress code
issues. However, it was felt overall that the schools are doing a good job.
Appreciation was expressed to Ms. Craig and Ms. Towler for their work on this survey.
10. The Superintendent provided the following reports:
Information from the State Report Card for Pittsylvania County Schools was
provided. Even with the challenges of reduction in staff and lack of funding, the
school system did very well and exceeded the State averages in most categories on
the Standards of Learning assessments. There were 14 out of 18 schools (8
elementary, 3 middle and 4 high schools) that met the benchmarks for the Federal
Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs). It was noted that Tunstall High School did
not meet the federal graduation index benchmarks.
The high school graduation and completion index rates have been released. All four
(4) high schools exceeded the 85% benchmark to meet the standards for graduation.
Chatham High School had 92%; Dan River High School had 93%; Gretna High
School had 88%; Tunstall High School had 89%; and the division overall was 91%.
Over the last three (3) years, Chatham improved by 10 points, Dan River by 8 points,
Gretna by 9 points, Tunstall by 1 point and the overall division by 7 points.
The Chairman is collecting information about the successes of the school division to
present to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. The Superintendent may use

this information to present a letter to the editor of the Danville Register & Bee and the
Star-Tribune.
Upcoming VSBA Conference:
o VSBA Annual Convention, November 14-16, 2012, Williamsburg, VA
The Student Representatives have been assigned memberships on the following
committees: Concussion Management Team, School Calendar Committee, School
Health Advisory Committee, Behavior Management Taskforce and Crisis
Management Team.
The Assistant Superintendents will present their vision for their assigned departments
to the School Board at its November meeting. The team has been very busy
transitioning and learning new jobs. They were commended for doing a phenomenal
job and working together.
A Superintendent’s Memorandum was provided relative to the guidelines for the
evaluation of superintendents. These plans are very similar to the teacher and
principal guidelines.
11. The Chairman expressed appreciation to all employees of Pittsylvania County Schools
for doing more with less.
12. Mrs. Tracey R. Worley, Director of Finance/Deputy Clerk, presented the proposed bids
for petroleum products. She informed the Board that based on these bid prices, the
amount for gas and diesel used for buses and other vehicles would be over budget by
$220,000. The medium fuel oil and liquid propane used for heating would be under
budget by $66,000, and the motor oil bid was down by $1.00 per case and $.50 per
gallon. These costs are based on the previous year’s usage. There were some additional
State dollars put into maintenance for electricity; however, it is anticipated that there will
not be any extra money to help pay for electric bills this year. Also, the $250,000 for
CSA expenditures was not included in the budget. After reviewing payroll
encumbrances, the budget is very tight but the school system should be able to manage
these deficits. There will be no additional money available for water systems or
additional personnel unless there are cuts to the current budget.
13. The Board approved the low firm bid meeting specifications for the following bid:
Petroleum products
14. The Board approved the easement agreement with the City of Danville for a right of way
for utility facilities located next to Dan River Middle School to set up a tower.
15. The Board authorized the application of the Make It Happen Grant for Mt. Airy
Elementary School for improvements to the playground.

16. The Board authorized the application of the Make It Happen Grant for Hurt Elementary
School for improvements to the playground.
17. The Board adopted a resolution to urge Congress and the Administration to amend the
Budget Control Act to mitigate the drastic cuts to education that would affect our students
and communities, and to protect education as an investment critical to economic stability
and American competitiveness.