|
January 14, 2014
<br />At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, there
<br />were present:
<br />Mayor Kenneth I. Wright, Vice Mayor Paige D. Cherry, William E. Moody, Jr., Marlene
<br />W. Randall, Elizabeth M. Psimas, Dr. Curtis E. Edmonds, Sr., Danny W. Meeks, City
<br />Manager John L. Rowe, Jr., City Attorney George M. Willson.
<br />Pastor Felton Whitfield opened the meeting with prayer, which was followed by
<br />the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />Mayor Wright called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
<br />Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Edmonds, to approve the minutes of
<br />a Called Meeting of December 9, 2013, of a Called Meeting of December 10, 2013, of a
<br />Regular Meeting of December 10, 2013, of a Special Meeting of December 17, 2013,
<br />and of a Special Meeting of December 18, 2013, and was adopted by the following vote:
<br />Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright
<br />Nays: None
<br />14 - 13 -Presentation:
<br />• Presentation of special lapel pins to newly appointed board and commission
<br />members.
<br />- City Manager's Report -
<br />14 - 14 -Adoption of an ordinance to appropriate the sum of $172,300 in the Other
<br />Funds-Grants Fund portion of the FY 2013-14 Education Fund. Vision Principles:
<br />Quality of Life and Lifelong Learning Community.
<br />Background:
<br />• As part of its Fiscal Year 2013 -2014, the Commonwealth of Virginia has
<br />established several grant opportunities which includes the School Security Equipment
<br />Grants and the Strategic Teacher Compensation Grants.
<br />• The School Security Equipment Grants will help improve safety and security for
<br />students and teachers in Virginia schools and regional education programs. This grant
<br />are design to pay for security equipment, including video monitoring systems, metal
<br />detectors, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems, and communications
<br />systems providing direct links between schools and law enforcement agencies.
<br />• The Strategic Teacher Compensation Grants provides performance and
<br />incentive payments of up to $5,000 for teachers in certain schools divisions who meet
<br />goals related to student achievement, professional growth and leadership.
<br />Discussion:
<br />• Under the School Security Equipment Grants, the Portsmouth School Board was
<br />awarded $99,960 for needed security upgrades at the following schools: Brighton
<br />Elementary, Churchland Middle, Cradock Middle, Douglass Park Elementary, Emily N.
<br />Spong Preschool, John Tyler Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Mount Hermon
<br />Preschool, Park View Elementary, Westhaven Elementary, and Williams E. Waters
<br />Middle.
<br />• The School Security Equipment Grants requires a 25% local match ($24,990)
<br />which is being provided through the School Boards General Fund.
<br />• Under the Strategic Teacher Compensation Grants, the Portsmouth School
<br />Board was awarded $72,340 to provide incentives payments for 24 middle and high
<br />school teachers who meet goals related to increased student achievement in
<br />mathematics as follows: $5,000 for 8 master mathematics teachers, $2,000 for 8
<br />partner mathematics teachers, and $1,000 for 8 partner special education teachers.
<br />• The Strategic Teacher Compensation Grants does not require a local match.
<br />• The Portsmouth School Board has passed a resolution on 5 December 2013
<br />requesting the City Council to appropriate these two amounts for use in its Grant Fund
<br />for Fiscal Year 2013 -2014.
<br />
|