THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609250112
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: 56 lines
More action from last week's School Board meeting: Daniels raises concern about minutes
School Board member Elizabeth Daniels, concerned about why certain questions she asked at last month's regular meeting were not included in the Aug. 29 minutes, initiated a discussion about the handling of minutes.
Daniels, elected in May, urged the board to support the idea of including board members' comments in minutes.
Minutes are the official record of what was said and done at each public meeting.
Board members' comments are as important as their official actions, Daniels said.
Board Clerk Vivian Edwards often includes brief, paraphrased remarks from board members in the minutes.
But Superintendent Richard Trumble said minutes traditionally have been centered on ``business'' actions, such as motions and decisions made.
Whether board members will direct Edwards to include more of their comments in minutes is unclear.
At Daniels' urging, however, the board decided to include in the official Aug. 29 minutes several questions she asked that night.
The questions dealt with district security measures when it comes to administering a standardized exam, and the distribution of exam ``practice'' material to teachers.
At regular meetings, the board approves minutes from a previous meeting. Board members occasionally point out an error or ask for a wording change before minutes become part of the public record. Sunshine Center's mission unchanged
Trumble recently told the board that the Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation wanted Sunshine Health Center staffers to get a green light to discuss sex-related topics with students seeking information.
The board rejected the idea.
Trumble wanted to at least study it.
The center, based at Hunt-Mapp Middle, opened in 1995. The foundation has given it nearly $68,000.
The board told Trumble to send the foundation a letter spelling out its intent to leave sex-related topics to the Family Life Education program, which includes sex education.
The center offers what's known as primary care: immunizations and screenings, for example.
It doesn't deal with sex education or provide reproductive health services. Foundation Executive Director Alan Gollihue said the board's decision was predictable. He said the foundation sought the change because of its concern about teenage pregnancy and its desire to take advantage of the center's clinical and personal environment. by CNB