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Minutes 01-14-02MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2002 AT 6:00 P.M. Present Beverly ^gee, Chairperson Virginia Farace, Board Liaison Floyd Bell Jean Cairo Rae Fellows Judith Braswell, Alternate Denise Chamberlain, Alternate Absent Revia Lee Mark Scott Ashley Hall, Student Member Andrea Floyd, Student Member I. Opening and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Chair Agee called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. The alternates were advised that they would be voting in place of two regular members who were not present. III. Minutes of October 4 and December 6, 2001 There were no changes, additions, or deletions to the above minutes. Motion Ms. Cairo moved to accept the stated minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Chair Agee and carried unanimously. IV. Chair's Report Chair Agee welcomed the new members, Ms. Denise Chamberlain and Dr. Floyd Beil, to the Board. She also acknowledged the presence in the audience of Commissioner Mack McCray and Ms. Karen Whetsell, the principal of Poinciana Elementary School, and welcomed them to the meeting. Later in the meeting Chair Agee welcOmed Veronica Mackey to the meeting. Chair Agee suggested adding the Atlantic High School move issue to the agenda under New Business since she had gotten several phone calls about it. Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 14, 2002 V. City Liaison's Report Ms. Farace wished a Happy New Year to all. She reserved her comments on the Boundary issue until the Unfinished Business portion of the agenda. VI. Public Audience Commissioner McCray commended the Education Advisory Board for its hard work. He said it was hard to find volunteers for Boards and that the members' work and dedication was most appreciated by the City. Ms. Karen Whetsell stated that she was present to give a status report on the magnet school program. VII. Unfinished Business A. Boundaries Ms. Farace reported that the Boundary Subcommittee had attended a long series of public input meetings and Advisory Boundary Committee meetings on this topic. The Boundary Subcommittee spoke on behalf of the Education Advisory Board and the City of Boynton Beach. Their input was successful in achieving some benefits to Boynton Beach schools that would not have happened except for their recommendations and activities. The Advisory Boundary Committee (ABC) met last week and made boundary decisions affecting the report they would pass on to the Superintendent of Schools, based on the community input it received in the public meetings on December 13 and 18, 2001. Ms. Farace distributed a packet of information from this meeting to the Board members. SAC 254, a portion of Cypress Creek, did not wish to be re-assigned to Galaxy Elementary and they came out in great strength at the meeting. They wanted to remain at Citrus Cove. This request was granted and the ABC is changing its recommendation, allowing this SAC to remain at Citrus Cove. SAC 250B has a majority of students going to Rolling Green. A small portion of SAC 250B wished to remain at Citrus Cove and the Boundary Subcommittee of the EAB requested this. SAC 250D also wished to remain at Citrus Cove rather than be transferred to Forest Park. The request was granted for a small portion of SAC 250B but denied for SAC 250D. The Boundary Subcommittee asked whether SAC 250D could be transferred to Galaxy, since Forest Park would be at 114% of capacity and Galaxy at 92%. The ABC thought it was a good idea but stated that it would require another public input meeting. This public input meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 22 at Galaxy Elementary School. The usual meeting time is 6:30 p.m. Ms. Cairo mentioned that the late notice of the public input meetings probably caused the small turnouts. Ms. Farace is attempting to find out a firm date and time and suggested that people call her for information. Ms. Farace invited interested parties to attend the Boundary Subcommittee meeting on Thursday, January 17, at 4:00 p.m., in the Library Program Room. They will talk about how to get the public out for SAC 250D and what approaches to consider in making any further recommendations. 2 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January14,2002 Ms. Farace brought up the request of the families of eleven students on Diane Drive who wanted to go to the new elementary school on Congress Avenue. The parents spoke of their desire' and the ABC listened, but the parents' bid was not successful. It failed since it would call for a special bus transportation zone. The EAB supported the parents' desire to have their children attend a Boynton Beach school and could accept Forest Park as the assigned school but the parents were not interested in this alternative. The Delray Beach representative at the meeting did not allow it to come to a vote, strongly preferring that the students stay at Plumosa. Commissioner McCray noted that there had been calls to the Commissioners asking for the City's support for their cause. They were told that the City Commission backed the recommendation of the EAB. When the ABC meets to finalize boundaries, after the SAC 250D public input meeting, the Boundary Subcommittee would like to make a recommendation on behalf of the full EAB. Ms. Farace asked for EAB approval for the Boundary Subcommittee to formulate the EAB's recommendation and speak for the full EAB on this issue. Motion Ms. Fellows moved to empower the Boundary Subcommittee to speak on behalf of the full Education Advisory Board on the boundary issues. Ms. Braswell seconded the motion that carried unanimously. Ms. Farace stated that when the ABC recommendation was heard by the School Board in late February or early March, she hoped that there would be a large turnout and invited all the Board members and parents to attend. She especially hoped that one or more of the Commissioners would attend to speak on behalf of the EAB's recommendation. Chair Agee suggested that the SAC assignment reports be deferred to the end of the meeting in favor of discussing the Atlantic High School move, since Commissioner McCray was still present. She felt that it was very much a political issue and that the Commissioners from Delray Beach and Boynton Beach would have to work together on the issue if the EAB decided to take a position on this issue. X. New Business Atlantic High School Move Chair Agee distributed a packet of information to the Board members about this issue. Some of the Commissioners had already been approached about this. Chair Agee mentioned that there was to be a rally against the Atlantic High School move at the Delray Beach Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. on January 15. The new home of the International Baccalaureate program at Atlantic, the effect on diversity and boundaries, and the effect on the Boynton Beach students resulting from this move were all raised as concerns. Chair Agee noted that there were several issues that Delray had to resolve before any decision to move Atlantic became final. The current plan calls for the renovations of Atlantic to begin in the summer of 2002. Commissioner McCray suggested that the Board continue to investigate and advise the City Commission Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 14, 2002 of their findings. He also commented that Delray Beach had supported Boynton's attempts to get its own high school and that this had been accomplished. The Board reached a general consensus that while it would not be taking a position at this time regarding the move of Atlantic High School, it would continue to study the matter and keep the City Commission informed. A. FUnding Issues 1) Career Academy at South Tech The plans to move and combine the South Tech program with the new high school on Jog Road were discussed. One of the considerations was that with its current location and format, South Tech closely coordinates the academic program to the trades being learned and this had been an important feature of the academy program. It is unknown whether this would be continued if it were to be made a part of a regular high school. South Tech has provided a valuable service to the community that the Board does not want to lose. Ms. Farace commented that the EAB tried to get a technical component to the new Boynton High School and could not because of South Tech. A comment was made that the principal of South Tech, Mr. James Kidd, had indicated that he was no longer concerned about the move. This prompted a Board decision to invite him to an EAB meeting to discuss his thoughts on the matter. Ms. Farace commented that South Tech's current location on Congress might be filled with the Delray Full Service Center. Ms. Veronica Mackey shared her thoughts about Delray Full Service and the many programs it offers. She commented also that if this were to happen, it would be prudent to assure that the same resources that are being put into the Delray Full Service Center now would continue in Boynton Beach. Ms. Whetsell recommended the office of Jackie Dunne, Director of Alternative Education, as the best source for the demographics the Board was trying to gather. It was recognized that more information was needed before the Board could take a position on this. Ms. Braswell suggesting tabling the issue. She offered to invite Mr. Kidd to the EAB meeting on February 7 and the Board agreed. Chair Agee and Ms. Cairo will work together to get more information about the Delray Full Service School. 2) Magnet Schools - Poinciana and Congress Ms. Whetsell stated that there were no hits to the magnet budget this year; however, the decrease in the money that is coming from the State to all schools in Florida foretells reductions in the budget for the following year. They are talking about increasing class sizes across the board by one student. All the schools that are funded by the magnet grant are losing their funding this year. Poinciana has never relied on that grant but has always been funded by the School District. Ms. Whetsell noted that when the newspapers give the FISH report, they will list Poinciana as being under capacity but this is due to the laboratories they have at their school and was not indicative of the true situation. 4 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 14,2002 Ms. Mackey asked about the application process. Ms, Braswell discussed the application process, saying that she had delivered applications all over Boynton Beach to churches and pre-schools on the day of this meeting. The deadline for applications is February 22 for the first lottery. Ms. Mackey asked about the criteria. Ms. Braswell said that a correctly filled out and signed application was the only criteria. There is no enrollment criteria for elementary or middle schools except the School of the Arts that requires an audition. Once a correctly filled out and signed application is received, it goes into the lottery. Ms. Mackey asked if the applicants were chosen at random and Ms. Braswell responded that the applicants were chosen based on the applicant pool, which is why she takes the applications to such a wide cross-section of the population. They try to maintain a diversified balance at the school. Some positive factors for selection would be if the applicant has a sibling that already goes to the school, lives in a previously established boundary zone, or is a staff member's child. These are automatic. From there, they do a lottery system. The previously established attendance boundary goes from the Canal to First Street and all the way to Boynton Beach Boulevard. On the east side of the street from the Canal it goes to the railroad tracks. Once it gets to Boynton Terrace on the east side of the street, it changes to Forest Park. Boynton Terrace on the west side has always gone to Poinciana. She said that SAC 250D was on the other side of the Canal and typically goes to Cypress Creek or Citrus Cove. Ms. Whetsell fielded a question from Ms. Mackey about the number of slots that would be available at Poinciana. Ms. Whetsell said that she would discuss this with the magnet office and see if they could accept applications from SAC 250D later than the other applications, due to the pending status of SAC 250D. Ms. Farace asked if they could possibly have the information before the Boundary Subcommittee meeting on January 17. According to Ms. Mackey, the walk from SAC 250D to either Galaxy or Forest Park would be too long and the children would have to leave home too early to get to school on time. They would have to leave their homes at 6:45 a.m. when it is still dark. Ms. Whetsell said that Rolling Green would be a safer choice. Ms. Farace noted that Rolling Green was full and that there were issues of diversity and capacity at Galaxy that needed to be addressed. If the students in the east go to the schools closest to their homes, there would be no diversity in the schools. Ms. Farace agreed that two miles of walking was too much for young children and that work had already begun on the trying to get a bus if the children go to Galaxy. Ms. Whetsell commended the EAB for doing a great job of being supportive of Poinciana. The Board thanked her for coming to the meeting and sharing her information and ideas. 3) Legislative Cuts to Education The Board discussed the probable cuts to Education in the coming year and noted that libraries and all child-based services were struggling. Ms. Farace advised that there would be a meeting at the School Board on January 15 to discuss starting a grass roots effort to change the philosophy at the State level regarding funding for education. She stated that the principals were invited and that she would be 5 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 14, 2002 Ms. Whetsell said that the setup in Florida attending for Boynton Beach High School. was different from that of the northern schools. Florida does not have a state income tax, which is where education normally receives its funding. Ms. Fellows commented that education was not a priority at the state or national level. Ms. Whetsell responded that it would only become so from a grass roots effort. Ms. Mackey commented on the City's recent $90 assessment for fire services. She would rather spend that money on education. Chair Agee noted that this had been part of a Special Taxing District and that fire services was one of the few allowable reasons for a Special Taxing District, under State law. Ms. Cairo suggested rallying the business community for extra dollars. Ms. Fellows suggested soliciting help to market the eastern school as premier schools also. Ms. Farace announced that Jack Levine was doing Statewide visits to alert everyone to issues about children and will be at Atlantis Plaza II in the Behavioral Health Learning Center on the following Friday. If anyone is interested in hearing from an advocate of children, they should telephone Ms. Farace for the details about registration. 4) David Fellows, On Campus Intervention Program and the TIPS Program Mr. Fellows distributed a report to the Quantum Foundation from South County regarding the On Campus Intervention Program at Congress Middle School for this year with a comparison to last year's program. The program is going very well. There was a request to expand the program and put it in a couple of other schools. At the last Juvenile Justice Board meeting they distributed the budget sheets on the Truancy Interdiction program and the funding is being cut for TIPS at the State level. Mr. Fellows showed the Board a breakdown by municipality of a shared cost scheme based on population, to carry the cost of the program. The Boynton Beach portion of this would be $50,070, The purpose of the TIPS program is to pick up the children who are supposed to be in school. It has been the most successful Juvenile Justice Program in the State of Florida. It keeps children in schools and increases the amount of FTE available to the school, so it is win-win situation for everybody. Mr. Fellows commented that the EAB, if it so desired, could encourage the City of Boynton Beach to support the TIPS program. He stated that in 2003 there would be no funding for the TIPS program. Also, the State of Florida has cut $75M from the Juvenile Justice Program, the vast majority of which was in prevention and supervision such as probation officers. More and more, the task of supervising juveniles who have been through the court system and end up back on the streets will fall to the school system. Programs like TIPS will be even more critical to maintain a good quality of life in communities. Mr. Fellows explained that when TIPS picked up suspended students, they would not be brought back to the schools as a regular student would. Their parents would be called to pick them up. Dr. Bell suggested a $25 fee to pick the students up. Mr. Fellows agreed but realistically, most of the parents do not have the money and it would cost even more money to collect it. Meeting Minutes ' Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 14, 2002 Chair Agee thought it was something that the Board should definitely take under consideration. Xl. Announcements & Other Ms. Farace commented that the Advisory Board on Children & Youth had asked about the EAB's plans for the Principal'S RoUndtable since they want to be put on the agenda. Ms. Farace asked that this item be put On the EAB's next agenda. Ms. Farace announced that the George Snow Scholarship Fund is available and copies of the application are in the Library. The Board discussed the current SAC assignments. Ms. Braswell commented that if an individual joins a SAC organization, he or she should commit to carry their attendance through the entire school year. When they drop out, it hurts the school when they are going for Five-Star awards. Chair Agee explained the SAC assignments and their purpose. The current SAC assignments are: Judith Braswell Jean Cairo Virginia Farace Beverly Agee Rae Fellows Mark Scott Revia Lee Beverly Agee Denise Chamberlain Open Floyd Beil Poinciana Elementary School Atlantic High School Boynton Beach Community High School Odyssey Middle School Forest Park Elementary School South Technical Community High School Santaluces High School Congress Middle School Galaxy Elementary School Rolling Green Elementary School Citrus Cove Elementary School Chair Agee thanked the new members for offering to participate in the SAC assignments. Ms. Fellows commented that the INCA Neighborhood Association was interested in having someone come from the EAB to update the residents on the status of educational issues. Chair Agee and Ms. Braswell will represent the EAB at the INCA meeting. Ms. Braswell spoke about her visit to the Children's Museum and her talk with Arleen Dennison. She was very impressed with the quality of the museum and brought it to the attention of the faculty at Poinciana. Ms. Dennison invited the EAB to meet at the museum and offered to open it up in the evening for that purpose. Ms. Braswell wanted to move that the EAB have a meeting there but Ms. Farace stated that this would take a lot of time and should be scheduled when there is a short agenda. 7 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida Xll. Adjournment There being no further business adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Collins Recording Secretary (two tapes) to come before the January 14,2002 Board, the meeting was duly Approved: board Chairperson (01/16/02)