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Minutes 05-02-02MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2002, AT 6:00 P.M. Present Beverly Agee, Chairperson Lillian Artis Dr. Floyd M. Bell (arrived at 6:20 p.m.) Jean Cairo Revia Lee Randy O'Hara Virginia Farace, Board Liaison Absent Mark R. Scoff Judith Braswell, Alternate Rae Fellows, Alternate Ashley Hall, Student Andrea Jo Floyd, Student I. Pledge The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. II1. Minutes Motion Ms. Cairo moved to accept the minutes of the April 4, 2002 meeting. The motion was seconded by Ms. Lee and unanimously carried. Chairperson Agee signed the minutes for the file. IV. Kurt Bressner - City Manager of Boynton Beach/Welcome to the Board Chairperson Agee introduced and welcomed Mr. Bressner, City Manager of Boynton Beach. She invited Mr. Bressner to the meeting to explain to the new Board members what their role and responsibilities were as they related to the Commission and the City Manager's staff. Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 2, 2002 Mr. Bressner thanked the Board for inviting him. Mr. Bressner has been City Manager in Boynton Beach for two years and spoke of his prior experience as a City Manager for over 25 years in the State of Illinois. Mr. Bressner noted that he met this afternoon with a team of City staff members for a project called "Leaving a Legacy." He explained that within three to five years there would be many staff changes in the City. All members of the committee will be going to school in the Fall to learn how to evaluate the City's organization. There are a number of employees in the City's early retirement program that have indicated that they would be leaving in three years. It is important for the City to work with these staff members to determine what the important issues in the Community are and how staff can make sure that Boynton Beach is a better place. Mr. Bressner compared the responsibilities of the Education Advisory Board to this Committee. He referred to the Board's bylaws, which contain eight focus items that leaves a legacy to ensure that the education system within the limits of the City is the best that it can be. (Members were provided with a copy of the bylaws.) He noted it is difficult to work with a large school system, but usually that school system would be receptive to assistance and would work with you. The City was fortunate to have the Education Advisory Board, made up of volunteers, who want to contribute to the Community. Mr. Bressner reviewed the eight purpose items contained in the bylaws. He noted that the City, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, has concerns about the future of South Tech. Mr. Bressner recommended that this Board maintain contact with the Chamber of Commerce's Educational Committee to coordinate activities and share information. He noted that the Education Advisory Board, in cooperation with Delray Beach, played a crucial role on boundaries. The City Commission looks confidently to the Education Advisory Board that the ;interests of the community would be aptly represented at the School Board meetings. Mr. Bressner also complimented Ms, Farace on her ability to get things done, Mr. Bressner divided the issues that the Education Advisory Board deals with into two categories, tactical and strategic. Tactical - · Boundary issues. There is a new high school being constructed in western Boynton Beach, which will have a profound impact upon Boynton Beach High School's boundaries. Safety to, from and at school. Currently, the City is dealing with safe passage for students attending Galaxy School. The area is in need of sidewalks since the students must now walk to school. Boynton Beach does not have a transportation or traffic advisory board that could deal 2 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 2, 2002 with these types of issues; therefore, they are spread Board, the Planning and Development Board and staff. Funding. After-School Programs. out among this Strategic - Boundaries. Long-term boundaries--will they ever stay stable? Annual changes to the school boundaries can tear a community apart. Neighborhood Schools versus Choice. The School Board is going to be faced with a major policy issue regarding the pros and cons of neighborhood schools versus choice of schools. The Education Advisory Board is going to have to take a stand on this issue, because the City Commission will be looking to the Board for guidance. Develops sustaining relationships with schools. A nurturing relationship with the High School has been developed. A wonderful camaraderie between the City and Dr. Cornnell has been established. Parochial and charter schools need to be included as well. Ms. Farace noted that the purview of the Board :has always been public schools, but there has been discussion regarding charter and private schools. Concurrency Issues. Mr. Bressner reported that Belle Glade was the last City to adopt the Concurrency Plan and explained the purpose of the Plan. Mr. Bressner also felt that the City is going to have to decide if it wants to accept the County's Concurrency Plan or does the City want to develop its own. There are only 90 days that this can be done because the City is expected to adopt the implementation process of the Plan. Safe Schools. Commissioner Fisher has been actively involved in the safe school initiative. Economic Development. Businesses look at schools when deciding whether they want to move into a City. Assistant City Manager Dale Sugerman is involved with economic development and discussion on the role of the schools has come up. The Education Advisory Board is a very important and influential City Board that must deal with the future of our children and the relationship between the City and the schools. Mr. Bressner stressed the importance that the Board plays in dealing with some very real issues facing the community. V. Chair's Report Chairperson Agee thanked Mr. Bressner for taking the time to address the Board. She pointed out that serving on the Education Advisory Board provides the members an opportunity to give to their community. She would like to see the Board start working together. Chairperson Agee read all the Board's minutes for the past several years and learned that each Board had their own agenda and set their own goals. She 3 Meeting Minutes '~ Education Advisory Board Boynton BeaCh, Florida May 2, 2002 reminded the members that everything they did or discussed as it pertains to the Board falls under the Florida Sunshine Law. She wanted the members to be aware of this at all times. She envisions that the Board,s role would be in an advisory capacity to the Commission and the School Board. Chairperson Agee would like the BOard to go on the road and visit some of the schools this year, VI. City Liaison,S Report Ms. Farace welcomed the new Board and stated that under Ms. Agee's leadership, she is looking forward to accomplishing many things this year. VII. Public Audience Chairperson Agee welcomed the guests to the meeting. Ms. Irene Latour. a resident of Boynton Beach, has two children in City schools and another child at home. She was attending tonight's meeting to see what the Board does and expressed an interest in becoming a member. Ms. Latour volunteers in many areas throughout the City. Boynton Beach is her family's home and she would like to remain active in the City. Ms. Joyce O'Hara, wife of Board member, Randy O'Hara, is currently a realtor, but has a Master's Degree in Special Education. She is visiting the Board tonight with her husband. VIII. Introduction of Board members/Their Background and Expectations as EAB Members and Skills Chairperson Agee said that she started out as a teacher, but changed to law when she discovered teaching was not her strong point. She retired three years ago after practicing law for a long time and moved to Florida. She too feels that it is important to give something to the community. Revia Lee has been a long-time resident of Boynton Beach. She is the Principal at Royal Palm School, which is a special education school that covers pre-k through the 12th grade. Ms. Lee said she is interested in serving on the Education Advisory Board because she has a granddaughter that attends school in Boynton Beach. She feels that she can offer many things to the Board and has served on the Board for over two terms. She looks forward to serving another term and hopes to be able to commit more time to the Board. Lillian Artis is also a long-time resident of the City and has been a teacher since pre-desegregation days in Boynton Beach. She has taught at many schools in the City and served on the Committee for Peaceful Desegregation of Schools. She raised five children that attended local schools and taught school for 32 years in Palm Beach County. She has served on many boards in the City and was a City Commissioner from 1989 through 1993. 4 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 2, 2002 Jean Cairo has a seven-year-old son who attends first grade at Banyan Creek Elementary School. She serves on the PTA, SAC and volunteers at the school twice a week. She is very concerned about maintaining safety in the schools. Ms. Cairo managed a restaurant for 15 years and has very good organizational skills. She would like to help in any way possible. Randy O'Hara wants to participate, rather than be a spectator. He is employed by a financial services company in Boca Raton and he would like to educate parents about economics, finance and college planning. His associates told him he was wasting his time and this upset him. He wants to change that kind of attitude and would like to see people become involved. Mr. O'Hara grew up in Maryland. He served in the Marine Corps and when he finished his term, he went back to college and earned a degree in finance. Dr. Floyd Bell maintains a Chiropractic practice in Boynton Beach and is an Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach Community College. He has served on many City Boards for over 14 years and was one of the first members on the Advisory Board for Children and Youth. In the past, he was the team physician for the Bulldogs. Dr. Bell likes being involved and would like to help the City as much as he can. Mr. Bressner left the meeting and informed the members that he would always be available if anyone wished to contact him. IX. Principals Roundtable - Plans and Goals, June 13th (Ms. Farace left the room momentarily.) X. Planning for the Future A Welcome to the Board - Alphabet Soup and Educationese Meeting June 6, 2002 Chairperson Agee felt that it was important that all Board members were familiar with the acronyms and vocabulary that are common to education ("educationese.") Ms. Farace and Ms. Cairo prepared a pamphlet on the School District of Palm Beach County that contained information that would assist the Board and each member received a copy. The pamphlet also contained the meeting dates and addresses of the various SACs. Members will be choosing a SAC tonight that they would like to attend. Chairperson Agree will try to locate information on the acronyms and definitions to be available at the next meeting. She would like to spend about two hours at the June 6th meeting to discuss these terms. Chairperson Agee felt it was important that the members know the terminology prior to the Principals' Roundtable. Ms. Artis and Ms. Lee will coordinate this with Ms. Braswell. Ms. Farace requested that the Committee notify her of the date of their meeting so that she can inform the City Clerk who would then post a notice. 5 Meeting Minutes ~ ~ Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 2, 2002 Principals Roundtable - Plans and Goals, June 13th Ms. Farace reported that she spoke with Ms. Elizabeth Decker, Area 2 Superintendent, and she selected the schools that had a large majority of Boynton Beach students for the Principals Roundtable. Ms. Farace also spoke with Carol Shetler, Area 1 Superintendent. Ms. Decker confirmed 1:00 p.m. on June 13th for the roundtable. Each participating school will be represented by the principal and the chair (or member) of the SAC. The first order will be the introduction of the Board members who will provide a brief description of their background. The principals will introduce themselves and whom they brought. Members discussed various ways on how to proceed with the roundtable. Ms. Farace suggested beginning with a few questions or to allow each principal five minutes to present the issues concerning their school and whether the EAB could help them. Ms. Lee suggested informing the principals of the issues that this Board would be focusing on so that they could respond to those issues. Ms. Lee noted that all school improvement plans must address student achievement, safe schools, parental involvement and how to achieve these. Boundaries are also a major issue. Ms. Farace pointed out that it is not a priority of the Board to deal with the eight issues in the bylaws every year. Some of the issues have already been addressed. Members discussed whether the principals should speak about the challenges they faced last year and their future challenges and to allot them a certain amount of time. Ms. Lee suggested that there be some time constraints. Ms. Artis suggested that the principals put their concerns in writing, which the Board could use as a follow- up. Ms. Farace suggested inviting the principals of the two new elementary schools. After discussion, it was determined that each school would have six minutes to speak and a four minute question and answer period would follow. Members decided by consensus that they would like to have a Recording Secretary present to take the minutes. Ms. Farace pointed out that since a Recording Secretary would be present, there would be no need for the principals to bring their concerns in writing. Chairperson Agee suggested that the principals be furnished with a copy of the minutes. Setting Goals for the EABIFacilitated Workshop Vision, Roles and Responsibilities It was determined to hold the Workshop on Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. at the Library, to be facilitated by Ms. Braswell. Chairperson Agee requested that 6 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 2, 2002 Ms. Farace contact Ms. Braswell to confirm that she could facilitate the workshop. If Ms. Braswell was unavailable, Ms. Farace suggested asking the facilitator that was used in prior years. It was decided that there would be no need for a Recording Secretary. Since the July meeting falls on July 4th and since a workshop will be held on June 29th, members agreed to cancel the regular July meeting. Ms. Lee suggested if June 29th was not convenient for the facilitator, that the workshop be held on June 22nd. C. Role of SAC Attendance for EAB Members/Selection of Schools - Not addressed XI. Unfinished Business A. Galaxy School - Heifer Project International A presentation will be made at the School on May 29th at 8:30 a.m. Chairperson Agee will contact Mayor Broening to determine if he could attend the assembly to present the proclamation. B. Boundaries Ms. Farace reported that the agenda and meeting date on boundaries were changed to Monday, May 6th. She did not think that it would be necessary for members to attend. She will check this out further. Xll. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (two tapes) Approved: (May 3, 2002)