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Minutes 04-07-05MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, 208 SOUTH SEACREST BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2005 AT 6:15 P.M. Present: Jean Cairo, Chair Virginia Farace, Board Liaison Floyd M. Beil, Vice Chair Christine G. Moeller Melinda Mallon, Voting Alternate Absent: David Weinstein, Alternate Jeffrey Andre, Student Also present: Anthony Gaspard, Student Patricia Judge -Lashley, South Area Volunteer & Business Partnership Coordinator I. Pledge The meeting was called to order at 6:25 p.m. and members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. For informational purposes, Chairperson Cairo distributed copies of newspaper articles. II, Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. Ms. Farace announced that Barbara Brunetti and Margaret Newton resigned. A copy of Ms. Newton's resignation was provided to the Recording Secretary for filing in the City Clerk's Office. Chairperson Cairo announced that Joan Pleasants would not be reapplying for reappointment to the Board. Ms. Moeller requested that her E-mail address be changed to molehut@bellsouth.com. III. Minutes: March 3, 2005 The minutes will be approved at the May meeting. Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2005 IV. Public Audience Ms. Lashley was in attendance to determine if any Board members had any issues or questions that she could address since the last meeting. Ms. Lashley reported that she checked on a couple of Boynton Beach schools to determine what their needs are for volunteers. The Galaxy School Volunteer Coordinator informed her that they have sufficient volunteers and do not need any more. This does not rule out they may need volunteers or business partners in the future. She contacted Boynton Beach High School and will be following up with that school as well. Ms. Farace inquired if the School District had material that the principals could place in the packets for the parents of the ninth grade students. Ms. Lashley stated they provide the volunteers handouts when the schools have their volunteer orientation, as well as an entire packet for the volunteer coordinators. When they have their orientation, the volunteer coordinator shares the information at the orientation for volunteers. They also have a packet for the business partnership coordinator. Ms. Lashley inquired about the status of the business partnership with the City that had been previously discussed. Ms. Farace will follow through with the City's Public Affairs Director, Wayne Segal. Chairperson Cairo would like to provide the participants in the PFAD program with volunteer and/or business partnership materials. She felt it was important that the PFAD participants be provided with information regarding volunteering and business partnership opportunities. Chairperson Cairo was under the opinion that Galaxy Elementary was still in need of volunteers. Ms. Lashley will check with the volunteer coordinator for that school. Chairperson Cairo also thought it would be a good idea to have information in the Library about volunteering in the schools and Ms. Farace agreed with this. Discussion ensued on when the best time would be to recruit volunteers. Ms. Farace thought that they could try to get the City's program approved by the City Commission at a time to be determined to get the employees on board with the program when school opens. She also thought they could put information in the City's newsletter to residents regarding volunteering and that applications could be available in various City locations. Ms. Lashley pointed out that most of the training of volunteers takes place during the first two weeks of school. Most of the volunteer coordinating through the schools takes place in August and September. She also pointed out that some volunteers are seasonal and only commit in January. Ms. Lashley pointed out that the School District also has written agreements for business partnerships and schools have business partnership coordinators. Ms. Lashley will provide an updated list for Boynton and West Boynton Schools to Chairperson Cairo sometime in August. Chairperson Cairo requested a copy of the current list and Ms. Lashley stated she would provide this as well. Ms. Lashley reported that Sherry Segal is the Volunteer Coordinator that handles West Boynton Schools. Chairperson Cairo 2 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2005 recommended contacting Natalie Meyers about doing an article in The Boynton Times regarding volunteering in the schools. V. Chair's Report PFAD Chairperson Cairo reviewed and discussed the articles she had distributed. One article dealt with the City of Delray Beach receiving grants for its schools through a Heart of Delray auction that raised funds for this purpose. She questioned if this may be something the Board might want to look into. It appears the City of Delray Beach receives a great deal of donations for its schools. Another article discussed was the shortage of teachers in the State. It is estimated that the State would be 20,000 teachers short this fall and next year 30,000. Vice Chair Bell questioned the accuracy of the figures. Chairperson Cairo responded that the teacher shortage may be more prevalent in other areas of the State. Ms. Farace pointed out that for the coming school year, six to seven new schools would be opening that have to be staffed. It is also anticipated that the Scripps Project will greatly impact the schools. Chairperson Cairo reported she received a call last month from the Galaxy School PFAD, Kristen Conti, who has gone over and above to help out Galaxy School. There also was an article about Ms. Conti in a local newspaper. As a result of the article, a gentleman came into her office and donated $500 to the School. He will also be funding $1,000 each for an additional ten projects at the School. Chairperson Cairo has contacted the Principal of Galaxy School to advise him of the donations and he will follow through to determine how the funds would be best spent for the betterment of the children and the school. Chairperson Cairo would like to ask the principals at the Principals' Roundtable what their 10 top priorities are for their school so when contributions are received, they will be prepared on how to spend the funds. She felt if the Board had this information prior to the November PFAD, they could be prepared when the businessperson participated in the program. This will assist the Board in matching the right businessperson with the right school. The Board has also received an invitation from the Principal of Galaxy Elementary to tour his school. Chairperson Cairo recommended that Board members take the opportunity to visit with the schools. She has found this to be a positive experience. Carol Shetler, Area 1 Supervisor, contacted Chairperson Cairo with two dates for the Principals' Roundtable. Those dates are June 15 or June 22. Both dates are on a Wednesday and Ms. Shetler requested it be held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Ms. Shetler would like the Board to select a date in order for her to send out invitations to the principals. Chairperson Cairo stated she would not be available for the month of June when school lets out. After discussion, it was determined to hold the Principals' Roundtable on June 22®. Vice Chair Bell noted that the last Principals' Roundtable had a very good turnout. Chairperson Cairo will inform Ms. Shetler of the date selected. 3 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2005 Discussion took place regarding which Board members would be in charge of certain tasks for the Roundtable. Ms. Farace suggested offering breakfast. Members felt that coffee, juice and bagels and/or muffins would be sufficient. Vice Chair Bell thought that funds had been allocated to the Board that could be used to furnish breakfast. Ms. Farace will check on this. Ms. Mallon offered to help with the breakfast and asked Mr. Gaspard if he could find some students to help with the set up and he stated that he would try. Ms. Shetler will be doing the invitations to all the Principals and Ms. Farace noted that invitations needed to be sent to people in the City that the Board would like to attend. Also, an agenda needed to be prepared and a chair for the event needs to be determined. Chairperson Cairo noted that a questionnaire was sent to the Principals prior to the last Roundtable so they could list what they would like to discuss. Chairperson Cairo would like to have a place on the questionnaire where Principals could list their top priorities. Ms. Farace noted at the last Roundtable the chair of the SAC or a parent from that school was invited. Each school was allotted a certain amount of time to speak. Chairperson Cairo did not think there was a need to have the SAC chair or a parent attend. Members felt that invitations should be sent to all schools that Boynton Beach students attend that would include Odyssey, Atlantic High School, South Technical, and the charter schools within the City. Chairperson Cairo will speak with Ms. Shetler about what schools would be included. Vice Chair Bell recommended forming a sub-committee to work out the details for the Principal Roundtable. Ms. Mallon and Ms. Moeller offered to assist. Ms. Farace reminded members that if they would be holding sub-committee meetings, they have to be noticed and notes need to be taken. Vice Chair Bell also volunteered to help. Ms. Farace stated that she could provide a place for the sub-committee meetings. Chairperson Cairo will speak with Ms. Shetler's Secretary and inform her the Board selected June 22nd as the date for the roundtable. Whatever information Ms. Farace uncovers from the last Principal's Roundtable she will E-mail the information to Ms. Mallon at melma1972 @ adelphia.net. Chairperson Cairo distributed a sign up sheet for members to volunteer for tasks for Principal for a Day. No date has been selected, but it will be held sometime in November. VI. City Liaison's Report Boundaries "Read Boynton" Ms. Farace distributed articles on the following subjects for Board members' review 4 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2005 Ecology-friendly school at Pine Jog Environmental Education Center proposal to go before board Boynton Charter School is being investigated to determine if having Pamela Owen's mother on the Board is nepotism Articles dealing with the difference between FCAT scores and No Child Left Behind scores Ms. Farace announced that Barnes & Noble is sponsoring an Educator Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 30, 2005. There will be a book discussion on the Governor's Book, Hoot. On Friday, April 8th, there will be a partial eclipse of the sun. The Boynton Beach High School Astronomy Class will be at the Library to view the event by setting up telescopes for viewing. A PowerPoint presentation describing what an eclipse of the sun is will first be given at 4:30 p.m. A local optometrist donated 200 viewing glasses. This is a great partnership among the high school students, the Palm Beach County Astronomy Club, the Library and the community. When the event is over, a full eclipse of the sun at the Equator will be viewed via the Internet. The Library co-sponsors with the CRA "Movies on the Avenue" that will take place downtown tomorrow night. The Children's Schoolhouse Museum will be holding the Sister Cities Art Exhibit Reception tomorrow night as well. Ms. Farace announced that next week is National Library Week and during the entire month of April the 75th birthday of Nancy Drew will be celebrated. On the last Tuesday of the month, there will be a Nancy Drew birthday party and all ages are welcomed to attend. Ms. Farace reported the High School boundaries were finalized and SAC 274A (that encompasses Chapel Hill and other areas) will now be attending Boynton Beach High School. This is the only change affecting the City. "Read Boynton" will be starting up again in the Library Program Room next Thursday and Ms. Farace invited all members to attend. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., a presentation of Hoot, written by Carl Hiaasen, will be given to the students. VII. SAC Reports Ms. Mallon read her SAC Report on Atlantic High School as follows: · At the last two meetings, the new High School was discussed and is on schedule. · They are emphasizing their academies in construction and finance leadership. · They may begin instituting some medical programs since an interest in them has been raised. 5 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 7, 2005 · They received a piece of land to build a house on that will be called Eagle's Nest. The construction students will be doing the plans for the house and it will be decorated by the Home Economic Department. · There is concern about the graduation rate. · They need money for the football turf and equipment for the athletes. · There is concern about the alumni getting involved in the new school because some hard feelings exist with the old High School. Chairperson Cairo inquired what the old Atlantic High School site would be used for. Ms. Farace stated it would be used as a temporary school while other schools are being built. Ms. Farace reported on Boynton Beach High School. They are still working on the marquee. A committee has been formed that is comprised of three people from the School District's Facilities Department, a representative of Quantum Park and City staff. Ms. Farace felt that having the parties working together has proved very helpful. She would like to see something by August, but is not certain that it could be achieved by that time because of Quantum's stringent requirements for the marquee. The Committee is meeting every two to three weeks. Since Boynton Beach High School is a Title 1 school, they will be receiving $115,000 next year. The enrollment figures for next year have been projected to be a little over 2,000 students. Vice Chair Bell noted that the County's job fair for secondary and elementary school teachers will be hosted at the Boynton Beach High School over a two-day period. IX. New Business None X. Adjournment - Next Meeting: May 5, 2005 at 6:15 p.m. There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (April 11,2005)