Minutes 10-06-05
MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING
HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, 208 SOUTH SEACREST BOULEVARD,
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6,2005 AT 6:15 P.M.
Present:
Jean Cairo, Chair
Floyd Beil, Vice Chair
Susan Buchanan (arrived at 6:51 p.rn.)
Patricia Lashley
Melinda Mallon (arrived at 6:29 p.rn.)
Christine Moeller
Marlene Ross (arrived at 6:21 p.rn.)
Cheryl Black, Alternate
Maria Ferreira, Student
Virginia Farace, Board Liaison
I. Pledge
Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Chairperson Cairo.
II. RollCall
The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present.
III.
Minutes:
September 1, 2005
Chairperson Cairo requested that approval of the minutes be postponed to the next
meeting since she did not receive them. Most members recalled receiving the minutes.
The Clerk's Office was requested to e-mail the minutes to Chairperson Cairo for her
review with a copy to Ms. Farace.
Ms. Farace thanked the Board members for responding to her e-mail to attend tonight's
meeting.
IV. Public Audience
Ms. Margot Boivin was present to observe the meeting and members welcomed her.
V. Chair's Report
Chairperson Cairo announced she, together with Guarn Sims, Principal of Galaxy
School, and Don Bryant met at The Education Network (TEN) today with Chuck Shaw
to tape a one-half hour segment about Principal for a Day (PFAD). Chairperson Cairo
anticipated it would be aired in approximately two weeks and was told she would be
informed of the exact date. Mr. Sims spoke about the schools and gave an excellent
presentation on the programs and initiatives in the schools. Mr. Bryant spoke about
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Education Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
October 6, 2005
retirees volunteering and being involved with the schools. Chairperson Cairo felt the
segment went very well.
Chairperson Cairo asked for Board member assistance in getting a press release out
about the show and Ms. Ross volunteered to assist. Chairperson Cairo spoke with
Jonathan Lederman from the Happy Herald Times that offered to publicize the show,
but she would have to write the story and then submit it to the newspaper.
Chairperson Cairo explained before the show is aired, it is sent to New York for editing.
The viewing date would then be published in the TV Guide. Ms. Farace requested that
as soon as Chairperson Cairo was informed of the date and time of the show, to e-mail
all the Board members and Ms. Farace. Chairperson Cairo was very pleased about the
taping. She felt it was great publicity for the schools and PFAD.
VI. City Liaison's Report
. School District Demographics/5-Year Capital Plan Presentation
. Response from Principals
Ms. Farace noted at the last meeting members requested her to invite the school
demographer to attend tonight's meeting to discuss demographics and the five-year
plan. Because tonight was the last meeting of the boundary committee, he was unable
to attend this meeting. He requested another date, and Ms. Farace said she would get
back with him. Since the Board decided to hold some of their meetings in City schools,
Ms. Farace wanted to make certain there would be sufficient time for his presentation,
as well as enough time devoted to the school. Ms. Farace has not heard from any other
principals regarding Board meetings at their schools.
Chairperson Cairo confirmed that the November Board meeting would be held at
Poinciana School. She spoke with Mr. Sims about having a meeting at Galaxy School
and he was very amenable with having a Board meet at his school. Chairperson Cairo
will speak with the principals at the PFAD breakfast meeting. The next Board meeting
will be held the day after PFAD.
After discussion, it was decided to invite the school demographer to attend the Board's
December meeting.
VII. Principal for a Day
. November 2, 2005
Chairperson Cairo announced on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. the "meet
your match principals and partners breakfast meeting" would take place at the
Schoolhouse Children's Museum. All invitations have gone out and the necessary
paperwork has been completed.
Chairperson Cairo announced there is an abundance of business partners wanting to
be principals this year and it may be necessary to include some schools outside City
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October 6, 2005
limits. She attributed this to Ms. Buchanan's promotion of the program and getting more
people involved. Also, people that participated in previous years asked to come back
this year. Chairperson Cairo announced that City Manager, Kurt Bressner, would also
be a PFAD this year. She was very pleased at how well the event was coming along.
Also participating is Superintendent of Schools, Art Johnson, who will be speaking at
the luncheon.
Chairperson Cairo pointed out that her contact at Lakeside Village, Patrick Carl, is no
longer employed at that establishment. She was able to find a contact with someone at
Lakeside Village who informed Chairperson Cairo that they would be agreeable to
holding the town meeting and luncheon at their establishment. Also, a staff member
from Lakeside Village would like to serve as a PFAD.
Ms. Farace noted since these functions would be held in Lantana, she recommended
bringing the program into Lantana Schools if more schools were needed. Chairperson
Cairo thought it would be feasible to have two standbys in the event someone canceled.
In place of a gift bag for the business people, Chairperson Cairo presented a miniature
school desk that could be engraved and handed out as a memento of the event. Ms.
Farace inquired if a certificate would still be presented as well. Chairperson Cairo felt
that both could be handed out, but the certificate did not have to be framed. She was
informed the price of the desk was $5.99 each, but if they were ordered in quantity, the
price would be $4.88 each. Chairperson Cairo would like to have an engraved plaque
glued to the front of the desk that read, "Principal for a Day, Boynton Beach 2005."
Ms. Farace inquired how the vendor would be paid. Chairperson Cairo said they
required a deposit of one-half of the entire order. Ms. Farace asked where the vendor
was located and was informed the shop was in Delray Beach. Ms. Farace asked
Chairperson Cairo to have the vendor send her an invoice that she could submit for
payment. Ms. Farace pointed out the City has a tax exempt number and requested the
invoice be cut without tax. Ms. Farace would then forward the check to the vendor.
Chairperson Cairo inquired if members wanted to present the miniature desks to the
principals as well. There are 22 business partners and if principals were included, they
would need 44 desks. Vice Chair Beil recommended giving a desk to the principals as
well. Ms. Farace inquired if the cost would be less if they ordered 50 desks. Chairperson
Cairo will check on this. Ms. Mallon offered to check on the price for engraving.
Chairperson Cairo recalled that someone at the last meeting mentioned contacting The
Palm Beach Post to determine if they would print the program. Board Member
Buchanan recommended this. Ms. Farace felt that City staff could do the programs and
50 would be sufficient. The only page that should be in color would be the cover page.
Chairperson Cairo noted that the cover was the result of a contest at Survivor Charter
School. Also, some of the students drew posters. Chairperson Cairo will be bringing
them to the breakfast meeting and will ask the principals to display them in their
schools.
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Chairperson Cairo noted they needed to discuss food for the breakfast meeting at the
Museum on October 25th. She thought a continental breakfast for 50 people would be
sufficient. Vice Chair Beil noted there was a great deal of food left over at the Principals'
Roundtable. He offered to supply juices and would drop them off at Ms. Farace's office
since he cannot attend.
The meeting should only be one hour. The Museum personnel will discuss the Museum
and explain some of the programs they offer. At the breakfast, the principals will be
informed of the role of the business partner. The principals were requested to bring to
the breakfast (1) directions to their school, (2) a list of their greatest needs, and (3) an
agenda for the business partner of their duties for PFAD.
Ms. Ross inquired if the Board members were invited to the breakfast. Chairperson
Cairo requested that all Board members attend to assist with facilitating the business
partners with their principals.
Ms. Mallon asked about nametags for PFAD. Chairperson Cairo will take care of making
them.
Ms. Farace requested she be furnished with copies of the invitations. Chairperson Cairo
will provide Ms. Farace with copies of all documents on a disk.
Ms. Farace asked if a Board member would be willing to arrive early at the Museum to
put the coffee on and to set up the room. She recommended setting up the breakfast in
the downstairs hallways. Ms. Lashley and Ms. Buchanan offered to help with the set up.
Ms. Farace will have a staff member at the Library to let them in. Ms. Buchanan will
speak with Ms. Dennison, the Museum's Director, to determine what sources the
Museum has available for the breakfast. Chairperson Cairo will try to solicit food
donations from some City businesses. Chuck Shaw would like to do a follow up after
the program with some of the business partners that served as principals for a day.
Chairperson Cairo will also be at the Museum early to help with the set up.
VIII. SAC Assignments
Ms. Farace requested that Board Members review their SAC assignments. Vice Chair
Beil said Survivor Charter School should be removed from the list because they would
not be having SAC meetings. SAC assignments are as follows:
"
Boynton Beach High School
Galaxy Elementary School
Poinciana Elementary School
Citrus Cove Elementary School
Rolling Green Elementary School
Congress Middle School
Freedom Shores
Crosspointe Elementary School
Virginia Farace -
Chairperson Cairo -
Vice Chair Beil -
Susan Buchanan -
Melinda Mallon -
Maria Ferreira -
Marlene Ross -
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October 6, 2005
Cheryl Black -
'Patricia Lashley -
Odyssey Middle School
Forest Park
'Ms. Lashley was not certain if she could serve on the Forest Park Elementary School
SAC. She would have to check the date and time it is held because it might conflict with
the SAC she serves on for her children's school and other school meetings she is
committed to attend.
Chairperson Cairo pointed out that you could attend SAC meetings without becoming a
voting member.
Ms. Moeller reported she attended the first SAC meeting at Atlantic High School in
August because there are still some students from Boynton Beach attending that
school. Ms. Moeller was not certain if she wanted to remain on that SAC. She reported
at the August meeting they were informed the entire football field must be redone at the
cost of $500,000 because it is on a dumpsite. She had been originally opposed to the
school relocating to this new site since the School District had been aware that they
were building on an old dumpsite. In the meantime, the football games are being played
at the old school field.
Also, Ms. Moeller noted the traffic was horrendous and the principal complained that a
greater part of her day is devoted to traffic. The school is new and looks good. It
appears that the only major problem is the football field.
Chairperson Cairo reported on Galaxy Elementary School. Their SAC meeting is held
on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. and this past meeting was devoted to their school
improvement plan.
Ms. Buchanan attended the Rolling Green SAC meeting and it is their intent to devote
each meeting to one portion of their school improvement plan. The school will be putting
on a fund raiser to raise money to send students to Washington, D.C. on a safety patrol
trip. Ms. Buchanan will accept "white elephant" donations for the fair.
Chairperson Cairo reported that the cost for the train trip increased tremendously. Last
year it cost $524 per student. She thought the cost is now around $640 per student.
Ms. Farace inquired when the fair would take place. Ms. Buchanan will let the Board
know when the date is set. Ms. Lashley pointed out that students wanting to take the trip
must have it paid for by Thanksgiving.
Chairperson Cairo recommended bringing the escalating costs for the trip to the
attention of the business partners and inform them that corporate sponsorship would be
welcomed.
Ms. Ferreria also attended her SAC meeting and the majority of discussion centered on
the school's B rating. They will be working on getting their scores up.
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Boynton Beach, Florida
October 6, 2005
Chairperson Cairo has designed a Website for Principal for a Day. Ms. Farace spoke
with the City's IT Department about the Website. Chairperson Cairo would like the site
linked to the Library and the Schoolhouse Children's Museum. She will be contacting
PENCIL in New York about linking the Website to their Website since Boynton Beach is
listed on their Website as an affiliate.
Ms. Farace noted that the City would provide the linking, but Chairperson Cairo would
keep the site updated. The Web address is www.pfadbovnton.ora. She applied for the
URL and it is available. The Webmaster is working on securing the site.
IX. New Business
Ms. Lashley reported on volunteers in public schools. Volunteer orientation for all areas
took place in August. The south area that includes the Boynton Beach schools took
place at the West Boca Medical Center. Ms. Lashley displayed the training manual and
resources manual that are provided to all the volunteer coordinators for Board members
to review.
There also is a training manual provided to business partnership coordinators that
contains the same kind of information. Business partnership coordinators are also
provided with handouts to assist them in recruiting other businesses. Ms. Lashley did
mentoring training for one of her schools and will provide this for groups of people and
schools that are interested in mentoring, particularly high schools. The School District
provides them with a mentor training manual. After they are trained, they can go out and
mentor one-on-one with a student. Ms. Lashley will have them available at the breakfast
as a handout for the business partners.
Ms. Lashley stated they also hand out Volunteers in Public Schools handbooks to
parents. Ms. Lashley discussed various other trainings that have been held.
Ms. Lashley announced the Office Legal Administrators organization is doing their
annual community challenge. This year they are doing a school supply drive. On
October 11th, they are sponsoring a miniature golf outing for a fee. All entrants are
required to bring school supplies that will be distributed throughout the various school
areas.
Ms. Lashley prepared a list of all Boynton Beach schools that included (1) the school's
address and telephone number, (2) the name of the principal, (3) the volunteer
coordinator and telephone number, and (4) the business partnership person and their
telephone number. Ms. Lashley provided the original to the Recording Secretary who
was requested to send the list out with the minutes of the meeting.
Chairperson Cairo noted the Board would not be meeting again before Principal for a
Day. If necessary, she will request a sub-committee meeting. Chairperson Cairo will
forward to Ms. Farace agendas for both meetings to send to everyone.
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Education Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
October 6, 2005
Chairperson Cairo thanked all the Board members for their hard work and dedication in
getting all the work done so smoothly for Principal for a Day. She anticipates that this
PFAD will be the best one ever. It appears everyone is very excited about the event.
X. Adjournment:
Next Meeting: November 3, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. - Poinciana
Elementary School
There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~~~{ (' }-, t(
Barbara M. Madden
Recording Secretary
(October 10, 2005)
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