Loading...
Minutes 01-12-06 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM, 208 SOUTH SEACREST BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006 AT 6:15 P.M. Present: Jean Cairo, Chair Melinda Mallon Christine Moeller Susan Buchanan Marlene Ross Maria Ferreira Virginia Farace, City Employee Representative Absent: Patricia Lashley Cheryl Black Floyd Beil, Vice Chair I. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Chair Cairo called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was omitted due to lack of a flag. II. RollCall The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. III. Approval of the December 1, 2005 Meeting Minutes Motion A motion was made by Ms. Buchanan to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Ms. Mallon and unanimously passed. IV. Public Audience Chair Cairo introduced her daughter, Hannah, and further noted there was no public audience. Ms. Ross arrived at 6:35 P.M. Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 12, 2006 V. Chair's Report Chair Cairo welcomed the members and indicated they would discuss the Principal for a Day program later in the meeting. VI. City Liaison's Report The City Manager forwarded a memo from Junior Achievement. The memo was soliciting contributions and was circulated among the members in the event they wanted to contribute. BBCHS Marquee Ms. Farace reported Quantum Park filed court papers to stop the School from putting up its marquee. The court, originally, was to hear the matter on January 13, 2006; however, the issue has been postponed pending the School District and Quantum Park being deposed. There has been controversy between the owners of Quantum Park and the School. Quantum Park originally purchased land from Simon, a large landholder and developer, who made concessions to have the School located on property they owned. Later the land was sold and became a Development District, which is similar to a city within a city, carrying its own rules and guidelines, and providing its own utilities. The School should have been built in 1996 and the land for it was purchased in 1990. In 1994 there was another personnel turnover with the School District, and the School the City had lobbied for wound up being built in Royal Palm Beach. The City of Boynton Beach continued to lobby for a High School and in 2000- 2001, the School was built. During that time period the property was sold to new owners who were surprised and disappointed to learn there was a School on their site that would not have to pay any of the assessments the rest of the Development District had to pay. Ms. Farace recounted the School District originally wanted to purchase land on Gateway. When the land was sold, the new owner indicated that no one would want to purchase property close to a baseball field and forced the District to purchase the parcel. Language was also incorporated into the agreement indicating the School would not build on that parcel. Quantum Park is interpreting the marquee as a building and maintaining the School is not holding to the original agreement. Ms. Farace explained the City has tried to mediate the issue between the parties. The sign was redesigned several times by the School District in an effort to conform to the Development District Sign Ordinance, which was not yet finalized. Finally, the School attorney felt the "Fair and Reasonable" clause in the agreement had been more than met and the School moved forward to erect the sign. Ms. Farace urged the members to pass a motion or resolution in support of the School District and its marquee. She recommended the Chair of the Education Advisory Board be authorized to write a letter to the newspaper and/or to Quantum Park, indicating how long the Education Advisory Board had been looking at the School, how important the marquee is, and ask Quantum Park what they need or want because the marquee is vitally needed. She asked the 2 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 12, 2006 motion support the School District in its attempt to get the marquee for all these years. Not having a sign is inhibiting the School. Motion A motion was made by Ms. Buchanan that as a Board, the Education Advisory Board write the School, the newspaper and Quantum, and any and all parties they need to approach expressing their support for it (the marquee), why they support it and how necessary they feel the sign is to School, the students and the City of Boynton Beach. The motion was seconded by Ms. Moeller. Ms. Farace asked for discussion on the motion. She indicated one of the Palm Beach Post reporters had heard the story and suggested one of the members speak with a reporter and explain Boynton Beach had to fight for a long time to get the School. To not have a sign, is having an impact in the community. There was discussion among the members that the Palm Beach Post and more specifically, the Sun Sentinel extensively cover the Boynton Beach area. Anything that can be done in a positive way would be helpful. Ms. Farace noted this matter had been a longstanding project of this Board and of the previous board members. Ms. Farace will E-mail Ms. Cairo some points which should be mentioned in the letter to ensure all pertinent issues are raised and the other Education Advisory Board members will be copied on the E-mail. Ms. Farace also urged the members, individually, to write in support. The Education Advisory Board is the entity authorized by the City of Boynton Beach to speak with Quantum Park. The letters should be directed to Quantum Park. Vote A vote was taken on the motion which unanimously passed. Art Wittman: Schedule Presentation on School District demographis/5 year capital plan Ms. Farace indicated the Education Advisory Board did not meet at Galaxy Elementary School this month and she was unable to contact Mr. Wittman over the holidays. She asked if the Education Advisory Board wanted her to continue her efforts to invite Mr. Wittman to the meeting next month. There was consensus Mr. Wittman should be invited. Chair Cairo announced the Education Advisory Board will meet next month at Galaxy Elementary School on February 2, 2006 at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be preceded by a tour which begins at 6:00 PM and the meeting will begin at 6:15 PM. Under public audience, Mr. Guarn will be given time to discuss any issues at Galaxy Elementary School he might want to address. There was consensus the Education Advisory Board would defer discussion on different School meeting locations. 3 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 12, 2006 VII. Principal for a Day Rescheduled date - April 5 Assignments Chair Cairo announced there is now a link on the City of Boynton Beach website for Principal for a Day. There was agreement a good date to reschedule the event would be April 5, 2006. Discussion on whether or not to have a breakfast meeting took place. Chair Cairo announced the School District calendars are full and the principals have many ongoing obligations. She explained there was not an option or a choice as to what day to have the event. Chair Cairo indicated she took the one day that was available from Carol Shetler and E-mails were sent to all the principals to determine if there were any conflicts. Chair Cairo had not received any responses. Two pieces of mail were received, one from Carol Shetler and the other from Park Vista. Chair Cairo indicated she brought a listing of all the contacts interested in being Business Partners and had been confirmed prior to the hurricane. She explained the top of the report indicates the name of the business partner and then the yellow mark on the report lists the School match, principal's name, address and phone number. She distributed the lists for the members to determine if the individuals would be able to attend the meeting. The members discussed whether they wanted the meeting to be a breakfast meeting and will reconfirm the date with the principals. The members will further advise them that the principals and the business partners would be contacted. If a principal could not attend, a representative could attend in their place. If a business partner could not attend, Ms. Farace should be contacted. Chair Cairo declared February would be an important meeting and should not be missed. There will be much more information forthcoming at that meeting. Ms. Farace indicated the Principal of Poinciana School volunteered her School for a meeting. She will check with her regarding meeting there for the March meeting. VIII. SAC Reports Ms. Ross reported she has been unable to attend the School Advisory Council (SAC) Meetings. She went to the Cross Pointe Elementary School website and it only provided the date of the meeting as the first Tuesday of every month. She noted that date was during the winter break. She called the School, but her calls were not returned. She added she left several messages. Other members had the same type of reports. Ms. Farace indicated Boynton Beach High School had their meeting, and they are having another meeting because the School Improvement Plan has to be approved by the School Advisory Council in approximately one month. Ms. Farace announced the high School is looking to participate as one of two high Schools in a pilot project called Wall to Wall Academies. This will Occur next year and will feature implementing a common planning period for teachers. There are two options associated with this pilot. With the first option, the children would be dismissed 4 Meeting Minutes Education Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 12, 2006 at 1:45 P.M., with the teachers remaining for their common planning period up until the standard dismissal time. Option two would have the teachers come in at the regular time and the children come in for the second period. The way the School does the block scheduling pushes some classes and semesters shorter and longer so the Schools are able to fulfill the number of hours the students need to be in class. This pilot is being implemented to determine if the discussions during the common planning period for teachers results in more commonality, the opportunity to provide more training and whether it would help the students do better from one class. Teachers would be able to discuss the students who may be having difficulty during the planning periods. Common planning periods would be arranged through the principal. Ms. Farace added there is still discussion what academies might be instituted, if they would be open to choice and if there would be boundaries. The other high School in the pilot would be Forest Hill High School. A meeting will be held on January 31, 2006 for a presentation and then sign off. Ms. Farace will find out where the program was created. Ms. Ross announced the Boynton Beach High School Choral Group, the Dimensions, is making a name for itself. Several of the members noted it was in the news and radio. Ms. Buchanan recommended getting more publicity for them which could assist them in their efforts to perform at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Buchanan went to Rolling Green for a SAC meeting. She explained one page of the School Improvement Plan is reviewed with the audience at each meeting. This review method takes place at other Schools. There was discussion that at the Forest Park and Banyan Creek Schools, there were many parents speaking Creole and interpreters were provided. Ms. Buchanan explained the challenge for Rolling Green is the School is moving to the old Atlantic High School due to damage caused by Hurricane Wilma. She spoke to the School Advisory Council and the principal, who indicated to her in the future, the Education Advisory Board could meet at the School. There were no other SAC reports. IX. New Business Ms. Farace gave directions to Galaxy Elementary School for the next meeting. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, (/ " h~ ' '" - II', " ( ()JJwuv..J. UJ I~ . 'oJ) vi a ~{ Catherine Cherry- uberman . Recording Secretary (011806) 5