Minutes 05-24-07
MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007, AT 7:00 P.M.
COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Steve Waldman, Chair
Mary Morera, Vice Chair
Loretta Wilkinson
Robert Chiste, Student
Sherri Claude, City Employee Representative
ABSENT:
Pamela Camel
Susan Buchanan
Hattie Miller
Alyssa Ewing, Non-Voting Student
Christine Hogenkamp, Student
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Waldman called the meeting to order at 7: 12 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
The members recited the Pledge of Alliance to the Flag. A moment of silent reflection
was observed on behalf of the passing of Assistant City Manager, Wilfred Hawkins.
III. Approval of Minutes of April 26, 2007
There were two corrections to the minutes. Item II, Pledge of Allegiance section in the
text change the word Alliance to Allegiance. Item VII. Old Business Item A, the
sentence should read, " In years where there were more than ten applicants, aft a third place
award of $200 was given."
Motion
Ms. Wilkinson moved to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. Chiste seconded the
motion that unanimously passed.
IV. Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved by consensus.
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Meeting Minutes
Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
May 24, 2007
V. Announcements/ Presentations / Correspondence
Chair Waldman announced Ms. Claude forwarded him copies of letters she sent to
Hunters Run. Nine letters were sent to the golf associates, the head golf pro, Mr. and
Mrs. Lenny and Phyllis Stern and the individuals who carted individuals to the golf
office. A thank you to Renee Blank would be sent. Ms. Blank donated hats, soccer
balls, and key rings to the children.
VI. Public Audience
None.
VII. Old Business
A. Youth Volunteer Bank/Bob Borovy Award
American Legion Post 164 donated $1,000 to the Bob Borovy Award. Chair Waldman
explained Mr. Borovy did work with the American Legion. He thought it was great the
Post continued his memory in this way. Chair Waldman explained the banquet was
held and the awards given. About forty people attended the Youth Volunteer Banquet.
Ms. Morera praised Ms. Claude for her work on the event and announced the event was
very nice.
Ms. Wilkinson announced she was able to give the unopened pasta and garlic bread to
the fire station.
B. Fundraising
Chair Waldman explained the Oceanfront Concert season was over. He explained when
it reopened next year, they would contact Panera Bread to sell cookies again and
earmark the monies. The board was amenable to selling again to raise funds.
C. Adopt a School
Kathleen Perry, Principal of Boynton Beach Community High School thanked the board
and provided an update. She explained since she last appeared she was invited to
participate with the Youth Violence Executive Committee Task Force, in which she
hoped to make a difference.
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Scores were improving. Two areas of
emphasis were identified, one of which was reading. Ms. Perry explained with so much
technology, they identified a tool to incorporate into the curriculum called the Personal
Response System, or a real time clicker system that could assist with keeping the
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Meeting Minutes
Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
May 24, 2007
student engaged and focused. This system would allow the teacher to pose questions
and immediately access whether the concept needed to be retaught or reviewed. They
would like to use this teaching device for their reading classes.
Another tool they would like to obtain is an Interwrite Pad, which is an electronic
computer attachment that allowed a student to write on the pad and have it projected
onto a screen so it could be viewed and edited by others. They were hoping the board
could assist with the costs associated with those items. She explained they currently
had eight intensive reading classes, and the technology would assist students reading
at the lowest reading level, which was levell, to keep them engaged.
Another area of focus for the school is math. When students are engaged, the students
do the learning. They were hoping to have portable labs. The system Ms. Perry
described ranged in price from $700 for projection devices, $550 Interwrite Devices and
for the Personal Response System, a set of 24 would be $2,200 - $2,300. She
explained they were not interested in gimmicks, but reading improvement is gained by
reading. She hoped to be able to provide books the students liked to take home and
use strategies from school.
She announced volunteers to help the Guidance Department assist with scholarship
identification were needed. They could also help keep the scholarship center organized,
coordinate a volunteer partnership program and help tap into the business and private
community to provide human contact with students through speakers bureaus and
other type events. The teachers are overwhelmed with classroom instruction and the
counselors are equally busy. The extra set of helping hands would be a tremendous
support. Anything the board could do in terms of resources would be greatly
appreciated.
Chair Waldman suggested contacting the Gates Foundation. Ms. Perry responded they
had written grants, and they did receive some, but because of the cost, they did not
have all they needed. Some were housed in science classes, because science is being
added to FCAT and they wanted to supplement those. Chair Waldman thought that
would be a likely place to obtain funds. He explained the funds for next year were
expended, but since the Gates Foundation was run by a computer wizard, Bill Gates,
and the request was for computers, that the request might be successful. Ms. Perry
explained they had a student from the high school, who was one of the 300 finalists for
the Gates Foundation scholarship. Chair Waldman offered to investigate the funding for
Ms. Perry and would keep her apprised.
Ms. Wilkinson explained the board had a volunteer bank and was unsure whether those
volunteers could be of service to the high school. Ms. Perry thought the time schedules
might conflict but any time between 7 a.m. until about 4 p.m. was the window needed
for volunteers.
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Meeting Minutes
Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
May 24, 2007
Ms. Perry explained they have an early childhood education program where some
students have already received their licenses to become Child Development Assistants.
Those students are not eligible for the teacher education program at the community
college. Additionally, the Embry Riddle Program being implemented at the high school
was moving along well.
Chair Waldman asked whom the volunteers should contact. Ms. Fredrina Combs, in the
Guidance Office was the contact person. Chair Waldman offered to pass the word
around at the sub-committee on Education. Ms. Perry left a listing of wish list items
with Chair Waldman. Specific information and prices associated with the technology
items could be obtained from Bill Nelson, the Technology Coordinator.
Ms. Perry thanked the board for the opportunity to speak.
Chair Waldman introduced Ms. Felicia Volkman, Vice President of the Boynton Regional
Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Volkman thanked the board for the invitation to speak. She explained they were a
fairly new orchestra, just finishing their second season. They were seeking to publicize
the orchestra. The orchestra performs at Boynton Beach Community High School and
they rehearse there once a week, while in season. They were a community orchestra
with young adults from the schools, work arena, retired musicians and people who play
and want to return to music.
Two concerts are being held this year and three are scheduled for next season.
Concerts would be held on December 9 and March 22, 2008. The brochure and rack
cards were not available yet, but Ms. Volkman had a flyer, which she distributed to the
board. All concerts would begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets would be $15 per concert and
$40 per subscription. Students all the way through to high school were welcomed to
attend the concerts free of charge, with the goal being to expose them to music. They
were welcome to rehearse with them or sit in on rehearsals to listen. The only
requirement would be the musician needed to be on the same skill level.
Ms. Volkman announced they had a twelve year old and two students from Dreyfus
School of the Arts. She distributed the schedule and had phone numbers for interested
individuals to contact. She noted one of the phone numbers would not be available
until November. Additionally, their website was being updated because it had last years
programming in it. She explained they wanted the businesses to know they were in
existence. She reported they enjoyed good press coverage last year and wanted their
participation. She also explained Boynton Beach had been kind to them. Former Vice
Mayor Ensler had served on the board and they had received discretionary funds. She
explained the orchestra was profiled in the Palm Beach Post Neighborhood Section.
She informed the board, the group was considered to be a regional orchestra.
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Meeting Minutes
Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
May 24, 2007
Ms. Wilkinson explained in the Miami area, they had the Greater Miami Symphonic Band
that performed Pops in the Park for people who would bring a blanket to picnic and
listen. She suggested investigating that and trying to get on the roster for the Ocean-
front Concerts. Ms. Claude advised it was noted the Oceanfront Concert season was
finished for this year, but they do meet during the winter.
Small groups of musicians were available to do musicals in peoples homes to help raise
funds. Ms. Volkman explained they need at least $7K per concert. The conductor is paid
and sometimes a professional musician needs to be retained. With the present day
issue of funding, it was possible some grants could be rescinded.
Chair Waldman suggested mailing information to the Brandeis Woman's Group or
others. Ms. Volkman responded she would, but that she could also use volunteers for
clerical assistance. Chair Waldman would provide information about the Brandeis
Woman's Group and he offered to volunteer some of his time to the organization.
Ms. Perry explained the school was returning to the instrumental program and would
distribute the information. Ms. Volkman explained they were trying to get teachers to
give students extra credit to attend a concert.
Barry Volkman, the music director was introduced. There was discussion about
including the information in FunFare Magazine. Ms. Claude explained there are other
City Departments that use the magazine for events. The next issue would be coming
out in August for the fall, and the next issue would be released in December for the
spring season.
Chair Waldman explained if they had flyers available, they could be distributed to local
and religious organizations. He welcomed as many flyers as they thought would be
appropriate.
D. Sister Cities
Chair Waldman had a flyer soliciting attendance at an Open House. The purpose was
to learn about what the organization does in the community and discover how they can
become involved. The Open House was scheduled for June 15, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in
the Club Room at Marina Village.
E. Bowling Tournament (July 15,2007. AMF Lanes)
Chair Waldman announced there would be another meeting before the Bowling
Tournament was held. He would get the trophies. Ms. Claude had flyers ready for
distribution and the event was advertised in Fun Fare Magazine.
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Meeting Minutes
Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
May 24, 2007
VIII. New Business
A. Elections
There was agreement to postpone the elections to the next meeting in order to allow
the full board to be present. The elections would be included on the agenda.
Motion
Ms. Wilkinson moved to postpone the elections to the next meeting. Ms. Morera
seconded the motion that unanimously passed.
IX. Future Meeting Dates: June 28, 2007
July 26, 2007
Ms. Wilkinson announced how much Assistant City Manager, Wilfred Hawkins would be
missed. She commented he did a lot for the City and always took the high ground. He
was very professional and he would be greatly missed.
Chair Waldman agreed and indicated Mr. Hawkins knew how to speak and how to get
needed information.
Chair Waldman also thanked Sherri Claude for all her effort on behalf of the board.
X. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:00
p.m.
(I Ckvli( ~A/fYI~
Catherine Cherry-Guberman
Recording Secretary
053107
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