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Minutes 05-07-98 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1998 PRESENT Ronald Ehster Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant to the City Dawn Russell Manager Eddie Mitchell Herb Suss David Brownstein, Alternate ABSENT Heidi DeVries, Student Muslima Lewis Stephanie Murray Lannette Seabrook, Alternate David Weinstein I. APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY CHAIR Dawn Russell was appointed Temporary Chairperson to preside at tonight’s meeting. II. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was not present. III. MINUTES APPROVAL. Due to a lack of a quorum, the minutes were not approved. Upon Mr. Brownstein’s subsequent arrival at the meeting, the minutes were approved. MOTION Upon motion by Mr. Ehster and seconded by Mr. Mitchell, the Minutes of the April 2, 1998 Meeting were approved. Motion unanimously carried . MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 7, 1998 IV. ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN Due to a lack of a quorum, the election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman was postponed. Upon Mr. Brownstein’s subsequent arrival at the meeting, it was decided that the election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman would be postponed until the fall. Motion Mr. Suss made a motion that Dawn Russell be appointed Temporary Chairperson to serve at tonight’s meeting and the June 4, 1998 Meeting, or until such time as a permanent Chairman is elected. Motion seconded by Mr. Brownstein. Motion carried unanimously. V. PUBLIC AUDIENCE None VI. OLD BUSINESS A. EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD GOALS Mr. Ehster presented a letter to the Members that had been prepared by David Weinstein at the direction of this Board at the April 2, 1998 meeting. (Letter . attached to minutes) Mr. Ehster stated that Mr. Weinstein forwarded the letter to him since he could not attend tonight’s meeting and asked Mr. Ehster to present it for the Board’s review. Mr. Ehster circulated the letter to all the Board Members for their comments. For background, Mr. Ehster informed the Board that Mr. Weinstein recommended that a letter be sent to each of the schools advising them that the Education Advisory Board would like to assist the schools with their needs toward achieving their goals. Mr. Weinstein also felt the best way to accomplish this was by association of this Board with the SACs of each school. A prior letter was prepared and sent to each of the Schools, but there was no response at all. Thus, at the last Board Meeting it was decided that the Board should prepare a modified letter to be sent to all the SACs. On Mr. Weinstein’s behalf, Mr. Ehster is submitting his proposed letter for your review. 2 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 7, 1998 Mr. Suss inquired if all letters and correspondence from this Board must be prepared with Board approval, or can letters and/or actions be done on an individual basis? Temporary Chair Russell told Mr. Suss that anything originating from this Board must be done with Board approval. Usually, one or two members would be asked to draft a letter, then it would be presented to the entire Board for approval. Mr. Suss also raised the question, if this Board were responsible for all of the Schools listed on the Agenda and in particular the Lake Worth Christian School and asked what were the criteria for including the Lake Worth Christian School with the Boynton Beach public schools. Mr. Hawkins stated that this Board, as an advisory group, is allowed to work with any school in the Boynton Beach area. Mr. Hawkins stated this Board was included because Boynton Beach students attend this School. Mr. Hawkins also stated that many of the schools on the list are not within the City limits. Christa McAuliffe Middle School and Atlantic Community High School are not within City limits. The philosophy established is that wherever Boynton Beach students are attending school, this Board should be represented. Mr. Hawkins also pointed out that Lake Worth High School, which is not in the City of Boynton Beach, has a small number of City students attending as well. Mr. Mitchell inquired how well do the schools work with this Board. Temporary Chairperson Russell stated that she has not had good response from the schools that she has contacted. Mr. Ehster also stated that his dealings with the schools have not been very productive. There was a consensus that the requests for minutes of the school meetings were sporadic. Mr. Ehster stated that the State of Florida imposes the School Advisory Committees (“SAC”) be established. Mr. Ehster also stated that the Lake Worth Christian School could not be excluded because of SAC. Mr. Ehster hopes that the draft letter being proposed by Mr. Weinstein will convey this Board’s feelings with regard to this Board’s desire to work with the Schools and also will encourage the Schools to attend the Education Advisory Board meetings to apprise the Board of each school’s needs. ) (Mr. Brownstein joined the meeting 3 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 7, 1998 (Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman) Temporary Chairperson Russell asked if any member had any nominations for Chairman. Discussion ensued regarding election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman. Mr. Suss nominated Mr. Mitchell: Mr. Mitchell declined since he was new to the Board. Mr. Suss nominated Dawn Russell. Ms. Russell declined since she cannot devote the proper amount of time to being permanent Chairperson. Discussion continued regarding the vacancy in Chairman and Vice Chairman. Mr. Ehster suggested that the Chair rotate for each meeting until the fall of this year when an election can be held for a permanent Chairman and Vice Chairman. Mr. Hawkins stated that he did not know of any other Board that has favored to rotate the Chair position until the election of a permanent Chair, but stated he did not see why this approach could not be taken. Mr. Hawkins stated that for staff purposes, it would be necessary to have a Temporary Chair in place so that staff can coordinate the next meeting. After discussion, Mr. Suss made a motion to elect Ms. Russell Temporary Chairperson for the June 4, 1998 meeting, and until a permanent Chairman can be chosen. Temporary Chairperson Russell asked if there was any other old business. B. Committee Reports Poinciana Elementary School and Galaxy Elementary School (David Weinstein) Mr. Weinstein stated that both Schools have published their School Improvement Plans. Their Councils and the parents unanimously approved both plans. The Committees will not meet now until September. New Boynton Beach High School Committee Mr. Weinstein stated that the individual sub-committees have come together and submitted their reports for public presentation. These subcommittees will be merged into one comprehensive committee. The public presentation was made this past Monday night (May 4, 1998). The formal presentation to the School th Board is June 5. The Committee is recommending that the Boynton Beach Sebastian River High School design High School be built as a model after the plan. This particular model has been built in several cities throughout Florida, 4 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 7, 1998 including Orlando, Hillsboro, Indian River and Tampa. The school is a combination of one and two stories, mostly two, with a courtyard set up, and a media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, administrative offices and auditorium around the courtyard. Mr. Suss inquired when the school construction would be completed and how many students would the school accommodate. Mr. Brownstein stated that the High School would be built on the property that the County owns and should be completed by April 2001 and can accommodate approximately 2500 students, if the School Board accepts this design. If the School Board does not accept this design, they would have to find an architect for a new design and this process would delay the project an additional six to eighteen months more. Temporary Chairperson Russell inquired if the acceptance of this design looked favorable. Mr. Brownstein indicated he thought this design would be accepted. The cost of the school has been approved at $47.8 million. Mr. Suss inquired if ball fields and tennis courts were included, and Mr. Brownstein stated they were. Temporary Chairperson Russell inquired about the technology to be used within the classroom. Mr. Ehster stated he was on the technology committee and each classroom is slated initially for two computers and a telephone, together with the appropriate wiring and conduits. Mr. Ehster also stated that more money would be available from the State if the Sebastian School design is built. Jim Sheehan is the person in the School Department who is working on the development of the technology within the school that would be required. Mr. Sheehan has indicated he would come before this Board and make a presentation. Mr. Ehster requested that the new high school be made a priority with the School Board to keep this project on target. Mr. Ehster felt it was important that this Board acts as a SAC for the new high school and that he has brought this issue before this Board at prior meetings. However, since there are no boundaries set, you cannot have a SAC. Temporary Chairperson Russell asked if a date for the groundbreaking has been determined. Mr. Brownstein stated it would probably be in April of 1999, provided the Sebastian design is approved. However, since the school usually 5 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 7, 1998 accommodates 2100 students, it has to be redesigned to accommodate 2500 students. Mr. Suss inquired if the funding was put away for the school? Mr. Brownstein stated that the funds were included as part of the capital construction budget of the County and has been approved. Discussion ensued regarding the availability of the funding and how the construction is overseen. Mr. Ehster added that the funding was approved approximately 3 months ago by the School Board on a 5-4 vote and it was for $37 million. Now the figure is up to $47 million. Mr. Brownstein stated that the land has already been surveyed and the property has been staked. Although the County appropriates the funds, the money actually comes from the State, which the State has approved. Temporary Chairperson Russell asked if there were any other school reports. There were none. Mr. Brownstein stated that at the March Advisory Board Meeting there was discussion about having the public school improvement plan presentations for all the schools on the Board’s list presented at one time. Mr. Brownstein volunteered to explore the possibility of these presentations. Unfortunately, Ms. Denahan and Ms. Centi resigned from the Board and the matter got sidetracked. The date had been reserved at the Woman’s Club for the presentations and the arrangements could have been handled over the telephone. Mr. Brownstein is concerned that there is a lack of communication on the Board’s part between meetings, because issues can take place between meetings that never get addressed. When the Board comes up with a project, it should also come up with a follow-up procedure in place. VII. NEW BUSINESS None VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Hawkins stated that due to the reorganization in the City Departments, his responsibilities have greatly expanded, and therefore he can no longer be the City Liaison on this Board and will be replaced by Virginia Farace, Library Director. Since 6 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 7, 1998 Ms. Farace is the City’s Project Liaison with the School Board, Ms. Farace will be a great asset to this Board and has accepted the position as “City Employee Representative” on the Education Advisory Board. Temporary Chairperson Russell expressed her deep appreciation for all the cooperation and assistance Mr. Hawkins has extended in the past and his presence will be missed. The Board looks forward to working with Ms. Farace. IX ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mr. Brownstein made a motion that the meeting adjourn. Motion seconded by Mr. Ehster and carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) 7