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Minutes 08-23-95 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1995, AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT Anne Centi, Chairperson Wilfred Hawkins, Asst. to the Irving Sechter City Manager Rhona Schneider Nellie Denahan, Alternate ABSENT Margaret Newton, Vice Chairperson Kenneth Blair Muslima Lewis Renee Stern Daniel Winters, Alternate Ben Demaline, Student Kenneth Singleton, Student I. GREETINGS At 6:45 p.m., Chairwoman Centi advised that the regular meeting could not be held due to lack of a quorum. Mr. Hawkins said an unofficial meeting could be conducted. Chairwoman Centi welcomed Mr. Stephan Sills, Principal of Poinciana School, and Mr. Robert Freed who has applied for the position of Superintendent of Schools. II. PUBLIC AUDIENCE Speaker: Mr. Stephan Sills, Principal of Poinciana Elementary School Mr. Sills offered to return in the future to address the entire board. Mr. Sills advised that today was the first day of the second year of the math/science magnet program at Poinciana School. He has been Principal of Poinciana since February of 1994. Last year, the magnet school served a total of 400 students which included 44 pre-Kindergarten students. The magnet program is a Kindergarten through Grade 5 program. It is anticipated that the program will have 525 students in the Kindergarten through Grade 5 program this year. Mr. Sills explained that the Poinciana School would not exist today had it not been for the strong support of the community, City officials and the business community. Mr. Hawkins 1 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 23, 1995 was one of the important members of the community who made this program happen at Poinciana School, and Mr. Sills' job was to turn the plans and dreams into a reality. Mr. Sills was charged with the responsibilities of selecting the entire faculty, developing the curriculum, and finding the students. It was necessary to show parents that if their children were curious about how the world around them operates, he/she is a future scientist. The math/science magnet provides those necessary skills. The curriculum is built around science. In attempting to recruit students, two obstacles were encountered. The first obstacle was that the school district suffered from credibility problems. The parents were concerned the program might not exist for more than one year. Faculty was able to assure the parents that the program would be maintained. The second obstacle dealt with perceptions about the neighborhood in which Poinciana School is located. Parents need to feel that their children are safe and secure at school. Some parents were not sure, and did not want to enter their children in the program during the first year. Mr. Sills explained that there are misconceptions about magnet programs. Many people believe that a magnet program seeks to move out those students who have been attending the school to make room for new students. A commitment was made to continue to serve the students within the attendance boundaries . Every student who was in the school in May of 1994, returned in August of 1994 as a magnet student if that was what the parent wanted. The first goal of a magnet program is a really attractive curriculum. This is the main reason parents will investigate the opportunities available. The second goal of a magnet school is to assist the district in meeting desegregation rolls. This is a difficult thing to accomplish in some schools without a magnet. The most common method of desegregation is busing. Most people consider this forced busing. Although Poinciana School has students who are bused from West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, this is not forced busing because the parents are comfortable with what happens when the child gets to school. Mr. Sills does not believe busing is the issue. He feels the issue is the quality of the experience at the end of the bus ride. During the first year, Poinciana School met and exceeded expectations the district had. The goal for next year is to move into a new school which is currently under construction. The houses across from the school are almost completely demolished. The school buildings which existed across 12th Avenue have been demolished, and the area is being prepared for a new school to be occupied in August, 1996. If this goal is accomplished, Mr. Sills is confident Poinciana School will meet the district's desegregation rolls in August of 1997. Mr. Sills explained that the former students who live within the school's attendance boundaries still have automatic acceptance if they submit an application. 2 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 23, 1995 With regard to construction of the new school, Mr. Sills advised that 12th Avenue is now closed off. The new school is being developed for 820 students; however, since much of the space will consist of laboratories, it is anticipated that there will be a maximum enrollment of between 725 and 730 students. The school will have one fully-equipped science lab, one fully-equipped technology lab, a separate math lab, another smaller technology lab, and an integrated math/science lab. There will also be a permanent house for the planetarium. This planetarium will be part of the instruction program. To make use of these facilities, the program has a science resource teacher, a technology resource teacher, a math resource teacher, and a planetarium resource teacher. Mr. Sills pointed out, however, that although everyone is excited about the new school, it is not the building that makes the school. It is the people who attend that make the school. He is very proud of his teachers. They are the curriculum developers, and the curriculum they developed is now a model in the district and in the State. Poinciana School was selected by a state-wide initiative as a discover school. It is only one of ten schools in the State of Florida to serve as a model for math/science/technology instruction. Mr. Sills urged everyone to visit the school during school hours to see the teachers and children at work. Ms. Schneider inquired as to the method for recruiting students and the criteria for student acceptance. Mr. Sills explained that flyers were sent out to schools within a reasonable geographic area. In addition, presentations are made to parents who are invited to visit the school. Each June, a fair is conducted. At learning stations, parents are able to see what will be taught at the school. There are no entry qualifications relative to academics since recruitment is focused on five-year olds. Poinciana School serves a wide range of academic achievement. The School gives priority acceptance status to students who are in the previous attendance boundaries, brothers or sisters of students already in the program, and children of staff members. The remaining applications are evaluated based on racial balance, gender balance and the date of application submission. Mr. Sechter questioned whether or not the curriculum is prepared based on the speed of learning of the students. Mr. Sills responded negatively and explained that they do not temper the expectations of the curriculum. State standards are used as the basis for the curriculum. The curriculum sets high standards for thinking and learning. In response to Ms. Schneider's question relative to art and literature, Mr. Sills advised that Poinciana School has an elementary school program. However, science is used as a building block for writing, reading and communications skills. Traditional reading books are not used in the program. All reading instruction comes from children's literature. The teachers work to tie together the selections with the school theme. The students do as 3 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 23, 1995 much reading and writing in this program as in other schools. Poinciana School has a very talented art teacher who ties art to the science and technology magnet. In response to Chairwoman Centi's question, Mr. Sills said he would be happy to work with her to arrange for an Education Advisory Board meeting to be held at Poinciana School. Chairwoman Centi thanked Mr. Sills for his presentation. She feels he is a special person and an asset to Boynton Beach. Speaker: Robert H. Freed - One Candidate Vying for Position of Superintendent of Schools Mr. Freed presented copies of the application he submitted for the position of Superintendent of Schools. (A copy of this application is attached.) In Mr. Freed's opinion, the Superintendent of Schools must be a manager, an administrator, and a financial manager. The Superintendent needs to be able to manage the company; not be the teacher. Mr. Freed has a broad background in management and finance. He has a Master's Degree in education. He has briefly been a teacher and has served as president of the PTA. He has been a delegate of the County Council of PTA, and is currently a volunteer at Christa McAuliffe Middle School. In the agenda Mr. Freed submitted to the School Board, one of the main points he stressed is the need to reduce the administrative staff throughout the system by 10 percent in the first year. At the end of his first year, he would evaluate the situation and probably reduce staff by an additional 10 percent. He feels that the money spent on bureaucracy should be redirected to education. In addition, Mr. Freed feels Monica Uhlhorn failed because she was unable to reach everyone she had to work with. A superintendent must be strong on interpersonal relationships. To reduce costs for expendable school supplies, he feels organizations such as Office Depot would be happy to have designated people from each school pick up items provided the cost is less than in the negotiated overall contract currently in use by the district. Mr. Freed was impressed with Mr. Sills' presentation, but he is concerned with where the students will go when they complete the program at Poinciana School. Schools are needed that will complete the program. In addition, we need vocational schools which will teach building trades and automotive skills. Many students will not go to college and they need to be prepared for the business community. 4 MINUTES EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 23, 1995 Ms. Schneider inquired as to Mr. Freed's experience as a school administrator. Mr. Freed stated that he has no school administration experience. However, at 15 years of age, he started his own boys' club in New York. At age 20, he was hired as head counselor of a camp. Chairwoman Centi asked for Mr. Freed's opinion of Boynton's needs. Mr. Freed feels Boynton Beach has a need for more schools and improved schools. Magnet schools have not proven to improve schools anywhere in the country. He feels the "Three Rs" must be strengthened, the caliber of teachers must be improved, and until the teachers are recognized as top professionals, there will be a problem. Mr. Freed is in favor of the one-cent sales tax increase. He would also be in favor of a different State tax change. He would like to see the Homestead Exemption changed to increase it to $50,000 or $75,000 because a person with a $25,000 house in 1970, now pays tax because the house has appreciated in value. This person's income has not increased substantially. He feels this person should be a tax-exempt person. By increasing the exemption to $50,000 or $75,000, many of the residents would have their taxes lowered. Therefore, it would then be necessary to increase the tax rate above that amount to relieve the blue collar workers of the additional burden. Chairwoman Centi thanked Mr. Freed for his presentation. XI. ADJOURNMENT With the Public Audience portion of the agenda complete, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Janet M. Prainito Recording Secretary (Two Tapes) S:\CC\WP\MINUTES\EAB\082395.WPD 5