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Minutes 06-25-09 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009, AT 7:00 P.M. COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Steve Waldman, Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Mary Morerra, Vice Chair Jose De La Torre Paulette Ford Hattie Miller Robert Chiste ABSENT: Carol Lundquist Loretta Wilkinson Lisa Pierre I. Call to Order Chair Waldman called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silent Reflection Mr. De La Torre led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a moment of silent reflection. III. Approval of Minutes of May 28, 2009 Motion Mr. Chiste moved to approve the minutes as presented. Ms. Ford seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Approval of Agenda The agenda was approved by consensus. V. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence Sherri Claude , Board Liaison reported the Board received a thank you card for their contribution to the Odyssey of the Minds and Lego Team activities held at Poinciana Elementary School. She also reported Vice Mayor Hay and Commissioner Ross each 1 Meeting Minutes Education & Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL June 25, 2009 donated $500 from their Community Investment Funds to Poinciana Elementary School. Chair Waldman thought the Board should send a thank you letter on behalf of the staff and teachers of Poinciana to the Commissioners for their donation. Chair Waldman also emailed Vice Mayor Hay attaching prior correspondence from Vice Mayor Hay wherein he indicated he would give the Board $1,000 for their programs. Given the economic circumstances, it was possible the Board would no longer receive funds from him and Chair Waldman had not heard anything about the funds since then. VI. Public Audience None. VII. New Business Chair Waldman thanked Ms. Claude for forwarding information about student volunteer opportunities to him. VIII. Old Business A. Contribution to BBHS Theatre Department Ms. Claude distributed a completed form from the head of the drama department at Boynton Beach Community High School. At the last meeting, it was agreed a form would be created for entities to submit if they were requesting financial assistance from the Board. The Drama Department indicated they had a deficit of $500. The members discussed $500 was more than they gave to Poinciana Elementary School. A review of the Board’s past donations reflected the Board contributed: $420 to Poinciana for the Odyssey of the Mind and Lego team activities ? $500 for the High School Basketball program ? $200 for the student who needed two lungs ? $400 for the middle school cheerleading competition ? $1,200 to the Presidential Classroom program ? Discussion included two Commissioners donated $500 each to the Board, and the Board was in a position to donate $500 to the Drama Department; however, the Board should consider how many schools they would support and how much they would contribute to each school. If the Board donated $500, a precedent could be set and the recipient may expect the same amount in the future. Ms. Claude also clarified the donations from the Commissioners were earmarked for the Borovy Award. Chair Waldman suggested donating $600. Five hundred dollars would be to cover the deficit and $100 would be for seed money. Discussion ensued that the Board should 2 Meeting Minutes Education & Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL June 25, 2009 give what was requested. There was agreement to contribute at least $500. It was also noted the next high school production was "A Raisin in the Sun." Motion Ms. Miller moved to donate $600 for the new production. Mr. Chiste seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Chair Waldman had spoken to the principal at Galaxy Elementary School about the Youth Volunteer Bank, and suggested the Board help with the school as well as assisting Poinciana Elementary School as they would be the Board's adopted schools. He would bring over volunteer bank forms and inquire what they could do to help the school. Myra Jones, 311 NW 4th Avenue, indicated she spent a lot of time at Galaxy and advised they had a project to have all the kindergartners take swimming lessons. This year, they were hoping to broaden the program to include first and second graders and they were trying to find the money to cover all the students. The pool is within walking distance so there was no cost to transport the children to the Denson Pool. The City has, in the past, allowed some of the students to ride in the Recreation bus because some of the students are very small. She indicated the Board should speak with Mr. Snyder. Ms. Claude Jones was also aware the City tries to cover the cost of the lifeguard. The regular season price was $1 and the school was charged fifty cents pays the City $5 per child for lessons. bocause the students were little, but they moved fast. Ms. Jones requested if the Board decided to make a donation to let her know and she would try to hold a community fundraiser to match the funds. The first day of school was August 18th, but the principal and assistant principal are usually at school during the summer. A donation of $350 would cover the cost of the program for the entire school year on a once a week basis. Chair Waldman would make an appointment with the principal and email the members so they could attend the meeting. Ms. Jones would also attend the meeting. Motion Ms. Ford moved to earmark $500 for the Galaxy Swim Program. Ms. Miller seconded the motion. Discussion followed that if the program was less than $500, perhaps there was a need in another area or the school could include another grade of students in the program. There was discussion if the schools had a fund dedicated for field trips, and how they determined what activities the students would participate in. 3 Meeting Minutes Education & Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL June 25, 2009 Ms. Jones responded last year, there were no field trips except for the ones that were within walking distance. Ms. Ford explained she motioned for $500 and the idea was they would support a request with a maximum amount of $500. The actual cost was would be voted on. Chair Waldman reminded the members a request form would be sent and the principal would specifiy what the amount and programs were. Ms. Ford agreed to the amendment. Ms. Miller also agreed to the amendment. The emphasis was on the swimming program and what the principal felt the school’s needs were in that area. Vote The motion unanimously passed. B. Youth Volunteer Bank There was no report given. Forms would be distributed to the High School and Poinciana Elementary School C. Fundraising Chair Waldman spoke with County Commissioner Abrams and discussed Boynton Beach’s needs. Chair Waldman highlighted the Board and made him aware of their efforts so that in the future if he approached Commissioner Abrams he would be familiar with the Board’s efforts. Discretionary funds were currently available, but it was unknown if they would continue in the future. If the Board needed to fundraise, they will do so. It was also reported the Youth Violence Prevention Program may lose funding from the County, and if they needed assistance, the Board should support them. The Youth Violence Prevention Program was a youth-at- risk program, and any type of support they could offer would be given. Request for donation forms would be emailed to the members. IX. Future Meeting Dates: July 23, 2009 August 27, 2009 Chair Waldman advised he tried to email Ms. Pierre and the email came back. It was noted Ms. Pierre was leaving for school in August and this was the fourth meeting she missed. Members were asked to recruit other students to fill vacancies on the Board. 4 Meeting Minutes Education & Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, FL June 25, 2009 The voting member must be a City resident. The non-voting members could be a non- resident. When a position was applied for, Chair Waldman would advise the Commissioner who had the appointment vote. At the next meeting the Board would organize talking points for the Youth Volunteer Program. When the new brochure was created, it implemented talking points for the students in the 4th and 5th grades. If forms could be completed, the program could grow from there. The Board would need to follow through with collecting the volunteer hours. The members would go to the school to collect the forms, and return to the school with awards and establish a presence. Ms. Claude was asked to think of suggestions for how to implement the Youth Volunteer program for elementary school students. It was noted Herb Suss was a volunteer at the school, and it was thought he could assist the Board there. X. Adjournment Motion Ms. Morera moved to adjourn. Mr. Chiste seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m. ddJ::LvLUJA_( CU-R)v\l_V Catherine Cherry a Recording Secretary 062909 5