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Minutes 04-28-11 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY APRIL 28, 2011 AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Steven Waldman, Chair Sherri Claude, City Liaison, Recreation and Parks Mary Morera, Vice Chair Myra Jones Hattie Miller Carol Lundquist April Nobles, Alternate (left at 7:40 p.m.) Khadijah Davis, Student/Reg/Voting ABSENT Lisa Landis (Resigned) Dr. Tiffany North, Alternate Emily Schweitzer, Student/Reg/Voting Loretta Wilkinson I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Waldman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION Chair Waldman lead the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. A moment of silent reflection was observed. All members introduced themselves. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 24, 2011 Ms. Miller moved to approve the minutes of February 24, 2011, seconded by Ms. Jones and unanimously carried. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 24, 2011 Ms. Claude advised there was one clarification under Item G, Fundraising. The last paragraph of the minutes there was reference to the shred-a-thon, and there was a reference “last year”. She wanted to clarify this would be the first year the Board would do a shred-a-thon and the things referred to were from another organization. MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 28, 2011 Motion Ms. Morera moved to approve the minutes of March 24, 2011, seconded by Ms. Jones and unanimously carried. V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Waldman approved the agenda without dissent. VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS/PRESENTATIONS/CORRESPONDENCE A.Galaxy School Update Warren Hahn, Director of Program Management for the School District of Palm Beach County and Thorn Grafton, Director of Sustainability for Zyscovich Architects, who are the architects for the new Galaxy Elementary School were present. Mr. Grafton gave a presentation to the Board which was the same presentation given to the City Commission. He advised the Board that Galaxy is considered the greenest school in “the galaxy” as it has very high green objectives and will be made a LEED Platinum school, a program that architects are taking part in that changes the way they design buildings, and provide energy and water for buildings. The Platinum designation is the highest designation given by the United States Green Building Council standards. Galaxy may be the first LEED Platinum school in the entire State of Florida and possibly one of the first in the Southeast United States. The school was built 52 years ago and is no longer a candidate for repair and renovation. The entire school will be removed with the exception of two buildings. With the existing City park, there is an interlocal agreement which had been negotiated to replace the park and an existing 5 acre natural area that is home to gophers, tortoises and other animals. Itt would be saved and worked into the overall plan of the development and restored as a natural habitat. Mr. Grafton advised the contractor, who is the construction manager for this project and the school district’s team is the same team that was involved in the Pine Jog project. This current project will be the natural, next step for environmental education in Palm Beach County after the Pine Jog project, which has been very successful, winning over 12 awards so far, including a national sustainable award. Mr. Grafton continued to explain what the learning objective would be in the construction of the new school and how there would be different areas for different 2 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 28, 2011 learning objectives. It will be more hands-on learning and more project-based learning st where students will collaborate and interact in new ways to experience 21 century learning and survival. He continued to explain, through his presentation, all the aspects of the building project. Galaxy will have an E3 curriculum, which is Energy, Environment and Engineering and will be designed as a future choice school. After first serving existing students from Boynton Beach, it will be opened up and phased in for students outside the Boynton Beach community. Mr. Grafton advised that this project had been the result of a number of meetings with the City, the Parks Dept, and Administration, and noted the City Manager has been a strong proponent of the project. We have also met not only with the parents of the school, but the neighbors as well. After the presentation concluded, Mr. Grafton advised they are in the design stage with demolition beginning over the summer. They will do an asbestos abatement and real active construction of the new school would begin around December, with a projected re-opening of August 2013. The school would be completed before then, but that would give time to work out the bugs and take care of punch list items. He pointed out that the plan was to install windmills on the school site so possibly people travelling on I-95 would get a glimpse and realize this is a green sustainable school that is using wind turbines, which is very rare for South Florida, but they have an opportunity to do that with their funding strategy. Chair Waldman inquired as to the number of students the school will hold at the start and Mr. Grafton advised it would open with a program capacity of 500 students but expandable to a future possibility of 887 students. Mr. Grafton highlighted the fact they were doing a capital campaign and were working with a grant writing consultant. High level green buildings have great appeal to corporations and foundations and so far the project received positive readings from local foundations that expressed interest in becoming a partner. The capital campaign goal is to reach $2.3 million to take the building from LEED Silver, which is the school standard for doing green buildings. This level is achievable without extra cost. When there is a desire to go to Platinum for the first time in an area, it comes with a cost premium. To do some of the site features desired, they have incremented the dollar goal. So far, fundraising efforts are going well. Chair Waldman inquired if it would go to a lottery system for students to attend. Mr. Hahn explained the first year the school would be open to students within the boundaries of Galaxy. Once it becomes a choice situation, it becomes a lottery. Ms. Nobles inquired where the students would be placed until the school was ready for occupancy and Mr. Grafton advised they would be attending Plumosa Elementary. 3 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 28, 2011 Ms. Nobles inquired about the student typically living within the boundaries having to apply to go to the school or would they have to apply to be in that choice program. So the kids that live in the neighborhood boundaries can either go to the school and not be in the choice program or everyone that lives in the neighborhood boundaries has to continue to apply to go to that school. Mr. Hahn further advised he did not have an answer to the question but he will follow up on it. It does differ by school. Ms. Nobles further commented that she wonders what happens to the students that live in the neighborhood that do not choose to go to the school. What would their home school become? Mr. Hahn indicated there are currently 440 students at Galaxy. Ms. Nobles advised that at Boca High, every child that lives in the district has priority to go to their choice, so no one else that applies from outside Boca High’s district, there are not enough spots. Mr. Hahn advised it would happen here too. What occurred at Pine Jog initially had space for three or four classrooms of choice. The next year, there would not be any choice students because the children that live within the district boundary will occupy the building. Mr. Waldman thanked Ms. Jones for starting the idea of saving Galaxy Elementary and speaking out to the community and thanked Mr. Grafton and Mr. Hahn for their wonderful presentation. (Ms. Nobles leaves meeting at 7:40 p.m.) VII. PUBLIC AUDIENCE Ms. Malik, a teacher at Boynton Beach High School was in attendance in support of student Khadijah Davis’ first night as a student Board member. Ms. Malik also gave an update on the plants students planted at the school. They have doubled in size and look good. She also wanted to make sure everyone received thank you notes from the students. VIII.NEW BUSINESS None. IX.OLD BUSINESS A. Bob Borovy Student Citizen of the Year Award Ms. Claude advised there were six applications and the judges were Debby Majors, Grant Coordinator for the City, Gary Solomon, Lead of the Sand Sifters Volunteer Group and Alexis Wooley, who was awarded second place last year. Ms. Claude indicated she 4 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 28, 2011 had the packets from the winner and runner up if anyone wanted to view them. Letters went out to the students and advised them of their awards. The second place winner called and was very thankful and indicated she would be at the May 17 City Commission meeting where the awards would be presented. Chair Waldman asked who the winner was. Ms Claude advised the first place winner was Ludnie Mauretour and the second place winner was Claslyne Jean-Pierre. Both students are from Boynton High School. B. Youth Volunteer Bank Ms. Claude reminded everyone, as discussed at the last meeting, the Youth Volunteer Bank awards will be presented at the May 17 Commission meeting. Thanks to some last minute submittals from the Cub Scout pack from Poinciana, there were a total of 31 students submitting hours in addition to another 22 that were dropped off to her. Those will be entered and letters will be sent out. Letters went out to all the students inviting them to the Commission meeting. Chair Waldman advised last year gift cards were given to the kids. He inquired as to the amount the Board could give this year with 51 kids. The suggestion was made to give a $10 gift card and a thank you letter for their volunteer work. Ms. Claude reminded the Board that it had been a while since monies had been coming in and if programs want to be continued, the same level of award would not be able to be achieved until more money starts coming in. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to give a $10 gift card. C.Bowling Tournament Chair Waldman reminded the members that the consensus at the last meeting was to postpone the bowling tournament. It was originally thought to reschedule it to July, but now possibly it should be rescheduled more for the beginning of next year. Ms. Claude advised if the Board could agree on a tentative date, she could start promoting it. Ms. Jones suggested scheduling it for the fall and possibly contact the volunteers and tell them their help is needed. Mr. Waldman suggested early September. Ms. Lundquist indicated if it were advertised as having a specific goal for the monies, it would help draw people. Ms. Claude indicated that had been done in the past. Mr. Waldman addressed the student representative Khadijah Davis for an opinion on the cost of $10 per person and timeframe. Ms. Davis thought the cost was reasonable but advised that school football season begins the second week of September. There was further discussion on whether it should be billed as a fundraiser or an activity. If the goal was a fundraiser, possibly it could be billed as a volunteer bank kick off or 5 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION & YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 28, 2011 something with a wider appeal. Consensus of the Board was to schedule a tentative date of September 18. D.YEC Update None. E.Sister Cities Update Chair Waldman advised the Board that Board member Lisa Landis has resigned. She is moving out of state and getting married. Chair Waldman advised they had the art show at the library. That went well. They did not get all the information from China they hoped to get. They were not happy with some of the quality of work they did receive. Hopefully, next time will be better because the liaison has moved to China. Chair Waldman explained the Sister Cities program to Khadijah Davis, the new student Board member. He advised there is a nd meeting of the Sister’s Cities group on Monday, May 2 at 7:45 p.m. at Margy’s Restaurant. F.Fundraising Chair Waldman apologized that Ms. Wilkinson could not be present. He advised she had been in contact with the people at the high school. Ms. Wilkinson was under the impression that a fee would have to be paid to the school district to use the area for the st shred-a-thon. Chair Waldman gave the opinion that May 21, the date originally scheduled for the event, was too short of a time to make all the preparations. Ms. st Davis advised that May 21 is school graduation. Mr. Waldman asked for suggestions on an alternate date indicating the facilities could still be utilized and possibly the fee waived. He inquired of Ms. Claude about the possibility of using the City facilities. She indicated that would be no problem, the agreement would have to be amended. There was further discussion to hold it in the fall in order to have the most participation. The consensus of the group was to hold it in the fall and a date would be decided at a later time. It was decided the monies could be designated for the Harvey Oyer Community Contribution Fund and the money would go back to the schools. X. FUTURE MEETING DATES: May 26, 2011 June 23, 2011 6 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION &. YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA APRIL 28,2011 Ms. Claude made the announcement that Recreation and Parks Department will be starting the reaccreditation process. The process is done every five years. The application had been submitted in March and the week of May 23, 2011 three Parks and Recreation professionals from out of state, would be visiting the facilities. One is a former director from Louisiana, one from Idaho and a Park Superintendent from Arlington County would come to look at the files, backup, and talk with people. There would be no one from Florida as you cannot include your own state in the process. She further advised only 100 Recreation and Park agencies are accredited nationwide, which amounts to approximately 4%. XI. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Morera moved to adjourn. Ms. Lundquist seconded the motion that carried unanimously. The meeting properly adjourned at 8: 13 p.m. (~. fc-2JL{.'(<2_~r- Ellie Caruso Recording Secretary 05/09/11 7