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Minutes 12-01-11 1 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 1, 2011, AT 7:00 P.M. IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Stephen Waldman, Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Mary Morera, Vice Chair Carol Lundquist Libby Stroud Khadijah Davis, Student, Regular Voting Member ABSENT: Myra Jones Hattie Miller Lori Wilkinson Dr. Tiffany North, Alternate Calin Roiban, Student, Regular Voting Member I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m II. Pledge of Allegiance /Moment of Silent Reflection The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a moment of silent reflection. III. Approval of Minutes of October 27, 2011 Motion Ms. Stroud moved to approve the minutes. Vice Chair Morera seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Approval of Agenda Jeanne Heavilin of the Sister Cities organization was present and would speak under public audience. Motion Vice Chair Morera moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Lundquist seconded the motion that unanimously passed. 1 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida December 1, 2011 V. Announcements /Presentations /Correspondence Sherri Claude, Board Liaison, announced Dr. North notified her she would not be present for the meeting. Chair Waldman stated a donation from the Harvey Oyer family was forthcoming. He noted any donation would be appreciated. VI. Public Audience Ms. Heavilin stated the Young Artists exhibit was confirmed at the Library in April. The exhibit will be set up on Saturday, March 31st and April 5, 2012 would be the award reception to kick off the exhibit. Sister Cities QuFu, China and soon to be Les Cayes, Haiti would hold their own exhibit and then send the artwork to incorporate into the Boynton Beach exhibit. Ms. Heavilin has been sending sponsor letters for the event as there was no funding available from the City. The three levels of the exhibit were on the elementary, middle, and high school level. In the past, $250 would go to the art department for each winner's school. A cash award of $175 and $50 would be given to the elementary school winners. At the last meeting, the Board was asked to sponsor the cost of the elementary school winners and art department. The amount totaled $475. Motion Vice Chair Morera moved to sponsor the elementary school cost. Ms. Lundquist seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The funds would come from the Harvey Oyer, Jr., Community Fund. Ms. Heavilin announced Les Cayes, Haiti, was approved by the City as the next Sister City. The official delegation would be arriving December 14 and 15. Two days of activities were planned and the delegation would be meeting with some of the department heads in the City and taking a bus tour of parks and recreation facilities. The official signing of the Sister Cities agreement would take place at a reception at the Woman's Club on December 15, 2011. Invitations were distributed to the members. The City Manager's office would be forwarding invitations to all department heads. It was noted there was a cost associated with the event. It was anticipated the Mayor, two commissioners or deputy mayors, the department head, which was the equivalent of Palm Beach County, and a representative of the Chamber of Commerce, all from Les Cayes would be attending. The Sister Cities organization was trying to have the Dimensional Choir perform at the reception. Chair Waldman had also spoken to the principal of Boynton Beach High School about the event and the delegation may want to tour the high school. Ms. Heavilin had contacted 2 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida December 1, 2011 the Sister Cities educational liaison about touring the high school. It would be a good photo opportunity and good publicity for the City. Ms. Heavilin thanked the Board for their support and would keep the members up -to- date. She agreed to email the information about the Young Artists/Young Authors programs to Chair Waldman. It was noted Poinciana Elementary School had a new art teacher and Chair Waldman would speak with him about the programs. Letters were sent to all public and private schools. There was also an art school in Delray Beach, which many Boynton students attend. It was believed the school was the new Plumosa School of the Arts. Ms. Heavilin agreed to follow up with that school about the program. VII. New Business None. VIII. Old Business: A. Student Exchange At the last meeting, Ms. Wilkinson had agreed to follow up on this item, but she was not present. Chair Waldman thought they could host students from China this summer as opposed to sending students there this year. The Sister Cities organization sought to have an individual coordinate the program; however, the Board had agreed a summer program this year would not be possible. Chair Waldman thought, if they found students and could find financing, they may be able to send one or two students to China next year. Ms. Heavilin noted the American Heritage School had an exchange program and Ms. Francois, the Sister Cities president, had agreed to contact them. B. Youth Volunteer Bank/Bob Borovy Award Ms. Claude stated there were 99 volunteers involved in the program. The Borovy Award application was on the website. She issued a press release and sent a letter with a flyer to the high schools. She had additional flyers for the Board to distribute as appropriate. More flyers were available if needed. She stated she did receive a call from a student that was interested in the program. The student was from Boynton Beach High School. C. Tennis Carnival — April 28, 2011, Hunter's Run Vice Chair Morera stated the date for the event was set. She was staying in touch with Phyllis Stern and the tennis pro at Hunters Run. She commented the Board handles most of the refreshments. The event would be publicized in FunFare Magazine and it 3 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida December 1, 2011 was already on the website. Registration was handled the same way as other recreation programs. She noted the program can accommodate 30 students and it was an easy program to hold. D. Bowling Tournament Chair Waldman stated he had not moved forward with the bowling tournament. He agreed to contact the Community Redevelopment Agency about partnering with the Board for the event before the next meeting. On a different matter, Chair Waldman stated Applebee's has a program that allows groups to hold a pancake breakfast. The event has to be held on a Saturday or Sunday. The restaurant supplies the cook, and the group sells tickets. About 75 participants were needed to make a profit. He inquired if the Board was interested. Vice Chair Morera was familiar with the program as her daughter's swim team held such an event. She noted, however, the swim team had about 45 members, and it was primarily the team members and their families who attended the event. She thought it may be difficult for a Board with seven or eight members to sell enough tickets. Chair Waldman stated he could approach the high school. Discussion followed an incentive, such as receiving an hour of volunteer credit, per ticket sold may be helpful. Chair Waldman suggested the Board defer making any decisions on the event. Chair Waldman stated the next Shred -a -thon may be held in May. Ms. Heavilin commented Ms. Francois had tried to contact Ms. Wilkinson about corroborating with the Board for the event and offered the Board the use of property she owned on Federal Highway and 5th Avenue. There was agreement discussion should be held when Ms. Wilkinson was present. The thought was to hold the event after tax season, provided the company was available. The Board could take Ms. Francois up on her offer, but first needed to ascertain whether or not the company would donate its time and trucks. Ms. Heavilin explained she works for the Literacy Coalition. The next books for the 2012 "Read Together Palm Beach Books" were announced. They were: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin; Digging to America, by Anne Tyler; Last Train to Paradise, by Les Standiford; Picking Cotton, by Ronald Cotton; and Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers. The goal was to read the five books in six weeks and vote on the book they want all the adults in the County to read together. Ballot boxes would be provided, and voting will commence January 17, 2012 in the Library, Starbucks and other locations. Barnes and Noble was assembling gift bags of the five books which could be given for holiday gifts. Chair Waldman stated the League of Cities Education Committee had planned to hold an oratorical contest on "My City ", for youth aged 13 -18. There were not enough 4 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida December 1, 2011 participants and 10 were needed. He thought they would try to hold the event next year. He asked the members to keep the event in mind and suggest the activity to those who may be interested. There was a small cash prize. Discussion followed the City used to hold a "Youth in Government Day" through the Community Relations Board. It was a good way to get youth involved in government. Another contest was "National History Day." Chair Waldman was aware Palm Beach County participates in it and he contacted a social studies teacher in the district about it as it was a good program. The themes were freedom, reform and revolution. Entries could be in the form of display boards, video tapes, acting and performance. It was a national competition held on the local, regional, state and then national level and it was a great way to get youth involved outside the classroom setting. As he learned more, he agreed to report back to the Board. Chair Waldman stated he would push the program at the high school. IX. Future Meeting Dates The next scheduled meetings were January 26, 2012 (Library, Conference Room A) and February 23, 2012 in City Commission Chambers. X. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Stroud moved to adjourn. Vice Chair Morera seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Catherine Cherry Recording Secretary 120811 5