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Minutes 08-28-14 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 100 E. BOYNTON EACH BLVD. BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON AUGUST 2, 2014, AT 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Steve Waldman, Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Carla Colebrooks Carol Lundquist Hattie Miller (Arrived 6:05 p.m.) Dr. Tiffany North Valencia Spells Anderson Loretta Wilkinson, Alternate Kathleen Wilkinson, Student, Regular Voting Member ABSENT: Mary Morera, Vice Chair Dr. Carmela Nanton, Alternate Kellsie Kershaw I. Call to Order Chair Waldman called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. 111. Pledge of Allegiance/ Moment of Silent Reflection The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Loretta Wilkinson, followed by a moment of silent reflection. Chair Waldman announced Vice Chair Morera advised she could not attend the meeting 111111. Approval of Minutes of May 22, 2014 Motion Ms. Lundquist moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Spells Anderson seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Approval of Agenda Chair Waldman added a discussion of Adopt-A-Classroom to New Business as Item B. MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 2, 2014 Motion Ms. Spells Anderson moved to approve as amended. Ms. Colebrooks seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Self- introductions were made including new member, Kathleen Wilkinson, an 8 th grade student at Okeeheelee Middle School. Chair Waldman pointed out member Hattie Miller was the longest- standing member of the Board. V. Announcements /Presentations /Correspondence Sherri Claude, Board Liaison, announced the following: • Dr. Nanton submitted her resignation due to scheduling issues. • Correspondence was received from Freedom Shores Elementary School thanking the Board for the $300 donation for the SECME program. • A thank you letter was received from Poinciana Elementary School for the $400 donation made by the Board for their Scientist/ Mathematician of the Month breakfast program. • A donation was received from the campaign account of Vice Mayor Casello of $828.12, split between the Borovy and Community Contributions accounts. Ms. Claude sent a thank you letter. • Funfare Magazine was reformatted this year. The Magazine has upcoming events including free play outdoor events in September that will resume. • A thank you letter was sent to Harvey Oyer for his donation. • Mail was received for all Board members from the School District which she distributed. Loretta Wilkinson requested adding a discussion of Reading Oasis to New Business as Item C. There were no objections to the amendment. Chair Waldman, in an effort to recruit students for the Youth Volunteer Bank, went to Poinciana Elementary School. Gloria Gibson, who runs the LEGO program, agreed to copy the forms and distribute them to the relevant individuals. Chair Waldman will also go to Boynton Beach High School. There is someone new running the Student Council, and they may be able to recruit students for the Volunteer Bank. 2 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 28, 2014 A. Presentation by Members of the Veterans Speakers Forum Corporal Burt Richards from the Veterans Speakers Forum distributed a Mission Statement to the Board. He participated in the City's 100 Anniversary and was a resident of Boynton Beach and Palm Beach County for over 35 years. Corporal Richards commented he was attempting to save the Old High School. Corporal Richards explained he has a collection worth over $10,000 in veteran's memorabilia, and he wanted the Old High School to house the Veteran's Memorabilia Museum and Education Center. He opined it would be supported by 1.5 million residents and five million tourists that visit Palm Beach County each year. He read an email from Historic Resource Preservation Board Member Susan Oyer who thought it was a great idea and a great way to use the High School. She liked using a portion of the building which could provide multiple uses and requested being updated. Corporal Richards was concerned students do not know the words or authors of the Country's national anthems and explained in 2010, he spearheaded the campaign to have the Palm Beach County schools closed on Veterans Day. He thought it was important to have an event for children to understand what it is to pay homage to those who serve. He supported a positive partnership to make Boynton Beach proud. He thought Veterans Park was wonderful and understood a monument in honor of the Battle of the Bulge would be erected. Corporal Richards commented most youth do not know anything about the Battle of the Bulge. He suggested the schools contact the Speaker's Bureau and pointed out he has not been in one Boynton Beach school, but has visited 37 schools throughout Palm Beach County. He also speaks at the County Detention Centers. Corporal Richards commented $170,000 has been budgeted to tear down the Old High School. He questioned why they would not use the money to improve it and pointed out the Veterans only needed a few rooms and could grow from there. He guaranteed there would be plenty of volunteers to run the museum. Mrs. Metcalf, the mother of slain soldier Michael Metcalf, thought a Memorabilia Museum was a great idea. She and her son's friends were learning about U.S. and military history because of her son. She endorsed Corporal Richard's efforts and thought the Memorabilia Museum would bring further meaning to the Old High School. An artist had created a bust of her son and Mrs. Metcalf thought the Old High School was a great place to display it. She wanted the bust and the effort to have meaning. Chair Waldman suggested Corporal Richards attend the City Commission meetings, since the City Commission has the authority over the Old High School. Corporal Richards noted the Board could make a recommendation to them. Chair Waldman agreed, but explained the Board only has the authority to forward a resolution in support or in opposition of the effort and noted there was asbestos in the 3 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 2, 2014 Old High School. He did not know if the building could be saved. Chair Waldman was willing to support the effort, but not necessarily in the Old High School. He inquired if portables could be used or another appropriate location found and further suggested speaking with the school district. Loretta. Wilkinson suggested the Board not make a decision right away. The disposition of the Old High School has been discussed for years. If they decide to support a resolution, they would contact Corporal Richards so he could be present when they present it to the City Commission. Michelle Dion, Boynton Beach resident, was also a member of the Historic Resources Preservation Board, expressed her personal opinion. She thanked Ms. Metcalf for her and her son's service. Her uncle died in World War 11 and she has heard many stories about the war from a patient when visiting her aunt in Hospice. She was aware some items were removed from the Old High School and put in Galaxy Elementary School. She expressed planting seeds, bears fruit. She liked the idea of a museum and recording stories from the veterans. A museum would not only establish a precedent; it would honor a large portion of the population. She inquired if a grant could be obtained for a museum, even if not at the Old High School, and noted a destination was needed in Downtown Boynton Beach. The members thanked Corporal Richards for his presentation. Public Audience None. VI. New Business A. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Ms. Lundquist nominated Mr. Waldman as Chair. Loretta Wilkinson seconded the nominations. No other nominations were received and Mr. Waldman accepted. The nomination was unanimously passed. Loretta Wilkinson nominated Ms. Morera for Vice Chair. Ms. Lundquist seconded the nomination. No other nominations were received and the nomination was unanimously passed. B. Adopt a Classroom In the past, the Board adopted a classroom in Forest Park Elementary School, Congress Middle School, and Boynton Beach High School, Chair Waldman read an article about the Palm Beach County Educational Forum qualifying as a non-profit agency. If a donor makes a contribution to the Education Foundation and gets a tax receipt, the Foundation issues a check to the school. Discussion followed they could 4 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 2, 2014 also bring the check to the school. The new school policy is when they write the check, they indicate which class, teacher or club the funds are earmarked to. The bookkeepers must keep track of the donation and keep a copy of it. Chair Waldman suggested the members make suggestions and the donation at the next meeting. Ms. Colebrooks agreed to check if the school website showed what classrooms had been adopted. It was anticipated the Board would donate to the elementary and middle school. C. Reading Oasis Loretta Wilkinson explained she is part of the Kiwanis Club who partnered with Scholastic Books to hold a Reading Oasis at Rolling Green Elementary School. Kiwanis donates $5,000 and Scholastic donates $5,000. They received the $5,000 from Scholastic, a $2,500 grant from Kiwanis. She spoke to the Police and Fire Departments, and both of their benevolent associations indicated they would donate some amount. The principal at Rolling Green donated a room and Scholastic will provide furniture for it and 1,200 books. The Kiwanis and other organizations would do the hands on work. With this program, the school has to be a Title One school and there are four other Title 1 elementary schools. She planned to suggest someone from the Kiwanis Club petition the Board for funds. Loretta Wilkinson inquired if this was permissible under the Sunshine Law and was aware she could not vote on the matter. She suggested either way, the Board members volunteer hands on work to gain publicity. The opening of the Reading Oasis will be Friday November 21 at 5 p.m. to coincide with the School's book fair. Several School Board members will attend and she hoped the City Commission, local legislators and police and fire departments would attend. It could be a community effort and she anticipated the press would be very involved. Ms. Claude agreed to check with Legal on the matter to determine if there was a conflict of interest for Loretta Wilkinson and Kathleen Wilkinson, and advised when a member abstains from voting, they must complete a conflict of interest form. Construction would commence on October 1 St with a backup date of October 8 th Painting would occur October 4 th or the 11 th. Prefabricated furniture would be assembled November 1 St with November 8 th as the backup. The paint was donated by the Lantana Chamber of Commerce, and a Chamber member volunteered to paint. Loretta Wilkinson agreed to email the information to the members. Ms. Colebrook's inquired what else the Board needed to do. Mrs. Wilkinson thought getting people involved was needed and that the Board should be listed on the Sponsor Board. VII. Old Business D. Shred- A -Thon 5 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 28, 2014 Loretta Wilkinson found a new shredding company out of Delray Beach, spoke to the person in charge about the event and received a lot of information. Mrs. Wilkinson gave a tentative date of October 11, 2014. If the Board approved, she could send a contract. The representative explained they usually charge $100 an hour, which would be less than what they had paid, and thought they could do it for less if the Board was willing to tip the workers to the equivalent of what they would have made. Motion Ms. Lundquist moved to have the shred-a-thou with Red Shredder on October 11 th M S. Colebrook's seconded the motion. E. Tennis Carnival The Board wanted to continue this event and did not have a date. Chair Waldman noted Vice Chair Morera handled this is the past. If she could not do so this year, he would request another Board member help. F. Youth Volunteer Bank/Bob Borovy Award There were no new members. Ms. Claude agreed to provide a count at the next meeting. Chair Waldman requested more flyers about the program and would distribute them. G. Fundraising This item was not addressed since the Board had discussed the Shred-a-thon separately. H. Sister Cities Chair Waldman commented Sister Cities may be doing an art demonstration and they were working with the Art in the Streets program. I. Boynton Reads update Ms. Colebrook's explained Laura Orlove resigned from the Board and hoped someone would take over the program. Chair Waldman suggested they keep an eye on the matter and see if anyone will take it over. Ms. Colebrooks agreed to email the members an update on the program. V111. Future Meeting Dates: September 25, 2014 October 23, 2014 6 MEETING MINUTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 28,2014 I VIII. Adjournment Motion Dr. North moved to adjourn. Ms. Colebrooks seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 090814 7