Minutes 03-25-21 Minutes of the Education and Youth Advisory Board Meeting
Held on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Via Zoom Online Meeting
in Boynton Beach, Florida
Present:
Greg Murphy, Chair Kacy Young, Recreation Director
Chevette Gadsen, Vice Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison
Dr. Valerie Valcourt
Lori Wilkinson
Shaquira Young
Frando Patterson
Francoise Calixte-Dieuvil
Jeremiah Young
Absent:
Dr. Vinola Rada
Abby Murrell
Kevin Duterval
Jessica Wilkinson
I. Call to Order
Chair Murphy called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
The members recited the pledge to the Flag
Ill. Approval of Agenda
Motion
Vice Chair Gadsen moved to approve the minutes as written. Lori Wilkinson seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
IV. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence
Kacy Young, Recreation and Parks Director, announced the Egg Stravaganza on April
3, which is a drive through egg hunt festival. Earth Day is a drive through event on April
17th, at the Ezell Hester Center. The first 100 residents will receive a free tree. Other
giveaways and sustainability information.will be given. April 1St, is April Pools Day, a fun
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Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida March 25, 2021
event, kicking off the summer with games and pool-themed activities. April 17th is the
Youth Symposium. Registration is available, but limited to 50 participants. Living in the
technical world is this year's theme and there are community service hours for high
school aged students. Virtual classes are available. He asked if anyone has any
contacts or ways to help Recreation and Parks department advertise the programs.
Some seniors returned to the classroom and some are on line. With Covid schools are
not accepting flyers. He requested anyone with ideas or who can share information
digitally to let him or Ms. Claude know. Many programs are promoted on digital
marquee on MLK and Seacrest, Ezell Hester Center, the Utility Department and City
Hall.
Sherri Claude, Board Liaison, announced, they received a $100 donation from Top
Score Writing for the Borovy Award. Lisa Collum, the owner of Top Score has a school
for students in Lake Park. They reached out to her about the Borovy Scholarship and if
she wanted to be a judge, but she felt she would be more effective by making the
donation. Ms. Collum was invited to the meeting, but was not present. Chair Murphy
appreciated her donation and her work.
V. Public Audience
None
VI. New Business
A. Approval of Minutes of February 25, 2021
Motion
Lori Wilkinson moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Young seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
VII. Old Business
A. Outreach
B. Fundraising
Lori Wilkinson gave an update regarding Harvey Oyer, III assisting the Board. She
spoke to him several times this month. And asked if she could invite him to the next
meeting. She invited him to this meeting, but he could not make it. He could make a
presentation of his ideas, and he would give a summary about what she and Mr. Oyer
discussed. She explained the family agreed to donate $5K for the Harvey Oyer Fund.
He was trying to think of a corporate sponsor to serve as an endowment rather than
every few years having to approach the family again. One suggestion he made was to
reach out to Bethesda Baptist Hospital, because his father was a founding member of
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Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida March 25, 2021
Bethesda and served on their original Board. His family was born there and his father
died there. He feels he has the ability to reach out to them and thought the hospital
could match it over$1 K over five years. She wanted to ensure there was no conflict to
accept a donation. Mr. Oyer, III, would ask for the donation. Ms. Young inquired if he
was related to the teacher who bullied, harassed and discriminated against African-
American children at Boca Middle school and if it would cause a conflict with the Board,
because the article was in the paper and she is under investigation for making racist
remarks. Ms. Wilkinson responded he is her brother and did not feel they could tie the
two together. Ms. Young felt the article tied them together. She thought it may be a
conflict and it was something the school district brought up in its Culturally Responsive
Leadership and Equity Classes and brought the article talked about the teacher and her
family or brother, being prominent in Boynton Beach. Ms. Wilkinson explained the
discussion with Mr. Oyer, III, occurred before the article came out and she explained the
Oyer family is prominent and have been for many years. Mr. Oyer, III, writes children's
books, he has given talks at the elementary schools in the area and the community fund
is named after his father. She thought if the Board would decline the donation for that
reason, she thought the City should remove his name from everything. She did not see
the City moving to remove his name from the boat ramp park and he was a Mayor in the
City for several years. She thought it is a sticky situation and requested input from the
members.
Chair Murphy thought it warranted discussion with the City to see what direction they
will go with it as it is a red flag. The Board does not want to cause more tension than
what is needed. He requested Mr. Young research if they can pursue it in light of an
article that comes to light with City management. Mr. Young agreed to bring it to the
City Manager to see if there are any qualms from receiving donations from any member
of the community and he will bring it back next month. Chair Murphy appreciated Ms.
Wilkinson's efforts. She advised Mr. Oyer, III, was hoping to challenge Bethesda
Hospital to match their funds. There is a building along Ocean Avenue in Boynton
Beach that is owned by the Oyer's and there are discussions about developing that
area. He suggested they contact the developers who are making bids to do so and
informing them the property is theirs right now and they want the community fund to be
included in the bid which would sweeten the pot so when they go before the City
Commission, they would say they would donate to the fund.
Chair Murphy requested the Board conduct due diligence in the matter.
C. Bob Borovy Student Citizen of the Year Award
1. Judges
Chair Murphy asked if there were recommendation for judges. Ms. Claude advised she
received one recommendation. Ms. Young commented Dr. Able St. Amour who works
for the school district was interested in being a judge.
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Education and Youth Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida March 25, 2021
Mr. Young asked if any of last year's judges were interested in returning as a judge.
Ms. Claude responded generally two adult judges and the award recipient from the prior
year serve as judges. Dr. JeTawm Shannon was a judge last year. Chair Murphy
commented if Drs. St. Amour or Shannon are not available., he would serve as a judge.
He announced he was not resubmitting an application to be reappointed to the Board.
2. Criteria
The current criteria for the Borovy Award stated the applicants must be a graduating
senior, resident in incorporated City limits, be nominated by three adults unrelated, good
moral character, perform significant volunteer work and made meaningful contributes to
his/her school, church, community/social service organization and submit an essay
between150 to 350 words on what they learned through volunteer service and
completely submit the application. He noted the Board had previously discussed they
may amend the current requirements. Ms. Claude thought the question was if the
Board wanted to open the award up to students in the greater Boynton Beach area.
Right now, there are two eligible applications and two applications from students who
live in Boynton Beach but not inside City limits. In some years there are 10 applications
and others only two applications.
Chair Murphy favored removing the City requirement. Ms. Wilkinson did not think it was
uncommon for awards to have a specific boundary. She thought it was special they are
discussing if the student a resident or goes to a school that serves the City. She
deferred to the board. It is not uncommon to have something specific to the area. If
they say greater Boynton Beach, where do they draw the line? Would it include
students from Park Vista? Or Delray? Chair Murphy thought the address should say
Boynton Beach, incorporated or not. Ms. Young agreed it should be opened up to
Greater Boynton Beach seniors. Vice Chair Gadson supported it as well.
Ms. Wilkinson left the meeting at 6:29 p.m.
Motion
Ms. Young moved to remove the requirement the student had to live in incorporated
Boynton Beach and replaced with living in the greater Boynton Beach area. Vice Chair
Gadson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Future Meeting Dates: April 22, 2021
May 27, 2021
Chair Murphy reviewed the future meeting dates and the Account Summary. He
reiterated he was not renewing his Board membership application. He is in the Doctoral
program and it is involved in the Dissertation phase which is intense. He has enjoyed
his time on the Board. He spoke with Ms. Claude, and with the new ordinance, the City
Commission will appoint the new Board Chair and Vice Chair sometime in April. He
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enjoyed working with the members, Ms. Claude, Ms. Young and the Board Clerk. He
thanked all for their time and their service. Mr. Young thanked Chair Murphy and
thought he has done a great job. Dr. Valcourt congratulated him on his Doctoral
program and wished him the best of luck with his Dissertation.
IX. Adjournment
Motion
Vice Chair Gadson moved to approve. Ms. Young seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Catherine Cherry
Minutes Specialist
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