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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 Minutes 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 2 Minutes 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. 3 Minutes 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 4 Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 25, 2021 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 5