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Minutes 12-16-21 Minutes of the Education and Youth Advisory Board Meeting Held on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 6:00 P.M. at City Hall, Commission Chambers 100 E. Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, FL Present: Dr. Valerie Valcourt, Chair (Arrived 6:19 p.m.) Kacy Young, Recreation & Parks Director Lori Wilkinson, Vice Chair Sherri Claude, Board Liaison Francoise Calixte-Dieuvil Frando Patterson Chevette Gadson Dr. Stephanie Hayden-Adeyemo (Arrived 6:12 p.m.) Tarynnicole Rhodes, Alternate Jessica Wilkinson, Student Reg. Voting Member Absent: James Hubbard, Alternate Shaquira Young I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Ill. Roll Call Sherri Claude advised Ms. Rhodes emailed she is out of town. IV. Approval of Agenda Motion Vice Chair Wilkinson moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Gadson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. V. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence Ms. Claude introduced Frank Lazo, the New Assistant Director for Recreation and Parks. The members welcomed Mr. Laza. Mr. Lazo explained he previously was the Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach. Florida December 16, 2021 Parks Superintendent with Boynton Beach and he has been with the City for 1.5 years. He previously worked for Hollywood, and was excited for the opportunity and happy to be here. VI. Public Audience Ernest Mignoli, 710 NE 7th Street, Unit 407, stated he moved here in November 2020 as a full-time resident and senior. He spent over 40 years mostly in graduate education as a professor in New Jersey and New York area, and spent a lot of time in schools and schools in hospitals, prisons, in child facilities and in protection of children abused by gangs and drugs. When he left at age 72 to come here and that is the end of his involvement in education. After he moved to Florida he realized there is no state in the Union without issues, problems and concern and there is no state in the Union not making national news, ranging from sex crimes in schools. There is no area without culpability. The national news is evident that schools and particularly public schools are very dangerous these days and very much in need. (Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo arrived.) He did not think a concerned citizen or resident has too much of an opportunity to have too much of a say. He goes to a lot of meetings and he finds very little public in attendance is involved or knows what is going on. He thought most of the Board he goes to are conflicted with each other. They are all related there is one commissioner on five Boards and one Board member on a Commission and everyone seems to be connected and it is not good. He commented in Wall Township, New Jersey, he spent a lot of time on and it is in the national news regarding hazing, sexual abuse, it involves coaches and police who are coaches, it involves prosecutors and people who work. He comes to the meetings and there are problems in the City with public school and the school union administration and teachers have worked their way into government. One person running or Mayor is a big union educator in Boynton Beach. Another Commissioner brags about how smart they are because of teaching licenses and certificates, but he thought the Boynton Beach records are clear as to 18K families in the City are living in poverty, food and clothing and he goes to a lot of different meetings, and they give out money to police and firemen and teachers and paying them for vaccinations. He commented there are a lot of hungry, being thrown out of their homes and no matter how much he says, it seems to be a waste of effort and he is dismayed. He finds it more disheartening to find out the educational system in the City would violate Supreme Court Rules about holiday decorations and about picking and choosing others and the City has done so. The City also has a council member to use it as a lifestyle display with street painting and putting up displays. He thought it was counterproductive. The population tallied to 79K, but it has increased, probably to 88K people here. Mr. Mignoli asked how many public schools or students there were. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo referred her to the Chair and further noted in response to Mr. 2 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach. Florida December 16, 2021 Mignoli's comments about there seeming to be Board conflicts, but he should keep going to the meetings. Mr. Mignoli commented people are in fear. VII. New Business None. VIII. Old Business A. Absence Policy (review) Ms. Claude apologized and stated if.a member requested an excused absence, the Board could decide whether to grant it or not, but there are certain reasons that would have to be met. They would say why and request an excused absence based on the criteria. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked if the Chair could grant it or the board. Vice Chair Wilkinson noted it mentions the Board Chair shall have the power to excuse an absent Board Member. In the event the Board Chair has excused the absence of one of the Board Members the decision will have to be mentioned on the record at the applicable meeting. The request goes to the Board Chair, but it has to be in keeping with A. Section 27 2. The Chair grants or does not grant the excused absence, but it has to be mentioned at the next meeting. If the criteria is met, the Board Chair brings it up at the next meeting so it is on record and to not abuse power. A member can miss three meetings for any reason, and an additional (fourth) absence results in removal from the Board. B. Fundraising Jessica Wilkinson volunteered during the parade. Vice Chair Wilkinson noted they held the pumpkin fundraiser and made $160. At the last meeting, they wanted to do the gingerbread house event. She thought there would be a blast to do a special meeting. By the time they got to it, and Vice Chair Wilkinson got to it, she did not want to throw it together because there was a cost associated with the fundraiser, there was not time to plan it. She took responsibility for the event not launching. There was a parade last Saturday. Vice Chair Wilkinson and Jessica Wilkinson attended and Ms. Claude was there as representatives of the Board. They sold water and chips for $1 each and they made about $100. They have water and chips and it was suggested maybe they could sell it at one of the outdoor movie events. There will be several food trucks at the movie events. If the Board wants to pursue it, they can find out how many more events there would be. Vice Chair Wilkinson thought that for a food truck selling meals, selling chips and water would not be a conflict for that. 3 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach. Florida December 16, 2021 Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked if there would be food trucks each time and if they are going to have something for New Year's Eve. Ms. Claude did not recall the City has ever done anything for New Year's Eve. Vice Chair Wilkinson noted the Board purchased the items and the member can decide when to use them. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo suggested, if piggybacking on City events, they look at the calendar and noted Kwanza was coming up, so they would not want to compete. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo noted there is a job fair on the 17th and the 18th at the Sims Center. She thought it may be too late to try to sell there and noted there is a concession machine there as well. C. Outreach Chair Valcourt recalled they discussed, a few meetings ago, attending local School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings. Dr. Hayden is on the SAC at Poinciana and asked if anyone else attended a SAC meeting. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo got in touch with Ms. Francore from Third and Fifth Bank and got her to go to the Sims Center. She thought it would be instrumental to have the Board members connect one night when they have a financial literacy session. They are setting up meetings at the Sims Center to be interactive and she wants to ensure the building remains open and active. She noted a former Wildcat from Boynton was just drafted at HBCU and was in the Bill Tome Center and also Mr. Jackson. She thought there are great things are in Boynton, but we have a false start. The United States is looking at what is coming out of Boynton and the Board must make sure they are doing it for the kids. That was her goal on the Board. Chair Valcourt thought having a Board representative at the Sims Center would be helpful. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo volunteered and would provide further information. She would also work with Boynton Strong.- They want to make sure the Sims Center did not close. Students were not allowed to go inside the building and she was instrumental in helping them develop a free summer camp. Her goal is to provide areas of outlet for people that the City builds with their tax dollar. As a Board member, she thought it was instrumental they keep those places for vulnerable populations that do not have an outlet. . Vice Chair Wilkinson noted she had attended SAC meetings Christa McAuliffe and Boynton High last year. Christa McAuliffe, Crystal Lakes, Santaluces, and Atlantic High School, are not physically located in Boynton Beach, but they all have students from Boynton Beach. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo would love within the four areas they have a high school, feeder schools in elementary and middle schools that are all fully functioning and fully staffed so students would not need to travel more than six miles on a bus. She thought the students should not go out of their way for school. Chair Valcourt suggested revisiting outreach for SAC meetings at the next meeting. Motion 4 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach. Florida December 16, 2021 Vice Chair Wilkinson so moved. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Bob Borovy Student Citizen of the Year Award The Board needs to continue with their fundraising efforts and continue with the tradition. Vice Chair Wilkinson will check with Mr. Oyer. Chair Valcourt suggested the item be tabled. Mr. Patterson asked what was the amount of money given to the Board and learned it was $1,000. The Board had given two awards at one time and it is now down to one. Mr. Patterson noted they Board needs to set up an endowment. Vice Chair Wilkinson noted sometimes semantics can get in the way, but they are careful to say it is not a scholarship. The funds do not have to be used for education, it could be for anything. IX. Future Meeting Dates: January 27, 2022 February 24, 2022 Chair Valcourt announced the next meeting dates as above and read the total funds raised. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked if the Board made a request of elected officials for any leftover campaign funds and she recommended the Board start thinking of that. She noted Tate Edmonds came to the Library Board to speak about a program, and they were the seed to get him to Boynton High. Vice Chair Wilkinson noted the request for funds can come from any one. When their election is over, they have to distribute their funds. The award is given in May towards the end of the school year. X. Adjournment There was no further business before the Board. Motion Vice Chair Wilkinson moved to adjourn. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo seconded the motion . The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. Chair Valcourt wished all a Happy Holiday and Happy New Year. Catherine Cherry ry Minutes Specialist 5