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Minutes 03-24-22 Minutes of the Education and Youth Advisory Board Meeting Held on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. at City Hall, Commission Chambers 100 E. Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, FL PRESENT: Dr. Valerie Valcourt, Chair Kacy Young, Recreation Director Lori Wilkinson, Vice Chair,(arrived 6:08 p.m.) Franky Lazo, Assistant Director Francoise Calixte-Dieuvil Dr. Stephanie Hayden-Adeyemo Frando Patterson Jessica Wilkinson (arrived 6:05 p.m.) Chevette Gadson ABSENT: Tarynnicolle Rhodes, Alternate I. Call to Order Dr. Valcourt, Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. Roll Call A quorum was present. IV. Approval of Agenda Motion Mr. Patterson moved to approve the agenda as written. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. V. Announcements/Presentations/Correspondence Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo commented Ms. Whitfield, Board of Education, was present at a City Commission meeting detailing school needs in the area. Ms. Whitfield stated there were several area schools that were not performing at grade levels in reading, including some elementary schools. Ms. Whitfield stated to her there was an education task Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 24, 2022 force. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo explained the City does not have a task force, they have an advisory board She noted years past, some members of the Board worked with Dr. Voss, the principal of Rolling Green and Nadia Stewart, the Board Chair and herself worked to make recommendations to assist Boynton students to be reading ready. She asked if there was any way for them to connect with this Board, the Library Board and Recreation and Parks because those Board have contact with children. (Lori Wilkinson arrived 6:08 p.m.) Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo explained there is a need and Boynton students lagging behind was not good. She recalled five years ago, the City rewrote the mission and purpose of the Board as the City was reviewing all boards and would possibly eliminate some. She thought the Board should be more intentional about its purpose. Positive things were occurring in the City and youth were trying to come on level. She thought the City needed more parental resources and that the Education and Youth Board and the Library Board should lead the charge with Recreation and Parks. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo thought they should reach out to Erica Whitfield. She noted Ms. Whitfield provided factual data, but not all the data reported showed the highlights. She noted graduations are on point, but she did not note the school district has several ways for students to graduate. While 89% of Boynton students graduate, some have to go alternative schools and then reenter the system for them to help promote and exit them out. She thought students should have opportunities in the City to expand beyond just going to high school. That is the presentation she wanted to make to the Board. Mr. Patterson thought the members should review what the Board is tasked with. Chair Valcourt will invite Ms. Whitfield to the next meeting. VI. Public Audience Ernest Mignoli, 710 NE 7t" Street, Unit 407, Harbour Hall Inlet, stated he moved to Boynton as a permanent resident in November 2022. He is a semi-retired university college professor graduate education, known all over the world, and in New Jersey is famous and known by senators and assemblyman and their children and three generations in graduate education. He made the following statements: • No matter who he talks to or what meeting he goes to in Boynton, everyone on the dais is an authority and the audience is a novice and does not know much. • Everybody on the dais wants to keep things status quo. • The City Commission does not listen to any recommendation made by an advisory board. • The school statistics are horrible. They are dangerous, racist, discriminatory, selfish, self-serving. 2 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 24, 2022 • He sat in on union negotiations and they only talk salaries, pensions, lining their pockets and covering for police that do not patrol them correctly. • There are a lot of school shut downs and shootings the public is not told about. • For the first time in history, the FBI got so few statistics from troubled communities like Boynton Beach, they did not come out with a uniform crime report in the US, which means the Police are not doing their jobs and the City did horribly in the last quarter of 2021. • It is dangerous for children to walk to school as people don't obey street signs, there is no enforcement, motorcycles with no plates are screaming all over the place, drugs and alcohol and beer cans are laying everywhere. • All the City talks about is building high rises and recently a crane on a high rise killed two people. Vice Chair Wilkinson noted they previously reviewed the public audience comments are about being in the scope of the jurisdiction of this Board and she read the language. The Education and Youth Advisory Board has nothing to do with what is being done on the FBI level. Mr. Mignoli disagreed and stated the Board was responsible for everything that goes on in and around the school. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo invited him to apply to be on the Board. VII. New Business A. Approval of Minutes of February 24, 2022 Motion Vice Chair Wilkinson moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Calixte-Dieuvil seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Selection of Chair Mr. Patterson nominated Dr. Valcourt as Chair. Ms. Calixte-Dieuvil seconded the nomination. The motion passed unanimously. C. Selection of Vice Chair Ms. Calixte-Dieuvil nominated Lori Wilkinson as Vice Chair. Chair Valcourt seconded the nomination. Dr Hayden-Adeyemo self-nominated herself. Mr. Patterson seconded the nomination. Vote 3 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 24, 2022 There was a vote for Lori Wilkinson for Vice Chair. The vote tied 2-2. Jessica Wilkinson abstaining. Vote There was a vote for Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo. The vote passed 3-2 with Lori Wilkinson abstaining. The nominations will be sent to the City Commission for ratification. VIII. Old Business A. Fundraising 1. Report: Black History Month Event Chair Valcourt reported they made $100 from the Black History event. Mr. Patterson had a receipt for $16 for the water he purchased for the Board, but commented he was donating the water and Chair Valcourt attended the event as well. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo thought the event went well. She explained what the Board does to several people. Chair Valcourt recommended having a donation box in the future. Attendees did not really want to buy snacks, it was about making a donation to support the Board. It was also suggested the water be sold cold. Mr. Patterson thought the table needed a cloth with the Board's logo, a donation box and more marketing should be done. He also suggested if the weather is cooler, they sell hot chocolate or coffee. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo agreed there was a good turnout and noted they previously wore V- neck shirts from the Board when fundraising. She suggested the Board have their own cooler and a trolley to help transport items to the table. She also asked about the status of payment options as it was previously discussed having a portal as a way to donate. Mr. Lazo, Assistant Parks Director, stated regarding the Borovy Award, it was promoted on social media, in FunFare Magazine and put on website. They send emails to all Boynton Beach area schools to apply for the program. Ms. Claude will send out a donation request email tomorrow and it will be a donation base. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo wanted an accounting so they would know the Board's account balance. Kacy Young, Recreation and Parks Director, stated the Board does have an account, and they can attach a cash app or something similar to it, but any donations made do go to the account which is why Ms. Claude provides the balance each month. There is no way to automatically go on the website and donate to the account, but donors can come to city hall or any recreation center and donate. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo noted the City Commission donates to non-profit organizations, but not to the advisory boards that are looking for funds. 4 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 24, 2022 Vice Chair Wilkinson clarified they discussed donation opportunities with the pumpkin carving event, about five days before the event was held. She asked if they could have a linked bank account setup ahead of time such as have a "donate now" button. Mr. Young advised he has had that conversation, but right now there is no way to set it up. It may be available in the future at which time he will apprise the Board. (Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.) Chair Valcourt announced there were left over chips that will expire this month and Mr. Patterson purchased five cases of water and there are four cases left. Mr. Young noted there are the Eggstravaganza and Earth Day events coming up in April. Mr. Young will email the members the dates and flyers. 2. SunFest (April 28-May 1) Chair Valcourt received the email with the link to register for SunFest. She advised she got six volunteers. Volunteers will have free admittance which is worth $75 and some funds to offset parking fees. Lori Wilkinson suggested carpooling. She announced volunteers can start signing up now and the sooner they register, the better. The SunFest website posted the entertainment roster. Chair Valcourt thought there would be more people signing up. Names like Boyz to Men, Nellie and Little Wayne are performing. Ms. Calixte-Dieuvil and Mr. Patterson may sign up. Volunteers must be 21 or older. B. Eggstravaganza April 16th 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ezell Hester Center This item was previously discussed. C. Outreach Chair Valcourt will invite Ms. Whitfield to the next meeting and try to find out what type of outreach the School District was looking to the City to provide. D. Bob Borovy Student Citizen of the Year Award This was previously discussed. Mr. Lazo will check with Finance regarding donation capabilities. It was noted the current account balance was $372.72 IX. Future Meeting Dates: April 28, 2022 May 26, 2022 Chair Valcourt reviewed future meeting dates. Chair Valcourt would attend the Eggstrvaganza. Lori Wilkinson may be able to attend the April meeting. She asked if the Board could meet on a Thursday earlier in the month. 5 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 24, 2022 (Chevette Gadson arrived 6:39 p.m.) Lori Wilkinson announced she and Jessica Wilkinson will not be at the May meeting. X. Adjournment There was no further business to discuss. Motion Lori Wilkinson moved to adjourn. Ms. Calixte-Dieuvil seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 6