HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 0314010
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD
March 14, 2001.
The March 14, 2001 Regular meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education
Advisory Board was called to order at 7:15 P.M. by Chair Scott Blake in the City
Manager's Conference Room of the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North
Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The roll was called and the following members were found to. be in attendance: Chair
Scott Blake, Wayne Anderson, Anne Berg, John Gardner; Ilene Gerber, Judith
Hanrahan, Nancy Krause- Laurie, Vice Chair Leslie Millar, James Panoch, Jan Porter,
and Charlotte Schiff. Ron Sadaka arrived at 7:30 p.m. City Council Liaison Vice
Mayor Eric Jablin was also present.
® Guest Speaker Dr. Art Johnson, Superintenden&f the School Board, spoke on student
achievement, school safety, and governments. Dr. Johnson indicated that the School
District planned to improve student achievement by establishing a database for
comparison and to identify procedures that did not work so that funding could be
discontinued for those procedures and used for procedures that did work. Developing
viable alternatives such as career academies was discussed and recommended in order
to produce productive citizens. The alternative education program and the A -plus
program were discussed. Dr. Johnson discussed school safety, and his message was
to create a caring family relationship in the schools. Dr. Johnson explained that zero
tolerance had not worked and the new policy was to expel and then to place the
student into the intensive alternative education program. It was explained that
governments wanted education improved and that the new K -16 or 0 -20 Commission,
made up of representatives of other agencies, had been set up to meet special
challenges, to rebuild communities, and to rebuild people. Dr. Johnson stated it was
his responsibility to engage the powerful to help the powerless. A question and
answer session was held. Subjects discussed were establishing ways to expand the
capacity of teachers to reach the goals of the system, which Dr. Johnson indicated was
his job; uniformity in materials presented in specific grades; focused benchmark lesson
® plans aligned to FCAT; expulsion procedures; programs in the schools regarding
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City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board
March 14, 2001 Meeting Minutes
Page 2
safety and conflict resolution; career academy requirements; the A -plus program;
finding enough teachers; the importance of good mentors for teachers; deregulated
schools and alternative certification; lack of State financing for education and using
available funds for programs that worked to move student achievement forward;
capital improvement budget and concurrency; establishing levels of teacher
achievement to mentor newer teachers; and how to improve reading skills. The
members of the Board introduced themselves and gave their career backgrounds.
Motion was made by Ilene Gerber to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2001
meeting as submitted, seconded by Wayne Anderson, and carried by unanimous vote.
Committee Reports
Public Liaison - Nancy Krause- Laurie reported she had telephoned to notify people,
reviewed activities being pursued at William T. Dwyer High, indicated that 400
® applications had been received by Inlet Grove High School (formerly North Tech) for
next year, that Inlet Grove would be going through an accreditation process, and that
efforts to obtain available funds for refurbishing the school were being made.
Chair Scott Blake announced SAC Committee reports would be held until the April
meeting.
Another member of the Board described a tutoring program that was done at Timber
Trace and suggested the Education Advisory Committee might, sponsor a tutor training
program for volunteers. Using Harry Potter books or other means to hold attention,
as well as facilities and funding needed for such a program was discussed. This issue
was to be discussed again at the next meeting.
City Council Liaison Jablin encouraged members to report needs that they knew about
and indicated he had been able to obtain some fill that a member had mentioned was
needed.
Following other comments by Board members, Chair Blake indicated his handouts
addressed legislative funding cuts for technology as had been mentioned by Wayne
City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board
® March 14, 2001 Meeting Minutes
Page 3
Anderson, a meeting schedule, and an article regarding diversified populations and
the gifted. Chair Blake requested the members think about nominations for Chair of
this Board to be made in April so the election could be held. in May. Chair Blake
announced he planned to start his doctorate this summer and to resign from the Board.
Recognition for awards nominees was to be discussed at the next meeting. The next
meeting was scheduled for April 11, 2001.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m.
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