HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 011101CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD
January 11, 2001
The January 11, 2001 Regular meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education
Advisory Board was called to order at 7:00 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, Judith Hanrahan, Nancy
Krause- Laurie, Murtaza Kakli, Vice Chair Leslie Millar, James Panoch, and Ron
Sadaka. City Council Liaison Vice Mayor Eric Jablin was also present.
Guests Lori Bonino, Principal, Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School, and Sgt. Glen
Brown of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department were introduced by Chair Scott
Blake. Anne. Berg reported she had been sitting on the SAC Committee with Ms.
Bonino for two years, and described her extraordinary interactions with colleagues,
parents, and students. Ms. Bonino provided an overview of the school's programs,
computer equipment, curriculum, instructors, and diverse population. Two new
successful programs, the Gentlemen's Club and Helping Hand Club, for which funding
was needed, were described. Ms. Bonin also listed several ongoing programs. Ms.
Bonin answered questions from some of the members of the Board and several issues
were discussed.
Motion was made by Wayne Anderson, seconded by Ron Sadaka, to approve the.
minutes of the December 13, 2000 meeting as submitted noting that they were lacking
in substance because of recording problems. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
Sgt. Brown discussed Palm Beach Gardens High School traffic problems and described
an accident where a student was hit by a car as a result of the parents not using the
drop -off zone. Possible solutions were discussed, including police officers to direct
City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes for January 11, 2001
Page 2
traffic, obtaining volunteers to act as school crossing guards to free traffic officers now
acting as guards, using the school police officers to help, and installing traffic signals..
One of the Board members expressed disappointment that Mr. Houlihan had not
attended this meeting.
Committee Reports
Public Liaison - Nancy Krause- Laurie reported she had made phone calls, and had
obtained letterhead stationery from the City to use for thank you notes.
Boundaries - Ron Sadaka invited anyone interested to serve on this committee, and
indicated class sizes at Howell Watkins Middle School might be considered by this
committee.
Curriculum - There was no report.
• School Board Forum - There was no report.
Partnership - Leslie Millar requested the partnership committee be removed since her
contacts had not been followed through, and since now schools had volunteer
partnership coordinators.
SAC Meeting Reports
Allamanda Elementary - Wayne Anderson provided a report.
Palm Beach Gardens Elementary - Anne Berg reported there had been no meeting.
Timber Trace Elementary - Ron Sadaka reported there had been no meeting.
Grove Park Elementary - There was no report.
H. L. Watkins Middle - Murt Kakli reported there had been no meeting.
• Watson B. Duncan Middle - Judy Hanrahan's report included several items including
City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes for January 11, 2001
Page 3
discussion regarding 6th grade.
School of the Arts Middle - There was no report.
Palm Beach Gardens High - Leslie Millar reported issues discussed had been Lilac
Street, low reading scores, how minorities were bringing their percentages down, and
what could be done.
William T. Dwyer High - Nancy Krause Laurie discussed ways to attempt to obtain
minority representation. Ms. Krause Laurie reported the school had been rated 8th in
the District for grades. Different entities were thanked for productions they had done
throughout the school year. A Teacher of the Month Program was discussed in which
teachers and students would nominate candidates and the winner would get a pizza
party and a prime parking spot. Donations of furniture for the new teacher's lounge
had been requested, and the budget was discussed.
• Suncoast High - Jim Panoch reported there had been no meeting.
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Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts - Scott Blake reported there had been
no meeting.
Inlet Grove High School (formerly North Tech) - There was no SAC at this school.
Nancy Krause - Laurie indicated she would volunteer to attend when a SAC was
established.
Old Business
Golf Digest Update - Vice Mayor Jablin reported the School Board had rejected that
site for a school, and the City continued to push the School Board for Palm Beach
Gardens to be included in their 5 -year plan. The Vice Mayor indicated School Board
member Tom Lynch had been present at the City Council meeting at which the Council
had voted to approve school concurrency, and the Council had let Mr. Lynch know
they were concerned there was no school for Palm Beach Gardens included in the 5-
year plan. Mr. Lynch had promised to keep an eye on the growth and need for a
school.
City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes for January 11, 2001
Page 4
New Business
Chair Blake described equity funds and indicated equity funds were controlled by the
Area 5 office, which would accept proposals for FY2001 equity funds. Discussion was
held regarding this item.
Ron Sadaka commented he would like to look into deregulated schools and policies.
A pilot program was described by another member of the Board. Mr. Sadaka
questioned whether the same impediments imposed by the local district to obtaining
the benefits of deregulation would apply if a school became some type of charter
school. Discussion on this issue ensued. Mr. Sadaka indicated his school's SAC
wanted to get this on their agenda.
Vice Mayor Jablin announced the SOA was having a production this year of A Chorus
Line and suggested a dinner party of this group to see it. The Board discussed a
• possible date.
Representative Atwater's support was discussed.
The next meeting was scheduled for February 7, 2001.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.