HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 041305AV
EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
April 13, 2005
Minutes
The Education Advisory Committee met on April 13, 2005. The meeting was called to
order at 6:02 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, located at 10500
North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
I. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Wayne Anderson, Ed Gruvman, Percy Kavasmaneck, Ilene
Gerber, Ava Sugar, and Ron Sadaka
Members Absent: Mark Falasca
Also Present: Charlotte Presensky, Staff Liaison and Recreation Director, Jennifer
Holdt, Volunteer Coordinator
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The Board approved the minutes from the last meeting.
III. ITEMS BY STAFF LIAISON
Jennifer Holdt announced that Laura Shepard, the Board's student liaison has
been offered a full scholarship to Duke University and is not at tonight's
meeting because she is visiting Duke University.
Wayne Anderson introduced the Board to Joan Collette and Mike Malenda who
will be the two new alternates on the Board. As of this meeting they had not yet
been appointed. Both Joan Collette and Mike Malenda gave the board
background information about themselves.
Presentation by Marisol Ferrer, North Area Superintendent, and Kristin
Garrison, Palm Beach County School Board Planner
Marisol Ferrer, the North Area School Superintendent and Kristin Garrison,
Palm Beach County School Board Planner, gave the Board information about
the projected numbers in the schools, plans for expansion, and a global view of
where the district is going in the future.
Wayne Anderson brought up to Ms. Ferrer the concern about Allamanda
Elementary loosing their 6th grade. Ms. Ferrer stated that this is part of a school
board transition and it is not only at Allamanda but all schools that still had a 6t'
P
grade were being transitioned to the Middle Schools. She informed the Palm
Beach Gardens High School is slated to become a community high school for
the next school year. This means that they will have adult education courses
available in the evenings. She also told the Board that Dunkin Middle School
will be starting a finance program that will lead the way for students who plan
on going to Dwyer High School for the Finance Academy Program.
Kristin Garrison gave a Power Point presentation that included school
concurrency and how their level of service works, projections for Palm Beach
Gardens School, and the capital projects that are planned in the School Board's
five -year capital plan. The Board asked questions about class size, class room
space, and the lack of teachers. Marisol Ferrer stated that there is a shortage of
teachers and it will continue to be a problem. The district is aggressively trying
to recruit teachers throughout the countri. She touched on the Board's concern
for certain high schools loosing their 7 hour. She explained the process for
substituting unit hours for teachers. There were some questions about the
magnet programs and concern that there will not be funding. Ms, Ferrer stated
that the program is now called Choice Schools. Some funding has been reduced
to the schools that were not drawing students. Those schools will eventually be
phased out and the money will be redistributed to other schools.
Charlotte informed the school district representatives about the adult education
survey that the board implemented. Charlotte stated the survey will be mailed
out to residents in the next week.
National Volunteer Week
Jennifer Holdt told the Board that National Volunteer Week is the week of
April 17, 2005. Jennifer sent out invitations to all City volunteer. There will be
a proclamation read on April 21, 2005 in honor of the volunteers.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
School SAC Reports
Allamanda Elementary — Reported on by Wayne Anderson- Dan Smith
from H. Watkins came to the school and invited the parents to come to their
open house to see the new school. Allamanda will not qualify for Title One
funds. This means the school will loose about $80,000. The school will have
eight autistic units this year.
Grove Park Elementary — The attendance has been very good. They are
working on getting more parents involved in the SAC.
Timber Trace Elementary — The new portables are in place. Timber Trace is
going to pick up 5 — 8 units. The lunch schedule will change because of the
size of the new tables in the cafeteria.
Palm Beach Gardens Elementary — They are looking for money to sponsor
teacher workshops. They are getting ready from their Fun Fair and are also
looking for money from local businesses as sponsors. They are working on
their school improvement plan and would like to incorporate physical fitness
into their plan.
H. Watkins Middle School — They are very excited about the new building
and all the new technology the school has.
Dunkin Middle School - Setting up new finance academy program.
BOK Middle School of The Arts — The school is looking forward to moving
into the new building. The SAC took a tour of the new building and it is going
to be beautiful.
Dreyfoos School of the Arts — They have lost a lot of the art designated
dollars. The school has to go to the parents and ask for $400 - $500.00 per year
to help supplement the art program. This is in addition to the money the
foundation gives the school to supplement the core curriculum.
Palm Beach Gardens High School — The FCAT projections are very positive
and they believe their numbers will come up this year. The number of
applications for the magnet program is down this year due to the poor FCAT
scores the past few years. The school is concerned about these numbers and
they are working hard to turn things around. They are hosting a fishing
tournament as a fundraiser for the business magnet program.
Dwyer High School — They are State Champions for their basketball team.
Edline is up and running and they did training for all the parents. Adding new
ESE teachers.
Nova University — They are working on a more aggressive program to recruit
students.
Awards Program
This year the recognition program is going to include the recipients that the
schools have already acknowledged. Charlotte will work on getting the names
from the local schools of the students and teachers and will put this on the
agenda for the May 19, 2005 meeting. They will be invited to the Council
I
Meeting to be recognized in front of City Council. There will be a small
reception prior to the meeting.
V. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be moved from May 11, 2005 because of a conflict in
scheduling.
VI. Comments from Board Members
Ron Sadaka — Thanked the new members for joining the board.
Eileen Gerber - Announced she got married.
Wayne Anderson — Thanked the new alternate members.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at
7:52P.M.
Approval:
SZL,4 I AU-16A 4
Ilene Gerber, Board Member
Mark Falasca, Board Member
Ron Sadaka, Board Member
0
Carol Dardick, Board Member
Percy Kavasmaneck, Alternate Board Member
va Sugar, Al ate Board Member
Attest:
Susan Bell
Public Information/ Recording Coordinator