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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