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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 041200CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD APRTi. 12, 2000 The April 12, 2000, Regular meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board was called to order at 7:35 P.M. in the Council Chambers 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 Wayne Anderson, Anne Berg, Scott Blake, Judith Hanrahan, Murtaza Kakli, Nancy Krause- Laurie, Vice Chair Leslie Millar, James Panoch, Jan Porter, and Charlotte Schiff. City Council Liaison Eric Jablin and Palm Beach Gardens High School students Ashley Reiss and Andrea Kanner were also present. Andrea Reiss requested correction of her comment in the March 8, 2000 meeting minutes which should have been FKITTY instead of FLAT, Judith Hanrahan noted ® that her comment that special education teachers were being cut because federal funds were being cut should have been state funds. Scott Blake made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2000 meeting as amended. Motion was seconded by Jan Porter and carried by unanimous vote. Guest Speaker Rhonda Wilson, English teacher at Palm Beach Gardens High School, recently certified in English by the National Board, shared the National Board's certification program and urged the Education Advisory Board to get the word out about the necessity of all teachers becoming National Board certified. Ms. Wilson answered questions from the members of the Board. Discussion ensued. Publications in which an article regarding certification could be published were discussed. Ms. Wilson became very ill with difficulty breathing, and 911 was called. Ms. Wilson was taken to the hospital, accompanied by Scott Blake. Mr. Jablin made arrangements for the meeting to be moved to another room because of the fumes from the glue used in replacing the wood veneer in the Council chambers. The meeting reconvened at 8 :20 p.m. J0 CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD APRiT, 12, 2000 Page 2 Committee Reports Public Liaison - No report. Boundaries - No report. Curriculum - Charlotte Schiff reported that instead of a curriculum committee meeting, a meeting had been held regarding the legislative forum. Everyone was asked to bring general questions to the next meeting, which would only be seen by Ms. Schiff, for use in the forum of legislature candidates. Chair Anderson reported the School Board Superintendent had been speaking at different schools, one of which Mr. Anderson had attended, where several items were discussed, including budget problems, 7th period at the high schools, and consolidating small classes. A suggestion had been made that the Superintendent make a tape to avoid being misquoted. Events leading to the budget crisis and suggestions which might help were discussed. A suggestion was made that parents should attend the meetings. School Board Forum - Jim Panoch reported he attended a School Board investment meeting and a School Board Budget Workshop meeting where ways to cut the budget and other items had been discussed. Discussion ensued regarding new teachers not staying in the system. Mr. Panoch pointed out that a recent newspaper article had dealt this item. Mr. Panoch reported a few years ago the Bureau of condominiums had increased costs per unit by $2.00, earmarked for education, and as a result had collected more than $1 million but did not give it to the schools. The legislature had then decreed 1/2 million would be given to the junior college system this year and another 1/2 million next year to do something for education. Partnership - Leslie Millar indicated there was nothing to report. City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board April 11, 2000 Page 3 SAC Member Signup Allamanda Elementary - Chair Anderson reported the school improvement plan was almost complete. Palm Beach Gardens Elementary - Anne Berg the commented the SAC was very active and had had two meetings last month. Concern had been expressed about overcrowding as a result of the opt -out program. Ms. Berg submitted for inclusion in these minutes a copy of a letter she had written on behalf of the Board to Mr. Tom Orloff, Director of Student Assignment & Magnet, School District of Palm Beach County regarding the opt -out program, and a copy of a letter to Ms. Susan Storms, Educational Planning Specialist, Planning & Real Estate, Palm Beach County School Board, requesting three additional portables for Palm Beach Gardens Elementary. The opt -out program was discussed. Chair Anderson explained that the program would not mean more students, but possibly less. Discipline focus groups made up of parents and teachers had been discussed. Timber Trace Elementary - No report. Grove Park Elementary_ - Vice Chair Leslie Millar indicated there was nothing to report. H. L. Watkins Middle - Mr. Kakh reported that money left over in the SAC budget had been discussed, the school improvement plan had been approved, and new SAC by- laws had been provided. Mr. Kakli reported that the Saturday school seemed to be working. Watson B. Duncan Middle - Judith Hanrahan reported uniforms had been approved, money left over in the SAC budget had been discussed, the school now had voice mail, and April 27 would be Take Your Child to Work Day with absences excused. Ms. Hanrahan announced that Palm Beach County schools now had a website where 0 school reports and scores could be obtained: palmbeach.02.fl.us. City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board April 11, 2000 Page 4 School of the Arts Middle Jan Porter reported a dance troupe had invited some of the students to a restaurant on Clematis Street to talk with them; budget money had been used for personal notices to go out April 14 for auditions; adult literacy had been discussed; major assignments and tests could be accessed by teachers on computer so that students would not be overloaded any one night. From the April 10 meeting, Ms. Porter reported the students would not be getting their reports until June 15, rollovers for school deregulation had been discussed, as well as the need for a longer school day was needed to accommodate teacher conferences. Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts - Jan Porter reported that because the school was deregulated they had not received their money in time to spend it before the freeze started. This had also happened to the other deregulated schools. Also discussed was increased vandalism in the school and how to deal with it. Approval had been given to apply for a literacy initiative in Florida grant. 4 x 4 block scheduling had been discussed. A letter was to be written in favor of eliminating the A+ school program. From a subsequent SAC meeting, Ms. Porter reported than an action plan was developed, and a new attendance policy was in effect. Community Real Estate had donated $100 to the school. Palm Beach Gardens High - A student reported new cameras had been installed but no one was monitoring them, and that they might be monitored by student government class students. William T. Dwyer High - Nancy Krause -Laurie reported the school improvement plan was discussed and attendance at the meeting was down. Suncoast High - There was no report. North Tech - There was no report. CJ City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board April 11, 2000 Page 5 Old Business "A +" school bonus letter: Chair Anderson read a letter written by Scott Blake to the legislature regarding "A" school bonus letters. Anne Berg was designated to edit the letter and submit it to City Council Liaison Jablin. Forum of Legislature Candidates - The election dates were announced: Primary September 5; runoff October 2, and election November 7. Five republicans and no democrats had filed as of this date. Mr, Jablin announced the forum would be held before September 5, and the two senate candidates and the School Board candidates would be covered in the forum. It was reported that Dorothy Montgomery planned to serve two more years. 0 New Business The next meeting date of May 10, 2000 was announced. Suggestions were made for guest speaker. Dropout program funds reallocation was discussed. Chair Anderson expressed concern that new teacher positions were not advertised until after the previous teacher had left. Further research was requested. Chair Anderson commented he would try to speak to Tom Lynch regarding the five day absence policy. City Council Liaison reported he had spoken to Scott Blake by cell phone and learned that the guest speaker, who had had difficulty breathing, had recently had pneumonia and also suffered from anxiety attacks, but was going to be all right. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.