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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 080900CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS 40 EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD AUGUST 9, 2000 The August 9, 2000, Regular meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board was called to order at 7 :30 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 Scott Blake, Wayne Anderson, Anne Berg, John Gardner, Ilene Gerber, Murtaza Kakli, James Panoch, Jan Porter, and Charlotte Schiff' City Council Liaison Eric Jablin and Student Shewanna Manning were also present. The minutes of the June 14, 2000 meeting were approved as submitted. Jackie Dunn, former Principal of Eisenhower Elementary now in charge of the Alternative Plan for the County; and the current Principal of Eisenhower Elementary, ® Ms. Buchanan, were present. Ms. Dunn explained that three sites for 4th and 5th grade students who needed additional attention had been chosen for the pilot program for this school year. The Eisenhower site was selected because of its location and space available to accommodate the additional students, which would come from Areas 3 and 5. A total of 50 students would be served with a student - teacher ratio of one to 17. Included in staffing was an aide for each teacher, a Guidance Counselor, Assistant Principal, and Behavioral Intervention Specialist. Ms. Dunn explained that the alternative program was separate from the regular classes, but the students would share the public school facilities at recess and lunchtime, and would be supervised at all times. Ms. Dunn responded to concerns expressed by the parents and the Board. Ms. Dunn explained that Eisenhower Elementary had not been converted to an alternative school, but that this was a separate program, and that the decision had been made at the Associate Superintendent level to use Eisenhower as a site. Charlotte Schiff expressed concern with this program being at the same school that had a pre-K program. A parent explained that the concern of the parents was whether their children would be safe. The decision - making process used to select the sites was discussed. City Council Eric Jabhn questioned whether a separate school would be better for these children. Ms. Dunn explained that the children would be in separate classrooms and when in other areas of the school would always be supervised, Ig apologized for the fact that a promise had been made that there would be no alternative CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD AUGUST 9, 2000 Page 2 program at the Eisenhower campus, offered assurance that the alternative program staff would work with Principal Buchanan and the Eisenhower teachers, and cautioned that the teachers and students coming into the school with the alternative program should not sense that they were not welcome. Wade Gent, Area 5 Superintendent, commented safety was the number one concern and that number two was that it appeared the three T's, trust, truthUness, and togetherness, had not occurred. Principal Buchanan addressed specific plans and preparations that had been made, and explained that this program would be the responsibility of Barbara Donahue, Assistant Principal in charge of the alternative education program at Eisenhower, and that in addition, Miss Peltier would serve as Ms. Donahue's supervisor and the liaison to Ms. Dunn. Procedures to assure safety of both groups of children included staff escorts for the alternative students from the bus to the classrooms, breakfast served in their classrooms, -bathrooms provided in each portable unit, lunch served in their classrooms until the privilege of eating in the cafeteria was earned, which would be scheduled for 12:30 p.m. after the other children had vacated the cafeteria. Bussing the alternative students was discussed. Shuttle busses on which the alternative students would be mixed with other students would bring the alternative students fromtheir home schools. Concern was expressed regarding why children with behavioral problems would be mixed with other students on busses when there would be such a liability for the School District as well as possible danger to other children; why the program would be placed at this school when the parents so clearly and so strongly objected; and why the five portables could not be placed on a middle school or high school campus where the children were older. A School Board candidate who was present at the meeting explained that many of the children in the alternative program were there inappropriately, and that they were not all hardened to the extent that this group seemed to believe. The issue of accountability was raised. It was explained that the people who had made the decision to have an alternative program were no longer with the School District; however, Ms. Dunn stated that she accepted - the decision. A representative of the parents statedthey would fight the decision. Sarah Ward reported that in the past student/teacher ratios had not stayed at proposed levels, to which Ms. Dunn responded these positions had already been funded. The hope that future decisions would include open communication with parents was expressed. Ms. Dunn expressed hope that the staff and parents would combine their leadership and welcome the alternative program students and that there were no adults present who would be CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD AUGUST 9, 2000 Page 3 involved in a protest in front of young children to make them feel unwelcome. Ms. Dunn promised to consider and try to address the concerns expressed, and expressed her concern that the alternative students would have to face hostility. Councilman Jablin explained that this Board wanted to solve rather than create problems, and wished to help facilitate a dialogue between parents and School District personnel. Wayne Anderson explained that this Board would submit a recommendation to the City, which would then send a letter to the School Board. Mr. Gent advised that a close watch would be kept on the program, that parents would be kept informed, that he was concerned for all the children, and that any calls to his office from this Board would be returned within 24 hours. Dan Clark recommended to Mr. Gent that a couple of public meetings be held to inform and educate the parents. Wayne Anderson thanked Ms. Dunn, Ms. Buchanan, Mr. Gent, and the parents for attending the meeting. Chair Scott Blake recommended that Agenda items V, Committee Reports, and VI, SAC Member Signup, be skipped because of the hour, that the Forum of Legislature ® Candidates be discussed next, and that Eisenhower Elementary be discussed under New Business. OLD BUSINESS School Board Forum - Charlotte Schiff reported a meeting had been held, an agenda had been set up, duties had been assigned, and twenty questions had been approved, which would be drawn from a hat at the forum. A member of C.A.N., Lori Makris, would be responsible for public relations. Councilman Jablin reported that he had obtained a list of candidates and some of their biographical information from the internet, that he had created a candidate biography form to sent out with the letter from the Board, and that -he had been in touch with Ed Gigante from the Palm Beach Gardens High School Film and TV magnet program, who had done the last forum. The forum would be held in the City Council Chambers, and a tape would be created which would air onAdelphia Cable TV, hopefully three or four times before the election. Mr. Jablin described how the room would be set up and the equipment to be used, and advised that Jim Jackson of Channel 25 would act as moderator. Ilene Gerber read aloud the letter proposed to be sent to the candidates to invite them to attend the forum, for which suggested changes were discussed. An announcement to be released to the CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD AUGUST 9, 2000 Page 4 press was read aloud. Other forms of advertising including posters and e-mail were discussed. The forum was discussed further. NEW BUSINESS Eisenhower Elementary Alternative Program - Discussion ensued regarding the proposed program. One member commented that the decision on the site had been made, and proposed only addressing bussing. There was a comment that there would be a lot of resentment from parents who did not know about the program. Another member proposed a suggestion that if there were room at a middle school or high school-that the portables be moved there from Eisenhower Elementary. Dwyer High School was suggested as a possible site. An additional portable for use as a cafeteria was suggested. Following additional discussion, the following five issues were identified to be included in a letter to the City Council: (1) an alternate plan for transportation; (2) there should have been an open forum for communication well in ® advance of the decision; (3) suggestions for possible alternate locations; (4) lunches should be served in the classrooms; and (5) the issue of recess and supervision should be re- addressed. Drafting a letter was discussed, and it was decided which members of the Board would prepare the draft. Councilmember Jablin stated he would work with the City Clerk and that the letter could go out with his signature. Chair Blake had prepared a notebook for each member of the Board which included a listing of School District personnel and their phone numbers and addresses; special planning dates; School Board members and their phone numbers; legislative delegation; listing of schools in Palm Beach County sorted by areas; a calendar for the coming school year; meeting dates for the Advisory Boundary Committee; Board meetings and workshops scheduled; a map depicting the locations of every school in Palm Beach County; special programs, a list of alternative schools, grades of all Palm Beach County Schools, and a media directory for Palm Beach County. Chair Blake explained that an updated list of the Education Advisory Board members would be provided at the next meeting. The members of the Board expressed appreciation for the notebooks. Councilmember Jablin reported a Bill had been passed by both the House and Senate 41 to change the grading system in Florida which was vetoed by the Governor because he CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD AUGUST 9, 2000 Page 5 felt standards would be lowered, and that pressure needed to be applied at the next session of the legislature to have the Governor sign the bill. Discussion ensued. It was suggested that this item be brought up at the October meeting. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. 40