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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 031099• CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MARCH 10, 1999 The March 10, 1999, Regular meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board was called to order at 7:33 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Guests and student guests were introduced by Chair Wayne Anderson. The roll was called and the following members were found to be in attendance: Chair Wayne Anderson, George Mastics, Ilene Gerber, Judith Hanrahan, Murtaza Kakli, Nancy Krause- Laurie, James Panoch, and Charlotte. Schiff . Students Adam Allgood, Jordan Evert, Andrea Kanner, and Matthew Meths were present. City Council Liaison Eric Jablin. was also present. Jan Porter arrived at 8:40 p.m. Chair Wayne Anderson announced that changes to the minutes of the February meeting requested by Andrea Kanner and Matthew Maitland were noted, and that changes • submitted by Jan Porter had been forwarded to Deputy City Clerk Cindy Harvey for correction. The minutes were approved as amended. Guests were John Gardner, who had made application to become a member of the Board, Bruce Mitchell, Principal of Howell Watkins Middle School, and Cindy Harvey, Deputy City Clerk. North Tech representatives presented the program, and explained that North Tech would become a high school beginning in August 1999. Due to recent legislature which placed technical schools on the same level as the community college, it was decided to make North Tech into a high school developed along academy lines, and to move all adult programs to the community college. Steering committees made up of parents, business leaders, and students would run the academy. Employment placement would assure that students had jobs after graduation. State and national certifications and programs of study were described. A college -ready diploma would be earned so that at graduation if a student chose to attend college, that student would have open admittance to any 4 -year college in the State of Florida. Within the next five years the other technical schools in the County would also be converted into secondary education career academies. The success of the fast -track program which had been in place for the past six years was described. Each student would have an academic • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board March 10, 1999 Page 2 academic advocate and would set their own progress. Each student would also have an academy contract which is a commitment to excellence. The academy would promote innovation, competition, and discipline. The North Tech representatives answered many questions from those present, and expressed their willingness to give their presentation to any organization. Public Liaison Committee Report Jordan Evert and Adam Allgood reported they planned to send thank you notes to all guest speakers. Boundary Committee Report • Chair of the Boundary Committee Ron Sedaka was absent. Curriculum Committee Report Curriculum Committee Chair Wayne Anderson reported the committee had discussed the boundaries proposed by the ABC Committee and doing away with forced bussing for Riviera Beach students. Jan Porter joined the meeting at this point at 8:40 p.m. Statistics in goal reports were discussed. Chair Anderson explained that at some point the Board would be asked whether they supported the plan proposed by the ABC Committee and doing away with forced bussing; however, it would be best to wait until the federal government made their determination. Chair Anderson advised that the Board should be well versed in this matter so they would be prepared to give their opinion if asked by the City. The committee had also discussed the possibility of changing all -day kindergarten to half -day kindergarten. A member of the Board disagreed that Palm Beach Gardens should move backwards by changing back to a half -day program. This kindergarten issue will be discussed further in the next Curriculum committee meeting.. Business School Partnership 0 • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board March 10, 1999 Page 3 Vice Chair Leslie Millar was absent. Membership Committee City Council Liaison Eric Jablin reported he could no longer serve on the Membership Committee because of a new ordinance that did not allow any liaisons to serve on any committees. Mr. Jablin reported this Board now had eleven members and four alternates. As many students who wished to be members would be counted as a group which would have one vote. All other Boards had a maximum of nine. Mr. Jablin reported he would call Rose Kleeman to suggest students from her program who might serve. Terms had been changed, and the new maximum for all Boards was three two - year terms, meaning a person could serve six years, could be off for a year, and then serve another six years. Deputy City Clerk Cindy Harvey explained that half the Board's terms would expire in 2000 and the other half in 2001. Members would • continue to serve if re- appointment was not timely and term dates would never change. Mr. Jablin reported former Chair Alan Adams was now an advocate for education and was working for world class schools. Ms. Harvey reported the Chair would only serve one year and then the Vice Chair would automatically move up, if the Vice Chair accepted. SAC Committee Reports Chair Anderson reported the Allamanda SAC discussed their school improvement plan, which was not yet finalized. Anne Berg, representative for Palm Beach Gardens Elementary SAC, was not present. Ron Sedaka, representative for Timber Trace Elementary SAC, was not present. Murt Kakli reported he had not been able to attend the SAC meetings at Howell Watkins Middle School because of other commitments. • Jan Porter reported Middle School of the Arts SAC had discussed the amount of time • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board March 10, 1999 Page 4 other schools did not have. Ways to correct this situation had been discussed. Ms. Porter reported some of their students had auditioned at Dreyfoos School of the Arts and a comment had been made that their communications students were far superior to other students. Leslie Millar and Scott Blake, representatives for Palm Beach Gardens High School SAC, were not present. City Council Liaison Jablin reported a controversy at a prior meeting. Jordan Evert, representative for Dwyer High School SAC, had left the meeting. No representative from Suncoast SAC was present. City Council Liaison Jablin reported his wife had attended Dreyfoos School of the Arts • SAC, and they had discussed encouraging the School Board not to cut certain items. No members had watched the School Board meeting on Channel 20. New members Nancy Krause- Laurie, Judith Hanrahan, James Panoch, and Charlotte Schiff introduced themselves and provided their backgrounds and current activities. Guest John Gardner expressed his appreciation for being allowed to attend and his intent to become a Board member. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. R . :.•� City Council Liaison Eric Jablin expressed concern that the new Florida administration favored vouchers, and commented there would be a debate across the country concerning vouchers. More information on vouchers was requested. Mr. Jablin also • expressed concern that funds needed for failing schools would be used to reward • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board March 10, 1999 Page 5 concerning vouchers. More information on vouchers was requested. Mr. Jablin also expressed concern that funds needed for failing schools would be used to reward schools who were doing well. Everyone was requested to find out what they could about vouchers. Chair Anderson requested suggestions for a guest speaker for the next month. A suggestion was made to ask the Duncan school principal to speak at the next meeting; however, during members' comments it was agreed to contact the School Board to provide a guest speaker to explain vouchers at the April 14 meeting. Chair Anderson announced that the curriculum committee would meet before the April 14 meeting. MEMBERS COMMENTS A suggestion was made to contact the School Board lobbyist to find out more about • vouchers and to try to get that person to come as a guest speaker to the next meeting. One member reported she would be unable to attend the next meeting. Jim Panoch stated his position on vouchers, which was that vouchers were wrong in principle. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. 0