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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 120998,i CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS • EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY HALL — 7:30 P.M December 9, 1998 Eileen Stephenson, Building Dept. I. Call to order.. ZD II. Listing of those present (5 minutes) 7:35 3 - III. Approval of minutes from the last regular meeting (5 minutes) 7:40 1:31 q; q3 IV. Committee reports (20 minutes) 8:001;q4 A. Public Liaison - Jordan (S B. Boundaries -Ron 1'.46 C. Curriculum — Wayne D. Partnership — Leslie E. Membership— Eric . 6 V. Guest Speaker — Dr. Cover, Principal of Allamanda Elementary (20 Minutes) 8:20 ems'' VI. SAC Member Reports (40 minutes) 9:00 15; A. Allamanda Elementary —Wayne B. Palm Beach Gardens Elementary —Anne C. Timber Trace Elementary - Ron D. H.L. Watkins Middle - Murt E. Watson B. Duncan Middle -40 gA094C F. School of the Arts Middle - Jan G. Palm Beach Gardens High — Scott/Leslie y =�� H. William T. Dwyer High — Ilene /Jordan (S) I. Suncoast High — Soha Patel (S) J. Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts — Eric /Student K. School Board Report — Any member : l 0 VII. Old Business (15 minutes) 9:15 ill II VIII. New Business (15 minutes) 9:30 A. New business • New schools to watch over -_ • Other t B. Guest speaker for next meeting C. Date for next meeting — January 13, 1999 D. Member's comments '�D IX. Adjournment 9:45 • CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD DECEMBER 9, 1998 The December 9, 1998, 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 Wayne Anderson, Anne Berg, Scott Blake, Ilene Gerber, George Mastics, Vice Chair Leslie Millar, Murtaza Kakli, Jan Porter, and Ron Sedaka . Several students were present. City Council Liaison Eric Jablin was also present. Chair Anderson announced Nona Helsel had resigned. Absent from the meeting were Alan Sara and student Adam Allgood. The minutes of the November 8,, 1998 meeting were reviewed. The following changes • were requested by Jan Porter: On page 2 to correct the spelling of "Ostrotsky" and change "everyone" to "all members ". In the first sentence under the heading Business School Partnership: to change "was asking them to participate" to "was asking for participation ". In the second sentence under Business School Partnership: to add a comma after "Palm Beach Gardens Mall"; and in the last sentence to change "to those who could use them" to "to students who could use them ". Where the minutes stated "Monika Adams ...had resigned ", Jan Porter stated she wished to go on record that Monika Adams had been forced to resign and should not have been forced to resign and that Monika Adams had joined the Board at the same time as Jan Porter, whose term would not expire until August. Under the heading SAC Committee Reports Jan Porter stated the first sentence needed to be changed in some way. Jan Porter requested that in the second sentence "were" be changed to "are ", and in the last sentence in that paragraph the words "so that" be changed to "in case ". Jan Porter requested that in the first sentence of paragraph three under the heading SAC Committee Reports, "Timbertrace" be changed to "Timber Trace" and "their" be changed to "its ". In the next paragraph, Jan Porter requested that a comma be added after the word "on ". Scott Blake made a motion that in the future if anyone had any grammar changes that they submit those changes to the Chair if the changes did not • change the context of motions, or of the minutes or action taken by the Board, to save time going through grammar when there were pressing issues and a long agenda. Eric City of Palm Beach Gardens • Education Advisory Board December 9, 1998 Page 2 Jablin seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Chair Anderson asked whether there were any changes in theory. Mr. Blake pointed out the following sentence in the November minutes: Mr. Blake requested that on page 7 wording be changed. from "funding had been received to allow two staff members to work extended hours" to "funding had been received to allow two staff members to work from 1 to 5 p.m." Mr. Blake asked that the wording be changed to "two staff members to keep the media center open for student use from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan Porter commented that in the paragraph regarding Mr. Jablin's attendance at the Dryfoos School of the Arts SAC meeting, the minutes reported there had been discussion regarding lack of preparedness of 9th grade students from the Middle School, which was incorrect because there had not yet been a 9th grade graduating class at the Middle School. Mr. Jablin responded he might have misstated, and would make a correction. Ron Sedaka made a motion that the minutes of the November 18, 1998 meeting be accepted as amended. Mr. Jablin seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Chair Anderson reported two students, Jordan Evert and Elizabeth Dwoskin had joined the meeting. Public Liaison Committee Report Jordan Evert reported the students would be dividing up responsibilities and agreed to take notes at the meetings. Chair Anderson requested that she write the names of those who made and seconded motions and reminded the members of the Board again to state their names when they spoke. Ms. Evert explained that a summary of the meetings would be provided to the City to use as a news release. Chair of the Boundary Committee Ron Sedaka reported there had not been any boundary recommendations as yet which affected Palm Beach Gardens. Mr. Sedaka reported that Scott Blake would bring an updated draft of the concurrency plan to the • next meeting. Mr. Sedaka reported that preferential enrollment of graduates from the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board December 9, 1998 Page 3 Middle School of the Arts into the high school would be limited to approximately 300 out of their 500 graduates, and the students would have to audition. W. Sedaka advised that before the next meeting, the Boundary Committee would meet to decide on a plan to collect and distribute data for the coming year. Curriculum Committee Report Curriculum Committee Chair Wayne Anderson reported that the Curriculum Committee planned to meet an hour before the monthly board meetings and would provide a report on the people progression plan at an upcoming meeting. The Curriculum Committee had been trying to get volunteers to tutor after school at elementary schools. Student volunteers were needed at Palm Beach Gardens Elementary on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.; at Alamanda Elementary and at Alamanda's Riviera Beach • site, Ivy Green, on Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Any interested students were asked to contact the Assistant Principals at Palm Beach Garden Elementary and at Alamanda Elementary. Chair Anderson reported student tutors from Palm Beach Community College were enjoying the tutoring. Business School Partnership Vice Chair Leslie Millar reported that 32 students had attended the Palm Beach Gardens Mall Lens Crafters Gift of Sight day, and Eric Jablin had taken pictures. At the last minute she had learned the teachers had not been properly informed of the program by the principals, and she had called two schools outside Palm Beach Gardens to get more participation. Ms. Millar reported 12 students had attended the Palm Beach Gardens High School SAC meeting. Ms. Millar asked anyone present whose school did not have a Gift of Sight collection box to please take one to their SAC meeting. Mr. Jablin added that the boxes would be placed in the fire houses and community centers, and the program would be publicized. Ms. Millar reported she was still working with R. J. Gators and Mr. Jablin reported he was working with Office Depot. • Chair Anderson announced Alan Sara had joined the meeting. • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board December 9, 1998 Page 4 City Council Liaison Eric Jablin reported interviews would be set up for applicants beginning the next week. Mr. Jablin reviewed the list of applicants. It was reported that there were other applicants whose names had been sent to the City. It was decided to have a committee interview the applicants. Mr. Jablin reported he had requested a report from the City Manager regarding standardizing all of the advisory boards. The City Manager had recommended 9 members and two alternates for all boards, which was not appropriate for this board because there were too many SACs to cover, and would not provide enough people to accomplish other things that the board wanted to do. Mr. Jablin reported the City's concern was that with too many members there was a risk of not having a quorum, • although to date that had not been a problem. Mr. Jablin suggested as a compromise that the Education Advisory Board have 19 members with 13 regular members, five alternates, and one student member. Mr. Jablin explained the decision must be made by the City Council, and he would bring it up to them. A question was asked whether SAC representatives had to be board members, to which Chair Anderson responded they did not have to be board members, and the goal was to have good communication between the board, the SACs, and the City, and the board would be discussing later which schools they wished to watch over. Chair Anderson commented students could attend SAC meetings, or if no one could attend, copies of their minutes could be obtained. Dr. Cover, Principal of Allamanda Elementary, the guest speaker, distributed a handout of what Allamanda was trying to achieve. Dr. Cover reported the school's population was approximately 700 students, and that the school was an ESC, or exceptional student center, whose students included autistic, those with specific learning disability, trainable mentally handicapped, emotionally handicapped, and physically impaired students. Dr. Cover reported Allamanda was working very hard to improve test scores. In -house tutoring was provided for first and second graders every day to enhance their classroom reading. Tutoring programs were provided at • both their Palm Beach Gardens and Riviera Beach locations. Dr. Cover described a • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board December 9, 1998 Page 5 new program to build reading skills for third to fifth grade students, which would require an hour's time each day from faculty members; and stated her dream was to have a reading village with children and adults participating, who loved to read reading together. `Blastoff" materials, which were designed to improve test results, had been purchased; and tests planned for the future were discussed. Dr. Cover described Allamanda's two computer labs, as well as the new computer lab which was planned. Dr. Cover explained that donations from a memorial fund, and funds raised by the children, would provide scholarships for eleven children to go to Washington, D.C. Dr. Cover answered questions from the members of the Board. SAC Committee Reports Chair Anderson reported the Allamanda SAC was meeting that evening and he would • have a report at the next meeting. Ann Berg provided a report from the minutes of the Palm Beach Gardens Elementary SAC which indicated the school improvement plan had been completed, and that the results would be available at their January meeting. The school had been visited by the Department of Education to research the school in connection with their request for more money for various programs. Ron Sedaka reported Timber Trace Elementary SAC had met and reviewed their traffic and school safety program. Mr. Sedaka reported the City would be installing a flashing signal at 117th Court and Central Boulevard, which might be funded by the School Board since it would service both Duncan and Timber Trace. No new information had been received regarding when the dual turn lanes would be installed. Reports regarding academic readiness and school safety had been reviewed. The address of an internet site which carried goal information was given. Discussion ensued regarding the need for lighting and a secondary access. Murt Kakli reported he would be attending the SAC meeting at Howell Watkins • Middle School the next Monday. City of Palm Beach Gardens • Education Advisory Board December 9,-1998 Page 6 George Mastics volunteered to attend Duncan Middle School SAC meetings, for which there was currently no representative. Jan Porter reported Middle School of the Arts SAC had met and approved amendments to their by -laws, and discussed fund raisers for reading programs. Ms. Porter described a grant which had been received and its requirements. Scott Blake reported he had attended the Palm Beach Gardens High School SAC meeting, and there had been 54 people in attendance. Discussion had included the gathering storm report, funding issues, and school improvement money. Mr. Blake reported test scores had been published in the newspaper, which had improved significantly over the past three years. Mr. Blake commented changing boundaries would immediately change test scores, which harmed the schools, and his theory was that the right funding and materials should be given in the beginning. Leslie Millar • credited Mr. Blake with the large attendance, which she stated was the result of a flyer he had distributed. Ms. Millar reported the guest speaker had been Rose Kleemen, a 9th grade teacher at Palm Beach Gardens High School, described her class of quartile one children and her success with them, and the gift to her class of composition books and pencils from the Board, which Mr. Jablin credited to Ms. Millar. Ms. Millar suggested that the Board monitor Ms. Kleemen's pilot program, and if it increased test scores, to institute it in the other schools. Ms. Millar recommended that Ms. Kleemen be invited as a guest speaker. It was reported the Dwyer High School SAC would be meeting later in the month. No representative was present for Suncoast SAC. Chair Anderson announced Washington Elementary would hold their Holiday musical program at Suncoast the next Sunday. Mr. Jablin reported the Dryfoos School of the Arts SAC meeting was being held that night, which his wife was attending. • OLD BUSME S • City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board December 9, 1998 Page 7 Chair Anderson distributed information provided by the City Manager regarding education. WAN -1813k Chair Anderson reported the Board was currently watching over ten schools. Additional schools the Board might like to watch over were North Tech when it became a high school; and possibly John F. Kennedy, and Roosevelt Middle School since a few students attended those schools. Chair Anderson volunteered to contact the schools to see how many Palm Beach Gardens students attended. Mr. Jablin was requested to find out the purpose of the report from the City Manager. • Chair Anderson announced that Rose Kleemen would be asked to be the guest speaker for the next meeting on January 13, 1998; following which the five school principals who had not been invited to speak to the Board during the past 12 months would be contacted to be guest speakers. of ul: V Alan Sara announced this would be his last meeting due to a teaching commitment. Corrected minutes were requested to be sent to the School Board and all school principals. It was announced that Palm Beach Gardens High School would hold an open house the next Sunday. Jordan Evert reported the meeting notes had been written and were ready to submit to the City. Mr. Jablin reported that at a joint meeting of the School Board, Board of County Commissioners, and Municipal League representatives, Leo Noble, who had been hired to get concurrency back on track, had presented his proposed plan of action, with which everyone had agreed; and Mr. Noble had been retained to produce the documents required for the plan. Mr. Jablin stated he hoped the plan would be implemented within the next six months. Members were reminded to take Gift of Sight boxes to those SACs which did not have them. • There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.