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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 111297. CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD NOVEMBER 12, 1997 The November 12, 1997, meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board was called to order at 6:40 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The following members were found to be in attendance: Alan Adams, Monika Adams, Mary Inglis, Caroline Amazon, Alan Sara, Scott Blake, Ron Sadaka, Wayne Anderson, and Jan Porter. Chairman Adams announced that several applicants for the Board were in attendance at this meeting. The minutes of the October, 1997, meeting were approved as written. Paul Friedman, Staff Liaison, stated that Resolution 134, 1997, was unanimously passed by the City Council in support of requested changes to House Bill 2121. Mr. Friedman explained the Sunshine Law and Parliamentary Procedures to the members of the Board and stated that anything that a member of this advisory board did as an agent of the City Council had to be done • in the open. Mr. Friedman also informed the members that anytime 2 or more members of the board met they were required to take minutes of the meetings to be filed with the City Clerk's Office and opened to the public. Mr. Friedman added that items that would be discussed at a future meeting could not be discussed out of the sunshine (privately) between 2 or more members of the board. Mr. Friedman explained the need for a quorum of the appointed members of the board to be in attendance in order to hold a meeting. Mr. Friedman gave each member a copy of guidelines regarding parliamentary procedure and briefly reviewed the highlights of the guidelines. Mr. Friedman reminded that board that anything passed out at meetings of the board had to be copied to the City Clerk for official record keeping. Standing Committee Reports Curriculum Committee Wayne Anderson stated the committee met and discussed how reading scores could be improved. Caroline Amazon passed out an article to all members of the Board, regarding the ramifications of class size. Ms. Amazon discussed the subject matter of the article and asked that all members of the board read the article. Mr. Sadaka stated that the committee also discussed an article regarding the elementary schools and the over capacity of Timber Trace and Palm Beach Gardens Elementary and lower capacity of Allamanda Elementary. Copies of this article were given to members of the board. Boundary Committee - Ron Sadaka stated that the committee met and reviewed the mission • statement and recommended some changes that would be formally presented to the board at the next meeting. The next plan of action was to schedule a workshop to review the 5 Year Plan. • Mr. Sadaka stated that the committee decided it would be best to become familiar with current plans of the School Board and their recommended changes. Public Liaison Committee - A meeting was not 'held by this committee. Monika Adams stated that she received recommendations from 4 high schools regarding the consideration of an appointment of a student member of the board. Mrs. Adams stated that she sent a letter to all the students congratulating them for being nominated and sent them an application for the board. Guest Speaker Chair Adams introduced the newly appointed principal of the Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School, Betty Kennedy. Ms. Kennedy outlined her background and her philosophies for education. Ms. Kennedy stated she hoped to inspire in people that she worked with as well as the students the following: literacy; a clean, safe, orderly environment; high expectations for students and staff members; professional growth; and technological growth. Ms. Kennedy answered individual questions from board members. In response to a question from the board, Ms. Kennedy stated that she would support the board in their approach to a federal law that prohibited monies following a student to whatever school they were placed in because of busing. Chair Adams asked Ms. Kennedy to come to the board with any ideas or wishes that she would like for changes in the school procedures, particularly those that she did not feel comfortable in presenting to the School Board herself. SAC Reports Palm Beach Gardens High School - Scott Blake reported that there was not a quorum at the last • meeting and added that the encephalitis alert was issued about the time the meeting was to have taken place and the SAC meeting was canceled. Mr. Blake stated that the principal did give a report and added that he would get copies of that report to each member of the board. Timber Trace - The mission statement was reviewed, and it was decided to keep the statement as written and to work on another issue that would be decided at a future meeting. Allamanda Elementary - The SAC met and reviewed the draft of what the County planned to do with school goals and made comments on these goals. A copy of this draft would be obtained for members of the board. Middle School of the Arts - Jan Porter reported that she would be going to Duncan Middle School on Tuesday morning. Palm Beach Gardens Elementary - Chair Adams reported that a document was handed out that the School Board has produced this year for the first time that stated procedures for how SACS were to operate. Chair Adams stated that he would get copies of the document for members of the board. i Dwyer High School - The SAC met and discussed school crowding issues, including the possibility of moving Jupiter Farms students back to Jupiter High School. Chair Adams added that he read in the newspaper where it was decided that only the new students from Jupiter Farms I i would go to Jupiter High School and those students already placed at Dwyer would be allowed to continue. The principal banned the sale of candy on campus. General Business Scott Blake stated that he received an application today for student award grant monies, resulting in $15 per student. The money can only be spent on hardware, software and training (30% in training). The grant application is due December 19, 1997, to Theresa Wing. Councilman Jablin stated that Ms. Kennedy spoke about a tutorial program and asked that an Ad Hoc committee be formed to work with the school to assist them in setting up this program. Chair Adams stated this was an issued that could be handled by the Curriculum Committee. Councilman Jablin further recommended that the Board put together a recommendation regarding the Title 1 monies that the Council could sent to the legislative delegation in the form of a resolution. The Curriculum Committee was directed to write a recommendation to the City Council. Paul Friedman stated that the board expressed an interest in having an article in the City Line newsletter, and reported that staff was interested in going further with the idea but would need the information well in advance of the publication of the newsletter. The Public Liaison Committee was directed to work on the article. Adjournment • There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:06 P.M. 0