HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 061197. CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD
JUNE 11, 1997
The June 11, 1997, City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board meeting was
called to order at 7:30 P.M. at Howell Watkins Middle School. The following appointed
members were found to be in attendance: Alan Adams, Mary Inglis, Ron Sadaka, Stasia Datchko,
Scott Blake, Wayne Anderson, Jan Porter, Monika Adams and Lisa Ridgely.
The minutes of the May, 1997, meeting were approved as amended. It was announced
that the next meeting of the Board would be in August, with no meeting in July.
Chairman Adams discussed that the City Council approved 14 regular members and 4
alternate members for the Board. Stasia Datchko of the New Member Committee reported on
student interviews and it was discussed. It was suggested that the next student member not be
from Gardens High School, but perhaps from Dwyer High School. It was further decided that the
duties of the student member should be listed in the request for a student member so that the
student would know exactly what was expected from the membership. Chairman Adams asked
if the candidates for the student member should be taken from each school and if 4 good
candidates are received, then the one from Gardens High School should be left out because they
• had the seat for 2 years? It was the consensus of the Board that no qualified candidate would be
eliminated, regardless of the school they were attending.
Interviews for potential members were conducted, with 5 candidates having been
interviewed. Discussions ensued as to how many members were needed to complete the Board
and Chairman Adams stated that 9 positions were available. The members discussed how
contacts could be made to get potential candidates, including contacting schools and SACs.
A motion was made that the qualified candidates be brought in at the August meeting.
The motion was seconded and unanimously carried. Councilman Jablin stated that he would
have an ordinance prepared for the consideration of the City Council. Chairman Adams stated
that he spoke with Cindy Harvey, Assistant City Clerk, that stated some of the appointments
were wrong because they were made at a time when they were still confused about the number of
years members were appointed. Ms. Harvey stated that it would not be a problem because the
members would remain on the Board until they resigned or their second term expired at the
appropriate time.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Boundaries Committee - The Boundary Committee has not met, except for one meeting with the
Acting Committee Chair and the Board representative. It was reported that the students in
Winchester Courts area would be moved from Dwyer High School to Gardens High School. The
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• School Board has proposed that students from North Palm Beach would be split, with some
going to Dwyer High School and others going to Gardens High School. It was pointed out that
Dwyer High School would be adversely affected by the boundary changes, with a change that
43% of those attending Dwyer would be minority. Ms. Datchko stated that once a school hits
40% black, there is a lot of white flight. The changes are necessary to make room for the Abacoa
development, with everything south of Frederick Small Road going to Dwyer High School and
north of Frederick Small Road going to Jupiter. Ms. Datchko stated that the minority students
would be bused in from Riviera Beach. Chairman Adams asked if there were any proposed plans
that the Board would object to or would suggest alternate plans for any of the boundary changes.
Ms. Datchko said no and she felt that the Board's responsibility was to let people know that the
change is only temporary in an effort to head off white flight if possible because of a 43%
minority this year and 52% next year. It was felt that the people needed to be reassured that the
Abacoa development will solve some of this problem.
Concurrency Issue - Mr. Blake stated that a general membership meeting of Students First was
held on Monday, with 38 people attending. A state representative was in attendance at this
meeting and one of the issues that needed to be resolved was the difference in the School Board
not supporting the concurrency issue and the Committee not supporting the one cent sales tax
issue. Mr. Blake stated that the School Board produced a document and submitted it to the
County Commission. It was Mr. Blake's opinion that the County Commission would not
support concurrency until the School Board was caught up with the overcrowding and did not
feel the Municipal League would support the document. Mr. Blake stated that their message was
• that they did not support the document, but would not oppose it. The Committee would now
concentrate on the petitions from now until the end of August. If the County Commission
decides not to put off the one -cent sales tax, Mr. Blake felt that instead of not getting any
funding, to ask the School Board to put the '/z cent sales tax on and move the referendum until
November, 1998, and let Students First work on concurrency.
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Curriculum Committee - It was reported that there was a work force meeting on the 20th for the
School Board Tech/Prep and a report would be forthcoming after that meeting. The Committee
has not met, however, Mr. Anderson did contact Timber Trace by telephone and met with the
principal of PBG Elementary who provided him with a list of what they would like in regards to
a monetary award Both schools felt that a monetary award would be difficult because of testing.
The Committee asked the schools to come up with an alternative award. Timber Trace and
Allamanda asked that the Committee develop a mini -grant, however, that would require an award
ahead of time. The Committee also asked the schools what they thought the Board could help
them with and they presented a list to the Committee. A copy of the list was handed out to the
Board members. The list was briefly discussed among Board members. It was felt that the list
should be discussed at the Committee level to determine which items could be handled and
which could not. Last night, Mr. Anderson went to Dwyer High School to give input on the new
principal where candidates for the position were interviewed, and he went as a representative of
the Education Advisory Board. Mr. briefly reviewed his selections for the new principal.
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• A discussion ensued regarding granting an award to a school with improved schools. Volunteer
tutors at the various schools looks like a successful project.
Liaison Committee - The Committee wanted to design a letter of thanks for those who resigned
from the Board. A meeting would be set up with Beth Ingold, Community Affairs Specialist,
who would have to approve any articles placed in newspapers. The Committee discussed linking
with Riviera Beach, Jupiter and North Palm Beach Education Advisory Boards. Mary Inglis
asked members for any information that they would want included in articles.
SAC Reports:
Gardens High School - Stasia Datchko reported that Gardens High School was doing really well,
although wanted strong fund raising done this summer as the school ran out of money for tutorial
assistance 2 weeks before final exams.
General Business
Monika Adams handed out copies of the Pupil Progression Plan that the principals are working
on and asked that each member read the information, particularly paying attention to statutory
changes. A discussion ensued regarding the statutory grade score requirements
• Scott Blake stated that two weeks ago Barbara McQuinn was named Palm Beach County
Principal of the Year. Two days ago she was named the State of Florida Principal of the Year.
The award was based on the improvement in test scores, parental involvement and student
achievement. The Superintendent and School Board members presented her with an award. Mr.
Blake asked that the Education Advisory Board give some type of award, however, felt that since
it was a State award, that the City Council present her with some type of award. Councilman
Jablin felt the City should make up a Certificate of Appreciation or Achievement with the full
Board present at a City Council meeting. Councilman Jablin stated he would arrange for this
presentation in September. Chairman Adams stated that the Board would send her a letter of
congratulations.
Next Agenda
It was the consensus of the Board that there would be no meeting in July. The August meeting
would be held in the Council Chambers. Chairman Adams handed out copies of the Annual
Report.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
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