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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 100996CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD OCTOBER 9, 1996 The October 9, 1996, 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. Roll Call The following members were in attendance: Alan Adams, Scott Blake, Jim Chalhalb, Monika Adams, Wayne Anderson, Ron Sadaka, Jan Porter, Howard Engel, Mary Inglis and Lisa Ridgely. Councilman Eric Jablin was also in attendance. Visitors • Also in attendance at the meeting were the following visitors: Ms. Weiner, Ms. Hackman and Area Five Superintendent Dr. Kaiser. Chairman Adams stated that the first item the Board would hear were thoughts from visitors. Arline Weiner, candidate for School Board, addressed the Board stating that she was a candidate for the Palm Beach County School Board. Ms. Weiner stated that while she was not an educator she has been a City Commissioner and Mayor of Boynton Beach and was familiar with running a large public agency that depended on being accommodating and accountable to taxpayers. Ms. Weiner stated that the School District needed to look elsewhere for the needs that are not being met, and suggested that the School Board needed to look to the State of Florida for assistance with these problems. Ms. Weiner felt that the School Board needed the ability to lobby for needs with not only the State of Florida, but with municipalities as well as local businesses. Ms. • Weiner stated that she had experience in this area and would bring this experience to the School • Board if she was elected. Ms. Weiner stated she has approached the Municipal League to form an Education Advisory Board, however, felt that were reactive instead of proactive. Ms. Weiner was encouraged by the commitment of the Chambers of Commerce of Palm Beach County toward education and would suggest that they be honored for their commitment. Ms. Weiner outlined her political platform and what she believed in and what she would do if she was elected to the School Board. General Business Chairman Adams stated that a problem has risen today regarding boundaries and asked Caren Hackman, a Timber Trace Elementary School parent, to discuss this with the Board. Mrs. Hackman discussed the proposed boundary changes that would move students from Timber Trace Elementary School to Palm Beach Gardens elementary School. Mrs. Hackman stated that • her neighbors have approached the School Board asking them not to interrupt the education of their children in changing the boundaries. Ms. Hackman asked for the assistance of the Board to approach the School Board with a long range plan to stop the constant change in boundaries and the interruption of the education of the children attending the various schools in the City. Chairman Adams stated that after Ms. Hackman called him he made a few telephone calls. He called the principal of Palm Beach Gardens Elementary, where the proposal originated. He was told that while the proposal started in the PTA last year when students had to from Palm Beach Gardens Elementary to Allamanda this proposal was put together too late to submit to the Boundary Committee. The plan was therefore submitted this year. Their fear is that there was no growth ability for Palm Beach Gardens Elementary and as the student population of the school diminishes they would lose teachers and lose some programs. Chairman Adams stated that while N Palm Beach Gardens Elementary did not have a five year projection for student population without the move, they did have a five year lan if P they moved the students. Chairman Adams felt that the school could therefore put this data together. Chairman Adams felt that the school should consider long range goals and take into consideration what would happen when the Golf Digest and Abacoa projects are built and the one -cent sales tax passed. Chairman Adams felt that if the problem is a long term problem then the solution should be long term, such as moving the children from one school to another over a period of time and grandfathering in those that already attend the schools. The Board discussed the process whereby projects are proposed, the School Board grants approval and the affected families are notified. Chairman Adams discussed the problem of one school proposing a change without coordination with the other schools. Mr. Blake asked if the process were done the correct way if the parents would be opposed to the students being moved to another school. Ms. Hackman stated that if the process were done properly she would object to yet another change. Ms. Hackman stated that the end result would bring only an additional 26 children to Palm Beach Gardens Elementary and felt that this was not a solution to their problem. There was a discussion that the Boundary Committee needed to look at all the problems of all the school and make a long range plan that was more comprehensive instead of short term solutions that interrupt the education of students. Dr. Kaiser felt that the Boundary Committee should hear what the community has to say and recommended that the community go to the meeting tomorrow to express their thoughts. Scott Blake stated that he felt Timber Trace would be a mess in a few years and added that we should not ask a child if it was right to move them to another school because the adults are to make these decisions as to what is best for the children. Mr. Blake stated that in order to solve the long range problems somethin • _ g • needs to be done and felt that the parents should not use all their energy to fight, but should use their energy to assist in developing a plan that would solve the problem. Chairman Adams stated that the Education Advisory Board has a Boundary Committee whose duty it is to look out for boundary disputes and saw no reason why this Committee could not draft a proposal to present to the ABC Committee as a counter recommendation to what is going on today. Jan Porter asked that the Board approve any members that attend the School Board Boundary Committee meeting tomorrow and speak and state that they identify themselves as being a member of the Education Advisory Board. Chairman Adams stated that the Board would put together a statement and will speak at tomorrow's meeting. Chairman Adams handed out a very large plant survey document and the five year construction plan that the School System has put together. Chairman Adams stated the five year plan was an executive summary. Board Organization Chairman Adams gave out a list of all Board members and what Standing Committee they are on and to what SAC they belong. Chairman Adams reviewed the list of those members whose terms expire on November 3, 1996, and got an idea as to whether they were interested in being reappointed. Howard Engel stated he would like to be reappointed. Chairman Adams stated he would like to be reappointed for one year. Ann Roth has declined reappointment. Mary Inglis stated she would like to be reappointed, however, would like to commit to no more than 1 year. Lisa Ridgely stated she would accept a reappointment for 1 year. Chairman Adams reminded the Board that Stasia Datchko was writing the advertisement that they would be circulating for additional members to the Board. Chairman Adams stated that it F11 was the Standing Committees that made the Board work and what is done at the monthly meetings was a report of what the Committees have done and to obtain approval of what is planned by the Standing Committees. Chairman Adams reiterated that it is important for the Standing Committees to meet and get actions to the Board so actions could be taken in an effort to solve problems. Chairman Adams stated that the Boundary Committee should try to get a member on the ABC Board. Standing Committees Chairman Adams handed out the Gold Reports for each school in Palm Beach Gardens. Dr. Kaiser personally invited each member of the Board to the Consortium meeting stating that this meeting would focus on the education committees that are sponsored by municipalities and chambers. Dr. Kaiser stated that the hope was to get communication started between all the • various education groups. Dr. Kaiser stated there were approximately 20 education groups in the north county area. Dr. Kaiser stated that if any members of the Board had any questions or problems she would be available for discussion and would try to attend a number of this Board's monthly meetings. Chairman Adams stated that behind the letter from Dr. Kaiser inviting all members to the Consortium was a form that was to be filled out about the future goals and objectives of the Board. Board members discussed possible future goals such as concurrency and the one -cent sales tax, school to work/prep tech programs, community involvement, safe environment for education, increased literacy scores for K -3 and smaller districts. It was decided that the 3 main goals would be listed as: 1) construction, 2) state funding and 3) curriculum. Chairman Adams stated that there was also a form to be filled out by each member of the Board and sent in before the Consoritum meeting. Chairman Adams stated that he would 6 � fine tune the Board's remarks and fax a final copy to each member. Referencing the meeting tomorrow regarding boundary changes, Chairman Adams stated that members appearing to speak should say that boundary changes should be part of a long range plan that should include the effects in the north end of the County of projects such as Abacoa and Golf Digest, and the one -cent sales tax construction plan. Chairman Adams stated that the Board should request the numbers; that show the impact of any changes in boundarys. AdjQjmw=t -W