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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EAB 111396CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD NOVEMBER 13, 1996 The November 13, 1996 meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens Education Advisory Board was called to order at 7:30 P.M. The following members were found to be in attendance: Alan Adams, Scott Blake, Wayne Anderson, Monika Adams, Ron Sadaka, Jimmy Chalhub, Stasia Datchko, Mary Inglis, Howard Engel and Jan Porter. • "t• I • 984110011M It was suggested that in the future guests should sign the attendance sheet so they can be officially acknowledged in future minutes The minutes of the October, 1996, minutes were unanimously approved as written. • SAC MEMBER REPORTS Duncan Middle School - It was reported by Stasia Datchko that the SAC for Duncan Middle School was working on the school improvement plan, however, there were no major issues at this time. Palm Beach Gardens Elementary - Alan Adams reported that he attended a SAC meeting last night and there was a speaker discussing school construction priorities. It was the general feeling of those in attendance at that meeting that Magnet Programs should not be #2 on the priority criteria list for construction. Mr. Adams stated that, according to this speaker, the School Board staff would use the priority criteria list to put together a priority list of schools for construction and costs. This report would go back to the School Board for their consideration. Mr. Adams felt that the School Board should have agreed upon the priority selection criteria before the staff • started prioritizing the schools for construction. Timber Trace Elementary - Ron Sadaka reported that Timber Trace SAC discussed boundaries and the school's capacity. Also discussed was where the school was going in terms of expansion and reviewed the development plans. Timber Trace now had a PTA Volunteer Coordinator. At the next PTA meeting Commissioner Karen Marcus will be in attendance to discuss concurrency and the one -cent sales tax. Dwyer High School - It was reported by Howard Engle that the SACS at Dwyer was doing a good job and the principal was in favor of doing things that made him look good. The SAC meetings have been well attended and have been involved in trying to promote Dwyer as a community high school. The success of the football team has brought people together. It was pointed out that Dwyer is still a young school and the SAC is trying to do some things in the security area. Vandalism has occurred with cars being broken into in the parking lots. Cameras are being is installed on the roof and will scan the parking lots all day long and this information will be given • to students. There are discipline problems that are being discussed and consequences have been put into place. The principal has a Saturday morning smoking clinic for students that have been caught smoking in the bathrooms or on school grounds. The clubs at the schools are trying to raise money needed by the school and have been encouraged to work together. Dwyer High School has the largest ROTC organization out of all Palm Beach County Schools, which also assists with discipline problems. It was suggested that the SAC representative for this school discuss a needs assessment with the Dwyer SAC. Problems with smoking was discussed and possible solutions. Stasia Datchko suggested that perhaps less rules would have more of an impact by letting the students being responsible for themselves. Palm Beach Gardens High School - Mr. Blake stated that the SAC discussed the assignments 2 • survey and it will be completed next week. Mr. Chalhub stated that advertisements have been placed in approximately 5 local newspapers asking for help from those in the community that wanted to help at Gardens High. Mr. Blake stated that the school has made progress with test scores, however, still had improvement needed in most areas. Palm Beach Gardens High School was on the Borderline List, however, there was hope that progress would continue with test scores. A discussion ensued regarding how Gardens High School came to have low test scores and what has been done to improve the learning environment and new standards and technology that would be coming from Tallahassee in the next few years to track problems to work together towards a solution. s 1D 1 • 0_10_I r� Boundaries - It was reported that Mr. Blake and a parent formed a Political Action Committee I* known as Students First, in July, 1996, because they felt there would be a need to circulate a petition to get approval for school concurrency. The County Commission, School Board and Municipal League discussed concurrency through the summer, and the three entities involved stated an agreement could be put together, however, that did not happen. The latest item that came from the County Commission was that Commissioner Aaronson wanted a one -cent sales tax for two years, which would generate $280,000,000, with no caveat about concurrency. Within that two years there would be an attempt to come to an agreement regarding concurrency, however, if that did not happen the County Commission would be able to suspend the sales tax. Mr. Blake stated he had a problem with laying out plans for construction and then having the rug pulled out from under the funding. Mr. Blake stated that through Students First he was proposing to proceed with their own ordinance for f 3 • concurrency only and get it on the books. Mr. Blake felt that the County Commission would take a different view of this issue if concurrency was approved by the voters first. The School Board, without any approval from the voters, can issue a one -cent sales tax. Mr. Blake reported that the next opportunity to have concurrency put on the ballot was November, 1998. Councilman Jablin felt that the Municipal League would fight the issue with a heavily funded campaign. Stasia Datchko stated that concurrency without funding was frightening because you could have something on the books to force the school district to build a school when it had no money. Mr. Blake stated that the PAC would draft the ordinance, however, the wording has not been reviewed in months. Mr. Adams stated that the biggest problem would be the deveiopers when they see an ordinance that would cost them money. Councilman Jablin stated that the Education Advisory Board needed to go to the City Council meeting and ask for their support and ask them to solve the problem with the Municipal League. Councilman Jablin suggested the Palm Beach Post feature a series of articles on each school in Palm Beach County and their needs so that the voters would be better informed as to the needs in the School District. Mr. Blake stated that the one -cent sales tax was not the only funding source for concurrency and stated impact fees were another source. The Board asked Councilman Jablin what happened to the Board's recommendation regarding the City hiring an Education Advisor. Councilman Jablin stated that that was this Education Advisory Board's purpose. Mr. Adams stated that the Board's recommendation was that a City employee be hired to review the impact of all City actions on education before approval. Councilman Jablin stated that an employee with that title would be powerless. Mr. Blake stated that projects were approved last week by the City Council that would impact the educational 2 • system. Councilman Jablin stated that the City cannot deny a project when it meets all criteria for approval. Curriculum Committee - The Curriculum Committee met and it was decided to split some tasks. Jan Porter and Ron Sadaka would do fact finding research with the elementary schools on what works and what doesn't work. The remainder of the committee would concentrate on the tech -prep programs and higher levels of the high schools and community colleges. Councilman Jablin pointed out by the City Administration that committee meetings of the Education Advisory Board must be noted as a public meeting or would be in violation of the Sunshine Law. Councilman Jablin asked that if a sub - committee meeting was planned the committee notify the City Clerk so proper notice could be given to the public. Boundaries Committee - Mr. Adams stated that because Mr. Blake is so overworked by the • concurrency issue and his school work he has declined to be the Chairman of the Boundaries • Committee. This Committee is made up of Scott Blake, Stasia Datchko and Eric Jablin, and Mr. Adams asked that one of the members volunteer to get the meetings started. Stasia Datchko volunteer to chair the committee. Security Committee - Howard Engel stated that the Security Committee has not officially met, however, they have spoken about redoing the mission statement. Mr. Adams stated that every November this Board is to publish its annual report. Mr. Adams stated he would take care of the general information and asked that each standing committee modify its portion of that report. Mr. Adams asked that this work be completed by the next meeting so the report could be completed and submitted to the City. The Security Committee wanted to get paperwork done to have key contact telephone numbers. 5 • Mr. Adams stated he had that information and would provide it to the Committee. Teachers /Administrators Committee - Mary Inglis stated that this Committee has not had a chance to meet, but will meet in the near future. GENERAL BUSINESS Chairman Adams stated that a guest had expressed their concern that there were no nurses in the schools and suggested that a volunteer from this Board contact business and nurses associations to solicit help in this area. Mr. Adams stated that the Chamber of Commerce was also researching this issue. Mr. Engel volunteered to contact the schools and associations regarding this issue. Councilman Jablin stated that in bringing this subject up at a recent Council meeting, Councilwoman Monroe who is on the Board of Directors of Gardens Medical Center asked him for more information so she could take it before the Board of Directors for their consideration. • . Chairman Adams stated that the Board lost several members and reminded Ms. Datchko to bring • a final copy of any press releases into the City Clerk for administrative approval so that it could be released through that office. Mr. Blake stated that a realtor in the area gave him some information and stated that the biggest problem that realtors have is providing information to potential buyers about area schools. Mr. Blake felt that this Board could supply realtors with information to give to potential buyers. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. 2