THE SCHOOL BOARD OF

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA

MINUTES, DECEMBER 13, 2004

The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 1:30 p.m., in Room 160, at the J.E. Hall Educational Services Center, 30 East Texar Drive, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

            Chairman:                     Mr. Gary L. Bergosh (was not present)

            Vice Chairman:             Mrs. Patty Hightower

            Board Members:           Mrs. Cary Stidham

                                                Mr. Ronnie L. Clark (was not present)

                                                Mr. Pete Gindl 

            School Board General Counsel:        Mrs. Ellen Odom

Superintendent of Schools:               Mr. Jim Paul

                    I.               CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Mrs. Hightower called the Special Meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.  On motion by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Mr. Gindl, adoption of the agenda was approved 3 to 0, with Mr. Bergosh and Mr. Clark absent for vote. 

                 II.               REPORT FROM THE GENERAL COUNSEL

Mrs. Odom advised that in the near future, she would be bringing forth a proposal for a policy revision, which would increase the Director of Risk Management’s settlement authority in excess of the $15,000 amount as set forth in current policy.  She noted that the greater settlement authority would be helpful when mediation of a claim required immediate settlement authority, as there was not always enough time to call a meeting in order to obtain Board approval. 

               III.               REQEUST FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION, IN RE: WHITESELL-GREEN, INC., PLAINTIFF, v. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND BASKERVILLE-DONOVAN, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, 1^ST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT CASE 00-2377-CA-01

Mrs. Odom requested that upon adjournment of the Special Meeting, the Board and Superintendent convene in Executive Session in Room 131, to discuss pending litigation in reference to Whitesell-Green, Inc., Plaintiff, v. The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, and Baskerville-Donovan, Inc., a Florida Corporation, 1^st Judicial Circuit Court Case 00-2377-CA-01. 

[NOTE: Mrs. Patty Hightower, Mrs. Cary Stidham, Mr. Pete Gindl, Mrs. Ellen Odom, the Superintendent, Mr. William J. Green, Attorney, and Ms. Patty Hitchcock, Court Reporter, were in attendance for the Executive Session which immediately followed the Special Meeting.]

              IV.               ADJOURNMENT

The Special Meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.

Attest:                                                              Approved:

________________________________                    ________________________________

Superintendent                                                  Chairman