THE SCHOOL BOARD OF
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA
MINUTES, APRIL 1, 2004
The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 3:30 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building, 215 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:
Chairman: Mrs. Cary Stidham Vice Chairman: Dr. John DeWitt
Board Members: Mr. Gary Bergosh
Mr. Ronnie L. Clark (was not present)
Ms. Linda Finkelstein (was not present)
School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco M. Negron, Jr. (was not present)
Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul
I. CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Mrs. Stidham called the Special Meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. On motion by Mr. Bergosh and second by Dr. DeWitt, adoption of the agenda was approved 3 to 0, with Mr. Clark and Ms. Finkelstein absent for vote.
II. BUDGET/STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
Grade-book Implementation
Information on this issue was provided to the Board via email message.
In-School Suspension
Information on this issue was not available at that time.
Mr. Wayne Odom, Director of Title I, reviewed a handout that he had provided regarding this issue, entitled “Superintendent’s Recommendation for Title I Services 2004-2005.”
(NOTE: The information outlined in the handout is listed below.)
A closer look at the requirements of the NCLB Act reveals that some reduction in the number of Title I schools severed in the coming year, as well as a reduction in the n umber of prekindergarten classrooms is necessary. The NCLB Act’s requirement that we reserve 20% of our district’s Title I allocation to fund mandated transportation and supplemental educational services related to schools not making adequate yearly progress (AYP), and an additional 5% for assuring that “highly qualified” staff provisions are met place us in an unprecedented fiscal squeeze. There is simply no way to set aside 25% of the Title I budget and continue to do business as usual.
Another factor that will place an additional burden on Title I schools is the requirement that any school not making AYP for two consecutive years set aside 10% of its individual school allocation for staff development. This requirement, along, makes not feasible any ideas of across-the-board reductions in Title I allocations to fund the current level of prekindergarten services.
My recommendation is to eliminate Title I funding to those schools having fewer than 60% of their students eligible for free or reduced price meals and to reduce the number of Title I funded Prekindergarten classrooms from their current levels to 18 classes.
Motion by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation “to eliminate Title I funding to those schools having fewer than 60% of their students eligible for free or reduced price meals and to reduce the number of Title I funded pre-kindergarten classrooms from their current levels to 18 classes.”
The Special Meeting recessed at 3:45 p.m., to meet in another Special Meeting (Re: Executive Session) scheduled for 3:45 p.m., and then reconvened at 4:20 p.m., with Mr. Bergosh, Mrs. Stidham and Ms. Finkelstein and the Superintendent present.
Throughout the discussion on this item, Dr. DeWitt suggested several alternatives to the Superintendent’s recommendation including:
1) Reduce per-pupil allocation of all Title I schools (Tier I, Tier II and Tier III) by 11.5% (as originally discussed at the March 23, 2004 Special Meeting). He noted that this would allow for all Title I schools (Tier I, Tier II and Tier III) to continue to receive funds and the continuation of all pre-k programs.
2) Reduce per-pupil allocation of all Title I schools (Tier I, Tier II and Tier III) by 15%.
Mrs. Stidham noted for the record that she was “real uncomfortable making these decisions without all five board members sitting at the table.”
Mr. Bergosh offered a “friendly amendment” to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation “to eliminate Title I funding to those schools having fewer than 60% of their student eligible for free or reduced price meals and to reduce the number of Title I funded pre-kindergarten classrooms from their current levels to 18 classes” and that those schools having fewer than 60% of their students eligible for free or reduced price meals, be funded at their current level with Title I rollover funds. Mrs. Stidham did not accept the “friendly amendment.”
Mr. Bergosh offered a substitute motion, to continue Title I funding to those schools having fewer than 60% of their students eligible for free or reduced price meals and to reduce the number of Title I funded pre-kindergarten classrooms from their current levels to 18 classes. Dr. DeWitt seconded the motion for purposes of discussion.
After discussion, Mr. Bergosh called the question, which was approved 3 to 0, with Mr. Clark and Ms. Finkelstein absent for vote. Substitute motion failed 2 to 1, with Mrs. Stidham and Dr. DeWitt voting “No.”
Motion was made by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation “to eliminate Title I funding to those schools having fewer than 60% of their student eligible for free or reduced price meals and to reduce the number of Title I funded pre-kindergarten classrooms from their current levels to 18 classes.” Mr. Bergosh called the question, which was approved 2 to 1, with Dr. DeWitt voting “No.” Motion was approved 2 to 1, with Dr. DeWitt voting “No.”
Dr. DeWitt indicated that he would place this item on the next meeting agenda for reconsideration when all five Board Members would be present.
Rather than continuing on with the “Budget/Strategic Planning Process,” Board Members who were present agreed to wait on doing so until all five Board Members could be present.
III. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit “A”)
1. The School District of Escambia County, Florida Elementary Summer School – 2004
Motion was made by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to accept “The School District of Escambia County, Florida Elementary Summer School – 2004.” Dr. DeWitt indicated that he would not support this item, as he believed that a portion of the proposed funding for elementary summer school could be used instead to address the Title I allocation issue as discussed earlier in the meeting. Motion was approved 2 to 1, with Dr. DeWitt voting “No.”
IV. FINANCE
(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit “B”)
1. Board Certification for 2003-2004 Classrooms for Kids Program
Motion by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to approve “Board Certification for 2003-2004 Classrooms for Kids Program,” carried 3 to 0, with Mr. Clark and Ms. Finkelstein absent for vote.
2. Budget Amendment: Resolution 7: Capital Projects Fund
Motion by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to approve “Budget Amendment: Resolution 7: Capital Projects Fund,” carried 3 to 0, with Mr. Clark and Ms. Finkelstein absent for vote.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to adjourn the Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m., carried 3 to 0, with Mr. Clark and Ms. Finkelstein absent for vote.
Attest: Approved:
________________________________ ________________________________
Superintendent Chairman