THE SCHOOL BOARD OF

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA

MINUTES, JUNE 22, 2004

            The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 1:00 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 (entered at 1:10 p.m.)

                                                Mr. Ronnie L. Clark (entered at 1:01 p.m.) 

                                                Ms. Linda Finkelstein

            School Board General Counsel: Mrs. Ellen D. Odom

            Superintendent of Schools:         Mr. Jim Paul

                    I.               CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Mrs. Stidham called the Special Meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.  On motion by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Ms. Finkelstein, adoption of the agenda, was approved 3 to 0, with Mr. Bergosh and Mr. Clark absent for vote.  (NOTE: Mr. Clark entered at 1:01 p.m.)

                 II.               UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A.     PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES

1.       Notice of Intent to Advertise Revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.17 – Student Dress Code (concurrent with the proposed revisions updating the Elementary and Secondary Rights and Responsibilities Handbooks, 2004-2005) [Item postponed from June 15, 2004 Regular Meeting]

a.      Proposed by Dr. John DeWitt

Dr. DeWitt moved to approve the advertisement of his proposed revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.17 – Student Dress Code (as presented).  Mr. Clark seconded the motion for discussion purposes.  Dr. DeWitt offered a “friendly amendment” to his motion, to approve the advertisement of his proposed revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.17 – Student Dress Code, with the following sections also revised to read:

1)   ELEMENTARY STUDENT DRESS CODE

(C)  EXCEPTIONS TO THE DRESS CODE SHALL BE PERMITTED WHEN:

5.   District-wide Dress Code: All other aspects of student dress and appearance not covered by this dress code policy shall be governed by any related school rules pertaining to student appearance. 

2)      SECONDARY STUDENT DRESS CODE

(C)  EXCEPTIONS TO THE DRESS CODE SHALL BE PERMITTED WHEN:

5.      District-wide Dress Code: All other aspects of student dress and appearance not covered by this dress code policy shall be governed by any related school rules pertaining to student appearance. 

Mr. Clark accepted the “friendly amendment”.  Motion was made by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Ms. Finkelstein, to amend the motion on the floor, to add verbiage under both the Elementary and the Secondary Student Dress Codes, indicating that facial piercings, “where the jewelry consists of a ring,” were forbidden at the elementary and middle school level (high school level was excluded).  However, after discussion, Mrs. Stidham withdrew the motion and Ms. Finkelstein withdrew the second.  Mrs. Stidham then moved to “ban all facial piercings at the elementary and middle school levels.”  Motion died for lack of a second. 

(NOTE: Mr. Bergosh entered at 1:10 p.m.)

The Board recognized Sheila Romaine, who offered several suggestions regarding the proposed student dress code. 

Motion was approved 4 to 1, with Mr. Bergosh voting “No.”   

b.      Proposed by Staff

Mr. Bergosh moved to approve the advertisement of revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.17 – Student Dress Code, as proposed by the Superintendent’s staff.  Motion died for lack of a second. 

2.   Notice of Intent to Advertise Revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.02 - Code of Conduct: Elementary Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, 2004-2005 [Item postponed from June 15, 2004 Regular Meeting]

            Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Ms. Finkelstein, to approve the advertisement of revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.02 – Code of Conduct: Elementary Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, 2004-2005, “incorporating the changes that were made to the Student Dress Code (see Item III.A.1.a).”  Motion was approved 4 to 1, with Mr. Bergosh voting “No.”  

3.   Notice of Intent to Advertise Revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.02 - Code of Conduct: Secondary Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, 2004-2005 [Item postponed from June 15, 2004 Regular Meeting]

Motion was made by Dr. Dewitt, seconded by Ms. Finkelstein, to approve the advertisement of revisions to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.02 – Code of Conduct: Secondary Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, 2004-2005, “incorporating the changes that were made to the Student Dress Code (see Item III.A.1.a).”  Mrs. Stidham advised the law (Section 1006.07, Florida Statutes) regarding cell phones and other electronic devices had recently been amended.  She noted that any language included in the Handbook, that referred to the current School District Rule regarding that topic, would be inaccurate as of July 1, 2004 (effective date of the revised Statute), and should therefore, be removed.  Mrs. Odom and the Superintendent indicated that they would work collaboratively to revise the current rule, in accordance with the amended law, and present it at the July Regular Meeting for approval and inclusion into the Handbook.  Motion by Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Bergosh, to remove any language referring to the current School District Rule on cell phones and other electronic devices from the Secondary Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, was approved 4 to 1, with Dr. DeWitt voting “No.”  Original motion was approved 4 to 1, with Mr. Bergosh voting “No.” 

B.     HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES

1.    School Safety Inspections [Item originally presented at June 15, 2004 Regular Meeting]

                       Motion by Ms. Finkelstein, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to approve School Safety Inspections, was unanimous. 

               III.               NEW BUSINESS

A.     HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES

1.       Recommendation for Health/Prescription Plan Funding and Plan Changes for Plan Year Beginning October 1, 2004

Mr. Kevin Windham, Director of Risk Management, gave a brief overview of this item, as outlined in the backup documentation.  Board Members expressed their concerns regarding the impact that the recommended health/prescription funding and plan changes would have on all classes of employees.     

     The Board recognized Kathy Breakall, who expressed her concerns regarding this item.

     Motion by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mr. Bergosh, to postpone any discussion on this item until the conclusion of the “Budget Process” (Section IV), was approved unanimously.          

B.      ITEMS FROM THE BOARD

1.       Recommendation from the Audit Committee Regarding Appointment of Director of Internal Auditing

                 Motion by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to accept the recommendation of the Audit Committee for the appointment of Scott Woody to Director of Internal Auditing, was approved unanimously. 

(NOTE: Mrs. Odom left the Special Meeting at 2:40 p.m.)

              IV.               BUDGET PROCESS

2004-2005 Budget

Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, gave a briefly recapped the budget materials that were previously provided to the Board.  Motion was made by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to request that the Superintendent and his staff “go through” Book I (Departmental Budgets) and Book II (Summary of Local Projects) and “come back with one million dollars worth of savings.”  At the suggestion of Ms. Finkelstein, Mr. Bergosh amended his motion, to request that the Superintendent and his staff “go through” Book I (Departmental Budgets) and Book II (Summary of Local Projects), “taking into account the Strategic Plan, and come back with one million dollars worth of savings.”  Mrs. Stidham accepted the amendment.  After brief discussion, Mr. Bergosh amended his motion again, to request that the Superintendent and his staff “go through” Book I (Departmental Budgets) and Book II (Summary of Local Projects), “taking into account the Strategic Plan, and come back with recommendations ranging from two million to half a million dollars worth of savings.”  Mrs. Stidham accepted the amendment.  Amended motion was approved unanimously.   

The Board agreed to schedule a Special Meeting (Re: Budget Process) for July 8, 2004, at 5:00 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building. 

Recommendation for Health/Prescription Plan Funding and Plan Changes for Plan Year Beginning October 1, 2004 (Item III.A.1)

[NOTE: This item was postponed earlier in the meeting until the conclusion of the “Budget Process” (Section IV).]  Motion by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Ms. Finkelstein, to postpone this item until the July 8, 2004 Special Meeting, was approved unanimously.

                 V.               ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Ms. Finkelstein, seconded by Mr. Bergosh, to adjourn the Special Meeting at 3:37 p.m., was approved unanimously.   

Attest:                                                              Approved:

________________________________                    ________________________________

Superintendent                                                  Chairman