THE SCHOOL BOARD OF

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA

MINUTES, JULY 8, 2004

            The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 5:00 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 

                                                Mr. Ronnie L. Clark

                                                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 5:00 p.m.  On motion by Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Bergosh to adopt the agenda, was unanimously approved.

                 II.               OLD BUSINESS

A.     HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES

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

                 (NOTE: This item was postponed from the June 22, 2004 Special Meeting.) 

                 Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mr. Bergosh, to approve the “Health/Prescription Plan Funding and Plan Changes for Plan Year Beginning October 1, 2004” (as outlined in the backup documentation).  Dr. DeWitt and Mrs. Stidham expressed concerns with the proposed change to implement a $100 plan year deductible on the Prescription Drug Plan.  Dr. DeWitt amended his motion, to approve the “Health/Prescription Plan Funding and Plan Changes for Plan Year Beginning October 1, 2004” (as outlined in the backup documentation), but changing the implementation of a $100 plan year deductible to a $50 plan year deductible on the Prescription Drug Plan.  Mr. Bergosh seconded the amendment for discussion purposes.  (NOTE: Although not included in the motion, it was indicated during discussion, that the difference in plan savings from implementing a $50 deductible rather than a $100 deductible would be charged to the General Fund in a lump sum.)  Mrs. Stidham and Mr. Clark indicated that they preferred that no plan year deductible be implemented on the Prescription Drug Plan, as they were concerned with the affect that any deductible would have on employees. 

                 The Board recognized Madonna Jackson-Williams and Kathy Breakall, who expressed their thoughts regarding various aspects of this issue.  Amended motion failed 3 to 2, with Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Clark and Ms. Finkelstein voting “No.”   

     Motion was made by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Mr. Clark, to approve the “Health/Prescription Plan Funding and Plan Changes for Plan Year Beginning October 1, 2004” (as outlined in the backup documentation), but removing the implementation of a $100 plan year deductible on the Prescription Drug Plan, with the funding (approximately $600,000) for this change to be charged to the General Fund in a lump sum.  Motion was approved 3 to 2, with Mr. Bergosh and Dr. DeWitt voting “No.”

               III.               NEW BUSINESS

A.     PURCHASING 

1.       Agreement for Exclusive Beverage Provider between the Escambia County School District and Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. D/B/A Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Company (District-Wide Beverage Agreement)

                 NOTE: The backup information for this item included the following documents:

·         Agreement for Exclusive Beverage Provider between the Escambia County School District and Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. D/B/A Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Company

·         Distribution of Partnership Benefits

      Motion by Dr. Dewitt, seconded by Mr. Clark, to approve the “District-Wide Beverage Contract”, was approved unanimously.

     Motion was made by Mr. Bergosh, seconded by Ms. Finkelstein, to approve the “Distribution of Partnership Benefits” (as outlined in the backup documentation) for discussion purposes.  Staff responded to various questions posed by Board Members, by clarifying the information outlined in the backup documentation.  Dr. DeWitt offered a “friendly amendment” to the motion to revise the following statement included in the “Distribution of Partnership Benefits”: “The principal, in collaboration with the, School faculty, School Advisory Council and students will determine the expenditure of these funds.”  Mr. Bergosh and Ms. Finkelstein accepted the “friendly amendment” and the motion (as amended), was approved unanimously. 

              IV.               BUDGET PROCESS 

(NOTE: At the June 22, 2004 Special Meeting, the Board approved a 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 recommendations ranging from two million to half a million dollars worth of savings.”)

Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, presented a document entitled:

     School District of Escambia County

Explanation of Proposed Changes to Budget – General Fund

FY 2004-2005

1)      Additional Property Taxes Collected on 06/25/04

2)      Additional FEFP Restored on 06/28/04

3)      Reduce Instructional Performance Pay Reserve

4)      Increase Fingerprint Revenue

5)      Increase Maintenance Transfer from 2 Mill/PECO

6)      Decrease FICA Expenditures by Adding AFLAC Insurance Deductions to Pre-tax Deductions

7)      Add Instructional and Educational Support Employees to BENCOR 401A Plan

8)      Add Instructional and Educational Support Employees to BENCOR 401A Plan

9)      Increase Salary Lapse Projection

10)     Reduce Expenditure Budget for Retirement Incentive

11)     Eliminate Budget for Vending Flow-thru Allocation

12)     Plumbing Shop Reorganization

13)     Reduce Budget for Travel – Away 

14)     Shift Relocation Costs for Portables to 2 Mill

15)     Reduce Budget for Administrative Performance Pay

16)     Shift Replacement of School Equipment to 2 Mill Fund (from Minor Self-Insured Losses)

17)     Shift Equipment for ESEAL to 2 Mill

18)     Reduce Utility Budget for Net Expected Savings from Energy Educators

19)     Reduce Overtime and Extra Pay Budget

20)     Reduce Annual Leave at Retirement Budget

21)     Make Correction to Project 1203 Removing Contract Amount

22)     Leave Positions Vacant for 04/05 Fiscal Year

23)     Reduce Hours for Auditing Department Student

24)     Reduce FTE Reserves

25)     Reduce Phone Budget

26)     Reduce Department Supply Budgets by 3%

27)     Reduce Advertising Budget

28)     Shift Cost of Salary and Benefits for Two Subject Area Specialists to SAI

29)     Reduce Repairs and Maintenance in Transportation Department

30)     Reduce Utilities Budget for Revised Estimate of Garbage Fees

31)     Reduce Permanent Worker’s Comp Budget for One Position

32)     Reduce Salary Project to Adjust Various Items

(NOTE: No action was taken on any of the above items, as Mrs. Odom did not believe it would be appropriate for the Board to take action, since the document had not been advertised as part of this particular agenda.)

                 V.               ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the Special Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

Attest:                                                                         Approved:

________________________________                   ________________________________

Superintendent                                                             Chairman