THE SCHOOL BOARD OF

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA

MINUTES, FEBRUARY 11, 2005

The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 10:30 a.m., in the Superintendent’s Conference Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building, 215 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

Chairman:                     Mr. Gary L. Bergosh

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 (was not present)

Superintendent of Schools:               Mr. Jim Paul

I.               CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Mr. Bergosh called the Special Meeting to order at 10:35 a.m.  On motion by Mrs. Hightower and second by Mr. Gindl, adoption of the agenda, was approved 4 to 0, with Mr. Clark absent for vote.   

II.               BUDGET PROCESS

Superintendent’s Budget Priority Recommendations to the School Board for 2005-2006

The Superintendent and his staff presented the following recommendations:

Priority #1:     Attain year three objectives of Salary Compensation Task Force

Priority #2:     Provide instruction in and funding for research-based reading in K-12

Priority #3:     Enhance safety and security of all district assets

Priority #4:     Enhance technology training and offerings

Priority #5:     Continue to fund equitable share of health care

Priority #6:     Fund overage middle School Initiative(s)

Priority #7:     Appropriately address rising operating costs

:

The Special Meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. and reconvened at 1:45 p.m., with Mr. Bergosh, Mrs. Hightower, Mrs. Stidham, and the Superintendent present.  (Mr. Clark, Mr. Gindl and Mrs. Odom were not present)

Individual School Board Members Budget Priorities for 2005-2006

Mrs. Stidham cited the following budget priorities:

·         Increase in substitute teacher pay 

·         Plan to address various transportation issues (i.e., shortage of substitute bus drivers)

·         Implementation of a middle school football program

Mrs. Hightower cited the following budget priorities:

·         Employee salaries

·         Gymnasiums at all middle schools

·         Relocation of Brown Barge Middle School

Mr. Bergosh cited the following budget priorities:

·         Employee Salaries

·         Plan for a downtown state of the art K-5 school

·         Plan for a west-side state of the art K-8 school

(It was noted that the next discussion on the budget process would occur at the March RegularWorkshop.)

III.               ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Mrs. Hightower, to adjourn the Special Meeting at 2:55 p.m., was approved 3 to 0, with Mr. Clark and Mr. Gindl absent for vote.  

Attest:                                                              Approved:

________________________________                    ________________________________

Superintendent                                                  Chairman