THE SCHOOL BOARD OF
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA
MINUTES, JULY 18, 2005
The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Workshop Meeting at 9:00 a.m., in the Board 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 (not present)
Dr. Charles E. Glover, Sr.
Mr. Pete Gindl, Sr. (not present)
School Board General Counsel: Mrs. Ellen Odom
Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul
NOTE: This meeting was originally scheduled for July 15,2004, then later rescheduled to July 18, 2005.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Hightower called the Regular Workshop to order at 9:00 a.m. Upon inquiry by Mrs. Hightower, the Superintendent confirmed that this meeting had been properly advertised. As only Mrs. Hightower and the Superintendent were present at that time, it was decided that the meeting would recess until the arrival of other Board Members and the General Counsel.
The Regular Workshop reconvened at 9:23 a.m., with Mr. Bergosh, Mrs. Hightower, Dr. Glover, Mrs. Odom and the Superintendent present. (NOTE: Mrs. Stidham and Mr. Gindl were not present.)
A. Open Discussion
Update on Hurricane Dennis Damage and Recovery Effort
Mr. Shawn Dennis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, informed the Board that the following schools had sustained major damage from Hurricane Dennis: Bratt Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, Brownsville Middle, Northview High, Suter Elementary, West Florida Technical High, Woodham High, and Workman Middle. He noted that the District would actively seek recovery of hurricane associated costs from insurance payments, FEMA reimbursement, and some assistance from the State. Mrs. Barbara Linker, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Services, added that the District’s “main problem” would be more of a “cash flow situation” and while ultimately those costs would be recovered, the process would take time.
Mr. Dennis also reviewed the facilities recovery process, which consisted of the following projects: dry-ins and temporary roofing; debris removal; pre-student arrival safety checks; and permanent repairs.
Mrs. Hightower requested that Mrs. Linda West, Coordinator of Board Affairs, be added to the emergency phone lists as a contact for the Board.
II. COMMENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT
The Superintendent had no comments on the agenda as presented.
III. TIME CERTAIN ITEMS
No items submitted.
IV. PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES
No discussion was held.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Curriculum and Instruction
1. Multidisciplinary Evaluation – Florida State University
[NOTE: This is an agreement between the Regional Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center of the Florida State University (“Center”) and the Escambia County School Board (“District”).] Upon inquiry by Mrs. Hightower, Mr. Malcolm Thomas, Director of Evaluation Services, clarified that this agreement would provide for an evaluator from the Center to travel to the District to meet with students in need of additional evaluation procedures or experiencing severe learning and/or behavioral problems.
2. Title V, Part A-Innovative Programs 2005-2006 Local Educational Agency
(Local Educational Agency) Application
17. Title V, Part A-Innovative Programs 2005-2006 Local Educational Agency (LEA) Application, O.A.S.I.S. (Over Age Student Intensive Studies)
Mrs. Hightower questioned whether the grants in Item 2 and Item 17 were “competing” grants. The Superintendent indicated that staff would provide a response to that question by the end of the day.
20. Agreement between the Escambia County School Readiness Coalition d/b/a Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County and the School Board of Escambia County Florida (Wee Read)
At the request of Mr. Bergosh, Ms. Marcia Nowlin, Director of Title I & Related Activities, indicated that she would provide the Board with information regarding the learning gains achieved by students who had participated in the Wee Read Program.
B. Finance
No discussion was held.
C. Human Resource Services
No discussion was held.
D. Purchasing
6. Novell Network and GroupWise Software Licenses
Mrs. Hightower questioned why the backup documentation for this item indicated both “annual fee renewal” and “new contract.” Mr. Don Manderson, Director of Instructional Technology, explained that there was a new approach to the licensing agreement (contract) that would actually benefit the District as far as the amount was concerned. He noted that while the type of agreement (contract) was different, the product purchases were the same.
7. Maps/Globes/Atlases for Various Schools
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Hightower, Mr. Paul Fetsko, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, confirmed that the map/globe/atlas packages being purchased were all included on the State approved list for supplemental social studies materials.
E. Operations
No discussion was held.
F. Student Transfers
No discussion was held.
G. Internal Auditing
No discussion was held regarding any specific agenda items; however, Mr. Scott Woody, Director of Internal Auditing did respond to general questions posed by Mrs. Hightower regarding various aspects of the internal auditing process.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
No items submitted.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Items from the Board
2. School Calendar Survey Process
It was decided that each Board Member should submit a list of suggested school calendar survey questions to Mrs. Linda West, Coordinator of Board Affairs, by July 21, 2005. She, in turn, would submit those questions to the Superintendent’s Office. The Superintendent’s staff would then compile each Board Member’s questions into one complete survey and present to the Board at the July 26, 2005 Special Meeting for further review.
B. Items from the Superintendent
No discussion was held.
C. Items from the General Counsel
No items submitted.
VIII. COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
1. Status of Educational Support Personnel (ESP) Job Study
[NOTE: The Educational Support Personnel (ESP) Job Study was approved at the April 20, 2004 Regular Meeting (Item V.D.4).] Mr. Jerry Caine, Educational Support Personnel Manager, indicated that he had no additional information to share with the Board from what was previously presented at the April and May Regular Workshops.
2. Charter School Quarterly Report
Ms. Vickie Mathis, Director of Alternative Education indicated that she had provided the Board with a quarterly report on charter schools.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the Regular Workshop adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
Attest: Approved:
________________________________ ________________________________
Superintendent Chairman