THE SCHOOL BOARD OF

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA

MINUTES, OCTOBER 20, 2003

   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 (Administration) Building, 215 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

            Chair:                           Ms. Linda Finkelstein                             Vice Chair:       Mrs. Cary Stidham       

            Board Members:           Mrs. Carissa Bergosh

                                                Mr. Ronnie L. Clark

                                                Dr. John DeWitt

            School Board Attorney:              Mr. Francisco M. Negron, Jr.

Superintendent of Schools:         Mr. Jim Paul

I.            CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Finkelstein called the Regular Workshop to order at 9:00 a.m. 

A.     Open Discussion

      Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, the Superintendent stated that he had not reported the former principal (Elizabeth Miller) and former assistant principal (Nelda Segers) of Bellview Middle School to Florida’s Education Practices Commission, as his attorney had advised that it was not necessary.  Mr. Negron understood that the Superintendent was acting on the advice of his counsel, however, he was concerned that there may be repercussions against the Superintendent for failing to report those individuals.  The Superintendent stated that he would review the issue again with his attorney and advise the Board of his decision the following day. 

a)      Dates for Meetings

      -Town Hall Meetings


(NOTE: At the September 19, 2003 Regular Workshop, Board Members discussed the possibility of holding town hall meetings in each district throughout the county, beginning no later than November.)  The Board collectively agreed to schedule following town hall meetings: 

      District I - November 6, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)

      District II - January 15, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)

            -Special Meeting with Legislative Consultants and Local Legislative Delegation

      Ms. Finkelstein advised that a Special Meeting with Mixon and Associates (Legislative Consultants) and the local Legislative Delegation would be held on October 30, 2003 at 9:00 a.m., at Pine Forest High School.

Update on Firing Range

      (NOTE: This issue was last addressed at the July 22, 2003 Regular Meeting.)  Upon inquiry by Dr. DeWitt, Mr. Steve Sharp, Coordinator of Health, Safety and Environmental Operations, stated that the District should be “out of the firing range business” as of November 1, 2003.  

II.            COMMENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT

The Superintendent listed the additions, deletions, amendments and corrections to the agenda.

III.            COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

1.       Update on Superintendent’s Council for Teacher Recruitment and Retention

      Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, reviewed a progress report that was provided to the Board, regarding the District’s recruitment and retention plan. He stated that quarterly progress reports on this issue would be provided in the future.   

  1. Report from District Equal Employment Opportunities Coordinator

No report was given.   

 

            Update on Safety Inspection Ranking Process and Corrective Action Plan 

Mr. Steve Sharp, Coordinator of Health, Safety and Environmental Operations, gave a brief presentation entitled “Hazard Ranking and Action Plan for Safety Inspection Issues.”  He stated that quarterly updates on this issue would be provided in the future.  

            Conservation & Environmental Science Education Center and Education Curriculum Consortium at     The Zoo – Cary Stidham

Mr. Doug Kemper, Jr., Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Zoological Society, advised the Board of plans to create the Conservation & Environmental Science Education Center and Education Curriculum Consortium at The Zoo, for the purpose of expanding both science and liberal arts learning opportunities for students in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.  He stated that he would work with the Superintendent and staff regarding the development of this effort. 

Utilization of J. Lee Pickens Property – Ronnie Clark (Item VII.A.4 on Regular Meeting agenda)

      The Board recognized Lee McKinnon and Rachel Sabree, who expressed their continued desire to obtain the J. Lee Pickens building for use as a “Multi-Educational Cultural Center for the Arts”. 

IV.            PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES 

            This section was addressed later in the meeting. 

V.            CONSENT AGENDA

A.     Curriculum and Instruction

1.       Governor’s Mentoring Initiative: School-based Initiative, Wedgewood Middle School Students Taking Responsibility In Developing Excellence (STRIDE) League

Ms. Finkelstein referred to the following statement included in the backup documentation for this item: “A STRIDE League Advisory Committee will be established which will include black males from the community including the Major General who has developed this program.”  Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Mrs. Sheree’ Cagle, Director of Comprehensive Planning, stated that she would provide the Board with the name of the individual who was considered the “Major General”. 

3.       Middle School Technology Education Grant, Bellview Middle School             

4.       Middle School Technology Education Grant (upgrade) Ferry Pass Middle School

5.       Middle School Technology Education Grant (upgrade) Ernest Ward Middle School

Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Mr. Tommy Taylor stated that as required by the grant application, the District would provide the matching funds for Ernest Ward Middle School ($20,000) and Ferry Pass Middle School ($20,000), from its locally funded capitalized and non-capitalized equipment allocations.  Also, $75,000 had been budgeted from state public educational capital outlay funds to renovate Room 705 at Bellview Middle School to accommodate the installation of a new Technology Education lab.

            7.   2003-2004 School Advisory Council Membership

      Ms. Finkelstein noted that there were several schools listed in the backup documentation as being “non-compliant” with their 2003-2004 School Advisory Council Membership.  Mrs. Sheree’ Cagle, Director of Comprehensive Planning, stated that she would notify the Board if the violations for those particular schools were not corrected by November 1, 2003.  She noted that the Board Member representing any school that was “non-compliant” after November 1, 2003, would need to appoint school advisory council members to ensure compliance. 

10.   Amendment to the Charter Agreement between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida and Escambia Charter School, Inc. 

      Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Charles Thomas, Director of Alternative Education, stated that the only amendment to the Escambia Charter agreement (previously approved by the Board at the June 24, 2003 Special Meeting) related to the area of transportation.  He explained that Escambia Charter School was unwilling to approve the previous agreement, as they believed that it was “monopolistic” to require that all of their bus repairs be conducted by the District at an average labor rate of $50 per hour.  He advised that this amended agreement would allow all bus repairs to be conducted by a garage of Escambia Charter School’s choosing. 

11.   The School District of Escambia County, Florida Elementary and Secondary Assessment and Remediation Plan

      Ms. Finkelstein referred to the following statement included in the Elementary Assessment and Remediation Plan: “If the student’s reading deficiency is not remediated by the end of grade 3, as demonstrated by scoring at Level 2 or higher on the FCAT in reading for grade 3, the student must be retained unless the School Board exempts the student from this mandatory retention for good cause.”  Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Dr. Deborah Malishan, Director of Elementary Education, stated that she would correct that particular statement to reflect that the Superintendent (not the School Board) was the authorizing party in approving all ‘good cause’ exemptions from mandatory retention in third grade as cited in state law.

B.     Finance

8.       Budget Amendments

b)   Resolution 2: General Operating Fund

      (NOTE: The following statement refers to Section II, “Amendments between Appropriations & Reserves”, Item (a), “Florida School Recognition”.)  Board Members requested information regarding how schools chose to spend their School Recognition funds.

(NOTE: The following statement refers to Section II, “Amendments between Appropriations & Reserves”, Item (b) Educational Technology, which included the following explanation: “To provide funds for personnel costs, travel, professional services, supplies, equipment, computer hardware and software.  This amendment appropriates 2003 ($37,019.00) and 2001 ($55,027.98) Education Technology funds previously budgeted in reserves.”)  Board Members requested detailed information on how the Education Technology funds would be spent.  

C.     Human Resource Services

1.       Instructional/Professional

f.        Special Requests

8.       Request approval for attached updated Personnel Planning Document for the 2003-2004 school year. 

Mrs. Stidham noted that at a previous meeting the Board had approved several positions to remain vacant 2003-2004 as a cost saving measure.  She stated that she would make a motion at the October Regular meeting, to change the verbiage on the Personnel Planning Document to reflect that those positions would “be frozen” rather than “remain vacant” for 2003-2004. 

      3.   Risk Management

            b.   Approval of Brandon and Meagan Floyd as Trailer Residents at Molino Park Elementary

      Ms. Finkelstein referred to Section 3 of the lease agreement, which included the following sentence: “If lessee is away from the premises for an extended period of time (weekend, emergencies or vacation), he shall notify the Sheriff’s Department, School Principal and the School Board.”  She requested that the sentence be changed to reflect “School District” rather than “School Board”. 

D.     Purchasing

            5.   Annual Agreement Renewal: Professional Services – R & J Business Associates, Inc.

(NOTE: This item was a request to approve the third year of a three-year annual agreement for consulting services to evaluate, assess the effectiveness and recommend changes to the magnet school program at Brentwood Elementary and Middle Schools.)  Upon inquiry by Dr. DeWitt, Ms. Regina Lipnick, Magnet Coordinator for Brentwood Elementary, confirmed that during the second year of the three-year annual agreement, the contractor had fulfilled all timelines specified in the agreement.   

7.   Apple Computers for Bratt Elementary School

8.       Dell Computers for Pensacola High School

9.       Dell Computers for Various Schools

Ms. Finkelstein referred to a phrase listed in the backup documentation for each of these three items (Item 7, Item 8 and Item 9) which read “this purchase is not conducive to leasing.”  Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing, explained that that particular phrase was included “just so that the Board would know that staff was continuing to try and identify those places where leasing was a viable alternative as opposed to an out-right purchase.”  Board Members requested an analysis regarding the cost of “leasing” versus “out-right purchasing” for each of these three items.     

E.      Operations

1.       Facilities Planning

      A.  Final Payments

            4.   Central Warehouse Freezer Repairs

            5.   Central Warehouse Freezer Repairs

Ms. Finkelstein noted that there was no “final payment approval sheet” included in the backup documentation for either of these items (Item 4 and Item 5).  Mr. Ron Peacock, Director of Facilities Planning, stated that these two items were recommendations for final payment to an architect and therefore, no “final payment approval sheet” was submitted.  He clarified that a “final payment approval sheet” would only be submitted with a contractor’s final payment request.

B.     Miscellaneous

                        4.   Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Property L.A. Kirksey Warehouse

Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Shawn Dennis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, advised that the City of Pensacola had expressed a desire to purchase this property at the current appraised value of $52,000.  Mrs. Stidham noted that “declaring the property surplus” and “authorizing the sale of the property” were two separate issues and was concerned that both issues had been combined into this one resolution.  She preferred that this resolution be revised to reflect only the issue of “declaring the property surplus” and noted that once approved, the District could then entertain offers (including the offer from the City of Pensacola) for the purchase of the property.  She noted that the did not want to commit to selling the property the City of Pensacola, when there may be other groups/agencies that would like the opportunity to present an offer on the property once it was declared surplus. 

                        5.   Frontline GeoServices Permit to Access Century/Carver Property

Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Shawn Dennis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, stated that he believed that the District did own the mineral rights to the property outlined in the agreement but would check to be sure.   

F.      Student Transfers

      No discussion was held. 

G.     Internal Auditing

            No items submitted.

VI.            UNFINISHED BUSINESS

VII.            NEW BUSINESS

A.     Items from the Board   

1.       Conservation & Environmental Science Education Center and Education Curriculum Consortium at The Zoo – Cary Stidham (workshop item only)

            This item was addressed earlier in the meeting. 

1.       2004 Legislative Platform for Escambia County School District – Linda Finkelstein

      Board Members indicated that the 2004 Legislative Platform would need to be officially approved at the Regular Meeting.   

2.       Budget Policy – Linda Finkelstein

                        This item was discussed later in the meeting. 

3.       Proposal to Lease Old Carver Middle School to New Life Baptist Church – Linda Finkelstein

      No discussion was held on this item, due to the absence of a representative from New Life Baptist Church.

4.       Utilization of J. Lee Pickens Property – Ronnie Clark

            This item was addressed earlier in the meeting.

5.       Principal for a Day Event – John DeWitt

B.     Items from the Superintendent

            No discussion was held. 

C.     Items from the General Counsel

            No items submitted. 

      The Board recessed at 12:40 p.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. with Ms. Finkelstein, Mrs. Stidham, Mrs. Bergosh, Dr. DeWitt, Mr. Negron and the Superintendent present.  (NOTE: Mr. Clark entered the Regular Workshop at 1:15 p.m.)   

PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES

A.     Permission to Adopt

1.       Notice of Intent to Adopt Revisions to School District Rules, Chapter 4

2.       Notice of Intent to Adopt Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-(4)A.2 – Student Dress Code

No discussion was held.

3.       Notice of Intent to Adopt Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-1.07(2) – Audit Committee

No discussion was held. 

4.       Notice of Intent to Adopt Emergency Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-2.04(3) – Position Advertising

B.                 Permission to Advertise

1.       Notice of Intent to Advertise Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-7.09 – Student Progression Plan

2.       Notice of Intent to Advertise Revisions to School District Rules, Chapter 6

3.       Notice of Intent to Advertise Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-2.04(9), Hiring Freeze

                  No discussion was held.

5.       Notice of Intent to Advertise Amendment to School District Rule

6.       Notice of Intent to Advertise Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-2.04(3) – Position Advertising

No discussion was held. 

VIII.            ADJOURNMENT

            There being no further business, the Regular Workshop adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

Attest:                                                              Approved:

________________________________                    ________________________________

            Superintendent                                                  Chair