THE SCHOOL BOARD OF
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA
MINUTES, NOVEMBER 14, 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 (entered at 11:00 a.m.)
Vice Chair: Mrs. Cary Stidham
Board Members: Mrs. Carissa Bergosh
Mr. Ronnie L. Clark
Dr. John DeWitt (entered at 11:00 a.m.)
School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco M. Negron, Jr. (entered at 11:00 a.m.)
Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul (entered at 11:00 a.m.)
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Stidham called the Regular Workshop to order at 9:00 a.m. Motion by Mr. Clark, seconded by Mrs. Bergosh, to recess the Regular Workshop until 11:00 a.m., was approved 3 to 0, with Ms. Finkelstein and Dr. DeWitt absent for vote. (NOTE: The Workshop was recessed so that Board Members, the Superintendent and staff could attend a special ceremony at Holm Elementary School for dedication of their media center in memory of Dr. Jennifer Pierce.)
The Regular Workshop reconvened at 11:00 a.m., with all Board Members, Mr. Negron and Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Services (representing Mr. Jim Paul) present. The Superintendent entered at 11:10 a.m.
A. Open Discussion
a) Dates for Meetings
Quarterly Recognition Meeting – December 11, 2003 – 5:30 p.m. – Room 160, Hall Center
Special Meeting – Strategic Plan – December 17, 2003 – 9:00 a.m. – Room 160, Hall Center
b) Update on Diversity Task Force – Linda Finkelstein
Ms. Finkelstein advised that the Diversity Task Force would meet on December 8, 2003, at 5:30 p.m., in Room 160, at the J.E. Hall Educational Services Center.
c) Update from Staff Regarding Proposal to Lease Old Carver Middle School to New Life Baptist Church – Linda Finkelstein
Mr. Shawn Dennis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, stated that once an appraisal of the Old Carver Middle School was completed, the District could begin to entertain different types of proposals, including the lease proposal from New Life Baptist Church.
(NOTE: The Superintendent entered the Regular Workshop at 11:10 a.m.)
Dr. DeWitt stated that the School Advisory Council (SAC) from several schools had decided to hold an election to let parents determine whether students would wear mandatory school uniforms. He noted that they had also suggested that rather than each school holding elections on different dates, that one date be set for all elections. The Superintendent stated that he would discuss the issue at his next meeting with the SAC chairs.
d) Miscellaneous Pending Issues
No discussion was held.
ADD e) Report on Data Mining – Malcolm Thomas
Mr. Malcolm Thomas, Director of Evaluation Services, stated that a request for the purchase of ‘data mining’ software would be presented to the Board on the December Regular Meeting agenda. He questioned whether the Board would prefer to schedule a software presentation by the consultant or to individually access the software demonstration web-site that the consultant had made available. Board Members indicated that they would prefer to access the demonstration web-site individually. Mr. Thomas stated that he would provide each Board Member with information needed to access the web-site by that afternoon.
ADD f) Report on Budget Process – Laura Shaud
Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, gave a brief presentation entitled “Budget Review and Plan.”
School Recognition Funds
Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, provided information regarding School Recognition Funds, as requested by the Board at the October 20, 2003 Regular Workshop.
II. COMMENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT
No comments were made.
III. COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
1. Update on Superintendent’s Council for Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, reminded the Board that as mentioned at the October 20, 2003 Regular Workshop, quarterly progress reports on the District’s recruitment and retention plan would be provided beginning in December.
No report was given.
Mrs. Sheree’ Cagle, Director of Comprehensive Planning, gave a brief update of the recent and upcoming activities of the School Choice Office. She also provided the Board with a packet of information, which included a “timeline” of upcoming activities, a listing of expenditures (from July 1, 2003 to present), and a diagram of the proposed physical layout of the office.
NOTE: In February 2003, the District and Union adopted a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the implementation of the requirements of the reauthorization of the ESEA [No Child Left Behind (NCLB)] as it relates to paraprofessionals (i.e., teacher aides, teacher assistants). A joint District/Union NCLB ESP Workgroup was formed and charged with developing a plan to achieve compliance with the legislation and to oversee its implementation. In order to achieve ESEA compliance all of the District’s paraprofessionals must, by January 8, 2006, have:
· an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree, or
· completed two (2) years of study at an (approved) institution of higher education, (i.e., 48 semester hours of undergraduate level course work) or
· completed a formal, locally approved academic assessment showing their knowledge of and
· demonstrated their ability to assist in instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics or readiness for those areas.
Mr. Wayne Odom, Director of Title I, stated that adoption of this Memorandum (which would be incorporated into the final plan) would allow the District to begin administration of the assessment, while the final planning and the bargaining process related to this issue continued. Mrs. Stidham suggested that any discussion on this item be deferred to an Executive Session, as the Board had “never discussed this Memorandum in that type of setting.”
The Board recognized the following speakers, who expressed their thoughts regarding this item: Ellen Lawrence, Cathy Fell and Bob Husbands.
The Superintendent listed the additions, deletions, amendments and corrections to the agenda.
Due to time constraints, the following item was moved forward on the agenda:
(Item V.D.5 on November 18, 2003 Regular Meeting Agenda)
Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing and Business Services, gave a brief review of this item. (see backup documentation for details).
Bill Slayton, principal of Woodham High School, and Richard Howard, Representative of Coca-Cola, responded to several comments and questions posed by Board Members.
(NOTE: Mr. Negron left at 1:00 p.m.)
IV. PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES
No discussion was held.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Curriculum and Instruction
1. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT)
Dr. DeWitt questioned why this grant was limited to just ten (10) schools. Mr. Tom Ingram, Instructional Technology Specialist, explained that it was determined that it would be best to use the grant funds at the District’s lowest performing schools, as they had the highest poverty (percentage of students on free and reduced lunch) and the highest academic need. Mrs. Stidham noted that the budget for this grant included a $30,000 expenditure for a “Professional and Technical Services – Consultant” to develop a “Technological Proficiency and Literacy Measurement System.” Mr. Ingram explained that “that money was included so that the District could hire a consultant to write some sort of software to track student performance in technology standards, as NCLB requires that by the 8th grade all students be technology literate.”
B. Finance
8. Budget Amendments:
a) Resolution 3: General Operating Fund
Referring to “page 6 of 7”, Mrs. Stidham noted that there was “a lot of money being moved around” in order to implement the centralized custodial program. She requested an update on the status of the program and Mr. Shawn Dennis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, advised that a formal presentation regarding the status of the custodial services department reorganization would be given at the December Regular Workshop.
10. Budget Resolution
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mrs. Barbara Linker, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Services, stated that this resolution was “simply a formality” that was required to authorize the use of $600,000 of Technology funds that were needed to balance the 2003-2004 budget when it was adopted earlier this year.
C. Human Resource Services
1. Instructional/Professional
f. Special Requests
10. Request approval to establish the attached job description of Technical Systems
Administrator on the Miscellaneous Salary Schedule and to be paid from Title I Funds.
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Wayne Odom, Director of Title I, explained that this position was needed to address the growing need for technical expertise relating to administration functions in the Title I office. Dr. DeWitt suggested that this job description be revised to reflect that this position would report to the Director of Information Technology rather than the Teacher on Special Assignment for Title I Instructional Technology.
11. Request approval to establish a position for and approve the attached job description of Food Services Compliance Specialist on the Professional Salary Schedule
Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, believed that Board Members would probably need to discuss this particular item with Mr. Negron, as this request dealt with a Workers Compensation issue.
(NOTE: Mr. Negron returned at 1:50 p.m.)
12. For Board Information: Attached is a draft of the Escambia County School District Employee Code of Ethics
(NOTE: The issue of a district-wide ethics policy was previously addressed at the September 19, 2003 Regular Workshop.) Ms. Finkelstein referred to “page 3” which included the following verbiage under “Candor Regarding Working Relationships”: School District employees shall demonstrate a high degree of accountability by being candid and forthright in giving timely, complete and accurate information to help their superiors and co-workers, to make informed and intelligent decisions. She requested that the word “superiors” be changed to “supervisors”. Board Members believed that the “Code of Ethics” should be forwarded to the Audit Committee for their review, as they had originally recommended that it be developed.
The Board recognized Madonna Jackson-Williams, President of Escambia Education Association (EEA), who expressed her thoughts regarding this issue.
3. Risk Management
c. Lump Sum Settlement – Workers Compensation ($30,000)
d. Workers Compensation Medical Bill ($44,279)
e. Lump Sum Settlement – Workers Compensation ($18,750)
Ms. Finkelstein believed that Item (c), Item (d), and Item (e) would need to be deferred to Executive Session for separate discussion.
D. Purchasing
5. Permission to Negotiate: District-Wide Beverage Contract
This item was discussed earlier in the meeting.
15. Stanford Achievement Tests for Grades 1-3
Testing materials for students in grades 1, 2 and 3. Students in grades 1 and 2 will be assessed in the areas of reading, mathematics and science.
Mrs. Stidham questioned why the EduTest software that was previously approved by the Board could not be used in place of the “Stanford Achievement Test” for testing students in grades 1-3. Mr. Paul Fetsko, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and Mr. Malcolm Thomas, Director of Evaluation Services, noted several reasons why EduTest could not be used, including the fact that EduTest “does not go down to the first and second grade level.”
24. Unauthorized Purchase: Temporary Employment Services – Training Assistant
NOTE: *This item was a request for authorization to issue a Purchase Order and Agreement to pay for unauthorized and continuing expenses associated with the hiring of a Training Assistant for Title I. This Training Assistant had an earlier Agreement for the period of March 2003 to June 2003 (not to exceed $6,710.00). Employment continued but a new Purchase Order and Agreement were not requested. This Purchase Order and Agreement cover salary owed for work already performed as well as services to be provided through May 31, 2004.
Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing and Business Services, and Mr. Wayne Odom, Director of Title I, gave a brief explanation (*as outlined above) regarding the unauthorized purchase of “temporary employment services” for training to staff from private childcare centers who participate in the “WEE READ” grant.
25. Unauthorized Purchase: Temporary Employment Services – Speech and Reading Teachers
NOTE: *This item was a request for authorization to issue Purchase Orders and Agreements to pay for unauthorized and continuing expenses associated with the hiring of a speech teacher and a reading teacher for Bellview Junction Academy and House of God Academy. Funding for these teachers who have provided services since August 4, 2003 is from federal sources. These Purchase Orders and Agreements cover salary owed for work already performed as well as services to be provided through June 10, 2004.
Mr. Wayne Odom, Director of Title I, gave a brief explanation (*as outlined above) regarding the unauthorized purchase of “temporary employment services” for reading and speech instruction to students at Bellview Junction Academy and House of God Academy.
E. Operations
1. Facilities Planning
A. Final Payments
2. Ferry Pass Middle School Track & Sitework
6. Capital Improvement Building Repair Existing Roof
7. Bellview Middle School Electrical Service Replacement
8. Bellview Middle School Re-roofing
Ms. Finkelstein noted that there was no “final payment approval sheet” included in the backup documentation for Item 2, Item 6, Item 7 and Item 8. Mr. Ron Peacock, Director of Facilities Planning, indicated that he would provide the Board with that information prior to the December Regular Meeting.
F. Student Transfers
No discussion was held.
G. Internal Auditing
No items submitted.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
No items submitted.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Items from the Board
1. School Board Members Salaries for 2003-2004 as Recommended by Florida School Boards Association
Board Members indicated that they would not accept the “School Board Members Salaries for 2003-2004 as Recommended by Florida School Boards Association,” but rather would take action at the November Regular Meeting, to leave their salaries “frozen” at the 2002-2003 rate.
2. Establishment of Committee to Develop Recommendations for Solutions to Problems Related to
Childhood Obesity – John DeWitt
Dr. DeWitt provided the Board with additional information regarding this issue.
B. Items from the Superintendent
No discussion was held.
C. Items from the General Counsel
No items submitted.
VIII.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the Regular Workshop adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Attest: Approved:
________________________________ ________________________________
Superintendent Chair