The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 9:00 a.m., in Room 160, at the J.E. Hall Educational Services Center, 30 East Texar Drive, 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. (was not present)

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul

I. CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Finkelstein called the Special Meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

II. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

On motion by Mrs. Bergosh, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, adoption of the agenda was unanimous.

III. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

(NOTE: Mr. Ted Kirchharr, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Mr. Mark Pursell, Director of Maintenance, and Mrs. Sheree’ Cagle, Director of Comprehensive Planning, served as facilitators for this particular segment of the Special Meeting.) Mr. Kirchharr began with a brief review of the “strategic planning process” that occurred at the April 9, 2003 Special Meeting.  Mr. Pursell stated that based on the results of an activity from the April 9, 2003 Special Meeting, it was determined the Board and Superintendent still had “work to be done” with regard to their goals (selected at the March 24, 2003 Special Meeting). He explained that the activity had consisted of an evaluation of their goals based on specific criteria and because several of the goals did not meet that criterion, they required further “work.”  Mrs. Cagle then led the Board and the Superintendent through an activity to revise those particular goals and to then re-evaluate them based on specific criteria.  Following the activity, Mr. Kirchharr proposed that a meeting with the Strategic Planning Committee be scheduled in an effort to “blend” the efforts of the Committee, the Board and the Superintendent, with regard to the “strategic planning process.”  As proposed by Mr. Kirchharr, the Board and Superintendent collectively agreed to schedule a Special Meeting with the Strategic Planning Committee, on April 24, 2003, at 1:30 p.m., in Room 160, at the J.E. Hall Educational Services Center.  (Ms. Finkelstein noted that the Board would still hold a Special Meeting on April 21, 2003, however the agenda would reflect the deletion of the “strategic planning process” as that would instead occur at the April 24, 2003 Special Meeting.)

The Special Meeting recessed at 10:40 a.m. and reconvened at 10:55 a.m., with all Board Members and the Superintendent present.

IV. BUDGET PROCESS

Budget Information Survey

Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, stated that a “budget information survey” had been sent to various school districts with a request for information regarding their budget practices.  She stated that while several responses had been received, the information had not yet been compiled.  The Superintendent stated that any information that had been received thus far, would be provided to the Board at the April 21, 2003 Special Meeting.

Budget Schedule for 2003-2004

Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, provided the Board with a “budget schedule” that outlined dates established by law, regarding the advertisement and adoption of the tentative budget, and the adoption of the final budget.

After reviewing the information provided by Ms. Shaud, the Board collectively agreed to schedule the following meetings:

Special Meeting (Re: Presentation of Tentative Budget and Permission to Advertise)  July 24, 2003, at 5:30 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Special Meeting (Re: Public Hearing and Adoption of Tentative Budget and Millage)

July 31, 2003, at 5:30 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Special Meeting (Re: Public Hearing and Adoption of Final Budget and Millage)

September 9, 2003, at 5:30 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Future Meetings

The Board collectively agreed to schedule the following meetings:

Special Meeting (Re: Budget Process)

April 29, 2003 at 9:00 a.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Special Meeting (Re: Budget Process and Strategic Planning Process)

May 12, 2003 at 9:00 a.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Special Meeting (Re: Budget Process and Strategic Planning Process)

May 20, 2003 at 9:00 a.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Special Meeting (Re: Budget Process)

June 9, 2003 at 9:00 a.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

Special Meeting (Re: Budget Process)

June 23, 2003 at 9:00 a.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building

The Board collectively agreed to change the dates of the following meetings:

July Regular Workshop, from July 11, 2003 to July 21, 2003

July Regular Meeting, from July 15, 2003 to July 22, 2003

September Regular Meeting, from September 16, 2003 to September 23, 2003

Concept of Site-Based Budgeting

(NOTE: This issue was previously addressed at the April 11, 2003 Special Meeting.)  Mrs. Linda English, Assistant to the Superintendent, stated that she had twice contacted the Office of the Superintendent in Okaloosa County, to arrange for a presentation on the concept of ‘site-based’ budgeting, however, she had yet to receive a response.  Ms. Finkelstein noted that it might be necessary to arrange for a presentation from another source, since there had been no response from Okaloosa County.

Health Insurance

At the request of the Board, the Superintendent stated that he would provide information at the April 21, 2003 Special Meeting, regarding different scenarios for dealing with health insurance benefits costs for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

Implementing a four (4) day work week during the summer

At the request of Dr. DeWitt, the Superintendent stated that he would provide information at the April 29, 2003 Special Meeting, regarding any possible cost savings associated with the implementation of a four (4) day work week during the summer.

Closing all buildings during winter break

At the request of Mrs. Stidham, the Superintendent stated that he would provide information at the April 29, 2003 Special Meeting, regarding any possible cost savings associated with the closing of all buildings (including both administrative buildings) during winter break.

V. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the Special Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

Attest:                                                           Approved:

__________________________               ____________________________

Superintendent                                             Chair