The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 1:30 p.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.

Superintendent of Schools:  Mr. Jim Paul

I. CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Ms. Finkelstein called the Special Meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.  Dr. DeWitt requested that an item entitled “Request for Legal Opinion,” be added under “Items from the Board.”  On motion by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Dr. DeWitt, adoption of the agenda (as amended), was approved unanimously. 

II. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

(NOTE: Members of the Strategic Planning Committee were in attendance for this particular segment of the Special Meeting.  Mr. Ted Kirchharr, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Mr. Shawn Dennis, Director of Transportation, 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 had occurred at previous meetings.  He stated that the purpose of this meeting was to “blend” the work of the Strategic Planning Committee and the work of the Board and Superintendent, with regard to the “strategic planning process.”  Mrs. Cagle and Mr. Dennis then led the Committee, the Board and the Superintendent, in an interactive activity to review the goals previously developed by the Board and Superintendent, and to then place them under the appropriate strategic aims.  After discussion regarding the results of that activity, the Committee, the Board and the Superintendent, then participated in another activity to review the objectives previously developed by the Committee, and to then place them under the appropriate goals. 

The Special Meeting recessed at 3:00 p.m. and reconvened at 3:05 p.m., with all Board Members, the Superintendent and Mr. Negron present.  

III. PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES

a. Permission to Advertise

1. Notice of Intent to Advertise Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17 – 7.02 - Student Dress School District Rule 6Gx17 – 7.19 – Student Dress Code

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mrs. Bergosh, to approve for advertising, School District Rule 6Gx17 – 7.19 – Student Dress Code.  Upon discussion of this particular rule amendment, additional motions were made concerning the following sections:

(3) Secondary Student Dress Code (A)(5) Footwear: Footwear that is deemed hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of students or others, such as bedroom slippers, backless shoes, platforms, high heeled shoes, or cleats shall not be worn.  The principal may further designate the footwear that is permissible under the dress code policy.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, to revise (3) Secondary Student Dress Code (A)(5) to read: “Footwear that is deemed hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of students or others, such as bedroom slippers, backless shoes, platforms, high heeled shoes, flip flops or cleats shall not be worn.  The principal may further designate the footwear that is permissible under the dress code policy.”  Motion was seconded by Mrs. Stidham and approved unanimously.

(2) Elementary Student Dress Code (A)(8) Shorts: All students may wear hemmed walking shorts or Bermuda shorts that are no shorter than two inches above the knee.  Not allowed are: shorts such as spandex style “bicycle” shorts, cut-off pants, frayed shorts, and boxer-type shorts. 

Motion was made by Mrs. Stidham, to revise (2) Elementary Student Dress Code (A)(8) to read: “(8) Shorts: All students may wear hemmed walking shorts or Bermuda shorts that are no shorter than two inches above the knee.  Not allowed are: shorts such as spandex style “bicycle” shorts, cut-off pants, frayed shorts, and boxer-type shorts.”  Motion was seconded by Dr. DeWitt and approved unanimously.

(2) Elementary Student Dress Code (A) (7) (k) Tight fitting clothing made of spandex or spandex-like fabric;

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, to revise (2) Elementary Student Dress Code (A)(7)(k) to read: “Tight Fitting clothing made of spandex or spandex-like fabric, including bicycle shorts.”  Motion was seconded by Mr. Clark and approved unanimously.

(4) Uniforms (A)(1)(b) An official ballot will be sent home with each child for the parent or guardian to vote.  Approval will be 60% of ballots received.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, to revise (4) Uniforms (A)(1)(b) to read: An official ballot will be sent home with each child for the parent or guardian to vote.  Approval will be at least 60% of ballots received.”  Motion was seconded by Mrs. Stidham and approved unanimously.

(4) Uniforms (A)(1)(d) Elections shall be completed and parents notified of the results no later than April 30 of the school year prior to the school year in which mandatory uniform implementation will begin.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, to revise (4) Uniforms (A)(1)(d) to read: “Election shall be completed and parents notified of the results no later than April 30 of the school year prior to the school year in which mandatory uniform implementation will begin, except for the 2002-2003 school year.”  Mr. Clark seconded the motion for discussion purposes.  After discussion, Dr. DeWitt withdrew the motion and Mr. Clark withdrew the second.  Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, to revise (4) Uniforms (A)(1)(d) to read: “Election shall be completed and parents notified of the results no later than April 30 of the school year prior to the school year in which mandatory uniform implementation will begin, except that for the 2002-2003 school year, elections and notification shall be extended until May 30, 2003.”  Mr. Clark seconded the motion, which was approved 3 to 2, with Ms. Finkelstein and Mrs. Stidham voting “No.”

(4) Uniforms (A) At each school the principal shall confer with the school’s School Advisory Council (SAC) to determine whether or not to hold an election to adopt the District-Wide Standard.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mrs. Bergosh, to add the following item under (4) Uniforms (A)(1): (e) “Where school uniforms have been approved, the school may revisit the uniform issue/vote every four (4) years provided it complies with the provisions of this section.”   Mrs. Stidham offered a “friendly amendment” to revise (4) Uniforms (A) to read: “At each school the principal shall confer with the school’s School Advisory Council (SAC) to determine whether or not to hold an election to adopt the District-Wide Uniform Standard for a period of four (4) years.”  Dr. DeWitt and Mrs. Bergosh accepted the “friendly amendment.”  Motion was approved unanimously.  Motion was made by Mrs. Bergosh, seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to revise (4) Uniforms (A)(1)(e) to read: “Where school uniforms have been approved, the school may shall revisit the uniform issue/vote every four (4) year provided it complies with the provisions of this section.”  Motion was approved unanimously. 

The Board recognized Chris Were, who addressed his thoughts regarding the proposed rule amendment.  

Motion was made by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Mrs. Bergosh to approve for advertising, School District Rule 6Gx17 – 7.19 – Student Dress Code, as amended.

IV. ITEMS FROM THE BOARD

1. Scheduling of Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) Master Board Workshop

The Board collectively agreed to submit the following dates to the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA), for the scheduling of the FSBA Master Board Workshop: June 24, 2003, at 9:00 a.m.; June 25, 2003 at 9:00 a.m.; June 26, 2003 at 9:00 a.m.  Ms. Finkelstein noted that the location would be off-site, but had yet to be determined.

ADD 2. Request for Legal Opinion – John DeWitt

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to direct the attorney to request a legal opinion from the Ethics Commission, regarding the rights of the Superintendent’s Coalition representative, the Board’s Coalition representative and a “private provider”, to vote at School Readiness Coalition meetings.  (NOTE: The following statement to an issue discussed at the April 9, 2003 Special Meeting under Item V.1, “Pre-K and Title I Recommendations.”)  Dr. DeWitt explained that at their last meeting, the Coalition had ruled that he, as the Board’s representative and Mr. Wayne Odom, Director of Title I, as the Superintendent’s representative, were not allowed to vote on the Superintendent’s recommendation to the Coalition, regarding school readiness programs.  Motion was unanimously approved.

V. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the Special Meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Attest:                                              Approved:

________________________         ___________________________

Superintendent                                  Chair