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 (was not present)

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 Regular Workshop to order at 9:00 a.m.

Although not an agenda item, the Board allowed the following presentation:

Update on Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) Scores

Mrs. Sheree’ Cagle, Director of Comprehensive Planning, Dr. Wes Davis, Director of Evaluation Services, and Mrs. Linda Harageones, Program Evaluator, gave a brief overview of the 2003 FCAT scores, which were received on May 15, 2003.  Mrs. Cagle advised that at that point in time, only summary data (not individual student scores) had been received and noted that individual student scores would be released at the end of the month.

2003-2004 Budget Information

At the request of the Superintendent, Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, gave a brief update on the current “budget situation.”        

A. Open Discussion

ADD 1. Request for Information (RFI) – Technology Assessment Consultant

Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing and Business Affairs, stated that the RFI for a Technology Assessment Consultant would be issued at the end of the day and “left open” for approximately four (4) weeks. 

II. COMMENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT

The Superintendent listed the additions, deletions, amendments, and corrections to the May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda.  Ms. Finkelstein was concerned with the number of agenda items that had been added, deleted, amended, or corrected.  She requested that the Superintendent insist that his staff “try to have the most completed perfect book (agenda backup documentation packet) by the time it is presented to the Board.”      

Although not an agenda item, the Board allowed the following presentation:

Better Hearing and Speech Month

Ms. Barbara Bruner, Speech Language Impaired Subject Area Specialist, presented a gift to each Board Member and the Superintendent, in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month.  (NOTE: A resolution proclaiming the month of May, 2003 as Better Hearing and Speech Month was adopted by the Board at the April 3, 2003 Special Recognition Meeting.)  

III. COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

1. Report from Mike Adkins, Audit Committee

(NOTE: Due to the absence of Mr. Adkins, Ms. Betsy Bowers, Audit Committee member, gave the following report.)   Ms. Bowers stated that the Audit Committee had reviewed and approved numerous school internal fund audits.  She noted that the only “finding” was the “segregation of duties” issue, which was common due to the small staff size in schools.  The Committee had also reviewed and approved the following internal audit reports listed on the May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda:

1) “George Stone Vocational Center Student Fee System Review” (Item V.G.3.a)

2) “Holm Elementary School Pre-K Collections Review” (Item V.G.3.b)

3) “Accounts Receivable Review” (Item V.G.3.c)

4) “FTE Review” (Item V.G.3.d)

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

3. Report from District Equal Employment Opportunities Coordinator

Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, and Mrs. Mary Helen Fryman, Director of Instructional, Professional/Technical and Administrative Personnel, gave a brief update on various teacher recruitment and retention activities (i.e., Home Grown Teacher Program Troops to Teachers Program, etc.). Mrs. Fryman also provided information to the Board regarding minority employee demographics.

4. Update on Alternative Certification Program – Linda Longacre

Mrs. Linda Longacre, Director of Staff Development and Dr. Robin Largue, Associate Professor, College of Professional Studies at the University of West Florida, gave a brief update on the Alternative Certification Program, by reviewing a booklet provided to the Board, entitled “A Partnership in Action.”

5. Action Plan for Gender Equity in Athletics – Manny Harageones

Mr. Manny Harageones, Subject Area Specialist  - Physical Education, Health, Wellness, Driver Education and Athletics, and Ms. Roxanne Martin, Teacher on Special Assignment – Physical Education, Health, Wellness, Driver Education and Athletics, reviewed information provided to the Board regarding an “Action Plan for Gender Equity in Athletics.”  Mr. Harageones noted that the “action plan” outlined the District’s efforts to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure initial and continued compliance regarding gender equity in athletics. 

Mrs. Stidham and Mr. Clark had concerns with the disparities among District schools with regard to the quality of athletic facilities (specifically Pensacola High and Brentwood Middle).  Mr. Harageones advised that there were plans “laid out” to address such issues in the future.

6. Northwest Passage Youth Leadership Summit 2003: A Governor’s Summer Grant Program for Gifted and High Achieving Students by the University of West Florida Whitman Center for Public Service in Partnership with the Escambia County School District Gifted Services and the PATS Center – Arlene Costello

Mrs. Arlene Costello, teacher at the PATS Center and Ms. Tamela Ramos, Assistant Director of the University of West Florida Whitman Center for Public Service, reviewed information provided to the Board regarding the Northwest Passage Youth Leadership Summit 2003.  They explained that the Summit was a residential leadership program designed for gifted and high achieving students grades eighth (8^th) through twelfth (12^th) throughout the State of Florida.  In this program, students would discover the leader within themselves and develop essential leadership skills to help promote future success.

ADD  7. Update from Elementary Grading Committee – Deborah Malishan

(NOTE: The following update refers to the issue of an “elementary grading policy” which was previously discussed at the April 11, 2003 Regular Workshop.)  Dr. Deborah Malishan, Director of Elementary Education, and Ms. Marcia Nowlin, principal of McArthur Elementary School, gave a brief update on the development of a district-wide “elementary grading policy.”  Dr. Malishan stated that the Grading Committee hoped to present the Board with a formal recommendation at the June Regular Meeting.

IV. PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES

Notice of Intent to Adopt Amendment to School District Rule 6Gx17-5.05 – Non-School Use of Educational Facilities (Item II.A.1 on May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda)

Ms. Finkelstein referred to the following section of this proposed rule: (4) Schedule of Fees (c) “In addition to the above schedule of minimum fees, the user shall pay directly to the school any additional costs incurred by the school in providing the requested facility, including, but not limited to, costs incurred in connection with providing a custodian.  She stated that she would consult with Mr. Negron regarding the appropriate language that would revise that section to indicate “any appropriate staff, rather than naming a custodian specifically.” 

Notice of Intent to Advertise Attendance Zone for Molino Park Elementary (Item II.B.1 on May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda)

At the request of Ms. Finkelstein and Mrs. Stidham, Mrs. Leslie Travis, Demographic Mapping Technician, stated that she would provide the Board with maps outlining the proposed attendance zone for Molino Park Elementary. 

V. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Curriculum and Instruction

1. Contractual Agreement between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida Chris A. Bailey, LMHC

Upon inquiry by Mrs. Bergosh , Dr. Garth Grove, Coordinator of Guidance Services, explained that this agreement would provide for a broad range of counseling and consultative services to individual high school students (not families).

2. Contractual Agreement between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida and Lakeview Center, Inc.  (The Center for Personal & Family Development)

Upon inquiry by Mr. Clark, Dr. Garth Grove, Coordinator of Guidance Services, explained that this agreement would provide for a broad range of counseling services to students and families regarding mental health and grief issues.

B. Finance

4. Financial Status Report

Mrs. Stidham noted that there were several project funds and grant funds that would not carry forward, with a final date to encumber of June 30, 2003.  Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, stated that measures continued to be taken, to improve communication with all grant directors, as to the available amounts of funds for each grant/project and the timelines for spending those funds.

C. Human Resource Services

1. Instructional/Professional

f. Special Requests

4.  Request approval to adopt the attached amended Escambia County School District Calendar to include employee holidays and work schedules.

(NOTE: Item was tabled from April 17, 2003 Regular Meeting.)  In response to concerns expressed by Mrs. Stidham, Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, stated that it was a “past practice” to designate six (6) paid holidays during the Winter Break, for eleven (11) and twelve (12) month Administrative, Professional and Instructional salary schedule employees.  (NOTE: The following statement refers to the loss of annual leave for ten (10) and eleven (11) month employees due to a recent “finding” by the Auditor General.)  Mrs. Stidham was concerned with the “fairness” of allowing this particular “past practice” to continue, due to the recent loss of annual leave for ten (10) and eleven (11) month employees.  Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Mr. Paul Fetsko, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, stated that a recommendation regarding dates of in-service training for instructional personnel during the 2003-2004 school year, would be presented at the May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting (as amended backup documentation).

The Board recognized Ellen Lawrence, Director of Escambia NEA UniServe, who expressed concerns regarding the proposed calendar and the recent loss of annual leave for ten (10) and eleven (11) month employees. 

D. Purchasing

3. Bid Award: Courier / Mailroom Services, RFP #032801

 (NOTE: This item was a request for the privatization of current in-house mailroom services and the continued privatization of courier services.)  Mrs. Bergosh noted that the backup information for this item indicated that courier services would be provided four (4) days a week.  She questioned whether it would be necessary to increase services to five (5) days a week at the beginning and the end of the school year, due to the increased circulation of mail during those times.  Mr. Ronnie Arnold, Coordinator of Information Services, stated that if necessary, additional days of service could be purchased at any time during the term of the contract (July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004).  

The Board recognized Ellen Lawrence, Director of Escambia NEA UniServe, who expressed the Union’s opposition to the privatization of the current in-house mailroom services.  

8. Liability Insurance Premium for the Metropolitan Area

Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Bill Bush, Director of Management Information Systems (MIS), explained that the District was required to purchase commercial liability and excess liability insurance coverage for the Metropolitan Area Network (previously approved by the Board), as per agreements with Gulf Power Company and Bell South Company. 

27. Savin Copiers for Pine Forest High School

(NOTE: The following statements refer to the issue of a “Standardized Copying System for the School District” which was previously addressed at the February 15, 2002 Regular Workshop.)  Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing and Business Affairs, stated that the District had ‘unofficially’ standardized on Sharp and Savin copiers.   

36. Change Notices to Charter School Purchase Order #s 238927, 239216, 239213, 238928

Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing and Business Affairs, explained that this item was a request to issue “change notices” to decrease the amounts of several purchase orders to various charter schools (as indicated in the backup documentation), due to the final recalculation of FTE revenues generated by each program.  Mr. Charles Thomas, Director of Alternative Education, stated that the charter schools (as indicated in the backup documentation) were notified immediately after the “February FTE count,” that their monthly payments for the remaining months of their contract would be adjusted to reflect final recalculation of FTE revenues.  

E. Operations

1. Facilities Planning

B. Miscellaneous

1. A.V. Clubbs Alternative Education Paving and Site Work Improvements

Mrs. Stidham stated that the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for Facilities was not supportive of this item and recommended that the District look at other alternatives.

2. Barrineau Park Conveyance

NOTE: This item was a request for Board approval of a Quit-Claim Deed and Resolution Pertaining to Surplus Property.  Approval of this item would covey Barrineau Park Elementary School to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.)  Mrs. Stidham requested that the actual “date of conveyance” be specified in the backup documentation for this item.

F. Student Transfers

No discussion was held.

G. Internal Auditing

No discussion was held.

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

No items were submitted.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

A. Items from the Board

No discussion was held.

B. Items from the Superintendent

No discussion was held.

C. Items from the General Counsel

No items were submitted.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the Regular Workshop adjourned at 11:58 a.m.

Attest:                                                        Approved:

_____________________________     ______________________________

Superintendent                                          Chair