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.

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul

I. CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Ms. Finkelstein called the Special Meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.  On motion made by Dr. DeWitt, seconded by Mrs. Stidham, adoption of the agenda 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. Dennis began with a brief review of the “strategic planning process” that had occurred at previous meetings and an explanation of the difference between an ‘objective’ and a ‘strategy’.  He then led the Committee, the Board and the Superintendent, in an interactive activity to reduce the number of ‘objectives’ that were developed at a previous meeting by determining whether they were in fact ‘objectives’ or whether they were ‘strategies’.  At the conclusion of this segment of the Special Meeting, it was determined that the Committee Chairs would report the outcome of their future meetings to the Superintendent, who in turn, would report that information to the Board during an appropriate Special Meeting.

The Special Meeting recessed at 10:50 a.m. and reconvened at 11:00 a.m., with all Board Members, the Superintendent, and Mr. Negron present.

III. BUDGET PROCESS

Budget Reduction Proposals

(NOTE: This issue was previously addressed at the May 12, 2003 Special Meeting.)  The Superintendent stated that he was hopeful that some additional information regarding the “budget situation” would be received by the end of the week. He requested that a Special Meeting be scheduled for the following week, for the purpose of presenting his “recommendations” for budget reductions and for the reappointment of professional/administrative personnel (contracts).  The Board collectively agreed to schedule a Special Meeting for Tuesday, May, 27, 2003, at 1:00 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building. Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, the Superintendent stated that if the Board so desired, the Personnel Planning Document that was listed on the May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda could in fact, be tabled until the May 27, 2003 Special Meeting. 

The following general budgetary issues were discussed:

Proposal for Utilities Cost Savings

(NOTE: This issue was addressed at the May 12, 2003 Special Meeting.)  Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting and Mr. Ron Peacock, Director of Facilities Planning, briefly reviewed information provided to the Board, regarding an “Energy Savings Proposal.” Ms. Shaud noted that the proposal was relative to a procedure to blackout all exterior and interior campus lighting based on the following schedule: elementary schools at 8:00 p.m.; middle schools and special centers at 10:00 p.m.; and high schools at 12:00 a.m. (midnight).  Mr. Peacock indicated that additional information regarding this proposal would be provided at the June 9, 2003 Special Meeting.

Health Insurance

Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, stated that Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. (GBS) had been provided all the information they had requested in order to perform an analysis of the District’s health insurance.  He stated that after performing the analysis, GBS would develop different scenarios (i.e., increase in Board contribution, increase in employee/retiree premiums, plan design changes) for dealing with next year’s financial projections.  He noted that the scenarios would be submitted to the Insurance Committee for their review, prior to presentation to the Board.  Dr. DeWitt requested that the Board be notified of the date of the Insurance Committee meeting, when scheduled.   

III. ADJOURNMENT

Prior to adjournment, Ms. Finkelstein advised that the June 23, 2003 Special Meeting, had been be rescheduled to June 24, 2003, at 9:00 a.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building.  There being no further business, the Special Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

Attest:                                                    Approved:

_________________________        ______________________________

Superintendent                                     Chair