THE SCHOOL BOARD OF
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA
MINUTES, JULY 21, 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 Vice Chair: Mrs. Cary Stidham
Board Members: Mrs. Carissa Bergosh
Mr. Ronnie L. Clark (was present via speakerphone)
Dr. John DeWitt
School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco M. Negron, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Finkelstein called the Regular Workshop to order at 9:00 a.m.
A. Open Discussion
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. John Dombroskie, Director of Purchasing, stated that the “Fast ForWord” Software for Various Schools” (Item V.D.18) was deleted from the July Regular Meeting agenda and he hoped to present it to the Board at the August Regular Meeting.
(NOTE: This issue was previously addressed at the June 30, 2003 Special Meeting.) Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, the Superintendent stated that while the Print Shop would be “closing” there were “a number of things in the pipeline that have to be wrapped up and the people have to stay there until they finish what they have to complete.” He believed that all work would be completed by October. Board Members had concerns as to whether it was a “wise decision” to close the Print Shop, but noted that they did not have adequate information to make that determination.
The Board recognized the following speakers, who addressed various aspects of this issue: Steve Fabian, Print Shop Supervisor and Kathy Ninivaggi, Phototypesetter and Bob Husbands, Escambia NEA UniServe.
After discussion, it was determined that an item would be added to the June Regular Meeting, requesting a modification to the Personnel Planning Document (PPD) to retain the Print Shop employees through the October Regular meeting while an RFP efficiency study was conducted.
(NOTE: This issue was previously addressed at the June 13, 2003 Regular Workshop.) Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Mr. Norm Ross, Deputy Superintendent, advised that a committee had been formed to determine the feasibility of district-level beverage contracts and recommendations would be forthcoming.
Due to time constraints, the following item was moved forward on the agenda:
Presentation by Energy Educators (Item III.4)
Mr. Gary Clark, President of Energy Education, Inc. (South East Division), gave a brief presentation regarding a “people-oriented” energy management program proposed by Energy Education, Inc. He stated that the implementation of such a program would result in net savings of more than $23,269,000 directly from the District’s utility bills. Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, the Superintendent stated that a recommendation regarding this program would be forthcoming.
II. COMMENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT
The Board was provided a listing of the additions, deletions, amendments and corrections to the July Regular Meeting agenda.
III. COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
1. Report from Mike Adkins, Audit Committee
Mr. Adkins briefly reviewed the following internal audit reports listed on the July 22, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda and accepted by the Audit Committee:
1) “Escambia Special Education Agricultural Lab for fiscal year 2001-02” (Item V.G.1.a)
2) “Workman Middle School for fiscal year 2000-01” (Item V.G.1.b)
3) “Workman Middle School for fiscal year 2001-02” (Item V.G.1.c)
He also reiterated the Committee’s previous suggestion that the District develop a professional ethics policy. Ms. Finkelstein advised that this would be Mr. Adkins’ last attendance at a School Board Workshop as Audit Committee Chairman. The Board and Superintendent presented Mr. Adkins with a plaque in appreciation for his services.
2. Update on Superintendent’s Council for Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Mrs. Mary Helen Fryman, Director of Instructional, Professional/Technical, provided a handout to the Board, entitled “2003-2004 Minority Teachers.” She noted that information regarding “critical shortage area teachers” was forthcoming. Ms. Finkelstein requested that historical information regarding “minority teachers” be provided prior to the August Regular Meeting.
ADD 4. Presentation by Energy Educators
This item was addressed earlier in the meeting.
IV. PROPOSED ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT RULES
Notice of Intent to Advertise Revisions to School District Rules, Chapter 3 (Item II.B.1 on July 22, 2003 Regular Meeting agenda)
Staff responded to various questions posed by Board Members regarding clarification on the intent of various revisions to Chapter 3 Rules.
Mr. Clark left the Regular Workshop at 10:38 a.m. (NOTE: Mr. Clark had been present via speakerphone.)
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Curriculum and Instruction
1. Business Associate Agreement between Maximus and the School District of Escambia County, Florida, Pertaining to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA)
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mrs. Yvonne Gray, Director of Exceptional Student Education, stated that agreement was needed in order to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA), for protecting the privacy and providing for the security of Medicaid recipient information.
2. Contract between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida, and Maximus
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mrs. Yvonne Gray, Director of Exceptional Student Education, stated that the yearly fee for these Medicaid direct billing services was approximately $35,000 to $40,000 depending on the total billings submitted by school personnel. She noted that last year this program generated over $200,000.
8. Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement between the Board of Trustees of the University of West Florida, Florida and the School Board of Escambia County, Florida
Dr. Alan Scott, Director of Secondary Education, responded to general questions posed by Ms. Finkelstein regarding the “Early Admissions Program” as outlined in the backup documentation for this item.
16. Project ASPIRE Grant Application
(NOTE: The purpose of this competitive one-year performance-based federal project is to create four (4) new Career and Technical Education Programs in the Escambia County Adult Detention Facility in order to assist high school dropouts ages 18-24 years old to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent while participating in career and technical education and training with emphasis on community services upon their release.) Mrs. Stidham had concerns with the following positions that were included in the project: (1) Program Specialist position and half (.5) of a Reading Teacher position. Mr. Tommy Taylor, Director of Alternative Education, stated that if the application for this project were approved, he would recommend that those positions be contracted. Mrs. Stidham also had concerns that this was a project to assist high school dropouts ages 18-24, and questioned “when are we at the point where we are spreading ourselves too thin?” She believed that the District needed to “concentrate on K-12” students.
17. Safe and Drug Free Schools Project Supplemental Application
20. Professional Services Agreement between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida and Youth Program Support Services, Inc.
21. Contract between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida, and the Community Drug and Alcohol Council (CDAC)
22. Contract between the School Board of Escambia County, Florida, and the Child Victim Rapid Response Program of Northwest Florida Comprehensive Services for Children, Inc.
Upon inquiry by Mrs. Stidham, Mr. Charles Thomas, Director of Alternative Education, clarified that funding for Items 20 through 22, would be provided from the Safe and Drug Free Schools Project Supplemental Application (Item 17).
B. Finance
6. Budget Amendments
a. Resolution 10: General Operating Fund
Ms. Finkelstein referred to the “Recap of General Fund Reserves” which indicated under “Object 518 - Funds to be Returned to State” an amount of $1,377,786.00. Mrs. Barbara Linker, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Affairs, stated that those were transportation funds that had been set aside for adjustments, however, because the adjustments were not needed, the funds would be returned to the state. Ms. Finkelstein requested that the information indicate that those were transportation funds. She also requested that the “ending balances” of each object be included as well.
b. Resolution 10: Other Special Revenue Fund
Ms. Finkelstein referred to “page 2 of 2” which indicated under “Function 7100 – Board” an original budget of $3,000.00 and a present budget of $0.00. At the request of Ms. Finkelstein, Mrs. Linker stated that she would provide detailed information regarding the original $3,000 budget.
C. Human Resource Services
1. Instructional/Professional
Ms. Finkelstein noted that several of the items under the “Instructional/Professional” section had no “effective dates” listed and requested that those be added to the agenda/backup documentation.
f. Special Requests
Mrs. Stidham noted that there were several requests for approval of employees to work the month of June, however those employees had already done so, as it was now July. Dr. Doug Garber, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services, stated that those requests were being presented in July, simply because “they were received after the agenda deadline” for the June Regular Meeting.
16. Request to establish the attached job description of Assistant Director-Custodial Services on the Professional Salary Schedule
Ms. Finkelstein questioned whether the pay grade for this position was adequate given the qualifications that were required. Mr. Ted Kirchharr, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, stated that the District was comfortable with the pay grade as listed.
17. Request approval to establish the attached job description of Support Personnel Recruiter for Food Services on the Professional Salary Schedule
(NOTE: This position was deleted from the Personnel Planning Document for 2003-2004, when it was approved at the May 20, 2003 Regular Meeting.) In response to Mrs. Stidham’s concerns regarding this position, Mr. Jim Bentley, Director of Food Services, explained that this was a very needed position to recruit, research, interview, screen and refer food service job candidates for job openings.
3. Risk Management
b. School Resource Officers – Escambia County Sheriff’s Department
Upon inquiry by Ms. Finkelstein, Mr. Norm Ross, Deputy Superintendent, stated that information would be provided to the Board, regarding why the District pays 100% of the personnel related costs of school resource officers assigned to Northview High School and Jim Bailey Middle School.
c. Re-submit Universal Life
[NOTE: This issue was previously addressed at the June 30, 2003 Special Meeting (Item V.B.3, “Universal Life Letter of Intent for Employees.”)] Mr. Kevin Windham, Director of Risk Management, along with representatives of Fringe Benefits Management Company (FBMC) and TransAmerica, briefly reviewed the information outlined in the backup documentation for this item, which basically addressed the concerns expressed by Mrs. Stidham at the June 30, 2003 Special Meeting.
e. Health/Prescription Plan – Effective 10/1/03
Mr. Kevin Windham, Director of Risk Management, and Chuck Toban, representative of Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. (GBS), briefly reviewed a proposal prepared by GBS (provided in the backup documentation for this item) regarding the health/prescription plan. Mr. Windham noted that the Employee Benefit Trustees and the Insurance Committee had approved the proposal.
The Board recognized Madonna Jackson-Williams, President of Escambia Education Association (EEA) and Bob Husbands, Executive Director of Escambia NEA UniServe, who addressed various concerns regarding this item.
f. Consent Order for George Stone Firing Range
Ms. Finkelstein noted that the backup documentation for this item indicate that the Superintendent was recommending that the Board reject the Consent Order regarding the cleanup/remediation of the contaminated soil associated with the Firing Range operations. In response, Mr. Steve Sharp, Coordinator of Health, Safety and Environmental Operations, explained that the Consent Order “needed to come before the Board, so that the Board could reject it officially.” Mr. Negron suggested that the Board table this item until an environmental assessment of the Firing Range was completed. Mrs. Stidham advised that she was “not willing to stay in the Firing Range business” and therefore, believed that the lease with County should be terminated.
D. Purchasing
14. “My Kid Scoop” Program for Title One Students
(NOTE: This item was a request to purchase the delivery of Pensacola News Journal newspapers to 7500 students each Monday for 37 weeks beginning August 11, 2003. Newspapers will include full page “My Kid Scoop” program. The top half of page to include parent information and bottom half of page will contain “My Kid Scoop” curriculum.) In response to Mrs. Stidham’s concerns, Mr. Paul Fetsko, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, advised that this would not be a “waste” of funds, as many teachers would use the “My Kid Scoop” curriculum as an added resource.
E. Operations
No discussion was held.
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
1. Creation of School Choice Office – Linda Finkelstein
[NOTE: The issue of a “Controlled Choice Plan Proposal” was previously discussed at the June 30, 2003 Special Meeting (Item IX.1)] Mr. Paul Fetsko, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, provided information to the Board, which outlined the duties that were previously assigned to the Director of Pupil Instructional Services that could be realigned under the Director of Comprehensive Planning and the Director of Evaluation Services. The Superintendent noted that the “functions” that would be carried out by Ms. Finkelstein’s proposed “School Choice Office” could in fact, be carried out with a simple realignment of the duties previously assigned to the Director of Pupil Instructional Services. After discussion regarding the information provided by Mr. Fetsko, Ms. Finkelstein stated that she would offer a motion at the July 22, 2003 Regular Meeting regarding her proposal for the “Creation of a School Choice Office.”
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 1:47 p.m.
Attest: Approved:
________________________________ ________________________________
Superintendent Chair