1. Attendance

Minutes: 

Board members present: Barbara A. Harvey, Chairwoman, Walter E. Miller, Vice-Chairman; Robert C. Gause, Harry G. Kinnan, and Jane R. Pfeilsticker. Also present:  Dr. Roger Dearing, Superintendent; Lynette Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction; Herb Tschappat, Assistant Superintendent for District Support Services; Tim McGonegal, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services; Rob Shapiro, Staff Attorney; and John Bowen, School Board Attorney.

2. Call to Order

Minutes: 

Chairwoman Harvey called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.

6. International Day of Peace

7. Public Comments

Minutes: 

Raphael Allen, Manatee County Community Action Team (MCCAT) - requested an update on the G.D. Rogers Gardens Elementary School groundbreaking ceremony.

Tara Gourlay, Special Education Parent Teacher Association  (SEPTA) - reported on Language Learning Impaired (LLI) summer reading program successes.  She invited community members and School Board Members to the kickoff meeting of SEPTA, taking place at 6:00 p.m., on October 2, 2008, at Palma Sola Botanical Gardens.

Dave Miner, Regional Governor of the Florida Association of School Advisory Councils - said he believes School Board Policy 3.4, Trespassing, needs additional work before it is approved.

9. Approval of Minutes

Attachment: M090808.pdf
Attachment: M090908.pdf
Attachment: W091508.pdf

Motions:
Motion and approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 8, 2008, Public Hearing of September 9, 2008, and Workshop of September 15, 2008.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Walter Miller
Second: Harry Kinnan
Robert Gause	- Aye
Barbara Harvey	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Walter Miller	- Aye
Jane Pfeilsticker	- Aye

10. 2007-2008 Business Partner of the Year Award

Minutes: 

Ms. Mary Glass, Director of the Manatee Education Foundation,  presented the 2007-2008 Business Partner of the Year Award to Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Mr. Gordon Dyer, Senior Manager, accepted the award on behalf of Lockheed Martin.  In addition, Mr. Dyer announced an additional gift to the Manatee County School District to help fund science education for the 2008-2009 school year in the amount of $100,000.00.

11. EdVantage Update

Minutes: 

Mr. Herb Tschappat, Assistant Superintendent of District Support Services, updated the Board on the status of EdVantage, the district’s Strategic Plan.

Ms. Lynette Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, provided an update on the implementation of the Manatee Core Curriculum.

48. Approval to Terminate the Employment of Diana Jones or Suspend Without Pay and Grant an Administrative Hearing, if a Hearing is Requested

Attachment: JONES, Diana Administrative Complaint.pdf
Minutes: 

Mr. Rob Shapiro, Staff Attorney, reviewed this item with the Board.

Mr. Shapiro noted that Ms. Jones had not requested an evidentiary hearing. 

Neither Ms. Jones nor her attorney was present at the meeting.

Motions:
Motion and approval to terminate the employment of Diana Jones, effective September 23, 2008.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Walter Miller
Second: Robert Gause
Robert Gause	- Aye
Barbara Harvey	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Walter Miller	- Aye
Jane Pfeilsticker	- Aye

55. Board Comments

Minutes: 

Mr. Gause

Suncoast Workforce Board - reported on the annual meeting, which he attended the previous week.

Manatee County Chamber of Commerce - reported on the annual retreat and planning session, which he attended the previous week.  He said Mr. Doug Wagner, Director of Adult, Career, and Technical Education, made an excellent presentation at the retreat.  Kudos to Mr. Wagner for how well he represented the district.

Palmetto Elementary School - noted that earlier in the day a Resolution about this facility had been added to the agenda of the September 22, 2008, meeting of the Palmetto City Commission.

Mr. Miller

Darlene Reynolds - sent Mrs. Reynolds best wishes from the Board for a speedy recovery.

 

Dr. Dearing - commended Dr. Dearing on the homily he delivered at the Mt. Raymond Full Gospel Baptist Church on September 14, 2008.

 

District Health Care - spoke about the changes that are being made in the district dental and vision plans.  He suggested that the Internal Auditor evaluate the processes that are being used to make these changes.  Mr. Miller said he believes the Purchasing Department should have oversight of bidding processes.

 

Ms. Pfeilsticker

 

Consent Agenda - noted that under the Consent agenda earlier in the meeting, the Board renewed a contract with Learning Focused Solutions.  She also noted renewal of the contract with Renzulli Learning Systems.  Kudos to Ms. Lynette Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, for continuing these valuable learning programs.

 

Manatee Community College (MCC) - congratulated MCC on taking the first step toward offering Bachelor's Degrees.

 

AIG/Valic - reassured district employees who have retirement funds invested with AIG/Valic, that AIG/Valic has sent communications stating that district retirement funds are safe.

 

Mr. Kinnan

 

MCC - said it has been quite some time since the School Board and the MCC Board of Trustees had a joint meeting, and suggested a meeting be scheduled.

 

heARt & Soul Gala - announced this event, which will benefit the Manatee Education Foundation, will be held November 21, 2008, at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

 

Take Stock in Children - requested an update on this scholarship program in the near future.

 

Dr. Dearing - said Dr. Dearing's address at Mt. Raymond Full Gospel Baptist Church was wonderful.

 

National Merit Semifinalists - congratulated three district students who are National Merit Semifinalists.  The students are Juntao Zhu from Lakewood Ranch High School, Carly Ayres from Manatee High School, and Amy Umana from Southeast High School.

 

Anna Maria Elementary School - requested that the district work to accommodate students, especially those who have choiced into the school, while the Anna Maria Bridge is closed for repair.

 

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) - asked the Superintendent to be sure to communicate with Mr. Sean Allison of the YMCA regarding the proposed rental increase.

 

Superintendent Transition - requested that Dr. Dearing prepare a transition paper for the next Board meeting, listing projects to conclude and projects to pass along to the next superintendent.

 

Succession Plan - noted that many long-term employees will be retiring in the near future.  He suggested development of a succession plan, so that excellent service to district employees, students, and parents will continue.

 

Mrs. Harvey

 

G.D. Rogers Gardens Elementary School Groundbreaking - advised that this event is being planned.

 

Dental Plan - said she met earlier in the day with a representative of one of the companies.  She expressed concern about the process used for selecting providers, but said she is confident that the process will be carried out in the proper manner.

 

Back to School Night - announced that community prayer for the 2008-2009 school year, teachers, and students would be held at 7:00 p.m., on September 23, 2008, at First Baptist Church in Bradenton.

 

United Methodist Women - reported that they have suggested five legislative changes that they think should be made, and which she believes should be considered for inclusion in the district legislative platform.

 

Community Input - said the public is welcome to provide input on any of the items that were discussed at the Board Meeting, by logging onto the district website at www.manateeschools.net.

 

Superintendent Search Citizens Committee - noted that concern had been expressed about the membership of the committee.  She reminded the community that the Board had requested that any groups that wanted to participate on the committee contact the Board, but did not receive such requests.

 

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) - said the FDOT had notified her about a meeting scheduled for September 30, 2008, regarding providing access from Port Manatee to I-75.  She invited any of the Board Members who might be interested to attend the meeting. 

56. School Board Workflow Chart

Attachment: September 22, 2008.pdf

57. Comments by John Bowen

Attachment: Bowen re Health Insurance.pdf
Minutes: 

Mr. John Bowen

District Health Plan - distributed to the Board and Superintendent a memorandum he had prepared concerning the Board's legal position with respect to moving forward with the district's health insurance benefits, and how the Board may resolve that in the face of failure to achieve a negotiated resolution of that issue.  A copy of the memo has been attached to this agenda item.

58. Comments by Dr. Roger Dearing

Minutes: 

Dr. Roger Dearing

Chairwoman Harvey - prior to Dr. Dearing's comments, Chairwoman Harvey said that she would like to thank community members, teachers, Board Members, and administrators who attended the service at Mt. Raymond Full Gospel Baptist Church when Dr. Dearing spoke.

Leadership Manatee - recognized cadre members who were in attendance at the Board Meeting.

District Health Plan - addressed the revision of the district health plan, and potential changes that are being considered regarding the bidding process for dental and vision providers.

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitute Test (PSAT) - said Dr. Louis Robison contacted the College Board regarding a waiver to change the PSAT test date from the scheduled Wednesday.  That waiver was denied.  He noted that the 2009-2010 school year calendar should reflect the Wednesday for taking the PSAT.

Agenda Change - asked the Board to find good cause to add an item at the beginning of the Special Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 2008, at 5:45 p.m., regarding the district health plan. 

Following Board discussion about Dr. Dearing's request, the Chair found good cause to amend the September 24, 2008 agenda to include an item regarding Approval of the 2009 Health Insurance Plans.

59. Adjournment

Minutes: 

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairwoman Harvey adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              _______________________

Roger Dearing,  Ex Officio Secretary             Barbara A. Harvey,

and Superintendent of Schools                     Chairwoman