1. Agenda Amendments - p.6

2. Attendance - p.7

Minutes: 

Board members present: Robert C. Gause, Chairman; Harry G. Kinnan, Vice-Chairman; Julie B. Aranibar, Karen Carpenter, and Barbara A. Harvey. Also present: Tim McGonegal, Superintendent; Lynette Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction; Darcy Hopko, Assistant Superintendent for District Support Services; Jim Drake, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services; Scott Martin, Staff Attorney; and John Bowen, School Board Attorney.

3. Call to Order - p.8

Minutes: 

Chairman Gause called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.

9. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech Contest Winners - p.13

Minutes: 

Lynette Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, introduced this item to the Board.

Ms. Edwards invited Ms. Patricia Johnson, Palmetto Youth Center board member, to give the School Board an overview of this item.  She announced the middle and high school winners of the speech contest, and invited the students to present their winning speeches to the Board.

Madelyn Kumar from Nolan Middle School and Dakota Lawson from Southeast High School each delivered their speech to the Board.

10. Public Comments - p.14

Minutes: 

Linda Schaich - expressed concern about the district's health insurance fund.

Peggy Delegato - invited the Board Members to attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast, taking place on Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the Palmetto Youth Center.

Dave Miner - highlighted several historic individuals in honor of Black History Month.  He thanked the Superintendent for placing the district checkbook on the district website.

Eileen Jones - spoke in support of SEA (Suspension Education Alternative) program, and Bridge of Hope.  She described the program, which is for students that have been suspended, and encouraged Board support of the program.

Peggy Martin - expressed concern about the district's health insurance fund.

Kimberly Lough - expressed concern about proposed changes to the district's field trip policy, which would result in reducing approved providers for student field trips.

11. Approval of Minutes - p.15

Attachment: M012411.pdf
Attachment: W020711.pdf
Attachment: W020911.pdf

Motions:
Motion and approval of the Regular Meeting of January 24, 2011, Workshop of February 7, 2011, and Workshop of February 9, 2011.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Karen Carpenter
Second: Julie Aranibar
Julie Aranibar	- Aye
Karen Carpenter	- Aye
Robert Gause	- Aye
Barbara Harvey	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye

12. Career and Technical Education Month Presentation - p.16

Attachment: Proclamation.pdf
Minutes: 

Doug Wagner, Director of Adult, Career, and Technical Education, introduced this item to the Board.

He invited William Tillett, Esperanza Gamboa, Debra Smith, Cheryl McGrew, and Kimberly Lough to read portions of the Proclamation and to speak about the various Career and Technical Education awards they have received.

14. Manatee Education Foundation Update - p.19

Minutes: 

Mary Glass, Director of the Manatee Education Foundation (MEF), introduced Chairman of the MEF Board of Directors, Debra Cooper.

Ms. Cooper introduced the members of the MEF Board who were in attendance at the meeting.  She also recognized Ms. Tricia McKay May, Development Director of the MEF.

Ms. Cooper and Ms. Glass updated the Board on the activities of the MEF, which benefit students and teachers.

32. Approval of the 2011 - 2012 Academic Calendar - p.41

Attachment: 2011-12 Calendar Committee Members.pdf
Attachment: 2011-2012 Spring Break March Calendar.pdf
Attachment: 2011-2012 Spring Break April Calendar.pdf
Minutes: 

Superintendent McGonegal introduced this item to the Board.  He described the process used to arrive at the recommended academic calendar.  Superintendent McGonegal noted that either calendar was acceptable, but that his recommendation was the 2011 - 2012 Spring Break April Academic Calendar.

The Board held discussion prior to voting on this matter.

The Board asked the Superintendent to restate his recommendation.  He said that his recommendation was the 2011 - 2012 Spring Break April Academic Calendar.

There was not a motion in support of the Superintendent's recommendation.

Chairman Gause asked the Superintendent if he would like to change his recommendation.

The Board held discussion about the best way to address the question.

Superintendent McGonegal changed his recommendation to approval of the 2011 - 2012 Spring Break March Academic Calendar.

Motions:
Motion and approval of the 2011 – 2012 Spring Break March Academic Calendar.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Barbara Harvey
Second: Julie Aranibar
Julie Aranibar	- Aye
Karen Carpenter	- Aye
Robert Gause	- Aye
Barbara Harvey	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye

35. Board Comments - p.44

Minutes: 

Mr. Kinnan

 

Take Stock in Children  - kudos to all involved in planning the Leadership Prayer Breakfast, which was held on February 3, 2011.

 

Support Employee of the Year Celebration - noted that all district employees are involved in education of children.  He said this was a great event.  He congratulated every individual that was nominated by their work site.

 

Board Workshops - said that the previous week's Board Workshops, regarding Charter Schools and Audit Findings, were very useful and informative.

 

Ms. Carpenter

 

Black History Month - said she read in the Bradenton Times that in the 1940's, Frances Stevens sued the Manatee County School Board over different pay scales for African American and Caucasian teachers, and that she won her lawsuit.

 

Ms. Aranibar

 

Williams Elementary School - visited the school and addressed the School Advisory Council (SAC) recently.

 

Freedom Elementary School - said she will be visiting this school soon.

 

Transportation - thanked Superintendent McGonegal for scheduling the meeting with the bus drivers, which occurred on February 11, 2011.

 

Budget Committee - reported that the Budget Committee would meet on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, and Wednesday, February 16, 2011.  She thanked community members for providing input into the process.

 

Mrs. Harvey

 

Take Stock in Children  - attended the Leadership Prayer Breakfast.

 

Kelly-Brown Career Center Opening - thanked all community members who attended ribbon cutting.  She noted that Connect Your Community computer classes will be held at that facility, beginning in March.

 

Future Business Leaders - attended the opening ceremony for this event on February 4, 2011.  She said the middle and high school students were spellbound by the speaker at this event.

 

Tim McGonegal - congratulated the Superintendent on receiving his doctorate degree.

 

Mr. Gause

 

Valentine's Day - wished everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.

 

District Checkbook - commended the Superintendent and Finance Department staff for placing the district checkbook on the district website.

 

CEO Roundtable - reported that he attended this meeting on Friday, February 11, 2011.  He said that Sheriff Steube made a presentation about what his office is doing to reduce gang activity in the county.

 

State Board of Education - noted that the State Board of Education would hold their meeting at the State College of Florida Collegiate School on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.  He said he would plan to attend that event.

 

Budget - addressed some myths and facts about preparation of the district budget.  He thanked employees who have expressed to him that they understand the current budget difficulties, and encouraged the Board as they prepare the budget.  He noted that ultimately the Board will make decisions that are right for students.

36. School Board Workflow Items - p.45

37. Comments by John Bowen - p.46

Minutes: 

Mr. John Bowen

 

Mr. Bowen had no comments. 

38. Comments by Tim McGonegal - p.47

Minutes: 

Mr. Tim McGonegal

 

District Budget - thanked Chairman Gause for his comments regarding preparation of the district budget.  He expressed that the way Manatee County School District conducts the budget process is the right way for the community, employees, and students.

 

Lynette Edwards - the Board and Superintendent surprised Lynette Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, with a birthday cake.