1. Agenda Amendments - p.7

2. Attendance - p.8

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.9

Minutes: 

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

7. Palmetto Rowing Crew - p.13

Minutes: 

Angela Essig, Director of Secondary Education, introduced this item to the Board.

 

She recognized Palmetto High School Athletic Director Kenneth Ansbro, Coach Trish Jackson, Manatee County Commissioner John Chappie, Manatee County Project Manager Dave Gustafson, and members of the Palmetto High School rowing team. Each of these individuals, along with several of the students on the rowing team, their parents, and Paul Blacketter from Benderson Development, expressed their appreciation to the Board for its support of this program.

 

Coach Ansbro and Mr. Gustafson presented Chairman Gause and Superintendent McGonegal with a plaque awarding the School Board an honorary athletic letter in rowing.

8. Public Comments -p.14

Minutes: 

C.J. Czaia - asked the Board to consider changing the practice of requiring high school seniors to pay outstanding financial obligations in order to participate in graduation events.

Peggy Martin - declined to speak when her name was called.

Christine Sket - representing the group Fund Education Now - Manatee, spoke on the importance of the legislature appropriately funding legislation.

Dave Miner - commended the Board for having AED (Automated External Defibrillator) devices located in district facilities.  He encouraged the Superintendent to list the location of district AEDs on the district website so that the information is readily available in the event of a medical emergency.

Superintendent McGonegal noted that the AED devices for all school sites were purchased through a grant.

9. Approval of Minutes - p.15

Attachment: M042511.pdf

Motions:
Motion and approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 25, 2011.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Harry Kinnan
Second: Barbara Harvey
Robert Gause	- Aye
Barbara Harvey	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Julie Aranibar	- Aye
Karen Carpenter	- Aye

10. Central Florida School Boards Coalition - p.16

Minutes: 

Mrs. Harvey updated the Board on the meeting of the Central Florida School Boards Coalition, which took place earlier in the day.

The Board held discussion about the items that were highlighted by Mrs. Harvey.

Chairman Gause commented that the budget recommendations to be made by the Superintendent should reflect the reduction by the legislature in the amount of district funding to help serve charter schools from five percent to two percent, along with a description of the ramifications of that change.

Mr. Kinnan said he is looking forward to receiving a complete legislative session update from Mixon and Associates in the near future.

Mr. Kinnan suggested forming a coalition with the Sarasota and Charlotte School Districts to jointly publish an education guide to help market Suncoast schools.

Superintendent McGonegal said he would like to consider using that coalition to help address the educational funding issues mentioned by Ms. Christine Sket under public comments earlier in the meeting.

33. Reject Recommended Order Rendered by the Administrative Law Judge in the Matter of MCSB v. Charles Willis (SBMC Case No. 10-0019-DOAH Case No. 10-10087), Approve Petitioner’s Exceptions, and Enter a Final Order Terminating Respondent’s Employment - p.48

Attachment: Willis-ALJ's Recommended Order.pdf
Attachment: Willis-Petitioner's Exceptions to Recommended Order.pdf
Attachment: Willis - Respondents Response to Petitioners Exceptions.pdf

37. Board Comments - p.56

Minutes: 

Ms. Aranibar

Key Club Convention - reported on this Kiwanis-sponsored convention, which she attended in Orlando on May 5-8, 2011.  She read the names of each Manatee district faculty advisor, Kiwanis advisor, and student president.

Ms. Carpenter

Doug Wagner - congratulated Mr. Wagner, Director of Adult, Career and Technical Education, on being named "Best Boss" by Biz (941) magazine.

Skills Florida - said she was invited to participate as a judge in the Skills Florida competition, and that it was a great experience.

Take Stock in Children - said the banquet on May 3, 2011 celebrated 36 students who graduated from the program and are going on to college.

Orange Ridge - Bullock Elementary School - commended Principal Doug DuPouy for organizing assemblies for the first, second, fourth, and fifth grade students on the topic of personal responsibility.  The presentation was made by Reverend Jerry Parrish from the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) and funded by Kiwanis.

Willis Elementary School - congratulated Willis third grade art students for being selected from among 2,600 applicants from all over the world to display a work of art as part of the outdoor art exhibit "Celebrating Diversity," which will be on display at the Bayfront in Sarasota.

Mrs. Harvey

Extracurricular Activities Fees - commented on Mr. Czaia's request under public comments earlier in the meeting for assistance for a student requesting assistance with outstanding fees. 

Fifth Grade Celebration - noted that the Board had received communication from parents concerned about the potential cancellation of a fifth grade graduation ceremony.  She spoke in support of school events that celebrate the accomplishments of students.

Superintendent McGonegal advised that it was never intended that this celebration be canceled, and assured the Board that the fifth grade celebration would be taking place at Oneco Elementary School.

Mary Fitzgerald - noted that Ms. Fitzgerald had passed the previous week.  She shared memories of Ms. Fitzgerald, who was the retired director of the district's reading program.

EdVantage Core Team - reported on the two days of EdVantage Core Team planning which took place on May 3 and 4, 2011.  She commended Ms. Aranibar on the conduct of her daughter, Jaclyn, who participated as a student member of the Core Team.

Children's Services - reported that the Children's Services Board has completed its review of nearly 100 children's services organizations in Manatee County.  She will provide a complete list of organizations that were approved to receive funding.

Palmetto Elementary School - attended the dedication on Monday, May 2, 2011.   She commented on how beautiful the new facility is.

Mr. Kinnan

VE (Victory in Europe) Day - noted that May 8, 2011 commemorated VE Day.  He shared his thoughts about the importance of remembering this important day.

Golden Herald Awards - thanked the Bradenton Herald for sponsoring this event, which celebrated Manatee County student achievement.  He congratulated the students who were named winners, as well as those who received honorable mentions.

Take Stock in Children - said he attended the graduation celebration banquet.  He commented on how much that program has grown over the years.  Kudos to Diana Dill, Program Director, on this event.

Matzke Walkers - congratulated the more than seventy Matzke employees who were Progressive Marathon Finishers.  He attended the awards celebration on May 3, 2011.  He thanked Kristi Dickerson, District Wellness Coordinator, for organizing many wellness programs in the district.

SCF (State College of Florida) Collegiate School - visited the school on May 5, 2011.  He thanked Dr. Lars Hafner for hosting his school tour.  He encouraged the School Board Members to visit the school when they can.

Mr. Gause

Graduation Fees - commented on the district's practice of requiring that outstanding student debt be paid in order to participate in graduation events.  He provided the Board with information that the student mentioned earlier under public comment had been invited to participate in several school-sponsored fundraising opportunities to try to eliminate the debt.

Doug Wagner - kudos to Mr. Wagner for being named "Best Boss" by Biz (941) magazine.

Workforce Education Funding - said the Board needs to send a big "thank you" to the State Legislature for beginning the process of correcting the workforce funding inequity.  He reported that this year will begin an approximate 33 percent correction, which represents an additional $1.9 million for Manatee County's workforce education fund.  He noted that this increase would not have happened without the efforts of Doug Wagner.

Tea Party - spoke at the Tea Party meeting on May 3, 2011.  He said the audience asked many good questions.  In response to one question, he asked the Superintendent to make an effort to place the Manatee Core Curriculum on the district website in an easy to find location, for parents to review.

Master Board - thanked the Board Members for participating in this program, which is facilitated by the Florida School Boards Association.

Golden Herald Awards - thanked the Bradenton Herald and the other sponsors of this event.  Kudos to all of the student winners and nominees.  Kudos to Brian Flynn, Principal of Rowlett Elementary School, for positive comments made by a parent who was in the audience at this event.

Academic Scholarship Signing Day - announced this event, which would take place on May 12, 2011, celebrating students in the top ten percent who have been awarded scholarships to universities throughout the country.

Board Workshop - announced the Board Workshop regarding General Fund Budget is scheduled for May 16, 2011.  He noted that an agenda item regarding School Board direct reports evaluation tools has been added to that workshop agenda.   He asked for Board consensus to add discussion about how items are added to Board agendas. 

The Board held discussion about Chairman Gause's question about adding items to Board agendas.  By consensus, no further discussion about that topic was desired at the May 16, 2011 Board Workshop.

Palmetto High School - said he is thrilled about the Rowing Team.  He noted that there would be a fundraiser on Saturday, May 14, 2011, for the team, and that Jane Lynch from the television show "Glee" would be at the event.

Flash Mob - encouraged district art and music teachers to organize flash mob events for their students and parents as a way to highlight student talent.

Scholarships - said a parent attending the Palmetto Elementary School Multicultural Festival told him that Harvard is offering full ride academic scholarships to students who meet their entrance standards and who have financial need.

38. School Board Workflow - p.57

39. Comments by John Bowen - p.58

Minutes: 

John Bowen

Oral Arguments - advised the Board that on May 11, 2011,  he would be in Tampa presenting oral arguments at the Second District Court of Appeal.

40. Comments by Tim McGonegal - p.59

Minutes: 

Tim McGonegal

EdVantage Core Team - affirmed Mrs. Harvey's comments about Ms. Aranibar's daughter, Jaclyn, and her participation in the Core Team meeting on May  3 and 4, 2011.

Golden Herald Awards - said this was a tremendous event.

Academic Signing Day - noted that this event, to be held on May 12, 2011, is another opportunity to celebrate the academic accomplishments of Manatee County students.

Florida Writes - reported that there were great gains in district writing scores, with a 16 percent increase at the elementary level, a six percent  increase at the middle school level, and an eleven percent increase at the high school level.

Graduation Events - noted that preparing students to graduate from high school begins in Pre-K, and throughout all elementary, middle and high school years.  He said that district principals work very hard to ensure that every student has the opportunity to walk in graduation ceremonies, with options provided to pay outstanding debts as needed.

The Board made additional comments, as follows:

Ms. Carpenter - noted that the district website only shows three short paragraphs about the district's education programs, and suggested that the information be enhanced for marketing purposes.

Mr. Kinnan - affirmed the importance of making information about the Manatee Core Curriculum (MCC) easily available on the district website.  He read a statement made by Chloe Sweetman, Golden Herald Social Science Award winner, about the impact the book, "Three Cups of Tea," a component of the MCC, made on her global awareness.