1. Attendance

Minutes: 

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

 

Not present:  Barbara A. Harvey, Chairwoman, and Jane R. Pfeilsticker.

 

Mr. Miller was Acting Chairman for this meeting.

2. Call to Order

Minutes: 

Acting Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 5:46 p.m.

Acting Chairman Miller announced that Mrs. Barbara Harvey, Chairwoman, would not be at the meeting due to a delayed flight.  He also noted that Ms. Jane Pfeilsticker was on vacation and would not be at the meeting.

6. Public Comments

Minutes: 

Raphael Allen - was not present when his name was called.

Dave Miner - encouraged all district employees to vote on August 26, 2008.  He asked the Board to consider the increase in the number of district administrators as compared to the increase in the number of district teachers.

Motions:
Approval of minutes of	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Robert Gause
Second: Harry Kinnan
Robert Gause	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Walter Miller	- Aye

8. Approval of Minutes

Attachment: S080408.pdf
Attachment: M072808.pdf
Attachment: S073108.pdf

Motions:
Motion and approval of the Regular Meeting of July 28, 2008, Public Hearing of July 31, 2008, and the Special Meeting of August 4, 2008.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Robert Gause
Second: Harry Kinnan
Robert Gause	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Walter Miller	- Aye

9. Manatee Education Foundation

Minutes: 

Ms. Tricia McKay May, Coordinator of Development for the Manatee Education Foundation, announced a new Foundation event, the Marjorie G. Kinnan Partnership Luncheon, taking place on Friday, August 22, 2008.

 

14. Public Hearing for Consideration of Adopting an Amendment to Policy 4.9, Student Progression

Minutes: 

Mr. Jeff Asher, Executive Director of District Planning, Policy and Program Evaluation, introduced this item to the Board.

Mr. Asher noted the verbiage recommendations that were made by Mr. Gause.  The Board confirmed that all of the recommendations should be incorporated into Policy  4.9, Student Progression.  The recommendations are:

Page 3, line 39:  Remove "tests" and replace with "program".

Page 4, line 18:  Remove "those".

Page 6, line 27:  Add "will" - "All students will participate..."

Page 7, lines 8-10:  Remove the sentence beginning with "There are two major district..."

Page 9, line 15:  Remove "should" and replace with "shall".

Page 11, line 29:  Remove "develop" and insert "have".

Page 20, line 11:  Remove "Director of High Schools" and insert "Superintendent or her/his designee".

Motions:
Motion and approval of adopting an amendment to Policy 4.9, Student Progression, as amended.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Robert Gause
Second: Harry Kinnan
Robert Gause	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Walter Miller	- Aye

47. Approval to Terminate the Employment of Annette D. Dozier or Suspend Without Pay and Grant an Administrative Hearing, if a Hearing is Requested

Attachment: Dozier Administrative Complaint.pdf
Attachment: Dozier - Petition for Evidentiary Hearing 7-31-08.pdf
Minutes: 

Mr. Rob Shapiro, Staff Attorney, reviewed this item with the Board.  He noted that Ms. Dozier had requested an administrative hearing, which hearing would be heard before an Administrative Law Judge.

Neither Ms. Dozier nor her attorney were present at the meeting.

Motions:
Motion and approval to grant the request for a hearing and suspend the employee without pay effective August 12, 2008, pending the outcome of the hearing.	- PASS
Vote Results
Motion: Robert Gause
Second: Harry Kinnan
Robert Gause	- Aye
Harry Kinnan	- Aye
Walter Miller	- Aye

49. Board Comments

Minutes: 

Mr. Gause

2008-2009 School Year - reminded the community that school starts next week, and asked everyone to be careful as they travel, paying special attention to school zones.  He noted school registration deadlines.    He encouraged parents to attend the appropriate school open houses, to make acquaintance with school principals and classroom teachers.

New Teachers - said last week he attended the reception welcoming new teachers to the district.  He affirmed that all of the Board Members are available to listen to district staff.

Health Care - asked for an update about the status of district health care costs.

Summer Graduation - noted that Summer Graduation will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at the Manatee High School auditorium.  He commmended the students that worked hard all summer so they could obtain their diplomas.

Mr. Kinnan

Superintendent Search - reviewed the timeline for the superintendent search, noting especially that the deadline to receive applications is September 8, 2008.  He asked for and received consensus from the Board that Dr. Dearing create an action plan outlining items and issues that need to be addressed as the district transitions to a new superintendent.

Manatee Technical Institute (Caruso Road) - confirmed there will be an Executive Session regarding this topic on August 25, 2008, immediately following the regular Board meeting.

G.D. Rogers Gardens Elementary School - noted the Looking for Angola project is in need of a permanent home.  He suggested considering housing artificats and information found as a result of this project at the G.D. Rogers Gardens Elementary School.  

Children's Summit - reported on the Children's Summit, which took place August 9, 2008.  He noted that over 10,000 people attended the summit.  He said this is a good way to prepare for the school year, because it provides fun activities and information at no cost to families.

Palmetto Elementary School - suggested the Board consider the possibility that after a new school is built, should there not be a viable use for the existing building, the space be used for a park until such time as the district needs to construct another school on that site.

Mr. Miller

Superintendent Search - agreed with Mr. Kinnan regarding the Superintendent preparing an action plan.  He made several suggestions about items to be mindful of as the process moves forward.

Charter Schools - noted that the University of South Florida has discontinued the charter school they had with the Hillsborough County School Board.  He shared that this is the same type of program the district is hoping to implement with the G.D. Rogers Gardens Elementary School.

Bright House Networks - observed that fewer citizens are watching the School Board meetings since the local and government access channels were moved to a higher tier of channels.

District Staff - thanked and commended district staff for their dedication, noting that recently he has received communications from staff members working weekends.

50. School Board Workflow Chart

Attachment: August 11, 2008.pdf
Minutes: 

51. Comments by John Bowen

Minutes: 

Mr. John Bowen

Superintendent Search - addressed Board questions about interview questions to be posed to candidates for the position of superintendent.

Value Adjustment Board (VAB) - updated the Board on legislative changes to the membership of the VAB.  He suggested that, since no qualified citizen has applied for the position through the County, the Board Members nominate qualified citizens they would like to appoint to the VAB.

Dr. Dearing asked Mr. Bowen to prepare a short brief about the legislative change for the Board.  He requested the Board Members provide citizen names to the Agency Clerk.

Employee Hearing - advised the Board that on August 12, 2008, he will make oral arguments at the Second District Court of Appeals (2DCA) regarding a former employee who is appealing termination.  He commented that the district currently has five cases pending before the 2DCA.

52. Comments by Dr. Roger Dearing

Minutes: 

Dr. Roger Dearing

2008-2009 School Year - welcomed teachers back to school.  He congratulated administrators, maintenance, and facilities staff on the great job they have done preparing the schools for students. He noted students are back in school beginning Monday, August 18, 2008.  He reminded community members to drive carefully, as students will be making their way to school.

District Staff - thanked district staff who are working long hours and weekends.

Summer Graduation - noted Summer Graduation is Saturday, August 16, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at Manatee High School auditorium.

53. Adjournment

Minutes: 

Prior to adjournment, Acting Chairman Miller reminded the Board that there would be a workshop regarding Palmetto Elementary School following this Board meeting.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, Acting Chairman Miller adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.

 

 

 

_____________________________              _______________________

Roger Dearing,  Ex Officio Secretary             Walter E. Miller,

and Superintendent of Schools                     Acting Chairman