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I am one member of a five person board. The opinions I express on this forum are mine only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Escambia County Staff, Administrators, Employees, or anyone else associated with Escambia County Florida. I am interested in establishing this blog as a means of additional transparency to the public, outreach to the community, and information dissemination to all who choose to look. Feedback is welcome, but because public participation is equally encouraged, appropriate language and decorum is mandatory. Although this is not my campaign site for re-election--sometimes campaign related information will be discussed, therefore in an abundance of caution I add the following : Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican, for Escambia County Commissioner District 1








Wednesday, August 20, 2008

August 19, 2008 School Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes of Board Meeting8-19-08


I am posting these minutes to expedite information dissemination. Much more complete and detailed minutes will be posted in 4-6 weeks on the school district’s website. In the mean time, these minutes are what I feel were the big “takeaways”, a macro look at my impression of the meeting. These are condensed, abbreviated, shortened, and to the point.

5:30 PM-Meeting Commencement

All Board Members present.

PTA Presentation—given by Cindy Gerhardt

Board Adopted the resolution recognizing “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”
Public Forum:

28 Speakers total

19 Speakers were upset about the transportation department/walk distance issue.

1 Speaker upset because the transportation department will not pick his children up at a daycare center.

1 Speaker extremely upset about the school choice office and the fact that her child was not allowed to remain at PHS after the family was determined to be “out of district”

1 Speaker felt that the Superintendent was not/ is not being forthcoming with the board and that information is not flowing transparently from the district to the board and to the public.

6 Speakers upset about the potential closure of Carver Century K-8



July Meeting Minutes Approved (from four separate July meetings)

Rule adoptions:

1. Public Records rule-adopted by 5-0 vote

2. Emergency Amendment to district transportation rule-adopted by 5-0 vote

(This was the district reverting to last year’s transportation policy, reverting to 1.5 mile walk zone for middle school students, and the continuance of courtesy rider ship for some High School students who must walk in hazardous conditions)

Permission to advertise rules for adoption:

1. Value adjustment board appointees, approved by 5-0 vote

2. Safe Harbor provision to be added to Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, approved by 5-0 vote

3. Revisions and amendments to Student progression plan, approved by 5-0 vote

4. Eligibility for transportation (emergency rule) approved by 5-0 vote

Entire Consent Agenda Approved.

All Curriculum items approved

All Finance items approved

All Purchasing items approved

All Operations items approved

(Entire Consent Agenda was meticulously covered and discussed at length during a 2 hour board workshop held during the morning of 8/15/2008)

Board voted to accept the superintendent’s recommendation regarding the following:

3 administrative appointments approved

No Student recommendations submitted by the Superintendent

Board voted 4-1 (Mrs. Brown-Curry dissenting) to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to have SAZAC re-draw the boundaries so that Carver Century K-8 students can be sent to Bratt Elementary School and Ernest Ward Middle School.

3 Employees terminated

2 Employees reinstated

2 Employees suspended


Meeting adjourned at 8:32.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

restoration of the walk zone distances was a smart move. People do not like safety being compromised even to save money

Jeff Bergosh said...

I was looking for more of a compromise that would have allowed us to maintain some of the savings achieved by streamlining the routes and aligning our policy with with what the state funds us.

Political Advertisement Paid For and Approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican for Escambia Commission D1