Minutes of Board Meeting, 1-19-2010

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.
Meeting convened at 5:31 PM
All Board Members and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas present.
Four Speakers addressed the board during Public Forum
1 Speaker questioned investigation into his daughter’s discipline at Washington High School.
1 Speaker questioned investigation into her daughter’s discipline at Washington High School
Carissa Bergosh, NAS Pensacola School Liaison Officer, spoke about upcoming events in our schools
Sally Lee, Coordinator of the take stock in children mentor’s program, addressed the board to thank mentors in the district for their time and effort.

Pledge of Allegiance led by Destiny King, a Take Stock in Children Mentee and student of the Escambia County School District.

PTA Presentation—no PTA presentation given

Stellar Employee Recognition—Charlene Pinto, an 8 year employee of the district, currently serving in the foodservice department.

Resolutions: None

Rule adoptions:
Notice of Intent to Adopt School District Rule, 6Gx17-3, School Operating Procedures-- Approved 5-0

Permission to Advertise:

Notice of Intent to Advertise to Amend School District Rule 6Gx17-2—Instruction, Approved 5-0

The School Board will by resolution on February 16, 2010, at its regular scheduled board meeting, name West Florida High School of Advanced Technology’s baseball complex the “Mark Conti Baseball Complex” as approved by the West Florida High School of Advanced Technology selection committee at its December 17, 2009 meeting---approved 5-0

3 sets of December Board Meeting Minutes Approved, 5-0

Entire Consent Agenda Approved.
All Curriculum items approved
All Finance items approved
All Human Resources items Approved
All Purchasing items approved
All Operations items approved

(Entire Consent Agenda was meticulously covered and discussed at length during two thorough school board workshops held during the afternoon and early evening of 1-14-2010 and the morning of 1-15-2010)

Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to accept the superintendent’s recommendation regarding the following:

Student recommendations:

19 Students disciplined as follows:
19 Students Expelled
Infractions included:
13 Drug possession
3 battery on school staff
2 possession of weapon
1 sexual misconduct
Note: One student recommendation was pulled, this student expulsion recommendation was sustained by the district hearing officer. I advocated for a suspension in lieu of expulsion in this case, and voted against expulsion. Board voted to expel this student via a 4-1 vote, with me, Jeff Bergosh voting “no”

(I felt the circumstances in this instance warranted stern punishment but not expulsion, as this was a 12th grade honor student with nearly a 4.0 average and no previous disciplinary issues. This student cooperated and implicated herself voluntarily by giving a written statement to assist the district with closing out the investigation. This offense, while serious, was not a “zero tolerance” transgression and I therefore argued that in this case and with the entirety of the issue taken into account-- a measure of lenience would have been appropriate.  Some students in the past in our disrict that have committed worse offenses have received less punitive discipline. )

4 Employee Recommendations by Superintendent approved unanimously by board, to include:

4 Employees returned to work, three with complete reimbursement of back pay.

Meeting adjourned at 6:07PM.