The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room at the Administrative Building, 215 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

Chairman: Mrs. Cary Stidham Vice Chairman: Dr. John DeWitt

Members: Dr. Elmer Jenkins

Dr. Hal Mason

Mrs. Vanette Webb

School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco Negron

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jerome Watson, Deputy Superintendent, was present representing Mr. Jim May

I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the agenda, was unanimously approved.

II. PURCHASING

1. RFP EVALUATIONS - EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT AUDITING SERVICES RFP #00 25 01

Mr. Barry Boyer, Purchasing Manager, presented RFP evaluation guidelines (as filed for the record in the Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit A). After discussion, the Board ranked the following firms:

1) Cherry, Bekaert, Holland - 126 points

2) Brown, Thornton, Pacenta & Co./Cox, Williams, Widner, & Cox - 119 points

3) Carr, Riggs, and Ingram - 112 points

4) Saltmarsh, Cleveland & Gund/O'Sullivan Hicks - 107 points

Chairman Stidham stated that she would call for a recess until Monday, March 27, at 8:00 a.m., for the Board to hear presentations from the three top-ranked firms.

ADD: 2. ITEM 36 UNDER PURCHASING - TABLED FROM 3-21-00 BOARD MEETING

(ADDITIONAL AUDITING SERVICES: RISK MANAGEMENT TRUST)

After discussion with Mr. Sam Scallan, Director of Internal Auditing, motion by Dr. Mason, second by Mrs. Webb, to table the Internal Auditor's recommendations until after presentations for External Independent Auditing Services are done, was unanimously approved.

RECESS

At 10:18 a.m., Chairman Stidham called for recess until Monday, March 27, 2000, at 8:00 a.m. Chairman Stidham reconvened the meeting at 8:05 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2000. Mrs. Webb joined said meeting in progress at 8:09 a.m. Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the agenda as amended, was approved 4-0.

ADD: 3. EMERGENCY ADDITION (3-27-00) REGARDING REPAIRS NEEDED TO RESTORE NORMAL

AND SAFE SCHOOL OPERATIONS/RE: ESCAMBIA HIGH SCHOOL FIRE

After discussion, motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Mason, to table this item until the end of the meeting, was approved 4-0. Later in the meeting, Mr. Ted Kirchharr, Director of Facilities and Maintenance, advised the Board that a fire broke out in a storage closet near the electrical room at Escambia High School, with damage to two classrooms, which are currently not useable. Mr. Greg Gibbs, Risk Management, reported concerning the presence of asbestos in the flooring and ceiling areas, and he stated that after the asbestos is removed, an assessment can be done of the extent of the structural damage. Mr. Kirchharr noted that repair costs will probably not exceed $25,000. Upon recommendation of staff, motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. DeWitt, to authorize emergency repairs due to fire damage at Escambia High School, was unanimously approved.

PRESENTATIONS - EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT AUDITING SERVICES RFP #00 25 01

The Board heard presentations from Cherry, Bekaert, Holland; Brown, Thornton, Pacenta & Co./Cox, Williams, Widner, & Cox; and Carr, Riggs, and Ingram. After discussion, motion was made by Dr. Jenkins to accept the results of the rankings of the auditing firms as follows: 1) Cherry, Bekaert, Holland - 139 points; 2) Brown, Thornton, Pacenta & Co./Cox, Williams, Widner, & Cox - 136 points; and 3) Carr, Riggs, and Ingram - 129 points. Chairman Stidham relinquished the gavel to Dr. DeWitt and seconded the motion. Said motion was unanimously approved.

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Mrs. Webb, to have two persons -- the Board Attorney and the Director of Internal Auditing -- negotiate the contract for external independent auditing services. Mrs. Stidham offered an amendment to the motion asking that the Chairman of the Audit Planning and Review Committee, rather than the Director of Internal Auditing, serve with the Board Attorney in that capacity. Dr. DeWitt returned the gavel to Mrs. Stidham and seconded the motion on the amendment. The motion on the amendment was unanimously approved. Chairman Stidham called for the vote on the original motion (as amended), and said motion was unanimously approved.

III. ADJOURNMENT

Prior to adjournment, concerning 2. Item 36 under Purchasing - Tabled from 3-21-00 Board Meeting (Additional Auditing Services: Risk Management Trust), Mr. Sam Scallan, Director of Internal Auditing, advised that the recommended language changes could be addressed in contract negotiations. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m. (Official recordings of this meeting are filed in the Information Services Department.)