The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Room 160, Hall Educational Services Center, 30 East Texar Drive, 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. Jim May

I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the agenda, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

II. PRESENTATION - 2000-2001 TENTATIVE BUDGET/TENTATIVE MILLAGE

Ms. Barbara Linker, Director of Budgeting, gave a power point presentation on the 2000-2001 Tentative Budget and Millage as outlined in the handout provided (Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit A). Ms. Linker advised that the budget was advertised on July 29, 2000. She explained that the roll back rate is the millage that would generate the same amount of revenue as the prior year (based on the current year tax roll). She noted the only change from last year was the required millage which increased from 6.251 to 6.489, reflecting an increase of .238 mills.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Dr. Douglas Garber, Director of Employee Services, stated that at the last budget session the primary aim of the School Board was to seek to find money for teacher raises and attempt to move compensation for personnel to the best level possible, and he deferred to Ms. Arlene Costello and Mr. Robert Husbands to continue with the presentation of the plan.

2) Ms. Arlene Costello, President, Escambia Education Association, appeared in support of a (five-year) plan to commit to a long-range solution to address the issue of competitive salaries and benefits for employees. Dr. Mason asked if staff was involved in development of the plan. Ms. Costello advised that Dr. Garber and Finance staff were involved in the collaborative efforts to develop the plan.

3) Mr. Robert Husbands, Executive Director, Escambia NEA UniServ, reviewed the plan (Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit B) noting that the plan was based on extensive discussions of a bargaining nature which need to be communicated to the Board in Executive Session.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt to hold the Executive Session starting at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. Mrs. Webb seconded the motion for purposes of discussion, and she offered a friendly amendment to change the time to 10:00 a.m. Dr. DeWitt accepted the friendly amendment. Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was unanimously approved.

Dr. Mason asked the Board Attorney if the scope of collective bargaining is limited to wages, hours, and conditions of employment. The Board Attorney stated that it is. Dr. Mason commented concerning compliance with the Sunshine Law. Dr. Garber verified that the plan to be presented at the Executive Session has no specifics and must come back to the Board to provide specific recommendations concerning salary issues. Mr. Husbands advised that in a future Executive Session the union will provide a salary schedule which will be done in the collaborative process.

III. PUBLIC HEARING FOR INPUT ON 2000-2001 BUDGET

Chairman Stidham opened the public hearing and the Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. Craig Exner, 2304 Chemstrand Road, Pensacola, Florida, deferred his two minute presentation to his wife.

2) Ms. Bonnie Exner, 2304 Chemstrand Road, Pensacola, Florida, stated that she had worked as a teacher in the School District for 27 years, and she spoke in support of increasing teacher salaries. (See handout provided as Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit C.)

3) Ms. Marty Lee, Pensacola, Florida, appeared in support of teacher raises.

4) Mr. Stephen Embry, Pensacola, Florida, asked if the Board was considering the closure of Pensacola Beach Elementary School. He expressed support for teacher raises. Dr. DeWitt stated that there was no plan to close that school. Mrs. Webb stated that she had gotten inquiries concerning possible school closure.

5) Mr. Robert Husbands, Executive Director, Escambia NEA UniServ, stated that there is not any proposal for school closure.

6) Ms. Madonna Jackson-Williams, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in support of teacher raises.

7) Mr. George White, Pensacola, Florida, asked that the Board focus on enforcing zero tolerance for everyone in the School District.

8) Ms. Sonja Sparakas, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in favor of increasing teacher salaries.

9) Mr. Mike Varner, Pensacola, Florida, requested that the Board give consideration to teachers and employees as first priority for purposes of budgeting raises.

10) Ms. Kathy Breakall, 566 Dove Drive, Pace, Florida, addressed the Board in support of increasing employee salaries.

There being no further speakers, Chairman Stidham closed the public hearing.

IV. BUDGET WORK SESSION

Mr. Joseph Bernard, Director of Risk Management, stated that at the last Board Meeting the funding level for health care benefits was established by the Board (based on $272 per person per month) with recommendations from the Insurance Committee to be brought back to the Board. Mr. Bernard reviewed the Group Health Insurance options (Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit D) as recommended by the Insurance Committee noting an increase in the lifetime maximum benefit (from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000), and no increase in employee contribution for Employee Plus 1 and Family Coverage.

Mr. Bernard stated that the Insurance Committee was directed to make the program fit the funding level designated by the Board in order to meet the requirement of a balanced budget. He noted that involved cutting $5,300,000 to adopt the Board's funding level.

The Board recognized the following speaker:

1) Mr. Robert Husbands, Executive Director, Escambia NEA UniServ, suggested that the Board consider not making the details of this plan a Board policy, so that the Board would have the option to make alterations without a policy change. Upon inquiry from Dr. Jenkins, Mr. Husbands stated that if there were fewer employee claims, adjustments could be made accordingly.

Chairman Stidham inquired concerning co-payment options, and Mr. Bernard advised that the Insurance Committee supported the proposed co-payment for doctor visits. Dr. DeWitt asked if open enrollment was still available, and Mr. Bernard stated that the district no longer has an open enrollment policy.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Ms. Madonna Jackson-Williams, Insurance Committee member, stated that she had voted against reducing employee benefits. She asked that the Board table this matter and take steps to increase teacher salaries.

2) Ms. Arlene Costello, President, Escambia Education Association, asked that the Board table this matter.

3) Mr. James Johnson, Pensacola, Florida, spoke concerning employee health plan benefits.

After discussion, motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Mrs. Webb, that using this as an incentive for discussions (in Executive Session) tomorrow, that we table this until the August Board Meeting, was unanimously approved.

V. ADOPTION OF 2000-2001 TENTATIVE MILLAGE

Mrs. Webb expressed concerns related to the Debt Service Fund (in the amount of $10,000,000 paid last year), and she commented that more emphasis should be placed on classroom needs and teacher salaries. Motion was made by Mrs. Webb to put a moratorium or a stop on the Technical High School and see if we can find raises from that, and make teacher raises the number one priority. Dr. Mason seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. Dr. Mason requested input from staff, and Ms. Wascom stated that the repayment of the loan for the Technical High School comes from the Two Mill Capital Improvement Tax Fund and those funds cannot be used for teacher salaries. After discussion, Mrs. Webb withdrew the motion, and Dr. Mason withdrew the second.

Dr. Mason spoke in favor of looking at a directive from the Board to relieve all monies from the General Fund and put it in capital outlay. Mr. May commented that one item from the General Operating Fund is Transportation (approximately $1,600,000), and the Board could consider adopting a policy to adhere to State guidelines for transporting students by bus within a two-mile radius. After discussion, Chairman Stidham relinquished the gavel to Dr. DeWitt and made a motion that the Transportation Department work strictly from Transportation Funds and that no funds from the General Fund supplement transportation (with transportation to pay for itself). Dr. DeWitt seconded the motion. No vote was taken on this motion.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. James Johnson, Pensacola, Florida, asked that the Board consider tabling this motion.

2) Mr. Jerry Caine, Director of Operations, commented that consideration would need to be given to the impact on students.

Dr. Mason offered a substitute motion to direct staff to bring a total cost analysis to the August Board Meeting and Mrs. Stidham could make a motion if in order at that time. Dr. DeWitt seconded the substitute motion.

The Board recognized the following speaker:

1) Mr. Mike Connors, Transportation Department, commented concerning transportation funding.

After discussion, Dr. DeWitt called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Dr. Jenkins voting NO.

Motion was made by Dr. Mason that the Superintendent check the people that are on permanent full-time disability in order to replace the NYCO Security Guard (employed in the Administration Building) with a permanent workers' compensation employee. Mrs. Webb seconded the motion. After discussion, Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Dr. Jenkins voting NO.

Motion was made by Dr. Mason and seconded by Mrs. Webb, that the $807,000 in out-of-county travel be reduced to $200,000. Ms. Linker advised that the funding is categorical in nature and cannot be used for another purpose. After discussion, Dr. Mason withdrew the motion and Mrs. Webb withdrew the second.

Motion was made by Mrs. Webb and seconded by Dr. Mason, that the $55,000 agreement with Santa Rosa County (to transport some of our students) be discontinued. No vote was taken on this motion. Ms. Wascom advised that the agreement may be terminated by either party at the end of any school year by giving not less than 90 days notice. Dr. Mason suggested amending the motion to include the cooperative agreement with the State of Alabama. Ms. Linker commented concerning FTE considerations.

After discussion, Mrs. Webb restated the motion to direct the Superintendent to renegotiate the contract to not pay the $55,000 agreement with Santa Rosa County to transport students. Dr. Mason seconded the motion. No vote was taken on the motion.

After discussion, Mrs. Webb restated the motion to direct the Superintendent to negotiate a cooperative agreement with Santa Rosa County (for transportation of students) that does not involve a monetary exchange. Dr. Mason seconded the motion. Said motion was approved 3-2 with Dr. DeWitt and Dr. Jenkins voting NO.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative millage as follows:

General Fund: Required Local Effort 6.489

Discretionary - Basic 0.510

Discretionary - Supplemental 0.250

Total General Fund Millage 7.249

Capital Improvement 2.000

Total Millage 9.249

Dr. Jenkins inquired concerning the possibility of raising the millage. Ms. Wascom stated that the millage is currently at the maximum allowed by the state.

Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 3-2 with Dr. Mason and Mrs. Webb voting NO.

VI. ADOPTION OF 2000-2001 TENTATIVE BUDGET

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the General Fund Operating Budget in the amount of $241,314,848.64.

The Board recognized the following speaker:

1) Ms. Arlene Costello, President, Escambia Education Association, noted that this budget is tentative and an Executive Session will be held tomorrow to address salary issues.

Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 3-2 with Dr. Mason and Mrs. Webb voting NO.

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the Special Revenue Fund-Food Service Fund in the amount of $22,271,082.92, was unanimously approved.

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the Federal Funds in the amount of $24,525,598.02, was unanimously approved.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the Debt Service Funds in the amount of $10,090,166.80. After discussion, Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Dr. Mason voting NO.

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the Capital Outlay Funds in the amount of $113,254,441.06, was unanimously approved.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the Internal Service Fund in the amount of $32,430,783.86. Mrs. Webb stated that she had concerns regarding the $6,000,000 budget shortfall, and she felt that the Board should have been fully informed, with access to financial data in this area. Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget for the Trust and Agencies Fund in the amount of $31,000.00. Mrs. Webb requested clarification from staff and was advised by Ms. Linker that in prior years the Florida Teacher Lead Funds went through this Trust Fund because it was a transfer to the school internal accounts; however, the state has changed the rules and the money will go to the teacher directly in the form of a stipend. Dr. Mason commented that the Governor had provided monies for bonuses for teachers in "A" graded schools. Ms. Linker verified that those monies will be put into the General Fund. Dr. DeWitt noted that Science teachers and Special Education teachers in high schools and middle schools got a letter indicating they were eligible for $1200 bonuses if they taught last year and would teach again this year. He asked when we heard about that and how it is budgeted. Ms. Linker noted that the teacher recruitment and retention bonuses are included in the budget as part of the FEFP program. She added that the bonuses for "A" graded schools will not be budgeted until the state determines the funding and provides an appropriation to the district.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Dr. Douglas Garber, Director of Employee Services, advised that House Bill 2145 is a special allocation for bonuses for five areas and letters of intent had to be sent out by August 1, 2000.

2) Ms. Arlene Costello, President, Escambia Education Association, advised that the elementary school teachers will not get the bonuses.

After discussion, Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was unanimously approved.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative budget (subtotal) in the amount of $443,917,921.30, was approved 3-2 with Dr. Mason and Mrs. Webb voting NO.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins, that the less transfers from the General Fund be approved in the amount of $1,159,619.00. Ms. Linker advised that the motion was not necessary, and the Board could proceed to the grand total. Dr. DeWitt withdrew the motion, and Dr. Jenkins withdrew the second.

Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the 2000/2001 tentative total budget in the amount of $435,260,347.10. Mrs. Webb inquired concerning transfers from the General Fund, and Ms. Linker advised that the transfers would go to debt service to pay for the energy performance contracts. Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 3-2 with Dr. Mason and Mrs. Webb voting NO.

VII. SET DATE FOR FINAL BUDGET HEARING

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. Robert Husbands, Executive Director, Escambia NEA UniServ, commented that EEA has committed to communicate through the collaborative bargaining process and not release information that would create fear or misperception.

2) Ms. Gail Husbands, 1055 Farmington Place, Pensacola, Florida, requested clarification concerning the scope of bargaining. The Board Attorney advised that bargaining can address wages, working conditions, and terms or conditions of employment, but does not prohibit addressing other factors which impact wages, etc.

After discussion, motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to set the date for the final Budget Hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2000, at the Hall Educational Services Center, was unanimously approved.

VIII. RECOMMENDATION REGARDING EMPLOYEE NUMBER 153132 FOR PERSONNEL ACTION

Mr. May submitted a recommendation for reinstatement of Employee Number 153132. Motion was made by Mrs. Webb to table this issue until the Board obtains further information. Said motion died for lack of second. Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins to honor the Superintendent's recommendation. Chairman Stidham relinquished the gavel and seconded the motion. Mrs. Webb asked that the Board consider tabling this issue. Dr. Jenkins requested input from the Board Attorney as to the Board's options on supporting the Superintendent's recommendation. Mr. Negron stated that the Board has the option of either accepting or rejecting the Superintendent's recommendation, and if it rejects the Superintendent's recommendation, it must do so with good cause. Dr. Mason stated that the court had adjudicated or determined a "not guilty" finding and the statutes require that in order for the Board to go against the Superintendent's recommendation, there must be just cause. Mr. Negron clarified Dr. Mason's statements that if the Board rejects the Superintendent's recommendation, it needs do that with good cause, not just cause. Mrs. Webb commented that the backup referred to letters of reprimand which were not provided. Mr. May clarified that if letters of reprimand are written, they are written by the administration, placed in the employee's personnel folder, and do not require Board approval. Dr. DeWitt stated that he would not support the Superintendent's recommendation based on the zero tolerance policy with all students and with all staff.

The Board recognized the following speaker:

1) Mr. Dennis Larry, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in support of the Superintendent's recommendation.

Mr. May commented that when the employee was suspended without pay, it was pending the outcome of the trial, and the employee was cleared by a jury of his peers. Mr. May stated that a letter of reprimand will be placed in the employee's personnel folder. He added that he has submitted to the Professional Practices Commission a request to review these actions for ethics violations, and if there is a need for any further action, that can come from the Professional Practices Commission.

After discussion, Dr. DeWitt called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Dr. DeWitt voting NO. Dr. DeWitt returned the gavel to Mrs. Stidham.

IX. RECOMMENDATION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFERS

Mr. May recommended approval of administrative transfer of Ms. Wendy Bennett from Brownsville Middle to Assistant Principal of Bellview Middle, effective July 31, 2000; and transfer of Ms. Linda Doelker from Scenic Heights Elementary to Assistant Principal of Holm Elementary, effective July 31, 2000. Mr. May stated that Ms. Bennett and Ms. Doelker will be retiring on August 31, 2000, and the transfers will allow the schools to begin the school year with their new principals. Motion was made by Dr. Mason to accept the Superintendent's recommendation. Dr. Jenkins seconded the motion. Dr. Jenkins inquired concerning the time frame and was advised that the transfers would be effective July 31 through August 31, 2000. Dr. DeWitt asked if the principals had been approved for the schools, and Mr. May recommended adding that to the motion. Dr. Mason so moved. Dr. Jenkins seconded the motion. Mrs. Webb asked for input from the Board Attorney concerning advertising requirements. Mr. Negron spoke in favor of advertising. Mr. May stated that he could make a temporary placement. Dr. Mason withdrew the motion and Dr. DeWitt withdrew the second.

Chairman Stidham called for the vote on the Superintendent's recommendation (for administrative transfers of Wendy Bennett and Linda Doelker), and the motion was unanimously approved.

X. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Mrs. Webb, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m., was unanimously approved.