The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Room 160, Hall Center, 30 East Texar Drive, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

Chairman: Mrs. Cary Stidham Vice Chairman: Dr. John DeWitt (was present via conference call/speaker phone)

Members: Dr. Elmer Jenkins

Dr. Hal Mason

Mrs. Vanette Webb

School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco Negron

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim May

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Stidham called the Special Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

II. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

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

III. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 - (Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit A)

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the Annual Financial Report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2000. Mrs. Webb registered a NO vote stating concerns that the Superintendent's Report (Financial Audit) is an unaudited budget report, and she has questions regarding some of the areas that have not been audited, primarily the Internal Trust Fund. After discussion, Ms. Patricia Wascom, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Affairs, clarified that the Superintendent's Annual Financial Report is not audited at the time of submission to the State Commissioner of Education; however, the report will be audited and presented to the Board at the appropriate time in December or January. Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

Mrs. Webb asked if Dr. DeWitt was absent due to illness. She stated that it was her understanding that a Board Member could call in via telephone only in the case of illness. The Board Attorney stated that was incorrect. He noted that Section 230.17, Florida Statutes, requires the School Board to hold meetings in a public place in the county. He stated that several opinions issued by the Attorney General have indicated that as long as a quorum is present, public Boards may use communications and media technology, such as a speaker phone, in order to participate in votes in meetings, and there is no stipulation based on illness.

IV. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING FOR INPUT ON DISTRICT'S TENTATIVE (FIVE-YEAR) FACILITIES WORK PROGRAM

Chairman Stidham opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak concerning the District's Tentative (Five-Year) Facilities Work Program. There was no response, and Chairman Stidham closed the public hearing.

V. ADOPTION OF DISTRICT'S TENTATIVE (FIVE-YEAR) FACILITIES WORK PROGRAM

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the District's Tentative (Five-Year) Facilities Work Program, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit B)

VI. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING FOR INPUT ON MILLAGE RATES AND DISTRICT SCHOOL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001

Chairman Stidham opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak concerning the Millage Rates; there was no response. Chairman Stidham asked if anyone wished to speak concerning the budget, and the Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. Kent Rettig, 3570 Wimbledon Drive, Pensacola, Florida, 32504, stated that he had taught for 30 years, and he spoke in support of pay raises for teachers.

2) Ms. Angie Llewellyn, 4040 Alconburg Circle, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, stated that she is a teacher at Pensacola High School, and she spoke in support of teacher raises.

3) Mr. Harry Tripp, 1153 Clymil Drive, Cantonment, Florida, 32533, stated that he had taught for 20 years, and he asked that the Board increase teacher salaries.

4) Mr. John Wyche, 861 Maple Woods Circle, Pensacola, Florida, 32534-4153, spoke in support of increasing teacher pay and returning focus to the needs of children.

5) Ms. Carol Warner, 1089 Chandelle Lake Drive, Pensacola, Florida, 32507, stated that she had taught for 34 years, and she asked that the School Board recognize and reward the dedication of teachers with pay increases. She asked that health benefits not be reduced.

6) Ms. Suzanne Bosso, 501 East Burgess, Penacola, Florida, 32504, asked that the School Board pay teachers like professionals.

7) Mr. Walter Gulley, Jr., 6632 Hampton Road, Pensacola, Florida 32503, stated that he is the Social Studies Chairman at Washington High School. He spoke in support of pay raises for teachers.

8) Ms. Patricia Vickers, 625 North 62nd Avenue, Pensacola, Florida, 32506, asked that the Board approve salary increases for teachers and that the Board not reduce employee health insurance benefits.

9) Mr. Albert Rice, 1635 Scott Court, Gulf Breeze, Florida, 32561, spoke concerning the need for pay raises for teachers. He asked that the Board eliminate centers and services that are not required by State regulations.

10) Ms. Arlene Costello, President, Escambia Education Association (EEA), expressed that commitment is needed to secure professional pay and good benefits for teachers.

11) Ms. Maureen Dinnen, 213 South Adams Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301, stated that she represents 120,000 members of the Florida Education Association. She stated that all teachers and employees must focus on the first priority of educating students, and she spoke in support of pay raises for employees.

12) Mr. Andy Ford, 213 South Adams Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301, stated that he is the Vice President of the Florida Education Association, and he asked that the Board prioritize the budget in order to increase pay for employees.

13) Dr. Denise Rockwell-Woods stated that she is a teacher at Palms Middle School in Los Angeles, California, and she spoke representing President Bob Chase and the 2,500,000 members of the National Education Association. She emphasized that quality teachers and quality support personnel achieve the goal of making a difference in the lives of students to prepare them for lifelong learning. She stated that budget priorities should be addressed in order to remunerate teachers and employees as professionals.

14) Mr. Don Paro, 3185 Hyde Park Place, Pensacola, Florida, asked that the Board find funds in the budget to give teachers the raises they deserve.

15) Ms. Ellen Lawrence, 4850 Woodcliff Drive, Pensacola, Florida, stated that she serves as UniServ Director for Escambia NEA. She spoke on behalf of the Presidents of the Educational Support Personnel groups, representing more than 2200 personnel, to support raises for employees and to save the health insurance benefits.

16) Ms. Linda Pate, 6137 Bougainvilla Circle, Pensacola, Florida, 32504, requested that the Board amend the budget to take $2,200,000 (out of the $2,600,000 in savings) to go toward partial restoration of employee health insurance benefits. She asked that the Board give the teachers and employees the raises they deserve.

17) Ms. Suzanne Wagg, 1730 North Barcelona Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32504, stated that employees have been urged to "put the customers -- the students -- first," and they are doing so; therefore, the Board should "take care of the work force."

18) Ms. Sara Cohan, 1714 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, Florida, 32503, stated that she is a teacher, and she asked that the Board approve the pay raises that teachers deserve.

19) Ms. Ruth Holmes, 7468 Sunset Harbor Drive, Navarre Beach, Florida, 32566, commented concerning the importance of retaining employee health insurance benefits.

20) Mr. Benny Washington, 7435 Northpointe Boulevard, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, stated that he is a teacher at Woodham High School, and he asked that the Board approve teacher raises and hire more minorities.

21) Ms. Myra Palmer, 4084 Potasi Road, Pensacola, Florida, 32504, spoke in support of pay raises for teachers.

22) Mr. Robert Husbands, Executive Director, Escambia NEA UniServ, spoke in support of rewarding good teachers and good employees with pay raises.

VII. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION DETERMINING REVENUES AND MILLAGES LEVIED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the resolution determining Revenues and Millages levied for fiscal year 2000-2001. Mrs. Webb obtained clarification from Ms. Barbara Linker, Director of Budgeting, that the millages were shown on the front page of the resolution, and Item Numbers 3 and 4 on the resolution were not those funds. Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit C)

VIII. FINAL ADOPTION OF MILLAGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001

1) Required Local Effort

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Required Local Effort millage levy of 6.489, was unanimously approved.

2) Discretionary -- Basic

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Discretionary Basic millage levy of 0.510, was unanimously approved.

3) Discretionary -- Supplemental

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Discretionary Supplemental millage levy of 0.250, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

4) Capital Outlay

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the Capital Outlay millage levy of 2.000, was unanimously approved.

5) Total Millage

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. Mason, to adopt the total millage levy of 9.249, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

IX. FINAL ADOPTION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001

1) General Fund

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the General Fund in the amount of $241,198,246.96. Mrs. Webb stated that she would vote no because teacher salaries come out of the General Fund, and that fund does not include a raise. Dr. Mason filed a statement for the record in the Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit D. After discussion, Chairman Stidham stated that if the Board does not approve the budget tonight, the district would be found in noncompliance and funding would be held in escrow. She noted that the School Board is still working on making budget cuts and budget amendments can be made at a later date.

The Board recognized the following speaker:

Ms. Arlene Costello, President, Escambia Education Association (EEA), emphasized the importance of staying focused on the issues in order to solve the budget problems.

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

2) Special Revenue - Food Service

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Special Revenue - Food Service in the amount of $22,177,718.22, was unanimously approved.

3) Special Revenue - Other

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Special Revenue - Other in the amount of $25,037,496.18, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

4) Debt Service Funds

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Debt Service Funds in the amount of $10,076,243.05, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

5) Capital Project Funds

Motion by Dr. Mason, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adopt the Capital Project Funds in the amount of $113,762,288.17, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

6) Internal Service Funds

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the Internal Service Funds in the amount of $32,605,774.71. Mrs. Webb stated the reason for her no vote was that she saw no change in the report since the Auditor General's Report Number 13657 last year (page 82, paragraphs 21 and 24-30). Chairman Stidham called for the vote and the motion was approved 3-2 with Dr. Mason and Mrs. Webb voting NO.

7) Trust Funds

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the Trust Funds in the amount of $31,162.68, was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

8) Total Budget

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Dr. DeWitt, to adopt the Total Budget Funds in the amount of $436,227,805.77, was approved 3-2 with Dr. Mason and Mrs. Webb voting NO.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit E)

X. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 p.m., was unanimously approved. (Official recordings of this meeting are filed in the Information Services Department.)

Attest: Approved:

____________________________ _____________________________

Superintendent Chairman