The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel (Administration) Building, 215 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

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

Members: Mr. Gary L. Bergosh

Mrs. Linda Finkelstein

Dr. Elmer Jenkins

School Board Attorney: Mr. Francisco Negron

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul

I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

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

II. ITEMS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

1) SUPERINTENDENT'S REORGANIZATION PLAN

Mr. Paul presented recommendations concerning reassignments of staff noting that the reassignments would save the district $100,000 over the next six (6) months and up to $500,000 over the next thirty (30) months. A motion was made by Mr. Bergosh to approve the Superintendent's recommendations for reassignment of personnel (as listed on the handout distributed by the Superintendent, effective January 3, 2001, and as appended to Mr. Bergosh's motion as Tab A). The following reassignments were listed and filed in Supplementary Minute Book Exhibit A: Jerome Watson, Deputy Superintendent to Director III, Transportation; Clarence Ladner, Associate Superintendent, to Principal, Lincoln Park Elementary; Annette McArthur, Director IA, Elementary Education, to Associate Superintendent; Debra Malishan, Principal of Lincoln Park Elementary, to Director IA, Elementary Education; Douglas Garber, Director I, Employee Services, to Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources; Gene Pettis, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction, to Director I, Employee Services; Ella Sims, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, to Assistant Principal, Woodham High School; Sarah Armstrong, Director I, Staff Development/Coordinator of FDLRS, to Community School Coordinator, Woodham; Barbara Frye, Coordinator IA, Information Services, to Purchasing Agent; Ronald Arnold, Teacher, to Coordinator IA, Information Services; Paul Fetsko, Subject Area Specialist, to Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction; and  Shirley Clark, Teacher, to Director I - Staff Development. Mrs. Stidham seconded the motion.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. LeRoy Boyd, 208 Hart Drive, Pensacola, Florida, stated that he was speaking on behalf of Movement for Change, Inc., and he expressed concern regarding reassignment of the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, an administrative position, to Assistant Principal of Woodham High School, which is a school-based position.

2) Ms. Anne McDowell, 4239 Brookside Drive, Pensacola, Florida, asked that the Board not support the Superintendent's recommendation for reassignment of the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources to the school-based position of Assistant Principal of Woodham High School.

Dr. DeWitt asked the Board's General Counsel to advise, and Mr. Negron stated that under Florida Statutes, the Superintendent has the responsibility of nominating persons for employment by the School Board and also the responsibility for making recommendations for transfers or promotions. The Board can only accept or reject the recommendation for transfer, provided the Board has good cause for doing so.

After discussion, Dr. Jenkins offered an amendment to the motion to have the Superintendent pull Item G (reassignment of Ella Sims, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources) for further consideration. Mr. Negron stated that the motion would be more properly stated to approve all of the transfers but that of Ella Sims for separate consideration at this time. Mrs. Finkelstein seconded the motion. Dr. Jenkins expressed concern regarding reassignment of an Assistant Superintendent to an Assistant Principal. Mrs. Finkelstein spoke in favor of placing Ms. Sims in a position that would be more equivalent to that of Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Paul stated that he had conferred with Ms. Sims, and the only position available at that time was that of an Assistant Principal at Woodham High School. He stated that he had advised her that reassignment would be made as something else became available.

Chairman DeWitt called for the vote on the amendment, and the motion failed 3-2 with Mr. Bergosh, Dr. DeWitt, and Mrs. Stidham voting NO. Chairman DeWitt called for the vote on the original motion and said motion was approved 3-2 with Mrs. Finkelstein and Dr. Jenkins voting NO.

A motion was made by Mr. Bergosh to approve the job description entitled Coordinator of Legislative and Community Affairs, placement of the position in the district planning document as recommended by the Superintendent, with the limitation that the position will terminate after one year, at which time the Board will evaluate the success of the position and may then choose to continue said position. Mrs. Stidham seconded the motion. Mrs. Finkelstein obtained clarification that travel expenses will also be necessary, such as travel to Tallahassee during the Legislative session.

After discussion, Mrs. Finkelstein offered an amendment to the motion to sunset the position in six months. Dr. Jenkins seconded the motion. Dr. Jenkins inquired concerning estimated costs including benefits. Dr. Douglas Garber, Director of Employee Services, advised that the position (including benefits) comes to $75,000. Mrs. Finkelstein stated that because the district is in a time of budget deficit with teacher salaries and health insurance issues, it does not seem fiscally responsible at this time. After discussion, Dr. DeWitt called for the vote on the amendment and the motion failed 3-2 with Mr. Bergosh, Dr. DeWitt, and Mrs. Stidham voting NO.

Mrs. Finkelstein offered an amendment to the motion to place the position under the governance or operation of the School Board as stated in Florida Statute 230(10). Dr. Jenkins seconded the motion. After discussion, Chairman DeWitt called for the vote and the amendment failed 4-1 with Mr. Bergosh, Dr. DeWitt, Dr. Jenkins, and Mrs. Stidham voting NO.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. John Wyche, 861 Maple Wood Circle, Pensacola, Florida, addressed the Board in support of creating the position of Coordinator of Legislative and Community Affairs.

2) Mr. Craig Exner, 2340 Old Chemstrand Road, Cantonment, Florida, expressed opposition to creating the position due to budgetary concerns.

3) Ms. Colleen Boyett, 1667 Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment, Florida, expressed support for the proposed position.

4) Mr. Wally Odom, 6561 Chardonnay, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in favor of creating the position.

5) Ms. Angie Llewellyn, 4040 Alconbury Circle, Pensacola, Florida, stated that she is a teacher at Pensacola High School, and she expressed support for the proposed Coordinator position.

6) Admiral Jack Fetterman, 24 Lakeside Drive, Pensacola, Florida, stated that he serves as Chairman of the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, and he expressed support for creating the position.

7) Reverend C. E. Glover, Sr., 1000 Farmington Road, Pensacola, Florida, expressed support for the proposed position in order to provide community and school district representation and to generate funds which could be used toward teacher raises.

8) Mr. Art Rocker, 1822 T Street, Pensacola, Florida, stated that he serves as Executive Director of Good Schools for All, and he expressed support for the Superintendent and the proposed Coordinator position.

9) Ms. Amanda Richardson, 2000 East Bobe Street, Pensacola, Florida, objected to creating the position. She expressed that emphasis should be placed on curriculum needs and teacher pay issues.

10) Ms. Sara Cohan, 1714 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, Florida, stated that she is a teacher at Pensacola High School, and she expressed opposition to the proposed position due to equity concerns; i.e., adding a position when the district is supposed to be making cutbacks.

11) Mr. Larry Fordham, Sr., 5933 Schofield Drive, Pensacola, Florida, expressed support for creating the position as an opportunity to get additional funding.

12) Mr. LeRoy Boyd, Movement for Change, Inc., expressed opposition to the proposed position.

13) Ms. Arlene Costello, Escambia Education Association (EEA) President, stated that the Association has met with the Superintendent and will work together for the success of public education and toward teacher raises and pay equity. She commented in favor of achieving the earliest possible resolution to collective bargaining for benefits and salaries before any new position occurs. She obtained clarification from the Board's General Counsel concerning the Board's ability to accept or reject the Superintendent's recommendation (with good cause).

14) Mr. Steve Tuley, 7375 Glidden Lanue, Pensacola, Florida, expressed concerns regarding creating the Coordinator position.

15) Ms. Mary Armstrong, 1007 West Fisher Street, Pensacola, Florida, commented that more black teachers and black administrators are needed in the school system.

Mrs. Finkelstein commented that she was not opposed to the position; however, there was an issue of having another lobbyist, Joy Frank, who was previously hired. She spoke in favor of fiscal responsibility and turning attention to teachers. After discussion, Chairman DeWitt called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Finkelstein voting NO.

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, a motion was made by Mr. Bergosh and seconded by Mrs. Finkelstein, to abolish the job descriptions of Director IIA-Accounting Operations; Accounting Supervisor-Travel and Food Service Accounting; and Director IIIA-Special Projects, effective January 3, 2001. Chairman DeWitt noted this could save up to $200,000 on positions which would not be filled. After discussion, Chairman DeWitt called for the vote and the motion was unanimously approved.

Mr. Paul recommended that Mike Burns be appointed to the position of Coordinator of Legislative and Community Affairs. After discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Bergosh and seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to approve the Superintendent's recommendation to appoint Mike Burns as the Coordinator of Legislative and Community Affairs, effective December 11, 2000.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mrs. Gail Husbands, 1055 Farmington Place, Pensacola, Florida, expressed concerns regarding budget problems and the need for representation at the state level.

2) Mr. Roger Goldberg, 2675 Tambridge Circle, Pensacola, Florida, expressed concern regarding the appointment process.

3) Mr. Dan Clark, 8109 Monticello Drive, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in support of the position.

Mrs. Finkelstein emphasized that the professional qualifications of the candidate require a thorough working knowledge of the school district and clear understanding of public education. Chairman DeWitt noted that the contract would be through June 30, 2001, with a one-year renewal option. Chairman DeWitt called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Finkelstein voting NO.

III. ADJOURNMENT

Prior to adjournment, a moment of silence was held to note the passing of Mr. R. N. Dunagan, who had served the School District as a Citizens' Advisory Committee Member, and Mr. Jon Smith, who had taught at Brownsville Middle School.

The meeting adjourned at 4:54 p.m. (Official recordings of this meeting are filed in the Information Services Department.)

Attest: Approved:

______________________________ _______________________________

Superintendent Chairman