The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 5:32 p.m. in the Board Room at the Administrative Building, 215 West Garden Street, with the following present:

Chairman: Dr. Elmer Jenkins Vice Chairman: Dr. John DeWitt

Members: Mr. Jim C. Bailey

Mrs. Barbara Morris

Mrs. Vanette Webb

School Board Attorney: Mr. Louis F. Ray, Jr.

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim May

Chairman Jenkins called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. The invocation was given by Mrs. Vanette Webb, School Board Member, District 5, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Barbara Morris, School Board Member, District 2. Chairman Jenkins stated that at this time the Public Hearing would begin.

I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Motion by Mr. Bailey, second by Mrs. Morris, to adopt the agenda, was unanimously approved.

II. APPROVAL OF 1997-98 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS

Motion made by Mr. Bailey and seconded by Mrs. Morris, to approve the 1997-98 Final Budget Amendments. It was noted that these were amendments on the portables to close out the end of the year. Mrs. Webb commented that more time was needed to review the materials and requested clarification as to the purpose of the amendments. Mrs. Patricia Wascom, Comptroller, advised that these were amendments (to three funds for capital leases for portable or relocatable buildings) to make a correction in the accounting methodology, and the amendments have been reflected in the Annual Financial Report. After discussion, Chairman Jenkins called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit A)

III. APPROVAL OF ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1998

Motion made by Mrs. Morris and seconded by Mr. Bailey, to approve the Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1998. Dr. DeWitt asked about the Magnet School grant with reference to the $200,000 that will not be collected because we did not spend it all by the end of the grant period. Mr. Gene Pettis, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, advised that several years ago positions were added for a director and bookkeeper and a decision was made by the district to combine those positions into the Grants Manager position. He explained that those dollars were not expended because they were categorically put into salaries for positions that did not materialize, and the federal government had advised that those dollars could not be encumbered for another purpose until the end of the grant period, which was August 31, 1998. Ms. Linda Gulley, Director of Grants Management, noted that a no-cost extension was requested and the government may extend it. She also noted that the allowable 10% line item transfer was done.

Mr. Pettis stated that staff will provide updates to the Board along with the Superintendent as to forthcoming responses from the government. After discussion, Chairman Jenkins called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit B)

Mr. May introduced Ms. Heidi Hall, new Education Reporter with the Pensacola News Journal, who is taking Ms. Leslie Conn's place.

IV. ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE DISTRICT FACILITIES WORK PROGRAM

The Board Attorney called for speaker(s) to come forward, and the Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Ms. Sheila Romaine, 4821 Woodcliff Drive, Pensacola, Florida, 32504, spoke concerning school bus transportation problems at N.B. Cook Elementary School. Mr. May advised that an ad was recently placed in the newspaper for substitute bus drivers. Mr. Mike Connors, Transportation Director, advised that a new bus driver has been assigned a dedicated bus route for N.B. Cook so that children will not have to wait for a bus after school lets out, and the problem will be fixed this week.

Ms. Romaine expressed concern regarding lack of gym space at Ferry Pass Middle School, adding that the girl's basketball schedule had changed last year to two games per week, and she inquired concerning use of one-half cent sales tax monies to expand the gym as an extension of the locker rooms. Mr. May stated that there is no money in the budget or in sales tax monies to build a gym, and that by law the Board must adhere to the projects that were designated and advertised to be funded by sales tax monies. Mrs. Webb suggested that use of high school gyms be considered. Mr. Manny Harageones, P.E. Department, advised that Washington High School had only four dates for the entire season that middle schools could use, but all four dates were taken, and the problem involves lack of gym space. Mrs. Morris noted that there are seven middle schools that have the same problem. Dr. David Epperson, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities Planning and Maintenance, advised that building a gym could cost as much as $3,000,000, and monies budgeted for Ferry Pass would not come close to building a gym.

Regarding the Tentative District Facilities Work Program, Mrs. Morris stated that she had concerns about priority years for some of the items, noting tremendous needs at Escambia High School. She discussed the possibility of utilizing the capital crew and asked if the $557,500 in capital outlay dollars had been prioritized. Mr. Ted Kirchharr, Director of Facilities Planning, stated that not all of the projects were necessarily reflected in that the intent with the capital outlay crew and the energy conservation crew was to try to set quarterly priorities which would be brought to the Board for approval for each upcoming quarter.

Mrs. Morris commented that dollars were budgeted to do the girl's P.E. locker rooms, but the extent of the project was so great that the dollars budgeted were not enough. She noted that a portion of that was completed, but the showers in the girl's locker rooms are not safe. She stated that EHS is the second largest high school on the enrollment list and does not have the capacity to hold those, and will only be getting four classrooms in the classrooms first dollars. Mrs. Morris stated that there is a move with the architect to redraft the survey, giving some resource classrooms that do not take away from the student stations. When the first three programs in classrooms first (Escambia, Pensacola High, and Pleasant Grove), were bonded for $9,000,000, EHS ended up with only $2,000,000 because we did not have the stations. She commented that if the State Department accepts the new survey, we will have classroom space and she asked that the Board commit to do the ESE building, which would be a new classroom too. In addition, the band room is not safe in that it has a capacity for 75 and they have 200 students in the band, plus instruments. She stated that hopefully the capital crew can make some of the improvements in addition to the other dollars.

Chairman Jenkins called for a motion on Item IV. Motion made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Mrs. Morris, to adopt the Tentative District Facilities Work Program.

The Board Attorney asked if there were any further speakers; there was no response.

Mrs. Webb expressed concerns that in District 5, as discussed when allocations were done for the one-half cent sales tax money, there was not an equitable distribution and some of the north end schools, especially Byrneville, need certain renovations that cannot wait for five years due to safety reasons. She stated that before a few amendments were made last year to the Capital Outlay Budget, District 5 had less than ½ of 1% of that budget. She stated with reference to committing monies, that the Board should address the greatest needs as they arise. Mrs. Morris emphasized that over the years the Board had committed to finalize the five-year plans for Tate and Pensacola High School and would hope that the Board would continue to follow through with the five-year plan and projects for Escambia, as the Board has done for the other schools. She noted research showed that since 1986, District 5 had gotten more money than any other District, followed with District 1 because of new construction, then District 4, and Districts 2 and 3 had received the least amount.

After discussion, Chairman Jenkins called for the vote and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit C)

V. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION DETERMINING REVENUES AND MILLAGE LEVIED

FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998-99

1. REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT MILLAGE

Motion by Mrs. Morris, second by Mr. Bailey, to approve the Required Local Effort millage levy of 6.796, was unanimously approved.

2. DISCRETIONARY BASIC MILLAGE

Motion by Mrs. Morris, second by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the Discretionary Basic millage levy of 0.510, was unanimously approved.

3. DISCRETIONARY SUPPLEMENTAL MILLAGE

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Mrs. Morris, to approve the Discretionary Supplemental millage levy of 0.250, was unanimously approved.

4. CAPITAL OUTLAY MILLAGE

Motion made by Mrs. Morris and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the Capital Outlay millage levy of 2.000. Mrs. Webb stated that she would vote in the affirmative; however, she is not happy with the way that will be spent. The motion was unanimously approved.

5. TOTAL MILLAGE

Motion made by Mr. Bailey and seconded by Mrs. Morris, to approve the Total millage levy of 9.556. Mrs. Morris stated that this is below last year's millage and commented that people have called with concerns that the School Board is raising their taxes, and they are not. Mrs. Morris noted at the last meeting, she had asked if we would be able to advertise a true millage, but was told that law does not go into effect until January, 1999, so next year there will not be an ad in the newspaper stating that the School Board has raised taxes unless they actually have. It was noted that the Property Appraiser reassessed property values and that taxes increased based on property value being reassessed at a higher rate.

Chairman Jenkins called for the vote and the motion was unanimously approved.

Motion made by Dr. DeWitt and seconded by Mr. Bailey, to adopt the Resolution Determining

Revenues and Millages Levied. Mrs. Webb asked if the resolution had been provided. The Board Attorney noted that the form of the resolution appears in the budget documents. Chairman Jenkins called for the vote and the motion was unanimously approved.

VI. ADOPTION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998-99

1. GENERAL FUND

Motion made by Mr. Bailey and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the General Fund amount

of $239,469,778.03. Dr. DeWitt presented an amendment in writing for Board consideration:

There was a motion approved last month to transfer $30,000 from out-of-county travel

to school sites for supplies, which is reflected in this budget. The proposed budget

reflects staff's recommendations on the amount various departments were cut in order

to arrive at the $30,000. I am not in agreement with those recommendations and

therefore, I move: that $30,000 from out-of-county travel be divided among all

departments on a pro-rata basis.

The motion on the amendment was seconded by Mr. Bailey. Chairman Jenkins asked if this change would have an adverse affect on any department. Mr. Wallace Odom, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business Affairs, stated that the amendment would not adversely affect any department. He requested (due to time constraints for submitting the budget within three days to Tallahassee), that the budget be adopted as presented, and that any changes could be made when approved by the Board as subsequent amendments. Dr. DeWitt accepted that as an amendment. After discussion, Chairman Jenkins called for the vote on the amendment and the motion was unanimously approved. Chairman Jenkins called for the vote to approve the General Fund appropriation and the motion was unanimously approved.

2. SPECIAL REVENUE - FOOD SERVICE FUND

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Mr. Bailey, to approve the Special Revenue - Food Service Fund in the amount of $20,656,814.23, was unanimously approved.

3. SPECIAL REVENUE - OTHER

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Mr. Bailey, to approve the Special Revenue - Other in the amount of $21,700,710.33, was unanimously approved.

4. DEBT SERVICE FUNDS

Motion made by Mr. Bailey and seconded by Mrs. Morris, to approve the Debt Service Fund in the amount of $7,619,794.84. Mrs. Webb stated that she had voted no last time, and would vote in the affirmative now, but she does have some concerns. The motion was unanimously approved.

5. CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS

Motion was made by Mrs. Morris and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the Capital Projects Funds in the amount of $73,105,277.03. Mrs. Morris provided copies of the first draft of the five-year plan for Escambia High School, noting the location of the new classrooms first, and the ESE building if the survey is approved. (A copy of said document was filed in the Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit D.) Mrs. Morris stated that the architects had indicated that $200,000 would do some initial

work which would tie into the overall plan for EHS, and she presented an amendment in writing:

I move to transfer the following funds to establish a project for renovation of the

downstairs 100 wing at Escambia High School to lower ceiling, replace tile and

renovate boy's and girl's bathrooms:

Move $100,000 from Cook Elementary Land Purchase (see page 3 - Capital Outlay Book)

Move $50,000 from Northview High School Renovations (see page 12 - Capital Outlay Book)

Move $50,000 from Administration Building - Electrical (see page 14 - Capital Outlay Book)

Total $200,000.

The motion on the amendment was seconded by Dr. DeWitt. Mr. May stated that the Cook project had a certain amount of dollars allocated, and if $100,000 was taken out, it would have to be replaced later. Mrs. Morris stated that those were not dollars that would be spent this year on Cook.

After discussion, Chairman Jenkins called for the vote on the amendment and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

Chairman Jenkins called for the vote on the Capital Projects Funds appropriation and the motion was approved 4-1 with Mrs. Webb voting NO.

6. INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS

Motion made by Mrs. Morris and seconded by Mr. Bailey, to approve the Internal Service Funds in the amount of $29,028,225.46. Mrs. Webb stated that she voted no on this at the last budget meeting and would now vote in the affirmative; however, she expressed concerns. The motion was unanimously approved.

7. TRUST AND AGENCY FUNDS

Motion made by Mr. Bailey and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the Trust and Agency Funds in the amount of $278,922.59. Mrs. Webb stated that at the last budget meeting she voted no on this and would now vote in the affirmative; however she expressed concerns. The motion was unanimously approved.

8. TOTAL FUNDS

Motion by Mr. Bailey, second by Dr. DeWitt, to approve the Total Funds (excluding transfers of $5,945,952.00) in the amount of $385,913,570.51. Upon inquiry from Mrs. Morris, Mr. Odom stated that the transfers are those that occur during the year. Mrs. Webb stated that she would vote yes for the total budget dollars, but expressed concerns with the allocations. Chairman Jenkins called for the vote and the motion was unanimously approved.

(Supplementary Minute Book, Exhibit E, Items V and VI)

Chairman Jenkins asked if there was anyone else who wished to speak, and the Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. Stephen Sloan, 2800 Sandcrest, Cantonment, Florida, 32533, waived comment due to prior clarification that the School Board did not raise taxes.

2) Mr. Harry W. Taber, 1360 Vankirk Avenue, Pensacola, Florida, 32503, stated that he had not filled out a (request to speak) form and Chairman Jenkins stated that he could speak and fill out the form afterwards. Mr. Taber spoke concerning an increase in property taxes and was advised that he could confer with the Property Appraiser regarding appeal procedures before the Value Adjustment Board.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

Attest: Approved:

___________________________ _________________________________

Superintendent Chairman