The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Administrative Building, 215 West Garden Street, with the following present:

Chairman: Dr. Hal Mason Vice Chairman: Mrs. Cary Stidham

Members: Dr. John DeWitt

Dr. Elmer Jenkins

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim May

Dr. Mason called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Vanette Webb, School Board Member, District 5, was not in attendance.

I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to adopt the agenda. Motion was made by Dr. DeWitt to add an item for an update regarding the lawsuit. The motion was seconded by Dr. Jenkins. Dr. Mason expressed concern regarding adding an item in that the agenda had already been advertised. After discussion, Dr. Mason requested that the item be delayed until the Board Attorney arrived and provided an opinion. In the Board Attorney's absence, no vote was taken on adoption of the agenda.

II. ITEMS FROM THE BOARD

FERRY PASS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEAR-ROUND ISSUE

Motion by Dr. Jenkins, second by Mrs. Stidham, to reconsider allowing Ferry Pass Elementary to go to the year-round calendar, was unanimously approved.

Motion was made by Dr. Jenkins and seconded by Dr. DeWitt, that the Board approve the Ferry Pass Elementary School going to year-round calendar.

Ms. Ruth Gordon, Principal, Ferry Pass Elementary School, requested input from the Board as to a

final decision for scheduling purposes. She noted that 67 percent of the faculty and staff, and 66 percent of the parents had previously voted in support of year-round and parents had been notified of the Board's approval at the February Board meeting for implementation of year-round at Ferry Pass beginning the 1999-2000 school year. Mrs. Stidham noted that the year-round schedule could be for one year only due to the study that will be done on year-round, so this may change as a result of that study.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. Michael Paparella, 8250 Strasburg Road, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, spoke in support of year-round school.

2) Ms. Diana Bowen, 4550 Voyager Drive, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, spoke in support of year-round.

3) Ms. Nancy Virgilio, 8644 Westview Lane, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, expressed opposition to year-round and asked that the study be completed before a decision is made.

4) Mr. Scott Gardner, 3114 Raines Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, expressed opposition to year-round due to scheduling problems and suggested that the proposal not be brought forward unless the money is there.

5) Mr. Paul Sullivan, 7686 Charter Oaks Drive, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in support of year-round school for Ferry Pass this year.

6) Mr. Joe Virgilio, 8644 Westview Lane, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, expressed his concern that year-round school might be detrimental to Ferry Pass and that some of the year-round schools around the country had failed.

7) Ms. Marcia McCrary, 7604 Las Vegas Lane, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in support of year-round.

8) Mr. Bob Husbands, Executive Director, Escambia NEA UniServ, advised that the Florida Legislature did not deal with the issue of summer school and intersession money until the last day of the session, and the Board

made the decisions on alternative calendar well prior to that time. He also stated that comments had been made about school systems leaving year-round education, and he clarified that no system has left the type of year-round system used in Escambia County.

9) Mr. Darryl Williams, 4440 Jumento Drive, Pensacola, Florida, expressed support for year-round school.

10) Mr. Stephen Ingley, 3920 Croyden Road, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in favor of year-round school.

11) Mr. Robert Shirer, 4354 Burtonwood Drive, Pensacola, Florida, suggested delaying vote on year-round until funding is determined.

12) Mr. Felix Williams, 8608 Westview Lane, Pensacola, Florida, expressed opposition to year-round school.

13) Miss Anna Harageones, a fourth grader at Ferry Pass Elementary, asked that the Board finalize the schedule for this year so that families can schedule their vacations.

14) Ms. Penny Wood, 9039 Wood Run Road, Pensacola, Florida, spoke in support of year-round.

Dr. Mason stated that in voting no on this motion his concern was to be fiscally responsible and the plan had not been costed out. He also stated that he supports the Superintendent in his role and responsibility to establish and maintain curriculum, and he advised that in the future he will vote against all micro management decisions.

After discussion, Dr. Mason called for the vote and the motion was approved 3-1 with Dr. Mason voting

NO.

III. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:44 p.m. (Official recordings of this meeting are filed in the Information

Services Department.)

Attest: Approved:

____________________________ ______________________________

Superintendent Chairman