The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 11:00 a.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 (present by speaker phone)

Dr. Elmer Jenkins

School Board Attorney: Mrs. Maureen George

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim May

I. CALL TO ORDER

Dr. Mason called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. Mrs. Janice Gilley, School Board Member, District 5, joined the Board for Executive Session.

II. ITEMS FROM THE ATTORNEY

Mrs. George requested an Executive Session for the Board to give advice on pending litigation.

The Board recognized the following speakers:

1) Mr. Steve Baker, Attorney, requested that the Board allow him to attend the Executive Session involving pending litigation.

2) Mr. Joe Hammons, Attorney to the Superintendent, requested that the Board allow him to address pending litigation in the Executive Session.

After discussion, motion by Mrs. Stidham, second by Dr. Jenkins, to hold an Executive Session immediately upon recess of this meeting, was approved 4-0.

RECESS

The meeting recessed at 11:06 a.m. and the Board immediately convened in Executive Session at 11:12 a.m. in the Superintendent's conference room. The Executive Session adjourned at 12:19 p.m., and the Special Board meeting reconvened at 12:30 p.m. with all Board Members present.

Regarding prior Board action of September 21, 1999, (Resolutions requesting Ballot Measure to consider making the Office of Superintendent of Schools appointive rather than elective; and proposing the addition of two at-large School Board Members), Mrs. George advised that the County Commission had voted not to put the proposed ballot measure on the March Presidential Preference Primary and also voted not to put it on the November ballot. She advised that the County Commission subsequently voted to table this item and send it back to the School Board for reconsideration.

Motion by Dr. DeWitt, second by Dr. Jenkins, to table this item until the October Board meeting, failed 3-2 with Mrs. Gilley, Dr. Mason, and Mrs. Stidham voting NO.

Motion was made by Mrs. Gilley and seconded by Mrs. Stidham, to stick with the original motion of the Board (for purposes of discussion). Dr. Jenkins commented that this matter was not advertised for this meeting and opportunity should be provided for public input. Mrs. George stated that after the agenda has been made available, the law allows changes for good cause (as determined by the person designated to preside and stated for the record). Mr. May stated that this meeting was advertised concerning Executive Session only; however, the Board may wish to call a Special Meeting to address this issue. Mrs. Gilley withdrew the motion and Mrs. Stidham withdrew the second. Motion by Mrs. Stidham, second by Mrs. Gilley, to call a Special Board meeting on October 15, 1999, at 8:30 a.m., was approved 4-1 with Dr. Jenkins voting NO.

III. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m. (Official recording of this meeting is filed in the Information Services Department.)