SARASOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 12, 2002

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jeffri Durrance for Barbara Chomko, Mickey Anderson, Jerome Greenstein, Alice Higgins, Harriette Laronge, Roland Piccone, Norm Stockton, Peter Straw, Ron Turner, Tim White, David Winterrowd, Paige Eastman, and Jeanna Mitchell.

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Barbara Chomko, George McGonagill, Regina Stinson, and Judith Ferrell.

 

GUEST PRESENT: Ken DeVeau, Jeffri Durrance, and Mary Ribaudo

 

I.  Welcome by Chairperson

Peter Straw called the meeting to order and welcomed the group.  He read the resignation letter of Matthew Altman and stated that Samantha Wiley also submitted her resignation.

 

II.  Minutes of the last meeting

Peter called for a motion to accept the minutes of the last meeting.   Jerry Greenstein requested that the minutes be corrected to read, Norm moved that the SAC accept the bylaws as currently written as a “final” document not “draft” document.  Motion to approve the corrected minutes made by Roland Piccone and seconded by Jerry Greestein. Motion passed.

 

III. Introduction of members

Peter Straw requested that each member of SAC introduce themselves to the committee members and guests present at the meeting.

 

IV.  Director’s Report

Jeffri Durrance serving as acting director in Barbara Chomko’s absence, while she is in Colorado at a meeting and then taking some vacation time, was asked to give the Director’s report and reported the following: There were 22 applicants, local and nationwide for the Director position.  The applicants have been screened to 6 who met the qualifications and completed the behavioral and writing exercise.  Members of the selection committee interviewed the six candidates on October 24th.  The selection committee was directed to make two recommendations to the Superintendent from the six candidates that they interviewed. This was done and the school is now waiting word of the Superintendent’s decision.    A dinner was held for Mr. Bruce E. Andersen one of the final six candidates so that he could meet members of the School Advisory Committee, the members of the School Decision Making Team, some of the members who served on the selection committee, other SCTI staff members, and assistant directors.  The job posting was for immediate availability and one of the final six candidates will not be available until mid June or July.  The district will now need to decide the next step. 

 

V.  COE/SAC

Jeffri reported that Carol Darling has just returned from Osceola County where she served on a COE/ SAC site visit team and that we would have a visit from the team chairs around February 24th, usually six weeks prior to the arrival of the members of the teams. 

 

VI. CHANGE IN SCHOOL CALENDAR

Jeffri reported that SCTI would like to change its school calendar to match the standard school calendar, but with the addition of a fifth quarter for adult students.  The total number of hours it would take to complete a program will remain unchanged.  The start and stop dates will be synchronized for high school and adult students.  If this is approved the calendar change will take place August 2003 for the 2003 – 2004 school year.  The change should also be a benefit to adult students with the payment of their tuition.  They will be paying for fewer hours per payment period, compared to how it is presently paid.  Norm Stockton moved to accept the new proposed school calendar change to the quarter system.  Ron seconded and the motion passed unanimously.  Norm requested that a draft of the proposed calendar be brought to the next meeting and shared with the members of the committee.

 

VII. SDMT Meeting

Harriette reported that members of the SDMT committee discussed:  Better supervision of high school students on this campus; a re-assignment of parking spaces designated for high school students; looking into improving the dress code for students, and possibly a school uniform or program uniforms for all technology programs. The school is participating in collecting foods for the All Faiths’ Food Bank and the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Food Drive.  Collections for the United Way are down this year from previous years.  The school is initiating “Take a Parent/Guardian To School Day” on December 3rd and has sent out cards to the parents of all high school students enrolled in our Technology programs.   They will be invited to the campus to visit the class, see first hand the technology classes and the academic classes.  Fliers will also be given to students to take home to their parents and or guardians promoting this event.  The school has been very active in recruitment efforts and one of the ways is by conducting student tours of or our campus and programs. The tours are for Sarasota County students in grades 5, 8, and 9.  We have toured over 303 students and chaperons since September.   Members of the SDMT were given a debriefing on the selection process utilized in selecting the final two candidates for the position of director of SCTI. 

 

VIII. Report on McFatter

Peter asked Mickey Anderson to report on his visit to McFatter.  Mickey stated that the curriculum is different then what you would expect from a technical high school.  There is a distinct demographic characteristic of the population that attends McFatter.  Their adult population is similar to that of SCTI.  They have about 600 high school students and 1,800 adult students.  It is not a practical arts type of school.  Mary Ribaudo added that the classrooms were student centered and not teacher centered.  They have an 85% completion rate for high school students who receive certificates of completion.  They give academic assistance to students to help them pass the FCAT test.  They have 150 freshmen and will add 150 students per year.  They will graduate their first class this year.  They believe that every student can succeed.  The staff works together for the success of the students.  Roland inquired if anyone had asked how many employees were classified?  Mary replied that they only had two assistant directors, very high overhead, and a large amount of funds to work with to be successful.  Teachers are paid an extra hour a day to assist students who have remedial needs.  Ken added that a school in Daytona combined efforts of two school districts as well as the community college.

 

Peter reported that he went on the trip to Delaware to visit Sussex Tech. They have 1,220 students with a waiting list.  Their completion rate is 80% and the rate of college bound students is high. Seniors must do course work relevant to their technology area.  The curriculum is integrated with their technology training.  Adult students are segregated from the high school students.  High school students attend during the day and adults attend in the evening.  The school is centrally located.  They have a football team and a band.  The school has been around for about ten years.  Shifting the focus of the school has improved its status.

 

It was stated that a final report would be generated about all of the schools that have been visited by the teams.  The members of the SAC committee would receive copies of the report.  It was further reported that Sussex seeks out a lot of grant funding since it is not funded through traditional sources.

 

IX.  Budget Report

Ken reported that the requests from Business and Culinary have been completed.  The Health Science area did not need all that they had requested and what they did need will come out of internal monies. Horticulture purchased a computer, Drafting needs to replace a computer, and Cosmetology has not submitted their purchase orders.  The Burn Building still has many technical problems and Rob Saul is trying to assist in solving them.  We are on target with the equipment budget.  Ken discussed the various funding sources that are available and distributed handouts to the members on the budget.  He stated that the state has shifted its focus to literacy and that ACEC had pursued obtaining literacy grants.  The state does permit us to charge a 10% fee that is used to assist students in need of financial aid.  Ken explained how teachers receive their monies through fee support.  Monies collected are sent down to the Landings and salaries are paid from monies collected.  Ken further reported that Workforce Development monies have decreased.  We must look at more funding sources and not spend as much money as in the past.  Neither funding sources alone for adults or high school students is enough to support the programs.  Next month the SAC committee will need to look at the organization and its funding as well as generated expenses. 

 

 

 

ACEC & SCTI both use Workforce Development funds.  We need to put politics aside and cooperate with each other.  Questions were raised as to whether we could obtain a copy of ACEC’s budget.  Peter will pursue this endeavor.

 

Peter Straw wanted to know whom must we contact about putting in a request for having a SWEEP account.  Ken stated that there appears to be some confusion in the district about SWEEP accounts.  In the past Bruce Monson generated a memo to principals that some principals have accounts that may be illegal.  Some interpreted this to mean SWEEP accounts.

 

Peter wanted to know which bank does SCTI use and was informed that it is Bank of America.  Ken feels that the SAC has a right to request a copy of the memo and other documents as well as having a person from Bank of America discuss SWEEP accounts.  David Winterrowd motioned that we should receive documentation pertaining to the accounts.   Jerry Greenstein seconded the motion.  Harriette requested that she be provided with the exact wording of the motion to be put in the minutes.  Peter will provide the wording for the motion to be reflected in the minutes.

 

Norm Stockton motioned that Ken be charged with collecting data including ACEC & SCTI in order for SAC to make decisions for planning for the coming 2003-2004 school year.   Jerry Greenstein seconded the motion.  Motion was passed unanimously.

 

Ken reported that since July when the Administration at the Landings had taken over, things have become very intense.  We need to track our spending out of the district budget, primarily in the area of the part time budget.   Last year at this time we spent $270,000. We are now spending less, but will still need to send more monies down to the Landings.  We may exceed the $400,000 allotment to SCTI.  Jeffri and Mary are utilizing a contract cost control measure with some of their teachers.

 

IX. Paramedic Program

Mary Ribaudo reported that she has received word that the Paramedic program is in good standing, but that we have as yet to receive a formal final report.

 

Norm made a motion for adjournment and Tim seconded it. 

Next meeting:  December 9 at 6 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Harriette Laronge

 

 

 

 

Mission Statement:  Based upon the community’s industrial and business needs, the mission of SCTI is to provide technical education to individuals seeking employment and/or career enhancement.