School Advisory Council

February 10, 2003

6:00 - 7:00 PM

 

Members Present:

Peter Straw

Jerome Greestein

 

Judith

Alice Higgins

 

Tim White

Roland Piccone

 

Harriette Laronge

Gene Witt

 

Mickey Anderson

George McGonagill

 

 

 

Visitors:

Suzanne Jones

Bill Costello

 

Lynn Whisman

Eddy Boynton

 

Ken DeVeau

Jeffri Durrance

 

Sandra Holley

Carol Darling

 

Mary Ribaudo

 

 

 

 

1)       Potential new members in attendance.   Peter Straw

 

To become members of the School Advisory Council, prospective members are first invited to attend a board meeting to orient themselves to the process and commitment of the membership.  They are then invited to join the group, if they feel that they would like to contribute to this council.

 

Suzanne Jones, Lynn Whisman and Battalion Chief William Costello were in attendance at this meeting for consideration of membership. 

 

Regina Stinson is resigning from the council as she has conflicts with her teaching scheduled.  Due to her dedicated service a discussion ensued to brainstorm any creative ideas on how she might be able to maintain her membership.  One suggestion put forward was a possible classroom substitute teacher one day a month to allow Regina to attend the meetings.  Dr. Carol Darling will look into this suggestion.  A suggestion was made not to act on the resignation at this time.

 

2)   Budget - Continuing Education.   Ken DeVeau

 

The District is meeting this week to discuss the future of SCTI and the impact on the budget.  Therefore, we are waiting to see the outcome of these meetings.

 

Currently under review is a central system of software that would integrate student information and business office information.  It still needs approval from the Landings but hopefully could be in place by next fall.

 

The pad for the new school sign is in place.  The sign will go up the end of this month.

Signs Plus is designing the sign.  This is a Sarasota based, national company.  They only design signs for schools and churches.  Some discussion followed concerning any new county rules for signs.  Facilities is involved and county codes have been considered.

WFD budget same as this year

 

3)   Jerry Greenstein moved for approval of last month’s minutes.  Second by Roland Piccone.  Motion passed.

 

4)            Director's Report.   Gene Witt

 

§         Interim Assistant Director.  Jeffri Durrance has been offered an opportunity to increase his administrative experience and diversify his resume by serving as an assistant principal at a Brookside Middle School.  Jeffri will be afforded the option of returning to SCTI in July or he may choose to remain at his new assignment.  Jeffri has been employed at SCTI since January 1978.

 

In the interim Sandra Holley, who retired as an assistant director at SCTI in 2000, has agreed to return assume Jeffri’s duties place until the end of June. 

 

§         Status of the Adult High School.  The Adult High School will be relocated to the SCTI campus over the spring break due to a rodent infestation.  This timetable is actually more advantageous as the District has 100 portables to be moved over the summer to accommodate the smaller class size legislation.

 

§         Status of SCTI High School.  The school has continued to have small enrollment and is not cost effective.  This model will ultimately be closed as the new Technical High School is put into place.  Four options for phasing SCTI High School out were provide to the District office with the recommendation that the school continue to operate for one more year honoring our commitment to our juniors who enrolled with the intent of completing their secondary education at SCTI.  School guidance counselors have been instructed to recruit and enroll high school seniors only for next year to increase our enrollment numbers while not extended the program beyond 2003-2004.

 

§         Update - new construction and related challenges.  There has been a discovery of a regulation that prohibits the demolishing of a building that is less than 40 years old.  Discussion followed with a sense that when it is more cost effective to tear down versus renovation that this regulation could be overcome.  The School Board is petitioning the state for an exception to this rule.

 

The discussion on facilities then turned to the article in today's newspaper in which Mike Bennett is quoted as having requested $15 million to build a new Technical High School.  The committee expressed its concern that the adult population not be abandon.  Peter Straw and Roland Piccone are to draft a letter requesting that adult students be maintained at SCTI.

 

Gene Witt discussed the side-by-side (adult and secondary) model as one that is being proposed by the committee that is conducting the investigation for the development of a Technical High School.  Noted that the legislative support for the development of a Technical High School is a political decision that will continue on into the future.  The SAC members, as a legally required governing body of these facilities, expressed their desire to now be invited in all future discussions and decisions in reference to the new technical high school.  It was suggested that a sub-committee of the SAC be formed to look at the plan for the Technical High School. 

 

The assistant directors have been scheduled to travel to McFatter with Bruce Andersen to review their successful model of a Technical High School that works.

 

 

 

Roland Piccone moved that the SAC formally request involvement in future discussions and decisions as they related to the new Technical High School.

George McGonagill second the motion and the motion passed.

 

5)       SDMT Report.  Harriett Laronge

 

§         SDMT conducted an election of new officers.  Harriett Laronge will serve another term as chair and Janice Sean will serve as vice-chair.  Kathy Olliver will provide for minutes of the meetings.

 

§         Open House post cards were mailed to the parents of all 8 through 12 grade students enrolled in Sarasota County School District inviting them to attend our February 11th Open House.  Three ads were placed in the newspaper, an ad was also placed on the school’s website.  Peter Straw invited SAC members to attend and meet the teachers, see programs and greet parents.  Tables will be used to provide colorful displays and information for the public on each program.  The Open House is from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM.

 

§         Wednesday, February 12, 2003; a combined career fair will be held at MCC. MTI, USF, MCC, and SCTI will be participating.  The event is from 8:30 AM to noon.  High school students from Sarasota and Manatee counties will be bussed in for the event.

 

§         SCTI attended the HOTS night at Sarasota Middle School.  There was a suggestion by Sarasota Middle School that since this evening was designed to promote magnet programs that SCTI should not attend.  It was explained why it is important for SCTI to be there and participated with seven tables with displays.

 

§         Upcoming events:

 

§                     Nokomis Career night

§                     VHS Career night

§                     March 14 -23 Double booth at the Sarasota County Fair Grounds

 

§         School Uniform Issue is on hold until decisions are made regarding the new Technical High School.

 

§         Smaller class size regulations will result in the District taking a close look at portable usage.  We need to conscious about how our building space is being utilized.

 

 

 

6)   COE / SACS / Strategic Plan for Excellence.   Carol Darling

 

Two of the three booklets will go to print on Friday.  The School Improvement Plan will be the last report to go. 

 

SAC is invited to attend the dinner banquet on both April 7th and April 8th.  This is a social event and is not a lengthy program.  Spouses are invited to attend on the evening of April 8th.  Dress is ‘resort’ casual.  The dinner on April 8th will be held at Selby Gardens.  RSVP is requested.

 

 

7)   By-law review committee.  Peter Straw

In June there is a scheduled transition of the SAC chair.  Peter Straw has served for two terms and is NOT eligible for another term. 

 

There was a request for agenda items for the next meeting.

 

A request that SAC members provide specific thoughts on technical education for Peter Straw to take to Tallahassee for next month’s meeting of manufactures.

 

The prospective new members were asked to share their thoughts and to briefly introduce themselves to the SAC.

 

 

 

Suzanne Jones has been a lived in Sarasota for 20 years.  Her background is in health care and long-term care and her career has been in marketing and presently serves as Director of Marketing for the Pines of Sarasota.

 

 

Lynn Whisman expressed a strong interest in directing the future of technical education and the changing of the workforce citing the shortages in health care workers as a community concern.  She comes to Florida from Tennessee as is currently looking to be involved in community outreach.

 

Battalion Chief Bill Costello has been a Florida resident for 28 years.  He has taken all his technical training (Firefighting and Paramedic) at SCTI.  He sees great opportunities for partnerships with SCTI and notes that our level of training is one of the best in Florida and he wants to keep it there.

 

Jerry Greenstein moved to accept all candidates for membership; seconded by Alice Higgins.  The motion was passed.

 

 

 

Peter Straw closed the meeting with special thanks to Jeffri Durrance for his many years of service and offered best wishes in his new position.

 

Next meeting is Tuesday, March 11, 2003.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Ribaudo