SARASOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

School Advisory Council

Minutes

February 12, 2007

MEMBERS Present: Bruce Andersen, Ed Devine, Bill Glueck, Jerome Greenstein, Louis Maltaghati, Terrie Minter, Scott Moore, Roland Piccone, Diane Proeschel, Jerry Sobiac, Regina Stinson, Peter Straw

MEMBERS Absent: Javier Brito, Bill Costello, Justin Thompson

GUESTS Present: Carol Darling

I. Welcome

Peter Straw called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He welcomed the group. Minutes of the January meeting were approved with motion by Roland Piccone and Ed Devine seconded.

II. SDMT Report

§ Terrie advised that new officers were elected: she will remain as chairperson; Karen Johnson, Vice Chair, and Yvette Trahan, Secretary.

§ Budget priority request was sent back to individual departments after a request to add a line item to help finance SkillsUSA. Established a committee to review the approximate $20,000 needed to fund students from district through national competitions. Discussion raised the following suggestions for review: selling sponsorships, approaching Education Foundation, encouraging SCTI student employers to contribute. Bruce will advise committee of next week’s competition winners and will send a winners list by email to SAC members.

§ Staff morale is low and individuals are questioning SCTI’s future.

III. Director’s Report

Bruce provided a summation and analysis of enrollment trends as requested during last month’s meeting.

§ Adult High School enrollment is approximately 200 students with 15-20 graduates per year receiving a standard diploma and the balance obtaining credit retrieval to graduate from local high schools. Program generates LCP’s (Learning Completion Points) and funding is self-sustaining.

§ ABE/GED/VPI offers stable enrollment but Workplace Readiness Skills has declined from previous reporting period.

§ PC Support enrollment numbers are declining, the local community requires a higher level of knowledge, and current low-level capabilities are being taught to capacity.

§ Surgical Tech is a cyclical program which includes on-line enrollment and the program is being monitored. The on-line program provides course academics while employers oversee physical training to provide students nationwide a certificate with up-to-date skills.

Discussion included a request for summation to supply physical numbers of enrollment rather than subjective high’s and low’s. Peter shared that trends appear to support SLC (Small Learning Communities) funding.

III. Technical High School

Bruce indicated that district is planning to open the new 600-student technical high school for 150 freshman fall of 2008 and a similar facility adjacent to the south county MCC campus in fall 2009. MCC will provide the south county technical programs. Paul Pitcher and Mellissa will be presenting the technical high school design plan at SCTI’s February 14 staff meeting. Tentative plan to begin construction is late summer 2007.

IV. Old Business

§ Peter informed that previous contacts to recruit two new members to the SAC membership have not been fruitful.

V. New Business

§ Bruce indicated that next month’s meeting on March 19, SAC will continue budget planning discussions Some discussion centered on discretionary dollars (beyond the regular budget), which are labeled budget priorities. Budget priorities 2006-07 included Equipment, Marketing, Staff Development, Online Programs and $324,093 was spent in percentages approved by SDMT and SAC. SDMT suggested that Skills USA be added to the budget as a line item. There was some discussion on the priorities. SDMT and SAC will review the percentages for 2007-08 in March.

§ Carol Darling gave a placement report. The report was submitted to COE in December. It is difficult to get information on placement. There were questions as to the incentive for the student completer to give information on placement and on the cycle of enrollment, completers, and placement.

§ Regina announced that John Michael Smith, CPA has agreed to serve on SAC in May following tax season.

§ Wall of Fame nominations are being requested for the April 10 ceremony. Jack McDonald is conducting the process.

§ Peter Straw also advised that George has submitted his SAC resignation but will continue to serve on the district’s budget committee.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. The next meeting is March 19, 2007.