We believe: Every child can
learn, and each child can learn
more than he or she is now
learning.
We believe: The School District and its
employees have mutual obligations for
support and development toward
continuous improvement.
We believe: A healthy public
school system is key to the
maintenance of a healthy
democracy.
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Regular Meeting –September 8, 2009
MINUTES
The School Board of St. Lucie County held a regular meeting in the School Board Room on September 8,
2009 at approximately 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
DR. JUDI MILLER, Chairman
Member Residing in District No. 1
MR. TROY INGERSOLL, Vice Chairman
Member Residing in District No. 5
DR. JOHN CARVELLI
Member Residing in District No. 3
MRS. KATHRYN HENSLEY
Member Residing in District No. 4
MS. CAROL A. HILSON
Member Residing in District No. 2
MR. MICHAEL J. LANNON, Superintendent
MR. DANIEL. B. HARRELL, Attorney
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order. Village Green Elementary students led the
Pledge of Allegiance and gave a musical presentation.
PUBLIC HEARING
Adoption of Final Millages and Budget FY 2009-2010
Chairman Judi Miller opened the public hearing on the proposed adoption of the district’s final millages
and budget for 2009-2010. She invited Mr. Tim Bargeron, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Services and CFO, to first address the roll-back rate, millage trend, and impact of proposed millages on
the homeowner.
There was one speaker who addressed the Board. Ms. Sally Tiwari, a Vero Beach resident who owned
property in St. Lucie County, stated she was experiencing financial difficulty with foreclosures, lower
rental income, and a tax bill that was the same as last year even though property values and taxes had
gone down. Ms. Tiwari was interested to learn how the Board could reduce its school tax portion of
her bill. Dr. Miller referred her to Mr. Bargeron for assistance. There were no further speakers;
consequently, the public hearing was closed.
Superintendent Lannon called on Mr. Marty Sanders, Executive Director of Growth Management, Land
Acquisition and Inter-Governmental Relations, who explained that annually, all school districts must
update their 5 year capital facilities work plan. The statute required that a preliminary plan be
approved prior to the adoption of the budget and the final plan be submitted to Florida Department of
Education (FDOE) no later than October 1. The plan incorporated the current year budget and
projections for 5, 10, and 20 year periods. The first five year period had more detailed projections (see
supplemental minutes packet). Mr. Sanders said that demographics provided by the FDOE indicated
the district did not need additional student stations constructed within the next five years in order to
meet its capacity needs. The district had placed $6 million on hold this year and $6 million on hold
next year for the Lincoln Park Academy Middle School modernization—the scope of which was yet to be
determined. As required by law, Superintendent Lannon made the following recommendation.
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve the
Facilities 5 year work plan as presented (Hensley/Carvelli/
We believe: The core business of the St.
Lucie County School District is creating
challenging, engaging, and satisfying
work for every student, every day.
We believe: Quality
schools are the
responsibility of the entire
community.
We believe: The School District must
promise continuous improvement in
student achievement and in the success
of each individual.
Carried 5-0).
Chairman Miller reminded everyone that staff and the Board had been working on the 2009-2010
budget plan since 2008 and she thanked CTA and CWA members for their help in working through the
$30 million budget cuts. Dr. Miller stated she was sensitive to Ms. Tiwari’s comments but this had
been a very difficult budget to make for 2009-2010. Superintendent Lannon commenced to make his
recommendations on the budget as follows.
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board adopt
Resolution TRIM0910A as presented (Hilson/Carvelli/
Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board adopt
Resolution TRIM0910B for final discretionary millage
of 0.25 mills as presented (Hensley/Hilson/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board adopt
Resolution TRIM0910D for final 7.976 mills (Hilson/
Hensley/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board adopt
Resolution TRIM0910E for a final budget of
$483,757,413.26 (Hilson/Ingersoll/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the required local effort millage of 5.442 as specified
in the resolution (Hensley/Hilson/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the required local effort prior period adjustment of
.036 mills as specified in the resolution (Hilson/Hensley/
Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the district school tax discretionary operating millage
of .748 as specified in the resolution (Carvelli/Ingersoll/
Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the district discretionary local capital outlay millage
of 1.500 mills as specified in the resolution (Hensley/
Hilson/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the critical operating needs millage of 0.25 mills as
specified in the resolution (Hilson/Ingersoll/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the total millage of 7.976 mills, the total millage rate
to be levied was less than the roll-back rate by 17.756
percent (Hensley/Ingersoll/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve
the total budget of $483,757,413.26 for 2009-2010 as
specified (Hilson/Carvelli/Carried 5-0).
MINUTES
July 28, August 7, August 11, August 25 - 2009
Action: There was a motion to approve the minutes for July 28,
August 7, 11, and 25, 2009 as presented (Hensley/
Hilson/Carried 5-0).
SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS
1. JK Sunshine State Public Relations Association Awards
Ms. Janice Karst, Director of Communications, informed the audience that the district had received
three awards from the Sunshine State Public Relations Association; one for its Career and Technical
Education brochure, one for its Title I Spanish language program “Que Pasa?”, and one for its “Watch
Out for Me” multi media campaign.
CTA REPORT
CTA/CU President Vanessa Tillman commented on teamwork; the importance of working together,
treating everyone with respect and communicating with each other.
CWA REPORT
No report.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Lannon asked the Board to declare the CWA Letters of Understanding as an emergency item.
Action: There was a motion to declare the CWA Letters of Understanding
as an emergency item for consideration by the Board (Carvelli/Hilson/
Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve the CWA Letters
of Understanding as presented (Hensley/Hilson/Carried 5-0).
Action: The superintendent recommended the Board approve consent
agenda items #2 through #5 (item #6 was deleted) and
Items #7 through #15 (Ingersoll/Hensley/Carried 5-0).
2. SR Personnel Agenda & Leaves
3. SR Letters of Understanding with CTA
4. TB Petty Cash Account for Fairlawn Elementary
5. TB ITB 10-03 Lighting Retro-fit for Schools
6. TB Contribution Rates for Blue Cross/Blue Shield 2010 Renewal (Delete)
7. OR Partnership Agreement with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at FAU
8. OR Professional Development and Planning for Small Learning Communities in High Schools
9. OR Master In-service Plan and In-service Component Catalog for 2009-2010
10. KM Agreement for Food Services – PACE Program for Girls, Inc.
11. KM Agreement for Food Services with FAU/Treasure Coast University Schools, Inc.
12. GY Field Trips & Extra Curriculum Activities Guidelines & Procedures Manual 2009-10
13. MS Transportation Services Agreement with Fort Pierce Buccaneers
14. AG Project Agreement with Paul Jacquin & Sons, Inc., for Anglewood Center
15. DH Interlocal Agreement with Martin County School Board for Out-of-District Student Attendance
SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF REPORTS ON SELECTED TOPICS
16. BS Response to Instruction/Intervention (RtI2) Presentation
Mrs. Barbara Slaga, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services and ESE Department, talked about a
new federally mandated program called Response to Instruction/Intervention and introduced
consultant Mary Huffstetter, PhD. BCBA, as the lead person for the district’s new team. It was stated
that the program was a multi-tiered level of intervention and instruction based on student needs.
Beginning this school year, there would be 15 specialists working with elementary, middle, and K-8
schools. Goals for this year included:
- Use of data to guide instruction
- Use of dynamic problem-solving teams to increase the number of students proficient in
reading
- Reduce the number of discipline referrals
- Reduce the number of ESE referrals
Activities were reviewed in the areas of professional development and meetings regarding student
services, curriculum, accountability, and assessment. Professional development included PBS, bullying,
FAIR, Skyward, and date for decision-making.
Board members indicated they needed more information on this topic and suggested scheduling a
workshop on the matter.
17. ML School Board Workshop Topics for 2009-10 Discussion
The Board reviewed the list of topics for future workshops and decided to move the school calendar
workshop to November 2009; student assignment workshop was moved to the December 2009
workshop; an update on charter schools was to be placed on each agenda under Superintendent/Staff
Reports until further notice. Once discussion ended, Mr. Lannon and Dr. Miller agreed they would
revise the list and re-circulate it to all board members.
18. ML Plan for Community Town Hall Meeting – Lincoln Park Academy Middle School Facilities
Superintendent Lannon informed the Board that staff was conducting a meeting in the gymnasium at
Lincoln Park Academy on Monday, September 14, 2009, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. during which two
options for the modernization of the middle school facilities would be reviewed with the public. On
this same subject, it was announced that the Board had scheduled a town hall meeting for Thursday,
September 17, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. in the LPA auditorium during which the community was invited to
provide input.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT
No report.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Board members reported on various meetings they had attended. It was mentioned that Mrs. Kathy
Basile, who had been a long time advocate for children, had passed away. She had been a wonderful
leader and would be missed. It was announced that Sundaes in the Park was scheduled for September
27, 2009 in Fort Pierce and everyone was invited to attend. There was a Tobacco Free Partnership
meeting scheduled for September 10, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
UNSCHEDULED SPEAKERS
There were no unscheduled speakers.
ADJOURNMENT
After conducting all business scheduled to come before the Board, Chairman Miller adjourned the
September 8, 2009 regular meeting at approximately 7:58 p.m. This meeting can be viewed via On
Demand Video at www.stlucie.k12.fl.us.