Minutes from September 26, 2002

School Advisory Council Meeting

Members

* Edna Apostol Gulf Coast South * Dorothy Kosovac League of Women Voters

Rick Baron Sarasota Co. Government *Janet Minton ACEC Classified

* Lori DeVilbiss ACEC Facilitator * Dale Ott President of DOS

* Stephania Feltz ACEC SAC Chair Judy Rinks ACEC Principal

*Bob Goble Student Rep. Beverly Stockton Suncoast Workforce

Jerrie Graham ACEC Classified *Caroline Zucker Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Sarasota – Manatee

* Members Present

Guests Present

Dr. Bill Delp Assistant Superintendent, Sarasota County School Board

Instructional Support Services

Ted Bricker ACEC Facilitator Jeanne Goble ACEC Facilitator

Denise Cantalupo ACEC Facilitator Greg Gordon ACEC Classified

Pat Cochran ACEC Classified Bruce Hinson ACEC Asst. Principal

Phyllis Creel ACEC Classified Rita Holloran ACEC Classified

Faith Foley ACEC Classified Shirlee Kendall ACEC Classified

Sue Gissal ACEC Classified Joan Straw ACEC Classified

v Stephania Feltz started the meeting welcoming members and guests.

v Stephania Feltz presented the minutes from the August 29, 2002 SAC meeting. Edna Apostol motioned to accept the minutes and Denise Cantalupo seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously to accept the minutes as written.

v Dr. Bill Delp who is the Associate Superintendent of Schools, was introduced as a guest visitor to the meeting. Members of the Adult and Community Education Center School Advisory Council (SAC) and guests introduced themselves to Dr. Delp.

v SAC chairperson, Stephania Feltz, explained that Dr. Delp had been invited to the meeting to assist the Council in understanding action being taken with the Adult Technical Division review and in regards to the Flow Chart on page 11 of the Budget Amendment (approved at the School Board meeting September 17, 2002).

v Stephania Feltz distributed to all members and guests a revised copy of the flow chart that was originally presented to the School Board on September 17, 2002. Dr. Delp provided explanations of the various points contained within the flow chart. He further clarified that

Al Weidner had made changes in the flow chart based upon input from ACEC (Since the September 17, 2002 School Board meeting, revisions were made to the organizational chart to include Adult Education. These revisions would be presented at the October 1, 2002 School Board meeting for re-approval). Dr. Delp added that leaving ACEC off of the flow chart was certainly not intentional, but simply an oversight. Both ACEC and SCTI were realigned under instruction so that they would be treated as schools versus departments.

v Dr. Delp reminded the Council that ACEC and SCTI are identified as one cost center. The review committee is trying to work through and evaluate what needs to occur. Gene Witt and Lori White, who has garnered input from the ACEC staff, will be forwarding recommendations to Wilma Hamilton in January.

v In regards to the Executive Director position:

The position of the Executive Director (Deb Metheny’s position) of the Adult Technical Division will remain vacant through the remainder of this year. However Ms. Metheny’s salary will continue to be paid to her through her new assignment in Richard Hayes’ division. By keeping this position vacant, there is no additional dollars charged to the district.

v The cost center, 9017, which was under Deb Metheny’s discretion, was placed directly under Lori White and the Division of Instruction.

v What the goal was in this change was then to take SCTI and ACEC and treat them as schools and put ACEC under the Division of Instruction under Barbara Chomko who is the Director of Secondary Schools who actually supervises all of the schools.

v The meeting refocused on the fact that ACEC was omitted from the flow chart. Dr. Delp explained that on the original budget there was only one cost center tab for SCTI. He stated that if you go further into the budget, the breakdown shows ACEC, Workforce Development, SCTI…. That was why ACEC was unintentionally omitted from the flow chart.

v Dr. Delp restated that the goal of the realignment was to treat both schools as “schools”. He further stated that his personal goal and belief is to integrate services and pull K-20 together. The goal of the current Superintendent, Wilma Hamilton, is to make sure we integrate services by pulling together a K-20 system. To do that, we need to be under the secondary area which is currently Barbara Chomko, which is under Instructional – Lori White.

v Bill could not tell us where we will be in as of January.

Lori White is gathering data and would love anyone to speak with her.

v Gene Witt and Dr. Lee Smith of the University of Indiana are conducting their studies.

They will be coming in October and November to do complete focus groups that will include ACEC and SCTI. They will be talking to instructional, classified and clerical staff, as well as community people.

v Surveys will be distributed after the focus groups have met. Participants will be asked to return them during the months of November and December. Once all of the information is compiled, Mr. Witt and Dr. Smith will be meeting and coming up with recommendations. Those recommendations will be made pertaining to SCTI and ACEC and what we need to do to in creating a technical high school. The question is whether or not we need to do that as a side-by-side or if we even need one at all. Our high schools currently are not providing comprehensive services - one of the weaknesses since our School Match report is that our district needs to get more vocational and technical programs out into the schools.

v Once this report is fully completed, the team will come back and make recommendations to Wilma Hamilton.

v There are no indicators to eliminate ACEC. Ms. Hamilton is pushing a K-20 system. Whether or not we will be tied in directly with SCTI as we currently are – Dr. Delp cannot make that determination at this point.

v Dr. Delp stated that if current findings hold true, we will be back as our own cost center and be treated as our own school. He explained that he could not state that with full certainty, but every indication at this time is leading in that direction. Dr. Delp is now gathering information and finding out why the two schools were merged to begin with. Dr. Delp is not sure if the rationale for the original merger of ACEC and SCTI holds true today.

v Readdressing the issue of the omission of the ACEC name from the flow chart, Dr. Delp clarified that nobody disagrees with the community service and energy generated from the ACEC group. That hasn’t come into question at all. The name was left off because we were all under one cost center. Al Weidner’s mind set was that cost center 0391 was in the budget book listed under SCTI in the one tab, and therefore they listed it as such in the 2002-2003 budget as one cost center.

v Judy Rinks now reports to Barbara Chomko through the division of instruction on the organizational chart and so will the new Director of SCTI.

v Edna Apostol asked if SAC members will be included in the interviews and surveys.

The review team has been given the names of all SAC Members.

v Eight to twelve experts from around Florida and the US are coming who have experience in Vocational Education, Technical Education, Community College education and Adult Community Education. Council members were urged to submit names of people in these areas whom they felt could contribute to the process. Names should be sent to Gene Witt or Dr. Smith.

v The program review is not a new process. The district has done a number of program reviews and has always been positive in coming up with good sound recommendations driven on best practices of what’s going on both nationally and in the state of Florida.

v A SAC Member stated that ACEC wants to be their own school and cost center.

She also wanted clarification of the numbers of students enrolled on the budget for SCTI.

v Denise Cantalupo inquired if there was a model based on FTE enrollment? Dr. Delp was unaware of any existing model.

v Caroline Zucker asked if SCTI and ACEC had been joined together. Dr. Delp responded “no”, that we had been under the same cost center for years. Dr. Delp learned of the merger when he started his job, but could not determine why the two were joined. This happened under Tom Gaul’s term. At that time the state was changing to performance based funding. There were not any guarantees to which way the monies would go. By merging the cost centers, Deb Metheny could use some of the FTE from SCTI, some of the monies from ACEC and realign it the way she needed. Dr. Delp added that times have changed and money flow has changed and it is time to look at something different.

v Addressing the issue of facilities:

Ø Bruce Hinson added that our only facility is Brink. Facilities utilization is a problem. The question was brought up because of the technical school concept. The question was posed as whether or not ACEC and /SCTI would continue to share the campus if we were merged. Dr. Delp responded that he was sure that we would, but the problem at SCTI is that it is in need of remodeling. Remodeling costs are high.

Ø If Riverview would be rebuilt, property at the current Riverview may be an option.

Ø Dr. Delp reiterated that Gene Witt’s committee, and Lori White need to hear our “needs” in regards to facilities.

Ø Population is especially growing in the south.

Ø Jeanne Goble added that there are concerns about facilities, mainly on the SCTI campus. Adult and Community Education Center is offering Adult Enrichment programs (which are fee based) in facilities with no air conditioning. Jeanne also indicates real concerns about our staffs jobs.

v Edna Apostol asked if Deb Metheny’s vacancy would be held open until December or through the end of school year. Dr. Delp answered: through this year, Until another budget cycle.

v Are the people who are directly involved included in the decision making process for filling those positions or removing an individual? Dr. Delp stated that they will not have a direct voice at this point in time. They are actually removed from the vocational school. Deb is working on the APOGA audit. Bill Storms is working on a new alternative high School program in South County and does not have any direct input with SCTI at this time. They have knowledge and expertise and people are asking them for some of that knowledge at this time. But they will not sit on the interview team. Bill Storms and Deb Metheny are not included in the decision making arena for their past positions.

v Responding to a comment about ACEC standing by itself, Dr. Delp believes that we don’t need two Data Processing Departments, two Payrolls or Accounting Departments, etc. If we are going to be a K-20 program, we need to look at how they can be blended. We have a unique funding system and Mr. Weidner will need to look at how we can get the best dollar for the services.

v Phyllis Creel commented about when we were under SCTI years ago. Then the schools were separated and leaving feelings of animosity. The recent merger of the schools has once again created more animosity. These feelings need to be addressed. Ms. Creel respectfully requested that we need to be our own cost center.

v Greg Gordon added that we were recently recommended for a full accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

v Dr. Delp stated that visitations of schools were taking place. A team was being sent to McFadden in Broward County to look at programs to see show they are run successfully.

Joan Straw inquired about ACEC having representation on the team. Dr. Delp agreed and added that someone would be contacting SAC chairperson, Stephania Feltz.

v Stephania Feltz recommended that Barbara Chomko speak with the ACEC staff about their concerns.

v Stephania Feltz spoke of the ten individual programs within Adult and Community Education. She wanted to know if there was a plan to separate these programs. Dr. Delp could not answer that at this time.

v Lori DeVilbiss asked Dr. Delp about the technical high school in Daytona which the team visited. She inquired whether or not GED was part of the technical high school. Dr. Delp responded that it was not and that they were running those programs back in their high schools. Daytona did not have a technical school. They are all comprehensive high schools with a Community College. Vocational and academic teachers meet and work together on the planning.

v Caroline Zucker wanted clarification of what the review team is looking at. She asked if

they are looking at the components of SCTI when they are visiting the other schools. She didn’t hear anything that pertained to Adult and Community Education programs, only to the technical high school programs. She also asked how the Adult and Community Education fits into that concept. Dr. Delp said that they are looking at the best of both worlds.

v Dr. Delp explained that Gene Witt’s goal is to get as much input as possible. Mr. Witt is extremely open about the process. The goal is how do we provide the best possible instructional program for all levels.

v There are three areas of consideration:

1) Adult and Community Education Center

2) Sarasota County Technical Institute

3) The concept of a Technical High School

The committee is trying to blend all three, on top of a change in organizational structure and re-looking at how they are funded.

v Jeanne Goble spoke in regards to the “umbrella services” of ACEC and SCTI, i.e. tech support, custodial services. She asked if those services be available through January? Joan reiterated that the tech support department at SCTI stated that they are no longer able to service ACEC. Dr. Delp requested that this concern should be run by Barbara Chomko. Dr. Delp sees this as shared services and doesn’t see any reason why services should not continue.

v Joan Straw commented on the communication through the BBS. There is concern about “flash” messages that go to the SCTI staff that should also go to ACEC staff since we have programs located on the SCTI campus. Dr. Delp suggested to express these concerns to Judy Rinks and that Judy can speak with Barbara Chomko. Dr. Delp did agree that we do need any information that would pertain to our programs on the SCTI campus. Communication is an issue and needs to be addressed with Barbara Chomko. Ms. Chomko was probably not aware of the problem.

v Caroline Zucker asks the question: Is Adult and Community Education a program or a school? What is the official designation for ACEC. Rules are different for programs and schools. Dr. Delp could not comment. He added that at one point in time we did have our own cost center, which allowed us to be our own school.

v Dr. Delp explained that we have to take it a step at a time and evaluate it, gather data and information, look at what is going on at other places, and what we need to do to provide the best services.

Dr. Delp assured the council that our current superintendent will bring about the best and most appropriate programs for our students.

v Joan Straw added that we have a great leader and work as a team. She voiced concern

that if our programs are blended we will lose our great leadership.

v Stephania Feltz , SAC members and guests thanked Dr. Delp for coming to the SAC meeting. As a follow up to the school visits, Stephania asked Dr. Delp to provide further information in regards to where and when they will be happening.

v The meeting was adjourned by Stephania Feltz following Dr. Delp’s visit, with the remainder of the meeting’s agenda to be carried over to the October SAC meeting.

v The next meeting will take place on October 31, 2002.

v Stephania Feltz adjourned the meeting.