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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-08 SS Charter Schools lVlINUTES OCOEE CITY COMl\'IISSION JULY 28,2008 AT 5:00 p.m. CITY COlVIMISSION SPECIAL SESSION - CHARTER SCHOOLS I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Vandergrift called the workshop to order at 5: 16 p.m., in the Commission Chambers Conference Room of City Hall. Roll Call: Commissioner Hood (alTived at 5:27p.m.), Commissioner Anderson, Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioner Keller, and Commissioner Johnson (arrived at 5:32p.m.) Also Present: City Manager Frank and City Clerk Eikenberry. II. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING FILING THE APPLICTION WITH ORANGE COUNTY FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioner Anderson, and Commissioner Keller made general discussion regarding salaries, benefits and the application. Commissioner Keller handed out copies of the application. He then stated that July 1 st was the deadline for technical review, which was missed. Commissioner Keller stated that uniforms would be required. Commissioner Anderson stated he liked the idea of uniforms. He also stated that when he attended school, he had guidelines that had to be met, ie, haircuts, certain shoes and uniforms. Commissioner Hood stated that children needed to express their individualities. He then questioned which school/s are being applied for. Mayor Vandergrift stated that at the past meeting, agreement was made for all the schools. Commissioner Hood stated that this process is trying to be completed within four days. He then commented that the City's own Educational Advisory Board is\\was not in attendance at this meeting. Mayor Vandergrift stated that Mr. Godek, the Chairperson had recently quit and that he tried to contact him to find out why. He stated that he believes that there maybe an issues due to Mr. Godek's wife being a school principal who is not in favor of Charter Schools.. Commissioner Hood stated that more public input is needed as far as interest in Charter Schools. He then stated his concern with moving forward quickly. Commissioner Hood questioned if this could be placed on a referendum in March of 2009 for the people to decide. Mayor Vandergrift stated that there will be a referendum of the teachers and the parents. He then stated that another School is being built on Ingram Road which will house students from Apopka. He also stated that students in Ocoee should also have the same opportunity to attend a school within the City. Commissioner Johnson stated he does not have an issue with school but feels this should be put before the residents to vote on. Commissioner Hood agreed and stated that he did not like the "rush" idea. Commissioner Anderson stated that he somewhat agrees with Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Hood. He explained that the "buy-in" of the teachers and parents needed to be detem1ined first and then go to the tax payers. l\'layor Vandergrift stated that the application needed to be completed prior to getting to that point. Commisr.:ioner Keller stated that there are pros and cons. He stated that community support is needed although there is a past survey that could be used. Commissioner Keller stated his concern with the insurance and no quote being available yet. Commissioner Hood questioned if the staff should be pressured to carry the load. Mayor Vandergrift stated his concern for the City becoming west Pine Hills. Commissioner Johnson questioned what the problems with the current schools are. Commissioner Keller stated that there are no problems but the concern the encroachment of Evans. Discussion ensued regarding past history of the schools, education, and taxes. Commissioner Hood questioned where the funds come from to pay for the school if the school fund is depleted. Commissioner Keller stated from the tax dollars. He stated that the school would need to be self funded. Commissioner Keller stated that his children attend Claracona Elementary which has a great number of students. He stated he would like to have his children attend a smaller school. Location of schools was discussed. Commissioner Keller stated that one school needed to be designated for one district. Commissioner Anderson stated that the final decision needs to be by the teachers and parents. Mayor Vandergrift stated he would vote for a tax for the City to have it's own School Board. Mayor Vandergrift voiced his concern with working with the Orange County School Board. Commissioner Johnson stated he did not believe that the County is difficult to work with. He then stated that the time needed to be taken to work the application correctly and effectively. Mayor Vandergrift recessed the meeting at 6:02 p.m. Commissioner Anderson questioned if the application is complete. Commissioner Keller stated no. He stated that uniforms, Human Resources, and budget number are still needed. Commissioner Hood stated that the teachers should be paid more than what Orange County pays their teachers. Commissioner Keller stated that this will hurt his district but he wants it done right. Commissioner Anderson questioned if Lake Wales needed to have their vote tallies submitted with their application. Commissioner Keller stated that a vote could not be in by the time the application is submitted. Citizen Rosemary Wilsen stated she was disappointed that the Education Board was not present. She also stated that the budget is the top concern. Commissioner Keller stated that he does not have student numbers, number of teachers, and other information that he needs for the budget. He stated that once those figures were in, he could estimate the cost very closely. Commissioner Keller stated that the difference between Pembroke Pines and the City is, the City has the building - it doesn't need to be build one. Commissioner Anderson stated that with Evans being just outside the JP A, it could be acquired and converted into a community school. Commissioner Keller stated the problem would be that the school is out of the city limits. Mayor Vandergrift stated that Lake Wales has accomplished that same scenario. Commissioner Keller stated that at decision to move forward immediately or wait needs to be determined. Commissioner Johnson stated that the Education Board needed to be present. Commissioner Hood stated he would like to have a referendum in March first. Commissioner Anderson stated that the teachers and parents needed to vote first. He explained that if they don't pass it - there is no reason to move forward. City l\lanager Frank stated that the maintenance dollars for the school is also important. Commissioner Keller stated that the School Board should be maintaining the building, which is why they get 5%. Commissioner Johnson stated that the Education Committee needed to be revamped. Discussion was made regarding the proposed Evans school. Mayor Vandergrift stated that the City ofOcoee \vill not have a Charter School in 2009. Commissioner Keller stated the along with other minor items, HR, budget and insurance infonnation is needed to move forward. Commissioner Anderson stated that the City should wait until the Evans building process has began. Commissioner Keller stated that he saw Kat's (OCPS School Board Member K. Gordon) zoning map for the future and it went deep into Ocoee. He stated that he has a public records request which should include the map. Commissioner Anderson questioned City Manager Frank if Rose Hill has been discussed. City Manager Frank reported that there has been some discussion, a possible JP A amendment. Some discussion followed. Commissioner Keller stated he agreed with Commissioner Anderson regarding having a referendum with the teacher and parents first. He explained that if there is not a positive result, there would be no need to move forward. Commissioner Anderson stated that the Lake Wales submission needed to be reviewed due to the fact that he believes the result from the vote needed be done before the submission. Commissioner Keller reviewed a time frame for next year processing of the application. Discussion followed regarding the future elections. Commissioner Hood suggested appointing a person from each District to a Charter School Board Committee, and that person needs to be passionate about the Charter School. Consensus of the Commissioners to create a Charter School Board Committee. Commissioner Hood stated that everyone needed to come to the next meeting with a name. He stated he would like to appoint Julie Butler, but he will talk to her first. It was agreed that the Commissioners would have their appointment submittals ready for the 2nd meeting in August. Mayor Vandergrift said this may be a good time to consider dissolving that the CUlTent School Advisory Board. He added that the Board was formed to have them familiarize themselves with the operation of the School Board and keep us apprised. Commissioner Hood stated that he occasionally watches on OGTV and the CUlTent Ocoee School Advisory Board gets way off track and he thinks it would be better to form a Board to discuss and research only the issue of Charter Schools. Commissioner Anderson stated that their monthly discussion would be the Charter School only, not pot holes etc. Discussion followed. Mayor Vandergrift stated that he will meet with the Education Committee next week and advise them that if they are interested in being on the Charter School Board Committee, then they need to contact their Commissioner for their district. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m. Attest: APPROVED: City of Ocoee