MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS FOR MARCH 20th  

Monroe County School Board members met March 20th, 2018 at Marathon Middle High School in the media center, for a scheduled School Board workshop, closed executive session on school safety and security, and a regular meeting.

Here are highlights from the workshop and meeting:

  • Representative Holly Raschein spoke to the board members about the 2018 Legislative Session:
    • Rep. Raschein discussed HB 7026, which included gun control, mental health, and school hardening both facilities and personnel.
    • She mentioned the district could consider only having to make adjustments to programming like training and drills, rather than add new programs due to the robust security program in place in the district.
    • She presented the board members with the idea to shift funding from the statewide “Guardian” program towards safe schools funding statewide.
    • Rep. Raschein emphasized that $200 million worth of the funding will be recurring, however board members pointed out concerns with the large percentage the district would have to supplement locally due to local sales tax.
    • Superintendent Mark Porter and board members also emphasized mental health provisions as top priority.
    • Rep. Raschein addressed board members as to why she voted in favor of education bill, HB 7055, despite not agreeing with many of the policy provisions.
    • She plans to meet with the teachers union to address HB 7055, the state education bill.
  • District Officials presented the following students, staff and community members with Great Educational Moments:
    • Stanley Switlik Elementary School |
  • Ella Dunn received recognition for her placement in the district’s Regional STEM Fair.
    • Marathon Middle High School |
  • The following students received recognition for their placement in the district’s Regional STEM Fair: Emily Suarez, Autumn Langford, Brooke Boski, Marquisha  Abraham, Rain Banks, Bethann Hewlett, Nicole Lera, Fernando Bonilla, Robert Gonzales, Alberto Aguirre, and Kalelia Lettman.
  • Meeting attendees addressed the board on the topic of safety and security:
    • A Stanley Switlik Elementary school teacher spoke to the board about school security and requested the prioritizing of school culture, identifying high needs students, school social workers, and arming of teachers trained to carry a firearm rather than metal detectors and more security on campus.
    • A parent speaking at the February 27th board meeting reemphasized the importance of metal detectors, SROs, and social workers on campus.
    • A substitute teacher and parent spoke to her personal experience with a school shooting in Jacksonville and requested metal detectors for schools.
  • Superintendent Porter gave a report to the public about the district’s safety and security:
    • Mr. Porter said school district officials have been assessing school infrastructure with regards to perimeter security and camera access.
    • He met with county mental health providers today, to discuss what programming should be prioritized first. He said another meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 22nd.
  • Instructional Materials Coordinator Kristen Condella presented the board with information related to 2017-2018 Digital Classroom plan:
    • Mrs. Condella discussed the district’s 1:1 device to student ratio and professional development for staff to implement the technology.
    • Moving forward, Mrs. Condella said curriculum officials’ next step is to provide all three high schools with enough Google Chromebooks to establish 1:1 use.
    • Mrs. Condella also shared the academic software the students use to engage the curriculum and the successes the district has had with the software integration into the classrooms.
  • Executive Director of Finance and Performance James Drake presented the review of the Fiscal Year 2016-2017:
    • Mr. Drake discussed the proposed district responses to the findings from the operational audit.
    • He said the district responded to eleven findings from auditors.
  • District legal counsel updated the school board on the land use amendment process for the MCSD Employee Housing Project at Sugarloaf.
  • In the Superintendent’s general report, he pointed out that March 30th, while it will still be considered a full student day, students with religious or faith-based reasons for missing school will be excused.
  • Mr. Porter and Mr. Ron Martin also spoke to the passing of Mrs. Jackie Moates, the beloved office manager for more than four decades at Coral Shores High School.
  • Board member John Dick noted the nature of underfunded mandates regarding school safety/security and suggested that the school board consider a small additional voter approved millage to be used solely for this purpose.  A ballot question could be presented in the August, 2018 or November, 2018 elections.
  • Board members voted to approve the following items:
    • Approval of Deduct Change Order with GMP and Biltmore Construction Co., INC. for Plantation Key School; 5-0
    • Approval of Construction Audit Change Order #1 with RSM US LLP; 5-0
    • Acceptance of Monroe County School District Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2017; 5-0
    • Approval of Dual Enrollment agreement between MCSD and FIU; 5-0
    • Approval of Criminal Background and Employment History Checks 1121.01, 3121.01, and 4121.01; 5-0
    • Approval of Evaluations of Administrative Personnel policy 1220; 5-0
    • Approval of the Contracts: Instructional Personnel policy 3128; 5-0
    • Approval of student Chromebooks purchase through CDWG (pulled from consent agenda); 5-0

For a look at the full agenda or to watch the March 20th meeting, please click here. The meeting will be available for on demand viewing by Friday. Follow the District on Facebook @MYMCSD, Twitter @keysschools, and follow the Superintendent on Twitter @supt_porter, for Monroe County School District updates.

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