THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY

MINUTES

The School Board of St. Lucie County held a town hall meeting in the auditorium at Lincoln Park Academy on September 17, 2009 at approximately 6:00 p.m.

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

ALSO PRESENT: MR. MICHAEL J. LANNON, Superintendent

MR. DANIEL B. HARRELL, Attorney

Chairman Miller called the town hall meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. She welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming, and invited members of the audience to comment on proposed options that were being considered for the modernization of the Lincoln Park Academy Middle School facility. A public viewing of the two options had been held on Monday, September 14, 2009. The drawings were also on display in the lobby of the auditorium before and during the town hall meeting. Citizens who wished to provide written comments were asked to complete comment forms which would then be given to the Board for review.

Chairman Miller called on Superintendent Michael Lannon who spoke about the district's budget situation in order to "frame" the conversation. Shrinking (local and state) dollars, negative growth, and four new charter schools had and were having a big effect on the planning process. Mr. Lannon indicated the district had $12 million and Lincoln Park Academy Middle School was next on the list for improvement.

He also assured the audience that nothing had been decided—he was looking for common ground by attempting to improve the educational facilities for boys and girls while honoring the community and history of Lincoln Park Academy in name and spirit. Mr. Lannon indicated the modernization effort needed to move as rapidly as possible but it was not going to be a simple matter because there were generational and historical feelings involved.

The Superintendent then put to rest several rumors that were circulating in the community surrounding the Edwards Road property, Southbend hybrid buildings, land lease with the City of Port St. Lucie, and Lincoln Park Academy budget money. He reminded everyone about the improvements (C. A. Moore Elementary, F. K. Sweet Elementary, Lincoln Park Academy auditorium, Fort Pierce Central High) that had been made to school property throughout north Fort Pierce in response to concerns that that area had been totally neglected.

The following ten speakers addressed the Board, the majority of which basically agreed that Lincoln Park Academy middle school students deserved more than just a "glorified", "fixed-up", portable structure: Samuel S. Gaines, Victoria Stalls, Eddie Whitfield, Alan Mathison, Trish Abel, Susan Paul, R. Duke Nelson, Rufus Alexander, Tishunda Tullis, and Joy Wright. A couple of speakers stated they would only support hybrid buildings as a stopgap measure just so the students could finally benefit from updated technology equipment which had been lacking in the current 50-year-old facility.

Individually, board members expressed their appreciation to everyone for their input and agreed that an advisory committee (13 members) should be formed to look at the issue more closely.

Superintendent Lannon also thanked everyone and ended the meeting by announcing that

St. Lucie County was one of three U. S. sites chosen to participate in the Dawn Project, a program that offers individual and personalized instruction for teachers and students that prepares them for globalization and reducing inequality driven by globalization, using computers. The district was selected due to its commitment to technology and progress made over the past few years. The international network of students and teachers would be available to some or all high school students at Lincoln Park Academy and to Forest Grove Middle School students who were enrolled in the Marine Oceanographic Academy preparatory program.

Written comments received by the Board are listed below and are posted on the district's website.

1.  The modular concept for renovations is not an acceptable idea for our community. The integrity of the architectural design needs to be preserved. Don not expend millions ($12m) to renovate. Wait until there is adequate funding to rebuild. LPA should be a priority on new school construction plans. We want a new school on the same site.

2.  Please don’t destroy our school!! Please do not put those models on our school campus! This school needs to look good in this community. I love my school L.P.A. A lot of years here.

3.  Let’s enlarge our territory in every aspect, technology, all improvements in a permanent structure.

4.  The plan looks nice but I feel that they should try to make the place as close to the original as possible.

5.  I think they should try to make the school the same as before.

6.  I understand the economy condition, but what monies before economy. I don’t want portables. Build little by little to have a finished school.

7.  Modulars, portables are not acceptable. And you know like I know these “modulars” will be here for a LEAST the next 15 years. Plus capital budgeting will not be available forever. AS a 2008 graduate of the University of Florida in criminology and business, and as a current graduate student in the MBA in finance program at Nova Southeastern University, I have more updated knowledge in the business world, which obviously you lack. You must PLAN FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO – fancy portables will not do the trick. I will see you at the committee meeting.

8.  With the great news of global education through the Dawn Foundation I cannot help but wonder how we can prepare our middle schoolers to enter this program without technology available to them ASAP. We don’t have time to wait year after year.

9.  I suggest using the money for technology, teachers and students. Improve the school as is and be patient for a new building. The portables and dining area should be the last resort.

10.  We need a new modern building for the middle school at LPA. I hope you reconsider and do the right approach to improving the classroom situation at LPA.

11.  First and foremost, I do not like the new design of facilities, and why wasn’t the LPA alumni, student, staff and faculty involved in the design process? What steps have been taken for preservation, and the visible honoring of the historical legacy of LPA est. 1923?

Discussion ended and Chairman Miller adjourned the September 17, 2009 town hall meeting at approximately 7:22 p.m.