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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07192006 SPECIAL OTY Of ~ 'rlj'~~ HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2006 - 6:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. Mayor McCollum called the Special Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL City Council Present: Mayor Nathan McCollum Vice-Mayor Brian Burkeen Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Sal Neglia Council Member AI Paternoster Staff Present: City Manager, AI Minner City Attorney, Rich Stringer City Clerk, Sally Maio Indian River County School Board Members Present: Lenora Quimby Bill Hughes Ann Reuter Craig McGarvey 4. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF NORTH COUNTY SCHOOL ISSUES Mayor McCollum said there will be a power point program presented tonight and there are copies available in the back of the room and on the city website. Mr. Neglia made a motion to keep presentations to five minutes but his motion died for lack of a second. Mr. Burkeen explained that he called the special meeting due to recent action by the School Board to build a south county high school despite the letter City Council sent to Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Two stating its opposition, which was misrepresented by the School Board at its last meeting. He said he had received numerous calls and e-mails in recent weeks, that there is a lot of community interest in this council creating a position on the north county school issue; and invited everyone to offer input and tell us how they want Council to proceed, and do what is best for the kids. Jerry Ahlersmeyer, gave a power point presentation that was originally presented as a result of a School Oistrict of Indian River County Long Range Planning Committee, (see attached), of which he was a member. He then described the committee's work, their four-month task and their resulting recommendation (scenario #4). He advised that the next School Board meeting is July 25,2006 at 7:00 p.m., thanked School Board members for attending tonight; and responded to questions from Council about some of his data. He responded to Mr. Burkeen that the Long Range Planning Committee was appointed by the Superintendent, the plan was brought before the Board but not considered and that some of the numbers presented tonight were prepared by a demographer and some obtained from school district staff. Christopher Nunn, Sebastian, said for the record, there is no political motivation on our part but that they want five people to work together in the interest of the children. Oamien Gilliams, Sebastian, said we need a new middle school and hoped we can come out of this meeting with a resolution and strategic plan. Oamien Gilliams, Jr. discussed overcrowding problems at Gifford Middle School. Guy Barber said it is unreasonable to build a $76M high school and outrageous that the School Board made bonds available and just keep borrowing. He said it was ridiculous that the middle school has classroom needs and instead they are building a music wing and have 33 modular units. Lenora Quimby, Indian River County School Board, displayed zone proposals that were being considered and said she would not support busing Sebastian children, that the easiest way to ease overcrowding is to do K-6 or K-8 and does not support a middle school on 66th at this time. Mayor McCollum said Ms. Quimby stated that the School Board purchased the property in the middle of the county, but also stated she doesn't believe in busing and asked her if they weren't going to bus a year ago and knew we had a problem what were you planning to do with the property. Ms. Quimby said she was not sure the Board knew there was a problem; and Mayor McCollum responded that SRMS problems have been well known and again asked what was the Board's plan. 2 Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Three Ms. Quimby said SRMS staff had 1250 students and noted that when they borrowed the $81 M and if SRMS staff were concerned about overcrowding they would have asked the Board for classrooms and not a music wing. Mr. Burkeen asked if it was realistic to say if a middle school is built on 66th Avenue that a Sebastian child might still go past that to Gifford Middle; and Ms. Quimby said it may be considered but she would not vote for it. Mr. Burkeen further asked if she was present at the workshops where the committee's report was presented, why did it go no further. Mr. Burkeen then asked why she would say she would not vote for building a school on 66th if she voted to buy it; and she responded it was a compromise for Mr. Hughes' need for property in Sebastian for future growth and her desire for a south county high school. Ms. Coy said the K-6 solution creates a new set of problems for teaching and extracurricular activities and did not see this as an immediate or permanent solution. Ms. Quimby said SRMS is getting additional staff this year, and that there are only 24 students who live near the 66th Avenue site. Mr. Burkeen asked if new legislation regarding charter schools might alleviate some of the problems; and if the schools would be willing to do assist with this problem if they were given money from the School Board. Bill Wiggins, advocated the south county high school and said we must think of the children only and start acting like adults. Mayor McCollum called recess at 7:48 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 7:58 p.m. All members were present. Eileen Polasek, parent and staff of Pelican Island Elementary, said she had a serious problem with K-6, because students are already in portables at the elementary school. Eugene Wolff, Sebastian, discussed what he described as "horrific" overcrowding problems at SRMS. Scott Simpson, 1132 Coverbrook Lane, Sebastian, recommended building the middle school and objected to K-6. Charles Stadleman, recommended if Council is considering a resolution, they address the need for proper zoning, and urged a boycott of the FCAT. Elaine Nunn, objected to K-6. Bill Hughes, School Board member, supported building a middle school on 66th Avenue, objected to K-6. 3 Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Four Martha McAdams, Principal at Sebastian Charter School, stated their school was started and wanted to stay a family-environment school with no more than 300 students. She said, as an administrator distributing sixth graders in the elementary schools would be hard to do within four weeks. She explained the new legislation authorizing the discretionary 2 mils would equalize all students right now however charter students do not receive portions of capital outlay dollars as the public schools prior to the legislation. Mr. Burkeen stated the charter school is a hidden asset. In response to Mr. Burkeen, Ms. McAdams stated charter schools do receive capital outlay money and FTE but not the same amounts as the public schools. Craig McGarvey, School Board member, said he was here due to the invitation sent to him, and hope to help with the resolution and outlined his experience with Indian River. He stated he had on the agenda, a master plan for the property on 66th Avenue and building a school on 66th will not provide neighborhood schools. He said K-6 is a good short-term solution and a way to study whether to keep it in the future. He suggested keeping Sebastian as configured by adding a permanent wing to middle school but it would stress the building. He said in the long term the District needs property on CR512 and they are working with realtor and property owner on property abutting 195. He asked everyone to consider the district-wide impact. His commitment is get further answers from the Board and have someone tell him where 450 students will come from for the 66th Avenue middle school. He said it appears that the South County High School is dead and will not make it into the five-year plan. The cost for the school continues to escalate as it is delayed. Mr. Burkeen asked why did the School Board buy the 66th Avenue property if no one is going to live there. Mr. McGarvey explained the Board instructed the superintendent to find property that would house a future elementary, middle and high school and see it used in the future for k-8 and a third or fourth district high school and maybe an administration as well. He said many years ago, the School Board bought property on Oslo Road for 900 to 1100 high school students which can be placed there immediately. Ms. Coy asked why the property was purchased for the future when a middle school problem exists right now. She reiterated the misplaced concern for tomorrow's residents and not taking care of today's problems. She said she would make summary statements at the end of this meeting and this Council will come up with a solution. Mr. Burkeen restated Mr. McGarvey's comment that support for a middle school on 66th would have an effect on children in the south county; there would be feeder problems and Council along with Mr. Alhersmeyer should explain to them why they would be bused. Mr. Burkeen expressed offense to Mr. McGarvey's comment because these concerns were brought to him over a year ago and nothing has been done, the School Board is not addressing the problem. 4 Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Five Scott Simpson, suggested asking contacting Pelican Island parents to see if they would support busing their children to a new middle school. Brenda Carley, mother of children at Pelican Island, said she did not see the new proposed school as being so far away which she found to be 5.5 miles from her home, only a half mile further than middle school. She said she needs to go to a school and get a good education in a good environment. Jerry Ahlersmeyer, said he is confident in saying that children going to a new middle school at 66th would be acceptable to Pelican Island parents. Noreen Craft, mother of sixth grader, said it important to sixth graders to go to middle school and is in favor of a school on 66th; said Pelican Island parents were agreeable with the site. She said building classrooms rather than a music wing is not going to help because the infrastructure is not there. Ann Reuter, School Board member, presented maps she had produced by Ryan Morrell, 517 Camelia Lane, Vero Beach, which exhibited student populations for elementary, middle and high schools, and supported a new middle school on 66th. Ms. Coy asked what her reasons were to purchase the 66th Avenue site, and Ms. Reuter said she thought there was more growth in the middle and north part of the county. She said she would like to see it built now and that the School Board is not in the real estate business. Ms. Reuter said her plan was to have an architect design a middle school and design a master plan for future. Guy Barber said about sixty acres of the land is going to have to be dug up, and the first building that was intended was a School District administration building. He said a middle school has to be built in the Barber Street area. He said this Council needs to rush them in their decision to build a middle school. He said it is their intention to breach the urban service line. John Oakes thanked Dr. McGarvey for attending, but said he negated his argument in his response to Mr. Burkeen's question. He said if south county residents were so interested why are they not here, said they purchased the property and now must make a decision to build the middle school on 66th. Debbie McKeigh, candidate for 5th District School Board, said people have spoken eloquently and commended Ms. Shirah for her job at SRMS. Colman Stewart, 5th District candidate, said we need to build the middle school on 66th, stating it would be his plan to build affordable housing for teachers. 5 Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Six Carol Johnson, School Board candidate, said we have lost focus because Council has shown leadership, and look at the lack of leadership the School Board has taken. Matthew Sims, 5th District candidate, said he has been a resident since 1975, said the time is now to build the middle school on 66th. Damien Gilliams, said this is what this community has been asking for, to get people into office that will support the north county. Mayor McCollum called recess at 9:35 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:40 p.m. All members were present. Mr. Burkeen said we are not here to tell the school board what to do but to listen to the concerns of our constituents, we did that and gave our concerns to the board and nothing happened. He said this is only a middle school overcrowding issue and is not a political issue; and could not disagree more with the speaker that we are not here for the kids but only for our political futures. He said the land is there and is in favor of recommending a middle school be built on the 66th property within two years to create a resolution. Ms. Coy thanked Mr. Burkeen for introducing the idea for this meeting and providing this opportunity; said her background and masters and career are in education, and values education. She said she was horrified when she visited SRMS today, noting it is a functional school, is an A school because of the staff who give 125% everyday. She said there are 26 portables and challenged people to walk through the halls which can only be done in one direction, for the teachers who have to be hall monitors, when children have to have six lunch periods, said numbers don't matter but children do, and if you haven't been there you need to go there. She stated the proposal to have K-6 is unacceptable. She said Council is the leadership of Sebastian and the buck stops here and expects the School Board to be the bottom line for schools, and if we can't adequately support our children today something is wrong. She proposed that Council set a resolution to take care of the middle school immediately and that portables are not acceptable and to take steps for permanent structures. Mr. Paternoster thanked Mr. Burkeen and everyone in attendance. He said it is the School Board's responsibility to tell parents what is going to happen to their children. He said children are treated like cattle in these schools, and we need to manage what is happening with our schools. He agreed with 100% with Mr. Burkeen's recommendation to build the school quickly and construct additions. Mr. Neglia said he does attend School Board meetings, and agrees we need to build the school and do it quickly. He said he would like to see an addition to SRMS. He recommended independent research be done to assure the best for the county. 6 Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Seven Mayor McCollum said he is uncomfortable when one agency tries to correct another's actions and expressed appreciation to School Board members for being here. He said he was struck by the fact that the north county has an anticipated increase in student numbers and decrease in the south county. He said he was going to go back and look at the meeting last year and see what was stated about the use of the 66th site. He recommended that sixth graders going to SRMS be moved to the Treasure Coast Elementary and Liberty Magnet and then give you some breathing time to get a new wing or a new middle school built. He said if we are going to do a resolution we need to instruct staff. Ms. Coy said this probably couldn't be done at this time, because it could break up the IB and other programs in place, and you are perhaps just shifting portables dismantling "A" schools. Mr. Neglia suggested extending onto or adding a floor at the SRMS while the school is being built. Mr. Burkeen pointed out that lunch would still be served at 9:30 am Perhaps do middle school on 66th and add wings as a long term solution. Ms. Coy stated Council agrees to build the middle school at 66th Avenue, I like some to do whatever is needed short of transporting the kids out. Mayor McCollum explained a resolution does not having binding power, but its purpose is to transmit a serious message to another agency and this maybe a way to communicate with the School Board. Mr. Hughes said fifth graders have a choice on whether they go to the new schools or not, thus the large number of white dots on the diagram. In response to the Mayor's request for recommendations, Mr. Burkeen said he would like to build middle school on 66th Avenue as soon as possible. Mr. Neglia would still like to look into adding onto SRMS because it will be needed in the future and eliminate some of the portables. He requested this be his recommendation. Ms. Coy expressed support for Mr. Burkeen's wording "for any possibility to alleviate the immediate problem--whatever it takes." Mayor McCollum suggested" to relieve the overcrowding at SRMS in effort to reduce the health, safety and welfare issues derived from overcrowding." Mayor McCollum pointed out a lot will depend on what happens at the School Board meeting on the 25th. He thanked the School Board members for coming. 7 Special City Council Meeting July 19, 2006 Page Eight There was a consensus of Council. Ms. Coy thanked School Board Member Kathryn Wilson, who was absent tonight, for changing her position on the south high school. Mr. Burkeen asked if the Mayor was resigning and he explained that he planed to commute to his new job and serve out his term on City Council. 5. Being no further business, Mayor McCollum adjourned the Special Meeting at 10:28 p.m. 200.6 f-.(egular City Council meeting. ATTEST: 8