Wes Underwood, Coordinator of Math and Science, presented Charlene Mauro, Navarre High School science teacher (Marine Science Station), with the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.  This is a national award from the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Ms. Mauro came forward to accept her award.  She was nominated by Jean May-Brett, Director of the Math Science Partnership for the state of Louisiana.  It was quite an honor to be nominated; this is great recognition for the Marine Science Station and Santa Rosa School District.  Ms. Mauro expressed appreciation to her Principal, Brian Noack, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Bill Emerson, and Superintendent Wyrosdick for their support over the years.  The award includes $2,000 for Mr. Mauro to use for her own professional development and an additional $2,000 to fund environmental educational activities at her school.  Ms. Mauro shared that Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, selected two programs to present at the White House; the Navarre Marine Science Station was one of them.  Ms. Mauro plans to use her award money to receive underwater robotics training next summer which is a great career opportunity for students.  She also talked about projects they are currently working on - a water quality monitoring program and an outreach "Octobus" for those student groups who can't come to the Marine Science Station at Navarre.

Pam Smith, Director of Elementary Education, came forward to present the Five Star Award to the following schools:  Dixon Primary, Gulf Breeze Elementary, Holley Navarre Intermediate, Holley Navarre Primary, Oriole Beach Elementary, Pea Ridge Elementary, West Navarre Intermediate, West Navarre Primary, Gulf Breeze Middle, Woodlawn Beach Middle, and Gulf Breeze High.  The Five Star Award was created by the Commissioner's Community Involvement Council and is presented annually to those schools that have shown evidence of exemplary community involvement.  

Pam Smith, Director of Elementary Education, came forward with Superintendent Wyrosdick and Dr. Scott to present the Golden School Awards which celebrates volunteerism.  District wide we had a total of 191,475 volunteer hours which equates to over $1.5 million for our schools in salary and benefits.  These are the schools that received the Golden School Award:  Bagdad Elementary (2,500 volunteer hours - 29 years receiving the Golden School Award); Berryhill Elementary (9,578 volunteer hours - 30 years receiving the Golden School Award); Chumuckla Elementary (2,166 volunteer hours - 29 years receiving the Golden School Award); Dixon Primary (16,586 volunteer hours - 30 years receiving the Golden School Award); Dixon Intermediate (8,323 volunteer hours - 30 years receiving the Golden School Award); East Milton Elementary (4,604 volunteer hours - 30 years receiving the Golden School Award); Gulf Breeze Elementary (15,600 volunteer hours - 30 years receiving the Golden School Award); Holley Navarre Primary (7,646 volunteer hours - 31 years receiving the Golden School Award); Holley Navarre Intermediate (6,107 volunteer hours - 31 years receiving the Golden School Award); T. R. Jackson Pre-Kindergarten (500 volunteer hours - 31 years receiving the Golden School Award); Jay Elementary (6,291 volunteer hours - 29 years receiving the Golden School Award); Oriole Beach Elementary (12,565 volunteer hours - 33 years receiving the Golden School Award); Pea Ridge Elementary (9,521 volunteer hours - 33 years receiving the Golden School Award); Rhodes Elementary (7,250 volunteer hours - 30 years receiving the Golden School Award); Russell Elementary (4,465 volunteer hours - 7 years receiving the Golden School Award); West Navarre Intermediate (7,560 volunteer hours - 14 years receiving the Golden School Award); West Navarre Primary (10,000 volunteer hours - 8 years receiving the Golden School Award); Avalon Middle (2,955 volunteer hours - 14 years receiving the Golden School Award); Gulf Breeze Middle (5,300 volunteer hours - 20 years receiving the Golden School Award); Hobbs Middle (2,044 volunteer hours - 15 years receiving the Golden School Award); Holley Navarre Middle (2,400 volunteer hours - 16 years receiving the Golden School Award); King Middle (1,484 volunteer hours - 11 years receiving the Golden School Award); Sims Middle (3,530 volunteer hours - 14 years receiving the Golden School Award); Woodlawn Beach Middle (2,400 volunteer hours - 10 years receiving the Golden School Award); Central (1,125 volunteer hours - 4 years receiving the Golden School Award); Gulf Breeze High (2,900 volunteer hours - 11 years receiving the Golden School Award); Milton High (15,300 volunteer hours - 6 years receiving the Golden School Award); Navarre High (4,275 volunteer hours - 15 years receiving the Golden School Award); Pace High (16,500 volunteer hours - 6 years receiving the Golden School Award).  Superintendent Wyrosdick expressed his appreciation for the volunteers and schools; this is a "win-win" situation.

School Board Member/Vice-Chairman Hugh Winkles expressed congratulations to School Board Chairman Dr. Diane Scott on her recent re-election.  This is a resounding message from Santa Rosa County voters on what they think of the school system and Dr. Scott.  Dr. Scott thanked everyone for their hard work and support.

Dr. Scott asked if anyone in the audience would like to address the School Board regarding the 2014-15 Millage and Budget.   There was no response and the public hearing was closed.

Motion to Approve was moved by Hugh Winkles, Seconded by Diane Coleman.  Motion Passed by a Vote of 5 - 0.

The board approved Resolution Number 10-03 determining Revenues and Millages levied as follows:

1.    The board approved the Required Local Effort Millage at a total of 5.2950 Mills (5.281 Required Local Effort plus 0.014 Prior Period Funding Adjustment Millage) and raising $44,047,814.00.

Motion to Approve was moved by Diane Coleman, Seconded by Jenny Granse.  Motion Passed by a Vote of 5 - 0.

3.    The board approved the Capital Outlay Millage at 1.4000 Mills raising $11,646,259.00 (for a total Millage of 7.443 Mills).

Agenda Item L.1.  Note:  This item was moved in the agenda to be presented after the second public hearing and approval of the 2014-15 budget.  

Motion to Approve was moved by Hugh Winkles, Seconded by Scott Peden.  Motion Passed by a Vote of 5 - 0.

Mr. Wyrosdick stated that the Annual Financial Report for 2013-14 closes that year out and gives us an opportunity to see where we finished. 

Susan McCole, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, thanked Marilyn Brown, Accounting Supervisor, for her work in preparing the 2013-14 Annual Financial Report, along with Kathy Strickland, who assisted Ms. Brown.  Superintendent Wyrosdick expressed appreciation to them for their service.  Ms. Brown came forward and began her report by stating that this past year (2013-14) did not turn out as expected.  We had three unexpected receipts of revenue.

On June 3, 2014, we received nearly $800,000 from Florida Blue as part of a Proshare agreement; on June 20 we received over $2,000,000 from the tax collector for tax certificate sales and prior year taxes; and on July 15 we received over $2,800,000 from the tax collector for prior year taxes.  All these items increased our fund balance.  Along with fund balance increases we experienced an increase in FTE, general school fund revenues, and school food service fund balance.  

Dr. Scott emphasized that, for the most part, these are non-recurring revenues.  Superintendent Wyrosdick shared that while these windfalls helped us improve our Financial Condition Ratio we still need to be very fiscally minded.  Our Finance and Data Processing staff have worked tirelessly to produce the needed information in a very short window of time and he appreciates that.  


 

Thomas Kasparek came forward.  Mr. Kasparek thanked the School Board for allowing him time to speak.  He is a Durham school bus driver - Durham is a national company and when he refers to Durham he is doing so in that sense.  Mr. Kasparek referred to the district contract which states that Durham will not violate federal, state, or local laws.  According to Mr. Kasparek, Durham has been in violation since October 2012 of unfair labor practices - refusing to bargain with employees.  Mr. Kasparek submitted to the Board letters that he requested they review later.  He expressed concern that the Board is not enforcing the contract; that this United Kingdom based company is violating American workers' rights by refusing to respect the legal vote.  In closing, he stated that the bus drivers love their job and the children but cannot promise labor peace if this continues.

Sandra Nicely had completed the registration form to address the Board but was not present.

Owen Gipson with DAG Architects requested approval of one change order (credit); ($40,000) which was an  allowance for Milton High School - Science Lab Addition for removal of unsuitable soil which was not needed.

David Pinder with Pinder Martin delivered a progress report on the Hobbs Middle School kitchen expansion project. 

Note:  Dr. Diane Scott recused herself due to her employment relationship with UWF.

The Board approved Amendment 2 to Cooperative Agreement Between the School Board and the University of West Florida for school year 2014-2015 as presented. 

Please see Item F.1.  This item was moved in the agenda to be presented after the second public hearing and approval of the 2014-15 budget.

 Susan McCole, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, introduced Jay Glover with Public Financial Management.  Ms. McCole noted that the funds referred to are capital dollars and not operating dollars; these funds cannot be used for raises.  Public Financial Management is the School District's financial advisor on debt related matters.  Mr. Glover reviewed a refunding opportunity that could lower the District's overall debt service payments and result in savings of approximately $1.3 million of net present value debt service.  The District's 2006 certificates have an initial call date (prepay early) of February 1, 2016.  With interest rates at historic lows, there is an opportunity to refinance that transaction.  Public Financial Management is proposing issuing a new Certificate of Participation, putting the funds into an escrow account and using those funds to pay off the 2006 certificates on February 1, 2016.  This will not extend the debt but will reduce the debt payment every year by approximately $110,000 (through 2031).  Public Financial Management is in the process of drafting a bond resolution that will be presented to the Board for consideration at the Board meeting on September 23, if there is no delay.  Since this proposal is interest-rate driven, they would like to have it approved as soon as possible to lock in favorable interest rates.  If approved on September 23, they hope to have the transaction finalized by mid-November.  Superintendent Wyrosdick asked Mr. Glover if things change between now and November; this would not be finalized.  Mr. Glover confirmed that there would be no obligation or cost to the School District until it is finalized. 

Recommendation by Superintendent Wyrosdick:  Ask Mrs. McCole to work with Mr. Glover to prepare appropriate documents for the School Board and leasing corporation and present those as early as possible - projected September 23, 2014.  

 At the close of the regular Board meeting, a brief executive session was convened.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. 

DONE AND ORDERED IN LEGAL SESSION by the School Board of Santa Rosa County this 11^th day of September, 2014 A. D.

                                                                   School Board of 
                                                                    Santa Rosa County


                                                                    __________________________
                                                                    Chairman

 ATTEST:

 Superintendent and Secretary