Call Meeting to Order

1. Call Meeting to Order
   Minutes: The Chairman called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.

Approval of Consent Agenda
 Vote Results: FAIL

  Motion:
  Second:


1. Items to be discussed

1. Review of Draft Agenda for 11/5/02 Board Meeting
   Minutes: The Superintendent went over each item of the November 5, 2002 agenda.
   
   Speakers:
   Ms. Gwendolyn Gibson, Board Member
   Ms. Kris Barnes, Board Member
   Mr. Jimmie Johnson, Board Chairman
   Dr. Susan Wilkinson, Board Member
   Ms. Cindy Rounds, Board Member
   Dr. Charles Cline, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instructional Services
   Ms. Martha Barrett, Board Member
   Ms. Linda Sparks, Board Member
   
   Chairman Johnson requested that staff schedule some time to discuss "No Child Left Behind" legislation to inform the new Board members about this issue.
   
   Speakers:
   Ms. Kris Barnes, Board Member
   Ms. Cindy Rounds, Board Member
   Ms. Linda Sparks, Board Member
   Dr. Susan Wilkinson, Board Member
   Mr. John C. Fryer, Jr., Superintendent of Schools
   Ms. Gwendolyn Gibson, Board Member
   
   
2. First Student Purchase of West Jacksonville LLC
   Minutes: Mr. Tony Zebouni, Assistant General Counsel, introduced representatives from First Student, who have contacted General Counsel and staff with the school district, regarding the possible acquisition in acquiring West Jacksonville LLC's bus routes.
   
   Mr. Zebouni said that his office is trying to ensure that there will be a continuous provision of service to the students of Duval County in that GSA. The acquisition is the assignment of routes from West Jacksonville LLC to First Student. The Board will be asked to consider the appoval the assignment of the routes from West Jacksonville to First Student.
   
   Mr. Zebourni further stated that the sale is contingent upon the School Board making a determination as to grant some relief in the award of the contract to the extent that there was originally a 3 year contract period with two one-year options. Additionally, Provision 2.22 which was a Termination for Convenience whereas at any time during the year, we could give 90 days and terminate the contract for no cause.
   
   Mr. Zebouni believes the two contingencies (the basis of the sale)would be that West Jacksonville LLC would ask this Board to approve the assignment and grant relief in that contract of removing the Termination for Convenience clause and also exercising the two-year options making this a five-year contract less the one and one-half years from the acquisition. The purpose of the sale price or "buy-out" was based on a certain amortization for equipment and "buy-out".
   
   First Student has represented to General Counsel that anything short of that period of time can recoup their investment would make it impossible for them to afford the deal.
   
   Speakers:
   Ms. Gwendolyn Gibson, Board Member
   Mr. Derrel Chatmon, Assistant General Counsel
   Mr. John C. Fryer, Jr., Superintendent of Schools
   Dr. Susan Wilkinson, Board Member
   Ms. Linda Sparks, Board Member
   Ms. Martha Barrett, Board Member
   Ms. Kris Barnes, Board Member
   Mr. Duley Perez, President, West Jacksonville, LLC
   
   The Board scheduled a Special Meeting to address this transportation issue for Monday, October 21, 2002, 11:00 a.m. in the Board room.
   
   
3. Interest Free Loans & Purchase Technical & Energy Savings
   Minutes: Mr. Steve Bright, Budget Director, stated that he has sent in an application to the State in order to receive some of the funds that have been earmarked (interest free loans). The government is giving tax breaks. To qualify, you basically have to have 35% or more and a partnership (or somebody nonprofit) earmarking 10% (core schools). This is almost an interest free loan...you need to pay for your financial advisor and we have excellent ratings so it's free for us. You could actually borrow money from the bond, do the project, take the money you had for the project, take it in a "sinking" fund and pay the debt off in 13-14 years, draw the interest off of it and use that money. It's a "win win" situation.
   
   Speakers:
   Dr. Susan Wilkinson, Board Member
   Ms. Gwendolyn Gibson, Board Member
   Mr. John C. Fryer, Jr., Superintendent of Schools
   Ms. Kris Barnes, Board Member
   Ms. Susan Carew, Johnson Control
   
   Ms. Barnes stated that she meets with her principals every other month and it was brought up that the district has been working on an alternative program for elementary schoos for approximately two years. The principals asked for the Board's support.
   
   Speakers:
   Dr. Susan Wilkinson, Board Member
   Mr. John C. Fryer, Jr., Superintendent of Schools
   Ms. Gwendolyn Gibson, Board Member
   Ms. Linda Sparks, Board Member
   Dr. Nancy Snyder, Chief of Staff
   
   Dr. Wilkinson brought up the fact that the Florida School Boards Association annual conference (in Tampa) will begin the same day as our December Board meeting (December 3, 2002). The Board agreed to change our Board meeting to Monday, December 2, 2002.
   
   Speakers:
   Ms. Gwendolyn Gibson, Board Member
   Ms. Kris Barnes, Board Member
   
   It was decided to begin the November 5, 2002 Regular Board Meeting at 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon rather than 6 o'clock due to elections.
   
   Speakers:
   Ms. Martha Barrett, Board Member
   Mr. Jimmie Johnson, Board Chairman
   Dr. Susan Wilkinson, Board Member
   
   Ms. Barrett mentioned that John Porter is going to be in town next week, October 22nd and there will be a reception for him at 4:30 p.m.
   
   
4. Policy Handbook Review - Sections EB - EEAEB
   Minutes: The Superintendent and Chairman decided to postpone discussion on this item.
   
   

Agenda

Adjournment

1. Adjournment
   Minutes: The meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
   
   lsd