Citizens' Advisory Committee Minutes

Meeting Date: August 6, 2018
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Place: School Board of Highlands County, 426 School Street, Sebring, FL, Garland Boggus Board Room

  1. Welcome: Chairman Jason Biance welcomed everyone to the Citizens' Advisory Committee (Committee) Meeting and asked for a roll call.

  2. Roll Call by Cindy Wester:

    1. Members present - Jason Biance, Diane Juve, Curt Matthews, Maritza Telesky, John Shoop, Ned Hancock, Wendy Amos, Velma Lumpkin, and Joe Wright

    2. Members absent - Chet Brojek, David Burnham, Kay Ferguson, Tiffany Green, Jennifer Waltman

    3. Others in attendance - Brenda Longshore, Donna Howerton, Mike Averyt, Harry Howes, Frank Brown, Darrell Layfield, and Cindy Wester

  3. Approval of Minutes: John Shoop moved, and Joe Wright seconded to approve the minutes of the February 26, 2018, meeting. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.

  4. Meeting Dates: It was decided that quarterly meetings are to occur in January, April, August, and October.

  5. Chair/Vice-Chair Election: Voting will take place at the October meeting for a new chair and vice-chair. The recommendation of the Chair and Vice Chair was to stagger the terms. Terms are two years.

  6. Fiscal Year/Project Lists: Mr. Averyt stated the fiscal year is July 1 through June 30.

  7. Archival of Data: Data will be archived by fiscal year, adding revenues and expenditures on a monthly basis.

  8. Cash Flow Update: Chair Biance shared cash flow numbers, which is currently $487,000 on the average. A committee member asked about projected estimated income. Mr. Averyt responded that this amount was approximately $8.1 million.

  9. Expenditures Update: Chair Biance shared a categorized expenditures chart. Mr. Shoop raised concern about an expenditure made for a project that was not on the project list. Mr. Averyt and Dr. Longshore addressed the matter.
    Dr. Longshore asked the pleasure of the Board on handling projects that do not fit into the current projects list. After general discussion, Mr. Hancock recommended that the District notify Committee members when the Board holds workshops to discuss expenditures not on the original project lists, giving the Committee an opportunity to attend.

  10. Safe Schools Grant: Mr. Averyt stated that the State is allocating approximately $90 million statewide to use for hardening of schools and that Highlands is eligible for 1%

    of that amount. An extensive appraisal of each campus was done and a report issued by HCSO. The Committee may receive a copy of the report upon request. Mr. Averyt added that the District also had another funding source of approximately $300,000 to combine with the Safe Schools Grant. Mr. Wright asked about how grant money would come in. Mr. Averyt addressed this question.
    Mrs. Maria Telesky asked about allocations used to add mental health staff. Mr. Averyt and Dr. Longshore explained the money sources uses as follows:

    1. Safe School Grant money of approximately $900,000 provides for school resource deputies and officers for security on all campuses;

    2. $350,000 in mental health allocations provided hiring four new positions - two social workers and two mental health therapists; and,

    3. Capital money received from the State through Full Time Equivalency (FTE)

      funds can only be used for hardening of schools.
      Mr. Averyt added that the Safe Schools Grant is the only grant.

  11. Facilities Update: Mr. Frank Brown reported on the progress on several projects to date including LPHS, LPE, SHS, and KLC.

  12. Technology Update: Mr. Harry Howes updated the Committee on security cameras. Mr. Darrell Layfield gave an update on Chromebooks, teachers' laptops, and new software.

  13. Last Comments: Mrs. Lumpkin thanked Mrs. Margaret Turnbull for her inspiration. Mr. Wright asked about the count of replaced school buses. Mr. Averyt addressed the question.
    Mr. Matthews commented on an incomplete, unused building in Lake Placid. Mr. Brown addressed this issue.
    Mrs. Diane Juve asked for clarification on why the funds are collected during the school year, but primarily spent in the summer. Mr. Averyt and Mr. Brown explained that for safety reasons, the majority of construction work is done during the summer when students are out of school.

  14. Next Meeting: It was agreed to coordinate the next meeting with the school board calendar and notify members by email at a future date.

  15. Adjourn: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM.