The Palm Beach County School Board had several items on their plates yesterday, not just the discussion of shrinking enrollment at three Boynton-Delray corridor middle schools (staff plans to fix the situation got sidelined after a vehement discussion on poverty, race and choice).
The district wants its money back from The Charter Schools of Boynton Beach.
Charter schools operate on money that flows through the school district and follows the students. The Charter Schools of Boynton Beach had more than 700 students when last school year ended and in the summer the district’s accounts transferred $386,000 to the school as one year closed and another year promised to begin.
But within days of the transfer, the school earned its second F, which by state law required the district to end its charter. The district tried and failed to block or reverse the cash flow, said Chief Financial Officer Mike Burke.
It is working to get the money.
Two teachers were suspended.
Zedrick Barber, a social studies teacher at Howell L. Watkins Middle, will be suspended without pay for 10 days for using using inappropriate force on a student or students and other policy violations. Authorities began their investigation March 26. Barber can appeal the decision. The suspension would begin Dec. 1. No further details were available on the incident.
Anitra Grant-Straghn, a teacher currently in the reassignment pool, will be suspended without pay for 7 days for inappropriate interaction with students and other policy violations that were reported to authorities April 25. No further details were available on the incident. Grant-Straghn can appeal the decision, otherwise her suspension also begins Dec. 1.
Said goodbye outgoing board member Jennifer Prior Brown.
Chairman Chuck Shaw: I have learned a tremendous amount from her during the four years she’s been on the board. And there were many items, there were many times I’ve waited and looked forward to the comments she made because I knew they would be enlightening comments that would help me make a better decision. I wish you the very best.
Debra Robinson: I wanted to say to Mrs. Brown, while we’ve only agreed on rare occasion I appreciate somebody who ‘s willing to think and willing to think critically and put their thoughts out there as opposed to what sometimes seems too much like politics.. I actually hope that we can meet after you’re no longer on the board and maybe we can have some fights in private instead of public and get to a common ground and move this community and this district forward.
Jennifer Prior Brown chose not to run for re-election in District 4. She congratulated the winner in that race, Erica Whitfield. Brown said: I want to congratulate Erica Whitfield. There were several high quality candidates who ran for my seat…I think the best candid rose to the top and I have every confidence that she will be a fantastic board member who will represent me and all of the families and children and employees well here in the school district of Palm Beach County and work well with my colleagues.
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