The Palm Beach County School Board meets at 5 p.m. The full agenda is online, but here’s my take on the highlights:
The school calendar: By Florida law, schools can’t begin the new school year earlier than two weeks before labor day. That would be Aug. 24, 2015. In Palm Beach County, that has some parents and board members unhappy because after you set aside time off for Thanksgiving, the Jewish holidays and Christmas – high school semester exams get pushed into January after a two-week break. The board is hoping to find a way around this rule, but until then staff has given the board two calendars: one beginning Aug. 24, and a preferred ‘provisional’ one that begins Aug. 17 – as in provided the district can find a way around the law. This is on the consent agenda.
Second-hand computers: Staff proposes the district buy 3,500 HP Compaq computers from Palm Beach State College for no more than $175,000. That’s $70,000 for the machines and $105,000 to remove them from PBSC, wipe all hard drives, delivery and installation. According to the backup material, that’s $20 for each machine – less than an estimated $199 new or $75 used. This is on the consent agenda for purchases.
Improving graduation rates for children in foster care: From the agenda: AT&T is awarding a $300,000 grant to the Best Foot Forward Foundation to bring an innovative program to more children in Palm Beach County to improve high school graduation rates for children in foster care. Details to come.
