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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-01-12 - City Commission Special Meeting Minutes5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321 TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900 January 8, 1981 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL TAMARAC, FLORIDA PLEASE BE ADVISED OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL to be held on Monday January 12, 1981 at 2:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is for discussion and possible action concerning School Boundaries for Tamarac Children. Council may consider such other business as may come before it. The Public is invited to attend. Pursuant to Chapter 80-105 of Florida Law, Senate Bill No. 368: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at such Meeting, he will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Carol A. Evans Assistant City Clerk /lc © WE CALL TO ORDER: Monday, January at City Hall ROLL CALL: CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING School Boundaries for Tamarac Children January 12, 1981 Mayor Falck called the Special Meeting to order on 12th, 1981, at 2:30 P.M., in the Council Chambers PRESENT: Mayor W. Falck Vice --Mayor H. Massaro C/M I. Disraelly C/M I. Zemel C/W M. Ketch ALSO PRESENT: School Boundaries for Tamarac Children SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Mayor and Council authorized to make presentations to the School Board. Laura Z. Stuurmans, Actg. City Mgr. Arthur Birken, City Attorney Mayor Falck indicated that there was a brief discussion on this item at the Pre -Agenda meeting last Thursday; he was instructed to prepare a letter and recommendations to present to Council as to how they might actively participate and indicate to the School Board their recommenda- tions at the Public Hearing that will be held tomorrow evening at 7:30 P.M. at Stranahan High School. He composed a letter which was distributed to Council and asked for observations from Council; the Mayor did include information that he has noticed over the last couple of years. Mayor Falck read his letter in its entirety(see Attachment #1) and the audience reacted with applause. C/M Zemel mentioned that the neighborhood concept is for the good of the children; children shouldn't have to travel such distances so that by the time they get to school,they are too tired to do their day's work and by the time they get home, they are too tired to have their dinner or do their homework. He further mentioned that before long our elementary school children will be ready for middle school and the Council will certainly work very diligently with whatever pressure they can exert throughout the County and State to correct the inequities that exist today. The audience reacted with applause. C/M Disraelly said he hoped that more than one person will be allowed to speak, as there probably will be many parents who will want to speak. He was also wondering whether anyone from Council will be allowed to speak. Mayor Falck indicated that if an individual registered when they came in, he will be allowed to speak. C/M Disraelly indicated that he had also prepared a statement and pro- ceeded to read it in its entirety(see Attachment #2)the audience responded with applause. V/M Massaro complimented both the Mayor's and C/M Disraelly's letters and she also wondered whether there would be restrictions at the meeting because of the crowds and suggested that the two letters be incorporated in case two people are not allowed to speak. She also suggested to the Mayor that he elaborate on the enrollment figures, since money is being lost. -1- January 12, 1981 /Pe l� C/W Kelch said she agreed with V/M Massaro's comments and feels C/M Disraelly's letter takes a different tack and is a good addition to the Mayor's letter. She did feel there should be some particular reference as to the specific number of children being bussed from this area so that there will be no doubts about what is being dis- cussed. V/M Massaro said it should be pointed out that the children are being taken out of the elementary school in anticipation of the fact that they will be bussed when they go on to the next school. Mrs. Sheila Lloyd, Tamarac Elementary Advisory Chairperson, said she agreed with V/M Massaro's comments and they have planned their action from Tamarac Elementary as such and they will touch on those issues Council has just mentioned. Dealing from Tamarac from the advisory standpoint, she intends to give them the facts and figures as just discussed because those boundary recommendations started so many years ago in the High School level and she will show how those figures have come down now, not only to affect the Middle School, but what it is doing to Tamarac Elementary School now. In just 1-1/2 years Tamarac Elementary has dropped from..a_n.enrollment of 920 to 671 students due to a boundary change because they needed numbers to start a school in Pinewood Elementary in North Lauderdale. Pinewood Elementary has an enrollment of 800 plus and our enrollment has dropped; there was a teacher cut of three teachers, combined classrooms, a kindergarten in with a first grade class and a fourth grade class in with a fifth grade class -- she will really stress what is happening at Tamarac Elementary. They have done surveys and came up with facts and figures; people are moving out of Tamarac to avoid the Middle School and the High School situation and 90 children have been pulled out of Tamarac Elementary and going to private schools. There should be about 300 children in Ely High School and there are only 120 from our area; they surveyed 55% of the people living in the Heathgate and Sunflower area to find out about the 90 children that had been pulled out of Tamarac Elementary. The PTA will support them, but will not repeat themselves, but will discuss other aspects. Don Perlman, resident of Heathgate -Sunflower, said the recommendations that are coming from the School Board seem to be protecting some areas of this County. He indicated he would like to start with the Ramble - wood or Middle School situation --his conversation with Dr. McFatter on Thursday dealt with why he is taking students out when some of them live less than two miles away from the school and replacing them with 350 students that are being brought over from Coral Springs High. In the past they would not let Tamarac go into a domino factor to move us in the school system; they are moving us out now for a domino factor in Coral Springs. Instead of moving those students from Coral Springs High east to the over -enrolled schools, they are just moving us out. Only Coral Springs students can go to Coral Springs schools. Dr. McFatter told him this was a recommendation of Mr. Swiggler and Mr. Flynn, who is the principal of Ramblewood. Mr. Flynn has denied to one of Mr. Perlman's workers emphatically that it is not his recom- mendation to Dr. McFatter; his recommendation to Dr. McFatter was exactly what the Ramblewood Advisory Committee recommended, that the students who were from North Lauderdale be set up in a portable, be put into a North Lauderdale Middle School when that was built and that the children from Tamarac would remain in Ramblewood. It is not the recommendation of Mr. Swiggler or Dr. McFatter to keep our children in there, but to remove them for the Coral Springs Middle School Children; also by moving these students around, there is still going to be some available space for our children. There are 10 portables on that property; by taking out the 600 students from North Lauderdale, they would have no problem whatsoever, they just do not want us in Coral Springs schools, period. -2- January 12, 1981 /pe I In talking with Mr. Stan McCall in the Transportation Department for the School Board, it is Mr. McCall's opinion to keep Ely racially balanced and Mr. Perlman reminded him that 4 years ago when we were taken over to the school, it was not due to any racial balancing, it was simply because Coral Springs High School at that time was over- crowded and there were empty seats in Ely. They had taken depositions in their law suit where everybody involved denied that it was a legal issue to take the children from Tamarac, that it was simply in their minds, immoral to put in more children into that school. Ely High School was closed in 1970 by a Federal Court Order; 4 years later the Federal Court system felt that the County was now integrated, so therefore, the school was re -opened. Mr. Perlman said he discussed with Mr. McCall the fact that students from Coral Springs will be bussed to Taravella, where the students from Tamarac can walk to that school. Mrs. Kathleen Wright made a statement in a deposition 4 years ago that they had two choices -- one was to take the children who are walking to school or the children who are already on a bus and since they are already on a bus, they will just re -direct the bus. Mr. Perlman indicated that this is true today --there are going to be students from Coral Springs being bussed to Taravella where the children from Heathgate/Sunflower can walk to that school.. He said if her argument was good 4 years ago, her argument should be good now --keep the bus going east if that is what she believes in. Mr. McCall agreed that he is 100% right and Mr. Perlman asked why he hadn't recommended this to Dr. McFatter; his answer was, "Nobody ever consulted him on the boundary changes." Mr. Perlman read a statement from Ms. E. Moriarity's deposition 4 years ago, "Because eventually there will be a school built in the Tamarac area --instead of re -doing boundaries for a dozen schools, we will just be able to switch that group out of Ely." Mr. Perlman said we have the school now and we should be just switched right out of Ely. He believes it is the Scnool Board's obligation at this point to look into the reasoning behind these administrative policies being directed at them; the School Board will be fed slanted information to keep things at a status quo and he feels it is about time that the present School Board clean house. Mr. Steve Stern of Sunflower thanked Council and the Mayor for their support, but felt it was a little lack of consideration as to the timing of the meeting. He also indicated that he hoped the Council was not too late and is also wondering whether the School Board members, Dr. McFatter and Mr. Swiggler are so far out of reach that the Council and push of the Council of this City has to come to the wire? Mayor Falck said he has attended the meetings and Council has been informed of any activities in which the Mayor participates. Mr. Stern asked if there has been any official communication from our City Council prior to tomorrow? Mayor Falck stated that until there is something official, he doesn't go by what is reported in the newspapers or that he hears by the media in any way. He likes to hear it directly and until the 6th of January nothing was known officially; the information that came out on the 6th could have posed a conflict if the City had made any statements and we don't want to look ridiculous. C/M Disraelly said for the record, it was official on the 6th and Council had a meeting at 1:30 P.M. on the 7th to discuss it. Mr. Stern said he felt the Council should have had a later meeting by one hour so that all the parents could attend since the children do not get out of school until 2:30 P.M. -3- January 12, 1981 /pe Ms. Carolyn Mascolo, President of Heathgate/Sunflower Homeowners' Association, stated that Tamarac has been affected by the elementary school situation and certainly by the Ramblewood situation; Heathgate/ Sunflower children are the ones that go to Ely. There are other children living in Tamarac who for years have peacefully attended Piper High School and Boyd Anderson High School; they have stability in their lives and are not being bothered. There are 120 children trom Heathgate/Sunflower going to Ely and there is a graduating class of 11 this year that was the entire ninth grade. Ms. Mascolo said this is not a city that is being affected, it is a very small community within a city and this is doing tremendous damage to our children. There never was a court order that sent us there; there is no court order keeping us there. They told us it was to relieve the over- crowding in Coral Springs High School; it is in the minutes of their own meetings. Mr. Marco, their attorney, informed them at the meet- ings that they were not under a court order to integrate Ely, but simply to fill it with students and they preferred it to be us. Taravella is scheduled to open with 1200 children and we have between 120 to 180 who would be going in today; they certainly will not over- crowd Taravella. C/M Disraelly asked how many are being bussed? Ms. Mascolo replied that approximately 120 Tamarac to Ely after 4 years; there should but many have either left the area or are V/M Massaro asked about the 120 figure and the figure became 120 from No. Lauderdale they lost about 30 to 40 children. are being bussed from be over 400, close to 500, attending private schools. Ms. Mascolo replied that and Tamarac 4 years ago; V/M Massaro asked what happened to the others? Ms. Mascolo said there was a tremendous drop -out and many moved to Coral Springs so that they could attend the schools in Coral Springs. C/M Disraelly asked how many are being bussed now? MS. Mascolo replied that 120 from Tamarac alone are being bussed today and many have moved from their little area and many homes are for sale at the present time. The community has turned over because of the school situation. It a child had a sibling in Coral Springs High School, then that child could attend the school. People are using a Coral Springs address so they can go to Coral Springs or Piper; many people have transferred guardianship of their children so they can attend Coral Springs High School. We are up against the Coral Springs City school system. The Broward County school system is in the business of creating the Coral Springs City school system; if you live in Coral Springs, you go to Coral Springs schools. Ramblewood is taking 338 Tamarac children, putting them in portables in Sunrise and bringing 346 children from Coral Springs Middle School into it. If Coral Springs Middle School is crowded, then some place must be found for those children, but not our seats. Those children are coming from miles away to Ramblewood. Coral Springs Middle School is up on Wiles Road in the northwestern gxadrant of Coral Springs; those children will have to travel three times the distance that our children travel in order to get to Ramblewood Middle School and yet that is what they are doing. We go back in the portable for the fourth time and Coral Springs Middle children come in. C/M Disraelly asked Mr. Green if double sessions affect the students drastically? Mr. Green replied that he doesn't like double sessions and feels children lose a lot. Even though in a double session, you might have children going to a portable situation, they might have facilities in a double session atmosphere, where in a portable situa- tion they can't get all of those things that are needed. Mr. Green said that the portable situation is better. -4- January 12, 1981 /pe I Ms. Mascolo stated that leaving those children in Coral Springs will not create a double session. They are on single session now. (Tape- She then presented some real estate ads from Coral Springs stating side that this is the school district everyone wants. Tamarac should #2) object to a city school system that excludes them. Ms. Gina Lateiri of Heathgate stated that people do not want their children to be bussed and it is being advertised that Coral Springs does not bus; the atmosphere and enthusiasm are different when they are bussed as there is no sense of community. When there is no bussing, children and parents get involved in after -school activities. It is $14.00 to take a taxi from Ely to Tamarac for children to participate in after -school activities; the Council must stress this. Ms. Judy Camel said that double sessions are much less destructive, as they can still use the library and belong to a school building rather than, being bussed. The School Board of Broward County is creating a private school system for the rich; Woodmont children are allowed to go to Taravella. V/M Massaro asked what could be done about these injustices and then asked Mr. Birken what more we can do to be more forceful and put more pressure on them? Mr. Birken proceeded to speak about the thousands of dollars spent for litigation when he was interrupted by Ms. Mascolo who stated that tangible results were obtained by litigation. She said the Concerned Citizens for Neighborhood Schools sued the School Board on grounds that the bussing of our children was capricious and arbitrary and that an economic impact study had not been done in regard to bussing. She referred to the Plantation case in which their organization was enjoined although there were two separate attorneys. Mr. Marco filed against them in Federal Court, they filed in Circuit Court. He was dismissed by the Federal Courts because they no longer had jurisdiction over the actions of the Broward County School Board. That meant that there was no court order sending us to Ely and therefore the Federal Courts would not hear the case. The Circuit Court judge eventually dismissed their case on the grounds that it should have gone before the Commission of Rules in Tallahassee, that in fact, setting boundaries was a rule and not a law. The Plantation attorney on their behalf and on the Plantation parents' behalf did file before that Commission and the school bondaries of Broward County were declared invalid by that Commission. The next day Mr. Marco appealed that decision and the Appeal sits in the Appeals Courts for two years and no judge will hear it. Up until now, we, in fact, did win that Ruling --that every boundary that had been drawn was done in such a manner as to render it invalid because no economic study had been made and because it was a capricious act. What has to be decided at tommorrow night's meeting is who runs this system --the tax- payers or Coral Ridge Properties? They are working on alternatives -- that there are people who can fill the seats in Ely from their own neighborhood and they can leave us alone; we will not upset Taravella's balance. Mr. Birken stated that Council has taken what they think is a good approach and will make that same kind of approach to the School Board; a personal letter by an official who people know and respect will have a positive impact and feels the letters of presentation by the Mayor and Council that we support the people together with presenta- tions by the people will make an impression. Mr. Perlman discussed an alternate plan whereby Ely and Pompano Beach Schools, which are under -enrolled, could be made into a Nova and children can be returned to their area. -5-- January 12, 1981 /pe C/M Disraelly said they will suggest the plan to the School Board. Ms. Zona Shearer, President of the Homeowners' Association in La Foret in Woodmont, -- said they were not aware of any of the decisions that were made regarding their children; we are working to make Tamarac a united city and not a divided one. C/W Kelch asked,if in addition to the letters that will be presented, can we draw up a form of Resolution which would have five whereas's in which could incorporate all the points of view? C/M Disraelly stated that we would not have time to write or pass such a Resolution. C/M Disraelly MOVED on behalf of the City that the Mayor be authorized by the Council to make a presentation, to the School Board formally and that if any other members of the Council want to make and are per- mitted to make presentations, that they be empowered to, but that the Mayor specifically be empowered to make a statement on behalf of the City. C/M Zemel SECONDED the motion. C/W Kelch said that Council is approving as a body the statements that are being presented, and that should be stated at the School Board Meeting. Mrs. Sheila Lloyd indicated that these are recommendations and their main objective is to keep the School Board from accepting those recom- mendations from Dr. McFatter and make them go back and do their home- work. There are 4 new School Board members who have promised neighbor- hood schools --let's see if they are going to keep those promises. Mayor Falck stated that when an individual is given the opportunity to speak, that is when to introduce the material and how you were qualified to put the material together; that is when it is timely to do that -- the Council did meet in session, this was discussed in detail and was approved unanimously by the Council. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE. Mayor Falck thanked the audience for coming out and for their partici- pation and adjourned the meeting at 4:00 P.M. ATTEST: ASSISTANT CITY CLERK This public document was promulgated at a cost of$ 73.85 , or $2.95 per copy, to inform the general public and public officers and employees about recent opinions and considerations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac. APPROVED BY /CITY COUNCIL ON ZF /;'JV1 -6- January 12, 1981 /pe A V One of the :rain objectives of the Council of Ta7arac'is to ultimately convert our city into a total community. At the present time 72°; of our citizens are retirees. le do have family oriented sections but these are definitely in the minority -- and the possibility of our completing the plan to make Tamarac a total city is not very good. The school system in Tamarac is so bad that we do not have any opportunity of attracting more families into dur area. 71e are told by school officials to get the youngsters and we will qualify for schools. But the constant upheaval involving our children is so discouraging that people with youngsters will not locate in an area where there is so much uncertainty relating to their education. Our builders and developers are interested in building; units to house families but because of the school problem they have no market so they -:must regear their operations to attract buyers and these are generally senior citizens who may pay the school tax bill but who do not need to cope with the constant shifting problems. .ore and more of our children are moving into the private school sector. As families become more and >>nore disenchanted they are moving; out and selling to senior citizens which further aggravates the problem. Until recently this move::-,ent was pretty much confined to the h�,;h and middle schools but now :re are observing that more and i:1ore of our elementary school children are leaving public schools for private sc'aoo7,s. You can check the enrolirlont fi;;ures at `ra:�tarac 'le, ent;?.ry .%,11ich pretty well tells the story. The situation overall is so bad that the City Council found it necessary to pass an ordinance requiring builders and developers to post in their sales offices a notice to the effect that there ::lay be a problem relating to the school availability and suggesting that prospective buyers thee_; with school officials to deter. -nine '„here their children will be attendin; school. 7hile in the par:;t the City has felt it had received u'.te short end of the stic'.�, it no,;., i.o us that this year the ulti:'tate ',%,as reached ;'1tilET] our children were re.^ovcd fro:,: '2a::,blerrood P';iddle :;chnol. <,nd mill now be bussed once a Ai.n to I:ort :.b1::. schools teat will be erectad in an alto;;ether differ- ent location. ;,,ven the customary practice of permitting 7th Graders to finish their last year at the .school they have been attending has been dis- re, ardeud. ;e ?>eep .,ayin�; that the youth of our country need.; to but do,, -in roots --that tl_ey need to feel a part of something. llo,v in heaven's na::,e can these youngsters gut do:,n routs, hoer can they be a Dart of anythin r:l-ien they are constantly bein_ roved fror.l school to school --where they have no opportunity to parti- cipate in e::ti- -curricular, activities which are de::;igned to broaden the children. -7- 1/12/81 /pe The story of the constant shuffling of our young people is a well known story. I will not take your time to restate the history. My purpose tonight is to give you a view of how elected city officials view the situation that has disturbed our people and to implore you to revie,r, the situation as it relates to our children and hopefully these children will not be penalized once again by being denied the opportunity of putting; down their roots so ultimately they can become well educated and well rounded citizens. Yours truly, L7 E CITE' CJUNt:Ii- • liirl �'I:i•jUr "v1Ar i. ht;LCH ('ht,'iCt l ht�ti:C; M. xEI L c ; 5811 PINE ISLAND ROAD (N.W. 88 AVENUE) • TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321 TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900 January 12, 1981 Broward County Board of Education Fort Lauderdale,, Florida Gentlemen: A map appeared in the Sunday paper past, showing what the boundarias of the various school districts would be. riive you taken a good look at that map? flow can' you create an enclave surrounded on three sides by Taravella lJyh School and leap -frog the students of that. enclave 15 miles to a, different school? Be honest with yourselves. You cannot in good conscience do that. The students of Tamarac have been treated as :second --class citizens for years. The only home they ever I'vid has been the Tamarac Elementary School.' torten Taravella was proposed, it was anticipated that since it was within walking distance of all the children in Tamarac., that they would go to that school. The City of Tamarac has planned to install a sidewalk the length of university Drive and on Southgate Boulevard, in anticipation of the new school, in their own backyard. The School Board should also give due consideration to the cast of busing. An advertisement in the newspaper on January 8th showed the transportation expense of almost $10,000,000.00. This figure could be greatly reduced with proper planning. Instead of leap -frogging the students long distances, shorter runs would reduce this amount tremendously. q W D. BOX 75010 TAMARAC. fl 31170 Wn 1/12/81 /pe Page 2 Broward county Board of Education Fort Luaderdale, Florida It is time to rethink the program. If it is needed to bus and the newspapers indicate that there are unfilled schools, plan the busing for short distances, and change the boundaries. There is nothing sacrosanct about bound- aries. If need be, then you can shift each boundary west to have sufficient students to fill the schools that require busing such as Palm Beach high, Northeast High, and Ely to name a few. Do not just accept a report with- out review and discussion. As I interpret the map there is another enclave east of the turnpike that travels to Coral Springs instead of proceeding to the east which would be nearer to where they live. r; is rirke to he realistic and not arbitrary. ,lust because �.t is the way it was last year" is no reason that it must continue that way this year. Let us replan, let us review, let us be logical. There is no plausible reason for the present transportation system in effect to continue. Re- consider.and replan. ;hive consideration to the students with a school in their own backyard. Why transport? Consider back to when you went to school. You had afternoon activities that made friendships in school that lasted for years afterwards. I refer not only to the activities such as sports, but the various clubs to which we belonged -- language, debating, nature, science and many others. You are depriving these students of their rights and privileges that have been enjoyed throughout the years. Let these Tamarac students become part of a student body and not bus -riders. They're entitled to it. TMD/gf Yours truly, 0 1 / Irvi oilman -lo- 1/12/81. /pe