TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Michael Coleman, Director of Community Improvement
THROUGH: Mark R. Lauzier, City Manager
DATE: January 16, 2018
Title
PRESENTATION - EDUCATION MASTER PLAN
Body
Background:
In 1989, the City of Delray Beach (City) recognized that public schools played a vital role in the economic and social well-being of the City in attracting families with children. The City Commission (Commission) found the School District (District) policies were failing, and a very small percentage of the District’s capital improvement dollars were being allocated to build new schools in Delray Beach, which contributed to the public’s negative perception of the schools. To overcome these issues, the City created and adopted the Sharing For Excellence In Schools 1990 - The Delray Beach Plan (Plan), which contained goals and strategies to update antiquated school facilities, building new schools to decrease overcrowding issues, implementing magnet programs and adjusting school boundaries to decrease the number of students being bussed out of the City.
The Plan also included a recommendation for the Commission to establish a permanent Education Board (Board,) which was accomplished in July 1990 via Ordinance 24-90. The Ordinance outlines the duties and responsibilities of the Board, which include being the liaison between the District and the Commission to develop recommendations to the District and Commission for action, which may be taken in support to schools in Delray Beach and the maintenance of a continuous public relations effort to improve the public image of the City’s schools.
The City has continued to identify education as a top priority for Delray Beach as noted in all three (3) Visioning Forums (1988, 1994 and 2013), and again in 2017, with the creation of the Education Element for the Comprehensive Plan and strategies outlined in The Set Transformational Plan. All of these plans have explored, recorded and prioritized the communities’ desires around education, but are not captured in one (1) document. In addition, the penny sales tax and the decrease in student enrollment this year provides an opportunity for a healthy discussion with the District.
At the Commission meeting of January 16, 2018, the Board will present a snapshot of each of the public schools located in Delray Beach, along with a discussion around educational challenges and unique opportunities that the Commission may wish to explore. The Board will be looking for direction from the Commission prior to moving forward with a formal plan that will be presented at a later date.
City Attorney Review:
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Finance Department Review:
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Funding Source/Financial Impact:
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Timing of Request:
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