Friday, October 19, 2012

General Obligation Bond Program

A-2 EQUITY, EFFICIENCY, AND TRANSPARENCY

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho spoke to this item, "The funds will be used to enhance the safety of our school, improve access to technology, provide a dignified teaching and learning environment for school-site employees, students, and deliver an economic boost to our local economy by creating jobs and business opportunities in construction and related industries.”

Equity

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho spoke to the issue of equity by stating, “Where students are concerned we believe that one's zip code must not be an obstacle to accessing high quality, academically rigorous educational programs. The school district has provided new and improved education and created new learning opportunities. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has created, franchised, or expanded over 55 magnet and choice programs to schools in every corner of M-DCPS. Necessary technology upgrades and improvements to the physical plant of all schools will support the kind of learning environment that can literally propel our students into a successful future.

As one of the larger enterprises in the county, M-DCPS recognize that we have a responsibility to ensure equity in our procurement and contracting practices, thus providing opportunities for all vendors to compete for our business.  M-DCPS is committed to developing and strengthening local, small, and minority and women-owned businesses, as they are an integral component of the economic stability and long term prosperity of the community we serve. As such M-DCPS has implemented policies and initiatives designed to promote greater participation in procurement of goods and services in support of Miami- Dade's overall economic growth.”

Some of the initiatives to be implemented based on the concerns expressed by the community are:
·        Local Vendor preference policy
·        School-site procurement policy
·        Expand recruitment efforts aimed at identifying and retaining small, local minority owned firms
·        Promote greater diversity and equity in areas of construction and general procurement
·        Eliminate the bonding for certain projects under $200,000
·        Partner with community-based organizations to empower small and minority owned businesses
·        Expand outreach methods to communicate business opportunities
·        Report on progress regarding local, small and minority business participating in an open and transparent manner
·        Assist with job placement for local residents in construction apprenticeship programs and strengthen relationships with small and minority business community through internships, mentorships, educational opportunities and training programs.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stated, “outside vendors will be at a disadvantage because the purpose of this process is to build the local economy."

Efficiency

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho spoke to the issue of efficiency by stating, “Over the last four years M-DCPS has transformed tis business practices, cut administrative expenditures in half, reduced administrative positions by 52 percent, delivered a balanced budget each year, reduced taxes the Board controls, steadily increased reserves, and realigned resources in support of a single strategic goal of improving student achievement.”

Superintendent Carvalho promises to bring “the same commitment to efficiency and excellence to the Bond program. A detailed listing of projects has been developed and is available at bondsforschools.dadeschools.net, which included improvements for every school in the District.  Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stated,  "The roll out of the projects will not take ten years or even five years but will begin being delivered within the first year, however, will not exceed 6-7 years to complete. These projects will be delivered on time and on budget, and accountability will apply to every contract issued in the Bond.”

Transparency

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho spoke to the issue of transparency by stating, “The Board and the administration have taken steps in the last four years to restore transparency to our school system, through stakeholders engaging in decision-making processes of almost every function of the district.

To maintain transparency in the Bond a 21st Century Schools' Bond Advisory Committee was created. It consists of citizens representing each Board Member district, the PTA/PSA, other governmental entities, business organizations, and community organizations to provide transparency.  The panel will monitor, review, make recommendations, and inform the public on the planning, progress and implementation of the Bond program, and no appointee will have an invested interest in any contracts with M-DCPS or any financial interest in any of the projects to be funded through the bond referendum. "

School Board Member, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, addressed a question to the school board attorney, " The 21st Century Schools' Bond Advisory Committee we talked about and heard about ,what recourse do they have if the plans and projects they are reviewing [go against] the Superintendents guiding principles in A2?"

The School Board attorney, Mr. Walter Harvey, stated, "The 21st Century Schools' Bond Advisory Committee can bring any concerns to the school board and the school board will can act accordingly."

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho also added, "This bond advisor committee sole purpose is to maintain transparency. The responsibility of the committee is to report simultaneously to school board and the superintendent under the witness of other entities (third party) like the inspector general."

School Board Member, Dr. Marta Pérez voiced some concerns, "[I am]particularly interested in the efficiency end, the superintendent mentioned 'the laser like focus' in characterizing his administration in the past four years, but this is a long bond (30 years) there should be something put in place to guarantee time lines." In addition, you mentioned a detailed list of projects however, it is not detailed enough at this point, and it is a very general understanding of what each school will be receiving.  My biggest concern is the oversight committee. I don't see where it states the oversight committee will look at fiscal restraints . . . looking at expenditures with a microscope to not waste taxpayers money. I would like to recommend to the superintendent the committee look at the previous bond and look at the criticism and determine how they are going to avoid this, step by step. Also, select committee members who are skeptics on the committee who are hard nose and looking and questioning. I will vote for it, but with those caveats."

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stated, "You have my assurance the group will be diverse and were appointed by entities outside of the school district. Also, you have my assurance the committee has fiscal responsibility. They will review and monitor the performance of the program, the second is periodic advisement of the superintendent and the board and to your comment, and I think the skeptics are there. Last but not least it is there responsibly to make sure the annual activities are providing in writing to the community bypassing the board. They are responsible for edits to the agreements. Even though this is a thirty year bond, the total scope of the bond will be carried out in 6-7 years. It can be done and it will be done."

School Board Member, Dr. Marta Pérez stated, "The devil is in the details Mr. Superintendent, so when you state 'review and monitor performance' and then you said 'this means', I want the 'this means' portion you said in writing. The written report I don't know how we can guarantee these are good reports. Put together the logistics that will make it of substance."

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stated, "Just like the devil is in the details, God is in the big picture. This item provides a big picture solution for our community. The best predicator of future success is previous performance . . . which shows we have the intellectual capacity to deliver on this bond as recommended.  The portion you mentioned you want in writing is in writing it was sent in a separate memo to the board. You have our full commitment."

School Board Member, Mr. Carlos L. Curbelo, had a question for the school board attorney, "Does item A2 authorize the establishment of the bond advisory committee?"

The School Board attorney, Mr. Walter Harvey, stated, "The item does reference the establishment of the committee."

School Board Member, Mr. Carlos L. Curbelo, "What I would like to recommend postponing the establishment of the committee until we know the outcome of the election and then establishing the committee according to the Boards rule making procedure, not leaving it in the hands of the administration. If the people vote for this referendum they are saying they are depositing a great deal of trust in us, 1.2 billion dollars’ worth. So we better own this entire process. I would like to offer an amendment to item postponing the establishment of the committee and having the board authorize the committee and not just have it established through a memorandum. Mr. Attorney is that something we can consider doing?"

The School Board attorney, Mr. Walter Harvey, stated, "It is possible, but it is up to the board to decide."

Vice-Chair, Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, spoke, "Mr. Attorney a clarification and then a question, advisory committees are a function of the school board, are they not?"

The School Board attorney, Mr. Walter Harvey, stated, "There are three ways that a committee can be created however, no."

Vice-Chair, Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, spoke, "I like to ask that prior to the committee establishment the school board discuss the components of that committee. We are the ones that are going to be held responsible.  We need to make it a committee that goes through the board so we can discuss the components."

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stated, "[I] feel it key to constitute this advisory before election so the committee can meet once to see the needs list and budget, but I propose the board be established and then I will bring through the process of rulemaking which will take two to three months a formal way to make the committee in a way that complies with board rules. In addition, the board makes one voting member appointee and an alternate in case that person is absent."

Unanimously Approved

Having worked in a 30-year-old school building with leaks, outdated technology, and aging equipment and now in the state of the art facility that it currently resides in, I must say it is night and day.  The opportunities afforded to students through the technological updates alone are amazing, as well as the change in the attitude and the positive perception of the students, the faculty and the community is inspiring. Therefore, I agree with the superintendent, the school board and the United Teachers of Dade's opinion on this topic. The United Teachers of Dade stated their reasoning for supporting the bond, is because "teachers deserve to work in schools that are safe, have sufficiently modern technology, and are inviting to students, and unfortunately, the State of Florida is currently not sufficiently funding the capital needs of M-DCPS in order to build and maintain our schools." I believe everyone performs better when they feel they are appreciated and valued and this will be a huge statement of how much the tax payers in Miami Dade County care about investing in our future.

Credit Union + High School= Success
BOARD MEMBER RESOLUTIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
School Board Member, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, recognized, Booker T. Washington High School for its successful National Academy Foundation Finance Program. The Dade County Federal Credit Union opened its doors at Booker T. Washington High School Tuesday and put the students in charge. Students enrolled in the National Academy Foundation Finance program will be experiencing and applying what they have learned in their classes and during their summer internship in a real business at the school.
Senior and junior class students in the Academy of Finance, under the management and mentorship of the Dade County Federal Credit Union (DCFCU), will operate a credit union branch that provides services to students and staff.  This program is designed to provide critical life-skills training in financial literacy develop career awareness, work readiness skills and positively influence student academic achievement.
The branch is staffed by students and designed to serve the financial needs of the school's staff and student body. M-DCPS supports this project as a strategy for aligning the curriculum to the seven industries targeted for growth under the One Community One Goal initiative.
I feel Booker T. Washington High School's National Academy Foundation Finance Program is a stellar example of the positive collaborations between industry and the schools.  It is essential for students to not learn in isolation, but to see what knowledge in application looks and feels like. Booker T. Washington and all the other excellent schools are incorporating programs that allow students to apply the knowledge that they have gained, are doing the students and the community a service. Now the students are invested in the education they are receiving and the community sees firsthand the fruit of their investment.