School Board In Action

School Board Organizational Meeting
At the November 22, 2005 School Board Organizational Meeting, Benjamin J. Williams, representative for District 5, was elected Chair and Beverly A. Gallagher, representative for District 2, was elected Vice-Chair.

Indigenous Trees and Shrubbery Project Approved
The Board approved the concept of using only indigenous plants and trees when new plantings are done at existing school and administrative sites and when landscaping is planned at new sites. Hurricane Wilma had a particularly destructive impact on non-indigenous shrubbery. Using existing environmental school locations as models, each school will be able to develop natural and native settings that will provide a safe and environmentally sound ecosystem for the benefit of indigenous wildlife species. The practice will also re-enforce state and national standards in science education by directly involving students in selecting plants and trees to be used at their schools.

Agreement with School Bus Media, Inc. to Establish Interior Display Program in District School Buses
The Board approved an agreement with School Bus Media, Inc. to establish an interior display program in District school buses. Broward County Public Schools joins a number of school districts across the country that are looking at school bus advertising programs as a way to provide students with positive messages while increasing the funds available to support school and district programs. Although some districts’ programs are clearly “advertising,” Broward’s program will focus on sponsored messages that reinforce District approved initiatives such as reading, career exploration, character education, goal setting, personal safety and health and wellness.

School Board Approves 2006 – 07 Calendar
The Board approved the 2006–07 school calendar. Students will begin school on August 14, 2006 and the school year will end for students on May 31, 2007. A future School Board item will be brought forward establishing the holidays, planning days, early release days and other bargaining units’ negotiable items.When the school calendar is finalized, it will be posted on the District’s Web site
(www.browardschools.com).

Melodie Roslauskas
Operations Specialist IV, Facility Information Systems, ETS

Work location: Facilities/Hortt

Broward County Public Schools employee since: 1989

Personal History: I’m a native Floridian who grew up in Broward County and attended Lauderdale Manors Elementary School, Sunrise Middle School and graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School

Most memorable personal experiences: Becoming a parent and raising a successful, self–sufficient daughter; losing a lot of weight; and giving myself a makeover

Greatest work accomplishment: Learning to do electronic mapping (GIS) on a computer; my husband, Joe, says I’m better than Map Quest

What I like most about my job: I love the people that I work with (FIS Team, FMPSA, FCM at Hortt and ETS); they make coming to work a real pleasure and everyone goes the extra mile to help each other; our director, Ed Hineline, is the best director in the entire district; he strives for all of our team to provide excellent customer service and is open to new ideas

I’m currently reading: Natural Cures by Kevin Trudeau

Favorite sayings: “No matter how bad you think things are – it can always be worse” “It’s not rocket science, and even that’s not hard, you just need enough thrust to get the rocket up and then what goes up must come down!”

If I won the lottery: As far as I’m concerned I already have! It’s a wonderful life!

Favorite food: Tacos

Something you probably didn’t know about me: I love to belly dance, enjoy plants and read everything on natural medicine; I’m willing to try anything once and twice if I like it

If I could pick someone out of history to have lunch with, I would choose: The Dalai Lama, because he has been in a position of power or royalty, is a religious and yet very simple, loving and humble man who knows that there is a greater power in charge of our world and lives

Three terms that describe me best: Balanced, reliable and humorous

Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry? Rainbow sherbet!

Favorite movie: Fried Green Tomatoes

Best advice I ever received: The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Nominated for this profile by: Tanya Sejour, Growth Management