'Miss King' to continue teaching at Duette

BRADENTON – Donna King has a lot of love for Duette and its school, and it showed on Monday night as the school was reborn.

Donna King is retiring from the Manatee County School District on Friday, but not from teaching. She'll be back in the classroom at the Duette School in January, working for the Duette Education Foundation.

The Manatee County School Board voted 5-0 to approve transferring the school to the Duette Education Foundation. The school has 11 students, said Jerry Groover of the foundation, and King will be the head administrator and teacher there when it reopens in January for the new semester.

With great emotion, King told the board that she'd be retiring on Friday, and going to work for the foundation at the school she volunteered to go to work at 27 years ago. She has more than 30 years of service to the district.

”People here can understand that Donna has represented the face of Duette for many years and been the teaching principal for how long?“ asked board member Robert Gause.

For 17 years, King responded.

Back when she went to work there, King said, she was told that when ”Miss Ada“ retired, the school would close. Then she heard that when she retired, the school would close. But thanks to local businesses, Groover said, the school will stay open under its new operators.

Felicia Tappen, a 20-year resident of Duette and member of Duette Education Foundation board, asked the School Board members to follow the posters on the wall behind them, and ”Make Duette School a priority.“

She said there's a cancer in the community that has persuaded people that their children can't get a good education at Duette because it's so small. The change, she said, will cause the 11 children emotional stress and more.

”I have been told that it's a wonderful resource,“ Tappen said. ”But the district doesn't embrace that resource.“

School Board members commended King for her long and dedicated service, and School Superintendent Tim McGonegal read a letter to her and marveled that if you Google ”Duette Elementary School,“ you find countless hits that point to articles about her and the school.

Board member Barbara Harvey said that there’s a lot of talk about building relationships and having a passion for children, but that King is someone with that passion.

”I have been crying for the past week,“ King said. ”As long as children that want to go to Duette School, I just pray that Duette will be there for them.“

Outside the chambers after the presentation, she had to take a moment to pull herself together.

”I had said before, if I retired and Duette School was closing, I’d be broken-hearted,“ she said. ”And so, I’m not broken-hearted today.“

Consent agenda

The School Board approved the following items on the consent agenda in a 5-0 vote.

• Approval of Bid on NCR Paper Print Shop, MCSD No. 10-0033-BS - p.34
• Approval of Extension of the Bid on Microcomputer Peripherals, Software, Services and Repair Parts, MCSD No. 07-0046-DB - p.35
• Approval to Purchase Replacement of HVAC Controls at Tara Elementary, MCSD No. 10-0038-MR - p.36
• Approval of Renewal (2) on Mobile Communication System, MCSD No. 06-0068-SS - p.37
• Approval of the Use of Florida Community College Proposal for Employee Assistance Program, MCSD No. 10-0035-RH - p.38
• Purchase(s) Bids Over $100,000.00
• Approval to Purchase Desktop Management System Maintenance Agreement, MCSD No. 10-0037-SM - p.40
• Attachment: 070046 FL Doc No extension.pdf
• Approval to Purchase Replacement School Bus Routing and Related Systems Software, MCSD No. 10-0036-SM - p.42
• Approval of Renewal (1) on Two-Way Radios, MCSD No. 09-0045-SM - p.43
• Contracts and Grants
• Approval of the Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the American Institute for History Education, L.L.C. for the 2009-2010 School Year - p.46
• Approval to Renew the Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the University of South Florida, Tampa for the 2009-2010 School Year - p.48
• Approval to Renew Contracts for Professional Services Between the School Board of Manatee County and Various Agencies for Occupational and Physical Therapy Services for the Remainder of the 2010 School Year - p.50
• Approval to Renew Contracts for Professional Services Between the School Board of Manatee County and Various Agencies for Speech and Language Pathology Services for the Remainder of the 2010 School Year - p.52
• Approval of Contract with Johns Eastern Company, Inc., for Property, Casualty and Workers' Compensation Claims Administration - p.54
• Approval of the Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and Sun Life Insurers for Specific Stop Loss Insurance for the 2010 Plan Year - p.56
• Approval to Apply, Accept and Expend the New Transition Program Grant for the Period of January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 - p.57
• Attachment: Transition Program for Adult Learners into Postsecondary Education Grant.pdf
• Approval to Authorize the Board Chair to Sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Pursue Participation in the Race To The Top Federal Grant - p.58
• Approval of Haile Middle School - Chiller, Controls, and HVAC Upgrade - Amendment 1 - Agreement Between Owner and Engineering Matrix, Inc. - p.60
• Approval of Martha B. King Middle School - Restroom Building - Asphalt and Sidewalk Modifications - Amendment 3 - Agreement Between Owner and W.G. Mills, Inc. - p.62
• Approval of Dan R. Nolan Middle School - Interlocal Agreement for Joint Use of Facilities - Revision One - p.64
• Approval of Oneco Elementary School - Chiller Replacement Project - Change Order 3 - Final - Agreement Between Owner and Manasota Commercial Construction - p.66
• Approval of Palmetto Elementary School - Substantial Completion - Hidden Lake Park Pond - p.67
• Approval of Palmetto Elementary School - Change Orders 5 and 6 - Agreement Between Owner and NDC Construction Company - p.68
• Approval of School Support Center - Computer Room HVAC Project - Change Orders 1 and 2 - Agreement Between Owner and Halfacre Construction Company - p.69
• Approval of the Audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Report as of June 30, 2009 - p.70
• Approval of the Signatory Public Agency Addendum - p.71
• Approval of Request to Declare Surplus and Sell Vehicles 202 and 204 to Ruth Rosado of Globe International - p.72
• Approval of Request to Declare Surplus and Donate Portables 253 and 845 to Palmetto First Baptist Church
• Approval of the Appointments, Change of Assignments, Deceased, Promotions, Reappointments, Reassignments, Recommendations for Professional Service Contracts, Resignations, Retirements, Terminations and Transfers - p.74
• Approval of New Job Description, Lead Communications Technician - p.75
• Approval to Accept the Waiver of the Provisions of Article V Section 25 of the Master Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association (MEA) in Regard to Blackburn Elementary School - p.76
• Approval to Accept the Waiver of the Provisions of Article V Section 4 of the Master Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association (MEA) in Regard to Blackburn Elementary School - p.77
• Approval to Accept the Waiver of the Provisions of Article V Section 2 and Section 6 of the Master Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association (MEA) in Regard to Palma Sola Elementary School - p.78
• Approval to Accept the Waiver of the Provisions of Article V Section 4 of the Master Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association (MEA) in Regard to Wakeland Elementary School - p.79
• Approval to Accept the Waiver of the Provisions of Article V Section 4 of the Master Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association (MEA) in Regard to Williams Elementary School - p.80
• Approval to Accept the Waiver of the Provisions of Article XII, Appendix B, Section G of the Master Contract Between the School Board of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association (MEA) in Regard to Witt Elementary School - p.81
• Approval of Additional Funding for Seasonal Influenza Vaccinations for School District Employees - p.82
• Approval of Board Committee Assignments for 2009-2010 - p.83

The School Board also approved the following items with 5-0 votes:

• Approval of Naming the Manatee High School Ninth Grade Center the Walker Ninth Grade Center - p.86
• Approval of Manatee High School - Davis Building Replacement - Amendment 2 - Agreement Between Owner and Creative Contractors, Inc. - Guaranteed Maximum Price - p.87
• Approval of Myakka City Elementary School - Renovation - Amendment 1 - Agreement Between Owner and W.G. Mills, Inc. - Phase 1 - Partial Guaranteed Maximum Price - p.89
• Approval in Concept to Build the New Manatee Technical Institute (MTI) Facility on State Road 70 at Caruso Road - p.91
• Approval of Manatee Technical Institute - Amendment 13 - Agreement Between Owner and Fawley Bryant Architects, Inc. - p.94
• Approval of Manatee Technical Institute - Amendment 14 - Agreement Between Owner and Fawley Bryant Architects, Inc. - p.95
• Approval of Manatee Technical Institute - Amendment 5 - Caruso Road Campus - Agreement Between Owner and HCBeck, Ltd. - New Preconstruction Services - p.97
• Approval to Terminate the Employment of Christopher L. Winans - p.99
• Approval to Suspend Laurel Davis Without Pay Pending the Outcome of the Hearing - p.101
• Approval of Recommended Order Rendered by the Administrative Law Judge in the Matter of MCSB v. Alaine S. Chevalier (MCSB Case No. 09-0004/DOAH Case No. 09-1972) and Denial of Respondent’s Exceptions to Recommended Order - p.102
• Approval of Suspension Without Pay of Employee, Peggy Hill, Pending the Outcome of a Hearing