11/29/2005
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SISTER CITY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
November 29,2005
UNAPPROVED
Present:
Linda Damsky
Robert Freedman
Carlen Petersen
Rii;hard Wisemiller
Chair
Vice Chair
Councilmember
Board Member
Also Present:
Margo Walbolt
Marsha Beall .
Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Absent:
C.E. Snedeker
Board Member
Chair Damsky called the meeting to order at 4:37pm at MSB.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in
that order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes of Sister City Board Meeting of September 27. 2005 - Member
Freedman moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 27, 2005 as submitted. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Old Business-
a. Nagano Teachers Visit Clearwater Oct./Nov. - Ms. Walbolt reported the recent visit from Ms.
Yumiko Yamagishi and Ms. Ayuko Yoshino went very well. The Nagano teachers had an
opportunity to visit five area schools and observe a variety of classes. Ms. Walbolt expressed the
feedback she received from the schools was very favorable. Mr. Wisemiller reported the
Homestay families had a wonderful time with their guest and felt the program went smoothly.
Ms. Damsky was pleased to announce that the Nagano teacher's visit with Pinellas County
School Board will be aired on PBS Journal in January.
Future suggestions: Ms. Walbolt would like to have more Clearwater residences available to act
as Homestay Host Families due to travel constrictions. Ms. Damsky suggested revising next
year's schedule by allowing the visiting teachers opportunity to visit with Elementary Schools
during their first week of rotation in order to make help them acclimate themselves to the month
long schedule.
ITEM #4 - New Business -
a. Discussion of request from Nagano City -
Letter date October 28, 2005 - Ms. Walbolt received a letter from Ms. Hiroshi Miyazawa,
Manager of International Relations, Nagano, Japan. Mr. Miyazawa requested a reexamination of
the structure of the sister city exchange program.
Letter dated November 14, 2005 from Jan Rouse, Assoc. Superintendent, Pinellas County
Schools responding to Mr. Miyazawa's requests.
Sister City 2005-09-27
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1. Clearwater Exchange Teachers - Currently, Nagano host two Clearwater teachers for 10
months. Mr. Miyazawa suggests reducing this to a one-month term. Nagano will provide for their
transportation within Japan and Nagano, provide a monetary gift, but not airlines fares. In
response, Ms. Jan Rouse offered Pinellas County School's commitment to support the
recommended change in the teacher exchange program. The one-month stay would need to take
place during the summer months (June, July).
2. Clearwater Exchange Students - In the past, Nagano borne all costs including travel expenses
and airline fares. Nagano would ask for Clearwater to bear all of the future expenses for both the
Clearwater high school and middle school students. Ms. Rouse concurred with this
recommendation also.
3. Nagano Junior High School Students - no concerns from Nagano.
Ms. Walbolt opened discussion regarding the impact this will incur on future financial
responsibilities for the Sister City Exchange program. A current Sister City program budget was
distributed to members. Funds are not available to fully support this responsibility. As. a result of
proposed changes in the Exchange Program, teachers would be required to pay for their airfare or
secure alternative funding support to cover this expense. The school system will offer
professional development component as an incentive for their participation in this program. As
for the students, early estimates would cost $2500 per student (including compensating
Chaperone). These cost cover airfare, transportation, hotel, luggage and miscellaneous cost.
Discussion ensued on alternate avenues for supplementing the proposed changes in the program.
It was suggested students could also pay for their own airfare personally or through fundraising
efforts. Mr. Wisemiller will discuss fundraising opportunities with Sister City, Inc. this evening.
Ms. Damsky suggested addressing the time of the year for Nagano student visits and will identify
alternate dates from the Pinellas County school calendar to facilitate future exchanges. Ms.
Petersen will present funding issues for the exchange program at City Council Session on
Thursday, December 1.
Ms. Walbolt will formally respond to Mr. Miyazawa letter once conclusive resolution has been
met. Mid-December is a target date.
ITEM #5 - Adjournment - Members adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Sister City 2005-11-29
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