ADVISORY MINUTES
September 25, 2009
Name, Title and Company of Business & Industry Members Present
Lew Balaban, RPR, Esquire Deposition Services
Nancy Cavender, representing Paula Laws, RPR, CMRS
JoAnn Lee, Esquire Deposition Services
Rick Levy, RPR, Network Reporting
Tanya English Ward, Realtime Reporting and Realtime Transcription, Inc.
Name, Title and Work Location of District and School-Based Support Staff/Guests Present
Maxine Boggy, Atlantic Technical Center
Aurora Joslyn, Sheridan Technical Center
Patricia Kerr, Atlantic Technical Center
Virginia McAninch, Sheridan Technical Center
Linda Tobin, Atlantic Technical Center
Debby Woolfstead-Ross, Sheridan Technical Center
Meeting Agenda Item1: Welcome and Introductions:
Meeting Notes/Minutes:Members were welcomed and introduced.Lew Balaban, RPR, was welcomed as a new member of the committee.
Meeting Agenda Item 2:Approval of minutes from last meeting:
Meeting Notes/Minutes: Minutes of last meeting, March 20, 2009, were reviewed and approved.
Meeting Agenda Item 3:Curriculum Frameworks 2009-10:
Meeting Notes/Minutes:The frameworks for Court Reporting 1, 2 and 3 written by Broward County teachers, reviewed and endorsed by this advisory committee, were adopted by the Department of Education and implemented for school year 2009-10. Special recognition and thanks were extended to Virginia McAninch for her leadership and efforts in the writing, rewriting, and coordination of this state initiative.
Meeting Agenda Item 4: Textbooks:
Meeting Notes/Minutes: The textbooks used within the program were reviewed and approved by the committee. The Florida Manual, FCRA published, is used within the program at both centers.
Meeting Agenda Item 5: Industry Certification:
Meeting Notes/Minutes:As was recommended by the advisory, the recommendation to list the certification of Florida Professional Reporter, certified by the Florida Court Reporters Association, was disapproved by the state as an appropriate certification for the reason: “FCRA website does not provide sufficient information to justify approval.” FCRA has recently updated the FPR to include more relevance and rigor. The website is being updated to provide more detailed information concerning FPR content.
Both schools will again recommend the FPR as an appropriate industry certification for entry-level Court Reporters completing our programs.
Meeting Agenda Item 6:Industry Updates:
Meeting Notes/Minutes: Members shared employment trends. Salaries are ranging from $35,000 to $50,000 for entry-level Court Reporters. Members signed the COE Verification Form. Discussion of recording with no certified transcript was discussed as a concern of the industry. Discussion of any reporter utilizing heavy reliance on audio sync was addressed as another concern in the industry.
Meeting Agenda Item 7: On-line Curriculum:
Meeting Notes/Minutes: An overview of the Court Reporting on-line curriculum was discussed. Members were most impressed and fully endorsed this delivery.
Meeting Agenda Item 8: Scholarship Fundraiser:
Meeting Notes/Minutes:Advisory members will be receiving invitations to an upcoming fundraiser on February 4, 2010, at the Signature Grand and were requested to attend and/or send a representative from their agency.
Meeting Agenda Item 9: NCRA RPR Exam:
Meeting Notes/Minute: Atlantic Technical Center will be hosting the RPR exam on November 7, 2009, and solicited advisory member support as proctors for the exam.
Meeting Agenda Item 10: Internships/Fieldtrips/Guest Speakers/Instructor Industry Visitations:
Meeting Notes/Minute: Members were thanked for their continued support by providing internships, fieldtrips, serving as classroom guest speakers, and hosting instructor industry visitations.
Meeting Agenda Item 11: Online Advertisement:
Meeting Notes/Minute: Tanya Ward English stated she would host a synchronized video presence on the web featuring our Court Reporting programs for no cost if the schools could provide her a video. This information will be shared with the public relations contacts at both schools.
Special Recognitions: Debbie Woolfstead-Ross received congratulations from the committee for receiving the 2009 Arlene P. Summers award, an award recognizing the outstanding Court Reporting educator award in the State of Florida.
Virginia McAninch announced her upcoming retirement from education as a Court Reporting instructor. Virginia was congratulated and recognized for her years of outstanding dedication and service to her students and the field of Court Reporting.
Adjournment and Date/Time of Next Scheduled Meeting: Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. The next meeting of the advisory committee will take place Friday, April 23, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.at Sheridan Technical Center.