Palm Beach County gives $76,000 grant to Riviera Beach Maritime Academy
October 13th, 2008
By John Johnston
Managing Editor
Palm Beach County commissioners have approved a $76,000 grant agreement with the Riviera Beach Maritime Academy Maritime Tech Prep Program is in its 10th year of operations. The academy, a public charter school, will receive with the grant the following conditions:
· A 25 percent increase in enrollment (from 75 to 100) during the 2008-2009 school year.
· Eight educational field trips to put classroom learning into practice.
· Four marine industry-related projects such as the design of an underwater robot vehicle to participate in the International Robotic Competition and others.
· Assist senior students in post-secondary career development through college admission or job/training opportunities within the Palm Beach County marine industries career network.
The Marine tech program was created by the county in 1997 to “endorse the marine industry,” commissioners said. The Marine Industries Education Foundation successfully developed a full four-year Marine Technology Educational Program at Palm Beach Lakes High School.
This program in turn was incorporated and expanded in the newly created Riviera Beach Maritime Academy, a public charter school program that began in August 2006. This program provides educational and job training skills necessary for students to seek employment in the marine industry, said commissioners.
Other Business
In other recent business commissioners:
· Approved a quit-claim deed to Jewish Community Facilities Corporation, a Florida non-profit. The deed conveys any county interest in certain rights-of-way in Palm Beach Farms Plat No. 3. Commissioners explained that recent recorded quit-claim deeds to the county from West Peninsular Title Company and Absolute, Inc. have raised a title issue. County quit-claim deeds have been used to resolve this title issue. This quit-claim deed covers certain Palm Beach Farms Plat No. 3 strips that had lost public dedication through the West Peninsular federal lawsuit. The property is located just south of Glades Road at 95th Avenue, said commissioners.
· Approved a $14,485 change order (No. 6) to a contract with Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. for airport center building no. 1 renovations. Commissioners said additional drywall work was necessary to extend the drywall height to accommodate a new drop ceiling. This was a concealed condition which was discovered after the existing drop ceiling was removed, commissioners said.
· Approved a $614,137 contract with Slattery & Associates for design and construction administration services at the new $10 million and 30,000 square foot Acreage Branch Library.
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