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[MOMENT OF SILENCE] PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MEMBER CONA. BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.

Melissa Snively: GOOD MORNING. THIS SPECIAL-CALLED BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 16th, 2020 IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER CONA, COULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? Steve Cona: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER CONA AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION CARRIES WITH MEMBER GRAY BEING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LYNN GRAY. MEMBER CONA WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES FOR TODAY'S MEETING. Steve Cona: AS WE BEGIN THIS MORNING'S MEETING, LET'S QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL OF YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON OUR LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND THE VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MEMBER CONA. WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SEGMENT OF THE MEETING.

[MOMENT OF SILENCE] PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MEMBER CONA. BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.

THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, IF NECESSARY, AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST ANY SPECIFIC BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER, BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY. WE HAVE ALLOTTED 30 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER CONA AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION CARRIES WITH MEMBER GRAY BEING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LYNN GRAY. MEMBER CONA WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES FOR TODAY'S MEETING. Steve Cona: AS WE BEGIN THIS MORNING'S MEETING, LET'S QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL OF YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON OUR LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND THE VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MEMBER CONA. WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SEGMENT OF THE MEETING.

SO EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND WE ASK THAT WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SPOKEN BEFORE, THERE ARE THREE LIGHTS ON THE LECTERN. THE GREEN LIGHT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE THE TIME TO SPEAK. THE YELLOW LIGHT WHEN IT COMES ON MEANS THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT SO PLEASE WRAP UP FOR FINAL COMMENTS. WHEN THE RED LIGHT APPEARS, THAT MEANS YOUR TIME HAS ENDED. OUR FIRST SPEAKERS WILL BE MELISSA ERICKSON, JONATHAN GRAHAM, AND JOSEPHINE AMATO. WELCOME, MS. ERICKSON.

THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, IF NECESSARY, AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST ANY SPECIFIC BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER, BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY. WE HAVE ALLOTTED 30 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SNIVELY, VICE-CHAIR CONA AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I DON'T DO THIS VERY MUCH. I DON'T LIKE TO DO THIS. I DON'T FIND THIS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF YOU. BUT WHAT I'VE COME TO LEARN IS THIS LECTERN ISN'T BEING USED TO ADDRESS YOU. IT'S BEING USED TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC. IN THAT VISION, I CHOSE TO SPEAK TODAY. I SAT HERE LAST WEEK AND WATCHED THE PROCESS, WHICH DIDN'T UPSET ME. IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED ME BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE. BUT IN THE TIME SINCE THEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK IN THE COMMUNITY. LOTS OF PEOPLE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH BECAUSE MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING AND MY SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN PINGED, AND ALL OF THAT.

SO EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND WE ASK THAT WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SPOKEN BEFORE, THERE ARE THREE LIGHTS ON THE LECTERN. THE GREEN LIGHT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE THE TIME TO SPEAK. THE YELLOW LIGHT WHEN IT COMES ON MEANS THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT SO PLEASE WRAP UP FOR FINAL COMMENTS. WHEN THE RED LIGHT APPEARS, THAT MEANS YOUR TIME HAS ENDED. OUR FIRST SPEAKERS WILL BE MELISSA ERICKSON, JONATHAN GRAHAM, AND JOSEPHINE AMATO. WELCOME, MS. ERICKSON.

I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT ADULTS DESERVE. WHO DESERVES THIS OR WHO DESERVES THAT. AND WHAT SCHOOLS NEED AND WHAT ADMINISTRATORS WANT, AND I'VE HEARD ALMOST NO TALK ABOUT KIDS. AND THAT'S REALLY, AS YOU CAN TELL, UPSET ME. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE THAT TODAY, AS YOU LISTEN TO THE SIX VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TALK, THAT'S WHAT YOU KEEP IN MIND, AND THAT TODAY, YOU TAKE ONE MORE STEP IN A PROCESS THAT YOU AGREED TO. THE PUBLIC HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND HAS BEEN OPEN AND PART OF PUBLIC RECORD, THAT AS THIS CONTINUES TODAY, YOU FOCUS ON CHOOSING THE SUPERINTENDENT, OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MS. ERICKSON. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JONATHAN GRAHAM, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPHINE AMATO AND JOSEPH ROBINSON. I CONCUR WITH THE PREVIOUS PERSON THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. I ACTUALLY CANCELED THREE FLIGHTS THIS WEEK BECAUSE IT WAS SO SERIOUS.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SNIVELY, VICE-CHAIR CONA AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I DON'T DO THIS VERY MUCH. I DON'T LIKE TO DO THIS. I DON'T FIND THIS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF YOU. BUT WHAT I'VE COME TO LEARN IS THIS LECTERN ISN'T BEING USED TO ADDRESS YOU. IT'S BEING USED TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC. IN THAT VISION, I CHOSE TO SPEAK TODAY. I SAT HERE LAST WEEK AND WATCHED THE PROCESS, WHICH DIDN'T UPSET ME. IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED ME BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE. BUT IN THE TIME SINCE THEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK IN THE COMMUNITY. LOTS OF PEOPLE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH BECAUSE MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING AND MY SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN PINGED, AND ALL OF THAT.

AND IT IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN. IT IS ABOUT OUR DISTRICT. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT'S NOT ABOUT ANYBODY'S POLITICAL AGENDA, ANYBODY'S PERSONAL AGENDA. THE REASON I FELT SO NECESSARY TO BE HERE IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE PUSHED A PERSONAL AGENDA IN MY ESTIMATION. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAS SHOWN A SORT OF DISDAIN FOR BLACK LEADERSHIP AND BLACK COMPANIES OR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMPANIES AND AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER IN BOTH OF HIS BOARDS, CALLING OUT PUBLICLY IF THERE IS SUCCESS. AND THAT WAS THE REASON I CAME, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SO SERIOUS IS BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES AFRICAN AMERICAN SUCCESSES AND LEADERSHIP IS JUDGED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER ONES, OR GIVING DIFFERENT STANDARDS. AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD VOICE MY OPINION BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE I DO WANT THE DISTRICT TO HAVE THE BEST QUALIFIED SUPERINTENDENT.

I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT ADULTS DESERVE. WHO DESERVES THIS OR WHO DESERVES THAT. AND WHAT SCHOOLS NEED AND WHAT ADMINISTRATORS WANT, AND I'VE HEARD ALMOST NO TALK ABOUT KIDS. AND THAT'S REALLY, AS YOU CAN TELL, UPSET ME. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE THAT TODAY, AS YOU LISTEN TO THE SIX VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TALK, THAT'S WHAT YOU KEEP IN MIND, AND THAT TODAY, YOU TAKE ONE MORE STEP IN A PROCESS THAT YOU AGREED TO. THE PUBLIC HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND HAS BEEN OPEN AND PART OF PUBLIC RECORD, THAT AS THIS CONTINUES TODAY, YOU FOCUS ON CHOOSING THE SUPERINTENDENT, OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MS. ERICKSON. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JONATHAN GRAHAM, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPHINE AMATO AND JOSEPH ROBINSON. I CONCUR WITH THE PREVIOUS PERSON THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. I ACTUALLY CANCELED THREE FLIGHTS THIS WEEK BECAUSE IT WAS SO SERIOUS.

AND SOMETIMES THE QUALIFICATIONS, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND YOU DON'T -- YOU LOOK AT THE BAD THINGS, BUT YOU DON'T LOOK AT THE BAD THINGS OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME ON BOARD. I THINK THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN TAINTED A LITTLE BIT. A COUPLE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS AROUND AND INTRODUCED THEM TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AS PART OF THEIR PERSON. AND SO THAT PROCESS MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT TAINTED BECAUSE IF PEOPLE SAY, OH, THIS BOARD MEMBER IS LIKING THIS PARTICULAR PERSON, THEN THAT'S MAYBE WHO WE SHOULD ADVOCATE FOR. THOSE THINGS KIND OF GOT ME TO WHERE I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. I MUST SAY THAT I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO ME. MS. SNIVELY, YOU WERE VERY HELPFUL TO ME IN GETTING A CLEAR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS.

AND IT IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN. IT IS ABOUT OUR DISTRICT. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT'S NOT ABOUT ANYBODY'S POLITICAL AGENDA, ANYBODY'S PERSONAL AGENDA. THE REASON I FELT SO NECESSARY TO BE HERE IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE PUSHED A PERSONAL AGENDA IN MY ESTIMATION. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAS SHOWN A SORT OF DISDAIN FOR BLACK LEADERSHIP AND BLACK COMPANIES OR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMPANIES AND AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER IN BOTH OF HIS BOARDS, CALLING OUT PUBLICLY IF THERE IS SUCCESS. AND THAT WAS THE REASON I CAME, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SO SERIOUS IS BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES AFRICAN AMERICAN SUCCESSES AND LEADERSHIP IS JUDGED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER ONES, OR GIVING DIFFERENT STANDARDS. AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD VOICE MY OPINION BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE I DO WANT THE DISTRICT TO HAVE THE BEST QUALIFIED SUPERINTENDENT.

BUT I FELT IT NECESSARY THAT I SPEAK WHAT MY CONCERN IS ABOUT MAKING THE PROCESS FAIR, FAIR FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT I BELONG TO. SO WHEN I SEE THAT IT ISN'T -- IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR, IF SOMEONE SORT OF STANDS OUT AND SHOWS IN THEIR PAST LIFE AND PRESENT LIFE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY ARE COMPLETELY IN TUNE WITH, THEN I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. I'M OPEN FOR CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING PUBLICLY. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MR. GRAHAM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPHINE AMATO, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH ROBINSON AND THEN JASON FERGER. GOOD MORNING, BOARD. Melissa Snively: WELCOME. MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE AMATO. I AM A VERY ACTIVE EDUCATION ADVOCATE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF SAFE BUS FOR US. I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF MILITARY KIDS, SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION ALLIANCE.

AND SOMETIMES THE QUALIFICATIONS, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND YOU DON'T -- YOU LOOK AT THE BAD THINGS, BUT YOU DON'T LOOK AT THE BAD THINGS OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME ON BOARD. I THINK THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN TAINTED A LITTLE BIT. A COUPLE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS AROUND AND INTRODUCED THEM TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AS PART OF THEIR PERSON. AND SO THAT PROCESS MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT TAINTED BECAUSE IF PEOPLE SAY, OH, THIS BOARD MEMBER IS LIKING THIS PARTICULAR PERSON, THEN THAT'S MAYBE WHO WE SHOULD ADVOCATE FOR. THOSE THINGS KIND OF GOT ME TO WHERE I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. I MUST SAY THAT I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO ME. MS. SNIVELY, YOU WERE VERY HELPFUL TO ME IN GETTING A CLEAR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SPANISH HARLEM IN EXTREME POVERTY. I AM KEENLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT IS THE FIRST SORE TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. AS MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID, THE DREAM IS TO BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER AND NOT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN. THIS HAS GOTTEN ENTIRELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE MOMENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, THE EMPLOYER AND BOARD MEMBERS GO INTO THE PUBLIC AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EMPLOYEE CANDIDATES' RACE, THEY ARE IN VIOLATION, IN POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, TITLE VII, AND THIS HAS CREATED BIAS IN THE EMPLOYMENT SEARCH. THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 IS NOT ONLY THE LAW, IT EMBODIES WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A NATION THAT WE HOLD DEAR. DON'T BELIEVER ME AS A FORMER CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR BUT SIMPLY LOOK IT UP ON THE EOC.

BUT I FELT IT NECESSARY THAT I SPEAK WHAT MY CONCERN IS ABOUT MAKING THE PROCESS FAIR, FAIR FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT I BELONG TO. SO WHEN I SEE THAT IT ISN'T -- IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR, IF SOMEONE SORT OF STANDS OUT AND SHOWS IN THEIR PAST LIFE AND PRESENT LIFE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY ARE COMPLETELY IN TUNE WITH, THEN I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. I'M OPEN FOR CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING PUBLICLY. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MR. GRAHAM. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPHINE AMATO, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH ROBINSON AND THEN JASON FERGER. GOOD MORNING, BOARD. Melissa Snively: WELCOME. MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE AMATO. I AM A VERY ACTIVE EDUCATION ADVOCATE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF SAFE BUS FOR US. I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF MILITARY KIDS, SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION ALLIANCE.

I'LL SPEAK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. WHEN WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS GOING PUBLIC, GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ENGAGE IN COMMENTS IN THE HIRING PROCESS INDICATING RACIAL BIAS FOR A CANDIDATE DURING THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS, THIS HAS TAINTED THE ENTIRE PROCESS. AND I WANT TO READ TO YOU WHAT THE EOC GIVES IN VERY DETAILED GUIDELINES. THERE IS NO SITUATION IN WHICH QUESTIONS ABOUT AN EMPLOYEE'S RACE OR SKIN COLOR SHOULD BE USED TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR A JOB. THIS PROTECTION IS GUARANTEED UNDER THE TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 THAT PROHIBITS EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. THIS IS, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT OUR CANDIDATES BASED UPON THEIR SKILL AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT RECORD. AND I NOT ONLY SAY THIS AS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I SAY THIS AS A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY BASED ON WHO I AM, BASED ON MY SKILLS, NOT MY ETHNIC ORIGIN, NOT MY MULTIPLE RACES.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SPANISH HARLEM IN EXTREME POVERTY. I AM KEENLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT IS THE FIRST SORE TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. AS MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID, THE DREAM IS TO BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER AND NOT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN. THIS HAS GOTTEN ENTIRELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE MOMENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, THE EMPLOYER AND BOARD MEMBERS GO INTO THE PUBLIC AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EMPLOYEE CANDIDATES' RACE, THEY ARE IN VIOLATION, IN POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, TITLE VII, AND THIS HAS CREATED BIAS IN THE EMPLOYMENT SEARCH. THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 IS NOT ONLY THE LAW, IT EMBODIES WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A NATION THAT WE HOLD DEAR. DON'T BELIEVER ME AS A FORMER CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR BUT SIMPLY LOOK IT UP ON THE EOC.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING. THERE ARE AMAZING CANDIDATES THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. THEY ALL HAVE AMPLE PUBLIC RECORDS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OF WHETHER THEY CAN DO OR NOT DO THIS JOB, INCLUDING IN OUR OWN DISTRICT. AND WE NEED TO START HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO CAN DO THIS JOB TO KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. IT IS TIME WE MODEL THE BEHAVIOR WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO EXEMPLIFY, BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS WATCHING US. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MS. AMATO. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY JASON FERGER. AND THEN YVETTE LEWIS. WELCOME, MR. ROBINSON. GOOD MORNING. JOE ROBINSON. I'M NOT REPRESENTING NAACP TODAY. I'M REPRESENTING JOE ROBINSON, AND I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE BUCS. PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. NOTHING BEATS A FAILURE BUT A TRY.

I'LL SPEAK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. WHEN WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS GOING PUBLIC, GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ENGAGE IN COMMENTS IN THE HIRING PROCESS INDICATING RACIAL BIAS FOR A CANDIDATE DURING THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS, THIS HAS TAINTED THE ENTIRE PROCESS. AND I WANT TO READ TO YOU WHAT THE EOC GIVES IN VERY DETAILED GUIDELINES. THERE IS NO SITUATION IN WHICH QUESTIONS ABOUT AN EMPLOYEE'S RACE OR SKIN COLOR SHOULD BE USED TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR A JOB. THIS PROTECTION IS GUARANTEED UNDER THE TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 THAT PROHIBITS EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. THIS IS, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT OUR CANDIDATES BASED UPON THEIR SKILL AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT RECORD. AND I NOT ONLY SAY THIS AS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I SAY THIS AS A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY BASED ON WHO I AM, BASED ON MY SKILLS, NOT MY ETHNIC ORIGIN, NOT MY MULTIPLE RACES.

TEAMWORK. WE WANT TO WIN IN -- WE WANT A WINNING TEAM. AND I WOULD SAY THE FIRST TODAY SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST. BECAUSE WAITING IN A ROOM FOR EIGHT HOURS AND YOU COME OUT HERE AND YOU ALL AIN'T HAVE LUNCH AT THE DAIS. KEEP YOUR SUGAR UP. DON'T FALL OUT ON THE LAST PERSON. THE LAST PERSON IS THE PERSON PEOPLE WANT TO SEE UP THERE. I WANT TO SAY THIS, HE OR SHE, WHAT I'M SEEING UP THERE CAST THE FIRST STONE IN EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE HERE. CAST THE FIRST STONE, NO SIN, DONE NO WRONG, THE PUBLIC DONE VETTED THIS, BECAUSE YOUR CONSULTANT FROM THE GREAT STATE OF IOWA, WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB. THE PUBLIC DONE VETTED THESE PEOPLE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THESE PEOPLE, WEST TAMPA, YOU AIN'T READ THE TAMPA BAY TIMES.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING. THERE ARE AMAZING CANDIDATES THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. THEY ALL HAVE AMPLE PUBLIC RECORDS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OF WHETHER THEY CAN DO OR NOT DO THIS JOB, INCLUDING IN OUR OWN DISTRICT. AND WE NEED TO START HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO CAN DO THIS JOB TO KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. IT IS TIME WE MODEL THE BEHAVIOR WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO EXEMPLIFY, BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS WATCHING US. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MS. AMATO. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY JASON FERGER. AND THEN YVETTE LEWIS. WELCOME, MR. ROBINSON. GOOD MORNING. JOE ROBINSON. I'M NOT REPRESENTING NAACP TODAY. I'M REPRESENTING JOE ROBINSON, AND I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE BUCS. PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. NOTHING BEATS A FAILURE BUT A TRY.

THE TAMPA BAY TIMES AND THE PUBLIC DID THE JOB OF YOUR CONSULTANT. OKAY? YOUR CONSULTANT FAILED YOU ON THAT. BUT THE PUBLIC DID THEIR JOB. WHY? THIS IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN. IT AIN'T ABOUT NONE OF YOU UP THERE. NONE OF YOU-ALL. YOU'LL ONLY BE UP THERE SO LONG. LOOK AT WHAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING WHEN YOU DON'T ALLOW A PERSON FROM THE INSIDE. THAT'S CALLED DISCRIMINATION. YOU ALREADY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYBODY FROM OUTSIDE. WITH UNFORESEEN REVIEW OR INTERVIEW. YOU SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL AFTER THE INTERVIEW TO SAY THAT. DON'T SEGREGATE. THAT'S WHAT YOU DID. YOU SEGREGATED PEOPLE WHEN YOU SAID WE DON'T WANT NOBODY FROM THE INSIDE. THAT'S WRONG. IF -- YOU-ALL GET BACK TO TWO, MAKE THREE PEOPLE. MAKE A MOTION FOR FOUR VOTES UP THERE TODAY, MS. GRAY. WITHOUT FOUR VOTES, AIN'T NOBODY GOING NOWHERE. THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE GAME.

TEAMWORK. WE WANT TO WIN IN -- WE WANT A WINNING TEAM. AND I WOULD SAY THE FIRST TODAY SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST. BECAUSE WAITING IN A ROOM FOR EIGHT HOURS AND YOU COME OUT HERE AND YOU ALL AIN'T HAVE LUNCH AT THE DAIS. KEEP YOUR SUGAR UP. DON'T FALL OUT ON THE LAST PERSON. THE LAST PERSON IS THE PERSON PEOPLE WANT TO SEE UP THERE. I WANT TO SAY THIS, HE OR SHE, WHAT I'M SEEING UP THERE CAST THE FIRST STONE IN EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE HERE. CAST THE FIRST STONE, NO SIN, DONE NO WRONG, THE PUBLIC DONE VETTED THIS, BECAUSE YOUR CONSULTANT FROM THE GREAT STATE OF IOWA, WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB. THE PUBLIC DONE VETTED THESE PEOPLE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THESE PEOPLE, WEST TAMPA, YOU AIN'T READ THE TAMPA BAY TIMES.

THIS IS THE THIRD QUARTER BECAUSE THE FOURTH QUARTER WILL BE ON THE 21st, GOD WILLING. THIS IS THE THIRD QUARTER. THAT'S WHERE THE BUCS STAND AND THEY DON'T WIN, THROW AN INTERCEPTION. DON'T YOU ALL THROW NO INTERCEPTIONS UP HERE, OKAY? RIGHT OFF THE BAT. LAST PLAY OF THE GAME AND LOSE THE CHAMPIONSHIP, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY. WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IN CLOSING IS, WHAT IS THE PERSONALITY OF THESE CANDIDATES? HOW CAN THEY HANDLE PRESSURE? HOW CAN THEY MAKE DECISIONS WITH A ROOM FULL OF HOSTILE PARENTS, HOSTILE TEACHERS IN A HOSTILE COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY IT'S TIME YOU TAKE THE INTERVIEW AND HEAR THEM TALK. WATCH THE BODY LANGUAGE. SEE HOW THEY RESPOND, ON THE CUFF WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS EVERYBODY IS ASKING YOU TO ASK AND THEN HOPEFULLY YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT THE INSIDE MAN GOT TO BE THE BEST PERSON BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED.

THE TAMPA BAY TIMES AND THE PUBLIC DID THE JOB OF YOUR CONSULTANT. OKAY? YOUR CONSULTANT FAILED YOU ON THAT. BUT THE PUBLIC DID THEIR JOB. WHY? THIS IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN. IT AIN'T ABOUT NONE OF YOU UP THERE. NONE OF YOU-ALL. YOU'LL ONLY BE UP THERE SO LONG. LOOK AT WHAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING WHEN YOU DON'T ALLOW A PERSON FROM THE INSIDE. THAT'S CALLED DISCRIMINATION. YOU ALREADY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYBODY FROM OUTSIDE. WITH UNFORESEEN REVIEW OR INTERVIEW. YOU SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL AFTER THE INTERVIEW TO SAY THAT. DON'T SEGREGATE. THAT'S WHAT YOU DID. YOU SEGREGATED PEOPLE WHEN YOU SAID WE DON'T WANT NOBODY FROM THE INSIDE. THAT'S WRONG. IF -- YOU-ALL GET BACK TO TWO, MAKE THREE PEOPLE. MAKE A MOTION FOR FOUR VOTES UP THERE TODAY, MS. GRAY. WITHOUT FOUR VOTES, AIN'T NOBODY GOING NOWHERE. THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE GAME.

BOTTOM LINE IN THIS WHOLE SAGA IS, DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE THIS AIN'T THE END OF THE GAME. WE'VE GOT ONE MORE ROUND, AND DO THE RIGHT THING. BECAUSE OTHERWISE THIS IS GOING TO BE EVERYBODY UP THERE LEGACY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON. BOARD MEMBERS, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE HERE NOW, PRESENT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JASON FERGER FOLLOWED BY YVETTE LEWIS AND THEN BISHOP MICHELLE PATTY. GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JASON FERGER. I AM A STAKEHOLDER. I FIRST WANTED TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE SIX OF YOU WHO RESPONDED TO MY CALLS AND MESSAGES ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT I BROUGHT FORTH THAT AFFECTED HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES. RIGHT AROUND THE HR DEPARTMENT. SO I WOULD HOPE WHOEVER IS HIRED FOR SUPERINTENDENT, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THEIR FIRST DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND MAYBE DO SOME CHANGES IN.

THIS IS THE THIRD QUARTER BECAUSE THE FOURTH QUARTER WILL BE ON THE 21st, GOD WILLING. THIS IS THE THIRD QUARTER. THAT'S WHERE THE BUCS STAND AND THEY DON'T WIN, THROW AN INTERCEPTION. DON'T YOU ALL THROW NO INTERCEPTIONS UP HERE, OKAY? RIGHT OFF THE BAT. LAST PLAY OF THE GAME AND LOSE THE CHAMPIONSHIP, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY. WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IN CLOSING IS, WHAT IS THE PERSONALITY OF THESE CANDIDATES? HOW CAN THEY HANDLE PRESSURE? HOW CAN THEY MAKE DECISIONS WITH A ROOM FULL OF HOSTILE PARENTS, HOSTILE TEACHERS IN A HOSTILE COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY IT'S TIME YOU TAKE THE INTERVIEW AND HEAR THEM TALK. WATCH THE BODY LANGUAGE. SEE HOW THEY RESPOND, ON THE CUFF WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS EVERYBODY IS ASKING YOU TO ASK AND THEN HOPEFULLY YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT THE INSIDE MAN GOT TO BE THE BEST PERSON BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED.

BUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH TODAY, I WATCHED THE MEETING. THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A MEETING. THAT WAS SOMETHING. I SAW AND I HEARD THREATS BEING MADE BY MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THE BOARD. I HEARD PEOPLE SHOUTING IN THE BACKGROUND, NEGATIVE THINGS TOWARDS THE BOARD. MR. GREEN, HE GOT TRESPASS FOR LESS THAN THAT. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GUYS DON'T ALLOW THAT MUCH LONGER. MR. PORTER, SPEAKING OF WHAT MS. AMATO SAID, HILLSBOROUGH HAS TO FOLLOW THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO THE EEOC, CORRECT? I HAVE BIG CONCERNS. I KNOW I HAVEN'T SUED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHEN YOU SUE A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IS THAT THE COUNTY WILL OUTSPEND YOU IN ATTORNEY FEES ABOUT THREE TO FOUR TO ONE. THREE OR FOUR DOLLARS TO YOUR ONE DOLLAR. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SUE THE SCHOOL BOARD.

BOTTOM LINE IN THIS WHOLE SAGA IS, DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE THIS AIN'T THE END OF THE GAME. WE'VE GOT ONE MORE ROUND, AND DO THE RIGHT THING. BECAUSE OTHERWISE THIS IS GOING TO BE EVERYBODY UP THERE LEGACY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON. BOARD MEMBERS, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE HERE NOW, PRESENT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JASON FERGER FOLLOWED BY YVETTE LEWIS AND THEN BISHOP MICHELLE PATTY. GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JASON FERGER. I AM A STAKEHOLDER. I FIRST WANTED TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE SIX OF YOU WHO RESPONDED TO MY CALLS AND MESSAGES ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT I BROUGHT FORTH THAT AFFECTED HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES. RIGHT AROUND THE HR DEPARTMENT. SO I WOULD HOPE WHOEVER IS HIRED FOR SUPERINTENDENT, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THEIR FIRST DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND MAYBE DO SOME CHANGES IN.

BUT WHEN YOU POSSIBLY VIOLATE A LARGE LAW LIKE THE EEOC, OBVIOUSLY, THAT PERSON MAY HAVE A LOT MORE RESOURCES THAN THEIR OWN PERSONAL RESOURCES TO SUE YOU. IT IS NOT A BLACK OR WHITE ISSUE FOR ME. IT IS KIND OF A GRAY ISSUE. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE MS. GRAY MAY BE THE ONE THAT MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISION AS TO WHO THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT WOULD BE. SO, WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. THIS DECISION IS GOING TO AFFECT HOWEVER MANY STUDENTS, COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK IT'S NOT JUST THAT. IT AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT SPENDS A DOLLAR HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. EVERY SINGLE PERSON, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM IOWA. THEY SPEND DOLLARS HERE. THEY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALL I WANT -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHO I'M HERE FOR. I DON'T KNOW. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

BUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH TODAY, I WATCHED THE MEETING. THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A MEETING. THAT WAS SOMETHING. I SAW AND I HEARD THREATS BEING MADE BY MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THE BOARD. I HEARD PEOPLE SHOUTING IN THE BACKGROUND, NEGATIVE THINGS TOWARDS THE BOARD. MR. GREEN, HE GOT TRESPASS FOR LESS THAN THAT. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GUYS DON'T ALLOW THAT MUCH LONGER. MR. PORTER, SPEAKING OF WHAT MS. AMATO SAID, HILLSBOROUGH HAS TO FOLLOW THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO THE EEOC, CORRECT? I HAVE BIG CONCERNS. I KNOW I HAVEN'T SUED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHEN YOU SUE A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IS THAT THE COUNTY WILL OUTSPEND YOU IN ATTORNEY FEES ABOUT THREE TO FOUR TO ONE. THREE OR FOUR DOLLARS TO YOUR ONE DOLLAR. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SUE THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHO I'M FOR. IT MATTERS WHO YOU GUYS ARE FOR. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T TAKE TOO MUCH STOCK IN WHO'S HERE SPEAKING, WHO HAS WRITTEN YOU ALL LETTERS. WHO'S CALLED YOU AT THE SUPERMARKET OR PUBLIX, WHATEVER. STOP ALL THAT. JUST MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS BEST FOR THE DISTRICT AND THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY REGARDLESS OF ALL OF THE STUFF THAT'S GONE ON. JUST MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR OUR KIDS. THANK YOU. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MR. FERGER. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. YVETTE LEWIS FOLLOWED BY BISHOP MICHELLE PATTY AND THEN REVEREND DAMES JUNIOR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS YVETTE LEWIS. I AM REPRESENTING THE NAACP HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BRANCH. THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GONE OVER WITH OUR STATE AND OUR NATION. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE INTERVIEWING THESE CANDIDATES.

BUT WHEN YOU POSSIBLY VIOLATE A LARGE LAW LIKE THE EEOC, OBVIOUSLY, THAT PERSON MAY HAVE A LOT MORE RESOURCES THAN THEIR OWN PERSONAL RESOURCES TO SUE YOU. IT IS NOT A BLACK OR WHITE ISSUE FOR ME. IT IS KIND OF A GRAY ISSUE. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE MS. GRAY MAY BE THE ONE THAT MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISION AS TO WHO THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT WOULD BE. SO, WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. THIS DECISION IS GOING TO AFFECT HOWEVER MANY STUDENTS, COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK IT'S NOT JUST THAT. IT AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT SPENDS A DOLLAR HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. EVERY SINGLE PERSON, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM IOWA. THEY SPEND DOLLARS HERE. THEY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALL I WANT -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHO I'M HERE FOR. I DON'T KNOW. I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

ONE IS, WE HAVE GOT TO FIND SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE BLACK AND THE BROWN STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE SECOND ONE IS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT PRE-K IS IN THE BUDGET FOR EVERY THREE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO START SCHOOL RIGHT. AND THE OTHER ONES ARE, ONE THAT'S DEAR TO ME AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION MAJOR, SPECIAL EDUCATION, ARE THEY RECEIVING ALL THE FUNDS THAT THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING? AND ASK THE CANDIDATES, WHAT ARE THEIR PLANS? WHAT ARE THEIR THOUGHTS? WHAT ARE THEIR VIEWS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION, BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T DEPLETE THEIR FUNDS AND GIVE THEM TO OTHER PROGRAMS OR WE RECEIVE MONEY AND GIVE THEM TO OTHER PROGRAMS. BUT THIS PROGRAM IS NEAR AND DEAR TO ME. THERE ARE STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS, SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE BOOKS. THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROPER MATERIAL, AND THEY NEED MORE RESOURCES SUCH AS TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS.