HI. I'M NADIA COMBS, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH ADULTS AND OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. I'M HENRY WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT NEARLY 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4:00 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO E-MAIL OR MEET WITH ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV, ON SPECTRUM CABLE CHANNEL 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL CABLE 32. MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG.
CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY'RE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMM COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. (SOUNDING GAVEL) Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2022 IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU.
NOW PLEASE STABBED -- STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. (PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE) Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON OR MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT EITHER IN THE BOARDROOM OR BY REMOTE. WE HAVE FOUR SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED. 10/05 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. 11/16/21, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. 12/14 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP AND 1 -- 11 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. MEMBER VAUGHN? IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. WE'RE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO WE ASK THAT GUESTS IN THE BOARDROOM KEEP ONE CHAIR OPEN BETWEEN FAMILIES. AS A REMINDER WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE POIRMED TO LEARN AND SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING.
TO PAVE THE WAY OF EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON MEETINGS, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DEUS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS ON LIVE WEBSITE, ON TABLE TELEVISION -- CABLE TELEVISION, ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM AND BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES. Nadia Combs: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. 6:00 P.M. EMPLOYEE INPUT. 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 AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE.
HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTLY PERSONALLY AGAINST A 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. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK DELIRLY INTO THE MICRO -- CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS AFTERNOON EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT. A RED LIGHT AND CHIME INDICATES WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. SO WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. WILL THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS JACLYN MEUER. I HAVE A 7TH GRADE STUDENT AND OWN A LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITY AND I'M A FORMER HILLSBOROUGH TEACHER AND SUBBED FOR KELLY SERVICES. I ASKED A COUPLE FRIENDS, WHAT YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS RIGHT NOW AS A TEACHER? QUOTE, WE WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RETAIN TEACHERS? AS ONLY NEW TEACHERS ARE GETTING INCREASED SALARIES. EXPERIENCED HIGH QUALIFIED TEACHERS AT THE TOP OF THE PAYROLL NEVER SEE SIGNIFICANT RAISES. SECONDLY, WE ARE SEEING MORE STUDENTS WITH SERIOUS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM AND THERE ARE NO REPERCUSSIONS. THE PROCESS OF GETTING SERVICES IS TOO, TOO LONG.
CURRICULUM HAS CONSISTENTLY CHANGED SINCE ADDISON DAVIS BECAME THE SUPERINTENDENT, HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO TIME TO ADAPT AND SEE WHAT IS EFFECTIVE. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS AND TRAININGS HELD AFTER WORK, WITHOUT PAY, END QUOTE. THIS IS FROM A VETERAN FIRST GRADE TEACHER. LAST WEEK, I MYSELF RECEIVED A CANVAS POST ABOUT DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AT MY DAUGHTER'S MIDDLE SCHOOL. I SENT THIS E-MAIL TO MY CHILD'S PRINCIPAL AND COPIED NADIA COMBS, SECRETARY. GOOD MORNING, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN OUT DUE TO COVID BUT I WAS CONCERNED TO SEE YOUR CANVAS POST ABOUT STUDENT BEHAVIOR. I'M SO SORRY YOU'RE DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES. IT SEEMS SOCIETY IS STRUGGLING AND IT'S SHOWING UP IN OUR CHILDREN. MY CONCERN IS HOW THIS IS AFFECTING YOUR STAFF, THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. I HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM MY DAUGHTER BUT NOW SEEING IT FROM YOU IN WRITING IS ALARMING.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF KIDS ACT THIS WAY THAT IT WARRANTS A SCHOOL-WIDE SEVENTH GRADE SPECIFIC E-MAIL? ALTHOUGH I'M GRATEFUL YOU SHARED THE STRUGGLES YOU FACE, I WONDER IS IT OUT OF CONTROL OR ISOLATED. I'M COPYING NADIA COMBS'S SECRETARY IN HOPING OF GETTING SUPPORT YOU MAY NEED. I KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE STRUGGLING, UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERSTAFFED. I'M NOT SURE OUR BOARD TRULY KNOWS THE STRUGGLES EACH ONE OF OUR SCHOOL FACES. CONCERNED PARENT, DISTRICT ONE. ADDITIONALLY, I RECEIVE DAILY TEXTS FROM MY DAUGHTER WHERE SHE TELLS ME HOW MANY TIMES AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE THAT THERE ARE CLASSROOMS WITHOUT SUBS ASKING, BEGGING, WHO CAN GO COVER THEM. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I RUN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND SUMMER CAMP WHERE I PAY $15 TO $16 AN HOUR FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS USUALLY TO COME AND TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS YET KELLY IS NOT EVEN OFFERING THAT RATE TO PEOPLE WHO HOLD BACHELOR'S DEGREES.
HOW MANY MILLIONS ARE YOU WASTING WITH KELLY SERVICES? POSSIBLY YOU COULD FIND ANOTHER WAY TO HIRE AND TRAIN SUBSTITUTES. Nadia Combs: YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING. FINALLY, IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR MY DAUGHTER HAS A TEACH FER BEGINNING SPANISH. ALTHOUGH IT'S GREAT WE HAVE A CONSISTENT ADULT IN THE CLASSROOM THE CHILDREN ARE STILL USING HILLSBOROUGH VIRTUAL TO COMPLETE THEIR LEARNING. IS THIS THE FUTURE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS? STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM STAFFED WITH AN ADULT WHILE DOING VIRTUAL SCHOOL. THE THINGS I JUST SHARED ARE HAPPENING IN WHAT YOU CALL "A" SCHOOLS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IS GOING ON IN OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JESSICA DUBOIS AND I'M THE CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES AND A PARENT TO A KINDERGARTEN STUDENT AND INCOMING SECOND KINDERGARTEN STUDENT. TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS ON OUR BUDGET ALLOCATION.
EACH CPS CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 1,000 JOB VACANCIES ACROSS ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS. EACH PSA IS ENCOURAGING THE BOARD AND OUR CAC TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THESE VACANCIES AND DETERMINE WHICH ONES SHOULD BE FILLED AND WHICH ONES DO NOT NEED TO BE FILLED. AFTER THIS IS DONE, THERE ARE MODELS AND INDICATIONS THAT HCPS COULD BE IN A BUDGET SURPLUS WHICH IS A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN. HOWEVER, HPSA IS ADVOCATING THAT THIS SURPLUS OR ANY DOLLARS WE CAN FIND ARE GIVEN TOWARDS, GIVEN TEACHERS AND AT ALL LEVELS OF SENIORITY AND SUPPORT STAFF A RAISE. DESANTIS'S PLAN DOES NOT ADDRESS GIVING SUPPORT STAFF OR VETERAN TEACHERS RAISES BUT LET'S BE HONEST, EVERY WORKER IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS. FLORIDA IS IN THE BOTTOM FIVE STATES IN TERMS OF TEACHER PAY BUT SOMEHOW TAMPA IS IN THE TOP THREE IN TERMS OF METROPOLITAN GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR NATIONWIDE AND THAT WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS BEING ALLOCATED WHICH CAN BE PUT TOWARDS THE SURPLUS OR INVESTED WISELY.
WE'RE SEEING A MASS EXODUS FROM THE TOUCHILYING PROFESSION IN THE STATE OF -- TEACHING PROFESSION TO THE TUNE OF OVER 5,000 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. MOST CITE PAY AS THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO LEAVE. THERE ARE UNFORECASTED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TURNOVER IN OUR DISTRICT AND UNFORESEEN EFFECTS ON OUR CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO THRIVE AND LEARN IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH CONSTANT CHANGE. TO ME THE DECISION IS EASY. LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION OR CHILDREN RECEIVE AS A RESULT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF. MY NAME IS MARIE CLUTEAR, A TEACHER AND COUNSELOR FOR 42 YEARS NOW RETIRED FROM THE DISTRICT WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH KEN AYDUM AS A PRINCIPAL AT ADAMS, JR.
HIGH SCHOOL. AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE MANY COLLEAGUES THAT WORKED WITH KEN ADUM WHILE HE WAS A TEACHER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL, AREA DIRECTOR AND MENTOR, WE OVER HIS 37 YEARS WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, WE FULLY ENDORSE KENNETH E. ADUM AS A NAME OF HONOR FOR THE NEW PK-8 SCHOOL IN APOLLO BEACH, DISTRICT 2. KEN'S LEADERSHIP STYLE WAS ONE THAT INSPIRED, MOTIVATED, AND ENCOURAGED ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS. KEN WAS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS AND ENCOURAGED YOU TO TAKE INITIATIVES TO BRING A MORE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE CULTURE AND CLIMATE WHICH ULTIMATELY IMPROVES STUDENT LEARNING. WE ALL ARE A PART OF A TEAM AND EVERYONE FROM THE BUS DRIVERS TO THE APs WERE EQUAL IN THE EDUCATION OF THE STUDENTS IN HIS CHARGE. KEN ALWAYS RECOGNIZED PEOPLE'S EFFORTS AND WAS GENUINELY OUTSPOKEN WITH PRAISE FOR ALL THOSE WHO DID GREAT THINGS, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL.
KEN ADUM LED BY EXAMPLE. HE WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING HE WOULD -- HE WOULD NEVER EXPECT YOU TO DO SOMETHING HE WOULD NOT DO HIMSELF FROM PICKING UP A PIECE OF TRASH TO WRITING HUNDREDS OF SCHEDULE CHANGES WITH COUNSELORS TO APPEARING IN THE TALENT SHOW. HE WAS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SCHOOL. KEN HAD A UNIQUE ABILITY TO CONNECT EFFECTIVELY WITH EVERY PERSON, RESPECTING THE VALUE OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL INTEGRITY WITH HIS FAIR AND CONSISTENT PERSONAL CHARACTER. KEN BELIEVED IN COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR DRUG PREVENTION NATIONAL PRIDE CHAPTER WITH OUR MUSICAL GROUP SPECIAL EDITION WOULD PERFORM ACROSS THE COUNTRY BRINGING THEIR DRUG FREE MESSAGE TO OUR YOUTH AND KEN WAS PROUDLY WITH THEM. NOT ONLY WERE WE FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF KEN'S SCHOOL FAMILY. WE WERE ALSO A PART OF THE WHOLE ADUM FAMILY AND THEY WERE A PART OF US. THERE IS NO BETTER TRIBUTE THAN TO NAME THE NEW SCHOOL AFTER THE LATE KEN ADUM.
PLEASE LET HIS LEGACY MARKED BY SERVICE OF DISTINCTION, LOYALTY, AND HONOR AS A MAN AND AS AN EDUCATOR BE AN INSPIRATION TO THE TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF THAT WILL HALLOW THOSE NEW HALLS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DEBBIE CLEVELAND AND I'VE BEEN A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MUSIC EDUCATOR FOR 36 YEARS. I'VE SEEN MANY FANTASTIC TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS COME AND GO DURING THAT TIME. I'VE ALSO HAD THE HONOR OF BEING GUEST FACULTY FOR MUSICAL WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE U.S., SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, OUGHT TRAIL YOU AND NEW ZELENED AND MET MANY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AND TEACHING. IN ALL MY EXPERIENCES THERE IS NO ONE WHO SURPASSES KEN ADUM AS A CHAMPION OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHER AND STAFF. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HIM SEVERAL YEARS AT TWO SCHOOLS WHILE HE WAS A PRINCIPAL. ADAMS, JR. HIGH AND GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HIM JUST BY EXAMPLE. BESIDES THE PROGRAMS HE INITIATIVEED AND THE MANY ROLES HE FULFILLED, FIRST AND FOREMOST, HE LOVED STUDENTS. HE WOULD WORK TIRELESSLY TO HELP ANY AND ALL OF THEM.
HE SUPPORTED HIS TEACHERS AND STAFF AND TOOK AN INTEREST IN US BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY TO ENSURE WE COULD DO OUR VERY BEST WORK. HE ATTENDED EVERY CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRAULAR ACTIVITY POSSIBLE, NOT JUST TO BE SEEN BUT TO LET THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COACHES KNOW THEIR WORK WAS IMPORTANT AND HE CARED. HE STILL JOINED IN WITH HIS WHOLE HEART AND A VERY LOUD VOICE. HE COULD ALWAYS BE SEEN ALL OVER THE CAMPUS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF AND DOING ONE OF HIS SIGNATURE MOVES, MARIE MENTIONED, PICKING UP TRASH ON THE FLOOR. HE ALWAYS SAID IF THE KIDS DON'T SEE US CARING ABOUT OUR SCHOOL, THEY WON'T CARE EITHER. I STILL PICK UP TRASH IN HIS HONOR. I ALSO HOLD MYSELF TO A HIGHER STANDARD AS AN EDUCATOR. I VALUE EVERY STAFF MEMBER AND I LOVE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BETTER BECAUSE I KNEW HIM. MR.