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 PRESCHOOL THROUGH ADULTS IN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. I'M HENRY SHAKE WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA, AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF MORE THAN 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 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 CABLE CHANNEL 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 ARE 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 ARE 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 COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING FOR APRIL 19, 2022, IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW 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. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU.
NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? Henry "Shake" Washington: YES. WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL BEN HILL CHOIR HERE TODAY WITH THE DIRECTOR -- ALSO WITH THE DIRECTOR. WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. I'M VANILLA CARDAY, 8th GRADER FROM BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HELLO. I'M BROOK LYNCH, A 7th GRADER FROM BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HI. I'M CARA, AN 8th GRADER FROM BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HELLO. MY NAME IS BO WADE, A 7th GRADER AT BEN HILL. WILLIAM PADGETT, 8th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. ANTHONY GARCIA, 8th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HELLO, WILLIAM MARINO, 8th GRADER AT BEN HILL. HANNA, 8th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. DANIELLE, 8th GRADER. HI. I'M ZOEY CARR. I'M A 7th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HI. JAY LYNNE RODRIGUEZ.
7th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HI. LINDSAY, 8th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M A 7th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HI. MY NAME IS JONAH. A 7th GRADER. KEVIN FAUCET, 7th GRADER. RONALD, 7th GRADE AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HI. KIRSTY ESTRELLA, 8th GRADER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. MY LESSON MON TARA, 8th GRADER. 8th GRADER FROM BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. BELLA GREENE, 7th GRADER FROM BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. KYLE, THE TEACHER AT BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. ANY PARENTS WANT TO TAKE PICTURES, YOU CAN COME UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL, YOU DID A GREAT JOB. THEY WERE REALLY WONDERFUL WHAT YOU DID. THANK YOU. Henry "Shake" Washington: I GOT THE NOTE. THAT'S WHY I'M DRESSED IN BLACK AND RED, DID YOU KNOW THAT? I GOT THE NOTE, THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU ALL FOR SUCH AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE. WE REALLY ENJOYED IT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND 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 MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER VAUGHN WHO WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY, MARCH 29, 2022, SCHOOL WORKSHOP AND APRIL 4, 2022, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WOULD BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING.
TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND 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 INTO THE QUEUE.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF 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 DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE ARCHIVES.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN THAT'S AT 6 P.M. THAT'S EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. 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 WILL 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 THE TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED 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, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST SPEAKERS, IF THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS CAN FACE THAT WALL OR, YOU KNOW, GO TOWARDS THE LEFT. THANK YOU. THE FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE. I THINK THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. FERGER. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JASON FERGER. I AM A STAKEHOLDER. I HAVE 2,073 REASONS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. FIRST, YOU KNOW IT TAKES ME AT LEAST AN HOUR. TODAY WAS AT LEAST 32 MINUTES TO GET HERE, BUT TODAY WAS AN HOUR. 17.4 MILES EACH WAY. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE GAS, TOLLS, OR PARKING COSTS. BECAUSE I LIVE IN EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH, IT WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL AT LEAST 15, 20 MINUTES TO GET BACK HOME.
I PAID $2,073 IN LOCAL AND STATE TAXES FOR MY PROPERTIES THIS YEAR, THAT'S JUST THE SCHOOL PORTION. DOES THE PUBLIC KNOW OR EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY PAY A HIGHER SCHOOL TAXABLE VALUE THAN ANY OTHER AD VALOREM TAX. LOOK AT YOUR BILLS. I BET YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX, HALF PENNY SALES TAX AND THE REGULAR PROPERTY TAX WHICH IS TAX FOR ME AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTY AT A HIGHER TAXABLE VALUE. LET'S TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. THE ONE MILLION DOLLARS SCHOOL BOARD OFFICES. WHY NOT RENT OUT THAT FLOOR TO A COUPLE OF LAW FIRMS, COLLECT RENT, REPURPOSE COUPLE SCHOOLS AND COLLECT INCOME. CATAPULT, WHAT WAS THAT FOR, $3 MILLION FOR LIKE MAYBE A DOZEN DIPLOMAS. THE ONE COMPANY SOME CITIZEN MAKES A STATEMENT TO A FEW OF YOU RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, AND I GET A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER.
WHAT IS THE COST OF THAT CONTRACT? THE JULY 2020 MILLION DOLLAR AUDITED MEETING, HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR TAMPA, NOT ONLY FOR SAVINGS, BUT FOR RISK MANAGEMENT AS WELL AND TO DATE, THERE'S NO REAL MOVEMENT ON THAT. HR FORGETTING ABOUT RAISES FOR AN ENTIRE CLASS OF EMPLOYEES A COUPLE OF YEARS UNTIL I BROUGHT IT UP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT. NO ACCOUNTABILITY. MORE, GIVING AWAY AN EXTRA 3% TO A VENDOR AND THEN MURPHY, LITERALLY LYING ABOUT IT, NO ANSWERS GIVEN, AND I'VE BEEN TO HIS OFFICE A COUPLE OF TIMES, NO ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL. 6.09, WHY EVEN VOTE ON IT? ALLEGEDLY STAFF HAVE BEEN MAKING PURCHASES UNDER THAT CONTRACT BEFORE IT EVEN CAME TO THE BOARD TODAY. WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY THERE? SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL COSTS MILLIONS TO BUILD. YOU HAVE MORE IN THE GRAND BROTHERS WHO ALL HAVE OFFICES WITHIN A HUNDRED YARDS OF ONE ANOTHER.
HOW MANY DIVERSE SUBCONTRACTORS ARE USED TO BUILD A SCHOOL AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT WHEN THAT SCHOOL IS BEING BUILT? $750 CALL-OUT FEE JUST TO GET A QUOTE ON FINISHING A SIDEWALK THAT WASN'T COMPLETED THERE, AND THAT COMPANY GOT AN EXTRA 3% FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, NO ACCOUNTABILITY. GARY ADULT, FANTASTIC PLACE, BUT IF YOU NEED MORE CAPITAL, WHY MORE SPACE FOR FREE, LOCAL CHURCH, HOW MANY NEW HIRES FOR THAT EVENT, SAME FOR THE OTHER HIRING. MR. DAVIS, WHEN YOU'RE ASKED ABOUT THE PROPAGANDA AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST, THE ANSWERS THAT YOU DISCLOSE THAT PRIVATELY. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE TRUST BEING BUILT WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY? JUST VOTE NO. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. ALLISON FERNANDEZ. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW -- I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE IS, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACTUALLY REBALANCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BECAUSE YOU'RE SPENDING APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THAT BUDGET ON PAYROLL COSTS, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND BEST PRACTICES.
THAT'S ONE. WHERE ARE THE FINANCIAL AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION ANALYSIS SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THAT MONEY IS BEING SUPERVISED, MANAGED AND SPENT CORRECTLY? WHERE ARE THE REPORTS FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE? I THOUGHT THIS COMMITTEE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO MAKE FINANCE REPORTING TO THE PUBLIC MORE TRANSPARENT. NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND YET WE HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONVERSATION AND, IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE APPOINTED TO THAT COMMITTEE WERE NOT EVEN FINANCIAL PEOPLE. PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE FINANCING, THE FUNDING THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE PRIOR TO LOOKING AT ANY MILLAGE INCREASE, BECAUSE AS PROPERTY VALUES RISE, SO DO THE TAXES WE PAY. SO, BASICALLY, HOW IS THE PUBLIC SUPPOSED TO TRUST YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE DELEGATED TO YOU TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN? YOU KNOW, THIS IS MONEY OUT OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS.
I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, NOT ALL OF THEM LIVE WITH ME ANY LONGER, BUT I STILL SEEM TO FEED THEM OFTEN. WE HAVE GAS TO GET TO WORK. WE HAVE EXPENSES IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, AND WHEN PRICES GO UP, WE ARE FORCED TO MAKE CHOICES, BUT WE CAN'T JUST GO TO OUR EMPLOYERS AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK I NEED A RAISE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I NEED A RAISE. I KNOW I DIDN'T SPEND ALL THIS MONEY APPROPRIATELY AND I CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU WHAT I SPENT IT ON, BUT JUST PAY ME A LITTLE MORE. NOW, IF ANY OF MY CHILDREN CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THEM. THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU. THIS IS MY MONEY. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S MONEY. WE WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE USING IT PROPERLY, THAT YOU ARE USING IT TO ITS BEST AND HIGHEST PURPOSE BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE.
I NOTICED THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF LOW-ACHIEVING SCHOOLS IN THE STATE. SO EXACTLY WHAT ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY ON IF WE'RE NOT EDUCATING CHILDREN TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED, IF WE'RE NOT SHOWING THE PUBLIC WHAT WE'RE USING THE MONEY FOR, IF WE KNOW OUR GENERAL FUND IS OUT OF BALANCE, IF WE KNOW THAT OUR STUDENT TEACHER RATIO IS IN BALANCE, WE KNOW WHERE THE OUT OF BALANCE IS, WHERE IS THE FINANCIAL REPORTING, WHERE IS THE CONVERSATION? IN SHORT, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, I'M AGAINST THIS MILLAGE INCREASE. NOT AGAINST ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BUT I WANT SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSION BEFORE I EVER AGREE TO IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. 707 TO 714. WORSE THAN A BOONDOGGLE. MORE DUMB CONSTRUCTION. WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THAT? THAT INCOMPETENT AND IRRESPONSIBLE. WHAT DID WINSTON CHURCHILL SAY?
WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS; THERE THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US. SO THE HEADLINES ARE READING NOW, U.N. REPORT SPELLS OUT DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. A REPORT, SEA RISE IS CLEAR AND PRESENT RISK, PREDICTED SHIFT IS GREATEST FOR GULF AND EAST COAST. THAT HAPPENS TO BE HERE. PARTS OF THE PLANET WILL BECOME UNINHABITABLE. ACTION NEEDED NOW. GRIM REPORT FROM U.N. PANEL. TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO FIX CLIMATE REPORT SAYS. WARMING MAY OUTSTRIP THE ABILITY TO ADAPT. YOUNG REPORT CITES FLORIDA'S CLIMATE CHANGE STRUGGLE. RISING THREAT, ALREADY AT RISK. IT WON'T TAKE THE PERFECT STORM TO WREAK HAVOC ACROSS TAMPA BAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID THIS WORD MANY TIMES HERE. CORRELATION. YOU MAKE THESE STUPID BUILDINGS THAT BELCH THE CARBON, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. IT'S CAUSE AND EFFECT. 30-PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN BRINGING THE SCIENCE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE, PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN. AND IT KEEPS BEING IGNORED.
YOU KEEP PUTTING PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF BUILDINGS THAT HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE. THE HOLE KEEPS GETTING DEEPER AND THE FUTURE IS DIMMER AND DIMMER. AND ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON COMES UPON US. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU PEOPLE ARE THINKING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY. SO SAD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. AND IF WE COULD HAVE THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ALSO PLEASE LINE UP. HELLO, EVERYBODY. ALLEY LEG HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT LAST MEETING, I READ SOME EXCERPTS FROM A BOOK CALLED "SEX IS A FUNNY WORD." I JUST WANT TO THANK WHOEVER REMOVED THAT BOOK FROM THE ONLINE LIBRARY. YOU ARE A TRUE CHAMPION OF PROTECTING CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE. IF WE CAN GET THE OTHER SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARIES, THAT WOULD BE SUPER GREAT. WE'RE ALSO BEING TOLD THEY ARE NONINSTRUCTIONAL. IF THEY ARE NONINSTRUCTIONAL, THERE SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM OF REMOVING SEXUAL EXPLICIT READING MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT VIOLATES OBSCENITY CRIME LAWS IN FLORIDA.