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 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 WITH. 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 JUNE 7, 2022, IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TWO WEEKS AGO TODAY, OUR NATION WITNESSED A HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST NOT ONLY THE MEMBERS OF UVALDE BUT ALSO THE TEXAS COMMUNITY, BUT AGAINST US ALL. IT WAS AGAINST ALL OF US, THAT HORRIFIC INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED. IT'S KIND OF TOUCHING. WE HAD, TRAGICALLY, WE HAD 19 STUDENTS AND TWO EDUCATORS LOST THEIR LIVES TO EVIL ON MAY THE 24th. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. INTENSIVE ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REMEMBER THAT. WE STAND BEHIND UVALDE COMMUNITY AND STAND UP AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON. ONE WITHDRAWN ITEM, 10.02, APPROVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HARMONY AND INSPIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 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 WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER SNIVELY AND MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE FIVE SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. APRIL 12, 2022, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. APRIL 26, 2022, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. MAY 3rd, 2022 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. MAY 3rd, 2022 SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING. AND MAY 10, 2022 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING.
TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND OBJECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN 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'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 CAPTIONS IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. THAT'S 6:00 EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START TODAY WITH A RECOGNITION OF STUDENTS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION ALONG WITH AN MARIE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WELCOME, EVERYONE. AS WE KNOW, ATTENDANCE SHOWS A VITAL ROLE ABOUT ONE'S SUCCESS ACADEMICALLY AND ENGAGED IN OUR SCHOOLS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE CLASSROOMS IN CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR PERFECT ATTENDANCE. THOSE WHO ATTENDED KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS THAT HAVE NOT MISSED A DAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, AND THAT IS SO REMARKABLE. THAT MEANS THAT STUDENTS HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL FOR 2,340 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. I CAN TELL YOU, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO MAKE TWO WEEKS. HARD FOR ME TO MAKE TWO WEEKS, LET ALONE 2300 DAYS.
THIS IS 13 YEARS OF 180 DAYS STRAIGHT OF BEING COMMITTED. THIS SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHO THESE STUDENTS ARE, THEIR DEDICATION, AND ALSO THE PARENTS AS WELL. PARENTS, PLEASE STAND UP FOR A MINUTE. LET'S RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. IT JUST SHOWS YOUR DEDICATION TO EDUCATION AND ALSO JUST SHOWS THE GRIT THAT OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE TO DEDICATE AND SHOW NO MATTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHETHER A SICK DAY OR NOT SICK DAY, THEY ALWAYS SHOW UP AND GIVE BEST EFFORT GENERATIONAL. ALSO, WE WANT TO THANK SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION WHO CONTINUES TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTNER BY PROVIDING $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP. ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL ALSO -- $500. I DON'T KNOW IF CINDY IS HERE. I JUST GAVE A BUNCH OF YOUR MONEY AWAY. YOU GET ONE. IT'S NOT THE ELLEN SHOW OR OPRAH SHOW. I WISH IT WAS 5,000. IT'S 500. WE HAVE TO SAVE SOME FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THEY GET A BRAND-NEW LAPTOP. I'M GOING TO CHANGE THIS OVER TO ANN MARIE SO I DON'T GIVE ANYTHING ELSE AWAY. BUT CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MR. DAVIS, CABINET MEMBERS. TODAY WE RECOGNIZE FIVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SHOWN GREAT COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH A DEMONSTRATION OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. JAMES WARMACK ONCE SAID COMMITMENT UNLOCKS DOORS OF IMAGINATION, ALLOWS VISION, AND GIVES US THE RIGHT STUFF TO TURN OUR DREAM INTO REALITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE FIVE STUDENTS WE RECOGNIZE STUDENT HAD A DREAM TO EARN PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE MADE THAT A REALITY. EACH OF OUR FIVE GRADUATING SENIORS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE WILL BE PRESENTED A BRAND-NEW LAPTOP FROM OUR PARTNER IN EDUCATION, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNER FROM SUNCOAST SCHOOLS CREDIT UNION IS KINDLY PROVIDING EACH STUDENT WITH A $500 SCHOLARSHIP.
THIS EVENING, WE HAVE CINDY HILTON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION, WITH US THIS EVENING. MR. DAVIS HAD ALREADY RECOGNIZED HER. WE APPRECIATE HER BEING HERE THIS EVENING. IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THESE FIVE EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS TO YOU. TANNER JONES FROM SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL. ABIGAIL JONES FROM SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL. McKAYLA KENNEDY FROM STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL. PARIS MOZERELI, PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. AND JUSTIN PEREZ FROM JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF THESE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS. YOUR SUPPORT OF YOUR CHILD'S COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. STUDENTS, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT FORECASTS MANY SUCCESSES FOR YOUR FUTURE. ANOTHER HEARTFELT THANK YOU FOR CINDY HILTON WITH SUNCOAST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION FOR THEIR GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIP AND TO OUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATION FOR THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES.
AT THIS TIME, BOARD MEMBERS, IF WE COULD TAKE A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH, PLEASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES. THAT IS JUST A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON 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 THE BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKE 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 AND A RED LIGHT AND THE CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. IF THE FIRST FOUR OR FIVE SPEAKERS CAN LINE UP ON THE LEFT. IF THE FIRST SPEAKER WOULD COME UP. MARK KLUTHO. HERE IS THIS ARTICLE FROM THE USA TODAY. MOMS FOR LIBERTY. AN EDUCATION ARMY BUILDS. THIS IS A MISPRINT. SHOULD BE MOMS FOR STUPIDITY. THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD READ. HEADLINE, TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO FIX CLIMATE, REPORT SAYS. WARMING MAY OUTSTRIP THE ABILITY TO ADAPT. FROM THE ST. PETE TIMES, RISING THREAT, PART TWO, ALREADY AT RISK. IT WON'T TAKE A PERFECT STORM TO WREAK HAVOC ACROSS TAMPA BAY. THE HEADLINE HERE, PARTS OF THE PLANET WILL BECOME UNINHABITABLE.
GET READY FOR THE CLIMATE DISASTERS. REPORT, SEA RISE IS CLEAR AND PRESENT RISK. AND HERE IS A HEADLINE: START WARNINGS FOR THE WARMING PLANET. U.N. REPORT SPELLS OUT DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. AND THEN HERE IS AN ARTICLE, HOTELS WITH NET ZERO AMBITIONS. NOW, GRANTED, IT IS A HOTEL, BUT THIS IS A TEMPLATE FOR HOW YOUR SCHOOLS SHOULD LOOK. THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH WALLS ARE WHERE YOU FIND THE GLAZING. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ON THE EAST AND WEST WALLS. THIS IS ONLY SOMETHING I'VE BEEN BRINGING FOR OVER 30 YEARS. NOW, I CAME HERE AFTER YOU HAD SUPPOSEDLY A GREEN BUILDING WITH A GREEN SCHOOL WITH ONE BUILDING ON THIS AXIS AND ONE BUILDING ON THIS AXIS, IT CAN'T BE GREEN. ORIENTATION IS THE FIRST STEP. IMBECILIC IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE. THE THREE Is. INEPT, INCOMPETENT, AND IRRESPONSIBLE. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
AND THE FUTURE IS DIM. LET'S JUST HOPE THAT ONE OF THE IDIOTS WITH THE AR-15 DOESN'T SHOW UP AT ONE OF YOUR SCHOOLS. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. REVEREND DR. -- SENIOR PASTOR OF AME TEMPLE CHURCH IN FLORIDA. I PRAY THAT NOTHING LIKE THE LAST SPEAKER SAID EVER, EVER HAPPENS ANYWHERE, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY HERE. HAVING SAID THAT, I'VE COME TODAY FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST REASON IS TO ADVOCATE FOR HOWARD WESLEY BLAKE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. WESLEY BLAKE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL HAS LONG BEEN A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL, LONG BEEN A BEACON OF LIGHT FOR CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE NATION, BUT MORE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE IN WEST TAMPA. BEFORE THEN, IT WAS DON THOMPSON. AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE GEORGE MIDDLETON, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BEACON FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THERE. IT'S A SOURCE OF PRIDE. AND I PRAY THAT IT DOES NOT CHANGE.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP. LEADERSHIP THAT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY AND I PRAY THAT WILL STAY THE SAME, AS I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN ANCHOR. ALL WE GOT IS TWO SCHOOLS LEFT. DON'T TAKE NOTHING ELSE FROM US. SO I PRAY THAT TODAY THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT HOWARD WESLEY BLAKE SCHOOL STAY A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL, ALTHOUGH IT HAS A WONDERFUL MAGNET PROGRAM, I JUST HAD A DAUGHTER GRADUATE FROM THE TEACHING ACADEMY. I KNOW WHAT IT IS AS A MAGNET SCHOOL. IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE, BUT STILL A TRADITIONAL ANCHOR. I PRAY THAT WE KEEP IT THAT WAY. I THINK THERE ARE SOME FOLK OUT THERE IN SOME BLACK AND GOLD THAT MIGHT SEE IT THE SAME WAY. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT, AND I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK HARD AND LONG, THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE. I BELIEVE THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK OVER IN SEFFNER THAT YOU MIGHT FIND SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE TRADITION OF MERGING MAGNET WITH TRADITION. AND I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK HARD AND LONG AND I DON'T THINK YOU GOT TO LOOK FAR, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMEBODY BY THE NAME OF VALERIE NEWTON WHO CAN STAND TALL IN THEIR POSITION. I GOT THAT OFF MY CHEST, IF YOU PERMIT ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS. I JUST STOOD WITH THE MAYOR ON ANOTHER ISSUE. I JUST STOOD WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE ON ANOTHER ISSUE. AND THAT IS VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT WE ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. TEACHERS ARE RELAXING AND VACATIONING WITH THEIR FAMILIES. PLEASE DON'T FORGET OUR BABIES. WE JUST HAD A 14-YEAR-OLD JUST HAD A 14-YEAR-OLD SHOT JUST YESTERDAY. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE VIOLENCE. I PRAY THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, MR.
SUPERINTENDENT, I PRAY YOU ALL GOT A PLAN FOR THIS SUMMER TO KEEP OUR BABIES SAFE, TO INVEST SOME OF THE MONEY. I KNOW YOU ALL MOVE FROM THE RED TO BLACK. NOW IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN OUR KIDS EVEN FOR THE SUMMER, NOT JUST FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. JASON FERGER. I AM A TAXPAYER. THERE IS A LABOR SHORTAGE, MANY CONTRACTS, BUT NO ONE CAN ANSWER SIMPLE QUESTIONS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, NO ONE, FOR THE MOST PART, IS EVEN BEING HIRED TO FILL THESE POSITIONS. NO, THE SOLUTION IS NOT MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BE WASTED. ON DECEMBER 14, MARIE WHELAN BROUGHT TEACH FOR AMERICA CONTRACT. 200,000 GENERAL FUND DOLLARS BUDGETED, 0.0 TEACHERS HIRED WITHOUT CHANGING A SINGLE WORD ON MAY 10th THAT WAS BROUGHT BACK FOR RENEWAL, 100,000, AND NOW THERE ARE ALLEGEDLY FIVE TEACHERS WHO MAY BE HIRED NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S 25 GRAND FOR 5 TEACHERS. WHY NOT HAVE A SIGN-UP BONUS AND GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO THOSE NEW TEACHERS. WHY ARE WE GOING THROUGH A THIRD PARTY? ON FEBRUARY 22, COREY MURPHY AND MARIE WHELAN BROUGHT A CONTRACT WHICH YOU APPROVED WITH EDUCATION PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL TO PLACE UP TO 75 TEACHERS. THE CONTRACTOR WAS FOR 100,012,000. WE ARE PAYING 13,500 PER FOREIGN TEACHER TO COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. THERE'S NO SAVINGS. IT'S JUST A WASH. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW AND NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER IS EXACTLY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO MONITOR THE FEE REFUND POLICY, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HAVE. BY FAR, MY FAVORITE CONTRACT IN THIS SUBJECT MATTER IS THE 22nd CENTURY TECHNOLOGY. THIS WAS VOTED ON NOVEMBER 16 MEETING. BROUGHT TO YOU BY WHELAN AND MURPHY, LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE SPENT AND ZERO, NADA, NONE, ZIPPO, ZILCH, NOT ONE, NOT ONE EMPLOYEE WAS HIRED.