Nadia Combs: 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, ANIMATED 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 BE WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME DO 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 STREAM LIVED ON OUR WEBSITE AS HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVES. 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 ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. (SOUNDING GAVEL). Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 18th, 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: THAN K YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU.
NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ] Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAIN. Henry "Shake" Washington: YES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ARE THE STUDENTS HERE? ARE THEY COMING IN? OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOW CHOIR ALONG WITH CHORUS TEACHER MR. OKINDO. THEY PERFORMED AT THE START OF OUR MEETING. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE THE STUDENTS TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. YOU GUYS LOOK SHARP. ALL RIGHT. I'M IN 8th GRADE. I'M IN 6th GRADE. MY NAME IS CARSON. I'M IN 8th GRADE. I'M IN 8th GRADE. MY NAME IS LEONARD FELTS AND I'M IN 8th GRADE. MY NAME IS RICK AND I'M IN 8th GRADE. MY NAME IS -- I'M IN 8th GRADE. I'M IN 8th GRADE. MY NAME IS DAVID SCHMITT AND I'M IN 8th GRADE. I'M IN 8th GRADE.
I'M IN 7th GRADE. I'M IN 8th GRADE. 8th GRADE. 8th. I'M IN 8th GRADE. 8th GRADE. 7th GRADE. I'M IN 8th GRADE. I'M IN 7th. I'M IN 8th GRADE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. Henry "Shake" Washington: ANY PARENTS THAT WANT TO COME UP AND TAKE PHOTOS WITH THEM, PLEASE. AS GOOD AS THESE STUDENTS LOOK, YES. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I BUY ME AN OUTFIT LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOU GUYS ON "THE VOICE." GREAT JOB. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN DEMOCRATS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA.
MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ, SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. SEPTEMBER 6th, 2022, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP AND SEPTEMBER 20, 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 GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO BE GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER WE ARE 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 EFFECTIVE AGENDA, AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW GO OVER THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. 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 WEB CASTS, ON CABLE TV, ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AND THAT'S 6:00 EMPLOYEE INPUT. NOW FOR 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 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. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, A RED LIGHT AND TIMER WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. IF THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL PLEASE COME UP. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PAULA CASTANA HERE REPRESENTING PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES. OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO FULLY FUND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT I AM ALSO HERE SPEAKING AS A PARENT WHO SPEAKS ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I AM GOING TO READ SOMETHING THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD BEFORE BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT, CALLED THE MAN IN THE ARENA. I WILL READ AN EXCERPT. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA, WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST AND SWEAT AND BLOOD, WHO STRIVES VALIANTLY, WHO ERRORS, WHO COMES SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE IS NO EVIDENT WITHOUT ERR AND SHORTCOMING.
BUT WHO DOES ACTUALLY STRIVE TO DO THE DEEDS? ADDISON, I HAVE KNOWN YOU FOR I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A YEAR AND A HALF, AND I AM HERE TO VOUCH FOR YOU TONIGHT THAT YOU ARE DOING ALL THESE DEEDS AND THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS FOR YOU HERE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND WHAT YOU HAVE WALKED INTO. I AM HERE TO VOUCH FOR YOU BEING A GOOD LEADER. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT THAT DON'T REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT AREN'T PUBLICIZED. I KNOW A LOT OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE I REGULARLY TALK WITH YOU. SO I AM HERE TO IMPLORE YOU AND THE REST OF THE BOARD TO LISTEN TO MY REQUEST FOR TONIGHT. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF TEACHERS. THERE IS A CRISIS IN OUR DISTRICT. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR SPENDING. WE NEED TO PUT OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF FIRST.
OUR SCHOOLS CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT QUALITY EDUCATORS AND PERSONNEL, ALL INTO ONE CATEGORY. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO FIND THE MONEY TO SETTLE, TO PAY THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE WORTH. OUR KIDS, OUR TEACHERS, THE REST OF OUR DISTRICT PERSONNEL DESERVE THE VERY BEST. AND I WILL KEEP IT SHORT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TONIGHT THAT WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE. I AM ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE UP HERE TO SAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE ACTION. WE WOULD LIKE YOU, ADDISON AND THE REST OF THE BOARD, TO PLEASE FIND A WAY TO PAY THEM WHAT THEY ARE WORTH, OR WE ARE GOING TO END UP IN AN EACH BIGGER CRISIS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS WILLIAMS BREWSTER. I'M SPEAKING BEFORE THE BOARD ON PARENT AND CREATING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR SCHOOL. WHAT DOES A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP LOOK LIKE?
IT'S BUILDING RAPPORT WITH THE STUDENTS, TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO THEIR ISSUES. BEING OPEN TO FEEDBACK. BEING OPEN TO THE STUDENTS' FEEDBACK. AS I TAKE A LOOK AT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE DISTRICT, WE ARE FAILING THEM. OUR EXPECTATIONS OF THEM ARE 21%. THAT'S AN F. WHY IS THAT OKAY? S THESE SAME INDIVIDUALS THAT WE EDUCATE AND WE LABEL, THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN OUR JOB MARKET. WHO SPEAKS FOR THEM? AS A PARENT, OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, I IMPLORE YOU, ACTION. WE HAVE PUT THESE PEOPLE IN PLACES BUT NO ACTION. WE HAVE COME BEFORE YOU, THIS BOARD, MANY, MANY TIMES SINCE THE SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE BEEN HERE. THE SAME SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS, SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL, AREA AFTER AREA. ADDISON AND THE BOARD MEMBERS, I IMPLORE YOU. WHY AREN'T PARENTS ABLE TO REACH YOU ANYMORE? WHY AREN'T YOUR NUMBERS PUBLISHED? YOU HAVE GOTTEN CLOSER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY.
WE GIVE YOU OUR BEST. OUR STUDENTS COME BEFORE YOU DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN. I IMPLORE YOU, ASK THE STATE TO FUND THE SCHOOLS. DID YOU KNOW THERE'S A $17 BILLION, 17 BILLION SURPLUS. STOP ASKING THE TAXPAYERS TO SPEND MORE THAN -- THEY DON'T HAVE IT, BUT THE STATE DOES. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO COLLECT THAT MONEY? ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS. WE ARE NOT ONLY FAILING OUR TEACHERS BUT WE ARE FAILING OUR KIDS. WE ARE FAILING. AND WE SEEM TO BE OKAY WITH THAT. I HAVE CALLED. NO ONE RETURNS MY CALL BACK. I AM GOING TO KEEP COME HERE UNTIL I SEE REAL ACTION WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. PUTTING IN PLACES THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY. THEY HAVE ALTITUDE PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOT COMPASSIONATE. THEY ARE NOT BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. ALAN BREWSTER, BOARD MEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE UNPROFESSIONALISM OF SOME TEACHERS. SCHOOL NUMBER ONE, JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, DAUGHTER IS A SENIOR WITH A DISABILITY, AUTISM. DAY ONE, DAY ONE WHEN SCHOOL STARTED, THE TEACHER CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM AND STARTED DROPPING F-BOMBS. IF YOU STUDENTS F, I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU DO PUSHUPS AND SITUPS FOR A WEEK. NO PROFESSIONALISM. YOU ARE NOT EVEN FOCUSED ON EDUCATION. DAY ONE. AND THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER HOST OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TEACHER ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE PRINCIPAL CLAIMS SHE SHOW TO HER. SHE NEVER EVEN APOLOGIZED TO THOSE STUDENTS FOR HER BEHAVIOR. HOW IT AFFECTED THEM PSYCHOLOGICALLY. SCHOOL TWO. FRANKLIN BOYS PREPARATORY, SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, CAUCASIAN, IN THE CLASSROOM, DISPLAYED HER DISPLEASURE OF SO MANY BROWN BOYS IN THE CLASSROOM. SCHOOL THREE. GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. FRESHMAN WITH ANXIETY, 504, FRENCH TEACHER. SHE HAS NOTHING TO SAY TO MY DAUGHTER. I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO MAKE UP YOUR TEST BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS WENT TO THE DISTRICT AND COMPLAINED ABOUT ME.
WHAT DID THE LEADER OF THE SCHOOL DO? DID THE LEADER OF THE SCHOOL CALL US? MY DAUGHTER GOT UP THIS MORNING. I CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE MY STOMACH IS HURTING, BECAUSE SHE'S INTERNALIZING THE AN TAG NATION THAT THIS TEACHER CAUSES HER, PSYCHOLOGICALLY. EVER SINCE THE TEACHER CLAIMED THE DAY THE TEACHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION, HER BEHAVIOR TOWARD MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE. AND NOW, MY DAUGHTER IS AT A CROSSROADS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT GAITHER. I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO GAITHER. WHERE IS THE LEADERS COMING UP WITH A PLAN FOR MY DAUGHTER? STOP PUNISHING THE STUDENTS TELLING THEM, MOVE OUT OF THE CLASS BECAUSE THE TEACHERS DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PROFESSIONALISM. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME COACHING BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CLEARLY OPERATING UPSIDE DOWN. LOOKING, MAKING DECISIONS UPSIDE DOWN. AND I'M TELLING YOU ALL AGAIN, THE LEADERSHIP AT JEFFERSON IN THE APC IS NOT RIGHT.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PETER HORTLAND, A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THEREFORE A TAXPAYER IN THIS COMMUNITY. I AM ALSO A SEMI-RETIRED ARCHITECT, AND THE MODERATOR OF THE COUNCIL OF CHASE FAMILY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION THAT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE INCLUSIVE OF THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY WHICH I AS A GUY MAN AM PART AND A PROUD MEMBER. WITH THE OUTLANDISH ATTACKS ON LGBT+ PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING MADE BY OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, IT IS MORE IMPERATIVE THAN EVER THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES THEIR SUPPORT OF LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH. THE HISTORY OF ALL PEOPLE NEEDS TO BE EMBRACED AND STUDIED. OUR HISTORY INCLUDES COURAGEOUS OUTSPOKEN PEOPLE WHO LAY THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE SO THAT WE COULD OPENLY LIVE OUR LIVES JUST LIKE EVERYONE. IT INCLUDES GREAT ARTISTS, GREAT LEADERS, AND GREAT INTELLECTUALS, AND IT INCLUDES ORDINARY PEOPLE LIKE THOSE IN THIS ROOM WHO ARE LIVING LIVES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THE PURPOSE OF TEACHING ANY HISTORY IS TO LEARN FROM IT SO THAT WE DO NOT REPEAT MISTAKES OF HATEFUL TREATMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE SIMPLY UNKNOWN OR DIFFERENT FROM US. IT IS A TIRED CLICHE BUT TRUE, WITHOUT VARIETY THINGS WOULD BE AWFULLY BORING. TODAY IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS ARE ALREADY FAR MORE AWARE AND SOPHISTICATED REGARDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY THAN WE WERE AT THAT AGE. SHIELDING THEM IN THE CLASSROOM FROM LGBT+ HISTORY IS POINTLESS AND ONLY PERPETUATES FEAR AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OF LGBT+ PEOPLE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS JESSICA DUBOIS AND I'M THE CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADVOCATES. WE EXIST TO ADVOCATE FOR FULLY FUNDING TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD IS ENTITLED TO AND DESERVES A QUALITY EDUCATION AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO ALLEVIATE INEQUITIES IN ACHIEVING THIS MISSION.
IF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE VEHICLE THAT SERVES AS A CONDUIT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE THEIR LIFE GOALS OUR TEACHERS ARE THE FUEL TO GET THEM THERE. YEARS OF UNDERFUNDING HAS STRETCHED OUR EDUCATORS THIN. NOBODY GOES INTO EDUCATION FOR MONEY. THEY GO INTO IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS. HOWEVER, WHEN WE DON'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR ON TEACHER CONTRACTS, IT NOT ONLY LEAVES THEM UNEASY, IT DISRESPECTS TEACHERS AND THE HARD WORK THEY ARE POURING INTO OUR CHILDREN DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THIS SCHOOL BOARD IS MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS OF VARYING BACKGROUND. DR. HAHN, I LOVE YOUR MISSION, SPECIFICALLY WITH IT SAYING YOU WANT TO MAKE THE DREAM OF A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM A REALITY. FUNDING OUR TEACHERS SALARIES AND RAISES SHOULD BE LINE ONE ON OUR ANNUAL BUDGET. OTHER INVESTMENTS, I HAVE SEEN THIS BOARD GET CREATIVE WITH FORMING PARTNERSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITY.