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. 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 MATERIAL 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 OF APRIL 18, 2023, 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.
TODAY, WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS FROM DAWSON ELEMENTARY, WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY JOINING US TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN SPANISH AND THEN ENGLISH. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN SPANISH] [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN ENGLISH] Henry "Shake" Washington: GREAT JOB. YOU MAY BE SEATED. I GOT A LITTLE EXCITED AND FORGOT TO TELL YOU ALL TO BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: GREAT JOB.
MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT SINCE WE HAD TWO WONDERFUL GROUPS TONIGHT? Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY INSTRUMENT CHANGE BAND ALONG WITH THE BAND DIRECTOR, CHARLA KERWIN AND THE PRINCIPAL. STUDENTS FROM DAUSOME AND SUMMERFIELD CROSSING. THEY ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. HI. MY NAME IS ABBICA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. MY NAME IS JOSCELYN. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. MY NAME IS JASMINE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. MY NAME IS ADDISON WISE AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ELLA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS KENSA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. ZYLA AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS HANNA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS BIRDIE.
I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS MARIAH. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS EVELYN. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ZYRA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ANTHONY. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS RAMONA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS LOGAN. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS PEYTON. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. I'M SOPHIA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS LIAM. I AM IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. I'M JACKSON. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. I'M JACKIE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. SPRINGHEAD MUSIC TEACHER. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE DIRECTORS AT SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY. I AM THE ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER ALONG WITH HAILEY AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND WHO ALSO TEACHES THE TRUMPETS, MR. KERWIN. WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST TAKE TWO SECONDS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE. INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE IS A WONDERFUL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PUTS THEIR PROGRAM INTO TITLE I SCHOOLS.
GLEN SHUBERT IS WITH US TONIGHT. THESE STUDENTS WILL BE GRADUATING ON THURSDAY NIGHT. THEY HAVE PASSED OFF ALL THEIR SONGS AND ACCOMPLISHED ALL THEIR GOALS THIS YEAR. WHEN THEY JOIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JOIN A BAND, INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE PRESENTS THEM WITH THEIR OWN FOREVER INSTRUMENT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM BACK IN JANUARY, DECEMBER, TO PRESENT THEM WITH THEIR FOREVER INSTRUMENT. WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK MR. SHUBERT. I'M GLEN SHUBERT. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY, MICHELLE McCLELLAN. Henry "Shake" Washington: IF WE HAVE ANY PARENTS WANTING TO TAKE PICTURES, PLEASE COME UP, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR SETTING THE TONE FOR THE MEETING. IT WAS GREAT. GREAT JOB. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND I HAVE A 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 TODAY. 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 EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, 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. MEANS 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 CAPTIONS ON LIVE WEBCAST, 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 -- ACTUALLY, TWO ITEMS. 5.01, PUBLIC HEARING, AND 6:00, EMPLOYEE INPUT. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL BE MOVING TO OUR INFORMATION ITEM. 12.01, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE, 2023 HIGH SCHOOLS VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AND WINNERS OF THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL FUTURE VOTER ART CONTEST. MARIE ROGERS, SUPERVISOR OF K-5 SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, AND BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION, MR. CRAIG LATIMER WHO WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS AND PRESENT THOSE AWARDS. MR. LATIMER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CHAIR, DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND COUNCIL, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN A TERRIFIC PARTNER OF OURS FOR MANY YEARS. WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH REGISTER AND PREREGISTER TO VOTE.
YOU CAN PREREGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA 16 AND 17 YEARS OLD. YOU CAN'T VOTE UNTIL YOU'RE 18 THOUGH. EVERY SEMESTER, WE'RE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AT LEAST TWICE, EVERY SCHOOL YEAR WE'RE AT LEAST TWICE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS YEAR WE ALREADY PREREGISTERED OVER 2700 STUDENTS. SINCE 2012, WHEN I STARTED REALLY A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE NOW REGISTERED MORE THAN 29,000 STUDENTS, FUTURE VOTERS, AS WE WOULD CALL THEM. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE THEME FOR TODAY, TOO. WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE START VOTING AT AN EARLY AGE, THEY CONTINUE VOTING. THEY GET ENGAGED CIVICALLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IT'S ALL GOOD THINGS. IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO START TALKING ABOUT VOTING EVEN SOONER. WE DID SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WE ADDED AN ART CONTEST TO THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. PREVIOUSLY, IT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH AIMED AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND WE HAD SOME OVERWHELMING RESPONSES I'LL TALK ABOUT. BUT BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE KELLY BRINNEN, LORI HOBBY AND MARIE ROGERS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE ASSISTANCE THEY GAVE US WITH THE SOCIAL STUDIES AND ART TEACHERS WHO HAVE HELPED US PROMOTE THIS VOTER REGISTRATION AND ART CONTEST. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND WILL BE AWARDING PRIZES TO OUR WINNING ARTISTS. THE GLAZER CHILDREN MUSEUM, THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM, AND ZOO TAMPA. I ALSO HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE FROM MY OFFICE HERE TO HELP OUT WITH THIS TODAY. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY REGISTERING THE STUDENTS AND DOING A GREAT JOB OUT THERE. WINNERS OF OUR VOTER REGISTRATION CONTEST. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THIRD PLACE SPOTO HIGH SCHOOL, ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS TERESA, SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT HEAD.
SECOND PLACE, HOWARD W. BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS SONYA CASTRO. FIRST PLACE, PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS VINCENT DEAKONTO. THERE WILL BE GOOD CONVERSATION TONIGHT BETWEEN FIRST AND THIRD AT THE DINNER TABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I TOLD YOU WE PUT THE CHALLENGE OUT TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TO DESIGN A FUTURE VOTER STICKER. THIS IS SOMETHING WE GIVE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. PARENTS ARE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO VOTE OR THEY ARE REGISTERING TO VOTE. THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM AND WE LIKE TO GIVE THE STICKERS OUT, AGAIN, TO CREATE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE WERE STUNNED, QUITE FRANKLY. WE HAD OVER 140 ENTRIES. 140 ENTRIES INTO THIS CONTEST. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THIS ARTWORK IN OUR VOTER EDUCATION OUTREACH EFFORTS AND WE'LL BE HANDING OUT THE TWO WINNING STICKERS, THE ONE FROM ELEMENTARY AND THE ONE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, WILL BE HANDED OUT AT OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE GO THROUGH 140 OF THESE ENTRIES AND PICK THE WINNERS. WE DID SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE. WE VOTED ON THEM. SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP KATE WHITE, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, FOR GLAZER CHILDREN MUSEUM TO SAY WHAT SHE'S GOING TO BE AWARDING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. WE ARE SO HONORED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM. THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THESE YOUNG FUTURE CIVIC LEADERS, THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS VERY PROUD OF THESE KIDS, THE CREATIVITY THAT THEY HAVE SHARED, THE SYMBOLISM THEY HAVE INCLUDED IN THEIR ARTWORK, THE CLEAR THOUGHT THAT THEY HAVE PUT INTO HOW THEY CAN REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THEIR FUTURE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES. SO WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY MEMBERSHIPS TO THE MUSEUM FOR THE FIRST PLACE PRIZE, WE HAVE PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP. THE SECOND PLACE PRIZE IS A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP.
THE THIRD PLACE PRIZE IS A FOUR PACK OF TICKETS TO THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THESE KIDS CAN COME BACK AND PLAY WITH US ALL YEAR AND EVEN COME AND SEE A DINOSAUR IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN WE OPEN THAT EXHIBIT TO CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING AND THEIR PASSION FOR THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THANK YOU. TONY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM, WITH GLAZER, WITH YOU, CRAIG, AND THE REST JUST TO HONOR THESE KIDS. THEY ARE SO AWE INSPIRING. WHAT A GREAT GIFT IN OUR COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT AND WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO THROUGH THIS CONTEST. WE ARE JUST SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO AWARD EVERYONE WHO IS NOW FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD, THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND TO BE OUR GUEST AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM AND THEY CAN BRING UP TO 8 GUESTS AS WELL WITH THEM.
WE'RE PROUD TO PRESENT THEM WITH A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, AND THANK YOU, CRAIG, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND HAVE US A PART OF IT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A REALLY GREAT PLACE. MARK HANEY, CHIEF EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER FOR ZOO TAMPA. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. WE SAY AT THE ZOO WE'RE NOT JUST ABOUT ANIMALS, WE'RE ABOUT PEOPLE. IF WE ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOTE, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE COUNTRY, REALLY. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS FOR THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE FOUR PASSES AND A TUMBLER. FOR SECOND PLACE, WE'VE GOT SIX PASSES AND A TUMBLER. AND THEN FIRST PLACE GETS A BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIP TOUR FOR EIGHT PEOPLE. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT GET TO FEED A RHINO. I'M JUST SAYING.
BUT WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE PART OF THIS. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIRD PLACE GOES TO SUA KIM, CHILES ELEMENTARY. SECOND PLACE, MABEL MARIE RENDLEMAN, STOWERS ELEMENTARY. FIRST PLACE -- I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE -- JYOTSNA TATIKONDA, LOWRY ELEMENTARY. ON TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIRD PLACE, ISLA GAUDREAU, HOMESCHOOL. SECOND PLACE, FROM TURNER/BARTELS K-8 SCHOOL, LUCY LINTON. ALL RIGHT. AND FIRST PLACE, FROM WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL, NATHANIEL FREEMAN. WE WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT THESE TALENTED, TALENTED STUDENTS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I KNOW SOME MEMBERS WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: WELL, LET THE EXCITEMENT -- I THINK THEY ARE REMOVING THEMSELVES, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK JUST REAL SHORT. HONORABLE CRAIG LATIMER, THANK YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE DOING THROUGH YOUR OFFICE AND YOU INTEGRATED OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN SUCH AN ENGAGING WAY, IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IS MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT AS WE GET INTO MORE CONTENTIOUS SUBJECTS. AND LEARNING HOW TO SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS THE IDEAL THAT WE TEACH AND WANT TO TEACH. AND I THANK OUR SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT, CERTAINLY GLAZER MUSEUM, ZOO TAMPA AND FLORIDA, EXCUSE ME, AND THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM. BUT ALL IN ALL, BRINGING TOGETHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BUSINESS PARTNERS AND BRINGING OUR SCHOOLKIDS FOR THIS ENDEAVOR HAS REALLY -- IT MAKES A HUGE IMPACT. SO I THANK YOU.
WE ALL THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR HELPING US ENGAGE WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS AND GET THIS DONE. SO THANK YOU, SIR. ALSO, IF YOU ALL WILL GO TO MY TWITTER PAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE VIDEO THAT WE DID ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A VOTING CONTEST BEFORE LONG. DON'T TALK ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT HERE, RIGHT? OKAY.