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. Henry "Shake" Washington: I'M HENRY SHAKE WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH 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 4:00 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO E-MAIL OR MEET WITH ANY 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 CAN PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCAST 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. (SOUNDING GAVEL) Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 8, 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. THANK YOU.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. (PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE) YOU MAY BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? Henry "Shake" Washington: STUDENT -- Nadia Combs: I MEAN -- THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. Henry "Shake" Washington: THEY LOOK LIKE STUDENTS. THEY LOOK LIKE STUDENTS ANYWAY. BUT BOY, WHAT A GREAT BAND. I SHOULD HAVE HAD Y'ALL PLAY WHEN WE GOT MARRIED 47 YEARS AGO. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ROCKING AND ROLLING. I WANT TO THANK ONE LOVE. THESE WONDERFUL TEACHERS ENTERTAIN US AT THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. I'M AARON WILSON, I PLAY SAXOPHONE AND I'M TEACHING AT CAROLWOOD K-8 THIS YEAR. I'M JOYY AND PLAY TROMBONE AND TEACH IN PLANT CITY. I'M SHAUN HANKINS AND PLAY BASS AND I'M AT DEER PARK ELEMENTARY. HI, I'M SHAUN MOTES. I PLAY DRUMS AND I'M A MUSIC TEACHER AT CLARK ELEMENTARY.
I'M JENNIFER MOTSE AND I'M ALSO THE MUSIC TEACHER AT CLARK ELEMENTARY AND AT LEWIS ELEMENTARY, AND I PLAY KEYBOARD. I'M LINDSEY JONES. I'M A SINGER, AND I TEACH AT HUNTERS GREEN ELEMENTARY AND I'M A CHAMBERLAIN GRAD. WILLIAM WHITING AND TEACH AT McKITRICK ELEMENTARY. GUITAR. HE PLAYS GUITAR. HI, JOHN COSANAS AND TEACH AT -- AND PLAY TRUMPET. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE HOW SPECIAL IT IS WE COME AND PLAY TODAY SO CLOSE TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FRIEND, JUAN, THE NAMESAKE FOR OUR GROUP AND THE INSPIRATION FOR OUR ENSEMBLE. JUAN OFTEN AGREED WITH BILLY AND LIKE MANY MUSIC TEACHERS THAT MUSIC STRENGTHENS SOCIAL BONDS AND I KNOW IT'S THE SAME TO DO THE SAME FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FEEL WHAT WE FEEL WHEN WE'RE MAKING MUSIC ON STAGE. THANK YOU. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY PICTURES? TAKE PICTURES?
LET'S STAND UP. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS AMAZING, AND I SAID I WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY'RE PLAYING NEXT BECAUSE I WANT TO FOLLOW THEM. THEY WERE JUST REALLY AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE SUCH INCREDIBLE TALENT IN OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES 5 -- WITH FIVE YESES. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER HAHN WHO WILL BE JOINING US SHORTLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MEMBERS TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS GET BACK INTO THE CUE.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. -- THE QUEUE. Henry "Shake" Washington: AS WE BEGIN, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM THAT ALLOW THE BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTION ON THE LIVE WEBCAST, ON TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS IN THE AUDITORIUM AND ALSO VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AND THAT'S 6:00 AND THAT WILL BE EMPLOYEE INPUT. PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM THE 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 THE BOARD INFORMED ABOUT RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND APPRECIATE THE TIME TAKEN TO BE HERE. DO NOT ADDRESS COMMENTS TOWARD A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUE. 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 YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN. A RED LIGHT AND CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. WE HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS TODAY. I THINK IF ALL THE SPEAKERS CAN LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND IF THE FIRST SPEAKER -- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NIKKI DANIELS. I'M THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR AGENCY. IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE HAVE PROGRAMS RANGING FROM PRENATAL CLASSES TO LACTATION SUPPORT TO DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AND PLAY GROUPS TO HOME VISITING AND PARENTING CLASSES. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, KIDS ON THE BLOCK AND WE'RE HONORED TO SERVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH OUR KIDS ON THE BLOCK PROGRAM FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW.
IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ALMOST 30. WE SERVED OVER 15,000 STUDENTS LAST YEAR. THE THIRD GRADE STUDENTS ARE PRESENTED INFORMATION ABOUT PREVENTING ABUSE BY LEARNING NO, GO AND TELL. BASICALLY SAY NO, RUN AWAY, TELL SOMEBODY KIND OF A MESSAGE. THE CHILDREN THEN AT THE END OF THE SHOW WRITE LETTERS TO THE PUPPETS AND THE LETTERS ARE COLLECTED BY OUR STAFF. DURING THAT LAST YEAR 86 CHILDREN REPORTED CONCERNS ABOUT ABUSE WITH 12 RESULTING IN HOTLINE CALLS AS THEY WERE VERIFIED ABUSE THAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE CHILDREN. SO IT'S A DEFINITE WAY TO HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND LEARN ABOUT ABUSE HAPPENING AND GET SERVICES IN THERE. WE HAVE A FOURTH GRADE SHOW WHERE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN BULLYING PREVENTION WHICH INCLUDES DIGITAL BULLYING. SO WE INCLUDE THAT AS WELL. 32 CHILDREN EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT BULLYING AFTER THAT SHOW AND THEIR LETTERS TO THE PUPPETS. WE WORK WITH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST SENDING A LETTER. 73% OF THE FUNDING IS RAISED THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS AS A NONPROFIT AGENCY WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THIS PROGRAM TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ONLY PROVIDING 17% OF THAT TOTAL COST. SO WE'RE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND LIKE I SAID I'VE BEEN DOING IT OVER 20 YEARS NOW. INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF OUR DATA AT NO COST BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA SHOWS THAT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE GAINING CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE. I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU WELCOMING US INTO YOUR SCHOOLS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF THAT AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS THEM. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHARON GRAHAM BARRETT AND I'M A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING AND FOR FOLLOWING STATE GUIDANCE AND THE LAW AS WELL AS PROTECTING OUR EMPLOYEES. AS A THERAPIST, I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING WITH GRAVE CONCERN FOR OUR STUDENTS HOWEVER. I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR LEGISLATORS AND THE HAND-APPOINTED DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE NOT BEING REFLECTIVE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND ARE PUSHING THROUGH LAWS WITHOUT THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT ADEQUATE GUIDANCE OF HOW TO IMPLEMENT THEM IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT HINDER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND WITHOUT MUCH FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYEES AND OTHER STAFF AND A LACK OF -- A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF CLARITY REGARDING THE PENALTIES ASSOCIATED. WE KNOW THAT THIS MOVEMENT IS INTENTIONAL AND IS INTENDED TO CAUSE AS MUCH CHAOS AND BREAKDOWN IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AS POSSIBLE.
AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH SO MANY PARENTS OF ALL IDEOLOGIES WHO ARE OUTRAGED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING. SPECIFICALLY DENYING ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE AP PSYCHOLOGY. TEACHING INACCURATE BLACK HISTORY. AND HINDERING CRITICAL THINKING AND EVEN -- EVEN TAKING AWAY SOME SHAKESPEARE CONTENT. THAT'S JUST MIND BLOWING TO ME. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY ON THE RECORD THAT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO REFLECT AND SUPPORT THEIR CONSTITUENCY AND THE STATE IS DENYING US THAT POWER BY STRIPPING AWAY HOME RULE AND EVEN TARGETING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WHO SPEAK UP AGAINST THESE REGRESSIVE TRENDS. AND THAT IS A BIG REASON WHY WE HAVE THE HIGHEST TEACHER VACANCY IN THE COUNTRY. SO OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES ALL DESERVE BETTER, AND I THANK YOU FOR SERVING AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE SERVING WITH THAT COURAGE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. MY NAME IS MARILYN SILLBILL. I LIVE IN RIVERVIEW. MY CHILDREN ATTENDED HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS AND SOON MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL AS WELL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT BOOK CHALLENGES AND BANS. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT ALL OUR CHILDREN DESERVE AN HONEST, ACCURATE AND FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT REFLECTS THE FULL DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. LEARNING ABOUT OUR SHARED HISTORY ALLOWS THEM TO LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST IN ORDER TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. I GREW UP IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH AND I'M ASHAMED OF SOME OF THE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT BOTH EXPLICITLY AND IMPLICITLY IN MY HOME AND MY SCHOOLS. WE CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER. THERE ARE POLITICIANS AND GROUPS WHO ARE SPREADING LIES ABOUT OURSCHOOLS AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN ORDER TO WIN ELECTIONS AND TEAR DOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
I THINK THE CHALLENGES SHOULD BE LIMITED PER PERSON AND PER BOOK TO NO MORE THAN THREE ACTIVE REQUESTS AT A TIME OR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF REQUESTS PER QUARTER. THEY ARE RESOURCE INTENSIVE AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO WASTE OUR TAX DOLLARS WITHOUT PROVING THEIR CASE. THE WASHINGTON POST ANALYZED BOOK CHALLENGES FOR 153 SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR. THE MAJORITY OF THE OVER 1,000 CHALLENGES THEY ANALYZED WERE FILED BY JUST 11 PEOPLE AND ONE MAN FILED 92. THE REVIEW PROCESS SHOULD INCLUDE ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING PRIOR TO THE REVIEW. NOTIFYING STAKEHOLDERS OF THE OBJECTION AND ALLOWING FOR THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING IS CRITICAL TO UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY STANDARDS. THE APPEALS PROCESS INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THE DECISION TO RESTRICT OR REMOVE A BOOK SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS CONNECTED WITH THE SCHOOL. IF THE DECISION TO REMOVE OR RESTRICT APPLIES TO ALL SCHOOLS, ANY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DISTRICT SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPEAL THE DECISION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I BELIEVE EVERY PARENT HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THEIR CHILD LEARNS IN SCHOOL, BUT NO PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD LEARNS IN SCHOOL. THAT TRULY IS RESPECTING PARENTS' RIGHTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. NOT SURE WHERE TO START TODAY AS THERE IS AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT I FOUND CONCERNING, AND THEY CONTINUE TO RESURFACE REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS SAID. EACH OF THEM CONTRIBUTE TO THE MASSIVE DATA COLLECTION THAT'S OCCURRING ON STUDENTS AND THEIR INFORMATION. MANY HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE THIS BOARD IN THE PAST ABOUT THE DATA COLLECTION THAT GOES ON EACH TIME AN APP COLLECTS DATA AND SENDS IT TO THE VENDOR SITE INSTEAD OF TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SITE. AND EVERY TIME IT IS -- IT COMES BACK AND IS -- OR STATED OR IMPLIED IT'S SAFE AND SECURE, NOTHING TO SEE HERE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS A CONTRACT THAT STATES THE DATA GOES NO FURTHER. I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN PARENTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD IN THE PAST THAT HAVE PROVEN THAT TO BE OTHERWISE. SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE HERE TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN AND ENSURE EACH CHILD GETS A GREAT EDUCATION USED TO SPRINGBOARD INTO THEIR FUTURE.
AND YET THE ABILITY OF CHILDREN TO MEET THEIR GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP FROM MANY SUPPLEMENTAL ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION APPEARS TO BE IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN THE NUMBER THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THIS AGENDA. CONCERNING ONE HAS THE SUCCESS THAT IS MEASURED AND I QUOTE FROM THE AGENDA ITEM RIGHT UP, BY THE NUMBER OF LICENSES USED, THE REPEAT USAGE AND THE CONTINUED RISE IN THE CURIOSITY SCORE. THIS WOULD BE THE PACKBACK. I'M JUST WONDERING HOW CURIOSITY SCORE PLAYS INTO A STUDENT ACTUALLY GRADUATING. THEN YOU HAVE PANORAMA WHICH STATES IT AGGREGATES THE DATA AND YOU CANNOT PINPOINT WHICH CHILD THE DATA COMES FROM. YET ON PAGE FIVE OF THEIR STATEMENT OF WORK, IT STATES THEIR REPORTS ARE ACCESSIBLE VIA A SECURE WEBSITE THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS AND I QUOTE, "AGGREGATED DATA AT THE INDIVIDUAL, SCHOOL, GRADE BAND, DEPARTMENT AND DISTRICT LEVEL". AGAIN, THEY CAN USE INDIVIDUAL DATA. AND THIS IS ON THE PANORAMA PLATFORM WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM YOUR PLATFORM.