Nadia Combs: HI, I AM NADIA COMBS, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME TO YOU HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS THAT INCLUDE CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS IN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. Henry "Shake" Washington: I AM HENRY "SHAKE" WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS ONE OF THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND MADE UP OF THIS,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT NEARLY 50 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. Lynn Gray: 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 IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU THE PUBLIC IN WHAT WE DO. Jessica Vaughn: YOU ARE WELCOME TO E-MAIL OR MEET WITH ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT, WE ARE COVERED LIVE ON FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE ON HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG.
CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE WILL INCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE BUSINESS ITEMS. AGENDAS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. Karen Perez: 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 ACE FUTURE. Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 2023 IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL 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] Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU MAY BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU NOW PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. Henry "Shake" Washington: YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. BOY, WE HAD SOME GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DANCERS FREE ORANGE GROVE MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AND PRINCIPAL MICHAEL MIRANDA. DANCE DIRECTOR KARLA JIMENEZ. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO COME UP -- INVITAMIN THEM TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. ARE YOU READY? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO. AMANDA ARLOYO, ONE OF THE CO-DIRECTORS OF THE DANCE BENT AT ORANGE GROVE MIDDLE MAGNET. I AM JASMINE THOMAS AND IN THE 7th GRADE. I AM IONA GEORGE AND I AM IN 7th GRADE. GOOD EVENING, TAMARA HINES IN THE 7th GRADE. CARLY AND I AM IN 7th GRADE.
HI, I AM IN 7th GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS ZORA HERNANDEZ AND I AM IN THE 8th GRADE. HELLO, MILANA AND I AM IN THE 7th GRADE. I AM KENDALL AIKENS AND I AM IN THE 8th GRADE. I AM BLAKE AND I AM IN THE 7th GRADE. MY NAME IS KARLA JIMENEZ, ONE OF THE DANCE DIRECTOR AT ORANGE GROVE. MIKE MIRANDA, PROUD PRINCIPAL. Henry "Shake" Washington: GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. GREAT JOB. PARENTS, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ANY PICTURES, YOU CAN COME UP FRONT. EVERYONE READY, 3, 2, 1! Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH Nadia Combs: ENCORE. ENCORE. WE HAVE ONE WITHDRAWN ITEM 10, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE SOUTHERN FOUNDATION 2023-2024. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE FOUR SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED OCTOBER 17, 2023, COAST GUARD MEETING NOVEMBER 23, SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING, OCTOBER 10, 2023, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP, OCTOBER 24, 2023, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. 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 ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND SUCCEED AND ALL DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE TV MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS OF. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE FORMAT. SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS 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, VIDEO MONITORS AND CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING WITH THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON AND ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AND THAT IS 6:00 WITH EMPLOYEE EN PUT. THE BOARD WILL GO 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 KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR BOARD RESPECTS THE RIGHT OF PRESIDENT PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME BEING HERE. IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT ONLY AT THE ISSUE. ANY BEHAVIOR TO DISRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. ALL CIVILITY POLICIES IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, SPEAK YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY IN THE MICROPHONE.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. IT BEGINS WHEN YOU START SPEAKING .30 SECONDS A YELLOW LET, RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE. I WILL CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS PLEASE NOW. MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. WELL, WE JUST HAD SOME ELECTIONS. AND -- AND EVERY ONE OF THEM THE M MOMS FOR STUPIDITY TOOK A WHOOPING. BIG TIME. BIG TIME WHOOPING. I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, SAYS SOMETHING FOR -- THAT YOUR -- HERE IS A HEADLINE, THE REPUBLIC-CONS TALK OF REBUILDING BUT NOT THE CAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. IT HAS A PICTURE WITH GOVERNOR RON DEFEWER. THE TWO SENATORS FROM FLORIDA, RICK SCOTT AND MARCO POLO. BOY, TALK ABOUT THE STOOGES. AND HERE IS THE HEADLINE, STARK WARNINGS FOR THE WARMING PLANET. REPORT SPELLS OUT DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. MELTING GREEN LAND ICE WILL RAISE SEAS. THE CLIMATE CRISIS GETS WORSE BY THE DAY.
HOTTER OCEANS PUSH JULY TO BE THE EARTH'S WARMEST MONTH ON RECORD. AND GET READY FOR THE CLIMATE DISASTERS. AND WHAT ALL THESE HAVE IN CO COMMON, ALL ALL GO TO THESE AGENDA ITEMS. YOU HAVE THIS MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE HVAC SYSTEMS. AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? PUMP MORE CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. AND MAKE ALL THESE CONDITIONS WORSE. THE BUILDINGS ARE JUST AS BAD AS EVER. THE SITUATION BECOMES MORE DIRE. IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS I HAVE BEEN MERE WITH THE SCIENCE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE. PASS A SOLAR BUILDING. AND IT JUST KEEPS GETTING IGNORED. BLATANTLY IGNORED. WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS THEREAFTER, AND THEN THEY SHAPE US. THESE CHILDREN THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSEDLY EDUCATING THAT ARE GOING TO BE LIVING IN A HELL. IT'S A SHAME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WHILE I COME, I WANT TO BRING A LITTLE UPDATE FROM SOME OF THE RECENT MEETINGS WE HAD OF BOOK APPEALS AND BOOK CHALLENGES.
THIS MORNING I WAS -- THE MEETING ABOUT BLANKETS, WHICH IS THE ONE I BROUGHT THE POSTER SHOWING THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK WITH THE 15-PAGE BEDROOM SCENE BY THE DISTRICT. BY THE SCHOOL WAS APPROVED. THE DISTRICT NINE VOTES, NO DISSENTING OPINIONS. IT WAS UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TO KEEP THAT BOOK INTO A DECISION THAT WAS MADE. THIS BOOK IS GAY WAS YESTERDAY. AND THERE WAS A MAJORITY VOTE TO KEEP THAT BOOK THAT HAVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEX HOOK-UP APP INCLUDING QUOTE BENEFITS ARE OBVIOUS, QUICK, UNCOMPLICATED SEX. I AM NOT SURE SEX FOR A 13, 14, 15-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN STUDENT IS EVER NOT COMPLICATED. AND DEAL WITH THE REPERCUSSIONS OF A KID POTENTIALLY HOOKING UP WITH, I DON'T KNOW, A PEDOPHILE OR SOMEONE WHO HAS MAL INTENTS. IDENTICAL IS A BOOK BY HOPKINS AT NEWSOM HIGH SCHOOL. ZERO DISSENTING. OF THE 33 PEOPLE WHO GATHERED ONLY TWO PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP ANY SORT OF DIFFERENT OPINION AND STILL THE MAJORITY WAS FOR THE BOOKS.
AND ANOTHER THING, THIS BOOK IS GAY TALKS ABOUT SEX SAUNAS AND, QUOTE, RANDOM SEX IS FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE SAFE. I DON'T THINK PARENTS LIKE ME AND MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WOULD THINK THAT RANDOM SEX IS FINE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SAFE. SAFESONA WHERE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN SEX WITH MORE THAN ONCE.
THEY HAD THREE MINUTES TO LOOK AT THE BOOK CHALLENGE THAT I FILED AND FIVE MINUTES. THEY RECEIVED IT THERE ON THE SHOT. A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE IN THAT OPINION BECAUSE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME INVESTING IN THAT, AND THEY HARDLY HAD HAD ANY TIME TO LOOK AT IT. E-MAILS SENT TO THE DOE GET REJECTED BY THEIR SERVER BECAUSE OF THE CONTENT IN SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS AND I FIND THAT TO BE A PROBLEM. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE INTRODUCING THESE TOPICS. THIS IS A PARENTS' RIGHT TO DISCUSS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN WHEN THEY DECIDE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE READY FOR IT AND IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM. I THINK THESE BOOKS ARE SUBVERTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO DO THAT. PORNOGRAPHY DOES NOT BELONG IN SCHOOLS. PERIOD. THIS HAS GOT TO END.
Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS VELMA RODRIGUEZ. TONIGHT I COME TO YOU AS PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL LULAC, THE LEAGUE OF LATIN AMERICAN UNITED CITIZENS, COUNCIL 7082. I ALSO SERVE AS THE SECRETARY TO THE EXECUTIVE STATE BOARD. I'M HERE SUPPORTING KAREN PEREZ'S PROMOTION OR POSITION SHE WILL BE HAVING. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS EMOTIONAL FOR ME TO LOOK AT HER AND SEE THE MODEL THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE SERVING TO ALL OUR STUDENTS, TO ALL OUR LATINEN X, HISPANIC, LATINO STUDENTS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND BEYOND. WE NEED -- AND YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK MANY TIMES BEFORE OF THE MODELS WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE LOOK UP TO. AND PEOPLE THEY CAN EXPECT. AND PEOPLE WHO CAN SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. I AM LOOKING AT THIS AND IT SAYS "PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE." ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT INCLUDES ALL STUDENTS WITHOUT A DOUBT.
THE -- THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT -- THAT DANCED OUT THERE TODAY AND WERE IN THIS ROOM DESERVE A LOT OF APPLAUSE. THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. AND THEY ARE WHY LULAC IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CERTAIN THATCH ALL STUDENTS GET AN EQUAL -- ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT ALL STUDENTS CAN DO. AND THAT THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY. I THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. KAREN, I KNOW YOU WILL DO WONDERS. AND, AGAIN, WE IN LULAC AND IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. AND IF I CAN HAVE THE NEXT FOUR SPEAKERS PLEASE LINE UP. > GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM PETER HORSEMAN. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING SUPERINTENDENT AYRES ON HIS APPOINTMENT AND CON GRATE GARAGE LATING THE BOARD FOR MANAGING THAT DECISION. GREAT DECISION ON THAT PART. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PARENTAL RIGHTS.
WE HAVE HAD PARENTAL RIGHTS ALL ALONG. PARENTAL RIGHTS IS FOR ALL PARENTS, NOT FOR ONE PARENT TO DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL OF THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND. I KNOW YOU ARE KEEPING THAT IN MIND. OUR POLICIES FOR SELECTING BOOKS, PUTTING BOOKS ON THE SHELVES ARE RESPONSIBLE POLICIES BASED ON THE STUDENTS IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING OVER WHAT WE DO WHEN WE WERE YOUNG MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE INTERNET. JUST LOOKING AROUND YOU, CHILDREN -- CHILDREN, FRANKLY THEY ARE OF AGES 12, 13, 14R, EXPERIENCING SEX OUT THERE. IT IS EVERYWHERE AROUND THEM. THEY NEED THAT EDUCATION. RESPONSIBLE EDUCATION THAT THESE BOOKS PROVIDE OPPOSED TO IRRESPONSIBLE EDUCATION THEY PICK UP OFF THE STREET FROM SOMEBODY, A FRIEND, A -- A WHATEVER. AND IT IS THE PARENTS' RIGHT TO DETERMINE IF THAT CHILD SHOULD READ THAT BOOK OR NOT.
CAN'T DENY THAT. THE BOOK LOOKS AVAILABLE. I THANK YOU, SCHOOL BOARD MAKING SURE THAT EDUCATION IS BROAD BECAUSE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE MEANS THEY NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN HISTORY. WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM IN EVERYDAY LIFE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON I AM AN ANDREA LANG AND HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE BLUMENTHAL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. I HAD A PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH BETH SUTHERLAND FOR 15 YEARS. P.M. FIRST DAY I ARRIVED AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A BRAND-NEW FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE SPEAKER. SHE KNEW I WAS HER TEACHER AND GREETED KNEE WITH A HUGE SMILE AND A BIG HANDSHAKE AGED KNEW I WAS PART OF HER FAMILY AT THAT TIME. HER STUDENTS WERE ALSO WELCOMED WHERE THE SAME MAMA SUTH GREETING. WILL KNOW SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEM, BUT DON'T CROSS HER, SHE WOULD HAVE A POCKET FULL OF ALTOIDS.
SHE CARED ABOUT THE WHOLE STUDENT BEFORE CARING FOR THE WHOLE STUDENT WAS THE HIP THING TO DO. HER STUDENTS KNEW IT. THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT AT HER RETIREMENT CONCERT. ROSES TO SPECIAL SONGS TO A LARGE GROUP OF ALUMNI READY TO SING HER PRAISES. BETH SUPPORTED THE CHORAL DEPARTMENT AS DIRECTOR, BAND AS SPONSOR SPENDING ENDLESS HOURS DURING MARCHING SEASON AND IN THE CAFETERIA. AND SHE ENCOMPASSES ALL THAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EDUCATOR. AND WITH THE LIFE OF THE BLUMENTHAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT. I'M THE PROUD CHORAL DIRECTOR AT BLUMENTHAL HIGH SCHOOL. I CAN FEEL BETH THERE. [CRYING] I FIND MUSIC WHERE HER SIGNATURE CONTINUE TO, INDICATING IT WAS HER DIRECTOR COPY AND I SEE HER MASTERFUL NOTES IN BLOOMINGDALE. I KNOW HER SPIRIT REMAINS IN THAT MUSIC WHING. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT I AM MAKING HER PROUD AND HAPPY OF THE MUSIC WE MAKE DAILY.
I CAN HEAR HER MAKING CORRECTIONS IN MY EAR THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AND I LAUGH. AND THEN I TAKE HER ADVICE. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE DEDICATION OF THE BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL SUTHERLAND HALL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS TO KEEP HER SPIRIT ALIVE IN THE PLACE SHE DEDICATED HER LIFE TO. GO BULLS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MY NAME IS TRACY LEACY AND THE PROUD SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY MUSIC IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MANY MOONS GO INTERNED WITH BETH SULTERLAND AND BETH HOPE. I WAS A COLLEGE INTERN AND PURSUING A COLLEGE DEGREE THAT LASTED TEN YEARS AND TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY IN THE WORLD AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. THE LAST STEP TO GET MY DEGREE AND AT THE TIMING IS TO FALL BACK ON. FIRST DAY OF INTERNING IN THE SECOND PERIOD, MISS SUTHERLAND TURNED, AND BEING THE INTERNSHIP I TOLD HER I WAS SUPPOSED TO OBSERVE HER ONE WEEK AND THEN A GRADUAL RELEASE.