I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORK FORCE SPROGS. Jessica Vaughn: HI, I AM JESSICA VAUGHN, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES THROUGHOUT 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 AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL US, ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 634 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG.
CLOSED CAPTIONING IS AVAILABLE AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE INCLUDE TIME BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. ALL MATERIALS CAN BE VIEW THE ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE OUR MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. Nadia Combs: OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE, 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. Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2024 IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER VAUGHN WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU.
NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Karen Perez: MEMBER VAUGHN, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. Jessica Vaughn: YES, THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAGNET DRUM LINE ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL STACEY SCHPALM AND BILL RINI. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. HI, MY NAME IS MICHAEL ESTEVEZ IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. I AM ERNESTO AND.8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. I AM IN THE 8 PTHS GRADE AND I PLAY BASE DRUM. MY NAME IS ANTHONY GOMEZ IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. JASON, AND I AM IN 7th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TENOR DRUM. I AM IN THE 8 PTS GRADE AND PLAY TENOR. I AM IN 8th GRADE. I AM IN 7th GRADE.
AND I PLAY TENOR. MY NAME IS SERGIO AND I AM IN 7th GRADE AND I PLAY BASS DRUM. I AM JUAN GONZALEZ AND IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE DRUM. I AM AARON AND IN 7th GRADE AND PLAY BASS DRUM. I AM IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY SQUADS. MY NAME IS BILL, THE PROUD DRUM DIRECTOR. AND MY MOM CAME TO CUBA IN 1953 AND I WOULD NOT BE COLLEGE BOUND IF DIDN'T START CLARINET IN SIXTH GRADE AND I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ON A CLARINET SCHOLARSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Jessica Vaughn: IF ANY PARENTS WANT TO COME TO THE FRONT TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, READY, THREE, TWO, ONE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, FANTASTIC JOB. FANTASTIC [APPPL Henry "Shake" Washington: GREAT JOB. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY.
I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY, JANUARY 9, 2024, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE -- IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOU SEE 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 TO BELIEVES THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN, TO SUCCEED, AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE A WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GO BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ THE BOARD'S GUIDELINES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO 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 THE LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITOR YUM. IT CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AND THAT IS AT 6 P.M., EMPLOYEE INPUT. 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 OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES.
OUR BOARD -- OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE; HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS NOT BE 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, SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAK 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 A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. HELLO. Karen Perez: HI. JESSICA McNEEB AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MISS McCONNELL. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY AT APOLLO BEACH FOR TEN. THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY OUR SCHOOL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A K-8 EXPANSION. TWO OF THE MANY REASONS ARE CONGESTION AND CONNECTION. LET'S FIRST START BY CONGESTION. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW I AM NOT TALKING OF COUGHS OR COLDS. TRAFFIC HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM. AND WITH THE RAPID GROWTH IN RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IT WILL NOT GET BETTER IN THE NEAR TERM.
CURRENT OPTION FOR SIX TO EIGHTH GRADE FOR OUR STUDENTS TOO FAR AWAY FOR STUDENTS TO BIKE OR WALK TO SCHOOL. WHILE BUSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MANY OPT FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND MAGNET WITH NO BUSING OPTIONS. THIS MEANS THAT PARENTS MUST DRIVE OR ARRANGE RISE FOR OUR STUDENTS HEADING TO A TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM. I HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FREQUENTLY SIGNED OUT BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS MUST PICK UP MIDDLE SCHOOLERS OR WANT TO, QUOTE, BEAT THE CAR LINE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN FOR MY STUDENTS, HOWEVER, IS NOT TRAFFIC, IT IS SENSE OF CONNECTION. THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THAT -- KEEP IT. THEY ARE FORCED TO CHANGE SCHOOLS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. ACCORDING NUMEROUS SOURCES INCLUDING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, CHILDREN WHO, QUOTE "FEEL CONNECTED TO PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES MAY BE BUFFERD FROM THE OTHER RISK FACTOR INFORMATION THEIR LIVES." END QUOTE.
OUR SCHOOL DOES THIS VERY WELL. OUR KIDS ARE PART OF A CARING COMMUNITY WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ADULTS AND OTHER STUDENTS. IN THE PAST, MANY STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED APOLLO BEACH FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE. I NOTICED A TREND OF CHILDREN LEECHING OF THIRD TO FOURTH DAY. THEIR PARENTS WANT TO SECURE A, QUOTE, SPOT, TO ATTEND CHARTER SCHOOLS CLOSER TO THEIR HOME. AS A TEACHER, THIS BREAKS MY HEART. AS A STUDENT THEY ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FRIENDS AND MUST START AGAIN WITH NEW PLACES AND NEW ADULTS. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE THOSE PRECIOUS CONNECTIONS SO VITAL AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THE MOST WELL-ADJUSTED MIDDLE SCHOOLERS EXPERIENCE. EXPANDING OUR SCHOOL FOR SIXTH THROUGH 8th GRADE WILL ALLOW PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR KIDS IN APOLLO BEACH AND BUILD ON STRONG CONNECTIONS THAT OUR KIDS HAVE ALREADY. THANK YOU, MISS McCONNELL, THIRD GRADE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MEGAN STONE. I AM A PARENT OF THESE TWO YOUNG MEN AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MY YOUNGEST IS ACTUALLY IN THE VERY FIRST VPK AT APOLLO BEACH AND HE HAS A MESSAGE HE WANTS TO SHARE WITH YOU. Lynn Gray: FIRST SPEAKING DEBUT. I LOVE MY SCHOOL. CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER. CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER? HELLO, MY NAME IS AMBER MILLS. I HAVE BEEN SELLING REAL ESTATE IN APOLLO BEACH FOR 24 YEARS NOW. PRIOR TO THAT AS A CHILD, I ATTENDED APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY, THEN EISENHOWER AND GRADUATED ICE BAY. MY SON ALSO WENT TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND I HAVE TWO GRANDSONS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN APOLLO BEACH IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. IF YOU EVEN LOOK ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, MY KITCHEN WINDOW, I CAN SEE THE SCHOOL IN PLAIN SIGHT.
I AM ALSO A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT TO ME FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS AS WELL AS FOR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. HAVING A HUGE WATERFRONT TAX BREAK WITHIN APOLLO BEACH, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT DRIVING DOWN APOLLO BEACH BOULEVARD LITTERED WITH POTHOLES, LACK OF LANDSCAPING AND BROKEN SIDEWALKS. OUR TOWN IS OVERLOOKED IN AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, MY BROKER JUST RECENTLY ASKED TO GET APPROVALS FOR 44 NEW WATERFRONT HOMESITES TO BE DEVELOPED, BUT WE WERE DENIED FROM THE COUNTY CITING NOT ENOUGH SCHOOL SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH AND THAT IS ONLY 44 HOMES. INSTEAD OF A NEW SCHOOL, PRIME U.S 41 REAL ESTATE USE FOR A BUS PARKING LOT FOR ALL THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD WE NOT TAKE THE CLASS ACT AMAZING CULTURE THAT APOLLO BEACH HAS TO EXPAND IT TO GIVE APOLLO BEACH RESIDENTS A MUCH-NEEDED MIDDLE SCHOOL ON LAND THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE ON THE WEST SIDE OF 41.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE CULTURE WITHIN APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY WILL EXPAND TO ALLOW FOR OUR TOWN TO HAVE ANOTHER A-RATED MIDDLE SCHOOL TO SUPPORT GROEP GROWTH, INCREASE THE TAX BASE FURTHER AND MAKE OUR TOWN FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I AM SUPPORTING THE K-8 INITIATIVE AND LONG OVERDUE TO A MUCH-NEEDED ANSWER TO A PROBLEM. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EMILY PICKET. I AM A MOM OF TWO -- TWO BOYS AT TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I AM ALSO THE PTA PRESIDENT THERE AND THE FLORIDA ORGANIZER FOR MOM'S CLEAN AIR FORCE. A COMMUNITY OF 1.5 MILLION MOMS AND DADS UNITED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE. WE HAVE 186,000 MEMBERS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MOMS CLEAN AIR FORCE TO THANK YOU FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S CLEAN BUS PROGRAM AND CON GARAGE LATE YOU FOR THE GRANT FOR 20 ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.
TAMPA HAS THE MOST POLLUTED AIR OF ALL OF FLORIDA. AND THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IS THE LEADING SOURCE OF POLLUTION IN THE FORM OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. THE BIG YELLOW DIESEL BUSES THAT CURRENTLY TRANSPORT OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS POLLUTION. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TAILPIPE POLLUTION IN THE AIR CONTRIBUTING TO ASTHMA AND EVEN CANCER. WHAT IS WORSE THAT THE AIR INSIDE THE BUS IS FREQUENTLY MORE TOXIC THAN THE AIR BEHIND IT. THIS MEANS THAT CHILDREN AND BUS DRIVERS ARE STUCK IN A POLLUTED CABIN EVERY DAY WHEN THEY RIDE THE BUS. THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES WHICH HAVE ZERO EMOTION MISSIONS, OUR KIDS AND BUS DRIVERS WILL BREATHE CLEANER AIR TO AND FROM SCHOOL. OUR COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE LESS AIR POLLUTION. AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WILL SHOW ITS COMMITMENT TO DECREASING ITS CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE WARMING GREENHOUSE GASES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND CELEBRATE THE DISTRICT'S AWARD FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.
Karen Perez: THANK YOU. WILL SPEAKERS 6-8 PLEASE LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNINGS. JULIE GEPHART. TOMORROW AT 9 A.M., THE DISTRICT WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO KEEP THIS BOOK "IDENTICAL" IN THE NEWSOM LIBRARY. WILL NOT AFFECT THE 24 OTHER SCHOOLS IT WILL STILL REMAIN IN. JUDGING FROM THE PATTERN OF BOOK CHALLENGES THUS FAR, PROBABLY WILL REMAIN AT NEWSOM DESPITE DRAMATIC CHILD RAPE, DRUG USE, IDEALIZATION, BDSM AND MANY DESCRIPTIVE SEX SCENES. THE THEMES OF THE BOOK LITERALLY ON EVERY PAGE. COMPOSED OF SEVEN MEMBERS CHOSEN BY THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS WHO ALSO CHOSE THE BOOK FOR HER LIBRARY CON VEENDZ IN NOVEMBER AND UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO RETAIN THE BOOK. THE COMMITTEE CONVENED AND CALLED IT A CAUTIONARY TALE. THAT IS THE WAY THEY EXCUSED THE DESPICABLE CONTENT IN THIS BOOK. WIKIPEDIA DEFINES "CAUTIONARY TALE" AS HAVING THREE PARTS. WARNING OF DANGER, THE NARRATIVE, SOMEONE PERFORMS THE FORBIDDEN ACT AND THE VIOLATOR COMES TO AN UNPLEASANT FATE.
NOT WHAT WE SEE IN THIS BOOK, A MATRIX OF INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TOXIC BEHAVIOR, SELF-HARM, BULIMIA, SUICIDAL IDEALIATION, STEALING PARENTS' HARD LIQUOR, GLORIFICATION OF ALL THESE THINGS ARE IN THIS BOOK. SHE TRADES SEX FOR DRUGS AND THINGS LIKE THIS, I LIKE MY BELLY EMPTIED OF FOOD, FAT AND PAIN. AND THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. LIKE IT DOESN'T COME BACK IN THE END AND SHE SAYS I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT. SHE ALSO SAYS MOST OF THE TIME DYING IS MY ONLY MEANS OF ESCAPE. BUT LET ME READ TO YOU A LITTLE OF THE BDSM ON PAGE 212-214. SO TROUBLING BECAUSE NOT ONLY FACE RAPE BUT SHE COMES BACK AND SAYS I LIKED IT. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE TEACHING THE GIRLS HERE. I NOTICED THE NYLON CORD TIED TO THE HEADBOARD. HIS VOICE IS ALMOST A SNARL AND HE SAYS THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE GAMES.
ROPE AROUND TIGHTLY. AND SAYING SCREAM. WOULD ANYONE HEAR? WOULD ANYONE CARE? HE FORCES HER TO SAY PLEASE, SIR, PUNISH ME. FLIPS ME ON MY BELLY. YANKS MY LEGS APART. I AM HELPLESS, EXPOSED AND HE THRUSTS HIMSELF INTO HER. AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE, SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE -- THE LEATHER SNAPPED AGAINST HER SKIN. AND THEN SHE SAYS SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I SAY QUICKLY THAT I MIGHT LIKE IT AND ASK TO PLAY IT AGAIN. I DO WANT TO PLAY AGAIN SOON. SO -- THEN WE HAVE THE RAPE. THIS DECISION WILL BE MADE AGAIN TOMORROW. AND I REALLY HOPE YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS BOOK DOES NOT HAVE REDEMPTIVE STUDENT FOR ANY STUDENTS AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING THIS IN FRONT OF ANYONE ELSE'S CHILDREN. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, NATALIE BAILEY. I AM GOING TO BE READING A LETTER FROM A FOURTH-GRADE STUDENT THAT USED TO ATTEND APOLLO BEACH.
I BELIEVE -- MY NAME IS MADISON BROWN. I BELIEVE APOLLO BEACH WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT MIDDLE SCHOOL. HAVING ATTENDED FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FOURTH, I CHERISH THE MEMORIES AND WONDERFUL FRIENDS, MINIMAL BULLYING AND WARM WELCOMING FROM TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, TRUSTWORTHY MENTORING AND ENGAGING LESSONS CONTRIBUTED TO A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE PEOPLE OF APOLLO BEACH WERE NOT ONLY FRIENDLY BUT KIND AND A PLACE I WILL TRULY MISS AND WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK. A SPINOFF THAT K-8 FOR POLO BEACH WILL BE A GREAT CHOICE. COMMUNAL CREATING ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT FEELS THEY BELONG. WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE THE -- THE NURTURING COMMUNITY THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO FIND AN UNIQUE VOICE AND EXPLORE THEIR PASSION. K-8 WILL ALLOW KIDS WITH MUTUAL INTEREST CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING WITH THEIR PEERS THAT THEY ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH. THESE KIDS FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH EACH OTHER SINCE KINDERGARTEN, AND THEY ARE NEIGHBORS.