HI. I'M KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A DONDE SERVIMOS MAS DE 200,000 ESTUDIANTES. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. HI. I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA, AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 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 MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER 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 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.
Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 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: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE ONE WITHDRAWN ITEM TODAY. ITEM 6.03, PROPOSED CALENDAR FOR ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET FINANCE. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER HAHN AWAY FROM THE DAIS.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER HAHN. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. THAT IS JUNE 4th, 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 COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, 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 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 AGENDA STATEMENTS 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 ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE BACK OF 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 WEBCAST, ON CABLE TV AND ON THE VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. THAT IS 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS A-1, RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY JUNE 19, STUDENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR. ON JANUARY 1st, 1863, PRESIDENT LINCOLN ISSUED EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DECLARING ALL PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES SHALL BE FREE. HOWEVER, THAT NEWS TOOK MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO REACH AFRICAN AMERICANS LIVING IN TEXAS. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE FIRST OFFICIAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION TOOK PLACE IN TEXAS AND HAVE CONTINUE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. JUNETEENTH IS THE OLDEST NATIONAL CELEBRATED COMMEMORATION OF ENDING OF SLAVERY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH AS A TIME FOR SERIOUS REFLECTION AND REJOICING REGARDING THIS NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM FOR THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE READ THAT.
Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. 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 RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF 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 TWO MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN.
THE RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. CLAIRE REYNOLDS. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 3.01 AND 3.03. BOTH ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND HOW WE PROVIDE THOSE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SERVICES. THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK, SO MANY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES NOT ONLY RECEIVE THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, BUT THEY RECEIVE IT IN A COORDINATED, COMPREHENSIVE WAY SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT FAMILY AND SERVICES ARE NOT DUPLICATED. I AM ALSO HERE TO REPRESENT THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AS THE PROVIDER FOR THE CRISIS AND SUICIDE HOT LINE THAT'S 988, WE HAVE SEEN THOSE CALL VOLUMES QUADRUPLE WITH AS EARLY AS LAST MONTH AND THE MONTH OF MAY AVERAGING 45 CALLS A DAY FROM INDIVIDUALS. THOSE ARE CHILDREN. THOSE ARE FAMILIES. THOSE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN CRISIS. WE KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC RESULTED IN A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF ISSUES. I COMMEND THIS BOARD FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. SO, PLEASE, CONSIDER SUPPORTING ITEM 3..01 AND 3.03. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M PAM JEFFREY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SUCCESS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FIVE PROVIDERS.
IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL COLLABORATIVE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT PARTNER SO CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. FOR ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE REAL BENEFITS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF 3.01 AND 3.03 THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN AND IN TERMS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RETAINING THE CONTRACT FOR THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. FOR ME, THIS REALLY FILLS A GAP. WE HAVE DCF FUNDING THAT WE CAN SERVE UNINSURED AND WHATNOT UP TO A CERTAIN INCOME. WE ARE A MEDICAID PROVIDER SO WE CAN SERVE THOSE WITH MEDICAID. WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THAT GAP IN THE POPULATION THAT EITHER THEIR INCOME WASN'T SO, SO LOW THAT THEY QUALIFIED FOR DCF MONEY OR HIGH ENOUGH THAT THEY COULD AFFORD PRIVATE SERVICES OR INSURANCE AND THE COPAYS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
THERE IS THAT GAP. TO ME, THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN MEETS THAT GAP AND THOSE ARE THE KIDS WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE AT SUCCESS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO SERVE BEFORE. WHEN WE GET A REFERRAL THROUGH THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN, WE'RE ABLE TO ASSESS VERY QUICKLY IF THEY HAVE MEDICAID, THEN WE SERVE THEM THROUGH OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM. IF THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DCF FUNDING, WE SERVE THEM THROUGH THAT. IF NOT, WE CAN SERVE THEM THROUGH THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. I'D LOVE TO TELL A VERY, VERY QUICK STORY. SO THIS IS ABOUT LUCAS, WHO WAS STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL. HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD. HE HAD SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES. THROUGH OUR SERVICES, BOTH CASE MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE IN HOME. WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS, SERVE HIM IN HOME. ABLE TO GET HIM INTO AX GROUP HOME THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA WHO ALSO HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ACTS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM IN AS VERY FIRST COMMUNITY KID IN THE GROUP HOME.
HE IS DOING AMAZING. HE IS GOING TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, IF I COULD GET SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10 TO LINE UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE. MY NAME IS STEVE FRIEDMAN WITH AN AGENCY BAY AREA BEHAVIORAL SERVICES. I'VE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR UPWARDS, 24 YEARS JULY 1. GOING INTO MY 25th YEAR. I WAS INVITED IN TO BECOME A PROVIDER LAST AUGUST FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. WE PRIMARILY WORK IN EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHERE THERE IS A SLIGHT VOID IN SERVICES AVAILABLE. I'VE BEEN DOING IT OUT THERE FOR YEARS. JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS. THE POPULATION TOLD CENTRAL FLORIDA THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY KIDS, THEY ARE REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN THE YOUTH WE'RE GETTING FROM SCHOOL. ALL THE SAME BOOK.
ALL THE SAME GROUP. I THINK WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS A PRETTY UNIQUE THING IN TERMS OF THE MANAGING ENTITY PIECE. IF 225,000 STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, SO THEY ARE MANAGING 225,000 LIVES WITH X AMOUNT OF BODIES. I THINK THAT'S A HERCULEAN TASK TO DO THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, TO DO IT WELL, TO KNOW THE LIVES OF THOSE YOUTH THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY CONTACT US ABOUT ALL THE KIDS, WANTING TO KNOW. TWO BIG THINGS THAT I'VE NOTICED THAT'S HELPFUL, IF YOU COMPARE THE COMMUNITY KIDS TO THE SCHOOLKIDS, EVEN THOUGH THE SCHOOLKIDS ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY KIDS, THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT I DON'T HAVE STATISTICS FOR YOU, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE COORDINATION OF CARE THAT THEY PROVIDE BECAUSE AS A MIDDLE PERSON IN BETWEEN THE FAMILY AND US HELPING TO COORDINATE, I WOULD GUESS THAT THE NO-SHOW RATE AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS ARE FINDING US BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE CAN GET IT THERE.
SO IT IS COORDINATION OF CARE. THERE IS ANOTHER BODY LOOKING AT AND THEY ARE ALSO UTILIZING HOW THE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. YOU DON'T JUST GET 26 UNITS A YEAR LIKE MEDICAID WITH NOBODY WATCHING IT. I THINK WE HAVE TO RE-UP EVERY THREE MONTHS OR SO FOR SERVICES SO THEY ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TINA WILLIAMS BREWSTER. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ESC DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH, CONGRATULATIONS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A POPULATION THAT CONTINUES TO BE OVERLOOKED. BOARD MEMBERS, WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU ADVISE THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT ARE THE PLANS IN THE ESE DEPARTMENT? STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL -- FOR YEARS AND YEARS, THIS GROUP CONTINUES TO BE NEGLECTED. IEPs AREN'T FOLLOWED, 504s. JUST THE CONNECTION OF SERVICES. ESE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE CRUCIAL VACANT DEPARTMENTS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT STUDENTS AND THEIR SERVICES.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU ALL SIT DOWN, REMEMBER, THOSE SMALL -- THESE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THEY ARE GROWING. SCIENCE IS COMING OUT WITH, WE'RE BEING MORE AWARE. LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THOSE RESOURCES AND THOSE GAPS THAT THOSE STUDENTS NEED. MANY TIMES STUDENTS ARE PUT IN CLASSES. IT'S A PROFESSIONAL BABYSITTING CLASS. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING ANYTHING. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT? PARENTS CAN DO SO MUCH. WE'RE DOING OUR PART. WE NEED THE SCHOOL. WE NEED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE ESE AN AGENDA. THERE ARE TOO MANY STEPS INVOLVED WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WAS BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT WE HAD FINALLY GOTTEN IT DOWN TO FIVE STEPS WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE'RE BACK AT 6. WHEN I STARTED IN THIS DISTRICT TEN YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SEVEN. IT'S TOO LONG OF A TURNAROUND WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES. THERE ARE VACANCIES AT KEY POINTS IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT REACHING OUR ESE FAMILIES.
Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ALAN BREWSTER, GOOD EVENING. I ALSO WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THE MENTAL HEALTH. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER TO REALLY TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE IT IS SERIOUS FOR THE STUDENTS. MY DAUGHTER, SHE IS AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE HAS ANXIETY. AND SHE MISSES A LOT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE INTERNALIZES A LOT. I WILL SAY THIS, THAT HER SCHOOL COUNSELOR HAS REALLY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS WHAT SHE HAS. HE'S TALKING TO THE TEACHER. HE'S TALKING TO THE PRINCIPAL. SO THINGS ARE REALLY PROGRESSING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE PRINCIPAL, HE'S MAKING PROGRESS. THE TEACHERS ARE BEING MORE SUPPORTIVE. MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT. I DO STILL SEE GAPS LIKE WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT, WHO DOES SHE TALK TO? THAT IS A GAP RIGHT THERE. IF A STUDENT, WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT AND THEN SCHOOL STARTS BACK UP, THERE'S LIKE A TWO- TO THREE-WEEK GAP FOR THEM TO GET SERVICES BACK UP AND RUNNING.
I WILL SAY MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE REALLY TAKING IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THE STUDENTS NEED IT. THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS PROFESSIONALISM IN THE DISTRICT. ME AND MY WIFE CAME HERE TO FLORIDA WITH SIX KIDS. WE'VE BEEN IN EIGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. I WILL SAY THIS, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES. BUT WHEN WE COME TO THIS BOARD MEETING HE ACTS LIKE HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW US. THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE WE'LL KEEP COMING HERE AND ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. FELICIA BANALIO. I AM A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT AND PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE IMPACT PROGRAM HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SINCE DECEMBER OF 2020 TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES DIRECTLY ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUSES.