I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN STARTING WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. I'M KAREN PEREZ, 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 MATERIAL CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING AT OUR WEBSITE, 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. Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 2025, IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN. IN THESE TURBULENT TIMES, IT IS EVIDENT THAT MANY OF US ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED AND STRESSED. THE CHALLENGES WE FACE CAN TAKE A TOLL NOT JUST ON OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH BUT ALSO OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING. IT IS CRUCIAL FOR US ALL TO PRIORITIZE OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES DURING SUCH STRESSFUL PERIODS. MAKE TIME FOR ACTIVITIES THAT BRING YOU JOY AND RELAXATION SUCH AS EXERCISE, MINDFULNESS OR SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES. REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS. WE ARE ALL HERE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES TOGETHER. LET US TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER AND REMEMBER THAT SEEKING HELP IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH, NOT WEAKNESS.
CAN WE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER PEREZ, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? Karen Perez: YES, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND ALONG WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE DIRECTOR BRIAN OL'STON. THE 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. MY NAME IS JESUS GUTIERREZ. I'M AN 8th GRADER AND I PLAY THE TROMBONE. MY NAME IS KEVIN. I'M AN EIGHTH GRADER AND I PLAY THE BARITONE SAX. MY NAME IS ANTHONY MARTINEZ. I'M AN 8th GRADER. I PLAY ALTO SAX. MY NAME IS MARCELLO. I PLAY THE TROMBONE AND I AM AN EIGHTH GRADER. BLAKE DAVIS. I'M A 7th GRADER AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I PLAY THE DRUMS. GAVIN JOHNSON. I'M AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN EIGHTH GRADE AND PLAY THE BASS GUITAR.
HELLO. I PLAY THE TROMBONE AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I'M IN 8th GRADE. I'M A 7th GRADE AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. ABIGAIL. 8th GRADER AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PLAY THE TENOR SAX. LOUIS. I'M IN 8th GRADE. I GO TO TOMLIN. I PLAY THE TROMBONE. I'M 7th GRADE. I PLAY SAXOPHONE. ANTHONY GONZALEZ. 7th GRADE 37 I PLAY THE TRUMPET. JOSHUA MASON. I'M IN 7th GRADE. I GO TO TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M IN 7th GRADE. TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I PLAY THE PIANO. I'M IN 8th GRADE. I PLAY TRUMPET. MY NAME IS ARIANA. 8th GRADE AND PLAY THE TROMBONE. LIANA WILLIAMS. TRUMPET AND 8th GRADE. EIGHTH GRADER AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TENOR SAX. I'M IN 7th GRADE. I PLAY THE SAXOPHONE. BRIAN. I AM THE TEACHER OF THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS SECOND TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF MUSIC AND FINE ARTS EDUCATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
YOU HAVE MY SINCERE GRATITUDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PARENTS, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES. Jessica Vaughn: PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. 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? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVES 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 IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Karen Perez: 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 LIVE WEBCASTS ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. THAT IS AT 6 P.M., EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO RECOGNITIONS. A 1.01, RECOGNITION OF TAMPA BAY TIMES NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION WEEK WHICH IS CELEBRATED FOR MARCH 3rd THROUGH THE 7th OF 2025.
MEMBER COMBS, PLEASE HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. MOTHER THAN 50 YEARS, THE TAMPA BAY TIMES NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS SERVED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES THE USE OF THE NEWSPAPER AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSROOM TOOL. DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, NIE PROVIDED MORE THAN 70,000 PRINT COPIES AND MORE THAN 6 MILLION E-NEWSPAPER LICENSES TO 2 -- 394 TEACHERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION IS A VALUABLE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO READ THE NEWSPAPER IN AN ONLINE FORM ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME LIFELONG LEADERS. FOUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EDUCATORS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR TEACHING IN LAST YEAR'S NIS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR CONTEST. MICHELLE FROM WORK UNIVERSITY. KAYLEN FROM OAK PARK. REAGAN FROM RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. LISA LAWSON FROM CLAYWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. YOU READ THOSE NAMES GREAT.
JODY PUSHKIN, NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION MANAGER IS HERE IN THE BOARDROOM. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. YAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE COMMENT -- THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK AT THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR A 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 SPEAK YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. A REMINDER THAT 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 A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL NOW CALL UP OUR FOUR SPEAKERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LOUIS AUBE. I AM A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN CURRENTLY ATTENDING THE ADUM MAGNET SCHOOL, WITH UP IN THIRD GRADE AND ONE IN VPK. MY QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU IS THIS: CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME AND ALL THE OTHER CHOICE AND MAGNET VPK PARENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO REAPPLY FOR KINDERGARTEN? MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW CAN I EXPLAIN TO MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD THAT HIS BIG BROTHER GETS TO STAY AT ADUM NEXT YEAR WHILE HE HAS TO START OVER AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS CONCERN, WHETHER THEY RECEIVED AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER OR NOT, EVERY VPK PARENT AT ADUM HAS VOICED AN OPPOSITION TO THIS POLICY. AS PARENTS, WE CAREFULLY SELECTED A SCHOOL WHERE WE WANTED OUR CHILDREN TO THRIVE NOT FOR ONE YEAR, BUT FOR MANY. THESE YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE JUST TRANSITIONED FROM FOUR YEARS IN PRESCHOOL AND JUST AS THEY ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT, SOME ARE NOW BEING FORCED TO UPROOT AGAIN. MANY ALSO HAVE OLDER SIBLINGS MAKING THIS TRANSITION EVEN MORE DISRUPTIVE. WHAT BENEFITS DOES THIS POLICY PROVIDE THAT OUTWEIGHS THE STABILITY, SECURITY, AND CONSISTENT RELATIONSHIPS ESSENTIAL TO A YOUNG CHILD'S EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. EVEN IF THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS REQUIREMENT, WOULDN'T IT BE IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO LET THE PARENTS KNOW BEFORE THE APPLICATION WINDOW OPENS. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AT ADUM. AMONG THE HUNDREDS OF TEXT MESSAGES, E-MAILS, CALLS, APP NOTIFICATIONS AND NOTES AND BINDERS, NOT ONE MENTION OF THIS POLICY WAS MADE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
I URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO RECONSIDER AND CHANGE THIS POLICY TO ALLOW VPK STUDENTS AT CHOICE AND MAGNET SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE SEAMLESSLY INTO KINDERGARTEN WITHOUT HAVING TO REAPPLY. FORCING OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS TO START OVER DISRUPTS THEIR DEVELOPMENT, CREATES UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR FAMILIES, AND CONTRADICTS THE VERY PRINCIPLES OF STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IN THE STRONG EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT SHOULD UPHELD. PARENTS CAREFULLY CHOOSE THESE SCHOOLS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL HAVE CONSISTENT EDUCATION PATH, NOT A ONE-YEAR STOPGAP. I ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF CONCERNED FAMILIES AND TAKE ACTION PRIORITIZING WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT TO OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HONORED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS TIM DAROCHE. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF AVAILABLE TO ALL. WE ARE A NONPARTISAN WATCHDOG GROUP THAT DEFENDS EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE'RE BASED IN LOS ANGELES, BUT WE REALLY HAVE A NATIONAL FOCUS. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY TODAY ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS AND REALLY INJUSTICES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN THE ATTENDANCE ZONES IN THE AREA OF WEST TAMPA. SO THIS PROBLEM, THESE ISSUES WERE FIRST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY SOME CONCERNED TAMPA CITIZENS. A COUPLE OF THEM ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY. THIS WAS AROUND THE CLOSURE OF JUST ELEMENTARY. AND THESE CITIZENS WERE TROUBLED THAT THE STUDENTS WHO USED TO ATTEND JUST WHO WERE ZONED TO JUST, ONCE JUST WAS CLOSED, SOME OF THEIR CLOSEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WERE THESE A-RATED SCHOOLS TO THE SOUTH, SCHOOLS LIKE GORRIE ELEMENTARY AND MITCHELL ELEMENTARY. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THOSE KIDS FROM JUST WAS ALLOW TO GO TO THE A-RATED SCHOOLS SO CLOSE TO THEIR HOME. AND THEN LATER I BECAME AWARE THIS WAS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.
IN THE HANDOUT THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, I HAVE A MAP. BLAKE IS HOLDING IT UP HERE. THE GRAY AREA ON THE MAP IS A LARGE, ABOUT A TEN SQUARE MILE AREA. AND EVERYONE IN THAT AREA, THEIR CLOSEST SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE A-RATED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BUT THEY ARE BEING BUSED TO STRUGGLING SCHOOLS, NON-A-RATED SCHOOLS THAT ARE MUCH FURTHER AWAY. SO WE REALLY MAKE THE POINT WITH MY ORGANIZATION, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RED-LINING ERA OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THESE STRICT ATTENDANCE ZONES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT MAP THAT YOU'VE GOT IN YOUR PACKET, IT SHOWS THAT THE GORRIE ELEMENTARY ZONE, THE ELEMENTARY ZONE FOR A-RATED GORRIE IS VERY SIMILAR. IT MIRRORS THE RED-LINING MAP FROM THE 1930s. IT WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO THINK ABOUT POLICIES THAT WOULD END THIS STRICT RESIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT AND THAT WOULD OPEN UP THESE A-RATED SCHOOLS TO MORE TAMPA FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY LOWER INCOME FAMILIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO DESERVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.
THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOHN GREENE. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH YOUR CONTRACT THAT YOU HAVE MADE WITH THE NAACP. SINCE THE LAST TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S BEEN CYBERBULLYING. I WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR PTSA AT ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL FOR THREE YEARS. I TOOK THE CONCESSION STAND, REVAMPED IT FOR THE KIDS TO GET CREDIT SO THEY COULD GRADUATE AND TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PTSA. NOW, SINCE THIS AGREEMENT BEEN IN PLCE AND SINCE I CAME HERE THE LAST TIME, AND THIS IS YOUR POLICY, ARTICLE 8 WITH THE NAACP, THEY HAVE TO PROTECT YOU, RIGHT? AND YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THEM. THIS IS WHY THIS POLICY IS BAD BECAUSE NOW MY MENTAL STATE IS I HAVE TO PROTECT MYSELF BECAUSE OF CYBERBULLYING. AND THIS IS NOT FAIR. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT ON YOUR HANDS? BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEFEND YOU AND THIS IS YOUR CONTRACT.
AND YOU ALL SIGNED IT. YOU ALL APPROVED IT. NOT ONLY THAT, I PUT IN FOR A PUBLIC REQUEST, REQUESTING SOME DOCUMENTS. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY. RIGHT. I'M STILL WAITING ON IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS YOUR DOCUMENT. McFARLAND, FERGUSON, AND McMILLAN, SIGNED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, TO HOLD THE HANDS OF THE NAACP. AND ANOTHER THING, IF YOU ARE PAYING THEM, WHICH YOU ARE, BECAUSE YOU ASKED FOR THE RECEIPTS AND THE CHECKS, IF YOU ARE PAYING THEM, WHY NOT HAVE THEM IN THE SCHOOLS DOING ACTIVITIES IN THE SCHOOLS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, BECAUSE YOU ARE PAYING THEM. NOW, ARE YOU PAYING THEM TO DO CYBERBULLYING OR ARE YOU PAYING THEM TO HELP BETTER THIS COMMUNITY? I WILL NOT TOLERATE CYBERBULLYING. YOU JUST SAID MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS CLIMATE IS SERIOUS, AND IT'S VERY SERIOUS. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? RELEASE THE NAACP FROM THIS CONTRACT OR YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CYBERBULLYING BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WANT TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS?
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL. IT'S ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY NEED HELP TO GO TO THIS ORGANIZATION, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SPEAK AND FILE THEIR GRIEVANCES, BUT YOU ALL GOT THEIR HANDS TIED SO THEY CAN DEFEND YOU. IN RETURN, MY PERCEPTION IN READING THIS, ARTICLE 8, IF YOU ARE PAYING THEM, THEN YOU ARE ALLOWING THEM TO DO CYBERBULLYING. MAKE UP YOUR MIND. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. MANY FAMILIES HAVE SPOKEN TO ME AFTER THE CLOSURE OF JUST ELEMENTARY THAT THEY FEEL THEY WERE BETRAYED BY THE NAACP BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE SCHOOL THAT WAS CLOSEST TO THEM, SUCH AS GORRIE, MITCHELL AND MABRY. BUT THEY WERE PUSHING THE SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA TO SEND THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY ARE BEING SENT WAY TO TAMPA BAY.
THE NAACP HAS DONE THESE FAMILIES A DISSERVICE. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS DONE THIS COMMUNITY A DISSERVICE BY NOT ALLOWING CHILDREN TO GET AN EDUCATION. GORRIE ELEMENTARY IS A SCHOOL. I KNOW. MY CHILDREN ATTENDED THERE. SO HERE IN THIS DAY AND TIME, FOR YOU ALL TO SIT HERE AND CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS DIVISION IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I GUESS IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE BLACK AND IT'S A BLACK THING, BUT IT'S NOT. I'M TALKING ABOUT HISPANIC CHILDREN, TALKING ABOUT WHITE CHILDREN, I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO A SCHOOL IN THEIR DISTRICT, IN THEIR -- WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THERE, A SCHOOL. THEY SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO HAVE RED LINES. AND IT REMIND ME OF SEGREGATION. YOU ALL DO REMEMBER SEGREGATION. WHERE PEOPLE WE COULDN'T ALLOW TO GO TO CERTAIN SCHOOL. THAT'S WHAT IS TAKING PLACE NOW HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.