Jessica Vaughn: 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 PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. I'M KAREN PEREZ, 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 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 OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. Henry "Shake" Washington: 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. Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ON THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, WE WILL PAUSE TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THE LIVES LOST AND THE HISTORIC ACTIONS TAKEN. THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT THE EVENTS OF 2001 HAD ON OUR NATION. AS WE REFLECT ON THIS THURSDAY, LET US ALSO REMEMBER THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND UNITY THAT EMERGED IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY. LET US HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE LOST BY COMING TOGETHER IN COMPASSION, UNITY, AND UNDERSTANDING. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES MADE AND THE LESSONS LEARNED. AS WE STRIVE TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL.
WE CAN STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE JOIN -- THANK YOU AND AT THIS TIME PLEASE STAND AS LAZARO ALAMAN DELIN MORALES, QUINTANA AND ASHLEY TORRES ALVAREZ FROM THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. (SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE) . Karen Perez: THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU GUYS DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
MEMBER PEREZ, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL FUEGO LATINO CLUB AND PRINCIPAL DR. JEREMY KLEIN AND DIRECTOR ED NUMARTINEZ. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. HELLO. MY NAME IS RAY AND I'M IN 11TH GRADE. I'M IN 11TH GRADE. HELLO, MY NAME IS LORIS AND I'M IN TENTH GRADE. HELLO, MY NAME IS -- AND I'M IN 12TH GRADE. I'M IN 11TH GRADE. HELLO, VICTORIA, AND MY GRADE IS NINE. HELLO, MY NAME IS KATELYN GONZALEZ AND MY GRADE IS TENTH. MY NAME IS ELIANAS AND I'M IN TENTH GRADE. HELLO, I'M IN TENTH GRADE. I'M IN TENTH GRADE. EDNA MARTINEZ, SPANISH TEACHER FROM GAITHER HIGH. WE'RE VERY HONORED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INVITATION.
JUST ON BEHALF OF GAITHER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INVITE. YOU GUYS ROCKED IT OUT. WONDERFUL JOB, GUYS. Jessica Vaughn: GO COWBOYS. IF PARENTS WANT TO TAKE SOME PICTURES. Jessica Vaughn: I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH YOU GUYS OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU WERE ON FIRE. ON FIRE. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS. 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. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, AUGUST 26, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT 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 BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE 5 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 READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING 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 VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. 5:01 P.M. WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MILLAGE RATES AND AT 6:00 P.M. WE HAVE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO OUR RECOGNITIONS. AND WE HAVE A101, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AND ANN MARIE COURTNEY WILL COME UP AND INTRODUCE AND LET US KNOW ABOUT OUR AWARD.
GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS AND GUESTS. THE BUCS BEST KREE PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE BUCCANEERS CELEBRATING THEIR 50th SEASON OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. THIS MONTH'S AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING STANDOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, OVERALL IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HERE TONIGHT TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S AWARD RECIPIENTS. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD, MADAM CHAIR, MR. SUPERINTENDENT AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WARM WELCOME. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I KNOW IT'S A BUSY NIGHT SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME. VERY HUMBLED TO BE HERE TO KICK OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AS WAS MENTIONED, THIS PROGRAM IS GREAT. WE HAVE OUR TRADITION AT ONE BUC WHERE WE RECOGNIZE ANYONE THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE, SO ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF -- SOME FOLKS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.
FIRST OFF MS. CARLA NOLAN, THE PRINCIPAL AT MILES ELEMENTARY. SO MS. NOLAN, THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM YOUR STAFF, YOUR PARENTS, AND YOUR PEERS. SO THIS IS VERY HUMBLING WHEN I HEARD YOUR STORY AND WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AT MILES ELEMENTARY. TRANSFORMING LEADERSHIP HAS PROFOUNDLY ELEMENTARY MILES ELEMENTARY. WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVED THE SCHOOL WAS GRADED A D BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE YOU ROSE THAT TO A HIGH C THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR, JUST 15 POINTS SHY OF A "B." CONGRATULATIONS. THIS REMARKABLE PROGRESS REFLECTS YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, STUDENT WELL-BEING AND THRIVING SCHOOL CULTURE. YOUR INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FIFTH GRADE HOUSE PROGRAM AND THE EMPOWERING GEMS PROGRAM FOR GIRLS HAS ENRICHED THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND BUILT STRONG COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE IS BOTH THOUGHTFUL AND INSPIRING. YOU REGULARLY, AND I'M A BIG FAN OF THIS, WRITE NOTES TO ENCOURAGE YOUR STAFF, REINFORCING THE CULTURE OF APPRECIATION AND MOTIVATION.
THAT'S TREMENDOUS. SUCH A BUSY SCHEDULE TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT. AS A RESULT, TEACHER RETENTION AT MILES IS IMPRESSIVELY HIGH BECAUSE OF EDUCATORS WANT TO BE A PART OF YOUR TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE NOT ONLY A LEADER BUT YOU'RE A CATALYST FOR LASTING CHANGE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. NEXT, MS. JENNIFER TURNSKY FROM LAMB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND I LIKE HER OUTFIT. I GOT TO SAY. MS. TORINSKI IS FAR MORE THAN AN ATHLETIC LEADER. SHE IS A TRUE MODEL WHO INSPIRES AND AGAIN THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, FAKE AND STUDENTS. YOU'RE A TRUE ROLE MODEL WHO INSPIRES DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK AND RESILIENCE IN EVERY STUDENT YOU COACH. YOUR DEDICATION TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS SECOND TO NONE. THAT'S A BIG STATEMENT. JENNIFER CULTIVATES A CULTURE OF RESPECT AND PERSEVERANCE ENCOURAGING YOUR STUDENTS TO PUSH BEYOND THEIR LIMITS AND TO BELIEVE IN THEIR POTENTIAL.
WE NEED MORE COACHES LIKE THIS. AS A WELLNESS ADVOCATE FOR THE STAFF AT THE SCHOOL, JENNIFER DESIGNS ENGAGING CHALLENGES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES MAKING WELLNESS FUN AND ACCESSIBLE. THAT'S THE KEY. YOU HAVE A UNIQUE GIFT FOR MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND VALUED. AS ANY GREAT LEADER AND IN TURN, YOU INSPIRE OTHERS TO JOIN YOUR MISSION. YOUR ENERGY, COMPASSION AND LEADERSHIP MAKE YOU AN IRREPLACEABLE ASSET TO YOUR SCHOOL. THAT'S A BIG STATEMENT THERE. CONGRATULATIONS. TALK ABOUT GOING OVER AND ABOVE. NOW I CAN'T MESS UP. COME ON DOWN HERE. TRACY JONES. COME ON DOWN HERE. TOWN AND COUNTRY. I LOVE YOUR SHIRT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. IT HAS TO BE MY FAVORITE PART OF MY WEEK. WE WON'T MESS UP THE BALL ON THIS ONE. ALL RIGHT. INSTRUCTURAL SUPPORT TRACY JONES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPAL.
THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. AS AN ESE PARAPROFESSIONAL, YOU LEAD BY EXAMPLE INSPIRING THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOUR CONSISTENT ENCOURAGEMENT AND THOUGHTFUL GUIDANCE EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND TO STRIVE FOR GREATNESS. WITH A PERFECT BALANCE OF ENERGY, STRUCTURE, AND COMPASSION. I CAN SEE THAT. YOU LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER. THAT'S TREMENDOUS. YOU WERE SOMEONE WHO NATURALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS -- YOU HAVE EVERYBODY COMING TOWARDS YOU AND GETTING BEHIND YOU. YOUR PRESENCE RADIATES KINDNESS AND YOUR UNWAVERING CONSISTENTLY BUILDS TRUST AND COMFORT. YOUR DEDICATION MAKES YOU NOT ONLY A REMARKABLE EDUCATOR BUT ALSO A CHERISHED ROLE MODEL WITHIN YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE MORE RECOGNITION. A02, RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025, THROUGH OCTOBER 15, 2025.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BEFORE I START, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENT GUEST. I WANT TO WELCOME GABRIEL LOPEZ IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLICLY RECOGNIZES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FROM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS THE COLLECTIVE HERITAGE HONORING THE PAST, INSPIRING THE FUTURE. THIS IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS HISPANIC AMERICANS MAKE TO SOCIETY. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOME TO MORE THAN 80,000 HISPANIC STUDENTS WHICH IS CLOSE TO 40% OF OUR DISTRICT'S POPULATION. EACH YEAR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND SCHOOLS DO A WONDERFUL JOB OF HOLDING EVENTS TO SHOWCASE HISPANIC HERITAGE. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORTS ITS HISPANIC FAMILIES BY PROVIDING SPANISH LANGUAGE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT THAT GUIDES STUDENTS AND SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALSO SUPPORTS HISPANIC FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES SUCH AS SCHOOL-BASED WELCOME CENTERS AND BILINGUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS.
HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC COUNTY SCHOOLS IS COMMITTED TO CELEBRATING CULTURE AND SUPPORTING HISPANIC STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY AND CULTURALLY, BOTH DURING THE MONTH AND BEYOND. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO 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 TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE YOU'D LIKE AND YOU'LL NOT BE INTERRUPTED, HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NEW NOT BE ALLOWED AND WE REQUEST THAT YOU TRY AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TODAY AND TO ENSURE ALL VOICES ARE ABLE TO BE HEARD, AND AS ALIGNED WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD WAY OF WORK, THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT AND MANY OF YOU FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES ON THE AGENDA. EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AND TO BE HEARD. WE'RE GOING TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DO NOT INTERRUPT THE SPEAKERS BY OTHERWISE INTERRUPTING AND CLAPPING AND THAT WAY EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO BE HEARD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND THEY START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND YOU'LL HEAR A CHIME. A RED LIGHT AND CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. HELLO, BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT. FIRST I WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT AYRES FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. THE FLORIDA EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD SAID THAT THESE TWO BOOKS, IDENTICAL AND BLANKETS, HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM ALL HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
THE IRONY IS THAT THE ONLY REASON THIS HAD TO BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS BECAUSE THE FIVE DEMOCRATS ON THIS BOARD VOTED TO KEEP THESE BOOKS LAST YEAR WHEN THE BOOKS WERE CHALLENGED BY PARENTS. THESE FIVE ARE NOW BEING ASKED TO REVERSE THEIR VOTES IN ORDER TO COUNTER MAN THE BAD DECISION THEY MADE LAST YEAR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK JULIE GEBHARTS WHOSE UNFLAGGING EFFORTS BROUGHT THIS ENTIRE MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMUNITY, THE STATE BOARD, AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. SHE LED THE EFFORT THAT PUT THE 57 BOOKS ON THE STATE'S REMOVAL LIST. WE'LL BE REVIEWING ABOUT 600 MORE BOOKS AND TAKING THESE REVIEWS TO THE STATE IN TALLAHASSEE. WE'D FAR PREFER TO WORK WITH YOU TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE ALL MATERIAL THAT'S HARMFUL TO MINORS. IF NOT, YOU CAN EXPECT ANOTHER SPANKING FROM THE STATE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA WEISS. I'M RESIDENT OF TAMPA AND AS YOU MIGHT GUESS MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL A LONG TIME. ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR OVER 15 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HEARD HER TALK OF A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN BOOK BANNING AND STUDENT SUCCESS. IN 1637 BEFORE THE U.S. WAS, WELL, EVEN THE U.S., A BOOK BY THOMAS MORTON WAS BANNED BECAUSE THE PURITANS BELIEVED HIM OF DANCING AND FRISKING TOGETHER WITH NATIVE AMERICANS. IN 1933, BOOK BANNING WAS PART OF THE LARGER SUPPRESSION OF DISSENTING IDEAS AND PROMOTION OF NAZI IDEOLOGY. BOOK BANNING IN THE U.S. REMAINED POPULAR THROUGH THE 1950s ERA OF McCARTHYISM AND ANTI-HOLLYWOOD WHEN THE FEAR OF COMMUNISM WAS LINKED TO MANY TITLES. DID ANY OF THESE BOOK BANS ACHIEVE ANYTHING POSITIVE FOR ANY CIVILIZED SOCIETY? I CAN'T THINK OF ONE. I DOUBT YOU CAN EITHER.