Karen Perez: WELCOME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M NADIA COMBS, SCHOOL CHAIR. OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. I OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4:00 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU THE PUBLIC IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR EMAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS. MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE ON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.org. WE WILL INCLUDE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. OUR AGENDA CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.
THE BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY ORDER. MEMBER COMBS WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [ MOMENT OF SILENCE ] THANK YOU.
NOW, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Chairperson: THANK YOU, MEMBER COAST GUARD. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. I'D LIKE TO THANK BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL DANCE EDUCATION ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL TOBY JOHNSON AND DIRECTORS KELLY RAIL AND ALBY NA ARNADOVA. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAIN US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB, LADIES. PLEASE COME UP. HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME I HAVE HAD THE PLEASU THE DIRECTOR OF THE BALLET PROGRAM AT BLAKE FOR 23 YEARS, SO PROUDLY PRESENTING OUR TALENTED STUDENTS. THANK YOU AGAIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MY NAME IS KELLY RAIL, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE MODERN DANCE PROGRAM, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE FOR US TO SHARE OUR PASSION AND LOVE OF THE ARTS.
AND THERE'S A FAMOUS SAYING, THOSE THAT LIKE TO DANCE, AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE TO DANCE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU, ASHLEY, FOR SUPPORTING US. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ISABELLE GESKE A SENIOR AT BLAKE. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELIANA VASON AND I'M A JUNIOR AT BLAKE. JORDY CLARK AND I AM A JUNIOR AT BLAKE. DAHLIA AND I'M A SENIOR. HI, MY NAME IS REBECCA LEON AND I'M A SENIOR. HI, MY NAME IS VALERIE TORES AND I'M A JUNIOR. HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA SKAGGS AND I'M A JUNIOR. HI, MY NAME IS NADIA ADAMS AND I'M A SENIOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. NAMES JERRY ANN LOU AND I'M A SENIOR. REDNER, AND I'M A SENIOR. MY NAME IS KENDALL TIRK, SENIOR. JADA HEAVENLY AND I'M A SENIOR. DARRELL WATSON AND I'M A SENIOR. ALISHA BROOKS AND I'M ALSO A SENIOR. WE HAVE ONE WITHDRAWAL ITEM, 201, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS CORPORATION FOR IMPENDING FUTURE -- IMPLEMENTING FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY.
I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY LIN GRAY AND SECOND BY JESSICA VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. I HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, JANUARY 27, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. 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. WE ARE A NON-PARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR AGENDA SITUATIONS AND STATEMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK, 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 COMBS WILL NOW READ BOARD GUIDELINES. THANK YOU MB PEREZ. ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND SESSIONS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK, 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, ASK TO GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE. Chairperson: ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 6:00 STUDENT INPUT. THE BOARD MEMBERS WELCOME 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 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 AND YOU WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED.
HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE REQUEST YOU TRY TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS AMP, EACH SPEAKER 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 AND HERE A CHIME. THE RED LIGHT AND THE CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. MARK CLITHO LARGO. HERE'S A COLUMN FROM THE CHAIR, TALKS OF SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND STATE INFLUENCE. WELL, YOU KNOW, ABOUT AS MUCH AS I CAN SAY HERE, THE FUTURE IS DIM, VERY DIM. WITH THE STATE IN CHARGE, THE HEALTH OF THE STUDENTS, NOT GOOD. AND THEN HERE'S A COLUMN FROM LAST FRIDAY. IT'S VERY COLD, JUST WAIT FOR THE GRID TO FAIL. NOT AND IT STARTS, IT MIGHT NOT BE OBVIOUS, BUT IT HAS BEEN A BIT CHALLENGING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON -- I LOVE THIS -- EVERYBODY USING THAT STATEMENT, "KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON," LIKE THAT'S THE BIG EFFORT, KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON.
WELL, TODAY, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE USING L.E.D.s, AND THOSE USE VERY LITTLE ELECTRICITY. THAT'S NOT THE BIG DRAIN. WHEN YOU HAVE THE STUPID BUILDINGS LIKE YOU DO, WHERE'S THE BIG DRAW? IT'S YOUR HVACs. AND WHEN YOU MAKE THE STUPID BUILDINGS LIKE YOU DO, THAT ARE BELCHING CARBON LIKE THEY DO,, THEN THERE'S WHERE ALL THAT CARBON GETS BELCHED. AND, OF COURSE, THIS FOOL, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, HAS ITS FIXATION ON THE GRID. AND GOES ON TO SAY, WE NEED MORE NUCLEAR, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THAT. LOOK AT CRYSTAL RIVER. TOOK FUKASHIMA AND OTHERS. YOU MAKE THE BUILDINGS RIGHT. YOU JUST CAN'T GET THAT ONE. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MY NAME IS FRED HERNS, 1966 OF GEORGE MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. MY CLASS WILL CELEBRATE OUR 60th CLASS REUNION LATER THIS YEAR. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO WISH YOU HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
100 YEARS AGO AT THE WABASH YMCA IN CHICAGO, DR. CARTER G. WOODSON DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR AMERICA TO SET ASIDE A WEAK EVERY YEAR TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. THEREFORE, NEGRO HISTORY WEEK WAS BORN IN 1926, 100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK. 50 YEARS LATER, WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS CELEBRATING OUR BICENTENNIAL, PRESIDENT GERALD FORD PROCLAIMED NEGRO HISTORY WEEK WOULD, FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD, BE RECOGNIZED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY. EARLIER THIS EVENING, I PASSED OUT FLYERS -- I HOPE YOU ALL GOT ONE. THE TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR FIFTH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECEPTION ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27th, DOORS OPEN AT 5:00 P.M. WE'RE CELEBRATING THIS YEAR AT TAMPA'S BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. AND THE ENCORE DEVELOPMENT OWNED BY TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP TO MANAGE THIS FACILITY SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, IT WILL OPEN AT TAMPA'S FIRST BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMING OUT OF THAT FACILITY. YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO COME. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME IN THE PAST. I KNOW YOU'VE ENJOYED THE PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL THIS YEAR. WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN NEWSPAPER WITH THE SAN SO THE AWARD THEY'VE DONE FOR YEARS TO HELP PRESERVE BLACK HISTORY. ALSO, RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE THURGOOD MARSHALL HISTORY AWARD THIS YEAR. EACH YEAR, WE SELECT A POOLE SCHOOL TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD FOR KEEPING ALIVE THE LEGACY OF THURGOOD MARSHALL WHO, BY THE WAY, SPENT TIME HERE IN TAMPA AND HILLSBORO COUNTY FIGHTING FOR EQUAL PAY FOR BLACK TEACHERS AND DOING MANY OTHER THINGS TO HELP OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. FOR THAT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GO TO OUR WEB SITE. IT'S ON THE FLIER. ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE. WE CANAL YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27th, TAMPA'S BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM.
AND AGAIN, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SUE AND I'M A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AT DOBY. MY DAUGHTER AND SON. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, DOBY HAS ENROLLED 90 NEW STUDENTS AND 40 OF THOSE ENROLLMENTS HAVE HAPPENED JUST SINCE JANUARY AT A TIME WHEN MANY SCHOOLS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN ENROLLMENT, DOBY IS GROWING. THAT TELLS A POWERFUL STORY. FAMILIES ARE VOTING WITH THEIR FEET AND CHOOSING THIS SCHOOL. BECAUSE OF THAT GROWTH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY ASKING FOR, A K-8 CONVERSION ISN'T ABOUT CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT STABILITY. STABILITY AND AN ACADEMIC INTERVENTION. EVERY MAJOR SCHOOL TRANSITION IS A RISK POINT FOR STUDENTS AND THE K-8 MODEL REMOVES ONE OF THOSE TRANSITIONS DURING SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS. I REGULARLY TALK WITH FAMILIES WHO WANT TO ATTEND DOBY BUT CHOOSE MAGNET OR CHARTER K-8 OPTIONS INSTEAD BECAUSE THEY WANT CONTINUITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NOT BECAUSE THEY PREFER THE SCHOOLS.
A K-8 DOBY KEEPS FAMILIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, POOLE AND STRENGTHENS PUBLIC SCHOOL AND STRENGTHENS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR DISTRICT. THIS IS MORE THAN A GRADE LEVEL CHANGE. I AM CHOOSING THE COMMUNITY I'M HOPING THEY CAN GROW UP IN, NOT JUST WHERE THEY GO THIS YEAR. I WANT MY CHILDREN TO BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS, STAFF AND PEERS AND CONTINUE TO FEEL DOBY IS THEIR HOME. AT THE SAME TIME WE RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT ABOUT QUESTIONS RAISED BY MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING ENRICHMENT STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS ARE MET. AS A PARENT IMROP WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT TO HELP SHAPE A STRONG MIDDLE SCHOOL MOTTLE TO REFLECT WHAT FAMILIES VALUE AND THE DISTRICT CAN REALISTICALLY SUPPORT FROM A STAFFING AND PROGRAMMING PERSPECTIVE. WE CONTINUE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT LONG-TERM PLANNING INCLUDE A PERMANENT MIDDLE SCHOOL WING AND GYMNASIUM SIMILAR TO THE COLLINS K-8 CONVERSION PLAN RATHER THAN RELYING SOLELY ON MOD LARS NOW AND TRYING TO SOLVE PERMANENT FACILITIES LATER.
FAMILIES WANT A THOUGHTFUL, LASTING SOLUTION FROM THE START. WE UNDERSTAND FUNDING IS COMPLEX, AND WE BELIEVE POTENTIAL PATHWAYS INCLUDING A POTENTIAL HALF-CENT TAX IN NOVEMBER BALLOT ARE WORTH EXPLORING. WHILE ENROLLMENT IS DEPARTING IN MANY PARTS TO HAVE THE COUNTY AND STATE, OUR COMMUNITY APPEARS TO BE AN EXCEPTION AND DOBY'S GROWTH REFLECTS THAT. EXPANDING A SUCCESSFUL GROWING SCHOOL IS A SMART INVESTMENT AND A PROACTIVE SOLUTION. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE MOMENTUM AT DOBY AND TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARD MAKING IT A K-8 SCHOOL. THANK YOU. READY? HI. MY NAME IS GIANNI. I AM SIX YEARS OLD. I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MY SCHOOL DOBY. I LOVE MY SCHOOL FRIENDS AND TEACHERS. I GO TO DOBY WITH MY BIG SISTER. THAT MAKES ME HAPPY. MY SISTER IS EIGHT YEARS OLD. I LOOK UP TO THE BIG KIDS AT SCHOOL LIKE MY SISTER. I THINK IT WOULD BE COOL TO HAVE BIGGER KIDS AT MY SCHOOL.
WHEN I AM OLDER, I WANT TO RIDE MY BIKE TO SCHOOL. WHEN MY MOMMY AND DADDY SAY I CAN, I HOPE I CAN STAY AT DOBY. THANK YOU FOR LIST ANYTHING LIST THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS SIX THROUGH ELEVEN COME UP? NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF DOBY ELEMENTARY FAMILIES TO ADVOCATE FOR DOBY INTO A K-8 SCHOOL. FIRST I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK SEVERAL OF YOU ON THE BOARD FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET TO US, LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND ENGAGE IN THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS. THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE MATTERED AND HELPED ME ENFORCE THIS BOARD VALUES COMMUNITY INPUT AND COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MS. VAUGHN IN ADVANCE FOR COMMITTING TO VISIT DOBY UPCOMING THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12. WE'RE TRULY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SEE OUR SCHOOL FIRSTHAND, MEET OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND BETTER UNDERSTAND BOTH THE STRENGTHS OF OUR CAMPUS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LAY AHEAD.
AS PARENTS, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A K-8 EXPANSION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS A SOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS ACADEMIC CONTINUITY, EMOTIONAL STABILITY AND LONG-TERM STUDENT SUCCESS. OUR FAMILIES WANT TO KEEP CHILDREN CONNECTED TO THE TEACHERS, PEERS AND SCHOOL CULTURE THAT HAVE ALREADY INVESTED SO DEEPLY IN THEM. RESEARCH AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE CONSISTENTLY SHOW K-8 MODELS CAN REDUCE TRANSITION STRESS, IMPROVE BEHAVIOR OUTCOMES AND STRENGTHEN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. DOBY HAS THE LEADERSHIP, THE STAFF, THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND THE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION. OUR REQUEST IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT THOUGHTFUL PLANNING, EFFICIENT USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES, AND PROVIDING A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE THROUGH SOME OF THEIR MOST FORMATIVE YEARS. TONIGHT, WE ASK THAT THE BOARD CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH AN OPEN MIND, CONSIDER DOBY AS A VIABLE PILOT OR PHASE K-8 EXPANSION AND KEEP THIS CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD. WE STAND READY TO PARTNER WITH YOU, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TOWARD A SOLUTION THAT SERVES STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONTINUED CONSIDERATION. HI. MY NAME IS BENJAMIN. I'M SIX YEARS OLD. I WANT DOBY TO BE A K-8 SCHOOL BECAUSE MY BROTHER WENT THERE AND HE ALWAYS TELLS ME GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT. WHEN I HEAR ABOUT HIS TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL, IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO THERE, TOO. IF DOBY WAS A CAIGHT K-8, KIDS COULD START THERE AND STAY THERE WITH OUR BROTHERS OR SISTERS. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP KIDS FEEL HAPPY AND NOT NERVOUS ABOUT CHANGING SCHOOLS. I REALLY HOPE I GET TO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL AS MY BROTHER SOME DAY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUAN HERNANDEZ, PART OF THE DOBY K-8 EXPANSION INITIATIVE. I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR MEETING WITH US OVER THE PAST FEW MONTH REGARDING OUR DESIRE TO HAVE DOBY EXPANDED.
P COMMENTS HAVE BEEN INSIGHTFUL. THERE IS A GROWING FOCUS ON ENSURING WE HAVE ACCESS TO DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE VARYING NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN. THE GENESIS OF THIS GROUP CAME AS A DESIRE FOR PUBLIC OPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS EVIDENT WHEN APOLLO BEACH EXPENDED TO K-8 AND I'M SURE WHATEVER NUMBERS ARE, THIS IS THE CURRENT WILL OF THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS WE'VE HEARD HAS BEEN ABOUT THE STRONG PROGRESS THAT IS BEING MADE AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL TO ONE BACK THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY. UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONFIDENCE THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS CONVEYED IN EISENHOWER'S PRINCIPLE KRISTEN FINCH AND HOW HE DID AN AMAZING JOB DRIVING THE SCHOOL'S TRANSFORMATION GAVE SOME CONFIDENCE THE SCHOOL WAS ON THE PATH TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE AREA. I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY THE DISAPPOINTMENT PRINCIPAL FINCH WAS MOVED TO ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL. DOBY IS ROOTED IN THE SOUTH SHORE REASON AND TAKING AWAY A PRINCIPAL DRIVING A CHANGE AT THE LOCALLY ZONED SCHOOL FEELS LIKE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT HEARD.
WE BELIEVE EISENHOWER SHOULD BE GIVEN THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO SUCCEED SO THAT THE COMMUNITY'S CONFIDENCE CAN BE EARNED BACK, TO LEARN SOMEONE LOOKED ATS WITH ATS WITH UP BEST PRINCIPALS IN THE COUNTY WAS BEING MOVED FROM A SCHOOL THAT OUR LEADERS HERE HAVE HEARD COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT TAKES FOCUS AWAY FROM THE PROGRESS BEING MADE. REMOVING THE LEADER WHO WAS ACTIVELY ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY ONLY CREATES MORE HESITANCY FOR PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. I HOPE WHOEVER IS CHOSEN AS A REPLACEMENT FOR PRINCIPAL FINCH IS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE PATH TO SUCCESS LAID OUT BY PRINCIPAL FINCH AND GIVEN FULL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL IS A LOCATION FOR EDUCATION IN SOUTH COUNTY WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEE POPULATION GROWTH. CONTINUITY IS KEY FOR EISENHOWER'S SUCCESS. CREATING MORE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICES LIKE DOBY K-8 EXPANSION AND GIVING EISENHOWER MORE SUPPORT TO SUPPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THEIR CAMPUS, THE KEY IS TO MAKE SURE PARENTS ARE CONFIDENT IN OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CREATING HAVENS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO THRIVE.