Karen Perez: HI, I AM KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. Nadia Combs: I AM NADIA COMBS, 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 COUNTRIES. Lynn Gray: OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE YOU CAN WILL HE CAN, 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 COUNTY SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32.
Stacy Hahn: MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE AT OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE OR KIEF. Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE INCLUDE TIME FOR A 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 WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. Jessica Vaughn: OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Karen Perez: BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 24, BUNK IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER COMBS WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Nadia Combs: 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] Lynn Gray: CHECK OUT THOSE GLASSES ON VAN. NEW COLOR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT INTER-TAINEMENT. Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CRESTVIEW ELEMENTARY WORLD DRUMMING WITH DIRECTOR. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. ALL OF DID YOU A WONDERFUL JOB. HI, I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS JONAS AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM ROB AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, I AM SAMUEL AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS NINO AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI, MEACHAM MIA AND AUTO IMIN FIFTH GRADE. I AM MELANIE AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE.
HI, MARIANNE AND I'M IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS KARLA, AND I AM IN THE FIRST GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS SIMON AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM JADA AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS MELODY AND I AM IN THE FIRST GRADE. HI, MY JAMES IS JALEN AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM ANNA AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, I AM ADDIE AND IN FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS CASEY AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM JENNA AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ALEX AND AUTO IMIN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS ALBERTO, I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS HAMAN AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HELLO, I AM DIANE SANCHEZ, PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CRESTVIEW AND I DID GRADUATE FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS.
VERY PROUD OF THAT AND PROUD OF MY STUDENTS AND GREAT JOB, GUYS. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. MY NAME IS NATHANIEL STRAWBRIDGE, MR. STRAWBRIDGE AND I AM NOT IN FIFTH GRADE. ME NEITHER. JUST KIDDING. OH, BUT I AM PART OF THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I AM PART OF BEST MUSIC COMMUNITY IN THE NATION, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SAY. AND PART OF THE BEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. I HAVE BEEN AT CHESTVIEW FOR 23 YEARS. I LOVE CRESTWOOD. I LOVE OUR STUDENT AND I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME AND SHARE, NOT JUST PLAYING INSTRUMENTS BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED AS A PASSION IN THEIR LIVES, AS AN AVENUE FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH BEYOND JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RIGHT. BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR WHAT? LIFE. WHO SAID THAT? $20 FOR YOU. WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE.
THESE ARE LIFE. NOT JUST SKILLS. BUT THESE ARE LIFE ABILITIES THAT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE, A HUMAN BEING, AND SO I AM SO HAPPY AND GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOU. SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE COMPLETE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. AND I AM GOING TO KEEP DOING MY JOB. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING YOURS. THANKS FOR HAVING US. PARENTS ARE WELCOME. WE DON'T BITE. . THIS IS OUR BIGGEST CROWD OF PARENTS EVER. Lynn Gray: I KNOW. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. GREAT JOB. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, PARENTS, FOR SHOWING UP AND BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. IT IS GREAT TO SEE PARENTS' PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY, FEBRUARY 10, 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? 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, SUCCEED, AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERVISOR CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET 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. THE MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING WITH LIVE WEBCASTS ON CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS IN THE AUDITORIUM. AND ALSO WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING WITH THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE.
Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 5 5:01 P.M., BOARD HARGS ON REVISED POLICY AND 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. TODAY WE HAVE RECOGN RECOGNITIONS, A-01, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AND BRIAN FORD, WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP SHERRY BO WILLL,INGER SUPERVISOR OF PHILANTHROPY AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS.
GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM CHAIR, CABINET MEMBERS AND GUESTS. OUR AMAZING PARTNER THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS RECOGNIZES REMARKABLE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLTEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND IMPACT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONOR TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S REWARD RECIP RECIPIENTS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD, SUPERVISOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WARM WELCOME. YES, I AM BACK. AND ANOTHER EXCITING MONTH AND UNBELIEVABLE NOMINATIONS AND WE WILL TALK OF UNBELIEVABLE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT WHO HAVE GONE OVER AND ABOVE IN RECOGNITION OF THAT. WE HAVE THE TRADITION ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, I AM EXCITED TO HAND AWAY SOME GAME BALLS. BUT BEFORE THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION LAST WEEK, WE HAD A VERY EXCITING EVENT OVER AT ONE BUCCANEER PLACE. WE HAD OUR PRESEASON CLASSIC AND HAD OVER 130 TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF GIRLS.
AND THERE IS A PICTURE UP THERE THAT JUST REPRESENTS SOME OF THE FINEST IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BUT OVER 3,000 ATHLETES. AND THEY WERE THERE ALL BIKE, MONDAY THROUGH -- ALL WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND JUST THE PERFORMANCE AND THIS KIND OF TRANSLATES INTO OUR MISSION TO KIND OF BRING WOMEN INTO SPORTS AND GIRLS INTO SPORTS AND DEFINE SOME LEADERS AND DEVELOP. OUR GOAL IS 50,000 FEMALE LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE POWER OF SPORT. AND THIS WAS OUR EIGHTH ANNUAL PRESEASON CLASSIC. AND NEXT WEEK ON MARCH 6 AND 7th, FRIDAY THE 7th, HAVING THIS. AND BE A QR CODE AND WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO ALL THE STUDENT BODY AND FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A CAREER SUMMIT ON FRIDAY AT THE -- AT THE STADIUM ITSELF. AND THEN WE ARE HAVING A 5K RUN, AND THAT WILL BE THROUGHOUT THE STADIUM AND INTO OUR FACILITY.
SOME WHAT AN EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES TO COME. THERE IS EVEN JUST A MILE WALK IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND WALK, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A MARKET AND FESTIVAL WITH WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN OUR INDOOR FACILITY. AND THEN EIGHT OF THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE STATE IN GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN OUR BIG SHIA FOOTBALL FLAG INVITATIONAL AND FOUR OF THE SCHOOLS ARE REPRESENTED FROM HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND I WANTED TO KICK THAT OFF THERE. BUT WITH THAT, LET'S GET TO THE REAL FUN REASON WHY I'M HERE, TO RECOGNIZE SOL SOME OF MOST OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS IN OUR DISTRICT. I LOVE YOUR SHIRT, BY THE WAY. HOW ABOUT THAT. COME ON DOWN HERE. THIS IS DARKIS PORTIS, PROFESSIONAL FROM LOMAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WELCOME. WHAT I AM READING IS NOT COMING FROM ME, BUT YOUR PEERS, ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
UNBELIEVABLE. THERE IS DEFINITELY SUPPORT ON YOUR JOINING US AS PART OF OUR BUCS BEST CREW AWARD. YOU ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF DEDICATION, SERVICE AND HEART. YOU ARE A VP PARAPROFESSIONAL AND YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN EVERY ROLE THAT YOU SERVE. AS A LOMAG EMPLOYEE, A DEVOTED PARENT, AND A TRUE CHAMPION FOR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THIS IS AMAZING HERE. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT ARE EVIDENT IN THE COUNTLESS WAYS YOU SUPPORT AND UPLIFT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF. PLAY AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN LEADING AND ORGANIZING SCHOOL-WIDE EVENTS WITH THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AND THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE RICH CELEBRATIONS THAT HONOR CULTURE, HISTORY AND COMMUNITY. YOU GENEROUSLY VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME WITH THE ROBOTICS TEAM AND ACTIVELY RECRUIT COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, YOU HAVE WELCOMED THE NEW WORLD READING PROGRAM, WHICH IS REMARKABLE, AND INSPIRING GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDING ARCHAEOLOGISTS FROM TALLAHASSEE AND GERMANY, BRINGING REAL WORLD LEARNING DIRECTLY TO OUR STUDENTS.
THIS IS THE REAL KICKER. AS PRESIDENT OF THE PTA BOARD, PRESIDENT, WHERE DO YOU FIND ALL THE TIME TO DO ALL OF THIS, I DON'T KNOW. YOU LEAD WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE STRENGTHENING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR HOME AND SCHOOL. YOU ARE ADMIRED, YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU ARE RESPECTED BY BOTH THE STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND POSITIVE SPIRIT. CONGRATULATIONS. AND FOR THAT -- OH, MY GOSH. PUT THAT OVER THERE [APP. ALL RIGHT. UNBELIEVABLE. NOW MONICA CHAPIS FROM JUNTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I MEAN, MIDDLE SCHOOL. MIDDLE SCHOOL, YES. I LOVE THE BUC RED. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM KNEE, THIS COME FROM THE PEOPLE YOU EFFECT AND YOU INSPIRE EVERY SINGLE DAY. YES, SIR. YOU ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL CIVICS TEACHER WHOSE DEDICATION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IS EVIDENT IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR WORK. YOU ARE CONSTANTLY GIVING INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT AND CHALLENGING YOUR LEARNERS, CREATING AN ENGAGING AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.
I LIKE THAT. WHERE STUDENTS THRIVE. YOUR IMPACT IS MEASURABLE AND MEANINGFUL, EVEN INCREASING CIVICS SCORES ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE ALL LIKE THAT. BEYOND INSTRUCTION, YOU ARE A VALUABLE, MULTILINGUAL ASSET TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. YOU REGULARLY SURPRISE TRANSLATION SUPPORT FOR THE MORNING SHOW ENSURING THOSE KIDS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND ENSURING INCLUSION FOR ALL FAMILIES. YOUR ABILITY TO BREAK DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL IN SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL'S LARGE HISPANIC STUDENT POPULATION. BY FOSTERING CLEAR COMMUNICATION, CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND STRONG RELATIONSHIP. YOU ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IS SEEN, HEARD AND EMPOWERED TO SUCCEED. IN ADDITION -- THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OVER AND ABOVE -- YOU MANAGE THE SCHOOL'S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. AND CREATIVELY AND PROFE PROFESSIONALLY EFFECTIVELY SHOWCASED THE OUTSTANDING WORK HAPPENING ACROSS YOUR CAMPUS. YOUR PASSION, VERSATILITY AND DEDICATION MAKES YOU INVALUABLE. FROM ISSUE EFFECT. CONGRATULATIONS AND ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY, THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
CONGRATULATIONS. LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. BROOKLYN CALLOWAY. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL. AGAIN COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR FACULTY, YOUR STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT OF THE BUCCANEERS BEST CREW. AND AFTER READING, I UNDERSTAND WHY. AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, YOU GO FAR BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE ROLE. YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE STRONGEST A.P. COLLEAGUE ANYONE CAN ASK FOR. THAT IS A COMMENT. AND IT THOSE WHO WORK ALONGSIDE HER KNOW EXACTLY THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. DURING SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP TRANSITION WHEN NEW ADMINISTRATORS STEPPED INTO AN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY, YOU BECAME THE ANCHOR OF THE CAMPUS. YOU ANTICIPATED NEEDS BEFORE THEY WERE VOICED, YOU SHARED CONTEXT WITHOUT BEING ASKED AND YOU MADE SURE THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES FELT GROUNDED AND SUPPORTED FROM DAY ONE. TEAM PLAYER. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.
AND CHALLENGING MOMENTS, WEATHER NAVIGATING COMPLEX STUDENT SITUATIONS AND MANAGING UNEXPECTED CAMPUS ISSUES, YOU REMAIN CALM, SOLUTIONS FOCUSED AND CENTERED. YOU SHOW TREMENDOUS WISDOM BEYOND YOUR AGE AND YOUR PRESENCE BRINGS CONFIDENCE TO THOSE AROUND YOU. THESE ARE UNBELIEVABLE COMMENTS. YOU ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SCHOOL'S CULTURE. FROM GETTING STUDENTS EACH MORNING TO MAJOR EVENTS. YOU CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL VALUED AND SEEN. YOUR POSITIVITY IS GENUINE AND YOUR WORK ETHIC IS UNMATCHED AND COMMITMENT OF DELIVERING AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE IS EVIDENT EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS FOR THIS RECOGNITION. MUCH DESERVED . Nadia Combs: GREAT JOB. Lynn Gray: WELL DESERVED. WE WILL SEE YOU BEFORE SPRING BREAK, RIGHT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, ALWAYS, MR. FORD. NOW RECOGNITION A.02. RECOGNITION OF "TAMPA BAY TIMES" EDUCATION WEEK MARCH 2-6, 2026.
AND MEMBER COMBS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. THE RECOGNITION OF "TAMPA BAY TIMES" EDUCATION WEEK MARCH 2-6, 2026. PARTNERED WITH THE TAMPA BAY TIMES AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO CELEBRATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE-LONG READERS AND SUPPORT LITERACY INSTRUCTION BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO OUR SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DURING THE WEEK OF MARCH 2-6, 2026. NEWSPAPERS AND EDUCATION, N.I.E. AN INTERNATIONAL LITERACY INITIATIVE USES NEWSPAPERS BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL AS REAL WORLD LEARNING TOOLS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE LIVING TEXTBOOK, N.I.E. BRINGS CURRENT EVENTS, REAL WORLD ISSUES AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES INTO THE CLASSROOM. USING NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT READING COMPREHENSION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS. N.I.E. PROVIDED TEN MILLION E NEWSPAPER LICENSES TO TAMPA BAY CLASS STRENGTHENING LITERACY THROUGH REALTIME RELEVANT CONTENT. N.I.E. SPORTS AT 251 SCHOOLS WITH LESSON PLANS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS AND DIGITAL TOOLS ALL PROVIDED AT NO COST TO SCHOOLS, TEACHERS OR FAMILIES.