>>Karen Perez: HI, I AM KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME TO YOU 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 COUNTY. >>Lynn Gray: OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MOR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN PUBLIC TV ON 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. >>Stacy Hahn: MEETINGS ARE STREAMED ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG.
CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL PAST BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. >>Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE WILL HAVE ITEMS FOR BEFORE ANY MEETING ITEM. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. >>Jessica Vaughn: OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND THIS MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY D DAY. >>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE SHAPING THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. [GAVEL SOUNDING] >>Karen Perez: BOARD MEETING OF MAY 5 IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBERS CLAIMS LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SIGH HELPS FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER COMBS, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. >>Nadia Combs: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE AMAZING MARTINEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL DR. ANTHONY JONES AND CHRISTOPHER JOHNS KLEIN, THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> HI, MY NAME IS JENAE, I AM IN THE 7th GRADE AND I PLAY THE ELECTRIC GUITAR. >>Nadia Combs: YOU GUYS WERE AWESOME. >> MY NAME IS SOPHIA AND I AM IN THE 7th GRADE AND I PLAY T THE ALTO SAXOPHONE. >> HI, MY NAME IS THEODORE. I AM IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE DRUM SET. >> HI, I AM CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ. I AM IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TROMBONE. >> HI, MY NAME IS NOLAN BLACK AND I PLAY THE SAXOPHONE AND I AM IN THE 7th GRADE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS WILLIAM COOK, AND I PLAY THE PIANO AND I AM IN 7th GRADE. >> HELLO, SILAS HAUCK. I AM IN THE 7th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TROMBONE. >> HI, MY NAME IS ADAM, AND I AM IN 7th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TRUM TRUMPET. >> HI, MY NAME IS CARTER, I AM IN THE SEVENTH GRADE AND I PLAY ALTO SAXOPHONE. >> HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN STEVENS. I AM IN THE 7th GRADE. AND I PLAY THE TROMBONE. >> HELLO,ANISTON, I AM IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE KEYBOARD. >>SPEAKER: HI, I AM ADELAIDE VASQUEZ AND I PLAY THE ALTO SACKS. >> I'M ROSE MORRIS. I AM IN THE 7th GRADE AND I POLICE THE TRUMP BET. >> I AM DIRUD, I PLAY IN THE CLARINET. AND I AM IN THE 8th GRADE. >> I AM ENZO. I AM IN THE 7th GREAT AND I PLAY THE TENOR SAXOPHONE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANGEL. I PLAY TRUMPET, AND I AM IN THE SEVENTH GRADE. >> HI, MY NAME IS AMIR SILANI, I AM IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TENOR SAXOPHONE. >> I AM ASAN. I AM IN THE SEVENTH GRADE AND I PLAY THE TRUMPET. >> HI, MY NAME IS LEO. I PLAY THE TRUMPET AND I AM IN THE 8th GRADE. >> I AM MASON NETTLES. I AM IN THE 8th GRADE AND I PLAY BAR SAX. >> I AM YES RE-MOORE IN THE 7th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TUBE BAA. >> I AM CHRISTOPHER KLEIN BECAUSE THEY TOOK A CHANCE ON ME I AM THE PROUD BAND DIRECTOR AT MARTINEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] >> MY NAME IS ANTHONY JONES AND I AM A GROUPIE OF THE BEST JAZZ BAND IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >>Karen Perez: YOU GUYS WERE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. >> EVERYONE, READY.
3, 2, 1. BIG SMILES. STAY RIGHT THERE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GREAT JOB! >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY.
AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. LYNN. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, APRIL 21, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, APRIL 28, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN 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 ARE A HE MIND DERR WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN, TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THAT UNDERSTANDING. PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT MISSION STAPLES, 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 COMBS WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Nadia Combs: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETINGS, PLEASE LET ME READDRESS THE FORMAT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. SILENCE YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS BEHIND ME THAT WILL ALLOW THE BOARD MEMBERS TO VIEW. THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. REVIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. TWO ITEMS FOR PUBLIC HEARING. ONE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, SCIENCE, ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND HIGH SCHOOL READING. 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. NOW GO ON TO RECOGN RECOGNRECOGNITIONS A.01. RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AT THIS TIME CALL UP SHERRI BOLLINGER SUPERVISOR OF PHILANTHROPY AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND GUESTS. THE KREWE PROGRAM BY OUR TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS ARE COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING AND UPLIFTING THE HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS MONTHLY AWARD RECOGNIZES STANDOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, OVERALL IMPACT ON SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS WITH US TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S AWARD RECIPIENTS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, SHERRI, FOR THAT WARM WELCOME. BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, AND EVERYBODY IN ATTENDANCE, GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE GETTING ALMOST TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I AM VERY SAD THIS WILL BE OUR LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING UNTIL AUGUST TO HAVE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE, BUT WE HAVE SOME RECIPIENTS THAT ARE VERY WORTHY A AND VERY EXCITED SO SHARE SOME STORIES WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON. JUST AMAZING. WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, WE WISH YOU ALL BEST AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ALLOWING US TO CARRY THIS PROGRAM FORWARD EACH MONTH. FOR THOSE OF HOW ARE NEW TO THE MEETING HERE, EVERY MONTH WE RECOGNIZE AND WE TRY TO QUICK OFF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON A POSITIVE NOTE, SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE UPON AND RECOGNIZE A PRINCIPAL, A SUPPORT STAFF AND A TEACHER OF THE MONTH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND WE HAVE A TRADITION AT ONE BUC AND WE KEEP PEOPLE GAME BALLS WHEN THEY GO OVER AND ABOVE. THE STORIES WITHER GOING TO HEAR TODAY ARE SO DESERVE OF THE GAME BALLS.
LET ME GET UNDER WAY. FIRST YOUNG LADY, ONE YEAR WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MISS JESSICA LOVITT. THE ESP PARAPROFESSIONAL AT LITHIA SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WHAT HAPPENED A STORY. [APPLAUSE] I GOT TO READ YOUR STORY FIRST. ALL RIGHT, NOW THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM ME. THEY ARE COMING MORE IMPORTANTLY FROM THE STUDENTS THAT YOU SUPPORT, THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF YOUR SCHOOL. AND JUST AMAZING. AND HE I THANK YOU. YOU ARE A KIND PERSON WHO QUIETLY STEPS IN WHEREVER YOU ARE NEEDED MOST AND MAKES EXTRAORDINARY -- YOU MAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY DIFFERENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY. DURING AN ONGOING VACANCY YOU WENT FAR AND BEYOND OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF PARAPROFESSIONAL BETAKING ON INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS WILL GET THE HIGH-QUALITY SUPPORT AND STABILITY THAT THEY DESERVED. AMAZING HOW YOU KIND OF FILLED IN THERE. YOU TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO LEARN THE CURRICULUM CREATING ENGAGING AND MEANINGFUL LESSONS THAT KEPT THE STUDENTS MOTIVATED, LEARNING AND MAKING ACADEMIC PROGRESS.
TEAM, YOU THOUGHTFUL LEAVE SUPPORTED ROUTINES THAT SUPPORTED THE BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS USING STRUCTURED BREAKS, SPECIALIZED CLASSROOM SPACES AND POTENTIAL RESET OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP STUDENTS. THAT IS, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THE BALL GOING. NEXT MAN UP, RIGHT. YOUR STEADY PRESENCE HAS NOT ONLY HELPED THE STUDENTS THRIVE ACADEMICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY BUT PROVIDED ESSENTIAL CONSISTENCY FOR COLLEAGUES AND STRENGTHENED THE ENTIRE ESE PROGRAM. FOR THAT YOUR BUCS BEST CREWMEMBER FOR MAY 2026. MAUS PLACE NEXT UP WE HAVE DANIELLE ACOSTA, THE GIFTED TEACHER AT LIMONIA ELEMENTARY. THIS AND IN YOUNG LADY --. [APPLAUSE] -- CONGRATULATION PIPS WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT 23 YEARS WITH THE DISTRICT. YOU STARTED WHEN YOU WERE 12. WE ARE FINE. THERE YOU GO. I AM HEARING THAT YOU ACTUALLY HELP OTHERS BECOME TEACHERS. SO WE WILL TALK ON THAT. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM US. THEY ARE COMING FROM YOUR STUDENTS, YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND YOUR STUDENT FAMILY, THE COMMUNITY AT YOUR ELEMENTARY SC SCHOOL.
THEY SAY HIGH TEMPERATURE THE HEART OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS OUR GIFTED TEACHER, YOU CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL WHILE TEACHING THEM SOMETHING EVEN GREATER, HOW TO LEAVE, SERVE AND CARE FOR OTHERS. THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL ELEMENTARY HONOR SOCIETY, STUDENTS GIVE BACK IN MEANINGFUL WAYS FROM FOOD AND TOILETRY DRIVES TO TOY DONATIONS FOR CHILDREN AT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL, CAMPUS RECYCLING EFFORTS AND SERVICE PROJECTS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. FOR YEARS, YOU HAVE ALSO GUIDED STUDENTS IN CREATING CARE PACKAGES FILLED WITH STACKS AND ESSENTIALS, PARTNERING WITH THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DELIVER THOSE WHO NEED THEM. IT IS AMAZING. BUT YOUR GREATEST IMPACT IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU BUILD. THIS IS WHAT REALLY KIND OF HIT HOME WITH ME. YOU TAUGHT STUDENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND THEY RETURN TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU AND SOME HAVE EVEN GONE ON TO BECOME TEACHERS BECAUSE OF YOUR INFLUENCE.
FOR THAT, YOU ARE BUCS BEST KREWE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WE HAVE YOUR GAME BALL HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOU ARE OUR PRINCIPAL OF THE MONTH -- AND I LOVE A RED BLAZER. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. MANDY SIERRA, PRINCIPAL AT LAKE MAG /* MAG DA LINE ELEMENTARY, ARE 14 YEARS FROM THE DISTRICT. AGAIN, YOUR COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM YOUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE. YOU RESTORED THE HEART OF YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, QUOTE, UNQUOTE. THROUGH YOUR KINDNESS, CREATESTIFY AND GENUINE CARE FOR PEOPLE, YOU CREATED A CULTURE WHERE STAFF FEELS SCENE, VALUE AND SUPPORTED. HANGING OUT AT MANATEE MORALE, COUPONS FOR SMALL MOMENT OF RECOGNITION, PERSONALIZED BIRTHDAY AND THANK YOU CARD OR DRESSING UP IN -- I GOT TO SEE SOME PICTURES ON THIS -- DRESSING UP IN AN INFLATABLE COSTUME TO DELIVER HOLIDAY TREATS OR KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN FOR HONEST CONVERSATIONS.
YOU MAKE EVERY PERSON FEEL WELCOME AND IMPORTANT. YOU LEAD WITH JOY, HUMILITY AND THE BELIEF THAT PEOPLE DO THEIR BEST WORK WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY MATTER. WOW. YOUR POST MEETINGS SUNRISE SERVICE SECTIONS WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME TO YOU TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT THEY LOVE, THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE OR THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO HEAR. NOT WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. BUS OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE SCHOOL FEELS LIKE FAMILY AGAIN. SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY RESULTS SHOWED A 44% INCREASE IN POSITIVE TONE OF LEADERSHIP AND 40% INCREASE IN CREATING A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. YES, I DO NEED THAT. YOU HAVEN'T JUST IMPROVED MORALE, YOU HAVE REBUILT TRUST, STRENGTHENED THE CULTURE AND REMINDED EVERYONE WHAT IT FEEL LIKE TO LOVE WHERE YOU WORK. FOR THAT, YOU ARE OUR MAY PRINCIPAL OF THE MONTH, BUCS BEST KREWE.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> BEFORE WE STOP FOR A PICTURE THAT WE NORMALLY TAKE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE -- THERE ARE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WITHOUT THEM, I GOT TO BE HONEST, THIS PROGRAM WOULDN'T EXIST. THEIR DEDICATION -- AND WE RECOGNIZE SOME OF YOU WHEN YOU ALL GOT YOUR GAME BALLS AND SOME PEOPLE. BUT THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE GONE OVER AND ABOVE. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE GLAZER FAMILY IS TO THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. IT IS VERY REFLECTIVE IN ALL THAT THEY DO. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP MR. GENE TAVARES, OUR PARTNERSHIP AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND SHERRI BOLLINGER, OUR PHILANTHROPIC SPECIAL PROGRAMS VERIER. [APPLAUSE] YOUR GAME BALL. THEY HELPED ME CREATE THOSE GAME BALLS FOR TWO YEARS. [ APPLAUSE ] PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU KNOW, WE WILL TAKE LITTLE PICTURE HERE.
>> ROSES IN THE MIDDLE AND THORNS ON THE END. [LAU [LAUGHTER] EVERYONE READY, 3, 2, 1. GREAT JOB. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT, I KNOW IS OUR LAST MEETING BUT ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO RECOGNIZE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND TIME TO COME OUT. A VERY SPECIAL GENTLEMAN THAT IS IN OUR AUDIENCE. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRIES TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM AT EVERY EVENT. THING I WOULD THINK THAT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS THE SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS. THERE IS A GENTLEMAN AMONG US, MR. JOHN NEWMAN, IF YOU CAN COME UP HERE [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] JUST TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS. WHEN I HEARD HIS STORY -- YOU KNOW HOW I AM ABOUT THESE GAME BALLS, BUT FROM WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SINCE 1962. THERE ARE ONLY SIX INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GUIDED OUR SCHOOL SAFETY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND YOU TAKE IT PERSONAL.
AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE MISSED. BUT JOIN ME -- A LEADER THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL AND FELT NEVER SCHOOL, EVERY DAY, THE RESPONSIBILITY LEADING OUR SCHOOL SECURITY FOR THIS DISTRICT SENSE 2014. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS GONE BEYOND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, CREATED A SENSE OF SAFETY, TRUST IN EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. PRIMARY SYSTEMS LIKE CENTEX SHAPELY, SECURITY THROUGH THE DOUGLAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, YOUR IMPACT REACHES FAR BEYOND OUR DISTRICT. NAMED FLORIDA SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR. THIS IS NOT JUST AN AN AWARD, BUT REFLECTION OF THE LEAVES YOU PROTECT EACH AND OVER DAY. WE HONOR YOU TODAY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR VISION AND UNWAVE HE SHALLING COMMITMENT OF PROTECTING EVERY STUDENT AND STAFF MEMBER THAT WE SERVE. CONTINUE TO BEHALF OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTENDED SERVICE, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT. PLEASE JOIN ME.