001I'd like to call this meeting to order. The time is 6 pm. I ask that out of respect for everyone, please silence all electronic devices. Also, if you have any material you wish to share with any board member, please give that to our executive assistant, Miss Mo, to my right. At this time, would you please stand for the presentation of the colors by Sebastian River High School Naval Junior ROC led by Peter Bessinette and then the pledge of allegiance. color. Ready? [Music] Color ready. Cut mark left. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance 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. Ready. Cut march post. colors and salute.
002Ready to pose colors. March forward. [Applause] Nice to have him back. >> Thank you, Sebast River High School. And you look good at the football game the other night, too, with the presentation of colors. Appreciate you. All right, board members. Our next uh item on the agenda, adoption of the orders of the day. Are there any board members who wish to move any item from consent to action? >> Yes, I would. >> Okay. Item number please, Miss Rosario. >> Consent agenda letter H. >> Okay. >> Updated good cause item approval of the superintendence authority for the 2025 tax anticipation note. >> Thank you. >> 7H. >> Yes, madam chair. Yes. >> If we could please move item 10A, which is the ratification of the contract with IRCA to immediately follow uh the presentation, I would
003greatly appreciate that. >> Thank you. All right. 10A contract right after the report from the superintendent. Any other discussion items or consent to action? >> I don't I don't think his mic is working. >> Is it mic check? Mic check. >> There it is. And I I thought I present immediately following the presentation the proclamation. >> Okay. Any other board member to move anything from consent to action >> board discussion? Added discussion item. All right. So we have that 7H will be added. Consent to action. Okay. All right. At this time um we will then call for a motion for adoption of the orders of the day as amended. Need a motion? I make a motion. >> Thank you, Miss Rosario. Second by Dr. Pasca. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >>
004Thank you, Miss Baronborg. 5-0. Thank you. >> All right. Now we go into the presentation proclamation recognizing September as American Founders Month, September 11th as 911 Heroes Day, and the last week of September as Celebrate Freedom Week. And I believe Dr. Moore, this is a video. >> Yep. We're going to We thought no better way of presenting this proclamation than having our students present it to our board. Um so if you just pay your attention to the screen, uh they will present this proclamation. >> Thank you. [Music] Whereas the leading figures present at the country's founding, including those who were instrumental in crafting the founding documents that institutionalized individual liberty and representative government that deres its power from the consent of the governed. And >> whereas the country's founders demonstrated moral and civic virtue, self-
005sacrifice, intellectual brilliance, and deep patriotism in service to ideals of freedom and democracy. And whereas the founding documents including but not limited to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers remain enduring symbols of our national identity and civic values. Whereas the historical and creative philosophical importance of the declaration of independence with its emphasis that all people are endowed by their creator with turn unariable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. where our students learn about the heroes of the Temple 11 through firsthand accounts of courage patriotism and selfless service that values that echo the vision and ideals of our American founders and >> whereas the observance of the last full week in September as celebrate freedom week within the
006context of American founders month serves to deepen students understanding of the importance of civic education and the foundation foundational principles upon which our nation was built on. And >> whereas this observance also provides an opportunity to recognize and support Florida civic education programs, school initiatives, and community partnerships that prepare students to be informed and engaged citizens. >> Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the school board of Indian River County, Florida, designates the month of September, 2025 as American Founders Month. September 11th as 911 Heroes Day and the last full week of September as Celebrate Freedom Week. >> That's beautiful. [Music] >> That's a way to do a proclamation. >> That is it. And then just those are students from our purple star feeder pattern, for lack of a better way of saying it. Sebastian River
007Senior High School, Sebastian River Middle School, and Sebastian Elementary School. >> Okay board, we will need to have a vote on this proclamation. I call for a vote for approval of proclamation recognizing September as American Founders Month, September 11th as 9/11 Heroes Day, and the last week of September as Celebrate Freedom Week. Have a motion. >> I make a motion. >> Thank you, Mr. Rosario. Dr. Pasca. Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Miss Mayor Borg, you still there? Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Now for the report from the superintendent and then we'll follow that with the contract 10A. >> Actually m we'd like to do the contract first if that's okay. >> Uh so the item before you um members of the board is to update and
008sign contract with IRCA and I'm going to ask initially as the union president will will have the opportunity to to address after Miss Christophley and Mr. Green present the item to the board and some of the highlights of of this contract. Thank you. >> Good evening through the chair. So once again, as I stated earlier, just very proud of the work that we've done together with this is our third year doing interpace bargaining and great efforts and um work done by both sides. So one of the some of the highlights are that we put some language in to give teachers time to complete their required trainings. We updated some language about um terminal pay for vacation leave. We updated um determination of student grades and how parents or teachers would respond to parents and students.
009And um then the normal salary and health benefits, which I'll turn it over to Bruce Green to give us a little update on those. >> Thank you. We also um agreed to the health insurance premiums as CWA had a two-year contract and agreed to the health insurance advisory task force or commonly called high tiff's um insurance premiums which is 18.5% and that increase ranges from $6 to $196 a month depending on the plan that you're on. And as well we agreed on salary um moving the percent raises, the retention and the performance that was previous all into um higher levels of performance pay. For example, $1,200 to $1,500 for highly effective um depending on if you're PSC or annual. And I just want to you're like moting Jen. Now is the time to to head
010on up to to the podium. And I just want to acknowledge the bargaining team. Uh obviously Beth leads that particular team. Uh Bruce serves on it. Kelly serves on it. Mike Smeler serves on it. Um Deb Long, who we're going to miss desperately in this particular uh area, serves on this team. Uh Tracy Barker um is our secretary and and feverishly records all of the dialogue and conversation and make sure that we're where we're supposed to be when we're supposed to be there. Um we engage in what we call interestbased bargaining which is a non-confrontational uh put it all on the table and discuss the issues in the best interest of children by being in service to the teachers who ultimately stand in front of our students. And over the last three years the dialogue
011and the conversation has been complex. Uh the challenges have been monumental. Um and we've had some uncomfortable conversations um to say the least, but at the end of the day, uh it is a space in in which you can share your heart, you can share your mind. Uh and we've been able to make drastic strides. Um I I can't say that we're the first system to sign off uh on a contract this school year, >> but we do it best. Um, but that we're we got to be close in terms of being one of the first to to uh agree on the additional money provided by the state uh where it's going to go and how we're going to maximize uh our funds and resources for for teachers. So before we sign, Jen, the floor
012is yours. >> You also serve on that committee. >> Oh, I I do too. Yes, I I I I'm always there. Yes. Yeah. >> Um so good evening to the board, Dr. Warren, cabinet. Um and to teachers, here we go again and welcome back to another year. I would like to thank the negotiating team as a whole, both sides. >> We when we go into negotiations, we spend a lot of time together. 16 hours on salary alone, it's a lot of time in one room together with people you like or not, right? Um although we have many more hours to go and a lot more hard work to do, we IRCA and SDRC can have continued to work as a partnership to create some of the best language in our state to support our teachers
013in the hard work they do. We in India County, Indian River County, not only lead the state in student achievement, but also in how we protect and honor our teachers, which in turn creates a the best learning environment for our students. Again, I'd like to thank both teams and the board for supporting us. Thank you. And we do have a speaker on this. I'm sorry we moved it to the beginning, but um we have Zachary Wagers who would like to speak on this, please. Thank you. Hello everybody. Um, my name is Zachary Wiggers. I am a teacher at Sebastian River High School. I teach financial algebra. I'm also the treasurer of the Indian River County Educators Association. Um, I I can't express enough about how valuable it is that we are still able to bargain
014like we do here in our district, not only in our state. Um, there was a recent article that came out about 3 months ago that had showed where collective bargaining is no more. Florida is the only state south of the Mason Dixon line and east of the Mississippi that is able to collectively bargain with their public employees. And the immense amount of pride that we have in what we were able to accomplish in those three, four, five days, um me here at the at the district with Mr. Bruce and Mr. Smeltzer and Miss Christophley and all the hard work that we put in is a real testament to how well we work together. And while we tell our kids together means you work better. This is truly a thing that we have accomplished. Working together,
015no other place, excuse me, one other place in the state does what we do. And we are able to accomplish great things when we can work together. So that's what I'd like to say. Thank you board. Thank you everybody for your help doing this. Thank you. >> So at this time, Miss Christophy will help us initiate the the signing. We will have the union president sign on behalf of the teachers. Um Doc Jones, you're facilitating as chair. So we will all stand behind you as you sign and then I will sign and we will have a initiated contract after you approve it. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, just on this item, approval of the 2526 collective bargaining agreement between the school board and any river county education association. I would like to ask
016for a motion for approval of the collective bargaining agreement between the school board and any river county education association. >> I'll make a motion. >> Thank you, Miss Rosar. >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. And Miss Baron board, >> I'll make a motion. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. Anyone opposed? >> Hi. >> Okay, vote carries five to zero. Congratulations. We're proud of you. Chris is a long name. >> Good. done. >> Thank you very much. Thank you to everyone. [Applause] >> Now, the report from the superintendent, >> Megan, if you can put it up there. uh this is a very similar if not the exact same report that I gave uh during the workshop today and it's just revol this presentation strictly resol revolves around
017the opening of school um so two key initiatives as we rolled into the school um school year actually this is prior to the start of the school year this is our summer feeding program and as we've discussed with the board several times we need drastic improvement in in terms of the participation in our breakfast program our lunch program and it starts over the summer. So you see a drastic uh increase 9,000 additional breakfast, 9,000 additional lunches and additional over almost 1,200 uh snacks and this is just during the summer. So the board approved a reorganization in which we put new leadership and a different structure in our food service program. And that leadership um Mr. O'Keefe is playing uh immediate dividends to us. This is our kindergarten increase in enrollment by 49. We've had numerous
018conversations regarding a decline in kindergarten enrollment last year, which was a reduction of of 10%. We've cut that reduction, actually improved uh just shy of two of a thousand students in kindergarten. So, we're excited to see that. And then even more excited to see an additional 111 students in our sixth grade programming and with is an intentional redesign with the four K8s that we put in place starting with sixth grade this year in those K8. So an immediate return on investment. Sixth grade historically has always been a decline from fifth to sixth uh where we did not see that this year an actual increase in sixth graders. This is um putting ourselves right to work. This looks at our ELA uh progress monitoring. As you know, the state works on a three-year, not a three-year,
019a three assessment cycle. And the progress monitoring, most districts haven't even taken this assessment yet. We take it as soon as we possibly can because this assessment helps us drive instruction, make sure that we're ending uh addressing the immediate needs of our children. And you can see in each of the grade configurations, we're starting in a better place when compared to the previous school year. So significant increases in elementary, middle school, and high school. An overall increase of 5 percentage points. And this is before we've had them uh for a full year to teach them. So we expect to to prove uh to drive instruction at a very aggressive level based on where we're starting. So we're excited to see these outcomes a similar pattern in math. Obviously, math is a little bit load lower
020because they got to be exposed to the content and the the new math courses that they're in, but still still starting in a better place in the previous in comparison to the true previous year. So, very excited about that. When you look at our progress to open up schools, we always begin with onboarding and I continue to get great feedback as I visit schools regarding the intentionality of this program. Uh how specific it is and how it has truly eased the onboarding and new processes and systems for employees coming into our school system. So we're very excited about the impact of that programming. We were highlighted for the second time in two years in Business View magazine uh a national feature. So, we're excited to continue to share the work that we're doing. Um, Haimey
021and myself had the opportunity to address our school deputies at their opening of school meeting, making sure all of our new security measures are fully trained and they're aware of them and can support them as we move into the opening of schools. Our Thrive program was absolutely outstanding. This was a celebration where we had the opportunity to to greet teachers, celebrate the 100% A&B schools. um in the third A in the row and set our expectations through professional learning throughout that day. So, it's just a great way to kick off the return of our teachers. The first day of school is probably one of the longest days of the year. We start at the bus depot at 5:45. Actually, we got there at 5:45 and Miss Baron's like, "Where are all the bus drivers?" They
022had all already left. So, we got to move our bus um times even earlier. Uh and buses to this point the easiest onboarding that we've ever done. Um on-time arrivals around 96 97 and we're continuing to improve in the afterchool uh drop off space with numbers that are really really continuing um to grow. Visited myself as many board members visited all of our schools. I've been to all of our elementary schools at least once. Most of our secondary schools twice uh and really going to see seeing us hitting the ground running. We're launching pillar events. So this was our pillar event at Vero Beach Elementary School. Our intent of villar a pillar events is to connect parents. It was at Beachland um to connect parents to each other. Uh and making sure that by building
023connections and relationships with parents who share a school where they're educating their son or daughter and share growing and educating and raising their children in a community. the stronger those relationships are, we know the more accountable we're going to be to providing highest the highest quality of education and culture in a school system. So building and making those connections in return will make us a better school system and obviously a better community. And then Friday, the la first Friday, August 15th, that was our opportunity for the second year in a row, just to go out and celebrate the close of the first week of school, acknowledging our parents and our pickup lines and thanking them for working with us for that first week. And then we ended the first week of school in the street
024celebration event, which was the closing down of Main Street, Vero Beach, and just celebrating with our teachers. um those restaurants just provided additional resources. There were playhouses obviously there were some bubbles. So it was just great after a very hard first week of school uh to come out and celebrate with our community and remind ourselves why we do this work. And then that evening uh we had the opportunity to honor Mr. Tesy and his family as we dedicated Tesy Terrace uh to him. And you'll see him standing up there at every football game enjoying the game for the first time probably in his career because he's not supervising and making sure we're all safe. That's uh Jaime's responsibility now. And then Friday nights uh kickoff at Sebastian River High School. Equally uh exciting. Had the
025opportunity last Friday um to actually that is last Friday to go and and celebrate with them their second home game. And that is our presentation. Madam Chair, >> thank you very much. Board members, any comments or anything added? Okay, we will now go to the part of our agenda for public input and I'm going to read the information regarding our public input. These are the procedures for public input according to our schoolboard policy 169.1. During regular business meetings of the board, the board offers the following two opportunities for the public to provide input on an agenda item, consent agenda, and or action agenda prior to the board taking official action honor proposition and during the public input section for items not on the agenda. For those who are watching, please understand that though we have
026established proper decorum and expectations of professionalism when it comes to individuals who wish to provide public input, this is a live broadcast. Each individual speaker shall be allotted up to three minutes during public input and up to three minutes to an item on the consent agenda and or action agenda as indicated on the order of business as it exists at the time the meeting starts. The time period may be adjusted by the presiding officer. Individuals may only speak once about a given item. Individuals who have filled out the speaker form are allowed to address the board. Individuals may not delegate their aotted time to speak to other individuals. If an item is moved from either the consent agenda or discussion agenda to the action agenda, individuals will have the opportunity to speak to the item
027prior to vote on the board. During the meeting, please refrain from clapping or outbursts of any sort so that we can proceed with dignity and with decorum by not infringing on any individual's first amendment right in this limited public forum. During the meeting, please refrain from clapping or outbursts of any sort so that we can proceed with dignity and with decorum. I'm sorry, that's a repeat. Board members may or may not address any individual statements at the end of all the public input comments. I will be recognizing and calling up individuals two at a time in the order in which a speaker forms were received. The first individual will be called to the podium to speak and the second individual will be in line to speak. The executive assistant to the school board will be
028the official timekeeper. That's Miss and the time shall start when the speaker is at the podium. As you will see, the time clock is visible to your left on the deis. You will hear a beep at the end of your three minutes. If you have anything to give to the board members or the superintendent, please do this through our executive assistant, Missy. And tonight, it just looks like two speakers. The first one is Jennifer Pippen, and on deck is Kenneth Simmon. Welcome, Miss Pippen. Good evening, Dr. Jones. Good evening. My name is Jennifer Pippen, and I'm the proud chairman of Moms for Liberty here in Indian River County. First, I want to thank the school district, particularly the curriculum and instruction staff for the wellorganized classical curriculum adoption committee process. It was a pleasure to
029see the strong participation from parents, especially those with children currently enrolled in our schools. The principal and teachers involved were outstanding and the engagement from all parties was a great example of collaboration done right. I was proud to serve on that committee earlier this month. Also, I'm proud to share that we've donated pocket constitutions to all of our middle schools here in Indian River County free of charge. These will be distributed to eighth grade students as they study the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence around September 17th, which is Constitution Day. It's an important supplemental resource that supports civic in education in a meaningful way. If any board member or cabinet member would like one, I have some extra today. Another point I'd like to address involves the Florida Standards for African-American History. Through a
030recent public records request, we found that not a single family in our district opted out over the past school year. While some expressed concern publicly, including the NAACP and others who rallied media attention, the data shows that families supported the instruction. It's a reminder that sometimes the loudest voices, whether it's the NAACP or white liberal activists, don't necessarily represent the majority of our county and that facts matter. As for the start of the school year, it's been a smooth launch overall. I just want to let you guys know I'm being honest. My time never started. Okay. Um, sorry, I just looked and make sure I had enough time. So, I'm just I'm just I'm going to wrap it up in a minute for you. Okay. >> In my head. >> I'm being honest. Um, as
031for a start of the school year, it's been a smooth launch overall. There's been a few isolated incidents, including fights at the Freshman Learning Center and the Sebastian River High School, but I appreciate the school resource officers and the district's quick and appropriate response to those fights. There was also a report of a bus driver blaming um, President Trump for local transportation issues, which was later addressed by Mrs. Idollet. Again, great work ensuring our focus remains on education, not lies. and misinformation. In closing, I want to commend the hard work of our educators, staff, and administrators. We may not always agree on everything, but I believe we all want what's best for our children, and things have definitely continued to improve over the past couple of years. Here's to a great year. Thank you for
032your time, and have a wonderful evening. >> Thank you. [Music] During the meeting you held last September to honor Ronald Hudson, you showed us a video presentation which gave great insights of the Gford School where Dr. Hudson began his career as a professional academician. Many personal testimonies in that documentary were given by the participants and success beautiful naent academic institution of Indian River County. I remember them saying there was a maxim written on the entranceway of the school which said something like enter to learn, exit to serve. And I clearly recall one former student and teacher say they formerly each day began with a reading from the Bible and the Lord's Prayer. But in a different meeting when you were discussing introducing the proven successful Christian curriculum into one of our public schools, one of
033you offered this warning before you instituted it here. She said, quote, obviously we can't have the Christian component as the classical private school does in Vero Beach because we are here for all religions, all cultures, all children. I have to understand that whatever we are doing, we are doing for all of our students. End quote. That may resonate with some of you as very noble and equitable. But when truth is fallen in the street, equity cannot enter. Isaiah 59:14. The Bible says to proceed in the order of adding faith to virtue and to virtue knowledge. But the elimination of Christian content also seems very much of such a mind that would keep pornography on school library shelves, promote critical race theory such as systemic racism, and all the confusion and damage that occurs from fulfilling
034the LGBTQ's agenda. You're giving license for the base instincts of human nature to rule outside the boundaries of pure Christian religion and morality. And in place of virtue, you venture far a field with secular humanism, atheism, and moral relativism, and ridicule anyone choosing concepts of objective truth given by the creator of humanity, also known as nature's god, divine providence, and supreme judge of the world, noted in our foundational document of our country. The blessings of liberty are faithfully entwined with just laws as the preamble to our constitution states. Can you not include having a few minutes of a Bible reading of a psalm and include the Lord's Prayer in the classical curriculum school and in all other public schools in these United States. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore. Any feedback or any board members any
035comments? All righty. Thank you very much. We will now go on to approval of the consent agenda as amended. Like to call for a motion to approve the consent agenda items as amended. >> So move. >> Mr. Dyer. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Pasca. Any discussion? All in favor of the consent agenda as amended, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Thank you. 50. All right. Now we go into items pulled from consent to action and we had one item pulled. Miss Rosario 7H on the good cause tan and Dr. Moore. I'll let you go ahead and speak first and then we'll give it to Miss Rosario. >> Thank you, Madame Chair. Uh I will turn this item over to Mr. Green to present. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore through the chair. So
036board, as we have briefed and workshopped a couple times, um school districts around the state of Florida are funded differently. Some are more heavily through state funding and less on local funding. Um whereas our district uh the majority of funding comes through the local um assessed tax value. Those dollars do not appear until October and November as people pay their tax bills and the tax role comes in. So, in order to cover operational expenses from July 1st until December, um we go out and we borrow in the years we need to a tax anticipation note. We go out and we do an invitation to negotiate and bid for banks to bid on the best rate to to um secure that note on our behalf. The tax anticipation note for 2025 is not to exceed $15
037million. and the um most responsive bidder was Wells Fargo. In the past, those banks have gone out and secured the note on their own even though we don't approve the TAN until September 9th. However, with market volatility, the bank has um they will be locking in that fixed rate as of the date we signed the note, which would be September 9th. So, as a a measure, as an opportunity to lock in an interest rate, what you have before you is what's called a forward fixed uh rate lock agreement. It's with Wells Fargo. Their current rate is 3.99%. We know what our local investment rate in Florida Prime is, which is 4.521. So, um monitoring and we don't have another board meeting between now and September 9th. So what this item is asking is the superintendent
038to be given authority by the board to enter into a rate lock agreement if between now and September 9th it became in the best interest of the board that rates were um increasing that we could lock it in based on the current market conditions. We're seeing rates possibly decreasing. So we certainly wouldn't use this um mechanism unless it was absolutely in the best interest of the district and that is what the item before you is for. Thank you very much. Board member Rosario. >> Um I pulled this item Thank you, Madam Chair. I pulled this item because I didn't think that it was routine and I thought that um it deserved for us to be able to say good point. >> Oh. Um and I deserve I'm sorry. Let me start over. Um, I pulled
039this item because I didn't think that it was routine and I did um uh and I believe that it deserved to be pulled for action so that we can hear um from Mr. Green and um and then take an uh a vote on it. >> Thank you, Mrs. Zar, Mr. Dyer or Dr. Posa. You good? >> Well, as I said in the uh workshop today, I I hope that uh we don't have to exercise it. It does look like that rates may fall. Uh hopefully we'll have some good news uh by September the 9th, but I think just in the uh to make sure in case there's something that does happen in world events that would cause it to do otherwise, it's probably a good thing to do, >> right? >> To lock in a
040rate. >> Any more discussion? Miss Baronborg, you good? Okay. All right. At this time, thank you for all the information provided and I'd like to call for a motion now for uh this consent to action item regarding I want to read it correctly. Approval of the superintendent's authority for the 2025 tax anticipation notice series 2025 forward rate lock agreement. I need a motion. >> I'll move it. >> Okay, >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. and dire. Any more discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All right. That moves forward 5. >> Okay. Uh the next action item was with the collective bargaining. So we can skip that. So we are now on action agenda 10, the approval of resolution for local mitigation strategy. And I was told I needed to read
041this information for our district and our community. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, requires that all hazard mitigation plans be reviewed and updated as appropriate and resubmitted to the Florida Division of Emergency Management for approval every 5 years. The state of Florida Division of Emergency Management found via letter dated June 27th, 2025 that the LMS plan is compliant with federal standards subject to formal adoption by various Indian River County agencies, including the school board. The board of county commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, passed and adopted the resolution 2025-031 approving the updated unified local mitigation strategy for inclusion in the statewide hazard mitigation strategy in the 2025 revised Indian River County unified local mitigation strategy plan on July 13, 2025. The purpose of the resolution 2026 is to adopt the 2025 Indian River County Unified
042Local Mitigation Strategy, which is attached obviously to the agenda item in on file in the district office as the official district-wide document for hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness. A copy of the resolution will be shared with all relevant district departments and stakeholders. So board members, any discussion? Yeah. All right. And we do need a roll call vote on this. Miss Mor, >> Dr. Pasca. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Rosario. M. Rosario. >> I >> Dr. Jones. >> Hi. >> Chair Baronborg. >> I >> Mr. Dyer. >> Hi. >> Okay. Resolution passes with a 50 vote. >> Well, doc, we were all excited for Mr. Alberta to present his first item, but um you did a good job for him. So, >> I asked if I should read that. Hi. I'm sorry, Mr. Alberta. Would you like
043to add anything? I know how I um obviously as a high school principal and going through several hurricanes and having shelters, I know how important this is with our um connection with the county and all the um all the people involved. No, thank you so much for for giving me an opportunity to speak. Um the only thing I'll add to it is um it just strengthens our collaboration across the entire county with uh school district along with law enforcement and emergency operations. So it just shows our initiative to make sure that we are all working together toward the local mitigation strategy. >> Yeah, you'll see and been through several of them how the county works together. It's really pretty darn good. I'm >> I can see that already. All right. Now, we are on to
044discussion and nobody added any items. So, that takes us to board member matters and I'm sure board members want to talk about the beginning of the school year. So, who would like to begin? Anybody? I'll go. >> Okay. Mr. Rosario. >> Um, I think this is going to be the quickest meeting that we've ever had. >> Unbelievable. >> We're not done yet. Jaguar. >> Well, I mean, >> literally, it just started. Um, I'd be happy to add another discussion item. I have plenty to choose from. Um, no, I I just the opening of school, of course. Yes, we're going to talk about the opening of school. Um, it was uh wonderful. The feeling in the air was great. Everybody was happy to be back. There was something very eerily calm about the first couple of
045days as I walked through schools and I walked through classrooms. Um, that was it was good. It was almost as if there wasn't a summer in between and and I know I see, you know, a lot of people shaking heads and it just felt very almost um I don't want to say routine, but just this sense of peace just came over the district. It was just something I've never experienced before. I don't know. I I don't want to think it was an anomaly. Um but it certainly was a good feeling uh going through schools even Mr. Albertie, even the uh opening of all of the schools having a new sign-in system >> where it was brand new. I know that systems weren't communicating. The previous system wasn't uh I guess linked with the current system.
046So, not having a lot of updated information in there went really well. I mean, it just seemed to everything just went well. Uh so kudos to everyone involved in that. Kudos to um district staff and most importantly a big congratulations to all of our school um administrators and staff members and teachers and parents and everybody else involved in ensuring that schools opened smoothly and that here we are into um um a new year. Um I I'd like to say also um it was nice to see um everyone with the Centix tags on. Um that's something that I have been championing. Yes, sir. That's something that I have been championing championing for many years and I I just I'm I'm very happy to see that. Um I and again coming to the end of the I
047didn't see any pictures up of it. I may have missed it, but coming to the end of the week with the signwaving at Rose uh Rosland um that it was hot, but it was very fun to do. So, I'm glad that we were able to do that. Did I say something wrong? >> You said Rose. It's Rosewood. >> I mean Rosewood. Sorry. See, that's where my head is. Rosewood Magnet School. Um and so that was also um a lot of fun. and um I'm looking forward to a really really great year. So, congratulations to everyone um so far and let's see where we go. >> Thank you, Dr. Pasca. >> You good? Miss Baronborg forget her. >> I don't know if she can. >> Yes. Thank you. Hopefully, you can hear me. >> Um the
048buses, I couldn't believe how fast they got out of there. That was the best I've ever ever seen. Uh good for them. uh visited all the schools a few two or three times already. Um again I I agree it was the smoothest opening I think I've ever seen and the car pickup uh sign waving was hot. Maybe I would like to see us do more of that um throughout many of our schools perhaps once a month maybe >> for the end of the school to the end of the school year. Dr. Moore I don't know if we could do it. And then uh the 14th Avenue bubble party was fun. Uh thank you to the learning alliance for supporting that. And of course the football game um and test terrace was great. So thank you
049for everyone for working so hard to make everything happen that I know starting schools is rough and um you guys just made it seem seamless. So good job. >> Thank you Miss Baron. Mr. Dyer. >> Yeah. I'd like to first say uh congratulations again on last year's results. I think that's really set the stage uh fifth in the state and uh for your goal this year of becoming number one in the state that would be an unbelievable feat. Congratulations on a smooth opening and I I think what it really shows you you know the average tenure of a superintendent and a leadership team in Florida schools is less than uh three year was around three years three and a half years somewhere in there. This team has been together now for five years. And I
050think you can begin to see what happens when you have a seasoned leadership team and engaged, enthusiastic uh teachers and staff. uh it really starts coming together and that that's one of I think one of the big reasons of our success is we've been so consistent about how we're going about uh being best by kids and really advancing the educational outcomes in our our community. I do have one other comment that I'd like to uh to to talk about and that is uh I'm very happy to see how well the the ratification of the contract and how well everyone has worked together but I still would be remiss if I didn't say say that Florida is 50th out of all the states in average teacher salary and I think that for a high-erforming district with
051the leadership and the the teachers and the staff that is all working together to deliver these results that we as a state and we as a district need to do better. Uh I I think that we need to do uh something to make sure that we retain our high performance staff because when you start over and when you have constant churn, you don't move forward. And for us to reach number one, we've got to somehow, not only as a state, but also as a local district, be able to do more for those people that are delivering such outstanding results. >> Thank you, Mr. Dyer. Um, went to a couple orientations. It was great seeing the schools getting ready and the parents attending. It was a lot of fun. Um, went to the welcoming of the
052new principal at Beachland. The Beachland PTA did that for Miss Gonzalez. It was wonderful. I did visit all schools in the first week and I see a really really smooth opening like everybody else. The teachers are ready on day one to teach. The principles are ready with their schools and the staff members are ready. We've all talked about the sign waving at Storm Grove and Rosewood. It was fun. Maybe we can make it a little bit cooler months. Um and I like Miss Baronborg's idea about maybe hitting one school a month. That'd be fun. You know, I said this in email to principles. takes a lot of work to prepare to open a school and they almost make it look easy but it's not. It is so much detail. I mean they start on that
053the day after school ends. It is so much detail and the institutional knowledge is is is great with our principles. They've got to know what's expected, what's coming down the pike. Um, but I just want to say to all of the leaders in our schools, in our leaders in our classrooms, you are doing a great job. Um, as Dr. Moore presented today, we're up in our kindergarten numbers a little bit and sixth grade. I did visit all the sixth grade classes at um, Rosewood, Oyola, and Felsmere. Got to the K1 classes at Pelican Island, but um, just looking good. I learned my ID number very quickly. I showed my badge and said, "Nope, you got." So, I learned that the first day. Uh, kind of remembered some of it. But again, another way to make
054sure that our campuses are safe and I love that. Um, you know, paint really made a difference at our schools this summer. It really made a difference when you go by our schools that were painted. And obviously, um, we have single point entries in all of our campuses, but Sebast River High School and Ver Beach High School change. But boy, being principal at Sebast River High School, I went in and I was a little bit confused when I went into that new entryway, but it looks good. Um, I did ask most principles are staffed out. I think we do have a few permanent subs, but again, we are so very lucky to have the teachers here. I mean, we can all talk about this all day long, but it's that instructional delivery in the classroom
055by that teacher that makes a difference. And we I agree with Mr. Dyer. We've all said this before. you know, we've got to work somehow to get um our teachers to stay and and it it does come down to finances at sometimes because it's very very hard to live it here as a single teacher in any river county. It's just not easy. So, I don't know. We've got to figure out something there. Um and you know what Miss Rosario said was right as far as there's like a piece. It was almost I don't know, but I felt it at every school and I'm visiting the charter schools now. I always want them to know I'm here if they have any questions. But um very peaceful and I were I was at several schools day one,
056day two. I mean I got through them that first week. But it just seemed like the kids were where they were supposed to be. The teachers on task and there's a good feeling. Been to both the football games. Now I got to get to some volleyball games. But um you know I just think you know Dr. Moore you and your staff you know one thing we don't do enough of public education is pat ourselves on the back. We need to pat ourselves on the back. We've had a good opening. I know we're going to keep going with it because it's the continuity, you know, of you and the team, the cabinet, the principles keeping them together because when you have change, you know, it it's hard to kind of catch up. So, um, I appreciate
057that. I appreciate the district and the teachers. So, thank you. >> Dr. Moore, do you want to add anything now? Um just was as each board member said the opening of schools is absolutely outstanding that happens as a result of a commitment that our teachers our administrators have a great deal of planning and preparation. Um we were able to provide very very clear focus from each school's perspective the goals and the way in which the work will take place in order to accomplish th those goals. So uh we're excited about the academic outcomes in day one that kind of assessed and gives us a deep understanding as to where our students sit. But even more excited about the plans that are already in place and the movement that we're seeing in schools to individualize instruction
058uh and provide rigorous instruction uh for all students because the goal that we've set for ourselves is extremely extremely aggressive. Um and we're kind of ripping off the band-aid and say, you know, to say each school is going to be an A, which is a a minimum expectation at this point or to be a district aid, uh that now is low hanging fruit. The expectation is to create a school system that ensures all students grow by uh one whole year academically um which is a lot a lot of work and addressing the true needs of the child wherever that may be in order to ensure that happens is complex hard work. So um it's going to be an absolutely outstanding year. Want to thank the board, want to thank cabinet. Uh, I'm actually for the
059first time in 31 years, as my wife reminds me, we're going to take a a true vacation. We've never taken anything more than a weekend here or there. Um, so I get to go on my honeymoon. And the reason that I'm able to do that is because of the folks uh who who are here. I never uh in 31 years ever would have thought of trying to dis I don't know that I'll be able to actually disconnect. Um, but to know that these folks right here are here and and upholding that push. Um, on behalf of my wife, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Dr. Bor. And whenever you go, we hope you have a safe trip. >> All right. Any anything else for our agenda? Okay. I think we need to mark this
060down. >> This is a world record. >> I'd like to adjourn this meeting at 652. Thank you for coming.