001All right. Good afternoon. I would like to call this workshop to order at 2 o'clock. Mrs. Hawkins is out of town taking a tour of the White House. So, I will be will preside over this meeting. Our first presentation is number 126-3672 review of Youth Thrive Elementary School of Brooksville Steam Charter proposed by Mrs. Don Williams, supervisor of school choice. Good afternoon, Don Williams, supervisor of school choice. Um on February 2nd, two 2026, an application for Youth Thrive School of Brooksville Steam was submitted. A committee of 20 district staff convened to review and evaluate the application. The members of the committee are as follows. Committee chair, non- voting member Don Williams, executive director of student support programs, non- voting member Lisa Cropley. Members, Alexis Brown, director of human resources. Dr. Paula Clark, supervisor of professional
002learning. Matt Goldrich, director of professional standards and labor relations. Bill Hall, fire official, plans examiner. Julie Hansen, accountant. Tiffany Howard, director of elementary education. Dr. Mike Lstra, school principal. Anna Jensen, director of exceptional student education. Jill Colassa, director of student services. Ralph Leaf, director of transportation. James Lipy, school planner. Holly Longo, director of food and nutrition. Dion Makinson, coordinator of finance. Jennifer Mchbach, director of research and accountability. Dr. John Morris, director of secondary curriculum. Angel Pagan, director of safe schools. Megan Schleer, director of federal programs, and myself, Don Williams, supervisor of school choice. A comprehensive review and preliminary ratings in each of the categories took place on February 19th, 2026 along with the development of capacity interview questions for which clarification would be asked. On March 2nd, 2026, the capacity interview with the applicants took
003place and in the week that followed, the committee finalized their assigned sections. Each each section was reviewed using the evaluation criteria require required by Florida statute 102-33. Of the 22 sections, 19 can be rated as meets the standard. Partially meets the standard or does not meet the standard. There is no set number of sections that must be rated meets the standard to qualify for recommendation for approval. Nor is there a set number of does not meet the standard to qualify for recommendation or denial. In this application, 19 sections were rated as meets the standard, none as partially meets the standard and none as does not meet the standard. Upon completion of the evaluation, the voting members were pulled using a survey whether or not to offer a recommendation for approval or denial to the school
004school board. By a vote of 15 to1, the committee offers a recommendation for approval to the school board. It is not a requirement that the board uphold the recommendation of the committee. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Williams. So, what this item is is the review of the information that was provided in the attachments and it's an opportunity for the board to um have any questions or any comments or anything about the application. >> Thank you, Mr. Sure. Really basic questions. Um, how many students you handle currently at Best Academy and you're converting to I I believe a K8 it's going to be. How many students will you take? Um, and you're now what your current rating is. I believe you're a B school if I'm not mistaken. >> No sir, we're an A. >>
005I knew it was close. >> Very close. Yeah. So if you could just >> So currently Best Academy has 91 students. We started the year with 94. >> Our capacity is 132. >> We've never reached that capacity as of yet. >> Right. >> Um it will technically not be a K8. It will be a U K to 5 and a middle school. The reason for that is we would lose all of our history of our grade. So it will be an elementary school. So what what would the total number of >> maximum would be 120 116 >> with with with the elementary and the middle school combined? >> No, that's just for the elementary and then >> 120. >> We have a maximum of 132 for >> So you'd be middle >> 330 roughly if
006you were at max 332 >> 250 >> 2 Yeah. 250 >> 250. And then there's a Spring Hill campus. What's going to happen there? >> That's coming up in the next item. That's separate from this. >> It's a separate application. Yes, they're two separate applications. >> Okay. But do you know how many students they're going to be at at the Spring Hill? I'm just curious. >> It's It's about It's the same size as this one. >> So, >> K to five. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And we'll hear Mr. Johnson, we will hear detail on >> Oh, no. I I just just general parameters because we know we're crowded, so this is not a bad thing. >> Any other questions? Miss Williams. >> So, this item will come um to a formal board meeting um
007believe the 12th of May and that's when um you'll take action on it. >> Mr. Pender, >> just one last thing is 12th of uh Miss Williams, >> the 12th of May that falls within the 90 days without that extension. >> Yes. >> Okay. I was just curious. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Speak in your mic, please. >> I'm sorry. We have 90 days to approve the charter. Um once an applicant drops it off, we did sign an extension to extend those 90 days. So, we're we're covered. >> Okay. >> Any other information? >> No, not on Steam. Well, thank you very much. And now we're going to move into item number two, 26-3673, review of Youth Thrive Elementary Academy for Creative Excellence, Spring Hill Charter Proposal by Mrs. Don Williams, supervisor of school
008choice, Mrs. Williams. Thank you. On February 2nd, 2026, an application for Youth Thrive Elementary for Creative Excellence was submitted. A committee of 20 district staff convened to review and evaluate the application. The members of the committee are as follows. Committee chair, non- voting member Don Williams, executive director of student support programs, non- voting member Lisa Cropley. Members Alexis Brown, director of human resources, Dr. Paula Clark, supervisor professional learning. Matt Goldendrick, director of professional standards and labor relations. Bill Hall, fire official/plans examiner. Julie Hansen, accountant. Tiffany Howard, director of elementary curriculum. Dr. Mike Lstra, school principal. Anna Jensen, director of exceptional student education. Jill Colassa, director of student services. Ralph Leath, director of transportation. James Lipy, school planner. Hi Longo, director of food and nutrition. Deion Minson, coordinator of finance. Jennifer Mersbach, director of research and
009accountability, Dr. John Morris, director of secondary curriculum, Angel Pagan, director of safe schools, Megan Schleer, director of federal programs, and Don Williams. A comprehensive review and preliminary ratings in each of the categories took place on February 19th, 2026, along with the development of capacity interview questions for which clarification would be asked. On March 2nd, 2026, the capacity interview with the applicants took place, and in the week that followed, the committee finalized their assigned sections. Each section was reviewed using the evaluation criteria required by Florida Statute 102.33. Of the 22 sections, 19 can be rated as meets the standard, partially meets the standard, or does not meet the standard. There is no set number of sections that must be rated meets the standard to qualify for recommendation for approval. Nor is there a set number of
010does not meet the standard to qualify for recommendation for denial. In this application, 19 sections were rated as meets the standard. None as partially meets the standard and none as does not meet the standard. Upon completion of the evaluation, the voting members were pled using a survey whether or not to offer a recommendation for approval or denial to the school board. By a vote of 16 to1, the committee offers a recommendation for approval to the school board. It is not a requirement that the board uphold the recommendation of the committee. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you, Mrs. Williams. Board, do we have any questions? >> Mrs. Bonsik, >> this is the 6 through8. Is that what I'm understanding? No, this is another K through five. >> Okay. On the other side of town, right? So,
011where's the middle school? I thought, maybe I misunderstood. I thought a middle school was coming too. The middle school's >> No, we currently are a middle school 6 to 8 that has been operating for 14 years. will be going into its 15th year. >> So, but this one's just going to be a K through five. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> What is the location of of the uh the new elementary? >> It will be in Spring Hill. >> Where in Spring Hill? The address. >> So, we're looking at a a building we haven't closed on yet. Um near Spring Hill or uh Spring Hill Drive and 19. But as soon as we have the information, the formal information, we'll share that with the board. But we don't have a building at this
012time. >> Okay. So my question then becomes, can we approve it without a location? >> It's or do we have to have a location to approve it? Because if it's going to open in in the in the fall? >> No, this one's not opening this year. >> Not opening. >> No, >> they have what? You have three >> three years from the date of approved. >> Yes. Now, getting back to the first one, the the K the K5 is going to open at at the location in Brooksville. >> Yes. >> This coming. >> Yes. >> Okay. I I just wanted clarification. >> But only kindergarten and fifth grade will be the first year and then two year two grades each year after that to be at full capacity in three years. >> Right. I have
013great expectations. You always do a wonderful job, Mrs. Young. >> Thank you. >> If the building that you're looking at falls through, what would would it still be the same vicinity, the same area that you would >> Yes. will definitely be opening in the Spring Hill area. Thank you. >> But I don't think you need the address to approve the charter. >> No, >> that's correct. >> And >> okay, so let let me let me get unconfused. Okay. >> So May 12th, we would approve the charter and then they have to come back to us after that and we approve the location or they could just pick any location they wanted. >> They would announce the location I would think. I don't think that has to be approved. >> Is that correct? >> No. Oh,
014go ahead. >> No, I mean there you're also at some point approving a charter agreement and that should spell out the location. Now, if it doesn't have the location or they don't have one on May 12th, >> that's okay. They don't have to have a a location by May 12th. >> Okay. They have to have they have to let us know the location before they open. >> Yes. >> And that has to be approved by the board. >> It's It's not It's just part of the process. It's not a separate >> I'm asking do we have to approve the location? >> Yes, you do. >> So, it has to come back for an approval of the location. >> Well, the contract will come back to you. that will include the location at that time in
015the contract. And if the um applications are approved, they have up until three year they have three years from the date of approval to open up a school. >> Okay. I'm I'm I'm just want to get the procedure straight in my mind because we're approving something. >> If I'm hearing this correctly, >> I'm I'm I'm in favor of what's going on. >> No, I'm Sammy. I'm just trying to get the procedure straight in my mind. That's all. But if I'm hearing this correctly, it the school we'll we will approve the school and then if they want to switch buildings, switch locations somewhere that direction, wherever they then that will come back. We'll know at that time where it's going to be and then we will approve. >> Well, you're you're approving the charter first. >>
016That's right. >> And then whatever happen >> the location will come later. >> Exactly. And that location will be part of the agreement that you also have to approve. So if if we decide I'm just for argument sake I'm playing devil's advocate that we don't like the location or the location is not suitable we can reject that in the future after we've approved the charter or we have to go along with what they provide us >> I don't think the location matters answers legal question. >> Oh the the answer is yeah I I don't believe you can reject based on the location of the of the school. >> Okay I'll check into that. >> Thank you. I I I and I'm not trying to put a monkey wrench into it. It just, you know, I'm
017looking more for specifics because, you know, I personally welcome the competition and as I said, Miss Young, you've done a tremendous job for the last what, six years now, eight years, whatever. You've been there. You've been here a long time. >> Yeah. Like I said, four years. >> It just seems longer. >> Just seems But I I've never had a problem. You've always done a wonderful job. I've hear nothing but good things from people that that are the parents of children in Best Academy in the past. So, I look forward to this expansion. I just want to make sure all the ducks are in a row and we know what's going on down the road. Uh, and again, choice of where you go. I hope it works out for you on on wherever you're going
018over and um just don't go into the preserve, but I hope you you uh you find your location and it works well for you. >> Thank you. Mr. Johnson. Do you have any other information you would like to give us? >> No. >> Okay. Board members, any other questions? >> Well, at this time, I think we're finished. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> And best of luck to you. You're welcome. Can you be the computer lady? Ready, >> ready to go. >> Mr. Johnson, you ready? Item number 3, 26-3586, review and tenative approval of the interlocal agreement between the city of Brooksville, Florida, and the school board of Hernando County, Florida for use of tennis courts and volleyball courts. And Mrs. Mller. >> Hi, I'm Caroline Mokller, counsel for the Hernando County School
019District. >> Barbara Ker, assistant superintendent of business and support operations. >> Hello, ladies. >> Good afternoon and thank you for giving us the opportunity to present today. >> Thank you for being here. So, we've received um a proposed interlocal agreement from the city of Brooksville for um rental of their volleyball courts and or another tennis courts and their beach volleyball courts. So, um I reviewed the proposed agreement. It has been approved by the city of Brooksville already, but I have made revisions and um the proposed revisions are in the separate document that's also attached to the agenda. I proposed that the um agreement be made so it is there is a right of first refusal for the school district. So the school district will have the option to um rent either beach volleyball courts or
020tennis courts prior to um other potential uh renters. Then the volleyball courts I reduced from $30 per hour to $20 per hour. $30 per hour is the average cost or is the cost that um for other um potential renters and the tennis courts are $5 per hour. Um the we are the district will only be charged for time that the courts are actually used, not the setup and breakdown times. And uh I also proposed that the school district have the option of renting the pavilion for free and um not be charged for rental of the pro the pavilion as originally proposed. And I have a series of other provisions, but if the U board would like to provide me with any input or comments that you have, um I would like to send this to
021the city for review as well and for their proposal to their board. Mr. Pender. >> So, my understanding in how this works, they came up with this. Their board approved it. It comes to us. I um had some input that I talked to Miss Moller about. You guys get input and if you approve this, then it goes back to their board and then it keeps going back and forth until we come to an agreement. Um I don't know if you've had any conversation with the city manager about this at all. Have you had any conversation? >> I have not. >> Okay. So, um this was based on some conversations that I've had and um some input that I gave to the contract uh going back to the city. Um there is a separate contract that
022we'll talk about later for the um softball field um that I'll be bringing that forward also for uh consideration from our current contract that we have with them. But this is just for the tennis courts and the volleyball courts. And I think it's a reasonable fee to charge until we can develop our own courts. I think it's Parrot uses the tennis courts and Hernando uses the beach volleyball court. I believe those are the two schools that use those facilities. >> I'm under the impression that as well. >> And and the pavilion you're talking about that's like what what size is it? You know, roughly >> it's that little outdoor pavilion. I believe it's right there by the beach volleyball courts. It's like a green covered area with picnic tables under a small area. >> Yeah.
023>> So that would be like for an after party or whatever. >> Yeah. like if they have snacks there or whatever, I guess. >> Okay. And and there's no rent for that. >> Well, I think they're proposing rent. >> They're proposing rent. I'm proposing that we do not pay rent for it. >> Okay. >> We'll see normal people pay rent for it. >> Yes. But I we were talking about this and you know if they're going to charge us $30 if they're going to charge us the same as they charge all other renters and if they're also going to charge us the same for the pavilion as anybody else. I honestly don't even see the point of having an interlocal agreement if there aren't advantages to the school district. >> Correct. Mrs. >> What is
024the estimated cost for a season of tennis? >> What is the cost for a season of beach volleyball? >> I'm sorry, I cannot answer that question. I'll have to ask Dustin Cupchick. >> And who's paying the district or the school? Schools. >> I believe it would be um it would be per school. Yeah, I would certainly like to know what the costs are. >> Okay, I'll get with Dustin Pupcheck then. >> What other schoolboard property facility or whatever does a city use that we have that we own? >> I will have to look into that as well. >> I am not aware of any uh use of facilities that the city uses for our use of facilities. Um, so I'm not aware of any city use of our facilities. >> I don't think there are
025any. >> But I do think that the volleyball courts, we do need to look into the high schools. I know Springstead is currently the only school that has the volleyball. >> I think that is being looked at if I'm >> correct in previous conversations. >> Yeah, but I don't think anything's come to fruition. I think it's just a topic of discussion. I think we need to go past that. >> But Springstead was donated, wasn't it? >> Yes. >> 90% of that was donated by Laura Contracting and and donors. >> And I think we can do the same. I just I think if we were to form a committee on that and take action, I think we could take one by one for each high school and I think slowly but surely we could make that
026happen. But just the talk is never going to come to fruition. this way. So, I would like to get with >> I thought one of the high schools had another donor that was getting ready to do. >> Yeah. Another high >> if we can get um Coach Cup to let us know details on that and see where we're at. >> I'll have him send an update to the >> I have >> email the board. My my comment is that on that is even if somebody makes an inind donation, it's part of the cost of the construction of a new pavilion or sports facility. If it exceeds the threshold, we as a board need to approve it. It does not need to go up without our approval. >> Yeah. And we we we understand that. We
027we did some learning in this one and I want to make sure this one is completely wrapped up before um we start another project. But any um any other projects like this, even if it's technically not within the 50,000 that the that the board that the school district is contributing to it, we'll we'll bring it to the board for a site plan. And um all the other things that did happen with this project just didn't come to the board. So we'll bring it to the board. Thank you. Any other questions? Any other information? Mrs. KDR? >> No, ma'am. Council, >> I wanted to ask um Miss Duval, would you like me then to um get that information back to you with the estimated cost and then bring this back to workshop? >> No, it doesn't
028have to come back to workshop. I would like all of them to know what the costs are. >> Okay. And then >> that will determine in part my vote. >> Okay. Okay. >> And I would like to hear from Coach Ko on the details of trying to get the volleyball courts and other high schools. >> Okay, we'll do. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, ladies. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Myers, do you have any closing comments? >> I do not. >> Board members, do you have any closing comments, Mr. Pender? >> No, I do not. >> The workshop is adjourned at 2:26 p.m.