001DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY FOR THE PLEDGE? ANN AND MADDIE WELCH WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE ALL. RECOMMEND THE BOARD ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SO MOVE. SECOND. DR. WOLTANSKI, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 18, 2025 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. AT THIS TIME I ASK DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE UPPER KEYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH SUPERINTENDENT AND CHAIRMAN MR. DICK, IF YOU PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE THIS EVENING WE WERE GOING TO RECOGNIZE A UNION MANG FROM PLANTATION KEY, JORGE VASQUEZ BUT HE CAME DOWN WITH A ILLNESS. I AM GOING TO INTO OUR NEXT GROUP PLANTATION KEY SCHOOL AND THAT
002IS SEVERAL TEACHERS DOING DYNAMIC THINGS WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND EMERGED IN AMAZING TEST SCORES. I LIKE TO FIRST CALL UP JEREMY NELSON TO HONOR HIS EXCELLENCE. (APPLAUSE) SET THE BAR IN ALGEBRA AND 8 GRADE MATH. HIS ALGEBRA STUDENTS EXCELLED WITH THE MAJORITY SCORING LEVEL 5 AND RANKING IN THE TOP 1 PERCENT STATE-WIDE. 23 OUT OF 1725 SCHOOLS. HIS 8 GRADE MATH STUDENTS ALSO SHINED PLACING IN THE TOP 2 PERCENT STATE-WIDE. WITH OVER 2 DECADES OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND NOW IN HIS 6 YEAR AT PKS, JEREMY DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE CONTINUES TO EXPIRE REMARKABLE STUDENT SUCCESS. ONE FUN FACT HE HAD BEEN A HISTORY TEACHER OVER 15 YEARS, UNTIL IN HIS WORDS, HIS AMAZING PRINCIPAL NOW AT PKS GAVE HIM A SHOT TO MOVE HIS FAMILY TO THE KEYS BUT HE HAD TO TEACH MATH AND SO
003HE DID. LUCKY FOR US, HE HAS A BIG SHOUT OUT THANK YOU TO MRS. TAYLOR AND WE ARE GLAD HE'S HERE CREATING GREAT EDUCATIONAL MOMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS SO CONGRATULATIONS MR. NELSON. (APPLAUSE) SMILE FOR THE PICTURE. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT I LIKE TO CALL UP MRS. MARLA KOCHE. WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE MARLA'S RECORD BREAKING SUCCESS. (APPLAUSE) SHE DELIVERED EXTRAORDINARY FAST RECORDS IN ENGAGING CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT WITH 7 GRADE E LA STUDENTS EARNING AVERAGE SCORE OF 256, WHICH IS THE 5TH HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OUT OF OVER 1200 SCHOOLS. HER 8 GRADE STUDENTS SOARED HIGHER WITH AVERAGE OF 267, A SOLID LEVEL 5 RANKING SECOND STATE-WIDE. NOW IN 20TH YEAR OF TEACHING, AND 10TH AT PLANTATION KEY SCHOOL, MARLA CONTINUES TO INSPIRE EXCELLENCE, DRIVE PASSION FOR LITERATURE, ART, MUSIC AND EDUCATION THAT WAS INSTILLED IN HER
004BY HER VERY OWN HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER. WE CONGRATULATE HER AND HER CONTINUOUS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE THAT HELPS OUR KIDS SOAR. CONGRATULATIONS. (APPLAUSE) CONGRATULATIONS. (APPLAUSE) NOW I LIKE TO CALL UP MR. TIM CONRAD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT. LEAD 6 GRADER TO EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH THIS PAST YEAR, BEGINNING WITH 64 PERCENT SCORING LEVEL 3 OR ABOVE, HE RAISED THAT NUMBER TO 89 PERCENT, A 35 POINT GAIN THAT REPRESENTS A A ENTIRE GRADE LEVEL OF PROGRESS. EVEN MORE REMARKABLE, THE AVERAGE SCALE SCORE RANKED IN THE TOP 10 PERCENT STATE-WIDE PLACING STUDENT AMONG THE VERY BEST IN FLORIDA. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT REFLECTS NOT ONLY TIM'S INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP BUT HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION AND SETTING GOALS FOR THE STUDENTS AND SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE DISTRICT. MR. CONRAD HAS BEEN AT PKS5 YEARS AND TEACHING FOR 33. FUN
005FACT IS, HE WAS IN KEY LARGO AND WAS KEY LARGO BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN 1991-92. (APPLAUSE) I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE WORKING WITH MR. CONRAD AT KEY WEST HIGH AND WE WERE COACHES. SPORTS ON THE GIRL SIDE. HE IS ENGAGING, HE GRABS ATTENTION TO THE KIDS AND HE REALLY MAKES IMPACT ON HIS STUDENTS LIVES. IN HIS WORDS, I HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD, SHAPING YOUNG MINDS AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING THEN WITNESS STUDENT GROWTH. CONGRATULATION MR. CONRAD AND WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE SHAPING MINDS. (APPLAUSE) CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. FOR THE EXCELLENCE AT PKS, CONGRATULATIONS. AND NOW WE LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING STUDENT WHO HIT MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENTS FROM CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL. FIRST I LIKE TO CALL UP MR. BROCK BYNUM, A SENIOR HERE AT CORAL SHORES. (APPLAUSE) BROCK IS--AND
006PRINCIPAL. SORRY. I DIDN'T CALL MRS. TAYLOR UP. I WILL PAY FOR THAT. I APOLOGIZE. BROCK IS THE DISTRICT'S PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL SUBMITS AND ONE IS SELECTED. BROCK IS THIS YEAR'S MONROE COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR AS WELL AS NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLAR. THIS IS OUTSTANDING EXEMPLARY SCHOLARSHIP AND IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS DEDICATION AND RESILIENCE. WITH A 4.54 WITH GP A AND CLASS RANK OF 9 CURRENTLY, SAT SCORE OF 740 IN READING AND 680 IN MATH BROCK CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED HIGHEST ACADEMIC LEVEL. HE COMPLETED SEVEN A P EXAMS, AND CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN FOUR ADDITIONAL A P COURSES. HIS MASTERY CROSSES THE SUBJECT AREAS. HIS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE MORE REMARKABLE GIVEN THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES HE CARRIES. HE IS OLDEST OF THREE BROTHERS AND BALANCES ACADEMICS WITH PART TIME JOB TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY SHOWING
007THAT RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION AND DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES HE HAS REMAINED A TOP PERFORMER AT CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL AND INSPIRING ROLE MODEL. BEYOND ACADEMICS BROCK CONTRIBUTED 296 HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT AND 33 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, INCLUDING COACHING YOUTH LACROSSE AND VOLUNTEERING WITH VOCER PROGRAMS. WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE HIS AS OUR PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR, NATIONAL SCHOLAR SHINE TO TESTAMENT OF PERSEVERANCE AND LEADERSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS, BROCK. (APPLAUSE) NEXT I LIKE DO CALL UP NATHANIEL SUGARMAN. (APPLAUSE) NATHANIEL IS A NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST THE NATION TOP SCHOLAR RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE PS A T AND SQT. ALSO NAMED LAST YEAR SUNSHINE STATE SCHOLAR FOR THE DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTING HIS TALENT IN MATH AND SCIENCE. SCORED PERFECT 5'S ON A P CALCULUS A BBC AND PHYSIC EXAMS THE FIRST 5 EVER AT CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WAS A STATE FINALIST
008AT THE FLORIDA SCIENCE ENGINEERING FAIR IN 2024. HIS PASSION FOR ADVANCED STUDIES HAS LEAD HIM TO SUMMER PROGRAMS AT DUKE, BROWN UNIVERSITIES AS WELL AS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND AREAS I CAN'T HARDLY PRONOUNCE. QUANTUM PHYSICS, THINGS BEYOND MY SCOPE AND NOW IN HIS THIRD SEMESTER OF COLLEGE COURSE WORK AT ONLINE PROGRAM IN MATH AND ENGINEERING. WITH WEIGHTED GP A 4.667, 1530 SAT AND 800 IN MATH AND 319 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, BALANCES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH LEADERSHIP. HE'S SERVES AS PRESIDENT, ACTIVE IN NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, [INAUDIBLE] FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP, FISHING CLUB, CROSS COUNTRY AND LACROSSE AND A SILVER KNIGHT NOMINEE FOR GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP. NATHANIEL IS A OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR ATHLETE AND ACHIEVES REFLECT BRILLIANCE AND DEDICATION AND SERVICE MAKING HIM A HUGE INSPIRING LEADER, SO WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT HIM WITH THIS COMMENDATION. CONGRATULATIONS.
009(APPLAUSE) CONGRATULATIONS. AND NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP SOPHIE STEVENSON AND TRISTAN RIOS. ALSO CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. (APPLAUSE) THESE STUDENTS ARE BEING RECOGNIZED AND RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR BEING EARNING THE DISTINCTION OF BEING NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDATION STUDENTS AWARDED TO STUDENT WHO DEMONSTRATE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ON THE PSAT AND SQT AND PLACE THEM AMONG THE NATION TOP SCHOLARS. SOPHIE EXEMPLIFIES THROUGH IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF SCHOLARSHIP LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. DEEPLY INVOLVE IN ACADEMIC CHALLENGE, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INTERACT MOCK TRIAL AND AVID INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN THE AVID SUMMER INSTITUTE LAST YEAR WHICH YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES. DEDICATED ATHLETE COMPETES IN SWIM AND SOCCER WHILE BALANCING A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC LOAD. ENROLLED IN 4 A P COURSES PLUS ON LINE BC CALCULUS AND SHE PREVIOUSLY HAD 9 A P COURSES COMPLETED. HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
010INCLUDED A WEIGHTED GPA OF 4.75, 177 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND OUTSTANDING SAT SCORE OF 1530. HER COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE IS REFLECTED IN RECOGNITION OF SILVER KNIGHT NOMINEE IN MATH. SOPHIE IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT AND PROUD TO CELEBRATE HER ACHIEVEMENTS. SOPHIE. (APPLAUSE) AND WHERE IS TRISTAN'S? HOLD ON, SORRY. I KNOW I HAVE TRISTAN'S. THERE IT IS. SO SORRY. YES. HE IS HERE. TRISTAN ASK BEING RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDATION STUDENTS AND SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATE. THIS RECOGNITION AGAIN PLACES HIM AMONG THE NATION'S TOP ACADEMIC SCHOLARS. HE HAS A WEIGHTED GPA OF 4.541 AND SAT SCORE OF 1450. HE HAS COMPLETED 9 A P COURSES AND CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN 5 MORE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED DISCIPLINE TO A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC SCHEDULE WHILE BEING A PART OF SO MANY OTHER THINGS. AN ACTIVE
011MEMBER OF NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND [INAUDIBLE] COMPETES IN CROSS COUNTRY AND SOCCER AND CONTRIBUTED OVER A HUNDRED HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND LOGGED 411 HOURS OF PAID WORK WITH FASTER. BALANCING LOTS OF RESPONSIBILITY WITH HIS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. TRISTAN EXEMPLIFIES SCHOLARSHIP LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION MAKING A DISTINGUISHED HONOREE IN OUR DISTRICT SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE COMMENDED MERIT SCHOLARS. (APPLAUSE) CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. A LOT OF EXCELLENCE IN OUR DISTRICT AND UPPER KEYS SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR RECIPIENTS. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN INPUT? AT THIS TIME, WE DO IT NOT MR. DICK. WELL, IN CASE ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, AT CITIZEN INPUT PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER AND FIVE MINUTES FOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DESIGNATED GROUP. TRANSFER OF TIME BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND OR
012GROUPS IS NOT PERMITTED. LETTER SUBMITTED TO EACH BOARD MEMBER AND BOARD SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING WILL NOT BE READ INTO THE MEETING. ALL STATEMENTS DIRECTED AT THE BOARD. BOARD MEMBERS WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH PERSONS MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL SPEAKERS AGREED TO ABIDE BY CODE OF CONDUCT CITIZEN INPUT. AND THEY WILL BE BEGIN BY STATING FULL NAME AND THE CITY OR TOWN OF RESIDENTS FOR THE RECORD. AGAIN, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK TO PUBLIC INPUT? WELL, THAT'S IT. NO TAKERS. ALL ITEMS LISTED AS CONSENT ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE AND APPROVED BY A SINGLE MOTION. THERE IS NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION. BOARD MEMBERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW EACH ITEM AND MAY REQUEST ANY ITEM MOVE TO ACTION ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOVE. SECOND. HORAN
013AND DR. WOLTANSKI. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. I HAVE ONE THING OR TWO RATHER. THE FIRST IS, I TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENT TIERNEY REGARDING THE LACK OF INFORMATION ON THE P CARD REPORT. I THINK WE SHOULD GET MORE INFORMATION BEFORE APPROVING THESE REPORTS AND I DON'T THINK WE GET ENOUGH. THE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO MENTION QUICKLY IS THAT, SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO US REGARDING THE FRANKLIN COVEY. WE ARE IN A THREE YEAR CONTRACT AND GOING TO LOOK AT IT WHEN THAT THREE YEAR CONTRACT IS COMPLETED. AS FAR AS THE MORE INFORMATION ON THE P CARD, I HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH PREVIOUS PERSON ON THAT AND THERE WAS A PUSH-BACK FROM OTHERS. THEY DIDN'T WANT MORE INFORMATION, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET MORE INFORMATION OUT. OKAY. WE HAVE REPORTS. WE HAVE NUMBER
014OF REPORTS THIS EVENING. WE'LL HEAR HOW THE AVID PROGRAM BENEFITS THE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS AS WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT KEY LARGO AND AVID DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL. UPDATES ON RENTALS AND FOUNDER PARK. UPDATE ON FALL ATHLETICS AND HEAR FROM A COUPLE DEPARTMENTS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS HOW WE SUPPORT STUDENTS REGARDING THEIR RIGHTS AND THINGS AFFORDED TO THEM. GOOD EVENING. I AM JOINED TONIGHT BY SARAH ADAMS, DR. SARAH ADAMS WHO IS A DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES AND AVID FOR THE DISTRICT. TONIGHT WE JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SHARE A LITTLE OF INFORMATION ABOUT AVID AND WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE DISTRICT. MOST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HEARD ABOUT AVID IN THE PAST, BUT TO GIVE EVERYONE BACKGROUND, AVID BASICALLY BUILDS FUTURES THROUGH DETERMINATION. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE AVID DISTRICT AND KEY LARGO SCHOOL IS A
015AVID DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL, WHICH IS NATIONAL DISTINCTION. THE AVID DISTRICT WIDE APPROACH IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP STUDENTS BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY, AND AVID STANDS FOR ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION. IT BEGAN AS A ELECTIVE CLASS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS CALLED THE AVID CLASS, AND SO MANY TIMES THAT CONCEPTION HAS STAYED AROUND, BUT AVID IS ACTUALLY RESEARCH BASED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES THAT ARE ENGAGING AND ENRICHING TO STUDENTS THAT HELPS THEM BE MORE DIRECTIVE AND PARTICIPATORY IN THEIR OWN LEARNING AND IT HELPS STRENGTHEN ESSENTIAL SKILLS SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING, COLLABORATING, READING, WRITING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. AT THE HEART OF AVID IT IS SIMPLE BELIEF. WHEN STUDENT BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES THEY GAIN CONFIDENCE TO LEARN AND THE RESILIENCE TO OVERCOME SETBACKS AND WE KNOW THOSE SKILLS ARE SO IMPORTANT. THAT IS DISTRICT WIDE INITIATIVE. TO DATE, IT IS MORE
016THEN A PROGRAM. IT IS ABOUT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, IT IS A FRAMEWORK AND EMPOWERS STUDENTS AND ALSO EMPOWERS TEACHERS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. SO, SARAH WILL TELL YOU ABOUT WICOR. THIS IS THE FRAMEWORK INSTRUCTORS WORK FROM. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS HAS ALSO EXPANDED AS WE BECOME A AVID DISTRICT. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS TEACHERS WITH THESE ENGAGING COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES AND FOCUSES LEARNING WHERE MORE STUDENT LEAD. TEACHERS BEGIN TO LEAD THEIR STUDENTS, QUIZ PROCESS AND BECOME FACILITATORS AS THEY GUIDE STUDENTS AS THE TECHNOLOGY HAS GROWN, AS THEIR OWN HELP THEM GAIN THEIR OWN INDEPENDENCE AND SO WITH THE STUDENT APPROACH, OF COURSE WE ARE ALSO EDUCATING AND TRAINING OUR LEARNING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. ALL OF THIS IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS WICOR AND I'LL LET DR. ADAMS SHARE ABOUT WICOR WITH YOU. AND, THE WAY WE
017LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IS STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM. IT PROVIDES AVENUES FOR HOW AND ALL THE STRATEGIES ARE GROUNDED IN RESEARCH AND BOTH ARTFUL AND SCIENTIFIC SO TEACHERS HAVE STRATEGIES AND TOOLS IN THE TOOL BOX. PEDAGOGY. PROCESS WRITING IS-THE IDEA OF GROWTH MINDSET. YOU CAN ALWAYS RETURN TO SOMETHING AND STRENGTHEN AND WRITING ACROSS CONTENT WITH INQUIRY, WITHIN BIG IDEA, WE THINK OF LEVELS OF THINKING, SO IT IS SIMPLIFIED THROUGH THE AVID SYSTEM INTO THREE LEVELS. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THINKING WITH RESEARCH, BUT THE FIRST IS, IT IS RIGHT THERE. THE SECOND IS, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT AND LOOK AT IT AND FIND IT RIGHT THERE AND THE THIRD IS, I HAVE TO THINK HERE HERE AND BEYOND SO THINK INFERENCE AND SYNTHESIS AND WHERE THAT IS WHERE WE GET OUR RIGOR.
018REALLY TEACHING STUDENTS THOUGHTFULLY ABOUT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS AND GETTING TO THE LEVEL 2 AND 3. ORGANIZATION CAN BE SEEN COLLABORATION CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST STRATEGIES IS JIGSAW. EXPERTS IN ONE SMALL AREA PART OF A WHOLE AND SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER. ANOTHER IS RECIPROCAL TEACHING. STUDENTS TAKE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN COLLABORATIVE GROUPS AND LEARN A SUBJECT TOGETHER. TEACHERS ARE MORE FACILITATORS AND THAT AUTONOMY AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP IS THERE. WITH ORGANIZATION, YOU SEE ACROSS OUR DISTRICT FINDERS OR FOLDERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WE HAVE FOLDERS AND MATRICULATE TO BINDERS. AGENDA AND PLANNERS FOCUS NOTES, ALL TYPE OF NOTE TAKING BUT GETTING STUDENT THE COGNITIVE SKILLS, THE FRONTAL LOBE SKILLS TO KEEP THEMSELVES TOGETHER, ORGANIZED AND TO DO BACKWARDS PLANNING AND PLAN LONG-TERM AND OF COURSE READING IS USED
019STRATEGICALLY ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THERE IS A AVID READING PROCESS THAT INVOLVES MULTIPLE INTERACTIONS WITH TEXTS, INVOLVES CITING TEXT AND ANNOTATING TEXT AND MOVING BEYOND THE TEXT. USED SYSTEM WIDE ACROSS ALL CONN TENT. A BIG THING ABOUT WICOR THAT IS WONDERFUL AND MAGICAL IS IT IS APPLICABLE NO MATTER WHAT CURRICULUM AND STANDARD AND SUBJECT AND TEACHERS THESE STRATEGIES ARE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL GETTING THE BEST PRACTICES RIGHT THERE READY TO GO. AND SO WITH TEACHERS, AGAIN AS A AVID DISTRICT AND BECAUSE THE STRATEGIES COULD BE USED WITH ANY CURRICULUM, WE HAVE SPENT TIME TO TRAIN OUR TEACHERS. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE ALL COME TO MARATHON AND WE DO A DISTRICT WIDE TRAINING AND MULTIPLE AREAS. NEW CURRICULUM. BEGINNING AND SPECIAL AREA TEACHERS AND TEACHERS THAT NEED SOMETHING NEW IN INSTRUCTION, WE HAVE VARIOUS TYPES OF
020AVID PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SESSIONS, GEARED TOWARD EVERYTHING FROM AI IMPLEMENTATION TO AGAIN, THE SPECIFIC AREA IN WICOR OR GENERALIZED RESEARCH BASED STRATEGY. THEY CAN AS SARAH SAID, ADD SOMETHING TO THE TOOL BOX, LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND GO AND IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT THAT IN THE CLASSROOM. WE HAVE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SENT PEOPLE IN COHORTS TO SUMMER INSTITUTE AND THAT IS IN ORLANDO AND EVERY SCHOOL SENDS A COUPLE PEOPLE, SCHOOLS ON THEIR OWN SO SEND LARGER GROUPS. THE PAST SUMMER WE SENT 36 TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. WE HAVE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY SESSIONS IN TO BE CONSIDERED AN AVID TRAINED TEACHER, CURRENTLY WE HAVE OVER 235 IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS ACROSS. AGAIN, IT HELPS IMPLEMENT DISTRICT WIDE. THIS PAST YEAR, WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THREE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A STUDENT PANEL, WHICH
021WAS SO INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEN YOU HEARD THE STUDENTS TALK ABOUT HOW THE AVID WAY IS IMPORTANT TO THEM. HOW IT HELPED THEM GROW, GET FOCUSED, GET OFF A DOWNWARD SPIRAL TO UPWARD SPIRAL USING ALL THE STRATEGIES SARAH TALKED ABOUT. YOU MET SOFIA STEVENSON EARLIER. SHE WAS ONE OF THE NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDATION STUDENTS, AND SHE SAT ON THE PANEL AND HERE IS JUST A SHORT CLIP OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SHARE WITH ALL THE TEACHERS, WHICH WERE HUNDREDS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. CAN YOU SEE? IT IS ON THE BOTTOM. NO. GO CLICK TO THE VIDEO. RIGHT THERE. THAT SHOULD WORK. IF I WERE IT GIVE ADVICE TO EDUCATORS ANYWHERE, I WOULD TELL THEM TO INSURE THAT YOU HELP YOUR STUDENTS [INAUDIBLE] MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS. OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF STUDENTS HOW MUCH AVID WORKS
022FOR THEM AND I THINK THAT IS THE BEST EVIDENCE, TEST SCORES ARE EVIDENCE, BUT HEARING HOW MUCH IMPACT THE STUDENTS WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS AND AGAIN, THAT WAS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND IT HELPS US TO INTEGRATE DISTRICT WIDE. IT IS A COMMON LANGUAGE, A COMMON WAY OF THINKING AND IT REALLY DOES ELEVATE AND WE HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE STUDENTS THE WAY THEY ARE LEARNING THE SKILLS, HOW THEY ARE LEARNING TO COLLABORATE, HOW THEY TAKE STOCK OF THEIR LEARNING SO THAT IS HUGE. WE ARE PROUD TODAY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST AND KEY LARGO SCHOOL HERE WHO IS OUR NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL WHO IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE, WHICH IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISH. I'LL LET DR. ADAMS INTRODUCE OUR SPECIAL GUEST FROM AVID AND SHE ALONG WITH
023OUR AVID TEAM FROM KEY LARGO WILL COME ON UP. ALRIGHT. IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIST FOR FLORIDA, DR.--SHE HAS WORKED WITH SUPERINTENDENT TIERNEY IN A PAST LIFE. IF SHE WOULD COME UP. SUPERINTENDENT TIERNEY WOULD COME UP AND IF KEY LARGO WOULD JOIN US, I'LL TURN THE MIKE OVER. ONCE WE ARE ALL UP HERE. (APPLAUSE) I SEE MRS. [INAUDIBLE] PART OF THE 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE. IF MRS. [INAUDIBLE] WILL JOIN AS WELL BECAUSE 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE BEGINS LONG BEFORE ALL OF US. PLEASE GATHER AROUND. I'LL SPEAK IN MY TEACHER VOICE. ON BEHALF OF THE AVID CENTER, I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD TO PRESENT TO YOU AVID-IN CELEBRATION OF 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE, SO ACROSS THE GLOBE, WE ONLY RECOGNIZED 45 SITES. THAT IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT. ON KEY LARGO SCHOOL
024IN YOUR AVID TEAM FOR BEING A NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS KEY LARGO TEAM AND PRINCIPAL! (APPLAUSE) EVERYBODY GROUP IN FOR A PICTURE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE) NOW WE HAVE MR. LEFERE. GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. COMING BACK FOR A THIRD MEETING IN A ROW FOR UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL PROJECT. IF YOU RECALL AT THE LAST MEETING I TOLD YOU WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO END OF DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE AND WE REACHED THAT SO I AM BRINGING THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SITE PLANS TO LOOK AT AND THEN GOING TO ANSWER COUPLE QUESTIONS THE BOARD HAD FROM LAST TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO SITE PLAN DIAGRAMS FROM THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE. NOTHING CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME. IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE LOOK, YOU NOTICE MORE DETAIL AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE
025DESIGN PHASES. THE PLANS THEMSELVES BECOME MORE DETAILED. I WILL NOTE THAT IN THIS ONE, THE SPOT RIGHT HERE IS OUR-THE SPOT WE ARE RESERVING FOR A POTENTIAL GENERATOR THAT WE MENTIONED LAST TIME. IF WE GO WITH THIS ROUTE, IT WOULD TAKE UP A PARKING SPOT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RETAIN IF POSSIBLE. WE THINK WE FOUND A GOOD ALTERNATIVE WE'LL GET TO IN JUST A MINUTE. GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AGAIN, NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, BUT IN THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR YOU CAN SEE THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT STARTS TO COME OUT AS WE GET INTO DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THERE. WITH THE RENDERINGS THESE ARE THE SAME RENDERINGS FROM THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT DOES INCLUDE ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE THROUGH THE ARCHITECTS BASED ON
026THE INPUT RECEIVED AT OUR COMMUNITY MEETING. SO, THE PROCESS AS INDICATED, WE ARE DONE WITH DESIGN DEVELOPMENT. THAT CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET UNLESS THERE IS SIGNIFICANT OBJECTION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TONIGHT, WE PLAN TO CONTINUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS PHASE, WHICH IS THE FINAL PHASE OF THE DOCUMENT. THE PLANNING BUDGET REMAINS AT $11 MILLION AND OUR BID OPENING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR IS ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK. ACTUALLY, IT IS THE 11 COMING UP THIS WEEK AND THEY DO THE INTERVIEWS NEXT WEEK. SO, WITH-IF ALL THAT GOES WELL, WE HOPE TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND A CONTRACT FOR A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM FOR THIS PROJBECT, SO WE CAN CONTINUE ON TIMELINE. AT THE LAST MEETING, WE WERE ASKED TO KIND OF ESTIMATE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO MAKE
027THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SUGGESTED WE MAKE AND WE DID THAT HERE. IT IS ALL BROKEN DOWN THERE AS YOU CAN SEE IT COMES UP TO ABOUT $188 THOUSAND APPROXIMATELY. BASED ON THAT, WE BELIEVE IN GOOD FAITH TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT PROVIDED THAT INPUT. IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH. THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION, BUT I'LL PAUSE NOW TO SEE WHAT THE BOARD'S GUIDANCE IS. PAT, THE PERIMETER WALL, IS THAT FOR NUMBER FOR THE ALUMINUM? THAT WHOLE--THE TOP OF IT- [MULTIPLE SPEAKERS] CAN YOU JUST PROVIDE US ALSO JUST WITH THE STANDARD CONN CRETE UP TO 4 FEET AND PERHAPS SOME KIND OF NOT LATTICE BUT ALTERNATIVE TO ALUMINUM? THE ALUMINUM WILL DRIVE THAT COST UP. SIMILAR ESTHETICS BUT MAYBE NOT THAT MATERIAL. NOT REDUCE COST BUT APPLE TO APPLE ANALYSIS SO IF ALUMINUM
028COST X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THERE ISN'T ANYTHING COMPARABLE OR THERE IS SOMETHING COMPARABLE THE SAME AMOUNT SO TO GIVE A IDEA WHAT THE ALUMINUM COST WILL DRIVE IT UP TO YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY USED ALUMINUM FOR THAT ESTIMATE OR NOT BUT I'LL FIND OUT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THAT SHOULD NOT DELAY US. I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT PHASE WITH THAT DESIGN AND THE MATERIALS. THE MATERIAL WE USE WE CAN OBVIOUSLY CHANGE. WE'LL GIVE YOU A UPDATE IN JANUARY ON THAT OR MAYBE BEFOREHAND IF I HAVE TO. THE GENERATORS AS I SAID WE WOULD GET BACK TO THAT IN DISCUSSING THE OPTIONS WITH THE TEAM, MR. HORAN BROUGHT UP THE TESLA MODEL GENERATOR. THOSE ARE A LITTLE PRICEY, BUT CONVERSATION WITH MY TEAM, THE THREE SHELTER SCHOOLS, THERE IS A
029PORT AND OUTLET ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAFETERIA WHERE THE SHELTERS ARE HOUSED THAT ALLOWS A CABLE TO BE CONNECTED THROUGH THE SIDE OF THERE WALL AND ARE THEN INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE POWER FOR THAT SPACE THAT THE SHELTER IS OCCUPYING. SO, WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD THING TO LOOK AT IN THIS SITUATION, SO WE HAD THEM PRICE OUT BOTH A 20 KILOVOLT GENERATOR, THAT IS GENERATOR IN THERE PARKING LOT THAT WOULD POWER THE LIGHTS IN THE REAR BUILDING AND THEN ALSO THIS CONCEPT OF A DOCKING STATION THAT WE COULD PLUG A PORTABLE GENERATOR IN WITH A TRANSFER SWITCH THAT WOULD SWITCH FROM CITY POWER TO GENERATOR POWER. YOU CAN SEE THERE THE SIGNIFICANT COST DIFFERENCE IN GOING THAT ROUTE AND ALSO WE GET THAT PARKING SPOT BACK TOO, SO
030WE THINK IT IS A PRETTY GOOD COMPROMISE. THANK YOU. AWESOME. THAT'S ALL I GOT. OTHER THEN THE-WE'LL TAKE THAT MATERIALS FOR THE FENCE-THE LOUVERS IN THE FENCE BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE ON TO THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS PHASE. THE ONLY REASON I ASK ABOUT THE ALUMINUM IS BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS. THAT PRICE IS GOING TO BE GOING SIX DIFFERENT WAYS AND NEED TO GET AHEAD OF IT. ABSOLUTELY. WHAT'S THE $11 MILLION BASED UPON? HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER? THAT IS WHAT THE ARCHITECTS-IT IS A COST PER SQUARE FOOT ESTIMATE WE HAVE BEEN USING, BUT IT IS LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT FOR US ON THIS ONE IN THAT, IT IS A PARTIAL RENOVATION OF A HISTORIC, PLUS AN ADDITION THAT IS PURE CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WE ARE NORMALLY MORE COMFORTABLE WITH.
031SO, EARLIER I ASKED ABOUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OR MAYBE IT WAS MRS. TALBOT ASKED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE. I THINK IT WAS $10 THOUSAND IF I RECALL BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY GET IT TO YOU. BECAUSE THE ONE CONCERN I ALWAYS HAVE IS WHEN WE COME UP WITH THESE NUMBERS AS PLACE-HOLDERS ON THE 5 YEAR PLAN, I KNOW THAT IS WHY WE COME UP WITH THESE NUMBERS, I JUST HATE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE CONTRACT WITH TO BUILD THESE BUILDINGS SAY, OH, THEY HAVE $11 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT SO I'LL COME IN RIGHT MAYBE LITTLE ABOVE $11 MILLION. I WOULD LIKE US MAYBE TO HAVE TWO NUMBERS IN THE FUTURE. A PLACE-HOLDER NUMBER AND A NUMBER OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY THINK THE PROJECT WILL COST AT WHATEVER SQUARE FEET THE BUILDING IS, TIMES WHATEVER THE AVERAGE COST PER
032SQUARE FOOT IS, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING TO FIND OUT ON THIS PROJECT, WHICH DOESN'T EFFECT THE PROJECT ITSELF, BUT WILL EFFECT THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE PROJECT? NUMBER TWO. NO SLIDES ON THE NEXT ONE. IT IS THE FOUNDERS PARK UPDATE. THE FOUNDERS DESIGN PROCESS IS CONTINUING TO PROGRESS. WE ARE APPROACHING COMPLETION ACTUALLY AND WE HOPE TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS NEXT MONTH IN JANUARY, AND THEN BRING THAT FINAL DESIGN TO BOTH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE VILLAGE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. WE'LL-ONCE THE FINAL DESIGN IS APPROVED BY BOTH ENTITIES, THE CONTRACTOR WILL THEN START PUTTING IT OUT TO BID AND WE'LL GET-START WORKING ON THAT FINAL GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE CONTRACT THAT WE INTEND TO BRING AGAIN BOTH TO THE
033SCHOOL BOARD AND TO THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. PROBABLY IN THE APRIL TIMEFRAME TO CONTINUE ON TIMELINE AND HOPES WE CAN BREAK GROUND IN MAY. MOST RECENTLY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE VILLAGE STAFF ON THE LICENSE AGREEMENT AND THE USE AGREEMENT THAT THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS ARE LINKED TO YOUR AGENDA. AT LEAST THE LATEST VERSIONS THAT WE HAD WHEN IT CAME TIME TO POST. SINCE WE POST, WE RECEIVED A VERSION FROM THE VILLAGE THAT HAD SOME ADDITIONAL EDITS. I BELIEVE LEGAL COUNSEL SHARED THOSE CHANGES WITH YOU TODAY AS WELL AS WE HAD MORE INPUT FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL ON SOME ISSUES THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER ADDRESSING IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE LICENSE AGREEMENT ITSELF. SO, I DON'T INTEND TO GET INTO ANY OF THOSE DETAILS TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT
034THE VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT. THEY HAVE IT TEED UP TO TAKE ACTION ON AND IF THEY DO, WE'LL REGROUP WITH THEM THIS WEEK AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY ENDED UP ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY APPROVED IT AND IF THERE WERE EDITS AND AT THAT POINT WE CAN START OUR NEGOTIATION WITH THEM WITH REGARD TO THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE BASED ON THEIR STAFF INPUT AS WELL AS THE CONCERNS THAT ARE COMING FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. THE IDEA-THE HOPE WOULD BE TO GET THROUGH ALL THAT BACK AND FORTH NEGOTIATION AND BRING YOU ALL BACK A FINALIZED LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR CONSIDERATION TO VOTE ON IN JANUARY AT THE JANUARY 27 MEETING. SO, HAVING REVIEWED THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, I HAVE GONE OVER IT WITH COUNSEL. THERE ARE TWO THINGS I NOTICED ON THE ONE THAT WAS E-MAILED TO
035US. THE FIRST IS, WE STILL HAVE SHALL MEET DEADLINES, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IN CONSTRUCTION DEADLINES ARE KIND OF CONSTANTLY MOVING AND SO, MY CONCERN IS THE SHALL MEET DEADLINES, WHICH REQUIRES US TO MEET VERY SPECIFIC ON-TARGET DEADLINES. NATURE EFFECTS THAT. WHETHER OR NOT A PRODUCT IS IN STOCK. WHETHER ALL OF THE ABOVE, SO I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH 4D, WHICH IS SHALL MEET DEADLINES, AND THEN 6C, WHICH IS A RIGHT TO ENTER THE PROPERTY AT ALL TIMES. SO, THAT WOULD MEAN NOT THAT THEY WOULD, RIGHT? LIKE THIS IS NOT A YEAH, THE CITY IS LOOKING TO ENTER OUR PROPERTY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BALL GAME, BUT ESSENTIALLY 6C GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO DO JUST THAT AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE. I WAS ALSO NOT- 4D AND 6C? YES. AND
036THE USE AGREEMENT MAKES ME UTTERLY UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET, SO-- YOU WANT TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT SO MAYBE WE CAN ADDRESS IT? SURE, LET ME GO BACK TO THAT NOW. UNLESS IT IS ALREADY PROVIDED TO LEGAL COUNSEL. I DID ACTUALLY PROVIDE IT. I GOT THAT INPUT. OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER FEEDBACK ON THE LICENSE AGREEMENT OR USE AGREEMENT FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. HAVE A UPDATE ON FALL ATHLETICS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. FALL SEASON HAS CLOSED AND WE ARE MOVING WELL INTO WINTER SPORTS. SO, THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTED ME TO GIVE YOU A UPDATE ON SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED. WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS AND SO, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE-WE HAVE A HEALTHY NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ENGAGED IN OUR
037PARTICIPATION ACROSS OF COURSE MULTIPLE SPORTS, AND THE OTHER THING THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD AND GROW IS SPECIAL OLYMPIC PROGRAMS FROM KEY LARGO TO KEY WEST AND THEIR PARTICIPATION AND WE'LL SHARE A BIT ABOUT THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WE HAVE. AND, AGAIN WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND. WE GOT NEW SPORTS EVOLVING IN THE UPPER KEYS, KEY LARGO HOSTS AND AGAIN THE UPPER KEY STUDENTS GO TO KEY LARGO AND THEY HAVE EXPANDED TO WHERE THEY ARE ACROSS THREE SEASON AND FULL BLOWN MODE. HOB IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS ADDING-ADDED A GIRL SOCCER AND THEY ARE-WE ARE HOPING WE CAN MOVE INTO MORE SPRING SPORTS TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS FULLY ENGAGED. SO, BY HIGH SCHOOL JUST A QUICK WRAP UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS. CORAL SHORES HIGH, HURRICANES, WE HAD ONE YOUNG LADY WHO RAN AT THE STATE
038MEET CROSS COUNTRY AND THAT WHEN YOU GET TO THAT STATE LEVEL IS JUST AMAZING. AGAIN, LANEY SMITH SIGNED TO GO OUTSTANDING AND SWIM AND SHE AND ANN COMPETED AT THE STATE MEET. THEY WERE VERY PROUD OF THEIR VOLLEYBALL SEASON AND THEY ADDED COMPETITIVE CHEER SPORT AND AGAIN HAD A ALL AMERICAN, WHICH IS LIKE THE ALL STAR TEAM FOR CHEER THIS YEAR WHEN THEY WERE AT THE PERFORMANCE AT DISNEY WORLD SO HIGHLIGHTS FOR CORAL SHORES. MARATHON IS EMERGING IN SPORTS. ENROLLMENT IS GROWING AND SO ARE SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND SO ARE PERFORMANCES. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD QUALIFIES FOR REGIONALS. THE FIRST MALE GOLFER, THE FIRST GOLFER IN MARATHON HISTORY TO QUALIFY FOR REGIONALS. EMMETT MERRYMAN. BOYS CROSS COUNTRY DID AMAZING AND THEY AS A TEAM QUALIFIED TO RUN AT STATE WHICH IS 11TH YEAR IN
039A ROW, SO THEY JUST CONTINUE TO TURN THOSE OUT. AGAIN, OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS WE ARE TWO GOLD MEDALS IN POWER LIFTING AND POWER AND WEIGHT LIFTING EXPANDING. ALEX AND CINDY. SO PROUD OF THEM. THY BROUGHT HOME GOLD MEDALS AND THE CONTINGENTS WAS BUS LOAD THAT WENT TO THE STATE LEVEL PERFORMANCES. THAT WHICH STARTED WITH MAYBE 5 OR 6 KIDS GROWING IS NOW UP TO 40 PLUS STUDENTS. AT KEY WEST HIGH, THEY HAVE GIRLS AND BOYS GOLF BUT GIRLS WAS SMALLER AND LAGGING AND THIS YEAR ONE A GIRL MADE IT TO REGIONAL. THE SWIM TEAMS ARE EXPANDING CONTINUOUSLY AND MOVING UP GOING TO REGIONALS, AND AS BOYS CROSS COUNTRY DID AND VOLLEYBALL, SO A LOT OF OUR TEAMS ARE MOVING OUT OF DISTRICT PLAY AND MOVING INTO THAT NEXT LEVEL, SO HOPING THAT CONTINUES AND WE
040GET UP THERE TO THE STATE LEVEL. KEY WEST HIGH FOOTBALL REACHED THE SECOND ROUND AND DEFEATED BY NORTHWESTERN. THAT IS LIKE GOING AGAINST THE ALL STAR TEAM. SO, AGAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS AS I SAID CONTINUING TO EXPAND. MARATHON HIGH IN THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL IS CONTINUING TO OFFER ATHLETICS DOWN TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SO THEY ARE-THAT IS ONE REASON THEY ARE MOVING UP. THEY ARE ADDING AT MIDDLE SCHOOL, SUPPORTING THEIR VARSITY AND JV AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED HORACE O'BRYANT ADDED. GETTING KIDS INVOLVED TAKES COACHES AND WE HAVE GREAT COACHING STAFF. ALL THREE SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ARE BUSY AND ALL THREE SCHOOLS ARE STAFFED WITH ATHLETIC TRAINING SO THAT IS AMAZING. MOST KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT WAS. WE HAVE GREAT ATHLETIC TRAINERS AND SUPPORTIVE STAFF. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SHARE IS REQUEST THAT
041COMES TO US. THERE IS A DISTRICT POLICY 7250 THAT IS ABOUT COMMEMORATION OF SCHOOL FACILITIES. SPEAKS MOSTLY TO SCHOOL, BUT MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL HAS COME TO US WITH THIS REQUEST. THEY LIKE TO NAME THEIR FOOTBALL FIELD IN HONOR OF THEIR MARATHON HIGH GRADUATE, MICHAEL H-MR. MAYOR. I-THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE COMMENTARY ON HIM AND THOSE THAT HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME, IF YOU HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE, I KNOW AS YOU KNOW A LONG TIME EDUCATOR, HE IS EVERYWHERE HELPING EVERYONE. HE IS IN CHARGE OF THE BOOSTER AND HOLDING FUND RAISING AND SPECIAL AWARDS. HE IS THERE FOR EVENTS. NOT JUST GETTING THE HELP, HE IS THERE BEING THE HELP, AND THEIR STUDENT COUNCIL OR STUDENT GOVERNMENT BODY HAS WRITTEN A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. MRS. PAUL THE PRINCIPAL HAS WRITTEN A LETTER OF
042RECOMMENDATION AND SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THEY WILL BE FORWARDED TO SO YOU CAN LOOK OVER THOSE AND WE WILL BE BRINGING TO THE JANUARY 27 BOARD MEETING HELD IN MARATHON SEEKING APPROVAL TO FOR MARATHON HIGH TO NAME THE FACILITY AFTER SOMEONE WHO IS SUCH A INSPIRATION AND SUCH A GUIDING FACTOR TO SO MANY OF THEIR STUDENTS. THEIR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW TEACHERS THERE, THE PARENTS OF THE KIDS THAT ARE THERE, AND MR. DICK COULD SPEAK TO THAT PERSONALLY AS MANY OF YOU CAN. WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU SO I WANTED TO INTRODUCE IT TONIGHT AND MAKE AWARE THE PROSEAL HAS COME INTO THE DISTRICT, LEADERSHIP DISCUSSED IT, SUPERINTENDENT SAID BRING TO THE BOARD SO BRINGING FOR INTRODUCTION TONIGHT AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AS A ACTION ITEM AND AGAIN, I WILL SEND YOU THE
043RECOMMENDATION LETTERS SO YOU WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I THINK THAT MR. PUTO, THERE IS NOTHING MORE HE WOULD WANT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE THEN THAT. BUT I WOULDN'T WANT IT. [LAUGHTER] WE'LL HEAR FROM DR. WHITE AND MR. RUSSELL AND HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION HOW WE SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES WITH WHAT THEY'RE RIGHTS AND WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS-- THE RIGHTS AND SOME THINGS THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GEOGRAPHY. THE COUNTY MAKES IT CHALLENGING TO COME TO DISTRICT OFFICE AND WITH THE RECOGNITION NOT ALL EMPLOYEES PRIMARILY SPEAK ENGLISH. THAT IS THE POINT OF THE NEXT PRESENTATION. I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR BOTH OF US THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO
044MAKE THIS PRESENTATION AND EVEN WHEN THE FRONT SLIDE, OUR TEAM SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME JUST TRYING TO PUT THIS WORDING TOGETHER, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP ALL TEACHERS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN IS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR AND TO BE-UPHOLD THE VALUES FOR YOU AS THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT. SPEAKER FOR BOTH OF US, WE ARE HONORED TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION. IT STARTS FROM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BENEFITS SIDE AND ONE THING I WANTED TO EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE WAS DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT, WE TRIED TO HAVE-WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN HEALTH PROBLEMS, RIGHT? OR WHETHER GOOD OR BAD HEALTH. IT IS VERY PERSONAL DECISION, SO WHAT THE TEAM TRIED TO DO IS HAVE AS MANY INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A PERSONAL
045DECISION. THEY BEGAN TALKING THROUGH E-MAILS--WAS AVAILABLE EVERY DAY THROUGH THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD. THEY ATTENDED EVERY SCHOOL. WE TRIED TO WORK ON THE E-MAILS AND IF YOU ALREADY MADE YOUR ELECTIONS TO NOT INCLUDE YOU IN THE NEXT SET OF E-MAILS. IT GETS RATHER CUMBERSOME AT TIMES BUT WE TRIED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROCESS THIS YEAR. ONE GREAT THING ABOUT-I KNOW ON IT BENEFIT TEAM WE HAVE ONE LADY THAT SPEAKS SPANISH FLUENTLY. WE DID HAVE TWO CREOLE EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY BOTH SPEAK ENGLISH, SO WE DID NOT ENCOUNTER ISSUES THERE, BUT I THINK HR ALSO IS REPRESENTED WITH THE BILINGUAL. MR. CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE. YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING KIDS, AND HUMAN CAPITAL IS THE SORT OF ENGINE I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THAT DOES THAT WORK AND MAKES
046THAT HAPPEN. WE GOT ROUGHLY 1600 EMPLOYEES. IT EBBS AND FLOWS AS EMPLOYEES COME AND GO, BUT 1200 FULL TIME, 400 PART TIME SUCH AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER OR MAYBE A COACH. IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE HR TEAM WHEN WE HIRE NEW EMPLOYEES AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE ARE INTERACTING WITH NEW OR CURRENT EMPLOYEE SOMETIMES WE HAVE A EMPLOYEE THAT ISN'T NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER. WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES THAT SPEAK SPANISH ONE IN THE KEY WEST OFFICE AND ONE UP HERE SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR THOSE PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORT THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF BEING A EMPLOYEE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. CREOLE POPULATION, WE DONT SEE A LOT THAT COME THROUGH THE OFFICE. WHEN WE DO, WE HAD A COUPLE OF FOLKS COME TO VOLUNTEER. THEY HAD A PERSON WITH THEM THAT
047COULD TRANSLATE SO THAT WAS HELPFUL, BUT WE HAVE OTHERS IN THE DISTRICT WE LEAN ON TO HELP WITH TRANSLATION OF CREOLE POPULATION AS NEEDED. THE TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. WE USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE SOMETIMES AS NEEDED, BUT OVERALL WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE IN OUR DEPARTMENT TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES CONCERNING TRANSLATION OF LANGUAGE. THANK GOODNESS IN BOTH BENEFITS AND PAY ROLL WE HAVE SPANISH PEOPLE ON THE STAFF FOR THEM AS WELL. OPEN ENROLLMENT, LIKE I SAID WE TRIED TO GO TO TRANSPORTATION, WE TRY TODAY GO TO FOOD SERVICE. ANY OF THE AREAS. WENT EVERYWHERE. THE ONLY PLACE WE DID NOT TOUCH IS MARATHON AND SUGARLOAF, BUT WHEN THE GIRLS COME BACK DURING THE DAY, IT IS ALL MOST LIKE THEY WALK THROUGH THE FRONT OFFICE AND THE BUZZ GETS OUT THAT BENEFITS
048IS HERE, HERE TO HELP YOU AND TALK TO YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS LET US KNOW. WE ARE REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT--LET ME STOP ON THAT. YOU GO AHEAD. SO, WHEN I STARTED IN THIS ROLE 6 YEARS AGO, ONE THING I WANTED TO WORK ON ONE WAS TO HIRE A TEAM OF HR WORKERS THAT STABILIZE THE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT HAD EXPERIENCED A LOT OF TURNOVER, SO I THINK I ACHIEVED THAT. MOST OF THE SPECIALISTS ARE 3 OR 4 YEARS OF SERVICE SO THAT IS REALLY GOOD. ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I STRESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS, THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK WE DO. MEANING THAT, WE ARE ALL IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING KIDS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR POSITION IS WITH THE DISTRICT, SO YOU ARE EITHER
049DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IMPACTING STUDENTS SO WE MADE IT A POINT TO DO OUR BEST TO GET INTO ALL SCHOOLS AND ALL DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN SEE FIRST-HAND AS A HR TEAM WHAT IS THE WORK LOOK LIKE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. INTERACTING WITH OFFICE MANAGERS AND OFFICE STAFF AND ANY EMPLOYEE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. CAFETERIA WORKERS AND BUS DRIVERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, WE HAVE OVER THE LAST 5 MONTHS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE OF FINGERPRINTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE BEEN IN EVERY SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT DOING THE WORK AND WHILE WE ARE THERE WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS EMPLOYEES ASK QUESTIONS OF THE HR TEAM AND WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANSWERS AND FEEDBACK TO THEM. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WE TRY TO ATTEND MEET THE TEACHER EVENTS, OPEN HOUSE EVENTS, HEADSTART
050PARENT NIGHTS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN GET OUT AND NOT ONLY WORK WITH OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO BECOME VOLUNTEERS. THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE REASON. WE ATTENDED LOCAL RECRUITING EVENTS SUCH AS CAREER FAIR AND CAREER FAIR AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL AND CFK JOB FAIR THIS YEAR JUST AS A EXAMPLE. AGAIN, DOING OUR PART TO BE IN TOUCH WITH OUR SCHOOLS, UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS AND NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES. ALSO, I'M PROUD TO SAY BACK IN 21, WE STARTED AS YOU KNOW, GROW OUR OWN PROGRAM. IT IS A TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM AND EMPLOYEES IS WORKING ON A BACHELOR DEGREE OR A A DEGREE WOULD APPLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. WE NOW HAD 22 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. WE HANDED
051OUT NOW OVER $40 THOUSAND WORTH OF MONEY TO BE EXACT, $40.600 SO VERY PROUD OF THOSE EFFORTS LOCALLY TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES AND HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOALS OF WANTING TO EARN A BACHELOR DEGREE. SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS STRIVE TO BECOME TEACHERS. WE HAD ONE OR TWO THAT BECAME NURSES IN THE SCHOOL AS NURSES. ONE OF THE NURSES IS OVERSEEING OUR BENEFITS DEPARTMENT, SO WE ARE SEEING SOME RETURNS ON THOSE INVESTMENTS AND WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT WORK WE HAVE DONE. IN THE END, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY EMPLOYEE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT ON DOWN THE LINE FEELS SUPPORTED ANY TIME THEY HAVE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WE ARE THERE TO HELP AND SUPPORT THEM. WE RECEIVED A 89 PERCENT COMPLETION RATE ON OPEN ENROLL. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CLOSE TO THAT
052PERCENTAGE BEFORE SO EXTREMELY PROUD THAT. WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL ON HOW WELL THE TEAM DID. TRULY, IF YOU SEE A COLINA OR CHERYL OR JENNIFER, THEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AND I THINK THEY WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS IN THE FUTURE. I WILL SAY, EVERY TIME WE HIRE SOMEBODY, WE OFFER THEM AT THE END OF THE PROCESS A ON-BOARDING EXPERIENCE SURVEY. THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS FROM THE DATES OF AUGUST 12, 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 6, 2025, WE ON-BOARDED 304 PEOPLE, SENT 304 SURVEYS. THAT, WE RECEIVED BACK 160 OF THE SURVEYS, SO 52 PERCENT COMPLETION RATE OF THE SURVEYS. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HR CUSTOMER SERVICE DURING THE ON-BOARDING EXPERIENCE AND HOW WAS THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND 97.5 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT RETURNED THE SURVEY
053ON-BOARDED WAS EXCELLENT OR GOOD RATING. THE SECOND QUESTION IS, QUESTIONS ADDRESSED PROMPTLY AND SATS FACT WALE? 95 PERCENT SAID YES ALWAYS AND THE LAST QUESTION IS, WAS THE HR SPECIALIST SHOWED PROFESSIONALISM AND FRIENDLINESS DURING THE ON-BOARDED PROS. 96.2 PERCENT OF THE SURVEYS SAID EXCEPTIONAL JOB. I LOOK AT THE SURVEYS WHEN THEY COME BACK, I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. THERE IS OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS SOMETIMES. PEOPLE GIVE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK BUT THAT FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT. I FOUND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS -- AND I'LL SHARE A STORY NOT BECAUSE THE FEEDBACK WAS POSITIVE FOR THE TEAM THAT WORKED WITH HIM AND ON-BOARDED HIM, BUT I REMIND ME TEAM ALL THE TIME, REGARDLESS WHO YOU WORK WITH TREAT THEM LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT. EVERYBODY SHOULD BE TREATED WITH THAT LEVEL OF RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING, WE DID I THINK THREE
054YEARS AGO, WORKED WITH ALYSSA LEVY AND DID CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING NOT ONLY AS HR TEAM, BUT ALSO WITH OUR OFFICE MANAGERS AND VARIOUS OFFICE STAFF THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SERVE THE 1600 PEOPLE THAT CALL THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HOME, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO TWEAKING OUR GAME AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP AND BE SUPPORTIVE. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR. WHITE OR MYSELF? I JUST DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO TRACK YOU DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GOT YOUR SELECTIONS DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT TRACKED ME DOWN TO A WATER FALL IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE REMINDING ME THAT IN TWO DAYS I HAD TO MAKE MY SELECTION, SO THEY WILL GO TO
055THE END OF THE EARTH TO TRACK YOU DOWN. TO THAT POINT, I ALSO SHARE--WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY PART OF THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND WHEN YOU ARE HIRED AND ON-BOARDED ONE DOCUMENT YOU FILL OUT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE TRADITIONAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR GO INTO THE INVESTMENT PROGRAM. THAT INFORMATION IS THERE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE SPECIFIC BENEFITS QUESTIONS, I USE MYSELF AS A EXAMPLE, A YEAR AGO WHEN I ENTERED THE JOB PROGRAM I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CALINA AND HER FOLKS WERE HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE FOR ME AND WHATEVER INTERACTIONS I NEEDED TO HAVE WITH FLORIDA RETIREMENT THEY WERE RIGHT THERE WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, GUIDING ME ALONG. IF PEOPLE NEED ANYTHING FROM A RETIREMENT STANDPOINT, WE DO REALLY GOOD WORK
056WITH THAT. I JUST LIVED IT PERSONALLY, SO AGAIN, KUDOS TO YOUR TEAM DR. WHITE FOR THAT. ANY LAST QUESTIONS? SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO CALINA BECAUSE EVERY YEAR SHE WALKS ME THROUGH MY STUFF SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, YOU SAID YOU HAD 89 PERCENT AND IT WAS FAR MORE THEN YOU EVER GOT BEFORE. SO, THAT MEANS IT WASN'T BEING DONE RIGHT BEFORE, IS THAT CORRECT? WE DIDN'T GO VISIT THE SCHOOLS LIKE WE DID BEFORE. WE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE DON'T- SO IT IMPROVED? SIR? IT IMPROVED? IT DEFINITELY IMPROVED, YES, SIR, DEFINITELY. AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, WHICH I THINK I DID SPEAK TO HARRY ABOUT IT, IF SOMEBODY GOES TO RETIRE, WE NEED TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SITUATION OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO FACE WHEN THEY RETIRE. I
057KNOW WE ARE NOT FINANCIAL ADVISOR, BUT WE COULD JUST BE A LITTLE BIT TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR COURSE ARE GOING TO BE OR EXPLAIN TO THEM THE HEALTHCARE, BECAUSE I KNOW OF A SITUATION THAT- RIGHT. YES, SIR. WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT. I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT HAPPENED BUT WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT DOES THAT NOW SO IT IS ONE PERSON THAT IS ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS CONSISTENTLY AND THAT IS THE PERSON ON THE TEAM TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY. OKAY, WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE REPORTS, MR. CHAIR. WE GOT LEGAL, CORRECT? A COUPLE OF THEM HERE TONIGHT, SO MAYBE THEY GOT SOMETHING TO SAY. NO REPORT FOR. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. NO QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT. NO BILLABLE HOURS. I DON'T
058KNOW ABOUT THAT. [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE ONLY ONE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT BET HE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY; I DO HAVE A REPORT BUT GIVEN FOR FREE. NO BILLABLE HOURS. I HOPE THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SCHOOLS ARE VERY HARD AT WORK. MOST ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING PROGRESS MONITORING TO ASSESSMENTS WHICH TELLS HOW MUCH THE STUDENTS LEARN THROUGHOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR. STUDENTS ARE WORKING HARD. THE SCHOOLS ARE WORKING ON EXECUTING THEIR PLAN GIVING THE THIRD ONE WHICH COUNTS IN THE SPRING. WE DON'T HAVE DATA YET BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FINISHED, BUT THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRINCIPALS ARE GENERALLY PLEASED AND THE K-2, EARLY LITERACY APPEARS TO BE CONTINUING ON UPWARD TRAJECTORY FROM THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD. PLEASED TO REPORT THAT AND WILL REPORT OUT TO THE BOARD
059THE DATA ONCE WE HAVE IT. THE BOARD WILL RECALL WE HAD CONFLICTS WITH OUR BOARD MEETING CALENDAR FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR IN KEY WEST. THERE WERE A COUPLE TIMES IT WAS DUAL BOOKED. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND [INAUDIBLE] REACHING AND FIXING THAT QUICKLY SO WE ARE SCHEDULED IN CITY HALL AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE EFFORTS DOING THAT QUICKLY. THAT SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES. I BELIEVE MRS. TALBOTT PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK KATE WHO WAS HERE EARLIER. HELPING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM. SHE MET WITH EACH BOARD MEMBER TO TALK THROUGH POTENTIAL PRIORITIES. I'LL BRING A DRAFT PLATFORM TO THE BOARD IN JANUARY AND VOTE AND CODIFY THE WILL OF THE BOARD AND DISTRICT WHAT WE SEEK IN THE UPCOMING SESSION AND
060THAT ALLOWS ME AND ANYONE ELSE TO KNOW WE ARE SPEAKING BASED ON IT WILL OF THE BOARD WHEN WE WORK WITH LOBBYIST AND LOOK FOR MOVEMENT IN TALLAHASSEE. FINALLY, I MENTIONED THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY SENSE I HAVE BEEN HERE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND NEVER BEEN MORE EVIDENT TO ME THEN AROUND THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. WHEN THERE IS A EVENT AND THERE IS SEVERAL EVENTS EVERY NIGHT BECAUSE APPARENTLY PEOPLE IN MONROE COUNTY DON'T GET TIRED GOING OUT EVERY NIGHT BUT WHEN THERE IS A HOLIDAY EVENT THE LAST SENTENCE SAYS BRING A UNWRAPPED GIFT FOR A CHILD. THEY THINK ABOUT STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAD A FULL MEDIA CENTER EARLIER WITH A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE HERE AND BELIEVE THEY WERE HERE TO CELEBRATE THEIR PEERS. A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND IT IS PRIVILEGE TO BE A
061PART OF IT AND SUCH A WARM SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AND HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT A PRODUCTIVE WEEK AND A HALF UNTIL THE HOLIDAYS AND THE COMMUNITY HAS A BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A GREAT BREAK. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND LET'S START AT THIS END. JUST COUPLE THINGS. I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE JOHN FROM KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL. THAT ENTITLES TO MOVE FORWARD TO IT NEXT LEVEL OF COMPETITION. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE SCHOOL GROUPS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE HOLIDAY PARADES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HOB CHEER LEADERS PLACED SECOND IN THEIR PARADE AND THE KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND AND [INAUDIBLE] PERFORMANCE CATEGORY AND FINALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE [INAUDIBLE] THE ESE PARA-PRO WHO WAS SELECTED AS A DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR. THAT'S
062QUITE A ACCOMPLISHMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. AND WISH EVERYONE A VERY VERY HAPPY HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON. I TOO WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY HOWEVER YOU CELEBRATE TO HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY AND BREAK. ENJOY YOURSELVES, BE SAFE AND COME BACK WELL RESTED AND READY TO LEARN, BUT ENJOY YOURSELVES AND THE TIME YOU HAVE OFF HOPEFULLY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SOMBER NOTE, MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER IS COMING TO A CLOSE. I WAS UP HERE SATURDAY AND GOT TO WATCH A EXTRAORDINARY GAME BETWEEN THE [INAUDIBLE] KLS. HAPPY TO SEE THE FIELD IS HOLDING UP WELL. THERE ARE ISSUES I THINK WE NEED LIGHTS AT NIGHT TO MAKE THE STADIUM SHINE BECAUSE THAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO PLAY AT NIGHT. I WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO TWO PLAYERS FROM KLS WHO STOOD OUT FOR BALL CONTROL, HUSTLE
063AND SKILL. AVA O'CONNOR AND LILY CARR. OF ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE FIELD ON BOTH SIDES THOSE TWO ARE REALLY SPECIAL AND I THINK THEY NEED SPECIAL RECOGNITION BECAUSE BASILICA WON THE GAME, THOSE ARE TWO BEST PLAYER ON THE FIELD SO I LOOK FORWARD SEEING WHAT THEIR CAREER BRINGS THEM. BIG ADVOCATE FOR GIRLS SOCCER AND HOPE THEY DO SPECIAL THINGS IN THE FUTURE. I HAD THE PLEASURE ATTENDING THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST WEEK. MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THE GREATER FLORIDA CONSORTIUM ALONG WITH OUR OWN PLATFORM. IN JANUARY-PROBABLY E-MAILED IT TODAY, THERE IS A FEDERAL PLATFORM FOR THE GREATER FLORIDA CONSORTIUM, WHICH YOU WILL SEE. IT IS MOSTLY PLATFORM THAT IS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW DIFFERENT FEDERAL FUNDS ARE USED AND HOW WE USE THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS. THAT WILL COME TO US
064IN JANUARY. THE BIG TOPIC AT THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION WAS THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND REALLY THE NEED TO HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IS USED IN YOUR SCHOOLS. YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH STUDENT DATA IS DONE THROUGH A CLOSED SYSTEM AND HAVE A TASK FORCE THAT IS OR A POLICY THAT IS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO EVOLVE WITH AI, WHICH IS EVOLVING RAPIDLY NOW. WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO-[INAUDIBLE] WAS THERE, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WILL MOVE FASTER THEN WE CAN WAIT FOR ANNUAL UPDATES ON AI, SO WE MAY NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES WITH--WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY SMART MINDS IN OUR ALREADY IN IT, SO THEY CAN WORK WITH THE DISTRICT AND TEACHERS I
065THINK TO CREATE SOMETHING. AND THEN, I THINK WE ARE ALL AWARE OVER IN MIRADA THEY ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FOUNDERS PARK USE AGREEMENT AND BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION, SO I'LL ANSWER PUBLICLY. WHY DOESN'T THE SCHOOL BOARD JUST MEET 5 MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE I EXPLAINED WE ARE GOVERNANCE BODY AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHO TAKES THOSE SORT OF MARCHING ORDERS AND MAKES THINGS WORK. WE ARE NOT THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE ARE NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WE ARE NOT THE PERSON WHO NEGOTIATES THESE AGREEMENTS, BUT WE DO HAVE CONVERSATIONS. I COMPARE IT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WHERE THE UNION HAS THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVES. OUR REPRESENTATIVES COME BACK TO US AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE LIKE AND MAYBE DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF BARGAINING AND THE UNION DOES THE
066SAME THING AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. IT WILL GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THESE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR ADMINISTRATION. SO, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR AS MUCH FUN AS IT WOULD BE FOR ALL 10 OF US TO BE TOGETHER AND I MEAN THAT SINCERELY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE'LL GET A GOOD PRODUCT, A GOOD LEGAL PRODUCT, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH TONIGHT. THAT'S IT. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE. SO, I HAD SOMETHING ELSE I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT HEARING WHAT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SAID REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING ELSE I WAS JUST INVOLVED IN AND GOES WITH WHAT THEY SAID. IN THE-I'M THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE VETERAN OF FOREIGN WAR, THE ESSAY CON TEST THEY DO. THE DISTRICT IS SOUTH
067FLORIDA. HALF MIAMI AND MONROE COUNTY SO THEY HAVE ESSAY CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND I CAN TELL YOU, 98 PERCENT OF THEM DID AI. YOU COULD SEE--IT WAS ALL THE SAME THING. THE REQUIREMENT WAS TO WRITE HOW DO I SUPPORT PATRIOTIC AMERICANS. WORDING LIKE THAT. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, YOU COULD HAVE JUST CHANGED THE NAME ON THEM AND WOULDN'T KNOW WHO WROTE WHAT. BUT, THE TWO WINNERS WERE DEFINITELY NOT AI AND THEY WERE FANTASTIC. A FANTASTIC THING WRITTEN BY A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DIDN'T USE AI BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF PERSONAL THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE AND THE ONE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS EVEN BETTER AND WAS ALL PERSONAL THINGS AND HOW THEY HAD-THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE DONE AI OR INJECTED INTO THIS THING. YET,
068THEY WERE SO MUCH BETTER BY A WIDE MARGIN. THE VOTING FOR IT, DONT LOOK AT THE OTHERS ANYMORE, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE TWO WINNERS. THEY WERE FROM MIAMI, BUT THEY REALLY WERE FANTASTIC LETTERS. IT WAS DEPRESSING TO SEE ALL THESE ESSAYS. AND EVEN THE POST SEND THEM TO ME AND SAID JOHN, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT SO HAPPY WITH WHAT WE GOT THIS YEAR. WARNING TO EVERYBODY ON THESE PRIVATE ESSAYS AND CONTESTS. AI IS-ONCE YOU SEE IT, YOU GOT-THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. SO, IF I CAN JUMP IN. ONE THING THAT DR. ADAMS TALKED ABOUT AT THE W OF WICOR IS WRITING AND WRITING IS A WAY TO EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS AND SO, AI MIGHT BE ABLE TO CREATE A THING THAT LOOKS LIKE WRITING AND IT IS WRITING, BUT IT CANNOT EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS,
069AND SO IT'S NOT REALLY WRITING, BECAUSE IT TAKES YOUR THOUGHTS OUT OF IT. IT IS WORD COMPLETION. I WOULD THINK MAYBE WHEN YOU WRITE SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN WITH ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND ALL YOUR--MAYBE THEY COULD POLISH IT UP A BIT, WHICH WOULD BE OKAY MAYBE I GUESS. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS DONE ON EITHER OF THOSE TWO. THEY WERE VERY WELL WRITTEN. ANYWAY, THAT I WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH AND EVERY OTHER WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND SO, LET'S HOPE IT IS ALL SAFE AND EVERYBODY HAS A GREAT NEW YEAR'S TOO. ALRIGHT? AND WE'LL COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND ALL THE SCHOOLS WILL BE A A SCHOOL, A DISTRICT AND TEACHERS WILL GET A FANTASTIC RAISE. RIGHT? SOUNDS GOOD. ALRIGHT. NOW WE GOT TO MOVE ON TO SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS. GOING
070TO RIGHT NOW CLOSE THIS SCHOOL BOARD HEARING AND RECESS IT AND OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FIRST READING FOR A JOB DESCRIPTION. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS? WE DO NOT. OKAY. SO, I WILL ASK YOUR QUESTIONS SINCE YOU ARE CHAIR. IS THIS A POSITION WE CURRENTLY HAVE? IS THAT WHY WE ARE REWRITING THE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION EXECUTIVE SECRETARY POSITION THIS IS POSITION WE HAVE THAT IS FILLED AND ADJUSTED SOME DUTIES, A LARGE PART IS TO ADDRESS THE VOLUME OF WORK REGARDING THE FLORIDA EMPOWER SCHOLARSHIP. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THIS IS IESHA JOHNSON'S POSITION AND SHE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HOME SCHOOL FAMILIES FOR VERY LONG TIME, BUT THAT JOB JUST BECAME GINORMOUS WHEN THE STATE AUDIT SHOWED THAT NOBODY KNEW WHERE KIDS
071WERE, WERE THEY IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL AND IF YOU SAW THE AUDITORS PRESENT TO THE LEGISLATURE THEY SAID THAT WHEN THERE WAS A CONFLICT BETWEEN WHETHER THE CHILD WAS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR TAKING A VOUCHER, MORE OFTEN THEN NOT THEY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS IT. SO, THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN THIS YEAR TO ASK OUR STAFF TO DO THE CROSS-CHECKS TO FIND OUT IF THE STUDENTS SITTING OUR SEATS ALSO ARE TAKING A VOUCHER. THE VOUCHER ORGANIZATION GETS 3 PERCENT ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR ALL OF THOSE, AND THIS IS A BIG--WE ARE FUNDING A THIRD OF A PERSON OF HALF OF A PERSON NOW AND WE ARE A SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT IS BIG EXPENSE PUT ON THE DISTRICTS TO SOLVE AN ACCOUNTING PROBLEM THAT THE STATE HAS, SO I APPRECIATE HER EFFORTS. SHE HAS BEEN
072ON IT FROM THE BEGINNING, BUT SHE'S REALLY TRACKED DOWN-I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE TRACKED DOWN AS MANY. SHE IS DOWN TO LIKE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE SHE CAN'T FIND. IT IS A TREMENDOUS WORK. EVERY PERSON SHE FINDS PUTS THE DOLLARS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND MAKES THE THING MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. MAYBE WE CAN GET HER INTO OUR NEXT KEY WEST MEETING AS A GEM. SHE IS DOING REMARKABLE WORK. WE ARE LOOKING TO CELEBRATE HER AS WELL SO WE'LL FIND A WAY TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND REOPEN THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. AND WE CAN START WITH ACTION ITEM 1. RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE THE CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH VERNIS AND BOWLING FOR LEGAL SERVICES. MOVE. SECOND. MRS. CONN. AND MR. HORAN. HE IS
073CHECKING WITH THE LAWYERS. ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE ONE COMMENT. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THAT CONTRACT OR EARLIER IN THE SEASON AND MAYBE DURING THE BUDGET SEASON SO WE CAN KNOW THE FIGURE? EARLY ON DURING THE PROCESS. YEAH, WE CAN PROVIDE IT BY WHATEVER DEADLINE. IT HASN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH, BUT ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL DURING THE BUDGETING PROCESS SO THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY NO VOTES? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION-THE ACTION ITEM IS APPROVED. RECOMMEND THE BOARD ACCEPT THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025. SO MOVED. SECOND. AND CONGRATULATIONS. DR. WOLTANSKI AND MRS. CONN. ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN WE GET A COPY OF IT, A HARD COPY OF IT? THERE YOU GO. [LAUGHTER] THERE IS ONE RIGHT THERE.
074THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST FOR YOU. OKAY. WITH THAT, I WOULD DEFINITELY APPROVE THIS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE-ANY NO VOTES ON THIS? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THEN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSION FINANCIAL REPORT IS APPROVED. AT THAT POINT, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THERE IS NOTHING ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT PAGE, THEN THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [GAVEL] [MEETING ADJOURNED]