001Can you hear me? Jonathan, letting you know we're testing the Google Meet. test. Hey Testing. Testing. [music] One. Two. test. I'm here tonight uh for our organizational meeting. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Escambia County School Board and pursuant to Florida statute [music] section 10001.371. Our first order of business for tonight is the adoption of the agenda. Can have a motion to adopt the agenda. So moved. I'll second. Please vote. Okay, I got the wrong script. [music] How [laughter] about if I just wing it? Like to open the floor for nominations of chair. As discussed earlier in the workshops, uh the nomination of Mr. Carol, the chair Do you a second? I second. Are there any other nominations for chair? I will close the floor. Like to have Mr. Harold serve as our
002board chair. Please vote. Ma'am, Mr. Adams, what say what say you, sir? Yes. Passes five to zero. Now, we'd like to open the floor for nominations for vice chair. I'd like to nominate Mr. Adams. A second. Any other nominations for vice chair? Seeing none, let's have a vote to confirm Mr. Adams as vice chair. Mr. Adams, what say ye? Yes. Passes five to zero. Next item on the agenda is the designation of date, time, and location [music] of our regular monthly workshop and meeting. Do we have a motion? I'd like I'd like to make the motion that we continue to have the monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in room 160 of the Hall Center. Second and the workshop the Thursday prior to that Tuesday at 1 p.m. also
003in room 160 and that would include both workshops the discussion and agenda. That's a great motionbody second that motion. I'll second. [music] Okay. Any further discussion? If not, please vote. Mr. Adams, how do you vote? Yes. approved five to zero. Thank you, Mr. [music] Whis. Um, next item is the appointment of parliamentarian. Do we have a motion? I'd like to make [music] the motion to continue with our board chair. I mean the [music] board attorney El Nam as our parliamentarian. Second. I'll second that motion. Any discussion? Not. Please vote, Mr. Adams. Yeah. Approved five to zero. and collection of departmentary procedure. I'd like to make a motion that we use the most recent version of Robert's rules of order. I'll second that. Discussion. Please vote. Mr. Adams. Yes. approved five to zero. Before we uh
004adjourn this meeting, just a point of personal privilege for the school district staff and I'm certain all the other board members, Miss Odum and everybody else that works here in our school district. We want to take this opportunity, Dr. Williams, to tell you thank you for the job that you've done, the professionalism that you show day in and day out, specifically as our board chair. You have been remarkable, young man. We love you. We love you and we appreciate it, my friend. Come on around here. Let's get a picture. Y'all all come on around. Let's get a picture. Welcome. Start in trouble already. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome as I call to order the November 18th uh 2025 meeting of the Escambia uh Public School District Leasing Corporation. Uh, the first item on
005the agenda is the adoption of the agend of the agenda. Do I have a motion and a second? I'll move the adoption of the agenda. I'll second it. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion of the agenda? Then please vote. Mr. Adams with us. Yes. Uh, please vote. [cough] Yes. Can you reset it so they can revote? Are we Are we revoting? Is that what we're doing? Okay. I didn't you want to tell me what it is, Adams? Yes. approved. 5-0. The next item on the agenda is the minutes. Uh the minutes from our November 19th uh 2024 meeting. Do I hear a motion and a second? So moved. A second. We have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. Passes five to zero.
006Next on the agenda is the minutes from the June 30th, 225 meeting. Do I hear a motion and a second? So moved. A second. Been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on the minutes? Then please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. Approve five to [music] zero. Next on the agenda is the leasing corporation. Uh so uh we need a motion uh for the election of officers for the uh for the leasing corporation. I'd like to make a motion that the officers for the leasing corporation are the chairman of the school board becomes the president of the leasing corporation. The vice chair of the school board becomes the vice president of the leasing corporation. and the superintendent serves as the secretary of the lease incorporation. I'll second. Uh, is there any discussion? Hearing none, let's
007vote, please. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. Approve five to zero. Okay, folks, we're down at the end of the agenda now. Is there uh uh anything else [music] pertaining to the leasing corporation? Hearing none, then we're adjourned. And I've been wanting to do this too, Mr. Williams. Dr. Williams. [laughter] All right. We're going to re uh we're going to reconvene at 5:30 to begin our regular board meeting. [music] Thank you. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome as I call to order the November 2025 meeting of the Escambia County School Board. Whether you're joining us by live stream or in the audience, we appreciate your interest in the education of the boys and girls uh in Escambia County. The mission of the Escambia County Public Schools is to provide equal access to quality public education
008that embraces the uniqueness and potential of each student [music] and we are united in this mission. At this time, I ask you silence your cell phones or electronic devices. As a as a reminder, there are two public forms. [music] There will be a public forum forum for agenda items only which will include consent agenda student and employee discipline and that will be at the beginning. There will be a second public forum at the end of the meeting for any items pertaining to school [music] district business or public education. Additionally, if you are speaking to any of the items uh for public hearing, you will be called to speak [music] during the agenda forum section. If you wish to speak at either of the forums, you must complete a form located on the table at the
009rear of the room and bring it to Mrs. Harris at the front [music] table. If you wish to speak at both forums, you must complete a form for each of the forums. All speakers must be uh all speaker forms must be submitted prior to the start of the agenda for the public forum. This meeting was properly advertised in the Pensacola News Journal legal notice 17778522. [music] It is the tradition of the Escambia County School Board that we begin each meeting with an invocation or motivational moment followed by the pledge of the flag. And it is my turn this month to lead uh lead that. But I have asked Mr. Dale Kuy, a longtime friend and colleague of mine, and if you will make your way to the uh uh to the lectern, then I will
010uh give a brief uh introduction here, although a very good one. [laughter] Uh I want to tell you a little bit about Mr. Kuy. We've been friends for over 40 years. we were principles together. Uh he started his actual career with the school district in the maintenance department and these are his words not mine as a bug man [laughter] but he spent 15 years teaching PE physical education and I think that was primarily at uh at Cordoba Park wasn't it? He spent 16 years as a principal and he was principal at Molino Barno Park Molino Park RC Lipkcom and NB Cook. And it's no surprise to me that all of those schools were five-star A schools under his leadership. You know, I've known him for many years. He's a man of of strong faith and
011determination and excellent educator and so many lives have been touched by you. So, if you would stand at this time, Mr. Kooie is going to bring the invocation and if you'll remain standing, uh after that, he will lead us in the pledge. [music] Okay. and allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, [music] with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Kuy, for that excellent invocation. At this time, uh we will move for the adoption of the agenda. Mr. Superintendent, are there any additions or deletions to the uh recommended agenda? Yes [clears throat] sir. Under section 20 [music] consent finance item C has been added. Under section 24 consent finance procurement item B has been deleted and item G
012[music] has been added. Under section 42 consent superintendent other item A is deleted. And under section 43 items from the board item A is [music] deleted. Thank you Mr. Leonard. State statute and schoolboard rules require that changes made to the agenda after publication be based on finding of good cause. I find that good cause [music] at this time. Do I have a motion to adop to adopt the agenda? A motion and a second. So moved. I'll second. It's been moved and seconded uh uh to adopt the agenda. Uh is there any discussion? Hearing none, then please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. Approved five to zero. Now we move into committee departmental reports and special recognition. Uh, Mr. Superintendent, do you want to start with PTA update? Yes, sir. Miss Gamble, good to see you
013this evening. Good evening. Thank you for giving me this time to update you on PTA in Escambia County. In this season of gratitude, I would like to thank each of you for supporting PTA in our county. Without you and the support of the principles, our over 130 volunteers at our [music] 32 local units would be unable to provide the services and programs that benefit our children and families. We want to thank you. ECC PTA is proud to support the educational opportunities provided by the Escambia County Public School System. Our PTAs have been holding some wonderful events and programs throughout the month and I hope that each of you have been able to attend some of these events. At the county level, board members have been actively engaged in supporting our local units in their PTA
014journey. As part of this support, ECCPTA will be ho hosting a Zoom presentation featuring a representative from GF Coast Kids House who will provide information on the services available to our children and families. ECCPTA is also planning to participate in Florida PTA's annual legislative convention from January 25th through January 27th in Tallahassee. This year, we hope we will be able to support several students and their adult to attend this event. Florida PTA's Ledgecon, as it's called, is a time for PTA to learn how state policies affect our class classrooms and communities. Attendees will be able to meet with legislators during Hill Day, hear from lawmakers and education experts, and connect with other PTA leaders from across Florida. We invite each of you to join us on during those these three days of advocating for all
015of our children. I will be emailing information on this event to each of you. You will also receive an invitation to join us at our family engagement event scheduled on February 16th. This event will provide some fun for our students and a health and wellness fair for their adults. We are receiving overwhelming support from the community and are quickly filling up the available spaces with great health and wellness resource information. In closing, ECC PTA wishes each and everyone a safe and enjoyable fall break and try not to eat too [music] much turkey. Thank you again for giving me the time to speak on behalf of PTA in Escambia County. Leonard. Yes, sir. Next um opportunity tonight to recognize our November 2025 stellar employee of the month. Scambia County Public Schools Office of Community Involvement is
016proud to recognize Miss Connie Bryant as the stellar employee for the month of November 2025. Miss Bryant, please come forward with your co-workers, families, and friends. [applause] Thank you. There are a few things written here, Connie, that I didn't write, but it kind of gives some things away. So, I don't want you to blame me when I especially when I mention years. Okay. [laughter] Okay. Okay. Connie Bryan is a secretary for workforce education. She has been employed with the district 31 years and in her position in her position four years. Connie consistently demonstrates an exceptional commitment to service and fosters a positive and efficient environment within her department. She is a product of the school district as a graduate of Escambia High School in 1979 and all three of her sons attended [music] Escambia County
017Schools. Conniey's dedication to the Escambia County Public School System is evident through her extensive [music] experience. Prior to joining workforce education, she served in multiple roles at Myrtle Grove Elementary and was the school secretary at Pine Force High School for 14 years. These roles undoubtedly contributed to the strong organizational skills and dedications to student success that she brings to our current team. Conniey's passion for service is truly remarkable. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that workforce education teachers and students have all the resources and support they need to achieve their goals. Her proactive approach and willingness to assist are invaluable to the department's smooth operation. All stakeholders know she is someone they can count on. Perhaps Conniey's most notable quality is the positive energy energy she brings to our department every single day.
018Her upbeat attitude and willingness to help create a welcoming and productive atmosphere for everyone. She is a true team player who always works to lift up those around her. Additionally, Connie is meticulously organized and ensures that all departmental functions are conducted without incident. She effectively manages schedules and logistics, ensuring [music] that everyone in the department is where they need to be and when they [music] need to be there. [laughter] This level of dedication to detail [music] and efficiency is crucial and allows workforce education programs to run seamlessly. Connie Bryant is stellar because of her excellent work ethic and [music] dedication to the staff and students throughout the Escambia County School District. She contributes to the healthy culture that supports high performing teachers, leaders, and staff. It is for these reasons and so many others that
019Miss Bryant [music] has been selected as our stellar employee of the month of November 2025. Miss Bryant will receive a plaque, a pen, and a check for $100 from Members First Credit Union. Miss Bryant, please come greet the board. Good evening, superintendent and board members. I am deeply honored to accept this award on behalf of the workforce education department. I would truly not be standing here today without the continuous support of my co-workers. My primary reason for joining this department was my belief in its mission to support schools by empowering teachers who in turn support students. I am grateful to say that my experience has only reaffirmed that belief. It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside each and every member of this team. Thank you again for this incredible honor. We have one
020other one other item tonight. It's my honor to present to you the 2425 PBIS MTSS model school recipients. This year we have four schools that met the requirements to become a PBIS model school. PBIS is the application of evidence-based strategies and systems to assist schools to increase academic performance, increase safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish positive school culture. This process is a team-based approach that relies on a strong collaboration between families and professionals from a variety of disciplines regardless of the level implemented. Escambia County Schools have been recipients of PBS model school status for 15 years. All model schools must demonstrate an overall effectiveness of their tier one behavioral data and use this data to develop a plan of action that ensures equitable behavioral outcomes for all students. Mrs. Stephanie Hammock, district coach for PBS,
021will announce our PBS model schools for 2425 school year. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Superintendent. Um the state has over the years continually increased um raised the bar um raised the standards to qualify for model schools. So I'm extremely proud of the schools that are here today. They have shown fidelity in implementing their plan and come together as a team and they've worked really hard. So, I would like to announce a bronze level model school award goes to Blue Angels Elementary and we have PBIS coach Mr. Gary Southworth and principal Miss Jane Murphy. We have another bronze level uh model school award that goes to Ernest Ward Middle School and that is with PBIS coach Mrs. Ashley Dunford and principal Mrs. Tyanna Bolander. We have a silver level model school award and that goes
022to Ransom Middle School with PBIS coach Mrs. Sarah Alderman and principal Dr. Al Marsh. And we have one gold level model school award this year and that goes to Navy Point Elementary with the PBIS coach, Mrs. Don Paulus and assistant principal, Mr. Jacob Freeman. [applause] It would help if I turned that mic on, wouldn't it? We're at the agenda public forum section. [music] Um, all forms must be submitted at this time. So, if you haven't turned your form in, you need to do so. The purpose of the agenda public forum is to allow members of the public to address the school board uh regarding any item on tonight's agenda and includes items for public hearing. Speakers must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the policy and posted on the agenda. You are expected to be
023respectful in your address to the board. You're also asked to use titles and not individual names. Personal attacks against board members, superintendent, staff, employees will not be tolerated. Please direct your comments to me, the chair. Personal attacks uh against other speakers and outbursts during a speaker's [music] time also will not be tolerated. If you fail to follow these guidelines, you will be warned by the chair and subject to removal if violations continue. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes. Miss Odum will serve as our parliamentarian. Miss Buswell will serve as our timekeeper. And the timer will start with your opening remarks. the buzzer will sound and when it does uh you are to finish your remarks as soon as possible. The first speaker is Linda Fussell and you have uh three minutes and you're speaking
024to item 44A. Good evening. Over 200 books will be presented tonight by the superintendent as proof that he is following the June decision made by this board to take other counties words for it and ban those books from Escambia County schools without review. Over 90% of the books on the state removal list come from Klay County. 90% of the removals in the Escambia in Escambia County this month have absolutely no challenge against them. That's about 180 books with no challenge just gone off the shelves. Do you remember the first book book that you read that changed your life? I do. While my seventh and eighth grade class was reading David Copperfield, I was off on the side reading Tequila Mockingbird. This book had all the parts. characters I could directly identify with age-wise, location, the
025South, history, the Great Depression, social issues of racial injustice and racism, literary elements of purity, satire, and irony using a child's perspective. It was and remains today a classic, and I continue to read it from time to time as I have a first edition copy that belonged to my mother, another great reader. Banning books exercises control over students by alienating them from a multitude of stories, narratives, histories, and ideas that might shift, challenge, and/or disrupt oppressive beliefs and attitudes. Band books can inform students beliefs on how gender and sexuality work or doesn't, whether and how white supremacy and antilack racism impacts people's lives, identities, and material realities, or even help students establish baseline knowledge about lives different from their own. Black, brown, and/or queer authors write themselves and others like them into existence through their
026books. And students not only see themselves in these books, they begin to understand and believe that another and less oppressive world is possible. The books targeted by bands often express ideas that challenge or disrupt dominant and often oppressive framings of the world. In fact, Paname reports that 41% of the books target bans target books with LGBTQ content and 22% grapple with sexual content. Bookbands impact the educational system and hinder teachers abilities to teach. Book bans create obstacles for educators and librarians who rely on a wide range of materials to support their curriculum and support students learning. Ban books strain educational systems. These bans add to the existing strains on schools which are already dealing with issues like funding cuts and teacher shortages. We see examples of that tonight. The legal fees for two First Amendment
027lawsuits continue to add up. Teachers and staff are here tonight to ask for pay increases. And I've run out of time. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Hustle. I do not have any uh additional speakers uh for the forum. So, we'll move on to the adoption of the minutes. Um the first item is item A under three. It's October the 3 special meeting. Do I hear a motion and a second? So move October 3rd special meeting. I'll second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? I don't see any. So let's vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. approved five to zero. Next, we have item B under adoption of minutes. It's the October 16th regular workshop. Do I hear a motion and a second? So moved. I'll second. It's been moved and seconded. Uh is
028there any discussion? Hearing none, please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. [music] Adams. approve five to zero. Next is item C, our October 21st regular meeting. Uh, do I hear a motion and a second? So move second. Is there any [music] discussion? Hearing none, please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. approved five to zero. Items four through seven. We do not have anything on the agenda this month. Uh so we're down [music] to the consent agenda. This brings us to this area of the agenda. Is uh there a motion to approve the uh consent agenda? So moved. It's been moved and seconded. [music] Are there any items to be pulled from that consent agenda? A curriculum, finance, human resources, operations, [music] superintendent. Any items to be pulled? Hearing none, then let's vote on the uh uh
029agenda item. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. approve five to zero. Okay, thank you. There are no items from the board. We uh we're down to 44 on our agenda. Items from the superintendent. There are two items in this area. The the first item is media center material removal. Do I hear a motion? Motion. Moved. A second. Been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion hearing? None. Then please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. [music] approved five to zero. The next item is item B under the superintendent's agenda items. Uh it's advanced placement IB and prescriptive curriculum with parental consent. Do I hear a motion? So moved. I'll second. Been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing none, please vote. Yes. Thank you again, Mr. Adams. Approve five to zero. Thank you.
030We're down to item 45 on our agenda, which is internal auditing. Uh the first item is item A. It's districtwide [music] audits. Uh do I hear a motion? That's a move. So I'll second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on the uh district-wide audits? Hearing none, then please vote. Yes. Thank you again, Mr. Adams. Approve. 5 to zero. Next uh under the internal auditing is inventory reports. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. I'll second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing none. Please vote. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Adams. approve five to zero. At this time, we're down to item 46. We don't have anything from the general counsel. Is that correct, Miss ODM? All right. Then we're at the public forum number uh 47
031on the agenda. And we do have a number of speakers, but there's some information that I have to relate to you first to keep everybody happy. The purpose of the public forum is to allow members of the public to address the school board on any matter regarding education and the administration of our schools in Escambia [music] County. In this meeting as a uh as this meeting we as board members are not compelled to answer questions or to respond to you and typically will not engage in backtoforth dialogue in this venue. However, the board and superintendent will take note of your contact information and respond if appropriate. As always, we invite you to contact us by phone or email for followup. Our meeting times and locations are posted on the Escambia School District website. Speakers must
032adhere to the following guidelines. Some you are expected to be respectful in your address to the board. You are also asked to use titles and not individual names. Personal attacks on schoolboard members, superintendent, staff, and employees will not be tolerated. Please direct all your comments to the chair. Personal attacks against other speakers and outbursts uh during another speaker's time also will not be tolerated. If you fail to follow these guidelines, you will be warned and are subject to uh removal if violation continues. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes. Miss Odum will serve uh as our parliamentarian. Miss Buswell will be our timekeeper. And your time will start with your opening remarks. When the buzzer sounds, you need to bring your remarks to a close. Uh uh the first speaker that we have tonight is
033uh Carol Clever. And Carol, you have uh you have six minutes because you have had a donation of three minutes by Laura Wiggins. Laura, would you raise your hand, please? Okay. All right. Thank you. And uh Carol Clever, if you'd come forward, please. Thank you. Good evening, members of the board and Superintendent Leonard. My name is Carol Clever, and I'm a teacher at Ferry Pass Middle School. I'm here tonight with the same interest in mind that I have every time I come before the board to speak. I want what is best for my students. I know that it's important for someone like me to speak up. My students don't have cars yet and in many cases their parents don't either. They don't have a college degree and I imagine many 13-year-olds might be intimidated standing
034in front of this board and speaking on camera. I'm educated and I've been studying the issues that affect the funding of public schools for 24 years now. That's why I have to do it. I have the education. I've got a car to be here and I'm certainly passionate about this subject. Our union and the bargaining team for this district are in the middle of negotiations, but both sides have acknowledged that our financial resources have been drastically reduced by the efforts of the Florida legislature who have drafted legislation that siphons money away from our school district and gives it to charter school companies and vouchers for private schools. There is no accountability for what happens to this money and the students at these schools do not have to go through the same testing or meet the
035same standards as public school students do. In private schools, teachers are not often required to be certified even. There has been plenty of talk of uplifting the importance of parent choice, but precious little talk about being accountable for taxpayer dollars. Instead, for several years now, the Florida legislature has passed law after law that gives special favor to private companies and schools at the expense of public school dollars. And we are expected to just sit back and take it. The last and the first, I might add, attempt at counting these students in Escambia shows that more than 300 students this year alone have taken voucher money from the state and then shown back up in Escambia County classrooms. They are now expecting to be educated for free minus the funding that was already sent. Additionally, the
036schools of hope bill allows charter companies to take over entire sections of our school paying no rent, utilities, or maintenance. They just get the space for free. Why are public school children of Florida expected to pick up the cost for companies that have decided to make a business out of education all of a sudden? I mentioned that I've examined issues surrounding public school funding, charters, and vouchers for 24 years now. I've been privileged to report on my research over the years in many public forums. Every year I meet personally with our legislators and I advocate for our students. I travel to Tallahassee and I testify during session about the effects that these laws are having on my students and my community. Why are our elected officials working so hard to make educating the commit kids
037in our community so difficult? Why are there so many obstacles put in front of us? It is something that hurts my heart for sure. As a teacher in Escambia County, I make less money than most of my counterparts across the state. Our insurance rates and housing costs are going up regardless. I'm teaching the kids. I'm doing the work of advocating for them, too. I'm using my voice even though I'm not elected. I'm just an eighth grade science teacher. But I know the decisions of the legislature are directly related to your ability to pay me what I am worth. I came here tonight to ask the board, "What are you doing? What are your priorities?" I know that Mr. Adams has lobbied year after year on our behalf. And I know that our superintendent works with
038other superintendents across the state, but they cannot convince the legislature, just one man alone. What will the leadership of this district do to stand up against the madness? Pulk County has already had 27 requests for Schools of Hope to take over their public schools. Hillsboro has seen even more. There are 690 requests statewide right now in the state of Florida. Surely our county will be entertaining them soon. What are we going to do about it? I'd like to propose that our union and our district work together. I've got the education and the research under my belt to educate our community about the concerns regarding accountability. Taxpayers deserve to know that their education dollars are being spent wisely and fairly. [music] The majority of the community members I speak with have no idea that our school
039district is losing money by the millions every year and that in many cases these kids end up back in our classrooms after alternative schools fail to meet their needs. Every family deserves to make its own choices. But all children must be guaranteed a good education with certified teachers and education personnel who are valued and supported in their jobs. Public education students and staff are something that is worth fighting for, and I'm eagerly awaiting an answer about what our leadership will be doing to meet this challenge. Thank you for letting me speak once again before this board about my students and what I'm willing to do for them. [music] I appreciate your time. Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker [music] is Kim Garmin. And I believe Miss Garmin, you had from Alicia Bower, you had three
040minutes donated. Alicia, would you raise your hands, please? Okay. Thank you. You have six minutes. Superintendent Leonard and board members. I'm very nervous. I don't usually do this. Pull your mic down just a little so we can hear you. [music] Thank you. My name is Kim Garmin and I teach ESC preK in Escambia [music] County and would like to talk about two of the issues in ESC preK and self-contained be. I am frequently overwhelmed by both the behavioral issues and the amount of required paperwork I must complete. And other self-contained teachers I have talked to are feeling the same. The same. As I am a prek teacher, I will focus on what is happening in ESSE PreK. As I have direct experience with this program, ESC preK teachers now have students with s significant behavioral
041issues staffed into our BE classrooms with students who have autism or intellectual disabilities. They are placed in classes that contain students with more severe disabilities who are not always aware of their surroundings and do not realize they need to move out of the way of a behavioral issue. And we are not given the behavioral support we need to be able to teach our students [music] safely. I worry about my students being safe sometimes. Typically, the teacher beside me has her room trashed at least twice a week with cabinets turned over and their contents thrown around the room. Both the teacher and her ESP are using their bodies to block students with behavioral issues from throwing items directly at other students and are pushing and hitting them. She spends the majority of these two days addressing
042behavior and losses time out of the other three days as well to behavioral issues. Two of her students are extremely aggressive and hit, kick, and try to bite other students as well as the teacher and her ESPs on a daily basis. We do not get support We do get support from an ESC behavior coach one or two days a week, but we do not have a behavioral tech. Thankfully, I do not have a severely aggressive student yet this year, but I had one last year. Our administration team and the PBIS coach are doing their best to respond to behaviors around campus, but it is not realistic to expect them to respond to so many children with so little support as we have actually as we actually have five VE units at our school as well.
043In addition, we have an unrealistic amount of paperwork we are required to complete. Uh, I want to talk about the entry COS and staffing IEPs. ESC preK teachers are required to complete paperwork for students we have never even seen based on a test we did not administer that does not even truly match the COS or provide the information we would need to actually have valid data in these documents. Part of this paperwork is for students that will not even attend our class or school. My last staffing really showed how much of a disservice this is to the students as well as the teachers. One of the members of the testing committee attended the staffing IEP and it really drove home that they have so much more information about the child and can more accurately address
044what the child needs. Why are we completing this staffing paperwork? it would make more sense to have the people completing these assessments and that have actually seen these children to complete this entry paperwork. Why why am I com completing legally binding IEPs on a child I have never met never seen know nothing about this one test. In addition, this staffing paperwork, it takes four to five hours to complete. Now, if I complete it at school, that would take all of my planning time for a week. So, I'm now spending an excessive amount of my personal time doing paperwork at home. Even worse, we will be assigned staffings to complete the paperwork, even the department knows the student will not be enrolling in our class. The parent at my last staffing actually said at the meeting
045that she had already told the ESC prek department that she was pleased with his current VPK class and would not be enrolling him until kindergarten. She saw she said that when she was apologizing to me. Um why was I required to complete this paperwork? Every ESC preK teacher I have talked to has these same concerns. While I do not teach in the multigrain pro multi-grade program, [music] I do talk to teachers who do. They have the same behavioral concerns. However, their paperwork concerns are more how can one teacher effectively write lesson plans for three to six grade levels and then they have to do all the grades and progress notes for that many grade levels as well. and they are also overwhelmed by the behaviors and paperwork in ESSE at this time. We need an
046ESSE task force to address these issues. We need to be looking at this and seeing what we can do to improve this because we are losing teachers and staff right and left and it's hurting our kids. Thank you for the time. I appreciate being able to speak. Our next speaker is [music] Rick Barnes. And Mr. Barnes, you have three minutes. Good evening. Um, I just watched you guys handle line 44. A House of Representative me members is your oversight. A House of Representative members, your accountability. Now, my name is Rick Barnes and I am the candidate for the Florida House of Representative District 2. And after I am elected, I will be your oversight. I will be your legislative jurisdiction over you this board. So, I want you to hear me clear. I'm a gay
047man and I will have power to investigate this school's board's censorship. We're here tonight because this board has removed once again just tonight hundreds of books, not after review, not after community input, after skimming a state list and calling it judgment. Now, I strongly warn you, you are not protecting our children. you are abandoning the responsibility that these people have put into you. So once again, as your next legislature, I will use every tool of legislative power from investigation, audit, hearing, funding, and spending rules and look at all $440,000 of these people's taxpayer money to go through this. I will ensure that this board will follow Florida law and procedures that have we established in Tallahassee. You will respect the Constitution and the rights of the citizens that you serve. I do strongly warn you,
048you may avoid committee meetings, but you will not avoid a legislator. Thank [applause] our next speaker is Donald Cooper. And Mr. Cooper, you have three minutes. Good evening, board, and Keith Leonard, our superintendent. Um, I'm a little nervous, and normally I'm not nervous about speaking to anybody. Um, anybody that knows who knows, I love to talk. Um, but today, um, I'm coming to you as a 12 year, uh, 12, 13 year vet of the military and a 12-year teacher. I'm asking this board to empower the teachers and the ESPs. Time and time again, requirements are being added um to us and power is being taken away to make decisions in our classrooms and in our schools. Um and it's actually affecting our job effectiveness without understanding that without without understanding that without good order and
049discipline learning cannot take place. Principles with high turnover rates year after year are retained year after year. They are be either retained at the school they are per currently at or they being assigned to another school to repeat the same process of high turnover rates. It says in business that you could tell about an organization by the people that actually stay in that organization. And it's sad that you could see these numbers every year of principles having high turnovers and nothing is being done about it. I'm not attacking the principles. I'm asking the board to look at the situation. Teachers deserve a higher pay. But sometimes it's not just about pay. We have many times that uh someone could be let's say not a great fit with a principal and that principal can then have
050the power to actually blackball or actually keep that person from actually getting a job even though that t that principal has a high turnover nothing is being done on [music] that end. I'm asking everybody to please keep in mind I'm looking for accountability from top to bottom. Students deserve stability in the classroom. They are good teachers that's being let go, being moved, and going to other districts because of the situation. We want the good employees to stay in that job year after year. Pay is only one side of the coin. We need to look at all sides of the coins and empower our teachers to do the job which we hired them to do. Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker [music] is uh Darzel Warren and I believe you have six minutes being you have
051three being donated by Philip Forehand. Uh Philip, where are you please? Okay. Thank you. So Mr. Warren Warren. Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize, Darzelle. I'm sorry. [laughter] I was looking for him. It's like, okay, he's at the bowling alley right now. I do apologize. No problem. Um, good afternoon to the new chair, to the board, and to Superintendent Leonard. Good evening. This week is American Education Week, a time to celebrate public education and the educators who shape our future. It is also the perfect moment to reaffirm what education truly means. Preparing students to think critically, embrace diversity, [music] and engage with the world, not shielding them from it. I will stand here tonight to speak briefly about the banning of books. While some may feel that limiting access to literature is a safeguard, it is
052in reality a step backwards. Book bans are censorship. They silence voices and deny students the chance to learn and grow. When we remove books because they are on a state [music] list or make some of us feel uncomfortable, we send a message that discomfort is something to avoid rather than an opportunity for growth. Take Tango and Tango makes three as an example. It's a true story about two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who raised a chick together. This book has been repeatedly challenged [music] not because it's harmful, but because it introduces the concept of family diversity. What message do we send when we when we ban a book like this that some families don't belong? Should certain stories be erased? That is not the lesson we should teach in Escambia County. Another example
053is the story of Ruby Bridges, which tells the courageous story of a six-year-old girl who integrated into William France Elementary School, an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960. [music] This book has faced challenges because it addresses racism and segregation, real parts of our history. If we ban books like this, we deny students the chance to learn about resilience, justice, and the progress that shaped our nation. Students will also not be able to read the book, Small Shoes, Great Strides: How Three Brave Girls Open Doors to School Equality. This is the story of the three little girls that also integrated in New Orleans the Macdonald 19 at the same time as Ruby Bridges, Gail Etenne, Lyanna Tate, and Tessy Pra Pos. American education week reminds us that education is about opening doors, not closing and
054slamming them shut. Our responsibility is to guide students, not limit their horizons. Parents and educators can and should work together [music] to help students navigate difficult material, but banning books is not the answer. It erases stories, marginalizes voices, and undermines the democratic principle [music] of of intellectual freedom. If we truly value freedom of expression, we must defend the right to read. Instead of ins instead of silencing ideas, let's teach our students how to engage with them thoughtfully. Our future depends on the informed, open-minded generation, [music] and that starts with access to books. And I would like to say thank you to all the educators here in Escambia County for the job that they do every day. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Emily and I can't make out from the writing if it's
055so or uh is that [music] correct? So okay, thank you. Is it S? Uh yes, Emilo. That's right. Emil Soul. Okay. Thank you. Um good evening. Um chair of the board. I'm here not as a relative of a student but as a concerned citizen. Um, and I'm standing with teachers and immigrant members of Escambia County Public Schools when I [music] ask you to issue clear written guidelines to employees um for interacting with immigration customs enforcement officials if and when they do enter Escambia [music] County Public Schools. Um, at least three counties, Orange Lee and Valuchia, have done so in Florida and I and fellow immigration rights advocates believe that this would be a really valuable step to helping teachers navigate this moment. Um, so we're aware that the code of conduct outlines how teachers should
056behave with police officers, but ICE and but ICE and other federal officers often constitute like a different legal category. Um, unlike police officers, schools are not required to let ICE officials enter or make detainments without a valid and signed judicial warrant. But you can see how employees not knowing this distinction might feel pressured to treat federal officers like regular police officers, even beyond the requirements of the law. And you can see how a lack of clear guidelines might make it harder for teachers to follow what is asked of them by the law and to balance that and their responsibilities to their students. So I ask you to just clarify this ambiguity to all um to all employees of the county. Um, this is a really charged, emotional topic and I hope that you don't take
057my being here and asking you this to mean that school boards need to wade into really polarizing um, national politics. And I actually often believe the opposite. So, this is actually but we but we have to be clear that, you know, this isn't a hypothetical situation um, and that not preparing for this situation [music] doesn't do anyone any good. This is about making sure that teachers are informed about their rights and legal obligations and about making sure that the Fourth Amendment is respected often in the same place that it is first taught to our students and it's about making sure that employees are in a position to protect themselves and show students that they are protected too. As educators, I'm positive that you understand um that more information and clarity has never been a source
058of problems and that the issue here is that there's an ambiguity right now um which if it causes issues could could cause harm down the road. Thank you. [applause] The next speaker has three minutes. Jennisol Alonso. Good afternoon. Thank you. My name is Hiasa Alfonso. Um so I'm a substitute teacher here at Scambia um county. Um now I want to um just echo some of Emil's points. So, um, in the past, uh, schools were actually a protected area for, um, ICE officers. They couldn't an ICE or CBP couldn't go in, um, and arrest students. Now, um, with the changes in the, um, on on a federal level, um, they can. And though Escambia County has not seen a raid by ICE, there is no guarantee that we won't see it in the future. And so
059Florida counties all across Florida have come out with guidelines um to to put barriers um and make sure that if ICE officials do come um into their schools, they don't come unlawfully, which is something we've been seeing over and over again across the state. ICE coming in with [music] invalid warrants, coming in with administrative warrants, trying to arrest um whether it be a student or whether it's at Walmart or at somebody's house, trying to arrest somebody with um a warrant that is not signed by a federal judge, right? We don't want those things to happen at Escambia County Schools. Um and I know that last time we came here, this isn't the first time um that we've come here to speak on this issue. Um, following that time, Keith Leonard had told the P&J that
060we have a stu a student code of conduct. But like Emil said, it tells teachers and staff how to deal with police officers, not ICE. So if a teacher is illinformed about these issues, what is the guarantee that they just won't let eyes come in without a warrant, right? Or or or give them personal records of our students? That's dangerous. Um, and I also want to mention that teachers already have enough on their plates with the lack of funding that has just been talked about from members of the teachers union. Lack of pay, right? These are all really these are all issues that are taking up a lot of their time and that they're struggling to deal with and now struggling to deal with what to do if ICE comes in. That's way too much
061on their plate. And lastly, I want to finish by saying that coming out with these guidelines would not be going above the law. It would be following the law and making sure that these teachers are well informed and they know what the law actually is. Thank you. [applause] The next speaker is Deshawn McKenzie and you have three minutes. Um, good evening. My name is Deshawn. Um, I would like to speak with the many hats that I wear in this community. I am a middle school teacher, a union site leader, but also a community organizer with Defense of G Coast, which is an organization that um is working with our local immigrant community to help defend them against um ICE and basically help them maintain a level of safety and kind of calm around the the
062new crisis that we're seeing around the country. Um as a teacher who spends a lot of his free time doing community organizing around issues like immigration, I'm hearing from both teachers and families the uh the impacts of a lack of ICE guidelines given by our district. Although, which was um meant uh said to PNJ a few months ago when we came before around this issue that there has not been any ice rates at schools to this point, um the increase in ice activity around the region is having an impact on our students whether or not we're actually seeing it at the schools immediately. Um these the increase in ice activity, which we're engaging in pretty often locally and we're seeing and we're highlighting and speaking to immigrant families, that increased ice activity is creating a
063sense of fear for a lot of students and families that is actually causing absences or students to drop out. I've had uh community family members say that students have dropped out to stop going to school because they feel that there's not a safe a safety a level of safety at the schools that they attend. And this lack of safety or lack of feeling of safety comes from there being no guidelines. Cuz if they ask their teachers or their administrators what what happens if ICE shows up here and there's no answers to give, then those students feel a lack of safety and then respond in kind by not showing up to school anymore. Um, these issues go unseen because the students are actually dropping out or disappearing behind scores of absences for fear of their school
064not being the safe space that they've been promised. Similarly, I also want to speak as a union representative around the issues of vouchers that um, Carol brought up earlier and our pay because those are also issues that come up frequently as a union rep. Um, as I talk to my co-workers, people want to know why our pay is not why pay is not increasing, what where is all the money going and I'm having to explain what is going on at a state level that is done trickling down to y'all on a local level. Um although some of these issues do go beyond us here on this body or here us as teachers or here as members of this community it is important I think to our co-workers to our students to their families that they
065see a school board that is proactive not reactive that they see people who take stands and fight for issues that affect their students that affect their families or that affect them as educators. So um on the issue of vouchers they want to see a school board that takes hard stances and says hey this is wrong and this is actually impacting you as as educators and we value you. They want to see a school board that has, hey, we see what's going on around ICE issues. We are not taking a political stance whether or not we agree or disagree with the [music] federal uh mandates, but we are going to go ahead and acknowledge what the law is so that it's clear for you. Um, I think the issues that I'm uh the interactions I have
066with my co-workers, with students, with families, all stem from them seeing our leadership as a passive body that is waiting for the state to come gut their education system or is waiting for the feds to come send ICE agents into our schools when all a lot of these issues could be resolved simply by having a more assertive, aggressive approach that actually reflects seeing our students as important and wanting to fight for them. Thank you. [applause] Did we Did we miss anyone? Is everyone who's filled out a form? Okay. Is there any other business to uh come before this board at this time? Oh, sorry. Is that Jasmine? Okay. They're stuck together. Jasmine, come on down. You have uh three minutes. filled them out at the same time. I was worried. Um, but good evening. I'm
067Jasmine and I'm coming to you this evening not only as a concerned community member but as another volunteer with Defense of Gulf Coast. I'm someone who has who's a family member to children in our schools and I'm someone whose fiance is a teacher and I'm calling on you to issue clear guidelines on ICE so our teachers can be prepared if and when ICE shows up to our campuses. I have seen Florida teachers be accused of indoctrination when they educate their students on the diversity of our world. Our teachers have been have have to run active shooter drills for the possibility of a shooter. Our public school teachers face job uncertainty or insecurity with the rampant use of vouchers for private schools and increase in charter schools. Our teachers continue to be underpaid, understaffed, underfunded, and
068undervalued. and now they're left with uncertainty on how to educate themselves and protect their students if and when ICE shows up on campus because schools are no longer a sensitive zone. Issuing guidelines is well within your control and would be a critical step towards protecting all of our students. Again, it would be a a preventative um effort. I recall this board being asked to issue guidelines on ice before tonight and yet the community still has yet to see action. You won't be starting from scratch. You can and all of us can look to several other counties in Florida as mentioned before as an example of clear guidelines for their teachers. ICE has violated due process. They have terrorized neighborhoods and families and have notably incorrectly and detain incorrectly detained people. Ignoring this threat to our
069schools does not make it go away. You have a responsibility to protect our students. It is your responsibility to listen to the very reasonable dem demands from those you are supposed to serve. Our teachers deserve clear guidelines. Our students deserve safety and dignity. And our public schools deserve protection. Thank [music] you. [applause] That concludes our speakers uh for this evening. Is there anything else from the board or from the superintendent? Then we are adjourned. Good job.