Lake County School Board Workshop - May 27, 2026

001Um, a lot of questions about appropriate staffing and that was my big thing, right? Because all of a sudden we've got a very large middle school, you know, very similar to numbers of like an East Ridge Middle. Um, so we want to make sure that that it's going to be a heavy lift for the team that's there. We want to make sure that they're appropriately staffed on the front end. Um, so, you know, whether it be in the classroom, uh, in support areas, um, you know, safety, security, whatever the necessary needs are is that we really take that into consideration as we move forward and and transition. Um, transportation, what does that look like? Right? because now you've got folks that used to walk to school and now might ride buses to school and and

002how we how does that impact us? I'm working with Mr. Fender. His initial analysis of it, he's like this is not going to be a pro problem and it's not going to be more costly. So um and then also our stakeholder communication plan look like. Um, and you know, when we leave here today, we're going to get with staff immediately today. And you'll see that um, a little bit later. Um, because we feel like, you know, board's got to know everything first and then next up is are those our boots on the ground at the schools. So, um, and and also working with Miss Owen's department to make sure that we're communicating with our municipalities, with, uh, with our our families and and and local folks that that also love and care about all of

003their Leburg students. um you know, we do the job of it. But man, there's so many people that invest and are are very considerate of that that feeder pattern that I really think, you know, if the messaging is correct and accurate and timely that they're going to be just as excited as we are about um providing advanced opportunities for these kids. So, all that being said, I'm sure you guys will have questions and additional considerations that come along. Um, so, uh, if you don't mind, I'll go ahead and, um, invite, uh, >> I I got a question on the communication plan before we because that's your last bullet there. When you talk about communication plan, we're informing them of this is what we're doing or this is more of a session where we're collecting the

004feedback from the community to build that buy in and make sure that this is something they want to see. >> Well, I I think it's probably it's a little of both, right? But because of timeliness, if we're going to if we're going to do this effectively, there is going to be a comm some communication of this is what we're planning to do. >> Um, but I I think it's not leaving them to make up the reasoning on their own is is a big key in that. And helping them understand that this is why with a with the primary focus on the student experience and the expansion of opportunities for those kids, this is the why behind what we're planning to do. and here's how you can be a part of that and and here's how

005you can, you know, continue to be a valuable stakeholder because I I really not only do I think the opportunities for the kids are going to expand, I also think the opportunity for the community is going to expand. We've got a lot of people in in uh Leburg area and all of our areas, but Leburg area especially that are dying to get into our schools and and assist and help out. And this is going to this hopefully is going to merge the community together. Right. Miss Dudley, you know, she's talked about we are Leburg, right? That's she's mentioned a couple times in our in our brainstorming sessions. So I think this will bring that we are Leburg mentality to it and and really gather input into the plans is probably a better way. >> Have

006we done any sort of preliminary work and discussions with the community to make sure that we're not going to be met with a surprise opposition and then suddenly we're >> So I've had some you know I've had some discussions with key stakeholders to hey what are your feelings if we looked at a few different things and ways of doing this. Um I don't think there's there's not anything on record like an official, you know, open house meeting um to this time, but we've got those planned also. Um but the initial impact is, you know, we're really around what it used to be as far as merging that student body. It'll be more of a a gathering together and and students, you know, feeling on equal playing field and and that everybody getting the same opportunities.

007Those are some of the real initial feedbacks feed bits of feedback that I've gotten so far. Um, everybody wants to know about leadership. Um, so so I think those are things we'll have to talk to, but really just just kind of, you know, planting a couple seeds and asking a few questions. I have not gotten any uh negative feedback so far. And I asked that question just through the lens of because a number of years ago there was this conversation from school and district leaders about merging ACA and Cypress Ridge and talked about how it would be so great to you know to have this enhanced basically one school across you know across East Avenue >> and then they were I think people were surprised when the community was not in favor of that. And

008so I I want to avoid the same sort of situation where we you know run down this this hole of this is going to be cuz cuz I I certainly see all the benefits. I mean, there's no doubt I see them, but I just don't know if the community is is embracing them as well. And so, I I think that's where I'm just I want to have that confidence >> in that how we you how we get out and deliver the communication of of what our plans are is going to be key. I think we're dealing with it's is quite a different scenario than what you would see with the Cypress Bridge and Aurelia Cole. um you know with just being how different those two particular schools were and and so much change at once,

009right? Because we know all those kids at Cypress Ridge aren't necessarily zoned for Cypress Ridge and we know that all a sudden going from a Claremont Middle to to really our first dabbling into a K8 and and what does that look like and having the same gra grade levels right across the street from each other. is that the right model or you know the different things that we explore at that time. So I think I I hear what you're saying and I think we definitely need to make sure that that the community understands what our plans are, but I I feel like I anticipate that we're not going to run into quite the adversity that we ran into in that situation. >> Let me take a second and recognize we have uh [clears throat] the

010leader of Leburg, Mayor Barry. Thank you very much for coming and [snorts] if we could call on you to speak when when you feel comfortable, we'll listen to the presentations and then you can come up and give us absolutely from the community side your perspectives. That'd be amazing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, this time uh Mr. Felner stay here. >> Could you just click the next button though? >> I can do that. >> Thank you, sir. Good morning. >> Morning. >> All right. I just want to recognize Mr. Dudley. you've been instrumental in the team, the conversation. Um, just taking really just sitting with leaders and knowing and understanding what they want and you're going to actually have an opportunity to listen to them. Um, we're just speaking from that teaching and

011learning side is saying what advantages this may bring to students and to staff. So, you see we have six bullet points at the top. We're just going to touch on a few of those advantages. So when you think of like expanded academic opportunities that two schools, one being, you know, that 500 and 650 right around those numbers right now, it does generate some concerns, some issues, some problems with having a small staff and I think they would agree with that. The opportunities for kids when it comes to electives, students really don't have a choice. they pretty much get a schedule and because of the the staffing and the opportunity they get this schedule. Having a larger um school provides more opportunities. Miss Randall's already touched on if we can actually create a robust culinary program

012that feeds into the high school. It it would be an exceptional opportunity. Students don't have that right now. We offer Spanish on one campus. We don't offer Spanish on another campus. This would allow having the same opportunities for the for the students of Leburg. I love when does say hey this is we are Leburg trying to create that sense of community and that is one of ours. How do you create a stronger school culture um on campuses right now there are several we use a term in and our language is singletons where it it's just one subject I have one teacher and I might be only teaching two two sections of it and then I have to jump to some other section. This would allow for more continuity as far as teachers go and I

013could collaborate. No longer do I, as Rene is teaching a sixth grade ELA and a seventh grade ELA, she might have now just sixth grade and I might be a counterpart. Um, a school of a thousand students allows for us to have three teams and we can actually communicate between those three teams. Um, what happens sometimes in small schools and I know the educators in the room hear this word called tracking and what we do is we label students in a specific group. I'm in the advanced group and sometimes unadvertently we create this advanced, this middle group and this other group, right? This allows us to have three groups that we can actually if we need to mix and mingle between because we have more opportunities for students. So from that teaching and learning side,

014we're definitely excited. We think it provides more opportunities for students as well as the teachers [clears throat] in the room. Um, and from the facilities, the operation of the financial, it allows us to have one nurse, one this, one that rather than separating it over the course of two different schools. So, I think from a resources standpoint, we can streamline as well as add and and benefit for students. Any questions when it comes to teaching and leadership? And I rushed through Rene. Did I miss anything? She's here. >> I can add a lot. You know how fascinating I am. >> There's there a lot more words, but I kept it to most of the positives and really you're going to hear from leaders to be able to say yes, yes, and yes. >> Basically, we

015can get a pretty new building at Oak Park now, but it's not giving more opportunity to students. The merging of the two just exponentiates that, right? So, each school right now has three to four electives we call, but when you put them together, that's a possibility of seven or eight that could actually feed into the high school. Like right now when the high school comes over to our eighth graders, they're like, "Yeah, building construction, we have ROTC, we have all this, which they have no idea, but if we had a technology and a robotics class, which we do have the lab for, we just don't have the opportunity. Wouldn't that be amazing to feed into that, or digital design in the high school, or even the culinary to Chef Bell's program up at the high

016school. Um, other things, art programs, you talked about art. We have two solid lines of art at both schools here. And at the high school they have 3D art and they have digital art or digital art and then the traditional art. Wouldn't that be powerful if we could feed into that? So, and a lot of those programs financially can be purchased through the Perkins grant as long as there's a feeder a feeder associated at the high school. So, we were thinking long term how can we feed that program and not just put our eighth graders into nth grade like oh here now you have these opportunities. So we can actually develop kids and wouldn't that be powerful for the community itself to build it starting in the middle school level. So, >> right. >> But

017our singletons, our teachers, speaking, I'm sorry. Speaking [clears throat] of our teachers, they're already merging together. Both high school or both eighth grade algebra geometry teachers, they kept going to each other's schools just to collaborate, driving to each other's schools monthly, quarterly. Our science teachers are doing the same. The the staffs themselves are feeding each other, are asking for this, asking for not to be singleton. So I think the way we we you know share it with the community there it's actually kind of boiling it up from within the need. So I don't know I could talk for hours. >> You don't have to >> I would like to touch on [laughter] that. >> You don't have to. We're good. >> And just to support kids >> and to support maybe the Leburg High School

018as being an ACE center school. Um this would also provide that global perspectives at the middle school and be that pre ace um instead of trying to do in two different locations. We get to really just collaborate bring those resources together. So there are some definitely advantages of bringing the two um and creating a robust opportunity for our students. All right, Mr. Forth >> and and part of back to that um communication process and >> then before we get into this let's go ahead and ask Mayor Barry do you want to speak to from the community side since we're hearing >> I was going to say something that might so for her knowledge also just briefly real quick >> then that's basically that we're we're also preparing to engage the students on the choices that

019are going to happen at the schools also when it comes the classes and what are their interests and you know along with how they align to the high school but what are their interests and and what do they see fit along with staff also. So while we're we're building a plan allowing people to be in informed and share what they'd like to see as parts of the plan also as part of it. So >> good morning. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I have been um addressed with um Mr. Brandenburgg as well as Chad in reference to this possibility of combining two schools. I am a little concerned. I know that we do have two great leaderships um presently and I know come bringing them together based on what I have just seen sounds

020like a great opportunity. My thoughts will be as you stated planning them for the next level the next going to high school and my also one of my biggest concerns is the safety that goes on in the area of the school. So it will entail not just the school but it will be the stakeholders in the area as well as our policing because there has been lockdowns at the schools more so than what we want to count. Um, I'm speaking from the district in which I represent and these are all factual information. So, it's not just hearsay as we know, but I definitely think from the financial piece makes sense. Um, bringing together and offering more opportunities for the children makes sense as well as um extending and providing a better um facility makes sense

021if I can say. So the capital projects would have to be in place and to accommodate for the more the kids. Um I heard the question about um Mr. Dodd referencing of will the parents and the have an opportunity to speak. Personally, I think that might not be a bad idea cuz I can't speak on everyone. But I know as um the city it would be a plus I think to take the kids that are walking now to be able to be on a bus that's more safety and secured as well as um the kids that do have to walk provide a better um route or way that they can walk to school cuz I think Griffin Road will be much more populated when we have now our gas department moving that way. Um the

022electric department is there. Of course, our fire station is right across the streets. So that's more activity on the main roads. For our safety, there's sidewalks there. But I'm just looking at the whole big picture. But for a comment to say supportive, I can say yes. I see what you're doing and I understand based on conversations and listening from board members and getting my thoughts and just want to know I just want to make it great opportunity for the education piece for the kids, great opportunity for the security piece of the kids and great opportunity for the stakeholders and the kids. So all that makes a school which makes one leird and that's my focus. So that's my comments. >> Thank you mayor. Thank you. Um, if I could have uh KT, principal KT come

023up to the podium first and then Dr. Langley is going to come and share because they're the ones with the kids every day, right? So, you know, just how it impacts them from a culture and and logistics standpoint and just what their thoughts are. Sure. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Um, just with the conversations that [clears throat] Dr. Dr. Langley and I have had um the opportunities for our kids. Um Dr. Langley and I talk all the time and our teachers, we put them together intentionally to work together because it is we are Leburg. Those are our kids. These are our teachers. And so we want to do what's best for them. I think in the long term regarding culture and uh combining um students, you know, a few years ago, we did have

024uh an influx of kids come over and looking at that transition to merge the kids together um logistically when it comes to school safety like uh Mayor Barry mentioned um logistically um how we have the school structure when it comes to the monitoring um pieces. you know, you can walk on our campus if you've ever visited and you stand in the center and you can see the entire campus. Um, transitions during transitions, our students transition within the pod areas. So, we we we're all able to be out and see all of all of our kids. Um, we do have teams because it is kind of like a small learning community within. So, having the team of core teachers together, they all have the same kids. not having those singletons um because of allocations lost this

025year for the first time. I've had to have teachers now, okay, you may have a third prep this year. Um just trying to prep my teachers because they haven't had that where Tammy has been dealing with that for a long time. So, just the opportunity for collaboration, um, pulling our teams together, being able to be on one campus, um, [clears throat] and just to merge that and them be able to work together. Um, I'm excited about the opportunities for the elective choices cuz we have had to cut those choices and they don't have very many choices. Um, we talked about our bands. We both have full lines of band. I'm like, it would be great for our kids to be able to be in a band program that they want to be in and not

026have to take band one just because there's nothing else really for them to take. But that means that's good for teachers, that's good for classroom management. Um, so just every everything and and to work at our schools, you have to have a heart for the kids. And um, you know, it's Leburg is is Leburg. It's our Leburg. It's our community. And um you have to have a love for our kids. And I think with the history of Oak Park, um our teachers working together, they have the love for our kids and the longevity that can come with that. Being able to maintain so much, you know, we kind of talked about it, but um just being able to retain staff um because of the opportunities that that it will provide and enhance with what we're

027already doing. So, I'm excited. Um, you know, there is the leadership question and you know, Tammy and I are like, hey, if it's in God's will, whichever one is supposed to be there will be there. And so, we're working together to just make sure what's good for the community is good for the community because it's our kids. It's our kids. >> Coach Dandy, thank you. >> Yeah. May I stand? >> Sure. Thank you. [laughter] Good morning, everyone. Um, thank you for this opportunity for both KT and I to um, address the school board and the community that's here. Um, I'm not going to repeat what KT has already said. You said it so beautifully as well as other people, but I will say this. Um, we none of us know what the future holds, but

028what KT our stance is we want to do what's best for all of our children. She mentioned um, facilities and PE and longevity of teachers staying at our building. Um when she said that my memory was jarred at a teacher that came to on our campus for a sporting event and she said, "Dr. Langley, I would come and teach for you if you had another building." Um when our students are walking down the hallways and they see various things there at the building at our school, I do believe that them being in another facility would help them and motivate them. um they have the criticisms of um what the building looks like and you know all of the jokes about Oak Park, but they still forge ahead um as well as our teachers. So I

029think this merger is going to be something that is going to be a blessing for all students. I believe that our students, as has already been stated, will have opportunities that they have not had before. I believe that our teachers will have opportunities that they have not had before. We are a professional learning community within our district and having this just the opportunity to collaborate with other teachers that are teaching the same subject and as has been for stated not have to worry about four and five preps um is a huge thing. Um also our families being able to walk onto a campus that they can be proud of um walk onto a campus that um they feel like their students are getting the best of. And so I think um Mr. Farnsworth mentioned a

030word. He said a word earlier and he said equal so that our kids feel like they're getting the same opportunities that other students within their community are getting. So um we are excited about this as far as the leadership as KT has mentioned whatever is in God's will it shall be and uh we'll roll with that. But thank you again for this opportunity to speak to you all. >> Thank you. So, we've got um some next steps. Um so, immediately, as I mentioned earlier, we'll have some faculty meetings um that go on and as soon as we uh address the two faculties this afternoon um at both Oak Park and Carver, uh we'll start communicating to really hurt that first layer of of um communication and and uh reaching out to our stakeholders. you see

031on the Tuesday, June 2nd and Thursday, June 4th really to message to parents and families we feel like and staff members that's out of that first layer and we'll also get it out to to the greater part of the community also. Um but we know a short short timeline, right? So we'll build off of those two opportunities for people to share and provide input into what what the plan continues to look like as we build it out um for the kids. And then that rolls into the Monday, June 8th board meeting um where the approval of design contract and approval of preconstruction agreement for DACG um would occur um in front of you guys for consideration um and >> then I'll let you speak to the last piece because there might be some more detail

032in there. >> Yeah. And then as I come back to you with um next year's capital plan the in usually I workshop with you in July and then come back for adoption by September 15th. Then right now what you see is that Oak Park middle or Leburg um K8 line item. And so now there would be two line items basically one for this Carver project and then one for the Leburg elementary school project. And that was where I would try to accommodate Mr. Branderberg's. >> Thank you, Mr. Randle. >> Um, if I can, no promises. Um, but basically that would be, you know, how we work through that that technical process of board approvals. >> Super. Okay. So, now, uh, if you guys have some additional discussion or questions, we're >> Yeah, I'd like to

033start with Mr. Bradenberg. I know you've done a lot of >> Yeah. If Mr. Chair, if I can ask um Dan Miller and Candy Harper from the city of Leburg. They're here from planning and zoning. I don't know if they've got any comments, but I do have a question for them that I think will be helpful to the conversation. Um they certainly manage the growth in Leburg. Um and they know it better than anyone else. So, I'd like um their perspective uh from the growth side. Um because it's no secret that we're growing, but I think there's a misconception on how fast we're growing um and approved lots versus CO properties. So, just kind of want to speak that through as we look at the projections. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Good good morning, Commissioner. Uh,

034my name is Dan Miller, planning zoning director for the city of Leburg. Um, Leburg is experiencing a great deal of growth right now, but most of it's coming in the form of zonings, and zoning is not growth, it's change of color on the map, which allows you to do something you couldn't previously do. Right now, we're probably um looking at certificates of occupancy for around 20 to 30 homes a month. And that's it. Uh, now there are some recent projects that have come on on board um down Highway 27. I may need Candy to help me with the names on some of these uh because we have a lot as as you well know. Most of our growth is coming down on South 27, both sides rolling down to the turnpike. That's going to be

035where the majority of it is. Um most of that will be single family and I know Miss Randall and her group we work with them closely and they have some calculations as to the number of students that each of those creates. Uh we have one um down there Windmill Road that is going to produce about 400 units I believe in there. And then we have um a couple more that are getting started. Uh Whispering Hills which is very large. They actually we expect about 22 2,300 units out of that one. It's approved for more, but that's the yield is going to be about 22 2,300 [gasps] and that one has been being cleared. And then another one south of that um which is goes by the name of the one the one on the bottom

036this the very south. Candy, do you remember? >> Um I believe you're talking about Barn. >> That's the confusion. They come in as one name and they get another when they're built. Um, Bar Key has about 1,700 units. Um, most of what's happening is non55. >> Right. >> Now, that's that's where you get obviously the students from. We do also have some that are considering going um to a 55 plus model. So, that'll take some of the load off of there. But for now, I can't speak to the future except for what we're seeing on the ground right now. Uh for now, we're running 20 to 30 homes a month for certificates of occupancy, meaning that you can now move in. Uh we do anticipate over the next couple of years that that will that

037number will increase. Um as you also know, the villages came into Leburg and and they are they will be doing quite a number of units there. However, um, no direct school impact on that. Um, does that >> Yes, it does. No, I just know that there's the conception out there that we've got whatever the number is, 10, 20, 30,000 approved lots between South Leburg and North Groveland, that whole 27 corridor. But how many of those homes actually get to the CO stage? And I certainly agree that number will go up, but >> the number will go up. But there's also one other consideration to keep in mind is over the past two years in our PUDS, our plan unit developments, what we have done is put in a 4-year sundown provision. So if there is

038not substantial commencement, meaning turning dirt within four years, those zonings are going to revert to one acre per unit, not one unit per acre. Those are different. So keep that in mind. one acre per unit means you have to put out one acre to put one unit on it versus clustering 10 on on one acre. And so, um, some of those are going to end up not happening. And then there's also the consideration of water. Water's going to control the future and in Florida, I believe. And we have a certain capacity that the each city has a certain capacity of consumptive use permit. X million gallons of water a day they can use. If that capacity is used up, everything has to stop. So yes, we have a lot of units. It's pretty much in

039a manner of setting up a competition >> and who gets there first >> gets the water. After that, a lot of these will expire. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. No, that that answers um or provides the information I want to get on the record um because I know I I see the notion all the time on Leburg word of mouth and different pages that our schools are overcrowded everything else and we certainly have some work to do but we're not busting at the seams and I think that the projections that Kelly's team track so closely and shoot showed in this presentation is true. I know the last time we did the impact fee study for the student generation it was 31 kids or 31 kids for every hundred houses. I'd argue that number

040is probably down a little bit with school choice and other options that are in there now and the amount of those kids that go to middle school. So even if a large number of these houses get built, um I still think the numbers are going to hold true, which then gets back to the argument of this is so much better for kids. Um and being able to provide those resources together. Um I went to Carver, KT was a a staff member at Carver when I was there. Um she's done some incredible work for a long time and continues to do that today. Um and just the opportunity uh for Dr. Langly, her staff, her kids, um to get a better site um that is better for kids and better for her staff and be able

041to provide those resources and do the rest. I just think it's a no-brainer to be able to move forward with um and then once you get to the very long end of that list, what this does for us financially to save the amount of not having to rebuild Oak Park, certainly not a driving factor by any stretch, but somewhere in the the 20 million neighborhood that we'd probably save uh by not rebuilding um Oak Park as a half capacity campus. And to Rene's point, a shiny new building without the resources doesn't help kids. Um, so I think from all fronts, this is this is such a great thing to look at. And from Mayor Mayor Mayor Barry's perspective, less kids walking on South Street to school or crossing Lone Lan Oak Drive to get to

042school will be a huge benefit from that side. Principal Wolf at Leburg Elementary get her new building in the back and get out of those very old portables will be a huge benefit to what she's doing with her team over there. So, I just think it helps the entire feeder pattern so well. And with the new leadership of the high school, getting programs in line, getting electives in line, um, can really do some special things and continue the great work that's going. So, I'm very passionate about this. I think it's something that is a huge benefit for kids. Renee caught me after a parent meeting at Futland Park one day and she got got me for about 45 minutes going through it and laid out every single standpoint to the point of I had no

043holes I could poke in it. She has looked this through entirely and continues to do such a great job. So, I'm fully supportive, certainly happy to be a part of all the discussions with the community moving forward. Make sure they understand why we're doing this and why this is better for kids, but I think it's a fantastic idea and thank staff for their hard work and making it happen. >> Mrs. Okay. >> I have a unique vision of this having worked at both schools. Um, having been at Oak Park twice, um, and having been principal at Carver, uh, I have had firsthand experiences with trying to establish programs that would feed into the high school and then having it be shut down. Spanish is a perfect example. Uh KT was there with me as my

044AP and we struggled to get Spanish at Carver and um of course the children across town should have had the same opportunity. So needless to say um I wholeheartedly support this program. Uh I think that it is good for everyone. I think it's good for the school system. I think it's good for the community. I think it's especially good for the kids. Um, Leburg has a unique place with me. I think I've worked in just about every Leburg school with the exception of Leburg Elementary and it wasn't there then. Um, [clears throat] but yeah, I think it's a good thing. So, thank you for your hard work and I look forward to seeing it. I'm glad you're going to get it done before I am no longer here. So, I'm happy to say that I

045support it. Thank you. Well, there's no doubt it creates a lot of great opportunities for kids, which I'm very, very excited about. Um, I mean, when you when you combine that student population and what you're able to offer that you can't do now, I that's a no-brainer, right? Um, I also really appreciate the the city's involvement and uh and and I think you're in you're in tune with what the community is saying and and and thinking and so I appreciate that very much. Um, I think if we just had if I thought of one one thing that could just possibly be working against us, it's the timeline. You know, I don't want anybody in the community to go, "Oh, wait. This is already a done deal because here's here's the open house, you know, like

046next week, right?" So, um, so I think just engaging how we engage the stakeholders and and the community to to be involved in this process is going to be very very meaningful and um I I I know we'll we'll be able to do that. But just, you know, keeping that at the forefront would would give me the comfort. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Let's stop with that thought for a minute. Thank you'all very much. We appreciate it. >> Um, may I say something? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um, Candy Harper, City of Leburg, Deputy Director of Planning. It is a pleasure to work with your um, planning team here. And um every opportunity I get when they're done with a map, I want to swipe it [laughter] because that gives us a greater view of what's

047going on around us. And we're always happy to feed into the data sets that they have so that everyone is up to date. And I also want to say that everything you've done in the past created a student that has now gone on to UF and the planning department and and is going to become an intern in our office this Thursday. >> Excellent. >> She is intelligent. She is educated. She is poised and we're pleased to have her. So, thank you for that. [laughter] >> Thank you, Candy. >> Thank you very much. >> And I will say that's reciprocal. the city has been great to work with >> and I want to I if Mrs. Owens could address because one of the things is this whole community perception that you mentioned and we don't want

048uh like Orange County over and over you hear about them closing schools blah blah blah and the whole negative side of that which seems to be a little bit not accurate but how are we going to let the people know how positive this is? What's our marketing plan? So I think a big part of it is a little of what you heard today, right? Some of the examples you heard where what the students have now versus what they will have going forward. I don't know that a lot of parents or a lot of people in the community understand that. Just making sure people understand the before and the after. Um we talked about the wise. Uh Mr. Farnsworth said a lot about that. Making sure that they understand why we're doing this and why we're

049taking this approach as opposed to the approach that we originally started with. And I think once everybody understands and has an opportunity to ask their questions and we get a chance to hear from them, we it's it's not totally a done deal. We want to hear their input and where there is opportunity for us to take the kinds of things that they want to see in those in that school where we can fold that in and make it a part of it. I think everybody here would certainly want to do that. So that would be my my suggestion. U Mr. Matias is just to make sure people understand the before and what the after will be and why we are taking this approach and just what it's going to mean for everybody involved. >> Yeah,

050absolutely. And to piggyback on that, I think, you know, when we see these other districts, what we're seeing are signs of instability and this is not driven by instability. Rather, I mean, because we've got the money, we can go build them a flashy new building there at Park, but doesn't that doesn't do anything better for the students, right? So, so that's that's the message that I really >> hope we capture in there. >> I know you will. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you very much, Dr. I was just going to say I think there's some benefit too. The plan prior was to merge two schools and we were going to make a K8. That was what was on our original plan and we are still merging two schools. We're just approaching the two schools that

051were merging together a little bit differently. I think my my concern too was was that when we were merging the two schools, thinking back to the original plan of Leburg Elementary and Oak Park, is Leburg's the plan for Leburg's going to address what the needs for that building were? I know it's not as old as Oak Park, right? We'll just leave that there. But like that will address the needs that we have at Leburg still. So we're still meeting the what we said originally the intention was to do. I think that's kind of important in the messaging as well. Um so just my two cents and everybody else >> I understand. >> Yeah. >> We'll definitely pull that in. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. I don't have anything to add. I appreciate the

052involvement that you have and the perspective bringing that forward and everybody being here. There's no reason to repeat all that. It sounds like a great plan. very well researched and thought through >> and and to the point this is I'm so excited that we're doing something like really quick. [laughter] I think this is the first in 14 years [laughter] of >> and and I do think that it's important that as we go through and you have these listening sessions which all of this is like light speed >> boom [clears throat] boom boom boom boom that there's something to be said for leadership and the way this thing's been thought out that I don't see that a public forum un unlike what we experienced with the Claremont I that's completely different. It's kind of an apples

053and oranges scenario that that um that leading says that we're going to do this and we're going to move quickly and I think that's that's also needs to be some of the messaging that these kids are going to see the results quickly. Um so I think that's a positive. So Mr. Brand thank you for your engagement. >> Thank you. I've got uh [clears throat] one other comment for the board and I think that we'll address this at the community sessions, but when I was speaking to some stakeholders before today, uh one comment that came up a couple times that I thought was really insightful was when we look at merging these two schools, can we look at a subtle rebrand and certainly not change the name of Carver, but look at either the color scheme

054or the mascot and find some way to bring that Oak Park charm and character into it as a fresh start, as a new opportunity, not just say, "Okay, all you Oak Park Knights, you're now going to be Carver Red Raiders. Right. >> Um, so in my form, just thinking of a little bit, maybe combining the color schemes of keeping the red and the silver and the blue, do a red, white, and blue theme or something along those lines. Call them the Titans, call them something else. Let the community be part of that process. But a new color scheme, a new mascot, and a new beginning for Leberg, um, and Carver Middle School, I think, would go a long way to really putting the bow on top of this and not just feeling rushed and that

055we're combining kids for opportunities, but not being thoughtful as we go about it. >> So, okay. May I say something about that? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, I think it's important that the car the Oak Park kids feel a part of the community, but we need to be really careful. >> What we do with re trying to rebrand too much. Correct. >> There's a lot of historicalness that goes with Carver. Uh, not to take anything away from Oak Park, but now if you want to get the community riled up, [laughter] >> that's the way to do it. >> So, I think we need to be very care. And I see the mayor nodding her head. we need to be very careful about that. >> So, it was funny is that's those are type of things

056we wanted that there is plenty of input left for and that's the beauty of having a year and we've even talked about having like separate student groups coming together, you know, similar how you do with your superintendent advisory committee having some advisory with the with the staff and the students. But, it's funny because I was thinking the same thing, right? There's potential landmines there, but there's potential advancement and making people feel like a combined culture. So I I for the heck of it I was like I Googled Red Raider logos and it was funny the first one that popped up same colors Red Raiders but then it was a night more of a night. It was almost like it had merged kind of the school. So I think you know working with our great leaders

057there and and and having some appropriate channels for input especially around culture is going to be important. So that I think that's a benefit of going fast but also having a year. Mhm. Okay. Well, I would not hesitate based on what I'm hearing from the board. It will be probably a pretty easy vote. Okay. >> So, uh go forth and build. >> We'll see you [laughter] soon. Coming to a regular scheduled board meeting soon. So, >> okay. Thank you'all. Okay. Moving to 3.02, the district staffing plan. >> Mr. more. >> I'm just going to co-pilot for the for the whole workshop. That's right. I need you to keep me within the lines. All right. Well, good morning board and superintendent. Um, back again at the end of the year with the staffing plan. So, you'll

058have a copy in front of you. So, as I start sharing um presenting the slides, just know our senior staff is here. So, if you have any questions, I'll have them answered respectfully to what they regarding the slide or the question. [snorts] Okay. Do you want to start with the first one? >> Yeah. >> Okay. The first slide starts with safety and security. Um you may be aware we are having a new principle that a new Mr. Shikel is accepted a position as a principal for to elementary school where he's the district threat management coordinator in the department at this time. But with him vacating that position, it presented an opportunity for Mr. Mabri to make some changes in his department and some restructuring. So he's proposing deleting that position and making that position a

059professional managerial position as a district threat manager. Um deleting a secretary position and creating a [snorts] fiscal assistant and adding a school safety guardian and one school safety guardian for a charter school. Basically the net cost for that to millillage fund is 26,876 and change. So >> I think important with that is you know we based on need of the schools we we add the individual guardians but as far as from a district department level he nets a savings with considering what the support and structure at the department level and at the district level but the just adding the school safety guardians where necessary is what push that number into the the positive. So I just wanted to point that out. So I'm confused why we're identifying one and one. >> Why? >> Because the

060on the safety guardian the charter one we do not we don't pay that one. That's strictly the charter reimburse. But >> we don't have just two guardian positions. >> No these are just changes. >> Oh these all we're seeing here is changes. Yes. I'm sorry. Okay. Now I got it. Okay. Thank you. >> Correct. Thank you. >> All right. Next one. And the next one is the information and instructional technology services. And this is just a restructure of the position. It is the same position. Basically, we they redid the job duties and responsibilities. And basically, we're deleting the system support technician and restructure it to be an IT operations and procurement specialist. There is no cost there. It's the same person. Next one is risk management and they are deleting a legal records assistant and

061adding a claims manager to that position. That will create a claim specialist and a claims manager position for risk management. That would be a general fund credit of about 7,586 and change. HR I will give you some updates because this one I have several changes um to [clears throat] give you an update on fingerprints and we have completed out of the seven phases phase one is complete phase two is about 99% complete with refingerprinting. We're in phase three. We're about 33% complete. And districtwide, we're at almost 40% complete with fingerprinting. What we found out through the rescreening of all our employees based on the mandate has been that most of our employees have gone to satellite offices for fingerprinting. They have not made appointments here at the district office. It has stayed current with regular

062new employment. So, one of the changes that I'm proposing on the senior human resources, I'm reducing the employment screening and public records specialist by one instead of two. But I am adding back a legal records assistant. And the trade of that is that over the course of the last three years, when you look at HR, public records have doubled each year. And part of it, I would like to thank AI for that. >> Yeah. [laughter] So, but it has gotten very very very um interesting back >> to say the least, but because of the increase, I'm dedicating a full-time person just to take care of that. So, um as far as restructuring um the HR technical and support analyst, basically I'm just restructuring that position and making it have programming skills in regarding for department

063needs managing data. So, overall to general fund that creates a credit of about $16,863. Next one I have food and nutrition services. Um um to create um one of the issues that food service has always experienced is having an appliance technician. We have a solid one to create an advanced ladder so that we can train a second one. We are deleting one appliance technician and adding a lead appliance technician. So that will create support and a ladder position for somebody to grow. And we are reducing the area managers from six to five. And we are adding a project manager for food and nutrition services. The purpose of this is the this person will solely work with operations and facilities in all aspects of cafeteria remodels and upgrades. Um, just to update you a little bit

064on food service. Linda will be leaving us at the end of June and she's basically contemplating retirement and at that point I'm still in the hunt for a food service director. We had a great lead. Unfortunately, for personal reasons that did not pan out, but we have found a second and we're in that process. Maybe this is somewhat of a budgetary question, but you know, there's always been this perception that food services had more money than they know what to do with because you can only spend it on food service, right? >> Correct. >> Um, are they still in that kind of situation? >> Yes. >> So, so I asked this because I was reading about some other school districts who are trying to cook more from scratch that instead of getting chicken nuggets that

065have 35 ingredients. This was a line from the article. You can make them with seven ingredients and that's it. Tastes much better, right? and 35 ingredients that go in the chicken nuggets that no kid wants to. We don't know what that is, right? But they say that the the trade-off with that is it's more expensive for the product and more expensive for the labor. But other school districts are starting to do this and so if we're still sitting on a ton that we don't know what to do with, can we make better school lunches for kids? >> Um, obviously that is something that I will have to research further and get back to you. they'll start sending you articles. >> And I think Miss Willin has shared that it is trending that way and she's

066trying to prepare her workers across the district because most of the time it's it's it's not because they're choosing to do something like that. We know the nutritional regulations are constantly swaying back and forth with the wind, right? But she's preparing folks that there is going to be more scratch cooking. So the pendulum's going back that way, right? So um so I think that the the idea is to prepare for that and we are assuming that is going to become more expensive. So the hope is that we're the the the fund balance is healthy to contribute in that way also. So it is we're always at the mercy of of what nutritional requirements they allow and not allow whether it's no salt this year or more salt this year or no fat this year or

067no you know and all those things. So now we're moving towards minimal ingredients. So, it'll be interesting to see how that trend plays out. >> I'd be in favor of better school lunches. >> Me, too. >> Not to get off topic, but but they did a showcase for us a few years ago where the vendors came in that were providing the food, >> and I thought it was all really good. >> So, my kids say the lunches look nothing like this. >> Mine did. Mine said the same thing. They're like, "Mom, we've never eaten this before." >> That's right. [snorts and laughter] That's not what they really serve. >> Okay. Well, that was a terrible one. [laughter] >> I heard about it also. Um, but I think it it [laughter] was valuable feedback. >> That

068that's certainly different. >> It was valuable feedback if we did that again, right? Cuz I I [laughter] asked I asked my middle school Mike, "Do you see this stuff?" And I will say the pot stickers surfaced. Um, so she saw those [laughter] and loved them. But there were a few things. She was like, "No, didn't see it." So, I think that's the not potential vendors coming in and laying out their spread, >> the people we're using and the food we're serving and and those vendors, you know, what can they do to enhance and maybe having another showcase using that feedback. >> Well, it'd be nice to have the showcase and then actually use the stuff. I mean, this is the first time I've heard that. So, so that's bizarre. But the other thing I just

069want to mention is is that in today's kitchens, our commercial kitchens are designed to heat and serve. So to go to scratch would take an awful lot of um expense. >> That's right. That's why I asked if they have more money than they know what to do with because >> there would be some transitions that have would have to occur. Right. >> I would like to add we something that we're excited about is that we are finally found a um a great nutritionist that's coming to us with some exciting new ideas. So we're hoping >> that that brings a change. Since we're just rehashing old reservicing things, [laughter] one thing that um I have heard feedback on and now now that I have a teenage boy in my home, I can attest to is there

070the portions that are being served seem very much the same. And I have asked that question and have been told that they do portion differently, but >> I'm not seeing it either because I mean a sandwich is a sandwich. A burger is a burger. The portion sizes don't change whether you're in kindergarten or 12th grade. >> And some of these kids are >> they're hungry. They are. They're bringing a lunch from home and getting our school lunch. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yes. >> So, y'all have pre- dinner at your house also? >> Yes, we do. Yeah, we do pre- dinner. >> Pre-enter, post dinner. >> That's right. Okay, moving along. >> Sounds like this is another workshop topic for get your new director. [laughter] >> Sounds great. >> Love to give some feedback. >> We

071have lots of opinions. >> That's right. [laughter] >> Moving on to the teaching, learning, and leadership side of the house, curriculum, instruction, and assessment. We um due to some of these cuts are based on people retiring or moves or department restructuring. So the manager of one of the managers of curriculum and instruction is being um deleted and a program specialist is being deleted through retirement. So that provides a one was federal funded the other one was general funded. So it provides those cost savings there. Moving on to reg the regent offices on region one and region two. We are consolidating the executive secretary to having one one will be answering for all three. So that's why we are cutting those two executive secretary positions and one program specialist from region two. Those were funded through

072general fund. So it provides a cost savings to general fund in that position. Did [snorts] you say on that curriculum instruction assessment page that both the manager and program specialists were being deleted due to retirement or just the program specialist? >> As I start as I start talking through teaching and learning and leadership departments, some of the positions are being cut because of movement accepting other positions or retirements. It could be a variety. In this case, the program specialist I know it was a retirement. Okay. >> The manager is not the manager somebody. >> Okay. All right, moving on to federal programs. Federal programs and they're reducing the programmatic technical analyst to half an allocation and two program specialist and one secretary too. And one position I believe was vacated, the other one um don't

073know I can't remember but senior staff can answer to that one. those positions are being um reduced providing that cost savings to federal funds choice and charter. We are remove um deleting one ELC site coordinator and one ELC assistant site coordinator and ELC is no longer being provided at one of our school sites which is the one it's Rhymes Elementary. So that school side >> is that because of the transition to the >> because of the transition of K1 and two to elementary schools. >> Okay. >> And they're offering the wraparound services now and so there's >> there's >> basically serving the same purpose. >> Correct. >> Because of the prek. So that produces a general savings to the ELC funding source. School improvement and alternative programs. And we are deleting the admin coordinator for

074student support academic enrichment. And we had an admin on special assignment. That position is being also deleted. One was federal, one was general. So it provides cost savings at the bottom. And one of the biggest changes you're going to see on the on the staffing plan now is exceptional student education. And I will preface it. All ESC school specialists at the schools were typically um allocated to the site. Now we're moving those positions back to district. Similar to mental health, they referred to student services, but they are sent to schools. We're moving ESC school specialists to the ESC department, exceptional student education. And with that, that basically instead of being site based allocations, they're going to be district based allocations. And that produces a decrease of about eight and a half total allocations from IDA

075funding. which generates that credit. >> Um, I'd like to make a request that after we've had this in place for a period of time, if you could just report back to us on how that's working out to take away those schoolbased specialists and have them work out of the district office. >> We are not I would like to add we're not removing them from the school side. We're managing the funding to district. >> Right. I understand that. But in essence, each school is no longer going to have their own person like they did in the past. Correct. >> This year as a transition year, they will have their person. >> So this is not going to take effect until the next school year. >> No, it's starting this school year. This next this 26 27

076school year coming up. It's starting. >> Okay. >> And it better it's it produces an opportunity for us to manage IDA funding. >> Right. I understand that. But I would like to see how it's working because I've heard some concern from people about the fact that their ESC specialists are no longer school-based that you know that impacts the school and the running of the school. >> So does that mean I'm trying to understand so does that mean that they would like each school would get a certain number of hours or or part of the allocation? So the same person might visit multiple schools instead of being housed entirely at once. They might they might visit two schools or three schools or but that could potentially happen with the schools that have very few students. Correct.

077Yes. >> But not for this coming year. Right now we initially allocating them to district staffing plan and we're going to start monitoring how that goes on. But >> so how is there a savings if they're going to still be working? I will partial funding through general funds but it's um I would rather let Mr. Felner if you want to elaborate a little bit on that because I'm >> you want to get >> Yes. If you can Yeah. So I definitely want to be clear that the 620,000 is going to be a savings from IDA. Um but no ESC school specialist has lost their position. So we are utilizing those um and uh this funding just shows the change of IDA funding. Schools will have the support they need for students with disabilities and we

078have coordinated funding to ensure their support. So we have used different funding either grant funding, other funding to make someone whole. >> So this 620 is not a $620,000 credit. It really is coming funded somewhere else, >> right? There is a savings. um is kind of difficult to show but it won't be completely um the 620 the 620 is a savings from IDA >> and we needed to reduce that number >> but somewhere else the 620 >> yes sir yes sir >> and some grant funding >> yeah okay >> y so we're not not really deleting eight and a half people >> in a way we're now we're deleting from the IDA funding about eight and a half allocations that cost IDA funding >> I'm surprised we wouldn't show on here that what the new

079funding source is of those people so that we see that it's offsetting. Yeah, we we did have at one time it was confusing either way um the way that we have done it but you are correct there is going to be another source that so I think it came out to be like around I don't if you remember >> no I don't remember but to answer your question the reason you don't see is because this is staffing plan which are district based allocations those are house those allocations are going to be housed at the site >> right >> so school site allocations >> clear as mud so What you're saying is when principles get their allocation sheet, it's going to reflect that position, but how does that let us know what the funding source is?

080>> It's gen it's going to be I will have to check to see what schools are the ones identified to have a different funding source other than IDA. >> Okay. >> All right. I I just want you to know that the schools will be serve our students will be served with the appropriate services. Like that's hopefully the takeaway and the other takeaway is that we are saving 620 from IDA that every year we tend to be over. So we're just trying to make sure that we get in line with that. >> So Mr. Ward, where is this? Where's the offset? >> [clears throat] >> So, I apologize because I'm sitting up there trying to remember the conversation that Francis Ellis and I had and fortunately she's not here today. But Francis had another grant that

081would cover it for one year. So, they're going to cover up the difference for one year with that funding source. But at the end of the day, when the when the ES grant cannot afford it, the general fund's going to have to make it up anyway. So, this year, they're going to have a funding source to cover. I'm I apologize for >> No, that's fine as long as there's a funding source for it. >> Yeah. >> But wasn't there conversation? This was one of those um fair is not necessarily equal where we have smaller populations of ESC students at some schools and larger at some schools. And so this was an effort, if I remember right, it's been a minute to reconsider like if if this school and this school have a smaller population, they

082can share one. It will do a cost savings, but it will also serve the student where our larger serving schools will have additional resources potentially as well. Right. >> Yes, that that is correct. getting away from giving everybody one no matter what. And we're we're going towards a model that says we're going to do it based on the number of students that have a need. >> So somebody might get >> 1.2 and somebody >> may get more, some may get less. Yes. Correct. >> And I don't have a concern about that. Right. >> I just have a concern about knowing in the future how it works. >> Sure. >> And if the the school leaderships feel that they're getting the appropriate amount of support. Yeah, >> I think this the way they see it breaking

083out once you've got a cushion year um where people are whole and leaders can prepare for that. And I think the way they're discussing portion out is two three days here, two days there. So, it'll be broken into day support um as we move forward. >> Right. >> And I I appreciate Mrs. Cunningham's point like I know it's moving like the the supervision kind of piece is moving. So, it would be nice to have an understanding of how they're feeling, >> right? >> Is settling. I think just being at the at the school level, schools use their individuals so many different ways >> and sometimes it's not for the students. We want to make sure that the students are getting the services that they need and are required. So I think that was the shift

084and I say Dr. Luke, you said it perfectly. That's what we're trying to do. I think Miss Celis did reach out to you individually. This is what she was having that conversation around >> because we knew we'd have some questions probably around it. >> Okay. >> How many how many of these people exist today? >> I think we have like 46. I mean pretty much we had them at every school. Charters were included. So I mean this was one thing that we made uniform based on your number of students. This is how they'd be served. >> Okay. Okay. >> So I think I think that that helps me understand now. So there is a $620,000 savings because if there are 46 and a half of these people now and you're moving 38 of them and

085you're eliminating eight and a half >> because you're eliminating eight and a half. That's where the 620 comes from. >> Yes sir. >> Okay. >> That was rounded out. Way to get there. But the eliminations are from vacancies, attrition, whatever else. >> Yes. I want to make make sure everybody has a job. Yes. [clears throat] And if schools wanted to keep their their individual, I mean, we we try to work through >> um who they're who they like to have. >> And [snorts] we do have resations or retirements in the ESC. >> So that also open up allocations. >> Cool. >> All right. Next. I'm going to stay right here just [laughter] >> All right. Next slide is student services and student services is planning to delete two LPNs and add two RN two nurse

086RNs and three psychologists and obviously those funding source for those is millage and that's the cost of this change for student services and that impacts millage funding. >> Yeah. >> And uh I just want to credit Dr. Luke, uh, last year you said to our team, "Are you sure you wanted to do what we did and we deleted them? We were incorrect. We should have listened and now this year we bringing them back." [laughter] So, for the record, >> I remember that, too. So, >> we remember we [laughter] were right. >> Awesome. >> Well done. Well done. >> And then that's the last slide. Last slide is basically just a summary of all the total fiscal impact. um to our areas um per fund and it gives you basically a generic a generic total that

087it's a cost savings and including all funds about $1.3 million. >> Well done. I I have an idea of what we could do with money. [laughter] >> So So it's a little bit of a goback here. So So no, my >> Don't get creative with money now. In all serious, so my wondering, so back in the in the staff the the school staffing allocations formula and there is a there is a a position of a campus monitor, right? And uh and and [clears throat] I'd wonder if if East Rich High School could benefit from one of those. And why I ask this, it has to do with the bathrooms. I know superintendent's been kneedeep in this. Chad, you've been as well, is that I think that based on the placement of a lot of these

088bathrooms, there's a supervision issue and and as a result, they just lock them during the day, which Mr. Mapry, I know you had pointed out to me in the Mar Marjorie Stoman Douglas report that why that's not necessarily a great idea. Um, just thinking about giving these kids access to bathrooms. How do we how do we provide that supervision if they can't work with it within their existing staff? Um, a great example, you know, uh, kids are taking an AP test last week. They get a 10-minute break. They go to use the bathroom, it's locked. They go to another one, it's locked. They go to the front office, they say, "No, that's it's open." They go back and they say, "No, it's it's really not open." They go back to the office and they say,

089"Let me find let me go." The office goes, they're like, "Oh, now I need to find somebody with a key because it is locked." They got a 10-minute break, you know, and and so just find trying to find an open bathroom is a challenge on there. I know those those Halo reports are going off like non-stop. We sat in I sat in Mr. Mabry's office and there were like 200 alerts on the vape detectors over the course of a week. So, I can see why they're locking them from that because they're like, "Well, if they're locked, the kids can't go vape in there, right? But they also can't go to the bathroom." So, I'm just wondering if this is not something that they can solve within their existing school staff, is this something that we

090can provide for them with the campus monitor um side? >> Well, I've been kind of looking at that for next year. What is a lowcost job description that someone could also be providing some additional service and um possibly some campus monitoring also. So, that that's something I'm looking into now perhaps. So, >> I mean, from the the risk management side, I mean, at least high school for a while, we've had folks on return to work light duty that'll sit outside some of that. Um, and I so I want to re-engage our new risk manager to make sure he's uh he's he's kind of in tune with the possibilities there, but it got to where, you know, some of those people's reliability was was a little spotty also. So, it's a it's a patch and not

091necessarily a solution. So, we're going to continue to to venture down the path of solving the Eastbridge bathroom issues. >> All right. Thank you. >> I want to go on the record. I don't I'm not in favor of spending a million bucks though to solve that problem. [laughter] Well, I thought, >> you know, we could put an additional assistant principal there, but in reality, we want them to be an instructional leader in the in the building, right? So, so like if there's a low-level position that can just monitor, but create more consistency than what we had with the light duty or modified duty folks because, you know, cuz that was they did they did send some folks out there for a couple weeks at a time, but you because it's not consistent, I don't think,

092you know, you could really >> kind of change the culture. >> So, a stipen kind of thing. Give them a stipen, somebody, >> right? I >> well the problem is it's during the day and that if they got a stipen then somebody's that's paying them to do something else while they're supposed to be doing their other job. >> We have leaders that are really creative in this district that have that are managing. I do think it's a problem. I do I mean I do think it's a problem. I'll share off of the record what Emry solution to this is. But regardless I just feel like there could be some ways for us to do this with a culture change. But we are going to battle it anyway. Well, I put it out there in case

093it requires something that needed board approval, but I'm happy if y'all can come up with a solution that doesn't. Either way, I just I would just love to see the bathrooms open. That's >> seems like a simple request. [laughter] >> Seems okay. Thank you. All right. All done. >> Thank you'all. >> Athletic update. Does anybody want a break or we ready to keep just pushing through? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> I'm good. We're all good. Okay. I'd like to invite our district athletic director, U, Mr. Pat Todd. >> Um, >> what's that? >> Yes, I'll run the clicker for him. Um, I'm good at this. Um, I'll say that, you know, I I just want to take a second to recognize uh Mr. Todd and the efforts that he has put in since assuming that

094this position. I mean, he's such a contributor to Lake County and the community as a whole and and he's woven strongly into the fabric of of both the Leburg community where he resides and also Newella and all across the county. He has spent more time in the south end. I mean, he's he is all over the place. I'm not exactly sure how he gets to all the places he does, but I'm blessed to have um a teammate that has a vision and is also an educator educational leader. not just a district athletic director. So, um he's here to provide some athletic updates today um for things legislature are doing to us and and that we're going to do with them and and also some really neat things uh to wrap up the presentation of that,

095you know, come out of his vision and and his for the things he sees for the future of what's great for our kids. So, >> well, appreciate the kind words and appreciate being able to address you guys this morning. Uh before I get into this, I'll just make a brief comment uh about Oak Park and Carver. [clears throat] I'm on every campus, middle and high school in our district daily. Uh when I say daily, I'm I'm at somebody's campus almost every day. And uh in my career, when I've seen campuses that are adult- centered, they're usually toxic. When I see campuses that are student centered, those are thriving. I I want to tell you, both of those two campuses are student centered, and that's a tribute to both of those leaders. Um I I've been

096around Carver and Oak Park for 35 years in some capacity of one or another and um it's a pleasure to walk on campus and see the interaction of those leaders with those kids. And so um I know it's a big decision to to make that transition, but but I promise you the service to our community is going to be there and um and I think it's the right decision that you guys are looking at. And thinking about athletics, uh there's been some legislative pieces that are going to affect us in Lake County. So, Senate Bill 538, uh has a lot to unpack in it, and it really kind of unpacks in three different areas. First is a coach's compensation piece, which was really pushed by a football organization to be honest with you. It has

097included now all coaches. The reality of it is is it's not going to be funded by DOE. So the way they are suggesting it could be funded is through booster clubs or athletic associations. So a booster club or athletic association could raise x number of dollars and determine they like to pay a particular coach that money. It has to go through the district office to be done that way. Uh there are some challenges that I think are before us that we will need DOE's guidance and that's when it comes to title N. How do you have equity if we're going to pay let's say a football coach X number of dollars? how are we paying our volleyball coach and where's that going to land? So, right now in our county, we don't have thriving booster

098clubs raising big-time dollars outside of Umatillaa. Um is the smallest school in our district and they are outraising everybody two to one on on on a good day. Uh so um I've got a lot of people asking me how to do that since we instituted that at Umatillaa and to be honest with you that takes campus leaders to have connections with their communities that perhaps are a little bit more intimate where the trust level can be different. But uh we can we can change the landscape in Lake County if we raise money a little bit differently. But that's coaches compensation. Another piece of that is that legislation now allows boards to consider coaches and athletic directors as administrators to negotiate contracts. Just so you know that that's out there. Um and uh we've appropriately talked

099to our people about where we are in Lake County and the great opportunities we have to serve kids and um employment's a choice and uh we all chose education for all the money and uh and so you know we're in it for the right reasons if you're in it. So, so that being the case there, student eligibility is probably the piece of the bill that I I I think helps us in Lake County. I think helps athletics in general in Florida. Um, but it it it is going to kind of paint the brush of non-traditional students and traditional students in the same way. In other words, when you enroll in a school in August, that is your school of athletic choice for the rest of that academic year. Oh, >> so the idea of playing

100multiple sports at multiple schools in one calendar year theoretically goes away. The good cause policies that districts were asked to create two years ago are now something in the past since the governor signed that bill and good cause now only is administered by FHSA. The three criteria for good cause is if there's a divorce in a family and there's a court-ordered change of address for a student. if DCF comes in, removes a student or if there's military placement. However, there is a clause in that that says in FHSA's approval. So, uh are there loopholes? Without question, if a kid moves from Georgia to Florida during the middle of an academic year, why wouldn't we? It's why wouldn't we grant eligibility for that? So, that's certainly going to be the case. The next question is going

101to be, well, what if I move from Sumpter to Lake? Well, I can tell you right now, I deal with more false addresses than you can shake a stick at. I've had uh people claim divorces and send me [clears throat] paperwork that's [laughter] not valid just to move from Minnola to Eastridge in the middle of a basketball season. So, we'll have all those challenges, but those challenges will be dealt with with FHSA. The other piece of this that I think is going to really affect a lot of kids is homeschool students currently are able to participate in our schools whether they live in Lake County or not. This bill changes that. Now a homeschool student can only participate in the county in which they live. >> So to be honest with you, of the athletic

102issues we deal with that are somewhat challenging, probably 85% of those are non-traditional student issues. Uh we've got a bowling issue in South Lake County that is um difficult to sort out, but that is really about nontraditional students that don't live in Lake County. And so that will help us a little bit. Same thing with charter schools and private schools that don't offer a particular sport. Currently, they can come and play a sport in in our county uh if that's if our school offers it. Now, they cannot do that unless they live in Lake County. So take uh MDCA which has some students that live in Orange County and they don't offer water polo. Could they participate at water polo in Lake Minnola? Only if they live in Lake County. And so the exception of

103that is if our public schools in Lake County do not offer a particular sport and um and they want to participate in that sport, then it would have to be a partnership with an adjacent county, Marian, Oyola, Orange, Sumpter. And so I think that helps us a little bit to get out of the good cause business. >> I'm a little bit confused. [clears throat] So what I heard you say earlier is that you have a home school. So it's what wherever you live. Now you're saying if you live in Lake County, you can do >> No, wherever you begin the school year is the school year that that's the school you have to play at. But if that school doesn't offer a sport, let's say MDCA didn't offer basketball for example, well then they would

104have the opportunity to participate in basketball at a school in Lake County if they live in Lake County. >> Any school in Lake. >> Once they make that choice, they're stuck with that school. Yes. That year, that year. >> Yes. Okay. >> So, so to give you an example, we've had kids play football at Leburg and basketball at Tavaris in the same school year. >> That that no longer can be the case. So if they want to transfer to Daries, they can. >> And kids from different counties playing. >> Yes. >> They can if they want if they want to start at Leburg and play football there and transfer to various they certainly can. They just can't play athletics at Tavaris for the remainder of that school year. >> So no kids from out of

105out of county. >> Correct. No kids from out of county. >> Coach, not to get too deep in the weeds, but for example, um Hope Down South and East Ridge South like that kind of deal. What sports do they offer that would that this would affect? I mean, because Hope doesn't offer football. >> They only offer basketball currently. And to give you an idea, we have 17 students that attend at Hope that play football at Eastridge. I think we've got three that play at South Lake. None at Minnola currently. Uh Hope Academy advertises on their website that we don't offer these sports, but you can play in Lake County schools by state statute. That state statute still allows that as long as that student lives in Lake County. So, if Hope has a kid that

106lives in Orange or or Sumpter attending their school and and they don't offer that sport, they'd have to go to Orange or Sumpter to to play a sport in the county in which they live. >> Let's say they don't make the team at the school that they want to go. >> Once you try out at that school, that's your designated school. You're done. >> Yes. Yes. So, and we've had that kids who try out at one school and then want to get a good cause to transfer to another school. if you try out that's whether you make it or not, FHSA and state bylaws require that's your school. So, so I think that will help us in the good cause business. >> Um, and what it doesn't do is it doesn't stop the transition of

107summertime. >> So, we just had spring football ending. Uh, we've got uh 22 kids in the transfer high school transfer portal who are now moving from one school to another because summertime it's school choice. and uh and it makes it difficult. So, uh there's challenges there for certain. The other part of the u the bill uh that's a little bit interesting is we now can charge our non-traditional students who participate with with us up to $400. We are not a county that has pay for play. Uh if we were a county with payforplay, we could charge that homeschool or non-traditional student the same amount of money that we charged our traditional student. But since we're not a pay for play, the max we can charge is $400. I don't mind telling you that uh um

108we have a number of kids who are using our our extracurricular resources but not taking advantage of our educational opportunities. And so how we balance that and what decisions you all make going forward. uh in the uh county athletic director's discussions we have monthly in the state the majority of counties are going to uh um assess a fee for non-traditional students. I I think there is some challenges on how we go about that. How do we determine what that fee actually is, but the max would be $400. So something for future consideration. >> So the kid that's non-traditional [clears throat] now applies to play ball. We can charge that family $400, >> correct? per child. >> Correct. >> Because we're providing all the facilities, we're providing all the staff. We're providing youth transportation. >> Correct.

109Right. >> And they're getting it all for free. Meanwhile, they're they're taking their voucher or whatever it is. And they're already, you know, >> well, they can use the voucher dollars, I'm assuming, to pay the $400. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, I mean, >> so why are we doing that? >> So, is there a requirement to charge our students? No. >> If we're going to charge others, that's what I want to be clear on. >> No. If if we were to let's say we were charging a kid $1,000 to play football our our traditional student, then we could charge a non-traditional $1,000. But since we don't charge for for pay for play, we can only charge up to $400. I don't think there's anybody out there that I've talked to in terms of district

110superh district athletic directors who their superintendents or leadership team have not um considered this and said, "Why wouldn't we charge $400?" you know, uh because to be honest with you, the investment from the district side is much greater than $400 per per student athlete. >> How many kids are we talking about? Do you know? >> Uh we probably had north of 200 kids that were non-traditional in Lake County this year that played athletics [snorts] and that number's growing. >> I don't know why we wouldn't particularly since it really doesn't hurt the family because they're getting about >> it doesn't hurt the family. I mean, they're you know, reality is they're getting $10,000 roughly, right? You know, so 400 That $10,000 is actually coming out of our budget. >> Right. Right. Right. That's 400 per port

111per sport. >> Per sport. Per student. >> So So what do we need to do to do that? >> Right. >> I think we just need to the board needs to make a decision and and post that. It does. We do have to post it on the website >> and that's part of that criteria and I can work with Mr. Farnsworth to get you the information [clears throat] for that. We'll look at I know there's there's been some research um in school choice and uh I believe >> Dr. Bfield uh had had a very good meeting with a number of stakeholders within the district of talking about that not only in athletics but science fair. I think we had a a student that um went to a pretty high level in science fair, a non-traditional

112student. It cost us a little over $6,000 to send them. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> so that's something I think by consensus we want to look into. Yes, that's right. >> Yes, sir. >> Um the uh the other bill that I think is less impactful is Senate Bill 178. It's it's really known as the Teddy Bridgewwater Act, and that allows a head coach, head coach only, to spend up to $15,000 of their own money to support their team. Um and and this was really born out of u Teddy Bridgewwater is an NFL quarterback who is out of the Miami area, coached a high school team in Miami and um was providing benefits. Let's just say it that way. Um so this bill was born out of a good legislator to decide that was a

113good idea and so this is the compromise. Uh so a head coach can spend up to $15,000 on his team per year. if they do so, they have to disclose those expenditures to FHSA, DOE, and Lake County schools. So, I don't foresee us having a lot of that happening in Lake County. Um, but uh but that is that is the the the reality of it. Those benefits can be provided that way. Um, >> looking at uh >> what does the money 15,000? So, I'm a coach. Yeah. >> And I want to give my quarterback 2,000 bucks. >> No. What's the money? >> It's really meant for me for food, transportation, you know. So, I coached for 37 years. Uh half of that the college level, the other half that the high school level. And I

114I promise you, we're we're driving kids home every day. If you if you're I mean in my early days at Leburg, if I wanted to practice in the summer, I had to do it before 8:00 a.m. Uh so I picked them up, we fed them, and at 8:00 a.m. watermelon truck came by and they took them to Sumpre County to pick watermelons. That's back in 1991, '92, 93, and uh we paid for those breakfastes out of our our our own our own money. That that's that's kind of where that goes. The permissible benefit is we weren't buying Uber rides and steak dinners and stuff that goes with that training. >> Yeah, this 50 grand you're reimbured or is this just allowing you to do it? >> No, it's allows the coach to do it. >>

115But you did it before it was allowed. >> Did it differently though? >> There wasn't a [laughter] So if I can like some There were coaches that would go pick kids up for school, bring them to school, let them He wasn't doing that. So, so what what's not permissible is is a coach um cannot give transportation to and from classes, >> right? >> So, so does that happen? >> That that happens in spades and it's happening right now in some of our football programs and it's happening in South Lake County in particular. >> Um so we we >> and that's hard to chase down to be honest with you. Um but yes, yes, that happens. So now that's permissible if the head coach only pays for it. >> [clears throat] >> So, one $15,000 per

116year per team. I I don't really see us having to get in the weeds of that, but our athletic directors are meeting with their coaching staffs now and we need to create probably with Mr. Ward and Mr. Farnsworth a reporting mechanism for that because it has to be filed with DOE, has to be filed with Lake County Schools if they spend those dollars. So, >> and he's going to the highest bidder. [laughter] Um, House Bill 1135 is the Second Chance Act, and I know you all talked about that, but just to briefly give you an idea, uh, we're now required for EKGs for all of our incoming 9th grade students. So, if they want to participate in athletics, they have to have an EKG. That EKG has to be read by a pediatric cardiologist, uh,

117which we don't have a lot of those running around in Lake County. We don't have a lot of those in the state of Florida, to be honest with you. who we play for is the one who sponsor or push this bill through and they are the ones we are currently partnered with. They have grant money. So, it's $20 to get an EKG. Uh their team sends that to pediatric cardiologist. So, if you have a screening within 24 hours, you're supposed to get an email with your past screening. If you fail the screening, you get a phone call and then you're referred to a pediatric cardiologist if you choose to use them to get cleared. Uh all of our middle school students, we have serviced through that. That roll out has not been as good as

118we would have liked. Uh we we've we've had some challenges with that, but we've been able to partner that with our high schools. High school students 10th through 12th grade, if you're a firsttime participant, then you have to be screened. So, if I'm a 10th grader and I didn't play sports as a ninth grader and I decide I'm going to go out for track, then I have to be screened. So, uh, one of our concerns is how do we catch those kids who make that determination after the spring screening? Um, the remedies for that um were they were going to provide us with a machine, train our trainers to do it. It's electronically sent. Um, that has been a little bit uh shady in terms of how that's going to roll out. So right now

119what they're planning to do is provide onampus screening dates in the early fall. So we still have some challenges I think that we need to meet with their owner to to to remedy that. But right now we're in a really good place as we go into the summer with EKGs. Is are there any questions about that? >> So when you say first-time participants, first time participating in a sport or a different sport >> high school level. >> First time participant of any sport at the high school level. So if a kid played tennis last year and they want to play soccer next year, >> they're they're they're fine. >> They're fine because they already did a sport. But if they were Okay. Correct. >> So if you've done no sports and now you're going to

120>> Correct. So So where I see this going is uh eventually, you know, >> everybody will be screened as a eighth grader going into the ninth grade year. Right now it's a one-time screening. And if you had a screening two years prior to now, that screening is is acceptable. I I feel like they're probably going to want us to do this on multiple years, every two years is what I think is going to be the next push, but currently right now that's not that's not on the legislation. >> So, thinking about just the accessibility and the the education piece of this aside for for parents, um if if I I think a lot of parents are probably going to their their own child's pediatrician, right? And I I assume they're probably all up to speed

121about the law changes because they're probably, you know, got more than one kid coming for this >> and a lot of those pediatricians don't have the testing equipment. >> That's right. So that's my wondering. So then that going back to their pediatrician is not adequate anymore. >> No. >> And so are we are we doing more on campus physical nights? >> It's all being done on campus. So, for example, Umatilla Middle School, the the who we play for team came in >> and uh we signed all those kids up and ran them through >> eighth graders. >> Okay, good. >> All eighth graders. >> Like, I didn't know that. >> Seventh graders. >> Only eighth graders. Parents have to sign a a waiver to have it done. A parent can opt out of it >>

122for religious reasons. We have not had a parent do that this point with all of our schools, middle and high school. >> But, uh you're you're right. The availability of it's difficult. Miami Dade rolled this out five years ago >> and they were having those read by a regular cardiologist experiencing a 50% fail rate. >> Oh my gosh. >> To get into a pediatric cardologist, the season could be over with before they ever get seen. So, >> so the one piece about who we play for that I like is they have a team of pediatric cardiologists that these machines send electronically your test to. It's read by pediatric colleges. So, the failure rate is less than 7%. If you fail that, that is a red flag. You probably need to get looked into. So there

123is, you know, I mean, the reality of it is, uh, no one wants to see a child have a cardiac event. And so, does this avoid that? It's probably a step in the right direction. Is it, um, a challenging piece of legisl? Yeah, I think it is. >> So, thinking about um, you know, just some parents are not as forward thinking as others, right? And so, so let's say you got a ninth grader next year and maybe there was a physical night on your eighth grade middle school campus and you're like, "Well, that's that's forever away." Not >> the high schools are going to have lots of physical nights in the fall, I hope. >> No, they're they've they've had their physical night in the spring. They'll turn around and who we play for will

124come in and do a screening. We won't have a physical night, but it will be a screening day for for anybody who needs the EKG. Then these parents need to still go to their doctor to get their physical and then they'll also go get the EKG. So they got to go two places now. >> That's correct. >> And let's say they're playing a spring sport. >> Um this who play for they are they coming back in the spring to think about the >> we're going to have to have something that that helps us otherwise kids are going to be lost in the in the dark. And so so the remedy that they they shared with Chad and I were they would give us a machine as a as a loaner to each high school campus,

125train our trainers to to do the test. >> That's great. If if that >> finds itself a home, then we're golden. The problem is now they're talking about want us to purchase a machine. >> And so that's where we've got to go back and revisit our contract with them and and our discussion. But that's where we need to get is where we have a machine on campus with a trainer trained to give it. That's right. >> And that would solve our problems because it's the oneoff kids that I'm concerned about getting getting bogged down and all this because it's not really available. >> That's right. Some kid plays he he he he runs some hurdling events. So he's track and field in the spring and then you know if you're not there in the fall

126to to do this then I don't want him get left out of you know 100% >> because I'm not thinking five months from now >> Yeah. >> I'm going to need this EKG. Yeah. And kids are going, you know, coaches are hunting for kids, especially spring sports. Yeah. >> Um track's a prime example. There's tons of kids who decide to run track in their junior or senior year for the first time and have never played a sport before. And weightlifting is another one that sometimes that happens with. And so >> trying to service our kids at the highest level possible has been our concern. And uh we liked everything they had to say. Um and I'll be honest with you, their their service when they're on campus has been excellent. Uh we've been very pleased

127with that. uh just not real excited about the the change of direction want us to purchase machines. That's a that's a different piece of the machine >> more than I think we were prepared to talk about. Uh I've been told anywhere from8 to $10,000 >> which saved a million. >> So we've looked at partnering like with our local health partners and hospitals and things that the trouble you run into is that pediatric cardiologist on the back end to read it. Yeah. Um, and because so if we can get the machines that deliver and train people that can can do the scans, which is I don't think too overly technical for somebody that's got a slight medical background in lensure, it's getting it to because if you sent a regular cardiologist, then you're forcing families in

128that 50% um failure rate, right? And they're having to then they're struggling to find the pediatric cardiologist. So, we're still trying to tie up some of those and build bridges. Um, it's just been difficult. Um, that's why for years we looked at this group and I I had difficulties with getting on board when once it became law. I'm like, "Okay, well, here we go." So, >> so far they've been the the best option and and I I think Chad and I are in the same mindset. We're looking for a better partner if we can find it. >> And I think beyond that, I mean, I think the intent of this bill is solid, but as we've talked about, the the current legislation is only for athletics. Um, it does not go to marching band or

129ROC and the rest. So, we're saying that an athlete needs to be screened per legislation, but a ninth grader with a tuba on a football field in 100 degree weather who I would argue has the same [clears throat] level of risk um is not required to be screened. So, are we screening anyone yet in that arena? >> No, we are. As a matter of fact, to take that a step further, you're not even required to have a physical to be in marching band. So, when I was a principal, one of my greatest fears was summer marching band camp in Florida. uh you know kids are not used to the cardiovascular piece that goes with that and uh and it's not uncommon for us to have kids on Friday nights in their full band uniform which

130is pretty pretty warm to have some issues and so it's never made sense to me that they aren't included in the physical requirement um in the EKG piece now >> how many kids did you say non-traditional that we could collect that 400 how many kids >> we're over 200 >> that's 80 grand you buy you can Yeah. I mean, >> there's your funding. >> You know, as far as charging a non-traditional student, [clears throat] I would encourage you to consider doing that. >> We'll buy those machines we need. >> Yeah. >> You know, I don't think anybody's against school choice, but I think everybody in this room would say we disagree with how we're funding that. We're funding it through public school money. And that's that's killing us. And and the reality of it is

131is that we have the best product. We just have to tell our story differently. Um, so, uh, one other thing I want to share with you before I get into this last little piece, I know y'all have been here long, is shot clocks for basketball. Shot clocks are now required. And so, um, and I'm and I'm against the shot clock, not not because I don't like it. As a college coach, I loved it to be honest with you. Uh, um, but the but the management of it is difficult. Game management alone in Lake County, we struggle with that. If you go to most basketball games or volleyball games, you have a 16-year-old student running the clock. >> And [clears throat] you know, when when when you know when you're playing in the playoffs, I don't

132mind telling you that. That's concerning. Now all of a sudden, we're going to put a shot clock out there. And so, >> uh, they're going to use a 35se secondond shot clock >> and um, of course, that resets the 20 seconds on a rebound and you So, you've got to know all these pieces that go with that. But with that in place, >> Yeah. announcer Luke, come on down. >> Yeah. Well, I'm wondering like do you foresee baseball? >> Great job on the pitch. [laughter] >> I appreciate that. Do you see that coming for baseball and softball between pitches too then? I mean, are you >> at some point in time somebody's going to but this came out of Charlie Ward and the villages and that's who's pushed this through and so and nationally we

133have a lot of high school national federations are trying to go to shot clocks and to be you know to give you the argument does that prepare you for college situation better? I would say yes it does. >> Our coaches will struggle on how to manage it. Um, but with that being said, we are installing shot clocks in our schools. So, electricians have already run the power for it. Um, we have three schools that do not have wireless scoreboards, so we're having to replace those scoreboards. We got a great price and you guys have already approved that. Um, the vendor we're using is a vendor that when I was the athletic director and head coach at Florida College, he serviced all of our venues. He saved me so much money there. So, I've used him

134to repair scoreboards here and his price uh was really good and his product is excellent and his his service to us will be good. So, I feel I feel good about that. I'm still apprehensive about how schools are going to manage that. Some schools will do a better job than others, but but you know, game management is important. So, uh, thinking about, you know, the student athlete experience and and I'll say this, I think principles who use athletics right realize that if you use athletic coaches, their power of influence to move your school academically, that that's the sweet spot. And all of our schools really need to embrace that differently. If we're just hiring coaches to teach them how to put a ball in the basket, I think we failed them. We got to hire

135people who invest in kids, who understand that that's their venue to push them towards what really matters, and that's well-rounded, balanced education where we can teach kids how to dream and and how to realize those dreams. And and in trying to highlight our our kids and our coaches, um we're forming the Lake County Athletic uh Conference. So, it's a public school conference of our eight high schools, and it's a way for us to u to shine a light on what our coaches are doing, what our student athletes are doing. You know, back in the the late 80s and early 90s, we had three newspapers covering our athletics in Lake County. I was the head coach at Leburg. I had to have a press room because we were nationally ranked all those years and, you know,

136it was [clears throat] we don't have that today. So our kids really get um overlooked a lot and so this is a way to kind of shine a light on that. What we'll have is a champions cup based on points. So every sport counts and they all will play each other either in a tournament style, a one-day event style or regular season schedules. The only sport that we won't do that in is in football because a district mandated play. We'll use Max Prep's rankings to determine that. But it's a way to honor the most successful athletic department in our county. kind of like the SEC does with the Champions Cup or Commissioners Cup, we're also instituting what we're calling the Champions of Character Sportsmanship Award in which uh if you go to Leburg High School,

137we're going to ask you to rate them on their student athlete sportsmanship, their coaching staff sportsmanship, the facilities, the game management, uh all the pieces that go into having a great student athlete experience. So, every school will vote on that for every sport. will take those those votes, put that together, and present a year-long champions of character sportsmanship award. We put both of those two pieces in place with middle schools last year, and um it's really, I think, helped us refocus a little bit on what really matters, and that's producing great men and women through our vehicle of athletics. In addition to that, we'll have a first team all Lake County athletic conference for each sport. And so your your coach will nominate their players and then coaches will vote based on the criteria that

138we send out. They can't vote for their own player. They will send that to their ads. Their ads and I will conference and I'll make that team and we'll put that in the news media and provide certificates for that for each sport. We'll do the same thing for coach of the year and do the same thing for athletic director of the year. So, it's just a way to highlight our our athletic departments, our coaches, and uh and our student athletes. And at the middle school level, we we've already started that process the last two years. We'll now add that in um to picking a first team, all Lake County Conference for each particular sport, coach of the year for each particular sport, as well as athletic director. In the middle school level, we're really going

139to be doing that by divisions. So, we have a north and a south because they don't play each other until the playoffs. Um, so it's a way to it's a way to highlight that and really create more of a intercolastic feel in our middle school uh programs. We start a a playoff system last year in which we uh put the runner up from the north against the champion from the south, the champion from the south against, you know, runner up that way. And so we have a 14 playoff. And what it has done is it's put every all of our middle schools have still been in a playoff hunt going into the last week of the season and this is our second year doing it. So games become more meaningful and uh I think kids

140and uh and coaches have really enjoyed that. So it's been a good piece. The last thing I want to share with you is uh middle school soccer as co-ed and we've had a number of push back um coming from the community predominantly from South Lake County um that we need to separate that and I would make a strong argument that we do need to separate it. I think there are some challenges with some of our schools able to field a full girls team. we have a um a mechanism that I think could overcome that. But that's something that's before us and something that uh at some point in time I think community [clears throat] pressure would be um stronger than we would want to take on and I think it's also the right decision as

141we we look ahead. >> It's funny you mentioned that because the whole time in your presentation I was waiting for questions so I could say let's talk about middle school soccer. >> Okay. >> And and precisely that you know so I live in South Lake County and I'm not a soccer person. I'm still trying to understand what offsides even means. [laughter] You know, I thought it was obvious from the football world, but anyway, but I see it. I see it is huge. It's absolutely huge down there. And um >> well, there's no question that if you have an eighth grade boy slide tackling a sixth grade girl, if you don't have some trepidation about that, I'm not sure sure what you're looking at. And and I can tell you right now, >> um we would

142have more girls want to come out, I think, if it wasn't co-ed as well. But our schools are ready for it. Our principles have all I've talked about this with them for the last two years. They're all in favor of it. It would require us doing a combo coach probably and um Chad and I have talked about that, but we're we're certainly at the doorstep of where I feel like we need to be proactive and not reactive to u to [snorts] community interest. >> And honestly, I would I would push this a step further and say, okay, so in some of the schools, I mean, these are some large middle schools down there. Yep. >> Um, a sixth grader has like zero shot of ever making a team. >> That's true. >> Right. And so,

143so I'm wondering where's the avenue for for that? Like is there are there JV options? Uh, should we consider that even if it's only >> if you don't get that everywhere you get you get a few like I I I just it's disappointing sixth gra. Yeah. I think in schools like in East Ridge and Windy Hill, um be honest with you, combining Carver and Oak Park will create an athletic powerhouse to be perfectly honest with you. >> Um >> yes, there there we can create whatever y'all want to create. I think the question is, do we want to finance that? >> That's it. Right. >> And so, um I think we're we're in a really good place athletically in Lake County about trying to be character driven and also be excellent in what we're doing.

144Um, I think we have some work to do in trying to make sure that we're hiring coaches that are about our mission of really equipping kids for the future and using their their ability in athletics as a platform to move schools academically. I think we got some work to do there in terms of how we hire. Um, [snorts] I'm of the opinion that lay coaches have a a certain role in our in our county and we'll always have it, but if we can have a great onampus coach, I think that's the best place to be. And um and to be candid, we got work to do in our female athletic coaches. We've got to we've got to be strategic and intentional about trying to find highquality coaches to impact our female student athletes. >> Coach,

145I've got one question for you on the conference side. Will this allow us to do a better job of recording and statkeeping? >> 100%. >> We've talked about that before. So, what I'm trying to create is is a system to to honor kids not only for today, but but historically as we move forward and and to give them a platform to really begin to market our kids collegiately. You know, when I first started coaching, um, if I had a division one player, I didn't have to do anything with them. They all came to me, but I had to network to get small college kids in. Today with the with the college portal, scholarships are few and far between for the high school kid. At my last recruiting, I'm only seven years out of being a

146head coach at a college level. And I can tell you right now, I could not afford to take an 18-year-old kid. That that kid gets me fired. And that goes against everything that I've ever did. When I was an assistant at Georgia State, you know, I recruit high school kids. As a head coach at Florida College, I started recruiting high school kids. is I had to take portal kids and Jo kids because I couldn't compete if I didn't. I needed that 21 year old kid who was ready to go and that 18-year-old kid that I needed to develop. I didn't have the luxury of doing that. And and that's what's happening to so many of our high school kids right now. They're good enough to play at the next level. They don't have a place

147to go. And you know, with the COVID years, everybody was getting an extra year back. So, we're finally out of that this year. But the problem is, to give you an idea, the final four happened and we had 3,000 kids in the basketball portal. [clears throat] And I got tons of friends coaching the SEC, ACC, guys that I coach with, guys that I work for, guys that work for me, uh, the football portal right now. And most of those kids will not find a division one landing spot. They're going to trickle down to division two. And so we if we don't raise our standards of what our coaches are doing with our kids academically to put them in a great position to have schools of choice and then we're missing it. So I really feel

148like principles have got to be intentional about hiring not just coaches but educator coaches. Coaches that understand the power of using their platform to move kids in the right direction. I appreciate being here. Thanks. >> Actually, before he sits, I have a question. I'm sorry. Listening for to what you just said last, um, is there a point when principles, I know normally when I was a principal, the aid, you met with the system principles, but seldom with the principal. So, is there a time when you could share some of this thought that you've been giving us today to principles because I never heard any of that. [laughter] >> Well, you know, it's interesting. Uh when I first got into the job, a lot of people knew who who I was just because my family and

149I been here for a while and even when I coached collegiately, this was still our home. And um and so that opened the door to some conversations. I can say with Mount Dora, Umatillaa, um all of our principles talk to me pretty intently with the exception of one school that that doesn't. >> Um but all their other people talk to me. So I'm on their campuses a lot. Um and what's been interesting about it is uh when when you're on campus, like when you do a walkth through, it's hard to get um it's hard to know intimately what's happening on campus because you're just there so infrequently. But when you're there on a weekly basis, you get to see how students interact with teachers, how teachers interact with administrators and um and then because I

150was a principal for a long time that they we have conversations that are not just athletically driven, but but I can tell you and I've told Chad this, hiring is a skill. It's a skill. And and I think a lot of our principles they they end up hiring because they're in the role but not because they necessarily been trained to look to look for hiring people that have your same core values that share your mission that have the skill sets. I mean you know I had a algebra teacher uh actually calculus teacher she was phenomenal as a math student. She couldn't teach the three bears and I inherited her you know so as a principal I've got a teacher who's super smart but she can't relate to kids. And so I think it's that whole

151piece. Most of our principles don't understand that athletics can drive your school if you have the right people. If you have the wrong people, it can hurt your school. And so you got to hire coaches that are in love with kids who realize that that's just their platform to move them to greater things. And so uh I would love to have that discussion with anybody who would like to. Um, I I was lucky at uh when I was a private school administrator, I uh we financially turned the school around and that led to some people asking me how to do it. And so, uh um I still do some of that consulting with small colleges and and private K12s. But it's about hiring the right people. You know, you know, I mean, >> You did

152it well. It's about hiring the right people and they got to share our mission. So, if you're not in love with kids, then work in Sumpre County. But we [laughter] need people here that are going to love kids. So I wait I was bothered by a statement you made. There's one administrator that you're not able to work with. >> Oh, no. I can work with them. They just don't have those conversations with me. >> Yeah. >> one. >> And we know And we know who that is. >> We'll we'll work on that. >> We are. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. That's troubling because you have an awful lot you're bringing to the table. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Okay. All righty. We're at board member comments. All right. [clears throat] Uh, wrapping that one up. Coach,

153thank you. You're an exceptional leader. Uh, grateful to have you part of our organization still. Thank you for what you do. Um, Bour, thank you for a very good workshop. I think we got a lot accomplished today. Um, and looking forward to the future. GTO, thank you for your work per usual on the staffing plan. Um, and overall just moving in the right direction. I think graduation season is almost over. We've got what virtual tomorrow is the last one. Um, and the few that I've attended have been wonderful. But just wanted for a minute to shout out Dr. Eric's a husky at Lake Success Academy. Miss [clears throat] Cunningham and I were there. Miss Sabrina Dylan Banks was there and Dr. Biffield was there. He does such an incredible job every year really recognizing and

154encouraging his students. He went six for six on graduations this year and just made that ceremony really really special instead of just calling the six kids up and handing them their diplomas. He had a a bio on all of them and just his experience with them and his staff's experience with them and had them write a little note to their teachers and their students about it and just did such a phenomenal job. Uh so I just want to shout him out and the rest of our uh students and teachers for getting through almost another school year. Um [clears throat] looking forward to the end of it being here and and grades wrapping up and hoping for a a positive outcome, but I think it's been another excellent school year. So thank you. >> Well, he

155covered everything I had on my list, so I'll be really brief. Um I think that the opportunities in Leburg are great, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that's going to all play out. Uh, I'd like to congratulate all of our sports teams that did well. Uh, certainly that shows the heart of our athletics program and I'm very proud of that. As a grandma of a person who thinks he's a soccer star, I was happy to hear that. Um, although he doesn't play in Lake County, in his county they do have co-ed, and that's a problem. Uh, but I'd also like to say something about our our athletic director. Um, I am so grateful and pleased that you are part of Lake County. Uh, having seen a lot of people in your position come and

156go. It's nice to have someone who sees the whole picture and that's very rare and I think we're very fortunate to have you. Um, I too think it's been a great school year. I'm looking forward to next year, looking forward to all the good things that are going to happen. So, thank you. >> I'm also very appreciative of today's workshop. I heard just so much student centered conversation and I think that uh when that is the the core of your conversation uh you're you're in the right in the right place. Uh graduation season was certainly a lot of fun and certainly very rewarding to be able to just look those kids in the eye and shake their hand and congratulate them on the work that they've done. Um 700 hands at at Eastridge High School.

157That was I almost needed like a little massage there at the end of it. Uh it's kind of fun to be able to do the big one and then turn around and same day go visit Lincoln Park which I think there was 16 or 17 or a a much smaller number and but that doesn't mean the energy level was any less. You know that um their second graduating class um super exciting that shows us that what we're doing out there is becoming a tradition rather than just like a a one-off fluke, right? So anyway, it's great work and um June the 8th um um I won't be at that meeting so I'm going to trust you all and I'll be uh in some remote part of Alaska on a mission trip which is super exciting

158for me and my family but um I'll leave the good work of the district in your hands that night. >> I won't be here June 8th either. So I'll be with Edward Colon in Forks Washington. So not in Alaska. But um Pat is a new grandpa for anybody that doesn't know. So, congratulations on your new status as a grandparent and thank you for the work you do. And I need to give a huge shout out to um Tracy Clark and Eustus High School and Matt Burgess. He's our athletic director. So, as every year we always it's I shouldn't say as every year, the USS High School softball team has been very successful over the last several years and every year we run into a conflict with graduation. And Tracy has done a phenomenal job the

159past seven years I've been involved with it of not having them overlap. and we had finally had the overlap happen. Um, all four teams that participated in the region or the 3A state classification agreed to move the game time an hour earlier so that our girls could play in the state championship game and get back to graduation which was amazing [clears throat] for all of them to concede to that. And then Tracy made a point to have a spot designated on the field for the parents because they were also concerned about getting late to graduation and having parking and having seating. everything was accommodated and when the girls came in with their medals, they were acknowledged appropriately. And so it was just it's amazing for them to be able to play in a state championships

160game and be recognized as high school graduates on the same day and for that school administration to make that a priority was significant. I know you work with them closely, both of you. So I appreciate the work that you do with that. Um, we did not take it home. I'm just going to put that out there that those girls had a wonky first inning to get settled in, but fought the whole way back. We just needed like two more innings. I believe we would have had them. So they'll be back next year. That's all I have to say about that. Um, I also, um, I think that's actually all I had. Clark High School. Yep, that's it. So, thanks. >> Okay. I've got a couple things. One is great things happen when we don't live

161in silos. And Mr. Brandenburg, the work you did to set the stage and the communication that we did with City of Leburg, I think played a big part in everybody embracing uh, this change, the hard work that was done, the super speed that it's going to get done. All of it's amazing. And it all happens when everybody's working together. And um so that's to be complimented. We have another work together and that is to talk about today what are going to be our next step with our superintendent and um I've asked Mr. Zamora to kind of give us some options of what can happen so we can kind of discuss what our next steps are going to be. Well, um, all I can say is now that that you're bringing that up and what I'm

162planning on doing is bringing you options as to how what that process will look like versus whether it's um internal advertise or um um private national search. So, and with that said, what I'll do now um I'll find out I'll get all the information ready for you for for the board to review options as to how to move forward. So, we want to go ahead and put that as a workshop item. >> Absolutely. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Very good. So, we can go ahead and get that scheduled >> when everybody's back. >> Sure. [laughter] >> We can do the June. Let's do it. >> I think June 8th works for me. >> Obviously, not June 8th. [laughter] >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Okay. And then that's all I have. Superintendent.

163>> No, I think you've said it all. It's I cannot believe Friday is the last day. It's been a great school year and um yeah, I just want to thank everybody for the hard work. It was clearly evident the the visioning. Thank you, Mr. Parnsworth, for bringing a great vision for um [clears throat] what what I know is going to be an amazing opportunity for kids with Carver and Oak Park. So, that's exciting. And so, yeah, thank you, Coach Todd, and thank you, Mr. Zamore, for all your work that was evident today. Done. >> Yeah. >> Okay, with that said, meeting adjourned. All righty. Have fun. Alaska Mark, why was I given this? >> Enjoy yourself for keep after signing that.