001Good evening. It is Monday, October 13, 2025, and I'd like to call this regular schoolboard meeting to order. Please stand for a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance. >> Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening, superintendent, fellow board members, staff, and the community. Thank you for being with us this evening. Um, moving on to item two. Do we have any changes, amendments, additions, or deletions to the agenda tonight? >> I do have one. Um, the representation we've got is item 4.01. 01 we typically approve after that's done. So if you guys are good with it, we're going to move that to discussion um
002at item 11.04. All right. >> Also, um >> superintendent >> chairman, we have an edit to item 10.03 section 2 under human capital. It talks about the IB coordinator at Leburg and that should say to varies. So if you will approve that tonight, we'll make sure that that edit gets noted as well. Also today, a revised HR personnel list and addendum was added to item 901 and a revised attached added to item 106 and the board has been provided copies. >> Perfect. Hearing no other changes. We'll move on to approval of the minutes. Um superintendent, do you have a recommendation? >> I recommend approval of the minutes from the regular schoolboard meeting September 22nd, 2025. The workshop September 30th, 2025, and the executive session for collective bargaining September 30th, 2025. >> So moved. >> Second.
003Got a motion by Mr. Matias. Second by Mr. Dodd. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I passes 40. Representation. Um, Tavaris High School naming the Tavaris High School football field to Dr. Dan Boggasfield. U Mr. Felner, Marlene, the one. Perfect. >> He's still going to just >> Good evening, board chair, superintendent. Um yeah, we would like to just um have a vote for this naming rights of Dr. Dan Bas field. Even though the stadium is after named after his father, um we would just like that approved so that they could have a um representation on the field at their next home game. >> Any questions? >> All right, perfect. Well, then we'll take >> details. 40 40 years of service. um uh great individuals, dedicated countless hours and time back to the students,
004never charged us a dime. So, that's the value that we'd like to appreciate. Thank you. >> Thank you. We'll take up that formal vote um under the discussion items. Um all right, moving on. We do have some public input cards this evening. First up is Mr. Andrew Laroo. Can you please state your name and address for the record? That one right there's perfect. My name my [clears throat] name is Andrew Luru. I live at 22 22236 Sand Ridge Circle in Eustace. So I wanted to address a couple of things. Um I would like you guys to enact policy to get rid of students that are chronically misbehave and disrupt a class. I have three kids at Umatillaa and this has been kind of there just some things just from what I'm hearing is there just
005some things going on that habitually uh students who habitually disrupt and and are completely disruptive to class need to be permanently expelled. If you guys want to have an environment that is conductive to learning, you got to the teacher has to be able to drive and be in control and can't be wasting time dealing with discipline problems. So students that that continually disrupt class need to be dealt with and you got to get rid of them. Um there's a right to education, but with rights comes responsibility. is an American. I can get a gun because I'm an American and that's my constitutional right. But I have responsibility if I'm going to have guns. I have the right to drive down the road, but I have to be responsible. If you want to go to school,
006because that's your right, go to school. That's your right. But you have to be responsible enough to not be disruptive to um to the educational process. Um the next thing I wanted to talk about was math. I work in bridge engineering and I'm seeing some of the stuff that my kids are giving me of how they solve things like 63 plus 25 or just kind of elementary type stuff. He's in first grade. This is crazy. Like math is hard and it's technical enough. It needs to follow um it needs to be made as simple as possible for the students to understand. A Singapore math is good. And I don't really understand why we're talking about all this crazy vocabulary and math. They should just teach us. They should just teach math how it was taught
007back in the day when I was in third grade in the mid 90s. It's not that difficult. Well, it's difficult, but it doesn't need to be made overly complicated. And the last comment that I wanted to make, I think that parents having to show IDs to get into schools is stupid. I'm not sure. I don't really have enough information to really know the background behind this story, but um I think that you guys should probably review that policy and remove that policy. And that's all I have. So, thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Laru. >> Next up is Mr. Dan Lackey. My name is Dan Lackey. I live at 305 Floral Avenue, Eustace, Florida. This is the third time I've tried to come in here. Hopefully, this is going to be the
008last time I have to come in here. I am a school bus driver. My responsibility as a school bus driver is to get those kids from home to school safely and then from school to home safely. Now, I'm going to ask, you don't have to answer me, but I'm still going to ask, are they still using the same referral punishment system that they've used in the past at least two years? If you don't respond, that's fine. But from what I've been led to believe, it's true. The history of me, I've been driving the same route for three years. I've been driving for 10 or 11. And I two years ago had issue with two sisters. I wrote him up 16 times that year begging for the administrative to do something. Out of those 16 times,
009they're both sisters. They got kicked off the bus one day. The reason that I was given by the AP is that they can't kick them off longer than that because the it's a hardship for the parent. Well, I got to tell you this. those kids on a bus when they disrupt the bus and get the attention of the bus driver off that road for how long and that could come out to an accident. What is something that you'll kick a bus off kid kick a kid off the bus for the full year? If he's a fighter and he you feel like he is dangerous to himself or other kids, is that not correct? Yes. If you don't think it's not a danger for children disrupting the bus and there's no way that the system's working
010now, I turn a a referral into the school and the person that decides what that child will get is the principal. The principal does not go by, from what I've been told, it does not go by a formal guide that when they do A, they're supposed to get B. Last year, I had the same two girls on my bus for most of the year. I wrote them up 18 times. That's when I started coming in here. This is the second time I've talked in front of you guys. The one time I didn't because I was able to hopefully get it resolved, but it didn't do it the first time I came in outside of here. But when a the principal is the one that's responsible for that child's permission to continue to go to school
011or not, they're looking at the dollars and cents, not the safety of those kids. Now, those two children got finally got kicked off my bus. What do they do? They take a full school bus all the way home and back and they live in Astro. They go to school. But look at the miles that on a full school bus for two kids. What a waste of time. get those parents to take responsibility of their children. Thank you. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you, Mr. Lucky. >> Next up, Miss Bobby Blio. >> Hi, I'm Bobby Blio. And I'm here tonight on behalf of Elizabeth Emery, president of Lake County Education Association, and Jessica Siki, LCA vice president, who send their regrets for not being able to attend this evening. Thank you for the
012collaboration and agreement on the teacher salary increase allocation, TISA funds. Due to changes in state policy, TISA funds could have been used to address the insurance fund deficit. We appreciate the board's recognition of the importance of using these funds to support compensation for Lake County schools educators. This is a meaningful step. We urge the board to continue demonstrating its commitment to our exceptional educators by going beyond the state's allocation. A deeper investment in our educators is a direct investment in the future of our students and our community. at the um 2025 legislative oh as sorry I can't read um as the 2025 legislative session begins we urge you to continue advocating for increased state funding and for those funds to follow the student. We recognize the challenges and concerns that come with this kind of
013advocacy but if we do not speak up together for sustained investment in our public schools we risk undermining the quality of education and the success of our students. LCS simply cannot afford to continue operating with multi-million dollar deficits. Our students, educators, and community deserve better. Lake County's educators show up every single day, giving their time, their energy, and their hearts, often at the expense of their own families. They deserve a community and a district that stands up for them just as fiercely as they stand up for their students. We are calling on our school board, our LCS leadership, and our community to stand with us in this advocacy to prioritize our educators, invest in their future, and ensure they receive the support and recognition they so deeply deserve. When we invest in our public schools
014through our educators, we invest in the future of Lake County. And when we stand together, united in one purpose, we can accomplish great things. On behalf of Elizabeth, Jessica, and every educator across Lake County, thank you for standing with us, for listening, and for having the courage to fight for our future. Thank you, Miss Blio. >> And last card this evening is Mr. Edward Cohen. chairman. Uh my concern is I need to know what the policy is on the uh assistance for the bus drivers on the school buses uh in dealing with children. I understand there's IE children things children doing things that they shouldn't be. But I also come to realize there's a way to handle this and it does not include as far as I'm concerned physical touching or verbal abuse. I am
015trying to find out what the board's policy or the county what the policy is reference to attendance touching physically children and verbally abusing them. Secondly, I'd like to know who or what are the actions that can be taken for this person that's doing the thing they shouldn't be doing. And thirdly, who is responsible for taking care of these actions? because I personally had gone to the school and spoke to the assistant principal last year because of verbal abuse to my grandson and got absolutely no results. I understand this Mr. Lackey here. I know him uh from driving the bus that my grandson rides on. And I just don't believe that there's any need or any legal reason for a person to touch a child. That's pretty much what I have to say. And I just
016like to know where the board stands on this and what I need to do or any other person needs to do to stop this kind of behavior from an attendant that's on the bus to help control children. I do understand there are methods to deal with Ira children, but like I said before, I do not believe verbal abuse or putting hands on is in any of these policies. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Con. We've got your contact information and somebody will certainly get with you to get answers to those questions. All right. >> Yeah. All good. All right. U moving on to reports this evening. Item 6.01, the Education Foundation report. Dr. Johnson. [clears throat] >> Good evening, superintendent, school board chairman, and school board members. We are officially out at
017the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Fair site starting to set up for this year's event. We are three weeks away from our opening day, and this event would not be possible without our volunteers, and we are continuing to recruit volunteers. Whether it be helping at lemonade stands, check-in, or welcoming guests, there's something for everyone. Our cast will be on site for the next two Saturdays, and we are looking forward to getting started with that event. November 1st, 2nd, 7th through the 9th, and November 7th is our education day. Also, for awareness, we have submitted an official request to remain on the Tavari site for 2026 to the board of county commissioners. The past few weeks, I have started visiting with a number of area schools principles, and it has been great to see the campuses
018and learning about each of the schools. It's also been really valuable to hear about their experience with the education foundation and being able to see and hear what the teachers have to say about the resources like teacher grants and our Apple Mart. Speaking of Apple Mart, we are at 388 teacher visits for this school year. That estimates to be about $60,40 worth of school supplies. Our two most visited locations continue to be Leburg and Mascot. Take and children took a group of 45 Lake County students to visit USF on October 1st. This was a great opportunity for them to tour the campus being able to learn more about that being an option for them after high school when they can use their take stock and children scholarship. This Wednesday, October 15th, Take Stock and Children
019will be hosting a career speed dating event which is sponsored by Insight Credit Union where the students will be able to interact and learn from a number of business partners across the community. This past Friday, the 22nd annual Scott Strong Memorial Golf Tournament was at Harbor Hills. This event was sold out and we brought in more than $105,000, surpassing our budget by $20,000. We are finalizing our expenses, but we anticipate having raised more than $80,000 for Lake County schools, teachers, students, and scholarships. Thank you to a number of you who attended and volunteered. We have received school nominations for teacher of the year, school related employee of the year, and rookie teacher of the year. We have secured judges and they have started reviewing those applications. We are excited to host our celebration inspired by
020excellence on January 29th at the Claremont Performing Arts Center. Thank you. Are there any questions? >> Great work, Dr. Johnson. Thank you. 6.02 attorney report. Mr. Cole, >> no report. >> All right. We also don't have any unfinished business this evening. So, moving on to the consent agenda. Superintendent, do you have a recommendation? >> Yes, I recommend approval of consent agenda items 8.01 to 10.06. >> So, moved. >> Second. Got a motion by Mr. Mati, second by Dr. Luke. Any discussion? All those in favor? I passes uh 40. All right. Moving on to discussion this evening. Um item 11.01 public hearing tenative approval of policies. Mr. Cole. >> Yes, sir. At this time, we're going to open the meeting to a public hearing for tenative approval of policies 0131. That's legislative policym 0131.1 technical corrections
021and 8330 student records. At this time, is there any public input on this item? Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing. Superintendent, do you have a recommendation? >> Recommend tenative approval of the policy as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Got a motion by Mr. Mthi, second by Dr. Luke. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I passes 40. Um item 11.02. Mr. Cole. >> Yes, sir. Uh the item before the board is a travel request by Tyler Brandenberg, schoolboard member district 2 to attend the S FSBA annual joint conference to be held on December 2nd through 5th, 2025 at the Grand High at Tampa Bay. Uh by Florida statute, the public must have an opportunity to speak on the specific travel agenda item. Is there any public comment? >> Seeing none, uh the
022public comment period is closed. This one is a uh board recommendation. So, does anyone would like to make a motion on this item? >> I'll make a motion that we approve um item 11.02. >> Thank you, Dr. Luke. Is there a second? >> Thank you for that loud second, Mr. Dud. >> Somehow, I don't know how it missed the microphone. >> Got a motion by Dr. Luke, a second by Mr. Dud. Any further discussion? Um, all in favor? >> I passes 40. Um, item 11.03. 03. Same thing, Mr. Cole. >> Yes, sir. The item again is a travel request, this time for Molly Cunningham, school board member, district 4, to attend the FSBA annual joint conference December 2, 2025 at the Grand High Tampa Bay. Uh, per statute, the public must have an opportunity to
023speak on this specific travel agenda. Is there any public comment? A public comment period is closed. >> All right. >> I make a motion that we approve 11.03. Second. >> Got a motion by Dr. Lucas, a second by Mr. Dodd. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I >> I passes 40. And lastly, item 11.04 is just the official approval of the naming change at Tavarious High School football field to Dr. Dan Boggas Field. Um, so do we have a motion on that item? >> I'll make a motion that we rename the field to the Dan Bus Field. Field. Perfect. >> All right. Got a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. Got a motion by Mr. Mias, second by Dr. Luke. Any further discussion? >> I will say I that that man has been
024doing physicals in that space. I mean, I went to high school there and we won't talk about how long ago that was, but he was doing them. So, I think it's completely appropriate to acknowledge all the contributions he made. So, big impact. >> Agreed. Um, all those in favor? >> I passes 40. Superintendent, your report this evening. Unfortunately, I actually have a long list of letters of condolence that were sent. I'm apologize in advance for some of the names that are on this list of this. They are um although Miss Challenger has written them out phonetically, I apologize if I mispronounce any of these names. First of all, um our former custodian at Eustace Middle School, Maxi Monroe Senior. Um a letter was sent to her family. also Eugene Joseph or Mike Graham senior father
025of Eugene Joey Graham in our health and sa safety officer risk management and the father-in-law of Amy Grant Graham fiscal assistant and maintenance Fos Hassan father of Farana Aroze Araz fiscal assistant in federal programs condolences to her family Zaval Zavala, husband of Brenda Naguaya as a bookkeeper in college and career readiness. Albert Crudin, father of Shelley Benner, manager and cost reporting FTE and finance. Shirley Annette Coington, mother of Anna Olafont, teen parent teacher and choice and alternative education and Richard Theieler, a retired science teacher at South Lake High School. Condolences were sent to his family as well. So that concludes all of our letters of condolence that were sent. Just a few highlights. Um first of all, we have bullying prevention month. You approved the resolution at the last meeting. It's coming up. Um bullying
026prevention day is celebrated on Wednesday, October 22nd, which is unity today. Unity Day. So be sure and wear your orange that day. Um also just wanted to acknowledge um Scott Ward thinking about Miss Bobby and her comments. um he did go and speak on our behalf. He was one of three CFOs in the state of Florida that went and served on a panel for the House K12 appropriations committee and did a very nice job talking about the impacts of the loss of funding that we've incurred um mainly related to the scholarships in the 23 24 school year. They'll be taking up the issues with 2425 um at the next meeting. But they asked him um what what was the funding loss and he told him it was the $16 million and then they asked what
027does that equate to and he said a raise for our teachers. And so um just putting that out there and really stressing the fact that these were dollars that could have could have really been used significantly to to help all of our employees. And um so I want to thank him for that. He did a great job. I was always nervous going up and speaking to the legislature and he did a great job. Um and also I want to thank um Mr. Farnsworth and also Stacia Warner from Taris Elementary and Brent Frasier from Umatila High School. They joined me last week and we presented to leadership Florida, a group of about 50 educators from across the state um who came and they were representatives of all different walks of education and had a great time
028just highlighting the great things happening in our schools here. So, it was always a proud day and a good day to to be in Lake. So, with that, I'll turn it back over to you. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Board member comments. Dr. Luke. >> Um, I wanted to acknowledge the PD day that we had for teachers assistants and parent professionals today. Um, I know that the CIA team and um, Dr. Scott and Dr. Felner and Mr. Felner, you guys represented well there. I know there was lots of I walked around for the first session in the morning and there was lots of great things happening and it's um, I think that Dr. Felner recognized in her statement in the morning that in all the districts that she's been around during her consultant work that she
029hasn't found another district that gives a day to teachers assistance and and putting into their learning. And so, um, I love that we do that. I think that's really important for them to be able to support classroom teachers and I know it takes a lot of work. There's a lot of events and things that take place and so I appreciate all the work that your group did with that. Um, I also wanted to give a huge shout out to um, Kiana and well, I guess I should say Mr. Morris team and Kiana and Jamie and Justine and Kate and they came into the room this afternoon with our seniors and I have to tell you that they were super excited to have a full room of graduates in May um that will be potential teachers
030in Lake and Sumpter County. But the environment that they bring to the table and the way that they represent Lake County just speaks to one of those proud moments that there was laughter and fun and at the end they were like we're here. This is our email and the email I want to teach in like it was a cute email or whatever it was. But anyway, my students just um they had questions, they were engaged, it was a great day and u Mr. Locust and Dr. King and Mrs. Moses came out to do a principal panel and received questions from the students about teaching and what to expect and um lots of really good questions and it was it was just a good time. We had a really there was lots of laughing which in
031education spaces sometimes I feel like we don't get to see that as much and it was just the whole afternoon was wonderful and positive and it's because of the work of Mrs. Morris team. So I really appreciate that um as well. And then I also wanted to um thank Mrs. Stron. I have gotten more communication the last two weeks about the environment that you're creating at Eustace Heights. You and your team and I um am really appreciative of the work and the sense of urgency and what you're doing for kids. And so that's all I have. Oh, I wanted to say thank you for acknowledging that the TISA went to compensation. That was a huge deal. So, thank you for that in your comments. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Luke. Mr. Dodd, >> absolutely.
032Um, well, piggybacking on the world of professional development. I got a chance to uh to experience it myself and uh shout out to the CIA team for for doing this and doing it so well. But I u had a chance to step into the teach live and interact with an avatar uh completing the clinical education certification. And I'll tell you, I I felt like it was more nerve-wracking to talk to a cartoon on the screen than it was to talk to a real person. But I thought the experience was was really just top-notch and the chance to actually simulate and and and go through um a real world sort of situations and what this would look like and and CIA team great job in putting that together. And um looked like we had a lot
033of people going in there. So looks like a lot of a lot of folks ready to go out and and mentor teachers in some capacity or or coach coach others. Um also just thinking about uh professional development, it almost always seems like one of the norms uh when I attend those sessions is that what is learned here leaves here, right? And I I love that mantra thinking about a couple of you going off to the FSBA conference. I know a number of years ago um some of us made the decision to not continue there and thinking about the lack of advocacy that FSBA was was doing for us. And uh so I' I'd be interested in hearing more about if any of that has changed, what benefits Lake County, what they're doing in terms of
034um acknowledging the benefits of public school overall and creating that image across the state. And so anyway, that's one of my wonderings as you all go off to the conference and and just to just to learn a little more about what they're doing and hopefully some of that is benefiting us here in Lake Too. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, Mr. Dodd. Mr. Ice. >> So, I genuinely appreciate your words and speaking about how dedicated this board is. I had one of those aha moments. And if any of you have been around very long, you've seen how there's been more of a push towards charter schools, public charters, private charters. And it dawned on me because there's some recent legislation that is absolutely ridiculous where a charter can co-habit co-inhabit a safe space as a public
035school. M and I was speaking to the area director for a charter school that is really a good partner with us, which is Pinerest. They really are. And it was an aha moment as we're speaking because he's going, "This is really dumb." That other legislation we were talking about. And it dawned on me, they're directly impacted by how much we receive. Keep in mind, we're 65th out of 67 counties in per student funding. And he he reacted that yes, he gets the same funding dollars. And I said, 'Well, how about charter schools advocate with us? So, their president, I'm going to meet him. He's flying through the Orlando airport. I'm going to drive down and and hopefully gain his advocacy because that seems to be what the legislature listens to. And that's one more partner
036in this entire quest for us just to be just fairness because again if we were just at state average that's $12 million a year that we would have the ability to give to our teachers that deserve it, our service workers that deserve it. And so uh we we will continue to work maybe sometimes behind the scenes just so you know. But please know where our heart is and that's with you guys. And that's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Matias. Um, and yeah, that same line of thinking as uh Bobby mentioned as her comments as well, the TSIA dollars could have gone towards the insurance fund, and I'm certainly glad they did not. Um, but as Bobby knows and the rest of the folks that serve on the joint insurance advisory committee, uh, we continue
037to have um, struggles there at making that plan whole without affecting the benefits that go to our staff. Um and in that line of thinking at our insurance advisory committee meeting last Monday, uh the committee made a big stride forward on a new clinic model moving forward as the current model runs out, which was the brainchild of Mr. Oyer. Um and this happens to, I believe, be his last board meeting with us. Um so I want to publicly thank Rob for what he's done over the last three or four years he's been in that role. His tagline is he likes to solve unsolvable problems. And he has not solved this one, but put a massive dent in it and got far more creative than anybody else would. Instead of just saying we need to raise
038premiums, we need to cut co-pays or we need to raise co-pays, we need to raise deductibles, we need to cut coverage, he is finding every creative way we can to still deliver a benefit to our employees so that they can be proud of and not raise the cost of doing so. So Rob, thank you for what you've done for us. I know you'll still be with us on the sideline in your new adventures moving forward, but I just appreciate you and want you to know that. Um, any other comments this evening? >> Hearing none, we are adjourned. Thank you very much.