001Good evening. It is Monday, September 8th. I'd like to call this regular school board 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. >> Well, good evening everyone. We've got a packed house this evening, which is always nice to see. Um, superintendent board, as we get rolling today, any changes, amendments, additions, or deletions to the agenda? >> No, sir. >> I do have one. The attachments were added to item 8.10 and a new link added to 811 today and the board has copies of item 811. >> Perfect. Any objection to those changes board? All
002right. Hearing none, we'll move forward with the approval of the minutes. Uh superintendent, do you have a recommendation? >> I recommend approval of the minutes from the regular school board meeting August 25th, 2025. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Got a motion by Mr. Matias. Second by Mr. Dodd. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I passes 5. Representation. We've got a handful this evening. Uh coming up to start will be Mr. Rob Felner. >> Thank you, board superintendent. I would like to defer to Dr. Felner and the Steam Awards. This would be fantastic to share this this award with the school. So, thank you. >> Good evening, Chairman Brandenburgg, Superintendent, and school board members. It brings me great joy and pride to be here this evening to recognize the hard work and dedication of
003schools in pursuit of rigorous learning opportunities for students in the area of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. In order to qualify to be a steam school, schools must prepare portfolios showcasing their efforts and provide evidence that they've met and established criteria. Here to tell you more about that and recognize our recipients is Kathy McMurray, K12 science program specialist, and Tracy Wood, K5 program specialist, math program specialist here in Lake County. >> Thank you, Dr. Felner. Uh, the elementary requirements include six components. a steam collaborative team at each of the campuses and at least four steam lessons through the course of the year which integrate science, technology, engineering, math, and art provided at all grade levels. A steam bowl team for grades three to five which practices from October through March or April and then
004competes at the county steam bowl. also full participation in both a school science fair and the district science fair as well as hosting a steam night at their school. Schools earning the gold steam award have achieved all of these requirements with full participation. Schools earning the silver steam award have achieved a majority of the criteria and that is no small undertaking. The Bronze Steam School recognizes the hard work and dedication to establishing a steam culture at their school level. Both the school and the steam school coordinator participate in a year-long commitment for this. And now Tracy Wood to announce the winners. Good evening. We will ask that you come up. Start over here. Start with Mrs. McMurray and then work your way down. for the bronze steam triangle elementary [Applause] or the silver stem Treadway
005Elementary [Applause] for the gold steam Astatula Elementary. [Applause] Aurelia M. Co. [Applause] Cypress Ridge, [Applause] Eustace Elementary, [Applause] Eustace Heights Elementary, [Applause] Rutland Park Elementary, [Applause] Grassy Lake Elementary, [Applause] Lake Point Academy, [Applause] Lost Lake Elementary, [Applause] Pine Ridge Elementary, [Applause] Rymes Early Learning Center, [Applause] Sawrass Bay Elementary, [Applause] Semino Springs Elementary, [Applause] Sarrento Elementary, [Applause] Tavaris Elementary, [Applause] and Umatillaa Elementary. [Applause] Congratulations to all of our elementary winners. If you will go up and see the go up and shake hands with the board members, please. Congratulations. >> Well done. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Good job. >> Congratulations. Indeed, thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Well done. >> Congratulations. >> I can do it. >> Well done. Congratulations. My pleasure. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> After all the winners are called, we're going to
006take a group picture. After all the winners are called, we're gonna take a group picture in the rotunda. >> So, please don't leave unless y'all too. >> Now, for our K8 schools for the gold steam, we have Imagine Schools of South Lake, [Applause] >> Spring Creek Charter, [Applause] And our middle schools for gold steam. Eastridge Middle, [Applause] Eustace Middle, Mount Dora Middle. Pavar's middle. [Applause] Our high school gold steam winners, East Ridge High School, [Applause] Mount Dora High School, [Applause] and South Lake High School. We would like to congratulate all the winners this year. And if this group will go ahead and make your way up to see the board congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. There you go. Congrats. >> Congratulations again to all of our winners. And thank you to Dr.
007Felner and the CIA team for putting that together for us this evening. All right, we'll give them all a minute to clear out. Um, next up on the agenda will be our public input. Um, so Elizabeth Emory, if you'd like to come up as they start to clear out. Thank you, Chair Brandenburgg, board members, and Superintendent Cornnegie. I'm happy to be here to continue our conversation and collaboration. The last time I spoke, I shared a little bit about my time as a student here with Lake County Schools. I've spent most my life in Lake County schools as a student, teacher, and coach, and I've seen firsthand the power of public education. As an educator, I've had the privilege of directly teaching over 1300 students and coaching over 600 athletes. My students have gone on to
008top universities, overcome incredible challenges, and some have become educators themselves. Proof the of the ripple effect just one teacher can have. I love my teachers, and I'm sure you can think of at least one educator who significantly impacted your life. All students deserve the same experiences you, I, and my students have had. No matter what our roles are, we all care about the future of our children. We all want the same thing. For every child in Lake County to have access to a world-class public education. My goal, along with that of my colleagues, is to ensure our students are wellprepared for their future. When we work together to meet this goal, we can achieve strong communities and economic prosperity. We've made real progress and I want to thank you for your support and your role
009in this progress. Lake County Schools is now an A-rated district for the first time since I graduated from Lake County Schools and with a graduation rate of over 93%. That is something to celebrate. But behind those numbers is a growing challenge. In the past three years, we've lost over a thousand educators in Lake County schools. According to a 2024 analysis by the Learning Policy Institute, the turnover of just one teacher in a district our size cost the district about $16,000. Considering the impact of just one teacher, we can imagine the significant negative impact this turnover has on taxpayer dollars and our student success. We can all agree that more work lies ahead. Our educators are telling us what they need to stay and thrive. fair compensation and support for rising costs, safe, healthy working conditions,
010and a voice in the decisions that impact their classroom. We ask for your continued partnership to ensure a focus on these areas. Focusing on what educators need will stabilize our workforce and strengthen our schools. These solutions are rooted in the lived experience of our schools. We know what educators when educators are supported, students succeed. And when students succeed, our entire community benefits. We are excited to keep the conversation going and we want to be a resource to you. Let's build on what's working and continue to improve our schools for all Lake County residents. Thank you. >> Thank you, Elizabeth. Next is Miss Jessica Siki. Good evening, Chair Brandenburgg, Superintendent Corn Gate, and board members and our community. It is an honor to stand before you today as the new vice president of LCA. My journey
011to this moment began long before I ever stepped into a classroom as an educator. When I was in third grade and my little brother Bobby was in first grade, we were taken away from our mother and placed into foster care. During that difficult time, my third grade public school teacher, Mrs. Huckro changed the course of my life. She didn't just teach me to read, write, and do math. She showed me compassion, empathy, and support when I needed it the most. She became the role model I wanted to be. By sixth grade, I had already decided I wanted to be a principal because I wanted to make the rules. Not long after, my brother and I were adopted into our forever family. We gained two loving parents and another brother. And from then on, public schools
012became the foundation of my life. I was a soccer player, volleyball player, ran track, and sang in chorus. Through chorus, I traveled to Philadelphia to compete to Montreal to see the Phantom of the Opera. I went to France with my French class. These opportunities were possible because of public education. I am also a proud graduate of Lake Sumpter Community College. From there, I enrolled in the two plus two program and completed my bachelor's degree in elementary education at Lake Sutner Community College South Campus through UCF. The only private school I ever attended was Fullale University where I earned my master's degree. My at my entire journey like my K through 12 years has been rooted in public education. Those experiences shaped who I am today. My son graduated from a public Florida public school in
0132024 and my daughter is currently enrolled in Umatila Middle. And yes, while LCA fully supports parents having the choice of where to send their child to school, that choice must never come at the expense of public education. Public education must be fully funded to give all our children the chance to transform their lives for the better, just as it transformed me. It is because of the teachers and opportunities I had that I stand before you today as vice president. I am committed to working with you, with our educators, and with our community to ensure that every child has the same chances to learn, grow, and dream big. Together, we can build schools that don't just educate, they transform lives. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jessica. Won. Next up, Miss Bobby Blau. Good evening um board
014and superintendent. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. My name is Bobby Blio and I am a teacher at the Leburg High School and a board member of Lake County Education Association. I want to share with you my why. I believe that God put me on this earth to make a difference. I teach at Leburg High School where I chose to teach because I want to make a difference in the lives of my students. In my four years teaching English and reading at Leburg High School, I I have empowered over 300 seniors to meet the English language arts Florida testing requirement for graduation. And I currently have about 80 on my roster right now. I accomplished this one student, one lesson, one conversation, one nagging phone call at a time because it's
015the little things that make big things happen. It's the little things that make a difference. I joined Lake County Education Association because I want to make a difference, one teacher at a time. LCA provides our educators with a listening ear, a caring heart, and a collective voice. It's the little things that make a difference. I love working at Lake County Schools. I enjoy what I do, but I want more. More for my instructional colleagues, more for our non-instructional folks, more for our students, and more for my community. I want Lake County schools to become a destination occupation for faculty and staff and a destination education for our precious students and families. See how I worked in the A's there? >> No. >> How are we going to do that? >> That again. >> How are
016we going to do that? I submit to you that it is by paying attention to the little things. What are we doing to empower our educators to inspire their professionalism? How are we valuing our non-instructional staff? What are we doing to create strong leaders who facilitate collaboration, cohesion, and consistency at our sites? How are we creating environments where students, faculty, and staff can thrive? As we celebrate our A grade as a district, it is time for us to look around and find the little things that make Lake County schools great and the little things that may cause us to stumble or falter. I challenge you to really see for yourself what is happening in region 2 schools. To listen to our faculty and staff, to examine our facilities, to spend more time in our classrooms,
017to walk our campuses, to eat in our cafeterias when the students are present. To ride our buses, to spend time in our discipline offices, to hang out in our staff rooms. To make a difference, one teacher, one staff member, one student, one family at a time. Let's collaborate and cooperate to make Lake County schools a destination occupation for employees and a destination education for our students. Thank you, Miss Blah. Well done. Next up, Mr. Farmer Banks. Farmer Banks Helford Clay District, South Lake County farm tip of the day. Um, there are two growing seasons in Florida. One is the spring and summer, which is the warm season. The other is the fall and winter, which is the cool season. You can grow crop crops year round in Florida. Um, board, uh, madame superintendent, uh, distinguished
018guests, um, what gets you up in the morning? Uh, as a child, many of us are get up because we want to play, we want adventure, we want, uh, something fun, we're curious. For me it was cartoons on Saturday morning. Uh as we get older it is education and since we are here uh at the school board uh education is very important to us. Um we learn uh we explore uh and we even go on on to college uh and beyond. Uh as we get a little bit older it is to work to raise a family to um to work for that family. Uh and then later in life um like myself many of us um wake up because we are pushed towards service. Uh and there are seven ups to service. First one which
019is the most difficult um is to wake up uh metaphorically and also realistically. Second it is to dress up. Third is the second most difficult up and that is to show up. Uh, next it is to listen up, to speak up, and to follow up. And then last certainly not least, is to never ever get up. These ups are there because not only we care, but others matter to us. So wake up, dress up, show up, listen up, speak up, >> follow up, and never ever give up. Thank you. Um, I am Farmer Banks Helfrick. May you all be blessed. Thank you for allowing me to speak. >> Thank you, Farmer Banks, as always. And last, but certainly not least, I I think I'm going to get it Leland, but Leland Thorough. >> Wow. I
020know I butchered it last time. I was trying to remember. >> So, hi, I'm Lee Tero. >> You're so close. I represent the community arts. Uh we recently launched rehearsals for our new community choir. And I'm thrilled to share that we've already welcomed 150 participants in the choir, the ages 14 and up. And we rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Claremont Performing Arts Center. And you are all warmly invited to stop by um or even sing with us. Uh in partnership with the Orlando Philarmonic Orchestra, we're excited to bring the Young People's Concert to Lake County this fall. These concerts are scheduled for November 13th and 14th, two performances at Lake Minnola High School and South Lake students on Thursday, and then two performances at Leburg High School in North
021Lake on Friday. We would like to invite all of you to attend the VIP event that we are hosting at Lake Minola High School on Thursday, November 13th at 9:30 in the morning. The concert begins at 10:30 and we would be honored to have you stay with us and witness firsthand what these concerts are going to do for our students. Finally, this this coming Friday, uh, professional development day, September 12th, we're hosting a countywide meeting with all the Lake County music teachers K through 12 at the Mission in and Howie in the hills. This professional development event will introduce our mission and vision and offer targeted breakout section sessions. Topics include elementary teachers exploring the young people's concerts and classroom integrations. middle school teachers. We're going to talk about expanding their program development and high
022school educators reviewing how students can earn their Florida Seal of Fine Arts with recognition at graduation. We'll also work on vertical alignment across grade levels to ensure continuity and progression in music education from elementary through graduation. Thank you all for your continued support of the arts and our Lake County students. And we want to thank the Mount Dora Community Trust who recently promised to fund the transportation for the young people's concerts in North Lake County and is sponsoring our professional development this Friday. I'm leaving stack of business cards. I finally got them business cards for all of you. This is my personal contact information on the back. You can feel free to contact me anytime with any thoughts or questions. Thank you. And can I leave these with the secretary? Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Tero.
023>> What was the November night? >> What was the November date again? >> November 13th. November 13th. >> 9:30 we will gather for coffee. 10:30 is the concert. >> Very good. Thank you. Perfect. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> That is all the cards I received this this evening. Would anybody else like to give public comment before we move on? All right. Seeing none, we're going to move forward to the reports this evening. Uh first up, the Education Foundation report. Dr. Elizabeth Johnson. Good evening, chairman, superintendent, board members. I hope everyone is doing well. I've just passed off to Natalie to come your way our 2024 2025 impact report to share. And I'm excited to highlight and let you all know that the education foundation invested $1.9 million back into the Lake County
024School District this last school year. This year, our teachers are making the most of the Apple Mart stores. We've had 262 teachers visit the Apple Mart locations. We estimate $40,610 worth of school supplies have gone to our teachers this year so far. and we've had the most visits at the Leburg and Mascot locations. On September 23rd, we will be at Triangle Elementary School to host our third New World's Reading Initiative program event for the year. And then on October 10th, we'll be hosting the Scotch Strong Memorial Golf Tournament. We have three team spots left and our registration closes on September 23rd for that event. The Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Fair is only 54 days away, but who's counting? November 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, and 9th, with November 7th being our education day is right
025around the corner. We've had over a hundred of vendors apply for our 65 vendor spots. We held cast auditions on August 23rd. We had 157 participants in that audition um day and 52 of them are students that will be joining us this year for the fair. The Education Foundation board is also excited to share that they approved 21 teacher impact grants um during our August meeting which equated to more than $36,000 going to our teachers for projects this year. And then finally, we installed two new board members at our August meeting. Erica Corley of Cecil Clark Chevrolet and Lindseay Johnson of South State Bake. Any questions? >> Great. Thank you. >> Great work as always. Thank you, Dr. Johnson. And moving on to 6.02, the attorney report. Mr. Cole, do you have a report this
026evening? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. We also don't have any unfinished business. So, moving on to the consent agenda. Superintendent, do you have a recommendation? >> I do. I recommend approval of consent agenda items 8.01 to 10.04. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Got a motion by Mr. Matias, second by Dr. Luke. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I passes 5. Um there are no discussion items this evening. So we will next move on to the superintendent report. >> All right, just a few things. Um first of all, congratulations to all of our steam schools we recognized this evening. Um also congratulations to three of our schools, actually four of our schools. It was announced recently that these four schools have been recognized for successfully building a schoolwide PBIS that's positive behavioral
027interventions and support frameworks and have been named PB PBIS model schools. They are Pineriidge Elementary which earned gold status, Rymes Early Learning Center and Astatoula Elementary earned silver and Maldora High School earn bronze. And also this week, many of our schools will will host remembrance events and observance of what the Florida Department of Education is calling 911 Heroes Day. Our middle and high school students will receive instruction on the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001, focusing and recognizing the historical context, including the heroes of that day, which includes the first responders and civilians and the subsequent humanitarian aid. And this instruction became a requirement in 2023, but it was not new for our districts. We have we have long made it a priority to remember the lives that were lost and forever changed
028on that day and the heroes that emerged. And we will continue to honor and remember them, especially this week. >> Thank you, Superintendent Dr. Luke. Any comments this evening? >> Um, no. I just wanted to follow up with the Steam Awards. It's always um such an amazing recognition and I think it's a testament to the hard work of the district staff as well and all they do throughout the year to support steam education with um kindergarten through 12th grade which I think is very impressive that they continue it through the secondary level. I know it started smaller and it has just continued to grow and impact so many students um which is a wonderful thing. And then the other thing I was going to say was I've been seeing posts all over social media about
029the selections of the teachers of the year candidates and and how exciting that time is and when Dr. Johnson started speaking it reminded me of that upcoming um ceremony. It seems like it's forever away but we are recognizing those people now. So congratulations to all of those that have been recognized um by their schools as being um such impactful leaders. So that's all I have. Thank you >> Mrs. Cunningham. I would just like to compliment the ladies from LCA on sharing with us your why. Um I think if there's anyone present who doesn't know what your why is for what you do, it's really important that you know that because usually it's tied to something that goes far back in your life and it's something that you work for all your life. Um, Jessica, I
030know you know my why because you've heard me share and I'm not going to do that tonight, but I will tell you that mine started when I was six with my great-g grandandmother. And it's always refreshing to hear someone else talk about what theirs is. So, thank you ladies. It was a pleasure listening to you and congratulations to all the Steam schools. That's it, sir. >> Mr. Ditto and Ditto, I tell you, this has been a very inspiring meeting and I guess I'll check off both of those items. you know, I was I was really moved hearing your personal stories tonight. And so, um, that's the kind of stuff and the kind of message that we certainly need to get out there right now as we, uh, as we face a lot of battles in
031public education. So, I appreciate all of you for carrying that torch, uh, because certainly we need a lot of people carrying it right now. Um, tonight in our consent agenda, uh, there was like hundreds of millions of dollars there approved essentially. You know, 8.07, I'll I'll just circle back to the district's 5-year capital plan. And I just remember uh when I stepped onto this board and uh certainly Bill and Stephanie, you recall as well how our um our capital plan really had like no projects in it because we were just so saddled with debt. It was nearly a half a billion dollars at the time. And uh so I'm just really thankful to the stewardship of the board and to the district for being able to get us in a place where we've paid down
032that debt now as we can celebrate less than hund00 million in debt. It's funny that you're celebrating less than hundred million dollars in debt, but but that's a huge milestone for us because a payoff is is in sight essentially. And uh and with that, we can just continue to provide for facilities for schools for our students and our teachers who need them. Uh that we can be renovating all these schools that are just decades and decades old and be able to still also provide facilities, new state-of-the-art facilities to for just, you know, incredible innovative programs. And so, um, I'm just really thankful for that stewardship and, um, you know, it makes approving capital plans like that just super easy when we're able to provide for the the students who need those facilities. >> Mr. Matias,
033>> outstanding comments. I only have I did want to recognize I thought I was the only one that was really moved by the three of you coming up and giving your wife and it was u it's it's inspirational. I will say that. And it's it's humbling for us to be up here to serve such amazing teachers and staff and administrators. And we know that burden uh that you all face and we try to make it a little bit easier where we can. So just know that. Very good. >> Very usual. Ditto ditto ditto and ditto. Um congratulations to our esteemed schools and to LCA. Thank you for your continued partnership and always being here at our board meetings and every other thing that you do for our district. It does not go unnoticed and we
034do appreciate that very much. Um, Kelly, Helen, the rest of your team in growth planning and construction, thank you for all the work that goes into that capital plan and all the work beyond just putting it on paper, but how you make it happen. Um, that certainly is appreciated. Doesn't go unnoticed. And thank you to the board for a very productive workshop last week um on some big projects and how we're going to handle those moving forward. I appreciate it when we can really have that level of dialogue and and get to the bottom of difficult decisions. So, thank you for that. Um, also want to give a shout out to Rob Oyer, Marisol, and their team in risk management. We had another productive insurance advisory committee meeting last week with the help of LCA
035and SEIU and others uh talking mainly about the future of our clinics and the providers that we have the opportunity to bring in moving forward to improve the quality of that care. Uh so looking forward to getting back on the road show circuit. Thank you Elizabeth for that suggestion and Mr. board for going along with it. Um to go out and do some um Q&A um with a selected vendor um and also make sure staff is included in those decisions so that we can continue to to make the best decision we can moving forward. Um did we miss anything this evening? Yes, sir. >> Any objection to adjourning? Yes, sir. >> We are adjourned. Thank you everybody.