001still laugh at that every single meeting. >> I just wanted >> I wanted in here. Can you hear that? You're good. Yes. There's something Good afternoon and welcome. Today is Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, and the time right now is 4:43 p.m. and we are beginning the school board meeting. In just a moment, I'm going to ask all of you to stand and join us as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We hear the national anthems presented, and we will then observe a moment of silence and reflection. It's my pleasure though this evening, and I I love this part, is to introduce our music teacher. This is Mrs. Chelsea Flores Rivera from Sugarmill Elementary. She's going to direct these young ladies here who are going to do the national anthem for us. We have Rosalie Pascal
002with us, Haley Rivera, and Bela Cleric. And believe it or not, tonight is Haley's birthday, I understand. And so she [Applause] >> So at this time, if you'll please stand and we'll start with the pledge. Pledge alce 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. Say can you see by the dawner light what so we [Music] of the twilight last gleaming whose bright stripes and bright stars the last flight [Music] we watch were so gallently streaming and the road gets were sting through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does the stars spangle B. Oh, the land of the free and the home of the brave. [Music] [Applause] Thank you. You may
003be seated. Let's give these young ladies another round of applause. [Applause] We appreciate them and their teacher coming out this afternoon and their principles here with them too. So at this time I'm going to introduce those that are here at the front with me. I always start over on my far left. So let's just keep it going. On my far left I have Mrs. Donna Brosmer representing district 4. Next to her, I have Miss Christa Goodrich representing district two. Then I have Dr. Gilbert Evans who is our schoolboard attorney. I'll move over to the far right, my far right now. I have Miss Celeste Gilmore, our agency clerk, followed by Miss Jesse Thompson representing district three, Mr. Ruben Cologne, our vice chair, representing district 5. Then our wonderful superintendent, Dr. Carmen Balgaban, and I am
004Jamie Haynes, our chair representing district 1. this this afternoon. Items for approval on this agenda are items 1.03, 2.02, 4.01, 4.02, 6.02, and 16.01 through 16.03. Public participation times will be available for items on the consent agenda. If you wish to fill out for anything on the consent agenda, you'll go over and see Mrs. Johnson and you'll take a green card. because you have to list which item you wish to speak about. Then around 6 pm or slightly after we will have a general public um time to speak on any item in education in Valuchia County. We will allow a total of up to 15 minutes which is three minutes per person which can be extended upon my approval. Then time will be provided for public comment on any action item before a board vote
005is called on that item. And tonight, those are items 16.01 through 16.03. And then time will be provided at the end of the meeting for public comments for items of general interest pertaining to public education in Valuchia County before items from the board, superintendent, or attorney are up for discussion or announcement. We're are now at item 1.02. That is our district vision statement. Our vision is to create lifelong learners prepared for an everchanging global society. We are now moving on to item 1.03, approval of the minutes. Board members, you've had an opportunity to review the minutes from the um August 26 regular session. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve the presented amendments? I mean minutes from the August 26th >> motion to approve. >> Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.
006Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Any discussion on the minutes from the August 26th meeting? Okay. Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the minutes from August 26, 2025 regular session, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, that passes unanimously. We are now moving on to item 2.01, agenda changes. For the agenda, Dr. Balgaban, are there any agenda changes before the agenda is presented to the board for approval? >> No, Madam Chair, I have no changes. All right, board members, you've heard that there are no changes to the agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the presented agenda for this afternoon's meeting? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Cologne. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank
007you, Mrs. Brosmer. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the agenda that is presented to us for this afternoon's meeting, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. Now we are moving right along to item 3.01, announcements by Dr. Carmen Balaban, our superintendent. Dr. Balaban, >> thank you, Madam Chair. And we will begin tonight. First of foremost, members of the audience, thank you. Welcome. Thank you for being here. Those of you listening at home, thank you for tuning in. So, we're going to start with some positives today. um proud to report that Atlantic High School, home of the Sharks. Um this past year, when you look at um this the the letter grade that they've received, we all know that they receive a
008letter grade of an of a B. Correct? Well, when we were looking at their roster of students that it showed the that they were serving, we noticed some discrepancy there with some students called collocation, meaning that they were they showed up in two spots. They showed up at at for Atlantic High School, but also some of them were homeschooled students. So, we submitted for a review to be done by DOE and the review was completed yesterday and we received a um information from a letter from our commissioner of education who after a full thorough review which took place approximately two months. Atlantic High School, home of the Sharks. First time in 30 years, they are rated an A, letter A. [Applause] So, we called the principal yesterday um and we asked the principal how his
009day was going. He said, you know, my my day has been good so far, Dr. B, but what do you've got? So after we read to him the letter that we received from our commissioner, his day got a whole lot better. And I know that the students there, they worked very hard, very very hard. So did the staff and the entire community. So this is this a really it's the effort of an entire community coming together. So congratulations Mr. Watson for your leadership and the entire Shark community. also September attendance awareness month and I'm proud to report that as you know we embarked onto this attendance journey about a year ago because we were seeing that nationally there is a there's a problem with attendance. We're seeing a minimum of 10% any given day that
010students are not in school. Thanks to our partnership with Advent Health, working with our parents and everyone doing their part, um not only are we celebrating September as a month of attendance awareness month, but I will tell you that we went from a 10% to now a 4.3%. So that's a that's a drastic reduction and I want to thank Mr. McCalliff, his team, but also everyone right that plays a role in this and to Advent Health, our partner in this endeavor. Thank you so very much. Make sure you pass that message along. >> Sure will. >> And September the 11th, right? 911 Remembrance Day. And September the 16th is National Information Technology Professional Day. So to all of our folks that are working at the school level, district level, Dr. Kum, you and your amazing
011team, thank you for all that you do because we're a onetoone district and these positions are essential. Our community advisory group, I want to thank the board members that were there and everyone that attends these DAC these uh community advisory group, our DAC group diligently every month. Um, we had a really good turnout. I want to thank the leadership of for that group, but also everybody that shows up there month after month and they serve as ambassadors for their schools. So, thank you to the DAC team, our reading challenge, and I know that Charlie participated in this, but uh we had 981 students that participated in the summer reading challenge. We had 584 students that read 7 750 minutes or more and we had a total of 94,430 minutes read total. Participants who logged in
012for over 750 minutes of reading, they will receive a Little Caesar pizza. So, thank you Little Caesars. Um, also Daytona Lagoon's uh tickets. So, thank you Daytona Lagoon and tickets from the Daytona Tortugas baseball um team. So, I want to thank all three partners for what they're doing to endorse, support, and recognize reading as an essential skill for student success. And again, congratulations to all of the students that participated. And I know that you can't wait for the next challenge that's coming your way. In addition to that, our challenge coins. So, we did we did show up at two schools and Miss Haynes, I think this will um this is very close to your heart. Southwestern Middle School, as we know, they were undergoing the cafeteria were undergoing construction over the summer and they were
013not done in time for the beginning of the school year. So, we always talk about all of the work that happens behind the scene to ensure the success of our students. And this is just another example. Southwestern Middle School, who is in a totally different menu, collaborated with Woodward Elementary, totally different menu, but they collaborated together so that they can continue to prepare meals for all students at Southwestern. Incredible team. We showed up there. they didn't know that we were going to show up, but um with the superintendent's challenge coin, we have hundreds of entries that are submitted and then a committee gets together and picks the most deserving for that month. But again, congratulations to Schoolway Cafe for Southwestern Middle and also for um Woodward uh Elementary, to Jennifer D'vor from Southwestern and um
014Fan Hamilton. both of these managers and their teams, thank you for all that you do. This is just again another example of so much that happens behind the scenes, right? When it comes to educating 60,000 plus students. Also, we showed up at High Banks. So, at High Banks, there's a a pair of professional that was recognized, Miss Sodto. Miss Soda. Actually, there was a student that was eating in the cafeteria, choked on a piece of fruit and was starting to lose oxygen. Miss Sodto without any thinking, her quick thinking, she performed the Heimlick maneuver and saved that child's life. So, we recognize that pair professional also. So, again, Miss Sto, thank you for all that you do. And it's work like this behind the scenes that sometimes we never hear of or never see, but
015it takes so many people coming together working for again the success of our students. And last but not least, VCC PTA. We need our parents and we have a great VCC PTA and we want to say congratulations to that entire team and all of our parents, not just the VCC PTA, but every parent in our district. First and foremost, thank you for choosing Valuchia County as your service provider, but I see great leadership there with that team. Um, and I want to say also thank you to Mayor Henry and our city manager uh Derek Future for sponsoring our verse PTA event and I know it will not be the last. But again, this is these are just examples of a community coming together, working for the betterment of our students. And I don't have enough
016words to say thank you to all of these key players for everything that they do. First and foremost, not what we do on stage. What you see on stage is the product of 90% of the work that happens behind the scenes. So we will look forward to bringing more examples to you for the challenge coins and people who are standing out behind the scene doing great work for our district. And I think that's it. Chair, no videos today. I'm sorry to disappoint. >> No videos. You didn't have any last time. >> I know, Mr. Cologne. Next time. >> Okay. So, at this time, um, we are going to skip over items 4.01 and 4.02 because that is a time certain, which has to be at 5:30 p.m. for the public hearing. So, we're going to
017move down to item 5.01, which is any public participation concerning any items on the consent agenda. Miss Johnson, do we have any green cards for this evening? board members, while she's bringing that forward, do we have any items you would like to have removed for further discussion? >> Um, Mr. Miss Brosmer, >> I will have a couple of questions on 9 uh.03 and 9.0 >> 9.03 and 9.04. Correct. >> Okay. >> Mr. Cologne. >> And I have a question on 8.02. >> 8.02. >> Anyone else? >> Just a question. I don't need to. >> Okay. We're going to start with the public input first and then we will move on to the discussion for the board members. So, we have three cards. Um, Okay. So, yes, we actually only have one card then. These are
018for later. We have one card right now for item 11.01. Mrs. Albert, will you please come forward to speak about item 11.01? Welcome. >> Thank you. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Superintendent Dr. Balgaban. I am speaking to you tonight regarding item consent agenda item 11.01. 01 which is personnel actions. I don't know if you had an opportunity to take a look at it yet. I imagine some of you have um it's very different from what we are typically used to with personnel actions. Uh tonight you have 58 pages of information in front of you. Uh the information uh that we look at all the time is in a different format now and I am assuming that is because of the change to focus. However, what I'm noticing is there is not clarity
019with some of the information. For example, the first 30 pages of the personnel actions tonight are listed as instructional view supplements. What does that mean? Um, there needs to be, I think, or what would be helpful as we transition to this new process, and of course, I'm looking at Stephanie because this is where we're going to end up going here. Uh, is some kind of key to make sense of what these changes mean. Uh, so what what does that mean? and there are a lot of people listed in that uh section. So, we just need some help with this. I'm also noticing that uh there is there are administrative deans included in that section. So, administrative deans are not in part of the not a part of the instructional bargaining unit. So, I think that
020might be an error that needs to be vetted a little more closely. There's also a section uh that is called employment. That's fairly self-explanatory. Transfers is on there as well. we don't know where they're transferring from or to. Historically, we were able to to monitor how people are moving about the district. Also, there is a separation section with no reason code provided. That's very helpful to us who are monitoring where our employees are going and how they're moving about the district and if they're separating. Changes is listed not only with the instructional section, but in every other subsection. What does changes mean? There's no indication. There is a name, a school, a date. I think that's just about it. There's nothing to help us understand what this means. There's also a section called promotions. Within
021our instructional bargaining unit, we don't have promotions. So again, if we could get some help understanding what that means. There's a section on there listed as support ASME. Well, ASME no longer exists. So, uh, that would indicate that they're a part of a bargaining unit. They are they are not. ASME is no longer existing within Valuchia County Schools. So, just a name change there because these folks are non-bargaining. Let's see what else. Uh, view support. Um, that's pretty self-explanatory. Uh, there is a an item here administrative instructional. What is that? Uh, but just to sum it up, the document is difficult to follow. It is not in alphabetical order by last name of individual nor school site. uh the dates don't make a lot of sense as far as transfers go when they're transferring um
022or when they're separating and then uh we're just hoping that this can be fixed to provide a little bit of of additional clarity because some of us actually really use that personnel document. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, we will now move on to item 8.02. Um Mr. Cologne, because I'm I'm taking them in order. >> Yeah. So this is the dual enrollment agreement with gets aerospace institute and so I have a question on exactly what that means and what kind of opportunity is that going to provide our students. >> Um I we have someone from CT. There you go. Come on up. >> Come on up my love. >> Mr. Kong actually asked a very good question. Do you mind repeating that question? I'm so sorry. >> So, there's an item here
023which is a dual enrollment agreement with uh Embry Riddle University gets aerospace space institute. And so, I wanted to to see what additional opportunities this is going to offer our students. I know we currently have a dual enrollment agreement with University of Florida. We have an agreement with uh Daytona State of course. And so, Embry Riddle, this is sounds exciting. >> It's super exciting. Um we currently we have the aerospace program being offered at Dan High School and Atlantic High School. Both schools are offering the AOPA 9 and 10 curriculum and then they are going to do the dual enrollment piece with Emery Riddle. So this contract is for three years and we will have an adjunct professor from Emery Riddle come to the school, teach the students and therefore the kids will be able
024to get dual enrollment right there at the school um in working with the current aerospace teacher. >> That is awesome. >> Yeah, we're super excited about it. Um, I've been very involved with building an advisory board for aerospace, including Epic, um, and JetBlue, Space Florida, Space Tech. So, aerospace is an awesome program. I'm excited to see it grow and I think there's big things in the future with us and growth. >> Awesome. Thank you so much. That was my question. >> And just to top it off, we have a now a partnership with Space Coast Florida. Can we can we get a presentation on that? >> We're gonna have a CTE presentation coming up. I'm I'm sure it's in >> It'd be awesome. >> We have a CT in the in coming up. >> Perfect.
025>> Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> That was it, >> Miss Goodrich. >> Um, yeah, I wanted to pull 1306 and 1307 for comment. Just comment. >> 1306 and 1307. >> Yeah. >> All right. All right, we're moving on to 9:03 and then we'll do 904. Miss Brosmer, does it make sense to do them together since they're I just have a couple of questions and and they're both budget. Hi. Um, just quickly, um, on 1902, I wondered, uh, this may be apples and oranges, but I couldn't help but notice that that the, uh, there was an announcement that the sheriff had given his employees an 18% raise, and it made me wonder if it's possible out of our assigned fund balance Can any of that be reassigned if if we were to
026change our like adjust priorities or anything like that during the during the year since it's in the budget? Um is is any of that movable? >> I mean it's a great question. Um one of the things that on the assigned fund balance really covers like textbooks for example. That's a big one for us. um the contract commitments. Um it's not really that easy to move anything around because you have um I guess the best way to say it is that it's signed for a specific purpose. So um your unassign is really what you have to work with. So there is when you we look at assigned it's really has to do with like contract commitments also things um budgets that might have rolled forward. So that's assigned um by schools and also some of those
027other contract commitments and also assigned for like textbooks and so >> so those are more fixed costs. >> Correct. So those are those are anticipated costs that we're going to have. That's correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. >> And on 1903 I I was curious about our investments. I I know as a public agency there's a limit to what we're allowed to do and so I was really happy to see that we have them. >> I think she means 9.03. 3. Is that >> what did I say? >> 19. >> Oh, I'm sorry. 9.03. >> Um, and um, so I'm I'm assuming that we get a return on on those investments. Where does that money how is that money applied um to our >> it goes to the specific fund that earned it? So,
028for example, if the general fund earned interest revenue with their fund balance that's sitting in the savings account right now, um that would go to the general fund. Same thing with the capital projects fund. if the capital projects fund has available funds. Where we run into this is we get a lump sum of money in the capital projects fund right around um when we levy for new um property owners and that money starts to hit right around the end of November December. So we'll get a lump sum of money. So what we do is we turn around and invest it right away for the capital projects fund. Any interest earnings that we make for that stays with that specific fund. And and so does it show up in the budget as that's that was the
029source of that additional >> Yeah, that's correct. That's a line if you looked at your on the financial statements and I I know I know we um you've seen it, it says investment earnings in local revenues is under it says investment earnings and that's where it's booked and it normally on investment earnings especially in the capital projects fund it funds the fund balance for them to decide where it's needed. Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Those are my only questions. >> Okay. >> Then um we're now moving to item 13.06 and 13.07. This is Goodrich. >> So I just wanted to comment on this because we talked a while back about surplusing unused land and we had um some unsolicited bids on these that were above market value. And so sometimes the public doesn't get to
030know about when we make strong financial decisions and what's happening like you just talked about behind the scenes the work going on behind the scenes. So when I saw this uh Mr. Cash and Patty Core were um able to talk to me about how what the numbers look like and everything and it's a pretty strong position for us. So I just wanted to acknowledge that work. >> Thank you Mr. Cologne. >> And since you pulled that up I want to thank you for having the appraisals. And I know that that's something that I always bang my head up against the wall. And so, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Because that really puts it into perspective for those of us that are not in the real estate world. Uh what is the worth of a
031property and then realizing that hey, we're making a sound decision. So, thank you. Thank you. >> I will add I was very happy about the South Daytona piece because that piece has been a surplus for a long time. So, I was happy to see that it was finally um someone wanted to purchase it above the appraisal. Anything else from the consent agenda? Okay, then at this time if Hang on. I need a motion to approve the consent agenda items. >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you. I need a second. Excuse me. >> Thank you, Mrs. Brosmer. If there's no further discussion at this time, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving all of the items that are on the consent agenda this evening, please say I. >> I. I. >> Any
032opposed? >> Okay, it passes unanimously. We are still not um ready for the public hearing. So, we're going to move over to the presentation, which is supposed to be really short. He's the one person that I ask every time, how long is your presentation going to take? He's the one that sticks to it. He gets it right. Go ahead. >> We're doing House Bill 1473 402 through 409. Captain Smith. [Applause] Good evening, superintendent, madame chair, and board members. I'm Captain Todd Smith, the director of safety and security for Valuchia County Schools. Today, we will be discussing the annual safety report in accordance with Florida state statutes. This presentation aligns with policy 511, safety of facilities. This presentation aligns with guardrail to provide conditions that enhance student learning. Annually, I am required to present to the
033board the number of schools inspected during the preceding calendar year and the number and percentage of schools in compliance during the initial inspection and reinspection. 36 schools were inspected during the preceding calendar year. 33 schools were found to be in compliance. 91.7% of schools were in compliance during the initial in inspection and reinspection which is outstanding. That's very very good. Uh and this concludes my presentation. >> Does anyone have any questions? >> No. But I would like to say something since we're talking about it behind the scenes. Um, when it comes to safety and security of students and staff, I want to say thank you to our captain. I want to say thank you to our sheriff, the entire team, all of our schools for everything that they do, our parents, everyone doing their part.
034This is one of those areas that it's 247. It is literally 247. There's so much that happens behind the scenes. And this is a team that I will tell you they're not concerned about just being compliant, but they're truly committed to our our community safety. So, Captain and Captain will actually be presenting um nationally on safety and security. Um, so but I want to say thank you to you, to Sheriff Chitwood, to the entire team and our team of course for everything that you do behind the scene 247 for our community. >> Stay right there, Mr. Cologne. >> So since we have a few minutes before 5:30, I'm curious if you can share, Mr. McAlliffa, or anyone, how are the metal detectors going? I know Pineriidge in the early days, so we they rolled out
035at Pineriidge in Atlantic. I know we've moved on to >> we're at Pearson now. >> At Pearson now. So, how is that going now? >> It's going very well. We're able to get the kids in on time and it takes about 3 days is what we found to get them fully. So, the kids need to know how to go through the machine. The staff needs to know what to tell the kids. We have to prepare them, ensure that, you know, everybody's doing the things that they're supposed to be doing and to work through that process. Obviously, um sometimes change is stressful, especially when it's something that we've not ever done before. So, we've been communicating with the parents, uh the students, the staff and faculty, uh the principles, everybody to make sure that, you know,
036we're we're trying to get the word out there. Obviously, we don't reach everyone, but we're doing our level best to try to and um it's going very well. Um Pearson Taylor, the first day went phenomenal for a first day and it's just getting better from there. And Atlantic and um and Pineriidge are up and running. Have we had any victories? >> We have not. >> It's good. >> That's a great thing. Um our uh educational campaign is and obviously we have wonderful kids too complying. Um they're all doing a good job and you know the technology is incredible that we're using and it is it is working. We're we're getting them into the schools. We're getting them up and running and we have uh the structures and processes in place to ensure that we can
037do it as seamlessly as possible. >> Great. Thank you for sharing. >> So, my question is which school's next because we can help you get the word out tonight if people >> um I believe we're going to Mainland next. Uh they have had some um off-campus events that we want to make sure I think it's the best bet is to go there next and then we'll move on from there. >> That is wonderful. >> We've made an adjustment on that. >> So, thank you very much. >> The dog still rounding. >> Uh Maverick. Oh, yeah. He's been out there. >> I haven't met I haven't met Maverick yet. So, >> oh, he was here uh just a couple weeks ago and we'll have to get him back. Don't worry. We'll have him back here and
038you can tell him he's a good boy because he is. >> And are we still doing the random >> We are. Yes, we're doing the random screenings as well. >> Very good. Layer upon layer and that's why our kids are safe. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Captain Smith. We appreciate you. >> You have a whole five minutes left, Captain. Next time All right. Um my question is for um the uniform statewide assessment calendar. Can we present that in 12 minutes or less? >> Is he here? Oh yeah, he is locked in. >> Come on, >> come forward. >> We can't hold a public hearing till 5:30. So, we're getting as much accomplished as we can. So, we're now on item 16.01, which is the uniform statewide assessment calendar. >> Okay. U as Dr. Vier
039said, thank you for recognizing me, chair. Thank you for recognizing me, board superintendent Valin. Um, as Dr. Vier alluded to, we do have our uniform assessment calendar. We did a workshop about two months ago with you. Uh we presented um our collaboration with um teachers, principles and other stakeholders. And uh this is a document that the state it's a template that the state puts together for us. Um and we populate with our fields. Um there's a section at the the first half of it which is all state assessment information. um they have their state window of course for example PM1 went from August 11th through September 30th and then we select within there which days are our primary days. Um and so we do that for every state assessment. They also ask if we're doing
040SAT um or SAT or ACT. Um every school district in Florida must give SAT in school or uh the ACT in school for their juniors. And so we have that defined in here. And any other tests that the state has, we have it outlined for our specific days. Um this document came about a month and a half after our workshop. So that's why there's this lag in time. This document has to be um board action approved. Um so that's why we had that big lapse in time. They reformatted a little bit from the prior year. Um, so until we were able to have that actual template, um, we weren't able to actually propose it to you for uh, board action. >> Thank you. Um, are there, um, are there any cards for item 16.01? I
041don't have any. Okay. So, there's no public input. All right. Then, Mr. Cologne, >> other than formatting changes, were there any other changes since the workshop? uh significant changes. >> No, no. Yes. Everything every date uh that we had within our presentation uh to you at that time. Again, it the way that we present it to our teachers is a much different format here because this is it's very cumbersome and if I'm a a third grade teacher, I have a lot of flipping through this document to do. Um so the document that we provide to our teachers uh through Canvas and through our website uh is a little bit different looking but the dates remain the same. Um and a big piece of that was teachers of course were on summer and so we we
042didn't expect them to um you know t tag in again for for more feedback or anything like that. Um but we have already begun that feedback um for PM1. Um, so no, we have not made any changes to the dates themselves. Um, just the way that this document looks. This is the document we have to have on our website, but our teachers like a different view when they're actually, you know, planning things out. >> Great. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> I have one last page, the chart, page 13. >> Yes. probably already know what I'm going to ask. Why does it say there are zero district assessments for VPK K and one? >> Because we do not create any district assessments for those grade levels. >> So this in this document that we
043vote on to send to the state, in order for it to show up there, it would be it has to be created by the district. So it can't be an assessment that we purchase to use and recorded there. That's where I need clarity. >> If the district has it set within their mandates that every teacher for that grade level, it impacts every single student in that grade level. Then we include it within the uniform assessment calendar. So I thought smart start was required by all VPK students. And going along with that, I thought we were doing Waterford for all K and one, although I've now heard we've switched to um and I'm drawing a blank. We've switched to something else for a second. But I mean you do have second grade because I know you
044created VBAs for second grade. >> Okay. So do we have an answer for that? I mean I I understand you're like when you look at Smart Start and Waterford assessments, they're not being created inhouse like the VBAs are being created in house. So that's why when I saw this, I was surprised because if you say that that column only represents things that districts create in-house, then I can agree with what you've put there. But if it's actually any assessments the district assigns for those students, then I don't agree with what's captured there. Which which assessment specifically are you looking that are you requesting that should be added into the uniform assessment? >> So under VPK, my understanding is we're using the smart start assessments to determine the success of those students. Smart start and unless
045something's changed, we've been using that for a while and we've been using the Waterford assessments for K and one. we were using them for K one and two um if they had you know for second graders that had not already tested out. So and then is I ready included in here for second, third, fourth and fifth? So let me ask um Chrissy Cast to come up here for a second. And I'm going to go ahead and talk about this in terms of the differences between the district assessments and the difference between, for example, placement assessments regarding interventions um because those are intervention types of programs that you're talking about. And so if I'm going to use that as an instructional tool um to be able to be able to remediate a certain skill, that's something
046that the teacher and the school um decides that that's what they're going to use. We don't mandate that you have to use that program in ter and then we don't collect that data as a district to say that a kid is either on grade level or not on grade level. >> There anything you want to add mission to that? No. >> No, you're exactly right. So those are programs that you use to provide intervention for the students. So we use the the PM the star data the P the PM1 data that they take. Now we use those those data points but the other the programs are just program data. We have to see where the gaps are so that we can provide the correct intervention for the students. >> So can I interject? >> Absolutely.
047>> This document this template provides guidance right in terms of what what to put in in those columns. So, and this is way back. I remember many years back uniform um district assessments would be part of the criteria. What will you submit is that they're doc they're assessments that are created by the district where everyone in a uniform way that will be utilizing those assessments and they tell you they give you the guidance. I don't know if that has changed, but that's what we've used in the past in terms of if it there are district assessments that are created that we are requiring all students to use >> every student to to engage with >> in the same design, same approach on the same day and the same amount of time um is also attached
048within there. >> Okay. Are they still providing guidance for these columns like what they give you the guidance what you should submit or not submit? >> Yes. >> Okay. Well, I think that's the piece we need to look at and verify with um early learning. >> All right. >> You want to put it on the on hold and they will call early learning? >> No, because I know that this has a deadline of when it has to be approved and put up to the state. I would like to personally see the guidance of that you receive on how to complete the chart. And I go back to this. This is hard for me to make this statement. If we're spending money to buy these programs to utilize with our students and these programs require them
049to take a starting baseline assessment so that we know where they're at because they are intuitive based on where the students fall in the areas of reading, math, and or science. and they take them for where their gaps are and it works them through that and the and the data is available to teachers and administrators and everything because you're using it. Yes. To fill in gaps or to make sure that they're getting the additional practice and it's one more opportunity to show how they're performing. if we're not listing it here or we're saying, "Well, we're we're purchasing it, but it's not required. It's like a decision by the schools or whatever." I struggle with are we utilizing our money then in the best fashion? And yet I I I believe in these programs and I
050have seen them used and I have seen what happens and I know that it even breaks students down to where teachers know these four students are struggling with this particular standard or skill. It it gives you the information to share it with parents and everything else. So, I just expected to see it listed there under district assessments because it's being utilized. And yes, you can say for an intervention, but not every child is using it. Some are using it on grade level and it's giving them additional practice. and some have exceeded grade level because they already have mastered those skills and it's giving the teacher the data there to know that they need to provide more rigorous instruction for them at a higher level. So that that's just where I'm at. I'm I'm I'm not
051opposed to voting on it. I know that it has to be submitted, but I'd like to see the direct criteria that states how to fill those out. Okay? And I and I'm not against the programs, but I just I prefer we just need to be more transparent in what's happening. >> Okay. >> I don't think we're not transparent about what's h what's happening. If there's an intervention and I have um students, as you said, there are different levels. I may choose as a teacher not to give that program that is completely not at that level for that student to utilize that. So when I'm saying districtwide, I'm saying all students will be able will be utilizing this. But it is teacher autonomy to figure and principal to figure out which students actually need that particular
052program. So why would I put it in a district-wide um expectation that every single student will be taking this with you said yourself that it could be they could be at very different levels not utilizing the exact same program. So that's that's where I'm saying. So it's not about transparency because that's exactly what I'm trying to make sure to convey, but we can get you the companion guide to this and you can see that. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Then do I have a motion to approve item 16.01, the uniform statewide assessment calendar. >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Miss Goodrich. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Brosmer. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please say I. >> I.
053>> Any opposed? It passes. Thank you very much. And we are now at the time to do the public hearing. So, we are backing up to item um and section four, item 4.01. At this time, I'm going to adjourn the board meeting. It is 5:33 and I'm now going to call the public hearing to order. And it's 5:33. [Applause] Welcome, Mr. CE >> and team. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, and also the rest of the board members. Superintendent Belgen, can you hear me? Okay. Am I speaking up loud enough? >> Sound wonderful. >> Let me get to my place right quick. We're on item 4.01 resolution 2025-13 levying the final district advaloranium property tax millage rates for the fiscal year 202526. >> So we we're going to start with presenting a budget for tonight
054and that will include the um the final mill rates and also the final budget that's going to be presented and adopted hopefully tonight. Will you start the presentation please? Is it on? Okay, this slide this SL um sorry this slide aligns with our budget with district strategic goals and guardrails emphasizing its place on staffing, student learning conditions, operating efficiency and stakeholder engagement. Um board members I do want to share with you you heard a lot of this it's we follow a template um really and it's it's really a requirement of trim compliance just to make sure certain things that um should be said in these public hearings are said and that's like for a mill for example. So I'll move on here. So the overview regarding milit rates tonight and budget there will be an
055opportunity for public and board member comments. Um, we request that you adopt the resolution sending the final total millet levy to support the 202526 budget. Um, we also request that you adopt the resolution approving the final budget as presented. We will request authorization for the superintendent and staff to perform all necessary actions to comply with the truth and milit requirements. Lastly, we'll submit the budget to DOE per the state board rules within three days of adoption. So, this is just um tonight we are presenting a final milit rates and budget for your review for part of the presentation. Again, we'll follow that scripted format. Trim insurance trim ensures transparency and public communications and mandate specific formats and requires two public hearings for millage in budget discussion. So again, what is a mill? This slide defines
056a mill and how it translates to property tax calculations. For example, 100,000 of taxable value of at 1 mil equals 100 in taxes. The Florida Education Finance Program as we all know is the mechanism by which state and local funds are allocated to Florida school districts. The Florida ledger slature sets the required local effort millage and prior period funding adjustment rates that must be levied by the school board. The school board must levy uh the required local effort milage and prior period funding adjustment millet in order to receive any state funding from the Florida Education Finance Program. Breakdown of the proposed mil rates for and you've seen this in your tenative budget presentation. No change there. So the total milage is 5.279. 279 including the required local effort discretionary and capital outlay components. So just
057for the purposes um and I'm going to say this out loud the required local efforts 3.027. Again um we are told to levy the required local and the prior period funding adjustment of 0.004 mills. Um the basic discretionary operating is a basic disc um discretionary operating as it's stated. Um this is um board approved at your level and it's 748 mills and capital outlay of 1.5 mills and this is a board approved levby as well. So the total total mills there again is 5.279. So this just is a comparison of the current year to prior year milit rates to show changes in trends over time. The change between the two years is a reduction of uh 0.006 006 mills. Okay. As required by trim, we must compare the proposed mil rates to the rollback rate.
058The rollback rate is the mil rate uh that would generate the same amount of revenue as last year if applied to the current year's adjusted t taxable value under trim. The rollback rate is the basis for determining if taxes have increased or decreased. And again, although our our milit rates going down, um property values are going up. Okay, just want to emphasize that. So this slide compares the proposed millet rates to the rollback rates. The current state roll back rate is 2.9455 mills. The current proposed state law millet rate for 202526 here is 3.0310 mills. The proposed rate is 2.9% more than the roll back rate. The roll back rate for the total militch is 5.1257 mills. The proposed mil rate is 5.279 mills. The proposed total rate is 2.99% more than the to more
059than the roll back rate. The Valuchia County School Board total amount of tax burries levied will increase by 19.5 million for the school related taxes for the 202526 as compared to the prior year. While the milit rate is decreasing, the total levy is increasing by 5.35% over the prior year. So this is a good one for our homeowners. How are pra um property taxes calculated? Uh the taxable value of homeowners property equals the assessed value as determined by the Valuchia County property appraisers office less the 25,000 homestead exemption if applicable. The homestead exemption is an amount that is exempt from adarm taxes. The amount is established by law for properties used as the owner's primary residence. It's normally 25,000. The portion of property tax related to school funding equals the taxable value divided by a
060th00and times the school district milit rate. So how will this impact taxpayers in Valuchia County? This slide illustrates a change in school related property tax for Valuchia County homeowners over the last several years. In this example, a home valued at 200,000 in 202122 school year would have generated roughly 1,15.35 in school related property tax. If the owner qualifies for Save Our Homes by the 202526 school year, the assessed value of the same home would be $224,833. Based on this valuation, the school related property tax would be $1,55.17. This is an increase of $32 and 26 cents for the 2425 school year, I'm sorry, for the 2526 school year, but a 5-year cumul um 3982. the district's total budget in summary form for you for that you'll be adopting tonight that's included in your budget book.
061Um the and and one thing I want to say um to the board and thank you for your patience. We um as I shared with most of you um that we had um um a late entry come in from the um from the Florida Department of Education which caused us basically to redo everything. So, and that came in on on September 2nd, as you can imagine, the stress on the my my team here in trying to incorporate those entries for last year and it it affects your budget amendments that we had and also this budget presentation. So, basically everything changed from that one entry. So, moving on here, the general fund consists of four funds. Operating fund, which is the main fund where most expenditures are paid. capital reimbursement um previous maintenance of plant fund
062prek program and by the way board I changed the title on you um for this upcoming year I just thought it was more relevant just by saying capital reimbursement on the prek program we have a general fund prek and a general fund extended day fund in addition tonight you'll be adopting budgets for the debt service fund capital projects fund special revenue fund also our schoolway cafe and internal service funds which accounts for the district's workers compensation, property, general liability, fleet, and print shop. Thank you. This slide I just like to show the history, you know, where where we are right now with our current um FTE and how we're um progressing. So in 2023, as you can see on a traditional program, we're about 57 uh 258.17. Um right now for this upcoming year we're
063projected for our traditional students right around the 54 12704. Um we are hitting that target. Um basically we're pretty close. I think we're just off by just a couple students. And so the district as you can see has that reduction and really who's seen we're where we're seeing the growth is really near scholarship programs. So overall the um traditional um pro and virtual programs are red um taken reduction over the years. Um we're just seeing that shift to the scholarship program. Okay. This slide represents the general fund um estimated revenues for the school year 202526 as compared to the prior school year current budget. The estimated revenues decreased by roughly 21 $21 million. Um this slide represents the current and general operating fund budget for a major object or by major object. We also refer
064to that as a count. Okay. Total salaries and benefits is projected to make up roughly 71.5 of the total operating budget that includes both your reoccurring and roll forward appropriations. So u madam chair this is the time um for public comment. Nothing for the budget hearing. Okay. Board members, any questions? Miss Goodrich, it's not really a question. I just wanted to point out um that I appreciate that you turned this into a line item budget that had been requested and duly noted. So, thank you for your hard work in that because I know that was a big change. Um, and just for understanding it was it's never been something required or not required. It's in the past um our budget has not been line item and when you heard from us talking up here that
065that was something that was desired, you went ahead and did it. And so, thank you for taking the time to do that. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> And thank you for taking the time to meet with me with all my gazillion questions uh multiple times throughout the week. So again, that behind the-scenes stuff, we meet quite frequently and talk about different items in the budget and there's a lot of things going on just so people are aware because um I know you love public speaking and so you don't openly say this as often as you should, but there's quite a few programs that you inherited when you came on three years ago. >> Yes, correct. >> Um that were not financially sound decisions to make. they were spread out, disjointed, and you've got a full plan
066in place of all these different programs to streamline everything and make it more costefficient and effective for the district. And so people aren't aware of that. And so they I'll hear, well, nothing's happening with the budget. And that's not the case. There's a lot happening with the budget to streamline and make us more efficient that has led to some other changes that I'm sure we'll hear about in the very near future. >> Yeah. And I and I love your streamlining questions you throw at me all the time. So I appreci appreciate that >> problem, >> Mr. Cologne. >> So my question will be of no surprise. >> Um >> I think >> the same question I've asked for seven years. Is this budget going to be a balanced budget? >> It is a balanced budget.
067That is correct. >> Okay. And I know that we closed out the year for last year. Um how did we do? Did we were we on budget? Were we >> No, we were on budget. Um I basically um shared with you all along where I thought we were going to be. Um we had some in um textbook adoptions came up. Um some new contracts that we entered into. So that really ate up our unassigned fund balance. Um but one thing I want to share with you too, Mr. clone and I know you asked this question before so I I my apologies I'm getting back to you so late here is that um um one thing that happened to us about three years ago and I think everyone remembers is that the state actually and I'm
068really glad that they did this so I'm I'm very grateful they collapsed the line items for textbook reading um um um um well we yeah but they re renamed that incorrect and then a digital classroom. So they like collapsed that and put it all rolled it up into the BSA for us to make sure that we're accounting for it. So that's part of the budget where when we know how much we're going to have in textbook adoptions, then we have to assign um unassigned fund balance to textbooks for example to pay for those textbook adoptions. So thank you for asking me about that. So >> thank you so much. >> So I have two um questions. I'll start with the easier one. So, where are we at with our unassigned fund balance? >> Um, in
069your budget book that um presented for you right now, we're rolling in unassigned fund balance of 41.1 million. This is just your general fund operating fund. I'm not talking about the general fund consolidator. Right now, I'm just focusing on that operating fund where the FFP revenues flow into. >> Okay? And so that amount that's sitting in there is representative of what percent and how long would that last if something >> Yeah, that's roughly about it was about trying to remember. Um well, I can tell you where I'm projecting we're going to be at the end of the year. How's that? And I could tell you what the percent there is. But that 41% that we carried in um to this year, I think it was right around the uh a high 6% 7% if I'm
070not mistaken. um of your revenues. So the unassigned um I think was 6.89%. It could be a little bit higher than that. I have to check check that number. But um what we're spending again we're doing that controlled spending of our resources and as we know one of the things that our legislature just gave us a little bit of new money over the prior year and I think it was about 2.6 million if I'm not mistaken. So, um, we're we're we're using the unassigned fund balance here to, um, um, for for our budget, and the budget's a little bit different than our tenative budget. So, we're at a 12 $12 million operating deficit, but that would leave us with an unassigned fund balance of a little over 5%. So, we're going to be end the
071year at 27 in unassigned fund balance with assigned for projected operating deficit the following year of 2 million. So, we really spent down that assigned fund balance. Okay. >> And my understanding is if we're sitting there right at 5% that covers about a half a month of expenses. >> Yeah, I would say roughly about a half month. >> Okay. So, then my other question and I think on your presentation it was page 13, but in our in our one that was uploaded it was um slide 16. So lots of times what we hear is they take this total amount you know the 1.3 or almost 1.4 4 billion and they say, "Well, if you divide the number of students we have, then they're spending x number of dollars per student, which is actually not accurate
072because they just believe that that is all cash flow that we have a choice of how we spend it. But under this, you know, even our debt is included as part of that amount of money along with our capital projects funding, our special revenue funding, our internal service funding, and the charter school money that comes in to us and goes out the door is also part of that money. So, could you just explain that just a little more clearly? Not that I think anyone may listen or pay attention to it, but if we reach 10 people that then have a better understanding of what this is, that's 10 people that aren't stating things that are not factual. >> Okay. So for ju just to go back on the general fund right now, the general fund
073that's presented on that is consolidated. So that includes your beginning fund balance, your estimated revenues, and then any transfers in. So that's what's included in that number. And your general fund is made up of the four funds as I I explained. And the general operating fund is where we receive most of our money. And it from and that's probably from the FIF program to pay for all of our instructional programs here. So the that's really what you have available from those four funds when you take into consideration your beginning savings fund balance I'll say and um your debt service fund and really that's our debt obligation you know we have to pay that out so that's the amount that we have to pay out okay >> it's the amount we still owe that we have
074borrowed >> that's correct yeah so what what feeds that fund is your capital projects fund so your capital projects fund of course receives the revenue and it pays for those schools that you built already and maintain your infrastructure here in the school district. Your special revenue funds is your federal programs for title one IDA that gives you a little bit more um resources for those schools that um um and for those students that really need that extra attention. Okay. And um also your internal service funds again just it's it's a billable kind of a service. So for example if um we have a workers's comp claim it gets build under there but then it gets build back to the fund that actually caused it. So for example if there's a workers's comp claim I'll just
075say in maintenance for example. So that would that just records that type of activity. Am I are you following me? Am I making sense for you, Miss? >> I actually know what each one of these stand for. I am just >> I've reached a point where this is this is a statement a lot of people start with. You have almost $1.4 billion to spend as if that's the cash on hand. And so the question is, so this equates out to x amount of dollars per student. So what are you really doing with that money? And so that's why I'm bringing it up tonight. I mean, I have in the past made some comments about this, but sometimes I think the easiest way to equate this is to equate it to your own home budget because
076hopefully most people understand their own home budget. But the general fund is the amount of money you have brought in whether you're bringing it in through a job that you're working and the salary that you're bringing home, social security, if you have a trust fund, whatever. But that's your general fund that you have to spend every month on your home. So that's the amount we have to spend on employee salaries and benefits. You know, the water bill, the electric bill, all of the things like that. I have never considered and you know the the debt that I have whether it's for a home that I'm living in or a vehic ve vehicle that I'm driving. I've never considered it personally you know and and you can say well you're looking at it the wrong way
077miss but I've never considered that to be actually part of what I have of my total that I can spend. That's money I've already spent that I owe that I'm now having to pay back. >> That's correct. >> All right. Then under the capital projects fund because this is a hot one that's talked about. If you look that one is not far off from the general fund but yet there are restrictions on that pot of money and what it can and cannot be spent for. And as we have all seen the cost of just keeping the air conditioning, like having to replace air conditioners, having to replace fire alarm systems, building, adding on to a building, a brand new roof, you know, whatever comes through that money is not in in my opinion, yes, it's
078there for a purpose, but it's not for it's not for the same purpose as a general fund. We're not paying salaries and benefits out of capital projects funds because those are specific to what that pot is. Then special revenue and thank you for bringing up the fact that this covers like the title one part A, title one part C, title one part D, title two, title three, title four, title nine, and the IDA grants. Okay, that money also comes with strings attached and what it can and cannot be used for. So that money does include a few like a small handful of individuals that are paid for because if a school takes their title one part A and says I want to buy an intervention teacher then that interventions teacher and um salary and benefit
079package may come out of that pot. But that is a very small amount of of people working in the district that actually come out of that. And there's rules and restrictions on who those people can be and and things such as that. And then the internal service fund, that was the one I wasn't totally clear on, but I appreciate you sharing with it. It's things such as when we have workman's comp and all of that. So what I'm trying to say is to people that just keep printing, we have a $1.4 billion budget to spend any way we want. No, we don't. basically the area that we have the most choice in if you can call it a choice but I don't see it as a choice because it has to cover everyone's salary and
080benefits part and keeping the lights on is the general fund. I would say that's a correct statement because your your general you don't really have a choice. Again, you receive this through the FFP funding formula. One student generates this amount of money. We have to make sure again we're providing that the resources to that student to make sure they're successful. So the choice is to make what resources we're using to make sure that student's successful. So that's the choice piece, right? Okay. Any other questions? Right. Thank you very much. You may move on to the next part. Thank you for taking time to explain that >> of the resolutions. No. Okay. I do not know. Um uh superintendent, I think I need your help on this one. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, I have
081the one for 4.01. Okay. I recommend approval of resolution 2025-13 authorizing the school board of Valuchia County Florida to leave the final advalor advaloran property tax millage rates for fiscal year 2025-2026 which includes the required local effort prior period adjustments discretionary millage and local capital improvement millage for the capital projects funds applicable applicable to all taxable property within Valuchia County for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2025 and ending June 30th, 2026. >> Thank you. All right, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do we have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Do I have a second? Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Cologne. Any further discussion? >> Yes. >> I'm sorry, Miss Brosmer. I looked away and >> it's okay. I I just I just touched it. I
082wasn't exactly sure where where to make these comments, but I I think it's probably appropriate here. Uh, I confess I was a lot more comfortable at the workshop when the projected budget was going to be closer to 1.1 billion. And so when it came in closer to 1.4, I took another look. And I will also say I look at our budget in broad strokes because it's not my it's not my strength. I I leave that to our open the books expert here. Um, but I went back I've been watching what the state has been doing. And I went back and looked at where we were 10 years ago and where we are now. And in student enrollment, we are almost exactly in the same spot. Um, if you add in our charter school count, we're
083probably within a thousand of being in exactly the same spot. But our budget then was uh I have it in my notes. Uh 781,220,000 and and now we're at almost 1.4. So we're actually up from 10 years ago with the same number of students, we're up 75%. And that's disconcerting to me. Um, I also am stuck on the 82% for is that is that the correct number, my mathematician friends? Um, I'm also stuck on the 82% for salaries and benefits. Uh Valuchia County business leaders have told me that um that's really an unsustainable number that we need to be closer to 50. And for business that might be true. I'm I'm going to guess that we would be a little bit higher than that because of restrictions that are put on how we can spend
084money. Um but it it does concern me that that that ratio is so high. And so for next year, I'd really like to see us take a closer look at our internal structure because audits are great for telling us uh if we're using efficient systems to count to do our calculations and if we're compliant and our our math is all correct. But but they don't evaluate how we spend money. and we haven't had a lot of discussion about that internal portion of the budget. So, um I will say for um for tonight's purposes, I I know we're at a point where we have to approve the budget. Um if we were at roll back at least, I I would have been comfortable with it. I will say I will I will be a no tonight.
085>> Anyone else? So, I would I would just like to add um something to what you said and I'm trying to think back. This is what I can say. Um and I'm going to try to use the building. Okay. May I ask Mr. Ron Young? >> Oh, he is here. >> Mr. could you come forward for just a moment and I'm hoping you can answer my question. >> I know the answer for the most current um school that opened up but I would say pro it's a little over 10 years. The last elementary school that we opened probably around 10 years ago I'm thinking was either Citrus Grove or Champion like they're the two that would come the closest. I know what Pearson cost, but that's not been t it's not 10 years old yet.
086And I know what George Marks cost and that's not 10 years yet. Do you have an idea about what one of those cost when we built them? And if not, I can go off with something that's less than 10 years. >> Less than half of what it is today. How I couldn't tell you exactly, but I know it's less than half of what it is today. >> I believe George Marx was around 19. eight about 18. >> Pearson was about 19 >> actually. Pearson I think was less. I think George Marks was around 19 because we had to set up an entirely different school. We had to set up a school to move them into to build that one. >> Well, we supplied the numbers to Mr. CE month or so ago and it was
087>> at that time it was $196 a square foot and now it's 406. >> Okay. And and I think that has to be said for what has happened with the budget because when we came out of the budget, especially coming out of the pandemic and COVID, we watched the cost just for um capital in every way, whether we're replacing a chiller, a fire alarm system, a roof, building a new building because I think T came in way above what we were anticipating when we were talking about building it prior to the pandemic and it was just under $60,000 to build that. So, I just want to say our student amounts may be the same, but our cost for everything that we have to do now is a lot more. And that's just one example, but
088our food costs have gone up, our transportation costs have gone up, um, and our salaries have gone up. And I'm thankful for that. I can say seven years ago teachers started at 392 and they're we haven't decided for this year but last year they their starting was 49201 and that's a $10,000 increase just for every beginning teacher and prior to moving into the salary piece for other employees they were at $789 I believe seven years ago when we started and we went to 15 within two years and we are over 20 for a lot of those as starting salaries. So those are also additional increased costs. So Mrs. Brosmer with all respect I hear what you're saying but when I bought my house and so I couldn't buy my house right now for what I
089bought it for. I'd have to pay a whole lot more money and my electric keeps going up and my water keeps going up and the internet keeps going up. So, I I just don't know that it's a fair comparison because it's costing more to do all of these things and to keep up with what we're doing. But that's what I wanted to add. So, >> I have another recommendation. Well, I have to call for the vote. So, Mrs. Goodrich made the motion. Mr. Cologne made the second. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> No. >> Okay. So, it passes 4 to one. We are now moving on to the next resolution. >> Yeah. Uh, Madame Chair, I recommend approval of resolution 2025-14 of the School Board of Valuchia County, Florida,
090adopting the final budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026 for the general fund, capital projects funds, depth service funds, special revenue funds, and internal service funds. >> All right, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve the resolution 2025-14? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Miss Goodrich. Do we have a second? >> I'll second that motion. >> Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Any further discussion? All right, then I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving resolution 2025-14 adopting the final VCS operating budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. Please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> Thank you. It passes 4 to 1. It is now at this time 6:08 p.m. and the public hearing is over. We are
091going to take a brief um break and then we will come back in and we will go straight into public input. So if you have for general education, if you wish to fill out a green card, I mean a yellow card for public input, now is the time to do so. We will come back in here at 6:25. What do we have? Welcome back. We are now at item 15.01, public participation. I have um six cards. So, we're going to go ahead and hear all six cards. At this time, I will announce the first and second speaker so that the second speaker is ready. Um when the first speaker is completed, you'll have three minutes. You can see the time clock. Please adhere to the time. Members of the audience, there is no talking during
092this time or commenting um while people are speaking. If you agree with someone, you can do a thumbs up or a jazz hands. If you disagree, you can do a thumbs down. But we are going to be respectful of the individuals that are speaking. So, first up is um Mary D. Pedova followed by Susan Hullbrook. Is it Hullbrook? I apologize. Welcome. >> I don't really know what to do with this. Can you hear me? Good. Okay. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Dr. Balgabin. Um tonight I just wanted to respond to a narrative that was given by district leadership um regarding overcrowding in kindergarten classrooms. Um district leadership pointed to the longstanding >> I can't hear her >> instructional speaking the mic please district leadership at the DAC meeting appointed to the long-standing
093instructional contract uh language as the reason or cause for this overcrowding in our kindergarten classrooms. The article in question states that teachers who are suggest subjected to involuntary transfer are given 10 days notice prior to the transfer. District leadership feels like five days are enough for a teacher to move a classroom and prepare for instruction. To put out to the public that the contract between Vue and the district is the reason for overcrowding is creating a false narrative um and blaming Vue for the overcrowding. This agreement has been in the contract for years and it's not suddenly the reason for the overcrowding in kindergarten. The number of students in a classroom is very clear to teachers with 27 kindergarteners within the first week of school. The current practice of VCS is to wait for the
09410-day count including DNE before we can adjust allocations. Um, but if the district would maybe respond to those numbers more proactively, then by the 10-day count, we would be ready to make moves and by day 21, which happens to be today because we count in first grade. Um, the teachers would have already begun teaching in their new classroom. So, I say this to reiterate my point that the contract is not the reason for overcrowding. It is the hesitation of the district to proactively plan and respond to the need when it is first identified. So let's remember teacher allocations were reduced last spring by approximately 110. So we have a shortage of teachers which is the real cause of overcrowding. It was expressed at deck that this article needs to be bargained yet it's on the
095table already brought there by the district. Why then would the district leaders make such a false misleading nar statement to those in attendance at the DAC meeting? What is the intended outcome of making statements that disparage the union? Negotiations have begun, yet the district team has put forth nothing that supports the statement sent to all instructional employees that stated VCS was ready and willing to bargain. Sorry. Determine for yourself if you observe bargaining in good faith. Congratulations to the superintendent for the A district. Will there be other raises or bonuses? What are the teachers worth? What is the value of an A for the teachers and staff who earned it? Stay tuned to bargaining. Thanks. Thank you. Susan Hullbrook, followed by Elizabeth Albert. Welcome. Good evening, board members and superintendent. I'm Susan Hullbrook. I teach
096senior English at Mainland High School. It's been several months since I've been here in person, but I wanted to start out with a thank you, an overdue thank you for placing Missy Fra as our new principal at Mainland. And um she's been there since January and the staff couldn't be more thrilled with that choice. So, we are very thankful. Now, I need to move to more current matters as we have needs for improvement for our students and our staff across the district. and that is adequate staffing at all of our sites and adequate compensation for our work. Nearly two decades ago, the state legislature set class sizes at prek through grade three at 18 students per class, grades four through eight at 22 students per class, and grades 9 through 12 at 25 per class.
097Lenencies were provided by the legislature over time and allowing for averages across the school and some creative mathematics as to who counted where and how in order for districts to comply. Teachers who had more than 150 students had about a $150 uh stipen that they were provided for the extra work. And some teachers were asked to give up their planning period to teach an extra class for an additional one6 of their pay, which I have done. But all of this additional compensation for additional workload seems to have disappeared and our class sizes have steadily increased again, but now without extra compensation for teaching extra students. While class sizes at Mainland are smaller this year than they were last year, they are still too large. I have 181 students and that's 31 above the cap. Some
098of my colleagues have as high as 40 students per class. That is for English for a core credit class. CTE and elective classes at 35 to 50. PE classes at 62 to 75 students. That's more than 360 students on one teacher's roster in a day. Across the district, we have things like second grade classes at 26, which is eight above the cap. First grade classes at 29, 11 above the cap. Multi-ve classes with 12 students and only one to two paras. Mildve with 14 to 15 students and only one parah. And paras in this district do not have substitutes. So if they're out, they're out. Teacher workloads across the district have increased with extra students and the extra grading and paperwork that comes along with them, especially for our ESC students and the addition of
099the ED modified data entry requirements. Our hours of work have increased significantly, but our paid hours to do the work have not. We should not be expected to work beyond our contract without being paid for our time. Too many student too many of us already work additional jobs. I have a colleague who works five jobs in order to make ends meet. We should not be donating more than 10 hours every week for free because of an increased workload due to understaffing in our schools. If our kids come first, then you must staff our schools to reflect that and you must compensate your employees for that effort. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up is Miss Elizabeth Albert followed by Candace I'm not sure how your last name is pronounced. >> Welcome, Miss Aler. >> Thank
100you. Good evening, Madam Chair, uh members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Balgaban, members of the audience. I too would like to take a moment to address recent comments that were made at a public meeting uh with that were both false and disparaging towards our union. These statements misrepresent uh who we are and the work that we do every single day for this district and for our students. I also want to correct some misinformation. The anti-UN comments were made not by the board but from they came from the district leadership and it is important to point out uh that we want to be accurate about where those words came from. Our union exists to support teachers and staff to advocate and ensure to advocate for fair working conditions and ensure that every employee has a voice.
101Attempts to discredit that work only weaken the trust and respect that should exist between the board employees and the community. It is important to remember that view is teachers and staff. There are six Vue members in this audience tonight and there are other staff members who are here as well. So when you talk about Vue, you're talking about the teachers and the staff that do the work every single day to move this district. People who show up to teach, support, and care for our students. Mischaracterizing our union or our contract as the barrier to creating creating better learning conditions for students is not only inaccurate but also harmful. We ask for honesty, fairness, and respect in public statements because we are working to find solutions to the issues and the concerns that our members bring
102to us. We are committed to continuing that work and we expect the same in return. Thank you. Thank you, >> Candace. And what's your last name? >> Nance. Like dance. >> Okay. >> I thought I was afraid part of that was an outlet. >> No, I apologize for my handwriting. >> That's okay. And next up after you will be CJ Allen. Welcome. >> Okay. Good afternoon, members of the board, superintendent, chair. Um, I come here today with uh to enter into public forum this con concern and my comment. As a parent and as an employee of this county about the intent to roll back man vaccine mandates in this state, I fully impose that intent and I strongly urge this governing body to keep the vaccine mandates as they are or in concordance with the
103CDC or American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to speaking with you, I urge my fellow citizens to reach out directly to with this message to their state and local representatives. These protections afforded to public health since their implementation are still at work today. Vaccine exceptions to uh school enrollment for religious or other means are already accessible to parents and have been the standard practice since the 60s. I ask you with the knowledge that Florida is facing a critical teaching shortage, is this board prepared for an even larger shortage need if their workforce is asked to expose themselves, their infants, their imunocmpromised loved ones to unnecessary risk? Is this board prepared to bargain with the union for infectious disease hazard pay? As an A-rated district, as we proudly are, what shall we say to our brilliant
104students, many of whom will go into the career fields that support our state, healthcare, hospitality, tourism, when the decisions made in this room affect them and their clients and patients down the road? Ponder these questions because removing the mandate with no further plan to engage parents in vaccine participation is deeply ill advised. Um, I want to introduce three brilliant minds in my last few minutes. Dr. Sulk, Dr. Sabin, and Robert Sherman. The doctors were the ones who pioneered the polio vaccine race. Two stories intertwined. I don't have time to summarize all of their achievement for medical science, but one created the IPV, the one we get the shot, and one created the oral vaccine. and introducing Robert Sherman um one half to the famous Sherman Brothers when then contracted with Disney to compose music for
105an upcoming feature film. He was inspired by his son to pen a line after the boy came home and told his father of the ease of taking Sabin's version of the vaccine, the oral vaccine. It was indeed a drop of bitter medicine on a sugar cube turned song that successful successfully helped unite a nation for the cure. Our role as educators is when we look back at history to use that knowledge to inform our future. So in conclusion, I'll remind the board, my fellow parents, of the timeless words of a beloved nanny who often taught adults a valuable lesson in addition to the children that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. I urge this board to keep vaccine mandates at first school enrollment, to not ignore the data, research, and expertise of
106our doctors in this country, and above all to work for the betterment, for the safety of our children. Thank you for this time. >> Thank you. Next up is CJ Allen, followed by Brian Mulaney. Welcome. >> Good evening, board members. Um, Madame Chair, Superintendent, I would like to commend board members Christa Goodrich and Donna Brosner for meeting with BU's government relations committee, a group of concerned educators. We informed them of our realities and discussed possible solutions for Valuchia County Schools challenges. These women are showing great community service by wanting to understand and communicate with the educational community. as they will attest, we do not bite and we had a very amiable and constructive conversations with both women. The main term is relations. Now, we all know that a strong democracy depends on informed citizens who
107communicate with each other. In today's polarized environment, individuals with differing viewpoints frequently misunderstand each other and experience increased division. Our district will not survive if this continues. I invite all board members and Dr. Belgen included to communicate with us in these discussions. I recall the days I'm old when Superintendent Dr. Margaret Smith met with educators regularly to address questions, explain issues, and listen to concerns. I know that was not easy for her and we did not always agree, but at least we were talking like adults. I hope one day this board can get there. Finally, I would like to address the tone of the bargaining session which I attended with my colleagues on Tuesday, September 2nd. Over the course of 90 minutes, 10 to 12 educators provided examples of challenges and solutions they encountered in
108their schools and classrooms. View President Miss Albert offered no cost to district solutions in an effort for win-win negotiations. Win-win is what we strive for in our classrooms. In turn, the district offered morale busting responses and threats of no raises if some of these demands were granted. The money is there. Please give full disclosure to the public. As discussed at bargaining, it is no secret that Valuchia County is losing many amazing educated instructors for a variety of reasons. We need to compete with other counties who show more support for their educators. I am asking you and the bargaining team to make us proud of Valuchia. Thank you for your service. >> Thank you. Next up is Brian Malcane. Welcome. >> Good evening board members and superintendent. My name is Brian Mulkee. I am a retired
109school teacher uh from New York living down here. I moved here a few years ago and I want to share with you my plight and hopefully give a little insight to this process and maybe you guys can make changes to make this better. Uh, a friend of mine asked me over the summer if I would consider being a substitute teacher for her. And I was like, "Okay, that'd be fun." I was a sixth grade math and science teacher for 30 years. She's teaching sixth grade science at Newsome Middle School. This is awesome. So, I started the process in July. By July 29th, I was finished with the application basically and I had a question. So I called the number on your website, called it once, two days later called it again three days later sent
110an email and finally got a call an email back and the person who I was end up talking with she was great once we started emailing. So that should have been on the process not the phone number because the phone number calls never got returned. um I went through the application process and this and that and no ironically I gave a reference one of my principles from up in New York that wasn't enough again 30 years experience as a teacher masters in education master certificate in administration but my reference wasn't good enough so I needed more um finally got vetted on August uh August 14th okay so I'm like okay that should be simple hit the substitute button and we'll go on and I'll get to the next process. I wait and I wait and
111I wait. Nothing. No contact from you guys. I finally get an email saying that you received it. Okay. Ironically, during the races, I bumped into a board member, Mr. Clone. Thank you. And I chewed his ear off saying, "Hey, I'm stuck here." So, he was gracious enough forwarded my information to the someone in HR. Bam. I got the same automated email again from you guys saying that you know what we have your application. Be patient. It was very crowded. So it took three weeks from when I got vetted for me to receive the email from you about the star program because I got it on September 4th. Three weeks. It's an it's a button. Someone just had to say, "Okay, vetted applied. Send them this next part." I did everything that day. passed the test.
112So now I'm waiting. I still haven't heard for the next part. And it says give us four to five days and we'll see how long that actually takes. Uh my concern here is this. This process took so long that I'm doing this for a friend. And if I wasn't doing this for her, I would have just said this is not worth it. Why should I do this? And ironically, New Smyrna Middle School today, yesterday the teachers got an email. There were going to be 12 teachers out. They only had five subs. They were looking for teachers to give up their prep period, but they here you have someone who wanted to be a substitute and couldn't because you guys took so long for this process. And I really think it needs to be changed or
113improved some way so that someone who wants to teach can actually help. >> Thank you, Mr. Maney. >> Okay, at this time we're moving on to item 16.02, 02 adoption of proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 801. We do have three um speakers. So, I'm going to name all three in the order that they completed their cards. So, first up will be Miss Jennifer Kelly, followed by Miss Elizabeth Albert, followed by Miss Dorothy Featherstone. Welcome. >> Good evening board members and superintendent Balaben. I have a few questions and concerns with the proposed changes to schoolboard policy 801 public participation in schoolboard meetings. Let me start by saying I am never in favor of decreasing the number of opportunities for public participation. The public used to have four opportunities per month between the two schoolboard meetings to
114address the board on non-aggenda items. One of those proposed changes would, excuse me, one of the proposed changes would cut those chances in half by limiting public participation to consent agenda items only during the new consentonly sessions. I understand the reason behind the meeting structure changes. However, cutting out public participation opportunities should have never been on the chopping block. My ask here is for the board to consider adding one opportunity for public to speak on non-aggenda items during the consent sessions. Which brings me to my next question. Why is the word meeting being changed to session in this policy? Next, the new language that is advertised to be added to the first paragraph reads. If additional time is needed for public participation on non-aggenda items, time will be provided before the board's final comments at
115regular session. Does this mean there will no longer be an agenda item listed for public participation for non-aggenda items at the end? Does this mean it will be up to the discretion of the chair or the board? Or does this mean if this if you speak during the first opportunity, you do not have another chance at the end for the of the meeting? Please consider sometimes I hear something during the meeting that came after the first speaking opportunity that I wish to address with the board before the meeting is adjourned. My ask here is to leave both opportunities on the regular session agendas. Now, please consider how large our county is. It takes me almost an hour to get here from where I live on the east side. It is difficult to arrive here in
116time for public participation at 6 PM for people living or working on the east side of the county. Also consider travel time when addressing my final concern with these policy changes. The piece stating if a speaker is speaking on behalf of someone else, they forfeit their allotted time. I am wondering why this is needed. I have seen others read for one other person for various reasons and then have their own turn. I have done this myself on occasion. I do not feel this privilege has been taken advantage of here in Valuchia County. Having said that, I would not want to see this be exploited either. Can this portion be rewarded to allow for reading on behalf of another person while still having the opportunity to speak for yourself? Thank you all for your time and
117consideration. and I hope these policy changes can be cleaned up while still allowing adequate opportunities for public participation during the schoolboard meetings. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Elizabeth Albert, followed by Miss Dorothy Featherston. >> Good evening again, Madame Chair, members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Balgabin. I too will be speaking about changes, proposed changes to policy 801. So late last night, and it was quite late, I sent each one of you an email regarding this issue. Within that email, I also sent a link to the July 25th, uh board meeting. I prior to sending that link, I spent an hour and a half reviewing the workshop that occurred before that meeting where this particular item was discussed uh at length. Uh, two of you of course were not present on the board at that
118time, but you had the reference that I sent to you. Uh, so my concern is about the language that is a little more than halfway down the page that Miss Kelly mentioned, and it says, "A speaker may speak for himself, herself, or on behalf of someone else during the public participation for non-aggenda items portion of the board agenda. During public participation for any non-aggenda item, if a speaker chooses to speak on behalf of another, this is considered using his or her one allotted time. Now, believe it or not, way back two years ago, that was actually discussed and brought forward by Mr. Perseus. However, the three of you who were here at the time, um, and I'm going to quote you a little bit. You can go back and check me. Uh, Mr. Cologne, um,
119your statement was, "We don't have a public comment issue." And I appreciate that very much. Uh, Miss Thompson, during the workshop, you were referencing the fact that some teachers are released late, perhaps middle school teachers have children. There could be issues. We should allow someone to read on behalf of someone that has circumstances that don't allow them to be present. And Miss Haynes, um the interaction that you and I, well, we didn't have it firsthand, but after I spoke at the board meeting, your comment was this because I asked at the end if there are car if there are letters to be read. Your statement was, I want to hear every person who is here. And if you've got six letters to read, I'm going to sit here and listen to you read all six
120letters. And that very much is appreciated because what each of you have communicated is that you're interested in what the public has to say. you understand the importance of having access to you as the board. So the commitment to listening to public input whether the individual is here or if someone is reading the statement is how the board truly governs for the people. I'm concerned that this proposed language change unfairly limits public participation. Um and it is and so essentially not allowing a speaker who is reading on behalf of another to have their own opportunity to speak I think limits transparency and engagement from the public. I urge you to reconsider this proposal and which will allow the people to fully represent the views of your employees and community members without penalty. Thank you. Thank
121you, Miss Dorothy Featherston. Welcome. >> Thank you. Uh my name is Dorothy Featherston. I'm a art teacher at South Daytona Elementary. Um I watched the the session um when this was proposed um and the word that kept coming up was streamlining. And it stuck out to me um because it seemed like this proposal came on the tale of cutting down the the schoolboard meetings from two full sessions to a session and um a consent agenda. And it just came across I'm just going to tell you from somebody just watching it on TV um it came across as retaliatory. That's just what I felt. Because the purpose that was explained in that that meeting was that because we were already trying to limit or or cut down some of the excess work for staff that this
122portion was a part of the streamlining process. To me, there's a huge difference between an hour long photo session sometimes and a three minute commentary read by several different people. And many people have said, "We've got people from all over the county that want to come and speak." Um, stewards often um are asked to bring a letter to the schoolboard meeting. It's not just Elizabeth. I really felt like this was a dig at Elizabeth and um I just had to say that. She didn't want me to say that because Elizabeth is about the greater good. But we all support Elizabeth as teachers whether we're union or not. We all love the fact that she speaks up for us in things that we're a little more leery to say. And so when she can read for
123us, we're excited and we don't want that limited. Um, also I'm doing grades tonight and we've got teachers that couldn't come because we're still up to our eyeballs in 675 grades that our teachers I'm going to squeeze this in have to do. Every single student there's a stipen that I wish I could have. So anyhow, that's all I got to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any other cards? Okay. Then at this time, we are now um looking at item 16.02. Dr. Bachmann, do you have a recommendation? >> Yes. I would like to ask Dr. Gilbert Evans, our schoolboard attorney to um share about the adoption of schoolboard policy 8001. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh chair, members of the board and also our superintendent, uh policy 801 has been discussed and advertised and
124now we're seeking for the adoption of this policy. Please be reminded that with the revisions of the policy, every member of the public will still have the opportunity to speak to the board, whether it be for a consent agenda item or an uh action item and then we will still continue to have the public participation at the full board session. the um board decided that it would want to hear comments from individuals not present. But if an individual speaks on behalf of someone that's not present, then that individual would forfeit his or her opportunity to speak for himself. That was discussed at our last meeting and the board is that's the board's desire. So that's what was brought forth. So, we're asking you to adopt the changes to policy 801. >> Mrs. Goodrich discussion. >>
125So, >> oh, wait. We didn't get a >> Yeah, we didn't get a motion. That's what I was saying. >> Right. >> Okay. I need a motion to approve the change amendments to pol schoolboard policy 801 public participation. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. I need a second in order for us to discuss. >> I'll second the motion. >> Thank you. Now, Mrs. Goodrich, we are in discussion. >> All right. Um so a you know sometimes sometimes you change your mind on things and there's one part of this that I feel a little bit differently about. Um and that is the speaking on behalf of someone else and then not being allowed to speak. What I would say there is could we revisit this and say if you
126speak for someone, you can speak for one person. You can't come in and speak for six people, right? But you can speak for one person and then speak on behalf of yourself. And I did some self-reflection and I've used this before at county council meetings when I couldn't attend or someone couldn't attend that wanted to go and speak on a topic and I spoke for them. So, I would be bit hypocritical if I didn't acknowledge that and say I don't I don't know that there's a huge harm in that. What I think, you know, we are trying to streamline and I do like the word streamline. Sorry. Um, but when we're doing that, we also still want to be able to hear as many people give their voice as possible. Um, and I think we're
127limiting an overuse of that, right? But I I would propose that we amend it so that someone can speak once for someone else and then once for themselves. >> Right. Thank you, Miss Brosmer. >> I too have rethought. Um so I appreciate Mrs. Goodri's comments because I took yours to heart from from the workshop and I had not thought about this issue in the way that you expressed it then and um and I also have watched what happened at the county council and the the way the public has reacted to the limitation on on public comment there. Uh, I I think this does need to be revisited. I'm I'm not ready to approve it as as it's drafted. >> I have a question for council. If we said for up to one person, would that
128be a substantive change that would require readvertising of this policy seeing as it's le it's more >> it's more it's >> it allows more. it allow. So it's we're it's it it is >> less restrictive if you want to call it that. Would would that be substantive change that would require readvertising? >> I I would like to see it readvertised. >> Okay. So um I'll make a motion that we uh table this and I know there's a motion on the floor that we table it for reevaluation just like you. I I um I was hoping you would say no. I was hoping you would say that we could uh vote on this tonight with that change. However, if it if that's considered substantial. Um, so I I I you know, in the world in the
129world in our world, there's give and take. And so part of what we have done is streamlined. You all can't see it. We have a clock here now, even for us. Oh, she didn't start it. And so, uh, I can take advantage and take as much time as I want since you haven't started the clock yet. And so, we have a clock for ourselves now. Um, 28 seconds. And so, wow, that was not nice. And so, um, I think, and to go to the second point that was made about being able to speak twice on two different agenda items, I went back and watched the original board meeting when we uh, limited uh, the public comment to 15 minutes, and the intent of that second was to address any cards that could not be read
130in the first 15 minutes. It was never to have two different items for comment. So if you didn't speak in the 15 minutes, we moved on with the business of the district and then whoever whatever cards were left, we would address it. That was the intent of that. Uh and so I I think I I I see it as a a 50/50 give and take. I think I've also had a change of heart. I I honestly don't think it's been abused. Um and so I think it's something that we can uh and it sounds like there is somewhat of a consensus. Uh and so uh you know I the question the other question is do so because I know there's legal changes that are also in this policy change are those subject to a time
131frame? uh is it December I think I don't know what >> for example the changes that we made in this policy related to um opportunity to speak >> no it was uh maybe not maybe I'm confused that could be >> I think those were the only material changes >> okay great so there's nothing on here right now that must be done for so I I'm good with that and so uh if we can bring it back that way. That'd be okay with me. And I and I'm still in favor of leaving it so that the cards that were not heard at the 15 minutes then will be uh and that's my give and give. >> Miss Thompson. Well, first of all, Mr. Clone, you can't make a motion because we already have a motion on
132the floor. Beautiful. So, we will have to get through all the comments, deal with that motion, then we can make a new motion. >> Beautiful. >> All right, Miss Thompson. >> So, I'm in agreement apparently with everyone else. Um, and still, and Miss Kelly made a good point about the driving, I drive from New Simra. If you were teaching New Beach Middle School and you want to be over here, but you have to stay after for whatever reason, you're not going to make it in time. Um, because some of our meetings have become faster. So, we aren't here as long as we used to be. So, I'm on board for that. I did want just to reiterate the speaking opportunities that are available at the consent meetings. Could council go over that with us one
133more time. >> At consent, um the only speaking opportunities as per the recommended policy was during consent items only. There was no public participation comments at a time certain at the consent, >> but people could speak on the consent items. >> Yes, they allowed to speak on the consent items. >> Thank you. I'm actually happy to hear that all of you have had a change of heart since I said last time I didn't I I didn't vote for this to be advertised, but yes, it got advertised because it was a 4 to one vote. And um >> really >> well that's that's the factual truth. So here's where I'm at >> on this. Go ahead and put time up. That's fine. >> 30 seconds. >> Here's where I'm at on this. I have said this
134repeatedly and I'm going to continue to say it, you know, and at no times once we got out of the pandemic have we listened to a hundred speakers or 200 speakers and I we lived through that where we listened and they all got three minutes. And I have always said if someone's going to take their time to drive here to speak to us, they feel that strongly about coming here to speak because trust me, there's a whole lot of other things in the world that are a lot more fun to do than to drive to a board meeting and sit out here and wait for your turn to speak. But if they've shown up, I would much rather hear them speak here where we have staff and Dr. Bagwin can direct her staff to possibly
135go speak to them and or set up something so that whatever the issue is could be hopefully resolved. And I 150% would rather hear them here in the boardroom than read about it on social media because I don't answer anything that comes on social media. That is not a form of communication that I use. I don't find it appropriate. And when they email, sometimes emails get lost over in the junk spam folder, I hate to say, and they don't get addressed in a timely manner. Or if they email us, we're taking our time to email over to Dr. Valaban for them to go back down to where they need to be to get someone an answer. And I think here is the place to handle it in a much more professional and respectful and actually
136believe it or not it streamlines it over an email or social media or things like that. So as far as a regular session meeting which is what tonight is yes they can fill out a green card for anything on consent or anything on an action item before we vote on that. that's stance in this. Yes, we will still have the 6:00 um or slightly after a certain time where you can fill out a yellow card on anything in education. Now, this is where you and I have differing opinions and it's fine that we have differing opinions. I've always viewed it as we start with a group at six o'clock and you know, basically if we have 10 cards or less, my thought is here are the people out. I don't want to have them You
137know, like I said, they've come, but if I can get them home to their families, I don't want them staying here any longer than need be. But I'm als but I am where you say the end should just be a continuation if they didn't get to speak at the beginning. Back when we had 200 speakers or 100 speakers, I totally agree with you. There was no way there could be a round to um set, but we don't have those numbers now. And if they think of something while they're sitting here or they see something, I'm actually okay with them if they want to sit here till the end of the night that they speak. Now, the consent kind of threw me for a loop. Um, I'm I'm fine with the consent, but and I know
138on the consent that on that particular meeting they can only speak on consent. I personally, and I'm just saying this and of course I will go with whatever the group wants, I wouldn't mind there being a public input piece on the consent night. Um I think it could be immediately following the consent. Um I we can't here's my thing with that. We can't make it a certain time in my opinion because one consent agenda may take five minutes and the next one may take 35 minutes because there could be a topic that there's more speakers. So I would not want to tie a time certain to the consent item. I would just like to say that if at the end of the consent if they have filled out a yellow card that we will hear
139them because once again I'd rather hear them here where it could be addressed than even though I'll answer emails or send emails to where they need to go that takes a whole lot longer and so and I don't want to hear social media at all. Sorry that's not that Here's what people need to understand. If we communicate on social media, it all has to we have to send it and it has to be archived. I don't know if you guys realize that, but we can't legally commu we can communicate on social media, but we must collect all that and archive it and send it to the district because it's a form of communication that we did as an elected official. So, that's where I stand. Miss Brosmer, >> I agree with you about the general
140comments uh during the consent agenda. I I don't see why that would be problematic. Uh it's not like we're overwhelmed with people who attend most of the time. Uh so uh I'm okay with adding that >> or with not subtracting it. >> Mr. Cologne. So I find it interesting that this is a meeting that we were getting rid of alto together and all of the sudden poof we want to what are we doing? What are we doing? It's a decision we made as a board if that's the case and we know that a lot of times yes there are great things that we hear. We know sometimes there are things that hurt that we need to hear. If that's the case, then I want to bring back celebrations to that meeting so that we could
141have a balance so that it's not just becoming a word I would use that is appropriate because if that were the case then you know what I'd put all my money and come on everybody we have all night is this is so if that's the case then I say we bring back celebrations and videos and all of that to that meeting as well because again this was a meeting that's not even supposed to exist. In fact, I was hopeful that the superintendent would find the ability to address those business issues so we wouldn't even have it's the dumbest meeting ever. It's five minutes because there are excuse me Ruben I apologize madam chair because there are things in our business that need to be addressed in a timely manner. That's why we're having that meeting.
142The idea was that we were getting rid of this meeting. So if the idea is that we're going to go back to create a formal meeting, then let's do that. I have never I I know it sounds like sour milk from the be having been on the losing side of that decision, but if we're going to add that component, then we need to add happy to it because there you have to have that balance. That's just my thought. Thank you, >> Miss Goodrich. >> So, I'm going to say there is give and take, right? and we are trying to um streamline for for the benefit of staff really not for the benefit of us. So I'm I'm like I said I'm a fan of letting people speak. Um I also agree with you Chairwoman Haynes
143about if you speak at the beginning and then if you hear something that you want to respond to again later and you want to come back up and speak about it again I'm okay with that. don't like the consent item thing because that's not what that meeting's for. If we're going to run it like a meeting, the meeting that it's designed to be. I agree. If we're going to turn it into a public meeting, that's a whole different kind of meeting. But if we're going to run it as a consent meeting, and the point of that meeting was to just have a meeting to approve things that needed to be approved in a timely manner. And we we almost got rid of that meeting completely, right? But we decided, hey, we didn't want to do
144that to facilities basically because that wouldn't work. So rather than getting rid of the meeting completely, we said let's have a consent meeting. But if we then turn around and turn it back into a regular meeting, that defeats the entire purpose of what we were trying to accomplish for our staff. So I that's it's not that I don't want to hear the public. I'm happy to hear you at the regular meetings and and every one of you know that you email me. I'm I did not see your email from last night. My apologies, but or I did see it. I didn't have time to respond it quite frankly, but I respond to you if you need something from me. I'm I'm pretty good about doing that. So, it's not a not talking to the public
145or hearing from the public. It's just trying to do it in the most efficient way for the staff as well. So, that's where I stand on it. Anyone else? >> All right, Dr. Evans. >> So, just for clarification, what changes are we deciding? >> I have a motion on this. >> So, >> yeah, hold. We have the motion. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and we have a second to approve it. with the amendments. So, do you want to resend your >> Just go for a vote. >> Okay. >> All right. So, those in favor of approving the adoption of the proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 801, public participation in schoolboard meetings, please say I. >> Okay. Those >> nay. >> Okay. The motion dies. All right. Now, Dr. Evans. >> All right. So,
146based upon everything that we have discussed tonight, I've taken some notes and it's my understanding that the board would like to make some changes to 801. My first question is, is there consensus among the board to speak for one person only and for yourself? Is that a change we want to make at the regular session? >> Mr. It sounds like we don't need to make any changes because what it reads right now again if if this is what we're doing then back to that it here it just said speak for for one person and you couldn't speak for yourself. So, do we want to make a change where you can speak? >> You're you're referencing the the red changes that got advertised. Okay. >> The red changes. >> I believe this, >> right? I believe
147what I heard and we'll see if there's a consensus is that we are going to allow any individual that comes for the yellow general speaking part that they could speak on behalf of one individual and still speak for themselves. So they would be allowed to speak twice. One individual that they're reading something for and speak for themsel is >> good with that. >> Is it also correct uh do I recall correctly that you said if it happens that someone has more than one letter to read or something that it's at the board's discretion at your chair's discretion >> or was that was that applying to something else? That that was in 2023 when I said I they could do six. I didn't care. But that's >> okay. So not now. >> That didn't make the
148policy. I will be honest with you. Okay. >> So is that what I'm hearing from >> Oh, I'm good with one. >> Go with one. >> Mhm. >> And for yourself. Okay. >> Okay. >> And that's at the consent. That's at the >> regular session. >> All right. Um adding recognitions back. >> Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. We're still talking about this because that doesn't fall under this. So cons speaking for any consent item is already in there with the green card. Speaking for any um >> action item is already in there. So what we're saying is they can speak for themselves and they can speak for one other individual at the 6:00 p.m. or slightly thereafter time thing. And then I said that that if they were still here and I'm not opposed
149to them speaking a second time um at the end of the evening if they have something else they wish to speak on. So that's where we're at. Are we only going to allow them to speak one time? I forget they read something for somebody. if they're speaking on their own, are we only going to allow them to talk about one item um during open educational public input time or are we going to allow them to speak if they speak at six and then speak again at the end of the meeting? >> The question, >> you already know where I stand. >> Okay, Mr. Cologne. I don't know of any municipality or government that allows for more than one public comment for whatever the allotted time period is. And so, uh, I believe that I'm good
150with one. And I think if someone reads for someone else, we that's my give. And I think that that's potentially gives that opportunity. I mean, it is if they arrive here after, you know, if they get here at 6:30 and they fill out a card and we have not concluded our meeting, then they're going to speak because they didn't speak earlier. Okay? >> But I don't know of any municipality and mind you, we're not they they can speak on items that we're voting on because there's a speaking time there. We're talking about items not on the agenda related to public education in Valia County. I so that I think that uh I'm good I believe one time is enough and I think we've extended that if somebody wants to read for someone else. Miss Frosar,
151>> I think your reference to the way municipalities do it is a good one. And because of that, I would be inclined to agree that that once is enough >> um when it's a non-aggenda item because they will already have had an opportunity to speak on anything that's on the agenda. >> So, I'm I'm good with that, >> Miss Goodrich. >> Yeah, because they can also speak on the items that we're >> discussing. Yeah, because they do have they do have that second opportunity later on. So, yeah, I I can agree to that. >> I agree. Same reason they can speak on consent, they can speak on action items, and they can speak at the end or at six. So, I mean, that's three opportunities right there. >> All right. So, we'll make that change
152as well. >> I I I don't agree, but consensus is that that's what they're going to do. >> All right. And there was some discussion regarding maybe adding back recognitions. >> No, no, no, no. The other discussion was whether or not we would add back a public comment time to the consent agenda. >> We're immediately following the vote of the consent agenda. >> Would we have a public input time? >> Miss Goodrich. Just going to reaffirm that I was not for that. Okay. Mr. Cologne, >> I am not for that. >> Okay, I need to hear from you ladies. >> Still deciding. Personally, I would I would add it in because I don't think it takes up all that much time, but I understand the rationale for not doing it. So, I'm okay with not
153doing it for now. And if it appears that maybe we should make a change, we can always do that. >> Okay. So, I'm gonna be odd man out on that one again. I'm going to say the la the first consent only that we did um it took five minutes and we actually finished before staff's day was over because most of them worked till 5:00 p.m. And so I would have had no problem adding back in a public comment piece that would immediately follow consent. But consensus is so we won't be adding it. Mr. Cologne >> and and so let's let's talk about this the six o'clock hour when we actually added a time specific. It was so that folks could make it. And so if we at 4:30 4:32 because really if you have a
154clean consent agenda if at 4:32 we're done then we're actually not giving time for people to come from across the county to come and speak because middle school is still there. So that doesn't give everybody a fair opportunity to make it here to speak. So again, it's just not consistent with the intent for especially for a meeting that we were potentially and like I said, I still wish we could get those facilities items, spending limits, all that good stuff so that we wouldn't have to have the consent meeting and and things can be planned so well in advance that they can say we have nothing we need for consent, no need to have the meeting. Let's cancel it. Um that's what we're hoping for. We So that's my thought. >> Mr. Brosman, >> I'm still
155wrestling with this, but I keep going back to the fact that there are a lot of bodies, elected bodies of var at various government levels that only have one board meeting a month where people come and and and speak. And I don't know if it's necessary for us to do that twice. Uh, honestly, I was going to ask about the whole consent agenda thing. I'll I'll save that for my comments because I do have a a question about how we're arranging that, but I keep going back to if it's one meeting a month, then we'll do it that way. >> Thank you. >> Consensus. >> Comments. No public participation at consent agenda sessions. >> All right, I'll make these these changes. >> We'll bring it back to the board. >> All right, thank you. Then
156we are now moving on to item 16.03, approval of salary adjustment and proposal for non-bargain employees. That'll be presented by um Mr. Cash and Mrs. Workman. Good evening board members, Chair Hayne, Superintendent Balgabin. It is indeed our pleasure to come before you to bring two proposals for your consideration. One is a salary enhancement for our non-bargaining uh unit employees. And the second item is uh to fulfill a promise that we made to transportation last December to take a look at the compression issue when it came to um their salaries in relation to when we went to the $15 an hour minimum wage in the state of Florida. So we do have a presentation. You'll see that we have a guardrail up here. This presentation aligns to guard rail one, which is to recruit, support, develop,
157and retain highquality staff. Just so everyone in the audience and and in the board knows what we intend to do, and I'm going to have Miss Workman uh go through in detail, we're going to share with the public so everybody understands clearly how much it costs the school district of Valuchia County to give every employee a 1% raise so they can see concrete factors. And then you can multiply that out, whatever the percentages would be, and come up with a number. And the second part is to share uh what it would be specifically for the non-bargaining unit that we'll bring forward for your consideration this evening. The second part will have information about transportation and specifics about how we attacked the compression issue for them. So with that being said, I would like to turn
158it over to uh executive director of human resources, Miss Stephanie Workman, who's going to share a chart with you that articulates the cost of 1% raise for all employees. Good evening. Um, as you can see on the screen, we have broken down the different bargaining units that we have. And I know Miss Albert alluded to before that we no longer have ask me. That is very true. However, for identification purposes, that's how they recognize themselves separately from non-bargaining. So, we've continued to use that in our charts. Um what you can see is in the first column you can see currently how many general fund positions are in each of those areas because as we are talking raises and Mr. CE has alluded to this many times we focus on what is coming out of those
159general funds. As you look across, you can see not only when we consider a raise, do we have to look at salaries, but we also have to include the cost of retirement, the district's portion of FICA, and the life insurance that we pay for each employee. In the last column before the yellow, you can see what that cost is for all of those employees. So for roughly 6,500 employees, you're looking at almost $400 million. So taking 1% of that, you can see for each of those units, it is anywhere from $311,000 all the way up to, which would be expected because View Instructional is the largest bargaining unit to almost $2.7 million. So, with that being said, for every employee in Valuchia County Schools to receive a 1% raise, you are looking at almost $4
160million per 1%. So, if you think about it, if we gave a 2% raise, that'd be $8 million. If we gave a 4% raise, that'd be $16 million. It's it's just straight math. Mr. CE, would you like to add anything? Okay. Just making >> so the the next slide that Miss Workman's going to present is actually the proposal we're bringing forward, the first for your consideration. It is to offer our non-bargaining unit members a 2% raise. >> Okay. And so again, you can see that exact same chart that we had, but we've just added one additional column to show that it would be roughly 1.7 almost 1.8 million for a 2% raise across the board. So, that would finish that portion of this initial presentation for your consideration on non-bargaining um unit members receiving a
1612% salary increase. >> Mr. Cologne, do you have something you wish to say? >> Yeah, I do have something to say. So, just for just for clarity, um and if we can update this, you know, I think Miss Albert was correct there. asks me is no longer here and so I think that that label while I understand why we did it uh that speaks to that category of employee uh could you specify to me uh and again I'm hopeful we can update update this document who exactly is in that group >> yes sir that would be schoolway cafe transportation the maintenance department we have our guardians we have our security monitor senators. There's there's a whole list. It was everybody who fell under that former bargaining unit, >> but that's the line share of the
162individuals. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, if we can update that because again they're they're they're technically and so maybe we could specify exactly what groups that are because >> um I think that that's appropriate. Um I have a question for Mr. CE in our uh budget. Was this consistent with the tentative budget that and subsequently the budget tonight that we passed? Was this uh the what we budgeted for? >> Yeah, we made an adjustment from the tenative to the final budget as I shared earlier. Um this is this is included in that presentation that you approved tonight. >> That's very good. Uh thank you. That was it. >> Superintendent, would you like to make a recommendation? >> Madam Chair, I recommend approval of the salary increase for non-bargaining employees. >> You heard the recommendation of
163the superintendent. Do I have someone that to make a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Clone. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Any further discussion? Okay. Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the salary adjustment proposal for non-bargaining employees for the 2526 school year, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. Let's move on to part two. >> Thank you. And just for clarity for our non-bargaining employees that might be wondering, uh, we want to get that additional compensation in their check as quickly as possible. Well, it should be October 15th. Miss Workman, >> I usually ask that. I was waiting for you. I actually Yeah. >> Yep. >> Correct. We are looking at the
164oct October 15th for the raise to be applied to their their salary. However, um with us being in the new ERP system, I don't want to give a definitive date yet for retro until we're clear on how to do that. >> Okay. So for anyone listening, October 15th will that um paycheck will include the raise, but we don't have a specific date yet for retro. >> That is correct. And as soon as I do, I will share it with that >> and that will include all the list of the employees that you kind of stated along with um our assistant principles, principles, and um district >> and deans. Yes. >> Yep. So, it's district admin, school-based admin, all under the non-bargaining as well as our professional and technical nurses, mental health therapists, all of those
165that fall in that bucket. >> Okay, >> Mr. Cologne. >> And this is a 2% raise, not a 2% average, >> correct? >> So, everyone will see at least 2%. Thank you. >> So, the second part of our presentation this evening, um, you I'm sure the board will recall, uh, in December, we we worked very hard. hard. We had a critical shortage area in transportation. Quite frankly, we were having uh maintenance people and mechanics and everybody having to double up to drive routes. Our students were getting picked up at the middle school extremely late. I was a principal for some of those years. Some of those buses didn't arrive till 5:30 or 6:00. So, the board recognized it was a critical shortage area and instructed us to come up with a plan, which we did.
166So, I'm very proud of the work that we did and we were able to raise our driver salaries by $3 an hour in addition to also some compensation for the other employees. But the compression issue was one that was brought forward to us on multiple occasions and I alluded to it a moment ago that it really occurred when the minimum wage in the state went to $15 an hour and it kind of pushed a lot of the employees together. So it took a little bit of time and work with our CFO and Miss Workman and her team. And so the proposal we have for you now is to share with you how we were going to tackle that for your consideration. >> Um and I would also like to add that the um transportation team
167played a very integral part in this. They helped us with the baseline research that we use to then base all of our calculations and and formulas on. So what you see in front of you is what the total cost will be. It will be roughly 220,000 towards the um everyone but the operators and the operators will be right around 250,000. Now right now you just see numbers on a page and you're like well what does that mean? So if you look at the next slide, what that's what we are going to do is we are going to get everybody's step to equal their years of service in Valuchia County. For example, if I have been here 13 years, when this is all said and done, I will be on step 13. Okay? So I I
168put some examples up for us to take a look. So the first one you see is Billy Bus. So, Billy Bus um when he gets his 2% raise that he will be receiving, he will be on step five. However, if you look over, Billy has 13 years in the district, meaning he is eight years from what step he is on versus his years of experience. So, for every year there is a difference, we are going to give a quarter per year. So, in Billy's case, he will receive a an additional $2, which will put him on the new step 13. Now, I know people are going to say, "Well, that, you know, the math doesn't work out necessarily." We will put them on the closest step without going under. So, if you did the actual
169math on that and you said $2 plus 2315 was going to be 2515, we don't have a step that's there. So he will actually go up to 2559 because that's the next closest step on the salary schedule. And then you can just see there are a couple additional I tried to show some that were very close together and then some where there was um some distance in between. So that is our recommendation. Mr. Cologne, you look confused. >> I'll let everyone else go. >> Okay. Okay, Dr. Bachman, would you like to make a recommendation? >> So, let me ask the board attorney because remember we broke this up. So, I don't have a craft me the recommendation. I have salary increase. >> You're recommending You're recommending approval of the compreh um compression >> compression. That's
170what I had. Right. >> For transportation, >> right? >> Okay. Hold on. I'm going to make it official. Okay. Madam Chair, I I recommend approval of the salary increase to mitigate compression adjustments for the transportation department. >> Or members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve this >> motion to approve? >> Thank you, Miss Goodrich. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Brosmer. Now, there is discussion if anyone wishes to speak. Mr. Cologne. >> So, Mr. Cash, was the staff uh so bus drivers fall under uh non-bargaining, correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. And we do have an agenda item that says approval of non-bargaining employees on the agenda today. Correct. >> That is correct. >> And did
171an email go out to the employees letting them know that we would be discussing that including the bus drivers? >> Yes, sir. I sent an email to all employees letting them know that we'd be bringing non-bargaining compensation to this meeting. >> All right. Thank you. Those are my questions. >> Anyone else? So, I need to thank you because when I went out last year to meet with them and they said that they um even those that had more experience graciously offered to do the dollars. So, just so that we're clear, last year, everyone in the transportation area received their 3% raise at the beginning of the year and then in in December we voted to give them to raise all of them or the bus driver part and then it was um a comparable amount
172depending on what position they did. Um $3 up to $3 an additional per hour. And we made a commitment at that meeting that we would start dealing with their compression piece because we had not dealt with the compression. So I hope that any of them that are listening this evening or they check in for this piece tomorrow understand that we have kept the commitment that we agreed to do. And I want to thank all of you for working on this and working with um the members in that group so that we could do this and that we will continue moving forward with this. So thank you. >> And Miss Haynes, if you don't mind, I'd like to add that this will also be part of that October 15th. So for transportation, they will see >>
173the entire movement that we've talked about tonight, the 2% as well as these additional compression pieces. Okay. And then the will there be a retro piece for this? >> Yes, ma'am. We're going to take it back to July one as well. >> Okay. So, that's that's a really good thing. So, on October 15th, they will see the 2% raise plus they will see the compression piece where they fall and their steps will come into line with that and then they will see what their new salary is at that point. And then you will do a retro for the rate the 2% raise they received back to July one and you will also do um the staff piece back to >> yes ma'am >> July one. Thank you very much. I I appreciate that. Okay. If
174there's no further discussion I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the salary adjustment for the transportation team that takes into um starting a process to overcome the compression. Please say I >> I. >> Any opposed? Good. Passes unanimously. >> So, um Madame Chair, Dr. B, what department is next? I would like to see us look at our uh facilities and those folks. I know that um I don't know where anybody I think that we have, you know, our mechanics, AC folks. I mean this is a start and I know that we are this is a start but I'm hopeful that we could look at those folks uh in the coming year for uh evaluation >> and that is the plan Mr. >> Thank you. >> All right thank you then we
175are now at item 17.01 01 public participation. Are there any cards, Miss Johnson? No cards. Okay, Miss Albert, please come forward. >> Welcome. All right. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Balgabin. Wow, impressive. So, this is one of those opportunities where you see something and you have something else to say. So, I'm going to take advantage of this one last opportunity. So, I'm very um excited to see what just happened for the folks in transportation and for non-bargaining. That's wonderful. Um I want to just remind you of a very few things based on the comments that were made tonight. There is more than one group of employees that are critically um part of the process of what we do here. Critical shortage areas abound throughout this district. There are also more
176groups that are suffering from compression. We've talked about that for years and we've been working really hard to undo that, but we're not there yet. I want to remind you that a rising tide raises all the boats, not just some of the boats. And I want to make sure that we are creating equity as we go forward and not division. I also have some questions and some wonderings about the non-bargaining increases. It was mentioned that administrative staff, district administrative staff will be able to access the 2% increase that was just provided. Does that include executive directors, cabinet level members? I don't know if that if that's part of that. Just a curiosity that I have. But I want to remind you about this. Everybody is a part of the bigger picture of Valuchia County Schools.
177I get that. But my wondering is the folks that are working every day with the children, the folks that are teaching them, supporting them. I my hope is that the benevolence that was just shown to the folks in the transportation department is also shared with the folks that are working with the children of this district. Again, we're looking for equity and not division. So, thank you. >> Thank you. We're now moving on to item 18.01, items from the board, members, the superintendent and or the attorney. Do I have anyone that wishes to bring up something? Mrs. Brosmer, >> I just have a question uh for clarification about our new structure for our meetings. I had understood that we were just going to do one consent agenda a month and and we effectively have two. Um
178and I knew that there was some concern that if we just did one, then there might be some time-sensitive things that would have to come up, but we seem to have pretty much two consent agendas. Um, I think tonight's is probably longer than what we had two weeks ago. So, I just I didn't know if this is um because we're kind of evolving into this new program or did I misunderstand and we're going to have consent agendas on uh every two weeks? Well, we decided that we will have one consent agenda meeting which we will only have consent, but then we will have a regular session which includes everything and consent. >> Okay. Thank you. That's that's where I wasn't clear. So, thank you. That that's all I had. >> All right. Anyone else? Miss
179Thompson. Oh, Miss Goodrich. >> Um All right. So, I have a few things today. Yeah. The first thing is I don't know the history here. So perhaps maybe I should meet with someone and just direct me in the right direction. But I'm constantly hearing from people at at that Seabbze is a split school. It's Daytona and Orund and Orman doesn't have its own high school. So I'm sure there's a history behind there, but it's a question that comes up quite frequent frequently. And so could we have those conversations and figure out why is Cabby's split and is it like I've heard that it's because of the water bill for Daytona and I'm full-time Daytona girl. We know I love Daytona but or I love Orman too and Orman might deserve to have a high school
180that's in Orman Beach. So I think that would be something that we should consider talking about. That's the first thing. Um, the second thing is I promised the speech language pathologist and we'll talk about why that I would um speak on their behalf because there are a lot of different groups and I thought some of the emails that we all received that we're not allowed to talk about until we're in this room were um were fair and valid and I was in speech language from kindergarten till fifth grade. If I get speaking fast enough, you'll hear me say good witch might be my last name because it was Rs and S's for me. And so had I not been given those tools to speak the way I speak now, the opportunities that I would have
181in my life would be severely hindered. So if we are having a mass exodus or severe drop in speech language pathologist because of pay and I don't know how valid all of this is. So just a conversation that I would like to have. I want to thank Dr. for taking the time to talk to me about the questions we've been bombarded with. I I'm sure everyone has about class dojo and why that went the way it went and it and it's if anyone wants to learn about it, I feel much more educated about it now. The path that we have moving forward is again a wonderful financial decision. We're trying to streamline all these programs that are out there that can't communicate with each other and have some safety concerns and all kinds of different
182things um that were inherited by his his department as well three years ago that you know when I was campaigning I said you can't turn the ship all at once. You can't. It's a massive ship we're dealing with here. So, we do make small incremental changes and they do have to be small incremental changes because we can't just come in and say we're going to change everything tomorrow. So, I do appreciate you taking the time to explain that to me and and I appreciate the work you're doing to get to get um things accomplished for us. Um BCC PTA, the breakfast was amazing. I asked um Cassie the president, what is your number one need right now? And she said membership. So parents, um, if you're out there, please consider joining your PTAs. Teachers, if
183you have that parent in the classroom that is always wanting to do something or maybe they're just driving you nuts or whatever it is, direct them to PTA because it's a great place for them to become involved with us. Um, I did want to address the the decline of the budget tonight. What I would say is I just did some a few numbers because I am the budget person that loves I'm not the budget person, but I love the budget and I love talking about it. So if I just look at general numbers, these are not research numbers but for basic numbers if we have about 8,000 employees and on average based on the Google um in salaries have raised about 10,000 per person over the last 10 years on average. It's varies all over
184the board but we we'll take that average. Plus you've got the 14% retirement at 7.65% and FICA and life insurance increases with that. That's over a hundred million just there. I looked at the increase to cost of office supplies are over over 37%. The P prod producer price index which is manufacturing is up um at some estimates at 196%. And then your cost of um materials and building and fortifying our schools which happened after Marjorie Stone Doug Snowman Douglas that was a huge increase as well. Then the cost of security for the internet and web security and mental health and what's what goes on when our kids have access to so many things. All huge increases. So it's not apples to apples to compare 2015 to 2025. And so I would say that the reason
185I have so much knowledge about this kind of thing is a lot of research and education on it, but I didn't know schoolboard budgets. I knew business budgets. So I would just say if you get a chance, take the time to u meet with Mr. CE the school finance 2.0. I've heard 3.0 is great, too. I thought it was excellent education. So just take the tools so that you can vote on the budget and know what you're voting on comfortably. So I I would just recommend those opportunities. Um, last few things. Mainland had 417 tardies last Friday. So, Bucks, let's get it together. Get up. Get to school on time. I'm sure the other schools are struggling, too. But I just saw their sign when I was going into the dress loop event that we
186had this past weekend, which was amazing. Shout out to Kaylee Ally for putting that together. It was phenomenal. And her daughter JC at Spruce Creek, a sophomore to come up with that. Fantastic. And the very last thing, and I am almost at five minutes, which is so rare, is there's a parade in Daytona Beach on Saturday. I do plan to participate to celebrate our schools so that I'm not walking solo. I know I have a few people with me, but anyone come join us. The end. >> Boom. >> Three, two, >> thank you. >> Miss Thompson, you had a great speech pathologist. She just said I too went through that for three years, which is why I am where I am. I like to speak. Okay, so now we have the timer going. Celeste, we
187good? Okay, so I just want to say a couple things. Um, one, I want to thank all the staff that met with me. You know, we talk a lot about what happens in between meetings and there's a lot so much that goes on and it's not interesting. You can't take pictures of yourself on a Zoom call and then post it online. No one wants to see that, but these things happen. Um, one of the things I did want to bring up because it was brought up by some of our teachers last year when we were talking about the assessment calendar and last year, I believe it was last year that we had that state assessment that was right before winter break and everyone, it was right around that time and it was crazy because it's
188the end and it's a fun time, but then we had this test. So now the state gives us a window. It's not a huge window but a window of when we can do that. And looking forward this time it's at the end of that testing window so kids can come back. They can have time to get reaclimated to the classroom and then there's that test. So it's not cramming everything right on top there. So that made me really happy as a parent of two small kids. I know they're excited about it too. Um I wanted to say uh the dress loop that happened at Mainland was a a perfect example of when the communities and the schools get bridged together. And I know sometimes people from the community don't know how they can help and
189they want to help. So I urge the schools to put those opportunities out there and for the community to look. I have a meeting with a couple community members. Um plug for Edgewater Public. They redid their media center. They're going to have a ribbon cutting hopefully soon. It's gorgeous. It has little twinkly lights. It's beautiful. Um but they had to get rid of many books because of the age of the books. They were falling apart. The spines were hanging off. And so they're in a need um if anyone wants to donate there. Um, and last and certainly not least, I did want to thank Mr. CE and his team for all the work that you put in. I know that the state throws wrenches and changes into that budget constantly. Um, so I do appreciate
190you putting that for us all together and having it out there for the public to see. So, thank you so much. Boom. Three minutes left, Mr. Cologne. >> And so, I wanted to see if uh, and Dr. B, I'm sorry I hadn't asked you or the chair for this. Um I had the opportunity to attend the SAC meeting uh for our alternative programs. Uh and few people know that there's an organization or a nonforprofit profit that was created uh to support uh our alternative programs called Wings for Success. And so um as we know DJJ doesn't have a PTA. Uh they don't they can't sell chocolate. they can't do the things that traditional schools are able to do. And so this nonprofit was created to support that school. And so, uh, they did create some
191sponsorship levels, etc., but I would like to see if we could get a presentation from them. Um, one of the things that was really cool that, uh, they said out loud and and and again, this was while multitasking. But Mr. Schiker actually in the presentation at DAC mentioned how our numbers include those students who are in that alternative program and we actually had more completions of courses at our little uh alternative sites than they did in Orange County. That's how dedicated these folks are to our students. So, I think I'd love to see them come and share what they do with the board at large. I know some of us were able to attend uh at the jail, but um just to know what it is that they do and also to share uh wings
192for success with with the public. Again, I think their numbers are impressive. It just be great to hear them uh come. The other thing I wanted to say, um, and Mr. I'm gonna ask you, what's the gentleman's name from your department that was helping with the point of sale? >> Paul Menser. A gentleman called Paul Menser. And uh, Paul a few weeks ago or a few meetings ago, met me here and sold me a brownie. And I was able to Apple Pay for that brownie, which we couldn't do before. You remember my sad story? They wouldn't sell me a brownie and they only took cash. And you know, it was cool. Mr. team all converged with finance, etc. And they were excited to show me this new point of sale system. uh Wolfies, which is
193the uh store at I have two minutes at Deltona where our special needs kids have a class at room enterprise where they are learning to uh merchandise, prepare merchandise, work, they're out there working the football games, etc. It it was a mission before and so uh Mr. team, finance, everybody got it together. They assured me they'd be at the next game. Uh I didn't make it to that game, first game at Deltona. There was another event going on somewhere uh which was the same night. However, I made it to the game last Friday and it was super exciting. I told my wife when we got out of the car, we're going to lose a lot of money at Wolfies today because we're gonna buy with our Apple Pay and get everything that we want to
194get. And that was awesome. It was easy. Took seconds. The student rung us up. It was just awesome. Awesome experience. As I'm talking to Dr. Lap now, I look over to the right and there's a guy looking at me and Paul was there Friday night making sure that this systems were working great. In fact, they were using it for concessions, too, where before you had to have cash or it was going to a very wellended person who was giving up their cash app or something like that. And he could actually sit there and see our number one sold item is cheeseburgers. Thank you. because that not only made it easy for the folks who were buying, but it also made it possible for Wolfies to sell their products and they had sold so many more
195products because it was easy. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And please let Paul know thank you because he went above and beyond and I know that's what our people do here in Valuchia County. I have eight seconds. Thank you, >> Dr. Bman. is Todd C is here. >> He's hiding. >> So, >> you got your money, Todd. >> Thank you, Miss Gutteridge, and and thank you, board members, for some of the comments that you made regarding Mr. C's. Um I remember coming here to Valuchia County precoid before COVID and you know when you're looking at sustainability one of the first departments you want to look at is budget and finance and I had some concerns back then okay because and and chair you know exactly what I'm talking about all of you because
196when it came to systems processes even for um when you're looking at items that were surplusing I mean so he will not tell you this but Mr. sees actually did transformation work for many districts when it comes to budget and finance. Um he was one of the first CFOs in Orange County prior to the CFOs that's there now and that was his job. That's exactly what he did. He went in there and instituted system structures and processes for budget and finance. That's his area. He's worked with Fortune 500 companies. He went to Semino County and he came here and he did exactly that type of transformation work for us. So if we were concerned about budget transparencies, I would say I had some concerns when I started here and I would not pinpoint and and
197point fingers to anyone in particular. We've had quite a bit of turnovers. We've we we had two failed ERP implementation, right? But Mr. sees and his team from I know from where we were as an educational leader I know from where we were to where we are now and it's massive when it comes to the transformation especially when it comes to those systems that has been instituted and I know that our chair who is very much diligent about budget and finance and I know you have asked so many questions as well that we see it but I I I can tell I can measure that from where we were to where we are. So, thank you Todd C's to you and your entire department. You don't get enough credit, but I want to say thank
198you. Um, Miss Goodrich, when it comes to Seabbze, there is a history there. >> I figured there would >> trust me. So, what I would recommend and I see a parrot going, "Yeah, what I would recommend is that with in your weekly calls that you guys have with with John and the team, John, please include the principal from Seabbze so that Miss Goodrich can get the full uh history on what's taking place there or what has been." Okay. And I am going to also ask that Mr. Macalliff joins that weekly meeting so that we can talk to you about speech pathologists. Okay. >> All right. That's it. J. >> Okay. So, um I've heard a lot of requests this evening um from people things they want to know more information on workshops whatever. So, um
199I was going to bring this up last time but um didn't have the opportunity. So, I think there's some misconceptions out there about the type of audits that are done um in Valuchia County schools. We actually follow all of the state legislation on the audits that are done and uh I personally chair the internal audit committee which was established in legislation in July of 2019. Now, that one um has community members that represent that each of you have selected or you've chosen for them to continue because they had previously been selected. And by the way, they volunteer their time. And we just recently approved the new risk assessment to see what areas needed to be. And we're typically doing two to three audits a year in that area based on risk assessment and what the
200board selects to have done. But beyond that, we have a lot of financial audits that are conducted at all times. Um, I know that we did an entrance because there's an entrance interview and an exit um, whenever the state comes in to audit. And so, and I know a lot of you should have all received an Manila envelope at some point since spring at your home mailed to you, one of the audits. Okay. And so I would I have asked Dr. Dr. Bagaban if we could have an update on all the types of audits that take place because there um Dr. even said this, there's so many audits at times. He said he feels like his department finishes an audit because whether it's finance being audited or another area, it plays a part in all
201of that. And he's like before they can catch a breath, here comes another audit. And we actually have another entrance interview coming up for a second audit that's going to be running at the same time as the first one that just started. And so if we could have an update on all the types of audits there are and there's also audits in federal programs and grants too. what the purpose of the audits are, how often we are audited in those areas because there is usually a timeline like this one's every year, this one's every two, this one's every three, and just even a sampling of the types of items that have been found and how we address any issues that are found because there have been times over the years where we have lost some
202funding. I remember at one time title three lost some funding from their auditing because um it didn't come back as a clean audit. Okay. And so I think we need to share that then. Um Miss Brmmer, I received your email uh requesting and so thank you so very much for sending the email. But this is the time um now um and that's part of why I sent it to Dr. Evans so he could share it with everyone because we have to come to a consensus about um what you have requested okay to have a have a discussion because you know and I'll even say this so the audit thing like if some if some of you here say we don't need to know about the audits we shouldn't share the audits then then we don't
203need to do a presentation but as long as we're all in agreement and you'd like to learn about the audits then we would move forward but you're asking for some unique things um in this and so I need to hear um from the rest of the board and so that we can um share that information with Dr. Balgaban so that she and her team can be prepared and ready. So, do you wish to talk about it or would you like for me to talk about it? >> I I can do it. It's it's really pretty simple. Um, I'm still being contacted by the parents um at Tamoka Elementary uh with questions about um what's happening in their kids' classrooms and um they've gotten some information from the district and that's been helpful. Uh there are
204some parents who uh said their questions have been answered and and they don't they don't need to participate anymore. But um a couple of the parents in particular who you know every every kind of issue kind there there are certain people who emerge as spokespeople and um there's uh one parent in particular one mom from the kinder group and one mom from the from the um first graders who um in working with their with the other moms in those classes or the other parents in those in those grade levels uh would like to be able to interact with the board and um most of our um our workshops are largely presentations and there isn't really an opportunity for uh other than public comment uh there there isn't an opportunity for interaction and I thought it
205would just be more efficient if they're able to to come and uh tell you if all other questions have been answered or ask any that might come up or something like that. So, I I know that was a a unique request and that was why I wanted to forward that one. Uh, with regard to the NDA, uh, it seemed necessary because there there were a couple of different perspectives, legal perspectives offered that that we hear from both of those explained and the board can decide what they think about it. Uh, so I I knew it was unusual and that was why I wanted to just ask if either of those would be acceptable. All right. So, um, first of all, what I'd like to do is discuss, um, the purpose of like the workshops. I
206think we should all just review why we do workshops. first and foremost um when we conduct a workshop um ideally it's because we need to be able to um in the sunshine ask questions about something we're going to vote on such as when we did the budget workshop and there was a lot of time spent where we could ask questions out loud about the budget. Also, when we're looking at audit results, because they usually bring those to us in a workshop and we need to have that opportunity to ask the people that did the auditing, you know, what does this mean? What's the timeline for when we're going to correct it? Because we vote on auditing. Um, also, and then the five-year plan, that's always something that we do during the workshops so that we
207can have open discussion and discuss, is this staying on the five-year plan? has it already happened because it was an emergency and got moved up and how we're spending that money. The next thing that we typically do um for workshops is updates. That's when we get the updates um from um Dr. Vier and his team on where we're at with the students and their assessment data. We also get updates on where are we at with the strategic plan and the different guard rails that we have in place. And then the final and third is when we want to learn information and um so that kind of goes with what I asked about the audits even though we vote on it but I want it to be anformational meeting. So because we don't talk about some
208of the audits that are done by the state level we just receive the results of those. We don't vote on them because we don't get a choice of whether or not the state's going to come in you know and audit us. But the third one is for information. And usually when it's information, it's so that we can learn from it. And so um I went back and at any given time we have people come and provide public input. It could be because something's not working. It could be because they do want to say thank you and something is working. But our um setup for this is we have never brought in parents to be part of um of a workshop because uh and and your request is specifically from one set of parents. We have
209gifted programs from elementary through high school. They're just they look different at each level. They look different sometimes at schools because we have gifted sites where kids go to. We have parents that have their children are gifted. They were tested by our psychologists, but they choose not to send them to a gifted school site. So then we have um support services that they receive and everything. And so I'm opening this up tonight because I need to hear from my fellow board members based on the three types of workshops we typically give, how they feel about this, and what we should do to move forward to give Dr. Balgaban information. I did pretty good. >> So, Mr. Clone. >> Yes. Um, for example, with gifted, the board instructed the superintendent to bring us a presentation regarding
210gifted. How that presentation is is done is up to the superintendent. I understand you have parents who didn't agree with the decision that was made by the superintendent, but that's organizational. And so, um, my thought process is that if, uh, if there is a policy decision that needs to be changed, then, you know, you can advocate for those parents all day long and say, "We need to change this policy. Bring it to the board. We'll make a decision." Yes. No. But if it's a organizational decision where they didn't agree with how somebody was moved, how many kids are in their class, etc., that is not in our purview. that's organizational. And so, um, I I don't I don't know that we could tell this, you know, it the superintendent is going to create the presentation
211based on what we have asked for as a board. And so, that's that's my first sentiment. Um, I will share with you that I've got gifted programs across my district. I haven't heard one thing from anyone. folks are, you know, so the fact that there may be a couple of parents who aren't happy. I don't know that they would speak for because every situation is different. And so, um, again, I have not heard and I've got some very outspoken folks in the gifted world and when there were concerns, they shared them. Uh, and they never hesitate. They're listening and they know who they are. Uh, and so I I don't I have not seen that same sentiment that you're describing in my district. Uh, and so I don't know that two parents who were not
212happy with the decision that was not within our purview can speak for a whole group of folks. And mind you, um, you know, they I I think at the beginning when the decision was made, they were unhappy, but they've never been back. They've never come to a meeting to say this is what we're concerned about. And the reality is if if I remember correctly, it had something to do with someone being moved or class size or etc. That's not in our purview. That's under the superintendent organizationally. And so I don't know what value they would bring to that conversation. Um if they want to call me, number is 38681- 3122. They're welcome to and I'd love to hear what they have to say. Um, however, you know, the way the state law has created our
213our organizational structure and our leadership, you know, th those were decisions that were under the superintendent. Uh, so I would not be in favor of that. So that's me. Thank you. >> That's good. Rich >> seconds. >> So my concerns first would be if we've said you parent and you parent and and we invite them to speak, then what about the other parents? we didn't invite to speak like if we say okay we've to taken two parents from Tamoka but what about other parents and so then it would become an open forum which would I I would lead to public participation at that point and so what I would that would be my first thing my second thing is I don't know what they want to really say so without knowing that if it's something
214that is is a superintendent decision then not appropriate if it's something that's policy decision then yes all of that being said, um, I would say to them if you're talking to them for them to email the rest of us, too, so that we know what their concerns are because you can't call me and tell me, you know. So, so we do, we are limited in our forums of where we can have the conversation. So, I understand that frustration that the parents have. Um, I don't know that again if we change our workshop for two parents and the next workshop there's going to be two more parents. So, it's just again creating the system of what we have and staying within our our lane basically. But I would recommend that they reach out to us and
215um and then if there's a policy something that we want to bring to the table that we say okay we we want to change this policy on the gifted program then we can do that from there would be I guess my feedback on it. >> Miss Thompson. >> Thank you. Yeah. So kind of a little bit of everything. I agree that if you do if you invite two parents it's one of my favorite books. If you give the mouse a cookie like it keeps going and going. I wouldn't mind having a workshop to discuss the gifted program. I know that we've made some changes over time. I think that's great. I I'm a gifted parent. I've had no problems with mine. Same with my district. I gifted parents will tell you if there is something
216that is not enjoyable about the experience and I've had that happen, but it usually goes through Jesse or Mrs. Thompson, this is what I've experienced. Have you talked to your principal? And then it kind of goes through that. And if they need help along the way, I love to, you know, help them. But it's usually following that sort of process instead of just coming to the board because honestly as far as like that kind of day-to-day relationship, there's not much we can do and we work as a board like so that's why I usually follow those channels. But if there was a presentation on gifted and what the numbers look like and what the classrooms look like and curriculum and that kind of stuff, I'd definitely be open to that. But as far as inviting
217parents in to speak at a workshop, I just think it opens up a lot of different avenues that would be kind of hard to contain within a workshop. Mr. >> I appreciate all of this very much. Uh and and I frankly agree. Um it was asked of me to propose to you and and I could see why they would want to do it and I knew it was out of the ordinary. Uh was not something that we would typically do. Uh and um in in terms of of it being just two parents, it it isn't. Um, but there was no reasonable way to make it any different. I said, you know, you guys decide if if if this is okay with the board, then you guys decide who's going to speak because we can't have
218everybody doing that. Uh so I I will I I think your suggestion is very well taken that um maybe they need to express their concerns um by email to the whole board and then you have some idea of what their concerns are and we can take it from there and it's my understanding that there is a workshop scheduled anyway. So that that thank you that's what I that's what I thought and that's what they understood too. So I know they're intending to uh at least some of them uh who are able to are intending to attend so they can participate that way. So, um, so thank you for this input. >> And I just like to add that what I do is I encourage people, lots of things that I bring up here at the
219end of a meeting, I bring them up so that it's like you're being a voice for them. So like you can collect information from your constituents and then you can ask the questions you know during the presentation which I think that's an important thing that we do is that we come and we ask the questions so that they can hear that we're asking the questions but originally this um presentation I think was just so that everybody was on the same page with all the gifted opportunities that we have available because some of the things have changed and that way. We all know like when a parent is contacting us and it's a middle school kid, we know well what what's offered for gifted kids in middle school and because it's different. But ultimately, this is
220um a presentation under Dr. Balaban's purview because this is a day-to-day like we don't vote on if we have gifted courses or not or where we put them or what curriculum like none of that is under our realm and it's there's not even a policy on it that we could attach it to. So, so thank you for um I want to thank everybody for giving their opinion and all that. And then I owe until usually um the day before it's released or the day of what's going to be on that agenda. that's when we do the agenda conference. So, I don't even see it until it's right before it's going to go live. Celeste lets me know. So, the other piece um in this email is the NDA, which we all came to a consensus
221at the last meeting that we would do a presentation on. And so, I will stop because Dr. B. >> No, no, it's fine. Go ahead. I just want to say something about principles at the end. >> Okay. Um we we came to consensus to have a discussion about the NDA. um because you had written um a legal opinion and you disagree with the NDA and I think um the rest of us were just like let's open it up and have a discussion but ultimately this is my opinion it's under Dr. Balgamins because it's a day-to-day operational thing for the employees that report to her and you know and so I've read um and they've all been provided to read what you're asking for for that and I do think Dr. Evans maybe has already taken
222care of what's going to happen in that presentation. Um, yes. Based upon the last conversations we had at a board meeting, I thought it might be prudent for us to have a legal opinion written by a licensed attorney to discuss those things that were discussed at our last board meeting. So, I will have an outside counsel to provide a legal opinion to the board regarding the NDAs at the next workshop. on the 23rd. >> Okay. So, it's going to be on the 23rd also. All right. And um you know, even though you had already given a legal opinion um and you are a licensed attorney and a member of the bar, we're now doing an outside one. So, Miss Brosmer, are you um is there anything else you'd like to say about that piece? >>
223I was leaving it up to your decision. >> Okay. All right. Then Dr. Bman, >> just quickly I'm going to speak for the principal. So I think uh some of you alluded to this. If a parent or someone is coming to you with a complaint, and I know this is standard procedure, but I'm going to enunciate it again. And they come to you because there is an issue at a particular school, please ask, have you had the opportunity yet to speak to the principal? Because in the past we've had where you know the principal is bypass or the AP or someone the school is not contacted and they come directly to us. I have to redirect that back to the principal and to be to be frank with you the principles have expressed to me
224and it's it's it's somewhat you know you don't want to bypass that step. I was a principal for many years. So the first thing I ask which is part of our standard operating procedure is you know do you need for me to get a hold of the principal for you to try to provide some type of assistance and if they have tried to reach out to the principal and still they're they're not comfortable what whatever the decision may be then by all means let's let's look into that but if the first step I would say just ask them to contact the principal and let's see how we can get a hold um share their information with you know the principal's information with them. Now mind you they've gone there and nothing has been resolved by
225all means we will listen to them. >> Thank you. And that is the situation they have um through the end the say the second half of last year and now the beginning of this year they have tried to work with the principal and and >> and that's understandable. Yeah. >> Thank you. All right. Anything else from anyone? >> Motion to adjourn. >> Okay. Is 8:23 in this meeting did beat me to it.