Volusia County School Board - School Board - Work Shop⧸Work Session 9⧸23⧸2025

001Okay. >> No, no, no, it makes sense. I don't know if she's coming forward or not. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon and welcome to the Valuchia County School Board workshop work session. Um, today is Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025, and it is now 10:06 p.m. In just a moment, I'm going to ask that you stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence and reflection. So, at this time, will you please stand and join me? Thank you. I aliance 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. Thank you. You may be seated. I'm going to take just a moment to introduce those that are here with me. Starting over

002here on my far left, we have Mrs. Donna Brozmer representing district 4. Then Mrs. Christa Goodrich representing district 2, followed by Dr. Gilbert Evans who is our schoolboard attorney. Moving over to the far right, I have Miss Celeste Gilmore, our agency clerk, followed by Miss Jesse Thompson, representing district three. Then we have Mr. Ruben Clone, our vice chair, representing district 5. Then our wonderful superintendent, Dr. Carmen Balman. And I am Jamie Haynes. I am the chair and I represent district 1. We have um a very heavy agenda for today. So, board members, I would like to um because there's so many items on here, there are six items, I would like to change the order in which we're going to hear the items so that in the event um we run out of time before

003um the 4:30 p.m. consent agenda board meeting, we could push off one or possibly two items to the next workshop because there are things here that I know you're going to have questions about and I want you to be able to have the opportunity to get your questions answered. So, we're going to stay with the first item being 2.01. In just a moment, we'll bring up Gray Robinson. Then, we're going to the second item will be 3.01, 1 the half cent sales tax. I'm going to move 4.01 down to the last item of the day. And then so we will the third item will actually end up being 4.02 the gifted update. 5.01 will move down to the fifth place which is the elementary vape program. And 6.01 01 will move up to the fourth

004place which is the non-disclos disclosure agreement discussion. So the order once again will be Gay Robinson halfsent sales tax gifted update non-disclosure agreement discussion then if we still have time the elementary vape program and last career and technical education. And so I wanted everyone sitting here to know that we were changing the order. And that's the way because during um the agenda conference, everyone assured me, oh no, each presentation can happen in 30 minutes along with the questions built into the 30 minutes. And I kept saying I didn't think we could quite pull that off. Um because some of these um items have more than 70 pages in their presentation or in their books. >> Let's do it. >> So we're going to do it. We're so we're going to start and up first is

005Greg Robinson with the 202425 legislative presentation. Dr. Balabin. >> Yes. Thank you. Um we would like to welcome Mr. uh Chris Cardy our legislative liaison along with from Gray Robinson along with Miss Kim McDougall. Thank you for being here in Valuchia County and for providing us with our presentation about current legislation. Welcome. >> Good afternoon. Uh, as said stated, Chris Cardy, great uh Kim McDougall with Grey Robinson. We're happy to be here today. Um, we've had uh a great partnership with the school board and it was a great session generally speaking. We'll get into some of that um and go over why it took 105 days to bring it in for a landing and everything in between. Um, we might we might be one of those uh presentations. That's us. Look how great we look,

006Kim. Um, the we we have one of those uh presentations that have all those pages. Uh, they are available publicly. Uh, and so you'll hear me say this probably a couple times. Um, we're going to try to go through these quickly because one, you and your staff are very familiar, especially with the education bills of what's been happening because you guys are already implementing them. We've done a couple briefings already with with your high level staff um since session because it ended late and we're already started on what's going on for 2026. So, uh I'm not trying to be rude if I blur through these, but you're not being rude if you stop me and say, "Tell me more about that." We want to help answer any questions you have. So, with that, I'm going

007to jump in and try to move as quickly as I can and answer any questions. With any legislative session, um we think it helps to kind of understand who is in the room, where it happens, as they say, right? 120 member House, 40 member Senate as you can see in that little uh bullet there. 27 in the Senate, 27 Republicans, 10 Democrats, one NPA, that was a late session MPA where a dem the Democratic minority leader switched to MPA. And then there were two open seats. Um one for someone who ran for Congress and one uh Central Florida uh senator who passed away. And then in the House, similar numbers with the supermajority um percentage wise, 86 Republicans, 33 Democrats um and one open seat. Uh, like I said, both with super majorities. This is

008a slide that we've had to change constantly in the last 60 days, but we think it's finally going to stay this way, at least until the elections next year, and we'll see what happens. But this is the office of the governor. Um, the person in that, you all know the top left, uh, Governor DeSantis, uh, Lieutenant Governor Collins, uh, if we gave this presentation when session ended, would not be up there. He'd be in the Senate slide. Um but he was appointed by the governor gosh what about a month ago or a month and a half ago um to to replace Janette Nunees who took the FIU post as president um as lieutenant governor. One of the worst kept secrets in all of politics is the lieutenant governor is strongly considering running for actual governor.

009He may announce next month. We'll see. Uh and then that bottom uh that bottom row there, Mary Cla Huard, legislative affairs director, think lobbyist for the governor, works with the legislature. Jason Weda who's his chief of staff and then Lita Kelly uh director of office and policy budget. That's the governor's sort of I call it the wonks the ones who look at all those bills especially these education bills and try to digest it as well as budget issues and give recommendations to the but the governor's team on what to do. She previously served as chief of staff for um FDOT and on the right you have the cabinet. Uh the the one consistent there from the election was a commissioner Wilton Simpson. As you all know, Attorney General James Omeer was appointed um right before

010uh President Trump was inaugurated when Ashley Moody resigned to take the Senate position. And then Blazing Golia was more recently appointed at the end of the extended session to be CFO. And if you didn't know his name before he was appointed, I am certain you know it now. He's been barnstorming the state talking about the Doge office and property taxes. Uh the Florida House uh this they're entering this was their first term that 26 will be their final um year in this cycle with Danny Perez as the speaker. He's an attorney out of South Florida. Um you also have Wyman Dougen who's the prom finance and tax director, Lawrence McCclur budget chair. Uh bottom row Sam Garrison is the rules chair and speaker designate. That's probably the most important part of that title, speaker designate.

011the session that's coming up is going to be where his power starts to grow a little more as he's going to rise into power in the 20 after the 26 elections. And then Fentress Driscoll, minority leader out of Tampa, strong leader, even though they they have a super minority if you want to look at it from that lens. Um she's a very impactful leader for that caucus and and can get a lot done. A lot of people think she'll be on the short list for one of the gubanatorial offices on the Democratic side in 26, although she did announce recently she's going to run for Senate. So that maybe is where she's going to go. Um and then over here in the Senate you have Ben Albert and out of the south central Florida think

012uh Highland County PK County area. Um he's a farmer with some insurance in his background and that will be trend and you'll understand why as far as some of his priorities. Ed Hooper the budget chair out of Penllis County. Previously served in the House. Previous to that he was a city commissioner and previous to that he was a fireman. So he's had a long career public service. Uh Jim Boyd is the minority majority leader, excuse me. um and will be the Senate President following Ben Albritten after this next election cycle. Again, this all assumes that the Republicans maintain control after that cycle. Nearby, Jason Broer is the president prom. He's based out of Seminal County. And then uh rules chairs Kathleen Pasadomo who is uh the immediate past Senate President and Minority Leader Lori Lori

013Berman who's had that role for less than four months. As I said, Jason I didn't say the name. Jason Pizzo was state senator. maybe day 48. I feel like day 49 announced on the Senate floor I'm leaving the Democratic party to be an MPA. And so by the next day, the the uh Senate Democrats had appointed Lori as their new leader. All right, future leaders just kind of helped give you the road map. Because of term limits, we generally have an idea of who's going to be the next in their classes. Uh as we already mentioned, Sam Garrison, Jennifer Kennedy will take over in 2028. historic for a couple reasons. Believe it or not, given how historic P County is, they do after they do call it Imperial Pole County after all. Uh they've never

014had a presiding officer. They've had a couple budget chairs and rules chairs, but never a presiding officer. So, that'll be the first from P County and probably most notably in the House, the first female speaker ever in that chamber. And then after uh uh soon to be Speaker Kennedy, you have Mike Rodondo out of South Florida who was uh as of June 30th was given that appointment for the 2030 2032 years. as I we mentioned in the Senate, Jim Boyd. Following him will be Jane Trumbull, who's out of the panhandle and not up there, but it's largely believed. Don't want to jinx it, but our own here, Tom Leak, is expected to be that next slide. Um, some of the in the Senate, they don't do it quite like the House officially. So, it'll be

015sort of spoken about, but never officially acknowledged until you get a little closer. But that's about where we are and we'll knock on wood and hope that stays the same. We like working with him. All right. So, leading into this session, you if you didn't notice, uh I bet you do because y'all uh you have no choice but to be political animals because you've run for office and the school board is always part of the the game of football in Tallahassee. There was a little tension presession. You might have noticed that right as the the president was about to be sworn in. Our governor called for a special session and wanted it to address, you can see up there, immigration, condo law reform, hurricane relief, and the uh education or the petition drives for constitutional

016ballots. Um, almost immediately the House and Senate said no thank you. And I'm those are my words. Those are a lot nicer than the words they used. Um, and so we went into special session A, as they called it, gave out. They called special session B. Passed what they called the Trump Act. It was an acronym dealing with immigration. The governor made it very clear he was going to veto that, which he did. And they went into special session C's, which was, I guess you could call it the Trump Act with some revisions on that to so that all sides could get along on that. And they hit the ground running. Immigration was a topic that was then and now as you probably have been tracking over the summer, very very important to certainly our

017executive branch and the legislature as well. But this kind of started what if you didn't see it coming, you knew then was going to be a bit of a chaotic session, right? The House and Senate were definitely um being a little more vocal um in the checks and balances with the governor and the governor was being vocal right back. Uh and so uh that led to some chaotic moments for Kim and I to deal with, but I think in the end it all worked out. It just took us 105 days to get there in the in the midst of that. Oh, I I get this slide, Ken. Thanks. All right. Yeah. Know, um, you might have heard about Hope, Florida. Interesting enough, if you ask some of your constituents, I bet they never heard about

018this this this entity, but in the political world, it became very much a hot topic. Um, there was a lot of uh House uh hearings in the House um Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee dealing with this over some donations it received from a settlement in the state. I bring this up because that added further to the tensions, right? There'd be a hearing in the House. By the end of the day, there'd be a tweet or an actual press conference comment from our governor and then there'd be more comments back from someone in the House leadership, sometimes in the Senate to which we were all trying to, if you've seen the Charlie Day meme from it's always sunny, you know, trying to piece together all the the clues on the board to figure out what

019can we do and what can't we do as all this chaos is occurring. But that sort of was leading into what was session. The House further continued their Doge efforts with the Department of Management Services when they when they could not find a bunch of their fleet vehicles. Good news, they did find them, by the way, this summer that that when they actually dug in and got in there, they found them. But that kind of further emphasized some of the chaos and the friction between the two chambers. So, that's what we had going in. Quickly go through these. A lot of bills filed, decent number passed. That's about on par. Most signed by the governor, 11 vetoed um and three pocket vetoed. That's an interesting interesting thing this governor hasn't done yet where he didn't

020sign it. He didn't veto it. He just let it become law without any action sort of let they call it pocket veto or a desk veto or desk approval where it just stays in it doesn't do anything with it. One of them was on the uh non-competes on works um for folks who are leaving their job. Uh appropriations filed about the same House and Senate. That's to be expected. And then we'll jump in here and then we'll go into some education issues um to help understand you got to kind of look at some of the priority issues of those players we were talking about. As you see those slides every session they're required to pass a budget as we said it took 105 days. They almost always do a tax package at least in Kim

021and I's tenure they've always done a tax package. There's almost always something about public safety. So you can expect packages on that. And then workforce training the last five to six years has been very much an emphasis um in both chambers. So those are bills you knew going in. Even if they couldn't get along, they're going to find a way to get those done because they know back home their constituents want to see those and of course the budget they have to pass because that's the constitutional required. Beyond that, that's where you have some divergence. The governor leading in um had a couple things that are priority and one he was clear early and he's definitely clear now was property tax relief. Uh he didn't get what he wanted out of session. He wanted that

022ballot initiative this session. It didn't happen. Then he also asked for a $1,000 property tax rebate for all homesteaders. House wasn't going to give him that either. Um they they punted and we get into tax package to talk about it, but they they kind of punted on a couple of those and found common ground. Illegal immigration early and often, you've heard Alcat alligator Alcatraz, right? Deportation depot. I heard pan panhandle padlock is coming soon. This is going to be a common theme where the state's resources working with the feds are going to deal with illegal immigration. Continuing lead, right? He's going into his second to last session. He's got a lot of accomplishments, right? those first first six years the governor did a lot which probably led for him running for president. Um, so his

023his so light on priorities and more and just continuing to lead, right? He wants Florida to be number one or top five and all those metrics we care about, right? Tax tax structure, business environment, you name it. And then cementing and defending legacy, right? He's if he fought for it in those first six years, he's going to fight really hard these next two years to make sure whatever those things are stay in place. All right, Senate. You can see there rural renaissance. This was a big deal. Certainly would affect parts of Lucia County. um areas where Senator Albright's from is rural where he wanted to take a big infusion of cash as he would say to make sure that the rural areas has the exact same opportunities as the urban areas, right? So, some of

024it was just um red tape and bureaucracy like those kind of statute fixes, but a lot of it was going to be cash infusion. One of the first bills passed by the Senate as expected in the give and take between um House and Senate in any session. It was held by the House for a while, kind of sort of hold held hostage. We always joke up there until they can get what they want. Unfortunately, with all the back and forth over the tax package and other things, this fell by the wayside. He's already announced he's going to come back with it this next session. So, you'll see that again. Florida citrus, again, he's got a a citrus background. He wanted to do something about the canker and greening in our state. Um, and he was

025able to get that done in the budget about $92 million year-over-year increase in research funding for citrus and canker or greening and canker and citrus funding. And then empowering members, right? In the Senate, especially those last two years, um, with the governor probably being the peak of his powers, the Senate probably was doing a little more like whatever you want, we're going to do it from the top down. This year, it's been you guys do whatever you want. I'm not going to put the thumb on the scales. And we saw it in real time. There was a couple bills that failed in committee. Never happens in the Senate, right? Um, usually they'll just to temporarily postpone it or they just won't even hear the bill, but actually voted down 54 43 in committee. That's that's

026very rare. But part of it is this president said, "This is your Senate, too. I'm not going to tell you how to vote. You vote how you want, and we're going to see how it all shakes out." Which also again created some of that fun chaos. On the House side, sales tax reduction, you you definitely heard this. This made headlines. The speaker wanted to go from 6 to 5.25% on our sales tax. That didn't it passed the House. It never really went anywhere in the Senate. um they they tried to put it in the tax package to 5.75. When the governor heard about it and others, he said he would veto it and the Senate kind of backed out of that deal. So, will he come back with that next session? We'll see. But that

027was one of his priorities. Didn't quite make the cut. But his second priority did. He wanted to have a spending cut. And then general theme when we get in the budget was they wanted to spend less or at least be flat year-over-year. Not so much for revenues. As you all know, you see it across the board. Sales tax, property tax, you name it. Revenues are continuing to be in the upward trajectory. But there's some concern of expenses coming um whether it's because population growth or just inflation or you name it. They wanted to make sure the budget was had a pretty good reserve fund in in place. And then targeted repeal of tort reform. You probably for your businesses or anyone that worries about tors there hasn't there wasn't a more successful two-year term than

028Rener and Pasadomao the House and Senate the previous two years as far as calling back on tors in the state. Um, Speaker Perez, I wouldn't call him to tort friendly, but I would also say that he sort of like Ben Albrin was going to let bills move in his chamber that maybe they didn't move in previous years. And so some bills moved on targeted repeal of tort reform. They didn't make it to the finish line. But I think he's already signaled in 26 he's going to let those bills move again and see where they go. So those are those. And I'm going to quickly do the budget and then we're going to jump into education. So as I mentioned, they were going to cut the budget or at least go flat. They ended up cutting.

029That's a joke slide. Obviously, it took them couple extra days to load that budget, but here's where we landed here. Thanks for the laugh. All right. Um 115.1 billion. You can see the um the pie chart with the slides. No surprise in a state of our size. Healthcare, massive chunk of the budget. And then um K12 uh 20.9 billion, that's next biggest part. And then higher ed. And then you go down the line. Also, while it's not necessarily directly impactful, but the transportation economic development, the 17.9 billion, again, fully funding the road fund that obviously allows both our residential and commercial traffic to flow better in our state. There was a time where they didn't always fully fund that. So, budget highlights, you can see here, um, uh, per student spending up 1.59%, some jobs

030eliminated. That's the easiest way to cut the funding. It's just the jobs that haven't been filled. They cut them. um Sidowski trust fund that was fully funded although that was touchandgo for a while as they were trying to figure out what to do with the budget uh 800 million for Everglades spending and then it was about 3.2% 2% less spending than the previous year. Big ticket items. I covered some of these. Visit Florida fully funded at 88 80 million 250 million for rural and family lands protection. Um the budget stabilization fund that ultimately did get vetoed, but that was part of the deal they cut at the end to put more in reserves. And they did pay down some of the state debt. And then the hometown heroes down payment assistant pro assistance program. They

031put another 50 million into that. And then here's the tax package. It's about 2.4 billion. That should say B, not million. Um, so one of it was the business rent tax, both state and local. That was a permanent repeal that had been coming for a long time. Huge win, especially for small businesses. Very few of them own their property. They usually lease it and they pay the taxes on that. Um, so big win for them. Uh, repeal of the aviation fuel tax. You could see the back to school sales tax holiday is now permanent and it's every August u monthl long. So that's hopefully helpful to a lot of our families here both in Valuchia and the other 66 counties. There's a couple changes on tourist development tax. not nothing significant, but a little on

032the coastal side. And then you can see um some of the freedom stuff like on bike helmets and other things, hunting and fishing supplies, and then um NASCAR's down the road, although this one affects Homestead Miami. Uh some some discounts on some of the major event ticket prices and our state parks. So, I'm going to hand it over to Kim to kind of jump in a little bit on the budget side of K12 and we'll start moving through these. >> Well, thank you for that PTSD presentation. >> Yeah, exactly. Oh my god, it just keeps coming back. Um, thank you so much. So then this year of your public schools, you were probably you were probably felt you were level funded or a little less, but there was great conversation last session about um how

033do we make it how can the state make it where districts can better predict their budgets right now because the scholarships are going through the districts. It's tough on you, right? We're still looking for what fourth c. We're still looking for some other buckets of money from the state. But the good news is the House made major steps last year. I was really hoping the Senate would take their package. I was hoping in an ideal world, I would have love for the House to have taken the administrative efficiencies bill 166 and the Senate taking all the hard work the House did on making the budget more transparent and reliable for school districts. But at the end of the day, because by day 99, everything was an issue, right? So, I'm hoping good components of those

034two bills come back up. And I think from what we're hearing, what we saw last year, remember once the governor did his vetos, the state budget was smaller than the prior year. So everyone for purposes of planning I think your district staff already know this it's going to be about the same. I don't see any in huge infusion of money into public schools but I also see them working on making it better tracking students identifying students on scholarship and making sure that that system is a lot better and I think they may do some categorical increases. You can see last year I kind of to me I think it's flat because the cost of increase of everything going up it was a it's a flat budget. This is a the non-FFP the Florida school safe

035schools K9 program. That's very interesting. That was past president Pasadmo's um big project that she started. The mentoring program is good. School recognition still hanging around. That's been around for like 20 years, right? And uh coach Aaron Feice, we've grown a few names over the years for the guardian program 6.5 million. So you can kind of see the things that were funded outside of the important thing is school Harding 20 million. We know we need we know we need more money for school Harding, right? You can never do do enough for school safety. So hoping and thankful the legislature keeps investing in that >> line item vetos. That's always a cry day for lobbyists. Um >> There's some crying but not unexpected, right? So it was a total of 1.35 billion. Um do you want

036to talk about any of the big things? >> Yeah, I mean one of those was the budget stabilization fund and part of that tax package how they negotiated at the end was the speaker said he wanted to increase our reserves. Um, and part of that was there was a constitutional amendment they put on the ballot. Um, and and just to give you an idea of the friction here between the two, Senator Hooper, the budget chair who presented that constitutional amendment, Senate said, "I need you to pass this because we got to bring this in for a landing, but I sure hope the citizens vote it down when it gets to the budget." So, because he doesn't want to tie the hands of future legislators with having to put another 250 or 750 million away. Fun

037politics we were dealing with there. That ultimately got vetoed by the governor. No surprise there. It was a priority of the speakers. as he said, they already have a lot in reserves. Um, so that he wasn't really interested in going after some of that. And then, you know, as Kim said, it was definitely less last year, and that's what we're hearing going into this year is that it'll be flat at best. But, you know, if the the projections keep going and the revenue collections keep going up, they'll have no choice but to probably spend a little more because it's all sitting there and they can only put so much in reserve. You've heard a lot of members even say like, how much is I mean, right now, we could survive to put it in perspective

038and then we'll go in these policy bills. the LA I think it was like 12 million billion excuse me in reserves that's like two hurricanes in a COVID we could survive between now and next budget cycle so we're doing we're doing fine as far as reserves go at the moment >> okay so chair Haynes now this portion will take me about an hour and a half is that okay I'm just kidding like Chris said all the slides all the powerpoint your staff smiling when we leave have been amazing they've already implemented it this is information to wake them up after the great lunch you know so it's there please stop us like Chris said, "This is my passion. I think I'm the only I was chief of staff for Governor Rick Scott before going to

039the private sector. I think I'm the only chief of staff in Florida that's ever been a I was previously a certified teacher. So, this is my heart. So, it pains me to go quick, but I know you know this stuff, so I'll go quick." So, hazardous walking conditions. Just want to make sure students get safe to schools. There was some issue in St. John's County about where you're putting the bus stops. So, that kind of give information to your staff where you can put the bus stops. Children with de developmental disabilities, Senator Herald, she's been a huge champion. She keeps going on and on with expanded services and funding for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, improving early intervention, school readiness. So, she was very thorough and thoughtful in this and created a program

040at the University of Florida. >> Administrative efficiency. This is my sad sad bill. >> Can you go back to that one? I have one question on there. Okay. >> The last line about adding the ASD training to educators certificate renewal requirements. So, when does that go into did it go into effect on July 1st or are we still waiting on further direction? >> I think you're still waiting on further direction. Your staff may know. I don't know that exact one. So, >> yeah, because only it goes in effect July and then the agencies because I worked in agencies forever. Um, it takes them a while to actually implement the laws that go into effect at a certain date >> because that's the only one. I I mean, I knew it was in there, but I

041hadn't heard anything yet. That's why I was asking. >> That's why. >> All right. Thank you. like that. >> I'm hoping a lot of this passes, right? There's just good things. School districts, like I want every school district to be Chick-fil-A. I want the parents lined up around the corner coming to you because you're the best. However, there's things you want to do to be the best, but you can't because there's regulations or requirements that you have to do. And so I'm hoping that the house takes up whether it's instructional personnel, whether it's um how long it takes a teacher to be certified, whether it's reporting requirements, like free up the school districts, give you more freedom to do what you want, what's best for your students. >> I will state that was that was

042the most heartbreaking that that didn't pass that nothing >> I cried. >> Nothing in there passed and yet there were things in there that would have been so beneficial. >> Right. And and and the thing about it is there was no natural opposition to most things in that bill. But you're elected, you're politicians, so it's a process, right? The House, the Senate, the governor's office is is a three-legged stool. So, I'm hoping some of this comes back. We'll see if the Senate uh I'm not sure they'll put it all in one big bill that has like a hey, look at them all here. Maybe we'll see pieces in different Senate bills to get some of it across the line. So, there's different Senate uh strategies, I think. >> Do I remember correctly that there was

043no House sponsor or was there ultimately a House sponsor for this one? >> There wasn't. There were pieces that were put in certain bills, but then at the end of the day, the big education trades like 11:05 and others. Lots of things, but not what we wanted. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Again, there's no known opposition to most of the things in there except for about high school graduation requirements and the testing in the the 10th grade with algebra 1 and intercourse exams. That is like 10% is contested. The rest of the 90% is just the right thing to do for the students. But I but I think politically there had to have been opposition they just didn't articulate in order to not have a house. >> The willingness of wins. Does that make sense?

044And maybe other things are traded. None of this is clean. It's like making sausage. I love it. This is I think my 38th session. And normally when something doesn't make sense, it comes back to money. But this isn't money. So okay, >> something else. >> So what is it? >> Yeah. But you're right. But we'll be back there fighting for it again because it's the right thing to do for our kids. Um student participation in intercolastic uh extracurricular sports. We've seen year after year kind of making sure that whatever choice a student makes, they have an opportunity participate in extracurricular sports. Special observances we saw we saw a lot of special observances and recognition bills this year. The first one, it's just so sad we even have to do this, but it's the right thing

045to do. Fentanol awareness and education day. Bentall is just so bad. Holocaust remebrance day. That's an amazing bill. Well, I hope no one ever forgets the Holocaust. Uh, false reporting increases penalties for individuals who make false or malicious emergency calls. That should reduce the number of threats you get that aren't real, right? So, I'm sure your staff making sure students are aware of the increased penalties, right? It should help. Kids are kids, but don't be no. Well, that's a no no bill. Uh, middle school and high school start times. That bill changed, right? Remember the previous speaker did a bill we had to start you were going to have to start at a certain time for elementary middle school and then this now you have to send in uh some reports of DOE to start

046your school times as long as you reach out to your community. >> We are fortunate that we are the one district that was already in line with that and have been for several years. So we kind of I mean we know it knew it existed but we ignored it because we do elementary then high school and then middle school and we already met the times. >> You're lucky. Mhm. >> I remember Chris telling me that, but this was a huge Oh my gosh. >> I know. For other places, it was awful. >> We got a lot of bandwidth. This one and the school safety bill that we'll talk about. Those are the two biggest bandwidth bills. 443 clarifies operational rules, expands enrollment options, and strengthens administrative fairage for charter schools. That's a big charter school

047bill. Every year there's a charter school bill, right? Charter schools. Charter schools want to be more like private schools. Public schools want to be like more like charter schools. So, you almost see like mission creep. But I'm like, why don't we just do what's best for the kids and give give everybody more flexibility and at the end of the day, you'll have more students. >> Disability history and awareness instruction. >> Do you have a question? >> I was going to say I think on that one the thing that >> jumped out the most is is that we have to open up our public schools for them to come and participate in sports and they have to give people Yeah. >> the same rights as everybody else. >> Yeah. Kim said it best. The mission creep.

048You're seeing it there, right? it it's now, you know, sort of okay, sure, but but you have to let here, here, and there. And it's, you know, again, going back to the kids, what's in the best interest, but it it's not always easy for the school districts. And so, we keep we pay attention to that. And and frankly, your delegation here and and um others across the state, you know, as we work together, we can look at ways to make sure that, no different than the scholarships, right? To make sure if it's done, it's done in a fair and equitable manner. So it's not this massive imposition um to the school districts while trying to implement a law that they think is important. Right. Ability history and awareness instruction. Bill requires K through3 to include

049lessons on bullying physical disabilities mandates autism instruction 46 learning impairments 79 and other intellectual disabilities for grades 10 through 12. It's just it's an awareness issue. Transportation 462. This this has to do with that whole thing where you can put cameras on your buses whether it's you know on the speed zone or on school buses. They made some changes to the law on how providers get paid. Gulf of America was that the first bill that was passed inside. >> I think it might have been the first. >> And remember at first we thought oh my god we're going to have to go back and change all the instructional materials and do Gulf of America. But then it was like no no no we've already purchased the books got of America. That was a big cost

050avoidance there. Could have gone either way. Diabetes management in schools. you are not nurses. You're giving information about diabetes management, making sure that you have uh glucagon, however you guys decide to do it. Um, >> my only thing on that one though is they're still stating that we have to come up with the um what has to be administered in the need it needs to be administered and they didn't fund that piece for us. That's right. All right. And it says may and it authorizes you to do it. >> Yes. >> So because they don't require you to do it the optically they don't see it as a a mandate. So it's your choice if you want to do it or if you want to get a company partner or see if there's a partnership

051you can have or your hospital or whoever. Um but you're right. There was discussion I know at the beginning that it was going to be a must or shall and it was never going to see the light of day or at least not get to the finish line. So the May is to help you sort of if you want to do it, go for it. But that's a fair point because once you're in the ball game now, you got to deal with it. >> Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program. I see like every year we're seeing more apprenticeship programs the same thing. We bringing companies to Florida. We have to make sure that the folks are trained. So what's the best way to do it? And for a while Florida was really losing apprenticeships. And so now

052we're trying to get them back so we can lure more companies to come to Florida. childcare and early learning providers. We all know what's our greatest ROI the earlier that you teach the kids and I know a lot of uh VPK funding VPK it's like a 600 million impact statewide. So they don't do that. So as much as we can do for early learning and get the students that come no matter where they choose to go better prepared they have a better chance with their own education. School social workers you would think this is I think this is year three it took right? So you have school social workers that were required to do uh demonstrate mastery of general knowledge and subject area knowledge for educator certifications or not certified teachers. But this was like

053back in the 70s when it was like if you were in the school you had to go and whether you're a school counselor or a school social worker. So they're out the schoolside colleges want to keep their requirements. School counselors are looking at changing their requirements this year. Just trying to make sure with the workforce and I think we have a shortage of school counselors. Right. So type 1 diab d di di di diabetes early detection program requires the department of health to distribute. You have to do it but they have to make it again as a partnership with department health but you have to provide information on type 1 diabetes educator preparation rep Rizzo and Snyder 875. Oh my gosh this bill is all over the place. Um EOE must convene a work group

054to revise the Florida educator accomplished practices. That's kind of done on a regular basis anyway like every 10 years. The state board must adopt uniform core curricula for teacher preparation programs. The clinical educators and mentors. The Florida Center of Teaching Excellence. Additional provisions. Districts must set minimum qualifications for part-time non-deree fine and performing arts teacher. Every once in a while you see like a little rabbit trail. It's very important, but you're looking at everything and then you're like, "Oops, what's that issue? Who was that important to?" Um, EKGs for student athletes. We knew this was coming. It's been out there there for years. It's all about student safety, participating in athletics, school readiness program. They keep they uh expand special needs eligibility and funding for school readiness providers who meet training and program standards. They're

055trying to give um incentives for those programs that show that their students are ready when they leave. They test them when they come in. They test them on the end. You guys are all familiar with that. This is a train. A train. A train. A train. Hope you like trains. Uh I think there's like five different bills in here. uh expands eligibility for the Florida academic scholar requirements to include the advanced placement capstone designation. Um that's really cool. Increases eligibility amends the volunteer hour requirements for the 40 gold seal vocational. You can just see it's a it's a not a dump. It's the um inclusion of very key education issues. Requires dual enrollment agreements to address scheduling changes and increase access. You can see the bright futures program. >> It's everything and it just keeps

056going and going. There's stuff in there in charter schools. There's um the probably the biggest conversations I've heard around is the elimination of the certificate of completion. That's been a big issue statewide. So remember that was originally Representative Valdez from Tampa, former school board member from Hillsboro County Public School District, right? And so when she testified, she would just say it was this piece of paper that meant nothing. So I had lots of conversations with her. She was very um passionate about this. And so when I talked to the Senate President's office and and the House, I was like, "Okay, what's the deal? People are going to get upset, especially now the uh ESSE parents are upset because they used to get a piece of paper, now they don't." Apparently, what was I was told

057what was happening is districts were treating students that had a co a certificate of completion differently across the state. Some districts were very good at saying, "Here's your certificate of completion and here's all your services you're eligible for. You can go to this school. You can go to this virtual. You can do this." But don't stop with this piece of paper. Other school districts just gave the piece of paper. So the intent was to make it where the DOE makes sure all students get the same information about their potential next steps and opportunities because they have a certificate of completion. So it was to uniform the information for the students and the parents with the COC. That's that's what I was told. So that seems to make sense, but there are still some people upset.

058I would not be surprised if they didn't come back. >> Go ahead, Miss Goodrich. So, are these students going to be getting anything at graduations? >> Did they get nothing? >> I have an issue with that. >> I have an issue with this. >> I anticipate this may come back. So, I don't know if y'all are looking at something for your platform or if FSBA is going to do it or if FADS is going to do it, but I see this issue coming back because the individuals um the ESSE student network out there is not happy. >> No. I mean, you saw I mean, what around mid July, right, when some reality set in on this issue, you saw there was a lot of traffic and a lot of legislators had to go in and

059try to explain away and and it and it was no matter how much there was explaining going on, they couldn't quite get there because as Kim just very well showed you, there's no certificate, right? And it's it's gone now. So, including our local delegation, assuming this is part of your platform, you know, I think with between Senator Leak and some of the others, we've got folks of influence. We need to work hard on this because there's some heartburn on this one and definitely some regret. There's some legislators that probably were were sold this and were excited about it. Say because they they were sold the part of it that Kim was talking about where kids were being just left on an island with a certificate and not told the other part of the story. Um,

060and now that they're hearing back from a lot of parents and school districts, they're saying, "Oh," and that and that happens a lot during session, right? A lot this some of this stuff, as you know, this bill was um I'm trying to think where it was on the ping pong, but it was one of the last one to go through as far as and and there was a whole lot of back and forth on getting this done and some stuff that was published and they're on one hour notice on those final days where, you know, Kim and I, you worry about 76 pages, right? these these bit these amendments are 200 pages and you're doing your best to see did they slip anything in there I don't know and then you see a question answer

061asked on the floor and you say oh but you know it's already too late to stop it unless for some reason like the whole the whole base is going to revolt so >> you have great staff and you guys have ideas if there's something like since they want to get rid of the c the certificate of completion like what was suggest what's the suggestion for the piece of paper that you could give them where it's consistent across the state and it's meaningful to the student Like there's got to be something, right? >> We are actually discussing that tomorrow at FATS. >> Wish I was there. Let me let me just clarify because I think I maybe heard it wrong. So ESC kids that don't meet the traditional definition of graduation in the state of Florida

062get nothing for completing high school. I was only referring to the COC. If if you don't meet the grad if you don't meet the requirements, you don't meet the requirements, right? It's a standard high school diploma. It has market value and there's not a whole lot of sway on that but there's nothing no alternative. >> Not that I'm aware of. Now your people might your staff are your staff aware? >> Yes. >> I can talk. >> Okay. Maybe there's an esse this was the most heartbreaking piece I felt that came out because we know that there are some um students with unique abilities and they have made progress and they've learned life skills and things like that and the fact that they'll now walk and not receive anything I I I just >> maybe they

063will maybe you're >> stuck our students will still Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, >> you guys are in a better spot. >> Still getting >> Are you back? Are you present again? >> I am. I was really upset. >> That's something that's something um that's something you might want to take to fad and share because I don't think everyone is in your place. That would be helpful to other districts. Beautiful >> workforce education. They had the workforce grant access last charter schools again to apply directly for workforce development capitalization incentive grant program. Remember when that started it was a hundred million. This year it was 40 million. That's a uh before they had to go through their school district. That's a great program because you could do CTE startup dollars. Human trafficking awareness. This is

064so sad we even need a bill. It's very important. Um That's good. We'll go the next one. It's just sad to even talk about. This is another This is another train, right? 1255. Um, updates education policies. Um, updates opioid antagonist definition, requires intervention, allows expulsion extensions based on threat management, requires parent notification eligibility for new worlds program, improves record transfers. So, a lot of stuff is in 1255 that your staff are aware of. school district reporting requirements and modifies reporting self-reporting and background screening for school employees. Adopt we we all know about the background screening and the aa clearing house students enrolled in dropout retrieval programs modifies accountability requirements for VIPS um for their virtual instruction programs. School safety, this is one that passed. We came back because everyone wants their school safes, but there

065were some things when districts were imple when y'all were actually implementing it. You did the best you could. you did exactly what was required but it didn't make sense. So I went back work with even though it was went back and made some changes and it was Senator Burgess they were open to it but it was a law enforcement supported every chain that was in the bill. Background screening of athletic coaches expands the requirement because of the AKA clearing house analysis in public and charter schools is another governing board to ensure the emergency action plan for analysis for each student and effect and accessible at all times on campus. I'm sure you're already doing that. Cardiac emergencies require school districts to provide basic training and first aid. The EKG first aid, I think you were

066probably already doing some of that. >> That was a long time coming, that one. >> Yeah. >> And then uh so that was the micro machine voice by Kim. She did such a great job uh getting there. Uh >> I almost gave you a heart attack. Other than that, we're doing good. >> So, a few others just more to put on your radar um that passed that you'll hear about if you haven't already. Um they did do a lot of on the constitutional amendment reform and that is being challenged in the courts. There's always a first amendment challenge whenever they change anything on that. Um and it'll affect some of the the the petitions that are out there right now in the field. Fluoride ban this got a lot of coverage in all the papers

067and and blogs and whatnot should but they passed that. State parks you might have heard of last summer there was discussion of maybe putting golf courses in a in a state park down in South Florida or pickle ball, what have you. um that obviously didn't go anywhere after there was both Republican and Democrat push back, but they were able to put forward a law. Senator Gail Herrell um led the way in the Senate. Um there was a lot of back and forth there, but essentially what the final law was is that it would unless there was true true consensus for whatever it is you're putting in that state park that wasn't there before, it's not going to go in. Condo law reform. They're taking another bite at this apple. This is an issue that they

068did the right thing after Surfside and trying to react and and do something to make sure that you never see another Surf Side. But as we've seen the the echo of that is the increased costs for anyone that lives in a condo. And ever since then, they've been trying to both pull that back but keep the safety parts, you know, that's a fine line to walk, right? They want to pull back the cost but keep the safety in place. They took another crack at the apple or bite at the apple this session. Um, you saw the school start time repealed. We already covered that. do package. Um, vaccine bans was in that. That's the that's sort of the COVID stuff that they did two or three years ago, extending the bans on those vaccine requirements

069for businesses and pushed it out further. And then brownfields, if you're familiar with development in the state of Florida um because taking care of our our our land and underground water and everything else wasn't always a priority. Um, districts uh whether cities or counties um we have a lot of brownfields as they they're called. And so the state's been participating funding wise as far as making it attractive for developers to go in clean it some of these super fund sites clean them up and then develop them which is a great way to you know prevent us from having to go into some of our more natural wetland areas. So, that was a good win for just in general Florida bills that failed, but we do think will be back. Um, property insurance, hemp regulation, E-Verify,

070as you probably know, uh, E-Verify for private businesses is if you're below if you're over 25 employees, and it was only for people that you hired since it went into effect two or three years ago. So, the almost 80% of the companies in Florida are 25 employees or less. So, E-Verify does not affect them. There's always talk of maybe putting that in place. um college university presidential searches. This got a lot of coverage after the bill failed because obviously there was a certain school in Gainesville that had a candidate that only had one finalist and that finalist didn't get approved by bog. Um so I think that will be back. Gun law changes. This is a constant. Ever since the Parkland tragedy and they passed that legislation that put some bans on long arm rifles

071and and bump stocks, there's been folks that have moved to repeal it. And in every year in in first couple years it didn't do much, but in the last couple years the House has always passed it. The Senate hasn't touched it. But you probably are very familiar with the recent first DCA ruling on open carry. Um, and now open carry is at least according to our attorney general and most of the sheriffs are abiding by that. Open carry is the law of the land now in the state. My guess is you'll continue to see more changes in the gun laws at two. One, because they're going to have to now pass something because if open carry, the way Florida works, some of you probably your legal staff probably knows open carry and concealed carry were

072um sort of intertwined in the statutes. And so by getting rid of the ban on open carry, you now have a bunch of loopholes like where certain buildings, and I'm not trying to freak anyone out, you couldn't have a concealed weapon, but you could have an open open carry weapon. That seems like an odd not meant to happen. and I'm talking government buildings or other public public places. So, they're going to obviously address some of those. Um, CRAAS, um, most counties, especially urban areas, have rely a lot on CRAAS for development in the state. There was a bill that was going to significantly overhaul that. It didn't make it to the finish line. There's a big DBPR deregulation bill that didn't make it to the finish line. And then, of course, sovereign immunity. Um, it's

073been 11 years since the state has done anything when it comes to sovereign immunity. Um, and so as a result, it's still right where it's at at 200, 300,000. Um, but every year that goes by, I think the drum beat gets a little louder um, for folks to do something about it and increase the caps. The obviously the trial bar, think about it, the billboard attorneys, as they're sometimes referred to. Um, they're beating the drum pretty loudly to to to reform sovereign immunity. Um, and what they want is to move it up into the million, two million range, which is maybe a bridge too far for a lot of folks. if it what we keep hearing is if it if they land that plane, they'll land it right in the middle, probably four or 500,000

074new caps, maybe six on the high end to to line it up with what would be basically the increase over time of cost of things over 11 years. Um, it failed again, but it will be back next session. And like I said, every session we get further away from it, I think it makes it more likely they'll pass something just out of fairness, right? They feel like it's not fair that it's stuck at two and 300. So free radar. Um, tort reform, I brought that up. some of those died. And then a couple issues to put on your radar and we'd love to answer any more questions that maybe didn't pop up. I think redistricting is happening. You've been hearing a lot about that on congressional. Let me be be clear. Um you've heard President

075Trump say he wants it. Um you've heard the governor say that he wants it and two things could happen, right? There's reaportionment where we could get an additional seat and President Trump has signaled that they may even go through that exercise and give us one extra seat. Many people believe that we were going to get and instead of one but two extra seats what five years ago. Um but the governor has signaled regardless of whether we there's reortionment with additional seats he wants redistricting. He thinks the seats were drawn improperly because of co and all that and we didn't have enough info. The house has said set aside a committee. The senate has not. Senate's been kind of crickets on that so far. But my guess just given the the fact that the guy in

076DC wants it and I call it like the eighth law of physics. If you have a Republican president, your Republican governor and Republican legislature is likely going to do what that Republican president wants you to do. Um, I think it'll happen. You've heard a lot about vaccines. This is going to have direct impacts on y'all. Um, that the surgeon general of the state of Florida and the governor has come out saying they want to pull back a lot of the requirements on vaccines. Um, there was an immediate push back from a lot of representatives and senators, Republican and Democrat or at least a I need to know more and I need to see some studies kind of talk that you see. But I think it's going to be pushed and we'll see where it lands.

077Property tax, we've covered that already, but that drum beat and you hear Florida Doge, you're going to hear more and more and more of that. Um, social media, you know, a couple weeks ago there was an awful tragedy. um uh you know and and a lot of it played out on social media and I think again kind of going to the physics of how stuff gets done. You can't have an event like that that had the eyeballs of the entire country and not be not be surprised that legislation comes out of it. And one of the things will be in social media. So you'll see some impacts there as far as censor not censor real time not real time renaissance we mentioned it that will be back and tort reform issues we expect will be

078back. And when you do request a copy of these, I promise you where those that black rectangle is, there's some beautiful pictures Kim and I came up with to put in each one of these slides. Sorry you don't get to see them. Uh, couple things put on your radar. Obviously, this is top of mind for Kim and I. Committee weeks are going to be here before you know it. In fact, two weeks from now, October 6th, we'll start. They go back toback in October. Then November um, two weeks, December, two weeks, and then January 13th, uh, they will be starting session. So, we'll be right back at it with a wrap-up of I hope March 13th. Let's not have another add like I think the top education issues that maybe we'll be facing this session.

079I think AI, artificial intelligence is going to be probably something on it. Remember the White House came out with their executive order. There's been chatter around here want to make sure the teachers are still the teachers in the classroom and they're enhancing the teachers, but the AI is not the teacher, right? So, I see something about that. Um, attendance. remember that was that chronic absenteeism bill last year and districts across the state define uh absenteeism differently. Um scholarship student ID numbers so we can track the students where they move easier overall just funding the K12 system. Are they going to change the FFP? Are they going to put the scholarships like the Florida virtual school or the Florida schools deaf and blinds where it gets its own number within the FEFP so it doesn't go

080through the districts that'll be back. I think mental health, remember there was legislation that passed that Opaga is going to do a survey on mental health services. The legislature wants to make sure that the mental health allocation money is being used for services. We all saw what happened last year when there was a survey about the uh dual enrollment. Remember everything we almost lost that money that fight last year. So, mental health services looking at the impact of federal funding decisions and then also I anticipate something coming up about facilities and the use of facilities with the declining enrollment in the public school system. I just want to put those on your radar. >> So, any qu go ahead Miss Brosmer. >> Just one broad question. Do you anticipate ha has there been a thaw

081um between the legislature and the governor so to hopefully not have this session go like last session >> did >> we're going to turn off the broadcast right and we can just speak freely. Uh no uh look you know depending on the day I'll take this one I'll take the bullets that I get for this Kim uh spare you today. Um you know it's tough to say. Um I some of this you can only base on public comments, right? And some of it you you hear when we talk to members or folks on the government governor's team. Um I I don't think it's where it's at during session. That's that's good news. Um has it been a full thaw? Tough to say, right? Like you heard it got fever pitch again when the speaker and

082a lot of his members were in the White House a couple weeks ago. U they had some, it was national, but a bunch of state legislative members from across the country. And then there was a whole lot of pictures of the speaker with the president walking down that hall, that outside hallway you always see, right? And then immediately after, is the speaker being recruited to run for AG? Is he doing this? Which just stoke the flames of the the speaker versus the governor kind of discussions. You know, election years tend to bring out the brighter side of folks as I've noticed, right? Because most of these members, now the speaker and the governor are both turned out, right? So maybe not them, but most of these members have to go home and run for reelection.

083Um, half the Senate, all the House members that aren't termed out. And so as a result, you see sort of people sunnier disposition because they want to bring home nice things, not just chaos and and bitterness, right? So maybe that's polyianish, but it seems like every election year that the vetos are a little less. Um, the budget's a little rosier um because they don't want to go into to the election season with just everyone mad at each other, right? Does the governor's last act as governor before he does whatever he does in the future, and I don't think we're expecting him to just ride off in the sunset, he has other goals and ambitions there, you know, does his last act as a governor just slashing and burning a budget and vetoing everyone's, you know,

084policy. Not great if you're trying to set yourself up for future success with these folks. So, you tend to see people's better side. That said, I haven't heard of a clear thaw of like they're they're hanging out now, but um you know, one can hope. >> Thank you. >> For anyone watching, please don't get mad at me. Okay. >> Any other questions? Thank you very much. And we appreciate the time that you took today to come and share this with us and we appreciate all of the updates you give us throughout the year. >> We hope next session ends a little earlier so we can do this presentation, you know, not, you know, a week before committees week start. We're we're honored to be part of the team. We love working with y'all and your

085staff. And I was just talking with uh board member Bosmer. You know, when you're in Tallahassee, let us know. Obviously, you have you know, your local delegation, and I'd be shocked if they don't open up their doors and greet you right away, but Kim and I and the rest of the team want to make sure anytime you're up there, even for a quick visit, it's productive and it helps both you and your your district. Um and obviously advances our priorities. So thanks for letting us be a part of the team and we hope our right at an hour I think so you know could have been longer. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We are now moving on to item 3.01 the halfsent sales tax project oversight committee 2025 annual report. Dr. Balabin. >> Yeah

086thank you um chair Haynes. I would like to ask Mr. Cash our chief of staff along with Mr. Jay Clammers, our CPA from Charles uh Belote and Associates and also the members from our oversight uh committee to join us. They have a short presentation for us today on behalf of the half a cent sales tax annual report. >> Oh, thank you. Um >> I I see Diane Smith, our wonderful, she serves on the committee. Would you like to join or >> I can't We can get another chair. I'm not going to recognize them. >> Okay, >> you can pull another chair. >> Well, we have two more. We would need two more chairs. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's >> We have chairs. >> I've got questions. >> You guys are always doing so much work behind

087the scene. >> Come on. >> Just come on up and show your beautiful faces here. >> Come to the front. >> Have my seat, Diane. [Laughter] We appreciate all of you taking the time to come here today, too, because this is a voluntary position. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we've got everybody situated. >> Child benefits. >> That's right. So, thank you, um, Chair Haynes, board member, Superintendent Balgabin. So, as you alluded to, we're here to talk about the project oversight, uh, committee, our annual book report. Before we get into the actual presentation of the book itself that Jake will do, I've just got a few remarks that I wanted to to share. And thank you, Jake, for coming here uh and helping us with this. And Jake's been part of this committee since uh 2016.

088So, this obviously aligns with our guard rails and our strategic plan. Guardrail 3 to improve operational efficiency and maximize resource to support student learning. And guardrail for ensure high quality community engagement with all of our stakeholders. And if you look at this slide, basically it talks about the fact that a project oversight committee was established um when this referendum was passed. I won't read you that slide, but I thought this was a an important moment to take a a second to be thankful uh in 2001 when this went on the ballot and was approved by our voters to have the 0.5 cent sales sir tax added to uh fund school capital improvements, technology construction, and fix capital costs. And in 2001 is when this committee was formed to have this oversight. In addition, in August

089of 2014, uh the school board voted to put it back on the ballot and happy to report that it was approved again, which brings this all the way to December 31st, 202031 that we have this. And not only should we be thanking the taxpayers of Alia County, but also all the people that come to our wonderful county that spend their money that also helps contribute to this. So, it's not just funded by our our local residents. It's funded by everybody across quite frankly the world that decides to come and visit beautiful Valuchia County. Now, you're going to hear in the presentation that Jake lays out to you some of the projects that have happened this year, some of the big projects in the schools, but just a very brief historical, and this is not encompassing

090everything, but we need to point these out because I think it's important that the citizens know this in case they don't. So, Pearson Elementary came from this, the entire school replacement that opened in 2018. Chisum Elementary, a school replacement that was phased through construction on the same site we built at. George Marks Elementary, Westside Elementary with new classrooms and administration building and expanded pickup area. Tamoka Elementary, which we opened last year, Terry T Elementary, which we opened last year, athletic facility upgrades at various high schools, and all of the things that we've talked about before, particularly, and we just heard some of our legislative friends when we had 1473 and 1470. This fund allowed us to be able to put some of those security enhancements in place that we desperately needed. As you alluded to,

091I want to take a moment and thank the citizens uh uh that serve on this committee. So, it is it consists of six private citizens and one member of the school system, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge them. Not all of them are here, but some are sitting next to me. Um we have Major General Russell Sandborn, who's not with us, but he's new to the committee this year and has been a great addition. We have Miss Sandy Bishop who's not able to be with us, but Sandy, I guess I guess it's okay to say this. Sy's the OG for the young folks. I mean, she's one of the original that has been on this committee since the very beginning. Mr. Jason Meyers, we've had Jason at the last few meetings, and

092Jason is very enthusiastic, wanted to be here, but was unable to. Jake Lamers, of course, who's sitting next to me, Diane Smith, and Miss Meredith Ayanucci, who's right here as well. So, we want to thank these citizens who give their time freely to come and serve on this project oversight committee. And so, uh, at that particular moment, uh, along with the, uh, kind of the introduction and the background of this, I'll turn it over to Jake to kind of go through the book. Jake. Oh, wait. I would be remiss. Sorry, Miss Dolly V. Verman right here. Dolly, we cannot thank you enough. Um, for all Dolly does to help with this. She's she's kind of the the rock that keeps us all grounded. So, thank you, Dolly. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Cash. And

093thank you all for having us here again. It's very nice to see everyone. Um, and then also I wanted to thank Mitch Aton. Uh, he was a longtime committee member since inception. Um, a a great asset, put in a a ton of work with us over the the the past seven years or or however long we've we've been on this thing. Um, he resigned this this past year and we definitely wish him the best and and thank him for all he's done. Um, our committee's full report, uh, I think it's about 72 pages. It's been published. It's on our website. This presentation is not going to be 72 slides. We're just going to highlight a a few things that were accomplished. Um, our committee meets at least quarterly. Uh, and then kind of as a

094onneed basis as as questions come up or things that are need to be addressed. Um uh few highlights of the year. Uh first off, sales tax revenue itself. I think it came in at approximately 67 million collected this past fiscal year. Um just to put that in perspective, the the first year 2017 um when the current resolution was adopted was 41 million. So that's over a $25 million increase since then. Uh over 50% for us numbers guys. Um so it's a substantial, you know, collection and and use for for the district. Uh obviously two major accomplishments were the the two new schools that are recently completed. Uh both Stark Elementary and Orange City Elementary. uh I believe Stark had their ribbon cut recently and and is coming up >> in Orange Cities is is right

095around the corner. So two huge accomplishments that the district should obviously be very proud of. Um uh aligning kind of with the uh rest of the highlights of the year would be the second STEM bus was launched. Um, from what I have heard, they are very wellreceived by everyone. Um, and I think they've actually served over 10,000 visitors to date. So, again, a great thing that we've we've seen the county be able to accomplish. Uh, technology-wise, the district was able to double the number of student devices purchased this this past year. Um, and doing so in advance made them readily available for the start of this coming school year. Also, 1,200 staff devices and 400 interactive flat panels were purchased with half half cent sales tax funds. And if I could add to that, I

096know Dr. is over there, but we could not in Valuchia County offer this level of technology to our students one- on-one. The flat panel screens that I just saw Dr. when I was able to visit Stark yesterday. I mean magnificent without this particular mechanism to fund it. So yeah fantastic great thing there. Um security and safety that's always a major focus. Um they were able to complete uh a bunch of fencing and access control points upgrading several schools throughout the county. And also the the major security camera upgrade I think was scheduled to be completed between 23 and 2028 is ahead of schedule and might be done by the end of the year. >> Our secondary are there and our elementary are fully on the way and I can get you guys an update but

097we're ahead of schedule. Yes, we are. >> Yeah. So, so again, a great job by the the staff there. Um, athletics, physical physical education improvements, uh, some some improved field lining was completed, reserviced some lots and also reclaimed water connections to the athletic facilities. Um, so across the board, a lot of accomplishments that that everyone should be proud of, especially the staff that pulls this off. we as a uh oversight committee, we obviously ask the questions and you know uh do what we can, but it's it's you you really do have an amazing staff that can actually pull this off. And if I could add just a couple of things, I know that's on this slide, the the science classroom remodeling, and I know Sandy Bishop is listening because that's one that Sandy's paid attention

098to. And I know some of our middle schools have already had some of these science labs refurbished. And having been a middle school principal, I tell you, they are very appreciative of that. And so that's a that's another great thing. And one other thing that's talked about a lot at the committee that doesn't necessarily come up in this setting is I don't think the public realizes sometimes how this helps out. One thing that's very important in Florida and we hear about it if it's not working is air condition. I know Miss Core does as well. And so when we when we look at some of our schools that people don't understand how massive our chiller plants are and all it takes for HVAC to work in this district and this again this half cent sales

099tax allows us to keep our students and our faculty and staff for the most part almost every day in very comfortable learning conditions. >> Yes. Yes. And again uh again with these highlights also there's some challenges that that are being faced currently. Obviously that you know you can't control the weather, storms, flooding, I don't want to say hurricanes and jinx it but you know all these will cause delays on on all these major product uh projects. Uh material costs, availability, inflation, potential tariffs. I mean this is every all types of items that that they have to plan for and and encounter. Um continued maintenance as Mr. Cash just said. I mean, here in Florida, the heat's a constant battle with these HVAC systems. I mean, it's just uh something that's always has to be kept

100up with. Um challenges and changes in the economic landscape that can affect our sales tax revenue even though it's kind of been in our favor recently. Uh and growth. uh I mean not only trying to finish current projects in a timely manner but uh projecting for the future and and what's needed with with people moving around and and it's just a a sign significant challenge to to be able to do all at once. Um but uh we as an oversight committee feel that the the staff has done a great job in um dealing all these challenges as they come and I will tell you I would encourage all the citizens if you get a moment go and look at the book that that Jake is highlighting here that the committee is talking about and I

101see chair Haynes is holding up a hard copy there and the board members have them superintendent as well. When you go through that book and you look and you see what has been accomplished because the taxpayers of this county approved this, it's it's incredible and it's massive and it's something that to be proud of. And quite frankly, I know there are other districts across the state and probably across the country that are quite jealous that Valuchia County has the citizens in this community that had the foresight way back when in 2001, 20 plus years ago to be able to fund this referendum for our uh school system. So, we're very appreciative. Absolutely. Um, and then was this. All right. And then I just have the the excerpt directly from our report uh to summarize our

102our feelings for the year. As we close this year's report, the public oversight committee reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the funds generated by the half sales tax are used responsibly, effectively, and transparently. The residents of Lucia County entrusted the district with these resources to enhance our educational facilities, and it is our duty to demonstrate that their investment is producing meaningful results for students and the community. This year, the district made significant progress on major capital projects. Two long-awaited school rebuilds, Orange City Elementary and Stark Elementary are now complete and will welcome students in September 2025. These new campuses represent the type of transformational change that the sale half sales tax was designed to deliver, ensuring safe, modern learning environments for generations to come. Technology investments have also remained a priority. By strategically combining half

103sales tax revenue with pandemic era grant funding, the district was able to purchase double the usual quantity of student devices, building six-month inventory, and avoiding sharp cost increases. While recent tariffs have created new challenges in equipping staff, the foresight shown in managing student technology demonstrates responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The success of the district's first STEM bus led to expansion of that program. The district added a second mobile classroom in April 2025 focused on middle school students. The new STEM bus will begin visiting campuses this fall, bringing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics experience to more students than ever before. The renovation of middle school science classrooms, a longstanding initiative championed by the public oversight committee made notable progress this year with a completion of upgrades to two classrooms. Plans are in place to renovate an

104additional two classrooms annually, steadily enhancing these critical learning environments. Athletics and physical education have also seen important enhancements across all high schools from improved field lining to resurface courts and reclaimed water connections. These upgrades are strengthening the facilities where students compete, learn teamwork, and build lifelong healthy habits. Financially, revenue from this have sales tax and continued its steady upward trend reflecting both strong community support and growth in the local economy. Importantly, a significant portion of this revenue comes from tourists, helping to reduce the tax burden on Baluchi County residents while still investing in the future of our schools. Even as cost of construction and materials rise, the district continues to work closely with neighboring municipalities and school districts to review best practices and manage expenditures carefully. These efforts are essential to sustain the value of

105every dollar collected. Finally, transparency remains the cornerstone of success. The public oversight committee strongly encourages the district to expand efforts to publicize halfsent projects via signage, social media, and through the district's website. Keeping the community well informed is critical to sustaining support for current and future initiatives. Public awareness will be critical as a district looks ahead to the future. The public oversightes project oversight committee is proud of the progress made this year and looks forward to seeing the continued impact of these investments through the half cent sales tax. I remain steadfast in his commitment to transparency, collaboration, and accountability. the district can ensure that the half sales tax continues to serve as a powerful tool for building a stronger future for all students in Valuchia County schools. >> Mr. Col. >> And so I want

106to say thank you. You know, before we're schoolboard members, we're neighbors. And I'm proud to be Dian's neighbor. Not next door neighbor, but neighbor. And and so almost. And so I'm grateful to each and every one of you for taking your time to ensure that as taxpayers, which you know we are before we do this and and as neighbors, that um the oversight is is there on the spending. I also want to uh thank you all for your uh if I remember correctly, it was last year you all came and said, "We've got some concerns. We've got to spend some money. We need to do stuff around the science arena. what's going on there. We And so it's either last year or the year before. I don't know. I think it was last year. Uh

107and so I'm I'm glad to see I was looking at the recommendations and it seems like we're either meeting or exceeding that goal. So I want to say first of all, thank you to staff who of course executes this. And second of all, thank you to you all for bringing that to our attention as a result of that. Uh as you said, more than 10,000 students have gone through that STEM bus. And if you haven't been on it, it's super cool. And so again, thank you >> Thompson. >> Thank you. I too wanted to say thank you for all of you for volunteering on this because I know you're all very busy and so to take time to do this is phenomenal. So thank you for that. But also I encourage everyone to take a

108look at this book because there's so much in here. The safety and security part I love. But if you go through and see how much has been accomplished in I mean all across the county. It's not just one district. It's not just one area. all across to make our schools better in so many different ways. Um whether it's renovations, new classrooms, athletics, whatever it is, it's all over the place. So, thank you guys for making sure that everything's diversified across the entire county and all the different categories. Appreciate that. >> Good. Rich, thank you guys for all that you do and your meetings are always um very exciting to listen to and learn from. So, uh, we get asked a lot, where does our tax, where do our tax dollars go? And so, this is

109a great example of where our tax dollars go and you hit on a key point of this and that such a large portion of this revenue comes from tourists that are paying um as they visit and it's going directly to benefit our children. So, how imperative is it that this continue on in the future? >> Oh, it's it's of the utmost importance. Um, and I think the proof is in the pudding. All's alls the citizens have to do is take a look at this book or ask any of you or ask any school employee. We're happy to share the things that have been accomplished. >> So, what can we as a board do um to help with that? I >> I think I think this is a step we continue to talk about it. Um

110it was a recommendation in the book. I think we're going to up our efforts to publicize this more so that when citizens see things in our county that are getting done, they know that part of the sales tax contributed to that building or to that STEM bus or to I know these are conversations we've had at the actual committee meetings themselves. That's another area I think we could improve. >> And are we I know we talked about in that that in the committee meetings. Are we actually posting when there's something being paid for by our tax our sales tax dollars at work? Is that happening where it says your sales tax dollars at work? Is there a sign going up? And have we looked further into putting it on the STEM buses as well? >>

111Yeah, that's absolutely those things that we've discussed are in the process of getting that accomplished. Yes. And I know you and and Miss Bishop and others on the committee, rightfully so, have said we need to champion this. We've done this. Are we doing a good enough job of letting everybody know where this money is going and we're going to continue to get better at that. I think we've done a good job, but we can always do better. >> What would need to happen so that those signs and stuff can go up? What's holding it back from happening? >> I don't have the answer to I don't want to misspeak, but I will find that out and get it to you very very shortly. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Balman. >> Yeah, I think Patty already

112put those signs there in order for Yeah. for constructions. But I just wanted to say, you know, you kept talking about all the shared some of the projects and how our staff has worked really hard. Thank you for acknowledging that because recently I had a conversation with the chair after we uh did a ribbon cutting for Stark and we said boy we we start doing some recollecting recollection in terms of the past three years and all of the projects that that we've been able to accomplish together. But that also means that you're taking time off out of your b busy schedule to be steadfast in committing your time to our students. So, I want to thank you for that because you do a lot of work behind the scene and I've met many of you

113prior to even assuming this role and you have been steadfast. You've been doing this for a number of years which pretty much shows how committed you are to our county and our students. So on behalf of our staff and our students, I want to say thank you because I know you all of you leave uh live busy lives, but you still take the time to meet and to give us a listen and ear, but most important to work in a collaborative way because I truly believe that when we come together and we work together, we're a much stronger Valuchia County. So you have helped us to make our county as strong as it is. So thank you so very much. And so I'd like to close up with the fact that um when we did

114the ribbon cutting on Friday, we gave a shout out to all of you and let everyone know and we had approximately 200 people at that ribbon cutting. The media center was packed full of community members, former employees, former students that attended Stark. And it was it was a wonderful opportunity. But we let them know that every one of you volunteers on this to oversee it. And I said, "So just think that half a cent. Look at what it did." And I said, "We're standing right now in a building that helped build that that we wouldn't have for those students." And I know you don't realize this, but even some of the students out there, especially at the high school level, they track some of the projects that you're working on tied to their um high

115school because at the beginning of the school year, I got a phone call from one of them and her thing was, "What about the tennis courts at Dand?" Like, where are the tennis courts at Dand falling right now? because our DNA tennis team had been playing over um in the Earl Brown Park area and there the city's taking away their tennis courts. They're going to turn them into pickle ball and everything, but the young ladies and this was the girls tennis team. They said to me, "It's not safe over there, Miss Haynes. You know, we're we can't really go into the restrooms. We don't feel safe going into the restrooms and as it gets darker there in the evening." And so they're hoping that and theirs is on the list. It's in the book. I

116can now say to them, "Look, hey, it's in the book. It's budgeted." But they're just excited that they're going to get the tennis courts at Dand High refinished so that they can come back and they can play on campus in a safe way. So I just I don't think you realize the impact that you make through volunteering, but you make such an impact because we're putting students into, you know, state-of-the-art schools. We're making sure they have state-of-the-art technology, access to science and the and the STEM buses and everything, but we're more importantly, like you said earlier, we're keeping the air conditioning running. And that is a huge thing in Florida because I'll tell you right now, we want to upset parents, students, teachers, staff. The air's not on at a school. And we will hear

117from every one of them. But thank you so very much. And and this is a this is a great book. I actually think it's probably one of the ones that's laid out the best. Um it's very easy to read this one this year to see what's completed, what's in progress, and what's coming up. And so, thank you. And I would encourage everyone to go on and take a look at it and see all the work that's been done. But we appreciate you and thank you for being here today. >> Thank you guys very much. >> Thanks so much. [Applause] We are now moving on to item 4.02 because we changed the order and we're going to the gifted update. Dr. Bamin. Yes, madame chair. Miss Copelan and Miss Beverly is here and they have a

118presentation for us. Rakia Beverly, she's our a resource teacher from our ESC department. They will provide to us here today a short update on our gifted programs. >> Well, good afternoon. Yes, good afternoon. Good afternoon, Chair Haynes, members of the school board, and superintendent Dr. Balgabin. Thank you for this opportunity to share about our gifted services here in Valuchia County. So, as Dr. Balgamin stated, I have Rakia Beverly here with me and she will help me with this presentation this afternoon. So, our presentation supports policies 303, which governs our special programs and procedures for exceptional students along with policy 307 that outlines our instructional practices. We will focus today on guardrail 2 provide conditions that enhance student learning. Today I will provide an overview of our gifted services with a focus on what services are

119provided at the elementary level. I would like to begin by highlighting Dr. Balgabin's leadership in this work. Under her guidance, even when a deputy super even when she was a deputy superintendent, Valuchia County Schools has been intentional about collaborating with other districts across Florida such as Penllis and Simol to share best practices, expand opportunities, and strengthen the services we provide for our gifted learners. This spirit of collaboration ensures that we are not working in isolation, but instead leveraging the best thinking statewide to benefit our students and teachers. So Florida defines a gifted student as one who demonstrates superior intellectual development and is capable of high performance. Students may qualify through two pathways. The first is demonstrating a need for special services showing a majority of gifted learner characteristics and scoring two standard deviations above the

120mean on a standardized intelligence test. Secondly, through the identification as part of an unrepresented group, including our students who are English language learners or who are students who come from a low socioeconomic background, provided they meet the criteria in our district approved plan. This ensures access for all students with gifted potential. It is also important to clarify the distinction between gifted services and gifted programs. Gifted services refer to the instructional strategies, supports, and specialized approaches we embed into our classrooms to meet the needs of our gifted learners. A program, on the other hand, refers to a specific model. Both are important, but the services ensure that regardless of the model, every identified gifted learner receives the instruction they meet need to meet their unique needs. So beyond eligibility, the state requires that all gifted students

121have an educational plan or what we call an EP. This written plan serves as a guiding document of services for students. The EP ensures services, goals, and supports that are individualized to each student. The EP is developed in a very collaborative format. This includes parents and or guardians, teachers, our gifted specialists, and when appropriate, the student. The plan must include the students current performance levels, measurable goals, and specific services to be provided, and how progress will be monitored. EPS are formally reviewed every 3 years to ensure that services continue to meet the students evolving needs. So in Valuchia we do a universal screener at in second grade and the students take the NNAT nonverbal ability test. This standardized language-free assessment is designed to measure a general a students general reasoning and problem solving abilities through

122visual patterns and geometric shapes. Students who meet the threshold score and additional criteria may be referred for a full evaluation. Additionally, referrals can be made at any time if a student demonstrates indicators of giftedness. So on the screen you see our district gifted screening criteria checklist. This is a tool we use to ensure consistency and compliance when determining which students may qualify for gifted services in Valuchia County. The checklist establishes a clear and standard process. It helps us identify students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and the need for accelerated instruction. It also ensures that we are meeting state guidelines and providing access for all students while allowing flexibility for individual student needs. At the elementary level, we provide two models of service delivery. 14 schools host full-time gifted services by feeder pattern serving all eligible

123and place students. In addition, we have four schools that offer part-time gifted resource services which provide support to students identified as gifted learners and extend enrichment opportunities to high achieving students. On the chart that you see on the screen, it outlines our feeder patterns for this school year. It shows how gifted services are distributed geographically to ensure access to students across our vast county. This structure provides consistency and clarity at the elementary level. These schools are designed to serve all eligible and place students with peers who share similar learning needs. The full-time model follows allows for indepth differentiation, acceleration, and advanced curriculum opportunities align with both state standards and our Florida frameworks for gifted learners. This is often the best fit for students whose needs cannot be met in the general education classroom alone. There

124are no feeder patterns for our middle and high schools as each school at the secondary level offers gifted services. In addition to the full-time models just discussed, four elementary schools provide part-time resource services. This looks different at each school, but some examples are the model serves eligible students and high achieving giving high achievers, giving them access to advanced enrichment while still participating at their zone school. Students typically attend resource sessions weekly where instruction focuses on critical thinking, problem solving, and project-based learning. This model provides flexibility and extends access to the gifted education, making it possible to serve more students and adapt to the specific needs of each school community. Together, our full-time and part-time structures ensure that we're meeting the diverse needs across our district. All teachers of gifted learners in core subject areas must

125either be fully endorsed or actively working towards that endorsement. The state requires five endorsement courses. Each course is 60 hours. Teachers out of field must complete two courses the first year, two courses the second year, and finish the third course in their final in the third year, the fifth course in their third year. To support our teachers, Valuchia County offers these courses free to all teachers all year long. And our instruction of gifted learners combines the Florida best standards with the Florida framework for gifted learners. Instructional strategies include curriculum compacting, differentiated learning, flexible pacing, project-based learning, and a strong emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving. We prioritize student choice and ensure that learning experiences are both challenging and meaningful. It is a central priority for Dr. Balgabin that she has ensured that both teachers

126and students have access to a viable, rigorous, and engaging curriculum. Gifted education is simply not about acceleration. It's about depth. It's about complexity and the opportunities to challenge our learners to think critically, problem solve creative creatively and extend their learning beyond the grade level expectations. So in closing, as a district, we stay committed to not only maintaining but strengthening the work that we do for our gifted learners. This means enhancing the professional development we provide teachers, expanding opportunities for identification, and ensuring that every student who qualifies has meaningful access to gifted instruction. We want our families and our community members to know that gifted education is not an afterthought. It is a vital part of our mission to ensure that we engage students in high levels of learning every day. So, thank you for your

127time and I will open it up to questions and discussion. >> Mrs. Rosmer, >> I I want to thank you for all of this um especially for the fact that you fleshed out a lot of the the um slides and provided more context. I I do especially appreciate that. I have a few questions and and a couple of observations, but I want to start out with some of the feedback I got from uh how responsive the staff has been to some of the requests at Tamoka. um in particular uh splitting the first graders and the kinder kids um into their own classes. Uh the the first note I got which I did share with uh with the board um but there there's one uh paragraph in particular uh I will let you know if you

128don't already that the kindergarten and first grade class was split up officially today. My daughter among many other first graders said it was a peaceful great learning day. And then because I thanked that mom for for letting me know that, she said, here are a few other um comments she got as feedback. She said uh and and these are comments from the kids. It was the best day ever because it was so quiet. Uh mom said best behavior he's gotten since school started. It was an amazing day. And the last one is Mrs. Kimmel was so nice today because there weren't any kinder kindergarteners. Like no more stressing out or anything. So they were very grateful. The parents and the kids were very grateful for for your responsiveness to their concerns and and the uh

129the the issues that they raised. Uh there are a couple of things that just a couple of observations in going looking at FDOE's description of uh gifted programs and and their overview of it. Couple of things that I think the state could do better. Uh one is in their definition of what is a gifted child because gifted kids aren't just smarter. They they think differently. their their uh their critical thinking skills, their their memory is quicker and and um broader. Their abstract thinking um they they um their sensory um responses are more intense than than the average child. Uh so their social emotional skills are advanced and their communication skills are also advanced. So, I think it would be helpful if the if the state's description of of what is a gifted child was a

130little bit broader than than what they have on their website, which is which is what you gave us. I I also uh had to kind of make a mental note of the relationship in the way the state evaluates our grading system for for schools and districts. Um that learning gains get short shrift for gifted students because once you're at a four or a five, there isn't any place for you to go and we get so much credit from learning gains that I would really like for the state to find some way to accommodate the success of the of the gifted kids um in in a more tangible way. Um beyond that, I have a couple of questions. Um, if if a if a teacher isn't fully certified, do they have to have do they have

131to have reached a certain level of their certification um before they can teach a even if they're not finished before they can teach a gifted class. And what I'm equating it to, and you tell me where I'm wrong here, is um is a person with a a learner's permit uh to drive. They are allowed to drive with a fully licensed driver, but they're not allowed to drive with somebody who doesn't have a permit. I mean, it doesn't have a driver's license. So, how do we how do we accommodate that um part of the process? So teachers have the opportunity to be out of field for one year, but when you are pursuing your gifted endorsement, you have to finish two classes within that first year in order to continue to teach gifted learners. If not,

132you will not be able to teach gifted learners until you have completed the courses. >> And and are they in with a fully certified gifted teacher as they're learning or are they in the class alone? >> They're in the class alone. So remember our the gifted um the gifted endorsement, it's not a certification, it's an endorsement. So they're certified teachers that are pursuing a gifted endorsement. And so when we have teachers pursuing a gifted endorsement, this is where we have Miss Beverly because she supports not only our new teachers to um teaching gifted learners, but all of our gifted services, all of our teachers that provide gifted services at the elementary level. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, is there such a thing as counselors who are trained to work with gifted students or is that

133just our counselors just more broadly for everybody? >> School counselors are more broadly for everyone. >> Okay. Um I think probably the the last thing I want to mention is that um I I asked the the parents who had been in touch with me to let me know if there was anything additional that wasn't included in the presentation. And the only comment I got back that I thought should be I should pass on is that um uh one of the parents said she felt like there was a slide missing and that had to do with the process the parents have to go through in order to get their kids into gifted programs. Um she mentioned um things like the fact that they have to get their paperwork in by May 15th, but they don't don't

134find out if their child has been assigned to a class. In her case, it was until the day before meet the teacher. And and so she um I think it probably would be helpful for a parent to fill in those blanks with you to give them uh to give you a sense of what it's like for them to implement that process. and see if there might be ways to to streamline it somehow or make it um make it more efficient for both the parents and the school. >> I would love to speak with that parent, but there is a difference in when we evaluate versus when a parent gets a private evaluation and then we have to take that evaluation. Our school psychologist verifies that it is an a viable and accurate evaluation and then

135once that's done then we can have the um eligibility meeting for the student to be placed in the to receive gifted services. Okay, that that's helpful, too. And and I'll be glad to pass it on, but I greatly appreciate your help this uh I was going to say this morning, today, whatever time it is. >> Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Just a couple questions. So, thank you for all you do. Um, what does like a day in the life of a gifted student in elementary school look like in a full-time gifted program versus part-time? >> So, two things I want to say. The first time in a full-time gifted program, the student is with the teacher just like in every other classroom in elementary, but the things that they are doing are different in terms of

136the pace of the curriculum, how we tackle the curriculum looks different. For our part-time students, there's two things that happen in part-time. Sometimes in part-time, there is a teacher that is there with them full day, but sometimes they go to a different classroom for maybe a session just for one week, depending on how their EP is written. >> Okay. So, in full-time, they're in a class of all gifted kids. >> Yes. >> All day long. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um, and since it's only offered at certain schools, how are the kids transported from other schools that are gifted that don't have gifted program at their school? >> So, because we've created these feeder pattern, we provide transportation to those schools. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I was hoping you would say that, >> Miss

137Thompson. Thank you. And so I I know I've said before that my kids are in the gifted. So they do the half day or part-time gifted program and I love that you guys are so hands-on and thank you so much. You answer calls and emails very quickly. Every parent that I've sent your way, you all responded instantly. So thank you for that attention to detail and for going out to the schools and visiting. I know Miss Beverly, I've seen pictures of you with the kids before and I just I love how involved you are in the program, I think is what I say. I do appreciate that we have the part-time gifted available because, you know, we have schools that have the full-time gifted and some people want to stay at their community school or

138don't, you know, want to be transported for whatever reason. But it's nice because it's such a big enrichment in part because as Miss Bros mentioned, you know, there's behavioral, there's critical thinking skills, there's other things and sometimes they just need more space to let those ideas flow. And so I do appreciate that you all have both those programs available to our students and so many different schools. So, thank you, Mr. Cologne. >> It kind of feels weird. I'm gonna call you Mrs. Ashberry just because that's how I know you and I don't know you. It's kind of weird to hear people call you by your name because Yeah. What What does gifted look like in the middle school and high school? I know it's a little bit in elementary it's it's easier and pronounced, but

139in in middle school and high school, what does that look like? you know, we know they they they still have those extraordinary abilities and strengths. H how do we make sure that they are successful as that environment goes from uh the same kids you've been with probably for the last three years to poof. I I I can't even imagine. So, if you can share a little bit of that, I'd appreciate it. So, in middle school, as a former middle school principal, in middle school, um our gifted learners are um paired with our high achievers. So, they because our high achievers qualify to take our advanced courses. And remember, in secondary, we have IB, AP, we have so many advanced course options, but they still receive those services in their core areas in science, math, social

140studies, and language arts. >> When you say those services, what does that mean? So in order so in middle school they have to have a gifted endorsed teacher or a teacher working on the gifted endorsement. So the services dependent on the child vary whether it's x number of minutes of making sure that they are um receiving those services just like a student with an IEP but it's just their educational plan. >> So is that for core c for the core courses? >> Yes, only for their core courses. >> Interesting. I didn't know that. All right. Very good. Thank you. >> All right. Go ahead. >> I had one more question. It pertains to middle school and high school. So, do they have are there like basic, honors, and gifted or how are they how are

141the core classes structured? >> So, we have general education, we have honors, advanced placement, our IB. And so, some most times our gifted students are in those API IB courses. Okay. And in middle school are advanced placement courses at the middle school level. >> Do they have opportunities to take maybe math that would be offered in high school in middle school or other opportunities such as >> Yes, they do. Some of them dual enroll already. Just various various um pathways for all students. And that's one great thing about Valuchia is that it's not a one-sizefits-all. We do have very different pathways. And we do have students who are double exceptionality. So we have students who are gifted but also receive ESSE services. So >> that's part of what I was going to bring up is

142there are children are unique whether they're sitting in a gened, you know, an ESSE classroom, a gifted classroom, and a gifted child isn't necessarily gifted in all areas. They have areas that are their strengths and weaknesses, just as each child does. And what is nice about the middle and high school is the area that's their strength, they can excel and go into a higher level course, but if there's an area that is not their strength, um even though they have the IQ in the gifted range, they can get the support and services that they need. And that even does happen at the elementary level because you actually can have an ASD child that's also gifted. And you can have a child like I did years ago in first grade who in first grade was reading

143at a fifth to sixth grade level, but her math was only at the beginning of second grade. Okay? And so you couldn't just say she well, she's gifted and we're just going to drop her over here. we had to address the math because there was a huge gap between her math ability and her reading ability even though she was doing math at a higher level than first grade. But the other thing that I find interesting and a lot of people don't think about it but Miss Brosmer I thought about what you asked about you know how parents can get their kids into the program. Ideally, if everybody heard it, we give the screener in the public school system at the beginning of second grade because children, depending on the experiences they've had at home prior

144to coming to kindergarten, you can have some kids come to kindergarten who are readers, but they're not actually gifted. they just had someone at home that was reading to them and pointing all of the they had a rich environment prior to coming to kindergarten, but then they kind of plateau out about second or third grade we see. So that's why the screener has always been given at the beginning of second grade. But what happens is we have a lot of parents that just and some of those kids turn out to be but they think no I just want to go ahead and get my kid privately tested. Well, when they're getting their child privately tested, it's not just you can get your child privately tested and walk in and go, "Here's the test score. So,

145tomorrow put them, you know, tomorrow when they start kindergarten, I want them in a gifted classroom." Because there's steps that they have to go through, which does mean one of our psychologists has to go through the assessment that was given it. And was it a credible person that administered the assessment? Did they administer the correct assessment? What were the results of the assessment? and all of that to then staff them into that program. And that does take time. And so I think that's one of the things that with a lot of and it's harder to plan on how many we're going to have for kindergarten. We've always said for years, you just don't know what's coming in the door. Like you can look at birth rates, you can look at all this stuff and until

146they show up on campus. You may because believe it or not, you would think every parent out there knows that starting the spring before kindergarten, they should go in and register their children. But there are parents that have put kindergarteners on buses on the first day of school, never having walked into a school to register their child. They just know it's time for them to go to kindergarten. and a bus pulls up and they put them on it and they send to send them to us and we don't even know who they are or where they came from. And I I have experienced that. And so, you know, this year we we underp projected kindergarten based on the last couple years. And so, we need some kindergarten teachers. I've been telling everybody I told them

147at the NAACP meeting the other night, we need some kindergarten teachers, especially in the Dand area. But the thing of it is I think what we need parents to do, and I don't know how to reach the parents, especially if they're sending their first child to us. I don't know how to reach them to get them to know. We need you to come in in the spring. We need you to register your child. If you're having them tested for gifted, we need you to tell us that so that we can help figure this out because we need that information in order to do a better job of staffing and being prepared for the little ones to come in. you've made uh several good points and I'm not going to remember all of the all of

148the comments that came to mind at the time, but with regard to that one, the parent who spoke to me had uh she did do the private testing before second grade. Um but she also um had brought her submitted her paperwork in the spring. I think your point is well taken that it's hard to reach the parents of the VPK kids um because it's hard to know who they are to a large extent. Um but I I think um based on on what I heard uh oh your point about we need more kinder teachers. Um, one of the comments I I was approached last night by um by a substitute from Tamoka and she said, "We are wallto-wall. We can barely get around in the classroom and we don't have a teacher. A coach has

149been assigned and she's overwhelmed." And and so there are areas where we we do really need help. And I'm guessing that part of the reason is because we don't know how to anticipate how many VPK kids there will be. >> We we don't. And Woodward Elementary is in the same spot right now. They are wall-to-wall kindergarteners. And the other interesting thing is when you look at the certifications required by the state and what people have on their certificate, kindergarten falls in to another category. It doesn't necessarily depending on when you got your certification and did your coursework. It doesn't fall into just elementary ed. It falls in falls into what we call primary education. And so we have people out there that may have elementary ed certification and they're certified first through sixth or first

150through fifth depending on where they got it and the way they applied for it, but they don't have kindergarten on their certificate because kindergarten requires a different form of certification. And so that's one of those areas I think and and I know Tiffany Fuller and her group will work on it, but I think we've got to get out there. We need kindergarten teachers and there are people sitting not that I want to steal from um VPK centers and not and I'm but but I've been talking about this. I also think and Dr. Vaguin knows I have said we need to take our students coming out of Atlantic High and to land high that are already coming out um prek VPK certified and we need to move them into our prek VPK classrooms so that we

151can take our certified teachers that are teaching preK and VPK and move them back into kindergarten and first where we have a shortage because the state law It's it's wonderful to have a certified teacher in those classes, but the state law does not require that we have a certified teacher in the VPK program. Um, and Simol County does this. They use people that have the child certification and then they have somebody like Beverly, Miss Beverly, that's over them, okay, who does the lesson plans for them and all that. And I also think that's how we're going to get those young people to then want to go into education and further their degree, which we can help them out with through Daytona State. And so that's something I keep talking about and I keep asking each

152year, so how many of the kids coming out of Atlantic High could go in and take over a VPK class so we could take that teacher and put them into kindergarten or first grade? And I think we need to look at that. So I I look, you know, >> we have taken a few miss >> Well, I think we need to we need to take a few more. Some of them definitely want to further their degrees. >> But we can help them. We can help them. We further their degrees. Um, but I think we need to do the because I'm happy to see our kindergarten numbers going back up because if we get them in in kindergarten, we're going to I think keep them. And so I appreciate everything that you guys have done and

153thank you for explaining it so beautifully today and and answering all of our questions. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you ladies. They had perfect timing. >> They had perfect timing. >> That was my No, I already asked it. Yeah, >> they did a great job. So, we are skipping um 5.01 right now and we're going to 6.01 um the non-disclosure agreement discussion. Um Dr. Evans. Uh, Madame Chair, school board members and superintendent, want to talk a little bit about the non-disclosure agreement. First, what was its purpose and why was this document created for Valuchia County for about 100 of 8,000 employees? It was created to protect Valuchia County School District from liability. It was created to ensure that sensitive information such as information regarding students and staff, safety plans, legal proceedings, discussions, and proprietary

154software owned by the district is not compromised. It was created as a deterrent from sharing unauthorized information. No employees sensitive financial information such as 403b contributions, deductions, income tax information, claim dependence, etc. should ever be disclosed or discussed unless required to do so by law. Technology created for the exclusive use of Valuchia County Schools should not be shared with with or utilized by other districts or entities without the express permission of Valuchia County Schools. Matters in litigation should never be discussed or disseminated or even posted on social media. Hence, the NDA was created to deter such actions. The NDA is not an instrument used in the district to hide or conceal financial information. Our budgetary information is discussed at board meetings. It's available on our website and submitted to the Florida Department of Education. Moreover,

155our financial information is audited internally and externally on an annual basis. I submit to you ladies and gentlemen that this document protects the integrity of data, ensures proper context and interpretation, and strives to uphold the public trust by disseminating accurate information at the appropriate time. For as we all know, there is no shortage of misconception as it relates to funds and sources of revenue used to fund district priorities. Also, please note that the NDA unequivocably and expressly state that confidential or sensitive information which is required to be disclosed by law, regulation or court order must be disclosed. At one of our prior meetings, Miss Brosmer submitted a legal memorandum which asserted that the NDA was unconstitutional, unconscionable, and violated First Amendment rights, among other assertions. As a Florida licensed attorney, many of those comments gave

156me pause to avoid the highly calculated risk of being characterized as biased in my legal opinion regarding these assertions. Mr. Aaron Wolf, a licensed attorney who has been a member of the Florida Bar for over 30 years and has practiced in the public sector, including governmental entities, was asked to write a legal opinion on the constitutionality and validity of our NDA. He will come forward to share his opinion with the board members. of the board. It is only fair for the record to reflect that Miss Browmer had a legal opinion written by an attorney by the name of Irene Cortez who has been a member of the Florida Bar for one year to provide a legal opinion as well. That opinion was emailed to all board members. We will also address the things that were

157listed in that legal opinion. Madame Chair, I would like to supply each board member with a copy of the non-disclosure statement, the legal opinion written by Aaron Wolf, the legal opinion that was written on behalf of Miss Browmer for the board, and also our response to that legal opinion. Point of order, Madam Chair, at the previous meeting when I gave the members my own my own legal memo, uh I believe you said at the time that one of the reasons we couldn't discuss it was because it had not been posted. It had not been made available to the public. And I would like to note that neither of these legal memos have been made have been posted or made available to the public for their consideration. So I'd like to know how this matter today,

158how this procedure today differs from what we had two weeks ago. Um because this is the first time I'll be seeing it. It's the first time any of us will be seeing it. And I'm not sure any of us should be discussing it until we've had an opportunity to review it. >> Okay. So, actually what I said that night is because it not had you you gave your um statement as it was passed out to us and we started reading it, but you ended your statement with making a motion to vote on it to resend the NDA that the superintendent had put into place. And so I want to clarify what I said is there would be no vote on it because it had not been noticed for the public to be able to come

159and because whenever we're going to vote on something, the public has to come and they have the right to speak on it prior to us voting. So this the difference between a workshop and a board meeting and you asking for us to vote on it that evening to resend something that we had never even voted to put into place. That's where the real difference is. The reason why we have workshops is so that we can discuss these things. And I do realize that we're all going to want to have some time to read this. So what I would like to propose is that um because I did read the one that you submitted um this one I have read this and I also read what you gave us that night. I took it home and

160went through all of it and read it. So, what I would like to do is I'd like for us to take um a 15minute recess and everybody has a chance go wherever you would like to do read through this and come back because a work in a workshop we're not voting on anything. We're just having a discussion about it so that we can discuss it and then make the next steps of what we think we need to do. Is there a point at which both of the legal memos will be posted for the public to read? Because that's also part of of what we do in a workshop. And if we're going to be the reason I got a memo was because I had asked for someone to be able to come and present and

161Dr. Evans said he was going to get an outside counsel to do a memo. So I thought, okay, a memo is fine. and I paid out of my own pocket to get this one so that we would have a certified legal council in the state of Florida uh to offer an alternative interpretation of the applicable laws. um in order to have full disclosure and transparency for the public, I think both of those legal memos need to be posted on on um board docs for anyone to be able to read. No, I actually agree. I think all of this can be posted on board docs um for under the workshop under this item for everyone to read. Thank you. I have no problem with that. But is everyone okay with taking a 15minute recess so that

162each of you can have time to read over what we have here in the folder? All right, then it is approximately we'll just All right, let's just come back in at 3:35. Okay, I'm giving you a little bit no 3:25. come back in at 3:25. And at 3:25, be prepared to discuss or ask any questions about what you have. So, we'll we're taking a break and we'll be back in here at 3:25. Welcome back. It is 3:30 p.m. and we're going to continue on with item 6.01, the NDAs. Mr. Wolf. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Well, as Dr. Evans pointed out uh the purpose of the NDA is to ensure sensitive information such as information regarding students and staff, safety plans, legal proceedings, internal discussions, and proprietary software are not compromised. The NDAs are

163meant to be an important reminder to employees to keep confidential information confidential. In the legal memorandum submitted by board member uh Brosamemer and attorney court, it is asserted that the NDA uh is unconstitutional. It is argued that the district is not legally allowed to add new documents or discussions to the definition of what is designated as quote confidential close quote. And the memorandum uh cites to article 1 section 24 access to public records and meetings of the Florida constitution as the basis for asserting the NDA is unconstitutional. Article one, section 24A of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to inspect or copy any public record made or received in connection with the official business of any public body, officer or employee of the state or persons acting on their behalf except with

164respect to records exempted pursuant to this section or specifically made confidential by this constitution. Section C of article one section 24 provides that the legislator legislature may provide by general law passed by twothirds vote of each house for the exemption of records from the requirements of subsection A and the legislature has provided numerous uh exemptions of records from the requirements of subsection A. So the memorandum asserts that the district has no legal authority to add definitions to what documents or discussions are to be considered confidential. Apparently, it's argued that the district may not add to the type of documents which are exempt from the public records law as only the legislature may create such exemptions. Um, however, this argument completely overlooks the plain language of the NDA, which is not inconsistent with subsection A. Uh,

165also, it's important to note that the plain language of the definition set forth in the NDA is for this agreement only. It is not to expand the laws or the constitution of the state of Florida. Moreover, uh the NDA specifically provides that confidential information does not include information that is required to be disclosed by law, regulation, or court order. Therefore, the NDA specifically excludes all documents which are required by law to be disclosed. The Florida Constitution requires the disclosure of public records unless exempted by general law. Uh, thus public records are required to be disclosed by law. And so, the NDA does not encompass public records and does not add definitions to as to what types of documents are to be considered confidential under state law. Uh, therefore, uh, the NDA is not unconstitutional. The

166memorandum asserts that the district has no legal authority to add definition as definitions as to what discussions are to be considered confidential. Again, uh the memorandum cites to article 1 section 24B of the Florida constitution. Uh and that section provides that all meetings of any collegial bo public body of the executive branch of state government government or of any collegial public body of a county, municipality, school district or special district at which official acts are to be taken or which public business of such body is to be transacted or discussed shall be open and notice to the public and meetings of the legislature shall be open and notice is provided in article 3 section 4E except with respect to meetings exempted exempted pursuant to this section or specifically closed by this constitution. So once again

167this argument fails to consider that the express language of the NDA specifically excludes from the definition of confidential information any information that is quote required to be disclosed by law regulation or court order close quote. Article 1, section 24B requires that all meetings of any collegial body of any school district at which public business of such body is to be transacted or discussed shall be open and noticed to the public. Therefore, information disclosed at schoolboard meetings is required to be disclosed by law and is excluded from the definition of confidential information in the NDA. Furthermore, the sunshine law applies to meetings of elected or appointed boards and does not ordinarily apply to staff committees or meetings. The sunshine law does not apply when a government governmental executive uses staff for a factf finding an advisory

168function in fulfilling his or her duties. And the fifth district court of appeal has held that the sunshine law did not apply to informal meetings of staff where discussions were merely informational where none of the individuals attending the meetings had any decision-making authority during the meetings and where no no formal action was taken or could have been taken at the meetings. It's also been held that meetings among staff to assess and make recommendations regarding contract management do not implicate the open meeting requirements. So the NDA requires district staff to keep confidential commun communications confidential. Staff meetings are not ordinarily covered by the open meeting requirements of the state constitution and the sunshine law. So accordingly the NDA is not unconstitutional. With respect to financial and budgetary information specifically uh internal meetings and discussions involving staff

169members are generally not subject to the sunshine law unless the staff are part of a decision-making body or committee. As with any business entity, including public entities, employees are entrusted with sensitive financial and budgetary information. for example, 403b contributions, deductions, income tax information, claim dependence, etc. that they are not authorized to disclose, particularly when such disclosure falls outside their official duties. Um, the memorandum also states that there is no work product privilege as a basis for the district's assertion of a right of non-disclosure and that not even the attorney client privilege can justify restrictions on disclosing the information. In fact, the district is not relying on either privilege. If the public records law or open meetings law apply to the subject documents or communications, then the express terms of the NDA provide that it does

170not encompass those documents or communications and they may be disclosed by the employee. And both uh memoranda also address uh the consionability or unconscionability of the NDA. It stated that the NDA is uninforcable under the Florida legal doctrine regarding unconscionable contracts. Um, but before a court may hold a contract unconscionable, it must find that it is both procedurally and substantively unconscionable. The NDA uh under review is not procedurally unconscionable because there's no indication that the employees could not read the MDA before they signed it or that they were pressured, rushed or coerced into signing the NDA. Uh there's no suggestion that the employees lacked a full and fair opportunity to inquire into the NDA's terms. Uh, in addition, the NDA's operative terms are not hidden, minimized, or buried in fine print. Um, furthermore, substantive unconscionability

171requires an assessment of whether the contract terms are so quote outrageously unfair as to shock the judicial conscience close quote. A substantively unconscionable contract is one that no man in his in his senses and not under delusion delusion would make on the one hand and as no honest and fair man would accept on the other. So in this matter the subject NDA does not come close to being an unconscionable contract. There is nothing procedurally unconscionable with the NDA. Also, nothing in the NDA is outrageously unfair, and there's nothing in the NDA that would shock the judicial conscience. The NDA merely requires the district employees keep confidential information of their employer confidential. Um, therefore, the NDA is not uh the NDA is enforcable as it does not constitute an unconscionable contract. And in the memo prepared

172by attorney court, uh it's conceded that there is quote likely not sufficient proof of substantive unconscionability close quote. So even in the memo prepared by attorney court, it's conceded that the the NDA is not unconscionable. The memorandum next uh assert that the NDA is uninforceable because it violates employees first amendment rights regarding free speech as well as whistleblower protection. As to whistleblower protection, the NDA expressly provides that nothing in this agreement prohibits or restricts the employee from making other disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal or state law. Therefore, the NDA specifically protects the right of employees to make all disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal or state law. As to the First Amendment argument, a number of courts, including the United States Supreme Court, have rejected First Amendment challenges to non-disclosure agreements. And

173the sixth circuit court of appeal has stated that the court has not identified any cases holding that a non-disclosure agreement alone amounts to a prior restraint in violation of the first amendment. The NDA under review is narrowly ta tailored to protect the legitimate interest of the district and protecting confidential information from public disclosure. Therefore, it would likely withstand a first amendment challenge. The memoranda also assert that the district cannot be irreparably harmed by the release of confident confidential information unless it is functioning in in an illegal, unethical or otherwise improper way. That assertion is simply incorrect. For instance, maintaining confidentiality of information related to ongoing or potential legal act claims involving the district ensures that the integrity of legal matters is not compromised. Also, maintaining the confidentiality of safety and security plans ensures that the

174safety and security of students and staff is not compromised. The ND NDA also protects the district's intellectual property and protects confidential information regarding students and staff. release of any of this confidential information could cause irreparable harm to the district. The memo written by uh attorney court concedes that irreparable harm is a vowed claim for damages in asserting a claim against a party for violation of restrictive covenants such as those included in the NDA. It asserts that although the board can make a claim for irreparable harm, the confidential information that the board is prohibiting the disclosure of is actionable under other statutory provisions and measures for addressing the harm. However, uh attorney court fails to specifically identify those other statutory provisions or measures. Um, in fact, disclosure of the confidential information could cause the district uh

175damage to the district which cannot be quantified or compensated financially and this would cause irreparable harm to the district which would form the basis for an injunction to enforce the NDA. In her memo, Miss Court also touches on the constitutional rights of employees. She asserts that an employee may have an argument that preventing their discussion of information of public concern such as some of the topics included in the a under the NDA uh under the definition of confidential information is a violation of their first amendment right to speech. Uh but the memorandum does not cite to a single case holding that an NDA violates first amendment rights. And as I mentioned, uh, a number of courts, including the United States Supreme Court, have rejected challenges to non-disclosure agreements. As Dr. Evans touched on, uh, in

176the areas of uh, financial and budgetary information, the NDAs are highly effective. uh district employees are entrusted with sensitive financial and budgetary information that employees are not authorized to disclose particularly when such disclosure falls outside their official duties. This non-disclosure uh requirement is the same within any business entity including public entities. The discussion of budgetary information is often a necessary part of internal meetings. Um, however, sometimes the information taken from these internal meetings can be misconstrued. Um, when information relating to the allocation of district funds and the sources of revenue used to fund district initiatives is misinterpreted and repeated to a third party, public trust can be injured. The NDA ensures that only accurate information, information in its proper context and correct interpretation is circulated and that the public trust is upheld. At the same

177time, budgetary data such as uh detailed revenue and expenditure breakdowns are open openly available to the public by way of uh open discussions during schoolboard meetings. uh distribution of the district's budget through its uh website, through public records requests, and through the department of education. Also, there are annual internal and external audits of the uh district's finances. Uh in each of those settings, the financial disclosures are made in the proper context with precise explanation. uh in this way the NDAs protect the integrity of data and do not prevent the availability and transparency of budgetary data. The NDA safeguards against information being shared with a third party when in certain situations and time parameters such information is statutoily confidential. Specifically, pursuant to section uh 447.605 605 of the Florida statutes. All work product developed by the

178district in preparation for negotiations with labor organizations is confidential and exempt from the provisions of chapter 119 the uh public records law during the pendency of the negotiations. Once negotiations and the work product is no longer confidential and exempt and becomes part of the public record. The NDA is a means to protect the district from premature disclosure of work product information that could be a detriment to the district's interests during labor negotiations. Also, the NDAs are an operational matter under the administration of the superintendent. Schoolboard policy 110 sets forth the schoolboard superintendent relationship. And this policy provides that the superintendent shall be responsible for the administration of all aspects of school operation and for such other duties and powers pertaining thereto as the school board may direct or delegate. The superintendent may delegate responsibility to

179other officials to the extent the delegation is necessary and proper to the efficient operation of Valuchia schools. The superintendent shall develop such procedures as are necessary to ensure efficient operation of the school district school system. Policy number 110 also provides that individual schoolboard members shall not attempt to act as administrators of the school district. So pursuant to policy 110 the superintendent is responsible for the administration of all aspects of school operation. Also, the policy provides that the superintendent shall develop such procedures as are necessary to ensure efficient operation of the school system. So based on policy 110, it appears the decision to request non-instructional staff who work in departments or roles with access to sensitive or confidential information to sign non-disclosure agreements would be an operational decision for the superintendent to make as part of

180her day-to-day administration of all aspects of school operation. However, policy 110 would allow the school board to have a discussion with the superintendent regarding non-disclosure agreements. The implications of a school board member interfering with the superintendent's administration can be significant and multiaceted. Such interference can disrupt disrupt the leadership and administration of the school district undermining the overall effectiveness of the educational system. Such interference will likely create tension, hinder effective governance, and compromise the educational mission of the school district. So in summary, non-disclosure agreements are routinely used by employers to maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive information. The district with 8,200 employees and over 62,000 students maintains innumerable confidential and sensitive datam not disclosable by the Florida Constitution or the Sunshine Law, including but not limited to students private information, proprietary uh property and software and confidential

181information derived from legal claims in cases and investigations. The NDA is intended to ensure that such information remains confidential while not restricting the public's access to public records. The NDAs are not an effort to hide financial and budgetary information. Uh therefore, the subject NDAs are not unconstitutional or unconscionable. Furthermore, the NDAs do not violate employees constitute the employees constitutional right of free speech or their whistleblower protection and do not violate Florida's public records law or open meetings law. And finally, the NDAs are an operational matter under the administration of the superintendent. So, for all these reasons, the NDAs under review are valid and enforcable contracts under Florida and federal law. And with that, I'll turn it over to discussion and any questions you may have. >> Mr. Brazmer. >> Well, since this is my issue,

182thank you for letting me go first. You're welcome. >> Um, I'm not going to read in full the counterargument. um you touched on some of it and so I will only mention a few things and then because it will be posted then anybody can read it and read both of them and evaluate them. Uh, one of the things that came to mind in all of this is that um, I I was taught in grammar school that you can't use a word in the definition of the word. And I find that a lot of the justification for the NDA is citing the NDA. Um, and so I'm I'm kind of wrestling with that. Um, at the heart of all of this is is the definitions because I think the the first page of the NDA is

183pretty plain. Um, when when it says specifically and and of course this is the the the sentence that uh seemed to create the most heartburn. Um the introductory sentence is uh definition of confidential information. For purposes of this agreement, confidential information includes but is not limited to information regarding the district's financial operations, including budgets, funding sources, and allocation of resources. There is no comment in any of this that has anything to do with disclosing anybody's 401k equivalent. And I'm sorry, I forgot what the what the public designation is. Um, but I think that that language is pretty clear. It's very broad and it goes beyond uh statute and it goes beyond any constitutional uh definitions of public documents. Um for the most part the NDA uh cites in uh categories that we already know are

184confidential which makes the NDA unnecessary. And with regard to intellectual property, there are already laws that that protect in intellectual property. So there are already remedies there. Um but one one aspect of this of your memo really jumped out at me. The NDA ensures that only accurate information in its proper context and correct interpretation is circulated. That is a that is an attempt to control a variety of perspectives or opinions or observations or discussions because the wording of the NDA restricts employees to let's see um oh let's see if I can find it quickly. Uh the employee agrees not to disclose, publish or communicate uh any confidential information to any person, business entity or other organization unless specifically authorized in writing by the district. So the issue there is what is confidential information? That is

185presumably as it's defined in this NDA. But the the constitutional provisions for I I think in a lot of your analysis there there was no distinction made between the way NDAs can be used in the private sector and the way they can be used in the public sector. And that is a very important and distinct definition. They can't be conflated. They can't be um Supreme Court rulings that have to do with private sector NDAs can't be applied to the public sector. In particular, in Florida, which has some of the most stringent um public records requirements and the NDA goes beyond documents and it goes beyond Sunshine Law, public meetings, and and goes into discussions among individuals. And I'm assuming that that doesn't apply to me. Thank you. >> It doesn't. >> I'm sorry. >> It

186doesn't. >> Oh, thank you. Um, one of the quotes uh that that you took from the memo that that um uh my attorney provided uh you said uh as to whether it's unconscionable uh may not be easily determined or assessed without court intervention. Well, that's true. That's a partial comment. Um, the rest of the quote is the better and stronger argument may lay in relation to the NDA's conflicts with Florida Constitution, Florida law. Um, and in terms of of uh damages being unquantifiable, how does that work in a court of law? In order to have the four elements that you usually need for a tort, there have to be damages. if you can't quantify them, uh, such as your reference to, uh, some potential damage to the district with regard to software, then how do

187you determine, it's a rhetorical question, how how would you determine whether there were damages at all? Um, oh, let's see what else I have here. Um, I I still I need to go back to the the fact that oh in unconscionability um and maybe this is a question for Dr. B or for staff 110 staff members signed NDAs. Is that everyone who was asked to sign them? Did anyone refuse to sign one? And if so, what what was the result of that? Is there an or else? >> Um, >> no individual was told if they well if no individual I make sure my subjects and verbs agree and my pronouns and anticcedants agree. No individual was told if he or she does not sign the NDA that he or she would be terminated. >> No

188one was told that. >> I'm not surprised that they weren't told that. Um >> well, if you're not surprised, they weren't told that has not happened either. >> The lack the lack of bargaining power, this is from uh the analysis, the lack of bargaining power on the part of the board employees may be deemed sufficient proof of procedural unconscionability. So that that was what caused me to look at that aspect of it. Did they feel as if they didn't sign that there would be repercussions? And and so my question is, did anyone not sign? >> Did any Well, I'll tell you this. People asked the question, were they going to be terminated if they didn't sign? And the answer was, no one ever told you that. We did. We It was never stated. >> That's

189That's not the answer to the question, though. >> Okay. Give me Hold on a minute. Give me specifically your question again. Did anyone refuse to sign? And if they if so, what was the outcome of that? Was there any any followup uh any anything that happened because they didn't sign? >> I believe we had one person, >> three, >> we had three people to not sign. And if they did not sign, nothing has been stated or said to that person since. Okay. I'm glad to know that. That's helpful. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um Okay. And and just the the last thing that I will bring up um that I can think of at the moment uh is this language in the constitution because I I think th this is what was the center point for

190me and and before I even mention this I wanted to be under uh couple of things to be understood. One is that I felt it was important to raise this issue. Uh there had been so much chatter about it, so much discussion about it. I do feel strongly that NDAs are inappropriate for a public agency. Um and this one goes well beyond anything I had ever seen or or heard of before. Um, I do not believe that this has anything to do with interfering with the administration of this school. The board's job is oversight. And so, because this appears to me to conflict with constitutional structure, I believe that it was my responsibility as a board member to bring it forward to the board for discussion. what the board decides to do is up to

191the board. Uh I am not taking charge of anything. I'm raising an issue that I think was important enough to be discussed. And because of that, um I I want to I want to finish my portion of of all of this with what the Constitution says and the reason that I took this so seriously. Um, I hate to tell you that I've been in this process since this was adopted. So, so it really, uh, stuck in my head. This is from section 24, uh, paragraph C of the Florida Constitution. It says, "This section shall be self-executing." And most of us know the constitution uh constitutional amendments and provisions are adopted but then they're usually implemented by statute and we do have statuto statutory implementation but uh in this case the the method of execution was

192included in the constitution which is highly unusual. The legislature, however, may provide by general law passed by twothirds vote of each house for the exemption of records from the requirements of subsection A and the exemption of meetings from the requirements of subsection B, provided that such law shall state with specificity the public necessity justifying the exemption, and shall be no broader than necessary to accomplish the stated purpose. purpose of the law. The legislature shall enact laws governing the enforcement of this section, including the maintenance, control, destruction, disposal, and disposition of records made public by this section, except that each house of the legislature may adopt rules governing the enforcement of this section in relation to records of the legislative branch. Laws enacted pursuant to this subsection shall contain only exemptions from the requirements of subsections

193A or B and provisions governing the enforcement of this section and shall relate to one subject. If the purpose of this NDA was to prevent an employee from discussing someone's uh retirement contributions in public, I would like to think that there are ethics rules against doing that or training that the that the employee would get, but that's not referenced here. the reference is so broad that if there is to be an um a misinterpretation, it's it's in the the wording of the NDA. Uh so I would if if the district feels strongly that you want to stick with an NDA, I have a couple of requests. One is that you consider maybe making it more specific so that so that it identifies what the real goal is. Um because making a a broad blanket statement

194about keeping budget information private gives gives a I think exactly the wrong impression that you might have intended to give. Um there are other there are other uh provisions in here that I think are also o overly broad. Uh non-public communications between and among district personnel. Uh if it's if it's not confidential and it's not um privileged then and it's not a matter of public record then it's just conversation. And so I think we just need to be very careful how we appear to be limiting um discussions and information among and with staff and our interactions with the public. That was why I wanted to bring this up. Um and I appreciate the discussion. Um I I do wish that we had had that the board had had a better opportunity to know about this

195and discuss it before it was done. Um there are boards as I understand it. Um not very many very few um school boards in in the state use these with their own employees. they use them with uh contractors and and temporary employees and things like that, but generally with staff, they don't and uh or with full-time staff. So there isn't a lot to go on, but it might not be a bad idea for us to adopt a policy about how these should be used and and that would be a board decision and that that would provide us some some guidelines for any future use of an NDA and thank you. >> Um Mr. So Wolf, do you want to address the the part about the damages? So we're really the NDA really talked about damages

196not being what we want and injunction is more so. Yeah, in a in a court case, if you have damages that can't be um monetized uh calculated uh to an exact number, um the the case law uh would allow for an injunction to prevent release of that confidential information. And um and that's why that language is in the NDA regarding um uh no uh no um that would allow for the injunction because uh the damages can't be calculated to uh a specific amount. >> Can I ask another question about that? because I I know um two weeks ago when I first broached this subject the issue of software was what was used as one of the examples. Is it possible to narrow the the um reach of the NDA to the people who are working

197on things like that um rather than than broadly including something like that in in um something that everybody signs random question >> if it's okay I was going to say something but go ahead Mr. I personally and I'll restate what I said before. I believe this uh as stated by uh Mr. Wolf falls under the authority of the superintendent and there's really no decision making on behalf of the board on any of these topics as they fall under organizational. So um that's all I have to say. Thank you. >> All right. Um, Miss Brazmer, when um I I too do feel that this falls under um the superintendent as a part of the day-to-day running of the district. Here's what I personally have learned over the years since I'm on year 39 of being a

198part of Valuchia County Schools. I was required when I moved into federal programs and grants, which is the federal programs and grants piece of Valuchia County Schools, not, you know, there there's an entire federal programs and grants office in Valuchia County schools because they manage all of the different grant funding that comes in like title one, part A, part C, part D, title two, title three, title four, title nine, um the IDA pieces, and then any of the other smaller grants that come based on schools letter grades. I was required as an employee in for Valuchia County schools under that department each year to go to fraud training. It I didn't get an option. I had to attend fraud training. It was part of what was required under my job. And during the fraud training,

199they would go over cases that had just happened that year where people had committed fraud. And believe it or not, in the state of Florida, um, we have our own federal fraud office that is located down in Pine Hills. And unless something is recently changed, if you commit fraud of $10,000, you're going to federal prison. and I had to sign um an NDA in that position because in that position I had access to a lot of information that I wasn't free to share. I wasn't free to share the status of parents that were on free and reduced lunch or what their income, you know, status was. I wasn't free to share because I did the budgets each year for each of the schools like they put in what they wanted. you know, I want to

200hire this person to be an academic coach or an intervention teacher and I want a parent liaison and then I want this much in tutoring. I wasn't allowed to share the salary. Like I had the salary inter information and the benefits and all that, but it wasn't my place to go out and say I'll use Mr. Clone. Mr. Clone, you know, is making $62,000, but he's also doing this for tutoring and that. But all of that fed through and I was responsible for it. I never had a problem signing it and partially because I knew what the laws were and I wasn't going to break the law. But what I will tell you, and I've I've said this my entire career, we can have a law on something and we've seen it happen um with

201some of the state laws that are out there or federal laws. We've seen people not follow them. And what they do is they shrug their shoulders and they say, "I didn't know." And I've always, this is, this has been my take since I was a teacher. And there's trainings that teachers even have to go to that they're not signing an NDA, but they sign that they understand what they were trained on and that they will follow the rules for it. My thing is you want to make sure someone understands the seriousness and doesn't cross the line because especially when teacher pay teacher came up, you know, there's things that have been created in Valuchia County schools while people are on the clock being paid. That's not yours to go, you know, make a profit off

202of. Um, there's a lot of software that when I was working summer programs, the software people here created for me, but that didn't mean they could go sell it to another county. And I truly feel that if you want to ensure that people stay within the law, you put down, you can't do these things or you must follow these guidelines. And I've never had a problem signing them. And I've always said, you want them to follow it, type it up, make them sign it, because then we won't have lawsuits that come back to us because people shrug their shoulders and say, "I didn't know I had to follow that." Were This is just for my own information. Um, when you signed those NDAs, uh, what what was the term of their effectiveness? Because the term

203of this one is three years after the person is no longer employed. So, was your term extended beyond the your term of employment also? >> I I actually don't remember. I apolog I mean, it's been a while since I signed one. >> I don't remember. But what I did know, I just never had a problem signing it because >> I went to any trainings required. I paid attention. I read the laws that I had to follow and I had no intention of breaking those laws. But not everybody f does that. And I've seen it happen. And we've dealt with lawsuits over the years because I don't know why people open their mouth sometimes and share information about somebody's, you know, what they do with their money or, you know, share information about students that can't

204be shared. I mean, we have we I get parent calls or emails all the time that they want to know what was the outcome? What happened to the student that did this? I can't tell you. You have no right to it. Do you know what I'm saying? I do. I have people though that for some reason >> will break that and tell them. >> Well, I I never questioned the um aspects of the NDA that are clearly uncon or illegal and we already know that uh that are very specific either by state or federal law. uh where where I was concerned am concerned is the paragraphs that I think go beyond that and and that was why I raised all of this. I greatly appreciate the discussion. Um I it I think it's been helpful

205um whether anybody else does or not. Um but I but I do appreciate the discussion. >> Any other board member comments? J Hold. >> Yeah. >> A motion. >> Motion to >> board members. Um Mr. Clone, you brought up a point and I reiterated that that you said this is part of the superintendent's job role and responsibility of day-to-day operations. I would like to hear from the other board members um where they stand on that topic. So, Miss Thompson, >> I mean, I agree. I think there's lanes that the board and there are things that come before us, you know, policy being a major one. Um, but that kind of stuff follows under organization. That's why we pick the superintendent and if it doesn't work out, then we, as we've seen years past, find a

206new superintendent. But that's I mean if we were to go around and say start nitpicking at this and then it could lead to something else and then you know all five of us are looking at every single aspect of her dayto-day and then I mean that's a lot of time and there's five of us that have to agree on one board decision. So that's my thoughts. This good rich are we following Robert's rules because I Mr. Clone made a motion to adjurnn. >> We we don't >> So do we do we not do that now? Just want to make sure we're following in the right path. >> He said it, but this discussion is not over yet. >> But doesn't a vote follow? I I'm a newbie to Robert's rules. I'm trying to follow him

207as best as I can. So, >> yes, there is. >> There should be a vote. He made a motion to adjurnn. >> Okay. So, is there a second that's ready to adjourn this meeting before the discussion is over? >> Second. Second of the motion. >> Right. Yes. For a second. >> Okay. Then let's call for the vote. All that wish to go ahead and end the um workshop today at 4:17 p.m. please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? I'm going to say nay simply because I think we should have finished the conversation. But the motion passes and the workshop is over and we will be back in here at 4:30 to start the school board meeting. >> Sorry. If we're going to do Robert Schles, we got to do them. Like that's the seal.

208We