001ready. Good afternoon. Today is Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and it is now 4:34 p.m. Welcome to the School Board of Valuchia County meeting. In just a moment, I'm going to ask that all of you join me by standing for the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem because we are proud to have the students from Sweetwater Elementary today here under the enthusiastic direction of their music teacher, Mr. Joey Sida and the talented cast of Mary Poppins. They're going to lead us today in the pledge of allegiance and they're going to be singing the national anthem. Immediately following that, we will have a moment of silence and then we as adults will move out of the way because then they're going to go ahead and perform for us part of their Mary Poppins that they have
002just done. So, if you have not yet turned off the ringer on your cell phone, would you please do so? So, there are no cell phones ringing at any time during the board meeting today. So at this moment, let's all stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. [Music] Oh, say can you see my We love [Music] at the ground [Music] to the [Music] open Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Thank you. You may be seated. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Top of [Music] to the steps of St. [Music] Paul to the people she calls [Applause] [Music] by you'll be glad [Music] Thomas. [Music] That's what she
003cries [Music] while the saints and apostles look down as she als [Music] single and pure [Music] listen to [Music] are around. [Music] Sing for you has been super calistic exploidocious. That's not a word. Of course. That's a very much a state. I picture when the perfect [Music] [Applause] word Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious if you say You're always precautious. [Music] would [Music] suffer because [Music] AC. [Music] [Applause] You know, you can tell me backwards. So, look. It's this girl. Look at this. She may be tricky, but she's bloody good. [Music] way. [Music] [Applause] [Music] S U E R C A L I L R A G I L I S T I C X I L I T O C I O U S S U P E R C
004A L I N R A G I L I S T I C E S P I A L I C I O U S U E C L I N L I R I G O I C I C S I A L I G O C I O [Music] Super even though it's something [Music] quite You're my califraculation. [Applause] Thank you. [Applause] That was the greatest That was a wonderful way to start off the school board meeting. So, at this time, I'm going to take a moment to um say welcome to all of you that are here in the boardroom with us. those that are out in the overflow area andor those that are listening at home or will watch the replay. But I'm going to introduce those that are here with me
005at the front. On my far left, I have Mrs. Donna Brosmer who represents district 4. Next to her is Mrs. Christa Goodrich representing district 2. We have our staff attorney um filling in tonight. This is Miss Heidi Crims. Then over on my far right, we have Miss Celeste Gilmore. She's our agency clerk. Next to her is Mrs. Jesse Thompson who represents district three which is where Sweetwater is located. Then um Mr. Ruben Cologne will be joining us um in a short while. He's our vice chair representing district 5. I have Miss Dr. Carmen Balgaban our superintendent and I am Jamie Haynes who I represent district 1 and I'm your chair currently this year. Items for approval on this agenda are items 1.03 2.02 5.01 01 7.02 and 19.01 through 19.07 and 20.01. Public participation times.
006You may fill out a green card for public participation for any item that's located on the consent agenda or any of the action items. Then if you have an item of general interest that pertains to education, you can fill out a yellow card. Our first time for general interest will be at 6 pm and there'll be a total of 15 minutes provided at that time. Time will also be provided for public comment at the end of the meeting for any additional general interest cards. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak. Our district vision statement is to create lifelong learners prepared for an everchanging global society. At this time, I invite board members to share any of the activities or things that they um feel is important since the last board meeting. Mrs. Thompson.
007Thank you, Madam Chair. So, as we all know, it's the end of the year. It's super busy. There have been so many sports going on, so many awards things. So, I'm going to say it all this really fast. Once again, I do apologize for being fast. I'm also really excited about the kids singing here cuz one of the things was they had their production of Mary Poppins and they couldn't bring all of the props that they have but great work with the backdrops, the costumes. I mean they had little confetti letters that shot out at one point that unfortunately they could not bring here today but that that was just a big part of uh the past couple weeks. Um also uh Creekide had their honors program. I know a lot of our schools do,
008but they had hundreds of kids that are graduating eighth grade who have been on honor roll for all three years. Um, so kudos to those kids because they really seem to know what they're doing and how to stay organized and to have that ability in middle school was just absolutely phenomenal and it was a great practice for all the graduations coming up. Um, we had our take stock and children graduation which is a tearjerker of a night but those students have accomplished so many great things in and out of the classroom and the mentors that go there and pour their time into these students to make sure that they get that mentorship. It's just if you've never been a mentor and you want to, please reach out because they do some amazing things. Um we
009uh at New Smyrna Beach High School, their economics class had um their Shark Tank and I see one of their Shark Tank participants in the audience right now. Um but it was really cool because they got to give uh job ideas or inventions and uh we had a panel of judges. There were some members of the Rotary Club, myself, Mr. joined me as well and that was really cool to hear their ideas, their thoughts and hear them break it down. Um, and then there was a futures first year teacher awards at Mainland High School and that's always great to hear from our teacher of the year and our first year teacher of the years from last year. That's a lot to say. Um, they always do such a good job speaking. They really get you
010like amped up and it was great to see all of our teachers and to hear the nominations for our principal of the year coming up. And so, thank you to all of them who are there as well. Sorry, I don't want to miss anything, but I know I'm going to. Um, and I know you guys are going to touch this, too, because I feel like everyone's been everywhere, which is great. Um, we've had the secondary STEM bus reveal, and that was at Galaxy, and that was so cool. If you haven't seen the first STEM bus, now we have STEM bus part two, which is also solar powered, which is so cool. And it's just I know my kids love it. the thing stays booked out forever. So, um I'm going to stop right now, but
011I do want to thank everybody as far as the parents and the teachers and the admin who are so busy and have all of these late nights and events back to back to back. But thank you for the time that you put into our students because this time of year is so much fun and they make so many memories. So, thank you for that time. And I'm done now. Sorry, everybody. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Yeah, it is a very, very busy time of year. There's so many different events going on everywhere. It's every day. And so for our staff, for the parents, for the families that are going to the events to celebrate your kids, thank you very, very much. So in district two, what we've been up to, um, we've had our turnaround awards.
012And if you're not familiar with those awards, those are awards for kids that were maybe going off the path that they might want to be going down, and they've turned it around and come back. And so it's a really special award ceremony to get to see those kids and see how proud they are of what they've been able to accomplish by making good choices. Um, for our teachers and staff, I just want to let you know we have another wellness and budgeting seminar coming up on the 21st, I believe. Lauren Manard with the VCS wellness specialist. Reach out to her for information on that. Um, we had another PTA event at MOS, which was amazing. And then that was followed with the Valia Manufacturing Association golf tournament. We're not going to discuss my score, but
013it was a really great event and they raised um a ton of money for Valia County Schools. So, thank you VMA for that. Then we also had Silver Sands Middle School Culinary Awards. That teacher has so much passion and what she brings to those kids. The passion then emanates from them. It's just a really beautiful um thing she has going on there. So, kudos to all of the winners there and to all of them for participating. Futures first year teacher awards was great. You already touched on that. We also had the CTE pre-attent apprenticeship signing at Mainland. Um, another great program, great opportunity for our students to learn life skills, skills that are needed specifically for this event, um, as electricians, which if you've tried to hire an electrician lately, you know that they're in
014high demand and they make great money. So, glad to see us getting those kids ready for that. Um, then we had teacher appreciation week. Tons of different things going on for teacher appreciation week. I got to go over to Long Street um, and celebrate with them. Last night was Mr. and Mrs. Atlantic High School and I was asked to be a judge. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in my life to see those kids, the talent that they put out there, the guts they had to stand on the stage and do what they did. Um, shout out to our the top talent award winner. She was a female drummer, which is near and dear to my heart. And Mr. and Mrs. Atlantic, Josh Manard, and Bren Moore. Congratulations. You have a
015great year ahead of you. So, that's all I have for now, but I'm sure it's going to continue to be busy, so we'll see everyone at everything. And um just keep reminding the kids we're almost there. Mrs. Brosmer, I'm going to make mine really short and sweet. I did my my sort of my usual go to the S DAC meeting. Um where I saw one of the presentations that that we saw today. Uh so that it was a really good reinforcement. Uh but I especially wanted to thank the government relations committee for view uh for their invitation to meet with them. They spent a couple of hours with me. It was very productive. It was very informative. I think we learned from each other and I greatly appreciated the uh the opportunity and the invitation
016and I expect that we'll probably do it again. So I wanted to make sure I mention that. Thank you. So, um, I attended quite a few of the same events a lot of you did. So, I'm going to try to just fill in on some of the ones that haven't been mentioned yet. I had the opportunity to go spend the day at Manatee Cove Elementary. Um, and they did the unified Special Olympics for the students, and it was fabulous. Um, they had the students come out to compete in the Special Olympics, but they also had other students that came out that made signs for the kids to cheer them on. And that's the way it should be. Everybody should be working together and cheering every student on. And then the FE, of course, the future's
017turnaround events. Those are wonderful. And um, one of my schools I did not get to attend because it actually conflicted with another school. And so I was appreciative of futures. Shimine took one of the schools and I took the others. But I was out at Southwestern Middle. They did a breakfast. Taylor Middle School high school did an evening event so their families can come. University High School did a lunchon and um Valuchia online did an evening event. So I was out representing all of those. And none of you mentioned the Futures Caribbean Party. So, Futures is our educational foundation and they once a year do a Caribbean party where they're looking at raising money for the scholarships and those scholarships go to the kids that are seniors graduating from Take Stock and Children. And so,
018it goes towards helping fund their college experience. And we just got a letter from them letting an email letting us know that they exceeded the goal of what they were expecting so that they can continue to fund not only the scholarships for students that are involved in that, but they also fund our teacher many grants in the classroom that a lot of our teachers apply for each year. First year teacher of the year is always wonderful. Um, but I also was out at University High for their chorus and orchestra show. They did, I believe, 21 different like songs and everything and it was a wonderful night. They had one of their students who actually wrote one of the songs and presented it which was really great. And then um I'm going to save this one
019for last in a minute. I senior awards have also started. So I have three high schools so far. University High's had their senior awards night and I was there and it was it's phenomenal to watch those students walk across and all of the hard work they've done to earn the cords, the sashes, the scholarships that were presented to them that evening and I'm looking forward to the other ones that are coming up. And then I on Friday I got to participate in a really fun event at Dand Middle School and I think everybody in this room probably would have liked to have present been at that event. their eighth grade culinary students paired up into groups and they came up with their own menu, but it had to be items you would serve off of
020a food truck. And they had their own recipes and all of that. And when it was all said and done, it was so neat to talk to the kids to figure out how they were doing their recipe, what were they cooking, you know, and and just watching them work together and with all of the tools and everybody was fine. And but we got to sample all of the food they made and every bit of it was delicious. But there were two young men that um the one said he was going to follow through and he was fixing his mother um Mother's Day lunch, you know, and he was going to use his recipes he'd learned. And I thought, isn't that wonderful? And then we also um Miss Goodrich and I we attended child's graduation. So,
021graduation season has started and our first senior graduation was Friday night at the Child's Academy. And if you've never been to one of their graduations, it's it's a wonderful opportunity to watch things that they've overcome to be able to graduate. But we were there and then also um Dr. Balaban and I were out at Valuchia Pines Elementary. Se over 700 people filled out recommendations, applications, and submitted them this year at the state level to say that they had someone on their campus that was a lunchroom hero. Well, the manager at Valuchia Pines Elementary is one of five selected from across the state. The state selects five individuals and Miss Tanya was selected to be the one of the five lunchroom heroes this year. And it it was it was fabulous because she had no idea
022we were coming. She was doing a lesson with third graders and giving them a tour of the kitchen, not knowing we were behind stage waiting for her to bring them back and get them seated. But we surprised her and I was just amazed by what the agricultural and the dairy group and all of that did. They came in with everything. She She even got a cape to wear because she's the hero. But they didn't leave the kids out. They had gifts for the kids there, too. And they all were wearing stickers about their lunchroom lady being the lunchroom hero. And so that was a great thing. But my final thing is this. We're going to have um a new school building in the fall for Stark Elementary here in Dand. and Stark Elementary is going
023to have they're going to have a magnet program. We spent um many almost a year prior to discussing the rebuild of Stark about it look being having a magnet program and so it's going to have STEM in the arts and so they held one open house already. They have another one coming up on um May 21st. And so if you're listening at home and you're interested in your child being able to have that opportunity, they're going to start with their kindergarten through 2 grade, then add on the next grade levels as they go up. If you're interested in a STEM and art program um at a public school, because that's what magnet schools are. They are public schools, check and you live in Dand or even in the outskirts, check it out. you may want
024to stop by on May 21st and see all of the fun things that are going to be happening in the fall when the new building opens at Stark Elementary. But that is all I have at this time. So we will now move on to item 1.0 three approval of minutes. Board members, you had an opportunity already to read the minutes from our last school board meeting which happened on April 22nd. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve the minutes? Motion to approve. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mrs. Brosmer. Any discussion about the minutes? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the minutes from the April 22nd, 2025 regular session school board meeting, please say I. I.
025I. Any opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. We are now moving on to agenda changes and the approval of the agenda. We're on item 2.01. Dr. Balman. Are there any agenda changes before the agenda is presented to the board for approval? I have no changes, Madam Chair. Okay. I need a motion to approve the agenda as it's been presented. Motion to approve the agenda as presented. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Any discussion on the agenda? Okay. Hearing none, I'll call for the vote to approve the agenda. All those in favor, please say I. I. I. Any opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. We are now on to Dr. Balgamin and I'm sure we did swipe some of your Well, I will tell you you have, Madam Chair. It's
026time for your announcements. You have comments. And to honor everyone's time this afternoon, I will not expand on all of the crossouts that I've done. Thank you, Miss Goodrich, Miss Thompson, Miss Haynes. I did a lot of crossouts. Um I will share with you however there are some important dates that are upcoming and events. So we need to make sure that we make note of these. Uh May 18th it's National Speed Pathologist Day. Uh May 26th as we all know it's Memorial Day and there will be no school on that day. Um May 27th school guardian appreciation day. We're so appreciative of our guardians for all that they do day in and day out in our schools keeping our children, our community safe. Um May 27th through the 31st, congratulations are in order to all
027of our graduates. Um congratulations to the staff. I mean the these graduates, many of them have spent 14 years minimum of 14 years in our in our school system if you really think about it. So that's a full chapter of their lives. And I want to thank our entire team, our parents for choosing Valuchia County, but most importantly our congratulations are in order for those graduates. Can't wait to shake your hands on stage. Um we're also excited for all the hard work that that you know everybody do day in and day out. If you really think about it, May 28th, just right around the corner, is the last day of school for all students. The year I think really went by quickly and uh you know when you are in our schools on a daily
028basis like many of us are and you get to witness day in and day out what the life is like in our school system when teachers with our teachers with staff members our principles their leadership teams our students that is a family affair right and the amount of work that that we see that they do on stage but also the enormous amount of work that takes place behind stage. It's really, it really, you know, garers your appreciation for this field of public education. And for that, I want to say thank you to all of our parents that have chosen Valuchia County Public Schools. I will go with John Cash every single day. I think Valuchia County Public Schools, call me bias if you like, but it's one of the best entities in town when it
029comes to public education. Um, I want to thank our entire team, but also May the 30th is also the last day for our teachers. And I know that many of our teachers will probably still work summer school, but some of them will be off. I'll tell you what, those couple weeks, just cherish those couple weeks because before you know it, the year begins all over again and it's non-stop. So with that said also I'd like to congratulate because when you look at our first year teacher out of 47 right from 47 from 292 uh the new teacher academy participants there were two winners all of them really won right just being there but two that were celebrated and that's Joshua Childers from Orman Beach Elementary congratulations to Joshua and Victoria Warren from the land I
030also teacher appreciation week. Did you guys you guys didn't mention that you were in the schools? I did. You did, Christa. Okay. Well, I should cross that one off, but no, I can't. Um, I I like to thank all of our partners because our partisan education really donated really some really nice gifts that we delivered to our teachers during that week. Um, our hotels association, I know that they they every school has a sponsor, a hotel that sponsors our school. There were activities planned each day. And you know what? Honestly, our teachers should be honored every single day, right, for the work that they do. But I'm so appreciative of all of our partners in education for recognizing the importance of public education and for providing those gift baskets and all the donations that you
031have provided for our staff. Really, you poured your love into them and this is because they also poured love to our community day in and day out. So, thank you. And I we do have one video chair that we would like to show at this point in honor of teacher appreciation week. Thank you teachers. My favorite thing about my teacher is spending time with her. I'm grateful for my teacher. My favorite thing about my teacher is she loves me. My favorite thing about my teacher is that she lets us do everything and I love her so much. I like her dresses. My favorite thing about my teacher is that she teaches me and I get smarter and smarter. My favorite thing about the teacher is that she does read alouds. My favorite thing about my
032teacher is that she's helping me with my work. Favorite thing about my teacher, she's always fun with me. She gets us surprises. Thank you for letting us hold scissors. Good thing about my teacher is everything. My favorite thing about my teacher is that she hugs us in the morning and her personality and she teaches us new things. We do fun stuff. She help us learn our sight words. He does math. My favorite thing about my teacher is when she uses her funny voice. She let us go in candy. I like how she decorates her room. My favorite thing about my teacher is whenever she helps me with problems. My favorite thing about my teacher is she's beautiful and she teach us learn and make us grow. She gives us hugs. My favorite thing about my
033teacher, she's helpful and she solves any problems. That she teaches us. She has red hair. Happy teacher president day. [Music] That was wonderful. That concludes my announcement. Sher, thank you. At this point, we've got some wonderful recognition to do tonight. There are some state champs in the room. Yes, we have some state champs in the room. So, we're going to start off with item 4.01, 01 our state champions. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Larry Beal, our specialist for athletics, he will help introduce our students who have won state championship. And Larry, as we all know, it's more than just education, right? It's it's about the whole child. When you look at the whole child, not just wraparound services, but also those extracurricular activities and and and uh that helps our students remain fit mentally, physically
034and also very competitive. A little competitive. Just a little competitive. Good morning or good evening, Dr. Baban, board guest in the in the boardroom. We're going to start out by introducing I'm going to introduce the principal or the assistant principal or the athletic director for the school. They're going to introduce their coaches and then the coaches will speak on behalf of their kids and speak about their kids and their accomplishments. The students, the student athletes, as Dr. B stated, will stand when their recognition is being read or they're being talked about. And then we'll finish up at the end after all five schools and we'll do pictures with all five schools at once. That way we don't put you guys through a physical activity of up down up down up down you know getting our
035squats and we have a weightlifting coach here to help us for Atlantic High School. He is not present tonight he was unable to be present. Wender Altonor boys weightlifting state champion. So we wanted to make sure even though he's out of area that we recognized him for his state title accomplishment. Second on the agenda would be Dan High School and Mike Lucero and his administrative team for athletics will come to the bench at this time. Good evening. Good evening. I'm going to introduce uh my athletic director, Mr. Lance Jenkins. I'm here representing Mr. D, by the way. Obviously, I'm not Mr. D. Uh, and I'm going to call up my uh, coach uh, Chris Folsam. And I'm going to let Mr. Jenkins take it over. Thank you. I'm just going to give the floor to
036Chris. He works with the young lady day in and day out. Assume this is my mic here. Um, Coach Fol, Valain High School wrestling team. Um, our We have Grace Lashinsky here. She We're obviously very proud of her. She's our program's uh, first wrestling champion in 53 years of the program. We've never had one at the school. So, we've had a lot of state places, a lot of state qualifiers, a lot of team accomplishments, but we've never had a state champion. So, Grace did that. She did it in a mere three years. She had never wrestled before. She did a lot of jiu-jitsu and MMA and uh kickboxing stuff over the years, but she's never actually wrestled. So, she showed up in 10th grade, not having wrestled ever. And in three years, she went from
037knowing zero wrestling to being a state champion. Last year, she made it to the state finals as a second year wrestler. this year she got back there, she made it uh made the championship, what got it done for her. She was 38 and0. Um so yeah, she's hard worker. Showed up in the room, she's immediate, she's hardworking, she's dedicated, she's a great leader in the room. Um I expected it because I've known her for many, many years prior to teach coaching her, but um she met every expectation we had of her and she's uh like I said, she's our first. So, she's special and uh we just like to thank her for coming out for the team, doing what she did, and she's going to carry on at Lindsay Wilson with a wrestling team and
038in college and yeah, hopefully she continues her winning ways. Thank [Music] you, follow Sweetwater and the kids on the video, but we're off to a good start. So, let's jump right into school number three, New Beach High School, led by Tim Merrick. Good evening everyone. Um, we've had a great season at New Summer Beach High School and our sporting programs. Uh we call it a winter of winning um because we had a winter full of uh winning and uh although all of them didn't get to the pinnacle uh which is a state champion uh we had several individuals and uh one team meet that but we also had several teams get to the to be a runner up in the state and uh also the final eight. So uh kudos to all our coaches and
039student athletes. Uh first I'd like to call up uh our alumnist from New Smyrna Beach High School. uh a runnerup state uh almost state champion, two-time um who also wrestled in college. So, he has a great level of expertise in uh training his students. Mr. uh Isaac [Applause] Bernard. Okay. Is this Huh? Okay. All right. Um how y'all doing today? program. Um, I became the head coach about two years ago. So, this is year number three for me. And the object objective was very simple. Uh, I didn't want a team. I wanted a program. And that was the objective meaning and return student athlete first. Um, so outside of the fact that our kids did win the state championship this year individually, right now we currently have in two years we have eight guys in
040college. currently. Uh these guys will also be continuing to college. Uh Kyle started wrestling two years ago. Um so in two years he's uh was a two-time state qualifier and then the state champ after his first year wrestling. Um which is super impressive to say the least. Uh but it was more the fact that he put the time in and we made it very simple which was if you don't get the grades, you don't get to compete. It's a privilege to be an athlete on our campus. So therefore, student comes first. And the same thing with John. John had been wrestling a little bit longer. But he had been to the state tournament three time three different occasions. So his third time was the charm as we call it. Um but it was for us
041it was fun simply because of the fact that everyone in the arena said our guys are the two best guys in in arena with exception to us. We wanted to make sure that we were the best. So, we stood out above above the rest at the end of the day. Um, but Kyle will be continuing to play football in college. He's going to Georgia military and then John will be continuing his college education at Felician University which is in New Jersey and he will be wrestling. So, Kyle, if you'll stand up, please. Jonathan Bruner. [Applause] Thank you, gentlemen. Uh, now I'd like to call up uh, former Olympian and also former Spruce Creek grad. So, I do give him a little credit from Spruce Creek, but now he's a cuda because, you know, as we
042say, once a cuda, always a cuda. So, um, Mr. McCrae brings a wealth of knowledge based on his expertise and uh there's not a person he couldn't meet that he couldn't turn into a weightlifter on the team. He finds them everywhere. Whether or not it's under a rock, whether or not it's someone um that's never done it before, but he works miracles with our kids. And for those that uh don't win state titles, uh they have a good mentor and a person that uh they can count on on our campus. So, Mr. McCrae, if you come up and uh talk a little bit about your state champions. Good evening. Good evening. All right. First of all, I'm Coach McCrae. Uh teaching at New Simra Beach High School. Been doing it now for I think going
043on 21 years. Wow. So, um I'm just doing the best I can with what I do. Um, I've been doing it a long time for myself and um, my goal now is just to uh, teach what I know. Um, I was fortunate enough uh, when I was in high school to have great coaches and um, I just pretty much want to give back. Um, so that's that's my goal. So hopefully I can do that for at least 10 more years. Uh, so, um, I just want to say, um, this is probably my third time doing this. Um, hopefully I can do it. Plenty more years upcoming. Um, so it was, let me see, we got Olivia. Olivia, can you stand up? Olivia Bon West. This is her third year. Um, she's won weightlifting three years
044in a row. Um, I'm not sure if Asha Asha's here. She didn't make it today. Um, Asha also won states three years um in a row. You can give her a hand, although she's not [Applause] here. We got Isaiah M um Mloud. He's here. He's also a three-time state [Applause] champion. So, every year, um, we work hard in the summer and our goal is to hopefully try to win state championships again. Um, we won it a few years ago. Um, I've never won it with the girls. All right. So, I'm working hard to do that. Um, pretty much every year, um, I my goal is to at least try to at least have a state champion. Um, but the hardest thing to do is to win as a team. Um, years before we're normally close.
045We we've lost one, two points, three points. Um, but we're we're right there. So, as a coach, teaching both boys and the girls, you know, it's at times it's tough, but my goal is to hopefully one day try to win another state championship as a team with both boys and girls in the same year. So, uh I'm working on that. Hopefully, we can get there. So, thank y'all. Um and now for our girls basketball, our girls basketball team will state champions this year. uh in the state classification of 5A. Uh they went uh 27 and five over the course of the season. Started out at 10-0. Uh earned a number one ranking in the state and held that ranking. Uh on their schedule, they played uh nationally ranked teams, final four teams from the past
046season, and uh former state champions uh to help them to to develop some grit and resiliency of which they did over the course of the season. And uh they ended on a 150 run uh to on their way to the state title. Um and in both of the games in the final four uh they trailed after the first quarter. So resilient indeed they were um in fighting through a little bit of adversity to get there. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the entire the team here today. We have some doing balorate services tonight at 6:00. I do have an assistant coach here. So, I'm going to stand with her over here at the mic and at least do a roll call for our players um cuz they couldn't be present and we have several that
047couldn't make it. But we are prideful at New Smyrna and trying to put the right people um in front of our student athletes and we're blessed and fortunate to have people with a level of expertise and the ability to relate and uh draw the best out of our students. So, I would like to say that about all of our coaches that I have here tonight and some that didn't make it. So, we are thankful for that. So, Miss Walker, if you come up, Miss Carmemella Walker, she's an assistant coach. Uh, she's a graduate of 2017 from New Smyrna Beach High School. She played in college as well and, uh, contributes to our coaching staff. [Music] not here but uh team members uh Sariah Ammons, Korean Oel, Belle Avala, Eva Feldman, Riley France, Janiah Monroe, Olivia
048Olsen, Megan Praio, Annayiah Reicks, Cicia Richberg, Jayla Smith. Those were our 12 players that went states. And our coaches, head coach Asia Patrick. I I did mention about her. She's a Hall of Famer at UCF in the ladies program there. Uh with her level of expertise, of course, Carmemella Walker, assistant coach here. Mr. Dominic Shaquila Jones, graduate of New Beach High School as well. Uh Tana Hayes and Pop Mitchell, one of our local legends in the community. So, uh, we're thankful for our run and we're thankful for all the support we got from district and particularly, uh, in area in New Smyrna Beach. We had a lot of people who donated and made this work for the girls and, uh, they were there to support them as well on their run. So, this is as
049much for the city as it is for uh, Valuchia County Schools. So, thank you. [Music] Sorry, we have uh one other student athlete to recognize tonight who couldn't be here as well. He's a senior and he couldn't get out of work. Uh we had a state champion uh weightlifter, his first time uh completing a season in weightlifting. He got injured his junior year uh but his senior year, Mr. Armani Spurlock is also a state champion for us at New Smart Beach High School. So, congratulations to him as well. All right, now moving on to school 4 Seabbze High School athletic director Anthony Campanella will come up and introduce the boys bowling coach, Dr. be board members. Thank you for having us. Um, Principal Harris could not be here tonight. He's actually attending a distinctive um,
050honors banquet tonight. So, so he's not going to be here, but um, you know, as a former coach myself for over 30ome years, you know, a lot of these athletes put a lot of time, effort, dedication, sacrifice, as well as education um, to go into trying to win a state championship. And um it's it's a tough thing to do and to honor all of us as coaches, as players. It it's truly amazing. And thank you uh for doing this. And Larry, thank you also. Uh before I call up our our head bowling coach, um he was actually nominated and won the 2024 dairy farmers coach of the year and for our boys bowling and that's Paul Scheler. So Paul, come on up real quick. Thank you. Paul Schuler. Uh, I coach wrestling, I coach bowling,
051and I do uh the distance coach at uh for track at Seabbze High School. Just to mention that. And uh can you guys stand? Seb's bowling. Got Brandon and Brandon. And then uh Xavier and Logan. Uh these guys were amazing this season. just unbelievable the performance not just at the state tournament but they also went undefeated during regular season 16-0 did not lose one Baker match if you know anything about Baker matches and then made it to the state tournament by winning the district and then went undefeated throughout the whole state tournament um and that's the first time I think in my coaching for the 15 years of bowling uh that we've actually had a being completely undefeated for the whole season and a state champion. So, you know, clap it up for those guys
052and and it's the first time in Cabby's history we had boys bowling state champions. Thank you. Oh, and uh we do have some uh state rings for them after before they leave. Thank you. [Applause] Just to mention, as we do with all of our coaches, they're enforcing the athletics, but they're also holding their kids accountable to what they do. And I know coach Scheler would not toot his own horn, but he is also pushing by example in his recognition of his sport. He is a accomplished long-distance runner. So, you might want to ask him about that, but I would not run against him in long distance. Dr. Sparger might. So leading into Spruce Creek High School, school number five, I will turn it over to their principal, Dr. Todd [Applause] Sparger. Madam Chair, members of
053the board, Dr. Balman, thank you for having us here tonight. I echo Coach Campy's words. Thank you for taking the time to recognize these incredible student athletes and and the coaches and and and uh these wonderful programs that are that are being highlighted here. This is our our school's 50th graduating class, the class of 2025. Uh the school's 50th graduating class. And this is uh been a special uh year for us with with in a lot of areas, but but certainly talking about athletics tonight. When I became uh principal at at Spruce Creek, uh I was fortunate that that Mike uh Coach Rando uh a proud Seb's graduate who holds the record for the longest run in Seabbze mainland history. Is that what it is? Yeah. Uh so uh proud of that. Uh but uh
054fortunate to have uh coach as our athletic director. I I I learned quickly as a as a high school principal. Uh two key positions. There's a lot of key positions, but two of the bookkeeper uh and the athletic director. Uh and and I'm fortunate to have excellent people in both. Uh but but as I said, coach has been our athletic director for 16 years now. Uh and was the coaching uh prior to that. And uh it's it's it's a great history of success at Spruce Creek in terms of a lot of things, but specifically athletics. Uh and so want to give introduce Mike and then talk to us about our coaches that are represented here tonight. Mike Randall, [Applause] just like uh Mr. Merrick said with New Simra, they take a lot of pride in
055their their programs and they had a great uh winter and even going into the spring. Um, we feel the same way about how we finished in the spring. Um, it was great because we were able to cap it off with a state title with the very last team that was eligible in in the spring season. Um, we had a lot of close calls on Saturday and unfortunately they kind of fell short, but the track team was able to come in. Um, and it it came from a lot of hard work and I'm gonna let uh Coach Gallon uh talk about his team, but Coach Gallon, just a little bit about him. He's I feel like he's been there as long as I have. I know it's been 20 plus years, but not only, you know,
056the success he's had with the track team, but he's been with the cross country team um for the same amount of time. And he's he's dedicated to both. He puts a lot of hard work in there. Um we never doubt the the the girls, and I'm going to let him I'm not going to steal his phrase because I'm sure he's going to say it sometime today, but uh it it's true. the the the reason they are so successful is because of what they put into it and what Coach Gallon. So, Coach Gallon, if you'd like to come and introduce your team, [Applause] hello. Um, so I do speak sometime, but not like this. But anyway, um, I'm so so very proud of our athletes. Before I I do this, um I thought that I would
057give you a message from one of our former athletes who just graduated from MIT and she text me last night and cuz she just found out about us winning the state championship which it's kind of surprising to everyone because they're like we were in was it one event or the whole thing? I said the whole thing. They're like wow. So it says congratulations to you and the team on the state championship. That is so incredible accomplish. It makes me so happy to see the program thriving, to have been a part of something so great. And now she gets in a little sarcasm. She says, "If you uh at all curious about what your former athletes are up to these days, I am working full-time as a mechanical engineer in Boston, but I have also been
058keeping close to track as I started private coaching a couple of months ago. I hope to instill the love and passion of the sport to the next generation in the same way that you did for me. Train hard went easy. And of course, I said I was proud of her. And she said, "Thanks, coach. So much of my work, ethic, discipline, and internal drive was established through high school, cross country, and track. So, I am forever grateful." And so, the one thing I want to say is all coaches are like this. Not just my sport, but all coaches. they they sacrifice so much time away from their family and their friends, their birthdays and Christmas uh and so many u hours that are put into this and it's something that we are trying to give
059an example to our athletes that we have to have a sacrifice but no one is successful without the village and so I want to go ahead and talk about our athletes really really quick because we're super super proud of them and they're going to stand as I say something to them um Angelina Stabil. Angelina is a senior who will be going off to South Carolina State on a full scholarship. Angelina um pole votes and you have a house so she can definitely p vote over your house 11 ft um 4 in 11' 4 in that she can p vote. Outstanding. Angelina played six at the state championship for us which gave us if you look at the score it says half point. She was that half point area. All right. Next is Sai Gains, a
060senior. Also will be going off to South Carolina State on a full scholarship to run track and field. Sai was predicted not to score, not to place any of that. And I kind of chuckled because they were not used to her athletic ability. So now on her second attempt, her first attempt she scratched. On second attempt, she jumped 18 feet 7 I'm sorry, 18' 8 in 18' 8 in to place third to place third for us. All right, and we're we're super super excited to see where she goes. Trust me, in a couple of years, you'll be hearing a lot more about Sinai in college. Next is our sophomore. This is Jada Hawkins. Jada is the calm one on the team at times. Jada also runs on our 4x8 squad that came in second place
061runner up at the state championship and she also ran um the open 400. When she first started running track and field for Spruce Creek High School as a freshman, she was running 62 seconds and now she is down to 56 seconds. All right, so incredible, incredible sophomore. Just two more [Applause] years. Up next is our quiet one, Michaela Palmer. Michaela is was ranked number one going into the state of um in the state of Florida for the high jump. Uh when she first started she was like a 46 high jumper and now she is a 56 high jumper. She placed third at the state championship. Now she didn't know that the rain delay that we were up only a half a point and that the opposing team or the team that was in second place
062was right behind us with another high jumper. And for an hour and 15 minutes, we said nothing to her while the rain delay or the lightning delay was taking place. Every time these guys called, I walked down the hallway and not to let her hear the conversation. She cleared the height with ease. It was no problem. We All [Applause] right, before I get to um our next um two, we have another young lady who's not here. Um she is a identical twin. Her name is Channing Herby. And I bring that up because she's a freshman and she and she is very competitive. She's so competitive that she weighs 95 pounds and she's a hockey player along with her sister. And that still makes me laugh. And right now she's doing something with hockey right now.
063All right. Next is what we call what for some reason throughout the entire state of Florida, they're known as the Rory twins. Uh and they are magnificent athletes. They train extremely hard. They're very dedicated to their cause. Um, and uh, I can tell them apart, you may not, but um, all the time that we've been around each other, I um, you can definitely tell them apart um, for myself. Um, first and foremost, we're going to start off with um, Ari. Ari um u is probably the most patient person I can um, be around and because of the fact that what her sister does, all right, um, gets to praise and she's like right behind them. And um last year at the Florida State um Invitational, Arian in a race right before Kinsey. And as Ari
064came in, she broke the school record. Like, yes, she broke the school record. 2 minutes and 14 seconds later, her sister broke her record. So, it was it was it's an awesome thing. Um and we're so very proud of um Ari as she will be going to the University of Auburn on a scholarship next year. All right. And um while her sister gets so much praise, she deserved that praise as well. And next is McKenzie. I saved her for last for two reasons because she's here to be honored for two different things. Uh first, I'm going to talk about the the track and field. Um she did win the 1500. When she first started with us, she was at 505. Now, I don't know if you guys I'm sorry, 1600, which is the mile, four
065laps. So, just think about yourselves for a second if you can do this. Well, Saturday, 30 minutes after she just ran on the 4x8 squad, she ran 4 minutes and 49 seconds in the mile. Uh, [Applause] [Music] and about an hour, less than an hour later, she had to run the two-mile. Um, I can't actually remember the time because it was so focused on the race itself, the last few yards or meters of the race. She came up a little short because someone's surprised at the end. But McKenzie, the person that she is, didn't even care that she did not win that because in her eyes, her team herself just won the first time ever the state championship for the entire team, which was an awesome awesome feeling. We're still pretty high right now. And
066then she was originally supposed to come here before Saturday for cross country. And this is where she has really really um turned lots of heads. If you know what a cross country race is, it is a 5K which is 3.1 miles. McKenzie her fastest time is 17 minutes and 1 second. All right, which is awesome. She wanted to get that 1659 very, very bad. All right. Um, I can tell you that we went from a few colleges from the state of Florida trying to recruit Arya and Kinsey to over hundreds college um, colleges trying to recruit them. Auburn got lucky because in my opinion they their coach ran with one of our former athletes who came and gave a talk named Mandy Perkins. He ran at Florida along with Mandy and that kind of helped
067that situation out. We're so so proud of them. Also, just so you know, um McKenzie is the dairy farmer's runner of the year and she's also the Gatorade runner of the year. So, [Applause] so because we have this model, train hard, win easy, and and we like to show example, our coach in the back, Coach Lyndon Johnson, he can't really stand that well because he just got a knee replacement, but but he's trying. his wife probably going to take him home soon. Um, and I remember talking to him at the state meeting. I could barely understand what he was saying because of the meds, I guess. But, um, um, uh, the kids were just joyful to see him. We had our boys 4 by 100 team uh, running that for the first time at the
068state meet. They came in fifth place and when they saw coach, they were super super excited because they didn't think he was going to come to the meet because the day before he had just gotten that surgery, this day before knee replacement. So, big ups to coach [Applause] Thank you so much. Thank you. That is all of our state champions for tonight. We appreciate you all recognizing them and understand that not just the state champions, but like coaches were saying, all the coaches, all the teachers, the principles, the administration, all the people behind them making sure that they're doing what they're supposed to do. It is a true community project for Valuchia County. So once again, if our athletes could stand and be recognized, [Music] And I would not work out with Mr. Mloud. I've
069seen him work out in the weight room. It's intense. Great kids. Thank you very much. And now we can go to pictures. I can have new too. There you go. Just smack her around. All right. Ready? You guys can go ahead and exit that way. You guys are all tall. [Applause] Congratulations. Thank you. Okay, come over here. Dr. B, do you want to come on this side? right here next to you. Come over here. I'm happy to. Wherever you guys can congratulations. Congratulations. Are these rings? Oh, those are nice. Congratulations. post that tomorrow. I'll say it to you tomorrow. Can't be going this side. There you go. Why aren't you holding your ring? Where's my ring guy? [Applause] Hello. Good. How are you? I know. Congrats. You want to stay around? You think [Music] I'm
070going to If you want to go behind the [Applause] You're in the windows. Dr. Sparter, you can move over. Dr. Sparter, move to your right. There we go. You good? Everyone coach behind you. Yes, everyone's in the window. Play hard. Hard. If like every 30 minutes I stood up and just stood up my chair like this like it's weird. I have a stand up vest and I have Yeah, I can't see many hours like that. I went to my doctor Monday is our president. Oh, she is. Thank you for Oh, very. Okay. Absolutely, Larry. They wanted you to know how what an incredible job you're doing, but we all know that. Okay. We are now moving on to recognition 4.02, our Valuchia County Council PTA reflections. Dr. Balgaban. Thank you, Madam Chair. As you know,
071it's that time of the year and we continue with the celebrations. We have here with us today our VCC um PTA president, Miss Jen Wesler, along with Miss Patty Edwards, who is the reflections chair. Because believe it or not, we have five students who are the Florida PTA Reflections finalists and they will be presenting those five students. So you may please join us up here to announce the finalist. Did you write anything? Good afternoon, school board members. I'd like to thank you very much for having our five students here today that are going to be recognized. So, I had over a hundred or so students this year and they all did a a great job. I'm just pleased that I had five state winners or we had state and we do have one national. I've
072been doing this for like over 15 years I've been on this being reflections chair and it's my first year that I had a national winner. So, and just to let you all know what a big deal this really is. We are talking about thousands of children in the state of Florida. We are talking tens of thousands in national PTA. So this is a huge accomplishment for our artists and for our PTAs for putting in all the work to make sure this could happen for our children. So we do want to say thank you for everyone for that. Now give me just a minute and I will pull up our list. You want to pull it up? We we did not expect to be the ones speaking today. So you'll have to excuse it. We thought
073we got to just sit nicely today. I I do have the name if you would like for me to call. If you don't if you don't mind calling the name, that would be great. It would be I could sit through my email a little bit longer, but I don't want to hold you guys up. You got a lot of people in that lobby. No worries. So Melena Melena Marcus from Orman Beach Middle. Where is Melina? If you can stand, please. Harrison Edwards, Chisum [Applause] Elementary. There you go. High five. Gabriella Dubose from uh Pathways Elementary. Blake Ferguson from Citrus Grove Elementary and Alexis Ferguson from Creekide [Applause] Middle. So, Miss Wesler and Miss Edwards, if you will join us with our five winners here, please come on up because we have some certificates for you
074and we'll take a picture with the with the five winners. All right, rock stars, let's do this. I'm done watching. Open it up. Ladies and gentlemen, here by the kids. my phone. Congratul [Applause] Good. Thank you. Yes. Sorry. Yeah. Okay. Now we're moving on to recognition 4.03, the secondary STEM bus. Thank you, Madam Chair. We are pretty lucky here in Valuchia County that we have a team of individuals with the type of talent that we have ev seen evidenced right here. Right. We have our secondary STEM bus. And if you have not taken the tour yet, you need to make sure you take a tour before you leave. Now, we're so grateful to these individuals who not only produced a forest stem bus for us and as you have mentioned um Miss Thompson that from
075the time we did the ribbon cutting for that bus every day it has been booked every single day making an impact into our communities with our families with activities that are in completely aligned to our standards integrating technology science engineering ing math. I want to say a big thank you because after we did our first launch, we had about three or four districts that came out to look at what we have done. So because they wanted to replicate that. Now the one thing I will tell you the talent that we have here because this was done inhouse. I can promise you I have not seen any mobile classroom like the ones that we have here in Valuchia. I have seen one in another county, but it was nothing close to what we have here. So,
076these folks, I will share with you that their dedication is so absolutely incredible because they put in their own time doing this. This is beyond their work schedule, doing this for our children. Um, and I can go on and on about this theme because I'm so super excited. We do have a video, but I'd like to ask Miss Patty Core, our chief operating officer, along with Chris Boyer, our assistant director for student transportation. They will share some of the masterminds behind this project. But again, on behalf of our families here in Valuchia County and our staff, I want to say thank you to this dedicated team. Thank you for going above and beyond. This is just another example of how our folks go above and beyond because they truly believe in our mission, which is
077all about children. Thank you. Thank you so much, Dr. Balgavan, and uh ditto on everything you said and good good evening again, board. Um we're so excited to be here tonight because I'll tell you, um the last year and a few months of my life have been amazing since I've been able to join the operations side of the house. Um because there's nothing we ask any of these team members to do that they say no. I I can't tell you one thing. Things that even might seem impossible, like taking an unused bus, an older bus, and converting it into what you see outside is nothing short of a miracle to me. I I barely can measure with a with a tape measure. So, with the stuff that they do is just incredible. Um, so I
078want to also personally thank the whole operations division. Um, and I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Ber who has some sentiments for the team. Great. Thank you very much, Miss Core. Uh good evening, Chair Haynes, board members, and superintendent Balgamin. Uh my name is Chris Boyer, and I'm the assistant director of student transportation services, fleet, and finance. Student transportation's fleet team is one of the district's bestkept secrets in the holy grail of ingenuity and vision. Each day, the dedicated team ensures safe, secure, effective, and efficient transportation for more than 21,000 students with our fleet of 230 buses. Last year, the task the team was tasked with building a second STEM bus. The team took this basic 2016 international school bus and transformed it into an educational mobile classroom. This committed team has sacrificed
079an enorm enormous amount of time from their busy days, even in times of reduced staff over the past year to build what you see in the parking lot today. The ownership they took in creating this phenomenal resource for the students and families of Valuchia County is commendable. This is an invaluable asset that will be utilized by thousands of students for years to come. Student transportation never turns away from a challenge and this team has done it twice with the STEM buses. This time with the solar feature. The professionalism, commitment to excellence, meticulous attention to detail, and the final product is a testament to the exceptional team that tackled this project well above and beyond their job roles. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize five distinguished team members of the student transportation team
080of fleet maintenance and other contributors from the STEM department and the facilities maintenance department who assisted on this project. Without these distinguished gentlemen before you today, this project would not have been a success. I would like to take this opportunity to present a token of appreciation to each of them. So, if you can please stand when I call your name. Uh for student transportation, Mr. David Crown, body technician, our one and only body technician for Valuchia County Schools. Mr. Royce Shipley, vehicle technician, is a wealth of knowledge and is a veteran member of our team. Mr. Zachary Murphy, who is new to the team and has an absolute bright future as a vehicle technician. Vladimir Muscaleno is our AV technician and unfortunately he could not be here tonight. Uh for the STEM team, I would
081like to thank David Van Slike. I have never seen someone so committed to the educational realm as he is. He is absolutely blood, sweat, and tears into STEM. This this guy's amazing. Absolutely. For facilities maintenance, these guys go above and beyond anytime we need anything at transportation. I always I always am very appreciative of the attention that they give us. Uh, Mr. Josh Kelly, Mr. Richard Kelly, [Applause] and Mr. Robert Garrett. And last but not least, the brains, brilliance, and the person with the patience of a saint that has gotten us to this point, who always has a plan to tackle any challenge. The Hannibal Smith of the student transportation a team and STEM bus creative leader, Mr. John Wilson. [Music] Thank you very much. Yes. And in addition, we'd also like to thank of
082our fearless leader of our K12 science initiative, our coordinator, Jennifer [Applause] Taylor. And another very important person that um these projects would not be what they are without is our secondary STEM specialist, Amy Monahan. newest addition to the team who got his CDL certification so he could drive the bus and teach is Robert Stevenson on the secondary STEM bus. So, um, having worked with that science department in the past, I know how much they love their subject area. And these gentlemen, I already told John Wilson when I retire, I would like him to make me a tiny home out of a bus. So, I'm I'm booking his services in advance for that. But thank you for for allowing us to be here tonight and we do hope everybody gets a chance to explore that secondary
083stem bus. It's awesome. I will share also that our half aent sales committee I want to publicly thank them once again for approving this project for the second for a second time along with our partners in education when it comes to STEM which is the Lomen's Foundation. So absolutely thank you all. Come on up guys and ladies. Do you want to do the stem first? I think it I love it. This is just creating Can you guys come up? Huh? Where is it? They got Robert, thank you. Thank [Laughter] you. All right. Congrats. I'm sorry. I don't have to I do [Laughter] [Applause] You're going to be yellow. [Music] How are we doing this? Are you staying there? Can Can you see him in the pink? Everyone take like a half step in toward each
084other. Just love each other for 30 more seconds. [Laughter] Thank you guys. Yeah, [Applause] another bus out there. [Applause] Buses. Yeah, he says he'll stay. Everyone for principal preparations here. There's 17. So, we can fit them here if we don't want to go down to the landing area. It's about the same amount of people as we just wherever you want. I just wanted to make sure. Okay. Um, what are we doing? [Applause] [Music] Okay, we are now up to item 4.04, principal preparation program. Dr. Balman. Thank you, Madam Chair. Actually, this is our last recognition for the night. And what a great way to end our last recognition with 17 graduates that are here. As we all know, guys, I always say that this the day we stop growing, it's the day we stop learning.
085And if you really think about it, it doesn't matter what stage you are in your life, there are opportunity for us to learn, right? Um the principal preparation program is really a comprehensive statewide state approved two-year program. This program is aligned with the Florida Education Leadership Standards um referred to as the Philly standards designed it's designed to prepare our future principles for the complexities of educational leadership. BL Brandy Hogue has been spearheading this department for us for many years now and she does a phenomenal job. She's our coordinator for leadership development. Human resource uh chief is with us. he will be joining her. Um, John Cash along with Miss Stephanie Workman, our executive director for human resources. They will all come up and present, do the presentation. We have 16 current assistant principles and one
086district leader that we are graduating tonight, Miss Hog and Mr. Johnny Cash. That's his official name, guys. Good evening, Chairperson Haynes, board members, Superintendent Balgaban, and distinguished guest. I'm Brandy Hog, and I'm the coordinator for leader leadership development. And tonight, I have the honor of recognizing 17 outstanding educators who make up the TW 2025 cohort of Valuchia County Schools Principal Preparation Program. The principal preparation program, otherwise known as the PPP, because it is a mouthful to say repeatedly, um is a rigorous two-year leadership development journey designed to build the capacity of aspiring leaders and prepare them for the complex demands of the principal ship. It is grounded in the Florida educational leadership standards and approved by the Florida Department of Education. The program includes a wide range of professional learning experiences such as a such
087as monthly leadership sessions, hands-on simulations, collaborative book studies, and the creation of 30, 60, and 90day entry plans. Participants also engaged in monthly mentoring, participated in STSON University's leadership series, developed climate and culture plans, and refined their professional communication skills through reflective practices and exit interviews. Lastly, participants compiled all of their professional learning into a comprehensive leadership portfolio that showcases their growth, leadership actions, and measurable impact. Through their commitment, resilience, and passion for serving students and staff, these leaders have not only met but exceeded the expectations of this program. Their successful completion qualifies them for Florida's school principal certification and positions them as strong candidates to lead our schools into the future. On behalf of Valuchia County Schools, we are proud to celebrate these dedicated educators who are ready to lead with vision, heart, and
088an unwavering commitment to student success. Um, at this time, Mr. Cash and uh Mrs. Workman are ready for the presentation of certificates. Participants, when your name is called, please come forward to receive your certificate. And um if you'll just line up along the blue wall once we call everybody's name then we'll step out and take a picture. All right. Our first participant, please join me in congratulating Dr. Joselyn Baker from Pearson [Applause] Elementary. Kyle Brier, Edgewater Elementary. Amy Kerry, New Simra Beach Middle. Benjamin Carter, Professional Standards. Chelsea Sinowski, Orange City Elementary. Corin Cobb, Manatee Cove Elementary. Melissa Freighus, Sunrise [Applause] Elementary. Arya Hair, Woodward Elementary. Gregory Iorio, Creekide Middle. Dr. Christina Labnau, Deltona High School. Amber McAndrew, Ostein Elementary. [Applause] Kamisha Range, Dand Middle. Melissa Shaw, Valuchia Online [Music] Learning. Teresa Spidell, Horizon Elementary. [Applause]
089Dr. Ty Swift, Southwestern Middle. although she is unable to be with us this evening. Let's have a round of applause for Jodie Whitley from Pine Trail Elementary. Last, but certainly not least, Alicia Zarbo from Deltona High School. [Applause] Thank you to everyone who supported these participants throughout their journey of the principal preparation program. Your encouragement, mentorship, and belief in their potential has made a meaningful difference. Your continued commitment to leadership for the future of education in Valuchia County Schools is greatly appreciated. Together, we are shaping the next generation of leaders. And quickly, can we just have um all of our principles and family members and everybody who has supported our aspiring leaders to please stand? Thank you. Okay, hang on. complimentary middle district. Now, all right. So, so that we understand you guys would like
090a full group picture that they're doing this. So, we're going to step outside for just a moment and use the staircase to be able to fit all of you so that we can see all of you and we can have a full picture. Then we will come back in and we'll do you and your school family, home family individually. So, you're just going to have to hang out for a few minutes. But how's that sound? Because [Laughter] Oh, wait, wait, wait. They're coming back. Okay. Period. Careful your mic. That makes sense, right? My kids are watching dinner. You lie. They said that there would be Oh, man. You saying the mic didn't look. You're very welcome. My mom got 17. We got a work family photo. [Laughter] So now what are we doing? All right,
091we're just going to go in order. So do um Dr. Jocelyn Baker, please come forward. And anyone that's here with her, please come forward to join her so that we can go ahead and we're going to go in order and get pictures. So we guys, you guys get in the photo, jump in the photo, and you all can just stay there. Okay. Well, then here you who's going to read the names? We stay. Yeah. All right. Next up, then I'll see you guys tomorrow. Here we go. One, two, and we Thank you. Thank you very much. That's right. There you go. [Laughter] Next [Applause] up, she craves Come here. Get up there. [Music] [Laughter] I had my shining moment this summer. I told everyone to stay home. [Music] All right. This is the lady. [Laughter]
092Facebook for Facebook. Thank you very much. [Laughter] Thank you. [Applause] You guys are excited. Oh, that's okay. I want a jacket. Jacket. [Laughter] I'm sorry. I don't know. You guys, two remain. I know, right? [Music] All right, here we go. [Music] We're doing [Laughter] good. Congratulations. No, you don't have to take [Applause] pictures. Congratulations. I'll make it up to you. Thank you so much. Thank you. You're very welcome. You can take it. Oh, call Lisa with it. He's trying to swipe right. That works. You want to do it? That's fine. Four. Four. Let me ask you, [Applause] huh? Finish this part. Okay. We're now moving on to section 5.01 administrative appointments and transfers. Dr. Balabin. Thank you, Madam Chair. We have four uh appointments this evening and our first I would like to ask Miss
093Mr. Madison Kangji to join us. [Music] I'd like to share some background on Madison Kangi. He's obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. MA master's master's degree from Western Governor's University. He holds certification in the following areas: ed leadership, middlegrades, integrated curriculum, fiscal ed, exceptional student education. He's been with us here in Valuchia County since 2005. Started as a teacher at Pineriidge High School, then became a teacher and assignment at Pineriidge. went on to becoming an ESSE assistant principal at Cample Middle, Deltona Middle, then became the assistant principal, went back to Pineriidge High School as the assistant principal, currently serving as the assistant director for student transportation with your recommen with your approval here this evening. I'm recommending Matson Kangi as the new director for student transportation. Effective start date will be
094July 1st, 2025. Thank you. Board members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have a motion? I will gladly make that motion. Thank you, Mr. Cologne. Do I have a second? I'll second that motion. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Anyone wish to speak? Go ahead, Mr. Cologne. Kangji, you know, you live in our community, you serve our community, you love on our kids, and uh there is no one better for this position. Um, and I am honored that you're willing to continue serving our children. Uh, and uh, congratulations, congratulations, and congratulations. Thank you. I'd like to add to that. You're going to do a fabulous job in this position because you have the heart for all of our students. And I know I didn't meet you until after I knew your wife and prior
095I knew I met her before she married you, but you're in the right place and it's the right time. Yeah. And we know that you're going to do a great job and you're going to make sure all of our kids get to school on time and absolutely everything so that they can learn and they get home safely. And so it's an honor to have you here tonight and I'm so proud of you. Thank you. So at this time I will call for the vote. All of those in favor please say I. I. Any opposed? It passes unanimously. Congratulations. All right. This team over here the best in Valuchia. Transportation the best in Valia. Madam Chair Haynes, Dr. Bagabin, distinguished members of the board, thank you all for this opportunity and honor to lead the department
096of student transportation as its director. Coming from the instructional side and transitioning over to operations last year, one year, I wanted to be a sponge and soak up as much information and policies as I could. I had some great resources along the way. Thank you, Miss Patty Core. Thank you, Dr. Drew Olsen, assistant directors Betsy Burrus, Chris Ber, former assistant assistant uh director Barbara Ivy, former director Rod Smith, and many other hardworking team members in our department that continue to help me in my professional development. I also would like to thank my family for supporting me throughout these 20 years of serving Valuchia County. Our mission in transportation will remain the same. We want to provide a safe and efficient means of transportation for the thousands of students we serve each school day. We will
097strive to improve in all areas. Will increase in our training, improve in our customer service, and become the standard for student transportation. I'm looking forward to serving this community. And I'm really ready to get started. Thank you all. You can't leave yet. You just get to have a seat for a few moments and we'll have you up here for photos. Dr. Bagabin. Yes, Madam Chair. Um, our second appointment, I'd like to ask Miss Tammy Fischer to join us. [Music] [Applause] So Tammy Fischer, she's obtained her bachelor's degree from Stson University, her master's degree from Stson University, certifications in ed leadership, elementary ed, exceptional student education. She's been with us here in Valuchia County since 1991. Started as a teacher at Ostein Elementary, taught at Sunrise Elementary, George Marks Elementary, been became an assistant principal at
098Deerry Elementary, Forest Lake Elementary. Then she went on to become a principal interim at Heritage Middle. Serve as assistant principal at Heritage Middle, New Simra Beach. Became a principal at Valuchia Pines Elementary, Holly Hill School, and then Pine Trail Elementary. served as the coordinator of student services, currently as the coordinator of federal programs and grants. Today, with your approval, I'm recommended that Miss Nami Fischer serves as the director for federal programs and grants. Effective start date will be July 1st, 2025. Board members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion? I'd like to make the motion. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Do I have a second? Thank you, Mrs. Bromer, anyone have anything they wish to say? I do. It's just here's the funny thing. I
099I see someone sitting back there and so I didn't realize this is what it would take for me to get him to like come so I could see him. But um no, Tammy and I years ago started out and we connected teaching math courses to teachers during the summer and for different trainings and we've been here all this time and we've gone sometimes in different ways and circled back around, but you will absolutely do a wonderful job leading federal programs and grants and I know that you'll keep us compliant at at all times and that's the most important thing. But it's an honor to have you up here tonight and it's also an honor to see you Dave back there in the audience. I had the privilege of working for Dave Fischer for many years
100as a teacher at Enterprise Elementary. So all right at this time if there's no further discussion I'll call for the vote. All those in favor please say I. I. Any opposed? It passes unanimously. [Music] Congratulations. As I've already alluded to, I'm old. I've been around for a very long time. Um, once again, Chair Haynes, board members, and Superintendent Dr. Balgabin, thank you for giving me this opportunity. Um, I've been in Valuchia County since 1986, and I was the first person in our family to even finish college. So education has really been very very important to me and it was uh a focus for my parents to make sure that I was the first one to have that opportunity. Um believe it or not my first job was taking two maternity leaves at Ostein Elementary and
101at that time Ostein Elementary had 1600 students. Literally, you didn't even know everybody that worked on the campus. It was overwhelming. 1,600 kids. Um, and it was hard to get a teaching job then. I mean, they were few and far between. But I got my foot in the door, started at Ostein. Then I uh left being a Bronco and became went to Sunrise, went to George Marks and there I met Matt Kjuski who is um was not only an exceptional educator and leader, he was just a really great guy. And he gave me every job known to me. And he goes, you know, I think you should probably be an administrator because I'm giving you all this stuff, so you should probably go into administration. Which I did. And uh those travels took me from
102one end of the the county to the other. The uh the area superintendent at the time, she used her name would pop up on my phone like Juneish and I go, "Oh no." And I'm like, "Hi." And she would always I have a wonderful opportunity for you. And that was always code for I have a situation or something that I need you to go do for me and it's going to be adventure for you, but it's okay. You could do this. So, um yeah, my my AP adventures went from New Smyrna um over to Deerry your world. That's where I started. Um and then principal ship, my very first principal ship was a big deal. It was really an honor to serve the district in that capacity. Um, and I was still getting those phone
103calls, hey, I've got a really good deal for you because that's how I ended up at Holly Hill School. Um, but I totally love those years school-based, but I'm always up for a new adventure. So, I have loved my last year, the last this last year that I've been in federal programs. They are rock stars. What a fabulous team I have to work with. I mean, they get all the credit for the wonderful stuff that happens because they're they know their job and they do it very very well. So, and I would be remiss if I didn't end with thanking my family, my husband, who was a rock star in his own time, Dave Fisher. He he was a a legend around here. Um, retired from being administrator 35 years. So, um it's kind of
104a family deal. And my two boys, um who are grown, I even have my first grandchild. They are both products of Valia County Schools. Go Bulldogs. They were the land bulldogs. So, um and they spent countless time and countless hours in my classroom. Like, they grew up in my classroom all the time. So, I thank them for sharing their mom with education. But once again, thank you guys so much for this opportunity. Um, and we will do great things. Continue to do do great things. Thank you. [Applause] Next up. Yes, ma'am. Janna Nor uh Janna Norman, please join [Music] us. Background info. She's obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida, master's degree from Grand Canyon University, holds certification in preK, primary education, preK through third, reading, gifted, exceptional student education. She's been
105with with us here in Valuchia County since 2004. started as a teacher at Chisum Elementary, then became an academic coach at Chisum Elementary, then went on to becoming a gifted teacher at Chisum Elementary, an ESC teacher now at Chisum Elementary. So, you have right as many position as possible at Chisum. Um, served as a teacher on assignment for exceptional student education and currently serving as a placement specialist for exceptional student ed. Today I'm recommending that Miss Janna Norman serves as the coordinator for exceptional student education and her effective start date will be July 1st, 2025. Board members, you heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that'd like to make a motion? I'll make that motion. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Does anyone
106have anything they would like to add? I do. I had the opportunity to first meet you as you were moving from a teacher into an academic coach position and work with you for several years while you were an academic coach. And so when they called me last week, I was like, absolutely. She's more than prepared and ready to do this position. And I will say this, it's always hard to leave a school, but you're the you're going to impact more student lives than you've ever done before by taking on this position. and I know you're going to do a great job. So, thank you. So, at this time, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? It passes unanimously. Congratulations. Well, good evening, school board members, school board
107chair Miss Haynes, and Superintendent Dr. Bogan. I'm truly honored and to stand before you this evening. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the superintendent and the board for entrusting me with this uh opportunity. It's both a privilege and a profound responsibility, one that I accept accept with great pride and deep commitment. Um I just want to thank my family, my girls. I'm truly grateful for your love, your support, and your belief in me. Your encouragement and belief that I can do anything means the world. And as I step into this new role, I do so with deep appreciation for the work that has come before me and a strong sense of purpose for what lies ahead. I am committed to upholding the principles of this district and to working collaboratively uh to ensure
108that every student has the opportunity to thrive. So, thank you again for your confidence in me and I look forward to continuing to serve this [Applause] district and this will be our last and Miss Workman if you can queue up and come up here because next you will be um going over the trans uh the transfers. Yeah, change in assignment. So, at this time I would like to ask Miss Heather Turner to join us. Miss Turner share a little bit of background with you regarding Miss Turner. She's obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Southern Indiana, master's degree from the University of Florida, master's degree from Stson University. certifications in the following areas: ed leadership, elementary ed, K through six, media specialists, preK through 12, exceptional student education, English speakers of other languages,
109reading and social science 6 through 12. She's been with us here in Valuchia County since 2017. Started as teacher at Holly Hill Elementary. Then she served as a teacher at Stark Elementary. Became an ELA interventionist at Sugar Mill Elementary. went to become a teacher on assignment at Sugarmill Elementary and then currently serving as an administrative dean at Sugarmill Elementary. Today, I'm recommending that Miss Heather Turner serves as the assistant principal for George Marks Elementary, effective start date, May 19, 2025. Members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion? I'd like to make the motion. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Do I have a second? I will second it. Thank you, Mr. Cologne. Any discussion? Well, I'm going to say this. We, believe it or not, guys,
110we don't really know each other very well. I know everybody teases me like, is there anybody I don't know? Yes, there are a few people that I don't know, but I know that you've been over at Sugar Mill and doing a fabulous job. And so, we kind of welcome you, Mr. Cologne, and I like to say this, back to the west side since you were over here at Stark. and welcome to George Marks because it's a fabulous school with a lot of wonderful teachers and great students and I know that you're going to do a great job there. So, thank you. So, at this time, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? It passes unanimously. Congratulations. Good evening, Chairman Hayes, school board members, and Superintendent Balgamin. I
111am honored to be named as assistant principal at George Marks Elementary School. To my Sugar Mill family, thank you just doesn't seem enough. The faculty and staff has helped me roar for the past 5 years. I have made lasting friendships and I know you will continue to do a great things because our Panthers will always succeed. To my new George Marks family, I am excited to be named as your new assistant principal. and I look forward to building relationships and working to ensure the success of our Bulldogs, students, and families. I truly believe that at George Marks, everyone will succeed together. To my mentors, thank you for guiding me and molding me into the leader that I am becoming. You have helped guide my journey through words of encouragement, believing in me, and allowing me
112to learn by facing new challenges. To my husband, Jerome, thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to reach the goals that I set for myself. Our journey started eight years ago, and I couldn't think of a better partner to have on this road with me. Lastly, to my friends and family, thank you for your laughs, a shoulder to cry on, an ear that listens, or telling me not to give up. Again, thank you for naming me as the assistant principal of George Marks Elementary School. Thank you. So, Miss Workman, as she's getting ready to to share with you some of the change in assignment, I like to share with everyone that's listening. When we do changes of assignment, one of the things that we do and especially this year is that we've surveyed
113our administrator. And so some of the changes that or change in transfers that you will be hearing, it's a compilation of um requests that we've been able to honor or looking at the needs throughout the district of our schools filling a need or also some of them it's for um professional growth for for some of our individuals so that they can be well become well-rounded instructional leaders for any schools that they may be appointed to or will have to transfer to in the future. So really these names, it's a compilation of request filling a gap but also professional growth. Benton, current assistant principal at Blue Lake, new assistant principal, Silver Sands Middle. Mark Bradom, assistant principal Dand High to assistant principal Woodward Elementary. Adrienne Bronson, assistant principal Heritage Middle to assistant principal Seabbze High. Amy
114Kerry, assistant principal, New Simra Beach Middle to assistant principal Heritage Middle. Albert Chandler, coordinator, Legacy Scholars Academy, assistant principal University High. Kevin Clark, assistant principal Spruce Creek High to assistant principal Deltona High. Michelle Dugay, assistant principal Port Orange Elementary to assistant principal Heritage Middle. Denil Dutill, assistant principal Heritage Middle to assistant principal Pineriidge High. Brian Essen, assistant principal New Simrna Beach High to assistant principal Dand High. Brian Goddard, assistant principal Dand High to assistant principal High Banks Learning Center. Arya Hair, assistant principal Woodward Elementary to assistant principal at Dand High. Greg Iorio, assistant principal Creekide Middle to assistant principal Spruce Creek High. Madison Miller, assistant principal Reed Patillo Elementary to assistant principal Horizon Elementary. Julie Reheiser, assistant principal Friendship Elementary to assistant principal Deltona High. Jessica Rubin, assistant principal, Southwestern Middle School to Specialist ESSE
115and teaching leading and learning. Rebecca Samson, assistant principal TD Taylor Middle to assistant principal Dand Middle. Cheryl Celelesi, assistant principal Pineriidge High to assistant principal Blue Lake Elementary. And lastly, Teresa Spyel, assistant principal Horizon Elementary to assistant principal New Simra Beach Middle. Thank you. Thank you. So, at this time, we're going to do photos for those that were appointed, and we're going to do them in the order that you came forward to speak. So, we'll start with Madison Gange. Any family, friends, co-workers, whoever's here. All right. Where's our We need He's got to be in the middle. Oh, man. You have to be in the middle. I'm in the middle. All right. All right. Come on, Big. [Applause] You can move in the back over here. It's all about transportation tonight. I love it. Is
116she good over there? Nice day. I know. I think you guys want to run. [Music] No, I'm actually I watch without it. Oh, there's more. All right, everyone. Look up here. Don't stand on it. Congratulations. Make sure it looks classy. [Laughter] daughters are going away pretty good. hearing aid like over it was to be scissors. So much everybody and I do apologize for anything. Hello. Good. Good. Good. I know. I want your phone. I think we got them all. All right. [Applause] Yeah. Please. Okay. Chad, I'm ready. Okay. At this time, let's go for All right. At this time, it is 700 p.m. and we are going to take a 15minute break. I need everybody back in here at 7:15 p.m. And at that point, we'll go into public comment. Thank you. Welcome back. We
117are now moving on to the 6 p.m., but it is 7:16 p.m. public input time. I have um seven cards. We're going to take all seven cards at this time. I'm going to name the first speaker and the second speaker so that the second speaker is ready to go. Each of you will have a total of 3 minutes. There's a time clock which you should be able to see. We're asking that you please honor the time clock and when the buzzer goes off, please wrap up what you're saying so that we can move on to the next speaker. Our first speaker this evening for public input is Arthur Rosenberg followed by Karen Weinrich. Welcome Mr. Rosenberg. Good evening everybody and thank you for allowing me some time. As she said, my name is Arthur Rosenberg.
118I'm a member of this community for over 28 years and and two of my children went through the public school system here. uh and they're very productive members of our society. So, I'm very proud of that be between uh my wife and I in the school system. We produce two fine young men. My wife retired from the the school system in support services after 22 years and have many friends still working and also retired teachers in our community. I say this so you understand that I have a reference of Lucia County school systems and changes that occurred over over time. Many things have changed in our society and our school system since kids went to school, since my kids went to school. And I'm not confident that the system has adjusted to those changes. Our
119c our community expects kids to graduate and be productive members of of our community. As I've stated, but the question is, how do we create an environment in schools for teachers and administration to graduate the brightest young adults that we can? So, I want to begin with employee retention. Our county is one of the lowest retention rates in the state along with Hillsboro, Lee, and Martin County. From little bit of research that I've done, and please understand, I'm taking it from some of the media that's out there. The low salaries in our low salaries is, I think, part of the problem with retention. Counties surrounding us have better pay salary steps. So, what's the incentive for teachers to improve other than the threat of being displaced or re reappointed? We're talking about educated people here.
120I heard master's degrees and bachelor's degrees um for the people that have been promoted. Working conditions are another factor, class sizes, which we've talked about for years. And then the support from administration, but more importantly from the parents. And I got to tell you, when my kids were in school, open houses were full. And from what I'm hearing, they're not anymore. I mean, some of the teachers that I know that I've talked with that are retired are still there. We're talking 10 or 15% of the parents are showing up to these open houses. How how do we get them in there and involved with their kids? Teachers want to come forward but are afraid of retaliation. Why not build confidence and ask for their input? Let's have more transparency. I read about the county being
121$25 million shortfall, but then I also heard from another media source that there's a over $und00 million savings. So my question is, what's the truth? If we have the transparency, then then we'll know what the facts are. I also read about the deer fiasco which could cost us a lot of money in legal fees. Shouldn't we be partnering partnering with our communities and taxpayers instead of creating a battle? Stop man manipulating the testing scores and and looking for that school to get an Agrade. Let's worry about the kids getting Agrades instead. Administration and management have the responsibility to provide teachers and staff the tools to be successful, not erroneous duties that provide little to no results. No one wants to see our leaders having coffee together. When's the last time you spent a full day
122in a classroom? Not 20 minutes or one class, but a full day. and not when you visit the school, go into the principal's office and have coffee with the principal. One last thing, I ask the school board to set goals that help our children grow in productive members of our society and not cha just chase the numbers. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Rosenberg. Karen Weinrich is up, followed by CJ Allen. Good evening. I'm Karen Weinrich. I've been teaching at the best elementary school in in the county, Spruce Creek Elementary School since 2010. I want to start by telling you some great things that are happening at my school. We had an over-the-top teacher appreciation. Just take a look at Facebook, you'll see all the great stuff that happened. We had a field day
123Friday with high school volunteers and some view members. They are volunteering. I coached Girls on the Run and we just completed our season and had an end of the season 5K. On Friday, we have our annual Bobskars Awards and we just just rocked our fast testing. Um, I'm here to talk about two different things today. I wanted to start by talking about the decisions about guidance counselors. There was a decision made that each elementary school would have one guidance counselor. The American School Counselor Association recommends a 250 to1 ratio. My school currently has 740 students. We have two guidance counselors. um they are constantly on the move struggling to keep up with the workload. Next year we are cut to one. I do not know how in the world she'll be able to meet all
124of our 740 students needs. We talk about mental health and how important that is. And then we cut guidance counselors. That doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense that my school, which is very large, has the same number of counselors as other schools that are small. I don't want their counselors cut, but we need our two counselors. Really, we need more than that when you consider the recommendations, but we need our two counselors. And I ask you to please, please reconsider this. It's going to be a real detriment to our students. Secondly, I did have a chance to listen to the workshop. Um, I of course was concerned with the testing part of it. So, I appreciate the presentation. Um, Miss Haynes, I do appreciate all the questions you asked. They were many of the
125qu same questions I had. So, I really appreciate all those. Um, one question I would like answered is when we submit the minutes to the state, does that just include the minutes that are suggested or is that how long the students are actually taking on the test? Because when we look at the VBAs, it suggested 100 minutes, 120 minutes, 100 for the math, 120 for ELA. That's not how long it's taking. And I'm talking not just about our children with with um accommodations, but our gened kids, they are taking 3 hours for ELA, sometimes three and a half, four hours. I am not opposed to testing. I'm not opposed to the VBAs. They are just too long. They're too long and it's too much to ask of our children. If you could have seen and
126with the fast testing, I know we don't control that, but the VBA models the fast. If you could see them and what they look like taking this test, and the same thing with the VBAs, and even though the test might only be two or three hours, the instruction is gone for the day. You cannot teach the children after they've spent two hours, three hours testing. Thank you. Next up is CJ Allen, followed by Sarah Brown. Hi, I'm CJ Allen and I'm a citizen. I'm a voter and I'm a retired educator. Tonight, I would like to speak on behalf of those educators, teachers, paras, guidance counselors, and media specialists who are afraid to speak the truth to this board and the district for fear of retaliation and intimidation. I have some questions, too. Is it true
127that Valuchia County School Board meetings deliberately begin with a lengthy series of awards and accolades that could easily be presented at another time or later in the meeting to delay the public input time? Is it intentional because it did not occur in the past when we got right down to business with serious district issues? Is public input being silenced? Is it true this district is deliberately structured to get rid of veteran teachers by way of retaliatory measures? Is it true that schoolboard members are at times denied or stalled in receiving information and statistics which are public records to which they are entitled and that records regarding district level job numbers are kept secret to the public and the school board members? Is it true that when certain individuals speak out at a schoolboard meeting as
128a dissident, they are spoken to privately by the district? Is it true that schoolboard members are sometimes contacted on a one-on-one basis by the superintendent for certain controversial issues? Is it true that schoolboard members are sometimes manipulated and even intimidated into making certain decisions for votes by the board? Is it true that schoolboard members are encouraged not to meet with the teachers of View's government relations committee to dialogue in order to build trust, collaborate, create transparency, and solve challenges together? Is it true that the superintendent facilitates non-disclosure of information on some issues to schoolboard members? Is it true they are being kept in the dark and discouraged from meeting with teachers who are in the trenches to discuss the realities of our classroom? Is it true that this current superintendent after basically being fired by
129the board came back when certain school board members facilitated her return while making personal business gains in the process? Who is the boss here? Is it true that the school board hires its superintendent, not the other way around? Is it true that schoolboard members are being silenced and that there is a lack of healthy, overt collaboration and communication between the board and the community? This is a call to action for Valuchia County Schools and its community of voters, educators, students, parents, and taxpayers to demand honesty, collaboration, communication, and clarity by way of elected school board members and their selected leader. Thank you, Miss Albert. Sarah Brown, followed by Dr. Ruth Hyatt. Good evening. Thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Sarah Brown. I'm a proud parent of three children
130with over two decades of combined education within the Valuchia County School System with a legacy of all three children attending Tamoka Elementary. I'd like to begin by expressing my appreciation to the school board for their commitment to offering full-time gifted services for students in grades K through five taught by a certified teacher of the gifted. However, I'm here today to voice concerns that I believe are crucial for the long-term health of our gifted program. Much like my own career path, certification is required for me to care for my patients. I liken my current practice to that of a gifted teacher. You would likely not allow me to care for your loved ones without proper certification. Correct. Recently, the certified gifted kindergarten teacher was displaced for the upcoming school year without an immediate replacement. While I
131understand that staffing decisions can be complex, I'm worried about how this might affect the stability and quality of gifted services, not only for current students, but future ones as well. According to the Valuchia County School website curriculum, quote, elementary schools offering gifted services utilize a full-time setting where basic skills are taught within a classroom of gifted peers. Blending gifted classrooms for the sole purpose of meeting county classroom standards violates that gifted curriculum. All students that enter into a gifted classroom should be vetted equivocally, much like the rigorous process requirement that I had to meet for my daughter to obtain those same gifted services through Valuchia County Schools. I believe that gifted education to remain effective and sustainable, we must prioritize clear and timely communication. a Facebook posting of quote, "I'm proud to share that Tamoka
132Elementary offers and will continue to offer full-time gifted services for students in grades K through five taught by a certified teacher of the gifted end quote is not sufficient." A post of this nature occurring late one evening is a reactionary attempt to notify parents after circulation offormational changes began to occur within the parent community. As Langston Hughes once said, "Life is a system of halftruths and lies, opportunistic, convenient evasion." According to the procedural safeguards for exceptional children who are gifted, as referenced on the Valuchia County Schools website, parents must be given prior written notice before any significant changes to the gifted program, inclusive of changes made in staffing, identification, or placement of our children, occur. In addition, you want parents to be a partner in the decision-making process. This isn't just verbiage found on your
133website. It's a crucial aspect of maintaining trust and fostering a collaborative relationship between parents and the school district. Therefore, I urge the board to continue providing full-time gifted services while committing to greater transparency with parents regarding those changes. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Brown. Dr. Dr. Ruth Hyatt, followed by Dorothy Featherston. Welcome, Dr. Hyatt. Good evening and thank you for your support and service to Valuja County children. My name is Ruth Hyatt and I'm a parent to Gavin, a gifted kindergarten student at Tmoka Elementary. I'm also a physician practicing optometry in Valuja County for 13 years. I've heard that there are plans to quote cut the gifted program from Tamoka Elementary end quote and that quote kindergarten would no longer have a gifted unit end quote. The current kindergarten gifted teacher, Kelly Grona, was displaced
134in April. She has been a selfless, dedicated, fun, and engaging teacher who genuinely cares for her students. She's welcomed parents to volunteer in her class, so I've seen firsthand the dedication, respect, and admiration that her students pour out towards her. Gavin, my son, is a better student because of her, and Tamoka was a better school because of her. I was shocked when I heard the news of her displacement. I personally had a conversation with the Tamoka Elementary principal on April 25th who confirmed that the kindergarten gifted teacher was not being replaced. Also on April 25th, Tamoka Elementary posted on Facebook that read, quote, "Notice. Tammoka Elementary offers and will continue to offer full-time gifted services for grades K through five with a certified teacher of the gifted." End quote. How can Miss Grona's displacement, the
135principal telling me directly that she has no plans to replace her, and the Facebook post all be true? I need better communication and assurance that Tamoka Elementary's written messaging to parents is trustworthy. I mentioned I'm an optometrist. When I examine a school-aged child, I ask parents, "How is your child doing in school?" Occasionally, I find that a child is not performing well because they need glasses. They just can't see. So, if we pause for a second and think about the gifted program as a tool, many children fly through school with blurry vision and they end up soaring once they get eyeglasses. So, Gavin was flying through VPK. When he entered the gifted program at Tamoka, he started to soar. If Tamoka's gifted program is allowed to dissolve or be diluted, we're essentially taking away these
136gifted children's eyeglasses. Without these eyeglasses, will the gifted children still do well? Probably. Are they going to have to squint and strain to do so? Definitely. If the gifted program is allowed to lose a kindergarten teacher and not replace her, if it's allowed to drift without decisive forward momentum, Tamoka and by extension the board is essentially dangling a pair of eyeglasses in front of a child who's squinting. And this is not justifiable. As a parent to a gifted child who is currently flourishing at Tamoka, I'm asking for the board's commitment in keeping the K through5 gifted program at Tamoka Elementary. allow our children to continue to soar and not squint through their time at Tamoka. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Dorothy Featherston, followed by Elizabeth Albert. So, she's not here. Thank you for
137telling me. All right. Then, Miss Elizabeth Albert, welcome. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Algabin. I'm here uh tonight to talk about uh what I believe to be a great misconception and misunderstanding that some folks have. I'm speaking about uh public participation and when teachers and staff and individuals come to address the board as the legislative body of this organization, the largest employer in the community, um I feel that sometimes the statements are uh misinterpreted as criticism. I would suggest that it's actually quite the opposite. Uh that's their opportunity as citizens, taxpayers, employee employees, parents to provide feedback that you as the decision-making body of this district need to have in order for us to improve. And let me give you an example. As a teacher, I always want to grow
138my practice. I want to be in a cycle of continuous improvement. Yet, if all I hear about are the things that I'm doing well, there's no opportunity for me to focus on the areas where I need to grow and do better. So what I'm suggesting to you and what I'm I know to be the intent of when our folks come to speak with you is they are the experts at what is happening in our classrooms and in our work sites and they are coming to you to provide feedback on what they need in order to make their schools, their classrooms, their work sites better. When our classrooms and our schools and our work sites are better, guess what else gets better? Our entire district. You have 8,000 employees who can be the best and the
139loudest cheerleaders for Valuchia County Schools if you would listen to what they need to excel. Put a plan of action in place, make those changes, and then let them shine for for the district. Our kids will come back. Our kids will come back if you tap into the 8,000 cheerleaders that are organically at your disposal. just listen to what they need to have better working conditions and and the other things that they bring to you and that that's an easy lift. It costs nothing. Um want to just say uh you know there was a statement about teachers being fear teachers and staff being fearful of retaliation when they come to speak to you. That is real. That is true. We're not just trying to be um exaggerating things here. So let's practice. Let me give
140you some feedback right now. So, we just had a spectacular celebration of of some very good things that are happening in our district. But the problem or the feedback that I'd like to give you is that the majority of the individuals who were here to participate in that had to sit outside. When we sit outside, we have issues with seating. Number one, there weren't enough chairs. We can't hear. Um, and it's not it doesn't give the family members and the community members and the folks that are here to celebrate these good things the respect that they deserve in order to participate. These are our families. These are our employees. We used to have a practice when we had two big celebrations a year, one at a east side high school and one at a westside
141high school where everybody could sit in the auditorium and everybody can engage. Positive feedback. Let's see if we take it. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. We are moving now on to item 7.01, 01 removal of any items from the consent agenda. Dr. Balman, are there any items you wish to remove from the consent agenda? No, Madam Chair. Board members, are there any items on the consent agenda that you would like to remove for further discussion? Hang on, Miss Brosmer. I Yes. I' I'd like to pull u item 15.20. 15.20. Are there any others for discussion? Discussion only. Yes. Discussion. Miss Goodrich. I was also going to pull the same one for discussion. You were also going to pull 152. 1520. I um I would like to pull and 1512. Anything else and minor for discussion?
142So Dr. Valin could we'll start with 1511. We'll go in order. Could you please have facil um core come up? Miss core and Ron and Mr. Young Good evening. You knew you knew ahead of time that I was going to pull this, correct? Yes, ma'am. Okay. So, can you just describe what you've done and who you've worked with on this part for the retaining wall for the drainage for Stark? You want to do it? Yeah, go ahead. Okay, I'll do it. Um, thank you. So, um, we were working with the city of Dand um, at Stark Elementary, as we know, Edith I Stark is getting a replacement school. Um, we have a change in elevation there as well. Uh, what we were asked um, by the city of Dand when they were reviewing our plans
143was to put in an additional um, retention area. It's actually an underground retention area as we all know. Um we are required to hold our own water by St. John's River Management and um we have that through retention ponds. This is on the back side of the property. It's just an extra um uh drainage area to help to alleviate make sure there's no flooding um for the neighboring um houses. When you go to the new Edith I Stark and if you're on the second floor and you're looking, you can see how the elevation has changed in the surrounding area. So, as being good neighbors and working with the city of Dand um we had to put in um and Ron knows the exact terminology but it's underground drainage system. Mr. Cologne chair I I don't
144know if you remember when they built the Publix in um Deltona out by uh Pineriidge High School. There's no retention there, right? If you pull into that parking lot, there's no retention. Well, all of that retention is underneath when they they excavated that site and they put in 8 foot tall pipes in the ground. So those pipe then they built the parking lot on top of it and the school or the the Publix and the shopping center there. So all of that retention for that site is held underground inside those 8ft pipes. So basically that's what we had to do in the back of Stark. Uh there is a a retention area underground back there and that pops off across the street to the retention area across the street. And the reason reason it's coming
145to the board is this was an addition that happened after the original plans were approved by the board for the building project. Um this came through when they were walking the site and so that's why it's a separate line item. So thank you. That's what I wanted you to explain was why it was on here and why it was coming forward and also that you had worked with the city and they had approved the original plans and after looking at it you had to add the um Okay, I don't know who has something playing. Oh, I apologize then. I apologize. It's just been a little distracting. So, um, that is why this is here and I appreciate the fact that the city worked with you on this and that we were able to incorporate that
146piece because the neighbors there have been very um they've been wonderful and excellent. they have come over to check on progress and everything and been very supportive even late at night when um the cement trucks showed up, you know, between midnight and 1:00 in the morning um and the lights were on. We told them ahead of time and they were very appreciative and have been supportive. So, thank you. The next item was 15.12. Can you talk about that piece, please? I don't recall the question you had on this one, chair, so I do apologize. This is the classroom edition 11 classrooms for pathways um elementary in Orand. Was there a specific question? Well, when we were doing the agenda conference, you added also that this included um a loop. Yes, I remember now. I'm so
147sorry. This in addition to the classroom addition, this um adds um improves the parent drop off loop to make it longer to stack more cars on the property and get them off of Airport Road. There's also a turn lane uh to the west that's being added for the neighbors coming from the west to try and get them off of the road and then they go into an extended parent loop at Pathways. Thank you very much. because that's what I wanted that group to hear because when they we already know that there's been some traffic things with the two schools being closed up there and so I wanted um the community to hear that even though we're adding the addition um class additional classroom space there that you had taken into account um making progress on
148making the loop work better. Yes. Thank you for that reminder. I apologize I it escaped me. Thank you. And so next up is 1520 and Dr. Balaban. Who would you like to have? Well, I think we've got them here. Yeah, they're going to stay here, Dr. B. So, who would like to go first? Miss Brosmer. Uh I apologize that some of this is redundant because you've already heard it from me, but um for discussion purposes, uh I was really happy to see this. Actually, I first heard about it in the Orund Observer when when uh the Flaggler School District took it up, but I was really happy to see it. Um 25 years ago, I was um asked by um a state senator who was going to run for statewide office to do a study
149uh for in anticipation of a constitutional amendment that he wanted to advance uh that would allow he wanted a study and a campaign plan to um for a constitutional amendment that would allow ow small districts to merge and large districts to split up um if they so chose uh based on specific criteria. uh he never uh pursued the the constitutional amendment, but it always made sense to me from an economy of scale point of view because small uh counties have a hard time sometimes um meeting their needs because they are too small and uh and then the cost is too great. And I know that some rules have changed over time and and there is more of that going on. Of course, the big counties still are massively large and are not able to split
150up, but and I know that this has something to do with Hunter Ridge, which doesn't totally fit with what I was doing, but it makes I I want to commend you for um I understand this kind of negotiation has been going on over a period of time and you're and you're now formalizing it. I want to commend you for doing something that is logical and efficient and makes sense. The only question I have is how this affects uh funding if there are more students going in one direction than another. How how does that work out? That's a great question. Oh, sorry. Great question. Thank you. Um so the funding is the student equivalent the FTE funding full-time equivalency goes to the school where the student attends based on the student counts in October and in
151February. So the survey counts. So if the student regardless of where they live if they attend the school then the school receives the full-time equivalency money from the state. In this case, um, you know, there's a part of of Flaggler that comes down into Valuchia County up there. And so it's an orand address, but it's a Flaggler County versus Valuchia County. Um, so we offer this for them because our schools are actually physically closer to those parents for their children versus traveling up to Banell Elementary is quite a distance. We don't offer transportation, so it costs us nothing. They have to get their kids to the school on their own um much like a variance. And um we received the full-time equivalency funding for the students. Yeah. Just to give you some idea right of
152how many kids we're talking about right now there are 68 Flaggler County students in Valuchia County schools there and that breaks down like this. There's 41 in elementary, seven in middle and 20 in high. When the Orman Station neighborhood matures, the expectation is that around 460 kids. And that breaks down like this. 201 elementary, 117 middle, and 142 high. Those are those are Valuchia kids. Those are Orman Station kids. Those are the kids that are in that neighborhood that's being in Flaggler that's being built out now. Okay. So, so those are Flaggler kids. They are. Okay. And that's the number that could potentially come into our school. Do we know how many might from Valuchia might potentially go to their schools? I think there is a handful right now that up in the northeast corner
153that go to a Flaggler school and the number six comes to mind, but I can get that number for you. Okay. So, for the most part, this is we're receiving more than we're sending. Yes. Right. Okay. Thank you. I I just, you know, after working on that project 25 years ago, I was just happy to see something materialized that resembled it. So, thank you for that. You're welcome, Miss Goodrich. Mine was very similar. I, you know, wanted to know where the dollars were going and glad that we can offer this, um, but had the same question about the money, which way it was going. Thank you. Are there any other questions, Mr. Cologne? Yes. I just want to say, you know, I know there was some speculation on the Orman part of it, uh, or
154the expansion. And I would imagine by that time once Flaggler County has enough students to uh bus, they will likely, for obvious reasons, bus the kids to go up there. I know there was a question of whether or not this was a an attempt to grab and take, etc., and only to learn that we'd been doing this out of courtesy for many, many years. Uh, and again, I can't, you know, for 25 30 kids, it's probably not worth it for Flaggler to send a bus all the way to border Valuchia to then probably spend 3540 minutes just to get to school. But once you have 200, 300 kids or there's that many homes. So, let's say, you know, a full bus load of kids, I would imagine that Flaggler would it would be in their
155best interest. So, um, I say that to quell the speculation that, you know, we were doing this to cash grab on them. It's just a matter of time before they have enough growth where they can sustain and it makes sense for them to um, educate their students. In the meantime, we're doing what's right for kids. That's that's an excellent point. And to your point, uh, one of the reasons that we wanted to do it is because those kids were being bust about 45 minutes. But to your point of a cash grab, this agreement is an annual agreement. It has nine renewals, but on an annual basis, they sit down, dis discuss, we sit down, discuss, and then we go, "Okay, do we want to do this?" And then we bring it back to the board
156every year for nine years. Excuse me. I think the most important thing is to ensure that these families are made aware that it is an annual so that they realize that um because I think that'll be important and I don't know how we communicate that. Yes, Miss Bros. That reminds me of one more question and thank you for that. One more question I wanted to ask. How are parents being notified that this option is available? um is that since it's mostly Flaggler kids who are affected, is that kind of on them to take care of that? So earlier we had a meeting with uh this ties in beautifully with our presentation from earlier and how the team was explaining when a new building developer comes in and how we meet with them and they fill
157out. So, we had a meeting with the developers of um twice yeah of Orman Station and we've given them flyers that they can give to their um their parents of children who are moving in that if they're interested. This is an option for them. They're certainly not required to come to Valuchia County Schools, but if they choose to then they're giving out the flyers. So, right now that's how we've been notifying them. It's through the sales office. I was just curious. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Hearing none. Thank you. Um, do I have someone that like to make a motion to approve the agenda this evening as it's written? So moved. Thank you, Mrs. Brosmer. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the
158vote. All those in favor of approving all of the items on the consent agenda this evening, please say I. I. I. Any opposed? It passes unanimously. We are now moving on to item 19.01. Madam Chair, if I may, I want to ask councel, there was mention earlier of a relationship with my employer, Advent Health, and so I queried our legal counsel to see if uh that presented a conflict of interest uh as this company has a seemingly indirect relationship. And so I just wanted to uh before we partake in the conversation, I wanted to ask legal counsel uh what her opinion was on that conflict or if it even exists. There is not a conflict that um exists. Advent Health has been a provider for curative before this even came. There's no other direct relationship.
159Very good. Thank you. So does that mean that I am by law required to recuse myself or not? You do not need to recuse yourself. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. So Dr. Bakaban, you have a recommendation. Uh, do you have anything? You have cards for 19.01. Okay. Madam Chair, for the record, I do want to say that I uh though I was at my daughter's graduation at Daytona State earlier, I was listening in on the workshop and I did uh listen to many of the wonderful questions that you all asked and inquiry. Uh in addition to that, I've been talking to Stephanie and the team all week long. And so, um just wanted to say that for the record. uh since though I was not physically here, I did listen to the uh meeting.
160Thank you. Okay. So, we'll go ahead and do the public input first. I have two cards for public input. The first person will be Jonathan Galad with Foundation Risk Partners, followed by Elizabeth Albert. Welcome. Hi, good evening. Uh, madame board chair, board members, superintendent. My name is Jonathan My name is Jonathan Gelat. I'm the managing director of Foundation Risk Partners public entity practice division. Uh, Foundation Risk Partners is headquartered in Orman Beach. We're 2500 plus employee uh, insurance brokerage, manage over 500 plus self-funded entities. My division manages over 75 public entity clients, 10 of which are public schools. In the state of Florida, we have over 200 public entities across the country. Um, I wanted to, uh, given that employee benefits represents one of the most significant line items in the district's budget, I wanted
161to introduce a health insurance solution that you may not be aware of. Um, it's sponsored by the Florida Association of District School Superintendent, FADS. The name of it is the Florida Educator Health Trust. Um, the Florida Educator Health Trust is sponsored by uh by that association. It is your association and is doing some unique things in the state of Florida. Uh it was founded by respected education leaders including Senator Bill Montford of Feds. Uh Ted Roush, former K12 Chancellor of Education of the Department of Education, also superintendent of Swany Schools. Uh Dave Stevens, formerly with the Florida School Board Association and the Florida School Board Insurance Trust, which has a a captive program that Charlotte County Public Schools is a part of. Um there are currently four school districts participating in this trust. That's Hardy
162Schools, Hendry, Charlotte, and Dodto. and we expect at least four more to to join. Um some of the key benefits uh I sat through the the workshop and they put together a very good presentation. I I heard some hesitation on your end uh about the network. Um, one of the differences is that with the fleet program, which is the acronym, you can use all the BUOAs. So, it's your choice. Florida Blue, Etna, Sigma, United Healthcare, Meritane, uh, UMR. Um, significant stop-loss savings by pooling medical risk sharing amongst public schools. Um, to bring down the volatility within the claims and to drive cost savings and cost mitigation. So, you can carve out the pharmacy on your own, your choice. You can carve out the stop-loss your choice. Uh it creates transparency and savings. Valuchia would be
163able to dictate your own formulary. So essentially it provides a roadmap for you to do allocart services backs stop by a health insurance trust sponsored by fads that is designed for cost containment transparency and uh and bringing significant cost savings such as a dividend program. Um the guardrails are set up through fleet to make sure that no one school can throw off the the claims experience within the marginal layer and and protect uh protect the school district. So I understand there's a process here. Um I'm hoping for maybe an opportunity uh for the school district to further investigate whether fleet would be a viable alternative to uh the making the change that you're looking at doing tonight. Um either now or in the future. Uh, we'd be happy to provide some additional information or schedule
164a brief overview of the solution set. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next up, Elizabeth Albert. Welcome. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Balgabin. I don't think I'll use all three minutes, but I wanted to just uh speak on behalf of the view members who participated. Um the ITN process was new to us. We are typically uh moving through an RFP. Um but I'd like to say this uh most importantly, there's been a little bit of confusion and I've talked about misinformation earlier. There's been quite a bit of misinformation about uh the the potential move that you're going to vote on in a moment uh to this curative plan. I very much appreciate what took place in the workshop today. And it's unfortunate that our workshops occur at the time
165when they do, but we know we have to do them before the board meeting. But most of the folks that have the questions are working. So my hope is that they'll be able to spend an hour or so and listen to that because I think all of their questions and all of the misinformation that's been put out there will be corrected if they just take the time to listen. I also want to um say this. As we were waiting in the overflow, I already talked about that. Uh when we were waiting in the overflow, I watched Mr. Turner engage with one of our members who had a lot of questions. Um one of the most uh prominent questions that has come forth is the provider interruption, the potential to have to change doctors. I watched
166from a distance u Mr. Turner talked with our member for about 10 minutes and I I was very impressed because what other CEO would genuinely take the time to explain this in this granular way. I feel uh change is um very difficult for some people. It creates vulnerabilities. It makes people uneasy and anxious. And right now in this time of our school year, that's the last thing that we need. But my hope is that with what was shared in the workshop this morning and the information education plan that is supposedly going to come if you vote to approve this tonight that this will be a very positive move for the employees in our district who have shared with us time and time again that they needed relief from the rising costs of medical healthc care
167inflation. So, uh, I'm still under three minutes, but again, I want to thank all the parties involved, make sure Enid knows, and, uh, just looking forward to see how this works out. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Balman. Do you have a recommendation? I recommend the the approval of agreement CSA 2025-9025 for medical group benefits with Curative Insurance Company. Board members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone who would like to make a motion to approve? I'll make the motion to approve. Thank you, Mr. Clone. Do we have a second? I'll second that motion. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. All right, Mr. Cologne. Um, Madame Superintendent, I have a couple of questions for curative if if just for a second you all will indulge me in being able to ask those questions. Yes.
168So, a few of the things and and I know you all spoke about a lot of this earlier today and again I apologize but I sorry not sorry uh that I wasn't here earlier. One of the things that we've had the benefit of uh our longtime relationship with our previous carrier, should we decide to make any changes tonight, um was the ability to reach out to somebody uh at a level where if an employee had something that needed addressed right now, we could uh reach out to that person. um that the staff, not us clearly, but that you know if if someone is transferred to a hospital and they get a letter, they're there. True story. They are there to get their life saved and they get a message saying, "Yeah, your transfer is not
169approved, but they're already there and they're receiving the life-saving care that they need." Um do we have your assurance that we will have that ability uh for the team to be able to access uh folks even at your level uh to ensure that we are uh able to close those gaps when they do present themselves? One of the the items that we have included is we will have an on-site uh curative employee who will be here with the team able to answer those questions immediately when they come up. Um there will be an escalation path as well up into the company even up to me that you'll have that access um s such things arise. Yeah, that was my only question. Thank you. This is good. Rich, um I have a question for you as
170well while you're up there. So is your proposal um self-insured or does a risk lie on Belush County? It's a levelfunded proposal. So what that means is on the the backbone uh it is a an Orisa plan but you're capped at your premium is the maximum amount that the district could pay. So it's a combined plan administration agreement and a stop-loss agreement. So the maximum amount no matter what the claims are the maximum amount the district could pay is the premium. Okay. Yeah. M Thompson. Thank you. Um, and I have a question and this is based off an email I read in between uh the workshop and now um because someone had looked up in to doctors if we did change just to see if there were any and they said that many of the
171doctors they looked up that would take curative um aren't available to take new patients. So do we have the assurance that all of our staff and employees will be able to find doctors if they need you know to find new ones? Yes, that's something that the care navigator will work very closely with the members to make sure that they can get access to those providers. Um, it's also where the zero card will come in, you know, in expanding that access. Um, and we do have we do have enough providers uh in the county to cover everybody. Okay. Thank you. I had one final question I forgot to ask earlier based on emails. So if they take let's just for lack a better word say the zero plan but they are traveling outside of the state
172for a vacation or you know that anything that could happen you know they have a sick relative or whatever if something were to happen to them can they still seek care outside of the state and would it be covered? Yes it's a national plan so you'd have coverage anywhere um in the United States. Uh we do also have international emergency care. So if you are intern traveling internationally, you would also be covered for emergencies. Okay. Thank you very much. Any further questions from the board? Okay. So we already have a motion and a second. So at this time I'm going to call for the vote. All those in favor of the new agreement CSA-2025-9025 group medical benefits, please say I. I. I. Those opposed say nay. All right, then it passes unanimously. Congratulations. Thank you.
173And we look forward to working with you. We're now moving on to 19.02. I have one um public input card. So, we're going to go ahead and do the public input for 1902 before we discuss it. This is Diane Farad. Is Diane Farad here? Okay, then we're going to move on. 1902 is the request for adoption of the proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 320 media selection of print and non-print materials. Is Dr. Rubenky here? Oh, wait. You're Are you Diane? Good evening, members of the school board, superintendent, educational staff, and members of the audience. My name is Diana Farad. Uh I'm a resident of Orman Beach, an avid reader and editor for 40 plus years. I'm also a member of the Orman Beach Democratic Club and as such I have been following policy 320 for
174the past couple years. I applaud the board and the administration for moving in the right direction on for to make removal of books more fair and I thank you for adding a mechanism to reinstitute books after three years. However, there is still no way to challenge a removal of a book. Yet, people can challenge the keeping of a book over and over unlimited times. I would like to see you address that. Um, I would like to emphasize that these books and materials cover many sensitive subjects that are addressed in these books for young adults to help them recognize and acknowledge family and society problems and to seek help. It's not just about sex and homosexual issues. These books deal with bullying. They deal with complicated family relationships, suicide, rape, morality issues, repercussions of history. Removing
175these resources from our students should be a difficult process. Thank you for allowing me to weigh in on this subject. Thank you. Dr. Balwin, do you have a recommendation? I recommend adoption of the proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 320, media selection of print and non-print materials. Okay, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. This has already been advertised for the required period of time. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion um to approve adoption? Motion to approve. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mrs. Bros. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the adoption of the proposed amend amendments to schoolboard policy 320, media selection of print and non-print materials, please say I. I. Any opposed? It
176passes unanimously. We are now moving on to 19.03 requests for adoption of proposed schoolboard policy 528. This is the policy on religious expression in public schools. This will be presented by Miss Crims. I don't know that we need you. Uh, chair, this was already presented to the board and it was already advertised. So, I have a recommendation if that's okay. Yes. I recommend adoption of proposed school board policy 528, policy and religious expression in public schools. Thank you. Board members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Miss Goodrich. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of the adoption of
177the proposed school board. Huh? Oh, when did you I keep looking. It's like the minute I start. Go ahead, Mr. Cologne. So, I will once again not be supporting this. I believe this is uh a constitutional overreach on the part of department of education seeing as they don't have the authority to implement this and so uh it is my thought that them sending us a letter to tell us you need to do this is not how we typically do business and for that reason I will not be supporting it. Okay. All right. That is your choice. So we have a motion. And we have a second. At this time, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the adoption of the proposed schoolboard policy 528, policy on religious expression in public schools,
178please say I. I. Those that are opposed, okay, it passes 4 to one. We are now up to policy 19 item 19.04, 04 requests for adoption of proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 707 fundraising. This is another one that has already been advertised for the required amount of time. Dr. Balgabin, I recommend adoption of the proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 707 fundraising. Okay, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone that make a motion to approve? So moved. Thank you, Mrs. Brosmer. Do we have a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Cologne. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the adoption of the proposed amendments to schoolboard policy 707, fundraising, please say I. I. Any opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. We are now moving on to
179item 19.05, 05 authorization to advertise amendments to schoolboard policy 208 student code of conduct and discipline which is the secondary part. Dr. Balamin tired of reading. Yes, Madame Chair. I recommend approval to advertise the proposed amendments the schoolboard policy 208s, student code of conduct and discipline. Okay. So, this is to advertise. And so, are we going to have Captain Smith? Captain Smith is here to say anything about what has changed. Captain, he thought he was getting out of that for a minute. He's always on ready to go. So, this is just for transparency. In a DOJ settlement as well as policy, it already says that we're allowed to use the K9 in accordance with the law. This just is for transparency purposes so that there's no confusion um as we are making sure there's no
180firearms in our schools. Thank you. So, you've heard the reason why there is a slight change in this policy. Does anyone have any questions for Captain Smith? All right, Superintendent, you've made the recommendation, so I need someone to make a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mrs. Goodrich. There's no discussion. At this time, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of authorizing to advertise the amendments to schoolboard policy 2020 208 student code of conduct and discipline which is the secondary policy. Please say I. I. Anyone opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. We are now on to item 19.06, approval of audit committee appointees. I we have uh Mr. CE here our financial um chief financial officer. He will share briefly with
181you some of the nominations and then I have the uh recommendation. Good afternoon board superintendent. Um the recommendation is the superintendent recommends approval of the appointing for uh changes to the audit committee. Um the changes are as follows. Miss William Miss Amy Williams initially appointed by Anita Bernett that sat on the board is now being nominated by Miss Mrs. Christa Goodrich for district 2. Mr. Jason Leslie is being nominated by Mrs. Brober for district 4. In addition to that, um the chair of that committee um would have the ability to have alternates. So tonight, the first alternate member being nominated by Miss Haynes for the audit committee is um Mr. Hart, Mr. Thomas Hart. The second alternative member will be brought back at a future meeting. So the is that I'd like to make one
182statement because I want to make sure this um is actually accurate. It was Mrs. Ida Wright who originally nominated Mrs. Amy Williams and then Mrs. Bernett um nominated her to continue and now Miss Goodrich is nominating her to continue. So, I thought we probably should have that and so you can correct that at at a later time. Correct, Celeste? Okay. Thank you. All right. Dr. Balcomin. Yes, madam chair. I recommend approval of the appointees, Miss Amy Williams, Mr. Jason Lesley, and Miss Mr. Thomas Hart to serve on the audit committee as required by the Florida statute 218.391. or members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have someone who will make a motion to approve? So moved. Thank you, Mrs. Prom. Do we have a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Cologne. Any discussion?
183Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving um Mrs. Amy Williams and Mr. Jason Leslie as part of the five member of the internal audit committee along with Mr. Thomas Hart to serve as an alternate on the audit committee. Please say I. I. I. Any opposed? Okay. It passes unanimously. We are now moving on to 19.07 07 resolution number 202506 cancellation of resolutions 2024-17 and 2024-18 and issuance of lease schedule number 2025A Mr. Um I'm joined here tonight by uh George Smith. He's our bond counsel. Laura Hull, she's our financial advisor. Miss Jamie Wilson, our finance director. As shared with you at the last board meeting on October 22nd, 2024, the school district expressed a desire to work with a public private partnership uh company P3 to build a new
184enterprise K8. I just have to give you a little history so you know what you're approving here tonight. To that to fund that project, the district engaged with Bank of America to issue a short short-term loan referred to as certificate of participation series 2024 bond anticipation note, also referred to as a ban. The ban was intended to be re refunded in early spring that um through the issuance of a long-term debt certificate of participation 2025A upon meeting certain conditions specified in that resolution. These funds were allocated for Pineriidge High School classroom additions, Manatee Cove Elementary classroom addition, Pathway Elementary classroom addition, and Repatill Elementary replacement school to a K8 facility. As disclosed at the board meeting and in the capital section again of your budget book on page 112, today we um present a rel
185resolution number 202506 uh to the school board for consideration. And this resolution will cancel the borrowing authority provided by the previous proposed ban and cops issued under resolution number 202417 and 202418 and move forward by issuing direct placement certificate of participation series 2025A in the approximate amount of 33 million to finance an 11 classroom addition at Pathway Elementary School and a 20 classroom addition at Pineeridge High School. Board members, do you have any questions for the team? Anyone? No questions? Superintendent, I think he read the resolution already. Did Did Yeah, I can read it. I can I'll reread it for you. Super uh this superintendent re recommends approval of resolution number 202506 which cancels resolution number 2024-17 and 202418 and authorizes the execution and deliverance of issuance of lease schedule number 2025A. Yeah, he read
186it. He read You want me to read it again? No, I can. Do you want to make a recommendation? I recommend approval of the resolution number 2025-06 which cancels resolution number 2024-17 and 2024-18 and authorizes the execution and delivery of issuance of lease schedule number 2025A. Thank you. Four members, you've heard the recommendation from the superintendent. Do I have a motion to approve? I'll move approval. Thank you, Mrs. Promer. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Miss Goodrich. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving resolution number 2025-06 along with the cancellization of resolutions number 2024-17 and 2024-18 and issuance of lease schedule number 2025A. Please say I. I. Any opposed? Okay, it passes unanimously. It is now 8:21 p.m. and we are going to recess
187this board meeting to convene the Valuchia County School Board Leasing Court meeting. So item 2021 is now under the leasing corporation. Item 2021, resolution number 2025-06, along with the cancellation of resolutions 2024 17 and 202418 and issuance of lease schedule number 2025A. Is there anything else you have to say? No, I do not. Okay, then I just need the superintendent to make a recommendation. I recommend approval of resolution 2025-07 LC which cancels resolution number 2024-9 LC and 2024-20LC and authorizes the execution and delivery of issuance of lease schedule number 2025A. Okay. Board members, you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do I have a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mrs. Brosmer. Any further discussion? Then at this time, I'll call for the
188vote. All those in favor of the approval of the resolution 202507 LC, which cancels resolutions number 202419 LC and 202420LC, and authorizes the execution delivery of issuance of lease schedule number 2025A. Please say I. I. Anyone opposed? It passes unanimously. It is now 8:23 p.m. And we're back. That meeting is closed and we're now back to the school board meeting. And that brings us up to 21.01 public participation. Are there okay? This is Dorothy Featherston. Welcome. I hit myself. Good evening. Um, Dr. Balgaban and school board members. Um, obviously my name is Dorothy Featherston. I'm an art teacher, a parent, and a proud member of the Valuchia United Educators uh, government relations committee. Um, I'm here tonight not just to re represent myself, but to be a voice for the many teachers and support staff
189whose boots are on the ground every single day in our schools. First, I want to express my sincere appreciation to board members Donna Brosmer and Christa Goodrich for um thank you both for taking the time to meet with our committee. Uh your willingness to sit down and listen, have honest conversations uh with the educators shows that you understand the importance of collaboration uh and transparency. Whether or not we agree on every issue, uh your presence at the table spoke volumes. Um, it tells us that you respect the people who are working day in and day out to educate and support the children of Aluchia County. But unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of this board. Jamie Haynes, Ruben Cologne, and uh Jesse Thompson, your silence has been very loud. Despite multiple outreach
190efforts, uh personal emails, and open invitations, uh we've heard nothing back from you. And that's not just disappointing, it's disheartening. We're not lobbyists. We're not political operatives. We're teachers, support staff, and community members who care deeply about our school and our students. We're offering you a front row seat uh to the realities of our classrooms. Um these realities should inform the decisions you make in this very room. By refusing to meet with us, you're not avoiding a conversation with a committee. You're avoiding a conversation with the people you were elected to serve. We're asking for your time, your ear, and your leadership. It's not about partisanship. It's about partnership. You cannot lead effectively without first being willing to listen. So tonight, I renew our invitation to each of you, Miss Haynes. Meet with us. Hear
191us out. Let us work together to find a solution that benefits our students and strengthens our schools. Because the people who show up like Donna Brosmer and Christa Goodrich are the ones who earn our trust. Thank you. Thank you. So now we're on to item 22.01. Items from board members, superintendent or attorney for discussion or announcement. Goodrich. So we've had some talk about um our new magnet school and we've had other things brought up about it. So, I'd like to have a workshop about um various magnet school options, things we might be looking at in the future, things we might be interested in looking at at various schools so that it's out there and so we can see what the community wants and get some feedback. Um, I'd also like to request that we have
192a workshop on the gifted programs. Um, how they operate in the different schools, what they look like, because um, I I think we have a miss if we have gifted students that aren't getting gifted services. So, I'd like to start looking at that to see if there's ways that we can provide that for students that need those services. Thank you. Mr. Cologne, I just wanted to share with the board. I received a phone call from Councilman uh Santiago uh from county council and uh there was a discussion that took place uh during the last county council meeting regarding flooding and uh particularly the uh the flooding outside of Ostein Elementary which I actually uh met with uh Representative Santiago out there one day called him up said hey can you meet me here? He said,
193"Sure." And we got to see all that water. And so, um, I just wanted to share with everyone. I did, uh, let the superintendent know and she was going to reach out to the county, uh, to see if we could get our folks and their folks around the table to address, uh, that, uh, area. Um, in particularly across the street from Ostein Elementary. So, that there was a lot of green there before. And of course, they started building subdivisions thereafter. There's a subdivision almost across the street from Ostein Elementary that um is if I believe it's a phase or something of another one that got put on hold because of flooding issues in the existing one and runoff and all kinds of issues. Um, as they've built that out and taken out the greenery, the
194water is of course moved this way. Well, there's a pipe that goes across the street. So, we have a retention pond at Oian Elementary. It's huge. But all that water from across the street is now comes under the street and fills up the lot over here. So during the during Hurricane Ida, was that the one before this was last one? I don't I'm going to get that mixed up. So there were two hurricanes both had lots of water. That fir I don't know the two hurricanes ago. The the the first one that flooded everything um that Ostein was underwater. So that one there, the way we ended up fixing that was eventually they the county allowed us to close that pipe so that we could retain our water and not have to suck it up
195from all these areas over here. And that worked out great. Of course, that was a temporary fix. Um, mind you, it covers the entire front sidewalk of the school. So, the way we've had to do is for walkers, we've had to get a bus to come and pick up the kids at point A, which in this case was the subdivision that's not built out, but it's it's platted, but it's not built out completely. Um, and the bus would pick the kids up there and the bus was high enough to get through to drop them off at the school. So, it's a big problem. uh subsequently after that we ended up lifting the sidewalk to try to make it so that the kids could walk to school. So I share this because there is probably going
196to be an ask from uh county council to uh see what we can do together to deal with that flooding outside of Ostein Elementary. And so I wanted to share that with you all in case you hear, didn't hear, might hear uh that uh Dr. be has already instructed staff to reach out to uh George Rectal to see if we can um close that gap. And that is it I have for tonight. Thank you, Mrs. Promer. Just a couple of quick things. I first I would like to thank Mrs. Goodrich for her recommendations and requests. Those are two subjects that are of interest to me, too. So, I'd love to hear those workshopped. Um, I joked a little bit with operations about the fact that they got off easy because when they did their their
197um concurrency presentation, we were short on time. I had more questions I wanted to ask. So maybe at some point we can when it's appropriate, we can revisit that and spend a little more time getting into some more of the details of of that issue. Um, I'm I'm a little uneasy about the insurance change only because so many teachers are uneasy and as they get more comfortable with it um over the next five months and we do the transition, I'm hoping that everything goes smoothly. Um, but I I feel like we accomplished a lot of really good substantive stuff tonight. It's been a long day. Um, but I think it went well and I appreciate staff's work on all of all of these subjects today. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Thank you. And I'm I agree
198with you. I think we got a lot done today and I am hoping and I'm sure Steph's already worked on it on a communication campaign to everyone to answer all the questions because like earlier we I believe you said it, Miss Brosmer, we got all the information today. Anyone who watches will have all the information. And I think there's a lot of really good information on the insurance that would put people at ease. But as long as we can put that out there to everyone so that they can see it, it's available whether that's email, emails, social media, whatever it is, just to make sure everyone has all their questions answered, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Um, Miss Goodrich, I just thought I would be remiss to not mentioned that Councilman Robbins had
199reached out to me for the same thing and was also connected with staff. Um, so I didn't want anyone to think that you and I had a conversation. I did not had one with Councilman Robbins. So, and I do believe that the county council is looking to work with us on other other endeavors going forward. Thank you, Dr. Bman. Do you have anything? Do you have anything? All right. So, um, I want to say this about the insurance. Once again, I want to thank the people that served on the committee and volunteered all of their time and spent all of that time looking through everything. And as I said earlier today, it wasn't a split vote. It was a unanimous vote. And I have always trusted and gone along with whatever the committee recommends because
200they've done the work. So, I am looking forward to the next five months. Um, and I think people will get a lot of their questions answered and I'm hoping that it is a smooth transition. Also, I do like the fact that they're going to put um someone on site here in Valuchia County to answer the questions um and be there to be able to do that. Um, Dr. Balcomin, I spoke with you, I think it was maybe during the last agenda conference or after it, that there's a few things I would like an update on that we haven't had in a while. And one of those things was the white fleet because we haven't had an update on the white fleet from the time we had the last update before we moved into renting vehicles
201versus purchasing some of the vehicles. So I'd like an update. So the for those listening, the white fleet is actually the fleet of vehicles that's assigned to staff members. There is a policy about they have to drive over a certain amount of mile like be in a district level position where they drive over a certain amount of miles in order to be able to earn a vehicle. And so I just want an update on where we're at on the white fleet and how many vehicles that we have out on the roads and who they're assigned to. Um, and are we still only renting them or have we gone back to purchasing those items? I know at one time we did do an internal audit piece on it, but I'd like to see where we're at
202now because that's another fund funding piece that we're paying for. And then I'd like to say we will not be back here in the boardroom until June the 3. And so I was asked earlier today um by Mr. Case, he's still here. Could you come up for just a moment? And Celeste, we may need your help and Dr. Bagaban's help. So on June 3rd, we're scheduled to have a workshop along with a school board meeting. Um Mr. cease because of where we're at right now in Tallahassee. He was going to be able to do the budget piece that we would need to do, but he's not going to have the information he's going to need yet because Tallahassee has not decided the budget. Okay. So, having some challenges or having some challenges in Tallahassee. So,
203in talking to him, um, what I guess we need to know is what is currently scheduled for the workshop for June 3rd other than the budget meeting. Do we know? Pull it up, please. Can you pull it up? Remind me. We do have until July 1st. Yeah, because we don't want it until it's code of conduct. That's it on that date. Correct. Code of conduct. That would take about an hour. Okay. So, here's All right. You guys saw what happened today and how long it took and how we when I do the agenda conference. I'm very specific and it's on here. Celeste takes the times down. I ask them how long their presentation's going to be. I've learned to double some people's answer. I I'm sorry, but I keep track of it. I've learned to
204double it. And then I put what I what appears to be enough time for you to ask questions. Okay. and we time it out. And today, by the time we got to the fourth one, um, and started at 3:21, that was only going to give them nine minutes to do their hour presentation because everything ran over. So, here's what I'm asking. We're already scheduled for a workshop on the 3 followed by a meeting. I know that the student code of conduct can sometimes take at least an hour. So, are you willing to do the student code of conduct on that day? And we'll have plenty of time because that student code of conduct goes out to parents and everything once we get it any updates to it. And the updates come from whatever the state
205is telling us that we have to do, but and or just the things that have already happened. And then are you willing to come back on June 24th and do another workshop? Cuz I don't know that we can do legislative updates, budget, and student code of conduct all on the same board meeting. Yes. Workshop. I I spoke at length today with Mike Murtha um u Senator Leak's aid and um and Speaker Perez has has extended to June 30th. Um as of Friday he he had said he he's extending to June 30th. Whether or not it stays that way, I don't know. But I'm just wondering if we have to do a legislative update in that soon. You know, we won't be able to affect anything. So, can't it wait and and make it in July
206or something? So, we only have one board meeting in July because that is the only way we can allow staff to have some time off. So, we don't come back until the end of July. Um, and I personally am not going to ask that we schedule two board meetings in July. We h we're scheduled here to be here on June 24th no matter what they do. So I don't know can you wait till the end of July for the budget piece for budget workshop? This is typically how it works is the the end of in July we have to come back to the board for the tenative budget. Normally you present to the board a superintendent you follow term requirements. You have to um submit a superintendent proposed budget. So I could do that. It
207would I would do that have to be if we only have one board meeting in July, I would have to do that here at the end of um June. So it' be on that workshop and then I would um submit the superintendent's proposed budget for the general funding capital and then the tenative budget would be in July. Okay. So, I hear that he's extended to June 30th, but see, our fiscal year runs on July 1st, and starting in July, we have to go ahead and start receiving funding from the state, the first drop down, which is usually 25% or we can't function. We come to a standstill that at that point. So, I think we need to at least talk about whatever we know at the end of June or Todd's not going to be
208ready to present the superintendent's budget to us the end of July. No, the su No, the superintendent's proposed budget's going to come at the same time. It's you'll have the workshop to discuss the the um the budget and then you'll have a superintendent proposed budget that will be submitted on that at the end of June and then July we'll have the tenative budget hearing. That's right. The tenative budget hearing. Part of my thought is that uh Gray Robinson may not be available if if if they're still in session. they may not be able to come and and um the governor will not have signed any bills or signed some of the latest bills by that time. So I guess my point is just that that is just a report. there's nothing that there's no action
209that we can take and so delaying it um and putting our immediate needs you that are time certain in front of it uh doesn't make any difference in terms of the legislation. So it that that can be postponed until a more convenient time um if if that makes it easier. Okay. Your part can't be postponed. Correct. So, I mean, I don't have a problem postponing Gray Robinson, but the governor's already signing bills that are going to take effect on July 1 that we are going to have to do something about the ones that he's already signed that have to do with education. We don't have a choice to wait until the whole thing is over. We have if if hence why we had we were on a target list for not having done one of
210them that we finally did tonight. I don't like being on a target list when they put out a new law and we don't move forward on it. So Dr. Balaban. Yeah. Um we are in our cabinet. We're tracking every single bill. those that that are signed into law are immediately discussed within those departments of how we will be updating them in policy and there will be a communication um going out to those affected stakeholders. So that's that's procedural for us. um whether we can we can come in June and present it I I don't think it will affect our work because we will like I said we're tracking that and we are incorporating you know for adjustments with policies looking at what you're requesting here I see the white fleet update overall will not take
211more than 30 minutes chair well and I'm not even saying I I was I was saying at some point I I don't need it to happen in June I I don't know how when and I don't know that you need magnet schools yet in June or gifted programs. I mean, no, mine were just things I'd like to have workshop. I didn't mean in I didn't have a specific date. So, we have to do the code of student conduct that that has to be ready to go for the new school year. And we have to do the budget piece. We don't have to do a legislative update because they are tracking all of it. We can do that at a later date. The problem is the budget needs to be the end of the month and
212not the beginning of the month. So if we're only going to have two things, unless there's something else, if we're only going to do the student code of conduct, so we're looking at Mike. Mike, do you have to have it done at the beginning of the month to get it advertised and approved to be ready to go for this school year? And then it and then it would have to be voted on the first meeting back. Can you put it into play? I mean, if it's voted on, then can you have it ready to go? What? So, my question is, and I could get with Mike and the team, I imagine everybody's going to do the same. uh is what what are the substantial changes that we're anticipating in the code of student conduct because
213what'll end up happening is if we don't do it early June then you need so let's say we talk about stuff in June then the following meeting we they craft it they bring it and then we advertise it that goes into from June into July and then school starts like two weeks later so if we make any drastic changes to the code of student conduct that are going to affect students and need to be communicated before the start of the school year that would not allow for significant time. So, if we decide everybody's going to wear a blue shirt, let's say, that wouldn't give enough time. Now, if we're thinking that the changes are going to be minor um and not substantive, then we could probably risk that. But what I'm afraid of is if
214we make any significant changes to the code of student conduct, we may find ourselves with only a two-eek window to communicate that once the policy is implemented. It's true. I mean, my understanding right now did did they sign this the latest new cell phone? They did. So that that is I mean even though we've put in a cell phone policy and ours is pretty close to what they're saying um they're saying no cell phone at all on elementary and middle school campuses. Yeah. And so for that reason, I think that we'll need our salt friends to help us create these wonderful PSAs and it's the law and you know all of these things. And so the longer we wait to make those changes whether they're legislative or not um that's going to really push it.
215So how about this? What if we if we're only going to do one item in June, the June 3rd meeting, which I think we need to go ahead with a student code of conduct. We we know what it's like if parents don't know ahead of time and we haven't notified them so that they can present it in a workshop. We can vote to advertise it at the board meeting and it will be ready to go by the it'll be no July. It won't it won't make it, but it'll be ready to still it's still not going to make it because June 3rd to June 24th won't we not enough days to advertise. I need to have another meeting then. That's a big change. I mean, arguably what what that would mean is the district would
216have to start communicating because of the change in the law without our policy backing it up at the time. So, if that's something that we want to do as a board and we think that that's, you know, prudent, it's the law, it is what it is, then that's one thing. And I guess we'll I'll leave that up to you, Dr. B, because again, typically, we want to have a policy that backs what we're communicating. Again, we don't know. I mean, I just found out that got signed because I know it was I knew it was on his desk. I didn't know it finally got signed. And so, what does that look like? which DOE is going to have to tell us, which isn't never going to happen because they just How about how about this?
217We move forward with the June 3rd workshop. What if we back it up a little because we're only going to do one item unless somebody tells me differently and so we don't start till 1:30. 130 and we do the student code of conduct, whatever they need for elementary and secondary because there's two parts to that. There's two policies. There's an elementary one and a secondary and there'll have to be changes to both. And then we come in on June 24th to just do the budget. And how much time do you need for the budget? And and and be realistic with questions. Well, I'll ask the board members. My my presentation is just going to be on the general fund and it's normally on the capital project funds. Those are the two funds I normally bring
218forward. Sometimes I'll include the the debt service. It's not a completed packet, but it's really on the board members what kind of discussions they want to have with me as well um on the budget. So, I'm I'm thinking I could probably do my presentation maybe a half an hour um board member discussion. Should I double it? Okay. So, I'll just I'll just Now, we know who she was talking about. About an hour. There there's quite a few I'm talking about. Okay. About an hour, maybe. I think you need at least an hour. Go over the bud general and the capital budget. Yeah. Um, I'll work with Miss Core on that on the capital side. Um, Miss I guess. Okay. See, she said at least. So, so about a total of an hour, hour and a
219half maybe. Okay. So, then this is what I always I have to say is how many questions are going to be asked and how much time do we need for questions? a minimum of 30 minutes. But you guys tell me how many questions are you thinking you'll have about No, this is what I do. I get it pretty accurate except I knew today wasn't going to work. The last agenda I told them it wasn't going to work. There wasn't enough time to pull off those four items. So you guys think about already when they've presented budget and capital about how many questions you have asked. I'll have about 12 minutes worth of questions. We're not gonna we're not going to hold you to that. You make it nine. Okay. Nine. Actually, it's me. It'll be
220four. We're going to give it two hours and a half total for you to present and for questions. And it'll be nice if we finish early. So, we'll come in at 1. Is that okay? All right. So, what we've agreed to this evening is we will not come in until 1:30 on June the 3 because we'll have elementary and secondary student code of conducts. Then we will add an additional workshop for June 24th and we will come in at 100 p.m. and we'll have two and a half hours to do general budget and um capital budget. so that they are prepared for the end of July when we have to start rolling out what the budget is. And you're going to have to create the budget whether they get a final decision in Tallahassee or
221not. Yeah, I appreciate the extra time too uh chair is that they're also late with the fourth calculation and I need to I really want the fourth calculation um the FFIP calculation to bring forward to in that meeting. So I think it would be a more completed packet. So so I appreciate the extra time. And so Dr. Dr. Bugman and the other things that we asked about they're they're they're after the school year gets started next year that we'll talk about those three things. I can certainly which it is it is part of my job to speak to board members individually and share about different items that are taking place operationally. That is part of my job. That's nothing unique or out of the ordinary. So, in the meanwhile, if you would like to get
222a debrief of where we are with the um with the gifted programs because I will tell you that when I started this this district, we had three gifted programs in the entire district. Three. Now, the gifted programs are formulated bas based on the number of students that qualifies for the program. There's it's a process. And now we have, and this is just me speaking off without going and and looking at any numbers, I believe we have 27 total throughout our district that are either a full-time or part-time programs. And that's going from four and a half years ago. I've been here four and a half, feels like 10, but four and a half years ago where there were three. So we have grown the programs. We've had to for example at Tamoka they've had to
223scale down but it had it did not the program is still there. So I'll be happy if you would like send me an email and it's like I said it's part of my job. It's nothing unique to speak to you and share with you where we are so far and maybe in August we can do a workshop. Thank you. Just send me an email if you're interested. Anything else? Okay, then it is 8:55 p.m. and this meeting is adjourned.