001e good afternoon today is Tuesday April 9th 2024 welcome welcome to the blch County school board meeting in just a moment I'm going to ask that you stand and join me the pledge of allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem today will be presented by Holly Hill School immediately following both of those we will have a moment of silence and reflection so please remain standing for that piece and then we will move on into the board meeting but welcome please stand at this time for the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem hi I'm Mr vogus proud principal of Holly Hills School and I am today in the classroom of Miss ma with her Elementary Honor Society students who are proud to be with us this afternoon and share the pledge with you to
002the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all oh say can you see by the dawn's early light was so proudly we want were so gly streaming whose BR stripes and bright stars through the [Music] pous fight or the r we watch we're so G [Music] streaming and the rockets red glare the boms bursting in gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star spangle be not yet wave or the land of the free and the home of the pra thank you you may be seated at this time I'd like to take a moment to introduce everyone that serves here on the school board or works with us on my
003far left I have Mr Carl persus representing District 4 next to Mr persus I have Miss Jesse Thompson representing District 3 next to Miss Thompson is Mr Aaron wolf who is our Schoolboard attorney I'm going to go now over to my far right with Miss Celeste Gilmore our agency clerk next next to her is Mr Ruben clone representing District 5 next to Mr Ruben clone is Mrs an Bernett representing District 2 and she is also our vice chair this year and then to my immediate right is Dr Carmen balaman our superintendent and I am Jamie Haynes your chair this year representing district one so please welcome those of you that are here in the boardroom anyone out in the Overflow area and those that are listening at home items for approval on this agenda today
004are items 1.03 2.02 6.02 and 18.01 through 1823 public participation times for any items on the consent agenda you may fill out a card such as this it would be a green card they have them over here on the right hand side um if you wish to speak about anything that we're going to vote on for the consent agenda then at 6 PM we have the ability for you to fill out a yellow card for items of general interest pertaining to public education in Valia County at that time we will give a total of up to 15 minutes which will be provided then time will be provided for public comment on any action item before a board vote is called on that item those are the items that start with 18.01 then time will be
005provided at the end of the meeting for public comment for items of general interest pertaining to public education in valuch County before items from the board superintendent or attorney are up for discussion announcement or approval each speaker will have a total of three minutes to speak there is a clock so that you can see how much time you have left when you're speaking please respect the time clock during the each individual's speaking time there will be no signs placards or other visual forms of communication except as part of an individual speaker's presentation speakers shall not engage in personal attacks abusive language or other conduct which interferes with the meeting the chair has the right to terminate any speaker's privilege to address the board if this rule is violated members of the audience at all times
006should be courteous to all speakers and shall refrain from making audible comments or applauding during that part of the meeting we we do allow thumbs up thumbs down and jazz hands now with that being said there is a section that we do each time on recognitions when we are recognizing students staff teachers administrators community members for the things that they have earned and done in Valia County we welcome your applause for those items on the board agenda so at this time we are now up to item 1.02 our District vision statement and board member comments our district vision statement is to create lifelong Learners prepared for an everchanging Global Society at this time I welcome each board member to go ahead if they wish to share something Mr cologne so since we were here last
007I believe uh we had the Futures Caribbean uh party uh where they raised thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars for our students uh specifically our takestock students that's that effort where they uh award scholarships to our students so again thank you to Futures uh for that uh amazing event and thank you to all of our partners in education and our community business partners who also uh came that day had the privilege of attending Deltona High's uh junior rooc Awards and who knew there were so many so many of a different organizations in our country uh recognize our jrc students so that was uh really exciting also had the opportunity to uh attend the all count orchestra concert at uh University High School wow those kids were amazing and uh it was it was a
008great event just uh this weekend coming up opening day I believe is on the 11th uh pineridge is going to have the Percy Jackson musical coming oh oh pineridge is here somewhere Panthers are rising and so that's going on this weekend uh sports physicals free sports physicals even if uh the day is full we welcome Walkins uh and so uh if your child is needing a physical please have them uh come in uh huge shout out to our science department I know I'm going up over my time but uh I watch every News Channel I DVR all three and I will share that valua was front and center on two of the three channels I believe um actually there's four uh with the solar eclipse and ensuring that our students were safely able to go
009outside uh so shout out to River Springs that I don't remember which channel they were on on and uh Channel 2 was at Galaxy so shout out to them and last but not least there's a young lady named CCE Ortiz from Deltona High School that participated in softball for the Pan-American games and uh she represented Puerto Rico and she won a gold medal wow uh and so I am uh hoping that we could bring her in to also recognizer uh because she recogniz she uh represented us internationally and so uh that is it thank you thank you Mrs brunette thank you um I I too was going to discuss the Caribbean fundrais the Futures Caribbean fundraiser that was a good time it usually is and I think we all made it um and it's always
010fun and everybody gets to have kind of let their hair down and have a good time while raising money for our organization and um it's very much appreciated but uh I had the opportunity to attend the student or the Atlantic law and government advisory committee and they're really trying to um to change things up a little bit and they just participated this past weekend it was I believe a Fed Day event and it is the Florida Public Service association annual leadership competition this is only their second year um participating and they were actually prepared this year last year was kind of like a last minute idea and from what I understand they're bringing home a lot of trophies so I can't wait to see and hear more about them event but I wanted to give
011them a shout out because they did a great job so thank you thank you Miss Thompson thank you so I along with Mr cologne attended the all count Orchestra and it was phenomenal I mean it gave me chills our students are so talented I want to thank everyone who participated all the parents that uh supported their kids to get them to where they are it was an amazing show if you've never been I highly recommend it and also I attended our Congressional Art Show uh that our Congressman Corey Mills put on and we have so many great art shows I mean you could literally like do a tour of all the valouch County students art shows and so there were some pieces there that I have seen in other art shows that won awards and
012just all over the county East Side West Side that we have some amazingly talented students so thank you all so much for who put their art out there and once again thank you to our schools for supporting those students thank you Mr persus yes I couldn't agree more we have such amazing students out out there and a shout out to all the teachers the Performing Arts teachers drama teachers chorus teachers band teachers all of you that have to you know stay after school and practice and extra time Saturday events and all those things it's uh uh it's just incredible and all the parents that support their kids so much with that and take taking them all around you know parents don't have a schedule anymore it's it's their children's schedule that drives their lives and
013uh we know how that that works just wanted to say I was uh happy to get out the day we came back from spring break to to welcome back uh teachers and staff at uh where was I palm Palm Terrace Elementary and Westside Elementary and Holly Hills School so wish I could have been to every school but at least I got to those to those three and it was nice to welcome everyone back thank you madam chair thank you and so um there were a few of things that some of us went to that weren't shared yet that I'd like to bring up um after the last board meeting we several of us were at Orange City Elementary for the groundbreaking so Orange City Elementary is um getting a brand new school and that was
014a wonderful event because that's one of the I mean that's an original School built there okay and so but they're incorporating the historic piece into it and so we attended the groundbreaking there we also attended the CTE awards banquet um which was wonderful to see all of our Career and Technical teachers from each of the middle and high schools being honored and then um I attended the oversight committee for the public school facility planning which that includes members from each of our communities or cities where we work together with them on where the growth is happening and where are we going to need schools or seats at and what was interesting is the last time that committee had gotten together was um May of 2022 um because of everything kind of that had gone on
015so we came back together but we will be meeting again in September after we get through the 20-day count to see where we're at with that and then I do want to give my fellow board members an update on um I am representing you on the fsba nominating committee for this year and so I went through um a half a day training on that nominating committee piece and we'll be coming up to read all of the um applications that were put in for who wants to sit on the FSB EXA executive board and that will be on um April 15th but there are some wonderful people that have put their name in for that but my final um piece and I believe at some point we're going to have this young lady here in the
016um come to a board meeting to recognize her but each year we put forth like volunteers of the year we have um student volunteers parent volunteers sometimes a community or business volunteer sometimes we have a group of volunteers and schools nominate their volunteers for the work that they do well this year not only is do we have a student volunteer of the year for here in Valia County and she happens to be a student at Dand high school and it's just amazing what all she's done well she was named the state volunteer of the Year wow and so I I I know you're she has her coming at some point so I don't want to give all the details away that way we can congratulate her when she comes but she is in the IB
017program and and she's a very humble young lady who sees needs for what needs to happen in her community and everything and it's amazing how she has stepped up and all the things that she volunteers for and just a lovely personality and what was interesting even more about that is we went out and surprised her at Lake Beford park because she along with other IB students were out there collecting samples and specimens and so she had no idea we were coming and we went out and surprised her at the park with all of her Stu with all of her you know peer students around her and they were just as excited I think as what we were to be able to honor her and so that was another thing that has happened right that happened
018right before spring break so um it's there's been a lot going on but we are glad that all of you are here and those of you that are listening at home so at this time we're now going to move on to item 1.03 approval for minutes we have the draft minutes for the special session then we have our Workshop minutes also for March the 12th 2024 and our regular session minutes for March the 12th of 2024 so board members you've had an opportunity to look at the minutes do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve the minutes for those three meetings I move approval of the minutes for those three meetings thank you Mr persus do I have a second I'll second that thank you Mrs Bernette any discussion okay
019hearing none I'm going to call for the vote all those in favor of approving the three sets of minutes please say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously so now we are on to agenda changes Dr Balaban are there any agenda changes before the agenda is presented to the board for approval yes Madam chair I'm requesting that recognition items 4.01 which is the master board certification and 4.02 certified board members um be rescheduled for the next board meeting okay so we're going to reschedule those for April 23rd and also I'm asking that for the removal of 1823 um this is an item in which the during the workshop today the board has decided to take a different direction okay so board members you've heard the items of the superintendent is removing from this agenda
020recognition items 4.01 and 4.02 those will be rescheduled for the April 23rd Schoolboard meeting and then we're removing item 1823 that had to do with the Schoolboard attorney contract because as each of you know in the workshop we decided to go a different um path with that so having heard the removals for this evening is there any discussion okay do I have I have someone who would like to make a motion to approve the agenda as presented with the removal of item 4.01 4.02 and 1823 motion to approve thank you Mr clone do I have a second I'll second that motion thank you Mrs Thompson having no discussion I'll call for the vote all those in favor please say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now on to item number 3.01
021announcements by Dr Babin our superintendent thank you madam chair board members members of the audience and those of you listening at home thank you for joining us today so we have a very short uh list of announcements and but we also have two videos because the last we did not have a video um I I'd like to congratulate the following seven schools we receive an email from Florida doe where these seven schools that I will be naming are deemed Schools of Excellence um by the State Board of Education now the way that this recognition is given it's given to schools whose percentage of possible points that they've earned in the school grade calculation places them in the 80 80th percentile or higher for the state so the following seven schools again congratulations to the leadership
022team all teachers staff members parents students community members good job keep up the Great work and we'll be out to celebrate you so Coronado Beach Elementary is a school of excellence by the state of Florida Cypress Creek Elementary it's considered School of Excellence DeBerry Elementary Orman Beach Elementary Pine Trail Elementary Sweetwater Elementary and Creekside those are the seven Schools Des with that designation for the upcoming school year chair you mentioned we were out celebrating our CTE programs and I must insert and say this that for the upcoming year in addition to the 92 programs that we currently have we're also looking at adding 16 new programs in the CTE Division and these are programs that based on our um aptitude and interest survey is what our students have indicated where they have innate strengths or
023ability or interest and they will be participating in those programs so I'm glad to say that when it comes to CTE we're not holding back we're ensuring that its Career and Technical education keeps or carries equal value when it comes to almost you know students that may deem or or choose to go to college both are equally important and that's how we see it here in vucha County so I want to thank the board for always supporting this program but also congratulations as as you Shar chair Amanda Silva Who is the the Aerospace teacher at Atlantic high school she was named our valua County Schools career technology education teacher of the year so congratulations Amanda and congratulations the entire Atlantic uh family we um we've celebrated her and we will continue to celebrate her every
024day but also all of the teachers in the CTE division you do so such amazing work keep up the great work and thank you for equipping our students with the skills necessary to be successful in both domains also last month this was such a great event we had our 49th 49th for 49 years so proud to say that um we have been celebrating our elementary Science Expo right and I you guys have seen our science results our science course and people have asked me out there Dr B what is it that you guys are doing in valua and what I will say to you that we're doing in Valia is that Science Matters in every single grade level at every single grade level not every District can tell you that but because we have been
025consistent with our course we're seeing it translate into students outcomes right but in addition to that attending that it was such a great event we had 237 very very talented fifth graders from 48 schools across fucha County there at the fairground and they were there with their families it was a family affair we had very very Innovative projects that were displayed and very Hands-On we also had many vendors and partners in education our entire science division all of our teachers were there principls were there it really is a family affair and I'm so proud to say that I think in vucha County we just rocket when it comes to these Science Expo fair so I have a video which is proof of everything that I've been talking about we'll go ahead and show show that
026quickly I think it's 1 minute and 20 seconds he so sweet I I mean I don't think I would want to hug him but he's so sweet yeah students are you ready let's do this how many fifth graders we have here at the Science Expo we have 247 fifth graders that were invited this is our 49th annual Science Expo Elementary science fair isn't that exciting is a historic event so you want to be an inventor yeah high five on that think about the Bubbles and the liquid when they break down what are they made of this is a moment for our fifth graders to shine and there's so much that they can teach us and I love to question them and get that knowledge that they have learned through these different experiments I come to
027this Science Expo every year to get ideas for myself cuz I see principles are doing some magnificent things for their student students what would you say to a fourth grade about your experience here I would say that it's a really fun thing to do and it also helps with if you're ever trying to become a designer or an engineer this would help but all of our wonderful parents that are here you know that were part of this project as well right they were working with their kids and it's so important to have our families involved in their students learning for you as a parent how does this make you feel um it makes me feel amazing I'm super proud of all the kids that you know came would you consider this a quality educational experience
028absolutely I can't thank you enough Jen the entire stem team for the heart the love that you guys for the subject matter in which you [Applause] serve like that video so much I have a second one for you um chair was talking about our Orange City um the the ribbon cutting that we did and we do have a short video you would like to see um can we play that next I have some state-of-the-art thing a lot of history a lot of years watching this school evolve and change and it will be really nice for the kids to have some state-of-the-art things the True Legacy of our success will not lie in the bricks that we lay or the walls that we raise but in the lives We Touch which we will be touching with
029this new facility thank you for making this a reality for our students the original settlers in this area found it important to have a wonderful education system it was a priority of theirs and so it's it's great to be a part of this Legacy and continue the work that they did uh in our community we are so excited to bring the school into the 21st century and still maintain the history of Orange City and the connections that the community has to this school City w y I know we're very excited about this project chair so we had that video just because you mentioned also i' like to uh for the upcoming celebrations appreciation goes out and awareness because April is the month of Child Abuse Prevention month that's April counseling awareness uh financial literacy um
030National volunteer appreciation month so thank you to all of our volunteers and we always need more volunteers so if you know someone who has a love for Learning and for children this is the place um also School library month and World Autism Awareness Month also from April 7th to the 13th it's National Library week um and April 16 to the 13 It's National robotics week Kindergarten Roundup um that's between April 8th and the the 19th and please visit our our VCS website there is a whole lot more information our VCS website regarding kindergarten uh Roundup and our summer programs we have already planned for our summer and the majority of our summer programs will be taking place from July 1st to July 25th so there's also a whole lot of information regarding our summer programs
031on our website so please check out our website org for more information and that's it chair and board members thank you Dr bamman so now we're moving on to item 4.03 recognition of the superintendent student advisory leadership team Dr Balaban thank you madam chair board members I know that you are very excited about this because we have talked about our salt which is the superintendent advisory leadership team and I know that you have espoused the uh importance of the of of engaging students voice in the work that we do after all we're here doing everything that we do for our students so it's therefore it's really important that their voice is a part of the work that we do so back in the spring of 2023 this was an initiative that was important to all
032of us and we've put this in initiative into action to include that so and by the way this is part also of our strategic plan plan so through this program our students have uh made recommendations as it pertains to agenda items based on school and districtwide needs and I can tell you this theme is full of some very very admirably bright students that we have here representation of of of fuchia County the examples of some of the topics that we have already worked through that has been shared with us from our our salt transportation and Athletics clubs Safety and Security technology these are all topics that they have we have engaged in and done some work and been able to come up with some solution practical solutions for schools and the way I see it
033I want their voice to continue to be included in the work that we do as we move forward you miss Bernette Vice chair you have said I would love to meet them and I told you that they were coming so I'm going to ask our team and we have have here with us today Sarah guatney from the land high school and Sophie hedric from Pine Ridge High they're going to share a few words with us we have Dr Berea who has been working diligently with the team and we also have the list of all of the students that are part of salt and and Dr beer will share because we have a recognition that we'll be giving out to them and taking some piics Dr Berea good afternoon chair Haynes board members and superintendent Dr
034balabin it's truly been an honor of working the last year year with with our students and it's amazing what our students have been able to do in a year as Dr balabin mentioned um it when when we started the the uh salt at the direction of Dr balabin you know it it was really a a team effort with the principles identifying the students that would be that are true leaders and these are students that are student leaders academically uh in athletics in extracurricular activities in the community and or all of the above they are probably the most busy students that that I've ever been able to meet with and somehow they still manage to make it to our meetings whether whether our meetings are at newa beach high school or at D land high school
035or at University so we really appreciate what they do uh uh what their parents uh do and what the principles have done because they communicate with their principles to problem solve and then they bring in um both solution they bring questions and solutions it's not just a a a session where they tell us what's happening that's good or bad it's like okay this is what we see this is what we can do and we're going to give tell you how to fix it and the ideas that they have are amazing so I want you to hear from them because they're the ones that really are the voice so uh starting with Sarah we'll go for good afternoon my name is Sarah gney I am student government executive board president of Delan High School go bulldog
036and I would like to take a second to talk about salt um this team allows students voices to be listened to and not just heard which is what makes it so important taking action on issues that your students find important helps create a sense of ownership and trust between us and our schools and our leaders in our counties it Bridges the gap between me and you as I've attended meetings I've had the chance to discuss issues with my fellow members and we've come up to with solutions that have been hidden before uh we found issues that maybe not are brought up often um so one issue that we found for example was some less popular sports were not provided with transportation to a away games which kept some athletes from attending even during their senior
037year we brought it up in a meeting and that issue was resolved with more buses for athletes when I get to share my perspective as a student it makes me feel Valu by my district and by the leaders above me and I know every person here feels the same so I urge you to continue with the salt program and I thank you for it and I thank you for truly honestly listening to us that is all your students want thank you good afternoon everyone my name is Sophie Hedrick and I am a senior at pinr high school I have been a part of the student advisory leadership team since my junior year and have had nothing but a positive experience with it salt has provided me with the knowledge of what happens behind the scenes
038at valua County schools and how it is always in the complete interest of us the students with every meeting I have attended it is made evident that student voices matter more than we realize and we are the ones to be promoting change within our schools through discussed Concepts like Transportation college readiness and even safety Sal has shown that every day there's efforts being made in making our Valia County Schools better than before not only has salt shown me how vucha County Schools Works behind the scenes but it also has given me a chance to learn how to come to a group consensus in our group discussions skills like public speaking intuitive listening and even some slight debate are utilized which has helped my own progress in all of these Outlets the salt program has been
039a terrific experience for me and has helped me realize how much Felicia County truly cares about the environment of their students thank you salt [Applause] Okay so so with that I would like to read the names of the students who are here uh please note that we have a total of 33 students that's three students per school but we because they have such busy schedules we ask if at least one student from each school can come and we and for some schools we have more than one so I'm going to call their names and then they will come up and they are going to receive a certificate and also I'm going to ask the principes who are here to also come up once everybody's names been called so I know uh Dand High School Piner
040high school and V are here tonight so I uh when I call your name start heading up there and you'll get your certificate um Caitlyn hulet from University High School Ashley Fuentes Taylor Middle High School Lea raisen new meret Beach High schoolis Riva SE seab breze High School sarahy the land High School Sophie Hedrick pineridge High School Wallace Atlantic High School Shay Brian Spruce Creek High [Applause] School Emily odonnell Deltona High School Katie Delona High School Elizabeth Ailes Taylor Middle High [Applause] School Deltona High School and at this time principles please come up they were not in order [Music] conat okay all right you guys I don't know he came in the door I was like you make it in the back never been accused of being you have to move in come on in
041here can you yeah everybody look this [Applause] way and he represents all the males High School Guys April Madam chair I think it's time to put a student on this board I agree what what I agree I think it's time to put a student on this board I agree I see consensus yeah am I not young enough do it I agree those kids are I've had the pleasure of meeting with them actually a couple of times and those kids are really sharp and I think that having their perspective on a regular basis would be a good thing and I know some districts do have students on their board so I think it's something we should really because those kids are amazing so it's good to if you're going to go that way to rotate yeah
042yeah yeah not just have one right so everyone gets the heaven maybe it's one of them every meeting we'll get back with you guys in here yeah they are for example I know in Broward um they have but it it's they have the a student and there is a backup and those are the two students that will always attend and they'll they'll sit and listen and share perspective here and there y but you'll let me know all right yes so I'm going to move on no sorry that's your job it's fine moving on to item 4.04 schools of character and this month it's cooperation so this is your favorite part right recognition I love recognition um you're absolutely right cooperation is what we're focusing on this month and I see a gentleman in the back
043and he happens to be the principal of Creekside so I'm going to tell you a little bit about a community coming together at Creekside um on a recent event that transpired Mr Cash why don't you come up and share with us a little bit about that that day it's so much more impactful when we have someone that was there so there were eight members that were involved in this in this family affair where they helped this student out and I know that you share this story with me and it was it just brought tears so you need to hear directly from the man that's in charge of that school every single day so thank you Dr balaman so when I uh when I call your names that the folks that are here you'll kind of
044stand up so we can see what happen so it was a normal middle school day kids are riding their bikes to school and we have Jazelle where are you Jazelle there's Jazelle okay so gel is riding his bike to school and he's getting close to the bike rack and he has an accident on his bicycle which can happen to many kids but this wasn't an ordinary accident when he fell off his bicycle you probably be familiar that bicycles have uh handbrakes and so when he fell the handbrake impaled itself into his thigh very bad injury so immediately two students who witnessed this accident what we have back here with us we have Alex and Kareem where are you Alex and Kareem stand up Alex and Kareem they immediately took action and ran to the front
045office for help in the meantime as they're running to the office for help we had a parent Mr Crass are you hear Mr Crass I don't know if Mr Crass was able to make it a parent that was in the b in the loop came over got a blanket out of his truck to put it on Jazelle as Jazelle was on the ground in the meantime we needed to see where the injury was so one of our front office staff Miss frell Miss frell where are you ran to the scene with a pair of scissors so we could cut unto the jeans of the student to see how badly he was injured then as the uh uh as Miss frell was there she goes oh I didn't have my cell phone I need somebody to
046call 911 Mr Smith Mr Smith Mr Smith immediately pulls out his phone and calls 911 to get the uh you know the folks on the way to help jezelle and then the parent shows up before Evac gets there and of course she's concerned and we realize we have a language barrier bomb can't speak English so miss Delgado comes to the rescue and translates for uh the mother to put her at its ease as they were able to cut the uh part of the bike away from the student transport him in get him into the hospital where Jazelle you spent the night and they removed that from your leg had a little bit of surgery and he's back good as new so I see that as quite a bit of cooperation in an emergency at [Applause]
047Creeks Mr Cash I would like for you and your family because it's a family affair to come on up we have some certificates of recognition for you and we will take a picture that was great yeah [Music] I we jumping into action another day at middle school that's just the way it is what's going to happen today that's awesome are I remind that every time I see good we have the family if I pull him back a little bit hang time for a second parents you guys want to get in yes parents come get in the photos come in okay thank you [Applause] we are very thankful for everyone that had a part in that so now we are moving on to item 4.05 another recognition of staff for great people great Deeds drin thank
048you madam chair and this is our last recognition there's two in the visuals that we'll be recognizing for great people great deeds and instructional and in non-instructional and this is how we always do it so each quarter we celebrate two great people we have a lot of great people in vucha County but we there's two that's chosen each quarter great deed winners so these are the individuals that goes above and beyond when it comes to helping their Community it's not you know we always say that schools are little communities right you're part of a community so you cannot isolate yourself from the community you're part of that Community that's what you are and I'm going to tell you that Miss Lindy feaser she's a teacher on assignment at um Port Orange elementary I will let
049the principal share with you but I was so impressed by this young lady so very impressed but I'm going to ask Dr Dyer to come on up and share this story with you and why Miss feaser was the W chosen the winner all right so miss feaser had been aware of a student with a situation his family had been in hard times for a while but it was just getting a little bit worse and worse for the student and she found out that he was without um Power at his house no way to you know have like running water and you know she was very sensitive to this issue and um just thought to herself like what can I do so she went to Facebook and to her network of friends and started trying to
050raise money for him just to get a little bit of money to help them through and lo and behold raised more than $2,000 to pay all of the back payments for um his electric bill the family and um just to get them back on their feet so I will tell you that she is a VIP at Port Orange because when I went there her f family her poor orange family is so very proud of her and I was sharing with her that my daughter is about her age and it's it's so as a parent to have a a you know a daughter or a son or anyone in your family to just have that kind of heart that goes above and beyond to want to make a difference it's to be commended so if you
051will come on up well can we do the non-instructional and then we'll celebrate both yes absolutely however you'd like to do okay just hold for a second thank you Prin principal D now the non-instructional that was chosen is Francis Jones and Francis Jones is the office specialist at cample Middle School um Miss Jones and her okay I'm checking to see if the leader okay so I'll tell the story Miss Jones and Her 20 mentee students the Spartan diamonds they organized campus Middle School first very first father daughter dance um when I show up there to let her know that she was the winner we started talking to the students to the girls and some to some of the dads that participated what an experience dads were telling me how excited their daughters were and daughters
052were telling me how excited their dads were to particip in this and I heard the story and I was sharing how important it is to have a strong male figure in in in especially in a in a child's life and especially a girls um I want to congratulate them and I want them to know that we want to for them to continue this track because 55 students attended this schoolwide dance and the F fathers expressed that they're looking forward they can't wait they're looking forward for doing this again for next year so thank you for always looking at these innovative ways on how to bring a community together how to bring families together because that's what it's all about we're PE in a business it's people's business right and it's important that we learn how
053to connect and how to make those connections but most importantly all the trigger points that we need to bring together to ensure that our students are successful and that's looking at students as a whole so thank you so very much Miss Jones and now at this time I'd like to ask Miss feaser and her family to come on up and then Miss Jones and her family video video oh yeah let's show the video okay look at that I I short Change you guys it's three videos [Music] okay and a particular Act was was captured yes and submitted to us you have any idea what act that might be M which one you think it is probably one of our students who didn't have electricity okay so you want to tell us a little bit more
054about that story because if I read it I might cry we had one of our students whose family had fallen on hard times and um was without power and Miss Feer really felt for that family and um used her social media Network to uh raise more than $2,500 to turn the lights back on for that family the only only thing that I can take credit for is just asking for help um when I was little I was the child that sat without electricity a lot so when I heard that he didn't have electricity I was thinking you can't take a hot shower it's so cold outside I can't imagine like laying in bed and being cold um at night time so I just thought I'm going to ask my friends I really only asked if
055they had like an extra jacket for him cuz I saw him coming to school in a really thin jacket and then people started asking what's a situation like and I just said they don't have electricity but they're not really asking for help and then my Village which I didn't even realize I really had just kind of stepped in and we like let me send you what I can and then we turn electricity on and we got him groceries and all kinds of stuff so cool that is called servant leadership right servant leadership but leadership is about influencing the behavior of others and you have taken your servant leadership to influence the behavior of others in a positive way to do something good for someone that deserves it if you see somebody's struggling I mean we
056all have the means to do something about it when you just sit there and you know say well I hope things get better you know you just really have to like put one foot in front of the other and don't be afraid to ask for help because there are tons of people out there who are willing to step up and do something but if they don't know um what's going on they don't have the opportunity they can't help right I I think that's a really good message because hope sometimes is just a a wish yeah right true but do something about it if you want and you did and look at what happened great people great [Music] Deeds working in any school any school we know how important our parents are right and family engagement
057we can't do it without our families and you understand the importance of that right right and you've taken actions by lady and you had something here that was really special for all of our fathers M and here to our fathers to come up here's a daddy here's a daddy and also he works here at the school right all these gentlemen's here can you tell us a little bit about what Miss Jones did well uh Miss she did she had put together the father and daughter dance um I mean that was like my that was my first father and daughter dance that I had ever uh went to and it turned out pretty nice uh a lot more fathers showed up that I thought was going to show up bad we all had a good time
058so miss Jo you know how to throw a party girl she when I first came here I thought it was going to be a challenging uh experience but as I grew and got to know all the kids the seventh graders I was with them in sixth grade so I've been around them and and I know their temper and I know what calms them down and what keeps them up in the air so when they see me coming the first thing they say here come Miss Jones when they hear my keys coming in the door so I try to lead them in a positive way and I try to reward them in a way but they have to earn their rewards I just don't go and plan something just to be planning it for them I
059go and they earn their rewards so a lot of them have turned it around it's a few more I have to work on but it's a lot of them they have did a complete turnaround great people great [Music] [Applause] Deeds also I'd like to ask am Mar bank they are our SP sponsor if they can join us for the pictures thank you so much amiris Bank SE are we G to do them together you want them together we do at this time we're going to do do any public participation for items on the consent agenda I currently have three green cards are there any more cards for the consent agenda so we're as I said on item 5.01 I have four cards we will start by the order of the item the um first item
060that someone wish to give public input on is item 10.02 which is the budget amendment for the fiscal year for 2023 on January 31st 2024 so board members if you want to look at item 10.02 and Miss Albert you are up first the next item will be item 13.01 which I have Miss Albert who will speak to that item and Miss Kathy nolles Miss Albert welcome good evening Madam chair members of of the board superintendent Dr balabin and members of the audience so I want to speak with you tonight about the budget amendment item 10.02 if you're looking at your uh resources in your agenda so uh some interesting takeaways when we review this budget amendment it's very encouraging that on our third calculation um when that ended it ended in our favor noting an
061increase in student enrollment um yet the conver the conversation throughout our district continues to be reduced allocations for instructional and support Personnel of note the salary line item is being reduced by $1 million in this budget amendment um however there is no reduction from the benefits line item so when you think about salaries paying those salaries to employees benefits typically follow those as well if we're not paying salaries and we are not paying F FRS workers comp unemployment comp or health insurance why are we not reducing that line item as well additionally there is an increase to the materials and supplies line item of 1.1 million historically in vucha County we never spend more than 10 million uh on materials and supplies so why put the additional revenue on this line item is it to
062keep it from showing in the fund balance please answer these questions if you will if you're amending the salary line item in the general fund why are you not also decreasing the benefits line 200 proportionally why are you increasing the materials and supplies line line 500 in the instructional line item to 24 million when we average just under 10 million in spending each year the over budgeting under spending pattern will result in an increase to the fund balance this increase to the fund balance is money that is available and should be used to fund positions for instructional and support Personnel in lie of reducing allocations that are students need thank you thank you m Albert the next item and we have two individuals that wish to speak on it is item 13.01 the item is
063approval of job description additions and revisions we'll start with Mrs Elizabeth Albert followed by Miss Kathy nolles good evening again Madame chair members of the board superintendent Dr Balaban and members of the audience I'm speaking to you tonight on the two new job descriptions that are coming before you and I really need you to hear me when I speak to you about these uh number one I'm going to be referring to the assistant teacher instructional job description that you have uh this is another opportunity of uchia County to stack them deep and teach them cheap so this assistant um teacher instructional will allow for the reduction of certified Educators and the inclusion of non-certified helpers to come in and help carry the load never a good idea um this is something that we have engaged
064in Impact bargaining over and impact bargaining is not complete this is premature to vote on this uh job description tonight and I'm letting you know this proactively to do you a favor uh first of all this job description is fraught with errors if you turn to the back or page two um please notice that there is no bargaining unit listed on this job description this needs to be discussed and we are and have discussed filing a um unit clarification with perk so that they can make the decision which bargaining unit it goes into um but with that being said if you notice the salary information is listed as support schedule level per PA professional level level two that has not been agreed upon if there's no determined bargaining unit how can you already predetermine the
065the salary and then finally if you look under tenure it says no if this in fact is going to be a support staff position which is what we discussed guess what support staff can earn tenure so if you vote to approve this tonight you're going to be approving a document that is full of errors and premature my second point is I want to be I want to draw your attention to the administrative Dean position um is this administrative Dean position an attempt to replace administrative toas when you line the job descriptions up side by side you'll note that the required skills for a Dean are less than an administrative TOA um and and uh the performance responsibilities are very similar um I do believe that this is another move to erode the instructional bargaining unit
066and again to get people to do more for less if you move forward with this administrative Dean position you are going to be asking individuals to take on a risk to work um in a capacity where they are not covered by a contract there are no protections no rights for those individuals who will take those positions thank you very much thank you Miss Albert Miss Kathy nolles welcome thank you um I'd like to speak a little bit about the health insurance I see that y'all are proposing to raise it tonight and I hoping y'all are keeping in mind as as me did not have any representation on there even though it was said that we the mass email that went out from the district said that we was going to follow the contract till the
067end of the school year and that means that asked me would I had representation on there but we did not um so if I was to be taken off that's fine but I never got a phone call or an email asking me to replace me on the insurance committee so keep so which the ask me has the lowest employees y'all are proposing to raise this five over 5% the these people make 12 thou some them make 12,000 a year the district people can afford this the superintendent can afford to absorb the 5% but the people making $122,000 a year so I'm hoping with y'all approving this that y'all going to raise the contribution that District pays towards us to help compensate the people on the on the lower end thank you thank you Miss NS
068the next item under the consent agenda is item 13.02 Mrs Elizabeth Albert 13.02 is the insurance right I just I realized and I changed hers okay please please go back yeah I changed it thank you just to clear all right good evening again Madam chair members of the board superintendent Dr B been members of the audience I want to start uh by uh following up with my colleague who pointed out that higher premiums result result in lower wages and it is a matter of quality versus cost this has nothing to do with the fine people from uh Brown and Brown or our uh folks that we work with with Florida healthcare plan but this is something that needs to be discussed first and foremost I was very surprised to see that you were voting on
069the insurance renewal under the consent agenda I suggest that you pull this item from consent and you have a Ruckus and uh um High spirited conversation about this insurance renewal um just so you know the committee which is comprised of non-bargaining and bargaining Representatives uh came to a stalemate and we were deadlocked on the proposal to send before you and I want to thank you Dr balabin for being the tiebreaker and uh bringing forward The Proposal with the lower renewal rate although 5.9% isn't great I do appreciate that versus the 8% what I also want you to know is just a few facts here 67% of personal bankruptcies are the result of medical expenses we cannot continue to have insure insurance rate renewals that diminish or negate any kind of salary increase that we provide
070for our employees the system is working perfectly but it's working for the wrong folks so if you have a million dooll client and I would suggest that valusa County Schools is more than a million doll client who really cares what those deductibles are who really cares how much um the the folks have to pay on the the workingclass people have to pay you're making money hand over fist we need to do better for our employees um additionally look at the data the plan users do to drive the analysis of the needs we are largely populated by females yet females in childbearing age pay higher premiums this is H this is something that needs to be addressed we have have to do better I urge you when you um look at this item that you pull
071it off consent that you do discuss it and please know that um we cannot continue to work in this capacity year after year after year your employees are falling further and further behind and unless you plan to uh provide at least a 5.9% salary increase which I would love it if we if you would uh we're going to stay flat we're going to stay flat so something has to be done and I am counting on you to have a conversation about how we can fix this I know at least one of you uses this very same insurance plan right so let's think about that thank you thank you are there any more green cards for anything on the consent agenda thank you at this time are there any removal of items from the consent agenda
072Dr Balaban um Madam chair I have no changes at this time board members are there any items on the consent agenda that you would like to remove for further discussion yes please okay I'd like to remove both of those 1301 and 1302 all right thank you Mrs berett is there anyone else that would like to remove any items from the consent agenda all right then we will start with item 13.01 for discussion do we want my question is is more of a legal um Miss Albert brought up that there was a legal issue with them not being bargaining and so I want to uh know the legal aspect of that please and here's Mr Wes good evening board members thank you for giving me the opportunity to address these two items um I I did
073bring this before um or the rec or the superintendent is recommending the assistant teacher position which we have actually brought to the Union uh for impact bargaining and we had talked about what the salary was going to be and we did not put in there the actual we we did discuss that it was going to be on the PA profession scale and uh we don't put the bargaining unit title actually on there until it's actually approved by the board but obviously if we're putting it or talking to The View support about this it would go into the View support bargaining unit so that's what the assistant teacher instructional is for and the conversation um in regards to that was that it is along the same lines as a PA of professional it's just that the
074only PA of professional job description that we have currently are for ese clearly identified and esol clearly identified and those are paid for um separately in in a different category And in regards to specific job duties um this job we actually wanted to differentiate between a parah that's ESC and an instructional parah and decided to call in an assistant teacher in regards to that you'll notice the qualifications are similar and that that that's why the pay is similar as well okay so that's that job description in regards to and the reason that the bargaining um unit is not actually put on the page but it will be a bargaining position yes it will be a bargain position in the support bargaining unit and the question about whether it's tenured or not it would just determine
075on how long that they're in that position but it will follow the same contractual guidelines as what we have in the support unit right now um Miss Albert is correct that we have to go through that process it has to be approved and then we will send it to perk to actually put it be placed in the bargaining unit okay um in regards to the administrative de imposition could we go back to that one for just a moment okay so actually yes we do have um PA Professionals for ESC and esol but we also have a PA professional position um referred to as apparently aison that's also a par professional yes so um that is a different one I don't know why but I think um when you talk to me about this I thought
076it read teacher assistant because years ago our pair professionals were actually called teacher assistants because they're assisting the teacher um and I think that said that is a a calling them a teacher assistant is different than calling them an assistant teacher because ending in the word teacher makes you believe that they are a teacher understood I would just like to bring that up you can move on to the dean part now if you would like me to I can change the title and we can go back and submit that to the view and to Perkin in order to do that if you feel like that distinction the primary thing I want to explain the difference between that and a parel was because we didn't want to use the name faer professional to confuse the the
077two but yes ma'am and I understand that but I also wanted to be clear that there's at least three different types of you know Paras out there yes most of the Paras fall under Ese and they are a pair of three or a pair of four right um and esol are typically pair of 3es but apparently aison are also pair of professionals and they're typically a pair of two but I I will say it's you know it's on me for when you talk to me because when you said it was going to be a position um similar or in the bargaining unit of a pair profession profal I did take it to read as a teacher assistant which is what we used to call a long time ago par professionals we called them teacher assistant
078because they were assisting a teacher um and I just think that that reads differently than an assistant teacher I can make that a yes ma'am take on that you can continue okay I can make that adjustment if you'd like me to and I can uh we can move forward with that if you'd like to um the your request my re request is if this is going to be someone that is compensated as the same as a pair professional I think if you're going to use those words it needs to read teacher assistant understood yes ma'am teacher assistant comma instructional no just teacher assistant there a teacher assistant they're assigned to a teacher to assist that's fine I got it thank you very much um and then the the other issue is Administrative de uh the
079other job description is in regards to that that is a non- bargain position as as was explained And in regards to that we'll have be on a a different salary schedule and the salary schedule is actually um listed there as such okay let me go back to the um the assistant one at the moment too the teacher assistant yes ma' yes so so miss Albert brought up a fact that something I did not know because I know in 2011 tenure went away for teachers teachers can no longer earn tenure so can pair professionals or support staff still earn tenure or be tenured yes so under your pair professional job descriptions pair whether a two a three or a four do they currently have tenure as an option correct okay so if the premise is is
080that this individual is going to be on this a similar type pay scale as a PA professional and we have that on their job description why would we have left it off of this one I I don't know that it was on their job description I believe that I I don't know that it is I'll I'll check to see okay I'd like that checked um because we're I understand the use of different language to describe what type of job they're being hired for because now at this point everyone if they go in to look at you know what jobs are available par professional is the term that they are used to seeing knowing that they're going to be working typically in an ESC classroom or an es or with Esau or they could be you
081know when they see a pair or two that is that parently Aon piece yes so if we're going to um teacher assistant but we're we're also looking at them in that type of a capacity for the responsibilities they will have and all that and the other groups have tenure mark marked on their piece then I think tenure should be marked on this one also we we can fix that yes ma'am I think I don't think we should you know deviate from one group to the other understood we'll do okay Mr CL go ahead so on the on the um administrative Dean yes so we're comparing that to a a teacher on assignment is that what Miss Albert was comparing it to and and is a teacher on assignment a bargain position teacher on assignment is
082a bargain position this is a different position because is additional responsibilities it actually does have the additional responsibilities to supervise students and to actually supervise employees including support and instructional uh as in regards to observations and evaluations in this particular job description our first year in actually introducing the administrative Dean was to actually give our principles an opportunity or two things to give our principles an opportunity to allow these folks to take on some of those additional responsibilities but also to increase our pipeline to actually have these folks who maybe who have been toas for a number of years to start taking more active roles in the evaluation process in our observation process as well so there's there's this is a completely new position there's no one went in this position how how is this
083helping our students it's giving our principles an opportunity to use our staff more effectively and so they will be able to come in and as I said assess and evaluate as well as um our current administrators right now we hear from principes and administrators the the amount of time that it takes to go in and observe and we recognize that they need to be going into their classrooms actually support teachers as opposed to just always going in to observe and assess how many of these do we plan to fill um it depends on what our our principles are able to do with their site based budgeting of what they have but currently um we're looking at at the secondary level for every Secondary School to have at least one okay and so the principles are
084being given the autonomy to decide on this but I I just want to make sure we're not harming the student the classrooms for this position this will not be anything that will take away from any classroom position correct all right thank you yes ma'am Mr colone so hold hold on for just a minute someone is talking I need you to be quiet at this point in time if you wish to give public input please go fill out a card and we will give you an opportunity to speak but but otherwise we're conducting the business that we need to conduct in this meeting Mr cologne so on the teacher assistant position I want to make it clear because this is what I understand the intent to be and it is to augment and not to replace
085correct because it's important that you know we we've focused on having a certified teacher in front of students and you know I get concerned when I hear well we're replacing this many with this many because that's not the intent and so I I just want to make that really clear because the intent is not for this to be a cheap teacher we know that this is actually an opportunity for folks who want to go into education who want to become teachers this is a great I mean this is a great entry level way of helping a teacher but they are not there to be the teacher and and I think that makes a big difference another line item that in here that concerned me was line number 13 where it says they can provide medication
086you know again I I don't know if that's in our parah because of the fact that they work in ESC but I would think that in the normal uh circumstances that would be led up to the school nurse or an administrator so I'm not sure that that I I think that's kind of out of their scope and I would I I would have a hard time putting that in there although again as the father of a child with epilepsy I realized the importance of having but I I don't think that they're covered to do that in their scope how many school districts and I asked this question how many school districts is is this something we're coming up with how many school districts actually have a teacher assistant position I have that information yes thank
087you you pulled that um as of this week I've collected the data from Stephanie Workman 46 out of our 67 districts in the State of Florida has that position so it's not new it's not it's new to us but it's not new but I I I think the most important part of this is to ensure that it is not replacing our teachers they're there to help to augment we know in some instances some classes may end up being a little larger than usual and so that person is there to help but not to be the teacher because that's not the purpose of this um on the administrative Dean the only thing that just came to mind was at one point in time we had toas that were toas for life and they wanted nothing more
088than to be a TOA for life and they were happy as a TOA they didn't want to be an administrator they didn't want to be that that's what they want wanted to do and so on the required qualifications and and I appreciate the fact that this is going to add a skill set of evaluation and all of that but I think on the required qualifications I think it's important that this person be a participant in the principal program meaning they're on the path they're not going to sit there as the administrative Dean clogging up the pipeline for the next 10 years because they're comfortable being the administrator of Dean and so I I think it's important that if we're going to do this that we do it in a way that is going to build
089that pipeline so that somebody knows I'm not going to be an administrative teen forever and so I I think that is something that I would add to this uh if I were making any edits and how many school districts as I know I had asked the question how many school districts have similar administrative Deans that are not toas sorry this Workman did this research for me um one thing I want to clarify is you asked the question before about the um teacher assistant we reached out to 23 districts and all 23 had them it is 46 out of the 67 that have the administrative Deans okay so and that's doe reported data so that's out there for anyone to see I would hope there's a bucket of people who are I would hope there's a
090bucket of people who are I I just don't know that this falls under the perah I think the responsibility and what we're asking them to do may not fall under the perah and maybe has increased responsibility does it does it not I guess that's my question at this time introducing this position we wanted this as an assistant teacher uh on the S similar level and uh pay levels specifically with our PA because we didn't want to take from our paill but at the same time we do recognize that not everybody is going to be eligible to be a prayer professional in regards to that or have the desire to want to do that so yes sir I just think we have to be careful so I'll add when they were teacher assistant years ago part
091of why we had them is because we had very large class size all right so for example you know one year I was teaching in first grade and we went as high as 36 students we we ranged between 32 and 36 students in each first grade classroom so we had a teacher assistant um to help support because of the sheer number of students we had so um we we had this we moved away from it when the class siiz Amendment piece came in because once class size Amendment came in and you Dro down especially with your primary classes at first it was you wouldn't go over 18 now we all know that it's an average based on the state legislation and all that but that's when those positions were cut because they and and they
092could end up in any grade level okay they they could one year I was teaching fifth grade and we had them in fifth grade because we had almost 40 kids in every fifth grade classroom um you know so you had a teacher and a teacher assistant to help out um I I'm not I'm not opposed to it but I just think it needs to be very clear what the expectations are and if we can get people that see I want to teach you know because I've put them in a field now that they would not have thought of because before they were being just a one-on-one pair professional or something or they're new coming in and trust me I so appreciate every one of our ESC pair professionals and our Esau pair professionals that are
093out there in the work that they do and we need them and we know that we need them but you know if we can get people to come in the door and say I'm going to work with a teacher side by side and that we can get them interested in teaching then that's a win-win for us because that's also how as people retire we get people to come into the teaching piece now as far as the administrative Dean position goes Believe It or Not valuch County had that a long time ago to um we did didn't we Mr person and teacher assistant of course yeah yes we had teacher assistance and we had the administrative Dean position and here's the biggest thing between a to a teacher on assignment and the administrative Dean that I
094see the need for the teacher on assignment cannot evaluate another teacher okay they can't they can't supervise another teacher they can't evaluate another teacher because they fall under the same bargaining unit all right but a Dean can do those activities and be held responsible for for things set and as we all know we've ended up over the years in some positions where we weren't prepared or didn't have enough of a pull to to be able to take from to move people up into administrative positions all right as we have lost some great administrators that have retired we've not had people ready for that so I'm not opposed to it as I agree with Mr Mr clone if it's a path that they're going and there are some people that they are Dynamite assistant principles all
095right and they they're not going to be a principal and it's okay because you need a larger number of those but we can't have everybody sitting in one of those positions with I'm never wanting to be a principal because then we're not preparing anybody to be a principal and to be able to step up so I think you can have a mix of it but I'm I'm not opposed to the administrative Dean piece because I understand let let's take Mr DJ Alo sitting here he's got over 3,000 kids at Delan High he's got one of the largest staffs in volia County at a school there's a lot of evaluations that have to be done on that campus and if his time and everybody else is is like if we could even that out a little
096bit better to get those evaluations done then that gives them more time to focus on the student piece but we can't do away with the evaluations because it's required you know and so I'm not opposed to the admin ative Dean position but I do think that they I don't think somebody should just come into it and it just be especially if we're only going to have one on campus and it be well I'm never moving on because then you're never giving anybody else the ability to following that path and we know that we need to train people to be ready to lead schools and we definitely will make that part of our um principal pipeline Brandy hog is is actually she was involved in in writing this job description she was kind of the impetus
097for this frankly and has been talking about this for over a year now so she's very excited about this opportunity and moving forward with us so thank you I I will make those Corrections I'm sorry to the um teacher assistant um job description it will be teacher assistant will be the title um the tenure will be yes um or will follow exactly what the other professional I'm only one voice on that piece I don't know if the rest of them well uh what what I think I've heard you say is that you want it to follow along to be in the bargaining unit for support obviously which is what we had talked about all along you wanted it to follow what a pair professional looks like as well in regards to tenure and that sort
098of thing contractual guidelines we will make that happen Okay what do you all think about the medication piece I agree with you on the medication that strikes 13 13 okay the only thing I would say with that is that that is coming from of course our our other job descriptions like a pair professional because you do say it says only after attending the required generalized training is assigned but I can take it out if you feel like that that's going to be a sticking point yeah I think it's out of scope there's usually we're talking about not talking about ESC environment we're talking about General environment where there's a school nurse normally expected to be at or an administrator to you know that's part of admin administrative duties in the event there's not a school
099nurse so I wouldn't want to put that on the teacher assistant and okay so that was that one okay and 13.02 you might want to stay up here for that one right the health insurance oh yes come on up St yes yes please okay so yeah yes ma'am wait I need to ask so are we going to leave this in to be voted on on the consent agenda with those changes that are made or are we taking it out and want the changes made you know and it re I I took it that we were taking it off and they were going to make the changes and then bring it back okay um you mean to another board meeting or do you want to bring it up at the end of the board meeting you
100tell me I can I can we can do this very simple we can make it a standalone item for later this evening okay I can get that 18 24 on or bud yet move it as a standal by itself yeah we'll vote after he's got to make changes though haven't we haven't voted on the I want to see the changes we want to see the changes so we want it pull and we will not vote on it as part of the consent we will vote on it separately Bo action yeah as a board action yes okay I will make that happen yes ma'am all right but hold put we have insurance yep come on up thank you so I had emailed in advance and um asked the questions on the insurance um one about the
101increase and listen I I get it I know I work for a facility as well that insurance goes up every year and so I understand that piece um but I just wanted to talk about the increase and how the committee you know evaluated that and also who was on the committee who how they voted and what options were presented okay well um thank you for the opportunity to review what was discussed at the insurance committee um we did meet prior to Spring Break um where Brown and Brown presented us with three options that were based on um the risk ratio and all the different U formula things that they review in in order to determine what our new rate will be um at that meeting the participants determined that they weren't completely satisfied with with
102the options that were given so they gave some directive back to Brown and Brown and to Florida Healthcare of what they would like to see so Florida Healthcare went back did some more um evaluations and um brought back an additional option on our meeting or at our meeting last week and basically what we did is we took those four Alternatives and narrowed it down to two um there were two that were pretty easy to throw out just because um some of the not only the premiums but as well as the out-of-pocket expense and co- insurance and those types of things were just well without um outside of the realm that we wanted to look at um so it narrowed down to two different plans we had alternative one and alternative three and and basically um
103if you look at what those two plans look like the hmo2 which is our free plan it stayed the same in in terms of those two plans where they made adjustments were on the HMO and on the triple option plan and so it the conversation really went back and forth about which of those two did we see to be um the best fit for what our employees needed so of the eight voting members of the committee it did come down to to a four or4 vote as Miss Albert mentioned earlier um the four members of the committee that voted for option for for the option that we eventually selected and Miss Albert correct me if I'm wrong it was it was um Vivian Aela it was Marlo spone and John Derby they all voted for
104the the one that we eventually settled on and then the four voting members on the um other side which were um Emma field Chris Baker Kim Atkins and him four there was a fourth one um I just don't remember who it is right off the top of my head so anyway so huh oh that's sorry Lorie Miller um so it came down to a 44 so we decided at that meeting that we were going to bring those options forth and either um let you all decide or have a conversation with the superintendent how she wanted us to proceed So after talking and reviewing um what the two options were we opted to go with the recommendation of um the third option because it was the one that had the least impact on the actual premium
105that is deducted from the employees paycheck so the the eight members is there a good representation of all the different type of job positions okay so um for from View and and Miss Albert and I had this discussion actually just a few minutes ago she currently has two teachers and one clerical member she does need an a pair professional and we talked about getting um someone added and then herself and then on the other side we have a representative um we have an hrre is that's her title we have a gentleman from um tech services uh Emma field who is an HR coordinator so she is an administrator and uh Lori Miller who is an analyst in student services so we don't have anybody from um like Transportation Transportation schway Cafe in the past we
106did have um Miss nolles who was our uh sko Cafe and then we had Carol sawer who was our transportation representative but um Miss nolles has been on a leave of absence this year and uh Miss saw you retired so they were just replaced with to to additional people that were non- bargaining but they were bargaining my concern is the um the income difference if if somebody was from that in that same income boundary that they were involved with with with their jobs or did we pick somebody that was in a different in we have we have if you look at the the group people we think about those things right we do think about those things but if you look at the group of people that are on there we have hourly people and
107we have salary people so so we have looked at at um a variety of job types we've also tried to look at individuals who may have worked in other roles while they've been in the district as well so I mean there's just it's it's really it's a volunteer committee so it it's you know I can't make somebody be on it if they if they don't want to no I understand and and it's a it's a tough task it really is I know that yes it I I just want to make sure that we're representing all of our employees and I would be happy if if we expanded the committee I mean I'm I'm happy to have five more people on it if if you all want to make recommendations because I feel like the more
108the more voices we hear the better agreed okay thank you okay I have some questions how about it oh first I have a statement so when you listed off the names of the people from the non-bargaining of most of them are higher paid individuals they're not they're not nobody sitting there is on the cabinet but they are making more money than what our bus drivers Andor Our schoolway Cafe members would be so I understand that school bus drivers and bus assistants and schoolway Cafe now are part of non- bargaining because asme is no longer a bargaining unit but I do think we need representation from that group um just as you know we should also I think have a a pair professional on that um committee now here's my thing when we did agenda conference
109on this to be prepared you know prior to this being released to the public the things we were talking about board members I need you to know you know last year when the committee brought forward their recommendation of what we needed to choose part of what was written in there is that there was a possibility we were facing a 9% increase this year all right and there's no way I wanted a 9% but when we first talked at Agenda conference um which was the day before we started spring break we were at eight point something percent and everybody on that agenda meeting knows my thoughts on that I was like this is just too much especially for our lower level paid employees but what I was told and then I was told that part of
110this is we have a handful of people with very very high claims and I said I thought that that needed to be shared granted no you're not going to share anyone's name or what they're going through but I think individuals needed to understand that when we have some people that we've insured because heroism I'll just tell you what my argument was on agenda conference we're government we're the largest employer in Valia County I'd say we're probably backed up after that by maybe like the Valia County themselves or the state workers that are in Valia County so recently I have a family member who has taken a position with Valia County um under the state and part of why that person took that position which blows my mind was insurance was only going to be1 189
111and I asked again yesterday to know that this was accurate $189 a month for a family plan Blue Cross and Blue Shield shocker okay and so I said how can I have a family member and works out of to land okay for the State of Florida with a family plan at $189 and it's a family plan that's blue Cross and Blue Shield and we don't other than the people that have selected the free plan which is not Blue Cross and Blue Shield okay how can we be the largest employer and we're having to pay what we're having to pay and what it came down to is we have a handful of employees that are maxing out and far exceeding the expenditures and trust me I'm sure they need every penny of that insurance that they're
112facing things that none of us would want to face but this is what I keep being told because this is why we are not we don't have the bargaining power even though we're the largest employer group in order to bring our amounts down and like it'd be nice if we could bring it down to 189 but I'm not even saying for that but I keep saying there's got to be something better than what we're at I mean we're at 5 point something per right now and two weeks ago I thought we were going to be eight and there was no budging I'm happy that we're at five but what's it going to take I mean what is it going to take for us to be able to offer Insurance to our employees that is good
113insurance and I'm not saying that this isn't this I understand but at a reasonable price that if you are that PA professional or you are the bus driver or the schoolway cafe person because this has happened in Valia County you're not writing a check back to the district you get zero dollars of what you work for and you write a check back to the district to cover your insurance because we still have some employees out there in that position and so I I know you know I'm just and I know prices are going up you know everybody wants to talk about the raise that came out in Orange County well they finally you know got to raise but did you listen to what their insurance cost went up to be all right and so we
114are what we seem to be doing every year is trying to raise people's salaries But Here Comes insurance and then we almost have to pray can we break even instead of going in the hole so and and I understand you've put it out to bid and all that but I think what needs to clearly be defined and I'm not denying anyone their insurance but I did see that you finally put a piece in here um in this booklet on page um 11 that talks about the high cost claim details and so what I need everyone to know is that right there is what I keep being told is why we can't get better rates or bargaining because and I understand and it you're not going to go in the hole for us to pay out
115for people but I think we also need to look at what's the amount of money that is still being made even with these high claim cost okay I look I said it go ahead Mr cologne well I'm not going to beat this one up because I beat it enough last year um I'm a little disappointed that all the units weren't represented I don't think it was our intent as a board to ever not have the folks from asme at the table regardless of their Union situation um so I'm I'm a little disappointed in that and and and honestly that is almost enough for me to be a nay because not one of the beauties that we've always had has been the fact that the insurance committee is a voice for everybody and I think we
116missed that Mark this time and doesn't mean the outcome may not be the same but I don't think I I think we're leaving out of the conversation a large group of people and people that matter and people who regardless of their Union status that that that that doesn't play a role with me so uh for that reason I'll be an a because the Beauty has always been I could say 75% of that insurance committee the majority are not District staff there are our folks from our bargaining units the folks who represent our employees I can't say that today because now we've got a lot of non- bargaining and District stuff so now the the the pendulum the weight kind of and so they ended up at the Middle with two groups being totally not at
117the table and and that's been the beauty of the insurance committee we have always accepted the recommendation of the insurance committee when we signed with Florida Healthcare we knew there was a built-in we can go up this much every year that's what they agreed upon that's what so you know we're supposed to be happy that it only went up so much and not that much but I I think we're missing the voice of our employees and and and and that I have a problem with again the outcome may be the same but I think we didn't follow our own insurance committee makeup that we knew to be true in bringing this recommendation to us so uh for that reason I will not be supporting it thank you Mr persus yeah thank you madam chair uh
118I want to bring you back to the to the two options what were they it was you said there were two yeah it was Nar the four options were narrowed down to two that's correct and then so the option we U that there were four votes for 5.9 in increase correct were the other four votes for the other for the 8% so it had nothing to do with what they looked at Mr persus was one of them focused one group focused on what was going to come out of the employees paycheck the other focused on the other side of it if I need to use this what are my deductibles and co-pays and co- insurance is going to be so it was basically pay me now or pay me later type thing okay and uh
119the recommendation is for the um pay me later is is that what what what it is is it the the um employ going to see the employee is going to see less out of their check now less out of their check with the 5.9 correct okay so the way I see it is that um the afmeet union reps were there when they voted for this plan for Florida health not this the original Florida healthc care plan last last last year and so to me um whether they were actually there right right now I'm I'm not sure that would have made any any difference do you really think they would have voted for the eight point what is it 8. 8.1 no I do not 8.1% rather than have less come out of their paycheck I
120don't think so so uh I I'm you know I'm very very comfortable with this and we can't go back and regurgitate the whole health insurance issue we did that last year with the full committee and this is just moving forward and there isn't anything on here that comes as a shock to me we knew this last year that this was going to come in in fact it actually is a little less than what I thought that it was going to come in and Miss Hayes you hit it right I mean at the agenda conferences you see all this stuff in in great detail and you understand a little bit more about why it is um so yeah um I support what the superintendent recommend recommended as well as the uh the four people who were
121on on the committee yeah do do I wish it was a 2% increase of course but uh we have no control over that right no control over over that over this increase now and they've already brought brought it down so right I mean you're accurate I was told 8% at the agenda conference yeah but that they were still at the table so by the time we got here it came down um but basically so I want to go back to a minute for this part that's play this piece that's playing a part in why we can't get the premiums lowered okay so I do appreciate you putting this together and and I think people just need to hear the numbers okay so out of the top 100 highest claims for um from March of 2023
122through February of 2024 the total spent in medical was1 15 million $734,900 one $ 1,67 so you're getting close to $18 million spent on 100 individuals 85 of those were employees 13 were spouses and two were dependents I appreciate the information because I wanted to see it I wanted to understand it and like I said I want everybody to have whatever they need but right there out of what we paid $18 million of what we paid went just towards 100 people so I don't know I I mean I don't I don't know how to get better rates I fewer claims you want to have better rates and we can control that and we can't control that we can't control that because people need insurance but I think that I want to thank you for doing
123that and they even you know as you can see but they break it down by which insurance plan people chose and um and then they give us a total of like all the claims that were paid so Madam chair yes can we add this additional information to the record because we we got had had we not said let's pull this agenda item out we wouldn't have received this you would if you would have requested it we could have provided it so now that we've spoken about it and you've mentioned it I think it does need to be a part of the record so I'm going to give you mine so that we could have that because I think it's it's great to speak about it but folks need to see it in like I said
124I don't think the outcome would have been I don't know but at least they would have had a voice and so um I will ask that we vote on this separately all right so if we're all in agreement we're just going to pull this out to vote as a standalone item instead of voting for it so at this point in time we're going to vote on 13.01 and 13.02 as Standalone items but are you prepared to go ahead and move forward to vote on the rest of the yes yes I know and I was going to have that person come up and speak before we vote on this item since it's now going to be a single item okay that's why I wasn't having them come up since they didn't turn it in till after
125but now that we've moved it they will they can come forward when we talk about that I have one more card that came in on one of the items we've pulled so have we only pulled 13.01 and 13 .02 yes yes then I move approval of the consent agenda minus items 13.01 and 13.02 thank you Mr persus so Mr persus goes ahead and moves to approve makes a motion to approve do I have a second I'll second that motion thank you so Mr persus has made the motion Mrs Thompson has seconded with the removal of items 13.01 and 13.02 any further discussion then I'm going to call for a vote all those in favor of per um approving everything on the con current consent agenda with the exception of 13.01 and 13.02 please say I
126I any opposed okay that passes unanimously now we're going to vote on each of these as a standalone but before we do that I have one more person for public input on 1301 miss Karen weinrich will you please come forward to speak about item 13.01 welcome thank you I didn't realize it would be a standalone item or I would have put this in earlier and I appreciate you pulling it um Mr colone you asked if this is going to be replacing teachers from what I have heard through the grap Vine there have been a lot of PE teachers who have been displaced and this would then let you have have in an elementary school have double classes with one teacher and a teacher assistant you know we're we talk all the time about Safety and
127Security I don't see how that is keeping our students safe if you ask principles most of our referrals come at recess and PE just because of the environment it's in to have less teachers and a teacher assistant and also remember they are responsible for giving grades so now you're giving them a double load of grades with a teacher assistant out there assisting but that teacher is not teacher assistant is not giving them grades so you have really increased those workloads and I know at my school we've lost a PE unit I've heard at other schools they've lost two or three and if you put a teacher insistant in here this is a recipe for disaster we need to bargain this salary before it's approved it's a mandatory subject of bargaining we're reconvening on April 15th
128so it can be bargained then I would urge you to table this at this point um and also so if you don't want to rehash Insurance over and over the district can contribute more and that will bring down our premiums thank you okay board members we have item 13.01 approval yeah my understanding is you wanted to bring that back as a board action item I want to see that is job description all right we'll wait then and bring it back you're working on it okay then we will move on at the do you want to vote on 1302 right now we can okay then we will move forward on voting on 13.02 the insurance all right so want to make a recommendation on that so I want to ask Mr colong a question first I
129heard you mention when it comes to the packet that was delivered to us that you would like to have that uploaded to to 13.02 correct yes can we upload that now um Celeste okay I don't have it in digital form with with the upload of the attachments requested by Mr cologne she needs it electronically so they will send it electronically okay you're talking just about this right yeah okay yeah because Jamie made reference to the high numbers got all right so with that with that adjustment Mr colong I'm recommending that 13.02 health insurance rate increase beginning October 1st 2024 um the approval of item 13.01 sorry 13.02 okay board members you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent to approve the presented insurance rate increase beginning October 1st 202 4 which is item 13.02 and at
130the same time we will upload this document so that it is there for anyone um to read so do I have someone who'd like to make a motion for item 13.02 I move approval of items 13.02 with the inclusion of the Brown and Brown thank you Mr persus do I have a second I'll second thank you m Mrs Bernett any further discussion okay then at this time I'd like to call for the vote all board members in favor of item 13.02 which is the health insurance rate increased beginning October 1st 2024 please say I I any opposed Nay Nay it's three to two Okay because I didn't hear everybody all right so it passes three to two thank you now we are moving on item yes we're going to take a quick break I've been
131a Taskmaster holding everybody here I apologize so it is right now 6:39 we will report back in here at 6:55 p.m. e description you know what got your back descrition oh here we go Jamie I don't we vote on this one just to all right all right welcome back we have the revised um copy of the um teacher assistant job description each of you have received it if you look the title of the um position has been changed and if you look on the back it now shows that yes this is a position that can earn tenure all right so at this point in time I'd like to go ahead head and um bring this up to vote on as a standalone item so that we can go ahead and have all of the things
132that were on the consent out of the way so at this point in time I need a board member to make a motion to vote on item 13.01 it there are two um job descriptions there we did not make any changes to the dean POS oh and and also let me make sure they [Music] removed the medication she she's she's trying to upload it right now okay Miss Gilmore is trying to upload it the other thing is the insurance thing from earlier is uploaded for everyone okay so we now the position is now called teacher assistant it is now a tenure position and the U medication dispersement has been removed so at this time do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve item 13.01 which are two job descriptions does
133the job description now reflect everything that everybody wanted in there I believe in that case move approval of item 13.01 thank you than you Mr persus do I have a second I'll second that motion thank you Mrs Thompson any further discussion I just want to make sure we're not using this to replace teachers thank you all right then at this time I'll call for the vote all those in favor please say I I I any opposed okay this one passes unanimously we are now at the public participation item 17.01 I have I think 38 cards but here's what we've done um we have um thank you to miss Johnson we have divided the cards typically at this point in time we only take um five five speakers but because I have a large number of
134students here and our primary focus is students uh we are going to go ahead and I'm going to hear from any students that are here that have already turned their cards in and if they have a parent with them I'm going to hear from the parent but since some of the students were not here earlier when I read the part about public input I just need you to listen to this for just a moment so we are going to hear from you you will each be given three minutes to speak there is a clock here so please honor the clock if the clock stops I need you to stop speaking but while they are speaking everyone here in the audience will be respectful there will be no signs placards or other visual forms of communication
135unless they're authorized as a part of the individual speaker presentation speakers shall not engage in personal attacks abusive language or other conduct which interferes with the meeting if you do so I as a chair have the right to terminate your your privilege for continuing to speak members of the audience you should be courteous to all speakers and you shall refrain from making any audible comments or applauding during this meeting the way you can silently show your feelings you can give a thumbs up a thumbs down or you can use jazz hands so the way this part works I'm going to call the first and the second speaker the first speaker will come forward you'll have three minutes to speak then we will move on to the second speaker the second speaker should be ready and
136then we will continue through the list and this at this time I'm taking more than five but it's because I'm going to hear every student that has turned in a card along with if they have a parent or Guardian with them so up first Zion tap you will be the first speaker speaker followed by coralan is it Yamada Toledo all right welcome Zion hello my name is z tap I go to Delona High School I am here speaking about my experience in the coral arts program unfortunately due to the reallocation of funds the Deltona High School Coral program has been cut for next year now I am a senior I understand everyone must think oh you're a senior it doesn't really matter you're not going to be there next year but to me it's more
137than just singing it's a it's a bond it's a family it's something that we've all worked so very hard to do and it kind of really hurts that it's just being taken away in the all four years I've been in choir I've had this burning like love and Fascination for it it's always been this interesting thing of oh I already I hear noises every day but now I can associate what noise what makes what pitch and this year was the highest score we ever gotten in our MPA out of the past four years I've been here with a new teacher but it's just leaving I I I just I can't fathom the idea of a school without a choir a school without like a mar band for a school for a football game it's just
138going to be quiet in the stands it it just it it makes no sense to me so I know wi has given me confidence without confidence I would not be here speaking to you this year has been the first year I've performed a solo and I killed it it was amazing after that solo I had the biggest boost of confidence I was talking to everyone I was just like a social butterfly normally I'm all quiet and composed and I don't speak a lot but seeing everyone be like hey your solo was awesome has given me such a boost in confidence it's it's it's just something to it's more than a elective it's something that can actually help outside of school it's a safe space there has been many conversations in that classroom that have been
139like informative like we'll talk about hey what's the history behind this piece we'll learn different subjects in this class but next year students won't have that we did so much recruiting with the middle schoolers and the eighth graders to try to get them to our program we did recruiting with I believe it was Timber Crest and Delona we have so many students excited to come and join choir but next year they won't be joining a class they'll just have to find another class to go to thank you for your time thank you next up is coralan and behind her will be David boot or is it sorry is it root I apologize welcome hello my name is corani ma I live in Deltona Florida and I'm also a senior at Deltona High School school I'm
140here to explain how the recent cuts and funding have affected my school and myself personally start due to these cuts my school has been forced to displace my choir teacher and in turn get rid of our choir program entirely um I have spent the past four years in choir and it has genuinely shaped me into who I am today um a couple years ago I had no idea what I wanted to be or what career I wanted but now because of choir because of the choir program and my choir director personally I I chose to become a music teacher um my teacher and this program inspired me so much that I decided to become a teacher myself um I was also able to obtain a 132,000 scholarship to Stetson University for music education these are
141things I would not have been able to do without my teacher and our choir choir program these are things I probably would not have even attempted without them I was even right here in this room a month ago getting recognized for choir and now due to the poor financial decis budgeting decisions that have been made the guidance and opportunities that I have gotten out of this program will never be offered to the Future students of Deltona High School I ask for you to please reconsider how your funding is being allocated because the decisions you have been making is affecting most us the students you claim to care so much about thank you thank you next up is David root followed by Allison root welcome David hello my name is David root and I'm a junior
142at Deltona High School I would like to let you know how these funding Cuts have affected me I worked hard through my schooling and hoped to spend my senior year doing the things that I love most unfortunately that has come to an end my plan to spend my senior year exploring the musical arts in hopes of pursuing musical therapy have all ended thanks to your uh funding Cuts here at Deltona High School our choir program has been a second home a safe space and an outlet to express myself yesterday I was told by my choir teacher that the school who has been nothing but encouraging and supportive of this program was forced to displace her due to your funding Cuts I blame you as a result I've lost not only a teacher but a friend
143and a mentor who has helped helped me in not only my Musical and extracurricular activities but helped motivate me to stay engaged in my studies and find a path in life this is the kind of guidance that you have taken from me as an upcoming senior I can guarantee that I'm not the only one affected by these decisions that are coming from the school board I ask you all to reconsider the budget and how the funds are allocated and give more thought to the students that you have taken an oath to serve in gucha County thank you for your time thank you Allison root followed by Eric Ean welcome hi thank you for your time I'm hoping to make it through this after watching my boy I'm a little um so my name is Allison
144rout I am a resident of Deltona with two students in the BL County school district one is a first grader and one is a junior at Deltona High School that you just heard from to say I'm disappointed in the current situation in our district is an understatement I am in a state of utter confusion trying to rationalize how covid funding is affecting programs that have been in our schools for decades has our district been utilizing what we all know to be temporary funding for permanent planning it makes no sense but that is the only thing that does make sense is that's how it had to be used and if so what kind of logic was that anyone who does a budget whether it be business personal finances non profits government entities you know not to
145use temporary funding for your planning and everyone is being told this is due to covid cuts it makes no sense we were just here about a year ago discussing how we need to increase School impact fees in order to accommodate the growth in the county yet today we can't afford to staff and maintain the current schools and programs already on the books so how in the world can you plan to build new schools bigger schools and staff them if you can't afford the schools and the programs already have it makes no sense imp fact these can't be used for Staffing so where is the magical money coming from please help me make it big sense I hope you understand that what your you and your lack of planning has taken from my son his senior
146year and what it's taken from me as a parent you have stolen his last you've stolen his last all County you were just up here talking about how the All County Orchestra was so great will will all our schools be represented with over 200 teachers displaced districtwide the first thing to go is the Performing Arts so that all County Orchestra you enjoyed so much that art you enjoyed so much I hope you enjoyed it because it could be the last year that our schools are represented it's just the way it's happened he not only stole his last MPA his last all count performance his STS and coral festival and all the other benefits of having a coral program at his school you stole my last two I looked forward to that senior night Mr clone
147you've been to them those kids you were at my oldest son's Coral concert on senior night and I I commend you for that but now my youngest isn't going to get it you want to say it's all due to a lack of covid funding I think it's part of it is due to the mass Exodus of students and it's parents like me who will be pulling my first grader out of the valuch County School District if we can't fix this because he deserves better and we have to do better thank you Eric Egan followed by Ella Ean good evening uh I'm I'm here here on beh behalf of my daughter Ella who is a a Dand High School senior so I want to read you a a a headline blush County High School student graduates
148college with her bachelor's degree has accepted to law school with a full ride scholarship and she does not qualify to graduate high school now I'm immensely proud of Ella and her accomplishments and I'm sad that I have to share these comments with you as Ella and I have brought to your attention at two prior meetings one almost two years ago there is something wrong with the system that you are in charge of blush County Schools does not have a dedicated school counselor for dual enrollment students much like they do for IB students the IB and dual enrollment programs do not have e an equitable waiting system which is required by law if Ella takes eight 3,000 and 4,000 level college classes she receives four high school credits if an IB student takes seven IB classes
149which are a lower level of complexity and rigor They will receive seven high school credits how is this how is this system weighted fair and equitably Common Sense and good judgment are out the window when Val County Schools will not recognize the business writing class as an English class equivalent because of the class prefix that that is almost an identical syllabus as another business writing class ju deposing prefixes of GB 3213 versus ENC 3213 both classes are junior level College writing classes the Florida Department of Education high school equivalency guide States and I quote other courses within these pre prefixes and others may be awarded English credit based on District review and policy as a school board and superintendent you have the ability to fix this Ella shouldn't have to take 10 classes her last
150semester of school just to graduate high school I'm curious what each board member has to say about these concerns that Ella and I have brought to your attention for almost two years I will be here until the end of the meeting to listen to your comments about Ella's and other students future in the dual enrollment program thank you I appreciate you I appreciate what you're doing I need your help I I need y'all to fix this it's broke and you guys have the ability to fix this thank you thank you Mr Egan Ella Egan followed by Austin Lane and Jaden Martin who have asked to speak together welcome Ella good evening I come here today for the third time to discuss the dual enrollment inequalities occurring in vucha County to my understanding these is issues
151involve precedents the reason why I'm graduating next month with my bachelor's degree and have been accepted with full ride to law school but will not have my high school diploma is because you feel there is not precedence to help me I have already provided you with more than enough evidence as to why I should be awarded the high school English credit I already earned by taking a college level business writing class for college Juniors additionally for at least eight years until 2020 the Florida Department of education mentiones on their dual enrollment equivalency list specifically 3,000 and 4,000 level classes for at least four eight years we received full credit for Junior and senior level college classes even today at the Tallahassee Community College and gadston County they still award students with full high school credit
152for these rigorous classes why was this removed that is your precedence furthermore I have cited State Statute one 7.27 multiple times this statute States alternative grade calculation waiting systems and information regarding student education options that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited to my understanding that statute does not mention the point itself it is the waiting system thus the wa the systems need to be equal not the points themselves there is no precedence for this because there is no precedence for me at my school School other school districts rarely have dual enrolled students pursuing bachelor's degrees and the IBU program at the same school you need to make the waiting system fair for my school that is the law I have some documents showing the Discrimination in the waiting system and we'll be waiting until
153the end of the meeting to hear your thoughts on this issue I have uh two copies each of each uh document and I have the quotations from the floor Department of Education and Tallassee Community College I will provide this with you and I'll be waiting thank you for your time I appreciate it thank you Austin Lane and Jaden Martin and you'll be followed by Jimmy Stone welcome Austin and Jaden hello I am Austin my name is Jaden Martin we're here to advocate for the preservation of digital video technology which is a class and program that is very important to us both as for me personally it helped me a lot I was going through a really rough time and that class being there was one of the only reasons I ended up keep going to
154school and just kept showing up every day and eventually helped out uh firstly digital video technology Fosters creativity and innovation in a world where content creation is highly sought after the ability to effectively communicate through digital mediums is a valuable skill this class empowers students to express themselves artistically whether it's through film making or multimedia presentations by nurturing students creativity we are preparing them to thrive in a workplace in a Workforce that values Innovation originally through this class my first my first two years I my first year going into freshman year I never really thought of film or video anything as a real career choice I never really knew anything about it and then I started to started you know taking videos and really like understanding what it is to like understand like just the
155whole digital video process I mean we use it in every day we use it every single day we're using it right now to film us you know um it's used so much and just to get rid of that would be a disservice to many students and future careers furthermore this class promotes critical thinking and problem solving skills which is very important ac across all jobs and in school so it's very important in my opinion to have this class at school for students to learn and jobs regarding digital vide Tech and all the skills it teaches are very are on the uprise for and demand so it's very important I think for the future of students and their careers to have this classes pretty much every company you can think of needs someone who is very
156fluent in this software and just knows what they're doing in the space so I think it's very important to have that and be accessible to students digital vide Tech program is not just a class it's a group group of kids who are really interested in learning how to make this a career um we need to equip our students with skills and knowledge to be able to understand how to film I mean we use it every day like Tik Tok Instagram YouTube we use it every day yet we're going to take that away from students who are really interested in this career and also I just want to say that there have been students peers that I've seen who have been and all honestly not very creative and not very hard working but in this class
157I've really seen them truly try their best to create their most full you know project that they can have and it's very good to see including me I used I'm very unmotivated in school but this class I'm really motivated to do good in thank you guys for your time thank you I have one question for you which school uh new Beach High School all right thank you have a good day all right next up is Jimmy Stone followed by Shayla Babcock welcome one of the most famous violinists and theoretical physicists of a 20th century once stated life without playing music is inconceivable for me I get most of joy in my life out of Music their name Albert Einstein my name is Jimmy Stone I'm a senior at Deltona High School and the concert master
158of Deltona philarmonic Orchestra having sufficient access to the Performing Arts has helped me grow into an independent young adult brief brag time I was the only person from my cohort to be accepted into FSU honors and have committed there to study political science and hopefully Ed those skills to serve as an elected official like you guys what was my personal essay written about my growth as a violinist and thus as a person having the access to an array of Performing Arts at my school has helped me develop as a leader and has given me the Comfort to a prior speaker from my school said speak comfortably in front of you today to be fair personal essays are not all that's considered when it comes to college applications there's obviously factors such as standardized testing at
159play in that regard though music has also helped me become a better tester and everyone around the nation has become a better tester through music according to a 5-year study in Texas students who studied music scored on average 158 points higher on the SAT than non-music students another study showed that all state level students scored between 319 and 431 points higher than the national sat over average over a 9-year period not convinced that the SAT is the be all endall source of college readiness especially in our area era of optional test submissions well the conference board reports that creativity is among the top five most applied skills sought by Business Leaders what's the most creative what's the biggest creativity indicator in the workforce you may ask none other than a College Arts degree by delegating
160principles to make funding decisions without District oversight you have failed to protect the many students and benefits reaped by these programs there's no denying it when it comes to budget cuts Performing Arts go first with this in mind your decision to not make a decision proves this board unfortunately doesn't care enough to protect the Performing Arts in vucha County despite this the superintendent and symbolically the entire School Board felt the honor to place a lengthy statement about all the benefits of the Arts onto the pamphlets given out at last Friday's all count event these are benefits which the board pretends to support yet fails to defend these are benefits which students of elementary middle and high schools will never begin to develop in one large negative triple up effect aside from a few attendees at
161various performances the support is minimal minimal and your silence speaks volumes I know the delegation of of responsibility has already been made I know there is no one-size fits-all solution and I know not all the logistics of the budget change but all I ask of you and all I ask of the principles who may be listening right now is to give your Performing Arts programs meaningful consideration before swiftly ruining hundreds if not thousands of students careers and Futures thank you thank you next up is Shayla Babcock followed by Andrew Haynes is Shayla still here all right thank you is Andrew Haynes here thank you meline mine's not here either okay thank you Nicholas um is it kathline is there a Nicholas here from New Sumer Beach High School are you Nicholas welcome Nicholas you are
162up and following Nicholas will be Lindsay Ron welcome Nicholas hello vush County School Board my name is Nicholas Cathleen I'm a part of the 2025 graduating class of new s Beach High School the purpose of my attendance here is to make the board aware of the classes that are cut at the new Beach High School and specifically our digital video technology class this class is classified as a stem class and The Cutting of this is seen is or I see as cutting our future Sim classes are aimed to prepare us for the future surrounded by technology and without these classes what will prepare our youth for the future our DVT program at nsbhs has already helped our community with Public Safety around this time last year a student in the DVT program created a public
163safety video accepted by the luia County Sheriff's Office and by this very board I just would like to ask what the defunding and budget cuts how how could they be fixed how could we as a student body com combat this cutting of our programs that's a [Laughter] question Nicholas I apologize but during public input time and I know a lot of you are here for the very first time and we are so appreciative to hear from you we love hearing from students we don't comment during yes please stop his time we don't comment during public input time so we're taking notes so that we can get back with you and we can also find out answers for what it is that you're asking okay so please continue then may I would just like to bring
164up the allocation of funds and how they were I I don't want to say mistreated but how our covid relief all this money that we had how are we in debt now if that was a temp we knew that was a temporary fund we knew that this wasn't going to last forever how are these funds mishandled and used in the wrong way why were they used for reoccurring payments that we knew were going to eventually have to come and the money was going to expire and why are these programs like like digital video technology who that have been at new Beach High School for over 34 years why are these programs getting cut instead of these new programs or any programs at all when the money should be there if it was handled correctly that's
165all the time at thank you Lindsay Brion followed by Addison Elmore welcome hi I'm Lindsay bionas um your mission statement valua County Public Schools will ignite a passion for Learning and all students to be productive citizens with that said I've been involved with valuch County Public Schools as a former student of Deltona High School 25 years ago and as a parent with a senior graduating this year from Deltona High I have watched the numerous programs and electives come and go as a former student and a parent to hear that Deltona High School is losing their best choir teacher that they have had and choir being cut down to one class taught by the band teacher is saddening between the constant fights drugs like fentanyl found on campus several times and bullying these students in these
166programs like choir theater and other art use the choir classroom as an escape from the noise and Chaos caused during lunch these kids have formed friendships won awards from competitions raised $2,000 to purchase new dresses and have stayed out of trouble they have built confidence and achieved outstanding critical thinking skills that the average person in valou County anymore lacks with all of that said find another way of a or Avenue to come up with the money maybe take a pay cut in your salaries why are the Performing Arts budgets always the first to get cut why aren't the sports programs having some form of cuts if you have four music teachers displaced but only two openings where are you going to send these student where are you going to send these teachers they want to
167teach their chosen field not fourth graders there are so many different Avenues you can take from Grants lowering your salaries increase funding and fundraisers maybe instead of removing books from shelves you can find money to keep these displaced teachers hired in their field of Education find a way instead of the constant I don't know statements or step down so people who have Solutions can find a way that passion is dwindling and the hopes in these kids' eyes are fading watching their beloved teachers being displaced along with their hopes and dreams I have sat there during these performances and I have seen the seniors cry that this is their last year I have watched the Juniors sit there hysterically crying because they're not going to get to experience what their senior peers who are graduating this
168year experience they have a program coming up where the seniors are being honored at the end of this year for their choir they look forward to that they had the highest MPA score you are taking that away from these kids you are taking their dreams and their hopes away from them that's not fair every single one of you sitting up here had a dream I was a troubled kid I was constantly getting referrals as a student inquir saved my life or I would have been dead next up Addison Elmore followed by Sharon Peterson welcome good evening my name is Addison and I am currently a senior at datana high school and a part of our choir program which will be sadly gone next year G you're poor funding your time no I got it the
169programs and teachers that have been cut are safe places for students we students use the choir room and or Band Room during lunch for peace and quiet you continuously say you need more teacher teachers but here you go cutting more than 250 teachers because of budgeting yet where's all the money going Athletics and misuse why does the choir have to suffer because of poor budgeting we have to raise our own money to afford our dresses shirts Etc to even be in the program you're constantly forgetting about the band color guard and choir programs in our County why can't some of the budgeting shares and instead of the athletic why can't we get some of the budgeting shares instead of the athletic teams our choir program let alone our theater class can barely afford to those
170shows because we get zero funding instead of budgeting money to athletic teams and Etc share some to programs that actually need it we have had three choir teachers in the past three years and then you decide to cut the best one we've actually had even the county is losing more and more teachers even every day she has been nothing but kind respectful and has actually taught us things Miss Hoskins has always been available for our questions and guidance seven days a week up up as late as 10:00 at night as choir students would like to thank you Miss Hoskins for all that you've done for us although I will not be there to re to take advantage of the choir program I respectfully request that you budget from another area and keep our choir director
171inquire stable for our upcoming students thank you for your consideration have a nice night thank you Addison next up is Sharon Peterson followed by Savannah Anderson welcome I'm not a student all right I'm a parent of a student I'm a parent of a freshman at Delona high and I'll probably get a little emotional because she's a special person wi saved her she this year she performed last year she performed she had solos and 8th grade by with Miss Miller Miss Miller said this girl has a gift she has a gift from God but I'm GNA tell you something she didn't like school because she'd been bullied choir saved her this year she sang solos this year she got uh Superior reigning at state or for for district unable to go to state because that's the
172same that we do the same week we do testing in the schools and stuff that was taken away from her now we got one class one class of choir being taught by a band teacher how is that going to elevate her I have options I don't have to be send my kid to a alucha county school all right I can send my child somewhere else that's another student that you lose funding for I have two students right I have another one at Galaxy I love of the teachers in this school district I have had nothing but good things to say about them I've had great experiences all through Elementary Miss Hoskins was someone who took her in and enabled her and taught her she now wants to go to college she a kid that had
173no clue what she wanted to do till she found that music and that gift brought out by a by a teacher our future is these kids and when we don't make that important and we don't take and find the funding for one teacher there's a problem that we have I came from a of course I'm not from Florida I don't think any a lot of people are right I came from a school district in the north that school program music program theater program Athletic program was five star we competed at every level but it was a sense of belonging for those for for all children because we had a great Band program we had a great choir program we had a choir program that does a concert for two weeks at Christmas time sells out
174you can't buy tickets all right because it was the teachers that taught it and it enabled everyone every student the ability to build like there's a sense of belonging when we we don't have a sense of belonging these kids we lose them and you know where we find them we find them on the streets we find them in trouble we find them in our jail systems we have to find funding so that we don't have one class taught by a band teacher with a m music certificate because what happens if that one hour that they're going to have that class is also the time that that's when they have the honors class that they need to take we're leaving students out thank you thank you Savannah Anderson welcome hi my name is savanda Anderson and
175I am a student at Atlantic High School I asked one of your employees what should be the average amount of students per teacher in an elementary school she said 18 because of your poor funding that number is 30 because of your laws you made teachers when teachers have too many students you have to pay an over fine but yet you rid of teachers because of money only to pay more money what are you willing to pay for your mistakes or your will to avoid them I speak not only for choir that has given me the confidence to speak in front of you now but for every program who has given all of these students a will to move on with their lives through this tough time because of your misf funding teachers who have schedules
176and families and have to drive their kids to school have to move around their schedules find a way to change up their gas money and pay for your mistakes because of your mistakes students have to lose teachers who care and give students a home in their school as they learn how to quote unquote live the vision because of your mistakes I a student of your teacher of your District lose my loving teacher Miss hman who who giving me the power to speak in front of you and know that I have a voice colleges like the University of Florida look for a well-rounded student not just the GPA but students who have a crave for making this world just a little bit better through programs that you are affecting your motto quote unquote is living the
177vision the real question is who Liv whose Vision are you living for yours your money misf funding or the students who hold the future of your county who are forced to live the vision that you are making have a nice night at this point in time we are moving on starting Madam chair are we done with uh public comment okay we are done with P public comment for everyone here that was a student or a parent with a student no we are not done with public no no no I I just want if I could for a moment just ask a quick question balabin while they're still here have I know over spring break I reached out to Daytona State and I was trying to figure out as much as I could as far as
178our articulation agreement and dual enrollment and all that going forward did the district do any Research into that because I know we've heard from the egens before as a matter of fact yes um I have asked our secondary director along with Dr V your Chief academic officer to do a very thorough analysis to the point where we've contacted the State of Florida we looked at the statute we talk to Dayton State and we also talked to several districts and look at their policies and it's it's entirely up to you if you would like for us to share as bra briefly as we can what the findings were it's up to you I know normally we don't comment but it it will if you would request that I absolutely will ask Dr Drayton to come on
179up all right I I would like a full explanation for everyone here okay Mr persus uh yes I mean if we could put this to rest it would be wonderful so let's just get the facts out and Mrs Thompson uh yes I would like that explanation please all right were you yes chair all right Dr Dron can you join us please and um Dr V and I see the principal is here principal good evening can you share with us please your your research and findings yes of course so after um a very thorough um research in terms of what has been brought forth um some time ago actually it's been it's it's it's been a um a while but Dr drton um Dr barriel together with the principal um actually have quite a some copious
180notes in terms of what they have research in this topic so I'm going to hand over the mic to Dr Dron so she can review that with you good evening Babin Madam chair Haynes and board members so we were tasked with conducting a review of the course the GB 3213 professional writing and business three credit course Dron could you pull the mic over in substitution for the English language arts class which is in question so according to the Department of Education all dual enrollment uh courses not on the equivalency list must count as at a minimum as an elective or in the same subject errors as a prefix for example level three in class will be awarded a one credit English class based on the prefix since the doe lists the NC prefix as an
181English approved equivalency course therefore when we're looking at the course the GB 3213 a 3000 level G course would earn .5 credits and shows as an elective which this particular course is not on the equivalency list for us to count it as an English credit that was the first review that we determined we looked at the state list because that is based off the Florida Department of Education our uh School Board policy 307 and the Daytona State articulation agreement in which we have when we contacted the Department of Education it was stated that we could also at conducting a local determination review so in getting guidelines from the fla Department of Education they provided us with four points in which we looked at this course to review the first point is is the course a
182prerequisite to another course in the scns which is the Statewide course numbering system when we looked at that course from the Department of Education the answer was no does the course meet the Gordon rule require requirement when we looked at that course according to the Florida Department of Education in the detail list the answer was no does the course have an Associated lab built in when we consulted with the Daytona Beach and their articulation according to the class detail provided by Daytona State College there is no lab section for this course it is only a lecture-based course so the answer would be no the last point was do the course learning objectives meet or see those covered in a similar High School course according to our district coordinator expert Heather Norris she looked at and
183reviewed both course descriptions based off the course descriptions her answer was no because they do not have the same Focus as excuse me the GB course does not have the same Focus as the English 4 course So based off of the Florida Department of Education guidelines if the answers to any of these questions below is yes then the course could be considered for a full credit rather than the standard course5 awarded for dual enrollment courses So based off our local determination and answering those four questions our answers were no okay what Florida statue can you please read Florida statute entirely that we use for determining the weight for Coast prefixes can you read that in entirely section 18 please corre according to the Florida Department of Education our policy 307 the Tona State articulation agreement
184agement as well as research from other counties such as orange Simo Broward and Oola we follow the statue 17271 section 18 which is dual enrollment programs which states school districts and Florida College systems institutions must weigh dual enrollment courses the same as advanced placement International baloria and advanced international certificate of education courses when grade point averages are calculated alternative grade calculations systems alternative grade waiting systems and information regarding student education options that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited so we follow just like our surrounding counties follow the same statue Dr Drayton this statu is applied to all students in the cohort equally yes okay what does that mean explain so for example when we're looking at the weight of a of courses so for example a regular course will be counted as four points
185for an a an honors preib prea course would count as 4.5 for an a an AP Ace IB or dual enrollment course would count as five points for an A so that is how they calculate the weight of the GPA okay so did we communicate this to the family yes we sent an email with my findings um our district findings to the parent as well as the research I I have a question the four criteria that you um you used that you had to answer the questions to at the beginning that you read where did those four criteria questions come from the Florida dep Department of Education okay so they gave you those four questions to apply as guiding questions yes to thist yes okay Mrs Bernett thank you um so the course that's in
186question is that that is that a five point it's a three credit it's a three credit okay um and then my other question is and this maybe more for you Dr b um is there anything we can do with our articulation with the Daytona State call um Daytona State or our policy that could change anything is there anything that we could do to benefit this young lady and speaking with Daytona State no we're following the articulation of what other districts are following which were're which is going back to the Florida Department of Education so this is all state guidelines we're following State guidelines thank you my question is is this under state law and we could I understand I can't change it tonight but that we need to go ahead and go talk to our
187legislators and propose something different in the state law here because here's where I'm at all right and part of it is I've been around a long time when we started dual enrollment in Valia County it's was started yes with Daytona State but it was only for 11th and 12th graders Juniors and seniors they were the only ones originally that could take the dual enrollment courses and when that started ideally none of them were going to get an AA or an as degree because they weren't going to have enough time as a junior or senior taking their High School courses and their dual enrollment courses to do that then we added 10th grade and I remember when we added 10th grade because that's when my daughter was able to go into dual enrollment because I have
188two children that both did dual enrollment when she went she wasn't she was allowed to take the test at the end of nth grade in order to get in and she started in 10th grade and even then you know she took ENC 1101 and all of those kind of things whatever they put and I as a parent made sure that this is you know I asked for the information to compare to make sure that if she was taking it at the college level that it was counting at the high school level um so I met with her in the school counselor at her high school I also got her to sign a form so that I could go to Daytona estate and meet with her with the school counselor at Daytona estate to make sure
189things were lined up and then we added 9th grade next thing I know we've added eighth grade and I think there's a possibility we may have huh goes down to sixth grade goes to sixth grade now okay I did not know I knew that we had hit seventh grade I didn't know that we had hit sixth grade so my piece on this is when this all started kids weren't walking out with an AA or an as okay unless they chose to sign up for summer programs and you know because even then they were limited on the number of courses you could take per semester all right and every time we've added another grade level my question is have we gone back to Daytona State for our articulation agreement but first of all though we can
190do what we can say whatever Daytona State can say whatever but if the state law does not give us the authority of what we need to do it it's like what we say in here all the time we can write a policy but if it doesn't follow the state law our policy is not worth a piece of paper it's written on so I mean I am more than willing as a board member to tackle this piece with state legislators but it won't be tackled till next year but I do think it needs to be tackled if we have not had the state law keep up with what we are doing with dual enrollment and I support dual enrollment I think it's a wonderful opportunity for some of our students that maybe never would be able
191to get a degree to get a degree and their parents are not having to pay thousands of dollars for it it was last year was the first year that to my recollection we had students now getting bachelor's degree okay because we were just every year we were on stage with our graduates we were just celebra in the fact that we had more and more getting their AA or as degree and last year when we had a a young lady there who was off at college and had her bachelor's degree finished and I think had started on her master's degree I thought wow look at where we've come but I don't know that we've communicated with our legislators I don't know that we've updated our articulation agreements or whatever we need to do but I do
192think because the students that came and spoke at the last board meeting they're all going to be in this predicament every one of them that spoke at the last board meeting has started dual enrollment at an earlier age in order to finish an AA or an as and they're going to finish a bachelor's degree before they walk and and let's just pause there for a moment none of us were able to go into college till we had a high school diploma colleges wouldn't take us I mean if you think about it we've come a long way and this is a great opportunity it's an opportunity I would fight tooth and nail to keep for our students so that their parents are not having to spend thousands of dollars for them to get a degree but
193I don't know that anybody ever realized quite frankly the can of worms we were opening up when every year we or every couple years we opened up the window to more and more students younger students because let's be honest is it really in six sixth grade already okay so we got 11 year olds taking potentially potentially if they qualify you you know there's been those there's been those few kids out there over the years we've all seen that walk in you know and could go to college at five but there's only a handful of them but the fact that we got 11 year olds now already taking college courses but I see this and I'm being honest I think there is some I don't think this is a one-sided piece and I'm stating that as
194being a parent and also being a former educator and what I would say Ella to you is when you came in here a year ago we did ask that everything be looked at okay but I I I think you and I have a different personality um which that's wonderful because we're all different but had I had this opportunity when I was in high school I would have jumped on it immediately instead I actually graduated at 16 not with my cohort group I graduated with a group ahead of me but had I had this opportunity I would have taken it but at the same time I will say this if someone said to me that a course that I chose to take was not going to count the way it needed to count then I would
195have asked well what course do I need to take so that it can count the way that I needed to count and that's part of why I was very involved with my son and daughter when they did dual enrollment was so that I could make sure that the courses they were taking they were actually earning the credits for that they wanted in order to further their degrees now neither one of them got a Bachelor's degree but they weren't in a time period in which they could start in Middle school they had to wait both of them till 10th grade before they could start but I was thankful for every credit hour that they earned and that I didn't have to pay for the other thing I will say is I know that a piece that
196has been talked about is the valedictorian and salutatorian piece I have um when I chose to not graduate with my cohort group years ago and I'm old okay I'm I'll be honest with you I'm I am Mr clone says all the time you know I started my teaching career in the 1800s the truth is in June I'll be 58 and I graduated from high school at 16 when I chose to graduate with a cohort group ahead of me my parents weren't necessarily like they were like sure you can do that that's what you want to do but they weren't necessarily they didn't push me for it it's what I wanted to do I was ready to go to to college but the agreement my parents had to make for me to do that because I
197wasn't even with my cohort group was I gave up this position of valedictorian so here's the interesting thing about that at that stage in my life the last thing I wanted to do was stand on a stage and have to speak in front of people that I didn't know so I was absolutely okay with that but people didn't understand it because at the awards ceremony my name got called for every award and I walked across that stage and took all these Awards but I was happy to sit with that class and just have that diploma so that I could go to college because that's what my goal was so I apologize that we're in this position but I don't think it's 100% one-sided what I'd like to do is I'd love for you to be
198a Voice next year which will start this summer to speak to our local legislators and help us change the state laws and what is there so that we don't have another student that falls into this situation I believe 3,000 and 4,000 level courses should be counted but we've got to get them on the list for approval and then once we can get the law piece changed we can change the articulation agreement and we can change the policy because the policy then can match what the law states and what the articulation agreement it is so I'd like for you to be a voice to that change if you're willing to help us and or any of the other students that are coming up in the same category as you that are going to be faced with
199having a bachelor's degree Mrs brette thank you um one one thing that has come up multiple times is um is Ella not graduating with a high school diploma I I I would like to have an answer to that are you get are you going to graduate with a high school diploma at the end of May and so can can um Dr drton and Dr VA can you help um explain that please so the courses that we have that Ella is currently taking the remaining credits and courses Ella needs to earn her 24 credit standard high school diploma are 0 five English Language Arts Credit One World History credit and 0 five economics credit um she is currently in the AP English Language and Composition segment AP macro economic segment world history honor segment and World
200excuse me world history honor segment one and world history honor segment to if Ella completes those courses as scheduled she will walk for grad situation is she taking those at the high school or at the college I believe the the 0.5 English Language Arts Credit I believe is she taking taking them online with under high school or under College High School this is all high school so with our virtual or FLVS okay yes sorry she is active enrollment St with fvs okay so she's taking these under fvs yes ma'am and did did you did she start 10 classes at the beginning of the year and she's been doing this all year or get when she knew she had to get the credits she registered for on Flor virtu these three that were named the half
201of English language arts the world history and the economics yes ma'am okay and that but they're all high school yes ma'am yes ma'am okay well I mean because all three of those are required High School courses or an equivalent College course okay Mr clone so you know M Chief Egan and I had this conversation two years ago and you know I had no doubt in my mind that Ella was gonna get it done Ella Ella is definitely uh a star student there are graduation requirements that are required by the state that's every student must accomplish that and Ella is not exempt from that it's unfortunate that you're living what we live very often with Tallahassee where they will say one thing and do another and so when Tallahassee says okay here are the four things
202that if you are going to consider this course an English course that you need to answer and we can't answer yes to one of those things so the Florida Department of Education says to vucha County Schools you could consider this course if you say yes to one two three or four which you specified if the answer is yes to the answer is no to any of these then the course cannot be considered now that's the state so the state says number one what's number one I'm sorry I know I'm asking and this this this is horrible but this is the hypocrisy that we are confronted so the State of Florida says to valua countyy schools number one is the course a prerequisite to another course in the scns so in in a guide that says
203these are the courses and so the answer to that was no no so right there we can't even move on to question number two but what was question number two does the course meet the Gordon rule requirement the Gordon rule so that is there's a list and it says yes meets the requirement or so we don't determine that that's determined by the college yes that was determined by the course detail from the Florida Department of Education for that course all right so the course that Ella took did it determine that yes it met the Gordon rule it said no no so the answer so my point is that all four things that they gave us as criteria saying these are the things that if you as a school board wanted to consider this course the
204answer was no so at that point you're hearing from the state it's up to the Schoolboard we're hearing from the state these are the four things that you need to consider in order to give a credit for this course doesn't matter how I feel about it because this is Dum like I'm sure that course was 10 times harder than any ENC that requires three papers and that's it I am I have no doubt in my mind about that but this is a matter of there is a list and there is criteria and Ella knew this this is not I mean we we've had this conversation for a while my two kids are doing dual enrollment my son did dual enrollment you know you do match up the classes to make sure that they count for
205high school I mean I have no doubt that Ella can knock out ENC 1101 with her eyes closed uh in in three days but when it comes to issuing the credit that's determined by the state of Florida and the State of Florida and and I don't think at any point anybody's LED anybody on to say that it would ever count we knew this it it it's not fair that it doesn't count but the reality is that the law the legislature and going back to miss Haynes does not give us the latitude to make that decision now someone will say well that's not true well then let's go to the Department of Education one thing you'll learn with the Department of Education is they'll never give you a yes or no you will never get a
206yes or no we learned that with the with the covid when they said here's an executive order work with your health department and the health department told us to do one thing and when we did that they turned around and said well why' you listen to your health department you should have listened to us th this is what we live in every after every legislative session that happens it's it's h it's hypocrisy and it's unfortunate that you're in this situation because like I said I'm sure that course is 10 times harder than any ENC 1101 or 1102 course but it simply doesn't count should it count I think it should but based on the criteria and what the Department of Education has told us you can't even consider that course to count it's unfortunate and
207I'm with Miss Haynes you know what we'll go knock down the door Chase traymont and everybody because they can fix this they're the the the commissioner of education is appointed by the governor they can fix this the state Schoolboard can redefine all of this the sad part is Good Luck Good Luck because you know we're we're too busy doing other things right now and so it's unfortunate it it you know it's horrible it's terrible but at no point do I feel anybody's LED astray and said this would count and it didn't no we really didn't know and you know again Ella you're a rockstar you know that and and I have very high regard for you but you know we we can't just issue a credit for an English class that the state is saying
208doesn't meet the criteria we just can't do that's not in our power so um like Miss Haynes I think I'll give you their numbers you can call them I got all their numbers call them tell them they're going to say that doesn't make sense and hopefully they'll do something about it so thank you Mr persus I will wave my comments I think Mr cologne said it very well Mrs berett thank you I I have another question Ella the the statutes that you um took time to look up and speak about have have we compared those with with Dr Drayton um the the statutes that Ella that Ella has are they the same statutes they're the same so my my question is is how how is her understanding different than our understanding it it was the
209same statute the only difference is Dr Drayton said section 18 Ella didn't specify a section but I do have down it's the same statute I'm just trying to figure out where where we're getting the misunderstanding why is why I'll pull it up possible are you pulling them up is that I'm gonna pull it up okay I have it here Ella read one part of the statue which is a latter part so I'm going to read it to you again Florida statue 17271 section 18 dual enrollment programs school districts and Florida College systems must weigh dual enrollment courses the same as advanced placement International B borate and advanced International certif and advanced international certificate of education courses when grade point averages are calculated alternative grade calculation systems alternative grade waiting systems and inform inform information regarding
210student education options that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited that's the part you heard um and this is the statute that we use so now when it comes to making localized decisions the Florida Department of Education will provide you with those four questions which is the four questions that they've given Drayton and it's used as a screening for looking at the course determining whether it meets one of those criterias thank you I have one final question since she's already earned her AA or as degree and she's in the process of she's going to have her bachelor's degree I believe in May is that accurate okay does she because she's already got the degrees without a high school diploma and yes she needs high school diploma but does she have to have a 24 credit
211hour high school diploma to go on to law school or can she do it with an 18 credit hour high school diploma anyone know the answer to that I mean because she's already ear you have to declare that int she's already earned two degrees without receiving yet the high school diploma that that's what's the whole interesting thing about all of this none of us still need in English you would still need for 18 you would still need the English credit English credit scho still needs the point5 English language arts the world history and the5 economics because those were are the um requirements for because they're part of the 18 because the difference between the 18 and 24 come in with the electives and the language piece okay I was trying I was looking that I
212don't think it's in our power I mean as much as I'd like to say let's do it it's not in our that's right it's not in our power it's not in our Authority no because when you're under that section also um it reads that the Department of Education shall adopt guidelines designed to achieve comparability across school districts of both student qualifications for the dual enrollment course piece I mean and it goes on to talk about the weighted piece and all of that where and that's the problem we we can't override what the Department of Education says we have to follow or what state legislation says our policies have to be in line with what that is but let's see if we can get some things changed because there are more kids coming and it can't
213just be vucha County that this is happening in and then if we can get that changed we can get we can change the agreement on dual enrollment and we'll change the policy Madam chair it follows exactly what you just said so in my spring bre spring break research project which was this whole entire situation um I do want to thank everyone who did look into it and Dr bario for taking time out to meet with me at Daytona estate because I learned a lot I looked into it is this happening in other places and that's like this very similar situation I think there's a case in simal County that's very similar to this and there's been others so I agree with what you said Madam chair and Mr cologne that it's a state thing and
214I have the articulation agreement right here and I mean it's it's literally the state statute regurgitated so I think think this is a bigger issue I know it's a bigger issue um like I said I talked to day say that we have other students that are facing the exact same thing we can't do anything because it is State Statute with this it's the high school course so it's completely out of their purview but um I did want to share that this is an isolated incident that's all Sy thank you would you give that to miss Gilmore so she can thank you Mr D Al thank you Ella for doing that research and we will review it um we'll have to make copies for everyone so that they have copies of it all right Mrs Bernett
215you no miss Thompson you brought this up you have any other um no that was by I just wanted to see you know what we got from the district just because I know we heard from Ella earlier and I just want to see what we've done in the meantime so I satisfied with what has been done okay all right then we are going to take a quick break and come back in and we will start with item 18.01 under our board action items and so we will be back in here at 8:30 e back and then we do all the others okay we ready okay welcome back at this point in time we are moving on to item 18.01 the next several several of the next items have to do with Schoolboard policies um 18.01
216is authorization to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 208e and 208s the student code of conduct and discipline uh Mrs Bernette oh thank you um I I know we uh had some confusion but I last meeting thought that we were removing the word without in that uh policy um so I can we can based on the email that the response that you sent to us so you're asking for us to go ahead and and pull this one yes if we'll pull it and somehow get that word without out of there please I I want to support this my legal advice Madam chair it's what that's not my legal advice we had we workshopped this policy and the language and we explained at that time that according to the cases that were involved in the Florida
217school search reference guide the reason for a search without probable cause or Reasonable Suspicion required that we include random and and without cause that was that's the whole point of the random search language so if we're not going to do that and I thought that we had consensus based on the discussion at the workshop as to this language so and and forgive me we did get that so I remember speaking on that at the workshop and I remember specifically saying I'm glad we removed the word without because at the time we didn't have the the out and when we saw it I did not see that the word without was still in there and it was it was after we had already discussed it but I did specifically at that Workshop say I was glad
218we were removing the word without because I didn't hear it so I I for you know I'm I'm I I apologize for not hearing that but I did verbalize I didn't want the word in there I don't know I want to support this policy I just I really don't like that verbage that's my take would can you read the the verbage please yes Madam superintendent um the current language that is proposed says searches all individuals entering or present on vucha County School sites or events are on notice that randomized screenings may be conducted without cause by the site administrator utilizing minimally invasive electronic devices and then we cited the footnote there to the Florida school reference guide published by the attorney general that we take the language minimally intrusive from and the reasoning based on
219the cases that I've cited State versus Ja which is a Third District Florida Florida Third District Court of Appeals decision and uh State versus Nao which is a Third District Court 19 80 opinion so there's reasoning in the law as to why you do not have to have probable cause or Reasonable Suspicion to conduct these randomized searches that's what we're talking about and the reasoning behind the language and the statute is so that you can have a random screening process using the electronic devices that's what we discussed if it's the consensus that you want to take out without cause that's entirely the board's decision I'm happy to make it however you want it to to read Miss Thompson so to my understanding the reason the word without cause was because they were going to be
220the randomized um searches and so you would have a classroom that was chose at random and they would go through the metal detectors and that would be is that correct correct you do not have to have probable cause or Reasonable Suspicion of an individual it's it's it's a screening process for everyone and the purpose that the cases talk about is to provide a deterrent to individuals bringing weapons on campus right and so it's an administrative search it's not a a search based upon probable cause for criminal proceeding for instance and in fact the cases talk about not being an evidentiary search for criminal evidence this is simply a deterrent screening correct okay because yeah and I and I'm okay with that because I as far as I understand it if you don't have if you
221take the word without then we cannot do the screenings the way that we discussed it the last couple times we've talked about it where at random on the computer you're choosing a school in a classroom and that's who you go to and the randomization is what's hopefully going to make it as a deterrent so that students don't bring weapons that the idea that they may or may not be chosen that day correct that is correct okay thank you okay Mr cologne and I and the reality is in practicality if the student doesn't Trigger or is able to pass the screening the screening then at that point if they can't pass it that's your cause they're not able to pass the so arguably what what allows us is that without causeing you know and that's legal
222attorney talk but I think without that I don't know that we can have a policy that will support that and and in practicality what again if a student does is able to pass the metal detector without a problem they keep going and that's it if they uh set off the metal detector and are not able to pass it accordingly then we have cause to do further search so that that point that's not the same and correct me if I'm wrong I'm not trying to sound like an attorney but at that point we would have cause because the metal detector was was not was was triggered so um and I get what you're saying Miss brunette um uh and and and you have every right to be an a vote on this I do it all
223the time when I'm feel convicted on something but um I'd like to make a motion based on the recommendation that we approve this uh as it is stated and as we had Workshop thank you but Mr persus yeah wants to say something well yeah I would and then it wouldn't be random if we had to have cause so in order to make this all work screenings random uh you can't it can't be random with without call you know what I'm saying you can't have both of those in the same in the same sentence so U that's why I support the policy as it is printed okay thank you so um Mr clone has made a motion Mr Mr persus has seconded I'd like to add I want the screenings done if we can catch any
224student coming on campus or an adult and they have a weapon with them I want those I you know as I've said all along if if we could do like what we've done for the sporting events where everybody walks through one but we can't figure out how to get 3,000 students you know through one yet and get them to class on time if this keep any weapon off campus or deters someone from bringing a weapon which therefore keeps all of our students teachers staff and administrator safe I have to support it and and so I do remember the discussion back and forth about this and the biggest thing we did want is we wanted um the search because we had to explain we weren't physically searching kids they're going to just walk through and it
225doesn't I mean we've all walked through it it doesn't even look like a regular medal to protector it's just two things and you walk through and if it doesn't set off I mean you just keep going on your way but if you set it off then yeah your backpack may be checked you know you'll but the fact that they're going to ask them if you have something please remove it I mean you're given the opportunity that if you have something in there that'll set it off to remove it before you walk through yes Mr penley okay all right any further discussion then I'm going to call for a vote because we already have a motion a second all those in favor please say I I I any opposed n all right it passes four to
226one we are now moving on to item 18.02 which is authorization to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy um 301 the primary education program Dr balaman or Mr penley we have anything to say I do I was just waiting for the invitation thank you madam chair board members invited item 18.02 request the board's authorization to advertise proposed amendments to policy 301 there are no textual changes to the primary education program policy we have updated the legal Authority and laws implemented um and those are the only changes made to this okay do Dr vman do you want to recommend yes ma'am I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 301 primary education program do I have a motion to approve I'll motion to approve do I have a second
227thank you Miss Thompson I'll second thank you Miss Bernett any discussion on this okay then we'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 301 primary education program please say I I any opposed Madam chair I just want to ask so this is to advertise meaning this will come back to us for a final vote correct so once we do the advertisement which hopefully we'll be able to get in in the next few days uh we'll bring it back within the after the expiration of the 28 Day statutory period thank you it'll be sometime in May at the earliest hopefully it'll be the the May 20 8 meeting May 28th meeting okay all right so that one passes unanimously we're now moving on to item
22818.03 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 302 Middle School Organization Mr penley thank you madam chair again this is a policy uh update request to advertise amendments that correct and update the legal Authority and laws implemented there are no changes to the text of this policy superintendent thank you madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school policy 302 Middle School Organization so moved second all right so Mr cologne has made the motion Mr persus has seconded any discussion I will call for the vote all those in favor of advertising the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 302 Middle School Organization please say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now on to item 18.04 18.04 is authorization to advertise proposed amendments to school board
229policy 308 consistent performance standards M Madam chair as with the previous two policies there are no textual changes to policy 308 we have updated the legal Authority and laws implemented okay Dr Balaban thank you madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 308 consistent performing standards move to approve thank you Mrs Bernat I have a second I'll second thank you Miss Thompson any discussion okay hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving the authorization to advertise proposed amendments to school board policy 308 consistent performance standards please say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now moving on to item 18.05 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 311 the school day Madame chair there are no textual
230changes to the policy concerning the school day we have updated the legal Authority and laws implement okay Dr baman Madam chair I recommend the authority being granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 311 the school day all right do I have a motion to approve Mo to approve second he Mrs Bernett made the motion Mr persus seconded any discussion all right then I'll call for the vote hearing none all those in favor of approving the authorization to advertise amendment to Schoolboard policy 311 the school day please say I I anyone opposed it passes unanimously we're now moving on to item 18.06 authorization to advertised proposed amendments to school board policy 316 School clubs Madam chair this like the other policies 316 School clubs we've made no recommended changes to the text and
231we have updated the legal Authority and laws implemented okay Dr balaman Madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 316 School clubs all right board members you heard the only thing I noticed in this one is it says afternoon club meetings immediately follow the end of the school day are encouraged I think that has changed Ed with the school start times and the fact that now a lot of the clubs that doesn't this doesn't preclude them from having morning meetings by any means um but I think that that is probably a little bit outdated and and I mean like I said the policy is fine because it doesn't preclude them from doing it in the morning but to say that they're encouraged in the afternoon you know
232most of middle schools in the morning now and high schools in the morning in many cases but again this doesn't preclude them from doing that it's just that's probably a little bit outdated it it was vetted through our secondary system and it also goes on to say that night meeting should be eliminated as far as practical so I think that the language encouraged was permissive rather than mandatory that's fair just okay so you don't want it pulled I'm good okay all right do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve to approve thank you Mr colone do we have a second I'll second that motion thank you Mrs Thompson any other discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving the to advertise proposed amendments to
233school board policy 316 School clubs please say I I any oppos it passes unanimously we are now up to item 18.07% legal Authority and laws implemented all right Dr balamin Madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 318 biological experiments on living and non-living subjects board members you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent do I have someone that will make a motion to approve I motion to approve thank you Mrs Thompson do I have a second I'll second thank you Mrs berett any discussion call for the vote all those in favor of approving to advertise proposed amendments to school board policy 318 biological experiments on living and non-living subjects please say I I I any opposed passes unanimously we are now at item to the text
234of the promotion and graduation exercises policy 319 we have further updated the laws implemented in the regulatory section of this policy that had been revised in March of 2011 so um this will bring the statute current with regulation I'm sorry the policy current with regulation thank you Mr penley Dr baman thank you madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise that proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 318 biological experiments on living and non-living subjects we did this one wait no we're on to the next we're on graduation graduation yeah sorry policy we're on 1808 yeah sorry I recommend approval of the I Rec I recommend approval she's tired breath it's what time is it I recommend only been here for 12 Authority Grant to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 319 promotion of
235and graduation exercises 12 hours yes we now have been here 12 hours 12 hours in this room from 9 o' little before even Madam chair may I ask a question yes please um um uh RoR numeral 2 the first sentence for formal graduation shall be permitted only for 12th grade students all all these very smart students that we have that complete everything you know and they're 12 years old or 15 or I mean are they are they considered 12th grade when they've complete all their high school they have to complete their credits well but as soon as they do that they're considered 12th grade they meet grad requirements okay I just want to make sure we weren't EX excluding anybody okay well there is an argument there Madam chair here comes the argument okay I
236shouldn't have said question this pertains to the graduation commencement exercise right so if someone achieves the graduation credits prior to the 12th grade I'm not sure that that actually means that they can participate in the graduation that's what I was asking they automatically considered the 12th grade student so actually we have Dr Dr Bia come on up we do we can't answer that question for you that was going to be an easy well I did but I I don't want to Pro you okay because I have another we just went through this uh situation here yeah I know good evening uh board members and Dr Babin so the this policy has been in existence as long as Mr penley has said and it has never stopped any student from graduating we every year we have
237students who are 11th grade for example that meet the graduation requirements and they're allowed to participate in graduations so so I I in in in essence when a student has all their requirements of graduation they meet the same criteria that a 12th grader meets so they're able to graduate um if if a 10th grader nth grader 14-year-old had the graduation credits they would graduate and they would be able to participate in graduation and in fact we have students who graduate early and they can come back to graduate again if they you know if they want to celebrate being a Victorian so some students in the past have opted to have the early graduation and the late graduation yeah and which I think is great uh but I'm just asking M Kevin should should it say
238formal graduation shall be familiar only for students who have met all their graduation requirements I think that achieves our purpose yeah and then we don't have to get into the the weeds so unless we want to bring this back for re I'm happy to make that change stylistically and publish it that way stylistically I like that I don't know so what has always gotten us in trouble is the building principal should have the authority to establish the standards including dress code for the event and so that has been that's what causes children who enroll in the military to not be able to wear their stock so that has been corrected we actually we actually sent at the at the direction of Dr balabin a standardized um expectation of what students are allowed so any any
239sash any cord that a student earns in school and that they're awarded um that is academic in nature or military or boys in Girls Club we've actually outlined specificity and every principal has it they've received the documentation and we've actually had multiple meetings on that criteria that is great except our opportunity to codify this is to put it in policy and so if you're not here tomorrow and the next person comes along and decides I don't want a child to wear their they join the Marines stall then that is no so I I think that I have been waiting five years for this policy to come up so that we could make I agree with to make that right because listen there's nothing more heartbreaking when we're standing on that stage and we look out
240and we've got one high school that comes up and they're all wearing their military okay whether they're going into the air force the Marines the Navy Coast Guard whatever then I will never forget the guy who held it up like this the student who his school did not allow him to wear it so when his name was called he unrolled it and held it up I mean we can't you know my thoughts on this if they earn an academic piece or a military or whatever Dayton Estate One or whatever they did the work let them wear them yes and and and so we had the guide uh in writing I am happy at the direction of the superintendent to send the text that we have to to Mr penley to review can we add that
241to this policy so what is the do you have the language specifically here's problem does this policy allow a principle to override the fact that we want every student to be able to wear what they've earned yes yes it does by policy it would because it's at their discretion I haven't vetted that so all I can tell you at this point I think we need to table this policy Madam chair and then we'll bring it back in the fall cycle if that's acceptable oh next next meeting we're it's this going to be easy let's just add the piece that adds that standardization so everybody's playing by the same rules here's I know but here's what he's saying if we pull it tonight it's not coming back till fall why because special meeting huh I mean
242it have to be advertised separately can't we advertise online now we don't have to pay it on the paper July provided the governor July one if that so we'll do it in July it's by itself but it's going to be after graduation don't you want it for this graduation no yeah can we fix this tonight then it's like 50 years old it's not gonna make a difference I think it's gonna be fad glad I think it's GNA be fine for this gr glad I'm glad that we're okay for this graduation it's when we're not sitting here anymore and this comes up you know this is our chance so I'm good with July after July you can send an email out that reminds the principles that here's you know they can wear the stuff and you
243can CC all of us on it so that see we saw that they got the email knowing that those students get to wear that stuff you know you know what I'll support this policy tonight but I would really like it to come back with that language how about that so in the fall when we do do this again we'll bring it back so I'll make them if the super but we are going to change the first sentence there yeah why not stylistically so thank you I'm glad you like that the uh the first sentence would read formal graduation exercises shall be permitted only for students who have achieved sufficient credits for graduation we eliminate that 12th grade student language beautiful sounds good good and we'll look at bringing it back bringing it back with the
244language about the thank you emoluments and that sort of thing yes the things that they worked hard I mean because we attend the senior award ceremonies and the excitement on their faces when they get they come up there and they're handed that and then they tell they can wear three huh and then they they're told they can wear three thankfully we've writed that so we're good yes all right so Dr baban and thank you chair Haynes and um I think it was Jesse Thompson because you guys were part of the committee that was convened right after graduation last year's graduation yes all right um let me read the right one this time I recommend approval and that the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 319 promotion and graduation exercises
245all right do I have a motion to approve motion to approve thank you Mr cologne do I have a second second thank you Mr persus any further discussion okay then I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 319 for motion and graduation exercises please say I I I any opposed it's unanimous now pause for a moment because we have we have two public com input cards for item first one is Miss Jennifer Kelly who has asked for a disclaimer okay we're giving you a disclaimer are you gonna announce it huh are you gonna announce it she's gonna read something that's dirty you usually give that disclaimer oh I chair okay I forgot sorry I didn't realize she's going to read something and so if you were
246are there any students here still in the audience okay if you're listening at home and your students are still up and listening with you at this time as a parent you have to make a choice on whether or not you want your child to hear Miss Kelly's three minute speech thank you you may start good evening board member superintendent um under the Roman num more 5 challenge materials it reads virtual meeting may be conducted at parties Mutual consent either the district accommodates virtual meetings or they don't if a parent wants a meeting via teams the school should accommodate that request and not have a choice to say no and mandate it in person remember the parents did not put these books here but for some reason we've been tasked with the responsibility of having them
247removed so please stop trying to make it harder then it goes on to say if the complaintant fails refuses or otherwise does not participate in such meeting with the principal within 30 days the complainant shall be deemed abandoned in the material returned to the shelves what about the schools that never responded to my meeting requests South Eastern Middle and Deltona High School are the books going to be permanently removed because they didn't uh set up a meeting with me at my request this policy should State time frames and move through the challenge process without someone's personal issues included in addition no time set for the superintendent to make decisions after the school-based results or set District uh level committees letter D number three within 30 days of the complaint to the superintendent it received by
248the superintendent's office or other school official what what does that mean I'm not clear on that um in the piece about the special magistrate it reads uh appeals may be taken at the state level in accordance with um applicable Florida Statutes which isn't listed when all the other statutes are listed several times that's funny I see y'all last the policy requ requires certification that the complainant has read the entire material no law requires that in what context is it okay for minors without parental consent to have access to a book such as a Clash of Kings which I have already objected to it reads as follows how would a look so clean and sweet the sight after her was enough to make me hard it let his garments fall to the floor and crawled onto
249the bed and gently pushed her legs apart and kissed her between the thighs licked her secret sweetness until his beard and her were both soaked he climbed up and thrust himself inside her and exploded almost at once what context is that ever okay for miners without parental consent thank you next up is Debbie Parker also on item speaking for myself I'm speaking about policy 20 320 I thought that's what we were doing um but my comments can definitely be expanded to several of tonight's topics the proposed policy 320 is not ready for advertisement to the public lately I see many poor decisions made by the valuch County School Board many rules that are just not acceptable some rules and policy 320 as an example right or wrong are not even being followed by the district
250County Schoolboard members and administration should abide by instructions but there are numer numerous examples of non-compliance with policy 320 and policy 320 doesn't align with Florida law area communities have noticed Mistakes by the school board and valua County school districts that that the school districts and the school board are making some errors have been pointed out publicly but the individuals who've been elected to work for the communities the administrators whose salaries the public pids for don't necessarily acknowledge the facts the public expects better but are repeatedly disappointed citizens must vote absolutely but there's no reason to wait for a change in leadership when facts are revealed and the public is aware action can and must be taken now Valia County schools are not following their own policy 320 nor the law that they say supersedes
251the policy public committees have been avoid waed in decision making but earlier tonight we actually heard someone say that more voices heard are better my requests tonight to the valuch County School Board and District are these as follows be prepared no your job research carefully and understand the facts before making decisions as needed ask for clarification from an expert listen to those who are voicing concerns respect and work for all all constituents stop and think rethink when necessary admit mistakes and work to resolve the error do better as Leaders policy 320 is incomplete policy 320 doesn't align with the law although it could stand a great deal of improvement policy 320 isn't even being followed as is but rules must be followed please go back and revisit policy 320 before advertising it table this vote
252please the proposed changes are not adequate and also rethink Staffing models displacing teachers and resoning allocations thank you for allowing me to speak on something off topic thank you thank you all right Mr penley thank you madam chair so if you will recall board we have workshopped policy 320 we brought it several times the current proposed advertising changes affect the challenged materials section five um allowing for flexibility in a timeline that the board requested there are changes in Section Five D at paragraph three and in section four the 30 days from the date of the initial complaint in section e we added uh 15 school days rather than working days since to avoid confusion and make that consistent throughout the policy in accordance with the board's wishes also in section 5D paragraphs three and at
253paragraph 4 we've added that District appeals uh of the superintendent may be taken in accordance with applicable State Statute um happy to address any questions the board has Mr persus uh thank you madam chair Mr penley in your legal opinion are we in compliance with the law yes thank you okay does this address in the event that a principal does not reply the law requires that a meeting be held and the policy requires the meeting be held with the principal um I don't necessarily see there's a sanction if the principle doesn't reply other than what we would sanction or cause disciplinary action when you don't follow policy or statute I mean that that's addressed through evaluation and administrate administrative practices okay so if I'm to understand correctly that if um the initial conference a principal
254has to reach out and set up a time whether it's electronically or in person so they don't have an option to ignore that the only um so there's a couple of things that could have correct The book must be if a book is objected to based on sexual content or pornography The book must be removed from the shelves within five days those emails are sent out and directed by us and the principls are directed to reach out to arrange a conference time and we do allow for virtual conferences we do ask them to allow for virtual conferences um if they resolve the issue prior to the conference taking place which has happened the principales have reviewed a book and decided that with their media specialist and decided not to continue to include that book okay
255okay so so if a complaint is made that it's sexually explicit or pornographic they have five days in which to remove it and review it if they have two options they could say we're in agreement and it's off our shelves and that would be relayed back to the person that made the complaint cor or they can say I'd like to have a meeting with you and the meeting can be either held virtually or in person but they have to communicate that right correct so that's the only two options they cannot they cannot say I'm not meeting or ignore so what mechanism do we have in here in the event that that does happen do we have anything like what what would be the step for the person to well then that would be non-compliance of
256both statute and policy okay and so the person that has not had a meeting set up then at that point lets you know at the district level yes okay all right Mrs Bernett thank you I I agree with um taking the the initial complaint out for um for electronic means and we I don't think initial needs to be in there because we can do that at any time correct we can do on on uh page four section five b the initial conference level meeting the initial conference level meeting may be conducted via electronic means what are you are you saying only that meeting can be conducted by electronic means or are you just saying the initial visit may be I I think I think we want to have the option for any of the meetings
257to be done by Zoom teams whatever is the is the issue the the only meeting with the complaintant is that initial meeting if it goes to committee they don't they don't come to that the book get distributed to the the committee so this this is the only meeting that is required of the complaintant and let me also add to that that keep in mind this language has morphed considerably from we just reviewed this back may of 2023 so it we haven't even had this policy for a year we we workshopped it and the complaint at that time was the original policy going back to before the change to the statute was it required an in-person meeting with the principal they didn't like inperson meetings with the principal we were trying to add flexibility here so
258that this could be done via teams or Zoom or some other electronic means but and the the mutual consent is dis is talking about when that meeting is scheduled okay so that the parties can agree to do it at you know Friday afternoon at 6:30 at night well that may not be when the principal's in the building you need both parties to agree to the the time of the meeting that's what that's referring to okay and they can meet by via Zoom or or teams or whatever Electronics in any means okay all right it's to provide the flexibility from an inperson because we were reiring in person before yeah you can still have an iners meeting absolutely but this also allows for the option of of a I think maybe I'm over reading it all
259right Dr balaman all right um chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 320 media selection of print and non-print materials board members you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent do we have a motion to approve to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 320 media selection of print and non-print materials motion to approve thank you Mr cologne do we have a second second thank you Mr persus any further discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor please say I I any opposed it passes unanimously we are now moving on to 18.10 authoriz ation to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 322 annual school calendar Mr penley thank you madam chair again this policy simply updates the legal Authority and laws implemented uh last revised
260in 1990 there are no textual changes to this policy Dr baman Madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 322 annual school calendar thank you board members you've heard the motion of the superintendent I need someone to make a motion to approve I'll motion to approve thank you Mrs Thompson I need a second I'll second thank you Mrs Bernett any discussion hearing none all those in favor of approving to advertise proposed amendments to school po board policy 322 annual School Calendar please say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now on to item 18.11 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 323 academic freedom Mr penley thank you madam chair there are no textual changes proposed for policy 320 academic freedom we
261have updated the legal Authority and laws implemented to be current with Florida statute Dr vovan Madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 323 academic freedom board members you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent do I have someone that would like to make the motion to approve move approval Madam chair thank you Mr persus do I have a second I'll second that motion thank you Mrs Thompson any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote to advertise the proposed amendment to Schoolboard policy 3 23 academic freedom all those in favor please say I I any opposed it passes unanimously we are now on to item 18.12 policy 325 Madame chair item 18.12 request the board's consideration to advertise proposed new policy 325 concerning web management
262this is a policy that has been vetted through our technology department and staff and bring this is an entirely new policy in wholesale that's why you don't see any red letter changes this is uh necessary in order to uh review mandatory usage registration approval site management and Communications via the web and if there are questions Dr has his staff available to address them okay Dr bin Madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise a proposed School Board policy 325 web management he you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent do I have a motion to approve move to approve move to approve thank you Mrs brette do I have a second I'll second that motion any discussion hearing none I will call for the vote all those in favor of approving to advertise proposed
263Schoolboard policy 325 web management please say I I any opposed it passes unanimously chair shout out to our amazing Web Master who has been here all day long waiting for this item so thank you and thank you for the good work you do have done for our district I see him sitting over there sitting humbly and quiet praying that we don't have any questions so you can breathe now okay oh okay all right we're glad you're here Cliff next up item 18.13 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to school board policy 409 duties of principles Madame chair again policy 409 duties of principles proposes no rec thank you for that Mr Finley pleas stick that one in there be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy for n duties of principles board members
264you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent do have someone like to make a motion to approve this move approval of school board policy 409 all right do we have a second I'll second thank you Mrs Bernett any discussion all right hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 409 duties of principles please say I I I any opposed he it's a 5 it passes unanimously we are now on to item 18.14 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to school board policy 4:15 conduct of employees regarding illegal drug and alcohol abuse Madam chair proposed recommended changes for policy 4:15 contct of employees regarding illegal drug or alcohol abuse does have substance of changes uh to be in line with current federal anti- drug workplace policies
265uh in laws uh we did update the legal Authority laws implemented and this policy was vetted through Professional Standards Dr baban yes Madam chair um I recommend that the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 415 conduct of employees regarding illegal drugs and alcohol abuse heard the recommendation of the super superintendent do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve I'll motion to approve thank you Miss Thompson do I have a second a second I'll pass the gavel if I need to all right we have I have a question a motion a second Mr clone you have a question so federal laws still don't align with state laws as it relates to marijuana card and other medicinal uh drugs they Class C scheduled drugs are still
266prescripted under federal statute for drug free workplace policies we can call our friends in Tallahassee and say you know I it's crazy because if the state allows you to have a medical reason to so you could have a prescription for oxycodone and come in hurting and on your oxycodone but you can have a medical card for marijuana and that be illegal but again the unfortunately the federal laws have not caught up to the state laws which is crazy so thank you Mrs brnette did you want to say something I I was gonna ask the same exact thing he asked and it's the same thing in the hospital it sucks law supersedes anything we do all right have a motion we have a second any further discussion hearing none then I'll call for the vote all
267those in favor of approving to advertise proposed amendments to school board policy 4:15 conduct of employees regarding illegal drug and alcohol abuse please say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now on to item 18.15 authorization to advertise proposed Schoolboard policy 428 staff and student use of artificial intelligence okay so I provide some context here yes ma'am um Dr had to I I think he's he had to leave for a meeting uh that he will be attending very early in the morning but Cliff carboro is here just to give you a little bit of context um several a few months back there was this major conference it's the National Conference that takes place regarding technology was in Orlando FC you're very familiar with that one chair so um our it division quite
268a few members from the it division attended that training and I did as well couple things that we've learned from that training I AI is not going away um as a matter of fact what was stated to us is that they're looking at approximately 67,000 jobs that would no longer exist in a year from now 67,000 titles that will not exist in a year from now but and then there will be the creation of about 86,000 new positions that will require this knowledge or skill set so with that said quickly we convened we look at this at the 67 districts that we have to see what districts were doing we noticed that Miami dat and Palm Beach they were on the brink of working on developing a policy so our team collaborated with with with
269those two districts and spoke to a few others and as a matter of fact we will be sharing this now with many other districts um as we move forward but the force is to have a policy in place because here is what's happening if we ignore this and think it will go away which we know it will not go away our teachers are going to start utilizing Ai and our students will use AI if we U utilize AI in a manner where it's substituting learning that's not good for students if we use AI in a manner that is going to enhance the educational experience of students then that's that's the way to go so our team worked diligently in creating a policy with some neighboring districts that are the Forefront of this and that's the
270first step I will ask Cliff to share with you a little bit regarding the policy but the next steps would be for us to develop a training materials for our administrators and for our uh teachers that will take place during the summer and then start setting some parameters of how it will be utilized for the purposes of enhancing instruction but not substituting learning so Cliff take it away uh please share the policy yes thank you superintendent Babin uh chairman Hayes and and board thank you for the opportunity to come up and present about AI um it's here it it's not a something on the horizon it is uh uh changing the way that we do things in two manners for students of Education and then our staff of how they're utilizing it um just in
271Our IT department it will revolutionize the way we program we don't we can ask it in simple English to give us code and it produces the code in Python for us very efficient for our staff use however from a student point of view that that same code could be the homework assignment for the computer science class and so this policy goes through through and defines what is acceptable for students to use it and teachers as a guide and also what is not acceptable at to go through and use it as as a guide to kind of make sure everybody's on the same page this is very fastly changing throughout as we talk there's new developments coming in and there's a lot of things that are just it's on that Forefront um but this gets us
272ahead of it so that we have a good Baseline of making policy and student conduct implications moving forward Thompson so yes AI is here and I've I've talked to many students both middle school and high school who are already utilizing it in I mean that's how they write their papers and I read one paper from a high school student I said this is beautiful this is and she's like it was completely Ai and so do we have anything in place will we have anything in place to check because right now this is a wonderful policy but how can you prove other than if you know how your student normally writes and then you see this amazing paper and you know something doesn't add up is there a way to check or will there be a
273way to check so the teacher knowing the student voice is going to come in very handy during that process um things like turn it in and stuff they're on the Forefront of developing their own versions of AI Checkers so they're not there yet and AI is changing so quickly that they're going to always play that catchup role um because there's people who are looking at the algorithm and figuring out how to tweak it so it really is looking at student voice and knowing your students it goes back to those fundamental principle of teaching pedagogy you in in the summer we will have training for teachers again not everything this is like covid AI is similar to covid in that we're building and flying at the same time but we cannot afford not to do both
274um however we're going to be providing trainings for our administrators and teachers in the summer to help them kind of Define some criteria again for that plagiarism pie and one of the things that Cliff outlined is the student voice like for example I if I know my student or I know an individual because the one thing that AI does not take fully into consideration when they're it's synthesizing from different sources it's context right it will not take context fully into consideration when p from different sources because it doesn't know your context per se so that would always need somewhat of a tweak so that's one area that we look at and then understanding the students voice so there are several things there that are soft skills and hard skills but we will be providing that
275training in the summer okay thank you Mr col this is a deep subject I know in my organ I mean we could sit here and talk about this all day in my organization we've locked down to where we have a partnership with co-pilot because co-pilot has agreed or Microsoft has agreed to take whatever we feed it and not regurgitated to the rest of the machine learning World in other words if if somebody puts in information regarding you know student one two 3 four and five it won't regurgitate it in in another state saying you know student Ruben cologne because that's what machine learning does so I mean we could sit here and talk about this all day I I certainly hope and Dr isn't here and we don't have all night um but I certainly
276hope that we're putting those things in place to you know limit as well that access on our Network and it's what our organization has had to do because there's really an even they even flagged me with grammarly because they said we're letting you keep grammarly but you can't plug stuff into it that involves you know sensitive information and so um yeah from a system approach but I think this is a good start and then my this brought up another thought does our does our code of student conduct even Define because the reality is that I mean I could tell this to write me a I could tell chat GPT to write me a paper and who's to say that I didn't write it and and that's going to become an issue if not already and
277it doesn't matter what tool you you have they're they they know which words they look for and which words they regurgitate and I mean they're figuring that part out so um I think from a technological standpoint we have to figure out how to try to stay ahead of that as possible and I do think we're doing that so um it's a good start well you brought up the piece that I was going to say because in the bottom of this policy that we're going to advertise it says violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action is described in the student code of conduct and I I cheating it's not I don't know that we have it in the student code of conct yet I I think we have language in here that involves academic
278Integrity cheating and this would be a form of cheating my opinion I I think that um the part on the unallowable parts especially the student unallowable parts or uses um I think that needs to be shared and addressed probably in every classroom when school starts next year as a part and I think parents need to know about that too to understand that there's consequences if your child uses AI to write their paper is there yes yeah we do have yes that's I mean but if you don't have the tool to I'm saying this is going to become a if it's not already it's going to become a big issue because it is near perfect near near perfect I mean chat GPT actually passed the medical boards with a 90s something percent I mean so again
279you know I'm glad we're talking about a policy but in practice you know how do we deter how does a teacher tell a student this is you didn't write this how do you prove it because we have tools like grammarly that fix our grammar that tell you to be more succinct that tell you you're not using direct voice I mean I don't even know what that means but but it tells you to rewrite it and so and it it even prompts you you know and I'm in school so when I turn stuff in and I'm and grammarly is making me make all these Corrections I'm always afraid that it's going to be an issue because it really does tell you so if a student uses grammarly it may not sound like them because it's actually
280grammatically correct but is that I mean grammarly is grammarly it's what we use to for grammar it's just hard anyways we can keep going we can talk about this all night I I share this is like covid because the table that I sat with with superintendant believe it or not every single one of them have questions regarding Ai and what are we doing so they all asked that question there were only two districts along with us that could answer to that question so the fact that we could answer that question tells you we're ahead of the game in our code of conduct it does address academ the Integrity piece it's there and it's good that it's there the way it is however um there is a way because we talked about at the table we
281talked about if you take writing samples kind of like what you were talking about the other uh program I forgot the name you just just mentioned it chat GPT oh chat grammarly no it was another one but if you take copilot there you go co-pilot if if what students can what the teachers can do is take a writing sample from the student and put it into chat GPT and then it will record that so it will look at other writing uh samples that not writing but samples writing papers that's provided by that student and do that kind of comparison to see if they if anything is the protected in terms of voice so again it's we're this is just a policy there's so much more that has to be done and there are so many
282unanswered question at this point because this is rolling so quickly but if we don't get in front of it it doesn't matter students are going to be using it and teachers are going to be using it it may not be in the manner in which it's desired at this point to enhance instruction we need a PSA because I mean this is it is submitting AI work is strictly prohibited and any work and so I think that this is probably a good PSA that we could uh try to get ahead of we have a motion have a recommendation what we need the recommendation um chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed School Board policy 428 staff and student use of artificial intelligence okay board members you've heard the superintendent's recommendation do I
283have a motion to approve motion to approve I have a second second any further discussion a hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving to advertise the proposed Schoolboard policy 428 staff and student use of artificial intelligence AI please St say I I any opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now on to item we now on to item 18.6 this is authorization to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 506 warehousing and distribution Madam chair the proposed recommendations for policy 506 warehousing and distribution contain no changes to the text it updates the legal Authority and law implemented Dr balabin thank you madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments the school board policy 506 warehousing and distribution school board members you've heard the recommendation of
284the superintendent do I have someone that would like to make a motion to approve I motion to approve thank you Mrs Thompson do I have a second second thank you Mr persus any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of advertising proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 506 warehousing and distribution please say I I I I any opposed it passes unanimously we are now on to item number 18.7 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to policy 510 Safety and Security of students personnel and property Mr penley thank you madam chair there are substance of changes proposed osed for policy 510 Safety and Security of students uh one the title changes from Safety and Security to Simply safety of students Personnel property and law enforcement guidelines this policy has been vetted through the
285safety department and our school safety specialist there are changes present to align this policy with current threat management uh emphasis in state stat statute there are also substantive revisions to align with guidelines for students with disabilities the principle changes are to changing from a threat assessment process to a threat management process um and then changing the uh complaint procedures for uh law enforcement involving incidents with students with disabilities to be compliant with the Ada and Section 504 Dr and this policy also I'll remind the board Madam chair that this policy has been workshopped Dr paman yes Madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to school board policy 510 Safety and Security of students personnel and property board members you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent to have someone that'll
286make a motion to approve move to approve thank you Mrs Bernett do I have a second I'll second that motion thank you Mrs Thompson any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 510 Safety and Security of students personnel and property please say I I I any opposed all right it passes unanimously five we are now up to item 18.18 authorization to advertise proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 522 staff use of school district cellular telephones Madame chair item 18.18 request authorization to advertise changes to policy 522 concerning staff use of District School uh District cell telephones we did eliminate uh certain provisions of text here through our it Department because we no longer have pagers and personal data assistance things that were
287somewhat dated from the last time this policy was revised in April of 2007 so uh techn technological changes uh have necessitated uh some revision to language and um employee conduct to line with Florida General record schedules and other requirements for maintaining uh public records created on cell phones now that have capability for texting and exchange of emails with those texal changes uh no NE it was not necessary to revise the legal Authority or laws implemented and with these changes it will now be current with current practice thank you Dr VN thank you madam chair I recommend the authority be granted to advertise the proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 522 staff use of of District cellular telephones I have someone who'd like to make a motion to approve move to approve second thank you Mrs Bernett
288thank you Mr cologne I just would like to make a statement here about this um I have no problem with the policy but I will tell you that that was another one of this is an area that I also brought up to the superintendent to look at um to possibly see if there was any cost saving that we could do in this area by asking how many employees are issued cell phones because today is a different world than what it used to be and it used to be you know I mean everybody has as far as I know everybody has unlimited everything now and so I just that was another way that I did ask that we could look at trying to reduce some of the cost all right if there's no further discussion I
289will we have Mrs Bernett who has made the motion and Mr clone who second it I will call for a vote all those in favor of approving to advertise proposed amendments to school board policy 522 staff use of school district cellular telephones please say I I any opposed all right then that one passes 50 we are now up to 18.9 authorization to advertise propos proposed amendments to Schoolboard policy 710 District support foundation's annual budget and audit review Madam chair the proposed changes to policy 710 District support foundations's annual budget and audit review uh does include an update for reference to the American Institute of certifi public accountants auditing standards which would be included in the policy now it does update the legal Authority and laws implemented uh to current statute Dr baban Madame chair I
290recommend the authority be granted to advertise a proposed amendments the school board policy 710 direct support Foundation annual budget and audit review okay in case anyone is at home and isn't seeing that this has to do with Futures so do I have someone to make a motion to approve I motion to approve thank you Mrs Thompson do I have a second I'll second thank you Mrs Bernett any discussion hearing none we'll move I need we'll move to a vote if you approve advertise the proposed amendments the Schoolboard policy 710 direct support foundations's annual budget and audit review please say I I I any opposed all right it passes unanimously we are now at item 18.20 renewal and modification ms-22 d013 LS printed and digital social studies materials with sage learning incorporation this is part of
291the social studies piece um um Dr balabin Madam chair I recommend approval renewal and modification of agreement ms-22 d013 LS printed in digital social studies materials with sage Maring ink I I do have I do have a question Mr I do have Mr milholland here Millie if you would like to ask Mr has a question you said it correctly we we workshopped this back when have there been any substantial changes since the last time we Workshop this and is there anything not very good thank you okay you've heard the recommendation of the superintendent do I have someone that'll make a motion to approve motion to approve thank you Mr cologne do we have a second I'll second that motion thank you Mrs Thompson any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in
292favor of the renewal and modification to ms-22 d013 LS printed and digital social studies materials with sage learning incorporation please say I I I any opposed okay that one passes unanimously we are now at item 1821 request payment of dues for Florida conservative Coalition of Schoolboard members Jesse do do you want yes I can just start um board member Thompson has requested that the school board uh pay her dues for the Florida conservative Coalition of school board members in the amount of $495 um as far as we are aware there's no precedent really for the the school board to pay the dues of one individual members to an organization so I thought this should come before the board for discussion and a vote thank you Mr Wolf Miss Thompson so the Florida conservative Coalition of
293Schoolboard members is a brand new group it is not in competition with fsba but it is running parallel and it is providing networking education to school scho board members around the state some that have opted out of fsba some that are still part of fsba uh it comes at a substantial less cost so that's been a reason for some but others didn't agree with certain things taught at different seminars with the fsba so what it provides with education is the ethics but also it covers grants and other opportunities that could be provided to school boards that are not being provided currently or discussed to fsba it's also a networking opportunity uh for Statewide conservative Schoolboard members to meet gather together share ideas and kind of try to grow everything through that networking opportunity uh currently
294it is a 501c3 it is a nonprofit uh no one on the board makes any money nobody gets paid uh it's to cover the upkeep of the organization and then the rest of the money goes towards conferences uh the next conference will be on June 10th and right now it's looking that all members will not have to pay for that conference however non-members will have to pay for the conference as they did not pay dues I am president of the organization and since so many people from around the state have already paid it would be ridiculous if I wasn't in the organization as well now in fiscal responsibility if this is something that you guys don't support or don't wish for me to be part of just because of the money I understand that you
295know we have fsba coming up and if I have to choose between one or the other I will choose this Coalition because it does provide similar training to fsp ba thank you Mr cologne so I I belong to many groups through my partisan personal uh politics and I think the difference for me is that this is not a group that we are all welcome to um I am not welcome at the Florida conservative Coalition of Schoolboard members even though I'm sure you would gladly welcome me I would but it is it is specific to a thought process that is not something that is Equitable for everyone fsba is open to everyone and so um I personally would never expect uh the school district to send me to leadership blue for their conference where they're going
296to discuss that kind of you know know the the partisan things that make me who I am as an individual I would never expect the school district to do that fsba is our state organization which we're all a part of we're all welcome to be a part of and they don't differentiate the values good bad and different of its members now whether or not they agree or disagree with everything I mean I I don't agree with everything that I say but but I I you know again I would never expect anyone to pay for my membership in all the other things that I'm a part of rotary for example all these different things that we do um so for that reason again if this was something that we were all welcome to in title but
297clearly this is specific to uh conservative Coalition of folks which regardless of my thought process I'm not welcome at anyways to be fair it is a nonpartisan group just to clarify I appreciate that thank you again it's a I'm not saying it's partisan it's it's values based correct and you know the values that we the whole Coalition is built on is God family education country um one of the main things is though that kind of differs it from some of the other organizations because I too belong to multiple organizations I would never expect the district to pay for is under State Statute we go out to become better Schoolboard members through the education that we receive this is specifically this isn't to make me a more conservative person this isn't to make me more Republican
298this is literally to find opportunities that exist to help better our entire School District no matter who it is and so for that reason that's why I've put this forth for the school board and every other County that has uh submitted to this hasn't had an issue I believe Clay County was the only one so far that held a vote I know Orange County did not so that's where it stands so far but thank you for your input Mrs Bernette thank you um so I appreciate you bringing up the fiscal responsibility because that's what we've been talking about all night tonight and while it may not be a lot of money it adds up and so because of the fiscal responsibility I am going to have to um say no to this as well I
299completely understand that and I appreciate that like I said it's $4.95 for the annual cost and I know right now we pay for the whole school board to be at fsba but if it is the board's pleasure to not support this then I will be opting out of the $5,000 for fsba for the 500 that it will be for fccs SPM okay when that comes back up I think we can readdress it absolutely Mr persus yeah I was just I was G to ask I guess the um so trying to understand can anyone join this organization or no you cannot I mean you got you to pass test no there's no you got to get in there's an application process there is an app application like a personal application yes Carl okay I don't know
300oh I'm asking I I've never seen it he says he says no there is no application or or he doesn't want me to keep going you're not welcome you're always welcome you're not welcome I you know tired I I would uh you know I I I don't know anything about this no to be perfectly clear I mean I would I would like to see the application and see what what's on there um I mean that's how I I feel I don't feel like I know enough about it like I would any other thing if I don't know enough about it I I really don't feel comfortable about voting it up or down in all fairness it was on our docs that we've had for a week I went and looked it up okay okay so
301um I did research on this um I knew ahead of time because um Mr Wolf called me because Miss Thompson had met with him to ask about this and so he called to tell me um you know we had two options um to go ahead and just put it on to have an open discussion here and to vote or Miss Thompson could bring it up and then we could decide whether or not to put it on I just went ahead with the first option rather than dragging it out so Miss Thompson I went and um I researched the entire website that you have up and so here we I'm just going to share some of my feedback on looking at that and fsba which we've belong to as we know fsba is a wellestablished um
302that's the Florida School Board Association for anyone listening a wellestablished group um that has been around I think we're hitting going to hit a hundred years soon and in doing so um on their I'm I'm going to comparison between the two websites okay and I understand that this is new and that you are the president of this new organization but the thing of it is when I go to fsba I can automatically see who who their sponsors are you know who is who is sponsoring part of the Florida School Board Association I'm able to see who all of their staff is what their job roles and responsibilities are how I can reach out and communicate with them and I will tell you anytime I pick up the phone or send them an email you know
303I get an immediate response um on your website or on the website for this organization I don't know who any of the sponsors are that are sponsoring it I don't there's not a there's nothing there that tells me like well who would you get into contact with if you had questions but in addition to that um it you know it does say that you have to email and request an application to have it emailed to you so like the application's not even visible but you know I sit on the board of directors to represent valua County at fsba they use the board dock piece just like we use board docs everything whether it's going to be a conference that we're going to with fsba whether it's a board of directors meeting whether it's a general
304meeting whatever it is everything is posted and anyone in this room anyone across the country could actually you know go to the Florida School Board Association you know website and they can access everything they can see you know when we're at a conference what are the sessions that we're taking who's presenting those sessions um and you know and they have pieces is where they encourage us to you know become certified board members which means you have taken the time and I know you've taken a lot of the courses with fsba to learn all of these things on your website I didn't see any courses I didn't see any meetings you know or anything like topics that are being discussed and things like that so where I'm at right now is and and the cost to
305me is not as relevant although we are in a time period where we have to look financially and as I said I asked about cell phones I also by the way asked about the white White Fleet Okay and like who has a Vehicles assigned to them and could we cut some of that because I'm trying to figure out where we can save pennies but because I can't see anything and I don't see what can be gained from this I don't feel comfortable at this time supporting um for one individual to belong to a group and and I did read that it says nonpartisan but I don't know that everybody here would be welcomed to be a part um at fsba we're all welcomed and we're all welcomed to bring a different opinion and every day
306when we go to a training there I mean they they sponsor monthly trainings they sponsor Friday check-ins I mean there is so much that I have learned and gained from there that better helps me to do this job that I'm of the I'm right now because there are two of us currently we were hoping to honor um Mrs brnette tonight but it got moved there are two of us that are already certified you know board members and we've gone through four of us have gone through masterboard training twice now um to have that distinction and so I just would suggest and recommend that as you move forward with this organization and being the president of it that you think about how you can build your website to be to be more transparent and share what
307it is that you're doing because I think then that may give people a better feeling that they might be able to join thank you madam chair so very much you're welcome so at this point um you've heard that it's up and we must vote on it because it is an actionable item so Mr pers want to speak again well yeah I I I just did my research and and uh I I I guess I would I would vote no and the reason why is because it seems like to me we'd be using taxpayers money to to fund what is blatantly a conservative organization and so it'd be like if this was a the liberal School Board organization or whatever it would be welcome there it would it would uh I would not support funding that
308one either you know what I'm saying but I think an organization that would be what I would consider U neutral uh I consider fsba to be neutral because it's a mixture of of of everything of everything everybody that I think we could justify using tax payment using taxpayers money I don't think we should use it to support one side or the other that's why I think you're they you're doing and I say you because you're the president good things and uh from what I'm you know from what I'm reading but then it gets into values and um well I don't want to get into all all of the other stuff but it is it is definitely slanted and maybe that's a good slant uh but it it it isn't something that I think taxpayer dollars
309should be used to support it to the right or to the left well and I did also think um and I think I said this to um Mr Wolf when he called me I I don't want to set a precedent that we're going to go down this path because Mr purus I used you in his example I know you belong to the Tiger Bay Club which is listed as a nonpartisan you know Club you know if we went down this path I'm not saying you would do this but you could then come in and say I want you to vote to pay my dues for the Tiger Bay Club you know or you know you belong to like Latinos in Action or something like that you know you do because you've told me about it
310and Latino action Club don't know oh my but I mean and there are some clubs I belong to but you know they're my choice to belong to them and I pay you know my dues and fee for that at this current time the only thing that we as a school board collectively belong to there are two items we have belonged to fsba for years okay like I I don't know a time that we they didn't um just like the superintendent belongs to fads but the other one that we joined but we voted about it here in the boardroom was the league of cities because we felt we needed to work at building a better relationship with all of our cities and our um you know council members Commissioners whatever they're called by each City and
311so at this time that's the only two that we collectively um pay for as a school board so any other discussion all right then at this point in time I will call for the vote well no I motion to deny I need a motion motion to deny huh motion to deny I don't know how I else to say that nicely okay Mr clone has made a motion to deny do I have a second Mr persus all right if there's no further discussion I'll call for a vote of denial huh for denial for denial of item 1821 the request for payment of dues for the Florida conservative Coalition of school board members all those in favor of denying this request please say I I I anyone opposed all right it's four to one okay then we
312are now moving on to item 18.22 which I am very thankful that Miss Gilmore made a phone wasn't it you that made the phone call who made the phone call for me I made the phone call you made the phone call so we're at item 18.22 approval of the value adjustment board citizen member for 2024 so what has happened is we have had a member but the county Nows decided we should have a Community member too I think they didn't want that well Linda's been serving okay well she served as a school board member but she's no long no no she was there she's there with me oh with you okay all right well maybe they got to reappoint her or we have to we have to reappoint yeah and and listen I I'm just
313thrilled that she is willing to and I appreciate that when she retired you took over the value adjustment thank you so this is um to submit that Mrs Linda cuthber will be our community member that will serve on the value adjustment board as a citizen member for the for 2024 Mo approval second okay hang on all right Mr persus and Mr cologne any discussion by hearing none I will call for the vote all those in favor of Mrs Cuthbert um serving on the value adjustment board as our citizen member for 2024 please say I I I anyone opposed okay it passes unanimously we are now up no 18. 23 we removed y so we are now up to 19.1 which is public partic anticipation here's my stack of cards does anyone need a quick break
314or the audience that tells you something no okay I I apologize when we sit up here for 14 hours there has to be some restroom breaks at times I apologize so that's why I'm asking all right I have 20 cards all right I'm going to call for the first speaker and the second speaker so the first speaker will come on up the second speaker will be ready to come up the first speaker for public put on any general topics tonight will be Mrs Elizabeth Albert she got here and got her cards in first guys welcome Mrs Albert good evening Madam chair members of the board superintendent Dr balabin and members of the audience so I want to speak with you at this point in the evening about allocations this is our contract contct we need
315to make sure that as we're moving through the process of displacements that we are following contract language it would be nice if I could look at you all um so what I also want to point out to you is that we have a past practice and a precedent has been set that our displacements those who um are moving from the school that they're currently in we make those decisions based on certification and seniority and I can tell you unequivocally that there are situations throughout this District where teachers who are on a temporary certificate have been uh told they will remain in a school where teachers who have a five-year professional certificate have been displaced so we are looking into that and I wanted to bring that forward so that you could understand and know that
316that's happening too uh one of the things I want to highlight to you this is a true example 26 year veteran teacher who I went to UCF with in 1997 and graduated uh she has been in this District uh the entire time uh of course she has tenure uh we're playing a reassignment game in our schools now too she's now she's a media specialist she's been reassigned to a halftime media position not displaced so we don't have to go that route and say we displaced a tene teacher but she's got a halftime position now they're trying to find her other half this is what we're doing to our veteran teachers even though we're reducing allocations please know there is a critical teacher shortage that is still going on in our in our world um so
317this reer ification or I'm sorry this it's very late this um reassignment game that's being played in the schools is problematic as well also have here um a copy of the district or chart we haven't heard about any reductions in allocations here so I need you to let me know if that's going to happen for Equity purposes um and then just a couple other things real quick as we know that we are absolutely you heard these students tonight what a better group of Advocates I could not find and I really hope because I know I come up and you listen or not I don't know but the point is these children showed up and they spoke from the heart and I want you to know the power of having art music PE electives these are
318some artifacts from my children's Elementary art experience at Woodward Elementary School Kimberly gist this is a pinch pot that my son made in 2007 he doesn't even know I have it when I die he'll find it this is this is 24 years old Chrissy in my first self-contained class um made this for me when I came back from maternity leave this is 24 years old I've kept it every moment so art music PE not just for the kids the parents the grandparents we keep these as evidence of the progress and the journey that our children have made over the years it means a lot and we have to be mindful of that thank you very much much I apologize that I didn't answer um name the second person thank you m it's Octavia Jones followed
319by Maggie I want to say the last name correctly is it m denil i don't I apologize all right welcome Miss Octavia Jones thank you good evening Dr Balman Miss Haynes board members I stand before you tonight to request your assistance in ensuring that at my Administration make the right decision to protect me my fellow co-workers and our female student body I was recently noticed notified by my principal that one of our female PE teachers is being dis displaced as a result of the district allocations and that an additional male teacher is being reassigned to the PE Department in her place unfortunately this decis decision will result in me being the only female only female P teacher in the department solely responsible for supervising roughly 60 to 80 girls depending on the period in the
320locker room while the men's PE department will grow from four to 5 I'm here today ask you to ask you for your prompt intervention to ensure this does not happen and to help ensure that I continue to have the support of a female PE teacher in our department to ensure safety and the well-being of our female students thank you for your time may I ask you a question what school I'm sorry University High School thank you thank you all right um is there a ma Maggie here okay how do you pronounce her last name mon monelli okay thank you all right next up Karen weinrick Sheila butchard I know she's here followed by Cameron vincon are we down to the wire for retirement before she starts the clock yes 37 Days um I've changed what
321I've written here 10 times while I've been sitting here this long evening the kids that spoke I think will say said way more than what I have to say but I'm still saying it um like I like um s just said I'm a longtime employee I have been in this school district I have seen superintendents come and go I have board members come and go I have never seen what's happening in our schools right now before Sr funds we had media specialist in every school we had fully staff PE classes we had fully staff electives we had pair Professionals in classrooms with the neediest students but because s funds are going away these positions plus many others are reduced or eliminated how can you justify those cuts when district office positions that were added or
322S funds are not being eliminated I know that we've changed the funding how we're funding schools but shame on you for making the principles Escape goats School administrators now see that you don't care about them any more than you care about the rest of the Schoolboard school-based employees maybe if our district leadership was more concerned about students and teachers and staff at their school and not so concerned about their social media presence things would be different Dr Balin you sent us a lovely video email to Media specialist last week for National librarian week and I appreciated it but at the same time most of those media Specialists were told that they would not be in media anymore many of them were told they were going to have five periods of another subject and one period
323in media in high schools or no media specials at all especially at critical schools like Palm Terrace most needed needy School in our district and they're not going to have a media specialist that is a crime and it's also hypocritical of all of you I will tell you if you don't have a media program with media Specialists you're going to see test scores go down and and things are not going to be good for those critical needs I saw the writing on the wall last year when you staff District media leader with a perfectly nice lady but she has no experience in media and all she's done is taken a test in an exam also on National Librarians day who thought it was a good idea to send out a list of book challenges for
324most books that have already been approved by committee oh I know you're not even going to follow your own book policy maybe and I would only hope that the mothers for Liberty it would be my wish that you use same amount of energy for improving our schools in so many other ways instead of wasting the time the media specialist and District staff by challenging books that have already been approved by committee you that what I was going to say there um maybe it's because some of you are mothers for Liberty and that's why you're putting up with those bullies my SE my last concern is something that my friend Karen ryanr stood before you month after month about no AC well I'm here to tell you about too much AC for several days I've had
32552 degrees in my media center we gave a test a high States test at 52 degrees today it never got over 67 degrees I know there's e Esser funds aren't used for facilities but I bet we could save money if we would have more efficiency in our buildings I know I'm over my time but my last thing is you know I've always said it we could have solutions to District problems and concerns if we had a suggestion box about how to do things better and maybe the person that idea was used each month would get a monetary award but oops no funds thank you Mrs Cameron vincon followed by Jennifer Kelly good evening my name is Cameron vincon I'm the executive director of art house foundation and of you know my faces I'm also on
326the board of directors for the vcca I sit on the advisory committee for the county of UAH for the echo Gallery I'm also a mother of a student of BL County Schools Art House was founded 28 years ago out of Spruce Creek High School to exhibit artwork Lui County students kindergarten through 12th grade and that time we've exhibited over 100,000 works of art in our tiny humble little Gallery as well as around the community I love to brag to people from my hometown to people that I meet colleagues I love to brag that valua county has the top ranked art program for a public school system in the State of Florida I love to brag that we have an art program and an art teacher in every school as of last week I lost those
327bragging rights they're not terminated effectively immediately but they will not be coming back for next school year three elementary schools are without art for next year no art program no art teacher seven teachers so far this is only the beginning seven art teachers from around valua County have been terminated for the upcoming year I know many of of you may not know this and that's why I'm begging you let's all get informed Mr persus you are an Honore of Art House you're a huge supporter of the Arts you just were out there telling them how we will have arts in every school I'm not sure that you know about this we need to get informed we can't lose the Arts i h i teach six arts after school classes a week at Art house foundation
328We Serve All ofua County I have kids coming in third fourth fifth graders crying because of the testing they're exhausted assessments and testing assessments and testing it's great that they scored a special score they're exhausted they have no creativity left anymore they leave my classes and laughter not because of anything that I've said because I've given them back control in their life through a creative Outlet art increases finding gross motor skills social skills communication and allows a child to express themselves without fear of reprisal I know that we can come together and we can find a solution because I will tell you now there are a lot of angry parents out there as we speak and word is getting out and it's getting worse let's come together and partner up to find a solution to
329this please do not cauterize art from the life of our children they need it more than ever good evening next up is Jennifer Kelly followed by Jennifer Lepa thank you let me just say wow I want to thank than you all for spending uh 30 seconds not addressing my concerns and 30 minutes addressing a concern off agenda against policy so thanks for showing me I can just ignore and break policy um I want to address a couple things I've heard uh through the day today the first thing I want to address is the um the random searches and we talked about the language and it says everyone but a lot of the conversation is around students so a question that arose for me is if the randomizer picks a classroom and everyone has to be
330searched does that include the teacher I'd like to see what Miss Albert has to say about that um the other thing is I heard um when we were talking about the workman's comp uh increasing exponentially why is that happening what's happening in schools that's causing an increase in work rated injuries exponentially um loss of positions communication and transparency would help with this a lot I would like to see a list from our district or a chart that shows all the school positions that they're losing and gaining and what um has been gained or lost at the district level has there been any District Cuts I haven't heard anything about that yet in my opinion I think that's where it should have started um my student uh or at the students at my school uh where
331my student goes they're going to be losing 17 positions and the cuts are going to be made from the Ace Program there where my child currently participates it's a four-year plan they already don't have Ace bio so what else are we losing and how are we going to keep up the rigor for those students I don't know the answer to that either um I've also seen many questions online uh why the district are cut cutting programs for music art we heard that uh from a bunch of the students tonight and possibly libraries we had all these things prior to the covid money why are they being cut now uh middle schools lost an elective a few years ago when we went to um teenss and here we go again cutting more um is the goal
332to remove all the fund for for testing because the testing equals money I wonder there needs to be a better plan 30 seconds left uh the testing in general um I wanted to hit on that I've received two emails from two separate teachers uh to put top priority as testing that the kids will be in and out of the classrooms like popcorn they're responsible to check canvas to make sure they're making up the work they're missing while they're te while they're testing and when they're finished with the test they still have to sit there instead of getting instruction um and another email said the dates will change this quarter because the testing required exp and to expect fluidity I've never received emails like this about the testing um you know I'd like to hear what
333the students have to say about it I was glad to hear that the teachers and principles are now brought back into the discussion but the parents and the kids need to be heard from too thank you thank you next up Jennifer lepeka followed by Laurel Robinson did I say your last name correctly okay thank you welcome nervous so bear with me um so my name is Jennifer Lupa um I have seen every single Schoolboard meeting since March 2020 so every Schoolboard meeting every Workshop gin cologne's nodding because he knows every once in a while message him say I have this idea for something that happened um so I am your 2021 2022 valua County School's secondary social studies teacher of the year I am also um this year's uh the 2025 pin Ridge High School
334teacher of the year um so I am so proud to be a panther I thank you so much for the administrators that you have in place right now they are amazing they go to bat for us like they are fantastic um so much so that they had to get put into a an awkward place an awkward position we worked so hard to say at the beginning of the year we were fully staffed at pineridge high school it was amazing um the atmosphere was great um and then to hear about 20% of Physicians are going away and staff is going away and we're having to play musical chairs um I am the proud psychology teacher right or I can't say psychology teacher anymore um psychology teacher I have a shirt it's psychology um but I um
335I can't really say that anymore it's using my identity I'm the psych teacher I'm going to be the world history teacher because psycholog is going away um mental health isn't but psychology is um it's okay I know we're going to bring it back right when we fix this um but I feel really bad for our administrators our administrators they are fantastic but they got put in an awkward position so um again watching every every school weard meeting um the board directed that the district not use any of the SR funds for anything that would be reoccurring you said it like a billion trillion gajillion times and what do we do we put salaries in there that does to me does not sound like a recurring fund um if that was the case then whoever's contracts
336those were um it might have been nice to say hey it's not a reoccurring thing you're only going to be hired for this place instead we kind of played mix match and like all right well you were the sidey teacher and you were fine before but now you have to do all these different other things and we've been very creative at pineridge but other school is not so lucky um my daughter's school her Elementary School will have no art I don't know what they're going to do um I love all the artwork that she does she her teachers are great but it's not like an art class it's different um I know I'm running out of time so I have several students um who uh wrote letters and stuff so I'm going to give that
337to you as to why they should have psychology um some kids are diagnosed with bipol or depression and all kinds of things and why those mental health videos are great and all it's nothing like having recy teacher um so I have a couple suggestions in my few seconds one can you guys kind of own it right like we made mistakes it's okay we all made budgeting errors I probably spent too much money in Chick-fil-A I get it um but if we could just kind of own that part and and stop kind of bearing our admin that's not fair to them in all kinds of schools right say my bad okay um and then um double check on what we're doing with the new teachers that we got from other countries don't get me wrong I
338love diversity it's awesome but as long as they're not taking places of the teachers that were already here that's kind of important to knowe I'm so sorry um maybe for some suggestions help teachers who are being displaced um maybe over the summer help them work to get certifications in other areas that are of need so you have that PE teacher that got displaced right from an Elementary School and we don't need any more PE teachers anywhere else help them get a reading certification or whatever else maybe pay that 75 bucks or whatever it is to get it on their certification um so that way they're still employed and they they feel valued um a couple more things I'm so sorry um maybe for secondary if it's possible I have suggestions sorry um not just problems
339um for secondary if it's possible I will um if it's possible for like lunch hour we love all your suggestions can you do me a favor yes can you please put them in an email to us because I would like them in writing I've been trying to capture them as you spoke and I'm can't write fast enough oh I'm so sorry it's h fast no but thank you and and I do have to end your speech okay I'm so sorry no you you did a great job and I would love every one of your suggestions please if you put them in an email just will you please thank you okay all right up next Laurel Robinson followed by Pam Crowell well welcome Miss Robinson thank you good evening Madam chair members of the school board
340and Madam superintendent I'm Laurel Robinson I live in Norman Beach in vucha County there are many in our community who strongly suspect that some books challenged for indefinite reasons have been removed from school shelves without the benefit of a transparent process the community has further been told that these books are not subject to any challenge to bring them back bring the books back is going to be a phrase that you're going to be hearing probably a lot of from now on there's a movement in the community to change that condition it's true that the State of Florida has created a monstrous untenable process that allows and even encourages outright manipulation of local policy by a cadr of professional book Challengers when they challenge schools have swep the shelves clean when those who care to ask
341how can this happen the answers have provided by School administration have unfortunately often lacked Clarity and consistency these circular responses must stop and it's imperative that the general public watch very closely how this process evolves there's a new 320 policy in the works every sentence must be parsed for its effect right now challenge es to books lead to empty shelves challenges to empty shell lead to a shell game of conflicting rules and regulations at every level our community will not must not surrender our rights as Americans to object to government overreach or any non-performance of public duty in that Spirit soon in the future close by we be issuing a formal grievance to this elected body who's charged with serving the entire public for ignoring the rights of citizens who demand that their voices be
342heard um you would have heard tonight uh many folks talking about this grievance individually because they were going to talk about authors and books who do not adhere to specific political or religious preferences being removed from the general availability of books listen to them the speakers and the authors but please don't be misled or intimidated by moms for Liberty don't be misled by their funders they are legion and they're out there and don't be misled by their political enablers make your own game plan set the plays that will protect our students right to an education we can all be proud of and finally may I say I'm so happy to hear the board say you're willing to go to Tallahassee and try to redo some of these wrongs have been inflicted on schools throughout this
343state and also thank you so much for maintaining the political neutrality of this board that was a vote that was very well done and I thank you for it thank you Pam cwell followed by Christina Quinn is Pam still here okay when is also gone thank you for letting me know then we're up to Laura bashard followed by Tanya veram Mones welcome Miss bashard G to say good afternoon but now I think it's G to be good evening I'm here to I'm Laura bashard I teach at Taylor Middle High I'm here to ask a few questions and express some concerns I have regarding this new school budget process Taylor Middle High is a really small school and we're losing 14 teachers almost 20% of our teaching staff and I find it almost impossible to believe
344we are overstaffed to that extent um ese was hit particularly hard and with their ever increasing workload I'm not quite sure how fewer teachers are going to be able to support our students so my next questions are then how many district positions are there how many of those were created within the last four years how many district Personnel are being displaced how many teachers were brought to VCS from other countries on work visas last year it is my understanding that there is a contractual agreement so they cannot be displaced given that we all knew Esser funding was going to go away why did we enter into this kind of an agreement um I understand the AVID program is no longer going to be offered now I don't teach Avid but a lot of my students
345aren't Avid and they are very upset and so it's because of them I'm now talking about this um didn't we spend tens of thousands of dollars sending teachers to Avid institutes over the past several years if the program was worth the cost of the hotels and the conferences why isn't the program worth keeping are we spending money just to spend money um we tout how no not we um the district is touting how this new budget process gives more flexibility to school administrators and this is disingenuous you just forcing administrators to make them impossible decisions so that you can claim plausible deniability is this whole budget process just another example of the district making one more poor financial decision expecting teachers and students to clean up the mess thank you thank you Tanya Vera Mones
346Tara marceli followed by Katie Fay welcome good evening Sarah marzilli president of the vucha art Educators Association and teacher at pinrail of art education I currently teach 727 students and to find out that my fellow art teachers art Educators across fuchia County are not going to be at every single school is extremely disheartening I know that it is an extremely important subject to make sure that all students are exposed to the Arts and finding out today that there are seven if not more student or or teachers rather that are not going to be actually having their programs at schools I know for a fact that there are three that I spoke to this evening that mentioned that they are told well my principal put me in a predicament where I had to choose Jed or
347a half a position that is not okay that a teacher was put in that predicament and students be should be getting exposed to a Highly Effective Teacher that is certified in that area art education is extremely important to neurological development let alone the fact that we do have those precious moments that we get from our children that we save as those momentos I am not okay with the fact that what is being displayed to the public is that it was a mismanagement of funds that clearly was not the case when it comes to programs that have been there for decades art education should not be missing from any of of our schools nor should any other special areas that have been funded with other budgetary monies that have been allocated according to our budgets that
348we've approved there was recently an article this summer about our Sr funds and the fact that the DCd money was being given to us because that is no longer going to be a problem we were given $4 million because of that DCd fund it was stated by several people in the dist District that the essr funds would be lessened when it comes to the amount of hit to our budget that that was going to be that was posted in The Observer by many of us in this room I want to make sure that we're using the budget that was given to us in an appropriate way and I'm not okay with the fact that I know for a fact that there are several teachers that are not going to be at schools thousands of children
349in elementary schools are not going to have art next year that is not okay with me at all I am also excited to say that I am running for Schoolboard and I hope to have many people reach out with the fact that I plan on looking at the budget and I hope to come up with a solution to work with each of you to solve this problem I do want us to make sure that the Arts and special area are staying in our Valia County Schools I am also a product of Valia County I went to acola I went to obms and I went to se aging myself a bit I even went to dbcc when it was called that thank you for your time good evening thank you Katie Fay followed by Chris Smith
350welcome everybody my name is Katie Fay I am a former media specialist I retired two years ago before the Fun hit the fan um I am the mother of four daughters who matriculated successfully through vucha County Schools um Sheila mentioned earlier the uh lovely Facebook post from a couple of days ago honoring the heart of our schools our media centers and then how interestingly enough right at the same time we began to learn of multiple schools displacing their media Specialists um I know of six the number is increasing and other schools are cutting their media centers half time while the school district may not have directed these moves I think there can be no doubt that it meets with their approval if not their design the media center cannot be the heart of the school
351if there is no media specialist it becomes a room full of Dusty soon Tobe outdated books putting a clerk or teaching assistant in charge of checking out books in no way makes up for the lack of a certified media specialist the media specialist conduct a myriad of events for the children in the school they help the struggling readers they develop programs for families to learn literacy skills who's going to instruct the students in information literacy we just heard about AI who's going to teach the students about the ethical use of Technology but just as important is the risk to our students academic achievement in a feature article in kappen the FI Delta Kappa professional magazine for K12 education Keith Curry Lance and Deborah eatchel assert that since 1992 a growing body of research known as
352the school library impact studies has consistently shown positive correlations between highquality library programs and student achievement Additionally the benefits associated with good library programs are strongest for the most vulnerable and atrisk learners including students of color lowincome students and students with disabilities of the schools that I know that have displac their media Specialists they are all academically low performing schools with a high percentage of minority and economically disadvantaged students cutting the library programs in these schools is counterintuitive another National study using data from the national Center for Education statistics and the fourth grade National assessment of educational progress reading scores document that losses of librarians are associated with declines in reading scores the addition of librarians are associated with learning gains a Washington study even showed that elementary and middle school math scores improve we
353are all still reeling and playing catchup from the pandemic we're trying to balance the budget it's not easy but I would submit that removing certified media specialist from our schools is a costly mistake and our students will be the ones to pay I have copies of the article for you thank you would you please um thank you pass them all next up is Chris Smith followed by Ashley Jackson welcome good evening school board members chair and superintendent balabin I'm here tonight not just simply as a resident of Orman Beach in Valia County but I also have the privilege of serving as the president of f name which stands for the Florida Association of media and education I work with several other school district media Specialists all over the state and I'm aware of how other
354counties are interpreting this new legislation in regards to Media it is very important to note that this County's interpretation is taking a more conservative approach even more so than some of our other traditionally conservative counties in Florida for example in Bard County and P County they are still looking at a book at its entirety when it's challenged they use use their committee per their policy this involves Community standards and they look at State curriculum standards in those counties some of there are books that they have chosen even though they have sexual content other counties which include Sarasota Hernando clay and Santa Rosa have also kept challenge books with sexual content this is important to note especially in high school because many of these challenge books correlate with the Florida health standards these stand standards include
355talking about rape sexual trafficking and consent and although those are difficult conversations they are needed conversations we do recognize for the need for these books to be written in an age appropriate manner that is why we have committees to look at them they are part of the state curriculum and should be have and have a place in the self- selection in a high school all of these conservative me counties that I mentioned before are still reviewing books with sexual content through their policy and are choosing to keep some of these titles on their shelves when they find that they're appropriate for students for the age that is given it is brought to my attention that several of the books challenged this year do not have any sexual content per some public records but they are
356still unavailable for students to check out because they are waiting um The Challenge process they do not need to be pulled but they are still unavailable this is not following our guidelines these books should immediately be returned to the shelves and dealt with and then you wait for the challenge process to happen another instance of our district this is another in instance of our district not following their own procedures and best practices instead the district office has been telling schools to remove titles based on a media specialist recommendation there's an unnamed media specialist helping the district office this is also concerning because one person reviewing books is are they are they a high school media specialist we don't know do they it's one person's Viewpoint is fallible that's why we have committees that's why we
357have a process have they been looking at standards such as health in which some of these books reside some of these books deal with health standards that I just mentioned before we do not know this information because it will not be shared with anyone we do need to follow our full process and right now we are skirting process and policy Belia county is not being transparent if those other mentioned counties understandings were incorrect shouldn't they be getting into trouble with the state they are not I encourage this board in our school board and County lawyer to have some conversations with these District as a protection to make sure that you are not overcorrecting thank you thank you next up is Ashley Jackson followed by um Mary C Tappen who goes by Katie okay so this
358is a letter from an author it says my name is Elena K Arnold I'm a bestselling and award-winning author of books for and about children and teens among other honors my books have won the Sydney Taylor book award and the National Jewish book award have been California book award finalist three times have been named as a Michael L Prince honor winner and have been a finalist for the national book award these award-winning books have all been frequent names on Banning lists I'm not the only author obviously whose work is being defamed the most frequently targeted books are those that feature lgbtq characters and characters of color and books whose authors share those identities as well as books that deal with the subject of gender and sexual experiences including books like mine that interrogate patriarchy misogyny
359and sexual violence through a feminist lens often my books are accused of being obscene and pornographic scary words but also words with clear legal meaning materials are considered obscene if they failed to meet the Miller test the Miller test is the legal test for determining whether expression like literature constitutes obscenity it is named after the US Supreme Court decision in Miller V California 1973 for a work to qualify as obscene it must fit all three prongs of the Miller test the average person applying the Contemporary Community standards would find the work taken as a whole appeals to the purian interest to the work depicts or describes in a paternal patently offensive way sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law and three the work taken as a whole lacks serious literary artistic and political
360or scientific value let me be clear my work and the work of my fellow authors on these lists are neither obscene nor pornographic my book and the others that have been targeted all have significant literary value no serious person can argue otherwise and attempts to call these books OB scene or pornographic by taping specific lines out of context claiming they represent the whole the works as a whole is either ignorant in ually dishonest or both book bands harm the very children and teens they proport to protect literature gives us stories and information so that we may understand ourselves and The Wider World a reader is in a powerful place with a book with a book in their hands they are in charge they can read it if they choose equally they have the power to
361set it down and walk away when someone makes that choice for readers by Banning a book that has been included in a library's collection by an educated trained Library professional they rob readers of their freedom and they cheat them of an opportunity to engage safely with information and art armed and empowered by experiences and information they encounter in books these same readers will have the language to understand what's happening in the Great Big World outside of them and inside of them as well readers deserve free access to books they have a First Amendment right to freedom of press those who aim to take away their books who are stripping their libraries and book collections are thieves of art culture information and Liberty I stand in solidarity with the library Arians teachers parents and Educators who
362acknowledged that our duty is to the Freedom of Information the art of literature and the protection of young people's access to the full Library collections to which they are entitled Elena Kate Arnold her book was taken from our libraries uh damsel that talked and read as if it was porn but it talked about consent which I believe is part of y'all's um what's it I'm blanking on the word you're supposed to teach about consent and health and you took it off of the books so you guys might want to look at your own thank you we have Mary C Tappen who goes by Katie followed by um Debbie Parker good evening thank you so much I know we're all getting really tired some of us have been at this since 7 AM um I'm here
363as a former Valia County art teacher I taught off on in the district for um 15 years at tamoka elementary and Chism Elementary um I also work very closely with Art House I'm a board member for Art House um so obviously big believer in the Arts um art saved me I did not do so great in some of the other subjects and I know I had students like that as a teacher who art music PE those special area classes they're special for a reason saved them kept them coming to school um cutting those will be detrimental to so many students um we talked I I I know earlier you mentioned um AI I left teaching five years ago it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made I still have a lot of guilt
364about it i' like to apologize to my fellow view members that I didn't wear red I mowed the lawn and came right here so also if you sat next to me apologize for that too ums aside it was a hard decision to leave it was the best decision I made though um for my own mental health and I know our teachers now are exhausted and having to fight continually not just for themselves but for their students and here we are again moving them around because of poor decision- making um sorry I lost for words because I'm just so frustrated one thing that I think we need to keep in mind I I currently work for Embry Riddle um I became an instructural designer so basically that means I work with content experts to design online
365courses we are working with AI um it's a big topic of conversation and one thing we keep coming back to is that students are going to cheat course Hero has been out for years um students are going to always find a way to beat the system it's part of what we do to learn it's kind of their own little problem solving um what we need to do to combat that is to keep creativity in our students keep the human element um all the testing all the the rigor it's already turning them into robots they're already becoming little machines by taking away the things like art music choir physical education taking taking those away is going to take away that human element we need the robots to do the robot things that we don't want to
366do it's great that we can pop something in there and it can take care of that so that we can go outside and play so we can go make art so we can go make music so we need to keep those things in our schools if there's a way we can make that happen I'm with Cameron I would like to work with the school board I'd like to work with the teachers for a way to make that happen Art House can only do so much to add to that and provide that for students who aren't getting it that's part of why we exist because it was already being cut in the schools it was already at a minimum um now it's going to be even worse and we can only take on so much as
367a nonprofit We like working with the schools we want to keep that going but we can't do it if there aren't art classes in the schools so thank you so much for your time next up is Debbie Parker followed by Maria Rivera welcome back Miss Parker good evening again thank you for the opportunity to speak again and I'll speaking for myself also reading from the songs of Solomon by Tony Morrison Laurel talked earlier about bring back books and yes you will be hearing about that whole state of Florida and repeatedly here I'm sure so from Song of Solomon Megan dead had come out of nowhere with nothing but free papers a Bible and a pretty black-haired wife and in one year he' leased 10 acres the next 10 more 16 years later he had one
368of the best farms in Montour County see see what what you can do never mind you can't tell one letter from another never mind you born a slave never mind you lose your name never mind you lose your daddy dead never mind nothing here this here is what a man can do if he puts his mind to it and his back in it but they shot the top of his head off and ate his fine Georgia Peaches mean nobody did anything didn't even try to find out who did it everybody knew who did it anybody nobody did anything wasn't nothing to do white folks didn't care colored folks didn't dare wasn't no police like now besides the people that did it own half the county and I'll insert here that the people who did it
369were white Mon's land were in was in their way folks was just thankful the children escaped these passages are examples of actual parts of Song of Solomon that were objectionable and challenged they're the parts that tell the truth of History the uncomfortable truth but the email that requested the book to be challenged reported pornography this next passage is as pornographic as it gets and no disclaimer is needed even though I've selected the worst of the lines sweet brought him soap and a B's bristel brush and knelt to bathe him what she did for his sore feet his cut face his back his neck his thighs and the palms of his hands was so delicious he couldn't imagine that the love making to follow would be anything but anticlimactic afterward he allowed offered to bathe her
370straddled her behind and mageed her back she put witch hazel on his swollen neck he made up the bed she gave him gumbo to eat he washed the dishes she washed his clothes and hung them out to dry he scoured her tub he ironed his shirt and pants and on and on so if you want to challenge a book in Valia County even a book that has historical and educational value you just need to use the word pornography Song of Solomon is one of five books that were objected to last October they were removed from the shelves within five days as the law requires first step in policy 320 is for the complainant to meet the principal an appointment was set for May of this year seven and a half months later these books have
371been off the shelves for seven and a half months for no reason thank you Maria Rivera you have any other cards okay all right and at this time we are up to item 20.01 items from board member superintendent school board attorney for discussion announcement or announcement Thompson so thank you everyone who stayed into the we hours to speak I know it's been a long day uh for everybody I did want to address because I know we've heard it a couple here times here tonight when I've checked my email I've also gotten emails about it as well so I think now's the right time to bring it up um the Esser funds we've heard about Esser funds and the impact that they've had on the teachers and the schools and the students and the question keeps
372being brought up at the district level what are we doing at the district level and I know there are some positions that are funded through Esser so I just wanted to ask if there has been a plan or if that's going to wait till the end of the school year because we know Esser runs out you know this year so all right may I thank you board member um Thompson so I'm going to take this opportunity to fill in some holes and go back a little bit in time I'm a firm believer that when you assume a position you don't play the blame game you take what you've inherited and you make the best decisions from there on and you move forward but I think it's imperative at this time that that I share a
373couple things for the audience those of you who are listening those of you may know or who may not even know about this approximately four years ago there was an audit that was done by Jim Hamilton who worked at that point for de OE and the audit was in the department of budget and finance the findings and recommendations that were given at that point in time clearly delineated several things and actions that needed to be taken one of the the the the recommendations made by Jim Hamilton is that we needed to look at our budget formula because the way the state um gives District their overall budget it's based on formula so our formula four years ago had not been updated in years now mind you at that point in time I'm going to share
374with you from what I know four years ago soonly soon after that covid came into our lives and we were dealing with covid building and flying as a result of covid the State of Florida provided s her funding it was in three segments to all school districts our school district at that point in time received approximately between Esser and ARP approximately 200,000 $200 million okay so yes the board including the chair and I will tell you exactly where the chair was seated we met to discuss how we will be using the Esra dollars and you're absolutely right you do not use temporary funding for permanent positions okay the chair was seated over there there right where chat is and the entire division was here when we were looking at the estr do and how they
375will be spent now at that point in time there were several folks that that shared you know we should look into these positions and so and the chair made it clear made it very clear we should not now Miss Thompson after a few months after that the plan that we had created which was to utilize those dollars in a nonre occurring manner changed it changed and it ended up funding positions that were reoccurring positions now let me be very clear to you because I think Dr V this morning made a statement reminded everyone how long he's been here he said one year he's absolutely absolutely right he came in towards the tail end as we were getting ready to start the school year I've been a year and a half as your superintendent and you
376go and ask any superintendent in the State of Florida 67 to be precise some of them are elected some of them are appointed not one of those 67 superintendent including myself would state to any of you in here that they would want to be placed into a position as which I am in right now so we took over the district and the first thing that you do you do this when you're a principal also and you go to assume you know you're sent to a school this is a standard practice so as I accepted this position a year and a half ago I had a discussion with the board and I had a discussion with fads and I told him that there were several areas I wanted them to I wanted looked at and that
377budget and finance was one of them I want to know what I'm inheriting fats decided to pay for the consultation fee which they did and we hired once again Jim Hamilton Jim Hamilton worked with Todd seiz our current CFO and they did an audit again the audit revealed exactly the same f findings from the previous audit four years ago so we knew that our funding formula that we were utilizing to fund schools were not updated and again it goes almost like if the state is funding you at XYZ for your your primary programs your general programs your secondary programs your ESC programs your esol programs they're funding you at a certain level you have to adhere to that level as you are doing your school budgets but again I'm going to go back and say
378to you this was not taken into consideration before and we had a mitigate in in place which was the exra funding that were utilized for reoccurring positions now let me remind everyone let's go back I'm going to give you a vivid example of what transpired in Hillsboro County just a few years back a superintendent went in there did a also the very same audit by the very same gentleman right because he is the guru when it comes to budget and finance and has been the guru for many years and when they found out the situation that they were in if you recall Hillsboro County had to dismiss many many positions I'm sure each of you recall that so we had a conversation once this came out this is not something like we did we had
379a conversation we said moving forward we have to be fiscally prudent when it comes to decision making because under my leadership I will not act irresponsible and ignore what has what is in front of me and then before you know it I'm announcing that we're laying off hundreds of employees that will not take place under my leadership so the board and I we had this discussion and we we looked at all of the exra positions that were coded under General but they should not have been coded under General mind you neither here or there right it's what what we've inherited and we had to make sure that we would clean this up and we spent countless of hours had to think very creatively in terms of for and and some of the numbers that were
380shared here tonight it's incorrect by the way okay but there's two schools that we have that I've been told and I will ask them to clarify or correct me that don't have art two schools in our entire District positions have been cut but we'll we'll we'll talk about that that's what has been shared with me but let's go back so we had to adjust the the formula now to make sure that it mirrors how our state provides funding to us we spent many many hours with principles in workshops going through giving them the full scenario ex we had several segments as a matter of fact and our budget allocation process this year included where as as you know when it comes to classroom instruction and those core classes you have that's those are non-negotiables you
381have to fund those positions and we did now in the areas there where there could be some flexibility exerted we met with the principals and our and our district folks and we had those discussions centered around um those questions and where flexibility could be exerted okay but again this was not an easy decision but was it necessary absolutely based on what we've inherited here so to your point let's talk about some of the the the adjustments that were made and you're hearing about District what are we doing when it comes to the instructional timeline that is why adjust adust Ms at the school level has to be done first you know this Mr pares because of the instructional timeline I've shared with the board and I'm going to share with you publicly and I want
382to clarify a couple things because statements have been made well the district is STO heavy so I'll tell you what I did we went ahead and I looked at eight districts that serves approximately within the same vicinity number of students that we have and I'm going to share with you who they are Lee County Pasco County acola bravard seal vuia manate and St John's when you look at these eight counties along with ourselves we're included in there you will find that when it comes to District positions above a director level where the second lowest now let me let me put that to the side I have also on top of this I've shared that we are going to be looking at additional District positions where realignment can take place combining certain positions adjustments now the
383reason why we cannot do this prematurely it's because our administrators are an on annual contract that's one second when it comes to retirement it goes until ending of June right July 1 is when the new fiscal year begins so we're going to get retirements we're going to get also as we near towards the end of the school year employees that may say I'm going to I'm relocating I'm moving I'm going to another district there are all these on on foreseen changes that will come our way closer as we get to the closer of the end of the year that if we prematurely starts to make cuts and changes at this point in time it was it it's fluid what's taking place so the best time to do these is to wait more towards the ending
384of you know as we're getting ready to to transition into the new fiscal school year but before then like with at least 30 days before then that's when you start looking at this and making those changes because you get the new person in time for planning for the the next year the following year but also you're taking into considerations all your retirement or people that may come to you more you know towards the end to say I'm moving so all that can be incorporate as much as possible I know I've given you a whole lot more than you asked for but I think this is absolutely necessary because this is not something that happened all of a sudden but this board is very committed to our our staff and our students and so am I
385and this was not an easy decision for us to make but we looked at this in an expansive manner but also how can we do this where it's it causing the least disruption now if you would like to ask more about specific number numbers because as you know the reappointment tomorrow we'll be getting those numbers from the schools and that's where we will start the placement of the the 284 displaced teachers at this point in time but if you have any additional questions I'll be more than happy to have them come up and share with you all right and thank you for answering that and thank you for answering it so that everyone could hear it because I know that sometimes we get emails and stuff but maybe the public hasn't heard it it's not
386projected on social media so thank you for diving into that absolutely it it's a tough position to be in trust me but if you're looking to do the right thing you know we have to look at what we're currently faced with and see how we can work with it to the best of our ability Mr cologne so a lot that was brought up by our amazing students was related to chorus and I'll share with you I was not familiar with all of the details and and I and I'm going to say this publicly because I'm I'm starting to realize you know when when we started on the board in 2018 2019 you know we we got our footing and then the pandemic came and everything after that and I'm starting to realize that and and
387and I didn't even think about the study that had been done prior to as it relates to formula but I started to ask questions okay well what's going on with chorus that's this is bad and got some information okay so eltona high we heard all of our amazing students they have chorus one no experience needed 25 students good period two Advanced course has nine students period 3 musical theater which has a combination of Advanced Women's and men's course so these students are duplicated that period has nine students period four Men's Chorus has 13 students period five which is another chorus class has five students so the decision at the school base was made to bring it back bring it down to one unit giving the numbers and enrollment that they had they've got 52 students
388not counting that nine of them are duplicated in musical theater because they're on both so from a feeder pattern standpoint Galaxy which used to feed a lot of chorus when miss and gosh I can't think of her name name was there that feeder pattern now why didn't we need to do this it's because we had money so the program did not continue to bring students over and we had it a change of of teacher and and all of that so I think it's important to to state that this decision wasn't made made to say let's get rid of it the bottom line is the students interest just wasn't there isn't there I think the compromise was let's keep a unit that the band teacher is certified to teach not ideal but to think that we
389haven't and and and again this is no criticism but to think that a we have a chorus class which electives typically have how many students 30 30 let's say 30 30 40 let's say 30 that there's five students in one class these are the safeguards we didn't put in place to make sure that we were getting I mean arguably this could have probably been three classes two classes and that's what so yes if we write size and we promote and we grow and we go back to the feeder pattern and and we were're seeing this in Orchestra Orchestra Deltona Middle's really booming and that's going to set University up for University and Deltona High uh up for success and we've made some tweaks there and we've had some conversations and and realize that there may
390not be enough Orchestra students at each individual school maybe not every school Has Orchestra Maybe it used to be where University was the hub for orchestra that's where Stu so students were approved on variances to attend University for orchestra because maybe we don't have enough to have it everywhere but we need to have it somewhere and so while I realize the passion and I think you know I I think we really didn't have those formula safeguards to say you know this this is this is a problem I mean you've got five kids in one whole period so I'm grateful that our principles and yes they've been put in a bad situation this was a non-issue because there was money is that responsible probably not it goes back to the forming the the the funding formula
391that we were talking about so you know before we got on the board and mind you our money problems went away Valia County was consistently 10 1115 million in the red every year they came and said we're in the red we're in the red and I'll never forget when the money came we were like yeah we're finally green and and you right on that but if you don't change these behaviors that allow five students to be in one period That's intended for 30 this is why we are where we are and and mind you the opposite of this is somewhere there's a teacher sitting with too many kids in the class because so I I think it's a balance of two things it's how do we balance the importance of the Arts and I'm all
392I mean I'm I'm grateful a lot of the Arts and and I appreciate the folks from the foundation who've come out here today because we're down to two schools two schools that don't have an art unit one right two yes hold on two which are the two schools that Blue Lake and friendship okay and so we're we're we're still this is a moving Target okay because I mean we're still fighting like heck because the Arts do matter the Arts are important but it's also important that we're responsible about that and so I think it's a perfect clash of the covid money but also that fiscal irresponsibility that had gone on forever that hadn't looked at a program and said this isn't sustainable that hadn't said you know what I mean I give you an example
393and I use I'm going to talk about the Barry Elementary I'm going to go there got a phone call we're going from four to one coach okay de Bar Elementary has a thousand kids how the heck did you get four coaches when most of our schools have 600 kids and have one coach now the person who I spoke to I almost have two two I say two so do the the numbers how did we get to four well interestingly every you know it wasn't a contested thing it was like yeah that's a lot okay maybe that was a little bit more than others okay but it spoke to that lack of control I had some schools that had two coaches because they've been there forever and at one point that school had a higher enrollment
394another school was built but the two coaches stayed because they've been there forever and even though the number count of students went down the number of positions and I I want use coaches as an example it doesn't matter the number of positions were never scaled down because these folks had been there forever so I think what we're seeing is a combination of both things as Miss Lupa said do we say my bad yeah my bad absolutely I think I think this is many many years of bad that for most of us sitting here we didn't see because a year in the money came but hearing your explanation which I hadn't heard to go back to 2018 and say this was discovered you know and mind you we've had lots of change between them I would
395encourage anyone who's got a question to ask the question because I will share with you anybody who I've spoken to and they've asked me about the chorus at Del tonah high and you share they're like oh because people understand that and I think as as we move forward I think that transparency is going to matter um I don't know every story I don't know what's going on at Taylor I know Avid Dell scholarship and and Miss Rivera was here earlier and we had a great conversation and and uh I'm going to encourage the principal if that's okay to reach out to her because I know really the questions were more so because you know the they know Avid is going away they don't know that there's 12 kids seven or seven and so again if
396if the interest isn't there it's just not there what do you do do you keep how long do you keep it going or do we look at other ways to bring that interest up you know I'm I'm looking forward to getting chorus back at Deltona High how do we get to Delona middle Galaxy and Heritage to get them to I tell you I saw it at pineridge pineridge the Men's Choir man they went from like 10 guys to like 2530 because they worked their program they got it to grow but I think it that's what it's going to take or these programs will be at risk because you just don't have the enrollment so I think it's a combination of all those things you know and and yeah the principles had to make very difficult
397decisions but I also think you know like in the example of Orchestra we were able to figure it out is it ideal no do we need to grow it more Yeah by all means but I think working together we can figure it out thank you Mr persus uh thank you madam chair I know that the hour is late and uh uh however I do I do want to at least express my uh view on on a couple of these things uh first of all what Dr Balaban said is is uh very important her comment about it's fluid things are going to change um people are going to leave and that when people leave those are opportunities for us to make fill in some gaps and uh uh so we have to always keep that in
398mind I uh will hope that uh we will start the school year uh with an art teacher at every school and a media specialist at every at every school um I think those are uh those are just positions that we have we have to have um as a as a principal my media specialist was just a key person for such support for all the teachers and to not have that person there I think it'd be a huge void particularly when we're saying all the time the most important skill that we teach in elementary school is reading how how can we not have a media specialist there so I would just want you to keep that in in your thinking as we hope that we can regain some of these positions as the uh as we
399get into the summer and we see where uh we will we could be able to fill uh some of these positions that are currently uh cut uh I feel for the principles of course of course as a former principal I know this was tough and I know it was a huge learning curve uh for the principles that to well first of all just to learn about you know what their base student allocation is and how it's generated and all the waiting factors for the different programs and so forth so I think our our principles gained because they've told me at first they thought oh my gosh and then they gain gained a deep understanding of well this makes a lot of sense now uh and I really want to give them credit because they haven't
400called me whining and crying and saying this isn't fair or anything like that you know they all thought they all received the same information and it was honest and and everyone was treated you know equally and um all all of that um then lastly I would just say that uh as it pertains to our low socioeconomic um schools uh our Title One schools let's say uh uh as always we we have to be a little more receptive to what their their needs are because the children that they serve the amilies that they serve you know they don't they don't have the background they don't have the private resources U that perhaps um some of our other children have so and I know that you always are cognizant of that but uh again as we move
401forward let's just keep listening to what those principles might say you know if I just had one more whatever it would really help I hope we can help them that's it Madam chair Mr persus so go ahead Mrs BR sorry I I'm not going to talk long I I agree with everything that we've said and and I know you and I have had a couple conversations about this and um and I know there there's a time for everything and you have to do thinks methodically um I do think that the communication to the community um has been not not on Target and maybe you know I don't know if it's stemming from a particular situation but I do think that there was for an example Mr Watson today put out a video that explained it
402fully what was going on in Atlantic because there was rumors of the chorus being cut there chorus is not being cut there but one of the positions for the teachers is and so while I'm not you know I I feel bad for that person um I I the program itself is not being cut and I think that that's some of the messaging that's getting out that the programs are being cut and I just think that maybe you can encourage other uh principles to maybe do something what he did that that gets get the message out appropriately to the students because you do feel bad for the the kids that came and talked tonight I mean the one girl is crying um and and so you know I think that we just need to make sure
403that the message is getting out right that's that's that's my message I agree with you miss Bernett and actually when I spoke to um to Danielle and we had our cabinet meeting on Monday that was my direction to the team is to contact those principal so consequently as you you know we contacted Mr Watson and a few other principles I I also know that um Dr Hazel H and and um Dr V is meeting with a few other principles I think it's scheduled for tomorrow morning that will be doing something very similar in nature to make sure that their their staff and community and students understand that the process yeah okay here's where I'm at I did sit over there I actually sat over there and then you moved and you went over there but
404no I said over there when we knew that the Esser money was coming and having a background of working for many years in Title One funding at times there are grants or pockets of federal money that you receive that are non reoccurring you know you're getting it for two years back when the recession pce started we um got the ARA money American Recovery and reinvestment act money and it was non reoccurring but boy everybody had a great time spending it okay um but we were very clear that it was not for any form of a reoccurring um position that was you know you earn an hourly or S wage nor was it for reoccurring expenses of like software or anything that you were buying because it was a 2-year infusion during the recession piece so
405from the moment we knew this money was coming and knew that it was a time frame and it was a pot of money and there were guidelines of what to do and not to do with that money I said repeatedly do not use it to hire additional staff I was the board member that sat in the district meeting which took place here in the boardroom and those chairs were filled and I did I I did I I think I did start there and I moved over there to sit and I'll give Mr West credit because as each department was saying oh well you know this is what we want and what we want to do I think he probably felt my frustration and he finally stood up and he said I want to remind all
406of you miss Hayes's sitting in here and if you haven't heard her say it repeatedly in board meetings I'm going to help her say it he said she said no positions because everybody sitting out there in that audience it was like I want another teacher on assignment I want another resource teacher I'd like another specialist I'd like this I'd like that I mean that's what the whole room was and I'm not I'm not upset with any of them but it was a non reoccurring pot of money ideally it was supposed to be used used for student learning loss during covid which meant extra tutoring opportunities which meant people could make money off of it but this was not going to be you know you you get to hire 10 more teachers to teach on campus
407and I truly in my heart believed they weren't going to C no one was going to cross the line and use it for reoccurring funds and it wasn't until Dr Balaban returned and an audit piece was done from the finance office keeping in mind she wasn't the superintendent at the time and Todd CE was not the Chief Financial Officer at the time that we discovered that that money was used for reoccurring positions and reoccurring expenses and and so I want to there is something I said last July and I have said it and and I'm I'm clarifying what I have said it doesn't change the meaning but when we sat in here last July July to approve the budget and we at that point knew that that money had been used as reoccurring funds which
408trust me I never voted for that to be used I never would have um toddy set up there as the new CH Chief Financial Officer and I said to him I really thought you'd bring us a budget where you would have already reduced part of that money not being used any longer for reoccurring now look he can only do what he can do and I don't have the power to direct him or whatever so I'm not saying this in a negative way towards Todd it was just that's what my Hope was is that this past July we would have already taken care of part of this in addition to that we learned and I'm just going to say it the way it is we didn't follow formula and units were handed out additional units during
409that covid time and I'll give you an example and I'm not I love school counselors and they're needed but everybody remember when we went from one school counselor to now everybody got two school counselors at an elementary level it didn't matter what size so no formula was used to determine that so you could have 200 Kids on Campus or you could have a thousand kids and you've heard me say in this boardroom many times what's happening on a campus has to be based on the funds that are generated and earned by those students and you don't give everybody the same thing you don't give a high school that has 1,000 students the same number of assistant principles as you give a high school with 3,000 students and I'm going to give another example even last
410year I think it was last year it was January when I finally figured out we had a prekese classroom sitting with a teacher and a pair of professional with one child one it's January one one child I've got a school not very far from that school that on day one because I actually because when I saw her she told me how many kids she was gonna have she opened with 14 prek children okay so she's got 14 and by the time I find out this one has one in January she's at we cannot sustain a salary for a teacher and a parah to serve one child but that's what was happening but to further that I had a self-contained ESC classroom on that campus that didn't have a teacher that if I recall had somewhere
411between seven and 10 kids in it quite frankly Common Sense would tell me the teacher with the one student should be in there with the kids that are taking tests and everything else that have seven to 10 kids in the room you know we could have taken the one and staffed them to another location you know I challenged Miss WS a year ago to look at when we have students on campus in programs but where are they coming from and what did she find out she found out the kids in a program at mcginness elementary all lived in Pearson well why were we busting them out of Pearson to mcginness so we put the unit back at Pearson so here's my thing the money should never have gone the way it did formulas should have
412been followed to staff you can't pay a teacher's salary if the number of students that teacher is teaching is not generated in the money that we receive from the state last time I checked there's no money tree out there growing in the backyard you know as I said earlier tonight you know I'd like to do something about the insurance cost and somebody said well just put more money towards it well if you're going to put if we're going to put more money towards Insurance then we're taking the money from somewhere else we can't have everything you can't say and you can't say I want every one of these programs on my campus if the kids aren't there to support the programs you can't we can't let classroom sit with a single child in them okay
413with two adults because when that's happening then the classroom down the street that started with 14 and went to 17 and that teacher in there with a one parah and occasionally a second parah that's wrong but what it takes is it takes monitoring a big part of what I did in federal programs is you have to monitor okay you have to monitor what is happening out there and I said from day one and look people don't like it I'm sorry I said from day one when this started to come about and we were looking at units and we I I don't I'm assuming you guys got a text like I did I got a text on a Sunday afternoon with could I get on a teams meeting and I got on a teams meeting at
4146:45 p.m. that was supposed to be 10 minutes I'm not knocking anybody they they were on there for an hour with me because I wouldn't let them get off because of all the questions I had had because the next day was when the principles were going to find out and no no no and and they want it off and I wouldn't let them um but here's the thing we have to be fiscally and financially secure in what we're doing there is not money laying around to spend we have to monitor there has to be checks and balances but even that night when I got on that team's meeting what I said is thank you for bringing to me what you're bringing about the schools I understand money is earned by the student I have said
415for years because under title one I had to educate principles on it's not you just can't pick anyone you want to put in the position they have to be able to be paid for out of your allocation you know and and that's when I learned a long time ago principles had no clue what anybody cost they didn't know what things cost they didn't know about base salaries and benefits and all of and retirement pieces and so they're like well that person you know isn't it like 50,000 no it's 72,000 and you have to pay for it and they're like well I don't want to spend 72,000 under a title one budget and I'm like well if you want that position that's what with that person that's what you're going to have to do we should
416educate everybody but we have to follow the formula but here's what I asked and Dr Dr Hazel will tell you and I have asked repeatedly and I've actually said to anybody that will listen to Me and Dr Balin thank you for your explanation tonight because I had not heard that piece I said we should have started at the district level because see I've been around a long time and when we hit the recession back in 2008 every District department whether they no matter how they were funded if they were funded out of General funds or were they funded out of Title One or Ida or anything every District Department took a minimum of a 10% reduction in their staff in their Workforce in their department so I was in federal programs at the time and
417our federal funds were not changing but Archie gallon was in charge and he said we will mirror exactly what everybody else is being required to do so we took the same cut in federal programs that everybody else took in addition to that that still wasn't enough to cover what was happening everyone at the at a certain level an up on the pay scale took a 2% pay cut and so I know no one wants to hear that but that's where I'm at my every year I have sat in whichever seat I've been in and I have bagged and pleaded that we open a school year where a teacher is in front of every child there is nothing more important to me and I'm really going to step on some toes with what I'm going to
418say next the people that are not in classrooms in front of children if we have classrooms that start with no teacher and you say oh but they're needed because you know they work with teachers to do this that well what teachers are they working with if we don't have teachers in the classroom our primary goal is to educate children and how are you going to educate children you're going to have classroom teachers in front of them to ensure no teacher should no parent I mean and I really mean should come to meet the teacher at an elementary school on the Thursday or Friday before and find out their child doesn't have a teacher I don't want to hear any more stories and and I've come up I've offered suggestions and Solutions on how to do
419it I should never have an algebra one class at a school that sits with no teacher okay so we're here tonight we have to clean up a mess that we didn't even know was happening and I'll be honest with you when I found out I was angry and I'm still angry I am angry that money that was not generated to be reoccurring was used for that and whether all of you out there realize it or not there are some things that have already happened and I started to bring one of them up earlier today our capital budget money our part of why we're going to struggle with building the seats that we need based upon the growth happening right now is because part of that capital budget is being moved over to General because of
420what we're facing and we could get some of the capital things done but we got to push them off because we need them in general so I know everybody wants and once and once and I wish we could give them everything they want but there's not enough money to do it and I will tell you this I'm not ever going to be in a position again where a superintendent does not disclose what they chose to do with money that they were told not to use it for what it was used for so I I appreciate Dr ban and I appreciate her explanation but they W they're look we don't get to decide but I'm telling you right now there will be cuts at the district because there has to be we may have to go
421back to where we were in 2008 and everybody cuts and we may have to take some pay cuts too on top of it but we need we need certified teachers in front of kids but at the same time I can't support a classroom that has five kids in it guys I can't do it and anybody that wants to fuss I'll argue that with you because because we have to have enough there's nowhere else to get the money so everybody that's put out their narrative and you're like well they're not doing this or they're not doing that or you know they're taking stuff away you need to understand the whole story of what's happened units were handed out like Santa Claus was handing out presents okay and now we got to clean up from that too
422but Dr bin to your point chair Haynes I'm going to say this again there will be additional cuts at the district level there's a reasoning that I explained why it has not been done before because that would be in every District that I've worked when you're making District Cuts it's closer towards the end of the year for all of those reasons outlined also I want to clarify that the statement that's being statements that are being made that our district is topheavy remember District staff exists to support schools you You' heard of some of those support mechanisms we talked about that today when it came to assessment and the reason why we are where we are and the reason why we have made the improvements that we have it's because of the monitoring that we've put
423in place right so with that said I'm I'm I'm telling the board here that there will be addition in addition to us being the second lowest out of eight seven other districts that are within vicinity of the students that we serve in addition to that we will have additional Cuts but it will be more towards as we approach the you know we finish testing and start planning for next year um so with that said I just want you to know that you can expect that Mr col I had asked this question so International teachers um is there a contract in place that says we can't if we no longer have the positions of available that we can is that accurate so Mr Wes I know I shared this with but come you you you speak
424and you know the contract very well yes thank you um our the question is is and our International teachers are treated just as every one of our teachers um because they are our teachers at this point um so they've gone through the same displacement process or nonre appointment PL process and we've had and reappointment process and we've had International teachers that fall into all of those categories so we treat them as we do every um position or every teacher that we have in in that category the contract does say that we can if need be and there is a a reduction which we have let me clarify we haven't had a reduction we have not had a uh layoffs okay or a reduction in Workforce that's the legal term um um we have a displacement
425process where we're going through and it's our normal process um so there is something in the contract though for that if need be okay I would hope that we would prioritize the folks who are here and live here and mind you I know they're helping us in a lot of our critical areas anyways that they are correct that they are you know qualified and and able to teach um and and they've also filled a lot of Gap in places that other people do not want to go um and so we're grateful for that but I also want to make sure that we are prioritizing who's going to be here five years from now um who is here today so um that's just a a comment thank you pman did you want to say something else
426no no ma'am sorry anything else from anyone I have one final question has the title one allocations been handed out to the title one schools do we know yeah I think it they have already been yeah okay and I'm G I have to make one more statement because I've said it out loud to all of you guys we need to look at our Ida money and how it's being spent because I'm still going to say Ida money is earned by students based on their Matrix and the first place it needs to go is at the school level to the students sitting in ESC classrooms so if there's nothing else Mr Wolf do you have anything no nothing then it is 11:57 p.m. and this meeting is adjourned for