001I'M KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME TO YOU HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAM. >> I'M NADIA COMBS, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA, AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. >> OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. >> YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635
002AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. >> MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. >> WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA, AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS, CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. >> OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 21st, 2026, IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF
003SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Karen Perez: MEMBER COMBS, THANK YOU. WILL YOU NOW PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? >>Nadia Combs: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROCK BAND ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL DR. DELIA ROBBERA AND SHAWN MOATS AND JENNIFER MOATS. THEY ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE'D INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> HI. MY NAME IS KYLIE. I PLAY THE DRUM SET. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS ADDISON HAWKINS. I SANG AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. >> HI. MY NAME IS SAWYER. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I SING. >> HI. MY
004NAME IS RITA. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND I'M A BASS PLAYER. >> HI. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I PLAY ELECTRIC GUITAR. >> HI. MY RECLAIM IS IS VEROLIKA, I PLAY THE KEYBOARD. >> I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND PLAY ELECTRIC GUITAR. >> HI. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I PLAY THE PIANO. >> HI. MY NAME IS ROCKSHAWN. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE AND PLAY THE GUITAR. >> HI. MY NAME IS CHRIS. FIFTH GRADE, I PLAY THE KEYBOARD. >> HI. MY NAME IS LOGAN. FIFTH GRADE AND PLAY THE DRUM SET. >> HI. MY NAME IS JENNIFER MOATS, I'M ONE OF THE PROUD MUSIC TEACHERS AT CLARK ELEMENTARY. >> AND I AM SHAWN MOATS, THE OTHER PROUD MUSIC TEACHER FROM CLARK ELEMENTARY. >> HI. DELILAH ROWERA, THE VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CLARK ELEMENTARY. >>
005I'M KELLY, THE VERY PROUD ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF CLARK ELEMENTARY. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Henry "Shake" Washington: I LIKE THEM SHIRTS. >>Karen Perez: ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE PRESENT TODAY ARE 11 PARENTS WHO ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED IN ATTENDING AND OBSERVING A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? HISPANIC SERVICES COUNCIL THROUGH THEIR PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS HISPANIC FAMILIES BY PROVIDING WORKSHOPS THAT HELP PARENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE GOAL IS TO HELP PARENTS AS THE ONES THAT ARE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] LEARN HOW OUR SCHOOL BOARD PROCESS WORKS AND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE. THE INITIATIVE, SUPPORTED BY THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND SERVES HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ANNUALLY ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
006THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING. NOW, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. MARCH 31st, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. AND APRIL 7, 2026, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE VOTE PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE
007ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR AN EFFICIENT AGENDA, STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. >>Nadia Combs: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM.
008IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. >>Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. NOW WE'LL GO INTO THE RECOGNITIONS. A 01, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ANN MARIE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP ENGAGEMENT, PHILANTHROPY, AND OUTREACH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS, AND GUESTS. THE BUCS BEST KREWE PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY OUR AMAZING PARTNER, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, ARE COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING AND RECOGNIZING THE HEROES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS MONTHLY AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, IMPACT OVER ALL STUDENT -- AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS,
009WITH US TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT'S AWARD RECIPIENT. >> WELL, THANK YOU, ANN MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT EACH MONTH AND RECOGNIZE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE GOING OVER AND ABOVE. THIS MONTH'S RECIPIENTS ARE AS AMAZING AS IN THE PAST. FIRST UP, I'D LIKE TO CALL PRISCILLA SAIDEN-YO. SHE IS A SECRETARY AT PRIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND SHE HAS 23 YEARS OF TENURE WITH THE DISTRICT. AMAZING. [ APPLAUSE ] PRISCILLA, YOUR STORY IS AMAZING. WHAT I'M ABOUT TO READ IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAME UP WITH, BUT IT'S WHAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION, YOUR STUDENTS AND YOUR PEERS CAME UP WITH. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE TRULY THE HEART OF PRIDE ELEMENTARY. FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, YOU'VE GONE OVER AND ABOVE EVERY SINGLE DAY, OFTEN IN WAYS THAT GO
010UNNOTICED. YOU SERVE AS THE MEDIA SECRETARY, BUT YOU ALSO COVER THE FRONT OFFICE DAILY SO STAFF CAN TAKE LUNCH BREAKS AND ATTEND TO OTHER DUTIES. WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE LIBRARY OR IN THE FRONT OFFICE, YOU'RE ALWAYS WATCHING FOR WHO NEEDS HELP. IF YOU SEE A TEACHER OVERWHELMED, OUT OF TIME AT THE COPY MACHINE, YOU STEP IN. YOU TAKE THE PAPERS AND YOU FINISH THE JOB. OFTEN STAYING LATE ON YOUR OWN TIME. THE LIBRARY IS CONSTANTLY BUSY, FILLED WITH CLASSES, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING AHEAD. PREPARING MATERIALS AND ORGANIZING CARTS OF RESOURCES BEFORE ANYONE EVEN HAS TO ASK YOU. AND WHEN YOU SEE A STUDENT IN NEED, YOU QUIETLY TAKE THE TIME TO TALK AND LISTEN. THEY ALWAYS LEAVE FEELING HAPPIER AND MORE CONFIDENT THAN WHEN THEY ARRIVED. YOU ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY TALENTED
011ARTISTICALLY, AND YOUR CREATIVITY HAS BEEN SEEN ALL ACROSS CAMPUS, FROM THE LIBRARY TO THE HALLWAYS, CAFETERIA, AND THE FRONT OFFICE. TEACHERS REGULARLY SEEK YOU OUT AND YOU GRACIOUSLY HELP, EACH ONE CREATE BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS THAT BRING PRIDE TO OUR SCHOOL. YOU ARE TRULY A TREASURE TO EVERYONE AT PRIDE ELEMENTARY. AND EACH YEAR WHEN GRADUATING SENIORS RETURN, THEY ALL COME BACK AND ASK FOR YOU WITHOUT HESITATION. AND THEY DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT A HUG. AMAZING. [ APPLAUSE ] AND FOR THAT, YOU ARE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE SUPPORT STAFF FOR THIS MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP, I'LL CALL CHRISTINE, THE PRINCIPAL AT SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. 22 YEARS WITH THE DISTRICT. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM US. THEY ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR STUDENT BODY, THE PEOPLE THAT
012MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE EACH DAY. YOU ARE THE PRINCIPAL WHO LEADS WITH A RARE COMBINATION OF COMPASSION, STRENGTH, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. YOU TREAT EVERY STUDENT, EVERY STAFF MEMBER, EVERY FAMILY WITH GENUINE KINDNESS AND RESPECT, ALWAYS PUTTING OTHERS FIRST NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE FACING PERSONALLY. EVEN WHILE YOU ARE NAVIGATING YOUR OWN HEALTH CHALLENGES, YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FULLY PRESENT AND FULLY INVESTED. YOU'LL FIND HER IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENT IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THROUGHOUT CAMPUS, EVEN CLEANING THE SCHOOL AND ALWAYS SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND CELEBRATING THE SUCCESSES OF THE STUDENTS. YOUR PRESENCE SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT EVERY PERSON AND EVERY MOMENT MATTERS. WOW. YOU DON'T JUST LEAD THE SCHOOL, YOU LIFT THE SCHOOL. THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE WHEN I READ THAT. THROUGH YOUR MENTORSHIP
013AND VISIBILITY AND SINCERE CARE OF OTHERS, YOU'VE CREATED A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SUPPORTED, VALUED, AND INSPIRED. AND FOR THAT, YOU ARE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE REWARD RECIPIENT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> IT HAS MY NAME ON IT. [ LAUGHTER ] >> CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] AGAIN, WE HAVE A LITTLE TRADITION AT ONE BUC, IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME AT THE SCHOOL BOARD. ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL THAT'S ON AND OFF THE FIELD. THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO BRING THIS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE ARE EXAMPLES I READ EVERY MONTH WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING OVER AND ABOVE. THIS IS VERY MUCH WARRANTED. THE LAST RECIPIENT IS OUR TEACHER OF THE MONTH. UNFORTUNATELY, CHRISTINE MILL, WHO IS AT LIMONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US. I WANT TO, AGAIN,
014THERE IS A PATTERN HERE. 23 YEARS -- SHE'S HERE. SHE SNUCK IN. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU JUST MADE MY DAY. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THERE IS A PATTERN. OUR THREE RECIPIENTS, 23 YEARS, 22 YEARS, AND CHRISTINE HAS 24 YEARS WITH THE DISTRICT. UNBELIEVABLE. SO THANK YOU. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS THAT I'M ABOUT TO READ ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU CO-CHAIR THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS FINDING WAYS TO BUILD MORALE ACROSS CAMPUS. YOU POUR YOUR TIME AND ENERGY INTO BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S BAKING CAKES FOR THE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DAY, ORGANIZING SOCIAL HOURS, OR PLANNING POTLUCK DINNERS, YOU LEAD WITH POSITIVITY AND WORK HARD TO SPREAD THAT TO OTHERS. MUCH OF WHAT YOU DO HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES. I'M A BEHIND-THE-SCENES GUY,
015TOO. I CAN RELATE TO THAT. BUT IT'S TRULY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOL. ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL THINGS THAT YOU DID THIS YEAR WAS HELP BRING A MEMORIAL GARDEN TO LIFE FOR A STUDENT WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY FROM THE FLU. THROUGH YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN BOY SCOUTS, CHRIS, YOU CONNECTED AN EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE WITH A STUDENT'S FAMILY. THE SCOUT LED THE PROJECT RAISING FUNDS AND DESIGNING THE PHASE, BUT IT WAS YOU WHO HELPED ORGANIZE, COORDINATE AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THIS PAST MONTH, THAT VISION BECAME A REALITY WITH THE CREATION OF THE JAMES THOMAS MEMORIAL GARDEN. TODAY, IT SERVES AS A PLACE OF COMFORT AND PEACE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF. JAMES' YOUNGER BROTHER PASSES BY IT EACH DAY ON HIS WAY TO CLASS AND MANY STUDENTS NOW SIT THERE TO READ
016DURING RECESS. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO A YOUNG LIFE LOST WAY TOO SOON AND A LASTING GIFT TO THEIR SCHOOL. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR COMPASSION, AND YOUR DEDICATION. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE FELT IN THE SCHOOL FOR YEARS TO COME. FOR THAT, AND SO MUCH MORE, OVER 24 YEARS, YOU ARE OUR BUCS BEST KREWE TEACHER OF THE YEAR. [ APPLAUSE ] JOINING ME TODAY IS COURTNEY SANCHEZ, OUR CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER AS WELL. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. FORD. NEXT RECOGNITION IS A 02, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE 2026 HIGH SCHOOLS VOTEHILLSBOROUGH ART CONTEST. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP CRAIG LATIMER, SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND KELLY BRANNEN, SUPERVISOR OF 9 TO
01712 SOCIAL STUDIES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY, ESTEEMED CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND, OF COURSE, COUNCIL. I'M PROUD TO BE THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. OUR STUDENTS REPRESENT OUR FUTURE, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED. MANY OF OUR SENIORS ARE 18 SO THEY REPRESENT OUR PRESENT BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. MY OFFICE ENGAGES WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TWO BIG MEANINGFUL WAYS. WE HOLD AN ART CONTEST, THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, AND WE GO INTO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS TO GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER OR PREREGISTER TO VOTE. WE AVERAGE ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE THOUSAND STUDENTS WHO WE REGISTER OR PREREGISTER EVERY YEAR. I'LL BE BACK HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE TOP PERFORMING
018SCHOOLS FOR THOSE REGISTRATIONS IN A FEW WEEKS. BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE A NUMBER OF INCREDIBLE STUDENT ARTISTS. BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE KELLY BRENNAN, SUPERVISOR OF 9 THROUGH 12 SOCIAL STUDIES AND ALSO LAURA HOBBY, SUPERVISOR OF VISUAL AND THEATER ARTS EDUCATION. THESE TWO PEOPLE MADE JUST A HUGE IMPACT IN HELPING US GET THE OVER 300 SUBMISSIONS THAT WE GOT, WHICH WAS LIKE A 33% INCREASE. WE'LL BE GIVING OUT THE WINNING STICKERS DURING OUR MIDTERM ELECTIONS THIS YEAR. WE'RE ALSO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MAKING IT INTO A POLL WORKER PIN. WE GIVE POLL WORKERS LONGEVITY PINS AND WE'LL MAKE THAT INTO ONE OF THE POLL WORKER PINS THIS YEAR. FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE IT. 2500 POLL WORKERS WILL BE CARRYING AROUND THAT ARTWORK ON ELECTION DAY ON THEIR LAPELS OR
019SHIRTS. WE'LL ALSO BE FEATURING THE WINNING DESIGNS IN VOTER EDUCATION EFFORTS. THE SUBMISSIONS THIS YEAR WERE TRULY OUTSTANDING. THREE FINALISTS WERE SELECTED BY OUR STAFF AND SPONSORS. YOU KNOW HOW WE ENDED UP DECIDING WHO IT WAS? WE VOTED ON IT. BEFORE I ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS, I WANT TO THANK OUR ART CONTEST SPONSORS, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, WHO JUST RAN OUT ON US, THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM AND BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY. THEY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC PARTNERS EVERY TIME WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE SOME VERY EXCITING PRIZES FOR OUR TOP THREE FINALISTS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TONY FROM THE AQUARIUM TO JOIN ME AND TELL US ABOUT THE PRIZE PACKAGE. >> THANK YOU, CRAIG. WE HAVE BEEN INSPIRED AS WELL BY JUST THE ART AND THE INSPIRATION TO DO THIS INCREDIBLE ARD. YOU'VE BEEN DOING
020IT FOR SO LONG. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE GIVING THE FIRST PLACE WINNER 8 TICKETS AS WELL AS 8 TICKETS TO GO ON OUR WILD DOLPHIN CRUISE AND HAVE ADMISSION AND A PLUSH SHARK. SECOND PLACE WINNER WILL GET SIX TICKETS AND THIRD PLACE WINNER IS GOING TO GET FOUR TICKETS, BUT THEY ALSO WILL GET TO GO ON THE WILD DOLPHIN CRUISE WHILE THEY ARE HERE, TOO, AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF VIP TREATMENT. THANK YOU, CRAIG, THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR HAVING THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE OUR YOUTH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> BUSCH GARDENS IS ALSO ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, AND THEY HAVE A PRIZE PACKAGE THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS ALSO. OUR THIRD SPONSOR, THE TAMPA BAY BUCS, COULDN'T JOIN US BECAUSE THEY HAD TO LEAVE, BUT ALL THREE
021OF THE WINNERS ARE GOING TO GET SOME GREAT BUC SWAG INCLUDING A FOOTBALL SIGN. SECOND PLACE WINNER TWO TRAINING CAMP PASSES. FIRST PLACE WINNER GETS TWO GAME TICKETS. NOW IT'S TIME TO BRING UP THE WINNERS. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP AND STAY UP HERE UNTIL WE REVEAL THE ARTWORK AND ANNOUNCE WHO THE WINNERS ARE. SIMRAN WADHERA FROM WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] JUNIPER WORTHINGTON, BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] ANGELICA PERTAB, DURANT HIGH SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] NOW WE'RE GOING TO REVEAL THE WINNERS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS YET EITHER. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR THIRD PLACE IS SIMRAN WADHERA. SECOND PLACE IS JUNIPER, AND FIRST PLACE WAS ANGELICA. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'VE ALSO GOT SOME OF THE ACTUAL STICKERS THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE BOARD
022MEMBERS, ALONG WITH A BUTTON THAT WE HAVE MADE UP WITH THE ARTWORK ON IT, TOO. SO WE WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU GUYS. WE'LL COME AROUND HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SCHOOL BOARD. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME INTO THE SCHOOLS AND ALSO TO HOLD THESE CONTESTS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MR. LATIMER. OUR NEXT RECOGNITION, A 03, RECOGNITION OF THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. MEMBER HAHN WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I APPRECIATE IT. I'VE HAD THE HONOR FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS TO READ THE RECOGNITION FOR THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. I HOPE IT'S A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES FOR YEARS TO COME. IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO ME, AND I KNOW TO ALL OF MY
023BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL. APRIL IS A TIME TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE SACRIFICES MADE BY MILITARY CHILDREN. THESE BRAVE STUDENTS FACE CHALLENGES THAT MOST OF THEIR PEERS NEVER EXPERIENCE. SAYING GOOD-BYE TO A PARENT DURING DEPLOYMENTS, NAVIGATING FREQUENT MOVES AND SCHOOL TRANSITIONS AND MAINTAINING FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS DISTANCE WITH REMARKABLE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PROUD TO BE THE HOME TO MORE THAN 4,000 MILITARY CONNECTED FAMILIES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. WE'RE ALSO HONORED TO HAVE 29 SCHOOLS THAT HAVE EARNED THE PUBLIC STAR SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION, INCLUDING TINKER K-8, WHICH IS LOCATED ON MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, AND DIRECTLY SERVES OUR MILITARY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THIS DESIGNATION REFLECTS A DEEP COMMITMENT TO MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF MILITARY FAMILIES AND ENSURING THEIR CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED, CONNECTED, VALUED. AS A SCHOOL BOARD
024MEMBER, IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO REPRESENT AND SERVE OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION THEY SHOW EVERY SINGLE DAY. LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY, MAY GOD BLESS THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING IN OUR ARMED FORCES, THEIR FAMILIES WHO STAND BESIDE THEM, SACRIFICING SO MUCH IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA. TODAY, I AM ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO INTRODUCE OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE JOINED US FROM MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE. WHOSE COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT MAKES A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES EVERY SINGLE DAY. FIRST UP IS OUR FEARLESS LEADER, COLONEL SUE PANIC, COMMANDER OF THE SIXTH AIR REFUELING WING AT THE MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE. [ APPLAUSE ] MR. HOLLIS PAINE, THE SIXTH MISSION SUPPORT GROUP DEPUTY
025DIRECTOR. [ APPLAUSE ] MR. TONY RODRIGUEZ, THE SIXTH CIVIL ENGINEER SQUADRON PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION MANAGER. DR. VENETIA WATERS, SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM MANAGER. THE WONDERFUL KIM SUKACH, HCPS DISTRICT MILITARY LIAISON AND A DEAR FRIEND. [ APPLAUSE ] MS. SHALONDA, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM, FAMILY SUPPORT COORDINATOR. [ APPLAUSE ] ANGELA O'CAMPO, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM FAMILY SUPPORT NAVIGATOR. [ APPLAUSE ] AT THE AMcCLOUD, EXCEPTIONAL FAM SUPPORT MEMBER. SHALONDA, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER DISTRICT FAMILY SUPPORT MEMBER. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THEM FOR ALL THEY DO FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. [ APPLAUSE ] MR. DON DAVIS, MY APOLOGIES. PLEASE JOIN US. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Stacy Hahn: I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE UP HERE GET TOGETHER. WE ALL GET TOGETHER QUARTERLY OUT ON THE BASE, AND SOMETIMES A SCHOOL THAT HOSTS US FOR OUR MacDILL EDUCATION
026COALITION WHERE WE MEET WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE DUTY, AND WE HELP THEM SOLVE THEIR CHALLENGES IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE SERVED WITH ALL OF YOU THE PAST FEW YEARS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO THE YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM OUR CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUES
027YOU LIKE, AND YOU WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO DISRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE DO REQUEST THAT YOU TRY TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES WILL START WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SPEAK. AND WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND HEAR A CHIME. THE RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. >> COOL. SO I'M ONE OF YOUR MILITARY FAMILIES. SINCE STACY IS NOT HERE TO LISTEN TO ME DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE IS MY MEMBER, I AM
028GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE A.I. ISSUE. YOU SENT OUT A LETTER THIS WEEK TO PARENTS, EXCEPT MOST OF US DID NOT GET IT. I HAD TO HEAR ABOUT IT FROM ANOTHER PARENT AT ANOTHER SCHOOL. YOU SENT AN E-MAIL ABOUT YOUR A.I. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE THAT CONVENIENTLY LEFT OUT HOW LONG IT WAS IN BETWEEN YOU PUTTING IT IN PLACE AND YOU TELLING PARENTS ABOUT IT, WHICH WAS TEN MONTHS. YOU LEFT PARENTS IN THE DARK FOR NEARLY A YEAR. I CANNOT FATHOM WHY YOU THINK THAT WAS A GOOD DECISION. MY ISSUES WITH YOUR A.I. POLICY ARE MANY BUT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND YOU IS NOT THE LEAST OF THEM. YOU ALSO DID NOT COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS THAT YOU NEVER COMMUNICATED THIS GUIDE TO TEACHERS. MY CHILD'S SCHOOL HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU HAD SUCH A
029GUIDE WHICH IS TINKER, BY THE WAY. SINCE YOU GUYS CARE SO MUCH ABOUT TINKER. PRINCIPAL, VICE PRINCIPAL AND ALL OF THE TEACHERS HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS GUIDE EXISTED WHICH IS WHY MY CHILD'S THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER CLASSROOMS HAD SOMEBODY DURING GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN THAT CAME IN AND SHOWED THEM GWEN A.I. YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS. YOU DO NOT CARE. IF YOUR GUIDE WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU, WHY DID PARENTS AND TEACHERS NOT KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL TEN MONTHS AFTER IT WAS IMPLEMENTED. HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I BEG YOU TO EXPLAIN. YOU HAVE YET TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT GAPS THAT WERE POINTED OUT TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE IT BY AN EXPERT IN MEDIA LITERACY AND EDUCATION. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS THE GAP THAT WILL LEAVE YOUR 7 TO 12th
030GRADE STUDENTS VULNERABLE TO GEN A.I. RAMPANT ISSUE WITH MISINFORMATION AND EMBEDDED STEREOTYPES? HOW MANY EXPERTS AND PARENTS HAVE TO COME TO YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU CARE? THANKS. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS AUGUSTINE. I GO TO ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE. AS YOU KNOW, MS. WHEATLEY, THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS RETIRING. I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND MS. SCRIVENER FOR THE POSITION. SHE WOULD BE THE PERFECT PRINCIPAL FOR ROOSEVELT. GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, I WILL NAME A FEW. APPROACHABLE, GREATER LISTENER. I SEE HER IN THE CAR LINE WHEN MY MOM DROPS ME OFF. SHE TALKS TO ME AND ALL THE STUDENTS. I VISITED HER OFFICE JUST TO SAY HI. I'M HERE BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WILL BE THE BEST FIT FOR PRINCIPAL AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY. SHE HAS GOOD QUALITIES AS
031A LEADER WITH WHICH IS WHAT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY NEEDS. CLEAR COMMUNICATION, HIGH STANDARDS AND INTEGRITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING, WHICH, AGAIN, IS HIGH IRONY BECAUSE OF WHAT I'M READING IS JUST SIMPLY OUT OF A LIBRARY BOOK. HERE IS THE LATEST. THIS WAS RECENTLY ADDED TO TWO LIBRARIES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT'S NECK ARE APHILIA -- NECK ROWPHILIA -- NECK ROW FEEL I CAN'T, SEX WITH A DEAD PERSON. I DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF EXPLICIT BOOKS SINCE THE LAST TIME I CAME HERE IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. I'M STILL WORKING ON ALL THIS. AFTER FIVE YEARS OF KNOWING THE PROBLEM, ONE MAY THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A WAY DEVELOPED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. THE BOOK IS CALLED SIBLING.
032PAGE 257. HE'S DEAD. GONE. WE'RE A TWISTED KNOTTED ROPE OF LOVE AND AFFECTION AND DESIRE. I WILL NOT LET THE UNIVERSE DICTATE WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT HAVE. I WON'T LET DEATH ITSELF. TOGETHER WE BREAK THE RULES. RAVEN, HELP ME DO THIS ONE LAST THING. I KISS HER, SHE KISSES AGAIN, KISS ATTICUS, THE DEAD GUY, TELLING HIM WITH THE SINGLE TOUCH TO COME BACK. I CAN FEEL HIS LIPS ON MY BODY. WHEN I REACH FORWARD, I REALIZE THEY ARE UNDRESSING. RAVEN'S BREAST IS AGAINST MY MOUTH. I OPEN IT LICKING HER NIPPLE. SHE SIZES DORIAN'S HEAD, BRUSHES AGAINST MY STOMACH AND NOW HE'S TAKING ME IN HIS MOUTH. I FEEL MYSELF LOWERING BETWEEN RAVEN'S KNEES AS DORIAN PRESSES HIS ERECTION AGAINST MY BACK. SO HOT, THREE OF US SLICK WITH SWEAT. RAVEN'S HANDS ON MY SHAFT
033GUIDING HER AS I PLUNGE INTO HER, DORIAN IS THRUSTING INTO ME AND THE THREE OF US ARE MAKING LOVE WITH EACH OTHER IN A PERFECT, PERFECT CIRCLE, END QUOTE. THIS BOOK BLEW UP THE INTERNET A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO. NOT ONE PERSON COMMENTED THAT THEY HAD ANY MARGINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE BOOK THAT IS MARKETED FOR YOUNG ADULTS. THE DISGUST WAS PALPABLE IN ALL THE COMMENTS BY AMERICANS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, YET WE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY APPARENTLY STAND ALONE IN SUPPORTING NECROPHILIA FOR MINORS. THIS DISTRICT CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE BOOKS DESPITE ALL THE ATTENTION WE RECEIVED FOR HAVING THEM. YOU STILL HAVE NO POLICY OR BOUNDARIES PREVENTING THIS, AND IN THIS CASE, THE BOOK PAINTS NECROPHILIA POSITIVELY AND YOU ARE ALLOWING IT FOR NINTH GRADERS. YOUR JOB IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WHAT KIND OF LIFE?
034WHERE SEX IS CENTRAL TO EVERYTHING, WHERE NORMAL NOW INCLUDES THREESOME SEX WITH DEAD PEOPLE? CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE, AND WHEN THIS CONTENT IS PUT ON THE SHELVES IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND APPROVED THEREBY BY BEING ON THE SHELF, CHILDREN BECOME INOCULATED AND NUMB TO DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL DEVIANTS. CHILDREN DESERVE PROTECTION FROM THIS, FROM EXPLICIT NECROPHILIA. I HOPE YOUR CONSCIOUS -- WHEN ANY KID READS THIS -- >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JUAN HERNANDEZ. FEAR NOT, I AM NOT HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BOOKS. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ALREADY ON YOUR PLATE. YOU GUYS DEAL WITH A LOT. HAVE TO BALANCE A LOT OF COMPETING OBJECTIVES, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THE STATE GOING AHEAD AND DOING WHAT THEY DO, FINANCING. WHAT I WANT TO
035GO AHEAD AND SAY IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS AN UPCOMING VOTE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE THERE IS A POSSIBLE REFERENDUM ON A HALF-CENT SALES TAX. AND ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN THIS BOARD, IN THIS COUNTY TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE MORE FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WE NEED TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND GIVING THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE COUNTY TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THAT. THE CONSTITUENTS HERE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE PROPERLY FUNDED, AND AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. EVERY ONE OF US HERE IS HERE FOR A REASON. YOU GUYS ARE ALL PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. WE SUPPORT THE PASSION AND WANT TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY MORE, IF WE CAN GO
036AHEAD AND VOTE ON THINGS LIKE SALES TAXES GOING TOWARDS A BASEBALL STADIUM. I KNOW PEOPLE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET BEHIND GETTING OUR KIDS EDUCATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUE BATIGLIERI, PARENT OF TWO STUDENTS AT DOBY ELEMENTARY IN APOLLO BEACH. HERE REPRESENTING FAMILIES IN THE RAPIDLY GROWING SOUTH COUNTY COMMUNITIES. ENROLLMENT IS A FOUNDATION OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT DRIVES FUNDING, STAFFING, RESOURCES, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. AND ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE'RE SEEING HOW SHIFTS IN ENROLLMENT ARE LEADING TO DIFFICULT DECISIONS, LIKE CONSOLIDATION AND SCHOOL CLOSURES. BUT IN SOUTH COUNTY, OUR STORY IS DIFFERENT. WE ARE GROWING BUT WE ARE ALSO SEEING A SHIFT IN WHERE FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING TO GO. FAMILIES TODAY HAVE MORE CHOICES THAN EVER. CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOMESCHOOL,
037HYBRID HOMESCHOOL CO-OPS THAT ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR IN OUR AREA. AND THESE CHOICES ARE IMPACTING ENROLLMENT. I WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF STORIES THAT HIGHLIGHT THIS. AT A RECENT PTA MEETING, I LEARNED THAT ONE OF OUR MOST DEDICATED DOBY PARENTS, SOMEBODY ACTIVELY INVOLVED FOR YEARS, IS CHOOSING TO LEAVE NEXT YEAR TO HOMESCHOOL HER RISING FIFTH GRADER. NOT BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO LEAVE BUT BECAUSE SHE FEELS SHE HAS TO. LIKE MANY FAMILIES, SHE'S UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT COMES AFTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT MIDDLE SCHOOL PATH. WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP TO JOIN A HOMESCHOOL CO-OP THAT OFFERS STRUCTURE AND FLEXIBILITY, SHE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO GO. WE ARE ALSO LOSING ANOTHER HEAVILY INVOLVED PTA PARENT NEXT YEAR. SHE IS CHOOSING TRADITIONAL HOMESCHOOLING FOR HER RISING THIRD GRADER. WHILE HER
038IMMEDIATE REASON IS HAVING AN INFANT AT HOME, SHE SHARED THAT HAVING FLEXIBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS LATER MAKES HER MORE CONFIDENT IN MAKING THAT DECISION NOW. FROM A PARENT PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE SEEING A PATTERN. FAMILIES WHO ARE UNSURE ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS ARE LEAVING BEFORE THEIR CHILDREN EVEN COMPLETE FIFTH GRADE. OUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSES ARE GROWING, BUT UPPER GRADE LEVELS ARE NOT KEEPING PACE. THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING AT MORE CLOSELY IN THE DATA. THIS MATTERS BECAUSE ENROLLMENT DRIVES FUNDING. THE ENCOURAGING PART IS THAT WE ALSO HAVE CLEAR FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY. OUR PARENTS' SURVEY DATA SHOWS THAT FAMILIES WOULD STAY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IF THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE AT DOBY THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT EXPANDING A K-5 INTO A K-8 IS NOT SIMPLE. THERE ARE REAL LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES AND COSTS, AND WE'VE HAD THOSE
039CONVERSATIONS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE INSIGHT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS TRANSITION. WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T, AND WHAT FAMILIES STILL NEEDED. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS DIFFERENTLY AND TO DO IT BETTER FROM THE START. WITH THE UPCOMING HALF-CENT SALES TAX REFERENDUM, WE HAVE A PATH TO HELP FUND SOLUTIONS THAT NOT ONLY ADDRESS GROWTH, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN RETENTION AND PROTECT ENROLLMENT. SOUTH COUNTY HAS THE GROWTH. WE HAVE THE FAMILIES, AND WE HAVE THE DEMAND. FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WANT TO STAY. THEY WANT TO BELIEVE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. LET'S GIVE THEM A REASON TO. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS LAURA GARCIA. I'M A MOTHER OF TWO FROM THE WATERSET COMMUNITY OF APOLLO BEACH. I WANT
040TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN, NOT JUST TO ME, BUT TO MANY VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR OPENNESS AND ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE DISCUSSION AROUND EXPANDING DOBY ELEMENTARY, HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO KNOW THAT OUR CONCERNS ARE BEING HEARD AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE DECISIONS BEFORE YOU ARE NOT SIMPLE. YOU ARE BALANCING THE NEEDS OF MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, EACH WITH ITS OWN PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS BROAD, AND THERE ARE PRESSING NEEDS IN MANY AREAS THAT DESERVE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THAT SAID, WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO HEAR OUR SPECIFIC CONCERNS. LISTENING IS NOT A SMALL THING. IT BUILDS TRUST, FOSTERS COLLABORATION, AND GIVES COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS A SENSE
041OF INCLUSION IN THE PROCESS. AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO WEIGH THE MANY DEMANDS PLACED BEFORE YOU, WE SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU DO NOT FORGET ABOUT US. OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS DEEPLY INVESTED IN THIS CONVERSATION, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE BEING A PART OF IT. THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF DOBY ELEMENTARY IS IMPORTANT TO US. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT IT IS BEING CONSIDERED WITH CARE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR ATTENTION, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING ALL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE TRULY APPRECIATE BEING HEARD AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DIALOGUE. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS. ALL THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA HAVE
042BEEN REVIEWED WITH EACH BOARD MEMBER. >>Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 5.03, AND C 9.01. NAMING OF THE MEDIA CENTER AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY. DR. RICK GRAVES, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP JACKIE ISIJAR. SHE IS THE PRINCIPAL AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR PEREZ, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, CABINET MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JACKIE. I AM THE PROUD PRINCIPAL AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. IT
043IS MY PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU IN SUPPORT OF DEDICATING THE DAVIS ELEMENTARY MEDIA CENTER TO MS. SANDRA GUADALUPE. FOR OTHER TWO DECADES, MS. GUADALUPE HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR SCHOOL. SINCE DAVIS FIRST OPENED, SHE HAS HELPED SHAPE NOT ONLY STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BUT THE HEART AND THE CULTURE OF OUR CAMPUS. IN HER CLASSROOM, STUDENTS JUST DON'T LEARN, THEY FIND THEIR VOICES, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND BELIEVE IN THEIR POTENTIAL. SHE CREATES A SPACE WHERE EVERY CHILD FEELS SAFE, VALUED AND INSPIRED TO GROW. MS. GUADALUPE'S INFLUENCE SPANS GENERATIONS, TEACHING BOTH FORMER STUDENTS AND NOW THEIR CHILDREN. A TRUE TESTAMENT TO HER LEGACY. NAMING THE MEDIA CENTER AFTER HER ENSURES THAT HER PASSION FOR LITERACY AND LOVE FOR HER STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FOR YEARS TO COME. SHE HAS GIVEN SO MUCH OF HERSELF TO DAVIS ELEMENTARY,
044THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR PEREZ, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, CABINET MEMBERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RISEA, I AM A COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND OF SANDY GUADALUPE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. ANYBODY WHO KNOWS MS. G, AS SHE'S LOVINGLY KNOWN BY HER STUDENTS AND HER COLLEAGUES, WILL TELL YOU WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSON SHE IS. SHE IS THE FIRST PERSON TO ARRIVE EVERY MORNING, ONE OF THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE EVERY AFTERNOON, ALWAYS GREETING YOU WITH A HUG, A HELLO, AND HOW ARE YOU DOING, NO MATTER HOW BUSY SHE MAY BE. SHE OFFERS HELP IN ANY WAY THAT SHE CAN TO ANYONE THAT SHE CAN. THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE -- SORRY -- HER STUDENTS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT WILL
045BE THE FIRST TO SHARE WITH YOU THE IMPACT SHE HAS HAD IN THEIR LIVES, IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND. SHE WAS RECENTLY VISITED BY A FORMER STUDENT WHO IS AN UP AND COMING SINGER AND SONGWRITER IN NEW YORK CITY. WHO GIVES -- FOR THE CONFIDENCE THAT GUADALUPE GAVE HER TO PURSUE HER DREAM. LOOK FOR THE DOCUMENTARY AT THE END OF THIS YEAR OR NEXT BECAUSE MS. GUADALUPE WILL BE IN IT. THE LASTING IMPACT OF HER VALUES, ACTIONS AND CHARACTER ARE ALL LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW HER LIVES IN EACH OF THE COUNTLESS LIVES SHE'S TOUCHED. FROM THE TIARA GIRLS CLUB SHE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO FOR AT-RISK GIRLS AT DAVIS, TO MENTORING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AT THE CHILDREN'S HOME, TO BECOMING A LIFE COACH TO MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF, HER LIFE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE
046POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. I KNOW SHE LIKES TO CALL US HER ANGELS WHEN WE COME ALONGSIDE HER TO HELP OTHERS, BUT SHE IS THE REAL ANGEL WALKING AMONG US. I'M CERTAIN I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO CALL YOU OUR TEACHER, COLLEAGUE, AND FRIEND. YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. THE HONOR YOU ARE RECEIVING TODAY AS THEY NAMED THE LIBRARY AT HELEN A. DAVIS AFTER YOU IS WELL DESERVED. G, YOU ARE THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS, THE TRUTH WHEN THE WORLD PREFERS A LIE, AND THE HOPE THAT LIFTS US UP TO BE THE PERSON WE'RE MEANT TO BE. MY FRIEND, HERE IS TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE. I KNOW IT, TOO, WILL BE EXTRAORDINARY. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS
047YOU AS YOU BLESS OTHERS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP HERE, MS. GUADALUPE. [ APPLAUSE ] I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 5.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I HAVE THE HONOR TO REPRESENT DAVIS ELEMENTARY IN DISTRICT 1. AS SOON AS I WAS ELECTED, I IMMEDIATELY -- AS SOON AS I GOT TO DAVIS, YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I MET. AND YOUR SMILE, YOUR ENERGY JUST RESONATED WITH ME. SO I WANT TO TELL YOU A FEW THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT YOU. LACY HEALY, YOUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT SAID HER CREATIVITY AND ENERGY BRINGS STORIES TO LIFE MAKING THE CLASSROOM A PLACE WHERE IMAGINATION
048AND LEARNING FLOURISH. MARCY GEARY, YOUR STAFFING SPECIALIST SAYS, SHE IS KNOWN FOR HER MENTORSHIP OF COLLEAGUES, HER LEADERSHIP IN SHAPING POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE AND HER WILLINGNESS TO INVEST EXTRA TIME AND ENERGY TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE. MARCIA, A RETIRED TEACHER SAID, I FEEL THAT SHE HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE OF LITERACY AMONG STUDENTS AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY FOR 22 YEARS. ONE OF YOUR FORMER STUDENTS, MARIE ALFONSO SAID, THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME HOW TO BE MYSELF AND ALWAYS WEAR MY CROWN. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO TRULY SHINE WITH SUCH A POSITIVE RAY AND THEY CARE ABOUT ANYBODY WHO CROSSES THEIR PATH. NO MATTER A CHILD, STUDENT, TEACHER, STAFFING SPECIALIST, ANYONE. YOUR PASSION FOR LITERACY AND YOUR STUDENTS IS SO EVIDENT. AND I WANTED TO SHARE THIS SLIDE BECAUSE -- PABLO --
049THIS SLIDE REALLY IS THE EPITOME OF YOU. I LOVE THAT PICTURE ON THE FAR LEFT BECAUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIBRARY, MS. GUADALUPE ALWAYS DOES SO MANY SPECIAL THINGS. THIS IS WHERE SHE BRINGS HER BARBIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THE LIBRARY. IN THE CENTER, THE TIARA CLUB. I SAID TO HER FROM THE MOMENT I MET HER, I SAID, YOU NEED TO EXPAND THIS EVERYWHERE. THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, RIGHT BY DAVIS ELEMENTARY IS A CHILDREN'S HOME. AND SHE HAS MENTORED THESE AT-RISK -- ALL THE STUDENTS FROM FIFTH GRADE GIRLS DURING HER LUNCH, THEY COME, THEY VISIT, AND THEY DO SO MANY SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. AND AT THE END OF IT ALL IS THE TIARA CLUB. THE GIRLS CROWN TIARAS AS THEY MOVE TOWARDS. BUT THE THING I LOVE MOST FROM THE FIRST
050YEAR AND I DON'T THINK I MISSED ONE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, THE WAY YOUNG GIRLS STAND UP AND SAY I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I CAN DO BETTER. I CAN BE BETTER. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE INSTILLED IN DAVIS ELEMENTARY THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING. I KNOW THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR YOU. AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS, SHE SHINES THROUGH LIFE. ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE TO LOOK AT IS HER SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE SHE SHINES WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN, HER HUSBAND, HER FAMILY, HER CHILDREN. EVERYTHING SHE DOES SHINES. AND WE ARE SO PLEASED TO CELEBRATE TO YOU. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE MET YOU. I KNOW THAT WE'LL ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR EVERYONE AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY. YOUR STUDENTS, YOUR STAFF, YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR
051PRINCIPAL, AND WE TRULY LOVE YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 9.01, SALARY INCREASES FOR HILLSBOROUGH OUT OF SCHOOL TIME EMPLOYEES. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. 9.01 IS OUR SALARY INCREASES FOR OUR HOST EMPLOYEES. AS FAR AS MARKET COMPETITIVENESS, THE PROPOSED WAGE ADJUSTMENTS BRING HOST IN LINE WITH OTHER CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND ENTRY LEVEL ROLES IN INDUSTRIES SUCH AS RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICE, OFFERING COMPETITIVE COMPENSATIONS AS NECESSARY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT IN A COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET. THESE SALARY INCREASES ARE FULLY FUNDED THROUGH HOST, SELF-GENERATED REVENUE, MEANING THERE IS NO FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE HCPS GENERAL FUND. THIS MAKES THE PROPOSAL BOTH
052FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE WHILE DIRECTLY BENEFITING EMPLOYEES AND PROGRAM OPERATIONS. MADAM CHAIR THAT IS 9.01. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 9.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. >>Nadia Combs: I JUST WANTED TO THANK MR. McMANUS AND YOUR ENTIRE HOST TEAM AND STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND WE WENT OVER IT. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THERE ARE NO -- WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. >>Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATES THIS EVENING WILL START WITH ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITHIN OUR
053STRATEGIC PLAN. BOARD MEMBERS, A LOT OF YOU WERE WITH ME THIS MORNING FOR OUR TURN AROUND STUDENT AWARDS. THE 35th ANNUAL TURN AROUND STUDENT AWARDS BREAKFAST. THE TURN AROUND STUDENT AWARDS CELEBRATES STUDENTS WHO HAVE OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND DEMONSTRATED MEANINGFUL GROWTH ACADEMICALLY, PERSONALLY OR BOTH. THIS BREAKFAST HONORS RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE AND THE POWER OF SUPPORT IN HELPING STUDENTS CHANGE THEIR PATH AND SUCCEED. ANOTHER CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THESE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS. IT WAS AN AMAZING MORNING. GREAT WAY TO START OUR MORNING ON A TUESDAY JUST CELEBRATING ALL OF OUR GREAT SCHOOLS AND ALL OF OUR GREAT STUDENTS. SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO ANN MARIE COURTNEY AND HER TEAM FOR GETTING THAT ALL SET UP, OUR 35th ANNUAL AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK PIN CHASERS WHO HAS BEEN THAT SPONSOR FOR 35 YEARS. THANK YOU TO PIN CHASERS AND MS. COURTNEY
054FOR EXCELLENT TURNAROUND STUDENT AWARDS THIS MORNING. STUDENTS, FOR 2026 FLORIDA INVENTION CONVENTION WINNERS, STUDENTS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOWCASED THEIR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS WITH THE 2026 FLORIDA INVENTION CONVENTION RECENTLY HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, EARNING TOP PLACEMENT AMONG STUDENT INVENTORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE. THE CONVENTION BRINGS TOGETHER K-12 STUDENTS WHO DESIGN ORIGINAL INVENTIONS TO SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS. STUDENTS PRESENT THE RIGHT IDEAS, PROTOTYPES AND RESEARCH TO JUDGES FROM INDUSTRY, HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE INNOVATION COMMUNITIES. SO OF THE 65 TOTAL AWARDS HANDED OUT AT THIS YEAR'S EVENT, HCPS TOOK HOME 15 OF THEM. 23 OF OUR STUDENTS WERE ALSO INVITED TO GO TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION THIS JUNE IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN. SO CONGRATULATIONS, AND GREAT JOB TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR GREAT HARD WORK. ALSO, STUDENTS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC
055SCHOOLS EARNED TOP HONORS AT THE 2026 FLORIDA TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION STATE CONFERENCE, SHOWCASING EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS. COMPETITIONS FROM ACROSS THE STATE. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE DREW MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS STATEWIDE. STUDENTS FROM MIDDLETON, WHARTON, ROGERS MIDDLE MAGNET, YORK AND TURNER/BARTELS REPRESENTED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, EARNING MULTIPLE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE FINISHES IN A WIDE RANGE OF EVENTS. AROUND EXCEPTIONAL TALENT -- THIS ONE IS PRETTY NEAT. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU REMEMBER OUR RODEO COMPETITION. WELL, THEY MOVED ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SO OUR HCPS IS CELEBRATING A STAND-OUT PERFORMANCE BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AFTER HOSTING AND COMPETING IN THE STATE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY RODEO ORGANIZED BY THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF PUPIL TRANSPORTATION. SO HCPS WELCOMED TRANSPORTATION FROM SARASOTA, MANATEE AND GADSDEN COUNTIES FOR THE STATEWIDE EVENT, WHICH SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS ON DRIVING SKILLS, CHALLENGING
056OBSTACLE COURSE, SAFETY, KNOWLEDGE AND PRECISION. HCPS AS WE ALL KNOW ROSE TO THE TOP AND SWEPT THE EVENT EARNING FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE OVERALL. SO JUAN MALDONADO GOT FIRST PLACE. ANDREA, SECOND PLACE, AREA FIVE. THIRD PLACE, AREA SEVEN. ALL THREE OF THE WINNERS WILL GO ON TO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUR DRIVERS REPRESENTING TOP THREE, REPRESENT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY RODEO THIS SUMMER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. SO THEY GET TO GO TO AUSTIN TO COMPETE AGAINST TOP DRIVERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION. CONGRATS TO THEM AND LAURA HILL AND THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION TEAM FOR HOSTING THE STATEWIDE COMPETITION. NOW THEY MOVE TO AUSTIN. THAT WOULD BE A COOL THING TO WATCH A RODEO EVENT FOR SURE. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR BUS DRIVERS THAT MADE IT AND
057MADE IT TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION. HERE'S SOMETHING, ANOTHER BIG ONE. RAMPELLO K-8 DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US, HAS EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION. THEY WERE THE FIRST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES, FIRST ELEMENTARY IN THE UNITED STATES TO ACHIEVE AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL STATUS, MARKING A HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION NATIONWIDE. RAMPELLO K-8 WAS PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED IN AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL FOR SECONDARY GRADES WITH THE NEWEST DISTINCTION. THE SCHOOL HAS NOW SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE RIGOROUS NATIONAL VALIDATION PROCESS FOR BOTH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS, BECOMING THE FIRST SCHOOL EVER TO EARN AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION STATUS SPANNING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8th GRADE. AS AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL FOR GRADES K-8, RAMPELLO K NOW SERVES AS A LEARNING CENTER FOR EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WELCOMING TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS TO OBSERVE HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION FIRSTHAND. SPECIAL
058CONGRATULATIONS TO RAMPELLO AND THEIR ENTIRE TEAM FOR BEING THE FIRST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE U.S. TO RECEIVE AVID NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL STATUS. CONGRATS TO THEM. ONE MORE CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO PATTI RENDON WHO JUST RECEIVED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR ACHIEVING THE DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD FROM THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND A COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE THAT SUPPORTS STUDENT SUCCESS. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES BOARD MEMBERS WHO DEMONSTRATE DEDICATION TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE. RECIPIENTS MUST FIRST EARN BOTH THEIR CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER AND ADVANCED CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER DESIGNATIONS THROUGH FSPA. MEMBER RENDON WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND WILL BE AT THEIR ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE. MEMBER RENDON, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD FROM THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. CONGRATULATIONS. MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE MY UPDATES.
059>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS, MEMBER RENDON. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER GRAY. >>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS TO SHARE, AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME. BUT ONE EVENT IN PARTICULAR STRIKES ME AS ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL ONE THAT I'VE BEEN TO IN A LONG TIME. IT WAS THE TURN AROUND STUDENT WE HAD THIS MORNING EVENT. I HAVE TO SAY, I LOOKED INTO THE PARENTS' EYES, THEIR STRUGGLES TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILD TO OVERCOME MANY OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AND/OR ACADEMIC CHALLENGES. YET THESE PARENTS PERSEVERED. THE CHILD AND SO MANY OF THEM RAISED THE BAR. SOME WERE ENTRY INTO COLLEGE, SOME INTO
060VOCATIONAL TECH. ONE WITH IS A MUSICIAN. WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE PARENTS' EYES, THE DEDICATION AND THE LOVE THAT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR CHILD, I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING MORE MEMORABLE IN A LONG TIME. THIS WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST HONORS I COULD HAVE IN MY TERM AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. I WANT TO ALSO SHARE MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE WONDERFUL ONE WHO ORGANIZES THIS GREAT TURNAROUND EVENT. ANN MARIE COURTNEY. WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON SHE IS. ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS WERE REPRESENTED AND CAREER CENTERS AS WELL WITH. I ALSO WANT TO THANK PIN CHASER. EVERY YEAR THEY DO THIS. BOARD MEMBER COMBS, RENDON AND WASHINGTON WERE THERE AS WELL. QUITE AN OCCASION AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES. VERY MEMORABLE. PABLO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ORDER YOU HAVE. PUT A PICTURE UP THERE AND I'LL GET
061IT TOGETHER. WE HAD THE STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY. THANKS PRINCIPAL CODY WEBSTER. GREAT PRINCIPAL. ONE OF YOUR SCHOOLS, RIGHT, MEMBER VAUGHN. SHE IS EMBLEMATIC, TOO. IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR CHILDREN SEEING ON THEIR PHONES. WHAT IS THE CONNECTIVITY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS BRINGING IN TERMS OF NOT SO GOOD PEOPLE. NEFARIOUS CHARACTERS. IT LEADS TO MANY TIMES HUMAN TRAFFICKING, TRAFFICKERS. IT'S A BUSINESS. SO I WANTED JUST TO SAY THANK YOU NOT ONLY TO THIS WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL AT HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT TO OUR EXPERT PANELISTS, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE FBI, CHILDREN SAFETY -- EXCUSE ME, CHILDREN SERVICES AND BARK AND ONE OF OUR OWN, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PHYSICAL ED. I KNOW SHE HAS OTHER TITLES. HER NAME IS ASHLEE CAPPUCCI. WHAT SHE DID, SHE GAVE THE PARENTS -- THIS IS SHOW AND TELL --
062SHE GAVE EACH PARENT THIS KIND OF BOARD. LET ME JUST SHARE, IT'S SAYING, BASICALLY, PARENTS, WHAT TO TELL YOUR CHILD TO LOOK FOR IN TERMS OF ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA. SO HER FIRST SAFETY RULE IS KNOW WHAT'S UP. SPOT RED FLAGS, MAKE A MOVE, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD IS BEING HARMED OR ANYTHING IS DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUR CHILD, MAKE SURE YOU DO THE NEXT STEP AND SEE AND TALK TO YOUR CHILD. TALK IT UP. MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS ALWAYS IN CONVERSATION WITH YOU NO MATTER WHAT. NO BLAME, NO SHAME. SO SHOW THAT YOUR CHILD, YES, YOU MIGHT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, BETTER YOU SHARE IT WITH ME AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON AND I CAN KEEP YOU SAFE. BUT ALL THIS IS TO SAY, WE HAVE
063A PROBLEM, A BIG CHALLENGE, PARENTS, STAFF MEMBERS, WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SEEING AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA -- NOT ONLY TO MYSELF, IS A VERY SCARY CONCEPT. THE ADDICTION IS REAL. NOT ONLY AMONG OUR CHILDREN, STARTING AT AGE 9, BUT OUR ADULTS AS WELL. IF WE DON'T GET HOLD OF THAT PHONE, THEY ARE GETTING MUCH MORE INFORMATION THAN WE NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE OR WANT THEM TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE. SO MORE ON THAT LATER. BUT AT ANY RATE, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. I THINK I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME. YES, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER PEREZ, MEMBER -- WHO DID I FORGET? MYSELF, AND WONDERFUL KRISTIN DAVIS, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, AND WE WERE REPRESENTED, AND WE REPRESENTED OURSELVES VERY WELL, AS FAR AS
064FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICIES AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS ACROSS URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. WE HAD A GREAT TRIP. I THINK IT WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY A LOT OF THE CONGRESSMEN UP THERE. THANK YOU, NATURE. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. >>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST I'LL START WITH THE POSITIVE. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT YESTERDAY MANY OF US WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE HASLEM'S BANK YET. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. McCONIKO AT POTTER ELEMENTARY FOR WINNING THE ELEMENTARY MEDIA SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR AND MS. LIBBY COPE FOR LETO FOR WINNING SECONDARY MEDIA SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR. GREAT EVENT. MANY OF US HAD TO LEAVE AND WE WENT TO HOPE NEHEMIAH ORGANIZATION, 25 DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL FAITHS WHO COME TOGETHER AND THEY REALLY ORGANIZE AROUND OUR MARGINALIZED
065COMMUNITIES AND ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND ASK DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. IT'S REALLY A MOTIVATING, POSITIVE EVENT. I APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT AYRES NOW MAKING THINGS EASIER FOR OUR ESE FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE. I JUST WANT TO SAY A SHOUT-OUT TO THOSE TWO EVENTS THAT WE ATTENDED YESTERDAY. I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE LOST A STUDENT AT LOUIS ELEMENTARY TO A TRAGIC CAR ACCIDENT LAST WEEK. I KNOW THAT COMMUNITY IS REALLY HURTING QUITE A BIT. I JUST WANTED TO SEND MY LOVE AND STRENGTH TO THAT COMMUNITY AND TO THE FAMILY OF THE CHILD WHO PASSED AWAY. ALSO, I'M HAVING A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION AROUND OUR ANIMAL POLICY, WHICH I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ALL OF OUR POLICIES
066BEING SENT DIRECTLY TO OUR TEACHERS. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT OUR LAST WORKSHOP. BUT I KNOW IN ONE OF MY SCHOOLS, THERE WAS A CLUB WHERE PARENTS HAD ACTUALLY PAID MONEY. IT WAS AN AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB. THE TEACHER WAS QUITE INVESTED IN THAT. THERE WAS SOME MISCOMMUNICATION TO SPECIFICALLY IT SEEMS LIKE OUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS AROUND THAT POLICY THAT NOW THERE ARE NO ANIMALS. SHE WAS FORCED TO REFUND THE MONEY. KIDS CALLED ME CRYING, AND THE CLASSROOM PETS WERE GIVEN AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY. SO I THINK WHEN WE PASS THIS, WE HAVE LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT, AND IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE IT WAS MISINTERPRETED AND THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE. IF WE COULD PLEASE CLARIFY NUMBER ONE THAT POLICY SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT. AND TWO, AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER PLEA
067TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES GO OUT TO OUR TEACHERS. BECAUSE IF THE TEACHERS HAD IT, MY TEACHER WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN AWAY ALL OF HER ANIMALS AND DISBANDED HER CLUB. I'D LIKE TO PUT OUT THAT. FINALLY, THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED WITH THE CHANGE IN THE GIFTED ALLOCATION UNITS FOR CLASSES THAT HAVE UNDER TEN STUDENTS. FROM THE DATA THAT I SEEM TO GATHER, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WILL HURT OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THE MOST WHERE WE HAVE UNDERSERVED STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW NOT EVEN GOING TO HAVE A GIFTED TEACHER ANYWHERE IN THE SCHOOL OR CLASSROOM OTHER THAN A ROTATING GIFTED TEACHER. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE PUSH IN AND REALLY SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS VIRTUALLY IN A GIFTED SETTING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO IF MY FELLOW BOARD
068MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED, I'M GOING TO REQUEST A WORKSHOP ABOUT IT. IF NOT, I'M REQUESTING LIKE A DEMO OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I GUESS WE'VE HAD THAT BEFORE. I NEVER HEARD OF THAT, SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE'RE UTILIZING IT. BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE, BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES MAKING SURE THAT OUR GIFTED STUDENTS HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED. I WANT TO KEEP ADDRESSING THAT BECAUSE I'M STILL NOT QUITE CLEAR WHO MADE THAT DECISION OR WHERE THAT CAME FROM. THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS I HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. >>Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MRS. COMBS, YOU KNOW -- I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE TURNAROUND STUDENT UNTIL YOU TOLD ME. TODAY, YOU SAID YOU WAS A
069TURNAROUND STUDENT. OH, YES, YOU DO A GREAT JOB. >>Nadia Combs: I SAID I WAS A LITTLE EDGY. [ LAUGHTER ] >>Henry "Shake" Washington: WE HAD A GREAT TIME. ANYWAY, SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH THE EP, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, AND INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS. I REALLY ENJOYED. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH TEACHERS FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, ORGANIZATION, AND THE TEACHERS THAT REALLY DO A GREAT JOB. THEY ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THEIR SUBJECT AREA. I ENJOYED THAT. AND ALSO, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE HOME WORK HOT LINE STUDIO. I HAD A GREAT TIME. WE HAD A GOOD TIME. WE REALLY DID. WE REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME. I GOT A CHANCE TO BE ON SHOWING MY CHEST LIKE I'M SUPER MAN WITH HARTLINE ON IT. IT WAS GREAT, BECAUSE KIDS CALL IN. THEY
070CALL IN, AND THE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED. AND WE GET A LOT OF CALL-INS. I MEAN, A LOT OF CALL-INS. I LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THOSE TEACHERS THAT ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL. MOVING ALONG, AND I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL -- WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. I MEAN, 100% A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. ONE OF THE BETTER ONES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MOVING ALONG AGAIN, THEN I HAD ON APRIL THE 17th, ON FRIDAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT OVER AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WHERE MR. RAY ROBINSON HAD GUEST SPEAKERS WITH STUDENTS MAKING POSITIVE DECISIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. BECAUSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE REALLY GOOD DECISIONS WHEN THEY ARE INVOLVED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. AND WE TRULY ENJOYED THAT. THEN
071MOVING ALONG ON THE 18th, ANNUAL FAMILY DAY, MR. YOUNG. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. WE HAD A LOT OF FATHERS OUT DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONCENTRATED ON IS GETTING MORE FATHERS INVOLVED. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET FATHERS INVOLVED. AND I OFTEN SAY THIS, WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD MAKE A CALL ALL THE TIME, THE MOTHERS CAME IN. WE WANT TO GET FATHERS IN ALSO. THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT. AND WE HAD GREAT, GREAT PARTICIPATION. WE PROBABLY HAD OVER A HUNDRED AND SOME FATHERS THERE. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS -- WE TRULY ENJOY. BECAUSE WE NEED TO INCREASE CONFIDENCE IN OUR STUDENTS. ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO IT IS HAVE FATHER INVOLVEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE MOTHERS INVOLVEMENT. I PUSH REALLY HARD FOR THAT.
072AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LAST NIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB LAST NIGHT. WE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEED TO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO HONOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE EMPLOYEES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BECAUSE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY ASPECT OF EDUCATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND WE DO IT. WE DO A GOOD JOB. WE REALLY DO A GOOD JOB. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS. >>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MR. WASHINGTON, I THINK ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME WOULD IMAGINE THAT I WOULD KEEP MY TEACHERS ON THEIR TOES, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK THAT'S WHY I ENDED UP BEING A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE
073POWER OF THE IMPACT OF A TEACHER. ALSO FOR ME I SAID THIS OFTEN, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS FOR ME WAS A BUS DRIVER. VERY HARD TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN MY PARENTS SPLIT UP AND THINGS WERE VERY HARD FINANCIALLY, MY BUS DRIVER, EVERY DAY, MR. BROWN IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON, HAVING THAT CONSISTENCY AND TALKING TO ME AND REALLY THE HOST PROGRAM WHICH WAS SIMILAR, THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS BECAUSE MY MOM WAS A SINGLE MOM WORKING A COUPLE OF JOBS, HAVING THAT HOST PROGRAM AND BEING ABLE, I ALWAYS TELL MR. McMANUS, I AM A GREAT CHECKER PLAYER, GREAT CHESS PLAYER AND GREAT PING-PONG PLAYER BECAUSE OF THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM. I FEEL LIKE OUR SCHOOLS SUPPORTING CHILDREN REALLY HELPS SO MUCH. AND THAT'S HONESTLY WHY I ENDED UP ON THE BOARD BECAUSE I FELT LIKE
074I COULD MAKE SUCH AN IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES. AND TALKING ABOUT THAT, PABLO, OUR EARLY LEARNING TASK FORCE MET. ABC AND BEYOND, WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS ENGAGE WITH OUR DAY CARE PROVIDERS, OUR HOME DAY CARES, AND REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS START EARLY AND READY. THANK TRACYE BROWN, EMILY CIMINO AND THE ENTIRE EARLY LEARNING STAFF. WITH ELC AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE WORKED TOGETHER TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EARLY LEARNING STUDENTS WERE READY FOR SCHOOL AS THEY COME IN SO THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THINGS LIKE THAT. SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LISA HAINES WHO LED THE PRESENTATION WORKING WITH THE PROVIDERS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE KNOW IF WE CAN HAVE OUR STUDENTS READY FOR KINDERGARTEN, THEN WE
075ARE HELPING THEM SUCCEED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE. NEXT IS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT I WANT TO DO WITH FAMILIES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY REALLY HEAR FROM ME, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE AREA, SO I HAD MY FIRST COFFEE WITH COMBS. NEXT SLIDE, PABLO. AND THE NEXT ONE WITH IS SET FOR SEPTEMBER 12. I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL. I ACTUALLY END UP ENGAGING WITH SO MANY STUDENTS. I WENT OUT IN THE TOWN N' COUNTRY AREA, WESTCHASE, SEMINOLE HEIGHTS AND REALLY ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES. WE TALKED ABOUT BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT. I ALSO GAVE THEM OUR REPORT TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING, THE NUMBERS AND QUESTIONS. AND WE ENDED UP, IT WAS JUST A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. I'M GOING TO MARKET IT EARLIER THIS TIME. SO THE NEXT ONE
076IS GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER 12. I AM GOING TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE TO HELP ME WITH SPANISH TRANSLATION IF THEY NEED TO, TO MAKE SURE. I COULD HAVE PRACTICED MY SPANISH THEN, BUT EVERYBODY WAS BILINGUAL THAT CAME, BUT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUES AND THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND THE GREAT PART IN THE BACK CORNER, IF YOU SEE ONE OF THE GIRLS, THAT WAS A STUDENT THAT I'VE KNOWN SINCE SHE WAS IN FIRST GRADE. HER AND HER MOM CAME OUT TO SEE ME BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN THEM SO LONG AND HAVEN'T SEEN FIVE, SIX YEARS, HER NAME IS NADIA, TOO. CAME OUT THERE. IT WAS REALLY AMAZING. THAT'S IT FOR THE SLIDES. A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, LITERACY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR
077STUDENTS. YOU KNOW, NOWADAYS IF YOU DON'T HAVE LITERACY, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO NUMERACY BECAUSE SO MANY WORD PROBLEMS. THANK OUR LIBRARIANS, READING TEACHERS TO REALLY PUT IN THE FOREFRONT THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY IN OUR SCHOOLS. FINALLY, I ALSO WANT TO TO SAY HOPE NEHEMIAH ACTION ASSEMBLY, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO POWERFUL TO HEAR FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS. THEY CAME AND THEY REALLY HELPED US PUSH US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BETTER AS A DISTRICT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. THE DATA REPORTED IN 2025 SAYS ONE IN EVERY 31 CHILDREN IS BEING DIAGNOSED AS AUTISTIC. THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS ARE SO HIGH, ESPECIALLY OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. I MEAN, THE NEEDS ARE SO HIGH. I GO TO SCHOOLS AND I SEE INDIVIDUAL AIDES, I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WORKING WITH OUR
078STUDENTS. THE NEEDS ARE REALLY HIGH. I JUST WANT TO THANK DR. LESPERANZ. I THINK IT IS A VERY, VERY, VERY CHALLENGING JOB. WHEN I MEET A TEACHER, WOW, AMAZING YOU ARE A TEACHER. WHEN I MEET AN ESE TEACHER, I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT'S EVEN MORE SPECIAL BECAUSE IT TAKES A CERTAIN HEART AND PATIENCE AND LOVE, AND WE DO SUCH A GREAT JOB IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU, TRACYE BROWN, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE HEARD AND THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND THAT WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON. >>Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO AQUILLA JACKSON, MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL.
079IT WAS AN HONOR TO DEDICATE THAT SCHOOL. HONOR FOR HER FAMILY AND LEGACY TO BE REMEMBERED. I ALWAYS SAY TO MANY TEACHERS, THEY DEDICATED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE TO BEING IN THE CLASSROOM. I THINK THAT TAKES COURAGE. I THINK THAT TAKES DEDICATION, AND ESPECIALLY IN A TIME IN WHICH SHE SERVED IN WIMAUMA HER ENTIRE CAREER. IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE THERE. HONOR TO MEET THE FAMILY AND TO DEDICATE THAT SCHOOL LAST WEEK. SO THAT WAS AN HONOR. I DO WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT AND MS. DAVIS FOR OUR TRIP TO D.C. I THINK IT'S VERY VALUABLE THAT MEMBERS OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS WITHIN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ET CETERA, KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT AND OUR STUDENTS, AND UNLESS WE'RE THERE TO TELL THE
080STORY, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE. I APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO BE UP THERE AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS. BUT I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH WHAT MEMBER VAUGHN HAD TO SAY. I MYSELF AGREE WITH HER. MY DISTRICT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE POLICY. SO IT WASN'T UNTIL I ACTUALLY SENT IT TO THE STAFF AND SAID IT WAS VERY CLEAR. AND THE STAFF ACTUALLY HAD DONE THE STEPS THAT WE FOLLOWED IN THE POLICY, BUT IT DIDN'T COME FROM THEM. IT WAS DENIED BY A REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT. SO I THINK WE AS A DISTRICT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING THAT. WE DID IT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS, NOT TO BEING ELIMINATING ANIMALS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. WHEN THE AMERICAN GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION IS DENIED ATTENDANCE IS NOT OKAY. SO I'VE GOT SEVERAL READING
081PROGRAMS IN A COUPLE OF MY SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE THERAPY DOGS THAT COME IN FOR THE READING PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGE THE READING. THAT'S TAKING AWAY FROM OUR DIRECT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR STUDENTS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT POLICY WAS NOT MEANT TO ELIMINATE ANIMALS, BUT IT WAS MEANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY MANNER. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO TAG ON TO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STUDENT TEACHER RATIOS IN OUR CLASSROOMS, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE ENTIRE BOARD ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RATIOS AND CLASSROOMS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHETHER WE ARE IN RATIO OR NOT AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
082LIKE FOR OUR SCHOOLS. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE THAT WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT OF STUDENTS IN MY DISTRICT FROM THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR, IT'S NOT ADDING UP TO THE TEACHER RATIOS, WHICH MEANS I'LL HAVE LARGER CLASS SIZES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE CLASS SIZES LOOK LIKE. HOW MANY OF MY CLASS SIZES ARE OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE OF THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US BOARD MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE AND KNOW LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT STUDENT TEACHER RATIO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I WANT TO GIVE A
083SHOUT-OUT TO KRISTIN DAVIS. WHEN WE WERE UP IN WASHINGTON, THERE WERE SPACES AND PLACES THAT WE WERE INVITED INTO THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN INVITED INTO THOSE SPACES. AND WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH PEOPLE WHO PASSED BUDGETS AND WERE ABLE TO GET US DOLLARS. WHEN IT CAME TO APPRENTICESHIPS AND VOCATIONAL AND TRADE SCHOOLS, ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT WE SPOKE WITH PROVIDED US AN EXPERIENCE, A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT THEIR BROTHER WHO DID NOT WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. EVEN THOUGH THEY CAME FROM A VERY SUCCESSFUL FAMILY, THE BROTHER DID NOT WANT -- DIDN'T SEE HIMSELF GOING TO COLLEGE. AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE UP A TRADE. KIND OF MADE US A LITTLE BIT MORE AWARE, AT LEAST THIS BOARD MEMBER, THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM. A
084LOT OF STUDENTS, THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW MUCH A PARENT MAKES OR THE INFLUENCE THAT THEIR PARTISANS HAVE, DOESN'T DICTATE WHAT THAT STUDENT IS GOING TO DO IN THEIR LIFE. AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS -- HIS BROTHER WAS VERY HAPPY IN HIS LIFE FOLLOWING A TRADE. WHEN I BROUGHT THAT BACK WITH ME, AS I'M THINKING, BECAUSE THAT STORY REALLY SAT WITH ME, ON HOW OUR SCHOOLS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE REALLY SETTING UP OUR STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS, BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. AND I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE RICK LOT SCHOOL, AND HOW WE LOOK AT THAT CONNECTION WITH OUR UNIONS AND BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET THOSE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THAT WAS AMAZING TO HEAR HIM PROVIDE THAT EXPERIENCE AND GET VERY PERSONAL WITH US. WE ALSO WENT OVER AND
085WE VISITED GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT COLLEGE. IT WAS A REAL NEAT EXPERIENCE. WE WALKED. ALSO, REALLY QUICK, I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, THE PROGRAM THAT I HAVE FOR THE -- THE PLATFORM THAT I HAVE ON THE RADIO TO REALLY LIFT THIS DISTRICT WHERE I INVITE A LOT -- THE PROGRAMS TO COME AND SPEAK AND REALLY GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT NOW IT'S ON WEDNESDAYS AS WELL. WE HAVE IT WEDNESDAYS AT 10 AND SUNDAYS AT 10. MYSELF AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE NOW INVITING ANYONE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS TO COME AND UPLIFT THEIR PROGRAMS. TALK ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS. LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT WE'RE OFFERING. IF THERE IS ANY EVENT GOING ON, JUST COME AND LET -- BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF
086PARENTS WHO DON'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA. A LOT OF PARENTS WHO DON'T HAVE THE CONNECTIVITY ON COMPUTERS, BUT THEY DO WHILE THEY ARE AT WORK LISTENING TO THE RADIO. THAT'S ON SUPER Q 1300 AM AND 106.7 FM. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE UPLIFTING THIS DISTRICT, PROVIDING ALL OUR PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SUCCESSFUL. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW TAKE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO
087HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WILL NOW CALL THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS. >> GOOD EVENING. ROB KRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING US ALL THIS SPACE TO TALK TO ALL OF YOU. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR HELPING US OPEN UP BARGAINING. I WOULD SAY THAT WE DO SO TIMELY, EVEN EARLY.
088WE'RE AHEAD OF WHAT MOST DISTRICTS WOULD DO BECAUSE OF THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE IN WHICH WE OPERATE. I APPRECIATE THAT. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I TAKE MY DIRECTION FROM THE EMPLOYEES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WHAT I'VE GIVEN YOU HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF OUR SURVEY THAT WE PUT OUT TO ALL EMPLOYEES, NOT ONLY MEMBERS. THESE ARE MEMBERS AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS IN OUR DISTRICT ABOUT WHAT ARE THEIR REAL PRIORITIES ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT AND WORK ON WHEN WE GET TO THE BARGAINING TABLE. YOU SEE IT'S GOT ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT SIDES. ONE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM AND ONE FOR THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. ABOUT REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. SO JUST LIKE I TAKE DIRECTION FROM THEM, I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS GIVE DIRECTION TO YOUR BARGAINING TEAM FOR THE DISTRICT WHEN WE GET THERE. NOW, I
089KNOW THAT THE LAWMAKERS UP IN TALLAHASSEE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT A BUDGET. I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FOR FLORIDIANS. CERTAINLY, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HOPE FOR WHAT THEY MIGHT DO IF WE'RE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET. HOWEVER, HOPE DOES REMAIN. I WILL SAY THAT. FLORIDIANS ACROSS FLORIDA, PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I APPRECIATE THAT IT IS NONPARTISAN PEOPLE JUST UPSET ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE UNDERFUNDING OUR SCHOOLS. THERE IS HOPE. WHILE WE DO THAT AND CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, WE CAN OFFER THEM THROUGH CONTRACT LANGUAGE TO MAKE THEIR MONUMENTAL TASKS EVERY DAY A LITTLE BIT EASIER. WHAT IS IT WE CAN TAKE OFF THEIR PLATES? WHAT IS IT WE CAN AGREE TO,
090HEY, WE CAN MAKE THIS A LITTLE EASIER, THIS IS NOT GOING TO COST US ANY MONEY BUT FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK TO MAKE IT A LITTLE LIGHTER LOAD FOR EVERYONE AS THEY TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THEIR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE KNOW THEY ARE ALL WORKING HARD. WE ALL KNOW THAT. WE WOULD ALL AGREE. WHEN YOU GET TO THE TABLE, PLEASE LOOK CREATIVELY AT THE LANGUAGE WE OFFER BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS TO FIND SOMETHING WORKABLE FOR EVERYBODY AS WE NAVIGATE THE BARGAINING SEASON. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS. TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ME AND ASK QUESTIONS AS YOU NEED. BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. ANGELA FROM PROJECT PIZZO. WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE NEHEMIAH EVENT AS
091WELL, AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT BEING ABLE TO SEE EVERYONE COME TOGETHER FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH ORGANIZATION OF PROGRESS AND EQUALITY. THE EVENT WAS REALLY NICE AND GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE MEETING A COUPLE OF SUMMERS AGO, I BELIEVE, WHEN COMMISSIONER COHEN AND MYERS DID VOTE FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO GO THROUGH, WAS TAL, HAGEN -- VOTED DOWN TO GIVE THE ALLOTTED $10 MILLION TO THEM. I'LL COME HERE AND ASK THAT WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE ARE ALL KIND OF ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH THOSE WHO DO KIND OF CARE AND ARE SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. IN MY SPEECH TO THEM, I REMINDED THEM THAT THE READING EFFICIENCY IS HOVERING AROUND 50%. PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND NICE TO SEE WE'RE GETTING SOME
092PROGRESS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH, WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE THE 7th LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE NATION. IT PROMPTED ME TO THINK, I HAVEN'T LOOKED UP WHO THE OTHER ONES ARE ABOVE US. I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT FLORIDA HAS FOUR OF THE LARGEST DISTRICTS OUT OF THE TEN. FOUR OUT OF THE TEN LARGEST DISTRICTS IN THE NATION WHICH IS SHOWING US THAT WE HAVE WITH A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND WE ARE HERE TO BE A PILLAR, NOT JUST FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR FLORIDA, THE ENTIRE NATION. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SHOW THE 13,000 DISTRICTS SOME PRIVATE AS WELL HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE AND HOW WE HAVE TO TAKE A STAND AND HOW WE ARE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE AND TO SHOW WHATEVER IS TRICKLING DOWN ON US, WE HAVE A PLAN
093TO DO IT. WHATEVER IS BEING THROWN AND THRUST UPON US, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STICKING UP FOR STUDENTS, STICKING UP FOR FAMILIES AND TEACHERS. THAT'S WHAT I'M CALLING UPON US ALL TO DO HERE. WITH THAT, WE HAVE PIZZO. WE ARE STILL NOT DONE WITH THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO ASK THAT EVERYONE KEEPS AN OPEN MIND, GET BACK IN THE PLAYGROUND. GET BACK IN THE SANDBOX. USF, SDHC HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STUDENTS OF THAT COMMUNITY. IT TAKES A VILLAGE. I HEAR EVERYONE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LIFTING UP THE STUDENTS. SO I'M ASKING THAT WE KEEP THAT OPEN. DID I SOME OF MY OWN RESEARCH REACHING OUT TO SOME OF THE TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOLS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SUPPOSED
094TO FILTER INTO AND SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN WHEN THE STUDENTS FROM PIZZO HAVE TO GO THERE, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE ABUNDANCE OF ESE STUDENTS AND CLASS SIZE, NOT ENOUGH SPACE, SCARED OF CLASS SIZES GETTING TOO BIG TO CATER TO THE STUDENTS. IF CLASS SIZES ARE INCREASED, HOW WILL FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS BE TAUGHT? CONCERN ABOUT CLASS SIZES OVER 18. >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. ANITA BLOOM. IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE. I AM HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF PIZZO ALSO. NOT AS A SCHOOL BUT AS A COMMUNITY THAT IS DEEPLY CONNECTED, DEEPLY INVESTED AND DEEPLY AT RISK OF BEING TORN APART. PIZZO IS NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS LEARN, IT IS WHERE THEY GROW UP TOGETHER. IT IS WHERE SIBLINGS WALK DOWN THE HALLWAYS, WHERE TEACHERS KNOW CHILDREN BY
095NAME. CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE STABILITY OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL FIND IT INSIDE OUR WALLS EVERY SINGLE DAY. FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES, 79% OF WHOM ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, PIZZO IS MORE THAN A SCHOOL. IT IS A LIFELINE. IT IS CONSISTENCY. IT IS SAFETY. IT IS BELONGING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CLOSING PIZZO, WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT MOVING STUDENTS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT GROUND THEM. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING APART A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY BUILT OVER YEARS. YOU CANNOT SIMPLY RELOCATE THAT KIND OF CONNECTION. I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. IF THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISBURSEMENT IS PREVENT CHARTER EXPANSION INTO LOW ENROLLMENT SCHOOLS, THEN THIS PLAN MAY DO THE OPPOSITE. BY PUSHING PIZZO STUDENTS INTO OTHER AREA SCHOOLS, YOU ARE NOT STABILIZING OTHER CAMPUSES. YOU MAY BE ACCELERATING
096THEIR DECLINE. FAMILIES WHO FEEL DISPLACED AND DISCONNECTED ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO SEEK ALTERNATIVES. THOSE ALTERNATIVES EXIST WITHIN A FIVE-MILE RADIUS OF US CURRENTLY. YOU RISK NOT JUST -- I WANT TO BE -- I'M SORRY. THERE ARE NOT NUMBERS TO -- OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT NUMBERS TO BALANCE ENROLLMENT SHEETS. THEY ARE CHILDREN WITH RELATIONSHIPS, IDENTITIES, AND NEEDS ROOTED IN A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUPPORTED THEM ALL ALONG. WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS SOMETHING NECESSARY. BUT WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT IS SIMPLE AND REASONABLE. PLEASE SLOW THIS PROCESS DOWN. GIVE US TIME TO BRING ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE. FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, GIVE US TIME TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP OUR STUDENTS TOGETHER AT ANOTHER SITE WITHOUT DISMANTLING THE COMMUNITY THAT MAKES THEM SUCCESSFUL. GIVE US TIME TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT JUST RECIPIENTS
097OF A DECISION. BECAUSE ONCE THE SCHOOLS CLOSE, THERE IS NO UNDO BUTTON FOR THIS. THE RELATIONSHIPS, THE TRUST, THE SENSE OF FAMILY, WE CANNOT REBUILD THAT OVERNIGHT, IF EVER. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE STABILITY. OUR FAMILIES DESERVE A VOICE. AND THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES THE CHANCE TO FIGHT FOR ITSELF. I URGE YOU, PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS DECISION OR AT THE VERY LEAST, GIVE US TIME TO COLLABORATE MORE AND TO GET THIS RIGHT. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]