01/20/2015 - Regular Meeting

001>>Susan Valdes: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE BOARD MEETING OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 20th, 2015 WILL COME TO ORDER. IF YOU WOULD JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY VICE-CHAIR MEMBER EDGECOMB. THANK YOU. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Doretha Edgecomb: THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER EDGECOMB. BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER EDGECOMB AND A SECOND BY MEMBER STUART. ANY DISCUSSION? HAVING NONE, BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. CAN WE RESET THE BUTTONS, PLEASE? OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS. THEY ARE FLASHING. IT IS UNANIMOUS. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED APPROVAL OR A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 9, 2014, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. DECEMBER 10th, 2014 SCHOOL BOARD

002MEETING, DECEMBER 16th, SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING AND DECEMBER 18th, 2014 TERMINATION HEARING. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER STUART AND A SECOND BY MEMBER EDGECOMB TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THOSE DATES PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION? HAVING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO THE BOARD GUIDELINES. MEMBER EDGECOMB, IF YOU WOULD KINDLY READ THOSE. >>Doretha Edgecomb: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THE BOARD RECEIVES THE AGENDA AHEAD OF TIME IN ORDER TO REVIEW ITEMS BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING. MANY OF THE ITEMS APPROVED WITHOUT DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ITEMS THAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE REVIEWED WITH STAFF. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE AGENDA DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL OF THE INFORMATION WHICH BOARD

003MEMBERS CONSIDER AS PART OF OUR DECISION MAKING. STAFF ATTEMPTS TO INCLUDE IN THE AGENDA AN AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT IS EXPLANATORY WITHOUT BEING EXCESSIVELY LONG. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, AND IT MAY BE CONSIDERED BY ALL BOARD MEMBERS. THIS INFORMATION COMES FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, INCLUDING STAFF RESOURCES AND ONLINE INFORMATION. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEBCAST, ON TELEVISION ON THE TAMPA BAY ARTS AND EDUCATION STATION, AND ON VIDEO MONITOR HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING LATER IN THE VIDEO ARCHIVE. DURING THE MEETING, THERE IS A TABLET THAT CAN BE USED TO VIEW THE LIVE WEBCAST WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING. THAT TABLET IS AVAILABLE AT REQUEST IF YOU WOULD LIKE AT OUR COMMUNICATIONS DESK. AT ANY TIME DURING THE MEETING, IF SOMEONE LEAVES THE DAIS

004TO GO TO THE BACK ROOM, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NO LONGER ENGAGING IN THE MEETING OR SHOWING DISRESPECT. WE HAVE AUDIO SPEAKERS IN THE BACK ROOM, AND WE'RE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING SAID AT THE MEETING. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 45 MINUTES ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL SPEAKERS MUST CHECK WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF THE MEETING. COMMENTS TO A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM WILL OCCUR PRIOR TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. SPEAKERS WILL BE GRANTED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM OR A TOTAL OF FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS TWO OR MORE AGENDA ITEMS. WHEN TEN OR MORE SPEAKERS WISH TO SPEAK TO THE SAME AGENDA ITEM, SPEAKING TIME WILL BE REDUCED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. DURING THE 45-MINUTE TIME ALLOTMENT, SPEAKERS WHO WISH

005TO ADDRESS AN AGENDA ITEM WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY OVER THOSE WISHING TO MAKE GENERAL COMMENTS. IF THERE ARE STILL SPEAKERS AFTER THE 45 MINUTES OF TIME ENDS, THE REMAINDER OF THE SPEAKERS WILL BE MOVED TO AN OVERFLOW TIME PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. DURING THE OVERFLOW TIME, SPEAKERS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS AN AGENDA ITEM WILL ONCE AGAIN BE GIVEN PRIORITY. THE SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, BUT WE CANNOT TOLERATE BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN EFFECT. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER EDGECOMB. BOARD MEMBERS, I WANTED TO JUST SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AGENDA HERE TODAY. WE'RE MOVING UP THE PROCLAMATIONS OF SECTION C. SO RECOGNITION NUMBER ONE 2R AND 609 WILL

006BE MOVED UP. AND THEN THEREAFTER, WE WILL GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS. PUBLIC COMMENTS, I WANT TO SEE ABOUT GETTING YOUR APPROVAL OR YOUR CONSENSUS TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE 45-MINUTE TIME ALLOTMENT AND ALLOW EVERYONE THAT IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO SPEAK TODAY, AND CONTINUE WITH, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC AMOUNTS OF FOLKS SPEAKING TO ONE PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM, RETAINED TO THE TWO-MINUTE RULE, AND THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING TO TWO OR MORE AGENDA ITEMS MAINTAIN THAT TO THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE. DO I HAVE CONSENSUS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? >> MADAM CHAIR, I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE AN OFFICIAL -- >> I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT. SO MOVED. >>Susan Valdes: DO I HAVE A SECOND? >>Cindy Stuart: YES, I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. >>Susan Valdes: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND.

007BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER KURDELL. CAN YOU PRESS YOUR BUTTON, YOUR MIKE? THANK YOU. >>Carol Kurdell: COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE MOTION IS AGAIN? THERE WERE MULTIPLE PARTS. IT STARTED OUT ONE WAY BUT ENDED UP ANOTHER AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A CLARIFICATION. >>Susan Valdes: ABSOLUTELY. MEMBER GRIFFIN, WHAT IS YOUR MOTION? >>April Griffin: THAT WE SUSPEND THE RULES AND HOLD THE COMMENTS ON 9.03 TO TWO MINUTES BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY SPEAKERS, AND IF PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS, THAT THE REGULAR FIVE MINUTES REMAINS IN EFFECT. IS THAT CORRECT? >>Carol Kurdell: SO IT'S A SINGLE MOTION. >>Susan Valdes: YES, MA'AM. >>Carol Kurdell: AND THAT'S ALL. >>Susan Valdes: YES. >>Jim Porter: WELL, IT'S ALSO TO EXTEND THE TIME PAST 45 MINUTES THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY ALLOW. >> TO SUSPEND THE RULES. >>Susan Valdes: IT'S GIVING

008AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. OTHERWISE, IF WE WERE TO LEAVE IT AT THE 45-MINUTE, THEN WE WOULD HAVE AN OVERFLOW OF SPEAKERS AT THE VERY END OF THE MEETING. AGAIN, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO RESPECT THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK, AND I WOULD REALLY WANT TO EXTEND THAT OPPORTUNITY SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OPPORTUNITY, REGARDLESS IF WE'RE HERE TWO OR THREE HOURS LISTENING TO SPEAKERS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. SO THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THAT. >>Carol Kurdell: WOULD YOU CLARIFY FOR ME IS THAT GOING TO BE AT NOW WHERE AUDIENCE COMMENTS IS ON THE AGENDA AND PUSH THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS BACK TO TWO OR THREE HOURS IF WE HEAR ALL SPEAKERS NOW? >>Susan Valdes: WHAT -- WHAT WE DISCUSSED

009DURING AGENDA REVIEW TODAY AND ALL WAS IN CONSENSUS, IS THAT WE WOULD BRING UP THE PROCLAMATIONS, SECTION C, AND BRING UP AGENDA ITEM 6.09, BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDENTS AND GUESTS HERE, THAT WERE HERE TO PRESENT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION TO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECT THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE FOR THAT RECOGNITION, BRING THEM UP. AND THEN GO INTO SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC COMMENT. >> SO THAT WOULD LEAVE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS OUT. >>Susan Valdes: YES. >> OKAY. SO THOSE PEOPLE CAN BE EXCUSED IF THEY NEED TO BE. >>Susan Valdes: SURE. IF THEY NEED TO BE EXCUSED. IF THEY WANT TO BE EXCUSED BEFORE THE APPOINTMENTS, THAT'S UP TO THEM. >> THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION. >>Susan Valdes: BY THE WAY, IF ANYONE IS

010HERE TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM, AND THEY HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE SEE THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF OUTSIDE TO MY LEFT NOW SO THAT YOU DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS LAST CALL FOR THAT. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE -- MEMBER EDGECOMB. >>Doretha Edgecomb: I CERTAINLY CAN SUPPORT A PORTION OF THE MOTION, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE IN RESPECT OF THOSE FAMILIES AND THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE COME FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CONSIDERATION TO MOVE THEM AFTER THE PROCLAMATIONS AND BEFORE AUDIENCE COMMENTS, BECAUSE AS IMPORTANT AS EVERY AGENDA ITEM IS ON HERE, I THINK IT IS SENSITIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO CELEBRATE THEIR APPOINTMENTS PRIOR TO THE OTHER BUSINESS OF OUR BOARD TODAY. MRS. ELIA. >>Maryellen Elia: YES, BOARD MEMBERS. WHEN WE WERE IN AGENDA

011REVIEW, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, AND MR. BRINSON ANTICIPATED THAT WE WOULD MOVE SOME OF THOSE AFTER THE SPEAKERS, SO WE MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PARKING TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE RAMPELLO LOT, AND HE ALSO CALLED TO ANY OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS THAT WERE COMING WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND ASKED THEM TO NOT COME UNTIL AT LEAST AFTER 4:00 OR 4:30 ON THE ANTICIPATION OF THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT AT THAT TIME WE ALREADY HAD SIGNED UP. >>Doretha Edgecomb: OKAY. WITH THAT IN MIND AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THOSE PLANS ALREADY BEING MADE, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE IN THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: AND ALSO, FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE WAITING -- WAS MY MIKE ON? OKAY. FOR THOSE WAITING FOR A SEAT OUTSIDE, THIS OPPORTUNITY BRINGING THESE RECOGNITIONS FORWARD WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR MORE SEATING TO BE

012AVAILABLE IN THE AUDITORIUM. SO, BOARD MEMBERS, MEMBER GRIFFIN, YOU HAD A COMMENT? SO, BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HAVING NONE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS UNANIMOUS. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO THE PROCLAMATION SECTION, SECTION C. THE FIRST ONE ON THE AGENDA IS THE RECOGNITION OF THE LANCE N. BECATTI AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INCORPORATED FOR DONATIONS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WHO WILL BE -- MS. BOWMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE HIGHLIGHT THIS. >> BOARD MEMBERS, MS. ELIA, MS. VALDES, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE LANCE BECATTI FROM AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR THE DONATIONS HE'S MADE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, MR. BECATTI HAS PARTNERED WITH HCPS. ONE OF HIS CHILDREN-CENTERED CHARITIES INVOLVES AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY CARD CONTEST. I'D

013LIKE TO ASK LANCE TO COME TO OUR PODIUM AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT CONTEST AND ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS. >>Susan Valdes: WELCOME, MR. BECATTI. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU AGAIN. WE HAD AN EXCITING TIME LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE CONTEST AGAIN TO THREE OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAD MANGO ELEMENTARY. WE HAD DUNBAR ELEMENTARY AND JAMES ELEMENTARY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR. AND THE INTENT WITH THIS IS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE ARTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE CHILDREN CREATE A HOLIDAY CARD OR HOLIDAY DRAWING THAT BASICALLY SAYS WHAT THE HOLIDAYS MEAN TO THEM AND THROUGH THAT THE ART TEACHER AND THE PRINCIPAL WILL THEN COLLECT AND CHOOSE FIVE TOP CARDS,

014FIVE TOP PIECES OF ART. IT IS BROUGHT TO OUR OFFICE THEN. AND THEN A FEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DO COME ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO VOTE ON WHICH CARD WE WILL USE OR WHICH PIECE OF ART WILL BECOME OUR CARD. AND THIS IS WHAT IT BECAME THIS YEAR. THIS ADORABLE CARD HERE. THAT IS THE AWARD THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO SOMEBODY VERY SPECIAL HERE THAT WE'LL MEET IN JUST A SECOND. WITH THIS, NOT ONLY DOES THE CHILD GET THE AWARD THAT I'VE CREATED FOR THEM, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN AWARD THAT GOES TO THE SCHOOL AS A MATCH. IN FIRST PLACE, WE PROVIDE A $500 ART CERTIFICATE FOR THE ART SUPPLY COMPANY THAT GIVES THE TEACHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO SHOPPING AT GOVERNMENT RATES AND BE ABLE TO BRING AN AWFUL

015LOT OF ART SUPPLIES IN. FIRST PLACE GETS $500. SECOND PLACE GETS $250 IN THE ART CERTIFICATE. THIRD PRAISE, ALSO $250 ART CERTIFICATE. AND THEN THERE IS A MY CHOICE CARD WHICH BECOMES MY PRIVATE FAMILY CARD FOR THE AWARDS THAT THE CHILDREN HAVE DONE WELL. IN ADDITION TO THAT THIS YEAR, OUR PRACTICE DID A LARGE DRIVE FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES. SINCE I HAD TWO PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND ME POKING ME GOING, HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING? WHAT ARE WE DOING? THERE WILL BE A VERY LARGE SUV SHOWING UP IN FRONT OF THEIR OFFICE IN THE SCHOOL FOR JAMES, YES, THAT LAST TIME WE DID THIS WITH ROBLES ELEMENTARY, IT TOOK TWO CUSTODIANS AND SIX CARTS TO GET EVERYTHING INTO THE SCHOOL THAT WAS RAISED FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES. THIS YEAR ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE OUTDONE THAT AND I THINK

016WE'RE HITTING SEVEN CARTS' WORTH OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES BETWEEN CLIENT DONATIONS AND OUR MATCH FOR THAT. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. WE BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING THE ARTS WITH THE CHILDREN. THERE IS A SPECIAL CONTEST I WILL ANNOUNCE RIGHT NOW THAT WE DID LAST YEAR. EVERYBODY TOOK A DEEP BREATH. I'LL PUT IT UP FRONT SO WE DON'T FORGET. ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATED AND THIS IS YEAR SIX. THERE ARE 18 OF YOU WHO SUCCESSFULLY ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY, THERE IS A CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE FOR THE STUDENTS, NOT THE TEACHERS. THE STUDENTS. IF YOU CAN PROVE TO ME ONE THING THAT WAS CREATED BY MAN THAT DIDN'T BEGIN WITH A DRAWING TO SHOW THE VALUE OF THE ARTS, IF YOU CAN PROVE TO ME WHAT THAT ITEM IS THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD AND THEIR RESEARCH, THERE

017IS A $5,000 ART CERTIFICATE COMING TO THAT SCHOOL. [ APPLAUSE ] IT'S SOMETHING WE TAKE TO HEART AND SPECIAL. THE ART CREATED BY THESE KIDS, IT'S AN AMAZING THING. TODAY I WANT TO START WITH THE SPECIAL ONES. CAN I HAVE JAMES ELEMENTARY COME UP HERE? THIRD PLACE, WE'VE GOT COTTMAN. NEXT IN LINE IS OUR LOVELY PRINCIPAL, MS. ROYAL AND MS. MANHERTZ ALL IN CHARGE OF DOING THESE WONDERFUL THINGS. [ APPLAUSE ] THAT WILL BE SHOWING UP AT THE SCHOOL AND MAKING A FULL PRESENTATION AT THE SCHOOL. SO WE'LL FUSS OVER YOU THERE AND GIVE YOU THE AWARDS AND YOU'LL BE ON THE MORNING SHOW AND A STAR, WHICH YOU ALREADY ARE. KEEPING TRACK OF EVERYBODY TODAY. THIS IS FUN. NEXT IN LINE, DUNBAR ELEMENTARY, WHICH WAS IN SECOND PLACE. THAT WOULD BE TIANA BOLES. THERE

018WE GO. WITH HER DAD. HOW WONDERFUL. THE PRINCIPAL JACOBSEN-CAPPS. AND THE ART TEACHER JONKE. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'LL BE AT THE SCHOOL FOR PRESENTATIONS OF THE AWARDS TO THE CHILDREN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST PLACE WAS MANGO ELEMENTARY. WE HAVE MATTHEW SHIRK. AND WE HAVE THE HONORABLE MENTION CARD, WHICH IS CHRISTIAN FREEMAN. I DON'T KNOW IF CHRISTIAN MADE IT ALSO. AND WE'VE GOT OUR LOVELY PRINCIPAL, MS. DAVIS AS WELL AS MS. CASKE, WHO IS THE ART TEACHER. [ APPLAUSE ] ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LETTING ME HAVE FUN WITH KIDS. IT'S A TERRIFIC CHANCE. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS. I PRESENTED IT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH OUR COMPANY. WE'LL SEE HOW FAR WE CAN PUSH THIS INTO OTHER SCHOOLS. >>Susan Valdes: IT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [

019APPLAUSE ] MEMBER KURDELL. >>Carol Kurdell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST HAVE TO SAY. WE ALL KNOW HOW IT HURT WHEN WE HAD TO CUT THE ARTS PROGRAM BECAUSE OF FISCAL REASONS OVER THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHO STEPS UP, WHO HAS DONE WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVES BACK TO SOMETHING LIKE THE ARTS, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND WE ALL KNOW THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ARTS AND MATH AND SCIENCE AND THAT KIND OF THING, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. JUST EXPANDING WHAT YOU STARTED OUT IN A VERY SMALL WAY. I HOPE IT CATCHES ON NATIONALLY, BECAUSE THE ARTS NEED TO BE CONTINUED AND RECOGNIZED AND EXPANDED. AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT. I

020AM VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER KURDELL. MS. ELIA. >>Maryellen Elia: MR. BECATTI, I'VE GOT TO SAY, THIS WOULD BE LIKE THE HOLIDAYS AT ANY SINGLE DAY THAT YOU DO THAT DELIVERY. OUR TEACHERS, AS OUR BOARD IS AWARE AND WAS VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE KEPT ART TEACHERS IN EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY CLASSROOM SERVING OUR STUDENTS, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS THAT THEY NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED TO HELP STUDENTS BE CREATIVE. THE KIND OF WORK YOU'VE DONE IS REALLY WELL RECEIVED BY ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND I AM SURE AS THIS EXPANDS AND I PERHAPS HOPE THAT OTHER COMPANIES IN THIS AREA CHOOSE TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS BE THE DESIGNERS OF THEIR HOLIDAY CARDS, THAT THIS ALSO CAN ROLL OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE. BUT THANK YOU

021SO MUCH FOR YOUR REALLY EXTREME EFFORTS IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. >>Susan Valdes: MEMBER EDGECOMB. >>Doretha Edgecomb: THANK YOU. LET ME ADD MY KUDOS FOR GIVING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TALENTED STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR LIVE AND THEIR -- SHOW THEIR LOVE AND THEIR GIFTS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR BEING SO GENEROUS. THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR AS A JUDGE, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE BETTER. THE ART IS PHENOMENAL, AND IT JUST MAKES THE JUDGING MORE DIFFICULT. BEFORE WE LEAVE, I, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THOSE GREAT ART TEACHERS WHO REALLY, REALLY GIVE SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES THROUGH THE GREAT SACRIFICES THEY'VE HAD TO MAKE TO ART EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY STILL MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. I'M

022GOING TO ASK THE STUDENT ARTISTS FIRST TO STAND, AND THEN OUR GREAT DEDICATED ART TEACHERS TO STAND ONE MORE TIME SO THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE THEM. PLEASE. [ APPLAUSE ] ART TEACHERS, IT'S YOUR TIME TO BE RECOGNIZED. WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER EDGECOMB. THE NEXT ONE IS THE ADOPTION OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK, FEBRUARY 2nd THROUGH THE 6th, 2015. AND THIS IS BROUGHT TO US BY THE STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION. >> MS. VALDES, IF YOU RECALL AT THE LAST MEETING, THIS WAS READ. THIS IS MAKING IT OFFICIAL, BRINGING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. >>Susan Valdes: CORRECT. WE DID HAVE THIS RECOGNITION AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, AT THE RECOGNITION MEETING. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL VOTE TO PROCLAIM THAT WEEK NATIONAL SCHOOL

023COUNSELING WEEK. THE NEXT ONE IS 6.09 TO APPROVE THE LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH CAPSTONE DIGITAL TO PROVIDE myON READER TO ALL PRE-K-8 STUDENTS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MS. TYE, IF YOU WOULD PROVIDE THE HIGHLIGHT. >> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MS. ELIA. ON JANUARY 24th, 2012, THREE YEARS AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY, THE BOARD APPROVED THE COMMUNITY-BASED READING INITIATIVE READ ON myON BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE CHILDREN'S BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE PUBLIC -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST, THE TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEAD START. WE PROVIDED myON READER, A DIGITAL LIBRARY, TO ALL CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PRE-K TO 8. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WITH US. IF THEY WOULD STAND, WE HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM MYON, FROM OUT

024OF TOWN AND FROM LOCALLY AND SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WITH US REPRESENTING US TONIGHT. OUR GOALS WERE THREEFOLD INITIALLY, TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF READERS, TO PROVIDE A LIBRARY OF 2,000 DIGITAL BOOKS, AND TO REGULARLY REPORT AND COLLECT DATA ON THIS. AND WE HAVE DONE THAT AND A LOT MORE. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOU AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM. WE'VE MAINTAINED OUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGH REGULAR PARTNERSHIP MEETINGS. WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN 240,000 STUDENT ACCOUNTS CREATED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS IN myON. THEY HAVE JUST IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR ALONE, OUR KIDS SPENT THE EQUIVALENT OF 122 YEARS READING IN myON, WHEN YOU ADD UP MINUTES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. WE HAVE BROWSED MORE THAN HALF A MILLION BOOKS. READ OVER 5.5 MILLION BOOKS.

025WE HAVE PROVIDED ACCESS TO 69 PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS THROUGH myON. WE HAVE GONE FROM 800 TITLES TO ALMOST 5,000 TITLES NOW IN OUR LIBRARY. FROM THE COMPUTER ONLY TO MULTIPLE MOBILE PLATFORMS. WE HAVE ADDED TITLES AT THE LOW END, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD END. WE ADDED AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL END. WE HAVE ADDED THIRD-PARTY PUBLISHERS. WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP. CAPSTONE GRANTED COPYRIGHT PERMISSION TO ELA DEPARTMENTS FOR CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT NEEDS AND USING TEXT PIECES WITH THEIR PERMISSION. IN NOVEMBER, WE LAUNCHED A NEW TOOL KIT IN myON. WHEN YOU GO IN THERE NOW, YOU NOW HAVE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIGHLIGHT, TO TAKE NOTES, TO PUT VIRTUAL STICKIES, TO JOURNAL. THE TEACHER CAN GO IN ON THEIR END AND PULL

026THE CLASS LIST UP AND SEE ALL THE WORK KIDS HAVE DONE, CHECK THE JOURNALS, RESPOND ELECTRONICALLY SO WHEN KIDS LOG BACK IN THEY CAN SEE THAT. THAT IS A NEW FEATURE WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY IN PUBLICATIONS, AT CONFERENCES, AND THROUGH SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS. WE WERE ONE OF 37 PACE-SETTER COMMUNITIES FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE LEVEL READING, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE MOBILIZATION OF CIVIC, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AROUND LITERACY. myON WAS A PART OF THE REASON WHY OUR COMMUNITY WAS SELECTED AS THAT. AS IMITATION IS THE SINCERIST FORM OF FLATTERY, BREVARD COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY ARE SPINNING OFF VERY SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH myON AND OTHERS ARE TO FOLLOW. WE ARE CAPSTONE IN MINNESOTA AND HEADQUARTERS. THEY CAN SEE AT ANY TIME HOW MANY KIDS ARE READING AND LOGGED ON AT ONE TIME. THEY

027SAY THAT ALMOST DAILY HILLSBOROUGH IS THE TOP SPOT. AND THAT NOW INCLUDES NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SHOULD BE PRETTY PROUD OF OURSELVES. [ APPLAUSE ] MS. ELIA HAS BEEN OUR GREATEST CHAMPION AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS PARTNERSHIP. SHE HAS PRESENTED AT SEVERAL CONFERENCES ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP AND HER LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD SUPPORT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO OUR SUCCESS THE LAST THREE YEARS. BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS. THERE ARE MORE TOOLS COMING. THEY ARE WORKING ON A VOCABULARY PIECE. THEY ARE MAKING UPDATES ON THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SIDE. THE LOOK, FEEL AND CONTENT THAT'S AVAILABLE THERE. AND THERE IS A PLAN THIS YEAR FOR VERY OFFICIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD

028THE WORD ABOUT myON. SO MOST IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH, WE RECENTLY SENT A PARENT LINK OUT WITH A PARENT SURVEY. I WAS TOLD IT HAD 26 PAGES OF PARENT COMMENTS AS A RESULT OF THAT SURVEY. 99.9% OF THEM WERE OVER THE TOP POSITIVE ABOUT IT. I JUST WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF THOSE BEFORE I LEAVE YOU. "I LOVE myON. WE'RE NEW TO THE DISTRICT AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD ACCESS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTED. MY KIDS SIT AND READ AND MY NOT-SO-STRONG READERS HAVE BOOKS READ TO THEM ON THE KINDLE INSTEAD OF WATCHING TV." "MY SON GOT A TABLET FOR CHRISTMAS. HE TAKES IT EVERYWHERE AND LISTENS AND READS BOOKS WITH HEADPHONES ESPECIALLY WHILE WAITING FOR HIS SISTER'S ACTS. HE USED TO NEVER TAKE A BOOK. IT'S BEEN GREAT." MYON

029IS A TREMENDOUS PROGRAM AND MY CHILDREN LOVE IT. GREAT WAY FOR THEM TO GET INDEPENDENT READING PRACTICE AT HOME. REALLY LOVE THE PROGRAM AND FEEL THANKFUL THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO US AT NO COST. I LOVE HAVING THIS AS AN OPTION. IT IS A VIRTUAL LIBRARY WE CAN ACCESS FROM HOME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DO WITHOUT IT. FINALLY, I THINK THIS ONE SPEAKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP IN HILLSBOROUGH. "I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MYON READING. MY CHILDREN REALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM, AND THEIR LOVE OF READING HAS INCREASED. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND I HOPE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND IT. I NEVER HEARD OF ANY READING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IN ANY OTHER AREAS. I AM GLAD TO BE A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY." >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT HIGHLIGHT. THAT'S AWESOME. AND THANK

030YOU FOR THE FOLKS OF myON FOR BEING HERE TODAY. BOARD MEMBERS, ONE LAST PIECE OF BUSINESS THAT I NEED TO DO IS THAT I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE FOR WITHDRAWN ITEMS. THE WITHDRAWN ITEMS B-018, 4058, A 9.02 AND 10.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER STUART -- OH, YOU'RE TALKING TO -- WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT? >> I WAS GOING TO ASK WE PULL AGENDA ITEM 6.09 FOR A SEPARATE VOTE SO THOSE FOLKS COULD LEAVE IF THEY WANTED TO. >>Susan Valdes: IS THERE A MOTION? >> YES. >>Susan Valdes: IS THERE A SECOND? THERE IS A MOTION TO PULL AGENDA ITEM 6.09 OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR A SEPARATE VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? HAVING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. SO THE ITEM IS PULLED FROM THE AGENDA FOR A SEPARATE

031VOTE. MRS. ELIA, YOU HAD A COMMENT. >>Maryellen Elia: I DID. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR PARTNERS. I KNOW SEVERAL OF THEM ARE HERE WITH US. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JOHN MILLBURN AND HIS STAFF HAS DONE WHICH IS SO POWERFUL, IS MAKE THIS AVAILABLE TO EVERY CHILD, WHETHER THEY ARE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL, A PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOMESCHOOLED, A CHARTER SCHOOL, ANY KIND OF OPTION THAT OUR CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE IN AND ARE USING FOR THEIR EDUCATION, WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF THEM. SO OUR PARTNERS HAVE BEEN JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE RESOURCE FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE myON IS AVAILABLE, AND THE NUMBERS THAT JOHN MENTIONED, TOO, HAVE GROWN JUST INCREDIBLY. SO WE'RE SO THRILLED WITH THIS AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT SO

032MANY STUDENTS OF OURS HAVE IN THEIR HANDS ALL THE TIME I THINK SPEAKS TO WHAT THEY REALLY ENJOY, BUT NOW THEY CAN HAVE FUN DOING IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND JOHN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN ORGANIZING THIS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM TO VOTE ON SEPARATELY, WHICH IS 6.09. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HAVING NONE, LET'S VOTE. THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE -- OH, NO, NO. YOU'RE RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE NOW. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER STUART AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRIFFIN TO APPROVE THE LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH CAPSTONE DIGITAL TO PROVIDE myON READER TO ALL PRE-K-8 STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NOW WE'RE STRAIGHT TO TAKE A VOTE. THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. AND IT

033IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO myON FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIPS. IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY. MOVING FORWARD, BACK TO -- I NEEDED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TO -- FOR THE WITHDRAWN ITEMS B 01, A 4.05. A 8.07, A 9.02 AND 10.02. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? HAVING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE AGENDA, ITEM DISCUSSING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT. I KNOW THERE ARE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS ITEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR A LOT OF YOU. I WANT TO REMIND YOU

034THAT THIS IS A BUSINESS DECISION ABOUT A CONTRACT. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR PERSONAL ATTACK. I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO BE RESPECTFUL AND TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE AGENDA ITSELF, WHETHER TO TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT. I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW OBSCENE LANGUAGE OR GESTURES, THREATS OR PERSONAL ATTACKS. HAVING SAID THAT, I'M GOING TO BE CALLING THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP IS TO SPEAK. WE NORMALLY STAND AT THE SIDE THERE. >> CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IF THOSE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR GUIDELINES, PLEASE? >>Susan Valdes: THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE AUDITORIUM. AND THE AGENDA ITEM THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED NOW IS 7.04, BRIAN NESMITH, DEBORAH HAGELBERG AND LINDA TOSSOONIAN AND LOLITA WELLS AS WELL AS EDDIE ADAMS. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LINING UP IN THE MIDDLE

035AND THEN APPROACHING THE PODIUM TO SPEAK. 9.03 SPEAKERS ARE NOT ON THIS LIST YET. WELCOME. >> BOARD MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY WEARING RED LIKE SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS BUT NOT FOR ANY CAUSE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DISCUSS LATER. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY CHANGES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON LATER TODAY. I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT A FEW THINGS BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR VOTE LATER. I'VE BEEN TEACHING THERE FOR 15 YEARS, 15h. I NEVER TAUGHT ANYWHERE ELSE AND GOT WILLING I WON'T TEACH ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE I LOVE THAT PLACE. THE HEART OF THE ISSUE FOR ME IS AN ISSUE OF COMMUNITY. APOLLO BEACH HAS BEEN THE HEART OF EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL SINCE THERE WAS AN APOLLO BEACH AND AN EAST BAY HIGH

036SCHOOL. AND IT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR THAT COMMUNITY TO BE MOVED TO LENNARD, AND I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY. I REALLY DO. IF THE REASONS ARE GEOGRAPHIC, THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE ON THE EDGE OF OUR SCHOOL ZONE THAT COULD BE MOVED TO OTHER SCHOOLS THAT WOULD ACHIEVE A SIMILAR ATTENDANCE CHANGE FOR OUR SCHOOL, AND THOSE AREAS I'M SURE WERE CONSIDERED AND I'M SURE THERE ARE REASONS. BUT APOLLO BEACH HAS A PLACE IN OUR HEART AND WE HAVE A PLACE IN THEIR HEART THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE REVISIONS TO THE PROPOSAL THAT CAME OUT LAST WEEK MADE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WERE BENEFICIAL TO RIVERVIEW, THAT THEY GOT TO KEEP SOME STUDENTS THAT WANTED TO STAY AT THEIR SCHOOL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY GOT TO NOT ACCEPT SOME STUDENTS

037THAT WERE GOING TO BE GOING FROM OUR SCHOOL TO THEIR SCHOOL, SPECIFICALLY TROPICAL ACRES AND TRIPLE CREEK. THOSE STUDENTS ARE ON THE FAR EASTERN-MOST BOUNDARY OF OUR SCHOOL ZONE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE STAYING AT OUR SCHOOL. APOLLO BEACH IS CLOSER THAN THOSE AND THEY'LL BE LEAVING IF THE PROPOSAL GOES THROUGH AS IT IS STATED RIGHT NOW. FOR ME, FOR ME, THE THING THAT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT THE CHARACTER OF OUR SCHOOL WILL BE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED. WE'LL HAVE STUDENTS THAT WILL COME IN. THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WILL FILL IN. BUT APOLLO BEACH IS NOT JUST A DEVELOPMENT OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ISN'T CONNECTED TO OUR SCHOOL. APOLLO BEACH IS AT THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL, AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. MY PROGRAM HAS BENEFITED GREATLY FROM

038THE FAMILIES AND THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS THAT COME FROM THAT COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO ME. THE WOMAN WHO WILL SPEAK TO YOU IN JUST A MOMENT AFTER ME HAS BEEN AT MY SIDE FOR TEN YEARS AS A PART OF WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING THERE, AND SHE IS A RESIDENT OF APOLLO BEACH. I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER. I WOULD ASK EVEN POSSIBLY THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER GIVING THE ISSUE A BIT MORE TIME WITH RESPECT TO THAT ISSUE INSTEAD OF VOTING TODAY WHEN THERE ARE ADMITTEDLY LARGER ISSUES ON THE AGENDA, PERHAPS SO WE CAN THINK ABOUT ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD MORE FAIRLY BALANCE THE REDISTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS AMONG THE FIVE SCHOOLS IN QUESTION. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS DEBRA HAGELBERG. WELCOME. >> HI. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO

039ME. I SENT EACH OF YOU AN E-MAIL THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TODAY, SO YOU KNOW A LOT OF MY POINTS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THE SAME ONES. BUT AS MR. NESMITH WAS SAYING, THE MAIN CONCERN, IT'S WAY OVERCROWDED BUT SO MANY OPTIONS. ACCORDING TO YOUR NUMBERS AND YOUR MAPS, SPOTO IS ONLY AT A 72 OR 73 PERCENT CAPACITY. AND YET THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO GO SPOTO YOU'RE LETTING STAY AT RIVERVIEW. PARTS OF GIBSONTON COULD BE SENT TO SPOTO TO FILL IN THAT AND RELIEVE SOME OF THE ISSUES AT EAST BAY, SAY FROM SYMMES ROAD NORTH. AND TROPICAL ACRES AND TRIPLE CREEK STILL WENT TO RIVERVIEW, THAT WOULD EASE -- BETWEEN THOSE, THAT WOULD EASE A WHOLE LOT FROM EAST BAY AND ALLOW STILL APOLLO BEACH TO REMAIN AT EAST BAY

040WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR 58 YEARS, SINCE THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT, THAT'S BEEN APOLLO BEACH'S SCHOOL. I SAY APOLLO BEACH, I THINK I EXPLAINED IN MY E-MAIL, THE ORIGINAL APOLLO BEACH, THE TOWN OF APOLLO BEACH. IT'S GROWN SO MUCH THAT NOW EVERYBODY HAS AN APOLLO BEACH. MILLER MAC ROAD SOUTH IF THEY STILL WENT TO LENNARD, AND THERE IS A DELMONT OR A BELMONT COMMUNITY AT 301 AND 672. THAT IS STILL FOR EAST BAY. IT'S ACTUALLY CLOSER TO LENNARD. SO IF THAT ONE WAS ALSO SENT TO LENNARD. BETWEEN THOSE CHANGES, IT SHOULD EVEN IT OUT SO THAT EVERYBODY IS COVERED, AND ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSER TO THE 100% INSTEAD OF OVER OR UNDER CAPACITY. LIKE MR. NESMITH SAID, IF THE COMMUNITY AND EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL HAVE A UNIQUE, UNIQUE BOND THAT I DON'T THINK

041EVERYBODY COULD EVER UNDERSTAND. YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN TO THEM. EVEN WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE A CHILD AT EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS STILL, PRESIDENT, TREASURER, WAITING UNTIL IT WAS TURN FOR MY YOUNGER SON TO COME UP THERE. MY SON IS A JUNIOR THIS YEAR. IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME THE WAY MY KIDS GO AT ALL, BUT IT AFFECTS ME AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I JUST HATE TO SEE THAT BOND BROKEN, BECAUSE IT WILL NEGATIVE IMPACT EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL. THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND. I AGREE WITH MR. NESMITH, GIVE IT MORE TIME AND CHECK THE OTHER BOUNDARIES, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE MUCH FAIRER. EVEN THE FOUR-YEAR PLAN, IT STILL SHOWS SPOTO UNDER CAPACITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TODAY. MS. TOSSOONIAN. WELCOME,

042MS. TOSSOONIAN. >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED JUST PRIOR, BEFORE I CAME UP HERE. THERE'S VIDEO NOT SHOWN IN THE BACK. SINCE MY LAST SPEECH AT THE DECEMBER 9th SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE QUALITY OF CAPTIONING. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I QUOTED HAVE TWO OF THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. AT THE NOVEMBER 18th SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN WHICH THERE WAS NO CAPTIONING THAT DAY IN THIS ROOM, I SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF MY SPEECH I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITHOUT THE CAPTIONING. FOR NOVEMBER 18th, THE CAPTIONING -- THANK YOU ABOUT THE CAPTIONING. DECEMBER 9th, THE CAPTIONING, I HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAPTIONING. HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE I GAVE. TWICE IN MY SPEECH I SAY THE

043WORD DENIED. TWICE IT WAS CENSORED AND REPLACED WITH THE WORD REQUESTED. THE WORD DENIED WAS REPLACED WITH THE WORD REQUESTED FOR THE NOVEMBER 18th CAPTIONING. DECEMBER 9th CAPING TWICE I SAY THE WORD -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ANOTHER REPEATED EXAMPLE IN BOTH-OF-NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, I SAID, AFTER MY SPEECH, THE PRINCIPAL OF GRADY AND HER STAFF SPOKE AT THE SAME BOARD MEETING DOWNPLAYING MY CONCERN. IN THE CAPTIONS OF NOVEMBER 18th, REREPLACED WITH DOWNPLAY WITH NOTING MY CONCERN. IN THE CAPTIONS FOR DECEMBER 9th FOR THE STATEMENT, THEY OMITTED MOST OF MY WORDS, CHANGING MY MESSAGE. IMAGINE WATCHING THE VIDEO OF THE WEBCAST ONLINE OR THE TELEVISION BROADCAST FOR THE LIVE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WITH THE SOUND OFF OR IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND JUST READING THE CAPTIONING. IF THE CAPTIONING DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE

044IN READING, IT CAN GET VERY CONFUSING AND FRUSTRATING IN UNDERSTANDING THE DIALOGUE. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I SAID AT THE MEETING, READING THE INCORRECT CAPTIONING OF MY OWN SPEECH IS BEYOND WHAT I CAN DESCRIBE IN WORDS. WITH THAT SAID, HOW CAN I. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] HOW WOULD I KNOW HOW ACCURATE THE REST OF THE CAPTIONING IS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. ONE OTHER ISSUE, IS THERE A REASON WHY THE REPLAYS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND THE TELEVISION BROADCAST HAVE NOT BEEN CAPTIONED? THE LAST TELEVISED REPLAY OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECOGNITION SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 18th, WAS NOT CAPTIONED. I HOPE THE CAPTIONING ISSUES WILL BE RESOLVED SOON. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. TOSSOONIAN. MS. LLOYDA WELLS. >> THANKS FOR HEARING ME SPEAK. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS

045LOLITA WELLS. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR 12 YEARS, 10h AS A BUS DRIVER, 1h YEARS AS AN ATTENDANT ON DECEMBER THE 4th, I HAD ALREADY COMPLETED MY EXAM TO DRIVE SCHOOL BUSES AGAIN UPON ASKING, THE NURSE STOPPED ME AND ASKED WHY DID I STOP DRIVING BUSES BEFORE. I TOLD HER AT THE TIME EVERYTHING IN THE DEPARTMENT WAS GOING CRAZY AND HAYWIRE, THAT I WOULD RATHER STEP DOWN OFF THE BUS UNTIL EVERYTHING COOLED OVER. SHE TOLD ME I HAD TO GET A MENTAL EVALUATION, THAT I WAS CRAZY. I HAD TO GET A MENTAL EVALUATION AND I HAD TO DO THIS IN TWO WEEKS, DRAW BLOOD, URINALYSIS OVER AGAIN. I WENT BACK DOWN THERE, THEY SAID THEY APOLOGIZED TO ME. I'M LIKE, MY CHRISTMAS MESSED UP. EVERYTHING MESSED UP. NOW ALL I GET IS

046AN APOLOGY AND I'M STILL NOT DRIVING SCHOOL BUSES. SO THEY APOLOGIZE AND THEY TOLD ME YOU WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT LAKESIDE IN ORDER TO GET YOUR JOB BACK. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I'M FIGHTING FOR MY BUS DRIVING JOB BACK. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. WELLS, FOR COMING BEFORE US TO SPEAK. MR. FARKAS, WOULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK WITH HER? MR. ADAMS. WELCOME, MR. ADAMS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, MR. BRINSON, JANA WHO I SPOKE WITH EXTENSIVELY SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I CAME AND SPOKE TO YOU AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP, AND MY PRIMARY CONCERN HAS BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING, THE EDUCATION OF BLACK AND HISPANIC MALES IN THIS COUNTY. AND THE FACT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND ALL THE DOCUMENTATION, IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN

047EXTREMELY LOW. WHEN MR. BRINSON CAME BACK, ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES WAS TO BE -- TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. WELL, WE BROUGHT TO YOU, WELL, AT LEAST YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM US A PROPOSAL FROM LIGHTHOUSE ACADEMY. AT THE TIME, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS GOING TO BE TO SUSTAIN, BUT SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME, THE SCHOOL BOARD STAFF, PARTICULARLY JENNA, AND HER COMPANIONS, THE FOLKS THAT WORK WITH HER, INCLUDING JOYCE, HAVE MET, WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT AS TO HOW TO NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER, THAT WE CAN GET THE THING THROUGH, LOOK AT THEIR CREDENTIALS, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN. SO, AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO I HAVE SPOKE TO ABOUT HOW WE GET THROUGH THIS THING

048EQUITABLY. THE LAST TIME DID I A GREAT DISSERVICE WHILE I WAS HERE BECAUSE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW WE DO AND LOOK FOR GREAT MODELS OF HOW TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN AS FAR AS EDUCATING BLACK MALES AND HISPANIC MALES AND WHERE THE SCHOOL HAS UNDERACHIEVED. AND YOU HAVE A PERSON IN YOUR SYSTEM, PRINCIPAL YOUNG, WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OVER AT MILTON HIGH SCHOOL. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ACKNOWLEDGED, BECAUSE HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB, AND THAT PROCESS COULD BE A MODEL THAT SOME OTHER NATIONAL SCHOOLS OR ORGANIZATIONS CAN LOOK AT AS TO HOW TO DO IT. BUT LIGHTHOUSE IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROCESS. IT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL, AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM AS TO HOW TO BRING CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THAN REGULAR

049SCHOOLS. THAT BEING SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE STAFF, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY AS TO HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS THING, TO BRING UP OUR LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT AND EDUCATING BLACK AND HISPANIC MALES IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THIS IN THE FUTURE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. ADAMS. THE NEXT FEW FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE MICHAEL FIELDS, DEBRA HOSEY, AND ANDREW JOSEPH JUNIOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MICHAEL ELLIOT FIELDS I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT AN ISSUE CONCERNING MY STEP DAUGHTER AND ALSO SCHOOL SAFETY. YOU KNOW, MY STEP DAUGHTER WAS ASSAULTED SEPTEMBER 19th LAST YEAR BY AN OFFICER OF CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL. AND MY CONCERN IS THIS. I'M AN EX-CONVICT.

050I DID 15 YEARS IN PRISON. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE AT LEAST MILLIONS OR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG ADULTS, BLACK, AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM THE AGES OF 15 ALL THE WAY TO 25 WITH NO EDUCATION AT ALL. HALF OF THOSE GUYS THAT I'VE TALKED TO AND SPOKEN WITH TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE ASSAULTED BY OFFICERS IN SCHOOL, SO THEY JUST STOPPED GOING TO SCHOOL. MY STEP DAUGHTER, BRITTANY OVERSTREET WAS SLAMMED TWICE ON THE TABLE WITH A FRACTURED JAW, TWICE BROKEN. AND ALSO A CONCUSSION BY THIS OFFICER. AND THIS OFFICER STILL AT CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. MS. ELIA, I DON'T DOUBT THAT YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, BUT WHAT I DO DOUBT IS YOU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE YET. AND WHILE BRITTANY IS HERE, BECAUSE SHE IS HERE, COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO HER, NOT ONLY TO HER,

051BUT TO EVERYONE HERE AS WELL AS MYSELF, BECAUSE I'M JUST CONFUSED HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS SO THAT THEY MAY BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR VISION, THAT THEY MAY BE SUCCESSFUL, THAT THE SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS WILL BE LOCKED IN, THAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE. NOT ONLY EDUCATED, THEY NEED TO BE SAFE. WE JUST WITNESSED SOME KIDS BEING AWARDED. WE JUST WITNESSED SOME KIDS BEING AWARDED. LET NOT THESE KIDS GROW UP TO BE ASSAULTED AFTER THEY'VE BEEN AWARDED. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARDS AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN JUST LOOK INTO THIS AREA MORE. OUR KIDS NEED TO BE SAFE. I HAVE A DAUGHTER THREE YEARS OLD. SHE NEEDS TO BE SAFE WHEN SHE GOES TO SCHOOL. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THANK YOU ALL.

052>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. FIELDS. NEXT IS DEBRA HOSEY. >> HELLO. EXCUSE MY VOICE. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER. I'VE GONE HOARSE. EXCUSE ME. JUST GETTING OVER THE FLU. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER BRITTANY OVERSTREET. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT WITH ME LAST TIME BECAUSE SHE HAD -- I THINK SHE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. GO AHEAD, BABY. >> OKAY. MY THING IS, I'LL GET RIGHT TO THE POINT. WHEN I GO TO SCHOOL, I KNOW -- WELL, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS SAFE, BUT AFTER THE INCIDENT SEPTEMBER 19th, EVERYTHING JUST CHANGED IN MY LIFE. I COULDN'T DO WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I COULDN'T GO OUTSIDE. I COULDN'T SIT OUTSIDE WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS, PLAY, DO ANYTHING. AND MY THING IS, MS. ELIA SAID THAT IT WAS TAKING OUT OF PROPORTION, WHAT IF YOUR CHILD WAS SLAMMED

053OR BEATEN BY A POLICE OFFICER AND NO ONE APOLOGIZED OR NOTHING FOR IT? THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. HOSEY. ANDREW JOSEPH JUNIOR AND LETICIA FERLITA. >> HI. MY NAME IS ANDREW JOSEPH JUNIOR. I COME TO SPEAK ON SAFETY AS WELL. I'M THE FATHER OF A 14-YEAR-OLD THAT WAS KILLED AT THE STUDENT DAY FAIR. I KNOW IT'S PART OF EVERYBODY'S JOB DESCRIPTION HERE TODAY THAT SAFETY BE OUR FIRST CONCERN. SAFETY FIRST. AND AS WE APPROACHING THE FAIR TIME AGAIN, I'M HERE TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW, TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT THE STATE FAIR IS NOT SAFE. THE STATE FAIR IS NOT SAFE. IF I WAS THE AVERAGE JOE MOW THAT HAD A PERMIT TO CARRY A GUN, IF I SHOWED MY PERMIT AT THE GATE, I'M ALLOWED INSIDE OF THE FAIRGROUNDS WITH MY

054GUN. LAST YEAR, DURING THIS RIOT SITUATION, THERE WERE 113 LEGAL GUNS INSIDE OF THE FAIR. YOU CAN'T EVER PUT GUNS AND KIDS IN THE SAME SENTENCE AND EXPECT IT WOULD BE SAFE. GUNS AND KIDS DO NOT MIX. YOU CAN'T PUT THEM IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT. YOU CANNOT CONSISTENTLY PUT OUR KIDS IN HARM'S WAY WITH THE FAIR, AS A COMMUNITY, AS THE FATHER OF A -- CHILD, WE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT YOUR FREE TICKET. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR TICKET. THE $10 TICKET IS NOT WORTH OUR KIDS' LIVES. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, MY SON DIED IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS CUSTODY. NOBODY ASKED THE QUESTION WHY. NOT ONLY HIM, BUT 98 OTHER KIDS THAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE FAIR WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE PARENTS. NOBODY HAS ASKED WHY. IT'S

055TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO STOP KILLING OUR KIDS. I'M BEGGING OF YOU, STOP KILLING OUR KIDS. YOU'RE PUTTING THEM IN HARM'S WAY. YOU'RE GIVING THEM FREE TICKETS. YOU'RE GIVING THEM THE WHOLE ENTIRE DAY OFF OF SCHOOL. YOU'RE ALMOST STRONG-ARMING THEM TO GO TO THE FAIR. WE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, NO, THIS IS NOT A FAIR. THIS IS NOT A SAFE FAIR. THIS IS NOT SOMEWHERE WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE. THEY ARE NOT COMING HOME. I BROUGHT MY SON HOME IN A SANDWICH BAG FROM A SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENT. THAT'S ON BOARD TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR WITHOUT MAKING CHANGES AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE ABLE TO GET -- ABLE TO GO TO THE FAIR WITH YOUR PARENTS UP TO 6:00. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE ABLE

056TO GO TO THE FAIR WITHOUT YOUR PARENT UP UNTIL 6:00. THE DEPOSITION SHOWS US THAT THE FAIR WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AT 2:30, 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU CAN'T EVEN GO TO CHUCK E. CHEESE WITHOUT YOUR PARENT. YOU CAN'T GET A COOKIE FROM PUBLIX WITHOUT YOUR PARENT, BUT YOU'RE ENCOURAGED TO COME TO THE FAIR WITHOUT YOUR PARENT. IF YOU GET EJECTED FROM THE FAIR THIS YEAR, YOU ARE ALLOWED A TELEPHONE CALL. A TELEPHONE CALL LAST YEAR WOULD HAVE SAVED MY SON'S LIFE. ONLY ALLOWED TELEPHONE CALLS FOR KIDS 16 YEARS AND YOUNGER. >Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. -- >> I'M BEGGING YOU, SAFETY FIRST. I'M BEGGING YOU, SAFETY FIRST. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. FIELDS. I MEAN JOSEPH. SORRY. MR. JOSEPH. MEMBER GRIFFIN. >>April Griffin: I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME LITIGATION WRAPPED UP IN THIS,

057AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THIS. I MET WITH THE JOSEPH FAMILY. I MET WITH MR. JOSEPH AND HIS WIFE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY PUBLICLY AS SOMEONE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY IT IS THAT THIS WAS A GOOD BOY. THIS WAS A GOOD YOUNG MAN. I'VE LOOKED AT HIS RECORD. I KNOW THE PARENTS WERE GOOD PARENTS WHO RAISED HIM IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENT AND WHO HAD HIM IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL SO THAT HE COULD BE IN THE BEST ENVIRONMENT. HE WAS INVOLVED IN SPORTS. HE HAD SO MANY SPORTS AND SO MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND HE WAS A MODEL STUDENT. THERE WAS NO TIME FOR HIM TO GET CAUGHT UP IN WHAT HE'S BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING CAUGHT UP IN AND

058THAT IS GANG ACTIVITY. THIS YOUNG MAN WAS NOT A GANG MEMBER. THIS WAS A GOOD BOY WHO WAS THERE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY, THAT THIS IS A YOUNG MAN WHO GOT CAUGHT UP IN A NET, AND HIS MEMORY DESERVES A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT HE'S BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT A PUBLIC RECORD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THIS MOMENT. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRIFFIN. AND HE WAS A LEADER IN HIS SCHOOL AS WELL. OKAY. NOW MOVING ON TO THE SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEM 9.03. BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY SPEAKERS, I'M GOING TO CALL OUT NUMBERS. NUMBERS ALONG WITH THE PERSON'S NAME. OH, MS. FERLITA, I'M SORRY. LETICIA. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT MARYELLEN AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I'M HERE IN

059REFERENCE TO MYSELF AS BEING BULLIED FROM DAVIDSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL TO WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY. AT DAVIDSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WAS LOCKED IN A FREEZER FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF BY MANAGER AND COWORKERS. THEY ALL WENT HOME AND LEFT ME THERE. DID ANYBODY DO ANYTHING FOR ME? NO. THE ONLY ONE THAT SPOKE UP FOR ME AND BELIEVED IN ME WAS MY AREA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SUSAN VALDES. THIS CAN GO ON AND ON. I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR HELP FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS AND NOBODY LISTENS. IT'S OKAY THAT I GET A REFRIGERATOR DOOR SLAMMED ON MY HAND. MY COWORKER, MY MANAGER PUTS HOT BOILING WATER IN THE SINK. I BURN MY HEAD. SHE DRAWS A KNIFE IN THE SINK, I CUT MY FINGER. WHEN I GO UP TO MRS. RICEDOFF, YOU WON'T DIE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPORT

060IT. I'M THE ONE WHO, YOU KNOW, IS VIOLENT? I JUST HIT A COWORKER BY MISTAKE WITH A CART AND THEY SAY I'M VIOLENT? AND A GIRL FROM WESTCHASE DID AN E-MAIL BECAUSE SHE SAW EVERYTHING I WAS GOING THROUGH AND THEY CHANGED MY SCHEDULE BECAUSE MR. HOLLY THINKS I AM A CRIMINAL AND LOCKS ME UP IN THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE TO WAIT FOR A RIDE. I CAN'T TALK TO TEACHERS. I CAN'T BE AROUND STUDENTS. I CAN'T DO NOTHING, WALK TO THE KITCHEN, TEACHERS LOUNGE. MY AREA SUPERVISOR, MRS. RISEDEL TELLS ME, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE CHANGE IN YOUR SCHEDULE, RESIGN. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT A HAIRNET, GO TO -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I HAVE AN ELDERLY MOTHER VERY SICK AT 78, THEY CHANGE MY SCHEDULE AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT HER SITUATION. CAN'T DRIVE

061BEFORE DARK -- DAYTIME. I'VE LOST MY KIDS FROM -- BECAUSE A YOUNG LADY WROTE A LETTER TO YOU ALL. I THINK THAT'S DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE. NOBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 1,300 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE HAD TO PAY AGAINST TWO LITTLE HISPANIC KIDS THAT DIED. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THAT'S FOUR THAT DIE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE EMPLOYEE, THE EMPLOYEES THAT WON'T COME UP AND TALK TO YOU ALL BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS SCARED TO COME OUT AND RETALIATED. WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS DISTRICT? WE NEED A CHANGE RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. FERLITA. BACK TO THE SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEM 9.03R. I'LL CALL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. NUMBER ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, NUMBER ONE IS KATHY HILL. NUMBER TWO IS GEORGE BAXTER. NUMBER THREE IS PHIL LOPEZ. NUMBER FOUR IS SHEILA MINGO, AND

062NUMBER FIVE IS JACKIE McCALISTER. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LINE UP IN THE MIDDLE, THEN WE CAN JUST KEEP THE FLOW GOING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. HILL, WELCOME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KATHY HILL. AND I'M BOTH A PARENT AND TEACHER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CURRENTLY TEACHING AT MITCHELL ELEMENTARY. I AM HERE TODAY PROUDLY WEARING RED IN SUPPORT OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT MS. MARYELLEN ELIA. AS A TEACHER, I PRIDE MYSELF ON CARDIAC ARREST A POSITIVE CULTURE FOR LEARNING. AT THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, I TELL MY CLASS THAT WE ARE A FAMILY. I REMIND MY STUDENTS THAT WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET ALONG, THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER SO THAT EVERYONE CAN LEARN AND BE SUCCESSFUL. IT TAKES SOME COMPROMISE BY ALL, BUT IF MY FOURTH GRADERS

063CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU. TWO YEARS AGO, I STOOD BEFORE YOU AS A FINALIST FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. I ATTRIBUTE MY SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOMS TO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AT BOTH THE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEVEL AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EET. WHILE EET IS NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM, I KNOW I AM A MUCH BETTER TEACHER TODAY THAN I WAS BEFORE ITS IMPLEMENTATION. THIS IS A RESULT OF ONGOING FEEDBACK, REGULAR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND A RUBRIC THAT IS STUDENT CENTERED. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE VISION AND LEADERSHIP OF MS. ELIA AND HER TEAM FOR DEVELOPING A VALUATION SYSTEM WHICH AIMS AT HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE BY HELPING TEACHERS SELL. WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW STANDARDS AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FSA ASSESSMENT, I QUESTION THE TIMING OF THIS VOTE. IF YOU LET

064MS. ELIA GO, YOU WILL LEAVE 200,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS STRANDED WITHOUT A LEADER IN THIS CRITICAL TIME PERIOD. MS. ELIA'S HIGHLY RESPECTED BY EVERYBODY -- WELL, ALMOST EVERYBODY, WITHIN THE STATE'S EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED HER VOICE AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR COUNTY, OUR TEACHERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR STUDENTS. AS STATED ON OUR WEB SITE, IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE STRESS PROFESSIONALISM AND TEAMWORK IN EVERYTHING WE DO IN ORDER TO EXCEED STUDENT, PARENT, STAFF AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS. OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING THEIR JOBS. OUR ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF ARE DOING THEIR JOB. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> MS. ELIA IS DOING HER JOB. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT THAT I ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB, TOO. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: WELCOME, MR. BAXTER. >> THANK YOU. I COME

065BEFORE YOU BECAUSE MY CAREER EXPERIENCE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES BEFORE YOU TODAY. I'VE SERVED ON BOARDS OF NONPROFITS AS FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY AND HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH 84 NONPROFIT CEOs AND THEIR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES ON LEADERSHIP. DANGEROUS, PERILOUS, VULNERABLE ARE WORDS WRITTEN BY TWO HARVARD PROFESSORS IN THEIR BOOK LEASH UPON THE LINE. I QUOTE, EXERCISING LEADERSHIP CAN GET YOU INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE. TO LEAD IS TO LIVE DANGEROUSLY BECAUSE YOU CHALLENGE WHAT PEOPLE HOLD DEAR, THEIR HABITS, TOOLS, LOYALTY, AND WAYS OF THINKING. AND I WILL ADD THEIR EGOS, LEADING IS RISKY BUSINESS. TODAY, WE'RE ADDRESSING FAR MORE THAN THE EMPLOYMENT OF MS. ELIA. YOU ARE DECIDING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS OF TERMINATING MS. ELIA.

066SHE HAS BEEN A STRONG LEADER WHO HAS HAD THE COURAGE TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES, TO REJECT THE STATUS QUO DESPITE THE INHERENT DANGERS OF DOING SO. IF SHE IS TERMINATED, THE CLEAR MESSAGE TO HER REPLACEMENT WILL BE, DON'T CHALLENGE THE SCHOOL BOARD OR OTHERS, ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO, PLAY IT SAFE FOR IF YOU DON'T, YOU'LL BE UNDERMINED, THREATENED, AND EVENTUALLY TERMINATED. THE CHANGES ARE MADE, PEOPLE FEEL THREATENED. THEY LOSE THEIR AUTHORITY, MAYBE TAKEN OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE OR FORCED TO THINK DIFFERENTLY. NOT EVERY DECISION BE WITH RIGHT. AND SO THE MORE DECISIONS MS. ELIA OR ANY STRONGER LEADER MAKE, THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THREATENED, THUS THE NUMBERS GROW OF THOSE WHO SEEK REVENGE, WHO OPPOSE HER AND WHO UNDERMINE HER. THIS IS THE NATURE OF REAL LEADERSHIP. SO I

067CAN HONESTLY SAY TO YOU, AND I ASK YOU TO ASK YOURSELVES, ARE YOU PUTTING THE CHILDREN FIRST OR ARE YOU PUTTING THE CHILDREN LAST? THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. BAXTER. MR. LOPEZ. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MY NAME IS PHIL LOPEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, FLORIDA SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR ELIA AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. THIS DISTRICT HAS 200,000 STUDENTS AND A BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET. ANY LARGE ENTERPRISE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE EVERYONE PLEASED WITH EVERY ASPECT OF THE OPERATION. UNDER MS. ELIA'S LEADERSHIP, STUDENT SUCCESS HAS BEEN THE KEY MOTIVATOR FOR ALL DECISIONS AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN THE OPERATIONAL MODE. I URGE ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING ALL ASPECTS OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE, TO CAREFULLY EXAMINE YOUR MOTIVATION PRIOR TO VOTING ON THIS

068ISSUE, AND THANK YOU, MS. ELIA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ. MS. MINGO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. MINGO. >> BOARD, WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS JUST LIFE. YOU DO WHAT YOU THINK. YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE THE BEST YOU CAN. YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE SCREWING IT UP UNTIL IT BLOWS UP IN YOUR FACE. WHAT I SEE RIGHT HERE, THERE IS NO TRUST BETWEEN THE LEADER AND THE LEADERSHIP AND HOW DO WE GO ON AND HOW DO YOU TELL CHILDREN TO BE GREAT LEADERS WHEN WE DON'T SEE GREAT LEADERS SITTING RIGHT HERE? MS. ELIA, WHAT I REALLY MISS FROM YOU, FROM THE ELIA I MET IN 2005 IS HOW YOU USED TO OPEN UP EVERY SCHOOL YEAR WITH YOUR TOWN HALL

069MEETINGS. YOU LET PARENTS KNOW THEY COULD CONTACT YOU. YOU WERE REACHABLE. SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, YOU LEFT, AND PEOPLE MISSED THAT. THEY FELT LIKE THEY COULD NOT EVEN CONTACT THEIR LEADER. AND THAT'S WHAT I MISSED ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP. IF YOU SURVIVE THIS VOTE, MS. ELIA, I WISH YOU WOULD CHANGE THE BULLYING ATMOSPHERE, HOW PEOPLE ARE HIRED. DO THEY MEET THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS THAT'S ON THE WEB SITE? THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO KNOW. GIVEN YOUR STRONG SUPPORT ON THIS BOARD FOUND ISSUE WITH SOME OF YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, SO THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE, THEY STILL -- THEY HAD OTHER PEOPLE THAT STILL FOUND WITH SOME OF YOUR PERFORMANCE. I HOPE YOU CAN SURVIVE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. MANGO. WHILE MS. McCALISTER IS WALKING UP, I'D LIKE TO CALL

070THE NEXT FIVE. NUMBER SIX IS CAROLYN BRICKELLMEIER. NUMBER 7, ROBERT DIXON. NUMBER 8, MARK KLUTHO. AND HE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES BECAUSE HE'S SPEAKING TO TWO AGENDA ITEMS. AND MR. BILL ORR AND MS. ANDREA FRANKS. WELCOME, MS. McCALISTER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS A TAXPAYER, I'M OUTRAGED THAT THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING SPENDING MY HARD-EARNED MONEY IN SUCH A WASTEFUL MANNER. YOUR ESTIMATED PRICE TAG, WHICH WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, WILL BE WITHOUT A DOUBT TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE THAN IS REPORTED. AS A PARENT, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD CHOOSES TO PUT PERSONAL ISSUES OVER PROFESSIONALISM, SETTING A VERY BAD EXAMPLE FOR MY STUDENT AND OTHERS. OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS MET HER REQUIREMENTS. SHE HAS SHOWN NO GROSS NEGLIGENCE SINCE HER LAST EVALUATION. YOU ARE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING CUTTING ARMED SECURITY GUARDS TO PROTECT OUR YOUNGEST

071CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THAT ARE CLUELESS TO PERSONAL SAFETY TO FUND THIS MOVE. PLEASE REMEMBER THE REASON THIS WAS MADE AN ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE. SANDY HOOK IN 2012 AND THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF 2014 ALONE, THERE WERE 13 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. MOST RECENT, REMEMBER 12/17/2014, THE PAKISTANI SCHOOL SHOOTING WHERE THEY KILLED 145, MOSTLY CHILDREN. THEREFORE, A YES VOTE TODAY IS EXTREMELY PERSONAL. AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THIS DISTRICT, I'M EMBARRASSED BY THIS ACTION. OUR STATE AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUPERINTENDENT IS AN ASSET TO THIS DISTRICT AND SHOWED HER WILLINGNESS TO WORK ON SOLVING PROBLEMS. SUPPORT PERSONNEL HAVE SEEN A RECORD ECONOMIC MOVEMENT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD SAY THEY ARE FOR THE EMPLOYEES, BUT THIS ACTION IS CONTRARY TO THAT, BECAUSE IF YOU FIRE HER, OUR RAISES GO WITH HER.

072I IMPLORE THE RATIONAL PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE NO. THANK YOU, MS. ELIA, FOR ALL YOU DO. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: MS. CAROLYN BRICKELLMEIER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MS. ELIA AND STAFF. I'M CAROLYN BRICKELLMEIER, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. I SAT WHERE YOU ARE FOR 12 YEARS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SOME OF YOU DURING THAT TIME. SOME OF IT I ENJOYED. AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THREE SUPERINTENDENTS. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN WE HIRED DR. LENNARD AND MS. ELIA. DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD MANY TOUGH DECISIONS TO CONSIDER. WE DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WHEN WE DID DISAGREE, WE TRIED TO RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS AND

073TRIED TO LISTEN WITH AN OPEN MIND. AND ALWAYS WITH ONE THOUGHT. IS THIS THE BEST DECISION FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND OUR COMMUNITY? NOT FOR OURSELVES. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ELECTED TO SERVE. YOU ARE EACH ONE VOICE AND ONLY HAVE POWER AS A WHOLE BODY. TWO OF YOUR MAIN ROLES ARE TO SET POLICY AND HIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT. IN ORDER TO DO THAT WELL, IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSTANTLY WORK ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. I KNOW HOW CHALLENGING THAT CAN BE, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU ARE ELECTED TO DO. AND THERE ARE SEVEN OF YOU AND ONE SUPERINTENDENT, AND I AM NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS. ONE THING I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY IS THAT I THINK IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND TOTALLY UNFAIR TO PUT TWO

074BRAND-NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN THIS SITUATION. THE TAXPAYER MONEY IS AN ISSUE -- BUT WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS NOT THE PAST WHERE I HAVE BEEN, BUT THE FUTURE OF THIS DISTRICT. AND I AM ASKING YOU. YOU HAVE DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND AND YOU NEED TO STEP BACK AND LET COOLER HEADS PREVAIL. EITHER VOTE NO OR SOMEONE DEFER. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: MR. DIXON HAS CHOSEN NOT TO SPEAK. NEXT WILL BE MR. MARK KLUTHO. WELCOME, MR. KLUTHO. >> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. 7.02 TO BEGIN WITH. ANOTHER NEW SCHOOL 3/AND I'M SURE WILL BE ANOTHER DEBACLE. THAT HADN'T BEEN RIGHT YET. AND WHAT DO WE GET AS A RESULT? THE HEADLINE, 2014, THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD. NOW, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF BUILDING THE SCHOOLS? THE SUPERINTENDENT.

075BEFORE SHE BECAME SUPERINTENDENT , SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF BUILDING SCHOOLS, AND THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER SAID, DURING THE GO-GO YEARS. BEFORE HER, JIM HAMILTON SAID, MARK, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THEM DIFFERENTLY. THE ARCHITECTS DON'T LIKE IT. WE'RE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE. WELL, UNDER HER WATCH, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF BAD BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN MADE. AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE A HEADLINE NOW THAT SAYS SEA LEVEL RISING FASTER THAN ONCE THOUGHT. SNOW DOWN AND HEAT UP IN THE ARCTIC. AND THE WORLD'S WEALTH TILTS TO THE RICHEST. WELL, IF YOU'RE WASTING MONEY ON DUMB BUILDINGS, THEN WHO DOES IT HIT THE HARDEST? THE ONES THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED CAUSE AND EFFECT AND THE STUFF THAT I READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT TODAY WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE, UNBELIEVABLE. FROM THE HEAD OF

076THE PRINCIPALS, HE WROTE, AS PRINCIPALS, WE HAVE AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY. WELL, I HAVE MY UNABRIDGED HERE AGAIN. THE WORD "AWESOME" COMES FROM AWE, AND HE REALLY SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN LIKE TOTALLY AWESOME, YOU KNOW, THE LINGO OF TODAY. AWESOME, INSPIRING AWE, INDICATING AWE. AND WHAT IT SAYS HERE IS, "AWE, TO INFLUENCE BY FEAR OR RESPECT AS HIS MAJESTY, AWE THEM INTO SILENCE." NOW, THIS IS THE PERSON THAT'S HEAD OF THE PRINCIPALS? AND LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE BUCKHORN, SUPPOSED TO LISTEN TO HIM? THE LANGUAGE HERE, WHAT A JOKE. THIS IS WHY I'VE COINED THE TERM. WE'RE NOT IN THE INFORMATION AGE. THIS IS THE SECOND DARK AGE. AWESOME? TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE. IT'S LIKE SOME WEST COAST HIGH SCHOOL GIRL, "AWESOME." NO, NO. BUT, LIKE I SAY, THE KEY HERE IS CAUSE AND EFFECT. AND THE PLANET IS BURNING. THE

077SCHOOLS, BEFORE YOU PUT THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHER TOGETHER, YOU FIRST HAVE THAT BUILDING. THESE BUILDINGS ARE THE CAUSE OF WHY THE PLANET BURNS. I HAVEN'T YET HEARD A TEACHER OR A PRINCIPAL COME HERE AND DEMAND THAT A HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING BE MADE. DON'T WASTE MONEY AND PUT STUDENTS IN A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IT'S A DOGGONE SHAME. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. KLUTHO. MR. ORR. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF, I'M GOING TO VARY A LITTLE BIT FROM THE USUAL SPEAKER THAT COMES UP TO TALK TO YOU TODAY, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHO EMPLOYS ME, WHO I WORK FOR. I WORK FOR 850 OF THE ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS AND LEADERS IN THIS DISTRICT THAT BELONG TO THE HILLSBOROUGH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. THEY ALONG WITH THE TEACHERS AND

078OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING. AND I REPRESENT THEM HERE TODAY BOTH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SENIOR HIGH, ADULTS, AND OTHER SPECIALTY SCHOOL LEADERS, DISTRICT LEADERS, NONINSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LEADERSHIP. WE DON'T REMEMBER GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAUSE HE WAS A NICE GUY. WE REMEMBER GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAUSE HE WON OUR INDEPENDENCE. WE DON'T REMEMBER WINSTON CHURCHILL BECAUSE HE MADE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD. WE REMEMBER WINSTON CHURCHILL BECAUSE HE LED WESTERN EUROPE THROUGH WORLD WAR II. WE DON'T RATHER BEAR BRYANT BECAUSE HE MADE HIS PLAYERS FEEL NICE AT THE END OF PRACTICE. WE REMEMBER BARE BRYANT BECAUSE HE WON SIX NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 13 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND BECAUSE PLAYERS AND SUBORDINATE COACHES HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME LEADERS

079THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. NOW, I'M ASKING YOU TODAY NOT TO FIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED LOCALLY, STATEWIDE, AND NATIONALLY AND WHO LEADS THOSE 850 ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS AND LEADERS WITH GREAT INTEGRITY AND GREAT SKILL. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: I WILL ASK THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO BE HERE ALL DAY, NO PROBLEM. WE'LL DO IT, OKAY? BUT LET'S TRY SO WE CAN GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WHILE MS. ANDREA FRANKS IS WALKING UP, I'LL CALL THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS SO THEY CAN BE LINED UP. DORIS ROGERS RIPPLE, ANN CHATFIELD, REVEREND DR. RUSSELL MEIER, AND HE'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES BECAUSE HE'S SPEAKING TO TWO AGENDA ITEMS, JEAN CLEMETTES AND STEPHANIE BAXTER JENKINS. WELCOME, MS. FRANKS.

080>> GOOD AFTERNOON. ON FRIDAY, I DELIVERED A LETTER AS REPRESENTATION OF THE VOICE OF THE ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. HOPEFULLY YOU RECEIVED THOSE. IF YOU DIDN'T, I HAVE ANOTHER COPY FOR YOU, IF YOU LIKE. AS ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, WE HAVE AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, TO OUR TEACHERS AND TO OUR STUDENTS. WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY, AND EVERY DAY, WE STRIVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ACT IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS. WITH THIS RESPONSIBILITY, WE ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING HIRING, COMMUNICATION, CURRICULUM, AND SAFETY. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING ANY OF THESE DECISIONS IS, IS THIS WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS? MS. ELIA MAKES DIFFICULT DECISIONS EVERY DAY. THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS BE POPULAR, BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, THEY ARE DECISIONS THAT KEEP THE BEST INTERESTS OF A CHILD IN

081MIND. MS. ELIA IS WHAT'S BEST FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS COMMUNITY, OUR TEACHERS, OR OUR STUDENTS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SEEK THE REMOVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT ELIA. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] MS. ROGERS RIPPLE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I RETIRED JUNE, 2012, AFTER 30 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I STAYED IN THE QULOOM BECAUSE -- IN THE CLASSROOM. I STAYED IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WORKED MY MAGIC. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SUPERINTENDENT ELIA BEING ALLOWED TO WORK OUT HER CONTRACT. HILLSBOROUGH IS A LARGE DISTRICT WITH ONE SUPERINTENDENT, ONE SUPERINTENDENT. OVER 200,000 STUDENTS IN 279 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHARTERS. THE SUPERINTENDENT CANNOT BE PHYSICALLY

082IN 279 SCHOOLS. SHE CAN'T BE PHYSICALLY IN THE HOMES OF 200,000 STUDENTS. IN 30 YEARS, I'VE WITNESSED SOME NEGATIVES, BUT MANY, MANY MORE POSITIVES IN THIS DISTRICT. CEOs, COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND FOOTBALL COACHES CAN BE RELEASED WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE. IF THEY WERE RELEASED WITH CAUSE , THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN PRETTY MUCH. BUT IF IT'S WITHOUT CAUSE, THEN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTY OF CHANGING THEIR MINDS. 4h MONTHS AGO, SUPERINTENDENT ELIA WAS GIVEN THAT EXTRA YEAR ON A CONTRACT. SHE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK OUT THAT CONTRACT. WITHOUT CAUSE IS NO CAUSE. IN THE CASE OF MARYELLEN ELIA, MUCH IMPRESSION, MUCH EXCELLENCE SHE HAS SHOWN. SHE IS NOW FACING A NATIONAL AWARD, WHICH IS GOING TO BRING MUCH MEDIA TO THIS AREA AGAIN. NINE YEARS AGO, THE BOARD CHOSE HER AND TWO OF

083YOU ARE STILL HERE. THERE'S NO REASON TO THROW AWAY THIS WONDERFUL, EXCELLENT LEADER OVER SOME PERSONAL VENDETTA, AND I AM NOT PRIVY TO THE NUANCES THAT GO ON WITHIN THE BOARD, NEITHER IS THE GROUP HERE. BUT FROM -- >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> FROM HERE, IT FEELS PERSONAL. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. RIPPLE. >> THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: MS. CHATFIELD. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS. SUPERINTENDENT ELIA AND STAFF. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I STOOD HERE. I WAS READING OVER SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, AND I NOTED THE FACT THAT IT STATES THAT SHE IS TO DO HER DUTIES AS PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEN I WENT TO THE STATUTE. I'VE BEEN READING STATUTES ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT DUTIES AND SCHOOL BOARD DUTIES FOR SEVERAL NIGHTS NOW, TRYING

084TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF EVERYTHING AND TRYING TO COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE DECISION OF THIS CONTRACT. THE MOST INTERESTING PART THAT I FOUND, IF I MAY, UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IT SAYS, "COOPERATE WITH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD. COOPERATE WITH THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD IN EVERY MANNER PRACTICABLE TILL THE END OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED." LIKE MR. KLUTHO, I WENT TO THE DICTIONARY AND I READ BECAUSE I THOUGHT PRACTICABLE. IT'S DIFFERENT FROM PRACTICAL. FEASIBLE AND REALISTIC. SO, THAT MEANS, ACCORDING TO MY READING OF THE STATUTE, THAT MRS. ELIA MUST COOPERATE WITH THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AS IT IS PRACTICABLE, FEASIBLE AND REALISTIC, FOR HER TO COMPLETE HER MISSION AND HER JOB FOR THIS DISTRICT. THAT MEANS, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SAY NO, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS

085NO. AND WE KNOW THAT ALL OF US WHO WORK IN SCHOOLS, WORK WITH STUDENTS, WHO ARE PARENTS, ALL OF US KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THE ANSWER HAS TO BE NO. IN THE CASE OF THIS DECISION TO TERMINATE HER CONTRACT, THE DECISION DEFINITELY SHOULD BE AND MUST BE NO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. SHEFFIELD. REVEREND DOCTOR RUSSELL MEIER. WELCOME, REVEREND. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT. IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN, THOUGH IT IS A TENSE DAY. I RECENTLY WAS GIVEN A NEW ASSIGNMENT THAT ALSO INCLUDES SERVING AS A PART-TIME PASTOR FOR NEW PARRISH OF TAMPA. MY YOUTH MINISTER CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISLANDERS, FAMILIES FROM THE CARIBBEAN, AND I'M WORRIED, PASTOR. SHE'S WORRIED BECAUSE THE TRACK RECORD FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN

086DISSENT STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND GET A DIPLOMA IS NOT GOOD. IF YOU'RE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE, IT'S SOMEWHERE, IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE NUMBERS THAT ARE PUBLISHED, MAYBE ONE OUT OF FIVE. SPEAKING WITH AN ORGANIZER TODAY WHO WAS LOOKING TO MOVING TO THE RIVERVIEW AREA WITH HIS FAMILY AND LOOKED INTO THE SCHOOLS THERE, AND SEEING THE GRADES ON THE SCHOOLS, ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH THE SCHOOLS THERE? WELL, I TALKED TO SOUTH SHORE AND HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I KNOW THAT IT HAS A VERY HIGH HISPANIC POPULATION. IN THE LAST DECADE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS GAINED ENOUGH HISPANIC POPULATION SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A SEPARATE DISTRICT JUST TO VOTE FOR HISPANICS, BUT WE HAVE NO BILINGUAL EDUCATION, AND THE REASON WHY THOSE SCHOOLS ARE SUFFERING IS THE LANGUAGE

087PROBLEM. HE DECIDED NOT TO MOVE HIS FAMILY TO RIVERVIEW. MY CONCERN IS THIS, THAT WE HEAR THE WORD OF SAFETY, WE GIVE BIG CONTRACTS TO OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES, BUT WE'RE NOT TEACHING KIDS HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. WE'RE NOT TEACHING KIDS CONFLICT RESOLUTION METHODOLOGIES. THE COST OF PUTTING AN OFFICER AND ARRESTING A KID AND TAKING THEM OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PUTS A BURDEN ON EVERY TAXPAYER FOR THE REST OF THAT PERSON'S LIFE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE NOT GRADUATING FROM THIS SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN OF COLOR, WE'RE ALL PAYING A BILL THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON TO THE POINT WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON PRISONS THAN WE DO ON UNIVERSITIES. WE NEED A SYSTEM IN WHICH THE POLICIES, THE PRACTICES, AND THE PROTOCOLS REALIZE THE DREAM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

088FOR TODAY, THAT EVERY CHILD, EVERY BLACK CHILD, EVERY WHITE CHILD, EVERY BROWN CHILD, EVERY CHILD WHOSE COLOR YOU CAN'T TELL CAN WALK ACROSS THE STAGE IN THIS COUNTY AND RECEIVE A DIPLOMA. THAT'S THE DREAM. AND WE NEED THE POLICIES, PROTOCOLS, AND THE PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE THAT DREAM. AND SIMPLY MAKING CONTRACTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE DOESN'T MAKE THEM SAFE. WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM PARENTS ALREADY. WHAT MAKES SCHOOLS SAFE IS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED IN ENGAGEMENT TO MAKE CERTAIN EVERY CHILD SUCCEEDS. NOT JUST BUSINESSES WHO CAN POUR MONEY IN, BUT REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY FILLED WITH GRANDPARENTS WHOSE GRANDCHILDREN LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY. THEY COULD BE READING AND ENGAGED BUT NO FORMAL PROGRAM THAT REALLY CAN GET INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HELP THEM

089BE SUCCESSFUL. MISDIRECTION OF FUNDS THAT GO TO USING LAW, RATHER THAN USING EDUCATION. AND WE'RE SCHOOL BOARD, SCHOOL DISTRICT. EDUCATION WORKS. AND EVERY CHILD, I DON'T CARE WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS, IF THEY KNOW THEIR TEACHER IN FRONT OF THEM HAS LOVE IN THEIR HEART, AND I DON'T MEAN SENTIMENT, BUT REALLY THE DESIRE TO SEE THEM SUCCEED, THEY WILL SUCCEED. BUT IF WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT SAYS TO TEACHERS, IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF A CHILD, SAY SOMETHING; WE'LL REMOVE THE CHILD. THE CHILD KNOWS THAT FEAR; THE CHILD WILL NOT LEARN. THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUCCESSFUL STORIES AROUND THE COUNTRY OF HOW TO DEAL WITH STUDENTS WHO COME FROM TROUBLED SITUATIONS, SO THAT IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY REALLY DO SUCCEED AND WE SEE TURNAROUND STORIES. WE NEED THAT KIND OF DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP, AND I HOPE HOWEVER

090THIS COMES OUT, THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE GO. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] MS. CLEMENTS. SINCE MS. BAXTER JENKINS IS HERE ALREADY, LET ME CALL THE NEXT FIVE. IT WILL BE NUMBER 16 IS MARK FERNANDEZ. NUMBER 17 IS GERALD SMITH. NUMBER 18 IS RUSSELL WALLACE. NUMBER 19 IS CLARK GOTSHOCK. AND NUMBER 20 IS MARILYN WILLIAMS, AND SHE'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES BECAUSE SHE'S SPEAKING TO TWO AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU. WELCOME, MS. CLEMENTS. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE 14 AND 15. FOR EFFICIENCY, WE'RE MAKING OUR STATEMENT TOGETHER AND WE'LL COME IN LESS THAN OUR FOUR MINUTE SNOOZE NO PROBLEM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON,. >>Susan Valdes: NO PROBLEM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM JEAN CLEMENTS AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. >> I'M STEPHANIE BAXTER JENKINS. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. WE

091COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OUR UNION. AS YOU KNOW, HCTA IS THE CERTIFIED BARGAINING UNIT FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BETWEEN THESE TWO BARGAINING UNITS, WE REPRESENT NEARLY 19,000 OF YOUR EMPLOYEES. WHILE WE WERE UNABLE TO TAKE A VOTE OF OUR MEMBERSHIP BASED ON THE TIMING OF THIS ACTION, WE KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE INDEPENDENTLY. BUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHARE THREE KEY POINTS WITH YOU WITH REGARD TO THIS AGENDA ITEM BASED ON THE MISSION AND VISION OF OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS OUR RULES BARGAINING AGENT. FIRST, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF AN UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE WORKING DAILY TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND NEW STANDARDS

092AND CURRICULUM WHILE STRIVING TO PREPARE FOR ASSESSMENTS THEY HAVE NOT SEEN. THIS IS HAPPENING AT A TIME WHEN SUCH ASSESSMENTS CARRY MORE WEIGHT THAN EVER. STUDENTS HAVE THE PRESSURE OF MEETING REQUIREMENTS TO GRADUATE OR ADVANCE TO THE NEXT GRADE AND TEACHERS FEEL PRESSURE BECAUSE THEY WANT STUDENTS TO SUCCEED AND THEIR EVALUATIONS ARE TIED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE STUDENTS. WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT IN THESE ALREADY TURBULENT TIMES, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT YOUR DECISIONS FOCUS ON WHAT BEST SUPPORTS STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE THEM. SECONDLY, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF POSITIVE AND COLLABORATIVE LABOR RELATIONS. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE ALWAYS AGREE. QUITE THE CONTRARY. WE DISAGREE; WE ARGUE; WE SOMETIMES WALK AWAY FRUSTRATED. BUT WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCE, WE RETURN TO THE

093TABLE AND WE KEEP TALKING. THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS DISTRICT AND THE STUDENTS THEY SERVE DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN OUR BEST EFFORTS ON THEIR BEHALF. THIS DISTRICT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN OUR COUNTY AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR YEARS TO WEATHER DIFFICULT, OFTEN DAUNTING TIMES, LIKE THE RECENT RECESSION. WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS DISTRICT. LAST, AS A UNION, WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE PRINCIPLE OF DUE PROCESS. WE HAVE A STRONG BELIEF THAT ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND EQUITY AND AS SUCH BELIEVE TERMINATION SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE JUST AND SUFFICIENT CAUSE SUPPORTS SUCH A DETERMINATION. THE AGENDA ITEM REFLECTS A MOTION TO TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WITHOUT CAUSE,

094AND WE ARE OPPOSED TO SUCH ACTION BASED ON THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR ORGANIZATION. WE CANNOT SUPPORT A TERMINATION OF AN EMPLOYEE WITH A SOLID RECORD OF PROGRESS AND STATE AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION WITHOUT CAUSE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN LIGHT OF THE HIGH COST SUCH ACTION WOULD COST. IN CLOSING, WE WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ISSUE IN FRONT OF YOU. WE HOPE THAT THE DECISION IS GUIDED BY WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: WELCOME, MR. FERNANDEZ, AND GO RAYS. >> THANK YOU. CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING TRAINING. >>Susan Valdes: CAN'T WAIT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU, CHAIRPERSON VALDES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I THANK YOU FOR

095GIVING ME A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT ELIA AND I'M DOING SO WEARING MULTIPLE HATS. FIRST AS A MEMBER OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION, THE TAMPA BAY RAYS. WE HAVE WATCHED THE SUPERINTENDENT CULTIVATE PARTNERSHIPS UP CLOSE. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT THE CLOSE AND SIGNIFICANT FINANCING AND PROGRAMMATIC RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS BASED IN SIGNIFICANT PART ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT BEGAN BY GETTING TO KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT. SECONDLY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M HERE AS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER. I HAVE THE REAL PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO SERVE ON AND CHAIR A FEW BOARDS THAT ENGAGED THEMSELVES VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. NOW, I WILL TELL YOU, TO

096BE CLEAR, I'M NOT HERE AS THEIR OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE. HOWEVER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WATCHING THE WORK THAT GETS DONE BY ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU KNOW WELL, INCLUDING GROUPS LIKE THE ELIA FOUNDATION THAT I HAVE A PRIVILEGE OF BEING PART OF, I HAVE SEEN THE MEANINGFUL IMPACT THAT OCCURS AS A RESULT AND A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS BEING GIVEN TO KIDS WHO WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE RECEIVED THAT, IN MY OPINION. FINALLY, THE THIRD HAT THAT I'M WEARING TODAY IS THAT OF A PARENT, AND A PARENT, WHO, BY THE WAY, GRADUATED FROM THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT THIS, IT TAKES ME A SECOND. I'M SORRY. MY PARENTS GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. MY MOTHER TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 40 YEARS. SO I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DEDICATED TEACHER.

097I CAN TELL YOU THE EXPERIENCE I HAD OF TWO CHILDREN WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED AND A THIRD WHO WILL SOON. I COULDN'T BE PROUDER TO CALL THIS HOME, TO CALL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS MY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS NATIONALLY. LOOK, THINGS AREN'T PERFECT ANYWHERE, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND I'VE SEEN THE IMPACT BEING MADE BY PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS WHO I SAW TODAY, WHO I KNOW, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID FOR MY FAMILY, BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR SO MANY OTHERS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ON. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND MY COMMENCE BOTH ON MY BEHALF AND MY ORGANIZATION'S BEHALF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. FERNANDEZ. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: MR. SMITH. >>

098MADAM CHAIR. CAN I JUST ASK YOU TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT IF THEY'VE SIGNED UP BUT HAVEN'T SIGNED IN, THAT THEY NEED TO CHECK IN AT THE DESK, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE ON THE LIST. >>Susan Valdes: WE DID A LAST CALL. >> I UNDERSTAND. BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE SIGNED ONLINE BUT HAVEN'T SIGNED IN AT THE DESK. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GERALD SMITH. I'M HERE IN FULL SUPPORT OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT. I HOPE SHE STAYS HERE THROUGH THIS CONTRACT AND LONGER. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. PRODUCT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 12 YEARS IN REGULAR SCHOOL, 4 YEARS IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, AND THEN USF. AFTER I GRADUATED FROM MY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, I LED THAT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, THEN HIRED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ACT AS LIAISON BETWEEN THE 14, 15 APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT

099WE WORKED WITH AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAD FULL SUPPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, AS WE HAVE HAD ALL THE PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENTS, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO JAY CROCKETT PURNELL, I'M ONE OF THE ONES OLD ENOUGH HERE TO REMEMBER. NONE HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT, AND I HOPE SHE GETS ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. SHE LED US THROUGH THE WORST RECESSION IN MY LIFETIME, AND I'M 67 YEARS OLD, AND WE'RE STILL DOING WELL. MANY DISTRICTS DID NOT DO THAT WELL. I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. FINALLY, IF THIS BOARD IS SO IMPRUDENT AS TO GET RID OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IN THIS WAY, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE APPLICATION POOL WILL LOOK LIKE OF ANYBODY THAT WOULD WANT TO REPRESENT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: JUST TO CLARIFY, IF YOU HAVE SIGNED

100UP TO SPEAK ONLINE AND YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED IN WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DESK TO THE LEFT OUTSIDE, PLEASE DO SO, SO THAT YOU CAN GET A NUMBER SO WE DON'T MISS YOU. OKAY? THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. ELIA, BOARD. IT WAS AN INTERESTING START TO THE DAY AT THE WALLACE HOUSEHOLD AS MY 12-YEAR-OLD IS HUGGING MY LEG TO SAY GOOD-BYE AND BEGGING ME NOT TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE, IN HER QUOTE, MRS. ELIA IS REALLY GOOD, DAD, AND WE LOVE YOU, BUT YOU'RE NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS SHE IS. IF THE BOARD CAN GET RID OF MRS. ELIA, CAN THEY GET RID OF YOU AS WELL? THAT IS A REAL FEAR THAT MY 12-YEAR-OLD HAD TODAY. SO I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY

101AWESOME. OUR ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS COUNCIL IS IN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF MRS. ELIA. OUR TEACHERS AT BAILEY ELEMENTARY, OUR FACULTY AND STAFF ARE IN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF MRS. ELIA. NOW, THIS IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE IF WE GOT TOGETHER AND I SAID I WANT TO GIVE EACH OF YOU A $100 BILL, ONE PERSON WOULD SAY, WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE ME 150? IT'S RARE FOR US TO AGREE ON ANYTHING, AND TO HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE COME TO CONSENSUS AND IN SUPPORT OF MRS. ELIA, SPEAKS VOLUMES. OUR PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD, SAC MEMBERS, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT BAILEY ELEMENTARY ARE 100% UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF MRS. ELIA CONTINUING HER ROLE AND VEHEMENTLY AGAINST HER TERMINATION. MRS. GRIFFIN, YOU WERE RECENTLY QUOTED SAYING THAT UNTIL TEACHER MORALE IMPROVES, I'M NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY AND I'M NOT GOING TO SHUT UP.

102SO I WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE TEACHERS AT BAILEY ELEMENTARY WHO ARE SCARED TO DEATH ABOUT THIS DECISION TO TERMINATE THEIR SUPERINTENDENT. WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS IS SO IMPORTANT, AND WHAT'S BEST FOR THE 200,000 PLUS KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HAVING MRS. ELIA, THE NATION'S BEST SUPERINTENDENT CONTINUING TO BE THEIR SUPERINTENDENT FOR AS LONG AS SHE WANTS TO BE. NOT BECAUSE SHE NEEDS THIS JOB, BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO BE HERE. SHE WANTS TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND CONTINUE TO MAKE US THE SHINING STAR. SO I ASK EACH OF YOU TONIGHT AS BOARD MEMBERS, DON'T DO WHAT IS EASY; DO WHAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, MRS. ELIA. MY NAME IS CLARK GOTSHOCK. I AM A RETIREE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'VE WORKED 35

103YEARS. MOST OF IT IN THIS BUILDING. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MRS. ELIA. DESPITE BEING RECOGNIZED ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOT -- DOES NOT -- NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I GET CONFUSED. SINCE PRINCIPALS SUPPORT MRS. ELIA, IT CREATES A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE CHILDREN THEY SERVE. TO PARAPHRASE SHAKESPEARE, THE FAULT IS NOT IN THE STARS, BUT IN OURSELVES. THE SOLUTION TO THIS CONUNDRUM CAN BE FOUND AT THE BALLOT BOX, I THINK. FINALLY, IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO QUOTE FORREST GUMP, "THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT." [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: WHILE MRS. WILLIAMS IS WALKING UP TO THE PODIUM, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS. IT'S NUMBER 21, MICHAEL WESTIN. NUMBER 22, JOHN BOWEN. NUMBER 23, DAVID McCRAW. NUMBER

10424, RACHEL WALTERS. AND NUMBER 25, AMBER STANTHAM. WELCOME, MS. WILLIAMS. FIVE MINUTES, YES, MA'AM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. AND THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE HAVING -- >>Susan Valdes: WOULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIKE, PLEASE? >> OH, OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL THIS AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO TWO ITEMS. ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT AND ONE IS THE CONTRACT FOR THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. I SUPPORT THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE WILLING TO VOTE NO CONFIDENCE AND TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT IMMEDIATELY. SUPPORTERS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SAY THAT IT WOULD BE TOO COSTLY, WHICH IS NOT REALLY AN ISSUE. IF THE DISTRICT DELAYED HIRING ARMED GUARDS FOR EVERY SCHOOL AS PART OF THE SECOND-YEAR PLAN, THE DISTRICT WOULD SAVE $1.6 MILLION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED AND

105WILL MORE THAN COVER THE COST OF FIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT. THIS STRATEGY BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT IS IT WORTH FOR THE DISTRICT TO CHANGE ITS LEADERSHIP? FROM WHERE I SIT, YOU CAN ALWAYS RECOVER MONEY LOST BY DELAYING OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AS WAS PLANNED FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THEIR CONTRACT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE. HOWEVER, YOU CANNOT COVER THE DAMAGE DONE TO OUR CHILDREN AND WITHOUT A DOUBT THE DISTRICT HAS BUILT ONE OF THE WORST SCHOOLS-TO-PRISON PIPELINES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, RUINING THE LIVES OF AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN, PRIMARILY AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDENTS WHO ARE TARGETED BY DISTRICT, RACIALIZED DISCIPLINE PRACTICES AND EDUCATIONAL POLICIES. IF WE ADD UP THE CUMULATIVE LOSSES INCURRED BY THESE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, THE FAILURE OF THE DISTRICT TO ADEQUATELY EDUCATE

106THEM AND PREPARE THEM FOR PRODUCTIVE ADULT LIFE, THE IMPACT IS ASTRONOMICAL AND CATASTROPHIC. UNDER THE CURRENT DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND POLICIES, THESE STUDENTS ARE ENDING UP UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, AND, THEREFORE, WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE MUCH TO A LOCAL ECONOMY OR TAX BASE NOW AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE, WHICH BEGS A SECOND QUESTION, DO THE LIVES OF BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS MATTER IN THIS DISTRICT? REGARDING THIS CALL FOR VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE, BEING A MATTER OF PERSONAL FEELINGS AND QUESTIONABLE MOAT VATIONS -- MOTIVATIONS, I SEE IT AS THE ABILITY OF THOSE MEMBERS, THOSE ACCUSED MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER. AS WELL AS A COMMITMENT THAT THESE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE REGARDING THE NEED FOR ALL STUDENTS AND NOT JUST FOR SOME STUDENTS, SOME OF OUR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE AN EQUITABLE AND JUST EDUCATION. SUPPORTERS CLAIM OF A

107STRONG WORK ETHIC AND BEING AN ACCOMPLISHED SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE GATES GRANT OFTEN BEING CITED. THE GATES GRANT ALONG WITH OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROCESSES SHE HAS SUPPORTED HAVE YET TO BE CRITICALLY REVIEWED. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE IMPLEMENTATION OR THE IMPACT OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE JUST ONE PARENT SPEAKING ABOUT HOW HER CHILD WAS PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED, AND THE LAWSUITS THAT COME OUT OF THESE KINDS OF INCIDENCES IN THE SCHOOLS WILL COST MORE THAN THE MILLION DOLLARS, MILLION OR SO DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AS A PAYOUT, THAT MAY BE REQUIRED AS A PAYOUT. THE BELIEFS REGARDING THEIR EFFICACY RELIES ON DELIBERATELY MISLEADING INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN HEAVILY INFLUENCED -- THAT HAS HEAVILY INFLUENCED PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND NOT ON THE DATA AND OUTCOMES WITH DOCUMENTED RESULTS. IT IS ALSO IGNORES THE

108FACT THAT THE DISTRICT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS BECAUSE OF DATA IT RECEIVED REGARDING THE GROSS DISCIPLINE AND DISPARITIES THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT BLACK STUDENTS AS WELL AS GRADUATION RATES THAT ARE SO LOW AMONG BLACK STUDENTS THAT IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE LESS THAN 30% OF BLACK STUDENTS RECEIVING DIPLOMAS. UNLESS YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE BELIEVE THAT BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS ARE INHERENTLY INCAPABLE OF HANDLING DISPUTES, CONFLICTS, DIFFERENCES IN CONSTRUCTIVE WEIGHS AND OTHER STUDENTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN, THE CALL FOR A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IS NOT ABOUT PERSONALITY CONFLICT, BUT ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WHO ARE DEDICATED TO EQUAL AND SAFE EDUCATION OF ALL STUDENTS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. WILLIAMS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: WELCOME, MR. WESTIN. >> THANK YOU. TOMORROW MORNING, WITH THE CIRCUS

109SIDE SHOW BEHIND US, THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN FINALLY GROW INTO AN INSTITUTION WHERE THE STUDENT IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY, NOT BILL GATES, NOT THE COLLEGE BOARD AND DEFINITELY NOT THE RICH AND POWERFUL TAMPA ELITE. WHO TRIED SO VERY HARD TO OVERTURN THE CLEARLY STATED WILL OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VOTERS. I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD FOR THIS DAY AND BOARD MEMBERS BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TERMINATION OF SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, I TASK YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING: ONE, REFORM THE PUNITIVE TEACHER EVALUATION PROCESS IMPOSED ON US BY BILL GATES AND THE TEACHERS UNION WHOSE LEADERSHIP REPORTS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT RATHER THAN PROTECTING THE TEACHERS FROM THIS EVIL, EVIL SYSTEM. YOUR FIRST ACTION SHOULD BE TO EITHER ELIMINATE THE EVALUATORS OR MAKE THEM ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES. ABANDON THE SUBTERFUGE OF CALLING THEM PEERS. TWO, GET THE COLLEGE BOARD OUT OF OUR SCHOOL

110SYSTEM. THEY CAN TAKE THEIR SPRINGBOARD CURRICULUM AND THEIR AP EXAMS WITH THEM. THREE, TAKE CONTROL OF THE GRANT PROCESS. THE URBAN TEACHERS ACADEMY WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA, BUT WE NEED AN ADMINISTRATION COMPETENT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORK. FOUR, TAKE A REAL STANCE WITH TALLAHASSEE ABOUT HIGH-STAKES TESTING AND COMMON CORE. YOUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS ONLY OBJECTED TO THE STAKES, NOT TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE TESTING OUR KIDS UNTIL THEY CRY. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. MUST WE TATTOO 911 ON EVERY EMPLOYEE'S WRIST? SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT DISCOURAGES CALLING IN OUTSIDE HELP, LIKE THE PARAMEDICS OR THE POLICE. CLEAN HOUSE, DEEP. YOU KNOW WHO I MEAN. FINALLY, GET SERIOUS ABOUT ESE AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, NOT EVERYONE GOES TO COLLEGE AND NOT EVERY KID HAS THE SAME NEEDS. WE ARE HERE TO EDUCATE ALL OF OUR

111KIDS. THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE OF YOUR CON VIKSZ AND THE IMPORTANT VOTE THAT YOU ARE -- CONVICTIONS AND THE IMPORTANT VOTE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. WESTIN. MR. BOWEN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOHN BOWEN. I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUT MY DAUGHTER, BRITTANY McCRAY IS A TEACHER AT BRADY ELEMENTARY. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. EDUCATION IS ABOUT KIDS, EXCEPT WHEN IT'S NOT. TODAY, IT APPEARS THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT KIDS. IT'S ABOUT PERSONAL EGOS. IT'S ABOUT ADMITTING THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT SPECIAL SET OF SKILLS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS A SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR. 67 COUNTIES. A SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS ONE OF FOUR FINALISTS NATIONWIDE FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR, AND THAT'S OUT

112OF OVER 16,000 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS STATE IN THE NATION. A SUPERINTENDENT WHO LEADS A DISTRICT THAT WAS SELECTED BY THE GATES FOUNDATION AS OUTSTANDING, OVER AND ABOVE 16,000 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS DESERVING OF A $100 MILLION INVESTMENT. I RETIRED AS SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY IN MANATEE COUNTY IN JUNE, 2013, AFTER 41 YEARS OF PRACTICING LAW. 40 OF THOSE YEARS WERE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEYS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE FLORIDA BAR AS AN EXPERT IN EDUCATION LAW. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FIVE TIMES WITH OUR DISTRICT WHERE A SCHOOL BOARD HAS SOUGHT TO TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT. I REPRESENTED THE BOARD IN THREE OF THOSE. I REPRESENTED SUPERINTENDENT IN TWO OF THOSE. IN ALL OF THOSE, IT WAS ALL ABOUT EGO. MAKE YOUR VOTE TODAY TO BE ABOUT KIDS.

113YOU'RE STRONG LEADERS. SUPERINTENDENT ELIA IS A STRONG LEADER. SHOW THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY, YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND MOST OF ALL THE KIDS THAT YOU ARE -- YOU HAVE THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO WORK TOGETHER, MOVE THIS DISTRICT FORWARD FOR THE KIDS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. >> VOTE AGAINST TERMINATING THE CONTRACT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DAVID McCRAW. I REPRESENT -- I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE WEST COAST APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL. IT'S AN ASSOCIATION OF THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I THINK MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROGRAMS. YOU VISITED OUR TRAINING CENTERS. YOU'VE ATTENDED OUR GRADUATIONS, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THAT. I SPEAK FOR THE GROUP TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, MARYELLEN ELIA. SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO US SHE'S BEEN

114A GOOD PARTNER, AND I BELIEVE THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS HAVE FLOURISHED BECAUSE OF HER LEADERSHIP. SO I WON'T BE LONG-WINDED, BUT I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN THAT'S COMING BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE SUPPORT OUR SUPERINTENDENT. I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T GET THE MEMO TO WEAR RED, BUT I SEE SOME OF YOU GUYS DID. >>Susan Valdes: WE GOT THE MEMO, TOO. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON VALDES, FELLOW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT ELIA AND STAFF. I'M RACHEL WALTERS, CURRENT PRINCIPAL OF SHAW ELEMENTARY. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD NOT TO TERMINATE SUPERINTENDENT ELIA'S CONTRACT TODAY. WE NEED HER EXPERTISE TO MOVE US FORWARD. I HAVE HAD THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF SERVING AS AN ADMINISTRATOR UNDER A SUPERINTENDENT WHO WAS EVENTUALLY DISMISSED BY THE BOARD WITHOUT CAUSE, CHOSE TO LEAVE MY FORMER

115DISTRICT PROVIDER BOARD -- PRIOR TO THAT THE BOARD'S VOTE DUE TO THE LACK OF QUALITY STABLE LEADERSHIP AT THAT TIME. I SAW THE POSITION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BECAUSE THE SUPERINTENDENT ELIA AND THE INITIATIVES SHE WAS LEADING AT THE TIME. I'M IN MY FIFTH YEAR AS A PRINCIPAL HERE, AND I'M FORTUNATE TO BE LED BY A VISIONARY WHO INSPIRES ME TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD IS SUCCESSFUL, RICH, POOR, GIFTED, STRUGGLING, OR AVERAGE. SHE ALSO ENCOURAGES US TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES WHEN WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT IS WHY I CHOSE TO MOVE TO SHAW ELEMENTARY THIS YEAR AS A PRINCIPAL. AND MY DESIRE IS TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER UNDER SUPERINTENDENT ELIA. FINALLY, THE BOARD RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF THEN SUPERINTENDENT HAVING SUCCESSION PLANS IN PLACE FOR TOP ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS. I'M CURIOUS,

116AS A PARENT AND AS AN EMPLOYEE, DOES THE BOARD HAVE A SUCCESSION PLAN IN PLACE TO REPLACE OUR TALENTED SUPERINTENDENT? THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] WHILE MS. ANTHEM IS WALKING UP, I'LL BE CALLING THE NEXT SPEAKERS. IT'S NUMBER 26 PATRICIA McKENT. NUMBER 27, KAREN CLAY. NUMBER 28, KATHLEEN SHANAHAN. NUMBER 29, STACY KARLSON, AND NUMBER 30, ALTHERIA LEE WRIGHT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AMBER STATHAM. I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF GIBSONTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THAT IS THE RENAISSANCE AND STARS SCHOOL. YOU ALREADY ARE AWARE OF THE SPECIAL SITUATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND OBSTACLES THAT WE ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITIES FACE. HOWEVER, THROUGH MRS. ELIA'S LEADERSHIP, THOSE CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN DRAMATICALLY REDUCED. MRS. ELIA HAS GIVEN US HER FULL SUPPORT. SHE HAS TRULY LISTENED TO OUR NEEDS

117AND MADE IT HER PERSONAL BUSINESS TO SEE THAT THOSE NEEDS WERE MET. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE TIMING OF THIS ISSUE IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE DISTRICT. THROUGH THE UNCERTAINTY AND STRESS OF OUR NEW CURRICULUM, NEW TESTING, AND NEW ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS, SHE HAS REMAINED OUR FOUNDATION AND SALVATION. SHE'S DONE THIS BY GIVING US THE GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION NEEDED TO SEE US THROUGH FOR MAXIMUM STUDENT SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS. REMOVING HER NOW WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE DISRUPTION, MORE UNCERTAINTY, MUCH ANXIETY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF STRESS. I AM ASKING GNAW CONSIDER -- I AM ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER THE DEPTH AND GRAVITY THAT THE EFFECTS OF THIS DECISION WILL HAVE ON THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. MANY TIMES WE'RE PUT IN POSITIONS WHERE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO

118DO THINGS. TODAY, ASK YOURSELF, IS THIS TRULY THE RIGHT THING TO DO? THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR, DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS PATRICIA McCANNTON. I AM THE PRINCIPAL OF SHE HIGH ELEMENTARY. IT IS A TITLE ONE SCHOOL, RENAISSANCE SCHOOL, STAR SCHOOL, EXTENDED READING SCHOOL. HEAD START. EACH OF THESE TITLES ELEVATE THE SCHOOL AND MANY OTHER SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT TO LEVELS WHERE THERE IS FREQUENT INACTION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DISTRICT STAFF. THESE MEETINGS CONSIST OF REVIEWING OUR DATA, OUR REACTIONS TO OUR DATA, LOOKING AT POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR GROWTH AND LACK OF GROWTH, STAFF CONCERNS IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO INCREASE LEARNING. IT IS EVIDENT THROUGH THESE INTERACTIONS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT IS COMMITTED TO

119PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATION TO ALL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. IT IS DURING THESE TIMES, NO ROCK IS LEFT UNTURNED AND HER PASSION FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE GROUP OF LEARNERS IS TRANSPARENT. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGE OF HIRING AND RETAINING TEACHERS AT HIGH-NEEDS SCHOOLS. SHE PUTS FORTH INITIATIVES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS ALONG WITH ADDING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE RESOURCE TEACHERS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS AND WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH CHILDREN. SHE LEADS THE CHARGE TO ENSURE THAT RESOURCES AND MATERIALS ARE UPDATED AND CURRENT TO SUPPORT CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY. SHE IS A CHAMPION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND COMMITTED TO SUPPORT AT-RISK SCHOOLS THROUGH MAKING PERSONAL APPEARANCE WHEN THEY ARE ON OUR CAMPUSES. SHE OFTEN REMINDS US, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM, AND DON'T SHARE IT, GUESS WHAT,

120WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT IF WE SHARE IT THEN COLLECTIVELY, WE ALL HAVE A PROBLEM. WELL, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM. TO CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-OUT SUPERINTENDENTS IN THIS NATION, WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER AS WE FACE THESE NEW STANDARDS, NEW ASSESSMENTS AND THE IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON OUR STUDENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THE DISTRICT WOULD BE DEVASTATING, BUT MOREOVER, TO THE SCHOOLS LIKE SHEHIGH IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ESE PARENTS, PARENTS CANNOT BE HERE TODAY BUT BEGGED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO STOP THE BULLYING, INTIMIDATION, AND RETALIATION. THEY HAVE COME BEFORE YOU

121WITH THEIR CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE CANNOT CONDONE THE FAILED POLICIES THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF BELLA AND JENNY. THEIR LIVES MATTERED. THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES A LEADER THAT WILL IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WILL PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, NOT SOMEONE WHO LEADS BY INTIMIDATION AND RETALIATION. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MARYELLEN ELIA AND STAFF. MY NAME IS KATHLEEN SHANAHAN. I RUN A CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS WITH MANY OF MY EMPLOYEES LIVING AND RAISING THEIR FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND SCHOOLS. I ALSO SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS ON THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD AS A VOLUNTEER, AND I WAS CHAIRMAN FOR PART OF MY TIME OF SERVICE. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MANY OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, AND MANY OF MY -- ALL OF

122MY EMPLOYEES IN SUPPORT OF MARYELLEN, AND HER LEADERSHIP. YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT LEADERSHIP TODAY. I HOPE THE BOARD FULLY APPRECIATES THE COMPLETE DISLOCATION IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND OF HAVING THE FLORIDA SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL FINALIST FOR THE USA SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR CONTRACT TERMINATION FOR NO CAUSE. I HAVE A PETITION HERE THAT STARTED FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00. I'M ASKING IT BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD WITH COMMENTS. IT HAS 1100 SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF MARYELLEN OVER A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. AND IT WAS STOPPED ABOUT 2:00 WHEN I CAME DOWN HERE TODAY. JUST A FEW OTHER FACTS THAT SHOULD HELP WITH THE CONTEXT OF THIS DECISION. HILLSBOROUGH IS THE 8th LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT HAS 203,000 STUDENTS, 26,000 EMPLOYEES, 16,000 TEACHERS. WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF $2.8 BILLION. IT'S

123RECEIVED THE HIGHEST CREDIT RATING OF ANY FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS AT THE LEVEL THAT SHE'S BEEN LEADING. YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE KIDS AND THE STUDENTS, AND THAT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL ON A NATIONAL STANDARD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMPARISON. I UNDERSTAND ELECTIONS MATTER. YOU WERE ELECTED. YOU HAVE A ROLE IN THE OVERSIGHT AND THE POLICY AND SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY FOR THE DISTRICT. YOUR ROLE IS NOT TO RUN THE DISTRICT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU AND YOUR VOTE TODAY CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT VERSUS YOUR OWN PERSONAL AGENDAS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. SHANAHAN. >> THIS IS NOT ABOUT MARYELLEN'S LEADERSHIP. THIS IS ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP.

124[ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING. AND IT IS ACTUALLY EVENING NOW. I CHECKED BEFORE I STEPPED OUT HERE. STACIE KARLSON, VICE PRESIDENT AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AT HELIO EDUCATION FOUNDATION. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF MARYELLEN ELIA AS SUPERINTENDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ASKED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SHIFT THE CONVERSATION TO WHAT IS REALLY CRITICAL HERE, AND THAT IS ENSURING OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING PREPARED TO SUCCEED BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. AT HELIO, WE ARE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA IS ACADEMICALLY PREPARED TO SUCCEED BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. UNDER SUPERINTENDENT'S ELIA'S LEADERSHIP, WE BELIEVE THIS DISTRICT'S STUDENTS ARE ON THAT PATH TO SUCCESS. AND THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY. SUPERINTENDENT ELIA HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS

125IN THIS DISTRICT, AND SHE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE THE WORK SHE HAS STARTED. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, MORE THAN HALF OF THE DISTRICT'S SCHOOLS EARNED AN QUT -- "A" AND A RATE SIX PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE STATE. THIS DISTRICT'S FOURTH AND 8th GRADERS SCORED THE HIGH NEST READING AND TIED SECOND PLACE IN MATH WHEN COMPARED TO PEERS IN LARGE SUBURB DISTRICTS LIKE BOSTON, HOUSTON, CHARLOTTE, NEW YORK, AND AUSTIN. EVEN THE WASHINGTON POST HAS RECOGNIZED THIS DISTRICT FOR HAVING SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOLS AND 12 OF THE DISTRICT'S HIGH SCHOOLS WERE NAMED TO NEWS WEEK'S LIST OF AMERICA'S TOP SCHOOLS. WITH SUPERINTENDENT ELIA AT THE HELM, OUR STUDENTS LEAD THE STATE IN NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS, NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARS AND NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLARS MAKING THEM AMONG THE MOST ACADEMICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS

126IN THE NATION. THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING ADVANCE PLACEMENT COURSES AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT IN THE COURSES. THESE NUMBERS HAVE DOUBLED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. WE KNOW THAT HAVING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS IS A KEY PART OF THAT SUCCESS AND SUPERINTENDENT ELIA HAS LED THE OVERHAUL OF THE DISTRICT'S TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM. THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE -- >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> -- ABOUT CONTINUING THE WORK OF ENSURING EVERY STUDENT IS PREPARED FOR SUCCESS AND BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] MS. ALTHERIA LEE WRIGHT IS COMING UP, I WILL BE CALLING THE NEXT FIVE, WHICH WOULD BE JOSE CALINDREZ. HE'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES SPEAKING TO TWO ITEMS. MARY CUNNINGHAM, PAULAMEGALY AND WILLIAM COOK. WELCOME. >> FIRST OF ALL. THANK

127YOU TO THE BOARD. >>Susan Valdes: MR. WRIGHT, CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIKE? >> THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR WORKING SO HARD FOR YOUR HARD WORK FOR LISTENING TO THE TAXPAYERS, CONSTRUCTIONAL AND NONCONSTRUCTIONAL WORKERS. YOU HEARD US CRY. YOU FELT OUR PAIN. YOU YOURSELF HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSED AND AFFECTED UNDER THIS POOR LEADERSHIP. TO THE PUBLIC AND WORKERS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT THINK THOSE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN DON'T CARE, PLEASE CHANGE THAT THOUGHT. I WAS ONCE THERE UNTIL I STARTED DOING MY OWN HOMEWORK. STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO. I SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE CRY, QUIT, LEAVE FOR HEALTH REASONS, WORKERS AND SUPERVISORS, UNDERPAID CONSTRUCTIONAL AND NONCONSTRUCTIONAL WORKERS. THE PROBLEM BECAME KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC NINE MONTHS AGO BY A WHISTLE-BLOWER. THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN THAT CAN'T -- THAT YOU CAN'T PAY TO DO ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TAKE

128THEIR JOB SERIOUS FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS. I MYSELF WAS THE FIRST ONE TO CALL, WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR? WHERE IS THE MAYOR? WHEN THE CHILDREN OF TAMPA WERE LEFT ON THE STREETS FOR HOURS. NOW YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR TO SAVE A FRIEND, BUT WHERE WAS HE TO SAY WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE ON THE STREETS OF TAMPA? NOW, LOOK AT THE COMPANY, WHEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE, YOU CALL I DIDN'T REMEMBER FRIENDS CHECK IT OUT, NOW, IF THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO HELP, DON'T JUST STOP BY PLANT HIGH SCHOOL AND GAITHER. STOP BY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. STOP BY MADISON. STOP BY MONROE. TAKE THE LUNCHROOM WORKERS' HANDS. SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE. THAT'S WHAT GREAT LEADERS DO. NOW, FROM THE DISHWASHERS TO THE PRINCIPALS, DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT. MOST EMPLOYEES ARE

129BROKE. THEY ARE ON FOOD STAMPS. EVERYBODY IN HERE WEARING RED, I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD BE WEARING GREEN BECAUSE YOU ALL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS THING. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. WRIGHT. >> YOUR-ALL BANK ACCOUNTS ARE FINE. >>Susan Valdes: WELCOME. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I BECAME INVOLVED WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER. AND I WAS AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME, PARTNERING WITH THEM ON SOME INITIATIVES. AS I SPENT MORE TIME ON CAMPUS, I SAW THAT LETO HIGH SCHOOL HAD A GREAT DEAL OF AP COURSES, BUT I ALSO SAW THEY HAD LIKE A 20% READING PROFICIENCY. SO NOT BEING AN EDUCATOR, I ASKED, WELL, HOW CAN YOU HAVE SO MANY KIDS IN AP CLASSES IF ONLY 20% READ AT GRADE

130LEVEL? AND ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS, KIND OF OFF TO THE SIDE SAYS, WELL, IT'S PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BONUS. SHE GETS A BONUS FOR EVERY KID THAT'S REGISTERED FOR AP. AND I WAS LIKE, REALLY? SO IS THERE ANY CRITERIA TO PUT THE KIDS IN AP CLASSES? AND SOME OF YOU -- I THINK I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS. AND I DEBATED IT. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT? HOW CAN YOU TAKE THOSE KIDS THAT CAN'T EVEN READ AT GRADE LEVEL, A THIRD-GRADE LEVEL READER IN 10th GRADE IS IN AN AP CLASS? WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT, I STARTED DOING MORE RESEARCH ON THE DISTRICT AND ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICES. WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERY COIN. YES, THERE'S WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT GOING ON, BUT AT

131THE SAME TIME, THIS DISTRICT HAS THE LOWEST GRADUATION RATE IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. IF I'M WRONG, PLEASE TELL ME. IT'S LOWER THAN PASCO, PINELLAS, HERNANDO, CITRUS, MANATEE. IT'S BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE. SO WHEN I HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT ALL THIS TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT, YEAH, THERE ARE POCKETS OF ACHIEVEMENT. THERE ARE KIDS THAT DO VERY WELL. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE 67 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS. THAT'S PHENOMENAL. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 200,000 KIDS? OKAY? SO THAT'S WHERE I STARTED DOING THE RESEARCH. AND THE MORE RESEARCH I DID ON THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, IF YOU WILL, MORE DEFENSIVE THE DISTRICT BECAME, THE MORE STANDOFFISH. AND I HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT I WAS SPEAKING WITH, AND I SAID, WELL, IF YOU THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO PUT THESE KIDS IN AP CLASSES, WHY DON'T YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I JOKINGLY SAID,

132YOU THINK YOU'LL WIND UP IN A DITCH? HE SAID PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING, YES. SO THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR IN THE CULTURE OF THE DISTRICT. AND AS THINGS PROGRESSED, YOU SAW THINGS THAT WOULD COME OUT IN THE MEDIA WHERE THEY WERE BROKEN BY WHISTLE-BLOWERS, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE URBAN TEACHING ACADEMY, WHICH WAS SOMETHING STUMBLED UPON. I'M LIKE, YOU MEAN, THEY PROMISED SCHOLARSHIPS TO SEVERAL HUNDRED KIDS AND THEN TWO OR THREE MONTHS BEFORE GRADUATION THEY SAID I'M SORRY, THAT WE DIDN'T RAISE THE MONEY? SO THEN THE DISTRICT RAIDS THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN SCHOLARSHIPS TO BASICALLY SAVE FACE. AND THEN TO ME, THE POINT AT WHICH I SAID THE ABSENCE OF TRUST IN THIS DISTRICT IS NOW ON STEROIDS IS THE DEATH OF BELLA HERRERA. I'M LIKE ALMOST THREE

133YEARS TO THE DAY, JANUARY 25th, 2012, BELLA HERRERA HAD A MEDICAL EPISODE ON A BUS. THERE WAS A DELAY IN CALLING 911. SHE DIED. AND NO ONE ON THE BOARD WAS NOTIFIED UNTIL TEN MONTHS LATER. TEN MONTHS. AND I THINK -- THEY ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT IN A DEPOSITION, HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT? UH, WHEN THEY DID THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. I'M LIKE, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THE MOST MIND-BOGGLING THING TO ME, MS. KATHY VALDEZ IN CHARGE OF FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION AT THE TIME WHO SITS NEXT TO MS. ELIA AT EVERY BOARD MEETING DID NOT TELL HER FOR TEN MONTHS. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? MR. PORTER BEING THE ATTORNEY AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE DEMAND LETTER IS, A DEMAND LETTER CAME IN FROM THE LAW FIRM SAYING WE'RE GOING TO SUE YOU.

134AND THE SUPERINTENDENT CLAIMED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW. BECAUSE BELLA HERRERA'S DEATH WAS UNKNOWN, A SECOND CHILD SUBSEQUENTLY DIED, JENNIFER CALLERO WANDERED AWAY FROM GYM CLASS AND DROWNED IN A RETENTION POND. AND NOW THIS PAST FRIDAY, CODY'S FAMILY, AGAIN WITH THE MAYER LAW FIRM, THEY ARE SUING BECAUSE THERE WAS A DELAY IN CALLING 911. I'M LIKE, THIS IS SURREAL. HOW CAN CHILDREN KEEP DYING? I MEAN, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN? I THINK STEVEN MAYOR OF THE MAYOR LAW FIRM SAYS HOW MANY KIDS HAVE TO DIE IN THIS DISTRICT BEFORE THERE IS COMPETENT LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE? WHAT DOES IT TAKE? SO WHEN YOU TALK $1.1 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, THINK OF ALL THE MONEY WE'VE PAID IN SETTLEMENTS AND LEGAL FEES AND WILL CONTINUE TO

135DO SO -- >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS, MRS. ELIA, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS AND FELLOW COLLEAGUES, I USUALLY INTRODUCE MYSELF AS A VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CHIARAMONTE BUT TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU A VERY DISHEARTENED PRINCIPAL. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING IN THIS WONDERFUL DISTRICT FOR 43 YEARS. 36 AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AND UNDER 5 SUPERINTENDENTS. EACH ONE HAS LEFT THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISTRICT, BUT MRS. ELIA, IN MY OPINION, IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST THAT WILL BE SOON ENUMERATED BY OUR PRINCIPALS COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOW SPEAK RIGHT BEHIND ME. NOW YOU WANT TO TERMINATE HER BASE PREDOMINANTLY ON HER RELATIONSHIP, THE BOARD. IF YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO IS SUBSERVIENT AND WILL SAY YES TO YOUR EVERY WHIM, THAT IS NOT MARYELLEN ELIA. THIS LADY

136IS A MOVER AND A SHAKER AND BELIEVES WITH ALL HER HEART THAT WE NEED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN AND EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT. SHE HAS GONE TO TALLAHASSEE NUMEROUS TIMES TO SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF. SHE DOES HAVE LOFTY GOALS FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING HERSELF. SOME OF YOU FEEL THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MRS. ELIA AND A BOARD IS BROKEN. WELL, BROKEN THINGS CAN BE FIXED, SOME OF THEM. AND RELATIONSHIPS CERTAINLY CAN BE FIXED, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO. BEFORE YOU VOTE ON WHETHER TO HAVE MRS. ELIA TERMINATED, I LEAVE YOU WITH YOU TO BRING YOUR CONCERNS TO A PROFESSIONAL MEDIATOR WHO CAN HELP YOU WORK THINGS OUT. IN MY PREVIOUS E-MAIL TO CHAIRMAN SUSAN VALDES AND COPIES SENT TO ALL OF YOU, I NEED TO RETRACT MY LAST STATEMENT

137WHERE I SAID LET IT GO. NOW I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO WORK IT THROUGH. WORK IT THROUGH TO SOLVE YOUR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP ISSUES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR DISTRICT. I THINK I BETTER STOP NOW. >>Susan Valdes: YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES SIX SECONDS, RATHER. [ APPLAUSE ] >> HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARY CUNNINGHAM. I AM PRINCIPAL OF DICKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE PROUD PRESIDENT OF THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS COUNCIL. A LETTER WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND SENT TO EACH OF YOU TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT MARYELLEN ELIA FOR HER UNWAVERING LEADERSHIP, STRONG SENSE OF ETHICS, AND DEVOTION TO OUR COMMUNITY, STAFF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR STUDENTS. WE LISTED SEVERAL AREAS WHERE HER VISIONARY LEADERSHIP WAS EVIDENT, SUCH AS, RECOGNITION OF OUR SCHOOL

138DISTRICT AS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE AREAS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CURRICULUM, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGE, RESULTING IN HER BEING NAMED FLORIDA'S SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AND ONE OF THE FOUR NATIONAL FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR. OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS LISTED WERE BALANCING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, RESULTING IN JOB SECURITY FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT. ENSURING STUDENT SAFETY BY THE ADDITION OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. ACHIEVING DISTRICTWIDE SACs ACCREDITATION AND FACILITATING OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH MEETINGS, SUCH AS PARENT UNIVERSITY, STUDENT FORUMS, TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND WORKING WITH OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SUPERINTENDENT MARYELLEN ELIA. IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND WITH A COOPERATIVE SPIRIT THAT WE SUPPORT SUPERINTENDENT ELIA. THIS LETTER WAS SIGNED BY THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS COUNCIL.

139THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MY NAME IS PAULA MECKLY. I AM A PARENT OF THREE CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TWO OF THEM GRADUATED AND I STILL HAVE ONE THERE. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU AS A PARENT. A PARENT THAT'S VOLUNTEERED FOR 18 YEARS IN THIS DISTRICT, BEHIND THE SCENES, NOT GETTING PAID, TO SUPPORT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MOVING FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN. I HAVE HAD MANY, MANY EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH EVERY DISTRICT, EVERY PART OF THIS DISTRICT FROM CONSTRUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TO EMPOWERING EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, TO, YOU NAME IT, I'VE WORKED IN IT. I'VE VOLUNTEERED ON BOARDS, AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK. AND I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER GOING FORWARD, LISTENING TO WHAT PARENTS BELIEVE AND LOOKING AT ALL THE MILLIONS

140OF HOURS THAT PARENTS VOLUNTEER IN THESE CLASSROOMS AND THE MILLIONS OF HOURS THAT ARE PARENTS PUT IN SUPPORTING THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN IT. MY TWO CHILDREN THAT ARE IN COLLEGE ARE DOING VERY WELL. THEY GOT A GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION. MY THIRD, WELL, WE'LL SEE HOW HE DOES. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THERE'S BEEN MANY CHANGES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MOST CAME AS MANDATES FROM THE STATE OR CHANGES AS A BY-PRODUCT OF AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD OF EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY. I AM OF THE BELIEF THAT WE MUST CONTINUALLY ANALYZE THE THINGS THAT ARE PROVEN. HOWEVER, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT TO BE AFRAID OF MAKING CHANGES AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN COMPETE IN A WORLD ECONOMY. THIS SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOT BEEN AFRAID TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. THIS BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE STAFF OF

141HILLSBOROUGH, WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT OUR CHILDREN. MY BELIEF IS THAT IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE BY TERMINATING SUPERINTENDENT ELIA. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: WHILE MR. WILLIAM COOK IS WALKING UP, I WILL BE CALLING THE NEXT FIVE. AND THAT'S NUMBER 36, COREY FELTON. NUMBER 37, BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. NUMBER 38, JACK JERRAL. NUMBER 39, ELIZABETH GUILES. AND NUMBER 40, STANLEY TILLIS. WELCOME, MR. COOK. >> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, STAFF, SOMEONE MENTIONED TODAY THAT THIS WAS -- YOU SHOULD NOT DO THE EASY THING. I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE DIFFICULT THAT YOU ARE FACING TONIGHT IN THE CAREER OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. BUT I ALSO HAVE TO NOTE THAT THERE IS ONE THING WORKING EXTREMELY WELL FOR THE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, AND

142THAT'S ITS PR MACHINE. I THINK YOU HAVE WITNESSED IN THE ROOM THAT IT IS HEAVILY BIASED IN FAVOR OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVELIHOODS DEPEND UPON THE SUPERINTENDENT. FOR THE MOST PART, OR THEY RUN BUSINESSES THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE GOODWILL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. I DO NOT THINK THAT IS THE BASIS UPON WHICH YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR DECISION. THE DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE IS WHETHER OR NOT GOING FORWARD YOU CAN WORK WITH THIS SUPERINTENDENT. THE SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T WORK FOR US; SHE WORKS FOR YOU. YOU ARE OUR ELECTED MEMBERS. WE ELECTED YOU FOR A REASON. WE ELECTED YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WANTED YOU TO DO. WE REELECTED YOU FOR WHAT WE WANTED YOU TO DO. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

143IT IS NOT ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE HEARD IN THIS ROOM. THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT SUPERINTENDENTS OUT THERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP IS IRREVOCABLY BROKEN FOR WHATEVER REASON. I BELIEVE THE DISTRICT AND THE NEWSPAPERS HAVE TRIED TO COUCH THIS PROBLEM AS ONE OF A PERSONAL NATURE. I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT AT ALL. I BELIEVE IT'S ONE OF TRUST. TRUST COMES FROM THINGS NOT BEING FULFILLED. TRUST COMES FROM DISHONEST BEHAVIOR. MISTRUST COMES FROM DISHONEST BEHAVIOR. MISTRUST COMES FROM NOT BEING GIVEN THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU TO GO FORWARD AND VOTE TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT AS DIFFICULT AS THAT WILL BE. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. COOK. [ APPLAUSE ]

144WELCOME, MR. FELTON. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS COREY FELTON. THIS IS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT MARYELLEN ELIA. RECENTLY IN A RADIO INTERVIEW, YOU CLAIMED PROBLEMS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE THE SAME AS IN URBAN AREAS AS THEY ARE IN OTHER AREAS IN THE COUNTRY. FIRST, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NOT AN URBAN AREA. SO MEASURE THE SCHOOLS AGAINST URBAN DISTRICTS IS ONLY TO MAKE YOU LOOK BETTER. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS A MIXTURE OF URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL DISTRICTS THAT MIRROR THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, NOT ONLY IN URBAN AREAS. IN MANY WAYS, OUR DISTRICT IS DOING MUCH WORSE THAN OTHER DISTRICTS. THE DISPARITIES ARE IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS, STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND REFERRALS FROM SCHOOLS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THERE ARE SEVERAL FEDERAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST HSPS RIGHT NOW, ONE IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, ONE REGARDING TITLE NINE,

145AND THE OTHER REGARDING THE ACLU REGARDING DISCIPLINARY SINGLE-GENDER SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS. THESE COMPLAINTS WERE HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL BOARD. FOR 15 YEARS, I WORKED AS A JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER. I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE PIPELINE FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO THE JAIL SYSTEM. KIDS 16, 17, AND 18 YEARS OLD CAN'T EVEN READ. NOW, YOU SAID MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE INCARCERATED. I ALSO COACH KIDS IN THE SPORT OF BOXING WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THEY CAN'T READ OR WRITE EITHER. CANNOT SPELL FOUR- AND FIVE-LETTER WORDS. THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND CHANGE MUST COME NOW. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. FELTON. WELCOME, BISHOP PATTY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. I STAND HERE ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF THAT

146IS TOO AFRAID TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD. I STAND HERE ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN THAT HAS DIED BECAUSE THE STAFF WAS AFRAID TO DIAL 911. AND THE KIDS THAT ARE IN PRISON AND YES, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE GRAVEYARD. I STAND HERE LISTENING TO A TEACHER ON THIS PAST SATURDAY THAT SAT IN MY HOME WITH TEARS IN HER EYES AS A HISPANIC SAYING THAT THE STUDENT NOW HAS TO GO TO A 30-MINUTE DAY BECAUSE THE GRADE IS SLIPPING AND THEY ARE CONCERNED AND THEY ARE WORRIED. I STAND HERE BECAUSE I WAS FRUSTRATED WHEN I HEAR THE ACCOLADES AND THIS AND THAT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE GRADUATION RATE IN 2013 AND '14, WHERE BLACK STUDENTS AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, 60% ONLY GRADUATED. HILLSBOROUGH, 60%. FREEDOM,

14759%. CHAMBERLAIN, 46.3%. AND, YES, MILITANT HIGH SCHOOL INCLUDING, INCLUDING THE MAGNET PROGRAM, ONLY 57%. CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION, WHICH IS NOT VALID FOR COLLEGE NOR A JOB. LOW ACHIEVING HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ARE OFTEN SHIFTED FROM OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM. I'M SAYING TO THIS BOARD, I KNOW YOU MUST FEEL LIKE DAVID TODAY, BUT YOU BE A GOLIATH AND YOU STAND UP AND YOU DO WHAT YOU ASKED US TO DO WHEN WE VOTED FOR YOU, AND CHANGE IS GOOD AS THEY PUT ON THE CROSSTOWN, IT'S CHANGE THAT WE NEED, NOT TOMORROW, BUT TODAY. IT'S ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, AND I'VE SEEN NONE OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE FUNERAL HOMES OF CHILDREN THAT WAS MURDERED. NONE OF THEM AT THE PRISON WHERE CHILDREN HAS BEEN INCARCERATED.

148>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. PATTY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE BOARD TO GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK ON BEHALF AND TO SUPPORT SUPERINTENDENT ELIA. IT IS NOT TIME FOR CHANGE. SHE SUPPORTS -- I'M JACK JERRAL WITH THE FLORIDA GULF COAST TRADES. SHE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND SO IS THIS BOARD, BUT IT IS NOT TIME FOR A CHANGE. SHE WILL ALWAYS HAVE OUR SUPPORT. WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE, AND WE MOVE -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BOARD TAKE A MOTION TO TAKE THIS OFF THE AGENDA AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE SUPPORT FOR HER FROM THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE TODAY. I'M THE 38th SPEAKER, AND I COULD

149SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT HER AS SUPERINTENDENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE AS A MOTION TO TAKE IT OFF THE BOARD, IF THAT IS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, MADAM CHAIRMAN, AND MRS. ELIA, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH GILES. I'M PRINCIPAL OF SEFFNER ELEMENTARY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF MRS. ELIA, REMAINING IN HER POSITION AND FULFILLING HER CONTRACT. MRS. ELIA'S EFFORTS TO WORK PROACTIVELY AND HER ABILITY TO DEBATE ISSUES MAKES HER AN EXEMPLARY SUPERINTENDENT. MRS. ELIA KEEPS UP WITH STATE AND FEDERAL CHANGES AND MANDATES USING THE INFORMATION TO PROPOSE PROACTIVE STEPS TO KEEP THE BUSINESS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FLOWING AND DEALING WITH CHANGES AT A REASONABLE PACE. WE ALL KNOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE 100% OF THE PEOPLE HAPPY ALL THE TIME.

150AT THIS LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS SIZE OF A DISTRICT, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHAPPY WITH DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE. AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, THE FOCUS MUST BE THE BIG PICTURE WITH EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER. IN MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS, INDIVIDUALS NEED TO TAKE THE ROLE OF DEVIL'S ADVOCATE TO HASH OUT ALL THE PROS AND CONS OF ANY OF THE ISSUES. MRS. ELIA IS STRONG IN PRESENTING A FORWARD VISION TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING AND EDUCATION AND STRONG IN HER DEBATING STANCE WITH DATA, FACTS, AND VALID INFORMATION. MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS SHOULD HAVE MEMBERS DEBATING ALL THE VIEWS. IN THE END, THE DECISIONS COME DOWN TO A VOTE INDICATING THE PREVAILING ARGUMENT. DEBATE IS HEALTHY AND IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE BEST STEPS OF RUNNING OUR DISTRICT. I HOPE YOU, THE BOARD, WILL VOTE TO

151CONTINUE TO DEBATE, TO VIEW ALL SIDES, TO HEAR ALL VOICES. I BELIEVE MRS. ELIA IS A HEALTHY AND ESSENTIAL PART OF THE MIX OF VOICES FOR DECISION-MAKING. PLEASE VOTE TO KEEP MRS. ELIA IN THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. GILES. AS MR. TILLIS IS WALKING UP, I WILL CALL THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS. AND THAT'S NUMBER 41, MARK. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] GARCIA. NUMBER 42, BEN HARRIS. NUMBER 43, LOLITA WELLS. NUMBER 44, LIZ KENNEDY. AND NUMBER 45, REECE JAMES. WELCOME, MR. TILLIS. >> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. MY NAME IS STANLEY TILLIS, PRESIDENT OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LONGTIME HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT AND PRODUCT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY SUPPORT AND MY LOCAL SUPPORT FOR MARYELLEN ELIA FOR THE GOOD JOB THAT SHE'S

152DOING, AND ALSO REMIND YOU GUYS THAT EVERYBODY HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ELECTED BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND BY THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT SHE'S RECEIVED SO FAR, REMIND YOU THAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS TO KEEP HER AND NOT TO TAKE HER FROM HER POSITION AND REMEMBER YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CHILDREN MOST OF ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. TILLIS. >> MY NAME IS MARTIN GARCIA. I CAME HERE TODAY WITH SOME PREPARED COMMENTS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE, BECAUSE I'VE SAT THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, AND I'VE HEARD THE OTHER COMMENTS. AND I CAN'T BE AS ELOQUENT OR PERSUASIVE AS THE PRECEDING SPEAKERS. BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU, MS. ELIA, I HOPE AT MY FUNERAL THAT SOMEONE GIVES SOME EULOGIES WITH THE KIND

153OF PRAISE THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED HERE TODAY. IT'S SO OBVIOUS THAT YOU'RE LOVED, YOU'RE ADMIRED, AND YOU'RE RESPECTED. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] AND FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD FROM TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, PARENTS, UNION REPRESENTATIVES, BUSINESS LEADERS, FORMER STATE CHAIR BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND A FORMER BOARD MEMBER. AND I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT SITTING IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY; YOU'RE SITTING IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY. AND IF THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ANYTHING, IT'S THAT THIS COMMUNITY, THESE TEACHERS, THESE UNION LEADERS WANT MS. ELIA TO CONTINUE HER EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS ALL OF US WHO HAVE ACTED IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU ALL ARE AT. AND WE'VE THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WAS A GOOD IDEA, BUT WHEN THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE SPEAK AND YOU'RE

154A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO ACT FOR THE PEOPLE. AND I BELIEVE IF YOU ACT FOR THE PEOPLE, AS THEY HAVE SPOKEN TODAY, YOU WILL KEEP OUR WONDERFUL SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. HI, BEN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS BEN HARRIS. I AM A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT. I HAVE BEEN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 16 YEARS SINCE 1999. I HAVE A HIGH-FUNCTIONING DISABILITY, WHICH SLOWS ME DOWN. WHAT'S PREVENTING ME FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL IS A LACK OF SCHOOL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FIVE TIMES LAST YEAR. I ALSO WENT TO COUNTY COMMISSION TO SPEAK. WHY DO I HAVE TO COME TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO SPEAK AS MANY TIMES? BECAUSE THE STAFF IS NOT

155HELPING ME. I AM NOT WORKING TO MY POTENTIAL. I HAVE TO FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING. THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING FOR ME. WHAT IS PROMISED IS NOT DONE FOR ME. MOST EVERYTHING I NEED IS DELAYED SO LONG THAT ANOTHER PROBLEM COMES UP. MY MOST RECENT INDEPENDENT DISABILITY EVALUATION SAYS THAT I WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT ADULT IF I DO NOT GET THE SERVICES THAT I NEED. THE REPORT SAYS I'LL BE A DRAIN ON SOCIETY. I NEED TO BEGIN TO COLLECT DISABILITY PAYMENTS, GET FOOD STAMPS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS. THIS DOES NOT NEED TO HAPPEN, BUT I'M NOT GETTING HELP FROM THE SCHOOL. I KEEP ASKING AND SPEAKING OUT AND NOTHING HAPPENS. WHEN MY MOM SPOKE OUT, THE DISTRICT TOLD HER DUE PROCESS TO STOP -- FOR ME. I HAVE NO FRIENDS. I AM NOT GAINING SOCIAL

156SKILLS, FRIENDSHIP PROGRAMS. MY TEAM REFUSED TO ADD INSTRUCTION PERFORMANCE. I HAD MANY DISCRIMINATORY EXPERIENCES IN BAND, LIKE BEING THE ONLY STUDENT NOT HAVING A DRUMMER ASSEMBLED. SUPPOSED TO HAVE MODIFICATION FOR PLACEMENT BUT -- THE DISTRICT LIES ON PURPOSE. MY -- MODIFICATION FOR PARTICIPATION, NOT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I MET WITH MARYELLEN ELIA AND NOTHING HELPED AFTER THAT. RIGHT NOW, I NEED PLACEMENT OF MY DRUMMING PEERS AND PERCUSSION AFTER-SCHOOL TEAM. I AM ONLY GETTING HUMILIATED -- >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, BEN. >> WHEN I'M COLLEGE AGE NOW. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, BEN. [ APPLAUSE ] MS. LOLITA WELLS. SHE SPOKE, BUT SHE SIGNED UP ON THIS LIST AGAIN. THE SAME WITH LIZ KENNEDY. NO. OKAY. REECE JAMES. WELCOME, MR. JAMES. >> HI, HOW ARE YOU? >>Susan Valdes: DOING WELL, THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS REECE

157JAMES. I AM THE TRAINING DIRECTOR WITH I AM WORKERS 93 LOCAL 7 HERE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IS WHEN I ARRIVED TODAY, I WAS GREETED BY APPRENTICES, PEOPLE THAT BENEFIT FROM THE ADULT EDUCATION PORTION OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH MS. MARYELLEN ELIA. SHE'S EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF US AND REALIZES THAT EDUCATION IS BEYOND JUST THE TYPICAL UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, THAT THERE IS A GREAT NEED IN OUR COUNTRY FOR SKILLED CRAFTS PEOPLE. AND TO HAVE A VISION FOR THAT IS, IN MY OPINION, TREMENDOUS. BECAUSE WE'RE FACING A CRISIS IN OUR COUNTRY FOR SKILLED LABOR. AND SO THERE NEEDS TO BE TRAINING AND EQUIPPING OF THESE PEOPLE. MARYELLEN ELIA HAS A VISION FOR THAT. AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT

158SHE HAS WITH NOT ONLY OUR APPRENTICESHIP, BUT APPRENTICESHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IS TREMENDOUS. SO I STAND IN SUPPORT WITH THE TRADES OF MARYELLEN ELIA AND A FRIEND OF MINE REMINDED ME OF A MOTTO THAT EDUCATION CANNOT BE ERASED. HE SUGGESTED I SAY THIS. THAT AN EDUCATOR SHOULD NOT BE ERASED. SO WE STAND IN FIRM SUPPORT OF MARYELLEN ELIA. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: MR. SCHULLER. I LOVE IT WHEN MY TAG LINE IS USED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JOHN SCHUELER. I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 150 BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS ABOUT 250,000 EMPLOYEES. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MANY OF THEM SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

159TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENTARY AND CONTEXT AROUND A POSSIBLE DECISION TO TERMINATE WITHOUT CAUSE, THE CONTRACT OF SUPERINTENDENT ELIA. I'M GOING TO CHANGE THE OPTICS JUST A LITTLE BIT. WHAT THIS MIGHT DO TO IMPACT YOUR DECISION, AND THE DECISION OF THOSE OUTSIDE OF TAMPA AND OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA IN TWO DIMENSIONS. ONE IS BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RELOCATION AND THE MILITARY. SPEAKING WITH 200 BUSINESS LEADERS OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA, THEY TOLD US THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT THE SUNSHINE. THEY KNOW ABOUT INCENTIVES IN AND BUSINESS-FRIENDLY NATURE OF FLORIDA AND TAMPA, BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERN THEY HAVE IS ABOUT OUR CURRENT AND OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THEY MIGHT PAUSE WHEN THEY SEE THE HEADLINE THAT WILL SAY, THIS WILL BE THE SOUND BITE, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE. THE SCHOOL BOARD SPENDS A MILLION

160DOLLARS TO DISMISS THE TOP SUPERINTENDENT. THERE WILL BE NO OTHER SUBHEADLINES, AND THEY WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THE DRAMA. THEY'LL ONLY BE TALKING ABOUT THE SOUND BITE OF WHAT OCCURRED WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE CREDENTIALS THAT YOU'VE HEARD EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT TODAY, BUT IS RECOGNIZED ABOUT THEIR PEERS. SO WHEN WE COME TO FIND ABOUT WHAT BUSINESS WILL RELOCATE HERE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, AND DEVELOP THE JOBS FOR THESE FOLKS, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR THEM TO CONSIDER. THE NEXT THING IS THE MILITARY PERSPECTIVE. WE WENT TO SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, MARYELLEN ELIA WAS THERE WITH CONGRESSMAN JOLLY, MIKE MEIDEL, JOE LOPANO, MYSELF, GENERAL DEEL. GENERAL McDO AND GENERAL SILVA WHO SAID AFTER THEY HEARD ALL HER TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY DID FOR MacDILL AND TINKER AND ALL THE SCHOOLCHILDREN, THEY SAID YOU HAVE

161GOT A ROCK STAR ON YOUR TEAM. DON'T LOSE HER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT -- >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, SIR. TIME IS UP. >> BETTER USE OF THE TAXPAYER INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. >>Susan Valdes: PLEASE TURN OFF THE MIKE. PLEASE TURN OFF THE MIKE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: FOR THE REMAINDER SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF THE TIME. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. I REALLY DO NOT LIKE HAVING TO REPEAT THAT THE TIME IS UP. BE RESPECTFUL, PLEASE, AND HONOR THE TIME AND THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME NAME IS AMBER JOHANSSON. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I HAVE SERVED ON COUNTLESS PTA BOARDS, SAC COMMITTEES AND I CURRENTLY WORK FOR A NONPROFIT THAT

162SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND IN ALL OF THOSE 12 YEARS THAT I HAVE SERVED IN THE DISTRICT, I HAVE WATCHED THE CHANGES THAT HAVE COME TO OUR DISTRICT. AND I WILL TELL ANYBODY WHO WILL LISTEN HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW PROUD I AM OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE. AND OUR EFFORTS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND SO IT IS WITH JUST A BROKEN HEART THAT I STAND HERE TODAY, WAITING FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS IN THE LOBBY, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH PRINCIPALS WHO ARE JUST SICK OVER THIS DECISION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MRS. ELIA BEING FIRED, ESPECIALLY AFTER HER SUPPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL APPLIANCE AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PRINCIPLE -- PRINCIPAL PIPELINE AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PRINCIPALS WE HAVE IN THE

163DISTRICT AND RECRUITMENT FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHERS FOR TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AS WELL AS HER VISION FOR IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SUPPORT OF SCHOOL CHOICE AND, OF COURSE, HER ABSOLUTE SUPPORT AND VALUE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN WHICH I FUNCTION. I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT HER. I ASK YOU TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF HER AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE HAS ACHIEVED IN THIS DISTRICT AND HOW WELL-RESPECTED SHE IS BY HER PEERS AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS WHO DO NOT WANT THIS TO GO FORWARD, AND I AGREE WITH THAT. PLEASE, I URGE YOU TODAY TO STAND WITH HER. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Susan Valdes: WELCOME, MR. KING. >> MADAM CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS , SUPERINTENDENT, MY NAME IS RANDALL KING. I AM THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 915 IN

164TAMPA, FLORIDA. REPRESENTING OVER 1200 ELECTRICIANS THROUGHOUT THE TAMPA BAY AREA. WE HAVE A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT HAS A LONG HISTORY WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. I WANT TO IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK AT MRS. ELIA'S RECORD WITH THE TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING TRADE. WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY WITH HER. SHE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS. WE WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF YOU LOSE HER. I THINK FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC TODAY, IT'S CLEAR THAT SHE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. I IMPLORE YOU TO KEEP HER EMPLOYED. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. KING. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MIKE HILL. I AM THE BUSINESS MANAGER AT THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS HERE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. I HEARD IT SAID EARLIER, THIS WAS A THREE-RING CIRCUS SIDE SHOW,

165AND IT JUST REALLY UPSET ME. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYONE'S JOB HERE TODAY. I, TOO, SIT ON A BOARD AND I ANSWER TO A MEMBERSHIP NOT NEARLY AS BIG AS YOURS, SO I UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST HERE. YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS TO BETTER OUR MEMBERSHIP. YOU KNOW, TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITIES. MARYELLEN IS A GENERAL. YOU'VE HEARD FROM HER, LIEUTENANTS, COLONELS, CAPTAINS WHO ARE OUT IN THE TRENCHES EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN, THEY NEED HER SUPPORT. SHE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT. I BEG YOU TO GIVE IT TO HER. I BEG YOU. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, SIR. [ APPLAUSE ] THE NEXT FIVE ARE YOU, MR. EDWARD JOHNSON. >> YES, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. >>Susan Valdes: HOLD ON JUST ONE MOMENT. EDWARD JOHNSON, SUSAN PARKS, KELLY EGGSERO. DR. CAROL

166CHILDS AND DAVID WILSON ARE THE NEXT SPEAKERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR. >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, MY NAME IS EDWARD JOHNSON. I'M HERE ON TWO DIFFERENT FRONTS. ONE, I WEAR THE HAT OF BEING THE REDEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR A PART OF THE CITY CALLED EAST TAMPA. IT'S A COMMUNITY OF ABOUT 35,000 RESIDENTS, 17 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN IT, AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OUR SUPERINTENDENT. SHE HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT WOULD BE NG SHAME TO LOSE THERE THAT KIND OF TALENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. THIS MORNING, WHEN I SELECTED MY WARDROBE, I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS THE COLOR OF SUPPORT, SO IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT SOME DIVINE MOVEMENT IS UPON US HERE. I

167ENCOURAGE YOU, BOARD, TO PLEASE KEEP MS. ELIA AROUND. I CAN TELL YOU FROM A REDEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, WHEN I LOOK FOR REDEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 12 YEARS AGO WHEN WE CREATED THE EAST TAMPA REDEVELOPMENT AREA, MARYELLEN WAS THE VERY FIRST PARTNER THAT STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO PARTNER WITH US, TO ATTACK THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, AND SHE PUT HER MONEY WHERE HER MOUTH WAS. THEY INVESTED THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT A LITTLE OVER $150 MILLION IN EITHER NEW SCHOOLS OR REHABILITATED SCHOOLS DURING THE 12 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD NOT HAVE INVESTED AN ADDITIONAL $300 MILLION IN NEW PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE INVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO I APPLAUD WHAT SHE HAS DONE OVER THESE MANY, MANY YEARS, AND

168I HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHERS, LISTEN TO YOUR UNIONS, LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE VOICE YOU NEED TO HEAR TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. [ APPLAUSE ] >> OH, MY GOD. I'M GOING TO FAINT. I HAD TIME TO ACTUALLY WRITE DOWN MY THOUGHTS. IT'S BEEN A LONG WAIT, SO I ACTUALLY WROTE DOWN MY THOUGHTS. BEAR WITH ME WHILE I READ THIS AND TRY NOT TO FAINT. IT'S A VERY LARGE CROWD IN HERE. I'M HERE TODAY TOTALLY ON MY OWN AS A MOM OF TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. >>Susan Valdes: IT'S OKAY. IT'S ALL RIGHT. >> MY DAUGHTER IS IN AN ESE CLASS IN SECOND GRADE AND HAS ATTENDED THREE SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTY. ONE OF THE REASONS I'M HERE ALONE

169TODAY IS BECAUSE MANY OF THE FRIENDS THAT I'VE MADE WHO ARE FELLOW PARENTS OF ESE STUDENTS HAVE MOVED OUTSIDE OF THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEKING A BETTER PLACE FOR THEIR ESE CHILDREN. I'VE LOST FRIENDS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ISN'T LIVING UP TO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO FOR OUR KIDS. OKAY. I'M SORRY. I WAS IN THIS ROOM THE LAST TIME IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 AT THE REQUEST OF ANOTHER MOM WHO HAD MOVED OUT OF THE STATE. HER NAME IS HAVE A LYRA FABBERJACK AND HER DAUGHTER IS CHELSEA FABBERJACK. CHELSEA HAS A GENETIC CONDITION RELATED TO MY DAUGHTER'S GENETIC CONDITION. THEY ARE SIMILAR CONDITIONS. VALERA'S WORDS RESOUND IN MY EARS. BE A VOICE FOR OUR KIDS. I WAS IN THIS ROOM IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 AS SUSAN VALDES ADDRESSED THE COVER-UP OF ISABELLA HERRERA'S DEATH AFTER

170AN INCIDENT ON A SCHOOL BUS. I WAS FOREVER AFFECTED BY ISABELLA'S DEATH BECAUSE THAT DEATH COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN MY OWN CHILD. IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT BY THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT CAUSED THAT DEATH. SOMEHOW OUR VERY LARGE DISTRICT HAS A BUS DRIVER MANUAL THAT WAS USED BY DRIVERS AND AIDES THAT HADN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE 1990s. I SPOKE THEN TO PLEAD FOR MORE SAFETY FOR OUR ESE CHILDREN. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE AGAIN. MY OWN DAUGHTER'S CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE IMPROVED SINCE 2012. WITH REGARD TO THE ESE AIDES. I WILL PROBABLY NOT LET MY CHILDREN TAKE A BUS EVER AGAIN. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. PARKS. [ APPLAUSE ] YES, SHE DOES HAVE FIVE MINUTES. >> HELLO. I'M DR.-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] BECAUSE MY SON CAN'T SPEAK. >> BUT I CAN. I DON'T HAVE A

171DOG IN THIS FIGHT, BUT I DO HAVE A CHILD THAT IS AFFECTED EVERY DAY BY THE DECISIONS THAT YOUR DISTRICT AND YOURSELF, YOU MAKE. AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A MOTHER, IF I'M GOING TO JUDGE WHETHER YOU SHOULD STAY IN CONTROL OF THIS DISTRICT, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES, I GIVE YOU A BIG FAT F. I HEAR PEOPLE LIKE BEN HARRIS, AND AS A MOTHER, I FLASH FORWARD TEN YEARS. BEN IS MY SON TEN YEARS LATER, WHO HASN'T RECEIVED THE SERVICES THAT HE IS ENTITLED LEGALLY ENTITLED TO GET. I JUST LIKE THE MOTHER WHO HAD JUST SPOKEN, MY SON HAS BEEN LIKE A PING-PONG BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. THE LATEST ISSUE, OH, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU SWITCH SCHOOLS? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M A PARENT THAT IS NOT GOING TO LET

172MY SON BE A STATISTIC. FOR FOUR YEARS, I HAVE FOUGHT A CONSTANT BATTLE FOR EVERYTHING FROM JUST SIMPLE SERVICES TO A SPEAKING DEVICE FOR MY SON, WHICH, BY THE WAY, THEY DON'T USE EVERY DAY. HE HAS NO VOICE AND EVERY DAY I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. YEAR AFTER YEAR, I'VE BEEN SOUGHT WITH INDIFFERENCE, IGNORANCE, AND I WANT CHANGE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, I WISH MY SITUATION WAS DIFFERENT. I WISH IT WAS UNIQUE, BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH COUNTLESS PARENTS AND WITNESSING THE ABUSE IN THE CLASSROOM FROM FRUSTRATED TEACHERS WHO GET IN DISABLED FACES AND GO "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" THAT IS NOT TOLERABLE IN OUR DISTRICT, AND I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES. THESE TEACHERS ARE STRESSED BECAUSE LEADERSHIP IS NOT THERE.

173AND IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS INDIFFERENCE STARTS FROM THE TOP. I'VE HAD TEACHERS AND ACTUALLY A PRINCIPAL LOOK AT ME AND SAY "YOUR SON IS NOT DISABLED BECAUSE HE CAN WALK!" WHERE DO THEY GET THAT FROM? THEN I LET DISTRICT OFFICIALS KNOW AND I HEAR NOTHING OR SOMETIMES MY ISSUES ARE BAND-AIDED BUT THAT'S NOT OKAY FOR MY SON. MY SON NEEDS MORE THAN THAT. IT FEELS LIKE THE WILD WEST. IT'S LIKE IF WE INTIMIDATE THE PARENTS ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT WILL GO AWAY. THEN I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY SON WHO CAN -- WHO CAN'T DEFEND HIMSELF AND CAN'T SPEAK. I CAN SPEAK, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE. CAN I GET UP HERE

174AND TELL YOU THAT MY SON WAS EVEN LOST THIS YEAR IN THE HALLWAYS AFTER WE'VE HAD CHILDREN DIE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO FOCUS ON MY SON, BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE HERE. DURING MY INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS SYSTEM IN OUR DISTRICT IS VIOLATING THE LAW. THIS IS NOT AN UPSET PARENT. THIS IS NOT A GRAY AREA. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE VIOLATION OF LAW, AND BASICALLY TO SAVE MONEY. SENATE BILL 1108 AND FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.57 BOTH CLEARLY STATE A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL USE THE TERM "INCLUSION" TO MEAN THAT A STUDENT RECEIVING EDUCATION IN A GENERAL ED CLASS SETTING REFLECT -- EXCUSE ME, A GENERAL EDUCATION REGULAR CLASS SETTING REFLECTING NATURAL PROPORTIONS AND AGE-APPROPRIATE HETEROGENEOUS GROUP AND CORE ACADEMICS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT THE CHILDREN CANNOT ALL BE --

175CAN NOT ALL BE SEGREGATED. WE CAN'T LUMP ALL CHILDREN INTO ONE CLASS AND THAT BE OKAY. I BROUGHT THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PRINCIPAL WHO LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, "WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE." I BROUGHT IT TO THE ESE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS WITH NO RESPONSE. I FORWARDED MY CONCERNS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, NO RESPONSE. AFTER MONTHS, I FINALLY GET A MEETING ON JANUARY 9th WITH MARYANN PARKS, WHO AGREES TO MEET WITH ME AS LONG AS ATTORNEYS AREN'T PRESENT. AM I SPEAKING THAT LONG? THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS 'AS SHE TOLD ME, THIS LAW IS DESIGNED TO -- THIS LAW THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE ESE STUDENTS DIDN'T APPLY TO THE HILLSBOROUGH ESE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE JEN-ED STUDENTS FIRST. THE SEGREGATION IS OKAY FOR ESE STUDENTS WHICH ISN'T OKAY.

176IT IS AN ABSURD ARGUMENT. MY SON IS IN A PROTECTED CLASS. HE IS DISABLED FIRST. HE IS AN ESE SECOND. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> BASICALLY JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, I WILL FORWARD YOU ALL INFORMATION BECAUSE I HAVE A WHOLE LOT I WANT TO TELL YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> DO ME A FAVOR, VOTE FOR THE PARENTS AND MAKE SURE -- >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THERE'S THREE OF US IN A ROW THAT BELIEVE SHE SHOULD BE TERMINATED. WE ALL AGREE THAT THERE IS A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT, AND IT STARTS WITH THE UPPER MANAGEMENT. IT AFFECTS THE TEACHERS. IT AFFECTS THE STUDENTS, AND IT AFFECTS THE PARENTS. AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME IN ALL OF THOSE ARENAS. I HAVE A Ph.D. IN EDUCATION ON TWO PRIVATE

177SCHOOLS. I AM A VOLUNTEER FOR YEARS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY. SO I SPEAK TO YOU IN ALL THOSE ARENAS. AND I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. PARENTS ARE BEING MAINSTREAMED. I FEEL WE ARE BEING BULLIED TO JUST LEAVE THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE. DON'T MAKE WAVES. WE'RE BEING DISMISSED AND WE'RE BEING PUT IN OUR PLACES, AND THAT'S BEING DONE IN SEVERAL MODES. THERE IS A CLIQUE MENTALITY SO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN IN HER BEHALF, I FEEL THOSE ARE THE CHOSEN ONES. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BENEFITED. BUT THE ARENAS OF WHICH I WORK HAVE BEEN IN THE ESE CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN THAT I SEE THAT ARE SET ASIDE. I WANT TO SHARE A VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD RECENTLY, AND IT BROUGHT ME TO THE POINT

178THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK OUT. I WAS VOLUNTEERING IN A CLASSROOM. THERE WERE FOUR ADULTS IN THERE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ROOM IS PERMEATED WITH THIS WONDERFUL SMELL. I HEAR A MICROWAVE. I'M THINKING -- LOOK AND ONE OF THEM ARE COOKING, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS CHICKEN McNUGGETS BUT IT WAS SINA BUNS IN THAT LITTLE PACKAGE. THE KIDS WERE ALL WORKING. I'M SITTING ON THE FLOOR WITH A FOCUS GROUP. THEY GO AND THEY SIT AMONGST THE CHILDREN AT ONE OF THE THREE TABLES THAT WAS PUT IN A U-SHAPE AND COMMENCE TO EAT THEM. THE KIDS ARE LOOKING TO SEE. I SAID, EXCUSE ME, BUT YOU'LL NEED TO MOVE THAT. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP, BUT THANK YOU. >> WELL, I WAS SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> GOOD

179EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAVID WILSON. TODAY, YOU'VE HEARD FROM TEACHERS, UNION MEMBERS. HOW ABOUT WE SWITCH IT UP A BIT AND A 21-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WENT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER MS. ELIA. LET ME MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS HERE, I SHOULDN'T BE HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE NUMBER OF STATS SPEAKING, BUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE WHO COMES FROM POVERTY, A SINGLE MOTHER, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE GRADUATED WITH A HIGH SCHOOL HIGH HONORS. SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN AN AA HIGH HONORS FROM HCC. AND HECK SURE SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO UT AS EXPENSIVE AS THAT SCHOOL IS. BUT I DIGRESS. [ LAUGHTER ] LEADERSHIP COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT HCC BRANDON I WAS STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT THERE. AND I HAD THE

180ABILITY TO WATCH ALL THE STUDENTS YOU KNOW, COME FROM DIFFERENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M OUT OF STATE. HCC IN BRANDON, YOU'RE PROBABLY FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL AROUND HERE. THEY ARE PROBABLY THE MOST INTELLIGENT PEOPLE I'VE EVER SEEN. AND THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, MS. ELIA LEADING THE DISTRICT EFFICIENTLY, EMPOWERING TEACHERS, SO THOSE TEACHERS CAN EMPOWER STUDENTS. I'VE HEARD FROM SOME INDIVIDUALS HERE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY UNPOPULAR ABOUT MINORITY STUDENTS AND LIKE THAT. BUT THEY CAN SUCCEED. IN EDUCATION, YOU NEED LEADERSHIP, AND FIRING MS. ELIA, YOU'RE CANCELING THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HERE -- OH, MAN, THAT IS KIND OF DAUNTING. >>Susan Valdes: YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS, DEAR. >> THERE YOU GO. I WANT TO CLOSE OUT HERE TODAY THAT ALL MY STUDENT GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, HCC EXPERIENCE, HERE TODAY, AT UT, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST ALL

181UP TO HER. JUST HELPING THE STUDENT HERE, EMPOWERING TEACHERS, I'M A LIVING TESTAMENT. DON'T LOOK AT HER RESUMÉ. LOOK AT ME. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. WILSON. [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THE NEXT SPEAKERS, BOB CONIGLIRIO, RANDY TOLLER, KEN ROBERTS, CHARLES LEE, AND AL DAVIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. I THINK IT'S GOOD EVENING NOW. AND HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED SUPERINTENDENT MARYELLEN ELIA. MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ME AS VP OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR CASPERS COMPANY 53 McDONALD'S RESTAURANTS. FOR 57 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MOST PROLIFIC ADVOCATES, OFFERING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SUPPORT IN DIVERSE CATEGORIES. AS AN EMPLOYER WITH OVER 3900 EMPLOYEES, WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF GOOD LEADERSHIP AND RESULTS. THESE LEADERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DATA-DRIVEN RESULTS THAT

182ARE REGULARLY SCRUTINIZED AGAINST BENCHMARKS TO DETERMINE THEIR TRAJECTORY. THIS IS A GENERALIZATION OF A SUCCESS BUSINESS MODEL. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS HELPED TO BRING THIS BUSINESS MODEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE MONOLITHIC SYSTEM OF SDHC. IN DOING SO, HILLSBOROUGH HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST LAUDED AND RECOGNIZED DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY. THE DATA IS UNDENIABLE AND THE FACTS TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST. THE GOAL OF RAISING THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN THIS AREA IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONATE TO THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES OR VENTURES MOVING HEARING. AMAZON, BASS PRO, VINIK'S BILLION. ONE OF THE TOP FACTORS FOR MIGRATION IS THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE. I QUESTION IF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD ARE CAPABLE OF RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ELIA'S ACHIEVEMENTS OR HAVE BEEN BLINDED BY THEIR OWN AGENDAS AND HAVE CHOSEN TO

183IGNORE THE FACTS. OUR SYSTEM ROUTINELY EVALUATES OUR LEADER'S ABILITIES TO RECOGNIZE AND DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERSHIP, IF THEY ULTIMATELY CANNOT PRODUCE, THEY ARE FIRED. THIS IS ALSO A GENERIC BUSINESS PRACTICE. AS A VOTING MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I AM STUNNED AS SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AND THEIR INABILITY TO COMPREHEND AND RECOGNIZE A TRUE LEADER'S PERFORMANCE. THE NECESSARY FIRING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE BALLOT BOX. BUSINESSES ARE VERY PHILANTHROPIC AND MOST HAVE A PROPENSITY TO GIVE TO NONPROFITS WELL RUN AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THE GATES FOUNDATION $100 MILLION GRANT. >>Susan Valdes: YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. I WILL LEAVE A COPY. >>Susan Valdes: MR. TOLLER. >> YOU HAVE -- I HAVE THE PATIENCE OF A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. CERTAINLY BEEN A LONG NIGHT FOR ALL OF YOU. >>Susan Valdes: SPEAK INTO THE MIKE. >> ALL OF

184YOU THAT MIGHT BE COLORBLIND OUT THERE, I AM NOT WEARING RED TODAY. MY NAME IS RANDY TOLLER. I THINK I'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, THE 26,000 STUDENTS. MY WIFE AND I HAD AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE AT CALLSON. IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT WE EXPERIENCED THERE. WE WERE HARASSED, AND I HOLD SUPERINTENDENT ELIA ACCOUNTABLE. YOU READ IN THE NEWSPAPER, I SAID YOU ARE A PLEASANT PERSON. THAT'S NOT MY BEEF WITH YOU. WE HAVE A VERY BROKEN SYSTEM WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. WE'VE HEARD IT ALL HERE BEFORE. I STRESS, WE NEED CHANGE. I URGE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THIS. I SPOKE WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR, WE NEED CHANGE. THERE'S SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG GOING HERE. I AM

185GOING TO COME BACK AND BACK AND BACK UNTIL THIS CHANGE. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. TOLLER. MR. ROBERTS. >> THANK YOU. IF I COULD USE ONE WORD TO CHARACTERIZE THE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M TALKING TO EVERYBODY ON THE DAIS, THAT WORD WOULD BE "DYSFUNCTIONAL." DYSFUNCTIONAL. AND THAT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF LACK OF LEADERSHIP. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU -- THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY GOOD EXAMPLES IN PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW SMALL -- ONE SMALL ONE. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHILE TO HARD OFF TO PAY MECHANICS OR BUY SCHOOL BUSES WAS DONATING $25,000 A YEAR TO THE TAMPA BAY PARTNERSHIP. WHICH IS A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP OF BUSINESSES WHO EXIST TO PROMOTE TAMPA BAY. THAT'S A POOR USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF

186A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TOLD ME, WELL, WE BROUGHT IT UP, BUT WE JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DYSFUNCTIONAL, LACK OF LEADERSHIP. ON THE PART OF THE BOARD, THE INABILITY TO TAKE CHARGE AND MAKE DECISIONS IS A LACK OF LEADERSHIP. ON THE PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, TAKING SIDES IN AN ELECTION IS VERY POOR LEADERSHIP, EXTREMELY POOR LEADERSHIP. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO END THE DYSFUNCTIONALITY, FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, FIND COMMON GROUND. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HOPE TO GET OUR MONIES' WORTH AS TAXPAYERS AND AS PARENTS. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. ROBERTS. MR. CHARLES LEE. NOT HERE. MR. AL DAVIS. AND WHILE MR. DAVIS IS WALKING UP, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE NEXT SET, WILLIE JACKSON, JERRY NEELEY, MIKE MEZRA, RUBY SHANNON,

187AND JENNIFER PHALERO. MR. DAVIS. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DO HAVE A HANDOUT FOR YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT EACH OF YOU A COPY THEREOF. AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT IT WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD FOR THE POSTERITY OF OUR FUTURE. I AM AL DAVIS, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TO THE STAFF. AS THE SAYING GOES, THAT MAKES ME WONDER WHERE I AM, THE VERY IDEA THAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AND THE COPY OF THAT EDITORIAL FROM THE FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN, TODAY'S EDITION, MAKES ME WONDER SOME TIME AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE. I'VE BEEN AROUND THIS DISTRICT FOR A FEW YEARS. ONCE I WAS YOUNG, BUT NOW I'M A LITTLE OLDER. MY TIME IS UP ALREADY? >>Susan Valdes: YOU

188HAVE 30 SECONDS, MR. DAVIS. >> 30 SECONDS. OKAY. I'M HERE TO SEE IF I CAN GET AN ANSWER TO WHAT THAT EDITORIAL INQUIRED. WHAT DID THE SUPERINTENDENT DO? THAT WOULD WARRANT ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY AND EVEN THINKING ABOUT REMOVING HER FROM HER POSITION? THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I'M A.L. JACKSON. SOME OF THE KIDS CALL ME UNCLE WILIE. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I ASKED EVERY BOARD MEMBER TO PRAY. YOU GUYS GET TOGETHER, START YOUR MEETING. IF YOU DON'T PRAY, THEN GOD IS NOT IN THE MIDST. MS. ELIA DID SOME THINGS GOOD AND YOU DID SOME THINGS BAD. I REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD THINGS, YOU KNOW. BUT THE BOARD HAS GOT TO BE BEHIND YOU. 5417 ISAIAH SAID, NO ONE PERFORM AGAINST ME

189-- YOU KNOW. MS. ELIA, YOU'VE GOT THE WINNING HAND TODAY. IF THEY VOTE YOU IN, YOU STAY IN AND CONTINUE DOING A GOOD JOB, DO SOME THINGS BETTER, BUT IF THEY VOTE YOU OUT, THEN YOU GOT THE JON GRUDEN TREATMENT. [ LAUGHTER ] EITHER WAY, YOU WIN TODAY. BUT BOARD MEMBERS, I JUST HOPE YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD CHOICE AND DECIDE, BECAUSE, REMEMBER, WHOEVER TAKE THE PLACE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING. YOU MIGHT BE GETTING SOMEBODY WORSE. [ LAUGHTER ] MAKE YOUR MIND UP. THIS IS YOUR LEADER. THIS IS MY LEADER, AND I RESPECT EVERYTHING SHE DO. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL THE BAD THING SHE DO. JUST TELL THE GOOD THINGS SHE DO. THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO DO, BUT YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PRAY BEFORE YOU ALL START THE

190MEETING. IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR LEADER, LOOK HERE, DOING A GOOD JOB, THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT. GOD BLESS YOU, AND I HOPE YOU GET THE JON GRUDEN THING. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I'M JERRY NEELEY. I HOPE IT'S MY TURN. I'M HERE, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL OF THE STAFF AND ALL THAT HAVE TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS. I'M HERE, AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT OR NOT RENEWING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WITHOUT ADMONISHING CONDITIONS BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. AND THAT CONDITION IS THAT I'M REMINDED AND INSPIRED BY BISHOP DESMOND TUTU WHO IN THEIR REFORMATION AND REFORMING AND REINVIGORATING THEIR EFFORTS TO HAVE A BETTER COMMUNITY AND NATION, WHAT THEY DID IS

191THEY HAD THEM TRUTH CONFERENCES AND EVERYTHING. AND FOLK GOT TOGETHER AND GOT IN A REAL CONCRETE WAY, GENUINE WITH EACH OTHER AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW I'M GOING TOO FAR FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL TO TODAY, OUR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM TO HAVE, AND SO I'M BEGGING YOU TO JUST REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS AND GET GOING, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THEN THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. OUR CHILDREN GOING TO WIND UP WITH SOME OF THESE ON THEM. SO I SAY TO YOU, AS I SAY TO YOU ALL, DO WELL, DO GOOD. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. NEELEY. MR. MEZRA, WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, MADAM CHAIRMAN VALDES, SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, AND STAFF. UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN HERE TONIGHT, I HAVE A DIRECT ENCOUNTER --

192I'VE HAD A DIRECT ENCOUNTER WITH MS. ELIA. MANY OF THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS ARE PROBABLY NOT AWARE OF MY CASE. SOME MAY; SOME MAY NOT. MY ISSUE INVOLVED MY THREE DAUGHTERS WHO HAD BEEN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOUR YEARS, INVESTIGATED NUMEROUS TIMES AND OCCASIONS IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, ALL THE RULES CHANGED. MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS HARASSED, MISLED, BULLIED, BULLIED AND ALSO BULLIED OUT OF THE DISTRICT. MS. ELIA AS WELL PERFORMED HER OWN INVESTIGATION, AND WE WERE CLEARED TO ATTEND IN THE DISTRICT; HOWEVER, WITH HER OWN -- HOWEVER, WITH HER OWN SET OF PERSONAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES, WHICH WERE NOT PART OF POLICY ON ANY LEVEL. IN TURN, WE FINALLY, AS A FAMILY, WE WERE TIRED OF THE THREATS BY THE PRINCIPALS, THE STAFF AND MS. ELIA SO WE MOVED TO

193AN ALTERNATE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STARTED OVER. I PERSONALLY WATCHED MS. ELIA BULLY US AND HER POSITION TO BENEFIT HERSELF AS WELL AS PROTECT HER STAFF IN SITUATIONS THAT WERE CLEARLY WRONG. MY SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY RESOLVED, BUT IT WAS NOT. RULES, POLICIES, PROCEDURES, PROCEDURES AND A PLACE OF REASON IS NOT PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB. HER JOB WAS TO FOLLOW WHAT THE BOARD HAS LAID OUT AND WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED. SURE, MANY PEOPLE SUPPORT MS. ELIA, AND THAT'S GREAT. POWER GOES TO PEOPLE'S HEADS AND BAD DECISIONS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE. FINANCIALLY, IT'S HARD, BUT A FIRST STEP NEEDS TO BE MADE OR THIS ABUSE WILL CONTINUE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. MEZRA. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

194I HAD A LONG DAY. I'VE BEEN OUT HIRING BUS DRIVERS TODAY. I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL MY TIME HERE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE WORK. I'VE WORKED WITH MANY OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. I'M NOT HERE TO POINT THE FINGER. I'M NOT HERE TO CAUSE ANY CON FLIKS OR ANY KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD. BUT I SEE THAT WE ARE SPENDING MORE TIME POINTING A FINGER, POINTING A FINGER, POINTING A FINGER. IT'S NOT GETTING US ANYWHERE. IT'S LIKE WE'RE SPINNING OUR TIRES AND NOT MOVING FORWARD. I TOOK THE INITIATIVE ON MY OWN TO START GETTING INVOLVED. I HAVE INVOLVED MYSELF SO MUCH WITH TRANSPORTATION AND AROUND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND NOW ON THE SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I DID THAT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE FOR MYSELF WHAT

195THIS LADY IS DOING, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. AND I'M SORRY, BUT I HAVE SAT THERE AND I HAVE BROUGHT ISSUES, AND I HAVE TOLD MANY OF YOU THAT ARE SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS RIGHT HERE AND VOTING FOR YOU ALL, SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THESE CHAIRS AND AS FOR YOU ALL, FOR EVERYBODY'S HELP, NOT JUST THE SUPERINTENDENT. I KNOW SHE'S OUR LEADER. NOT JUST HER, BUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL. YOU ARE OUR BACKBONE. WE LOOK TO YOU ALL AS OUR LEADERS TO TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHAT'S GOING ON AS WELL AS SUPPORT THIS SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB, AND I'M NOT CONDONING HER OR LIFTING HER UP, BUT YOU GUYS GOT A GOT TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY WHAT HER JOB STANDS FOR. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT BACK

196AND WAIT FOR YOU TO DECIDE TO GET A NEW ONE, SO LET'S KEEP THE ONE WE GOT. SHE'S GOOD TO KEEP. SHE IS A KEEPER. C'MON NOW, LET'S WORK TOGETHER. WE'VE BEEN ON THIS ROAD A LONG TIME. A LOT OF YOU OLD BOARD MEMBERS SITTING UP THERE, YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. SO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: JENNIFER FALIERO. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY QUICK. SUSAN, WE USED TO HAVE FUN. >>Susan Valdes: YES, WE USED TO HAVE FUN. >> YOU, APRIL AND I, I REMEMBER US SITTING IN A PARADE IN THE BACK OF A CAR LAUGHING AND HAVING FUN. MARYELLEN, MRS. ELIA, WE USED TO HAVE FUN. WE WENT OUT TOGETHER. WE HAD DINNERS TOGETHER. I'M ASKING EACH OF YOU TO REMEMBER, TO REFLECT ON THOSE

197KIND THINGS THAT UNITED US. FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT FOUR TO SIX YEARS, THOSE WERE REALLY, REALLY GOOD TIMES. I'M ASKING THAT EACH OF YOU LOOK TO THE LIGHT. GETTING YOUR TOOLBOX, DO THE DEVELOPMENT THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU NEEDS TO DO. GET COUNSELING, NOT LEGAL COUNSELING. [ LAUGHTER ] MAYBE ELEUTHERA COUNSELING. BUILD THE TEAM THAT I KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS IN YOUR HEART. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU LOVES CHILDREN. CAROL KURDELL LOVES CHILDREN. DORETHA EDGECOMB LOVES CHILDREN. MRS. BRICKLEMYER LOVES CHILDREN. I DON'T KNOW THE NEWER ONES, BUT BUILD UPON THE LOVE. THAT'S MY MESSAGE. GOOD EVENING. >>Susan Valdes: GOOD EVENING, JENNIFER. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT, WE HAVE CAROLYN COLLINS, AND SHE HAS FIVE MINUTES. NUMBER 68 IS CASEY CAFE. NUMBER 69 IS COREY HOLMES. NUMBER

19870 IS JOE ROBINSON, AND HE, TOO, HAS FIVE MINUTES. AND OUR LAST SPEAKER JONATHAN GRAHAM, NUMBER 71. WELCOME, MRS. COLLINS. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I AM NOT HERE TO ASK THE BOARD TO DO THEIR JOB. I AM NOT HERE TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO STAY, TO LEAVE, OR TO DO HER JOB. WHAT I AM HERE TO DO IS TO LEAVE SOME THOUGHT, SOME QUESTIONS, SOME CONCERNS, AND I WANT TO BE VERY SPECIFIC. I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR ANYBODY BUT MYSELF. I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOW THAT I CAN DO THAT. SO I'M NOT REPRESENTING ANY ORGANIZATION, NO CHURCH, NO COMMUNITY GROUP AT THIS POINT. I'M SPEAKING FOR ME. AND I'M SPEAKING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF INFORMATION THAT I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE. PARENTS I'VE TALKED TO, TEACHERS I'VE TALKED TO, AND WHAT

199I'VE SEEN IN EDUCATION IN THIS STATE, IN THIS COUNTY, AND COMPARED IT TO THE UNITED STATES. I'M REALLY UPSET THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE AS ONE OF THE COUNTIES IN A STATE THAT'S SELECTED TO GO TO COMMON CORE AND WE BUNDLE IT. NOT MARYELLEN ELIA THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR WORKED WITH CLOSELY WHEN HE MADE THE DECISION TO CHANGE FROM COMMON CORE TO COMMON STANDARDS. NOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS STATE CANNOT BE COMPARED TO THE OTHER 42 STATES. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE GRADUATION RATE, AND I'M GOING TO DEAL NOW, DUMMY DOWN TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BECAUSE FLORIDA IS ALREADY LOW IN THE UNITED STATES. SO I'M NOT IMPRESSED WHEN WE LOOK GOOD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M ONLY IMPRESSED WHEN WE LOOK GOOD IN

200THE UNITED STATES. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHER STATES FAR BELOW US. I HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS RIGHT OUT THERE WITH ME PERCENTAGE-WISE. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE GRADUATION RATE AND PARTICULARLY THE GRADUATION RATE OF CHILDREN OF COLOR. WE NEED TO GATHER TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND IT HAS TO IMPROVE. THERE'S NO CHOICE. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE WANTS. LET'S DO IT. ALL GRADUATION RATES NEED TO IMPROVE. BUT PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES. AND I KNOW WE HAVE ALL KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT TO TRY TO WORK WITH THEM. WE'RE KIND OF LATE. SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS 15, 20 YEARS AGO, SO IT'S TIME TO DO IT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF STUDENTS TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, AND I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT SOME OF THE TRANSFERS IS WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING. LET'S

201GET REAL AND LET'S STOP THAT. THE DROPOUT RATE, BECAUSE WHEN WE LET OUR STUDENTS DROP OUT, WE ARE SENDING THEM SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE AND WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO IT. UNFORTUNATE FOLKS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WHAT THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH VERY WELL WITH ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS BECAUSE WE HAPPEN TO BE IN THE STATE THAT HAS THE LARGEST DIRECT FILE BECAUSE WE HAPPEN TO MEET WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY WHO WAS ACTUALLY DIRECT FILING YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH ZERO TOLERANCE DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY SOMEBODY DIDN'T TELL ALL OF US A LONG TIME AGO THAT THIS STATE, WHICH IMPACTING OUR COUNTY, HAD DECIDED TO DO CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE. I

202FOUND OUT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I TOLD THE CONGRESSWOMAN, AND SHE SAID, NO, IT WASN'T TRUE. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, NO, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT MANY. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT WE SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL, WE RECEIVE THE FUNDS PER PUPIL, AND WE ARE SENDING OUT NOT DIPLOMAS, BUT CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE. IT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. EMPLOYMENT EQUITY. OUR EMPLOYEES OUGHT TO BE HIRED ACROSS THIS DISTRICT BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM AND NOT BASED ON WHO THE FAMILY LAST NAME, WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEIR -- WE'VE GOT TO GET BETTER THAN THAT BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT. WASTING THE MONEY COST PER PUPIL, THE FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS, WE NEED TO DIVORCE THEM FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I'M ON THE COMMITTEE. I'M WORKING. I'VE GOT TO GIVE CREDIT TO OUR VICE-CHAIR. SHE'S BEEN THERE WITH ME. BUT

203IT'S TIME TO DIVORCE THE FAIRGROUNDS. IT'S NOT THE FAIRGROUND, IT'S NOT US. IT'S THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ALLOW GUNS AT ALL STATE FAIRS. THE NUMBER THAT WAS QUOTED WAS ONE DAY WORTH OF GUNS. COUNT UP ALL THE DAYS THAT THE FAIR IS HIT. IT'S IN OUR ISSUE AND IT IS AN ISSUE WE MUST LEARN TO ADDRESS. JUST DON'T TAKE THE MONEY WE GET OR DON'T DO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, AND THEN IF SOMETHING HAPPEN, IT'S NOT TIED INTO OUR DISTRICT AND THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS. WE NEED NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, CALLING ME, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY, ARE YOU GOING TO HELP THEM? I'M NOT GOING TO HELP ANYBODY GET RID OF ANYBODY. YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A PERFORMANCE MATRIX AND USING ALL THE

204NEW RUBRICS AND ALL THAT STUFF. IT IS TIME FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. >> WE HIRED YOU GUYS. WE'RE THE VOTERS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. COLLINS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, MY NAME IS CASEY KATHY. I'M HERE TO URGE TO KEEP THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M AN ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER FOR SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS INTO OUR CITY AND IN OUR COUNTY. SOME THAT SERVE REALLY STUDENTS THAT ARE IN VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. IT IS IN THAT CAPACITY THAT I HAVE WATCHED OUR SUPERINTENDENT NOT JUST MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE AND DO ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT I HAVE WATCHED DEEP, COMMITTED CARING, THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS, INDIVIDUALS ON THE EDGES

205GET THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE ACCESS THAT THEY NEED. I CAME DOWN HERE TONIGHT, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS BETTER IF MARYELLEN ELIA IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. THANKS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] MR. COREY HOLMES. >> MADAM BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT ELIA, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WILL OF THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AND YOU LOOK AT THE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, I ASK YOU BOARD MEMBERS TO ASK YOURSELF, WHAT YOUR -- WHAT'S YOUR TIE TO THE DISTRICT? THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SAY NOTHING NICE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WILL AND THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VOTERS. A COUNTYWIDE RACE OVERWHELMINGLY AFTER YOU PUT A SIGN IN YOUR YARD OF ONE OF YOUR BOSS', THEY SPOKE VERY LOUD. 208,159 SAID YES TO APRIL GRIFFIN IN THIS COUNTY, COUNTYWIDE. YOU

206COMPARE THAT TO RICK SCOTT, 170,127. CHARLIE CRIST, 180,168. PAM BONDI 196,914. IT'S VERY CLEAR. IT'S TIME TO CHANGE. THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING MONEY. YOU'VE HEARD FROM UNIONS. I WAS A UNION. I GOT OUT OF THE UNION, AND YOU'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT PRAISE. THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE BODY OF THE PEOPLE; THEY WORK FOR THEMSELVES. AND THAT'S A DISSERVICE AND A DISGRACE TO THIS COUNTY. AND AS ONE RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE MYSELF, NEW BOARD MEMBERS, YOUR TASK, THAT CONTRACT IS UNCONSCIONABLE FOR ANYONE, AND I KNOW KURDELL WAS ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME, MAYBE MS. EDGECOMB, YOU WERE, TOO, EDGECOMB, YOU SIGNED OFF ON A RIDICULOUS, NOW WE HAVE TO FACE IT. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT TODAY AND SAY IT'S OKAY. THAT CONTRACT JUST NEEDS TO BE TERMINATED. IF IT INCLUDES TERMINATING A TENURED

207PERSON, SO BE IT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: MR. JOE ROBINSON. AND THEN FOLLOWING WILL BE JONATHAN GRAHAM. MR. ROBINSON HAS FIVE MINUTES, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR VALDES. ALL THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MS. VALDES, MS. ELIA, YOU, MS. APRIL GRIFFIN, YOU MS. STUART, CALLING ME ALL THE TIME. IS THIS ABOUT A CAMPAIGN PROMISE, MS. HARRIS? IS THIS ABOUT A CAMPAIGN PROMISE? I'M GOING TO BACK OFF FOR A MINUTE. ITEMS 8., 8.02, AND 8.03, DISPELLING BEHAVIOR STUDENTS REMAINING IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS -- THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL NEED TO BE VOTING ON THAT YOU CAN VOTE ON TONIGHT. ESE STUDENTS, BEING EXPELLED FOR OFFENSES. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BE VOTING ON TONIGHT AND GETTING EVERYBODY EXCITED ABOUT. BUT LET'S GET BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN PROMISE THAT WAS MADE, IF I SUPPORT

208YOU, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE MS. ELIA OUT. EVERYBODY KNOW WE NEED ONE MORE VOTE, RIGHT? NOW, I'VE BEEN -- HER CONTRACT AND I'M GOING TO SAY, NOT ADEQUATE. IT'S OLD. IT'S ANTIQUATED. THERE'S NO MORE FCAT, BUT YOU GUYS SAY WE CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND A VOTE TO TERMINATE. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MS. ELIA A MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO MS. ELIA FOR A MILLION DOLLARS. I WANT MS. ELIA TO WORK FOR THE MILLION DOLLARS. I DON'T WANT HER TO GO FOR TWO YEARS AND SOMEWHERE ON VACATION. MAKE HER WORK FOR THAT MONEY. SHE AIN'T GOT THREE MORE YEARS. AGE OF 67, PROBABLY GOING TO RETIRE ANYWAY AT THE END OF THIS DEAL. OKAY? HOW

209ARE YOU GOING TO HURT MS. ELIA BY GIVING HER A MILLION DOLLARS? YOU'RE GOING TO HURT THE DISTRICT. IF YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, WHY YOU THROWING THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER? I UNDERSTAND ALL YOU GUYS. SOME OF YOU ALL GET IN THERE, HAVE YOU GET OUT OF THERE. IF YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, PUT IT ON ESE STUDENTS. GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, PUT IT ON GRADUATION RATES. YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, BUY MORE BUSES. YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, GIVE CHIEF OF STAFF RAISE. YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, UPGRADE SOME OF THE INNER CITY SCHOOLS. YOU GIRLS, CATFIGHTING, YOU ALL NEED A RETREAT IN PARADISE SOMEWHERE. THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL NEED. THIS IS TRULY A CATFIGHT, GO AT THEM SCRATCHING, PULLING, ALL THIS ANIMOSITY IN YOUR SYSTEM, AND YOU DON'T KNOW

210WHAT TO DO WITH IT. YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT UNTIL NIGHT. >>Susan Valdes: JOE, REFRAIN FROM THE CATFIGHT PLEASE. >> SHE, WITHOUT SEEING CAST THE FIRST STONE. SHE WITHOUT SITTING UP THERE CAST THE FIRST STONE. NOW, GETTING BACK TO THIS TAXPAYER MONEY. I DO NOT SEE THIS AS A -- RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE AWAY A MILLION-PLUS DOLLARS FOR WHAT? YOU'RE GOING TO DISRUPT THE SYSTEM. WE JUST GOT DR. BRINSON BACK HERE, LUCKILY. SOME OF YOU ALL DIDN'T WANT THAT, BUT HE'S HERE. THE YOUNG GUY OVER THERE. HE CAN'T RUN THE DISTRICT BY HIMSELF. HE AIN'T READY YET. WHO WE GOING TO FIND? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO COME FROM? IT IS NONSENSE. WHY ARE YOU DOING IT NOW? WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOU'RE GOING TO DISRUPT A WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE

211MIDDLE OF THE SESSION, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. IT'S GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS COULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL THE BEGINNING. END OF THE YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE SUMMER TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. WHY NOW? BECAUSE SOMEBODY FINALLY FIGURED OUT WE CAN MAKE A MOTION OR WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA AND SO FORTH. NOW, I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALL UP THERE. ALL YOU-ALL. ALL YOUR INNER SECRETS. HOW YOU GOT THERE, WHY YOU'RE UP THERE, YOU KNOW. DON'T CARE. I GOT YOU IN THERE. I CAN GET YOU OUT. OKAY? BUT DON'T COME IN HERE EARLY, EXCUSE ME, DON'T COME IN HERE EARLY, FRESH START, FRESH ELECTED AND MAKE A CAMPAIGN PROMISE, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS, THAT AIN'T RIGHT.

212TAKE SOME TIME. THINK ABOUT IT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT SHOULD DO, VOTE TO TABLE THIS. THERE WON'T BE NO DISCUSSION. TABLE IT AND BRING IT UP AT THE END OF THE YEAR AGAIN. BRING US ALL BACK UP HERE. I'M WEARING THIS RED. I DIDN'T KNOW RED MEAN, BUT I'VE GOT THE BUCCANEERS ON. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT I JUST THROW THE SHIRT ON. SAID, MAN YOU -- MS. ELIA, ME AND HER FOUGHT IT OUT. -- YES, WE HAD SOME DEATHS. YES, I PROTEST ALL THAT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE. THIS IS NOT THE MOMENT. THIS IS A MOMENT FOR HEALING AND GETTING SOMETHING DONE, BECAUSE IN THE MORNING, IF YOU DON'T GET THE VOTE, YOU WON'T, GUESS WHAT, MS. ELIA GOING TO BE OVER THERE, AND STILL DOING

213WHAT SHE'S DOING AND YOU ALL WILL STILL BE OVER THERE CATFIGHTING. STOP THE CATFIGHTING AND TAKE CARE OF THE REAL BUSINESS. [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: JONATHAN GRAHAM. >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS, AND MRS. ELIA. I FLEW BACK IN TOWN JUST TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MS. ELIA. AS YOU KNOW, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO. AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ME APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO. BUT I CAME BACK FROM NEW ORLEANS AND WAS DEALING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN NEW ORLEANS, THE PARRISH, THE OR LIENS PARRISH. -- ORLEANS PARRISH. WHEREVER I GO, SAID IT A MILLION TIMES, WHEREVER I GO, THEY TALK ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE LEADERSHIP OF MS. ELIA. AND I SEE IT

214IN ACTION ALL OVER, WHETHER I'M IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, OR LOUISIANA, I SEE THAT WE HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD LEADER. I CAN'T SAY MUCH MORE THAN HAS BEEN SAID TODAY. I DO KNOW THIS THAT WITH THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT MS. ELIA AND YOU ALL DEAL WITH, THERE ARE GOING TO BE ISSUES. THE FACT OF THE MATTER, THOUGH, IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THESE ISSUES AND YOU TRY YOUR BEST TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME WITH ISSUES, IF YOU GRAB THEM AND YOU SAY, I WANT POSITIVE RESULTS, AND ON EVERY ISSUE THAT I'VE SEEN MS. ELIA LOOK AT AND WORK ON, SHE'S TRIED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE ISSUE. I KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT PERSONAL THINGS AND WHEN YOU DEAL WITH PERSONAL THINGS, YOUR KIDS, IT GETS VERY EMOTIONAL,

215AND SO YOU HAVE -- YOU WANT TO BE MAD AT EVERYONE. SO YOU COME UP AND YOU'RE MAD BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING IN YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES. BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU, JUST LIKE A LOT OF OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THINK ABOUT THE FEARLESS GOOD LEADER THAT WE HAVE WITH MS. ELIA, AND VOTE TO KEEP HER ON. WE NEED HER. WE LIKE HER. SHE DOES A GOOD JOB. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. GRAHAM. BOARD MEMBERS, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR THIS DISCUSSION, AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I PLACED THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM THE SPEAKERS TODAY. THIS WILL BE SERVING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY

216A LOT OF THE THINGS. FOR MANY MONTHS, THERE HAS BEEN TENSION AND UNCERTAINTY IN THE DISTRICT. NOT ONLY HERE IN THIS BUILDING, BUT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOLS. THIS WAS HEIGHTENED AFTER THE, YES, THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. THE RUMOR MILL HAS BEEN WORKING OVERTIME. THE MEDIA HAS BEEN INVOLVED WRITING STORIES ABOUT PERSONALITIES AND DISAGREEMENTS, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THIS DISTRICT. RECENTLY, THE MEDIA DRUM BEATS GOT LOUDER, WRITING ABOUT POSSIBLE NO-CONFIDENCE VOTES, SPECULATING ON THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT AND WRITING ABOUT THIS ONE DOESN'T LIKE THAT ONE. YOU KNOW, ENOUGH. ENOUGH. AS I HAVE SAID, THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR DISTRACTION FOR EVERYONE. ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, KIDS, AND ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THIS DISTRICT. SOMETHING HAD TO COME TO

217HEAD. THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE TENSION WERE BUILDING, NOT DYING DOWN. THE ONLY WAY UNDER THE SUNSHINE LAW FOR THE BOARD TO DISCUSS THIS IS HERE AT A BOARD MEETING. IN THE PUBLIC FOR ALL TO SEE. I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THE MATTER COULD BE RESOLVED OPENLY AND WITH FRANK DISCUSSION AND DEBATE, NO OTHER REASON. WE WANT FULL TRANSPARENCY, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES. I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR, IN MY MIND, THIS IS ABOUT BUYING OUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, NOT FIRING MARYELLEN ELIA. THIS IS A BUSINESS DECISION, NOT A PERSONALITY CONTEST. I UNDERSTAND THE BUYOUT AMOUNT IS LARGE, BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT IS VERY GENEROUS TOWARDS HER OR TOWARDS ANYONE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HER POSITION AT THAT TIME. AT SOME POINT, THE BOARD OR THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD HAVE TO END THIS

218CONTRACT, AND THERE WOULD BE A PAYOUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS AND MOST PROBABLY THE SAME OR MORE. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR REMARKS PROFESSIONAL AND TO NOT FOCUS ON PERSONALITIES. I'M ALSO GOING TO REMIND YOU THE DISCUSSION TODAY IS SOLELY ABOUT BUYING OUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WITHOUT CAUSE. THERE IS ANOTHER SECTION OF HER CONTRACT THAT TALKS ABOUT TERMINATING FOR CAUSE, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, AS THAT HAS NOT BEEN NOTICED AND THERE IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR IT. IF I THINK A BOARD MEMBER IS HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION, I WILL RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO STOP AND ALSO REFER TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE TALKING NOW ABOUT THE AGENDA 9.03-R WHICH IS FOR THE TERMINATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT MARYELLEN ELIA'S CONTRACT. MEMBER GRIFFIN. >>April

219Griffin: THANK YOU. AND I CAN'T -- I CAN'T LET THIS MOMENT PASS WITHOUT SAYING HOW ABSOLUTELY SEXIST SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD THAT HAVE BEEN BANTERED ABOUT. IF WE WERE MEN, THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT MY DEGREE AS ORGANIZATIONAL STUDIES AND LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATIONAL THEORY, AND BELIEVE ME, I'VE APPLIED EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THIS TO THE SITUATION IN MULTIPLE VENUES. EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. AS MUCH AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS IS PERSONAL AND PETTY AND ALL THE OTHER ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FLYING, THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THERE HAVE BEEN PUTTING PETTY THINGS SAID AGAINST BOARD MEMBERS, AND I CAN'T HELP POINT OUT HOW HYPOCRITICAL THAT IS GIVEN THE CHIEF

220CRITICISM SEEMS TO BE THE PETTINESS OF THE ACTION BY THIS BOARD. LET'S NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE CULTED PERSONALITY BUILT AROUND THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT. WHICHEVER WAY THIS VOTE GOES, THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW, TEACHERS WILL TEACH, STUDENTS WILL LEARN. IF A MOTION TO TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT PASSES, THE SUPERINTENDENT, AS MUCH AS IT GIVES ME HEARTBURN AND KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, WILL WALK AWAY WITH A LOT OF MONEY, AND OUR GREAT STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS. THEY ARE THE ONES, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO KEEP THIS DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD DAILY AND HAVE BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY ALL OF THE AWARDS AND ACCOLADES BESTOWED UPON THIS SUPERINTENDENT. IF IT FAILS, WE WILL ALL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND FOCUS ON WHAT WE ARE

221SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSED ON, AND THAT'S CHILDREN. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY RUMORS IN THE MEDIA, AND SO MUCH WHISPERING SINCE THE ELECTION, THAT WE NEED TO BRING THIS TO A HEAD AND MOVE THIS DISTRICT FORWARD. I AGREE WITH YOU, MEMBER VALDES, THAT IT IS TIME. I DON'T WANT TO DISHONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. SHE HAS A LOT OF STRENGTHS. BUT SHE'S BEEN SUPERINTENDENT FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS, AND THAT IS A VERY LONG TIME FOR A SUPERINTENDENT. I'M NOT HAPPY THAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION. THE FACT IS, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT IS WEIGHTED VERY HEAVILY IN HER FAVOR, AND NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYERS. IN FACT, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW IN 2011 TO PREVENT THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS FROM BEING ENTERED

222INTO BY PUBLIC ENTITIES EVER AGAIN. THIS CONTRACT WAS GRANDFATHERED IN AND WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS WORDED AND THE WAY THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION TOOL IS STRUCTURED, IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT NOT TO BE RENEWED. IT IS A PERPETUAL CONTRACT, AND THERE'S NO GOOD TIME TO TERMINATE IT. FROM THE BOARD OR THE PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE, EVEN IF THE SUPERINTENDENT DECIDED TO RESIGN, THE CONTRACT PROVIDES THAT SHE WILL RECEIVE A HUGE PAYOUT. THIS IS A BIG DISTRICT AND A BIG COUNTY. WE HAVE JUST COME OFF OF AN ELECTION, AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE. AND THE MESSAGE I HEARD WAS LOUD AND CLEAR. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE. THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT I HEARD OUT THERE AND WHAT I SEE AND HEAR IN

223THIS BUILDING AND WHAT I READ IN THE PAPERS. A LOT OF THE POWER BROKERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT ARE COMING BEFORE US TODAY HAVE MADE PREVIOUS PUBLIC ATTEMPTS IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS. THEY'VE ALREADY WEIGHED IN DURING THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE IN BOTH MY RACE AND MS. HARRIS' RACE AND THE RESULTS WERE RESOUNDING. SINCE THE ELECTION, THERE IS A PALPABLE TENSION IN THIS BUILDING AND AROUND THE DISTRICT , AND IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF SUITS DOWNTOWN WRINGING THEIR HANDS AND ATTACKING THE BOARD, BUT GUESS WHAT, THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THIS COMMUNITY THAN BOYS AND GIRLS IN SUITS DOWNTOWN. THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT, MY BOSSES, ARE UNHAPPY AND WANT THIS DISTRICT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. FOR TOO LONG, A MINORITY OF PEOPLE IN SOUTH TAMPA AND DOWNTOWN HAVE

224TRIED TO CONTROL HOW THIS DISTRICT AND HOW TAMPA POLITICS ARE RUN. ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, AND IT'S TIME FOR THOSE TRADITIONS TO CHANGE AND EVOLVE. REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, I AM LOOKING AT THIS FROM STRICTLY A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. THIS CONTRACT WAS APPROVED IN 2005 BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, AND I'VE TAKEN ISSUE WITH IT, AS WELL AS THE EVALUATION TOOL FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY TERM. I ATTEMPTED TO REDRESS THE CONTRACT AND THE EVALUATION TOOL FOR MANY YEARS, AND THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO CONSIDER CHANGES. FOR THE SAKE OF EDUCATING EVERYONE, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF LITTLE FACTS. THERE ARE THREE WAYS THIS CONTRACT CAN BE TERMINATED. ONE, SHE COULD RESIGN. GIVE SIX MONTHS' NOTICE, AND THE CONTRACT WOULD BE TERMINATED. SHE RECEIVES A BIG PAYOUT. TWO,

225THE BOARD COULD TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITHOUT CAUSE. SHE RECEIVES A BIG PAYOUT. THREE, THE BOARD COULD TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH CAUSE, AND THERE WOULD BE NO PAYOUT UNLESS THE SUPERINTENDENT SUED AND PREVAILED. BUT THE CONTRACT DOES NOT JUST STATE CAUSE OR GOOD CAUSE OR JUST CAUSE. IT STATES "GOOD AND JUST CAUSE." IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS, THIS IS CAUSE ON STEROIDS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFEND. THIS ROUTE COULD SET THE DISTRICT UP FOR A DRAWN-OUT AND POTENTIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE LEGAL BATTLE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE $1.1 MILLION PAYOUT. THIS IS BIG. BUT WE COULD RECOUP THAT MONEY IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS WITH A NEW CONTRACT UNDER THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND DUE TO THE TERMS OF HER CONTRACT, THIS PAYOUT WOULD ONLY GET LARGER THE LONGER

226WE KEEP IT. THE SUPERINTENDENT DOES NOT MAKE $288,898.68 IN SALARY AND $16,515 BONUS AS THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING. THE SUPERINTENDENT ACTUALLY MAKES $439,159 A YEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE COMPENSATION SHE RECEIVES. AS I STATED EARLIER, THIS CONTRACT IS ESSENTIALLY A PERPETUAL CONTRACT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT AND AUTO RENEWS FOR ONE YEAR EACH YEAR BASED ON A SATISFACTORY EVALUATION RATING. MIND YOU, ON A FLAWED EVALUATION TOOL, WOULD WE EXPECT THAT FROM OUR TEACHERS OR ANY OF OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES GOING THROUGH EET RIGHT NOW AND THE WHOLE EVALUATION PROCESS CHANGING? NO. LAST EVALUATION, THREE BOARD MEMBERS RATED HER BELOW SATISFACTORY. FOUR BOARD MEMBERS RATED HER ABOVE SATISFACTORY, YET HER OVERALL EVALUATION WAS ABOVE SATISFACTORY. STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, AT THE VERY MOST, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORY, NO MORE.

227CONTRACTS TYPICALLY BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES. THEY SHOULD. THIS CONTRACT ONLY BENEFITS ONE PERSON. NOT THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. AS I SAID EARLIER, WE WILL NEVER SEE A CONTRACT LIKE THIS AGAIN BASED ON THE NEW LAWS AND THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS CONTRACT. AS I STATED AGAIN, IF THIS CONTRACT WERE TERMINATED AND THERE WAS A $1.1 MILLION PAYOUT, THE DISTRICT COULD REALIZE -- IN THREE TO FOUR YEARS BECAUSE WE WILL NOT SEE THIS TYPE OF COMPENSATION PACKAGE AGAIN. AND I LIKE YOU, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, HAVE TO JUSTIFY THIS EXPENDITURE TO THE TAXPAYERS, AND I'VE BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN TO FIND OTHER AREAS TO RECOUP THIS MONEY AND HAVE FOUND SOME. ONE EXAMPLE, AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED HERE TODAY, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO GET RID OF THE PROPOSAL FOR GUARDS IN

228ALL SCHOOLS, BUT IF WE POSTPONE THE SECOND PHASE OF THE GUARDS BY ONE YEAR, WE SAVE $1.6 MILLION. WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO GET THIS BEHIND US THEREFORE, I MOVE THAT WE BUY OUT THIS SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT PURSUANT TO THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTION OF PARAGRAPH 4 IN HER CONTRACT THAT READS, "IF THE CONTRACT AND ANY EXTENSION IS TERMINATED PRIOR TO ITS EXPIRATION WITHOUT JUST CAUSE, SUPERINTENDENT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ALL SALARY, RETIREMENT PAYMENTS, INSURANCE POLICIES, AND OTHER FRINGE BENEFITS PROVIDED UNDER THE CONTRACT DUE THROUGH THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE CONTRACT. FURTHER, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S LAST DAY OF WORK BE MARCH 5th, 2015, BUT SHE WILL USE HER UNUSED VACATION DAYS UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT YEAR, JUNE 30th, 2015." AND THAT INFORMATION IS BASED

229OFF NEGOTIATIONS WITH HER ATTORNEY AND WITH OUR ATTORNEY. AND I'VE WRITTEN THAT, AND I NEED A SECOND. >>Susan Valdes: IS THERE A SECOND? >> MADAM CHAIR, I WILL SECOND IT FOR THE SAKE OF CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION AMONG THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE. MAY I? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE MOTION CLEAR. THE MOTION IS THAT WE BUY OUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT PURSUANT TO THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTION OF PARAGRAPH 4 IN HER CONTRACT THAT READS, "IF THE CONTRACT AND ANY EXTENSION IS TERMINATED PRIOR TO ITS EXPIRATION WITHOUT JUST CAUSE, SUPERINTENDENT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ALL SALARY, RETIREMENT PAYMENTS, INSURANCE POLICIES, AND OTHER BENEFITS PROVIDED UNDER THE CONTRACT DUE THROUGH THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE CONTRACT. FURTHER, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S LAST DAY OF WORK

230WILL BE MARCH 5th, 2015, BUT SHE WILL USE HER UNUSED VACATION DAYS UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT YEAR, JUNE 30th, 2015." BOARD MEMBERS, THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE TABLE. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER STUART. >>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. CLEARLY, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY EMOTIONAL EVENING, AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO US. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT THAT GOES UNNOTICED OR UNAPPRECIATED. I HAVE SPENT THE LAST FIVE DAYS READING YOUR E-MAILS, TAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO I COULD TALK TO, AND GETTING INFORMATION FROM BOTH OUR BOARD ATTORNEY AND FROM THE PUBLIC. I DID NOT TAKE THIS JOB TO COME IN HERE AND TERMINATE A SUPERINTENDENT. THAT IS NOT WHY I AM HERE. WE'VE BEEN FORCED TONIGHT TO MAKE

231A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO BUY OUT A CONTRACT OR CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS CLEARLY BROKEN AND IS SHOWING SIGNS -- NO SIGN OF IMPROVING. IN FACT, THE DIVIDE UP HERE HAS GOTTEN EVEN BIGGER. CLEARLY, THE BOARD HAS SHOWN AND DEMONSTRATED THAT IT DEMANDS MORE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP. THAT IS NOT A BAD THING. AND THE RESISTANCE TO ADDRESS THESE DEMANDS SHOWS ME THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR DRASTIC CHANGE. THE CONTRACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. IT IS UNFAIR TO THE PUBLIC WHO I REPRESENT AND TO THIS BOARD. I WAS NOT HERE WHEN THIS CONTRACT WAS APPROVED AND IT IS UNFAIR FOR ME TO HAVE TO VOTE ON IT AS WELL. REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE TODAY, I WILL NEVER VOTE TO APPROVE A CONTRACT THAT IS SO ONE-SIDED AGAINST THE

232TAXPAYERS THAT I REPRESENT AND FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL, YET HERE WE ARE. NOT DOING ANYTHING IS JUST NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE. WITH CHANGE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT THIS DISTRICT WILL MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT, THAT WE ARE ALL IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAT COMMANDS US TO BE AT THE TOP OF OUR GAME EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE COMMAND THAT OF OUR STUDENTS AND OF OUR TEACHERS, AND I EXPECT IT UP HERE. LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE THAT WE LIVE IN. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE PROFESSIONAL ADULTS WHO LEAD. IN MY WORLD, LEADERSHIP IS NOT A POSITION. IT'S AN ACTION. OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS I HAVE HEARD ALL DAY. NOTHING IS PERFECT BUT. ALL OF THOSE

233BUTS THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD OR TALKED ABOUT TODAY DO NOT RELATE TO THE FUTURE OF THIS DISTRICT. TRUE LEADERSHIP UNFORTUNATELY COMES WITH A PERSONAL COST. MY ROLE HERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO VOTE FOR WHAT I SEE AS THE RATIONAL, LOGICAL, BALANCED, AND REASONABLE WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO PUT ME IN THE SEAT TRUST THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I HAVE NEVER CAST A VOTE IN A MANNER THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE MY CHARACTER OR MY INTEGRITY. I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED ME KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT GOES INTO MY DECISION TONIGHT. I MAKE DECISIONS UP HERE AS IF I WERE MAKING THEM FOR MY OWN FAMILY. AND THAT. >> TAKE AND THAT I DON'T TAKE THIS PERSONALLY AND I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. DO

234WHAT IS EASY. DON'T DO WHAT'S EASY, DO WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER THIS EVENING. FINALLY, I HAVE TO AGAIN THANK EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR REACHING OUT TO ME AND THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED ME BRING CLARITY TO THIS ISSUE AND SUPPORT MY DECISION, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME. THEY TRUST ME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THIS SEAT. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER STUART. MEMBER EDGECOMB. >>Doretha Edgecomb: I'M GOING TO , FOR A FEW MINUTES, MY WRITTEN COMMENTS. BUT I'M GOING TO ASK OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DECIDING ON, ITS HISTORY, THE CLARITY OF WHAT IS, IN FACT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AND THE IMPLICATIONS NOT JUST ONLY FINANCIALLY, BUT OTHER WAYS THAT IT MIGHT IMPACT.

235>>Jim Porter: SURE. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE, WAS ENTERED INTO IN 2005. I WAS NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY AT THE TIME IT WAS ENTERED INTO. AT THE TIME, THE CONTRACTS, IT WAS A VERY SIMILAR CONTRACT THAT THE PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT HAD, NOT THE EXACT SAME CONTRACT, BUT VERY SIMILAR. THESE WERE NOT UNUSUAL AT THE TIME THEY WERE ADOPTED. BUT AS MS. GRIFFIN POINTED OUT, IN 2011, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED AN ACT THAT LIMITS THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTING WITH -- CONTRACTS WITH LARGE PAYOUTS SUCH AS THIS. THEY PUT A CAP ON WHAT COULD BE DONE. THE CONTRACT, AGAIN, HAS BEEN STATED, CAN BE ENDED IN THREE WAYS. THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD RESIGN AND GIVE YOU SIX MONTHS' NOTICE, AND THEN HER DEPARTURE WOULD BE NEGOTIATED, WHETHER YOU WANTED

236HER TO STAY SIX MONTHS OR SOME PERIOD BETWEEN NOW AND SIX MONTHS. IT COULD BE TERMINATED FOR CAUSE. THERE IS AN ENTIRE PROCESS THAT IS CONTEMPLATED, WHICH INVOLVES WRITTEN CHARGES, A FULL-BLOWN HEARING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SIMILAR TO A TERMINATION HEARING WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, OR THE ITEM -- THE ONLY ITEM THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, WHICH IS IN PARAGRAPH IV OF HER CONTRACT THAT CONTEMPLATES TERMINATION BEFORE THE CONTRACT ENDS WITHOUT CAUSE. THAT'S WHAT THE MOTION CONTEMPLATES. IT'S SIMILAR TO BUYING OUT THE CONTRACT, AND THE REASONS -- THERE ARE NO REASONS GIVEN. IT'S JUST YOUR CHOICE TO DO THAT. THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS WORDED, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO EVALUATE THE SUPERINTENDENT ANNUALLY. THE EVALUATION TOOL IS SUCH THAT IF SHE RECEIVES ABOVE SATISFACTORY, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. THAT IS

237A SITUATION YOU JUST FOUND YOURSELVES IN -- ABOVE SATISFACTORY. THAT'S THE SITUATION YOU FOUND YOURSELF IN AT THE LAST EVALUATION. SO THE CONTRACTED -- END OF THE CONTRACT ON JUNE 30th, YOU WOULD ALSO START THE EVALUATION PROCESS AGAIN. IF THAT HAPPENS WITH THE EVALUATION SCORE BEING WHAT IT IS, YOU WOULD BE IN THE SAME POSITION THAT YOU ARE NOW. SO THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY THAT REPRESENT THE BUYOUT OF THE CONTRACT WERE PREPARED BY THE DISTRICT AND THEY REPRESENT ALL BENEFITS, ALL THE SALARY THAT'S IN HER CONTRACT, AND THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH HER AND ALSO THE END DATE WAS DISCUSSED AND TALKED ABOUT TO ALLOW HER TO WRAP THINGS UP HERE AND ALSO TO AVOID A HIGHER PAYOUT, BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE USING HER VACATION DAYS. IF SHE LEFT IMMEDIATELY, THE NUMBER BEFORE

238YOU WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER BECAUSE SHE'S USING SOME OF HER VACATION DAYS IN ORDER TO FINISH OUT THE CONTRACT. SO THAT'S WHERE THE BOARD IS. IF THE MOTION PASSES AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT IS TERMINATED, IN THE FUTURE, ONCE SHE IS NO LONGER THE SUPERINTENDENT AFTER JUNE 30th, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. THE CONTRACT WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE STATE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW A CONTRACT LIKE THIS TO BE ENACTED IN THE FUTURE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. YOU STILL HAD THE FLOOR. >>Doretha Edgecomb: THANK YOU. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I HAVE OFTEN BEEN REMINDED THAT WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, THE BEST THING TO DO IS TALK LESS AND LISTEN MORE. WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANTED TO COME LAST TO SHARE MY COMMENTS SO I COULD

239REALLY COMPREHEND THE VERY DEPTH AND BREADTH OF WHY AND WHERE WE ARE IN THIS VERY DARK PLACE. I'M NOT GOING TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY SINCE OTHERS HAVE NOT SHARED THEIR IDEAS, THEIR COMMENTS, THEIR VIEWS. SO I'M GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE THINGS THAT I KNOW AND BELIEVE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AS A 50-YEAR EDUCATOR AND PROFESSIONAL WITH 33 OF THEM SPENT IN THIS DISTRICT, I CAN UNEQUIVOCALLY SAY THAT TODAY IS AMONG THE DARKEST DAYS FOR THIS DISTRICT AND FOR ME PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. PAINFUL, DISTURBING, UNSETTLING, DISAPPOINTING, AND AT TIMES DURING THE PAST WEEK, INCOMPREHENSIBLE. NO MATTER THE OUTCOME OF TODAY'S ACTION, FOR SURE TOMORROW WILL COME, AND THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL SURVIVE. WE WILL SURVIVE BECAUSE THE REASON WE EXIST AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BIGGER AND MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF US INDIVIDUALLY.

240AND BIGGER AND MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY SMALL GROUP OF US COLLECTIVELY. AT THE VERY CORE OF WHY WE WILL SURVIVE IS BECAUSE OF OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES. THOSE WHO TEACH AND GUIDE AND LEAD AND NURSE AND PROTECT, THOSE WHO COOK AND SERVE AND DRIVE AND MOP AND CLEAN, THOSE WHO REPAIR AND BUILD AND INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE, WHO MOTIVATE AND NEVER GIVE UP, WHO BELIEVE IN OUR MISSION AND ARE COMMITTED TO IT, THOSE WHO ANSWER THE PHONES AND RUN OUR OFFICES, WHO SUPPORT AND COUNSEL. THOSE WHO MAKE LIFE DECISIONS EVERY DAY TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS. WE WILL GO ON. BECAUSE WE HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP TO THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN ALL OF THIS MESS -- OUR STUDENTS. WE WILL SURVIVE. WE WILL LAST BEYOND THIS CRISIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD IN THIS DISTRICT A LEGACY OF

241LEADERS WHO HAVE MOVED US FROM MEDIOCRITY TO BEING GOOD TO BECOMING A DISTRICT THAT IS EMULATED, IMITATED, AND DESCRIBED AS A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO STRIVE TO BECOME. WE HAVE BECOME A PLACE WHERE OTHERS COME TO VISIT AND MARVEL AT WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TRAILBLAZERS, RUNNERS, GAME CHANGERS AND VISIONARIES. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HEARTBREAKING AND DIFFICULT TIMES, WE MADE IT THROUGH. AND IT WAS IN THOSE MOMENTS THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE HUMANITY IN EACH ONE OF US, AND WE DID IT, AND WE MADE IT THROUGH THOSE TIMES. LEADERS PAST AND PRESENT ARE HUMAN WITH FOCUS AND FRAILTIES AND SHORTCOMINGS, AND FLAWS, LIKE THE REST OF US. SO YOU BET THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THINGS SHOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY. TODAY WE ARE AT A

242CRITICAL CROSS ROAD WHEN THE LIFE WORK AND PASSION OF ONE OF THOSE LEADERS HANGS IN THE BALANCE. JUST AS THE WORK OF MRS. ELIA IS RESPECTED, HIGHLY REGARDED AND ADMIRED AND SINGLED OUT BY MANY FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FOR SURE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE CRITICS ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND THAT DOES NOT COME AS A SURPRISE. LEADERSHIP COMES WITH A PRICE, AND WITH TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE, ESPECIALLY IN A DISTRICT AS LARGE AND COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX AS OURS. BUT SHE ISN'T THE ONLY LEADER IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THOSE OF US WHO WERE ELECTED TO LEAD, BE ASSURED THAT NONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS THE MIRROR WITHOUT SEEING OUR OWN IMAGES. HOW CAN I AFFORD TO EVEN THINK ABOUT SPENDING $1.1 MILLION WHEN THERE ARE UNBELIEVABLE NEEDS IN MY OWN DISTRICT, JUST AS

243THERE ARE CRITICAL NEEDS THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE COUNTY. EVEN AS HER WORK HAS BEEN APPLAUDED AND RECOGNIZED, SHE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS AND HAS SAID IT OFTEN, THAT THE REASONS WE HAVE COME THIS FAR AND ACHIEVE SO MUCH IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK DONE BY THOSE OF YOU WHO DO THE CHALLENGING AND HARD WORK EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT. WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED IN YOU AND MANY OF YOU BELIEVED IN HER, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT LINK IS THAT ALL OF YOU BELIEVED IN OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING. AND SO AS I STRUGGLE TUNED TO UNDERSTAND IT ALL, HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I ABSOLUTELY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND. NO MATTER THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE TONIGHT, TOMORROW WILL COME, AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN AS

244WE LIVE IN THIS MOMENT OF DISBELIEF. AND WHEN TOMORROW COMES, THE HEALING MUST BEGIN. NO MATTER THE VOTE, AND ALL OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALING BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT WON'T HAPPEN. SO WHEN THE SUN COMES UP TOMORROW MORNING, I HOPE MS. ELIA WILL CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE REST OF THE STORY ABOUT THIS DISTRICT'S SUCCESS AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING SO MANY THINGS, EVEN THOUGH THINGS THAT OTHERS CALL IMPOSSIBLE, WE HAVE DONE IT, AND I HOPE MRS. ELIA WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND YOU WILL LEAD AND THOSE OF YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE BEST OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THIS DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO DO YOUR PART TO MAKE THIS STORY CONTINUE, A STORY OF SUCCESS, A STORY OF PROGRESS, A STORY OF IMPROVEMENT, EVEN IN

245THE WORST OF TIMES. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER EDGECOMB. [ APPLAUSE ] MRS. ELIA OR ANY BOARD MEMBERS ANY MORE COMMENTS? >> ALBERT EINSTEIN ONCE SAID, WE CANNOT SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME THINKING WE USE TO CREATE THEM. WISE WORDS FROM THE GREAT PROBLEM SOLVER HIMSELF. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AS A NEWLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WITH ONLY TWO MONTHS OF TENURE, THIS MOTION PLACES ME IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION. WITH THAT SAID, HOWEVER, I KNEW WHEN FILING TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE I COULD POTENTIALLY BE WALKING INTO A SITUATION OF DISCORD. NOVEMBER 18th, 2014, MAY HAVE BEEN MY FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING AS A BOARD MEMBER, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT MY FIRST BOARD MEETING. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, I'VE DONE MY BEST TO GATHER INFORMATION, EVALUATE AS MUCH INPUT AND INFORMATION

246AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS MOST CRITICAL DECISION FOR OUR SCHOOL AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK EVERY PERSON WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND WITH ME. WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM CURRENT AND RETIRED TEACHERS AND FACULTY, PARENTS, RESIDENTS, NONRESIDENTS, AND LEADERS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. PLEASE KNOW THAT ALL INPUT HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. MUCH OF THE EXPERIENCE I BRING TO THIS POSITION COMES FROM SEVERAL YEARS OF BEING A BUSINESS OWNER, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN MY COMMUNITY, AND BEING A PARENT TO FOUR WONDERFUL CHILDREN IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN MY 20-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO MANY LEADERSHIP STYLES, SOME MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OTHERS. SOME LEADERS ARE HIGHLY AFFILIATIVE AND ADMIRED BY EMPLOYEES. SOME ARE

247DEMOCRATIC AND SEEK CONSENSUS. SOME ARE DIRECT AND RESULTS DRIVEN. NO LEADERSHIP STYLE IS PERFECT AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING. LEADERSHIP IS NOT ALWAYS A NATURAL CHARACTER TRAIT. MOST EFFECTIVE LEADERS HAVE LEARNED HOW TO BE GREAT LEADERS THROUGH EXPERIENCE, ENCOURAGING MENTORING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT PERFECT. NO ONE IS. THAT'S AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION. HOWEVER, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AS AN EMPLOYER THE PROS DEFINITELY OUTWEIGH THE CONS BY FAR. THE POSITIVE RESULTS IN OUR DISTRICT OVERSHADOW THE AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT. HER LAST THREE EVALUATIONS SUPPORT THE FACT THAT MS. ELIA IS AN ACHIEVEMENT-ORIENTED INDIVIDUAL AND EXTREMELY HARD WORKER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SOMEONE WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND THEIR SUCCESS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY RESPONSIBILITY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I BELIEVE THAT WITH MY

248VOTE TODAY AFTER DOING DUE DILIGENCE, LISTENED CAREFULLY, IT WILL REFLECT THE MAJORITY IN MY DISTRICT. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SUPPORT SPENDING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER MONEY WITHOUT JUST CAUSE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES STILL NEEDED FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS FOR WHICH THOSE FUNDS COULD BE UTILIZED. WHAT I CAN SUPPORT IS LEADING BY EXAMPLE. I CAN FACILITATE COLLABORATION AS A BOARD MEMBER, SHOW PROFESSIONALISM, COMMUNICATE WELL AND OFTEN, MAKE PRUDENT BUSINESS DECISIONS OBJECTIVELY, AND DO MY BEST. THAT'S FROM YEARS OF SCOUTING, TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THIS DISTRICT. WHATEVER THE RESULTS ARE TODAY, I'M WILLING TO CONTINUE MY EFFORTS IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. THEY COME FIRST. THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR DUTY AS LEADERS. WE CANNOT LOSE FOCUS AND BE DETRACTED FROM WHAT WE ARE

249HERE FOR. IN CLOSING, I WILL LEAVE WITH YOU A QUOTE FROM MOTHER TERESA, WHICH I HOPE EVERYONE WILL CONSIDER AS WE MOVE FORWARD AFTER TODAY. YOU CAN DO WHAT I CANNOT DO. I CAN DO WHAT YOU CANNOT DO. TOGETHER, WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN, LET'S DO GREAT THINGS TOGETHER. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER HARRIS. >>Sally Harris: I ALWAYS FORGET THE BUTTON. WHAT I HAVE SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS DOING IS LISTENING. THAT'S WHAT I DO BEST. AND I TRY TO TAKE IN ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I HEAR AND FEEL THAT I CAN PUT IT TOGETHER AND MAKE WISE DECISIONS. I HAVE WITNESSED WITH GREAT STRIDES WITHIN OUR EDUCATION COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF MRS. ELIA'S TENURE AS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. MRS.

250ELIA IS UNDOUBTEDLY A PROVEN LEADER; HOWEVER, THE INHERENT NATURE OF HER POSITION CAUSES HER TO MAKE DECISIONS WHICH COULD NOT MAKE ALL OF HER CONSTITUENTS HAPPY ALL THE TIME. TODAY, HOWEVER, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THREATS TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. OUR STUDENTS ARE OVERTESTED AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS ARE UNNECESSARILY BURDENED IN TERMS OF THEIR TIME AND COMPETING PRIORITIES, INCLUDING THE TIME-CONSUMING EET PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE MORALE AT ALL LEVELS IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. AND WHILE THIS MAY BE THE TREND NATIONWIDE, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS IT LOCALLY AND PROACTIVELY. CURRENTLY, THERE IS AN ATMOSPHERE THAT OUR LEADERS ARE NOT ALWAYS APPROACHABLE OR ACCESSIBLE BY AND TO CONCERNED PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS. A PORTION OF THIS IS UNHEALTHY AND UNPRODUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE RESTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

251MRS. ELIA AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WHICH HAS BEEN CONTENTIOUS AT TIMES. ALTHOUGH SOME FAULT MAY REST ON BOTH SIDES, THE BAD ATMOSPHERE AS CREATED BY THIS CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP IS KEEPING OUR DISTRICT FROM MOVING FORWARD. IN THE NEW YEAR, WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE FORWARD. WHILE WE NEED TO EMBRACE WHAT WORKS, WE ALSO NEED TO ENTERTAIN AND EMBRACE SOME CHANGE, NOT FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE ITSELF, BUT TO EMBRACE IT TO MOVE FORWARD AND EXPECT SUPERIOR RESULTS FOR ALL OF OURS CONCERNED AND MOSTLY FOR OUR CHILDREN. I WORK FOR THE CHILDREN. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. MEMBER KURDELL. >>Carol Kurdell: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. WHEN I FOUND OUT A WEEK AGO WHAT WAS GOING ON, I WAS SHOCKED, TO SAY THE LEAST, STUNNED. YOU COULD HAVE HIT ME IN THE

252HEAD WITH A TWO-BY-FOUR AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY MORE BEFUDDLED THAN I WAS BY WHAT I HEARD. THEN THE PHONE BEGAN TO RING. ALL THREE LINES, FOR DAYS ON END. PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON. HOW LIVED -- HOW LIVID THEY ARE, HOW OUTRAGED THE -- HOW OUTRAGED THEY ARE THAT WE HAVE COME TO THIS POINT. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT COULD THEY DO? WELL, YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE, LIKE WE SHOULD. YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE, LIKE WE SHOULD. I TRIED TO THINK OF WHAT I WANTED TO TO SAY TONIGHT, AND IT KEPT CHANGING. IT ABSOLUTELY KEPT CHANGING. AND I THOUGHT PROBABLY NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN. WELL, YOU KNOW ME, I'M NOT GOOD WRITING IT DOWN BECAUSE I SPEAK FROM THE HEART. AND I DO BETTER WHEN I

253SPEAK FROM THE HEART. SO I STARTED THINKING BACK AS THE MOST EXPERIENCED PERSON ON THIS BOARD. I'VE LIVED WITH FOUR SUPERINTENDENTS. KNOWN ALL OF THEM, HIRED THREE, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE FOLKS ROSE TO THE OCCASION, DID THE JOB THAT WE HIRED THEM TO DO. TAKE THIS DISTRICT FORWARD. EACH ONE OF THOSE FOLKS HAD THEIR CHALLENGES. THIS SUPERINTENDENT IS NO DIFFERENT. MAYBE HAD MORE CHALLENGES. I KNOW THIS BOARD DID. GROWTH WITHIN A RECESSION, AND THEN FINALLY SOME GROWTH AGAIN. I TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE FACTS, NOT HEARSAY, NOT PERSONAL BIAS, NOT HURT FEELINGS, BUT THE FACTS OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DEAL WITH A DISTRICT THIS SIZE. THE FACT IS, OUR FINANCIAL RATING IS THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE, AND I CAN TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE THIS BOARD HAD ENOUGH FAITH WHEN I BROUGHT A

254POLICY FORWARD TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY FUND AND THEN VOTED TO DO IT AND CONSISTENTLY DID IT YEAR AFTER YEAR. THAT HELPED US MOVE TO A TRIPLE-A RATING. YOU DON'T GET THAT BY YOURSELF. IT TOOK SEVEN PEOPLE UP HERE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND TO DO IT. IT ALSO TOOK A SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD, AND THEN IT TOOK A SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAD THE COURAGE DURING A RECESSION WHO LISTENED TO WHAT WE SAID, DO NOT FIRE ANYBODY, DON'T LAY ANYBODY OFF, CUT WHERE YOU CAN. WE DIDN'T THAT. -- WE DID THAT. WE STILL HAVE THAT TRIPLE-A RATING. THAT'S CRITICAL FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHEN YOU HAVE TO BORROW MONEY OR THE MONEY COMES IN. TESTING. MHMM. OUR FAVORITE SUBJECT. WE'VE ALWAYS TESTED. WE'VE ALWAYS ACHIEVED. OUR SCORES ARE GOING UP EVERY --

255ALL THE DATA THAT WE TALK ABOUT FOR TEACHERS, WE HAVE OUR OWN. IT IS IN BOXES, IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE WHEN WE DO HER EVALUATION. I DO BELIEVE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT LOOKED AT IT AND SIGNED UP FOR IT. MRS. EDGECOMB, THANK YOU. YOU CAN'T MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE DATA, NOR SHOULD YOU. I PROBABLY COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED, BUT WHAT IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO WAS WHERE MY MORAL COMPASS WAS. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE FOLLOW THIS MOTION. IT ISN'T REASONABLE. THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN THAT ARE ETHICALLY CHALLENGED, AND THERE'S NO COMMON SENSE TO THIS FOR ME. I THINK AS WE MOVE ALONG AND WE TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE COMMON GROUND, AND

256MRS. VALDES AND I HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMMON GROUND, BECAUSE I MOVED OUT THE SHIP AND SHE MOVED IN. MY WHOLE POINT FOR LAST YEAR WAS GETTING US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD. I GOT THERE AND I THOUGHT WE WERE THERE. I WAS SADLY MISTAKEN. SADLY MISTAKEN. BUT I CANNOT WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER KURDELL. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: MY COMMENTS WILL BE BRIEF. AND TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, I, TOO, WHEN ELECTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2004 SHY OF ABOUT A MONTH, SUPERINTENDENT LENNARD AT THAT TIME WHISPERED IN MY EAR, BY THE WAY, I'M RETIRING AT THE END OF THE MONTH. I'M LIKE, OH, GREAT. A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH BEGAN. NOT HAVING THE EXPERIENCE AS WELL, I HAD

257TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THAT. WHICH I MUST SAY THAT I WAS HONORED AND STILL HONORED TODAY THE FACT THAT I HAD JUST A TINY BIT TO DO WITH HIRING THE FIRST WOMAN SUPERINTENDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND I'M STILL PROUD OF THAT TODAY. YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTER AT THE TIME IS RIGHT HERE. THINGS CHANGED. SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEWNESS, BUT WHEN YOU ARE ELECTED ON THAT TUESDAY AND YOU GET SWORN IN TWO WEEKS LATER, IT'S NOT LIKE THE JUDGES, THEY CAN WAIT AND HAVE CERTAIN TRAINING AND THEY GET SWORN IN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL, BUT AGAIN, MY COMMENTS WERE VERY CLEAR EARLIER AS TO THE REASONS WHY I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND PUT IT ON THERE,

258AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. SO AT THIS POINT, IF THERE IS ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING, THEN WE HAVE A MOTION. LET'S SET UP THE LIGHTS FOR VOTE. >> MADAM CHAIR, COULD WE HAVE MR. PORTER CLARIFY THE MOTION ONE MORE TIME AND WHAT IT MEANS IF YOU VOTE YES OR NO, JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR. >>Susan Valdes: THAT'S FINE. MR. PORTER. >>Jim Porter: THE MOTION IS TO BUY OUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT PURSUANT TO THE SECTION OF HER CONTRACT, PARAGRAPH 4, WHICH READS, "IF CONTRACT AND ANY EXTENSION TERMINATED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION WITHOUT JUST CAUSE, SUPERINTENDENT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ALL SALARY, RETIREMENT PAYMENTS, INSURANCE POLICIES, AND OTHER BENEFITS PROVIDED UNDER THE CONTRACT THROUGH THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE CONTRACT. FURTHER, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S LAST DAY OF WORK WILL BE MARCH 5th, 2015, THAT

259SHE WILL USE HER UNUSED VACATION DAYS UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT JUNE 30th, 2015." THE EFFECT OF THAT IS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD OFFICIALLY BE THE SUPERINTENDENT ON THE BOOKS UNTIL JUNE 30th WHEN SHE WOULD RETIRE, BUT HER LAST DAY OF WORK WOULD BE MARCH 5th. AND AT THAT POINT, SHE WOULD NOT BE IN THE BUILDING. SHE WOULD LEAVE AND USE HER UNUSED VACATION DAYS TO DRAW DOWN THAT NUMBER THAT SHE WOULD BE OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO UNDER HER CONTRACT. THAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE MOTION. >> VOTING YES OR NO? >>Jim Porter: A VOTE YES MEANS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WOULD BE BOUGHT OUT PURSUANT TO THE FINANCIAL TERMS THAT ARE A PART OF YOUR BACKUP AND TO THE TIME LINE THAT WAS PART OF MS. GRIFFIN'S MOTION. THAT IS A VOTE YES. A VOTE

260NO WOULD MEAN THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WOULD NOT BE TERMINATED. IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO BUY OUT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, YOU SHOULD VOTE YES. IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO IT, YOU SHOULD VOTE NO. >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >>Susan Valdes: YOU ARE WELCOME, MEMBER KURDELL. WE'RE READY FOR THE VOTE. PLEASE FLASH OUR BUTTONS. BOARD MEMBERS, CAST YOUR VOTES. THE MOTION PASSES TO TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT 4-3. [ APPLAUSE ] BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL TAKE A TEN-MINUTE RECESS AND WE'LL RECONVENE AT 7:36. >>Susan Valdes: -- FOR THE REST OF THE AGENDA. AS WE SAID EARLIER, THERE'S NO TEACHING AND LEARNING. THE NEXT SECTION WOULD BE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. MRS. ELIA. >>Maryellen Elia: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, THE EIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY ON THE AGENDA

261HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED, APPROPRIATE SCREENINGS HELD, AND INTERVIEWS BEFORE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S STAFF WERE CONDUCTED. THE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT OR HRMD PROCESS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD WAS FOLLOWED. IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HUMAN RESOURCES COMPLIANCE AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JANUARY 26th, 2015. DR. HOWTON BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 1997 AS THE COORDINATOR OF EVALUATION ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION. IN 2004, SHE WAS APPOINTED SUPERVISOR OF CHOICE PROGRAMS. IN 2008, SHE WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR, STUDENT PLANNING AND PLACEMENT, CHOICE PROGRAMS WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: BOARD MEMBERS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER HUMAN RESOURCES COMPLIANCE AND THE CANDIDATE SUBMITTED IS MS. PANSY HOWTON. MOTION BY MEMBER EDGECOMB AND SECOND BY MEMBER KURDELL.

262ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD MEMBERS? HAVING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. IT IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD MS. HOWTON PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ] WILL HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS PLEASE JOIN HER? [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU, MRS. ELIA. >>Maryellen Elia: IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT JANINE GRAVES, CURRENTLY TECHNICAL MARKETING COORDINATOR FOR STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES TO THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER STRATEGIC MARKETING WITH EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 1st, 2015. FROM 2001 TO 2006, MS. GRAVES WAS THE SENIOR DESIGNER MARKETING COORDINATOR FOR CATERPILLAR RING POWER RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA. FROM 2007 TO 2011, SHE WAS THE OWNER OF A MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION CONSULTING FIRM. IN 2010, SHE BEGAN HER EMPLOYMENT WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A MARKETING SPECIALIST TEAM LEADER IN OUR STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE -- I NEED A

263MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF DEPARTMENT MANAGER STRATEGIC MARKETING, JANINE GRAVES. MOTION BY MEMBER EDGECOMB AND A SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE. MS. KURDELL. THANK YOU. IT IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD MS. GRAVES PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? [ APPLAUSE ] AND WILL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS PLEASE JOIN YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Maryellen Elia: IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT STEVEN L. SIMMS, CURRENTLY PRINCIPAL OF COLLINS ELEMENTARY, TO THE PRINCIPALSHIP OF JACK R. LAMB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 2nd, 2015. MR. SIMS BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 1992 AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT MINTZ ELEMENTARY. IN '95, HE RESIGNED FROM ARE THE SYSTEM AND RETURNED IN 1997 AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT KING HIGH SCHOOL. IN '98, HE SERVED AS DEPARTMENT HEAD AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL FROM

2641999 TO 2005, HE HELD TEACHING POSITIONS AT McLANE, HILLSBOROUGH HIGH, SUMMERFIELD AND CHIMINO ELEMENTARY. IN 2005, HE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AND IN 2010, HE WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL OF COLLINS ELEMENTARY WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER KURDELL AND A SECOND BY MEMBER EDGECOMB TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL JACK R. LAMB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT'S STEVEN L. SIMMS. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD MR. STEVEN SIMMS PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? [ APPLAUSE ] AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS PLEASE JOIN YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Maryellen Elia: IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT GARCIA CURRENTLY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY TO THE PRINCIPALSHIP OF MORGAN WOODS WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 2nd, 2015. MS. GARCIA BEGAN

265HER EMPLOYMENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER. FROM 2002 TO 2006, SHE HELD TEACHING POSITIONS AT CLAIR-MEL, LOCKHART POTTER AND SEMINOLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. IN 2007, SHE WAS APPOINTED LEAD TEACHER AT SHORE ELEMENTARY. IN 2010, SHE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AT MORGAN WOODS, WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE A MOTION. I NEED A SECOND. I MADE THE MOTION, SECONDED BY MEMBER EDGECOMB TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OF MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY, KELSO GARCIA. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. IT IS UNANIMOUS. MS. GARCIA, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ] AND YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SUPPORTERS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Maryellen Elia: IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT PETER MAGARA, CURRENTLY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL TO THE PRINCIPALSHIP

266OF MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 2nd, 2015. MR. MAGARA BEGAN HIS CLEAR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER IN 2000. HE HELD TEACHING POSITIONS AT RANDALL AND MAN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND IN 2009 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY. I NEED A SECOND. SECONDED BY MEMBER GRIFFIN TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL, MR. PETER MA GUERRA. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. IT IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD MR. PETER MAGARA PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ] AND YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS. >>Maryellen Elia: IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT CYNTHIA THROW, CURRENTLY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AT OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE PRINCIPALSHIP OF

267OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 2nd. MS. THROW BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 1993. FROM '93 TO 2008, SHE HELD A TEACHING POSITION, RESOURCE TEACHER POSITION, AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AT BROWARD ELEMENTARY. IN 2008, SHE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AT OAK GROVE WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: BOARD MEMBERS, I IMMEDIATE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER EDGECOMB AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRIFFIN TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OF OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CYNTHIA THOROUGH. IT IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD MS. CYNTHIA THROW PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ] AND YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS, PLEASE STAND. >>Maryellen Elia: IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT HILDA JENGO, CURRENTLY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF CURRICULUM TO THE PRINCIPALSHIP OF LETO

268HIGH SCHOOL WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 2nd, 2015. MS. JENKO BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. FROM 1990 TO '93 SHE TAUGHT AT BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HILLSBOROUGH HIGH. IN '93, SHE WAS APPOINTED TEACHER AND SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT DISTRICT RESOURCE TEACHER IN THE SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. IN 2003, SHE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT BENITO AND IN 2005 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR CURRICULUM AT SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL. IN 2012, SHE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR CURRICULUM AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A MOTION BY MYSELF AND A SECOND BY MEMBER STUART. BY THE WAY, TWO FALCONS, TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF LETO HIGH SCHOOL, MS. HILDA JENKO. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR

269VOTES. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD MS. HILDA JENKO PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ] AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS, PLEASE STAND. [ APPLAUSE ] >>Susan Valdes: I CAN'T HELP BUT, MR. FERNANDEZ, PLEASE STAND. MR. FERNANDEZ IS RETIRING HERE REAL SOON, AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING BEING ONE OF MY TEACHERS WHEN YOU WERE AN INTERN IN MRS. O'REALLYRAL'S SCHOOL. [SPEAKING SPANISH] THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] ARE THERE ANY RETIRED PRINCIPALS HERE? IS MS. ROBERTS HERE? PLEASE STAND, MS. ROBERTS. THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU. FOR SO MANY YEARS. [ APPLAUSE ] WHAT IS YOUR NAME, PLEASE? NANCY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SO MANY YEARS. ANYBODY ELSE? NO. WELL, I

270KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME TODAY, BUT I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL MANY CONGRATULATIONS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SERVED AND RETIRING, THAT SERVED THIS DISTRICT, THANK YOU FOR SO MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR DISTRICT. FOR THOSE TAKING ON THE NEW CHALLENGES, GODSPEED TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL EACH BE GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXIT AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENING, YOU MAY DO SO AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SAFE TRAVELS. MEMBER GRIFFIN. >>April Griffin: MADAM CHAIR, CONSIDERING THE LENGTH OF THIS MEETING AND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE, AND I -- >>Susan Valdes: HANG ON A SECOND. IF WE CAN

271EXIT QUIETLY, PLEASE, SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE BUSINESS MEETING. THANK YOU. YES, MEMBER GRIFFIN, CAN YOU BEGIN AGAIN? >>April Griffin: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST, CONSIDERING THE LENGTH OF THIS MEETING THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD AND HOW DIFFICULT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN, I'VE ASKED IF THERE'S ANY -- AND I'VE REVIEWED THE AGENDA, EVEN THE BOUNDARY CHANGE IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE TAKEN UP RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE SUSPEND THE REST OF THE AGENDA AND BRING IT FORWARD AT ANOTHER AGENDA AND THEN -- >>Susan Valdes: IS THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION? >>April Griffin: YES. >>Susan Valdes: OKAY. DO I HAVE A SECOND TO SUSPEND THE REST OF THE AGENDA? MEMBER STUART IS THE SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO SUSPEND THE REST OF

272THE AGENDA -- >>Jim Porter: IF WE CAN CONFIRM, CONFIRM THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE DONE. >>Susan Valdes: I AM TRYING TO RESTATE FOR THE RECORD WHAT THE MOTION IS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. MRS. ELIA, YOU HAVE A COMMENT. >>Maryellen Elia: YES, BOARD MEMBERS, AS I'M LOOKING AT THE LISTING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IDENTIFYING EACH OF THE QUESTIONS, I DON'T -- UNLESS I'M INCORRECT, THEY WERE PRIMARILY HIGHLIGHTS, AND SO IF IT WERE HIGHLIGHTS AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT WITH TWO MINUTES FOR EACH ONE IT WOULD PROBABLY SHORTEN IT. I'M CONCERNED WITHOUT LOOKING AT -- I'M SORRY? >> COULD WE SKIP THE HIGHLIGHTS. >>Maryellen Elia: THAT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO US TO NOT HAVE ACTION TAKEN ON THESE COULD BE A VERY MAJOR PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO

273QUICKLY MAKE A DECISION ON THAT WITHOUT LOOKING THROUGH EACH OF THEM TO KNOW. THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ACTIONS OF THE BOARD. >>Susan Valdes: MEMBER STUART. >>Cindy Stuart: JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, WE'RE SUSPENDING ONLY THE PULLED ITEMS THAT WERE HERE. >> WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE REGULAR AGENDA. >>Cindy Stuart: THE ONLY ITEMS HERE THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON AT A LATER DATE ARE THESE ITEMS PULLED FOR OUR HIGHLIGHT, 6.07, 6.09, 6.19, 6.33, 7.02, 7.04, 9.03 HAS ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON. >>Maryellen Elia: WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING DISCUSSION ABOUT EACH OF THOSE ITEMS, THOSE GET PUT BACK ON AND THE BOARD VOTE ON THE ITEMS, UNLESS THERE IS A SINGLE ONE THAT HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM FROM BOARD MEMBERS. MY RECOLLECTION, AND I'M LOOKING FOR MY SHEET RIGHT NOW IS THAT THEY WERE

274PRIMARILY HIGHLIGHTS AS OPPOSED TO QUESTIONS OR MAJOR CONCERNS. SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE COULD MOVE ON THOSE AND BRING UP ANY OTHERS. >> OKAY. AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING 7.04 BACK AT ANOTHER MEETING, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT IS ONE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD, AND I THINK, 7.04, THE BOUNDARIES. >>Susan Valdes: THE OTHER ONE WAS SECURITY, 6.33. >>Maryellen Elia: CAN I ASK THAT WE GET SOME CLARIFICATION FROM MR. FARKAS ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE JUST DIDN'T DO THAT. >>Christopher Farkas: MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS SCHEDULING AND THINGS HAPPENING THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR KIDS GOING TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FOR WHAT PROGRAMS THEY'LL BE OFFERING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN IF IT GETS PUSHED

275BACK THAT MUCH FURTHER. >> WOULD TWO WEEKS? >> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND SAY IT IS AN OKAY THING. IT IS A CONCERN TO ME. WHATEVER THE BOARD NEEDS TO DO IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THE OTHER ONE IS THE 7.02, BECAUSE THAT'S THE DESIGN AND SCHEME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET BEHIND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE. >> NO, THAT'S NOT ONE WE'RE QUESTIONING. >>Maryellen Elia: ON 7.04, I HAVE DOWN MS. STUART FOR A HIGHLIGHT AND MS. EDGECOMB FOR A HIGHLIGHT. >> I THINK THAT SOME THINGS THAT WERE RAISED THIS EVENING, THOUGH, WITH SOME OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IN FURTHER DETAIL. I'M JUST THINKING THAT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WE'LL ALL BE FRESH. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D PREFER TO TAKE UP. >>Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS,

276THE NEXT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 3rd. >> THAT'S FINE. >>Maryellen Elia: WELL, IT'S THE BOARD'S PLEASURE. IF YOU WANT IT PULLED OFF, THEN WE WON'T DO IT TONIGHT. IT MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR SCHEDULING FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE WON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOLS THEY ARE GOING TO, THEREFORE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OPTIONS THEY HAVE IN THEIR ELECTIVES. WE'LL PULL IT OFF IF THAT IS THE DECISION THAT YOU HAVE. >>Susan Valdes: MEMBER GRIFFIN, YOU HAD THE FLOOR. >>April Griffin: I WILL WITHDRAW MY MOTION TO SUSPEND THE ENTIRE AGENDA AND JUST APPROVE THESE REAL QUICK. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF 7.04 FOR MORE DISCUSSION BASED ON WHAT WAS SAID BY THE PUBLIC TONIGHT IN REFERENCE TO THE BOUNDARY CHANGES. >>Susan Valdes: OKAY. MEMBER STUART. >>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. THERE WAS COMMENT TONIGHT.

277I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN EXTREMELY FOCUSED ON ONE AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT, I KNOW I HAD A MEETING ON FRIDAY THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE REGARDING THESE CHANGES THAT I DID NOT GET TO HAVE. OUR EXPLORATION OF THE REST OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGES HAS PROBABLY GOTTEN WRAPPED UP IN OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WEEK. SO I WOULD LIKE TIME. I DON'T THINK TWO WEEKS IS GOING TO PUSH US BACK SO FAR THAT -- WE'VE ALREADY MADE SOME CHANGES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE TONIGHT AND ALL THOSE THINGS. I KNOW, CHRIS, YOU AND I TALKED THIS MORNING, I HAD SOME OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I NEEDED ANSWERED, TOO, BEFORE I MOVED FORWARD ON THIS. SO THAT'S THE ONLY ITEM I HAVE AN ISSUE

278WITH. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER STUART AND MEMBER EDGECOMB. >>Doretha Edgecomb: AM I CLEAR THAT THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO EITHER CONTINUE OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONTINUE TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, NONE OF THESE TIME SENSITIVE? JUST THAT ONE. >>Maryellen Elia: 7.04 IS THE ONE WE'VE HAD INDICATIONS ARE -- THE BOARD HAS REQUESTED THAT WE PUT IT OFF. THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT DOING THAT, BUT WE CAN DO IT FOR TWO WEEKS, IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD. HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL -- I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF SCHEDULING RIGHT NOW. >>Doretha Edgecomb: IS THERE ANYBODY ON STAFF WHO CAN HELP US IN THE DECISION? I THINK THAT'S VERY CRITICAL. SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, SOMEBODY IN GUIDANCE OR SOMEBODY WHO COULD SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE,

279BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL. I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT IT IS THE WORK OF THE BOARD TO GET THINGS DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION NO MATTER HOW LATE IT IS. >>Maryellen Elia: DENNY, COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE FOR THE BOARD? THANK YOU. >> YES. ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS WOULD BE THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE HR PROCESS, WITH THE HIRING OF TEACHERS. SO THE BIGGEST FACTOR OF THAT WOULD BE THE SITUATION OF DETERMINING HOW MUCH TEACHING UNITS ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO IT'S ALL A BACKUP PROCESS OF DETERMINING THOSE UNITS THAT IS THE PROGRAMMING OF STUDENTS. AND THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS NOW. SO I DON'T HAVE THE TIME CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME OF THAT WHOLE PROCESS,

280BUT ANY TYPE OF DELAY IS GOING TO PUT MORE ANGST AND PRESSURE ON THOSE SCHOOLS TO GET THOSE UNIT PACKETS DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION, AND I BELIEVE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT USUALLY CENTERS RIGHT AROUND BEFORE SPRING BREAK TO GET ALL THE UNIT PACKETS FINISHED. IF THAT'S DELAYED, THEN THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR UNIT PROCESS RIGHT WHEN WE COME BACK FROM BREAK, WHICH ULTIMATELY THEN IMPACTS POSTING OF VACANCIES, TRANSFER PERIODS, ET CETERA, HR MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE MORE THAN I CAN. I KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF PROGRAMMING STUDENTS AND THEY WILL BE TABULATING THEIR RESULTS WITH STUDENTS SIGNING UP FOR COURSES AND FIGURING OUT THEIR UNITS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >>Doretha Edgecomb: I HEARD AT LEAST TWO POSSIBLY CRITICAL ISSUES ON WHY WE SHOULD NOT DELAY OR POSTPONE

281THIS AND MOVE IT TO THE SECOND -- THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. I MEAN, ALL THE THINGS YOU SAY CERTAINLY ARE CREDIBLE. YOU HAVE SOME CONCERNS SIMILARLY TO THAT. THAT CAUSES ME SOME CONCERN, TOO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER EDGECOMB. MEMBER KURDELL. >>Carol Kurdell: THANK YOU. WE MOVED HIRING UP, TOO, DIDN'T WE, MS. WOODFORD? TELL ME WHEN IT IS. >> TRANSFER PERIOD STARTS APRIL 21st, WHICH THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT LEADS INTO GOING THROUGH EACH SCHOOL LOOKING AT UNITS, WHO IS DISPLACED, WHO'S MOVING TO PREPARE FOR THAT. >> I HAVE A CONCERN THAT WE DON'T DO THIS TONIGHT FOR ALL THOSE REASONS. YOU KNOW, WE HAD MEETINGS WITH EVERYONE, AND WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT, AND WE'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE. I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT WE HAD AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER

282TONIGHT THAT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT'S THE BEST SOLUTION UNDER A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER KURDELL. MEMBER STUART. SO WHAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD? >>April Griffin: I'VE ALREADY WITHDRAWN MY MOTION. I THINK THAT WE HAD NOT HEARD PUBLIC SPEAKERS YET AS A BOARD AT THIS MEETING. AND I HEARD SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT GAVE ME REASON TO PAUSE, AND, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. IT'S TWO WEEKS. I HEAR THE CONCERNS, BUT MAYBE THIS IS A REASON WHY THINGS SHOULD NOT COME AT THIS TIME FRAME. GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME JUST IN CASE. I WOULD STILL PREFER TO HAVE THIS ONE PULLED TILL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, AND THEN JUST APPROVE THE REST OF THIS AGENDA. BUT I WILL YIELD TO THE REST OF THE BOARD.

283>>Susan Valdes: WELL, BOARD MEMBERS, IF WE CAN, THEN JUST -- I MEAN, I SEE -- WE'LL MOVE ON AND JUST MAKE IT QUICK. >>Maryellen Elia: MS. VALDES IS THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON 7.04? >>Susan Valdes: WELL, AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T PULL IT -- ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T PULL IT FOR A HIGHLIGHT OR ANYTHING, BUT 6.33, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT TO EXTEND THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SHERIFFS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RELATING TO THE SCHOOL RESOURCE DEPUTIES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. >>Maryellen Elia: DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT AS WELL? >>Susan Valdes: YEAH. >>Maryellen Elia: THE OTHER ONES, THEN, YOU'LL INCLUDE IN THE REGULAR AGENDA? >>Susan Valdes: UM-HUM. YES. IS THAT OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO DO 6.33 AND 7.04. WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THEM NOW.

284AND THEN THE OTHER ONES WE WILL INCLUDE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. MR. PORTER, DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT BEING THAT THEY WERE PULLED OUT? >>Jim Porter: I THINK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS APPROVE EVERYTHING ELSE BUT THOSE TWO, LIKE YOU NORMALLY WOULD. PULLED THIS AS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE THE TWO. THAT CAN ALL BE DONE WHEN YOU DO THE FINAL APPROVAL. >>Susan Valdes: OKAY. AT THE END. AND THAT WILL BE COMING AS A MOTION. LET'S DO THIS. LET'S MOVE TO 6.33. THIS IS HIGHLIGHT BY MEMBER STUART AND COMMENT AND HIGHLIGHT BY MEMBER EDGECOMB. 6.33 IS TO APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA AND THE SHERIFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RELATING TO SCHOOL RESOURCE DEPUTIES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. MR. NEWMAN. >> HOW ARE YOU? >>Susan Valdes: DOING WELL, THANK

285YOU. >> REMEMBER BACK BEFORE I GOT HERE IN DECEMBER OF 2013, THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS AWARDED A GRANT. THE ORIGINAL GRANT APPLICATION CALLED FOR 15 SCHOOL RESOURCE DEPUTIES AS PART OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING. THE GRANT AWARD ONLY ALLOCATED 10. LAST YEAR, THERE WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REAPPLY, SO THEY REAPPLIED FOR THE FIVE THAT THIS BOARD HAD ORIGINALLY APPROVED BACK DECEMBER OF 2013, AND THEY WERE AWARDED THOSE ADDITIONAL FIVE. THE FIRST GRANT, THE COP GRANT THAT THEY RECEIVED FOR THE 10 DEPUTIES THAT COVER 20 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, I BELIEVE WAS 1,250,000. IT WAS A THREE-YEAR GRANT THAT PROVIDED US 50-50 WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MINUS THE GRANT FUNDS. AND THEN THE LAST YEAR OF THE GRANT, THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE GRANT WILL BE THE NORMAL MOU THAT

286WE NORMALLY SEE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. 50-50 WITH NO GRANT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME THING, BUT IT'S FOR FIVE RESOURCE DEPUTIES TO BE DEPLOYED AT TEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. SO REALLY WHAT IT IS, AN EXTENSION OF THE ORIGINAL 2013 DISCUSSION THAT YOU HAD BEFORE I CAME ABOARD. I BELIEVE THE GRANT AWARD WAS $325,000. THEY HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENT YEARS ONE, TWO, AND THREE, MINUS THE GRANT MONEY THE COUNTY'S SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SPLITS, AND THEN THE FOURTH YEAR, ONCE AGAIN, IT IS A 50-50 AGREEMENT. REALLY, IT'S AN EXTENSION OF WHAT YOU ALL DISCUSSED DECEMBER, I BELIEVE DECEMBER 18 OF 2013. BUT NOW THEY HAVE THE FIVE ADDITIONAL. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HIGHLIGHT. MEMBER STUART. >>Cindy Stuart: MY ONLY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY OFFICERS DOES THAT BRING US

287TO TOTAL THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOT THE SRO THAT WE APPROVE TO, THAT THE BOARD APPROVED -- I MEAN, HIRING BUT HOW MANY IS THAT THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOTAL? >> THEY HAVE TEN. THIS IS FIVE, THAT WILL BE 15. I BELIEVE WE WERE AT 47 BEFORE THAT. SO WE'LL BE AT 60 SOME ODD DEPUTIES. I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER SUPPORT STAFF IS PART OF ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE PAY FOR. SO THE ORIGINAL MOU HAS IT LISTED BY SCHOOLS. THEY HAVE NOT LANDED ON THE TEN SCHOOLS THAT THEY WANT TO COVER. THE ALD TEAM WILL HAVE SOME INPUT ON WHAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITES THEY FEEL THAT THE FIVE DEPUTIES NEED TO COVER, BUT I CAN GET YOU A LIST OF THE SCHOOLS THEY CURRENTLY COVER. >>Cindy Stuart: I WOULD ASK THAT WE GET

288THAT AS SOON AS YOU KNOW SO THAT WE'RE AWARE OF WHERE THAT'S GOING TO END UP. >> DO YOU ALSO WANT THE LIST OF WHAT ONES THEY CURRENTLY COVER, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL? >>Cindy Stuart: I THINK WE HAVE THAT, BUT IF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WANT THAT, I'M HAPPY TO -- BUT I'M INTERESTED IN WHERE THEY WILL LAND THE FIVE NEW. >> I KNOW THEY WERE REALLY CLOSE, WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON IT. IT WAS ONLY A SMALL LITTLE BIT OF TWEAKING ON THE LIST THAT THEY CAME UP WITH. I CAN GET THAT IN PRETTY SHORT ORDER FROM COLONEL BROWN. >>Maryellen Elia: MS. VALDES AND BOARD MEMBERS, IF I CAN JUST REMIND YOU, THAT IS ALL PART OF OUR SECURITY PLAN. WHEN THAT COMES TO YOU, IT CANNOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE. IT'S

289EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THAT INFORMATION BE KEPT AS PART OF THE SECURITY PLAN AND NOT SHARED WITH ANYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ANY REASON. >>Susan Valdes: MEMBER EDGECOMB, YOU WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT? ANY COMMENT? THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS 7.04. BOTH STUART AND -- MEMBER STUART AND MEMBER EDGECOMB WANTED A HIGHLIGHT. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. LORRAINE DUFFY SUAREZ WITH THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, OF CHANGING THE ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES IN SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TRACKING GROWTH IN SOUTH COUNTY SOMEWHERE NEAR ABOUT 12,000 NEW HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED, BUT NOT UNDER CONSTRUCTION. CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED UP. WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THE PLANNING OF LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD A PLAN FOR AN ADDITION. THAT ADDITION, YOU VOTED ON SOME

290OF THOSE PLANS FOR THAT IN THE PAST. WE ARE NOW CHANGING THE ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES IN THAT AREA TO MOVE STUDENTS INTO THE ADDITION AT LENNARD. WE'RE LEAVING ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL GROWTH AT LENNARD. WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE POPULATION AT EAST BAY THAT IS ALREADY OVERCROWDED, AND RIVERVIEW IS NEAR ITS CAPACITY. SO WE'RE MOVING STUDENTS TO SPOTO, BRANDON. WE'RE MOVING SOME STUDENTS INTO RIVERVIEW, AND THEN OTHER STUDENTS OUT OF RIVERVIEW AND INTO SPOTO. WE HELD A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS, TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS DOWN THERE. ONE AT EAST BAY AND ONE AT RIVERVIEW. WE HEARD FROM ALMOST 300 PEOPLE IN OUR OUTREACH. PEOPLE ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS, E-MAILING, PHONING US. WE'VE LOGGED ALL THE CALLS. I WILL TELL YOU, PROBABLY THE MOST OVERWHELMING COMMENT WE RECEIVED WAS, PLEASE DON'T DISRUPT MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. WE HEARD FROM

291STUDENTS AND PARENTS. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, THESE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. SO AFTER HEARING ALL OF THAT, THE DECISION WAS MADE. WE TOOK IT TO SENIOR STAFF, MS. ELIA, AND SAID WHAT -- WE COULD JUST MOVE THE 8th GRADERS, THE INCOMING 9th GRADERS. THAT WILL LEAVE EAST BAY CROWDED. RIVERVIEW WILL GET MORE CROWDED. WE FILL UP THE WING AT LENNARD QUITE AS FAST, BUT NO EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WILL MOVE FROM THEIR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL. SO YOU MIGHT HAVE PARENTS WITH KIDS AT TWO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS FOR A WHILE, FOR THREE YEARS, THAT EXISTS. NORMAL HARDSHIP RULES WILL APPLY. SO THEY MAY APPLY FOR A HARDSHIP. AND THAT'S THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS TO MOVE INCOMING 8th GRADERS INTO THE NEW SCHOOLS. IF YOU CAN SHOW US THE MAP, THE SECOND MAP, THIS ONE RIGHT

292HERE. THE FIRST MAP. I'M SORRY. IT SHOWS YOU THE AREAS THAT ARE BEING HIGHLIGHTED. APOLLO BEACH AREA IS ONE OF THE AREAS I THINK I HEARD COMMENTED BEFORE. APOLLO BEACH AND THE UNBUILT PORTION OF WATER SET, THAT IS VERY LARGE PLANNED COMMUNITY. THE NORTH HALF OF WATERSET WILL GO TO EAST BAY. THEY ARE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. THE SOUTH HALF WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE TO LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL. THAT IS THE HIGHEST POPULATION AREA THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE LENNARD BOUNDARY, SO IT REALLY LIMITED OUR CHOICES ON AREAS TO SELECT. WE WENT THROUGH ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT WE WORKED WITH THE LEADERSHIP DIRECTORS AND THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. SENIOR STAFF TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD WORK. THAT WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY ACHIEVED THE BEST BALANCE OF THE ENROLLMENTS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

293THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL HAVE MORE GROWTH IN SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH. WE ARE IMMEDIATELY LOOKING AT THE NEXT PHASE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO. BECAUSE IF THIS GROWTH KEEPS UP, WE'LL NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER DECISION AT SOME POINT AND BRING THAT TO YOU. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THIS WILL BUY SOME TIME AND WILL ALSO KEEP STUDENTS AT THEIR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL AND INTRODUCE THE NEW NINTH GRADERS INTO A NEW HIGH SCHOOL. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MS. DUFFY-SUAREZ FOR THAT HIGHLIGHT. MEMBER EDGECOMB. >>Doretha Edgecomb: IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE SPEAKER WHO CAME UP AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT I THINK I HEARD THE CONCERN ABOUT, THERE WERE SOME ADJUSTMENTS REGARDING RIVERVIEW AND THAT HE FELT SOMEHOW THOSE SAME CONSIDERATIONS MIGHT BE MDE FOR THE APOLLO BEACH SEGMENT, I THINK, THAT GOES INTO EAST

294BAY. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WERE AS THEY ARE RELATED TO THE CHANGES IN THE RIVERVIEW PROPOSAL? >>Susan Valdes: CERTAINLY. THERE WAS A >> CERTAINLY, THERE WAS A SMALL AREA THAT HAD ABOUT 140 STUDENTS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO RIVERVIEW, BEING PROPOSED TO MOVE TO SPOTO. THOSE STUDENTS WERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF 301, AROUND THE ALAFIA RIVER. IN TALKING TO PARENTS WHO PHONED US, WHO WROTE TO US, WE TOOK A FIELD VISIT TO LOOK AT THE AREA. THEY RAISED ISSUES OF ACCESS, PROXIMITY TO THE SCHOOL, WHICH MANY PEOPLE ARE CLOSER TO ONE SCHOOL THAN ANOTHER, BUT REALLY THE ISSUES ABOUT ACCESS WERE COMPELLING. ONCE WE WENT OUT THERE AND WE SAW THE ROAD WASHED OUT, THEY WERE RIGHT. SOMETIMES THE ROAD WASHES OUT, AND THAT WOULD REALLY INHIBIT THEIR ABILITY TO GET TO SPOTO.

295THEY WOULD, IN FACT, BE GOING PAST RIVERVIEW TO GET TO SPOTO IN THOSE INSTANCES. THERE ARE ABOUT, AS I SAID, 140 STUDENTS. BECAUSE WE'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF GROWTH IN -- ALSO IN THE RIVERVIEW, WE BALANCE THAT OUT BY NOT MOVING SOME OTHER STUDENTS INTO RIVERVIEW, WHO ARE CURRENTLY EAST BAY STUDENTS, AND WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT THOSE STUDENTS JUST STAY AT EAST BAY. STUDENTS WE WERE PROPOSING TO GO TO SPOTO STAY AT RIVERVIEW. SO WE COULDN'T MOVE MORE KIDS INTO RIVERVIEW AND KEEP OTHER STUDENTS. SO IT REALLY WAS ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER, ABOUT 140 STUDENTS THAT WE ARE KEEPING AT RIVERVIEW, AND THEN WE'RE KEEPING 140 AT EAST BAY. AND PURELY IT WAS BECAUSE AFTER WE INVESTIGATED IT, WE REALIZED THAT THE ISSUES THAT THE PARENTS RAISED WERE VALID CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS. SO THAT IS WHY

296THAT HAPPENED. >>Doretha Edgecomb: QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. THE STATEMENT WAS ALSO MADE THAT SPOTO IS STILL UNDER CAPACITY. SO IN THIS PLAN, HAVE RIVERVIEW OVER CAPACITY, LENNARD AT CAPACITY AM I CORRECT, WITH SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH LATER ON? WE'VE GOT SPOTO UNDER CAPACITY SO WHAT WERE THE PROHIBITERS, THE LIMITATIONS OF LOOKING AT ADDING SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS TO SPOTO? >> WELL, SPOTO WILL BE UNDER CAPACITY FOR A WHILE. THERE IS A CHART, PABLO, IF YOU CAN GO BACK ONE. WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THE CURRENT UTILIZATION OF SPOTO IS 72%. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT AFTER YEAR FOUR, IT GOES UP TO 101%. THE AREA THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO MOVE TO SPOTO FROM RIVERVIEW, IT HAS A COUPLE OF HUNDRED STUDENTS RIGHT NOW AND ALSO 2500 HOMES, NEW HOMES, THAT ARE APPROVED AND COMING IN FOR PLATS

297WEEKLY, SO THERE IS GOING TO BE 2500 NEW HOMES IN THAT SAME AREA THAT WE'RE MOVING TO SPOTO. YES, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, SPOTO PROBABLY WON'T BE FULL BUT WE ANTICIPATE EVERYTHING BY THE END OF FOUR YEARS, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS THAT PRETTY MUCH ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE FULL. AND THAT'S WHY I SAID WE'RE IMMEDIATELY GETTING ON ANOTHER PLAN THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK TO YOU ON HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. SO SPOTO WILL BE FULL. >>Doretha Edgecomb: MY LAST QUESTION, AS WE HEAR ALL THE TIME, NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THEIR SCHOOLS, LOVE THEIR SCHOOLS. AS YOU LOOK AT THE CRY FROM THE PARENT AND THE TEACHER FROM EAST BAY REGARDING APOLLO BEACH, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS PLAN IS, IN FACT, THE MOST SUITABLE PLAN FOR ALL

298THE REASONS THAT WE OFTEN HAVE TO MOVE STUDENTS REGARDLESS TO THE HEARTFELT CRY OF THEM THAT I'M HEARING STAFF SAY THAT IT IS THE BEST PLAN AT THIS POINT FOR MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS WE NEED TO FILL CAPACITY, TO OVERCOME OVERCROWDEDNESS AND ALL THE REASONS THAT WE EXECUTE BOUNDARY CHANGES. >> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY AFTER GOING THROUGH SEVERAL SCENARIOS THAT WE KNEW THAT WOULD BE A HARD ISSUE FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THE APOLLO BEACH COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSELY TIED TO EAST BAY, SO ARE THE GIBSONTON FAMILIES AND SO ARE THE SUMMERFIELD FAMILIES AND EVEN THE INCOMING, THE NEW FAMILIES IN WATERSET ARE ALL VERY TIED TO THE SCHOOL THEY'RE GOING TO. YES, EAST BAY HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH APOLLO BEACH FOR A LONG TIME, BUT SO IS GIBSONTON AND SO HAS SUMMERFIELD ALL

299BEEN TIED TO IT. THE PROXIMITY OF APOLLO BEACH AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THERE, WHICH WAS 250 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHEN WE'RE BUILDING A WING WITH 500 SEATS, THAT ASSISTED US IN MOVING THAT MANY STUDENTS OUT OF EAST BAY -- WELL, IN FOUR YEARS, WE WILL HAVE MOVED THOSE STUDENTS OUT OF EAST BAY, IT WILL FILL THE SEATS THAT WE BUILT AT LENNARD AND ALLOW MORE GROWTH AT LENNARD. AS I SAID, WE HAD THE PLAN IN PLACE TO ONE DAY EXPAND LENNARD, AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT MORE GROWTH COMING DOWN IN THE LENNARD BOUNDARY. SO WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL IT OUT. IT REALLY IN THE END, YOU CAN SEE EVERYBODY IS STILL PRETTY FULL. IT BALANCED THE ENROLLMENT. IT BALANCED OUT THE POPULATION AMONG THE SCHOOLS. WE TRIED TO MAINTAIN THE ECONOMIC

300AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE SCHOOLS, NOT CHANGING ANY SCHOOL IN ANY DRAMATIC FASHION, SO THEY ALL ARE MAINTAINING ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. AND, YOU KNOW, IN THAT RESULT, I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE SAID THAT ANY OF THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE GET THE RIGHT NUMBERS TO MAKE THOSE MOVES. >>Doretha Edgecomb: I SAID IT WAS MY LAST QUESTION, BUT THIS, IN FACT, WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION. I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY CONCERN, SPOTO AND YOUR PROJECTION WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. IT'S WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU EXPECT SOME GROWTH AND THAT IN THAT AREA. WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT DOESN'T MATERIALIZE AND SPOTO CONTINUES TO UNDERPOPULATED AND THOSE SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO BE OVERPOPULATED, DO YOU SEE THE POTENTIAL

301OF BRINGING THIS BACK TO THE BOARD FOR SOME RECONSIDERATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT AT SPOTO, AND IN SOME CASES INCREASE THE SUCCESS, TOO. BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. SOMETIMES I WONDER MAYBE A SCHOOL'S REPUTATION WOULD GET IN THE WAY OF WHY PEOPLE FEEL THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BEST PLACE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND I THINK SPOTO HAS HAD SOME OF THAT TO OVERCOME. I'M NOT IMPLYING THAT THAT'S NOT THE REASON THAT SOME OF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. I'M JUST SAYING, WHAT I HEAR PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, BUT I GUESS MY BASIC QUESTION IS, AND THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT STAFF. IT IS JUST WHAT I HEAR. AND I JUST HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT I HEAR. SO IF SPOTO CONTINUES, AND WE DON'T SEE THAT GROWTH, IS THERE THE POTENTIAL

302TO BRING THIS BACK FOR REVIEW AND RECONSIDERATION? >>Maryellen Elia: MS. EDGECOMB, I THINK YOU BRING UP A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT YOU SUPPORTED US PUTTING A PHARMACY PROGRAM IN THERE, WHICH EVERY YEAR HAS GROWN AND IT IS PULLING IN STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND THERE AS WELL AS A FASHION AND MARKETING PROGRAM. BOTH OF THOSE HAVE A POTENTIAL. WE'VE HAD TWO YEARS NOW OF THE PHARMACY PROGRAM, AND EACH YEAR IT'S BECOME MUCH MORE OF A REQUIRED KIND OF -- OR A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM FROM SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. SO THIS YEAR WE'LL SEE OUR 9th GRADE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO DO A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT IN SPOTO GOING FOR THAT PROGRAM AND EQUALLY, THE FASHION MODELING HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL AWARDS, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THAT.

303SO I THINK SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MS. EDGECOMB, WILL BE ADDRESSED, EVEN THOUGH ULTIMATELY SPOTO WILL END UP, ONCE THOSE PLATS COME IN AT OVER 101%. >>Doretha Edgecomb: AND I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE, AND I THINK YOU HAVE -- SPOTO HAS STARTED TO CREATE EXCITEMENT FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT I'M GOING TO STILL ASK MY QUESTION MAYBE A DIFFERENT WAY. IF THE PLATS DON'T MATERIALIZE -- >> WELL, THE PLATS ARE COMING IN. THE HOUSES ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. IN OUR SITE VISIT, WE DROVE THROUGH THERE AND HAD TO -- IF YOU'VE GONE DOWN 301, YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE DUMP TRUCKS AS THEY ARE COMING DOWN. MANY OF THE STREETS ARE VERY SMALL, UNIMPROVED ROADS ON THE WEST SIDE OF 301. LOAD O RURAL AREAS -- OLD RURAL

304AREAS AND WHOLE SUBDIVISIONS ARE COMING IN THERE. THEY ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I ASSUME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY THE HOMES. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE. WE LOOKED AT HOW MANY MORE STUDENTS. YES, WE'RE DEFINITELY ADDING MORE AND MORE STUDENTS FROM THOSE AREAS. BUT AS I SAID, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MONITOR THAT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE NEXT PLAN, WE BRING THAT TO YOU, WE'LL BE ABLE TO -- I THINK THE ISSUE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS POPULARITY VERSUS WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ASSIGNING STUDENTS, WE TRY TO ASSIGN EQUAL NUMBERS OF STUDENTS TO EACH SCHOOL. THEN YOU SEE HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY GOING. AND AS BALANCED AS YOU CAN GET BY ASSIGNING THEM. LENNARD HAS THE COLLEGIATE ACADEMY, FOR INSTANCE. SO THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE MAGNET INTO THAT PROGRAM THAT DON'T LIVE NECESSARILY IN LENNARD. SO

305WE TRIED TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THAT AND LEAVE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO COME INTO THE SCHOOLS. WE'LL BRING YOU BACK THE REAL NUMBERS. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE'LL BRING YOU BACK HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED. AS MS. ELIA SAID, BASED ON THE POPULARITY OF THE PROGRAMS WILL BE THE REAL TEST. >>Doretha Edgecomb: THANK YOU. AND I THINK LENNARD IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SCHOOL THAT PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO COME TO. WE'VE REALLY DONE AMAZING THINGS DOWN THERE. THERE'S ALWAYS THAT SAME KIND OF OUTCOME FOR SPOTO, AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL ATTRACT STUDENTS AND -- YOU CALL IT POPULARITY. I TALK ABOUT PEOPLE OVERCOMING OVERCOMING -- SOME TYPE OF REPUTATION THAT'S UNFAIR TO THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER EDGECOMB. MEMBER GRIFFIN. >>April

306Griffin: WELL, MS. EDGECOMB ASKED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I DID. WHEN YOU WERE HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT DID WE DO -- WHAT DID WE TRY TO DO TO ADDRESS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME AGAIN. THOSE PEOPLE FROM APOLLO BEACH, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF THE SCHOOL, BUT AS I LOOK AT ALL THE NUMBERS, EAST BAY IS GOING TO NEED RELIEF REGARDLESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THERE TO EASE THAT ANYWAY. >> THAT'S VERY LIKELY TO BE TRUE. YOU'RE RIGHT. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO MORE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY CROWDED. AT THE END OF FOUR YEARS, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE CROWDED EVEN THOUGH WE'VE

307MOVED SEVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS OUT. >>April Griffin: WHAT IS OUR PLAN WITH THAT, CONSIDERING WE HAVE NO PICOMONEY, CONSIDERING WE HAVE NO CONSTRUCTION MONEY, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? BECAUSE EVEN IF CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT, THERE'S NONE OF THAT MONEY LEFT. >> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS, AND YOU BRING UP GOOD POINTS, WHICH ARE THE BATTLES WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WE GO THROUGH. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS MAKING SURE WE DON'T PUT EAST BAY IN A SESSION WHERE THEY ARE IN DOUBLE SESSIONS NOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T TAKE SOME OF THEIR CROWDING AWAY RIGHT NOW. REALITY IS THAT IMPACT FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THE GROWTH COMING IN WATERSET AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THERE WILL GIVE US IMPACT FEES THAT WE'LL HAVE FUNDS TO DO THAT, NOT ENOUGH FOR

308A HIGH SCHOOL BUT POSSIBLY TO ADD SOMETHING TO EAST BAY. THE REALITY IS WITH ALL THE NEW PLATS THAT ARE THERE, IT IS GOING TO BE A TWO, POSSIBLY THREE-PHASE PLAN TO GET THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY. THE POPULATION IS EXPLODING SO QUICK THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR US, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. BUILDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS A LITTLE LESS EXPENSIVE AND TAKES LESS LAND. THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL IS SUCH A BIGGER CHALLENGE FOR US TO DO THAT. WE LOOK AT EAST BAY, WE LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS. WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO THERE, A SMALLER PLACE WITH A MODULAR, A WING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, SOMETHING WE LOOK AT DOWN THE ROAD IF THE PLATS COME IN, MAKING SURE THAT THE HOUSES ARE BUILT AND

309PEOPLE MOVE INTO THOSE BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT SITUATION. >> WE BUILT THE GROWTH INTO THIS MODEL. WE ASSUMED THAT THE GROWTH WAS COMING. THE NUMBERS YOU'RE LOOKING AT IMPLY THAT GROWTH WILL CONTINUE AT THE RATE IT'S BEEN COMING IN AND EVERYTHING WILL BE BUILT OUT, THE ONES WE'RE TRACKING ANYWAY. THAT'S ALWAYS A TRICKY THINGS, SO MUCH WAS APPROVED BEFORE WE HAD SCHOOL CONCURRENCY, AND THOSE PEOPLE CAN STILL GO AHEAD, AND SOMETIMES WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT IT WHEN SOMEONE CALLS ME AND SAYS, HEY, DID YOU SEE THAT SUBDIVISION COME UP? NO, NO. WE'RE NOT TRACKING IT. WE DON'T GET THE INFORMATION YET. >>April Griffin: ALL RIGHT. WELL, I KNOW THIS BOARD'S DIRECTION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND MS. VALDEZ, KATHY VALDEZ WENT THROUGH THE PAIN OF ALL OF THE PORTABLES AND THEN GETTING RID OF

310ALL OF THE PORTABLES. I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE AGAIN. SO THE MODULAR IS A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION FOR BUILDING ONTO THOSE SCHOOLS. BUT I'M STILL CONCERNED, AND PLEASE, WILL YOU KEEP US UPDATED AT LEAST -- IF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DON'T WANT IT, BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT I'M STILL SEEING, THE PRESSURE THAT EAST BAY IS GOING TO FEEL REGARDLESS AND LENNARD. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO KEEP UP ON THAT. >> AS SOON AS THIS ONE IS DONE, MR. FARKAS HAS TOLD ME WE ARE MEETING ON THE NEXT ONE. >>April Griffin: YEAH, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PLAN IS, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRIFFIN. MEMBER STUART. >>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT

311OF CONCERN ABOUT JUST THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO SET BOUNDARIES AND THEN BE IN TWO YEARS RE-SETTING BOUNDARIES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING OUR TIME AND HEARING ALL OF THE CONCERNS AND TAKING THIS SLOW. I REALIZE THAT THERE'S HIRING THAT HAS TO BE DONE. I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY STUDENTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST MET, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MOVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING INCOMING 8th GRADERS ONLY, AM I CORRECT? >> THEY WILL BE 9th GRADE. 9th -- 8th GRADE TODAY. >>Cindy Stuart: SO I HAD DISCUSSED WITH MR. FARKAS, FAMILY SEPARATION. I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS ALREADY AT HIGH SCHOOL, ARE YOU GOING TO SEPARATE A FAMILY AND PUT THE NEW INCOMING CHILD IN ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL?

312IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK OUT THROUGH CHOICE? I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT REALLY IN THE MIX OF THIS BOUNDARY CHANGE. I'M NOT SURE -- >> THERE IS A SMALL AREA NORTH OF BLOOMINGDALE NEAR KINGS WHERE THOSE PAINTER STREETS ARE, DALI, THAT AREA ALONG KINGS, THAT AREA IS PROPOSED TO MOVE TO BRANDON. IT'S NORTH OF BLOOMINGDALE AND KINGS. SO THAT'S THE AREA THAT WE'RE MOVING TO BRANDON. IT'S ADJACENT TO -- ALL THE MOVES -- PABLO, IF YOU CAN MOVE THAT ONE MAP BACK. IT'S THAT SMALL LITTLE UPSIDE DOWN "L" AT THE TOP THERE, SO YOU CAN SEE IT IS ADJACENT TO BRANDON. THAT WAS THE OTHER THING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP CONTIGUOUS BOUNDARIES SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE SMALL SEPARATIONS BETWEEN BOUNDARIES. IN FACT, WE TRIED

313TO FIX THAT OVER ON THE EAST. >>Cindy Stuart: CAN YOU JUST FOR -- AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT FROM THERE, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE -- SHOW ME THE AREA ON THE MAP THAT THE SPEAKER CAME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT TONIGHT. >> APOLLO BEACH. ON THE COAST. IT'S THE AREA THAT'S ON THE COAST THAT'S SHADED. AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DARK BLUE THERE, THAT DARK BLUE IS ALL THE CANALS AND STREETS THAT ARE -- THAT COMPRISE APOLLO BEACH. IT'S ACTUALLY APOLLO BEACH AND MIRROR BAY, WHICH IS FARTHER TO THE SOUTH. I'LL BE HONEST, WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN THERE WHO ARE HAPPY TO GO TO LENNARD. I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY -- AND THE SAME WITH SPOTO. I HAD A

314MOTHER CALL ME WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS ASSIGNED TO RIVERVIEW, BUT HAD CHOSEN SPOTO AND IS SO HAPPY WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF SPOTO, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT SPOTO, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, MY DAUGHTER IS DOING GREAT. WE LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE MORE AP OFFERINGS THAN ANY OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS. >> ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART TO THAT EQUATION IS ALSO THAT THE SPEAKERS DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT APOLLO BEACH AS THAT WHOLE SECTION. THE SPEAKERS WENT TO SPECIFIC SECTIONS OF APOLLO BEACH. THEY WANTED OLD APOLLO BEACH, WHICH IS NOT THE LAKES OR THE OCEAN SIDE OR BAY SIDE OF IT, EXCUSE ME. AND THE AREA IS WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH KIDS TO GRAB SO THAT WE CANNOT HAVE EAST BAY IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T FUNCTION. AND IF WE LEAVE EAST BAY -- I

315MEAN, IF WE LEAVE APOLLO BEACH, THE OLD PART OR THE BAY PART OF IT, WE'LL BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE MODULARS READY FOR AUGUST, AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES. >> I KNEW THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE TRIED SEVERAL OTHER ALTERNATIVES BECAUSE -- I KNEW THE COMMUNITY IS VERY TIED. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY. THERE JUST ISN'T A BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT PHASE TWO, BECAUSE IF WE LEAVE 300 STUDENTS AT EAST BAY AND MORE GROWTH COMING INTO EAST BAY, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT, AND WE HAVE -- LENNARD BEING AT THE END OF THE COUNTY, IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU A LOT OF OPTIONS OF WHERE TO MOVE

316STUDENTS FROM BECAUSE IT'S AT THE END OF THE COUNTY. CAN'T GO TO MANATEE AND GET STUDENTS. >> DO WE KNOW, MS. WOODFORD, HOW MANY SPACES WE ARE HIRING FOR WITH THIS CHANGE TO ANTICIPATE? >> I DON'T OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IT CHANGED WHEN WE DECIDED ONLY TO MOVE THE INCOMING NINTH GRADERS INSTEAD OF THE OTHER GRADES, SO NOW WE'RE HAVING TO RECALCULATE WHAT WE HAD EXPECTED ORIGINALLY. >> THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS? MY ONLY CONCERN WITH WHAT I HEARD EARLIER TODAY FROM THE SPEAKER WAS JUST THE CULTURE OF THAT COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN THE ORIGINAL APOLLO BEACH, IF YOU WILL. I THINK ABOUT THAT AND ESPECIALLY NOT BEING FROM THERE, BUT LOOKING BACK AT WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH FAWN RIDGE. >> I REMEMBER FAWN RIDGE. >>Susan Valdes:

317REMEMBER FAWN RIDGE? YOU KNOW, AND HOW THAT COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WERE SET UP AND LOCATED, THEY WERE ALWAYS THE BRUNT OF BOUNDARY CHANGES AND THEY WENT THROUGH A LOT OF BOUNDARY CHANGES. I'M KEEPING -- BEING MINDFUL OF THAT PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT, AGAIN, HAS SO MANY TIES WITH THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL. >> THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE WAY THIS LOOKS, BECAUSE IT'S INCLUSIVE OF THE WHOLE GROUP OF APOLLO BEACH, NOT JUST PARTS OF IT. AND WE'VE HAD TO DO PARTS OVER THE YEARS, AND IT MAKES IT REALLY, REALLY HARD. SO AS HARD AS THIS IS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE, WE DID IT ONCE TONIGHT. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN. >>Susan Valdes: YES, WE DID. IN REFERENCE TO TIME FOR SCHEDULING STUDENTS, HOW DO WE KNOW -- HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT

318THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE IF YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS YOU'RE GOING TO BE SCHEDULING? >> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS. THE REALITY IS WE KNOW HOW MANY KIDS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL. AS SOON AS WE MAKE THIS OFFICIAL, COMMUNICATE THAT IT'S OFFICIAL, WE'LL ALSO LET THE PARENTS WHO DON'T WANT ANOTHER OPTION TO GO TO CHOICE. WE'LL BE ABLE TO NARROW THAT DOWN. THE CLASS OFFERINGS AND ELECTIVE OFFERINGS, THAT'S HOW THEY DETERMINE UNITS. IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH ART UNITS TO GET ANOTHER ART TEACHER THAT WILL GO THROUGH STEPHANIE AND DR. BRINSON TO MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOT IT. WE NEED TO GET THE KIDS ASSIGNED THERE. EVEN THOUGH THE HIRING IS NOT UNTIL APRIL, THAT'S WHY THERE IS SUCH A BACKLOG OF TIME. THEY HAVE TO GET THE COURSE OFFERING SHEET

319ALREADY DONE, GET THE ELECTIVES REDONE AND GO TO THE SCHOOL, HEY, WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THIS OR DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THIS AND START GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. MOST HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY DONE THEIR PROGRAMMING. THEY STARTED THAT IN NOVEMBER AND HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS. IT WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THE 9th GRADERS, CURRENT 8th GRADERS, SAYING YOUR OPTIONS HAVE CHANGED, YOU MAY HAVE THE SAME ELECTIVES OR DIFFERENT ELECTIVES DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL YOU'RE GOING TO. THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN EACH SECTION, WE KNOW HOW MANY ARE ASSIGNED. >> YES, THERE IS TOTAL RIGHT NOW IN HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ABOUT 300 8th GRADE STUDENTS WHO ARE PROPOSED TO MOVE TO THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THAT. WE KNOW HOW MANY IN TOTAL THERE WERE, BUT NOW IT'S BROKEN DOWN JUST TO THE INCOMING

3209th GRADERS, THE CURRENT 8th GRADERS. WE KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE. IT CHANGED FROM THE 40th DAY TO THE 60th DAY BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH. I'M SAYING SOMEWHERE AROUND 300, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS AT LAST COUNT. THEN THEY WILL BE DIVIDED UP. HOW MANY WILL CHOOSE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, WE DON'T KNOW. UNTIL THEY KNOW IT'S OFFICIAL, AND WE HOPE TO PUT IT RIGHT UP ON THE WEB SITE IF YOU DECIDE TODAY. >>Susan Valdes: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE? MEMBER HARRIS. >>Sally Harris: I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN FABULOUS. YOU GUYS ARE SO THOROUGH, AND YOU HAVE TAKEN EACH AVENUE. YOU'VE LISTENED TO THE PARENTS. YOU'VE TAKEN EACH COMMENT, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING, BECAUSE IT REALLY

321IS GOOD. AND I THANK YOU FROM REPRESENTING THAT AREA. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WORK VERY HARD AND APPRECIATE THAT. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. DUFFY SUAREZ. WELL, WE'RE DOWN TO VOTING ON THE PULLED ITEMS. BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRIFFIN AND A SECOND BY ME. OH, THEY ARE NOT WORKING. ARE THEY WORKING NOW? WE NEED A SECOND. WE NEED TO REALLY WORK ON THAT. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND FROM MEMBER GRIFFIN AND SECOND BY MEMBER HARRIS. ON THE PULLED ITEMS. NOW, BOARD MEMBERS, ALL OF THEM. GREAT. IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. BOARD MEMBERS, WE DIDN'T DO THE SUSPENDED AGENDA. I NEED TO CIRCLE BACK INTO THAT AND HAVE MR. EAKINS GO THROUGH THE SUSPENDED AGENDA REAL QUICK. >> I ONLY

322HAD ONE UPDATE. THAT WAS AN UPDATE WITH REGARD TO OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC MALE TASK FORCE. WE DO HAVE A STUDENT INPUT SESSION THIS FRIDAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO THANK MR. AYERS, PRINCIPAL AT JEFFERSON FOR HELPING ORGANIZE THAT. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE WILL BE MEETING THERE IN THE AFTERNOON. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING SCHEDULED ON FEBRUARY 6th. DR. BRINSON HAS ALSO BEEN MEETING WITH PRINCIPAL GROUPS THROUGH HIS ALDs AND ALSO SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS SET UP TO ALSO GATHER SOME INFORMATION AND SHARE SOME INFORMATION. >>Lewis A. Brinson: YES, DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WE'RE PLANNING ON HAVING 230 COMMUNITY MEETINGS. AND HOW WE WILL PULL THAT OFF, EACH AREA DIRECTOR WILL HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING. AT THAT MEETING, WE WILL REVIEW THE DATA

323FOR THE DISTRICT FOR THE AREA, AND THEN ALSO AFTER WE REVIEW THE DATA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS FOR ALL OF THE SCHOOLS. SO AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL BE ASSIGNED A ROOM AND ONCE WE FINISH TALKING TO THE PARENTS ABOUT THE DISTRICT DATA, THEN THEY'LL GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS AND GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SCHOOL SITE DATA. DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ATTEND, WE WILL HAVE 230 COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE DISCIPLINE ISSUES IN THE SCHOOL CLIMATE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. >>Susan Valdes: THAT'S VERY GOOD. AWESOME. MR. EAKINS. >> YOU WON'T HAVE 230 INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS TO ATTEND. SOUNDS LIKE AT ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. >>Lewis A. Brinson: YES, EACH AREA SELECTS A

324HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GENERAL MEETING FIRST. AFTER THAT MEETING, WE'LL HAVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND REMAINING HIGH SCHOOLS WILL GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS, AND WE WILL HAVE THE PARENTS OF THOSE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS GO TO THOSE PARTICULAR SITES. AND EACH PRINCIPAL ALONG WITH THE STAFF WILL REVIEW THE DATA FOR THE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS. THEREFORE THEY HAVE INDIVIDUALS QUESTIONS FOR -- INDIVIDUALIZED QUESTIONS FOR THEIR SCHOOL ONLY. >>Susan Valdes: MEMBER SNIVELY. >>Melissa Snively: DR. BRINSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS. I APPLAUD EVERYTHING THAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS FOR THIS CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE. MAY I MAKE A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS BASED ON MY LAST EXPERIENCE AT ONE OF THESE MEETINGS. YOU MENTIONED

325YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME DATA TO REVIEW IN THESE 230 MEETINGS, WHICH IS PRUDENT. MAY I SUGGEST THAT WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME ON THE BREAKOUT SESSION AND NOT AS MUCH TIME STUDYING THE DATA, IF YOU COULD HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED THAT SUCCINCTLY WILL CONSOLIDATE THE INFORMATION AND MAYBE SUMMARIZE IT SO MOST OF THE TIME IS REALLY SPENT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS IN THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND REALLY HAVE SOME MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH RESPECT TO THAT, JUST A SUGGESTION. ALSO, AS I MENTIONED, MAKING SURE THAT THE MISSION AND THE VISION, WHICH I KNOW YOU HAVE, ARE PRINTED AND CLEAR AND THAT WHATEVER GOAL, SPECIFIC GOAL THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT IS VERY CLEAR AND UP-FRONT WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT'S PARTICIPATING IN YOUR MEETINGS. >>Lewis A. Brinson: I AGREE. THANK

326YOU. >>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER EDGECOMB. >>Doretha Edgecomb: MY OBSERVATIONS, AND I THINK THAT WAS SAID, AND PERHAPS I DIDN'T HEAR, THAT IN THOSE SMALL, VERY MUCH LIKE MRS. SNIVELY, THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BEGIN TO MOVE TO SOLUTIONS UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS AND THE DEPTH OF THE PROBLEMS ARE. BESIDES THE SHARING, AREA-WIDE, THEN DRILLING DOWN TO SCHOOLS WILL BE IN THE SMALL GROUP SESSIONS, IT IS ALSO A COMBINATION OF SOME DIALOGUE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND THE PARENT TO GIVE INPUT ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF CHANGES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES, AND I KNOW THOSE PRINCIPALS WILL RESPOND TO THAT, THAT SOMETIMES SOME OF THE CONCERNS PARENTS HAVE ABOUT WE SHOULD AND COULD DO

327HAVE TO BE PUT IN KIND OF A REALISTIC CONTEXT, NOT TO MAKE EXCUSES, BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE COME WITH SUGGESTIONS, THEY UNDERSTAND THINGS WE HAVE CONTROL OVER, THINGS WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOSE THINGS WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY WITH SCHOOL AND WITH FAMILIES. AM I CORRECT THAT THAT'S -- IS THAT PART OF WHAT THE AGENDA AND EXPECTATIONS THAT WILL COME OUT OF THOSE SMALL GROUP SESSIONS? >>Lewis A. Brinson: ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS WHAT I CALL A TRAIN OF SUPPORT. IT INCLUDES THE FAMILY, THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY. >>Doretha Edgecomb: STUDENT HIM OR HERSELF. >>Lewis A. Brinson: OKAY. SAY THAT AGAIN? >>Doretha Edgecomb: I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR THREE-LEGGED STOOL. FAMILY, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY. I WANT TO BUILD IT AND MAKE IT

328A FOUR-LEGGED SCHOOL AND I'M TALKING ABOUT STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY AS A CRUCIAL PART TO THE PROBLEM SOLVING. >>Lewis A. Brinson: THAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH SIDE. >>Doretha Edgecomb: IS THE STUDENT THE -- >>Lewis A. Brinson: THE PARENT AND THE STUDENT AND THEN THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENT AND THEN IT'S COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENT, BUT WE'LL MAKE IT FOUR NOW. >>Doretha Edgecomb: THANK YOU. >>Lewis A. Brinson: BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT EACH OF US PLAY A ROLE. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT'S THE SCHOOL; IT'S THE FAMILY; AND IT'S THE COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS PRETTY PERPLEX, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE HAVE EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN

329MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THAT'S ONE REASON WHY WE WANT TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS. I KNOW WE HAVE A TASK FORCE. OKAY, I KNOW WE MEET, BUT WE NEED THE PARENTS TO MEET WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND NOT A SITTING. IT'S INVOLVEMENT. IT'S COLLABORATIVE, AND THEY MUST WORK TOGETHER TOWARD SOLVING THIS ISSUE, AND I KNOW WE CAN DO IT ONCE WE START THAT DIALOGUE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO COME OUT AND NOT VISIT ALL 230, BUT BE THERE FOR US AND LET'S MAKE THIS WORK. >>Doretha Edgecomb: THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER ITEM, MR. EAKINS? NO. BOARD MEMBERS, I HAD INTENDED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I HEARD YOU AT THE LAST WORKSHOP WHEN WE

330TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING A SUSPENDED AGENDA TYPE OF THING FOR OUR WORKSHOPS AND BASED ON OUR COMMENTS, I HAD AN IDEA TO -- ON HOW TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, BUT I THINK IF WE CAN WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT THEN, AND THEN WE CAN CATCH UP, HOPEFULLY, WITH ALL OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAVE HAD AND COLLECTED ALL THE INFORMATION THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO, PUT IT TOGETHER, AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PLAN. SO IF THERE'S CONSENSUS WITH THAT, WE'LL JUST HOLD THAT TILL NEXT BOARD MEETING. YES? OKAY, THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE BEING HEARD WHEN YOU GUYS WANT SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR. MOVING ON WITH THE AGENDA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE NOW TO BOARD MEMBER -- NO

331SCHEDULED HEARINGS ON POLICIES AND/OR BUSINESS. NOW IT'S TO OTHER BUSINESS, BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT. I WANTED TO THANK MR. VAN AYERS OVER AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I'M NOT SURE THE CLASSROOM THAT WAS INVOLVED, BUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF BOARDS OF EDUCATORS, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION'S URBAN ARM, REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED IF WE CAN FIND OR BE A PART OF A NATIONAL DISCUSSION WITH A FEW DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO TALK ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR'S LEGACY ON HIS BIRTHDAY. AND I FORWARDED THAT INFORMATION TO MR. EAKINS, AND HE REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL OF, THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. AYERS, HE WAS ABLE TO HAVE A CLASS OF HIS STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THIS DIALOGUE, AND

332IT WAS AN AMAZING DIALOGUE, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. EAKINS, FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >>Maryellen Elia: BOARD MEMBERS, RELATED TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE LEED CONTEST, WHICH ENCOURAGES OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MORE THAN A THOUSAND ENTRIES. THE PROCESS OF JUDGING THOSE ENTRIES HAS BEGUN. NEXT MONTH, DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS. THE CONTEST CHALLENGED STUDENTS TO CREATE AN EXAMPLE EXPRESSING HOW HE OR SHE HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY A LOCAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADER. LEAD STANDS FOR LEAD, EMPOWER, ADVOCATE, AND DREAM. SO YOU'LL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH WILL BE MADE AT THE TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEIR

333FAMILIES AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THIS COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO CELEBRATE. RELATIVE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY, I'M HAPPY TO UNDERSCORE THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS WHO HELP MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFE. THAT INCLUDES TWO UPCOMING EVENTS THAT REVOLVE AROUND OUR STUDENTS, GASPARILLA PARADE AND FLORIDA STATE FAIR. OUR STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CITY OF TAMPA, EVENT ORGANIZERS AND WITH THE FAIR AUTHORITY TO BE SURE EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE TO ENSURE BOTH EVENTS ARE SAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT INCLUDES EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR THAT SHOULD BE -- THAT STANDARDS SHOULD BE HELD DURING THOSE EVENTS. RELATIVE TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY RELEASED HIS EDUCATION BUDGET PROPOSAL AND GOVERNOR SCOTT ALSO VISITED THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL. A

334COUPLE OF YOU WERE THERE AT THE TIME. AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE HAD VERY FEW DETAILS. IT'S VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS. WE EXPECT QUITE A FEW MONTHS OF DEBATE OVER, BEFORE WE HAVE REALLY ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE NUMBERS. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE WILL ENTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH A GREATER SENSE OF OPTIMISM DUE TO THE FACT THAT BOTH SIDES, BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS INDICATED THAT THEY'RE MOVING TO INCREASE THE STUDENT ALLOCATION. IN HUMAN RESOURCES, LORI KIRSCH, OUR SUPERVISOR OF K THROUGH 12 GIFTED, WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN AS A RECIPIENT OF THE 2014 GIFTED COORDINATOR AWARD. IT WAS PRESENTED AT THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION IN BALTIMORE. IT WAS CREATED TO RECOGNIZE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO GIFTED STUDENTS, AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT LORI HAS DONE IN

335HELPING US MOVE OUR GIFTED PROGRAM TO WHERE IT REALLY INCLUDES AND SUPPORTS ALL CHILDREN AND SUCCESS. CONGRATULATIONS TO LORI. AND A MAJOR AGENDA OF THE DISTRICT AND CERTAINLY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN THE RECRUITMENT OF BUS DRIVERS. AT THE FAIR TODAY AT RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. ANY OF YOU THAT ARE INTERESTED ABOUT BUS DRIVERS, I KNOW YOU'RE PLEASED ABOUT THAT SINCE IT WAS SUCH A MAJOR THING FOR YOU. MORE THAN 125 INDIVIDUALS CAME AND FILLED OUT AN APPLICATION. WE THINK IT WILL HELP IMMENSELY THAT WE TRIED TO ADDRESS OUR BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE AND WE'RE ALREADY MAKING PLANS FOR OUR NEXT RECRUITMENT FAIR. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. >>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVING NO MORE SPEAKERS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. SAFE TRAVELS.