001Karen Perez: HI, I AM KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. Nadia Combs: I AM NADIA COMBS, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRIES. Lynn Gray: OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE YOU CAN WILL HE CAN, IN WHAT WE DO. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE
002BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. Stacy Hahn: MEETINGS ARE STREAMED LIVE AT OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE OR KIEF. Patti Rendon: WE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE INCLUDE TIME FOR A AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS, OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. Jessica Vaughn: OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Karen Perez: BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 24, BUNK IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER COMBS WILL
003LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Lynn Gray: CHECK OUT THOSE GLASSES ON VAN. NEW COLOR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT INTER-TAINEMENT. Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CRESTVIEW ELEMENTARY WORLD DRUMMING WITH DIRECTOR. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. ALL OF DID YOU A WONDERFUL JOB. HI, I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS JONAS AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM ROB AND I
004AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, I AM SAMUEL AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS NINO AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI, MEACHAM MIA AND AUTO IMIN FIFTH GRADE. I AM MELANIE AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MARIANNE AND I'M IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS KARLA, AND I AM IN THE FIRST GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS SIMON AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM JADA AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS MELODY AND I AM IN THE FIRST GRADE. HI, MY JAMES IS JALEN AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM ANNA AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, I AM ADDIE AND IN FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS CASEY AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I AM JENNA AND I AM IN
005THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ALEX AND AUTO IMIN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS ALBERTO, I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS HAMAN AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE. HELLO, I AM DIANE SANCHEZ, PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CRESTVIEW AND I DID GRADUATE FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. VERY PROUD OF THAT AND PROUD OF MY STUDENTS AND GREAT JOB, GUYS. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. MY NAME IS NATHANIEL STRAWBRIDGE, MR. STRAWBRIDGE AND I AM NOT IN FIFTH GRADE. ME NEITHER. JUST KIDDING. OH, BUT I AM PART OF THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I AM PART OF BEST MUSIC COMMUNITY IN THE NATION, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SAY. AND PART OF THE BEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. I HAVE BEEN
006AT CHESTVIEW FOR 23 YEARS. I LOVE CRESTWOOD. I LOVE OUR STUDENT AND I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME AND SHARE, NOT JUST PLAYING INSTRUMENTS BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED AS A PASSION IN THEIR LIVES, AS AN AVENUE FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH BEYOND JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RIGHT. BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR WHAT? LIFE. WHO SAID THAT? $20 FOR YOU. WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. THESE ARE LIFE. NOT JUST SKILLS. BUT THESE ARE LIFE ABILITIES THAT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE, A HUMAN BEING, AND SO I AM SO HAPPY AND GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOU. SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE COMPLETE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. AND I AM GOING TO KEEP DOING MY JOB. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING YOURS. THANKS FOR HAVING US. PARENTS ARE
007WELCOME. WE DON'T BITE. . THIS IS OUR BIGGEST CROWD OF PARENTS EVER. Lynn Gray: I KNOW. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. GREAT JOB. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, PARENTS, FOR SHOWING UP AND BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. IT IS GREAT TO SEE PARENTS' PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO APPROVE TODAY, FEBRUARY 10, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER
008GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN, SUCCEED, AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERVISOR CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE
009ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THE MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING WITH LIVE WEBCASTS ON CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS IN THE AUDITORIUM. AND ALSO WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING WITH THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 5 5:01 P.M., BOARD HARGS ON REVISED POLICY AND 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. TODAY WE HAVE RECOGN RECOGNITIONS, A-01, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. AND BRIAN FORD, WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP SHERRY BO WILLL,INGER SUPERVISOR OF PHILANTHROPY AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM CHAIR, CABINET MEMBERS AND GUESTS. OUR AMAZING PARTNER THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS RECOGNIZES REMARKABLE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLTEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND IMPACT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE
010CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONOR TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S REWARD RECIP RECIPIENTS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD, SUPERVISOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WARM WELCOME. YES, I AM BACK. AND ANOTHER EXCITING MONTH AND UNBELIEVABLE NOMINATIONS AND WE WILL TALK OF UNBELIEVABLE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT WHO HAVE GONE OVER AND ABOVE IN RECOGNITION OF THAT. WE HAVE THE TRADITION ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, I AM EXCITED TO HAND AWAY SOME GAME BALLS. BUT BEFORE THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION LAST WEEK, WE HAD A VERY EXCITING EVENT OVER AT ONE BUCCANEER PLACE. WE HAD OUR PRESEASON CLASSIC AND HAD OVER 130 TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF GIRLS. AND THERE IS A PICTURE UP THERE THAT JUST REPRESENTS
011SOME OF THE FINEST IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BUT OVER 3,000 ATHLETES. AND THEY WERE THERE ALL BIKE, MONDAY THROUGH -- ALL WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND JUST THE PERFORMANCE AND THIS KIND OF TRANSLATES INTO OUR MISSION TO KIND OF BRING WOMEN INTO SPORTS AND GIRLS INTO SPORTS AND DEFINE SOME LEADERS AND DEVELOP. OUR GOAL IS 50,000 FEMALE LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE POWER OF SPORT. AND THIS WAS OUR EIGHTH ANNUAL PRESEASON CLASSIC. AND NEXT WEEK ON MARCH 6 AND 7th, FRIDAY THE 7th, HAVING THIS. AND BE A QR CODE AND WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO ALL THE STUDENT BODY AND FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A CAREER SUMMIT ON FRIDAY AT THE -- AT THE STADIUM ITSELF. AND THEN WE ARE HAVING A 5K RUN, AND THAT
012WILL BE THROUGHOUT THE STADIUM AND INTO OUR FACILITY. SOME WHAT AN EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES TO COME. THERE IS EVEN JUST A MILE WALK IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND WALK, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A MARKET AND FESTIVAL WITH WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN OUR INDOOR FACILITY. AND THEN EIGHT OF THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE STATE IN GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN OUR BIG SHIA FOOTBALL FLAG INVITATIONAL AND FOUR OF THE SCHOOLS ARE REPRESENTED FROM HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND I WANTED TO KICK THAT OFF THERE. BUT WITH THAT, LET'S GET TO THE REAL FUN REASON WHY I'M HERE, TO RECOGNIZE SOL SOME OF MOST OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS IN OUR DISTRICT. I LOVE YOUR SHIRT, BY THE WAY. HOW ABOUT THAT. COME ON DOWN HERE. THIS IS DARKIS PORTIS, PROFESSIONAL
013FROM LOMAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WELCOME. WHAT I AM READING IS NOT COMING FROM ME, BUT YOUR PEERS, ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. UNBELIEVABLE. THERE IS DEFINITELY SUPPORT ON YOUR JOINING US AS PART OF OUR BUCS BEST CREW AWARD. YOU ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF DEDICATION, SERVICE AND HEART. YOU ARE A VP PARAPROFESSIONAL AND YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN EVERY ROLE THAT YOU SERVE. AS A LOMAG EMPLOYEE, A DEVOTED PARENT, AND A TRUE CHAMPION FOR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THIS IS AMAZING HERE. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT ARE EVIDENT IN THE COUNTLESS WAYS YOU SUPPORT AND UPLIFT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF. PLAY AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN LEADING AND ORGANIZING SCHOOL-WIDE EVENTS WITH THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AND THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE RICH CELEBRATIONS THAT HONOR CULTURE, HISTORY AND COMMUNITY. YOU GENEROUSLY
014VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME WITH THE ROBOTICS TEAM AND ACTIVELY RECRUIT COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, YOU HAVE WELCOMED THE NEW WORLD READING PROGRAM, WHICH IS REMARKABLE, AND INSPIRING GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDING ARCHAEOLOGISTS FROM TALLAHASSEE AND GERMANY, BRINGING REAL WORLD LEARNING DIRECTLY TO OUR STUDENTS. THIS IS THE REAL KICKER. AS PRESIDENT OF THE PTA BOARD, PRESIDENT, WHERE DO YOU FIND ALL THE TIME TO DO ALL OF THIS, I DON'T KNOW. YOU LEAD WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE STRENGTHENING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR HOME AND SCHOOL. YOU ARE ADMIRED, YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU ARE RESPECTED BY BOTH THE STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND POSITIVE SPIRIT. CONGRATULATIONS. AND FOR THAT -- OH, MY GOSH. PUT THAT OVER THERE [APP. ALL RIGHT. UNBELIEVABLE. NOW MONICA CHAPIS FROM JUNTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I MEAN,
015MIDDLE SCHOOL. MIDDLE SCHOOL, YES. I LOVE THE BUC RED. AGAIN, THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM KNEE, THIS COME FROM THE PEOPLE YOU EFFECT AND YOU INSPIRE EVERY SINGLE DAY. YES, SIR. YOU ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL CIVICS TEACHER WHOSE DEDICATION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IS EVIDENT IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR WORK. YOU ARE CONSTANTLY GIVING INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT AND CHALLENGING YOUR LEARNERS, CREATING AN ENGAGING AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. I LIKE THAT. WHERE STUDENTS THRIVE. YOUR IMPACT IS MEASURABLE AND MEANINGFUL, EVEN INCREASING CIVICS SCORES ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE ALL LIKE THAT. BEYOND INSTRUCTION, YOU ARE A VALUABLE, MULTILINGUAL ASSET TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. YOU REGULARLY SURPRISE TRANSLATION SUPPORT FOR THE MORNING SHOW ENSURING THOSE KIDS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND ENSURING INCLUSION FOR ALL FAMILIES. YOUR ABILITY TO BREAK DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL IN
016SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL'S LARGE HISPANIC STUDENT POPULATION. BY FOSTERING CLEAR COMMUNICATION, CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND STRONG RELATIONSHIP. YOU ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IS SEEN, HEARD AND EMPOWERED TO SUCCEED. IN ADDITION -- THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OVER AND ABOVE -- YOU MANAGE THE SCHOOL'S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. AND CREATIVELY AND PROFE PROFESSIONALLY EFFECTIVELY SHOWCASED THE OUTSTANDING WORK HAPPENING ACROSS YOUR CAMPUS. YOUR PASSION, VERSATILITY AND DEDICATION MAKES YOU INVALUABLE. FROM ISSUE EFFECT. CONGRATULATIONS AND ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY, THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. CONGRATULATIONS. LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. BROOKLYN CALLOWAY. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL. AGAIN COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR FACULTY, YOUR STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT OF THE BUCCANEERS BEST CREW. AND AFTER READING, I UNDERSTAND WHY.
017AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, YOU GO FAR BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE ROLE. YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE STRONGEST A.P. COLLEAGUE ANYONE CAN ASK FOR. THAT IS A COMMENT. AND IT THOSE WHO WORK ALONGSIDE HER KNOW EXACTLY THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. DURING SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP TRANSITION WHEN NEW ADMINISTRATORS STEPPED INTO AN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY, YOU BECAME THE ANCHOR OF THE CAMPUS. YOU ANTICIPATED NEEDS BEFORE THEY WERE VOICED, YOU SHARED CONTEXT WITHOUT BEING ASKED AND YOU MADE SURE THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES FELT GROUNDED AND SUPPORTED FROM DAY ONE. TEAM PLAYER. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT. AND CHALLENGING MOMENTS, WEATHER NAVIGATING COMPLEX STUDENT SITUATIONS AND MANAGING UNEXPECTED CAMPUS ISSUES, YOU REMAIN CALM, SOLUTIONS FOCUSED AND CENTERED. YOU SHOW TREMENDOUS WISDOM BEYOND YOUR AGE AND YOUR PRESENCE BRINGS CONFIDENCE TO THOSE AROUND YOU. THESE ARE UNBELIEVABLE COMMENTS. YOU
018ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SCHOOL'S CULTURE. FROM GETTING STUDENTS EACH MORNING TO MAJOR EVENTS. YOU CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL VALUED AND SEEN. YOUR POSITIVITY IS GENUINE AND YOUR WORK ETHIC IS UNMATCHED AND COMMITMENT OF DELIVERING AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE IS EVIDENT EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS FOR THIS RECOGNITION. MUCH DESERVED . Nadia Combs: GREAT JOB. Lynn Gray: WELL DESERVED. WE WILL SEE YOU BEFORE SPRING BREAK, RIGHT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, ALWAYS, MR. FORD. NOW RECOGNITION A.02. RECOGNITION OF "TAMPA BAY TIMES" EDUCATION WEEK MARCH 2-6, 2026. AND MEMBER COMBS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. THE RECOGNITION OF "TAMPA BAY TIMES" EDUCATION WEEK MARCH 2-6, 2026. PARTNERED WITH THE TAMPA BAY TIMES AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO CELEBRATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE-LONG
019READERS AND SUPPORT LITERACY INSTRUCTION BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO OUR SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DURING THE WEEK OF MARCH 2-6, 2026. NEWSPAPERS AND EDUCATION, N.I.E. AN INTERNATIONAL LITERACY INITIATIVE USES NEWSPAPERS BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL AS REAL WORLD LEARNING TOOLS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE LIVING TEXTBOOK, N.I.E. BRINGS CURRENT EVENTS, REAL WORLD ISSUES AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES INTO THE CLASSROOM. USING NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT READING COMPREHENSION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS. N.I.E. PROVIDED TEN MILLION E NEWSPAPER LICENSES TO TAMPA BAY CLASS STRENGTHENING LITERACY THROUGH REALTIME RELEVANT CONTENT. N.I.E. SPORTS AT 251 SCHOOLS WITH LESSON PLANS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS AND DIGITAL TOOLS ALL PROVIDED AT NO COST TO SCHOOLS, TEACHERS OR FAMILIES. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO ENGAGE WITH NEWSPAPERS, PRINT OR LENA, ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP STRONGER READ HABITS AND LIFE-LONG SELF-MOTIVATED LEARNERS. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
020RECOGNIZE NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION WEEK MARCH 2-6, 2026 AND ONGOING WORK OF THE TAMPA BAY TIMES NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE IMPORTANCE OF N.I.E. AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED OF THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK TO ANY ISSUE YOU LIKE AND YOU WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED; HOW FAR, ANY BEHAVIOR TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF
021THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE REQUEST THAT YOU DO TRY TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. A REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, AND YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME. A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST SIX SPEA SPEAKERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ELLEN LYONS, IN 2023 I SERVED ON THE FINANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED BY THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. AT TODAY'S BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER CHANGING YOUR FISCAL PLANNING POLICY. THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FISCAL PLANNING POLICY WOULD REQUIRE THIS
022DISTRICT TO SEQUESTER AND NOT SPEND 7% OF THE GENERAL FUND AND 10% OF PER PUPIL FUNDING THAT THIS DISTRICT GENERATES EACH YEAR. FLORIDA LAW ONLY REQUIRES THAT THIS NUMBER BE 3%. AND IN PRIOR POLICIES, THIS DISTRICT HAS USED 5%, BUT EVEN FOUND THAT NUMBER WAS UNREALISTIC IN EMERGENCIES. THE PROPOSED POLICY CHANGE WILL AFFECT HOW MUCH THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN SPEND ON ED EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. RECEIVE $9100 PER STUDENT ER YEAR AND OUR DISTRICT BY LAW HAS TO HOLD SOME OF THAT BACK. CURRENTLY ONLY 3% AND NOW YOU WANT TO INCREASE IT -- NOT YOU, BUT THIS POLICY WILL INCREASE IT TO 10%. WHILE INCREASING THE MONEY THIS DISTRICT CANNOT SPEND MIGHT SOUND LIKE FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP, SUCH A POLICY MAKES LITTLE SENSE IN OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT. OUR DISTRICT IS SO THINLY CAPITALIZED THAT BEING ABLE
023TO SPEND ONLY 90% OF OUR ANNUAL PER PUPIL FUNDING ON EDUCATING STUDENTS IN ANY GIVEN YEAR IS GOING TO CAUSE EVEN MORE STRAIN TO OUR SYSTEM. THE PROPOSED POLICY IN MY MIND IS THE OPPOSITE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT IS NOT FLEXIBLE AND BECAUSE THE MONEY DOESN'T FOLLOW THE CHILD. IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF STUDENT EDUCATION IN THE SAME ACADEMIC YEAR AS IT WAS PAID FROM THE STATE TO OUR DISTRICT. IN FACT PTAs ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO CARRY OVER LARGE SUMS OF MONEY IN THE FUTURE YEARS PRECISELY BECAUSE PARENTS WANT THE MONEY SPENT ON STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE SCHOOL AT THE TIME THE MONEY IS RAISED. THE SAME SHOULD BE TRUE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL PLANNING POLICY 6210 NOT ONLY GIVE THE DISTRICT LESS FLEXIBILITY IN
024HOW IT SPENDS MONEY ON STUDENTS, BUT IT ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE MONEY CAN'T BE USED TO PAY TEACHERS MORE. EVEN DURING A TIME WHEN WE HAVE A CRISIS IN GETTING EDUCATORS INTO THE PROFESSION. INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS DISTRICT DOES NOT SPEND ON EDUCATION IN ANY GIVEN YEAR AND KEEPING THAT MONEY FROM BEING SPENT ON TEACHERS' SALARIES SEARCH SOUNDER TO THE MISSION OF THE BOARD. -- COUNTER TO THE MISSION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. PLEASE SPEND IT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR MORE EDITS. I WANT TO NOTE THINGS THAT CONCERN ME OF THE LAST LINE, IT TALKS OF WEATHER EMERGENCIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. OUR TEACHERS ARE IN EMERGENCIES. TEACHERS LIVING IN EXTENDED HOUSING OR OTHER -- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
025IS SUE BATIGLIARI AND THE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDRENED A DOBY ELEMENTARY AND HERE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION FOR THE NEED FOR A K-8 PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE SOUTH SHORE AREA AND MY SUPPORT FOR DOBY TO EXPAND. LIKE SO MANY FAMILIES HERE, WE CHOOSE THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ITS SCHOOLS. WE CHOOSE IF BECAUSE WE BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN WILL BE SUPPORTED, CHALLENGED AND KNOWN NOT JUST AS STUDENTS BUT AS PEOPLE. OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING RAPIDLY, AND WE ARE SEEING THAT GROWTH IN REALTIME. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, DOBY HAS ENROLLED MORE THAN 90 NEW STUDENTS AND 406 THEM ENROLLED SINCE JANUARY. WHILE DOBY MAY HAVE STARTED THE YEAR AT AROUND 71% CAPACITY, TODAY IT IS CLOSER TO 78%. OUR COMMUNITY STAND OUT AS ONE OF THE FEW IN THE AREA EXPERIENCING SUSTAINED ENROLLMENT GROWTH
026AT A TIME WHEN OTHER AREAS ARE SEEING DECLINES. THIS MATTERS. BECAUSE GROWTH BRINGS OPPORTUNITY, BUT ONLY IF WE PLAN FOR IT. WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE DISTRICT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS GROWTH AND ADDING A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WATER SHED GOU GO TO THE FIVE-YEAR WORK PLAN. THAT STEP SHOWS FORESIGHT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR IT. AT THE SAME TIME, I URGE THE BOARD TO KEEP THIS FUTURE SCHOOL ON THE PLAN TO CONSIDER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GROWTH THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING AND TO THINK OF HOW WE PLAN BOTH TOGETHER. ALONG WITH GROWTH, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM FAMILIES. THERE WAS STRONG INTEREST AND DEMAND FOR K-8 SCHOOL OPTIONS. FAMILIES ARE DRAWN TO K-8 MODELS BECAUSE THEY OFFER CONTINUITY. FEW YOU ARE TRANSITIONS, LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF, A SENSE OF BELONGING THAT DOESN'T RESET EVERY
027FEW YEARS. PARENTS WATCH THEIR CHILDREN THRIVE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WORRY ABOUT HAVING TO MOVE THEM AGAIN SO SOON. THEY WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEIR CHILD WILL STILL FEEL KNOWN, SUPPORTED AND SAFE IN THE NEW ENVIRONMENT. A K-8 OPTION HELPS PROVIDE THAT STABILITY. IT CREATES A SCHOOL CULTURE WHERE YOUNGER STUDENTS LOOK UP TO OLDER PEERS, WHERE LEADERSHIP IS BUILT OVER TIME AND FAMILIES CAN PLANT ROOTS FOR NEARLY A DECADE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN FAMILIES FIND SCHOOLS THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS LONG TERM, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY IN THE DISTRICT, STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND STAY INVESTED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. BEHIND EVERY ENROLLMENT NUMBER IS A CHILD. BEHIND EVERY DATA POINT IS A FAMILY. WHAT A POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IN THE MIDST OF GROWTH TO PLAN INTENTIONALLY, TO LISTEN TO FAMILIES AND KEEP THE
028K-8 MODEL IN MIND AS A SOLUTION THAT PARENTS ARE ASKING FOR. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL GROWTH BECOMES A CRISIS. LET'S LEAD WITH VISION, PLAN WITH PURPOSE AND INVEST NOW IN THE KIND OF SCHOOLS THAT KEEP FAMILYS CHOOSING PUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS LAURA GARCIA OF APOLLO BEACH, AND I AM READ THIS STATEMENT TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF A PARENT WHO STRONGLY SUPPORTS DOBY ELEMENTARY K-8 EXPANSION BUT UNFORTUNATELY WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING IN PERSON. SHE ASKED HER VOICE AND HER FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE STILL BE HEARD. IT READS "MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MY NAME IS VANESSA, AND I AM A WORKING MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN. THIS STATEMENT
029IS SUBMITTED ON MY BEHALF AND REFLECTS MY FAMILY'S DAY DAILY REALITY. I WORK OVERNIGHT TO SUPPORT MY HOUSEHOLD. WHILE I AM AT WORK, MY THREE CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR BY THEIR GRANDMOTHER, WHO IS 82 YEARS OLD. THIS IS NOT AN EASY RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER, BUT SHE DOES IT OUT OF LOVE AND NECESSITY. EVERY MORNING, I RETURN HOME EXHAUSTED. NOT TO REST, BUT TO WAKE MY CHILDREN AND MAKE SURE THEY GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY. MY OLDEST SON WAKES UP AT 5:30 A.M. TO CATCH THE SCHOOL BUS AT 6:15 A.M. TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN YBOR CITY, TAMPA. HE MAKE THIS CHOICE, BECAUSE I FEAR PLACING HIM IN CLOSER SCHOOLS WHERE BULLYING, FREQUENT FIGHTS AND UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS ARE ONGOING CONCERNS. AS A MOTHER, MY GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN. AFTER MY SON LEAVES, MY ROUTINE CONDITIONS.
030I WAKE MY TWO DAUGHTERS AT 6:20 A.M. SO THEY CAN CATCH THEIR BUS AT 7:00. ONLY AFTER ALL THREE CHILDREN ARE SAFELY ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL CAN I REST FOR A FEW SHORT HOURS BEFORE STARTING THE CYCLE AGAIN. A K-8 SCHOOL OPTION WOULD BRING STABILITY, SAFETY AND PEACE TO MY FAMILY. IT WOULD REDUCE UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP, PROTECT CHILDREN DURING CRITICAL YEARS, AND SUPPORT WORKING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHO STEP IN TO HELP WHEN NO ONE ELSE CAN. FAMILIES LIKE MINE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MORE. WE ARE ASKING WHAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES, SAFETY, STABILITY, AND THE CHANCE TO GROW WITHOUT FEAR. YOUR DECISION TODAY HAS THE POWER TO EASE REAL SUFFERING AND PROTECT REAL CHILDREN. PLEASE SUPPORT THE K-8 EXPANSION. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, VANESSA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR CONSIDERING THE REAL-LIFE IMPACT THIS DECISION WILL HAVE
031ON FAMILIES LIKE VANESSA. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS JUAN HERNANDEZ AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF EVERYBODY WHO MET WITH US OVER THE PAST FIVE MONTHS. YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US A LOT OF INSIGHT. THINGS WE DID NOT THINK ABOUT, UNDERSTAND OR EVEN WERE AWARE OF. AND IT HELPS US ALONG THIS JOURNEY. EACH OF YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH BUT ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN IS PASSION FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND APPRECIATE THAT PASSION AND WE PATCH THAT PASSION FOR EDUCATION AS WELL AND SO DEDICATED OF FINDING SOLUTION FOR OUR AREA. UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT ISSUES. YOU KNOW, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS CONTINUALLY TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE CONCERNS
032OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND IMPROVE THE OPTIONS FOR CHOICE IN THE SOUTH SHORE AREA. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKS NUMBER 7 AND 8 PLEASE LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MY NAME IS SAL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER IN APOLLO BEACH AND THE PROUD GRANDFATHER OF TWO STUDENTS AT DOBY ELEMENTARY. MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO FROM NEW YORK SHORTLY AFTER OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD WAS BORN TO BE CLOSE TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN, TO HELP CARE FOR THEM AND RAISE OUR FAMILY IN A STRONG FAMILY CENTERED COMMUNITY. BEFORE MOVING HERE, HE SPENT OVER 35 YEARS WORKING FOR THE HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MONTROSE, NEW YORK, WHERE
033I RETIRE AS A BUILDING MAINTENANCE MANAGER. HE WENT MY CAREER SUPPORTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT STABILITY, SAFETY AND LONG-TERM PLANNING ARE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. DOBY ELEMENTARY HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR BOTH MY GRANDCHILDREN. THE STAFF AND LEADERSHIP HAVE CREATED A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE KNOWN AND CARED FOR. AS A GRANDFATHER, NOTHING MATTERS MORE TO ME THAN KNOWING MY GRANDKIDS ARE SAFE AND IN A SCHOOL THAT WE CAN TRUST. THAT IS WHY HAVING A LOCAL K-8 SCHOOL OPTION SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT. IT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN A FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT WITH CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP AS THEY GROW. RATHER THAN HAVING TO TRAVEL FURTHER AND CROSS INCREASINGLY BUSY ROADS LIKE BIG BEND. THE ABILITY TO WALK OR RIDE BIKES TO SCHOOL IS A REAL SAFETY BENEFIT AND BRINGS PEACE OF MIND
034TO FAMILIES LIKE MINE. AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, I SPEAK WITH FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, AND I HEAR THE SAME MESSAGE AGAIN AND AGAIN. FAMILIES WANT QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION OPTIONS THAT KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE AND SUPPORTED. WHEN THOSE OPTIONS DON'T EXIST, FAMILIES LOOK ELSEWHERE AND WE ARE SEEING THINGS -- WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN THIS COMMUNITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AS AN APOLLO -- AS APOLLO BEACH CONTINUES TO GROW, PLANNING FOR THESE NEEDS ARE NOW CRITICAL. FAMILIES WANT STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSE TO HOME THAT THEY CAN TRUST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS SANDRA, AND I AM PARENT OF ANNA WHO IS A STUDENT AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. THE REASON
035I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY PENALIZED FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES WHEN SHE HAD A.P. EXAMS OR WHEN SHE WAS SICK. ALL HER MAKE-UP WORK WAS SUBMITTED, BUT EITHER WAS NEVER GRADED OR IT WAS GRADED WITH THE PENALTIES, AND THIS IS BASICALLY DIRECT VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.26, SUBSECTIONS 2, PARAGRAPH A, WHICH STATES A STUDENT WITH AN EXCUSED ABSENCE SHALL NOT RECEIVE AN ACADEMIC PENALTY AS LONG AS MAKE-UP WORK IS COMPLETED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. AND THIS BASICALLY IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT. IT HAPPENED WITH THE SAME TEACHER ACROSS TWO DIFFERENT CLASSES OVER TWO YEARS. I HAVE ESCALATED THIS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. AND THIS DIRECTLY EFFECTS MY DAUGHTER'S GPA. HER CLASS RANK AND HER FUTURE COLLEGE ACTIONS. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION EVEN WITH THESE PENALTIES, HER PERCENTAGE WAS AT 89.2%, AND
036I HAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION HERE. SO WHAT I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO DO TODAY IS TO DIRECT THE SCHOOL TO REMOVE ALL GRADE PENALTIES APPLIED FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES IN COMPLIANCE WITH FLORIDA STATUTE, AND TO RECALCULATE HER GRADE. AND ALSO TO GRADE ALL HER SUBMITTED WORK THAT WAS IGNORED. I DO HAVE ALL THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE THIS. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. SUPERVISORER INTENT DENT. I AM MELISSA DAVID. A PROUD ARMWOOD HAWK ALUMNI. I SPENT QUITE A FEW YEARS RAISING DOLLARS FOR THE UNITED WAY AND RAISED IN THAT CAPACITY. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS AND IT IS AN EXCITING TIME. I SEE A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE BY THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
037PARTNERS AND YVONNE'S GROUP. I KNOW SHE IS IN THE ROOM. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM WEARING A NEW HAT AND I AM NO LONGER COMING AROUND ASKING PEOPLE TO DONATE MONEY. I AM A PROGRAM MANAGER. HE STEPPED INTO THE TEACHING WORLD. AND I AM RUNNING THE PROGRAM OUT OF THE UNITED FOOD BANK AND SERVICES CALLED FEED, WHICH IS FOOD, EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT. AND IT IS GENERALLY FUNDED BY THE CHILDREN'S BOARD AND SUPPORTED BY A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS LIKE BAYCARE AND WALGREEN'S. SERVES FAMILY AND CAREGIVERS IN EAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT HAVE CHILDREN P-K THROUGH 10 st GRADE AND IS SIX-WEEK HEALTH LITERACY CLASS WHERE WE INVITE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, FAMILY CAREGIVERS, NONRELATIVE CAREGIVERS TO JOIN US TO BE MORE EDUCATED HOW TO GET HEALTHY. WE SERVE OUR POPULATION BY OFFERING OUR CLASS BILINGUALLY AND
038I RECENTLY TRANSLATED SOMETHING THAT IS FRENCH SPEAKING. WE WANT TO FILL THE CLASS. I WANT A WAITING LIST. I WANT A REASON TO REPLICATE THIS CLASS. I WANT IT TO GROW. I HAVE DONE THE REASSESSMENTS ALREADY FOR OUR VERY FIRST CLASS. WE KNOW PEOPLE NEED MORE HEALTH EDUCATION AND I WOULD LOVE -- LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO FILL THAT ROOM. SOME REALLY HERE TODAY AS AN INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND OUR NEW ROLE. AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WELL. WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE QUITE A BIT STUDENTS WITH OUR WEEKEND ACROSS 23 OF OUR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. DURING BREAKS, WE ARE GIVING OUT 1500 BREAK ADDS EVERY BREAK. SO WE ARE DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS WITH THE STUDENTS ABOUT YOU WE WANT TO DO EVEN MORE. JUST MY OPEN
039INVITATION TO PLEASE INVITE ME TO YOUR OFFICE. PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE. MISS RENDON HAS BEEN OUT AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD HELP ME WITH HAD THAT, BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD TAG ALONG TO THIS MEETING AND SAY HI TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A LOT AND NOT ALWAYS POSITIVE, BUT YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT. SO THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. AND SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. SUPERINTENDENT. ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED WITH BOARD MEMBERS FROM STAFF. ALL QUESTIONS RAISED WERE ADDRESS AND ALL REQUESTED CLARIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER
040GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 4.02, C 7.06, C, 10.02. ITEM 4.02, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR WELLNESS PROGRAMS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS PROGRAM. Superintendent Ayres: FOR OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM. OUR PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION ISSUED AN RFP FOR A WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR SISTER EMPLOYEES AND ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS ON REACHING AND SETTING WELLNESS GOALS. PROGRAM FOCUS ON PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL WELLNESS, PARTNERING WITH A VENDOR, ASSISTS EMPLOYEES IN THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM A WELLNESS PROGRAM. THE COMMITTEE SELECTED VITALITY GROUP INTERNATIONAL THE INCUMBENT AND OFFER AN ENGAGING WELLNESS PROGRAM BACKED BY DATA AND SILENCE. SOME OF THE DATA FROM VITALITY INDICATEDED IN 2025. ENGAGED WITH VITALITY HAD A 80% LESS TURNOVER RATE AND 21%
041LOWER MEDICAL SPEND PER MEMBER PER MONTH. AND THE FEET FOR THE WELLNESS PROGRAM IS PAID BY THE ACPS MEDICAL CARRIER AND MADAM CHAIR, 4.02. Karen Perez: A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C-4.023. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND IS SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER GRAY PULLED IN ITEM. MEMBER GRAY, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, IT'S -- IT IS SUCH A GREAT SITUATION THAT WE HAVE, AGAIN, FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE HAVE REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO THE HEALTH AND MENTAL WELFARE -- PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WELFARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES STRUCTURE IS REPLICATED AGAIN WITH THE VITALITY AND THE GO 365. AND I AM JUST SO PLEASED WE HAVE THE SUPERSTARS BEFORE US, MISS DENA MARSHAL AND TRACY SHOTSBERG WHO IS LEADING THE
042CHARGE AND REALLY ENCOMPASSED AND ENCOURAGED SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO GET THEIR SCREENINGS, AND I THINK IF I AM RIGHT, AND I DIDN'T BRING MY GLASSES, SO I AM GOING TO TRY TO READ THIS, BUT OVER -- LET'S SEE, 52.4% OF EMPLOYEES ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN VITALITY. HERE IT IS, 6055 EMPLOYEES COMPLETED A BIOMETRICS SCREENING. THIS SAVES LIVES. I LOOK AT OUR CABINET FEMALE AND MALES, YOU NEED TO GET SCREENED. AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT SUPERVISOR. FEMALES. I KNOW AT MOFFITT HAD TO HAVE A HISPANIC LIAISON TO ENCOURAGE FEMALES TO GET THEIR TESTS. I WILL SAY RIGHT NOW THAT YOU GIRLS ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. I AM LOOKING AT FISCALLY, AND IF I WERE TO TAKE IT APART, I SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY SAVED -- THIS DISTRICT HAS SAVED ALREADY 5.8 MILLION LESS IN HEALTH
043CARE CLAIMS. THAT IS A REALLY GOOD INCENTIVE FOR CONTINUANCE. AND I ALSO HAVE DOWN THAT WE ALREADY SCREENED ALMOST 2,000 EMPLOYEES. SO WHAT WE SAVE IN LIVES AND WHAT WE SAVE IN MONEY IS ALL ABOUT THE DEDICATION THAT BOTH OF YOU, MISS MARSHAL, HIS SHOTSBERG HAS DONE OVER THE LAST -- AT LEAST I HAVE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND KEEP ON GOING. AND ENCOURAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES TO GET THEIR TESTS, BECAUSE THAT IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MEMBER GRAY IN THE FACT THAT I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR OUR EMPLOYS. AND THAT THEY CAN HAVE THIS. ONE OF THINGS I AM DISAPPOINTED IN
044THOUGH IS WE HAVE NOT DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF RUNNING A TRUE RFP PROCESS. WHEN I LOOK APARTMENTS ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR THIS, IN SEVERAL SITUATIONS THEY ARE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER A COMPLETE OF PACKAGE FOR A SELF-INSURANCE. AND THOSE CASES, MANY TIMES, THESE PROGRAMS WILL ACTUALLY BE FREE TO OUR EMPLOYEES. BUT BECAUSE THIS IS ALREADY SOMETHING THAT AETNA PAYS FOR WHICH WE HAVE NOT EVEN YET DETERMINED THAT AETNA WILL BE OUR HEALTH CARRIER. WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE REQUIRED TO USE AETNA. OTHER THING I AM DISAPPOINTED IN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COMMITTEE THAT SUPPORTED THIS, NOT ONE EMPLOYEE ON THAT COMMITTEE. SIX MEMBERS IN THE FIRST QUESTION FROM AON AND MORE IN THE SECOND COMMITTEE. WE HAD ADMINISTRATIVE UNION REPRESENTATIVE,
045ONE ON EACH, BUT NOT EMPLOYEE THAT ARE ACTUALLY USING THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY WERE OTHER HAD,R STAFF. WREN IT COMES TO VITALITY GROUP INTERNATIONAL, A SUB SID OF THE REDISCOVERED, A FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA. I DON'T LIKE THAT AS WELL. WHEN I ASKED AND LOOKED INTO FINANCIAL CONNECTION DIRECTLY WITH AETNA, THERE ARE FINANCIAL CONNECTIONS WITH AETNA AND THEY LAUNCHED A TEAM IN 2019. THESE ARE ALL REINSURANCE PROGRAMS THAT CONNECTLY DIRECT TO AETNA. THESE ARE FINANCIAL BENEFITS THAT THERE IS A FINANCIAL LINK TO AETNA. IN ALL CASES CASES, MANY CASES OF THE PEOPLE THAT LOOK INTO IN PROGRAM, NO FINANCIAL GAINS TO AETNA. NO FINANCIAL COLLECTIONS AT ALL. IN EITHER CASE, NOT A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. THERE ARE MANY
046OPTIONS. AND I SEE THEY WERE ALL OF RATED DIFFERENTLY. I ALSO KNOW THERE WERE FIVE OF THEM MOVED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SUBMIT ALL THE PAPERWORK. AN OTHER RFPs WE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK. ON THESE WILL NOT GET A REQUEST ON THIS. I'M GOING TO A "NO" ON THIS. IF WE ARE GOING TO GO SELF-INSURANCE, WE NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO WILL PUT COMPLETE PACKAGES TOGETHER. WE HAVE OTHER DISTRICTS ARMED THE STATE THAT ARE PROVIDING LEASE COST INSURANCE TO THEIR STAFF. AND RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A HUGE HIT TO OUR BOTTOM LINE. AND WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER BE PUTTING COMPLETE PACKAGES TOGETHER AND LOOKING AT ALL ASPECTS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. I GUESS MY CONCERN -- FIRST, I WANT TO ASK, HOW
047DOES -- FIRST LET ME JUST SAY, I DO THINK THAT WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE GREAT. I REMEMBER 360. OUR EMPLOYEES LOVED IT. AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE PAID FOR BY OUR EMPLOYEES IF THEY ENROLL. DO THEY ENROLL AND AUTOMATICALLY HAVE TO CHOOSE TO NOT BE ENRO ENROLLED. IT'S VOLUNTARILY. I WOULD LOVE TO NOT MAKE IT VOLUNTARY. BUT IT IS VOLUNTARY. Stacy Hahn: THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE TO ENROLL. NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. Stacy Hahn: HOW IS IT GETTING PAID FOR. PAID THROUGH OUR INSURANCE CARRIER. Stacy Hahn: WHAT HAPPENS -- GOING BACK TO WHAT MEMBER REN WAS SAYING. RIGHT NOW HE AETNA. THIS IS WHY I THINK THE TIMING OF IT SEEMS A LITTLE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE AETNA MOVING FORWARD AS OUR -- YOU KNOW, WE PUT IT OUT
048ON THE SECRETE. MAYBE AETNA DOESN'T GET CHOSEN. NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS SAY WAY FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. AND THAT IS NOT GOOD -- THAT'S JUST -- THAT NEVER PLAYS OUT OF REAL WELL FOR THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO NOW -- PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE WITH IT. AND THEN IT GETS TAKEN AWAY. WHY WOULDN'T YOU WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A CARRIER IN PLACE, AND -- AND THEN DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND IF THAT'S -- IF THAT IS DURING A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE PEOPLE WANT A WELLNESS PROGRAM, THEN WHY NOT GO OUT FOR A WELLNESS PROGRAM LIKE MEMBER RENDON SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T HAVE A TIE TO A CARRIER WHERE WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE IT AWAY. I MEAN, THIS PUTS US IN A VERY BAD POSITION GOING DOWN THE ROAD TO WHERE,
049YOU KNOW, THEY MAY FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS, BUT THEN WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT WAS THE THINKING. SO I AM GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. SO WE KNOW WE ARE OUT TO BID RIGHT NOW. AND IN THE CONE OF SILENCE FOR OUR RFP ON THE MEDICAL, BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW, THEIR IN THERE, WE ASKED ANY BIDDER TO COMMIT TO PAYING FOR WHATEVER WELLNESS PROGRAM WE ARE DOING. Stacy Hahn: I GET THAT. BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING? IF WE ARE ALREADY OUT FOR BID, WHY NOT WAIT -- BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER. Stacy Hahn: IT DOES MATTER BECAUSE THE WELLNESS PROGRAM WILL POSSIBLY CHANGE TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THIS ONE. NO, MA'AM, IT WON'T. STACY HAHN: THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ONE.
050YES. Stacy Hahn: YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS JUST SEEMS OUT OF ORDER. IT SEEMS NOT THE NORMAL PROGRESSION YOU WOULD TAKE TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN PLACE. WHY NOT JUST WAIT FOR THE RFP TO PLAY OUT AND THEN DO IT MORE SEAMLESSLY? IT JUST -- YOU NKNOW -- IF I CAN ADD, AS PART OF THE PROCESS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ENSURING IT WAS A ROBUST PROGRAM. AND SO WE DECIDED TO GO OUT FOR THE RFP ON THIS ONE, AGAIN, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE AETNA -- THE RFP WAS GOING TO BE COMING OUT. WE WANTED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. WE PUT IT IN THE RFP IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME PROGRAM IN THE EVENT NO MATTER WHO -- Stacy Hahn: I UNDERSTAND. IT JUST SEEMS OUT
051OF ORDER. SO I AM NOT SURE, YOU KNOW -- NOW YOU ARE KIND OF -- WHAT IF WHOEVER WE CHOOSE HAS A REALLY PHENOMENAL WELLNESS PROGRAM AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO WHERE THIS ONE AND WE ARE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE ARE WHERE WE NOW HAVE GOT TO SWITCH PROGRAMS, WHICH NEVER BODES REAL AS WELL. WE GET A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT OF THAT. ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE DO HAVE THAT IS TO ADVANTAGE TO THE DISTRICT IS, THIS CONTRACT SR. INDEPENDENT ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS. IT HAS THE ABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE BACK OUT OF IT. I KNOW -- WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. ALSO, THE TIMING OF THE CONTRACTS DO MATTER, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT ALL IN THE SAME TIME FRAME AS THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE, A LITTLE BIT
052WHY THE TIMING COMES AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR. Superintendent Ayres: TWO SEPARATE THINGS. GOING OUT FOR RFP RIGHT NOW. A WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT WE SEE AS TWO SEPARATE THINGS. WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MEDICAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. Stacy Hahn: THEY ARE NOT SEPARATE. I WILL TELL YOU WHY THEY ARE NOT SEPARATE. MY ARGUMENT IS, THIS IS ALREADY TIED TO AETNA. IF THEY ARE NOT -- IF -- WHOEVER WE CHOOSE -- WHOEVER GETS CHOSEN BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE THAT DECISION AS OUR CARRIER IS NOW GOING TO HAVE TO USE THIS, RIGHT, MAYBE THEY HAVE A BETTER ONE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO SWITCH PEOPLE AGAIN AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THOSE CHANGES HAPPENING IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS, AGAIN, IS KIND OF A CART BEFORE OF
053THE HORSE WITH -- WHY NOT WEIGHT AND FIND OUT WHO THE CARRIER IS GOING TO BE. MAYBE THEY HAVE A GREAT WELLNESS PROGRAM ALREADY. AND THEN IT IS A LITTLE BIT CLEANER AND MORE SEAMLESS. SO THE TIMING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NOW. IT IS NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN WITHOUT A FORMAL WELLNESS PROGRAM? WE HAD THEM FOR AT THAT WHILE. WE HAD GO 365. Stacy Hahn: BUT A GAP FOR A WHILE. NO, MA'AM, VITALITY SINCE JANUARY 2024. Stacy Hahn: OH, WITH AETNA. NOT WITH AETNA, A SEPARATE -- IT IS NOT WITH AETNA. SO PICKED VITALITY AND AETNA IS PAYING FOR IT. IF ANOTHER CARRIER IS SELECTED AND THE UPCOMING CURRENT RFP, THAN THAT VENDOR WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR IT. Stacy Hahn: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE
054-- WHEN IS THAT PROCESS GOING TO BE COMPLETED? WHEN WILL YOU COME TO US WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT. I AM HOPING IN APRIL. Stacy Hahn: IN APRIL? OKAY. YOU SEE MY POINT THOUGH. WHY NOT JUST WAIT UNTIL THAT IS DONE AND THEN DO THIS IF, YOU KNOW -- I DO SEE YOUR POINT. YOU MUST NOT BE ARTICULATING IT WELL BECAUSE THEY ARE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT. Stacy Hahn: I UNDERSTAND, BUT I AM COMING AS A PERSON REPRESENTING OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE ARE THE ONES WHO END UP GETTING THE BLOW BACK WHEN WE MAKE CHANGES LIKE THIS. IF WE DON'T STAY WITH THIS WELLNESS PROGRAM, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, MAYBE -- IF WE ARE GOING WITH A DIFFERENT INSURANCE CARRIER, THEY HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM. SO I AM NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST --
055IT IS REALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR EMPLOYEES DON'T LIKE TO HAVE -- YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T LIKE CHANGE. LIKE CONSTANT CHANGE. WE GET TO APRIL. WE GET TO MAYBE MAY, AND NOW THE NEW CARRIER HAS A BETTER WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE THINK IS A BETTER ONE AND WE WANT TO CHANGE AND NOW THEY HAVE TO CHANGE AGAIN. WHY NOT JUST WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW WHO THE CARRIER IS AND SEE IF THEY HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP -- MAYBE WE WOULDN'T CHANGE, BUT MAYBE WE WOULD. AND I JUST DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I THINK IT PUTS THE BOARD IN ANOTHER POSITION OF, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAYBE CHANGE THINGS AND EMPLOYEES DON'T LIKE THAT. THEY HAVE ALREADY GET COMMITTED AND LIKE A PROGRAM. THAT IS
056MY CONCERN. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I AM PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE TOO MUCH OF A HELP BECAUSE WHAT MEMBER HAHN IS SAYING HAS VALIDITY, BUT -- DR. WHELAN, I AM TALKING. WHAT -- ANYWAY. WHAT I REALLY THINK IS THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION, THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. WE HAVE ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST TRANSITIONS RIGHT NOW WITH THOUSANDS -- ALMOST 2,000, RECENT, EMPLOYEE WHO HAVE USED 365 AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE -- I SAY "WE" WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE IS MADE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION TO THE VITALITY. SO WHY -- WHY WOULD WE MAKE THAT DECISION OR YOU GUYS MAKE THE DECISION FOR VITALITY WHEN THE INSURANCE IS NOT FULLY, LET'S JUST SAY VALUED OR VOTED FOR AT THE BOARD. WHAT IS THE MYSTERY
057THAT IS HAPPENING WITH MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER RENDON THAT YOU CAN NOT ARTICULATE AND SMOOTH THIS OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. SO THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS THE BEST PART OF BEING SELF-FUNDED IS THE ABILITY TO DO JUST WHAT WE ARE DOING, GO OUT AND FIND THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS EXPERIENCES. AND THAT IS WHAT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND. AND BY BEING SELF-FUNDED ALLOWS US TO DHAFB O-- CARVE THAT OUT AND HAVE OTHER EXPECTATIONS OF OTHER CARRIERS OR NOT. WE WOULD DELAY THIS AND COME BACK IF THAT WOULD BE BETTER. WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE WE HAD A GREAT PLAN. WE KNOW OUR EMPLOYEES LIKE IT. AND WE STAND BEHIND IT. IF YOU WOULD RATHER WAIT AND WE DO IT LATER. Lynn Gray:
058YOU ARE THE EXPERTS AND WE ARE GUIDED FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO DOUBT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT DID YOU DO. I AM ONLY IN A POSITION TO UNDERSTAND THE -- THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF THIS PROGRAM AS IT BENEFITS OUR EMPLOYEES. I -- I HAVE NOT A PROBLEM. I SEE IN SENTENCE RIGHT HERE, VITALITY GROUP INTERNATIONAL IS IN FACT THE LARGEST AND LONGEST RUNNING HEALTH AND WELL BEING ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM IN THE WORLD. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DISMANTLE THAT REPUTATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND WAIT FOR SOMETHING WHEN THESE EMPLOYEES, IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR MAMMOGRAM, ALL THE TESTS, THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE -- THEY NEED THAT ADDRESSED
059RIGHT AWAY, MANY OF US DO, AND SHOULD. SO I AM GOING TO SAY YES TO THIS. I -- BUT I DO SYMPATHIZE -- NOT SYMPATHIZE, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND MYTHOLOGY. I WILL GET THAT WORD LATER. BUT THERE IS AS POINT -- WHEN YOU PRESENT TO THE BOARD, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED, BECAUSE THERE IS -- YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS THOSE QUESTION MARKS. BUT I VALUE YOUR PROFESSION. I VALUE THIS. AND I KNOW THE PROGRAM FAIRLY WELL. AND IT SERVED THOUSANDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES, SO THANK YOU. TAT IS THE END OF MY COMMENTS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE IF I AM ASKING ANOTHER -- IF I AM LOOKING AT ANOTHER HEALTH CARE PLAN AS AN OPTION, THEN
060I AM ASKING THEM TO PICK UP THAT COST IF IT IS NOT AETNA THAT IS PICKING THAT UP. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PACK DAMAGE THEY ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER FOR US. BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE PAYING ANOTHER VENDOR FOR A PRODUCT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO US FOR FREE. WITHER TAKING THAT OPTION OFF THE TABLE WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AS A WHOLE. WE GIVE ONE MORE OF A BENEFIT OVER THE OTHER BECAUSE ONE IS CARRYING WHAT WE ARE CARRYING. WHEN YOU SAYS THERE NO LINK TO AETNA. LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT VITALITY GROUP INTERNATIONAL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CONNECTION WITH AETNA THROUGH REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, 2013 ENTERED A TWO-YEAR REASSURANCE AGREEMENT WITH VITALITY REGARDING SIX LIMITED INVOLVING 200 MILLION. THROUGH 2025, AETNA CONTINUED -- SORRY,
061AETNA CONTINUED LIMIT SECURITIES HOLDING 16 REINSURANCE. TARGETED AT $250 MILLION. THESE STRUCTURES REINSURANCE DEALS OF OF A LINK BETWEEN BETWEEN AETNA AND VITALITY GROUP INTERNATION APPLE. AT THE END OF THE DAY DOES NOT GIVE US A FAIR ADVANTAGE TO CLEARLY AND OBJECTIVELY LOOK AT THINGS MOVING FORWARD AS WE TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE SELF-INSURANCE PACKAGE. BECAUSE YOU ARE LINKING ONE ITEM THE OTHER THROUGH FINANCE. AND ARE NOT GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OTHER VENDORS TO HAVE THE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE FOR ALL OF WHAT THEY PROVIDED. IT IS COMPLETELY PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE AGENDA ITEM AND BRING IT BACK AFTER OUR HEALTH INSURANCE. Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, A MOTION TO CONTINUE. AND THAT TAKES PRECEDENCE. TAKE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD.
062CLEAR THE BOARD, PLEASE. IF THERE IS A MOTION -- IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SECOND MISS RENDON'S MOTION. -- MEMBER HAHN HAS SECONDED IT. IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT, YOU SHOULD PUSH YOUR BUTTON AND SPEAK NOW, OTHERWISE YOU CAN VOTE ON THE MOTION TO CONTINUE. Karen Perez: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO KNOW THAT THIS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2027, AM I CORRECT? NO RISK OF THEM LOSING ANY OF THEIR CURRENT BENEFITS UNTIL ALL OF OUR INSURANCES GO INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY OF 2027. I WANT TOP MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. NO MATTER WHAT VITALITY OR WELL BEING PROGRAM WE CHOOSE, IT WILL NOT CHANGE UNTIL 2027. SO PUTTING THIS BACK UNTIL OTHER THINGS AND MAKING A COMPLETE PACKAGE WOULD
063NOT HINDER OR DIRECTLY AFFECT ANY EMPLOYEES UNTIL JANUARY OF 2027. Jim Porter: SO BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THIS ITEM HEARD AT LATER DATE, YOU SHOULD VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT IT VOTED ON TONIGHT, YOU SHOULD VOTE NO. THIS MOTION IS TO HAVE IT VOTED ON AFTER YOUR SELF-INSURANCE PLAN IS IN EFFECT. Lynn Gray: REVIEW THAT AGAIN. Jim Porter: DR. HAHN SECONDED THE MOTION. MADE BY MEMBER RENDON. SECONDED BY DR. HAHN. MOTION IS TO CONTINUE IT FOR A FUTURE STATE UNTIL THE SELF-INSURANCE PLAN HAS BEEN IN EFFECT. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THIS FOR A FUTURE DATE, VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, VOTE NO, AND YOU WILL COME BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION. A VOTE YES MEANS IT IS NOT GOING TO BE HEARD TONIGHT. Jim Porter:
064THE MOTION FAILED 4-2 WHICH MEANS THE MAIN MOTION IS BACK ON THE FLOOR -- YOUR MIC. Jim Porter: THE MOTION FAILED 4-2, WHICH MEANS THE MOTION IS BACK ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE TONIGHT. THERE IS A STANDING MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. YOU CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION OR VOTE NOW. Karen Perez: IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. Jim Porter: THIS IS THE MAIN MOTION, THIS IS TO APPROVE ITEM 4.02 WHICH IS THE WELLNESS PROGRAM. Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER HAHN DESCEND WILLING ON THE VOTE. Jim Porter: MADAM CHAIR I SUGGEST GOING TO YOUR POLICIES NOW BECAUSE WE ARE AFTER THE TIME CERTAIN TIME. Karen Perez: WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TO THE HEARING ON THE POLICIES. FOR TIME CERTAIN.
065PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF REVISED POLICIES. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF REVISED POLICIES. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO THE STATE LAW AND POLICY AND BOARD POLICY. THIS IS AN A OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK OF POLICIES THAT ARE RECOMMEND BY ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AND PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THESE POLICIES ARE ADVERTISED AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. MR. JIM PORTER, OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE THE POLICIES FOR YOUR FINAL APPROVAL. YOU WILL RECALL THAT YOU HAD WORKSHOPS ON THESE POLICY WHERE IS YOU WORKED THROUGH THE ISSUES. THEY HAVE BEEN REVISED PURSUANT TO YOUR REQUESTS AND COMMENTS. THEY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED AND APPROPRIATE FOR TO YOU MAKE
066A MOTION TO VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THESE POLICIES AT THIS POINT AFTER YOU ASK IF ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHES TO SPEAK. Karen Perez: DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED POLICY AS SOON AS -- POL POLICIES.HEARING NO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL CLOSE THE YOU CAN HEARING. A MOTION AND A SECOND. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: I JUST WANTED TO CLARITY SOME THINGS AROUND THE FINANCE POLICY GIVEN THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE EARLIER THIS MEETING. SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS POLICY QUITE A BIT. I MEAN WE WORKSHOPPED IT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND FINALLY GOT TO CONSENSUS. THE -- THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND BALANCE IS 10%. BUT THE UNASSIGNED IS 7%. SO,
067YOU KNOW -- AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE WORKSHOP TOO, BECAUSE IT'S -- THE 10% INCLUDED RESTRICTED, COMMITTED, THE ASSIGNED AND THE UNASSIGNED. BUT THE 7% UNASSIGNED IS PART OF THE 10% AND THEN 3% MAKES UP THE REST. AND CORRECT ME, MR. LEWIS, IF I AM WRONG HERE, BUT THE 7% IS WHEN WE TALK OF HAVING FLEXIBILITY AND WHEN WE TALK OF EMERGENCIES AND FINANCIAL DELAYS OF MONEY COMING FROM TALLAHASSEE. OR MORE IMPORTANTLY WHEN WE TALK OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT. SO WE SAW -- WE HAVE BEEN SEEING CONSISTENTLY DECLINING ENROLLMENT. SO THAT IS WHY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT UNASSIGNED 7% AND CAN BE USED FOR TEACHER BONUSES. AND VERY IMPORTANT FOR ANY MINUTE TO PLAN NOT JUST FOR EMPLOYEE RAISES BUT FOR UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL SITUATIONS. BECAUSE WHAT
068WE ARE SEEING AROUND THE STATE AND EVEN RIGHT AROUND THE BRIDGE IS THAT DUE TO UNFORSEEN FINANCIAL SITUATIONS, THEY ARE NOW LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE LAYING OFF PEOPLE IN SCHOOLS. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION, YOU KNOW. BEEN THERE. DONE THAT. DON'T LIKE IT. BY HAVING THIS KIND OF CUSHION, SO TO SPEAK, THE 7%, IT ALLOWS US JUST ANOTHER WAY TO SAFEGUARD OUR EMPLOYEES, WHICH BODES WELL FOR MOST LEAVE OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE A WORKFORCE THAT IS STABLE. IT BODES WELL OR OUR UNIONS THAT WANT STABLE MEMBERSHIP. THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE A DECLINE IN THAT. THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE TEACHERS OR PARAS OR ANY OF THEIR MEMBERS HAVE TO BE LET GO, BECAUSE WE ARE PUT IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION WHERE UNLESS WE LET GO OF TEACHER, WE ARE
069NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYROLL. WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN'T MAKE PAYROLL TRAMMED TO TAKE OUT A TAN BECAUSE IT HURTS OUR BONDING AND HURTS OUR RATINGS. SO THIS IS REALLY A BIG PICTURE. WE HAVE TO HAVE A BIG -- YOU KNOW A 30,000-FOOT VIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR FINANCES RIGHT NOW. ABSOLUTELY WE WANT TO GIVE RAISES. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE STABILITIES THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR JOBS. AND YOU CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND IMPACT THAT HAS HAD CURRENTLY AND WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND THE STATE. SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO THINK WE ALWAYS WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR DISTRICT AND TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO OUR STUDENTS. FISCAL POLICY
070ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY AND IF YOU NOTICE INSIDE THE POLICY, THERE IS -- THERE IS A SECTION WHERE IT ALLOWS THE SUPERVISOR TO BRING AN AGENDA ITEM TO THE BOARD IF SOME EMERGENCY DOES OCCUR. AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK I HAVE TOLD ALL OF YOU, THIS IS OUR SAFETY NET. OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT IN CASE SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN. IF ALLOWS US TO MANEUVER DURING ITS YEAR AND RESET DURING THE SUMMER TO TRY TO DISRUPT THE CLASSROOM TO THE LEAST AMOUNT POSSIBLE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WILL BE IN A SITUATION ONE DAY WHERE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO NEVER DO THAT. IF WE WERE TO OPERATE AND ABOUT I THINK A BUDGET TOGETHER NEXT YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, IN FY '27, A 3% FUND BALANCE OF HOW FAR WE BUILD THE FEND BUDGET.
071AND UNEXPECTED DECLINE AT ANY POINT IN THE YEAR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAVINGS CAN THE TO TURN TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER WITHOUT MAKING SOME TYPE OF CHANGE WITHIN THE DISTRICT. SO I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US THAT DOESN'T -- THE POLICY DOES NOT SAY WE CANNOT GO BELOW. SAY AS SUPERVISOR CAN BRING THE AGENDA ITEM FORWARD IF SOME UNFORESEEN SITUATION OCCURS AND WITH K-12 LANDSCAPE AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND HOW ENROLLMENT HAS SHIFTED THIS YEAR AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IN A FUTURE STATE AND WE ARE SEEING THINGS THAT OCCURRING AND WHERE FUNDING SOMETHING GOING TO WORK AND HOW FUND ALSO WORK IN THE FUTURE. I THINK IT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRESERVE THE ACADEMIC YEAR EACH YEAR AND HAVE THE
072ABILITY TO RESET BEFORE WE ENTER INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. Stacy Hahn: I APPRECIATE THAT. JUST LIKE COMMENTS FROM THE LAST AGENDA ITEM WHERE THEY REFERRED TO THE EXPERTISE OF STAFF, RIGHT. WE HAVE TO DEFER TO IT THE EXPERTISE OF OUR CF NEW YORK CITY THIS REGARD, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- IT IS QUITE AN EWE NOOK POLICY AND SET THE STAGE FOR OTHER DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF WHEN WE SPOKE AT THE WORKSHOP TO HAVE THAT CLAUSE IN THERE THAT THE SUPERVISOR COULD, IN FACT IF HE DID NEED TO TAP INTO THAT 7%, TO SECURE SALARIES OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF EMERGENCY, HE COULD DO THAT. SO WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A POLICY THAT IS REALLY FLEXIBLE FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE KNOW
073THERE ARE SO MANY UNCERTAINTIES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW. AND, AGAIN, THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS POLICY IS TO SAFEGAR OUR EMPLOYEES AND MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE SCARED FOR THEIR JOBS LIKE WE ARE SEEING AROUND THE STATE. SO I HOPE -- I KNOW WE HAVE CONSENSUS ON THIS IN THE WORKSHOP. I KNOW WE HAVE THIS ON THE DAY AREAS. I KNOW WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM RAISES.WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GIVE THEM BONUSES THROUGH THIS. WE WANT INTO MAKE SURE THEIR, MOST OF ALL, THEY KEEP THEIR JOBS AND WE DO NOT EVER WANT TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLHOUSE AND TOUCH THOSE JOBS. WE WANT TO LOOK FOR SAVINGS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLHOUSE, BUT SOMETIMES WITH THE WAY THE FINANCESES
074ARE AND THE ENROLLMENT ARE DECLINING AND KIND OF UP AND DOWN, NOT EVEN ENOUGH CUTS TO MAKE FAST ENOUGH OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOLHOUSE SO SAVE JOBS. SOME THIS IS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MEAN IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE NOW A BALANCE -- A FUND BALANCE THAT PROVIDES THE STABILITY, YET ALSO SUSTAINABILITY OF A DISTRICT, NOT JUST FOR ONE NEAR BUT THROUGHOUT. WHEN WE ARE GONE. I WANT TO SAY WHEN WE TALK OF POLICY WE GOT THAT AND UNDER THE CFO HAS A PLAN. A PLAN THAT WILL -- THAT WILL MIRROR DEVIATIONS. THE DEVIATIONS WE HAVE THIS YEAR WHICH SOME OF YOU KNOW 7,000 LESS ELL STUDENTS THAT COST US A LOT OF LOST FTE. SO DID
075WE KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN? WELL, MAYBE WE DID. BUT YOU CAN ONLY FORECAST SO HURRICANE WATCH. IF YOU THINK THAT IS AN EMERGENCY CLASSIFY AS A BUDGET TARRY HUGE HICCUP. HE GET WITH ELLEN LYONS AND I APPRECIATE HER VERY, VERY MUCH. HE GET THAT YOU CAN USE THE MONEY FOR THEN STRUNG ALE FOLKS AND SO CRITICAL. YOU HAVE A DECREASE ENROLL THAT JUST HAPPENED, IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT SECURE FUND PAL TO MITIGATE THAT. WE WILL GO LOWER AND LOWER AND DR. HAHN AND I WON'T REMEMBER IN 2018 -- 2017, WE WERE TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY OUR INSTRUCTION -- OUR STAFF AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE HAD TO TAKE A TAN NOTE. AND THAN NOTE, AS WAS MENTIONED, HAS AN INTEREST RATE AND THAT INTEREST RATE CUTS INTO THE
076BALANCE AS WELL. WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A TAN NOTE IF WE CAN HELP IT BECAUSE THEN YOUR BOND RATING -- EVERYTHING THAT DR. HAHN MENTIONED BECOMES REAL. I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. LEWIS TO MAKING A FEW STATEMENTS TO CLARIFY, BUT YOU ALREADY HAVE, MR. LEWIS. IF YOU -- IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE, ANY REMARKS ABOUT WHAT I JUST SAID, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE THE ELL DECREASE AND OTHER DECREASES THAT MAY SAY, HEY, WE BETTER HAVE THAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE? I WILL FOLLOW UP WE ARE MONITORING OUR ENROLLMENT AND LOOKING AT THAT ON A CONTINUAL BASIS AND SOMETHING THAT EVERY DISTRICT AROUND FLORIDA IS CONTINUING MONITOR. I THINK WE ARE IN AN UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MONITOR AND WE DON'T KNOW.
077WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL BE NEXT YEAR AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED AND PROVIDE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND MINIMIZE ANY DISRUPTIONS THAT WE CAN. Lynn Gray: WE ARE REMINDED. TRACYE BROWN, WE WERE UNDER THE FEAR OF TITLE 1, II AND 3, THOSE FUNDS BEING CUT. WAS THAT ONE TIME A BIG FEAR AND WE ALMOST HAD THAT EMERGENCY. THINGS ARETENUOUS AND STABILIZE WITH A FUND BALANCE. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO REITERATE ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE FUND BALANCE IS TO SECURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR SCHOOLTEACHERS. FIVE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GONE BELOW THE 3% FROM THE 10-DAY COUNT TO THE 100-DAY COUNT ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. TWO OF THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WON'T MAKE PAYROLL IN
078APRIL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE SURE THEY ACCOUNT FOR THAT LOSS IN THAT DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN THESE POLICIES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE. WE ARE NOT THAT N THAT POSITION WITH OUR STUDENTS. THAT 1700 LOSS BETWEEN THE TEN-DAY AND THE 100-DAY COUNT IS NOT SHOWING IN ANY VOUCHERS. THEY ARE NOT SHOWING IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THEY ARE NOT SHOWING IN HOME SCHOOL. THEY ARE NOT SHOWING ANYWHERE. NOT BECAUSE OF LOSS TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR TO A CHARTER, THEY ARE OUT NOT IN ANY OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SET FOR THAT. WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE OUR SCHOOLS MIDYEAR. WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THESE CONTINGENCIES.WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANES. WHERE
079WE ARE NOT GETTING. WE ARE GETTING 40%, SOMETIMES 30% BACK FROM FEMA. WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE OUR STAFF IS SECURE IN THEIR ROLES. SO I DO THANK THE COMMITTEE AND OUR BOARD FOR BRINGS THESE POLICIES TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF OUR STAFF. IT IS QUITE IMPORTANT THAT WHICH MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY TO GET THEM THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. LEWIS, THANK YOU FOR INFORMING. I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED ABOUT THAT DECREASE OF STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT IS ALARMING. I GO BACK TO 2017 AND AREA SUPERINTENDENT THEN. AND I GOT A CALL, THEY SAID WE MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR PAYROLL. I DON'T WANT
080TO EVER HAVE THAT FEELING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A HORRIBLE FEELING. IF YOU THINK OF HOW HARD PEOPLE WORK EVERY DAY AND COMES UP YOU MAY NOT HAVE A PAYROLL. YOU MAY NOT GET PAID. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT FUND BALANCE. THAT IS A SAVINGS CAN THE. WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF MONEY, ROOF GOES BAD, YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT THERE TO HELP OUT. I APPRECIATE IT. YOU KNOW WHAT, I APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE YOU DO A GREAT JOB. I REALLY DO. YOU DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? Superintendent Ayres: I WAS GOING TO ADD ON EVERY YEAR WE WORK WITH OUR STATE FOR A PROJECTION OF NUMBER OF STUDENT AND OUR FINANCE TEAM DOES AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB TAKING A PROJECTION WHAT IS NUMBER WE
081WILL BE AT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR AND ALIGNING OUR UNITS TO INTO PROJECTION. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LOSS OF STUDENTS, A PROJECTION THAT THIS FINANCE TEAM MAKES. WHAT WE ARE DOING UP-FRONT NOW IN ASSIGNING OUR UNITS OUT THERE TO OUR SITES SO WE HAVE THAT PROJECTION WHERE WE WILL BE IN THE FALL AND THEY HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THAT ROLE OF THE PROJECTION OF WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE. WE GET VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE NUMBER. WE HAVE A LOSS OF ENROLLMENT AND PREDICTED AND THE UNITS WITH ASSIGN OUT TO SCHOOLS FROM WHAT OUR PROJECTED NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OUR STAFFING MODELS ARE BUILT ON NUMBER INFORM STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. YOU KNOW MR. WASHINGTON,
082NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL. THEY HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN PREDICTIONS AND ALIGNING THE STAFF MODELS TO OUR NUMBER OF STUDENTS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MR. LEWIS, RECENTLY DIDN'T WE HAVE TO PAY BACK MONEY FOR SOME VOUCHERS. AND HOW MUCH MONEY WAS THAT WE HAD TO PAY? I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. LAST YEAR IN THE THIRD CALCULATION, THE STATE DID -- REAPPROPRIATED THE PORTION THAT WE DO RECEIVE. AGAIN, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THAT LAST SPRING, THAT IS NOT TECHNICALLY DIRECTLY TIED TO THE VOUCHER SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH WE DID SEE THE VOUCHER SYSTEM RISE. AS WE HAVE SEEN AN UNEXPECTED GROWTH. THEY HAVE SEEN ALSO UNEXPECTED GROWTH. WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE. THEY HAVE SEEN EXPECTED GROWTH IN THEIR NUMBER SO I CANNOT SAY IT WAS A ONE-FOR-ONE AT THE CREASE
083AND WE HAVE SEEN A SHIFT OF ENROLLMENT IN HIBLG. THAT IS IMPORTANT. WE MONITOR WITH OUR VOUCHER SYSTEM AND CHARTER SCHOOLS AND DJJ AND HILLSBOROUGH STUDENTS. WE LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS AND WE SEE AS WE ARE DECLINING, WE SEE THE VOUCHER SYSTEM GROWING IN POPULARITY AND SOMETHING THAT THE STATE DOES LOOK AT AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. Karen Perez: RECENTLY WE HAD TO PAY SOME MONEY BACK. WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY PAY MONEY BACK. THEY DID AN APPROPRIATION BECAUSE THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THE STATE BUDGET. ACCORDING FROM INFORMATION WE GOT FROM THE STATE. I CANNOT SAY ON RECORD THAT IS FOR VOUCHER SYSTEM. THE STATE SAID THOUGH RIGHT SIZE SOME THINGS AND DO THAT WITH THE THIRD CALCULATION LAST YEAR. Karen Perez: OKAY, SO MYSELF, MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER HAHN WERE AT THIS DAIS IN 2018
084AND 2019. WE HAD THE SUPERINTENT PULLED A ROSTER OF SUPPORT TEAMS WHO LOST THEIR JOB BECAUSE WE WERE IN A DEFICIT OF $175 MILLION IN THIS DISTRICT. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THAT ROSTER. MUCH TO MY HORROR WHEN WE WERE READING ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF THAT WERE GOING TO BE LOSING THEIR POSITIONS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT MEET PAYROLL. AND THEN IN 2019, I REMEMBER MEMBER GRAY HAD TO GO UP TO NEW YORK TO JUSTIFY WHY WE WERE IN THE RED. AND IN 2020, I THINK, WE WERE ALMOST TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE. AM I CORRECT? CORRECT. Karen Perez: SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WE WERE THREATENED TO BE TAKEN OVER. SO THIS DISTRICT HAS LEARNED A MAJOR LESSON. I THINK A MAJOR LESSON THAT OTHER DISTRICTS TODAY ARE LEARNING. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE TRIED
085TO MAINTAIN THAT -- THAT AMOUNT, THAT CUSHION, BECAUSE PRIOR TO 2018, ACTUALLY THIS DISTRICT WAS $375 MILLION IN THE RED. AND WE HAVE WORKED OUR WAY OUT OF THE OF THAT SPACE. AND TODAY, WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY HEALTHY. AND WE WANT TO STAY THAT WAY. SO -- AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY. BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A VERY UNHEALTHY FUND BALANCE AND BUDGET AND TODAY WE ARE ABLE TO MEET OUR PAYROLL AND MAKE SURE OUR TEACHERS STAY IN THE CLASSROOM IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS. AM I CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. Karen Perez: OKAY. SO SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 7.06. INVITATION TO BID, INTERIOR AND EX-PER I DON'T REMEMBER SIGNAGE. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Superintendent Ayres:
086THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS INVITATION TO BID PROVIDES THE DISTRICT WITH THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND INFORMATIONAL SIGNS ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. PRODUCTS COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A.D.A. ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES AND, I'M FOR TEXTILE AND BRAILLE COPY AS WELL. THAT IS 7.06. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. A MOTION AND IS SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.06. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED IN ITEM. SINCE SHE IS NOT HERE, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER GRAY AWAY FROM THE DAIS. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 10.02, MICROSOFT ENROLLMENT FOR EDUCATION SOLUTIONS ANNUAL RENEWAL. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIRD-YEAR
087RENEWAL OF MICROSOFT EDUCATION AGREEMENT. STAFF AND STUDENTS MAINTAIN TO CORE MICROSOFT TOOLS. MICROSOFT 365 ALREADY OUR E-MAIL SYSTEM, AZURE AND DEFENDER SECURITY ACROSS DISTRICT DEVICES. RENEWAL SUSTAINS OUR PROGRESS WITH COLLABORATIONS AND AI-SUPPORTED TOOLS AND ZOOMS PLACE OUR TEAM'S PREMIUM POWER PLATFORM AND MICROSOFT 365 COPILOT LICENSES WHICH YOU PREVIOUS LEAVE APPROVED AS PART OF OUR AI AND PRODUCTIVITY PILOTS. THIRD-YEAR RENEWAL OF MICROSOFT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICK OF THE ITEM 10.2. Karen Perez: A MOTION A SECOND. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM AND SHE IS NOT AT THE DAIS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEALINGSON. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER GRY AWAY FROM THE DAIS. WE WILL NOW GO INTO EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING
088OF THE MEETING, IT SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUD TONES MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. IN THIS EXCEPTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION OF SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUE RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DIRECTORS
089STRICT. EACH SPEAK WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WILL NOW CALL ROB , OUR FRIEND. ROB CRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. HEY, I AM NOT HERE TO ARGUE THE FUND BALANCE. I HAVE DONE THAT A LOT OVER THE YEARS. AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IT DOES HELP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PAYLOLL AND MEETING PAYROLL. WILL BE SCARIER FOR ME AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES. BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FLOOR. WHERE IS THE CEILING FOR THE FUND BALANCE? WHEN DO WE START GIVING THE MONEY TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT DESPERATELY NEED THEM? YOU GUYS UNANIMOUSLY JUST PASSED A POLICY, BY THE WAY, THAT DISALLOWS ANY OF THOSE DOLLARS EVER TO GO TO EMPLOYEES. HOW DO EMPLOYEES GET DOLLARS? THEY GET THEM THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BUT STRICTLY PROHIBITS IN WHAT YOU GUYS JUST PASSED. KNOW WE CAN HAVE AN
090EMERGENCY WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT AYRES CAN SAY WE NEED THESE DOLLARS FOR EMPLOYEES, BUT SEEMS SILLY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT ROUTE. IF THE FLOOR IS 7%. WHAT IS THE CEILING? DO WE SAY -- WHEN WE HIT 10%, THOERZ DOLLARS OVER THAT WILL GO TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT DESPERATELY NEED THEM? COACH, YOU SPOKE OF THE SAVING ACCOUNT FOR THE IT HE IS STRICT. HOW MANY HAVE A MEANINGFUL SAVINGS ACCOUNT? I WHO SAY FEW. AND YET THEY ARE STILL DOING WHAT THEY CAN FOR THESE KIDS. SO LITTLE FRUSTRATED HOW WE ARE PIGEONHOLING SOME OF DOLLARS IN THE DISTRICT. I UNDERSTAND THE UNCERTAINTY IN THIS STATE OF. IT IS CRAZY THROUGH IN TALLAHASSEE. THEY KEEP COMING AT US. MADAM CHAIR, TO YOUR POINT, THE VOUCHERS ARE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THEN, YOU KNOW, THE -- THEN THE
091REST OF US. THEN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OUR KIDS ARE LOSING OUT OF. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR WHATEVER WE HAVE ON THE TABLE WE CAN DO FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE DO WHILE PROTECTING THIS DISTRICT FROM ALL THE CRAZY THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON. WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY KEPT A LOT OF THE PAIN AWAY FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS AND BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT WITH THE LAWS THAT ARE BEING PASSED IN TALLAHASSEE AND NEED TO CONTINUE THAT COLLABORATION AND COLLABORATION TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL THE KIDS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO I AM FRIGHTEN TODAY ARE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN FLORIDA, BUT WE WILL GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AN COLLECTIVELY WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE POWERFUL HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
092THAT YOU ARE DOING. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. AND SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL MOVE INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT AYRES'S COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO MY UPDATE THIS EVENING, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR REGIONAL STEM FAIR. IF WE CAN GET THERE. JUST ONE SECOND. I WILL GET THIS SO JUST WITH OUR -- WHILE WE WAIT TO GET THIS -- OUR SLIDE MOVED OVER -- SHALL THERE WE GO. OUR REGIONAL STEM FAIR AND HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THERE AT THE STEM FAIR. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND DISTRICT LEADERS STOOPED BY THE 2026 REGIONAL STEM FAIR LAST THURSDAY AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER AND ABLE TO VISIT WITH OUR AMAZING AND BRIGHT STUDENTS HAPPY TO SHOW US THEIR WORK. REMINDER AGAIN THAT THEA WARDS ARE VIRTUAL MARCH
0936, 6 P.M. AT HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV. SPECIAL THANK TO KATE WHITE WHO WAS THERE. THE ORGANIZATION THIS YEAR. AND TO MR. BRADY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THE ORGANIZATION AT THE STEM FAIR THIS YEAR, JUST TO SEE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THERE WITH THEIR PROJECTS AND SO PROUD TO BE THERE. A GREAT HONOR FOR THEM. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER STEM FAIRS AROUND THE STATE OF AT THAT MAGNITUDE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. BRADY, HIS TEAM. SPECIAL THANKS TO KATE OUR SUPERVISOR FOR OUR K-12. > THIS PAST SATURDAY, OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM HELD A ROITY YO COMPETITION. WE HAVEN'T HELD THE COMPETITION SINCE 2017. THE TEAM WAS EXCITED TO COMPETE AND SHOW YOU HAVE THEIR INCREDIBLE SKILLS. OVER 30 DRIVERS ENTERED THE SKILLS AND SAFETY COMPETITION THAT IS HAD THEM MANUVERING THEIR BUS THROUGH
094A CHALLENGING TO BE STABLE COURSE. CONGRATULATION TO JUAN MALDONAD, TO BEACH CA SAN DRAB, T THE REIGNING CHAMPION. WINNER RECEIVED A $1,000 PRIZE AND TOP THREE WILL GO ON TO COMPETE IN THE COMPETITION IN APRIL. LAURA HILL OUR GENERAL MANAGER OF TRANSPORTATION BELIEVES THAT OUR TEAM WILL TAKE THE STATE PRIZE AN GO ON TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION. M FARKAS, DID YOU DRIVE A BUS? Christopher Farkas: NO CRASHES IN THERE. LADY IN THE UPPER RIGHT HANDPICK YOU ARE IS FROM TEXAS AND CAME TO SEE HOW WE IT DID OURS.SHE WAS IMPRESSED. ORGANIZATION. GENTLEMAN IN THE ORANGE SHIFT SHIRT. DRIVERS WERE COMPETITIVE. HE SCORED A PER AFFECTED COULD ARE WRITTEN TEST, DRIVING TEST. YOU SEE HIM CHEERING. OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND HIM, NOT SO MUCH. DEFINITELY COMPETITION. WE GET TO SEND HIM AND TWO ALTERNATIVES TO THE COMPETITION.
095IF YOU WANT TO GO TO TEXAS IN JUNE, THAT IS WHEN THE COMPETITION WILL BE OUTDOORS. SHOULD BE FUN. A GREAT COMPETITION TO LAURA HILL AND HER TEAM. Superintendent Ayres: YES, THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. TALK SPORTS. SOME OF OUR ATHLETIC TEAMS ARE COMPETING. THIS YOU. SOM GIRL SOCCER TEAM COMPETED IN THE STATE SEMIFINALS. I KNOW, ONE GOAL SHORT. CONGRATS MAKING IT TO THE STATE'S SEMI. IN BASKETBALL, GIRLS REGIONALS THIS FRIDAY. WE ACTUALLY HAVE TEAMS COMPETING SUMNER, STEINBRENNER BLOOMINGVILLE. AND THE BASKETBALL COACH FROM STEINBRENNER COMES UP BEHIND ME AND TALKS OF HOW EXCITED HER TEAM IN THE REGIONAL FINAL. THREE TEAMS IN THE RELATIONAL FINAL. BOYS BASKETBALL. PLANT AND SICKLE AS THE REGIONAL ON SATURDAY. AND THE REGIONALS WILL GO ON TO THE STATE FINAL. WRESTLING, WE HAD THE GIRLS REGIONALS WHERE WET SEVERAL STATE QUALIFIERS
096AND THE BOYS REGIONALS ARE THIS WEEK. SPECIAL GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR TEAMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THOSE SPORTS ARE FINISHING UP AND WE MOVE ON TO OUR SPRING SPORTS WITH BASEBALL. ALL KICKING OFF NOW, BUT SPECIAL CONGRATS TO NEWSOM AND ALL OF OUR BASKETBALL TEAMS FOR MAKING THE REGIONAL FINALS. AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. GREAT NEWS THAT MR. BRADY SHARED AROUND OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCELERATION RATE. BOARD MEMBERS AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOARD MEMBERS YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT GETTING THINGS APPROVED IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. TAKE OUR RATE -- IF YOU LOOK 2020 UP UNTIL NOW, A 17% INCREASE. AND STUDENTS HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO SO MANY ACCELERATED OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT, IN PARTICULAR, IF WE GO TO IN NEXT SLIDE, WHAT ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT A COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCELERATION? TO PUT THIS
097IN PERSPECTIVE, I TRY TO TALK ABOUT IT THIS WAY, YOU TALK OUR ENTIRE SENIORS THAT GRADUATEDED PAST YEAR. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THEM EARNED A -- EARNED BASICALLY AN ACCELERATION POINT IN ANY ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES. THINK WE WERE SITTING BACK IN 2020 AT 54% AND NOW AT 71% COUNTYWIDE. BUT I WANT TO ADD, BOARD MEMBERS, OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 74 HAD% CLEM AND CAREER. 74%. ALMOST THREE AND FOUR STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE EARNED SOME SORT OF THAT WHAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR SCREEN IN ON FROM OF YOU. SOME SORT OF ACCELERATING REQUIREMENTS. DUAL ENROLLMENT. ACE, ALL THESE COUNT, 75% IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THREE OF FOUR. TESTAMENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE TALK OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. THREE A OUT OF EVERY FOUR IS EARNING SOME KIND OF ACCELERATION MOVING
098FORWARD. MR. BRADY, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. PRINCIPAL AS AND TEACHERS THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE TALK OF GRADUATION RATE. THIS A BIG ONE HERE. YOU TAKE ALL THE STUDENTS AND WHICH ONES HAVE EARNED SOME TYPE OF ACCELERATION. SOME OF OUR -- IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE SCREEN NOW. YOU SEE SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AT THE 74%. SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES AT OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND SOME OF THE INCREASES THAT WE HAVE THERE. SO JUST SPECIAL SHOUT OUT. I DON'T WANT THAT GO WITHOUT BEING SEEN. TREMENDOUS WORK TO GO FROM 54% IN 2020, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE 70s, AND WE ARE ALMOST AT THREE OF EVERY FOUR EARNING SOME TYPE OF ACCELERATION. REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE WORK. OUR BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL. THIS PAST SATURDAY.
099WE HELD OUR TENTH ANNUAL BRAIN BOWL DISTRICT PLAYOFFS IN PREP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AFRICAN-AMERICAN TASK FORCE, THE HCPS SOCIAL STUDIES TEAM AND THE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION. IN MILESTONE EVEN CELEBRATES THE KNOWLEDGE, PREPARATION AND DEDICATION OF OUR STUDENTS. SPECIAL THANKS TO PRINCIPAL WOODS FOR HOSTING. INFORM LANETTE J URGE FROM OUR SOCIAL WORK AND JUDGE THAN PAGE YET FROM OUR C,TE OF JUDGING THESE EVENTS. TWO PEOPLE I DID NOT WANT TO BE ARE THE JUDGES. THEY HAD TO MAKE TOUGH CALLS ON THE COMPETITION. SPECIAL THANKS TO LANETTE AND JONATHAN. THIS HE HAD TO MAKE TOUGH CALLS HERE. BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT LEADERS. WE HAVE THE WINNERS, ARE YOU READY FOR THEM? THE WINNERS ARE. ARE YOU READY FOR THEM? HERE WE GO. THERE THEY ARE. CONGRATS TO THE FOLLOWING OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS. SUCH A
100CLOSE COMPETITION. OUR STUDENTS WERE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING JUST LIKE THEY WERE EVERY YEAR. OF THE 93 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED, FOLLOWING THREE SCHOOLS FOR EARNING TOP SPOT. ELEMENTARY WAS CLARK. MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS WILLIAMS AND HIGH SCHOOL ROBINSON FINISHED ON TOP. WE WILL RECOGNIZE THESE STUDENTS AT APRIL 28 RECOGNITION MEETING. THEY WILL BE HERE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THEM. BUT JUST -- JUST SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS THERE. ROBINSON, I THINK THIS IS THEIR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THEY WON HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE RETURNING -- THEY WERE A TEAM FULL OF JUNIORS MR. WASHINGTON, MISS GRAY. YOU WERE THERE AT THE END WITH ME. TEAM FULL OF JUNIORS AND WILL BE BACK TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE BRINGING ALL THE JUNIORS BACK. CAN'T GO WITHOUT A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO CLARK. MISS VAUGHN, SHE IS NOT
101HERE CONTINUE TO. HER SON WAS PART OF THE WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL. MEMBER VAUGHN YOU ARE LISTENING, CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. GREAT MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE BIG WINNERS CLARK, WILLIAMSON AND ROBINSON. FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE. YOU LOOK AT THE POINT TOTALS. IT WAS CLOSE. A GREAT COMPETITION. GREAT SATURDAY AFTERNOON. AND FINALLY -- FINALLY OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALSO BEGIN TO HOLD OPEN HOUSES FOR FAMILIES ENROLLING THEIR CHILD INTO HEAD START, PK AND KINDERGARTEN FOR 2026-'27 SCHOOL JEER. WE LAUNCHED A NEW WEB SITE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES THROUGH THAT REGISTRATION PROCESS AND YOU SEE IT ON THE SCREEN. HCPSREADY.COM. TO HELP YOUR CHILD BEGIN THEIR EDUCATION A JOURNEY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. LAST SLIDE -- SEEMS LIKE WE ARE DOING THIS A LOT. NO SCHOOL MONDAY MARCH 2. STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL DAY. I
102KNOW A LOT OF US WILL BE WITH SOME ACTIVITIES. IF THEY CHOOSE OUR STUDENTS' FAMILIES CAN ENJOY THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AND PARADE ON MONDAY, MARCH 2. NO SCHOOL. AGAIN THAT IS NO SCHOOL ACROSS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT. NO SCHOOL ANYWHERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MARCH 2. GO AND ENJOY THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AND THE PARADE. BOARD MEMBERS I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE WILL BE OUT THERE AT THE PARADE AS WELL. AND TO HE WAS ARE MY HIGHLIGHTS. -- AND THOSE ARE MY HIGHLIGHTS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. SO MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY AND RECOGNIZE THE NATIONAL FUTURE FARMERS
103OF AMERICA WEEK, WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE STRAWBERRY FAIR AND OUR UPCOMING STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL PA PARADE. ALSO, WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STRAWBERRIES, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT PRINCIPAL GRAHAM AND EDUCATIONAL LEADER KEVIN FORTON AND THE SCOOT LOT TECHNICAL COLLEGE IS JUST WITHOUT A DOUBT SO -- OH, MY GOSH. SO TRANSFORMATIVE. I SAW THE STUDENTS IN WELDING AND IN CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, BUT WHAT IS REALLY STRIKING IS THE AMOUNT OF MODERN EQUIPMENT. I KNOW THE WORD "MODERN" IS NOT GOING TO FIT, BUT THE MOST UP-TO-DATE, SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT FOR THESE STUDENTS TO REALLY HONE IN ON. AND THE PROGRAM IS GROWING. PLUS IT HAS A GED PROGRAM. SO IT IS JUST SUCH A SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE. RICK LOTT REEXPECT -- I KNOW YOU ARE HAVING YOUR OWN FLOAT BECAUSE I SAW YOU BUILD IT. BUT REMEMBER
104TO PUT STRAWBERRIES ON THERE FOR US. MOVING ON. THANK YOU, PABLO. OH, THIS IS THE STEM FAIR. I KNOW THAT ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WERE THERE ENJOYING IT. AND THE STUDENTS. OVER 13 -- LET'S SEE, OVER 1300 EXHIBITS FROM THE ELEMENTARY AND OVER 180 -- I BET I GOT THIS ONE WRONG, 180 HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS AND/OR STUDENTS WERE AT THE FAIR. IT WAS JUST A BRILLIANT, WONDERFUL WAY OF SEEING BRAINS OF OUR STUDENTS AND HOW THEY ARE SO CREATIVE. AND JUST AS SMART AS HECK. SO WE APPRECIATE THOSE TEACHERS. AND THAT IS WHAT REALLY STARTS IT ALL. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE PARENTS ARE THERE. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. SO THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I THINK MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER RENDON. I DID LEAVE ANYONE OUT? MEMBER PEREZ. WERE THERE AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WAS THERE.
105WE ENJOYED IT. NEXT -- HAVE A SLIDE ON THIS ONE. BE A LO HE, OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY PANEL WILL BE ON COLLINS K-8 TO ADVISE PARENTS OF THE REALITIES AND STRATEGIES REGARDING SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AND PROTECTIONS TO PUT INTO ACTION. THE PARENTAL AWARENESS TOWN HALL WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 26 FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 7 P.M. AND BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE VERY, VERY INVITED. AND NEXT, WE HAVE A PHOTO -- FAB LOW, DO WE HAVE A PHOTO OF THE BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL? BALLS ACTUALLY SHAKE WASHINGTON AND I, WE ARE WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN TASK FORCE, AN THANK YOU, SHAKE, FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT THE BIG WINNERS, AND, YES, CLARK ELEMENTARY, WILLIAMS MIDDLE AND ROBINSON. STELLAR. STELLAR PERFORMANCES FROM THESE STUDENTS. MR. BRADY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND ALSO
106BEING BEHIND RAISING THE BAR OF OUR STUDENTS IN EVERY ASSET, EVERY ASPECT OF THE CURRICULUM, BUT I WANT TO THANK DR. ANDREA BEVERLY, SHE IS THE -- SHE IS THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE. SHE ORGANIZED THIS, A AND KINSHA PARTUM BEFORE THAT WAS THE ORGANIZER AND THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO HAVE THIS GREAT EVEN. BY THE WAY WE GO TO THE STATE REGIONALS AND STRAWBERRY CREST WAS THE WINNER. WE ARE NOT JUST DOING DISTRICT BUT WE ARE GOING TO THE STATE WITH THE BLACK HISTORY CULTURAL ACADEMIC STUDENTS TO REALLY, REALLY SHOWCA HE IS OUR DISTRICT. AND I HAVE TO ALSO THANK ALISON EDGECOMB. SHE BEGAN -- NOW IT IS THREE YEARS AGO THE THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUB, BUT HAS OVER 49 THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS WHO WERE ALSO THE CHEERLEADERS DURING THE EVENTS AT DW WATERS AT BRAIN BOWL.
107SO A BIG THANK YOU TO -- AND I KNOW SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU MENTIONED A FEW OF THEM, BUT GOING TO READ THEM OFF BECAUSE -- WELL, HOLD ON. REAL QUICK. EARNEST WOOD, LANETT JUDGE, KELLY BRENNAN, MARIE RODGERS, SHEILA KUZY, MR. PAGE YET, OF COURSE GARY BRADY. SHEA, THANKS FOR COMING, CRAY. TRACYE BROWN. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL SOUP SUPERVISOR. HENRY "SHAKE" WASHINGTON, JESSICA VAUGHN. GWEN MEYERS AND OUR ICONIC BLACK HISTORY PERSON, FRED HAERNSZ. WE WILL DO A SPECIAL RECOGNITION IN APRIL. APRIL TO 28. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I AM GOING TO GO THE BLACK BRAIN BOWL. IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT. RASHARD WOULDED DID A GREAT JOB OF THE PRINCIPAL. THAT SCHOOL IS BEAUTIFUL, MR. FARKAS. I BELIEVE IT IS OLD JEFFER SAN
108ANTONIO HIGH SCHOOL. A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. WE HAVE GREAT ATTENDANCE. PARENTS CAME OUT. STUDENTS WERE PHENOMENAL. WELL DISCIPLINED. VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY AND CLARK AND WILLIAMS AND ROBINSON, CONGRATULATIONS, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE KIDS, THE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ALL DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS SO EXCITING. PEOPLE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND IT WAS GOOD. I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE BEST ONES WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN A WHILE. IT REALLY WAS. MOVING ON TO BLAKE. I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT BLAKE ALUMNI, PABLO. IS THAT -- OKAY. AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAD TO GO OVER TO BLAKE, BEING A MELTONIAN TIGER. IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT ALUMNI WILL SEE -- WHICH THE OLD HOWARD W. BLAKE. BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. 117959, 1954 IN THERE.
1091956. A LOT PEOPLE. WAY MORE THAN OLD. BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE COMING AND GOING AND EXCITING. IT WAS SAD. BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF HISTORY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET BACK, THE OLD HOWARD W. BLAKE. THEY WERE EXCITED BECAUSE WE WILL BUILD ONE BETTER THAN THAT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALWAYS KIND OF REMINISCE OF THE OLD DAYS AND HOW WE COULDN'T COME ON THEIR SIDED TOWN AND COULDN'T COME ON OUR SIDE OF TOWN AND IT WAS GREAT. GREAT TO SEE SOME OF THE FRIENDS I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME. AND AT THE VERY END, EVERYBODY -- YOU KNOW, WE DID A GOOD JO BE THAT DAY. EVERYTHING WENT WHERE WILL, BUT YOU NOVEMBER WE WORKED HARD OVER THE YEARS TO HAVE A SCHOOL LIKE BLAKE AN MIDDLETON BACK
110IN THE OLD DAYS. BACK IN THE DAY TIME AS THEY SAY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY TWO BLACK SCHOOLS SCHOOLS WE HAVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND IN THE CITY. WE HAD MARSHAL. AND THE INNER CITY SCHOOL. AND IT WAS AND TALKING OF TIMES OF THE FIRST YEAR OF INTEGRATION OF ATHLETICS. FIRST YEAR WE PLAYED FIRST YEAR ALL WHITES AND BLACKS. INTEGRATION 1967-'68 WHICH WAS MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. GO BACK TONIGHT DAYS WHEN WE WALKED -- THE FIRST TIME WE EVER PLAYED A GAME AGAINST WHITES. FIRST TIME. WE WALKED IN ON PHILLIPS FIELD, AND IT WAS JAM-PACKED. ONE SIDE WAS ON BLACK. ONE SIDE WAS ON WHITE. BUT COMPETITION. WE PLAYED HARD. IT WAS NO PROBLEM. NOTHING GOING ON. BUT PLAYING FOOTBALL AT PHILLIPS FIELD. AND YOU KNOW, YOU -- YOU THINK ABOUT IT
111NOW. IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW. IT IS A PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, PART OF EVERYTHING -- EVERYTHING IS PART OF LIFE. THINGS CONTINUE TO MOVE. WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN HICK. YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE SCHOOLS NOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO WHAT -- BLACK AND WHITES, IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO I AM VERY PROUD OF THAT TO BE 76 TO SEE THAT. AND GREAT ADMINISTRATORS. I MEAN, PARENTS, EVERYBODY BLENDING IN TOGETHER TO WORK REALLY HARD TO -- TO MAKE THOSE TWO SCHOOLS THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN TAMPA SO MOVING ALONG. LET'S TALK ABOUT -- I WENT TO SPARTA. WENT -- AS A READ IN. AND THEY -- MR. YOUNG, YOUR DAUGHTER WAS THERE. AND YOU CAME. IT WAS GREAT. WE HAD
112A GREAT READING. I GOT THERE A LITTLE LATE AND I DO WHAT I NEED TO DO. GAVE THE CLASS AN ICE CREAM PARTY. Lynn Gray: OH, YOU DID? Henry "Shake" Washington: I HAD TWO CLASSES AND GAVE THEM MONEY FOR AN ICE CREAM PARTY. THEY WERE HAPPY. THOSE KIDS WERE VERY ATTENTIVE. THEY READ THE BOOK. SPOKE OF BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. AND THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. YOU KNOW THEY WERE THERE. EVERYBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION. THE ONE THING THAT I GOT TO GET THEM ON. THEY DON'T DO THEIR HOMEWORK. THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK. SO WHEN I GET -- WHEN I AM GIVING OUT OF THE ICE CREAM PARTY, KIDS THAT DO THEIR ICE CREAM PARTY THEY ARE THE ONES TO GET THE ICE CREAM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
113Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF. SO MANY GREAT EVENTS. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THE DISTRICT WRESTLING TOURNAMENT IN MY AREA, SICKLE HIGH SCHOOL, AMAZING TO SEE. BIG SHOUT OUT TO FAA TO SEE OUR STUDENTS WORK AND THEIR DISPLAY AND TO SEE THE FAA STUDENTS SEE THE COMPETITION. AMAZING FOR ME TO SEE THESE STUDENTS THAT HAD THESE ANIMALS FOREVER AND BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE ALL THEIR WORK AND TIME. IT IS AMAZING TO ME. I SAID, BOY, TALKING TO KIDS THAT HAVE COWS AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO WALKING THROUGH AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE. A LOT OF COMMITMENT AND A LOT OF DEDICATION. GREAT JOB WITH THOSE STUDENT. AGAIN FOR THE STEM FAIR, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MICHELLE WAYHAGAN. I
114HOPE ASIDE HER NAME RIGHT, MICHELLE W. IN CHARGE WITH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE SUPERVISORS. SO MANY PEOPLE STEPHANIE TANNEBAUM FROM USF HAD 75 USF AND UT HAD 20 INTERNS. THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR AND THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF JUDGES BECAUSE WE HAD ALMOST 2,000 STUDENTS PUT IN PROJECTS. TAKES SO MUCH WORKR SO MUCH ORGANIZATION FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM. GOT THERE EARLY TO SEE ALL THE JUDGES. I WAS AMAZED AT THE AMOUNT OF WORK, EVERYBODY COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS FEEL REALLY SPECIAL AND COMPETITION WALKING AROUND. I AM NOT A JUDGE. BECAUSE THEN ALL SO SERIOUS AND JUST AMAZING TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS. GRANT SHOUT OUT TO THEM AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY WHO COMPETED IN THE BLACK HISTORY BOWL, CLARK, WILLIAMS, ROBINSON. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH MEMBER VAUGHN, BECAUSE
115HER SON WAS THE TEAM CAPTAIN. SHE WAS SO NERVOUS THE WHOLE TIME. I AM LIKE DON'T -- SHE IS LIKE HE IS KIND OF INTENSE. I DON'T KNOW WHY. I AM LIKE, MOM, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. Henry "Shake" Washington: I ONER WHY. Nadia Combs: I CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE SHE IS NOT HERE. ANYWAY, THE KIDS DID AN AMAZING JO BE. SOAR IS THURSDAY AND COMMITTED TO LEARNING THEIR HISTORY AND SHARING THAT. IT WAS A GREAT DAY. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS WOKKING SO HARD. YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO. NOT EVEN CLOSE TO SPRING BRAKE BUT HE KNOW EVERYBODY IS WORK HAVING HE HARD. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMB. AND I HAVE -- I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU -- PABLO, IF YOU CAN SHARE
116THAT FLYER. I JUST WANT TO ASK THE -- SUPPORT FOR THIS BOOK DRIVE. BENEFITS THE FLORIDA COALITION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISONS. YOU KNOW MANY INDIVIDUALS INCARCERATED AT A YOUNG AGE AND NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLAINT THEIR EDUCATION. SO BY -- BY DONATING THE BOOKS, YOU KNOW,U HELP PROVIDE THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH TOOLS THAT THEY NEED FOR PERSONAL AND EDUCATIONAL GROWTH. SO YOUR CRICKS CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO -- TO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES FOR CONSIDERING THIS NEGOTIATE I HAVE IT -- THIS INITIATIVE, WORKING TO TOGETHER TO CREATE A POSITIVE CHANGE. I DONATED TEN BIG BOXES OF BOOKS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I NEEDED TO RENT A U-HAUL TRUCK TO TAKE THE BOOKS TO THEM. JUST AN INITIATIVE THAT, YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO
117BE GET THEM SOME EDUCATION AND GET THEIR FEET ON SOLID GROUND. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO SOMETHING. I KNOW THAT I GET NUMBERS ALONG WITH MEMBER RENDON, BECAUSE WE SIT ON SAFE AND SOUND. WHEN IT COMES TO SOME ONGOING CONCERNS. BUT I KEEP GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM -- YOU KNOW, FROM OUR -- FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND I KNOW THAT YOUR -- YOUR STAFF WORKS HARD AND REMAINING FOCUS ON ISSUES. BUT I FEEL LOOK MAYBE WE COULD KIND OF TWEAK SOME THING TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS. I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN -- GOING ON DISCUSSION BUT IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER REGARDING REPORTING DATA. SPECIFICALLY, DISCIPLINE DATA. HE KNOW THAT -- I RECEIVE OF IT JUST TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY ALLEGATION. BUT
118LET ME GIVE AN EXAMPLE. GARY BRADY HAS -- YOU KNOW, HAS PROCEEDED SOME INFORMATION LIKE ON PM 1, PM 2 DATA. IS IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE THIS BOARD WITH -- WITH DETAILED DISCIPLINE, LIKE A REPORT CARD FOR US ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THAT WAY WE KIND OF NOVEMBER WHAT IS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS -- BUT PROVIDE US, LIKE, A CLEAR SNAPSHOT FOR -- NOT JUST FOR US BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY. ON A QUARTERLY BASIS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING THE DES PLAIN. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE WORKING HARD AND CAN BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT THE COMMUNITY MAY BE ABLE TO ALSO PROVIDE. BUT BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN'T DO THIS ON OUR OWN. TAN TAKES A PARTNERSHIP. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS. WE ARE OUT
119ON THE SCHOOLS ALL THE CHIME. A AND WHERE WE HAVE PROVIDE OUR SUPPORT. CONSTANTLY GET PHONE CALL AFTER PHONE CALL AFTER PHONE CALL AND I AM ALWAYS ONLY THE PHONE WITH DR. GRACE OAR ON PHONE WITH MARCUS SNOWFALLMURILLO. WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE A CONSISTENT PLATFORM, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE SOME DATA THAT WOULD BE IMPACTFUL, NOT ONLY TO US, BUT ALSO TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS TO GET A CLEAR UNDER STANDING WHERE WE STAND. AND WHAT AREAS OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PARENTS NEED TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW. AND BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT. AND MAYBE THEY COULD ALSO SEE WHERE THEY NEED TO PUT A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS. YOU KNOW, STUDENT BEHAVIORS ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE PERSON OR ONE DIVISION IN YOUR -- IN
120YOUR -- IN YOUR CABINET, BUT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE STUDENTS SUCCESS. IF THAT CAN HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. A LEAST FOR THERE ARE BOARD MEMBER. I KNOW I USED THE DATA. I KNOW THAT MEMBER RENDON DOES AS WELL IN SOME OF MEETINGS WE ATTEND. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? Superintendent Ayres: SURE. I WILL JUST ADD THAT THE UPDATES FOR PM 1 AND 2 THAT MR. BRADY GIVES PART OF THE READING OBJECTIVE AS PART OF THE BOARD'S SUSPENDED AGENDA. WE BRING IT TO THE BOARD ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND WHAT MR. BRADY AS CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WILL BRING TONIGHT BOARD. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE IT AND FOLLOWING THE BOARD'S BILL OF READING UPDATES. FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE IT ON THE SUSPENDED AMEND
121DISCIPLINE UPDATES, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT AND PROVIDE IT IN THE SAME FORMAT. IF THE WILL OF BOARD TO DO THAT, WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD ON A SUSPENDED AGENDA ITEM. WE CAN DO THAT. AND THEN WE CAN ALSOS HAVE DR. GRAVES SEND OUT UPDATE AND MEET WITH YOU AND GET A FEEL FOR WHEN YOU WANT THOSE UPDATES TO HAPPEN. BUT WANT TO BE ON SUSPENDED AGENDA AND PRESENTED SIMILAR FOR MR.Y DOES. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT IF THAT IS THE WILL OF BOARD. Karen Perez: THAT WAY THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND NOT A GUESSWORK. Superintendent Ayres: YES, MA'AM. Karen Perez: PERFECT. THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.