001Karen Perez: THE DECEMBER 16 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. I'M GOING TO HAVE ATTORNEY PORTER START THE MEETING. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. TODAY, WE HAVE OUR POLICY WORKSHOP. AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO DISCUSS POLICIES PROPOSED BOTH BY YOU ALL AND BY STAFF. IF THERE'S CONSENSUS ON POLICIES MOVING FORWARD, THEY WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. WE DO HAVE A FEW HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS BEFORE WE START. POLICY 5,517.01, BULLYING AND HARASSMENT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. SO THAT WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY. POLICY 2520 AND POLICY 9130, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, NEED TO BE HEARD TOGETHER. SO WE'LL DO THOSE AT THE VERY END. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BEGIN THE POLICIES. FIRST ONE IS 5512,
002TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT PROPOSED BY MS. GRAY. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. THIS IS ONE OF THREE POLICY WORKSHOPS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. DAVIS. WE LOOK FORWARD WORKING THROUGH THESE AND GETTING CONSENSUS SO WE CAN SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MS. GRAY, IF YOU ARE READY, WE'LL START WITH 5512, TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT. THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS, FOR LISTENING. [MICROPHONE NOT ON] THEIR DISPOSITION. HOW THEY CAN FOCUS FROM THE ACADEMIC SIDE, AND IT DOES REMIND ONE OF PAYING ATTENTION OR NOT PAYING ATTENTION, VERY UNPROVABLE BUT DEFINITELY CITABLE. I THINK ALL OF THOSE REASONS ALONE PROMPTED THAT FLORIDA STATUTE, WHICH WAS FAIRLY RECENT AND THEN THE ONES BEFORE THAT WERE MADE ALSO. THAT'S MY WHY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT ME TO SAY? NO. OKAY. Karen Perez: BOARD MEMBERS, IF ANYBODY
003WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AND GET INTO THE QUEUE, MOTION TO ME. Nadia Combs: WE'LL GO DOWN THE LINE. WE'LL START WITH MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR BRINGING THIS. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME IN OUR SOCIETY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE CRITICAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WITH VAPING WITH OUR STUDENTS. I WOULD ASK THAT IN THE GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE POLICY WE INCLUDE THE THOUSAND FEET -- OR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL PROPERTY BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S NEGLECTFUL NOT PUTTING THAT IN THERE TO MAKE SURE -- BECAUSE IT IS A TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES THAT. THE OTHER THING I WOULD ASK IS ON THE VERY LAST PAGE, 3 OF 3, ON LINE 102 TO 103, WHERE IT SAYS STUDENTS
004WHO VIOLATE THIS POLICY, I WOULD ELIMINATE "MAY RANGE FROM POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS UP TO INCLUDING SUSPENSION, EXPULSION" AND I WOULD LEAVE AS OUTLINED BY THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THE PRIORITY, NOT INDIVIDUAL ADDRESSING INDIVIDUAL POLICY AND EACH INDIVIDUAL THING. I THINK THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT NEEDS TO HAVE THE PRIORITY SO WE ELIMINATE THAT ONE PIECE. Nadia Combs: I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST IF WE LISTEN TO ALL THE COMMENTS AND THEN YOU CAN SPEAK AFTER THAT. I THINK IT WILL BE QUICKER. WE HAVE A LOT OF POLICIES. LET'S GET THE FEEDBACK AND GO FROM THERE, MEMBER GRAY, IF YOU DON'T MIND. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. AM I ON? CAN YOU HEAR THIS? SHOCKINGLY I ALMOST AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MEMBER RENDON SAID. I THINK IT
005IS RIGHT ON TIME. IT IS A HUGE EPIDEMIC IN OUR SCHOOLS. EVEN WITH STUDENT FORUMS, THE STUDENTS WHO COME, THEY COME AND SAY ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS VAPING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BATHROOM. BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT THIS POLICY BUT I KNOW WE WERE TESTING OUT SOME SCHOOLS WHERE WE WERE DOING THE VAPING DETECTION IN THE BATHROOMS. SO I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS AND WHETHER WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO INSTALL THAT IN THE BATHROOMS AND STAIRWELLS WHERE THAT TENDS TO BE AN ISSUE IF KIDS ARE AVOIDING THE BATHROOMS. I AGREE WITH 102 TO 104 THAT WE WORK VERY HARD ON THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT TO OUTLINE THE ENTIRE MATRIX OF ALL THE ISSUES, SO PARENTS AND STUDENTS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND
006WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE. I THINK WE SHOULD REFERENCE THAT AS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE CONSEQUENCE FOR BEING CAUGHT. THE OTHER LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE BIT SUBJECTIVE TO EACH PERSON. I THINK THAT COULD BRING FORWARD ACCUSATIONS OF INEQUITY. WE NEED AN ACROSS THE BOARD OUTLINE POLICIES WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT FORWARD AND THAT'S MY FEEDBACK. THANK YOU. Van Ayres: MEMBER COMBS, IF YOU ARE OKAY, IF MR. FARKAS CAN GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE VAPING. Christopher Farkas: WE DID HAVE THREE DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT WE USED FOR VAPING THAT WE USED IN HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOMS. WE GOT FEEDBACK WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND WE DID GO FORWARD WITH THE HALO SENSOR, PRODUCED BY MOTOROLA. THEY WILL BE INSTALLED IN ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS THIS SPRING.
007WE'RE NOT DOING STAIRWELLS. JUST BATHROOMS TO START WITH. CAPITAL FUNDS. YOU'LL SEE THE BOARD ITEM IN JANUARY THAT WILL GO FORWARD WITH THE PART 2. NOW WE CAN START TO COLLECT THE DATA. WE'VE SEEN POSITIVE THINGS. HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MORE UPDATES WITH MS. McCOY AND MR. NELSON. THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE HAPPY THEY HAVE A WAY TO SEE THAT. WE'RE TYING IN THE CAMERAS TO THAT. OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE BATHROOMS BUT THE HALLWAYS NEAR THE BATHROOMS. WHO IS GOING IN AND YOU THE OF THE BATHROOM. THAT'S HAPPENING. WE HAVE AUTHENTIC FEEDBACK FROM THREE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL SITES. THAT WAS THE LEADING ONE. INSTALLING THOSE THIS SPRING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, IF YOU COULD STAY, I THINK BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. WE'LL GO THROUGH THE FEEDBACK AND THEN MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS.
008MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. THIS IS VERY STUDENT FOCUSED. AREN'T WE ENFORCING A TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR BUILDINGS? SHOULDN'T IT BE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD WORD THAT, BUT INSTEAD OF STUDENTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING, SHOULDN'T IT BE A LITTLE BROADER? Jim Porter: THE WAY THE POLICY MANUAL IS ORGANIZED, THINGS ARE SEPARATED BY STUDENT, STAFF. IT IS COVERED IN OTHER PLACES. Stacy Hahn: AS LONG AS WE CAN MIRROR THIS IN OTHER PLACES. THE OTHER THING I NOTICED IS THE DEFINITIONS B AND F ARE VERY SIMILAR. SO I WOULD SUGGEST SOMEHOW SYNTHESIZING THAT INTO ONE. BECAUSE IT SAYS ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO AND THEN IT IS KIND OF THE SAME IN F. SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE -- Jim Porter: WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.
009Stacy Hahn: IN G, WHERE IT SAYS THE DEVICE HAS FEATURES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY APPEALING TO MINORS, DO WE NEED TO FLESH THAT OUT A LITTLE MORE? I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT FEATURES IT HAS TO BE APPEALING. Jim Porter: THAT'S STATUTORY LANGUAGE. I TOOK THAT FROM THE STATUTE. Stacy Hahn: I DON'T KNOW WHAT FEATURES ARE ON A VAPE THAT WOULD BE MORE APPEALING TO A MINOR THAN NOT. Lynn Gray: WE GOT THIS FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND LEGAL AFFAIRS. Jim Porter: HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE. Stacy Hahn: SIGNAGE RIGHT NOW IN SCHOOLS IS NO TOBACCO, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. Stacy Hahn: VAPING IS AN ACTION. TOBACCO IS THE ACTUAL -- IS NOT AN ACTION. IT'S KIND OF STRANGE. SHOULD IT BE NO SMOKING OR VAPING. THOSE ARE TWO
010ACTIONS. [INAUDIBLE] Jim Porter: WE COULD SAY NO USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS -- Stacy Hahn: I AGREE WITH ALIGNING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. THAT SHOULD COME FIRST SO WE DON'T HAVE SCHOOL BY SCHOOL, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE EXPERIENCED WITH THE RULES AROUND WHAT KIDS CAN WEAR TO SCHOOL. KIDS ARE GETTING FLAGGED AT ONE SCHOOL FOR WEARING SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER CHILD ISN'T AT ANOTHER SCHOOL. THE CODE OF CONDUCT CAN GUIDE IT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR CONTINUITY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: I THINK WE HAVE THREE MEMBER COMMENTS AND MEMBER GRAY, I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU. MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER WASHINGTON. Karen Perez: I'M AGREEING WITH MY THREE FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. YOU'RE CORRECT. MEMBER GRAY, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH, A LOT OF STUDENTS CLAIM THAT THEY VAPE INSTEAD OF SMOKING DUE TO STRESS,
011YOU KNOW, THAT THEY FEEL ANXIOUS SO THEY START VAPING. BUT BETWEEN LINES 103 AND 104, I JUST FEEL THAT THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IS MORE SPECIFIC AS OPPOSED TO THE GENERALITIES THAT IT TALKS ABOUT, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T SPECIFY WHAT THOSE ARE ASIDE FROM INCLUDING SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION. SO I THINK SENDING IT BACK TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH IS MORE SPECIFIC, WOULD BE BEST AS MENTIONED BY MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR. QUICK QUESTION. PATTYI, YOU HAD A GREAT POINT. WE HAVE TO PUT FEET BETWEEN WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS. HOW ABOUT IF A PERSON IS SMOKING SAYING ON THE SIDEWALK, WHICH IS CITY PROPERTY, NOT SCHOOL PROPERTY.
012HOW WOULD THAT BE DEALT WITH? Jim Porter: MEMBER RENDON HAD A GOOD POINT WITH THAT. THAT COMES FROM THE STATUTE AS WELL. WE CAN LOOK AT THE NUANCES OF THAT BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAT WAS MY QUESTION. Jim Porter: THANKS. GOOD QUESTION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I BASICALLY HAD THE SAME EXACT NOTES WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS LAST WEEK AS FAR AS LINES 102 TO 104. I AGREE WITH ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS TO CHANGE THAT VERBIAGE. ALSO, THE SAME THING WITH THE SIGNS. I GUESS THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR YOU, MR. FARKAS. WHEN WE GET THOSE SIGNS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THE COST OF THE SIGNS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT ONE TIME AND THAT'S IT, LOOKING AT THE SIGNS. THE OTHER PART IS
013BECAUSE THERE ARE KIDS WHO ARE VERY ADDICTED TO VAPING, AND THEY ARE VAPING ALL THE TIME, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THOSE LETTERS NEED TO GO OUT TO THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS RIGHT AWAY SO THAT WAY -- I MEAN, LITERALLY, IF SOMEONE IS ADDICTED AND THEY ARE SMOKING EVERY THIRD OR FOURTH PERIOD, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR THE STUDENTS TO QUIT. THE SOONER THAT THESE KIDS ARE TOLD RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, THAT THESE ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLED, THAT THERE IS A ZERO TOLERANCE, I THINK THE SOONER WE DO THAT, THE BETTER WE DO THAT. I DON'T WANT TO SEE KIDS SUSPENDED, IN-SCHOOL SUSPENDED OR MISSING ACADEMICS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS ADDICTION AND THEN YOU'RE TELLING THEM THE FIRST TIME THEY DO THAT. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET
014THAT OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE PARENTS, TO THE STUDENTS, THE PRINCIPALS TALK ABOUT IT, TO THE TEACHERS. WE REALLY WANT TO BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE SCHOOLS TO BE INUNDATED WITH NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR, CONSEQUENCES, THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO OCCUR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MEMBER GRAY, IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU RECEIVED. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. SO LET'S START OUT WITH WHAT WE JUST SAID. CHRIS FARKAS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH METAL SIGNAGE NO VAPING. WE'LL GET A PRICE COST ON IT. DID YOU GET IT YET? Christopher Farkas: I DID. WE DID THE SIGNS WE DID ON BUILDING. THE SAFETY SIGNS, THE BIG ONE, TWO, THREES ON THE BUILDINGS. TO DO ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, I DID NOT DO ELEMENTARY.
015WE CAN DO ELEMENTARY. ELEMENTARY IS EASIER. WE CAN DO IT AT ONE POINT. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ENTRY POINT. FOUR FOR EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, TWO FOR EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL. ALL THE SIGNAGE LESS THAN $20,000. WE WANT THE SIGNAGE TO BE UNIFORM. TO DR. HAHN'S POINT, WHAT THEY SEE AT EVERY SCHOOL IS EXACTLY THE SAME. WON'T HANG ON EVERY BATHROOM. EVERY ENTRANCE. WHEN YOU ENTER THE CAMPUS, YOU KNOW THAT IS THE POLICY OF THAT CAMPUS. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. ADDRESSING QUICKLY, MEMBER RENDON, STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND ALL THE CONSEQUENCES, WHAT WE DID IS INSTEAD OF JUST SUSPENSION, WE PUT A PBI -- POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INCENTIVE SUPPORTS. IN OTHER WORDS, INITIATING STEPS BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE HIGH DEGREE OF PUNITIVE VALUE, WHICH
016IS IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION OR ALTERNATIVE. SO WE PUT THAT INTO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IN ALMOST EVERY CITATION BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE KIDS BE SUSPENDED OR BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR ACADEMIC RECORD. AND THAT'S TO SAY THE LEAST. SO THAT'S WHY -- AND THIS CAME FROM OUR HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE, WHICH I HAVE ABOUT 14 OF THEM SAYING THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER. THEY ARE EXPERTS INTO WHAT THE MEAT OF THIS PARTICULAR POLICY IS. I WAS DEFINITELY REMARKING AND RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION. SECONDLY, YES, MEMBER VAUGHN, WE DO HAVE THE PILOTS GOING ON. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. THANKFULLY WE'LL HAVE IT IN ALL SCHOOLS. MR. FARKAS, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THAT'S GOING TO REALLY SHOW SOME DATA WHICH ALSO IS MUCH-NEEDED. MEMBER HAHN, I AGREE WITH YOU, SPECIFICALLY, AND I SAID TO JIM
017THAT B AND F ARE JUST ABOUT THE SAME DEFINITION. SO I WANTED TO JUST TO HAVE ONE, BUT THAT WAS THE CALL FROM OUR ATTORNEY, AND HE HAS MORE LEGAL KNOW-HOW THAN I DO. SO THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THAT. MEMBER WASHINGTON, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY. I APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL CARE FOR THE SAFETY AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. Nadia Combs: WE HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT FROM MEMBER RENDON AND THEN, MR. PORTER, YOU'LL WRAP THAT UP AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH A LOT OF THE POLICIES TODAY. Patti Rendon: MY QUESTION IS FOR YOU, MR. PORTER.
018BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THE PILOTS NOW, DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT IN THE POLICY NOW THAT WE'LL DOING THE PILOTS AND BRING THE POLICY BACK ONCE WE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOLS? RIGHT NOW, IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF BEHAVIOR OR ANY KIND OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION USED, OUR POLICY DOESN'T MATCH OUR DETEXAS IN OUR BATHROOMS. Jim Porter: WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST? THINKING OUT LOUD, THIS WOULD NOT APPLY TO THE SCHOOLS CURRENTLY -- Patti Rendon: WELL, IT DOES APPLY TO THE SCHOOLS. THOSE SIX SCHOOLS CURRENTLY ARE GOING TO BE IDENTIFYING VAPING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER SCHOOLS. SO RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY THAT ADDRESSES IF SOMEONE IS DISCIPLINED FOR BEING CAUGHT VAPING IN A BATHROOM BASED ON THE DETECTION DEVICE. Jim Porter: PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT -- TEMPORARY FOR
019TEMPORARY MEASURE THAT THE SIX PILOT PROGRAMS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THIS POLICY. Patti Rendon: WELL, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE POLICY. Jim Porter: NOW THEY ARE. BUT IF YOUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THEM NOT BE -- Patti Rendon: I'M SAYING IF I'M A PARENT, MY STUDENT IS DISCIPLINED FOR VAPING BASED UPON A DEVICE OF DETECTING THAT DEVICE. THEN I HAVE PARENT B WHOSE STUDENT IS ACTUALLY SEEN VAPING, I DON'T WANT TO COME TO THE POLICY AND, WELL, YOU ONLY HAVE IT HERE IF THEY ARE CAUGHT. CAUGHT BY A PERSON, NOT BY A DEVICE. I THINK WE SHOULD ADD A PARAGRAPH IN HERE THAT IF UTILIZED BY A VAPING MONITORING SYSTEM, THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES IT. OF COURSE, WHEN WE GO DISTRICTWIDE -- THAT WOULD
020BE THINGS WE COVER OURSELVES, IF A PARENT WOULD LOOK FOR HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THOSE DEVICES. Jim Porter: I'LL WORK WITH STAFF ON THAT. I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM. WE'LL COME UP WITH A GRAPH THAT ADDRESSES THAT. Patti Rendon: WHEN WE GO WITH EVERYBODY, IT CAN BE A UNIFORM POLICY. WE NEED TO AT LEAST ADDRESS IT. SOME STUDENTS COULD BE CAUGHT WITH THAT DEVICE. MEMBER COMBS BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD POINT. BECAUSE OF THE STATUTE, BECAUSE OF THIS BEING A PRIORITY, SHOULD WE SAY THAT WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ANY KIND OF VAPING OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS? ISN'T THAT OUR POLICY, THAT WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE? I DON'T KNOW. SOUNDS LIKE THE WAY WE ARE ALL SPEAKING, THE POLICY REALLY IS WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE ON OUR CAMPUS AND THAT SHOULD
021BE OUR FIRST STATEMENT. Nadia Combs: AS I SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE POLICIES ARE RIGHT, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE. MEMBER VAUGHN HAD 30 SECONDS AND THEN MEMBER GRAY 30 SECONDS AS WELL FOR YOU. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: I'LL SPEED TALK. I AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS THAT ALL THE CHANGES NEED TO BE DONE WITH A WHOLE KIND OF MEDIA PUSH OUT TO OUR FAMILIES NOT TO GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD. BUT I DO KIND OF WONDER, GLAD YOU ARE HERE, IF THIS IS MORE APPROPRIATE WHAT MEMBER RENDON IS REFERENCING FOR THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT ITSELF THAN THE POLICY. THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS. 30 SECONDS. DID I MAKE IT? Nadia Combs: YOU WERE 15. MEMBER GRAY, 30 SECONDS, PLEASE. Lynn Gray: I'M GUIDED BY AND
022THINK WE ALL ARE BY THE FLORIDA STATUTE THAT THIS IS PROHIBITED, PERIOD, THE END. IT IS THE LAW. ZERO TOLERANCE AND PBIS, IN OTHER WORDS, MEDIATION VERSUS ZERO TOLERANCE, I'M MORE ON THE SIDE OF GIVING KIDS ANOTHER CHANCE. THAT IS A PHILOSOPHY. I UNDERSTAND ZERO TOLERANCE BUT ALSO SUPPORT, AND SO DOES OUR COMMITTEE, KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL AS BEST WE CAN. I DON'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT LINE THERE. THAT'S MY TWO CENTS WITH THIS POLICY. THAT'S WHY I HAD IT WRITTEN ACCORDINGLY. DONE. HOW MANY SECONDS? Jim Porter: IF WE COULD WRAP UP SO MS. DAVIS AND I KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE PILOT PROGRAM AND SEE HOW THAT INTERACTS HERE. WHETHER WE ADD A PARAGRAPH HERE OR TO THE STUDENT
023CODE OF CONDUCT BUT NEED TO ADDRESS IT. I'LL LOOK AT THE QUESTION THAT MR. WASHINGTON RAISED ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET FROM SCHOOL PROPERTY AND INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND COMPLIES WITH THE LAW ON THAT. LOOK AT WHETHER WE ADD ZERO TOLERANCE OR NOT. WE'LL LOOK AT THOSE. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DEFINITIONS B AND F AND TO THE EXTENT THEY CAN BE COMBINED WE'LL COMBINE THEM OR MODIFY THE EXISTING DEFINITIONS. WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT SUBPARAGRAPH -- OR PARAGRAPH G, LANGUAGE DR. HAHN RAISED, MORE LANGUAGE IN THE STATUTE WE COULD ADD THAT MIGHT MAKE IT CLEARER. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE SIGNAGE AND HOW THE SIGNAGE SHOULD READ TO MAKE SURE IT IS CONSISTENT GRAMMATICALLY AND CONVEYS THE MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE CONVEYED. WE'RE GOING TO DELETE OR ELIMINATE THE OPTIONS FOR DISCIPLINE AND
024DEFER TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. WITH THOSE CHANGES, WE'LL MAKE THOSE CHANGES. YOU'LL HAVE THEM WELL IN TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS POLICY WILL MOVE FORWARD BY CONSENSUS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. NEXT POLICY. Jim Porter: THE NEXT POLICY IS BEING BROAD BY MEMBER PEREZ. POLICY 5,610.04. THIS IS REGARDING HARASSMENT -- WE WORKED WITH STAFF ON THIS ONE. MS. PEREZ'S DIRECTION. YOU HAVE THIS POLICY. THIS IS POLICY 5,610.04. WE HAVE AN EXISTING POLICY ABOUT BEHAVIOR ON SCHOOL BUSES. THE LANGUAGE MS. PEREZ IS PROPOSING ENHANCES THAT AND CREATES MORE CONSEQUENCES. AGAIN, WE WORKED WITH STAFF ON THAT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS APPROPRIATE AND GOOD FEEDBACK FROM STAFF. IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING FROM YOUR END. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. I WORKED WITH DR. GRAY AND KRISTIN ON THE
025LANGUAGE. Karen Perez: THE REASON WHY, BOARD MEMBERS, I BROUGHT THIS UP IS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HAD ON THE SCHOOL BUSES AND HOW IT REMAINS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE BUS DRIVERS. THERE ARE OTHER STUDENTS ON THE BUSES WHILE THE STUDENTS ARE ACTING UP. THERE'S BEEN FIGHTS ON THESE BUSES. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS, OTHER STUDENTS ON THE BUSES, ALONG WITH OUR BUS DRIVERS. I JUST FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THIS POLICY AND JUST TIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT. Nadia Combs: RIGHT NOW I HAVE IN QUEUE MEMBER VAUGHN AND THEN MEMBER GRAY. ANYBODY ELSE, KIND OF MOTION TO ME. MEMBER VAUGHN, PLEASE START. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS POLICY FORWARD, ESPECIALLY AS YOU'VE MENTIONED WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN
026RECENT MONTHS. THE ONLY QUESTIONS THAT I REALLY HAVE ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WERE SAYING TO MEMBER GRAY'S POLICY AROUND INCLUDING SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, MORE REFERENCING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT TO KEEP THAT FOR CONTINUITY IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GIVING THE FEEDBACK ON THE OTHER POLICY. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD HAS BEEN KIND OF LIKE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT DISCIPLINE SINCE THE STUDENT IS NOT ACTUALLY AT SCHOOL AND THAT'S SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND KIND OF ENFORCING THIS NEW EXPECTATIONS AND DISCIPLINE, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. IS THAT THE BUS DRIVER? IS IT OPERATIONS? IS IT THE PRINCIPAL? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THAT'S WHAT I NEED ANSWERS ON AND I THINK IT
027SHOULD BE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE ALL IN CHARGE OF ISSUING DISCIPLINE. THE BUS DRIVER WOULD REPORT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BUS TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND BASED ON THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND OTHER RULES AT THE SCHOOL -- Jim Porter: LINES 31 AND 32. THAT'S NOT NEW. IT'S BEEN THERE A WHILE. Jessica Vaughn: CAN WE INCLUDE THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT THAT TALKS ABOUT THE BUSES AND THE TRANSPORTATION TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH THIS NEXT TIME? ANYTHING THAT REFERENCES THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WHEN EVALUATING THE POLICY, CAN WE HAVE THAT PIECE OF THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE I STILL WORRY THAT IS THE DISCONNECT THAT PRINCIPALS DON'T EMBRACE THAT PHILOSOPHY, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON THE BUS IS NECESSARILY THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FROM
028THE FEEDBACK I'VE SEEN. IF WE CAN CLARIFY THAT OR REINFORCE THAT, THAT WOULD BE -- TRYING TO BE SHORT. Nadia Combs: MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS MUCH-NEEDED. HEAR TOO MANY TIMES AND MS. HILL YOU ARE DOING A VERY COMMENDABLE JOB WITH THE TRANSPORTATION. MY QUESTION IS TWOFOLD. FIRST, YOU GO ON A BUS. WHERE ARE THE RULES? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS AND HOW CLEAR DO KIDS -- AND THEN I'LL GET INTO THE OTHER COMMUNICATION. SO THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE RULES FOR THE SCHOOL BUS ARE POSTED ON THE BUS, EVERY SINGLE BUS. WE SEND -- THE CODE OF CONDUCT GOES OUT TO THE KIDS WITH THE TRANSPORTATION SECTION ON HOW THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE ON THE BUS. Lynn Gray: WHAT DOES THE BUS DRIVER DO WHEN
029THERE IS A BEHAVIOR PROBLEM? BUS DRIVER WARNS THE STUDENT. VERBAL WARNING? YES, MA'AM. IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THAT BEHAVIOR, THEY'LL DO INTERVENTIONS LIKE POSSIBLY MOVE THEIR SEAT, TALK TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ON THE RAMP ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE WITNESSING ON THE BUS. TALK WITH THEIR SUPERVISOR ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY DO TO HELP THE STUDENT BEHAVE. IF THOSE THINGS DON'T WORK, THEY'LL WRITE A REFERRAL. Lynn Gray: WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PROCEDURE, IT HASN'T HELPED, BUT THE STUDENTS ARE STILL DISRUPTING ON THE BUS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVATION WHY MEMBER PEREZ WROTE IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEN THE ARGUMENT AGAIN IS, DO WE DO A ZERO TOLERANCE OR A PBIS? IN OTHER WORDS, IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION. WELL, THE SAFETY ISSUE TO ME IS SUCH A PRIORITY, AND THIS GOES TO THE PRINCIPAL. MR. FARKAS --
030HOW ARE THE PRINCIPALS HANDLING THIS SITUATION? THE RAMPS ARE JUST FULL OF PROBLEMS. Christopher Farkas: FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THE POLICY BEING BROUGHT FORWARD. WE ALL DRIVE IN TAMPA IN OUR CARS THAT ARE SMALLER. YOU REALIZE WHAT A CHALLENGE IT IS TO DO IN OUR CARS. THEN 60, OPEN CARS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE BEHAVING. COMMENDABLE JOB. GOT THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN I FIRST STARTED TEACHING, DRIVE A BUS. IT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE WHAT WE DO. WE CAN PUT AS MUCH TRAINING AS WE WANT TO FOR OUR BUS DRIVERS. IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE, STUDENT BEHAVIOR, COMMUNITY BEHAVIOR CONTINUES, IT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN WE HAVE. ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS PUT ANOTHER PERSON ON THE BUDGET. FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, NOT A REALISTIC THING TO DO. WE'VE DONE THAT IN A FEW PLACES IN CERTAIN
031AREAS. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUS SUSPENSION. YES, HUNDRED PERCENT THE SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. IT IS A CHALLENGE. DISCONNECT. NOT YOUR STAFF MEMBER. BUS DRIVER PUTS IN THE REFERRAL AND GOES ON TO RUN OTHER ROUTES AS OPPOSED TO A TEACHER YOU MAY GET FEEDBACK FROM. OTHER CHALLENGE IS ESE STUDENTS. ESE STUDENT SUSPENDED FROM THE BUS, COUNTS AS REVOCATION AND TIME AWAY FROM THE TEN DAYS. ALSO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. IT COUNTS AS A SUSPENSION, ONE OF THE SUSPENSION DAYS. EVEN IF YOU TOOK THEM OFF THE BUS AND DON'T COME TO SCHOOL. BUS SUSPENSION IS HUNDRED PERCENT A REAL THING AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE AS EDUCATORS AND ON THE SCHOOL BOARD NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACTIONS ARE. WE HAVE STUDENTS ONLY MISBEHAVING
032ON A BUS. IT'S IMPORTANT, A SAFETY ISSUE. WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME WHEN IN REALITY SOME OF THE KIDS ARE GREAT AT SCHOOL. IT IS THEIR BUS TIME, WHETHER A LONG BUS RIDE OR THE MAKEUP OF THE STUDENTS ON THE BUS. IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE POLICY GOING FORWARD. MS. PEREZ, YOU ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT. WE'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE BEHAVIORS. I DON'T WANT TO SET AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION FOR OUR BUS DRIVERS WHEN IT'S SUCH A CHALLENGE TO DRIVE IN OUR CURRENT SETUP, YES, WE'LL TRAIN THEM. MS. HILL DID A GREAT JOB WITH MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS AND TECHNIQUES. WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT. IT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE.
033I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A QUICK ANSWER. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION MORE THAN YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT UP -- WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE PEOPLE. NEXT IS MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH MEMBER VAUGHN, WITH 27 AND 28. WE'RE MOVING THE RANGE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIOR. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. MAKE SURE WE'RE REFERRING TO THAT. MAKE SURE ON OUR POLICY AND WEBSITES WE INCLUDE THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT SO IT IS READILY AVAILABLE. WE STATED HERE, FAMILIES, IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE POLICY, THEY CAN SEE IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. MS. HILL, I WANT TO THANK YOU. IN HERE AS A POLICY BECAUSE IT IS MENTIONED IN HERE, LIKE STAFF WILL RECEIVE THE TRAINING, YOU ARE
034ALREADY DOING A LOT OF TRAINING. IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD ADD INTO THIS POLICY THAT ADDRESSES WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING WE'RE ALREADY DOING SO THAT OUR POLICY IS MATCHING WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING? IS THERE A TECHNIQUE? HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT? I KNOW YOU DO IT EVERY YEAR. I KNOW YOU DO IT AS A REPEAT. IF YOU SEE AN ISSUE ON A BUS, YOU DO REPEAT TRAINING. SHOULD WE BE INCLUDING IN THIS POLICY THAT WHICH WE AS A DISTRICT ARE DOING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STATE IN HERE AS A PRIORITY? YEAH, WE CAN ADD THAT IN THERE FOR SURE BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE MODULES WE TRAIN DRIVERS ON. WE CAN ADD THAT LANGUAGE. Patti Rendon: EVERY ONE OF OUR BUSES DOES HAVE AN INTERNAL CAMERA THAT IF DISRUPTION OCCURS THAT BUS
035DRIVER PRESSES THAT. SO THERE IS CAMERA EVIDENCE OF THE BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THE BUS DRIVER CANNOT STOP UNLESS IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT LISTED ANYWHERE ON THIS POLICY THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO PUT ON THIS POLICY AS WELL. THE OTHER THING IS, I LIKE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE SPRING WHEN WE COME BACK FROM BREAK TO DO A RIDE-ALONG WITH ONE OF OUR BUSES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW THAT SUPPORT. ALSO, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, IF WE BRING THIS TO A POLICY THAT WE ACTUALLY SAY WE HAVE TAKEN PART AND BEEN ON IT, IF YOU COULD ARRANGE THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. ABSOLUTELY. ANY DAY, ANYTIME. Patti Rendon: MY ONLY LAST COMMENT IS I BELIEVE WE DID IN THE LAST POLICY CYCLE, WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE NEW LAW
036THAT STATES THAT IT IS TRESPASSING FOR PARENT ON A BUS. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED IN ANOTHER SECTION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: ADD ME TO THE RIDE-ALONG. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SPEAKERS THAT COME IN FOR THE BUS DRIVERS. HAVE WE EVER SPOKEN TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DOING WHAT THEY DO ON THE BUSES EVERY YEAR TO MAKE THEM AWARE? SO THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. WE STARTED THIS YEAR A SCHOOL BUS SAFETY PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE GOING AROUND. WE KIND OF DID THAT A FEW YEARS AGO. I'LL DATE MYSELF, WHERE WE USED TO DO THAT MANY YEARS AGO. STARTED THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR, GOING AROUND TALKING TO STUDENTS, DOING ROLE PLAY, ACTIVE INTERVENTION ABOUT HOW TO BE SAFE GETTING ON THE BUS, GETTING OFF THE BUS, WHILE RIDING
037ON THE BUS SO WE ARE DOING SOME OF THAT. Christopher Farkas: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT AT THE YOUNGER AGES. THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED. Christopher Farkas: COMIC BOOKS, KIDS CAN SEE THE DANGERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEHAVING ON THE BUS. WE WANT TO START THAT EARLY. GOING AROUND WITH PARTNERS, GIVING AWAY BOOKS AND DOING ACTIVITIES. GREAT QUESTION. Karen Perez: CAN THAT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY LIKE MANDATE TO TAKE? BECAUSE THOSE BEHAVIORS ARE LIKE IN THE VEHICLES, LIKE PARENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THOSE CAR SEATS. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE CHILDREN BUCKLED UP. WE TRAIN THE CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE GETTING IN THE CAR. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PART OF A COURSE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN THAT BUS IS MOVING. IF THERE IS
038A CRASH, BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THAT THIS CAN BE AVOIDED? THERE ARE SOME STATE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE DO FOR BUS EVACUATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE EDUCATE KIDS HOW TO ACT ON THE BUS, HOW TO GET OFF THE BUS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER TO GIVE TO SCHOOLS TO GIVE OUT TO STUDENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I FORGOT THE SECOND PART OF MY QUESTION ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARENT OUTREACH, HOW ARE THE PARENTS BEING INFORMED OF LET'S JUST SAY THE DIFFICULTIES OF YOUR SON, DAUGHTER, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY ARE IMPOSING A SAFETY ELEMENT TO THE BUS RIDE? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE PARENTS EQUALLY EDUCATED? THEY ARE. THROUGH REFERRAL PROCESS. NOT FROM THE BUS
039DRIVER, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION SOMETIMES, FROM A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE SCHOOL SITE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THEY COMMUNICATE THAT BACK TO THE DRIVERS -- I MEAN BACK TO THE STUDENTS. BACK TO THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR PARENTS. SOMETIMES THE PARENTS MEET US AT THE DOOR OF THE BUS, TOO, AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS. GOOD THING. IT IS. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MS. HILL. THANK YOU, VICE-CHAIR. Nadia Combs: ONE MORE COMMENT FROM MEMBER VAUGHN AND THEN DONE WITH THE POLICY. Jessica Vaughn: IS IT POSSIBLE SINCE WE HAVE THESE KIND OF BEHAVIOR-MODIFYING CLASSES OR CURRICULUM OR THINGS THAT WE KIND OF TEACH TO THE KIDS TO BE PART OF THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT? THAT INSTEAD OF A SUSPENSION, THERE IS LIKE A MANDATED TRAINING EXPERIENCE
040THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, LIKE IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION WHERE IT IS NOT THE FULL DAY, BUT 20 OR 15 OR 30 MINUTES THERE IS A PIECE OF IT WHERE THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND LIKE THE CONSEQUENCES, THE EXPECTATIONS, AND THEY KIND OF GET THAT TRAINING AS A PIECE OF IT? Christopher Farkas: LOVE THAT IDEA. RETRAIN DRIVERS, NO REASON WE CAN'T RETRAIN KIDS AND START ON THAT. HUNDRED PERCENT WE'LL WORK ON THAT. GREAT IDEA. Nadia Combs: MS. HILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB. WHENEVER THERE IS AN ISSUE AND I E-MAIL, YOU ARE SO RESPONSIVE AND YOU WORK VERY, VERY HARD. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS, I THINK, WITH THE BUS AND THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING BUS DRIVERS WITH SUCH A SHORTAGE. HR AS WELL BEING REALLY CREATIVE ON MAKING SURE THAT
041WE'RE PAYING OUR BUS DRIVERS. I ALWAYS SAY PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACT FOR ME WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL WAS MY BUS DRIVER. FIRST PERSON WHO SAW ME, LAST PERSON AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUS DRIVER IS SO IMPORTANT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM AT TRANSPORTATION. THEY MAKE MY JOB VERY EASY. Jim Porter: BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE, PER MS. VAUGHN'S REQUEST WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AS BACKUP SO EVERYBODY SEES WHAT IS HAPPENING. MS. RENDON SUGGESTED ADDING SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ABOUT THE TRAINING MODULES MS. HILL USES AND ALSO LANGUAGE ABOUT THE CAMERAS ON BUSES. I'LL RELY ON STAFF FOR HELP ON LANGUAGE FOR THAT. CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER POLICY, WE WILL ELIMINATE THE SPECIFIC DISCIPLINARY OPTIONS
042AND DEFER TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S CONSENSUS FOR THE POLICY TO MOVE FORWARD. THE NEXT POLICY, BOARD MEMBERS, POLICY 6210, FISCAL PLANNING. THIS WAS A COMBINATION OF DR. HAHN BRINGING IT FORWARD AND OUR CFO WORKING ON IT. WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CFO. Stacy Hahn: I'D LIKE THE CFO TO START AND THEN I'LL EXPLAIN IT. GOOD MORNING. WE'RE BACK HERE AGAIN TALKING ABOUT OUR FISCAL POLICY. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AS WE LOOK TO GET INTO A FINISHING LINE ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO SET THAT. I WANT TO START BY EXPRESSING MY THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS POLICY BACK. WE'LL HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION TO UNDERSTAND PARAMETERS. I THINK THAT WILL HELP SHAPE THE STORY. OUR GOAL IS THIS IS THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECE FOR ESTABLISHING THE BUDGET
043FOR THE DISTRICT. MAYBE EVEN MORE SO TO FULFILLING THE LONG-RANGE FISCAL PLANNING THAT WE WANT TO GET TO. I REALLY THINK THIS IS THE FOUNDATION THAT WE BUILD UPON THAT. SO WE'RE HOPING WE CAN ESTABLISH THAT AND GET THERE. SAYING THAT, A COUPLE OF THINGS WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS MORNING, JUST BRIEFLY BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE SHORT ON TIME, GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES AND THEN THINGS WE HAVE PROPOSED IN THE POLICY. AND THEN WELCOME A HEARTY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. FLORIDA STATUTE 1,011.051, THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS STATUTE REALLY SURROUNDS THE GUIDELINES OF USING OUR GENERAL FUNDS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF BUT DON'T TALK ABOUT A LOT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE POLICY. NUMBER ONE, THIS POLICY REFERENCES THE
044GENERAL FUND, THE OPERATING BUDGET. IT ONLY CENTERS AROUND THAT FUND. INSIDE OF THE FUND, WE HAVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. IN THE NEW POLICY, WE LISTED EVERY TYPE OF FUND CATEGORY WE HAVE. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE CONSIDER WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. BUT THIS POLICY OR THIS STATUTE FOCUSES ON THE NONRESTRICTED, NONCOMMITTED OR NON-SPENDABLE CATEGORIES. IT'S REALLY OUR UNRESTRICTED PORTIONS OF THE FUNDS. THE ONES THAT WE CAN USE FOR ANY TYPE OF NEED THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE DISTRICT. THERE'S REALLY TWO DIFFERENT PHASES OF THIS STATUTE. NUMBER ONE, IT CENTERS ON A 3% GENERAL FUND RESERVE. THAT'S IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE TOTAL REVENUE THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE DISTRICT. IF THE DISTRICT -- 3% THRESHOLD, THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL HAVE TO NOTIFY BOTH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED
045AND THEN SOME CONTEXT BEHIND THE KIND OF STORY ABOUT WHY DID YOUR FUND RESERVE DROP BELOW THAT. AFTER THAT POINT, IF IT EXISTS FOR TWO YEARS, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, EXISTS FOR TWO YEARS, THEN THE DISTRICT WILL BE MANDATED OR THERE'S SOME RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE TO DO TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE CONSIDER THAT. THE NEXT PART OF THE POLICY IS, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DROPS BELOW 2%. SO IF IT DROPS BELOW 2%, THE SAME THINGS HAPPEN AS THE FIRST TIME, BUT NOW SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION WILL DO A REVIEW, IF I CAN SUMMARIZE IT LIKE THAT, OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE DISTRICT. HE WILL APPOINT POTENTIALLY A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY STATE OF THE DISTRICT AND THEN THERE WILL BE SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT
046WE HAVE TO OPERATE ON EVEN MORE SO THAN WHAT HAPPENED WHEN FELL BELOW 3%. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONCE THE DISTRICT FALLS INTO A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY, INDEPENDENT REVIEW MOST LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED. INSIDE THAT INDEPENDENT REVIEW, THAT WILL HAVE DETERMINATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO FIX THAT AND THEN SOME ACTION PLANS FOR THE DISTRICT TO FOLLOW. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE THAT IS THE FOUNDATION. THAT IS THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE CAN OPERATE ON. THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DO WE OPERATE ABOVE THAT AS WE MANAGE THE DISTRICT. TO HELP EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE MORE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO EXPLAIN OUR HISTORY OF WHERE OUR FUND BALANCE HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. AS WE CONSIDER THIS, AND THIS IS FOUND IN OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SO
047IT'S PUBLIC RECORD. WHEN WE SEE THIS, IS WE CAN SEE HOW OUR FUND BALANCE HAS SHIFTED BACK IN 2020 FROM $118 MILLION FUND RESERVE TO THIS YEAR PROJECTED AT 226. NOW, INSIDE OF THOSE FUNDS, WE HAVE REALLY TWO GROUPS OF NUMBERS. WE HAVE OUR UNRESTRICTED PORTION, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATUTE MONITORS. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR MORE RESTRICTED FUNDS. IF YOU LOOK BACK IN 2020, UNRESTRICTED FUNDS WERE AT 4%. THAT'S KIND OF THE LOWEST THAT WE'VE SEEN. REMEMBER, POLICIES THAT START AT 3% AS THE BASE MINIMUM. WE'RE AT 4%. THIS YEAR WE'RE PROJECTED AT 7%. BUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WANT TO MENTION, IN BETWEEN THOSE YEARS, OBVIOUSLY SHIFTS IN OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING HAS HAPPENED. WE WANTED TO TRY TO DO BETTER THAN IN 2020. BUT ALSO COVID HAPPENED IN SOME OF THESE
048YEARS AND SAW AN INFLUX OF FUNDS THAT HELPED US IN NUMEROUS WAYS. YOU CAN SEE IN 2024, OUR UNRESTRICTED PORTION OF OUR FUNDS WAS UP 16.3%. SO WE SAW THAT HAS DROPPED IN TWO YEARS DOWN TO 7%. THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. 396 MILLION TO 226 MILLION ARE FUND RESERVE IN TOTALITY HAS DROPPED OVER 170 MILLION. THERE ARE REASONS WHY THAT IS GOOD TO SPEND THAT MONEY AND REASONS THAT WE NEED TO MONITOR THAT. THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE POLICY IS ABOUT. NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE BUT ALSO A BASE MINIMUM OF HOW YOU WANT TO MANAGE THE DISTRICT. IN THE POLICY, WE HAVE REFERENCED ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUND CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE. I DON'T
049WANT TO GO OVER THOSE THAT'S IN THE POLICY. WE WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THAT. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE, BUT FOR THE POLICY, THERE ARE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS -- ACTUALLY, THREE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE MAKING. THE FIRST IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THE FUND BALANCE, WHERE THE DISTRICT IS RECOMMENDING THAT TO MAINTAIN ITS SERVICE TO STUDENTS, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN A GENERAL FUND THAT IS 7% OF FUNDS THAT IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS RESTRICTED, COMMITTED OR NON-SPENDABLE. AND OVERALL 10% GENERAL FUND ENDING FUND BALANCE AS PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. 7% UNRESTRICTED PORTIONS AND 10% OVERALL, WHICH IS WHAT THE FISCAL YEAR 25-26 BUDGET WAS ESTABLISHED AT. THERE ARE TWO MAIN PIECES TO THE PENINSULA IS THAT HELPS US MANAGE THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING
050LIGHT TO THAT. NUMBER ONE, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE IN THE POLICY, IN CASE ANYTHING WAS TO OCCUR, SOMETHING UNFORESEEN, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN NEVER PREDICT, IT ALLOWS THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BRING FORTH AGENDA ITEM TO THE BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DROP BELOW THAT FUND BALANCE. AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT, AS FINANCIAL STEWARDS OF OUR DISTRICT AND SERVICE OUR STUDENTS, IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, AT THE SAME TIME THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH AS AGENDA ITEM, THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO HAS TO BRING A MULTIYEAR PLAN OF HOW TO RESTORE THOSE FUNDS BACK TO THE APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE POLICY. WE THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO USE IT IF AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS BUT ALSO REPLENISH YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT IF YOU IS TO DO I HAD
051TO USE THAT. IN ADDITION, IN THE POLICY, IT STATES THAT THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE FUND'S UNANTICIPATED OR FOR EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCIES SUCH AS, AND IT LISTS SEVERAL OF THOSE. IT ALSO STATES THAT THE RESERVE MAY NOT BE USED TO FUND SETTLEMENTS AGAINST THE DISTRICT OR COLLECTIVE REOCCURRING BARGAIN CONTRACTS. WE THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT. IT DOESN'T LIMIT US FROM DOING THINGS TO RUN OUR DISTRICT OR TO APPROVE IN THE BUDGET REOCCURRING EXPENSES. WHAT IT DOES TELL US IS WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN THE CONFINES OF THE POLICY TO RUN THE DISTRICT AND FULFILL THOSE GOALS. I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE THIS YEAR, THE FUND BALANCE USED ABOUT $19 MILLION OF OUR FUND RESERVE TO HELP SUPPORT THE REOCCURRING NEGOTIATIONS WE DID. THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAD THE FUNDING TO DO SO.
052THAT CANNOT BE SUSTAINED MOVING LONG TERM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FIND THE REVENUE EACH YEAR TO SUPPORT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO WITH THAT, WE WANT TO RECOMMEND THIS POLICY TO YOU. AND TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND SUCH A GREAT SUMMARY. I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO START WITH MEMBER HAHN. I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER MEMBERS. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THAT, MR. LEWIS. YOU HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME, BUT I'VE LET MR. LEWIS LEAD THIS. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US. BUT I REALLY LET MR. LEWIS LEAD THIS BECAUSE HE IS THE EXPERT AND SO I APPRECIATE.
053I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF WORK AND TIME INTO THIS. I THINK OVERALL AS A BOARD, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO LEAVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT. I KNOW THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT I WAS ON THE BOARD, THE FINANCES, WE HAD TO GO OUT FOR A -- WE WERE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS POLICY, IT REALLY IS A BOARD VISION, NOT JUST A POLICY. HOW WE WANT TO -- HOW WE ENVISION HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE MOVING FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT AND SAFEGUARD EVERYTHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US. SO IT'S VERY FORWARD THINKING. AS MR. LEWIS SAID, THE STATUTE DOES REQUIRE A 3% FUND BALANCE. SOME FOLKS MIGHT SAY, WELL, WHY CAN'T WE JUST DO THAT AND THAT GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY. I THINK
054WHAT EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ME AS MAYBE SOME OF YOU IS THAT THIS THRESHOLD OF 3% DOES NOT PROVIDE THE SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE THE INCREASING FISCAL PRESSURES THAT ARE FACING OUR DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S ENROLLMENT FLUCTUATIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSES, RISING OPERATIONAL COST OR UNFUNDED MANDATES, WE NEED TO PREPARE TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW BUT TO ALSO LEAD WITH SOUND FISCAL STEWARDSHIP. SO THIS POLICY DOES STRENGTHEN THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DISTRICT BECAUSE AS MR. LEWIS SAID, WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS TO PLAN MOVING FORWARD, NOT JUST FOR THIS YEAR, BUT FOR MAYBE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN, HAVE SOMETHING MORE VISIONARY. IT ESTABLISHES A 7% UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND 10% OVERALL GENERAL FUND BALANCE. I WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINKING THAT
055WE'RE NOW AT A 17% FUND BALANCE. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THE 10% AND THE 7% IS NOT ADDITIVE. THE 10% IS THE WHOLE PIE. SO IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MR. LEWIS LISTED ON THE FIRST PAGE. THAT IS THE 10%. THE 7% IS A PIECE OF THAT 10%. AND THAT'S JUST THE UNASSIGNED, FLEXIBLE, USABLE FUNDS. THAT IS OUR TRUE FINANCIAL SAFETY NET. THEY ARE FULLY FLEXIBLE AND WE CAN ACCESS IT FOR ALL THOSE THINGS I MENTIONED JUST A MINUTE AGO THAT PUT PRESSURE ON US FINANCIALLY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, BECAUSE WITH OUR OTHER POLICY, IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING, AND WE DID HAVE ACTUALLY 8% AND 8%, THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED. WE'RE CURRENTLY NOW AT A 16% FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE. I THINK
056THE OTHER PIECE THAT'S INTERESTING TO THIS POLICY THAT I THINK SHOWS REAL FORESIGHT IS LINE 53 TO 60, AROUND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S AUTHORITY -- IT PROVIDES STEPS THAT IF WE NEED TO USE THAT MONEY IN A CERTAIN WAY AND DIP BELOW THAT FUND BALANCE. SO THERE IS FLEXIBILITY BUILT INTO THIS. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAT GOES FAR BEYOND WHAT WE COULD EVER IMAGINE, IT CLEARLY SAYS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RECOMMEND A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM BASED ON A FINANCIAL NEED THAT REQUIRES THE ADDITIONAL USE OF FUNDS. AND THAT THERE WILL BE A PLAN IN PLACE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE SECOND FISCAL YEAR AFTER THE FUNDS WERE EXPENDED THAT THEY HAVE TO RESTORE THEM. THIS IS MORE FLEXIBILITY THAN WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR FINANCES AND SPECIFIC TO OUR FUND BALANCE. BUT IT IS ALSO BOARD DRIVEN.
057THE SUPERINTENDENT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT. IT HAS TO BE A BOARD DECISION. I DO THINK THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FISCAL POLICY, BUT I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE TRULY ARE TRYING TO CREATE A VISION HERE, NOT JUST AN OPERATIONAL TASK. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DO THINGS LIKE RAISES AND STEPS AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PLAN TO SUSTAIN OUR SAVINGS. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL THAT WE ARE FACING FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW. AND WE NEED TO REALLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRATEGIC IN HOW WE'RE SAVING OUR MONEY, AND WE NEED TO BE MORE STRATEGIC IN HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAS A JOB CAN KEEP A JOB. BECAUSE IF
058YOU LOOK AROUND RIGHT NOW AT SOME OF THE DISTRICTS SURROUNDING US, THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING ON VERY LOW FUND BALANCES AND THEY ALSO HAD TO FIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION. WE'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION BEFORE, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE THERE AGAIN. I DON'T THINK THE UNION WANTS US TO BE THERE AGAIN IN FIRING EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOW FUND BALANCE. THEY ARE JUST AS CONCERNED, BUT THIS ALSO GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY BY STILL REALLY GIVING US THAT REALLY STRONG SAFETY NET. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I THINK I HAVE EVERYBODY IN THE QUEUE. WE'LL START WITH MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. THANK YOU JAMIE LEWIS. YOU DID
059A WONDERFUL JOB USING THAT. THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. OF COURSE, IT WAS VERY ACUTE. 2016, 2017, THE BOARD, WE SAW THE 3%. WE SAW DELAYED MAINTENANCE AND WE ALSO SAW THE CONTINUANCE OF INSTRUCTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE -- UNDER THE GATES GRANT. WE COULDN'T SUSTAIN THE HEAVY LIFT OF PAYMENT. FAST-FORWARD AS MEMBER HAHN KNOWS VERY MUCH, WE HAD TO TAKE A TAN NOTICE, AND THAT CAME WITH A HEFTY AMOUNT OF INTEREST RATES AND ALSO A LOWERING OF THE BOND RATING. WHY IS THE BOND RATING SO IMPORTANT? YOU THINK AFTER THE ESSER GRANT WE WOULD HAVE A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHICH WE DID, BUT THAT'S TEMPORARY. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE BOND RATING AS I UNDERSTAND -- MR. LEWIS, CORRECT ME -- IF IT'S CONSISTENT, IF WE ARE CONSISTENT YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEN WE
060CAN EXPECT -- IF THE FUND BALANCE IS -- WE CAN EXPECT A RAISE OF THE RATINGS, IS THAT CORRECT? Jamie Lewis: YES. FROM THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN FROM BONDING, THE GREATEST THING WE CAN DO FOR THE DISTRICT, DOING WELL FROM A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BUT BE CONSISTENT WITH IT. SHOW THAT WE ADHERE TO POLICY, THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUR OPERATIONS. MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE HAVE USED SOME OF THE FUND BALANCE TO PAY FOR REOCCURRING EXPENSES. EVEN THOUGH WE CAN DO THAT UNDER POLICY, THEY LIKE TO SEE MORE STABILITY WITH THAT AND YOU SAW FROM OUR HISTORY, KIND OF GOES UP AND DOWN. Lynn Gray: WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY A RAISE IN OUR BOND RATING, WHICH IS ALWAYS SO HELPFUL. THE OTHER POINT I THINK WE NEED TO SHARE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BIGGEST GOAL,
061OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST GOAL IS BE ABLE TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES MORE. WHY IS THIS FUND BALANCE HIGH ENOUGH TO DO SO YET ALSO ALLOWING THE SUPERINTENDENT IN CASE WE HAVE EMERGENCIES, TO HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM INSTRUCTIONAL PAY. IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? Jamie Lewis: YES, AS I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING, IN MY OPINION AS CFO, THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECE DEVOTING NOT ONLY NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BUT LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING, ALLOWS US A FRAMEWORK TO WORK INSIDE. AND DOES NOT PREVENT US FROM DOING ANY OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES, BUT DOES LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR US TO OPERATE. Lynn Gray: THE CLAUSE THAT YOU HAVE SAID ABOUT THE REOCCURRING EXPENSES, EXPLAIN WHY THE FUND BALANCE SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THAT AND THERE IS
062DISSIDENCE IN THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION AS I UNDERSTAND FROM PERHAPS THE UNION. Jamie Lewis: I THINK IT IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP TO USE THE REVENUES THAT COME IN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND YOU HAVE A PLAN OF HOW TO EXPEND THAT. IF YOU OVERCOMMIT YOURSELF, YOU HAVE TO FIND WAYS THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO RESOLVE THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR, WE USED $19 MILLION OF OUR FUND RESERVE TO PAY FOR NEGOTIATED REOCCURRING BECAUSE WE HAD THE CASH IN ORDER TO DO THAT. YOU CAN'T CONSISTENTLY STAY AT THAT. I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT I ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT, WHAT IS OUR BIWEEKLY PAYROLL FOR THE GENERAL FUND? IT IS ROUGHLY ABOUT $70 MILLION. SO WITH OUR UNRESTRICTED PORTION RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY AT 7%, UNRESTRICTED PORTIONS ABOUT TWO PAY PERIODS. WE HAVE ENOUGH CASH IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO COVER TWO PAY
063PERIODS. IF WE WERE TO DROP DOWN TO 3%, WHICH IS STATE MINIMUM, WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FOR ONE PAY PERIOD. THAT'S A LITTLE CLOSE TO IT FOR US. WE THINK WE NEED TO HAVE -- THAT'S OUR FOCUS. OUR FOCUS IS OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PEOPLE. MEETING THOSE PAYROLL DEMANDS FOR PAYROLL IS VERY IMPORTANT IN CASE ANYTHING WAS TO HAPPEN. Lynn Gray: MEMBER HAHN AND I WERE REMINDED THAT WE WERE TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES. TWO WEEKS. LAST, THE BOARD IS VERY INVOLVED AND I WANT TO THANK MR. LEWIS FOR MENTIONING THE BOARD IN LINES 43, 48, 58, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE MORE DETOURED WITH RESPECT TO THE BOARD'S INVOLVEMENT. AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY REMARKS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs:
064THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL POLICIES, AND SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AROUND AFTER COMMENTS. IF WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IN THE QUEUE THIS TIME. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY, I REMEMBER THAT, TOO, BECAUSE I WAS ON THE BOARD AS WELL. I WANT TO PUNT IT OVER REALLY QUICK TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT SO HE COULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT WHEN WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES BECAUSE OUR RATING WAS LOW. Van Ayres: BASED AT THAT TIME, BACK IN 2017-2018, HAVE TO BE TRIPS, SUPERINTENDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WOULD HAVE TO MAKE. DR. HAHN, YOU REMEMBER THAT. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO IN PERSON UP TO THE BOND RATING AGENCIES. WE HAVE NOT HAD TO DO
065THAT IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS I THINK BECAUSE OF OUR STABILITY THAT WE'VE SHOWN. AND THIS POLICY ENHANCES THAT. THAT IS ALL WE SPEAK ABOUT FROM THOSE YEARS IN 17-18. 19 WAS REAL. TRIPS UP TO THE BOND RATING AGENCY IN NEW YORK TO EXPLAIN OUR SITUATION. LATELY THOSE, MR. LEWIS HAS HANDLED THOSE THIS PAST YEAR AND THROUGH VIRTUAL SESSIONS. WE HAVE NOT HAD TO MAKE THE TRIP UP THERE. THE INCREASED BOND RATING OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'VE HAD TO ENDURE IN THE PAST. Karen Perez: CORRECT. THE COMPARISON, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A MINIMUM OF FUND BALANCE, REQUIREMENT OF 3%, IT DOESN'T PROVIDE THAT CUSHION AND THAT PROTECTION AGAINST THE FINANCIAL RISK. THIS COULD REALLY LEAVE THIS DISTRICT IN THAT VULNERABLE SPACE THAT WE WERE
066IN BACK WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD. IT WAS REALLY -- AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE HAD TO, UNFORTUNATELY, FIRE, ESPECIALLY STAFF THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NEEDED. I HATED COMING TO THE BOARD MEETINGS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WOULD BE LET GO AND A LOT OF THE STAFF WERE REALLY, REALLY UPSET ABOUT THAT. MAINTAINING THE 10% FUND BALANCE DEMONSTRATES THAT PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND STABILITY. THE BUDGET ABILITY ALONE WITH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, WITH THE BOND RATING, AND ALSO THAT WE'RE STABLE. THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET EVERY MONTH THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THAT STABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR OUR STAFF, THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING PAID, WE ARE PUTTING THEM FIRST AND FOREMOST. FOR ME THAT'S IMPORTANT. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. IF I NEED TO GET IN THE QUEUE,
067I WILL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MY CONCERN ABOUT THE POLICY AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT THE ENTIRE TIME IS THE ABILITY TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE SALARY EVERY YEAR AND PAY THEM A LIVABLE WAGE. WE ADVERTISE THE STEP CALENDAR WHEN THEY GET HIRED AND THAT IS ASSUMED WHAT THEY WILL BE MAKING. EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE TO COME AND BASICALLY BEG FOR WHAT WE ADVERTISE AS A LIVING -- AN INCREASE IN LIVING IS AN ISSUE FOR ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE IN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUNDING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO I'M NOT NAIVELY JUST THINKING THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN CONSTANTLY PAYING SALARY INCREASES BY OUR GENERAL FUND. BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS POLICY
068DOESN'T ALLOW US TO AT ALL. BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD THIS POLICY, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, WE USE 19 MILLION OF IT THE LAST SESSION, ARE YOU SAYING WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TO GIVE EMPLOYEES AN INCREASE IF THIS WASN'T IN PLACE THE LAST NEGOTIATION PORED? NO. I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT BRINGING AGENDA ITEMS FORWARD AND WE WERE ABOVE THE 7%, WE WOULD HAVE SOME OF THAT FLEXIBILITY. Jessica Vaughn: DOESN'T THIS SAY REGARDLESS OF THE BALANCE, NONE OF IT CAN BE USED OR IS THAT ONLY WITHIN THE THRESHOLD? Jamie Lewis: IT'S ADDRESSING JUST THE THRESHOLD. IN OTHER WORDS, SUPERINTENDENT WOULD NOT BRING, IN MY OPINION, THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BRING AN AGENDA ITEM FORWARD THAT WOULD DROP US BELOW 7% BECAUSE OF THAT REASON, BECAUSE
069OF REOCCURRING SALARIES. THAT PREVENTS THAT FROM HAPPENING. THAT WOULD BE THE HARDEST OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME THE FOLLOWING YEAR AS WE FIND THE REVENUES TO SUPPORT. Jessica Vaughn: ARE YOU SAYING THE GENERAL FUND COULD BE USED IF WE HAD ABOVE THIS THRESHOLD? Jamie Lewis: YES. Jessica Vaughn: CAN YOU MAKE THAT MORE CLEAR IN THIS POLICY? THE WAY I READ IT SAYS CAN'T BE USED AT ALL, PERIOD. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS FOR THE REOCCURRING FUNDS FOR VACANCIES THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY FILL THAT WE PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND, CAN WE TAKE THAT POCKET OF MONEY AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE SO IT CAN BE USED? SINCE THOSE ARE RE-- WE BUDGET FOR THOSE POSITIONS, WE BUDGET FOR THOSE REOCCURRING FUNDS, DON'T FILL THEM, PUT THEM INTO THE FUND BALANCE BUT NOW WE'RE RESTRICTING THOSE FUNDS.
070SO IS THERE AN OPTION FOR THAT TO BE A DIFFERENT -- NOT GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE AND GO BACK INTO A POT THAT CAN BE USED FOR NEGOTIATING SALARIES? Jamie Lewis: I THINK WHAT IT WOULD DO, IF IT CAME BACK IN THERE, COME IN ABOVE THE FUND BALANCE WHICH GIVES YOU THE FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY TO USE IT IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. WE HAVE GREATLY REDUCED HOW WE BUDGET FOR VACANCIES INSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT. DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'RE TAKING IN THE FINANCE SECTION. WE'LL HAVE LESS OF THAT FLEXIBILITY AS WE HAVE MAYBE IN YEARS PAST. I THINK WHAT IT WOULD DO, IF YOU DID NOT SPEND THAT MONEY, AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO THE FUND BALANCE, GOES ABOVE 7% AND THAT PROVIDES THE OPERATIONS FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY DO THINGS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. Jessica Vaughn: YOU'RE SAYING
071THAT YOU ARE GUARANTEEING THAT THE VACANCY MONEY WILL PUSH US ABOVE THE 7% REGARDLESS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT BUDGETING FOR ANY OF IT? Jamie Lewis: NO. I'M SAYING IF THAT WAS TO BECOME TRUE AND WE HAVE SAVINGS IN OUR BUDGETED PAYROLL AND PERSONNEL COST, THOSE SAVE, AS LONG AS EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENED AS PLANNED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THAT WOULD STILL REMAIN IN THE FUND BALANCE. IF WE HAD $20 MILLION IN SAVINGS FOR POSITIONS WE DIDN'T FILL AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TRUE TO HOW WE FINANCIALLY PLAN FOR THE YEAR, THE 20 MILLION WOULD STILL RESIDE IN THE GENERAL FUNDS BALANCE. IF THAT BRINGS US ABOVE THE PERCENTAGE, THEN WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE THE FUNDS IF NEEDED. Jessica Vaughn: IF IT DOESN'T AND SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS BECAUSE I SEE OUR AMENDMENTS EVERY SINGLE MONTH, I
072KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IF THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WE WOULD STILL BE USING THE VACANCIES AND PUTTING THE REOCCURRING FUND BACK IN THE FUND BALANCE BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE WHEN WE GO TO NEGOTIATE. AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? Jamie Lewis: IT WOULD BE PART -- Jessica Vaughn: IF WE WENT ABOVE THE 7 THRESHOLD. Jamie Lewis: RELATIONSHIP WITHCRATUAL SERVICES, IF WE USE LESS VACANCIES LIKE AT SCHOOL SITES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE FULFILLING THAT THROUGH KELLY SERVICE, ANOTHER CONTRACT LIKE THAT. MIGHT SEE A SAVINGS IN VACANCIES, BUT ALSO A RISE IN EXPENSES OR VICE VERSA. IF WE SAW THAT WE HIRE MORE, THEN RECEIVE LESS IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP THERE. I THINK AT THE END, IF THERE IS A SAVINGS, IT DOES GO TO THE WHOLE. BUT THAT IS
073EVALUATED FROM AN ENTIRE BUDGETARY STANDPOINT. TO YOUR POINT, IF EVERYTHING COMES IN TRUE, IT IS A SAVINGS. Jessica Vaughn: BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS, I WOULD LIKE A BREAKDOWN THE LAST YEAR HOW MUCH OF THE PERCENTAGE OF FUND BALANCE WAS ON VACANCIES AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE COMPARED TO HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT ON KELLY SERVICE STAFFING AND IDEA OF HOW MUCH ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE FUND BALANCE BASED ON VACANCIES. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS. SORRY I TOOK SO MUCH TIME. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT IS MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS THAT LONG. I DO APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND IF YOU WERE ANOTHER STATE AGENCY OR AN AGENCY THAT WAS WORKING WITH ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT FOR THE STATE, THEY ACTUALLY REQUIRE 90 TO 120 DAYS OF
074STAFF SALARIES BE PUT ASIDE. SO THINKING THAT WE'RE ONLY 30 DAYS REQUIREMENT IS ACTUALLY QUITE LESS THAN ANY OTHER PROVIDER WORKING WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THIS POLICY AS A TRANSPARENCY TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESTRICTED AND NONRESTRICTED FUNDS. I UNDERSTAND WHERE MEMBER VAUGHN IS COMING FROM BECAUSE WE DO SEE VACANCIES BUT WE NEVER SEE WHEN WE SEE A VACANCY AND THE MONEY FROM THE VACANCY, WE NEVER SEE THE EXPENSE THAT VACANCY HAS CAUSED. SOMETIMES I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT SIDE BY SIDE TO RECOGNIZE IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE. ALSO, IF IT IS A POSITION THAT WILL HOLD NEXT YEAR, THEN IT STILL BECOMES A RESTRICTED FUND AND CAN'T BE USED AS NEW SALARY. COULD BE USED AS BONUS. I THINK THE
075POLICY IS IMPORTANT, IT TALKS TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AND HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY. I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN MAKING SURE WE USE THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR OUR STAFF AND WE TAKE THE PRIDE IN MAKING SURE WE PREPARE IT SO THAT OUR STAFF ARE SECURE IN MOVING FORWARD AND SO THAT WE CAN LOOK FOR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, WE CAN LOOK TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY AND WE STILL CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN SO WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO GIVE US MORE, NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT THE LEGISLATURE. I APPRECIATE THE POLICY AND THE DETAIL YOU PUT INTO IT TO GIVE US THE EXPLANATION FROM A FISCAL POINT OF VIEW. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake"
076Washington: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JAMIE, THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING IT THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE HAD A MEETING. ALSO, DR. HAHN, VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOU WERE AROUND WHEN WE HAD REALLY TOUGH TIMES IN THIS DISTRICT. I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. WHAT WAS SELLING ME ON THIS IS FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY NOW TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. NUMBER TWO, THE SUPERINTENDENT MUST COME UP WITH -- REPLENISH THE FUND WITHIN TWO YEARS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. NUMBER THREE, IT'S BOARD DRIVEN. TO ME, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S BOARD DRIVEN. TAKES THE PRESSURE OFF THE SUPERINTENDENT. EVERYBODY RUNS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT SOMETHING. NOW WE HAVE THE CONTROL TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO. YOU DEFINITELY HAVE ME ON YOUR SIDE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
077MR. LEWIS BUT ALSO THANK MEMBER HAHN. THIS IS SOMETHING SHE BROUGHT FORTH. LAST TIME YOU WEREN'T HERE AND ABLE TO CLARIFY. OUR BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY IS THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR DISTRICT. WE CANNOT RUN -- MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO PAY OUR INDIVIDUALS. SOMEBODY SAID ABOUT PINELLAS COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES SURROUNDING, WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS THE HARDEST THING. THE YEAR HAS ALREADY STARTED. SOMEBODY LOST THEIR JOB THREE MONTHS AND THEY WERE TRYING TO GET INTO HILLSBOROUGH. I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE OR THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE IS THE LAST LINE OF THE POLICY, THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE MAY NOT BE ISSUED TO FUND SETTLEMENTS AGAINST THE DISTRICT OR TO FUND COLLECTIVE REOCCURRING BARGAINING CONTRACTS. I UNDERSTAND THE REOCCURRING, BUT CAN WE
078WRITE CAN BE USED FOR BONUSES OR ADD, I CAN ONLY BE ONE PERSON. BUT TO USE SOMETHING OF THAT LANGUAGE. I DO AGREE THAT OFTEN THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANCIES AND THE VACANCIES GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND BRING IT UP TO 17% OR WHATEVER PERCENT WE HAVE AT THE TIME. AND TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE BONUSES OR PAY THE ESE DEPARTMENT OR PAY DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE ARE SHORT ON AND WE KNOW THAT GENERAL FUND IS HIGH, I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, JUST USING THAT LANGUAGE AND ADDING SOMETHING TO THE END I THINK IS A SUGGESTION. Jamie Lewis: COULD DEFINITELY ADD IT. AS WRITTEN IT DOES ALLOW US TO DO WHAT YOU MENTIONED. IT DOES NOT PREVENT US FROM OFFERING ONE-TIME PAYMENTS FOR ANYTHING THAT
079WE WOULD DO. A BONUS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE DID THAT ACTUALLY A YEAR OR TWO AGO HERE AT THE DISTRICT WHICH IS WHAT REALLY DROVE OUR FUND BALANCE DOWN. PERFECT EXAMPLE, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A PATHWAY TO SUSTAIN THAT, BUT IT IS A GOOD WAY TO USE YOUR FUND BALANCE. IF YOU WERE TO GET TO 8 OR 9 FUND BALANCE, I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD OPTION TO CONSIDER BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND A WAY NEXT YEAR TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THOSE EXPENSES. IT'S IMPLIED BECAUSE A BONUS IS NOT A RECURRING -- Nadia Combs: IT'S STILL NOT CLEAR BUT I'M FINE WITH THAT. AS LONG AS WE KNOW THAT, THAT'S FINE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ON RECORD I DISCUSS THAT AND
080TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO ADD THAT. BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THAT. I JUST FEEL LIKE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS WITH THE DISTRICT WOULD FEEL GOOD IF THEY SAW THAT ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN THERE TO KNOW THAT IF WE DO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, STATE IT CLEARLY ON OUR POLICY. THAT IS THE ONLY PART I WOULD LIKE TO ADD. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE PEOPLE IN LINE. I THINK, MEMBER HAHN, YOU WANTED TO SPEAK AND I THINK MEMBER VAUGHN AND THEN. Stacy Hahn: IT'S NOT RECURRING, YOU CAN DO IT. IF THAT'S ADDED, THAT'S FINE. I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, MR. LEWIS AND HIS TEAM FOR CREATING THIS. I THINK IT REALLY REFLECTS A LOT OF THE CONCERNS AND COMMENTS
081THAT WE'VE ALL HAD DURING THE LAST FEW CONVERSATIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BOTH IN WORKSHOPS AND FROM THE DAIS. WE STARTED OUT TALKING ABOUT AND COMMITTING TO 10%. AND THEN WE COMPROMISED AND WENT TO 8%. NOW WE ARE AT 7%. AS YOU EXPLAINED, THAT IS ENOUGH TO HOLD US FOR TWO PAYCHECKS. AND THAT GIVES US SOME TIME TO MAKE SOME FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO SAFEGUARD OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I CANNOT IMAGINE OPERATING AT 3% IN THE TIMES THAT WE'RE LIVING IN NOW. AND THE PRESSURES FACED WITH AROUND OUR FINANCES. I AM COMFORTABLE WITH 7%. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE GOING BELOW THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL DECLINE AND TAKEOVER BY THE STATE OF THIS DISTRICT. IT HAPPENS. IT HAPPENED TO ANOTHER DISTRICT OUR FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD. THEY GO
082IN, TAKE OVER, THEY GET RID OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. THEY GET RID OF EVERY BOARD MEMBER, GET RID OF THE CFO AND THE STATE RUNS THE DISTRICT. I NEVER WOULD WANT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN. I THINK THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO SAFEGUARD FROM THAT BUT ALSO PROVIDING US WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT. OF COURSE, WE ALL WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TEACHERS THEIR STEPS AND THEIR RAISES. MOST OF US WERE TEACHERS. I THINK THAT YOU CAN STILL PROTECT THEM IN THEIR JOBS BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM THEIR RAISES. I THINK THEY DESERVE BOTH. I THINK THEY DESERVE JOB SECURITY AND I THINK THEY DESERVE THEIR RAISES. BUT YOU CAN MAKE IT 3% AND GIVE THEM EVERYTHING AND THEN THERE IS NO JOB SECURITY. RIGHT NOW, I THINK
083THAT MEANS A LOT TO PEOPLE, THE JOB SECURITY. THIS ALLOWS US TO DO BOTH FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. WE'LL WRAP UP WITH A COMMENT FROM MEMBER VAUGHN AND THEN SUPERINTENDENT. Jessica Vaughn: MINE IS QUICK. I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE POLICY THAT I THINK A CRUCIAL PART OF THIS IS THE EDUCATION TO OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHERE OUR GENERAL FUND IS, HOW MUCH WE'RE GETTING, WHAT OUR PER PUPIL FUNDING IS, HOW MUCH THAT INCREASES OUR BUDGET. WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATIONS. AGAIN, IT'S COMPLEX AND HARD TO CHUNK DOWN BUT WE OWE IT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS TO ALSO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GUIDING THESE DECISIONS. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I
084HAVE OFFICIALLY ASKED FOR YOUR TEAM TO DO TOWN HALLS AND TO DO SOMETHING NOT JUST AS WE GET CLOSER TO BARGAINING BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO REALLY GIVE ACCESS TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY SO THAT THEY CAN ADVOCATE FOR REALISTIC THINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARDS BARGAINING EACH YEAR. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING? Jamie Lewis: YES, WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON A PLAN FOR THAT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, VICE-CHAIR COMBS. I WANT TO THANK DR. HAHN AND MR. LEWIS FOR THE WORK ON THE POLICY. THIS GETS US MOVING FORWARD. PUT A LOT OF WORK IN THIS. THIS IS YEAR THREE FOR ME AS SUPERINTENDENT. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR TO ME AROUND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SAFETY
085AND INCREASING SALARY AND BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES. I WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE'VE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE WITH THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. WE MEET CONSTANTLY. THAT IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES AND FINDING EVERY AVENUE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND FORWARD PLANNING AS WE MOVE INTO BARGAINING NEXT YEAR ON HOW WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THIS POLICY GIVES US THAT BACKBONE GUIDE RAILS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. JUST THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS, DR. HAHN, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, AND THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Jim Porter: IF WE CAN WRAP UP, MADAM VICE-CHAIR. THE POLICY, THERE'S CONSENSUS TO MOVE IT FORWARD WITH CLARIFYING LANGUAGE SUGGESTED BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER COMBS THAT MR. LEWIS WILL WORK ON BEFORE BRINGING THIS TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. OTHERWISE, THIS WILL MOVE
086FORWARD. Nadia Combs: GREAT. WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE. Jim Porter: 8510, BROUGHT BY MEMBER GRAY WITH THE WORK OF STAFF. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SHANEY TO TALK ABOUT THE WELLNESS POLICY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'M SHANEY HALL, STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES AND ONE OF THE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEE. SO THE WELLNESS POLICY IS PART OF THE WORKSHOP BECAUSE SEVERAL MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE, WHICH REPRESENT THE VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THIS POLICY NEEDED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES SO THAT OUR POLICY REFLECTED THE CURRENT LAWS, STATUTES, REGULATIONS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US HERE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANGES. I KNOW IT WAS PROBABLY A LOT FOR EVERYBODY TO CONSUME AT
087ONE TIME. BUT IN GENERAL, THESE CHANGES WERE JUST THAT OUR POLICY CURRENTLY WASN'T REFLECTIVE OF THE CURRENT REGULATIONS, STATUTES AND LAWS THAT GOVERN THE WELLNESS POLICY STATEWIDE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. HALL. WE'LL START WITH MEMBER GRAY SINCE IT IS HER POLICY. I HAVE MEMBER VAUGHN. IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE QUEUE, JUST PLEASE, YOU KNOW, GIVE ME SOME EYE CONTACT. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-CHAIR AND THANK YOU, SHANEY HALL AND ASHLEE CAPPUCCI AND THE TEAM. THIS CAME FROM THE TEAM AGAIN OF MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS. IT IS BASICALLY A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THAT WE HAVE MADE. THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE TO BE CHANGED IN HEALTH EDUCATION, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL MEALS WITH THE USDA HEALTHY HUNGRY KIDS ACT FUND-RAISING. AND THAT GOES WITH FLORIDA STATUTE IP 1003, SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH IS LINE
088340, 50% OR MORE OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A CHRONIC AND ACUTE HEALTH CONDITION. WHICH INTERFERES WITH THEIR STUDENT LEARNING OR MAY INTERFERE. ALSO, THE REQUIREMENTS OF MEDICATION DISTRIBUTION. ALSO, CONTINUING ON THE LEGISLATIVE JOURNEY HERE, WE HAVE MORE NURSING INTERVENTIONS, DONE BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025. AND DR. ROSS IS BEHIND ME, I THINK. SHE KNOWS ABOUT THAT FOR SURE. WITH THE STAFF MEMBERS NOW UNDER THE PLAN SELF-INSURED, WE HAVE WELL-BEING FOR YOU WHICH DINA MARSHALL IS NOW ARTICULATING THE NEW AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVED EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLAN PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOW. SO ALL THIS IS TO SAY, CHANGES WERE DISCUSSED, VETTED THROUGH A COMMITTEE AND MOSTLY IT IS DRIVEN BY LEGISLATION. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER AND WE HAVE EXPERTS HERE. MS. CAPPUCCI FROM PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND SHANEY FROM NUTRITION AND DR.
089ROSS BEHIND US FROM NURSING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. WE'LL START WITH MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT POINTS TO MAKE. ONE OF THEM IS JUST ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THESE POLICIES. I GUESS I'LL MAKE THOSE TO YOU, MR. PORTER. IT IS VERY CONFUSING TO ME IF THERE IS A MEMBER DRIVEN POLICY THAT STAFF IS ALSO KIND OF WORKING WITH ABOUT THE CHANGES TO UNDERSTAND IF THOSE CHANGES WERE ORGANICALLY COMING FROM THE BOARD MEMBER OR IF STAFF IS USING LEGISLATION OR FDA CHANGES TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS POLICY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TRIGGERED A LOT OF THESE CHANGES SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM WAS A LABORIOUS PROCESS THAT COULD HAVE SAVED ME A LOT OF TIME IF THERE IS LEGISLATION OR DIFFERENT
090THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING THESE CHANGES, THAT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN THE POLICY. IT'S STANDARD IN OUR OTHER POLICIES THAT IF WE'RE ATTACHING DIFFERENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION CHANGES, WE PUT THE STATUTES IN THERE AND REFERENCE WHAT IS GUIDING THOSE CHANGES. THAT WAS NOT DONE THROUGHOUT THIS POLICY AND I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY BECAUSE IT MADE IT VERY CHALLENGING AND CONFUSING. GOING FORWARD, ONE ASK FOR ME IS TO HAVE THE REFERENCES TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT JUST MEMBER GRAY DECIDING THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HER. THIS HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN DECIDED AT A STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL. THAT IS THE FIRST FEEDBACK TO THE POLICY IN GENERAL. THE NEXT PIECE IS I APPRECIATE THAT SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN VETTED THROUGH THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE, BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT THAT COMMITTEE OR WHO GUIDES THAT
091OR WHO STARTED THAT OR HOW MEMBERS OR PEOPLE ARE PLACED ON THAT. WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS A COMMITTEE, IF IT'S GOING TO BE HEAVILY INFLUENCING POLICY AND VETTING THINGS, I WOULD LIKE MORE OF AN ENGAGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING. OTHERWISE, CAN I MAKE A COMMITTEE THAT JUST HELPS ME DRIVE POLICY? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS SINCE IT'S BEEN REFERENCED MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE IN GENERAL. REALLY, MY POINT WHEN WE GO TO THE ACTUAL POLICY, WHICH I APPRECIATE. IT IS A LOT TO DIGEST. THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES IN HERE. SOME OF THE WORDING WAS CONFUSING FOR ME AND I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK ON WAYS WE COULD HAVE MADE THAT A LITTLE LESS CONFUSING. MY ISSUE, HONESTLY, IS WITH THE P.E., WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL EDUCATION. AND THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY
092WITH THIS POLICY, BUT IT IS THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSE IN GENERAL TO THE LEGISLATION I GUESS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WORKING THROUGH THIS POLICY, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE P.E. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND WHAT WE DO IS SOME PLACES WE PROVIDE P.E. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN TRANSFORMATION. THEY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO SPECIALISTS OR A UNIT TO MAKE A P.E. ALLOCATION AND PROVIDE THAT. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRUSTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING THE STATE-MANDATED TIME ON OUR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS WHO ARE ALREADY OVERWORKED. WE HAD ONE WE REFERENCE WHO HAD CAME TO OUR BOARD MEETING AND SOBBED TEARS. HERE WE ARE SAYING HERE IS THIS LEGISLATION THAT MANDATES WE PUT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PUTTING IT SOLELY ON THE BACKS OF OUR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS. FOR ME, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC. TO HEAR LANGUAGE AROUND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HONOR THE STATUTE
093AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING -- I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL TEACHERS ARE CERTIFIED TO TEACH P.E. BUT THAT TIME WITH A P.E. TEACHER IS A CONCERN AND SOMETHING I WANT FURTHER CONVERSATION AS WE TALK ABOUT THE POLICY OR GOING FORWARD, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE IF IT IS LEGISLATION MANDATED ACTUAL P.E. TEACHERS INSTEAD OF PUTTING THAT ON THE BACKS OF OUR OVERWORKED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS. THAT WAS MY THOUGHT PROCESS FROM THIS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR NOW. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. Patti Rendon: YOU NAILED IT ON THE HEAD. I CANNOT DECIPHER THROUGH THE POLICY. THE LEGISLATION PREVIOUSLY PASSED, WE ALREADY DEALT WITH IN POLICY. THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY NEW LEGISLATION FROM OUR LAST POLICY CYCLE -- IS THERE A NEW POLICY? AM I MISSING IT? MEMBER GRAY IS SAYING
094THERE ARE NEW LAWS I'M NOT AWARE OF. Nadia Combs: IF WE COULD KEEP THE CONVERSATION DIRECTED. ABSOLUTELY. I CAN SPEAK TO THE -- WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT, NO, IT WAS NOT NEW LEGISLATION, BUT AT FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REACHED OUT TO ALL THE SCHOOL NUTRITION DIRECTORS AND SAID THEY HAD NOT BEEN ENFORCING THAT AND THEY BROUGHT IT UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AWARE OF IT AND THAT WE WERE INSTITUTING IT INTO OUR POLICIES. Patti Rendon: COULD YOU CLARIFY WHERE THAT IS IN THE POLICY? SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TO THE FOOD FUND-RAISING. LINE 237 AND THEN ALSO 247. Patti Rendon: 237 IT SAYS UNLESS SOLD BY THE NUTRITION PROGRAM, READY TO EAT FOODS CONTAINING MEAT OR MEAT ALTERNATE, GRAINS, HAMBURGER, PIZZA, MAY NOT BE SOLD TO STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THEY CAN'T DO A PIZZA
095FUND-RAISER DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THAT'S CORRECT. THE SECOND ONE WAS YOU'LL SEE THE CHANGE STARTING IN 247. Patti Rendon: ON 247. 247 WE CHANGED -- THAT STAYS THE WAY IT IS. 247, FUND-RAISING RULES FOR SCHOOLS ARE DICTATED BY THE FLORIDA STATUTE. THAT'S THE ONLY TWO PIECES? THE TEN DAYS -- SORRY, HALF HOUR BEFORE, HALF HOUR AFTER. NONE OF THE OTHER LINES, 251, ALL -- ALL OF THAT AS WELL, IS UNDER 5 P .2.002. Patti Rendon: THE REASON I WANT CLARIFICATION ON THIS, WE DO AS PART OF PBIS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER THINGS WHERE WE HAVE CONA ICE ON CAMPUS. AND THEY ARE ON CAMPUS DURING SCHOOL LUNCH PERIODS. THAT WOULD BE ELIMINATED THROUGH THIS POLICY? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE AGENCY WAS REACHING OUT TO ALL THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS ABOUT WAS
096BECAUSE THEY EITHER -- THEY WERE NOT ENFORCING IT AS THAT IS WRITTEN. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THE POLICY HAD BEEN UPDATED WITH THE SMART SNACKS, FEDERAL REGULATIONS SAYING IF ANYTHING WAS TO BE SOLD TO STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, IF IT MET STRICT NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS FOR CALORIES, FAT, SUGAR, SODIUM, THAT IT COULD ESSENTIALLY BE SOLD THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CONA ICE WAS ONE OF OUR MANY VENDORS WHO IN RESPONSE TO THAT RULE FORMULATED AN ITEM THAT COULD BE SOLD THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY. Patti Rendon: THEY ELIMINATED PART. CORRECT, THEY DON'T OFFER IT TO THE STUDENTS. UNDER 5P, NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT SCHOOL STORES ONE WAY AND FOOD FUND-RAISERS ANOTHER WAY. SCHOOL STORES, VENDING MACHINES WHICH ARE NOT FUND-RAISERS, IF THEY ARE SELLING SNACKS AND THINGS THAT ARE SMART SNACK COMPLIANT, THOSE MAY CONTINUE TO BE SOLD THROUGHOUT
097THE DAY WITH NO EXCEPTION. FOOD FUND-RAISERS MAY NOT BE SOLD. SMART SNACK COMPLIANT OR NOT, UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE LAST LUNCH. THAT IS A BIG CHANGE AND ONE THAT EVEN THE STATE AGENCY DID NOT UNDERSTAND IT TO MEN THAT WAY WHICH IS WHAT DROVE THAT NEEDING TO BE ADDED. YES, MANY, MANY, MANY. I TALKED AT THE PRINCIPAL MEETINGS. WE PRESENTED IT TO THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS FIRST. SO I AM WORKING WITH SCHOOLS. I'VE ALSO TALKED TO PROCUREMENT AND I'VE BEEN ADDED AS AN APPROVER OF ALL OF THE FUND-RAISING ASAs SO THAT I CAN COMMUNICATE AND CHANGE THE TIMES TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RULE. Patti Rendon: WHERE MY CONCERN, THE BIGGER FUND-RAISERS ARE NOT THE CONCERNS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CONA ICE, THOSE AREN'T THE BIG ONES. WHAT THEY ARE DOING
098IS YOU HAVE ORCHESTRAS SINGING CANDYGRAMS DURING LUNCH PROGRAM. THAT'S WHERE MY QUESTION COMES IN BECAUSE THE CANDYGRAM WON'T BE DELIVERED TO THE STUDENT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, BUT THEY WOULD BE SOLD. I'M WORKING WITH THE STATE ON THAT. I RECEIVED THAT SAME QUESTION. RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS FROM THE PRINCIPAL MEETINGS. THAT WAS ONE THAT CAME UP IN ALL THREE LEVELS. TALKING THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT WAYS COULD IT BE SOLD THROUGHOUT THE DAY BUT DISTRIBUTED AT THE END OF THE DAY. I'M WAITING TO GET THE STATE'S RESPONSE ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN TELL ALL THE PRINCIPALS WHAT THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR. Patti Rendon: THE OTHER THING, ANYTHING ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE OR JUST 30 MINUTES AFTER? HOME ROOM IS WHERE A LOT OF THINGS ARE DELIVERED. YOU ARE CORRECT. NO, NO 30 MINUTES BEFORE. THE SCHOOL
099DAY ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STARTS AT 6 A.M. NOTHING CAN BE SOLD THAT IS A FOOD FUND-RAISER UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST LUNCH. Patti Rendon: ONLY PART OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THROUGH THE POLICY IS BASICALLY THE SELLING OF ITEMS AS A FUND-RAISER FOOD. WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PORTION OF IT, YES. Patti Rendon: ANY OTHER ASPECTS THAT WE DID NOT CHANGE WHEN THE LAWS CHANGED? PHYSICAL EDUCATION, WHICH MEMBER VAUGHN MENTIONED, ADDING IN STATUTE. 1,003.455 FOR HOPE. NOT IN HERE REFLECTIVE BUT SHOULD BE -- LINE 117 THROUGH 121 ADDING IN THE STATUTE SO THAT AS STATUTE CHANGES, OUR POLICY IS ALWAYS UP TO DATE. THAT WOULD COVER THE OTHER PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTIONS. Patti Rendon: ONE PART IS THE WAIVER. YES. Patti Rendon: THAT IS PART OF STATUTE CURRENTLY. IT IS NOT
100NEW. THE NEW PART OF IT IS ADDING IN MARCHING BAND. A LONG TIME AGO MARCHING BAND WAS INCLUDED AND THEN TAKEN OFF. NOW BACK INCLUDED. SO I THINK ADDING IN THAT STATUTE WHENEVER THEY ARE TAKING OUT, ADDING IN, THEN WE ARE UP TO DATE WITH STATUTE CHANGES. Patti Rendon: WHEN I LOOK ON PAGE 3 OF 9 AND I WAS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THE LINES 107 TO 121, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I SAW THERE ARE WAIVERS THAT STUDENTS CAN BE WAIVED FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, BOTH FOR THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PIECE BASED UPON OUTSIDE SPORTS, MARCHING BAND. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE THAT WITHIN THIS POLICY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THAT. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO ADD THAT TO THIS POLICY BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS AND IT IS PART -- IT IS MEETING
101STATUTE. I'M SORRY. IT IS A BIG POLICY. Nadia Combs: I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN LINE, SO MANY COMMENTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE BOARD MEMBERS FEEL. IT IS 11:30. I THINK THIS POLICY NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON MORE. Patti Rendon: YES. Nadia Combs: PULLED, REVIEWED, CHANGED. I HAVE FEEDBACK AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS ON THIS POLICY. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE BOARD MEMBERS FEEL ABOUT THIS, ABOUT LOOKING AT THIS. I'M ONLY ON 2. WE'LL BE ON HERE 45 MINUTES AND WON'T GET THROUGH THE POLICY. Jim Porter: TWO THINGS, CLARIFY FROM A TIMING PERSPECTIVE. IS THE STATE TELLING US WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE BY A CERTAIN TIME? NO, THEY ARE NOT TELLING
102US THAT. THEY JUST WANT ENFORCEMENT. Jim Porter: FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. MS. GRAY SORT OF BROUGHT THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE AND STAFF. Patti Rendon: I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION. I AGREE WITH YOU. IF WE HAVE A DISTRICT COMMITTEE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT POLICY AND BRINGING POLICY, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE INFORMED IF A DISTRICT IS RUNNING THE COMMITTEES, WE SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMITTEES. THAT WAS MY OTHER COMMENT. I WOULD AGREE WE SHOULD BRING THE POLICY BACK. Nadia Combs: JUST SO THAT WAY SHE CAN COMMENT AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT POLICY AFTER THAT. Lynn Gray: FIRST THING, THE LEGISLATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- I TALKED TO -- WELL, WON'T MENTION NAMES. SHOULD HAVE HAD LIKE OTHER POLICIES LISTED ON THE BACK EVERY
103ONE OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATION AND THE USDA, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. THAT IS CONGRUENT WITH SOME OF THE REMARKS I HEARD. SECONDLY, I THINK BECAUSE OF THE POLICY'S LENGTH, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLY ENOUGH TO PUT IT TOWARDS ANOTHER CYCLE. THIRD, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE CLEAR ABOUT STAFF MEMBERS. IF WE HAD AN ANALOGY JUST RIGHT NOW THAT STAFF MEMBERS, SUPERVISORS OR DIRECTORS CANNOT HELP A BOARD MEMBER ESTABLISH POLICY, THEN I WOULD SUGGEST JAMIE LEWIS NOT HELP WITH THE FISCAL POLICY. I SUGGEST LORI HILL NOT HELP WITH HER POLICY. PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD HAVE FOR YEARS USED GRACIOUSLY, THE STAFF MEMBERS HAVE HELPED US FORM POLICY. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THIS HUGE POLICY TO HAVE THE ASSISTANCE OF A DIRECTOR OR A SUPERVISOR INFORMING THE LANGUAGE. I AM NOT AN
104EXPERT. WE HAVE TWO EXPERTS. [MULTIPLE SPEAKERS] Nadia Combs: LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK. I THINK THERE IS MISUNDERSTANDING. THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS STATED. I THINK WE WORK WITH THE STAFF TO WORK ON POLICY AND POLICY COMES FROM STAFF. I THINK THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING. THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS STATED. I WAS MISUNDERSTANDING. THIS IS A VERY GREAT POLICY. WE APPRECIATE, MEMBER GRAY, YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THAT AND MAKING SURE IT ALIGNS WITH THE STATE LAWS AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE PROCEDURES AND ALSO THE FISCAL AND OTHER THINGS. I THINK THAT WAS MISUNDERSTANDING. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT POLICY. Jim Porter: NEXT TWO POLICIES WILL BE HEARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH -- THE NEXT TWO POLICIES WILL BE HEARD TOGETHER. 2520 AND 9130. GARY BRADY WILL LEAD
105THIS DISCUSSION. Van Ayres: MR. BRADY, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT ANYTHING BUT A.I. OR SWITCH TOPICS? HE'S BEEN ON ALL THE PANELS IN TALLAHASSEE, A.I. ON THE MIND. Jim Porter: MR. BRADY IS LEADING THIS DISCUSSION. GOOD MORNING. SO THE REVISION OF THE POLICY IS A RESULT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RESPONSE TO THE COMMISSION OF EDUCATION LETTER. WE BROUGHT A DRAFT TO THE JULY 22 BOARD WORKSHOP. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WORKSHOP, THE REQUEST WAS MADE TO WORK ON ONE POLICY AND SHARE THE CORRESPONDING PROCEDURES. LANGUAGE STRICKEN FROM 9130 AND ADDED TO 2520 IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE ONE POLICY INSTEAD OF TWO SEPARATE POLICIES. THIS WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ACADEMIC SERVICES AND MR. GIBSON AND MS. RENDON TO CREATE ONE POLICY. Van Ayres: ANY DISCUSSION. Nadia Combs: START WITH MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
106I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION IN THIS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS BRINGS BACK THE LAW AS IT IS STATED IN THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN OBJECTION POLICY. I BELIEVE I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ALSO HAVE IT IN THE HANDBOOK. ONE THING I WOULD ASK IS WHEN WE DO HAVE THIS FINAL POLICY AND IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AND ALSO NOT IN THE HANDBOOK, BUT ACTUALLY A COPY OF THE OBJECTION FORM. IT'S NOT IN THE HANDBOOK, NOT IN THE POLICY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS CLEAR BETWEEN ALL OF US THAT WE DO WANT THAT ATTACHED. I'VE SEEN IT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT IS ATTACHED TO BOTH THE HANDBOOK AND TO THE FORM WHEN WE PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK
107YOU. I HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MEMBER RENDON BROUGHT THIS FROM A MUCH LARGER STATUTE. SHE SEES THIS AS LAW AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S BRINGING IT FORWARD. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A CHUNK OF IT THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT THE POLICY IN THE ENTIRE POLICY. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE NECESSARILY TO DO A LOT OF THIS STUFF WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL IN A CLASSROOM AND MAKING SURE IT'S COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE. WE HAVE COMPLETELY IMPROMPTU MOMENTS WHERE A STUDENT MAY HAVE BROUGHT A BOOK FROM HOME THAT THEY HAVE A QUESTION AND IT TURNS INTO A SPONTANEOUS CONVERSATION WITH THE TEACHER. I'M WORRIED BY BOXING US IN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN A CLASSROOM WILL BE ONLINE AND TRANSPARENT -- I FIND WE CAN'T PRESERVE THIS IN THE WAY THAT IF, LET'S
108SAY, A PARENT OBJECTS TO STANDARD, OUR STUDENTS -- ARE STUDENTS STILL GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT INFORMATION, WHETHER THE STUDENT OBJECTS TO THE STANDARD. THEY ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A TEST WHERE THEY HAVE TO ANSWER A QUESTION TO THAT STANDARD. IF THEY DON'T, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO OPT OUT OF THAT INFORMATION OR THAT CURRICULUM OR THAT PIECE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HELD -- THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEEMED -- THEIR TEST GRADE, END OF QUARTER TEST GRADE IS GOING TO BE PENALIZED FOR THAT. SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE CAN REALLY HONOR THIS POLICY IS MY CONCERN ABOUT IT. I'M SAYING NO TO THIS POLICY. AND THEN I THINK WE DO NEED TO MOVE THAT PIECE BACK TO THE OTHER POLICY AND DISCUSS IT ABOUT THAT PIECE BECAUSE I
109DON'T WANT THIS HANGING, FOR WHATEVER REASON MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS DON'T WANT TO BRING THIS POLICY FORWARD, I DON'T WANT THAT PIECE DISCONNECTED FROM THE ORIGINAL POLICY. I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU GAVE THAT TO US HERE AS A STAND-ALONE PIECE, IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, WILL BE ATTACHED TO THIS TO CONSOLIDATE IT OR, AS YOU MENTIONED, IF FOR WHATEVER REASON THIS DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD GOES TO THE ORIGINAL POLICY IT WAS TIED TO, IS IT 9130? 9130. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. Nadia Combs: EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE COMMENTS AND THEN -- SINCE YOU ARE THE AUTHOR. I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE EVERYTHING MEMBER VAUGHN SAID. I FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY. WE'LL FOLLOW THE LAW. I DON'T NEED TO BE BOXED IN WITH THIS. SEEN THE POLICY MULTIPLE TIMES. NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT. DIDN'T SUPPORT IT FIRST
110TIME, NOT SUPPORTING AGAIN. REFER TO 9130. I APPRECIATE THE PROCEDURES AND WORKING ON THOSE. I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS POLICY. I THINK WE'LL REFER TO THE LAW. WE'LL GO THROUGH THE LAW, AND WE KNOW THAT IF THE COMMISSIONER OR SOMEBODY CONTACTS US AND SAY THIS IS A BOOK AND AGAINST THE LAW AND WE'RE BREAKING THE LAW, IT'S GOING TO BE REMOVED. I DON'T NEED THIS POLICY. I THINK IT CREATES LESS FLEXIBILITY. IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS. I CAN SEE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS. I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT SUPPORT THIS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO AREN'T HERE. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE BIG POLICIES. DID ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE TO
111MAKE A COMMENT. I KNOW YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT. Jim Porter: THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP IS WHETHER -- YOU DON'T VOTE HERE. YOUR INPUT IS HUGELY IMPORTANT ABOUT WHETHER THE POLICY MOVES FORWARD. TYPICALLY THERE'S CONSENSUS. RIGHT NOW, THE BOARD AS A GROUP NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS TO PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN HAVE A VOTE AGAINST IT, IF THAT'S YOUR CASE, OR JUST HAVE IT DIE IN COMMITTEE SO TO SPEAK AND AT THE WORKSHOP. Nadia Combs: YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS. Jim Porter: I CAN'T BE A CONDUIT FOR SUNSHINE LAW PURPOSES. THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE. GOING FORWARD FROM THIS MEETING, THE POLICY EITHER GOES FORWARD OR NOT. IT CAN'T DANGLE. Nadia Combs: CAN WE VOTE FOR IT ON THAT DAY? VOTE FOR IT SEPARATELY SINCE WE HAVE
112TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO AREN'T HERE FOR THE MOMENT. MAKE SURE AS WE DID LAST TIME WITH THE POLICIES WE VOTED ON THEM SEPARATELY AND WE SHOULD DO THAT. BECAUSE THIS IS A TOPIC THAT JUST KEEPS BEING BROUGHT UP PORT POT THE BEAUTY OF A -- Jim Porter: THE BEAUTY OF A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU GET INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. I THINK THAT WILL HELP INFORM THE ENTIRE BOARD'S DECISION. GIVEN THE SITUATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, I THINK FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THE BEST THING TO DO, LET IT GO FORWARD. YOU ALL CAN VOTE AGAINST IT. Nadia Combs: DID ANYONE HAVE COMMENTS? THEN MEMBER RENDON CAN RESPOND TO THAT. Stacy Hahn: WHAT'S WRITTEN IN 2520 SEEMS LIKE, WHY IS THAT SO SEPARATE FROM 9130? CAN'T THAT BE -- BECAUSE IT DOES BRING OUT SOME GOOD POINTS AROUND
113SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD DEVELOP PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING ALL OBJECTIONS. WHY ISN'T THAT IN 9130? Patti Rendon: [INAUDIBLE] Jim Porter: IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, DR. HAHN, IT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM STAFF. THAT'S WHY THE TWO POLICIES ARE BEING HEARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE RELATED. THEY ARE DELETING AND ADDING AND MODIFYING. IF STAFF WANTS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THOUGHT PROCESS, TAKING THAT OUT OF 9130 AND HAVING ONE POLICY, IT PROBABLY WOULD BE HELPFUL. I THINK THE POINT OF THAT WAS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH BOARD MEMBERS, AS THIS UNDER THE MATTERS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND KNOWING THIS IS JUST MATERIALS, THIS COULD BE ANYTHING. THIS ALSO GOES WITH 1,006.28 WHICH WAS WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO CAPTURE AND THEN ALL OF US AS A WHOLE TRYING TO
114CAPTURE 1,006.28. THAT VERBIAGE, AND WE CAN TAKE NOTE OF THAT AND MODIFY EVEN THAT PIECE, IS THAT IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE OBJECTION PROCESS, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE DAY ONE. WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT LANGUAGE TO MR. PORTER'S POINT AND ADD THAT PORTION IN THERE. BUT THAT IS PART OF 1,006.28. Nadia Combs: MEMBER VAUGHN -- Jessica Vaughn: I DON'T WANT TO HOG ALL THE TIME. MY CONCERN, ONE, I WOULD RATHER TAKE CONSENSUS RIGHT NOW THAN GOING THROUGH A WHOLE PROCESS OF BRINGING THIS BEFORE A BOARD MEETING IF WE COULD GET CONSENSUS RIGHT NOW. NUMBER TWO, IF IT DOES GO FORWARD, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOESN'T PASS, IF WE'RE KEEPING THIS PIECE, DOES IT AUTOMATICALLY GO BACK TO THE OTHER ONE? Jim Porter: RIGHT. IF THE POLICIES ARE HEARD
115TOGETHER AND 2520 DOESN'T PASS, THEN IT JUST DOESN'T EXIST. IF 9130 DOESN'T PASS, STAYS THE SAME. Jessica Vaughn: IF 2520 DOESN'T PASS, THIS PIECE OF IT IS THEN GOING TO GO -- HOW ARE WE ADVERTISING THAT IS MY QUESTION? YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE THE POLICIES. WE COULDN'T JUST PUT IT BACK ON THE OTHER ONE IF THIS DOESN'T PASS. Jim Porter: TWO THINGS THIS HAS HAPPEN. 2520 DOESN'T PASS, 9130 DOESN'T PASS, THEN NOTHING CHANGES. THE LANGUAGE STAYS THE SAME IN BOTH POLICIES. Van Ayres: I BROUGHT THIS POLICY, LAST POLICY CYCLE. HOW IT READS IN 9130 IS NOT CLEAR BECAUSE IT SAYS NO CHALLENGE MATERIAL. IN LINES 20 TO 23, IT MAKES IT MORE SPECIFIC TO OBJECTION, MATERIAL THAT'S OBJECTED TO. I AM REQUESTING -- BECAUSE THE WAY IT CURRENTLY READS, JUST SAYS CHALLENGED. WHAT I BROUGHT
116FORWARD LAST POLICY CYCLE WAS CHANGE THE CHALLENGE TO OBJECTED TO. JUST MORE CLEAR AROUND OBJECTED TO MATERIAL WHICH IS THE PROCESS WE FOLLOW ALREADY WHEN THEY COME TO THE BOARD -- TO BOARD MEETINGS ON REMOVAL -- THAT'S CHALLENGED ITEMS. Van Ayres: THANK YOU FOR BRINGING. SO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE BEFORE -- MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, THE POLICY THE BOARD HAD WAS CHALLENGED. THEN WHEN THE STATE 1,006.28, THE OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL, THE POLICY CHANGED. JUST MADE IT MORE CLEAR THAT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH MATERIAL OBJECTIONABLE, IT BRINGS CLARITY AROUND THE POLICY AND CONNECTS THE TWO TOGETHER. Stacy Hahn: 2520 IS FOR CURRICULUM AND BOOKS AND LIBRARY MATERIALS. IT'S EVERYTHING. WHERE 9130 IS JUST ANY COMPLAINT, EVEN IF IT IS NOT ABOUT CURRICULUM, ABOUT A TEACHER, ANYTHING. WE HAD WITHIN THERE -- THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. UNDER
117THE SUPERINTENDENT PART WITH MATTERS REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT, THERE IS A SUBSECTION THAT WAS STRICKEN OUT THAT IS MATTERS REGARDING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. LIBRARY MEDIA IS WITHIN INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL AS WELL, BUT TO PATTI'S EARLIER POINT, COULD BE ANYTHING, REGARDLESS IF IT IS LIBRARY OR LET'S SAY SOMEONE BRINGS -- A TEACHER BRINGS IN A SUPPLEMENT AND OBJECTED TO. Stacy Hahn: THIS EVEN SAYS A MATTER SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TOWARD A STAFF MEMBER. THAT'S IN THIS ONE. WHOLE OTHER SECTION FOR LIBRARY BOOKS AND OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL AND PROCESS FOR THAT. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY. 2520. WE HAVE A POLICY AROUND OBJECTIONABLE LIBRARY BOOKS MATERIAL. WE HAVE THAT. WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR THAT. THEY FILL OUT THE FORM. IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE. IT GOES TO A SCHOOL COMMITTEE. THEN IT GOES TO A CONNECTIVITY COMMITTEE AND THEN IT
118GOES TO THE BOARD. THAT IS THE PROCEDURE. CORRECT. Stacy Hahn: ARE YOU SAYING POLICY 2520 IS THE POLICY FOR THAT PROCEDURE? [MICROPHONE NOT ON] Nadia Combs: I THINK THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE WELLNESS POLICY WHERE I THINK THIS NEEDS -- BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO REFER TO THE LAW NO MATTER WHAT. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WE'RE REFERRING TO LAW. THIS IS ANOTHER POLICY AS I SAID I PERSONALLY AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. I THINK WE NEED TO BRING THIS BACK AND LOOK AT IT MORE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO A CONCLUSION HERE IN EIGHT MINUTES OF THIS. I THINK IT'S ONLY GOING TO CREATE MORE CONFUSION. IF EVERYONE IS FEELING CONFUSED AND MEMBER RENDON, YOU MAY NOT FEEL CONFUSED BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE FEELING CONFUSED, I
119THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS. WE HAVE THE LAW, REFERRING TO THE LAW. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE HAVE A POLICY. WE DON'T NEED TO DO THIS TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS -- IF ALL THE MEMBERS ONCE AGAIN, I'LL LET MEMBER RENDON JUST LIKE I DID MEMBER GRAY TO CLOSE THAT UP ON THAT. PUBLIC COMPLAINTS REGARDING COURSES OF STUDY, BUT THEN IT INCLUDES LIBRARY MATERIALS. TO ME, THIS IS CURRICULUM. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CURRICULUM, THAT'S HOW THIS HEADING READS. IT DOES NOT READ PUBLIC COMPLAINTS REGARDING COURSES OF STUDY. IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE LIBRARY MATERIALS, YEAH, I THINK -- Nadia Combs: MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER WASHINGTON REALLY WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. IT'S LOOKING LIKE WE ARE GOING TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RIGHT NOW. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, I
120WANT TO GIVE BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY. OBVIOUSLY, MEMBER RENDON, YOU'LL HAVE A FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT. Lynn Gray: I APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME GIVEN FOR A REMARK THAT I HAVE TO MAKE ON THIS PARTICULAR POLICY. IT SEEMS TO ME, AND I'M FOLLOWING DR. HAHN'S THOUGHT PROCESS THIS SEEMS TO BE A WHOLE SEPARATE ENTITY. WHAT I HAD TO DO IS I HAD TO FIGURE OUT IF IT DOES CORRELATE WITH THE BOOK POLICY OR WHAT DOES IT CORRELATE WITH? SO WHEN I HAD ON LINE 16, THE OBJECTION OF MATERIALS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A PROFESSIONAL TIMELY MATTER, I HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE -- WHAT DO I REFER TO THE OBJECTION? THEN I WENT TO THE PROCEDURE AND I FIGURED IT OUT. THERE IS A DISCONNECT. SO ONE CAN'T LEAD TO THE OTHER. I DISAGREE THAT THIS
121IS LIKE THE WELLNESS POLICY, JUST FOR POINT OF RECORD, MEMBER COMBS. THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION, DIFFERENT SUBJECT. IT'S NOT PARALLEL. I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK. MEMBER RENDON WANTS TO SAY A FEW OTHER THINGS. Henry "Shake" Washington: [INAUDIBLE] Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: I HAVE A CLARIFICATION FOR BOTH THE ATTORNEYS. WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, WE LOOKED AT 1,006.28 BECAUSE THE ONLY POLICY WE HAD WAS A POLICY REGARDING THE OBJECTION OF -- MATERIAL. DID NOT INCORPORATE AND THE REASON WE MOVED THE LIBRARY MATERIAL OVER TO THIS COURSE OF STUDY IS BECAUSE IN 1,006.28, IT REFERRED TO LIBRARY MATERIAL, CLASSROOM LIBRARIES AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL. ALL THREE OF THOSE ARE REFERRED TO IT. PUT IT UNDER ONE POLICY JUST STATING THIS POLICY, JUST STATES THAT WE ARE GOING
122TO FOLLOW THE LAW, HAVE AN OBJECTION, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HANDBOOK. IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS, AREN'T WE GOING TO BE IN VIOLATION OF NOT HAVING A POLICY? BECAUSE DOESN'T THE LAW 1006, BOTH OF THEM, DOES THIS NOT -- NOT HAVING IT, WHICH IS WHY WE BROUGHT IT THE LAST POLICY CYCLE, BECAUSE THE LAW 1,006.28 REQUIRED US TO HAVE THE POLICY. CURRENTLY, IN 9130, WE HAVE THE OBJECTION PROCESS, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S POINT, THE HOPE WAS TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE TO MORE ALIGN WITH THE CURRENT STATUTE. Van Ayres: MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE THE POLICY AS WE'VE HAD IT WITHIN 9130, WE ARE FOLLOWING FLORIDA STATUTE. WE HAVE A POLICY. THE POLICY THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD WAS JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER, INSTEAD OF CHALLENGE, OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE
123TO DO ANYTHING REGARDS TO A POLICY CHANGE. WHAT I HAVE DONE AND THE TEAM HAS DONE THROUGH THE CYCLE IS TIGHTEN UP THE PROCEDURES ON MY END. MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE, WE DON'T NEED TO BRING ANYTHING BACK. WE'VE GOT A POLICY PER STATE STATUTE AROUND OBJECTIONABLE MATERIALS. MY PLEA TO THE BOARD WOULD BE WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY POLICY CHANGE. WE'RE ALREADY FOLLOWING FLORIDA STATUTE WITH REGARDS TO OBJECTIONABLE MATERIALS, AND IN THIS PROCESS, THOUGH, ON MY PROCEDURES AND THE TEAM HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY HARD ON THAT, THE PROCEDURES WE WORKED ON HAVE BECOME A LOT MORE CLEAR IN HOW WE DEAL WITH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM ME WOULD BE WE DON'T NEED TO BRING ANYTHING BACK BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS POLICY THIS BOARD MADE, HAS BEEN FOLLOWING AND HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE LAW
1241,006.28 FROM ITS INCEPTION. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BRING ANYTHING BACK. YOU WANT TO CHANGE CHALLENGE TO OBJECTIONABLE? Van Ayres: MS. RENDON LAST CYCLE BROUGHT -- Patti Rendon: [INAUDIBLE] Van Ayres: PUBLIC COMPLAINTS REGARDING COURSE OF STUDY THAT TOP PART CAME FROM MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: NO. [INAUDIBLE] -- CHANGE TO CLASSROOM MATERIALS -- BECAUSE THE LAW STATES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, CLASSROOM LIBRARY AND -- [MICROPHONE NOT ON] IT ALSO DOES NOT GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO REMOVE ANYTHING OFF OF ANY SHELF. ONLY TALKS TO OBJECTION. DOESN'T GIVE US ANY OTHER POLICIES REGARDING ANYTHING ELSE. THAT DOES MEAN IF A PARENT COMES AND SAYS I DON'T WANT MY KID READING THAT BOOK, IT REQUIRES THEM TO DO A FORMAL OBJECTION POLICY WITH THE MEDIA CENTER. JUST CLARIFYING. Nadia Combs: MR. PORTER, I THINK YOU HAVE DIRECTION. Jim Porter: WHAT
125I'M HEARING, THESE TWO POLICIES WILL BE DEFERRED FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT. I THINK THERE WAS A CLEANUP ATTEMPT BY BOTH STAFF AND MS. RENDON TO SORT OF GIVE CLARITY AND PUT THE POLICY WHERE IT BELONGED BECAUSE IT IS BURIED IN A POLICY THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OTHER THAN PUBLIC COMPLAINTS. PURPOSES OF TODAY, POLICY WILL NOT GO FORWARD. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED TO TWEAK SOME OF THIS, PUT IT IN A PLACE WHERE IT IS MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES AND THAT WILL BE HIS DECISION AND HE CAN BRING THAT BACK OR BOARD MEMBER COULD BRING SOMETHING BACK AS WELL. THE TWO POLICIES WILL NOT BE GOING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
126Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. Karen Perez: WITH THAT, THE DECEMBER SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP IS ADJOURNED.