001I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS INCLUDING CHILDREN STARTING WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. I'M KAREN PEREZ, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA, AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. (SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE) OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4:00 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL
002MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18 -- THANK YOU
003-- IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER PEREZ WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER I'M COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO OPEN OUR DIALOGUE AND PROACTIVE APPROACH TOWARDS ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AMONG OUR YOUTH. THE RISE IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PARTICULARLY AMONG TEENAGERS EMPHASIZES THE URGENT NEED FOR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AND SUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. I CONTINUE TO URGE OUR DISTRICT, OUR PARENTS, AND STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSIONS AND UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES. BY FOSTERING A CULTURE OF UNDERSTANDING AND DESTIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH, WE HAVE EMPOWERED OUR STUDENTS TO SEEK HELP AND SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED. LET
004US CONTINUE TO CHAMPION FOR INCREASED FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE CARE AND ATTENTION THEY DESERVE. TOGETHER, WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO CREATE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE MENTAL HEALTH IS VALUED AND THE CONVERSATION SURROUNDING IT ARE ENCOURAGED. OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS CAN MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT, TO THIS VITAL CAUSE BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH DOES MATTER. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THAT. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLE ALLEGIANCE. (PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE) Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER PEREZ, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? Karen Perez: ABSOLUTELY, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL DRUM LINE ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL ALLISON WRIGHT AND DIRECTOR, VERONICA JACOBS. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO
005THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING, AND AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. MY NAME IS ERIC RODRIGUEZ. I'M IN THE ELEVENTH GRADE AND I PLAY THE CYMBALS. MY NAME IS JUSTIN MENDOZA. I'M A GRADUATING SENIOR AND PLAY THE BASS DRUM. JONATHAN RIVERA, ELEVENTH GRADE AND I PLAY SNARE. ELIJAH GUITEN. I'M IN TENTH GRADE AND PLAY BASS DRUM. MAX, ELEVENTH GRADE AND I PLAY THE QUAD DRUMS. EMILY HILL, TENTH GRADE AND I PLAY CYMBALS. AIDEN MORALES, TENTH GRADE AND I PLAY THE BASS DRUM. MY NAME IS JOMIA, I'M IN THE NINTH GRADE AND I PLAY CYMBALS. MY NAME IS EMMANUEL AND I'M IN THE NINTH GRADE AND PLAY CYMBALS. MY NAME IS BOMAN AND I'M IN THE NINTH GRADE AND PLAY CYMBALS. KIARA, I'M A SENIOR AND PLAY BASS
006DRUM. MARY, I'M IN 12TH GRADE AND CENTER SNARE. VERONICA JACOB, I'M THE BAND DIRECTOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND SUPPORTING MUSIC EDUCATION. GOOD AFTERNOON, ALLISON WRIGHT, PRINCIPAL AT BRANDON. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MS. JACOB. OUR DRUMLINE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN HOLD THAT FOR THAT LONG AND KEEP ON RHYTHM. THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND SHOWCASING ALL THE GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AT BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: NOT ONLY DID YOU SOUND AMAZING, BUT YOUR UNIFORMS ARE FANTASTIC. YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT. NICE JOB. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY DR. HAHN. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT
007THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. OCTOBER 28, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE CUE.
008MEMBER -- IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER PEREZ WILL READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Karen Perez: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON A LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. THAT'S 6:00 P.M. FOR EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. NOW WE'LL DO OUR RECOGNITION, A01 RECOGNITION, AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK, NOVEMBER 17 TO 21, 2025, AND NATIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DAYS, NOVEMBER 19, 2025.
009DR. HAHN WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Stacy Hahn: FIRST CELEBRATED -- THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN, FIRST OF ALL. JUMPED RIGHT IN. FIRST CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 4 THROUGH 10 IN 1921, AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO CREATE GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND RAISES AWARENESS THAT EDUCATORS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESS LEADERS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STUDENTS ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN SUPPORTING THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS. AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK PRESENTS ALL AMERICANS WITH THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HONOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD RECEIVES A QUALITY EDUCATION. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. IS THAT THE WHOLE THING? I DON'T HAVE IT HERE. Stacy Hahn: I HAVE NATIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DAY. NOVEMBER 19, 2025. TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING SUPPORT -- EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND NATIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT
010PROFESSIONALS DAY WAS FIRST CELEBRATED AFTER THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF A WAY TO HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF. NATIONAL ESP DAY IS A TIME TO STRENGTHEN, SUPPORT, AND RESPECT FOR OUR COLLEAGUES. TODAY SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE INVALUABLE SERVICES THAT ENABLE STUDENTS TO LEARN AND POSITIVE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. ESPs ARE EQUAL AND ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS. AND NATIONAL ESP DAY IS OBSERVED ON WEDNESDAY DURING AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S IT, RIGHT? YOU DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. SAID THAT VERY PROFESSIONALLY. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SO LOUD. I'M GOING TO TRY TO MOVE IT AWAY. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CIT CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
011THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED OF THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE YOU'D LIKE AND YOU'LL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE DO REQUEST THAT YOU TRY TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND HEAR A CHIME. A RED LIGHT
012AND CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL CALL UP OUR FIRST FOUR SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS. ALL THE SPEAKERS. HI, MY NAME IS ALYSSA. I WILL BE TRANSLATING FOR HER. (SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE) IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE GREAT ATTRIBUTES OF MS. KAREN PEREZ AND ALSO -- AND SHE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HER RADIO PROGRAM THAT SHE HAS ABOUT HEALTH WITH EDUCATION. KAREN PEREZ HAS SHOWN TO BE A PERSON OF INTEGRITY WITH A BIG HEART AND COMMITTED. MS. KAREN PEREZ HAS A SEGMENT IN HER RADIO PROGRAM EVERY SUNDAY WHERE SHE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COME AND SPEAK ON BEHALF -- NOT ONLY DOES SHE COME IN AND INVITE COMMUNITY LEADERS BUT ALSO SPEAKS ABOUT THE
013GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER COLLEAGUES ARE DOING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES FOR THE YOUTH WHICH ARE THE FUTURE OF TOMORROW. FOR OUR RADIO STATION, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE KAREN PEREZ COME AND SPEAK BECAUSE SHE SHARES OF ALL THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE AND ALSO FOR OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS OR PARTNERS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT'S OFFERED. SHE IS DEFINITELY A PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR US TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE -- SHE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT 24/7. SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED NOT JUST WITH HER WORDS BUT HER ACTIONS THE PASSION SHE HAS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE YOUTH. THE INFORMATION IS SO IMPORTANT THE PUBLIC HAS RAVED IT IN A -- HAS RECEIVED IT IN A POSITIVE WAY AND IS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
014THROUGH THE RADIO STATION OR VEHICLE AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION IS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGH THIS VEHICLE, SHE IS ABLE TO SHARE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CLARIFY MISINFORMATION THAT IS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I INVITE EVERYONE HERE TO JOIN US ON SUNDAYS FROM 10:00 TO 11:00 IN THE MORNING, SUPER Q106.7FM. 1300 AM. AS LATIN AS YOU. EVERY SUNDAY. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. GRACIAS. MUCHOS GRACIAS. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HOLA -- NO, I'M JOKING. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS GIANI HUNT. I AM HERE TODAY AS A PARENT OF THREE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS. AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND IT'S IMPORTANT. AND THE REASON THAT IT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT
015THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO SHAPE WHETHER SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE OR WHETHER THEY'RE HANDED OVER TO PRIVATE OPERATORS WITH NO LOCAL OVERSIGHT OR NO LOCAL OVERSIGHT AND NO LOCAL VOICE. FLORIDA SCHOOLS OF HOPE, THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE LAW -- OR THE ORIGINAL WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE TARGETED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN PERSISTENTLY LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, THIS NEW ADJUSTMENT HAS WARPED THAT INTENT. INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING AND LIFTING UP STRUGGLING SCHOOLS, IT TURNED A FOCUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INTO A STATEWIDE CHARTER EXPANSION TOOL ALLOWING PRIVATE OPERATORS TO SEIZE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPACE. EVEN IN SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO TRANSPARENCY AND NO LOCAL SAY. PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CLEAR. THEY WANT INVESTMENT IN THE SCHOOLS THEIR CHILDREN ALREADY ATTEND. THEY ASK FOR SMALLER CLASS
016SIZES, MORE READING COACHES, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES AND COUNSELORS AND SAFE FACILITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS. FAMILIES WANT AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, BILINGUAL AIDES AND UPDATED TECHNOLOGIES. THIS NEW RULE DIVERTS RESOURCES AWAY FROM THOSE PRIORITIES AND HANDS THEM TO OUTSIDE OPERATORS WHO ANSWER TO NO ONE LOCALLY. AND THE HARM FALLS HARDEST ON THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS. A CHILD WITH DISABILITY MAY LOSE A THERAPY ROOM THAT'S LABELED "VACANT." A TITLE 1 SCHOOL SERVING LOW INCOME FAMILIES MAY BE FORCED TO SHARE ITS CAFETERIA OR GYM WHICH WILL DISRUPT MEAL TIMES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL DISRUPT THE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND IT CAN COMPROMISE THOSE SAFE SPACES FOR THOSE STUDENTS. AND LET'S FACE IT. DISTRICT -- WE'RE GOING TO PAY TWICE FOR IT. AND THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS, THEY'RE NOT PAYING ANYTHING FOR IT. HOPE OPERATORS GET RENT-FREE ACCESS TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS
017AND LIKE MAINTENANCE AND EVEN SECURITY. EVERY DIVERTED DOLLAR MEANS FEWER ELECTIVES AND FEWER SUPPORTS FOR THE VERY STUDENTS THAT NEED IT MOST. I ASK FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND ADVOCACY. TO STAND WITH THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND RESOURCES GO WHERE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THEM TO GO ALL ALONG. IN THE CLASSROOMS AND IN PROGRAMS THAT SERVE OUR CURRENT STUDENTS RIGHT NOW. AND I JUST ASK THIS THAT WHATEVER TOOL YOU HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL, PLEASE USE IT. THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR YOU TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO PLEASE USE IT. DO NOT HOLD BACK. FAMILIES ARE ASKING FOR THIS, COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING FOR THIS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR COOPERATION. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ELLEN
018LYONS. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE BOARD TO SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF AMENDMENTS TO A FLORIDA LAW THAT LETS PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT CHARTER OPERATORS OCCUPY SPACE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FREE. UNTIL THIS YEAR, THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE STATUTE WAS TO OFFER FAMILIES AN OPTION FOR A CHARTER PROVIDER IN A PERSISTENTLY LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL. HOWEVER, IN 2025, THE LEGISLATURE MADE CHANGES TO THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE STATUTE WHICH NOW ALLOWS PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT OPERATORS TO OCCUPY CLASSROOMS, CAFETERIA SPACE, ATHLETIC FACILITIES, AND OTHER SPACES FOR FREE. WITHOUT PAYING A DIME OF RENT FOR THE USE OF THOSE FACILITIES. AND THE PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT CHARTER OPERATORS WILL ALSO GET FREE STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES, FREE CUSTODIAL SERVICES, FREE NURSING SERVICES, AND EVEN FREE ELECTRICITY. NOW, WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS COST? BECAUSE EVEN ELECTRICITY IS MORE THAN $100
019A YEAR PER STUDENT. IT CAN BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. IT'S US. IT'S US, THE TAXPAYERS, WHOSE PROPERTY TAXES SUPPORT EDUCATION. ALSO, THE LAW ALLOWS THE PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT OPERATOR TO GET ACCESS TO THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE DISTRICT. THAT'S EXTREMELY TROUBLING. TWO FOR-PROFIT OPERATORS ALREADY TARGETED 22 SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT AND EVEN MORE DEMAND LETTERS MAY BE ON THE WAY. FOR-PROFIT OPERATORS ARE NOT JUST TARGETING PERSISTENTLY LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS. THEY'RE TARGETING EVERY SCHOOL WITH A VACANCY. WELL, THE VACANCIES ARE BASED UPON THE FLORIDA INVENTORY OF SCHOOL HOUSES REPORT WHICH IS -- LOOKS AT SQUARE FOOTAGE AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS. SOME SCHOOLS ARE STABLE. THEY ARE PERFORMING PERFECTLY FINE. AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MANY STUDENTS PER SQUARE FOOT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THE SCHOOL HAS ROOM TO SUPPORT ANOTHER SCHOOL
020UNDER THE VERY SAME ROOF. THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE STATUTE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A PRIVATE -- A TOOL FOR PRIVATE OPERATORS TO OCCUPY STABLE SCHOOLS. SO PLEASE SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF THE 2025 CHANGES TO THE FLORIDA SCHOOLS OF HOPE STATUTE. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS AMY MARIE GRANGER WELCH AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING FAMILIES FOR STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE'RE A STATEWIDE NONPARTNER ORGANIZATION THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO A NONGOVERNED SCHOOL. THIS NEW STATE RULE IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF TALLAHASSEE OVER RULING LOCAL AUTHORITY. IT GIVES STATE APPOINTED OFFICIALS THE POWER TO EVER ORIDE YOURSTITIONS AND CLARIFY A CAMPUS WITH EVEN A HANDFUL OF SEATS UNDERUSED. YOU CAN BE COMPELLED TO GIVE PART OF A PRIVATE OPERATOR WITHOUT RENT,
021WHERE THE DISTRICT CONTINUES COVERING TRANSPORTATION, CUSTODIAL, UTILITIES AND OTHERS. THIS CREATES A PRIVATE RUN SCHOOL SYSTEM INSIDE THE SCHOOLS THAT TAXPAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBSIDIZE EVEN THOUGH IT ANSWERS TO NO LOCALLY ELECTED BOARD. IT DRAINS RESOURCES FROM THE VERY SCHOOLS OUR COMMUNITIES RELY ON AND SHIFTS PUBLIC ASSETS INTO PRIVATE HANDS. BUT THE MOST TROUBLING ELEMENT IS THE STUDENT DATA ACCESS BURIED IN THIS RULE. HOPE OPERATORS WOULD BE GRANTED ENTRY INTO THE DISTRICT INTERNAL STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS MEANING A PRIVATE OPERATOR COULD VIEW A STUDENT'S ACADEMIC RECORD, DISABILITY RELATED DETAILS, ATTENDANCE PATTERN AND DISCIPLINE NOTES. DATA FAMILIES TRUST YOU TO PROTECT WITH CARE. AND UNLIKE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THESE OPERATORS ARE NOT BOUND BY THE SAME TRANSPOORANCY REQUIREMENTS OR COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT. THERE ARE NO CLEAR PROTECTIONS FOR HOW THIS INFORMATION IS STORED. WHO IT CAN BE SHARED
022WITH. OR WHAT HAPPENS IF IT'S MISUSED. FAMILIES HAVE NO MEANINGFUL AVENUE TO CHALLENGE OR REVIEW THESE DECISIONS AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AND UNNECESSARY RISK TO STUDENT PRIVACY. ALL OF THIS IS OCCURRING IN A TIME WHEN OUR SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN, OPERATING WITH LESS FUNDING AND REAL DOLLARS THAN A DECADE AGO PUSHING TO GIVE UP EXTRA COST MAKES IT HARDER TO STAFF OUR STUDENTS DEPEND ON. FAMILIES FOR STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS BELIEVES OUR GOALS SHOULD BE BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND NOT PRIVATE COMPANIES. I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION. PASS A RESOLUTION OPPOSING CO-LOCATION AND PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL AND DEFEND THE SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF THE STUDENTS ENTRUSTED TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS BETSY
023BRADEN. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT GRADUATED FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I AM ALSO HERE AGAIN TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE, WHICH I SAY NOPE. SINCE I WAS HERE LAST MONTH, SCHOOLS OF NOPE CHARTERS ADDED 60 MORE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS TO THE LIST FOR THEIR HOSTILE TAKEOVER. THEIR THREAD IS BECOMING A TSUNAMI. I'M ASKING YOU TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ABOUT SCHOOLS OF NOPE AND TO DEMAND THE LEGISLATORS REPEAL THIS BILL. WE NEED TO KEEP LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOLS. I DID SPEAK WITH MY REPRESENTATIVE KAREN PITMAN WHOSE CHILDREN WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF "NOPE" -- NO, WENT TO SCHOOL -- WENT TO -- I'M SORRY. I SPOKE WITH KAREN PITMAN WHOSE CHILDREN WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW
024ANYTHING ABOUT THE "SCHOOLS OF NOPE" AND DIDN'T REALIZE HOW DEVASTATING IT IS, SO I FEEL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE OUR LEGISLATORS WHO VOTED FOR IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. AS I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, SCHOOLS OF NOPE IS A TROJAN HORSE MEANT TO DESTROY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND GIVE TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S CHARTER SCHOOL FRIENDS. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PAY ALL THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S EXPENSIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR CAFETERIAS AND GYMS, PROVIDE BUSSING AND JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR FREE. MEANWHILE THE CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE NO ACCOUNTABILITY. THEY PAY NO RENT, THEY NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL. MAKE SURE YOU REACH OUT TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND NEIGHBORS AND EDUCATE THEM THAT THE SCHOOLS OF NOPE WILL DESTROY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PLEASE HOLD THE TOWN HALL ON HOW WE CAN EDUCATE
025THE PUBLIC ON SCHOOLS OF NOPE AND HOW WE CAN FIGHT BACK. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO -- NOW I'D LIKE TO THANK KAREN PEREZ FOR HAVING ME ON HER RADIO SHOW. WE SPOKE ABOUT GUNS IN SCHOOLS. AND THAT BRINGS ME A POINT. I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE THAT HB133 HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. THIS BILL DROPS THE LONG GUN PURCHASE AGE FROM 21 TO 18. WE NEED TO CALL OUR LEGISLATORS AND TELL THEM TO VOTE AGAINST IT. THIS WILL MAKE FLORIDA MORE DANGEROUS. WE DON'T NEED A REPEAT OF PARKLAND. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE REORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD. BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, MEMBER PEREZ ASKED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST READ A RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW, IN HONOR OF OUR
026CHAIR. THIS RESOLUTION READS AS FOLLOWS: "WHEREAS JESSICA VAUGHN SERVED THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH DEDICATION AND DISTINCTION AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 3 AND WHEREAS DURING HER TENURE, THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, MS. VAUGHN, DEMONSTRATED STEADFAST LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS MS. VAUGHN HAS BEEN A PASSIONATE, UNDERSCORED, ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS ENSURING THAT VOICES OF SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT WERE HEARD AND VALUED. AND WHEREAS MS. VAUGHN IS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING THE DISTRICT 3 STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, FOSTERING CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND ENSURING THAT STUDENT PERSPECTIVES PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN SHAPING DISTRICT POLICY. AND WHEREAS MS. VAUGHN HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR MONSOAR EDUCATION SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE AND STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
027THAT NURTURE CURIOSITY, INDEPENDENCE AND A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF LEARNING. AND, WHEREAS MS. VAUGHN SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HER ACTIVE PARTICIPATION ON NUMEROUS COUNCILS AND BOARDS INCLUDING CENTRAL FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD COALITION, THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS, AND THE TAMPA THEATER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND WHEREAS -- WHEREAS AS A FORMER CLASSROOM TEACHER, MS. VAUGHN BROUGHT FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE, EMPATHY AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE TO HER ROLE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. HELPING TO GUIDE THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS THAT PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS OF BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF. AND WHEREAS HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS STRENGTHENED TRUST BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND FAMILIES THAT SERVES. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD EXPRESSES ITS DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO JESSICA VAUGHN FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION AS SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR AND
028DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVE. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE ENTERED INTO THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO MS. VAUGHN'S IMPACTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADOPTED THIS DAY, THE 18th OF NOVEMBER, 2025, BY THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD." Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: WAIT. ONE MOMENT. CAN I ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND ASK FOR A SECOND TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION? I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: OF COURSE THERE'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE DISCUSSION. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MEMBER VAUGHN FOR HER LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST YEAR. SERVING AS CHAIR IS NEVER EASY, BUT YOU MAKE IT LOOK EASY. AND I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL
029YOUR TIME, ENERGY, COMMITMENT AND THOUGHTFULNESS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THIS ROLE OVER THE LAST YEAR. BUT MOSTLY I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT THIS BOARD AS CHAIR. SO THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: YES. I CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE HAS BEEN EMBLEMATIC FOR A STUDENT-CENTERED INDIVIDUAL KEEPING THE EYE ON THE STUDENTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE PUT FORTH FOR OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: YES. THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. YOU'VE BEEN AN AMAZING LEADER. GREAT LISTENER. I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR ENERGY. FEISTY, HOW YOU ALWAYS ARE, AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU WORKED SO HARD
030AT KEEPING OUR BOARD TOGETHER. I THINK TOGETHER WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, AND I THINK YOU LEADING THAT HELPED BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THIS BOARD, SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE CABINET, EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER, I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE HAVE A STRONG LEADER, IT HELPS BRING THE WHOLE BOARD TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. YOU KNOW, THIS JOB DOESN'T JUST START HERE ON THE DAIS. THERE ARE SO MANY HOURS SPENT OFF THIS DAIS AND AROUND THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EXTRA HOURS IT TAKES TO BECOME CHAIR ON THIS BOARD. THE TIME THAT YOU TAKE TO NOT ONLY BE PREPARINGING FOR THIS MEETING,
031PREPARING WITH US AS WE MOVE FORWARD BUT THE TIME YOU PUT INTO YOUR COMMUNITY AND THIS DISTRICT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT DEE AND HOW WE TO IT AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR NOT JUST YOUR TIME ON THE DAIS BUT THE TIME YOU TAKE ALL DAY LONG. I KNOW IT TAKES TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND YOURSELF AND YOUR HEALTH. IT'S BEEN A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR YOU TO DO THAT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH, SO THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. CHAIR VAUGHN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE GROUP TOGETHER. SOMETIMES WE CAN BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH. BUT YOU DO A GREAT JOB BRINGING US TOGETHER. I SAID SOMETIMES. BUT
032I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, AND YOU DISPLAY EVERYTHING THAT A CHAIR SHOULD BE. NOT ONLY A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. WE GET OUT EARLY SOMETIMES TOO UNDER YOU. ALL JOKES ASIDE, I APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE BOARD AND ALL YOU CONTINUE DOING, AND YOU'VE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING CHAIR. Karen Perez: AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES? Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. CHAIR VAUGHN, THIS YEAR HAS ABSOLUTELY FLOWN BY. THINKING WE ARE HAVING A REORGANIZATION THIS YEAR, IT'S FLOWN BY. DURING THE RESOLUTION AND THE TERM CAME OUT, THE ADJECTIVE AROUND PASSIONATE. WE HAD MANY PASSIONATE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THERE WAS A FEW. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DRIVING THIS DISTRICT FORWARD FROM MYSELF, THIS ENTIRE CABINET, THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE YEAR. WE HAD A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS TO
033MAKE ALONG THE WAY. BUT YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SO IMPACTFUL TO THE DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH. Karen Perez: AND BEING CO-CHAIR WITH YOU HAS BEEN QUITE AN AMAZING BLESSING FOR ME. BECAUSE TO WATCH YOU, YOU KNOW, REALLY FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL. JUST TO THIS DISTRICT ALONE. BUT ALSO KNOWING YOUR PERSONAL CHALLENGES COMING INTO THIS ALSO, YOU KNOW, RIDING THIS ALMOST LIKE A TWO-PERSON BICYCLE BY YOURSELF HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR ME TO WATCH. BUT EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, SOMETHING THAT -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, REPEATS IN MY HEAD, IS "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT" BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN THERE AND DO THAT. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER. BUT THAT'S JUST YOU. AND THAT'S THE PASSION THAT YOU BRING TO
034THIS ROLE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. BUT WAIT. THERE IS OTHER STUFF FOR YOU. THIS IS FROM A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT FROM CARTER, EMILY. Jessica Vaughn: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY CO-CHAIR. (INAUDIBLE) Jessica Vaughn: I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO MY CO-CHAIR, KAREN PEREZ. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE OF YOU. YOUR DEDICATION TO THE FAMILIES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, TO OUR STUDENTS IS EVIDENT IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YOU LEAD WITH BOTH STRENGTH AND COMPASSION. AND OUR DISTRICT IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMITMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING MY COCHAIR AND FOR LEADING. AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE, I WANT TO SAY HOW DEEPLY GRATEFUL I AM. I HAVE TO READ BECAUSE I GET NERVOUS. HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR ALL OF YOU FOR
035TRUSTING ME WITH THE ROLE OF CHAIR THIS PAST YEAR. BEING ELECTED BY MY MELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WAS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR. AND WAS -- WHAT TRULY MADE THIS YEAR MEANINGFUL IN ITSELF IS THE FACT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER SO WELL. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP WITH OPEN MINDS, OPEN HEARTS, AND A GENUINE WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE. I KNOW THERE WERE A FEW WORKSHOPS WHERE THEY WERE HARD TO GET THROUGH, AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS CAME BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION. YOU MADE THE HARD CONVERSATIONS EASIER, THE TOUGH DECISIONS CLEARER AND SUCCESSES SWEETER. AND BECAUSE OF YOU AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALL SHARED TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP IS REALLY ABOUT, IS ABOUT THE TEAM AND COLLABORATION. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL. AND SERVING AS CHAIR HAS BEEN AN HONOR,
036BUT SERVING WITH YOU IS WHAT I'LL MOST REMEMBER, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS YEAR SOMETHING I'M TRULY PROUD OF, OUR BOARD. ALL RIGHT. THAT FEELS LIKE ENOUGH NOW, RIGHT? THAT'S BEEN SO MUCH. SO THANK YOU GUYS. I WILL NOW ASK MR. PORTER TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF ELECTION FOR CHAIR AND TURN THE MEETING OVER TO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION FOR CHAIR. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR BOARD MEMBERS. FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIRE THIS BOARD ELECT A CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME. THE LAW ALSO PROVIDES THAT YOU MAY ELECT A VICE CHAIR, WHICH THE BOARD HAS TRADITIONALLY DONE. THE NOMINATIONS WILL WORK THIS WAY. ANYONE CAN NOMINATE ANYONE ON THEBOARD. ALL SEVEN ARE ELIGIBLE. YOU MAY ALSO NOMINATE YOURSELF. NOMINATIONS DON'T REQUIRE A SECOND. WHOEVER IS NOMINATED NEEDS
037AT LEAST FOUR VOTES TO BE NAMED CHAIR. IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON IS NOMINATED, YOU'LL VOTE BY WRITTEN BALLOT WHICH ARE PREPARED AND READY FOR YOUR USE WITH YOUR NAME ON IT. THE BALLOTS DO BECOME PUBLIC RECORD. WITH THAT, I'LL BE -- HAPPY TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SO HE MAY CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS FOR CHAIR. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. BOARD MEMBERS, THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR. TO BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND TO MAKE A NOMINATION. AS MR. PORTER STATED, NOMINATIONS DON'T NEED TO BE SECONDED. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE OUR CURRENT VICE CHAIR, KAREN PEREZ, AS CHAIR. Van Ayres: ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? I SEE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS. Jim Porter: MS. PEREZ HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR CHAIR. JUST TO MEMORIALIZE THIS, IT WILL
038REQUIRE A VOTE. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY MEMBER COMBS TO NOMINATE MEMBER PEREZ AS CHAIR. IF YOU COULD RECORD YOUR VOTES WHEN THE LIGHTS APPEAR. SO CONGRATULATIONS, MADAM CHAIR. Van Ayres: CONGRATULATIONS, MADAM CHAIR. Jim Porter: THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL CONDUCT THE ELECTION FOR VICE CHAIR. SAME PROCESS. Van Ayres: SAME PROCESS. THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR. TO BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND TO MAKE A NOMINATION AND NOMINATIONS DO NOT NEED TO BE SECONDED. Jessica Vaughn: I NOMINATE NADIA COMBS FOR VICE CHAIR. Van Ayres: ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: I WANT TO -- TYPICALLY WHEN WE NOMINATE PEOPLE, WE ALWAYS GIVE A RATIONALE TO WHY WE'RE BRINGING THEIR NAME FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE GOT AWAY FROM THAT. I WANT TO BRING US BACK TO THAT.
039THE REORG MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS A REALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF NONPARTISAN LEADERSHIP. IN THAT SPIRIT THAT WE ALWAYS SAY WE ARE, A NONPARTISAN BOARD, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MEMBER RENDON FOR VICE CHAIR. MEMBER RENDON BRINGS A GENUINE PASSION AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO HER ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER. SHE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTS INITIATIVES ACROSS ALL OUR DISTRICTS AND DEMONSTRATES EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SHE IS EVERYWHERE. BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE IS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FAMILIES AND STAFF. SO MEMBER RENDON IS ALWAYS WELL INFORMED AND SHE IS THOROUGHLY PREPARED FOR EVERY MEETING, AND I BELIEVE SHE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR VICE CHAIR. Van Ayres: TWO NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR. ARE THERE
040ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR? OKAY. NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. Jim Porter: NOW MS. ARJA WILL PASS OUT BALLOTS. WRITE YOUR NAME FOR SELECTION OF VICE CHAIR. THESE PECK PUBLIC RECORD. AT THE -- THESE BECOME PUBLIC RECORD. AT THE END, THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNING RESULTS. THE CANDIDATE NEEDS FOUR VOTES TO BE NOMINATED VICE CHAIR. Jim Porter: AS THE SUPERINTENDENT PREPARES TO ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS, AFTER THE VOTE, IF YOU COULD IDENTITY WHO VOTED FOR WHOM FOR THE RECORD. Van Ayres: THE NEW VICE CHAIR FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IS NADIA COMBS. EVERYONE'S VOTE: HENRY "SHAKE" WASHINGTON VOTED FOR NADIA COMBS. Jessica Vaughn: YES, NADIA COMBS. NADIA COMBS, NADIA COMBS. LYNN GRAY, NADIA COMBS. AND THE TWO VOTES FOR MS. RENDON WERE FROM MS. RENDON AND MEMBER DR. HAHN. Jim Porter: THANK YOU. SO THE NEW
041VICE CHAIR IS MEMBER PEREZ. BEFORE YOU ADJOURN, YOU DIDN'T VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION FOR -- I'M SORRY? I'M SORRY. MEMBER COMBS, SORRY. YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION HONORING THE CHAIR TOO. IF YOU COULD BRING THE LIGHTS UP AND VOTE FOR THAT. YOU VOTE ON RESOLUTIONS, YES. NOT ON RECOGNITIONS. IF YOU CAN BRING THE LIGHTS UP PLE PLEASE. Karen Perez: AND THE MOTION PASSES. Van Ayres: DO WE NEED TO VOTE FOR THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE RECORD? DO THEY NEED TO VOTE OR -- Jim Porter: THIS SATISFIES IT. Karen Perez: NOW WE'LL TAKE A 15-MINUTE RECESS TO REORGANIZE AND TAKE NEW SCHOOL BOARD PHOTOS. WE WILL NOW RECONVENE THIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING -- OKAY. . Karen Perez: NOW WE WILL RECONVENE THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18, 2025. ITEM 6.01, ANNUAL MEETING OF
042THE HILLSBOROUGH LEASING CORPORATION FOR CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION. AT THIS TIME JAMIE LEWIS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL INTRODUCE MR. PATEL, OUR BOND COUNSEL WITH NAVERS, GILVIN AND NICKERSON. THANK YOU. HILLSBOROUGH IS LUCKY TONIGHT TO HAVE MR. PATEL WITH US WHO HAS BEEN THE BOND COUNSEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. HE REPRESENTED US THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS. WE WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS LONGTIME SERVICE WITH US AND I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO MR. PATEL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. RATESH, PATEL, BOND COUNSEL. YOU'RE MEETING TODAY AS THE LEASING CORPORATION. Jim Porter: SO MS. VAUGHN NEEDS TO CONVENE THE MEETING. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU -- Jim Porter: YOU NEED TO CONVENE THE MEETING. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I'LL NOW RECONVENE THIS MEETING. Jim Porter: HE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE. YOU CONVENED THE
043MEETING AS THE LEASING CORPORATION. EACH YEAR UNDER THE BYLAWS OF THE LEASING CORPORATION YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD YOUR ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LEASING CORP ON THE SAME DATE AS THE REORGANIZATION MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IN ORDER TO INSTALL YOUR NEW OFFICERS AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE LEASING CORPORATION AND APPOINT OFFICERS AND REAPPOINT THE SUPERINTENDENT AS SECRETARY-TREASURER. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MR. PATEL. I NOW RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTERS OF THE LEASING CORPORATION AND I NEED A MOTION FOR THAT. MOTION MADE BY MEMBER -- I MEAN, CHAIR PEREZ. SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I'LL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT OUR NEW CHAIR AS CHAIR AND PRESIDENT
044OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND OUR NEW VICE CHAIR AS VICE CHAIR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AS THE SECRETARY AND TREASURER OF THE LEASING CORPORATION. I NEED A MOTION FOR THAT. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I'LL NOW ADJOURN THE SCHOOL BOARD LEASING CORPORATION MEETING, RECONVENE THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND TURN IT OVER TO OUR NEW CHAIR. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C7..12 AND C7.13.
045SUPERINTENDENT -- C7.12, GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR FACILITY REBUILD PROJECT AT JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND STEWART MIDDLE SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, ITEM 7.12 REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE GMP FOR THE FACILITY REBUILD PROJECT AT JUST ELEMENTARY AND STEWART MIDDLE. THE NEED IS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE EXISTING STEWART MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FLOOD ELEVATION. THE PROBLEM BEING RESOLVED BY NEW CONSTRUCTION AND SITE FILL. ON THE FUNDS, IT'S FUNDED BY THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX FOR THE STEWART REBUILD AND ACCOMMODATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE CIT TAX. AND MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S 7.12. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER GRAY,
046AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO WHAT I SEE IS A HUGE GROWTH IN THE WEST -- NO, WEST RIVER AREA. IT'S JUST TREMENDOUSLY EXCITING. YOU HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU'VE GOT 150 DIFFERENT UNITS BEING BUILT. AND THIS WHOLE AREA IS JUST BEING TRANSFORMED. SO WHAT I THINK ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THAT WE'RE LAYING THIS OUT, AND MR. FARKAS, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE'RE LOOKING AT PERHAPS DUNBAR BEING A EARLY LEARNING AND THEN JUST ELEMENTARY AND THEN STEWART BEING THE MIDDLE, AND THEN BEHOLD, YOU HAVE BLAKE. SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE WEST RIVER AREA EMBRACES RIGHT NOW ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT AREA IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. AND THEN IF YOU GO INTO
047STEWART MIDDLE SCHOOL, HOLY MACKEREL. THE BUILDING, THE INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IS CRUMBLING BEYOND REPAIR. PIPES ARE RUSTED. SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A REVITALIZATION OF STEWART AND MATCHING THAT WITH THE REVITALIZATION OF WEST RIVER AREA IS THE SAME MATCHING -- MATCHING THE SAME WITH THE SAME IN TERMS OF NEW AND EXCITING BUILDINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD, AND I THINK WE CAN SAY THIS, WE'RE MAKING JUST -- AND HELP ME OUT WITH THIS. ARE WE TURNING THAT INTO A STEM SCHOOL OR A CAMBRIDGE TYPE OF MAGNET? GARY BRADY? YES, MS. GRAY. YES. JUST WOULD BE A CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL ALSO WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. AND THEN AS WELL AS IT WOULD HAVE STEM, PERFORMING ARTS, ACCELERATING, ALL OFFERINGS PATHWAYS FOR EXPOSURE FOR STUDENTS AT BOTH JUST AND STEWART
048BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR FINAL DECISION ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL. Lynn Gray: IF WE LOOK AT BLAKE, DOESN'T THAT CURRENTLY HAVE NOT ONLY PERFORMING ARTS BUT A HEALTHY STEM PROGRAM THERE AS WELL. ACE, AP, YES, AND STEM. Lynn Gray: SO I LOOK AT THIS AS A GREAT STEPPING STONE. YOU'VE GOT A GREAT PRE-K PLAN, THEN WE GO RIGHT TO JUST ELEMENTARY AND THEN STEWART AND THEN PERHAPS IF THE CHILD CHOOSES, BLAKE. SO VERY FORMIDABLE AND VERY EXCITING. THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT THOUGH THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID IS THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THIS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY. INVESTING IN THE POPULATION OF THOSE AREAS THAT ARE -- WITH A LOT OF BLACK HISTORY, A LOT OF LEADERS, IT'S SO MUCH -- SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THE RESPECT THAT OUR DISTRICT IS SHOW ING THESE COMMUNITIES. I CANNOT
049THANK OUR SUPERINTENDENT, MR. FARKAS, MR. BRADY AND THE CABINET FOR ESTABLISHING A HUGE HEALTHY PROFILE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS AS THIS ALL COMES TO BE. MR. FARKAS, THERE WAS A COMPLAINT ABOUT $30 MILLION REGARDING UPGRADING OR RENOVATING STEWART, BUT WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? Christopher Farkas: WELL, WE'RE GOING TO OWN THE BUILDING. IF THE DISTRICT DECIDES THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO, WE'D STILL BE THE STEWARDS OF THE BUILDING, NO PUN INTENDED. WE'D MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THAT. WE HAVEN'T PRICED IT OUT. STEWART NEEDS A NEW ROOF, WINDOWS AND A NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE REASON WE HAVE HELD BACK IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS COMING FORWARD. IF THE BOARD DECIDES THIS IS NOT THE DECISION THEY WANT TO GO, WE'LL HAVE AN ITEM TO BRING FORWARD. YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE IS SOMETHING
050CALLED TUCK POINTING WHICH TAKES THE MORTAR OUT OF THE BRICKS. THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE SCHOOL. THERE IS DEFINITELY A SUBSTANTIAL COST THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. Van Ayres: I CAN ADD TO THAT. STEWART, THE BUILDING YOU'RE SPEAKING OF WAS INITIALLY BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1956. THAT BUILDING WE'RE SPEAKING OF AT STEWART WAS BUILT IN 1956. CHANGED TO STEWART IN 1996 WHEN OUR CURRENT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ADDED NEXT DOOR. ALONG THE RIVER WE OPENED BLAKE IN 1997. THE STEWART BUILDING CURRENTLY THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF AND THE CONDITION WAS BUILT IN 1956 SO CLOSE TO A 70-YEAR-OLD BUILDING NEXT YEAR. JUST WANT TO ADD TO MR. FARKAS'S COMMENTS THERE. Lynn Gray: I WENT THROUGH THE BUILDING LAST WEEK AND INDEED IT'S IN POOR CONDITION. I WANT
051TO THANK PRINCIPAL BARRETA AND DR. WILSON FOR BEING A WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL AT STEWART. SHE'S DONE A MARVELOUS JOB. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS THIS COMMUNITY IS EVOLVING, AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I KNOW MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL HAVE MORE OF THE HISTORICAL PROFILE AND ITS MEANINGFUL -- MEANINGFUL PLAN OF AS WE GET THROUGH THIS AND THE INVESTMENT FOR OUR BLACK COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M DONE WITH MY COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: I GOT THE LUCKY MICROPHONE. THE LAZY ONE. THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. SO MY COMMENTS ON ITEMS 7.12 AND 7.13 ARE VERY SIMILAR, SO I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF -- WHAT I'M SAYING NOW IS GOING TO GO FOR THAT
052AS WELL. SO MY MAIN CONCERN WITH 7.12, AND FIRST, WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST YEAR PROBABLY BUT A LOT OVER THE LAST MONTH, AND I'LL GET TO THAT. SO MY MAIN CONCERN WITH 7.12 IS ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE ABOUT ENROLLMENT AND HOW BRAMANTES WILL IMPACT ENROLLMENT. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GOOD PROGRAMS ON PAPER NOT REALLY DRAW THE ENROLLMENT. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SURVEYS OF THE DUNBAR FAMILIES. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, IN GAUGING THEIR INTEREST TO MOVE TO JUST VERSUS SLY RE WHICH I THINK IS WHERE THEY GO RIGHT NOW. NOR DO I SEE DATA ABOUT NEW FAMILIES IN THE AREA DUE TO THE GENTRIFICATION HAPPENING. TODAY I'M LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE. SOME OF THIS WAS TOUCHED ON BY PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE A
053DECISION ABOUT 7.12 AND 7.13 WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE COLOCATION BILL PASSED LAST YEAR DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I HOPE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION PROVIDES CLEAR GUIDELINES ESPECIALLY FOR DEFINING CAPACITY. THERE IS A LITANY OF CONCERNS AROUND NOT HAVING GUIDELINES. BUT OVER THE PAST MONTH, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH CABINET. AND I FEEL WE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT STARTING ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION AT THIS TIME THAT COULD MAKE SCHOOLS VULNERABLE TO COLOCATION. I UNDERSTAND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RATIONALE FOR BOTH JUST, STEWART, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL VV BUT I DON'T THINK THE TIMING IS RIGHT. TIMING IS EVERYTHING IN LIFE WHETHER IT'S PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL. AND I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING THESE TWO ITEMS FORWARD. I DID ASK HIM TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER SESSION, AND GIVEN THE INVESTMENT IN
054THESE PROJECTS OF, WHAT, $180 MILLION, I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISION. I KNOW HOW EASILY IT CAN BE TO FOCUS ON AN AGENDA ITEM. AND GET VERY MYOPIC IN HOW WE THINK ABOUT THESE. BUT IN THE CURRENT STATE WE'RE IN, WITH CO-LOCATION, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AND THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS CAN HAVE FOR BOTH OUR OPERATIONAL AND FISCAL EFFICIENCIES AND FUNDING. AND I UNDERSTAND -- I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE TWO ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND A DELAY OF A FEW MONTHS MAY BE VERY DISAPPOINTING. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MOVING FORWARD, WITH APPROXIMATELY $180 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION, ONLY TO HAVE TO TURN PART OF THESE BUILDINGS OVER FOR CO-LOCATION WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. IF AFTER A PERIOD OF
055DELAY, YOU KNOW, DELAYING THIS -- IF THE SITUATION REMAIN S UNCHANGED WIT THE CO-LOCATION BILL, I'D SAY WE CAN BE THANKFUL WE DIDN'T PROCEED TODAY PREMATURELY. AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO REASSESS OUR APPROACH AND DEVELOP A NEW STRATEGY AND PLAN THAT WOULD ADDRESS NOT ONLY OUR CURRENT SCHOOLS BUT ALSO SCHOOLS WE ENVISIONED BUILDING OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO AT THIS TIME -- I THINK YOUR PLAN IS WELL THOUGHT OUT FOR BOTH SCHOOLS. I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMM COMMUNITY. I'M VERY CONCERNED, SCHOOLS OPEN SOMETIMES AT 50% CAPACITY AND THEY'RE VERY VULNERABLE TO CO-LOCATION. I'D ASK TO GET THROUGH SESSION TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME HEADWAY INTO GUIDELINES AROUND CO-LOCATION TO, YOU KNOW -- I THINK THAT IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL WAY TO PROCEED. SO AT THIS TIME I CANNOT IN
056GOOD FAITH APPROVE 7.12 OR 7.13 AND MY COMMENTS STAND ON BOTH ITEMS, BUT IT REALLY DOES CONCERN ME. AS MANY OF THE FOLKS TALKED ABOUT, THIS IS THE REALITY. I'M A BIG PICTURE THINKER. I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU SOLVE PROBLEMS. I THINK YOU GET TOO IN THE WEEDS AND YOU MISS CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF DECISION MAKING. SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS. I KNOW THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE WONDERFUL THINGS TO CONSIDER AFTER SESSION, BUT I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED. AND I THINK TO PAUSE THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS -- I'M NOT SAYING -- IN THE BIG PICTURE, IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE THE MORE PRUDENT THING TO DO. SO THAT'S WHERE I STAND. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE THINGS. WITH THE CO-LOCATION, I THINK WE'RE
057NEVER GOING TO REALLY SEE -- THINGS ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING AND WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE ANY CLARITY. I LOOK AT 21 YEARS AGO WALTON ACADEMY OPENED, AND FOR 21 YEARS, NOBODY EVEN ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE ARE YOU A CERTIFIED TEACHER OR DO YOU HAVE AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND. THINGS LIKE THAT. SO FOR ME CO-LOCATION THINGS ARE NANOT GOING TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT. I THINK ABOUT THE VOTE AT JUST AND FOR ME THAT WAS PROBABLY ALMOST FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, PROBABLY MY MOST DIFFICULT DECISION BECAUSE I MADE THAT DECISION WITH THE IDEA THAT STUDENTS WERE GOING TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE CERTIFIED TEACHERS. THERE WOULDN'T BE MORE VACANCIES. AND IN THE END WHEN I TRACKED THE STUDENTS, THEY ENDED UP GOING TO THE SCHOOL WITH THE HIGHEST VACANCIES.
058WHEN I VOTED THAT YEARS AGO TO REPURPOSE JUST WAS WITH THE INTENTION THAT THOSE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY. AND I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY HAPPENED. SO FOR ME, I THINK ABOUT AS WE LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, I LOOK AT EXAMPLES OF IN SOUTH TAMPA, AT ROBINSON, WE SPENT $58 MILLION. ADUM K-8, $63 MILLION. PLANT CITY, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN SOMETHING FOR 40 MILLION. YORK, $51 MILLION. MORGAN, SO EXPENSIVE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ASK THE COMMUNITY, WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT IT AT JUST. AND UNANIMOUSLY THAT COMMUNITY SAID YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WANT TO REBUILD THIS SCHOOL. WE WANT THIS COMMUNITY. AND MY INTENTION TO SPEND AND REBUILD IN THE AREAS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED THE SAME WAY AS WE SERVE OTHER SCHOOLS.
059THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS DESERVE THE VERY BEST AND THE BEST SCHOOL, DESERVE A NEW PLAYGROUND AND ALL OF THAT. MY SECOND PART IS, AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, MY NUMBER ONE THING IS TO REPRESENT AND MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD GETS A GRADE EDUCATION. BUT THE OTHER PART IS THE FINANCIAL PART. BECAUSE FINANCIALLY, I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE THE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE FUNDING CONTINUES TO LOWER AND WE CONTINUE HAVING TO SPEND POSSIBLE MONEY WITH SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SO I HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE FOR MY BUSINESS BACKGROUND, AND MY BACKGROUND IN LIFE, LAND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS THAT YOU CAN HAVE. IT'S SO VALUABLE. THAT LAND ON THE RIVER, PEOPLE ARE
060SO INTERESTED IN. SO TO SPEND $70 MILLION TO SECURE ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROPERTY, THAT'S A NO BRAINER. I MEAN, THAT SHOULD BE THE EASIEST DECISION THAT THIS BOARD SHOULD MAKE. THEY SHOULD LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, I'M INVESTING AND BUILDING A COMMUNITY IN A GREAT SCHOOL, BUT THAT ALSO SECURES A BILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY THAT EVERYBODY WANTS ON THAT RIVER. AND THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. FUTURE BOARDS AND SAYING, WE SECURED THAT LAND AND ASSET. THERE IS NO OTHER ASSET BIGGER THAN THAT. BUILDING SEVERAL SCHOOLS ON A PROPERTY, OUR FLAGSHIP WILL ALWAYS BE STANDING THERE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ONE DAY IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO SELL IT OR DO SOMETHING, PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER, OUR PAYROLL IS $60 MILLION EVERY
061TWO WEEKS. SO WHEN YOU GO TO SELL A SCHOOL FOR $10 MILLION, THAT'S NOT EVEN PAYING A WEEK OF PAYROLL FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THINK ABOUT IT. LAND IS THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET. LET'S MAKE SURE WE LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW THAT LAND IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SIX MONTHS AGO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CO-LOCATING IS REAL. IT'S AT OUR BACK DOOR. LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS. THEY COULD BE CHANGING THINGS. THEY MAY NOT BE CHANGING THINGS. I'VE BEEN VERY ADAMANT ALONG THIS WHOLE PROCESS THAT AT THE END OF THE
062DAY, THIS SHOULD NOT BE COMING UP TODAY. THIS DECISION SHOULD NOT BE COMING UP TODAY. THERE IS LESS WE CAN PROVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FILL THIS SCHOOL IN TWO YEARS WHICH WE CAN'T. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT. NOTHING ALONG THAT RIVER THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE HAS BEEN THERE, HAS BEEN FULL. THIS IS NOT JUST THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER. NONE OF THEM HAS BEEN FULL. JUST AS CAMBRIDGE, PERFORMING ARTS, A STEM. WE HAVE TRIED SO MANY THINGS AT JUST ELEMENTARY. CAMBRIDGE COSTS MORE TO RUN IT. WE ONLY GET A REIMBURSEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL. MIDDLES AND ELEMENTRIES. NONE OF OUR 14 CAMBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE PROVEN BY DATA TO SHOW WHEN THOSE STUDENTS GO FROM CAMBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORM BETTER IN HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE ASKED FOR THE DATA. WE'VE GOT NONE. WE'VE GOT
063NONE THE STUDENTS ARE BUILDING ON THE CURRICULUMS BUT WE'RE SPENDING ADDITIONAL MONEY ON PROGRAMS. IF WE DO NOT FILL THAT SCHOOL AND THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T CHANGE THE LAW, WE'RE GOING TO INVEST $80 MILLION IN THE JUST/STEWART RENOVATIONS TO HAND IT OVER TO ANOTHER OPERATOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE EXPENSES AND TAKE MORE MONEY AWAY FROM OUR STUDENTS. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE AGREE TO REBUILD A SCHOOL THAT I CANNOT GUARANTEE OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO REMAIN IN. THAT THE TRADITIONAL STUDENTS ARE GOING TO REMAIN IN. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING WE BUILD IS GOING TO BENEFIT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF THAT RIGHT NOW. I FIND IT IRONIC THAT MEMBER GRAY IS TALKING ABOUT THINGS AND PROGRAMS THAT I WAS NEVER AWARE OF. SUPERINTENDENT, THAT
064MEANS THAT YOU NEVER INFORMED ME OF ANY KIND OF CAMBRIDGE OR PERFORMING ARTS. SO I MEAN, I WAS NEVER INFORMED IN THOSE PROGRAMS AT STEWART. I WAS TOLD THAT WE'RE MOVING THE MIDDLE -- WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING DUNBAR MEDICAL MAGNET TO JUST. HOW ARE WE DOING THAT? FIRST OF ALL, THE DUNBAR MIDDLE MAGNET FEEDS SLY RE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BLAKE. WE'RE MOVING THE DUNBAR MIDDLE MAGNET TO PUT IN -- BUT WE HAVE NO COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY THEY'RE GOING TO FILL THE SCHOOL. NOW I HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. SO THIS IS ALL UNPLANNED. INAPPROPRIATE TIMING. NOW, I WOULD HAVE AGREED IF YOU WOULD HAVE BROUGHT BACK THE RENOVATIONS NEEDED FOR THE STUDENTS IN THAT SCHOOL. AND YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME HOW WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE SOME OF THE BUILDING SPACE TO
065MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS CAN REMAIN THERE. THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SHOWED ME HOW I'M GOING TO PUT IN AIR CONDITIONING AND A NEW ROOF AND REDUCE THE SPACE SO THAT THE 700 STUDENTS CAN REMAIN AT JUST AND NOT HAVE TO CO-LOCATE. I'D BE ALL IN. I'D BE ALL IN TO REVITALIZE THAT SCHOOL. AS IT STANDS NOW, I HAVE 600 SEATS AT JUST. AND I'M SORRY -- AT STEWART THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED. AND ANOTHER 500 SEATS AT JUST THAT ARE BEING UNDERUTILIZED AND I HAVE NO IDEA FROM A COURT CASE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THE JURISDICTION OVER THAT BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THAT A PROPRIETOR ALREADY PUT CLAIM ON THOSE SPOTS. WILL THEY HAVE PRIORITY OVER US? WHY WOULD I SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY TO HAND IT OVER TO A SUBOPERATOR AND TAKE
066AWAY FROM OUR STUDENTS? I JUST CAN'T DO THAT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE. THE OTHER THING IS WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, THE CAPITAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX, WHEN THAT WAS VOTED ON, IT CAN'T BE USED FOR RENOVATION. IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR NEW BUILDS. THIS IS NOT A NEW BUILD. THIS IS A RENOVATION. JUST/STEWART IS NOT A REBUILD. IT'S NOT A NEW BUILD. YOU ALREADY PUT -- BY THE WAY, WE ALREADY HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND I MADE YOU CHANGE THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY MADE AN AMENDMENT TO HAVE ONLY NEW SCHOOL BUILDS. THIS IS NOT A NEW SCHOOL BUILD. THIS IS A REBUILD. AND WE REMOVED JUST OFF THAT. SO THIS -- HALF OF THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE FOR ME TO VOTE ON IT APPROPRIATELY. SO, AGAIN, THIS SHOULD NOT BE BRINGING
067TO US NOW. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. DUNBAR IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, NOT A MIDDLE MAGNET, CORRECT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A MIDDLE ONE. OKAY. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWNGRADING THE STUDENT STATIONS IN THIS REBUILD. IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT'S THE DOWNGRADE GOING FROM? Van Ayres: IN RELATION TO SCHOOLS OF HOPE THIS WOULD REDUCE THE SEATS BY 700 SEATS. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS OF HOPE, THIS REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS OF HOPE OPERATORS TO COME IN AND THEN SO THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION FIRST OFF. Jessica Vaughn: SO WE ARE THINKING AHEAD OF CAPACITY AND WE
068ARE REDUCING THE SIZE TO TRY TO MEET THAT. I AGREE THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGING DECISION TO MAKE, AND I THINK THIS ILLUSTRATES EVEN MORE HOW DETRIMENTAL THESE SCHOOLS OF HOPE ARE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THAT WE HAVE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ALL AGREEING THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. IT'S FUNNY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS OF HOPE BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP PERSISTENTLY LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT AS A DISTRICT SO SCHOOLS OF HOPE DON'T HAVE TO, AND OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THESE FOR-PROFIT PRIVATE ENTITIES ARE GOING TO COME IN AND TAKE OVER OUR SCHOOLS AS WE TRY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I FIND THAT TO BE EMBLEMATIC OF HOW PROBLEMATIC THESE SCHOOLS OF HOPE ARE TO ALL OUR SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE EARLIER. I THINK THERE
069HAS BEEN SO LITTLE INVESTMENT IN THE URBAN CORE WHEN WE LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON AND TO SEEIFIABLEY AN INVESTMENT IN THE -- FINALLY AN INVESTMENT IN THE URBAN CORE, AND NOT JUST A PROGRAM AS TO MEMBER RENDON'S POINT WE'RE THROWING AT IT. A WHOLE RETHOUGHTFUL REDESIGN WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ALREADY UTILIZING BY GOING TO DUNBAR WHICH ISN'T VERY FAR. THAT PLAN YOU PRESENTED TO US, IT'S PHENOMENAL. WHOEVER THOUGHT THAT OUT I THINK IS REALLY GOOD AND HAS BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE IN THERE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. THIS MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND COLOCATION TO LOOK AT REBOUNDERING IN GENERAL BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THAT AREA. WHEN WE HAVE FRANKLIN AND THE OTHER ALL
070GIRLS SCHOOL, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS NECESSARILY WHEN WE LOOK AT MAYBE DOING THOUGHTFUL REBOUNDARY. I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY IN GENERAL. I THINK WE DO NEED A GOOD HUB IN THE URBAN CORE WITH EXCITING PROGRAMS TO TALK ABOUT. ANY DECISION WE MAKE, WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM COMING UP AND HOPEFULLY THAT ITEM, WE'LL HAVE FAMILIES BUSTING AT THE SEAMS TO GO THERE. BUT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS A GAMBLE AT THIS POINT. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. I THINK IT'S A VERY HARD TIME TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. AGAIN, I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS REALLY FAST RUSHED BILL OF COLOCATION AND THE CHAOS IT'S ALREADY CAUSING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION. BUT I THINK THIS BUILDING DESIGN IS
071BEAUTIFUL. AGAIN, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE CAPACITY AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I FEEL VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GREAT TWO CAMPUSES FOR THAT COMMUNITY. I PERSONALLY KNOW SOME PEOPLE IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS ALREADY WHO SAID THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN POSSIBLY LOOKING AT THAT SCHOOL. RIGHT NOW MANY ARE CHOOSING WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET IF THEY'RE NOT CHOOSING THE SCHOOL THEY'RE ZONED FOR AND THAT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DRIVE FOR THEM. I KNOW THEY'RE ALREADY EXCITED. I THINK SOMETIMES THAT FEEDS INTO BLAKE WILL BE A LOVELY TRANSITION TO HAVE THREE SCHOOLS. WHEN WE LOOK AT COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE ASKING FOR AND LOOKING FOR SEAMLESS TRANSITION BETWEEN OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WHERE IT'S ALL ONE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BUILDING HERE. SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT
072IT. I UNDERSTAND THE HESITANCY OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE IT'S HARD MAKING DECISIONS RIGHT NOW. I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. AND SO IS THAT -- WHATEVER THAT -- SOME EXCITEMENT TOO. AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD THOUGHTFUL WORK ON THIS. THIS WAS A HEAVY LIFT, RIGHT? IF WE REMEMBER THE MEETING WE HAD YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE WHO HAD OPINIONS AND MEETING WITH THAT COMMUNITY AND HEARING THOSE VOICES AND LOOKING AT WHAT'S COMING AND BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE SCHOOLS WE HAVE, THIS IS SOMETHING -- EVERYTHING IS A GAMBLE BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I'M EXCITED ABOUT AND EXCITED TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. Karen Perez: MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING
073NEW AND DIFFERENT WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE IN AN URBAN AREA. AS YOU CAN REMEMBER YEARS AGO OPPOSING CLOSING JUST. THE REASON FOR OPPOSING CLOSING JUST, I DIDN'T FEEL WE HAD THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP THERE. LEADERSHIP HAS A LOT TO DO WITH STUDENTS COMING TO YOUR SCHOOLS AND RUNNING THE SCHOOL PROPERLY. AND I LOOK AT SHAE AND TRACY AND MARCUS AND RICK AND GARY, OWEN, MARIE, AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WE HAVE BEEN PRINCIPALS BEFORE AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING SOMEBODY IN THE SCHOOL THAT CAN LEAD. THAT'S IMPORTANT. I WAS JUST OVER THERE TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE PLAYGROUND. THEY HAVE A LOT OF KIDS OVER THERE IN THAT COMPLEX. A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS. I MEAN, LOOK LIKE ELEMENTARY KIDS OUT PLAYING AND BECAUSE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVES OVER THERE. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THERE.
074THEY GOT EXCITED ABOUT A SCHOOL COMING. BUT THEY'RE NOT MORE EXCITED THAN I AM BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DO IT AND MAKE IT WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, I SPOKE TO JEROME. HE SAID, SHAKE, WE HAVE IN THIS COMPLEX -- I WROTE IT DOWN. ANYWHERE FROM 485 KIDS TO 500 STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE COMPLEX AREA NOW. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN COMPLETED THE REST OF IT. THEY'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING. DO I KNOW ALL THE STUDENTS WILL COME? NO. BUT I FEEL IF WE PUT THE RIGHT LEADER THERE IN THAT SCHOOL, AND THAT PERSON CAN GET OUT IN THAT COMMUNITY, WE CAN HAVE -- ROCK AND ROLL. WE KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW STUDENTS COMING FROM DUNBAR. SO I FEEL -- WE CAN'T OPERATE IN FEAR. I DON'T KNOW
075WHAT HOPE WILL DO, BUT I DON'T LIKE OPERATING IN FEAR. LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD. WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I THINK FAMILY, BECAUSE WE HAVE FAMILIES COME DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE. THEY COME DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME AND SAY, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR KIDS TOGETHER. WE GOT A CHANCE TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER. DO YOU REALIZE A KID COULD BE IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR 13 YEARS? BECAUSE YOU GO K-8? THEN YOU GO TO BLAKE. SOME KIDS MAY GO TO BLAKE. THAT'S 13 YEARS YOU'LL BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY. A COMMUNITY BUILDS CITIZENS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AS A BOARD MEMBER. BECAUSE YOU GO 13 YEARS. YOU WANT TO GO TO BLAKE AND WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT YOU CAN DO THAT. THAT'S GREAT. YOU THINK ABOUT IT. BE
076GREAT FOR A KID TO GO TO ONE AREA FOR 13 YEARS AND NEVER LEAVE. AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THAT AREA IS SO IMPORTANT. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. AND I'M KIND OF TOUCHED BY IT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING EXC EXCITING. IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE DIDN'T GIVE THE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY. WE WENT AND SAID, LET'S GO, SHOOT IT, CLOSE IT DOWN. AND WE CLOSE IT DOWN. WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT PLAN ON THAT EITHER. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PUT THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE. WE SPRINKLE THE KIDS AROUND. AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD WORK, BUT IT DIDN'T. BECAUSE YOU DIVIDED FAMILIES. AND WE DON'T WANT TO DIVIDE FAMILIES. THAT'S WHAT PARENTS SAY ALL THE TIME. MY KIDS WANT TO BE WITH THEIR FRIENDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH. NOW YOU GOT A CHANCE FOR
07713 YEARS TO BE WITH THEM. AND MAYBE MORE THAN THAT IF THEY GO TO COLLEGE, THE SAME UNIVERSITY. SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE STILL GOING TO USE THE SAME GYM. THE OLD BLAKE YELLOWJACKET GYM. WE'RE STILL GOING TO USE THE CAFETERIA. IT WOULD BE LIKE LIBERTY AND FREEDOM. THEY USE THE SAME CAFETERIA. SO COSTS CUT DOWN ON THAT. THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. THE THING I LIKE THE MOST IS PEOPLE ARE EXCITED IN THAT AREA. I'M BEHIND IT 100%. AIN'T NOTHING TO BE SAID TO CHANGE MY MIND. I'M BEHIND IT 100%. SO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. APPRECIATE IT. DANG, I WAS ON TIME TOO. Karen Perez: YOU HAD 30 SECONDS. Henry "Shake" Washington: 30 SECONDS? Karen Perez: YEAH. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAT'S IT. Karen Perez: YOU GOOD? THANK YOU.
078THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS BOARD MEMBER, I NOTICE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CONSIDERATIONS OF EQUITY, EFFICIENCY, AND LONG-TERM IMPACT, IT ALSO -- IT OFTEN REFLECTS DIFFERENTLY WHEN PRIORITIES AND VALUES ARE GIVEN TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. I NOTICE THIS BIG CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WAS KNOWN AS WEST TAMPA, NOW KNOWN AS WEST RIVER. AND THERE'S A FIGHT. BUT LET US BUILD SOMEWHERE ELSE. PLANT CITY. UP, DOWN 75 SOUTH, AND THERE IS CHEERING FOR THOSE BUILDINGS AND THOSE SCHOOLS. SO LET'S WALK A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS 433 APARTMENTS AROUND WHAT WAS KNOWN AS WEST TAMPA, AND ANOTHER 670 UNITS THERE. TODAY THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING 8,829. AND AREAS KNOWN AS ROAM YARD, WEST RIVER, AND ENCORE. AND SO IN THOSE UNITS, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
079FAMILIES. THOSE UNITS INCLUDE TWO BEDROOM, THREE BEDROOM, FOUR BEDROOM, AND FIVE BEDROOM APARTMENTS. AND IF ANYBODY HAS WALKED THOSE NEIGHB NEIGHBORHOODS PREVIOUSLY AND NOW, YOU WOULD SEE HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT THOSE -- THAT BUILDING HAS HAD IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE I HAVE. SEE, MY CHILDREN WENT TO BLAKE BECAUSE THEY WENT TO THE PERFORMING ARTS AND VAN AYRES WAS THE TEACHER TO BOTH MY CHILDREN. AND HE GGRADUATED IN THE 2000s. ACROSS THE STREET I USED TO BE A DCF WORKER FOR STUDENTS LIVING IN THOSE IMPOVERISHED APARTMENTS. SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THAT AREA LOOK LIKE. AND WHAT THAT AREA LOOKS LIKE TO TODAY. WHO HAS GONE TO PUBLIX IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW? I HAVE. IT'S AMAZING. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THOUGHT THEY'D HAVE A PUBLIX THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT IN THAT AREA, EVER.
080IT'S AMAZING. AND THOSE UNITS ARE BEING OCC OCCUPIED ON AN ONGOING BASIS. SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT EQUITY, EFFICIENCY, AND LONG-TERM IMPACT, THIS AREA IS SEEING THAT TODAY. AND WITH THAT SCHOOL, LET ME TELL YOU. EVERYONE IN THAT AREA TALKS ABOUT HOW THIS SCHOOL IS GOING TO BRING AN IMPACT TO THAT COMMUNITY. JUST LIKE IN SOUTH COUNTY, PLANT CITY, AND ANYWHERE ELSE, THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL TO OUR FAM FAMILIES, TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND TO THE FUTURE OF THIS AREA. MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. MEMBER VAUGHN -- NO. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR BRIDGE BUILDING. YOU ALWAYS TRY AND BUILD A BRIDGE. I APPRECIATE IT. YOU DON'T TRY AND MANIPULATE ANYBODY'S WORDS, AND YOU ARE SO GRACIOUS WHEN BOARD MEMBERS DISAGREE OR HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. TIME AND TIME AGAIN. SO, YOU
081KNOW, THIS DECISION IS NOT BEING MADE BY ME WITHOUT REGARD TO EQUITY FIRST AND FOREMOST. YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT -- THIS DECISION IS NOT BEING MADE UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AS EVERY OTHER DECISION BEFORE IT. YORK, ADUM, WHATEVER THE DECISION WAS, ROBINSON. THESE ARE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I SPENT FIVE MINUTES EXPLAINING AND LAYING OUT, AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT LOST ON ME THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOPE CONVERSATION, THE HOPE COLOCATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S AT THE FOREFRONT, BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THIS. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH ALL YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT COMMUNITY. I THINK IT WOULD BE A BEAUTIFUL TWO SCHOOLS. I THINK THE PROGRAMMING IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'D WANT FOR ANY CHILD, EVEN MY OWN. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANY OF
082THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK I'M BEING FEARFUL BY NOT SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT. MY PERSPECTIVE IS, I'M TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE MORE HOPE -- I'M MORE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL GET GUIDELINES AROUND THE COLOCATION BILL BECAUSE I HAD KVRGZS TWO WEEKS -- CONVERSATIONS TWO WEEKS AGO IN TALLAHASSEE WITH MANY LEGISLATORS WILLING TO TALK ABOUT GUIDELINES. SO NO ONE IS SAYING THAT THIS INVESTMENT SHOULDN'T BE MADE. THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WOULDN'T BE BETTER OFF FOR THIS BUILD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LAND IS VALUABLE. THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BUILD SCHOOLS IN EVERY PART OF OUR DISTRICT FOR ALL KIDS, THAT WE SHOULD BE SHOWING THAT. YOU ALL BROUGHT UP IN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT POINTS THAT I AGREE WITH. I JUST WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER SESSION. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. IT'S NOT ABOUT EQUITY.
083IT'S NOT ABOUT OPPORTUNITY. IT'S NOT ABOUT LAND OR SELLING IT OR KEEPING IT. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT. THIS IS, FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE TIMING. I HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS -- LOOK, OBVIOUSLY I'M A SMART LADY. I CAN COUNT THE VOTES. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO PASS BY SITTING HERE AND LISTENING TO EVERYONE'S COMMENTS. SO THIS IS WHAT I'D ASK. TO MAKE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE AB ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE ASSUMING YOU'RE GOING TO GET, SHAKE HAD DATA THAT I WASN'T -- THAT I WISH YOU ALL WOULD HAVE LOOKED INTO THAT DATA. HE HAD GREAT DATA AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHO IS LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I DON'T THINK THOUGH THAT IT SHOULD BE PUT ON THE BACKS OF A PRINCIPAL TO DRIVE STUDENT ENROLLMENT. I THINK THAT'S A LOT TO ASK, ESPECIALLY IF
084YOU'RE OPENING NEW SCHOOLS. I DO THINK, AND I WANT TO SEE BY THE TIME WE PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND, AN ENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN THAT YOU ALL CREATE. I WANT TO SEE HARD DATA FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE NEW BUILDS, HOW MANY FAMILIES. I KNOW YOU HAVE THAT AND CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE LIVING THERE. I WANT TO SEE A SURVEY OF DUNBAR FAMILIES. HOW MANY ARE INTERESTED IN GOING TO JUST. I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TEAM KNOCKING DOORS AND TELLING FAMILIES WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL. WOULD YOU SEND YOUR CHILD THERE. YES OR NO. JUST LIKE PEOPLE DO DURING CAMPAIGNS. DOOR KNOCK AND YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION. AND, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL NEED TO GET SOME REALLY GOOD SNEAKERS AND T-SHIRT, HILLSBOROUGH STRONG,
085AND GET OUT THERE AND KNOCK SOME DOORS. OKAY. (LAUGHING) BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO -- I DO THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT AND SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN WITH COLOCATION, THAT'S YOUR FAULT. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED AND TEN STEPS AHEAD. I'M STILL NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS OR THE OTHER SCHOOL ON PRINCIPLE. I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT THREE, FOUR MONTHS OR WHENEVER THE SESSION ENDS. AM I OUT OF TIME? I'M SORRY. I CAN'T SEE. ANYWAY, AND WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS REALLY CLEAR WHERE I STOOD. IT CAN GET VERY CONVOLUTED. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. MEMBER RENDON? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, CHAIR. CAN WE HAVE CLARITY -- WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. SO MAY WE GET CLARITY ON WHAT'S HAPPENING,
086WHO IS MOVING FROM DUNBAR, WHAT IS JUST, AND WHAT IS STEWART BECAUSE I KEEP HEARING THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY AT ALL THE SCHOOLS, YET THEY'RE NOT ALL THE SAME. RIGHT NOW STEWART IS A STEM MAGNET. AEROSPACE. NO PERFORMING ARTS. WE HAVE DUNBAR THAT'S ALREADY A MEDAL MAGNET THAT SUPPORTS SLYE. IF WE CHANGE THAT TO PERFORMING ARTS, HOW IS SLYE FED? CAN WE HAVE CLARIFICATIONS. Van Ayres: ABSOLUTELY. IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ZERO CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY PROGRAMS. WE HAVE NONE. Patti Rendon: WHICH DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY. Van Ayres: WE HAVE NO PRIMARY PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE LOWER SECONDARY PROGRAMS. WE HAVE NINE. MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. SO IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO, THE DUNBAR BUILDING THAT WE HAVE NOW WHICH IS -- EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE DUNBAR IS. THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN
087THAT BUILDING, THAT WHOLE PROGRAM, EVERYTHING WOULD MOVE OVER TO A BRAND NEW BUILDING OVER AT JUST. THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION AT JUST. ALL OF DUNBAR MEDICAL MAGNET WOULD MOVE OVER. IN ADDITION, YOU'D ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS FOR THE CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY. THERE IS ONLY -- IF YOU LOOK AT AVAILABLE SEATS, WE'RE NOT ADDING 700 SEATS. WE'RE REMOVING THE SEATS FROM DUNBAR THAT WOULD MOVE TO THE JUST CAMPUS. STEWART RENOVATIONS, STEWART STILL KEEPS THE SAME PROGRAM IT HAS BUT IN THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO ADD THE CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY TO STEWART. DUNBAR, THE BUILDING WHICH IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL MAGNET, HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE SEEN THEM HERE AT BOARD MEETINGS RECEIVING AWARDS FOR THE MEDICAL MAGNET. THOSE WOULD MOVE OVER TO JUST. THE DUNBAR BUILDING THAT CURRENTLY SITS, THAT'S A DECISION WE
088CAN MAKE AT ANY TIME WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH PROPOSALS AROUND EARLY LEARNING WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE COULD TAKE THE BUILDING THAT'S LISTED THERE NOW. WE COULD DEMOLISH THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING FOR THE RECORD AT DUNBAR WAS BUILT IN 1926 AND A WING ADDED IN 1960. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING, THE STUDENTS CURRENTLY AT DUNBAR IN THREE YEARS AND 28 WHEN THAT HAPPENS OVER THERE, THEY'RE GETTING A BRAND NEW FACILITY WHERE THEY CURRENTLY SIT AT. THIS IS A PROGRAM WITH THE MEDICAL MAGNET THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. 350 OF THOSE STUDENTS WOULD MOVE TO JUST. WITH APPROXIMATELY 200 SEATS THAT WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE. THOSE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE COULD EXPAND THE DUNBAR MEDICAL MAGNET AND WITHIN THAT, YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE ABILITY TO ADD TO THAT CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY. Patti Rendon: SO
089I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT. AGAIN, WE HEARD PERFORMING ARTS, THE TRANSITION. IF I REMEMBER, AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE I'M QUOTING ON THIS, WE HAD AS OF LAST YEAR 14 CAMBRIDGE PROGRAMS. NOW I'M HEARING WE HAVE NINE. AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE HAVE LESS? NONE IN ELEMENTARY UNTIL NOW. PROGRAMS.ter: NO ELEMENTARY - NO PRIMARY PROGRAMS. NINE LOWER SECONDARY PROGRAMS. Patti Rendon: BUT WE HAD 14. I THINK YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO -- THAT WE DID HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOLS FIRST. SO IT WAS NINE LOWER SECONDARY. Patti Rendon: I WAS TOLD WE HAD 14 LAST YEAR. ROGERS AND SOME OTHER ONES. IT'S FRANKLIN, FARRELL, ROGERS, SHIELDS, LIBERTY, SMITH, BENITO, MADISON AND EISENHOWER. Patti Rendon: AND NONE PREVIOUSLY. NO. THESE HAVE BEEN SINCE 2022, 2023. Patti Rendon: I WAS TOLD 14. I
090WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR. I WAS TOLD NONE OF THE CAMBRIDGE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY ARE REIMBURSABLE. SO IT'S AN ADDITIONAL COST SO THOSE SCHOOLS TO RUN THEM, YET -- YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. THE ONLY WAY WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM IN HIGH SCHOOLS IS WE HAVE THE AD-ON MONEY TO PAY THAT. I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH CAMBRIDGE. I LOVE CAMBRAGE AND WHAT IT'S DOING. IT'S OPENING MINDS AND CRITICAL THINKING AND PHENOMENAL. I NEED US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GUARANTEED -- WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL SEATS AND IT'S AN ADDITIONAL COST IN A GENERAL STUDENT STATION. SO THE COST WOULD BE CERTIFICATION. AGAIN, THERE WERE NEVER 14. THE 14 WERE THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND WE EXPANDED -- OKAY. NINE HAS BEEN THE NUMBER. IT WASN'T ALWAYS NINE. WE BUILT UP TO NINE. WHEN YOU SAY REIMBURSABLE, TO ME THAT
091WOULD REFER TO TESTING AND GETTING -- Patti Rendon: CORRECT. -- MULTIPLIED FTE BECAUSE OF PASSING AN IVY TEST CERTIFICATION, AN ACE. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT THE PRIMARY OR LOWER SECONDARY LEVEL. IT WOULD BE MORE ABOUT THE STUDENTS BEING EXPOSED TO THE LEARNER ATTRIBUTES RESPONSIBILITIES, REFLECTION, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR THE COURSEWORK THEY'LL GET AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. Van Ayres: AND WE'RE CAMBRIDGE -- JUST TO ADD TO THAT, WE'RE A CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN CLEAR ON THE DIRECTION WITH CAMBRIDGE. WHAT MR. BRADY -- I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS WELL, THIS BOARD AND YOURSELF FOUGHT EXTREMELY HARD TO ENSURE THAT ACCELERATED FUNDING AND CONTINUED WITH TALK IN THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR ABOUT REMOVING THAT. WE SPOKE ABOUT. YOU WERE A BIG PART OF THAT. THAT ACCELERATED FUNDING, THOSE ARE
092NANDING WE USE TO FUND -- THE FUNDINGS WE USED TO FUND THE MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY. THIS AT JUST WOULD BE THE FIRST PRIMARY CAMBRIDGE. IF THAT'S THE APPETITE OF THE BOARD TO ADD OTHER CAMBRIDGE, THE COST WOULD BE AROUND TEACHER TRAINING. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AROUND CAMBRIDGE, THAT WOULD BE THE COST. INVESTMENT IN TEACHER TRAINING AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE. Patti Rendon: SO I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR BECAUSE ALL OF THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL. HOWEVER, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST OF RUNNING OUR SCHOOLS, AND WHEN I'VE SPOKEN TO ACADEMIC SERVICES AND SPECIFICALLY SPOKEN ABOUT IB, CAMBRIDGE. WHEN WE GET DOWN TO OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVELS, ALTHOUGH GREAT PROGRAMS, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES THAT CAN TELL ME WHAT
093IT'S INDIVIDUALLY COSTING PER SCHOOL SO WE'RE MAKING GOOD JUDGMENTS ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS GOING INTO THE PROGRAMS. ARE WE DOING THAT -- IS OUR REWARD FOR THE STUDENTS BENEFITING THE COST THAT WE'RE UTILIZING NOT FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS. AND I NEED THAT TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE, WHEN ASKED -- I'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE COST OF THE PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL, THE COST PER STUDENT STATION, WHAT MAKES ONE MAGNET SCHOOL COST DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER. WE HAVE NOT FROM A FINANCIAL SITUATION ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE BOARD. SO FOR US TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, I HEAR YOU ON BRINGING OPPORTUNITY TO THAT COMMUNITY. BUT IF WE'RE REMOVING 600 STUDENT STATIONS, WE'RE NOT BRINGING A NEW OPPORTUNITY. IF THEY'RE REMOVING AND BRINGING IT TO 700, WE'RE NOT BRINGING NEW OPPORTUNITY.
094THERE ARE 600 SEATS WAITING RIGHT NOW THAT WE COULD BE DOING. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BRINGING A NEW COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY. I'M ALL FOR EQUITY IN OUR SCHOOLS. BUT LET'S MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT EQUITABLE RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T OFFER ALL PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS. SO I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, I'M 100% BEHIND EQUITY BUT DON'T SIT HERE AND SAY WE'RE BEING EQUITABLE WHEN WE DON'T PROVIDE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO ALL STUDENTS. IF WE DID, FINE. BUT WE'RE NOT. AND I JEOPARDIZE THOSE 700 STUDENTS BY NOT GETTING CLARIFICATION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS. I SAID THIS IN MY FIRST COMMENTS, IF YOU WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT A BETTER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDENTS, I'M IN. BUT YOU BROUGHT ME AN OPPORTUNITY
095THAT FINANCIALLY DOESN'T EVEN MEET THE CIT STANDARDS ANYMORE. THEY ALREADY -- I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, BUT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED TO BOARD MEMBERS. I SAT IN THAT BOARD MEETING. IT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARDS OF A NEW SCHOOL. THEY ONLY PUT ON THERE THE NEW SCHOOL -- I'M TELLING YOU, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK -- Christopher Farkas: CAN I RESPOND TO THAT? YOU ARE CORRECT FOR THE CIT THAT BEGINS AFTER NOVEMBER 2026. WE'RE FUNDING THIS WITH THE TAX NOW THAT WE CAN USE. YOU'RE NOT INCORRECT. THE TAX, THE ONE VOTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BEGINS IN JANUARY 2027. THIS IS THE ONE WE HAVE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE NOW. WE'RE USING THOSE FUNDS TO FUND THIS $30 MILLION. Patti Rendon: OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF JIM OR JEFF WANT TO ANSWER
096THIS QUESTION RIGHT NOW. BASED UPON CURRENTLY, WHO HAS JURISDICTION ON THIS PROPERTY RIGHT NOW IF THEY -- IF COLOCATING LAW DOES NOT CHANGE. DO WE HAVE THAT ANSWER? I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO. I NEED TO KNOW IF WE HAVE A LEGAL OPINION ON WHO TAKES PRECEDENT ON THAT PROPERTY. Jim Porter: WE'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT WE OWN THE PROPERTY, CORRECT? THE COLOCATION WOULD STILL APPLY. BUT WE STILL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE PROPERTY. Patti Rendon: BUT THAT MEANS COLOCATION RIGHT NOW ACCORDING TO THE LAW WOULD SUPERCEDE WHAT WE WANT TO DO? Jim Porter: I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION THE WAY YOU WANT TO HAVE IT ANSWERED. Patti Rendon: I THINK THE ANSWER IS WE DON'T KNOW. Jim Porter: THE ANSWER IS, WE OWN THE PROPERTY. IF IT TURNS OUT
097THAT THERE ARE STUDENT STATIONS AVAILABLE AND THE NEW LAW WOULD IMPACT THAT, THEN WE'D HAVE TO ADDRESS IT LIKE WE'RE DEALING WITH ALL THE OTHER ONES. TRYING TO ANSWER IT IN THE VACUUM IS IMPOSSIBLE. WE OWN THE PROPERTY. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO -- LET ME FINISH. THEN IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE EMPTY STUDENT STATIONS AND COLOCATION IS NEEDED, WE'D HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER SCHOOL THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT. Patti Rendon: I'M NOT ASKING TO SELL THE PROPERTY. LET'S MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. MY CONCERN IS THE INVESTMENT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN THIS FINANCIALLY COULD NOT BE BENEFITING OUR STUDENTS AT THE END OF THE DAY. UNLESS WE'VE GOT AN ANSWER ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE ALREADY SAID BASED UPON THEIR LEGAL ABILITY RIGHT NOW THAT THEY INTEND TO COLOCATE.
098IF WE DON'T HAVE A LEGAL REALM THAT SAYS THAT SPACE, WE HAVE PRIORITY OVER IT, THAT'S MY CON CONCERN. Van Ayres: I APPRECIATE IT. ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS AND LONG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS. NONE OF THIS IS NEW INFORMATION. I'D WANT TO ADD -- I KEEP HEARING ABOUT COLOCATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM WITH JUST AND STEWART. I RECEIVED 22 NOTICES. JUST AND STEWART, NOT THAT IT COULDN'T HAPPEN IN FUTURE, BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THE 22 NOTICES THAT I RECEIVED FROM A CURRENT SCHOOL OF HOPE OPERATOR, JUST, STEWART, NOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH ISN'T OBVIOUSLY BUILT YET, NONE ARE IDENTIFIED IN THAT SCHOOL OF HOPE REQUEST. SO WE KEEP BRINGING UP SCHOOLS OF HOPE BUT PLEASE KNOW FOR THE RECORD JUST, STEWART, AND THE 22 THAT WE RECEIVED JUST AND STEWART WERE
099NOT PART OF COLOCATION. NOW WITH THAT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING -- I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, THIS TEAM, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE AROUND SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND OUR OPPORTUNITIES. ONCE WE HAVE PLANS FOR SCHOOLS, I SENT DENIALS TODAY WE RECEIVED FOR SOMERSET ACADEMY. I SENT DENIALS OUT JUST THIS AFTERNOON. WE REQUESTED EXTENSION FROM MATTER FOR THE OTHER 22, NOT SCHOOLS ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM LISTED HERE. THERE IS A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH WITH SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THIS TEAM, OUR LEGAL TEAM, WE WILL BE VERY -- WE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND THERE IS THIS THING CALLED MATERIAL IMPRACTABILITY AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL LOOK AT. IF WE HAVE GOOD USE FOR SCHOOLS, THAT'S THE ACTION WE'LL TAKE TO ENSURE THE SCHOOLS REMAIN IN THE
100HANDS OF HCPS. Karen Perez: I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GO INTO OUR EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENT. WE WILL NOW TAKE THE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT -- WE ONLY HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION. I HAVE A NEWS BULLETIN HERE. ONE OF THE ASSETS OF THIS PLAN WHICH IS EXPANSIVE AND VERY MEANINGFUL WITH THE WEST RIVER A AREA, AND THIS GOES TO MEMBER PEREZ'S POINT, OVER 1800 UNITS WILL BE IN THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND. WITH THOSE UNITS -- THIS IS IMPORTANT. WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IF YOU REMEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE TALKED TO THE MAYOR ABOUT AFOREABLE HOUSING FOR TEACHERS. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS HAVING AN AMENITY OF A COST THAT MIGHT BE MORE AFFORDABLE. NOW I SAID 100.
101BUT REALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT 188. WE HAVE BOULEVARDS OF WEST RIVER AND YOU HAVE THE CANOPY OF WEST RIVER. SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS AS MEMBER WASHINGTON AND MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER -- EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS MENTIONED SO MANY ASSETS. WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO I WANTED TO THROW THAT IN THERE AND I CONCLUDE MY REMARKS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. SO 1800 UNITS. YOU GOT TO KNOCK AND FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE KIDS LIVING THERE. KNOCK ON THOSE DOORS. AND SO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IF YOU BUILD TWO NEW SCHOOLS THERE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A LETTER? YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LETTER. I'M JUST SAYING. I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN A LETTER
102BECAUSE THEY'RE OLD SCHOOLS. THEY NEED A LOT OF WORK. BUT ANY SHINY NEW SCHOOL, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LETTER. SO I'M JUST SAYING. YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LETTER. THANKS. Christopher Farkas: THE DOOR KNOCKING CAMPAIGN SHOULD SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THEY'LL BE FULL. Karen Perez: IT'S NOT 1800. IT'S 8,829. Stacy Hahn: THAT'S A LOT MORE DOORS. I'M JUST SAYING. Karen Perez: MEMBER GRAY? THAT'S IT? OKAY. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT -- Jim Porter: WOAH. OKAY. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. THIS IS THE RECORD. I ASSUME YOU INTENDED TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY. COULD YOU PLEASE CLEAR THE BOARD SO THEY CAN VOTE AGAIN? Karen Perez: YOU GUYS GOT TO VO VOTE. AND THE VOTE PASSES WITH MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER HAHN DESCENDING FROM THE VOTE. -- DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE. NOW
103WE'LL HEAR -- NOW WE'LL TAKE EMPLOYEE COMMENT AND STUDENT INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4:00 P.M. THERE MAY BE WAY S FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, AND ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS. PUBLIC COMMENT AT BARGAINING -- AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE'RE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT
104RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WILL NOW CALL THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ROB KRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. I GOT REGINA GAMBREL, OUR VP AND WE'RE HERE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK GLOWINGLY ABOUT THE WORK WE DO AT OUR SITES. TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CANNOT DO THE GREAT WORK THEY DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS THAT HELP CONNECT THE DOTS FOR ALL OF US. THEY'RE AMAZING AT WHAT THEY DO AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF THEM. REGINA WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE GREAT DATA PROCESSORS HERE AT -- NOPE, SORRY, YOU WERE AT SULFUR SPRINGS K-8. YES, I
105WAS A PARENT LIAISON AND DATA PROCESSOR AT SULFUR SPRINGS K-8 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL. I'M SORRY. GO GET THEM, REGINA. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE RECOGNITION AS WELL AS THE HISTORY, DR. HAHN, THAT YOU GAVE ABOUT AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK AND NATIONAL ESP DAY. IT WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE FAVORITE WEEKS OF MINE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING BREAK, BUT WE HAD A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE EDUCATORS AT OUR SCHOOL, GET OUR PARENTS ENGAGED, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES THROUGH GREAT AMERICAN TEACHING AND THEN ALWAYS SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION FOR SUBSTITUTES THAT COME OUT OF THEIR HOMES TO HELP OUR STUDENTS WHEN WE MAY FALL SHORT IN OUR SCHOOL. TOMORROW ON NATIONAL ESP DAY, I WANT TO ASK EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND EVERYONE WATCHING TO HONOR AND SHOW LOVE TO OUR
106ESPs ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND CONTINUE TO JOIN US IN ADVOCATING FOR ESPs AND WHEN I SAY ACROSS THE DISTRICT, NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOL SITES, THOSE WHO RUN THE CAFETERIAS, CAS TOADIANS, BUS DRIVERS -- CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS BUT AND TO INCLUDE ALL MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTED, RIGHT, OVER AT ISE AND RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING. SO JUST RECOGNIZING THEM AS WELL. LASTLY, THANKING ALL THE ESPs FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS RUNNING AND STUDENTS THRIVING. THANK YOU. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THAT'S IT? OKAY. NOW WE'LL HEAR ITEM 7.13, GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL VV. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ITEM 7.13, ANOTHER GMP. THIS BOARD ITEM REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE GMP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL VV. WE PROPOSED TO PROVIDE
107A NEW 1631 STUDENT STATION MIDDLE SCHOOL NEEDED IN THE SOUTH COUNTY AREA. THE NEED IS DUE TO GROWTH OCCURRING IN THE SOUTH COUNTY AREA. THE PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED BY PROVIDING A NEW FACILITY TO HELP THE DISTRICT MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS GROWING COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S 7.13. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C7.13. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON, GRAY AND COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER RENDON? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS NOT ANY SURPRISE TO MEMBERS OF THE CABINET AND OTHER -- MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE HERE. THERE IS A HUGE NEED FOR A NEED SCHOOL OUT THERE. HOWEVER, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CHANGE OF THE NEED OUT THERE HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED. WE
108HAD AT ONE TIME SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH MORE STUDENTS, RIGHT? AT THIS VERY TIME WE HAVE SEVEN CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN A TEN-MILE RADIUS OF AQUILLA J. MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M ON THE SAME PAGE I WAS WITH THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL. WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE LEGISLATION, AND I AGREE, I WANTED THIS MOVED AFTER LEGISLATION. I ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO THE SAME. MAKE SURE WE HAD CLARITY. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENED, SO NOW WE'RE HERE. SO I BELIEVE WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO PUT INVEST IN, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO BUILD, WE HAVE TO FILL WITHIN TWO YEARS. NOW I RECOGNIZE THERE IS A TON OF GROWTH OUT THERE. AND THERE WAS A TON OF GROWTH BEFORE. BUT WE'RE LATE TO THE BALL GAME. WE ARE LATE TO THE BALL
109GAME. THEY'VE ALREADY BUILT THREE CHARTERS WHILE WE'VE BEEN WAITING AND STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SITTING IN PORTABLES FOR YEARS BEFORE WE'RE NOW GETTING READY TO BUILD THIS SCHOOL. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE ONLY WAY I'D AGREE TO THIS IS IF WE DID A K-8. PATTI RENDON IS NOT A FAN OF K-8s. I SAID IT BEFORE. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. BUT I CAN FILL THE K-8 IN TWO YEARS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR STUDENT STATIONS ARE FILLED. IF I SEE THE LEGISLATION COME DIFFERENTLY AT THE END, I MIGHT BE VOTING DIFFERENTLY. AT THIS POINT IN TOOM, IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN I CAN'T GUARANTEE TO FILL THIS SCHOOL IN TWO YEARS. ADUM IS CURRENTLY NOT FULL.
110IS THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T ALLOW IT OR IT'S NOT -- IT'S FULL NOW. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FILL THE SCHOOL, AND YOU HAVE NOT PROVEN THAT ANYWHERE IN SOUTH COUNTY CAN YOU FILL A MIDDLE OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CAN'T DO IT. SO WHY WOULD WE NOT BUILD WHAT WE KNOW WE CAN FILL? SO, AGAIN, I'M ON THE SAME TRAIN. I HEAR MY BOARD MEMBERS THAT SAY I CAN'T PREDICT THE WEATHER TOMORROW, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE LAW IS NOT IN OUR FAVOR. AND I DON'T SEE THIS LEGISLATION COMPLETELY REPEALING THAT LAW. SO THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE AND I HAVE TO SECURE THE FUNDING THAT I'M PUTTING INTO STUDENTS. I CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE THAT I'LL PUT FUNDING INTO PEOPLE WE'RE NOT SERVING.
111IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO DO THAT. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER -- WE HAD ONE OF OUR OTHER FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TALK ABOUT PLANT CITY OR SOUTH COUNTY. I'M GOING FOOHAVE THE SAME FEELINGS WHETHER IT'S PLANT CITY OR SOUTH COUNTY OR IN OUR INNER CITIES. WE'VE GOT TO BE EQUITABLE ACROSS THE BOARD. I'M 100% BEHIND THAT. SO FOR ME, THIS IS A NO VOTE RIGHT NOW. I ASKED YOU TO BRING IT BACK AS A K-8 BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN FILL IT WITHIN TWO YEARS. EVERY TIME WE HAVE DONE IT, WE FILLED IT. BUT YOU'VE CHOSEN NOT TO DO THAT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THEY'RE EXPANDING THE URBAN CORE. YOU CAN BUILD A K-8 NOW AND ANOTHER WHEN YOU BUILD ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL AND THE URBAN CORE IS EXPANDED.
112BUT WE LOST SO MANY STUDENTS BECAUSE YOU POSTPONED THIS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK BECAUSE WE MADE SOMETHING SHINY. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THE OTHER K-8s. EVERY ONE OF THE CHARTERS ARE K-8s. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. WE CAN'T GUARANTEE TO FILL THIS PLACE. IF YOU WANT TO BRING BACK THE NUMBERS LIKE DR. HAHN SAYS AND KNOCK ON THE DOORS, PROMISE ME THEY'LL COME TO THE SCHOOL, I'M ALL IN. BUT YOU'VE ONLY GOT THE BUILDS AND WE ALREADY KNOW 600 SEATS AT STEWART THAT'S NOT FILLED WITH ALREADY THE THOUSANDS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT. I ALREADY KNOW I HAD SHIELDS WITH 2,000 STUDENTS WAITING FOR US TO BUILD AND THEY'RE NOW GOING TO K-8. SO UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT I KNOW I CAN FILL IN TWO YEARS, I CAN'T APPROVE
113THIS. THAT HURTS ME BECAUSE THAT HURTS MY AREA THAT I -- THAT VOTE FOR ME. SO, AGAIN, I FEEL WE'RE NOT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BY NOT MAKING THIS A K-8 FROM THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO TRUST THAT -- AND I DO, I REALLY TRUST MR. FARKAS. I TALK ABOUT HIM OFTEN. I FEEL LIKE HE DOES SO MUCH. HE'S SO BRIGHT. REALLY LOOKS AT THINGS ON SO MANY -- I CAN ASK HIM ANY QUESTION AND MOST OF THE TIME HE DOESN'T KNOW THE ANSWER, I'LL GET IT BY THE END OF THE DAY. I HAVE TO TRUST THAT MR. FARKAS WITH ALL THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HE HAS AND ALL THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HE -- I KEEP TELLING HIM, YOU
114HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE TO GO UNDERNEATH YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE TO TRUST THAT HIM, THE COUNTY AND PLANNING COMMISSION, THE TRACKING DEVELOPMENT, THE LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR ALL THOSE YEARS, I HAVE TO TRUST THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED AND THOSE DEMANDS. NOT ON MY INSTINCT BUT BASED ON ALL THOSE -- ALL THAT RESEARCH. I HAVE TO TRUST THAT. I CAN'T SAY, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS AREAS IN MY COMMUNITY THAT'S GROWING. BUT I CAN'T LOOK AT THAT. THOSE ARE ALL FEELINGS. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL FACTS AND BELIEVE THAT AND I DO TRUST IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND WHAT YOU SAY. THE OTHER THING IS I CAN'T LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
115I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, AND WE PUSHED BACK ON SOME OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS WE THOUGHT WEREN'T VERY STRONG. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT CHARTER SCHOOLS BUT A FEW NOT THAT STRONG. THEY CHANGED THE RENEWAL FROM 5 YEARS TO 15 YEARS. THE ONE THING I CAN'T DO IS KEEP LIVING MY LIFE WITH FEAR AND NOT SPEAK AGAINST THE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG. 100% COLOCATION IS WRONG. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHAT I'M NOT GOING TO DO IS STOP BUILDING OR START GROWING BECAUSE OF FEAR OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. I'LL PUT UP ANY CHARTER SCHOOL, ANY PRIVATE SCHOOL AGAINST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE AMAZING TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM AND IS DRIVES STUDENTS BACK. AFTER A WHILE, MANY
116STUDENTS LEAVE THE SCHOOLS AND COME BACK TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE IT'S A NEW SCHOOL, GREAT TEACHERS WANT TO GO TO A NEW SCHOOL. SO MANY ADMINISTRATORS WANT TO GO THERE. I REMEMBER WHEN ROLAND PARK WHICH IS AN AMAZING SCHOOL, WHEN ADUM OPENED, THEY TOOK THE ADMINISTRATOR AND KEY PEOPLE SO I KNOW NO MATTER WHAT WE BUILD, I KNOW PEOPLE WILL COME AND IT WILL BE FILL. I CANNOT LIVE IN FEAR. AND I TRUST YOU THAT IF YOU SAY IT'S A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WE NEED OUT THERE, I'LL TRUST THAT AND SUPPORT THAT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHT PROCESS HAVE NOT CHANGED. AND I HEARD MS. COMBS SAY, WE HAVE TRUST IN YOUR CABINET AND TRUST IN THE SUPERINTENDENT. WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS, WE
117HAVE TO TRUST YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW 100% WHAT IT IS. BUT I TRUST YOU ALL WHEN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. AND, YOU KNOW, I GO BACK -- I CAN GO BACK ON SOME YEARS WHEN WE -- WHEN THE COMMUNITY LOST TRUST IN US. THEY LOST TRUST IN US BECAUSE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MEACHEM. CHRISTINA MEACHEM. AND WE NEVER DID. WE TOLD PEOPLE WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT. SO THERE COMES A TIME WHEN WE GOT TO KEEP OUR WORD. AND THIS IS THE TIME TO REBUILD THAT TRUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WANT THAT TO BE A K-8. A LOT OF BACKING FROM WEST TAMPA FROM THAT AREA. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STEWART. A LOT OF PEOPLE.
118AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL WE SHOULD DO THAT TO HELP KIDS, TO HELP STUDENTS. BECAUSE I THINK THEY HAVE, LIKE, 1,023 STUDENTS OR SOMETHING. COMING IN THAT AREA FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. WHICH IS GOING TO BE A HELP. BUT WE DON'T KNOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING TO DRAW KIDS, WE MAY HAVE TO KNOCK ON DOORS. I DON'T MIND GOING OUT AND KNOCKING ON DOORS, MS. HAHN. I REALLY DON'T. THAT'S GETTING ME GOOD EXERCISE. BUT I REALLY FEEL WE NEED TO DO THIS. AND MY ANSWER IS GOING TO BE YES BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING A COMMUNITY. WE'VE GOT TO BUILD THAT COMMUNITY BACK UP. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME NOW. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME. I THINK PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINKING THINGS GOING TO BE -- WHY? WIMAUMA
119WAS THE SAME. THE FAMILIES OUT THERE TOO AND THE FAMILIES WERE SAYING WE NEED TO KEEP THE KIDS IN THE SAME AREA. THEY COME UP TO -- AND, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE BEING A MINORITY AND BEING MOVED ALL THE TIME BECAUSE EVERY TIME THERE WAS MOVEMENT, WE HAD TO MOVE. AND NOW I KNOW THE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THAT AREA, THEY WANT TO -- THEY WANT TO KEEP THE FAMILIES TOGETHER ALSO. AND I UNDERSTAND. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP KIDS TOGETHER. THEY SAID THAT -- REMEMBER SOME YEARS, MR. FARKAS, WHEN WE OPENED SULFUR SPRINGS, I WAS THE AREA DIRECTOR THEN. PEOPLE SAY, NO, NO, THOSE KIDS NEED TO GET OUT AND GET OUT TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. YOU RECALL THAT? THEY SAID BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. NOW
120THEY LOVE IT, SULFUR SPRINGS. I BELIEVE IN GIVING EVERYBODY AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR KIDS TO BE REARED UP TOGETHER. SO, THAT'S MY CONVERSATION FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE FIRST POINT WHICH SEEMS TO BE A VERY STEADY POINT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COLOCATION, IT'S STILL EVOLVING. IN FACT, WHEN WE WERE IN TALLAHASSEE, WE -- AT LEAST THE GROUP I WAS WITH, WE ABSOLUTELY DISCUSSED THIS SITUATION OF COLOCATION. AND IN EVERY CASE, THOSE SENATORS AND LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES -- EXCUSE ME, HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE DETAILS. THEY'RE NOT -- THERE IS NO DEFINITE MOVEMENT AS TO WHAT'S NEXT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DONE, SO WHAT I THINK ABOUT THAT WHOLE SITUATION, IT'S EVOLVING AND WE CAN'T JUST SAY NO
121TO EVERY PROJECT BECAUSE OF WHAT IF AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN. SO I THINK THERE IS STILL A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES IN COLLABORATION AS THE DETAILS COME OUT, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL HAPPEN. SECONDLY, WHEN WE STARTED THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THAT WAS MARY ELLEN ELIA. THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS, ARE THERE ANY BETTER -- WE HAD TO COMBINE THE SEVENTH GRADE CENTERS AND WE WANTED EVERYTHING TO BE MORE HOLISTIC AND COMPACT, SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT. LONG STORY SHORT, THAT WAS THE SOLUTION AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER THE DAYS AND I KNOW SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE KNOW THERE ARE BENEFITS TO KEEP KIDS TOGETHER WITHIN THE SAME AGE GROUP. HOWEVER, THE K-8 NOW FAST FORWARD, WHAT WE DID IS WE HAVE SCHOOLS SUCH AS BOWERS AND BARRINGTON, THE ELEMENTARY AND THE MIDDLE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER
122AND THEN YOU HAVE A CORRIDOR. SAME THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MORGAN. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CORRIDOR, A WALKWAY TO THE -- TO THE ELEMENTARY. SO, YOU KNOW, K-8, IT'S A -- YES, DOBE AND I CAN GIVE YOU A LOT OF EXAMPLES, BALLAST POINT, THEY ALL WANT K-8. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU HAVE THE SCHOOLS IN PROXIMITY THAT YOU WALK RIGHT OVER, THEN THE ARGUMENT IS, WHAT KIND OF QUALITY EDUCATION HAPPENS IN A SEPARATE MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S MORE -- I TAUGHT MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT'S MORE CONTENT-FOCUSED. KEEPS KIDS RELATIVELY IN THE SAME AGE GROUP. A LOT OF PEER INVOLVEMENT. AND THEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE BIGGEST FOCUS AS WE SEE WITH UPCOMING PERHAPS DUNBAR, PREEDUCATION, WE SPENT MORE HUMAN RESOURCES ON EARLY LEARNING READING AND MUCH MORE THERE, THE FIRST AND SECOND
123GRADE, THAN WE DID IN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE. SO THERE ARE -- WHAT I'M SAYING IS THERE IS ADVANTAGES TO EACH ONE, DISADVANTAGES TO EACH ONE. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A REGULAR WALKWAY WHERE ONE HOOKS TO THE OTHER, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ARGUMENT IS. SO ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE RUNNING DOWN THE STREETS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER, LAKE BOULEVARD. IS THAT -- MR. FARKAS? WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT ROAD THAT GOES TO MORGAN? Christopher Farkas: WEST LAKE BOULEVARD. Lynn Gray: I TOLD YOU. EVERYONE SAYS YOU KNOW EVERYTHING AND THAT PROVES IT. Christopher Farkas: MY WIFE DISAGREES. Lynn Gray: YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS, WE CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT K-8 VERSUS ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND DA-DA-DA AND ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. THAT GETS US NOWHERE. WE CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT COLOCATION
124BUT THAT'S STILL BEING DISCUSSED ABOUT THE FINER DETAILS. LET'S PUT THE WHOLE DAMN DISTRICT ON STOP AND LET'S DON'T GO ANYWHERE. I DISAGREE WITH THAT. I'M MORE INCLINED TO BE WITH MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER WASHINGTON ON PROGRESSING THE VERY THING THAT WILL FURTHER QUALITY EDUCATION. CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA. I DON'T LIVE BUT 25 MINUTES AND MEMBER RENDON ALSO. I'M DOWN THERE VERY FREQUENTLY AND SHAY McRAE KNOW I ALMOST LIVED AT SHIELDS BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES. AND WE PUT THE PORTABLES. SO THE FAMILIARITY IN THAT AREA AND GROWTH, ENTERPRISING LATINAS AND OTHER ENTITIES, THAT PLACE IS GROWING TO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HOMES THAT NEVER HAS BEEN -- I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. AND ANYWAY. SO AS FAR AS STUDENT POPULATION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
125A LOT OF KIDS THAT WILL WANT TO GO TO THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. AND I AM FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO JESSICA VAUGHN DOES LIKE K-8s AND NOT BECAUSE I LOVE K-8s BUT BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. YOU KNOW, SO I AM CURIOUS WHY WE DIDN'T -- WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT PROCESS BECAUSE BEFORE I KNEW WHAT ANY OF THIS CONVERSATION WAS GOING TO BE, MY QUESTION WAS HAD WE LOOKED AT BUILDING A K-8 AND WHY OR WHY NOT. WHAT'S THE THOUGHT PROCESS BY CHOOSING NOT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE CONCERNS WITH K-8s IS WE'RE FITTING THEM INTO BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE NOT DESIGNED FOR THEM SO WE
126CAN'T BUILD THE FACILITIES BUT WE SEE WITH ADUM IF YOU'RE THOUGHTFUL AND DESIGN IT BEFOREHAND, PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO SACRIFICE THOSE THINGS AND CAN GET THE MODEL THEY'RE GOING TO CHOOSE. ALL KNOWING, GENIUS. AMAZING. MR. FARKAS. THE ORACLE. THE ORACLE, PLEASE TELL ME WHY THIS DECISION WAS MADE. Christopher Farkas: NEVER LIVING DOWN THIS MEETING. WHEN I RETIRE I WANT TO PLAY THIS BACK TO MYSELF. ACTUALLY, IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. AND MS. RENDON IS NOT WRONG. IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR A TWO-YEAR SOLUTION AND TO PACK IT UP AND FILL THE SCHOOL UP IN TWO YEARS THE K-8 IS PROBABLY THE REASONING. OUR GOAL AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY LEFT WAS BECAUSE SHIELDS WAS OVER CROWDED. WE HAVE 30 PORTABLES
127AT SHIELDS. AND THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM TO HAVE SO WE TAKE THOSE OUT -- THE STUDENT STATIONS GO WITH IT. HERE IS THE CONCERN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER 1,000 STUDENTS FROM SHIELDS THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE HAVE THE NEXT TWO, TWO AND A HALF-YEARS OVER 300 KIDS THERE. HOW MANY KIDS WILL GO? WE CALL IT POPULARITY OR STAY RATE. SHIELDS STAY RATE IS NOT AS HIGH AS IT NEEDS TO BEACH IT'S ONE OF THE LOWER ONES IN THE DISTRICT FOR GOOD REASON. SOME DON'T WANT THEIR SIXTH GRADERS IN PORTABLE. S. WE HAVE TO BUILD SOMETHING THEY'LL COME TO AND FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. WE HAVE DATA TO LOOK AT NEW BUILDS. WHAT DOES THAT DO. SUMMONER IS DOWN IN THAT AREA. YORK K-8. THE THINGS WE BUILD REGARDLESS OF LEVEL
128OF WHAT WE HAVE, EVEN BELMONT, THE POPULARITY RATE VERSUS THAT SCHOOL AND THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS IS MUCH HIGHER. SO 10 TO 15 POINTS HIGHER. SO EVEN IF NOT ALL THE KIDS GO THERE, EVEN IF THE PERCENTAGE POINTS ARE STILL THE SAME, WE'LL NOT HAVE ENOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS IF WE BUILD A K-8 BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BUILD A K-8 THAT HAS A REAL BOUNDARY. SO YOU THINK THAT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE IS SIX YEARS OF GRADES. MIDDLE SCHOOL IS THREE YEARS OF GRADES. ELEMENTARY BOUNDARIES ARE MUCH SMALLER. IF WE -- THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS FOR THE 1300 STUDENTS THERE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS BECAUSE K-8 MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS WILL NOT HAVE THAT MANY SEATS. THE ONLY ONE THAT DOES REALLY IS TURNER BARTELS BECAUSE IT
129WASN'T BUILT AS A K-8. Jessica Vaughn: BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE IDEA OF WE'RE CONSOLIDATING A SCHOOL BUILDING. IF YOU KNOWINGLY DESIGN IT, CAN'T YOU MAKE ONE THAT COULD HAVE A LARGER CAPACITY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ALSO SERVICE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO ATTRACT OUR FAMILIES. Christopher Farkas: GREAT QUESTION. IT WOULDN'T BE A TRUE K-8 BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T KEEP THE SAME BOUNDARY. THE NUMBER OF K-5 STUDENTS, IF YOU HAVE 150 KIDS PER GRADE LEVEL, IT'S GOING TO EQUAL THE 900. YOU WON'T HAVE AS MANY MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS THAT YOU CAN SEAT IN THE SAME AREA. THAT'S WHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TRADITIONALLY, THE BOUNDARY IS MUCH SMALLER. MIDDLE SCHOOL COMES FROM A LARGER GROUP BECAUSE YOU NEED MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS BECAUSE THERE IS THREE GRADES. Jessica Vaughn: BUT WE HAVE SCHOOLS WHERE THERE IS A ZONED ELEMENTARY
130PIECE AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS CHOICE OR VICE VERSA. WE COULD CREATE DIFFERENT BOUNDARIES AS IN TURNER BARTELS WHERE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS COME THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SO WE COULD ZONE IT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION. Christopher Farkas: WE COULD. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO K-8 IN THEORY. IT WOULDN'T BE A TRUE K-8. Jessica Vaughn: THAT MEANS A LOT OF SCHOOLS AREN'T. Christopher Farkas: MOST OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY. A COUPLE AREN'T. THEY GO THROUGH THE SAME WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE 300 TO 400 SEATS IN MOST OF THE K-8s IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECTION. Jessica Vaughn: IF THE PARENTS CHOICE AND MEET -- SOME OF THEM, IT'S NOT A TRUE K-8 BECAUSE IT'S A FULL CHOICE PROGRAM. Christopher Farkas: MANY OF THEM STAY. ESPECIALLY THE ONES WE JUST DID,
131APOLLO BEACH, THEY'RE TRUE K-8s MEANING THEY STAY THERE FROM KINDERGARTEN TO EIGHTH GRADE. THERE IS FEW KIDS THAT CHOICE ENDS SIXTH GRADE. THIS SUNAR RHO, IF WE WERE TO -- SCENARIO, IF WE WERE TO HOUSE THE KIDS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. IF IT'S THE BOARD'S WILL, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND REDESIGN THAT. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAD WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS. Jessica Vaughn: DO WE HAVE ENOUGH PROPERTY ON THAT LAND TO BUILD IT AS A K-8 NOW IF THAT BECOMES THE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL THEN WE CAN ALSO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THAT LAND DOWN THE ROAD? Christopher Farkas: THAT WAS THE PLAN ORIGINALLY. THE PLAN ORIGINALLY WAS TO DO A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE BACK, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
132WE'RE BUILDING NOW AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEXT TO IT SO ONE CAMPUS THEY'D HAVE SHARE SOME OF THE SAME BUILDINGS AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, THEY'D ALL SHARE BECAUSE IT'S ECONOMY OF SCALE AND SAVES US MONEY. THERE IS ANOTHER SPACE NEXT TO IT. ABOUT 12 ACRES THAT'S PLANNED TO FIT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: SO IF WE WERE GOING TO BUILD THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANYWAY, WE COULD BRING IT AS A K-8 NOW. ONCE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS BUILT IN A COUPLE YEARS, REZONE IT AND ATTRACT THE FAMILIES THERE WHO ARE ALREADY INVESTED WHO MAY GO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MY QUESTION I GUESS WOULD BE WITH THIS INFORMATION, AND I APPRECIATE IT, IF WE VOTE NO, ARE YOU WILLING TO BRING IT BACK AS A K-8? Van Ayres: IF THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS FOR A K-8,
133ABSOLUTELY WE'D DO THAT. I THINK ONE THING, MR. FARKAS, TELL ME IF I'M WRONG. THE NEED FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE LONG RANGE, THE LONG RANGE STUDY AND PLAN FOR ELEMENTARY SEATS WAS NOT UNTIL I THINK 2032. SO IF YOU DID BUILD A K-8, AND GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT COLOCATION WHICH HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART TODAY, IF YOU BUILD A K-8 NOW, WHERE DO YOU THINK THE ELEMENTARY KIDS ARE GOING TO COME FROM. THEY'RE GOING TO COME FROM RUSKIN AND WIMAUMA AND BELMONT WHICH HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF THEN OPENING SEATS IN THOSE PARTICULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AND THAT'S WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO BUILD THE MIDDLE SCHOOL NOW BECAUSE ELEMENTARY SEATS ARE NOT NEEDED UNTIL LATER. SO IF WE KEEP THE SAME THEORY AND ARGUMENT AROUND COLOCATION, WE NEED TO MINIMIZE SEATS
134BECAUSE IF WE BUILD THE K-8, RUSKIN WILL BE OPEN, WIMAUMA, BELMONT HAS THE POSSIBILITY. SO I'M JUST MAKING SURE IF WE MAKE THE ARGUMENT WE MADE EARLIER, THE SAME PHILOSOPHY WE'RE UTILIZING HERE TO NOT HAVE ALL THESE OPEN SEATS. IF WE OPEN A K-8 YOU'LL HAVE OPEN SEATS IN TWO YEARS IN RUSKIN AND WIMAUMA. CORRECT? Jessica Vaughn: BUT YOU'RE CONFIDENT BUILDING THIS NEW K-8 -- THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL IT WILL BE FILLED WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS ABOUT COLOCATION AS WELL? Christopher Farkas: I'VE GOT TOTAL CONCERNS OF COLOCATION. Jessica Vaughn: IT'S HAUNTING US REGARDLESS. Christopher Farkas: IN TWO YEARS WE'LL HAVE OVER 1300 STUDENTS ASSIGN TODAY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THAT'S JUST WITH THE GROWTH WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT'S AND HOW MANY COMPETING CHARTER SCHOOLS DO WE HAVE IN THE AREA? A BUNCH. BUT WE HAVE
135TO GO ON OUR OWN HISTORY. WHEN WE BUILD A NEW SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S YORK OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, KIDS COME TO OUR SCHOOL WHETHER THEY ARE A CHARTER OR NOT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE YORK POPULATION -- THAT'S AN K-8. Christopher Farkas: THAT'S RIGHT. BELMONT IS COMPLETELY FULL AND HAS BEEN FULL OF THE NEW SCHOOLS ATTRACT KIDS JUST LIKE CHARTER SCHOOLS THE SAME. AND THE WILL OF THE BOARD, FROM A GROWTH MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGHT TO THE MOST COMPETITIVE THING ON THE MARKET. WE HAD TO GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH ALL THAT GROWTH IN THE PAST 15 OH YEARS. IT DOESN'T GIVE US AS MANY MIDDLE SEATS AS WE NEED SO WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELIEVE SHIELDS. Van Ayres: ALL THIS CONVERSATION IS GREAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S
136NOBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT CAN PREDICT WHAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE TWO AND THREE YEARS, AND MR. FARKASESE TEAM, IT'S INCREDIBLY PREDICT WHERE GROWTH IS GOING TO BE. HIS TEAM DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB. SO THE RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT FROM THAT TEAM AND MYSELF IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. IF THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. BUT I WOULD JUST GO BACK TO THE REASON I PLACED IT ON THE AGENDA IS IF YOU LOOK TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT ON CO-LOCATION, YOU WILL OPEN UP ELEMENTARY SEATS WHICH OPENS UP PROPERTIES WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE EARLIER CONVERSATIONS. SO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TEAM, MYSELF IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL. HOWEVER, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, WE ARE OPEN TO THAT.
137THE RECOMMENDATION, THOUGH, IS THE MIDDLE. Jessica Vaughn: IS IT POSSIBLE IF WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, AFFORDABLEWISE, BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE IF 2030 IS IDENTIFIED AS OPENING AN ELEMENT SCHOOL, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT MORE QUICKLY? IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING THE GROWTH? THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE ELEMENTS? Christopher Farkas: WE HAVE HAD NOT HAD ADEQUATE FUNDING ON YOUR AGENDA. A LITTLE LATER IN THE INFORMATION, TALKED ABOUT LONG RANGE PLANNING STUDY, AND THE IMPACT FEE, CONVERSATION. SO FUNDING IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT, TOO. IT'S KNOW IT JUST GROWTH. Jessica Vaughn: ARE YOU NOT CONCERNED IN 2030 YOU ARE REQUESTING GOING TO TAKE THE SAME STUDENT POPULATION AWAY FROM THE OTHER SCHOOLS? Christopher Farkas: NO. WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM BECAUSE THE
138POPULATION IS CHANGING. A WONDER SEE IT NOW FROM OUR CORE SCHOOLS. A LOST MR. WASHINGTON'S SCHOOLS. THE POPULATION IS SHIFTING. LOTS OF IT. ALSO ECONOMIC STATUS WHICH IS WHY WE SEE SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS CORE A LITTLE LOWER. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, ALL-KNOWING MR. FARKAS. Member: THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN. I THINK MEMBER RENDON, THIS HAS TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR THE REASON YOU STATED. THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY. AND I DEFER TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE GROWTH AND THE NEEDS. AND I DON'T THINK THOSE OF US WHO ARE WANT BE TO ARE MORE CAUTIOUS ARE OPERATING IN FEAR. WE ARE REALLY HYPER FOCUSED ON THE OPERATING AND FISCAL EFFICIENCY IN A VERY RESPONSIBLE WAY, AND AGAIN FOR ME, IT'S THE TIMING OF THIS. I THINK MEMBER GRAY IS RIGHT WHEN
139SHE'S SAYING THIS IS AN EVOLVING CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE. WE ARE THOUGHT SAYING NO. WE ARE NOT SAYING STOP EVERYTHING IN THE DISTRICT. THAT'S VERY DRAMATIC. WE ARE NOT DOING. THAT WE ARE JUST SAYING SLOW DOWN. YOU KNOW, THAT THING SLOW YOUR ROLL. YOU KNOW. SLOW IT DOWN. BE THOUGHTFUL. BE CONSCIOUS. I'M A FAN OF K-8s. I LIKE K-8s. I THINK THAT WHEN WE REDO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT SHOULD BE OOH REALLY BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSION, BECAUSE -- AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THAT MEMBER VAUGHN ASKED AND THE CONVERSATION, KS ARE EXPENSIVE IN THEIR OWN WAY TO OPERATE. I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO EXPLORE A K-8 ON THIS PROPERTY. I KNOW THAT ELEMENT SCHOOLS DOWN THE ROAD, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SEATS, DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MANY
140NEW CHARTERS HAD OPENED, LIKE CHARTERS ARE EXPANDING DOWN THERE. SO I AM GOING STOW RESPOND ON MY REMARKS, NEW SCHOOLS DO NOT OPEN AT CAPACITY. THE THEY JUST DON'T. AND THOSE -- THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW. IT TAKES TIME. YOU KNOW, THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE WILL BE THE BIGGEST CLASSES AND THEN AS THEY MATRICULATE INTO 7th AND 8th GRADE, THE SCHOOL WILL FILL UP AND IT WILL TAKE TWO YEARS. BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN IS, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WITH CO-LOCATION? AND ARE WE GOING TO BE BUILDING A SCHOOL FOR FOR JUST SHARE? THAT'S BIG OUR BIG EXPENSE, YOU KNOW. AND MAYBE IF THINGS DID NOT CHANGE AROUND THE CO-LOCATION BILL, -- NO DOUBT I WANT TO BUILD A SCHOOL DOWN FROM BUT IT MAY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THAN
141IT DOES TONIGHT IF NOTHING CHANGES AROUND CO-LOCATION. SO I'M VERY ACQUIRE OF THE IMPACT THAT THE DISCUSSIONS WE ARE MAKING TONIGHT WILL HAVE. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GO FAST AND FURIOUS OVER HERE AND THEN IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, AND THEN YOU ARE SCREAMING AT THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. WELL, YOU MADE THOSE DECISIONS KNOWING THINGS MIGHT NOT CHANGE. SO THAT'S ON THE BOARD. -- I'M JUST TRYING TO BE SUPER CAUTIOUS HERE. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST MY PERSONALITY. I'M A VERY CAUTIOUS, STRATEGICALLY DRIVEN INDIVIDUAL. AND BIG PICTURE INDIVIDUAL. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE. AND THAT'S WHY I AM NOT SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT. NOT SAYING IT'S NOT NEEDED. I'M SAYING IT -- NOT SAYING IT SHOULDN'T BE BUILT. BUT THE TIMING JUST ISN'T RIGHT FOR ME. THANK YOU. Member: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. Patti
142Rendon: SO YOU SAID WE ARE GOING TO MOVE A THOUSAND STUDENTS FROM SHIELDS. Christopher Farkas: NOT KIDS THAT -- NOT KIDS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO IT. THEY HAVE ABOUT A 50 PERCENT STAY RATE SO IT'S ABOUT 500 KIDS THAT ARE A SIGNED AS TO BE OUT OF THERE. SHIELD HAS A CAPACITY RIGHT NOW OF 2100. WE CAN PUT 600 SEATS IN PORTABLE. Patti Rendon: BUT CURRENTLY THEY ARE ONLY AT 1450 CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW AND AS OF APRIL OF LAST YEAR WE WERE OVER IS IT HUNDRED. SO I NEED TO MAKE A BOARD VERY WELL AWARE THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS SPEAKING VERY LOUDLY, THAT THEY ARE MOVING TO THE K-8s IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BOTH EYESEN HOUR AND SHIELDS ARE CONSISTENTLY LOSING STUDENTS AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND I'M 100% IN AGREEMENT WITH MEMBER GRAY WHEN SHE
143TALKS ABOUT THE EDUCATION BENEFITS OF AN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. AS A PARENT, I WAS ALL IN. BUT AS A COMMUNITY DO I KNOW THERE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT DIFFERENTLY. AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO OPEN A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S NOT GOING TO FILL. THE COMMUNITY DOWN THERE, WE ARE SEEING-OH WE WERE GOING TO THE K-8. YOU HAVE DOBY, APOLLO BEACH. YOUR CURRENT ELEMENTS ARE ASKING FOR IT. SO I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY SEATS WE LOST IN SIX MONTHS AT SHIELDS. AND EISENHOWER STILL SITS, I BELIEVE AT 47% CAPACITY? TWO VERY GOOD SCHOOLS. PHENOMENAL PRINCIPALS. ICE OWN HOWER IS AT 61%. Patti Rendon: 61%. EITHER WAY THEY ARE NOT GLOWING WITH NABLUS LEADERS. PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, THE FABULOUS LEADER AT EISENHOWER. I AM GOING TO SAY AGAIN PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING IN A
144FACILITY THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING FOR. IT'S GOING TO NOT SARASOTA UP AS MUCH SPACE. THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALTHOUGH I AGREE WITH MEMBER GRAY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE EDUCATION BENEFITS, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE QUOTER BENEFIT OF ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE. I HAVE GOT 7 CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. SLAM JUST BUILT ANOTHER BUILDING. THEY HAVE THREE BUILDINGS FOR THEIR K-8 AND THEY ARE EXPANDING TO HIGH SCHOOLS. SO I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS. YOU GUYS WERE ALL OUT AT MORGAN. I KNOW THE GROWTH. Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER RENDON DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE OF THE WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE -- INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT? Van Ayres: MY SUPERINTENDENT'S
145UPDATE THIS EVENING, WE WILL BEGIN AROUND A STRANGE PRIORITY OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. AND I DO WANT TO -- I DID RECEIVE A LETTER JUST A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT A COUPLE OF STAR SCHOOLS OF DISTINCTION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS BOARD IN 2021, IT WAS THIS DISTRICT THAT BROUGHT FORWARD STAR SCHOOLS OF DISTINCTION AS A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AND HERE WE ARE IN 2025 ACROSS THE STATE NOW, WE HAVE FURTHERMORE STAR SCHOOLS OF DISTINCTION. HONOR SCHOOLS HAVE DEMONSTRATED STRONG COMMITMENT TO MILITARY FAMILIES DURING TRANSITIONS OF THE AND PROVIDE DEDICATED POINTS OF CONTACT, INTENTIONAL TRANSITION SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT HELP STUDENTS DRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY FROM DAY ONE. PRETTY OUTSTANDING THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT NOW CURRENTLY SITS WITH 29 PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND JUST A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT OF COURSE, DR.
146HAHN, YOU SIT ON THE COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE. MARK AS MU REALLY OH. THE THREE OF YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB IN SUPPORT OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. SO HOPEFULLY KIM IS LISTENING. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT TO HAVE 29 PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS IS A PRETTY COOL ACCOMPLISHMENT GIVEN WE JUST STARTED IN 20231. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS THAT ARE ACPS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN A 2026 U.S. WORLD AND NEWS REPORT RANKING FOR BEST MIDDLE SCHOOLS, OVER 80 THE THOUSAND PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, AND OVER 23,000 MIDDLE SCHOOLS WERE RANKED. THIS YEAR SEVERAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS EARNED RECOGNITION FROM PLACING THEM AROUND THE TOP PER NORMING SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA AND THE NATION BASED ON TEAM PROFICIENCY IN MATH AND READING, ADJUSTED FOR SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS. SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SCHOOLS WHO MIDE THIS LIST.
147THESE RANKINGS ARE TESTAMENT TO THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF OUR EDUCATES, STUDENT AND FAMILIES. SO PROUD TO SEE OUR SCHOOLS RECOLLECTION ANIED FOR EXCELLENCE HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN OUR CLASSROOMS. AND A COUPLE SHOUTOUTS HERE, CONGRATULATIONS TO STEINBRENNER HIGH SCHOOL I SHAMBI WHO WON THE ESSAY CONTEST, ONE TWO OF STUDENTS PROSECUTE FROM THE STATE. SO CONGRATULATIONS. STEINBRENNER. TWO STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND SHE WAS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THAT AWARD. THE AWARD WAS PRESENTED EARLIER THIS MONTH BY FIRST LADY DESANTIS. AND ALSO PLANT CITY SCHOOL MATH TEACHER WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED AT THIS POINT CHOSEN FOR THE OLYMPIANS IN EDUCATION AWARD. THE WINNERS WERE SELECTED FROM NOMINATIONS SENT IN BY PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND/OR GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS, RECEIVED A 2500 MONETARY RECOGNITION FOR THE VOLUNTARY FLORIDA FOUNDATION OF THE CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM ON THEIR AWARD. AND THEN
148OUR FFA CONVENTION, CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO OUR OUTSTANDING FAA CHAPTERS AND MEMBERS ACROSS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AT THE 2025 NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION HELD OCTOBER 29th TO NOVEMBER 1th IN INDIANAPOLIS. FROM TOP TIER CHAPTER RECOGNITION TOES NATIONAL FINALIST, SHOWCASED PREMIER SKILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FFA CHAPTERS. PLANT CITY, DURANTE, SIC HIMSELF, RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT AT THE 2025 NATIONAL CONVENTION. AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE, I THINK MEMBER RENDON, YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GO OVER THERE. NOVEMBER 12, OUR STUDENTS TOOK HONORS AT THE 2025 CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE. MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO, CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSEN COURAGED AMERICA'S YOUTH TO BECOME THE TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE. DOO MORE THAN 90% MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HOSTED DISTRICT COMPETITIONS INSPIRING OVER 75,000 STUDENTS TO USE TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD. AND FIRST PLACE TO
149MIDDLETON STUDENTS. SECOND PLACE STEINBRENNER, THE REMIND ME APP. AND THIRD PLACE STEINBRENNER AGAIN. SO SPECIAL THANKS TO LAURA LEE FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT IN HER DISTRICT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS. OUR EVERYDAY ATTENDANCE MATTERS POSTER CONTEST, YESTERDAY MORNING WE JOINED UNITED WAY TO VISIT THE WINNERS OF THE EVERYDAY MATTERS ATTENDANCE POSTER, CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANK SOSA FROM SUMMER FIELD ELEMENTARY AND SECOND PLACE TO CHILES ELEMENTARY. THANKS AGAIN TO UNITED WAY FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN SCHOOL EVERY DAY. AND EXCEPTIONAL TALENT, WE DID POST COLLEGE AND CAREER NIGHT AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK. THIS IS AN EVENT WE BROUGHT BACK SO I KNOW A LOT OF THE TEAM FROM GAZELLE, MR. BRADY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, MR. MURILLO, BROUGHT BACK COLLEGE AND CAREER NIGHT. THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR SPANISH
150SPEAKING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE HAD 79 FAMILIES THAT CAME OUT TO THAT EVENT. THE PLANNING OF THIS EVENT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN ACADEMIC SERVICES, TRACYE BROWN, AND WORKFORCE AND ALMOST 80 FAMILIES RECEIVED INFORMATION. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MY TEAM. THIS IS SOMETHING WE. HAD IN OOH NUMBER OF YEARS, FOUND A WAY TO BRING CLOSE TO 80 FAMILIES CAME TO THAT EVENT AND I THINK THERE'S MORE TO COME, RIGHT? TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE NEXT ONE. THAT IS AT RIVERVIEW. SO THE NEXT ONE TOMORROW NIGHT. TEAM, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. AND TO CHARM, ON OCTOBER 29th WE RECEIVED THE FAMILY FRIENDLY BUSINESS AWARD WHICH RECOGNIZED OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING A WORKPLACE WHERE. WE WERE RECOGNIZED AS A GOLD AWARD WIN OARSER FOR WELL-BEING AND LONG-TERM. NOT ONLY HELP US ATTRACT
151TO TALENT BUT PRODUCE PRODUCTIVITY, CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AWARD. ALMOST GETTING THERE. SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBRA BOSS. BUSINESS DEPARTMENT MANAGER FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AT THE RECENT SCHOOL SAFE ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN BUILDING ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT AND SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. DEBRA DOES AN AMAZING JOB WE ALL KNOW, AND IT'S NICE TO SEE HER RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL LEVEL. DEBRA HAS SET A NEW BEVERAGES MARK FOR. AND I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT JOHN NEWMAN AND HIS TEAM. DEBRA SITS UNDER JOHN NEWMAN. A LOT OF OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE. SO OUR GOLD STANDARD EXCELLENCE OF AWARD FOR DEBRA BLOSSOM. AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE, AN APPLICATION, THAT CLOSES DECEMBER 7th. WE HAVE
152THREE WINDOWS. SO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE LISTENING, DECEMBER 7th, OUR FALL BREAK, WE COME BACK NEXT FRIDAY WHEN IT CLOSES OUT, WHICH IS DECEMBER 7th. SOME NUMBERS. SO AS OF YESTERDAY WE HAD OVER 115,000 MAGNET APPLICATIONS WHICH IS ALMOST 500 MORE THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND WE'LL HAVE OUR NEXT MAGNET EXPO ON DECEMBER 4 FROM 5 TO 7 P.M. AT SOTO. ONTO THE GRIDIRON. CONGRATULATIONS TO FIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR MAKING IT TO THE REGIONAL SEMI-FINALS. SO, YEAH, WE HAD SOME GREAT FOOTBALL OVER THIS PAST FRIDAY. AND NOW THIS FRIDAY. YOU CAN SEE THE SCHEDULE IS LISTED THERE. WE HAD ONE HOME GAME WHICH WILL BE ARMWOOD AND YOU WILL HAVE TECH, GAITHER AND JEFFERSON ON THE ROAD. SO WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. OUR TEAMS ARE DOING GREAT. SO
153LET'S HOPE TO GET THEM TO MOVE ON TO THE FINALISTS. FINALLY, WE MADE IT TO FALL BREAK. SO WE MADE IT. SO OUR FINAL FALL BREAK BEGINS NEXT MONDAY. WE WILL BE OUT THAT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR FALL BREAK AND I JUST WISH EVERYONE A GREAT FALL BREAK. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. AND OUR STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 1st. MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. Member: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. A REMINDER YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES OR I AM GOING TO HIT THE GAVEL. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: A BIG THANK YOU AND APPRECIATION TO EVERY ONE OF YOUR CABINET MEMBERS. I WATCH YOU ALL WORK DILIGENTLY PROFESSIONALLY, SO ENJOY YOUR FALL BREAK THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD TONIGHT, REGARDING CO-LOCATION, THE CO-LOCATION
154OF SCHOOLS OF HOPE WITHIN EXISTING SCHOOL BOARD FACILITIES HAVE RAISED SEVERAL CONCERNS AMONG BOARD MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, WITHIN OUR 67 COUNTIES. THE PRIMARY ISSUE IS THE USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS. MANY BELIEVE THESE RESOURCES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS RATHER THAN PRIVATELY MANAGED ENTITIES SUCH AS THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE. FURTHERMORE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED AS TO WHY ANOTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE RENT FREE WITHIN PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS. WE ARE REMINDED THAT CO-LOCATED CHARTER SCHOOLS SUCH AS SCHOOLS OF HOPE WILL ADD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STUDENTS. EACH OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS AS TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, EXCEPT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PHYSICAL BUILDING, IT'S OPERATIONS OR HUMAN RESOURCES. THIS IS COMING OFF THE BACKS OF OUR
155OWN FINANCIAL WELL-BEING INCLUSIVE OF OUR FUND BALANCE. JUST A FEW CONCERNS THAT ARE SPECIFIC. STUDENT SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUES, LOSSES -- LAWSUITS COST A LOT OF MOPE, DRUG USAGE OR SALES IN THE SCHOOL. BRINGING WEAPONS TO THE SCHOOL. DATA BREACHES. THERE'S NO GUARDRAILS THUS FASHION THESE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR SCHOOLS. OPERATIONS, UPKEEP AND EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE, INCLUSIVE, EXPENSIVE AND VERY MUCH NEEDED IS THE HVAC SYSTEM. HOW ABOUT THE CUSTODIAN CLEANING OF CLASSROOMS AND THE OVERALL SCHOOL SITE? THAT WILL BE NEEDED AND ASKED TO ALSO BE DONE. HUMAN RESOURCES, SHARING OF ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, RESOURCE OFFICERS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, PTAs, TO NAME JUST A FEW. AND WORRISOME AS WELL, SHARING OF COMMON SUFFICES SUCH AS THE CAFETERIA, MEDIA CENTERS, PLAYGROUNDS, CREATING SAFETY AND EQUITY ISSUES. L. BOTH WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFFING. NOW, TO
156THIS TENDN END, I MAKE A MOTION TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD A PROCLAMATION WHICH WILL BRING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ACKNOWLEDGE ENTITIES SUCH AS SCHOOLS OF HOPE TO OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. AGAIN, TO BRING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ACKNOWLEDGE ENTITIES SUMP AS SCHOOLS OF HOPE TO OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC DISTRICT. THAT'S MY MOTION. Jim Porter: SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE VOTED ON AT THIS MEETING. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THIS IS INFORM A FUTURE MEETING, CORRECT? CORRECT, CORRECT. Jim Porter: THE BOARD HAS GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT TRADITIONALLY WHEN YOU DO RECOLLECT IN ADDITIONS NOW. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THOSE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROCEED YOU WOULD NEED A SECOND OF YOUR MOTION, AND THE
157EFFECT OF THAT WOULD BE AT THE NEXT MEETING IF THE MOTION PASSES FOURTH SUPERINTENDENT TO BRING BACK A PROCLAMATION THATTEN SLATES WHAT YOU SAID. I SENDING THAT MOTION. Jim Porter: NOW BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER AT A FUTURE AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING YOU WANT TO CONSIDER A PROCLAMATION THAT MS. GRAY DESCRIBED. CLEAR THE BOARD, PLEASE. IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ONLY ON THE MOTION OF WHETHER TO BRING A PROCLAMATION, THEN THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO THAT. I.MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER, MEMBER PEREZ. I AM GOING TO BE SUPER BLUNT HERE. PROCLAMATIONS, CAMPAIGNING FROM THE DID DAIS, EACH GOING TO TALLAHASSEE LIKE WE DID IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, IS NOT GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT. WHAT ME TELL YOU, YOU NEED SOMETHING CALLED LEVERAGE. LET ME TELL YOU
158HOW WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN LEVERAGE TONIGHT. WE COULD HAVE POSTPONED THESE TWO AGENDA ITEMS. WE COULD HAVE WORKED WITH THE BUILDERS AND THE CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE A LOT OF LEVERAGE IN TALLAHASSEE, AND WE COULD HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO GET SOME REAL MOMENTUM TO PUT SOME GUIDELINES INTO THIS BILL. BUT, NO, WE WANT TO PLAY POLITICAL THEATER. I AM NOT PARTICIPATING IN POLITICAL THEATER EVERY. I'M A PROBLEM SOLVER. THAT'S HOW I OPERATE. I WANT TO REITERATE, THIS BOARD ESTABLISHED PRACTICES REGARDING PROCLAMATIONS. AS A BOARD, WE AGREED OVER A YEAR AGO TO DISCONTINUES ISSUING PROCLAMATIONS, AND WE FORMALLY INCORPORATED THAT INTO OUR WAY OF WORK. WHAT IS A WAY OF WORK? IT IS WHAT WE ALL AGREED TO. AND IT'S HOW WE WILL WORK TOGETHER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT
159BOARD MEMBERS HAVE GONE OUT IN FRONT OF A WAY OF WORK TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE. IT DOES NOT CREATE A GOOD WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS BOARD. OKAY. BRINGING FORWARD A PROCLAMATION AT THIS TIME REGARDLESS OF THE TOP I CAN, REGARDLESS OF THE TOP I CAN, GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST THE PROCEDURES WE AGREED UPON COLLECTIVELY AT OUR BOARD RETREAT. WHY IS IT WE EVEN DO A WAY OF WORK AT THIS POINT? WHY DO WE HAVE A BOARD RETREAT? IT'S CONSISTENTLY MEMBERS WORK OUTSIDE OF THAT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T PUT THE PROCESS IN PLACE THAT WE AGREED TO. SO BETWEEN THE FACT THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO LEVERAGE IN DOING THIS, AND THAT WE HAVE BLOWN ANY CHANCE OF THE LEVELING WE COULD HAVE HAD, THIS COMPLETELY GIVES A
160BIG YOU KNOW WHAT TO THE WAY OF WORK THAT THIS BOARD AGREED TO. THIS IS JUST NOT GOOD OPERATING, IT IS NOT EYE WAY TO BE COLLABORATIVE. BUT MOST OF ALL, OPERATING IN THIS MANNER IS POOR GOVERNANCE. Karen Perez: MEMBER RENDON. RE REIGN THANK YOU, MEMBER CHAIR. I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR WHEN WE HAVE GONE TO TALLAHASSEE, VERY CLEAR DOWN HERE THAT I HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO CO-LENGTHING IN OUR SCHOOLS, MILEAGE CONCERNS. BUT WE MADE DECISIONS THON BOARD TODAY THAT GIVE THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN IT DOES TO TAKE AWAY THEIR OPPORTUNITIES. AND NOW WE ARE GOING AGAINST THE WAY OF WORK THAT THIS BOARD CAME COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER TO SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO WITH PROCLAMATIONS TO A POINT THAT WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ON? AGAIN I CANNOT REITERATE THE
161FACT THAT MEMBER HOON IS RIGHT, IT'S NOT GOOD PRACTICE, AND IT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE. IF WE ARE GOING TO COLLABORATIVELY WORK TOGETHER, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE LEVERAGE. BECAUSE THEY ARE WATCHING EVERY MOVE WE MAKE. THEY ARE ASKING, WHERE IS OUR EXCESS PROPERTY? THEY ARE ASKING WHERE IS OUR ACCESS BUILDING? AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT OF THE AND THEY WANT IT. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TONIGHT. WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. I MADE THAT IN MY COMMUNITY. I MADE IT A PRIORITY. BUT TO THROW IN A THING THAT WENT AGAINST OUR WAY OF WORK THAT WE COLLABORATIVELY CAME TOGETHER TO DO IS NOTE GOOD PRACTICE. AND I STAND BEHIND THAT. Member: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE SO QUESTIONS FOR YOU PINELLAS PARK PORTER IT.
162WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APP RESOLUTION AND A PROCLAMATION? Jim Porter: THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE CONSTITUENCY THE TWO. SOMETIMES OOH RESOLUTION HAS OFFICIAL MEANING, FOR INSTANCE, IN OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, A RESOLUTION IS A VEHICLE BY WHICH SOMETHING IS ACCOMPLISHED. SOMETIMES THE BOARD HAS TO MASS A RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRES A VOTE. SO A RESOLUTION IS A GENERIC TERM THAT SOMETIMES HAS VERY SPECIFIC MEANING OF THE A PROCLAMATION IS JUST EXPRESSING THE BOARD'S WILL. IT DOESN'T HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW. IT'S JUST A COMMENT, OR YOU ARE PROCLAIMING THAT YOU FEEL A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT A CERTAIN ISSUE WHICH IS WHAT MS. GRAY IS ASKING YOU TO DO. WHAT THE BOARD AND WHAT DR. HAHN AND RENDON ARE REFERRING TO OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THE BOARD HAS GOTTEN AWAY FROM DOING PROCLAMATIONS FOR THINGS LIKE BLACK HISTORY
163MONTH OR GUY PRIDE MONTH, AND YOU HAVE GONE TO REMEMBER IN ADDITIONS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE A VOTE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YOU CAN'T HAVE A PROCLAMATION ON AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WITHOUT VOTING BECAUSE IT'S JUST RECOGNIZING SOMETHING LIKE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. IT IS ACTUALLY DIRECTING THE BOARD'S OPINION. SO AS DR. HAHN AND RENDON SAID, THE BOARD HAS GOTTEN AWAY FROM IT. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOU'RE WAY OF WORK OR WAY YOU OPERATE, BUT THOSE ARE DISTINCTIONS AND WHY THEY ARE DIFFERENT. SO A PROCLAMATION IS JUST PROCEED CLAIMING OR ANNOUNCING WHAT THE BOARD'S POSITION IS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, AND WROTE REQUIRE A VOTE IN ORDER TO PASS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS VOTING FOR IT OF THE. MEMBER GRAY, WHAT IS YOUR HOPE WITH THE PROCLAMATION? WHAT'S
164YOUR HOPE TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT THE MAJORITY -- Lynn Gray: THE MESSAGE IS IN TERMS OF A BOARD THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS, AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE EXPRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT WILL AFFECT US, HOW IT WILL AFFECT OUR STUDENTS AND MANY OTHER AREAS, OPERATIONS, ET CETERA OF THE. Jessica Vaughn: AND THE WORDING OF THE PROCLAMATION? Jim Porter: KEEP IN MIND IT'S THE SUPERINTENDENT'S AGENDA AND HE IS BRINGING IT FORWARD AND HE WOULD TAKE THE COMMENT THAT MS. GRAY MADE IN HER MOTION AND ANY OATS BOARD COMMENTS AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, AND YOU WOULD BE REACTING TO. Lynn Gray: IF I MAY, MEMBER VAUGHN, SUPERINTENDENT VAN NESS IS COMPLETELY AWARE OF
165THIS AS WELL OF WHAT I JUST PROPOSED. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I HAD ASKED AT SOME POINT TO BRING A RESOLUTION ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL, THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AS A BOARD, BUT I WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T BE UP TO ONE MEMBER, THE CHAIR OR WHATEVER TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. I DO THINK THAT IF IT IS SEWING THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT THAT WE DECIDE COLLECTIVELY THAT IT SHOULD BE, BECAUSE IT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD AND NOT ONE PERSON MAKING THAT DECISION FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD, BECAUSE IF YOU THROW A RECOGNITION ON THAT, THAT'S AGAINST THE WILL OF THE BOARD. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. WHILE I FEEL THE CONCERN FROM MY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT THIS BREAKS
166THE PROTOCOAL THAT WE AGREED UPON AND THE FRUSTRATION WITH THAT, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY THANK YOU FEEL TO DO THIS AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU BROUGHT IT FORWARD WHERE WE CAN DISCUSS IT. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A CHANCE TO AIR THEIR CONCERNS AS OPPOSED TO US OR CHAIR PUTTING A RECOGNITION OR SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I FELT COMFORTABLE DOING AS THE CHAIR. SO THAT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND TO HEAR WHAT OUR BOARD MEMBERS SAY THEIR CONCERNS ARE ABOUT IT. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR NOW. I AM GOING TO ALLOW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I AGREE THAT THERE'S CERTAIN TIMES OF WAY OF WORK, BUT THEN THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS
167THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, LIKE AT THE LAST MINUTE, THIS BILL GOES THROUGH WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING AT? I MEAN, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR WAY OF WORK BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE. I MEAN, SUPERINTENDENT, ALMOST EVERY TIME I TALK TO YOU, I ASK YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU TALKING TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS? WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH EVERY NEWSPAPER? ISN'T IT -- HE HAVE TIME I TALK TO YOU, IT'S WHY ISN'T MORE HAPPENING? I AM ABOUT TO WRITE AN OP ED. I INTERVIEWED WITH USF. I WAS INTERVIEWED IN THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES." LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND EVERYONE WANTS TO BURY IT IN THE SAND AND LET IT REACT TO IT BY NOT OPENING SCHOOLS OR CLOSING SCHOOLS OR
168REZONING OR DOING THIS. KNEE. LET'S MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THAT. AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS -- I'M TIRED OF SITTING STILL AND BEING SUCH A GOOD PERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT OFICS EDUCATION, AND EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE NEWS THERE'S SOME KIND OF NEW CURRICULUM THAT NO ONE GETS TO SEE OR NEW CONCEPT THAT NO ONE GETS TO SEE, OR SCHOOLS OF HOPE, OR CHANGING LAWS CONSTANTLY. I MEAN, I AM TIRED OF SITTING THERE BEING FEARFUL OF THEM REMOVING ME OR SOMETHING HAPPENING BECAUSE I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK WITH THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE TODAY. I ASK YOU, ONE OF MY MAIN QUESTIONS WAS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SUPERINTENDENT? WHY ARE YOU NOT CALLING A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH HE HAVE SINGLE NEWSPAPER, EVERY SINGLE
169TV STATION, AND SAYING, THIS IS WRONG. THE SAFETY OF KID. WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S APP EMERGENCY OR THEY NEED MEDICATION? WHO IS OVERSEEING THAT. WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT? I WOULDN'T TO TALLAHASSEE AND I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AND I SAID, THIS DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? TOO BAD OF THE I DON'T CARE. SO TOO BAD, I DON'T CARE EITHER. I DON'T NEED TO FOLLOW A CERTAIN WAY OF WORK, IF WE NEED TO LET THE NEWS AND THE NEWSPAPERS KNOW. THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG. AND I DON'T CARE IN YOU ARE REPUBLICAN, I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT. IF YOU LOOK AND UNWRAP AND LOOK AT THIS LAW, IT IS WRONG. I AM EVEN HEARING DISTRICTS THAT HAD NO SCHOOLS, NO D, F, ALL
170As AND BS, THEY ARE GOING INTO THEIR SCHOOLS. ALL THESE DISTRICTS. AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT BUT WE ARE JUST SITTING HERE QUIETLY. THANK GOODNESS FOR SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT COME ALL THE TIME. THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT. HE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IT AT THE DAIS EVERY TIME. BUT DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? NO. STOW WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, AND SOMEONE SAID TO ME, WELL, MIAMI WAS 100, YOU GUYS WERE ONLY 20 SCHOOLS. NEXT YEAR WE COULD BE 200. LET'S FIGHT WHEN THE FIGHTING IS DUE AND THEE NOT RIGHT. LET'S FIGHT NOW WHEN IT MATTER, NOT AT THE END OF THE SESSION OF THE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. YOU KNOW, WE DO TALK
171THIS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN BOARD COMMENTS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR TWO HOURS TONIGHT. NOBODY IS SITTING LIKE IN A BUNKER NOT TALKING AND THINKING ABOUT THIS. YOU JUST SAID YOU WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT IN YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT. WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME. THE SUPERINTENDENT, WITH HIS STAFF. I MEAN, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT, I DON'T WANT TO COMPLAIN. I WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS. I WANT TO COLLABORATE AND GET SO GUIDELINES PUT IN PLACE. I JUST DON'T WANT TO STOMP MY FEET AND COMPLAIN. A PROCLAMATION, I MEAN, YOU NEED A STRATEGY. HE HASN'T HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE BECAUSE HE'S TRYING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BUILD A STRATEGY TO MAKE THE CHANGES. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE TALKED ABOUT INTO A MICROPHONE. SOMETIMES YOU ACTUALLY GET
172SOMETHING DONE WHEN YOU KEEP THINGS CLOSE TO YOUR VEST, AND YOU STRATEGICALLY APPROACH IT. SO THIS WHOLLY IDEA THAT NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE EVER DOING SOMETHING OF THE THEY MAY NOT BE DOING IT Y'ALL'S WAY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE THAT AS A PATHWAY TO CHANGE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGES, YOU HAVE GOT TO COLLABORATE WITH PEOPLE, YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE SOME LEVERAGE, BECAUSE COMPLAINING AND LISTENING -- I MEAN, LISTENING TO YOURSELVES SPEAK, THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN TALLAHASSEE. SO THIS, TO ME, IS NOT SOLVING A PROBLEM. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE IS A WAY TO CHANGE YOUR WAY -- OUR WAY OF WORK, AND THAT IS WE HAVE A TREE TREAT
173IN JANUARY. YOU WANT TO BRING PROCLAMATIONS BACK? WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND CHANGE OUR WAY OF WORK. BUT, YOU KNOW, I COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR ANY REASON TO GO OUTSIDE OF OUR WAY OF WORK. I COULD. I COULD MAKE A GOOD ARGUMENT TO DO IT. BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THIS BOARD AGREED TO. IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION. SO THERE'S TWO ISSUES HERE FOR ME. ONE IS THE APPROACH THAT SOME BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO TAKE, OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE BEEN UP IN TALLAHASSEE, WE TALKED FROM THE DAIS, AND I ADOPT AGREE WITH IT. I DO NOT AGREE WITH IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AT ALL. LIKE LEAD THE ROOM, YOU KNOW. AND I DON'T AGREE WITH GOING
174OUTSIDE THE WAY OF WORK. AND I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED. EVERY TIME SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING, THEY GO OUTSIDE THE WAY OF WORK, THEY COME UP WITH RATIONALE FOR IT. I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO THINGS. THERE'S A PROCESS WE PUT IN PLACE SO WE WOULD BE A COHESIVE BORED WORKING TOGETHER. SO I THINK IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT BRINGING BACK PROCLAMATIONS, WE CAN DO THAT IN JANUARY. BUT TO DO IT OUTSIDE OF THAT, I THINK IT'S DISRESPECTFUL. I'M SORRY, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. WE ARE VERY FAR APART ON THIS. THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN OF THE MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERM COMPLAINING AND THE TERM THAT I USED
175WHICH WAS AWARENESS. AWARENESS IS NOT COMPLAINING OF THE AWARENESS IS GIVING THE RIGHT TO EVERY CONSTITUENCY OUT THERE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WE ARE CONCERNED. THAT'S AWARENESS, NOT COMPLAINING. SOAKEDLY, I BELIEVE IF THERE'S ANY TIME IN THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT A PROCLAMATION NEEDS TO BE MADE, IT IS NOW. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING AND EXPERIENCING THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATIONS WE EVEN HAD TODAY THAT OUR FIDELITY OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME AS THIS MOVES ON, WHETHER WE WAIT FOR MORE MARCH, AFTER MARCH. IT'S HAPPENING. SO BOARD MEMBERS, OF COURSE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AGREE. I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY MEMBER HAHN. YOU KNOW, BY THE WAY, YOU AND I HAVE SERVED ON THIS BOARD FOR MANY YEARS AND YOU KNOW I VERY RARELY GO INTO ANOTHER WAY
176OF WORK. WELL, SO BUT AT ANY RATE, I RESPECT RULES AND REGULATIONS SINCE I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER AS WELL. SO HAVING SAID THAT, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A COMPLAINER AND ASKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO BRING FORTH AWARENESS, AND PUBLIC RIGHT NOW IS IN A CRITICAL CROSSHAIRS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: AND MY LAST COMMENT IS WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS GOING TO CLOSE THE ACCELERATED PROGRAMS, WHEN WE WERE GOING TO LOSE FUNDING FOR FAT OR AAP CLASSES, PEOPLE DID SCREAM AND SHOUT OUT AND AWARENESS BEING MADE, AND GUESS WHAT, THAT CHANGED. SO THE FIGHTING IS WHEN THE TIME SESSION, NOT AFTER THE SESSION. WHEN PEOPLE CAME UP, WITH HE PEOPLE WERE AWARE THAT THEIR AP CLASSES WERE GOING TO BE GONE THAT ALL OF
177THE FUNDING WAS GOING TO BE GONE, GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER, THEY CAME TOGETHER, AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT IT. AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED SOME OF THEIR OUTCOME. I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THIS MEANS, THE CO-LOCATION. IF YOU ARE INVOLVED, IF YOU WATCH, I MEN, HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH THESE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS? NOT MANY PEOPLE WATCH THE SCHOOL WORD MEMBERS MEETINGS. I NEVER WATCHED ONE BEFORE I GOT ON THE BOARD. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PAY ATTENTION TO NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS, THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THEY PAY ATTENTION FOR THIS TYPE OF ARGUMENT, AND GUESS WHAT, THEY MAKE PEOPLE AWARE AND THINK IT'S GREAT, IF IT MEANS OUR WAY OF WORK WASN'T PERFECT BUT IT MAKES PEOPLE AWARE THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO
178COOL IN AND TAKE SPACE AND TAKE RESOURCES FROM OUR SCHOOLS, IT'S WORTH IT. I THINK WE HAVE TO TRY EVERY TACTIC RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SITTING THERE QUIETLY IS NOT WORKING. I AM JUST TIRED OF SITTING THERE FOR YEARS AND MAYBE PEOPLE SAY I AM NOT QUIET. AND I DO SPEAK OUT. SURE, I SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I AM JUST TIRED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO EDUCATION. I MEAN, I THINK ABOUT FLORIDA, AND I THINK EVENT LIP WE ARE GOING TO BE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY BECAUSE SO MANY KID ARE NOT GETTING AN EDUCATION. AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT EDUCATION AS A PROFIT WAY OF MAKING THINGS INSTEAD OF REALLY EDUCATING CHILDREN. FOR SOMEBODY FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO ME TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS NOT RIGHT THAT YOU ARE FUNDING ONE AND NOT ANOTHER AND ANOTHER PERSON SAYS
179I DON'T CARE, THAT TELLS ME THEY DON'T CARE. SO LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I PUSH BACK AND THEY ARE AWARE. I THINK THIS IS THE TIME. SHIRE, I DON'T LIKE TO CHANGE YOUR WAY OF WORK BUT TO END OF THE DAY ONE THING WE DON'T HAVE IS TIME. WE ARE GO INTO THANKSGIVING, THEN THEN CHRISTMAS, LET'S PUSH BACK AND SAY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS VERY CLOUDILY CLEARLY SAID WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN THIS CO-LOCATION, WE THINK IT'S WRONG, WE THINK IT DOESN'T HELP STUDENTS AND EIGHTS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE MAKING PROFIT AND NOT EDUCATING STUDENTS. SO LET'S KEEP SAYING THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. Stacy Hahn: I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TWO VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SOLVING PROBLEMS OR TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. NOBODY IS
180SITTING QUIETLY. BUT I HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN YOU, MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER GRAY. MAYBE OATS BOARD MEMBERS WHO WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM, SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. AGAIN, I AM A STRATEGIC THINKER. AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS STRATEGY. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS WAY OF WORK BECAUSE THE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. AND THESE ALL I AM GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. BUT I AM VERY TIRED OF THIS CONSTANT LIP -- A BIG SURPRISE AT THE DAIS. AND IT'S FRUSTRATING, AND IT IS -- IT MAKES THE BOARD LOOK VERY DISACCORDING. SO I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. THANKS. Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR NOT TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROCLAMATION TONIGHT BUT TO BRING BACK TO
181THE NEXT BOARD MEETING APPROXIMATELY LAMBS THAT OUTLINES THE ISSUES THAT MS. GRAY RAISED. IF YOU VOTE YES, THAT MEANS YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF CONSIDERING A PROCLAMATION AT THE NEXT MEETING. IF YOU VOTE NO, IT MEANS YOU ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF CONSIDERING A PROCLAMATION. YOU SHOULD VOTE AT THIS POINT. SO THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL LOOK AT THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING AND PROVIDE A PROCLAMATION THAT REFLECTS THE BOARD'S DISCUSSION AND THE MAKER OF THE MOTION'S --. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN YOU RESET THE BOARD? OKAY. MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: WE'RE JUST DOING CLOSING ARGUMENTS -- CLOSING COMMENTS AT THIS POINT. CLOSING COMMENTS AT THIS POINT. ALL RIGHT. AND ON THE TAIL OF THAT, FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-INS. SOME SCHOOLS
182ARE DOING THEM EARLY BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING REASONS WHICH ACTUALLY ALLOWS ME TO ATTEND MORE, AND I WANT TO SAY WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE IT'S BEEN. I GO IN AND KIND OF DO A PRESENTATION TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS AND SOME HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ABOUT WHAT IT IS TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND THEN THEY BRING FORWARD POLICY AND VOTE ON IT. I HAVE NOTES FOR YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, ABOUT THINGS THAT WILL BE CHANGED. I WANT TO THANK SO MUCH THE SCHOOLS THAT ALLOWED ME TO GO IN THERE. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. I WAS TO SAY AT THE END OF EVERY PRESENTATION AND MOCK POLICY CYCLE I ASK STUDENTS TO RISE -- TO RAISE THEIR HAND IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN BEING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND TWO STUDENTS RAISED THEIR HAND. THAT'S BEEN A
183GREAT EXPERIENCE. I DO WANT TO CHANGE TONE FOR A BIT. UNFORTUNATELY TRAGEDY CONTINUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WARTEN HIGH SCHOOL LOST THEIR THEATER TEACHER, MR. JAMES WARREN. THE COMMUNITY IS VERY DEEPLY SADDENED BY THIS AND I WANT TO SPEAK OUT -- NOT SPEAK OUT BUT JUST MEMORIALIZE MR. WARREN AND ALL HE GAVE TO WHERETOON AND THE THEATER PROGRAM AND SEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THAT COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. I BELIEVE HIS WIFE IS ALSO A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT. I WANTED TO MENTION HIM. ALSO, I WANTED TO MENTION THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED IN YBOR IN BRADLEY AND THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT WE HAD AS WELL AS THERE WAS VICTIM OF A ROAD RAGE SHOOTING RECENTLY THERE. YOU KNOW, AND JUST SEEING THIS UPTICK IN THE VIOLENCE IN
184OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO IMPLORE PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. TO THINK ABOUT THE ACTIONS, TO STOP WITH THE VIOLENCE AND THE DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE. IT'S TAKING A BIG TOLL IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE VICTIMS. I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN REALLY A GRIEVING PROCESS FOR THAT COMMUNITY. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT AS WE DISCUSS ALL THE CHOICES THAT WE'RE MAKING AND THIS GUESSING GAME THAT WE'RE PLAYING WITH OUR COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT PINELLAS IN RESPONSE TO THESE SCHOOLS OF HOPE ARE DOING KIND OF A BIG COMMUNITY LISTENING TOUR WHERE THEY'RE GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR SCHOOLS, AND I KNOW I HAD ASKED YOU IF
185WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE A SURVEY THAT WE SEND OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, JUST GATHERING FEEDBACK SO WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT WIMAUMA IS INTERESTED IN AS FAR AS EDUCATION, INSTEAD OF BOARD MEMBERS HAVING TO GUESS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, OBVIOUSLY IT WON'T BE 100% PARTICIPATION BUT THAT WE HAVE FEEDBACK AND STUFF GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT AS THEY CHANGE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE SO WE HAVE OPINIONS AND FEEDBACK WHEN WE'RE UP HERE MAKING IN THE DECISIONS INSTEAD OF THE RESPONSIBILITY BEING ON US AND OF COURSE MR. FARKAS BECAUSE YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT ALL NOW. AND ON THE LINES OF THAT, I KNOW THIS IS OFF TOPIC BUT I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT IT, DR. PATTON, A SURVEY TO GO OUT TO EMPLOYEES AROUND HEALTHCARE. I KNOW OUR CAMELOTY DOES A GOOD
186JOB AND -- OUR COMMITTEE DOES A GOOD JOB BUT SINCE HEALTHCARE IS CHANGING SO MUCH AND WE HAVE SO MUCH ANXIETY AROUND THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE A SURVEY SENT OUT TO EMPLOYEES. WOULD YOU RATHER A HIGHER COPAY OR MORE ACCESS GET A FEEL FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. SO I WOULD JUST WANT TO OFFICIALLY ASK FOR THOSE TWO SURVEYS. YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF OTHER TO SAY THE HOLIDAYS ARE APPROACHING. IF YOU CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING, I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES WHO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY AND GIVE THEIR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO SUPPORTING OUR KIDS. WE CAN SIT UP HERE TALKING ABOUT OUR SUCCESSES AS MUCH AS WE WANT AND THE STATE CAN TALK ABOUT SUCCESSES BUT IT COMES DOWN
187TO THE EMPLOYEES IN OUR DISTRICT WHO, YOU KNOW, REALLY GIVE THEIR ALL TO OUR KIDS REGARDLESS OF WHAT OBSTACLES ARE PLACED IN FRONT OF THEM. I WANT TO SAY TO THEM, MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE AT THE DISTRICT, I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A PEACEFUL, SAFE, HOLIDAY SURROUNDED BY LOVED ONES AND YOU HAVE TIME TO GIVE GRATITUDE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CELEBRATE. AND I'LL SEE Y'ALL AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU AGAIN. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PABLO, YOU WANT TO SHOW THE FIRST PLEASE? VIDEO? OKAY. WE HAD A CEREMONY NOVEMBER 6. IT WAS ADDING NAMES TO THE WALL. MR. FARKAS, THANK YOU, IT WAS WONDERFUL. WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT -- WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE 900 NAMES ON THE WALL AND CONTINUE TO
188ADD NAMES OF FORMER TIGERS, GRADUATES OF GEORGE S. MILTON HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS REALLY NICE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE ALUMNI -- THE ALUMNUS MR. SMITH IS THE PRESIDENT AND THOSE ARE THE NEW NAMES WE HAVE ON THE WALL. WE HAVE FOUR OTHER WALLS WITH ABOUT 800 OR 900 NAMES. SO ANY FORMER TIGERS OUT THERE, YOU OUGHT TO HAVE THEM PUT YOUR NAME ON THE WALL. PLEASE DO SO. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THANK YOU. THERE WE HAVE THE PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, WHICH WAS GREAT. WE HAD DIANA FISHER WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL AT SHIELDS SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED THE 2025/26 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. WE'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO HER AND THE FACULTY. IT WAS REALLY NICE. IT WAS GREAT. MOVING ON, PABLO, PLEASE. WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, MR.
189TRAVION MITCHELL WHO IS AT TAMPA BAY TECH HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 2021. HE HAS BEEN NAMED THE 25-26 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. BY THE WAY, HE IS THE APA ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ADMINISTRATION. MOVING ON. WE HAVE SOME MORE, PABLO? OKAY. LAST NIGHT, WE HAD THE BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY. IT WAS GREAT OUT THERE. IF YOU SEE THE YOUNG MAN I'M POINTING OUT, HIS NAME IS CISCO AND HE IS REALLY A PHENOMENAL STUDENT. HE REALLY IS A PHENOMENAL STUDENT. AND YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHY. IT'S LIKE, PROFESSIONAL. IT'S PROFESSIONAL. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. WE HAD IT AT THE COUNTY -- THE COUNTY CENTER. IT WENT REALLY GOOD, THE EXHIBITION. OKAY. PABLO? OKAY. AS YOU CAN SEE NOW, THE SAFETY PATROL, THEY HAD A GREAT CEREMONY. MS. BROWN WAS THERE. WE HAD A GREAT CEREMONY INITIATING
190THE STUDENTS TO BE ON THE PATROL FORCE. THEY GAVE ME A BADGE. I HAD IT ON, BUT I DECIDED TO TAKE IT OFF. IT WAS REALLY NICE. AND I HAD NEVER -- I HAD NEVER SEEN IN THE RECENT YEARS, THEY HAVE A CEREMONA WITH THE SAFETY PATROL. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT. IT WAS REALLY GREAT. AND WE'RE GOING TO END IT WITH THE NEXT PICTURE UP THERE. AND I HOPE YOU GUYS RECOGNIZE THAT PICTURE. THAT PICTURE IS FROM 1960, '61. I WAS CAPTAIN OF PATROL FORCE AT CHRISTINA MEACHEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING GUY. YEAH. SO I WAS CAPTAIN OF THE PATROL FORCE. AND AGAIN, MOVING ON. THANKS YOU, PABLO. I WANT TO SAY, HEY. I HOPE WE HAVE A HAPPY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANK Y'ALL VERY MU MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER
191HAHN? Stacy Hahn: MY MIC IS ON. OH, IT'S ON. EVEN IF I DIDN'T DO IT. OKAY. SO, LAST SATURDAY, WE HAD AN EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY FAIR AT ADUM. WE HAD ABOUT 300 PLUS CHILDREN SHOW. AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET FREE BOOKS AND RESOURCES AND IT WAS A NICE MORNING FROM 9:00 TO 11:00. OUR TITLE SPONSOR I WANT TO THANK FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT IN HELPING PURCHASE THE BOOKS THAT WE GAVE OUT, SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION. THEY'RE AMAZING. AND SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THANK THEM. THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH GOOD PARTNERS TO THIS DISTRICT AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THEM TO FIND EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AS IMPORTANT AS WE DO AS A DISTRICT AND A BOARD. I ALSO WANT TO THANK A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN
192THE FAIR FROM WITHIN HCPS. FACE, OUR LITERACY DEPARTMENT, OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY BUS WHICH IS ALWAYS A BIG HIT, K-12 ART. WE HAD TABLES WITH KIDS. THEY WERE ABLE TO DO ART. VPK WAS REPRESENTED THERE. LITERACY, EARLY LEARNING LITERACY, HR WAS THERE WHICH IS GREAT. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH PARENTS WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT. OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIPS, FIDDLER'S WAS THERE. TAMPA BAY UNITED. THEY ACTUALLY DID A BOOK DRIVE FOR THIS EVENT OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND THEN THEY DONATED THE NEW BOOKS TO THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU TO TAMPA BAY UNITED SOCCER. MYON, THEY ALWAYS HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL SUPPORT. THE CHILDREN'S BOARD WAS THERE. SUNCOAST ALSO HAD A TABLE THERE. THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WAS THERE. SENIORS IN SERVICE. THE TAMPA BAY SUN CAME OUT, THE STREET
193TEAM, AND THEY MADE SPECIAL BOOKMARKS FOR THE FAIR. THAT WAS REALLY COOL AND HANDED THOSE OUT TO ALL THE KIDS. UNITED WAY SUNCOAST WAS THERE. WE ALSO HAD A STORYTELLER, PHINEAS LEIGHTON. SHE IS AMAZING. A FACE PAINTER, BALLOON TWISTER, MUSIC, AND I WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE MANY CABINET MEMBERS AND DIFFERENT LEADERS, CHRISTOPHER FARKAS, SHAY McRAE, RICK GRAVES, FOR ATTENDING. AND APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO THANK CHIEF NEWMAN FOR PROVIDING RESOURCE OFFICER. I WANT TO THANK LAURA CROSS FOR COMING OUT FROM COMMUNICATIONS AND TAKING PHOTOS. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PHOTO, THEY'RE ON THE HCPS I THINK FACEBOOK PAGE. AND THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE ALL THESE YEARS, ANN MARIE COURTNEY AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN AMAZING DRIVER AND SUPPORT IN THIS WORK. SHERRY BALLINGER, EUGENE TAVRIS, SHANNON O'CONNOR. I KNOW I PROBABLY
194MISSED PEOPLE BUT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE SUPPORTING AND I FEEL SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE OUR PARTNERS COME TOGETHER TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, I WANTED TO ECHO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES' COMMENTS ABOUT THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS. I KNOW ALL TOO WELL THROUGH MY FAMILY -- MY OWN FAMILY, THE SACRIFICES THAT MILITARY FAMILIES MAKE AND FOR ME, THIS IS A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THESE PURPLE SCHOOLS -- PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS EXIST AND ARE EXPANDED SO THAT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AND PARTICULARLY STUDENTS GET THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED. SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE SCHOOLS ON THAT LIST THAT, YOU KNOW, WORK SO HARD TO GET THAT RECOGNITION OF PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS. IT'S NOT EASY. SOME OTHER GREAT NEWS IN THE
195SAME VAIN, IT'S AROUND MILITARY FAMILIES. THE TAMPA BAY CHAMBER, SOUTH TAMPA CHAMBER, TAMPA BAY DEFENSE ALLIANCE AND THE MACDILL SUPPORT GROUP ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TAMPA BAY REGION HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ABILENE TROPHY WHICH RECOGNIZES THE NATION'S MOST OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO AN AIR MOBILITY COMMAND BASE. AND THE AWARD WAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN IN JANUARY. SO THIS IS WONDERFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT JUST REALLY REINFORCES ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING BETWEEN MACDILL, OUR CHAMBERS, THIS DISTRICT AND MANY OTHER PARTNERS. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THE HARD WORK IS GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED. IT SAYS ONE QUOTE, "THE MACDILL SUPPORT COUNCIL IS HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE ABILENE TROPHY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS OUR COMM COMMUNITY'S ENDURING COMMITMENT TO THE AIRMAN COMMUNITIES AND MISSION
196OF THE AIR FORCE BASE. WE'RE PROUD TO STAND BESIDE THOSE WITH THE DEDICATION THEY SO DEEPLY DESERVE". THANK YOU. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. AND YOU'RE LUCKY ALL OF YOU THAT I FORGOT THE TURKEY HATS I HAD AT HOME BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO MAKE YOU ALL PUT THEM ON FOR A GROUP PHOTO. SO WE WILL HAVE TO DO THAT NEXT THANKSGIVING AND I'LL HAVE TO MAYBE DO SOMETHING CHRISTMAS. BUT I DID HAVE ABOUT 10 TURKEY HATS. WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THANKSGIVING. SO, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY. Y'ALL LUCKED OUT. GO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET. YOU'RE LUCKY TONIGHT. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. WE WERE IN TALLAHASSEE AND I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAVE OUR DISPUTES UP HERE, BUT IN TALLAHASSEE, WE WERE AWESOME. I
197MEAN, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO OUR LEGISLATORS REALLY UP THERE FIGHTING FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FOR FUNDING, MENTAL HEALTH, FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR THIS DISTRICT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR THAT. BUT ALSO, I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THE ROLE OF SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR. I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE -- THAT WE CAN STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. ALSO, IN LIGHT OF -- IN LIGHT OF THE CHALLENGES MANY FAMILIES ARE FACING, THE INCREASED COST OF FOOD, WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THERE WILL BE A FOOD DRIVE. A GIVING THANKS EVENT AT
198OCILLA MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 22 FROM 1:00 TO 4:00. TO SECURE YOUR SPOT, PLEASE VISIT EVENTBRITE -- TO OBTAIN YOUR TICKETS. A TICKET DISTRIBUTION WILL BEGIN NOVEMBER 19 AT 3:00 P.M. KINDLY NOTE THE TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. HOWEVER, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO SECURE A TICKET BEFORE 3:00 P.M. ON THAT EVENT DAY WILL BE -- THERE WILL BE ACCOM ACCOMMODATING WALK-INS IF FOOD BOXES ARE LEFT AND AVAILABLE. SO LET'S COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY A HEARTY THANKSGIVING MEAL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT AQUILLA MORGAN HIGH SCHOOL. THE ADDRESS IS 1712 WEST LAKE DRIVE IN WIMAUMA. AS WE APPROACH THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF MEMBERS.
199YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND POSITIVITY DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING, I WANT TO REFLECT ON THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU ARE IN MY LIFE. AND CHERISH THE MOMENTS OF JOY AND THE GROWTH THAT YOU'VE HAD WITH WITH ME AND THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH YOU. WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY FILLED WITH LAUGHTER, LOVE AND GRATITUDE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A VALUED PART OF NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY BUT OF MY LIFE. HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND BE SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET BACK. AND WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS OVER. ADJOURNED.