001I'M JESSICA VAUGHN. WELCOME TO HRKS THE BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 14 IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IN THE MIDST OF OVERWHELMING SITUATIONS, CARING FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. TAKE A MOMENT TO BREATHE, FIND MOMENTS OF PEACE AND JOY IN YOUR DAY. REMEMBER, IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN NEEDED. YOU ARE RESILIENT, CAPABLE AND DESERVING OF SELF-CARE. TOGETHER, LET'S SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN TAKING SMALL STEPS TOWARDS MENTAL WELL BEING. YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY AND YOUR WELL BEING MATTERS. KEEP GOING, STAY STRONG, AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VALUED AND CAPABLE OF OVERCOMING ANY OBSTACLES THAT COME YOUR WAY. TAKE CARE AND REMEMBER TO BE KIND TO
002YOURSELF. WITH THAT, PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] MEMBER PEREZ, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT? YES, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SULPHUR SPRINGS PK-8 COMMUNITY SCHOOL ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL MARK GALLERRED AND DIRECTOR JAY SINGLETON AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AARON KALABRIZI. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED IT PRIOR TO THE START OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE STUDENTS UP TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. MY NAME IS ERIC. EIGHTH GRADE, I PLAY PERCUSSION. DEMETRIKY, EIGHTH GRADE, I PLAY TUBA. I PLAY THE TUBA. ANTWAN DAVIS, EIGHTH GRADE, LOWER BRASS. MARSHA MARTINEZ AND I PLAY TUBA. IAN GONZALES. EIGHTH GRADE, CLARINET. JEREMY, EIGHTH GRADE, CLARINET. MARTY, EIGHTH GRADE, YOU PHONE YUM. NADIA, EIGHTH GRADE, PERCUSSION. EIGHTH GRADE, ALTO AXE SAXO I'M AN EIGHTH GRADER
003AND PLAY PERCUSSION. LYIA, SEVENTH GRADER AND I PLAY TRUMPET. GAB RIHANNA AND I PLAY -- I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE AND PLAY TRUMPET. AARON, THE ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR. JENISIA, EIGHTH GRADE, TRUMPET. YANI, EIGHTH GRADE, FLUTE. AZARA, SEVENTH GRADE, FLUTE. SI ERA, EIGHTH GRADE, TRUMPET. JAY SINGLETON, DIRECTOR AT SULPHUR SPRINGS PK-8. Chairperson: FANTASTIC JOB. THANK YOU. OKAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. [ VOTING IN PROGRESS ] PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT. LET THE RECORD REFLECT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER RENDON. MINUTES APPROVED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 SCHOOL BOARDS MEETING. MOTION AND SECOND TO AMOVE R PROVE. MOTION BY PEREZ, SECOND BY COMBS. DISCUSSION? VOTES WHEN
004YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. [ VOTING IN PROGRESS ] THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NON-PARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND AND IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Karen Perez: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMATOFF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS ARE IN THE ROOM MIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO
005HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCAST, ON ABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Chairperson: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN 6:00 P.M. EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA TAMPA BAY BUCCAN KREWE AWARD. THE BUCS BEST KREWE PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS RECOGNIZES TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, OVERALL IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BRIAN FORD THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S AWARD RECIPIENTS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AND ALL GUESTS. THANK YOU FOR THE WARM INTRODUCTION.
006I HAVE TO SAY IT EVERY MONTH, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS EVERY MONTH. WE HAVE A TRADITION AT ONE BUC WHERE ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE, AND WITH OUR CURRENT 5 AND 1 RECORD, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THESE HANDED OUT, BUT ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL. WE'LL PRESENT THAT TODAY TO A PRINCIPAL OF THE MONTH, TEACHER OF THE MONTH AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE MONTH. WE CALL IT OUR BEST BUCS KREWE AWARD. WE ARE SO HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS AND RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE OVER AND ABOVE. WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR THESE STORIES. JOINING US FIRST, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BERNARD CANON FROM JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. CONGRATULATIONS. MR. CANON, THESE
007COMMENTS THAT I AM ABOUT TO READ, WHEN YOU HEAR THE STORY, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY THIS YOUNG MAN IS HERE BEFORE US TODAY. JUST TOTALLY GOES OVER AND ABOVE FOR JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. THESE COMMENTS ARE FROM YOUR PEERS, YOUR STUDENT BODY, YOUR FACULTY, AND THE COMMUNITY AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SO, I'M JUST READING THESE. I'M THE LUCKY GUY THAT GETS TO SOUND OFF FOR YOU AND BRAG A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU HERE. THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. MR. CANON IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR WHOSE UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL HAS MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THAT'S COMING FROM YOUR FACULTY. HE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING ADMINISTRATORS IN THE DISTRICT, OFTEN AT WELL WELL BEFORE DAWN, ON WEEKENDS, AND ENSURING BUILDING IS IN A
008SAFE, CLEAN AND READY TO WELCOME 1300 STUDENTS EACH DAY. HIS PRESENCE AND COMMITMENT ARE FELT IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CAMPUS. THAT'S REMARKABLE. AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, NOT ONLY YOUR FULL-TIME JOB, BUT HE'S TRANSFORMED THE STUDENT ATHLETE EXPERIENCE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP AND LIFE-LONG SKILLS. AS THE SPORTS GUY, I APPRECIATE THAT. HIS EFFORTS HAVE OPENED COUNTLESS DOORS FOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. WHETHER OVERSEEING MAJOR DISTRICT EVENTS OR DAILY OPERATIONS, MR. CANON'S RELIABILITY, PROFESSIONALISM AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL MAKE HIM INDISPENSABLE. BELOVED BY STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES AND HE LEADS WITH WARMTH, INTEGRITY AND A GENUINE HEART FOR SERVICE. THAT'S SAYING SOME STUFF HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. HE IS A LEADER WHOSE IMPACT WILL BE FELT FOR YEARS TO COME AND EMBODIES THE VERY SPIRIT OF THE BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. ANOTHER
009BIG TORE STORY HERE. STANLEY GLOVER, TEACHER AT MARSHALL MIDDLE MAGNET. I LIKE THE BUC RED. SINCE 2010 -- THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM YOUR PEERS, COMMUNITY, STUDENTS, EVERYBODY AT MARSHALL MIDDLE MAGNET. SINCE 2010, MR. GLOVER HAS BEEN THE HEART OF MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL MAGNET, GUIDING YOUNG MEN WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES WITH COMPASSION, PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE. THROUGH GENTLEMAN'S REQUEST FOUNDED AT MARSHALL HE BUILT A BROTHERHOOD ROOTED IN LOVE, RESPECT AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS. EXTENDING BEYOND MARSHALL TO PLANT CITY HIGH AND BEYOND. COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESSES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE OPENED DOORS FOR STUDENTS TO SEE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL. THAT'S AMAZING. IN HIS CLASSROOM -- SO NOT ONLY ARE YOU RIGHT THERE -- MR. GLOVER TEACHES MORE THAN ACADEMICS. HE TEACHES HOPE, CONFIDENCE AND CHARACTER. HIS STUDENTS ARE HELD TO HIGH STANDARDS, CELEBRATED WITH THEIR GROWTH, AND SUPPORTED IN EVERY
010WAY, WHETHER THEY NEED GUIDANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT OR EVEN THE SHIRT AND TIE OFF YOUR BACK AND ON TO THEM. THAT'S AMAZING. FOR THAT, MANY FORMER STUDENTS STILL REACH OUT TO THANK HIM, CARRYING HIS LESSONS INTO ADULTHOOD AND GIVING BACK TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER HIM. MR. GLOVER'S PASSION IS UNMATCHED, WEEKENDS OFTEN CREATING EXPERIENCES THAT BROADEN HIS STUDENTS'O HORIZONS. HE TRULY EMBODIES WHAT THE BEST KREWE STANDS FOR, HEART, SERVICE AND THE POWER TO CHANGE LIVES. I LIKE GETTING HIT UP LIKE THAT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, ANOTHER STORY. THIS TIME, OUT OF SEMINOLE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. TIFFANY SI TELO, PARENT, LIAISON AND AID, COME ON UP HERE. ALL RIGHT. HERE'S THE STORY THAT CAME FROM YOUR FACULTY, YOUR PRINCIPAL, YOUR STUDENTS, YOUR STUDENTS' PARTICIPANTS AND FAMILIES. YOU'VE MADE A REALLY BIG IMPACT HERE. THIS IS GOING TO MAKE
011EVERYBODY CRY. TIFFANY IS THE KIND OF TEAMMATE WHOSE QUIET STRENGTH AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION MAKE A LASTING IMPACT, NOT JUST WITHIN OUR SCHOOL WALLS BUT ACROSS THE BROADER COMMUNITY. AS APPARENTLY YEA SON AT SEMINOLE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SHE BRINGS HEART, HUSTLE AND HUE TILT TO EVERYTHING SHE DOES, WHETHER COORDINATING FAMILY OUTREACH, SUPPORTING EVENTS OR BUILDING NEW PARTNERSHIPS, TIFFANY IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP, NO MATTER HOW FULL HER PLATE IS. THAT'S SOME COMMENTS. DESPITE MOBILITY CHALLENGES, TIFFANY SHOWS UP EVERY DAY WITH A SMILE AND SPIRIT AND INSPIRES. HER FLEXIBILITY AND RELIABILITY ARE UNMATCHED AND HER COMMITMENT TO OUR FAMILIES IS DEEPLY FELT. LONG BEFORE STEPPING INTO HER CURRENT ROLE, TEFF ANY WAS ALREADY A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, VOLUNTEERING HER TIME AND ENERGY TO UPLIFT AND SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY. TIFFANY COMEFER SEEKS THE SPOTLIGHT. TODAY YOU'RE
012GETTING IT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. BUT SHE ABSOLUTELY DESERVES IT. THIS NOMINATION IS A TRIBUTE TO HER RESILIENCE, COMPASSION AND TIRELESS WORK TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL AND OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE. TIFFANY DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZE BECAUSE SHE EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE WITH HEART, RESILIENCE AND PURPOSE. HER IMPACT STRETCHES FAR BEYOND HER JOB TITLE AS SHE'S A CONNECTOR, ADVOCATE AND A QUIET FORCE BEHIND SO MUCH OF WHAT MAKES SEMINOLE HEIGHTS FEEL LIKE A COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR KIDS EVERY DAY. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO RECOGNITION OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH, OCTOBER 2025, MEMBER PEREZ WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. IN OCTOBER WE RECOGNIZE THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LGBT
013COMMUNITY. THE MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION COMMEMORATES THE ROLE MODELS AND HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY OF THE LGBTQ+ MOVEMENT IN ASSURING REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF EDUCATING THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE EQUAL PROTECTION OF ALL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ THAT. Chairperson: THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR PEREZ. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE RECOGNITION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL. SUPERINTENDENT AYERS WILL HIGH LIGHT THIS COMMISSION. WHEN I WAS APPOINTED IN JUNE OF 2023, MY PRIORITY WAS TO HAVE A DISTRICT WHERE STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ARE INTEGRAL TO EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL MADE UP OF JUNIORS AND SENIORS OF
014OUR HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS YEAR THREE. THE FIRST GRATE GRADUATING CL YEAR. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT MEETS WITH STAFF, IN SEPTEMBER THEY MET WITH COMMUNICATIONS, GAVE COMMUNICATIONS GOOD FEEDBACK ON AREAS WHERE THEY SEE AS STUDENTS WHERE OUR DISTRICT CAN IMPROVE AND BE BETTER. THEY HAVE BEEN SO BENEFICIAL TO ME AND MY ENTIRE IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN PROVIDING THAT STUDENT VOICE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I HAVE A SHORT VIDEO. THERE ARE 29 HIGH SCHOOLS AND TWO OF EACH SEN YORES, 58 STUDENTS PART OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. IF THEY COULD ALL STAND ONE SECOND AND BE RECOGNIZED. SO, YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM A FEW OF THEM DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. FIVE OF THEM WILL SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. I HAVE A SHORT VIDEO, IF WE COULD PLAY. [VIDEO PLAYING] ALL OF OUR
015HIGH SCHOOLS, JUNIOR, SENIOR, ADVISORY COUNCIL, THIS WAS THE TWO-DAY ORIENTATION FOR THEM TO GET TO KNOW ONE OTHER. THEY HELP ME WITH MY WORK AND THE STUDENT VOICE. WE WERE TALKING A FEW MINUTES AGO REALLY AROUND COMMUNICATIONS AND HOW WE CAN GET BETTER AS AN ORGANIZATION, HOW WE COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATING TO STUDENTS NUMBER ONE. I THINK THIS GROUP WILL HELP US. THAT'S JUST IN SEPTEMBER. SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ADVISORY COUNCIL IS THE GLOBAL ASPECT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT EACH SCHOOL. EACH SCHOOL THE MORE MICRO KOS MS, IF YOU WILL. THE COUNCIL IS THE TRUE REPRESENTATION FOR SCHOOLS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. IN OUR SCHOOL WE TALK ABOUT THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN STAFF AND STUDENTS AND DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE COMMUNICATION. WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET STUDENTS MORE INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING. WHEN WE
016ARE MAKING DECISIONS, WE ARE ABLE TO COHESIVELY COLLABORATE, TO COMPROMISE ON A SOLUTION THAT WORKS NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE WHO THE SYSTEM IS WORKING FOR, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE IS HEARD, WHO MAY NOT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE ADVANTAGE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. AT STRAWBERRY CREST, WE TRY TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY VOICE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS HEARD THROUGH CANVAS CERTIFICATIONS, OR SURVEY JUST TO GET A FEEL OF WHAT EVERYONE IS FEELING AND THINKING. WHAT I LEARNED, I WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO SEE HOW WE CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS TO HIGHER-UPS AND TO DEVELOP CHANGE. I'VE SEEN THAT THE PRINCIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL IS A COUNCIL AT YOUR SCHOOL. YOU CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT CONFIGURING CONFIGURING --
017SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL IS WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER WITH GROUPS FROM I THINK HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN CHANGE, THINGS YOU CAN TAKE FROM OTHER PEOPLE, HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOL AND OTHER PEOPLE'S SCHOOLS. IT'S POSITIVE COMMUNICATION, VERY MUCH SO. YOU'RE ABLE TO VOICE YOUR OPINION AND YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK AND TELL HOW YOU FEEL NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF BUT FOR OTHERS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT EITHER HAVE THE COURAGE OR THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. TRY TO GET A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO COME TOGETHER AND WORK ON POLICY AND PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT THEY THINK WILL MAKE THE SCHOOL MORE OF A COMMUNITY, CREATE MORE OF A LONGING FOR STUDENTS, MORE BUY-IN FOR STUDENTS AND IN THE LONG RUN MORE SUCCESS
018FOR STUDENTS. LAST YEAR THE CHALLENGE WAS TO EVERY SCHOOL, AND WE DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF TRACTION, BUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE SPECIFIC WORK WHERE WE CAN DEFINE WHAT THESE GROUPS DO. WE ARE HOPING BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE CAN SAY AT LEAST HALF OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE HIGH LEVEL FUNCTIONING PRINCIPALS AND CITY COUNCIL WITH VOICES NOT JUST BEING ELETSED BUT RESPONDED TO. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING HEARD, IT'S ABOUT BEING ENGAGED WITH. [END VIDEO] ] SUPERINTENDENT AYRES: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Chairperson: THANK YOU. WELCOME. WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. THE SCHOOL
019BOARD RESPECTS YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE BUT WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE ASK YOU FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP AND TO ENSURE ALL VOICES ARE ABLE TO BE HEARD AND ALIGNED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD WAY OF WORK, THIS AFTERNOON EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MANY MAY FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES ON THE AGENDA. EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD. DON'T DISRUPT SPEAKERS BY CLAPPING OR INTERRUPTING, THAT WAY EVERYBODY GETS TO BE HEARD. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD,
020STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, STARTING WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN 30 MINUTES ARE LEFT, A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND A CHIME. A RED LIGHT AND CHIME WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. GOOD EVENING. ELLA, A SEAN YORE REPRESENTATIVE AT ALONDZO HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES ON THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL WITH YOU TODAY. I WANT TO SHARE THINGS I'VE LEARNED AND HOW THE COUNCIL IS SUCH A GOOD EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR SCHOOL AND WORK TOWARD SHARED OBJECTIVES. ENHANCE PARENT AND STUDENT SAFETY AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS. THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST IDEAS ON PAPER. THE CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT I TRULY HAVE VALUED. I FIRST BELIEVE THAT OUR EXPERIENCES
021MAY DIFFER BUT I SOON DISCOVERED HOW SIMILAR WE REALLY ARE. IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW COMMON STRUGGLES CAN UNIT INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER THEY INVOLVE SCHOOL SAFETY CONCERNS OR STRATEGIES FOR INFORMING AND INVOLVING STUDENTS. MY KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COUNTY HAS INCREASED BECAUSE OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AND I'VE ALSO GAINED EMPATHY, LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS I WILL UTILIZE BEYOND THIS COUNCIL. I'VE LEARNED FROM SERVING ON THIS COUNCIL THAT STUDENT OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT. WE MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS WHEN WE SHARE OUR THOUGHTS, WORRIES AND OUR EXPERIENCES. I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED HOW THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN ADULTS AND STUDENTS CAN RESULT IN REAL-WORLD IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMUNICATION, SAFETY AND THE GENERAL SCHOOL CLIMATE. TO SUM IT UP, SERVING ON THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. IT HAS IMPROVED MY LEADERSHIP ABILITIES, GIVEN ME THE
022CHANCE TO NETWORK WITH PEERS THROUGH HILLS BO COUNTY AND HELPED ME ENAVAILABLE BRING BENEFICIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SCHOOLS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS. I THANK MR. AYERS FOR IFG US THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR HIS CONTINUED COMMITMENT. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, EVERYONE. NOAH JORDAN. I THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. THE SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES IT'S OPENED. I'VE GAINED THE CHANCE TO MEET OTHER STUDENTS. WHEN I FIRST CAME, I THOUGHT I WAS A LEADER MYSELF. PERSONALLY, I'VE LEARNED TO GROW. I JUST WANT TO THANK MS. ERICSON AND MR. VANNERS, THEY SHOWED US THE AMOUNT OF THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO PROTECTING OUR SCHOOL. I'VE DEVELOPED A RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO JUST MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS RUN FLUENTLY.
023THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND DEVELOPED FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL IS SOMETHING I'VE TAKEN WITH ME BACK TO MY SCHOOL. THEY HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS AND, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING MY TWIN BROTHER TO JOIN ME IN THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS INREPLACABLE. I HAVE BEEN ON COUNCILS BUT THE STUDENT-SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, EVERYONE HAS A COMMON GOAL TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IT'S BEEN TRULY BENEFICIAL. I THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S ALLOWED ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND MR. AYERS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS MARGARET AND I'M A PROUD SENIOR AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. GO DRAGONS! THE SECOND YEAR SERVING ON THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL. THANKS
024TO MR. AYERS A JEFFERSON GRADUATE FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD. HE'S A BUSY MAN, YET HE STILL LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY WITH A WARM SMILE ON HIS FACE. BEING A PART OF THIS COUNCIL FOR TWO YEARS HAS TRULY BEEN AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE. IT HAS GIVEN ME THE CHANCE TO BUILD SO MANY MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND TO SEE FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH OUR VOICES MATTER IN SHAPING THE DIRECTION OF OUR SCHOOLS. I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK MS. ERICSON FOR ALL HER EFFORTS AND HOW SHE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT US. HER CONSTANT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAS MADE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HELPING US GROW AS LEADERS AND COMMUNICATORS. THIS EXPERIENCE INSPIRED ME TO BRING WHAT I LEARNED BACK TO MY OWN SCHOOL.
025LAST YEAR WE STARTED OUR OWN PRINCIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE STILL NEW, WE'VE ALREADY BUILT SUCH A STRONG FOUNDATION. SO THANK YOU GUYS. ONE THAT GIVES US A PLACE TO START AND A VISION FOR WHERE WE WANT TO GO. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY PRINCIPAL DR. KENNEDY. SHE CAME THROUGH MIDWAY LAST YEAR AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTING US IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I'M GRATEFUL FOR HER AS WELL. BEING ON THIS COUNCIL SHOWS ME TRUE LEADERSHIP DOESN'T JUST LIE WITH STUDENTS. IT'S ABOUT THOSE WILLING TO LISTEN, COLLABORATE AND SPEAK UP FOR OTHERS. IT OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT ADULTS DO BEHIND THE SCENES AND CERTAIN DECISIONS ARE MADE. LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS. MONTH AFTER MONTH WE'VE DISCUSSED REAL ISSUES AT OUR SCHOOLS AND I'M SO PROUD OF
026THE WORK I'VE DONE THE LAST TWO YEARS. THIS OPPORTUNITY TRULY HELPED ME GROW AS A LEADER AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A PART -- Chairperson: THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF THERE, GOT TO BE FAIR, THOUGH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JAZMINE, SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL AND HONORED TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THE STUDENT SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS MEANT TO ME AND HOW IT SHAPED MY JOURNEY. WHEN I FIRST JOINED SSAC, I CAME IN WITH A GOAL TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT'S VOICE COULD BE HEARD. BEFORE THAT, I WAS A PART OF BRAD NATION, A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON RAISING GRADUATION RATES. THAT EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME THE POWER OF TEAMWORK AND SHARED GOALS. WHEN I WAS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT GEORGE S. MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL AND SSAC,
027SOMETHING INSIDE ME CHANGED. MY PERSPECTIVE WIDENED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT LEADERSHIP WAS ABOUT SPEAKING UP AND REPRESENTING OTHERS. BUT THROUGH SSAC, I LEARNED REAL LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT LISTENING. LISTENING TO THE STRUGGLES, IDEAS AND DREAMS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES MATTER. I REALIZE THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO MAY NOT ALWAYS COME FROM PRIVILEGE OR RECOGNITION, CAN STILL MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE. BEING PART OF SSAC SHOWED ME THAT CHANGE DOESN'T ALWAYS START BIG. SOMETIMES IT BEGINS WITH ONE STUDENT, ONE IDEA, OR ONE MEETING WHERE SOMEONE DECIDES TO SPEAK UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. I'VE LEARNED THAT OUR BACKGROUNDS DON'T LIMIT US. THEY SHAPE US INTO LEADERS, OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES NEED. TODAY, I STAND HERE AS PROOF THAT WHEN YOU CARE ENOUGH TO LISTEN, SPEAK UP AND TAKE ACTION, YOU CAN
028BREAK STEREOTYPES AND OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS. SSAC HAS GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE, THE PLATFORM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE PURPOSE TO KEEP STRIVING FOR A FUTURE WHERE EVERY STUDENT REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES FEELS SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS SIX THROUGH TEN PLEASE LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. BEING PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS TRULY SHAPED ME INTO A STRONGER STUDENT AND A MORE CONFIDENT LEADER. WHEN I FIRST JOINED, I SAW IT AS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY OPINIONS, BUT IT QUICKLY BECAME MUCH MORE THAN THAT. I LEARNED HOW TO LISTEN TO OTHERS' PERSPECTIVES, COLLABORATE WITH STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THE REAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR DISTRICT. THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS, I REALIZED LEADERSHIP ISN'T JUST ABOUT SPEAKING UP, IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING, EMPATHY AND
029FINDING WAYS TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS PUSHED ME TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN MY OWN SCHOOL COMMUNITY. IT'S TAKEN INITIATIVE, CLUBS, PROJECTS AND INSPIRED OTHERS TO USE THEIR VOICES. THE SSAC HAS GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND THE PERSPECTIVE TO LEAD WITH PURPOSE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR HOW IT HAS HELPED ME GROARKS NOT JUST AS A STUDENT -- GROW, NOT JUST AS A STUDENT BUT A PERSON WHO WANTS TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT. I WANT TO THANK MY TEACHER, MY PRISON PALS, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ALL OTHERS FOR HELP US IN THIS EXPERIENCE. Chairperson: GREAT JOB. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. I'M HERE FOR DOBIE ELEMENTARY. WENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NEIGHBORS AT APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY CHOSE K-8 EXPANSION YOU APPROVED IN 2024.
030WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWTH AND NEED ARE JUST AS GREAT. WATERSET STILL HAS 1,500 NEW HOMES TO BUILD AND SEVERAL MULTI-DEVELOPMENT HOMES ALONG BIG BEND ROAD ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY ADDING OVER 1,000 NEW UNITS WITHIN A FEW MILES OF DOBIE. THIS GROWTH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT MIDDLE SCHOOL CAPACITY. WE'VE TOURED EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND APPRECIATE THE IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY AND THE LEADERSHIP'S DEDICATION. BUT EVEN WITH THOSE POSITIVE CHANGES, FAMILIES CONTINUE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS. EXPANDING DOBIE INTO A K-8 OFFERS AN IMMEDIATE, COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION THAT USES EXISTING DISTRICT PROPERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AVOIDING COSTLY NEW CONSTRUCTION. IT PROVIDES STABILITY FOR FAMILIES, SUPPORTS EISENHOWER BY EASING ENROLLMENT PRESSURE AND HELPS THE DISTRICT RETAIN AND RETRACT STUDENTS WHO HAVE LEFT FOR CHARTER, MAGNET OR HOME-SCHOOLING. EVERY STUDENT WHO LEAVES TAKES VALUABLE PUPIL FUNDING WITH
031THEM. BY EXPANDING DOBIE, WE CAN BRING THE FAMILIES AND FUNDING BACK TO OUR DISTRICT. OUR INITIATIVE HAS MORE THAN 1100 PETITIONS, SIGNATURES AND STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT. EXPANDING DOBIE ISN'T JUST ABOUT GROWTH. IT'S A SMART FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THAT STRENGTHENS PUBLIC EDUCATION IN SOUTH SHORE FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. Chairperson: THANK Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. I'M LAURA, I LIVE IN APOLLO BEACH, A MOM OF TWO SCHOOL AGE BOYS, OLDEST 10 IN FIFTH GRADE AND THE YOUNGEST STARTED KINDERGARTEN THIS YEAR. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS MY OLDEST HAS APPLIED TO YORK MAGNET SCHOOL THREE YEARS AND NOT BEEN ACCEPTED. WE WANTED A GOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL TO CHALLENGE HIM AND KEEP HIM EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING. WE HELD OUR BREATH AND HOPED FOR
032A CHANCE. I HAD TO PULL HIM OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AND PLACE HIM IN PRIVATE SCHOOL, SOMETHING I NEVER PLANNED TO DO AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. IF DOBIE HAD A K-8 OPTION, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION. FAMILIES LIKE MINE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SCRAMBLE, PAY THROUGH LOTTERIES OR PAY PRIVATE TUITION TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY MIDDLE SCHOOL. MY 5-YEAR-OLD IS ATTENDING YORK, MY BOYS IN TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WITH TWO DIFFERENT START AND END TIMES AND TWO SEPARATE COMMUTES EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S STRESSFUL, TIME CONSUMING AND NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE CHILDREN. WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND DOBIE AND WANT TO SAY A PART OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. NOW WHEN IT COMES TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, FAMILIES IN APOLLO BEACH ARE LEFT ARE LIMITED OPTION ALSO. EISENHOWER MIDDLE
033HAS MADE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BUT THE EFFORTS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE GROWING COMMUNITY. WE'RE SEEING MORE FAMILIES TURN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS OR HOME-SCHOOLING NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LEAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. EXPANDING PLACES LIKE DOBIE WOULD GIVE FAMILIES TO BUILD ON THE STRONG FOUNDATION DOBIE CREATED. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE QUALITY AND A SENSE OF BELONGING WITHOUT FAMILIES HAVING TO GAMBLE WITH LOTTERIES AND HAVING TO TURN TO OTHER OPTIONS SUCH AS PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF WATSON ACADEMY. I WILL BE READING A LETTER ON BEHALF OF BISHOP JULIA McMILLAN. GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SHE WRITES BEFORE YOU NOT ONLY AS A FAITH
034LEADER IN THIS COMMUTE BUT AS AN AFFECTED CAT FOR THE WALTON ACADEMY, A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS HAS BEEN MORE THAN A PLACE OF EDUCATION, IT HA B A PLACE OF TRANSFORMATION. MEMBERS OF HER CONGREGATION, THE WALTON ACADEMY POUR HEART, HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY INTO THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN. THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN A REFUGE FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, A PLATFORM FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND A PATHWAY TO PURPOSE FOR COUNTLESS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. TODAY, I APPEAL TO THIS BOARD WITH SINCERITY AND URGENCY, PLEASE DO NOT CLOSE THIS SCHOOL. THE ISSUE BEFORE US IS NOT ONE OF EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT OR FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY, IT IS A FACILITY ISSUE. WHILE WE CAN PREPARE A BUILDING, WE CANNOT REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT WILL COME FROM SHUTTING DOWN THIS SCHOOL THAT
035HAS GIVEN LIFE, STRUCTURE AND INSPIRATION TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY. WE DO NOT MINIMIZE THE STANDARDS THAT MUST BE UPHELD. WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS TIME. 90 DAYS TO COMPLETE ANY NECESSARY REPAIRS AND BRING THE FACILITY INTO FULL COMPLIANCE. THE LEADERSHIP, FACULTY, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS STAND READY TO WORK DILIGENTLY DAY AND NIGHT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. LET US FIX THE BUILDING AND IN DOING TO PRESERVE THE LIGHT THIS ACADEMY HAS BEEN FOR TWO DECADES. WE CAN REBUILD BALLS BUT WE CAN'T REBUILD TRUST ONCE IT'S BROKEN. WE CAN REPLACE WINDOWS BUT WE CANNOT REPLACE WHAT THIS SCHOOL MEANS TO THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE TALKED THESE HALLS. I HUMBLY ASK YOU CONSIDER MERCY OVER MANDATE, HOPE OVER HATE AND COLLABORATION OVERCLOSURE. ON BEHALF
036OF THE CATTEN -- Chairperson: THANK Chairperson: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 11 THROUGH 15 LINE UP, PLEASE? AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE ENTHUSIASM BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO CALL UP SPEAKERS WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF APPLAUSE. PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE SO I CAN NAVIGATE THIS AGENDA. THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. YOU MAY BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. TRACY AND I AM A THIRD-GRADE ELA TEACHER AT WALTON ACADEMY. I MOVED FROM NEW YORK TO TAMPA 16 YEARS AGO AND RAISED TWO DAUGHTERS HERE, ONE AT ROBINSON I.B. AND ONE AT UF. I BEGAN WORKING AT WALTON ACADEMY 13 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN MY GREATEST PLEASURE. I HAVE GROWN INTO A CONFIDENT, ACCOMPLISHED TEACHER THANKS TO THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF MY PRINCIPAL, MISS TAMIKA WALTON. OUR SCHOOL PROVIDE MORE THAN AN EDUCATION
037BUT A PLACE WHERE OUR CHILDREN FEEL SAFE AND LOVED. THEY DEPEND ON OUR SECURITY AND STABILITY. WE ARE A FAMILY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. I EMMORE YOU, PLEASE, DO NOT TERMINATE OUR CHARTER. OUR FAMILIES DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS TREMENDOUS LOSS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JANICE BORDEN. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE BECAUSE WALTON ACADEMY PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF ITS STUDENTS AND DESERVES TO REMAIN OPEN. THE SCHOOL IS NOT JUST ABOUT CLASSROOMS AND HALLWAYS, IT'S A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE NOT ONLY EDUCATED BUT CARED FOR. FOR MANY FAMILIES, WALTON IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SEEN, PROTECTED AND VALUED. THE SENSE OF SAFETY ALLOWS STUDENTS
038TO LEARN, AND GROW. THE ACADEMY IS SPECIAL FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO PERFORMING ARTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL TO HELPING STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY AND ACADEMIC SKILLS. THE ARTS GIVE STUDENTS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THEIR ENERGY AND EMOTIONS, HELPING THEM DEVELOP STRONG CHARACTER AND RESILIENCE. WHAT MAKES WALTON TRULY STAND OUT IS THE WAY TEACHERS AND STAFF KNOW THEIR STUDENTS PERSONALLY. IT'S A SMALL CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY WHERE CHILDREN DON'T FALL WILL YOU THE CRACKS. THEY ARE SUPPORTED EMOTIONALLY, ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PARENTS CAN TRUST THEIR KIDS ARE SAFE. CLOSING WALTON ACADEMY WOULDN'T JUST TAKE AWAY A SCHOOL, IT WOULD TAKE AWAY A SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN WHO THRIVE IN THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL THEY BELONG, A PLACE THAT BUILDS NOT JUST SCHOLARS BUT CONFIDENT, COMPASSIONATE, YOUNG PEOPLE. I URGE
039THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT BEYOND THE BUDGET AND THE FACILITIES IN KEEPING THIS OPEN. ONE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY THE KEEPING IT OPEN SUPPORTS GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS' VIEWS FOR PARENTAL SUPPORT IN EDUCATION WHICH THESE PARENTS CHOOSE WALTON AND EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM WHERE FLORIDA RANKED NUMBER ONE IN EDUCATIONAL CHOICE BY GIVING PARENTS RIGHTS AND TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, JUAN HERNANDEZ, HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CONCERNED PARENT WHO WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT. DOBIE HAS BEEN THE HEART OF EDUCATION OF MANY YOUNG STUDENTS IN OUR AREA. AS A COMMUNITY GROWS, DOBIE HAS ADAPTED AND ADDING PROGRAMS AND MAINTAINING ACADEMIC SUCCESS EVEN IN LARGER CLASSROOMS. LEADS WITH A STUDENT FIRST MENTALITY, TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT NURTURE, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE EVERY CHILD. MY CHILD HAD A ACCEPTS OF
040SAFETY, CARING AND CONFIDENCE. TEACHER COMMUNICATION WAS EXCELLENT AND THEY WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH PARENTS TO PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO MOVE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, UNCERTAINTY SET IN ABOUT MAINTAINING THAT SAME LEVEL OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, SUPPORT AND A SAFE NURTURING ENVIRONMENT OUR CHILD HAD ADD DOBIE. MY CHILD ATTENDS EISENHOWER. I DO NOT FEEL SHE IS SUCCEEDING AS SHE DID BEFORE WITH OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS, DISRUPTION ALSO AND A VOLATILE ENVIRONMENT, OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOICES HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGING. SHE NOW SKATES BY WHERE SHE ONCE THRIVED. THOUGH INITIALLY EXCITED TO ATTEND A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, SHE COMPRESSES FEAR IN HER ENVIRONMENT, DISCOMFORT IN THE CLASSROOM, DISABILITY TO LEARN AND HAS BEEN VERBALLY AND PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED. SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO ELSEWHERE. NEVER THE CASE AT DOBIE. WE WOULD HOME SCHOOL OR CHOOSE AN ONLINE
041OPTION BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY RETURN TO DOBIE GIVEN THE CHOICE. RELYING ON A LOTTERY OR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION SHOULDN'T DETERMINE WHETHER A CHILD COULD ACCESS A QUALITY EDUCATION. EXPANDING DOBIE K-8 WILL ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO STAY IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT SUMMITS THEM BEST, ONE THAT BUILDS CONFIDENT, CAPABLE AND COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ASHLEY ANDERSON AND I'M HERE TODAY A PROUD PARENT AND PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR DOBIE. IT'S OUR SECOND HOME. IT'S A PLACE WHERE SHE FEELS SAFE, SUPPORTED AND INSPIRED EVERY DAY. THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY ENRICHING BUT EMOTIONALLY ENRICHING. TEACHERS KNOW THEIR STUDENTS BY NAME, FOSTER INDIVIDUALITY AND KINDNESS. WALTON ACADEMY HAS BEEN A CONSTANT SOURCE OF JOY AND GROWTH WHERE MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED HER VOICE THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS, WHERE SHE LEARNED TO COLLABORATE
042AND BELIEVE IN HERSELF. CLOSING THE SCHOOL WOULD NOT JUST DISRUPT ROUTINES BUT DISMANTLE A COMMUNITY BUILD ON LOVE, LEARNING AND POSSIBILITY. I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. LET'S PRESERVE A PLACE THAT UPLIFTS CHILDREN, EMPOWERS FAMILY AND REFLECTS THE BEST OF WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION CAN BE. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN WALTON ACADEMY. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. RICHARD ATKINS. PROUD HIBLESBORO COUNTY RESIDENT, LONG-TIME COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AND CURRENTLY A CROSSING GUARD AT REDDICK ELEMENTARY. EVERY MORNING I HELP OUR KIDS GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND EVERY DAY I SEE FIRSTHAND THE HEART AND OWL OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS POUR INTO THESE CHILDREN. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE BOARD NEW SCHOOLS OF HOPE RULE. THIS RULE IS ABOUT HOSTILE TAKEOVER. IT ALLOWS PRIVATE CHARTER
043OPERATIONS TO MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EVEN SUCCESSFUL ONES, WITHOUT LOCAL INPUT, AND THEN WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS RULE REDEFINES UNDERUSED IN A WAY THAT MAKES NO SENSE. A SINGLE EMPTY DESK OPENS THE DOOR FOR OUTSIDE OPERATIVES TO MOVE IN. THAT'S NOT JUST BAD MATH, IT'S BAD POLICY. IT IGNORES THE REAL NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE SMALLER KLAS SIZES AND UNIQUE SPACES. WHEN CHARTER OPERATORS GET FREE ACCESS TO BUILDINGS AND SERVICES, OUR KIDS WHO PAY THE PRICE, THAT'S A MONEY TAKEN AWAY FROM CLASSROOMS, TEACHERS AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS LIKE ART, MUSIC AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. SCHOOLS OF HOPE WERE MEANT TO LIFT UP STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES, NOT STRIP RESOURCES FROM THE ONES THAT ARE WORKING. THIS RULE HIJACKS THAT INTENT AND SILENCES THE VOICES OF THE VERY PEOPLE WHO BUILD
044THESE SCHOOLS, WHICH IS US. I URGE THIS BOARD TO STAND UP, SPEAK OUT AND DEMAND THIS RULE BE REVISED. OUR SCHOOLS BELONG TO OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT TALLAHASSEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Chairperson: THANK YOU. CAN I CALL UP SPEAKER 16 THROUGH 20, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER. HOW YOU DOING, BOARD. I WANTED TO COME BASICALLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS AS WELL AS CHRIS VAULKUS, TAKING IT SERIOUS WHEN WE DEAL WITH BUS FIGHTS. I THANK BOARD MEMBER PEREZ FOR DEALING WITH FIGHTS AT SCHOOL, THE INTROS SCHOOL BUSES AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO BRING TO A BOARD, I SEE BOARD MEMBER GRAY STEP OUT, THAT WAS VERY DISTURBING. I REMEMBER COMING TO THE BOARD LAST TIME WITH MY NEPHEW WHO BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION THE
045TEACHER CALLED HIM THE N WORD IN CLASS. BROUGHT IT UP, MADE IT CLEAR TO THE BOARD IT HAPPENED AND NO WORDS, NO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. WHAT I ASKED WAS SIMPLY WE SEND OUT A LETTER TO ALL STAFF AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT LANGUAGE CANNOT BE USED WITH OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL. NOTHING WAS DONE, NO COMMENTS MADE FROM THE BOARD. BUT LAST WEEK, LAST BOARD MEETING I HEARD BOARD MEMBER STACY HAN, LIAM GRAY TALK ABOUT ANTI-SEMITIC AND HOW CONCERNING AND SERIOUS IT WAS. THAT IS SERIOUS, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT'S ALSO SERIOUS TO HAVE A TEACHER LOOK AT A STUDENT AND CALL THEM THE N WORD, THAT'S ALSO JUST AS SERIOUS. IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ONE THING, WE SHOULD BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD AND MAKE SURE NO ONE SHOULD BE
046USING THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE OR RACIAL SLURS ALTOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, MY NAME IS BETSY BRADEN. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT GRADUATED FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR THE LGBTQ HISTORY PROCLAMATION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. I EXPERIENCED A HOSTILE TAKEOVER JANUARY 6, 2023, WHEN THE GOVERNOR DECIDED NEW COLLEGE WAS TOO WOKE. DeSANTIS REPLACED THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THEN THE NEW TRUSTEES FIRED THE SCHOOL PRESIDENT AND APPOINTED DeSANTIS' FRIEND RICHARD CORKCRINE WHILE QUO DRAWLELING THE PRESIDENT'S SALARY. ONE-THIRD LEFT. 6 STUDENTS VACATED AND MY DAUGHTER LEFT FOR THE NORTHEAST. THE NATIONAL RANKINGS AND
047GRADUATION RATES DEVELOPED. THE SCHOOL SPENDS 134,000 PER STUDENT COMPARED TO 10,000 AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES. THE COSTS ARE UNATTAINABLE. MANY BELIEVE THE SCHOOL HAVE TO CLOSE. NOW THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE ARE ADVANCING A HOSTILE TAKEOVER ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF SCHOOLS OF HOPE WAS TO SAVE FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS CIRCLE VENTING THE LEGISLATURE AND SCHOOL BOARDS AND LETTING THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS TAKE OVER OUR THRIVING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FORCED TO PAY THE CHARTER SCHOOL EXPENSES INCLUDING RENT AND BUSING. THIS IS A TROJAN HORSE MEANT TO DESTROY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND GIVE TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE EDUCATION COMMISSION CHARTER SCHOOL FRIENDS. UNFORTUNATELY THE SCHOOL BOARD CANNOT STOP THIS HOSTILE TAKEOVER BUT WE CAN DEMAND CHANGES. MY REQUEST IS TO HOLD A TOWN HALL ABOUT THIS THREAT. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO
048KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR SCHOOLS. PLEASE SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATURES AND TRY TO PERSUADE THEM TO CHANGE CHARTER SCHOOL PROTOCOL ABOUT WHAT SCHOOLS THEY CAN TAKE OVER. I NEED PEOPLE TO CALL THEIR LEGISLATURES AND ASK THEM TO STOP THIS HOSTILE TAKEOVER. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. NAMES IS TAMIKA WALTON AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS A PRINCIPAL AND CO-FOUNDER OF WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. FOR OVER 22 YEARS WALTON ACADEMY SERVED THE COMMUNITY WITH EXCELLENCE DEVELOPING THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY. I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT NOT IN DEFENSE BUT IN CLARIFICATION AND TRUTH. THE CONCERNS OUTLINED BY THE DISTRICT AND STATE HAVE BEEN FULLY ADDRESSED, CORRECTED AND DOCUMENTED. THERE ARE NO ONGOING SAFETY AND
049HEALTH ISSUES AT WALTON ACADEMY. THE CONCERNS FIRST RAISED DURING THE STATE AUDITOR'S VISIT IN THE SPRING RELATED TO DOCUMENTATION OF AFTER-ACTION REVIEWS AND OTHER ITEMS. THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND FILED IN THIS BOOK HERE. REGARDING THE ALERT SYSTEM, WE HAVE RAPTOR. I WANT TO CLARIFY IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY THROUGHOUT LAST SCHOOL YEAR. OVER THE SUMMER, THEY HAD SYSTEM UPGRADES. THIS IS A THIRD PARTY PROGRAM PLATFORM WHICH CAUSED A TEMPORARY ISSUE WHICH THE 911 CENTER DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS ON AUGUST 20th, OUR VERY FIRST LOCKDOWN DRILL. THAT MATTER WAS FULLY REMEDIED ON SEPTEMBER 5, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONDUCTED SUCCESSFUL ACTIVE ASSAILANT DRILLS ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 25th, AND OCTOBER 10. IN ADDITION, ALL MEMBERS OF OUR THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM BOTH NEW AND RETURNING HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING AND REFRESHER COURSES THIS SCHOOL
050YEAR. EVERY DRILL, MEETING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN THIS PARTICULAR BINDER, WHICH REVIEWED BY MAJOR ODAY THIS FRIDAY. THE FIRST TIME SUCH A REVIEW WAS REQUESTED. I MUST EMPHASIZE -- Chairperson: THANK YOU. SORRY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT. ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR FAITH LEADER HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS LETTER IS FROM HAS TORE JARVIS GREEN. A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY. HE IS WRITING THIS LETTER IN FULL SUPPORT OF WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. WALTON ACADEMY IS AND HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY AND SHOULD REMAIN OPEN. I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL'S TEACHERS, FACT IS I AND STAFF AND HAVE BEEN UPLIFTED AND BLESSED EVERY TIME. I HAVE BEEN IN THEIR PRESENCE, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE THE DESIRE OF SOME
051TO CLOSE THE DOORS OF THIS GREAT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. THAT WOULD NOT BE THE BEST SOLUTION DUE TO THE VAST IMPACT THIS SCHOOL HAS MADE AND IS MAKING AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I AM WRITING TO YOU AS A CONCERNED RELIGIOUS LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY AND A PAST PARENT WHOSE DAUGHTER ATTENDED THIS GREAT INSTITUTION. AND NOW IS EXCELLING AS A STUDENT IN A COLLEGIATE PROGRAM. MY DAUGHTER IS EXCELLING DUE TO HER EDUCATION FROM CHARTER INSTITUTIONS BOTH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE. I RESPECTLY URGE YOU NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DECISION TO CLOSE WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. I AM PLEADING THAT THE DECISION TO HAVE THIS SCHOOL REMAIN OPEN IS THE CONCLUSION SO STUDENTS MAY CONTINUE TO BE EDUCATED FOR YEARS TO COME. PLEASE CONSIDER THE FAR-FETCHING IMPACT OF THIS DECISION. THE CLOSURE
052OF WALTON ACADEMY WILL NOT ONLY AFFECT STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PROCESS BUT WOULD ALSO WEAKEN THE SPIRIT OF EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AND BENEFITS TO OUR YOUTH. HUMBLY SUBMITTED, PASTOR JARRIES M. GREEN. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. WHAT A PERFECT STORM. JOHN GREEN. FROM ARTICLE ONE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NAACP COMMITMENT, HEALTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT IN THE FOLLOWING WAILS. ACCESS TO THE FACILITY RESOURCES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, PHONES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THEN IN YOUR BYLAWS, 9700 RELATIONSHIP WITH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, SCHOOLS, FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT MAY NOT BE USED AS A MEANS OF PRODUCING OR DISSEMINATING TO THE COMMUNITY ANY POLITICAL OR ADVERTISEMENT, WHATEVER, WHATEVER. BUT, GIVEN THIS FACILITY, GIVEN THE NAACP, YOUR FACILITY, USE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, BUT YET YOU'RE READY TO CLOSE A WHOLE SCHOOL THAT'S
053DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE? IS THIS THE ARTICLE 8 WHERE THE NAACP CAN'T SHOW UP TO FIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY? THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE? THIS IS WHAT Y'ALL DO, IT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD. YOU FIND WAYS TO MAINTAIN TO KEEP THEM IN THIS SCHOOL BUT YET YOU'RE READY TO CLOSE DOWN A WHOLE SCHOOL WHO'S REALLY PRODUCTIVE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. LET'S BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT. RIGHT. SO, NOW, LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT Y'ALL WAS DOING FOR THE NAACP AND YOU MAKE EXCUSES TO KEEP THEM IN THERE. ONE BLACK VOICE SITS ON THIS BOARD, HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MOVING THE NAACP READY TO VOTE TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL DOWN. Chairperson: THANK YOU. PLEASE KEEP YOUR CLAPPING TO A MINIMUM. PLEASE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY
054LEADERS. FRED TOMLIN, JR. PARENT, BUSINESS OWNER AND LONG-TIME RESIDENT AND CITIZEN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY I URGE YOU TO PLEASE DO NOT CLOSE WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. OVER 20 YEARS WALTON ACADEMY LIVED OUT A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL VISION, CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE WORLD OF EDUCATION. THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER SCHOOL, IT'S A FAMILY BUILT ON THE VALUES OF EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, CARING AND FAMILY, FOUNDED BY SAMUEL AND TAMIKA WALTON, TWO LIFELONG EDUCATORS, PERFORMERS AND BUILDERS THIS ACADEMY WAS BORN FROM LOVE, PURPOSE AND A DESIRE TO GIVE CHILDREN OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, THROUGH DANCE, MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY, STUDENTS AT THE WALTON ACADEMY DON'T JUST LEARN FACTS, THEY DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE. THEY LEARN CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK AND CREATIVIVITY. WHEN YOU WALK INTO WALTON ACADEMY, YOU FEEL IMMEDIATELY THE ENERGY, JOY, SENSE OF
055BELONGING. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN THRIVE IN MIND, BODY AND SOUL. IT'S WHERE ACADEMIC COMPLEPTS MEETS THE PERFORMING ARTS AND WHERE EVERY CHILD IS SEEN AND VALUED. CLOSING THIS SCHOOL WILL NOT JUST END A PROGRAM, IT WOULD END A LEGACY THAT INSPIRED AND UPLIFTED THOUSANDS OF YOUNG LIVES SINCE 2004. THE WALTONS AND THEIR DEDICATED STAFF HAVE POURED EVERYTHING INTO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S NOT ALLOW THAT LEGACY AND HEART TO BE ERASED. I ASKED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO WORK WITH US, NOT AGAINST US. LET'S FIND SOLUTIONS, NOT CLOSURE. LET'S KEEP THE WALTON ACADEMY OPEN FOR THE STUDENTS, FOR THE FAMILIES, AND FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION THAT NURTURES BOTH THE MIND AND THE SOUL. THANK YOU. Chairperson: THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 22 TO 26 LINE UP, PLEASE. 22 TO 26. HI. MY NAME
056IS JAMAR. I AM IN THE THIRD GRADE. I USED TO ATTEND WALTON ACADEMY FOR FIRST AND SECOND GRADE, AND I AM A SCOUT THERE. IF YOU SHUT DOWN WAPA, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO DO SCOUTS AND BROWN CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE THAT MANY SAFE PLACES TO GO. PLEASE KEEP WAPA OPEN. Chairperson: IN RECLAIMING HIS TIME -- I'LL RESTART. I'M GOING TO FINISH MS. TAMIKA'S COMMENTS. I'M J.J.'S PARENT. I WANT TO CONTINUE WHAT SHE WAS SAYING. SHE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT IN 22 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, WALTON ACADEMY NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THEY CONSISTENTED PASSED INSPECTIONS, REVIEWS AND DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES REVIEWS WITH FAVORABLE RESULTS, FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THAT HELPED THEM REPLACE FLOORING DAMAGED BY LAST YEAR'S HURRICANE, DEMOLISH AS UNINHABITABLE BUILDING ON THEIR PROPERTY AND REPAIR AN EXTERIOR GATE
057AND MAKE PROGRESS WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS. THEY ARE SAFE, STABLE, STRONG. THEIR PARENTS AND ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY STAND UNITED BEHIND THEM. THEY ARE TRANSPARENT AND FULLY COMPLIANT. THEY RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU SEE THE FACTS AND HEART OF THE SCHOOL AND ALLOW WALTON ACADEMY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE CHILDREN. I CAME TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS A PARENT. I CAME TO STAND BEFORE YOU BECAUSE CLEARLY WALTON ACADEMY IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL, IT'S A SAFE SPACE. IF THE DISTRICT CHOOSES TO CLOSE OR RESTRUCTURE WALTON, IT WON'T JUST CHING A CAMPUS, JILT DISPLACE STUDENTS, REMOVE JOBS AND IMPACT A LONG-STANDING LEGACY. THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. IF THERE ARE FUNDING CHALLENGES, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BUT FINANCIAL OR LOGISTICAL ISSUES SHOULD NEVER JUSTIFY TERMINATING A SCHOOL THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN REAL CHILDREN'S LIVES. NOT ONLY
058IS MY SON A SCOUT -- WHAT STRUCK ME THE MOST IS MY SON SAID MOMMY DO YOU THINK THEY'LL CLOSE CORNERSTONE DOWN NEXT? OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING, LISTENING AN LEARNING HOW DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. PLEAS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MIKALIN, A SIT SEPTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND MEMBER OF VOICES. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT FLORIDA STATE BOARD'S NEW SCHOOLS OF HOPE RULING 6A-1.099827 WHICH ALLOWS "PRIVATE OPERATORS TO SEIZE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPACE EVEN IN SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO TRANSPARENCY AND NO LOCAL SAY." THIS TAKES AWAY THE POWER OF THE LOCAL CITIZENS AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. IT GIVES CHARTER SCHOOLS THE POWER TO TAKE OVER PUBLIC SCHOOL SPACE THEY DEEM ISN'T BEING USED NOT FOR A DETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME BUT AS LONG
059AS THEY WANT. THAT'S LIKE SOMETHING SOMEONE MOVE INTO YOUR SPARE BEDROOM BECAUSE NO ONE SLEEPS THERE RENT FREE FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT. ACTUALLY, THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING THEM ON TOP OF IT. THE CHARTER SCHOOLS GET EXTRA MONEY FOR EACH STUDENT, MONEY WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR. THE REASON I AM SPEAKING TO YOU THIS EVENING IS TO ASK HOW CAN WE AS CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HELP YOU THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CHANGE THESE RULINGS? WE WANT THE SAME THING FOR OUR STUDENTS AS YOU DO, OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T BE SITTING UP THERE ON THE BOARD. WE ALL WANT THEM TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION AND GROW UP TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. AS TAXPAYERS, WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. SO, PLEASE, CAN WE HELP YOU? CAN WE SEND
060YOU TO TALLAHASSEE TO SPEAK FOR OUR CHILDREN? OR MAYBE WE SHOULD GO WITH YOU. ANYWAY, MY POINT IS SOMETIMES SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CHANGE THE NEW SCHOOLS OF HOPE RULING. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. PETER HORSEMAN. I WANT TO THANK AND COMMENT THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR RECOGNIZING LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH. IT IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT IN THIS CURRENT ERA OF ATTEMPTING TO DEMONIZE AND ERASE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED OR OSTRACIZED ONLY HELPS TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING. NOW AND IN THE FUTURE RECOGNIZING LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH TO ME IS THE SAME AS RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY, WOMEN'S HISTORY AND AMERICAN HISTORY IN GENERAL. THE ONLY WAY WE LEARN
061FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES AND TRULY BECOME A PEACEFUL, LOVING SOCIETY. I WAS 16 YEARS AND A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL IN FORT LAUDERDALE WHEN THE STONEWALL RIOTS OCCURRED. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO LIVE THROUGH THE MODERN LGBTQ MOVEMENT AND BENEFITED FROM IT GREATLY, PARTICIPATING IN IT AS WELL. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT ONE TO HAVE OF ONCE THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN HISTORY, I BELIEVE THIS HISTORY HAS HELPED ME TO BE AN OPENLY GAY MAN AND LIVE A LIFE THAT IS PRODUCTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. I CAN SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT MY LATE HUSBAND, MY BOYFRIENDS, MY ACTIVITIES WITHOUT FEAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU FOR THE HOARD WORK YOU ARE DOING TO SEE THAT CENSORSHIP DOES NOT COMPLETELY ERASE THE HISTORY OF ALL THE MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY. Chairperson: THANK YOU. CAN
062I ALSO CALL UP SPEAKERS 27 TO 31, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER. MY NAME IS LAUREN FOLEY. YOU HAVE A BILLION REASONS TO RECOGNIZE ME. AS A FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE PRINCETON REVIEW FROM NORTHERN FLORIDA,IVE STRONG KNOWLEDGE OF STANDARDIZED TESTING WHICH WAS REFLECTED THROUGHOUT MY STUDENT OUTCOMES FOR 17 YEARS I WORKED FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TODAY, I WANT TO ADDRESS A CONCERNING SHIFT IN FLORIDA'S EDUCATION POLICY. FLORIDA'S SCHOOLS OF HOPE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN PERSISTENTLY LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS, PROVIDING TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM SUCCEED. IT WAS ABOUT ENSURING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RAISING EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR VULNERABLE STUDENTS. HOWEVER, THE RECENTLY-ENACTED RULE *6 A -- AND I WON'T GO THROUGH THE REST -- SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERS THIS INTENTION. RATHER THAN FOCUSING SOLELY ON STRUGGLING SCHOOLS, IT ALLOWS PRIVATE OPERATORS TO CLAIM EXCESS SPACE IN ANY PUBLIC
063SCHOOL REGARDLESS OF ITS PERFORMANCE, EFFECTIVELY TURNING THE PROGRAM INTO A STATEWIDE CHARTER EXPANSION TOOL. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES? IT MEANS THAT HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOLS CAN BE CONVERTED INTO CHARTER FACILITIES WITHOUT LOCAL INPUT, TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS THREATENS OUR ABILITY TO MAKE COMMUNITI' DRIVEN DECISIONS ABOUT OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. EDUCATION SHOULD BE ABOUT EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING ACCOUNTABILITY AND PRIVATIZING STUDENTS' SUCCESS. WE MUST STAND AGAINST POLICIES THAT PRIORITIZE PRIVATE INTERESTS OVER THE NEEDS AND VOICES OF OUR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS. LET'S ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT TRULY SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS AND STRENGTHENS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT WEAKENS THEM. Chairperson: THANK YOU. NEXT GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JULIE GEPHARDT. AND I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS TODAY. MOST OF OUR LIBRARIANS HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY
064ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENTLY MOST OF OUR PROCESSES AROUND OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES COME STRAIGHT FROM THE LAY LEER ASSOCIATION WHICH BUT IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE WEBSITE, BUT NONE OF THE PROCESSES ACTUALLY CHANGED. SO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IS THE LARGEST ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARY WORKERS AND THEY WIELD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER OVER AND A LOT OF INFLUENCE OVER OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES WITH AND ALL ACROSS AMERICA. THEY ARE A CRITICAL ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THEY PROMOTE MARXISM AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS THIS, I CAPTAIN BELIEVE A MARXIST LESBIANS WHO BELIEVE REQUEST AS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE ALA. THIS IS A POLITICAL STATEMENT SHE MADE. SHE WAS OUR PRESIDENT. ANOTHER THING THEY ADVOCATE IS FOR ZERO AGE RESTRICTIONS FOR CONTENT. THEY HAVE A LIBRARY ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY ARE NOT EVEN HIDING IT, A PERSON'S RIGHT TO USE A LIBRARY
065SHOULD NOT BE ABRIDGED BECAUSE OF AGE. SO AND I ACTUALLY HAVE EXAMPLES OF THIS HAPPENING THAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT. TERRIBLE. HERE IS WHAT DEBRA COLDWELL STERN SAID IN THE TRAINING FROM THE AMERICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. ULTIMATELY WE FOUND THAT THE THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN MOST IS SUSTAINED MESSAGING THAT REFRAMES THIS ISSUE THAT TAKES AT WAY FROM THE ISSUE THAT ARE SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR MINORS AND PROMOTE THEM AS DIVERSE MATERIALS AND ARE ABOUT FAIRNESS AND INCLUSION NOR EVERYBODY TO SEE THEIR RIGHT. SHE ACKNOWLEDGES THEY ARE INAPPROPRIATE FROM MINORS BUT WANTS TO TAKE AWAY THAT MESSAGING. THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. DON'T LET THIS BE DONE UNDER YOUR WATCH IN A SANCTIONED ENVIRONMENT OF A SCHOOL LIBRARY AND OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME
066IS ERICA HIX AND I AM THE PARENTS OF A SECOND GRADE STUDENT AT WALTON ACADEMY AND PRESIDENT OF THE TO. MY DAUGHTER CAME TO WALT ONAS A RESULT OF TEACHER NEGLECT FROM ANOTHER HILLS HAD BORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL. SHE HAS BEEN EDUCATED, NURTURED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY STRESS HERSELF. WHEN SHE LEFT HER LAST SCHOOL SHE WAS UNDERPREPARED AND RIDDLED WITH ANXIETY. SHE HUES NOW DISCOVERED HER VOICE AND HER PASSION. IT HAS BEEN THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR HER AND FOR SO MANY CURRENT AND PAST STUDENTS. THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CARE WHERE MORE THAN THE STUDENTS' EDUCATION. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING. TERMINATING WALTON'S CHARTER WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT SO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY BUT ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS. FOR THIS REASON I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT CLOSE WALTON ACADEMY. DOING SO IS NOT IN THE
067BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN. WALTON ACADEMY IS A SECOND LOAM FOR SO MANY AND THE DECISION TO CLOSE IT WILL DEEPLY AFFECT US ALL. IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF ALL STUDENTS AND THE LOVELIHOOD OF EDUCATE OARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YOU WILL ALLOW WALTON ACADEMY TO REMAIN OPEN. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HE SHALLA GREEN AM. I AM THE CHAIR OF WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. SECTION 1.0302.38 C FLORIDA STATUTES PROVIDES THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL MAY BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY IF THE SPONSOR DEMONSTRATES THAT AN IMMEDIATE AND SERIOUS DANGER TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS EXISTS. THAT THE IMMEDIATE AND SERIOUS DANGER IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, AND THAT AN IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF THE CHARTER IS NECESSARY. THERE IS NO
068IMMEDIATE DANGER AS THETOMIES IDENTIFIED HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED, AND ARE THEREFORE UNLIKELY TO CONTINUE. FURTHER, THE ITEMS IDENTIFIED WERE MINOR IN NATURE. THE SCHOOL'S FRONT GATE WITH CARS INTO OUR FRONT PARKING LOT WAS NOT LOCKED. WE HAVE NOW CHANGED OUR PROTOCOLS SO THIS WILL NO LONGER BE THE CASE. AT ALL TIMES OUR CLASSROOMS WERE LOCKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. SAYS SPACES WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY IDENTIFIED IN TWO CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE ENSURED THAT SAFE SPACES ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED. THE DISTRICT LETTER ALSO STATED THAT SPACE SPACES WERE NOT IDENTIFIED IN OTHER ROOMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY USED FOR STORAGE AND THAT USED FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES. YOU ARE VOTING TO CLOGS OUR SCHOOL BASED ON AN ALLEGATION THAT WE DO NOT HAVE PROPER SIGNAGE AND ROOMS FOR STORAGE WHICH IS
069CONTRARY TO FLORIDA LAW. FINALLY, THERE WAS CRITICISM THAT OUR SCHOOL WAS NOT ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE 911 SYSTEM. THESE ARE THE ONLY THREE ITEMS LISTED IN DISTRICT'S NOTICE OF TERMINATION AND ALL THREE ITEMS WERE ADDRESSED BY THE SCHOOL APPROPRIATELY AND WITHOUT DELAY. AGAIN, THERE ARE SEVERAL SUPPORTERS HERE THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE WALTON ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE SPEAKING AND IN SUPPORT OF WALTON ACADEMY. MY NAME IS ROSS HERRUP AND I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. I SERVED ON THE WALTON ACADEMY SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE PAST DECADE. I HAVE BEEN IN THESE CHAMBERS BEFORE AS WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOL OFFICE AND WITH
070THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ENSURE THAT ANY TIME THAT THERE WERE ISSUES THAT WE COULD WORK COLLABORATIVELY. SOMETHING PERPLEXES ME. WHAT IS NOT GOING ON NOW? I CAME PREPARED TO MAKE A NUMBER OF QUOTES ABOUT STATUTES. THEY HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I CAN DO. I WAS READING, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WALTON ACADEMY IS NOT ABOUT LEAVING A LEGACY, IT'S ABOUT LIVING A LEGACY, AND THEY DO THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY. THEN AT ABOUT BEING LIKE A FAMILY, THEY ARE A FAMILY. WE ARE A FAMILY. I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT FAMILY. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE DUE DILIGENCE AND FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE IN PLACE, THAT THE STATE HAS IN PLACE. THAT'S ALL WE NEED. I HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT BOARD WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES
071THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE. WE MET. WE MET WITH YOU FOLKS. AND WE TOOK ACTION. NOW WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION. Jessica Vaughn: CAN I PLEASE CALL SPEAKERS 32 TO 36? NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. ALAN BREWSTER, BOARD MEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT. I WANT TO SAY THIS. I DIDN'T GET THIS FROM A MOVIE AND NO BOOK. AT THE AGE OF 14 I WAS THROWN TO THE CITY, THE STREETS OF DETROIT, FROM 14 STOW 17 YEARS OLD I WAS HOMELESS. AND DEATH WAS ALL AROUND ME OF THE THEN ONE DAY DEATH CAME KNOCKING AT MY DOOR, AND I LOOKED DEATH IN THE EYE, AND THE PERPETRATOR PUT A GUN TO MY HEAD, AND I SAID DO IT. THE PERPETRATE OR TOOK THE GUN FROM MY HEAD AND SHOT THE BULLET IN THE GROUND AND I WILL SAY THIS, GOD
072HAD A GREATER PURPOSE FOR ME, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE. I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS. THE LEADERSHIP NEED TO HOLD THE PRINCIPALS, THE TEACHERS, THE STAFF, THE DISTRICT PEOPLE, TO A HIGHER LEVEL. STUDENTS SHOULD GET A HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION WITH NO NEGATIVITY, HIGHER. THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE TEN TIMES BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. THE STAFF, THE TEACHERS, PUSH BACK FROM CHANGE. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. YOU CAN'T STOP CHANGE. IT'S UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE PEOPLE UNDER HIM TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE TO A HIGHER STANDARD, AND TEACHING EDUCATION. WHY ARE YOU IN EDUCATION IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT AT A HIGH LEVEL? THESE KIDS, THE PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS
073TO LEARN AT A HIGHER LEVEL. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIRMAN, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TRULY DECISION APPOINTED TO AGAIN SEE ON YOUR AGENDA YOU DO A RECOGNITION FOR THE LGBT HISTORY MONTH. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. FIND THAT -- THAT'S NOT QUITE TRUE, BUT I FIND THAT IT INTERESTING THAT YOU DID A MONTH IN JUNE, AND YOU HAVE DONE A MONTH SOMEWHERE ELSE IN HERE FOR A SIMILAR TOPIC. HOWEVER, YOU DON'T DO RESOLUTIONS ANYMORE, WHICH DOES NOTE GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT, NOR DOES IT HOLD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR VOTE AT THE TIME WHEN YOU DO A RESOLUTION. SO IT CONTINUES TO BE BUSINESS AS USUAL, INDOCTRINATION INSTEAD OF TRUE EDUCATION. YOU SWORE TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION BOTH THE U.S. AND THE FLORIDA.
074YOU DO NOT, MOST OF YOU DO NOT. YOU SWORE TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. MOST OF YOU DO NOT. TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NOT INDOCTRINATE THEM. YOU CHOOSE NOT TO. AND YOU CONTINUE TO FUEL THE DIVED BETWEEN STUDENTS BY FOCUSING ON THE FEW RATHER THAN ON VALUES THAT FOR THEM AS A WHOLE. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T FOCUS OR RECOGNIZE ALL INDIVIDUALLY. SO DON'T RECOGNIZE JUST A FEW. FOCUS ON FATHERS, MOTHERS, FAMILIES, VALUES AND OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE BOARD THAT BENEFIT ALL CHILDREN. STOP THE MAN MADE DIVIDE AND DISCRIMINATION OF SELECT GROUPS. PLEASE SPEAK TRUTH ABOUT ALL THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD BE SPEAKING TRUTH ABOUT ANYWAY. TO CLOSE, I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THERE IS NO RECOGNITION TODAY OF A NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE DAY FOR CHARLIE KIRK WHO DID AND DOES SPEAK
075TRUTH AND WAS NOT AFRAID TO BE DIFFERENT. Jessica Vaughn: PLEASE HOLD YOUR COMMENTS WHILE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR FEW MINUTES. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME IS ABBY RUPIN. OF COURSE HERE ON BEHALF OF WALTON PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL. I WAS THERE WHEN IT FIRST WAS FOUNDED, SO I AM ONLY GOING TO SPEAK ON IT, I AM ALREADY QUITE SURE YOU HAVE THE SECTION AND ALL THAT STUFF. I JUST WANT TO PUT A FACE TO THE ACTUAL SCHOOL. I HAVE MY DAUGHTER HERE WITH ME THAT ATTENDED WALTON PERFORMING ARTS AS WELL AS THREE OTHER KIDS, NOW MY GRANDKIDS, WALTON PERFORMING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ABOUT WALTON PERFORMING ARTS IS THE INTI MASSEY STOW BE ABLE TO DROP MY CHILDREN OFF WITH THE SAME FACULTY, MAJORITY OF THE SAME FACULTY AS WHEN
076MY CHILDREN ARE ADULTS, WHEN I GIVE THEM IN THE CALL IN THE MORNING THEY KNOW ME BY NAME, MR. RANDOLPH, MS. WARNER, ALL THESE DIFFERENT TEACHERS THAT HAVE THE FACILITY THAT WAS THERE WHEN MY DAUGHTER AND NOW MY GRANDKIDS ARE THERE. I KNOW JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL THAT WE JUST FINISHED OUR WORLD FINEST CHOCOLATE SO THE KIDS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR GLOW PARTY. WE HAVE A SKATING PARTY IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR THE KIDS, A FAMILY NIGHT AT THE STATE MARINA. MRS. GREEN GOING TO KILL ME. THEN WE HAVE A FALL FESTIVAL TO THE KIDS. HOW DO WE EXPLAIN TO THE KIDS THAT WE CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE THAT, THAT THE SCHOOL IS NOW CLOSING? SO I DID HEAR SOMEBODY SAY THAT IT WAS 90 DAYS AVAILABLE OR SOMETHING LIKE
077THAT, THAT YOU CAN VOTE ON THAT AND GIVE US TIME TO GET THE SCHOOL IN ORDER AND I JUST WANT TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO LEAN MORE TOWARDS NOT CLOSING BUT GIVING US MORE AN OPPORTUNITY OR A CHANCE TO GET WHATEVER YOU GUYS NEED AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, TO BE FIXED AND RECTIFIED. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS TANEZIA OF WALTON ACADEMY. I AM ONE OF THE FEW STUDENTS THAT STARTED OUT WITH THAT SCHOOL. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I NOTICE WHEN WE TALKED, IT WAS A SHIFT IN ENERGY COMPARED TO DIFFERENT TOPICS. THAT SCHOOL MAY BE WHO I AM. I AM AN HONOR STUDENT. MRS. YUKA IS ALSO. MY MUSIC TEACHER MR. RANDALL WALTON. MRS. ONEY OF THE I CAN TELL YOU EVERY TEACHER I HAD FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.
078MY DAUGHTER, SHE CURRENTLY ATTENDS THAT SCHOOL. SHE STRUGGLED WITH READING AND MATH. AND TEACHER MS. HOLMES, SHE STAYED WITH MY DAUGHTER FROM 5:30 TO 6 P.M. TO MAKE SURE WHEN THEY WENT TO THIRD GRADE SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO RETAIN. WE HAVE THOSE TEACHERS THERE IN THAT PLACE THAT MAKES EDUCATION WORTHWHILE. THERE AREN'T MANY SCHOOLS THAT'S GOING TO -- WE HAVE SMALL CLASS SIZES, INTIMATE, THAT CAN FOCUS ON EVERY SINGLE NEED THAT WE NEED. AND I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU NOT CLOSE THE SCHOOL. I AM LIVING PROOF THAT SCHOOL WORKS REGARDLESS OF IT MAY LOOK, THAT HEART AND THAT SOUL IS THERE. AND I HOPE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU REALLY TAKE YOUR TIME AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING IF YOU CLOSE THAT SCHOOL DOWN. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
079NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEX QUINTO AND SERVE AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR TAMPA BAY SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS PROGRAM. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THIS BOARD FOR RECOGNIZING LGBT HIS TRY MONTH, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN FEAR AND CONFUSION CONTINUE TO SURROUND EFFORTS IN EDUCATION. AND YOUR RECOGNITION SENDS A CLEAR AND POWERBALL MESSAGE THAT EVERY STUDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DESERVES TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED, EXPECTED, AND CELEBRATED IN THEIR SCHOOLS. LGBT HISTORY MONTH IS MORE ABOUT HONORING THE PAST, IT REMAINS US THAT VISIBILITY SAVES LIVES. AS OUR STATE CONTINUES TO CREATE UNCERTAINTY AND LOCAL LEADERS LIKE YOURSELVES ARE BEING ASKED TO WALK AN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT LINE, HILLSBOROUGH TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO RISE ABOVE POLITICS AND LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, EMPATHY, AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO EVERY CHILD'S SAFETY AND SUCCESS.
080RECOGNITION LIKE THIS TRULY MATTERS, AS A FORMER SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, A LOT OF US SHOULD LOVE DATA, AND DATA FROM THE TROUBLE PROJECT AND STUDENTS THAT FEEL HAY FIRMED AT SCHOOL ARE LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE BULLYING OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. IT IS LIFE SAVING. HILLSBOROUGH HAS LONG BEEN A MODEL OF LEADERSHIP IN THE STATED AND YOUR RECOGNITION OF LGBT HISTORY MONTH CONTINUES THAT TRADITION. IT SHOWS THAT COURAGE STILL EXISTS IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND THAT COMPASSION STILL LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ON THIS BOARD. NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO SHOW UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE SHOWING UP FOR US, SO I THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP FOR ALL STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS AND FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A PLACE WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN WITH DIGNITY, PRIDE AND BE
081THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS MARGARET OYHNEY SPEAKS TONIGHT AS BOTH A TEACHER AND PROUD PARENT AT WALTON ACADEMY. OUR SCHOOL HAS SATURDAY AS MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING, IT'S BEEN A CORNER ZONE OF THIS COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES. GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE WALKED THROUGH OUR DOORS AND FOUND TEACHERS WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, BELIEVE IN THEM AND PUSH THEM TO ACHIEVE MORE THAN THEY EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. AS A TEACHER, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW DEEPLY OUR STAFF HAS VESTED EVERY SINGLE STUDENT. WE KNOW OUR FAMILIES. WE BUILD REALSSHIPS THAT LAST AND MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE. THAT KIND OF IMPACT IS IMMEASURABLE, IS EVIDENT, LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM AT THE FAMILIES WE HAVE HERE TODAY TO
082SUPPORT US. AS A MOTHER I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY CHILD FEELS SAFE, SEEN AND SUPPORTED HERE. LIKE ANY OTHER PARENT I WOULD NEVER SEND MY CHILLED TO A SCHOOL I THOUGHT WAS UNSAFE. WALTON IS A SAFE SCHOOL. WE HAVE DILIGENTLY MADE THE CORRECTIONS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DISTRICT AND STATE, AND WE DESERVE TO STAY OPEN. CLOSING THE SCHOOL WOULD DISRUPT THE LIVES OF THE STUDENT, FAMILIES AND DEDICATED TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT INVESTED THEIR HEARTS, TIME AND HOPE INTO THIS PLACE. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN LEARN WHO THEY ARE AND WHO THEY CAN B&B BECOME. CLOSING OUR SCHOOL WILL NOT JUST BE A DECISION ON PAPER. IT WILL BE A LOSS FOR EVERY FAMILY, EVERY CHIMED AND TEACHER WHO HAS POURED INTO THIS SCHOOL. PLEASE ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
083PLEASE KEEP WALTON ACADEMY OPEN. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. I AM CINDY RICHARDS AND A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT. I ONLY HAVE ONE EXPERIENCE WITH A CHARTER SCHOOL AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU TONIGHT. THAT ONE EXPERIENCE WAS A DUMPSTER FIRE, THEIR FANCY SALES pH WAS OVER, BUT WITH DREAMS OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING, PARTNERSHIPS WITH NASA, SCIENCE BASED CURRICULUM, I DID US YOUR CHILD AND WOHL OPEN THEIR WORLD. WE FELL FOR IT. NONE OF THAT WAS DELIVERED. THE DAY THEY WELCOMED OUR CHILDREN, THEY DIDN'T HAVE PHONES, INTERNET, OFFICE FURNITURE OR OUTDOOR SPACE FOR OUR ELEMENTARY CHILDREN TO PLAY IN. THE BUILDING WAS INACCESSIBLE TO PARENTS, AND CHILD WAS LOCKED INSIDE, NEGLECTED AND ABUSED BY BOTH STAFF AND STUDENTS. THERE WAS ABSOLUTE CHAOS AND WE HAD NO
084IDEA WHAT WAS GOING OPEN. AFTER WE FINALLY REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING WE SHIFTED OUR LIVES AND JOB TO PROTECT OW CHILD. WEEKS AFTER THEY CALLED ME, ASKED WHY MY CHILD WAS ABSENT THAT DAY. THEY HADN'T MISSED HER FOR WEEKS. SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT, THIS SAME SCHOOL WAS SUPPORTING A HUGE BANNER BRAGGING THAT THEY WERE AN A-RATED SCHOOL. THAT IS WHY OVERSIGHT IS ESSENTIAL. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE IS THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEFORE AS A PARENT. I AM NOT SAYING ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE LIKE NAVIGATOR. SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NEEDED AND SERVE COMMUNITIES WELL AS IS OBVIOUS TODAY. I AM JUST SAYING WE NEED TO ENSURE LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY EQUALLY IN EVERY SCHOOL THAT RECEIVES A PENNY OF OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS. PLEASE HEAR
085ME WHEN I SAY IN GENERAL, WE CANNOT CAPITULATE TO THE STATE OR FEDERAL OVERREACH. STOP HANDING OUT BLANK CHECKS TO CORPORATIONS AND TRUST THEY HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART. THEY DON'T. PLEASE PUSH BACK ON THIS AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR COMMUNITY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 37 TO 42 LINE UP, PLEASE? NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEANI HUNT AND I AM THE PARENT OF THREE STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE REALITIES FAMILIES FACE WHEN NAVIGATING SCHOOL CHOICE AND FROM FOR CONSIDERATIONS QUESTION DISCUSSING EXPANDING CHARTER SCHOOLS, SCHOOL CHOICE TO INCLUDE SCHOOLS OF HOPE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENTS WITH IEPS, AND GIFTED LEARNERS. WHILE TRYING TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING MY FAMILY WAS SOLD ON THE IDEA
086THAT IN ORDER TO HELP OUR CHILDREN WE JUST NEEDED TO FIND THE BEST CHARTER SCHOOL OR INVEST INTO A PRIVATE SCHOOL. I AM HERE TODAY ADVOCATING FOR INVESTING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND I AM DOING THIS BECAUSE THESE OPTIONS WERE NOT GOOD FOR OUR FAMILY. AND THE REALITY IS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK FOR MANY FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IN MOST CASES THESE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES OR SUPPORT THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF SOME OF THE GIFTED LEARNERS. THESE MODELS OFTEN LACK THE REFLECTION HE IS ACCOUNTABILITY THAT SUB SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE. IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING SCHOOL CHOICE AND ACTUALLY SITTING WITH LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I HAVE LEARNED THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE, WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ACCESS AND EQUITY. WALTON ACADEMY SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR ITS
087COMMUNITY, AND I COMMEND THEM FOR THAT. AND CHARTER ARE SCHOOLS MIGHT BE GREAT FOR SOME FAMILIES, BUT FOR MANY IT'S NOT A CHOICE, IT'S A PRIVILEGE. NOT EVERY PARENT CAN DESIGN THEIR DAY AROUND DROP OR OR PICKUP TIMES WITHOUT COMPROMISES STABILITY. NOT EVERY FAMILY HAS MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES. DIVERTING ANY RESOURCES FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDERMINES OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS STUDENTS WITH LIABILITIES. I URGE YOU TO TAKE THIS MESSAGE FORWARD AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF 50,000 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS ONE OF THEM IN POVERTY AND 30 WHO ARE DISABLED LEARNER. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LOWENA. FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING LIABILITY Q PLUS HISTORY MONTH, THE PROCLAMATION IN JUNE WAS NOTICED AND TODAY'S RECOGNITION MATTERS BECAUSE
088IT SHOWS THE BOARD LISTENS TO AND RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. THE PROCLAMATION NEXT UPWILL BE ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL GIVEN THE CONCENTRATION OF OUR LOCAL PRIDE TELEVISIONS. ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS A PROCESS PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY. HE WHEN THOSE PROCESSES AREN'T FOLLOWED IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT OTHER SAFEGUARDS MEANT TO PROTECT STUDENT RIGHTS MIGHT BE DISREGARDED NEXT. WHICH BRINGS ME TO WHAT I AM MOST VARIED ABOUT. MY CHILD DEPENDS ON, HE'S INCREDIBLY BRIGHT. HE RECENTLY TESTED TWO GRADE LEVELS AT MATH. HE SUCCEEDS BECAUSE OF THE SMALL CLASSROOM SIZE, THE ONE OPEN ONE SUPPORTS, THE SERVICES AND THE TRAINED STAFF PROVIDED THROUGH HIS SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASS. THAT'S WHY I AM TERRI FADE BY THE FEDERAL REDUCTION CUTS. LATELY, I SEE T-PACKS,. HE BUILD INDEPENDENCE, LIFESTYLES, SOCIAL CONNECTION, HE'S PREPARED FOR ADULT HAD, BECOME A BRIGHT MEMBER
089OF THE COMMUNITY. ON THE OTHER THE BURDEN SHIFTS TO FAMILIES LIKE MINE. HE'S LEFT OUT, HIS INDEPENDENT MORE UNCERTAIN. I AM ASKING THIS BOARD FIGHT. NOT PLEASE PROTECT LOCAL OVERSIGHT NO MATTER WHAT. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE CONNECTED. WHEN INTERNAL CONNECTION STUDENTS RIGHTS TO LEARN BE SUPPORTED THROUGH A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION, THIS BOARD'S DUTY IS TO PROSTATECTOMY THEM. YOUR DUTY IS TO PROTECT STUDENTS, NOT THE STATE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI NAME IS HE LEAN A BELLER, TEACHER LAST YEAR AT WALTON. THIS YEAR I WAS RECENTLY TERMINATED SO TODAY I AM HERE TO STATE MY TRUTH. I APOLOGIZE TO THE KIDS WHO MAY HAVE TO BE SHIFTED AROUND, BUT I AM ASKING FOR WALTON ACADEMY TO CLOSED. IST SEVERAL VIDEOS AND THE SCHOOL BEING IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS. LAST YEAR THE HURRICANE CAME
090ON SEPTEMBER 24 AND MESSED UP THE FLOORS. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER 2025 AND IT WOULD BE FIXED BEFORE THANKSGIVING, THEN COMING BACK IN JANUARY. ANOTHER NOTE TO THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. IN NO ACTION IS TAKEN. WE ALSO RECEIVED DONATIONS AND WAS ON THE NEWS TONIGHT. THE PRINCIPAL DID NOT HAVE TIME. SHE COULD NOT USE FEMA PAYMENT BECAUSE SHE NEEDED DAYS FOR THE SCHOOL TO DRY. I WALKED INTO MY CLASS THE FIRST DAY OF ORIENTATION. I SAW SEVERAL RAT DROPPINGS. NO OTHER SAFETY MEASURES WERE TAKEN BESIDES PUTTING RAT TRAPS ON THE ROAD WHERE KIDS WOULD BE TAUGHT. SO THE FLOOR IS NOT DONE. THERE ARE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE WALL WHICH ALLOW ANIMALS TO COME IN. NO CERTIFIED NURSES. AFTER BEING MOVED OUT OF THE CLASS, THE CEILING WAS LEAKING. THE
091ROOF NEEDED TO BE FIXED. THE CEILING WAS LEAKING LAST SCHOOL YEAR. THE SCHOOL BECAME A STORAGE ROOM INSTEAD OF BEING FIXED. THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS ON THE PLAYGROUND, THE BUILDING HAS RUSTY NAILS, WALTON ACADEMY HAS NOT BEEN SAFETY: OVER A YEAR FOR THINGS TO BE FIXED IT SEEMS THE MAIN FOCUS IS TO TAKE CARE WITH THE MONEY. WITH THE SCHOOL CLOSING IT PROVIDES SOMEONE TO COME IN AND RECONSTRUCT THE ENTIRE CAMPUS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS SO THAT WE CAN HEAR ALL THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. PLEASE TAKE THAT OUTSIDE. MY NAME IS AVA AND I AM HERE TODAY -- VIEW VAUGHN CAN YOU STOP THE TIME, PLEASE? ARE WE HAVING SECURITY OUT THERE? SECURITY IS OUT THERE? OKAY. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. CAN YOU RESTART HER
092TIME, PLEASE? THANK YOU. MY NAME IS AVA. AM HERE TODAY TO TALK WITH SCHOOL LIBRARIES. I'M RECENTLY I WAS READING A REPORT BY PAN AMERICA WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SAID THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAD TEMPORARILY REMOVED 608 TITLES FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY SHELVES. THAT MEANT THAT OUT OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, BOOK BANS BEAT ENEN ONLY BY SAN ANTONIO. IN MY OWN LIBRARY, I CANNOT ACCESS IN MY OWN SCHOOL LIBRARY, CANNOT ACCESS CERTAIN PIECES OF LITERATURE, BECAUSE LAWMAKERS OR THE BOARD HAS DECIDED IT WOULD MAKE US UP COMFORTABLE. BUT THE THING IS ART IS DESIGNED SOMETIMES TO MAKE US UNCOMFORTABLE. YOU CAN'T PROPOSE STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND SHIELD THEM FROM MY DISTORT SUCH AS SEXUALITY. IT'S NOT PREPARING THEM FOR A FUTURE THAT IS DIVERSE, NO MATTER HOW MANY PARENTS PROTEST AGAINST THAT. AND MAYBE THESE
093WERE VOTED FOR BECAUSE OF FUNDING FOR MY DISTRICT, BUT A NATIONAL REPORT, ARE PARENTS GOING TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD IN THE DISTRICT AS GOVERNOR DESANTIS POLITICAL PAWNS? AND I DOESN'T SIMPLY TALK ABOUT THE SEXUALITY OR THE RADICALS IDEALS. I AM TALKING ABOUT STEVEN KING WEEKS 61 HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM SHELVES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PUT BACK ON FOR REVIEW. HE'S WRITTEN IT 8 IN TOTAL. THAT WHY IN BECAUSE OF HAVE I LENT CONTENT? IN WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SENSELESS BRUTALITY SHOULD WE COVER THEIR EYES WHENEVER THE NEWS COMES ON? I DOUBT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A TON OF CHANGE IF I AMENS HONEST. BUT I DO REALLY IMPLORE YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHER STUDENTS TO CONSIDER THE EFFECT OF THESE BOOK BANS, NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY BUT ON THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES. THANK
094YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MS. WILLIAMS. I AM BEING SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A PARENT. AND I AM TALKING FOR WALTON ACADEMY. I AM WRITING YOU TODAY WITH THE CONCERN AND HEARTFELT URGENCY REGARDING THE PURPOSE OF CLOSING WALTON ACADEMY PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL. AS A PARENT WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE WALKED WITHIN WALTON WALLS, I URGE YOU TO ALLOW THEM TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE. WHILE IT IS A VERY BIG AND IMPORTANT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT IS NORTHERN JUST A SCHOOL, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO GROW, EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS. PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, I AGREED WITH WHAT THIS PARENT ARTICULATE WITH YOU GUYS BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT A COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS REALLY FAMILY. FOR ME, I
095AM THE DANCE TEACHER AT WALTON ACADEMY AND I HAVE TRULY FOUND MY PURPOSE BEING AT THIS SPACE AMONG THIS COMMUNITY. THIS IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE JOB, THAT I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE BEING A PART OF AND JUST EXPERIENCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN. AS THEY CONTINUE TO GROW, AND FIGURE OUT THEIR LIVES AFTER. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY SCHOOLS THAT ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERFORM ARTS STILL OUT THERE, NO MATTER WHAT. WE REALLY MAKE SURE, YOUR DREAMS DO NOT STOP THERE. WE MAKE SURE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHY THE SCHOOL IS ALLOWING THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW AS WELL THAT IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT THAT THESE KIDS CONTINUES TO SEE THEIR FUTURE AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU.
096NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS KALA AND I AM THE PROUD PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO STARTED. AS A PARENT ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF RELOCATING WAS R A NEAR OF NOT FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL. WHEN WE FOUND WALTON THOSE FEARS WERE PUT TO REST. THE STAFF AND STUDENTS MADE US FEEL LIKE FAMILY. JASON ADJUSTED TO HIS NEW SCHOOL AND LIFE WITH EASE AND HAD TO DO WITH THE LOVING, CARE AND CONNECTED AT WALTON. THIS IS NOT JUST A SCHOOL. IT'S A COMMUNITY. IT'S A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN ARE LOVED. LEARNING IS JOYFUL AND WHERE KIDS ARE SAFE TO BE THEMSELVES. EVERY DAY I KNOW MY SEASON IS SAFE AND BEING CHALLENGED AND ENCOURAGED. WALTON ACADEMY GAVE MY SON A SMOOTH HAPPY TRANSITION DURING A BIG LIFE CHANGE AND
097GAVE ME PEACE OF MIND KNOWING MY CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT HAND. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO ROW REQUEST CLOSING WALTON ACADEMY. IT IS ROOTED IN LOVE AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE. I KEN ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE THE SCHOOL 90 DAYS FOR ANY NEEDED ADULTS. MY SON ALSO WROTE SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO READ FOR HIM. HE SAID, TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, WALTON ACADEMY IS SUCH A GOOD SCHOOL. I LEARN A LOT EVERY DAY AND HAVE FUN WHILE I AM AT IT. I MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS. ALSO, WALTON ACADEMY GIVES KIDS THAT PUSH THAT SOME NEED. WALTON SEAMED GREAT SCHOOL SO IF IT'S GOING DOWN IT'S NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. SHUTTING THE SCHOOL DOWN ALSO CAN CAUSE STRESS TO FIND A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
098IT ALSO MAY CONCERN TEACHERS, PARENTS, FRIENDS AND STUDENTS. SINCERELY, JASON. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT. I KNOW YOU GUYS TIRED SO I AM TRYING TO GET THROUGH SO YOU CAN GET TO YOUR FAMILIES. I AM DAVID, A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EDUCATOR AT SLIGH MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL TEACHING THEM SOME, BUT I CAME FROM A SCHOOL WALT OWN ACADEMY. WALTON ACADEMY PREPARED ME AS A TEACHER TO GO INTO OUR CLASSROOMS AS A DISTRICT AND DELIVER HIGH INSTRUCTION AND HIGH STANDARDS AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS. AS WELL AS I FEEL THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO WALTON ACADEMY AND BE TRAINED AND TAUGHT AND GIVE EXPERTISE ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO GO IN THE CLASSROOM AND DELIVER ON A DAILY BASIS. WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH BEHIND ALL OF
099THESE THINGS. WALTON ACADEMY HAS THIS A FAIRLY GRADE AT BEING THE ONLY SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, LIKE HAVING A BLACK GUY. THAT BLACK GUY IS HARD TO HAVE BUT THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING. MANY SCHOOLS HAD TO GO THROUGH THESE SITUATIONS AND THEY HAVE HAD FAVOR AN GRACE AND MERCY IN THE PATHS. AND A SCHOOL LIKE WALTON ACADEMY, A CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, IT IS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX. I AM WILLING TO GO INTO SCHOOLS LIKE WALTON ACADEMY AND GIVE MY EXPERTISE AND GIVE FREE TIME AND HELPING THE STUDENTS AND HELPING THE SCHOOL GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF MEN TO GIVE THEY'RE BACKBONE TO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE PHYSICALLY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOL. WE
100KNOW AS CHARTER SCHOOLS FINANCES ARE LOW. THEY DON'T GET ALL THE SUPPORT ONE MY NEED, TO FIX THINGS AS CLASS TICK OR AS QUICK AS IT CAN. BUT WE DO KNOW IFS HAPPENING. WALTON SEAMED IS A FAMILY, A STRUCTURE, A VESSEL FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, STUDENTEN LEANMENT AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER AND ALLOW WALTON ACADEMY TO MAKE THE CHANGES NEEDED. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NOW THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. HOW FARERER WE ARE GOING TO MIGHT HAVE VOTE FOE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENT. I KNOW IT'S STARTING A LITTLE EARLY BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE HERE. SO I WILL NOW TAKE STUDENT EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4
101P.M. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD THROUGH YOU CHARGE UNION REPRESENTATIVE, PHONE CALLS, ONE STOW ONE CONFERENCES. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTLING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT A SPECIFIC AGENDA ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB IN THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND I WILL NOW CALL UP OUR ONE SPEAKER. I'M CHRIS FROM GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, HEAR TO RAISE A CONCERN
102REGARDING ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY THE LIMITATIONS TEACHERS ARE FACING WITH THE FOCUS SIM. IN OUR PREVIOUS SYSTEM, AT CONNECT, NOT MENTIONING GINNERGY, TEACHERS HAD THE ABILITY TO SELECT FROM SCHOOL BUSINESS, EXCUSED ABSENCE, AND EXCUSED TARDY, AND THERE WAS A FLEXIBLE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED US TO SHEN ACCURACY. UNFORTUNATELY THE DISTRICT HAS DECIDED THAT THE TEACHERS WOULD NOT HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND FOCK. THEY DECIDED THAT ONCE THE OFFICE ENTERS THE ATTENDANCE, WHETHER SIGN OUT, SIGN IN, OR EXCUSED ABSENCE, TEACHERS ARE LOCKED OUT FROM MAKING ANY EX-CORRECTIONS. THIS HAS LED TO A NUMBER OF SERIOUS ISSUES. STUDENTS THAT ARE MARKED ABSENT WHO ARE SITTING IN MY CLASS I CAN'T CORRECT. STUDENTS WHO ARE MARKED PRESENT WHO ARE OUT ALL DAY I CANNOT K.NO WAY TO FIX SIGN IN OR SIGN OUT ERRORS MADE BY STUDENTS
103AT WHICH OFFICIAL. I CANNOT CORRECT THAT. THESE IN ACT SUCCESSIS REQUIRE CONSTANT ATTENTION WITH THE ATTENDANCE CLERK THE MAIN OFFICE, SEWING THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. WHILE ATTENDANCE IS PART OF MY JOB, MY JOSH IS TO TEACHERS THIS KIDS AND I USE EVERY TINGLE MINUTE YOU GIVE ME TO DO THAT. SO JUST THIS WEEK, I HAVE ALREADY SENT MULTIPLE E-MAILS, AND IT'S TUESDAY, ABOUT ERRORS. AND I STILL AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO ALL OF THEM. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REAL. THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR LOSE PRIVILEGES BECAUSE OF ATTENDANCAN AND MARKED TARDIES THAT MAY BE AREN'T. TEACHERS ARE HELDABILITY ARE FOR ATTENDANCE BUT I CAN'T CORRECT IT. AND THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE FT -- FUNDS BECAUSE A
104TENDONS IS NOT CORRECT. AND SPEAKING OF FTEs, THERE'S USUALLY A DOCUMENT I HAVE TO SIGN EVERY COORDINATION OFFICE AND MARCH WHERE I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE ATTENDANCE TAKEN IS ACT YOU ARE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. AT THIS TIME I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SIGN ANY FTE FORM THAT IS ME SAYING THAT I CAN TELL THAT IS CORRECT. I KNOW IT'S NOT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE DISTRICT TO CONSIDER REINSTATING TEACHER ACCESS TO ATTENDANCE, WHICH FOCUS DOES HAVE AGAIN THE DISTRICT DECIDED NOT TO. ALLOW US TO HAVE THE ATTENDANCE CORRECTIONS OR IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY AND ACCURACY. OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF DESERVE BETTER. AND JUST, I SENT AN E-MAIL WITH THIS SAME INFORMATION LAST WEEK AND I RECEIVED NOTHING BACK. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. OKAY. THE FOLLOWING
105ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 202, C 301, 202, SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATION THAT CHARTERRALITY WALTON ACADEMY BE TERMINATED PURSUANT TO 100233 FLORIDA STATUTES. SUPTERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ITEM. DID WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA? Jessica Vaughn: I'M SORRY. WE NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOVING ONTO THE CONSENT AGENDA OF THE. Van Ayres: SO JUST FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, I WANT THE BOARD AND PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY, THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH MEMBER GRAY BEING AWAY WHERE THE DAIS. WE WILL NOW MOVIE TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. C 202 AND C 301. 202, SUPERINTENDENT
106RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CHARTER AT WALTON ACADEMY BE TERMINATED PURSUANT TO 100233 FLORIDA STATUTES. SUPTERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, THE SUPERINTENDENT, MY HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY SOME TO ENSURE THE SAFETY, WELL-BEING FOR EVERY STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHEN DESPITE OVERSIGHT AND IMPROVEMENT, WE MUST ACT SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS. IS PURSUANT TO SECTION FLORIDA STATUTES I RECOMMEND THE IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF WALTON ACADEMY'S CHARTER DUE TO DOCUMENTED AND ONGOING DEFICIENCIES THAT MOWS AN IMMEDIATE AND DANGERROR IS USE DANGER INCLUDING INADEQUATE SUPERVISION, UNSAFE FACILITY CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REQUIRED SAFETY PROTOCOLS DESPITE PRIOR DISTRICT OVERSIGHT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION. I DO HAVE OUR CHIEF SECURITY CHIEF GNOMON WHO IS HERE AS WELL. IF YOU CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILS, PLEASE. BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. TO GIVE YOU
107SOME CONTEXT, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF INSPECTIONS THAT WERE BORNE OUT OF THE TRAGEDY AT MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS IN 2018 AND THE SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION. THERE IS AN INSPECTION DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND THE STATEN RESPECTERS HAVE TO COME TO OUR SCHOOL SITES AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 36 MONTHS AND AN INSPECTION IS DONE BY MY DEPARTMENT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND WE HAVE TO TOUCH AULD OF OUR SITES AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. DIMLY WE HAVE TO TEST EVERY ONE OF OUR ALISSA SOLUTIONS HERE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT 23578 WITH ALISSA LAW, A LISS WHAT WAS KILLED IN BUILDING 12 AT STONE MAN DOUGLAS. HER MOTHER CHAMPIONED SOME LEGISLATION. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS A VENDOR WE WERE USING WAY BEFORE ALISSA SO WE WERE FINE. WHEN THE STATE
108PASSED THAT LAW MANY OF OUR CHARTERS HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT THEY COULD SELECT FROM OR THEY COULD HAVE SELECTED THE VENDOR THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY USES, IN THIS CASE, WALTON ACADEMY USED ANOTHER VENDOR THAN WE USED. WE HAVE TO THEFT THOSE. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT VENDORS WE TEST FOR ALISSA'S LAW. ALISSAS LAW HAS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS, ONE A SILENT PANIC ALERT. IT'S DONE FOR ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY, TO CUT DOWN RESPONSE TIMES SO WE KNOW THE QUICKER YOU GET TO A THREAT THE QUICKER YOU CAN MITIGATE IT. IT ALSO ALLOWS THE SCHOOL TO PUT ITSELF INTO A LOCKDOWN PROTOCOL IN CASE YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE ASSAILANT ON YOU'RE CAMPUS. THAT'S THE ELEMENTS OF ALISSA LAW. THIS WEEK WE RECEIVED SO CORE RESPONSE ABOUT THE STATE INSPECTIONS THAT THEIR ORDER DID. WHEN WE
109DO A DISTRICT INSPECTION, WE PUT THOSE FINDINGS INTO WHAT'S CALLED A FLORIDA ASSESSMENT TOOL. EVERY PRINCIPAL HAS ACCESS TO THAT COOL OF THE IT GOES IN THERE. WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. WE TELL THEM WHAT OUR FINDINGS WERE. WHEN THE STATE DOES AN IN SPOKES AND THERE'S A COMPLIANCE ISSUE, THAT SITE'S ADMINISTRATION HAS TO DO A CORRECTIVE ACTION FORM. THAT FORM IS THEN UPLOADED INTO THAT EXACT SAME PORTAL. MOVING BACKWARDS, THIS PAST FRIDAY, AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION FROM THE OFFICE OF SAVE SAFE SCHOOLS IN TALLAHASSEE, MAJOR OY DAI, MY TEAM, WENT TO WALTON ACADEMY. THEY WERE QUICKLY ABLE TO PULL INTO THE CAMPUS. THE GATE WASN'T LOCKED WHICH GAVE YOU ACCESS TO THE EXCLUSIONARY ZONE OF THE CAMPUS. WHEN THEY CAME ON THE CAMPUS, THERE WERE KIDS PLAYING IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PLAYGROUND AREA, BUT
110THE FACULTY MEMBER ASSIGNED TO WATCH THEM WAS SITTING UNDER A PAVILION. THERE WERE SEVERAL CLASSROOMS IN THAT IN PECKS RESPECTS THAT THEY DID ON FRIDAY THAT STILL HAD NOT HAD THEIR HARD CORNERS EITHER MARKED OR THEY WERE CLUTTERED. NOW THOSE HARD CORE THAT WE PROVIDE TO EVERY SCHOOL MIGHT SEEM MINOR, BUT I SUBMIT TO YOU, THE 14 STUDENTS THAT LOST THEIR LIFE, 2018, WOULD TOTALLY ARGUE WITH YOU. THAT IS A SERIOUS AND BASIC ELEMENT OF THE MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS PUBLIC SAFETY BILL. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY TIME WE HAD ISSUE WITH THE HARD CORNERS. EVERY TIME MY FOLKS HAVE GONE OUT THERE, EVERY TIME THE STATE HA GONE OUT THERE, INCLUDING LAST SPRING, WHEN THE FACULTY ADMINISTRATION ADMITTED THAT TEN OF THEIR CLASSROOMS DID NOT HAVE THE HARD CORNER MARK AND THEY WERE GOING TO KNICKS
111IT IMMEDIATELY, FRIDAY WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL CLASSES THAT HILL HAD NOT EITHER HAD HARD CORNER MARK OR THERE WAS CLUTTER INSIDE. SO WE WERE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS JUST BY TURNING INTO THE PROPERTY. WE ALSO HAD A GATE THAT FACES -- THEY HAVE TWO GATES. THEY HAVE ONE GATE, TWO FENCES. THE GATES HAS A GIANT HOLE IN IT. A PERSON MY SIZE WITH WALK THROUGH. THAT'S A VULNERABILITY ISSUE. THAT WAS ADDRESSED BACK IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE STATE DID THEIR AUDIT. THESE SMALL THINGS IN THE AGGREGATE ARE FREQUENT AND NOT COMPLIANT. THE ISSUES THAT MR. GIB SEASON PROVIDED TO THE ACADEMY IN THE LET EVERY TALKED ABOUT THE HARD CORNERS BEING MARKED, NO CLUTTER BEING IN THERE, AND ABOUT THE ALISSA LAW. ALISSA LAW SHOULD BE SPIT. SECONDS MATTER. WHEN MAJOR OY DAY WAS OUTSTEER CAMPUS
112ON FRIDAY, THEY ASKED TO SEE IF IT WAS WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTEGRATION TO THE PIECE APP, THE 911 CENTER, IS NOT THE ONLY PART OF ALISSA'S LAW OF THE PRINCIPAL COULD NOT ACCESS THE VENDOR'S APPLICATION ON PER SPOKEN FOR EITHER CELLULAR OR WI-FI OR OTHER TECHNICAL ISSUES. SHE HAD TO GO TO HER OFFICE AND USE HER LAPTOP. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN THE INTEGRATION HAPPENED. BUT I SUBMIT TO YOU, AN ACTIVE ASSAILANT ISN'T GOING TO WAIT FOR US TO GET TO A LAPTOP TO ACTIVATE ALISSA'S LAW. THERE HAVE BEEN DISTRICT INSPECTIONS AT WALTON ACADEMY AND STATE INSPECTIONS THAT ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT I HAD CITY A LOT OF THE SAME I AM CONSISTENT COMPLYING ISSUES. THERE IS MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT. I THINK MR. PORTER WILL
113PROBABLY KEEP MI ME IN MY BOUNDARIES ABOUT WHEN I CAN TALK ABOUT IN AN OPEN FORUM WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY MEASURES BUT MY COMMENTS ARE WHAT THE STATE SENT THE ELEVENTHER ON THURSDAY AND WHAT MR. GIBSON SENT TO THE ACADEMY ON THIS WEEK. Van Ayres: ON OUR AGENDA ITEM, YOU DOUGH HAVE THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME FOR THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR THE OFFICE OF SPACE SCHOOLS, AND ALSO ULTIMATE SEE FOR THE RECORD OUR RESPONSE BACK TO THE OFFICE OF SAFE SCHOOLS, WHICH INCLUDES RECOMMENDATION FOR AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING. SO I WANT TO READ INTO THE RECORD THOSE TWO ITEMS. AND MR. PORTER. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, YOU ARE HERE ZA BECAUSE OF A SECTION IN FLORIDA STATUTES THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TERMINATE A CHARTER IMMEDIATELY IF CERTAIN CRITERIA ARE MET. I WANT
114TO READ YOU THAT STATUTE SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL UNDERPINNINGS FOR TONIGHT'S AGENDA ITEM. THIS COMES FROM THE STATUTE THAT MR. AYRES REFERENCED 1,002.33. A CHARTER MAY BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY IF THE SPONSOR AND THE SCHOOL BOARD IS THE SPONSOR OF THE CHARTER SETS FORTH IN WRITING THE PARTICULAR FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES DEMONSTRATING THAT AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS EXISTS, THAT THE IMMEDIATE AND SERIOUS DANGER IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, AND THAT AN IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF THE CHARTER IS SNAER. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT. HE SENT A LETTER OUT TO THE CHARTER LISTING WHAT THE ISSUES ARE FROM A HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE PERSPECTIVE, YOU HAVE THE LETTER FROM THE STATE AND YOU HEARD TESTIMONY FROM YOUR CHIEF OF SECURITY JOHN NEWMAN. THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO
115BASING YOUR DECISION ON TONIGHT. THAT AND ONLY THAT'S AN IMPORTANT LEGAL ELEMENT. THE OTHER PART OF THE STATUTE REQUIRES A REQUEST FOR A HEARING WITHIN 10 DAYS SO THEY WILL HAVE A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE. YOUR ONLY JOB TONIGHT IS TO REACT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION. AND IF YOU FIND BASED ON WHAT HE'S PRESENTED TO YOU THAT THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE OF THE STUDENTS, YOU SHOULD VOTE TO TERMINATE. IF YOU DON'T FIND THAT, THEN YOU CAN GO AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION. BUT THAT'S THE LEGAL UNDERPIN INNINGS OF YOUR DECISION MAKING. AND WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 202. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ, A SEND BY
116DR. HAHN. I DON'T KNOW WHO PULLED THIS BUT IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE. ANY DISCUSSION, PLEASE GET IN THE QUEUE. Karen Perez: SO I HAVE A QUESTION. THE STUDENTS WHO -- THIS IS A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO BE MOVED TO PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOLS? Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. AND MR. MYRRH LOW, WITH THAT BEING A POSSIBILITY WITH THE VOTE TONIGHT, MR. MYRRH REALLY -, IF YOU COULD STALK TO SOME OF THE SCHOOLS FOR PERFORM ARTS ANDATES AS. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING IN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL THE FAMILIES, GENERAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMUNICATINGS OFFICE BUT ALSO THE CHARTER OFFICE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING TRYING TO CONTACT EACH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY, AND IF THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY GET THEM, TRYING TO GO THROUGH
117E-MAIL TO GET THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO A FEW OPENINGS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE FAMILIES. ONE IS ACTUALLY OF COURSE THEY HAVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL THAT WE PROVIDE HERE IN THE DISTRICT. WE ALSO HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ACTUALLY PUT CHARTER SCHOOL IN WHICH THEY ARE MENDENHALL, OAK GROVE, SEMINOLE HEIGHTS AND BROWARD. BUT ALSO IF THEY STILL, THAT DOESN'T FACILITATE THEIR NEED DEPENDINGOS DECISION MADE TONIGHT, IT'S OPEN FOR PLACEMENT TO ACTUALLY FACILITATE ANY PLACEMENT FOR THEM. WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERFORMING SCHOOL I COMMUNICATED WITH THE SHORE ELEMENTARY WILL BE AVAILABLE IF THAT'S THE NEEDS AND WISHES OF THE FAMILIES AS WELL. AND THOSE TWO MULLER AND SHORE ARE TWO MER FORMING ARTS MANAGER NETS, OPEN FOR CHOICE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE STUDENTS. FOR ME IT'S A LARGE NORMALLY THE STATE
118IS VERY PRO CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND WHEN THEY SEND A LETTER SKAG FOR THE CLOSURE OF ONE,. WHEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S BEEN SO MANY MASS SHOOTINGS AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. WHEN WE LEAVE A SCHOOL OPEN FOR THAT, TO ME, THE PROTECTION AND THE SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST TO ME. AND WHEN WE DON'T ACT IN THAT REAL WILL, WHEN WE DON'T MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL IS PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CALL OR GET A SIS TAN TO THE STUDENTS IN TIME, THAT FOR ME IS A PROBLEM. THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I DO APPLAUD THE COMMUNITY FOR SPEAKING FOR THEIR EXPERIENCES. THAT WAS VERY, VERY HEARTFELT. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGER PICTURES -- BY THE WAY, MEMBER PEREZ, WHEN WE
119TALK ABOUT SAFETY, IF YOU HAVE WATCHED THE STONE LAN MAN DOUGLAS SHOOTING YOU WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN APPALLED OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SOMEONE GETTING INSIDE THE SCHOOL SO QUICKLY, SO EASILY. AND THAT ALONE SHOULD REMIND ALL OF US THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB AT LEAST FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. BUT THAT TOO, THE COMMUNITY, WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT WHERE THOSE STUDENTS GO, THE CHILDREN, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PERFORMING ARTS, FOR EXAMPLE, MULLER AND SHORE, DO WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION? YES. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. WE DO. TRANSPORTATION WOULD BE INCLUDED FOR MULLER AND SHORE, AND ADDITIONAL SCHOOL AT WHICH THEY RESIDE IN. Lynn Gray: AND BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE EXCELLENT IN THE PERFORMING AS WES. I THINK THE BICKER PICTURE IS
120THE LACK OF OVERSITE AND ACCOUNTABILITY NOT ONLY TO THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL BUT TO MANY OF OUR CHARTERS. WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THOSE VISITS, YOU REMEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE HAD TWO VISITS AND OVERSEE THEM. NOW WE ARE DOWN TO ONE. SO THERE'S A TREMENDOUS GAP OF WHAT PART DO WE HAVE AS A DISTRICT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON VISUALLY. SO THERE'S A BIG DISCONNECT. BUT WHEN WE HAVE OUR CHIEF SHARE THE MATTER OF SAFETY, LACKING SAFETY, THEN I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, AGREE WITH MEMBER PEREZ THAT I STAND FAST. CHILDREN ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCTS THAT -- RESOURCES THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY -- WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM SAFE. AND THAT'S NUMBER ONE. SO THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS
121TODAY TO SPEAK AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE SECURITY AND SAFETY, THE SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES AND THE FRONT GATE, THE HARD CORNERS. OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL FOR STUDENTS IS SAFETY. OUR SECOND GOAL IS ACADEMICS. AS SOMEONE WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND I GREW UP IN POVERTY, WHEN I MAKE A DECISION, AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THINGS IN THIS DISTRICT, I ALWAYS CONSIDER STUDENTS FIRST. THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN. IT'S NOT THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM. IT'S NOT THE COMMUNITY. IT'S THE STUDENT. HOW DOES THE CHILD BE ABLE TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE AND NOT HAVE GENERATIONAL POVERTY? WHEN I LOOK AT THIS SCHOOL WALTON ACADEMY, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CLOSING IT FOR SAFETY, BUT I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS. WE HAVE 236 SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY,
122AND NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT DOESN'T HAVE ADMINISTRATION BACKGROUND OR TEACHING BACKGROUND. SINCE 2004, THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN RUN BY SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE AN EDUCATION BACKGROUND. LAST WEEK WHEN I SPOKE TO MS. WALTON SHE TOLD ME SHE MADE $89,000. NOW, LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS. HER FACT DATA, ACADEMICALLY 90 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT READING ON LEVEL. ONE OR TWO. KINDERGARTEN, 82% BELOW LEVEL. FIRST GRADE, 90% BELOW LEVEL. SECOND GRADE, 1% BELOW LEVEL. FROM THAT, 90% IN K. FIRST GRADE, 90% IN SECOND GRADE. 81%. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CERTIFIED TEACHER. AND YOU GAVE ME THE AUDIT AND I LOOKED AT THE AUDIT. PABLO, IF YOU WILL SHARE THAT AUDIT UP HERE. IF YOU WILL PASS THAT AROUND. I LOOKED AT THIS AUDIT. 877,000 WAS SPENT IN INSTRUCTION. YOU ONLY SPENT
123280 FOR TRAINING. THE BOARD MADE $58,000. THE GENERAL ADMISSION AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TOGETHER, NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. YOU SPENT $486,000 ON THE ADMINISTRATION, AND ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT FOR TEACHERS? THE OPERATION OF THE PLAN, $222,000 AND WE CAN'T FIX THOSE FLOORS? COMMUNITY SERVICE, 30,000? AND INTEREST DEBT SERVICE 26,000. LAST NIGHT, AS I LOOKED AT YOUR LEASE AGREEMENT, THIS IS WHAT I FOUND. NEXT PAGE, PABLO. YOUR HUSBAND IS THE LANDLORD, AND 12,233 IS SPENT EVERY MONTH FOR THIS FACILITY. THIS IS SO MUCH GREATER TO LOOK AT THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE READING BELOW LEVEL, AND THE ONE PERSON THAT'S NOT BENEFITING IS STUDENTS. THIS IS SHAMEFUL. SINCE 2004 THE GRADES HAVE GONE UP AND DOWN AND ALMOST ALWAYS IT'S A D OR F. SO FOR ME I AM CLOSING THE FACILITY BECAUSE OF SAFETY, BUT MY
124CONCERNS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BREAK DOWN LIKE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THREE OTHER CHARTERS FOR THE AUDITS FOR THEM. THREE OF THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BREAK DOWN IN ADMINISTRATION. WHEN I SEE ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS SPENT, AND NOT HAVE FACILITIES OR THE BOOKS, I WANT A BREAKDOWN FROM YOUR AUDIT. I SPENT HOURS LAST NIGHT LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE PAGE IN THE AUDIT. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE FUND BALANCE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE OPERATION OF PLANT $222,000, WHERE IS THIS MONEY? WE HAVE TO DO BETTER FOR STUDENTS. THE IDEA THAT 90% OF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT EVEN LEVEL 3. YOU HAD NO 4-5 LEVELS. I TAUGHT AT FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I TAUGHT IN THE URBAN CORE. I WORKED WITH STUDENTS WHO WORKED WITH EACH OTHER. THAT'S HOW
125YOU LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. BUT WE HAVE ALL -- Jessica Vaughn: PLEASE ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE THEIR COMMENTS. THIS IS BASED ON YOUR INFORMATION AND I SHARED ONE OF THE AUDIT PAGES FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS SO CONCERNING TO ME. Jessica Vaughn: AGAIN PLEASE ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE DISCUSSION UP HERE. WE ALLOWED EVERYONE TO HAVE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AS A BOARD THESE AGENDA ITEMS AND WHEN PEOPLE YELL OUT IT MAERSK IT VERY HARD FOR ME TO FOCUS ON WHAT MY COLLEAGUES IS SAYING. THANK YOU. Stacy Hahn: I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT AND SPEAKING SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL. ESPECIALLY A SMALL SCHOOL. I'M SURE YOU ALL FEEL VERY MUCH LIKE FAMILY, VERY CLOSE. AND THESE DECISIONS ARE NEVER EASY
126FOR THIS BOARD. IN RE-READING THE LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT CAME TO US FROM DARREN NORRIS, THE VICE CHANCELLOR, ON THE STATE BOARD OF ED, IN A LETTERHEAD AND IT COMES OUT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION'S OFFICE, SO I GET CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AS WELL. AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE ACADEMY HAS FAILED TO MEET EVEN THE MOST BASIC EXPECTATIONS OF COMPETENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY RELATED TO SCHOOL SAFETY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A SPONSOR FOR THIS CHARTER AND THIS BOARD APPROVED FOR THIS -- WELL, SOME OF US APPROVED IT -- IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE STUDENTS AND MUST TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. I PERSONALLY FEEL RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE NOW IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO ALL OF OUR ATTENTION. AND WE BECOME CULL BASKETBALL IF SOMETHING HAPPENS BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW.
127THERE ARE GRAVE SAFETY ISSUES. AND NOW THAT WE KNOW ABOUT IT, AND THESE ARE NOT SMALL THINGS LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW OR -- THESE ARE MAJOR SECURITY ISSUES THAT CERTAINLY IF OUR SCHOOLS WERE COMING UNDER THIS HAVING ANY OF THESE ISSUES, WE WOULD HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PARENTS HERE AS WELL. SO I FEEL VERY RESPONSIBLE IN SOMETHING HAPPENED. I DON'T HONESTLY THINK I COULD EVER FORGIVE MYSELF, AND UNFORTUNATELY LIKE MEMBER GRAY SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE LATELY: I FEEL LIKE EVERY OTHER WEEK THERE'S SOME TYPE OF SCHOOL SHOT SHOOTING HAPPENING ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. AND IT'S JUST -- WE ARE REMINDED EVERY TIME WE COME TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY THAT'S NEEDED TO JUST KEEP EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM SAFE TONIGHT. SO YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN A SCHOOL,
128AND THEY DESERVE EVERY SAFETY PRECAUTION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM, TO BE SAFE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. AND AS MY OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SAID, SAFETY IS MARCH A MOUNT TO US. PARAMOUNT TO US. IT'S ABOVE ACADEMICS. EVERYBODY WHO HAS A CHILD OR CARES ABOUT A CHILD KNOWS THEIR WORLD WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THAT CHILD. SO I DO THINK THAT THESE SAFETY ISSUES DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN THERE'S BEEN AMPLE TIME ESPECIALLY PROBABLY OVER THE SUMMER WHERE THESE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WHEN CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE BUILDING. BUT TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME, WHETHER IT'S 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS, A WEEK, WHATEVER IT IS, MEANS THAT EVERY ONE OF US ARE PUTTING KIDS IN JEOPARDY. AND FOR ME, THAT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK. IT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK. AND I DON'T THINK --
129WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATORS, AND AFTER CHIEF NEWMAN'S TESTIMONY, I THINK IT'S CLEAR WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITY THING TO DO THIS EVENING IS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT, BECAUSE I KNOW THE DIFFICULTY IS REAL HARD CLOSING A SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED IN DISTRICT FIVE. BUT WE HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON THAT THIS BOARD IS ALL ABOUT. THE VALUABLE DENOMINATOR IS STUDENTS. WE LOOK OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS, IN A MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, OR WHAT SCHOOL THEY GO TO. AND UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IF WE DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR -- AND I AM LOOKING OVER SOME INFORMATION HERE -- OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR, THERE
130HAVE BEEN SEVERAL VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED AND TAKEN CARE OF. THE ONE THING THAT I DO KNOW, AS A PRINCIPAL -- AND I WAS A PRINCIPAL AT TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS -- AND AT CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL AND MILTON HIGH SCHOOL. AND I DO REALIZE WHEN THE STATE COMES OUT OR WHEN THE DISTRICT COMES OUT FOR SAFETY, YOU NEED TO GET ON TOP OF IT. THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU NEED TO GET ON TOP OF IT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T GET ON TOP OF IT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEN WE ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT ANYTHING. IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR STUDENTS. IT'S ABOUT SAFETY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, SAFETY. WE GOT TO TAKE SAFETY SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT IN TROUBLE, GOT SHOT,
131GOT KILLED, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE SAFETY PROCEDURES IN PLACE. AND AS A FORMER PRINCIPAL, AS AN AREA SUPERINTENDENT, AS AN AREA DIRECTOR, AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AS AN APC, AS AN APA IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAVE BEEN AT ALL LEVELS. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SAFETY. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. NO SAFETY, NO LIFE. YOU HAVE TO PERSON TO BE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE RUNNING RIGHT. AND I AM NOT SAYING WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONNEL. BUT WHEN I LOOK AT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED, WE ARE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING, PEOPLE. AND I AM ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT THING. AND EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS I BELIEVE IN WHAT'S RIGHT. AND I WORKED HARD FOR STUDENTS ALL MY LIFE. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN THE
132PREDICAMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE NOT SAFE. AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE IF WE ARE NOT SAFE. WE AREN'T DOING THE THINGS IT TAKES. IT'S BEEN A YEAR AN AND SOME OF THESE THINGS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN CORRECTED. NOW, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD. MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU. BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING YES, REOPENING THAT SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. PLEASE, AGAIN, ALLOW US TO SPEAK UP HERE. PLEASE ALLOW US. I FIND IT VERY FRUSTRATING THAT WE ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT WHEN IT'S OUR TURN PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. BUT ASIDE FROM THAT I REALLY DON'T EMPHATHIZE WITH EVERYBODY WHO HAS COME OUT TONIGHT. I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT MUST BE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL CLOSING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TRYING
133TO TRANSITION YOUR CHILDREN, FIGURING OUT CARS AND ENROLLMENT AND EXTRACURRICULAR STUFF. SO I HOPE IT IS COMING THROUGH THAT WHILE WE FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO FOR THAT AND SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE THING, THERE IS A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE SCHOOL HOE HAVE TO COME ON SHORT NOTICE, UNFORTUNATELY, POSSIBLY HAVE THE SCHOOL CLOSED, BUT I THINK THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT, OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, THE STATE HAS LAID OUT JUST A SITUATION WHERE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO HE REMAIN OPEN AS IS. FROM WHAT YOU SAID, MR. PORTER, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THIS AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO BEFORE MAGISTRATE AIRS. Jim Porter: THERE WILL BE A FULL HEARING ON THIS. VEIN VEIN CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG BUT IF BROWARD THEY REMOVED THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR
134THE SHOOTING THAT YOU REFERENCED BECAUSE THEY FOUND THE BOARD TO BE IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT HARDENING OR DOING MORE TO HARDEN THE SCHOOL IN THE CASE OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTING. THE BOARD WAS ACTUALLY -- MANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WERE REMOVED IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT DOES COMB DOWN AS DR. HAHN HAS MENTIONED TO US BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENT SAFETY. SO ASIDE FROM THE RISK OF NOT HAVING A SYSTEM THAT WORKS IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THAT CAN BE ACTIVATED FROM YOUR CELL PHONE, NOT HAVING A CAMPUS THAT'S NOT SECURE, NOT HAVING THE HARD CORNERS THAT YOU MENTIONED, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACILITY OF THE BUILDING. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES, IT'S NOT JUST WHO SPOKE AT PUBLIC COMMENT BUT REPEATEDLY TALKED ABOUT HOLES OR DRYWALLS OR FLOORING AFTER
135HURRICANES THAT CAN HAVE MOLD OR IS UNSAFE, IT MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED IN GENERAL. SAFETY ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND THEN WHEN YOU LAYER IT WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S SUCH SMALL PROFICIENCY ACT CHEMICALLY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS CAN LEAVE SCHOOL AND BE ABLE TO AT THE VERY LEVEL BE ON LEVEL WITH READING. WE PUSH WITH THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND MEMBER WASHINGTON HAS MENTIONED WE HAVE CLOSED OUR OWN SCHOOLS, THAT IS VERY HARD FOR LESS THAN THIS, WHETHER THERE WEREN'T SAFETY VIOLATIONS. SO I NOTICE THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO HEAR. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE HOE CAME OUT TODAY. I APOLOGIZE TO IN THIS POSITION. I HONESTLY HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE SOMETHING HAPPEN WHERE THERE'S AN APPEAL AND THAT
136PROVIDES SOME TIME ADD MAYBE THE SCHOOL CAN GET WHAT THEY NEED TO MEET THE VIOLATIONS OR GET WHAT THEY NEED TO STAY OPEN. BUT FOR ME, WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU PRESENTED, YOUR RECOMMENDATION, THE LETTER FROM THE STATE AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE LEARNED, I ALSO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO VOTE TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL, AND IT'S A HARD DECISION THAT I MIGHT TO MAKE BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE ONE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AS A BOARD. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. MR. PORTER? Jim Porter: I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND JUST 20 REITERATE SINCE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE, THE STATUTORY PROVISIONS, YOUR JOB AS A SPONSOR TO FIND IF YOU DO FIND THAT THERE'S A SERIOUS DANGER TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU
137BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE LETTER FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE SECURITY. THAT MEANS TO BE THE BASIS OF YOUR DECISION, NOT ANYTHING ELSE. AS THE COMMENTS ARE ALL APPRECIATED AND HAVE VALUE, BUT THE DECISION NEEDS TO BE BASED ON THE LETTER THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SENT AND MR. NEWMAN'S TESTIMONY DEALING WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT. SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. COULD YOU REITERATE WHAT THE VOTE WOULD BE? Jim Porter: TO IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE THE CHARTER FOR WALTON ACADEMY. VOTING YES MEANS THAT YOU AGREE WITH TAKING IMMEDIATE TERMINATION. VOTING NO MEANS YOU WOULD WANT TO KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN. Jessica Vaughn: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO C 301. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS MENTAL HEALTH
138INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT. SUPTERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. DO YOU WANT ME TO WAIT TO CLEAR THE AUDITORIUM? GOOD IDEA. Jessica Vaughn: WE'LL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS. (RECESS) HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Jessica Vaughn: SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, MEMBER COMBS THREE, TWO, ONE. HERE WE GO. 3.01, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, MENTAL HEALTH INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE CONTRACT WITH CHARLIE HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DELIVER THE CRITICAL WORK HCPS IS UNDERTAKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM. PROVIDES MORE INTENSIVE EVIDENCE BASED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING THE GREATEST NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION. STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM CAN EXPECT TO DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND ENHANCED SKILLS NECESSARY FOR BEHAVIORAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THESE GAINS RESULT IN REDUCED BAKER ACT REDUCTION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION, DEPRESSIVE TENDENCIES, ALONG WITH IMPROVEMENT IN
139ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IMPROVES. THAT IS 3.01. MICHAEL IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WITH 3.01, CHARLIE HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 3.01. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER GRAY PULLED THE ITEM. MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? Lynn Gray: I ALREADY HAD MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: SINCE THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM STAYED HERE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST TO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. THE DATA FROM THE CDC AND YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY AND NATIONAL SURVEY OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH, BETWEEN AGES OF 3 TO 17, 21% OF CHILDREN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL, EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIOR CONDITION. FLORIDA, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE NATIONAL BECAUSE I LOOKED
140AT THE NATIONAL AND ALSO THE STATE AVERAGE, 39.3% REPORTED FEELING SAD OR HOPELESS FOR TWO WEEKS OR MORE. THAT IS FOUR OUT OF EVERY TEN STUDENTS FEELS THAT WAY. THAT IS JUST SUCH A HUGE NATIONAL EPIDEMIC. I CAN'T THANK MR. KELLER AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR MENTAL HEALTH. CHARLIE HEALTH IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE BRING. I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, YOU CANNOT DO WELL IN LIFE IF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES. AND -- BUT YOUR ACADEMIC HEALTH CAN BE GREAT BUT IF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO LAUNCH. WITH MENTAL HEALTH, IF YOU HAVE STRONG MENTAL HEALTH YOU CAN REALLY ACHIEVE ANYTHING AND YOU CAN REINVENT YOURSELF SO MANY DIFFERENT TIMES. IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT THAT THIS DISTRICT FOCUSES ON IT. THANK YOU
141FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT CHARLIE HEALTH IS GOING TO PROVIDE IS MORE THAN A WEEKLY THERAPY. MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THAT DEEP 9 TO 12 HOURS IF THEY NEED THAT. A LOT OF FAMILIES DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY FINANCIALLY OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TIME OR SOMETIMES THEY ARE REALLY UNAWARE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT MAKING DECISIONS FOR FAMILIES. WE'RE WORKING ALONG WITH FAMILIES, WITH THOSE CHILDREN. JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM SOMEONE THAT SAID THIS IS HAPPENING. WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT MY CHILD? THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM REDUCES BAKER ACTS, REDUCES SUICIDAL IDEATION, HOMICIDAL IDEATION, DEPRESSIVE TENDENCIES, ANXIETY AND THAT IMPROVES ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. I CAN'T THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM ENOUGH
142FOR MAKING THIS A PRIORITY. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, EVERYONE IS WORKING TOGETHER. TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO RECENTLY THERE WAS A REPORT THAT CAME OUT REGARDING YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH. AND IT POINTED OUT THAT BOYS ESPECIALLY ARE ON AN UPTICK IN THEIR CRISIS. ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WAS THEIR PERCEPTION OF THEMSELVES. THE WORRY IS IT FALLS INTO THEIR JOBS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ONCE THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL, IF THEY ARE GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE. SCHOOL CONCERNS, NOT MAKING GRADES AND HOW WE AS A SOCIETY REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND ALSO FOCUS
143ON HOW MEDIA IS REALLY MOVING THIS NEEDLE UP AND TICKING UP THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IS REALLY AFFECTING AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS. BUT ALSO, IN THIS REPORT, IT TALKED ABOUT THE VULNERABILITY OF OUR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 15. SO YOU BRINGING THIS PLATFORM INTO OUR SCHOOLS REALLY IS GOING TO HELP WITH OUR STUDENTS IN THIS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN REALLY WORRIED BOTH WATCHING OUR SCHOOLS AND THE WAY OUR CHILDREN ARE STARTING TO REALLY THE UPTICK WITH THE ACTING OUT WITH OUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER ON THE OUTSIDE, I HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS WHO ARE REACHING OUT FOR THESE SERVICES. BUT THE PROBLEM ALSO IS THAT A LOT OF PARENTS, WHEN THEY GO IN THE EVENING TO TRY TO FIND MENTAL HEALTH
144SERVICES, A LOT OF THE SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE EVENING. THESE SERVICES, PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN DURING THE DAY IS A WIN-WIN FOR THESE FAMILIES, FOR THE KIDS, AND ALSO FOR US BECAUSE GETTING THESE BEHAVIORS TO TRY TO TICK THEM DOWN IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PLATFORM TO US, ESPECIALLY, AND I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR STARTING TO REALLY REALIZE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THE MORE WE AS A BOARD SPEAK TO MENTAL HEALTH, THE MORE THE STIGMA WILL START BEING REALLY, REALLY REMOVED AND OUR SCHOOLS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF WILL REALLY EMBRACE IT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A FIGHTER
145FOR MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. YOU BROUGHT IT TO THE BOARD. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME RAN FOR OFFICE, KAREN BEAT ME FOR THE ELECTION, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. AND KAREN WAS FULL FRONT RUNNER ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT GREAT JOB. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST SOME UPDATES HERE ON THIS FIRST BOARD MEETING AFTER THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER. THAT'S TWO OF OUR FAVORITE MONTHS AND WEEKS. ACTUALLY MR. BRADY'S FAVORITE MONTH. IT'S NOT WORKING. YOU SAID IT WAS ON. MR. BRADY'S FAVORITE MONTH, THIS MONTH WE'RE CELEBRATING THE
146POWER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH. CODING AND ROBOTICS TO EXPERIMENTS. OUR ACADEMICS TEAM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. BRADY PLAN GREAT STEM FOCUSED EVENTS LIKE SCIENCE OLYMPICS AT MOSI. OCTOBER 18 S.T.E.M. DAY EXTRAVAGANZA. DR. HAHN YOU GO TO THAT AT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE ON OCTOBER 31, 1400 STUDENTS WILL BE ATTENDING THIS EXCITING EVENT. HANDS-ON S.T.E.M. ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION. STEM-TOBER FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. WE ALSO HAVE MR. FARKAS' FAVORITE WEEK, NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK. NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK, GRAB SCHOOL LUNCH PASSPORT AND JOIN THE ADVENTURE. DISCOVER NEW FLAVORS, FUEL YOUR BODY AND CELEBRATE THE WORK OF THE NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM. SHANEY HALL, HER INCREDIBLE TEAM. NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK OCTOBER 13 THROUGH THE 17, THIS WEEK. DR. WHELAN AND I AND I KNOW MEMBER
147COMBS YOU WERE THERE EARLIER IN THE DAY, HCPS INTERN RECOGNITION OVER AT HEF. THANKS TO POLITICAL EDUCATION TEAM AND HUMAN RESOURCES LED BY KAY AND THE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROVIDING INTERNS TIME TO SHOP AT THE FREE TEACHER SUPPLY STORE TUESDAY OF LAST WEEK. THIS GROUP OF INTERNS FROM A MIX OF UNIVERSITIES, PREDOMINANTLY USF AND UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA. FOLLOWS THE FINAL SEMESTER OF THE INTERNSHIP AND GRADUATING THIS DECEMBER. REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY. MEMBER COMBS, YOU WERE THERE EARLIER IN THE DAY TO TALK WITH SOME OF THE INTERNS SO EXCITED TO HAVE THEIR FIRST HOPEFULLY OPPORTUNITY TO BE EMPLOYED HERE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER THEY COMPLETE THEIR INTERNSHIPS. NATIONAL WALK BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY. ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO BE HEALTHY AND SAFE AS THEY WALK OR BIKE TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THANK EMILY FROM
148SIDEWALK STOMPERS. OVER 300 STUDENTS OVER AT ROOSEVELT THAT WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY. COOL, GREAT MORNING. THANK YOU TO MAYOR CASTOR FOR JOINING US AS WELL. MEMBER PEREZ, YOU MENTIONED THE STIGMA. BOARD MEMBERS, LOOKING FORWARD, WHERE DID MICHAEL GO? I THINK IT'S FOUR OR FIVE, WHERE FLORIDA BLUE AND TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING HOSTED SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLS AND OVER 300 STUDENTS, STAFF, COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE STRIKE THE STIGMA SYMPOSIUM. STUDENTS FROM BRANDON, CHAMBERLAIN -- TAMPA BAY TECH ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDED RESOURCES ON MENTAL HEALTH, IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND HOW TO LOWER STIGMA SURROUNDING THESE TOPICS. SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO TRACYE BROWN, ELIZABETH TANNER, MICHAEL WHO YOU SAW EARLIER WITH THIS EVENT. THIS IS OPPORTUNITY FLORIDA BLUE, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING. THIS IS AN EVENT, NO COST TO OUR DISTRICT. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AND FLORIDA
149BLUE PUT IT OFF OUR CHARTER BUS SERVICE. I WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED OVER AT NOW BENCHMARK ARENA OVER THERE THIS MORNING. JUST A CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIA FROM OUR ACADEMICS TEAM FOR AWARDED EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION BY VIVA TAMPA BAY AT THE RECENT HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMUNITY HEROES AWARDS. SHE WAS ONE OF EIGHT INDIVIDUALS RECOGNIZED AS HEROES WHO DAILY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECT US AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN. CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIA. MS. MS. CRAY, MS. BRADY, THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE AND SUPPORTING JULIA. ALSO, WE HAD BOARD MEMBERS THERE WITH ME, DR. HAHN, MS. RENDON WAS THERE AT THE SHERIFF HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR DURING THAT EVENT, JESSICA FROM OUR ALL TEAM BACK IN SEPTEMBER AWARDED THE HISPANIC ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR BY THE SHERIFF HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL. MEMBER HAHN, DR. HAHN, MEMBER
150RENDON WERE OUT THERE AS WELL TO CELEBRATE THE SHERIFF'S HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TO CELEBRATE JESSICA. JUST AN INCREDIBLE HONOR FOR HER TO GET THAT AWARD. DR. GRAY AND MYSELF, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WE HAD OUR FOUR NEW MEMBERS. THE DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPAL FELLOWSHIP. FOUR THAT JUST COMPLETED. NOW THE FOUR: FOUR OF 60 PRINCIPALS IN THE COUNTRY AS PART OF THE CAHN COHORT. THEY GOT THROUGH THEIR FIRST SESSION THIS PAST WEEKEND. THEY ARE BACK AT WORK BUT THEY HAD AN INCREDIBLE WEEKEND OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS FIRST WEEK IN THE CAHN FELLOWS. CONGRATULATIONS TO 20 OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVED RECOGNITION FROM THE FLORIDA POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT PROJECT AS MODEL SCHOOLS FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. MEMBER GRAY, BIG PROPONENT OF PBIS. PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO DISTRICTS AND DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION, POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS IN
151SUPPORT SCHOOLWIDE, TIER ONE. SELECTED GROUP TIER TWO AND TIER THREE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LEVELS. EACH SCHOOLS TRAINED AND ACTIVE WITH FLORIDA PBIS PROJECT CAN APPLY FOR MODEL SCHOOL AWARD WHICH RECOGNIZES EXEMPLARY SCHOOLS BASED ON SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOME CRITERIA. THANKS TO STACY AND CHARTER ONE BEHAVIOR DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK ON THE PROJECT AND GETTING OUR SCHOOLS INVOLVED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE 20 SCHOOLS THAT WERE OUR MODEL SCHOOL AWARD. SPECIAL CONGRATS OUT TO OUR SILVER AND BRONZE WINNERS THERE. SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK BUT NATIONAL BUS SAFETY WEEK. OCTOBER 20, NEXT WEEK, STARTS NATIONAL BUS SAFETY WEEK, AND WE CELEBRATE OUR DEDICATED DRIVERS, ATTENDANTS, MECHANICS, EVERYONE ON THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM. WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY. AS WE MENTIONED, WE TRANSPORT ALMOST 78,000 STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL. NEXT WEEK, NATIONAL SCHOOL
152BUS SAFETY WEEK. REMINDER AND THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GREAT TRANSPORTATION TEAM AND ALL THEY DO. AND THAT OPERATION STILL MAZES ME, THE OPERATION OF GETTING ALL THE STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY IS PRETTY REMARKABLE. SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO OUR TEAM. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS, HERE WE GO AGAIN, THE FIRST APPLICATION PERIOD. SPREAD THE WORD. SCHOOL CHOICE AND MAGNET APPLICATION OPEN OCTOBER 20 AND GOES TO DECEMBER 7. JOIN US AT ONE OF THE EVENTS TO EXPLORE. THAT IS OUR BIG WINDOW AND OUR EXPO WILL BE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20 FROM 4 TO 7 AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR CHILD, ASK QUESTIONS AND EVEN APPLY ON THE SPOT INITIAL WINDOW OCTOBER 20 TO DECEMBER 7. JUST A REMINDER THAT REPORT CARDS FROM THE
153FIRST QUARTER WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE OCTOBER 27. REPORT CARDS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE FOCUS APP. TO DATE, OVER 70,000 OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE CREATED THEIR ACCOUNT ON FOCUS. IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY, DOWNLOAD THE APP AND DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY AND APPLE VIA YOUR SMART DEVICE OR VISIT HillsboroughSchools.org FOR MORE INFORMATION. BOARD MEMBERS, WE DID HAVE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION TODAY ON PM 1 OUR PROGRESS MONITORING. BEFORE WE GET INTO PM 2, SOMETIME IN MID DECEMBER, MR. BRADY WILL GET THE INFORMATION OUT AND MY NEXT SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS WILL PRESENT THE INFORMATION ON PM 1 WHERE WE ARE BUT ALSO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO YOU SO WE CAN SEE IT. FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, WE'LL GET THAT OUT TO YOU BUT PRESENT BEFORE THE BOARD HERE BEFORE WE GET TO OUR NEXT
154PM 2 WINDOW. AND THOSE ARE MY UPDATES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: REAL QUICK, JULIA DID NOT DO THE REAL QUICK. SHE WORKS ON IT VERY, VERY HARD WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. WON THE VIVA TAMPA BAY HISPANIC COMMUNITY AWARD. A GREAT ASSET TO HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE AND HISPANIC FORUM. CONGRATULATIONS, JULIA. NEXT, TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL SCHOOL. BIG TIME STRONG LEADERSHIP, PRINCIPAL CHRISTINE VEGA AND EFFECTIVE TEACHER TEAMS LIKE MS. MONTY AND MR. MALONEY IN EVERY CLASS I WENT TO ALL THOSE KIDS WERE ENGAGED AND CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. THANKS ALSO TO OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION, BEN MOORE AND THE
155INFAMOUS CHRIS FARKAS, WHEREVER YOU ARE AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AS WELL, THOSE SALES TAX DOLLARS ARE MAKING THAT SCHOOL AND MANY SCHOOLS SHINE AS WELL DESERVED THAT IS. NEXT, REAL QUICK, PABLO, YOU CAN PUT THE RAMPELLO K-8 AGAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. WE HAD OUR READING. THANK YOU ALSO TO MELISSA MAR GADO, JESSICA DE LA PREEDA AND VERONICA GOMEZ FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. THAT IS THE FIRST GRADE CLASS. WE GOT TO READ AS MANY OF YOU DID THE HISPANIC NOVELS. THOSE PICTURES, WE'LL GO BACK UP. LET'S KEEP THAT ONE BECAUSE WE GOT OFF SUBJECT. DIDN'T I HAVE A FEW MORE, PABLO, ON THAT ONE? CHECK OUT THESE BIKES. THIS IS THE ECLECTIC LIBRARY OF RAMPELLO. READ AND RIDE. THAT WHOLE LIBRARY IS JUST A STATE OF ART AND STATE OF ACTIVITY. BUT AT
156ANY RATE, THE LIBRARIAN NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WASN'T THERE WHEN I GOT THERE. BUT THANKS TO THE WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL JUSTIN YEOMAN, PRINCIPAL STEPHANIE, AND AP MICHAEL WELCH FOR ALL THE HARD EFFORT THAT YOU'RE DOING. WONDERFUL SCHOOL. BOARD MEMBERS, I WAS LISTENING TONIGHT, AS WE ALL WERE, REGARDING THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE. I WOULD LEEK TO SEE -- LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN PUT THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA. THE COMMUNITY SEEMS TO WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING, AND THIS IS COMING UP ALONG WITH OTHER ENTITIES, CORPORATE ENTITIES COMING INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WILL BE CO-LOCATING. IN THIS SPIRIT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BOARD MEMBERS, IF WE PUT THIS ON SUSPENDED AGENDA, IF I CAN GET THAT COMMITMENT. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES IS SHAKING YES. I THINK
157THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. LET'S KEEP THE PULSE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CO-LOCATION. MR. FARKAS, EVENTUALLY WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A TIMELINE. YOU'VE GOT SOME THINGS, MANY THINGS COMING UP TO SHARE WITH US. DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? ALL RIGHT. THAT'S DONE. I'M DONE WITH MY COMMENTS BEFORE FIVE MINUTES. Jessica Vaughn: NICE JOB. TWO MINUTES LEFT AT THAT. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HERE TODAY WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE AND SPOKE ABOUT THE CONCERN, AND THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. THAT'S ON THE TOP OF MY LIST. THERE ARE SOME GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THERE ARE SOME GREAT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THERE ARE SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT HERE FOR STUDENTS. SO I THINK
158IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP A PULSE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. I SAY THIS OFTEN, OUR BIGGEST ASSET IN THIS COUNTRY ARE OUR STUDENTS. AND WE ARE FORGETTING THAT. I THINK IT'S VERY SCARY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS NOT PRIORITIZING EDUCATION, PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO GET AN EDUCATION. THIS HAS BEEN A PLACE, I'VE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I'VE SEEN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES AND FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES ARE ALL STUDENTS GETTING AN EDUCATION. THAT IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE. TAXPAYERS, REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT NEED TO START FINDING OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE YOUR SCHOOLS. YOU HAVE TO ASK
159YOURSELF IF THESE SCHOOLS OF HOPE, IS IT ABOUT CHOICE? IS IT ABOUT STUDENTS? OR IS IT ABOUT PROFIT? LOOK AT THAT AND THINK ABOUT THAT. SOME OF MY CONCERNS, ARE THEY AMBIGUOUS TERMS AND THE TIMING OF HOW THIS HAPPENED WHEN VOTERS WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION, SAYS EXCESS SEATS, UNDERUTILIZED, VACANT, SURPLUS. WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS ESE OR TITLE ONE THAT MAY NEED MORE ROOM? WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO MOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR? WHAT ABOUT THE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT NO COST, CUSTODIAL WORK, MAINTENANCE, SCHOOL SAFETY, FOOD SERVICE, NURSING, AND STUDENT TRANSPORTATION WITH NO OVERSIGHT? SCHOOLS OF HOPE SHOULD BE GUARANTEED THAT TEACHERS HAVE A DEGREE OR MASTER'S DEGREE. THIS DOESN'T GUARANTEE ANYTHING. DOESN'T GUARANTEE ANY KIND OF ACADEMIC AND DOESN'T GUARANTEE ANY KIND OF OVERSIGHT. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. TAXPAYERS SHOULD THINK,
160WHERE ARE MY DOLLARS GOING? ARE THEY GOING INTO THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE OR GOING INTO EDUCATORS WHO ARE GOING TO EDUCATE THE FUTURE? WE NEED TO DEVELOP A CLEAR UTILIZATION STANDARD. WE NEED TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS OF HOPE TO PAY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES UTILIZED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO REQUIRE OVERSIGHT. NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL YOU GO TO, PRIVATE, PUBLIC, CHARTER, OR IF YOU ARE HOMESCHOOLED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S OVERSIGHT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP IN TEN YEARS AND SEE THAT TAMPA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY BECAUSE WE HAVE THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS OF STUDENTS WHO AREN'T EDUCATED. AS I SAID, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE. I ALWAYS SAY SCHOOL OF HOPE, THEN GIVE ME HOPE BY GUARANTEEING A QUALIFIED TEACHER, SMALL CLASSROOM, GREAT
161CURRICULUM. GREAT FACILITY. THAT GIVES CHILDREN HOPE. BRINGING PEOPLE IN HERE WITH NO OVERSIGHT IS NO HOPE AT ALL. ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE FOURTH HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION SO AMAZING. THANK YOU MR. WASHINGTON FOR COMING, AND THANK YOU KAREN PEREZ. I'M SO GLAD WE HAVE A STRONG HISPANIC VOICE ON THIS BOARD. I WASN'T -- I MOVED OVER HERE AT 8 YEARS OLD AND I EXPERIENCED A LOT OF THE SIMILAR THINGS THAT A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WHO COME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS. I THINK ABOUT TOWN N' COUNTRY AND HOW IT THRIVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO LETO HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ART AVASSEY. THE ADMINISTRATION, ROTC, CULINARY. MARCOS MURILLO, MADE SURE THE OPERATIONS WERE GREAT. MELISSA, 97.1. WE HAD 27 SCHOOLS AND 24 VENDORS AND I HAVE
162A 30 SECOND VIDEO TO SHARE. HERE WE ARE AT OUR FOURTH YEAR HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION. REALLY EXCITED. 26 SCHOOLS, 24 VENDORS. WE HAVE SO MANY PERFORMANCES. HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THIS IS REALLY A TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND FOR EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THE FAMILIES, THE CULTURE, OUR STUDENTS. THIS IS SO EXCITING. ♪ THANK YOU, SEBASTIAN, FOR ALWAYS CREATING SUCH GREAT VIDEO AND ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AS WELL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY -- I THOUGHT I WAS READY TO RUN OUT OF HERE NOW. SITTING ON THIS BOARD WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. BUT THE ONE VALUABLE DENOMINATOR, STUDENTS. WE MADE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS BUT WE MAKE THE BEST WHAT'S FOR STUDENTS.
163I WANT TO THANK YOU IN THE BACK FOR SUPPORTING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY OUR TEACHERS, THEY ALL WORK HARD SO OUR STUDENTS COULD BE SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. SUPERINTENDENT, YOU AND YOUR STAFF, YOU ALL WORK HARD. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE BECAUSE YOU SIT UP FRONT, WEAR SUITS, WALK AROUND US, THEY THINK YOU'RE NOT WORKING BUT YOU ARE REALLY WORKING. THAT IS A TRUE FACT. YOU WORK. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT OUR BOARD IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR, STUDENTS. NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY AND FEEL, WE'RE ALL HERE FOR STUDENTS. MOVING ALONG HERE, PABLO, I WANT TO GO TO THE BILINGUAL READING AT WIMAUMA. I WENT TO WIMAUMA AND HAD A GREAT TIME. I HAD
164A GREAT TIME THERE READING TO THE STUDENTS. YOU KNOW I ALWAYS LEAVE MONEY. THEY WERE SO NICE. VERY ATTENTIVE. THEY HAD GREAT QUESTIONS. BUT ONE OF THEIR QUESTIONS, FIRST QUESTION, HOW OLD ARE YOU? BUDDY, I BET YOU ALL WOULD ASK THE QUESTION. GAVE THE ANSWER. LITTLE BOY GOES, OH, YOU REAL OLD. THANK YOU. JUST WHAT I NEEDED TODAY, A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT WIMAUMA. I GAVE -- THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A PIZZA PARTY ON ME. THEY WERE REAL, REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT. THE STUDENTS WERE VERY ATTENTIVE. I DIDN'T SEE KAREN BECAUSE I THINK SHE WAS AT THE PRINCIPAL'S MEETING OR SOME KIND OF TRAINING, KAREN FLETCHER, THE PRINCIPAL THERE. MOVING ALONG TO ELLISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 100 YEAR CELEBRATION. PATTY, KAREN, LYNN. THANK YOU FOR COMING. REALLY FANTASTIC AND WE HAD
165-- ALL YOU GUYS CAME. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. WE HAD REALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE. PEOPLE HAD BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. CAME BACK TO CELEBRATE THAT HUNDRED YEAR CELEBRATION. YOU CAN SEE OUR PICTURES ON THERE. WE REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO JENNIFER HEINZ, THE PRINCIPAL THERE NOW. DID A GREAT JOB. MOVING OVER TO KING HIGH SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL GREG BASHAM. WENT TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP. I GOT THERE A LITTLE BIT LATE BECAUSE RAN OVER. THE KIDS WERE VERY ATTENTIVE. THEY WERE GREAT. THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CAREERS THEY HAD. IT WAS FANTASTIC. GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO QUITE A FEW OF THEM. THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SCHOOL BOARD. I SAID GREAT JOB TO HAVE. I HOPE YOU GET IT. IT WAS FUN. WE HAD A GREAT
166TIME. I WANT TO THANK GREG BASHAM. HE DOES A VERY JOB AS A PRINCIPAL, PEOPLE. HE'S VERY WELL LOVED BY THOSE STUDENTS, BELIEVE ME. HE REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB. MR. FARKAS, WE HAD A COUPLE OF I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER ABOUT IT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE HISPANIC HERITAGE. WE NEED TO NAME THAT FOR YOU. WE NEED A BIG TENT. NADIA COMBS. BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY NICE AND THE PEOPLE ENJOYED. WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COMING OUT. I THINK THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME COMING, BUT I TRULY ENJOYED IT. MARCUS, THANK YOU. I WAS STANDING UP LOOKING AROUND. TOLD ME SOME THINGS GOING ON I DIDN'T KNOW. I THANK YOU. NADIA, I THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WHEN YOU BRING SOMETHING OVER, THEY ARE VERY PLEASED. I
167FELT KIND OF BAD. THEY WALKED PAST ME, WENT DIRECTLY TO HER. IT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU. I TRULY ENJOYED. APPRECIATE IT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: SHORT AND SWEET. ME AND THE SUPERINTENDENT DID OUR READ ALOUD AT CAMILLA. I DIDN'T BRING ANY PICTURES, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME. HE READ IN SPANISH. I READ IN ENGLISH. IT WAS GREAT. HE DID. AND WHEN HE DIDN'T KNOW THE WORD, THE STUDENTS HELPED HIM ALONG. IT WAS REALLY A LOT OF FUN. CANNELLA HAS REALLY IMPROVED THAT SCHOOL. SHE PLANTED A LOT OF PLANTS AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE STAFF THERE. IT'S BEEN FABULOUS. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THAT'S IT FOR ME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. I'LL TRY TO BE
168QUICK. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO OUR SUCCESS CENTERS, BRANDON AND NORTH TAMPA. I REALLY WANT TO THANK MR. YOUNG FOR ALL THE WORK HE'S DONE FROM THE LAST TIME I'VE GONE OUT THERE, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE ADDRESSED, BOTH OF THE PRINCIPALS OUT THERE ARE DOING SUCH AMAZING JOB AND TURNING THE SUCCESS CENTERS AROUND AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING FOR THOSE SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS THERE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. YOUNG FOR ALL THE WORK HE'S DOING. I WOULD LIKE TO, MR. FARKAS, PUT IN A REQUEST, THAT FOR NORTH TAMPA SUCCESS CENTER WE BRING BACK TRANSPORTATION LIKE WE HAVE AT BRANDON SUCCESS CENTER AND PUT EQUITY IN THERE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. THAT IS MY
169REQUEST. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT. IT SOUNDS LIKE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR MUSIC CONSERVATORY WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. THEY HAVE AN AMAZING MUSIC PROGRAM THERE. WE'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY WITH THE TEACHERS WE HAVE THERE. I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THERE WILL BE CHOICE SEATS OPEN FOR PEOPLE WHO VALUE MUSIC AND HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE AREA OR MAYBE OUTSIDE OF IT TO PARTAKE IN THE AMAZING MUSIC PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE SUCH AN EROSION WITH THE STRINGS PROGRAMS AND SO MANY MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT AND EXCITED FOR THE FAMILIES TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SCHOOL AND EXPERIENCE THAT. I ALSO WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I AM STARTING UP A DISTRICT 3 STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
170THAT WILL BE SENT OUT TO ALL OF THE PARENTS AN APPLICATION OF ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLERS IN MY DISTRICT. BUT I WANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE. I'M INSPIRED BY YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ALL THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR STUDENTS. SPEAKING OF, MY SON ASKED ME TO PUT IN A REQUEST TO STUDENT NUTRITION TO GET MORE SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICHES AT WILLIAMS IF THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. I DID TELL HIM I WOULD PASS THAT ALONG IN THE VEIN OF STUDENT ADVOCACY AND STARTING MY STUDENT ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. IT'S COMING. I WOULD LIKE A FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT THE TEACHER SPOKE ABOUT TONIGHT WITH THE FOCUS ON THE AVAILABILITY. SOUNDS LIKE IT SHOULD BE AN EASY FIX IF SOMETHING WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM WITH. LOVE FOLLOW-UP ON THAT. I SAW SOMETHING CIRCULATING AROUND OUR ANIMAL POLICY
171THAT WE PASSED CAUSING SOME ISSUES WITH ALLOWING AGRICULTURE ANIMALS TO COME IN FOR GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN. YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO SPEAK TO THAT RIGHT NOW. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT COMING, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOLLOW-UP ON THAT PRIVATELY REGARDING THAT. THOSE ARE REALLY THE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. I THINK MEMBER COMBS ABOUT BRINGING UP THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOROUGHLY AS A DISTRICT. I'M HOPING WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP ON IT. I THINK MY BIGGEST CONCERN ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A VERY QUICKLY MOVING PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO DIGEST OR GIVE FEEDBACK AROUND IS JUST THE LACK OF CLARITY AND THOUGHT-OUT PROCESS AROUND SO MANY QUESTIONS AROUND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. WHAT HAPPENS IF
172WE EXPAND. WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS OF HOPE. SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS TO ROLL OUT SOMETHING THIS LARGE WITHOUT ANY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC, I THINK. AND KIND OF CIRCUMVENTS THE WHOLE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY LED LEADERSHIP. I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT AS A BOARD AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND NAVIGATE THIS BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A VERY RUSHED PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH SCHOOLS OF HOPE WHERE THERE -- I MEAN WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE VOUCHERS WHERE THERE WASN'T A GOOD SYSTEM TO TRACK THE STUDENTS AND FINANCIALLY IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY DOUBLE PAY FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE RUSH THESE THINGS OUT SO QUICKLY AND THAT ENDED UP COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY. TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, WE
173REALLY NEED TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS ABOUT THIS. I AGREE, MEMBER COMBS, SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH I'VE GOTTEN MORE CONCERNS IN MY DISTRICT FROM MY REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENTS THAN I HAVE ACTUALLY OF MY DEMOCRATS. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PARTISAN ISSUE. I THINK THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, IF YOU LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DECISIONS AROUND PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE BEING MADE THOUGHTFULLY WITH THE STUDENT CENTERED WITH ALL OF THE DAYLIGHTS IRONED OUT AND REALLY DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR KIDS AND COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. I HAVE 0 SECONDS LEFT. WITH THAT I'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING. THANKS SO MUCH.