001I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS INCLUDING CHILDREN STARTING WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. I'M KAREN PEREZ, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7TH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4:00 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE
002COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY A. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. THE BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2025, IS
003CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOW BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT YOU TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION HONORING MR. TONY SALADINO WHO PASSED AWAY A WEEK AGO. FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES, HE DEVOTED HIS CAREER TO TEACHING PHYSICAL EDUCATION BEGINNING AT FOREST HILLS SCHOOL IN 1958. TONY CONTINUED TEACHING FOR 30 YEARS AT SUFNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HE LATER TAUGHT AT VALRICO WHERE HE FAITHFULLY SERVED STUDENTS UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 2015. IN 1981, TONY AND HIS BELOVED WIFE BERTHA CREATED THE SALADINO BASEBALL TOURNAMENT WHICH QUICKLY GREW INTO ONE OF THE MOST CHERISHED TRADITIONS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND BLOSSOMED INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS IN THE NATION. AGAIN, IN THE NATION. MR. SALADINO
004INFLUENCE REACHED FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THE LIVES HE TOUCHED ARE A TESTAMENT TO HIS LEGACY. AS BOTH AS AN EDUCATOR AND A ROLE MODEL. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. (PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE) Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE MEETING, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS WE HAVE HERE. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE PLANT CITY MAYOR KILTON AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER MILLER. SO WELCOME TO OUR MEETING. OKAY. SO I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY -- YOU GUYS -- THEY SWITCHED SEATS SO IF YOU COULD CHANGE IT. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. BEAR WITH US. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
005BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS GOING SOON. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND WITH THAT, THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VICE CHAIR PEREZ. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. JULY 22, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP AND JULY 29, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER WE ARE A NON-PARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN, TO SUCCEED, AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE
006MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND AND IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE CUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES -- BACK IN THE QUEUE. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS ON LIVE WEBCASTS ON CABLE TV, ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH
007CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AT 6:00. THAT'S EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS. A1, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE AWARD. CALL UP TO RECOGNIZE THESE CREW AWARDS SO AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO CALL SHERRY, SUPERVISOR PARTNERSHIP ENGAGEMENT PHILANTHROPY AND OUTREACH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS AND GUESTS. FOR THE PAST YEAR WE PROUDLY CELEBRATED THE BEST KREWE PROGRAM RECOGNIZING EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SPORTS STAFF ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TODAY WE'RE EXCITED TO HONOR THE GRAND CHAMPIONS OF THE PROGRAM. THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR DEDICATION AND IMPACT. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AND THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY! FIRE
008THE CANON! THREE, TWO, ONE, TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY! (CHANTING) ♪ WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO WELCOME MS. DARCY GLAZER, OWNER AND CHAIRWOMAN OF -- AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TO THE PODIUM. HI, EVERYBODY. JUST VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE SCHOOLS FOR -- SINCE WE PURCHASED THE TEAM 30 YEARS GO, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, I HAVE FIVE BROTHERS AND WE GREW UP IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AND WE KIND OF LIVED ON THE EDGE OF CIVILIZATION SO IT WAS ALL FARMLAND PAST WHERE WE GREW UP. AND WE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL. AND SO IT'S VERY CLOSE TO OUR HEART. EVERYTHING
009THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING HERE AND I JUST WAS SITTING DOWN THERE AND SAT NEXT TO SHANETA RIGHT THERE. SHE IS A BUS DRIVER AND IT BROUGHT BACK A CORE MEMORY THAT IF I CALLED ANY OF MY BROTHERS AND SAID WHO IS DUDLEY, THEY'D KNOW IT'S BUS 103, THE BUS WE TOOK TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS GROWING UP. SO THIS MEANS A LOT TO MY FAMILY AND SO I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE TO BE HERE TODAY. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND EXCITED ABOUT OUR SHAKE COVER PROGRAM COMING TO COMPLETION WITH 135 SCHOOLS. WE HAVE SHAY COVERS. SO KIDS CAN HAVE OUGHTDOOR CLASSROOMS AND SUN PROTECTION WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY AND ALSO JUST CONTINUING OUR PROGRAM OF TAKING OUR VISION MOBILE TO ALL THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE THEIR EYES CHECKED. I
010THINK IT'S UP TO 20,000 EYEGLASSES THAT WE HAVE GIVEN AWAY AND I WEAR CONTACTS. EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY CAN'T SEE. SO IT'S -- WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A PAIR OF EYEGLASSES TO BE YOUR BEST SELF AND TO REALLY LIFT UP THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. SO REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY DOES. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT. BRIAN FORD AND AGAIN I'D LIKE TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT SHE JUST SAID. THIS HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE DAY OF EACH MONTH COMING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND RECOGNIZING THESE EXTREME PERFORMERS AND TODAY IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DECISION HOW WE WENT ABOUT TRYING TO SELECT FROM THE OVER 30 WINNERS FROM ACROSS THE YEAR OF LAST YEAR OUR
011FIRST YEAR. SO BEHIND YOU ILLUSTRATED ARE ALL THE WINNERS FROM THE PAST MONTHS THROUGH LAST SCHOOL YEAR. AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO CARRY THIS PROGRAM INTO THIS SCHOOL YEAR BUT WE'RE ALSO VERY PROUD OF ALL THE PROGRAMS AND ALL OF THE COLLABORATION THAT WE SHARE CAN, AND WE'RE HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO RECOGNIZE THE WINNERS EACH MONTH COMING UP. ON THAT NOTE, THE WINNERS FROM LAST YEAR BASED ON US ALL GOING BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO DETERMINE A WAY TO PICK A WINNER, WE LET THE COMPUTER -- WE LET TECHNOLOGY HAND HANDLE IT -- HANDLE IT. WE GOT THREE WINNERS THAT, YOU KNOW, AT EACH LEVEL. THE SUPPORT STAFF, TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ THEIR STORY ONCE AGAIN. FIRST AS SHE
012MET EARLY SHANETA STRONG, OUR BUS DRIVER. AND TONIGHT WE HONOR AN INDIVIDUAL -- YES, BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AS I MENTIONED EACH MONTH THAT WE HAVE A TRADITION AT ONE BUC AND ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY WE RECOGNIZE ANYBODY THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND AND THESE INDIVIDUALS DID THAT EACH OF THE MONTHS. TONIGHT WE'RE HONORING AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE ACTIONS REFLECT EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE AND A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION. FOR OVER 22 YEARS SHE PROUDLY SERVED AS A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF COUNTLESS STUDENTS EACH DAY. HER DAILY DEVOTION TO STUDENTS' SAFETY INCLUDING A DAY THIS PAST YEAR WHERE YOU HEROICLY SAVED A CHILD AND THAT BROUGHT YOU TO OUR AWARENESS ILLUSTRATES THE BEST OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND YOU TRULY EXEMPLIFY EXCELLENT COMPASSION AND UNWAVERING
013GUARDMANSHIP. ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU. AND YOU GOT A FOOTBALL I'LL PRESENT YOU WITH IN HONOR OF THE 50th SEASON AND ALL YOU DO. NEXT IS MS. ELIZABETH ALEXANDER, A TEACHER FROM PIZZO K-8. YOU MAY REMEMBER HER STEADFAST DEDICATION TO HER ENGAGEMENT AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. SHE IS A TEACHER WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF THE BUCS CREW AWARD CHAMPION. ACADEMICALLY SHE MEETS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF HER STUDENTS WITH STRATEGIC IMPACT. PERSONALLY HER DESIRE TO SHOWS OTHERS SHOWS IN HER THOUGHTFULNESS AND INITIATIVES LIKE ORGANIZING THE GIFTS FOR ALL HER KIDS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT MONTH. YOU'RE A TRUE CHAMPION OF STUDENT SUCCESS AND SCHOOL CULTURE, SO THANK YOU AGAIN ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND THE GLAZER
014FAMILY. YOU GOT SOMETHING BIG. I HAVE ANOTHER BIG ANNOUNCEMENT BUT I WANT TO BRING UP MR. JAKE RUSSELL AS WELL. PRINCIPAL FROM CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SO MR. RUSSELL TOUCHED MANY ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN YOUR TWO DECADES AS A PRESIDENT -- AS A PRINCIPAL AND MANY MORE IN THE CLASSROOM. PRESIDENT. YOU'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE OVERALL SCHOOL GRADES, INCREASE EXAM PASS RATES AND SINGLE HANDEDLY TRANSFORM THE SCHOOL YOU WORK INTO A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. YOU CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCED LEARNING AND SUCCESS INCLUDING THE NEW TRAJECTORY FOR CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL ITSELF WHICH WILL OFFER A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL PROGRAMS IN THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR. THAT'S AMAZING. YOU'RE NOT ONLY A PRINCIPAL BUT A MENTOR, EDUCATOR AND LEADER IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD AND IF I RECALL THOSE WERE THE WORDS THAT BROUGHT TO
015OUR ATTENTION TO GET YOU THAT RECOGNITION A FEW MONTHS BACK. BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZERS AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION -- AND NOW FOR THE GOOD PART. YOU ALREADY GOT YOUR GAME BALL AND I HOPE YOU'RE PROUDLY DISPLAYING THAT GAME BALL. NOW WITH OUR 50th SEASONING UNDERWAY, COMING UP, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU AS OUR GUEST AS SEASON PASS MEMBERS AND YOU'LL RECEIVE SEASON PASS TICKETS FOR YOU AND A COMPANION FOR EACH OF OUR REGULAR SEASON GAMES AND I'M GOING TO BE THERE TO WELCOME YOU AND SHOW YOU TO YOUR SEATS. SO AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO GET THIS RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. THAT GOES FOR ALL OF THE BOARD, EVERYBODY
016IN ATTENDANCE, WE'RE JUST PROUD TO BE PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO INVEST IN OUR SCHOOLS AND GO BUCS, RIGHT? GO BUCS. NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD AND IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE YOU'D LIKE AND WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. HOWEVER, ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF
017THE MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. WE REQUEST THAT YOU TRY AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON EVERY SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND HEAR A CHIME. A RED LIGHT AND CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TABITHA ASK I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WHEN I LEFT THE ARMY IN 2010 AND RETURNED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IT WAS BECAUSE THIS WAS AN AREA WHERE I WANTED TO RAISE MY CHILD BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED AND ATTENDED SCHOOL.
018ENROLLING MY SON IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR ME. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS MY PRIDE HAS FALLEN AS I WATCH THE SCHOOL BOARD CONSISTENTLY BEND THE KNEE TO THE SAME RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM I WAS RAISED IN AND FOUGHT HARD TO PREVENT MY CHILD FROM BEING EXPOSED TO AND SUBJECTED TO. AS A VETERAN IT DISCOURAGES ME TO SEE THE PERSON WHO WAS MEANT TO REPRESENT THE EPITOME OF WHAT THE PARENTS THAT VOTED THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WANT AND DONE IN THE COUNTY AND REPRESENT. AND TO SEE THIS INDIVIDUAL BEND THE KNEE TO A THREAT OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, A THREAT NO LESS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER BELIEVES THEIR RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY SHOULD BE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE ON TAXPAYER DIME. BANNING TRANSMISSION BY ALEX IS A
019GROSS OVERREACH OF OFFICE AND CENSORSHIP AND A GROSS VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AS A PARENT, I AM DISGUSTED. IF I WANTED MY CHILD TO BE EDUCATED IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THE LEADERS OF A SCHOOL BOARD BEND THE KNEE OUT OF FEAR OF BEING FIRED INSTEAD OF STANDING UP TO SUPPORT THE PROCESSES PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE WANTS OF ACTUAL PARENTS IN THE COUNTY, I WOULDN'T LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YOU ARE NOT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. YOU ARE PREPARING THEM TO BE SYCOPHANTS. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT EVERY PARENT. NOT JUST THE LOUD HATEFUL MINORITY INCAPABLE OF COGNITIVE -- I IMPLORE YOU TO HAVE THE SPINE FOR THE PROCESSES YOU CLAIM YOU FULLY BELIEVE AND SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. DR. BOBBY SMITH. GOOD
020AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL OF YOU AGAIN. I'M HERE TODAY CHOSEN AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF A GROUP. A GROUP THAT INCLUDES MANY HERE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT AND MANY MORE THAT COULD NOT BE HERE BUT STAND WITH US IN SPIRIT. RECOMMENDING THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN PLANT CITY BE NAMED IN HONOR OF DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL AUBURN. FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS SHE SERVED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH UNWAVERING DEDICATION, INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE. SHE HAS TOUCHED COUNTLESS LIVES THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, AND ADVOCACY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. SHE IS MORE THAN AN ACCOMPLISHED EDUCATOR. SHE HAS BROKEN BARRIERS OF GENDER AND RACE BECOMING A BEACON OF INSPIRATION PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. SHE IS CELEBRATED NOT ONLY FOR HER PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS BUT ALSO HER KINDNESS, GRACE AND WISDOM THAT DEFINE
021HER CHARACTER. THOSE WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE SYLVIA SPEAK OF HER WITH PROFOUND RESPECT AND ADMIRATION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NAMING OF A SCHOOL IS A SENSITIVE MATTER. AND SOMETIMES CERTAIN SITES ARE A BETTER FIT FOR HONORING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS. WE APPRECIATE THE SENSITIVITY THAT THIS BOARD BRINGS AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION THAT YOU GIVE TO THESE DECISIONS. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ENCOURAGED US TO KEEP TRYING AND WE CERTAINLY WILL. IF THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT SITE, WE UNDERSTAND. AND WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS. BUT IF DO FIND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE, WE BELIEVE THAT A SCHOOL BEARING DR. ALBRITAIN'S NAME WOULD STAND AS A LASTING SYMBOL OF PERSEVERANCE, EXCELLENCE, AND DIVERSESTY INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO RISE ABOVE CHALLENGES AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. ON BEHALF OF THOSE HERE TONIGHT AND MANY MORE THAT COULD
022NOT BE HERE WITH US, I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. I AM JASON JONES, VICE MAYOR FOR PLANT CITY. BEFORE I BEGIN I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR OUR STUDENTS IN PLANT CITY AND THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO TALK TO YOU ALSO ABOUT THE NAMING OF THE NEW PLANT CITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE. BUT BEFORE I SHARE MY REQUEST, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME. FOUNDED PLANT CITY'S FIRST YOUTH COMMISSION TO TEACH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP. I ATTEND NEARLY EVERY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR PLANT CITY SCHOOLS. AND I MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHEREVER I'M ASKED. -- WHENEVER
023I'M ASKED. I SHARE THIS BECAUSE I WAS ONCE TOLD BY FORMER MAYOR RICK LOTT, IF WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH, PLANT CITY WILL ALWAYS BE GREAT. RICK'S WORDS AND HIS LEADERSHIP HAVE GUIDED ME PERSONALLY AND THEY HAVE SHAPED OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNTLESS YOUNG PEOPLE. FOR THIS REASON AND MANY MORE, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO NAME THE NEW PLANT CITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN HONOR OF RICK LOTT. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS BELIEF. STANDING WITH ME HERE IN FULL SUPPORT ARE COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHRISTINE MILLER. PLANT CITY MAYOR NATE KILTON. AND COMMISSIONER MIKE SPARKMAN. COMMISSIONER BILL DODSON AND MARY MATTIS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. WE'RE JOINED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LED BY STEVE MORRY. THE PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LED BY RUMBAUGER. PLEASE STAND
024AND CONTINUE STANDING. PLANT CITY MAIN STREET LED BY DAWN HYATT. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS LED BY YVONNE FRYE AND THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL LED BY KYLE ROBINSON. FINALLY I'D LIKE TO ASK RICK LOTT, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, AND ANY OTHER SUPPORTERS WE HAVE IN THE ROOM TO PLEASE STAND. TOGETHER WE BELIEVE NAMING THIS NEW TECHNICAL COLLEGE AFTER RICK LOTT WILL HONOR HIS LEGACY AND REMIND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU. Jessica Vaughn: CAN I CALL UP SPEAKERS SIX THROUGH TEN PLEASE? THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. I'M NATE KILTON, MAYOR OF PLANT CITY WHERE IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY AND I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW OVER THE MOON WE ARE ABOUT THIS TECHNICAL COLLEGE. WE
025KNOW IT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NAMER OF THE SCHOOL FOR THE MAYOR RICK LOTT. THE SCHOOL MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM. HE WAS ON THE BOOST PHERES PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL WAY BACK THEN AND HE AND SEVERAL OTHERS RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING ON TO COLLEGE. AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND DON'T HAVE A PATH FORWARD AND NEED INSPIRATION AND HELP. THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND WE'RE PROUD THAT STARTED AT PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND IT'S BLOSSOMED AND GROWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY NOW. AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT, IN MARCH 20, RICK WAS ASKED, WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR EDUCATION RESOURCES IN PLANT CITY. HE
026SAID WE NEED A TECHNICAL SUPPORT THERE. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. AND THEN FROM THERE ON HE CHAMPIONED IT -- TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE LAND SWAP, FAA ISSUES AND ALL THOSE THINGS. THERE IS NOBODY THAT'S BEEN MORE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THIS SCHOOL THAN RICK LOTT. AND JUST HE HAS SUCH A PASSION FOR IT. THE ETHOS AND ALSO JUST HIS OWN CAREER STORY. I MEAN, HE STARTED AS A COPY REPAIR MAN AND WORKED UP A BUSINESS EVENTUALLY SOLD TO XEROX. HE DESERVES THIS. MORE IMPORTANTLY PEOPLE DESERVE IT MORE. AND IT'S THE STUDENTS. THE STUDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE THIS NAMED AFTER RICK. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE BUILDING A PLAYBOOK FOR AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS AND HAVE A GREAT ADMINISTRATOR IN GARY WHO I KNOW IS HERE TODAY. GREAT INSTRUCTORS. WE HAVE AWESOME CURRICULUM
027FROM FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. AND THEN YOU BRING RICK IN AND IMAGINE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH HIM TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS THERE AND SAY I'M RICK LOTT. THAT'S MY NAME ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING THERE. AND LET ME TELL YOU. I'VE BEEN EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE NOW. WHAT WE NEED IN EDUCATION IS NOT JUST AN INSTRUCTION. WE ALSO NEED INSPIRATION. YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER AND WE WILL NOT LOSE. THAT IS A GORGEOUS AND ELEGANT RECIPE FOR SUCCESS AND A BEAUTIFUL PLAYBOOK. AND THERE IS ONE THING IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT PLANT CITY, WE HATE TO LOSE. WE HATE TO LOSE MORE THAN WE LOVE TO WIN. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT NAMING OF THIS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF. AND THAT'S WHY RICK DOES WHAT
028HE DOES. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH I YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I KNOW WITH THE PACKAGE WE'RE ALL PUTTING TOGETHER THAT WE'RE GOING TO CRUSH IT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANKS YOU SO MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WELL, I'D LIKE TO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING TO START WITH AND INTERESTING THIS MORNING I WAS TALKING TO A FORMER TEACHER FROM PLANT CITY WHO SAD LEFELT THE NEED LIKE I DID TO PULL HER KID OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND STOP TEACHING AND HOME SCHOOL HER BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED. EVEN IN PLANT CITY WHERE SHE SAID SHE GREW UP AND SAID IT'S CONSERVATIVE AND THEY UPHELD MORAL VALUES SHE ALIGNED WITH. TODAY THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. SO AGAIN, AN
029EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING. TODAY SUPERINTENDENT I'LL GIVE YOU A BREAK. I'M NOT HERE TO TALK TO YOU SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WORK FOR THE BOARD AND ARE CAUGHT IN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT POSITION BETWEEN FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIVES FROM THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. AND BEING AT THE BEHEST OF SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE BOOK THAT'S BEEN REVIEWED AND RETAINED DURING THE SUMMER PROCESS AND THAT BOOK IS "GENDER QUEER." IT'S THE ONE SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY READ ALOUD FROM DURING THE JUDICIARY HEARING AND NINE TENTHS WAS BLEEPED OUT BECAUSE IT COULDN'T BE PLAYED ON THE NEWS AND WE HAVE IT IN SCHOOLS. HERE IS A QUOTE. I GOT A NEW STRAP-ON HARNESSED TODAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO PUT IT ON YOU. IT WILL FIT MY
030DILDO PERFECTLY. I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOUR COCK IN MY MOUTH. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BLOW JOB OF YOUR LIFE AND WANT YOU INSIDE ME, END QUOTE. THIS WAS JUST REVIEWED AND RETAINED. MADE AVAILABLE AGAIN. SINCE YOU PREVENT US FROM SHOWING THE CONTENT FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS IN THE MEETINGS, WHERE THE ADULTS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND OFFENDED BY THE BOOK'S CONTENT OF THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES, I'LL HAVE TO DESCRIBE THE CONCURRING PAGE WHICH HAS AN IMAGE, THIS IS A GRAPHIC NOVEL, OF A SEEMINGLY NAKED PERSON KNEELING IN FRONT OF A PARTIALLY UNDRESSED BOY, THE PENIS IS OUT, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE STRAP-ON. THE PENIS IS IN THE MOUTH OF THE KNEELING PERSON SO IT'S AN IMAGE OF ORAL SEX IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOK CURRENTLY AVAILABLE HERE. THESE ARE THE BOOKS THAT WE HAVE
031BEEN BATTLING AND THIS REVIEW PROCESS HAVING YOUR LIBEARIANS WHO CHOSE THE BOOK FOR THE LIBRARIES TO DO THE REVIEWING IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENT PROCESS. IT ALSO HAS AN IMAGE OF WHAT THE BOOK IDENTIFIES AS PLATO SYMPOSIUM AND APPEARS TO BE A MAN KNEELING AND HOLDING A YOUNG CHILD'S ERECT PENIS AND IN THIS BOOK IT FUELED A SEXUAL FANTASY OF A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK. THERE IS ALSO TALK IN THE BOOK OF SEX TOYS, VIBRATORS, AN IMAGE OF GAY SEX -- TASTING VAGINA SLIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF MANY BOOKS THAT ARE STILL ON THE SHELVES EVEN AFTER THE REVIEW PROCESS. BOOKS THAT ARE NOT EVEN ON THE D.O.E. WEBSITE THAT NEED TO BE OUT OF
032OUR SCHOOLS. THERE ARE SO MANY SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES. IT'S REALLY SAD. LET ME JUST -- RAN OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF 25,000 EMPLOYEES COMMUTE EACH DAY FOR ONE HOUR THROUGH AN INTRCREASINGLY VOLATI URBAN LANDSCAPE AND THE CALCULATION IS 4.5 MILLION HOURS PER SCHOOL YEAR. REVISE 2019 SECTION 4217 OF THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK PREVENTS THEM FROM LEAVING A FIREARM OR OTHER DEFENSIVE ITEM IN THE VEHICLE PARKED AT WORK. THAT MEANS WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOMES EACH MORNING ON SCHOOL DAYS STUDENTS GAS GOING TO THE ATM TAKING THE CHILDREN TO SPORTS PRACTICE BOARD POLICIES ARE IN PLACE THAT REDUCE THEIR OVERALL SAFETY. 4.5 MILLION HOURS OF SAFETY REDUCTION. WHAT MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND TO THE 250,000 STUDENTS WHO LOOK
033TO EXPLAIN WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT. IS IT GUNS. OF COURSE NOT. BUT IT IS PATRIOTIC AND UNCOMPROMISING SECUREMENT OF THE FOUNDATIONAL RIGHTS. I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIDN'T STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LAST YEAR. POLICIES LIKE 4217 USE INSTITUTIONAL POWER TO ERODE OUR SECURED FREEDOMS NOT PROTECT THEM. FLORIDA STATE STATUES DON'T INIT COURAGE THIS BOARD TO ADD ADDITIONAL POLICIES TO LAWS ALREADY DESIGNED TO PROTECT ALL CITIZENS. THAT'S 4.5 MILLION TOTAL HOURS OF INJUSTICE AS OUR TEACHERS ARE LESS SAFE AND CITIZENSHIP TRAMPLED ON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EXERCISE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FOLLOW SUCH A POLICY. THAT'S 4.5 MILLION HOURS OF INCREASED DANGER WHO FORM THE PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE NOW AT A GREATER RISK OF SUCCUMBING TO RISK, RAPE, UNLEASHED DOGS, AND EVEN BEING TRAPPED IN THE CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT IN FLOOD SEASON. IT DOESN'T
034MAKE OUR STUDENTS SAFER EACH DAY. NOR WOULD ITS MODIFICATION INCREASE OR DECREASE THE LEVEL OF RISK OF GUN VIOLENCE LIKE THE CARNAGE YOU SEE IN THE NEWS WHICH ALL OF US WOULD SEEK TO AVOID. SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE'S DAILY COMMUTE AND USE OF PARKING LOTS. MY NAME IS LUCAS DAVID SIDEMAN. I'M A NATIVE FLORIDA BUT BORN IN GAINESVILLE. THE SPIRIT OF THE SEMINOLE A AND -- ARE HERE WITH ME. I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO RECOGNIZE THE 2024 FLORIDA STATE STATUTES MAKE LOLLY CONCEALED CARRY OF A PERSONAL VEHICLE A MISDEMEANOR AND NOT A FELONY AND ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE SITE MANAGERS REMIND EMPLOYEES OF HANDBOOK POLICIES SO THEY'RE NOT AMBISHED DURING SECOND HOUR WHILE TEACHING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WESTERN CULTURE VIA LITERATURE AND MISTREATED AFTER COOPERATEING. I WAS NOT AWARE NOR SPECIFICALLY MADE AWARE
035OF POLICY 4217. I DIDN'T EXHIBIT A WEAPON NOR MAKE ANY THREATS BUT WAS SEARCHED AND CARTED OFF LIKE A VIL VILLAIN. NO EDUCATOR SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THAT. THANK YOU FOR CHANGING THIS POLICY IN THE NEAR FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. I'M RACHEL JOY. I'M A PARENT OF TWO IN THE SCHOOLS. YOU'RE TAKING BOOK BAN ORDERS ON TWITTER, NOW, VAN AYRES NOT USING OFFICIAL CHANNELS OR PROCESSES. I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T AND IF HE WANTED FRIES WITH THAT WHEN HE DEMANDED TO REMOVE TRANSMISSION AND THERE IS NOTHING OBJECTIONABLE WITHIN IT. AS PARENTS WANTED OUR REVIEW PROCESS YOU ALL IGNORE US AND NOW YOU'LL LIKELY BAN TWO MORE BOOKS THAT ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WERE CONFIRMED TO BE ABLE TO STAY. THE PROCESS AND PARENTAL FEEDBACK DON'T MATTER TO YOU. YOU ONLY
036VALUE THE VOICES OF BIGOTS, THE ONE IN TALLAHASSEE WHO WIELD 4 AGAINST YOU AND THE ONES IN THE ROOM WHO ARE NOT PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS, HEY, JULIE, AND WE'RE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARDS BANNING BOOKS LIKE THIS ON MY KID'S SUPPLEMENTAL READING LIST. I LOVE THAT YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME. I THINK BETWEEN THE FACT THAT OUR RESIDENT COUNTY BOOK CENSORSHIP ADVOCATE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S UNAMERICA TO BE AN IMMIGRANT TALKING ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE AND THE FACT THAT THE TEACHER WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION BY ALEX BIRDIE ON TRUTH SOCIAL NO LESS WAS POSTING POLITICAL TIKTOKS DESPITE BEING IN HER CLASSROOM TALKING ABOUT WANTING MORE DEPORTATIONS AND SHE IS AN ESL TEACHER BY THE WAY. I'M DISGUSTED THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT TEACHERS FOLLOWING THE CODE OF ETHICS AS MUCH AS LISTENING TO BOOK
037BAN ORDERS ON TWITTER. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHY THIS ALL IS CONCERNING ME WHAT I THINK THAT IT'S TRANS PEOPLE TODAY AND IT IS IMMIGRANTS TOMORROW, YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOUR RESIDENT COUNTY BOOK BANNER. SORRY. PAGE 68 SAYS IMMIGRANTS OUR LIVES ARE NEVER FAIR. I GOT MY HEART RATE GOING. YOU SHOULD SEE THE RICH PEOPLE. THEY HAVE SO MUCH FUN BUT THEY'RE SO MEAN TO US JUST BECAUSE WE'RE POORER THAN THEM I FINISHED THE SENT PES. LUPE LOOKED AT THE FLOOR AND BECAUSE WE'RE BROWN SHE SAID QUIETLY. IT'S JUST NOT AMERICAN IN ANY WAY BECAUSE LOOK AROUND YOU AT ALL THE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE IN AMERICA. THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA. SO YOU'RE TEACHING KIDS TO LOOK THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AMERICA. THAT'S WHERE THE
038MARXIFICATION PART COMES IN. THEY'RE MAKING KIDS CONSCIOUS OF THIS INVISIBLE PROBLEM THAT'S NOT EVEN A PROBLEM BECAUSE AMERICA SAGREAT COUNTRY. PEOPLE ARE STILL FLOODING INTO OVER THE BORDER -- SO I'M SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S ABOUT GAY SEX AND BOOKS BUT THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE POSTED ONLINE. JUST SO WE'RE PERFECTLY CLEAR, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE YOU HAVE PUT US ON LANDS US WITH THIS BEING GONE. SHE ALREADY SAID SHE WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE GOVERNOR ABOUT IT WHEN BROWARD DIDN'T SUCCESSFULLY BAN IT. IS THIS WHO YOU WANT PUTTING YOU ON THE BACK WHEN THE COMMISSIONER ASKS YOU TO BAN THIS BOOK NEXT, I HAVE NO FAITH YOU WILL SAY NO. YOU WON'T DO THE RIGHT THING. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU ANYMORE. THIS IS WHO PATS YOU ON THE BACK. THE ESL TEACHER WHO POSTS ABOUT WANTING
039DEPORTATIONS FROM HER CLASSROOM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GIANA HUNT. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, MY COMMUNITY AND ON BEHALF OF MAGNUM 5 VOICES. A CONCERNED CITIZENS GROUP OF PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS, TEACHERS, VETERANS, FUTURE VOTERS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS THAT ARE INVESTED IN THE FUTURE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. FIRST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH IN TODAY'S AGENDA. IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT PRIORITIZE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND SCHOOL-WIDE SUPPORT. THESE STEPS MATTER AND SHOW THE DISTRICT IS LISTENING. ONE INITIATIVE I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE YOUTH GUIDANCE EVOLVED PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES WOW, WORKING ON WOMANHOOD AND BAM, BECOMING A MAN. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER RESEARCH-BASED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS NAVIGATING TRAUMA,
040IDENTITY AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY'RE MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS IN THE YOUTH BUT ONLY SOME OF THE YOUTH. WOW AND BAM SERVE MANY STUDENTS BUT ALSO LEAVE MANY BEHIND. WE KNOW STUDENTS WHO ARE LGBTQ PLUS, NEURODIVERGENT OR LIVING AT THE MULTISECTION OF MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES FACE HIGHER RISK OF BULLYING, EXCLUSION, AND UNFORTUNATELY SUICIDE. THESE STUDENTS DESERVE PROGRAMS THAT REFLECT THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES, AFFIRM THEIR IDENTITIES AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE. I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO FIT INTO GENDERED PROGRAM MODELS RECEIVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FILL THE GAPS FOR STUDENTS WHO DON'T SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN WOW OR BAM OR SIMPLY HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT OUT YET. CAN WE COMMIT TO EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING TO BE INCLUSIVE, INTERSECTIONAL, AND RESPONSIVE TO THE FULL SPECTRUM
041OF STUDENT NEEDS. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT MUST BE MORE THAN AVAILABLE. IT MUST ALSO BE ACCESSIBLE. AFFIRMING AND EQUITABLE. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. ASK I HOPE THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO WHAT WE'RE ASKING. WE'RE ASKING FOR EQUITY. WE'RE ASKING FOR EVERY CHILD TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND FEEL VALUED IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR SCHOOLS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. LET'S LIVE BY THE VALUES THAT WE'RE STANDING HERE FOR AND LET'S THINK ABOUT ALL THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I CALL UP THE LAST THREE SPEAKERS PLEASE? NEXT SPEAKER. HI. MY NAME IS CARMINE AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, A BUSINESS OWNER AND TAXPAYER. THE LIST OF MISSTEPS VAN AYRES COMMITTED THIS
042SUMMER IS LONG, SERIOUS AND COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS. COUNTS 1 THROUGH 50 ARE THE 50 BOOKS ORDERED REMOVE FROM SHELVES TO BE REEVALUATED AT A COST OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF THE DISTRICT. WASTED DUE TO POLITICAL OVERREACH. NOT ONLY WAS IT AN ABSOLUTE -- TO AN OVERREACHING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROWING EXISTING COUNTY POLICY OUT THE WINDOW, IT WAS THE DIRECT OPPOSITE OF LEADERSHIP AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS TO AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS TIME AND AGAIN MOVED THE GOAL POST. WHAT WILL BE NEXT? WHO WILL BE NEXT? AT WHAT POINT DO YOU DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND AND PROTECT ALL STUDENTS INCLUDING BLACK, TR TRANS AND OTHER STUDENTS. SUBVERTING EXISTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MEANT TO PROTECT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF STUDENTS. COUNTS 52 AND 53
043ARE TO BE DETERMINED. BUT THE PROPOSED BANNING OF ELLEN HOPKINS IDENTICAL AND BLANKETS BUT I'LL SEE YOU SEPTEMBER 9 FOR THAT. WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE OVERTURN OF HB69 AND THE WIN OF STUDENT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND ASK WHEN WILL THE COLOR PURPLE, I'M NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER, HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS AND THE OTHER BOOKS RULED SHOULD NOT BE RETURNED TO HIBRAYER SHELVES. -- LIBRARY SHELVES. FOR YEARS AND EVEN TODAY I'VE WATCHED PEOPLE COME OUT AND READ OUT OF CONTEXT PASSAGES FROM BOOKS AND DECLARE THE BOOKS VULGAR AND UNFIT FOR CHILDREN BUT NOW THE LAW TELLS US, RETURN THE BANNED BOOKS TO THE SHELVES, APPLY THE MILLER TEST TO CHALLENGE BOOKS. THE LAW SAYS THE ENTIRE BOOK MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CHALLENGED. NOT JUST SECTIONS DEEMED OBJECTIONABLE BY A
044SELECT FEW INTENT ON BANNING BOOKS THAT DON'T MEET THEIR PERSONAL OR IDEOLOGICAL BOOKS. BOOKS HAVE ARTISTIC METHODS AND ARBITRARY PASSAGES ARE NOT TO BAN BOOKS. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RECTIFY IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT? THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. UNBAN THEM ALL. RETURN THE BOOKS TO LIBRARY BOOK SHELVES. FOLLOWING EXISTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES. DO IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS. ALL 224,000 OF THEM. NOT JUST THE ONES DICTATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS APRIL GOODWIN. I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE HAD GREAT EXPERIENCES. OBVIOUSLY WITH THAT MANY KIDS AND THAT MANY GRADES YOU ALWAYS DEAL WITH CHALLENGES BUT NEVER FEEL THE NEED TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS, SO THIS IS A FIRST. I'M ACTUALLY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL PARENTS
045AND STUDENTS THAT I IMPLORED TO LET ME SPEAK ON THEIR DEHALF SO YOU WOULDN'T GET INUNDATED WITH THE SAME REQUESTS. MY SITUATION IS NOT SPECIFIC BUT I FEEL LIKE IT AT LEAST OUTLAYS THE ISSUE AT HAND. MY DAUGHTER, 16, BIG DAY TO GO GET HER DRIVER'S LICENSE. WE DID ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION. WE DID DRIVER'S ED LAST YEAR. SHE PASSED AND WAS ONE OF THE FEW THAT PASSED THE WRITTEN AND DRIVING TEST IN THE SCHOOL. WE GOT THE FULL DMV EXPERIENCE AND SPENT HALF THE DAY THERE ONLY TO FIND OUT SHE WAS PUT IN AS FAILED IN THE SYSTEM. I THOUGHT FOR FOR SURE IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE ONLY TO FIND OUT LATER AFTER TRYING TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL FOR SEVERAL DAYS OVER THE SUMMER THAT I WAS IMPLOREED TO CHECK MY E-MAIL.
046THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TELL ME OVER THE PHONE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WASN'T SURE HOW THIS WORKED, SO I HAVE COPIES OF THE E-MAIL. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE PASSED THAT OUT OR HOW THAT WORKS. BUT I DO HAVE THAT AND I HIGHLIGHTED A FEW SECTIONS IN IT AND AFTER I READ IT, I UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS NOT TOLD OVER THE PHONE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, I DON'T MEAN TO TAKE THIS OUT OF CONTEXT. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT COPIES AND YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE THING IF YOU'D LIKE. IT WAS OUTLINED THAT HEY, WHEN TEACHERS CANNOT CONDUCT ON-SITE TESTS, THEY CAN GO TO THE DMV AND TAKE THE TEST THERE. I UNDERSTAND THEY CANNOT BUT THEY DID. SECOND THING IS THEY SAID WE SINCERELY VALUE OUR PROGRAM AND APOLOGIZE THAT THE INSTRUCTOR'S
047CERTIFICATION WAS NOT RENEWED. SO IN OTHER WORDS THE PERSON WAS TEACHING AT THE SCHOOL AND DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER CERTIFICATIONS TO BE DOING SO TO ME WHICH IS A GRAVE MISTAKE ON SOMEBODY'S BEHALF. AND THE WAY THAT THE LETTER IS WRITTEN AND I'M NOT SURE WHO EVERYONE READ IT. IT SAID IT CAME FROM THE DISTRICT. I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS. IT SAID THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THE CONTRACT AND THAT ALL STUDENTS THAT WERE AT PLANT WERE IMPACTED. I DO KNOW THAT'S NOT CORRECT, THAT IT WAS A SINGLE TEACHER THAT DID NOT HAVE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS AND SO THAT IS WHY I WAS WANTING TO TALK TODAY. WHAT I'D LIKE TO END WITH IS -- WHAT I'D LIKE IS THE RESPONSE WAS NOT ONLY DELAYED AND VAGUE BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATED A TROUBLING ABSENCE OF ANY ACCOUNTABILITY,
048PROACTIVITY AND ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I'D LIKE TO HAVE ASSURANCES ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS -- THAT THE TEACHERS TEACHING OUR KIDS HAVE THE PROPER CREDENTIALS AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN PLACE AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ACTION PLAN IS GOING TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS AND GIVE US THE PEACE OF MIND TO SEND OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND KNOW THE TEACHERS ARE QUALIFIED. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. YOU CAN LEAVE THOSE COPIES WITH MR. PORTER AND HE'LL PASS THAT OUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE WE CALL UP OUR LAST SPEAKER, MR. WEDDLETON SIGNED UP AND YOU'RE UP TO SPEAK IF YOU WANT TO GET IN LINE. OTHERWISE NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ROBERT PEOPLE AND I'M A TAMPA RESIDENT. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, RIGHT? THAT'S THE EXCUSE
049WE'RE USING TO BAN THESE BOOKS, CORRECT? WHEN A CHILD IS MURDERED BY A SCHOOL SHOOTER WE DON'T HEAR PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM THOSE SAME PEOPLE. WHEN A CHILD IS MOLESTED BY A STRAIGHT MAN, CRICKETS. WHEN BROWN IMMIGRANT CHILDREN ARE TREATED LIKE VIOLENT CRIMINALS BECAUSE OF WHO THEIR PARENTS HAPPEN TO BE, SILENCE. SO LET'S STOP LYING ABOUT THIS BEING TO PROTECT ANY CHILDREN. IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING BIGOTRY. AS FOR THESE BOOKS THAT ARE BANNED, WHEN WERE THEY READ BY THOSE WHO MADE THE DECISIONS. WHEN WERE THEIR PARENTS NOTIFIED. AND SINCE WHEN ARE THESE DISCUSSIONS DONE OVER TWITTER RATHER THAN THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE PROCESSES. BOOK BANS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PROTECTING CHILDREN. THIS IS TO CARRY THE GOVERNOR'S HOME FOAFIC AND RA RACIST -- HOMOPHOBIC AND RACIST AGENDA. LET'S NOT CALL IT THAT. THAT MEANS YOU'RE AFRAID
050OF SOMETHING. NOT ONE PERSON HERE IS SCARED OF ANY BOOK. BIGOTRY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FEAR. SEE THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE OUTWARD BIGOTRY NOT ONLY A TREND BUT THE MISSION. WE'RE AT A PLACE NOW WITH THOSE IN CHARGE WOULD STEP OVER A CHILD BLEEDING TO DEATH AS A RESULT OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING ONLY TO TAKE A BANNED BOOK AWAY FROM ANOTHER CHILD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. SEE MY CHILDREN ARE GROWN ALREADY. BUT THE PARENTS IN THIS DISTRICT DESERVE BETTER. YOU OWE THAT TO THEM. STOP USING OUR CHURCH AS SHIELDS FOR EVIL TWISTED AND POLITICAL AGENDAS. THEY DESERVE BETTER. SEE, WHEN WE STEP AWAY FROM THE PODIUM YOU'LL ALL CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL BE WE WILL NOT. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR CHILDREN. IF YOU WILL NOT PROTECT THEM, WE WILL. WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT
051UNTIL EVERY BOOK IS BACK ON THE SHELVES. NOW IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT BIGOTRY, I SERVED ON THE ARMY FOR 21 YEARS FOR YOU TO HAVE THAT RIGHT. BUT KEEP OUR DAMN CHILDREN OUT OF IT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. I IS A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. I'LL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. Van Ayres: THANK YOU. MR. WERE FOUR PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND HIGHLIGHT THOSE. WE'LL START WITH THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF -- THERE SHE IS.
052WE'LL START WITH BABITA, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF LAIDO HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. STAY THERE. SO OUR NEW PRINCEFUL. SHE BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN NORWALK, CALIFORNIA, TEACHING HEALTH, PE AND SWARF IT WAS EDUC EDUCATION. MS. ARTABASY BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTYT IN 2010 TEACHING PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND SERVING AS HEAD COACH FOR GIRL'S BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL. SHE WAS APPOINTED AP FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT ALONSO AND IN 2018, SHE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ADMINISTRATION AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL WHERE SHE'S CURRENTLY SERVING. OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF LETO HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. LOTS OF SUPPORT THERE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. AND WE HAVE MR. BRENT WILLIAMS. WHERE IS BRENT AT? BRENT, COME ON DOWN, SIR. SO MR. WILLIAMS IS OUR CURRENT PRINCIPAL AND DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OVER THERE BUT HE BEGAN HIS TEACHING CAREER IN MIAMI-DADE
053COUNTY IN 1995 AND MOVED TO MIL COUNTY IN 2006. 2015 HE WAS APPOINTED AP AT BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO SLYE IN 2018 AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. HE WAS PRINCIPAL IN 2021 AND THEN HE WAS AT BENITO BUT NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF FRANKLIN MIDDLE. CONGRATULATIONS. AND MR. WILLIAMS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME OVER AT BENITO. DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OVER THERE. THE NEXT LEADER THERE WE'LL APPOINT AT THE NEXT MEETING HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR. TWO MORE. WE HAVE OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF COLEMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MR. ROBERT CHRISM. WHERE ARE YOU AT, SIR? COME ON DOWN, ROBERT. SO ROBERT CHISHOLM BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A BAND DIRECTOR IN 1997. SERVED AS BAND DIRECTOR FROM 1997 TO 2013. SO 16 YEARS AS A BAND
054DIRECTOR AT PROGRESS, RANDALL, ADAMS. FROM 2013 TO 2015, LEAD ARTS TEACHER AT PROGRESS VILLAGE MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO GRECO MIDDLE SCHOOL AS AN AP IN 2018 AND 2021 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT COLEMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. SO FROM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT COLEMAN TO NOW THE PRINCIPAL AT COLEMAN, CONGRATULATIONS, MR. CHISHOLM. A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR OUR PRINCIPALS THIS EVENING. I LOVE IT. OUR LAST PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT, KATHY BROWN. WHERE ARE YOU AT? COME ON DOWN. OVER THAT WAY. SO KATHY BROWN IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT SULLIVAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO KATHY BROWN BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN 1996 AT GRADEY ELEMENTARY TEACHING IT FIRST GRADE. 1998, RIVER HILLS ELEMENTARY WHERE SHE TAUGHT SECOND AND THIRD GRADE. SHE THEN TRANSFERRED TO MINTS IN 2001 TEACHING SECOND AND THIRD GRADES. AND IN 2004,
055MS. BROWN WAS APPOINTED AP AT SULLIVAN PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. SO 2004 APPOINTED TO SERVE SULLIVAN. THAT ENTIRE TIME AS AN AP. NOW THE PRINCIPAL AT SULLIVAN. CONGRATULATIONS. MADAM CHAIR, THOSE WERE OUR FIRST PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, PRINCIPALS. WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT NOW TO PAUSE FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE BOARD MEMBER. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C505, C101, C102, C104, C302, C704, C707, AND C10.01. WE'LL BEGIN WITH 5.05, NAMING OF THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN PLANT CITY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE'RE EXCITED TO NAME OUR NEW TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN PLANT CITY. IT IS LOCATED AT 1690 EAST PARK ROAD AND WILL BE A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY. OUR CLASSROOMS WILL BE OPEN FOR ADULT
056EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS. FOLLOWED BY HIGH SCHOOL OFFERINGS STARTING IN JANUARY 2026. STUDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO HANDS ON TRAINING AND INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICITY, WELDING TECHNOLOGY, BILKEDING CONSTRUCTION, HVAC AND FORK LIFT CERTIFICATION. EACH PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE COMPLETED IN APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR HELPING TO GROW A SKILLED WORKFORCE AND CONNECT GRADUATES WITH HIGH DEMAND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO MR. PORTER TO PROVIDE THE PROCESS WE AS A BOARD GOES THROUGH TO NAME THE SCHOOL. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. THIS PROCESS IS DECKITATED -- DICTATED BY YOUR POLICY. THIS FACILITY MAY BE NAMED FOR -- ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES. IF EDUCATORS, NUMBER ONE. OR OUTSTANDING CITIZENS OR GROUPS THAT ASSISTED IN THE ESTABLISHING OF THE FACILITY. THOSE ARE THE CRITERIA YOU'D BE GOING OVER TODAY.
057DR. GRAY WILL GO OVER THAT. THE WAY YOU'LL BE VOTING TONIGHT IS BY BALLOT. EACH OF YOU WILL GET A SLIP OF PAPER WITH YOUR NAME ON IT. WRITE YOUR SELECTION FOR WHO YOU WANT TO HAVE THE SCHOOL NAMED AFTER. THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL TABULATE THOSE AND ANNOUNCE THE NUMBER OF VOTES FOR EACH CANDIDATE. THESE BECOME PUBLIC RECORD AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ON THEM AND THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST HAVE AT LEAST FOUR VOTES TO HAVE THE SCHOOL NAMED FOR THAT PERSON. IF THERE ARE NOT FOUR IN THE FIRST ROUND, THE VOTING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL A CANDIDATE SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVES FOUR VOTES FROM THE BOARD. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROCESS THAT YOU'VE USED IN THE PAST AND FOR ELECTING THE CHAIR. SO AGAIN, YOU'LL WRITE ON THE BALLOT YOUR SELECTION THAT
058WILL BECOME PUBLIC RECORD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL ANNOUNCE AND ASK FOR A VOTE TO CODIFY AFTERWARDS. OF COURSE. YOU'LL HEAR FROM DR. GRAZE ABOUT HOW THE NAMES WERE SOLICITED AND THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT WAS SOUGHT. THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. I'LL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE SURVEY WAS COMMUNICATED. THE NAMING PROCESS WAS ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 30. THE SURVEY OPENED ON JULY 7 AND CLOSED ON JULY 25. WE RECEIVED 1,471 TOTAL NAME RECOMMENDATIONS. 2003 UNIQUE -- 203 UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL NAMES WERE SUBMITTED. OF THE SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED, 47% OR 686 CAME FROM INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITHIN THE PLANT CITY ZIP CODES. 33563, 33564, 33565, 33566, AND 33567. REGARDING THE POPULATION OF WHO SUBMITTED A RECOMMENDATION, 387 CAME FROM HCPS ALUMNI. 352 FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 300 FROM PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. THE SURVEY WAS ALSO SHARED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA IN ENGLISH
059AND SPANISH TO FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM. IT WAS ALSO SHARED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS SHARED WITH VARIOUS PLANT CITY LEADERS AS WELL AS TO ALL TAMPA BAY TELEVISION STATIONS, THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, THE TAMPA BEACON, THE PLANT CITY OBSERVER AND FLORIDA STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. Jim Porter: SO AT THIS POINT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS BEFORE YOU VOTE, WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR NORMAL VOTING PROCESS. Jessica Vaughn: SO I NEED A MOTION -- Jim Porter: THERE IS NO MOTION AT THIS POINT. WE'LL WAIT ON THAT. THE MOTION WILL COME AFTER YOU DO THE BALLOTS. THIS IS JUST FOR COMMENTS BEFORE THE VOTING BEGINS. Jessica Vaughn: YOU WANT ME TO TAKE DISCUSSION BEFORE A MOTION AND A SECOND?
060Jim Porter: THE MOTION WOULD BE WHOEVER GETS THE MOST VOTES. Jessica Vaughn: I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND RECOGNIZE MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS A UNIQUE HONOR AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO LOOK AT THE -- OUR COMMUNITIES AND EXACTLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY STANDS FOR. PLANT CITY IS A VERY UNIQUE AREA. NOT ONLY A PLACE WHERE OUR FAMILIES HAVE GROWN UP FOR GENERATIONS. IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER IN DISASTERS, COMES TOGETHER FOR GROWTH, COMES TOGETHER TO SUPPORT WHICHEVER ONE OF YOU WHETHER IT'S A FRIDAY NIGHT AND FOOTBALL GAMES OR THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AND EVERYONE PITCHES IN TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL YOUTH AT A CATTLEMAN'S OR A STEER AUCTION. IT'S EVERYONE IN PLANT CITY THAT CIRCLES AROUND THEMSELVES. AND WE HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS OF PLANT CITY NOMINATED
061FOR THIS HONOR. ONE WAS MR. FRED PARKS AND HIS COMMUNITY WITHIN THE STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION, THEY'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR GROWERS AND OUR FOOD AND FOOD SECURITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DONE. MR. CARL CARLSON IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS. IT IS AN HONOR FOR WHAT HE'S DONE FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSION, OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE AND OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. IT'S WITH THAT -- THIS THAT I'D SAY AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN BUILDING ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS IN PLANT CITY THAT WE WANT TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE HIM AS ONE OF THE HEAD CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. HE HAS TAKEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH MANY CHALLENGES WHETHER IT WAS CLOSING SCHOOLS, COMBINING HIGH SCHOOLS, WALKING 3D
062SEGREGATION, BUT HE WAS A VITAL ENTITY THAT LED TO THE SUCCESS OF NOT ONLY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUT PLANT CITY. SO FOR THAT, I'LL ALWAYS SUPPORT HIM IN NAMING A SCHOOL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, PLANT CITY IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. IT'S A PLACE THAT I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT. IT'S A PLACE WHERE MY FAMILY CONTINUOUSLY GOES AS PART OF MY COMMUNITY. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I SEE THE DIFFERENCE THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OF PLANT CITY. MR. RICK LOTT IS A VITAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MADE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION AND THIS SCHOOL IS ONE OF THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS. HE HAS WORKED THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY LIKE PLANT CITY. IT'S NOT JUST A COMMUNITY THAT WAS
063BUILT ON INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GONE OFF TO COLLEGE BUT IT'S BUILT OFF THE INDIVIDUAL HANDS THAT HAVE TORE THE SOIL, CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOMES, BUT HAS ACTUALLY WORKED FROM THE GROUND UP. HE INSURED THE DISTRICT UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF A PLACE LIKE PLANT CITY. AND BECAUSE OF THAT I FIND THAT TO BE VERY VITAL. NOT ONLY THAT BUT HE HAS BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE YOUTH OF PLANT CITY. BEING ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION WITHIN PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL, AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WHEN RAISED UP IN PLANT CITY THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE LIFETIME. HE HAS CONTRIBUTED BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HE/ HIMSELF IS ONE OF THOSE THAT BID ON SOME OF THE FFA AGRICULTURE AND OUR INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SUPPORT ALL OUR YOUTH AND ALL OUR
064PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. HE HAS WORKED THROUGH VARIOUS BARRIERS THROUGH FFA -- I'M SORRY. THROUGH THE FAA AND THE MAKING SURE THE LAND WAS AVAILABLE FOR EXACTLY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. AS WE SEE PLANT CITY GROW, WE SEE THE NEEDS FOR THESE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO REACH THE NEXT GENERATION AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR OWN PROGRAMS, BUILD THEIR OWN COMPANIES AND SUCCEED AND PLANT CITY IS JUST THE PLACE TO DO THAT. FORMER MAYOR RICK LOTT HAS BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL PART IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. IF IT WASN'T FOR HIS TENACITY, HIS VISION, AND HIS DEDICATION TO THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, WE WOULDN'T SEE THIS TECHNICAL COLLEGE TODAY. BECAUSE OF THAT, HE HAS MY 100% FULL SUPPORT IN NAMING OF THIS PLANT CITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
065Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. YOU KNOW, FIRST BEING ELECTED ON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, I ARE TRAVELED THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUT NEVER AS EXTENSIVELY AS MY SECOND AND THIRD YEAR AND PLANT CITY BECOME SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO ME. I LIVE IN ODESSA AND IT'S JUST THE FURTHEST APART BUT IN A WAY IT HAS SOME OF THE SAME FEELINGS, A KIND OF RURAL AREA. WHEN I WENT TO FRED'S FOR THE FIRST TIME AND STARTED GOING THERE, I TOLD SOMEBODY THERE WHEN I WENT TO MY FIRST STRAWBERRY FESTIVALS I GRABBED ONE AND PUT IT IN THE TOP OF THE CAR AND HAVE IT EVERY DAY. FOR ME, IT'S JUST A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE. AND WHEN I THINK OF PLANT CITY I REALLY THINK OF MAYOR -- FORMER
066MAYOR RICK LOTT. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM. YOU KNOW, HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NORTHWEST PLANT CITY. HE WAS BORN IN A FARM AND A RANCH. HE STARTED HIS EDUCATION AT CORK ELEMENTARY AND HE ATTENDED LINCOLN AND THEN MARSHAL SEVENTH GRADE CENTER, TOMLIN JR. HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE ULTIMATELY GRADUATING FROM PLANT CITY. THAT REALLY SHOWS YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH, HE IS A PLANT CITY GRADUATE. HE WAS AN FFA OFFICER AND PARTICIPATED IN SPEECH CONTEST AND EARNED A GRAND CHAMPION TITLE. THE THING WHEN I MET RICK AND TALKED TO HIM AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE DI AND HE TALKED ABOUT HIS FAMILY, WHAT ABOUT COLLEGE? COLLEGE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE AND WE'RE LEARNING MORE AND MORE THERE IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THERE IS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO WELL IN YOUR LIFE
067AND WITH AI AND THINGS HAPPENING, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY AND HAVE THAT AMERICAN DREAM AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS WITH COLLEGE. SO RICK LOTT ALTHOUGH HE COULD HAVE PROBABLY GONE TO HARVARD, HE DECIDED TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON A COPIER BUSINESS AND WITH HIS PROLIFIC GIFT OF GAB HE EVENTUALLY MOVED INTO SALES AND WORKED HIS WAY UP ON THE COMPANY TO BE A VICE PRESIDENT. AND HE FOUNDED HIS FIRST COMPANY IN THE 1990s FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND THAT REALLY STANDS OUT. AFTER THAT, HE HAD SEVEN DIFFERENT COMPANIES OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES. HE HAD LEADERSHIP ROLES ALL OVER PLANT CITY FROM THE FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER FOR FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. THE RAIDERS CHAMPION FOUNDATION. PLANT CITY, YMCA, PLANT CITY CHAMBER AND ROTARY, SOUTH FLORIDA, THE
068COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR 18 YEARS WITH 11 OF THOSE BEING MAYOR. AND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT EVERY TIME I TALK TO RICK LOTT, HE ALWAYS ASKS ABOUT THE STUDENTS AND CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE AND REALIZES THIS TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE THERE -- HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THAT THERE. SO WITHOUT A QUESTION FOR ME, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY RICK LOTT TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL CENTER. I ENVISION THAT. I THINK HE IS JUST -- HIM AND HIS FAMILY REALLY SPEAK TO LIVING THAT AMERICAN DREAM AND AS STUDENTS ENTER THAT PROGRAM, THEY CAN HEAR THAT YOU CAN HAVE HUGE SUCCESS. SURE, GO TO COLLEGE. BUT IF YOU TRY -- DECIDE NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE, THERE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND HAVING SUCH A ROLE MODEL THERE IS AMAZING. LAST THING I
069WANT TO SAY. IT'S SO HARD NAMING THE SCHOOLS. I WANT TO SAY I'M VERY -- SYLVIA ALBRITAIN, I HEARD HER NAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I'M REALLY COMMITTED TO KEEPING THAT IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE WHEN I THINK OF PLANT CITY AND THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AND THE FUTURE THE CHILDREN WILL HAVE, AND TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED THERE, AND TO KEEP BRI BRINGING -- GOING BACK TO HELP LEAD THAT CITY SAYS A LOT. SO I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. DR. HAHN? Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF NAMING MANY, MANY SCHOOLS DURING OUR TENURE ON THE BOARD AND IT WILL CONTINUE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
070AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND I SAY THIS EVERY TIME WE ARE GETTING READY TO NAME A SCHOOL, I HOLD A SPECIFIC STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND FOR ME THE STANDARD IS REALLY SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND. THE INDIVIDUAL, THE NAMESAKE MUST HAVE DEVOTED THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR WHERE THEY HAVE STRENGTHENED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO THAT IS WHERE I START IN MY PROCESS. THEY MUST HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT POSITION THEY HELD, WHAT MATTERS IS THEIR LIFELONG COMEIMENT TO EDUCATING STUDENTS AND UPLIFTING SCHOOLS. WHEN WE CHOOSE TO HONOR AN EDUCATOR IN THIS WAY, WE NOT ONLY PRESERVE THEIR LEGACY BUT ALSO IT'S A REMINDER OF THE FUTURE GENERATIONS, TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND DEEP DEVOTION, THOSE WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE CLASSROOMS
071HAVE GIVEN US. THE REALITY IS THAT VERY FEW EDUCATORS ARE EVER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR NAMES PLACED ON A PUBLIC BUILDING. UNLIKE PHILANTHROPISTS WHO CAN DONATE MILLIONS OR PUBLIC FIGURES WHO RECEIVE RECOGNITION, MOST EDUCATORS WORK QUIETLY, TIRELESSLY AND WITHOUT FANFARE AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ME, A FORMER TEACHER AND LIFELONG EDUCATOR TO HONOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO POURED THEIR LIVES INTO THE CHILDREN, CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITIES. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I'VE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, ALUMNI AND CIVIC LEADERS WHO ALL SHARE ONE CONVICTION. DR. SYLVIA ALBRITAIN EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO DEDICATE ONE'S LIFE TO EDUCATION. SHE WAS A TEACHER, DEAN AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. A PRINCIPAL, GENERAL DIRECTOR FOR CAREER AND TECH ED. A CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER. A LANGUAGE ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR. A PEER EVALUATOR
072AND PROFESSOR. ONE CONSTITUENT SAID IT BEST. TO NAME THIS INSTITUTION IN HONOR OF HER IS TO NAME IT WITH THE SPIRIT OF CURIOSITY, TENACITY AND DEDICATION. AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF LEGACY WE WANT THE SCHOOL TO CARRY. DR. ALBRITAIN'S DEVOTION TO HER STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES CREATED RIPPLES THAT TRANSFORM LIVES YEAR AFTER YEAR. ANOTHER VETERAN EDUCATOR WITH 40 YEARS OF SERVICE DESCRIBED HER AS ONE OF THE FINEST EDUCATORS WHO HAS SERVED THE TEACHERS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY STUDENTS. AFTER DECADES OF LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, DR. ALBRITAIN CONTINUES TO EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES WE INSTILL IN EVERY CLASSROOM. DEDICATION, DIGNITY, LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION. WE RECEIVED PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF LETTERS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTH S AS A BEACON REPRESENTING THE BEST OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE ASPIRING TO BE AND NAMING THIS SCHOOL
073AFTER DR. SYLVIA ALBRITTON WILL ENSURE EVERYONE IS REMINDED OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND DEVOTION TO EDUCATORS. THERE ARE MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE SERVED HONORABLY AND GIVEN BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS. BUT FEW HAVE DONE SO WITH THE PASSION FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND TRANSFOR -- TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT DR. ALL BRITAIN HAD. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT NAMING THE PLANT CITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN HONOR OF DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. MY, MY. WE GO BACK YEARS AGO, WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I THINK IT WAS 2017 WE WERE IN THE LIBRARY OF PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL. I'M SAYING THIS TO FORMER MAYOR RICK LOTT. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT A MAYOR WOULD COME TO A LITTLE TOWN HALL MEETING JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE TEACHERS WERE THINKING AND
074SO FORTH, BUT THERE HE IS. THAT TOLD ME RIGHT THERE THAT THIS IS A LEAD ERLEADER FROM A V VERY TIGHTKNIT COMMUNITY KNOWN AS PLANT CITY THAT REALLY STOOD CENTERED. AS THE YEAR, TWO OR THREE YEARS WE GOT TOGETHER AND TALKED AB ABOUT -- AS MAYOR KILTON SAID, A POSSIBILITY OF A SCHOOL, TECHNICAL SCHOOL. AND UNDER SUPERINTENDENT ADDISON DAVIS AND CHRIS FARKAS, WE -- AND OF COURSE WITH THE MOTIVATION OF -- AND DIRECTION FROM THEN MAYOR LOTT, WE PUT TOGETHER THE PLAN TO HAVE A TECHNICAL SCHOOL. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SUDDEN SITUATION THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER A WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN. IT CAME FROM MANY, MANY YEARS OF WORK AND DILIGENCE AND BELIEF IN A LEADER THAT JUST HAD HIS HEART GIVEN TO THE WELFARE
075AND WELL-BEING OF THE STUDENTS OF PLANT CITY. SO FAST FORBIRD AND THIS IS WHAT VICE MAYOR -- SOME OF THE LETTERS, WHICH WE HAD MANY BUT SOME OF THE LETTERS PROBABLY WILL GIVE YOU THE EMBLEMATIC RATIONALE AS TO WHY RICK LOTT HAS AND WILL HAVE PROBABLY THIS NAMING OF THE SCHOOL TONIGHT. FROM VICE MAYOR JASON JONES, JASON SAID A LEADER WHO KNOWS, AND THIS GOES TO RICK, RICK IS A LEADER WHO KNOWS THE STRENGTH OF THE PLANT CITY COMMUNITY LIES IN ITS INVESTMENT. AND IT GOES ABOUT -- GOES WITH SAYING THAT COMMUNITIES MAKE OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR SCHOOLS MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT -- TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY IN A SCHOOL JUST IS SO, SO VERY CRITICAL. AND THEN WE HAD A QUOTE FROM MAYOR KILTON, EVEN THOUGH -- I SAID TO NATE, YOU
076BEAT ME IN THE 10K SO I'M GOING TO QUOTE YOU ANYWAY, YOU'RE FORGIVEN. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID AND BELIEVE IN IS THAT RICK LOTT WILL REMOVE THE STIGMA THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK A STUDENT IS A FAILURE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GO TO COLLEGE. AND THAT HAVING A TRADE SCHOOL IDENTIFICATION IS NOT A SIGN OF ILL SUCCESS, RATHER, IT IS A SIGN OF GREAT SUCCESS, GREAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLSETS AND MORE THAN ANYTHING A LOT OF SOPHISTICATION AND MACHINERY AND IT REALLY PUTS THE HAT FORTH FOR THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. MAYOR KILTON, YOU WILL KNOW THAT THE LATE EARL J. LEONARD SPOKE AND DID FORM THE ORIGINAL, SOME OF YOU KNOW THIS, CARL CARPENTER ALSO, PUT THE VISION OF VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND NOW YOU'RE SEEING THE FRUITION OF IT COMING BACK AND MANY
077STRONG WAVES. THEN WE HAD RICK -- WE HAD COMMISSIONER SPARKMAN, ONE OF THE LETTERS HE WROTE OR ONE OF THE SENTENCES, HE SAID THAT RICK IS A STEADFAST ADVOCATE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WITH ALL THESE LETTERS AND COMMUNITY, LET'S SAY, BUY-IN, YOU ARE MY NOMINEE BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE HAD TREMENDOUS, FANTASTIC OTHER NOMINEES. SYLVIA ALBRITTON, YOU'RE ONE OF THEM OF COURSE. I'M OUT OF TIME AS USUAL. BUT FROM WHAT I SEE AND KNOW IN MY BACKGROUND, I WILL SAY THAT I'M PROUD TO HAVE RECOMMEND PLANT CITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE NAMED AFTER RICK LOTT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M AN OLD TIMER AND GO BACK A LONG WAYS. MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I
078USED TO WORK IN PLANT CITY WHEN I FIRST STARTED TEACHING. I WORKED AT TURKEY CREEK AND THE BASKETBALL COURT AT -- WITH COACH JIMMY SMITH. YOUR NAME HAS ALWAYS COME UP IN A POSITIVE WAY. WHEN YOU HEAR THAT IN A POSITIVE WAY, SOMETHING GOOD IS ABOUT IT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY BAD THINGS, SOMETHING OFF THE WALL, BUT YOUR NAME HAS -- YOUR NAME IS A PROUD NAME FOR PLANT CITY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT INSIGHT FOR STUDENTS SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS NOT MADE TO GO TO COLLEGE. I MEAN, THAT'S 100%. BUT YOU HAD THAT INSIGHT TO HAVE THAT PUT IN WHERE KIDS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. BUT YOU CARE IN
079A DIFFERENT WAY AND DIFFERENT LEVEL AND I APPRECIATE THAT TOO, MR. LOTT. ALSO APPRECIATE -- YOU KNOW WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT YOU THE MOST? I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR TIE IS SO NEAT. I HAD TO GET THAT ONE IN. ALWAYS PROPERLY DRESSED. ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL. ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD DO IN LIFE. AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOUR NAME ON THE SCHOOL. ON THAT CAREER CENTER. IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND EVERYBODY IN PLANT CITY SHOULD BE HAPPY BECAUSE THIS GUY IS FROM PLANT CITY. YOU GOT A HOME-GROWN PERSON THERE WHO HAS BEEN A LEGEND IN PLANT CITY FOR YEARS, AND NOW YOU GET A CHANCE TO BE WHAT IT IS. SO YOU HAVE MY 100% VOTE FOR THE CAREER CENTER, AND I WANT YOU TO TEACH ME HOW TO TIE MY TIE LIKE
080THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES? Van Ayres: THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, I'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE VICE CHAIR CAN CAN TO READ INTO THE RECORD HER STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF NAMING OF THE PLANT CITY CAREER TECHNICAL COLLEGE AFTER FORMER PLANT CITY MAYOR RICK LOTT. THIS IS FROM VICE CHAIR KAREN PEREZ. MY STATEMENT IS IN SUPPORT OF NAMING OF THE PLANT CITY CAREER TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN PLANT CITY, FLORIDA, AFTER FORMER MAYOR RICK LOTT. AS AN ACCOMPLISHED ENTREPRENEUR AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT HE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST CHAMPION FOR STUDENTS AND A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE PLANT CITY COMMUNITY AND ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. MAYOR LOTT'S IMPRESSIVE TENURE WITH A TOTAL OF 11 YEARS IN OFFICE SPEAKS TO HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF PLANT
081CITY. HIS LEADERSHIP WHICH BEGAN AS A CITY COMMISSIONER AND EXPANDED THROUGH MULTIPLE TERMS AS MAYOR LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON THE EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PLANT CITY. HIS GENUINE CARE FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE YOUTH AND ONGOING SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES MAKE HIM A FITTING NAMESAKE FOR THE CAREER CENTER. AS VICE SHISHMAN OF THE EDC HE CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PREPARE THEM FOR UCIS SESFUL -- SUCCESSFUL FUTURES. IN RECOGNITION OF THE COMMUNITY I BELIEVE THAT NAMING THE NEW CAREER CENTER AFTER HIM WOULD BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HIS LEGACY AND A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND THAT IS A STATEMENT FROM VICE CHAIR KAREN PEREZ, DISTRICT SCHOOL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN'T PLAN ANYTHING LIKE SOME OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. SO
082FORGIVE ME IF I KIND OF RAMBLE UP HERE. BUT AS DR. HAHN POINTED OUT, THESE ARE ALWAYS SOME OF T THE -- THEY'RE AN HONOR TO MAKE THE DECISIONS BUT SO INCREDIBLY HARD BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AND LIFT UP THE SCHOOLS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN HONOR, IT'S TOUGH TO CHOOSE ONE PERSON OVER THE OTHER. I ADMIRE DR. HAHN'S COMMITMENT TO CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATORS AND PUTTING THEM AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO NAME SCHOOLS. AND WE HAVE GOT AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE ABOUT DR. ALBRITTON AND HOW MUCH SHE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY AND I AGREE HER NAME WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A VERY SMALL TINY PIECE OF PLANT CITY
083IN MY DISTRICT. I DO. SO I DO FEEL THAT ESPECIALLY TIED TO THIS SPECIFIC NAMING OF THE CAREER CENTER. BUT I TRY TO LISTEN TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. AND MEMBER RENDON, YOU KNOW, PUTS A LOT OF HER TIME AND ENERGY INTO PLANT CITY. AND I TRY TO LISTEN TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHO KNOW THEIR DISTRICTS, WHO REALLY ADVOCATE FOR IT. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE A CAREER CENTER HERE. I THINK ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS NEED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND CAREER CENTERS AND IT'S UP TO ALL OF US AS BOARD MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THINGS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT MEMBER RENDON HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT AND ADVOCATED MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS FOR PLANT CITY AND I HOPE WE ALL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE TO HAPPEN IN OUR DISTRICTS,
084BECAUSE ALL OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUR KIDS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COLLEGE TO GIVE THEM CTE AND GIVE THEM TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES. AND SINCE MEMBER RENDON SPOKE SO PASSIONATELY TO MAYOR LOTT AND I DO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED TO PLANT CITY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS MY INSTINCT TO NORMALLY GO WITH AN EDUCATOR AND THAT'S MOST OF THE TIME, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO PUT MY RECOMM RECOMMENDATION, I BELIEVE YOU'RE A GREAT NAMESAKE TO GIVE TO THIS CAREER CENTER. WHAT I HOPE IS THAT A LOT OF THE TIMES WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO NAME SCHOOLS AFTER FAMILIES OR OUR EDUCATORS, THEY COME BACK AND INVEST SO MUCH INTO OUR SCHOOLS. THEY'RE AT EVERY GROUND BREAKING AND THERE TO SUPPORT TEACHERS. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO THEM THAT THEY BRING SO MUCH FROM THEIR COMMUNITY
085AND BACK AND JUST REALLY LOVE THAT SCHOOL AND INVEST IN IT. I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF THIS GOES FOR YOU, MAYOR LOTT, THAT YOU'LL BRING THE SAME ENERGY AND 84 FAMILY WILL AND MAKE -- AND YOUR FAMILY WILL AND MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CAREER CENTER, OUR STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THIS BOARD IN GENERAL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND EVERY PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO WITH THAT, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO -- Jim Porter: THEY'LL BE PASSING OUT THE BALLOTS. YOU'LL WRITE YOUR SELECTION ON THE BALLOT AND SIGN IT. GIVE THEM TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS. THEN AT THE END OF THIS, IF THERE ARE FOUR VOTES FOR A CANDIDATE, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A MOTION TO CODIFY THAT.
086. Van Ayres: CHAIR VAUGHN, I HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE. Jessica Vaughn: GOODNESS GRACIOUS. LET'S NOT KEEP US WAITING ANYMORE. THE RESULTS ARE.... Van Ayres: WE HAVE FIVE VOTES FOR RICK LOTT. ONE VOTE FOR SYLVIA ALBRITTON. Jessica Vaughn: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. . Van Ayres: IF I COULD FOR THE RECORD, THE FIVE VOTES FOR RICK LOTT ARE MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER COMBS, MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER GRAY. AND THE ONE VOTE FOR SYLVIA ALBRITTON IS FROM MEMBER HAHN. Jim Porter: IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO CODIFY THAT. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE NAMING THE CAREER CENTER IN PLANT CITY AFTER FORMER MAYOR RICK LOTT. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
087CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW YOU'LL DO GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE JUST AN ANOTHER MOMENT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CLEAR THE BOARDROOM. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. Jessica Vaughn: REALLY QUICK, BEFORE WE END THIS, MR. PORTER, CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A REAL QUICK CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL? Jim Porter: CLARIFICATION. JUST SO IN THE FUTURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFUSION. I DID CONFIRM WITH MAYOR LOTT HIS OFFICIAL WISH IS TO BE RICK LOTT TECHNICAL COLLEGE. NOT RICHARD OR ANYTHING -- RICK LOTT JUST SO THAT'S ON THE RECORD AND WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR LOTT AND CONGRATULATIONS. Jessica Vaughn: THANKS AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU GOT MY TIE? OKAY. Jessica Vaughn: WE'LL WAIT A FEW MORE MINUTES
088FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE DAIS. OKAY. NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO 1.01,SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT, IMAGINE LANGUAGE AND LITERACY FROM IMAGINE LEARNING LLC AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IMAGINE LANGUAGE AND LITERACY IS A DIGITAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TARGETED LITERARY INSTRUCTION WITH SIMULTANEOUS NATIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORT IN 20 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TO ACCELERATE EMERGING AND DEVELOPING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. 136 ELEMENTARY SITES USE IMAGINE LANGUAGE AND LITERACY WITH 8,095 STUDENTS ROSTERED. DURING THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR, 98% OF STUDENTS IN GRADES ONE TO FIVE HAD ACTIVE ACCOUNTS WITH OVERALL LESSON PASS RATE OF 95%. OUR DIRECTOR MELISSA IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING 1.01. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AND NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C.01. I HAVE A
089MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. IT APPEARS LIKE MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ATIME BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL SHE -- ITEM BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL SHE COMES BACK. IF ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, YOU CAN GET IN THE QUEUE. IF NOT I HAVE A QUESTION SO I'LL GO AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME ABOUT THIS. YOUR MEETING WAS VERY THOROUGH AS USUAL SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AND HIGHLIGHT A STATISTIC I ASKED ABOUT AND CONFIRM THAT WAS WHAT WE HAVE FOUND -- WAS IT CORRECT TO SAY THAT WHEN I ASKED YOU WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ELL, THE NUMBER WAS 40%. OR WAS I WRONG ON THAT? YES. THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE 40% OF OUR STUDENTS WHEN YOU
090COMPILE THE LYs WHICH ARE OUR ACTIVE STUDENTS, OUR LS WHICH WE'RE STILL MONITORING AND THOSE EXITING THE PROGRAM, YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PROGRAMS AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU. IS TO POINT OUT WHAT AN ASTONISHING NUMBER THAT IS, RIGHT? THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 40% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION -- EXCUSE ME. MEMBER VAUGHN, IT'S 40% -- 41% IS OUR HISPANIC AND 20% IS ELL POPULATION. Jessica Vaughn: OH, OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. EITHER WAY, 20% IS ONE FIFTH. EVEN IF IT'S NOT 40%, ONE FIFTH OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION IS AN ASTONISHING NUMBER. SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ASIDE FROM
091THIS AGENDA ITEM GOING FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR ELL STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID FROM THE DAIS SEVERAL TIMES THAT LOOKING INTO THE DATA WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PM TESTING, OUR STUDENTS WHO SEEM TO BE STRUGGLING THE MOST ON THE NEWEST TESTING, THIS ADAPTIVE TESTING ARE OUR ELL STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SO SEEING THAT THE THEY'RE STRUGGLING WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PM DATA. SEEING THAT IS SUCH AN ALARMING RATE, YOU KNOW, ONE FIFTH OF THE POPULATION, WHAT ARE WE DOING ASIDE FROM THIS AGENDA ITEM TO SUPPORT OUR ELL STUDENTS AND PRIORITIZE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS. Van Ayres: YEAH. EITHER MR. BRADY OR YOU'VE BEEN WORKING DAY TO DAY WITH THAT WORK SO PLEASE FILL IN. OKAY, YES. WE CREATED A STRATEGIC DISTRICT PLAN AND
092IN ADDITION WE JUST PRESENTED TO THE CABINET THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT AT THE PRINCIPAL MEETING IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER I SHOULD SAY, AND SO IT'S 20% OF OUR CURRENT POPULATION, AGAIN, AS MELISSA MENTIONED, NOT ALL ACTIVE CURRENTLY. BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, A BIG INITIATIVE FOR US. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT. SO WHAT MY POINT AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS JUST TO INDICATE THAT I HOPE WE'RE GIVING AS MUCH RESOURCES, GROWING THAT DEPARTMENT, FOCUSING ON MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING ONE FIFTH OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO I SUPPORT THIS. I APPRECIATE THIS. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T -- IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT THAT POPULATION IN GENERAL. OUR
093ELL STUDENTS, THE ALARMING RATE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR PROFICIENCY ON OUR TESTING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING THAT AT THE FOREFRONT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF OUR POPULATION THAT WE'RE SETTING THEM UP TO SUCCEED. Van Ayres: AND WORKING WITH MR. BRADY, JUST UPDATES ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM PM1 ON TO PM2 AND ANY OTHER UPDATES, JUST PROVIDE THEM TO MR. BRADY AND WE'LL PROVIDE THEM TO THE BOARD. YES, WILL DO. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. NOW WE HAVE MORE IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER RENDON? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT 41% OF OUR STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE HISPANIC AND LIKE WE SAID, 21% OF THEM ARE ELL.
094IT'S A LARGE PORTION THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND RIGHT AREAS. THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING IS EXACTLY THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY JUST WORKING WITH -- IT'S A COMBINATION OF IMMERSION AS WELL AS ENGLISH EDUCATION SO IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD YET NOT THROWING THEM SO FAR IN THAT THEY GET LOST OR FRUSTRATED. IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. BUT SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I WANT TO REASSESS THE FACT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF MAKING SURE ALL THE AVAILABLE FUNDING WE HAVE FOR THIS, WE'RE USING IT FOR THE RIGHT PLACES. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL FUNDING THAT'S USED FOR ELL, IT'S NOT ALL GOING INTO OUR ACADEMIC SERVICES. IT'S
095NOT GOING DIRECTLY INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND INTO OUR CLASSROOMS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY STAYS WHERE IT BELONGS AND STAYS EXACTLY WHERE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE PART OF THIS, NOT ONLY IS IT FEDERAL GRANT BUT IT'S TITLE DOLLARS THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS AND ALSO THROUGH STATE ITISH YFBS. WE -- INITIATIVES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES FOR THIS BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THAT WE RECEIVE FROM STATE DOLLARS, SO THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL RESOURCES WE'RE GETTING FROM TITLE DOLLARS AND OTHER AREAS ARE GOING DIRECTLY INTO THIS DEPARTMENT. NOT OTHER DEPARTMENTS BUT DIRECTLY INTO THIS DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING DIRECTLY INTO CLASSROOMS AND OUR TEACHERS. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT EARLIER AND TALK ABOUT FREQUENTLY, THAT
096WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY GOES INTO SCHOOLS. EXCUSE ME. BUT WE'VE GOT TINE TO DO THAT AND CONTINUE TO PUT THE MONEY WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THINGS LIKE TITLE DOLLARS SO WE CAN JUSTIFY EXACTLY WHAT THOSE TITLE A DOLLARS WERE MEANT FOR AND WE'RE UTILIZING THEM PROPERLY IN THE STRICT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. FIRST I WANT TO THANK MELISSA MERCADO AND JESSICA DE LA PRIDA DURING THE HISPANIC FORUM WHICH WE HAVE MET FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS. MELISSA IS THE CHAIR AND WE HAVE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON THE ELL POPULATION AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, MEMBER VAUGHN AND IS CORRECT, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE OUR BREAK OUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR OUR GRADES STATE
097ASSESSMENTS AND EVEN MORE WORRISOME, WELL, I GUESS WE SHOULDN'T BE NEGATIVE. EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THAT THE TESTS ARE NOT IN SPANISH. THE ASSESSMENTS. SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS FAST AS WE CAN, AND I KNOW MERGADO, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU MENTIONED TO THE BOARD YET WHETHER WE -- YOU HAVE LEVEL ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. SOME OF THEM HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ACQUISITION, YOU MAY WANT TO SAY THAT. BUT NONETHELESS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RESOURCES, AND I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO YOU SO MANY TIMES, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES THAT YOU KNOW THIS IS THE BALL THAT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON. AND FOCUS. SO ALL THIS TO SAY, MELISSA, WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHARE THE LEVEL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEVEL ONE AND LEVEL TWO AND LEVEL THREE. IN
098OTHER WORDS, THE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION. WE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF WHO CAN READ AND -- RIGHT. SO BASED ON THE WEDA ACCESS WHICH IS THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OUR STUDENTS TAKE TO MONITOR LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, THEY FALL IN UP TO SIX CATEGORIES. BY THE STATE LEVEL WE CATEGORIZE THEM AS LYB, A AND C. SO A IS ENTERING AND EMERGING LEARNERS. THAT'S THE BULK OCH THE POPULATION -- BULK OF THE POPULATION AND THOSE ARE STUDENTS IN THE NOVICE LEVEL OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. SO AS MR. BRADY COMMENTED, IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ELL, THAT IS INCLUDING ACCESS TO CONTENT, RIGOROUS CONTENT THROUGHOUT EVERY GRADE LEVEL AND EVERY ACADEMIC SUBJECT SO THAT IS DELIVERED VIA PD TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES NEEDED TO SCAFFOLD AND MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS. ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE NEW IN
099THE LANGUAGE. THEY HAVE A LANGUAGE BARRIER AND DON'T HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL BARRIER. SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE PERKING ON AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT ACCESS TO THE CONTENT IN EVERY SITUATION. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. THE OTHER PART TOO, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE BRUGAUCHE IS, LET'S TALK -- MR. BRADY, WHEN WE TALKED, WE ARE NOT ONLY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO LANGUAGE SKILLS AND THANK YOU, TRACIE BERGMAN, FOR YOUR LITERACY EFFORTS, TRACIE. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DEVELOPING HIGHER LEVEL LEARNING SKILLS. MR. BRADY, MAYBE YOU MIGHT WANT TO SAY THE IDEA FOR THE CURRICULUM IS NOT JUST TO GET THE LANGUAGE BUT ALSO TO BUILD UP THEIR SKILL. THEIR THINKING SKILLS AND THEIR ANALYSIS SKILLS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE MORE WE STRENGTHEN THE LITERACY
100SKILLS, THE MORE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CONTENT AND THAT'S GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR SCIENCE SCORES AND STRENGTHEN OUR SOCIAL STUDIES SCORES. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IN RELATION THE TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPRESSIVE GAINS WE MADE ON SOCIAL STUDIES RELATED TO OUR ELL LEARNERS WHICH WAS A NICE -- Lynn Gray: 11% IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. SO THE ACCESS TO THE LANGUAGE WILL BRING ABOUT ACCESS TO THE CONTENT WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE AND A LOT OF WAYS OBVIOUSLY FOR THEIR LEARNING BUT CERTAINLY THE DISTRICT AND SCHOOL GRADES AS WELL. Lynn Gray: AND IT'S GOOD TOO THAT YOU'RE KEEPING LASER FOCUS ON THIS GROUP, ELL, AND YOU SEE THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE GETTING IN FACT VERY FOCUSED AS WELL.
101SO WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT. MEMBER VAUGHN, THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT A BIG DEAL TOO BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DEAL, SO I'M DONE. THANKS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I KNOW SINCE YOU'RE HERE, MELISSA MERGADO, FIRST AND FOREMOST I REMEMBER THIS PROGRAM COMING IN ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO AND REALLY DELVING DEEP AND LOOKING AT THAT AND I'M REALLY SEEING THE NEEDLE MOVE. THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM. WHEN YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, I REMEMBER THIS FIRST COMING IN AND LOOKING AT IT AND GOING ON THERE AND JUST SEEING THE REALLY NEEDLE MOVING. THERE IS SO MANY STUDENTS COMING NOT JUST FROM, YOU KNOW, LATIN AMERICA BUT THE UKRAINE, RUSSIA, SO MANY DIFFERENT STUDENTS AND TO
102HAVE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. I REMEMBER THIS SUMMER GOING INTO ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS AND IT WAS A WHOLE TABLE FULL OF THESE STUDENTS, AND THEY WERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WAS JUST AMAZING AND STUDENTS REALLY NEED THIS, AND WE'RE REALLY MOVING THE NEEDLE WITH THE STUDENTS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MELISSA, AND ALSO JESSICA, VERONICA. THERE IS SO MANY OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS WORKING SO HARD FOR OUR ELL POPULATION. I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, GREAT JOB. KEEP FOCUSING. I'M REALLY SEEING WHEN YOU SEE THE NEEDLE MOVE AND SEE THE SCHOOL GRADES, YOU ARE REALLY SEEING THESE ELL STUDENTS. THEY ARE REALLY MOVING THE GRADE AND DOING AMAZING THINGS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I THINK THEY'RE COMING HERE, THEY REALLY WANT A GREAT EDUCATION. SOME OF
103THE STUDENTS ARE COMING FROM WAR-TORN COUNTRIES AND REALLY COMING IN HERE AND JUST WANT NORMALCY AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH THE TRANSLATION, YOU KNOW, THE -- YES, THE ED CONNECTION WHEN WE'RE BEING ABLE TO TRANSLATE AS STUDENTS ARE LEARNING. THERE IS SO MANY OTHER THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR THE ELL STUDENTS BUT I JUST THINK THIS IS GREAT AND I WANT TO SAY OBVIOUSLY I'LL SUPPORT IT, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO 1.02, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGREEMENT WITH YOUTH GUIDANCE-EVOLVE. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU. THE EVOLVE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED AS A TWO-TIER INTERVENTION PROVIDING SMALL
104GROUP EDUCATOR LED CIRCLES FOCUSED ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP AND RESILIENCE. THE EVOLVE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR AS A PILOT PROGRAM AT EIGHT HIGH SCHOOL SITES. ARMWOOD, BERNET, CHAMBERLAIN, JENNINGS, MADISON, NORTH TAMPA SUCCESS AND SPOTO. 98% SAID THE PROGRAM HELPED THEM FEEL CONNECTED, SEEN AND VALUED AT SCHOOL AND NOTICED A COMMUNICATION AND EMPATHY AND PROBLEM SOLVING SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND REAL WORLD READINESS. AND JULIA IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR FOLLOW-UP TO 1.02, EVOLVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C1.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
105FROM THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES OF OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS AT USE. A LOT OF OUR TITLE 4 DOLLARS ARE USING THINGS LIKE NVO AND WE'RE PUTTING DIRECT MONEY AND IMPACT INTO OUR CLASSROOMS. SEVERAL UPCOMING -- WE'LL BE WORKING WITH NEW BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH NEW COUNSELORS. WE HAVE THREE TO SIX DIFFERENT CBAs AND WORKING WITH THE DOJ WITH VIOLENCE. IT'S REALLY CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT TEACHERS CANNOT DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT THAT OUTSIDE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS TO SUCCEED AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES. AND THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE TITLE 4 DOLLARS IS EXACTLY WHERE WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THAT, DIRECTLY INTO THE NEEDS OF
106THE STUDENTS, UTILIZING THAT FOR THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT DIRECTLY INTO OUR CLASSROOMS SO I WANTED TO THANK US -- THANK THE DISTRICT, THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR LOOKING AT WAYS LIKE NVO TO PROVIDE THE DIRECT SUPPORT TO CLASSROOMS AND TEACHERS. I'M EXCITED WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS WORKING AND I'M EXCITED WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS AND OUR COUNSELORS AND HOW ALL THAT CAN TEAM UP TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO 1.04, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGREEMENT XAPT CHAPTER ONE NFP. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU. DURING THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR CHAPTER
107ONE NFP PROVIDED HIGH IMPACT INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING SERVICES TO GRADES K-1 STUDENTS AT 14 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THIS PROPOSES TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM INTO GRADES K-2 AT THESE SELECTED 14 SITES. SO IT'S AGAIN, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE, NOW KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE AT THE SAME 14 SITES. 100% OF SITE ADMINISTRATORS THAT RESPONDED TO THE END OF YEAR SURVEY STRONGLY AGREE THAT HIGH IMPACT TUTORING WITH CHAPTER ONE NFP INTEGRATED EASILY INTO THE SCHOOLS AND EXPRESSED INTEREST OF CONTINUING THE PROGRAM AS WELL AS EXPANDING INTO THE SECOND GRADE AND THIS CURRICULUM UTILIZED BY CHAPTER ONE ALIGNS TO THE UFLI FOUNDATIONS CURRICULUM THAT WE -- AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE. SO THAT IS 1.04, AND TRACIE BERGMAN IS THERE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO CHAPTER ONE NFP TUTORING. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND
108TO APPROVE. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: OKAY. GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF COMPETITION NEXT TO ME. BUT AT ANY RATE, MS. BERGMAN, YOU ARE QUITE -- WHAT AN ASSET TO OUR DISTRICT. AND I KNOW THAT THE ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING, WE GO BACK TO THAT CONVERSATION AT MELROSE, THE FAILURE FACTORY LONG AGO AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND HOW DID THEY GET THEMSELVES FROM A STEADY "F" YEAR AFTER YEAR? THEY DID EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS PROGRAM. THEY HAD A TUTOR SERVICE IN THE CLASSROOM AND AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER AND AS WE HAVE IN OUR AGENDA, WE ALSO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT WHICH IS NOW ALSO IN SOME OF
109THESE SCHOOLS. THE POINT IS ALL THREE OF THESE, WHEN YOU HAVE TUTORING, YOU REALLY HAVE THAT PERSON DESIGNED OR KNOWING COMPLETELY WHAT THAT STUDENT NEEDS. SO I THINK IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT THIS IS A GREAT ASSET TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE MARGINALIZED, HIGH RISK, FOR STUDENTS THAT REALLY HAVE A LOW READING LEVEL AND WHAT DO WE DO WITH A LOW READING LEVEL? WE CAN TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, BUT WE NEED A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT. YOU KNOW, MS. TANNER, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD YES BECAUSE I KNOW YOU KNOW, AND MS. BERGMAN, YOU SHOULD MAKE A REMARK ON THAT. WHY DO WE NEED TUTORING? WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT? WELL, I THINK IT'S LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, RIGHT? EVERY STUDENT GETS THE CORE INSTRUCTION. EVERY STUDENT GETS THOSE GRADE LEVEL BENCHMARKS. SOME STUDENTS NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE
110AND A LITTLE MORE INTENSITY AND A LITTLE BIT OF ACCELERATION AND REVIEW AND NEED MORE TIME TO PROCESS IN ORDER TO MASTER THE FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS AND PRIMARY GRADES. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES, IS IT PROVIDES THAT ONE ON ONE SUPPORT AND DATA COLLECTION AND PROVIDES TIME FOR STUDENTS TO GET INSTRUCTION AND HAVE AN EXTRA PRACTICE THAN EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED AS FAR AS THE TEACHER CONTINUE THE CORE INSTRUCTION ADDITIONAL SMALL GROUP FOR ALL THE STUDENTS. Lynn Gray: I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, THE PARALLEL TONIGHT OR THE ANALOGY IS WHEN WE LOOK AT SEVEN MINDSETS -- I'M JUMPING TO ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS NOT SEVEN MINDSETS. IT'S EVOLVE. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EVOLVE, THAT'S A SMALL GROUP SETTING AND SO MANY STUDENTS WORK BETTER IN A SMALL GROUP WHILE THE SEVEN MINDSETS, WE'LL GO
111INTO THAT LATER, IS FOR THE WHOLE CLASS. THE POINT IS, EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IS NOW BEING LOOKED AT FOR THE ADVANTAGES OF ONE ON ONE, FOR THE ADVANTAGES OF A GROUP, SMALL GROUP AND WHOLE CLASSROOM. SO I THINK IT'S VERY TELLING, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, THAT YOUR LITERACY TASK FORCE, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A NAME, THEY'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB UNCOVERING ALL THE AVENUES TO MAKE SURE THESE LOW LEVEL READERS SUCCEED. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST WAS ELECTED, I THINK IN THE FIRST, LIKE, SIX MONTHS WITH COVID I HAD TWO DIFFERENT TUTORING CENTERS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I CLOSED IT WITHIN SIX MONTHS. WHENEVER AN ITEM LIKE THIS COMES UP, I ALWAYS REALLY LOOK AT IT EVEN
112MORE CLOSELY. SO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED YOU AND I'LL JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY, I WAS WONDERING WHY IT WAS ASOLE SOURCE INSTEAD OF IT GOING OUT TO BID AND IF YOU CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT. YEAH. CERTAINLY. WE DID PUT IT OUT AS A SOLE SOURCE BECAUSE CHAPTER ONE IS A NON-PROFIT. IT HAS SOME SPECIFIC THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM TYPICAL TUTORING COMPANIES. FIRST OF ALL THEY'RE FACE TO FACE AND MOST TEND TO HAVE AN ONLINE COMPONENT AND WE DIDN'T WANT VIRTUAL FOR KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS. WE WANTED PEOPLE IN THE CLASSROOMS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND THAT WAS THE SECOND PORT. YOU PUT THE SOLE SOURCE IN AND SOME WERE ONLY ABLE TO PROVIDE -- THROUGH THE SCHOOL CONTRACTING
113INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. THIS IS A WHOLE CLASS MODEL SO THIS IS REACHING MORE STUDENTS THROUGH THAT. AND IN ADDITION THE OTHER THING THEY HAVE IS THEIR OWN PROGRAM THAT DOES ALIGN UFLI WITH THEIR OWN ASSESSMENT PIECE. A LOT OF THE OTHER TUTORING COMPANIES DON'T HAVE THAT. THEY USE MATERIALS THAT THE STUDENT HAS TO BRING OR DIFFERENT PIECES SO IT'S NOT A FIT FOR WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WHICH IS WHAT MADE CHAPTER ONE BE THE SOLE SOURCE. Nadia Combs: THE OTHER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE INCREASE OF -- I ALREADY ASKED YOU BUT THE INCREASE, WHY IT'S SUCH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR THAT CONTRACT. AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION INTO SECOND GRADE, AND SO WHEN YOU ADD MORE STUDENTS, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE. SO WE
114ADDED ABOUT A THOUSAND, 1200 MORE STUDENTS. SO IT DOES ADD MORE CLASSROOMS, WHICH THIS SERVES THE WHOLE CLASS, SO IT DOES INCREASE THE PRICE. THE PRICE REFLECTION IS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT, WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE SCHOOLS, PROBABLY ABOUT 40 CLASSROOMS OR SO, GIVE OR TAKE, ACROSS THE 14 SITES. IT'S AN INCREASE OF CLASSROOMS, INCREASE OF TUTORS AND INCREASE OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT THAT THE COMPANY PROVIDES. Nadia Combs: LIKE WITH ANY PROJECT, I DEFINITELY PLAN ON GOING OUT TO SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT I SEE NOT EVEN IN DISTRICT ONE, BUT DEFINITELY DISTRICT ONE, I WANT TO SEE AN ACTION, SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THE DATA YOU SENT TODAY. I LOOKED AT ALL OF THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM. I HAVE COMPLETE TRUST IN YOU AND MR. BRADY. I
115KNOW THAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING DOWN -- AND ARE THESE THE SCHOOLS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE HIGHEST NEED? HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY THESE SCHOOLS? YES, SO THESE WERE SCHOOLS. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM. LAST YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED THE PROGRAM AS PART OF AN OUTCOMES BASED CONTRACT. ONE OF THE THINGS IS STRUCTURALLY CAN THEY HANDLE THE PROGRAM? IS THERE SOMEBODY ON-SITE THAT CAN MONITOR THE PROGRAM, BE THAT CONTACT PIECE? DO THEY HAVE STRUCTURES IN PLACE? FACING A LOT OF NEWER TEACHERS, ET CETERA, WHERE IT MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE TO HAVE AN ELIE IN THE CLASSROOM. THE SECOND THING WAS GAPS BETWEEN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE DATA AND THIRD GRADE DATA. THESE ARE THE SCHOOLS WITH THE STANDOUT GAPS. THEY MIGHT HAVE OVERALL PROFICIENCY OR HIGHER LEARNING GAINS, BUT
116THEY DEFINITELY HAD GAPS WHEN WE LOOKED AT KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE AND WHERE THOSE KIDS LANDING IN THIRD GRADE, THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER SITES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THEY WEREN'T LIKE THE BOTTOM 25%. THEY WERE THAT NEXT LAYER WHERE THEY HAD THOSE CONCERNS IN TERMS OF THEIR DATA AND WHERE THEY WERE. Nadia Combs: I REALLY APPRECIATE REALLY DRILLING DOWN. WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR RENAISSANCE OR FOR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS AND WE DO DIFFERENT THINGS. I LOVE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING -- WE HAVE SO MANY SCHOOLS, OVER 200 SCHOOLS, OVER 250 SCHOOLS AND REALLY ANALYZING SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS AND THEN PROVIDING DIFFERENT -- WHAT IS THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR? DIFFERENT -- WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. Nadia Combs: DIFFERENT PROGRAM. DIFFERENT PATHWAYS, REACHING CERTAIN STUDENTS, BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO WORK
117WITH ONE SCHOOL OR ANOTHER. I THINK LOOKING AT EVERY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY AND SEEING WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE AND SEEING WHERE WE CAN MOVE THOSE STUDENTS IS JUST REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. I REALLY THINK THIS IS GREAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENT. WE WILL NOW TAKE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, AND ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS. AND PUBLIC
118COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. BUT OUR BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE'RE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUE RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I NOW CALL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS UP. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. HELLO, SUPERINTENDENT. YOU KNOW, RECENTLY, THERE IS A LOT OF CHIRPING AND TWEETING AND THE OCCASIONAL E-MAIL THAT TALK POORLY ABOUT LABOR UNIONS AND WHAT GOES ON. AS WE GO
119INTO LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL OPENING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. I FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING SMOOTHLY. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING LABOR DAY. OUR UNION IS A LABOR UNION. OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DO EVERY DAY IS LABORIOUS. IT'S TOUGH. IT IS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY EXHAUSTING AND CERTAINLY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE ALL HERALD AND CELEBRATE THIS DAY. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE VICTORIES THAT UNIONS HAVE HAD IN AMERICA AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S PATRIOTISM AND AMERICAN HISTORY RIGHT HERE. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE IS THE EIGHT-HOUR WORK DAY. HOW AMAZING IS THAT, RIGHT? THE ABILITY THAT WE COULD GO HOME AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES. WE HAVE THE
12040-HOUR WORKWEEK WHICH IS IMPORTANT, ALTHOUGH HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, OUR TEACHERS WORK A 40 HOUR AND 25 MINUTE WORKWEEK. I'M WORKING ON THAT. ENDING CHILD LABOR. I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE THAT IS A REALLY GOOD THING THAT'S HAPPENED BACK IN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. HIGHER WAGES AND BENEFITS. WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH. WE ALL WANT THAT. WE AGREE WITH THAT. WORKERS COMP IS A VICTORY OF LABOR UNIONS IN THE COUNTRY. UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AS WELL. SOCIAL SECURITY. I'VE BEEN PAYING IT SINCE I'VE BEEN, LONGER THAN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, '80s. FMLA, FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, AND REALLY THE ONE THAT WE ALL FEEL SUPER IMPORTANT, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS. AFL-CIO AND EVERYONE BEHIND ME WEARING A RED SHIRT IS A MEMBER OF THE AFL-CIO. FOUGHT VORACIOUSLY FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. UNIONS
121HAVE HAD A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND MOVING AND DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR WORKERS. COMING BACK TO HIGHER WAGES AND BENEFITS, WE ARE IN BARGAINING AND WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT. WE ARE MOTIVATED TO MAKE A DEAL AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU GUYS ARE AS WELL. WHAT I ASK OF YOU IN THIS, BARGAINING IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE INVOLVED. IF YOU ARE AT A POINT WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ALLOCATING AND COMFORTABLE WITH IT, I ASK YOU TO GET A LITTLE MORE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL MAKE IT WORK FOR OUR WORKERS AND OUR LABOR. I TRULY ASK YOU FOR THAT. EVERYTHING WE COULD DO TO GET THIS SETTLED IN SEPTEMBER SO THAT WAY SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND PRESIDENT ROB KRIETE DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT
122OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN OCTOBER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAPPY LABOR DAY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. KIMBERLY ENRIQUEZ, LOWRY ELEMENTARY, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. MY PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. WE'RE SITTING WITH, I HAVE 14 CHILDREN. IT'S WONDERFUL. I'VE GOT A LITTLE GUY THAT IS HIGH NEEDS, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON HIM. HE IS ON A MODIFIED DAY. ROOMS SITTING AT 13, 13, 14 AND 14 AND 11. SO HERE IS THE BAD NEWS. WE KNOW WHAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN. IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART. BECAUSE IN KINDERGARTEN, I'VE BEEN PLEADING WITH YOU GUYS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. PLEASE KEEP OUR NUMBERS LOW BECAUSE SOME OF THESE, THE LITTLE BOY I HAVE IN MY ROOM THAT'S ON A MODIFIED DAY, KIND OF LIKE TWO, HE'S NEVER BEEN IN SCHOOL.
123HE'S ONLY BEEN TO DAY CARE, NOT VPK. SOME OTHER CLASSROOMS ARE SITTING WITH THREE ESE -- THREE ESE STUDENTS, ANOTHER CLASSROOM HAS FOUR. WE DON'T HAVE KICKS ANYMORE WHICH IS THE KINDERGARTEN INCLUSION CLASSROOM. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA AIDE. WE HAVE ONE AIDE FOR OUR SIX TEACHERS. OUR PRINCIPAL IS AMAZING. SHE SAW THE NEED RIGHT AWAY, SO SHE'S MODIFIED THAT SCHEDULE TO HELP IN THE CLASSROOMS WHERE IT'S EVIDENT WE NEED EXTRA HELP. I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT IF WE DO LOSE -- I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET. BUT I'VE BEEN AROUND 30 PLUS YEARS. I SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL. I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED. I'M JUST PLEADING TO, PLEASE, JUST KEEP THE KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS INTACT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING CURRICULUM NIGHT TOMORROW. PARENTS
124ARE COMING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CURRICULUM, AND THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO SAY, OH, BY THE WAY, WE'LL HAVE TO SPLIT A CLASS UP. I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO FIX THAT. ON TOP OF THAT, I SPENT THE LAST TWO AFTERNOONS USING i-READY MATH DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE DOING THIS IN KINDERGARTEN. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH LOOKING WITH DYSCALCULIA BECAUSE THAT COMES FROM THE STATE. WE NEED TWO DATA POINTS, I GET IT. i-READY MATH DIAGNOSTIC IS NOT THE WAY TO DIAGNOSE DYSCALCULIA IN KINDERGARTEN. IT'S WATCHING THEM COUNT. YOU CAN'T SEE THAT ON i-READY. I WATCHED TWO LITTLE BOYS GO CLICK, DONE, CLICK DONE, CLICK, DONE, CLICK, DONE. THE DATA SHOWS MOST OF THEM ARE EMERGING. GO FIGURE. WE'RE IN DAY 12 OF KINDERGARTEN.
125IT MAKES SENSE. I DON'T NEED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO TELL ME THAT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PATRICK LEIWEKE. I AM AN ECONOMICS TEACHER AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. I COME TO YOU TODAY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDGET AND CONCERNED ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS. BUT LET'S START OUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE. I AM GRATEFUL TO WAKE UP EACH AND EVERY MORNING TO WORK FOR A SCHOOL BOARD THAT UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS. I DON'T THINK THERE IS A SINGLE MEMBER HERE WHO FEELS NEGATIVELY ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT WE AS TEACHERS ARE HAVING IN THE CLASSROOM. FOR THAT, I AM IMMENSELY GRATEFUL AT YOUR COMPASSION. BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I DO, BECAUSE ECONOMICS TEACHER, YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA IN THE CURRICULUM A LITTLE BIT. I
126DON'T SEE THE MOST COMPASSIONATE BUDGET. I SEE A BUDGET THAT IS A LITTLE BIT THIN, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE UNCOMPASSIONATE BUT BECAUSE WE'RE SCARED. BECAUSE WE ARE SCARED THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO GET CUT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE'RE SCARED WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT AS FAR AS FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT, FOLKS, WE'RE SCARED BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THAT ARE OUR INSTITUTIONS, THAT ARE DEMOCRACY ARE ON FIRE. AND WHO WOULDN'T BE SCARED OF A FIRE? IT'S NATURAL TO BE SCARED, TO RUN AWAY FROM THE FIRE, TO MAKE YOURSELF AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. BUT THE FACT IS, IF NOBODY STOPS THE FIRE, THE BUILDING KEEPS BURNING. I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A FIREFIGHTER BUT I HAVE TO IMAGINE IT REQUIRES A DECENT BIT
127OF BRAVERY GOING IN, RISKING THEIR LIVES DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO SAVE INNOCENT PEOPLE AND TO SAVE THOSE BUILDINGS. OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO BE BRAVE IN THESE CLASSROOMS TO FIGHT THESE FIRES OF IGNORANCE. AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IS THE WATER THAT CAN HELP PUT OUT THESE FIRES. WHAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING WITH THIS BUDGET IS EFFECTIVELY HOLDING BACK WATER THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT THE FIRE IN HOPES THAT THE HYDRANT WILL BE BACK UP TO FILL TOMORROW. I AM BEGGING THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT AND BRAVE DECISION. PLEASE DO NOT RUN AWAY FROM THE FIRE. GET ON YOUR FIRE GEAR. JOIN US. TURN ON THE WATER AND LET US FIGHT THESE FIRES AS HARD AS WE CAN WHILE WE STILL HAVE WATER. BECAUSE WE CANNOT LET THESE
128FIRES CONTINUE UNCONTAINED LEST OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OUR INSTITUTIONS, AND OUR DEMOCRACY BURN UP IN FLAMES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. CARISSA DENI CAN A FROM GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL AND PART OF THE HCTA BARGAINING TEAM. I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT FOCUSED TRAINING TODAY, BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO ADDRESS, FRANKLY, THE AUDACITY OF THE DISTRICT'S BARGAINING TEAM AT OUR SESSION YESTERDAY FIRST. WHEN INSTRUCTIONAL MEMBERS ARE RELEASED TO BARGAINING, I'M NOT JUST GOING TO A MEETING. I CAN'T JUST STEP AWAY FROM MY CLASSROOM. I HAD TO CREATE PLANS. I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS READY TO GO. I TEACH AP CALCULUS AND AP STATS. THERE'S NO QUICK WORK SHEET THAT I CAN THROW AT THEM THAT THEY ARE READY TO GO. I CAN'T ASK COPILOT TO ASK
129ME PLANS EITHER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO MATH WELL. I MISSED ANOTHER EARLY RELEASE MONDAY AND MY EXTRA PLANNING TIME WITH THAT. ON TOP OF THAT, I HAD TO ARRANGE CHILD CARE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS OUT OF TOWN. I PLANNED EVERYTHING AHEAD, EVEN DOWN TO MAKING SURE THAT DINNER WOULD BE READY, BE TAKEN CARE OF IF BARGAINING WENT LATE INTO THE EVENING. WHY WOULD I DO THAT? I DID IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BARGAIN. I ARRIVED AT 11 WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO, WHERE THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL BARGAINING WAS STILL OCCURRING. INSTRUCTIONAL WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT NOON. IT DIDN'T. AT 12:30, THE TEAMS BROKE FOR LUNCH IN CAUCUS. WHEN THEY CAME BACK AROUND 1:30, THE INSTRUCTIONAL OFFER WAS GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT. AT 2:40, THE DISTRICT CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WEREN'T ABLE
130TO GIVE AN OFFER AND LEFT. JUST TO CLARIFY, MY SCHOOL WAS OUT AT 2:30. SO THEY LEFT BASICALLY AT THE SAME TIME WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAYING GOOD-BYE TO MY STUDENTS FOR THE DAY. I MADE THE PLANS. I REARRANGED MY LIFE AND THE DISTRICT CAME WITH NOTHING. THIS IS NOT JUST A WASTE OF TIME. IT'S A SIGN OF DISRESPECT FOR THE EDUCATORS WHO MAKE THE EFFORTS TO EVEN BE AT THE TABLE. I HOPE THAT ON WEDNESDAY, WHEN WE MEET AGAIN, OUR TIME AND EFFORTS WILL NOT BE IGNORED. I HOPE OUR TIME AND COMMITMENT WILL BE HONORED. TO BE CLEAR, NOT TOMORROW. NEXT WEDNESDAY, RIGHT? BECAUSE I HAVE 30 SECONDS, FOCUS TRAINING ON AUGUST 15, I SENT AN E-MAIL TO MR. AYRES ASKING ABOUT WHAT DIRECTIONS WERE GIVEN TO PRINCIPALS ABOUT IN-PERSON TRAINING FOR FOCUS.
131RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE CANVAS COURSE THAT'S OPTIONAL AND ANNUAL TRAINING MODEL NOT DUE UNTIL OCTOBER 10. I WAS TRYING TO SEEK CLARIFICATION. INSTEAD, THAT E-MAIL GOT SENT TO MATT IN CHARGE OF FOCUS AND THAT GOT SENT TO MY PRINCIPAL AND THAT MADE ME GET A TALKING TO AFTER. I DID NOT GET IN TROUBLE. BUT THE POINT IS, I WAS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION AND THAT INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM ME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LESLIE ADAMS. I'M A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST. I'VE BEEN WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NOW FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 24 YEARS. OUR EMPLOYEES ARE STRUGGLING. PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND WE DO THANK YOU FOR THAT, WE'RE STILL SHORT OF INFLATION, SIGNIFICANTLY. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IS PAYING MORE. MORE FOR HOUSING, MORE FOR
132UTILITIES, MORE FOR CAR INSURANCE, MORE FOR GROCERIES. THE LAST DISTRICT PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS NOT YESTERDAY AGAIN, ACTUALLY CUTS PAY FOR SOME OF OUR STAFF BY AS MUCH AS $3,000, AND THAT WAS E-MAILED TO YOU. WITH REDUCTION AND ELIMINATION OF PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED SUPPLEMENTS. IN ADDITION, THE SMALL AMOUNT THAT WAS OFFERED TO ADD EACH STEP DOES NOT EVEN COVER THE INCREASE MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ONE MONTH'S ELECTRIC BILL. THINK ABOUT THAT. IN A TIME WHERE COSTS ARE SKYROCKETING, THE DISTRICT IS OFFERING A PLAN THAT WOULD LEAVE EMPLOYEES WITH LESS COMPENSATION THAN LAST YEAR. OUR EMPLOYEES CANNOT BE ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. PAY CUTS AND INADEQUATE RAISES HARM MORALE. STRAIN FAMILIES, FORCE QUALIFIED TEACHERS, STUDENT SERVICES AND STAFF MEMBERS TO LEAVE FOR PRIVATE OR CONTRACT
133POSITIONS. AND ULTIMATELY IMPACT STUDENTS. WHAT ABOUT THE REFERENDUM, THE WORD NO ONE WANTS TO SAY? THAT WAS SOLD TO US AS A SUPPLEMENT TO OUR BELOW AVERAGE INCOMES. WE WERE PROMISED THAT IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE DISTRICT'S WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE PAY. WE'RE SEEING THAT AS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING AS PART OF THE BARGAINING TEAM. BOARD MEMBERS, WE NEED A PROPOSAL THAT MOVES US FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS. OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE WAGES THAT REFLECT THEIR VALUE, THEIR DEDICATION, AND THE REALITIES THEY FACE EVERY DAY. WE ASK YOU TO DO BETTER FOR THEM AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS REBECCA BORE. I AM A TEACHER AT RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. I TEACH READING TO MOSTLY NINTH AND TENTH, OCCASIONALLY 11th AND 12th. I'M HERE TODAY TO
134URGE THE BOARD TO ACCEPT HCTA'S PROPOSALS AND TO SPEAK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER IN OUR COUNTY. EVERY DAY I COME TO WORK, THE FIRST THING I DO IS I CHECK FOCUS FOR THE NEW STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADDED TO MY ROSTER BECAUSE I HAVE NEW STUDENTS ADDED EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO I HAVE TO ADJUST SEATING CHARTS AND SQUEEZE IN MORE DESKS AND FIGURE OUT HOW, MAYBE MAKE NEW PRINTING COPIES OF THINGS SO THAT I CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL OF MY NEW STUDENTS AS MY CLASSES CONTINUE TO GROW. EVERY DAY I HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM STUDENTS HOW THEY HAVE CLASSES WITH NO TEACHER IN THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE VACANCIES. WE ARE NOW THREE WEEKS INTO SCHOOL AND THEY DON'T HAVE A TEACHER AND WE DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO GET A REAL
135TEACHER WHO IS QUALIFIED AND KNOWS THEIR SUBJECT MATTER AND LOVES THEIR SUBJECT MATTER THE WAY I LOVE TEACHING READING. IT'S REALLY HARD TO GO TO WORK AND DEAL WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE AREN'T GETTING PAID APPROPRIATELY. WE ARE INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND WE'RE THREE WEEKS INTO SCHOOL. FOUR WEEKS THAT I'VE BEEN BACK AT WORK WITH PREPLANNING, AND WE'RE STILL NEGOTIATING OUR SALARIES FOR THIS YEAR? THAT'S CRAZY TO ME. WHAT OTHER JOB DO YOU HAVE IN NEGOTIATIONS AND YOU'RE DECIDING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND PUT UP WITH THESE CONDITIONS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I'M EXPECTED TO KEEP DOING MORE AND MORE, BUT I HAVE LESS. WHEN I LOOK AT MY PAYCHECK, I CAN'T PAY FOR ALL THE THINGS. MY MORTGAGE KEEPS GOING UP BECAUSE OF
136HOUSING INSURANCE AND I'VE GOT MY CAR PAYMENT. I'VE GOT MY DAUGHTER'S LESSONS. I'VE GOT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. I NEED THE BOARD TO SUPPORT US TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THROUGH SALARY. I LISTEN TO ALL OF THE THINGS BEING PRESENTED BEFORE IT WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I HEARD ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY ON. I KNOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT BUCKETS AND THE MONEY COMES FROM DIFFERENT PLACES AND YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SPEND IT ON DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE NEED THE MONEY. WE NEED THE SUPPORT. SO I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE TO SUPPORT YOUR TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS AND ACCEPT HCTA'S PROPOSALS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK TONIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA 3.02, AMEND THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
137TO EXTEND SERVICES AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SITES PROVIDED WITHIN THE MASTER'S SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PROGRESS -- PROGRESSUS THERAPY. Van Ayres: IT WOULD RESULT IN CONTINUATION OF THE IMPACT PROGRAM BY CONSOLIDATING RESOURCES TO ENSURE SUSTAINED MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT SERVICES. TOTAL OF 21 QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORK AT TOTAL OF 42 SCHOOL SITES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING AND BEHAVIORAL GOAL PLANNING. ALL SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED 100% IN PERSON TO TARGETED STUDENTS. SCHOOLS WILL BE IDENTIFIED BASED ON MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND REPORTING DATA. STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS AND PARENT CONSENT WILL BE REQUIRED. THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES CONSULTATION SERVICES WITH BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS, AND ENSURES BEHAVIORAL ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED EFFECTIVELY AND BEHAVIORAL COACHING PROGRAM, WHICH ENCOMPASSES JOB EMBEDDED COACHING TO TEACHERS AND STAFF. THAT IS THE AMENDMENT 3.02.
138DR. PICKERING AND ELIZABETH TANNER ON TRACYE BROWN'S TEAM ARE HERE IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING 3.02. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 3.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER COMBS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS? Nadia Combs: NO. THE ONLY QUESTION OR COMMENT I HAD IS I JUST KNOW THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM WORKS SO, SO HARD. AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS REALLY OFTEN. IT'S JUST REALLY SAD THAT WE ARE SO SHORT OF THERAPISTS AND BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS THAT WE HAVE TO OUTSOURCE THAT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I SAY THIS OFTEN, I SAID THIS TODAY, YOU CAN HAVE GREAT ACADEMIC GAINS IF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES,
139THEN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THRIVE IN LIFE. IF YOU HAVE OKAY MENTAL HEALTH AND MAYBE STRUGGLE ACADEMICALLY, YOU CAN STILL DO WELL IN LIFE. IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE SUPPORTS ARE IN PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS. I MEAN, EVEN LOOK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE EVEN HAD A LOT OF LOSS WITH TEACHERS. I THINK MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE, HUGE ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. IT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH OUR STUDENTS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT, OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, OUR SOCIAL WORKERS. THERE ARE SO MANY LAYERS TO THIS. THIS IS NECESSARY. I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS. WHEN I GET E-MAILS OFTEN FROM THE PSYCHOLOGISTS REGARDING SALARIES, IT REALLY IS VERY, VERY HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S NOT A
140PERSON HERE WHO DOESN'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN THEIR OWN FAMILY, IF NOT SOMEBODY THAT THEY ARE CLOSE TO STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK WITH THIS. THAT'S IT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU MEMBER COMBS FOR ALSO DUPLICATING SOME OF THE REMARKS. YOU KNOW, MS. TANNER, AND WE DID THIS IN 2019, THE TRAUMA BASE FROM THE NATIONAL DROPOUT PREVENTION CENTER. WE HIGHLIGHTED PROGRESS VILLAGE. IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND WHY IS IT SUCCESSFUL? BECAUSE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, MORE AND MORE NOW ARE EXPERIENCING -- AND I SAY IN PRESENT TENSE, TRAUMA, FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FROM FOOD SHORTAGES, LACK OF EYESIGHT AS THE BUCCANEERS POINTED OUT. ALL OF THIS IS -- KIDS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL WITH TRAUMA,
141AND THAT IS A BIG BURDEN. AS MEMBER COMBS SAYS, WHEN YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ANY STUDENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A TEACHER, IT IS HARD TO TEACH A LESSON. YOUR CONDUIT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE PREPARED FOR HOURS, THAT CHILD HAS A MENTAL HEALTH HICCUP, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THAT SUCCESS. SO ALL THIS IS TO SAY, AND YOU KNOW THE CHILDREN'S BOARD GAVE, I THINK IT WAS $500,000 FOR FROST AND GIUNTA MIDDLE SCHOOL. BOTH CASES, THE SCHOOLS, THE CULTURE THERE WAS HUGE. HUGE. IT WAS VERY COMMENDABLE IN TERMS OF THE PRINCIPALS THERE AS WELL. SO WHEN I -- WHAT I KNOW AND WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ HERE IN YOUR AGENDA ITEM, I'M VERY MUCH FOR THIS. I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU, MS. TANNER,
142BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS AFFECTIVE DOMAIN FOR MANY YEARS. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN. THIS WILL BE MY 8th YEAR IN THE POSITION. Lynn Gray: I KNOW YOU SERVED SO WELL ON HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE. YOU NEVER MISS A TIME, I THINK ONLY ONCE, MAYBE, BUT YOU'VE BEEN A STEADFAST -- ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT IN A CATEGORY WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT KIDS DO HAVE TRAUMA. IT NEEDS TO BE SAID EXACTLY SO. SO THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AGAIN, YOUR DEPARTMENT WORKS TIRELESSLY FOR CHILDREN AND I RECOGNIZE THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM IS
143THAT WE ARE ALSO ADDRESSING WITH EDUCATORS AND GIVING THEM SOME TOOLS. I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LEAVING THEM IN A CLASSROOM, NOT PROVIDING THEM TOOLS. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. ALTHOUGH I LIKE THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR WHAT IT IS AND THE IMPACT, I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS AGENDA ITEM COMES FROM OUR MENTAL HEALTH PLAN THAT WE PROVIDED THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO WHEN WE BRING THIS TO THE BOARD AND WE BRING THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN TO THE BOARD, ALL OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS SHOULD COME TOGETHER. WE SHOULD SEE HOW WE'RE SPENDING ALL THE MONEY. BECAUSE WITH THIS PIECE MEAL, WE CAN'T REALLY SEE ALL THE MONEY GOING INTO MENTAL HEALTH DOLLARS. WE CAN'T SEE IT ALL
144COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER AS ONE PIECE OF THE AGENDA. SO WHEN WE'VE GOT SITUATIONS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT NEGOTIATIONS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE MONEY GOES, WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATIVELY SEE HOW THE MONEY IS DONE. THERE IS A COLLECTIVENESS TO THAT WHERE CERTAIN POTS OF MONEY ARE FLEXIBLE. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY JUST MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH PLAN, THAT WE HAVE TO REPORT TO THE STATE AND HOW WE'RE DOING THAT, AND WE'RE ABLE TO QUESTION ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AND HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY COLLECTIVELY AS A WHOLE. I WOULD REQUEST AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE SUBMITTING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, PIECE MEAL. THIS ITEM THIS TIME. IT LOOKS GOOD TODAY, BUT THEN TOMORROW, THAT ONE LOOKS GREAT TODAY. BUT
145WE SHOULD COLLECTIVELY SEE ALL THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAN SO WE CAN COLLECTIVELY MAKE THAT DECISION BETTER. Van Ayres: I UNDERSTAND. GOING FROM BACK OF MY MEMORY, ISN'T THERE A BUDGET WITHIN THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE STATE THAT OUTLINES PURCHASES? IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. YES, SIR. WE HAVE CONTRACTED AGENCIES, SO WE HAVE A BUCKET OF MONEY EARMARKED SPECIFICALLY FOR CONTRACTS FOR OUTSIDE VENDORS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SCHOOLS. AND WE LIST THEM. Patti Rendon: WE CHOOSE THAT'S HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY. BUT THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN SOME OF THAT MONEY. IT'S NOT JUST, WE'VE CHOSEN TO PUT IT INTO HOW WE'RE DOING OUR MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. SO THERE IS STILL SOME FLEXIBILITY THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE IT.
146I DON'T WANT TO, LIKE, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAN THAT WE'VE APPROVED TO SEND TO THE STATE. BUT AFTER WE APPROVE THE PLAN, NOW THEY ARE COMING BACK WITH THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PLAN. WE SHOULD COLLECTIVELY SEE IT ALL AS ONE, NOT JUST THERE IS A PLAN AND NOW YOU NEED THIS ITEM TO MAKE SURE WE'VE MET THE NEEDS OF THE PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED. WELL, I SHOULDN'T SEE THE ITEMS AFTERWARDS. I SHOULD LOOK AT COLLECTIVELY. I WILL SAY WITH A PLAN, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE WITH THE PLAN IS WE'VE ACTUALLY INCREASED SOME OF OUR STAFF ON CAMPUS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE DIRECTLY HIRES OF OUR DISTRICT. I WOULD PREFER TO DO THAT OVER, AGAIN, OTHER
147THAN THIS, I DON'T LIKE GOING OUT TO CONTRACT BECAUSE WE SPEND MORE AND I WOULD RATHER PUT THE MONEY INTO OUR STAFF HANDS. WE DO NEED MORE STAFF ON THAT. BUT COLLECTIVELY, WE SHOULD SEE EVERYTHING AS A WHOLE. WE DON'T. WE APPROVE THE PLAN AND THEN WE COME BACK WITH DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AND NOW APPROVING DIFFERENT THINGS INDIVIDUALLY. SO WE SHOULD SEE IT ALL COLLECTIVELY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE THEY USE A BUDGET, BUT THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN SOME OF THAT SPENDING. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE TRANSPARENT ON THAT SO WE CAN SHOW HOW IT MATCHES AND MEETS THE NEEDS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. JUST A COMMENT, REALLY. I WOULD IMAGINE THE REASON THAT WE SEE THESE AGENDA ITEMS THE WAY WE DO IS BECAUSE
148IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THE CONTRACT EXPIRES. SO NOT EVERY CONTRACT IS EXPIRING AT THE SAME TIME. SO YOU CAN'T BRING THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THAT IS A VERY HARD -- YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND AMEND AGENDA ITEMS OR CONTRACTS. I GUESS YOU COULD PRESENT THE AGENDA ITEM WITH A COPY OF THE PLAN, AND THAT WAY WE CAN SEE, OKAY, HOW MANY HAVE WE ALREADY SEEN? ABSOLUTELY. AND THIS AMENDMENT IS TO TRY TO MEET THAT CLOSER TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR DEADLINE TO HAVE ALL THOSE CONTRACTS COME AS CLOSE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN APPROVAL AS POSSIBLE. BUT IT'S A GOOD PLAN. WE WORK WITH OUR PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT VERY CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTRACTS ALIGN WITH THE PLAN AND THEY ARE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Stacy Hahn: FROM
149MY UNDERSTANDING, IT IS VERY HARD TO HIRE THE BSBAs BECAUSE OF THE COST AND THEY CAN MAKE MORE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US. I DO APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE EDUCATORS TOOLS, AS MEMBER RENDON SAID. I EVEN THINK THE RBAs, THEY ARE HIRED INTERNALLY, CORRECT, THE RBAs? YES RBTs. Stacy Hahn: RBTs ARE HIRED INTERNALLY. THEY ARE EASIER TO HIRE. THE THERAPISTS WE ALSO HIRE EXTERNALLY. WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR DOLLAR STRETCH AS BEST WE CAN AND I THINK THAT THIS CONTRACT HELPS US DO THAT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT. THANKS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. I'LL MAKE A REALLY QUICK KIND OF COMMENT BECAUSE YOU DID SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH ME ON THE PHONE EXPLAINING THE COMPLEXITY OF TRYING TO KEEP THIS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT
150AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT WE'RE FACING AND WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR DISTRICT AND WE PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THIS IN OUR DISTRICT AND WHETHER THAT MEANS LOOKING AT PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES THEIR WORTH, ADVOCATING FOR THAT ON A LEGISLATIVE LEVEL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH DOLLARS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FLOWING IN THE RIGHT WAY, WHATEVER IT NEEDS SO THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY KEEPING PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSISTENT AND IN OUR DISTRICT IN OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE TO SEE THINGS CONSISTENTLY BEING OUTSOURCED BECAUSE WE CAN'T PAY A LIVABLE WAGE OR AN AFFORDABLE SALARY AND BE COMPETITIVE AND AT THIS POINT, IF OUR BENEFITS AREN'T LURING PEOPLE INTO WORKING FOR OUR DISTRICT, THEN SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY TALK
151ABOUT. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF ECHO WHAT WE HAVE SAID SO MANY TIMES HERE AND TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT JUST TO, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE AND ADVOCATE FOR WHETHER IT MEANS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FUNDING, WHETHER IT MEANS MORE FLEXIBILITY, WHETHER IT MEANS MORE TRANSPARENCY, DOING WHAT IT NEEDS TO GET FROM THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BE EMPLOYED BY OUR DISTRICT AND HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN STAYING IN OUR DISTRICT AND SERVING OUR KIDS. THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT. SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO 7.04,
152GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE BUS LOOP, PARKING, AND FACADE PROJECT AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS BOARD ITEM REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE GMP FOR BUS LOOP, PARKING AND FACADE PROJECT AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. DEMOLITION TO OLD EAST BAY BUS GARAGE NO LONGER IN USE TO ALLOW SPACE FOR BUS LOOP AND ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS, FACADE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, INCLUDE A CANOPY WITH BRICK COLUMNS AND PLANTERS TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING ENTRY TO THE MAIN OFFICE AND WINDOW AWNINGS TO BUILDING 2 TO IMPROVE THE AESTHETICS OF THE FRONT OF EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE NEED IS DUE TO THE CURRENT BUS LOOP NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL BUSES AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE. BUSES ALSO CAUSE TRAFFIC ISSUES ON THE OLD BIG BEND ROAD.
153SO THAT IS ITEM 7.04. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? NO. THAT IS 7.04. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.04. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER RENDON PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER RENDON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Lynn Gray: MR. FARKAS HAS A COMMENT, TOO. WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION BEING THE GREAT EQUALIZER AND WHEN WE START EQUALIZING OUR SCHOOL SITES FOR AREAS OF MAYBE NOT THE MOST DESIRABILITY BECAUSE BIG BEND AS WE KNOW HAS HELD TRAFFIC UP FOR HOW MANY YEARS, THREE TO FOUR YEARS WITH ALL THE INTERSTATE RENOVATION. IT'S ABOUT DRIVEN JUST ANYBODY CRAZY. OUR WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL, KRISTIN FINCH, DOING SUCH A FINE JOB AT EISENHOWER. I THINK
154WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE, THE FACE-LIFT, WHICH MR. FARKAS WILL SHARE, BUT ALSO MAKING THE CURRICULUM, ESTABLISHING A HIGHER LEVEL OF LEARNING WHICH WILL DRAW KIDS FROM THE NEW DEVELOPMENT OF 4,000 SOMETHING HOUSES ACROSS THE STREET AND THERE ARE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, BUT ALSO APOLLO BEACH. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE NEW K-8 IS ABUNDANTLY FULL. THAT IS A GOOD THING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE PORTABLES WE CAN FIND. HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T FLOAT AWAY IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE. THAT IS ANOTHER STORY. ANYWAY, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE EISENHOWER AS STRONG AS WE CAN AND MAKE A FOOTPRINT TO DRAW THOSE STUDENTS TO THAT SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE OVERCROWDED SITUATIONS. MR. FARKAS, CAN YOU SELL US ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL? Christopher Farkas: CERTAINLY TRY. MR. FINCH DOES A MUCH BETTER JOB ON THAT.
155AS YOU SAID, ANYBODY BEEN ON BIG BEND ROAD HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO LOOK AT EISENHOWER BECAUSE USUALLY STANDING STILL AS YOU'RE ON THE ROAD. WE DID HAVE A BUS GARAGE THERE. ALSO DOING CONSTRUCTION ON OLD BIG BEND ROAD AS MR. AYRES REFERENCED. NOW THAT'S GONE IT IS CLEAR. WE PLAN ON PUTTING A CHAMBERLAIN LIKE FENCE IN THE FRONT, BRICK THAT MATCHES THE FRONT. AWNINGS IN THE FRONT AREA, AREA RIGHT NOW THAT IS A RETENTION POND, THAT IS OVERGROWN. WORKED WITH THE COUNTY TO FIX THAT. UP THERE WHERE ALL THE BUSES ARE REPAIRED. NO LONGER A NEED FOR THE SITE THERE. WE'LL CLEAN UP THE AREA. TAKE AWAY THE BUS REPAIR AREA. MAKE IT A BUS LOOP WHICH MR. FINCH IS HAPPY ABOUT. EVERYBODY IS NOT COMING IN THE SAME PLACE. OVERALL GREAT AESTHETICALLY AND
156FUNCTIONALLY FOR EISENHOWER. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BEGUN OTHER THINGS HE'S ASKED FOR ON THE CAMPUS. TURF IN THE MAIN AREA, REDONE THE GYM. PIECE BY PIECE, WE NEED TO BRING UP THE AESTHETICS OF WHAT EISENHOWER LOOKS LIKE. HEARD IT REPEATEDLY. $4 MILLION INVESTMENT THE BOARD WILL BE MAKING IN MAKING SURE EISENHOWER TAKES A HUGE STEP BOARD. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND REALLY THE OVERSIGHT BOARD TOO. IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL HOW YOU ALL WORK AND MAKE SURE THESE LESS THAN POPULAR SCHOOLS BECOME BETTER HAVENS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND MORE COMPETITIVE. MR. BRADY, YOU'RE INTO CURRICULUM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION BEING THE GREAT EQUALIZER, THEN WE HAVE TO THINK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THIS SCHOOL TO BE LEVELING UP. ADDING ACE? WHAT AMENITIES ARE WE PUTTING FORTH IN THAT SCHOOL FOR
157MR. FINCH TO BE CHALLENGED WITH? SPECIFIC PROGRAM YOU WANTED TO -- Lynn Gray: ARE WE ADDING SOME MORE CURRICULUM STATUS, ELEVATED CURRICULUM? ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THAT. NOT CURRENTLY, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S ALL ON THE TABLE, CERTAINLY, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, YEAH. Lynn Gray: OKAY. IT'S UNDER DISCUSSION. ANYWAY, WE'LL GET INTO THAT LATER. SORRY. THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL, IN ALL WAYS, SHAPES AND FORMS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M DONE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: ONE OF THE THINGS THE COMMUNITY HASN'T RECOGNIZED, WE ARE AN OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT, AROUND OVER A HUNDRED YEARS, EISENHOWER AS WELL AS EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL ARE ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY, MANY DECADES. SO I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS REFURBISHMENT OF
158THE SCHOOL SO THE OUTSIDE LOOKS LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE INSIDE. MR. FINCH IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB. KIDS ARE GETTING A GREAT EDUCATION. I'M VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL SEE FROM AN OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW WHAT WE'RE DOING INSIDE BECAUSE WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS. I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT PUT A PLUG IN FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL CENTER AT EISENHOWER. IT DOES SERVE SO MANY OF OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE SOUTH AND EAST COUNTY. AND IT NEEDS ATTENTION SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. SINCE IT IS RIGHT IN THAT BACK DOOR EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE I AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IS A WELL-NEEDED UPGRADE THAT WE NEED TO DO NOT JUST FOR OUTSIDE AESTHETICS BUT INSIDE, WE WANT
159TO MAKE SURE IT IS A MUCH MORE SAFER AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THE POINT OF WHAT AN OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT WE ARE AND HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN SERVING OUR STUDENTS. I WANT TO PIGGY BACK ON BOTH MEMBER RENDON AND WHAT I BELIEVE MEMBER GRAY WAS SAYING, AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS TO REHAB, REFURBISH, MAKE OUR SCHOOLS LOOK AS BEAUTIFUL AS WE CAN BECAUSE BEING AROUND YOUR ENVIRONMENT IS A REFLECTION OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF, HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL, CULTIVATES IN SCHOOL PRIDE. I'M PROUD WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE WHATEVER EXTRA DOLLARS WE HAD TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL AS FAR AS CAPITAL OUTLAY. I DO ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT BUT AT
160THE SAME TIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND WHAT PROGRAMS WE'RE PUTTING IN THE SCHOOLS AND PRIORITIZING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO ATTRACT OUR STUDENTS BACK TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT'S GOT TO BE A CAREFUL BALANCE OF USING OUR FUNDS TO, ONE, PRIORITIZE THE CAPITAL BUILDINGS OF OUR SCHOOLS, MAKE SURE OUR AIR CONDITIONING IS WORKING, BUS LOOPS MAKE SENSE FOR PARENT DROP-OFF BUT ALSO WORK HAND IN HAND AND I KNOW THAT IS A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE INVEST IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRAMMING AND NOT PROGRAMS, BUT PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY AND AGAIN BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THEY NEED AND MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE. I DO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT
161I APPRECIATE MEMBER RENDON'S VIEWPOINT AND THE QUESTIONS THAT MEMBER GRAY IS ASKING THAT AS MUCH AS WE PUT ENERGY INTO MAKING OUR SCHOOLS LOOK BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE THEY NEED IT, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EXPENSIVE TO THE COMMUNITIES AND THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE AS EVERY SPEAKER WHO COMES TO SPEAK LOVES TO POINT OUT THAT ARE ON OUR WALL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: MR. BRADY. I KNOW WHEN MS. GRAY ASKED ME, YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT ACE, YES, IT IS ONE OF OUR CAMBRIDGE SECONDARY SITES. SO, YEAH, THERE ARE FOUR KIND OF QUADRANTS. EISENHOWER IS ONE OF THOSE, ONE OF THE EMERGING SECONDARY SITES FOR CAMBRIDGE.
162THAT LEADS INTO EAST BAY, RIVER VIEW, SO THE STUDENTS HAVE THAT ABILITY TO TAKE THAT ACCELERATED COURSE WORK. EISENHOWER IS ONE OF THOSE SITES RIGHT NOW. OBVIOUSLY, PRINCIPAL FINCH IS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT. HE'S REALLY EMBRACING IT. Lynn Gray: I FIGURED THAT. I KNEW IT WAS OUT THERE. WHEN YOU SAID ACE, CAMBRIDGE ACE IS THE SAME THING. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTES WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO 7.07, PIGGYBACK CUSTODIAL, GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THIS PROVIDES A SITE-BASED PROGRAM ALLOWING FOR CONTINUOUS OVERSIGHT OF ALL GROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE GROWING AND NONGROWING SEASON. THIS PROVIDES US WITH AN ALTERNATIVE VENDOR TO PROVIDE ALL MOWING, TRIMMING, CLEANUP, PLANT AND
163BED CARE, WEEDING, MULCHING, PRUNING, LEAF REMOVAL 36 TIMES EACH YEAR AND MORE OFTEN AS NEEDED TO KEEP A NEAT APPEARANCE AT OUR SCHOOL SITES AND FACILITIES. AND THAT IS THE PIGGYBACK 7.01, CUSTODIAL, GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. 7.07. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. I PULLED THIS ITEM. SO MY QUESTION IS, I ASKED YOU THIS DURING OUR AGENDA REVIEW, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAYING THIS ON THE RECORD, THAT ALTHOUGH THIS SAYS IT IS A PIGGY BECOME FOR OUR CUSTODIAL GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE WHICH WE'RE OUTSOURCING THROUGH THIS, WE ARE NOT OUTSOURCING OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF. WE'RE STILL KEEPING THEM HIRED THROUGH THE DISTRICT. THIS AGENDA ITEM DOESN'T CHANGE THAT AT ALL. Christopher Farkas: THAT IS 100% ACCURATE. THIS IS ONLY
164FOR THE MOWING PROGRAM OUTSOURCED FOR THE PAST ALMOST 13 YEARS. CONTINUE TO BE ONLY THAT. PIGGYBACK CONTRACT IS ONE FROM NATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ONE THAT INCORPORATES ALL THAT. WE'LL ONLY BE USING IT FOR THE MOWING PROGRAM. Jessica Vaughn: I HOPE WITH THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE SOME BETTER SERVICE THAN WE DID WITH THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTS. I KNOW OUR PREVIOUS MAINTENANCE STAFF TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THEIR GROUNDS LOOK GOOD. WE'VE HAD SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT SINCE WE OUTSOURCED IT. I'M HOPING THIS PROVIDER GIVES US SOME BETTER SERVICE WHEN IT COMES TO IT. Christopher Farkas: THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE THIS PROVIDER. WE DON'T WANT TO PUT IT ON THE SCHOOLS. THE OLD PROVIDER, THE SCHOOL HAD TO GO IN A FORM, FILL OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. SOME SCHOOLS
165GREAT ABOUT THAT, SOME SCHOOLS NOT SO MUCH. THIS CONTRACT THAT YOU'RE APPROVING THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. WE CHECK ON THAT. NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE GROUNDS. DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE PERFECT. STILL RAINY SEASON, THINGS LIKE THAT. MY PERSPECTIVE, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HAVE DROPPED CONSIDERABLY. NOT PERFECT BUT DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM WHERE WE WERE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. GOTTEN BETTER, NOT PERFECT. CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. HOPE TO CONTINUE TO HEAR GOOD THINGS. SINCE THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER GRAY BEING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO 10.01, IT SERVICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. Van Ayres: THIS IS A REMOTE SUPPORT PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS TECHNICIANS THE ABILITY TO REMOTELY CONNECT AND INTERACT WITH A COMPUTER
166AND USER. PROVIDES A CENTRALIZED TOOLBOX TO SHARE TROUBLESHOOTING SCRIPTS WITH ALL TECHNICIANS AND PROVIDES EFFICIENCIES BY SAVING TRAVEL TIME FOR HELP DESK AND TECHNICIANS TO RESOLVE COMPUTER-RELATED ISSUES. I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SCOTT GAFNER WHO HAS BEEN FILLING IN AS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. DID WANT TO INTRODUCE, BEEN WORKING WITH THE FIRST BOARD MEETING CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER MIKE GETIS. WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE MIKE ON THE TEAM AND WHAT HE'S BRINGING TO THE TEAM. GREAT ADDITION, OUTSTANDING NOT ONLY HIS TEAM BUT THE ENTIRE CABINET. EXCITED TO HAVE MIKE ON BOARD. 10.01. MR. GAFNER, MR. GETIS ARE HERE WITH ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING 10.01. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY
167QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I DO WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE IT STAFF FOR THE TRANSITION INTO FOCUS. I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING EXTRA HARD MOVING INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO NOT ONLY BE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF IN THE TRANSITION, MAKING SURE WE HAVE GOOD AND ACCURATE DATA AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT FOR THE MISHAP WE HAD LAST YEAR AND THAT WE ARE HOPEFULLY MAKING THIS A BETTER TRANSITION THIS YEAR WITH FOCUS. WHAT WE TOOK AND PROVIDED TO OUR STAFF, WHAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR FAMILIES WAS JUST
168UNACCEPTABLE THIS YEAR. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK WITH THIS TRANSITION. I KNOW THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THIS AGENDA ITEM, BUT IT WAS THE ONLY AGENDA ITEM IT AFFECTED IT. I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TRANSITION THAT'S HAPPENED WITH FOCUS. I WOULD HAVE A LITTLE PLUG THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WHEREVER WE CAN, TO BE ABLE TO MERGE A SYSTEM SO FAMILIES ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE INTO ONE SYSTEM AND DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO MULTIPLE SYSTEMS TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION WOULD DEFINITELY BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF MY REQUEST. BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED EXTRA HARD. WE'RE GETTING GOOD DATA, ACCURATE DATA. THAT MEANS OUR STAFF
169ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO RELY ON THAT DATA AND ACTUALLY HAVING TO NOT HAVE TO DO TRIPLE AND QUADRUPLE THE AMOUNT OF WORK IN THE SYSTEM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I THANK THE I.T. DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND THE FOCUS STAFF FOR BEING HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE IT RUNS CORRECTLY. WHEN I MET WITH THEM, I MADE IT VERY CLEAR, THANK GOD, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT A NEW SYSTEM SHOULD LOOK LIKE. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE GONE OUT OF OUR WAY TO MAKE SURE THIS IS DONE RIGHT THIS TIME. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS IN DOING THAT. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. NICE. WELL, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE -- THAT WASN'T ME. THAT WAS MR.
170FARKAS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MR. GAFNER. APPRECIATE THAT. BOARD MEMBERS, MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATES THIS EVENING, FIRST SLIDE, THIS IS OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING. THAT PICTURE LOOKS BETTER THAN THE ONE -- I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THAT. I SAW THE PICTURE. I HOPE IT IS A LITTLE BETTER. THIS IS OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING SINCE THE START OF SCHOOL. SO I JUST WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK. WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WAS EXCITED TO JOIN DISTRICT LEADERS AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO STOP BY SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS ON THE FIRST DAY TO WELCOME STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND OUR STAFF BACK FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. WE WENT A LITTLE VIRAL WITH OUR WELCOME BACK
171TO OUR STAFF. DON'T WORRY, NOT SINGING IT. IT'S OVER. TIME HAS PASSED. IT'S DONE. FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND AND HEARD FROM TEAMS VERY SUCCESSFUL FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL. I WANT TO THANK OUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR GETTING SCHOOL SITES READY AND ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET FOR OUR STUDENTS. AROUND FOCUS, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAD MUCH ANTICIPATION OF THE ROLLOUT OF FOCUS AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT TO OUR SOLUTIONS CENTER WHERE I THINK THEY ARE STILL THERE. THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST WEEK THAT THEY ARE AT ISC. TREMENDOUS ROLLOUT FOR THE FOCUS TEAM. THANK YOU TO THAT IN OUR NEW ROLE OUT THERE. AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE AWARE, ACE ALWAYS COMES IN IN AUGUST. I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND HIGHLIGHT THAT. AP AND IB RESULTS.
172SCHOOL DISTRICT SAW GREAT GAINS IN ACCELERATED PROGRAMS THE PAST YEAR. I UPDATED YOU ON AP AND IB. THE PAST SPRING, 24,500 ACE EXAMS, 5,000 MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. ACCELERATED PROGRAMS AND OPTIONS, FAMILIAR WITH ALL AP AND IB. BUT FOR 24,500 ACE EXAMS TO BE GIVEN, 58.95% PASS RATE. IT WAS AN INCREASE. SICKLES, STRAWBERRY CREST, TAMPA BAY TECH DOUBLED NUMBER OF EXAMS STUDENTS TOOK. NEWSOME AND STEINBRENNER QUADRUPLED NUMBER OF EXAMS. IN OUR SCHOOLS, 351 STUDENTS RECEIVED THEIR ACE DIPLOMA PAST MAY. 219 MORE THAN LAST SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAD 389 IB DIPLOMAS GIVEN. WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT GREAT IB OPTIONS WE HAVE FOR STUDENTS. 389 IB DIPLOMAS. 351 ACE DIPLOMAS. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD. FOUR OR SO YEARS BACK WHEN WE BROUGHT FORWARD AROUND CAMBRIDGE AND BRINGING IT TO OUR SITES. YOU SEE THE
173IMPACT, NOT ONLY THE PASS RATE, ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS THAT WE PROVIDE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT AP OFFERINGS, IB AND NOW ACE, IT'S TRULY REMARKABLE WHAT OUR EDUCATORS DO, WHAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING IN MOVING STUDENTS. THESE ARE BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ARE AWARDED REGARDLESS OF S.A.T. OR A.C.T. SCORE. I WANT TO THANK OUR ACCELERATED TEAM, BROWN AND HOOVER FOR THE AMAZING RESULTS AND ALL OF OUR SCHOOL-BASED TEACHERS AND LEADERS. I WAS ACTUALLY OUT THIS MORNING OVER AT TEMPLE TERRACE WITH THE HELIOS. THE HEAD CEO WAS OUT TO TALK ABOUT OUR TELLY PROGRAM. A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HILLSBOROUGH FOUNDATION, US AND HELIOS, LAW FIRMED TO ADDRESS LONG-STANDING EARLY LITERACY DISPARITIES. IT IS A DATA DRIVEN EFFORT TO INCREASE KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND ULTIMATELY THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY AT 14 TITLE I ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SERVING PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME
174BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS. THANKS TO SHAY McRAE WHO WAS INTEGRAL WORKING WITH THE FOUNDATION. HELIOS IN GETTING THIS GOING. TREMENDOUS RESULTS. SEEN THE RESULTS WITH U FLY. IT'S AROUND JOB EMBEDDED COACHING FOR TEACHERS. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY, STRATEGIC FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT. FROM THESE EFFORTS WE RECEIVED GREAT RESULTS FROM THAT INITIATIVE FROM THE WORK OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, KINDERGARTEN PROFICIENCY ROSE FROM 9th PERCENTILE TO 42nd PERCENTILE. IN THOSE 1 SCHOOLS, TELI, FROG STREET, PRE-K CURRICULUM, UTILIZE YOU FLY. REALLY INCREDIBLE. PRE-K PROFICIENCY WENT FROM 12 TO THE 44 PERCENTILE. EVERY PARTICIPATING SCHOOL REPORTED IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FUNDED BY THE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MORNING AT IT'S THE. THEY WERE INTERVIEWING MARIE ORTIZ FORMER INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. TRACYE BROWN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM FROM FROG STREET, ALIGNING OF
175THE CURRICULUM, THE WORK OF TRACYE BROWN'S TEAM, BRADY'S TEAM. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD WITH TREMENDOUS RESULTS. AUGUST 15, USF CELEBRATED THE NEXT GENERATION OF S.T.E.M. TEACHER LEADERS THROUGH THE MASTER TEACHING FELLOWSHIP. THE PROGRAM IS A REMARKABLE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN USF AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. QUIPS EDUCATORS WITH KNOWLEDGE -- USF THAT DAY CELEBRATED 10 HCPS TEACHERS FROM THE 2024 COHORT FOR COMPLETING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES IN MEGATRONNIC PRINCIPALS EARNING THEIR MASTERS OF EDUCATION IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FROM USF THIS SUMMER. I THINK MS. VAUGHN AND MS. COMBS, YOU WERE BOTH THERE. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MEMBER RENDON WAS THERE AS WELL. TO USF AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING OUR TEACHERS THROUGH THEM AND OUR STUDENTS. FINALLY, THRIVE BY FIVE, WE
176WERE NOMINATED AS A FAMILY FRIENDLY BUSINESS AWARD. WE ACTUALLY WERE NOTIFIED WE RECEIVED THE GOLD AWARD. I JUST WANT TO THANK HR AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOR SUBMITTING THIS FOR OUR RECOGNITION. WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS. IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE THRIVE BY FIVE FAMILY FRIENDLY TAMPA BAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO DR. PATEN, TRACYE BROWN, YOU'VE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK. YOU AND EMILY WORK WITH THRIVE BY FIVE. HR SIDE, WE WERE JUST AWARDED THE GOLD WINNING THERE. LASTLY, JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS COMING WEEKEND IS LABOR DAY WHICH MEANS NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 1st. HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS THE LONG WEEKEND. THOSE ARE MY UPDATES. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER THAT YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH
17730 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER GRAY, YOU ARE FIRST IN QUEUE. Lynn Gray: IN THE SPIRIT OF SCHOOL SITE SUCCESS, EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS, BLACK HISTORY PROGRESS AND U.S. HISTORY ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS WAS MAGNIFICENT. IN 2024 TO SPRING 2025, 12% INCREASE ON STATE ASSESSMENT TESTS. NOW WHY AND HOW IS THAT DONE? OVER 189 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THE HABSE BRAIN BOWL PREPARING FOR DIVERSE LEADERS IN BLACK HISTORY. AND IN CONJUNCTION -- THAT'S LED BY DR. ANDREA BEVERLY WHO IS THE CHAIR, IN CONJUNCTION WE HAVE ALLISON EDGECOMB WHO HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. SHE NOW HAS PUT TOGETHER 51 THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS. AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS POPULATION OF STUDENTS WHO ARE VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN A COMPETITION THAT'S DISTRICTWIDE. I DO BELIEVE WE MAY GO INTO THE STATEWIDE CONTEST. SO THAT'S COMING UP.
178ACTUALLY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT TOMORROW. MR. YOUNG, YOU MAY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE. SHAKE, WE MAY GO TO THE STATE ON THE BRAIN BOWL. THAT'S TOMORROW'S MEETING. THANKING MARIE ROGERS AND KELLY BRANDON AND THEIR WONDERFUL SOCIAL STUDIES TEAM. GREAT PROGRESS IN MANY AREAS, BUT I WANTED TO MENTION THAT. PABLO, DO WE HAVE THAT PHOTO ON JESSICA DE LA PRIETA? STAY THERE, BECAUSE I'VE GOT THAT AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE. WE WANT TO THANK ALL THE PARTNERS. I MEAN, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS. WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL WHICH WASN'T THAT LONG AGO. BRANDON RIVERVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WE WANT TO THANK. SO GENEROUS WITH GIFTS AND NEEDED GIFTS FOR ALL THE TEACHERS. SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM, BEVIS ELEMENTARY, REASON IS I HIGHLIGHTED THEM, THIS IS
179FROM THE VALRICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT BLOOMINGDALE BECAUSE MY GRANDDAUGHTERS GO THERE. AND THERE -- YEAH, THERE ARE ALL THOSE WONDERFUL TEACHERS WHO TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL THE KIDS AT BEVIS. THANKING AGAIN THE VALRICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ALSO, THE PARENT MAGAZINE GAVE OVER 5,000 BACKPACKS AT THE BACKPACK GIVEAWAY AT WESTSHORE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE BULLOCK FOUNDATION GAVE I THINK AROUND 15,000 BACKPACKS. I DIDN'T GO TO THIS ONE BECAUSE I HAD ANOTHER EVENT. A LOT OF GENEROUS PARTNERS WHO WELCOME OUR TEACHERS, THINK THE WORLD OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND CONTRIBUTE TO ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL, HARDWORKING TEACHERS. NEXT, PABLO, DO YOU HAVE THE HISPANIC? NOW, THIS, OKAY, NO -- YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS THE TRANSPORTATION BIG MEETING. AND THIS WAS A LOT OF THESE HARDWORKING BUS
180DRIVERS, POINT OF SERVICE. IS THIS THE BUS DRIVERS OR IS THIS THE OTHER ONE? WE HAD TWO THINGS GOING ON. BUT THIS WAS HUGE. EVERY TIME WE SEE A BUS, WE'RE REMINDED THAT WHO IS IN THAT BUS DRIVING? IT IS A BUS DRIVER THAT CARES FOR OUR KIDS AND REALLY SETS THE TONE FOR THE DAY. AND WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE OUR BUS DRIVERS. LAURA HILL, YOU ARE THE SUPERSTAR, AND THEY COULD NOT -- THEY HELD ON TO EVERY WORD THAT YOU SAID OF MOTIVATION AND HOW THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU, MS. HILL. NEXT PHOTO. THIS WAS AT HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. I KNOW MEMBER VAUGHN WAS THERE -- I TRIED TO TAKE PHOTOS. ANOTHER BACK TO SCHOOL. THIS WAS GIVEN BY THE TABA CARROLLWOOD AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. AND
181THEY ALSO GAVE THOUSANDS OF GREAT GOODS AND FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO THE TEACHERS. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BEN HILL BAND AND THE CHORUS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE JESSICA DE LA PRIETA, NOW IN CHARGE OF THE ELL, 26,000 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. SHE'S GOING TO GET A LOT OF AWARDS. 2025 HISPANIC ADVOCACY AWARD. YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF HER. SHE'S GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE BUT SHE LOVES IT. AND SHE'LL DO A WONDERFUL JOB FOR YOU AND FOR THE BOARD. THANK YOU ALL. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: I WANT TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE GAINS YOU PRESENTED. CONGRATULATIONS. THESE ARE INCREDIBLE GAINS THAT WE MADE IN THE ACCELERATED PROGRAMS AND JUST OPENS THE DOOR FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES. THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO HIGHLIGHT
182OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK HELIOS FOR SUPPORTING THE YOU FLY COACHING, THE TELI PROGRAM. AND JUST REMIND PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, THE KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-K RESULTS ARE FANTASTIC, SO CONGRATULATIONS. LET ME JUST REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT A HEAVY LIFT KINDERGARTEN IS FOR US BECAUSE WE ONLY SERVE 12% APPROXIMATELY OF THE VPK POPULATION. AND WE KNOW FROM THE DATA THAT ABOUT 51% OF STUDENTS ARE NOT KINDERGARTEN READY. THEY ARE NOT KINDERGARTEN READY. BUT THEY ARE COMING INTO OUR SCHOOLS IN KINDERGARTEN. NEVER SET FOOT IN OUR SCHOOLS UNTIL KINDERGARTEN. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SUCH A HEAVY LIFT FOR US IN KINDERGARTEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER HALF -- I MEAN, 80 PLUS PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE IN VPK. SO IT GIVES US A REALLY SHORT RUNWAY TO KIND OF
183GET KIDS CAUGHT UP. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT COME TO US AND THEY ARE NOT APPRECIATIVE IN THEIR ALPHABET OR COUNTING. THEY CAN'T IDENTIFY NUMBERS OR IDENTIFY LETTERS WHEN THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN. NOT FROM OUR PRE-K PROGRAMS, BUT NOT ALL ARE BUILT EQUAL. AND THAT'S THE TRUTH. I THINK THAT'S WHY CONTINUING TO DO COMMUNITIES PRACTICE, PARTNERING WITH THE ELC TO DO THOSE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE. WHEN I SAY THAT, THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE THE TEACHERS FROM THE PRIVATE VPKs GETTING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR SCHOOL VPK TEACHERS. SO EVERYBODY KIND OF UNDERSTANDS WHAT SKILLS NEED TO BE TAUGHT TO PREPARE KIDS TO BE KINDERGARTEN READY. CONGRATULATIONS ON THESE NUMBERS. AGAIN, THAT IS A BIG LIFT FOR YOU ALL. IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL. IT MAKES MY HEART HAPPY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. AND THANKS TO MY
184BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY SUPPORT AT THIS DAIS THAT HELPS US REACH THOSE GAINS. ONE LAST THING, IN THE 25-26 U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT RANKINGS, WE HAD QUITE A FEW HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WERE IN THE TOP 200. I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM. PLANT, NEWSOME, STEINBRENNER, ROBINSON, SICKLES, STRAWBERRY CREST, TAMPA BAY TECH, BLOOMINGDALE, ALONSO, RIVERVIEW, AND MIDDLETON ALL IN THE TOP 200 AND KUDOS, CONGRATULATIONS, WHAT A GREAT JOB EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS DOING EACH AND EVERY DAY. YOU CAN SEE THE PROOF OF ALL THEIR HARD WORK, SO THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, I WANT TO START OFF, PABLO, YOU HAVE THE FIRST. OKAY. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK -- AND THE PWC FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION
185TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM WITH OVER 500 BOOK BAGS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ABOUT MAYBE TWO OR THREE HUNDRED OF THE EMPLOYEES, TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY DO FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT WAS UNIQUE THIS YEAR BECAUSE EVERYBODY PITCHED IN AND THE PRINCIPALS CAME TO PICK UP THEIR OWN GIFTS. YEARS PAST, WE WENT OUT TO THE SCHOOLS. BUT NOW WE HAVE THE PRINCIPALS TO COME AND PICK THEM UP. I TELL YOU WHAT, IT WAS GREAT. EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY. THE KIDS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIDS THERE, BUT THEY WERE READY TO GO FOR THE KIDS. I REALLY THANK PWC AND MS. TONYA CROSS FOR DOING THAT. SHE ALWAYS PARTICIPATES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ALWAYS, FOR YEARS. MOVING ALONG, WE HAVE THE BACK TO SCHOOL CLINIC WITH MS. YOUNG, WITH THE LINKS. SHE WAS
186THERE. MS. YOUNG, YOU OUT THERE NOW. RAISE YOUR HAND. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. COUPLE OF NOTES HERE, THE TOTAL STUDENTS SERVED 1,205 STUDENTS RECEIVED SERVICES. YOU'VE BEEN DOING THAT OVER 25 YEARS. THAT IS A LONG TIME. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FOR THE STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, GETTING THEM BACK TO SCHOOL. A COUPLE OF TAXPAYERS YOU SAVED THEM MONEY BY PROVIDING 1,025 STUDENTS WITH FREE SCHOOL PHYSICALS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOVING ALONG, THEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO KINLY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, MR. MARCUS MURILLO AND I THINK THE CHIEF CAME. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE GAVE THEM SOME VERY GOOD PROPS BECAUSE THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY WERE
187VERY HAPPY, BUT I TELL YOU, I GOT CAUGHT UP. NOW I OWE A BARBEQUE. THIS GIRL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE CAME FROM. YOU CAME OUT HERE TWO YEARS AGO AND PROMISED SOME BARBEQUE. I HAVE TO TAKE THEM BARBEQUE FROM BIG JOHN BARBEQUE. YES, I WILL. YOU CAN SEE THE YOUNG LADY THERE. YOU CAN SEE HER. SHE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MY DAUGHTER. SHE SAY, MR. WASHINGTON, YOU WAS OUT HERE TWO YEARS AGO. AND SHE GOES, AND YOU WAS SUPPOSED TO BRING US BARBEQUE. I SAY, REALLY? I SAY I FORGOT IT. NO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING BARBEQUE, SO I'LL TAKE THEM SOME. I REALLY AM. MOVING ALONG, THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT BLAKE, HOWARD W. BLAKE. NOW I'LL TELL YOU, THOSE STUDENTS WERE SO EXCITED FOR THAT NEW PRINCIPAL THAT
188DAY. THEY WALKED UP, THEY WERE WALKING UP INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO THE PRINCIPAL. THAT'S PHENOMENAL BECAUSE WE HAD SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE. ROB WITH MR. JOHNSON AND THEN PANSY AND ROSS. WE TOOK PICTURES WITH THE FOOTBALL TEAM. HAD THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS THERE. IT WAS GREAT. THIS IS WHAT A SCHOOL SHOULD LOOK LIKE. YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT MOTIVATION. THE FIRST DAY, YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE YOUR PRINCIPAL. IF YOU'RE NOT, SOMETHING WRONG. AND THEY WERE THERE. ASKING THEM QUESTIONS. IT WASN'T NO FAKE. IT WAS ALL THE REAL DEAL. I THINK I FEEL MR. JOHNSON IS GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB AT HOWARD W. BLAKE. BECAUSE HE'S MOTIVATED. HE'S YOUNG. HIS KIDS GOES THERE. YEAH, THEY ARE GOING TO BLAKE. PLUS HE WAS IN THE BAND. HE WAS IN THE BAND FOR JACKSON STATE. THAT'S RIGHT.
189HE HAS THAT TALENT. HIS KID IS IN THE BAND. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE GOOD THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT BLAKE. PLUS PUBLIX SHOULD BE OPEN PRETTY SOON. YEAH, IT SHOULD BE OPEN. ANYWAY, THANK YOU. WE HAD A GREAT COMEBACK. WE HAD A GREAT OPENING OF THE SCHOOL THIS YEAR. FANTASTIC OPENING. PEOPLE WERE MOTIVATED AND I WAS VERY PROUD OF IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I HAD TO LEAN OVER TO MEMBER GRAY AND SAY IS IT THE SECOND OR THIRD WEEK? IT'S SUCH A BLUR. I WILL SAY BY THE END OF THAT FIRST WEEK ON FRIDAY, I WAS JUST EXHAUSTED. I THINK EVERYONE FELT LIKE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT WE HAD SUCH A LONG FIRST
190WEEK. BUT I WILL SAY IT WAS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL WEEK. SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ON THE BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STRONGEST BEGINNING WHERE THERE WAS GREAT COMMUNICATION. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, SUPERINTENDENT, YOUR CABINET, EVERYONE. ALL THE TEACHERS, OUR BUS DRIVERS. EVERYONE WORKED SO HARD TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT LAUNCH. I ALSO WANT TO THANK FOCUS, BECAUSE THAT'S SO HUGE. BEING ABLE TO GO TO ISC. THANK YOU MATT HOFF, BEN STEED, HE'S GOING TO LIKE THAT. THE ENTIRE TECH TEAM AND FOCUS. JUST AMAZING GOING IN THERE AND SEEING HOW MANY PROBLEMS THEY HAVE AND RESOLVING IT, AND REALLY LOOKING AT A VISION THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE FUTURE. I REALLY FEEL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE FUTURE. LAST MEETING, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH BOARD MEMBER SAID SOMETHING ABOUT LIKE OUR
191BUDGET HAS INCREASED, BUT OUR ENROLLMENT OR WHATEVER HAS STAYED THE SAME. I STARTED LOOKING AT THAT AND THINKING ABOUT THAT, YEAH, EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT HAS INCREASED BY 25 TO 50 PERCENT. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE BUDGET INCREASED. SOUTH COUNTY, WE NEED SO MANY BUILDINGS, BUT WE STILL AREN'T GETTING THE MONEY. TO ME, TO SEE, LIKE OUR TECO BILL HAS GONE UP SIX TO EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AFTER WE CHANGED THE LED LIGHTS. SO I ASKED MR. FARKAS, BECAUSE I KNOW MY ELECTRIC BILL HAS DOUBLED. WHAT ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? ONE THING THAT HASN'T DOUBLED IS THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. TO SEE A .78 INCREASE, .78, NOT EVEN 1% IS RIDICULOUS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE REALLY SUCH HEROES ALSO GET BONUSES ONE DAY. I'D LOVE TO SEE
192BONUSES HAPPEN FOR OUR EDUCATORS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, FIREFIGHTERS, ANY OF THAT. SO .78. JUST THINK ABOUT THAT. WHEN PEOPLE COME UP AND ARE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING, I OFTEN SAY, IT'S NOT REALLY A LOCAL ISSUE. IT'S A STATE ISSUE. .78. THAT IS NOT EVEN AN INCREASE OF COST OF LIVING, LESS THAN 1%. AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE RECEIVED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS LESS. OUR NEEDS ARE HIGHER. EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT WE'RE NOT RECEIVING THAT. INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS, I'M AMAZED AT THE THINGS THAT WE DO WITH THE LACK OF FUNDING. EVERY TIME WHEN WE WALK INTO SCHOOLS, SUPERINTENDENT, WE WENT YESTERDAY TO A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS, IT'S AMAZING THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING. THE QUALITY
193OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WITH SUCH A LIMITED BUDGET. WHEN WE SEE A LOWER ENROLLMENT, THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS. BUT THE ONE THING WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING IS CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN OUR SCHOOLS, BRING THE TEACHERS IN, DO ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS AND ALSO JUST MAKING SURE THAT ANY CHILD THAT COMES, WE DON'T WANT TO TURN AWAY PARENTS WHEN THEY COME IN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FRONT OFFICE, THAT IS THE FIRST -- WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE TO RUN LIKE WE ARE A BUSINESS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, PARENTS HAVE SO MANY CHOICES NOWADAYS. THEY HAVE CHOICES OF CHARTER. THEY HAVE CHOICES OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS. HOMESCHOOL. THEY CAN GO DOWN TO THEIR CHURCH. THERE ARE SCHOOLS THERE. MICROSCHOOLS EVERYWHERE, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC
194SCHOOLS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN PARENTS COME IN THAT OUR FRONT OFFICE STAFF, WHICH IS AMAZING, GREETS THEM. OUR SECURITY GUARDS GREET PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT THEY SEE THE FIRST MOMENT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE CONTINUES, THAT PARENTS AREN'T TURNED AWAY. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH PAPER WORK, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW UP. I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENROLLMENT. THAT'S WHY SUPERINTENDENT I TALKED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT AND HAVEN'T MENTIONED IT TO THE BOARD. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE IS THERE ARE SCHOOLS WITH LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE A PRINCIPAL WHO HAS 200 STUDENTS AND THEN YOU HAVE A PRINCIPAL WHO LEADS
1951200 STUDENTS AT THE SAME LEVEL AND THEY ARE DOING SO MANY MORE OBSERVATIONS, DEALING WITH SO MANY PARENTS, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE, SOME TYPE OF BONUS FOR THOSE SCHOOLS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT SOME PRINCIPALS WHO MAYBE CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT WHO ARE NOT GETTING THE CREDIT FOR THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRINCIPALS KNOW, THEY ARE AT THE CORE OF THE SCHOOL. THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME. NOBODY KNOWS WHO I AM, BUT PEOPLE KNOW WHO THEY SEE EVERY DAY AS A PRINCIPAL. THEY ARE SEEING THAT PRINCIPAL EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT YEAR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK
196YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF THAT HAVE COME BACK. DONE AN AMAZING JOB OUR FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SCHOOL. I RAN INTO SHERIFF CHRONISTER THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL. WE BOTH LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND WENT, GREAT FIRST WEEK. IT WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT ONE OF THE BEST WEEKS WE'VE HAD. LAW ENFORCEMENT FEELS THAT WE FEEL WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. I WANT TO REMIND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC TO BE MINDFUL OF ALL OF OUR BUSES AS YOU ARE COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH. WHEN A BUS' LIGHTS GO ON, THEY ARE GOING TO STOP. THAT MEANS YOU SLOW DOWN AND STOP. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PARAMOUNT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THERE ARE ALSO CAMERAS THAT ARE NOT BEING
197BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, BUT ARE IN SCHOOL ZONES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ABSOLUTELY ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE. BIG SHOUT-OUT TO BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL WHO WAS NAMED THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM OF THE YEAR. SO WE ARE SUPER EXCITED FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. THEY WERE HONORED FOR THAT ACCOMMODATION, SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL. ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT MADE THE WORLD NEWS AND REPORT. THAT IS NOT JUST FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. THAT IS ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, K-8s THAT HAVE ALL BUILT INTO THAT. IT DOESN'T JUST START AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. IT STARTS AT KINDERGARTEN ON AND EVERY ONE OF THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE FED INTO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS PLAY A ROLE IN OUR GRADUATION RATES, PLAY A ROLE IN WHEN
198OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE GREAT SUCCESS THEY ARE. THEY COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND K-8s. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR ELEVATING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. ALSO A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHETHER IT IS THE VARIOUS CHAMBER EVENTS, WHETHER THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR CHURCHES, ALL OF THEM HAVE STEPPED UP TO BE THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS, MAKING SURE OUR SCHOOLS HAVE THE SUPPLIES, OUR TEACHERS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE HAD A GREAT START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR. IT'S AN HONOR FOR US TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN WE GO THERE AND BE ABLE TO THANK OUR TEACHERS FOR STEPPING UP, THANK THEM FOR SHOWING UP FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT IS THEIR WORK THAT ALLOWS US TO DO WHAT WE
199DO. EVERY SINGLE DAY, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF AT EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED. I WANT TO THANK OUR BUS DRIVERS, OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF, OUR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, ALL OF OUR SECURITY STAFF. EVERY SINGLE PERSON PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOLS. IT IS NOT JUST ONE, BUT ALL OF THEM COLLECTIVELY THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO OUR SCHOOLS THAT MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SUCCESSFUL. HERE IS TO GREAT 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. Jessica Vaughn: I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS QUICK. I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO COVER AND EVERYBODY IS READY TO GO HOME. WHERE IS THE CLOCK? HERE WE GO. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CONCUR. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT BACK-TO-SCHOOL OPENING. GOING
200TO ALL THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THE FIRST DAY AND SEEING EVERYBODY JUMPING IN AND SO PREPARED FOR THE KIDS. NOTHING IS MORE INSPIRING THAN THAT. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HARD WORK COMING OUT OF THE SUMMER AND GETTING BACK TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. ALSO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR TALKING ABOUT OUR MOIS FELLOWS FROM USF, A PARTNERSHIP WHERE OUR S.T.E.M. TEACHERS GO THROUGH EXTRA RIGOROUS TRAINING TO GET THEIR MASTER'S DEGREE WHILE THEY ARE S.T.E.M. LEADERS AT THEIR SCHOOL. FIRST 10 FELLOWS THAT GRADUATED AND INDUCTED TEN MORE FELLOWS. I APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH USF AND THE MYSTIQUE GRANT. SO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO TALK ABOUT SOME TRAGEDY WE'VE HAD SPECIFICALLY WITHIN MY COMMUNITY. SOME OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS HAVE LOST THEIR HUSBANDS. I WANT TO OFFER
201OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. PRINCIPAL AT TEMPLE TERRACE, UNFORTUNATELY LOST HER HUSBAND. JUST WATCHING COMMUNITIES KIND OF COME TOGETHER AROUND LOSS HAS BEEN INSPIRING AMIDST ALL THE LOSS. WE DID LOSE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT LUTZ K-8. UNFORTUNATELY A FEW WEEKS AGO HE PASSED AWAY. SURVIVED BY WIFE JANET WHO IS A MENTOR FOR THE DISTRICT AND HIS SON LINCOLN WHO IS A SENIOR AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IB PROGRAM. ANDY SERVED FOR 20 YEARS ON THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF BECOME THIS OPERATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. HE WAS THE GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. HE SERVED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR BENITO SCHOOLS PRIOR TO HIS FIVE-YEAR TENURE AT LUTZ K-8. ONE OF HIS LEGACIES HE ASSISTED IN ESTABLISHING THE FLOURISHING MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM AT K-8. PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
202ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL FAMILY AND CULTURE. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS DEDICATION TO STUDENT SUCCESS, SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES AND WAS A BELOVED COLLEAGUE. MR. ALTWOOD WILL BE TRULY MISSED BY HIS STUDENTS OF K-8 AND THOSE WHO RELIED ON HIM AS TRUSTED AND RESPECTED ADMINISTRATOR. PLEASE KEEP THE LUTZ K-8 FAMILY AS WELL AS THE ALTWOOD FAMILY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. I HATE TO TALK ABOUT THE LOSS. THE LAST THING, BEFORE WE ADJOURN TONIGHT, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING HEAVILY ON MANY OF US, BOTH IN THE BOARDROOM AND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN THE AUTONOMY OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS IS INCREASINGLY CHALLENGED AND UNDER PRESSURE. DECISIONS THAT ONCE RESTED IN THE HANDS OF LOCAL EDUCATORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS,
203PEOPLE WHO KNOW OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR UNIQUE CHALLENGES ARE NOW TOO OFTEN BEING DICTATED FROM THE TOP DOWN. THAT KIND OF OVERREACH UNDERMINES OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT IN REAL RESPONSIVE AND MEANINGFUL WAYS. LET ME BE CLEAR, LOCAL CONTROL MATTERS. IT MATTERS BECAUSE NO ONE UNDERSTANDS OUR CLASSROOMS LIKE THE TEACHERS WHO WORK IN THEM, THE PARENTS WHO TRUST THEM, AND THE STUDENTS WHO LEARN IN THEM. IT MATTERS BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT POLITICAL PAWNS. THEY ARE COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS BUILT ON TRUST, HARD WORK, AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS ENSURING THAT EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN AND AROUND OUR SCHOOLS, OUR TEACHERS, CUSTODIANS BUS DRIVERS, CAFETERIA STAFF, AIDES AND ADMINISTRATORS, EARNS A LIVABLE WAGE. IT'S NOT RADICAL TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SERVING OUR
204CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS TO GET BY. SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS MEANS MORE THAN JUST BUDGETS AND POLICIES. IT MEANS STANDING UP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE EDUCATION POSSIBLE EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT MEANS FIGHTING FOR THE RESOURCES THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. WE MUST NOT FORGET WHO WE SERVE. WE SERVE OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR EDUCATORS, AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY. NOT POLITICS, NOT SPECIAL INTERESTS, AND CERTAINLY NOT THOSE WHO SEEK TO DIVIDE US. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HARD WORK. EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.