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 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN 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 COVERED
002LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 17, 2025, IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER PEREZ WILL
003NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. McNEALY, A 13-YEAR ALACHUA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. NOW, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF COUNCILWOMAN GWEN HENDERSON, A 31-YEAR EDUCATOR HERE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GWEN WAS MORE THAN A RESPECTED PUBLIC SERVANT; SHE WAS A LIFELONG EDUCATOR AND A CORNERSTONE OF OUR DISTRICT FAMILY. GWEN BEGAN HER CAREER AS A BUSINESS EDUCATION TEACHER AT SLIGH JUNIOR HIGH. THEN PROGRESS VILLAGE JUNIOR HIGH. BEFORE MOVING TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL IN 2000 WHERE HER LEADERSHIP, KINDNESS, AND TIRELESS DEDICATION MADE AN IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND STAFF AND MEMBERS ALIKE. MOST RECENTLY, GWEN SERVED AS THE DISTRICT RESOURCE TEACHER IN ADULT EDUCATION WHERE SHE
004EMBODY COMPASSION IN HELPING ADULTS RECLAIM PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY THROUGH EDUCATION. WE SHARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND HER FAMILY'S SORROW IN HER RECENT PASSING AND KNOW THAT HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION AND TAMPA WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. NOW, PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CO-CHAIR PEREZ. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION FROM MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND FROM MEMBER COMBS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, JUNE 2, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
005I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ 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 NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR
006SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV, AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AT 6 P.M. WE HAVE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. NOW WE'LL START WITH OUR RECOGNITION. WE START WITH A 01, RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUNE 19. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. JUNETEENTH IS A RECOGNIZED FEDERAL HOLIDAY OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED ON JUNE THE 17th, 2021. IT COMMEMORATES THE END OF
007SLAVERY IN TEXAS AND HAS BEEN CELEBRATED BY BLACK AMERICANS SINCE THE LATE 1800s. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MEANING OF FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY. JUNETEENTH IS A REMINDER OF THE RICH CULTURE THAT TRANSCENDS MUSIC, FOOD, AND STORYTELLING. JUNETEENTH IS AN EMPOWERING MOMENT OF OUR YOUTH TO CONNECT IN THE SHARED HISTORY AND TO UNITE IN A CELEBRATION OF EXPERIENCES. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS PROYOU HAD TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT
008THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN. A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE
009SPEAKERS. MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. WE HAVE 7.3, WINDOW TINTING. OH, YOU NEED THAT ON THE WINDOWS ON THE BUILDING ORIENTED INCORRECTLY ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN 7.08, EIGHT SITES MAJOR REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS OH, YEAH. THIS IS WHAT ALL BUILDINGS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THERE'S ONLY ONE COLOR. ONLY ONE COLOR. THIS IS ABOUT A DEVELOPMENT THAT SAYS SUSTAINABLE. AND AS WINSTON CHURCH HILL SAID, WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US. AND HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE THIS HOSPITAL BASE RENEWABLE MICROGRID AND IT'S THE LARGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION IN HEALTH CARE, LIKE WHERE I GO DOWN AT BAY PINES, THE SOLAR COLLECTORS ARE DEDICATING JUST FOR THAT HOSPITAL, NOT FED INTO THE GRID. YOU DON'T LINE LOSSES. AND HERE THE DIEOFF. THIS IS WHAT YOUR SCHOOLS DO, KILL THE MANATEES. IT'S CALLED CORRELATION. YOU MAKE YOUR STUPID BUILDINGS THAT, AMONG
010OTHER THINGS, ARE CAUSING THE MELTING OF THE GLACIERS, THE KILLING OF THE MANATEES. IT'S GOING TO BE A SAD, SAD FUTURE. OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE CHILDREN WORKING THOSE JOBS THAT GOVERNOR DEFUROR AND TRUMP WANT TO GET RID OF. ALL THOSE IMMIGRANTS, THE CRIMINALS, THE TERRIBLE CRIMINALS THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF THOSE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LILY. I'M A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, A PARENT OF A CHILD IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND PROFESSIONAL PREPUBLICATION BOOK REVIEWER. THIS IS MY SON'S COPY OF ENTANGO. CHEWED ON, TAPED TOGETHER. HE PRETTY MUCH TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ THROUGH HIS INTEREST IN THIS BOOK. TRUE STORY ABOUT PENGUINS WHO MADE A NEST TOGETHER AND ADOPTED AND HATCHED AN EGG. TRUE
011STORY. PART OF A LONG LIST OF BOOKS THAT MEDIA SPECIALISTS ARE WASTING TIME AND MONEY REVIEWING. I'M NOT HERE AT MY FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO TALK ONLY ABOUT BOOKS. I KNOW FIRSTHAND BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT TO PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFFING THAT GIVE KIDS ACCESS TO AN EQUITABLE EDUCATION. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID SO LITTLE SO KIDS KNOW NOT TO EXPECT TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME. STUDENTS ARE MISSING INSTRUCTION TIME, MISSING MEALS AND LOSING FAITH IN A SYSTEM THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATION BUT CAN'T GET THEM TO THE BUILDING ROUTINELY. YET THIS BOARD IS SPENDING HOURS AND DISTRICT DOLLARS I WISH WENT TO THE ISSUES ON PERFECTLY NORMAL BOOKS. BOOKS NO PARENT IN THE DISTRICT HAVE CHALLENGED. EVEN IF YOUR BOSSES IN TALLAHASSEE HAVE LITERALLY TOLD YOU NOT TO FOLLOW
012IT OR TO LISTEN TO PARENTS AT ALL. THIS BOOK WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, TWICE. COULD YOU BELIEVE WHEN A STATE BOARD MEMBER CALLED EMPLOYEES CHILD ABUSERS AND SUGGESTED FIRING EVERY LIBRARIAN AND HIRING PEOPLE WHO CAN READ. CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT'S OWN REVIEW POLICY INSTEAD OF SUDDENLY LETTING RANDOM PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTIES DICTATE THE POLICY HERE. THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS A PARENTAL RIGHTS ISSUE. THE ONLY VIOLATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS IS CIRCUMVENTING POLICY -- PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IN CLOSING, YES, DON'T BAN BOOKS, BUT STOP LETTING PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE, DON'T HAVE CHILDREN HERE AND DON'T CARE ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS DICTATE WHAT YOU PRIORITIZE. START LISTENING TO THE COUNTY YOU SERVE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE. WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE IN THE REAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE KIDS,
013UNDERFUNDING, UNDERSTAFFING, UNMET NEEDS, ALL THAT MATTERS MORE THAN SAVING MY SON FROM HIS FAVORITE PICTURE BOOK ABOUT PENGUINS. I YIELD MY TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GIANNI HUNT. I AM A COMMITTED PARENT AND MEMBER OF MEGA5 VOICES, A CONCERNED CITIZEN GROUP IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I RETURN HERE TODAY TO AMPLIFY OUR VOICES AND TO SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVES. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WARNED THAT BANNING BOOKS BASED ON SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. I EXPLAINED AS A FORMER MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST AND TWO WAR VETERAN I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND INFORMATION IS RESTRICTED. WHEN KNOWLEDGE IS CONTROLLED, PEOPLE LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO THINK FREELY. THEY LOSE THE POWER TO QUESTION, TO CHALLENGE OPPRESSION AND TO SHAPE THEIR OWN FUTURES. KNOWLEDGE EMPOWERS
014WHILE CENSORSHIP RESTRICTS. THAT IS WHY WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT AND DEMAND TRANSPARENCY, ENSURING OPEN ACCESS TO BOOKS, IDEAS AND EDUCATION, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT POLICY; IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING LOCAL AUTONOMY AND FREEDOM FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT SILENCING IDEAS DOES NOT PROTECT. IN FACT, IT LIMITS, IT EXCLUDES AND IT UNDERMINES THE VERY FOUNDATION OF LEARNING. IF BOOKS ARE BANNED DUE TO SEXUAL CONTENT, WHERE DOES IT END? WE ALREADY SEE THIS TYPE OF CENSORSHIP IS EXTENDING IN BOOKS ADDRESSING RACISM, PERSONAL IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH. MANY BOOKS CONTAINING SEXUAL THEMES WHEN TAKEN AS A WHOLE PROVIDE MEANINGFUL LESSONS, ADDRESS REAL-LIFE ISSUES AND HELP READERS NAVIGATE COMPLEX TOPICS. BANNING THEM ELIMINATES IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CONSENT, RELATIONSHIP, AND PERSONAL SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, LET'S NOT IGNORE SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY BANNED BOOKS FEATURE BLACK, BROWN,
015LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS AND MANY SURVIVORS OF ABUSE. CENSORING THE STORIES SILENCES LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PREVENTS READERS FROM SEEING THEMSELVES IN LITERATURE. CLASSIC LITERATURE AND CONTEMPORARY WORKS EXPLORE HUMAN EXPERIENCES TO INCLUDE SEXUALITY. REMOVING THE BOOKS DIMINISHES CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTS CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIETY'S EVOLVING PERSPECTIVES. YES, WE BELIEVE IN PARENTAL CHOICE AND PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, TOO, BUT IT IS FAMILIES THAT SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECIDE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, RATHER THAN A GOVERNMENT OR A SCHOOL BOARD IMPOSING BLANKET RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS WHY RESOURCES LIKE BOOK REVIEWS AND AGE RECOMMENDATIONS ALREADY ASSIST THE PARENTS. RATHER THAN WASTING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON BANNING BOOKS, SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES COULD USE THOSE RESOURCES TO EXPAND THEIR SUPPORT FOR PARENTS, TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES ON APPROPRIATE READING LEVELS AND CONTEXT. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU ONCE AGAIN
016URGING YOU, BE BRAVE. THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS, REJECT BOOK BANS AND AFFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT TO REEDUCATION AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH FOR ALL STUDENTS BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE FEARED. IT IS SOMETHING TO BE EMBRACED, PROTECTED, AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [INAUDIBLE] I AM, BUT I AM A LIBRARIAN AND FINISHED MY 8th YEAR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND VERY PROUD TO WORK IN THIS DISTRICT. I'M SORRY BUT THE FORMER SPEAKER SAID IT SO WELL. I AM PROUD AND I DRIVE FROM MANATEE COUNTY EVERY DAY. THANK YOU ALL AND MANY OF YOU HAVE COME TO MY LIBRARY. I'M VERY HONORED THAT MY OUTDOOR MAKER SPACE IS IN THE BOARDROOM. I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I ARRIVED TODAY. I NOTICED AND PAID ATTENTION TO THE MOTTO THAT
017WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE, EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, THAT'S WHO I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR. I'VE HAD STUDENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE BOOKS ON THEIR LIST. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, THIS LIST WAS CULLED BEFORE THE EQUALITY FLORIDA SETTLEMENT WHICH MANNY DIEZ HIMSELF SIGNED. RATHER THAN BEING ILLITERATE, YOU HAVE THE MOST EDUCATED AND HIGHLY CERTIFIED STAFF IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THERE IS A REASON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ON SO MANY STATE BOARDS. OUR LIBRARIANS ARE ON THE BOARD FOR THE NEXT MEDIA SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION TEST WHICH IS NOW UNDER REVIEW. WE ALSO HAD LIBRARIANS ON THE BOARD THAT APPROVED THE TRAINING THAT ALL LIBRARIANS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA GO THROUGH. THERE IS A REASON. WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS. THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT FOLD IN FEAR. WE STOOD UP FOR OUR STUDENTS. YOU
018REPRESENT THOSE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND THE VOTERS IN THIS COUNTY AND THEY HAVE DEFEATED PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS. YOU HAVE YOUR BOARD SEATS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW BECAUSE OF THE DECISION ANNOUNCED TO PULL THE BOOKS, THERE ARE FIVE DISTRICTS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO DO THE SAME. EVEN THOUGH THAT IS A VIOLATION OF OUR DISTRICT POLICY AND THE STATE LAW SAYS IF WE VIOLATE DISTRICT POLICY, WE ARE VIOLATING STATE LAW. YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE DISTRICT POLICY IF WE'RE GOING TO PULL BOOKS AGAINST POLICY. THEY CAN GO THROUGH THE REVIEWS BUT THEY -- JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THE EQUALITY FLORIDA SETTLEMENT. THERE IS NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE ABOUT THAT BOOK AND AS SHE MENTIONED IN TANGO MAKES THREE.
019CHRISTIAN HUGGING LINE WAS ACTUALLY PUT BACK ON THE SHELVES IN MANATEE COUNTY BUT YET REMAINS ON THE STATE LIST BECAUSE THE STATE WILL NOT CORRECT THE LIST. ORANGE COUNTY AND ALACHUA ARE KNOWN FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED TITLES PUT BACK ON LIBRARY SHELVES BUT THE STATE LIST DOES NOT AFFECT THAT. CHRISTIAN THE HUGGING LINE IS ONE OF THOSE. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I RESIDE IN MANATEE COUNTY. SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY CAN BE DISCUSSED AND CANNOT BE ELIMINATED. NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT NO STATE LAW IN FLORIDA APPLIES TO LIBRARIES. THERE IS NO MENTION OF LIBRARIES. IT WAS ALL ABOUT CLASSROOMS, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE POLICY WE HAVE. FINALLY, STAMPED AND OUT OF DARKNESS ARE TWO OTHER BOOKS THAT SHOULD NOT BE ELIMINATED. THEY ARE HISTORY. THEY ARE RELEVANT. IF YOU HEAR PASSAGES
020TODAY, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE MILLER TEST IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHY SCOTUS DECIDED THE MILLER TEST DETERMINES PORNOGRAPHY. IT IS NOT A SECTION OR ONE VIOLATION. IT IS THE WORK AS A WHOLE IN A LITERARY MERIT OF THE WHOLE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10 LINE UP, PLEASE. YOU MAY BEGIN, THANK YOU. HI. JULIE MERICA. I LIVE IN POLK COUNTY NOW. USED TO BE A TEACHER IN HILLSBOROUGH. LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, THE GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AND THIS McCARTHY ERA INTIMIDATION THREATS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, ARE WE OKAY? LIKE, ARE WE OKAY? THE DATA SHOWS THAT A MAJORITY OF FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN'S LIBRARY ACCESS LIMITED. THAT'S WHAT THE DATA SHOWS. BUT WE'VE FORGOTTEN DATA BECAUSE WE ARE DISREGARDING OUR AGREED UPON REVIEW
021POLICIES REMOVING PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BOOKS WITHOUT DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS OR APPROPRIATE WARNINGS. AND THIS I'LL REMIND YOU, VIOLATES DUE PROCESS. IT INFRINGES ON STUDENTS' FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT AMERICA IS WE'RE REALLY STRICT ON THOSE. HATE TO BE A STICKLER FOR THE RULES, BUT YOU'RE EXPOSING YOURSELF AND THIS COUNTY TO COSTLY LAWSUITS BY NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. THE COURTS ARE REPEATEDLY RULING AGAINST SCHOOLS THAT DO THIS. IT'S NOT GREAT AND HOW WE DO THINGS. REALLY WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT IS THE HOW WE'RE DOING IT. IF A BOOK IS TRULY DANGEROUS, THERE IS A PROCESS FOR THAT. IGNORING THAT PROCESS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. OLD SAYING, IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND TO LIE BUT TAKES YEARS TO DISPROVE IT AND IT FEELS APROPOS. CONFLICT ENTREPRENEURS, HERITAGE FOUNDATION, PEOPLE WHO
022DON'T HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL ARE MAKING A SPECTACLE OUT OF OUR STUDENTS, AND IT MATTERS. IT MATTERS. IT HAS ALWAYS MATTERED. AND IF I WAS ONE OF THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS WHO WAS BEING ACCUSED OF RIGHT NOW I WOULD FILE A HARASSMENT CHARGE SO QUICKLY. IT IS WILD SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS. WELL-INTENTIONED PEOPLE TEND TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION, SO EVERYONE INVOLVED CAN MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS BASED ON THE SITUATION. BUT I DIGRESS. NAZI PARTY, SOVIET UNION, COMMUNIST CHINA, NORTH KOREA ALL ADVOCATED FOR SUPPRESSED SPEECH. ALL ADVOCATED FOR BANNING BOOKS FIRST BUT NOT LAST. WHILE I'M BEING EXTREMELY BLUNT IT FEELS A LITTLE ANTI-SEMITIC TO TAKE ANNE FRANK OFF THE SHELVES WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING DISAPPEARED OFF THE STREET IN UNMARKED CARS, AGAINST THE WILL OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN A LOT OF CASES. MAYBE NOT
023OURS, BUT IN A LOT OF STATES. I'LL QUOTE HER NOW, TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE. ANYTIME OF NIGHT OR DAY, POOR, HELPLESS PEOPLE ARE DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. FAMILIES ARE TORN APART. MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED. CHILDREN CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL TO FIND THEIR PARENTS HAVE DISAPPEARED. WOMEN RETURN FROM SHOPPING TO FIND THEIR HOUSES SEALED, FAMILIES GONE. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE BANNING. AT A TIME LIKE THIS, FREEDOM IS THE RIGHT TO SELF-GOVERN, NOT TO GOVERN AND DICTATE OTHERS. YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT AND IT'S VERY CRUCIAL THAT YOU STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. THIS OPPORTUNITY DOESN'T COME ONCE IN A LIFETIME. WHAT YOU DO IN 1930s, 1940s GERMANY OR OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THIS HAPPENS A LOT, YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. ENGINES SPEAKER, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. VANESSA.
024Jessica Vaughn: CAN YOU SPEAK MORE INTO THE MICROPHONE? GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS VANESSA WISE. I'M A LOCAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, A CONCERNED CITIZEN, A MOTHER AND HEALTH CARE WORKER. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE RECENT PUSH ON BOOK BANS UNDERMINES EDUCATION, INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES. OVER 40% OF THE BOOKS THAT YOU WANT TO BAN HAVE LGBTQ OR BIO-- BIOPIC VOICES. THEY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A DIVERSE WORLD. IT'S DIVERSE, OKAY. THESE ARE THE STORIES THAT WE NEED OUR STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE WORTH LEARNING ABOUT. THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST CENSORSHIP VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED THESE BOOK BANS. NOT JUST YOUR COMMUNITY HERE. NATIONWIDE. IN OUR COUNTY IT MEANS THE STUDENTS LOSE ACCESS TO PULITZER PRIZE WINNING NOVELS ABOUT RACISM, MEMOIRS TOLD ABOUT ATROCITIES THAT WE SHOULD NOT FORGET. WE BAN
025BOOKS, WE DON'T JUST REMOVE THE STORIES. WE WEAKEN OUR EMPATHY. THIS IS HOW WE TEACH EMPATHY WHEN WE ARE NOT IN THEIR SHOES. BOOKS ARE TRAINING GROUNDS FOR IMAGINATION, PUSHING US TO LIVE ALONGSIDE OTHER PEOPLE'S GRIEF, THEIR JOY, THEIR FEAR. IT TEACHES US TO SIT WITH EMOTIONS THAT ARE NOT OUR OWN, THAT DON'T MAKE US COMFORTABLE. NOT BEING COMFORTABLE WITH EMOTION NEEDS TO BE LEARNED. THEY TEACH US TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE WE HAVE LESS JUDGMENT, WHERE WE LISTEN BEFORE REACTING, WHERE WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE DISMISS. THE ANSWERS START WITH KEEPING OURSELVES AND OUR HEARTS OPEN INSTEAD OF CENSORSHIP. WE SHOULD TRUST THE LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS. THEY ARE TRAINED. THEY HAVE DEGREES. THEY WORKED HARD FOR IT. PROBABLY PAID A PRETTY PENNY FOR THESE DEGREES. WE PAY THEM. THEY READ THESE BOOKS IN
026FULL, SO THEY SHOULD BE TRUSTED TO SELECT AGE-APPROPRIATE MATERIALS AND EMPOWER THE PARENTS TO MAKE CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SHELTER YOUR OWN CHILDREN FROM THE BOOKS, WHY ARE WE CENSORING EVERYBODY'S ACCESS TO THEM? THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. I'M RACHAEL. A PARENT TWO OF IN YOUR SCHOOLS. I WANT TO BE SO CLEAR THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR LEGALESE THAT YOU USED AT THE LAST MEETING. I DON'T CARE THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SINGULARLY EXERCISE YOUR AUTHORITY AND BAN BOOKS WITHOUT A SINGLE WORD TO US PARENTS. IT IS NOT A FLEX TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT MY KIDS AND NOT TELL ME ABOUT IT AND NOT E-MAIL HEM ABOUT IT. DEFENDANT YOUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS BUT ALSO SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE
027TOLD THAT IT'S WRONG THAT YOU DID NOT. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT IS RIGHT. IT IS WRONG YOU LEFT US PARENTS OUT. IT IS WRONG THAT YOU HAVE BANNED BOOKS, INCLUDING NONFICTION LIKE A THEN LIFE WHICH YOU ARE BEING RIDICULED FOR NOT READING ALOUD, SOMETHING UNCOMFORTABLE TO A SUBJECTIVE PERSON, ONE PERSON, TO READ THAT ALOUD IS NOT THE DETERMINING FACTOR BY WHICH BOOKS STAY. BIBLE IS ON THE SHELVES. A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BIBLE I WOULD NOT READ ALOUD. NOT ADVOCATING TO BAN THE BIBLE. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD BAN THE BIBLE. CONTEXT FACTORS LIKE TIME, PLACE, READER CONSENT DO NOT MATTER. TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE SAME BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT YOU CAPITULATED TO IN A BREATHTAKING OLYMPIC LEVEL OF DISPLAY AND COWARDICE FOR PARENTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED
028TO SERVE. CAN'T RELATE TO A SPINE AS STURDY AS A JELLYFISH. I AM A MOTHER WHO HAS WASTED HER VOICE ON ALL OF YOU AND MY SON WHO STOOD HERE AT 8 YEARS OLD AND SPOKE IN WORDS ABOUT WHAT BOOK BANNING IS AND DOESN'T MAKE HIM SAFER. THEN YOU BANNED BOOKS AND DOZEN MORE BOOKS EVEN AFTER PARENTS SHOWED UP AND ASKED YOU NOT TO. YOU HAVE IGNORED THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE IN FAVOR OF A FEW DISGUSTING PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THEIR POWER. NOW WE'RE PULLING BOOKS THAT MY KIDS LOVE. THIS IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITES. MARLON BUNDO FOR REEVALUATION BECAUSE IT WAS BANNED BY SOME HOMOPHOBE IN ANOTHER COUNTY. WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MY KIDS? HOW DOES THAT MAKE MY KIDS SAFER? YOU FAILED AT YOUR JOB, SO DID THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
029MY KIDS ARE NOT SAFER BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK. MAYBE YOU SHOULD DO YOUR WORK INSTEAD OF HAVING COLLEEN FOSSETT POORLY WRITE YOUR E-MAILS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS DO THIS. GREGORY ROSS. I AM FROM BREVARD COUNTY. I LIVE IN MELBOURNE. I CAME OVER HERE AFTER SEEING WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND HOW THIS BOARD RESPONDED. I WILL SAY, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU ARE IN A TIGHT SPOT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS A TOUGH DECISION THAT YOU'RE PUT IN. WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT IS HIGHER. WE HAD A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF BOOK BANNING AND WHY YOU SHOULDN'T
030BOOK BAN. IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE STATE HAS DONE IT. THIS BOARD HAS DONE IT. SUPERINTENDENT HAS DONE IT. IT'S EVEN HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL ACROSS THE STATE IN THIS DISTRICT. THE BOOK BANNING IS ALREADY HAPPENING. SO WHAT SHOULD YOU GUYS DO NOW? SHOULD WE TALK MORE ABOUT WHY WE SHOULDN'T BOOK BAN? I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK IT IS A WASTE OF TIME. I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS AS ELECTED LEADERS. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A SUPERINTENDENT WHO WORKS FOR THE ELECTED LEADERS. YOU NEED TO SHOW COURAGE, DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU NEED TO BE PUBLICLY SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS. DON'T HIDE BEHIND YOUR CHAIR. AM I BORING YOU? DO THE RIGHT THING. THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. YOU GUYS ARE ON THE FIRING LINE, ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE WHO WORKS
031IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALONG WITH EVERY PARENT WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK ABOUT BOOK BANS. YOU'VE HEARD THE WORDS FASCISM MENTIONED ALREADY. I THINK SOMEBODY EVEN MENTIONED HITLER, RIGHT, GERMANY, RIGHT? PEOPLE AREN'T JUST PULLING THE WORDS OUT OF THE AIR, RIGHT? THEY CAN SMELL IT. THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S COMING, RIGHT? YOU GUYS ARE WHAT'S HERE TO STOP IT. NOT THE PEOPLE HERE. THEY CAN'T STOP IT. THEY ARE BUSY YELLING AT YOU GUYS TO STOP IT. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO STOP IT. STAND UP AGAINST THE STATE. STAND UP AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD PUT THEIR BOOT ON PEOPLE'S NECKS OVER WHAT THEY CAN READ AND WHAT THEY CAN'T READ. HAVE SOME FAITH IN HUMANITY, RIGHT, THAT AS A GROUP WE CAN SAY NO TO THIS. I
032YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 11 THROUGH 15 LINE UP AS WELL? NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS AMY ROB. VOLUNTEER STATE DIRECTOR FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M OVER HERE FROM BREVARD. WHILE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE WATCHING YOUR JUNE 2 PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THAT MEETING, WE WERE CRACKING UP BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE, DIFFERENT NAMES. ALL THE SAME CANNED ARGUMENTS THAT WE'VE DISPROVED MEETING AFTER MEETING. ERODING INNOCENCE, IGNORANCE, REALLY, THAT'S WHAT BOOKS DO. THEY DON'T ERODE INNOCENCE. THAT ISN'T HOW INNOCENCE WORKS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AND WATCH OUR MEETINGS FROM ABOUT OCTOBER 2022 ON. IT WOULD BE LIKE A CRYSTAL BALL. WE KNOW THE GAS LIGHTING HAPPENING WITH MOMS FOR LIBERTY. THERE IS NO PORN IN
033SCHOOLS. THEY ARE JUST GAS-LIGHTING YOU. YOU KNOW THAT. I KNOW THAT. HE KNOWS THAT. VAN. MR. SUPERINTENDENT, YOU HAVE CHILDREN, AND THEY ARE WATCHING, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY. YOUR GROWN CHILDREN WILL SOME DAY TELL THIS STORY. DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE AT A WEDDING BOASTFULLY OR MAYBE AT AN AA MEETING? WILL THE STORY BE THAT YOU STOOD UP IN THE FACE OF FASCISM OR WILL IT BE THAT YOU BANNED HUNDREDS OF BOOKS BECAUSE YOU ROLLED OVER FOR THE WORST PEOPLE IN POWER? DID YOU PROTECT YOUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM THIS FASCIST CENSORSHIP AND EXTREMISM? OR DID YOU ROLL OVER? YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO TURN THIS AROUND. YOU COULD BE THE FACE OF HOW YOU USED ALL THAT PRIVILEGE FOR GOOD. YOU COULD BE THE CHANGE. WHAT IS
034THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU STOOD UP, REALLY? YOU'D LOSE YOUR JOB? SO WHAT. THERE ARE OTHER JOBS. YOU'RE USHERING IN FASCISM FOR YOUR OWN COMFORT. THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP. YOU COULD LOSE YOUR DIGNITY AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK. THAT'S NOT SO EASILY REPLACED. THE RESPECT OF A NATION, GOOD LUCK GETTING THAT ONE BACK. BUT HOW ABOUT THE RESPECT OF YOUR GROWN CHILDREN ONCE THIS IS ALL OVER? HOW ABOUT THE CURRENT STUDENT BODY? THEY ARE ALL WATCHING. THIS WILL BE THEIR STORY, AND THAT INCLUDES THE CHILDREN OF MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND LIBRARIANS. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT. THINK HARDER, DO BETTER. KEEP POLITICS AWAY FROM OUR STUDENTS THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. AFTERNOON. PAUL ROB. I AM ALSO A VOLUNTEER WITH DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY OVER HERE FROM BREVARD COUNTY.
035WE CAME BY LAST YEAR TO SAY HI. WE'RE YOUR GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE WITH SOME WARNINGS ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD OVER THERE, MOMS FOR LIBERTY OWNED AND OPERATED INTERNATIONALLY, INTERNATIONALLY RIDICULED. TEACHER SHORTAGES. TEACHERS FLEEING. AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS SEEM TO BE DOING OKAY. MAYBE DON'T GO THAT ROUTE. I GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOUDER. WATCHING THE PREVIOUS MEETING, AS MY WIFE SAID, IT'S LIKE A WORD FOR WORD REBOOT OF BREVARD COUNTY 2022. DIDN'T LIKE THE SERIES THE FIRST TIME AROUND. NOT ENJOYING THE NEW VERSION. THERE ARE MANY, SO MANY, MOST WONDERFUL DEDICATED PARENTS AND EDUCATORS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THEY ARE HORRIFIED TO HAVE PEOPLE UP HERE CLAIMING TO SPEAK FOR THEM AND BEING TREATED AS THEY REPRESENT MOST PARENTS OR COMMON SENSE WEAN THESE PEOPLE WANT TO --
036WHEN THESE PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE BOOKS FROM OTHER CHILDREN AND CALL IT PARENTAL RIGHTS. THEY WANT OVERWHELMINGLY TARGET LGBTQ TOPICS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE MOSTLY LEARNED NOT TO SAY THAT PART OUT LOUD. LOOK AT THE LIST. THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY. AND WHO HAVE THIS REALLY ODD HOBBY, SLASH, FETISH, OF READING SPICEST PASSAGES FROM BOOKS IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN WHO NEVER ASKED TO HEAR IT AND WEREN'T GIVEN A CHANCE TO LEAVE THE ROOM AND CALLING THAT PARENTAL CHOICE AND EQUATING IT WITH A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THEIR OWN VOLITION CHOOSING A HIGH SCHOOL BOOK OFF OF A HIGH SCHOOL SHELF AND READING IT TO THEMSELVES. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. YOU KNOW THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. AND THESE PEOPLE WANT TO USE STATUTES
037AS A FIG LEAF FOR THEIR BEHAVIORS WHILE QUOTING THE STATUTE SELECTIVELY AND ODDLY PRONOUNCING IT "STATUES." IF I THOUGHT STATUES WERE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO, THAT WOULD BE SCARY. STATUTES. IT'S LAWS. AND TO REFER TO ANYTHING THAT OUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAS EVER SAID AS COMMON SENSE. SPEAKING OF SUPERINTENDENTS, PULLING THE ENTIRE LIST OF ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN REMOVED IN ANY OF THE COUNTIES IN THE STATES IS SOMETHING THAT WAS TRIED AND VOTED DOWN BY OUR SCHOOL BOARD, THE BREVARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SAID, NO, THAT IS A LITTLE TOO FAR AND RECKLESS. YOU DID SOMETHING TOO DUMB FOR THE BREVARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. LIVE WITH THAT. THAT LIST INCLUDES THINGS REMOVED AND RETURNED. THAT LIST INCLUDES THINGS REMOVED FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MOVED TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT INCLUDES THINGS REMOVED BY MISTAKE. HEY,
038LET'S PULL THEM ALL OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO BE A MARIONETTE OR A STENOGRAPHER FOR THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD AND NOT STAND UP FOR STUDENTS, WHY HAVE A JOB. E-MAIL FORWARDER WOULD DO IT FOR YOU. STAND UP FOR THE STUDENTS, STAND UP FOR THE TEACHERS. DO THE HARD THING. Jessica Vaughn: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS SAMIRA BURNSIDE. I SPEAK TODAY AS A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH JUST AS THE BOARD HAS SOME 2021, LAST YEAR WHERE THE BOARD ISSUED ONLY A RECOGNITION. I CAN SENSE PERHAPS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHY THIS DEMAND IS BEING MADE AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD IS SWARMING WITH ISSUES WHERE BOOKS ARE BEING BANNED, WHY IS
039PRIDE DECLARATION A BIG DEAL. THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS IT SHOULDN'T BE. PRIDE DECLARATION IS NOT A CHANGE ON HOW THE SCHOOLS ARE RUN, NOT A STAND AGAINST THE CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE AND DOES LITTLE OTHER THAN MAKE IT KNOWN TO QUEER KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT THEIR SCHOOLS CARE. WITH THIS MIND, WITH HOW LITTLE A PRIDE DECLARATION ACTUALLY CHANGES, IT DOES IT MEAN THAT THIS HISTORICALLY SCHOOL BOARD HAS NOT CHOSEN TO PASS ONE. CAN'T MUSTER UP SUPPORT AT THE MOST SYMBOLIC LEVEL. IF THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN'T RECOGNIZE THE MONTH HOW WILL THEY TREAT OUR TRANSKIDS COME THE NEW YEAR? HOW RESPOND TO BOOK BANNING REQUESTS ONCE THEY ARE MADE OF THEM. I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT. SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BEACON IN A SEA OF HATE
040AND FEAR IN THE STATE. DO NOT MAR YOUR LEGACY OF SUPPORT OUT OF COWARDICE. I HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS LEFT. I'M NOT GOING TO YIELD MY TIME. I'M GOING TO WAIT HERE AND GIVE YOU THE REST OF MY TIME TO ANSWER ME. WE'VE BEEN TALKING AT YOU FOR A WHILE. LET'S HEAR YOUR SIDE. LET'S HEAR WHY YOU CAN'T ISSUE PROCLAMATION. HEAR A DEFENSE AGAINST ALL THE DEMANDS WE'VE MADE TODAY. Jessica Vaughn: WE DON'T RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. HOWEVER, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN CLOSING COMMENTS TO ADDRESSING ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO. THANK YOU. HI THERE, BOARD MEMBERS. I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PRIDE PROCLAMATION OR LACK THEREOF, RATHER. I'M JACK FORESETH. EQUALITY FLORIDA, TAMPA BAY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR. TODAY, I COME TO YOU AS A FORMER STUDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
041PUBLIC SCHOOLS, A PROUDLY GAY MAN AND A CONCERNED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT. I MOVED TO TAMPA FROM A SMALL TOWN IN MICHIGAN WHEN I WAS 12. I STARTED AT WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A SIXTH GRADER AND WAS SEVERELY BULLIED. I WAS A FISH OUT OF WATER ADJUSTING FROM SMALL TOWN TO CITY. I APPARENTLY TALKED LIKE A GIRL. I HAD A HARD TIME MAKING FRIENDS AND I WAS JUST DOING MY BEST TO FIT IN, ALL THE WHILE FIGURING OUT WHO I WAS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT PRIDE WAS. I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT BEING GAY WAS OR MEANT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS BEING CALLED BY THE OTHER KIDS. IMAGINE BEING CALLED SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY IN A NEGATIVE WAY BY OTHER PEOPLE, ALLERGY, BLOND HAIR, LEFT-HANDED, GAY. THE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT
042ONLY TOOK ME SO FAR. I HAD TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT THE REST MYSELF. LUCKILY I MADE IT THROUGH AND PROUD TO STAND HERE HAVING GONE THROUGH THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING MY IDENTITY. UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR EVERYBODY. HAVE THERE BEEN A SAFE SPACE STICKER, BOOK, PRIDE PLAQUE SOMEWHERE OR EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL THAT RECOGNIZED MY EXPERIENCE MAYBE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN FULLY WHO I WAS BUT BEEN OKAY NAVIGATING THE EXPERIENCE. MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BULLIED BECAUSE OTHER KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT AND SHOWN THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIDE AND ACCEPTING OTHERS WHO THEY MAY VIEW DIFFERENT. MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO TRANSFER SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE BULLYING BECAME TOO MUCH. TO SOME IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE RECOGNITION, THIS VALUES MINE AND OTHER LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCES WHO STRUGGLE SIMPLY BECAUSE
043OF WHO THEY ARE. IT'S NOT SPECIAL TREATMENT. IT'S HONORING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN ACCEPTED BUT WE'RE CHANGING THAT, THE SAME WAY YOU RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH. A BOOK I LOVE CALLED THE POWER OF MOMENTS. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYBODY. A BOOK ABOUT THE DEFINING MOMENTS IN OUR LIFE, HOW LITTLE THINGS BECOME BIG THINGS TO US. WE ALL HAVE THEM. MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT STAND OUT IN OUR MEMORY. MANY OWE A GREAT DEAL TO CHANCE. LUCKY ENCOUNTER WITH SOMEONE WHO BECOMES THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE, NEW TEACHER WHO SPOTS A TALENT YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD. SUDDEN LOSS. THESE MOMENTS ARE OFTENTIMES LEFT TO CHANCE DON'T HAVE TO BE. WE CAN WRITE AND CREATE THEM FOR OTHERS. A SIMPLE RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH SHOWS THE THOUSANDS OF
044YOUNG STRUGGLING KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE WHO THEY ARE, CREATING A DEFINING MOMENT IN THEIR LIVES THAT WILL STICK WITH THEM FOREVER. DEFINING MOMENTS ARE SHORT EXPERIENCES MEANINGFUL. REWIRE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD. FEW SECONDS OR MINUTES WE INFLUENCE SOMETHING THAT -- ALL THE WAYS TO CREATE DEFINING MOMENTS, THE SIMPLEST IS TO OFFER RECOGNITION. PLEASE RECOGNIZE PRIDE MONTH. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME IS AVA. I AM HERE AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT BOOK BANNING. I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD CONTINUE FIGHTING AND WORK AGAINST THE DEMANDS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT, NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME OR PARENTS LIKE THE ONES YOU'VE HEARD, BUT FOR OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY. THE WRITER LORI HALLS ANDERSON SAID CENSORSHIP IS THE CHILD OF FEAR. IT'S
045ALREADY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FEAR IS NATURAL, BUT FEAR IS NOT WHAT SHOULD BE DRIVING US. FEAR IS NOT WHAT SHOULD BE MAKING US CAPITULATE TO THE DEMANDS OF STATE GOVERNMENTS. BECAUSE ANDERSON'S QUOTE CONTINUES THAT CENSORSHIP IS THE FATHER OF IGNORANCE. THAT'S WHY I SAY YOU MUST FIGHT ON BEHALF OF NOT ONLY STUDENTS AND NOT ONLY PARENTS BUT OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY BECAUSE IF WE KEEP LETTING THIS GO THE RATE IT IS GOING, MAYBE THE WARNING WORDS WOULD BE BANNED IN FUTURE. YOU HEARD THE WORD CENSORSHIP A LOT TODAY. WHILE SOME OF YOU MAY NOT THINK BOOK BANNING IS NOT CENSORSHIP, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE A BAD CONNOTATION. CENSORSHIP CAN BE PROTECTIVE. IF YOU ARE SUPPRESSING CERTAIN VOICE OR CONTENT, YOU ARE CENSORING SOMETHING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OR PARENTS IN THIS ROOM
046BELIEVE IN THE RIGHTNESS OF THEIR ACTIONS IN FIGHTING AGAINST CERTAIN BOOKS, THEY ARE INHERENTLY USING GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO INTERFERE WITH THE PUBLIC'S FREEDOM. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT DESPITE YOUR OPINIONS, WEAPONIZING THE GOVERNMENT IN YOUR FAVOR EVEN WHEN IT GOES AGAINST YOUR BELIEF IN SMALL GOVERNMENT DOES AFFECT THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATION OF CENSORSHIP AND WILL LEAD US TO THE CONDITIONS WE HAVE BEEN WARNED AGAINST. STILL AN IDEA AMONG SOME PROPONENTS OF BOOK BANNING THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FOR EXPOSURE TO QUEER -- IT'S TRUE THERE IS A HIGHER RATE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG LGBTQ+ STUDENTS. REMEMBER CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION AND YOU SHOULD NOT BOW DOWN TO DEMANDS OF STATE GOVERNMENT THAT ARE UNFOUNDED AND NOT BASED ON ANY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY MENTAL ILLNESS IS HIGHER
047IN THE QUEER COMMUNITY. MAYBE I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO AND THAT IS A SCARY UNCERTAINTY BUT WE CAN'T LET FEAR DRIVE OUR ACTIONS AND IMPACT OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATION. MANY OF THE BOOKS AWAITING BANNINGEN FROM PARENTS BECAUSE OF THEIR DEPICTION OF ATYPICAL KINDS OF SEXUALITY. I BELIEVE IN AGE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES FOR BOOKS BUT YOU CANNOT BAN BOOKS IN HIGH SCHOOL. ANYONE WHO HAS SET FOOT IN HIGH SCHOOL KNOWS TEENAGERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT LEWDNESS. YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING ABOUT SEX NO MATTER THE BOOKS THEY READ. IT WON'T ALWAYS BE THE SANITIZED VERSION THAT PARENTS WANT THEM TO SEE. IF WE ARE TRULY SENDING OUR KIDS INTO HIGH SCHOOL PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, WE CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE THE ASPECTS OF LIFE THAT THEY SEE. WE CANNOT INSTILL SHAME IN OUR CHILDREN THAT IS ULTIMATELY FAR MORE
048PERNICIOUS THAN ANYTHING THEY CAN READ ABOUT IN BOOKS. PARENTS, GOVERNORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPULSE TO PROTECT ONE'S CHILDREN BUT THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE AND THAT IS NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN 2025. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SPEAKERS 16 THROUGH 20 LINE UP, PLEASE? THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS BRENNAN BARSA. STUDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. AS A STUDENT, I WANT TO SHARE MY STANCE ON THE RECENT PRESSURE FOR BOOK BANS. I BELIEVE THAT PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS CONCERNS BUT IT SHOULD NOT LEAD TO CENSORSHIP UNLESS IT MEETS THE FLORIDA STATUTE DEFINITION OF HARMFUL TO MINORS. A LOT OF BOOKS THAT HAVE SERIOUS LITERARY, ARTISTIC, POLITICAL, OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE CAN COME WITH VIOLENCE OR EVEN SEXUAL MATERIAL. THIS EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE SOME PARENTS TO BE
049CONCERNED. AS A STUDENT, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLORE NEW OR TOUGH TOPICS IN A PLACE I FEEL SAFE. I DON'T WANT TO BE SEEMEDED. I WANT TO BE TAUGHT AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE WORLD AROUND ME WHICH ISN'T ALL GOOD. WHEN PEOPLE STRIP AWAY OUR ACCESS TO CERTAIN BOOKS BASED ON THEIR BELIEFS, IT INTERFERES WITH WHAT OTHER STUDENTS OR FAMILIES MAY BE COMFORTABLE WITH. IF PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH CONTENT IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES, HOPING TO SHIELD THEIR CHILDREN, I THINK IT IS ADMIRABLE BUT THEY SHOULD DISCUSS THIS WITH THEIR CHILDREN INSTEAD OF RESTRICTING BOOKS FROM EVERYONE. THE RECENT PRESSURE PUT ON OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SUPERINTENDENT SCARES ME. SOME BOOKS AREN'T APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS AND DO DESERVE TO BE REVIEWED, BUT THE THREATENING WAY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS PRESSURED OUR DISTRICT
050MAKES ME FEEL AS THEY WANT TO HIDE TRUTH AND EXPOSURE FROM STUDENTS THAT THEY DON'T TRUST US TO HANDLE CONTENT WE WOULD BE EXPOSED TO NOW OR WHEN WE ARE OFF ON OUR OWN. I ASK YOU, OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, TO PLEASE CONTINUE -- SORRY, TO PLEASE STAND FIRM IN YOUR REVIEW PROCESS. PLEASE DON'T GIVE INTO THE THOUGHTS OR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR FROM OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ERIN QUINN. HCPS TEACHER AND PARENT. I PREPARED REMARKS BUT I DECIDED I'M NOT GOING TO USE THEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SOME ATTACKS ON YOU ALL TODAY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I FEEL THE PRESSURE YOU ARE UNDER. AS A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM, I
051HAD TO EVALUATE EVERY DAY WHAT I THOUGHT IS APPROPRIATE TO GIVE TO MY STUDENTS, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHAT RISK AM I WILLING TO TAKE? COULD I LOSE MY JOB FOR HAVING A CLASSROOM LIBRARY? MAYBE. I DID IT ANYWAY. BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO HAVE BOOKS IN MY CLASSROOM WHERE KIDS FELT SEEN. DID I COMPLY WITH ALL DISTRICT POLICIES FOR DOCUMENTING, REVIEWING AND LISTING THEM? I SURE DID. WE HAVE DISTRICT POLICIES IN PLACE SO PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSENT WHAT THEIR KIDS READ. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS OVERREACHING AND I KNOW THAT PUTS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT AS A TEACHER IS IF I GET FIRED, WHO WILL BE HERE FOR MY KIDS? IF YOU
052GET REMOVED, WHO WILL BE THERE FOR THE KIDS? WHO IS THE BULWARK. IN THE END IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT I CAN SLEEP WITH. IF I'M NOT ACTUALLY BEING THE BULWARK, WHY AM I STAYING? SO AS YOU GUYS ARE UNDER THIS TREMENDOUS PRESSURE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I SEE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. I KNOW THE STRAIN THAT YOU MUST FEEL IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS, BUT I'M ASKING YOU, CONSIDER ARE YOU BEING A BULWARK FOR OUR STUDENTS? ARE YOU MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE MATERIALS WHERE THEY FEEL SEEN AND HEARD? AS OUR STUDENTS FROM ROBINSON ALREADY EXPRESSED THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO EXPLORE THOSE IDEAS, RATHER THAN RESTRICTING PARENTAL RIGHTS WHICH IS REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARENTS' FREEDOM. THIS IS ABOUT SOME PARENTS DICTATING WHAT
053HAPPENS IN PUBLIC SPACES REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHER PARENTS MIGHT FEEL. YOU NEED TO THINK TO YOURSELF, WHAT AM I WILLING TO RISK FOR OUR KIDS? I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS TINA WILLIAMS BREWSTER. I COME BEFORE YOU AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BAN OF THE BOOKS. MY PERSONAL BELIEFS DON'T MATTER BUT I'M HERE ABOUT SOMETHING BIGGER. YOU ALL ASKED ME TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO WORK IT OUT AT THE SCHOOLS. I'VE DONE THAT. I'M BACK AGAIN. WHEN IS THE BOARD AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING TO REALLY LISTEN TO PARENTS AND DO WHAT WE KNOW TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS? YOU ALL MAY BE THE EXPERT IN YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL FIELDS, BUT PARENTS ARE THE EXPERTS ON THEIR
054CHILDREN. I'M HERE AT GAITHER. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GAITHER. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GAITHER'S ADMINISTRATION. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THE SCHOOL ITSELF, THERE ARE WONDERFUL THINGS. THE ADMINISTRATION, HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND AND I, HE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE SO I HAVE TO SPEAK FOR BOTH OF US. WE TALKED TO DISTRICT, COME BEFORE THE BOARD, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TEN YEARS. WHEN WILL YOU HEED THE WARNING? YOU HAVE ADMINISTRATION IN THE BUILDING, OH THE GOOD OL' BOYS NETWORK. THERE IS RACISM THERE, THERE IS BULLYING, AND YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT IT. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS. I HAVE THE FACTS. IT IS REAL. IT IS NOT GOING AWAY. I DON'T CARE HOW MANY TIMES YOU TRY TO SIT THERE AND NOT SEEING IT. YOU KNOW US. ANYTHING THAT I COME UP HERE I'M
055NOT HERE TO BLOW SMOKE. I'M NOT HERE FOR ANY OTHER THING BUT TO MAKE GAITHER A BETTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR ALL CHILDREN. MY KIDS ARE THE TYPE OF STUDENTS YOU WANT IN YOUR SCHOOL. I HAVE SIX CHILDREN. ALL FOUR OF THEM THAT HAVE GRADUATED HAVE AVERAGED A 3.7 GPA. I'M SAYING AVERAGE. MY KIDS WITH DISABILITIES, MY KIDS WITHOUT. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START LISTENING TO PARENTS? I URGE YOU, THERE NEEDS TO BE A MEETING WITH PARENTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION. SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT GAITHER. WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR PARENTS THAT I CAN COME UP HERE AND SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT GAITHER? I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GAITHER. I NEVER DID. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THE LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH. IF YOU HAVE A MEETING
056WITH A PARENT AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, JUST DO IT. IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO IT, WE'RE ALL HUMAN. WE GET THAT. WE'VE BEEN PROMISING, OH, I'M GOING TO GET BACK WITH YOU. IT NEVER HAPPENS. WHEN ARE OUR SCHOOLS GOING TO UNDERSTAND PARENTS ARE NOT THE ENEMY. MAYBE IT'S YOUR THINKING THAT IS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEX QUINTO. I SERVE AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA. I'M ALSO A FORMER SCHOOL COUNSELOR. I HAVE SPENT YEARS WALKING ALONGSIDE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THIS STATE. I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY SINCERE THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH, AN IMPORTANT MOMENT TO HONOR BLACK FREEDOM, RESILIENCE AND UNFINISHED WORK OF JUSTICE IN OUR COUNTRY AND
057OUR CLASSROOMS. BUT I'M ALSO HERE TONIGHT WITH A DEEPER CONCERN, FOR CONSECUTIVE YEARS, THIS BOARD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PRIDE MONTH THROUGH FORMAL PROCLAMATIONS AND IN 2024 A RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH. THOSE PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO LGBTQ STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF. YOU ARE SEEN. YOU ARE VALUED, AND YOU ARE A PART OF THIS SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, THAT RECOGNITION IS MISSING. AND IN ITS ABSENCE, THE SILENCE IS LOUD. AND LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT A PIECE OF PAPER BUT ABOUT WHAT OUR STUDENTS SEE. WHEN OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE BACKING AWAY FROM INCLUSION, WHEN RAINBOW FLAGS ARE TAKEN DOWN AND SAFE SPACE STICKERS ARE REMOVED, STUDENTS ARE STILL WATCHING WHO STILL STANDS WITH THEM. YOU AFFIRM OUR HUMANITY. TELL LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE THEY MATTER EVEN WHEN THE WORLD
058FEELS HEAVY. THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LGBTQ EDUCATORS SHOWING UP EVERY DAY IN CLASSROOMS WHILE NAVIGATING FEAR, CONFUSION, EXHAUSTION FROM THE POLITICIZATION OF THEIR IDENTITIES. I KNOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN HAS CREATED A CHILLING EFFECT BUT FEAR IS NEVER A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO TURN AWAY FROM OUR STUDENTS, NOT NOW AND NOT EVER. AT A TIME WHEN LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE BEING TARGETED BY POLICIES, RHETORIC AND ERASURES FROM ACROSS THE STATE VISIBILITY MATTERS. AFFIRMATION MATTERS. STUDENTS WALKING THROUGH THE HALLS WONDERING IF THEY BELONG, IT MEANS EVERYTHING. THIS DISTRICT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BE A BEACON OF INCLUSION AND SHOW THAT HILLSBOROUGH STANDS FIRM IN ITS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS. RECOGNIZING PRIDE MONTH LIKE RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND EVEN JUNETEENTH IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE. HONORING THE
059DIVERSE IDENTITIES THAT WALK INTO OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY. I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER WHAT MESSAGE THIS BOARD SENDS BY CHOOSING SILENCE OVER SOLIDARITY. REAFFIRMING YOUR SUPPORT FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES, JUST AS YOU HAVE DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THIS IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL. IT'S COMPASSIONATE AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VALUES OF THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, CARMEN. I AM A LIFELONG HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND A TAXPAYER HERE IN THE COUNTY. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS MANY THINGS I FIND ALARMING HAPPENING AT OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. SINCE IT IS PRIDE MONTH, I DON'T THINK I CAN SAY IT BETTER THAN ALEX, BUT I'LL BEGIN BY THE FACT THAT I'M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR NOT MAKING THEIR ANNUAL PRIDE PROCLAMATION
060TODAY. I PROUDLY WATCHED YOU MAKE THIS WELCOMING GESTURE ANNUALLY, WELCOMING AND EMBRACING THE -- BUT IN A TIME WHERE LGBTQ+ -- LGBTQ IA+ RIGHTS STRIPPED AWAY FROM A GOVERNMENT, SMALL GESTURE COULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED STUDENTS FEEL SAFE. ISN'T THE SAFETY OF YOUR STUDENTS YOUR JOB. RELATED TO THAT, HERE RAILROADING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S UNILATERAL DECISION TO BAN 6,000 TITLES, OVER 10,000 BOOKS FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKSHELVES, OVERRIDING EXISTING PROCESS. THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. MOST OF THE BOOKS FROM THE LIST WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE FEATURES MOSTLY QUEER AS WELL AS BIPOC MAIN CHARACTERS AND ARE WRITTEN BY MOSTLY QUEER AND BIPOC AUTHORS. THE COST OF THE BAN IS NOT ONLY FINANCIAL. THE BAN IS -- THE BAN REMOVES -- THE BAN IS A BLANKET ERASURE
061OF STORIES FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKSHELVES. STUDENTS DESERVE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR LIVES REFLECTED IN THE LIBRARY'S BOOKS, LIMITING PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO BOOKS DOES NOT PROTECT THEM FROM LIFE'S COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING ISSUES. DOES IT SEND A MESSAGE THAT THEIR STORIES CAN BE SO EASILY DISMISSED AND REMOVED. HOW DOES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SAFETY THE STUDENTS ENTERING HALLS. AT A TIME BUDGETS ARE TIGHT, SHOCKED BY THE HIGH ESTIMATED COST TO REVIEW THE BOOKS FROM THE DOE LIST. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 350 AND $500,000. THIS MONEY WAS FOUND AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE IN A BUDGET AND WITHOUT QUESTION IS BEING SPENT. I IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE THIS MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON SOMETHING ACTUALLY BETTER FOR THE STUDENTS. HOW DOES THIS SECOND-GUESSING OF YOUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED MEDIA SPECIALIST WHO ALREADY VETTED THE BOOKS ONCE, HOW DOES
062THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR ANY OF THE STUDENTS? YOUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS DESERVE BETTER. THEY ARE HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO DESERVE RESPECT. THEY LOVE THE STUDENTS AND FORM COLLECTIONS AROUND YOUR STUDENTS' NEEDS. CARE FOR STUDENTS'WELL AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HAVING THEM REDO THE REVIEW OF THESE BOOKS MAKES IT BETTER FOR THEM. LET PARENTS MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO GUIDE THE READING BUT PARENTS SHOULDN'T BE MAKING DECISIONS FOR OTHER PARENTS' CHILDREN. WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT OR NOT SHOULD NOT BE DICTATING WHAT BOOKS OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO READ. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CAN I PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 21 TO 25 LINE UP AS WELL? GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. HARRIS LUNDE. LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR FOR VOICES OF FLORIDA, A BLACK LGBTQ AND WOMEN RUN ORGANIZATION AMP FYING
063THE VOICES OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. ON BEHALF OF VOICES OF FLORIDA, I DO WANT TO START BY OFFERING MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR INCLUSION AND RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH THIS YEAR. OUR COMMUNITY DOES THANK YOU. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT VALUES THE DIVERSITY THAT EXISTS IN THIS COUNTY, I WANT TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS BOARD'S DECISION TO EXCLUDE A PROCLAMATION OF PRIDE MONTH IN THIS AGENDA. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE AND REMOVE A PROCLAMATION OF PRIDE MONTH FROM THIS AGENDA IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE THAT AFFECTS QUEER STUDENTS AND STAFF THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY. THIS COMES ALL TOO CONVENIENTLY AT THE SAME TIME AS THE CONSCIOUS CHOICE TO REMOVE 600 TITLES FROM OUR LIBRARIES, OUR LIBRARY SHELVES BECAUSE OF RIGHT-WING PRESSURE, PRESSURE FROM PEOPLE
064WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE, PRESSURE FROM PEOPLE WHOSE KIDS DON'T GO TO OUR SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE MAKING LEGISLATIVE DECISIONS FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. SO LET'S BE CLEAR THAT THE DECISIONS MADE TO REMOVE THESE BOOKS AND TO REMOVE A PROCLAMATION OF PRIDE FROM THE AGENDA ARE PURELY, PURELY POLITICAL. EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE JUST STORIES THAT TEACH OUR COUNTY'S CHILDREN WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT, WHAT IT IS LIKE TO EXPERIENCE AN AFFIRMING SPACE, WHAT IT IS LIKE TO UNDERSTAND EXPERIENCES THAT AREN'T JUST OUR OWN. I'VE SAT IN COMMITTEES IN TALLAHASSEE DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS THE STATE GOVERNMENT WAS VOTING TO ALLOW THESE BOOK BANS TO HAPPEN. THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID IN THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS SHOULD ENRAGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. THEY CALL GAY PEOPLE AND GAY TEACHERS ESSENTIALLY GROOMERS. THEY TRIED
065UNSUCCESSFULLY TO BAN PRIDE FLAGS OR DEPICTIONS OF PRIDE FLAGS IN ALL SPACES THROUGHOUT THE STATE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SO CONCERNED ABOUT INDOCTRINATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHILDREN. AND WHAT THIS BODY IS DOING BY ALLOWING THESE BOOK BANS TO HAPPEN, WHAT THE BODY DOES BY ALLOWING THE EXCLUSION OF A PROCLAMATION OF PRIDE MONTH FROM THE AGENDA IS THE BODY AFFIRMS THOSE STATEMENTS. THIS BODY CHOOSES TO AFFIRM THE WORDS OF RADICAL RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MOMS FOR LIBERTY AND TURNING POINT USA AND SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE IN POLITICS. NOW, THERE IS STILL TIME TO RESIST THESE FASCIST MARCHING ORDERS FROM THE LIKES OF DESANTIS AND TRUMP. TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIVERSITY THAT EXISTS IN THIS COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUEER IDENTITY BECAUSE I USED TO BE A QUEER STUDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
066PUBLIC SCHOOLS MYSELF. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT PRIDE WAS. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE GAY. AND OUR COMMUNITY'S LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED MEANT I FELT WRONG ABOUT BEING WHO I WAS. THESE DECISIONS TO CUT THIS IMPORTANT ACCESS ARE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO COMMUNITY'S PARENTS, COMMUNITY'S EDUCATORS AND AN INSULT TO ALL OF OUR INTELLIGENCE. OUR SCHOOLS ARE MEANT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, AND WE CAN DO BETTER. WE SHOULD DO BETTER AND SHOULDN'T BE CAVING INTO SUCH RADICAL PRESSURE FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. I'M JOAN FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS A CITIZEN ON THE BOOK BANNING AND THE DECISION TO NOT RECOGNIZE PRIDE UNLIKE EVERY YEAR PRIOR. I THINK IT IS SHAMEFUL DECISION AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNTIL IT
067IS COURSE CORRECTED. TO BAN THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GIVES A GREEN LIGHT TO BIGOTS TO HARASS AND INTIMIDATE STUDENTS. ALL IT DOES IS FURTHER EMBOLDEN ACTIONS TO ENCROACH ON ACTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND UNDERMINES CREDIBILITY AND POPULARITY AMONG CONSTITUENTS. MORE YOU CONCEDE, MORE YOU WILL LOSE AND MORE DAMAGE TO KIDS IN THE PROCESS. YOU CANNOT SIMPLY STEP BACK AND WASH YOUR HANDS OF RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU. I YIELD MY TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. GALEN CAHILL. A FORMER STUDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS AND CURRENT FELLOW WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA. I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION AS THEY HAVE IN YEARS PRIOR. HOWEVER, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE MY TIME UP HERE, MORE SO TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS AND STAFF IN
068THE AUDIENCE. IT IS ALL TOO OFTEN -- HISTORY OF OPPRESSION, VIOLENCE, PLAGUE AND RESILIENCE. NOT BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THE COMMUNITY SOME OF THE GREATEST INJUSTICES ACROSS EVERY CONTINENT. IN FACE OF YACHT VERSITY, WE'VE -- ADVERSITY, WE CARVED OUT THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD AND DECIDED TO HAVE A MONTH TO OURSELVES TO UNABASHEDLY, UNASHAMEDLY AND PROUDLY CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE. AS ATTACKS ON THE LIBERTIES OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US FOUGHT SO HARD TO SECURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ARE ONCE AGAIN UNDER ATTACK. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE SLAP IN THE FACE FOR ALLIES TO ABANDON US IN A TIME LIKE THIS, EVEN FOR SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A PROCLAMATION OF SUPPORT. THESE THINGS MATTER, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RATES OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND QUEER YOUTH AS HIGH AS THEY ARE IN THIS DAY AND AGE. I
069LIVED THROUGH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WENT THROUGH EIGHT YEARS OF EDUCATION WITH YOU ALL. I GRADUATED FROM MIDDLE TOPPE HIGH SCHOOL, ENGINEERING PROGRAM. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT YOU GIVE TO YOUR QUEER STUDENTS IS NOT ENOUGH. I'M NOT ASKING TO YOU SUDDENLY BOLSTER ALL OF THAT AND TO CHANGE LONG-STANDING POLICY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO THAT QUICKLY. BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION OF SUPPORT TO BE THERE FOR YOUR QUEER STUDENTS AND STAND UP FOR THE INSERIOUSES THAT OCCUR TOWARD YOUR STUDENTS AND IN YOUR SYSTEM. IF THE BOARD DOESN'T HEAR THIS I HOPE THE COMMUNITY DOES. SYMPTOMATIC OF DEEPER ISSUES WITH LACK OF REAL CARE FOR OUR QUEER YOUTH. STRAW OF HAY ON SOME CHILD'S BACK ALREADY STRUGGLING FAR MORE
070THAN KIDS THEIR AGE SHOULD BE HAVING TO DEAL WITH. ONLY REAL SOLUTION IS FOR US TO BUILD SPACE IN COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR ALL YOUTH BUT FOR ALL OF US TO GROW AND THRIVE AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MAY FAIL TO DO THAT, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT WE HAVE TO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I WOULD ONCE AGAIN LIKE YOU TO MAKE A PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. BROOKLYN. I AM A PUBLIC SPEAKER MOST OF THE TIME FOR MY COMPANY. MY EYES ARE UP HERE. I KNOW YOUR Facebook POSTINGS HAVE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. I PROMISE I'M RIGHT HERE LOOKING AT ALL OF YOU. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO COME AND STOOD IN FRONT OF YOU AND SPOKEN HAS SPOKEN SQUOOSH EXCUSE ME, HAS DONE SOMETHING THAT IS CONSIDERED ONE
071OF THE SQUARIEST THINGS A PERSON CAN DO IN LIFE. THEY ARE COMING HERE AS PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPEAK TO YOU AND TAKING ON SOMETHING THAT IS SO SCARY. I WANT YOUR ATTENTION. NOW THAT I TALKED FOR 30 SECONDS ABOUT HAVING YOUR ATTENTION I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT BOOK BANNING. NEXT FEW QUESTIONS ARE RHETORICAL. I'LL PROVIDE YOU ANSWERS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THEM FOR ME. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TITLES THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BANNED SINCE 2021? 389,037. ALMOST 400,000 TITLES. DO YOU KNOW WHERE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12 EDUCATION RANKS? WE'RE 22. DEAD MIDDLE. LASTLY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RANK IN THE READING RECOVERY SINCE THE PANDEMIC? 45th. AND ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THE 7th LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. THOSE
072NUMBERS SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES. I PROVIDE YOU THESE STATISTICS TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON HOW MUCH MONEY, TIME, AND RESOURCES ARE BEING WASTED, AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED THE MOST ARE OUR CHILDREN. THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY IS BEING IMPACTED. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THESE QUOTES FROM OUR PREVIOUS, AMAZING LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, CARLA HAYDEN. BOOKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WINDOWS TO THE WORLD BUT THEY ALSO ARE MIRRORS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEE THEMSELVES. YOU SEE YOURSELF AND THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THEMSELVES OR TO READ ABOUT EXPERIENCES THAT THEY ARE HAVING BECAUSE IT VALIDATES YOU, BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN IT IN A BOOK. LITERACY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. SO MANY DOORS ARE CLOSED TO THOSE WHO CANNOT READ. EVERYONE IN
073THE WORLD HAS A RIGHT TO HAPPINESS. AND WITH THAT COMES THE RIGHT TO READ. AS A PARENT, I'M TELLING YOU TO STOP ALLOWING NON-PARENTS, NONCOMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TELL ME HOW TO PARENT MY CHILDREN WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS MRS. L. JOHNSON. I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT TO RAISE AN ISSUE THAT I THINK AFFECTS MANY FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THE BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL, PARTICULARLY ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHERS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A FORMAL EXPECTATION FOR STAFF TO RESPOND TO PARENTS WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME, BUT I ASK YOU THIS, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UPHOLDING
074THAT STANDARD? WHEN DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ADMINISTRATORS FAIL TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL, HOW CAN WE EXPECT TEACHERS TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY? WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, THE POLICY BECOMES MEANINGLESS. EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THE WAY THIS LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH TIES INTO SOMETHING EVEN MORE SERIOUS. THE FAILURE TO ENFORCE THE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT POLICY MANUAL 5,517.01. THIS POLICY IN THEORY SHOULD PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM PERSISTENT MISTREATMENT, BUT IN REALITY, MANY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS HAVE WATCHED OUR CHILDREN SUFFER ONGOING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS DUE TO BULLYING DISMISSED, MINIMIZED OR MISHANDLED AND WORSE WHEN ADMINISTRATORS FAIL TO ACT, DELAYS IN INVESTIGATION OR EVEN OBSCURES EVIDENCE SENDS A CHILLING MESSAGE THAT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN ARE SECONDARY. AS A PARENT, DO I NOT COME TO YOU LIGHTLY. I COME AFTER LEARNING -- AFTER LEAVING UNANSWERED E-MAILS, UNRETURNED CALLS AND UNEXPLAINED SILENCE.
075THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED RECENTLY. I COME BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE HURTING AND PARENTS ARE LEFT IN THE DARK. POLICY 5,517.01 IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS ENFORCEMENT. CLEAR COMMUNICATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY MUST NOT BE OPTIONAL. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR TRUST AND FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERY STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE BOARD TO EXPLORE MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL IN ESTABLISHING MORE CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION, EXPECTATIONS AND FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES. WHETHER THAT IS A COMMUNICATION LIAISON OR A BETTER SYSTEM FOR TRACKING INQUIRIES, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN STRENGTHENING TRUST BETWEEN FAMILIES AND THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS BARB TEPKY. I LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WISH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE BOARD OF
076EDUCATION WOULD RESPECT THE PEOPLE AND THE PROCESS THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS TO REVIEW BOOKS. I LEARNED WHAT THAT WAS LAST SUMMER AT A SCHOOL BOARD HEARING. I HEARD THAT WHEN A PARENT HAD A COMPLAINT, THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN GATHERED A COMMITTEE OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO READ AND REVIEW THE BOOK. IF THEY KEPT IT IN THE LIBRARY, THE PARENT COULD APPEAL TO THE DISTRICT. THEN THE DISTRICT HEAD OF LIBRARY SERVICES GATHERED A COMMITTEE INCLUDING THE DISTRICT SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKER AND CURRICULUM HEADS. THEY READ AND REVIEWED THE BOOK. IF THEY APPROVED THE BOOK, THE PARENT COULD APPEAL TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. I WENT TO ONE OF THOSE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. I HAD READ THE BOOK ABOUT SERIOUS FAMILY WELFARE ISSUES. I THOUGHT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO READ BUT WORTHWHILE. AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT MEETING,
077BOARD MEMBERS SHARED WHAT RESEARCH THEY HAD DONE AFTER READING THE BOOK. I WAS THANKFUL TO HEAR SUCH A VARIETY OF THOUGHTFUL AND INTELLIGENT COMMENTS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS NO MATTER WHAT THEIR FINAL DECISION WAS. AT THAT MEETING, A MAJORITY VOTED TO KEEP THE BOOK. I WISH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD TRUST AND RESPECT THE PEOPLE AND THE PROCESS AT THIS DISTRICT. I WISH EVERYONE WOULD RESEARCH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND PEN AMERICA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BOOK CHALLENGES AND THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MELISSA NORDBACK, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SCHOOL CONCURRENCY PROVIDES COORDINATED PLANNING AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL CAPACITY KEEPS PACE WITH RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT IS A STATE LAW THAT
078MANDATES THERE IS SUFFICIENT SCHOOL CAPACITY AVAILABLE TO SERVE THE FAMILIES MOVING TO NEW SUBDIVISIONS WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN. WITHOUT SUFFICIENT CAPACITY OR MITIGATION AGREEMENT, HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS CANNOT GAIN APPROVAL UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE. PROPORTIONATE SHARE MITIGATION FIRST STARTED IN UNINCORPORATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN NOVEMBER 2018. THERE HAVE BEEN 97 PROPORTIONATE SHARE MITIGATION AGREEMENTS TOTALING ALMOST $95 MILLION IN PAYMENTS BY DEVELOPERS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BUILD THEIR SUBDIVISION WITHOUT SEATS AVAILABLE FOR NEW STUDENTS. THESE PAYMENTS ARE TO BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SCHOOL OR EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING SCHOOL, ALSO THESE AGREEMENTS REQUIRE THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE 100% IMPACT FEE CREDITS TO THE DEVELOPER. THIS RESULTS IN SCHOOLS WITH ALREADY FAILING LEVELS OF SERVICE ABSORBING NEW STUDENTS PRIOR TO A NEW SCHOOL BEING BUILT IF THERE IS EVEN ONE PROPOSED IN THE SCHOOL BOUNDARY AND FORCING CURRENT STUDENTS
079TO CHANGE SCHOOLS BY SHIFTING DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARIES. AND NOT BEING ABLE TO COLLECT IMPACT FEES AS NEW HOMES ARE BEING BUILT OFF-SITE, INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE TYPICALLY BORN BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. EVEN MORE DEVELOPER FRIENDLY POLICY IN 2022, LEGISLATION WAS PASSED THAT ONLY GIVES THE SCHOOL BOARD 30 DAYS TO COMPLETE A SCHOOL CONCURRENCY REVIEW IF A DEVELOPER SUBMITS A MITIGATION PROPOSAL. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTY FACING THIS CHALLENGE. ON MAY 23, A LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST A POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CLAIMING THEIR DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS VIOLATE SCHOOL CONCURRENCY LAWS. OBJECTIVE STATES THAT THE COUNTY SHALL PROVIDE FOR MITIGATION ALTERNATIVES FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN THE ADOPTED LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARD. THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN DECIDE TO ACCEPT A MITIGATION PROPOSAL IF IT WILL MAINTAIN THE ADOPTED LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARD. IF IT DOES NOT, YOU
080HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DENY. THESE POLICIES BASICALLY GUT SCHOOL CONCURRENCY. LANGUAGE IN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS NEED TO BE UPDATED TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS AND TAXPAYERS FROM FOOTING THE BILL FOR DEVELOPER'S UNSUITABLE PROJECT. THIS SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO START PUSHING BACK ON LEGISLATION THAT USURPS HOME RULE. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT ENDS PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU ALL. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. SORRY. THERE WAS A DELAY. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAD SEVEN PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL
081TAKE A MOMENT AND GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE. SOME NEW PRINCIPALS TO HIGH SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ALSO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CANDICE CULPEPPER, COME ON DOWN TO THE CENTER. BOARD MEMBERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CANDICE CULPEPPER, NEW PRINCIPAL OF SPOTO HIGH SCHOOL. BEGAN HER HCPS CAREER AS A SCIENCE TEACHER AT TAMPA BAY TECH HIGH SCHOOL. REMAINED UNTIL 2012 WHEN BRIEFLY RELOCATED TO LOUISIANA AND RETURNED IN 2014 AS A TEACHER AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT DURANT AND THEN ADMINISTRATION. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CANDACE CULPEPPER, NEW PRINCIPAL AT SPOTO HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, CANDACE. THE NEXT APPOINTMENT, MR. TURNER, COME ON DOWN, PLEASE. MR. ERIC TURNER, NEW PRINCIPAL OF FERRELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. ALL THE PRINCIPALS HAVE FANS. MR. TURNER STARTED WITH HCPS SERVING AS SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AT FRANKLIN MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL IN 2009.
082SERVED AS SUBJECT AREA LEADER AND TEACHER TALENT DEVELOPER. 2020, MR. TURNER WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT RAMPELLO K-8. 2022 TRANSITIONED TO FERRELL GIRLS PREPARATORY ACADEMY WHERE HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS AP. NOW HE IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT FERRELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. TURNER. DR. BARRY IS NOT HERE. ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CURRENT PRINCIPAL AT YOUNG MIDDLE MAGNET. SHE IS GOING TO BE OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OVER AT GRECO MIDDLE SCHOOL. BEGAN HER CAREER AS A TEACHER AT YOUNG, TOMLIN, JUNTA, SERVED AS COUNSELOR. 2010 APPOINTED AP AT GIUNTA. IN 2020, DR. BERRY WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT YOUNG MIDDLE MAGNET. DONE AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB AT YOUNG FOR US. WITH THAT, SHE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED AND MOVED OVER TO NEW PRINCIPAL OF GRECO MIDDLE SCHOOL. DR. BERRY, WHEREVER YOU ARE, CONGRATULATIONS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. ELIZABETH PADILLA. VERY
083EXCITED FOR ELIZABETH. ELIZABETH, MS. PADILLA BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN PUERTO RICO IN 2001 TEACHING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE. 2008 TO 2020, TAUGHT SPANISH AT MADISON MIDDLE, FRANKLIN MIDDLE, PLANT HIGH AND WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL. 2020 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. GRECO MIDDLE SCHOOL AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. APPOINTED AP AT BENITO MIDDLE FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING UNTIL TODAY WHERE SHE IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL NOW AT PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. GLAD TO SEE ALL THE PIERCE FACULTY OUT. I KNOW I SAW MR. HALEY IN THE BACK THERE. JOHN HALEY, COME ON DOWN. JOHN HALEY NEW PRINCIPAL OF WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL. BEGAN CAREER AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1989. TEACHER AT TAMPA BAY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. 1996 APOINTED AP OF STUDENT AFFAIRS. 2000 AP AT MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. 2005 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT MEMORIAL MIDDLE
084SCHOOL, TRANSFERRED TO THE PRINCIPAL POSITION AT MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 2006. 2011, MR. HAILEY WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT FRANKLIN BOYS PREPARATORY ACADEMY. MR. JOHN HALEY IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT IS NEW PRINCIPAL AT DAWSON, WHICH I THINK SOME OF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE. OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF DAWSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MS. AS IT IS AIO BEGAN HER CAREER DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING TRAINING PROGRAMS. SHE WAS WELCOMED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2003 AS TEACHER AT ROBINSON ELEMENTARY. SHE SERVED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY FROM 2005 TO 2010 WHERE APPOINTED PRINCIPAL. 2014 THOMPSON ELEMENTARY AS PRINCIPAL. 2023 LEFT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO ACCEPT THE ROLE OF DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM WITH VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES. HAPPY TO SAY LEAVING VOLUSIA, COMING BACK. GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK, MILADY. NEW PRINCIPAL AT
085DAWSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK AT HILLSBOROUGH. I GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE LAST ONE. SABRINA TESTED ME WITH HER LAST NAME. GOT TO GET THIS RIGHT. COME ON DOWN, SABRINA. SABRINA SHAMALIN -- TSHIAMALENGE. MS. TSHIAMALENGE IS THE PRODUCT OF HCPS, GRADUATED FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. GO LIONS. I THINK MS. AYRES WAS YOUR PRINCIPAL, TOO. SHE BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALMOST 21 YEARS AGO AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT SHEEHY ELEMENTARY. ALSO TAUGHT AT BING, LAMB AND POTTER BEFORE RETURNING TO SHE HIGH IN 2018. IN 2022, MS. TSHIAMALENGE APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CHIARAMONTE ELEMENTARY WHERE SHE SERVES TODAY. TODAY IS HE SCHTHE NEW PRINCIPAL AT SHEEHY ELEMENTARY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MS. McNEALY, BOARD MEMBER FROM ALACHUA COUNTY. THE REASON SHE IS HERE, THAT IS YOUR AUNT, ALACHUA COUNTY
086BOARD MEMBER. VERY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR NEW PRINCIPALS. SO VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. NATURE, THAT'S ALL THE APPOINTMENTS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S ALL THE APPOINTMENTS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK. NOW THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE HEARD. C 1.02. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CLEAR THE BOARDROOM, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO. IT WILL BE A LONG AGENDA MEETING. C 1.04, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 5.02, 6.01, 7.06. 7.11. 10.01. I'LL WAIT A MOMENT. DISCUSSION AGENDA, 1.02, ADOPTION AND PURCHASE OF RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT, PHYSICS AND BUSINESS EDUCATION. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, THIS ADOPTION FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS AND BUSINESS EDUCATION MATERIALS WILL PROVIDE UPDATED TEXTBOOKS AND DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. PER FLORIDA STATUTE 1,006.283 AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 2510, DISTRICT
087MUST PROVIDE A 20-DAY PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD AND CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD CAN APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF NEWLY ADOPTED MATERIALS. AS YOU'RE AWARE, THAT PUBLIC HEARING WAS CONDUCTED AT THE JUNE 2 BOARD MEETING. NEWLY ADOPTED MATERIALS MUST BE INDIVIDUALLY VOTED ON. THAT'S WHY IT IS ON HERE, NOT ON CONSENT, RATHER AS A DISCUSION ITEM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 1.02. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. THIS ITEM IS FOR NEWLY ADOPTED MATERIALS AND MUST BE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD SEPARATE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO 1.04, SCHOOLS AGREEMENT CURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, LLC. Van Ayres: THE ELEVATION PLATFORM PROVIDES
088SCHOOLS WITH REAL-TIME DATA POINTS TO TARGET INSTRUCTION TO ENHANCE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. PROVIDES FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY FOR FTE RELATED TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. PLATFORM MAINTAINS REQUIRED RECORDS TO ENSURE OUR DISTRICT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE FLORIDA CONSENT DECREE. THAT IS OUR AGENDA ITEM 1.04, ELEVATE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 1.04. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. I PULLED THE ITEM AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH BOTH MS. MORGADO AND TRACY YESTERDAY ANSWERING MY QUESTION. I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION. I AM EXCITED. I KNOW WE CAN'T PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HOUSE THAT FOCUS MAY EVENTUALLY FILL THE SPACE AND AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAM THAT WILL BE ABLE TO KIND OF COVER THE NEEDS
089WE NEED TO. I WAS GLAD TO LEARN THAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE THIS ASIDE FROM OUR SYNERGY DEBACLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TRACK AND COUNT AND SUPPORT OUR ELL STUDENTS. I CAN'T LIE. I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE THE CURRICULUM TO USE THE STRATEGIES THAT TEACHERS WOULD FIND TO BE SUPPORTIVE. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND IF THE TEACHERS SAY THEY ARE NOT USING THE STRATEGIES, THEN THERE IS NO POINT TO PAY FOR THOSE. REALLY THOSE WERE THE ONLY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS I HAD. MEMBER COMBS, ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE? Nadia Combs: YES. I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS SINCE YOU PULLED THIS, CHAIR VAUGHN. I WANT TO THANK YOU. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW CONTRACTS I
090SEE WHERE THERE IS A DECREASE THERE. DECREASE FROM 582 TO 335. I KNOW JUST BECAUSE DISTRICT ONE HAS LARGE ELL POPULATION THAT THIS ELEVATE PROGRAM HAS REALLY BEEN VERY STRONG AND HAS REALLY HELPED A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. VERY EXCITED TO HAVE JESSICA NOW WORK IN THE ELL POSITION. VERY EXCITED. THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. JUST THE OTHER DAY AT GRADUATION, ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAD COME OVER A YEAR AGO, THEY WERE OUR UNIQUE SENIOR AND THEY HAD RECEIVED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP AFTER BEING HERE JUST ONE YEAR AND DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. THAT'S ALL I WAS GOING TO SAY. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS
091APPEAR. DO YOU WANT ME TO WAIT FOR MEMBER PEREZ? THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER PEREZ BEING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO 4.02, HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 2026. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL FOR THE 2026 YEAR. ON OCTOBER 29, 2024, DISTRICT HELD A BOARD WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS SELF-FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE. SINCE THAT TIME, HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF HAVE HAD ONGOING MEETINGS WITH BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND UNION LEADERSHIP REGARDING OUR 2026 RENEWAL. THE DISTRICT'S HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 30, 2025 TO REVIEW MEDICAL TREND DATA AND CONSIDER PLAN DESIGN OPTIONS THAT WOULD HELP MITIGATE A PROJECTED INCREASE OF 40.7%. TODAY WE ARE BRINGING BEFORE YOU AN AGENDA ITEM 26,589,000 LOWER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD WE MAINTAINED A FULLY INSURED PLAN IN
0922026. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2026 RENEWAL. AETNA WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER. THREE NEW PLAN DESIGNS OFFERED. EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ZERO DOLLAR PREMIUM PLAN. EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ZERO DOLLAR COPAYS FOR CVS MINUTE CLINICS, CVS VIRTUAL CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH VISITS. ALSO EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT REWARDS HEALTHY BEHAVIORS LIKE ANNUAL PREVENTIVE CARE AND REACHING WELLNESS GOALS. THAT IS 4.02, HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL FOR 2026 WITH AETNA. OF COURSE, DR. PAT TOPPE AND DR. SCHATZBERG ARE HERE, ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE AGENDA ITEM. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US WE HAD A WORKSHOP AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
093DURING THAT WORKSHOP, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DID SAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE INTO A SELF-INSURANCE TYPE OF MODEL BASED UPON THE FACT THAT WE KNEW FROM A PREMIUM STANDPOINT WE WOULD SEE A RISE IN OUR INSURANCE GOING UP AROUND I SAID 25 TO 30 PERCENT. I BELIEVE NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT 40%. WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS IS NOT WHETHER WE'RE USING AETNA OR NOT USING AETNA. WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HR DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD. WHEN YOU BRING AN ITEM THAT WILL INCREASE OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COST BY $22 MILLION AND NOT TO HAVE GONE AFTER AND PROVIDED US WITH A SELECTION OF OPPORTUNITIES ON WHAT WE COULD OR COULD NOT HAVE PROVIDED TO OUR EMPLOYEES, I FIND TO
094BE IRRESPONSIBLE. THIS IS COSTING OUR DISTRICT AN ADDITIONAL $22 MILLION WITHOUT ANY CHOICE. THE ONLY OPTION WE HAVE COME TO US, ONLY OPTION THEY INVESTIGATED WAS AETNA. AT NO TIME DID WE RUN AN RFP, AT NO TIME DID WE GO TO ANOTHER CARRIER TO BRING SUBSEQUENT PLANS OR OPTIONS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. AGAIN, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT DOING BUSINESS WITHOUT RUNNING AN RFP, WITHOUT RUNNING OPTIONS. THE ONE THING THAT OUR STAFF, OUR BOARD ASKED WAS THAT WE MAINTAIN AS MUCH CONSISTENCY FOR OUR MEDICAL COVERAGE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAD OR HAD NOT TO BE AETNA. IT'S WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE OUR STAFF WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE SERVICES THEY WERE RECEIVING. WE DON'T HAVE AN IDEA ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN ANY OTHER COURSE. AETNA MAY
095HAVE BEEN THE OPTION WE CHOSE, BUT THAT WAS NEVER PROVIDED TO THIS BOARD. THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH US WITHOUT GIVING US ADDITIONAL CHOICE. THEY WOULD COME AND HAVE MEETINGS WITH US AND TELL US, LOOK, WE'LL BE LESS THAN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN. LOOK, WE'LL HAVE THE SAME THING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, YET WE'RE STILL SPENDING $22 MILLION MORE AND WE HAVE YET TO BRING OPTIONS TO THE TABLE. WE HAVE YET TO INVESTIGATE OTHER POSSIBILITIES, OTHER CREATIONS OF OTHER PLANS. AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER AETNA IS THE RIGHT OPTION OR WRONG OPTION, WE'VE JUST NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. THAT RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. THAT IS MONEY THAT'S COMING DIRECTLY OUT OF OUR STAFF SALARIES. THAT IS A HALF A STEP. AND TO NOT BRING ANY OPTIONS TO THIS BOARD,
096I FIND, AGAIN, IRRESPONSIBLE. SO I WILL ALWAYS VOTE NO UNTIL YOU GIVE THIS BOARD FULL DISCLOSURE AND FULL OPTIONS OF WHAT HEALTH INSURANCE COULD BE, WHAT OPTIONS WE COULD HAVE. BUT TO TELL US BECAUSE IT'S LESS THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUT WE'RE DOING THE BEST, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT. YOUR HR DEPARTMENT CAN'T TELL ME THAT. THEY CAN'T TELL ME ANY SELF-INSURANCE PROGRAM IS BETTER THAN THIS BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT QUOTES ON WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE SPENDING $22 MILLION MORE ON HEALTH CARE COVERAGE WITHOUT ANY OPTIONS OF CHOICE. SO WITH A LACK OF OPTION OF CHOICE YOU TOLD US WHAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO BECAUSE IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND WE COULD BE PUTTING THAT MONEY BACK
097IN OUR EMPLOYEES' POCKETS AND POSSIBLY GIVING THEM BETTER MEDICAL CARE. WE DON'T KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY, YOU ALSO PULLED THE ITEM. DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS. I WANT TO THANK MS. SCHATZBERG AND MR. HORSTMAN AND DR. PATTON FOR SPENDING MANY, MANY HOURS WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS. YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL. I ALSO HAVE A TREMENDOUS HESITANCY. I'VE GONE THROUGH THE INSURANCE, SELF-INSURED, GROUP INSURED FOR YEARS. IT HAS BEEN YEARS. RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND WONDERING AGAIN ABOUT THE ACTUAL BIDDING PROCESS. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD OTHER BIDS JUST FOR THE ARENA OF FINANCIAL JUDGMENT. I WILL ASK YOU, AND I'M ALWAYS TROUBLED ABOUT THE AON. WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM FOR 20 YEARS.
098I KNOW I MISSED IT, WHAT, NINE YEARS AGO I SUSPECT, SHOULD HAVE ASKED ABOUT IT THEN, BUT NOW WE ARE STILL GOING WITH THEM. IT'S ALMOST AS IF THERE IS A MONOPOLY. THE DECISION HAS COME FROM AN RFP COMMITTEE. MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE NOT SEEKING ANOTHER AGENCY OTHER THAN AON? AND HOW MUCH POWER DOES THIS RFP COMMITTEE HAVE ON THIS DECISION? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK ON AON AND THEIR HISTORY AS WELL AS THE REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T GONE OUT TO BID FOR THEM AND WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR THE FUTURE. DR. SCHATZBERG. THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE BEEN WITH AON OR HEALTH AND BENEFIT CONSULTANT FOR A LONG TIME. FOLKS AT HOME MIGHT NOT EVEN
099KNOW ABOUT AON. THEY KNOW WE HAVE OUR HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH A HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER, BUT SINCE WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AREN'T IN THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH INSURANCE, WE WORK WITH A CONSULTANT WHO HAS A CADRE OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS LIKE ACTUARIES, PHARMACISTS, ATTORNEYS. WHEN IT'S TIME FOR BIDS, THEY HELP GATHER THE INFORMATION TOGETHER AND THEN THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE VOTES ON THAT. I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND. THE LAST TIME WE WENT OUT TO BID FOR OUR HEALTH AND BENEFIT CONSULTANT WAS IN 2020. WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT TO BID FOR THEM IN JANUARY BECAUSE IT WILL BE EXPIRING IN JUNE OF 26. JUNE OF 2026 IS WHAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID. WE'LL BE GOING OUT TO BID THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND LOOKING FOR GREAT IDEAS. ANY CONSULTANT
100TEAM THAT APPLIES, WE'LL BE ASKING WHAT THEY CAN BRING TO THE TABLE. IN THE END THEY WITH OUR HEALTH INFORMATION, THEY HELP ANALYZE INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW FLORIDA PROCUREMENT LAWS, SO WHEN WE HAVE A HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE COME TOGETHER AND DO A PROCUREMENT BID FOR HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER, IT IS THE VOTERS, EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE WHO MAKES THAT DECISION. OUR HEALTH AND BENEFIT CONSULTANT DOES NOT GO OUT AND SAY WE WANT YOU TO APPLY. THEY DON'T JUST BRING PEOPLE TO US. WE WORK THROUGH PROCUREMENT AND THEY BID THE PROCESS. WHOEVER APPLIES, APPLIES. THEN THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE DOES THEIR VOTES. OUR INSURANCE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF OUR UNIONS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, HASA, AND OTHER DISTRICT PERSONNEL. I'VE KIND OF GONE A LITTLE LONG THERE. DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? Lynn Gray: WITH THE
101LAST PART, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT STATEMENT, MADE UP OF -- DID YOU SAY HASA? YES, MA'AM. Lynn Gray: AND THEN CTA, THAT DOES NOT ENVELOPE ALL OF THE AMOUNT OF CONSTITUENCIES THAT WE'RE REALLY GIVING ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE. MS. SCHATZBERG, WHAT I'M AFTER IS WHEN WE HAVE A MONOPOLIZED SITUATION, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK FOR 20 YEARS, AND WHEN WE HAVE A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF A SMALL PORTION THAT STANDS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, IS THIS GOING TO BE THE SAME COMMITTEE, THE SAME RFP COMMITTEE THAT WILL ALSO MAKE DECISIONS WHEN WE RECEIVE NEW BIDS IN JANUARY 2026? I'LL SAY NOT NECESSARILY. THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE DOES THE HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER. BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR LOOKING AT OUR HEALTH AND BENEFITS CONSULTANT WE WILL LOOK
102TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO FIND OUT WHO WORKS WITH OUR BENEFIT CONSULTANT. FOR EXAMPLE, ACTUARIES WILL HELP REPORTING FOR OUR FINANCE TEAM. WE'LL HAVE FOLKS FROM THERE. PROBABLY HAVE FOLKS FROM RISK MANAGEMENT. THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE HEALTH AND BENEFIT CONSULTANT WILL BE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING. Lynn Gray: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A ROBUST BIDDING PROCESS IN 2026. I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE DON'T GO WITH THE SAME NECESSARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THE SAME, NOTHING AGAINST AON, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE MUCH MORE VIGOROUS TYPES OF BIDDING. I KNOW YOU KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM. THE LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE, SINCE WE ARE NOT IN THE HEALTH CARE BUSINESS, YET WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE, I THINK YOU CALLED IT A DEPARTMENT MANAGER. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
103IS A PLAN SUCH AS PASCO, A PLAN THAT SHOWS THE LAYOUT OF THE STAFF, NOT ONLY FROM AETNA BUT ALSO FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT WILL INCLUDE THE ACTUAL SERVICES PROVIDED, IN REAL-TIME. I JUST NEED THE SUCCINCT LIST. EXAMPLE IN PASCO, THEY HAVE HEALTH CLINICS. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WHAT SERVICES. THEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE SUSTAINABILITY QUESTION, IN ONE TO FIVE YEARS, WILL WE BE ADDING THOSE SERVICES? IN OTHER WORDS, ADDING TO THE BENEFITS OF OUR EMPLOYEES? THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW AND FOR US TO KNOW AS BOARD MEMBERS. I'M ASKING FOR THAT KIND OF PLAN JUST SO I HAVE GOOD TALKING POINTS, IF YOU WILL. AND THE REASON I'M VOTING FOR THIS -- I MEAN, I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS STILL, BUT BECAUSE WE WILL LOSE UP TO 18
104TO $60 MILLION IF WE DON'T GO TO THIS PLAN, IS THAT ACCURATE? WELL, WE KNOW IN LOOKING AT OUR PROJECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT IF WE DON'T GO INTO A SELF-FUNDING PLAN, WE WILL PAY AT LEAST $26.5 MILLION MORE IN PROFIT MARGIN TO THE CARRIER. AT THIS POINT, WE KNOW WHAT PROJECTED CLAIMS ARE. HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER NEEDS TO PLAN FOR THAT AND THEN THEY NEED TO MAKE MONEY ON TOP OF THAT. IF WE WERE TO STAY IN THAT FULLY INSURED STRUCTURE, WE WOULD TAKE THE LARGE NUMBER OF CLAIMS EXPECTING AND ADD 26.5 MILLION ON TOP OF THAT. GOING SELF-FUNDED, WE'LL TAKE AWAY THE PROFIT MARGIN AND WE WILL JUST BE PLAYING THE CLAIMS. CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AETNA, STILL HAVE THEM ADJUDICATING CLAIMS. THREE ON-SITE FOLKS HELPING WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. THEY HAVE WELLNESS FOLKS
105HERE, EVERYBODY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE HEALTHY. AND THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER THAT WE ADD WILL ASSIST US IN MONITORING CLAIMS AS WELL BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO HELP THEM HELPING IN ANALYZE AND HELP US RECOGNIZE TRENDS. OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN TO MEET MONTHLY STARTING IN '26. THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. UNIONS ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. THE FIRST TIME BEING SELF-FUNDED WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO OUR OWN DATA SO WE CAN BEGIN TO LOOK AT TRENDS AND IDENTIFY THEM QUICKLY VERSUS WAITING A YEAR OUT AND LOOKING AT MAKING CHANGES IN ANOTHER YEAR. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON THE FUND BALANCE, IF WE LOSE ANY MORE MONEY, I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT FOR VARIOUS REASONS. I WILL AGREE TO THIS, BUT
106I DO WANT A PLAN. I THINK MY TIME IS UP. AGAIN, THANK YOU, MS. SCHATZBERG, FOR ALL THE YEARS YOU AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS AND DR. PAT TOPPE AS WELL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I THOUGHT I WAS IN QUEUE LATER. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I KNOW THAT IT IS -- THIS IS HUGE. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR JUST HEALTH INSURANCE. AND I THINK THAT IS A FACT PAUSE HEALTH INSURANCE IS SO EXPENSIVE. I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING A JOB OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR AS THEY THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT, THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY THINK ABOUT IS HEALTH INSURANCE. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. I SEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. AS WE'VE HAD TO
107KIND OF MOVE IN SELF-INSURANCE AND THAT WAS A CLOSE VOTE. IT WAS 4-3. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAD NO OPTIONS. NO MATTER WHAT. TO CLARIFY THAT, WE REALLY HAD NO OPTIONS. JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHAT WERE THE TWO OPTIONS IF WE WENT FOR SELF-INSURANCE WITH WHOEVER OR NO SELF-INSURANCE, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY. COMB COMB WE WERE GOING TO SPEND $26 MILLION MORE NO MATTER WHAT. CORRECT, CORRECT. Nadia Combs: THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK ABOUT IS I DO THINK WE NEED TO GO OUT FOR RFP, BUT I DO THINK IT TAKES TIME. BECAUSE WITH THE COMMITTEE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, WE HAVE 23,000 EMPLOYEES. NOT SOME SMALL INSURANCE COMPANY CAN COVER THAT. AND AETNA HAS
108HALF A MILLION MEMBERS IN TAMPA ALONE. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WHOEVER WE GO HAS GOT TO BE LARGE ENOUGH INSURANCE COMPANY THAT CAN COVER THAT. YOU CAN'T FIND SOME SMALL INSURANCE COMPANY THAT SOUNDS LIKE HEY, THEY CAN DO A GREAT JOB FOR MOST PEOPLE WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT, CAN THEY STAY WITH THE SAME PRIMARY. IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY, CAN THEY HAVE SURGERY? THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FACTORS. I THINK WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE HAVEN'T MOVED, WE HAD HUMANA FOR 28 YEARS. IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO AETNA. SO WE HAVE TO THINK THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT WHOEVER WE GO WITH, IT CAN'T BE SOME SMALL BOX HEALTH INSURANCE. I KNOW LAST YEAR WAS A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR. AS I SEE THE BUDGET
109COMING, TEACHERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO COME FROM THE STATE. WE HAVE TO GIVE WHATEVER WE CAN. I THINK FOR THIS YEAR, WE WANT TO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY FOR TEACHERS. WE WANT TO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY TO OUR BUS DRIVERS, OUR SECURITY OFFICERS. IF SOMEONE KNOWS THAT THEY HAVEN'T PAID INSURANCE, WE DON'T WANT TO ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGE THAT ON THEM. I THINK IT TAKES TIME AS WE GO OUT FOR RFP, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS TO COME UP WITH AN RFP BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS LOSE TEACHERS NOW WHEN TEACHERS ARE LEAVING LEFT AND RIGHT. I THINK FOR ME AS A TEACHER IF I CAME IN AND NOT GETTING THAT BIG OF
110A RAISE AND NOW YOU'RE ALSO CHANGING MY INSURANCE, I CAN'T SEE MY DOCTOR, I MAY START THINKING ABOUT ANOTHER CAREER. AS MUCH AS I THINK WE NEED TO GO OUT, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL, NEED TO BE CONSISTENT AND SEE WHAT THEY PROMISE AND WHAT THEY DELIVER. TO THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME MONOPOLY AND BEEN WITH AETNA FOREVER IS NOT TRUE. WE WERE WITH HUMANA ALMOST 30 YEARS. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING WE DON'T TALK ABOUT. MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE INSURANCE THAT THEY CAN COUNT ON. LAST YEAR WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT WITH INSERGEI. WE'VE BEEN -- WITH SYNERGY. BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHALLENGES. WE NEED YEARS WHERE TEACHERS CAN WALK IN, PARAPROFESSIONALS CAN WALK IN AND KNOW THERE IS SOME CONSISTENCY.
111GET THAT FEEDBACK FROM EVERYONE AS WE MOVE AND LOOKING AT THOSE BIG BOXES AND WHAT HEALTH INSURANCE CAN DO. I KNOW WHEN I CALLED YOU ONE DAY WHEN I HAD CHANGES, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN, MY HEALTH INSURANCE. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO MOST PEOPLE. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. A QUICK QUESTION. DID WE HAVE INCREASES ON BENEFITS? FOR EXAMPLE, PROVIDERS. CAN THEY SEE THEIR PROVIDERS? ARE THEY WITH THE SAME PROVIDERS? YES, SIR, PROVIDERS, SAME HOSPITALS, SAME EVERYTHING. Henry "Shake" Washington: NUMBER ONE, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR PROVIDERS. WHAT ELSE INCREASE DID THEY HAVE ON THIS ONE WE'RE DOING? WE WILL BE TALKING ON THE NEXT ITEM A BUNDLED SURGERY ITEM THAT WILL ALLOW OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE
112ACCESS TO FREE SURGERY. THAT SOUNDS CRAZY, FREE SURGERY. DEPENDING ON THE SURGERY HAPPENING, THEY COULD SAVE MONEY AND GO INTO A BUNDLE SURGERY OPTION. WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT ITEM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO HAVE FREE TELEHEALTH, 24 HOURS. SOMEBODY PREFER TO GO TO CVS MINUTE CLINIC, THEY CAN GET FREE SUPPORTS THERE. MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS CONTINUE TO BE NO COPAY. Henry "Shake" Washington: HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR COMMITTEE? I SHOULD KNOW THE NUMBER. I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 15 PEOPLE MAYBE, 10. IT'S ON HERE. 16 PEOPLE. Henry "Shake" Washington: 16 PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE. THAT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME? IT HAS BEEN. SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL RETIRE AND BE REPLACED. IT IS A GREAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE
113TRENDS AND WE KNOW KIND OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN. WE WORK REALLY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING OUR EMPLOYEES THE BEST INSURANCE CAN. EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT I SEE HERE HAS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE. SO WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR OWN HEALTH CARE AND FAMILY'S HEALTH CARE. THE COMMITTEE WORKS TIGHTLY TOGETHER. WE WORK TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY FEELS GOOD ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S OUR FAMILY. I KNOW WHEN I'M LEAVING THERE AND GOING BACK TO MY DEPARTMENT AND TALKING WITH MY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT STAFF, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO LOOK AT IT FROM THEIR OWN LENS TO FIND OUT HOW IT WILL IMPACT THEM. I THINK OUR COMMITTEE DOES A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE WE'RE MEETING OUR EMPLOYEES' NEEDS. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE COMMITTEE IS THAT IT IS A COLLABORATIVE
114THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH THE UNION AND THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE ON IT. WE WANT TO HEAR THEIR VOICES. WE MAKE SURE WE SUPPORT AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION FOR THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS. WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND DISCUSS EVERY ASPECT OF IT TO ALLOW THEM, IF THEY AGREE, DISAGREE, FOR US TO COME TO CONSENSUS ON IT. THAT'S WHEN WE BRING IT BEFORE THE BOARD. Van Ayres: WHAT I DON'T WANT TO BE LOST, RFP OR NOT, WHAT HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY, I THINK THE BIG POINT HERE IS THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO MOVE TO SELF-INSURANCE. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE 2018. I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE LOST IN SOME OF THIS OTHER COST AND WHAT HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY RFP, ET CETERA. THIS HAS BEEN A BIG DEAL OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS TO GET
115TO THIS POINT WHERE THIS DISTRICT MOVES TO SELF INSURANCE. MY FIRST DAY AS SUPERINTENDENT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHARGES FROM MANY BOARD MEMBERS WAS MOVING US TO THE SELF-INSURANCE MODEL. BY DOING THAT, CAME FROM OUR FINANCE TEAM, ABILITY OVER LAST NUMBER OF YEARS TO BUILD THE BALANCE UP TO BE ABLE TO THEN SAVE MONEY AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH AGENDA ITEMS JUST LIKE THIS. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS IS A BIG DEAL THAT WE'RE MOVING TO SELF INSURANCE. PUTS US WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING FULLY INSURED WHICH IS EXTRA COST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUND BALANCE TO COVER THE SELF-INSURANCE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CLEAR. WE CAN CONTINUE THE GOOD DISCUSSION AROUND RFP, AETNA. BUT MOVING TO SELF INSURANCE IS A BIG, BIG DEAL
116THIS BOARD HAS MADE CLEAR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO MOVE TO THAT MODEL. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: A FEW THINGS. ONE, CLEARLY, IF WE DO NOT MOVE TOWARDS SELF FUNDING IT WAS MADE PRETTY CLEAR WE WOULD PAY OVER 26 MILLION MORE A YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE -- WOULD ALSO AFFECT EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS AND THEY WOULD INCREASE GREATLY. TALK ABOUT INSURANCE BEING EXPENSIVE, IT WOULD PROBABLY DOUBLE WHAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING IN PREMIUMS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE DO GO BACK OUT FOR RFP, I WANT TO WHEN THE YEAR IS UP AND I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THIS AT A WORKSHOP AND WE SEEMED TO, THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WANTED TO STAY WITH AETNA. I'M REALLY CONCERNED GIVEN THE LACK OF INTEREST BY
117SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES TO ENGAGE AND RESPOND TO RFPs IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I'M MORE NERVOUS ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO ENGAGE WITH US ON AN RFP. WE MAY WANT TO GO OUT FOR RFP BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS GOING TO COME TO THE TABLE. THAT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS. I HOPE THAT LANDSCAPE CHANGES. THE OTHER THING JUST TO REMIND PEOPLE, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE WITH AETNA DOESN'T MEAN THAT IN THREE, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR DOCTOR OR GO TO YOUR PREFERRED HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF INSURANCE THEY ARE GOING TO ACCEPT. IN THREE MONTHS, ADVENT HEALTH MAY SAY WE DON'T ACCEPT AETNA ANYMORE OR YOUR CARDIOLOGIST MAY NOT ACCEPT AETNA ANYMORE. WE DON'T CONTROL THAT REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE SOME STABILITY WITH MAKING PEOPLE
118FEEL LIKE, OH, I CAN KEEP MY DOCTORS. BUT IN THREE, FOUR MONTHS THAT COULD CHANGE, NOT BASED ON OUR CHOICES, BUT BASED ON OTHER PLACES. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING THIS CHOICE TODAY NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE IN THEIR HEALTH CARE BECAUSE IT COULD VERY WELL CHANGE TOMORROW FOR SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME. IT JUST HAPPENS AND IT'S UPSETTING. IN REGARD TO THE RFP, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE AND MADE UP OF THIS DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS BOARD WILL DECIDE IF WE GO OUT FOR RFP, NOT YOUR COMMITTEE. I WANT THAT TO BE MADE REALLY CLEAR TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND EVERYBODY ELSE. THIS BOARD WILL DECIDE TO GO OUT OR NOT TO GO OUT BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AT
119THE TIME FOR AN RFP. YOUR BOARD IS VALUABLE IN THAT IT WILL LOOK AT DATA. IT WILL GIVE US DATA BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE AS A BOARD WHETHER WE GO BACK OUT AND PUT THIS ON THE STREET OR NOT. I WANT THAT TO BE MADE CLEAR. LOOK, I HOPE WE CAN SAVE MONEY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES OR AT THE VERY LEAST AS PREMIUMS INCREASE WHICH I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS PAINFUL AS IF WE WERE NOT SELF-INSURED. I HAVE A FAMILY PLAN. IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. THERE ARE TIMES I PAID FOR MRIs AND CT SCANS OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER THAN GOING THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THAT'S CRAZY TO THINK, YOU PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE BUT IT'S CHEAPER IF I PAY OUT OF
120POCKET FOR MY MRI. I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB GIVEN WHAT I HEAR ABOUT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES. WE'RE OFFERING OUR EMPLOYEES MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THEIR INSURANCE AND THAT IS, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY THEY WANT TO WORK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP -- TRY AND KEEP COSTS FROM RISING TOO MUCH AND KEEP IT AS AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND, I DON'T WANT EMPLOYEES TO GET THE WRONG IDEA. THEIR PLANS ARE CHANGING. FIRST QUESTION, IF WE CREATE ANOTHER PLAN THROUGH A DIFFERENT SELF INSURANCE OR CRETE SELF INSURANCE, COULD THEY HAVE GOTTEN
121THEIR SAME PHYSICIANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IF THAT IS THE PLAN WITH CREATED? IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THE OTHER HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER I THEIR NETWORK OF DOCTORS. Patti Rendon: REMEMBER, WE'RE GOING SELF INSURANCE SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK AND CREATE A PLAN OUTSIDE OF A NETWORK PROVIDER IF WE CHOOSE WITH A CONSULTANT. THERE IS ABILITY TO DO THAT OR -- THEY COULD STILL KEEP THEIR SAME PROVIDERS. YOU MEAN NEGOTIATE CORRECTLY? I'M SORRY. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. Patti Rendon: IF WE CREATE A DIFFERENT PLAN, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE SAME PROVIDERS? COULD THEY HAVE THE SAME DOCTORS? IF WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN. QUITE POSSIBLY. Patti Rendon: EVEN IF WE STAY WITH AETNA, COULD A PRACTICE PHYSICIAN CHOOSE NOT TO STAY WITH AETNA? ABSOLUTELY. Patti Rendon: EVERYTHING IS UP
122IN THE AIR. THE OTHER QUESTION, IF I'M CORRECT FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH US, OUT OF COST AND DEDUCTIBLES ARE GOING TO GO UP NO MATTER WHICH PLAN THEY HAVE, CORRECT? THAT'S TRUE. YES, WE ARE HAVING PLAN DESIGN CHANGES. DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOING SELF FUNDING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO IS WATCHING KNOWS THAT WE WOULD BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION EITHER WAY. WE'VE SEEN OUR CLAIMS SURGE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE LOOKED AT OUR DESIGN. WE LOOKED AT DESIGNS IN OTHER DISTRICTS AND REALLY IN THE PRIVACY INDUSTRY, THE DESIGNS WE'RE PUTTING OUT ARE ACTUARIALLY SOUND AND REALLY WHERE WE NEED TO GO. WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING CHOICES. OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE ASKING THEM TO MAKE CHOICES ON THREE DIFFERENT PLAN DESIGNS. Patti Rendon: ALL THE DEDUCTIBLES ARE INCREASING
123FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. YES. Patti Rendon: ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THERE WAS AN ABILITY IF WE WENT FOR RFP TO RECRAFT THAT AND COULD HAVE CHANGED THAT MODEL. BY NOT GOING AFTER AN RFP WHICH I REMIND YOU SUPERINTENDENT WAS OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, SO WE DID HAVE A YEAR. LET'S MAKE THAT CLEAR. WE HAD A YEAR. I WOULD REMIND BOARD MEMBERS, IN THIS PACKET, THERE IS NO CONTRACT WITH AETNA. WHEN WE APPROVE THIS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE APPROVING. RIGHT NOW IN OUR PACKET, WE DO NOT HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH AETNA. IF YOU APPROVE THIS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING. AM I WRONG? IT WOULD BE THE SAME CONTRACT -- Patti Rendon: AGAIN, THIS ITEM DOES NOT HAVE A CONTRACT ATTACHED TO IT. SINCE WE ARE NOW -- WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT
124OUR BOUNDARIES ARE OR ANY OF OUR DETAILS, IF A BOARD MEMBER APPROVES THIS TODAY, THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY ARE APPROVING. I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS FOLLOWING SUIT AND IT WILL FOLLOW THE SAME RFP THAT THEY AGREED TO WHEN WE DID IT A FEW YEARS AGO. THEN WE WOULD BE FULLY INSURED, MA'AM. YES, BECAUSE THE LAST CONTRACT WE SAW WAS A FULLY INSURED CONTRACT. WE'VE NEVER SEEN A CONTRACT UNDER THE SELF INSURANCE GUIDELINES. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT'S FALLING BECAUSE YOU'VE NOT PROVIDED US THE INFORMATION. I ONCE AGAIN REMIND OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT YOU WILL NOT SEE A CONTRACT THAT YOU'RE APPROVING. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE CLAIM SURGE. SUPERINTENDENT, WE TAKE PRIDE IN HAVING STAFF THAT'S BEEN
125WITH OUR DISTRICT FOR YEARS. WHAT IS THE LONGEST STANDING STAFF MEMBER THAT WE'VE HAD? CAN ANYBODY TELL ME? 56 YEARS. I KNOW AS WE AGE, LET'S ADMIT IT, WE START FEELING THINGS WE'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE. THAT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE. MY QUESTION IS, WITH THE SELF-FUNDING, ARE THESE ISSUES ALSO TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT? THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OLDER STAFF AND THAT THE COMORBIDITIES ARE HIGHER, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT US WITH AGING STAFF? I'LL SHARE AND THEN HAVE DR. SCHATZBERG SHARE. THAT DOES IMPACT US. HOWEVER BEING SELF-FUNDED WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THE CLAIMS AND CREATE PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP EMPLOYEES WITH THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE, WHETHER IT BE DIABETES MANAGEMENT, WHETHER IT'S HEART ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S MUSCULOSKELETAL ISSUES, WE CAN CREATE A PROGRAM AROUND THAT THE FACT THAT WE'RE SELF-FUNDED
126IT ALLOWS FOR US TO BUILD THAT PROGRAM. DR. SCHATZBERG. THANK YOU. YES. I WOULD ALSO INDICATE THAT PER STATE STATUTE, OUR RETIREES ARE ALLOWED TO STAY ON OUR INSURANCE. WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS EVEN AS MEDICARE ELIGIBLE LIKE TO STICK AROUND. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HUMANA AS WELL. BUT WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD VITALITY PROGRAM FOR THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING THEIR PREVENTIVE EXAMS. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE YESTERDAY MAKING SURE AS WE HAVE OUR HEALTH FAIRS THAT WE ARE KEEPING THEM ON SCHEDULE AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE TAKING GOOD CARE OF THEMSELVES. Karen Perez: THERE ARE TICKLERS, ESPECIALLY OUR RETIREES THAT NEED THOSE REMINDERS. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I WANTED. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. I'M FLICKED ON THIS ITEM AS I'VE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH
127YOU GUYS FROM THE BEGINNING. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE CONSTANT MEETINGS. WHILE I DO AGREE IF THERE'S NOT A CONTRACT, THAT'S CONCERNING. YOU HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT AND ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND SHOWED ME THE INFORMATION. WHILE TECHNICALLY I AGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT A CONTRACT, I AM VERY AWARE OF WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. I AGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON IN SOME CASES TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL LIKE THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH OPTIONS DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMITTEE AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. A LOT OF MY FRUSTRATION COMES FROM I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE ON THE COMMITTEE. PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT IS PRESENTED TO US IS WE'RE BASICALLY JUST RUBBER STAMPING WHATEVER THE COMMITTEE DECIDES AND WE HAVE VERY
128LITTLE INPUT IN THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT DR. HAHN MADE THE CLARITY THAT WE ARE THE DECIDING BOARD AND THAT WE ULTIMATELY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE INPUT IN THIS. MR. PORTER, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU BECAUSE DR. PATTON AND I WEREN'T QUITE SURE. ARE BOARD MEMBERS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO SIT ON THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND HEAR THE DISCUSSION HAPPENING? Jim Porter: I DON'T THINK THAT IS A GOD IDEA. YOU'LL BE ULTIMATELY VOTING ON IT. IT'S BETTER TO KEEP THAT SEPARATION. Jessica Vaughn: IS THERE A WAY TO SEE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPENED IN THE COMMITTEE BY ASKING FOR THE TRANSCRIPTS TO BE PULLED? Jim Porter: ARE THEY TRANSCRIBED? WE CAN LOOK AT THAT THEN. Jessica Vaughn: MY CONCERN IS THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP A FREE
129PLAN, THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION THAT THEY HAVE. AND WHEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH AS THE $4,000 DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH I FIND EXTREMELY ALARMING, ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOU SAY A MAJORITY OF OUR PATIENTS HAVE NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO MEETING THAT OR IF THERE ARE CONCERNS WHERE MY CONCERN IS AND WHILE I APPRECIATE TALKING ABOUT OUR OLDER EMPLOYEES, WHICH I AM NOW FALLING UNDER, WE WANT TO ATTRACT YOUNGER FAMILIES. WE NEED TO ATTRACT A YOUNGER WORKFORCE WHO IS GOING TO STAY WITH US THROUGH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. IF THEY CAN'T GET INSURANCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE, I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A MORE THOROUGH AND ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MAYBE POSSIBLY NOT HAVING A FREE PLAN, CHARGING A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT ALLOWING
130AND OFFERING AN AFFORDABLE FAMILY PLAN FOR OUR FAMILIES. THERE ARE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO WANT TO BE TEACHERS WHO ARE YOUNG AND WANT TO COME WORK IN OUR DISTRICT. HOWEVER, THEY CAN'T RELY ON THEIR SPOUSE TO BE THE ONE TO CARRY THE INSURANCE. THE OTHER THING I APPRECIATE WAS THAT YOU DID GIVE ME A COST COMPARISON CHART WHICH I ASKED TO BE SHOWN HERE TODAY, BUT THERE WAS SOME PUSH-BACK ABOUT THAT. NOT SURE WHERE WE LANDED ON THAT, THAT DOES SHOW WE ARE I CAN'T BELIEVE TO OTHER COUNTIES EXCEPT FOR PINELLAS WHO DOES AN AMAZING JOB. SHOUT-OUT TO PINELLAS, THAT WE ARE COMPARABLE WITH FAMILY PLANS. WHILE THAT I UNDERSTAND AND WE ARE TRY TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER DISTRICTS, I AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS IN THE WAY THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR SALARY
131RANGE AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES, THE BASE OF IT IS ALWAYS THE BENEFITS THAT THEY GET. THAT'S ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION. AS INSURANCE BECOMES LESS AND LESS AFFORDABLE AND YOU HAVE A BOARD MEMBER TALKING ABOUT PAYING FOR THEIR OWN MRIs, I WONDER HOW MUCH OF AN ADVANTAGE THAT IS. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT ITEM, KELLY SERVICES AND EMPLOYEES NOT CHOOSING US BECAUSE THE BENEFITS AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH, I THINK IT IS A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE COMMITTEE AND GIVE THEM MORE OPTIONS. I FEEL LIKE REALLY THE ONLY OPTION WAS, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A FREE PLAN, THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN GIVE FOR YOU. I'M DISAPPOINTED IF THAT WAS THE NARRATIVE OF THE CONVERSATION. DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE
132SOMETHING TO SAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THREE OPTIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T GO IN KNOWING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE CAME IN WITH NO PLAN DESIGN CHANGES, RECOGNIZING THAT WOULD LEAD TO 38.5% INCREASE TO ANYBODY THAT HAD FAMILIES. AND THERE WAS NOT AN APPETITE FOR HAVING A 38.5% INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH FAMILY. Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S STILL MAINTAINING THE FREE PLAN. AND THE FREE PLAN IS IN OUR CONTRACTS. ANOTHER OPTION WHERE WE LOOKED AT MAKING THE FREE PLAN A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN AS WE LOOKED AT OUR HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF APPETITE FOR THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A GREAT PLAN, NOT LIKE THE PPO PLAN. Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S STILL KEEPING A FREE PLAN. YOU'RE RIGHT. THEN WE LANDED ON THE THIRD ITEM, BECAUSE THE THIRD ITEM ALLOWED FOR US
133TO KEEP FAMILY COSTS THE SAME, IF ANYBODY PICKS A LOW PPO PLAN, IF THEY ARE IN THE LOCAL PLAN NOW, THEY'LL HAVE NO INCREASE. IF THEY ARE IN ONE OF THE OTHER HIGHER PLANS, THEY WILL SEE A DECREASE IN COSTS. SO THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW -- Jessica Vaughn: ALL THREE PLANS DISCUSSED ONLY OFFERED AROUND KEEPING A FREE PLAN. AGAIN, MY DISCUSSION IS, THERE WERE NO OPTIONS GIVEN, WHETHER THAT IS A RENEGOTIATION WITH THE UNION OR NOT AND THEIR DECISION TO MAKE AS THEY COME TO THE BARGAINING TABLE OR WHOMEVER WAS IN THE COMMITTEE AROUND WHAT THE OPTION OF A NON-FREE PLAN THAT MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES THAT WAS PRESENTED. AM I WRONG? YOU'RE RIGHT. WE DID NOT TALK -- Jessica Vaughn: I JUST WANT
134TO BRING CLARITY TO THAT SITUATION. THAT'S WHERE MY FRUSTRATION COMES FROM. I THINK FOR A LONG TIME -- I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF UNION MEMBERS WHO ARE OLDER AND THERE IS VALUE IN A FREE PLAN. I UTILIZE THE FREE PLAN MYSELF SO I APPRECIATE IT. AGAIN, WE HAVE TO LOOK LONG TERM AT OUR FAMILIES. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT RECRUITING AND KEEPING YOUNG TEACHERS AND YOUNG EMPLOYEES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND GIVING THEM AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. THAT'S WHERE MY FRUSTRATION LIES. I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TOWARD SELF-FUNDING. I UNDERSTAND IT IS A WAY WE HAVE TO GO BECAUSE IT WILL BE MORE AFFORDABLE. AND I DID NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO STAY WITH AETNA. THAT WAS NOT MY VOICE. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE VERY FLICKED ABOUT
135THIS ITEM. WHAT I WOULD LIKE -- CONFLICTED ABOUT THIS ITEM. I WOULD LIKE MORE CLARITY, BECAUSE WHAT WAS INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA ITEM, I BELIEVE A LOT OF HYSTERIA WAS STARTED AND THERE WAS MISINFORMATION. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB GETTING IN FRONT OF THAT AND MAKING IT CLEAR TO OUR EMPLOYEES WHAT IS GOING TO CHANGE AND WHAT ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE. WITH THAT I'M OUT OF TIME. Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU THE INFORMATION WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION AND VOTE WHEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH IN FRONT OF YOU. TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CONTRACT IS NOT IN FRONT OF YOU IS BECAUSE THE PLAN DESIGN IS EXACTLY THE SAME, RIGHT. WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT AETNA DOES NOT HAVE THE BUILT IN PROFIT INTO THE CONTRACT. WITH FULLY
136INSURED THERE IS A BUILT-IN PROFIT BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING ON THAT RISK. THE SELF-INSURED WE ARE TAKING ON THAT RISK. THE CONTRACT WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT, SELF-INSURED, MEMBER RENDON, TO YOUR POINT, FULLY INSURED VERSUS SELF-INSURED, BUT THE REASONING WAS BECAUSE THE PLAN WAS GOING TO RUN EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE CONTRACT WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT, FULLY INSURED OR SELF-INSURED, WE ARE TAKING ON THAT RISK, SELF-INSURED, ALLOWS US TO SAVE MONEY WITH THE SELF-INSURED PLAN. WHAT I HEAR FROM THE DISCUSSION, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE THAT DECISION TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW THIS AGENDA ITEM AND BRING IT BACK TO THE JULY 8 BOARD MEETING. DR. PATTON, DR. SCHATZBERG, BRING BACK THE CONTRACT, EVERYTHING -- THAT'S GREAT. I DO THINK -- I'D LOVE TO ASK EITHER
137AETNA OR AON HOW THAT WORKS WITH CONTRACTS IN OTHER DISTRICTS. Jim Porter: IF YOU ARE GOING TO WITHDRAW THE ITEM, I THINK THAT IS TIMELY WHEN YOU BRING THE ITEM BACK. UNLESS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, UNLESS YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THAT. IF YOU ARE WITHDRAWING THE ITEM, THE ITEM IS WITHDRAWN. Van Ayres: THANK YOU -- I HEAR YOU. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR AFTERWARDS IT REALLY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS. I DON'T WANT TO BE ASKED TO BRING BACK SOMETHING I CAN'T BRING BACK. Van Ayres: WHAT WE'LL BRING BEFORE THE BOARD IS ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE, EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION SO YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION. WE'LL COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OF YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. DR. SCHATZBERG WILL COMMUNICATE WITH AETNA ON THAT. I AM WITHDRAWING THIS AGENDA ITEM. IT WILL COME
138BACK ON JULY 8 WITH MUCH MORE INFORMATION INCLUDED ON THE CONTRACT. 4.03, ALONG WITH -- 4.02, ALSO WITHDRAWING 4.03, 4.03 GOES WITH 4.02. BOTH HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN. I'LL BRING THOSE BACK TO THE JULY 8 AND THE MATERIALS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU. BOTH THOSE ITEMS WILL INCLUDE MUCH MORE DETAIL. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. SEEING THAT THOSE ARE WITHDRAWN, RIGHT NOW I'LL MOVE ON TO EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENT. DID YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK ON? DO WE STILL SPEAK IF THE ITEM IS WITHDRAWN? Jim Porter: IT'S UP TO YOU. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY, IF YOU STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. Lynn Gray: BOARD COMMENTS ARE EMBLEMATIC THAT WE ARE NOT FOR SURE UNDERSTANDING THE PLAN. WE ARE NOT FULLY SECURED WITH THE VALIDITY OF THE BIDDING PROCESS. WE ARE NOT FOR SURE UNDERSTANDING THE
139PARTS OF THIS. IT'S BEEN A BIG QUESTION MARK. I REALLY THINK WE NEEDED MORE EDUCATION. I THINK WE NEEDED TO LEARN FROM COMPANIES, IF YOU WILL. BECAUSE WITHOUT KNOWING FULL ARENA OF SELF INSURED OR GROUP INSURED, WHICH IS A COURSE IN ITSELF, HOW ARE WE TO MAKE VERY CAREFUL DECISIONS ON SUCH AN EXPENSIVE ITEM? MY THOUGHT IS, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, YOU READ MY MIND. I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY GOOD THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND REDO AND REFINE AND REEDUCATE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT COMMENTS. WE'LL NOW TAKE MOW AND STUDENT INPUT. -- EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M.
140THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE TO ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE'RE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I BELIEVE WE ONLY HAVE ONE SPEAKER. YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME. GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND
141SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT THEY DO NOT NONTRADITIONAL SITES EVERY DAY. I FINALLY GOT TO WATCH THE JUNE 2nd BOARD MEETING, AFTER THE BUSYNESS OF CLOSING OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND ATTENDING THE PRINCIPAL TRAININGS AND FOR ME THE MAKEUP TRAININGS AND JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH TRAININGS AND INTERVIEWS AND GETTING READY TO START ESY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF A SAFE ENVIRONMENT NOT ONLY FOR MY STUDENTS BUT FOR MY STAFF AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING COMMITMENT TO OUR SITES. I AM POSITIVE THAT MY STAFF KNOWS THAT I ADVOCATE REGULARLY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY FOR ALL ON MY CAMPUS. THOUGH I CANNOT FORCE MY STAFF TO TAKE TRAINING, I ASK THAT ALL OF THEM
142TAKE SEVERAL TRAININGS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DE-ESCALATE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS WE HAVE ON OUR CAMPUS. MOST OF THE STAFF ARE TRAINED ALSO FOR CPR AND FIRST AID TO RESPOND TO SEVERE MEDICALLY FRAGILE STUDENTS. SUCH AS SEIZURES AND FEEDING CONCERNS. THERE ARE SYSTEMS IN PLACE AND WE TRAIN REGULARLY TO PRACTICE RESPONSE TO BOTH MEDICAL SITUATIONS AND BEHAVIORAL SITUATIONS. MY STUDENT SERVICES TEAM IS NOT ONLY THERE TO PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BUT THEY ALSO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AS WELL. I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE STAFF AT LOPEZ WILL STAY AT LOPEZ BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE OF CARE THAT I KNOW I PROVIDE. I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AS SAFE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE, BUT I ALSO DO WANT TO THANK MR. FARKAS TONIGHT INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR SOMETHING, I HAVE THREE
143ACCORDION WALLS REMOVED LAST WEEK AND THEY ARE GETTING READY TO ACTUALLY PUT UP SOLID WALLS SO THAT MY STUDENTS CANNOT JUMP BETWEEN CLASSROOMS. WHILE IN A GEN ED SCHOOL, IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL, IT IS A HUGE DEAL ON MY CAMPUS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IS A STEP IN ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY FROM ALL OF YOU. I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF ATTENDING TONIGHT TO SAY THANK YOU. I ALSO WROTE THIS LETTER TO YOU TO THANK YOU. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION THAT SOME OF THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN THAT I'VE ASKED FOR. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. ALL RIGHT. SEEING THAT TWO AGENDA TO MAKE SURE HAVE
144BEEN PULLED, WE WILL MOVE ON TO 4.04, INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR KELLY SERVICES, INC. FOR THE 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM WITH KELLY SERVICES. THE PROPOSED COST FOR OUR 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR IS TO INCREASE AND SPEND AS A RESULT OF ADDING SPECIFIC ESE, SUBSTITUTES, INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE IN OCTOBER 2025, MORE SUBSTITUTE THROUGH KELLY INSTEAD OF OTHER CONTRACTORS AND PEDIATRIC THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. SUBSTITUTE POSITIONS ARE NEW POSSIBILITIES SINCE THE PREVIOUS RFP IN 2020. BUDGETED DUE TO NUMBER OF INSTRUCTIONAL AND PARAPROFESSIONAL VACANCIES, INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES, BUILDING SUBSTITUTES, LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE, OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. APPROXIMATELY 50% OF SUBSTITUTES USED ARE TO FILL OPEN POSITIONS. IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE SUBSTITUTES FOR THE EXISTING SCHOOL YEAR AND FOR THE SUMMER LEARNING
145PROGRAM. THIS ALSO ASSISTS WITH RECRUITMENT AS 3,866 SUBSTITUTES HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO EMPLOYEES OF HILLSBOROUGH OF HCPS. THAT'S 4.04, KELLY SERVICES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 4.04. I HAVE A MOTION BY DR. HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I THINK KELLY SERVICES HAS WORKED VERY HARD. I SEE THEIR FILL RATE HAS REALLY IMPROVED. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS REALLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT RFPs TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT NEXT YEAR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE THIS YEAR, BUT TO GO OUT FOR RFP, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY ORGANIZATION SHOULD FEEL LIKE
146THEY ARE GUARANTEED TO KIND OF HAVE THAT EVERY YEAR THAT IT WILL GET THERE. THE OTHER THING THAT I GUESS IS ALARMING, DISAPPOINTING TO ME, WHEN I LOOK AT 2022 AND I LOOK AT THAT WE SPEND $16 MILLION ON KELLY SERVICES AND THEN I LOOK AT 2025 AND I LOOK AT $50 MILLION, THAT TELLS ME ONE THING, AND THEN I'M LOOKING AT ANOTHER CONTRACT TODAY FOR TEACHING FOR AMERICA. LAST WEEK YOU GAVE ME EPS CONTRACT. YOU'RE GETTING TEACHERS FROM EVERYWHERE EXCEPT WHERE YOU SHOULD BE GETTING THEM FROM WHICH IS THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION OR GETTING CERTIFIED TEACHERS. I THINK IT'S REALLY SAD WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR NATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, WE ARE 50th. WE CAN BE DISTRACTED WITH ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
147FACTS. THE FACTS ARE WE WENT FROM $16 MILLION FOR LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTES TO $50 MILLION BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT ENTERING EDUCATION IN FLORIDA AND ALTHOUGH IT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY, IT'S HAPPENING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN FLORIDA. I WAS JUST LOOKING YESTERDAY, WE ARE NOW $12,000 BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR TEACHERS. AS WE ARE 50th, WE CONTINUE GOING, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FURTHER WE CAN GO. MAYBE WE CAN GO INTO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY GETTING SALARIES LIKE THAT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK IT IS DISCERNING FOR ME. I WANT TO GO OUT FOR RFP BUT DISCERNING THAT WE KEEP LOOKING FOR TEACHERS AND WE'RE NOT FINDING TEACHERS. FOR PEOPLE TO THINK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO -- LET'S SAY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THEY CREATE THIS IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IF SCHOOLS ARE NOT BAD, WE CREATE
148A SCHOOL THAT HELPS YOU. GUESS WHAT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED TO BE A TEACHER THERE. LET'S MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE FACTS STRAIGHT. WHILE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS ARE HAPPENING, WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN OUR NATION IS WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON EDUCATION OR THE PRIORITY OF EDUCATION. WE'RE FUNDED 50th IN THE NATION. VACANCIES ARE AT THE 50th. S.A.T.s ARE 50th. ALL CORRELATIONS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. INTERESTING THAT YOU SAID THE LOW PAY OF OUR TEACHERS. IF YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, OUR BUS DRIVERS GET PAID MORE THAN NURSES IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSES -- LET'S GET INTO SOMETHING ELSE FIRST. THE ESE, THE SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, KELLY SERVICES IS BRANCHING OUT INTO AREAS THEY HAVE NOT BRANCHED OUT TO
149BEFORE. UNDERSTAND THERE IS A POSSIBLE SAVINGS OF MONEY THAT IS A MOTIVATION. BUT I HAVE TO SAY, MY FEAR, THAT IS SLIPPERY SLOPE. BECAUSE WHAT I FEAR IS THAT ALL THESE AGENCIES -- AND I THINK WE'RE UP TO 8, MAYBE MORE AGENCIES, AND NOW WE'RE ADDING KELLY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE COMPLETELY FOLLOWING THE FLORIDA STATUTES IN COMPLIANCE? WHEN WE DEAL WITH HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MET. NOW, YOU GET EXPERTS THAT AREN'T EXPERTS MORE AND MORE IN OUR SCHOOLS -- I'M NOT TALKING AT YOU, DR. PATTON, BUT I FEAR THAT THE FIDELITY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING COMPROMISED BECAUSE THESE AGENCIES, THEY ARE NOT -- I'LL ASK YOU ABOUT THE TRAINING BECAUSE ESE IS BIG-TIME TRAINING, AND SO IS SPEECH PATHOLOGY. WE'RE TALKING MASTER
150DEGREES ON MANY OF THOSE. NOW YOU HAVE KELLY SUBSTITUTES COMING IN. COMPLIANCE IS ONE FEAR. THE OTHER FEAR I HAVE IS IF WE DON'T DO SOME TYPE OF SALARY STUDY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT $3 MORE PER HOUR FOR AN LPN AND RN -- THAT WILL SUBTRACT THE NEED FOR AGENCIES BECAUSE SUDDENLY NOW WE'RE EVEN. WHAT IS MORE FIDUCIARILY RESPONSIBLE? GET MORE AGENCIES THAT ARE NOT TRAINED -- YOU'LL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT TRAINING. MOST OF US ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED HERE. TRAINING FOR ESE AND TRAINING FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGY, WHOLE LOT OF STUFF. WHEN ARE WE -- I'LL ASK OUR CFO MR. LEWIS TO DO AN AUDIT, A STUDY ON THE PAY DIFFERENTIAL THAT IS NEEDED TO RAISE THE SALARY TO BE EQUAL SO WE DON'T NEED ALL THESE AGENCIES. NOW, THAT'S MY BIG SPIEL AT THE MOMENT. BUT
151BACK TO THE QUESTION, WHAT TRAINING IS KELLY GOING TO HAVE -- I MEAN WE HAVE SUBSTITUTES, SUBSTITUTES, OKAY. SPECIFICALLY AN ESE AND SPECIFICALLY IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AS I SEE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM AND OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SPEECH THERAPIST. MR. HORSEMAN. THE TRAINING WE HAVE FROM KELLY, WHEN WE DECIDED TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE I DO WANT TO SHARE WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, THE PROGRAM WAS TO GET LONG-TERM SUBS. WE EXPANDED IT TO REQUEST ESE. WE ONLY ASKED THAT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE CERTIFIED. FOR US TO VERIFY WHAT THAT REQUIREMENT WAS, WE SET DOWN WITH SHANNON AND SAID, BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR EXPERTISE, TELL US WHAT'S NEEDED. WE ALSO HAVE A PERSON FROM HER TEAM THAT WORKS WITH HR TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE THAT DOES ESE IS CERTIFIED. THAT PERSON ALSO WORKS
152WITH KELLY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BRINGING INDIVIDUALS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA TO BE ESE CERTIFIED BASED OFF WHAT SHANNON LESPERANCE SHARED WITH US BECAUSE THAT IS HIS EXPERTISE. WE CAN GET YOU A COPY OF THOSE THOSE THINGS ENTAIL. WE DID VALIDATE BEFORE WE STARTED TO BRING INDIVIDUALS IN, ARE THEY MEETING THE CRITERIA THAT SHE WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH BEFORE THEY ARE ACTUALLY SENT OUT TO THE SITE. WE ALSO WENT ONE STEP FURTHER. WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE SOMEONE COME, WE DON'T JUST SAY YOU'RE GOING TO ESE. WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE KELLY TALK WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO FIND OUT WHAT AREA OF ESE ARE YOU TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN? FOR EXAMPLE, ARE YOU USED TO WORKING WITH ACCESS POINTS? VE? SO THEY UNDERSTAND IT -- ESE IS NOT ONE BIG UMBRELLA
153OF ONE THING, BUT IT CAN BE A VARIATION OF THINGS TO ENSURE THAT PERSON IS PREPARED TO GO ON THAT SITE AND WORK WITH THOSE STUDENTS AT THAT SITE FOR THAT SPECIFIC AREA. MR. HORSTMAN. IN ADDITION TO DR. PAT TOPPE'S COMMENTS, THEY ARE ALL REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED AS WELL. THAT'S PART OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE ASKED KELLY TO PROVIDE US WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THAT BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL PROVIDE THE TRAININGS THAT THEY ARE GIVING ALL OF THEIR ESE TEACHERS, REGULAR TEACHERS. IT IS VOLUMES, BUT WE WILL GLADLY FORWARD THAT ON TO YOU. Lynn Gray: IF THEY ARE CERTIFIED, WHY AREN'T THEY WORKING FOR OUR DISTRICT? WHY ARE THEY WORKING FOR KELLY SERVICES? I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHERE THEY WOULD GET MORE OF AN INCOME. MANY TIMES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR I'LL CALL IT
154A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE. THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK FULL-TIME. MANY OF THEM ARE RETIRED. THEY WANT TO TAKE ON MAYBE A THREE-MONTH POSITION WHERE SOMEBODY IS OUT ON MATERNITY LEAVE OR HEALTH LEAVE, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. JUST THE FLEXIBILITY OF A SCHEDULE. Lynn Gray: WHEN WE SAY THAT THEY ARE CERTIFIED, WHICH RELIEVES A LOT OF US, SHOULD, A LOT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS I KNOW ARE PROBABLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT. WE KNOW THEY HAVE BACKGROUND. AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO WHY ARE WE NOT PAYING THESE FOLKS A SALARY SO THEY CAN, NOT THOSE PARTICULAR ONES, BUT WHY ARE WE NOT RAISING THE PAY SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND ATTRACT THE FULL-TIME ONES. THAT'S NOT -- THAT IS A QUESTION THAT YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO ANSWER BUT THAT IS THE QUESTION I HAVE AS WELL.
155THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE THAT WE KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF WITH CERTIFIED BACKGROUND CHECKED, ET CETERA, THERAPISTS AND TEACHERS. BY THE WAY, REMARKABLE KELLY SERVICES, THIS IS JUST FOR THEM TO HEAR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS. THEY HAVE ALWAYS PARTNERED WELL WITH OUR DISTRICT AND I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO BE IMPROVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS COMING TO THE AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE WE ARE UP FROM OUR CONTRACT AND RENEW FOR A YEAR. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THERE'S NO CONTRACT ATTACHED SO NOTHING FOR ME TO REALLY APPROVE. THAT
156IS MY FIRST CONCERN. WHERE DID IT SAY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO FOR ANOTHER YEAR. NEXT QUESTION, WHEN WAS THE LAST CONTRACT SIGNED BY KELLY SERVICES? THE LAST TIME WE WENT OUT FOR RFP WAS IN 2020. SO FIVE YEARS, FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. IT WAS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH TWO, TWO-YEAR EXTENSIONS. Patti Rendon: ALSO I BELIEVE YOU SAID 3100 TEACHERS EMPLOYED AND THAT WAS OVER A COURSE OF HOW MUCH TIME? SINCE 2014. THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, SINCE AUGUST OF 2024, WE'VE HIRED AWAY FROM THEM 348 TEACHERS. Patti Rendon: I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OVER THE COURSE OF TEN YEARS, BROUGHT IN OPENINGS OF 3,800 OPENINGS, EXCEPT I DO REMEMBER BACK IN 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAD ALMOST 3,000 OPENINGS. OVER THE COURSE OF TEN YEARS, IT'S KIND OF RELATIVE ON WHAT THEY
157HAVE ASSISTED WITH. I HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS WORKING WITH KELLY SERVICES. I SEE THE EXPERIENCE SHE WENT THROUGH. SHE HASN'T BEEN FOLLOWED UP WITH KELLY. SHE HASN'T BEEN OFFERED OTHER THINGS. THERE IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR HER TO TAKE ON FULL-TIME POSITION. THAT CONCERNS ME SINCE I WALKED THIS WALK WITH HER THIS YEAR. SHE HAS APPRECIATED THE SCHOOL ITSELF THAT SHE HAS GONE TO WORK FOR HAVE BEEN VERY ORGANIZED, VERY ATTENTIVE. THE PRINCIPALS HAVE EVERYTHING READY FOR HER TO GO. AS FAR AS ASSISTANCE FROM KELLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT. KNOWING THAT IT IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE, SUPERINTENDENT, THAT WE WOULD KNOW THIS CONTRACT WAS COMING UP THAT WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO OUT FOR BID, TO AUTOMATICALLY RENEW IT.
158THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS, WE MENTIONED THIS ON THE BOARD SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE THAT WE DON'T LIKE THE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND THERE ARE OTHER COMPETITORS OUT THERE. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA IF WE'RE GETTING THE BEST OPTIONS. WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT IS THE BEST PERCENTAGE THEY ARE WORKING WITH IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HIRE THOSE TEACHERS. WE SHOULD AS A DISTRICT BE MORE CREATIVE IN TRYING TO BE THE STAFF HIRED ON, WHETHER IT'S JUST FOR THREE MONTHS AS AN EMPLOYEE. WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THAT. IT IS A LIABILITY TO OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE NOT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEN THE LIABILITY IF THEY ARE HURT OR SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE TAKE THAT ABILITY FOR THEM TO CONTACT BECAUSE
159OF THAT. WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE EMPLOYEES OVER CONTRACTED STAFF BECAUSE IT PROTECTS OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS IT PROTECTS US. SO WE HAVE MORE CONTROL OF WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE, WHAT ACTIONS THEY ARE GOING TO DO, WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO PERFORM ON CAMPUS. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS. I LET HR KNOW THAT AHEAD OF TIME. BECAUSE WITH KNOWING YOU HAVE A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT THAT SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A YEAR TO GO AFTER RFP, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE AS PROFESSIONALS, IT WOULD BE LIKE SAYING I KNOW I START SCHOOL IN AUGUST BUT I DIDN'T GET MY SCHOOL CLOTHES IN TIME. WE KNOW WHEN IT WILL COME. A YEAR IS PLENTY OF TIME TO GET AN RFP. KNOWING YOU HAVE A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, IT SHOULD BE ON
160YOUR CALENDAR. IT'S WHAT WE REQUIRE OUR STUDENTS TO DO. IT'S WHAT WE SHOULD REQUIRE OUR STAFF TO DO. WITHOUT SEEING THE CONTRACT BECAUSE IT'S FIVE YEARS AGO, I WASN'T ON THE BOARD. LET'S MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M APPROVING IF I APPROVE IT. B, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CONTRACT GAVE ME AN ADDITIONAL YEAR BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT. C, AFTER FIVE YEARS, WE SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY GONE AFTER AN RFP BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE. I CAN'T APPROVE THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF RECURRING CONTRACTS. THAT'S WHY I RARELY APPROVE THEM. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST ONES I APPROVED EARLY ON ON THE BOARD.
161I DID PULL THE OLD CONTRACT SO I KNEW IT WAS JUST A RENEWAL. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'M EVER INTERESTED IN PULLING BACK IN-HOUSE, BUT I DO THINK IT IS DEFINITELY TIME WE TALK ABOUT DOING AN RFP THIS FALL. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. I THINK THE BIGGER PICTURE, AS MEMBER COMBS SAID, IS REALLY BUILDING TEACHER PIPELINES. WE HAVE MULTIPLE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND OUR AREA. WE HAVE TO STOP THINKING THAT JUST BECAUSE WE OFFER INTERNSHIPS THAT IS A TEACHER PIPELINE. THAT'S NOT A TEACHER PIPELINE. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH A LOT OF THESE MOUs AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. WE'RE PROVIDING INTERNSHIPS. I THINK THAT BUILDING SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS IS WHAT CREATES TEACHER PIPELINES WHICH, OF COURSE, INCLUDES INTERNSHIPS AND PRACTICUMS, BUT IT ALSO MAKES SURE
162THAT THE CURRICULUM BEING TAUGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY ALIGNS WHAT WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO KNOW WHEN THEY COME IN SO THEY CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. HE THEY TEACHING U FLY WITHIN THEIR COURSE WORK. ARE THEY TEACHING DIBBLES IN COURSE WORK AT DIFFERENT COLLEGE OF ED? NOT JUST USF, ST. LEO, ST. PETE COLLEGE. I KNOW WE USED TO HAVE AN MOU WITH FAMU BECAUSE WE WANT TO DIVERSIFY OUR TEACHER WORKFORCE. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE SHOULD BE GOING AFTER. INCLUDING, THIS IS A PATHWAY TO GETTING TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT, KELLY SERVICES. BUT TEACHER PIPELINES ARE SO IMPORTANT. ARE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES OF ED AND COLLEGES AROUND THIS AREA TEACHING COURSES ON TEACHING IN URBAN SCHOOLS. A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS SIT IN THE URBAN CORE. OUR JOB IN CREATING THE TEACHER PIPELINES
163IS ENSURING THAT TEACHERS WHO ARE COMING OUT OF OUR LOCAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS ARE READY TO TEACH IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE ALSO SHOULD BE SENDING GUEST SPEAKERS INTO THE CLASSROOMS TO TALK ABOUT CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE TEACHING AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES THAT WE'RE USING. WE SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO VISIT OUR SCHOOLS IF THEY WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, TO GET CONNECTED. SO BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE FROM WHATEVER COLLEGE OF ED THEY ARE IN, THEY ALREADY FEEL A PART OF OUR DISTRICT. WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION MANY TIMES. I'VE HAD THIS IN MY ONE-ON-ONES MANY TIMES. WE CAN EVEN GO OUTSIDE OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, RECRUIT FROM COLLEGES OF BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING WHO HAVE THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE FROM MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS AND WE JUST BRING THEM -- WE TEACH THEM THE PEDAGOGY ON
164HOW TO TEACH THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO WE DON'T ALWAYS -- WE NEED TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGES OF ED TOO. WE HAVE USF, WE COULD TAP INTO THEIR BUSINESS COLLEGE AND THEIR ENGINEERING COLLEGE AND ARTS AND SCIENCES FOR TEACHERS AS WELL. BUT ALL OF THAT ISN'T JUST PUTTING UP A FLYER. IT'S BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS. I WANT TO END MY REMARKS JUST BY TALKING ABOUT PASCO COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THEY HAVE A PROGRAM, AND THEY'VE HAD IT SINCE BEFORE I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE I PARTNERED WITH THEM THROUGH THE CENTER AT USF AND COLLEGE OF ED TO BUILD A PIPELINE FROM THEM INTO THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. AND THEY HAVE TEACHER ACADEMIES. NOT JUST TEACHER ACADEMY CLUBS, BUT ACTUAL CTE PROGRAMS IN A TEACHER ACADEMY. I JUST WANT TO READ YOU
165SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR TEACHER ACADEMIES THAT I STRONGLY AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SIX YEARS AND IT'S NOT GOTTEN TRACTION, WE NEED TO START DOING HERE. THE DEPARTMENT OF ED, CAREER AND TECH ED PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK AND STANDARDS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM. IT'S ABOUT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, DEVELOPING FUTURE TEACHERS WHILE SERVING THE COMMUNITY PROVIDES A POWERFUL PLATFORM TO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHERS. STUDENTS ENROLL IN TEACHING CLASSES BECAUSE CURIOSITY BUT THEY STAY BECAUSE THE APPROACH IS UNIQUE IN THESE ACADEMIES. STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE NEW TEACHER ACADEMY WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH A MENTOR FROM PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS TO WORK WITH THEM THROUGH THEIR COLLEGE YEARS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. INCENTIVES WILL BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS WHO RETURN TO PASCO TO COMPLETE FINAL INTERNSHIP AND JOIN OUR TEAM AS A NEW TEACHER. IT IS PART OF
166THEIR CHOICE PROGRAM. THESE ARE TEACHER PIPELINES. I'M NOT REALLY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE DOING MUCH MORE THAN INTERNSHIPS. WHICH IS THE LOWEST BAR. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: NO SURPRISE I HAVE ISSUE WITH KELLY. ALWAYS HAD ISSUE WITH KELLY SINCE I STARTED ON THE BOARD. YOU HAVE HERE THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE FILL RATE OF 10%. 10% OF WHAT? OF THE VACANCIES AND ABSENCES OF OUR TEACHERS. Karen Perez: IS THERE A NUMBER? YES, BUT I DON'T HAVE IT. ROUGHLY 7,000 I BELIEVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE 7,000 DAYS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. Karen Perez: BECAUSE I THINK I SPOKE WITH DR. PATTON THAT I TRIED TO CALL KELLY SERVICES WITH SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND NOBODY ANSWERED THE PHONE. AM I CORRECT? NOBODY ANSWERED. SHE GAVE ME THE EXTENSION. I TRIED
167THAT AND NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. TO MEMBER RENDON'S POINT AND TO TODAY, I THINK THAT WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, TODAY, NOBODY HAS RETURNED A CALL FOR THE MESSAGE I HAVE LEFT. AND BETWEEN 22 TO 25, THEIR COSTS HAVE GONE UP TO 3,322,257. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE BOARD I ASKED FOR A WORKSHOP, RIGHT, FOR KELLY SERVICES. I UNDERSTAND THAT KELLY SERVICES HAS A GREAT IDEA WITH FILLING, BUT WE ARE NOW IN 2025. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER SERVICES LIKE KELLY SERVICES WHO HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES, THE SAME TRAININGS THAT TEACHERS ARE GOING TO INSTEAD OF KELLY SERVICES. TO SUPPORT THEM WITH FILLING SPACES. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH KELLY SERVICES IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF OUR RENAISSANCE SCHOOLS THAT REALLY NEEDED THE SUPPORTS AND DIDN'T HAVE THOSE
168SUPPORTS. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET KELLY SERVICES SUBSTITUTES IN THOSE SCHOOLS. AND THAT'S AN ISSUE I HAVE ALSO WITH KELLY SERVICES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FIVE YEARS WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT OTHER AGENCIES TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND WE'VE WAITED UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO LOOK AT THESE. TO BE HONEST. I'M ALSO GOING TO DISSENT ON THIS VOTE. I FEEL THAT KELLY SERVICES FEELS LIKE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES FOR US, BUT THERE ARE OTHER SERVICES OUT THERE THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING KELLY SERVICES DOES, BUT POSSIBLY AT A BETTER RATE. MY NO IS WHEN I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CALL KELLY SERVICES FOR THIS POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND I HAVE YET TO GET A CALL BACK. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. QUICK
169QUESTION. WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR RECRUITING PEOPLE? SHORT ANSWER IS WE'VE HOSTED AND ATTENDED HIRING EVENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY, THIS WASN'T INSTRUCTIONAL, BUT TODAY WE HAD OUR APPLICATION TUESDAY WHICH WE HOLD ONCE A MONTH AT THE ISC BUILDING AND ALSO A HIRING EVENT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, INSTRUCTIONAL NOW, WE OBVIOUSLY RECRUIT OUR INTERNS. WE GO TO THE UNIVERSITIES WHEN THEY HAVE, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT EACH ONE CALLS IT, BUT CALL IT A CAREER DAY, TRYING TO CONNECT WITH BUSINESS MAJORS, MATH MAJORS, SCIENCE MAJORS OF THE VARIOUS TYPES THAT WERE NOT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE TRY TO RECRUIT MILITARY FAMILIES. NOT JUST SOMEBODY IN THE MILITARY LOOKING TO RETIRE OR RETIRE SOON, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HOLDING CERTIFICATION OR COULD ALL OF THESE OBTAIN CERTIFICATION. Henry "Shake" Washington:
170GOT TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF BONE TO GET THEM IN. WHEN WE ARE RECRUITING, DO WE TAKE EXTRA PEOPLE WITH US, MAYBE YOUNG TEACHERS? THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SO THEY CAN TELL A LITTLE STORY. WE HAVE NOT. GREAT IDEA. HOPE, IF DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, GET PERMISSION FROM THE PRINCIPAL TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM STAFF JOIN US. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOUNG TEACHER CAME, IN ENTERED TO DO THAT. SOME KIND OF WAY HE PUT A LIGHT IN MY HEAD TO DO IT. I DID IT FOR 42 YEARS AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. HAVE SOME PEOPLE COME OUT. HAVE SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE COME OUT AND RECRUIT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD HELP YOU. MAKE SURE YOU GO THROUGH THE PIPELINE THAT DR. HAHN SAID THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. WHEN I CAME ON BOARD AND SAT DOWN WITH THE
171TEAM, I DID SAY WE DID NOT HAVE A BRAND. THERE WAS NO BRAND FOR RECRUITMENT. WE POSTED THE POSITION. THE MORE THAN JUST JOB CAMPAIGN WHICH I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN HAS BEEN REMARKABLE FOR US. IT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR US TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT WAS USUALLY WORD OF MOUTH. TOO MANY COMPETITORS. MORE THAN JOB OF WORKING WITH COMMUNICATIONS TO SAY HOW CAN WE BRAND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SO WE CAN SAY TO PEOPLE TO COME AND NOT MAKE IT I COMING BECAUSE OF THIS, MORE THAN A JOB, CHANGING LIVES. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE CAMPAIGN AND LOCATIONS, VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH THAT. ALSO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA AND GEOFENCING WHERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, I THINK OLDER PEOPLE, TOO, THEY PREFER TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO LOOK FOR
172JOBS. NOT TRADITIONAL THAT THEY WALK IN OFF THE STREET. THEY WANT TO GO ONLINE, Facebook, PICK UP THE PHONE AND USE MOBILE DEVICES. WE TOOK THE APPLICATION AND MADE IT MOBILE. ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS, AS WELL AS GEOFENCING. THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE DISTRICT AND BE INTERESTED IN OPPORTUNITY AND THROUGH A QR CODE, GO IN AND SIGN UP AND MOVE INTO BEING A PART OF THE DISTRICT. WE'RE USING DIFFERENT METHODS IN ORDER FOR US TO RECRUIT, NOT JUST THROUGH TRADITIONAL OF WHERE WE ARE GOING TO EVENTS AND HOPING THAT INDIVIDUALS COME. WE ALSO ARE PARTNERING WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND AGAIN THE CURRICULUM. HOW WE CHANGE THE CURRICULUM AT THE UNIVERSITIES. VERY PROUD OF THIS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE CABINET
173AND SAID IT'S EVERYBODY'S JOB TO RECRUIT. IT'S NOT JUST HR. I THINK THAT IS A CONFUSION, HR SUPPOSED TO HAVE MAGIC DUST WE THROW IT UP IN THE AIR AND EVERYBODY COMES. THE SUPERINTENDENT MADE IT A PRIORITY. IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE OUR CABINET MEETINGS, ONE OF OUR FIRST PRIORITIES, TO FIND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE AND RECRUIT. AT THIS TIME, YOU POINTED OUT THE CHALLENGE, MEMBER COMBS, THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS TO ENSURE WE DO HAVE A TEACHER IN FRONT OF A STUDENT. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU HAVE TO KEEP WORKING HARD. RECRUITING IS VERY HARD. YOU'RE WORKING, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: REAL QUICK, TO MEMBER HAHN'S POINT, WE DID HAVE
174TEACHER ACADEMIES. HAD IT AT BLAKE, JEFFERSON. I THINK OVER SEVEN OR EIGHT SITES THAT WE ABSOLUTELY TRAINED THOSE STUDENTS TO BECOME FUTURE TEACHERS. THAT WAS A REAL THING. MEMBER WASHINGTON REMEMBERS THAT. WE NEED TO GET INTO THE OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING. WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO WHAT REALLY DID WORK. KURT BROWNING WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE KIDS TO THAT STAGE AND GETTING THEM A CONTRACT. YOU COME BACK TO US. HERE IS A CONTRACT FOR YOU TO HAVE A FOUR-YEAR TEACHING DEGREE, WHATEVER. WE HAVE TO START GETTING AGGRESSIVE, ASSERTIVE AND NOT JUST AS MEMBER WASHINGTON SAID AND MEMBER WASHINGTON, WE DO GIVE TESTIMONIALS TO THE STUDENTS, USF STUDENTS. IT EXCITES THEM, MAKES THEM CONNECTED. ALL THE IDEAS MENTIONED FROM THE BOARD, WE HAVE TO START DOING THEM. WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON TECHNOLOGY.
175TEACHING IS A NURTURING, TACTICAL KINESTHETIC, NOT ONE YOU PRESS BUTTONS AND GET PEOPLE EXCITED. YOU HAVE TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF THE ACTUAL WILL-BES OR WOULD-BES TO GET THEM INTO NOT ONLY TEACHING BUT GET THEM INTO OUR DISTRICT. IT IS A COMPETITIVE WORLD WITH GETTING TEACHERS. IF WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE AND SHARP AND QUICK, THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT. I WOULD SUGGEST, DR. PATTON, DEEP, UTMOST RESPECT, THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND ALSO REFER -- I KNOW SHAY McRAE REMEMBERS THOSE TEACHING ACADEMIES, HAVE THEM GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE DID BEFORE, AND IT WORKED. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. Van Ayres: YOU'RE REFERRING TO OUR URBAN TEACHING ACADEMIES. 10, 15 YEARS AGO. PART OF THE PROGRAM WAS IF YOU WENT THROUGH THE URBAN TEACHER ACADEMY AND YOU SIGNED THAT YOU
176WOULD ULTIMATELY -- MAKE SURE I GET THIS RIGHT -- WOULD YOU ULTIMATELY COME BACK TO BE A TEACHER FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YOUR COLLEGE TUITION WOULD BE PAID FOR. [INAUDIBLE] Van Ayres: GOOD IDEA AND SOME ISSUES WITH THAT AND ULTIMATELY ENROLLMENT AND WE GOT TO A POINT PROBABLY SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO WHERE THE URBAN TEACHER ACADEMIES, THE ENROLLMENT, THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN. THE PROGRAMS WERE CUT. THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT. THERE'S NO DOUBT WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. WE DON'T HAVE CONTRACTS LIKE THIS THROUGH KELLY WHERE WE FILL TEACHER VACANCIES. WE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. Lynn Gray: IMPROVE THAT SYSTEM. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK, FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE IT, REFINE IT AND MAKE IT RELEVANT. 230 TEACHERS SHORT IS IN OUR FACE. THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME
177TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: ONE LAST COMMENT. LISTEN, I LOVE ALL THE UNIVERSITIES, ALL THE COLLEGES IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AREA. I THINK UT IS GREAT. I HAVE TO GIVE A PLUG FOR USF BECAUSE THE NEW USF DEAN AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS A LOT FOR YEARS, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GETTING A MINOR IN EDUCATION. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE WALK OUT WITH A DEGREE IN HISTORY, DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY. MANY OF YOU HAVE KIDS AND THEY WALK OUT WITH LOTS OF DEGREES AND A LOT OF TIMES NO JOBS. THEY DID CREATE THIS ONE YEAR PROGRAM TO GET A MINOR IN EDUCATION. I THINK THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. VERY NEW. CUTTING EDGE. I THINK GOING OUT TO THE COLLEGE OF ARTS, ALL THOSE PLACES
178WHERE PEOPLE WALK OUT, THEY GRADUATE AND THEN THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A JOB, MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN BECOME A TEACHER. BUT THIS IS GREAT. LIKE FIVE COURSES. THE REAL CORE WORK, MEASUREMENT, BEHAVIOR, ESE, CORE THINGS THAT WILL HELP THEM. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROMOTING THAT. ONE YEAR PROGRAM THAT SOMEBODY COULD WALK OUT AND MAKE OVER $50,000. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MOVE THE LIFESTYLE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER IN HER 20s. WHEN I ASK KIDS ALL THE TIME, DO THEY WANT TO BE TEACHERS, 90% OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE EDUCATORS, THEY ARE ALL GOING INTO NURSING. THAT'S JUST A FACT. PEOPLE WHO ARE CARETAKERS WHO LOVE PEOPLE, WHO WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, THEY ARE GOING INTO NURSING BECAUSE IT IS OFFERING MORE
179MONEY AND MORE FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE TO JUST SHOW WHAT A GREAT JOB AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN MAKE AND REALLY BE PUSHING THESE MINORS. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THAT'S ALL I WAS GOING TO SAY, THAT USF PLUG. Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE BEEN WAITING VERY PATIENTLY TO MAKE MY COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. WHY IS THERE NOTHING ATTACHED TO THIS? IT'S NOT. THIS IS A PIGGYBACK TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY. NOT APPROVING A NEW CONTRACT. WE'RE EXPANDING IT. IS THAT WHY NO CONTRACT? ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR MORE MONEY? Van Ayres: THIS IS A REOCCURRING CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. THE AGENDA ITEM IS AN INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN COST FOR MINIMUM WAGE AND THINGS OUTLINED. IT IS WITH THE SAME CONTRACT, BUT THIS IS
180THE LAST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT AND IT IS AN INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR THIS ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE. MOVING FORWARD, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT STAFF HAS ALL THESE CONTRACTS UPLOADED AND ATTACHED SO THERE'S MORE CLARITY FOR YOU AS YOU GO AND MAKE THAT VOTE. Jessica Vaughn: THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN QUOTED WE CURRENTLY HAVE 600 LONG-TERM SUBS. YES. Jessica Vaughn: I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THIS BECAUSE, ONE, I WORK FOR KELLY SUBS FOR SIX YEARS. I ALSO WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT AS IN-HOUSE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. I ALSO HAD MY SON WITH A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR THREE TO FOUR MONTHS THIS YEAR. I AGREE WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT DR. HAHN HAS SAID. I LOVE HER PASSION AND VISION FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WHERE WE DISAGREE IS I
181DO HAVE AN APPETITE TO BRING THIS BACK IN HOUSE. I'LL EXPLAIN WHY. MY CONCERN IS WHEN WE'RE OUTSOURCING THE EMPLOYEES, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE NOM TO HELP TRANSITION THE EMPLOYEES TO OUR DISTRICT LONG TERM. THEN AGAIN WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DIRECTLY COMPETING WITH THE EMPLOYEES THEY HAVE TO OFFER US. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A BARRIER TO BEING ABLE TO -- WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM KELLY IS INFORMATION TO THE SUBSTITUTE LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS ON WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO JOIN THE DISTRICT. WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE LIKE. IF THEY COULD TAKE A YEAR COLLEGE CLASS, WHAT THE CERTIFICATIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND CONCERTED EFFORT TO HELP TRANSITION THEM IF THEY ARE LONG-TERM SUBS. MANY IF THEY ARE DOING THE WORK, SHOWING UP EVERY DAY, PUTTING IN THOSE HOURS WOULD
182LIKE TO GET PAID WHAT A CLASSROOM TEACHER GETS PAID. I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON DON'T WANT TO TRANSITION TO US BUT I FEEL IT IS A LACK OF INFORMATION. I THINK AS LONG AS KELLY NEEDS THEIR WORKFORCE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE TRUE PARTNERS WITH US TO TRANSITION THOSE EMPLOYEES TO BE A PART OF US. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SUBS THAT WE GET AS WELL AS THE TRAINING AND NOT JUST THE TRAINING, BUT THE ACCESS TO SUPPORT MATERIALS. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WITH MY OWN EXPERIENCE, THE ONLY SUPPORT THAT THEY GET IS FROM A DEPARTMENT HEAD WHO MAY ALREADY BE OVERWORKED WHO HAS TO THEN GIVE THEM THE PRINTOUTS OR THE CRITERIA THAT THEY NEED OR A LESSON PLAN THAT MIGHT BE LEFT TO THEM FROM THE
183CLASSROOM TEACHER. IF THEY RUN OUT OF THAT, THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE TO OFFER OUR STUDENTS. AGAIN, MY SON SAT IN A CLASSROOM WITH HANDOUTS FOR THREE MONTHS THAT WEREN'T EVEN THE SAME PACING SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSING AND STUDYING WHAT HE NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR STANDARDIZED TESTING. I'M LUCKY. MY SON WAS SUCCESSFUL ANYWAY. HOW MANY STUDENTS OUT THERE NEED THAT EXTRA SUPPORT? I COULD GO ON. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I DON'T KNOW, 20 MINUTES AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW MY CONCERNS WITH KELLY STAFFING. I THINK ASIDE FROM GOING OUT FOR COMPETITORS, RFP, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE BRINGING IT BACK IN-HOUSE, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND CREATING THAT PIPELINE BETWEEN US. IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF COST, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I WILL ALSO VOTE NO ON THIS
184ITEM. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH THAT. MEMBER RENDON -- DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK BEFORE MEMBER RENDON? THEN MR. PORTER. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO CONTRACT HERE, THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW OTHER THAN YOU SAID, ANYONE SAID THAT IT WAS FIVE YEARS WITH AN OPTION OF ONE. IT'S JUST THE FACTS THAT WITHOUT BEING ON THE BOARD FIVE YEARS AGO AND GREAT YOU REMEMBER THAT, I'M GOING OFF YOU GUYS SAYING IT IS AN OPTION OF A YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE INCREASING BY ONLY SO MANY DOLLARS. WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR US TO EVEN KNOW, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE FIVE YEARS WITH AN OPTION FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS OVER, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BROUGHT IT TO US
185TO EXTEND THAT YEAR. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE EXTENDING IT. THE FACT THAT YOU'RE EXTENDING IT, YOU BROUGHT IT. JUST BECAUSE IT IS AN EXTENSION OF ANOTHER, YOU KNOW THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT. YOU'RE ASKING ME TO APPROVE SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE TO READ. THERE COULD BE A CHANGE IN THAT CONTRACT WITH KELLY. I CAN'T IMAGINE OVER FIVE YEARS KELLY DOESN'T HAVE LANGUAGE CHANGE IN THEIR CONTRACT. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE HAVE TWO ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM. HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET A CONTRACT EVERY FIVE YEARS THAT YOU DON'T SEE SOME CHANGE? THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT SITTING HERE THAT YOU WANT ME TO APPROVE, WHETHER EXTENDING A YEAR, TWO YEARS OR NOT EXTENDING AT ALL SHOULD BE ATTACHED. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. Van Ayres: I DON'T DISAGREE.
186BOARD MEMBERS, MOVING FORWARD ON EVERY INCREASE OF EXPENDITURE, ANY REOCCURRING, THOSE CONTRACTS WILL BE ATTACHED MOVING FORWARD SO YOU CAN HAVE CLARITY IN THE VOTE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT UTILIZE AN EXTERNAL EITHER KELLY SERVICES OR OTHERS OUT THERE. THIS CONTRACT IS AN INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE FOR SUBSTITUTE SERVICES FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. WE UTILIZE KELLY FOR OUR SUBSTITUTES. THIS IS TO HAVE KELLY SUBS TO HAVE SUBS IN OUR CLASSROOMS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. NOW WHAT I'VE HEARD, WHICH IS TWO THINGS. ONE, THE DISTRICT, YOU ALL MADE IT VERY CLEAR WE'RE MOVING OUT FOR RFP IN THE FALL. THIS WOULD BE FOR THE ONE YEAR. BUT HEARING FROM THE CHAIR, WHAT I HEAR IS POSSIBLY IF WE WANT TO
187HAVE, WE COULD SCHEDULE AN HOUR WORKSHOP TO TALK THROUGH WHAT BRINGING IT BACK IN-HOUSE, IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD, BRINGING IT BACK IN-HOUSE. THE CHAIR WILL PUT IN A REQUEST. I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FALL THAT STAFF, THAT WE'VE GOT CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHICH WAY THE BOARD WANTS TO GO WITH THAT, EITHER EXTERNAL, INTERNAL, BUT THE CONTRACT THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS FOR SUBSTITUTE SERVICES FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOR 25-26. IN THE FALL OF 26, WE WILL GO OUT FOR RFP OR DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE WORKSHOP, WHICH DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO. BUT THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS FOR KELLY SERVICES FOR NEXT YEAR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. MR. PORTER. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. JUST TO BE CLEAR,
188SEVERAL OF YOU INDICATED YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS WHICH IS YOUR ABSOLUTE RIGHT AND THE BOARD HAS AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT NOT TO APPROVE THIS. BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I THINK YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM STAFF ABOUT WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE. JUST SO YOU VOTE WITH FULL UNDERSTANDING AND FULL KNOWLEDGE. THIS IS FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS FOR NEXT YEAR. AGAIN, SHOULD NOT IMPLY THIS IS A WAY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT VOTING, BUT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO VOTE NO IN CASE THE CONTRACT DOESN'T PASS. EITHER DR. PATTON OR THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN EXPLAIN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS CONTRACT FAILS. Stacy Hahn: I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY ABOUT NOT HAVING A CONTRACT ATTACHED. THE CONTRACT HASN'T CHANGED. THE AMOUNT D WE'RE APPROVING AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT. SORRY
189YOU DIDN'T GET A COPY OF THE CONTRACT. I PULLED THE OLD CONTRACT. I WENT ON TO THE OLD AGENDA ITEMS AND YOU CAN EASILY PULL IT. I'M SURE IF YOU REQUESTED IT AT ONE-ON-ONEs, THEY WOULD HAVE PROVIDED IT TO YOU LIKE I DID FOR ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM HERE TONIGHT. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THIS CONTRACT. THE REASON IT'S BEFORE US TONIGHT IS TO NOT APPROVE A NEW CONTRACT. IT'S TO APPROVE THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF THESE SERVICES. THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE SAME AS THEY WERE THIS YEAR, CORRECT? THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. DID YOU, DR. PAT TOPPE, WANT TO ANSWER -- PATTON WANT TO ANSWER MR. PORTER'S REQUEST? IT'S VERY CONCERNING THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THIS APPROVED BECAUSE IF IT'S
190NOT APPROVED, THEN IT MEANS THERE WILL BE NO TEACHER IN FRONT OF THESE STUDENTS WHERE WE HAVE VACANCIES BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND FIND AN AGENCY THAT WILL HELP US IN THIS SHORT OF NOTICE TO BRING INDIVIDUALS IN FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE UNDERSTAND AND WE HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE IT WAS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, WE USED THE ONE-YEAR EXTENSION. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT AN RFP, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PUTTING TEACHERS IN FRONT OF STUDENTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FAULT, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYONE THERE. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE RECRUITING ACTIVELY FOR PERMANENT TEACHERS, THE PIPELINE FOR PERMANENT TEACHERS IS NOT FULL ENOUGH THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COVER. WHEN YOU LOOK AT
191KELLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR, KELLY IS NOT JUST TO FILL VACANCIES. HALF OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IN THE MONIES THAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS FOR US TO FILL PEOPLE THAT ARE ON VACATION, THAT CALL OUT SICK, THAT ARE ON LEAVE. IT'S NOT JUST TO FILL VACANCIES. SO EVEN IF YOU SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TEACHERS GO ON VACATION, GO OUT ON MATERNITY LEAVE, THAT ARE GOING TO BE SICK, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYONE IN THE CLASSROOM TO COVER BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE A SERVICE THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO TO FIND TO FILL THAT POSITION. I'M IMPLORING AND ASKING IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER IT. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE WITH KELLY. MYSELF BEING
192NEW TO THE DISTRICT, IT'S BEEN UNDER TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. WHEN I ADDRESSED KELLY INITIALLY THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE IT. SO I DID THE THINGS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO IMPROVE IT, WHICH WAS TO INCLUDE ESE, BILINGUAL, MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE GIVING US INDIVIDUALS THAT WE KNEW THEY WERE QUALIFIED AND TRAINED. ALSO SURVEYS TO THE PRINCIPALS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY FELT ABOUT THE SERVICE. WE DID THINGS TO CHANGE THE PROGRAM AND INCREASE THE PROGRAM, HOWEVER, IF WE DECIDE THERE IS NO PROBLEM, WE WON'T HAVE TEACHERS IN FRONT OF STUDENTS. MR. HORSTMAN, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? TO PIGGY BACK ON WHAT DR. PATTON SHARED, NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS, BUT THERE'S MONTHS OF PREWORK THAT MUST BE DONE IF IT'S ANOTHER PROVIDER. SOFTWARE THAT OUR TEACHERS WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS FOR
193A DAY THAT THEY ARE OUT SICK, REQUESTING TIME OFF FOR WHATEVER REASON IT HAPPENS TO BE. AS DR. PATTON INDICATED WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT IS ALMOST OFFICIALLY OVER, APPROXIMATELY $17 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT ON JUST INDIVIDUALS MISSING TIME PAUSE THEY WERE SICK, A FAMILY MEMBER WAS SICK. THEIR CAR BATTERY WAS NOT LETTING THEM START THE CAR, WHATEVER THE REASON WAS. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LEAVE IT WITH AS WELL. Van Ayres: TO SUM THIS THING UP, WE UTILIZED KELLY SERVICES SINCE I THINK 2014 IS THE DATE. THIS IS A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION WITH THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES AND VERY CLEAR MOVING FORWARD WITH TRANSPARENCY IN CONTRACTS. TWO, WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE MOVING FORWARD WILL BE VERY CLEAR, STAFF WILL BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH RFP DEPENDING ON CHAIR VAUGHN AND THE WORKSHOP
194IF WE WANT TO TALK THROUGH WHAT IN-HOUSE LOOKS LIKE VERSUS GOING OUT FOR RFP, WE CAN DO THAT. THE AGENDA ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO HAVE KELLY FOR ONE MORE YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE OUR SUBSTITUTE SERVICES FOR NEXT YEAR AND NEXT YEAR ONLY BEFORE WE GO OUT FOR RFP OR BRING IN HOUSE AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION IN THE FALL. IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS AGENDA ITEM BE APPROVED TONIGHT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT THAT TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE. WHAT THE RFP WOULD LOOK LIKE. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE. THAT I THINK ASSURES US KNOWING THERE WILL BE AN RFP IN THE FALL. FOR ME, I THINK WE HAVE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING
195TODAY. WE'RE SIX WEEKS FROM SCHOOL STARTING. THERE ARE TEACHERS WHO AREN'T -- MAYBE THEY ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, WHATEVER IT IS. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THINGS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN IN ACTION. I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE KELLY SERVICES HAS FELT LIKE A MONOPOLY THE LAST FIVE YEARS BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, IT IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT. THEY CAN GIVE YOU WHATEVER. THIS NEXT YEAR THEY'LL ASK YOU FOR EVEN MORE MONEY BECAUSE IT IS A MONOPOLY. I THINK TO MAKE SURE WE DO AN RFP, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE TIMELINE. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE. I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD AND THINKING ABOUT ALL THOSE KINDERGARTNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE A
196TEACHER, WHO HAD LONG-TERM SUBS. 153 STUDENTS, ONE TEACHER AND THE REST OF THEM WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUBS. IF THOSE STUDENTS -- LONG-TERM SUBS. IF THOSE STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE THE LONG-TERM SUB, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. OUR HANDS ARE TIED. KELLY SERVICES KNOWS THIS. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE GIVING US A GOOD FILL RATE AND WORK ON THE TRAINING BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS. SEVERAL OTHER COMPANIES, I HEARD ESS, SO MANY OTHER COMPANIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT ALL OF THEM. FOR ME TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS, FOR THAT. TIMELINE, I THINK KELLY SERVICES THINKS, LIKE MEMBER COMBS SAYS, THEY JUST HAVE US. WE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUT
197FOR RFP BEFORE THIS FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, BEFORE WE GOT HERE. DOING THIS EXTENSION AT A COST TO US. I'M JUST A LITTLE PERTURBED ABOUT THIS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU AND THIS COST I AM. I'M VERY MUCH BOTHERED BY THIS. KELLY SERVICES HAS NOT BEEN A FAVORITE OF MINE AT ALL. LIKE MEMBER COMBS SAID, I WANT TO SEE A TIMELINE SOONER THAN LATER SO THAT IF WE FIND SOMETHING BETTER, THAT IT COULD START RIGHT AFTER THIS YEAR IS DONE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THE BOTTOM LINE TO BE PRAGMATIC, ESE STUDENT WITHOUT AN ESE TRAINED, CERTIFIED HUMAN BEING, BEING A TEACHER IS A NIGHTMARE. IT'S JUST TO ME A PRECEDENT FOR FAILURE FOR THOSE KIDS. THOSE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE, THOSE KIDS WHO HAVE SO
198MANY STRUGGLES. TO BE PRAGMATIC, I AGREE WITH EVERY BOARD MEMBER AND SOME OF THEIR HICCUPS ABOUT IT. I'M NOT OVERJOYED ABOUT LACKING A CONTRACT AND SOME THINGS SHOULD BE TIGHTER AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB IN GETTING TEACHERS. I KNOW ALL THAT. BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE NOT A TEACHER CERTIFIED IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS JUST BECAUSE OF ONE OR TWO HICCUPS. THIS HAS GOT TO BE MOVED FORWARD. I SUPPORT THE AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I APPRECIATE ALL OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS. I UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION. I AM GLAD THERE ARE MEMBERS, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH KELLY ARE WILLING TO PLACE THE PRIORITY OF THE TURNAROUND TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TEACHERS IN FRONT OF OUR
199KIDS. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT KELLY AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND MAKING IT CLEAR THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM FOR YEARS NOW. SO THIS IS NO SURPRISE. HONESTLY, I FEEL THAT EVEN THOUGH I'VE SAID THIS REPEATEDLY OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE ALWAYS WIND UP IN THE SITUATION WHERE IF I'M NOT FORCED TO VOTE YES ON IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A CHALLENGE, IT'S PUT ON ME AS THE RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO PREPARE OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS FOR NEXT YEAR. I'M NOT GOING TO PUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE HOW I FELT ABOUT KELLY, WHAT MY CONCERNS WERE AND WHAT MY EXPECTATIONS WERE. IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THE PULSE OF THE VOTE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS PREVIOUSLY
200AND IRON OUT THESE CONCERNS, LIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE I'LL CONTINUE TO FEEL LIKE I'M BEING HELD HOSTAGE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING I DON'T SUPPORT. IT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T PRIORITIZE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME OR RISK NOT PUTTING A TEACHER IN FRONT OF STUDENTS, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. ANYBODY ELSE GETTING IN THE QUEUE? WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. SIGH OF RELIEF BECAUSE IT PASSES WITH MYSELF, MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER RENDON VOTING NO. HOPEFULLY IT SENDS A MESSAGE FOR NEXT TIME. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO 4.05, AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES WITH TEACH FOR AMERICA INC. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van
201Ayres: AS MENTIONED, THIS IS TEACH FOR AMERICA. THERE IS A NEED TO PARTNER WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN HELP PLACE TEACHERS IN DIFFICULT TO STAFF SCHOOLS. CANDIDATES VETTED BASED ON HCPS HIRING CRITERIA WITH GOAL OF PLACING UP TO 40 TEACHERS IN TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS DURING THE 25-26 SCHOOLS. ABOUT 40 TEACHERS IN TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS FOR 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. WE WILL WORK WITH TEACH FOR AMERICA TO IDENTIFY TEACHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE NEWLY PLACED TEACHER GROUP. IN ADDITION, NON-TEACH FOR AMERICA TEACHERS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN ALL TEACH FOR AMERICA VIRTUAL TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. I'LL LET YOU GUYS DECIDE WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I
202CAN'T BEAT A DEAD HORSE. ONCE AGAIN, 2022, 15,000 DOLLARS, 2025, $160,000. ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING UP SO MUCH YOUR EXPENDITURES BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS. ONE REQUEST I'D LIKE TO HAVE IS I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE FINANCIAL HISTORY IMPACT, IF WE CAN KEEP THAT FOR FIVE YEARS BECAUSE I CAN REALLY SEE A BIG IMPACT FROM 2022, RIGHT AROUND COVID WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN WE LOST A LOT OF TEACHERS, I'D LIKE TO SEE AS WE HAVE CONTRACTS KELLY SERVICES OR ANYTHING, I'D LIKE TO SEE A FIVE-YEAR HISTORICAL PART OF THAT WHEN THE CONTRACT CAME. SO THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST, BECAUSE IT'S VERY ALARMING TO SEE THESE LAST TWO CONTRACTS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT KELLY WHERE IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, IT'S LIKE QUADRUPLED. HERE YOU ARE IN 2022, 15,000, AND THEN 2025, 160,000.
203I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT A YEAR FROM NOW TO KEEP SEEING THE HISTORICAL MOVEMENT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EDUCATION, WHAT'S HAPPENING AS FAR AS FILLING CONTRACTS, TRYING TO FIND OTHER PLACES WHERE WE'RE GETTING TEACHERS. I REALLY WANT TO KEEP MY EYE ON THAT. FOR ME, HONESTLY, AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME UP MOST AT NIGHT. OUT OF ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, BESIDES THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF STUDENTS IS THINKING A LOT OF STUDENTS DON'T HAVE A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN FRONT OF THEM OR MAYBE DIFFERENT PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE. KIDS ARE STRUGGLING WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN THEIR LIVES, SOMETIMES NOT SEEING THE SAME PERSON OVER AND OVER, IT'S ACADEMIC, IT'S SOCIAL, IT'S EMOTIONAL, SO MANY FACTORS INVOLVED. SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE HOME,
204SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT. WHEN YOU HAVE INCONSISTENCIES, IT DOES REALLY WORRY ME. PROBABLY WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NOT PAYING OUR TEACHERS. IF WE COULD KEEP THAT AND LET ME SEE THE HISTORICAL DIFFERENCE OF THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OUR ONE ON ONE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO HAVE TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS. FOR ME I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE. THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS SUSTAINABLE TEACHER WORKFORCE. SUSTAINABLE CLASSROOMS. MANY TEACH FOR AMERICA TEACHERS, MORE THAN HALF LEAVE AFTER TWO YEARS. THREE TO FIVE YEARS, YOU HAVE MAYBE 40% IN, 30%.
205FIVE YEARS, ONLY 20% TO STAY. REALLY OUR GOAL SHOULD BE LONG-TERM TEACHER WORKFORCE STABILITY. MOST OF THE TEACHERS, THEY LEAVE BECAUSE OF BURNOUT. WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN OUR CHALLENGING SCHOOLS, CHALLENGING CLASSROOMS. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED LIKE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THROUGH TRADITIONAL PREPARATION PROGRAMS AND COLLEGES OF ED. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THEY BURN OUT. IT IS A GREAT BAND-AID. I REALLY DON'T WON'T 40, 50, 60, A HUNDRED OF THE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THE TEACHER WORKFORCE EVEN THAT MUCH MORE UNSTABLE. I DON'T EVEN WANT 40. 20 OKAY. I DON'T WANT THIS TO GROW BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SOLUTION. WE KNOW FROM ACADEMIC RESEARCH THAT CHILDREN LEARN BEST WHEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE STABLE TEACHER WORKFORCES. THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE US THAT. I'M NOT A FAN OF TEACH FOR AMERICA. FOR
206THAT REASON. I THINK IT'S HARD TO CONVERT A LOT OF THESE FOLKS BECAUSE THE FACT THEY ARE NOT TRAINED THE SAME WAY A TRADITIONAL TEACHER IS TRAINED. AND THEY ARE REALLY NOT PREPARED FOR A LOT OF THE URBAN CORE SCHOOLS THEY ARE PUT INTO, NOT JUST HERE BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: LET ME ASK A QUESTION ON THIS ONE. THE TEACH FOR AMERICA, THE TEACHERS THAT I HAVE MET HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE TO ME. THEY ARE ECLECTIC. THEY ARE INTERNATIONAL. THEY BRING A LOT OF INFORMATION, CULTURAL LEVERAGE. ARE THEY -- JUST FOR THE HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS OR ARE THEY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT? I'M TALKING GRADE LEVELS, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEY ARE NOT SEGMENTED FOR THE HIGH NEED SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, THEY DO SPECIALIZE IN URBAN AREAS.
207THAT IS ONE THING THAT TEACH FOR AMERICA SAYS THAT THEY TRAIN. IT'S SECOND CAREER TEACHERS. INDIVIDUALS THAT USED TO WORK IN A LAB AND DECIDE TO BECOME A TEACHER. THEY DO INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR THEM TO GO INTO THE AREA TO BECOME TEACHER. IT IS A SECOND CAREER. WE MAKE SURE THE INDIVIDUALS -- WE TAKE A LOT OF CA IRIN PLACING THEM. MR. HORSTMAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ON THAT. WE DO GO THROUGH A LOT TO ENSURE THE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE PLACED IN THE RIGHT AREA. IN THIS INSTANCE, TO MEMBER HAHN'S POINT, AROUND US GOING FROM 20 TO 40, WE SAID THIS YEAR WE WANTED TO GO FROM THE 20 TO 40 BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES IN FILLING OUR POSITIONS IN THE SOUTH COUNTY. THE SOUTH COUNTY, I'VE SEEN DOUBLE DILIGENCE IN OPEN POSITIONS. THAT IS
208A CONCERN FOR ME. SUBSTITUTES, TEACH FOR AMERICA ARE PERMANENT TEACHERS. SO WHEN THEY JOIN, WE'RE SAYING THAT 20 OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL GO TO SOUTH COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A TEACHER, A PERMANENT TEACHER IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS IN SOUTH COUNTY. MEMBER GRAY, THE 20 TFA TEACHERS THAT JUST COMPLETED THIS YEAR WERE PLACED AT 14 DIFFERENT SITES. THEY LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO AT EVERY SITE. THAT WAS NOT HUNDRED PERCENT THIS YEAR. BUT I'VE GOT SOME DATA AS FAR AS WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING, NOT SPECIFIC COURSES BUT THE BACKGROUND, THE CERTIFICATION AREAS. SPEAKING MATH AND SCIENCE SPECIFICALLY, WE HAD ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH PERSON AND ONE HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER. WE HAD TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS, ONE HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER. WE PAID FOR 20 TFA TEACHERS THIS YEAR. THEY SUPPLIED
209US WITH 31. OF THE 31, 14 WERE ELEMENTARY. SIX OF THEM WERE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 11 OF THEM WERE HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITIONALLY, THE 20 THAT WE HAD, THAT WE WERE PAYING FOR ESSENTIALLY ARE ALL RETURNING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. AND THEN AS DR. PATTON SAID WE PUT IN OUR AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR THAT THE NEW 20, IF YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, THE ADDITIONAL 20 WILL TEACH AT OUR SITES DOWN IN SOUTH COUNTY AREA THAT AS DR. PATTON INDICATED HAVE DIFFICULT TIME FILLING POSITIONS. Lynn Gray: THAT IS TO SAY THE LEAST. IF YOU GO TO SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DEFICIT, BUT ALSO TAMPA BAY, AS MEMBER COMBS KNOWS. THE SUSTAINABILITY, HOW MANY YEARS, DO YOU HAVE A MEAN AVERAGE OF YEARS THAT THE
210TEACH AMERICA FOLKS HAVE STAYED IN THE DISTRICT? WE'VE ONLY BEEN PARTNERED WITH THEM SINCE 22-23. Lynn Gray: THIS IS REALLY NOT KNOWN YET. WHETHER LONG-TERM OR NOT. CORRECT. Lynn Gray: TO THE POINT WE DO WANT SUSTAINABILITY. I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO BOARD PHILOSOPHY. WHETHER YOU THINK THE MOST CRITICAL ITEM IS TO HAVE A TEACHER IN FRONT OF A CHILD OR WHETHER YOU CAN GET PERHAPS A BETTER DEAL, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS DO WE WANT A TEACHER IN FRONT OF A CHILD THAT'S CERTIFIED THIS COMING YEAR OR SHALL WE WAIT FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY? I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE I AM OF THE PHILOSOPHY I WANT A TEACHER IN FRONT OF THE STUDENT. GRADE LEVELS, ESPECIALLY YOUR LOWER GRADE LEVELS, WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE QUESTION, DO WE HAVE A LOT OF
211ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, I MEAN, ELEMENTARY LEVEL TEACH FOR AMERICA? WE HAD 14 ELEMENTARY TEACHERS. Lynn Gray: THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED. THAT'S YOUR CRITICAL LEARNING YEARS. SO VERY IMPORTANT. REDDICK, WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY, SUCH A HUGE DEFICIT AND THAT'S SOUTH COUNTY. AT ANY RATE, THE OTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO SAY WITH MEMBER COMBS, YOU'RE DARN RIGHT IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE. TEACHING IS A COMMODITY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A BIG DEMAND TO BE A TEACHER AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY OPENINGS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE -- IT'S A HIGH COMMODITY, A HUMAN RESOURCE. IT'S GOING TO GET ONLY MORE AND MORE THAT WAY. SO THESE CONTRACTS ARE GOING TO COST MORE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT IS A SAD REALITY, BUT THAT IS THE REALITY. THE BALL IS IN THEIR COURT. WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM ENOUGH. IT'S AMAZING WE'RE GETTING THE TEACHERS
212WE ARE HAVING. YES. THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE, LOOK AT THE CONTRACT ON PAGE 3 OF 23, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THIS AN ADJUSTMENT, 4.2, IT HAS THAT THE CONTRACTOR AGREES OFFER MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE AND IT REFERS TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. YOU NEED TO PUT A QUESTION MARK ON THAT BECAUSE THAT, IN FACT, MAY NOT HOLD TRUE AS WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THE POLITICAL YEAR, THAT MIGHT CHANGE. I WANT YOU TO BE ALERT ON ANY CONTRACT. ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO. BUT BE AWARE THAT THINGS ARE VERY FLUID. SO CONTRACTS, EVEN THOUGH I TOOK THE TROUBLE TO READ THIS MORE CAREFULLY JUST NOW, I HOPE TO READ THEM ALL CAREFULLY, BUT SOMETIMES WE CAN MISS ONE OR TWO STATEMENTS, BUT IT'S YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
213IS UP TO DATE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PROCUREMENT AND LEGAL. ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS, WE DO HAVE THE ATTORNEY SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH THEM WITH US WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB. SOMETIMES GRAPPLING BACK AND FORTH AROUND THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT THEY SUBMITTED TO US. IT'S NOT JUST WE GET IT AND SIGN IT, WE GO THROUGH A DEEP DIVE, PARTICULARLY WITH THESE WE JUST KNEW THERE WOULD BE QUESTIONS. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE WE DO THAT BEFORE WE BRING IT. Lynn Gray: I THANK YOU. I THANK OUR ATTORNEY, MR. GIBSON AS WELL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE STARTED WITH TEACH AMERICA IN 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR, THAT'S NOW THREE YEARS IN. HOW MANY, BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY FROM THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE
214AVERAGE OF TWO-YEAR PROGRAM. HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE BECOME PERMANENT EMPLOYEES WITH US? FROM THE FIRST YEAR, ALL OF THEM NOW. IT WAS THREE THE FIRST YEAR. BEING TRANSPARENT. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY ARE HIRED WITH US, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE A PART OF THE TEACH FOR AMERICA PROGRAM, THEY ARE EMPLOYEES OF HCPS. THEY ARE NOT ON A WORK VISA -- Patti Rendon: ALL THREE HAVE STAYED. YES, MA'AM. Patti Rendon: SECOND YEAR, HOW MANY ALL STAYED? THEY WILL ALL RETURN. Patti Rendon: WE'RE ON A GOOD TRACK RECORD. ALSO SEE FROM TEACH FOR AMERICA, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE, THEY REQUIRE THEM TO BEGIN GETTING THE CERTIFICATE. IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STAY IN THEIR PROGRAM, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO START GETTING OUR TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS. THAT IS CORRECT. Patti Rendon: THAT IS A HUGE PLUS. I THINK
215AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE RECRUITMENT, WAYS IN WHICH RECRUITMENT. THIS IS A RECRUITMENT TOOL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INSTEAD OF IT BRINGING PIECE MEAL TO THE BOARD, IF YOU COULD BRING THE ENTIRE PACKAGE OF WHAT YOU DO FOR RECRUITMENT AND IF WORKING WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES, WE SEE MULTITUDE OF CONTRACTS BECAUSE WE ARE ONE BY ONE BY ONE, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON RECRUITMENT WHEN YOU BRING A CONTRACT HERE AND A CONTRACT THERE, SHOWING US ALL TOGETHER EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SPEAK IN RECRUITMENT BY BRINGING ALL THE CONTRACTS TO US SO WE CAN SEE IT IN ENTIRETY. THOSE CONTRACTS THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, WE SHOULD BE GOING OUT FOR BID FOR EVERYTHING, TALKING ABOUT INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS. WHAT I LEARNED IS THERE ARE SOME AGENCIES THAT ACTUALLY
216DO PARAS AND OTHER THINGS WHICH WE KNOW WE HAVE LANGUAGE BARRIERS RIGHT NOW WITH SOME OF OUR ESE STUDENTS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE PARAS THAT HAVE THAT. BUT WE'VE GOT SOME WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD BUILD ON SOME OF THAT IF WE'RE BRINGING IN SOME OF OUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR ESE OR EVEN PARAS, CUSTODIANS, SO MANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT THEY COULD BE WORKING ON. FOR ME, I NEED TO SEE YOUR DEPARTMENT AND I NEED TO SEE IN ITS ENTIRETY WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR RECRUITMENT, WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR, WHAT ARE WE DOING NOT PAYING FOR. IMPORTANT IF WE SPEND $160,000 ON ONE RECRUITMENT TOOL, WE SHOULD SEE IN ITS ENTIRETY WHAT WE ARE TOTALLY SPENDING. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THIS IS PUTTING CERTIFIED TEACHERS. IF THEY HAVE A
217DEGREE IN ENGLISH OR HISTORY OR SCIENCE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO NOW BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THOSE CLASSES IN TEACHING SO WE'RE FIRMING UP WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING. I ALSO KNOW THAT IN OUR DISTRICT, EACH OF THE SCHOOLS WE HAVE A ROBUST COMMUNITY PROVIDING SUPPORTS TO THOSE INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS. BUT THE REALITY IS, NO ONE ELSE CAN BE THERE ONE ON ONE WITH THE STUDENTS EXCEPT FOR THE ONE STAFF. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BEST FOOT FORWARD, THE BEST PERSON THERE. I WILL APPROVE THIS, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE SO MANY AGENDA ITEMS COME TO US THAT EITHER WE DON'T DO IT, I'M SORRY, YOU, THE STAFF HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING TO US THAT IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE TIME TO CORRECT IT. IT SHOULDN'T BE, IT'S OUR
218RESPONSIBILITY, YOUR URGENCY ISN'T MY DEMAND. YOU GUYS SHOULD BRING THINGS IN MORE TIMELY MANNER SO WE ARE NOT FEET TO THE FIRE. I DON'T APPROVE KELLY SERVICES, I HAVE 300 SLOTS ON MY SHOULDERS. WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SIX MONTHS AGO. MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THINGS IN A TIMELY MANNER SO OUR FEET ARE NOT TO THE FIRE. ONCE WE APPROVE ANYTHING, YOU GO OUT THE DOOR AND THINK YOU HAVE ANOTHER YEAR. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK WITH KELLY, BACK WITH EVERYTHING. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. SO THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: WE DO HAVE NATIONAL DATA. WE'RE BUILDING OUR OWN DATA RIGHT NOW. WHEN MEMBER RENDON ASKED YOU HOW MANY CONVERTED TO BEING OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT MEANS
219THEY ARE NO LONGER UNDER TEACH FOR AMERICA. THEY ARE NOW CONTRACTED WITH US. THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WE HAVE THREE CONVERTED TO OUR EMPLOYEES. THE THREE HIRED WERE OUR EMPLOYEES FROM THE GET-GO. THEY RECEIVED TRAINING FOR UP TO TWO YEARS THROUGH TFA. Stacy Hahn: THEY DID NOT COME THROUGH TEACH FOR AMERICA. THEY WERE HIRED BY US. THEY WENT THROUGH TRAINING WITH TEACH FOR AMERICA. HE JUST CLARIFIED THEY DID NOT. WE HIRED THEM. THOSE THREE EMPLOYEES WERE RECRUITED BY TEACH FOR AMERICA AND WERE PLACED HERE. BUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE MOMENT THEY WERE EMPLOYED, THEY WERE OUR EMPLOYEES. Stacy Hahn: WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WHERE ARE THEY IN THE PIPELINE NOW? WHAT YEAR ARE THEY IN RIGHT NOW? YEAR THREE, NO LONGER TIED, IF YOU WILL, TO TEACH
220FOR AMERICA. Stacy Hahn: THEY ARE NOW NO LONGER TIED TO TEACH FOR AMERICA. THEY ARE WITH US. CORRECT. Stacy Hahn: YEAR TWO ARE THE 20 FROM LAST YEAR. YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: WE DON'T KNOW, THEY WEREN'T BROKEN AWAY FROM TEACH FOR AMERICA YET BECAUSE THEY ARE BOUND TO THEM FOR TWO YEARS. YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: WE HAVE THREE. THE THREE THAT CAME IN. WE'LL HAVE TO NOW KEEP TRACK AND SEE HOW MANY OF THE 20 AFTER THE TWO YEARS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN -- THEY ARE FREE OF THEIR TEACH FOR AMERICA CONTRACT AND CAN EITHER STAY WITH US OR GO ON AND DO SOMETHING ELSE IN THEIR CAREER. YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: I'D LIKE TO YOU KEEP TRACK OF THAT DATA AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS SO WE CAN CONTINUE --
221BECAUSE I AM CURIOUS. I TOLD YOU IN OUR UP WITH I WOULD SUPPORT THIS. -- IN OUR ONE-ON-ONE I WOULD SUPPORT THIS. WE NEED MULTIPLE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX TO FILL THE POSITIONS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE CONTRACTS LIKE THIS START GROWING. WE'RE 40. NOW 60. NOW A HUNDRED. IF THE DATA IS NOT SHOWING THAT THEY ARE CONVERTING AFTER TWO YEARS TO STAY LONG TERM, THEN THIS IS A BAND-AID. I DON'T WANT US TO START HEAVILY RELYING ON BAND-AIDS IN OUR TOOLBOX. THE MAJORITY OF TOOLS WE USE TO FILL VACANT POSITIONS SHOULD SHOW US THAT THEY ARE -- OUR EMPLOYEES ARE LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES COMMITTED TO THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. THAT'S MY CONCERN WHETHER IT'S TEACH FOR AMERICA OR WHETHER IT'S KELLY SERVICES OR ANY OTHER OUTSIDE WAY THAT WE'RE RECRUITING, ARE WE SEEING A TRANSFER
222INTO BECOMING OUR EMPLOYEE. IN SOME CASES WE ARE WITH KELLY. YOU BROUGHT THOSE NUMBERS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN LONG ENOUGH WITH TEACH FOR AMERICA TO SEE IF THE NUMBERS WOULD TRANSLATE LONG TERM INTO OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT'S TRUE. ONE OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT TO SHARE IS I SHARED IT WITH ALL OF YOU, RECRUITMENT PLAN. FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANNUAL RECRUITMENT PLAN THAT WE DO. I DIDN'T INCLUDE THESE CONTRACTS AND THE NUMBERS IN THAT PLAN, BUT GOING FORWARD I CERTAINLY AM OKAY WITH INCLUDING THAT. SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RECRUITMENT PLAN OF WHAT IT INCLUDES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, WHAT OUR METHODS ARE, WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT OUR PLANS ARE, SO YOU CAN GIVE DIRECT FEEDBACK AND THE COST WE ANTICIPATE IT WOULD BE. WE CAN INCLUDE IT AS PART OF THE RECRUITMENT
223PLAN SO YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE TO YOU. I USUALLY TURN IT OUT IN DECEMBER. SO THAT WAY YOU'LL HAVE THE INFORMATION. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM 5.02, STUDENT ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ITEM. BEFORE WE GET STARTED, THIS IS 26-27. SOME OF YOUR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS ARE GETTING AHEAD OF THINGS. THIS IS FOR TWO YEARS FROM NOW. THIS IS NOT FOR AUGUST. THIS IS AUGUST 26-27. JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT. THIS COMMITTEE HAS 23 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE. ONE ONLINE MEETING HELD ON MAY 1, 2025. WHAT THAT COMMITTEE LOOKS LIKE, SOME QUESTIONS ALREADY AROUND COMMITTEES. 12 DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES, FIVE SCHOOL
224BASED ADMINISTRATORS, NINE PARENTS, THREE PS -- ONE TEACHER SCHOOL STAFF AND ONE OFFICER. THREE MODELS THAT WERE PRESENTED. LITTLE VARIATION. THE COMMITTEE PROVIDED FEEDBACK REGARDING SPRING BREAK AND PREFERENCE FOR STUDENTS TO BE OFF FOR BOTH THE STATE FAIR AND THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL. COMMITTEE SELECTED MODEL C STUDENTS OFF FOR STATE FAIR FEBRUARY 12, 2027 AND STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL ON MARCH 1, 2027. SPRING BREAK FROM MARCH 22 TO MARCH 26 OF 2027. THIS MODEL RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM 20 OF THE 23 COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON MAY 1, 2025. PROPOSED CALENDAR, OF COURSE, MEETS THE REQUIRED MINUTES AND CREDIT HOURS PER FLORIDA STATUTE AND FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. THANK MS. FERRANO. I DON'T THINK ANYONE -- I WANT TO THANK MS. FERRANO PUBLICLY FOR ALL HER WORK AND BRING THIS SO FAR AHEAD OF TIME. THIS IS FOR 26-27. THAT IS ITEM
2255.02. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 5.02. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: NO. THANK YOU. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THE ONE THING WE DON'T HAVE LISTED HERE, IF WE HAVE ANOTHER POTENTIAL HURRICANE, DO WE WANT TO PUT ON HERE THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR EARLY RELEASE DAYS? IT IS NOT LISTED ON HERE. THANK YOU, MS. RENDON. WE CAN DEFINITELY ADD THAT. CURRENTLY WITH MODEL C THAT WE HAVE, THERE ARE 4800 MINUTES, 4,800 MINUTES BEYOND WHAT THE STATE STATUTE REQUIRES. WE DO HAVE SOME NATURAL HURRICANE DAYS BUILT IN THERE. IF FOR SOME REASON WE EXHAUST THE DAYS, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WORK WITH THE UNION AND POTENTIALLY LOOK AT EARLY RELEASE DAYS OR ADDING ADDITIONAL
226INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES TO THE EXISTING INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS. YES, RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE 4800 MINUTES BUILT IN ABOVE AND BEYOND THE STATE STATUTE REQUIREMENTS. Patti Rendon: DOES THAT INCLUDE OCTOBER 9 -- YES. Patti Rendon: WE WOULD HAVE TO LOSE -- I DO KNOW ALTHOUGH I FELT LIKE WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MINIMIZING DISRUPTION TO FAMILIES WITH THIS TEN DAYS, I BELIEVE OVER 10 DAYS, 11 DAYS TO MAKE UP, I WANT TO MAKE SURE PARENTS KNOW THE OPTIONS OUT THERE. I DO KNOW THAT OUR TEACHERS VERY MUCH, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME ON MONDAYS, IT REALLY MEETS IN THEIR PREPARATION, PLANNING TIME. THEY FELT VERY MUCH RUSHED IN HAVING TO DO EXTRA WORK AFTER HOURS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROPERLY PREPARE THAT. IF THAT'S GOING TO BE
227AN OPTION, LET'S MAKE SURE WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT. YES, WE WILL ADD THAT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I DO SEE HERE IT SAYS EARLY RELEASE DAY SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED. HOW DOES THAT TIE INTO MEMBER RENDON'S QUESTION? RIGHT NOW, THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE DOES INCLUDE THOSE EARLY RELEASE MINUTES. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT NEGOTIATED THAT WITH THE UNION YET, THIS IS TWO YEARS OUT. AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE 26-27 CALENDAR YEAR, WE WILL HAVE UNION NEGOTIATIONS, BUT THOSE MINUTES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSED SCHEDULE. Jessica Vaughn: THE REASON YOU HAVE THE SENTENCE IT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED IS JUST TO COVER IN CASE NEGOTIATIONS CHANGE BY SOME WAY. THAT IS CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE YOU. I KNOW IT'S TWO YEARS OUT BUT I APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT AYRES
228YOU HIGHLIGHTING THAT SPRING BREAK WILL BE MUCH LATER THAT CALENDAR YEAR THAN IT IS ALL THE OTHER YEARS. I HOPE THAT WE GET IN FRONT OF PARENTS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT AS WELL. IT'S BEEN KIND OF THE SAME WEEK FOR SO LONG. THIS CHANGE WILL CATCH PEOPLE BY SURPRISE. I APPRECIATE YOU PULLING IT, MEMBER GRAY. ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE THIS OUT IN THE PUBLIC SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE PLANS IF THEY PLAN TWO YEARS OUT. SEEING THAT THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE. -- VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. I PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON. AND THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER GRAY BEING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO 6.01, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 302025 AND MAY 31, 2025. MR. JAMIE LEWIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Jamie Lewis: OF GOOD
229EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FINANCE TEAM TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. TONIGHT, WE'LL BE UPDATING YOU ON TWO MONTHS OF ACTIVITY. APRIL AND MAY ACTIVITY FROM A TIMING STANDPOINT. WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FIRST OUR ADOPTED BUDGET. ALWAYS WANT TO START THERE, WHERE WE BEGAN THE YEAR AND COMING BACK TO THE FALL JUST TO REMEMBER WE STARTED THE YEAR IN THE BUDGET APPROVED, $283 MILLION ENDING FUND BALANCE. THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UNDERSTANDING WHERE A FUND BALANCE IS AND HOW WE MANAGE THAT. THAT WAS AT 15.5% FUND BALANCE. SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR. AS WE CONSIDER THE CHANGES FOR APRIL AND MAY, AS WE DISCUSSED IN OUR UP WITHS, MINIMAL -- IN OUR ONE-ON-ONES, MINIMAL CHANGES. RECENT CHANGE BACK
230IN MARCH WHEN CALCULATION THREE CAME IN. ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH CHANGE IN OUR BUDGET BECAUSE CALCULATION FOUR THAT USUALLY IS HERE AROUND LATE APRIL, EARLY MAY, WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THAT YET FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO THAT IS STILL PENDING. WE WERE AT A FINANCE CONFERENCE LAST WEEK TALKING WITH OTHER CFOs, PENDING ACROSS THE STATE. SOMETHING WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES ON AND DISCUSS THAT MORE IN A FEW MINUTES. BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, $283 MILLION FUND BALANCE WAS APPROVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR THE ADOPTED BUDGET. WE NOW PROJECT THAT TO BE 266 MILLION, WHICH IS WHAT WE PROJECTED IN MARCH. AGAIN, THAT CHANGE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO SOME OF THE IMPACTS WE DISCUSSED AT EARLIER BOARD MEETINGS FROM THE MARCH UPDATE AND CALCULATION THREE. FOR MAY 31st,
231SIMILAR AS WE JUST SAID, WE'RE TRENDING IN A LOT OF GOOD WAYS. WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH SOME OF OUR COLLECTIONS. RELATED TO THE HURRICANE. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, WE COMPLETELY CAUGHT UP WITH THAT. TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTED RIGHT NOW IS AT 89%, WHICH IS ABOUT WHERE OUR AVERAGE IS AND IN OUR EXPENDITURES RIGHT WHERE WE ARE USUALLY. WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THAT. OBVIOUSLY, CALCULATION FOUR COULD IMPACT US. THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BRACE FOR AND WE ARE. WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT US, OF COURSE, THIS LATE IN THE FISCAL YEAR, WON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO MANEUVER. AS SOON AS WE GET THAT, WE'LL BE UPDATING THE BOARD WITH THE IMPACT FOR THAT. ONE THING THE FINANCE TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO DO IS REVISE HOW WE PRESENT THE BUDGET
232TO YOU. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AN EASIER FORMAT. ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR. HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SEE CHANGES SOON AFTER WE GET THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THE CONSTANT FEEDBACK AND LOOK THAT WE HAVE ON OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE. THIS CHART, AS WE HAVE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL UPDATES PROVIDES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF JUST KIND OF THE EVEN FLOW WE GO THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR FUND BALANCE. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE OUR HIGHS AND LOWS DURING THE YEAR. NEXT YEAR WILL ALSO INCLUDE THAT AS WE ADD ADDITIONAL INCOME FROM THE REFERENDUM. WE TALK ABOUT THAT AT A LATER DATE. THAT WILL IMPACT THINGS. HIGH FUND BALANCE IN THE SUMMERTIME ALLOWS US TO MANAGE THROUGH THE YEAR.
233IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT HIGH FUND BALANCE, THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY A CHALLENGE WITH CASH FLOW. WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF OUR FUND BALANCE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AS WE MOVE FORWARD. FINALLY, WHAT WE WANT TO SUMMARIZE IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND WHAT WE'RE THINKING FROM THE FINANCE TEAM. AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, APRIL AND MAY SAME AS WE ANTICIPATED. PREVIOUS YEARS I'M BEING TOLD AS THIS IS MY FIRST SUMMER WITH THE DISTRICT, WE WOULD KNOW A LOT MORE AT THIS TIME OF THE SEASON THAN WE KNOW RIGHT NOW. AGAIN WE'RE BEING PATIENT AND WAITING ON THAT. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, PENDING CALC FOUR, POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR THIS YEAR. THE BUDGET HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. SO WE'RE WAITING FOR FEEDBACK FROM THERE. HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK WE'LL
234KNOW A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR NEXT YEAR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS OUR FINANCE UPDATE FOR THIS EVENING. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.01. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS AND GARCIA. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN SIMPLIFYING. I KNOW THE WORK IS NOT DONE. SIMPLIFYING THE NUMBERS. SO HELPFUL. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM YOU, MR. LEWIS, THAT OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT NEXT YEAR, AND THAT IS THE TRUTH. ONE OF THE STABILIZING FEATURES WHICH YOU BROUGHT OUT VERY KEENLY IS THE FUND BALANCE, A
235HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. WHEN YOU GET INTO HICCUPS, WELL, WE'VE GOT THE HURRICANES AND THAT IS ENOUGH THERE, BUT WHEN THE FTE STARTS SHOWING A DECREASE, AS IT DID IN THE THIRD QUARTER, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS OF 18 MILLION, THEN IT'S A GOOD THING WE DO HAVE SOMETHING TO BOUNCE BACK BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT COMFORT LEVEL FOR MAYBE ANOTHER YEAR, MAYBE TWO YEARS. I'M ALL FOR THAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, WHICH REALLY LEADS US TO SAY THAT OUR POLICY 6210 INSPECTION PLANNING, WE HAVE TO UPDATE THAT TO BE RELEVANT TO THE HIGHER FUND BALANCE. I WANTED THAT WORKSHOP. I GAVE IT TO YOU ON OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING. SO YOU CAN SEE WHY THAT WHEN WE HAVE POLICY LANGUAGE THAT'S NOT RELEVANT, THAT HAS TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT WORKSHOP, BUT WE'LL GET
236TO THAT IN A MINUTE. THE IDEA THAT THE FLORIDA EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP WITH AN OUTREACH OF POSSIBLY 24,000 FAMILIES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT FOURTH CALCULATION, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TREMENDOUS DEFICIT OF FTE. I KNOW YOU WISH WE COULD HAVE MORE SUCCINCT NUMBERS BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THE BUDGET OKAYED. THERE ARE VETOES GOING ON SHORTLY, LINE ITEM VETOES THAT WILL AFFECT THAT, TOO. HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE FLORIDA EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS ARE REAL AND THEY ARE LARGE IN NUMBERS. BUT MR. FARKAS, THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT, I KNOW YOU'LL GO OVER IT WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IS THE COSHARE. LET ME GET THE NAME OF IT RIGHT. THE CO-LOCATE WHERE THE CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN BASICALLY TAKE SOME OF OUR ALMOST EMPTY SCHOOLS, PARTIALLY EMPTY, MOVE IN WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY AND BASICALLY
237INHABIT AND USE OUR SCHOOL, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THERE'S NO FINANCIAL LEVERAGE WE CAN DO. THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG REALITY. BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING MORE ON IT, MR. FARKAS, PERHAPS YOU WANT TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT SO BOARD MEMBERS CAN SEE OR HEAR WHAT RAMIFICATIONS AND WHAT WE PERHAPS BETTER DO SOON. Christopher Farkas: MS. DAVIS WHO IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT ACTUALLY KEEPS US UP TO DATE. BILL INTRODUCED THAT TALKED ABOUT CO-LOCATION. AND IT DID NOT PASS THIS TIME. IT WAS ONE THAT DIDN'T GET A LOT OF LEGS ON IT. A LOT OF TIMES INTRODUCED ONE YEAR, COMES BACK THE NEXT YEAR WITH A LITTLE MORE SUPPORT. SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING CLOSELY. THANK YOU TO MS. DAVIS FOR KEEPING US IN THE LOOP. SAME WITH LOCAL AND STATE LOBBYIST TO
238UNDERSTAND. THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN ORIGINALLY, MS. GRAY, ANY OPEN ROOMS THEY COULD TAKE OVER. WHETHER ONE ROOM, TEN ROOMS, WE COULD NOT LEASE ANYTHING OUT TO THE PROPERTIES. DID NOT PASS THIS SESSION. NOT THERE. AS THIS BOARD KNOWS, SOMETIMES THAT GETS REINTRODUCED THE NEXT SESSION. LAST NIGHT, ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS, ESSENTIALLY A STRIKE-ALL AMENDMENT. THIS IS A CONFORMING TO THE BUDGET, A CONFORMING BILL TO THE OBJECT AND ALSO IMPLEMENTING BILL TO THE BUDGET. I THINK IT IS THE IMPLEMENTING BILL TO THE BUDGET -- NO THE CONFORMING. INCLUDES LANGUAGE ON CO-LOCATION, BUT IT'S RELATED TO SCHOOLS OF HOPE SPECIFICALLY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. DANIELLE SHOTWELL AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT AGO. ANGELA, ON OUR RADAR AS WELL IN THE CHARTER. PART OF THE LEGISLATION SESSION REVIEW WORKSHOP ON JULY
23922. Lynn Gray: YOU CAN'T BLAME THAT PART OF THE EQUATION. HERE WE ARE WITH EMPTY BUILDINGS. WHY WOULDN'T ANOTHER ENTITY WANT TO COME IN AND HAVE THAT SPACE. OUR ACHILLES' HEEL AS SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES IS VERY AWARE OF, WE HAVE EMPTY SCHOOLS AND WE'RE USING A LOT OF RESOURCES TO CONTINUE. THAT IS A BIG DEFICIT. GO AHEAD, KRISTIN. ALSO ADD THAT WE DO ANTICIPATE THIS COMING BACK NEXT SESSION. ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON TOGETHER IS THE LANGUAGE, WHAT THEY ARE USING TO MEASURE IT IS OUR ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS K-12, BUT THEY ARE NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT VPK THE SPACES. NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ADULT. THINGS GOING ON DURING THE DAY. VPK WE KIND OF GOT OUR ARMS AROUND THAT AND GOT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THE ADULT NOT YET
240AND OTHER THINGS, LIKE SOME DISTRICTS, SITES YOU'D HAVE FOR CHILD CARE OR PASCO, THEY USE FOR THE HEALTH CENTERS. THAT'S NOT REFLECTED IN WHAT THE DOE IS USING. Lynn Gray: DANIELLE FROM THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, YOURSELF, DAN YELL SHOTWELL, VERY AWARE THAT THERE'S MOVING PARTS GOING ON WITHIN THIS CONVERSATION. TO THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, MR. LEWIS, YOU'RE ALSO PLANNING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHANGING POLICIES, I'M KIND OF FLIPPING THE SUBJECT, MAKING THE POLICY MORE RELEVANT, I WOULD RATHER GO THE PATH ORIGINALLY AS I SHARED WITH YOU OF FINANCIAL PLAN, BECAUSE WITHIN THAT FINANCIAL PLAN, THE BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO HAVE THE INPUT AND SHARE UPON THE REALITIES OF WHAT IS GOING TO OCCUR AFTER THE FOURTH QUARTER AND AFTER THE VETO OR NON-VETO OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU
241AND I AGAIN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, PUT TOGETHER A WORKSHOP AND IN THAT SPACE DISCUSS POLICY UPDATES AND RELEVANCE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE MR. PORTER IS. I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM FOR HIS FEEDBACK. BUT THAT'S WHERE I THINK IS THE MOST COMMON SENSE ROUTE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. JUST A REMINDER TO MYSELF, ANY WORKSHOP REQUESTS, PLEASE PUT THOSE THROUGH TO OUR BOARD SECRETARIES FOR ANY BOARD WORKSHOP REQUESTS. I WILL PUT MINE THROUGH FOR THE KELLY SERVICES. THE NEXT IN QUEUE IS DR. HAHN. Stacy Hahn: I'M GLAD -- THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY FOR BRINGING UP POLICY, ESPECIALLY THE FUND BALANCE. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AT THE LAST MEETING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POLICY THAT I HAD KIND OF SHEPHERDED THROUGH
242THE SYSTEM WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO COME TO THAT MEETING, AND THEN I HAD A BIT OF A HEALTH CRISIS AND COULDN'T MAKE THE MEETING ON TUESDAY AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH MYSELF BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE BROUGHT FOR A VOTE. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN IMAGINE MY DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN I SAW IT WAS BROUGHT FOR A VOTE. FUNNY ENOUGH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT FUND BALANCE POLICY AT WORKSHOP. WE CAME TO A CONSENSUS AROUND 8%. TEACHERS UNION PUT A LETTER OUT, SENT TO TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS DISCOURAGING THE SUPPORT OF 8% FUND BALANCE. WHEN IT CAME TO THE BOARD IT WAS SHOT DOWN BY MAJORITY OF THE BOARD, I WOULD IMAGINE RATHER INFLUENCED BY THE LETTER. FUNNY ENOUGH, THE WAY THE POLICY IS WRITTEN, WE ARE NOW AT 16%
243FUND BALANCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE UNION REALIZED THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF BOARD MEMBERS REALIZED THAT. BUT SHOT DOWN AN 8% FUND BALANCE TO STICK WITH THE 16% FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT. I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO REWORK THE POLICY TO TRY AND BRING IT BACK TO WORKSHOP TO TRY AND GET SOME CONSENSUS AROUND THIS, OTHERWISE NOW WE'RE SITTING AT 16%. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT 8%. I WOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING HAD I BEEN HERE AND THOUGHT THE POLICY WAS COMING. SORRY I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT AT THAT MEETING. SORRY COULDN'T BE HERE AT THE MEETING. I KNOW IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MEETING. LIKE I MENTIONED I DID HAVE A HEALTH CRISIS. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO CALL
244MR. PORTER ABOUT 3:15 THAT AFTERNOON. WE'LL HOPEFULLY HAVE FUTURE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THAT AND TALK FURTHER AND REALLY DIVE INTO THAT POLICY AROUND FUND BALANCE. AS FAR AS THE EMPTY BUILDINGS, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PEOPLE IN THEM WORKING. I THINK THERE ARE SOME REALLY CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN USE OUR BUILDINGS IF NOT FOR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE ABOUT MAYBE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS THAT WOULD BE A WIN-WIN BECAUSE EMPLOYEES COULD USE THOSE -- CHILD CARE IS VERY EXPENSIVE. PRESCHOOLS AND SO FORTH. MAYBE A SLIDING SCALE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, FREE TO OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND ALSO USED FOR CAREER AND TECH ED PURPOSES TO TRAIN FUTURE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS AND SO FORTH. I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE AMAZING IDEAS ON HOW TO UTILIZE THE BUILDINGS BECAUSE
245WE ARE CREATIVE PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING OUR BUILDINGS. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE SINCE IT CAME UP DURING THE AGENDA ITEM AND THIS CONVERSATION. I DO WANT TO REVISIT THAT FUND BALANCE POLICY. I'LL PUT IN ANOTHER WORKSHOP REQUEST FOR THAT SO WE CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM BECAUSE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET'S AND WHAT'S HAPPENING. I DID WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS. I CAN SEE YOU'RE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN I LOOK AT -- OUR NUMBER ONE JOB IS MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND GET AN EDUCATION. BUT WE ARE $4.2 MILLION CORPORATION, A LOT OF ASSETS AND FUNDING AND PROPERTIES, AND WE HAVE TO BE REALLY SMART. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS IN A
246BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE MORE MONEY. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET MONEY FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IF WE CONTINUE TO BE UNDERCUT, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EVERY CONTRACT DOING RFPs. WHEN I LOOK AT THE GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT, THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT WE STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT FUTURE SCHOOLS. THERE ARE SCHOOLS -- I WENT TO A SCHOOL THE OTHER DAY, AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THERE, WE COULD NOT KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN WITH THAT LOW ENROLLMENT. WE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. DO WE HAVE TO DO LONG-TERM LEASES UNTIL THINGS CHANGE? BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES ARE CHANGING. THEY ARE BUILDING UP, BUT ALSO BIRTH RATES ARE DOWN. PEOPLE AREN'T HAVING CHILDREN. IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO
247LIVE IN THE CITY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTIES. I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS, MR. FARKAS, TWO, THREE YEARS NOW, LET'S DO LONG-TERM LEASE. LET'S START BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THIS. IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW, THE CHOICES WON'T BE LEFT TO US. THE DECISIONS MADE FOR US. WE NEED TO BE VERY ASSERTIVE, LOOK AT THE BIOLOGIES AND LOOK AT WHAT WE'LL DO WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE. SELLING THEM IS NOT AN OPTION. SHOULD BE LEASED. PAYROLL 60 MILLION EVERY TWO WEEKS, NO REASON YOU'RE GOING TO SELL A BUILDING. REALLY LOOKING AT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS AND HOW WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE, WE NEED TO START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT IN EDUCATION. YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THE
248AVERAGE CHILD IS NOT GOING TO BE GOING TO SCHOOL 8 IN THE MORNING AND LEAVING SCHOOL AT 4. AI WILL CHANGE A LOT OF THINGS. NEED TO START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. BEING INNOVATIVE, MAYBE A SCHOOL SUPPORTING HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS AND WE CAN CHARGE FOR THAT. WE NEED TO REALLY START LOOKING AT OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A REAL CORPORATION AND HOW WE CAN MAKE MONEY. IF WE DON'T GET MONEY FROM THE STATE, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WE MAKE MONEY FROM THE ASSETS WE HAVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE'VE BEEN SAYING OUT OF THE BOX. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE HAVE TO THINK INNOVATIVELY. GET THE ADVERB THERE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SELLING OR LEASING, THAT'S
249FINE. WHAT I REALLY THINK IS THE HIGHLIGHT IS THE MULTIPURPOSE. SO EXAMPLE, AND THIS CAME FROM MR. LEWIS, THE ISC BUILDING, WE CAN PUT ALL THAT INTO ONE OF OUR EMPTIER SCHOOL BUILDINGS. WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE YET TO THE POINT OF MEMBER COMBS, WE NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE AND HAVE THE DESIRABLE TYPES OF MULTIPURPOSE OR MULTIUSE SCHOOLS SO WE CAN LURE THOSE CHILDREN IN. FINE EXAMPLE IS THE MONTESSORI AT ESSRIG. IT HAS A WAITING LIST. TALK TO US ABOUT INNOVATION. Van Ayres: IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE WORKSHOP SCHEDULED. IT KEPT GETTING PUSHED AROUND GROWTH MANAGEMENT. THE SAME CONVERSATIONS, I NEED, THE STAFF NEEDS DIRECTION ON WHERE WE WANT TO GO. BECAUSE WE CAN DO A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS, OPTIONS WITH CHOICES WITH SCHOOLS, WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH BUILDINGS. I LOOK
250FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME WHERE WE CAN SIT IN A WORKSHOP AND TALK THROUGH THAT BECAUSE WE NEED DIRECTION ON WHERE THE BOARD WANTS TO GO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONSENSUS AMONG THE BOARD. I WANT TO MAKE SURE BY NEXT TUESDAY THAT THE BOARD, MYSELF, STAFF WILL BE READY TO GO THAT WE HAVE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC SO THE GROUND RUNNING. Christopher Farkas: YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY WELL. THIRD-PARTY VENDORS THAT COME OUT AND DO ANALYSIS. I KNOW MARKET RATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND COMPARABLES. MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE MARKET, REAL LIVE DATA AND GIVE US DIRECTION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD ON NEXT STEPS BECAUSE WE'LL TALK ABOUT REPURPOSE OF BUILDINGS. ANOTHER ASPECT OF THAT AND I TALKED
251TO A FEW BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT IT, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LEASE BUILDINGS. A LOT OF DIFFERENT NONPROFITS, A LOT OF GROUPS LEASING FROM OTHER PLACES THAT ARE COMMUNITY ASSETS. MR. AYRES HAS GIVEN US THAT DIRECTION. SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERS PAYING RENT OTHER PLACES. PAYING REPRESENT TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND KIDS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THOSE TO THE BOARD AS WELL. Lynn Gray: THIS IS TO MEMBER HAHN'S POINT, HAVE THE WHITEBOARDS OR POST IT. LET US GIVE YOU IDEAS FOR THE REPURPOSING. THAT IS A FUN ACTIVITY BUT WE HAVE BACKGROUND. SOME OF US ARE COUNTYWIDE AND BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A WHILE, WE CAN GIVE VERY SOLID IDEAS. SOME OF US HAVE TAUGHT IN DIFFERENT SCHOOL MODELS. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AS WELL. AS CREATIVE TYPE. BOARD MEMBERS, WE DON'T NEED TO GIVE
252ALL THE WORK TO YOU BECAUSE WE CAN ALSO REINVENT. WE CAN ALSO THINK OUTSIDE EVERY BOX. THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO SAY IS, YES, LEASING IS CRITICAL. WHILE WE CAN BE FANCY AND HAVE THE DYNAMIC, ECLECTIC TYPE OF ALTERNATE LEARNING SITES, WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A REVENUE SOURCE, A CONTINUALLY ONE. MEMBER COMBS POINT, LEASING IS VERY CRITICAL. BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM ARE FAVORABLE. SELLING PERHAPS THE LAST RESORT. MY TWO CENTS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SO, ONE, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO RESPOND TO DR. HAHN THAT I THINK IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY -- UNFORTUNATE THE WAY IT WENT DOWN. I WAS CLEAR THAT I WANTED THOSE POLICIES SEPARATED. I ASKED ALL THE PEOPLE COORDINATING ON THAT TO DO THAT BEFOREHAND SO THAT WOULD BE VERY CLEAR. I'M
253SORRY YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT WOULD BE THE CASE. I WAS VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT. I'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE I STAND ON IT FROM THE BEGINNING. OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T NEED TO REQUEST A WORKSHOP. WE HAVE A POLICY CYCLE. SURE BRING THAT UP IN ANOTHER POLICY CYCLE. GOING FORWARD, I MADE A POINT TO EVERYONE WHO HELPS WITH THE HEARINGS TO BE VERY CLEAR, IF THERE IS A REQUEST TO SEPARATE THAT, THAT'S VERY TRANSPARENT AND WE HAVE A MUCH STRONGER PROCESS IN VOTING ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF CHAOTIC. I ALSO DID ASK IF WE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL CAME BACK TO VOTE ON THAT SPECIFIC AND WE WERE TOLD IF YOU WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK YOU COULD. I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET SPECIFICALLY, ONE, THANK YOU, MR.
254LEWIS, FOR JUST YOUR TRANSPARENCY, YOUR PARTNERSHIP. IT IS SO REFRESHING. I THINK I SAY THIS EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, ASK YOU QUESTIONS, TO GET HONEST ANSWERS, TO FEEL LIKE I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSTANT TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE FACT THAT WE JUST CONTINUALLY HAVE DELAYS IN OUR THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A BUDGET PLAN THAT I UNDERSTAND WHY MEMBER GRAY HAS URGENCY IN THAT OR WHEN WE HEAR OUR LEGISLATORS CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAYING WITHIN OUR BUDGET, THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO GIVE US OUR QUARTER REPORTS ON TIME SO WE CAN BUILD OUT A BUDGET. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DELAY FROM LEGISLATION THAT LAST WEEKS TO EVEN FINALIZE A BUDGET AND FROM THE STATE A DELAY WITH HOW LONG
255OF NO ANSWERS WHERE IT WILL BE. BUILDING OUT A BUDGET AND NAVIGATING FINANCIAL STRESSFUL TIMES IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. MAKES IT FEEL IRRESPONSIBLE AND SET UP TO FAIL. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING TRANSPARENT ON THE FACT THAT ■WE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR OUR COUNTS SO WE CAN BUDGET. WHEN WE GET WHAT WAS IT NOT 9 MILLION, 12 MILLION TAKEN OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUARTERLY REPORTS WILL BE, IT IS EXTREMELY FILLED WITH ANXIETY. AS A BOARD MEMBER TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, NOT EVEN UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE IS GOING TO BE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO MENTION AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND BRING IT UP TO YOUR ATTENTION, SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T IN OUR AGENDA MEETING, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE
256DEPARTMENTS AND IT KIND OF POINTS OUT HOW MUCH REVENUE HAS COME IN COMPARED TO HOW MUCH THAT DEPARTMENT HAS SPENT OF THEIR REVENUE, THERE ARE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT AND HAVE OVERSPENT THEIR BUDGET. WHEN I'VE ASKED ON CLARITY AROUND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS OVERSPEND, I DIDN'T GET A LOT OF CLARITY ON THAT. THE ATTEMPT IS TO PUT SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE AROUND THAT, THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE AND I DON'T HAVE CLEAR ANSWERS TO THAT IS PROBLEMATIC TO ME. I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. Van Ayres: OKAY. I'LL NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. MR. LEWIS. Jamie Lewis: YES, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT. Van Ayres: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENTAL, BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING, I WANT TO
257MAKE SURE -- SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE'RE SPENDING WHEN I DON'T THINK WE ARE. Jamie Lewis: REALLY TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT OCCUR. ONE IS THE DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS. SOMETIMES THINGS HIT THE GENERAL FUND AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO ANOTHER BUCKET FOR WHATEVER APPROPRIATE REASON THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. JUST IN THE WRONG BUDGET. SO THERE IS A TIMING ISSUE FOR THAT. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS A TIMING ISSUE JUST IN GENERAL. SOMETIMES NATURAL OVERSPEND BEFORE EVERYTHING CATCHES ITSELF UP. THINK ABOUT IT, THE BEST BUDGET IN THE WORLD IS SPREAD OUT EVENLY OVER 12 MONTHS. DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN NATURALLY. SOMETIMES HIGHER ON SOME MONTHS YEAR TO DATE VERSUS WHERE WE WOULD BE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. WE'LL PROVIDE CLARITY ON THAT ONE TOO. Jessica Vaughn: JUST TO BE CLEAR WHEN I ASK AT THE END
258OF THE YEAR IF THERE ARE STILL DEFICIENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE GONE OVER BUDGET AND WHAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEVEL LOOKS LIKE FOR THAT I WAS TOLD IS JUST COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS. I'M GOING TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. TO CLARIFY, THAT IS ONE THING IN PROCESS AS WE MENTIONED THAT IS GOING TO BE CHANGING FROM ACCOUNTABILITY STANDPOINT, FROM MONTHLY ENGAGEMENT STANDPOINT BETWEEN FINANCE AND EACH DEPARTMENT. WE BELIEVE WE CAN PUT PROCESSES IN PLACE NOW THAT OUR TEAM IS HERE TO ENSURE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. Jessica Vaughn: I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THAT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEW CFO IS SUPPORTED IN THAT AND NOT PUSH-BACK WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
259QUESTIONS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ONE IS 7.06, GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING PROJECT AT LOIS AVENUE. Van Ayres: THIS IS GMP FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING PROJECT AT LOIS AVENUE. REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE GMP FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING FACILITY AT LOIS AVENUE. WE PROPOSED TO CREATE A CHARGING AREA ON LOWEST -- LOIS AVENUE COMPLEX, ABILITY TO CHARGE VEHICLES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED BY ADDING CHARGING STATIONS FOR UP TO 8 ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THAT IS 7.06, GMP FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING ON LOIS. Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER RENDON AND DR. HAHN PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Stacy Hahn: MR. FARKAS, IS THE 1.3 HERE
260THE TOTAL COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE ELECTRIC PUSS? IS THIS JUST ONE STATION AND THERE ARE OTHERS? Christopher Farkas: THIS IS THE SECOND STATION. WE HAVE THE ONE AT KING HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS COVERED BY THE GRANT. THIS ONE IS LOIS. IF YOU LOOK IN THE ACTUAL ITEM, THE CONTRACT ITEM, THE ACTUAL CHARGING UNITS ARE ABOUT $270,000 AND ABOUT $70,000 WORTH OF ELECTRIC. REALLY ABOUT $340,000 THAT IS THE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS. REST IMPROVEMENT AT LOIS. FLOODING ISSUES, PAVEMENT. SITE WORK THAT MEANS WE'RE GRADING AND DOING THAT PART. $657,000 THAT IS SITE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT MAY SAY IS A PLACE TO ACTUALLY HAVE -- A STATION. Christopher Farkas: YES, EXACTLY. Stacy Hahn: HAD TO BE DONE FOR THIS PURPOSE. Christopher Farkas: CORRECT. NOT ALL STATIONS. Stacy Hahn: DID WE KNOW WE WOULD ADD THIS
261ONE WHEN WE APPROVED THE ELECTRIC BUSES OR AFTER CAN I THINK? SECOND ONE. TWO ELECTRIC GRANTS. Stacy Hahn: KING WAS THE FIRST GRANT. THIS IS THE SECOND -- Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM, THAT'S CORRECT. Stacy Hahn: FIRST GRANT PRETTY MUCH COVERED THE STATION. THIS ONE DID NOT. Christopher Farkas: THAT IS CORRECT. Stacy Hahn: CAME OUT OF YOUR FUND, OPERATIONS? Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT LAST TIME ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE BLUEBIRD ELECTRIC BUSES AND YOU WEREN'T SURE IF THAT WAS GOING TO IMPACT US. CAN YOU GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT? Christopher Farkas: THE RECALL ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO, DID NOT IMPACT US. IT WAS NOT PART OF OUR RECALL, SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD ANOTHER RECALL. WE'VE SENT ALL OF OUR BLUEBIRD BUSES TO ASSESS TO MAKE SURE WE
262MET THAT. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT RIGHT NOW. THEY HAD TO ASSESS EACH ONE. BATTERIES THAT THEY HAD ISSUES WITH. Stacy Hahn: CAUGHT ON FIRE? Christopher Farkas: I BELIEVE SO, YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: IF FOR SOME REASON THOSE BUSES ARE NOT ABLE TO COME BACK TO US ANY TIME SOON, IS THERE, I WOULD IMAGINE LIKE MOST OF OUR CONTRACTS, SOME TYPE OF OUT CLAUSE WHERE WE COULD GET OUT OF PURCHASING THOSE BUSES AND INSTEAD PURCHASE THE THOMAS BUSES THAT THE STAFF AND SUPERINTENDENT ORIGINALLY BROUGHT TO THE BOARD. Christopher Farkas: GREAT QUESTION AND ONE I HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED. I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO RESEARCH. I APPRECIATE GETTING PUSHED IN THAT WAY. AS THE BOARD KNOWS, BUS PURCHASING IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ELSE WE DO. THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS THE ONE THAT
263DOES THE CONTRACT, DOES THE NEGOTIATIONS. WE HAVE TO BUY FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO DO THAT. THERE IS NOT A NORMAL -- I WOULDN'T SAY NORMAL, TRADITIONAL CONTRACT WITH THE 30 DAY OUT, RECALL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE IS NOT A PATH THAT I HAVE FOUND TO GET US OUT OF THE PURCHASE, IF THAT WAS THE BOARD'S WILL. Stacy Hahn: WE'RE STUCK WITH THE BUSES. Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. IF THE BOARD'S WITH ILL IS TO GET OUT OF IT, HAPPY TO GET LEGAL INVOLVED. IT IS THE STATE'S CONTRACT. Stacy Hahn: STAFF DIDN'T WANT THE BUSES. Christopher Farkas: RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE THOMAS, YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? THERE WAS A DISCREPANCY IN THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE TWO BUSES. I ASKED YOU THIS WHEN VOTING ON IT, HOW YOU WOULD LET
264PARENTS KNOW THAT THEIR CHILD WAS RIDING ON AN ELECTRIC BUS THAT WAS NOT UP TO THE SAME SAFETY STANDARDS AND OTHER ELECTRIC BUSES? Christopher Farkas: WE DIDN'T. WE PUT THEM ON THE ROAD AND GOT THEM GOING IN APRIL AND GOT THE RECALL RIGHT AFTER THAT. THE THOMAS BUSES ARE THE ONES -- I'LL VERIFY THAT. Stacy Hahn: LEGALLY IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO LET PARENTS KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE RIDING ON BUSES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND MIGHT CATCH ON FIRE. OKAY. GOOD CHOICE. THANKS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER RENDON. . Patti Rendon: CAN WE CLARIFY, HOW MANY BUSES FROM WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ORDERED -- HOW MANY DID WE ORIGINALLY ORDER? Christopher Farkas: TWO GRANTS FOR 20. TWO LONG-TERM BUSES AND 9 THOMAS BUSES AND 9 OF THE BLUEBIRD BUSES. SECOND
265ORDER WAS IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST ONE. Patti Rendon: OF THE 40 BUSES HOW MANY DID WE RECEIVE FROM EACH? FROM THOMAS AND FROM BLUEBIRD. Christopher Farkas: 18 THOMAS, 18 NEW BIRD AND 4 IC. ICs LAST TIME I CHECKED PROBABLY TWO WEEKS AGO, I Cs HAD NOT COME IN. THE LONG-RANGE ONES, THEY HAD NOT COME IN THE LAST TIME I CHECKED. Patti Rendon: OTHER ONES HAVE. Christopher Farkas: YES. THERE MAY BE A COUPLE WAITING. BOTH ORDERS HAVE STARTED TO COME IN, YES, THAT'S CORRECT. Patti Rendon: ALL 18 OF THE BLUEBIRD BUSES, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN SENT BACK OR VISUAL RECALL THAT NEEDED TO BE A VISUAL RECALL, THEY WERE NOT FULLY SENT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. Christopher Farkas: SECOND TIME WE SAID YOU TELL US IF THESE ARE THE ONES RECALLED. WE SENT THEM TO BLUEBIRD
266AND SAID HOW MANY NEED TO BE RECALLED. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS ALL THE BUSES THAT HAD TO BE RECALLED AND BATTERIES CHANGED OUT. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THAT REPORT. WE HAVE NOT FINISHED THAT PROCESS. Patti Rendon: HOW MANY BUSES ACTUALLY WENT ON THE ROAD? Christopher Farkas: ONLY THE FIRST ROUND. WE DIDN'T GET THE SECOND ROUND OF BUSES UNTIL AFTER THE END OF THE YEAR. WE STARTED THE ELECTRIC BUSS ABOUT A MONTH AND NINE BUSES THAT WENT ON THE ROAD. Patti Rendon: NINE ON THE ROAD ONLY WITH THOMAS. Christopher Farkas: THAT IS CORRECT. Patti Rendon: WHAT WAS THE FIRST RECALL? I'M ONLY AWARE OF THE ONE RECALL WITH THE BATTERIES. I WON'T SAY VIN, NUMBERS OF THE BATTERIES MATCHED THE RECALLS. Christopher Farkas: HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ARTICLES IN THE
267MEDIA ABOUT THE RECALLS. OURS DID NOT MATCH. OURS WERE MADE AFTER THAT RUN. SECONDARY RECALL THAT CAME AFTER THAT AND WE DID HAVE SOME DURING THAT RUN. Patti Rendon: BUT DID NOT MATCH THE NUMBERS I THOUGHT. Christopher Farkas: SOME DID AND SOME DIDN'T. WE SAID TO BLUEBIRD VERIFY. YOU TELL US WHICH ONES NEED TO BE DONE SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFE BUSES. THERE WERE SOME IN THAT, NOT SPEAKING FROM A PLACE OF AUTHORITY. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE REPORT BACK FROM BLUEBIRD. Patti Rendon: THE BATTERY BACK, THE SCREWS OF THE BATTERY THAT WOULD RELEASE THE PROTECTIVE THING ON THEM, NOT NECESSARILY THE BATTERY. IT WOULD BE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS IS WHEN THE BATTERY WOULD THEN AGAIN CATCH ON FIRE WHICH IS WHAT DR. HAHN IS SAYING. I'LL GO BACK TO THE FACT,
268PART OF THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED IS FROM OUR URBAN AREAS AND URBAN CORE UTILIZING THESE. I REMIND YOU, ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, WHETHER BLUEBIRD OR THOMAS WAS THESE ARE GOING TO BE USED IN HIGHLY FLOODED AREAS OF FLORIDA AND HERE IN TAMPA BAY. THAT IS JUST NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE WITH THE MINOR PROTECTION. AGAIN, NOT ACTUALLY THE BATTERY. IT WAS THE SCREWS THAT ATTACH TO THE PROTECTIVE COATING OF THE BATTERY. IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLEX THING. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE DO MAKE SURE WE COMPARE THE SAFETY STANDARDS ON THE TWO BUSES BECAUSE I DO KNOW STATE LAW REQUIRES WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE A SAFETY FEATURE, TAKES ABOUT A YEAR TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE ABOUT A YEAR IN WHICH I BELIEVE BOTH OF
269THEM HAVE SIMILAR SAFETY FEATURES. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE BOARD IS AWARE, FAMILIES ARE AWARE. LAST TIME SAID WOULD HAVE A BUS FOLLOWING THE ELECTRIC BUS. SOUNDS CONFUSING. WHEN WE APPROVED THE FIRST THING, EVERYTHING WOULD BE PAID FOR. STATION, EVERYTHING. I DO REMIND YOU THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE COST OF ELECTRICITY. WE HAVE YET TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. Christopher Farkas: CORRECT. WE GOT THE MORE EXPENSIVE CHARGING STATIONS THAT COULD RUN ALL THE INFORMATION, ALL THE DATA. HOW LONG CHARGED, HOW FAR DID IT GO SO WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD WITH ALL THREE OF THE DIFFERENT VENDORS, THIS IS HOW MUCH IT COSTS PER MILE FOR ELECTRICITY, IN ADDITION TO THE SAFETY. AGAIN, DISCREPANCY ON HOW FAR THEY WENT. ALSO SOMETHING WE CAN TRACK FROM A BATTERY STANDPOINT. WE ONLY HAVE
270LIMITED DATA BECAUSE WE ONLY RAN THEM THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. I'M A FAN OF RUNNING PILOTS IN THE SPRING SO YOU CAN WORK OUT SOME OF THE BUGS BEFORE THE FALL. Patti Rendon: I'M NOT GOING TO APPROVE THIS. IF YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS PURPOSELY DONE TO APPROVE A LOIS STATION FOR ALL OF OUR BUSES BUT JUST TO BE DOING IT FOR THE ONE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE REALLY ACTIVELY WORKING SYSTEM WHERE WE KNOW THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN JEOPARDY I'M NOT GOING TO APPROVE THIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I NEED CLEAR-CUT EVIDENCE THAT IF I PUT A STUDENT IN ANY VEHICLE THAT I KNOW THE SAFETY AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN ALL FEEL THAT WAY RIGHT NOW. Christopher Farkas: THAT'S FAIR. OBVIOUSLY RESPECT THAT DECISION. WE HAVE BOTH DIESEL AND
271ELECTRIC THAT ARE IN THE SAME PLACE LOIS AVENUE. OVER BY THE AIRPORT, WHERE MAINTENANCE WEST IS. ALL THE BUSES WILL BENEFIT FROM THE $600,000 IN SITE WORK. IT WILL BE PAVED. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRIC AND WHAT YOU SAID IS ACCURATE. Patti Rendon: HOW MANY BUSES EACH LOCATION? Christopher Farkas: ELECTRIC, 20 AT EACH LOCATION. Patti Rendon: ARE WE BUILDING ANOTHER STATION? Christopher Farkas: NO. WE HAVE 40 BUSES. TWO GRANTS OF 20. THAT'S IT. Patti Rendon: AGAIN, IN THE CHIME WE ARE IN, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, LOOKING AT INCREASE OF ELECTRICITY, SPENDING $1.3 MILLION WHERE I KNOW THAT CAPITAL MILLAGE COULD GO INTO ESE CENTERS, BENEFITING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS. I HAVE STAFF BEING -- DON'T HAVE GOOD STRUCTURE IN MANY OF THE SCHOOLS. REDONE, UPDATED. I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE
272WHEN I HAVE ANOTHER BUS THAT CAN TAKE THEM -- I CANNOT APPROVE THIS RIGHT NOW. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: MR. FARKAS, IF THIS DOESN'T GET APPROVED, ELECTRIC BUSES BUT WITHOUT ANY PLACE TO POWER THEM? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? Christopher Farkas: YES, HAVE TO BACK THEM UP AT KING. WON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHARGING STATIONS TO MEET THE NUMBER OF BUSES. Nadia Combs: HOW MUCH WAS THE VALUE OF THE 40 BUSES. $425,000 APIECE. ROUGHLY 8.5, 9 MILLION DOLLARS. Nadia Combs: IN GENERAL, THE COST SAVINGS FOR THE GASOLINE HAS GOT TO BE ABOUT 75%. Christopher Farkas: I WOULD BE GUESSING ON THAT PART, TOO. THE MANUFACTURER PUSHED FOR THAT TO BE THERE. WE LOOK FORWARD COMPARING OUR DATA. BUSES WERE GRANT FUNDED. 8, $9 MILLION, THE GRANT PAID FOR THOSE. Nadia Combs:
273IF A BUS WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE OR BE DANGEROUS, WOULDN'T WE KNOW ABOUT IT? Christopher Farkas: CORRECT. IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN, RECALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING JUST LIKE YOUR OWN CAR. Nadia Combs: GIVING THIS IDEA COMING OUT IS NOT TRUE. ALSO, REMEMBER, BOARD MEMBERS, IT WAS A STRONG 6-1 VOTE THAT WE DECIDED TO DO THAT. FOR ME PERSONALLY I WANTED TO MEASURE THE DIFFERENT BUSES AND SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING. THIS IS THE FIRST MARKER. WHICH BUS COMPANY IS OUT AND GOING. THOMAS HAS THE BUSES OUT. STILL WAITING FOR THAT. WHEN DID THE FIRST BUS COME OUT? WHAT WAS THE DELAY? THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE DOCUMENTING ALL OF THIS SO THAT WAY AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CAN LOOK AND SAY OBVIOUSLY THIS COMPANY IS
274BETTER OR THIS COMPANY ISN'T BETTER, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR CAST SAVINGS, LOOKS LIKE FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS. BUS EXPERIENCE REPLACEMENT, WHAT THE REPLACEMENT LOOKS. Christopher Farkas: WARRANTY ITEM,. Nadia Combs: HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THEM TO RESPOND BACK TO US. ALREADY, THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE SOME BUSES OUT AND SOME BUSES NOT OUT, YOU CAN ALREADY SEE YOU'RE SEEING A DIFFERENCE. LET'S SEE WHICH IS A SUPERIOR BUS AND WHICH ISN'T ONCE WE GET GOING. BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO KNOW UNTIL A FULL YEAR IN, I WOULD THINK, A FULL SCHOOL YEAR. Christopher Farkas: QUARTERLY REPORTS. ANYTHING ELSE LIKE A CAR, FIRST GET IT. Nadia Combs: MIGHT LOOK REALLY GREAT THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AND AFTERWARDS IT'S NOT. Christopher Farkas: A LOT OF MONEY WE SPEND ON BUSES. HAVE THEM FOR A
275WHILE. YOU'LL GET THE DATA AS LONG AS WE HAVE THEM. Nadia Combs: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE AMOUNT OF COST SAVINGS, WHEN LOOKING AT 1.3 MILLION, I MEAN, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOU SPEND ON GASOLINE WITH ALL THESE BUSES ALL OVER. I WOULD THINK IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT. Christopher Farkas: 6.8 MILLION JUST ON GAS ALONE FOR BUSES. IT IS A LARGE AMOUNT BUT ALSO WHAT IT TAKES TO REPAIR, IF UNDER WARRANTY. THE EXPECTATION FROM MYSELF AND MY TEAM IS WE GIVE THE BOARD ALL THE INFORMATION. YOU HAVE ALL THAT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. Nadia Combs: LAURA HILL IS TOP-NOTCH. Christopher Farkas: WE HAVE IS PUT UP PRESIDENT ELECT FOR THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE TRANSPORTATION. NOW PRESIDENT ELECT FOR THAT GROUP FOR THE STATE. Nadia Combs: I KNOW SHE WILL BE RESPONSIVE. I
276WANT TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS GOING TO WORK. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I APPRECIATE YOU KIND OF BRINGING THAT UP. I DO APPRECIATE DR. HAHN'S CONSISTENT POINTING OUT WHICH BUS HAS BEEN A BETTER BUS. BUT I WILL SAY QUITE TRANSPARENTLY, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF CAPITULATED WHAT BUS TO RECOMMEND DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE. IT'S NOT LIKE WHEN I TALKED TO STAFF THAT THERE WAS A CLEAR WINNER ALL ALONG. I DO APPRECIATE MEMBER COMBS BRINGING UP THE POINT THAT IS KIND OF WHAT IT WAS. THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATS ON PAPER. UNTIL WE HAVE THEM AND ABLE TO SEE THEM AND LEARN ABOUT THIS, IT'S HARD TO MAKE THE DECISIONS. I KNEW HONESTLY FROM WHEN WE HAD OUR
277PRESS CONFERENCE AND I WALKED IN THE BUSES, I WISH WE COULD HAVE SEEN THEM. TO DR. HAHN'S POINT, I THINK THAT JUST VISUALLY THE THOMAS ONES WERE A BETTER DESIGN. THAT IS THE POINT OF BEING A BOARD IS WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS. WE FOLLOWED A PREVIOUS BOARD AND THE BUS WHEN THEY DECIDED TO SPLIT IT AND FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IS BEST. LEARNING IMPORTANT LESSONS. Christopher Farkas: IT'S IMPORTANT WE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO YOU. IT MAY BE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WE SEE THAT BLUEBIRD IS DOING TEN TIMES BETTER THAN THOMAS. WE WANT TO GIVE REAL DATA AND LET THE BOARD MAKE THE DECISION. Jessica Vaughn: BUT WE DON'T WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BLOW UP. Christopher Farkas: THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA. I DON'T THINK MR. PORTER WOULD LIKE THAT. Jessica
278Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER RENDON AND DR. HAHN VOTING NO. WE ARE ON TO OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM, 10.01, EDUPOINT FINAL SOFTWARE LICENSE FOR SYNERGY STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM -- NO, WE'RE ON A DIFFERENT WAY. Jim Porter: YOU HAVE TO DO 7.11, PIGGYBACK AGREEMENT. Jessica Vaughn: SORRY. JUMPED AHEAD. GOT EXCITED. WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM. LET ME BACK UP. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING. THAT IS 7.11, APPROVE PIGGYBACK AGREEMENT BETWEEN EVERDRIVEN TECHNOLOGIES, LL CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. Van Ayres: AS YOU MENTIONED THIS IS EVERDRIVEN THE PIGGYBACK FOR ALTERNATIVE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. DISTRICT REQUIRES SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR SEVERAL STUDENT POPULATIONS INCLUDING ESE SPECIAL NEEDS, OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS, HARD TO SERVE ROUTES AND MULTI-DICK TRIPS. EVERDRIVEN SUPPORTS THE NEEDS BY
279PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION USING A VARIETY OF VEHICLES INCLUDING SUVs, MINIVANS, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VANS AND SEDANS. PARTNERING WITH EVERDRIVEN ALLOWS THE DISTRICT TO RELIABLY MEET COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION DEMANDS. THIS BOARD HAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SERVICE BY EVERDRIVEN TECHNOLOGY. THIS YEAR'S COST IS NOT EXPECTED TO INCREASE. THAT IS 7.11. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.11. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER RENDON PULLED THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT. Lynn Gray: I DON'T HAVE ANY. I HAD MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: WHEN THIS ITEM CAME BEFORE, I HAD SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM IN PLACE, THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH SUPPORTS SO THEY DON'T CONTINUE TO BE
280ON THIS LIST. PART OF McKINNEY-VENTO, I HAVE YET TO SEE THAT. YET TO SEE THE STRATEGIES WE'RE USING. YET TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS. I SAID IF THAT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO ME AND WE DID NOT SEE WHERE THAT WAS GOING, WHAT THE STRATEGIES WERE, THAT I WAS GOING TO VOTE NO AGAIN. NO FAMILY CONTINUOUSLY HOMELESS BECAUSE WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE TWO AND THREE YEARS USING THIS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. THEY ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED HOMELESS. IF THEY ARE, WHAT SERVICES OR WHERE HAVE WE MADE THOSE CONNECTIONS TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THIS BENEFIT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE. MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE. HAVING THEM HOMELESS TWO AND THREE YEARS IS NOT HEALTHY. WHAT HAVE WE DONE? I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA. I WILL SAY NO ON THIS ITEM. I APPROVED IT
281LAST TIME, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY DOING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND NOT ENSURING THAT WE ARE EITHER CONNECTING FAMILIES TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE OR CONNECTING WITH THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED McKINNEY-VENTO. IF THEY ARE GOING OUT OF COUNTY, WHY ARE THEY GOING OUT OF COUNTY? WHAT ARE WE NOT PROVIDING THEM? THERE IS NOT A COUNTY AROUND US THAT HAS BETTER SERVICES THAN WE DO. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE GOING OUT OF COUNTY. SOME OF OUR ESE INDIVIDUALS, WHAT ARE THOSE REASONS? ARE THEY BEHAVIOR REASONS? WHAT HAVE WE DONE? WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS. WE HAVE THE SERVICES, WHAT ARE WE DOING? ARE THEY BEHAVIOR NEEDS? DO WE IN ESE NEED TO
282ADDRESS THE NEEDS THERE? EQUIPMENT ON THE BUSES. MORE AIDES ON THE BUSES? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO PROPERLY APPROVE THIS MONEY BECAUSE THIS MONEY IS NOT REALLY TELLING ME, ARE OUR STUDENTS HEALTHY OR SAFE AND WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? BECAUSE AGREED, UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE APPROVED VENDORS. THEY DO HAVE STAFF THAT ARE BACKGROUND SCREENED. THAT IS A GOOD THING. I DO APPROVE THAT. AGAIN, IT IS THE REASONS RECEIVING THEM THAT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT BEEN EDUCATED ON WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHY ARE THEY STILL IN THE SITUATION. I'LL CONTINUE TO DO NO IDEAL I HAVE THE FULL INFORMATION OF WHY WE'RE PROVIDING THIS SERVICE AND HOW LONG AND WHEN IS OUR DRAW BACK, WHEN PUTTING ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN, WHAT ELSE HAVE WE DONE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS
283NECESSARY FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: JUST TO ANSWER A COUPLE OF YOUR QUESTIONS SUPERINTENDENT, WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE OF IT. I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THEY JUST NOW OPENED UP THE WAIT LIST THE WAIT LIST HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS FOR HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY, FAMILIES WHO WERE GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE TO HOUSE, SO THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE DISPLACED ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS, AM I CORRECT, TRACYE BROWN? YES, YOU'RE CORRECT. Karen Perez: THOSE FAMILIES ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS SO THEY CONTINUE GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE TO PLACE. I WAS WORKING WITH A FAMILY LAST WEEK, THE WEEK BEFORE LAST, WHO HAS A SON USING THE McKINNEY-VENTO AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, TO YOUR POINT.
284WHEN THEY WOULD PUT THEIR APPLICATION, THE WAIT LIST WAS NOT EVEN OPEN FOR THEM TO EVEN RECEIVE THE SERVICES. AND THEY ARE CONSIDERED NOT HOMELESS IF THEY ARE LIVING WITH SOMEONE, BUT STILL HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A RESIDENCE OF THEIR OWN. AM I CORRECT? Christopher Farkas: DOVETAIL ON THAT. ANNUAL CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW TRANSPORTATION. MS. RENDON'S POINT WE HUNDRED PERCENT NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. ORANGE COUNTY IS SIMILAR TO US. THEY SPEND FOUR AND A HALF TIMES WHAT WE DO ON PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION. IT CAN BLOSSOM. WE HUNDRED PERCENT NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE AND DOING. THESE COMPANIES DO IT BECAUSE THEY MAKE MONEY. THE REALITY DOESN'T TAKE A CDL TO DRIVE THESE. WE CAN PUT OUR OWN PEOPLE. NOW CLOSE TO ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS, IF WE NEED TO
285DO THAT, PUT OUR OWN PEOPLE. SAVE US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES. ONLY ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO. TO YOUR POINT, I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS PRACTITIONER AND TRACY'S TEAM TO WORK. IT'S MUCH MORE ESE AND McKINNEY-VENTO. I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF THEY WERE WITH ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. Karen Perez: EVEN A PRACTITIONER RETIRED WHO MIGHT COME OVER TO WORK WITH YOU AS FAR AS A DRIVER. Christopher Farkas: IF YOU SEE THE RATES, YOU MIGHT START DRIVING. THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. THEY GET PAID PRETTY WELL. Jessica Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH EVERYONE VOTING YES EXCEPT FOR MEMBER RENDON VOTING NO. WE ARE ON THE FINAL ONE NOW. WE ARE ON THE FINAL AGENDA ITEM, 10.01, EDUPOINT FINAL SOFTWARE
286LICENSE FOR SYNERGY STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. Van Ayres: SYNERGY IS THE SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. WE MADE THE SWITCH OVER TO FOCUS HEARING GOOD THINGS AROUND FOCUS AND SIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SYNERGY IS THE SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR 24-25. LICENSING FOR THE SYNERGY PRODUCT IS REQUIRED TO UTILIZE THE SOFTWARE. LICENSING COST IS 248,784. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE THAT I.T. HAS BUDGETED FOR IN 25-26. IT WAS A BUDGETED ITEM AND LAST BIT OF SYNERGY. LICENSE FOR THE FINAL BID OF 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR BEFORE THE MOVE OVER TO FOCUS FOR 25-26. THAT IS 10.01. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 10.01. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS. SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER RENDON PULLED THE ITEM. Lynn Gray: I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I ALREADY
287GOT IT COVERED. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS LAST YEAR, MULTIPLE TIMES MULTIPLE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ASKED FOR A LEGAL ACTION ON SYNERGY, FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE GONE THROUGH, STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH, GET US OUT OF THIS CONTRACT. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL FROM ANY LEGAL ACTION, ANYTHING OF THEM DENYING IT. WE SUED THEM, GOT NOTHING. WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO SUCK IT UP, TAKE IT AND SPEND MORE MONEY. I JUST CAN'T APPROVE MORE MONEY TO THIS COMPANY. AS A DISTRICT, SUPERINTENDENT, THERE'S NOTHING -- YOU GUYS KEEP GIVING US THE FOCUS UPDATE BUT YOU NEVER GAVE US ANYTHING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING AFTER SYNERGY TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT PROVIDING WHAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE TO US. AT A VERY MINIMUM, WHEN
288THEY CAN'T EVEN GIVE OUR ATTENDANCE, THAT IS A PROBLEM. CAN'T TRACK BEHAVIORS, THAT IS A PROBLEM. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT ANY SYSTEM. I FIND THIS TO BE LACK OF A DISTRICT PROVIDING US EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE AS A DISTRICT FROM OUR REQUEST TO GO AFTER SYNERGY FOR WHATEVER IT IS, NEGLIGENCE, TIME THAT WE PUT IN. AT THIS POINT WE COULD DO PAIN AND SUFFERING FROM OUR STAFF. IT'S ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS WHAT WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'VE HAD TO SPENT. WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE FROM YOU GUYS, WITHOUT ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE DISTRICT, I CANNOT GIVE THEM A DIME. IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE WAY WE DO IT, THAT'S THE WAY WE DO -- WE ASKED FROM SEPTEMBER ON FOR YOU GUYS TO GO AFTER THEM, GET SOME RESULTS, WE WANT
289TO GET OUT OF THIS CONTRACT AND IT'S JUST NOTHING. WE GET FOCUS RESPONSE BUT NOTHING ON SYNERGY. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH MYSELF, MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER RENDON VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT. Van Ayres: MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE WILL BE BRIEF THIS EVENING. JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A FULL UPDATES. SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, I THINK BOARD MEMBERS YOU'RE AWARE, SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM BEGAN LAST WEEK. FROM JUNE 2 TO JULY 4, OFFER STUDENTS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR FREE AT SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. ALL CHILDREN 18 YEARS AND YOUNGER CAN ARRIVE AT OPEN SCHOOL MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEAL TIMES
290WILL BE POSTED ON THE FRONT OFFICE WINDOW. CHILD DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ENROLLED IN SUMMER SCHOOL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE MEALS. SIMILAR TO SUMMERS PAST. THIS WAS THIS MORNING, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS TO BOLSTER OUTCOMES AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE. GREAT DISCUSSION ON EARLY LEARNING AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, STRONGLY LINKED WITH ADULT PROSPERITY AND HEALTH OF OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE AND TALENT PIPELINE. /TO SIT DOWN WITH SUPERINTENDENTS, BOTH KEVIN AND JOHN AND HAVE THE PANEL DISCUSSION. MAKE MENTION DATES. TALKED TO MS. McRAE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE GETTING IN HERE. LOOKED AT WHEN WE WOULD BE RECEIVING STUDENT FINAL DATA. JUNE 30. WE JUST GOT AN E-MAIL FROM THE STATE TODAY THAT JUNE 30 WILL BE THE TIME. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE BASICALLY
291HOW WE DID AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT. GRADE THREE, FOUR, FIVE, LOOKING AT JUNE 30th TO GET THAT IN. AFTER THAT DATA COMES IN, IN A FEW WEEKS, COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT, LOOKING AT THE SECOND WEEK IN JULY IS WHEN WE EXPECT TO HEAR INFORMATION ON SCHOOL GRADES. THAT'S KIND OF THE TIMELINE. WE JUST RECEIVED BEFORE WE WALKED IN THE BOARD MEETING, JUNE 30, ALL THE SCHOOL DATA. JULY 8, SHOULD BE GETTING SCHOOL GRADE DATA. PRELIMINARY UPDATES ON WHERE WE STAND. WAITING FOR ONE INITIAL PIECE OF DATA TO COME IN BEFORE WE PROVIDE THE FINAL. STATE DATA JUNE 30 AND JULY 8 FOR SCHOOL GRADES. WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU -- MS. BROWN WAS VERY PROUD OF THIS DATA. SOMETHING THE BOARD CAN BE PROUD OF WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE AROUND THE
292SCIENCE OF READING AND SEE THE IMPACTS. MS. BROWN, GO AHEAD. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE DATA. PM 3 DATA FOR CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR FOR VPK, HEAD START AND PEEPS. PRE-K ESE STUDENTS. 2022 SCHOOL YEAR PM 3 DATA ALSO FOR VPK, WE WERE AT 80%. HEAD START WE WERE AT 55%. PRE-K ESE OR PEEPS, 29 PERCENT READY FOR KINDERGARTEN PM 3. 23-24, YOU'LL SEE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR VPK BY ONE PERCENT. WENT FROM 80 TO 81 AND THEN HEAD START, WE DROPPED A LITTLE BIT FROM 55 TO 53 PERCENT. PRE-K ESE, 29 PERCENT KINDERGARTEN READY TO 33 PERCENT. HERE IS THE REALLY, REALLY GOOD NEWS AND WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD. VPK WENT FROM 81% TO 88%. HEAD START COULDN'T BE PROUDER, 53% TO 71 PERCENT OF THE KIDS IN HEAD START BEING
293READY FOR KINDERGARTEN PM 3. AND THEN FOR OUR PRE-K ESE, 20 POINT IMPROVEMENT. 33% OF OUR STUDENTS IN PRE-K ESE TO 53 PERCENT OF THEM BEING READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. THESE ARE ALL OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS THAT WE TESTED THIS YEAR. WE CONTRIBUTE THIS IMPROVEMENT TO A REALLY, REALLY GOOD TIER ONE CURRICULUM. WE'RE USING FROG STREET AND IN THE SECOND YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF FRAUD STREET FOR PRE-K CLASSROOMS. ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS. WE ARE GETTING COACHING FOR TEACHERS IN PRE-K. AND WE ARE ALSO, OF COURSE, CONTINUING TO DO QUICK DATA CHECKS WITH PROGRESS MONITORING TO SEE HOW KIDS ARE DOING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR INSTRUCTION, BUT WE ARE ALSO USING CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE WHICH IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT HELPS KIDS WITH, HELPS TEACHERS ACTUALLY WITH HOW THEY SUPPORT KIDS
294AROUND SOME OF THEIR EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS ALONG WITH THEIR SELF-REGULATION AND ANY OF THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, OR SOCIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS DATA. WE'VE BEEN WAITING AND WAITING AND WORKING AND WORKING TO GET HERE. I THINK YOU CAN SEE BY THE GRAPH HERE WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OUR KIDS THERE. ALL THE KIDS THAT HCPS HAS BEEN SUPPORTING AND WORKING WITH. Van Ayres: THIS IS THE ALIGNMENT OF CURRICULUM FROG STREET FOR PRE-K. MOVE INTO AROUND -- YOU CAN SEE THE TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, TOTAL OF 3,000 KIDS. THOSE GRAPHS TOTAL ABOUT 3,000. VPK, 88%, SERVE ABOUT 1556, TAKE %, ANOTHER 112 FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN VPK KINDERGARTEN READY. THANK YOU TO THE TEAM. TRACIEE BERGMAN, EMILY CIMINO. SANDY SHOW, STEPHANIE LaBELLE AND ANDREA FRAZIER. ALL OF THE SUPERVISORS ALONG WITH
295THE DIRECTOR EMILY CIMINO WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD. ALSO LISA HAINES. WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ACADEMIC SERVICES. TRACIEE BERGMAN HAS BEEN A JEWEL TO WORK WITH AND OUR TEAMS WORK TOGETHER. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. Van Ayres: THANK YOU TO THE BOARD. MS. BROWN MENTIONED, IT ALL STARTS WITH A BOARD AGENDA ITEM. APPROVED. WE'RE UP FOR TREMENDOUS RESULTS WITH THIS CLASS THAT HAD THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION. VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT AND THE TEAM. THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNER, PUT THOSE UP THERE. JUNE 5, PROUDLY ANNOUNCED THAT 30 OF OUR STUDENTS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WHICH DON'T. BOARD MEMBERS YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS, TO BE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR. BIG, BIG DEAL. SOME OF OUR SENIORS LISTED THERE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 30. QUITE THE
296ACCOMPLISHMENT TO BE NATIONAL MERIT. WE HAVE 30 OF OUR SENIORS THAT HIT THAT MARK. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. FINALLY, AROUND INFLUENCING THE FUTURE, WE DID HAVE LAST WEEK OUR TEAM HELD THE INFLUENCING THE FUTURE LEARNING SUMMIT AT KING HIGH SCHOOL WITH 275 TEACHERS IN ATTENDANCE. ACADEMIC SERVICES TEAM LED THE TWO-DAY TRAINING ON A.I. POLICY IN THE CLASSROOM ALONG WITH HOW TO USE A.I. FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND TEACHING STRATEGIES. OUR DISTRICT IS LEADING THE WAY IN A.I. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET OVER THERE. 275 TEACHERS FIRST FEW DAYS OF SUMMER THAT WERE OUT AT THIS A.I. LEARNING SUMMIT OVER AT KING WAS PRETTY AWESOME TO HEAR ABOUT IT. FINALLY, BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR ME FROM THE PANEL THIS MORNING TO THEN CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF MY DEAR FRIEND GWEN
297HENDERSON WHO MEANT SO MUCH TO THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, OUR COMMUNITY AND IN HER ROLE AS COUNCILWOMAN, SHE WAS A TREMENDOUS FRIEND TO ALL OF US. I'M GOING TO MISS HER, MISS HER GREATLY. IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ME. BUT I MISS YOU, GWEN, ALREADY. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING CITY COUNCIL WOMAN HENDERSON AGAIN. I KNOW THAT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD COMMENTS. YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER WASHINGTON, YOU ARE FIRST IN THE QUEUE. Henry "Shake" Washington: TODAY HAS REALLY BEEN A ROUGH DAY. EVERY NOW AND THEN THERE IS AN ANGEL THAT COMES DOWN ON EARTH, AND WE NEVER KNOW UNTIL THE ANGEL LEAVES. TODAY AN ANGEL LEFT. A TRULY GREAT PERSON IN THE EDUCATIONAL
298FIELD AS WELL IN THE POLITICAL FIELD. ALWAYS HELPING. ALWAYS HELPING STUDENTS. THE STUDENTS WAS HER HEART. THEN SHE BECAME A CITY COUNCIL WOMAN. HARD WORKER. VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HER YEARS, AND SHE DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO BY HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING DISTRICT FIVE. I WANT TO THANK YOU. DID A GREAT JOB. DID A GREAT JOB TODAY. IT'S HARD TO SPEAK AT A FUNERAL, ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON LIKE GWEN HENDERSON. I WANT TO THANK YOU, NADIA, LYNN, PATTI FOR COMING. I -- I'M QUITE SURE A LOT OF YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT. I TALKED TO CHARLIE MIRANDA TODAY. CHARLIE HAS BEEN A CITY COUNCILMAN FOR 26 YEARS. SO MY QUESTION TO CHARLIE WAS, CHARLIE, HAVE YOU KNOWN OF ANYONE, CITY COUNCIL PERSON THAT DIED OR PASSED WHILE THEY WERE IN OFFICE. HE SAID NOT
299DURING HIS 26 YEARS, HE NEVER RECALL THAT. NEVER IN 26 YEARS HAVE WE HAD A PERSON TO PASS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT BRING BACK TO OUR NEXT MEETING AN AGENDA TO CONSIDER NAMING THE MEDIA CENTER AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AFTER CITY COUNCIL WOMAN GWEN HENDERSON WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY. THAT'S MY MOTION. Nadia Combs: I SECOND THAT MOTION. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. SEEING THAT THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH A SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AROUND THE -- I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT VIOLATES POLICY IN NAMING A BUILDING? Jim Porter: NO. THE MOTION IS TO HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT BRING BACK AN APPROPRIATE AGENDA ITEM THAT WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR POLICY. AT THE
300END OF THE DAY, THIS BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NAMING FACILITIES, INCLUDING MEDIA CENTERS. HE'LL DO THAT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF YOUR POLICY AND LAW. CAN'T BE DONE AT THIS MEETING BUT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING. YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THE MOTION, YES. Jessica Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT. PLEASE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO BRING BACK THE AGENDA ITEM TO NAME THE LIBRARY AT JEFFERSON AFTER CITY COUNCIL WOMAN GWEN HENDERSON WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE MORE. Jessica Vaughn: THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE LIGHTER NOW, DORETHA EDGECOMB RECOGNIZED BY THE RAYS AT JUNE 19 GAME FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN EDUCATOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE
301RAYS WERE ALSO RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH WHEN THEY PLAY THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES DURING THAT TIME. GUESS WHO WILL BE THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH, HER DAUGHTER. HER DAUGHTER. NO, NOT ME. I WOULD BE THROWING THE BALL ALL OVER THE PLACE. HER DAUGHTER. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, DORETHA, BECAUSE YOU WELL DESERVE THAT ALSO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON, FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL WORDS. MEMBER GRAY. I'M SORRY. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST HAVE ONE THING TO SAY. IN CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF. IN A WORLD WHERE SOME FACE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THEIR ETHNICITY, CULTURE, OR WHO THEY LOVE, IT'S CRUCIAL THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FEELS ACKNOWLEDGED, VALUED AND RESPECTED AND EMBRACED. KNOW THAT THIS
302BOARD MEMBER IS COMMITTED TO CREATING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE DIVERSITY IS CELEBRATED AND EVERYONE IS SUPPORTED FOR WHO THEY ARE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID. AND THE RECOGNITION AND/OR PROCLAMATION I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH. BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DISCUSSION. OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH OUR STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY COMMITTEE MET WITH ALL THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE CABINET. WE DEFINITELY HAVE A FEAR OF TRAFFICKING THROUGH THE CELL PHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA, STUDENT TO STUDENT. PABLO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SHARE THE VIDEO, BUT A SPECIAL THANKS TO DRUCEY DIAZ PHELPS FOR PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER ON OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE. SHE IS THE CHAIR. JAN EDWARDS, CONNIE ROSE, KATE, AMANDA
303SANCHEZ. WE BEGAN THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE, AND AFTER THAT, THE STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY, SOS, BECAUSE MUCH OF THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING NEFARIOUS CHARACTERS ARE COMING REALLY RIGHT FROM THE CELL PHONES. SO WE HAVE A PANEL OF EXPERTS RANGING FROM THE FBI TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE KNOW MORE FOUNDATION, AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING TO PARENTS AND TO YOUNG ADULTS THE AWARENESS THAT YOUR PHONE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA CAN, IN FACT, BITE YOU BACK AND CAN, IN FACT, BRING YOU INTO WHAT IS CALLED THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORLD. THAT INFORMATION, PHOTOS CAN BE SOLD FARCE THAT PLUS THE HUMAN BEING, THE PERSON, THE CHILD CAN BE SOLD. HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAN TOUCH ANYBODY. DOESN'T MATTER YOUR AGE, RACE, GENDER, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, EDUCATION LEVEL, IT CAN
304HAPPEN TO ANYONE BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO TRAFFICKERS LOOKING FOR VULNERABILITIES IN SOMEBODY AND THEN LEARNING HOW TO EXPLOIT THOSE VULNERABILITIES FOR THEIR GAIN. Lynn Gray: WE ARE GOING TO COMMIT OURSELVES AGAIN GOING THROUGH THE CONNECT TO OUR HELP OUR PARENTS BECOME AWARE BUT STRATEGIES TO PROTECT THEIR CHILD. GOD FORBID IT HAPPENS, WHAT PHONE NUMBERS, WHAT RESOURCES SHALL THEY USE TO MITIGATE WHAT COULD BE VERY, VERY SAD. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AROUND YOU. Lynn Gray: IN CLOSING OF THE APPRECIATION, AMANDA SANCHEZ FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BETSY CONNELLY FBI TAMPA DIVISION, ASHLEE CAPPUCCI, ONE OF OUR OWN. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR FOR PE. JESSICA GORE FROM GAGGLE. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS, CHIEF OF STAFF, DR. RICHARD GRAYES. OUR CABINET MEMBERS, STUDENT SERVICES TEAM.
305OUR FACE TEAM. THANK YOU OWEN YOUNG AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALSO BEING THERE AND SUPPORTING. WE DO HAVE A PLAN TO COVER THE NEXT YEAR. IN THE LITTLE BIT OF TIME THAT REMAINS, I WANT TO THANK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND MEMBER WASHINGTON, ALLISON EDGECOMB WONDERFUL SUPPORTER HAS MADE A COMMITMENT NOT ONLY TO HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS IN 48 SCHOOLS, MINDFUL SHE ONLY STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. HERE IS THE POSTER CONTEST. AS WE CAN SEE IT RANGES FROM DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS. I THINK IT'S ONGOING. YEAH, KEEP GOING. REALLY IDENTIFYING AGAIN THOSE WORDS AND THE NEED FOR FREEDOM AND EQUAL RIGHTS, BUT THIS IS FROM THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO TOOK PLACE, WHO TOOK PART IN THIS POSTER CONTEST. INTERESTING. YOU LEARN A LOT FROM ART, THAT'S FOR SURE. THAT IS
306A GOOD ONE. THANK YOU, MR. C. I HAVE 41 SECONDS, JUST THANKING AGAIN MELISSA MORGADO AND OUR NEW ELL DIRECTOR, JESSICA, FOR THEIR MULTILINGUAL PROGRAM. THEY ARE DOING WONDERFUL WORK AND THEY COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO A HUGE SUMMER INSTITUTE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM AND I AM DONE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ, FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND WE DISCUSSED THAT, THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIDE MONTH AND TALKING ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON, FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD FOR GWEN HENDERSON. I KNOW A VERY, VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IS A LIBRARIAN AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. I REMEMBER FIVE YEARS AGO, SUPERINTENDENT, YOU AND I, YOU WEREN'T SUPERINTENDENT BACK THERE. WE WERE AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND
307WE STARTED TALKING TO GWEN ABOUT WHEN SHE WANTED TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO AND THE DIFFERENCE SHE WANTED TO MAKE. I REMEMBER IT LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN SHE DECIDED TO RUN THAT. I REMEMBER WHAT A GREAT CARETAKER SHE WAS FOR HER MOTHER AS WELL AND THEN ALSO WHAT A LEGACY SHE LEFT WITH HER DAUGHTER. I WAS VERY, VERY TOUCHED BY THE SERVICE THAT AL -- AT ALLEN TEMPLE. SO MOVING. SO BEAUTIFUL. I LAUGHED. I CRIED. IT WAS VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL. I THINK IT'S REALLY NICE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND HOPEFULLY PLAN IT FOR A TIME WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE CAN BE THERE AND REMEMBER IN THAT WAY HER LEGACY LIVES FOREVER. I DID WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER THING. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T EVEN PLAN ON SAYING THIS TODAY,
308LAST WEEK WHEN YOU WENT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, I THINK BACK OF MYSELF IN MY 20s WHEN I TAUGHT IN JAPAN. THERE IN JAPAN IN THE ASIAN CULTURE, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS ARE THE MOST RESPECTED IN OUR SOCIETY. IF YOU GO TO ANYWHERE IN ASIA, I SPENT FOUR YEARS IN ASIA, THAT IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE MOST RESPECTED. VERY BEGINNING OF CLASS, STUDENTS WOULD STAND UP AND BOW AND SAY PLEASE TEACH ME. AT THE END OF EVERY CLASS, THEY USED TO BOW DOWN AND SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO SAY I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THE TYPE OF WAY YOU WERE TREATED AT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I THINK IT'S REALLY SAD WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT -- OUR STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR ADULTS TO MODEL BEHAVIOR. AND
309THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE TALKED TO YOU AND TREATED YOU AS A HUMAN BEING I THOUGHT WAS REALLY SAD. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR POINT ACROSS AND NOBODY IN THIS ROOM, NOBODY WANTS PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS. EVERYBODY WANTS CHILDREN TO BE SAFE. I'D LOVE TO THINK THAT FIVE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS RUNNING INTO A SCHOOL, COME ON, LET'S READ PAGE 258. LET'S LOOK AT THIS. WE WANT TO HAVE A PROCESS. NO REASON FOR SOMEONE TO TREAT YOU THAT WAY. I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED. WHEN I TALKED TO YOU AND I WAS UPSET WITH YOU, I TREATED YOU PROFESSIONALLY AND WITH RESPECT. FOR PEOPLE TO PUT DOWN LIBRARIANS OR TEACHERS, SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUTSOURCING IN PLACES LIKE ZIMBABWE, COSTA RICA, TRYING TO FIND TEACHERS TO BRING HERE, IT'S SAD. EDUCATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
310SOMETHING THAT NOBODY CAN TAKE AWAY FROM YOU. I REALLY HOPE THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STOPS LOOKING AT HILLSBOROUGH AND LOOK AT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING ACROSS THE NATION, FROM BEING MUSIC EDUCATION, BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THE ACCELERATED PROGRAMS THAT WE DO, OUR GRADUATION RATES, HOW HARD EVERYONE WORKS. WE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS WE'RE DOING AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE RESPECTED BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE WATCHING US. THE WAY PEOPLE TREATED YOU, THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT DO THEY REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT PERCEPTION OF THAT. I EXPECT BETTER FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. AND IF THAT EXPECTS ME TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE I EXPECT RESPECT FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT, SO BE IT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO SHARE
311PERSONAL REFLECTIONS. THESE ARE MY OWN THOUGHTS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY AND HONESTLY ESPECIALLY IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. AS WE CLOSE ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH, A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT THE VOICES, CONTRIBUTIONS AND HUMANITY OF OUR LGBTQ+ STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS HOME TO A BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU BELONG HERE. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PRIDE IN WHO THEY ARE. BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED, SILENCED OR DENIED BASIC RIGHTS, PRIDE IS MORE THAN JUST A CELEBRATION. IT'S A STATEMENT OF RESILIENCE AND JUSTICE. I BELIEVE THAT PRIDE IS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+. BECAUSE PRIDE IS ABOUT STANDING TOGETHER, HONORING HUMAN DIGNITY AND RECOGNIZING THAT OUR
312DIFFERENCES MAKE US STRONGER. TO EVERYONE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, HAPPY PRIDE. I THINK MANY OF US WERE DISAPPOINTED THE RECOGNITION WASN'T HONORED TONIGHT, BUT I DO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE ONE IN OCTOBER. NOW, I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT DEEPLY TROUBLED ME THIS WEEK. AS ELECTED BOARD MEMBER, I WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LAW. PROCESS AND LAWS MATTER, BUT LIKE MANY OF YOU, I WATCHED THE RECENT STATE BOARD MEETING OF EDUCATION WHERE OUR SUPERINTENDENT WAS CALLED TO APPEAR. AS SOMEONE WHO SERVES ALONGSIDE DEDICATED BOARD MEMBERS AND EDUCATED I WAS SHOCKED AND FRANKLY APPALLED. THAT MEETING SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT OVERSIGHT, LEGAL CLARITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. INSTEAD, ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WERE MISREPRESENTED AND INSULTED AND EVEN MORE OUTRAGEOUSLY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS WERE TARGETED. THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO HELP MAKE STUDENTS, WHO
313HELP STUDENTS DISCOVER A LOVE OF READING, EXPLORE NEW IDEAS AND THINK CRITICALLY IN A COMPLEX WORLD. AND TO IMPLY THAT LIBRARIANS ARE CRIMINALS TO QUESTION THEIR LITERACY OR TO LABEL THEM CHILD ABUSERS, IT'S NOT JUST FALSE, IT'S DANGEROUS. THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS. THEY ARE EDUCATORS. AND THIS KIND OF RHETORIC DOESN'T EXIST IN A VACUUM. AT A TIME WHEN POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS RISING AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE WAS JUST ASSASSINATED IN MINNESOTA, RECKLESS LANGUAGE IS DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT A GAME. THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE. THESE ARE OUR STAFF, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY DESERVE SUPPORT AND PROTECTION, NOT PERSECUTION. I WILL NOT STAY SILENT AS THEY ARE VILLAINIZED. AS I SAID EARLIER, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW. WE ARE FOLLOWING STATE ORDERS. THE BOARD AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP ARE WORKING TO COMPLY WITH STATE DIRECTIVE, EVEN WHEN THEY
314COME WITH LITTLE GUIDANCE. BUT LET'S BE HONEST, ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY IS NOT BREAKING THE LAW. ASKING HOW DECISIONS WERE MADE, WHAT CRITERIA WERE USED AND HOW OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE INVOLVED IS NOT DEFIANCE. IT'S ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO REQUEST A CLEAR PROCESS. IT IS NOT INAPPROPRIATE TO EXPECT PUBLIC CLARITY FROM PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. IN FACT, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC TRUST IS MAINTAINED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DECISIONS AFFECT OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR CHILDREN. AS JOHN ADAMS SAID, WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS, NOT MEN. LET ME BE CLEAR, WE ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY. WE ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC. AND WHAT THE PUBLIC DESERVES IS CLARITY. THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW THESE 55 BOOKS WERE SELECTED FOR
315REMOVAL. WHAT IS THE PROCESS? WHERE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT? THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT BOOKS. IT'S ABOUT WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO READ, EXPLORE, AND IMAGINE, AND THAT'S WHY TRANSPARENCY MATTERS. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW I STILL EXPECT A CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVERY BOOK REMOVED FROM OUR SCHOOLS. I EXPECT A TRANSPARENT, DEEP REPORT FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT EXPLAINING THE INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS. I EXPECT THAT REPORT TO BE MADE PUBLIC. LASTLY, IF THE STATE WANTS TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON HILLSBOROUGH, I WELCOME IT. BECAUSE WHAT THEY'LL SEE IS A COMMUNITY DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. THEY'LL SEE STUDENTS THRIVING, TEACHERS INNOVATING AND BOARD MEMBERS, DESPITE RELENTLESS PRESSURE FIGHTING EVERY DAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS. NOT A POLITICAL AGENDA, BUT SUPPORT, CLARITY AND TRUTH. I'M SORRY TO GO A
316LITTLE BIT OVER. IN CLOSING, LET ME SAY THIS, EVERY BOARD MEMBER HERE IS COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THE LAW AND WE ARE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH PROFESSIONALISM, TRANSPARENCY, AND CARE BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING AND THEY DESERVE BETTER. MOVING FORWARD WE TRULY HOPE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT'S GROUNDED IN MUTUAL RESPECT, SUPPORT AND SHARED PURPOSE FOR THE GOOD OF OUR SCHOOLS, OUR EDUCATORS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. RIGHT ON TIME. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.