06/02/2025 - Regular Meeting

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 PROGRAM 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 MATERIAL 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: JUNE 2, 2025 MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER COMBS WILL LEAD US IN

003A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION. [MOMENT OF REFLECTION] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE HAVE TWO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. 2.02 AND OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TAMPA BAY WORKFORCE ALLIANCE AND 2.03, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF, TAMPA BAY WORK FORCE ALLIANCE. I NOW NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT EXCEPT FOR DR. HAHN AND MEMBER PEREZ. WE HAVE FOUR SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. APRIL 29, 2025, SCHOOL

004BOARD WORKSHOP, MAY 6, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. MAY 12, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP AND MAY 13, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. 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 AND 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, AND IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO

005GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER COMBS WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Nadia Combs: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV, AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AT 5:01. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND AT 6 P.M., WE HAVE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO RECOGNITIONS. A 101, RECOGNITION OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE

006AWARD. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP ANN MARIE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP, ENGAGEMENT, PHILANTHROPY, AND OUTREACH. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS AND GUESTS. THE BUCS BEST KREWE PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY OUR AMAZING PARTNER THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS RECOGNIZES STANDOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, OVERALL IMPACT ON STUDENTS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, HERE TONIGHT TO ANNOUNCE THIS MONTH'S AWARD RECIPIENT. AS YOU WELL KNOW, TRAFFIC IN TAMPA IS A LITTLE BIT THICK, AND HE IS COMING IN THE DOOR RIGHT BEHIND ME. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. HOW ARE YOU? HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR? YES. THANK YOU. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR. HOW ABOUT THAT? WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

007I'M BRIAN FORD. AND I AM JUST EXCITED TO BE HERE TO ANNOUNCE OUR FINAL WINNERS OF THE BUCCANEERS BEST KREWE. THEN WE'LL GO IN AND IN THE AUGUST MEETING WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE GRAND WINNER. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF EXAMPLES TO SHOW WHAT THIS PROGRAM HAS DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING UP. WITH THAT SAID, I APOLOGIZE JUST WALKING IN, OUR FIRST AWARD RECIPIENT IS MR. JAKE RUSSELL, THE PRINCIPAL AT CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE A LITTLE GAME BALL. IN READING OVER -- CATCH THE BALL. IN READING MR. RUSSELL'S FEEDBACK FROM HIS PEERS, HIS STUDENT BODY, THE FAMILIES OF THE STUDENTS, IT'S QUITE EVIDENT THAT HE ABSOLUTELY REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE STRIVING TO BRING ABOUT IN THE RECOGNITION FOR BEING A BUCS BEST

008KREWE MEMBER. HE'S BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR 20 YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF SERVICE ALONE WOULD MERIT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION, BUT MR. RUSSELL HAS DONE SO MUCH MORE THAN SERVE AS A PRINCIPAL. HE LED FOR OVER A DECADE AT SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL ALONG WITH HIS TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS EARNED AN "A" SCHOOL GRADE, WHICH IS REMARKABLE FOR ALL THOSE CONTINUOUS YEARS. HE WAS A PRESENCE ON CAMPUS AT EVENTS AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND WAS RESPECTED AND LOVED BY THE SICKLES FAMILY. ALMOST A DECADE AGO, HE ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE OF MOVING TO CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL AS THEIR PRINCIPAL. AT THAT TIME, CHAMBERLAIN HAD BEEN A "D" FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS. VERY FIRST YEAR AS THEY IMPROVED TO OVER 140 POINTS AND THEY MAINTAINED A "C" GRADE EVERY YEAR SINCE. MR. RUSSELL AND HIS TEAM HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY

009TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL, INCREASE COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI INVOLVEMENT AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. HE IS A MEN TORE TO MANY CURRENT PRINCIPALS AND SEVERAL FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MR. RUSSELL SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THIS RECOGNITION SPEAKS TO BOTH OF THAT AND YOUR LONGEVITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. CONGRATULATIONS. OUR NEXT RECIPIENT IS ROSS ANDERSON. MR. ANDERSON IS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. AGAIN, THIS IS COMING FROM YOUR PEERS AND THE STUDENT BODY AND EVERYONE THAT YOU AFFECT. YOU PUT IN YOUR TIME AND RESOURCES AND HEART INTO EVERYTHING AND EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR JOB. YOU WORK TIRELESSLY IN THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND HELP THEM EARN THEIR DIPLOMAS AND HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE IN THE WORLD BEYOND

010HIGH SCHOOL. YOU CAN BE DESCRIBED AS AN ADVOCATE, A LEADER, A ROLE MODEL, AND AN EXAMPLE, A FRIEND, A SUPPORTER AND A FATHER FIGURE AND MOST OF ALL A MENTOR, JUST TO NAME A FEW. YOU ARE THE FOUNDER OF MEN OF VISION, WHICH IS REMARKABLE. IT'S A PROGRAM COMMITTED TO GROWING AND DEVELOPING YOUNG MEN INTO LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH RESOURCES, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION, TUTORING, ADVICE, CARE, AND LOVE. TRULY A MENTOR. YOU ALSO HELP THEM WITH BIG WAIVERS TO TAKE COLLEGE ASSESSMENTS, CALCULATORS, IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND ANYTHING THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS. YOU HAVE BEEN QUIETLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR YEARS ON NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR THE KIDS. THAT COMES FROM YOUR PEERS. ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR

011ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUCCANEERS AND THIS AWARD EVERY MONTH. IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING HERE. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO A 02, RECOGNITION OF STUDENTS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN CALL UP MS. ANN MARIE COURTNEY, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP, ENGAGEMENT, PHILANTHROPY, AND OUTREACH. AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MR. AYRES, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET AND GUESTS. TODAY WE RECOGNIZE FOUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE SHOWN GREAT COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH A DEMONSTRATION EVER PERFECT -- OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS 2,340 DAYS OF CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

012PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOLING. JAMES WOMACK ONCE SAID, COMMITMENT UNLOCKS THE DOORS OF IMAGINATION, ALLOWS VISION, AND GIVES US THE RIGHT STUFF TO TURN OUR DREAM INTO A REALITY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE FOUR STUDENTS WE RECOGNIZE TONIGHT HAD A DREAM TO EARN PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE, BUT THEY HAVE MADE IT A REALITY. EACH OF OUR FOUR GRADUATING SENIORS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE WILL BE PRESENTED WITH A BRAND-NEW LAPTOP FROM OUR PARTNER IN EDUCATION, SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION. IN ADDITION, SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION IS KINDLY PROVIDING EACH STUDENT WITH A $500 SCHOLARSHIP IN GIFT CARDS. BOB HYDE, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION, AND JEFF KRONBERGER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SUNCOAST CREDIT FOUNDATION IS WITH US THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE THIS TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT. IT IS NOW MY HONOR

013TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THESE FOUR EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS. CHLOE WILSON, BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL. COLBY WILSON, BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL. DALTON BRAMLETT, DURANT HIGH SCHOOL. AND HAILEY AVERON, ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT FORECASTS MANY SUCCESSES IN YOUR FUTURE. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF THESE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS. YOUR SUPPORT OF YOUR CHILD'S COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. ANOTHER HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION AND THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR GENEROUS GENEROSITY IN PROVIDING THE STUDENTS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND A SCHOLARSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES, ON YOUR UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. Jessica Vaughn: CONGRATULATIONS. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU, SUNCOAST, FOR ALWAYS GIVING BACK TO OUR STUDENTS. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS

014FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THEIR RESPONSES. OUR 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 A STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AS OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE SPEAK 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

015THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN AND A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I'LL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. HI. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY CALLAHAN. I'M A THIRD GENERATION FLORIDIAN WHO ATTENDED NINE SCHOOLS ACROSS THIS STATE AND MANY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I STARTED AT WOODBRIDGE ELEMENTARY AND I GRADUATED FROM HB PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. THE DISTRICT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING WHO I AM TODAY. I REMEMBER IN NINTH GRADE MY FRIENDS AND I WORE OUT THE SCHOOL'S COPY OF JUDY BLOOM FOREVER. NOT BECAUSE IT WAS SCANDALOUS BUT BECAUSE OF A SINGLE MILD SEX SCENE AT THE END. THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF OUR EDGY CONTENT. TODAY, I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WE KNOW THERE

016IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHALLENGING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AND CONTENT BLATANTLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN. TAKE TRICKS BY ELLEN HOPKINS, A BOOK STILL AVAILABLE IN SOME SCHOOLS. WHICH PREDICTS UNDERAGE PROSTITUTION, SEXUAL ABUSE AND DRUG ADDICTION THAT HAS NO PLACE IN A K-12 SETTING. OUR KIDS ARE IMPRESSIONABLE, THEY COME TO SCHOOL NOT JUST TO LEARN MATH AND SCIENCE, BUT TO BUILD CHARACTER, JUDGMENT AND SELF-AWARENESS, EXPOSING THEM TO ADULT CONTENT BEFORE THEY ARE READY DOESN'T PREPARE THEM. IT CONFUSES THEM AND CAN CAUSE REAL HARM. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORTS OVER 700 BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED OR CHALLENGED ACROSS THE STATE FOR VIOLATING AGE APPROPRIATENESS GUIDELINES. YET IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT. IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN NEARLY THE BOOKS REMOVED THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED. IN

017FACT, THERE'S REALLY ONLY BEEN ONE. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORTS -- WE'RE WORKING WITH $4.3 BILLION BUDGET HERE, PLACING US AMONG THE TOP-FUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY. WITH THAT KIND OF FUNDING COMES RESPONSIBILITY. THE FACT THAT THIS DISTRICT HASN'T TAKEN MEANINGFUL ACTION WHILE OTHERS ACROSS FLORIDA HAVE IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT CENSORSHIP. IT'S ABOUT AGE-APPROPRIATENESS, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. OUR CURRICULUM MUST BE -- RESPECT BOTH THE INTELLIGENCE AND THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN. ABOVE ALL, WE NEED A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WORKS WITH PARENTS, NOT AROUND THEM THIS ISN'T POLITICAL. IT'S PARENTAL. IT'S PERSONAL. ABOUT PROTECTING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT OUR KIDS DEPEND ON TO GROW, NOT RUSHING THEM INTO ADULT REALITIES THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND YET. I URGE THIS BOARD TO IMPLEMENT A CLEAR AND PUBLIC PROCESS FOR REVIEWING QUESTIONABLE MATERIAL, FOLLOW FLORIDA LAW

018REGARDING INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT AND WORK WITH, NOT AGAINST THE PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS WHO SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT. PLEASE DO BETTER. OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE IT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. I'M TERESA MILLER. I HOPE YOU ALL GOT THE FLYER I PUT TOGETHER THAT EVERY TIME I POST IT ON Facebook IT GETS TAKEN DOWN AND THOSE ARE DIRECT QUOTES AND PICTURES FROM BOOKS STILL IN OUR SCHOOLS AFTER WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. FLORIDA'S CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE RIGHT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ARE BEING EXPOSED TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT. THESE MATERIALS HE BE COURAGE AND NORMALIZE PRETEEN AND TEEN SEX, SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS, MULTIPLE SEXUAL PARTNERS AND EXTREME SEXUAL PROMISCUITY. THIS IS A GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOLS. WHAT VALUES, BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY THEY HAVE LITERARY VALUE,

019ARE THESE BOOKS TEACHING OUR CHILDREN? WHAT KIND OF FUTURE, WHICH SAYS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, WHAT TYPE OF LIFE IS THAT PREPARING THEM FOR? IT'S NOT A MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY OR EDUCATION. IT'S PROMOTING A CULTURE THAT GLAMORIZES, QUITE FRANKLY, PROSTITUTION. THIS CONTENT IS NOT AGE APPROPRIATE. IT DOESN'T REFLECT EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS THAT WE EXPECT IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM, IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE KEEP HEARING THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE UNDER ATTACK. WELL, I AGREE, BUT NOT IN THE WAY SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT'S UNDER ATTACK. IT ISN'T THE PARENTS OR COMMUNITY VOICES. IT'S THE FACT THAT THESE INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS HAVE NOT BEEN REMOVED YET. LET'S BE CLEAR. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BANNING BOOKS OR SILENCING DIVERSE VOICES. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO YOU ELIMINATE CHALLENGING CONTENT OR ERASE PERSPECTIVES. WE'RE ASKING TO YOU REMOVE MATERIALS THAT

020ARE SEXUALLY GRAPHIC, DEVELOPMENTALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND ACTUALLY DAMAGE THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN. ASK YOURSELF IF THE BOOK IS TOO GRAPHIC TO BE READ HERE OR PICTURES TO BE SHOWN, WHY ARE WE ALLOWING IT IN OUR SCHOOLS? FLORIDA LAW MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOUR JOB IS TO REQUIRE TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE POLICIES ENSURING ALL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE AGE AND MATURITY OF THE STUDENTS. THEY ARE NOT -- THEY ARE LEGAL MANDATES, NOT OPTIONS. THIS ISN'T A BOOK BAN. IT'S NOT AN ATTACK ON EDUCATION. IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND HONESTLY COMMON SENSE. PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A PLACE OF LEARNING AND GROWTH, NOT PLACES WHERE MINORS ARE EXPOSED TO MATERIAL THAT'S HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE. STOP USING OUR CHILDREN AS POLITICAL PAWNS. THEIR EDUCATION, SAFETY AND INNOCENCE SHOULD NEVER BE SACRIFICED FOR POLITICAL AGENDA. OUR SCHOOLS ARE

021MEANT TO EDUCATE. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY THIS YEAR AND GET RID OF SOME OF THOSE BOOKS, IF NOT ALL OF THEM. GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LIST WE HAVE AND REMOVE THESE BOOKS FROM OUR SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. CARMEN EDMONDS. I'M HERE TODAY AS A PARENT, TAXPAYER AND DEEPLY CONCERNED MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVEN -- THAT WE EVEN NEED TO BE HERE AGAIN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, ONE THAT SHOULD BE ROOTED IN COMMON SENSE AND YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN HAVING TO URGE OUR LOCAL LEADERS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION ON SOMETHING AS FUNDAMENTAL AS REMOVING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AND AGE INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MANY HAVE BEEN PUT ON REVIEW, BUT THEY NEED TO BE REMOVED ONCE

022AND FOR ALL. THE BOOKS CONTAIN GRAPHIC LANGUAGE, GRAPHIC PICTURES AND DISTURBING CONTENT THAT MANY PARENTS ARE SHOCKED TO LEARN THEIR CHILDREN CAN ACCESS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS ISN'T A CULTURAL WAR. IT'S ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY. THERE ARE TWO GRAPHIC PICTURES FOR YOU TO VIEW, AND IT ALSO HAS VERY GRAPHIC EXCERPTS OF OTHER BOOKS THAT YOU CAN REVIEW AS WELL. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THAT IF I STOOD HERE TODAY AND READ THOSE OUT LOUD MANY PEOPLE WOULD GET UP AND LEAVE, EMBARRASSED OR MAD. READ THEM VERBATIM, WE WOULD BE INTERRUPTED OR WARNED FOR VIOLATING PUBLIC DECENCY. IN SOME CASES IT WOULD VIOLATE BROADCASTING OR SOCIAL MEDIA STANDARDS. SOME MADE INTO A MOVIE AS WRITTEN WOULD BE TRIPLE X VIOLENT THE WORST OF THE WORST. READ ALOUD PUBLICLY IN A ROOM IS NOT ALLOWED AND I'VE TRIED

023TO POST SOME OF THESE ON Facebook AND IT'S TAKEN DOWN, WHY ON EARTH IS IT ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARIES? IF YOU COVER YOUR EARS OR AVOID THE IMAGES ITSELF, THEN IT DOESN'T BELONG IN A CHILD'S HANDS. WHERE IS THE LITERARY VALUE? THERE IS NONE. IF IN THE AUDIENCE YOU ARE CURIOUS, COME FIND ME, I STILL HAVE HANDOUTS. WE'RE NOT ABOUT BANNING BOOKS, NOT ABOUT TAKING AWAY THE CLASSICS. WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF PORNOGRAPHY IN THE SCHOOLS AND IT IS LEGITIMATE PORNOGRAPHY AS ACCORDING TO FLORIDA STATE STATUTES. THE STATUTES HAVE BEEN READ TO YOU BEFORE, I ASSUME AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS YOU KNOW THEM 1,001.42, 1,001.518. 10,006.29 AND STATUTE 847, ALL OF THOSE ARE ABOUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENTS AND WHAT THE DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY IS CONCERNING MINORS.

024ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, FOLLOW THE LAW, PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. KEEP REMOVING THESE BOOKS THAT HAVE NO BUSINESS IN OUR SCHOOLS. PLEASE DO YOUR JOBS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT MANNY DIAZ AND GYMS, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND GET THE BOOKS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RANDOLPH DELVANIRI. I AM A FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, A RETIRED TEACHER. YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THAT. BUT I'M VERY DISTURBED. AFTER RETIREMENT, I HAD A MENTORING GROUP THAT WENT INTO THE LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT I WORKED AND WORKED WITH STUDENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS THAT CAME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. YOU KNOW, IT WAS POINTED OUT BY THE PRINCIPALS, BY THE SOCIAL WORKERS, BY THE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PARENTS WANTING HELP, WANTING SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE FAIL OUR

025STUDENTS, WE FAIL OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE STANDING HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT. I WAS ASKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO COVID TO BE ON A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW BOOKS THAT WERE QUESTIONABLE. SO THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHY ARE THEY ON THE SHELF TO BEGIN WITH? HOW DID THEY GET THERE? WHERE'S THE GATEKEEPERS? WHY ARE WE EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION? AND HAVE WE IDENTIFIED WHY THEY GOT ON THE SHELF TO BEGIN WITH? AND WHAT STEPS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CENSORSHIP. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BANNING BOOKS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE AGE-APPROPRIATE MATERIALS ARE IN FRONT OF STUDENTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING. IN 2023, THE CDC CAME OUT WITH A REPORT, AND IT'S SHARED THAT OVER 40% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE DESPONDENT.

026THEY ARE DEPRESSED. SO WHAT WE HAVE ON OUR SHELVES SHOULD BE THERE TO HELP EDUCATE, MOTIVATE. IT SHOULD BE AGE APPROPRIATE. IT SHOULD GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY, AN INSPIRATION FOR THEM. THE LAST POINT IS, THINK ABOUT THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE SHELVES, IF THEY DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE, FREELY TALKING IN OPEN ABOUT ANY BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITHOUT FEAR OF ETHIC VIOLATIONS, THEN MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE A FLAG. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. CAN I ALSO CALL UP SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10 AS WELL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DEBBIE HUNT. I SEE ONCE AGAIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS IN THE HEADLINES FOR CONTINUING TO HAVE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES. AS

027THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ONLY AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS FOR ALL STUDENTS. IT'S TIME TO HONOR THAT DUTY AND REMOVE ALL INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS FROM YOUR LIBRARIES AND RESTORE COMMONSENSE VALUES. REMOVING HARMFUL OR EXPLICIT CONTENT IS NOT BOOK BANNING. A BAN PROHIBITS ACCESS EVERYWHERE. REMOVING A BOOK FROM A SCHOOL LIBRARY ENSURES IT'S NOT IN AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING MEANT FOR CHILDREN. THESE BOOKS REMAIN IN BOOKSTORES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR ONLINE. JUST OF NOTE, OVER A YEAR AGO, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES IMPLEMENTED A MINOR RESTRICTED LIBRARY CARD TO ENSURE THAT THE -- THAT STUDENTS, CHILDREN COULD ONLY CHECK OUT BOOKS THAT WERE AGE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM. THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS, NOT CENSORING IDEAS. PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND THIS AS SCHOOL LIBRARIES MUST REFLECT OUR

028COMMUNITY'S VALUES AND PRIORITIZE STUDENT SAFETY. IF I GAVE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TO A CHILD, I WOULD BE ARRESTED AND I SHOULD BE. IT'S AGAINST THE LAW. YET ALLOWING SUCH CONTENT IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES IS NOT ONLY AGAINST THE LAW, IT EXPOSES CHILDREN TO MATERIAL THAT ERODES THEIR INNOCENCE AND INTRODUCES IDEAS THEY AREN'T COGNITIVELY DEVELOPED ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND BUT TO PROCESS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. YOU'VE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AS ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, YOU MUST STOP SUPPORTING CONTENT THAT SEXUALIZES OR INDOCTRINATES OUR CHILDREN AND START PROTECTING THEM. JUST THIS PAST WEEK, THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT'S RULING IN LITTLE VERSUS LONGO COUNTY, WHICH IS IN TEXAS, PROVIDED CLEAR LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR THIS ACTION. THIS RECENT DECISION AFFIRMED THAT SCHOOL BOARDS CAN LAWFULLY REMOVE OBSCENE OR INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS WITHOUT VIOLATING THE FIRST AMENDMENT

029AS LIBRARY CURATION IS -- SPEECH. EMPOWERS TO ACT BOLDLY TO ENSURE OUR LIBRARIES ALIGN WITH COMMUNITY VALUES. I URGE YOU TO REVIEW ALL BOOKS IN QUESTION, LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS, AND REMOVE HARMFUL CONTENT. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. UPHOLD THE LAW, AND RESTORE TRUST IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS NOW THAT I'VE BEEN COMING HERE. I'M GOING TO OFFER FOUR YEARS OF HIGHLIGHTS ACTUALLY WE'LL GO WITH LOW-LIGHTS. FIRST, IT WAS THE BLUEST EYE WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS ASSIGNED THAT 15 YEARS OLD AT NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL. I READ RIGHT HERE ABOUT THE PEDOPHILE PLAYING WITH LITTLE GIRLS WHILE THEIR LEGS WERE SPREAD AND TASTING THEIR, QUOTE, STURDY LITTLE TITS. THAT WAS SHOCKING AND HORRIFYING. YOU TRIED TO STOP ME FROM READING THAT, BUT THAT IS

030A LITTLE BIT IRONIC NOW TO THINK ABOUT. THIS BOOK HAS REMAINED IN OUR SCHOOLS BY THE DOZENS. AMERICAN PSYCHO. YOU KEPT THIS BOOK I READ TO YOU A YEAR AGO WITH THE ORGY MURDER SCENE WHERE THE PROTAGONIST OF THE STORY BIT OFF FLESH AND PUBIC HAIR FROM ONE OF HIS PROSTITUTES BEFORE SAWING OFF HER HEAD AND THEN TAKING HER MOUTH AND USING IT TO PLEASURE HIMSELF WITH JUST THE HEAD. YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. YOU LEFT THAT BOOK ON SCHOOL LIBRARY SHELVES. YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK THE STEINBRENNER LIBRARIAN WHY SHE HAS FIVE COPIES OF IT. AND THEN THIS BOOK IS GAY. YOUR PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF SEVEN MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPAL AND THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE, PEOPLE WITH TITLES IN OUR DISTRICT VOTED TO KEEP THIS BOOK IS GAY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW TO

031PROPERLY LICK THE CLITORIS FOR BEST RESULTS AND TO GIVE A BLOWY AND HANDY. AND FIVE STEPS FOR USING A SEX HOOKUP APP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO KEEP IT IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS. ONLY BY A NARROW VOTE DID THAT MAKE IT OUT OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND STILL REMAINS IN HIGH SCHOOLS. STILL REMAINS THERE. BLANKETS. YOUR COMMITTEES AND SCHOOL, YOUR SCHOOL AND DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND YOU THE BOARD ALL VOTED TO RETAIN THE BOOK BLANKETS WITH A 15 PAGE BEDROOM SCENE GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED WITH KNEW THAT TEENAGERS PERFORMING SEX ACTS AND ILLUSTRATION OF MASTURBATION AND SEXUAL ADULT OF A SMALL BOY AND YOU VOTED TO KEEP IT. ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE. I READ THIS TO YOU AS WELL, HERE IS A QUOTE, THERE YOU STOOD IN FRONT OF ME FULLY ERECT AND SAID TASTE IT. THESE ARE

032LITTLE BOYS. AT FIRST I LAUGHED AND REFUSED THEN YOU SAID COME ON, MATT, TASTE IT. THIS IS WHAT BOYS DO WHEN WE LIKE EACH OTHER. THAT'S WHEN YOU BEGAN ORAL SEX ON ME AS WELL. SO MUCH MORE IN THAT BOOK. YOU KEPT THIS BOOK AS WELL AFTER I READ IT TO YOU. IT WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. STILL REMAINS IN MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOLS AND A MIDDLE SCHOOL, UNDER REVIEW NOW THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. INVISIBLE MONSTER, A BOOK YOU ALSO RETAINED CHUCK POLL KNOCK BOOKS, INSERTING A LINE OF CANDLE WAX INTO A BONER FOR THE MOST PLEASURABLE MASTURBATION. FELL MUCHING THAT REMAINED ON YOUR SHELVES. DESCRIPTION OF PERFORMING ANAL SEX, RETRIEVING SEMEN OUT OF THE ANUS WITH YOUR MOUTH AND PASSING IT TO THE BORN. NOBODY STOOD UP AND SAID THIS DOES NOT BELONG IN

033OUR BOOK. YOU HAVE -- HANNITY, JESSE WATERS, ALL TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE BOOKS YOU HAVE KEPT HERE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. I'M CAMDEN GEBHARTS. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF JULIE. THANK YOU, MOM FOR STANDING UP FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THOSE WHO HAD NO VOICE AND WHAT THEY WERE HANDED WAS HORRIBLE. FOUR YEARS AGO, I WAS ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS AT 15 YEARS OLD. I WAS HANDED THE BLUEST EYE. THIS BOOK GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBES INCESTUOUS RAPE OF 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL. ORGASMS, INCEST, PEDOPHILIA, MASTURBATION, HOMOSEXUALITY, BESTIALITY AND SODOMY. DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK THIS CONTENT IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE? DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK THAT HANDING PORN, LATERAL PORNOGRAPHY TO MINORS PREPARES THEM FOR LIFE. AS ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THERE IS PORN

034HANDED TO CHILDREN IN YOUR SCHOOLS. BUT YOU JUST SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. IF YOU THINK IT IS, YOU SHOULD ASK FORMER STUDENTS LIKE ME AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT. MAKING PORN AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN IS NOT DOING YOUR JOBS. READING BOOKS SUCH AS THE BLUEST EYE BY TONY MORRISON DOES NOT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. CONTENT LIKE THIS MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE. SOME OF YOU HAVE EVEN E-MAILED MY MOM ASKING HER TO STOP READING THIS IN -- AT BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS. HOW DO YOU THINK I WOULD HAVE FELT AT 15 YEARS OLD? IT IS YOUR JOB AS ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO PROTECT AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WHY DON'T YOU DO YOUR JOB? THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. CAN

035I ASK TO CALL UP SPEAKERS 11 THROUGH 16? YOU MAY BEGIN. HELLO. MIKE PLORE. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT. WHEN SOMEONE BELIEVES THEY ARE NOT BEING HEARD, THEY DON'T TALK SOFTER. I'VE COME TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS FIVE TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE IN NINE MONTHS. ACCORDING TO MR. MARCUS MURILLO, HE WAS ASSIGNED BY SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES TO SPEAK WITH ME ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2024. MR. MURILLO CHASED ME OUT OF THIS BUILDING HERE AND SPOKE WITH ME FOR ABOUT A MINUTE ASKING ME TO SEND HIM SOME INFORMATION VIA E-MAIL. I DID SEND HIM THAT STUFF VIA E-MAIL AND HE RESPONDED ON SEPTEMBER 9 THAT HE WOULD, QUOTE, HAVE A RESPONSE SOON, END QUOTE. THEN GHOSTED. THE ONLY REASON WE KEEP HAVING THREE-MINUTE CONVERSATIONS IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING UP. NO RESPONSE IN E-MAIL, PHONE CALL, TEXT OR IN PERSON.

036LAST MONTH, I EVEN MADE AN OFFER OF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND SPEAK WITH ME. NO ONE TOOK ME UP ON THAT. NO ONE IN THIS BUILDING EVEN REACHED OUT AFTER THAT. AT THE FIRST MEETING I MENTIONED A FORM THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THAT SUPPORTED A POLICY OF EXCLUSION AND DISCRIMINATION. WITHOUT THAT FORM THAT IDENTIFIES BY NAME AND STUDENT ID NUMBER, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT WITH DATA THE CLAIMS THAT I HAVE MADE. HOWEVER, THEY CAN BE 100% BACK WITH DATA BECAUSE YOU CREATED A FORM THAT TRACKED IT TO THE PERSON. ADDITIONALLY, I MADE A CLAIM OF FINANCIAL FRAUD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS THE DUTY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY. IN ANOTHER MEETING, I SPOKE WITH MR. JARGO, MR.

037LEWIS, MS. SHERMAN AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE CT DEPARTMENT WHERE I OUTLINED A SET OF UNLAWFUL FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PURCHASING OF CERTIFICATION VOUCHERS. DID HE INVESTIGATE THAT? DID THEY REPORT THAT? I BELIEVE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT SUCH ITEMS. INSTEAD, WHAT THEY DID IS THEY ARE CHANGING THE POLICY. THIS IS THE VERY POLICY THAT THEY ARE THROWING OVER THE WALL TO TEACHERS SO THEY CAN WASH THEIR HANDS OF IT. THIS IS WHY THEY ARE DOING THESE THINGS. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE FRAUDULENT ACCUSATION HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEM, YOU KNOW WHERE I AM. IF NOT, WE'LL TALK LOUDER. HAVE A NICE DAY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS ALYSSA HEINZ. AS PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE SHARE PROFOUND RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE

038HAVENS WHERE YOUNG MINDS WITH GROW, LEARN, THRIVE. IT IS NOT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL MATERIAL TO STUDENTS. WHILE SOME OF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR REELECTION, THE LIE YOU TOLD ABOUT YOUR HANDS BEING TIED AND NOT UP TO YOU AS THE BOARD OR SUPERINTENDENT SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE. THAT'S NOT MY PERSONAL OPINION. THAT'S THE LAW. SECTION 1,006.28 FLORIDA STATUTES GIVE THE SCHOOL BOARD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHOOSE MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS. IT IS ESSENTIAL UPON YOU AS SUPERINTENDENT TO ENSURE THAT THESE MATERIALS ARE AGE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE. I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE OPENED ANY OF THE BOOKS THAT JULIE GEBHARDS HAS READ REPEATEDLY. PROHIBITS THE PROVISION OF MATERIAL THAT CONTAINS ANY MATTER DEFINED IN SECTION 847.001. EXPLICIT DETAILED VERBAL OR NARRATIVE DEPICTIONS OF SEXUAL EXCITEMENT OR SEXUAL CONTENT THAT IS HARMFUL TO

039MINORS. IT IS YOUR JOB AS A SCHOOL BOARD TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE FROM THIS MATERIAL. THE SAME SECTION 847.001, IT STATES IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO PROVIDE THESE SAME BOOKS TO INMATES IN OUR JAILS AND PRISONS. SO OKAY FOR OUR STUDENTS BUT NOT CRIMINALS. CHILDREN'S MINDS ARE LIKE SPONGES. EARLY YEARS ARE A TIME FOR BUILDING FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS, READING, MATH, AND THINGS LIKE KINDNESS, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY. INTRODUCING SEXUAL CONTENT WHEN IT IS NOT AGE APPROPRIATE CAN DISRUPT THE PROCESS, PROVEN IN SCHOOLS BELOW GRADE READING LEVELS AND TEST SCORES. EARLY EXPOSURE TO SEXUAL MATERIAL CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION, ANXIETY AND DISTORTED VIEWS OF RELATIONSHIPS OR SELF-IMAGE. STUDENTS, CONTENT CAN BE OVERWHELMING, PULLING FOCUS AWAY FROM THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN AND TOWARD ADULT CONCEPTS THAT THEY ARE NOT READY TO PROCESS. OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD PRIORITIZE EDUCATION THAT

040NURTURES THEIR DEVELOPMENT, NOT COMPLICATES IT. SOME SCHOOLS, CURRICULUM BOOKS OR CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS HAVE INCLUDED EXPLICIT OR SEXUAL CONTENT UNDER THE GUISE OF INCLUSIVITY OR HEALTH EDUCATION WHILE TEACHING ABOUT HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS HAS ITS PLACE BUT MUST BE DONE WITH CAUTION ENSURING THE MATERIAL MATCHES THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE OF THE CHILD. THIS ISN'T ABOUT CENSORSHIP. THIS IS ABOUT COMMON SENSE. SCHOOLS MUST BALANCE EDUCATION WITH THE NEED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CONTENT THAT BELONGS IN ADULT SPACES. AS A DISTRICT YOU HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO FOLLOW THE LAWS PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN FROM THIS CONTENTS. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE OVER CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS. INVEST IN RESOURCES THAT TEACH CRITICAL THINKING AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BANNING BOOKS. THIS IS ABOUT FOLLOWING THE LAWS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE

041BOARD. FOR THE RECORD, MONTY FLOYD, PROUD EAST BAY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1998 GRADUATE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE TODAY NOT JUST AS A FATHER OF FOUR BUT -- OR A MEMBER OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY, BUT ALSO A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS A MATTER OF SERIOUS CONCERN WHICH IS PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A DEBATE ABOUT CENSORSHIP OR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING MINORS FROM CONTENT THAT IS NOT ONLY HARMFUL BUT ALSO EXPLICITLY PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE SECTION 847.012, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO KNOWINGLY DISTRIBUTE, SELL, OR SHOW OBSCENE MATERIALS TO MINORS, ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS. OBSCENE MATERIAL IS LEGALLY DEFINED AS CONTENT WHICH APPEALS TO THE PRURIENT INTERESTS, SEXUAL

042CONTENT IN OFFENSIVE WAY AND LACKS -- POLITICAL OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE FOR MINORS. WHEN SUCH MATERIAL IS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS, THE DISTRICT IS VIOLATING STATE LAW AND EXPOSES ITSELF TO LEGAL CONSEQUENCES BY PARENTS. BEYOND LEGALITY, WE MUST CONSIDER RESPONSIBILITY. SCHOOLS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. PROVIDING ACCESS TO PORN UNDER THE GUISE OF LITERATURE OR DIVERSITY UNDERMINES THAT TRUST. FURTHERMORE IT TRAMPLES ON THE RIGHTS OF PARTISANS AND EXPOSES CHILDREN TO ADULT THEMES THEY ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY READY TO PROCESS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, NOT ONLY AS A PARENT, BUT AS AN AUTHOR, THAT WE ARE NOT HERE TO ERASE OR BAN BOOKS. WE ARE HERE TO UPHOLD COMMUNITY STANDARDS, FOLLOW THE LAW AND ENSURE THAT OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN SAFE EDUCATIONAL SPACES AND NOT THE EQUIVALENT OF A SEEDY 1980s ADULT VHS RENTAL CLOSET.

043I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BOARD TO DO ITS JOB, FOLLOW THE LAW AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE AN EDUCATION THAT CHALLENGES THEIR MINDS, NOT ONE THAT ENDANGERS THEIR INNOCENCE. IF I MUST ADD REAL QUICK, WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT EAST BAY, ONE OF OUR PARENTS SHOWED HAPPY GILMORE. IT WAS TOWARDS I THINK MY JUNIOR YEAR. THAT TEACHER WAS THROWN OUT FOR SHOWING HAPPY GILMORE. THE STUFF YOU'RE PUSHING IS SOMETHING LARRY FLYNT WOULD PUT IN A PENTHOUSE, WHICH IS TEN TIMES WORSE THAN ANYTHING THAT WAS EVER FEATURED IN HAPPY GILMORE. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS TRISHA LONG. I'M THE PARENT OF TWO CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND I WANT TO

044TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY FIRST TO THANK THE TEACHERS, THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS, THE ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WORKED WITH MY CHILDREN THIS YEAR. MY EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT CONTINUES TO BE A POSITIVE ONE. OUR SCHOOL STAFF TRULY CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEM. THE REASON I CAME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IS ABOUT THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY OUR SUPERINTENDENT IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT OTHERS HAVE REFERENCED HERE. THAT LETTER THREATENED LEGAL ACTION IF TWO BOOKS WHICH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LABELED AS PORNOGRAPHIC WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM SCHOOLS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT ONLY DID THE SUPERINTENDENT REMOVE THOSE TWO BOOKS, HE ORDERED HUNDREDS OF OTHER TITLES TO BE TAKEN OFF SCHOOL LIBRARY SHELVES FOR REVIEW, AND THIS IS THE SUBJECT OF MY

045REMARKS TODAY. IN HILLSBOROUGH, WE HAVE BENEFITED FROM A THOROUGH, TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR ANY BOOK CHALLENGE. WHETHER THAT CHALLENGE CAME FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY. CHALLENGED BOOKS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY A GROUP INVOLVING PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, AS WELL AS SCHOOL MEDIA SPECIALISTS. THIS PROCESS ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY AND THE ACTUAL PARENTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY TO HAVE INPUT INTO WHETHER OR NOT BOOKS SHOULD REMAIN ON THE SHELVES. IT OFFERS RESPECT TO THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF STUDENTS. IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, WE ARE IN THE DARK. THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHICH TITLES ARE BEING REVIEWED NOR HAS THE COMMUNITY BEEN OFFERED ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS. AS A PARENT, I FIND THIS CONCERNING. PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS OUGHT

046TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS BEING REMOVED AND TO HAVE A SAY IN WHETHER OR NOT THESE BOOKS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR OUR OWN CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT TRUST IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW AND, QUITE FRANKLY, CONDUCTING A SECRETIVE REVIEW PROCESS DOES NOTHING TO REPLENISH THE TRUST AND GOODWILL. I WANT TO SEE AN OPEN AND FAIR REVIEW PROCESS THAT INVOLVES THE COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING CALLED PORNOGRAPHIC IN THIS CONTEXT. IF A BOOK IS REMOVED, I WANT TO KNOW THE REASON FOR REMOVAL. TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST AND SECRECY DOES NOT. IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS GIANNI HUNT. ON BEHALF OF MAGNUM FIVE VOICES, A CONCERNED CITIZENS GROUP IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY,

047WHICH INCLUDES A COALITION OF PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, VETERANS, AND UPCOMING VOTERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO TAKE SOME TIME AND GIVE YOU OUR PERSPECTIVES. AS FORMER MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST AND U.S. ARMY VETERAN WHO HAS SERVED SEVERAL YEARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IN IRK AUTO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT -- AND IN IRAQ, I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF RESTRICTING ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND INFORMATION. IN PLACES WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS CONTROLLED, PEOPLE LOSE THE ABILITY TO THINK FREELY, CHALLENGE OPPRESSION, AND THE ABILITY TO PURSUE HAPPINESS. IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING TO SEE BOOK BANS. AND WE'RE TALKING BEYOND SEXUAL CONTEXT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS ABOUT RACE, ABOUT DIVERSE FAMILIES. IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNING TO SEE BOOK BANS GAINING TRACTION IN THE UNITED STATES. ECHOING THE SAME SUPPRESSION I HAVE SEEN IN WAR RAVAGED NATIONS CONTROLLED

048BY AUTHORITARIANISM. THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES HAVE CENSORED LITERATURE TO PREVENT CRITICAL THINKING. BY BANNING BOOKS IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, WE'RE FOLLOWING A DANGEROUS PATH THAT UNDERMINES DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES. AND INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, VIOLENCE THAT I AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE FOUGHT FOR. BOOKS CHALLENGE IDEAS. THEY FOSTER EMPATHY AND THEY EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT CULTURES AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. HAVING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES IS AN ASSET AND BRINGS ADVANTAGES IN NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE. STUDIES INDICATE IT ENCOURAGES CURIOSITY AND AIDS IN DEVELOPING LIFELONG LEARNERS. IT STRENGTHENS PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS AND PREPARES THEM FOR THE REAL WORLD. IT FOSTERS EMPATHY AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND FRANKLY MINIMIZES ANGER, ANXIETY, WHICH OVERALL WILL REDUCE SCHOOL VIOLENCE. DIVERSITY IS A REALITY. EARLY EXPOSURE HELPS CHILDREN NAVIGATE SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN SCHOOLS AND BEYOND. IT WELL-ROUNDED PERSPECTIVE IS A GIFT THAT KEEPS GROWING WITH THE CHILD.

049BY SUPPRESSING LITERATURE, WE DENY COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND LEARN FROM HISTORY. IT FRANKLY STYLES OF PROGRESS. SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES MUST REMAIN PLACES OF INCLUSION AND ENLIGHTENMENT, NOT INSTRUMENTS OF CENSORSHIP. I URGE YOU ALL TODAY, THE DECISION MAKERS, I URGE YOU TO REJECT BOOK BANS AND UPHOLD THE VALUES OF FREE EXPRESSION, EDUCATION AND DEMOCRACY. KNOWLEDGE SHOULD NEVER BE FEARED. IT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, PROTECTED AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR HAVING THIS MEETING. MY NAME IS CHUCK FRANK. I MOVED TO VALRICO FROM NEW YORK CITY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I'M A FORMER ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FOR COLLEGE IN NEW YORK CITY. I'M A FORMER CEO OF A TECHNOLOGY PUBLISHING COMPANY THAT WAS A JOINT

050VENTURE WITH FORBES MAGAZINE AND A FORMER PASTOR OF A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN MASSACHUSETTS. WORN THREE HATS SO FAR IN MY CAREER LIFE. EACH ONE OF THEM GIVES ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE. THE ACADEMIC HAT WAS ABOUT RESEARCH. WHAT IS THE CURRENT MENTAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENT OF TODAY'S TEENAGERS AND TWEENS. THE DOMINANT THEME IS THE NATIONAL EPIDEMIC OF TEEN SUICIDE. AND SUICIDE IS NEVER PRESENT WITHOUT SERIOUS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. OVER 20% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS POPULATION? BETWEEN 2007 AND 2018, THE TEEN SUICIDE RATE JUMPED BY 60%. THAT TIME FRAME PARALLELS THE RISE OF SMART PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SUICIDE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER FOR TEEN GIRLS AND MINORITIES. 80% OF PARENTS IN THE U.S. DO NOT AGREE WITH SEXUALIZED READING CONTENT THAT IN THEIR BELIEF GOES TOO FAR. 80% OF

051YOUR CUSTOMER BASE BELIEVES THAT YOU KNOW THIS AND DON'T CARE. 80% OF YOUR CUSTOMER BASE IS UNHAPPY WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE, THUS THE NEED FOR THESE MEETINGS. BEING TONE DEAF TO YOUR CUSTOMERS CONCERNS, FRUSTRATES THEM BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF FORCED TO SUFFER PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE U.S. FLORIDA RANKS 41st OUT OF 50 STATES IN PUBLIC SCHOOL RANKING. WE ARE IN A STATE THAT IS ADVOCATING FOR PORNOGRAPHY IN OUR SCHOOLS WHILE WE ARE RANKED 1st -- 41st OUT OF 50. WRONG PRIORITIES IF YOUR CONCERN IS EDUCATION. PARENTS KNOW THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION IS MORE ABOUT SOCIAL ENGINEERING AND LEFTIST ADVOCACY THAN IT IS ABOUT FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION AND THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT IT. AS A FORMER PASTOR, I CAN TESTIFY THAT THIS IS THE MOST VULNERABLE, UNHAPPY, AND CONFUSED GENERATION OF TEENS AS TWEENS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

052THEY ARE CAUGHT IN THE CROSS-FIRE OF A BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. THEY NEED SERIOUS ATTENTION, NOT PORN. MOST OF THEM DO NOT FEEL LOVE FOR WHATEVER REASON. THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND CARED ABOUT AND NOT SEXUAL OBJECTS. TO FINISH, REFERENCE A QUOTE BY THE SON OF GOD, SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME TO ME AND WHOEVER HARMS THE LEAST OF THESE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THEM TO HAVE A MILLSTONE TIED ABOUT THEIR NECK AND BE THROWN INTO THE DEEP THAN TO EXPERIENCE THE COMING JUDGMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS JEAN COLEMAN. I AM A PARENT OF TWO ADULT GIRLS WHO LIVED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WENT TO BUCHANAN AND CHAMBERLAIN WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I'M GLAD I CAME AT

053THE END BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING. I'VE NEVER COME TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING BEFORE. MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, ARE THAT THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD GONE AHEAD AND DIRECTED THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO GO AHEAD, I THINK IT'S 6 OR 8 HUNDRED TITLES BE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY. TO ME, THERE'S SORT OF -- THE ISSUE HERE IS WHY IS THE STATE STEPPING IN AND TELLING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHAT TO DO IN THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIES? I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT. THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS I UNDERSTAND HAS A TRANSPARENT POLICY TO REVIEW BOOKS, AND TO TAKE THE PARENTS' INPUT AND TO LOOK AT COMMUNITY STANDARDS. THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. I DON'T NEED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO MAY HAVE POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS TO BE TELLING ME WHAT

054BOOKS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LIBRARY. THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND. I DON'T AGREE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHOULD HAVE STATE OFFICIALS TELLING THEM HOW TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS. AND THEN LET'S GET INTO SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE MY OBSERVATIONS CLEAR. I'M A FORMER PROSECUTOR. I KNOW PORNOGRAPHY WHEN I SEE IT. BLUEST EYE IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY. I HEAR THIS TERM PORNOGRAPHY BEING BANDIED AROUND, THESE BOOKS ARE NOT PORNOGRAPHY. AND PARENTS NEED TO HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE READING. THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BAN BOOKS. I AGREE THAT THERE HAS TO BE AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS, THE STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS, BUT DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU THINK BLUEST EYE IS INAPPROPRIATE. IF I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR MY CHILD TO

055READ. THAT'S A PARENTAL DECISION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHILDREN. I'M GLAD I GOT TO HEAR ALL THESE SPEAKERS BECAUSE I'M JUST THINKING WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T AGREE. THAT'S NOT WHAT I WOULD DO FOR MY CHILDREN. ANYWAY, I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER, THE THREE SPEAKERS BEFORE THAT BY HAVING THESE BOOKS REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY. IF WE DON'T HAVE TRANSPARENCY, THEN WE START MOVING TOWARDS -- WE START MOVING TOWARDS AUTOCRACY AND WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS. HOW ARE YOU? I JUST WANTED TO, FIRST, FOR THE RECORD, SUSAN VALDES, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 64. MR. PORTER, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, GREAT TO SEE YOU. MR. AYRES AND

056STAFF. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO COME BY AND CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR SUCH WONDERFUL GRADUATIONS. I PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL OF THEM. SO PROUD OF THE STUDENTS. I WANT TO THANK THE TEACHERS, THANK THE PRINCIPALS, THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND I'M ALSO BRINGING SOME GREAT NEWS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN I SAT IN THOSE SEATS, ONE OF MY BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT I HAD AROUND THIS TIME WAS TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS WALK ACROSS THE STAGE WITH AN ACTUAL DIPLOMA AND NOT A LITTLE PARTICIPATION PAPER CALLED CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A VERY GOOD DIPLOMA, RIGHT? WELL, I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE THE LAY OF THE LAND. THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION HAS BEEN ABOLISHED. THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT INTO LAW

057THIS PAST WEEK SO THAT WILL NO LONGER BE AN OPTION FOR ANY OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO RECEIVE A PARTICIPATION TROPHY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COST TAXPAYERS OVER 13-YEAR PERIOD OF OVER $124,000 AS A MINIMUM OF AN INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR OUR KIDS. I KNOW THAT AFTER I LEFT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO HASHTAG FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE TO THE STATE HOUSE WAS SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. HERE WE ARE TODAY BEING ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU ALL THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE AN OPTION. MEMBER RENDON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN ENCOURAGING OTHER SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL IN THE OUGHT TO BE A LAW PROGRAM, BECAUSE THREE OF OUR KIDS'

058BILLS HAVE MADE IT THROUGH. AND TWO OF THOSE OF THE THREE HAVE BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW. SO ONE OF THEM IS THE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PRESENTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ENHANCING THE FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASS TO INCLUDE THE TEACHING OF THE FASTFA AND HOW TO BE DEBT FREE IN GOING TO COLLEGE. I JUST WANTED TO SWING BY BEFORE I AHEAD BACK UP TO TALLAHASSEE IN A LITTLE WHILE TO FINISH UP THE BUDGET AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I WANTED TO STOP BY AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SUCH A SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION YEAR AND THANK YOU, VAN, MR. AYRES, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AS WELL AND THE SAME FOR STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ENJOY YOUR DAY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A

059SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I'LL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS THIS EVENING AS WELL AS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR RETIREES AS WELL THAT ARE LEAVING OUR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PUT IN A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF YEARS AND HARD WORK INTO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF, NUMBER ONE, WITH FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. IF WE CAN GET THE PowerPoint UP. AND PABLO GUY SAN DIEGO. PABLO, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN, SIR. I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ON THAT CONSENT AGENDA WAS PABLO GUIEGO, NEW PRINCIPAL OF FARNELL. BEGAN

060CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2002 AS PE TEACHER AT BELLAMY. MORGAN WOODS. IN 2012 TRANSITIONED TO BEING A RESOURCE TEACHER AT PIERCE. HE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN 2013. SINCE 2016 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT PIERCE. THAT IS A LOT OF YEARS AT PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AT PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB THERE. LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE AT FARNELL AND GOING IN THERE WITH ALL YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW PRINCIPAL OVER AT FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT APPOINTMENT, I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE TODAY, BUT VALERIE NEWTON IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF MADISON MIDDLE. BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2001 AS PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHER AT BLAKE. 2002 TO 2005, TRANSITIONED TO TEACHING PE AT BLAKE. 2005 TO

0612006 SHE TAUGHT SCIENCE AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. 2006 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MARTINEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TRANSITIONED TO WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 2008 AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. 2016 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT GRECO MIDDLE SCHOOL. RECENT POSITION PRINCIPAL AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. NOW MS. VALERIE NEWTON, THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, MS. NEWTON. IS MR. RAND HERE? COME ON DOWN. I KNOW THIS PROBABLY DOESN'T MAKE MR. NELSON SO HAPPY. PROBABLY THE SHORTEST AP OF CURRICULUM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MIRIAM DURAN IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT RODGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL. BEGAN HER CAREER IN PHILADELPHIA, AS BILINGUAL TEACHER AND ENGLISH TEACHER. 2006 THROUGH 2019, TAUGHT ENGLISH AT LENNARD. FLORIDA VIRTUAL, BRANDON AND RIVERVIEW. 2021 SHE TRANSFERRED TO RODGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN 2021. AS I MENTIONED, SHE WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED THE AP FOR CURRICULUM AT

062MORGAN. HOW LONG THERE? THREE MONTHS? JANUARY. SORRY, MR. NELSON. CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR FIRST PRINCIPALSHIP AT RODGERS ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS. MR. NELSON NEEDS TO GET TO WORK AND FIND AN APC. I THINK WE'LL GET MORE PICTURES OUTSIDE, TOO, SO BE READY. NEXT UP, IS OUR PRINCIPAL AT TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE. MR. DAVID PARKER, IF YOU ARE HERE, COME ON DOWN. VERY EXCITED ABOUT MR. PARKER. DAVID BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2011. SERVED AS TEACHER AT SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM 11 TO 15. 2015 HE TRANSFERRED TO McLANE MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVED AS AVID TEACHER. 2017 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL. I REMEMBER THAT DAY. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO McLANE MIDDLE SCHOOL AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN 2019. 2020 TRANSFERRED TO BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. MR. PARKER HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB OVER AT MADISON

063SINCE 2021 WHERE HE CURRENTLY SERVED GOING OVER TO TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL NOW AS THE PRINCIPAL. MR. PARKER, CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. IS MS. WOMACK HERE? WHILE MS. WOMACK IS COMING UP, SHE IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT BING MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE THEN TRANSITIONED TO ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SPECIALIST AT GIBSONTON ELEMENTARY. APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT RIVER VIEW ELEMENTARY IN 2008. IN 2019, MS. WOMACK TRANSFERRED TO SESSUMS AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL TO DAWSON ELEMENTARY IN 2022 AND PRINCIPAL AT DAWSON ELEMENTARY SINCE 2022 WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES. SHE IS NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BING ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU, MS. WOMACK. IS MS. HOLLY HERE? COME ON UP. SHERYL HOLLY IS OUR RETIRING PRINCIPAL FROM BING ELEMENTARY. COME ON UP HERE, SHERYL. MS. HOLLY BEGAN HER CAREER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NOVEMBER OF 1989 AS A TEACHER AT DICKENSON

064ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEN BECAME AP AT DICKENSON IN JANUARY OF 2000 AND APPOINTED PRINCIPAL OF DICKENSON IN JULY OF 2003. LOW MAX, APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT SCHWARZKOPF ELEMENTARY IN JANUARY OF 2007. SERVED THERE FOR 15 YEARS OF HER CAREER AT SCHWARZKOPF. THEN TRANSFERRED TO BING ELEMENTARY WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL OF BING FOR THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR. SINCE 1989, MS. HOLLY HAS SERVED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WORK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S KEEP GOING. WHERE IS MS. EDWARDS AT? COME ON UP. VERY EXCITED FOR DR. YVETTE EDWARDS. SHE'S BEEN AN EDUCATOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 20 YEARS. SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER AT PIZZO ELEMENTARY IN 2005 AND ALSO TAUGHT AT KIMBELL ELEMENTARY FOR

065NINE YEARS. WORKED AS PEER EVALUATOR IN 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR AND RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM IN RUSKIN IN 2017. 2019 APPOINTED TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT LOCKHART MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE SHE HAS BEEN SERVING NOW RECENTLY SERVING AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT SULPHUR SPRINGS SINCE 2022. THE NEW PRINCIPAL, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. YOU READ THE BIOS, YOU REALIZE THE HEART AND SOUL INTO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU LOOK AT THE YEARS OF OUR APs AND PRINCIPALS THAT THEY PUT IN THE POSITIONS AND NOW MOVING UP AS PRINCIPALS. NOW WE'RE ON TO McKITRICK. WHERE IS MS. KIMBERLY STONE AT? COME ON UP. GOT A CROWD THERE WITH HER. MS. STONE BEGAN HER CAREER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A SOCIAL WORKER WORKING AT EARLY CHILDHOOD, EDISON, TAMPA POCKETS AND TEMPLE TERRACE ELEMENTARY. APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT

066ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL. IN 2022, TRANSFERRED TO McKITRICK ELEMENTARY AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING. NOW MS. STONE IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT McKITRICK ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS. MS. VAUGHN IT WILL BE HARD. WHEN WE HEAR McKITRICK, WE ALSO THINK MS. ALLISON KLEIN. COME UP HERE. I TOLD YOU THIS WAS HAPPENING. FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD PRINCIPALS IN THEM A LONG TIME, IT WILL BE HARD TO THINK ABOUT NEW LEADERS IN THE SCHOOL. MS. KLEIN BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN 1984 IN GAINESVILLE FOR 35 YEARS SHE HAS SPENT TEACHING STUDENTS IN GAINESVILLE, LAKELAND AND TEXAS. SHE HAS SERVED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY AND BELLAMY ELEMENTARY AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. IN 2009 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL OF McKITRICK ELEMENTARY WHERE SHE HAS BEEN THE PRINCIPAL FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS OVER AT McKITRICK. ALLISON, THIS

067WHOLE DISTRICT IS GOING TO MISS YOU. WE'LL HAVE TO GET USED TO A NEW LEADER AT McKITRICK. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. I THINK I SAW DELIA BACK THERE. DELIA, COME ON UP. MS. GADSDEN IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF MULLER ELEMENTARY. DELIA BEGAN HER CAREER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1996 AS FIRST GRADE TEACHER AT LAKE MAGDALENE ELEMENTARY. AFTER 12 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING VARIOUS GRADES AT LAKE MAGDALENE ELEMENTARY SHE WAS APPOINTED AP AT LAKE MAGDALENE IN 2008. 2014, MS. GADSON WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. TRANSFERRED TO SHEEHY ELEMENTARY AS A PRINCIPAL. DELIA GADSON, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF MULLER ELEMENTARY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AT SHEEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MS. GADSON IS GOING TO MULLER

068BECAUSE WE HAVE A RETIRING PRINCIPAL FROM MULLER ELEMENTARY. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS LIKE ALL OF OUR PRINCIPALS WE ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY, BUT MELANIE, COME ON DOWN. I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE THE SPOTLIGHT AT ALL. JUST KIDDING. MELANIE BEGAN IN EDUCATION FOR OVER 38 YEARS AND SPENT THE LAST 20 YEARS AS PRINCIPAL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PRIOR TO BECOMING PRINCIPAL, SERVED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY. THEN APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT GRADY ELEMENTARY IN 2004. APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT CARROLLWOOD IN 2011. 2019 APPOINTED PRINCIPAL AT MULLER MAGNET SCHOOL WHERE SHE LED THE SCHOOL FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. YOU WERE AT CARROLLWOOD FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THEN MULLER FOR ANOTHER SIX. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. A LOT OF RETIRING

069PRINCIPALS. IT WILL BE DIFFICULT WITH A LOT OF VETERANS, A LOT OF EXPERIENCE LEAVING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. OFF TO PRIDE ELEMENTARY NOW. KIRSTEN MYER, PRINCIPAL OF PRIDE ELEMENTARY. MS. MYER BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1998 AS SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT HUNTER'S GREEN ELEMENTARY. IN 2010, SHE TOOK ON A NEW ROLE AS PEER EVALUATOR. IN 2012 TRANSFERRED TO LOUIS ELEMENTARY WHERE SHE TAUGHT FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADES AND ROBLES ELEMENTARY AS A RESOURCE TEACHER. 2020 APPOINTED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT FOSTER ELEMENTARY. MS. MEYER TRANSFERRED TO MITCHELL ELEMENTARY AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. MOVING FROM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MITCHELL. SHE IS NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT PRIDE ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS. LIKE A LOT OF PRINCIPALS GETTING NEWLY APPOINTED, ALMOST LIKE A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTO A SCHOOL WHERE YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL. I WANT TO

070RECOGNIZE MS. PAULETTE ENGLISH. IF YOU COULD COME DOWN. PAULETTE MAY HAVE THE MOST HERE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT. PAULETTE ENGLISH BEGAN HER 42 YEAR CAREER IN EDUCATION IN 1983 AT FORT RUCKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALABAMA. TAUGHT 14 YEARS IN ALABAMA BEFORE JOINING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1997. MS. ENGLISH TAUGHT AT NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY FOR ONE YEAR. HUNTER'S GREEN FOR TEN YEARS. 2008, AFTER 25 YEARS AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, MS. ENGLISH TRANSITIONED TO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CLAYWELL. APPOINTED PRINCIPAL OF CITRUS PARK ELEMENTARY IN 2011 AND WENT ON TO LEAD CLARK ELEMENTARY FOR FIVE YEARS. PRINCIPAL OF CITRUS PARK AND THEN CLARK AND CONCLUDED HER CAREER AS PRINCIPAL OF PRIDE ELEMENTARY WHERE SHE SERVED THE LAST FIVE YEARS. PAULETTE, HE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. I KNOW THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY WE'LL MISS YOU

071SO, SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND 42 YEARS IN EDUCATION. THANK YOU. WE'LL MISS YOU. I THINK I SAW MR. KITCHEN AS WELL. COME ON UP, SIR. OTIS KITCHEN, NEW PRINCIPAL AT TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY. COME ON UP. MR. KITCHEN BEGAN HIS TEACHING CAREER IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, TEACHING THIRD AND FIFTH GRADES. BEGAN TEACHING FIFTH GRADE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2009 AT DUNBAR ELEMENTARY. 2012 TRANSFERRED TO FOREST HILLS AS RESOURCE TEACHER. MR. KITCHEN APPOINTED AP AT FOREST HILLS IN 2014. 2018 TRANSFERRED TO TOWN N' COUNTRY ELEMENTARY AND APPOINTED PRINCIPAL IN 2020. NOW MR. KITCHEN IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS, OTIS. MR. KITCHEN IS MOVING OVER TO TWIN LAKES BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A RETIRING PRINCIPAL FROM TWIN LAKES. I DON'T THINK DAPHNEE IS HERE. DAPHNEE IS RETIRING PRINCIPAL

072AT TWIN LAKE. AS OUR PREVIOUS PRINCIPAL, SHE HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 38 YEARS. DAPHNEE, IF YOU ARE LISTENING, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK AND WHAT YOU PROVIDED IN LEADERSHIP IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU, DAPHNEE. I THINK -- IS THAT ALL OF THEM? ALL RIGHT. GOT THEM ALL. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THAT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR RETIRING PRINCIPALS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WELCOME TO OUR NEW PRINCIPALS AND GOOD LUCK NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? Jessica Vaughn: WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION BUSINESS EDUCATION. I'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE INSTRUCTION MATERIALS ADOPTION PROCESS. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND

073BOARD POLICY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE MATERIALS WERE ADVERTISED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. I'LL ASK COLLEEN FOSSETT, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER TO PRESENT THE ITEM. AFTER HER PRESENTATION, ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD ON THE PROPOSED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. GOOD AFTERNOON SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD IS CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. THE LIST OF MATERIALS IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM AND INCLUDES MATERIALS FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS AND BUSINESS EDUCATION. THESE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY A DISTRICT ADOPTION COMMITTEE, REVIEWED AND VOTED ON BY TEACHERS AND ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. AS

074REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE, A 20 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW OF RECOMMENDED MATERIALS AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE VOTE -- THE BOARD CAN VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION. THE PUBLIC REVIEW REQUIRES THAT THE DISTRICT PROVIDE DIGITAL ACCESS TO THE RECOMMENDED MATERIALS VIA THE DISTRICT WEBSITE. THE PUBLIC REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BEING ON MAY 13 AND ENDING ON JUNE 2nd, TODAY, 2025. THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING IS TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE COMMENTS ABOUT THESE MATERIALS WITH THE BOARD. THE BOARD DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE ACTION AT THIS TIME BUT WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE AT THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING JUNE 17, 2025. AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY CALL FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ADOPTION

075OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS? SEEING NO SPEAKERS, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED POLICIES. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR NEW AND REVISED POLICY ADOPTION PROCESS. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND BOARD POLICY. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE POLICIES WERE ADVERTISED AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. MR. JIM PORTER, SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE POLICIES IN FRONT OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WORKSHOP PROCESS. THE ONES THAT REACHED CONSENSUS ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TONIGHT FOR YOUR ADOPTION AND APPROVAL.

076THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEN YOU'LL NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A VOTE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW AND REVISED POLICIES? GOOD EVENING AGAIN, CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. I'M BRITTANY WE GOMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHER ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE SPEAKING ONCE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYEES, OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED CHANGES 6210. I'LL KEEP IT SIMPLE. THE STATUTE REQUIRES A TOTAL 3% MINIMUM BALANCE IN TWO COMBINED PORTIONS OF THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE. UNASSIGNED AND THE ASSIGNED. THIS POLICY SETS ARBITRARY 8% FLOOR WITHIN THE UNASSIGNED PORTION ALONE. AND THEN SAYS THAT THE BOARD HAS TO VOTE TO ACCESS IT. THAT IS NOT AN ASSIGNED. THAT IS A COMMITTED FUND, WHICH IS DEFINED BY

077LAW AND BASIC COMMON SENSE. IF THAT'S YOUR INTENT, IT SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AND DISCLOSED AS SUCH. WE HAVE SHOWN YOU THROUGH OUR CORRESPONDENCE THE DISTRICTS HIT BY HURRICANES HAVE KEPT OR GROWN THEIR RESERVES, BOND RATING AGENCIES HAVE KEPT HCPS AT A LEVEL RATINGS EVEN WHEN WE WERE WELL BELOW 8% IN THE COMBINED UNASSIGNED AND ASSIGNED. AND OUR RESERVES ARE GROWING BECAUSE RECURRING SALARY DOLLARS ARE BEING UNDERUTILIZED AND REDIRECTED INTO SAVINGS. THIS POLICY ISN'T RESPONSIBLE. IT'S MISLEADING. IT MISALLOCATES DOLLARS THAT SHOULD GO DIRECTLY INTO CLASSROOMS. AND IT CREATES A BARRIER TO DOING WHAT'S RIGHT WHEN THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBLE. IF YOU WANT STABILITY, DO IT LEGALLY, DO IT TRANSPARENTLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO IT WITH A POLICY THAT PUTS UNSPENT REOCCURRING FUNDS INTO OUR STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY ARE INTENDED TO GO.

078BECAUSE AS WRITTEN, THIS POLICY WILL RESTRICT YOUR FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO REAL NEEDS JUST WHEN OUR SCHOOLS NEED IT MOST. TONIGHT I ASK ONE OF YOU TO MAKE A MOTION TO REJECT THE CHANGES TO POLICY 6210 AND REWRITE IT TO REFLECT THE REAL NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF HCPS DESERVE MORE THAN A PADDED FUND BALANCE. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. PORTER, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT WE SEPARATE POLICY 6210 AND 7250 TO VOTE ON THOSE INDIVIDUALLY AND HAVE THE OTHER ONES BUNDLED TOGETHER. Jim Porter: THAT'S FINE. THAT IS A REQUEST. SOMEONE WOULD NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE OTHER POLICIES THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THESE UP

079SEPARATELY. Lynn Gray: I CAN MAKE A MOTION. SECOND. Jim Porter: WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR ARE ALL THE POLICIES ADVERTISED EXCEPT FOR 61 -- Jessica Vaughn: 6210. Jim Porter: 6210 -- YOU CAN VOTE ON THIS AND THEN CONSIDER THOSE. Jessica Vaughn: SINCE WE HAVE A SECOND, A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE ADDITIONAL ONES, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE. SORRY. YOU'RE RIGHT. DISCUSSION. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ON THE BUNDLED? MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR. YOU WANT TO REMOVE, OR MEMBER GRAY, YOU WANT TO REMOVE -- BACK TO THE AGENDA -- REMIND ME WHAT POLICY. Jim Porter: NOT TO REMOVE. TO VOTE ON SEPARATELY. 6210 AND 7250. Patti Rendon: I'M GOING TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION. MY AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION IS TO

080REMOVE EACH ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY. THERE ARE OTHER ONES IN HERE THAT I WILL NOT MOVE ON BEHALF PART OF THAT. I THOUGHT THE DISTRICT WAS GOING TO PULL ONE OF THEM AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. THAT'S NOT OKAY WITH ME. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE INDIVIDUALLY GO ON EACH INDIVIDUAL POLICY IF WE'RE GOING TO DO GROUPING. I AMEND THE MOTION INDIVIDUALLY. Jim Porter: THE MOTION WILL BE TO VOTE FOR EACH OF THESE SEPARATELY, EACH OF THE POLICIES ADVERTISED SEPARATELY. MOTION MADE BY MS. RENDON THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SECOND. NOW YOU HAVE DISCUSSION ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY OR NOT. OR YOU CAN JUST VOTE ON THAT. Patti Rendon: I CAN GIVE EXAMPLES. Jim Porter: THAT'S UP TO YOU. THAT'S COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE. Jessica Vaughn:

081BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF VOTING ON EACH POLICY INDIVIDUALLY, PLEASE VOTE YES WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR AND VOTE NO IF YOU ARE AGAINST IT. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER GRAY VOTING NO. Jim Porter: NOW WHAT THE BOARD WILL DO, IF MS. DAVIS COULD READ THE NUMBER OF EACH POLICY. THEN YOU'LL DESCRIBE WHAT THE POLICY IS AND THEN VOTE ON THEM UP OR DOWN. NOTE FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT. IN ORDER FOR A MOTION TO PASS, YOU'LL NEED A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD, WHICH IS THREE MEMBERS. PRESENT. IF IT DOESN'T PASS -- Jessica Vaughn: DO WE NEED TO DO THE ENTIRE PROCESS, MOTION AND SECOND AND DISCUSSION FOR EACH ONE? Jim Porter: YES. WE'VE NEVER DONE IT THIS WAY. THIS IS COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE.

082MS. DAVIS WILL READ THE NUMBER AND SOMEONE WILL MAKE A MOTION, SECOND AND THEN DISCUSSION AND THEN PASS. WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST ONE. POLICY 2130, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. THAT IS THE NEW POLICY RELATED TO A.I. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, ET CETERA. Jessica Vaughn: BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE POLICY 2130. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE POLICY PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. POLICY 2131, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOME GOALS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE ACADEMIC SERVICES POLICIES UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND A.I. LANGUAGE. Jessica Vaughn: BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE POLICY 2130. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR

083LIGHTS APPEAR. THE POLICY PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. 2132, EDUCATIONAL PROCESS GOALS, ALSO THE SAME WITH THE A.I. AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY. Jessica Vaughn: NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE POLICY 2131. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. POLICY 2210, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. SAME WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND A.I. Jessica Vaughn: DID WE SKIP 2132? WE JUST DID 2132, EDUCATION PROCESS GOALS. Jessica Vaughn: SORRY, MINE IS DIFFERENT OVER HERE. THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE POLICY 2132. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 2210, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. Jessica Vaughn: NEED A MOTION AND SECOND FOR 2210. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A

084SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION. Jim Porter: WE JUST DID 2210. I KNOW. BUT IT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD AS 2132, SO I RE-DID IT AGAIN. Jessica Vaughn: WE'RE MOVING -- Jim Porter: LET'S GO THROUGH THE ONES THEY VOTED ON BY NUMBER AND MAKE SURE THE RECORD REFLECTS THAT ACCURATELY. 2130, 2131, 2132, 2210. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. Jim Porter: WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE? THE NEXT ONE WILL BE 2240. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE POLICY 2240. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THAT'S POLICY 2240 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE LAST A.I. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IS 2250, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE 2250. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. SECOND BY

085MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT -- IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE POLICY PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6210, FISCAL PLANNING. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR POLICY 6210. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: WE'RE ON 6210, CORRECT? Jessica Vaughn: I BELIEVE SO. Jim Porter: YES. Patti Rendon: JUST MAKE SURE. I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE ANNUAL FUND BALANCE AND THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY SECURE IN OUR FUNDS. IT'S NOT JUST BY A MONTH BY MONTH FUND BALANCE BUT OVERALL ANNUAL FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR WHERE WE RECEIVE INCOME AND DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES TO PAY OUT SOME OF

086THAT INCOME. TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHERE THE FUND BALANCE COULD POSSIBLY DIP BELOW 8%. BUT IN AN OVERALL YEAR THAT OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD REMAIN IN THE 8%, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE. IT IS NOT JUST A MONTH BY MONTH BUT OVERALL ANNUALLY TO MAKING SURE WE MAINTAIN A SECURE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF A LOT OF COSTS OUT IN THE WORLD TODAY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOKED AT WHY WE DO THE FUND BALANCE AND WHY WE KEPT IT AT A PERCENTAGE, EVEN WITH UNCHANGING TIMES, THE FUND BALANCE WITH NOT BE DISTURBED AT THIS POINT AS WE LOOK AT IT AND RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR DISTRICT IN THE FOREFRONT SO WE DON'T GET INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE DON'T

087HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE PAYROLL AND SO FORTH. THE 8% IS A COURSE OF 12 MONTHS, NOT INDIVIDUALLY MONTH BY MONTH. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE POLICY DOES NOT PASS WITH MEMBER WASHINGTON, MYSELF, AND MEMBER COMBS VOTING NO. OUR NEXT POLICY IS 7250, COMMEMORATION OF SCHOOL FACILITIES. Jessica Vaughn: BOARD MEMBERS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE POLICY. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. POLICY 3,362.02, ANTI-HARASSMENT COMPLAINT PROCEDURES. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE POLICY. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS. SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE

088WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE POLICY PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LAST POLICY 8462, STUDENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE POLICY. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YES, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE REASON I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INDIVIDUALLY WENT THROUGH THEM BECAUSE THE FIRST MOTION WOULD HAVE LEFT THIS OFF THE TABLE. THIS PARTICULAR ONE I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF ISSUE WITH. IF WE READ IN SECTION ON ITEM 11, IT SAYS ANY PERSON, INCLUDING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF, VOLUNTEERS OR OTHER DISTRICT AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHO KNOWS, REASONABLE CAUSE OR SUSPECT THAT A CHILD OR A STUDENT HAS BEEN ABUSED, ABANDONED OR NEGLECTED, FIRST, THAT IS THE WORD OUTSIDE OF THE STATUTE. IT SHOULD BE ABUSED,

089EXPLOITED, NEGLECTED AND EXPLOITED. SECOND OF ALL, IT THEN ALSO CONTINUES ON TO SAY THE KNOWLEDGE OR SUSPICION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE LAW. WHETHER YOU SUSPECT OR KNOW, SECONDLY, ALSO KNOWING AND WILLFULLY FAILS TO DO SO, WE TALK ABOUT THE THIRD DEGREE. THAT'S REALLY NOT POLICY. THAT'S REALLY THE LAW. WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THAT AS FAR AS THE LAW GOES. BUT MY OTHER CONCERN IS WHEN WE MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THIS, IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT SITUATIONS OF WHO COULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD BE THE PERPETRATOR OF ABUSE. AND THAT LIMITS WHERE AND WHICH ANYONE COULD REPORT IT, WHO IT WOULD BE REPORTED TO. I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHERE THAT POLICY WAS. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE THIS POLICY TODAY. THE PRINCIPAL REPORT OR CAUSED THE REPORTED SUSPECTED

090CASES OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, ATTENTION OF SCHOOL OFFICIALS -- I'M SORRY. THE LAST PART. ANYWAYS, THE WORLD THROUGHOUT THIS POLICY IS JUST NOT IN ACCORDANCE TO WHERE THE LAW STANDS RIGHT NOW. IT SHOULD BASICALLY SAY ANY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT SUSPECTS OR KNOWS OF ANY ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATION SHOULD BE MAKING THE REPORT TO THE PRESCRIBED DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THAT. I BELIEVE THE WORDING IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE. I THINK THE ENTIRE THING NEEDS TO BE REWRITTEN. THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE THIS POLICY COMING IS BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE LAW FROM A PUNISHABLE STANDPOINT THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR DISTRICT. HAS TO DO WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. SO I WANT THIS TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO BE REWRITTEN

091FOR THE BENEFIT, I DON'T WANT TO APPROVE IT AS IT STANDS BECAUSE IT LIMITS TOO MANY THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE QUESTION ON WHO SHOULD REPORT AND WHEN THEY SHOULD REPORT IT. WE SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION IN OUR POLICIES WHEN IT COMES TO ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION. Jim Porter: AS YOU AND I DISCUSSED, I THOUGHT THE ITEM WOULD BE PULLED. IT WASN'T. IT'S HERE. THE BOARD HAS SEVERAL OPTIONS. YOU COULD MAKE A MOTION, MS. RENDON, TO HAVE THIS MOVED TO THE NEXT POLICY CYCLE AND THE BOARD COULD VOTE ON THAT OR STAFF COULD WITHDRAW IT AT THIS POINT OR YOU COULD VOTE ON IT. THOSE ARE YOUR OPTIONS REALLY. Patti Rendon: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PULL THIS PARTICULAR POLICY AND MOVE IT TO THE NEXT POLICY CYCLE. Nadia Combs: I'LL SECOND

092THAT. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO REMOVE THIS POLICY, WORK ON IT, AND BRING IT BACK THE NEXT CYCLE. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IF YOU VOTE YES, YOU'RE VOTING TO HAVE IT PULLED AND TO BRING IT BACK. IF YOU VOTE NO. PUSH FORWARD AND VOTE ON IT NOW. THE MOTION TO REMOVE IT AND BRING IT BACK AFTER IT'S BEEN REWORDED HAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Jim Porter: THAT'S IT FOR YOUR POLICIES, CORRECT? YOU CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. I ALREADY CLOSED IT, BUT I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN. NEXT TIME I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD GO DOWN

093AND TRY TO GET AHEAD OF IT. WE DID THE BEST WE COULD. NEXT TIME WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE POLICIES, I WOULD LIKE TO BREAK IT DOWN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO VOTE ON THEM INDIVIDUALLY. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR BIG, LONG AGENDA. FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE HEARD, C 1.01, 1.03, 1.05, 2.04, 2.06, 4.02, 7.06, 7.10, 9.01. 1.01, CURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, LLC. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK YOU KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM AS STAFF DOES. THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM WE BROUGHT TO YOU BEFORE. QUICKLY REVIEW IT AND GO INTO DISCUSSION. iHAVE HAD A SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ASSESS STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS AND READING THROUGH ONLINE DIAGNOSTIC. STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED TO INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PATH TO MEET INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A TEACHER TOOLBOX THAT HOUSES ONLINE

094LESSONS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN IMPLEMENTING TARGETED SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. JUST SOME OF THE DATA AROUND IT THAT'S IN THE AGENDA ITEM, 24-25, i-READY WAS USED AS ASSESSMENT FOR TEACHERS IN K-5 MATH. 92% OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS AND 90% OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENGAGED WITH PERSONAL LEARNING SERVING OVER 85,000 STUDENTS. TO DATE OVER 706,000 TEACHER ASSIGNED LESSONS COMPLETED BY STUDENTS IN READING AND OVER 880,000 LESSONS COMPLETED BY STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS. FINALLY, 147 SCHOOLS UTILIZE STANDARD MASTERY AS SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE. PASS RATE IS 77%. THAT IS OUR i-READY AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS THE UPDATE. Jessica Vaughn: NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 1.01. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER COMBS AND I PULLED THE ITEM. MEMBER GRAY, WOULD YOU

095LIKE TO START? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE KNOW THAT THE TEACHERS ARE VERY FAMILIAR AND IT'S EXTREMELY POPULAR AND VERY EFFECTIVE AS A SIMULATION. OVER THE SIX YEARS THIS HAS BEEN ADAPTED TO WITH GREAT CHEER. TWO QUESTIONS ARE, WHO AM I ASKING QUESTIONS TO? DOES IT INCLUDE PREPARATION FOR THE CLT TEST? THIS IS AN ELEMENTARY PROGRAM, SO, NO, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THEIR LEAGUE. Lynn Gray: DOES THE NEWEST VERSION HAVE AN A.I. COMPONENT? THE VERSION ITSELF ISN'T NECESSARILY A.I. IT'S MORE OF AN ADAPTED TECHNOLOGY. THE STUDENTS WORK AND PLACES THE STUDENT IN THE PATH. WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION THAT DOES INCLUDE THE A.I. TUTOR, BUT CURRENTLY MORE ADAPTIVE AS OPPOSED TO BEING AN A.I. TUTOR. Lynn Gray: CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? MORE ADAPTIVE THAN -- YEAH.

096SIMILAR TO THE FAST ASSESSMENT. ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE DIAGNOSTIC AND IT PLACES ME -- IT GOES UP AND DOWN TO DETERMINE WHERE MY LEVEL IS. CAN KIND OF WATCHES WHERE I AM ANSWERING AND PLACES ME ON A PATH CALLED THE MY PATH PIECE COMPARED TO AN A.I. SUPPORTED TUTORING WHERE IT WOULD BE IN THE MOMENT INSTRUCTION BASED ON I'M READING SOMETHING OR ANSWERING SOMETHING AND IT WILL CATCH ME AND SAY, WAIT, BASED ON MY ANSWERS TEACH ME. THIS DOESN'T TEACH ME, IT PLACES ME AND THEN INSTRUCTS ME. Lynn Gray: VERY GOOD ANSWER. I'M ALSO SEEING THIS IS 147 SCHOOLS THAT ARE ENJOYING THIS. YES, WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE IN ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TN MIDDLE SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS K-8, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS HAVE ACCESS TO IT THERE AS WELL. Lynn Gray:

097THANK YOU, MS. BERGMAN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. I'M NOT AS ENTHUSIASTIC AS MEMBER GRAY. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. FOR YEARS NOW, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TESTING. THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF BROUGHT ME TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. JUST THE HIGH NUMBER OF TESTING. WHEN I LOOK AT FAST TESTING, I HEAR OVER AND OVER FROM MY ADMINISTRATORS THAT THEY THINK i-READY IS A MUCH STRONGER TEST. TO REALLY SEE HOW A CHILD IS DOING. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT i-READY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IS IT ADAPTIVE OR ARE THEY AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS NOT TAKING SUCH A LONG TIME FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC INITIAL PART? DID THEY FINALLY GET TO THAT? BECAUSE THEY SAID THIS WOULD

098BE THE YEAR. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID, RIGHT? THEY SAID THIS IS THE YEAR. THEY DID SAY THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR. WE WORKED WITH I READY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR, FROM THE FLEXIBLE ASSESSMENT AND THE TRADITIONAL ASSESSMENT MODEL BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM BOTH ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS, GO BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL MODEL BECAUSE IT DID TAKE LESS TIME. EVEN THOUGH THE TIME SEEMED TO BE ABOUT THE SAME, IT WAS SPLIT ACROSS DAYS, IT DID SEEM TO BE A SMOOTHER TESTING PROCESS WHEN THEY DO THE TRADITIONAL BECAUSE IT IS MORE OF ONE AND DONE COMPARED TO MULTIPLE DAYS. ING WITH COGNIZANT OF WHERE STUDENTS ARE AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, THIS YEAR, DID NOT REQUIRE THE DIAGNOSTIC THREE BE GIVEN FOR FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY HAD TAKEN THE PM 3, THAT REDUCES SOME OF

099THE TESTING. MOVING FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR, WE ARE LOOKING AT SECOND GRADE BEING OPTIONAL BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE AND MEASURE FINITE READING SKILLS TRYING TO GET IN PRIMARY SO THAT WILL ADJUST SOME OF THE MINUTES AS WELL IN TERMS OF THAT. THE OTHER PIECE THAT THE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS LIKE IS THAT IMMEDIATE DATA PIECE THAT CAN GO DIRECTLY INTO THE TEACHER TOOLBOX AND INTO THE INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING REPORT WHERE THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY PULL IT AND SEE, HEY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MY STUDENTS NEED AND HERE ARE THE RESOURCES WITHIN THE TOOLBOX I CAN USE. THE DIAGNOSTIC DOES PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL AS SETS THE KIDS ON THE TRAJECTORY OF THE MY PATH WHICH IS GREAT FOR TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY NEWER TEACHERS JUST GETTING STARTED AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEIR

100NEEDS ARE AND WHERE TO GO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MS. BERGMAN. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS. LOOKING AT K-2 MORE OPTIONAL, LESS TESTS. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DECIDED TO INCREASE THEIR PRICES. 3.9 MILLION TO 4.2 WHEN THEY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT AS ADAPTABLE AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE, TO SEE THE COMPANY INCREASES THEIR CONTRACT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ON RECORD. THE LAST THING, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TALKING TO PRINCIPALS AND TALKING TO TEACHERS, THEY REALLY FELT LIKE THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD BASICALLY BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW A CHILD IS DOING. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACADEMIC SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO START MOVING AWAY FROM i-READY AND SO MUCH TESTING. I KNOW DIBBLES HAS BEEN GREAT.

101KEEP WORKING TOWARDS AND SUNSHINING i-READY. SO MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, AMAZING PRODUCTS. I THINK TEACHERS GET USED TO THINGS AND PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY I'D LIKE US TO LOOK OUT, TRY TO SEE WHAT OTHER PRODUCTS. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PRICE INCREASE AND THEY HAVEN'T FOLLOWED UP WITH EXACTLY WHAT THEY PROMISED. I'LL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I'LL SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE TEACHERS BUT I'M UNHAPPY WITH THIS. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. OH, i-READY, i-READY. I WILL SAY POSITIVES ABOUT I-READY. ONE, I APPRECIATE THE SURVEY DATA THAT WAS SHARED. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SUCH A POLARIZING AGENDA ITEM. THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE i-READY REALLY LOVE IT AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE IT ARE VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT. SEEING THE SURVEY DATA WAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL. YOU HAVE

102GIVEN DIRECT INSTRUCTION TO MOVING AWAY FROM USING THIS AS JUST KIND OF A TIME FILLER AND FOR MANDATING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME ON IT WHICH OUR KIDS REALLY DON'T LIKE AND USING IT AS A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR TEACHERS TO PULL DIFFERENT MATERIALS, CURRICULUM, TO PUSH IN, TO PULL OUT, TO REALLY HELP WITH ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PIECES OF IT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEW TEACHERS. I SEE THE VALUE IN THAT. I DON'T DISAGREE THERE MIGHT BE OTHER THINGS OUT THERE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING MORE AFFORDABLE AND EVEN SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE MORE INNOVATIVE THAT PROVIDES MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND I CONCUR THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT AND NOT JUST GO BACK TO THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, BUT I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM AS WELL BECAUSE OVERALL, OUR SURVEY SPEAKS AND MAJORITY OF

103THE PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP THIS. I WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I THINK THAT'S IT. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO 1.03, CLASSICAL LEARNING INITIATIVES LLC. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, OUR CLT. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CLT, 280 COLLEGES PARTNER WITH CLT, WHICH IS THE CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT FOR ACT OR SAT. SEPTEMBER 2023, THE STATE OF FLORIDA APPROVED THE CLT FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 23 THAT IT WAS ALLOWABLE TO BE USED FOR CONCORDANCE SCORE TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE WITH DIPLOMA. AS A RESULT OF OFFERING THE CLT IN 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAD 2,816 SENIORS WHICH EARNED CONCORDANCE SCORE WHICH RESULTED IN THE

104STUDENT EARNING THEIR DIPLOMA. STUDENTS GRADUATING IN THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR ALSO, THIS IS NEW, MAY QUALIFY FOR FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP BY EARNING CONCORDANCE SCORE ON THE CLT SIMILAR TO ACT OR SAT. QUICK STORY, GRADUATION -- IN FRONT OF ME, ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS CAME UP -- HE WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE WITH STANDARD DIPLOMA, CLT. THIS WAS AT THE GRADUATION. THAT'S CLT. AGAIN, SAME AGENDA ITEM WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AS CLT TEST. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 1.03. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS PULLED THIS ITEM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT, SUPERINTENDENT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS GRADUATING. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FULL GOAL IS

105TO HAVE STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH A DIPLOMA. THAT'S REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE ONE THING THAT WE JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN WE LOOK AT INNOVATIVE AND INNOVATIVE STATES, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU SEE STATES LIKE TEXAS AND NEW YORK, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE TESTS, SOME OF THOSE TESTS IN SPANISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES. FLORIDA IS ONE OF THOSE STATES THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY, AS FAR AS THE CLASSIC LEARNING TEST, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALWAYS GOING TO BE FOR ME WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS. WHAT WILL GET A CHILD ACROSS THAT STAGE TO LIVE THEIR FULL LIFE. BUT LET'S REALLY LOOK AT THE WAY IT IS. ONLY FOUR OR FIVE STATES DOING THIS CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST. THERE IS A DECREASE IN FLORIDA

106WITH THE SAT SCORES. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT GRADUATION RATES INCREASING AND ALL THIS KIND OF DATA, THAT'S NOT REALLY -- WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NO CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST. THERE IS THIS THING WE'RE MOVING AROUND TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE, WOW, ALL THESE KIDS ARE GRADUATING. THE GRADUATION RATES ARE GREAT. FLORIDA IS DOING SO GREAT. WE ARE THE FREEDOM STATE. LET'S REALLY LOOK AT IT. WE'RE PROVIDING A TEST THAT HAS VERY FEW CHOICES. HASN'T BEEN AROUND VERY LONG. THEY KEEP DOUBLING IN PRICE. $20, 25, NOW 30. OUR SAT SCORES COMPETING NATIONALLY AREN'T DOING SO WELL. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I WANT KIDS TO GRADUATE. BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE MISLED THAT A TEST THAT HAS JUST BEEN CREATED OUT OF NOWHERE AND ONLY IN

107FOUR STATES, YOU LOOK AT THE COLLEGE BOARD, THAT'S AROUND THE COUNTRY, 50 STATES. UNITED EMIRATES YOU'RE TAKING SAT TO COMPETE. YOU'RE NOT TAKING THE CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST. I THINK THE DISTRICT IS WORKING VERY HARD FOR GRADUATION RATES. EVERYBODY IS WORKING VERY HARD, BUT THIS CLASSICAL LEARNING TEST IS REALLY JUST A WAY OF MAKING THINGS LOOK BETTER THAN THEY ARE ACTUALLY ARE. Lynn Gray: MS. RAYBURN, GOOD EVENING. WE KNOW MORE STUDENTS ARE TAKING THE TEST AND THE JUNIORS WHO PASS IT DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE IT AS A SENIOR, IS THAT ACCURATE? AND THERE IS A GREATER -- IT SEEMS TO ME AS WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHER GRADUATION RATE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MORE STUDENTS ARE TAKING IT VERSUS, MANY OF THEM CAN'T PASS OR HAVEN'T PASSED THE FAST OR HAVEN'T PASSED THE END OF

108SEMESTER EOC EXAMS. I'M JUST WONDERING, TOO, IN YOUR MIND, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHICH I VALUE, DOES THIS TEST INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WHO WILL GRADUATE? BECAUSE MEMBER COMBS KIND OF PUT IT OUT THERE, ARE WE USING AN EASIER TEST WITH LOWER EXPECTATIONS INTELLECTUALLY OR ACADEMICALLY AND WE'RE GETTING THIS TEST ... IS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE A HIGHER GRADUATION RATE PERHAPS THIS YEAR IN YOUR EXPERT OPINION? ABSOLUTELY. ANYTIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A STUDENT TO EARN A CONCORDANCE SCORE WHICH WOULD SATISFY THE GRADUATION BENCHMARK IT WILL HELP INCREASE THE GRADUATION RATE. TO WHAT PERCENT, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME, BUT I CAN GET IT FOR YOU, THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A DIPLOMA BASED ON CLT PASSING, I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUT OF OUR SENIORS

109MISSING A BENCH MARK THIS YEAR, TOOK THE CLT, 71.3% GOT A CONCORDANCE SCORE ON THE MATH PORTION. 33.2% GOT A CONCORDANCE SCORE ON THE READING PORTION. Lynn Gray: BACK TO THE HOME RUN, YES, GETTING MORE STUDENTS TO GRADUATE. THAT'S GREAT. THE OTHER CONCERNING QUESTION, IF I'M A VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR, NOT EVEN VOCATIONAL, IF I AM A COUNSELOR DEAL WITH COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND SHARING WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE, WHAT SCORE ON ACT, SAT, ALL THAT, DO UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS U OF F, FLORIDA STATE, USF, DO THEY ACCEPT THE SCORES THE SAME AS THEY WOULD ACCEPT AN SAT? IN OTHER WORDS, IS IT GETTING THEM INTO STATE UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION? YES, MA'AM. WHEN GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNED THE LEGISLATION THAT MADE CLT A VIABLE OPTION, ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ARE REQUIRED TO

110ACCEPT CLT FOR ADMISSION PURPOSES. THEY SET WHAT THE SCORE IS FOR ADMISSIONS, BUT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ACCEPT THE TEST. Lynn Gray: OKAY. THAT'S REQUIREMENT. I'M WONDERING IF THAT WOULD HELP A STUDENT VERSUS AN SAT. SOMETHING FOR US TO THINK ABOUT. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. I WANT TO GET INTO COLLEGE, WILL THIS TEST AFFORD ME THAT TYPE OF APPLICATION ADVANTAGE? ALSO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LANGUAGES, I THINK I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS. THE SPANISH LANGUAGE, NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE HISPANIC POPULATION, WHICH WILL SOON BE 50% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION, BUT IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN OTHER LANGUAGES AS WELL. CAN YOU SHARE WHERE YOU THINK THIS IS GOING IN THE FUTURE? CAN WE NOT ASK THIS COMPANY, THIS CORPORATION, COMPANY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SO ALL OUR STUDENTS CAN

111BE PART OF THIS EXAM? THE ONLY ACCOMMODATION FOR LANGUAGE THAT CLT MAKES CURRENTLY AT THIS TIME IS BRAILLE. TEST IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE IN BRAILLE. OTHER THAN THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE LANGUAGE SPECIFIC VERSIONS OF THE TEST. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD PRODUCE SOMETHING, WE COULD CERTAINLY ASK, I WOULD THINK THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT THE STATE DOES IN TERMS OF TESTING THEY DON'T OFFER IT IN ANY OTHER LANGUAGE SO MUCH THAN ENGLISH. Lynn Gray: SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, YOU'RE GOING TO TALLAHASSEE, WE NEED TO DO A DOUBLE HITTER THERE. WITHOUT THAT KIND OF ANSWER, WE'RE REALLY ELIMINATING A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WILL NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THAT AVENUE, THAT ADVANTAGE, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK IT IS. OKAY. ENOUGH OF THAT. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon:

112YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH ME ON THIS. ONE OF MY OTHER CONCERNS I HAD IS THAT THE COST OF THE OVERALL OF THE TESTING WHETHER SAT, ACT, OR CLT WAS INCREASING. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I DO NOW KNOW WITH THE ELECTRONIC SAT WE ARE ONLY BEING CHARGED WHEN A STUDENT TAKES THE TEST AND THAT WAS FOR THE ACT AND SAT, I DO APPRECIATE THAT. THAT ELIMINATED A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE SAT AND ACT AREN'T FOR EVERYONE. HOLDING SOMEONE BACK FROM A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SWALLOW. WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT JUST THE CLT ALONE DOES NOT TAKE THE BENCHMARKS, BENCHMARKS IN INDIVIDUAL CLASSES AND EOCs, THOSE ARE STILL IN PLACE. STILL A LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY THEY

113MUST HAVE THROUGHOUT THEIR 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL, AND THIS IS JUST A FINAL BENCHMARK THEY MUST ACHIEVE. I DO APPRECIATE THERE IS A BALANCE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS THAT AREN'T GOOD TEST TAKERS THAT THEY HAVE OPTIONS. I DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST DON'T KEEP GIVING KIDS TESTS HUNDRED PERCENT. IF THEY HAVE TAKEN -- Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT 1.05, RENEWAL OF DUAL ENROLLMENT ARTICULATION AGREEMENT WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE 25-26 ACADEMIC YEAR. Van Ayres: ANOTHER ONE YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH. DUAL ENROLLMENT ARTICULATION AGREEMENT WITH HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THIS AGREEMENT CONTINUES OUR LONG-STANDING AND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH HCC, QUALIFYING HILLSBOROUGH STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN DUAL

114ENROLLMENT EITHER ONLINE, IN PERSON AT A COLLEGE CAMPUS OR ON THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS. DISTRICT FOUR COLLEGIATE ACADEMIES, ARMWOOD, LETO, SPOTO, IMPACT APPROXIMATELY 1,238 HCPS STUDENTS ALSO PART OF THIS COMMITTED PARTNERSHIP. AS WE SAW -- HAD THEIR TWO-YEAR DEGREE ALREADY COMPLETED. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AROUND THIS VERY IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE A MOTION FROM MEMBER RENDON AND A SECOND FROM MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Patti Rendon: ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION IS OUR STAFF ALLOCATIONS FOR OUR SCHOOLS ARE BEING ADJUSTED BASED UPON INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LEAVING OUR CAMPUSES FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT. EVEN THOUGH WE MAINTAIN THE SAME FTEs WITH OUR STUDENTS, THOSE ARE STILL GOING OUT AND WE ARE ACTUALLY BENEFITING

115AS A DISTRICT FROM THOSE UPPER LEVEL CLASSES THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING. BUT WE HAVE SO MANY TEACHERS AROUND OUR DISTRICT THAT ARE ELIGIBLE IF THEY WOULD HAVE MASTER DEGREES OR HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE THOSE DIRECTLY ON OUR CAMPUSES AND THEREFORE GIVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS ACROSS ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES. I THINK IT BENEFITS NOT ONLY OUR TEACHERS, OUR STUDENTS BUT OVERALL SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR DISTRICT THROUGH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE. WE HAVE A PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT IF SOMEBODY HAS A DEGREE WITHIN THEIR CONTENT AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS OR SO FORTH, IF THEY CHOOSE TO GO ON TO THE MASTER'S DEGREE LEVEL THEY WILL BE

116REIMBURSED FOR ENTIRE MASTER LEVEL AND BOOKS AND MAINTAIN TEACHING WITH US FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE WIDESPREAD KNOWLEDGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET INTO OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE OUR STAFF ARE AWARE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LACKING AND WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE ENGAGED IN THESE CLASSES. WE WANT THEM ENROLLED IN THESE CLASSES, BUT WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY SO WE MAXIMIZE OUR STUDENT -- OUR STAFFING ALLOCATIONS AT OUR SCHOOLS AND MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THESE. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE OR LEAVE MANY OF OUR CAMPUSES, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THESE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES. WE NEED

117TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE A BETTER EFFORT WITH OUR STAFF THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE CLASSES DIRECTLY IN OUR SCHOOLS. ALMOST TO A POINT WHERE MANY HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE REDUCED NUMBERS ON OUR CAMPUSES. SO THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THAT KNOWLEDGE OUT THERE AND DO BETTER BY OUR SCHOOLS. BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER EDUCATION, BETTER ADVANCEMENT FOR OUR TEACHERS OVERALL AND MAINTAINS OUR STAFF ALLOCATIONS AND SCHOOLS WHICH BENEFITS ALL SCHOOLS ACROSS THE BOARD. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE MOVE ON TO 2.04, CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR BridgePrep ACADEMY OF ADVANCED STUDIES OF HILLSBOROUGH. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: I'LL BE PRETTY QUICK WITH THIS ITEM AND BRIEF.

118THE BridgePrep ACADEMY RIVERVIEW AND ALSO THE BridgePrep ACADEMY ANOTHER CAMPUS. K-8 AND 9-12. WHAT THIS CONFIGURATION IS IN 2.04, K-8 CONVERTED K-5, 9-12 TO 6-12. K-5 AND 6-12. SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS. IT IS A RECONFIGURATION. ALSO THIS AGENDA ITEM TALKS THROUGH THE 6-12, BridgePrep ACADEMY OF RIVERVIEW MIDDLE DASH HIGH. NO ADDITIONAL SEATS. K-8 TO -- THAT'S 2.04. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 2.04. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS WILL GO TO MS. CROOKS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN EXISTING MOVEMENT NOT ONLY AMONG OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT AMONG OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO GET, LET'S JUST SAY, TO MOTIVATE

119MORE AND MORE STUDENTS TO ATTEND. ONE OF THE MOTEL EVALUATIONS IN THIS -- MOTIVATIONS IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME YOU ARE NOW ADDING 6-8 IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL GRADES AND CHANGING THE NAME TO BridgePrep ACADEMY OF RIVERVIEW. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WONDER AND I JUST WANT TO PUT ASIDE, SURROUNDING SCHOOLS, BLOOMINGDALE HAS AN A RATING, RIVERVIEW B, AND SPOTO B. THIS PARTICULAR BridgePrep HAS FIRST A D AND THEN A C. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEM TO BE DOING VERY, VERY WELL IN THAT AREA. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADVANCE STUDIES, I LOOK AT THE CERTIFIED TEACHERS BECAUSE ADVANCED STUDIES IN MY MIND MEANS SUBJECT AREAS LIKE AP, INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, STUDIES THAT ARE ADVANCED. BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO CERTIFIED TEACHERS WITH AN AGREEMENT TO LEARN. TO ME, HOW DO

120WE -- I KNOW WE HAVE TO APPROVE IT, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE DISJOINTED BECAUSE HOW DO YOU HAVE AN ADVANCED PROGRAM WITHOUT CERTIFIED TEACHERS OR ONES THAT ARE ON THEIR WAY. THAT'S ONE QUESTION MARK. I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. BUT THAT IS AN OBSERVATION AND A CONCERN. THE SECOND ONE, CONCERN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, DESCRIBE THE HUMAN RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED -- THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO SERVE 56% OF THE HISPANIC STUDENTS. WITHIN THAT, REMEMBER, THAT'S ELL, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WHO HAVE NO SPEAKING ADVANTAGES. SO WHAT KIND OF HUMAN RESOURCES DOES THIS SCHOOL GIVE TO THIS LARGE POPULATION? TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE TEACHERS, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE DOING IS HIRING COACHES AND HELPING THEM TO GET ENROLLED IN THE ACP PROGRAMS -- Lynn

121Gray: YOU MAY HAVE TO MOVE THE MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU. THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS HIRING SOME COACHES AND WORKING WITH THEIR TEACHERS TO GET THEM IN THE ACP PROGRAMS TO GET THEM TO THE CERTIFICATION. I DO KNOW THAT. AS FAR AS ELL, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HIRING SOME ADDITIONAL COACHES TO HELP WITH THEIR ELL POPULATION AS WELL AS OFFERING AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING FOR ALL STUDENTS. THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT THEY WILL BE OFFERING NEXT YEAR. Lynn Gray: CONGRATULATIONS AND GREAT EFFORT, BUT I THINK SOME COUNSELING, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING ON WHAT IS NEEDED TO HAVE AN ADVANCED PROGRAM IS PROBABLY RECOMMENDED. PERHAPS OUR DISTRICT CAN HELP GUIDE THAT TREND. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WATCH, EVEN WITH OUR OWN SCHOOLS, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, BEFORE ADVANCED STUDIES, DUAL ENROLLMENT, WHATEVER THE TITLES THAT REALLY

122MOTIVATE STUDENTS COMING, YOU BETTER DARN WELL BE SURE YOU HAVE THE STAFF, TEACHERS THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK ALL SCHOOLS, ALL SCHOOL MODELS NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO DO THAT BEFORE THEY GIVE NAME CHANGES AND TITLES THAT EXUDE SUPER-DUPER STUDIES, ET CETERA. SO THAT'S MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M DONE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: I DID NOT VISIT WITH VICTORY CHARTER SCHOOL BUT I DID TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO BridgePrep. I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU ALL SPENT WITH ME, QUITE A LENGTHY DISCUSSION OF THINGS YOU GUYS ARE DOING IN WORKING WITH YOUR STUDENTS. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. I ALSO WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN BEING AWARE OF THINGS THEY WANT TO IMPROVE AND

123THINGS THEY WANT TO ELEVATE THE SCHOOL. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. LABELING THE BUILDINGS WOULD BE GOOD. HIGH SCHOOL OR ELEMENTARY. I DO WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO COME OUT AND DO A TOUR. IMPORTANT NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL WORKING WITH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO SEE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE AS A RESOURCE NOT ONLY FOR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS BUT ALL OF OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GET THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE AND EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE ALL HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THAT TIME OUT. I APPRECIATE IT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN

124YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT 2.06, CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR VICTORY CHARTER SCHOOL TAMPA 6-12, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: VICTORY CHARTER SCHOOL TAMPA 6-12, THEY SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO MODIFY THEIR ENROLLMENT BY EXPANDING CURRENT 6-12 CHARTER TO INCLUDE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. NAME CHANGE TO FUTURE ED CHARTER ACADEMY TAMPA K-12. MODIFY CHARTER, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AND NAME CHANGE TO FUTURE EDGE CHARTER ACADEMY TAMPA K-12 AND RELOCATION TO -- DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BOULEVARD IN TAMPA. THAT IS 2.06. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 2.06. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER GRAY PULLED THE ITEM. MEMBER COMBS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? Nadia Combs: I GUESS A COUPLE OF MY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I

125REMEMBER SIX YEARS AGO DRIVING BY VICTORY AND SEEING THE NAME CHANGE. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE WHY DOES THAT HAPPEN? CLOSE, RESTART, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SCHOOL BOARDS AND WHY THAT HAPPENS. I DO HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN WITH VICTORY CHARTER SCHOOL. THEY HAVE CHANGED OWNERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY HAVE CHANGED NAMES MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY ARE IN DISTRICT ONE SURROUNDED BY AMAZING SCHOOLS LIKE ALONSO, SICKLES, ALL A SCHOOLS. MY QUESTION, MY CONCERN IS, I HAVE A SCHOOL THAT IT'S QUITE LARGE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES. THEIR ENROLLMENT FROM SIXTH GRADE TO 12th GRADE YOU SEE IS VERY LOW. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO KEEP SUCH A BIG BUILDING LIKE THAT AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME --

126I'M SORRY, MS. CROOKS, WE TALKED EARLIER. THIS CAME OUT LATER. I LIKE TO NEVER SURPRISE YOU. I'M SURPRISED LIKE HOW ARE THEY GOING TO A NEW CAMPUS, ADDING A CAMPUS AND THEN STAYING WITH THAT CAMPUS, LIKE I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FINANCES AND THEIR LEASES. I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO THAT. BECAUSE OVERALL, I'VE SEEN THE SCHOOL CONTINUE TO DECLINE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THEIR ENROLLMENT IS QUITE LOW AND THEIR SCORES COMPARED TO THEIR NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS ISN'T VERY STRONG. I'M WONDERING HOW THEY ARE TAKING THEIR K-5 GOING DOWN TO MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT LEASE FOR SUCH A LARGE PROPERTY WITH FEW STUDENTS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT NOW. IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE IT IS A CONCERN, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE,

127WHAT THAT BUILDING LOOKS LIKE. IN THAT AREA, LESS FAMILIES MOVE THERE BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IS SO EXPENSIVE AROUND THERE. I KNOW A LOT OF SCHOOLS IN THE AREA ARE BEING CHALLENGED. BUT THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME WHEN I SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE STUDENTS, LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE K-5 STUDENTS. I'M ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THERE IS A SHIFTING, MOVING AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS LONG TERM WITH THOSE STUDENTS GRADES 6-12 MAINTAINING THIS HUGE BUILDING BECAUSE THOSE FAMILIES NEED TO BE AWARE, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER VILLAGE OF EXCELLENCE WHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR THE FAMILIES HAVE TO BE RELOCATED. IF YOU CAN BE AWARE OF THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY, YOU ALSO PULLED THIS ITEM. Lynn Gray: THANK

128YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DID. THE FUND BALANCE IS QUITE LOW AND YET THEY WILL BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING. AND RELOCATE, REBRAND. TAKES A LOT OF MONEY. I ALSO AM CURIOUS HOW THAT'S -- HOW ARE THEY GOING TO AFFORD THIS? DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPONSE FOR THAT? YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THERE IS A CONCERN, IF WE LOOKED AT THEIR AUDIT. GO AHEAD. YES. THEY DO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH BUILDING HOPE. I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ENTERED AN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. I KNOW THAT THE NEW BUILDING, THEIR LANDLORD, THEIR LEASING COMPANY, THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING MONEY INTO THE BUILDING TO MAKE THOSE MODIFICATIONS BEFORE THEY MOVE IN. SO THAT WILL BE FOLDED INTO THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT. I DO HAVE THE BUDGET. I'M HAPPY TO SEND THOSE OVER AFTER THE MEETING AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT I

129WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE. Lynn Gray: I APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT MAKE OR BREAK MANY OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS IS THE FACT OF TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY IN THAT AREA. WHAT PROVISIONS HAVE THEY MADE TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS HERE FROM THEIR HOMES TO THE SCHOOL? YES. SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING TRANSPORTATION WITHIN A FIVE TO TEN MILE RADIUS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL. Lynn Gray: TRANSPORTATION IS OKAY BECAUSE THESE ARE YOUNG KIDS. LAST AND VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH MY OTHER QUESTION, THREE-QUARTERS OF THE POPULATION ARE HISPANIC. AGAIN, WHAT TYPE OF RESOURCES, HUMAN RESOURCES AND TANGIBLE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THIS LARGE POPULATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND HISPANIC LEARNERS? I KNOW THAT WITH THE NEW BRANDING AND THE NEW SCHOOL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT

130THEY ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING IS A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. SO THAT WAS IN PART OF THEIR INFORMATION THAT THEY SUBMITTED TO US. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT AS WELL. DUAL LANGUAGE AND ALSO BE INCORPORATING A.I. THROUGHOUT THEIR CURRICULUM. Lynn Gray: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, TRUE OF THIS CHARTER AND ONE WE SHARED BEFORE THAT, YOU SEE LOW PERCENTILES, IN THE FORMER CHARTER IT WAS 25%. THIS PARTICULAR CHARTER IS 35% BEEN TESTED. I'M CURIOUS, WHY SUCH A LOW POPULATION ARE BEING TESTED VERSUS 60 OR 80 THAT WOULD BE MORE THE NORM? I DO HAVE SOME OF THE NEW PM 3 DATA THAT I'M HAPPY TO SEND OVER TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING. I CAN FORWARD YOU WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR FOR THEIR PM 3 DATA. Lynn Gray: I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY

131HELPFUL. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, MS. CROOKS. I KNOW WE ARE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, BUT THEY ARE CURIOUS AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HEAR THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEY NEED TO ASK THE SAME OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO WE'RE ALL IN COMPETITION SO TO SPEAK BUT YET WE'RE ALL COLLECTIVELY HELPING EACH OTHER. THAT INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE IN FRONT OF OUR EYES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE WINDOW JUST CLOSED ON FRIDAY, SO I JUST HAD THE INFORMATION FOR TODAY. BUT I'M HAPPY TO FORWARD EVERYTHING. IT DOES LOOK LIKE TEST SCORES WENT UP QUITE A BIT. GOOD TO HEAR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. PORTER THIS MAY BE FOR YOU. NOT SURE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS.

132WHERE DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY LIE ON THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCIAL MATTERS OF THE SCHOOL? I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT. IF I SHOW THERE IS AN INCOME, WHATEVER THE INCOME IS, IF THE BOOKS ALIGN THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET, WHERE DOES THAT JUDGMENT COME ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD IF IT'S FEASIBLE OR NOT FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW. Jim Porter: I THINK ULTIMATELY THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE CHARTER SCHOOL UNDER THE LAW YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE. I THINK YOU HAVE TO RELY ON WHAT THEY PRESENT TO YOU. IN ORDER TO DENY IT, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF EVIDENCE IT WASN'T ACCURATE OR WASN'T MEETING ONE OF THE CRITERIA IN THE STATUTE. I THINK YOU HAVE TO RELY ON INFORMATION. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED, I THINK YOU CAN

133REQUEST STAFF TO PURSUE LOOKING INTO IT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE. I THINK YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND A DUTY TO RELY ON IT AND TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY. Patti Rendon: IN THIS SITUATION, WITH VICTORY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE, LIKE, THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE EXTRA THINGS AND WHERE THAT IS. I THINK THAT IS A BIG CONCERN. WE KNOW WHAT AN FT, E BUT NOT A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW THEY WILL BE MONITORING THAT WITH LOW STUDENT ENROLLMENT. THAT'S DEFINITELY A CONCERN OF OURS. WHERE DOES THAT LIE ON THIS? I MEAN, WHERE IS -- WHEN DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS APPROVED? I HAVE TO PRESENT IT TO THE BOARD WITHIN I THINK 60 DAYS WHEN BRING IT TO US AND BRING IT TO YOU TO BE APPROVED AND I NEED TO

134BRING IT BACK AND GET MORE INFORMATION, I CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING. Patti Rendon: WHEN DO THEY NEED TO HAVE THIS APPROVED IN ORDER TO START SCHOOL? Jim Porter: IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT TONIGHT, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT OR APPROVE IT AND REQUEST STAFF TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THESE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE BEEN RAISING. YOU'RE RAISING TWO GOOD POINTS. SUBSTANTIVE ONE AND PROCEDURAL ONE. PROCEDURAL ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY NEED IT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. Patti Rendon: I MAKE A MOTION WE WITHDRAW THIS AND BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND REQUEST FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE SOLIDIFIED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SHOWING THE SECURITY OF THE STUDENTS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. PROVIDING US WITH ALL FINANCIAL MEANS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE

135THE FINANCIAL STABILITY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AS A SCHOOL I THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. MY MOTION IS REMOVE IT -- Jim Porter: IT'S TO CONTINUE, NOT TO REMOVE. Patti Rendon: CONTINUE TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Jim Porter: THAT IS A MOTION THAT REQUIRES A SECOND. Nadia Combs: I'LL SECOND IT. Jim Porter: YOU CAN HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER TO CONTINUE THE ITEM OR NOT. Jessica Vaughn: BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT MEMBER RENDON'S MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING? DO WE VOTE WITH MEMBER GRAY AWAY FROM THE DAIS? Jim Porter: YES. Nadia Combs: I'LL MAKE A COMMENT SINCE WE HAVE A MINUTE. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE A CHARTER SCHOOL OR IN

136PUBLIC SCHOOL. I JUST DON'T WANT WHAT HAPPENED LIKE A CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR TO FIND THEY DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL OR FOR A SCHOOL TO BE CLOSED DOWN 6-12, IT WORRIES ME WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBER AND THE ENROLLMENT AND I ALSO SEE HOW WELL THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. I AGREE WITH YOU. I NEED MORE INFORMATION TO SEE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE, SAME AS WHEN WE HAD TO REPURPOSE SCHOOLS, WE LET PEOPLE KNOW WELL AHEAD OF TIME, WORK THROUGH IT, GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. WHAT HAPPENED TO VILLAGE OF EXCELLENCE, WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. IT'S WRONG FOR FAMILIES. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THIS CHARTER, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD SOME MANY

137OWNERS AND SO MANY CHANGE OF NAMES. IT'S BEEN A LOT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. CAN I ALSO POINT OUT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TEACHERS OR STUDENTS RIGHT NOW? I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND CONFIRM THAT. Van Ayres: WE ARE ON MY END GOOD WITH CONTINUING THIS AND BRINGING THIS AGENDA ITEM BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE. Jessica Vaughn: YOU WANT TO WITHDRAW IT -- Van Ayres: WITHDRAW AND BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING IN JUNE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. GOOD ENOUGH? Jessica Vaughn: MR. PORTER? THE SUPERINTENDENT DECIDED TO WITHDRAW IT HIMSELF TO BRING IT BACK, SO WE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUE VOTING ON THIS. Jim Porter: THE ITEM IS NOT COMING FORWARD AT ALL? Jessica Vaughn: HE'LL BRING

138IT BACK THE NEXT MEETING. HE DECIDED TO PULL IT FROM THIS ONE AND BRING IT FORWARD AT THE NEXT MEETING. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. THE NEXT ITEM IS 4.02, EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONCE AGAIN, ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE -- YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THESE. EPI CONTRACT. UPDATED CONTRACT. PROVIDES ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE. EPI WILL PROVIDE 160 TEACHERS. FOLLOWING THE EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM, EDUCATORS RETURN TO HOME COUNTRIES TO SHARE THE CULTURE AND EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE THEY GAINED IN THE UNITED STATES. PARTICULARLY PARTICIPATE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. SINCE 22-23, 279 SCHOOL SITES REGISTERED. EPI HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SEARCH FOR MULTILINGUAL TEACHERS AS WELL. THAT IS 4.02. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I

139NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 4.02. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER COMBS AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? Lynn Gray: MY QUESTIONS ARE BRIEF. DR. PATTON, HOW MANY TEACHERS RIGHT NOW ARE NEEDING TO BE HIRED? THE QUESTION I ASKED YOU EARLIER TODAY, HOW MANY ARE WE SHORT OF? SO WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 500 VACANCIES. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR HIRING SEASON. SO WE STILL HAVE QUITE A WAYS TO GO TO BE HIRING INDIVIDUALS. OUT OF THAT 500, WE HAVE ALREADY HIRED 314, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF OUR RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS. SO WE MAY STILL END UP WITH OPENINGS. Lynn Gray: WE'RE LOOKING PERHAPS

140200, IS THAT A ROUND ABOUT NUMBER OF VACANCIES? NO. I WOULD THINK IT IS A LARGER NUMBER. LIKE I SAID AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA BACK FROM OUR CARRYOVER FROM OUR POOLS AS WELL AS WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THERE'S ALWAYS A TRANSITION. Lynn Gray: THE BACK OF MY MIND AND THE FRONT OF MY MINE IS FILLING A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN FRONT OF EVERY CHILD. I AM HOPING THAT WITH THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WE'VE HAD, IT DOES FILL THE VOID. HOW MANY TEACHERS DOES THIS INCLUDE? IT'S APPROXIMATELY 160. WE HAVE 153 NOW, BUT A TOTAL OF 160. Lynn Gray: OKAY. WE'RE LOOKING AT A CONCISE AMOUNT OF, PERIOD OF TIME OF THREE YEARS WITH THE EVP, THEY LAST ABOUT THREE YEARS? YEAH, ON AVERAGE THEY LAST ABOUT

141THREE YEARS. THIS CONTRACT ITSELF, WE BEGAN THE PARTNERSHIP 22-23. THIS WILL BE WHERE WE ARE CONTINUING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN THE PROGRAM. THE SECOND YEAR, THIRD YEAR AND FOURTH YEAR WILL BE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP. Lynn Gray: I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO THE BOARD COMMENTS. BUT MY FEAR AND MY CONCERN, ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SECURE ONE TEACHER IN EVERY CLASS FOR THE COMING 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR? BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT, THEN WE NEED TO START EXPLORING MORE DYNAMIC WAYS OF RECRUITING. CERTAINLY, THIS EXEMPLIFIES ONE WAY, BUT WITH 200 OR MORE VACANCIES, THERE'S STILL A LOT TO BE FILLED. MS. McRAE, ANY NEWS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON WHAT WE MAY BE GETTING IN TERMS OF FULFILLING THESE VACANCIES IS APPRECIATED, BUT I JUST HATE TO FEEL

142-- I MEAN, HATE TO HEAR THAT WE STILL MIGHT NOT HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS NEXT YEAR. I'LL LISTEN TO THE BOARD COMMENTS AND SEE IF THEY HAVE Nadia Combs. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS HAVE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, CERTIFIED TEACHER IN FRONT OF A CHILD. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, RIGHT? SAFETY OF COURSE, NUMBER ONE, BUT CLASS SIZE AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHER IS SO IMPORTANT. I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF LIKE ALL THE DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DO YOU SEE THOSE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES GOING TO ZIMBABWE, ECUADOR AND GHANA TO HIRE PEOPLE? NO, BECAUSE THEY ARE PAYING PEOPLE A LIVABLE WAGE. I SEE SALARIES GOING UP IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE ONE PLACE I DON'T SEE MONEY GOING INTO

143IS EDUCATION. WE ARE 50th IN THE NATION AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE 50th. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BUDGET GOES UP IN TALLAHASSEE, WE'RE GOING TO REMAIN 50th. I REALLY THINK TO SEE -- LISTEN, TO SEE PEOPLE FROM CANADA, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, ECUADOR, JAMAICA, PHILIPPINES AND ZICK BOBWAY. I'M ABOUT CULTURAL AWARENESS AND GLOBALIZATION, I LOVE THAT. THE IDEA WE HAVE TO GO ABROAD TO FIND TEACHERS IS CHALLENGING FOR ME. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH THE PROGRAM. I MET TEACHERS WHERE MAYBE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE HOUSING RIGHT. MAYBE HARD FOR THE STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEM, WHATEVER THE CASE IS. I KNOW THE TEACHERS ARE WORKING REALLY HARD AND DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. I'D LIKE TO SEE AN RFP. THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES THAT

144DO THIS. I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD TO STRENGTHEN THIS PROGRAM. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR TEACHERS AND ALSO, IT'S HARD FOR OTHER TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RECRUITING. I KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE RECRUITING PEOPLE BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE THIS AS AN LFP. I WAS -- RFP. I WAS READING THE NEWS, I THINK AS A FAMILY YOU MAY CHOOSE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FOR YOUR CHILDREN. CHARTER SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, YOU MAY CHOOSE A PUBLIC SCHOOL. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S OVERSIGHT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS ARE GETTING AN EDUCATION. WHEN I SEE FUNDING, OTHER DAY, 8400 TICKETS SOLD TO DISNEY, UNIVERSAL, SEAWORLD WITH THE VOUCHERS. MONEY THAT SHOULD BE COMING BACK IN SO WE CAN PAY TEACHERS IS GOING OUT SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO OUT AND LOOK

145FOR OTHER TEACHERS AROUND THE WORLD TO BRING THEM IN. I THINK THAT'S REALLY VERY DISAPPOINTING. IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING. I THINK IT'S VERY HARD FOR THE MORALE OF TEACHERS OVERALL BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING YOU CAN LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES, NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE DOING AND ONE THING WE NEED TO DO IS PAY TEACHERS MORE SO WE CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS. I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR ME TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT I WILL SUPPORT IT THIS YEAR. BUT I DO WANT TO SEE AN RFP. HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO DO AN RFP. HOPEFULLY WE'RE ATTRACTING AND RETAIN 500 VACANCIES. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HIRING, RECRUITING AND RETAINING THOSE TEACHERS. IT

146SADDENS ME THAT WE HAVE TO GO OVERSEAS AND CONTINUE DOING CONTRACTS FOR NURSES AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS BECAUSE OUR STATE IS NOT PAYING TEACHERS. Patti Rendon: I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MEMBER COMBS SAID. ANYTIME WE'RE DOING ANY OF THESE KIND OF THINGS AT ALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHERS IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS, EXTRAORDINARY COST OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE TO GO AFTER AN RFP. WE SHOULD NEVER BE BRINGING LARGE SCALE THINGS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR STUDENTS WITHOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE BEST QUALITY PROGRAM IN FRONT OF US. IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE A VISION OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. BOARD MEMBERS, MYSELF INCLUDED THAT HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OTHER OPTIONS, EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE BROUGHT BEFORE ME, THEN THEREFORE WE HAVE NO IDEA IF

147THIS IS THE NEWEST, LATEST, WHERE WE'RE COMPARING IT TO. IT'S DEFINITELY A PRIORITY. REITERATE THE FACT ALWAYS GO TO RFP. THINGS CHANGE YEAR TO YEAR. THEY CHANGE MONTH TO MONTH LET ALONE YEAR TO YEAR. KNOWING WE HAVE THIS ON A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT AT THIS POINT, WE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE GOING OUT FOR RFP. SHOULDN'T BE A QUESTION. IT COULD COME BACK TO THE SAME DECISION. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AGAIN, MAKE SURE WHATEVER WE ARE BRINGING IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS. MAKE SURE WE ARE QUESTIONING OURSELVES AND WHAT VENDORS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BRINGING THAT HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY BEFORE OUR STAFF. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION TO YOU, WE DO HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT

148TEACHERS. PERHAPS YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE THE OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE? BE GLAD TO. ALSO MR. HORSTMAN SHARE AS WELL. THIS IS A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT. OUR PLAN IS TO GO OUT FOR AN RFP. WE HEARD FROM THE BOARD IT'S IMPORTANT -- THIS IS FOR A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW THAT. MR. HORSTMAN, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WHAT OUR OTHER RESOURCES ARE -- Lynn Gray: SEEMS TO BE A QUESTION THAT THIS IS THE -- LET ME SAY OUT-OF-THE-BOX SITUATION BUT WE HAVE OTHER RECRUITING WAYS THAT ARE MORE INNOVATIVE. WE VISIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES BECAUSE WE WANT TO SNAG ALL THOSE RECENT GRADUATES. WE HAVE INTERNS THAT COME TO US AND DO THEIR INTERNSHIP HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OF COURSE, WE WANT IT OFFER AND DO OFFER TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS. WE

149GO TO OTHER RECRUITING EVENTS THAT ARE HOSTED BY CAREER SOURCE, OTHER AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE. WE VISIT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE FOR THEIR HIRING EVENT. WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOON TO BE RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS. THEIR FAMILIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY MAY BE SERVING BUT A FAMILY MEMBER THAT MAY BE QUALIFIED TO BE A TEACHER OR INTERESTED IN ANOTHER POSITION WITHIN THE DISTRICT. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL ALL POSITIONS, OF COURSE, INSTRUCTIONAL IS NUMBER ONE. Lynn Gray: SUCH A GREAT IDEA GOING TO THE MILITARY BECAUSE WHAT A POWERFUL RESOURCE, HUMAN RESOURCE IF WE CAN GET MORE AND MORE INVOLVEMENT INTO OUR SCHOOLS. I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO. BUT AT ANY RATE, THANK YOU FOR THAT

150ANSWER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO RECRUIT, BUT OVER THE YEARS BEING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR RETAINMENT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE RECRUIT PEOPLE BUT WE CAN'T KEEP THEM. WE ALSO NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON RETAINMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE AND I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT TEACHERS SAYING FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A JOB, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE MOST EXPEDIENT WAY TO GET THEM CERTIFIED SO THEY WILL BE READY FOR THE JOB. HAVE WE STARTED DOING THAT? WHAT PROCESS DO WE HAVE IN PLACE WHEN A PERSON APPLIES FOR A JOB? SOMETIMES THEY WENT TWO, THREE, FOUR WEEKS, THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. WITH THE

151IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TALENT ACQUISITION MODEL, APPLICATION SYSTEM, LITTLE MORE EXPEDIENT THAN OUR PREVIOUS SOFTWARE PACKAGE. WE ALSO HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED THE WAY WE'RE TRYING TO GET INDIVIDUALS MADE ACTIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PAST, IF ALL BOARD MEMBERS WERE APPLYING FOR A POSITION, OUR APPLICATION CENTER WOULD GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF YOUR APPLICATIONS ONE AT A TIME AND MAYBE YOU WOULD ALL GET HIRED AND OFFERED A POSITION AND HIRED. MAYBE NONE OF YOU WOULD. THAT'S NOT A DISSERVICE TO YOU OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, NO DISRESPECT MEANT THERE, BUT WE HAVE CHANGED TO INSTEAD OF OUR APPLICATION REPRESENTATIVES SPINNING THEIR WHEELS TRYING TO ACTIVATE A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS AND THREE, FOUR, FIVE OF THEM GET HIRED, WE HAVE NOW FOCUSED ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HIRING MANAGERS, OUR PRINCIPALS FOR THE MOST PART ARE SAYING, HEY, WE WANT

152TO HIRE THIS INDIVIDUAL. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THEM ACTIVE? IT'S BECOME A LITTLE MORE OF A CONCENTRATION ON INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HIRING MANAGERS HAVE ALREADY INTERVIEWED, MET AT A HIRING EVENT, MAYBE IT'S SOMEBODY THAT STOPPED BY AND DROPPED OFF THE RESUMÉ AT THE SCHOOL SITE. SO WE'VE TRIED TO TARGET OUR FOCUS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS OPPOSED TO LIKE I SAID KIND OF SPINNING THE WHEELS, TRYING TO MAKE ACTIVE A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS AND FIVE GET HIRED. Henry "Shake" Washington: GREAT. I THINK THAT WILL HELP US OUT A GREAT DEAL BEING ABLE TO -- FOR THE RETENTION PIECE, WE ALSO DO A SURVEY TO EMPLOYEES FOR 30, 60, 90 DAYS TO SEE HOW THEIR EXPERIENCE IS, THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM THEM, WE SHARE THAT WITH THEIR HIRING MANAGER TO SAY THIS IS

153HOW THE INDIVIDUAL IS FEELING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND IT'S ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. IT'S ONE WAY OF US REACHING OUT TO RETAIN. WE WANT TO BUILD ON THE PROGRAM. WE ROLLED IT OUT AND SO FAR SUCCESSFUL IN US GETTING REAL-TIME FEEDBACK AND FIND OUT WHAT'S WORKING AND NOT WORKING SO WE CAN RETURN INDIVIDUALS. Henry "Shake" Washington: GOOD. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WE'VE GOT TO WORK HARD. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS FROM MY BOARD MEMBERS AROUND THIS. MY CONCERNS COME FROM THE ACTUAL KIND OF TRAINING AND SUPPORT THAT THESE TEACHERS ARE GETTING BECAUSE I'VE HAD SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD CONCERNS WHERE TEACHERS ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FILL IN MORE FOR THE SUPPORT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TRAINING GIVEN TO THESE TEACHERS. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TRAINING ON

154JUST LIKE CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS OF COMING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WHILE I THINK THEY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THERE EXCITED ABOUT EDUCATION AND WILLING TO LEARN, THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT FALLS ON TO THE SCHOOL STAFF WHO HAS TO PICK UP BECAUSE THERE ISN'T MUCH ACCOUNTABILITY, DO THESE TEACHERS GET EVALUATIONS? WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN OUR SCHOOLS ACTING AS TEACHERS AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE ON THAT PATHWAY ARE ACTUALLY UP TO THE TRAINING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THAT? BECAUSE WHAT I SEE IS US FILLING VACANCIES, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY FIDELITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ONCE WE PUT THESE TEACHERS IN THAT PLACE. EPI DOES DO A VERY THOROUGH JOB OF PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING. THEY HAVE A LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN

155WHICH THE TEACHERS LEARN FROM. THEY ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH CONFERENCES, CROSS CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND MENTORING AND CULTURAL ADAPTION TRAINING. THEY MAKE SURE IF THERE IS A CONCERN ON ISSUE, WE SURVEY THE PRINCIPALS AS WELL TO ASK WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE THEY HAVE IN THEIR SCHOOLS. WE DID HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A PRINCIPAL THAT SAID THEY HAD A CONCERN WITH ONE OF THE TEACHERS. EPI CAME IMMEDIATELY AND DID REMEDIAL TRAINING WITH THE TEACHER. IT'S REAL-TIME IF THERE IS A CONCERN OR ISSUE, THEY COME RIGHT IN AND WORK WITH THEM. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, MR. HORSTMAN? YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT EVALUATION. YES, THEY ARE GIVEN THE SAME EVALUATION AS ANY OTHER TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE HAD ONE OR TWO THAT HAVE NOT MET THE MUSTER OF THAT PARTICULAR SITE AND THEY

156ARE NOT RENEWED FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR. IT IS AN EVALUATION SYSTEM THAT ALL TEACHERS ARE GIVEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT AND I KNOW YOU'RE READING THE RESPONSE OFF WHAT THE COMPANY OFFERS. THAT HASN'T BEEN MY EXPERIENCE AS FAR AS IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION WHEN CHALLENGES OR SUPPORTS NEEDED WITH THE TEACHER THAT MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WHATNOT. WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS TRAINING OFFERED, UNLESS THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE EVALUATION, SOME KIND OF EXIT TEST OR SOMETHING ON THESE TRAINING, IT'S HARD TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT THE TEACHERS ARE PROFICIENT IN WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING DURING THE TRAININGS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT JUST ACCOUNTABILITY TO GET TEACHERS OUT. IF WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHO ARE PASSIONATE TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT SO

157THEY CAN TRANSITION AND END UP BEING GOOD TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET AN OVERVIEW. IF THEY ARE EVALUATED JUST LIKE TRADITIONAL TEACHERS FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT THOSE EVALUATIONS LOOK LIKE. THAT WAY WE CAN REALLY GAUGE WHETHER THE TRAINING NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED OR NOT. WHETHER IT IS EFFECTIVE FOR OUR COUNTY AND OUR STATE. IS IT SPECIFIC TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THE TRAINING THEY GET? OR IS THIS LIKE TRAINING FOR WHEN THEY COME TO AMERICA IN GENERAL? IT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY A BROADER SCOPE OF WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT IN AN AMERICAN CLASSROOM. I MENTIONED INTERNS BEFORE COMING FROM USF AND OUR STATESIDE SCHOOLS. THE INDIVIDUALS THAT EPI SENDS TO US, NOT SOMEBODY THAT JUST GRADUATED.FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE UNIVERSITIES AND COUNTRIES.

158ON AVERAGE THEY COME WITH 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE NOT BRAND-NEW TEACHERS IN THEIR PROFESSION, BRAND-NEW TO THE UNITED STATES, OF COURSE, AND IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT THEY DO HAVE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND, EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL CAREER BEHIND THEM BEFORE JOINING US. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT. EVERY COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT. WE SEE THAT FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL IN OUR COUNTY, MUCH LESS DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, EXPECTATIONS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. IS THERE A WAY TO GET A SUMMARY WITHOUT NECESSARILY INDIVIDUAL ONES, JUST LIKE WE HAD THIS MANY EMPLOYEES, THIS MANY, THEIR EVALUATIONS ARE WERE PROFICIENT OR NEEDS IMPROVEMENT AND GET A SUMMARY OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? GREAT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE'RE ON TO 7.06, FIRST AMENDMENT

159TO THE PARKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TAMPA BAY ARENA LLC, AMALIE AREA, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PARKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TAMPA BAY ARENA, AMALIE ARENA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE TAMPA BAY ARENA REQUEST TO RENEW CUSTOMER PARKING AGREEMENT WITH HCPS. THE PARKING AGREEMENT WILL RENT TO TAMPA BAY ARENA FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK AT AMALIE ARENA. THIS WILL ASSIST IN PARKING NEEDS AND UTILIZE EXTRA PARKING SPACES NOT BEING USED BY DISTRICT STAFF. THIS AMENDMENT WILL COMMENCE ON JULY 1st OF THIS YEAR AND TERMINATE ON JUNE 30, 2026. SO ONE YEAR, WITH FOUR ONE YEAR RENEWALS AFTER THAT. THE RATE 156,000 PER YEAR. ITEM 7.06, THE PARKING AGREEMENT. MR. FARKAS IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

160WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.06. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Nadia Combs: MR. FARKAS, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. EXACTLY AS LAST YEAR, EVERY CONTRACT THAT COMES IN FRONT OF ME HAS INCREASED. THEN WHEN WE'RE BILLING SOMEONE, I DON'T SEE AN INCREASE TO THAT CONTRACT. THAT'S MY CONCERN. THE OTHER PART, I REQUESTED A WORKSHOP THAT WE'RE COMING UP IN JUNE, END OF JUNE TO LOOK AT PROPERTIES. WHEN I LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS GENERATING $156,000, I LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE GENERATING A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS, RIGHT HERE DOWNTOWN. LET'S LOOK AT THIS WHEN WE HAVE THAT WORKSHOP. I GUESS MY BIG QUESTION, I KNOW

161WHAT YOUR ANSWER IS GOING TO BE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE AN INCREASE. IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE CAN GENERATE REVENUE, WE SHOULD. Christopher Farkas: I AGREE. WE HAVE -- ONLY REASON DIDN'T INCREASE THIS YEAR, PARTNERSHIP, MR. AYRES THROUGH BOTH PRINCIPALS AND TEACHER GIVE AWAYS, TICKETS TO LIGHTNING GAMES, PART OF ADDITIONAL FEES OF WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN TO US. WE'LL LOOK AT INCREASING THAT FEE. ALSO DONE MORE IN THE GROUP, OFFERING TRAININGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, USE THE FACILITIES FOR FREE THAT NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. YOU ARE RIGHT. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IT HASN'T GONE UP, IT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE OTHER THINGS. NEXT YEAR WE WILL LOOK AT AN INCREASE IN

162THE COST. Nadia Combs: THEY COULD BUILD THAT UP. LEASE THAT FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. 156,000 FOR PRIME PARKING LIKE THAT. Christopher Farkas: AS YOU KNOW, THAT IS USED BY ROSSAC EMPLOYEES AND RAMPELLO EMPLOYEES DURING THE DAY. THAT'S WHY THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS SO WELL, THEY ONLY NEED IT AT NIGHT. WE ASKED THIRD PARTY DO AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. Nadia Combs: I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S GREAT. I JUST THINK THAT JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE ASKED FOR A MILLAGE, WHEN WE ASK FOR THINGS, WE ALSO HAVE TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTING WE CAN TO GENERATE MONEY AS WELL. I KNOW YOU DO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY LITTLE DOLLAR COUNTS. Christopher Farkas: I AGREE. THANK YOU FOR

163BRINGING IT UP. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: I THINK WHENEVER WE BRING AN AGENDA ITEM LIKE THIS, WE SHOULD HAVE COMPAREABLES. WHAT ELSE ARE WE LOOKING AT IN THE AREA COMPARE TO? ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, IF THERE IS MORE TO THE PACKAGE, LET'S INCLUDE MORE IN THE PACKAGE AND AGENDA ITEM SO WE'RE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE USE OF FACILITIES. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. IF WE ARE USING THE FACILITIES FOR ANY OF OUR TRAININGS OR OTHER THINGS, THAT'S ALSO A LIABILITY TO US AS WELL. SO WE'VE -- I DON'T MEAN A LIABILITY -- IF OUR STAFF HURT THERE, WHAT HAVE YOU, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SHOWING THAT TRANSPARENCY. I DO SEE IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT. IT'S NOT THAT IT WASN'T STAGNANT, DEFINITELY --

164I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU IF IT WAS RELATIVE TO THE OTHER MARKETS IN THE AREA. I THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR OTHER VENUES IN THE AREA AND SOME OF THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT THEY HAVE, HOW OFTEN. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SOME COMPARABLES FOR THE FUTURE. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE LIGHTNING FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, OUR TEACHERS THIS PARTICULAR YEAR. CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS IN WORKING WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH HURRICANE RELIEF AND SO FORTH. I DO NOT WANT THIS IN ANY WAY TO BE A DISSERVICE TO THEM AND THE GENEROSITY THEY HAVE HAD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS. LIKE MEMBER COMBS SAID, WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE WERE NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE

165AS WELL. MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT IT TWOFOLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Jessica Vaughn: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW GO ON TO 7.10, ACCEPTANCE OF PROJECT FOR THE REFERENDUM PROJECT AT CARVER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. Van Ayres: I'LL BE BRIEF. THIS IS ACCEPTANCE OF A PROJECT ALREADY COMPLETED OVER AT CARVER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER WHICH PROVIDED HEATING -- HVAC REPAIRS. ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROJECT BACK FROM 22-23 I THINK WAS THE YEAR. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.10. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF YOU DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THAT'S OKAY. Christopher Farkas: I'LL BE HAPPY TO REMIND YOU,

166MEMBER RENDON. ENSURE ALL ESE CENTERS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. WHAT OTHER PROJECTS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ITEMS ARE. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE, I'LL E-MAIL THE BOARD WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, ESE CENTERS, ALMOST 13 MILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF WORK, NOT INCLUDING $21 MILLION SPENT TO REBUILD DOROTHY THOMAS. PRIORITY FOR MR. MOORE AND MYSELF AND OTERO TO MAKE SURE THE ESE CENTERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. WE HAVE CHALLENGES. A LOT HAVE PORTABLES, THINGS NOT PERMANENT STATIONS. FOR THE HOMES WE HAVE, DEFINITELY SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT. TO YOUR ADVOCACY, I HUNDRED PERCENT THINK WE NEED TO FIND PERMANENT HOMES. Patti Rendon: YES, THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. LOPEZ EXCEPTIONAL CENTER, EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH

167AND SAFETY OF NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS BUT OUR STAFF THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT EACH FACILITY HAS THE MOST UP TO DATE, STATE-OF-THE-ART ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE AND RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL. IF YOU COULD PLEASE SHARE THAT LIST WITH THE WHOLE BOARD. THAT IS ONE THING I DID REQUEST, THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE USE OFF THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX FOR EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK, ESPECIALLY AT SOME OF OUR MORE CRITICAL AREAS TO MAKE SURE THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF IS BOTH FROM A HEALTH AND SAFETY POINT OF VIEW FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. Christopher Farkas: IF YOU SAW DOROTHY THOMAS WHEN BUILT AS ESE CENTER, YOU SEE THINGS LIKE SENSORY WALLS AND AREAS BUILT FOR THEM. MANY OTHER AREAS IN PORTABLES, SCHOOLS THAT

168WE RETROFITTED OR TRIED TO MAKE IT WORK. BUILT WITH THAT HE THINKS IS ABOUT, WE HAVE A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY. AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT HALF PENNY, ONE OF THE THINGS TO LOOK AT. SO THEY CAN BUILD MORE DOROTHY THOMASS OUT THERE. Patti Rendon: I DO APPRECIATE THAT. THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, AND WE HAVE A RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK UP THAT SLACK WHERE THEY CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE MADE THAT A PRIORITY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I ALSO AGREE. WHILE I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WE CAN'T MAKE EVERY SCHOOL NECESSARILY RIGHT NOW LOOK LIKE DOROTHY THOMAS WHICH IS A WORLD-CLASS SCHOOL, I DO FEEL LIKE I WOULD AGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, EVEN IF IT

169IS SMALL IMPROVEMENTS OR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT CENTER WISH LIST, HAVE CONVERSATIONS. WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BEING RESPONSIBLE AND TALKING TO THE PRINCIPALS AT OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM AND MEET THE NEEDS. BUT WE WERE JUST AT THE LOPEZ GRADUATION AND SOME OF THE STAFF WERE SO FRUSTRATED BY THE LIMITATIONS OF THE BILL THEY ARE IN. THEY ARE LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT NOT WORKING THERE ANYMORE. THAT IS A PROBLEM. AGAIN, WHEN THOSE ARE, AS MEMBER RENDON MENTIONED, SOME OF OUR MOST FRAGILE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT IT IS A CHALLENGE JUST FOR THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CURRICULUM THAT THEY NEED IN ACCESS. THERE'S NOT A LOT LEFT OVER TO TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE HONESTLY -- I HATE TO SAY IT -- LIKE AN AFTERTHOUGHT

170AND NOT DOING JUSTICE TO OUR STUDENTS IN THE CENTERS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T REBUILD THEM ALL, I DO THINK THERE ARE EVEN SOME SMALL MEDIUM-SIZE CHANGES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT JUST TO REALLY ENHANCE AND SUPPORT THE STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE CENTERS. I AGREE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE FOCUS ON THAT SPECIFICALLY. Christopher Farkas: LOPEZ IS A GREAT EXAMPLE WHERE THE POPULATION HAS GAINED. PUT PORTABLES AND TAKES AWAY FROM THE FOCUS OF BEING A CENTER FOCUSED SCHOOL. LOPEZ, IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE. ALSO IN PORTABLES THAT AREN'T REAL CONDUCIVE FOR HAVING A GROUP ENVIRONMENT. NO MATTER WHAT WE DO TO PORTABLES, IT'S NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IT NEEDS TO. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE LITTLE AND MEDIUM PROJECTS WE'VE DONE BUT I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE

171A PRIORITY FOR THE DISTRICT GOING FORWARD, PERMANENT HOMES FOR EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: I NEVER KNEW THOSE EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS EXISTED UNTIL I BECAME A BOARD MEMBER. VISITING THEM ALL THE TIME, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZE THOSE STUDENTS AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ROOMS, DIFFERENT FACILITIES, THE MOST UPDATED EQUIPMENT, ALL OF THAT IS JUST REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, ERNEST, SHOUT-OUT TO HIM. HARD WORKING. WORKS SO HARD AT THE EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS. I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE QUIET PEOPLE, GO IN THERE, WORKS HARD, GIVES HIS HEART -- PROBABLY SO MAD I MENTIONED HIM -- HE DOES AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB WITH ALL OF OUR CENTERS, SUCCESS CENTERS AS WELL AS EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS. THANK YOU FOR MAKING

172THAT A PRIORITY AND CONTINUING TO UPDATE US. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SEEING NO MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO 9.01, SERVICE ORDER WITH PANORAMA EDUCATION, INC. FOR PANORAMA TEACHER AND STAFF SURVEY AND FAMILY SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS SURVEY ALONG WITH THE PANORAMA STUDENT LIFE SKILLS SURVEY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ITEM. Van Ayres: THIS IS OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING. AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH. PANORAMA EDUCATION WILL PROVIDE EDUCATORS AND DISTRICT LEADERS WITH RESEARCH BACKED SURVEY AND ACTIONABLE DATA REPORTS -- CREATE A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS THRIVE, SUPPORT BUILDING STRONGER STAFF, PROFESSIONAL WELL-BEING, SCHOOL CLIMATE CULTURE, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING -- ESTABLISHING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLLEAGUES, LEADERSHIP STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM IS ALIGNED TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND SUPPORTS MEASUREMENT ACROSS

173NUMEROUS DISTRICT INITIATIVES. THIS IS THE SIXTH AGREEMENT BETWEEN HCPS AND PANORAMA FOR STUDENT PERCEPTION SURVEYS. IT IS THE SECOND AGREEMENT INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. MADAM CHAIR THAT IS 9.01. I THINK MR. AUSTIN AND MR. YOUNG ARE HERE AS WELL WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. Jessica Vaughn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 9.01. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER RENDON AND I, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ON HERE, PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER RENDON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT? Patti Rendon: I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION MULTIPLE TIMES. I BROUGHT IT UP THE LAST YEAR. THE WAY IN WHICH WE RUN WITH THIS PANORAMA DATA IS WHAT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME. WE GET THE RESULTS BACK SOMEWHERE AROUND FEBRUARY, MARCH. CHOOSE A GOAL. THEY START IT AGAIN IN

174AUGUST. TAKING THE SURVEY AGAIN IN DECEMBER. WE'RE SPENDING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR FOUR MONTHS OF WORK AND CHANGING IT AGAIN. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE LOGICAL SENSE THAT WE DON'T GIVE TIME FOR THESE THINGS TO WORK OR IMPLEMENT CHANGES. WE'RE IN THE CONSTANT CIRCLE OF FLOW. THE DATA IS NEVER REALLY ABLE TO GO FULL FRUITION BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE A NEW GOAL NEXT YEAR. FLIP THE GOALS BUT ONLY IMPLEMENT FOR FOUR MONTHS. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE'VE GOT TO GIVE IT TIME FOR THIS DATA TO BE USED AND FULLY BE VETTED. IF YOU SUGGEST SOMETHING IN PLACE, PUT IT IN PLACE THE WHOLE YEAR. THEN GO BACK THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND PULL THE PANORAMA AGAIN. WE'RE SPENDING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR DATA FOR CHANGES THAT WE ONLY MAKE FOR FOUR MONTHS.

175IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE LOGICAL SENSE. IT NEVER HAS. ON TOP OF WHICH, IF WE WANT TO KEEP GETTING DATA, LET'S USE SOME OF OUR OWN RESOURCES. SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS -- THEY ARE AMAZING. THEY COULD COME UP WITH A SURVEY TO GET SOME SIMPLE DATA RIGHT AWAY. LET'S GET IT TO OUR SCHOOLS AND ASK THEM WHAT DATA DO THEY WANT? WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO THIS SURVEY EVERY SINGLE YEAR. WHY ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME FOR ANY IMPLEMENTATION? ALL WE'RE DOING IS ASKING PEOPLE TO CHANGE. CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE, NEW PROCESS, NEW PROCEDURE, NEW PROCESS. LET'S FOCUS FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR INSTEAD -- REALISTICALLY, WHATEVER GOAL THEY HAD THAT THEY GOT STARTING IN MARCH OR APRIL, THEY ARE NOT IMPLEMENTING UNTIL AUGUST. THEN WE DO A

176NEW SURVEY AGAIN IN DECEMBER. I'M A NO FROM THIS POINT ON UNTIL WE MAKE GOOD CHANGES IN OUR POLICIES, HOW WE DO BUSINESS. ALL THIS IS REINFORCE -- CONSTANTLY CHANGE, CONSTANTLY CHANGE. THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL WITH HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOLS TO REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO ENTER INTO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. DIG IN. TALK TO OUR STAFF, TALK TO OUR PEOPLE. THIS FOR ME IS A NO GO FROM THIS POINT ON. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: ACTUALLY, THIS IS PERFECT TIMING BECAUSE THE HOUSE BILL THAT WAS PASSED BY THE FEDS 3265 PROVIDES GRANTS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL CLIMATE THROUGH POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, PBIS. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE GRANTS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL CULTURE. SO WHEN WE REINFORCE A PROGRAM HAD FOR SIX YEARS, NOT A PROGRAM, A SURVEY, WE KNOW, AND I KNOW, BRANDON, YOU'VE BEEN TWEAKING IT.

177I KNOW, IS MR. OWEN, YOU JUST GOT HOLD OF THIS. BUT THIS IS NOT AN EPIPHANY EVERY YEAR. WE'VE HAD THIS SAME SURVEY, MAYBE WE TWEAK IT, JUST LIKE THE HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS SURVEY, WE TWEAK IT EACH YEAR, BUT THOSE RESULTS ARE VERY, VERY NECESSARY. NOW, MY QUESTION, BECAUSE THIS IS $272,000 OR 292,000, I'M JUST ROUNDING IT DOWN, DO AN EXAMPLE, WHAT SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU USE THE STUDENT DATA AND WHERE YOU FIND THE NEED TO INCREASE LIFE SKILLS, WHAT SCHOOL CAN YOU SHARE THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS USED THIS DATA TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFE SKILLS? I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHARE NOT ONLY THE SCHOOL, BUT WHERE THE STUDENT -- I MEAN WHERE THE SUPPORT STAFF ALSO. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GET MYSTIFIED BY ALL THESE CULTURAL NORMS AND WORDS AND ADJECTIVES, AND

178THIS HAS INSTITUTED THE TEST OF TIME. PANORAMA HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INCENTIVE SUPPORTS HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, NOT JUST HERE, THROUGHOUT THE NATION. SO GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE, GIVE US, SORRY, BOARD MEMBERS, GIVE US EXAMPLES. THANKS, BRANDON. I'LL SHARE AN EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MS. HOLLOWAY AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. SHE IS A NEW PRINCIPAL TO THAT SCHOOL. SHE TOOK HER DATA WHEN DISAGGREGATED BACK IN FEBRUARY AND TOOK IT TO A LEADERSHIP TEAM WHERE SHE BEGAN DISAGGREGATING SOME OF THE TRENDS SHE IDENTIFIED. ONE OF THOSE WAS DISPARITY DATA WITH SENSE OF BELONGING WITH SOME DIFFERENT GROUPS OF STUDENTS. SHE WORKED THROUGH THAT STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO COME UP WITH SOME CLEAR ACTION STEPS TO SUPPORT HER CLIMATE GOAL THAT EVERY STUDENT WOULD FEEL LIKE BELONGED ON THE CAMPUS. SHE IS USING

179A BOOK STUDY WITH STAFF OVER THE SUMMER AND DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR AS WELL. WITH STUDENTS, SHE IDENTIFIED FOCUS GROUPS, BLACK STUDENTS, FEMALE STUDENTS, ET CETERA. THAT SHE'S SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM THEM REGARDING THINGS THAT SHE CAN DO TO HELP IMPROVE THE CLIMATE ON THE CAMPUS. AGAIN, SUPPORTING THAT OVERALL GOAL THAT ALL STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG. THAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE. Lynn Gray: I REMEMBER YOU SHARING THAT. IT IS A VERY RELEVANT ONE. I AM ALSO REMINDED THAT IN THE SCHOOLS THAT I'VE TAUGHT FROM JESUIT TO HOME SCHOOLS, EVERY ONE OF THOSE SCHOOL MODELS HAVE HAD AFFECTIVE SURVEYS. WHAT HAPPENS IS, TEACHERS GET IN THEIR OWN WORLD, PRINCIPALS GET IN THEIR OWN WORLD. NO ONE TELLS US THE RECIPIENT OF OUR TEACHING OR OUR PRESENTATIONS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? WHAT

180WE NEED IS THE FEEDBACK, THE SURVEY SHARES -- AND THAT'S SO CRITICAL FOR A LEADER OR A TEACHER TO GROW. WITHOUT THAT, WE'RE IN A WORLD THAT THERE'S NO REFLECTIVE FEEDBACK UNLESS MS. McRAE DOES AN EVALUATION WHICH IS MORE CAUSTIC, HOPEFULLY NOT. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, MUCH MORE OBJECTIVE, CONCRETE, NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING CONCRETE AT ALL. BUT TEACHERS ARE NURTURERS, AND SO ARE PRINCIPALS. AFFECTIVE WORDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS TO HEAR AND TO SAY, OH, OKAY, I SEE THIS DATA. I CAN IMPROVE. MR. OWEN, MR. YOUNG, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU WANT TO REMARK. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR YOUR LINE OF QUESTIONING. I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT ON POINT. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LONGITUDINAL LENS OF WHAT BEST PRACTICES ARE WORKING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS MORNING'S

181PRESENTATION, WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOLS. THE REALITY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THE PANORAMA SURVEY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CULTURE AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SENSE OF BELONGING, IT TIES DIRECTLY INTO LEVEL ONE. IT REALLY GIVES ALL PRINCIPALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REFLECTIVE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT ONE OF THE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY OF SENSE OF BELONGING, I KNOW A LOT OF WORK, THE DATA REALLY POINTS TO AREAS WHERE WE COULD BE VERY INTENTIONAL AROUND HOW AND WHAT WE DO. IT ALSO ALLOWS WHEN YOU HEAR EARLIER TODAY, YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LAGGING INDICATORS. HOW DO WE USE SMALL SNIPPETS OF DATA TO REALLY SUPPORT AND TO PROGRESS MONITOR WHERE WE ARE GOING AND REALLY THE SURVEY, IF WE ACTUALIZE THE SURVEY, WE COULD MAKE IT MUCH BETTER

182THAN WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. WE WANTED TO BE INTENTIONAL AROUND HOW WE IMPLEMENT THIS SO IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SOMETHING ELSE. WE WANTED TO MOVE THE LANGUAGE FROM A SURVEY TO SOMETHING THAT GIVES US DATA-INFORMED PERSPECTIVE AND ALIGNS WITH OTHER DATA SO IT DOESN'T SIT BY ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE ARE SEEING ARE PRINCIPALS AND REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND CABINET ARE REALLY GOING THROUGH THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT OF THIS SURVEY TO REALLY ACTUALIZE AND ACTIVATE THE SURVEY SO IT TIES TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND ULTIMATELY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND DISTRICT OUTCOMES. Lynn Gray: IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT MENTIONED THE AMOUNT OF SUICIDE AND MENTAL INSTABILITY OUR STUDENTS ARE HAVING. ONE OF THE BIGGEST, I THINK, CONCERNS IS THE MENTAL WELLNESS OF OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE IF THEY

183ARE NOT MENTALLY AND SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY OKAY, THEY ARE NOT APT TO LEARN. HOW DO WE FIND OUT IF THAT IS THE CASE. YOU HAVE A SURVEY THAT SAYS, DING, THIS IS IT. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, YOUR OPINION, YOU HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN. ONE OF THE BIG TENETS IS ON SCHOOL, CLIMATE, AND CULTURE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NOT HAVING A SURVEY THAT IS DATA DRIVEN THAT DOES NOT SHARE THE CULTURE OF A SCHOOL, THE STUDENT, STAFF, HOW DOES THAT WORK, HOW DO YOU MEASURE CULTURE? YOU WANT IT IN HAD YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PRINCIPALS INSTITUTE. WITH THE SURVEY, FIRST OFF, TO HAVE A SURVEY AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR THAT WE CAN REFLECT ON, OUR PROGRESS AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION ARE OF A SCHOOL AND/OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT'S AN

184IMPORTANT METRIC FOR US TO HAVE. THAT'S WHY THIS AGENDA ITEM IS IN FRONT OF YOU. IT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH HRS AS WE HEARD THIS MORNING BECAUSE THESE ARE LAGGING INDICATORS, OUR CRITERIA BASED METRICS THAT WILL LOOK AT HOW WE'RE PERFORMING. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT AS A DISTRICT IT'S HOW WE MEASURE HOW WE'RE DOING. Lynn Gray: I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. I ALWAYS HAVE FOR THOSE REASONS, AND I THINK IT'S SO CRITICAL WE HAVE A PULSE ON OUR STUDENTS ALL THE TIME. AND OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR PRINCIPALS. IT HAS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE SCHOOL CULTURE. YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT. DATA DRIVEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. YOUNG FOR CLARIFYING, GOING OVER THIS. BEING THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF HILLSBOROUGH

185COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW ANY COMPANIES OR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T DO A LOT OF SURVEYS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE. WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH STUDENTS, IF YOU GO AS A REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OR SUPERVISOR AND YOU WALK INTO A SCHOOL, YOU JUST SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. I KNOW WHEN I GO VISIT SCHOOLS AND PEOPLE KNOW I'M VISITING, OH, IT SHOULD BE QUIETER. I WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER. IT SHOULD NOT BE QUIET. IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT PULSE. I KNOW FROM TEACHERS I KNOW AND I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE EDUCATORS, THEY OFTEN TALK ABOUT, DID YOU SEE THE PANORAMA SURVEY? HOPE SOMEONE LOOKS AT THIS. IF THE NEW PRINCIPAL COMES, IN I HOPE THEY LOOK AT THE COMMENTS THEY MADE. I KNOW FOR TEACHERS THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT

186PLACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SHARE AS WELL AS OUR SUPPORTING STAFF TO SEE THAT AND WITH THE CHANGES. YOU SEE ALL THESE NEW PRINCIPAL CHANGES WE HAD, TO LOOK AT THAT. FOR ME, I HAVEN'T DUG DEEP INTO MY SCHOOLS BUT I WILL THIS SUMMER BECAUSE I'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING, WHY ARE THEY LEAVING, NOT LEAVING, WHAT'S HAPPENING, ARE STUDENTS FEELING SAFE? I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, UNLESS THERE IS A BETTER SURVEY OR SOMETHING MORE IMPROVED. WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PANORAMA FOR YEARS TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET THAT. I THINK THAT OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, I THINK THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THE SURVEYS AND I THINK THEY ARE MAKING BIG DECISION BASED ON THOSE

187SURVEYS. I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN GET A VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SCHOOLS WITHOUT A SURVEY. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT A LOT OF THAT IS ANONYMOUS SO PEOPLE FEEL SAFE SHARING SOME OF THAT, SHARING HOW THEY FEEL AND LOOKING AT THAT. I SAY THIS OVER AND OVER. IT DOESN'T MATTER, THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THIS ENTIRE IS THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL. THE MORE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE PRINCIPALS ON HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR STAFF AND THEIR STUDENTS, THE BETTER WE CAN BE. I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO SUPPORT THAT. MEMBER COMBS, IF I CAN, TODAY AT OUR IN SERVICE FOR PRINCIPALS, WE TALK ABOUT HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOLS. EQUALLY YOU HEARD A BALANCED MESSAGE AROUND HIGH RELIABILITY ORGANIZATIONS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS, TALK ABOUT A SENSE OF BELONGING AND

188TRYING TO SHAPE OUR FOCUS AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM, YOU SAW CERTAIN IN SERVICE TAKING PLACE TODAY. YOU SAW ATTENDANCE WHERE IF THERE IS A SENSE OF BELONGING, THE DATA SAYS STUDENTS ARE MORE WILLING TO COME TO SCHOOL. WE TALKED ABOUT SUICIDE, HEARD IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TODAY, IF THERE IS A SENSE OF BELONGING, WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS HAVE AN ADULT AT THEIR SCHOOL THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE CONNECTING WITH. LOOKING AT THE SURVEY AND AGAIN WE SPOKE EQUALLY ABOUT COMMON LANGUAGE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT. TO MOVE THE DISCUSSION AWAY FROM A SURVEY TO DATA INFORMED DECISION MAKING THAT REALLY HELPS US TO REALLY UNPACK THIS, WE HAVE TO SPEND TIME GRAPPLING WITH THIS. THE MORE WE GRAPPLE, THE MORE WE BEGIN TO SEE WHERE OUR AREAS OF FOCUS SHOULD BE AND REALLY HELPS US TO

189REALLY THINK. THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS THAT EACH SCHOOL UNIQUELY HAS ITS OWN GAME PLAN AND ROAD MAP. I THINK IT BEING LONGITUDINAL, SCHOOLS FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS TO PIVOT AND OR MAKE SHIFTS BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE GETTING FROM THEIR DATA. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Patti Rendon: SOMEHOW MY COMMENTS GOT SHIFTED TO WHERE I DON'T WANT A SURVEY. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. I WANT US TO HAVE OPINIONS OF OUR TEACHERS, STAFF, STUDENTS. I WANT THEM. I WANT THEM IN A WAY IN WHICH THEY CAN MAKE ADEQUATE CHANGE. THE DATA CAN BE USED FOR A MORE LOGICAL, LONG-TERM APPROACH. WHEN THEY GET THE DATA IN FEBRUARY, MARCH AND MAKE A GOAL, START IT IN AUGUST AND SURVEY COMES OUT

190AGAIN IN DECEMBER, FOUR MONTHS IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAKE CHANGES. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, TELL ME THE INDICATORS. EXACT SAME INDICATORS, BEING A PART OF THE BELONGING, GUARANTEE YOU WE LOOK AT THE SAME SCHOOLS ALMOST GOT THE SAME RESULTS UNDER THE SAME ISSUE. IF WE GOT THE SAME RESULTS OF A SIMILAR ISSUE OVER THREE YEARS, WHY DO IT EVERY YEAR. GIVE IT A YEAR TO PROCESS AND DO IT AGAIN. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I AM NOT SAYING STOP SURVEYS. I AM NOT SAYING NOT GET OPINIONS OR INFORMATION FROM FAMILIES. I'M SAYING WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE, BUT THE WAY WE DO IT NOW, IT GIVES FOUR MONTHS FOR CHANGE. THAT'S NOT SUFFICIENT FOR ANY DATA TO BE USED CLEARLY AND CORRECTLY BEFORE YOU START

191-- THE DATA. THEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR A NEW GOAL DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD GOAL. IF YOU ALREADY KNEW YOU HAD A GOAL AND PROBLEM TO SOLVE AND ONLY GAVE YOURSELF FOUR MONTHS TO SOLVE IT IN A WHOLE YEAR PERIOD IT DOESN'T MAKE LOGICAL SENSE. MAKE IT CLEAR. I WANT A SURVEY. I WANT THE OPINIONS OF TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE HEARD. I JUST WANT TO DO IT LOGICALLY AND GIVE THEM TIME TO IMPLEMENT PROPERLY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR ON THIS SURVEY. THESE SCHOOLS ARE COMING BACK WITH VERY SIMILAR RESULTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING NEW TO START WORKING WITH. GIVE IT TIME TO BE IMPLEMENTED. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. JUST TO CLARIFY, THE SURVEY IS GIVEN WHEN? THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR

192WE WERE GIVEN THE SURVEY. AS SOON AS WE RETURN BACK FROM WINTER BREAK, WENT FROM JANUARY 6 AND PROCEEDED THREE WEEKS. PRINCIPALS GOT THEIR FEEDBACK OR THEIR RESULTS RIGHT AS THEY WERE MEETING WITH REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SECOND SEMESTER. Jessica Vaughn: SO WHICH MONTH? WHICH MONTH DID THEY GET THE RESULTS? I BELIEVE FEBRUARY 3rd IS WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE RESULTS. Jessica Vaughn: FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, UNTIL JUNE GETS OUT, THEN WE HAVE AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, BEFORE IT GOES OUT. THAT'S NINE MONTHS BY MY COUNT. [INAUDIBLE] Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. WELL, THAT IS A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER TIME. BUT THERE IS NINE MONTHS BETWEEN THE SURVEY OF WORK TIME. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. SECONDLY, MY CONCERN ISN'T AROUND THE SURVEY. I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA. I LIKE TO

193DO IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IMPORTANT FOR CONTINUITY. A LOT OF TIMES I TELL FAMILIES FRUSTRATED OR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE CONCERNS OR EVEN STUDENTS, LIKE, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT YOUR PANORAMA SURVEY AND HIGHLIGHT THAT SO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE. MY CONCERN IS THE FIDELITY OF WHICH WE USE THE INFORMATION. YOU KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT. WHEN WE SET UP A MEETING FOR THIS, I KNOW THAT YOU HAD QUOTED THAT THERE WAS A PRETTY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PRINCIPALS WHO HADN'T OPENED THE DATA AND LOOKED AT SURVEY RESULTS. CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME HOW MANY PRINCIPALS HAD NOT EVEN REVIEWED THE RESULTS OF THE PANORAMA DATA AT THAT POINT? USING PERMISSIONS BY ROLE, WE HAD 85% OF OUR PRINCIPALS HAD ACCESS TO THEIR REPORTS FROM SURVEY RELEASE. Jessica

194Vaughn: TO ME, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, AN AGREEMENT OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND ON THIS AND TO OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, TO OUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS, THE FACT THAT THERE'S ANY PERCENTAGE, THREE MONTHS LATER THAT HAVE NOT EVEN OPENED THE RESULTS OF THEIR PANORAMA SURVEY IS SO CONCERNING TO ME ON SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS. I LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY SCHOOLS AND YOU KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT GETTING ACCESS ABOUT IT. I CALLED CERTAIN REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS TO ASK, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE IS A DISCONNECT. SOME PRINCIPALS I KNOW ARE ROCK STARS. THEY FOCUS ON CULTURE AND CLIMATE. I SEE IT WHEN I COME INTO THE SCHOOLS. I KNOW TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND THEY ARE GETTING POOR SCORES ON THAT. I WANT TO SEE THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT I SEE HAPPEN EVERY

195DAY AND THE SURVEY RESULTS. THE FACT THERE ISN'T CONSISTENCY AND EXPECTATIONS AROUND THIS DATA THAT EVERY SINGLE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD KNOW IN AND OUT EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF DATA, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE BOARD, LOWEST SCORING ANSWER WE GOT ON ANYTHING WAS WHETHER OR NOT OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY OR ENOUGH OUTREACH HAPPENING. 19% OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE IS ACTUALLY A COMMUNITY WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS. NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AND USING AND TALKING ABOUT AS A METRIC. IT'S WHAT OUR DISTRICT SHOULD BE DOING. IF THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD AND EVERY SCHOOL FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL, THAT IS A DISTRICT PROBLEM. THAT'S NOT A SCHOOL SITE PROBLEM. WE SHOULD BE USING IT AS A DISTRICT IN

196SPECIFIC. WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT WE'RE NOT CAPTURING OR MAKING OUR FAMILIES FEEL CONNECTED TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS. MY ISSUE ISN'T SO MUCH WITH THE SURVEY. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY REFLECTIVE. I APPRECIATE ALWAYS TAKING MY COMMENTS. CONCERN ABOUT SCHOOLS WITH ADMINISTRATOR LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. NEW ADMINISTRATOR, OLD ADMINISTRATOR, CONFUSING FOR STAFF MEMBERS AND FAMILIES. I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO ON THAT. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, REGIONAL AND SUPERINTENDENTS, IF WE COLLECT THIS DATA, IF OUR TEACHERS PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO GIVE THIS FEEDBACK, IF OUR FAMILIES ARE GOING TO ENGAGE AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AROUND IT, NO FEEDBACK, NO PLAN COMING FROM THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND NOT PUT ON THE BACKS OF

197OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO HAVE FIDELITY AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THESE RESULTS THEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING. THAT'S MY CONCERN. I WOULD HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT, WHICH I ANTICIPATE IT WILL, THERE WILL BE A PLAN COMING FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FROM THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR REGIONAL AND SUPERINTENDENTS WITH USING THIS DATA TO CREATE REAL CHANGE. WE MAY DISAGREE ON THE TIME OR AMOUNT THEY HAVE, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST THEY SHOULD BE OPENING THEIR SURVEY RESULTS. THE FACT THAT THERE'S ANY PRINCIPAL, THE SECOND IT COMES OUT, SEE WHAT THE STUDENTS, COMMUNITY, PARENTS FEELS BLOWS MY MIND. THAT'S MY EXPECTATION GOING FORWARD. Van Ayres: YES, HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. THE TEAM, MR. YOUNG, MS. McRAE, DR. GRAY, WE HEAR YOU. 85% IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT SHOULD BE 100%

198ALL THE TIME. WE HEAR YOU. MOVING FORWARD WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PLAN FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR THAT THE SURVEYS ARE OPENED. THAT IS THE POINT OF THE SURVEY. ABOUT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. UTILIZING THE DATA TO GET BETTER YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. Jessica Vaughn: MEMBER GRAY, YOU HAD MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. Lynn Gray: IT'S IN SYNC WITH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, MEMBER VAUGHN. THE ACTUALITY OF 40% OF PRINCIPALS ARE NEW HAVE A LACK TO DO WITH THE LACK OF CONTINUITY AND THE LACK OF REFLECTIVE RESPONSES, IF YOU WILL. WE MAY WANT TO ADD, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, IS A KEEN AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATION TO THE NEW PRINCIPALS. TONIGHT WAS INDICATIVE OF A LOT OF NEW FACES WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH PBIS, NOT FAMILIAR WITH PANORAMA. EVEN IF THEY WERE

199ON THE FACE OF IT, THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF PUTTING IT OUT AND INITIATING IT, IS IMPLEMENTING IT, MEASURING IT, THAT TAKES A YEAR OR TWO. I WOULD SAY THE CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO FOCUS ON THOSE NEW PRINCIPALS AND AP FOR THE SURVEY. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. APPRECIATE IT. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THE MOTION PASSES WITH MEMBER RENDON VOTING NO. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT, YOUR COMMENTS ARE UP. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS, MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE THIS EVENING, I REALLY WANT TO REFLECT ON THIS PAST YEAR. BELIEVE IT OR NOT OUR LAST DAY OF

200SCHOOL WAS JUST FRIDAY. LAST DAY FOR TEACHERS WAS TODAY. AS WE MOVE INTO THE SUMMERTIME, WE ALREADY HAD OUR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THIS MORNING. SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WERE THERE TO PARTAKE IN THE LEARNING FOR OUR PRINCIPALS AND LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING THERE. BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE THERE, THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED TOMORROW, AGAIN WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE AND K-8 AND ELEMENTARY ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY, WE'VE HAD TO DO SOME REFLECTION AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR BECAUSE BOARD MEMBERS THERE ARE SOME INCREDIBLE RESULTS THAT WE'RE SEEING, THAT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF HARD WORK. WHEN YOU DO WORK HARD, IT'S NICE TO SEE WHEN YOU HAVE RESULTS THAT COME BEHIND THOSE TO SHOW ALL THE HARD

201WORK YOU PUT IN AND HOW THEY PAID OFF. WITH THAT, WE'LL START AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. ON EVERY METRIC THAT WE'VE HAD COME BACK SO FAR AND AS WE KNOW WITH OUR TESTING AS IT IS CONTINUOUSLY COMING IN AND OUR SCHOOLS LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HITTING THE REFRESH BUTTON, ABLE TO SEE DATA QUICKLY. EVERY METRIC WE HAVE AVAILABLE WE ARE MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS ACROSS THE BOARD. I WANTED TO START JUST WITH GRADUATIONS AND START WITH OUR SENIORS. WE CELEBRATED THIS PAST WEEK, COUNTED THEM UP, BETWEEN OUR EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS AND OUR TRADITIONALS HAD OVER 36 GRADUATIONS. OVER 15,000 STUDENTS WALKED THE STAGE TO RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMA. SEE THE NUMBER OF -- 448 IB DIPLOMAS. STANDING 589 AICE DIPLOMAS AS WELL. PRETTY REMARKABLE AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND TO ALSO BE NAMED CAMBRIDGE DISTRICT OF THE YEAR, TRULY REMARKABLE.

202BOARD MEMBERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I KNOW IT WAS A LONG COUPLE OF WEEKS WHERE OUR SCHEDULES BECOME A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. BUT IT WAS A GREAT TWO WEEKS. I DO WANT TO THANK OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS DR. GRAYES AND MR. NELSON, MR. BRADY, ALL THREE WERE TROUPERS THROUGHOUT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR PRINCIPALS. GRADUATION IS A CEREMONY OF ALL THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ALL THE WORK, THE TIME SPENT SITTING IN HERE MAKING DECISIONS, AS WE SIT IN THOSE GRADUATIONS AND ABLE TO CELEBRATE ALL THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR ALL OF THAT AND FOR THE CONFERRING. MR. WASHINGTON, YOUR CONFERRING WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE. HE COMES OUT WITH A HIDDEN HAT. A HAT FOR EVERY SCHOOL. MS. COMBS -- YOURS WAS PRETTY GOOD IN SPANISH. MS. COMBS DID SURPRISE ME.

203BACKSTAGE SHE WAS PRACTICING A LITTLE BIT. GET HER ON WITH THE MICROPHONE AND SHE WAS FLUENT IN SPANISH ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST LIKE THAT. PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. IT WAS A GREAT WEEK AND A HALF TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR SENIORS. LIKE I TOLD SOME OF OUR PRINCIPALS THIS MORNING, CHAIR VAUGHN, ALL OF YOU, AS YOU WERE THERE, YOU WERE ALWAYS THE NEXT ONE TO SHAKE HANDS. MR. COMBS, MR. WASHINGTON, MS. GRAY -- YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE TO SHAKE THE HAND OF THE GRADUATE AFTER THE PRINCIPAL. NOT ONLY WAS IT THE SMILE ON STUDENTS' FACES, I'VE BEEN TO GRADUATIONS, 28 YEARS OF GRADUATIONS GOING TO THEM PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST GRADUATION SEASONS I CAN RECALL JUST ON HOW FLUID THEY WERE AND NOT ONLY HOW OUR PRINCIPALS REACTED, HOW OUR STUDENTS, THEIR SMILES,

204BUT WHEN YOU SEE WHAT MAKES US TRULY SPECIAL AND I THINK IT WAS MS. COMBS YOU TALK ABOUT THE LEADER IN THE SCHOOL, WHEN YOU SAW OUR PRINCIPALS' REACTION GIVING THE DIPLOMA, JUST AS MUCH ENERGY AND HAPPINESS, EXCITEMENT FROM OUR PRINCIPALS AS IT WAS FROM THE STUDENTS. ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE. THE KIND OF EMPLOYEES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. HOW DID I FORGET MS.ER IF RANO. JEN WAS, I THINK, SHE WAS THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT, ALL THE PLANNING THAT WENT IN FROM MS. FERANO WAS AMAZING. EVERYBODY AT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS WAS REMARKABLE. JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE AND ESPECIALLY MS. FERANO. IT'S A HARD COUPLE OF MONTHS GETTING READY LEADING UP TO GRADUATIONS. JUST SOME OTHER METRICS I WANT TO QUICKLY HIT ON. AROUND LITERACY, EVERY GRADE LEVEL HAS INCREASED PROFICIENCY

205IN READING. 3-10. ACROSS THE BOARD WE'LL BE GETTING THAT DATA TO YOU HERE SHORTLY AS SOON AS OUR STUDENTS CLEAN UP. ALL OF THE DATA COMING IN, WE'RE SEEING INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD IN GRADES 3-10 AND JUST SOME OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS THERE AROUND THE NUMBER OF MINUTES, 3.4 MILLION MINUTES OF myON. NINTH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BOWL. THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS JUST IN FEBRUARY. YOU SEE A NUMBER OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOL. 330 WRITING ENTRIES IN THE WRITING CONTEST. NOT ONLY INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD IN READING, BUT ALSO MATHEMATICS AS WELL. EVERY GRADE LEVEL INCREASED PROFICIENCY IN MATH. OVER 1400 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR S.T.E.M. FAIR. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE OTHER ONES HISTED THERE. TALKED ABOUT MIDDLETON, RANDALL. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE REFLECT

206ON THE YEAR AS A WHOLE. OF COURSE, I THINK THIS WAS ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH THAT WE WERE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS. ONLY FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA RECEIVE THIS HONOR. SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL BAND RECEIVED NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE. I THINK IT WAS MS. McRAE WHEN WE WERE AT THE SICKLES GRADUATION, THE SICKLES BAND, THEY FOUNDED JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU COULD SEE WHY THEY WERE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON THERE. YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS THAT COMPETED IN ELEMENTARY FINE ARTS FESTIVAL AT THE STRAZ. AND YOU CAN SEE THERE, ORANGE GROVE PERFORMING ARTS MIDDLE AND DANCE TEACHERS ALSO WITH THE AMERICAN BALLET CERTIFIED AFFILIATE ENDORSEMENT. EXCEPTIONAL TALENT. I WANTED TO UPDATE THE BOARD, NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, ON

207BOARD 314 TEACHERS, NEW TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR NEXT YEAR. MILLAGE REFERENDUM AND ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DONE TO HELP TO RECRUIT, WE'VE HEARD THE BOARD AND WHAT YOUR REQUEST IS. WE'VE HEARD IT, AND THE HR AND THE TEAM HAS ACTED SWIFTLY. DR. PATTON, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM EFFORTS. ON BOARDED 314 TEACHERS FOR NEXT YEAR. OPERATIONS AND FACILITIES, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'RE ALL AWARE BUT I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECEIVED THE GREEN APPLE DESIGNATION FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR FLORIDA GREEN SCHOOLS. OPEN AQUILLA HIGH SCHOOL IN FALL. TINKER. K-8 THAT CONSTRUCTION BEGAN APPROXIMATELY YOU WERE AT THE RIBBON CUTTING AT TINKER. REFRESHED -- IT'S BEEN A YEAR. LOTS OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. I TALKED TO PRINCIPALS TODAY. I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY

208OF PREPLANNING IN AUGUST AND THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF THE TROPICAL STORM AND IT WAS A ROUGH MORNING THERE AND THEN AS YOU FAST-FORWARD TWO HURRICANES. TALK ABOUT GREAT TEACHERS, GREAT LEADERS IN THE SCHOOLS DOING TREMENDOUS WORK, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM. AMIDST ALL THAT, WE HAD OUR MILLAGE REFERENDUM THAT PASSED AT 67% TO PROVIDE SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BEGINNING NEXT YEAR. OUR FINANCE TEAM IS WORKING. WE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY, THAT FIT -- THAT FITCH RATING, MOVED FROM AN A TO A PLUS. REMARKABLE SCHOOL YEAR. NOT AN EASY SCHOOL YEAR BUT A SCHOOL YEAR IN WHICH WE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD AND ACHIEVED RESULTS. JUST HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE. HERE WE ARE JUNE 2. MOVE INTO THE SUMMER AND ALREADY BEGINS THE PLANNING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AS WE BEGIN AT

209THE LITERACY INSTITUTE. BOARD MEMBERS, ALSO WANTED TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE LETTERS THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. JUST TO KIND OF SUM THAT UP, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON MAY 9 AROUND TWO BOOKS THAT WERE IN OUR LIBRARIES THAT WERE CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE. ONE WEEK LATER I RECEIVED -- WE RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT OUTLINED ANOTHER FOUR. A TOTAL OF SIX BOOKS FROM THE COMMISSIONER AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT TALKED ABOUT BOOKS THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN OUR LIBRARIES. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THERE WERE SIX BOOKS THAT I E-MAILED OUT TO OUR TEAM, THAT THOSE SIX BOOKS WERE TO BE REMOVED. WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT EVERY YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUTS OUT A LIST AND THERE WAS A LIST FOR

21022, 23, AND 23-24 OF OBJECTIONABLE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AS STATED IN THE LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT IS KIND OF A STARTING POINT AS WE LOOK AT BOOKS TO BE REVIEWED. I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS A LOT OF BOOKS THAT WERE IN THE LETTER, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN OUR LIBRARY SINCE 2009, 2018. FOR ME, IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR BOOKS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BEFORE THEY ARE PLACED BACK ON THE SHELF AND THE TOURNAMENTTIME ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- SUMMERTIME ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL IN AUGUST. I WILL BE GOING TO MIAMI WEDNESDAY. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. AGENDA ITEM WHERE I PROVIDE

211AN UPDATE ON INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIBRARIES. I'LL DO THAT ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE BOARD MEETING STARTS AT 10:30. I WILL BE IN MIAMI WEDNESDAY TO TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON WHAT OUR ACTIONS ARE, WHAT MY ACTIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD TO ENSURE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS ARE NOT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIBRARIES. MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S MY UPDATE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. WE WILL MOVE INTO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS, JUST A REMINDER, WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS AFTER FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. MEMBER WASHINGTON, YOU ARE FIRST. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVING ALONG HERE. DOING A GREAT JOB. FIRST OF ALL, I LIKE TO START OFF WITH MR. YOUNG. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. YOU'VE BEEN DOING

212A GREAT JOB THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST ABOUT THE JOB YOU ARE DOING, WHEN I LOOK DOWN AND SAID THEY HAVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, CLOSE TO 200 SCHOOLS IN THE PTAs. SO MANY STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE PTAs. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET THE PTAs OUT. CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT BECAUSE THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. THE OTHER PROGRAM, I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME, BUT THE FATHERS AND FAMILIES WAS FANTASTIC. I GOT A POSITIVE REPORT. YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY IT'S GOING TO HELP THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A WHOLE BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO OUT IN THE DISTRICT. YOU ARE OUT THERE

213WITH YOUR FACE GROUP DOING A GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOU AND YOUR FACE GROUP. Jim Porter: IF I MAY ADD, MR. OWEN YOUNG ALSO RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM LEADERSHIP TAMPA. Henry "Shake" Washington: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT TOO. YOU'RE ON A ROLL HERE NOW. GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. PABLO, WHICH ONE? OKAY. LOOK AT THE LAND OF THE TIGERS. WE HAVE THE MARQUEE OUT FRONT. IT'S REALLY NICE. IT'S ON TOP OF THE NAMES OF ALL OF THE GRADUATES FROM YEARS PAST. IT'S REALLY NICE. HE GIVES A WHOLE DIFFERENT VIEW. REALLY NICE. TIGERS REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. MEMBER GRAY, WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THEY WERE REALLY NICE. MEMBER GRAY WAS THERE WITH ME. MOVING ON, FRED HEARNS AND THE PRINCIPAL. AS YOU CAN SEE, IS I WENT TO PITTMAN TRIBUNE

214SCHOLARS, AND IT WAS REALLY NICE. MR. PITTMAN IS A LEGENDARY PERSON THAT GOT INVOLVED WITH THE TRIBUNE AND WORKED HIMSELF UP TO THE TOP. I MUST SAY THAT IT WAS QUITE AN ORDEAL BECAUSE WE HAD THREE STUDENTS THERE THAT WON AWARDS. MS. RENDON, YOU DOMINATED YOUR TWO STUDENTS. WE HAD A GRADUATE OF BLOOMINGDALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TO WIN. WE HAD JULIANNA ALSO FROM BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND PATEL, SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS. THEY RECEIVED $1,150 FOR THE CHOICE OF THE COLLEGE THEY ARE GOING TO WHICH IS FANTASTIC. WE ARE DOING A LOT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR GRADUATES, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS. IT'S AMAZING. WE MOVE ON TO THE MEN OF VISION, AND MS. COMBS, THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE MEN OF VISION. MY WIFE AND I WE GIVE

215OUT SCHOLARSHIPS THERE ALSO. STILL HAVE MORE TO GIVE OUT. IT WAS FANTASTIC TO SEE THE KIDS. THAT GROUP WORKS REALLY, REALLY HARD FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GROW UP TO BE YOUNG MEN AND BE RESPECTFUL. THEY RECEIVE A THOUSAND DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP FROM MY WIFE AND I. AND WE HAD -- GOING TO FAMU, CRIMINAL JUSTICE. EACH YEAR, THEY GIVE US A LIST. I LET MY WIFE PICK IT OUT. I DO THE OTHER WORK. I GIVE THE MONEY, SHE DOES THE PICKING. WE WORKED IT OUT. EVERY YEAR, WE'VE HAD OUTSTANDING STUDENTS. AND WHEN THEY GO OFF, THEY ALWAYS WRITE BACK BECAUSE WHEN THEY WRITE BACK, THEN WE SEND THEM MORE MONEY TO HELP THEM OUT. WE REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS IN COLLEGE. GRADUATION WAS GREAT. ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE. PLEASURE TO SEE THE STUDENTS WALK

216ACROSS THE STAGE AND BE HAPPY. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO HAVE SOME CONGRATULATORY REMARKS. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR GREAT PRINCIPALS. GRADUATION WAS SO SUCCESSFUL. TODAY AT THE PRINCIPALS INSTITUTE, THEY WERE LIKE CEOs, SUPER STARS, THANKING OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF, WHAT A PRESTIGIOUS LOOK WE HAD AT GRADUATION. NOW, THERE IS A CONCERN. WE HAD A LETTER, AS SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES MENTIONED ON MAY 9 FROM COMMISSIONER MANNY DIAZ. AND TO SAY THREE BOOKS, FOUR, WHATEVER, HAS TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE OF THE PORNOGRAPHIC NATURE. SO WHEN I RECEIVED THE LETTER AND I KNOW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DID, THIS IS THE WAY I INTERPRETED IT. THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES WERE TARGETED WITH THIS LACK OF MEDIA BOOK OVERSIGHT AND

217ASKED WHY WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW PORNOGRAPHIC, I QUOTE, MATERIALS IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. HOWEVER, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SHOULD ALSO BE ADDRESSED IS OUR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WHO OVERSEES MEDIA OVERSIGHT AND CURRICULUM. THIS STAFF MEMBER HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LACK OF DOE BOOK OVERSIGHT AS IT PERTAINS TO 1,006.28, 1,006.29 FLORIDA STATUTES. MEANWHILE, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS ACTED AND WILL REMOVE THE BOOKS ALONG WITH THE OTHER BOOKS IN QUESTION FROM THE DOE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS 18 OR 19. YES, WE'LL DO A REVISED POLICY. HOWEVER, THE SAME DAY OF THE RECEIPT OF THE LETTER, THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER HAS ADVISED THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT ALL MEDIA SPECIALISTS REMOVE AND THEN REVIEW ALMOST 400 MORE BOOKS OR 600. WHICH ARE NOT ON THAT DOE LIST. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MEDIA SPECIALIST

218DEMOLISHING SCHOOL SITE LIBRARIES WHICH INCLUDE BOOKS BY STEPHEN KING, SOME OF THE CLASSICS, AND MANY BOOKS WHICH REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT BODY. FURTHER, THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE STIPENDS FOR THIS HUGE LIFT OF TIME WHILE MAKING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEDIA BOOK VETTING AND OBJECTION PROCESS MEANINGLESS. I WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE GETTING INTIMIDATING LETTERS AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, YOU'RE GETTING INTIMIDATING LETTERS, WHY ISN'T THE ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE, WHY HASN'T THAT PERSON BEEN EITHER REMOVED OR SOME TYPE OF OBJECTIVITY. I CAN'T SEEM TO ACCEPT THE SITUATION AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT DURING THIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I WANT TO GET THAT OUT. I'M BAFFLED. NOW, CONGRATULATIONS. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO FORGET OUR WONDERFUL ART FOLKS. MOLLY DRESSEL, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND SO LONG FROM BLAKE AND LINDA. THEY

219BOTH GRADUATED FROM FINE ARTS MASTER'S DEGREE FROM USF. WORKED 28 YEARS TO PARTNER WITH USF, AND THEY HAVE HAD PROBABLY FIVE PAGES OF AWARDS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE. THANK YOU MOLLY AND LINDA AND MS. KATLYN CLAY. AND THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ART DEPARTMENT, LINDA HAS ALSO BEEN A PROFESSOR FROM THE HCC WITH THE HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION HAS JOINED WITH THE EXHIBITION OF THE BLAKE MASTER CERTIFICATION FOR SENIORS. ON AND ON IT GOES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HIGHLIGHTED THREE OF THEM BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE OVERLOOK THE GREAT ARTIST. LAURA HAS TURNED OUR ARTS AND EDUCATION AROUND TO THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULTS. ONE OF THE THINGS, TOO, AND THANKS DEB -- LAW WEEK WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. A LOT OF FIRST PLACE, AGAIN, ART WINNERS. RILEY ABOUT BROOKS DeBARTOLO. PLANT CITY HIGH

220SCHOOL ALSO RECEIVED AWARDS DURING THE LAW WEEK PRESENTATION. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, WONDERFUL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS FOR ONE HECK OF A YEAR. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR VAUGHN. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR BRINGING UP SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS. I HAVE A LOT OF THOSE SIMILAR CONCERNS. ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS WHY DID THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHOOSE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHEN I SEE MULTIPLE DISTRICTS HAVING THE SAME BOOKS AND NOT RECEIVING A LETTER. THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN. WHY IS THAT? I SAW CHARLOTTE COUNTY, SO MANY COUNTIES I SAW HAD THE EXACT SAME BOOKS AND DID NOT RECEIVE SUCH A LETTER. INITIALLY SUPERINTENDENT I WAS HAPPY WITH YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE SUPERVISORS, WITH EVERYONE, WITH THE ACADEMICS. I

221THOUGHT WHEN THE INITIAL LETTER CAME IN, WE DISCUSSED THAT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, NOBODY WANTS AN INAPPROPRIATE BOOK IN A LIBRARY. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT. NOBODY WANTS THAT AT ALL. WE ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING PORNOGRAPHIC. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS FEEL SAFE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT. THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE AND HONESTLY STILL PROCESSING IT. TRYING TO PROCESS YOUR LACK OF COMMUNICATION, THE TRANSPARENCY, AND ALSO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND INPUT FROM ME WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETTERING COMING OUT. WHEN THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL LETTER CAME OUT, I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESPONSE THAT CAME. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU ARRIVED AT THAT. I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ON THAT. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY. YOU MADE A VERY

222BIG DECISION IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. I THINK WHEN THERE IS A LARGE DECISION BEING MADE, ESPECIALLY ON MY BEHALF, I WANT A LEADER TO AT LEAST TAKE A DAY OR TWO. THAT LETTER DID NOT SAY WE NEED TO RESPOND IN A DAY. YOU WAITED A LONG TIME FOR MANNY DIAZ'S LETTER. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETTER, THERE WAS RESPONSE BY THE AFTERNOON. AND THAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. YOU CREATED A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR LIBRARIANS. THIS IS GOING TO BE A FINANCIAL BURDEN. WE'LL HAVE TO PAY STIPENDS. YOU RESPONDED IN A SELECTIVE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND I THINK ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED AND THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME. YOU DID NOT ENGAGE WITH PARTISANS. YOU DID NOT ENGAGE WITH OUR PTA. YOU DID NOT ENGAGE WITH THE UNION. YOU DID NOT ENGAGE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES. YOU DID NOT ENGAGE

223WITH YOUR SUPERVISORS OR YOUR LEAD LIBRARIANS. AND I WAS NOT INFORMED AT ALL. I THINK AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS FIVE YEARS AS A BOARD MEMBER AND I WORK TIRELESSLY AT THIS JOB, ONE OF THE BIGGEST JOYS OF MY LIFE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS THROUGH. AS WE SAID, NOBODY WANTS ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE. BUT I WANT TO KNOW FROM BOTH OF YOU, MY ATTORNEY AND MY SUPERINTENDENT, I WANT TO KNOW WHY WASN'T A LETTER SENT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMING ON THE BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WITHOUT MY INPUT, MY KNOWLEDGE OR MY PERMISSION. I WAS AVAILABLE THAT ENTIRE DAY. I WAS IN YBOR CITY WITH THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS. I SAW YOUR CABINET. I HAVE A RECORD WHERE I CALLED YOU IN THE MORNING. I CALLED YOU

224AS WELL. I WAS VERY AVAILABLE, AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. IT'S CONCERNING TO ME. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, COMMUNICATION IN A SMALL, WITH A FEW GROUP OF PEOPLE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT SO MANY THINGS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME AND ALSO CREATES CONFUSION. WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, LET'S MEET TOGETHER. LET'S HAVE A WORKSHOP AND DISCUSS WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? WHAT DO WE NEED TO CREATE? IN THE LETTER, THERE WAS SOME KIND OF COMMENT SAYING WE'RE CREATING SOME TYPE OF BOARD OR GROUP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. LET'S DISCUSS THAT. IF THERE ARE BOOKS CONTROVERSIAL THAT MAYBE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS, LET'S COME UP WITH A PROCESS. IF THERE IS A LIBRARIAN OR TWO THAT JUST WANTS TO

225KEEP THE BOOKS IN THERE, WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT EITHER, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO A GOOD DECISION. FOR ME, PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY I JUST NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, THAT OPTION WAS NEVER PROVIDED TO ME. I'M VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT QUESTION, HOW DO I KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. WHY WAS A LETTER SENT ON MY BEHALF WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT? WHOEVER CAN ANSWER THAT. Van Ayres: I'LL START AND I'LL START, ULTIMATELY, AS SUPERINTENDENT, I'M ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ULTIMATELY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS YOU HIRE ME TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS,

226TO ENSURE THAT I RUN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN A WAY THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT ME TO. WITH THE LETTER THAT CAME OUT, THE LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS VERY CLEAR ON SIX BOOKS, EXCUSE ME, SEVEN BOOKS THAT WERE TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR LIBRARIES. I ACTED ON THAT, I TOOK ACTION. THE OTHER, THE 2022-23 LIST, THE 23-24 LIST AS STATED IN THE TRAINING FOR MEDIA SPECIALIST, STATE STATUTE, THOSE ARE TO BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SOME OF THOSE BOOKS THAT YOU MENTIONED WERE FROM 2009, 2018. I NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN LIBRARIES. THAT'S MY ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY. I NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE MATERIALS, LETTER FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT STATED THAT WE DID HAVE MATERIALS THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE. HAD IT IN WRITING. MOVING FORWARD

227FOR ME AS LEADER OF THE DISTRICT, I NEED TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THOSE BOOKS THAT ARE ON THE LIST AND 600 THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW, LOOK AT ALL THE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ALL DISTRICTS FOR THE PUBLIC, ALL DISTRICTS HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE ANY BOOKS THAT WERE UP FOR OBJECTION AND THEN REMOVED, THE STATE PUBLISHES A LIST. PART OF THE TRAINING THAT MEDIA SPECIALISTS TAKE OVER THE SUMMER, THE LISTS ARE TO BE REVIEWED. AS I WAS SITTING WHERE I WAS, WE HAD A LIST THAT WE HAD SEVEN BOOKS THAT WERE IN REQUEST HE THAT DID NOT, AS STATED IN THE LETTER, INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL. WE'RE GOING INTO SUMMER. I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE BOOKS WERE REVIEWED, THAT WE HAD NO INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL IN OUR LIBRARY. I WILL SAY EVEN

228WITH MY COMMUNICATION, I'LL ACCEPT THAT. MOVING FORWARD, FOR ME, TO GET BETTER IN THAT, AND LOOKING BACK, COULD I HAVE DONE THAT, ABSOLUTELY? I'VE STATED THAT. I JUST WANTED TO BE DECISIVE IN MY ACTION. I'LL LEARN FROM THAT. BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE THE DECISION I MADE WAS THE BEST DECISION FOR THE STUDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE NO INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN OUR LIBRARIES. MY COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD, I'LL DO BETTER MOVING FORWARD. Nadia Combs: THERE'S NO QUESTION SOME OF THE BOOKS LISTED WERE ON THE LIST. ADDITIONAL 600 BOOKS, DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, STEPHEN KING BOOKS, ROMEO AND JULIET, CLASSIC BOOKS. THERE ARE LIBRARIANS WHO WILL REMOVE THE BOOKS AND WON'T COME BACK. THAT WILL BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOST. I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THOSE OTHER -- HAVING THAT LIST. IT

229IS IN THE TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANS. THAT IS IN THE TRAINING. LIBRARIANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. I THINK IF THE ISSUE IS NOT GOOD, THE POLICY IS NOT GOOD, CONCERNED ABOUT A FEW PEOPLE, FOCUS ON THAT. DON'T WAIT BEHIND THE SCENES WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. THINGS ARE OCCURRING BEHIND THE SCENE AND MY NAME IS ON THAT. THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM. Jim Porter: I THINK YOU RAISED GREAT POINTS. THIS WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION. I DON'T EVER RECALL GETTING A LETTER LIKE THIS FROM THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE STATE. THERE ARE NO PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO DO THAT. THE LETTER SENT REFLECTED THE ACTIONS THE SUPERINTENDENT TOOK. SHORT OF HAVING A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS NO REAL WAY TO GET COLLECTIVE BOARD INPUT. THAT BEING SAID

230I WOULD LIKE FOR THE FUTURE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ME TO NOT BE PLACED IN THIS POSITION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DEVELOP SOME PROTOCOLS SO THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS OCCURS THAT WE HAVE A METHOD OF DEALING WITH IT. SO THAT EVERYBODY FEELS THEY HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN IT. WHATEVER DECISION IS REACHED IS ONE THAT PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN. IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, I THINK AGAIN -- Nadia Combs: THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN, SIGNED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND WRITTEN TO US, AND IT WAS SENT BACK WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. WE DON'T NEED PROTOCOLS FOR THAT. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THAT'S JUST BASIC, BASIC -- Jim Porter: I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I THINK THE FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE IT. Jessica Vaughn: ARE YOU DONE?

231MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: MEMBER COMBS, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE EITHER SHOULD HAVE HAD A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING OR REVIEWED THE LETTER PRIOR TO BEING SENT. I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU TOOK COMMENTS FROM ALL OF US, BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY TIMES THAT YOU GET FEEDBACK FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T GET TO HEAR THE COMMENTS OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE A VALID DECISION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. AND THAT SHOULD STOP. RIGHT NOW THAT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY STOP. IF THERE IS A DECISION TO MAKE AS A BOARD, THEN THE BOARD MAKES THE DECISION, NOT THE ATTORNEY, BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT US. IN THIS CASE, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS DONE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO ON ABOUT IT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS THE EVIDENCE OF PROCESS THAT WE LOOKED -- THAT

232WE LACKED. WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE OR DISAGREE ON BOOKS, IT WAS THE EVIDENCE OF PROCESS THAT VIOLATED STATE STATUTE THAT THIS DISTRICT COULD NOT PROVE THAT WE FOLLOWED THE STATUTE OF THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE BOOKS ANNUALLY AND THE LIST ACCORDINGLY. THAT'S THE PROBLEM, THAT THIS DISTRICT HAD A LACK OF PROCESS AND EVIDENCE OF IT. AND THAT'S WHERE WE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE. AND THIS DISTRICT PUT US IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE LAWS, YOU CREATE THE POLICY THAT WE APPROVE AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT LIKE THE SIX HOURS -- I MEAN SIX YEARS OF ABUSE, BUT YOU MAKE SURE WE'RE IN A SITUATION WE COULD GO TO JAIL. NOT COOL. I WON'T TALK MORE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. THIS DISTRICT DID NOT

233HAVE THE EVIDENCE WHICH WE SPENT ALL DAY LONG ABOUT EVIDENCE, DID NOT HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO PROVE WE FOLLOWED PROCESS THAT WAS REQUIRED BY STATUTE. FIRST THANK JENNIFER SPARANO FOR ALL HER HARD WORK AT GRADUATION. THANK HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS OFFICERS THAT WERE THERE CONSTANTLY. HILLSBOROUGH SHERIFF'S OFFICE THERE CONSTANTLY. WHAT THEY DID WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. THEY WERE AT EVERY SINGLE GRADUATION. THEY WERE THERE BEFORE WE ARRIVED. THERE AFTER WE LEFT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS DISTRICT AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CHANGES IN OUR LEGISLATURE FROM HOW WE'RE FUNDED. WE HAVE A VERY LOW RETURN. WE HAVE A VERY HIGH AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES. ALL OF OUR COSTS ARE GOING UP IN THIS DISTRICT. WE HAVE A NEW CFO, VERY FORTUNATE, VERY THANKFUL FOR. BUT IN THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW,

234I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE RUNNING A HAMSTER WHEEL. THAT AS ONE PERSON HE CANNOT GET IN FRONT OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS FINANCIALLY. I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION RIGHT HERE THAT WE HAVE A FORENSIC AUDIT TO BE INITIATED WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS WITH POTENTIAL RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION, PROCESSES, AND ALL OF THE PROCESS WITHIN OUR FINANCIAL PRACTICES. WE NEED TO GIVE MR. LEWIS A COVER OF WHERE WE STANDS AND WHERE HE STARTS RIGHT NOW. I HAVE ASKED FOR THIS TWO YEARS. I ASKED FOR IT SINCE JANUARY. NOW PUBLICLY I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION FOR THIS BOARD TO REQUEST A FINANCIAL FORENSIC AUDIT BE FOR OUR DISTRICT TO BEGIN IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS BECAUSE WE NEED THE INFORMATION MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ON WHAT WE

235NEED TO DO AND WE NEED THAT INFORMATION. Jim Porter: I THINK PROCEDURALLY THE MOTION SHOULD BE TO PLACE THIS ON THE NEXT BOARD AGENDA. Patti Rendon: I'M ALLOWED TO MAKE A MOTION REQUESTING THIS NOW. THAT'S FOLLOWING PROCEDURE. Jim Porter: NO, IT'S NOT. LET ME FINISH. FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE BEFORE YOU VOTE ON AN ITEM. YOU CAN CERTAINLY MAKE A MOTION. THE MOTION WOULD BE TO BRING THIS TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AS AN AGENDA ITEM SO THAT IT CAN BE PROPERLY BRIEFED AND PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD. THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO FOLLOW FLORIDA LAW IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS. DOING THIS HERE, THERE'S NO BACKUP INFORMATION. AGAIN, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY -- Patti Rendon: THIS IS THE AGENDA OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, NOT THE BOARD. THERE'S NO NEW BUSINESS. THERE'S NO REQUEST

236FOR ANYTHING. THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO BRING THIS TO THE TABLE IS TO BRING IT DURING COMMENTS. Jim Porter: YOU WOULD BRING IT TO THE NEXT AGENDA AS A MOTION. IF YOU GET A SECOND -- YOU CAN DO IT. I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MOTION TONIGHT. IT'S NOT BEEN ADVERTISED. THE PUBLIC HAS NOT HAD A RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. YOU CAN DO IT BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE PROPERLY BY FOLLOWING FLORIDA LAW WHICH REQUIRES SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE FOR AGENDA ITEMS. Patti Rendon: IT'S A MOTION I'M BRINGING IN MY COMMENTS. Jim Porter: THE MOTION SHOULD BE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. YOU NEED A SECOND FIRST. Patti Rendon: I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO BRING IT TO THE NEXT AGENDA

237ITEM INFORMATION REGARDING A FORENSIC AUDIT BY THIS DISTRICT. Jim Porter: IT SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION ITEM, NOT INFORMATION ITEM. Patti Rendon: DISCUSSION ITEM. THANK YOU. Jim Porter: YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT. YOU NEED A SECOND. Jessica Vaughn: I'M WILLING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ABOUT IT OR A CONVERSATION. SPEND MORE MONEY AND MORE TIME. Jim Porter: THERE'S NO SECOND. YOU CAN CONTINUE WITH YOUR COMMENTS. Patti Rendon: AGAIN, I'M PUBLICLY MAKING US VERY AWARE. WE GET DATA THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE. WE COME TO THE MEETING, COME TO THE WORKSHOP, CONFLICTING DATA OF HOW MANY STUDENTS WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US CAN SIT ON THIS BOARD AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD OUR OWN CREDIT CARDS FOR FRAUD. YET NOT ONE REPORT OF FRAUD IN THIS

238DISTRICT EVER. KIND OF INTERESTING, ISN'T IT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROCESSES IN PLACE. WHAT IS OUR PROCESS IF WE WANT TO FIND OUT HOW WE DO OUR BILLING? OUR FINANCE TEAM DOESN'T EVEN REPORT TO THE STATE OUR FTEs. IT GOES TO OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL PROCESSES. ONLY A FORENSIC AUDIT WILL DO. I'M MAKING IT VERY PUBLIC RIGHT NOW THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE MAKING GOOD FINANCIAL DECISIONS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A FULL LAYOUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FINANCIAL INDIVIDUALS GIVING US AN IDEA WHAT THAT IS. I THINK WE'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE BY NOT DOING THAT. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. OKAY. I AM THE LAST COMMENT. I'M GOING TO SAY I WISH I COULD USE THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT CELEBRATING GRADUATION, HONOR DEPARTING

239PRINCIPALS AND RECOGNIZE PRIDE MONTH. HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. HOWEVER DUE TO URGENT DECISIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, I NEED TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING QUESTIONS FROM MY CONSTITUENCY BECAUSE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IT IS MY DUTY TO REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF MY DISTRICT. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE REVIEWED OUR MEDIA TRAINING, THE TRANSCRIPT OF IT. I'D LIKE TO QUOTE SOMETHING FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT THEY EMBED IN THE TRAINING. I QUOTE, WHILE THERE IS NO STATUTORY DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY IN FLORIDA LAW, MIRIAM WEBSTER DEFINES IT AS DEPICTION OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO CAUSE SEXUAL EXCITEMENT. OUR FLORIDA LEGISLATION HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINE THIS FURTHER AND TO MAKE IT A RULE OF LAW THAT BOOKS THAT CONTAIN SEXUAL CONTENT ARE INDEED HARMFUL TO MINORS THROUGH HOUSE BILL

2401539 WHICH DID NOT PASS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT EMBEDDED IN THAT TRAINING, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW THE LIST IS PLACED ON THE MEDIA SPECIALIST. IN THAT TRAINING, THEY ARE EXPLICITLY TOLD ABOUT THE LIST, HOW TO USE IT, WHERE TO FIND IT. IT IS NOT FROM ANYWHERE THAT I CAN FIND PLACED ON THE DISTRICT AS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THAT LIST. IT IS UP TO THE MEDIA SPECIALIST. THEY PUT THEIR LICENSE ON THE LINE AS WELL AS FIVE YEARS OF FELONY IN JAIL, AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THAT LIST. IT IS NOT THE DISTRICT'S DECISION. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE FOR THE RECORD THAT PUBLICLY DOXING AND ENCOURAGING HARASSMENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S CAUSED EXTREME PANIC AND FEAR WITHIN MY DISTRICT AND OUR DISTRICT. I URGE YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, TO RELEASE A

241STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND TO PERSONALLY REACH OUT TO THOSE MEDIA SPECIALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN DOXED, HARASSED AND THREATENED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT THEY NEED. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I'LL ASK PABLO TO STOP MY TIME WHILE I ASK THE QUESTIONS. YOU SAID THAT YOU PUT HOW MANY BOOKS UNDER REVIEW, FIRST OF ALL. HOW MANY BOOKS ARE UNDER REVIEW THAT YOU SENT OUT A LETTER STATING -- Van Ayres: WHAT I ASKED TO BE DONE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE ANNUALLY EVERY YEAR PER FLORIDA STATUTE, THOSE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN OBJECTED TO AND CHALLENGED AND REMOVED, THEY ARE TO BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY OUR MEDIA SPECIALIST AS YOU STATED IN THE TRAINING. THERE ARE 600 BOOKS THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW THAT IF YOU LOOK TO THE 22-23 LIST AND 23-24

242LIST, TOTAL OF 600 I THINK IS THE NUMBER OF BOOKS THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW. I WANT TO BE CLEAR TOO THAT UNDER REVIEW AND REMOVED, THE REMOVED BOOKS WERE THE ONES STATED IN THE LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SEVEN OF THOSE. Jessica Vaughn: YOU CAN MINCE WORDS AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. THE LETTER WHICH YOU DIDN'T WRITE SPECIFICALLY SAID WITHOUT FOLLOW-UP THAT YOU WANTED THE BOOKS MADE UNAVAILABLE TO CHILDREN IMMEDIATELY. YOU CAN SAY THEY ARE UNDER REVIEW BUT SEVERAL REVIEW PROCESSES IN OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE INTERNAL REVIEWS THAT DON'T REQUIRE THOSE O BE UNACCESSIBLE IMMEDIATELY. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS, AT ANY TIME IN THE LETTER -- SORRY, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE REVIEW? HOW MUCH DO YOU ESTIMATE THIS IS GOING TO COST US? Van Ayres: STIPEND FOR MEDIA SPECIALIST

243WAS $1500. STIPEND MEDIA SPECIALISTS SO THAT I CAN BE ASSURED THAT THOSE BOOKS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. $1500. I THINK THE TOTAL COST WAS 300 -- 345. Jessica Vaughn: THAT IS THE LOW END. HIGHER END COULD BE UP TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT THIS IS COSTING US. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREATE YOUR OWN INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME YOU SENT WAY, WAS THE MOST INSENSITIVE LETTER, SECOND MOST INSENSITIVE LETTER, AT THE TIME YOU SENT IT OUT, HAD YOU FULLY COMPLETED THE PROCESS COMPLETELY OR WERE YOU ASKING FOR THESE BOOKS TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT FULLY COMPLETING YOUR INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS? Van Ayres: MAKE SURE I HEAR THAT. Jessica Vaughn: WAS THERE A PROCESS STEP BY STEP OF THIS IS WHAT MY INTERNAL REVIEW IS GOING TO BE WHEN YOU SENT

244OUT THE LETTER AND ASKED FOR THE BOOKS TO BE REMOVED, STEP A, HERE'S WHAT WE DO, HERE IS THE PROCESS, HERE HOW LONG IT TAKES. LIKE MEMBER COMBS SAID, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT EXTERNAL COMMITTEE. WAS THERE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IF EXTERNAL COMMITTEE, IF THE MEDIA SPECIALIST DECIDE TO KEEP THE BOOKS, IF WE AS A DISTRICT DECIDE THAT IS AN ISSUE HAS THE PROCESS BEEN FULLY FLESHED OUT AND WAS IT FLESHED OUT BEFORE YOU SENT THE LETTER? Van Ayres: THE FIRST STEP WAS TONE SURE THAT THOSE BOOKS WERE REVIEWED, THE ONES ON THE DOE LIST. FIRST STEP IS MEDIA SPECIALIST WHICH IS HAPPENING NOW. MEDIA SPECIALIST AT EACH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS IN THEIR SCHOOL WHAT BOOKS ARE ON THE LIST. Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION. Van Ayres: I'LL GET THERE.

245TO SEE WHICH BOOKS ARE ON THEIR LIST. THAT IS THE PROCESS HAPPENING NOW. AS I SIT AS SUPERINTENDENT, I HAD SIX BOOKS THAT THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID DID NOT -- WERE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL. SO THE REVIEW PROCESS FROM WHERE I SIT, THE REVIEW PROCESS WE HAD IN PLACE WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS WE HAD BOOKS THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD AND THAT COME AUGUST, ALL BOOKS HAD BEEN REVIEWED. THAT WAS THE ACTION I TOOK WAS TO MAKE THE BOOKS UNDER REVIEW AND UNAVAILABLE WHILE THAT PROCESS TOOK PLACE. THOSE BOOKS ARE -- Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT BUT YOUR ANSWER IS NO. Van Ayres: WHAT? Jessica Vaughn: YOU DID NOT HAVE A FULLY FLUSHED OUT PROCESS BEFORE YOU ASKED THE BOOKS TO BE

246TAKEN OFF THE SHELF. SIMPLE YES OR NO. I UNDERSTAND -- DID YOU HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE FROM BEGINNING TO END OF WHAT AN INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS FROM YOU WOULD LOOK LIKE BEFORE YOU SENT OUT THAT E-MAIL TO OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS? Van Ayres: WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS. Jessica Vaughn: SO THE ANSWER IS NO. THANK YOU. DID YOU GET BOARD APPROVAL OR APPROVAL OF THE CHAIR AROUND THIS MASSIVE REVIEW AND BOOK REMOVAL OR APPROVAL FOR YOUR RESPONSE OF THIS LETTER BEFORE SENDING IT OUT? DID YOU GET APPROVAL? Van Ayres: WHICH LETTER ARE YOU SPEAKING OF? Jessica Vaughn: FOR YOUR LETTER THAT YOU SENT OUT. Van Ayres: MY LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER? Jessica Vaughn: YES. Van Ayres: THE LETTER CAME TO ME. I RESPONDED -- Jessica Vaughn: I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION. YOU DID NOT

247GET BOARD APPROVAL FOR THAT. Van Ayres: CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: CORRECT. OR THE REVIEW PROCESS. Van Ayres: CORRECT. -- Jessica Vaughn: DID YOU NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS OF THIS REVIEW OR DID YOU ONLY NOTIFY MEDIA SPECIALISTS? DID YOU NOTIFY PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF THIS? Van Ayres: I AM FOLLOWING FLORIDA STATE STATUTE, WHAT IS REQUIRED EVERY YEAR ANNUALLY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS -- I DID NOT ACT IN ANY WAY OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR FLORIDA STATUTES. Jessica Vaughn: YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. I NEED A SIMPLE YES OR NO FOR MY CONSTITUENCY. DID YOU NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY OR PARENTS OF THIS REVIEW? Van Ayres: NO. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. ALSO. I WANT TO ASK, AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER DID OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THESE BOOKS IN THEIR LIBRARIES? Van Ayres: YEAH. THERE

248WERE ABSOLUTELY IN OTHER DISTRICTS, AS THIS CAME THROUGH, WE CHECKED TO SEE IF -- Jessica Vaughn: TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING, HAVE THEY RECEIVED A LETTER -- Van Ayres: I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER. Jessica Vaughn: SO THAT MEANS THAT WHILE THIS IS SUCH AN URGENT MATTER, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS THE ONLY ONE SINGLED OUT WHEN OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THIS IN THEIR LIBRARY. HERE ARE THE THINGS I WANT GOING FORWARD. I WANT A LIST OF EVERY SINGLE BOOK THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BACK ON OUR SHELVES. WE HAVE THE CAPABILITIES OF THIS, THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BACK ON OUR SHELVES BY THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IF THIS ENDS UP BECAUSE OF THIS LETTER, 500 BOOKS, I WANT TO KNOW EACH SCHOOL WHAT BOOKS DIDN'T MAKE IT ON THE SHELF. SEVEN OF THE

249LARGE COUNTIES, WHAT THEIR INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS LOOKS LIKE. TO CLOSE, I DISAGREE WITH YOU AND I FIND IT OFFENSIVE THAT YOU SAY THAT IT'S YOUR DUTY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS. BECAUSE TAKING SEXUALLY CONTENT BOOKS AND READING THEM OUT OF CONTEXT DOES NOT MAKE THEM INAPPROPRIATE. AGAIN, IF THE STATE LEGISLATION WANTS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY THINK THAT ANY BOOK THAT HAS ANYTHING THAT HAS SEXUAL CONTENT IN IT INAPPROPRIATE, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THAT IN STATUTE. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW BY SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO REMOVE THESE BOOKS IS YOU'RE SAYING THAT OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO AND THAT YOU FEEL THAT THEY ARE APPROVING AND ALLOWING INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS TO STAY IN OUR SCHOOLS. I THINK, AGAIN, THAT IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION, BECAUSE

250WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT YOU PROTECTED US FROM WHAT YOU THOUGHT WOULD BE THE RETRIBUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, YOU DID NOT PROTECT YOUR MEDIA SPECIALIST FROM THE ACCUSATIONS OF DOING THINGS THAT ARE INTENTIONALLY HARMFUL TO OUR STUDENTS AND TO OUR DISTRICTS. I FIND THAT TO BE UNFORTUNATE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE THIS BOOK WHERE THEY ARE SITTING THERE IN THE LIBRARIES AND THEY ARE NOT HARMING ANY STUDENTS, BUT IT'S HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT HAS ALL THE INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS. TO SINGLE OUT ONE COUNTY AND NOT MAKE OTHER COUNTIES ACCOUNTABLE, THAT'S WHAT FLORIDA LEGISLATION IS THERE TO DO. PASS LAWS THAT GOVERN THE ENTIRE STATE. I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS. I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE COMMUNICATION OF THIS. I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DEPARTMENTS THAT OVERSEE THIS. I'M NOT SURE

251IF OUR ATTORNEYS GOT -- THEIR ADVICE WAS FOLLOWED. I EXPECT FOR EVERYTHING THAT I'VE ASKED FOR TO BE REPORTED WITH FULL FIDELITY. I ASSUME WE'LL HAVE MORE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING PATIENT AS I WENT OVERTIME. I APPRECIATE IT.