06/18/2024 - Regular Meeting

001HI. I'M KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A DONDE SERVIMOS MAS DE 200,000 ESTUDIANTES. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. HI. I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, 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 AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH

002SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEETING MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE

003PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE ONE WITHDRAWN ITEM TODAY. ITEM 6.03, PROPOSED CALENDAR FOR ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET FINANCE. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER HAHN AWAY FROM THE DAIS. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER HAHN. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. THAT IS JUNE 4th, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND

004A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD 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 SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE

005ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE BACK OF 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 WEBCAST, ON CABLE TV AND ON THE VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Karen Perez: WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. THAT IS 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS A-1, RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY JUNE 19, STUDENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR. ON JANUARY 1st, 1863, PRESIDENT LINCOLN ISSUED EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DECLARING ALL

006PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES SHALL BE FREE. HOWEVER, THAT NEWS TOOK MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO REACH AFRICAN AMERICANS LIVING IN TEXAS. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE FIRST OFFICIAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION TOOK PLACE IN TEXAS AND HAVE CONTINUE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. JUNETEENTH IS THE OLDEST NATIONAL CELEBRATED COMMEMORATION OF ENDING OF SLAVERY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH AS A TIME FOR SERIOUS REFLECTION AND REJOICING REGARDING THIS NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM FOR THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE READ THAT. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR BOARD

007RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN. THE RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.

008GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. CLAIRE REYNOLDS. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 3.01 AND 3.03. BOTH ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND HOW WE PROVIDE THOSE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SERVICES. THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK, SO MANY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES NOT ONLY RECEIVE THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, BUT THEY RECEIVE IT IN A COORDINATED, COMPREHENSIVE WAY SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT FAMILY AND SERVICES ARE NOT DUPLICATED. I AM ALSO HERE TO REPRESENT THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS THE PROVIDER FOR THE CRISIS AND SUICIDE HOT LINE THAT'S 988,

009WE HAVE SEEN THOSE CALL VOLUMES QUADRUPLE WITH AS EARLY AS LAST MONTH AND THE MONTH OF MAY AVERAGING 45 CALLS A DAY FROM INDIVIDUALS. THOSE ARE CHILDREN. THOSE ARE FAMILIES. THOSE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN CRISIS. WE KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC RESULTED IN A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF ISSUES. I COMMEND THIS BOARD FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. SO, PLEASE, CONSIDER SUPPORTING ITEM 3..01 AND 3.03. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M PAM JEFFREY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SUCCESS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FIVE

010PROVIDERS. IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL COLLABORATIVE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT PARTNER SO CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. FOR ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE REAL BENEFITS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF 3.01 AND 3.03 THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN AND IN TERMS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RETAINING THE CONTRACT FOR THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. FOR ME, THIS REALLY FILLS A GAP. WE HAVE DCF FUNDING THAT WE CAN SERVE UNINSURED AND WHATNOT UP TO A CERTAIN INCOME. WE ARE A MEDICAID PROVIDER SO WE CAN SERVE THOSE WITH MEDICAID. WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THAT GAP IN THE POPULATION THAT EITHER THEIR INCOME WASN'T SO, SO LOW THAT THEY QUALIFIED FOR DCF MONEY OR HIGH ENOUGH THAT THEY COULD AFFORD PRIVATE

011SERVICES OR INSURANCE AND THE COPAYS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THERE IS THAT GAP. TO ME, THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN MEETS THAT GAP AND THOSE ARE THE KIDS WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE AT SUCCESS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO SERVE BEFORE. WHEN WE GET A REFERRAL THROUGH THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PLAN, WE'RE ABLE TO ASSESS VERY QUICKLY IF THEY HAVE MEDICAID, THEN WE SERVE THEM THROUGH OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM. IF THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DCF FUNDING, WE SERVE THEM THROUGH THAT. IF NOT, WE CAN SERVE THEM THROUGH THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. I'D LOVE TO TELL A VERY, VERY QUICK STORY. SO THIS IS ABOUT LUCAS, WHO WAS STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL. HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD. HE HAD SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES. THROUGH OUR SERVICES, BOTH CASE MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF

012OUR SERVICES ARE IN HOME. WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS, SERVE HIM IN HOME. ABLE TO GET HIM INTO AX GROUP HOME THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA WHO ALSO HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ACTS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM IN AS VERY FIRST COMMUNITY KID IN THE GROUP HOME. HE IS DOING AMAZING. HE IS GOING TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, IF I COULD GET SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10 TO LINE UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE. MY NAME IS STEVE FRIEDMAN WITH AN AGENCY BAY AREA BEHAVIORAL SERVICES. I'VE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR UPWARDS, 24 YEARS JULY 1. GOING INTO MY 25th YEAR. I WAS INVITED IN TO BECOME A PROVIDER LAST AUGUST FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. WE

013PRIMARILY WORK IN EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHERE THERE IS A SLIGHT VOID IN SERVICES AVAILABLE. I'VE BEEN DOING IT OUT THERE FOR YEARS. JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS. THE POPULATION TOLD CENTRAL FLORIDA THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY KIDS, THEY ARE REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN THE YOUTH WE'RE GETTING FROM SCHOOL. ALL THE SAME BOOK. ALL THE SAME GROUP. I THINK WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS A PRETTY UNIQUE THING IN TERMS OF THE MANAGING ENTITY PIECE. IF 225,000 STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, SO THEY ARE MANAGING 225,000 LIVES WITH X AMOUNT OF BODIES. I THINK THAT'S A HERCULEAN TASK TO DO THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, TO DO IT WELL, TO KNOW THE LIVES OF THOSE YOUTH THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY

014CONTACT US ABOUT ALL THE KIDS, WANTING TO KNOW. TWO BIG THINGS THAT I'VE NOTICED THAT'S HELPFUL, IF YOU COMPARE THE COMMUNITY KIDS TO THE SCHOOLKIDS, EVEN THOUGH THE SCHOOLKIDS ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY KIDS, THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT I DON'T HAVE STATISTICS FOR YOU, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE COORDINATION OF CARE THAT THEY PROVIDE BECAUSE AS A MIDDLE PERSON IN BETWEEN THE FAMILY AND US HELPING TO COORDINATE, I WOULD GUESS THAT THE NO-SHOW RATE AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS ARE FINDING US BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE CAN GET IT THERE. SO IT IS COORDINATION OF CARE. THERE IS ANOTHER BODY LOOKING AT AND THEY ARE ALSO UTILIZING HOW THE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. YOU DON'T JUST GET 26 UNITS A YEAR LIKE MEDICAID WITH NOBODY WATCHING IT. I THINK WE HAVE

015TO RE-UP EVERY THREE MONTHS OR SO FOR SERVICES SO THEY ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TINA WILLIAMS BREWSTER. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ESC DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH, CONGRATULATIONS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A POPULATION THAT CONTINUES TO BE OVERLOOKED. BOARD MEMBERS, WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU ADVISE THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT ARE THE PLANS IN THE ESE DEPARTMENT? STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL -- FOR YEARS AND YEARS, THIS GROUP CONTINUES TO BE NEGLECTED. IEPs AREN'T FOLLOWED, 504s. JUST THE CONNECTION OF SERVICES. ESE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE CRUCIAL VACANT DEPARTMENTS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT STUDENTS AND THEIR SERVICES. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU ALL SIT DOWN, REMEMBER, THOSE SMALL -- THESE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THEY ARE GROWING. SCIENCE IS COMING OUT

016WITH, WE'RE BEING MORE AWARE. LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THOSE RESOURCES AND THOSE GAPS THAT THOSE STUDENTS NEED. MANY TIMES STUDENTS ARE PUT IN CLASSES. IT'S A PROFESSIONAL BABYSITTING CLASS. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING ANYTHING. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT? PARENTS CAN DO SO MUCH. WE'RE DOING OUR PART. WE NEED THE SCHOOL. WE NEED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE ESE AN AGENDA. THERE ARE TOO MANY STEPS INVOLVED WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WAS BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT WE HAD FINALLY GOTTEN IT DOWN TO FIVE STEPS WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE'RE BACK AT 6. WHEN I STARTED IN THIS DISTRICT TEN YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SEVEN. IT'S TOO LONG OF A TURNAROUND WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES. THERE ARE VACANCIES AT KEY POINTS IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT REACHING OUR ESE FAMILIES. Karen

017Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ALAN BREWSTER, GOOD EVENING. I ALSO WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THE MENTAL HEALTH. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER TO REALLY TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE IT IS SERIOUS FOR THE STUDENTS. MY DAUGHTER, SHE IS AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE HAS ANXIETY. AND SHE MISSES A LOT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE INTERNALIZES A LOT. I WILL SAY THIS, THAT HER SCHOOL COUNSELOR HAS REALLY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS WHAT SHE HAS. HE'S TALKING TO THE TEACHER. HE'S TALKING TO THE PRINCIPAL. SO THINGS ARE REALLY PROGRESSING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE PRINCIPAL, HE'S MAKING PROGRESS. THE TEACHERS ARE BEING MORE SUPPORTIVE. MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT. I DO STILL SEE GAPS LIKE WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT, WHO DOES SHE TALK

018TO? THAT IS A GAP RIGHT THERE. IF A STUDENT, WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT AND THEN SCHOOL STARTS BACK UP, THERE'S LIKE A TWO- TO THREE-WEEK GAP FOR THEM TO GET SERVICES BACK UP AND RUNNING. I WILL SAY MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE REALLY TAKING IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THE STUDENTS NEED IT. THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS PROFESSIONALISM IN THE DISTRICT. ME AND MY WIFE CAME HERE TO FLORIDA WITH SIX KIDS. WE'VE BEEN IN EIGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. I WILL SAY THIS, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES. BUT WHEN WE COME TO THIS BOARD MEETING HE ACTS LIKE HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW US. THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE WE'LL KEEP COMING HERE AND ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Karen

019Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. FELICIA BANALIO. I AM A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT AND PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE IMPACT PROGRAM HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SINCE DECEMBER OF 2020 TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES DIRECTLY ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUSES. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRUCIAL WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAFF AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION. OUR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. EXAMPLE OF THE TRAUMA MAY INCLUDE PHYSICAL ABUSE, VERBAL ABUSE, UNSTABLE OR UNSAFE HOME ENVIRONMENTS, PARENTAL SEPARATION OR DIVORCE, SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE WITNESSING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OFTEN THESE STUDENTS ARE DEALING WITH SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, INABILITY TO MANAGE STRESS, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-IDENTITY CONCERNS. THESE SYMPTOMS CAN ALSO MANIFEST

020AS BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS. WE SEE A LOT OF VERBAL OR PHYSICAL AGGRESSION AND INABILITY TO EMOTIONALLY REGULATE. INATTENTION AND HYPERACTIVITY ARE COMMON REASONS FOR REFERRAL TO THE PROGRAMS. BY A THERAPIST DIRECTLY ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES WE NOT ONLY WORK WITH THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO WITH THE SCHOOL STAFF TO PROVIDE THOSE REAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES. OUR THERAPISTS BUILD STRONG COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOL STAFF AND THEY SUPPORT THROUGH THE COMBINED EFFORTS AND SUPPORT ABLE TO MAKE A MORE PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN OUR STUDENTS' LIVES. THE OTHER PIECE IS BRINGING THE SERVICES TO THE STUDENT'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS ALLOWS US TO BREAK DOWN A LOT OF THE BARRIERS THAT MANY FAMILIES FACE WHEN ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING MAYBE JUST THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE SERVICES OR EVEN THE STIGMA RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. HAVING OUR SERVICES DIRECTLY ON CAMPUS

021ALLOWS US TO WORK AND BUILD EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES. AS BOTH A MEMBER OF THE IMPACT PROGRAM AND A HILLSBOROUGH RESIDENT, I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT IN THESE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AND ALL THE MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCES IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JULIE GEPHARTS. TODAY I SPEAK TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO REPEATEDLY ASK ME TO NOT READ FROM THE BOOKS BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE AND EVEN E-MAIL ME TO TELL ME I HAVE DONE MUCH DAMAGE AND TRAUMA. THAT'S IN QUOTES, MUCH DAMAGE AND TRAUMA TO THE AUDIENCE THROUGH MY READING OF FOUL LANGUAGE AND SEXUAL ACTIONS. THE WORDS READ DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS. THREE YEARS AGO, YOU TOLD ME

022THAT MORE SCREENING SHOULD BE DONE, BUT YOU HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING OF THE SORT, SO ON THE ONE HAND YOU TELL ME I'M CAUSING TRAUMA AND THEN YOU HYPOCRITICALLY SAID A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DO THINK THESE BOOKS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR STUDENTS. YOU'RE TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF YOUR MOUTH AND VOTED TO KEEP TWO PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS. JUST IMAGINE ME READING THIS TO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN OR IMAGINE A STUDENT CHECKING THIS OUT AND BRINGING IT INTO A CLASSROOM TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS. IT IS CALLED AMERICAN PSYCHO BY BRETT EASTON ELLIS, SIX COPIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. WORST BOOK YET AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT. GNAWING AT THE CUNT AND SCREAMS AS MY TEETH RIP INTO HER FLESH. TORY, THIS AS THREESOME, THINGS TIFFANY IS COMING AND GRINDS HER OWN CUNT INTO HER MOUTH. BLOOD

023COVERING MY FACE, MEAT AND PUBIC HAIR HANGING FROM MY MOUTH, BLOOD FROM THE TORN INTO THE COMFORTER, I TRY TO CUT OFF HER FINGERS WITH NAIL SCISSORS. FINALLY POUR ACID INTO BELLY AND GENITALS WHILE TIFFANY WATCHES. FINALLY I SAW THE ENTIRE HEAD OFF, A PERSON'S HEAD. BLOOD SPLASHES AGAINST THE WALL AND THE CEILING AND HOLDING THE HEAD UP LIKE A PRIZE I TAKE MY DOCK, PURPLE WITH STIFFNESS AND LOWERING TORY'S HEAD TO MY LAP, I PUSH IT INTO HER BLOODIED MOUTH AND START FING IT UNTIL I CUM, EXPLODING INTO IT. WILL YOU FULFILL YOUR MORAL OBLIGATION AND STAND UP OR DO I CONTINUE TO COME HERE AND EXPOSE THE ABSOLUTE MESS IN THIS DISTRICT? Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW ME BY NOW. JEN PAVOE. I

024AM A CONCERNED MOTHER, A PARENT, ADVOCATE, AND A CANDIDATE FOR THIS SCHOOL BOARD. RECENTLY -- Jim Porter: YOU ARE ALLOWED -- YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ABOUT ANYTHING. MAY NOT CAMPAIGN ON SCHOOL BOARD PROPERTY. JUST SPEAK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE. JUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT ACTUALLY CAMPAIGNING. YOU CAN CONTINUE THE CLOCK. I'M NOT CAMPAIGNING. THANK YOU. I RECENTLY CAME IN POSSESSION OF AN E-MAIL BY A BOARD MEMBER, A CURRENT SITTING BOARD MEMBER THAT HAS PROMPTED ME TO SPEAK OUT TODAY ON A SUBJECT THAT I'M NOT TYPICALLY HERE ON. AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE AS I'M HERE OFTEN, THIS IS GROUNDHOG DAY. IT IS THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, ISN'T IT? WE STILL HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES. I IN THIS E-MAIL THAT I BECAME IN POSSESSION OF READ THAT A SITTING BOARD MEMBER WAS

025AGGRESSIVELY EXPRESSING HER DISMAY AT THE USE OF EXPLICIT WORDS AND FOUL LANGUAGE DURING A READING SESSION OF A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING. A CURRENT CONSTITUENT HIGHLIGHTED BOOKS AVAILABLE IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND THIS BOARD MEMBER ARGUED IN HER E-MAIL THAT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE ALSO PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE NOW, IT'S INAPPROPRIATE NOT ONLY FOR OUR CHILDREN BUT ANY ADULT PRESENT AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND HOW MUCH TRAUMA AND TO THE AUDIENCE THIS IS AS TO READ THESE BOOKS THOSE WHO HAVE TO LISTEN. THIS BOARD MEMBER'S PRIVATE THOUGHTS REGARDING THE BOOKS CLEARLY ALIGN WITH THE DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY AS IS LAID OUT IN FLORIDA STATUTE 847.012. THIS BRINGS ME TO A VERY CRITICAL POINT QUESTION. I REALLY HAVE TO POSE THIS TO ALL OF YOU. THIS LANGUAGE IS UNSUITABLE FOR THIS BOARD MEETING, ACCORDING TO THIS SITTING BOARD

026MEMBER. HOW IS IT THAT YOU FIND THIS LANGUAGE ACCEPTABLE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND HIGH SCHOOLS? I REALLY NEED AN ANSWER. I THINK EVERYONE JUST NEEDS THE ANSWER. AFTER 14 MONTHS OF ASKING THIS QUESTION MYSELF, TO NO ANSWERS, NONE, FROM ANY ONE OF YOU, I THINK IT'S UP TO THE CONSTITUENTS TO FINALLY MAKE A DECISION AND UNSEAT YOU FOR NO ACTION. NONE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HOW ARE YOU DOING, BOARD? I'M JUST COMING TO COMMENT CONCERNING THE CELL PHONE BAN IN OUR DISTRICT. PRETTY MUCH I REALLY WANT TO JUST MAKE -- EMPHASIZE THAT OUR TEACHERS, SPEAKING TO MANY OF OUR TEACHERS, THERE IS A POLICY IN PLACE. THEY HAVE A POLICY. I THINK A BAN THROUGH THE DISTRICT WILL NOT BE HELPFUL WHERE MANY TEACHERS EXPRESSED THEY DO THEIR LESSONS ET CETERA

027THROUGH IT. I THINK IT ALSO HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN ONE SCHOOL IS NOT HAPPENING IN OTHER SCHOOLS. SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS AND WHEN WE LEAVE THAT AUTONOMY UP TO THE SCHOOL TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND PRINCIPALS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, IT ALLOWS THE MISTREATMENT OF SOME STUDENTS TO BE TAKING PLACE. I DO THINK SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE DISTRICT MAKE A POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL STUDENTS BECAUSE WHEN ADVOCATING FOR A DISTRICT, YOU ADVOCATE YET STILL FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT. AND I THINK SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING MISHANDLED AND MISTREATED VERSUS OTHER STUDENTS BECAUSE OF CERTAIN POLICIES THAT GIVE AUTONOMY TO THE TEACHERS. I SPOKE TO ONE TEACHER AND THEY SAID SO MANY DANGEROUS THINGS HAPPENING AROUND

028THIS WORLD CONCERNING CELL PHONES. WE WATCHED IT VIRAL. WE WATCH STUDENTS ATTACK TEACHERS WITH CELL PHONES ACROSS THE NATION CONCERNING DIFFERENT THINGS. WE DON'T WANT THAT KIND OF ISSUE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I DO BELIEVE THAT WHILE THERE IS A POLICY IN PLACE, A BAN STRAIGHT THROUGH WITH CELL PHONES MAY NOT BE HELPFUL BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK WE NEED TO REINFORCE THE REALITY OF OUR TEACHERS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW TEACHERS HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION WILL BACK THEM UP AND SUPPORT THEM IN ENFORCING THE POLICY BUT MAKING SURE OUR TEACHERS ARE SAFE AND THEY ARE WANTING MORE MONEY, SURELY THEY DON'T WANT MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION. LET'S DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE MAKE ANY POLICIES OR CHANGES, THAT OUR TEACHERS REMAIN TO BE

029ON THE FOREFRONT OF OUR POLICY AND OUR DECISION MAKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOARD. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN SPEAKERS 11 THROUGH 14 PLEASE LINE UP? I'M RACHAEL. THERE WAS A TEMPER TANTRUM THAT AN ALLEGED VETERAN HAD AT A MEETING. NON-PARENTS THAT SHOW UP AT THE BEHEST OF OTHER NON-PARENTS. STOOD AT THE PODIUM IN OCTOBER AND I SAID PEOPLE WOULD DO THAT. USE QUEER FOLKS AS A REASON TO USE THE MILITARY AS A WHAT ABOUTISM. AGAIN, WE ARE ONE OF YOUR MILITARY FAMILY. TWO KIDS AT TINKER. I FEEL LIKE MY KIDS ONLY GET USED AS PROPS FOR PEOPLE DOING POLITICAL THEATER. FEEL LIKE I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM WHO CARES ABOUT MY KIDS EDUCATION EXCEPT FOR THE WOMAN WHO GOT UP AND TALKED ABOUT ESE. I FEEL LIKE SHE ACTUALLY GIVES A CRAP.

030DESPITE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE GET UP HERE AND DO WHAT-ABOUTISMS ABOUT THE MILITARY, MONTH OF MILITARY CHILD AND MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEK AND SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AFFORDED TO MY KIDS BECAUSE THEY ARE MILITARY KIDS. AGAIN, I WISH ESE STUDENTS WAS CARED ABOUT HALF AS MUCH AS THAT. DESPITE GRAND STANDING FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS AND CLAIM ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS, -- DESPITE ALL THE PEOPLE CLAIMING THEY CARE ABOUT MY KIDS, IT IS CLEAR I'M THE ONLY ONE PRIORITIZING MY KIDS. LESS YELLING ABOUT THE MILITARY AND WAY LESS WHINING ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN CAUSED BY BOOKS. WHINING TURNS INTO SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS MEANWHILE MY KIDS ISSUES NEVER GET A MEETING. THERE ARE REAL ISSUES OCCURRING WITH MY KIDS. SECONDING WHAT SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER. VACANCY IN ESE. ALLOTTED ESE TEACHERS

031ONCE A WEEK. MY KID WILL ONLY GET SEEN SEVEN TIMES THE ENTIRE SUMMER. ANOTHER MOM TOLD ME SHE WASN'T AWARE ESE WAS COMING AT ALL. THIS IS A REAL ISSUE, NOT HYPOTHETICAL. MY KID WILL GET SEEN MAYBE SEVEN TIMES BY AN ESE TEACHER MAYBE AND THEY ARE ALSO SWITCHING WHO IS DOING THE PROGRAMMING NEXT MONTH, WILL BE A DIFFERENT TEACHER, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR A KID WHO NEEDS CONSISTENCY. ANYBODY INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH A REAL NON-HYPOTHETICAL PROBLEM, ESE IS ONE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JENNY HENJES. I AM THE SUPERVISOR WITH THE MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM FOR THE SCHOOLS AND FROM GRACEPOINT. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OUR PROGRAM IS DOING WITH THIS

032FUNDING. WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2021. THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR. AND WE HAVE GONE OUT AND ASSESSED ALMOST 700 STUDENTS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES FOR SUICIDALITY. GOOD NEWS IS, 45 TO 50 PERCENT OF THOSE STUDENTS DID NOT NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED, WHICH IS OUR GOAL. WE DON'T WANT KIDS GOING TO INPATIENT HOSPITALS IF IT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS MORE OF A MEDICAL INTERVENTION THAN A LAW ENFORCEMENT ONE. KIDS ARE NO LONGER PLACED ON A BAKER ACT AND PUT IN THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WE HAVE A VAN THAT COMES. WE CAN MAKE IT MUCH MORE DISCREET. IT DOESN'T HOOK LIKE ANYBODY IS BEING ARRESTED WHEN REALITY THEY ARE IN CRISIS. ONE OTHER ADDITIONAL THING OUR PROGRAM DOES IS FOLLOW THE STUDENTS. WHETHER THEY ARE

033PLACED UNDER BAKER ACT OR HOSPITALIZED OR DIVERTED WE STAY WITH THEM FOR 30 DAYS PLUS, WHATEVER THEY NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET LINKED TO SERVICES THAT THEY GET AN OUTPATIENT PROVIDER, A MENTOR, WHATEVER IT IS THEY NEED, WE GIVE THEM THAT WRAPAROUND CONNECTING THEM TO THE OTHER PROVIDERS THAT ARE ALSO RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN. LASTLY, IT'S SUMMERTIME. WHAT ARE WE DOING? SUMMER CAMP. WE HAVE FOUR WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THAT IS FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WHERE WE'RE PROVIDING ENRICHMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, COPING SKILLS, TIE-DYE, A LITTLE BIT OF FUN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. MY NAME IS JENNIFER BURNETT. I'VE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT SINCE 2011. I TEACH AT MANISCALCO K-8. TODAY I'M HERE TO

034ADDRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF INSURANCE ISSUE WHICH I E-MAILED EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND ONLY RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE. THANK MS. VAUGHAN FOR RESPONDING TO MY E-MAIL. I E-MAILED EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOARD, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE HEART DISEASE. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, TOOK A PARTICULAR MEDICATION CALLED MENJARO WITH A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FROM MY DOCTOR CITING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDICATION FOR MY CHAOTIC AORTIC BICUSPID DISEASE. I BELIEVE MY MEDICAL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED WHEN THE INSURANCE NEGOTIATION TEAM MET, DISCUSSED AND REFUSED TO COVER THIS MEDICATION AS PREVIOUSLY COVERED THROUGH A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION WITH HUMANA FOR OFF-LABEL USE. NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE TO COVER IT, THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW COVERAGE TO BE WEANED OFF. RATHER I HAD TO STOP THIS LIFE-CHANGING MEDICATION COLD TURKEY WHICH HAS TAKEN A TOLL NOT ONLY ON MY

035PHYSICAL CARDIAC HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE BUT MY MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL. AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. IN NO WAY WERE WE NOTIFIED, EVEN WITH CONTACTING AETNA IN DECEMBER TO CHECK THAT THIS MEDICATION WOULD NO LONGER BE COVERED UNDER OUR NEW INSURANCE PLAN BUT WERE TOLD IT COULD BE COVERED WITH A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION. I'VE SPENT THE LAST SIX MONTHS ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF AS WE TELL OUR STUDENTS TO DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. MY HEALTH ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF, MY HEALTH TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS MEDICATION WITH INSURANCE COVERAGE, I'VE EXHAUSTED ALL MY APPEALS IN WHICH MY CARDIOLOGIST HAS SENT OVER 50 PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE AS TO HOW THIS MEDICATION IMPROVED MY CARDIAC HEALTH. THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. I IMPLORE YOU TO REVISIT THE DECISION REGARDING GLP

0361 MEDS FOR CARDIAC PROBLEMS, PREDIABETES, PCOC, ET CETERA. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE RECEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION AND RESOLUTION TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ERIN QUINN. I AM THE VP OF PROGRAMS FOR THE ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL PTSA AND FORMER HILLSBOROUGH ENGLISH TEACHER WITH TWO CHILDREN AT ROBINSON. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR RAISES. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR WORK ON TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR DISTRICT BUDGET. THE CHANGE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS RESTORED CONFIDENCE FOR MANY OF US. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO FILL OUR INVESTMENT FUNDS AND I APPLAUD THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT HAS FUNDS IN RESERVE. I'M A SAVER TOO. MY KIDS HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE MAGIC OF

037COMPOUND INTEREST SINCE THEY COULD FIRST MULTIPLY SINGLE DIGITS AND MY SON A RISING SENIOR ALREADY HAS INVESTMENTS AND INDEX FUNDS. WITH THAT SAID, I SEE THESE INVESTMENTS AS A WELL THAT SHOULD SOMETIMES BE DRAWN FROM. I UNDERSTAND NOT WANTING TO LOSE THE GAINS OF THE LAST HARD YEARS, BUT WHEN THE HOUSE IS BURNING, YOU DON'T BLOCK ACCESS TO THE HOSE FOR FEAR OF THE WATER BILL AND OUR METAPHORICAL SCHOOLHOUSE IS BURNING. WE ARE BURNING THROUGH TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF. WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TURN ON THE HOSE TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO PREVENT BURNOUT. AND GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STAFF WHO HAVE TO WORK MORE THAN ONE JOB TO MAKE ENDS MEET, INCOME IS A HUGE FACTOR. LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT THE WELL ISN'T BOTTOMLESS. WE DO HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL.

038BUT WHAT GOOD IS A WELL NEXT TO A PILE OF ASHES? WE MUST PUT OUT THE FIRE IN OUR SCHOOLHOUSES FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN. IT'S THE TEACHER THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE, NOT THE CLASSROOM. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. MEMBER GRAY. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE ONE PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE MELODY MENDOZA. MELODY, IF YOU COULD COME ON UP AND MAKE THE WALK. NEW PRINCIPAL AT DUNBAR ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL.

039I WAS TALKING TO HER OUTSIDE. SHE IS VERY EXCITED. SOME OF MELODY'S HISTORY, CURRENTLY WORKING AS COORDINATOR WITH EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL EDUCATION AS LIAISON WITH THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK SCHOOLS. PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN PINELLAS COUNTY AS THE PRINCIPAL OF HIGHPOINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SCHOOL. PRIOR TO THAT, SHE WAS LEADER AT REED ELEMENTARY IN THE SAN JOSE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SAN FRANCISCO. HER EXPERIENCE ALSO INCLUDES ROLES AS A DISTRICT BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST AND A SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW LEADER AT DUNBAR ELEMENTARY MAGNET AND YOUR NEW PRINCIPAL, MELODY MENDOZA. CONGRATULATIONS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS ALL THE APPOINTMENTS TODAY. Karen Perez: CONGRATULATIONS, PRINCIPAL. WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR A MOMENT FOR THESE APPOINTMENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE BOARDROOM. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD.

040C 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04, 3.07, 3.09, 4.02, 6.01, 7.03, 7.10, 11.01. ITEM 3.01, MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR THE USE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS 3.01. AS YOU RECALL, FOLLOWING THE SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS IN MARCH OF 2018, GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT SIGNED THE PUBLIC SAFETY ACT INTO LAW. PROVIDED FUNDING TO INCREASE PHYSICAL SECURITY ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES ALONG WITH CREATING FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH ALLOCATION. THE MENTAL HEALTH ALLOCATION PLAN IS DUE ANNUALLY TO FLDOE BY AUGUST 1st FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE APPROPRIATE FUNDS. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS SUBMITTED THE PLAN TO THE FLDOE EVERY YEAR BEFORE THE AUGUST 1st DEADLINE AND EACH YEAR THE FLDOE HAS REVIEWED AND ACCEPTED THE

041PLAN. HCPS CONTINUES TO EXPAND DIRECT SERVICES TO STUDENTS BY ADDING STUDENT SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH STAFF TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS OF STUDENTS. OVER 17,000 STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED SCHOOL-BASED COMMUNITY, SCHOOL-BASED OR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THIS YEAR. OVER 150 SCHOOLS BENEFITED FROM ADDITIONAL ON-SITE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FROM A CONTRACTED COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDER THAT WAS DIRECTLY PAID THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS IN 23-24. HCPS CONTINUES TO ENHANCE PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR DIRECT SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING A MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM FOR STUDENTS IN CRISIS. HCPS UTILIZES CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK AS MANAGING ENTITY AND PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS TO MEET THE VARIETY OF HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS ITEM 3.01. I DO HAVE SOME OF OUR TEAM IS HERE, HOLLY SAYIS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

042ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH PLAN THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY APPROVED TONIGHT AND THEN GO BEFORE DOE -- Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 3.01. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBERS COMBS, GRAY AND RENDON PULLED THE ITEM. WE CAN START WITH MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: YOU KNOW, I AM JUST SO THANKFUL AND I'LL SPEAK FOR THE BOARD AS WELL, TO OUR TEAM, OUR MENTAL HEALTH SEEM, HOLLY SAIA, MICHAEL KILNER. CHRISTINA PICKERING AND ELIZABETH TANNER. I WANT TO USE MOST OF MY TIME TO ALSO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE PARTNERS WHO SERVE ALMOST 150 OR MORE SCHOOLS. MENTAL HEALTH HAS NOT GOTTEN BETTER. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT -- YOU ALL ARE EXPERTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT BEYOND COVID 2020, YOU'VE GOT AN INCREASE OF CYBERBULLYING

043TO A POINT WHERE THE SURGEON GENERAL NOW HAS SAID SOCIAL MEDIA WILL CREATE MENTAL ILLNESS TO THAT EFFECT. YOU'VE GOT AN INCREASE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. YOU'VE GOT AN INCREASE OF TRAUMA TO A POINT WHERE WE NOW HAVE TRAUMA-BASED TEACHING TO OUR TEACHERS. I HAVE TO SAY WITH THESE PARTNERS, AND I WANT TO CALL THEM OUT, THEY HAVE DONE SO MUCH. AND THE QUESTION IS AND I ASK THIS TO MS. SAIA, WHY DO THESE PARTNERS STAY WITH US FOR SO LONG? ACTUALLY, MR. KILLNER, I ASKED YOU. THE REASON IS BECAUSE EACH OF YOU WONDERFUL ONES HAVE BUILT SUCH A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE PARTNERS, CLAIRE REYNOLDS WITH THE CRISIS CENTER. I CAN GO ON, THAT THEY HAVE PREFERRED TO STAY IN THIS CULTURE BECAUSE OF OUR, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, BECAUSE OF THE STAFF. A LARGE PART

044OF IT. THEY ARE COMMITTED. THE PARTNERS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ARE THE FOLLOWING, WITH THE INCLUSIVE THANK YOU. GRACEPOINT, CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY, HEALTH CONNECT, COVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BAY CARE NORTHSIDE, SUCCESS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. BAY AREA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INVO HEALTH CARE, CRISIS CENTER, IMPACT HEALTH. BEHAVIOR HEALTH. I'M SURE I MISSED A FEW. NONETHELESS, THEY HAVE STAYED WITH US. THEY HAVE NURTURED OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES THAT MANY OF US SITTING RIGHT HERE ON THE DAIS HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED, COVID ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, TESTING, TESTING. AND I HAVE TO SAY A HUGE APPRECIATION. PLEASE STAY WITH US. I KNOW THERE'S MORE MONEY IN OTHER DISTRICTS AND COUNTIES RIGHT NOW. BUT WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE SALARIES AS WELL. SO THAT'S MY FINAL WORDS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, I

045SUPPORT THIS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS STATE FUNDED AS WELL. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I FIRST AND FOREMOST REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY HOLLY SAIA, YOU. YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE JUST SUCH CARING PEOPLE. THIS MENTAL HEALTH IS SUCH A HUGE EPIDEMIC. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE NEWS THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST WEEK. I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PERSON IN HERE IF IT'S NOT THEIR FAMILY OR FRIEND OR DIRECTLY, THEY DON'T KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS EITHER CURRENTLY STRUGGLING OR STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH. SADLY ENOUGH RIGHT NOW, THE EPIDEMIC IS STARTING SO YOUNG FOR OUR CHILDREN, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS, PHONES, HEALTH, FAMILIES, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS. BUT COVID. IT DOESN'T MATTER. OUR KIDS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. I WANT TO

046THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, JUST AMAZING WORK. THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AND TOOK THE TIME TODAY TO COME AND TALK ABOUT AND SUPPORT, WHAT A GREAT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE. I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS. IN THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 130,000 TARGETED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS OR ASSESSMENTS WERE CONDUCTED WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS YEAR ALONE, 17,000 STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. HCPS RESPONSE TEAM AND GRACEPOINT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE SEEN ALMOST 3400 CASES. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT TRAUMA AND NOT HAVING POLICE INVOLVED AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS A GOOD TRANSITION, IF NEED BE, AT THAT TIME. APPROXIMATELY 160 SCHOOLS BENEFITED FROM ADDITIONAL ON-SITE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FROM CONTRACTED COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS THAT WERE PAID DIRECTLY THROUGH

047MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS IN 2023-2024 AND THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS ON-SITE HAS INCREASED STEADILY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND THERAPISTS AND COUNSELORS BECAUSE WE ARE BEING CHALLENGED WITH OUR BUDGET AND WE CANNOT COMPETE, BUT WE STILL ARE DOING ALL OF THAT. IN ADDITION TO DATE, APPROXIMATELY 21,000 SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS VIA YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE CONTINUE TO TRAIN SINCE JULY 1st OF 2023, OVER 2,000 SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING IN FLORIDA'S HARM PREVENTION AND THREAT MANAGEMENT MODEL. EVERY SCHOOL, YOU ARE GOING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED, READY AS A BOARD. WE ALSO ADJUSTED TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNSELORS ARE PAID AND ALSO ADJUSTED OUR POLICIES TO MAKE SURE COUNSELORS HAVE

048MORE FACE TO FACE. IT TAKES AN ENTIRE TEAM TO WORK ON THIS. THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. YOU CAN HAVE ACADEMIC ABILITY, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANXIETY OR IF YOU HAVE DEPRESSION OR IF YOU HAVE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, THEN IT IS A FAILURE TO LAUNCH. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. THANK ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT, FOR CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK AND ALL OF THE CABINET. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS. IT IS TRULY A LIFT, RIGHT? ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T GO TO AND GET DONE WITHOUT EVERYONE'S PARTS. I COMPLETELY AGREE ON THAT END OF IT. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, THOUGH,

049EVERY TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PLAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT WITH FRESH EYES. BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT THIS AND AS WE LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SIX YEARS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE MORE AND MORE STUDENTS THAT ARE NEEDING OUR SUPPORT, HANDS DOWN. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I ASK SOME OF THE HARDER QUESTIONS, NOT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DISAGREE WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND NOT THAT I DISAGREE WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE'VE GOT EXCELLENT PARTNERS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HOW WE'RE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE IS GOING TO BE A DIRECT REFLECTION ON THE CHANGE IN THE OUTCOME. BECAUSE LIKE MYSELF AS A SOCIAL WORKER WALKING THROUGH THESE DOORS YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THERAPY IS

050CORRECT. WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IN THAT CONTINUITY OF CARE IS CORRECT. SO I DO ASK THAT. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I DO HAVE AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE OF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WITH MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS AT SCHOOLS IS 160. ARE THOSE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS? ARE THEY THERAPISTS? WHAT ARE WE PROVIDING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS? AND IS IT EVERY DAY? THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK SO FAR. BOARD MEMBER RENDON, THE THERAPISTS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES ARE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR CONTRACTED PROVIDERS. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK. MOST CASES THEY ARE ITINERANTS BUT BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS. BUT THAT NUMBER IS INCREASING EVERY YEAR AND WE USE OUR DATA TO DRIVE DECISION MAKING WHEN WE CAN HIRE NEW THERAPISTS TO HAVE MORE ON SCHOOL SITES. Patti Rendon:

051THEY ARE THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY ARE NOT CALLED OUT WITH THE TEAM, CORRECT? WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM. OKAY. SO THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE DOLLARS ARE INCREASING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, NOT BECAUSE OF -- IT'S BECOME A NECESSARY NEED. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS ADDRESSING IT AND ALWAYS LOOKING AT THAT. I DO WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK OUR PARTNERS. I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE PARTNERS BRING A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE AND WE NEED IN OUR DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THESE INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR THAT WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE PACKET, ALL THE STATS FOR ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS SO WE ALL HAVE ALL

052OF THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE, LOOKING AT THAT AND LOOKING AT WHERE THE MONEY DIVIDES AMONGST ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS. IT IS ONE LINE ITEM WITHIN OUR BUDGET, AND IT JUST SAYS WHERE SERVICES ARE. BUT IT DOESN'T DESIGNATE TO WHICH DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDER IT'S GOING TO, SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHICH SERVICE IS GETTING WHICH AREAS TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS THAT WE LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL. WE DO THE SAME WITH OUR BEHAVIOR. WE SHOULD DO THE SAME WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH TEAM. BECAUSE WHEN WE HEAR CRISES, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CRISES LIE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TEAMS ARE AT AND WHERE

053THEY ARE GOING MORE READILY. DO WE SEE A HIGHER LEVEL IN OUR ASSESSMENT RISKS THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS OR SEE MORE IN THE ELEMENTARY? WE DON'T KNOW THAT FROM ANY OF THE DATA GIVEN BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT ADDRESSING OUR PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO WHERE THE NEEDS ARE. WE ONLY SEE A -- I'M SORRY -- WE ONLY SEE A SPANS OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT BUT WE ARE NOT REALLY IDENTIFYING BY INDIVIDUAL WHETHER ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER WE HAVE THE NEEDS OR DON'T HAVE THE NEEDS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE LOOK AT THE CHANGE OF THAT PLAN BECAUSE THE PLAN HASN'T REALLY ADJUSTED. OUR FUNDING HAS CHANGED BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN ITSELF HASN'T REALLY CHANGED OVER THE COURSE

054OF THE SIX YEARS. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, ARE WE PROPERLY IDENTIFYING THE SHIFTS AND THE CHANGE BASED UPON AGE AND NEED? DO WE HAVE MORE SUICIDAL THREATS OR DO WE HAVE MORE OF SELF-INJURE BEHAVIORS. I THINK MOVING FORWARD AS WE COME BACK NEXT YEAR, WE REALLY SEE AND DRILL DOWN ON EXACTLY WHERE THE NEEDS ARE SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO HAVE THAT DATA WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SHOW THEM WHERE OUR CRITICAL NEEDS ARE AND HOW THAT'S CHANGING OVER TIME SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. WE KNOW WE HAVE A SUICIDE ISSUE, RIGHT, THAT'S INCREASING. WE KNOW OUR THERAPISTS ARE PROVIDING MORE THERAPY, MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. BUT HOW DOES THAT RELATE BY SCHOOL, BY AGE,

055SO WE CAN REALLY MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE RIGHT SERVICES IN THE RIGHT PLACES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL THERAPISTS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'LL BE SHORT AND SWEET. THANK YOU, TEAM FOR DOING A GREAT JOB EACH AND EVERY DAY. PARTNERS, YOU'RE THE BEST. YOU'RE THE BEST. WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE DOING A GREAT JOB. I HAVE TO SALUTE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SINCE MEMBER RENDON BROUGHT UP THE EXTRA HEALTH DOLLARS, THE EXTRA ALLOCATION WE'VE BEEN GETTING AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, I DO WANT TO TAKE

056THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE ARE STILL LIMITATIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH AND THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING ABLE TO BRING BACK WHAT NEEDS WE HAVE, WHEN I SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS, SOME OF OUR LARGEST NEEDS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THERE AND THAT COMES DOWN TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PAY THEM AND WHETHER WE'RE OUTSOURCING OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WHEN I LOOK AT IT I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEEDS IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PAY THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK A LIVABLE WAGE. HOWEVER WE'VE HAD A CHALLENGE WITH THAT BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION HASN'T ALLOWED FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THOSE DOLLARS UNTIL THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY, THE LEGISLATION

057REMOVED THAT CAP, BUT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS NOT ADOPTED A RULE THAT WOULD ALLOW US THE FLEXIBILITY IN THAT. ONE, I WANTED TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE THAT IS STILL THE CASE AND IF MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT IS CORRECT. AS FAR AS LOOKING AT POTENTIAL BONUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IS KIND OF GOING THROUGH TO SEE HOW THEY WANT TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO DISTRICTS. WE WERE JUST ACTUALLY AT A STATE EVENT LAST WEEK AND WE ASKED THAT QUESTION TO THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES. HE SAID HE'S WORKING WITH HIS TEAM TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO DISTRICTS AND HOW THEY MIGHT UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WE WANT TO KEEP THE PEOPLE DOING A GOOD JOB FOR US IN OUR SCHOOLS.

058THAT'S REALLY NUMBER ONE. WORK AS A TEAM TO SEE WHAT OUR BUDGET IS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HOW THAT MIGHT WORK. Jessica Vaughn: YOU SAID YOU WERE HEADED TO THE CONFERENCE AND YOU WERE GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION. I APPRECIATE IT. WHAT I LOVE AND THIS IS TO YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS -- I MEAN SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND A HUSH GOES OVER THE CROWD. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, IF WE COULD CONTACT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SEE IF WE COULD GET SOMEWHAT OF A TIMELINE ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK JUST LOOKING AT IT COULD BE SIX MONTHS, A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO ADVOCATE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US, A CRUCIAL NEED AND SOMETHING THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP US BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH IN

059OUR SCHOOLS AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT AN ISSUE IT IS. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF WE CAN ADVOCATE AS A DISTRICT FOR GETTING MORE OF A TIMELINE ON THAT AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT FREEING UP THOSE DOLLARS AND BEING ABLE TO PAY OUR MENTAL HEALTH TEAM. AS WE WAIT FOR THAT, WE DID GET A SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH GRANT THAT WE ARE PROVIDING CURRENTLY SOME FUNDING FOR OUR STUDENT SERVICES STAFF IN SCHOOL. SO AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING WE ARE UTILIZING ANY RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP THOSE PROFESSIONALS IN SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: AWESOME. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. JUST REMEMBERING THE FACT THAT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS, ACTUALLY THEY DEMOLISHED A BUILDING WHERE THIS HAPPENED THIS PAST FRIDAY, JUNE 14. AND IT TOOK THE VOICE OF OUR STUDENTS

060IN THAT SPACE RESOUNDING THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY. STARTING A PATH TOWARDS TRULY UNITING OUR AGENCIES IN SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. BUT WE ALSO STILL NEED TO -- THERE'S STILL A FRACTURING OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE OUR COUNSELORS ARE, WHERE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ARE AND WHERE OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE DURING THE DAY. BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES WHERE THEY REALLY NEED IT IS IN THEIR OFFICES PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS. IF THIS IS NOT RESOUNDING WHEN THE BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED, ECHOING THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED, OUR PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR SERVICES TO COVER THEM, TO BE THERE FOR THEM, WE REALLY NEED TO START REALLY LOOKING AT THAT AND HONING IN ON THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR PROFESSIONALS TO BE THERE

061FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 3.02, AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES WITH CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN, INCORPORATED, FOR KIDS ON THE BLOCK, BULLY PREVENTION PROGRAM. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPOSES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK KOTB, BULLY PREVENTION PROGRAM THROUGH THE RECENTLY AWARDED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STRONGER CONNECTIONS GRANT. YOU'LL SEE THE NEXT FEW ITEMS IS TIED TO OUR STRONGER CONNECTIONS GRANT. THE GOAL OF THE STRONGER CONNECTIONS GRANT IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS THROUGH BULLY PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. CURRENTLY, 24,000 STUDENTS IN GRADES ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR RECEIVE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMMING

062OFFERED BY KOTB. NO PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY OFFERED FOR FIFTH GRADE. THE EXPANSION OF KOTB BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAMMING WILL BE OFFERED TO APPROXIMATELY 50,000 FIRST, SECOND AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS DISTRICT-WIDE. THE SHOWS ARE FACILITATED BY EXPERIENCED, EXTENSIVELY TRAINED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE PUPPETEERS THAT RESPOND SENSIBLY AND THOUGHTFULLY TO THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. THAT IS ITEM 3.02. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 3.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES FOR THE ELEMENTARY GRADES. I REMEMBER IN 2019, WE APPROVED THE ITEM. WE HAD FIRST, SECOND AND THEN THIRD GRADE WAS THE NO-GO AND

063TAIL SAFETY MESSAGE AND I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS THE PUPPETS IN ACTION AND THEIR AFFECT TO THE ELEMENTARY CHILDREN. AND THEN FAST-FORWARD WE HAVE FOURTH GRADE, THE BULLY AND CYBERBULLYING. AND THEN AS WE GOT INTO MORE OF THE AWARENESS OF CYBERBULLYING, SOCIAL MEDIA WITH OUR STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY COMMITTEE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, I DID ASK IF WE CAN GIVE THE PUPPETS A WAY TO SIGNAL TO CHILDREN THE DANGERS OF ANY TYPE OF MOVEMENTS THAT WOULD TELL THEM THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF THIS STRANGER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. BUT THE IDEA THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THE AVERAGE AGE NOW FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, CYBERBULLYING, THE AVERAGE YOUNG AGE IS 10 YEARS OLD. A FEW YEARS AGO, IT WAS 13 YEARS OLD. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE PUTTING THIS

064IN THE POSITION IN THE FIFTH GRADE BECAUSE THEY TOO ARE ACCESSING SOCIAL MEDIA AND SITES LIKE DISNEY PORN AND ALL THE OTHER TROUBLESOME SITES THAT PARENTS NEED TO BECOME AWARE OF AND WILL BE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I DEFINITELY WILL CHAMPION CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE REASON I PULLED THIS ITEM IS BECAUSE THE AGENDA ITEM AND THE CONTRACT DID NOT MATCH. I LOOK ON THE CURRENT ONE ON THE COMPUTER RIGHT NOW AND IT STILL DOES NOT MATCH. HAVE WE AMENDED THAT? WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM TO AMEND THE CONTRACT AND IT WOULD BE ADDED WHERE WE WOULD NEED TO GET SIGNATURES FOR US TO FIX THAT TYPO. IT SAID FOURTH GRADE INSTEAD OF FIFTH. WE WERE ADVISED

065FROM OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ITEM AND THEN ADDRESS THE AMENDMENT FOR THAT ONE TYPO. Patti Rendon: I WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE IN THE LISTING OF THE DESCRIPTION, IT'S GOT IN THERE FIRST AND SECOND GRADE WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING PERSONAL SAFETY MESSAGES. THIRD GRADE NO GO AND TELL. FOURTH GRADE BULLYING, CYBERBULLYING, BUT THEN IN FIFTH GRADE WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER ONE. SO ARE WE DOING FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FIFTH OR ELIMINATING KINDERGARTEN AND FOURTH? I THINK THAT'S WHERE MY PROBLEM COMES IN JUST TO MOVE FORWARD IF WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE APPROVING. ABSOLUTELY. LET ME CLARIFY THAT FOR YOU. WE WILL BE EXPANDING THE FIRST AND SECOND GRADE PROGRAM TO ADD CYBERBULLYING AND BULLYING PREVENTION. CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM IS MORE

066STRANGER DANGER, SAFETY, CALLING 911. WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS ARE USING CELL PHONES. THEY HAVE OLDER SIBLINGS THAT ARE SHOWING THEM VIDEOS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND WE WANT TO TEACH THEM THAT SAFETY PART AS WELL. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR FIFTH GRADE WHICH IS OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT NEED THE CYBERBULLYING PREVENTION. APOLOGIZE FOR THE ONE TYPO BUT WE WOULD BE ADDING FIFTH GRADE THAT HAS CURRENTLY NO PROGRAM WITH CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN. Patti Rendon: I'M 100% AROUND THE AGENDA ITEM BUT NOT 100% APPROVING A CONTRACT THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE SCOPE OF SERVICE. EVEN NOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CYBERBULLYING INTO FIRST AND SECOND GRADE, IT'S NOT LISTED HERE EITHER. I WOULD LIKE A MOTION TO PULL THIS, TO TABLE THIS UNTIL WE HAVE A

067CONTRACT THAT ACTUALLY GIVES THE COMPLETE SCOPE OF SERVICE. SO THAT IS A MOTION. Jim Porter: MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO TABLE. THAT REQUIRES A SECOND. IF YOU WERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, THAT WOULD MEAN YOU WOULD NOT VOTE ON IT TONIGHT. THERE'S NO SECOND. SO THE MOTION DIES. STOP FOR TIME BECAUSE YOUR TIME IS STILL UP. WE DO NEED TO CLARIFY ON THE RECORD WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE TONIGHT SO IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR FOR EVERYONE. YOU CAN DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO SUPPORT IT OR NOT BASED ON THAT. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD. IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE AGENDA ITEM AND CONTRACT, NEEDS TO BE ON THE RECORD WHAT THE BOARD IS BEING REQUESTED TO APPROVE. Patti Rendon: SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND MR. DAVIS -- SORRY, MR. PORTER. SO

068AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE APPROVE THIS ITEM, TECHNICALLY WE'RE APPROVING THE CONTRACT -- Jim Porter: I WOULD CONSIDER THAT A SCRIVENER'S ERROR. THEY CALLED IT A TYPO. IT IS A MISTAKE. BUT NOT A SUBSTANTIVE MISTAKE IF IT'S CLARIFIED ON THE RECORD. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE STAFF PERSON TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING. AS LONG AS IT IS CLEAR TO THE BOARD WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING, THEN THAT WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF THAT AND IT COULD BE AMENDED. Patti Rendon: WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IT'S NOT JUST A TYPO. IT'S ACTUALLY CHANGE OF SERVICE, CHANGE OF GRADE, CHANGE OF SERVICE TO THE GRADE. Jim Porter: THE SCOPE OF SERVICES IS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND THEY HAVEN'T PROVIDED IT. YOU MIGHT NEED TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION OF THAT. THE SERVICES WRITTEN IN THE BOARD COVER IS

069IN THE ATS CONTRACT THAT FIRST AND SECOND GRADE WILL BE RECEIVING THE BULLY PREVENTION NEW PUPPET SHOW PROGRAM WITH CYBERBULLYING INCLUDED. FIFTH GRADE THAT IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING NO SERVICES WOULD THEN BE PROVIDED. THE ISSUE WAS WITH FOURTH GRADE BEING WRITTEN INTO THAT AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY ADJUSTMENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE. Patti Rendon: AGAIN, I'M GOING TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE CURRENTLY I SEE FIRST AND SECOND GRADE COMBINED, PERSONAL SAFETY MESSAGE, USING 911, UNDERSTANDING NO GO AND TELL AND MAKING EMERGENCY PLAN AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS. IT DOES NOT TALK ABOUT CYBERBULLYING FOR FIRST AND SECOND GRADE. I GET THAT YOU WANT TO DO THAT. I'M ALL FOR IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE APPROVING. THEN WE ADDRESS FOURTH GRADE AND WE GO BACK TO THE CONTRACT, THE

070CONTRACT AGAIN REPEATS WHAT I SAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF SERVICE TO ADD IN CYBERBULLYING, AM I CORRECT? THEN WE'RE NOT DOING FOURTH GRADE. WE'RE ONLY DOING FIFTH GRADE CYBERBULLYING BUT NOT THIRD GRADE CYBERBULLYING? THIRD GRADE CURRENTLY HAS THE CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM WHERE THEY ARE SPEAKING TO DANGERS AND STRANGERS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS AND HOW TO REPORT ABUSE, SPECIFICALLY, THOUGH, FOR FIRST AND SECOND GRADE, THERE'S NO MENTION OF THAT, PER SE, WHERE TALKING ABOUT CELL PHONES NOR FIFTH GRADE. THAT'S WHY WE TARGETED THE AREAS THAT WEREN'T REALLY BEING TOUCHED AT ALL. Patti Rendon: THIRD GRADE HERE, YOU HAVE ON THE CONTRACT NO GO AND TELL SAFETY MESSAGE ONLY. CORRECT. Patti Rendon: AND ALSO FIRST AND SECOND GRADE. FOR FIRST AND SECOND GRADE, BUT IT'S NOT AS EXTENSIVE AS THE THIRD GRADE

071PROGRAM. Van Ayres: THAT IS OUR HIGHLIGHT. IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES WITH MEMBER RENDON DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 3.03, AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. HCPS CONTINUES TO -- CASE MANAGEMENT, PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES AND FAMILY COUNSELING. CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 10,000 STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED SCHOOL-BASED OR COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES SINCE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK BEGAN IN 2019. THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVERSE OUTCOMES DUE TO UNMET NEEDS OR INABILITY TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES DUE TO BARRIERS SUCH AS FINANCIAL NEEDS, ACCESS TO PROVIDERS OR TRANSPORTATION. THE CONTRACT HAS OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS TO PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES. CURRENTLY, OVER 120 SCHOOLS

072BENEFITED FROM ADDITIONAL ON-SITE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FROM A CONTRACTED COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDER THAT WAS DIRECTLY PAID THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS IN THE '23-'24 SCHOOL YEAR. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF 3.04, THE CENTRAL FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK. Karen Perez: 3.03. Jim Porter: THAT'S 3.03, SO THE RECORD IS CLEAR. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 3.03. MOTION BY MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? Patti Rendon: I DID. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I'LL GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND WHAT I WAS SAYING BEFORE. AGAIN, THESE SERVICES ARE SO CRITICAL IN OUR SCHOOLS. THERE'S NO HANDS DOWN ABOUT IT. WE SEE AN UPTICK IN MANY BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WITH OUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR GRADE LEVELS

073AND THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES HANDS DOWN. SO OUR PARTNERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ARE VITAL PARTNERS. BUT I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE ITEMS, I'M BRINGING IT UP AGAIN THAT WE GATHER BETTER DATA SO THAT WE ARE REALLY IDENTIFYING EXACTLY WHAT SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED WHERE AND WHAT KIND OF SERVICES. MENTAL HEALTH IS A BROAD VARIETY OF SERVICES. IT CAN BE A MATTER OF GROUP THERAPY. IT COULD BE A MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL THERAPY. A COMBINATION OF A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR PROVIDING MEDICATIONS. IT COULD BE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND AT SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS. I FIND IT VERY IMPORTANT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE BRING BACK EXACTLY WHAT EACH OF OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE DOING, HOW THAT DIRECT SERVICE IS BEING PROVIDED,

074WHAT THOSE OUTCOMES LOOK LIKE AND THE FACT THAT WE MAY BE INCREASING OR DECREASING WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT DATA OUT THERE FOR BOTH OUR FUNDING BASIS. IMPORTANT TO GET THE FUNDING THAT WE SEE OURSELVES THAT THE PLAN THAT WE'RE USING IS WORKING AND THAT WE'RE MAKING STRIDES. I KNOW THERE IS A FRUSTRATION BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME WE MEET TWO FEET FORWARD WE'RE GOING TWO STEPS BACK BECAUSE THERE IS AN INCREASE OF NEED AND THAT FRUSTRATION IS THERE FOR YOUR TEAM. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING THAT CAN BE AND THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, YOU AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE COMPLETELY DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE. SO I'M LOOKING AT OUR TEAM TO

075MAKE SURE WE BRING THAT DATA BACK TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD BASE, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GOOD DATA TO INCREASE OUR NEEDS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. OUR RESOURCES ARE NEEDED. SO WHEN WE GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY WE NEED THESE RESOURCES, WE'VE GOT TO SAY WHY. GOT TO SAY WHY AND WE HAVE THE WHY. WE JUST NEED TO COMPLETELY BRING THAT TO THE TABLE. AGAIN, I THANK THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS OUR PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, VITALLY IMPORTANT. WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT OUR RESOURCES. WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS. THEY ARE JUST, I PERSONALLY HAVE MANY OF MY CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE USED OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, SO I KNOW THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR PARTNERS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, BUT

076WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DIALING UP ON SOME OF THESE DATA POINTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I WANT TO SAY ALL OF THE DATA POINTS THAT CAME THAT I HAD TODAY IS BECAUSE I INQUIRED ABOUT THEM. FOR THE CRISIS CENTER, I KNOW THAT'S VERY AVAILABLE. ALL THAT DATA IS VERY AVAILABLE. YOU'RE GETTING STATE, FEDERAL FUNDING. I TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TRAUMA, 3400 CASES OF SCHOOL-BASED CONSULTING. I TALKED ABOUT 160 SCHOOLS. THERE'S SO MUCH DATA. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE ARE PAGES OF DATA. I ONLY HIGHLIGHTED A FEW. I THINK WE NEED TO GO IN AND INSTEAD OF SAYING, HEY, YOU NEED TO SHOW ME YOUR DATA, I THINK WE NEED TO ASK FOR THAT MORE DIRECTLY OR GET THOSE DATA POINTS AND

077NOT CRITICIZE THAT YOU'RE NOT HAVING THAT DATA OR THAT DATA IS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE. WE'RE DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH DOLLARS. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN AND IF GOD FORBID THEY COMMIT SUICIDE OR DON'T, OUR TEACHERS, OUR COUNSELORS, EVERYBODY IS DOING A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION. THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING COMING FROM THE STATE, SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO MORE AND MORE, GIVE ALL THE POINTS, GUESS WHAT, I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANY MORE MONEY. I'M ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF WORK FROM YOU. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET AN INCREASE OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE SO THAT WAY WE CAN HIRE PSYCHOLOGISTS. WE CAN HIRE COUNSELORS. BECAUSE THE REASON THAT WE CAN'T IS BECAUSE THEY CAN WORK PART-TIME

078AND MAKE DOUBLE THAN THEY WOULD IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THAT'S THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS FUNDING. IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT GIVING THE SERVICES. IT'S NOT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA POINTS. IT'S THAT WE NEED MORE SUPPORT AT A HIGHER LEVEL. THANK YOU. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION HERE THAT MANY OF THE PLAN, OUR DISTRICT'S PLAN WITH DATA BEING REQUESTED, WHEN YOU START REQUESTING DATA FROM MENTAL HEALTH -- AND I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING MORE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER SITTING RIGHT HERE ON THE DAIS, A LOT OF THAT IS CONFIDENTIAL. AND NOT NECESSARILY WANTING TO HAVE THAT IMPLICATED ON ANY CERTAIN FORM, ON ANY CERTAIN OCCASION, ON ANY CERTAIN INTERVIEW. BUT I DON'T THINK ELIZABETH TANNER AND HOLLY SAIA, I DON'T THINK IT IS A BAD IDEA

079TO HAVE A -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A PLAN, BUT MAYBE MAKE THAT PLAN -- I'M A HARD-COPY PERSON, BUT MAYBE MAKE IT AS AN ATTACHMENT SO EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS THE PLAN. AND I THINK THE MORE WE GET EDUCATED, THE BETTER THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BE POISED TO MAKE THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE RESPECTFUL AND INTELLIGENT AND HAVE THE RIGHT VOCABULARY SO, YOU KNOW, MORE AND MORE PARTNERS ADDED. A GOOD THING. A PLAN I THINK WOULD BE VERY USEFUL. THE MORE CLEAR WE CAN BE ESPECIALLY WITH DATA OR ANALYSIS OR OUTCOME TO ENSURE THAT IS ALSO PROVIDED WITH A HARD COPY OF A PLAN, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. Lynn Gray: THANKS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, YOU SERVE OUR FAMILIES, THE STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS,

080RIGHT? WHETHER THAT IS THE MOM, THE DAD, INDIVIDUALLY, AM I CORRECT? CORRECT. WE HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT INCLUDE FAMILY CARE, FAMILY TYPE THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION THAT INCLUDE THE FAMILY MEMBERS. WE KNOW WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS, BUT OUR PARENTS NEED THAT EDUCATION AS WELL. AND THEY NEED THE GUIDANCE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS WITH POSSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. Karen Perez: AND THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY, IN OFFICE OR AT HOME, CORRECT? ALL OF THE ABOVE. Karen Perez: OKAY. AND THEY RECEIVE A REFERRAL FROM SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHOLOGIST IS COUNSELOR, TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL, RIGHT? CORRECT. OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS, OUR PROBLEM SOLVING TEAMS THAT INCLUDE THE PSYCHOLOGIST, SOCIAL WORKER, COUNSELORS, MEET REGULARLY TO DISCUSS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS. THEY WOULD THEN REFER A STUDENT

081AND CONTACT THE PARENT TO TALK ABOUT THE TYPE OF SERVICE. WE WOULD THEN OBTAIN PARENT PERMISSION TO DO THAT AND THEN THE OUTSIDE AGENCY OR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL WOULD PROVIDE THE INTERVENTION. Karen Perez: I JUST WANTED THAT SAID OUT LOUD SO ANYONE WATCHING COULD UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. ABSOLUTELY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS 3.04, ADDENDUM TO AGREEMENT EDPLAN LICENSE AND RELATED SERVICES BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC CONSULTING GROUP. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PCG BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT SOLUTION ED PLAN ASSISTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A -- PRESENT A THREAT TO SELF AND OTHERS. ENABLES HCPS TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE MANDATES REGARDING ONLINE DOCUMENTATION OF

082THREAT AND SUICIDE ASSESSMENT. SCHOOL PERSONNEL WILL BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THREATS -- GATHER, SHARE AND CONSIDER RELEVANT INFORMATION TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. SCHOOL STAFF WOULD DEVELOP MONITORING SAFETY AND SUPERVISION PLANS WITH RECOMMENDED INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALIZED STUDENTS. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH PCG SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PLAN IN 2019 AND PCG ASSISTS US IN MANAGING AND DOCUMENTING ALL THOSE THREATS AND SUICIDE ASSESSMENTS. AND AS OF APRIL 2024, PCG HAS HELPED US WITH OVER 10,000 RISK ASSESSMENTS AND MONITORING AND INTERVENTION PLANS. AND MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS ITEM 3.04. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 3.04. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE

083WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 3.07, CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR CATEGORICAL/BASIC FUNDING FOR REGISTERED NURSING SERVICES WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS A REVENUE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, PROVIDES BASIC CATEGORICAL FUNDING ANNUALLY TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO MEET FLORIDA LAWS AND LEGISLATIVE MANDATES. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS CONTRACTING WITH HCPS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES FROM JULY 1st 2024 TO JUNE 30th, 2025. AND THIS FUNDING PROVIDES SCREENINGS AND REFERRALS, SALARIES FOR REGISTERED NURSES, CONFERENCE, MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. THE FUNDS WILL ASSIST WITH MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES PLAN AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

084STATUTE. THIS IS AN ANNUAL RENEWAL, FLOW-THROUGH FUNDS FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR OVER 24 YEARS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS 3.07. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 3.07. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER. A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I PULLED THIS, BUT I HAVE MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS 3.09. EARLY INTERVENTION AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.

085Van Ayres: THIS IS ANOTHER REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW FOR THE PROVISION OF CHILD INTENTION AND SAY -- THERE WILL BE TWO SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER ASSIGNED TO THIS PROJECT. THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE DISTRICT CHILD TEAM WHICH IS PART OF OUR INTERCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ALLOW FOR EARLY IDENTIFICATION INTERVENTION AND SERVICE DELIVERY FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL CONCERNS AND SET THE STAGE FOR THEIR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION SHALL FUND THIS PROJECT, AGAIN, ELC FUNDS THIS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 245,000 FOR THIS 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR AND SHALL BE NEGOTIATED ANNUALLY. THEY WILL PROVIDE THE DISTRICT FOUR PAYMENTS OF 61,250 WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUBMITTING THE QUARTERLY EXPENDITURE REPORT. AND THAT IS 3.09. Karen Perez:

086THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 3.09. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU ARE PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, YESTERDAY, FOR REALLY GOING THROUGH THIS ITEM SO I UNDERSTOOD IT. I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION. I'M EXCITED TO LEARN THAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL RENEW THIS BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD PARTNERSHIP. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEND ME SOME DATA. YOU MIGHT HAVE SENT IT AND FOR SOME REASON I DIDN'T SEE IT YET. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT KIND OF HOW MANY THROUGH THIS GRANT, HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN THE PROGRAM AT RISK STUDENTS ARE IN

087THE PROGRAM AND HOW MANY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EVALUATE JUST TO GET SOME DATA ON THAT. I DID REQUEST THAT INFORMATION TODAY AND I DO EXPECT IT PROBABLY IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THAT'S COMING FROM AN ORGANIZATION OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT. SO WE EVALUATE EASILY SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE EVERY YEAR WITH THE PROGRAM. AND WE RECEIVE REFERRALS. WE PROVIDE PRIORITIZED SERVICES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM. SO I WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. THAT'S ALL THEN. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT -- I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE

088HAVE DATES ATTACHED, SO WE DON'T JUST GET A PHONE CALL AND IT GOES SOMEWHERE, AND MAYBE WE'LL GET THERE TOMORROW, MAYBE WE WON'T. THERE ARE ACTUALLY DATES ATTACHED TO REFERRALS AND FOLLOW-UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE ARE READILY MAKING AVAILABLE SERVICES FOR EARLY INTERVENTION. THAT IS SOME OF OUR KEY ISSUES MAKING SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND THAT WE ARE TAKING THOSE EXTRA STEPS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IDENTIFYING WHERE THOSE NEEDS ARE, WHERE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY NEED THOSE SPECIAL SERVICES BEFORE WE EVEN GET INTO KINDERGARTEN. IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WITHIN

089ALL OF OUR DAY CARE, WITHIN THE EARLY LEARNING CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT DIRECT LEARNING TO GET OUR KIDS READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. I THINK THIS PARTNERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT WE BRING OUR EXPERTISE AS A DISTRICT TO JUST ENHANCE WHAT EARLY LEARNING COALITION IS DOING FOR THE MOST SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. DO I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. THIS IS A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF LEVERAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO WORK WITH US. TO MAKE A GREAT PROGRAM EVEN GREATER. SO WE HAVE SEEN LOTS OF KIDS WITH THIS PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION, WHICH I KNOW IS A PRIORITY OF OUR DISTRICT AND IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES A LONG WAY. THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER

090RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER GRAY AWAY FROM THE DAIS. ITEM 4.02, INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR KELLY SERVICES, INCORPORATED, INVITATION TO NEGOTIATE SUBSTITUTE. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THIS IS OUR KELLY SERVICES. AS ALL OF YOU I'M SURE AWARE, KELLY HAS BEEN A RELIABLE RESOURCE FOR THE DISTRICT SINCE OUR PARTNERSHIP BEGAN. HARD TO BELIEVE TEN YEARS AGO IN 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR. KELLY WORKS WITH THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ADDITION TO HILLSBOROUGH, THEY WORK IN BROWARD, CLAY, HERNANDO, LEE MARTIN MIAMI-DADE OKEECHOBEE, ORANGE, OSCEOLA, POLK AND SEMINOLE. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, KELLY HAS ASSISTED WITH RECRUITMENT AS 2,388 SUBSTITUTES HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO HCPS EMPLOYEES. MARKUP RATE MAINTAINED OVER THE COURSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND, IN FACT, WENT DOWN BEGINNING JULY

0912020 AFTER OUR RFP PROCESS. KELLY ADDRESSES THE DEMOGRAPHIC NEEDS OF HCPS IN SPECIFIC AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, RECRUITING BILINGUAL SUBSTITUTES AND ASSIST WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF INTERNS AS FINAL INTERNS ARE PAID AS SUBSTITUTES. APPROXIMATELY 50% OF SUBSTITUTES ARE USED TO FILL OPEN POSITIONS SUCH AS INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES, BUILDING SUBSTITUTES AND TRANSFORMATION NETWORK SITES, LONG-TERM SUBS, PARAPROFESSIONAL VACANCIES WHILE THE OTHER APPROXIMATELY 50% OF SUBSTITUTES USED ARE USED TO FILL POSITIONS WHEN TEACHERS ARE OUT SICK OR TAKE A PERSONAL DAY. THE REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE IN CONTRACT SPEND IS DUE TO NUMEROUS FACTORS. 7% IMPROVEMENT IN UTILIZATION FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. 2022-23 FILL RATE 76% AND THAT FILL RATE LAST YEAR WAS 83%. MANDATORY MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN THE FALL AND THERE WILL BE NEW UTILIZATION OF ESE PARAPROFESSIONALS THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT

092KELLY WILL PROVIDE SPECIFIC TRAINING FOR ESE PROFESSIONALS AT THEIR EXPENSE TO ASSIST WITH FEEDING AND TOILETING STUDENTS. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS AGENDA ITEM 4.02, KELLY SUBSTITUTE SERVICES. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 4.02. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER COMBS AND MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER VAUGHN, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY I'LL HAVE A HARD TIME SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS ACTUALLY HIRED IN DISTRICT AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND WORKED AT THE DISTRICT I SAID THIS REPEATEDLY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT KELLY AND THE QUALITY AND HOW MUCH WE CAN PAY OUR EMPLOYEES IF WE WERE TO DO IT IN HOUSE. EVERY YEAR I KIND

093OF BEGRUDGINGLY SUPPORT THIS. MY QUESTIONS ARE, ONE, DID YOU SAY FINAL INTERNS ARE PAID AS SUBSTITUTES THROUGH THIS? Van Ayres: THAT IS CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: I RECENTLY MET WITH INTERNS THAT SAID IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WERE PAID SOMETHING SO THEY COULD DO THEIR FINAL INTERNSHIP. I'M CONFUSED BETWEEN THE DISCONNECT HERE. Van Ayres: THAT'S INFORMATION. INTERNS ARE PAID AS SUBSTITUTES. MR. HORSTMAN, IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THE INTERNS ARE PAID AS A SUBSTITUTE IF THEY ARE COOPERATING TEACHER, SUPERVISING TEACHER IS OUT FOR THAT PARTICULAR DAY OR PARTIAL DAY, THEY ARE ABLE TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM AS THEY ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE STUDENTS, THE GOINGS ON IN THE CLASSROOM ON A DAILY BASIS. Jessica Vaughn: IF THEY ACT AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, THEY ARE

094PAID FOR THAT DAY SPECIFICALLY. OKAY, THAT CLARIFIES THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. THEN ON OUR PROPOSED COST WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE, I SEE THAT WE SHOW HOW MANY SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WE HAD PER YEAR AND IT'S GONE UP CONSISTENTLY, BUT THEN FOR THE LAST MARKING, IT HAS THROUGH MARCH OF 2024. IS THERE A REASON WHY IT DOESN'T COMPLETELY UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR? YES, MA'AM. THE REASONING IS AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WHEN THIS WAS SUBMITTED, KELLY SERVICES HAD NOT PROVIDED END OF THE YEAR DATA FOR US. WE'RE STILL COLLECTING THAT AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT. Jessica Vaughn: DO WE HAVE THAT NOW? NO, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: WE'RE ANTICIPATING BECAUSE WE ONLY WENT TO MARCH, HIGHER THAN THE 172,000 THAN WE NEEDED PREVIOUSLY? YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: NOW, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, I SAW

095THAT YOU ATTACHED THE STRATEGIC RECRUITMENT PLAN AND TEMPLATE, BUT FROM MY END, I DIDN'T SEE THE PLAN, I JUST SAW THE TEMPLATE AND IT WAS EMPTY. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT I'M MISSING THAT ACTUALLY HAS THAT DATA OR WERE JUST THE TABLES EMPTY? IS THIS JUST AN EMPTY TEMPLATE? YES, MEMBER VAUGHN. THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE UTILIZING THAT ALSO AS PART OF OUR GOAL TO FILL VACANCIES. SO WE'RE NOT JUST RELYING STRICTLY ON KELLY, BUT THAT WE ALSO HAVE A PLAN TO UTILIZE THAT AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW THE BOARD OFTEN LIKES TO SAY WHAT IS THE PLAN? ARE YOU GOING TO GO WITH UTILIZING KELLY STRICTLY? BUT THAT IS A PLAN TO SHOW YOU WE HAVE A TEMPLATE AND WE DO HAVE A PLAN IN THE EVENT WE WANT TO ALSO

096UTILIZE THAT. IT IS SIMPLY A SAMPLE TO YOU THIS IS WHAT WE USE FOR THE PLAN. Jessica Vaughn: THIS IS NEW. HAVEN'T SEEN IT INCLUDED IN AN AGENDA ITEM BEFORE. THIS IS A NEW TEMPLATE, FINE TUNE WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS FROM KELLY ARE GOING TO BE. THAT'S CORRECT. ACTUALLY, IT IS THE EXPECTATIONS FROM NOT ONLY KELLY, BUT US AS THE HR RECRUITMENT TEAM. THAT WAY IT IS A TWOFOLD PROCESS. IT IS KELLY BUT ALSO US WORKING INTERNALLY TO FILL POSITIONS. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I SHARE THE TREPIDATION OF MEMBER VAUGHN WITH KELLY SERVICES OR SUBSTITUTES BECAUSE WE USED TO DO IT IN-HOUSE. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. WE NEED MORE

097AND MORE SUBSTITUTES. WE WOULD LIKE THE REVERSE WHERE WE HAVE SUBSTITUTES THAT WILL WANT TO BECOME CERTIFIED TEACHERS. I KNOW DR. PATENT -- DR. PATTON, THERE IS A PLAN. WHAT I WOULD LIKE, JUST IN OVERVIEW. YOU SHARED WITH ME A TOWN ACQUISITION SYSTEM, BUT BEFORE YOU SHARE YOUR PLAN, I WANTED TO THANK ALSO KELLY SERVICES AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, YOU MENTIONED IT ALREADY, BUT THEY ARE NOW, AND HISPANIC FORUM HAVING DUAL LANGUAGE SUBSTITUTES. AND THAT'S SO CRITICAL AND THAT IS A BIG DEAL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF OUR STUDENTS BECOMING MORE HISPANIC, ALMOST 43%, THAT'S CRITICAL. I THINK WHERE WE'RE AT IS WE'RE TRYING NOT TO HAVE THIS HUGE EXPENDITURE. WE'RE TRYING TO GET TEACHERS AND RECRUIT TEACHERS. POINT-BLANK, WHY NOT HIRING A DEDICATED RECRUITER FOR RECRUITING TEACHERS? WHY NOT? I ASKED SUPERINTENDENT

098VAN AYRES, PERHAPS HE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT. THE SECOND ASK IS TO REVIEW THE TOWN ACQUISITION SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE DEVISED. YOU HAVE DONE A LOT, DR. PATTON. YOU REALLY HAVE. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE BOARD IS PRIVY TO A LOT OF THOSE STEPS. TO THE FIRST QUESTION, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES WITH UTMOST RESPECT, WE DO NEED A DEDICATED RECRUITER. WE'RE SHORT OF TEACHERS. LOOK AT KELLY, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE THE SUBSTITUTES AND OUR KIDS HAVE TO HAVE THE STABILITY OF A TEACHER. Van Ayres: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN HR RECRUITER WITHIN THE HR DIVISION TO HELP FILL TEACHER VACANCIES, THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY SUBSTITUTE REQUESTS HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS. I'LL WORK WITH DR. PATTON ON THAT REQUEST AND SEE WHAT WE CAN UTILIZE IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS

099THAT WE'RE RECRUITING INTO THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'LL WORK WITH DR. PATTON ON THAT. Lynn Gray: WONDERFUL. DR. PATTON, COULD YOU GIVE US A LITTLE INFORMATION -- YOU ARE VERY INNOVATIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. GO AHEAD, TALENT ACQUISITION SYSTEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEMBER GRAY. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SYSTEM CALLED AppliTrack l0). MANY IN THE ROOM ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT AND IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A USER FRIENDLY, NOT ONLY FOR CANDIDATES EXTERNALLY, BUT THOSE INTERNALLY. WE'RE EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE'LL BE HAVING A TALENT ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL BE ROLLING OUT AND GOING LIVE THAT IS NOT ONLY USER FRIENDLY BUT ALSO BILINGUAL, MULTI-LINGUAL SO ANY LANGUAGE CAN USE IT TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION. IT IS MUCH EASIER IN USE. ALSO, I THINK ONE OF THE POSITIVES IS THAT IT COINCIDES

100WITH OUR N-4 SYSTEM THAT WE RECENTLY WENT LIVE WITH. THIS IS ONE OF THE MODULES IN THERE, SO WE'RE TAKING THE TECHNOLOGY WITH N 4 AND TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, ALLOWING US TO UTILIZE THE SYSTEMS IN THERE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. IT WILL GO LIVE. MORE TO COME, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. THIS ISN'T I'D LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SHOW YOU THE SYSTEM ITSELF SO YOU CAN BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT. SOON TO COME, EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE NEW SYSTEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU. WE'VE HEARD THE DIFFICULTY OF FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS AND THE BACKUP. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OF MAKING IT EASIER TO GET ON OUR SYSTEM, FILL OUT OUR APPLICATION SO WE CAN HAVE MORE, RECRUIT MORE TEACHERS -- ALL EMPLOYEES INTO OUR

101SCHOOL DISTRICT. Lynn Gray: IT'S WONDERFUL. ALSO IN CONJUNCTION, SHOULDN'T SAY IN CONJUNCTION, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INNOVATIVE PRACTICES, BUT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ONES WHEN I WAS SUBBING AT SULPHUR SPRINGS, SHE WAS EXCELLENT. I ASKED HER, WHY DON'T YOU BECOME A TEACHER. THAT IS THE OBVIOUS BECAUSE SHE WAS A LONG-TERM SUB. SO IF YOU CAN JUST SHARE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ENCOURAGE THOSE SUBS TO BECOME TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO SHARE AS WELL AS HAVE MR. HORSTMAN SHARE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IN OUR CONVERSATIONS IN RELATIONSHIP TO KELLY, WE SAID WE WANT TO HAVE PERMANENT TEACHERS IN FRONT OF STUDENTS. ALTHOUGH WE UTILIZE THE SUBSTITUTES THAT WE ARE NOW HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LONG-TERM SUBS TO SAY WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE A PART

102OF PERMANENT AT THE DISTRICT. AS YOU SAW THAT WE HAVE ROUGHLY 2,300 THAT WE RECRUITED PERMANENTLY, WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH THAT AND SAY WE WANT MORE. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST HAVE A LONG-TERM SUB WHICH THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND WE NEED LONG-TERM SUBS AND THEY ADD VALUE, BUT WE WANT THE STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE PARENTS TO FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE A PERMANENT TEACHER THERE. SO WE'RE UTILIZING THAT CONVERSATION AND SORT OF PUSHING IT TO SAY WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENT TO CONVERT THEM OVER TO BEING LONG TERM. SO THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE WITH KELLY TO MOVE FORWARD. Lynn Gray: WONDERFUL. MR. HORSTMAN. YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH US AND PART OF

103THE RESPONSIBILITY IS GOING OUT AND MEETING WITH PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, SUBSTITUTES ON OCCASION IF NEEDED. THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER FOCUS THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF -- OR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS THAT ARE QUALIFIED, AND THEY ARE MISSING MAYBE A SUBJECT AREA EXAM. MAYBE THEY ARE MISSING A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TEST. ONE LITTLE PIECE OR MAYBE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED. THEY JUST NEED THAT EXTRA LITTLE PUSH. SO THE HR PARTNERS ARE GOING TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME MEETING WITH OUR LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTES AND GIVING THEM THAT GENTLE PROFESSIONAL PUSH. Lynn Gray: THAT'S EXCELLENT BECAUSE REALLY THEY BECOME CONDUITS TO BECOME A PERMANENT TEACHER. THERE'S GOOD AND BAD -- WELL, ALL RIGHT. THERE'S POSITIVE AND MAYBE SOME NEGATIVE, FINANCIAL NEGATIVE FOR SURE WITH KELLY, AND NOW WE CAN

104TURN IT INTO AN ADVANTAGE AS WELL, SUCH AS WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: AS I SPOKE TO YOU, DR. PATTON, ONE OF THE THINGS IS HAVING KELLY SERVICES AND THEN HAVING OUR HR LOOKING FOR PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THAT HELPS BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE BOTH LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, BUS DRIVERS, SO THE IDEA THAT EVERYONE IS LOOKING I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT I KNOW KELLY SERVICES IS SO EXPENSIVE, BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE SUCH AN INCREASE IN THEIR FIELD RATE. THEY HAVE GONE UP TO 83%. AND PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY ARE WORKING IN SCHOOLS, IF THERE'S NOBODY THERE, TEACHERS ARE COVERING TWO, THREE CLASSES AND THEY ARE STILL COVERING THEM AND OFTEN THE

105SCHOOLS THAT NEED THE SUBS THE MOST ARE THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE SUBS. SO THAT IS VERY CHALLENGING. I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. I REALLY LOVE TO HEAR THAT WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM APPLE TRACK AND MOVING TO SOMETHING NEW. THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. AND JUST LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER GRAY SAID, I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE A RECRUITER, WE HAVE SOMEONE GOING OUT AND LOOKING BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE. ONCE WE FIND THOSE PEOPLE, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HELPING THEM WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND HOW TO HANDLE THINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF TEACHING IS VERY,

106VERY CHALLENGING. ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT A LONG TIME AND ALSO TALKED TO DR. WHELAN ABOUT THIS IS THE PROCESSING HERE. AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND I'VE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT IT PUBLICLY AND I'D LIKE TO AT THIS TIME. THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE WHERE WE PROCESS PEOPLE AND THAT'S CENTRAL AND ISC. MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I RAN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I PROCESSED EVERYONE IN PASCO AND PINELLAS BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH QUICKER. AT THIS POINT, STILL, IT'S REALLY SLOW. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE VISION OF MAYBE HAVING SOMETHING IN TOWN N' COUNTRY, HAVING THE ISC AND HAVING SOMETHING IN SOUTH COUNTY, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE LIVING IN WIMAUMA AND YOU WANT TO BECOME A BUS DRIVER, COMING TO THE ISC AND BEING PROCESSED AND FINGERPRINTED THAT IS

107A LOT OF TIME. NOT ONLY GLAD WE'RE FIXING THE CONTRACT BUT LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE US PROCESSING QUICKER, FASTER, GETTING THAT APPOINTMENT. IF SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE A CAR OR THEY JUST MOVED HERE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THEIR APPOINTMENT DOESN'T WORK OUT AND THEY COME DOWN HERE, UBER, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. SO BEING SUCH A LARGE DISTRICT, I MEAN, I LIVE ALL THE WAY OUT IN ODESSA, TO GET TO ISC OR SOMEONE FROM WIMAUMA OR PLANT CITY TO COME DOWN REALLY, REALLY DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT. SO IF WE WANT TO HIRE PEOPLE MORE, WE ALSO NEED TO INCREASE -- GLAD WE'RE DOING THE APPLE TRACK BUT WE ALSO NEED TO INCREASE THE PROCESS OF THE FINGERPRINTING AND THE BACKGROUND AND DO IT -- SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT. I TALKED ABOUT IT FOR

108YEARS, BUT NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT PUBLICLY. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. DR. PATTON, YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT BEING MORE EXPEDIENT IN THE PROCESS. BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TEACHERS, PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THE SYSTEM, WANT TO COME IN AND THE PROCESS IS SO LONG AND COMPLICATED, BY THE TIME THEIR NAME COMES UP, THEY HAVE A JOB IN ANOTHER COUNTY. I HAVE THIS QUESTION, HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE WE HIRING FROM KELLY SERVICES? ARE WE HIRING QUITE A FEW TEACHERS FROM THAT? YES, WE ARE. THAT NUMBER, 2,300, IS CURRENT DATE WHAT WE HAVE HIRED. BUT I WILL ALLOW FOR MR. HORSTMAN TO GIVE MUCH MORE DETAIL ON THE VOLUME THAT WE BRING THIS KELLY -- FROM KELLY AS WELL AS TALK ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS BECAUSE I THINK OUR PROCESSING HAS

109IMPROVED. WE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE METHODS THAT WE'RE UTILIZING WHEN INDIVIDUALS COME IN IN TERMS OF TIMING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT THEY NEED AND PREPARING THEM IN ADVANCE WHEN THEY COME SO THE PROCESS IS MUCH MORE SMOOTHER. I WANT TO ALLOW FOR HIM TO SHARE THE GREAT WORK BEING DONE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. THANK YOU, DR. PATTON. MEMBER WASHINGTON, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WITH THE SWITCH FROM APPLITRACK TO TAMS, THAT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT TIME SAVER. LAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE MOVED MORE TO ELECTRONIC PROCESSING AS WELL INSTEAD OF HAVING THE INDIVIDUAL SHOW UP, RECEIVE THE PACKET, FILL IT OUT EITHER THERE AND THEN HOPE THERE IS A TIME AVAILABLE OR TAKE IT HOME, COMPLETE IT, COME BACK, IT'S ALL ELECTRONIC. IT'S BEEN SENT TO THEM VIA

110E-MAIL SO THEY CAN COMPLETE IT AT THEIR LEISURE. WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE SOONER THAN LATER SO WE CAN GET THEM IN. AND THEN AS FAR AS RECRUITING TIME FRAMES, PROCESSES, LOCATIONS, WE'VE GONE TO A VARIETY OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE STATE. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN TO FLORIDA GULF COAST IN THE FALL. ONE OF THE HR PARTNERS WAS THERE IN THE SPRING. ANOTHER PARTNER WAS AT UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. SO WE BOUNCE AROUND THE STATE TRYING TO REACH AS MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS WE CAN. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS COMING OUT OF A UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN EDUCATION OR LOOKING TO BE A TEACHER. WE TRY AND GRAB THOSE -- I LIKE TO CALL THEM CAREER CHANGERS AND HELP THEM OUT, GUIDE THEM, PROVIDE THEM WITH ALL INFORMATION

111THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THAT STEP FROM ENGINEER TO MATH TEACHER, PHYSICS TEACHER, WHATEVER THE CASE HAPPENS TO BE. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. THE KEY HERE IS SIMPLICITY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YES, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK KELLY SERVICES. YEAR AGO I WAS VERY CRITICAL OF THE ESE DEPARTMENT AND BRANCHING OUT TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE HR DEPARTMENT AND NOT GETTING A LOT OF RECRUITMENT AND WE STILL HAD A LOT OF OPEN SPACES FOR ESE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK KELLY SERVICES FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING AVAILABLE RIGHT AWAY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR PARAS, OUR ESE PROFESSIONALS. THAT WAS SOMETHING A LOT OF OUR LOCAL AREAS WERE NOT WILLING

112TO DO, AND WE WERE LOOKING OUT OF STATE TO HAVE OTHER COMPANIES COMING IN AND PAYING THEM A LOT MORE MONEY AND NOT REALLY RECRUITING THEM TO BE ABLE TO STAY WITH OUR SCHOOLS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I SPOKE WITH KELLY ABOUT QUITE A BIT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF REALLY MAKING SURE THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERS WITH US, THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE EMPLOYEES, THAT YOU WOULD BE A PART-TIME GIG. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US SO ULTIMATELY THEY WILL BE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S FAIR TO OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES. I THINK THAT IS FAIR TO FUTURE EMPLOYEES THAT WE REALLY HAVE A FOCUS ON HAVING PERMANENT EMPLOYEES THAT WE ARE ON EQUAL FOOTING. IT

113IS IMPORTANT WE ARE ALL PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. I REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT AND REALLY EXPANDING AND TAKING THE LEAD ON OUR PARAPROFESSIONAL, OUR ESE TEACHERS, SUCH A CRITICAL NEED WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, SO HAVING YOU BE LOCAL AND REALLY TAKING THAT EFFORT TO DO THAT, I DO APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THAT MEMBER VAUGHN BROUGHT UP TRAINING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT I DON'T THINK WE ARE WHERE WE WANT TO BE. DEVELOPED A TRAINING SYSTEM AND IMPROVED ON THAT AS WE MOVED FORWARD AND WORKING WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT TO BUILD ON THAT AND MAKE IT BETTER SO WHATEVER WE PUT IN FRONT OF STUDENTS IS A GOOD QUALITY PERSON READY TO HAVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE PREPARED FOR THAT UNTIL WE WALK THROUGH

114THE DOOR. AT LEAST WE ARE MAKING STRIDES TO MAKE THAT BETTER. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. AGAIN, I'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO THE ESE. KNOWING THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT EXTRA LIFT FOR THAT WITH A LOCAL PARTNER THAT'S WORKING DIRECTLY WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT IS A HUGE PRESENCE TO ME. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR MAKING THAT EXTREME EFFORT TO BUILD THAT AS BEST WE CAN. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THE CHANGES, DR. PATTON, YOU'VE BEEN MAKING. I KNOW YOU ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR, COMING UP ON YOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND MOVING THE PROCESS FORWARD, MAKING IT MORE USER FRIENDLY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE TABLE IS ALLOWING OUR EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE THAT HR IS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THAT IS THE

115PRIMARY THING THAT WE HAVE TO REESTABLISH THAT CULTURE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IS AN EMPLOYEE DEPARTMENT. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT, THAT EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS IS REALLY ESTABLISHING AN EMPLOYEE FRIENDLY DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE THAT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL ARE DOING. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES WITH MEMBER VAUGHN DISSENTING FROM THE VOTE. THE NEXT ITEM IS BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, 2024 AND MAY 31, 2024. RO JOHNSON. Ro Johnson: GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT WE'LL BE PRESENTING THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, 2024 AND MAY 31st, 2024. WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE MONTH OF MAY FOR THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION

116BY MS. SUSAN GARCIA. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. THE FIRST SLIDE YOU'LL SEE IN COLUMN A IS THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD SEPTEMBER 7, 8, WHERE WE PROJECTED AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $336.2 MILLION. B, COLUMN B IS THE BUDGET AT THE END OF APRIL AND COLUMN C IS THE BUDGET AT THE END OF MAY. THEY ARE ACTUALLY EXACTLY ALIKE. AT THE END OF MAY, WE HAD $1.78 BILLION REVENUE BUDGET AND 1.758 EXPENDITURE BUDGET PROJECTING A 23.1 -- $178 MILLION SURPLUS WHICH WOULD GIVE US ENDING FUND BALANCE $353.2 MILLION. THAT'S THE BUDGET PIECE. THE NEXT SLIDE ACTUALLY COMPARES THE ACTUALS TO THE REVISED BUDGET AT THE END OF MAY. IF YOU LOOK AT COLUMN E, THOSE ARE OUR ACTUALS. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED 91% OF OUR REVENUE THAT'S BEEN PROJECTED. WE

117RECEIVED $1.622 BILLION AND WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT 93% OF OUR EXPENDITURE BUDGET AT THE END OF MAY, WHICH IS 162,800,000 WITH ACTUAL DECREASE OR DEFICIT AT THE END OF MAY OF $6 MILLION. ENDING FUND BALANCE END OF MAY $324 MILLION. I KNOW YOU ARE USED TO SEEING THIS SLIDE. WE SHOW IT EVERY BOARD MEETING. YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE COLUMNS ARE REVENUE AND YELLOW ARE THE EXPENDITURES AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE REVENUE -- THE EXPENDITURES EXCEED THE REVENUE THROUGH THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. DECEMBER WE START RECEIVING OUR PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE REVENUE STARTS OUTPACING THE EXPENDITURES. YOU CAN SEE THE MONTH OF MAY, THE EXPENDITURES WERE A LITTLE MORE THAN OUR REVENUE. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE $6 MILLION DEFICIT CAME IN. AT THE END OF JUNE, WE PROJECT A

118$1.89 MILLION -- $1.8 BILLION TOTAL REVENUE RECEIVED AND $1.5 BILLION IN EXPENDITURES. THE NEXT SLIDE IS OUR CASH PROJECTION WHICH YOU ALSO SEE EVERY BOARD MEETING. IT HAS THE SAME TRAJECTORY AS THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. IN DECEMBER WE START RECEIVING OUR PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS, SO OUR CASH GOES WAY UP. AT THE END OF MAY, $423 MILLION IN CASH. AND AT THE END OF JUNE, WE PROJECT $397 MILLION. WE ALSO HAVE INVESTED $123.6 MILLION IN TREASURY BILLS AND TO DATE WE RECEIVED $3.6 MILLION IN INTEREST. HOWEVER, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE ALREADY INCLUDED IN OUR ACTUAL FUND BALANCE. IT'S NOT OVER AND ABOVE THE ACTUAL FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF MAY. AND THIS LAST SLIDE IS THE COMPARISON AT THE END OF MAY OF THE $324 MILLION FUND BALANCE AND THE

119PROJECTED AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER OF 336 POINT MILLION DOLLARS. ANY QUESTIONS? Karen Perez: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: MS. GARCIA, THANK YOU -- Jim Porter: WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND BEFORE THERE CAN BE DISCUSSION. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. NOW MEMBER GRAY, YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENTS. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I FIRST WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, THAT THE T BILLS, THE TREASURY BILLS HAVE YIELDED A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND IF YOU WOULD, JUST TO DATE WE'VE EARNED HOW MUCH MONEY? $3.6 MILLION. Lynn Gray: 3.6 MILLION AND THAT WAS THE WORK OF THIS WONDERFUL TEAM. I APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING, TOO, I

120WENT DOWN TO THE BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TEACHERS 1.3 BILLION, I'M JUST ROUNDING -- ROUNDING UP AND ROUNDING DOWN, ADMINISTRATION, 133,000, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS 305,000, BUS DRIVERS, 74.2000. SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES AND MS. JOHNSON, WOULD IT BE WISE WHEN WE START SHARING THE MILLAGE TO HAVE, FOR LACK OF BETTER DESCRIPTION, VISUAL, CIRCLE GRAPH, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE WILL GO TO TEACHERS? WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WILL GO FOR ADMINISTRATORS? WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WILL GO FOR BUS DRIVERS? BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TALK, WE HAVE A MILLAGE BUT IT'S STILL GOING IN DIFFERENT POCKETS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. I WOULD SUGGEST PERHAPS THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. Van Ayres: WE CAN DO THAT. NOTE THE MILLAGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THE BOARD

121APPROVED TO GO TO BALLOT WOULD GO IN NOVEMBER. THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL MILL THAT'S ON TOP OF OUR GENERAL REVENUE THAT WE'VE ALREADY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN APRIL, THAT IS WHERE THOSE SALARIES WOULD BE 90% THAT GO TO EMPLOYEES AND ANOTHER 10% WITH THE OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AS MENTIONED. ABSOLUTELY ON THAT 90% SIDE, ABSOLUTELY WE CAN HAVE THOSE LISTED OUT. BUT THOSE ARE ONCE -- LET'S ASSUME ONCE NOVEMBER COMES AND ALL THINGS ARE GOOD, WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH MR. KRIETE AND WEGMAN WITH OUR UNIONS AND NEGOTIATE THAT OUT. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY WE CAN DO TO BE CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT ON HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT AND WHAT CATEGORY. Lynn Gray: YEAH, I THINK THE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND WE USE THAT WORD ALL THE TIME, BUT THE EASIER IT IS FOR FOLKS

122TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT MILLAGE IS GOING, WHAT POCKETS, I THINK THE BETTER THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A CONVERSATIONAL POINT AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SAY MORE SUCCINCTLY WHAT PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON AND MS. GARCIA AND FINANCE TEAM. YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM 7.03, SECOND AMENDMENT TO RAMPELLO GARAGE PARKING LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS IS THE RAMPELLO GARAGE PARKING LEASE. STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REQUESTS TO RENEW ITS PARKING AGREEMENT

123WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL HAVE USE OF 100 ROOFTOP PARKING SPACES IN THE RAMPELLO DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE. RATE FOR PARKING IS 4386 PER SPACE, WHICH IS 4,386 MONTHLY OR 52,632 FOR THE YEAR. THIS AMENDMENT WILL COMMENCE ON JULY 1st, 2024 AND TERMINATE ON JUNE 30, 2025. THE BOARD HAS RENEWED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S RAMPELLO GARAGE PARKING AGREEMENT SINCE 2019. AGAIN, THIS IS A REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE DISTRICT AND, MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS ITEM 7.03, RAMPELLO PARKING GARAGE. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Nadia Combs: YES, I DO. THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. AS I LOOK OUT

124HERE AND I SEE ALL THESE TEACHERS AND SPEECH THERAPISTS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AND LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND HOW FLORIDA CONTINUES TO BE DEEP DOWN 49, 50th. WHENEVER THERE IS A CONTRACT THAT COMES UP, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK AT HOW -- I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GENERATING REVENUE, BUT I SEE THAT EVERYTHING HAS INCREASED. ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS INCREASED BY 10, 15, 20 PERCENT. I'M WONDERING WHY THIS CONTRACT, ALTHOUGH IT IS GREAT THAT WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS, I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL. I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR RATE OF CHARGING PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCREASING OUR RATE AS WELL. MY BACKGROUND IS EDUCATION AND BUSINESS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW EVERY CONTRACT IS GOING UP AND OUR CONTRACTS AND EVEN OUR RATE OF PAY FOR CLASSROOMS, RENTING OUT CLASSROOMS, I

125LOVE THAT WE DO THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'RE INCREASING THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING AS WELL. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, MR. FARKAS SO I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU. Christopher Farkas: I APPRECIATE THAT. IT IS A REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE FIVE YEARS AGO. RAMPELLO PARKING GARAGE IS USED BY EMPLOYEES AT ROSSAC BUT ALSO USED FOR RAMPELLO K-8. ALSO, AS YOU KNOW AS DOWNTOWNS DEVELOP THERE IS A NEED FOR PARKING. THIS ITEM, WHICH I APPRECIATE YOU PULLING BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE AND 7.09, OUR AGREEMENT WITH AMALIE ARENA, VINIK GROUP, OVER $150,000 COMING IN AS WELL. 3% INCREASE. THE VINIK ONE IS 4.5, 5 PERCENT ON THE PART TWO. WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THAT OUT AND PUSH TO GET HIGHER

126ITEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS FULL BECAUSE THERE IS NO COST TO THE DISTRICT. IN FACT, THERE IS BENEFIT TO THE DISTRICT. I APPRECIATE YOU PUSHING US TO MAKE SURE WE FIND A WAY TO INCREASE REVENUE, BUT ABOUT $200,000 A YEAR COMING IN JUST WHAT YOU GUYS APPROVED IN REVENUE ALONE ON AN ASSET THAT COSTS NOTHING TO US BECAUSE THEY PARK AFTER-HOURS AND NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT. MS. COMBS, I APPRECIATE YOU -- AND MAKE SURE WE COME BACK. WE DO CHECK PRICES. 717 IS THE LARGEST PARKING AREA DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY KIND AND GOOD PARTNERS WITH US TO TALK AND CHECK IN AND HAVE THOSE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY ARE CHARGING VERSUS HOW MUCH WE CHARGE. WE

127FEEL LIKE WE'RE AT A NORM FOR WHAT THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP IS, BUT EVERY YEAR WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND I'LL MAKE SURE WE PUSH AND TRY TO GET AS HIGH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. Nadia Combs: OKAY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM 7.10, APPROVE THE SUBLEASE AGREEMENT AND OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR PIZZO K-8 SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS OUR SUBLEASE AND OPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN USF AND OUR PIZZO K-8 SCHOOL. USF AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ENTERED INTO SUBLEASE AGREEMENT PIZZO ON AUGUST 22, 1997, IN A LEASE AGREEMENT, PIZZO PATEL ON AUGUST

1286, 2008. BOTH LEASES EXPIRED ON JUNE 30, 2023 AND WERE GRANTED A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION. THE ONE-YEAR EXTENSION EXPIRES ON JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR AND THEREFORE STAFF IS BRINGING A NEW TEN-YEAR SUBLEASE AND OPERATING LEASE AGREEMENT TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. PREVIOUSLY, THE PIZZO WAS USED BY SCHOOL BOARD AND USF FACULTY FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO ENGAGE IN TEACHING AND RESEARCH. THIS NEW LEASE AGREEMENT IS ONLY FOR HCPS TEACHING STAFF AND NO LONGER AN AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH USF FACULTY OR STUDENT TEACHERS. THERE IS A RENT INCREASE FROM 60,000 A YEAR TO 550,000 A YEAR. THERE IS A ONE-TIME PARKING FEE OF 1,035,000 FOR 69 PARKING SPACES AND SCHOOL BOARD PAY ANNUAL SECURITY FEE OF 25,000 TO THE USF UNIVERSITY POLICE. THIS TEN-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT FOR PIZZO K-8 WILL EXPIRE JUNE 30, 2034. Karen Perez: THANK

129YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.10. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER COMBS, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I REALLY PULLED THIS JUST FOR AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE FAMILIES, THE EMPLOYEES, THE STAFF THERE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS PROPERTY AND THE SCHOOL. THEY HAVE AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY UPROOTING OR TRANSITION IN THE FUTURE. I AM JUST PERSONALLY REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND DEVASTATED BY THIS. I THINK THAT PIZZO IS A REALLY SPECIAL LITTLE SCHOOL. WHEN I GRADUATED FROM USF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THAT SCHOOL. I'VE GONE BACK. THE LEADERSHIP THERE

130IS AMAZING. THE KIDS ARE DOING VERY WELL. THEY ARE VERY HAPPY THERE. AND I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE COULDN'T REACH A BETTER AGREEMENT FOR USF WITH THIS AND THE FACT THAT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BASICALLY PAY TO TEAR DOWN THIS BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THIS. I'M JUST EXTREMELY UPSET. I'M DISAPPOINTED. I AM HOPEFUL, THOUGH. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE TRANSITIONING AND USING ONE OF THE REPURPOSE SITES FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'M GLAD THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS SOMETHING THAT IS CHOICED INTO SO WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY THERE. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT IS LEAST DISRUPTIVE, UTILIZES OUR SCHOOLS AND ALLOWS FOR A LITTLE TRANSITION BUT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU,

131MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I HAVE THE SAME SENTIMENT AS FAR AS I WENT TO USF AS WELL, BEING IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM THAT IS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RENT INCREASE JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, RIGHT, THIS IS CRAZY RENT INCREASE. GOING FROM -- EVEN GOING FROM 60,000 TO 1.6 AND THEN 500 -- YOU KNOW, 591,000, I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY JUST FRUSTRATING, DISAPPOINTING. BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT USF IS GOING, YOU KNOW, MORE TOWARDS FOOTBALL AND COMPETING. I THINK OF SOME OF THE BIG COLLEGES, THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL ON THERE. I HAVE NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE NEED TIME TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WE NEED

132THE TRANSITION TO SEE AND WHATEVER WE DO, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO PUT STUDENTS FIRST AND WE'LL PUT THE STAFF AND THE FACULTY FIRST. SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I DON'T WANT TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AND OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS AND OUR PRINCIPALS AT PIZZO TO START PANICKING, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE PENNY. THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. EVERY SINGLE PENNY COUNTS WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CANNOT EVEN LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH AND TEACH HERE AND HAVE TWO OR THREE JOBS. SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE WHAT IS A BEST DECISION FOR AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND SOMETIMES THAT'S DIFFICULT DECISIONS BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK

133YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YEAH, MADAM CHAIR, LIKE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, I FIND THIS EXTREMELY SAD. I REMEMBER AND I'M SURE MOST OF YOU GUYS ON THIS BOARD WERE NOT ALL THAT FAR APART IN AGE. USF GREW AS A COMMUTER SCHOOL. THIS COMMUNITY OF TAMPA BAY BUILT USF SINCE THE BEGINNING, TEACHERS SITTING IN THIS AUDIENCE, MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, ALL ACROSS TAMPA BAY ARE GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. AND IT IS THE STUDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF EDUCATING THROUGH THIS COUNTY THAT ARE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA NOW. I FIND IT EXTREMELY SAD THAT OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR GOOD PARTNERS ARE NOT LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH US ANYMORE. EDUCATION SHOULD BE A PRIORITY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY OF

134THE UNIVERSITY THAT SITS HERE AND THE 7th LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY ARE WALKING AWAY FROM A PARTNERSHIP WITH US AND NOT ONLY WALKING AWAY, BUT BASICALLY STICKING IT TO US. THEY ARE MORE THAN -- I CAN'T EVEN DO THE MATH -- FIVE, SIX TIMES OUR RENT. TEN TIMES OUR RENT. AND THEN MAKING US TEAR DOWN A BUILDING THAT WE WENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH. WE ARE HERE. WE ARE HERE TO SERVE WITH YOU. WE WANT YOUR STUDENT TEACHERS TO COME TO SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOUR INTERNS. WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS. SO IT SADDENS ME THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO LOOK

135AT IT. THEY KNOW THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR TEACHERS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THEM STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURE AND YET THEY ARE CLOSING THE DOOR ON US. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY SAD THAT'S WHAT OUR PARTNERSHIP OVER THE YEARS HAS COME TO. LIKE I SAID, THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE ALL WENT TO USF MANY OF US. IT WAS A COMMUTER SCHOOL. WE BUILT USF. THIS COMMUNITY BUILT AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND BUILD USF. I FIND IT SAD. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO OUR DELEGATION ON BOTH SIDES, BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRATS IN OUR DELEGATION HAVE FOUGHT FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THEY HAVE GONE TO USF ON OUR BEHALF AND HAVE FOUGHT FOR US BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT IT'S PARTNERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS. THEY BELIEVE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS DESERVES THAT PARTNERSHIP

136WITH USF. USF IS 98% FUNDED BY STATE FUNDS AND YET THIS PARTNERSHIP CANNOT GO IN. SO IT SADDENS ME THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. THIS BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO APPROVE THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO DISPLACE STUDENTS TWO MONTHS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WE ARE APPROVING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE. USF GAVE US NO CHOICE, BUT IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND NOT UPHEEL THEM IN 8 WEEKS, WE HAVE TO SIGN THIS. AND I FIND IT JUST ABSOLUTELY SADDENING THAT WE'VE COME DOWN TO THIS. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK OUR DELEGATION PARTNERS ON, LIKE I SAID, BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT EXCELLENT PARTNERS IN TRYING TO WORK WITH

137USF AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST NOT OKAY. I WANT TO THANK CHRIS FARKAS AND HIS TEAM FOR THE MANY, MANY MONTHS, TWO YEARS WORKING AND COMING TO THIS, BUT THERE WAS JUST NO WORKING WITH USF. THEY WERE JUST NOT WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT. I FIND THAT TO BE VERY SAD AS I ENCOURAGE MY OWN DAUGHTER TO ATTEND. VERY SAD. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. FARKAS, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTH FLORIDA? Christopher Farkas: 30 YEARS AGO, MS. CASTOR WAS THE PRESIDENT OF USF AND SIGNED IT WITH DR. LENNARD AND THAT PARTNERSHIP STARTED WITH A NOMINAL FEE THAT WE HAD THAT. I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE HERE AT TIMES AND THE LEADERSHIP IN THE DISTRICT BOTH

138AT USF AND THE VISION WAS ALWAYS TO KEEP IT AS A PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL AND TO THE EARLIER POINT, FSU HAS A LAB SCHOOL ON CAMPUS. IT IS NOT AN UNKNOWN THING FOR BIG UNIVERSITIES TO HAVE SCHOOLS THAT THEY USE THEIR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION TO USE AS A VEHICLE FOR TEACHING AND THAT PARTNERSHIP CAN BE A VERY POSITIVE THING. IT WILL BE 30 YEARS LAST YEAR. WE WENT THROUGH ONE FULL YEAR OF NEGOTIATIONS. THANK JEFF GIBSON AND HIS TEAM, TOO, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN ON ALL THE CALLS. AFTER A YEAR, WE WENT BACK AND BEGGED FOR ONE-YEAR EXTENSION. TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION. EVERY APPROACH. UNFORTUNATELY WE STILL ENDED UP HERE. OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE NOW THAT WE ARE IN THE SITUATION -- I WANT TO THANK MEMBER RENDON AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT ACTIVELY

139PUSHED FOR IT AND THE LOCAL DELEGATION THAT PUSHED FOR IT AND KRISTIN DAVIS FOR TRYING TO DO EVERY AVENUE WE COULD TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO FIND A FAIR DEAL. Henry "Shake" Washington: THIS IS LIKE BEING MARRIED FOR 30 YEARS AND GET A DIVORCE. THIS IS BAD. WHAT MAKES IT WORSE, WE GOT TO TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING. PAY FOR TO TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING. I'M FROM TAMPA. I DIDN'T GO TO SOUTH FLORIDA BUT BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE. WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE TO GO. WE CAN'T PLAY AROUND WITH THESE GUYS. REALLY CAN'T. THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. I'M REALLY SADDENED BEHIND THIS. MAN, WHAT A PAIN IN THE BUTT. OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO USE PROFANITY. THANK YOU. BRING CLARITY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS

140BOARD ITEM IS A TEN-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION. THIS LEASE AGREEMENT ADDITIONAL TEN YEARS WITH THE OPTION IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, WHAT PIZZO LOOKS LIKE, GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD, CORRECT, MR. FARKAS? THANK YOU. Karen Perez: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY THAT. BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THIS IS A TEN-YEAR CONTRACT, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE A TWO-YEAR OUT, CORRECT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY THAT WITH THE PUBLIC. THE BOARD IS AWARE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS SO THAT WE HAVE -- WE CAN TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR STUDENTS WHERE WE HAVE TO MOVE AND FOR OUR FACULTY, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO STAY HERE FOR TEN YEARS. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE

141HAVING THE TIME TO RUN IT RIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE SCHOOL YEARS TO CONSIDER. Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW WE WILL TAKE EMPLOYEE INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE ARE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. ABOUT

142ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WILL NOW CALL THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ROB KRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. I'M ALSO A GRAD FROM USF. I DID 24 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MADE TAMPA MY HOME BECAUSE OF THAT. AND I AM PRETTY PISSED OFF ABOUT ALL THAT AS WELL. QUITE FRANKLY, ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS ARE ACCURATE AND RIGHT. MY SMALL CONVERSATION HAD WITH THE UNIVERSITY, THEY WERE SAYING THE SAME THING THAT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION REALLY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IS NOT -- DOES NOT GENERATE REVENUE. IT

143DOES NOT GENERATE REVENUE. IT DOESN'T BRING IN THE DOLLARS THAT THEY NEED FOR RESEARCH AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. VERY DISHEARTENING AND COMES DOWN TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHY -- TO THE CRUX OF WHY I AM HERE. PUBLIC EDUCATION DOES NOT GENERATE REVENUE. WE DON'T. LET ME GET TO MY COMMENTS. BEGINS WITH WELCOME TO GOOD BURGER, HOME OF THE GOOD BURGER. CAN I HELP YOU? SO, HEY, AT THE BARGAINING TABLE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE DISTRICT IS RUN LIKE A McDONALD'S. WE WERE LEFT CONFUSED, INSULTED, ISOLATED, BUT THEN ULTIMATELY UNIFIED. WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR BARGAINING TEAM TODAY. NOT ALL OF THEM. WE HAVE DIFFERENT SUBCATEGORIES, SUBGROUPS, COMMITTEES ON OUR BARGAINING TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE REPRESENTED. AND COLLECTIVELY WE WERE PRETTY MUCH CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THAT COULD

144POSSIBLY BE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REVENUE. SO WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T CREATE PRODUCTS. WE'RE NOT SELLING ANYTHING. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HAMBURGERS AND FRIES, IT SEEMS INSULTING, BUT THEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE DOING THAT JOB. HEY, GREAT SCHOLARLY HAT ON RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE OF IT. THE PEOPLE IN THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY, WE LOOKED UP HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE. GUESS WHAT, THEY MAKE LESS THAN OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT LESS. THAT IS SCARY IN ITSELF. SO WE KNOW WE WERE ALSO TOLD AT THE TABLE THAT THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN INVESTING IN BONDS. WE'RE ASKING TO YOU CHANGE THAT STRATEGY. WE KNOW THAT WE WANT TO SETTLE THE CONTRACT. WE WANT TO YOU INVEST IN US. INVEST IN THESE EMPLOYEES, INVEST IN THE STUDENTS IN

145OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE THE FUNDS, THAT WAS CLEAR. LET'S GET THIS DONE. I'M GOING TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR BARGAINING TEAM AND OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO WILL SPEAK TODAY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING. WE BELIEVE WE CAN GET THIS DONE, LET'S DO IT THIS WEEK. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES AND DECISION MAKERS. MY NAME IS JENNY BUFFINGTON. I AM A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, SLP, PART OF A HIGHLY TRAINED AND EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HELP THEM TO OVERCOME COMMUNICATION BARRIERS AND EMPOWER THEM TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. I AM NATIONALLY CERTIFIED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF CLINICAL COMPETENCE FROM THE AMERICAN SPEECH HEARING ASSOCIATION. ALSO A LICENSE FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA FROM THE

146DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. ALLIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. I'M NOT A SPEECH TEACHER. SO HOW DID WE ALL GET HERE? WELL, UNLIKE OTHER MASTER DEGREES, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY IS A 60 PLUS CREDIT MASTER'S DEGREE. WE HAVE 400 SUPERVISED CLINICAL HOURS. WE PASS A NATIONAL BOARD PRAXIS EXAM, AND WE COMPLETE A CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP YEAR. OUR TRAINING IN EDUCATION IS EXTENSIVE IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, NEUROLOGY, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE LIFE SPAN, SPEECH SOUND SCIENCES, PHONOLOGY, LANGUAGE, LEARNING, NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, STUTTERING OR FLUENCY DISORDERS, AUTISM, AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION, VOICE DISORDERS AND SWALLOWING DISORDERS. WE'RE SPECIALISTS. WE ARE THE EXPERTS QUALIFIED TO BORK WITH A VARIETY OF AGES FROM INFANTS TO GERIATRICS. WE WORK IN SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, CLINICS, HOSPITALS, AND WE CAN DO PRIVATE PRACTICE. WE COLLABORATE ALONGSIDE WITH PHYSICIANS, PTs, OTs, BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, CASE

147MANAGERS, TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR CERTIFICATION, WE MUST COMPLETE HOURS OF ONGOING CONTINUING EDUCATION ANNUALLY. THE DISTRICT IS LOSING AND NOT ATTRACTING CERTIFIED SPECIALISTS DUE TO THE LOW AND NONCOMPETITIVE COMPENSATION BEING OFFERED. POSITIONS ARE BEING FILLED BY THOSE LESS QUALIFIED WITH INTENT TO EARN, VERY EXPENSIVE CONTRACT THERAPISTS BUT WORSE OF ALL THEY ARE NOT BEING FILLED AT ALL. WE ARE A VITAL MEMBER OF THE STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM, AND STUDENTS AND STAFF SUFFER WHEN THERE IS NOT AN SLP ON CAMPUS. WE'RE CONNECTING AND WE'RE VESTED. SO LET'S DO BETTER, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. LET'S PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE SALARY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN SLPs. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI. GOOD EVENING. NANCY ROMERO. I'M IN MY SIXTH YEAR HERE AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AND THAT'S AFTER

148MY 24th YEAR AS A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ALL IN THE EDUCATIONAL SETTING. IN THE SCHOOL SETTING SLPs CONDUCT SCREENINGS, OBSERVATIONS, EVALUATIONS. WE ANALYZE STUDENT PERFORMANCE, DIAGNOSE ISSUES, WE DEVELOP TREATMENT PLANS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS. WE PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, COMMUNICATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARENTS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE TEACHERS, OTHER THERAPISTS. WE SERVE -- I'M SO SORRY -- WE SERVE ON PROBLEM SOLVING LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND CHILD STUDY TEAMS. SLPs NOT ONLY PROVIDE RELATED SERVICES, BUT WE CASE MANAGE OVER HALF OUR STUDENTS THAT WE SEE. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS THAT SUPPORT THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS THE CURRICULUM. AND THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. WE DO THAT THROUGH SPEECH, THE ARTICULATION, THE VOICE, THE FLUENCY OR STUTTERING. WE DO THAT THROUGH LANGUAGE, THE RECEPTIVE SKILLS, EXPRESSIVE SKILLS, SOCIAL PRAGMATICS AND AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. WE ALSO SUPPORT SAFE FEEDING AND

149SWALLOWING IN OUR SCHOOL SETTINGS. SLPs ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION AND FILING THAT'S NOT LIMITED TO ELECTRONIC DAILY THERAPEUTIC SERVICE DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING WHEN WE'RE CONSULTING WITH STAFF AND TRYING TO EDUCATE THEM OR SHOW THEM HOW TO USE SOME OF THE SKILLS THAT WE'RE USING WITH OUR STUDENTS. SCREENING LOGS, EVALUATION LOGS, EVALUATION REPORTS, ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION REPORTS, FUNDING MATRICES, QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS, ANNUAL AND REVISION, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS, MOST DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED TO BE SIGNED BY MULTIPLE TEAM MEMBERS. ALSO SCANNED IN FOR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION TO BE COPIED TO IEP SYSTEM, SCANNED INTO PARENTS, PUT INTO SPEECH FOLDERS AND PUT IN THE CUMULATIVE FOLDERS AS WELL. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. I'M TRACY CARLOS. I'VE WORKED AS A CERTIFIED SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I'VE BEEN SERVING STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC

150SCHOOLS FOR EIGHT YEARS. FROM 2020 TO 2023, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES AND EVALUATIONS IN HCPS GENERATED $3,470,485 IN MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FUNDING. FOR THE DISTRICT TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING, SLPs ARE REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED TO EACH STUDENT. SPENDING TIME ON DOCUMENTATION FOR MEDICAID BILLING ADDS TO AN SLP'S DAILY WORKLOAD. LARGER CASELOADS CAN HAVE 70 PLUS STUDENTS AND DAILY DOCUMENTATION FOR EACH STUDENT TAKES TIME AWAY FROM PROVIDING THE THERAPY SERVICES OUR STUDENTS REQUIRE. HOWEVER, THIS DOCUMENTATION FINANCIALLY BENEFITS THE DISTRICT WITH NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO SLPs. ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS THE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROGRAM'S NEED TO RELY ON CONTRACT SERVICES DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF DISTRICT HIRED SLPs. IN 2023 TO 2024, THE DISTRICT SPENT $7 MILLION ON CONTRACT SLPs, SLP ASSISTANCE AND FACILITATORS. ON AVERAGE, CONTRACTED STAFF WITH THE SAME CREDENTIALS AS OUR

151CERTIFIED SLPs ARE PAID BETWEEN 65 TO 75 DOLLARS PER HOUR WHILE EXISTING STAFF WITH TEN-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ARE MAKING LESS THAN $38 AN HOUR. AT THE PRESENT TIME, OUR DISTRICT IS SPENDING SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF 95 TO 120 DOLLARS PER HOUR TO CONTRACT AGENCIES TO COVER UNITS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 35 TO 50 DOLLARS AN HOUR TO HIRE CONTRACT ASSISTANCE AND PARAPROFESSIONALS TO PROCTOR VIRTUAL SERVICES. VIRTUAL CONTRACT PROVIDERS ARE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL THE TASKS REQUIRED OF SCHOOL-BASED PROVIDERS, INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS, SCREENINGS, EVALUATIONS, OBTAIN SIGNATURES FOR IEP PAPERWORK DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO ADOBE SIGN AND FILING OF COMPLETED PAPER WORK RESULTING IN AUDIT ISSUES. VIRTUAL THERAPY SERVICES CAN LIMIT ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS AND RESULT IN REDUCED CONTACT WITH TEACHERS TO COLLABORATE FOR SERVICES WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN A LACK OF STUDENT GROWTH

152AND SUCCESS. CURRENTLY, THE DISTRICT IS -- DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH CONTRACT SLPs AVAILABLE TO FILL ALL OPEN POSITIONS. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCREASED WORKLOAD FOR SLPs AND SUPERVISORS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, MANY CONTRACT SLPs HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT, HOWEVER THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE PAY CUT. DISTRICT SLPs ARE RECORDED DAILY BY RECRUITERS AND PRIVATE -- VIA TEXT, E-MAIL, PHONE CALLS, ENTICING US TO WORK FOR MORE LUCRATIVE SALARY. WE STAY BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS AND WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES. WE HAVE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND KNOW THAT SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH A DISTRICT HIRED ROLE IS MOST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM. WE FEAR THAT UNLESS CHANGES ARE MADE TO OUR SALARIES, SUPPLEMENT AND OUR WORKLOAD, RETENTION OF -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU NEXT SPEAKER. OUR STUDENTS SUFFER

153IN THE END. Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M JOSIE MONJOVI, 27-YEAR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS VETERAN AND DEDICATED SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST. FAIR COMPENSATION FOR SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF EQUITY. IT IS A MATTER OF RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT. TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT IN THIS FIELD, HCPS MUST OFFER COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGES THAT REFLECT THE VALUE YOU PLACE ON OUR SKILLS AND EXPERTISE. OUR CURRENT COMPENSATION RETENTION POLICIES HAVE FAILED TO REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK, LEADING TO HURDLES THAT HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME. IN BARGAINING MEETINGS WITH THE DISTRICT, WE HAVE PRESENTED DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM RESOLUTION THE DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED, WHICH IS TO FILL VACANCIES IN OUR DISTRICT BY HIRING SLPs THROUGH CONTRACT AGENCIES. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ONE-THIRD OF OUR SLP POSITIONS

154BEING COVERED BY CONTRACT PROVIDERS. LAST YEAR, HCPS SPENT $7 MILLION ON SLP CONTRACT SERVICES TO COVER VACANCIES IN THE DISTRICT TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH THE REQUIRED SERVICES. WHY ARE DISTRICTS WILLING TO PAY CONTRACT FEES FOR THE EXACT SAME PROFESSIONALS? WHY NOT COMPENSATE SLPs WHAT THEY ARE WORTH AND GET BETTER STAFF RETENTION. HCPS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS SIMPLY HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH. CURRENTLY, HCPS IS RATED NUMBER 45 IN PAY FOR SLPs IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THE THIRD LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN FLORIDA BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT. HOWEVER, OUT OF THE TEN LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA, HCPS IS LAST IN COMPENSATION TO OUR SLPs. OUR NEIGHBORING POLK COUNTY PAYS STAGGERING $10,000 MORE AS A TOTAL STARTING SALARY, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE LOSING SO MANY OF OUR POTENTIAL HIRES TO NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. LET'S

155DEAL WITH THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IMPACTING SLP VACANCIES IN THIS COUNTY -- SALARY. AS WE CONSIDER THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS PAY IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR COMPENSATION SHOULD REFLECT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR CONTRIBUTIONS BY INVESTING IN OUR COMPENSATION, YOU NOT ONLY SHOW HOW YOU VALUE OUR TIRELESS EFFORTS, BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE THERAPY SERVICES AND EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS IN HCPS. INVESTING IN THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF SLPs IS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL DECISION. IT IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE. EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND SLPs ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS PLATFORM FOR US TO

156ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO EXPLAIN CURRENT HAPPENINGS AND NEEDS IN OUR DISTRICT. I AM LESLIE ADAMS, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS. FOR YEARS, SO MANY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD OUR POSITION WITHIN THE SCHOOLS. OUR EXPERTISE GOES FAR BEYOND REMEDIATING R. WE SUPPORT STUDENTS' COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE. WITH ACADEMICS, INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONING AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS. SLPs FIND STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION, PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AND SUPPORT TEACHERS AND STAFF TO IMPROVE STUDENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS. THESE ARE SERVICES THAT MANY STUDENTS ARE BEING DENIED OR DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS VACANCIES AND INADEQUATE SERVICE MODELS BEING PROVIDED TO COVER POSITIONS. MORE THAN 33% OF SLP POSITIONS ARE BEING FILLED BY ASSISTANTS, GRADUATE STUDENTS AND CONTRACT PROVIDERS, MANY WHO PROVIDE VIRTUAL THERAPY TO STUDENTS

157ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS. MANY VIRTUAL CONTRACT PROVIDERS LACK ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS. SLPs ON CAMPUSES THAT ALSO HAVE VIRTUAL PROVIDERS ARE EXPECTED TO FILL THE GAP BY COMPLETING ALL OBSERVATION SCREENINGS, EVALUATIONS, ELIGIBILITY, PARENT AND TEACHER COLLABORATION AND CHILD STUDY TEAM MEETINGS AS WELL AS COMPLETING AND FILING IEP PAPERWORK AND PROGRESS REPORTS. WHAT DOES THIS LEAD TO? SLPs WORKING BEYOND THEIR HOURS, POSITION, LEADING TO BURNOUT. SLPs ARE LEAVING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN DROVES. THEY ARE LEAVING FOR CONTRACT POSITIONS FOR HIGHER PAY. THEY ARE LEAVING TO NEIGHBORING COUNTIES FOR HIGHER PAY. THEY ARE CHANGING SETTINGS FOR HIGHER PAY. AS YOU'VE HEARD, HILLSBOROUGH IS CURRENTLY NUMBER 45 IN THE STATE FOR STARTING SALARIES FOR SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THE SECOND LOWEST IN THE STATE FOR SUPPLEMENTS FOR THOSE WITH THEIR Cs. THAT IS

158OUR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS AN ABOVE AVERAGE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE. BASED ON STUDENT ASSESSMENT SCORES WITH BELOW AVERAGE PAY FOR TEACHERS, STUDENT SERVICES, INCLUDING SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND SUPPORT STAFF. WE MUST DO BETTER. BASED ON FINANCIAL REPORTS, THE MONEY IS THERE. INSTEAD OF INVESTING ON BONDS, INVEST IN STUDENTS BY PROVIDING ATTRACTIVE SALARIES TO GAIN QUALIFIED AND INVESTED PROFESSORS. WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE PAY SCALES. WE NEED TO OFFER COMPETITIVE SUPPLEMENTS. WE NEED TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE VISION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHICH IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CAROL BUTTS. I HAVE BEEN AN RN FOR 43 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL NURSE FOR 25 OF THOSE YEARS. I'VE BEEN AT

159RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR 22 OF THOSE YEARS. I FEEL LIKE MY KIDS AND MY STAFF ARE MY FAMILY. WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM. WE CAN'T RETAIN AND RECRUIT GOOD PEOPLE. WE'VE LOST PEOPLE FROM EVERY TEAM IN OUR DISTRICT AND IT'S NOT DUE TO WORKING CONDITIONS. I LOVE MY SCHOOL. IT'S DO TO PAY. WE HAVE STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS. RNs SAW 192,796 STUDENTS THROUGH THE CLINIC LAST YEAR. LPNs AND HEALTH ASSISTANTS SAW 530,733 STUDENTS. FOR AN AVERAGE OF OVER 50 STUDENTS A DAY THROUGH EACH OF OUR SCHOOL CLINICS. WE'RE STRUGGLING. WE SPENT $10.5 MILLION ON AGENCY NURSES LAST YEAR WHO WERE NOT INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS. I BECAME A SCHOOL NURSE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD. AND I FEEL LIKE BEING AT THE SAME SCHOOL EVERY DAY I'M ABLE TO DO THAT.

160THESE AGENCY FOLKS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. CALL OUT WHEN THEY WANT TO CALL OUT AND THEY ARE NOT INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS LIKE WE ARE. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WE HELP STUDENTS STAY IN SCHOOL AND INCREASE OUR ATTENDANCE RATE. WE HAVE HEALTHY STUDENT PROGRAMS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL THAT WE CAN MEDICATE FOR THINGS SUCH AS HEADACHES AND MENSTRUAL CRAMPS AND MINOR SPORTS INJURIES. WE'RE NOT ASKING TO GET RICH. WE'RE JUST ASKING TO BE FAIRLY COMPENSATED. OUR GIRLS ARE WORKING TWO JOBS TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE, PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL AND PUT GAS IN THEIR CAR. IT IS A SHAME. I WANT TO ASK EVERY PRINCIPAL OR SECRETARY HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO NOT HAVE A NURSE IN THEIR SCHOOL. AND I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD LIKE THE ANSWER. WE NEED A NURSE

161IN EVERY SCHOOL, AND WE NEED TO PAY THEM TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT THE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS. SO, PLEASE, KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST ABOUT BAND-AIDS AND ICE. THERE ARE TRACHES, VENTILATORS, SEIZURES IN EVERY SCHOOL. OVER 15,000 STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT WITH ASTHMA. PLEASE HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST MEDICALLY FRAGILE KIDS BY COMPENSATING US FAIRLY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS AMY IGLOWSKI. I HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT 12 YEARS. WORK AT LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL. PRIOR TO THAT TAUGHT FOR 20 YEARS IN OHIO. I'M 32 YEARS INTO THIS PROFESSION THAT I COMMITTED MY LIFE TO. AS I BEGIN, I THINK OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S SONG, THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL. STARTS WITH THE LYRICS, I BELIEVE THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE, TEACH THEM WELL AND

162LET THEM LEAD THE WAY. DUE TO THE LOW SALARIES CAUSING OVER 1,000 INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES, I DO NOT BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT WELL. HOW COULD THEY BE WHEN SEVERAL OF THE COURSES THAT THEY ARE TAKING AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL, FOR INSTANCE, HAVE NO TEACHER OF RECORD? THIS YEAR ALONE, AND THESE NUMBERS ARE APPROXIMATE, WE LOST ONE SOCIAL STUDIES, ONE ENGLISH, ONE AGRICULTURAL, TWO SCIENCE TEACHERS AND THEY LEFT FOR JOBS IN OTHER PROFESSIONS, MOST OF THEM FOR HIGHER WAGES. IN ADDITION, FIVE TEACHERS RETIRED INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. NUMEROUS TEACHERS ARE RETIRING THIS SUMMER AND I KNOW OF TWO MATH TEACHERS MOVING OUT OF THE STATE FOR HIGHER POSITIONS IN ONE OF THE OTHER 48 STATES THAT VALUE TEACHERS MORE AND PAY MORE THAN FLORIDA. I AM SURE YOU ARE

163AWARE THAT THE LATEST DATA THAT PUT FLORIDA AT 50 OUT OF 51 IN TEACHER PAY WHEN INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN THE COUNT. THE STATE OF FLORIDA SHOULD BE ASHAMED. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THEM TO LEAD THE WAY WHEN THEY ARE BEING PASSED ALONG AND GIVEN GRADES BECAUSE THERE'S NO TEACHER. A RECRUITER IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT TEACHERS. THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER WASTED SALARY BECAUSE THE PAY SCALE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH. KELLY SERVICES CANNOT HELP US BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS THE JOB FOR THE WAGES. THE UNIVERSITY IS CLOSING DOWN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE A TEACHER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PAY. TEACHERS AND STAFF IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE TIRED. OUR SCHOOLS ARE SO UNDERSTAFFED IN ALL THE AREAS. THE

164STUDENTS ARE NOT BEING SERVICED AND NOT HELD TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. THINGS LIKE DRESS CODE ARE NOT ENFORCED BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION IS OVERWHELMED WITH ISSUES LIKE FIGHTING, SKIPPING, ATTENDANCE, AND THE LIKE. ONE ADMINISTRATOR IS DOING THE WORK OF AT LEAST TWO. TEACHERS HAVE LARGE CLASS SIZES AND CAN'T MANAGE THE DEMAND. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE MUCH-NEEDED CELL PHONE POLICY WILL NOT BE ENFORCED IN THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOLS. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT -- I UNDERSTAND THAT MONEY BUDGETED FOR PAY INCREASES IS APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE MONEY THAT STILL REMAINS IN THE BUDGET. AFTER BUDGET SALARIES INCREASES THE REMAINING FUNDING YOU SAID TODAY WAS 353 MILLION AND IT WAS PROJECTED TO BE 397 MILLION AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW. HOWEVER, THE SURPLUS IS NOT BEING INVESTED IN EMPLOYEES, RATHER IT'S BEING ADDED INTO A

165PILE OF MONEY FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING A PILE OF MONEY. TEACHERS CAN'T EVEN SAY -- THEY CAN'T EVEN PAY THEIR BILLS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KATHERINE SPARKS JONES. I'VE BEEN AN ART SPECIALIST AND ESE TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT OVER 20 YEARS. MY SALARY HAS IN NO WAY KEPT UP WITH INFLATION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. TODAY IT COSTS ME JUST UNDER HALF OF MY PAYCHECK TO PURCHASE GROCERIES FOR MY FAMILY OF SEVEN. THIS LEAVES VERY LITTLE OF MY INCOME FOR ANYTHING ELSE. IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT LEAVE ROOM FOR SIMPLE PLEASURES LIKE GOING OUT TO EAT OR GOING TO THE MOVIES WHICH, OF COURSE, HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY POOL TEACHERS WITH FAMILIES IN THE SAME SITUATION.

166AS TAX-PAYING CITIZEN AND A VOTER IN THIS COUNTY, I FIND THIS TO BE SHAMEFUL, CONSIDERING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THE 7th LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE NATION AND EYES ARE ON US AS EDUCATIONAL LEADERS. AS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR, I FIND IT TO BE EMBARRASSING AND INSULTING TO BE AMONGST THE LOWEST PAID DISTRICT IN OUR STATE. IT HAS BECOME APPARENT TO ME OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF NO SALARY INCREASES AND STAGNATION ON EVEN STEP MOVEMENTS ON OUR SCHEDULE THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT ONLY NOT APPRECIATED FOR EDUCATIONAL VALUE BUT WE ARE NOT EVEN RESPECTED AS PROFESSIONALS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS RENE BOWSER. I'M AN ELEMENTARY MEDIA SPECIALIST AND THE MEMBER OF THE UNION BARGAINING TEAM. I'VE SPENT THE LAST 18 YEARS

167PUTTING THE CHILDREN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRST. I'VE PLANNED MY LIFE AROUND SCHOOL SCHEDULING MY WEDDING AND HONEYMOON DURING SPRING BREAK, SURGERIES DURING WINTER BREAK AND EVEN HAVING BOTH OF MY CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER. I SPENT COUNTLESS NIGHTS AT MY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERING AT FAMILY EVENTS AND ALWAYS DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR CHILDREN. I'M SURE MOST TEACHERS WOULD SAY THE SAME. WELL, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. WE PUT MULTIPLE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE THAT WOULD ADD MONEY IN THE SALARY SCHEDULE. INFLATION HAS RAISED PRICES BUT OUR SALARIES HAVE NOT INCREASED AT THE SAME RATE. PLEASE, DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR TEACHERS. DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR TEACHERS IS ALSO DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE ALL HERE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI. CHRIS ADENKA FROM GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. WOULD YOU

168LIKE YOUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE IN A CLASS OF 40 AT OUR SCHOOL, ALGEBRA ONE STUDENTS IN CLASSES OF 40 WITH ONE TEACHER. AND TO HAVE OR TO HAVE A SUBSTITUTE OR MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTES ALL YEAR? ESPECIALLY IN EOC CLASS WHERE THAT WASN'T -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BIG TEST AT THE END. OBVIOUSLY, THIS ISN'T FAIR TO OUR STUDENTS IN A LARGE CLASS, THERE'S NO WAY OF GETTING ONE-ON-ONE HELP. THERE'S NO WAY TO GET AWAY FROM THE NOISE. WHAT'S NOT LOOKED AT, IS IT FAIR FOR THE TEACHERS THAT ARE AFFECTED? AS VACANCIES ARE INCREASING AND NOT BEING FILLED, YOUR VETERAN TEACHERS ARE BEING ASKED TO TAKE ON MORE STUDENTS. THAT MEANS MORE PLANNING, MORE GRADING, MORE PARENTS TO CONTACT. THE DISTRICT HAS SAVED MONEY FROM THOSE VACANCIES AND DONE NOTHING FOR

169THE TEACHERS THAT TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY. KNOW THE FUNDS FOR COVERING A CLASS FOR A SINGLE DAY IS NOT THE SAME AS FUNDS FOR RUNNING A CLASS. AS A MEMBER OF THE BARGAINING TEAM REPRESENTING HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, THE DISTRICT HAS OFFERED A STEP ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE, AVERAGE OF 2% INCREASE AND NOTHING MORE. THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT NOT HAVING RECURRING FUNDS TO JUSTIFY A LARGER SALARY INCREASE. WHAT ISN'T BEING DISCUSSED IS HOW THE MONEY THAT ISN'T USED EVERY YEAR DUE TO VACANCIES IS PUT INTO THE FUND BALANCE. WE ARE TOLD THAT THE DISTRICT HAS TO PLAN TO PAY PEOPLE FOR THOSE VACANCIES AND THE FUND BALANCE HAS GROWN PARTIALLY DUE TO THE VACANCIES. HERE IS THE ISSUE. THERE ARE PEOPLE RUNNING THE CLASSES WITHOUT COMPENSATION. THEY AREN'T FINANCIALLY BENEFITING FROM THE EXTRA WORK. AND HERE

170IS THE SOLUTION BECAUSE I ALWAYS LIKE TO GIVE YOU A SOLUTION. ONCE YOU KNOW NO ONE FILLED THAT POSITION, ONCE YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT HEAD GRADING THOUSANDS OF PAPERS, ONCE YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ENGLISH TEACHER GRADING ALL OF THOSE ESSAYS THAT WASN'T IN THEIR LINEUP, THEN YOU USE THOSE WRITTEN ON RECURRING FUNDS TO PAY THAT TEACHER FOR THEIR TIME. I'M TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE EMPLOYEES ALL OVER THE DISTRICT THAT ARE DOING THAT EXACT SAME THING. USE THE NONRECURRING FUNDS THAT YOU'RE HOLDING ONTO BECAUSE OF THE VACANCIES TO PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DOING MORE. YOU NEED TO PRIORITIZE YOUR MONEY BOTH RECURRING AND NONRECURRING ON THE VETERAN EMPLOYEES. THAT IS THE REASON OUR SCHOOLS ARE STILL RUNNING. THERE AREN'T MANY COMING IN TO REPLACE THOSE

171LEAVING. WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE EXTRA WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME IS DANA COOK. I TEACH AT RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. AND THIS PAST YEAR, I TOOK A MEDICAL LEAVE. THIS WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR ME, BUT I HAD PRETTY SEVERE ARTHRITIS IN MY KNEE AND I NEEDED TO GET A PARTIAL NEED REPLACEMENT. SOMEHOW I HAD ALREADY ACCRUED FIVE WEEKS WORTH OF SIX DAYS AFTER NINE AND A HALF YEARS OF TEACHING. THAT MEANS I HAD A LOT OF DAYS BANKED. I HAD TO LEAVE DURING THIRD QUARTER WHEN HONESTLY MY STUDENTS NEEDED ME MOST BECAUSE THEY TAKE A HIGH-STAKES TEST AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY HARD CHOICE FOR ME. I'M A VERY DEDICATED TEACHER. I'M A VERY GOOD TEACHER, BUT I HAD

172TO TAKE CARE OF ME, DESPITE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS GOING ON, I COULD NOT CONTINUE TO LIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY IN PAIN. SO I GOT MY KNEE REPLACED. I HAVE TO ASK, WAS IT WORTH IT FOR MY LONG-TERM MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? AND THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY. SO YOU NEED TO ALSO PLACE THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS AS HIGH AS I PLACE MY OWN NEEDS AND VALUE. WHERE DO YOU THINK OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IS RIGHT NOW WHEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE INABILITY TO BARGAIN SMOOTHLY AND IN GOOD FAITH? WE NEED A STRONGER COMMUNITY OVERALL IN THIS DISTRICT TO SURVIVE AND IT STARTS WITH PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS. I KNOW IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO JUST SAY PAY US, BUT PAY US. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I APOLOGIZE IF I

173CRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS. MY NAME IS KRISTIN HALLOWWAY. I'VE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT 25 YEARS AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN VARIOUS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL POSITIONS. SETTLE THE CONTRACT. HAVE LEADERSHIP COME TO THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH. IF WE ACTED AND BEHAVED TOWARDS OUR STUDENTS THE WAY SOME OF THIS HAS GONE DOWN, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE MARKED NEEDS IMPROVEMENT AND BE ON ACTION PLANS. I'M A RECENT WIDOW. IF I HAVE TO SELL MY HOUSE BECAUSE I'M NOW A SINGLE INCOME, I'VE LOOKED OUT THERE. I ON MY SALARY AT 25 YEARS CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING THAT IS NOT SMALL -- I TEACH IN PLANT CITY. I AM OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. TRY TO FIND SOMEPLACE THAT IS LESS THAN WHAT MY MORTGAGE IS RIGHT NOW IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. SO I

174HAVE A CHOICE. I EITHER WORRY ABOUT TAKING CARE OF MYSELF, GO OUT AND GET ANOTHER JOB, OR I LET MY COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS HCPS GRADUATE, OR I LET HER DROP OUT OF COLLEGE EVEN MORE TO HAVE TO WORK MORE FOR US TO STAY IN OUR HOUSE IF IT COMES TO THAT. BUT WHO KNOWS WHEN WE'LL SEE -- I'M SUPPOSED TO -- I TOP OUT THIS YEAR. BUT WHO KNOWS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT. SOMEONE LIKE ME WHOSE LIFE IS IN UNHEAVAL AND ONCE AGAIN I'M SPENDING THE SUMMER WONDERING JUST HOW LONG I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE ANY INCREASES. I CAN'T SIT AND FIGURE OUT MY FINANCES UNTIL THEY GET EVERYTHING SETTLED THERE. AND SITTING IN LIMBO ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH IS ABSOLUTELY AGONIZING. IT'S

175NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY TOO. I GET -- MERCY OF OUTSIDE FORCES IN REGARDS TO FUNDS BUT YOU HAVE THE OPTION IN HOW YOU TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEES AND HOW YOU VALUE THEM. WHEN MY HUSBAND DIED IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER, AND I HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE LIKE, HEY, DO YOU NEED DAYS? WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO END UP TAKING TIME OFF TO JUST TAKE CARE OF THIS. IT WAS SUDDEN. IT WAS UNEXPECTED. AND I HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO OFFER ME DAYS WHO COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THIS DISTRICT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO SHARE OUR SICK DAYS WITH EACH OTHER. FORTUNATELY AFTER 25 YEARS, I'VE GOT SOME DAYS BANKED UP BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS HERE. BUT I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAD MEDICAL ISSUES OF THEIR OWN APPLY TO THE SICK BANK AND WE'RE TOLD THEY

176DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR IT. OKAY, COOL, THAT'S THEIR DECISION. WE WANTED TO DONATE DAYS TO THEM, AND WE CAN'T. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO WORK AT OTHER SCHOOLS WHOSE KIDS ARE SICK, AND WE CAN'T DONATE DAYS TO THEM SO THEY CAN GO AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR KID BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME OFF AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THE TIME OFF. YOU MENTIONED THE KELLY SUBS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OF THOSE 2300 SUBS, HOW MANY OF THEM STAYED LONGER THAN TWO OR THREE YEARS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE HERE AND NOW, IT'S ABOUT THE RETENTION. 25 YEARS AGO I SAW MYSELF STAYING IN EDUCATION UNTIL I TURNED 62, 65, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'M NOW COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL I HIT 30 YEARS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL

177BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT ACRES. ROGER MARCEL LIS. I TEACH ENGLISH AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO EXTEND MY INVITATION IN PERSON TO ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US AT OUR NEXT BARGAINING SESSION. IT'S ON THURSDAY, JUNE 20 AT 10:30. THANK YOU, CHAIRPERSON PEREZ FOR YOUR TEAM'S RESPONSE. I APPRECIATE IT. I WAS GOING TO ELABORATE ON WHY I BELIEVE YOU ALL SHOULD ATTEND BARGAINING SESSIONS. I STILL BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD. HOWEVER, WHEN THE AMENDED BUDGET WAS APPROVED MOMENTS AGO, COMMENDATIONS WERE GIVEN TO CFO JOHNSON FOR GROWING THE ESCROW FUND I WAS INCENSED. I AM INCENSED. GROWING THE ESCROW FUND TO 19% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET IS NOT COMMENDABLE. IT CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT DIVERSION OF RESOURCES FROM THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS DISTRICT. EXCUSE ME. REALLY NERVOUS. IT CONSTITUTES THEFT FROM THE POCKETS OF THE HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES

178OF THIS DISTRICT. PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT PRIVATE COMPANIES. OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT TO GENERATE A PROFIT. OUR PRIMARY DUTY IS TO PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP OVER ALL THE FUNDS THAT THIS DISTRICT RECEIVES FROM SUNDRY SOURCES TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAIR-WORKING CONDITIONS FOR ALL OUR STAFF. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED AND ANGERED BY THE BOARD'S DECISION TO WITHHOLD THESE FUNDS FROM USE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS. THIS APPROACH IS NOT ONLY MISGUIDED BUT ALSO DETRIMENTAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. YOUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAINTAIN AN ESCROW FUND BALANCE OF 3% YET YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO EXPAND IT TO NEARLY ONE-FIFTH OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. THIS EXCESSIVE ALLOCATION UNDERMINES THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IT IS NO WONDER

179THAT OUR DISTRICT DOESN'T EXPERIENCE A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF TEACHERS WHEN EDUCATORS SEE THAT SALARY INCREASES ARE DEPRIORITIZED IN FAVOR OF HOARDING FUNDS, IT IS ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THEY SEEK EMPLOYMENT IN OTHER DISTRICTS THAT VALUE AND COMPENSATE THEM APPROPRIATELY. YOUR ACTIONS HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE RETENTION AND MORALE OF OUR TEACHING STAFF. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU REDIRECT THESE FUNDS TO WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST, SUPPORTING OUR DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS TO ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF OUR STUDENTS. YOUR DECISIONS SHOULD REFLECT A COMMITMENT TO THE CORE MISSION OF OUR DISTRICT, DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION AND FOSTERING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. I'M JUST HERE AS A PROXY. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS ANITA GREENBAUM. I AM A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND A MEMBER OF THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE. I KNOW AS A

180DISTRICT WE NEED STAFF IN ALL AREAS AND DEPARTMENTS. THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS ALSO GRAVELY IN NEED OF STAFF. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE COVERING SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT HAVE ASSIGNED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND THEY ARE COMPLETED PSYCHO EDUCATIONAL EVALUATIONS. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, THERE IS A LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO THESE STUDENTS BY THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS. WHILE SALARIES DON'T FIX EVERYTHING, OUR DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH SALARIES TO MAKE OUR DISTRICT MORE DESIRABLE. UNTIL LAST YEAR, THE SALARY ASKED ME FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS HAD NOT CHANGED IN TEN YEARS. OUR HIGHLY EDUCATED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD NOT NEED TWO OR THREE JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEEDS TO DO BETTER AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO BETTER SO WE CAN HIRE MORE STAFF

181AND PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS IN NEED. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NOW WE ARE ON THE LAST BOARD ITEM. 11.01, APPROVE THE REQUEST TO PUBLISH A NOTICE OF RULE-MAKING FOR THE BOARD'S INTENT TO ADOPT REVISED POLICY 5136 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES. MR. PORTER, OUR SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. I WANT TO STATE AT THE OUTSET, THIS IS NOT THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CELL PHONE POLICY. THIS IS JUST PERMISSION TO PUBLISH IT. WE NEED THE BOARD'S PERMISSION FOR MS. DAVIS TO PUBLISH. IT YOU WILL BE HEARING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 23. THE BACKUP IS IN YOUR MATERIAL. YOU'LL HAVE

182THE SUBSTANTIVE VOTE ON JULY 23. THIS IS TYPICALLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I BELIEVE MS. VAUGHN PULLED IT TO HIGHLIGHT IT BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT. I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH. YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT THE CELL PHONE POLICY. IT'S REALLY TO PUBLISH THE NOTICE. THAT DEBATE, IF ANY, WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 23. I WILL SAY TO PREPARE YOU THAT YOU'LL SEE A COMBINATION OF THE POLICY WHICH YOU'LL BE VOTING ON AND THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WHERE SOME OF THE PROCEDURES WILL BE FOUND. I'VE ASKED STAFF TO PROVIDE BOTH TO YOU SO YOU WILL SEE HOW IT IS BROKEN OUT. THE SUBSTANCE OF THE POLICY WILL REFLECT THE BOARD'S DESIRE, BUT SOME

183OF THE MEAT WILL BE IN THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST PERMISSION FOR MS. DAVIS TO PUBLISH THE ITEM. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 11.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO. THANK YOU. WHILE I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS ITEM AND SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION NECESSARILY ABOUT IT, WE ARE GOING TO PUBLISH AND ADD THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE WORDING -- PUBLISH AN AD THAT WILL HAVE THE WORDING? Jim Porter: THE AD WILL DIRECT THE PUBLIC TO -- I'M NOT SURE -- THE MATERIAL THERE WILL BE A WHOLE RANGE

184OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO DISCUSS ON THE 23rd. Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. CAN WE AFTER WE ADVERTISE IT FROM THE DAIS STILL CONTINUE TO MAKE CHANGES FROM IT OR ONCE IT COMES TO US -- Jim Porter: YOU CAN TWEAK IT. YOU CAN MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. THE MATERIAL THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED WILL AGAIN GIVE THE BOARD ENOUGH OPTIONS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A ROBUST DEBATE IF YOU NEED TO. Jessica Vaughn: CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN? Jim Porter: DEPENDS ON THE QUESTION. AGAIN, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A BIG DEAL POLICY. IT WASN'T ADVERTISED TONIGHT TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE. ASK THE QUESTION. IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ANSWER, WE WILL. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE A PART OF IT. AND THAT'S NOT

185THE AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT. ASK THE QUESTION, IF WE CAN'T ANSWER TONIGHT -- Jessica Vaughn: FAIR ENOUGH. I'LL THROW IT IN THERE. SEE IF I CAN GET AN ANSWER. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE WAY THE POLICY IS WRITTEN THAT WITH TEACHER APPROVAL IF IT'S FOR THE CURRICULUM THAT THE CELL PHONE POLICY -- THE TEACHERS CAN SAY -- ELECTRONIC DEVICE, THE STUDENT CAN USE THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE IF IT'S SOMETHING IN THE CURRICULUM OR AN APPLICATION THEY NEED TO USE. THE POLICY IS WRITTEN SO THE TEACHER IS ALLOWED TO APPROVE THAT. Jim Porter: GENERALLY, YES. Jessica Vaughn: THAT WAS MY QUESTION. BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS WHERE THERE'S EARNED BEHAVIOR, IF YOU WERE A GOOD JOB, SIT IN THE LUNCHROOM AND USE YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICE IS THAT -- THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAD. IS THAT GOING TO BE ALLOWED IN THIS

186POLICY? Jim Porter: AGAIN, I THINK THAT IS THE KIND OF QUESTION PROBABLY BETTER TO ANSWER JULY -- Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I'LL WAIT. Jim Porter: MS. McRAE HAS BEEN LEADING THE EFFORT SO SHE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER WASHINGTON AWAY FROM THE DAIS. WE MOVE ON INTO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT? Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATES THIS EVENING, WE'LL START WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. JUST AS A REMINDER -- NOT MOVING, PABLO. NEXT ONE. SO OUR SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS OVER SUMMER BREAK, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE KICKED OFF OUR SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM

187ON OUR VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT ONCE AGAIN. TO DATE, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 91 SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFIED TO SERVE FREE SUMMER MEALS. 26 MOBILE SITES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND 22 YMCA AND COUNTY PARKS. WITHIN THREE WEEKS, STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM HAS SERVED NEARLY 70,000 BREAKFASTS AND ROUGHLY 109,000 LUNCHES TO STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT. THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS FOR CHILDREN 18 OR YOUNGER WILL RUN THROUGH JULY 25. INTERESTED FAMILIES CAN VISIT SUMMER BREAK SPOT OR TEXT WORD FOOD OR COMIDA TO 304304. STUDENT HEALTH CLINICS, HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR BACK TO SCHOOL. STUDENT HEALTH CLINICS HAD NUMBER OF YEARS WORKING WITH PROJECT LINKS. ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH CLINICS OPEN. PROVIDE MEDICAID OR UNINSURED FAMILIES ACCESS TO NO COST ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS SCHOOL PHYSICALS AND IMMUNIZATION RECORD TRANSFERS. STUDENT NEW TO ACPS STARTING KINDERGARTEN OR --

188PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND CAN BE FOUND AT BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH CLINIC.ORG. I WANT TO THANK OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING. WE'LL BE BACK AT OUR SCHOOLS ONCE AGAIN PROVIDING THESE STUDENT HEALTH CLINICS. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAD OUT, NUMEROUS NUMBER OF FAMILIES OUT THERE AND IN THE BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH CLINICS. MORE TO COME LATER. SO WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS EARNED THE 2024 EMPOWER DISTRICT SEAL FROM EVER 5. 10% OF THE NATION'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS EARNED THE SEAL. THANKS TO COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIVISIONS OF ACADEMIC SERVICES, STUDENT SUPPORT AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE WHOLE CHILD EDUCATION TO OUR STUDENTS IN EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN TODAY'S CHANGING WORLD. CONGRATS TO OUR TEAMS COLLEEN AND TRACY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE.

189AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, WE ALL HEAR ABOUT THE SUMMER SLIDE. WE KNOW SUMMER IS THE TIME TO RELAX, UNWIND AND HAVE FUN, HOWEVER WE ALSO WANT OUR STUDENTS TO REMAIN ON LEVEL AND READY TO GO FOR THE NEXT STEP IN SCHOOL. WE HAVE MONITORED WITH MY ONTO REMIND OUR STUDENTS IT ONLY TAKES TWO BOOKS TO STOP THE SUMMER SLIDE. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO WATCH OUR STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THE SUMMER SLIDE. AS WE TALK THROUGH THROUGH THE SUMMER WE GO FROM A PLACE, STUDENTS IN SCHOOL FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO ZERO. THE SUMMER SLIDE IS A REAL THING AND CAN ALMOST UP TO ONE MONTH OF INSTRUCTION WHEN OUR TEACHERS COME BACK TO CATCH OUR STUDENTS UP FROM THE LOSS OF READING DURING THE SUMMERTIME. WE DID HAVE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS TALK ABOUT OUR SUMMER

190SLIDE AND I HAD SOME FUN WITH THIS ONE, TOO. JUST TWO BOOKS. IT'S JUST TWO BOOKS. JUST TWO BOOKS. IT'S THAT EASY. BY JUST READING TWO BOOKS OVER THE SUMMER WILL STOP THE SUMMER SLIDE. THE SUMMER SLIDE IS REAL. A SUMMER SLIDE IS WHEN YOU STOP READING OR WRITING OVER THE SUMMER AND YOU FORGET ALL THE AMAZING SKILLS YOUR TEACHER TAUGHT YOU. JUST TWO BOOKS. MAKE A BIG SPLASH BY READING TWO BOOKS AND STOP THE SUMMER SLIDE. I'M SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, AND LET THIS BE THE ONLY SLIDING YOU DO OVER THE SUMMER. WE PARTNER WITH OUR FRIENDS AT myON TO REMIND THAT YOU JUST READING TWO BOOKS WILL HELP PREVENT THE SUMMER SLIDE. LET'S GO. Van Ayres: THAT WAS THE MOST FUN I HAD IN A WHILE. THANKS TO ADVENTURE ISLAND. WE PARTNERED WITH THEM

191AND ABLE TO GET OUT THERE LIKE 8 IN THE MORNING ON A FRIDAY PRIOR TO THE PARK OPENING UP. THANKS TO THEM FOR WORKING WITH US ON THAT. INVENTION CONVENTION, A COUPLE MORE, 15 OF OUR STUDENTS FROM GRADES 3 THROUGH 12 WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE U.S. NATIONALS INVENTION CONVENTION IN MICHIGAN RECENTLY AT THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM. STUDENTS JUDGED BY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, INVENTORS AND EDUCATORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. MORE THAN 500 STUDENT INVENTORS PITCHED THEIR PRODUCTS TO THE CASTING CREW OF SHARK TANK, MARKETED THEIR PROTOTYPES TO JUDGES AND ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC AND OTHER INVENTORS TO SHARE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. INVENTIONS RANGED FROM NEW GAMES, APPS, SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES AND USING AI TO DETECT DISEASES. WON AWARDS FROM THE REGIONAL S.T.E.M. FAIR TO ADVANCE TO THE U.S. NATIONAL COMPETITION. STUDENTS

192WILL FIND OUT IF THEY ADVANCE TO THE WORLD COMPETITION NEXT WEEK, BUT THE FOLLOWING HCPS STUDENTS RECEIVED AWARDS FROM THE 500-PLUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. ZOEY KID AT HUNTER'S GREEN ELEMENTARY. THIRD GRADE TANISHA AT STRAWBERRY CREST. AND CLARK AT KING HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER CONTINUING TO COMPETE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. I WANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL, WE HAD OUR FADS CONVENING. I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE BOARD CHAIR PEREZ FOR RECEIVING THE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION INNOVATION AWARD THROUGH THE PINEAPPLE REPORT ON JUNE THE 5th. CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK THAT IS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. SHE HAS HELPED MS. PEREZ WITH THE AWARD HELPED BRING MENTAL HEALTH TO THE SURFACE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND FOR CONSISTENTLY SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC AS A CERTIFIED

193TRAUMATOLOGIST, CERT COUNSELOR, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELOR, CLINICAL CERTIFIED HUMAN TRAFFICKING -- AMONGST MANY OTHER CERTIFICATIONS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FIELD. CHAIR PEREZ, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I KNOW THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, THAT'S MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE. Karen Perez: MEMBER COMBS. Nadia Combs: CHAIR PEREZ, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A HUGE MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE. TONIGHT WAS A GREAT NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT TO SPOTLIGHT GENTLEMEN'S QUEST. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THAT EVENT A FEW WEEKS AGO. SUCH A GREAT ORGANIZATION. I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK THERE, AND I WANT TO THANK MR. MYRICK AND LETITIA AND SO MANY STUDENTS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS, SO MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, HOWARD, HCC. IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING, AND MR. KITCHEN WAS RECOGNIZED AS WELL

194AS YOUR GRANDSON, MR. WASHINGTON. HE RECEIVED THE COMMUNITY AWARD AND A SCHOLARSHIP. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO GENTLEMAN'S QUEST AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I HAVE TO SAY THAT LIKE TONIGHT AS I SAT HERE, I'VE HAD A HARD FEW WEEKS AND IT WAS REALLY HARD TO LISTEN TO OUR EMPLOYEES. IT'S HEARTBREAKING. I DO LOSE SLEEP WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN SOME OF MY SCHOOLS, OR WHEN I'M ON Facebook AND I SEE PRINCIPALS TRYING TO FIND TEACHERS AND SAYING THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND ALL THE RECRUITMENT AND THEN I LOOK AT THE CONTRACT SERVICES AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? NOT HAVE A NURSE IN A SCHOOL? IT IS SO DIFFICULT AND PEOPLE SAYING THEY ARE LEAVING LEFT AND RIGHT.

195DO I WORRY ABOUT THIS AND DO THINK ABOUT THIS. AS I SIT THERE AND WATCH THE NEWS OVER AND OVER, I'M HEARING THIS NARRATIVE. I SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE POSTING ON THIS GREAT GRAND, BIG, BIG, BIG FUNDING, INCREASE IN EDUCATION. BUT THE FACT IS, THESE ARE THE FACTS. THESE ARE THE FACTS. FACTS, FLORIDA IS THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE NATION. THERE IS PLENTY OF MONEY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. FLORIDA TEACHERS ARE RANKED 50th IN THE NATIONAL PAY, SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE, WHAT I KEEP THINKING IS, THEY NEED TO BE IN TALLAHASSEE. SURE WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE. WHAT IF THERE IS A HURRICANE? WHAT IF SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS? AND ALL OF THAT MONEY IS NON-REOCCURRING. THE NEW BUDGET THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT'S SO WONDERFUL IS ONLY INCREASING $200 MILLION.

196THAT EQUATES TO $125 A MONTH FOR A TEACHER. VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE $15,000 INCREASE JUST TO GIVE US AVERAGE. JUST TO GET US IN THE MIDDLE, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE $15,000. SO THIS NARRATIVE IS SO UNTRUE. AND FINALLY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BSA AND PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION IS THAT DOESN'T EVEN EQUATE TO THE FOURTH PERCENT INFLATION RATE THAT WE HAVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THAT MEANS THE INCREASE OF THE BSA IS BACK TO GREAT DEPRESSION PERCENTAGES. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONLY 3.7 INCREASE TO GET TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND THAT BSA IS $240 FOR A CHILD. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE INCREASE IN FOOD, EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE HAS INCREASED. LOOK AT PIZZO TODAY. ALL THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE INCREASED. THE ONE

197THING THAT HASN'T INCREASED IS THE INCREASE FROM THE STATE FUNDING. DON'T FOOL YOURSELF. DON'T LISTEN TO THIS NARRATIVE. WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE AND SAY LOTTERY MONEY, THERE'S NO LOTTERY MONEY. THAT WAS REPLACED. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HEMORRHAGING TEACHERS. WE CAN IMPROVE CLIMATE AND CULTURE, BUT PEOPLE CAN'T IMPROVE WHEN THEY HAVE TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS. SOMEBODY WHO HAS TO SELL THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE THEY HAD A HORRIBLE INCIDENT IN THEIR LIFE. I MEAN, EDUCATION IS THE KEY. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THAT WE HAVE IN THIS NATION, OUR STUDENTS. WE CONTINUE TO SPEND $30,000 INCARCERATING AND LESS THAN 9,000. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THIS NARRATIVE AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT ARE SECURITY GUARDS, OUR BUS DRIVERS, OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS, OUR CAFETERIA WORKERS, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR CABINET AND EVEN OUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO RUNS A $4.2

198BILLION ORGANIZATION. AND STILL IS ONE OF THE LOWEST PAID SUPERINTENDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY. SO LET'S WAKE UP, EVERYONE, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS. WE ARE UNDERPAID AND IT IS FROM THE STATE LEVEL AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT NARRATIVE TO SAY THAT WE NEED MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, NOT FINDING ANYONE, LOOKING FOR ANYONE WITH A PULSE OR TRYING TO KEEP OUR TEACHERS TO 80 OR 90 YEARS OLD WHO ARE AT THE TOP WHO HAVE NO CHOICE AND NO OTHER CAREER CHOICES. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS IN THE WAY THAT WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT ALL OF OUR REVENUE AND DEMAND MORE FROM THE STATE. AND I APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY

199TO ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE UNDERFUNDING THAT WE HAVE AT THE STATE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VALUING OUR EMPLOYEES AT EVERY SINGLE DECISION THAT WE MAKE. AND I THINK HOPEFULLY IT'S CLEAR THAT MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE A LIVABLE WAGE AND THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME TONIGHT, TOOK TIME ON SUMMER BREAK AND DRIVE ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE AND GIVE SUCH PASSIONATE TESTIMONY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THE PUBLIC HEAR WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN EDUCATION IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. I DO WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MINUTE AND JUST TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS HAPPENING

200IN THE DISTRICT. I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM JUST BLOWN AWAY BY SOME OF THE SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT I SEE HAPPENING, WHETHER THEY ARE ROBOTICS HAPPENING OR S.T.E.M. FAIRS OR SOME OF MY FRIENDS' SONS GOING TO THE BEST SUMMER PROGRAMS WE HAVE AROUND IN THIS DISTRICT. THEY ARE EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE IF THEY ARE NOT FREE, AND THEY ARE JUST REALLY GREAT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THE SUMMER PROGRAMS. ALSO, WE KICKED OFF JUNETEENTH THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE WENT YESTERDAY. I THINK MOST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WENT TO SEE THE COUNTY COMMISSION RAISE THE JUNETEENTH FLAG AND IT WAS REALLY INSPIRATIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL. I KNOW WE HAVE A FULL DAY TOMORROW DOING SO MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS AND IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT WITH THE LONG

201-- LOOK BACK IN PRIDE TO SEE HOW OUR COMMUNITY REALLY COMES TOGETHER AND CELEBRATES COMMUNITIES, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED FOR SO LONG AND REALLY UPLIFT AND TALK ABOUT OUR DIVERSITY. EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT THE EVENT YESTERDAY TALKED ABOUT UNITY AND PEACE AND INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND LOVE. AND IT WAS REALLY UPLIFTING AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE SO DIVIDED. I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT AND SAY I'M REALLY EXCITED. ALSO TONIGHT, I HAD A LITTLE STORY, WE DID AN APPOINTMENT AND I KNOW WE DON'T NECESSARILY RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PRINCIPALS, WHO ARE ADMINISTRATORS, BUT WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE, RACHAEL. SHE SAT HERE FOR A LONG TIME. AND SHE ACTUALLY WHEN WE IN 2020 DOWNSIZED WAS ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO UNFORTUNATELY LEFT OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE SHE

202WASN'T HERE LONG ENOUGH. SHE WENT TO ANOTHER DISTRICT AND WAS REALLY UPSET. REALLY WANTED TO BE A PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WORKED WITH DR. WHELAN AND GOT HER BACK IN THE DISTRICT. SHE'S BEEN TEACHING AT GIUNTA MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME. DOES DEBATE THERE. AND SHE HAS TIRELESSLY BEEN TRYING TO FIND AN AP POSITION IN OUR COUNTY AND APPLIED PROBABLY 30 DIFFERENT TIMES. AND IS NOW AS OF TONIGHT GOING TO BE JOINING GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL AS AN AP AND I WANTED TO JUST TALK ABOUT HOW AWESOME THAT IS THAT WE ALMOST LOST AN EMPLOYEE THROUGH THAT DOWNSIZE AND HOW WE GOT HER BACK AND HOW EXCITED SHE IS AND I THINK WILL BE AN AMAZING ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO EXCITED SHE WILL BE

203IN MY DISTRICT FOR A CHANGE. OTHER THAN THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY HAPPY SUMMER. I HOPE MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES ARE TAKING SOME TIME OTHER THAN TO COME DOWN HERE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES TO JUST RELAX A LITTLE BIT OR SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH THEIR FAMILY OR SOMETHING THAT BRINGS THEM JOY AND HAPPINESS AND ARE ABLE TO RECHARGE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO GET UP IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AND I THINK OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE COURAGE. THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR STUDENTS' LIVES. THEY ARE WITH THEM MORE THAN WE ARE. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT HERE TO LET

204US KNOW AND TO REMIND US HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE EVERY SINGLE DAY. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE FAMILY CAFE IN ORLANDO. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTED AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BRING TO LIGHT THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, OUR SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM WITH DR. WATERS. I THINK SHE WAS HERE TONIGHT. AS WELL AS MS. ANGELA O'CAMPO FROM OUR EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM AND HOW WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH MOW RILLO'S TEAM IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. WHILE THERE, NOT ONLY DID THEY GIVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY KUDOS FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF HAVING ALL SIX BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY HERE AT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, WHICH MAKES US VERY UNIQUE IN TRYING TO COORDINATE

205SERVICES OUT OF SIX DIFFERENT BRANCHES ARRIVING AT DIFFERENT TIMES, HAVING DIFFERENT PROCEDURES, BUT DOING IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS AS WELL. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALL WERE THERE AND ALL WERE UTILIZING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD HANDLE ALL OF OUR TRANSITIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO I WANT TO THANK MARCOS MURILLO AND HIS TEAM AND DR. HAHN WHO SITS ON THE COMMITTEE. SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT BUT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN MAKING SURE MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE PRIORITIZE THEM IN THE TRANSITIONS AND SACRIFICES THEY MAKE. SO THANK YOU TO THAT ENTIRE TEAM. THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray:

206THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANKING THE TEACHERS FOR SPEAKING UP. IT DOES TAKE COURAGE, BUT IT COMES FROM THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IS ENORMOUSLY APPRECIATED BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN CONTINUE JUST TO TALK THE TALK. WE HAVE TO WALK THE WALK. I SAY THAT WITH SERIOUSNESS BECAUSE ALL YOU HEAR FROM US THESE EQUAL, BASIC BALANCE WORDS OF, OH, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT MORE GOING ON IN THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF OUR TEACHERS AND I DEFINITELY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF I'M PAYING ATTENTION VERY, VERY MUCH. I THINK ALSO SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES WHEN YOU HEAR THE FUND BALANCE MENTIONED BY THESE TEACHERS OVER AND OVER WITH CONCERN, IT'S HIGH, I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR TO ALSO PUT THAT FUND BALANCE ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA TO

207SHARE THE PERCENTAGES AS WE GO ALONG BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS, GOOD QUESTIONS ON WHY IT'S SO HIGH AND WHY WE CAN'T TRANSLATE THAT INTO PAY OR IS IT THAT HIGH. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL PIECE TO THIS. Van Ayres: I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SUSPENDED AGENDA. WE HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS WE DO EVERY MONTH WHERE WE UPDATE THAT. WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT THAT SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, THE FUND BALANCE LIKE MS. GARCIA DID THIS AFTERNOON. I THINK AS PART OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WE CAN MAKE THAT ACCOMMODATION. Lynn Gray: THAT MAKES SENSE, THANK YOU. THE SECOND REFLECTION ON THE JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY. THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON, FOR RECOGNIZING. OF COURSE, WE HAD MAJOR OFFICIALS, KATHY CASTOR, THE WHOLE BOCC, MAYOR JANE CASTOR. AND I THINK IT'S ONLY

208RIGHT THAT WE LOOK AT THIS AS A BOARD TO MAKE IT A PROCLAMATION VERSUS JUST A RECOGNITION. BECAUSE IT IS A NATIONAL, IT IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY SINCE 2021, AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO HAVE MORE OF A STATURE. THAT'S MY TWO CENTS ON THAT. ON THE OTHER SIDE, ALSO, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THESE TALENTED STUDENTS WHO WON THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RF RED PITTMAN SCHOLARSHIP. OLIVIA RIVDELLA FROM SICKLE. HOLY NAMES, ADAM FROM ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL AND WE KNOW THAT EVERY ONE OF THE 250 STUDENTS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS WRITTEN, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT ESSAY ON ENVIRONMENT. I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO DR. WOODS AT D.W. WATERS. THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT NOW ARE IN THIS HIGHLY ADVANCED FIELD BECOMING CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, ELECTROCARDIOGRAM, EKG SPECIALISTS, HAD TO GIVE

209A REPORT ON THAT EXPERIMENT. AND ALL OF THEM DID, BUT ONE -- ONE OF THEM USED AI AND THE PROFESSOR GOT IT. IT WAS A COMPLETE WRONG IDENTIFICATION WITH THE ACTUAL EXPERIMENT. SOMETIMES AI DOESN'T, IT WANTS TO PLEASE, JUST LIKE ROSES ALWAYS WANT TO PLEASE. THEY WANT TO GROW. AI WANTS TO PLEASE, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE ACCURACY OF THESE SYSTEMS, BUT ALL THIS TO SAY THE WORKSHOP WHICH I HOPE BOARD MEMBERS SAY YES TO IS CRITICAL FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS IN MANY, MANY WAYS. THAT'S ALL MY BOARD COMMENT BECAUSE I AM OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS. I CAN REMEMBER BACK IN 2018 WITH MENTAL HEALTH WHEN WE RAN AGAINST EACH OTHER BECAUSE SHE BEAT ME.

210BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING. WE NEVER IN THE DISTRICT TALKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. QUEEN OF MENTAL HEALTH. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. AND REALLY NICE. REALLY GOOD. MOVING ALONG, TEACHERS, EMPLOYEES, NOT ONLY TEACHERS, BUT EMPLOYEES. I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE PAY. I THINK I MAY HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE HOW MY WIFE AND I SCUFFLE, AND WE HAD MASTERS AND WE WERE VERY UNDERPAID. WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE WORKED HARD, EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, EVERYONE WORKS HARD FOR STUDENTS. AND WE ARE NOT GETTING PAID THE WAY WE SHOULD BE. I TAUGHT FOR 14 YEARS AND I UNDERSTAND. SO WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. ALSO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE THIRD ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. IT

211WAS REALLY NICE. AND WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE KATHY CASTOR WHICH ORIGINATED, STARTED IT GOING AND THEN COMMISSIONER COIN AND COMMISSIONER GWEN MYERS CAME TO TAMPA AND WE KEPT IT GOING HERE IN TAMPA. IT WAS REALLY NICE. NICE CEREMONY. THE BLAKE ROTC DID A GREAT JOB. WE HAD THE STUDENTS THERE. IT WAS VERY NICE. I THINK THIS PROBABLY WAS THE BEST ONE THAT WE WENT TO. YEAH, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT REALLY WAS BEAUTIFUL. BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY HISTORY THERE. HISTORY IN THE MAKING. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING IT. SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW WE GOT TO CONTINUE TO WORK. WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO. I KNOW WE'RE GETTING THERE. EVERYTHING IS IMPROVING. NOTHING IS EASY IN LIFE. NOTHING IS ABSOLUTE. IT'S ALWAYS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS

212TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 200 AND SOME THOUSAND PEOPLE. STUDENTS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, BUT WHAT WE ARE -- BUT WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT'S NO ONE PINPOINT WHERE YOU CAN SAY SOMEBODY IS DOING SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE THIS IS A COLLABORATION OF ALL OF US PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT FAILING STUDENTS. SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. KIDS NOT GOING TO CLASS LIKE THEY SHOULD OR WE HAVE A LARGE CLASS. SO ALL OF THIS IS A PART OF IT. BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL PEOPLE AND SUPERINTENDENT I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD CABINET. WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSITY WE EVER HAD BEFORE IN

213HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE NEVER HAD THIS MUCH DIVERSITY. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 50 YEARS. WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MUCH DIVERSITY. WE HAVE A GOOD DIVERSITY. I THINK WE ARE WORKING HARD. I THINK EVERYBODY IS WORKING TOWARD THE COMMON GOAL HILLSBOROUGH STRONG AND SOONER OR LATER WE'LL GET THERE, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE PATIENCE. WE CAN'T RUSH. WE CAN'T PANIC. WE CAN'T GO CRAZY. WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WE'RE GOING ON NOW. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MYSELF, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO USF. WHEN I LOOKED OUT IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, WE HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE HAD AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH HILLSBOROUGH

214COUNTY COMMUNITY. AND IT SPEAKS LOUDLY TO HOW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS WORK WHEN IT COMES ACROSS THIS DISTRICT. AND AS I REALIZE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO USF, I'M A TRUE BELIEVER THAT WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS. AND THIS IS JUST NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO CLOSE. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE DELEGATION, YOU KNOW, CAME TOGETHER STRONG TO TALK ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS THAT ALSO SHOWED TRUE STRENGTH REGARDING US AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND FIGHTING FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT SPEAKS LOUDLY ALSO TO WHAT WE OFFER HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE IF WE DIDN'T OFFER QUALITY, THAT THE DELEGATION WOULDN'T HAVE STOOD UP FOR US THE WAY THEY DID. I BELIEVE AS A UNIVERSITY THAT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE FROM K THROUGH 8 THEY HAD A SCHOOL THERE ON PROPERTY,

215AND AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL GRADUATING STUDENTS WITH DEGREES GOING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I BELIEVE, MEMBER RENDON, AS YOU SAY, AND SHE SPOKE SO PASSIONATELY AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT THIS WILL FORCE THE COMMUNITY TO SURROUND US AND TO LIFT OUR STUDENTS IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE HAVE JUNETEENTH EVENT, NOT THE SCHOOL -- NOT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY AT PERRY HARVEY PARK TOMORROW AT 4 FOR ONE HOUR. AND THAT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ALSO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH. ALSO I'M VERY HUMBLED. I'M VERY HUMBLED THAT OUT OF 8 PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT I WAS

216SELECTED FOR MY ADVOCACY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. AS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF MY CERTIFICATIONS, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAD TO LOOK IT UP, LOOK UP SOME OF THE CERTIFICATIONS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT THOSE CERTIFICATIONS WERE. BUT DEFINITELY MY PASSION FOR OUR STUDENTS, THEIR MENTAL WELLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES. COMES FROM 25 YEARS OF MENTAL HEALTH BACKGROUND, AND I WILL CONTINUE SERVING FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY AND EMPOWERING OUR FAMILIES AND THEIR STUDENTS IN SUPPORT FOR THEIR MENTAL WELLNESS. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.