001Karen Perez: HI, I AM KAREN PEREZ, CHAIR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. Jessica Vaughn: HI, I AM JESSICA VAUGHN, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGE NEST AMERICA. AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY GRAY OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED
002LIVE WITH HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV AND SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32. Stacy Hahn: MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. Patti Rendon: WE ARE TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE HAVE TIME BEFORE WE GO TO OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDAS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. Nadia Combs: OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. ALL STUDENTS ALL DAY, TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Karen Perez: THE BOARD MEEDING OF JUNE 4 IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED
003BY A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. 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 [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Karen Perez: WE HAVE TWO WITHDRAWN ITEMS FOR TODAY. ITEM 5.02, INTEGRA AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER. AND 7.12, APPROVE THE '24-2029 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FDOE EDUCATIONAL PLANT SURVEY FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE DAIS. PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER COMBS. WE HAVE THREE SET OF MINUTES TO
004BE APPROVED TODAY. APRIL 2023, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD WORK SHOP, MAY, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND MAY 14, SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, AGAIN, WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE DAIS. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT BELIEVE A THAT ALL CHILDREN WILL BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN AND SUCCEED AND DECISIONS MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHT. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE
005ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL NOW READ BOARD GUIDELINES. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW THE BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN OUR ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 5:01 P.M., PUBLIC HEARING AND 6 P.M. EMPLOYEE INPUT. RECOGNITIONS, A 01, RECOGNITION OF STUDENTS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12th GRADE. WE
006ARE SO PROUD OF THIS. ANNEMARIE COURTNEY OF PHILANTHROPY AND OUTREACH WILL HIGHLIGHT IN RECOGNITION. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. AYRES AND MEMBERS OF THE CABINET. TODAY WE RECOGNIZE FOUR STUDENTS WHO SHOWN GREAT COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION, THROUGH THE DEMONSTRATION OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 2340 DAYS OF CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOLING. JAMES WOMACK ONCE SAID, "COMMITMENT UNLOCKS THE DOORS OF IMAGINATION, ALLOWS VISION, AND GIVES US THE RIGHT STUFF TO TURN OUR DREAMS INTO REALITY. " I TO NOT KNOW IF THESE FOUR STUDENTS WE RECOGNIZE TONIGHT HAD A DREAM TO EARN PERFECT ATTENDANCE THROUGH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY HAVE MADE IT A REALITY. EACH OF OUR FOUR GRADUATING SENIORS SENIORS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE WILL BE GET A
007BRAND-NEW LAPTOP WHY JP CONNECTIONS, MR. GARRETT SIMMONS. ANOTHER EDUCATION PARTNER SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION IS KINDLY PROVIDING EACH STUDENT WITH A $500 SCHOLARSHIP. MISS COURTNEY BERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THESE EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS. ANALISE WYATT FROM DURANT HIGH SCHOOL. ANALISE. NATHAN BRAMLE FIREWORKS DURANT HIGH SCHOOL. TREVOR RODERICK, HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. TY JONES, SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT FORECAST MANY SUCCESSES IN YOUR FUTURE. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF THESE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS. YOUR SUPPORT TO YOUR CHILD'S COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. ANOTHER HEARTFELT TO PC CONNECTIONS AND SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION FOR THEIR GENEROSITY OF PROVIDING THESE STUDENTS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND A SCHOLARSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES, ON YOUR UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT
008OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE. BOARD MEMBERS, IF WE CAN SLIDE TOGETHER FOR A PICTURE. EVERYONE READY. 3, 2, 1! BIG SMILE! Karen Perez: CONGRATULATIONS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS. A-TO 02. REGULAR ANYTHING OF LBGTQ, BISEXUAL, LESBIAN, PRIDE MONTH. Jessica Vaughn: LBGTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH IS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY FOR HISTORY, SOCIETY AND CULTURE. CELEBRATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS SUCH AS PRIDE MONTH PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER SUPPORT AND SENTENCE FOR OUR LBGTQ PLUS YOUTH, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. PRIDE MONTH ALLOW US TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING SAFE, AFFIRMING SPACES FOR LEARNING WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORTS THE RIGHTS OF EVERY STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE TO EXPERIENCE EQUALITY, EQUITY AND THE FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. RECOGNITION A.03. RECOGNITION OF FLORIDA STATE
009FAIR AUTHORITY. AND MEMBER RENDON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR AUTHORITY FOR BEING A VALUABLE PARTNER OF HELPING TO GRADUATE THOUSANDS OF SENIORS EVERY YEAR. PLANNING BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR AUTHORITY BEGINS MONTHS PRIOR TO GRADUATIONS. AND CONTINUES INTO REHEARSALS FOR EACH SCHOOLS AND FINALLY TO THE GRADUATIONS THEMSELVES THAT ARE HELD FOUR PER DAY FOR TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS. THE WORK THEY PUT IN BEHIND THE SCENES TO ACCOMMODATE EACH HIGH SCHOOL'S UNIQUE GRADUATION REQUEST ADDS SO MUCH TO EACH CEREMONY AND MAKES EACH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION EXTRA SPECIAL. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STATE FAIR AUTHORITY TO COME FORWARD. IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MR. MICHAEL RAGOWSKI HERE? SORRY, PRONOUNCE
010YOUR LAST NAME. CHERYL FLED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. ON BEHALF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND THAT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR AUTHORITY DOES. ♪ . Karen Perez: THE BOARD WELCOME COMMENCE 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 KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD COMMENTS, THEY ARE NOT TO BE DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF, BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO
011DISRUPT 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. A REMINDER THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES WILL START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A LIGHT -- A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. DEBBY HUNT, HILLSBOROUGH CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM. OBVIOUSLY I AM CONCERNED OF YOUR PRIDE MONTH RECOGNITION. AND I FIND YOUR CHOICE TO DO A RECOGNITION APPALLING. ALL YOU ARE DOING IS CIRCUMVENTING BEING RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND ESPECIALLY MOVING IT UP ON THE AGENDA. AND CIRCUMVENTING CITIZENS KNOWING HOW YOU VOTED.
012NOT TO MENTION PREDETERMINING THE OUTCOME NO MATTER WHAT IS SAID. HOW INTERESTING THIS IS DONE JUST MONTHS BEFORE FOUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE UP FOR REELECTION IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY. SAVES THEM THE EMBARRASSMENT OF YET AGAIN PUBLICLY VOTING AS THEY HAVE VOTED HISTORICALLY, FOCUSING ON THE SEXUALITY OF MINORS. TAXPAYERS FUND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEREFORE OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD REFLECT AND REPRESENT ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COUNTY, NOT FOCUSED ON ONE SMALL DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE STUDENT POPULATION. OUR SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY NEUTRAL OR MUST ACCOMMODATE ALL DEMOGRAPHICS. CONSTITUTIONALLY, GOVERNMENT CANNOT PREFER ONE OVER ANOTHER, WHICH CLEARLY THIS BOARD DOES. THIS RECOGNITION VIOLATES PARENTAL RIGHTS. FLORIDA STATUTES SPECIFICALLY SAFEGUARDS THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO BE THE PRIMARY EDUCATORS REGARDING SEXUAL EDUCATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. IT IS VITAL THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS AND UPHOLDS PARENTAL
013RIGHTS AND STOPS FOCUS AGO ON GENDER IDEOLOGY IN ANY CONTEXT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES THIS RECOGNITION TEACH STUDENTS TO READ OR TO DO MATH, WHICH IS AS A DISTRICT, OVER 50% DON'T EVEN MEET GRADE LEVEL. FOCUS ON YOUR JOB. ENSURE STUDENTS CAN READ, WRITE, DO MATH, KNOW REAL HISTORY AND TRUE SCIENCE. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. I AM SKIPPER CALDER FROM COWBOY UP MINISTRY. A SHORT STORY. YEARS AGO, MY DAUGHTER GOT ON THE JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM AND FOUND OUT SHE HAD A LESBIAN COACH THAT PROMOTE IT TO ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS. MY DAUGHTER HAD TO QUIT BASKETBALL. TWO OF HER BEST FRIENDS CONTINUED ON AND BECAME GAY. WHAT YOU PROMOTE, WHAT YOU RESPOND TO, WHAT YOU RECOGNIZE, YOU GROW. AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO AMERICA
014BY ELECTING THE NEXT GENERATION -- EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION. WE TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE OF AMERICA, WE SEE THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH YOU ARE SWORN TO UPHOLD. OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE STATES THAT WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD. WE ARE REMINDED OF THAT ON OUR MONEY AND EVERY ONE OF IT SAYS "IN GOD WE TRUST." STATISTICS SHOW THAT WHEN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE IS PROMOTED OR RECOGNIZED, MORE CHILDREN ARE INFLUENCED AND CONVERTED TO THAT LIFESTYLE. STATISTICS ALSO SHOW THERE IS AN INCREASE OF CONFUSION. THERE IS DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE. TO RECOGNIZE OR PROMOTE ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST GOD IS UNAMERICAN. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF WE, THE PEOPLE, TO KNOW HOW EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FEELS, VOTES, AND PROMOTES ON ANY ISSUE THAT IS NOT IN LINE WITH GOD. IF YOU DO NOT
015AGREE WITH ONE NATION UNDER GOD, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE SUCH BOARD MEMBERS OUT TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF AMERICA BY PROPER EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. JESUS SAID IN LUKE, IT IS BETTER TO BE -- TO HAVE A MILLSTONE TIED AROUND YOUR NECK AND CAST IN THE OCEAN THAN CAUSE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES TO SIN. IF YOU THINK IT IS NOT SIN, READ ROMANS 1, 18-32. IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN TODAY. THANK YOU Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY McDONOUGH, AND I AM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COUNCIL PTA PRESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR AN UPDATED EVIDENCE-BASED FAMILY POLICY TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. DECADES OF RESEARCH UNDERSCORE
016THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN STUDENTS' SUCCESS. ENGAGED FAMILIES HELP STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY, AVOID DISCIPLINE ISSUE, ACHIEVE HIGHER ACADEMIC LEVELS AND GRADUATE. ADDITIONALLY FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS VITAL AS SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND RIGOROUS IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. PARENT, GUARDIANS AND CAREGIVERS ARE ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN EDUCATION OFFERING VALUABLE INSIGHT OF EDUCATION AFFECTING THEIR CHILDREN AND SCHOOL. THE PTA PHASED FAMILY COLLABORATION THAT FAMILIES ARE CREW THAT WILL FOR HAVING A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUT STUDENT. COLLABORATION FOCUS ON WELCOMING FAMILIES, FACILITATING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS, ADVOCATING FOR ALL CHILDREN, FOSTERING COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND ACTIVELY INVOLVING EDUCATORS SUCH AS THE FACE AMBASSADORS AND THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESSES TO ACHIEVE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. PTA HAS WORKED ALONG THE PHASED DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN STRENGTHENING AND REFRAMING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROCEDURES AND POLICIES THAT WILL BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL FAMILIES. PROMOTING MEANINGFUL
017FAMILY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP AS ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS. OUR TEAM IS IN THE PROCESS OF VETTING A PROPOSED POLICY WE HAVE READY FOR BOARD REVIEW LATER THIS SUMMER AND OUR HC PTA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK. THE PTA FOR FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. THESE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENHANCING FAMILY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE SPEAKS 6-10 COME UP, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. YES. HELLO, MICHAEL FISHER FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY. 54 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH IN NEW YORK CITY, A SPARK WAS IGNITED IN WHAT IS A MODERN FIGHT FOR LBGTQ EQUALITY. RECOGNIZING THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO CONTINUING THE FIGHT FOR FULL EQUALITY. WE RECOGNIZE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE
018RESPECTIVE MONTHS. THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE LBGTQ STUDENTS KNOW THAT THEIR LIVES MATTER. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. OKAY -- -- THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER,. I AM RACHEL. I WANT TO SAY FIRSTLY, THANK YOU FOR THE SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM. I APPRECIATE YOU SEEING WHAT EVIDENCE SAY IS A NEED IN YOUR STUDENTS IN TAKING TANGIBLE STEPS TO IMPROVE IT. TALKING OF SUMMER PROGRAMS AND NEEDS ARE NOT MEANT AND I SAW SOME INTERESTING FACEBOOK POSTS CONCERNING OF A PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION LIKE LAST YEAR. I IS F DISCOURAGING THAT 56-YEAR-OLD WITH NO KIDS FOUND A HOBBY IN THEATRE OF PERSUASION. USING MY KIDS AS PROPS IN THEIR THEATRE. ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO ASKING FOR LESS MONEY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT MOST OF MY KIDS ARE IN
019EXACERBATING A REAL PROBLEM WITH A REAL CHILD, MY CHILD, CLAIM THEY HAVE AN VESTED INTEREST IN MY KIDS AND VIRTUAL SIGNALING AND PRIDE AND CLAIMING TO CARE OF HYPOTHETICAL CHILDREN WHILE MINE ARE STRUGGLING. ENROLLED IN PROGRAMMING AND HAS AN IEP AND SEVERAL OVERLAPPING DYING KNOW SES. HIS TEACHER AND I ARE CONCERN OF MOVING INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SUMMER IS A GAP WITH KIDS LIKE MINE THAT NEED TO BE FULFILLED. NO PRIDE MONTH CURRICULUM SO PEOPLE CAN ADVOCATE FOR A LACK OF A REAL PROBLEM, ESC. MY KID IS IN A FOUR-WEEK PROGRAM AND ONLY GETTING A TEACHER ONE DAY A WEEK. HOW IS THIS PREPARING HIM FOR HIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR? WITHIN IN CLASS WITH AN ESC TEACHER AND SOMEHOW WILL BE READY FOR NEXT YEAR ONE DAY A WEEK THAT HE WILL MISS DUE
020TO NECESSARY THERAPY APPOINTMENTS. THERE IS ANOTHER LOCATION, I DON'T KNOW IT. WE ARE NOT IN SCHOOL FOR PROGRAMMING AND WE RUSHED TO SIGN UP FOR SUMMER BECAUSE NO PROGRAMMING. THIS IS NOT CONDUCIVE GETTING HIM READY FOR NEXT YEAR. DESPITE WORRYING OF MY CHILD'S SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE ONLY PERSON IT SEEMS ADVOCATING FOR MY KID IS ME. HAPPY PRIDE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, MY NAME IS CARMEN. AND I AM A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR READING RECOGNITION A 02 THIS AFTERNOON, THE RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH. AS THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MISSION STATES, THE BOARD PROVIDES AN EDUCATION AND THE SUPPORTS THAT ENABLE EACH STUDENT TO EXCEL OF A SUCCESSFUL AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN. THIS QUOTE,
021"THE CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS OURS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ALL OVER THE GLOBE." AND I AM BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THAT WHOEVER INCAPABLE OF RECOGNIZING THIS IS INCAPABLE OF MORALITY. ALL THE CHILDREN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE OURS TO PROVIDE AND CARE FOR. LBGTQ YOUTH ARE NOT INHERENTLY PRONE TO SUICIDE RISKS BECAUSE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY BUT PLACED ON HIGHER RACE BECAUSE THEY ARE MISTREATED AND SIGMA ADVERTISED IN SOCIETY. THE TREVOR PROJECT 2022 SURVEY ON LBGTQ PLUS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH DEMONSTRATES THAT 45% OF THE LBGTQ YOUTH HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR. THESE RATES ARE HIGHER FOR GENDER. LBGTQ YOUTH WHO FOUND THEIR SCHOOL TO BE LBGTQ AFFIRMING REPORTED LOWER RATES OF ATTEMPTING SUICIDE BY CREATING AND MAKING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY, YOU ARE LITERALLY SAVING LIVES. IT IS FUNNY THAT WE ARE
022TOLD THAT THE BOARD IS HERE TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN LEARN TO READ AND WRITE ONLY. BUT SOME COUNTY SAME PEOPLE I SEE SPEAKING AGAINST THIS PROCLAMATION ARE THE SAME ONES SPEAKING ON BANNING BOOKS AND REMOVING BOOKS FROM LIBRARY SHELVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING A WELCOMING SPACE FOR OUR LBGTQ STUDENTS AND MAKING CONTINUED STRIDES TOWARD EQUALITY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. WELL, HERE YOU ARE A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT. YEAH. SO HERE IS THE HEADLINE. TROUBLING NEWS FROM THE GLACIER. THE BIG MELT IS UNDER WAY. SO YOU FOOLS ARE DRINKING FROM THE BILES. THEY TAKE MORE WATER TO MAKE THAN HOLD. YOUR VERY COACH -- WHEN I PULLED UP, THE THERMOMETER ON THE CAR SAID IT WAS 96 DEGREES OUTSIDE. SO WE BUY MORE AIR CONDITIONING. AND
023YOU FOOLS WEAR COATS IN HERE. 96 DEGREES. YEAH. SO THE DOOMSDAY GLACIER. NOT PRETTY. IT'S THE MOST UNSTABLE PLACE IN THE ANTARCTICA. AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE 60 CENTIMETERS, TWO FEET OF SEA LEVEL RISE. THE WORRY THAT WE ARE UNDER OF WHICH THE SPEED THAT THE GLACIER IS CHANGING WHICH WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. YEAH. AND AGAIN, YOU FOOLS ARE A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT. I HEARD THAT YOU ARE GOING TO START MAKING BUILDINGS THE RIGHT WAY. HA, HA! WHAT A JOKE. YOU WON'T EVEN GET THE WAY YOU DRINK WATER AND THE UNIFORM THAT YOU WEAR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 11-15, PLEASE LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME IS ANTHONY AVILA AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER REQUEST TAMPA BAY FOR EQUALITY FLORIDA. AND I'M HERE
024TO, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION OF LBGTQ PRIDE MONTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHIN THIS GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT ALONE WAS A HILL A CLIMB. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE VISITING OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODY ACROSS TAMPA BAY MAKING PROCLA PROCLAMATIONS FULL-THROATED PROCLAMATIONS. I WAS AT SAFETY HARBOR AT THEIR CITY COMMISSION AND TRULY TOUCHING TO SEE THE ENTIRE CITY GOVERNMENT PULL NO PUNCHES AND -- AND SPEAK FROM THE HEART EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT SUPPORTING THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY AND WHY THIS MONTH IS SO IMPORTANT. AGAIN, I DO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DISTRICT IS IN THE POSITION THAT IT IS, BUT IT IS DISHEARTENING AND QUITE UPSETTING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY OF WHICH I AM A MEMBER, TO BE CONSIDERED A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE AND NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SUPPORTED WITH A
025PROCLAMATION AS I BELIEVE IT SHOULD. SO THANK YOU FOR PUSHING THROUGH THIS RECOGNITION. BUT I HOPE WE CAN GET TO A BETTER PLACE THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE EVERYONE WITH A PROCLAMATION NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. PETER HORSEMAN, RESIDENT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND I WANT TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH AND TO RECOGNIZE THE VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECOGNITION AND PROCLAMATION. RECOGNITION IS VERY PASSIVE AND NONCOMMITTAL, WHILE PROCLAMATION IS AN OUTWARD AND VERY VISIBLE CELEBRATION. AND WHILE RECOGNITION IS CERTAINLY BETTER THAN NOTHING, IT IS A FAR CRY FROM THE PROCLAMATIONS THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS ISSUED IN THE PAST. AT THE FLORIDA LBGTQ PLUS SUMMER CONFERENCE THIS PAST WEEKEND IN SARASOTA, WE HEARD PRESIDENT BIDEN'S
026PROCLAMATION OF PRIDE MONTH. WE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR OF SARASOTA AND SAW ALL THE BANNERS AND FLAGS FLYING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YESTERDAY, MAYOR CASTOR AND MEMBERS OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL HELD A TELEVISED CEREMONY TO PRAISE -- TO RAISE THE PRIDE FLAG. AT THE CONFERENCE, WE HEARD FROM MANY EDUCATORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS ON MANY LEVELS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TELLING US HOW STRESSED STUDENTS ARE WITH ALL THE VITRIOL OF THE CULTURE WARS AND THE STRIFE OF WAR AND BICKERING THAT ENTERED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. I BELIEVE IT IS UP TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO RETURN TO BEING LEADERS AND OUTWARDLY SERVING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. STUDENTS SHOULD SEE YOU AS EXAMPLES OF HOW THEY ARE INTERACTING IN THEIR DAILY LIVES AND WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS. SOME HAVE INDICATED IT IS
027TOO OVERBOARD TO BE ELEVATING LBGTQ PEOPLE AND THEIR LIFESTYLE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE. A WONDERFUL WORLD WHERE WE DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE CELEBRATIONS OF PRIDE OR BLACK HISTORY MONTH OR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND ANY OTHER MONTHS OF THE GREATNESS OF MINORITIES DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND OSTRACIZED. I AM GOING TO INCERT MY OWN CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND THAT JESUS TAUGHT US THAT THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT OF LOVING GOD IS LOVING ONE ANOTHER AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. MY KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER RELIGIONS THAT THEY BASICALLY TEACH THE SAME TENET. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS JENNIFER HARKENS. COACH HARRELSON WAS MY P.E. TEACHER AT WILSON AND COUNTRY AND TRACK COACH AT PLANT WHERE WE WON STATE EVERY YEAR FROM '1-'39. AFTER HEARING OF HIS CALLUS DISMISSAL THAT I AM UPSET IS AN
028UNDERSTATEMENT. COACH HARRELSON HAS POSITIVELY INFLUENCED MANY YOUNG WOMEN INSTILLING HARD WORK AND GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS THAT STILL CONTINUES TODAY. TRANSLATED TO SUCCESSFUL CONFIDENT WOMEN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SOCIETY OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR DECK KATE CADES AND BEYOND. I AM ONLY ONE EXAMPLE, GRADUATING WITH VALEDICTORIAN, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE UCLA AND STANFORD, BECOMING AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST, TRIATHLONS, VOLUMING FOR FOR COACH AND DISTRICT GASPARILLA COMMITTEE. THINGS I DO BECAUSE OF THE COACH'S IMPACT ON ME. HUNDREDS OF FEMALE ATHLETES THAT HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN. A TRUE BUTTERFLY EFFECT. CERTAINLY HE IS NOT DOING IT FOR THE MONEY. HE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT NO OTHER COACH HAS DONE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HE HAS WON 12 STATE TITLES, THREE RUNNER-UP STATE TITLES, SEVEN INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS, 25 STATE. AND ALL IN FOUR DECADES. HE IS DOING THAT BECAUSE HE LOVES THE SPORT.
029HE IS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PLANT. COACH HARRISON WAS INDUCTED INTO TWO HALL OF FAMES AS WELL AS RECEIVED COACH OF THE DECADE BY TAMPA TRIBUNE IN THE '90s. THE ONLY WORD. WE ARE GOING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. NO CONVERSATION. NO REASON TO DISMISS IN SUCH A HEARTLESS MANNER CLOSE TO RETIRING. WHAT HE DID IN 42 YEARS WAS FLUSHED DOWN IN 15 SECONDS OF "WE ARE GOING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION." I ASKED QUESTIONS HAVING TEXTED MEN THAT I HAVE KNOWN PERSONALLY SINCE -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS MATTHEW JOHNSON. I AM THE FATHER OF TWO STUDENTS AND THE HUSBAND OF A TEACHER IN YOUR DISTRICT. AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING MY COMMENTS. I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING JUNE AS LBGTQ PRIDE MONTH. DOING SO DOES NOT
030PROMOTE SEXUAL OR IDENTITY, BUT INSTEAD, SIGNALS SENTENCE TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO ARE CARING ENOUGH ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO PAY ATTENTION. BUT MORE THAN THAT, YOUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL SEE THAT THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY WORK TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS ARE RESPECTED. IT IS ALSO WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THIS ACTION IS SYMBOLIC. THIS ISN'T CHANGING ANY SORT OF INSTRUCTION IN THE CLASSROOM. BUT OPPONENTS DEMAND THAT YOU NOT INTERFERE WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS AND LET KIDS BE KIDS. THIS BOARD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO SUPPORT THEIR DILUTION THAT QUEER AND TRANS KIDS DON'T EXIST AND SHELTER THEIR KIDS FROM MINE. QUEER AND TRANS KIDS DO EXIST AND JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH SHOW THESE KIDS THAT THEY ARE ACCEPTED IN THE SCHOOL. HELPS REMOVE THIS WORRY AS A DISTRACTION FROM
031THEIR STUDIES AND BENEFICIAL FOR THESE KIDS WHO ARE BEING BULLIES FOR WHO THEY ARE. SELFISHLY, PROCLAIMING JUNE PRIDE MONTH AS MR. BUG AND THOSE WHO ARE HAPPY TO HAVE MY TRANS SON IN THEIR CLASS THAT THIS BOARD SUPPORTS THE CULTURE THAT MY SON DESERVES. THANK YOU. AND HAPPY PRIDE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LILY GOO EREZ. A FAMILY MEMBER OF WALTER GUTIERREZ. INQUIRING THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL. HOW DO YOU KEEP THE STUDENTS SAFE FROM HARM BECAUSE OF FIGHTS. YOUR POLICY OF PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY. THE REASON I AND OTHER PARENTS ASK THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED MAY 21 WITH WALTER RAMIREZ. HIS PARENTS ARE HERE TODAY AND ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS. HE WAS ASSAULTED HEINOUSLY BY A LBGTQ OF STUDENTS ALONG WITH ANOTHER CHILD
032FOR THE SIMPLE REASON HE DID NOT OPEN THE GATE. FOR ANOTHER STUDENT WHO IT WAS LOCKED. ARE YOU ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE INCIDENT AS IT WAS ALL OVER THE MEDIA? MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS TOO. WHY DID THEY HAVE THE INCIDENT ADVISING THEM WHAT HAPPENED. SCIENCE TEACHER REACHED OUT TO THEM TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE NEVER CONTACTED BY ANY OF THE STAFFS UNTIL AFTER THE INCI INCIDENT. WHERE IS YOUR POLICY HANDLING INJURIES AT SCHOOL? WHY WAS HE MOVED? HAVING SUSTAINED A BACK AND NEXT INJURY. THE POLICY OF KEEPING THE CHILDREN SAFE IN HANDLING SCHOOL INJURIES? HOW DO YOU PLAN ON KEEPING THE CHILDREN SAFE FROM THIS UPCOMING YEAR? ARE OUR CHILDREN SAFE? THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CAN I GET SPEAKER 16-21 TO LINE UP, PLEASE. SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN
033AYRES, MY NAME IS KRISTEN CHITMAN AND I AM A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT. APRIL 25 AFTER 42 YEARS OF COACHING, COACH ROY HARRISON WAS DISMISSED FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL WITH A SIMPLE STATEMENT. "WE ARE GOING IN A NEW DIRECTION." THIS SIMPLE STATEMENT, WHEN YOU OBJECTIVELY LOOK AT HIS LEGACY IS DAMAGING TO NOT ONLY HIS LEGACY AND REPUTATION. IT IS DISGRACEFUL. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRAIN WITH COACH FROM THE TIME I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE UNTIL MY SENIOR YEAR. I WAS PART OF THREE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AND QUALIFIED FOR STATE IN THE 800 METER. COACH HELPED SHAPE MY MIND SET IN LIFE. HE WAS CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORTING, ENCOURAGING AND BUILDING MY CONFIDENCE AND THE CONFIDENCE OF COUNTLESS WOMEN WHO RAN FOR HIM. HE MADE US ALL BELIEVE WE COULD ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS IF WE PRACTICED DISCIPLINE, POSITIVE
034MIND SET AND THE COURAGE TO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. HE DEVELOPED STRENGTH OF MIND AND BODY, CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP. AND HE EXEMPT FRIED A SUPPORTING COACH FIGURE BOTH ON THE TRACK AND BEYOND. WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME THE QUALITIES AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT HE IMPARTED IN PREPARING ME FOR LIFE WAS PREPARING ME FOR EVENTS FOLLOWING OUR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MY JUNIOR YEAR WHEN I GOT PREGNANT WITH DANIEL MY OLDEST SON. I GOT PREGNANT 11 DAYS BEFORE I STARTED THE SENIOR YEAR AND I TRIED TO RUN BUT MY BODY COULDN'T HANDLE IT. POSITIVE MIND SET, DISCIPLINE AND COURAGE TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF HELPED ME AS I FINISHED MY SENIOR YEAR AND WENT ON TO HAVE TWO MORE CHILDREN BEFORE I WAS 23. IT CONTINUED TO HELP WHEN I WENT ON TO GET MY BACHELORS, LAW DEGREE AND
035MBA. IT HELPED AS I CONTINUED TO MOVE ON TO BE A LAW CLERK FOR JUDGE BLACK AT THE SECOND DCA. A SUCCESSFUL LITIGATOR. GENERAL COUNSEL FOR LYKES BROTHER AND DEPUTY COUNSEL FOR TURNAGEN. Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER. KEITH CONNECT AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SINCE 19630. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER, KRISTEN SPEAK FOR ME, PLEASE. Jim Porter: WE DON'T ALLOW THAT. EVERYONE HAS TWO MINUTES. SO YOU CAN SPEAK OR NOT. OKAY. I ATTRIBUTE A LOT OF MY SUCCESS. THESE C KRISTEN WORDS I HAVE IN LIFE TO MY MIND SET AND COACH WAS A BIG PARTY OF SHAPING IT. HIS DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG MINDS, BODY, CHARACTER, AND LEADERSHIP HAD SUCH AN INFLUENCE ON THE WOMEN HE COACHED THAT TODAY WE ARE DOCTOR, LAWYERS, NURSES, ARCHITECTS, COACHES, MOTHERS AND IN A SOCIETY
036THAT IS SO FOCUSED ON RESULTS-ORIENTED ACHIEVEMENTS. COACH WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO CREATE BOTH HIGH ACHIEVING AND DEEPLY SUBSTANTIVE WOMEN WHO WERE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY AND THEIR FAMILY AND IN DOING THAT, HE HAS TOUCHED MANY MORE LIVES THAN OURS. I UNDERSTAND THE COACH'S POSITION WAS AT WILL. AND THE TECHNICAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ALLOW FOR HIS DISMISSAL IF IT DID NOT INVOLVE AN UNLAWFUL REASON FOR TERMINATION. THE NUANCE THAT WAS MISSING THOUGH WAS CONSIDERING OF WHAT COACH DESERVED AFTER DEDICATING HIS LIFE TO THE PROGRAM. THAT CONSIDERATION WILL BE A MORE ELEGANT APPROACH THAT COULD HAVE LED PLANT TO STILL MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. ULTIMATELY -- ULTIMATELY I WILL REQUEST THAT THE PROCESS OF HIS RELEASE SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND HIS PERSONNEL TRAINING SHOULD BE -- AND PERSONNEL TRAINING SHOULD OCCUR. I REQUEST THAT AFTER THE
037FACT THAT -- AND AFTER THE FACT REPAIR OF HIS REPUTATION OF LEGACY OCCUR BY NAMING THE TRACK, AS WELL AS ANY ASSOCIATED CROSS COUNTRY FACILITIES AFTER HIM. I ASK THAT THERE BE A CEREMONY WHERE THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. MY NAME IS MARILYN CONNECT, AND I AM KRISTEN'S MOTHER WHO RAN FOR COACH HARRISON AT PLANT. WHEN COACH HARRISON WAS DISMISSED, I UNDERSTAND HE WAS TOLD "WE ARE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION." WE WILL LOOK AT THE OLD DIRECTION AND SEE IF THE CHANGES WERE NEEDED. AS WE LOOK BACK, WE REMEMBER THAT OUR DAUGHTER WAS ON HIS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR THREE YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, PLANT HIGH SCHOOL WON THE STATE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP THREE TIMES. PLANT WON THE PLANT CHAMPIONSHIP ADDITIONAL NINE TIMES UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. COACH
038ALWAYS PUSHED THE GIRLS TO DO THEIR BEST. WHILE THIS SEEMED HARSH AT THE TIME, IT ENABLED THEM GREAT STRENGTH OF CHARACTER TO REACH FOR HIGHER GOALS, WORK TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER. THEY BECAME NOT ONLY THE BEST ATHLETES THEY COULD BE, BUT LEARNED INVALUABLE LESSONS THAT WILL CARRY THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. HE WAS ALWAYS KIND AND PROFESSIONAL WITH THE GIRLS. DURING THIS TIME, OUR DAUGHTER WAS ON HIS TEAM, BECAME PREGNANT. COACH HARRISON IS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE IN KIND TO OUR FAMILY. HE WAS NEVER NEGATIVE OR JUDGMENTAL. ENCOURAGED HER TO KEEP RUNNING AFTER HER BABY WAS BORN. MANY YEARS AFTER OUR DAUGHTER GRADUATED WE WOULD SEE COACH HARRISON FROM TIME TO TIME AND ALWAYS ASKED FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND FAMILY. GENUINE LOVE AND CONCERN EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NO LONGER INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM. HE DIDN'T HAVE
039TO DO THAT, BUT THAT IS THE KIND OF MAN HE IS. A MAN OF CHARACTER, HONESTY. A MAN THAT SHOWS HIS LOVE AND CONCERN ON A DAILY BASIS. COACH HARRISON SERVED AS A GREAT EXAMPLE. HE NEVER ASKED THE GIRLS TO DO SOMETHING HE WASN'T WILLING TO DO HIMSELF. IF YOU EVER DROVE DOWN BAYSHORE BOULEVARD IN THE AFTERNOON, YOU WOULD SEE HIM RUNNING WITH THEM. 40 YEARS OF DEDICATED LEADERSHIP HE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WITHOUT PAY BECAUSE OF THE DEVOTION TO THE GIRLS, SPORTS. WITH ALL IN MIND, WHY WOULD YOU DISMISS SOMEONE ON THIS WAY AND NOT HELD A BANQUET FOR THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION. I GUESS THOSE INVOLVED WANTED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. WHY? INSTEAD THIS NEW DIRECTION -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER,
040PLEASE. HI, THERE. THANKS. MY NAME IS NATHAN KIPERS. I AM A DEMOCRAT WHO IS RUNNING FOR FLORIDA STATE HOUSE IN DISTRICT 65 -- Jim Porter: EXCUSE ME. THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU CAN'T CAMPAIGN ON SCHOOL -- WHATEVER YOU WANT YOU CAN'T CAMPAIGN -- THANK YOU, I UNDERSTAND. Jim Porter: FOCUS ON THE AREA -- BUT YOU CANNOT CAM PARENT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WORKED AS AN EDUCATOR TEACHING MUSIC ON SEVERAL CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT DURANT HIGH, PLANT HIGH, BRANDON AND SEARCHING MUSIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA. I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY THANKING THE BOARD FOR THEIR RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH. MY OWN EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY LIVING AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN, THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING LBGTQ -- EXCUSE ME LBGTQ INDIVIDUALS IN THESE SPACES. MANY OF THESE STUDENTS COME FROM HOMES THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE SPACE WHERE
041IS THEY ARE DEALING WITH STRUGGLES THAT THEY HAVE NO GUIDANCE ON. AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT VENUE THAT WE PROVIDE TO STUDENTS AND ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INSISTING THAT THIS -- THAT THIS RECOGNITION GO FORWARD. AND I HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE ARE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE PROCLAMATION THAT EXISTED IN THE PAST, SO WE CAN OFFER THE BEST FUTURE POSSIBLE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. JULIE GEPHARDT. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR -- I SAW A FLYER THAT WENT OUT FOR EQUALITY FLORIDA OF THE BOOKS BANNED. BOOKS REMOVED. AND IT WAS TITLED "BRING BACK THE BOOKS." ONE BOOK REMOVED FROM ONE SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
042TO CLARIFY AND THIS IS CALLED "THIS BOOK IS GAY" AND INSTRUCTIONS OF USING A HOOK-UP APP CALLED GRINDER AND DESCRIPTIONS OF SEX ACTS OF ALL TYPES. WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO COME BACK TO CHUCK POLIN A,K THAT I BROUGHT TO YOU BEFORE AND MADE NATIONAL NEWS ON "HANNITY" BECAUSE OF THE QUOTE THAT I READ OF THE BOOK ABOUT FELCHING. WE WILL REVIEW THAT -- HAVING ANAL INTERS COURSE. AND REMOVING THAT BY MOUTH AND SHARING IT WITH YOUR PARTNER, WHICH IS DESPICABLE. I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT BACK. WE HAVE THREE COPIES OF "INVISIBLE MONSTERS REMIX" IN OUR SCHOOLS. SEVERAL OTHER BOOKS THAT I AM GOING TO REFERENCE HERE AS WELL OF HIS. WE STILL HAVE 36 BOOKS OF HIS IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. HERE IS ONE CALLED "LULLABY." HEARD OF NECROPHILIA. GINA'S HEAD ROLLED
043TO ONE SIDE AND LICKED AND PUT INSIDE. SHE WAS SO QUIET. I WILL LEAVE IT THERE. POST FOR TIM SEXUAL INTERCOURSE. HIS WIFE WAS DEAD, AND HE HAD SEX WITH HER. CHUCK POLINEK SAID THIS ON JESSIE WATERS WHEN HE AND, I AM CRAZY BUT I TRY TO PUT MY CRAZY ON PAGE. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A LOT OF THE CRAZY STUFF IN THESE BOOKS. LET'S SEE, HE TALKS ABOUT USING CARROTS FOR PEGGING WHICH IS ANAL STIMULATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLOSIVE HANDS-FREE ORGASMS. IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS. INSERTING A METAL ROD IN THE LENGTH OF A BONER TO MAKE JACKING OFF SO MUCH MORE BETTER, MORE INTENSE, BETTER, MORTICIAN FORCING A WOMAN TO SOAK IN THE TUB OF ICE WATER ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT SO HE COULD PRETEND TO BE HAVING SEX WITH A
044DEAD WOMAN. I DON'T KNOW -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. FIRST MOM. OUR QUEEN. I LOVE YOU. I'M HERE TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF AND REMIND YOU MY STORY. ATTENDED NEWSOM HIGH SCHOOL. MY SOPHOMORE I WAS ASSIGNED A BOOK TO READ "THE BLUEST EYE." PRAISE GOD WE DID NOT. MY ENGLISH TEACHER HAD US PURCHASE IT ON OUR OWN. I ASKED IF MY MOM COULD BUY IT FOR ME. GRAPHIC DETAIL OF THE RAPE OF THE BOOK'S MAIN CHARACTER. MANY SEXUAL TOPICS, OR GASMENT, PROSTITUTION, INCEST, RAPE, PORNOGRAPHY, PEDOPHILIA, HOMOSEXUAL DREAMS, SODOMY. MY MOTHER DID HER JOB IN PROTECTING ME. WHY DON'T YOU. TONY MORRISON FOUND IN 20 SCHOOLS IN YOUR COUNTY. YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS AUTHOR BEFORE. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK "HAUNTED" BY CHUCK POLINEK. QUOTE, THIS BOOK CONTAINS SEXUAL ACTIVITIES INVOLVING
045MINORS, SEXUAL BATTERY GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, GORE, CAN PROPOSAL THATTISM, SEXUAL NUDITY, ABORTION REFERENCES, DRUGS AN SELF-HARM AND ULTIMATE GENDER INEQUALITIES. END QUOTE. THIS IS NOT A BOOK THAT CHILDREN SHOULD READ. YOU HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS BOOK "ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE" FOUND IN 16 OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS BOOK CONTAINS SEXUAL NUDITY, SEXUAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT, GENDER IDEOLOGIES, PROFANITY IN DEROGATORY TERMS, ALCOHOL, DRUG USE AND RACIAL COMMENTARY. "LUCKY" BY ALICE SEBOLD. THIS BOOK HAS SCENE AND EX-SERPTS INVOLVING SEXUAL ASSAULT, BATTERY, SEXUAL ACTIVITY, NUDITY, PROFANITY AND DRUG USE. RELATIVELY MILD -- I KNOW THIS MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE. SOME OF YOU VOICED YOUR UNCOMFORTABLY -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD, STEVE MICHELINI. I'M HERE FOR THEM. I AM ONE OF THE PARENTS PARENTS. COACH HARRISON EPITOMIZED BY INTEGRITY AND
046EXCELLENCE AND A FEW WORDS THAT DESCRIBE HARRISON. HE INGRAINED IN THE PRINCIPLES EVERY DAY OF EACH OF THE PARTICIPANTS. BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD. THAT AUTHORITY SHOULD BE HELD IN RESERVE FEW IF ANY OF YOU CAN JUSTIFY THE REASONS AND THE JUSTIFICATION WHY HARRISON WAS TREATED THE WAY HE WAS. NOT PROVIDING AN IDENTIFYING REASON FOR HIS DISMISSAL DAMAGES HIS INTEGRITY AND HIS PRINCIPLES. HIS LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT TO THESE YOUNG WOMEN SHOULD LIVE LONG AFTER HIM. AND FEW CAN EVEN IMAGINE THAT HE HAS DONE ANYTHING IMFOR. THAT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CLEARED UP AND HE NEEDS TO BE EXONERATED PUBLICLY. NOT PROVIDING THAT -- THAT REASON FOR DISMISSAL LEAVES A CLOUD HANGING OVER HIS NAME. THE DAMAGE TO HIS REPUTATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. WHAT IS THE COST OF DAMAGING
047SOMEONE'S SOUL? SOMEONE'S SPIRIT? AND HOW DO YOU RECTIFY THAT? WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT? AND WHO CAN STEP FORWARD AND RESTORE THAT REPUTATION AND THAT INTEGRITY. A STELLAR REPUTATION, INTEGRITY AND RECOGNIZE 42 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO EXEMPLARY SERVICE, NURTURING AN MENTORING THESE YOUNG WOMEN. COACH HARRISON WAS NAMED CAN TWICE TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA COACH HIM A. 42 YEARS AS A COACH. 3 TIMES. 24 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS, 18 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, NATIONAL ALLIANCE AWARD AS A DISTINGUISHED COACH. DAIRY FARMER COACH OF THE YEAR. AND ONE OF 50 COACH AWARD ALLIANCE AWARDS. FOUR SEPARATE PLANT RUNNERS RECEIVED CHAMPIONSHIPS AND MAJOR CHAMP CHAMPIONSHIPS. FOUR CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONS '94 AND '97. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LADIES REPRESENT FROM 1998 -- Karen Perez: CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS 22-25 TO PLEASE LINE U UP. MY
048NAME IS JASON KIM PAL. I LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND I WANT TO FIRST START OFF WITH TALKING ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS PERHAPS AN ATHEISM PROBLEM ON THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT MIGHT BE A ROOT OF THE ISSUE THAT SO MANY PARENTS ARE CONCERNED WITH. ATHEISM SEEMS TO STEM FROM THE BELIEF THAT THE BIG BANG THEORY TAUGHT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS AS FACT IS REAL. THE TRUTH IS, THE BIG BANG THERAPY HAS BEEN DEBUNKED OVER AND OVER. NOW IT IS IN THE STATE OF BEING DEBUNKED BY THE WEBB TELESCOPE CONSTANTLY HAS PROBLEMS WHEN WE GAIN MORE AND MORE NEW INFORMATION. THE LAST TIME IT WAS DEBUNKED -- RATHER THE FIRST TIME, WHEN WE LEARNED OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND. THIS IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOL AS FACT, BUT THE TRUTH IS, THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND DEBUNKED
049THE THEORY RESCUED BY INFLATIONARY THEORY. NONE OF IT IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. A LACK OF OBJECTIVITY. AND I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND PERHAPS WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN -- IN MEETINGS THAT ARE COMING UP AND ONLY TWO MINUTES HERE. BUT A PROBLEM THAT CREATION IS NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. IT IS JUST THE BIG BANG. AND TAUGHT AS SOUTH CAROLINA AS FACT. AND IT RESULTS IN A LACK OF HUMANITY WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THIS PRIDE PROCLAMATION, WHICH EVERYONE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD APPARENTLY THINKS OR MAYBE NOT EVERYONE, BUT ENOUGH THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THIS CONSTANT AGGRESSION AND BIGOTRY, THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION. NO REASON TO ENCOURAGE TRANSGENDERS AND LBGTQ PEOPLE TO
050FEEL LIKE THEY ARE, LIKE, NORMAL, THE REST OF US ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE THAT ENVIRONMENT SHOULD ALREADY EXIST. ALL IT DOES IS PROMOTE THIS IDEOLOGY TO STRAIGHT KIDS, KIDS WHO AREN'T CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR GENDER AND PUTS THEM AT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDE. THAT IS MY HUGE PROBLEM WITH WHAT THE BOARD DID TODAY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER, PLE PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. LISETTE BANARDEN FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WANT TO SAY THAT RECOGNIZING PRIDE MONTH EXCLUDES THE STRAIGHT STUDENTS. I WILL EMPHASIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EQUAL RIGHTS AND SPECIAL RIGHTS AND HOW DIVISIVE THAT CAN BE TO ANY SPECIFIC LBGTQ AS OF STRAIGHT KIDS. WE SEEM TO NO LONGER RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE AND THE DISTINCTIONS AND THAT DIVIDE HAS BECOME MORE PROMINENT AND CAUSED A DIVIDE. YOU CAN'T SPEAK OF DIVERSITY
051WHEN GROUPS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED AND ONLY SPECIFIC GROUPS ARE HONORED. AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE TODAY. TITLE IX IS A CHALLENGE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT, AGAIN, OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT AND ADMINISTRATION ARE OVERREACHING AT THIS POINT. LET'S NOT FORGET RIDER GAINES AND LEAH THOMAS. KNOW THEIR STORY. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN SCHOOL, I WAS AN ATHLETE MYSELF. WE HAD LESBIANS. WE HAD GAYS. THEY WERE RESPECTED. THEY WERE INCLUDED. THEY WERE ACCEPTED. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY OF THESE NONSENSE RULES TO DIVIDE US. WE PLAYED TOGETHER. WE ATE LUNCH TOGETHER. WE WENT SHOPPING TOGETHER. AND NO ONE NO ONE EXCLUDED THEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENING HERE TODAY IN OUR NATION ESPECIALLY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE A LOT SMARTER AS LEADERS,
052ALL RIGHT. WE DO NEED TO AREN'T EVERYBODY. WE SHOULDN'T BE DIVIDING GROUPS. THE STRAIGHT KIDS ARE BEING DIVIDED HERE. WE ARE GIVING KUDOS TO THE PRIDE -- TO THE GAYS AND LESBIANS BUT WE ARE EXCLUDING THE STRAIGHT CHILDREN. AND THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG CHILDREN. AND ALSO, WITH THIS TITLE IX, WE ALREADY KNOW HAVING THEM GO IN THE REST ROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS, THAT GO GOING TO CREATE CRIMES WITH ONES THAT ARE PEDOPHILES BECAUSE THIS CREATES MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG EVERYBODY. DO WE REALLY CARE HERE? WE NEED TO CARE AND STOP DIVIDING OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: CAN I HAVE EVERYONE LINE UP UP TO NUMBER 30, PLEASE. THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE. THANK. HELLO, LUIZ SALAZAR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LBGTQ DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. I COME HERE TO SAY THANK YOU
053TO THE RECOGNITION OF THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY. RECOGNITION IS IMPORTANT AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD TO SENTENCE AND HOPEFULLY A PROCLAMATION IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS. I CAME HERE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME OF YEAR TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR SEEING THE LBGTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH IN THAT COMMUNITY AND TO THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US IN TRYING TIMES. I KNOW YOU FACE BACKLASH FROM PEOPLE WHENEVER YOU STAND FOR EQUALITY. ALTHOUGH IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT SUCH BIGOTRY STILL EXISTS, THE MISSION OF THE LBGTQ TO LOVE AND LIVE IN PEACE SHINE BRIGHTER THAN THE HATE WE FACE JUST EXISTING. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS MONTH IS FOR CELEBRATING OUR HEROES AND OUR HISTORY. THE HEROES WHO FOUGHT FOR US TO EXIST AND LIVE FREE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND
054EVERYONE THAT WE, TOO, HAVE HISTORY. WE, TOO, HAVE HEROES AND OUR HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS KIRK BORESON, CURRENTLY A TEACHER AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THE FIRST CURRENT TEACHER TO SPEAK TODAY. I TEACH MOSTLY A.P. BUY LOLLING AT PLANT HIGH. AND THIS MOST RECENT SCHOOL YEAR WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THAT I EVER EXPERIENCED NOT DUE TO COVID OR HURRICANE OR LAWS PASSED, NOT THAT I AM IN GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR MY MASTER'S IN LEADERSHIP WHICH I GOT A SCHOOL LAW PROJECT WAITING FOR ME BACK HOME OR A CHILD ON THE WAY, IT WAS DUE TO CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND TRUANCY IN THE DISTRICT. IT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY TAXING TO ACCOMMODATE MY ENTIRE SCHEDULE FROM
055HONESTLY 6:30 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 6 P.M. IN THE EVENING FOR ALL THE STUDENTS THAT MISS SCHOOL, SOME LEGITIMATELY, SOME NOT SO MUCH. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONSIDER CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM MISSING 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, 17 DAYS. I HAVE 56 STUDENTS THAT MISSED MORE THAN 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THAT IS 30% OF MY ENTIRE COHORT FOR SIX PERIODS. I AM A VERY TENACIOUS TEACHER IF I EVER SEE A PROBLEM WITH MY STUDENTS, I TRY TO GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES THAT INVOLVES SPEAKING WITH THE PARENTS TO TRY TO GET THE KIDS BACK ON TRACK. A LOT OF TIMES WHAT I NOTICE ISSUES WITH ABSENTEEISM, PARENTS CONFESS, WE HAVE BEEN SIGNING IT OFF. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS BIG OF A PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME
056IT WAS OKAY. IT IS NOT OKAY. AND GET CAN BACK ON TRACK. OTHER TIMES I HAVE BEEN LAUGHED AT, SCOFFED AT, DISMISSED. I HAD A STUDENT WHO RECENTLY I FOUND MISSED ALL AND PART OF THE DAY 90 TIMES. MY CLASS 37. PARENTS SAW NO PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS REALLY -- NOT A CRITICISM THERE ARE IS A PLEA FOR HELP TO REALLY REINFORCE STUDENT ABSENTEES, EXCUSED, UNEXCUSED, THEY KNOW THE SYSTEM AND REALLY CHEATING THE SYSTEM AND IT IS AFFECTING US TOO. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, I'M BELINDA WILLIAMS. I AM A TEACHER HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. TO KNOW IF SOMETHING IS WORTH PROCLAIMING OR RECOGNIZING, YOU HAVE GOT TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. AND SO I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN TITLE ARE THE
057REPORTS. AS YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHEN A STUDENT MAKES A SEXUAL COMMENT OR SEXUAL GESTURE OR A SEXUAL THREAT. THAT MAKES THE CLASSROOM A DIFFICULT PLACE TO TEACH IN. SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S, LAST YEAR'S TITLE IX REPORTS AND SEE WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING IN CLASS, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO GET THE STUDENTS BACK ON TASK ONCE THEY HEAR THIS PHRASE, THEY HEAR THIS WORD AND THEY ARE LIKE, OH, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE TITLE IX REPORTS AND SIGH WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING IN THE CLASSROOM. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LAURA LANCE. AND I HAD A PARENTS, A FATHER TELL ME THAT HIS CHILD AT KIMBREL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS EXPOSED TO GAY SEX,
058WOMAN ON WOMAN AND TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY. AND IT WASN'T ONLY HER, BUT IT WAS THE ENTIRE FIFTH GRADE CLASS AND THE ENTIRE FOURTH-GRADE CLASS. THEY WERE BROUGHT IN THE LUNCHROOM, AND EXPOSED TO THIS. AND SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE IS A LITTLE BOY AT THAT CAME FORTH ALSO. AND I AM JUST TIRED OF BEING TOLD AND BEING LIED TO THAT THERE IS NO PORNOGRAPHY IN OUR SCHOOLS OR IN OUR BOOKS AND I AM TIRED OF IT. I WASN'T EVEN GOING TO COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE IT IS LIKE FALLING ON DEAF EARS. NOTHING GETS DONE. IT DOESN'T MATTER. SO I SPEND SOME TIME IN PRAYER. AND THIS IS WHAT I HEARD. I HEARD WHOA TO THOSE WHO PERVERT MY RAINBOW. MY RAINBOW WITH AS A COVENANT BETWEEN MAN AND MYSELF. WHOA TO THOSE WHO HURT
059THE LITTLE CHILDREN. EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE IN SECRET WILL BE EXPOSED AND BROUGHT TO LIGHT. AND WHOA TO THOSE THAT CONTINUALLY CHOOSE TO HARM MY LITTLE ONES. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE GOT AN ELECTION COMING UP. AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE THINGS CHANGE BECAUSE THE OTHER THING I HEARD WAS, THERE IS A RECKONING COMING. THANK YOU Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON. FRANCESCA MICHELLINI, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COACH HARRISON FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW HE IMPACTED MY LIFE IN A POSITIVE WAY. IN THE SUMMER OF 1994, I JOINED COACH HARRISON AND RUNNERS FOR TRAINING ON BAYSHORE BOULEVARD. FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE, COACH HARRISON PLEASANTLY GREETED ME
060AND EXPLAINED THE SAFE PRACTICES OF RUNNING AND SUGGESTED DISTANCES ALONG WITH THE IDENTIFICATION POINTS OF WHERE TO MEET AND TURN AROUND BASED ON HOW LONG SOMEONE WANTED TO RUN. I RAN FOUR MILES THAT DAY. COACH HARRISON WAS SUPER IMPRESSED AND ENGAGED WITH ME AND INVITED ME TO RETURN FOR THE NEXT PRACTICE. I WAS EXCITED TO FEEL INCLUDED AND WELCOMED TO THE TRAINING TEAM, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS NEW TO PLANT. I ENDED UP MAKING JV TEAM AND RAN CROSS COUNTRY AT PLANT BEING THE TOP TEN RUNNER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND FOURTH IN THE STATE MY SOPHOMORE YEAR. COACH HARRISON WAS ENCOURAGING, SUPPORTIVE AND WELCOMING THROUGHOUT MY EXPERIENCE AT PLANT. HE CREATED A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERED FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE LASTED OVER 25 YEARS AS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR SUPPORT OF
061HIM TODAY. NO MATTER WHAT RACE WE WERE COMPETING IN, COACH HARRISON ENSURED THAT WHILE OTHER MEMBERS WERE RACING, THEY HAD SUPPORT ON THE FIELD AND THE TRACK. HE STATIONED US THROUGHOUT THE COURSE SO EACH TEAM MEMBER WILL SEE A SMILING AND ENCOURAGING FACE AS THEY FOUGHT THE PAIN ONLY A RUNNER CAN KNOW. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE SUMMER OF '94 WHILE COACH HARRISON MAY HAVE BEEN HIS NORMAL FRIENDLY SELF, HE CREATED A POSITIVE AND WELCOMING SPACE FOR ME THAT WAS WORLDS AWAY WHAT I EXPERIENCED IN THE FIRST PART OF THAT YEAR. WHAT HE DID NOT KNOW THAT I RECENTLY MOVED IN WITH MY FATHER AFTER A GRUELING CUSTODY BATTLE THAT INCLUDED MY RESIDENCE IN FOSTER CARE AND LBGTQ HOMES DUE TO THE NEGLECT OF MY OTHER PARENT. HE WELCOMED ME. HE CREATED A PLACE FOR
062ME TO LEARN MENTORING, WHICH IS CARING FOR THESE DAYS TO BE A LEADER IN SCOUTS, TO HAVE A EAGLE SCOUT AS A SON AND MY DAUGHTER CREATING HER EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT THIS SATURDAY. HIS BELIEF IN ME, HIS GRENG AND ENCOURAGEMENT -- Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAD THESE COPIES THAT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE I GOT CERTIFIED IN TOO MANY FIELDS AND I AM AN OLD LADY AND I QUIT TEACHING 14 YEARS AGO THAT CREATED ANOTHER PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED FOR THREE DAYS AND A HALF, TODAY TOO TO TRY TO LOCATE SUPERVISORS WHO OVERRIDE THE POLICY OF NOT LETTING YOUR ENTIRE TEACHER IN THE WORKSHOPS. I AM GOING TO EXPIRE -- WELL, NOT ME, BUT MY CERTIFICATE -- THE END OF JUNE. JULY 1. YOU MIGHT AS WELL RIP THIS UP,
063BECAUSE IT IS NO GOOD ANYMORE. I KNOW IT IS AN OLD CERTIFICATE, BUT MY CURRENT CERTIFICATE IS ENFORCED IN, I DON'T KNOW, 11 FIELDS I THINK I COUNTED ON MY -- ON MY CURRENT UPDATED ONE. BUT IT WASN'T AS PRETTY AS THIS ONE. I THINK I GOT THAT FROM THE -- FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ED. BUT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS FOR RECERTIFICATION CAN BE 60 POINTS AND 120. LOOK, I HAVE TOO MANY CERTIFICATIONS SO I AM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF -- OF 120 POINTS OR TWO OR THREE COLLEGE CLASSES. BUT I CAN'T GET GET IN THE WORKSHOPS WITHOUT EVER GETTING A HOLD OF THE SUPERVISOR AND NONE OF THEM ARE IN THEIR OFFICE. THEY ARE ALWAYS AT WORKSHOPS IRONICALLY. SO I CAN'T EVEN GET IT TO OVERRIDE TO GET IN TO YOUR WORKSHOPS TO
064SAVE MY CERTIFICATE. I AM FOLLOWING PAY $300 TO TAKE THE TEST OUT PROCEDURE -- TAKE THE TEST. BUT THAT WILL COST ME SOME GOOD MONEY, $300. AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. BUT I AM FOLLOWING SPEND IT. I HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD TAX REFUND. THE OTHER THING I -- OH, SHOOT. I AM OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I HAD A SURPRISE FOR YOU ALL, BUT I CAN'T GIVE IT OUT TO YOU. Karen Perez: MRS. DAVIS -- MRS. DAVIS. DR. PATTON WILL BE SPEAKING WITH YOU. DR. PATTON. NEXT SPEAKER. BLESS YOU. Karen Perez: NEXT SPEAKER, PLE PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUMMER IS HERE. MY NAME IS TANYA REUBEN. AND I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I LIVED HERE FOR 2 YEARS. AND I HAD A BUSINESS HERE FOR 32 YEARS.
065AND I AM ALSO WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA AND FAMILIES FOR STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT PROGRAM -- WE ARE TRYING EVERYTHING TO KEEP OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS STRONG. NONE OF THIS OTHER STUFF THAT IS GOING ON. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING US ALL SPEAK AND HEARING WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING UP WITH ACKNOWLEDGING PRIDE MONTH, LBGTQ PLUS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE ON THE PROCLAMATION. YOU KNOW, JUST THINK ABOUT IT. IT REALLY CHANGES UNTIL YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, SON OR GRANDSON. AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THIS. AND YOU WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR KID AND YOU WANT THE BEST FOR EVERYONE ELSE. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN
066ALL WORK TOGETHER AND BE A TEAM, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND ONE THING THAT I DON'T THINK I AM HEARING, THERE ISN'T SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. SO THAT HAS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING. AND WE HAVE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THE LADIES OVER HERE ARE AMAZING. THAT CHECK YOU IN. SO THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS GRETCHEN POLK. A 501-C-3, EQUINE THERAPY FACILITY AND WILDLIFE HABITAT FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS ON EDUCATING THE YOUTH AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES IN CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND COEXISTENCE WITH WILD FLORIDA. I HAVE A PLEA FOR A SHIFT IN PRIORITIES. TIME TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REASSESS WHERE OUR FOCUS LIES. MY DAUGHTER, AN 8th GENERATION GRADUATED AS VALEDICTORIAN OF CLASS OF 2023 AT DURANT. ATTENDING
067THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ON A FULL SCHOLARSHIP AND MEDICAL TRACK. SHADOWED HER FIRST ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON BECAUSE NOT ONCE IN HER ACADEMIC CAREER DID WE EVER DISCUSS ANY WOKE IDEOLOGY. WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESSING ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN HERE IN EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE SHOULD BE -- SHOULD NOT BE LISTEN TOGETHER WORLD, BUT RATHER TO OUR COUNTY'S NEEDS. WE NEED TO FOCUS OF PREPARING THEM FOR LIFE. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS WITNESSING A TROUBLING TREND, OF OUR YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE AND CONNECTION WITH NATURE AND WITHER LOSING A GENERATION OF FARMERS THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION. INSTEAD OF SYMBOLIC GESTURES THINK OUT SIDE OF THE BOX AND TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL BEING TRANSFORMED INTO AN AGRICULTURE MAGNET SCHOOL. IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES BY FOCUS AGO ON AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, WE NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED TO REIGNITE INTEREST
068IN FARM BUG EQUIP OUR STUDENTS WITH INVALUABLE SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE. LEARN OF SUSTAINABILITY, FOOD PRODUCTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING WITH NATURE. WE NEED TO PREPARE OUR YOUTH FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD. YOU SEE, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE FOCUS ON IN MOLLY'S ECONOMIC CAREER ENSURING SHE KNOW WHAT IS HARD WORK, TO DEAL WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD AND HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. LET'S SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY BE BOLD, INNOVATIVE AND INVEST IN A FUTURE WHERE AGRICULTURE THRIVES ONCE MORE IN IRON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. SEEING NO COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND THE CONSENT AGENDA. Jim Porter: PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLO
069CLOSED. I AM A FORMER TEACHER, BUT -- MY NAME IS JOHN SCOTT -- Karen Perez: EXCUSE ME. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. JUST ONE QUESTION. Karen Perez: THE MEETING HAS NOW STARTED. WE HAVE APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA -- I WANT TO KNOW WHY -- Karen Perez: UP -- CAN WE GET -- CAN WE GET THIS ORDER -- THIS MEETING -- Jim Porter: TAKE A RECESS. Karen Perez: LET'S TAKE A RECESS, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT, THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT AYRES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAD SIX PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON. GIL THROUGH THOSE. THE FIRST TWO OF OUR PRINCIPALS ARE NOT HERE, WENDY WORKALD, THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT FARNEL MIDDLE. DAMAGE WAITED FROM BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL
070AND BEGAN HER CAREER AS A SCIENCE TEACHER AT TURKEY CREEK AND LATER BARRINGTON MIDDLE. TRANSITIONED TO SCIENCE COACH IN MONROE AND 2017 APPROACHED TO AP IN MONROE AND 2021, AP AT GRECO AND PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL JULY OF 20 1. CONGRATULATE WENDY RAULD, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF INFARNEELL MIDDLE. KEISHA DIXON. GRECO MIDDLE. A GRADUATE OF BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL. ADMINISTRATOR FOR 18 YEARS. AND BEGAN AS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE A.P. FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT NEWSOM THIS A.P. AT BLAKE AND VICE PRINCIPAL OF McLEAN. AND MEET KEISHA DYLAN, PRINCIPAL OF GRECO MIDDLE. AND TERESA BODE. IF YOU WANT TO STAND. YOU HAVE BEEN SIT FOR A WHILE. TERESA BODE IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT CHIARAMONTE ELEMENTARY. AND A TEACHER AND TAUGHT AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY AND WORKED AS A ELEMENTARY SCIENCE COACH. 2019, APPOINTED AS A.P. AT MILES ELEMENTARY AND
071TRANSITIONED TO McFARLAND PARK ELEMENTARY AS A.P. IN 2022. GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TERESA BODE, THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT CHIARAMONTE ELEMENTARY. FAMILY AND FRIENDS. TERESA, COME ON UP FRONT. EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE YOU. THEY ARE CALLING YOU UP HERE. THEY WANT TO SEE YOU. SO TERESA, THAT'S IT. JUST WAVE, TERESA BODE, NEW PRINCIPAL OF CHIARAMONTE ELEMENTARY. NEXT PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT CYNTHIA CRAM IS THE PRINCIPAL OF DUNBAR. NEW PRINCIPAL OF PALM RIVER ELEMENTARY. COME ON UP, CYNTHIA. PRINCIPAL OR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR. COME ON UP, CYNTHIA. PALM RIVER. BEGAN IN 2004 AS A ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND MATH COACH. AND 2014 ALREADY APPOINTED AT IPPOLITO AND DUNBAR, GIBSONTON. 2020, APPOINTS AT PRINCIPAL AT DUNBAR ELEMENTARY MAGNET. WHAT MAKES THIS APPOINTMENT PARTICULARLY SPECIAL IS THAT MISS CRIM ATTENDED PALM RIVER AS A CHILD. VERY COOL. CONGRATULATIONS, CYNTHIA. OUR NEXT APPOINTMENT,
072CHRISTINA COPELAND. I SEE YOU BACK THERE, CHRISTINA. COME ON UP. CHRISTINA IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF SHAW ELEMENTARY. SERVED AT HCPS FOR 17 YEARS AND TAUGHT GRADES TWO AND FIVE A.P. AT SULFUR BRINGS, WOODSON AND KEY ELEMENTARY AND CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. CHRISTINA COPELAND. CONGRATULATIONS. NEW PRINCIPAL OF SHAW ELEMENTARY. AND FINALLY OUR LAST PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT MY SHE WILL PRYOR. NU NEW PRINCIPAL OF SHORE ELEMENTARY. COME ON DOWN AND MAKE THE WALK. MISS PRYOR PAYMENT AS TEACHER AT METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES AND GROVER PARK AND MILES. APPOINTED A.P. AT YATES, FOREST HILLS AND CURRENTLY AT MUELLER ELEMENTARY. CONGRATULATIONS TO MICH MICHELLE PRYOR, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF SHORE ELEMENTARY. AND MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE THE SIX PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Superintendent
073Ayres: ONE OTHER APPOINTMENT I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE. LAST FRIDAY I DID ANNOUNCE THE NEW CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, A MEMBER OF MY CABINET DR. RICK GRAYS. THE NEW CHIEF OF SCHOOLS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. RICK -- WE ARE VERY EXCITED OF HIS APPOINTMENT AND WHAT HE BRINGS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU CAN SEE HE HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS FAMILY FOR 26 YEARS, TEACHER, A.P. PRINCIPAL, AND SUPERINTENDENT IN THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. SUCH A VALUABLE ASSET TO OUR TEAM. WE ARE VERY EXCITED AS A LOT OF OUR PIN WONDERFULS TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEW CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, RICK GRAYES. YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR WALK OF FAME TOO. Superintendent Ayres: MAKE HIM. I LIKE IT. WE MAKE THE PRINCIPALS, MAKE HIM DO IT TOO. THERE YOU GO. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WE WILL PAUSE
074FOR A MOMENT FOR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO WOULD LIKE TO EXIT THE BOARD ROOM. Superintendent Ayres: EVERYBODY EXCEPT DR. GRAYES. HE HAS TO STAY. Karen Perez: THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE HEARD. C 202, 2003, 04, C-6.01 ANDC. 7.08. C 2.02 WITH BUILDING TRADE AAPPRENTICESHIP COMMUNITIES ERWIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE 2424-'25. Superintendent Ayres: I KNOW A LOT OF ARE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IN AGREEMENT. THE APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE FOR ADULT JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR 33 YEARS. THEY ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WHERE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEES OF CLASSROOM RELATED INSTRUCTION, RTI AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. MARKET DEMANDS SKILL FOR SKILLED TRADE WORKERS AROUND TAMPA BAY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT IS ITEM 2.02. AND I HAVE SCOTT BROOKS, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR CAREER EDUCATION IS HERE NEXT TO MR. MURILLO IF YOU HAVE ANY
075QUESTIONS REGARDING 2.02. APPRENTICESHIP. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C 2.02. A MEMBER -- MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE DAIS. MEMBER VAUGHN, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM? Jessica Vaughn: I CAN TELL IT TO YOU PERSONALLY LATER. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 2.03, CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA CHARTER SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS THE CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA THE SCHOOL RECEIVED HIGH PERFORMING DESIGNATION FROM THE STATE IN NOVEMBER 2021. AND HAS A HIGH-PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL FOR GRADE LEVELS WITHIN GRADE 12. TO PLATO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
076BOARD IS CHANGING TO PLATO COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TAMPA AND EXPANDING GRADE LEVELS TO SERVE 9th THROUGH 12th GRADE STUDENTS. INCREASE OF STUDENTS TO BE SERVED. THE CURRENT TOTAL CAPACITY IS 436. 424 STUDENTS WERE PROJECTED IN GRADES K-8 IN 2023-'24. AND ENROLLMENTS WILL ROLL UP EACH YEAR TO K-12 IS FULLY ENROLLED IN '27 AND '28. AND PLEASE MAKE NOTE, 436 CURRENTLY IN 2027-'28. ONE IS FULL K-12, THAT NUMBER WILL GO TO 611. TOTAL CAPACITY WILL BE REACHED IN '28-'29 AT 636 STUDENTS. SO THAT IS ITEM 2.03 AND MISS DeLANGE IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR PLATO. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE C 2.03. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn:
077I DON'T. I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IT FOR PRESIDENT LICK EVERY DAY WE APPROVE IT. I APPRECIATE THE THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF HOW MANY STUDENTS THAT THE SCHOOL IS FULLY ENROLLED NOW THAT IT IS ADDING GRADES AND IT IS GOING TO BE -- YOU SAID SIX -- WHAT WAS THE -- Superintendent Ayres: IN '28-'29. FULL CAPACITY, 636. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Karen Perez: NO FURTHER COMMENTS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, AGAIN WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE DAIS. NEXT ITEM IS 2.04. APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR NAVIGATOR ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP SOUTH SHORE. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR. APPROVAL FOR NAVIGATION ACADEMY LEADERSHIP. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THESE. THE LAST TIME WE BROUGHT A CHARTER APPLICATION WAS LAST MAY AND A NUMBER OF TIME BEFORE WE
078HAD A CHARTER APPLICATION. TO SERVE STUDENTS IN K-5 WITH SCIENCE, MATH, ART, READING TECHNOLOGY AND STEM-LEARNING FOCUS AND THE LEADER IN ME PROGRAM TO DEVELOP STUDENTS AS LEADERS. PROPOSED SCHOOL WILL BE LOCATED ZERO BISHOP ROAD NEAR HIGHWAY 301 SOUTH IN I WOULD MIAMI MA AND OPEN WITH GRADES K-3 THROUGH AUGUST 2025. K-3 IN AUGUST 2025 AND 648 STUDENTS AND PROJECTED 1024 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-5 BY YEAR FIVE. MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS THE APPLICATION FOR NAVIGATOR ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP IN SOUTH SHORE. AND ONCE AGAIN, OUR DIRECTOR OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IS HERE AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS APPLICATION. AND, AGAIN, IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THIS BOARD HAS SEEN AN APPLICATION FOR CHARTER. ANY QUESTIONS, LET US KNOW. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND
079TO APPROVE ITEM C 2.04. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: LET'S GET THIS GOING HERE. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. MY QUESTION DELAYING -- WHEN WE HAVE THE SAME BOARD THAT IS -- THAT IS WORKING TOWARD NAVIGATOR SUCCESS. NOW ON THIS APPLICATION FOR SOUTH SHORE, MY QUESTION IS ACTUALLY -- IT IS WRITTEN HERE ON PAGE 5. IF WE HAVE A DIFFERENT POPULATION, MORE ESC, MORE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH BY ABOUT FOUR TIMES, MORE HIGHLY -- WE HAVE A HIGH HISPANIC POPULATION. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HANDLE WHAT WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A HIGH NEEDS SCHOOL. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO ADDRESS. WE HAVE MORE ESC STUDENTS. MORE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, MORE HISPANIC STUDENTS THAN NAVIGATOR. QUANTIFIABLY, I DON'T SEE AN
080EXPLANATION HOW THEY ARE GOING TO -- WHAT IS THE PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT. SURE. DURING THE REVIEW -- THAT WAS A QUESTION DURING THE CAPACITY INTERVIEW KNOWING THAT LOCATION HAS -- HAS HIGH POPULATION THAT IS BILINGUAL. AND WE ASKED THAT QUESTION. AND THEY ARE READY. AND THEIR STAFFING PLAN SHOWED THEY WILL HAVE AN EL POSITION SOLELY FOR SUPPORT BESIDES HAVING ELL CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. Lynn Gray: WE HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING E.L.L. TEACHERS OURSELVES. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHEN WE HAVE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS WITH DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, ARE THEY ALSO INCLUDING THAT IN A PLAN WITH THE DUAL LANGUAGE CLASS IS, ONE CLASS, TWO CLASSES, DUAL LANGUAGE THAN YOUR OTHER SCHOOLS DO. NO, MA'AM, THEY DO NOT HAVE A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. THEY WILL CONCENTRATE ON THEIR LEADER AND ME PROGRAM AND INCORPORATE ALL
081THE E.L.L. STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE E.L.L. STUDENTS. NO BILINGUAL PROGRAM. Lynn Gray: IS THAT UNDER YOUR PURVIEW TO ADVISE, INITIATE A DUAL LANGUAGE TO -- TO ADDRESS THE HIGH -- THAT IS 85% OF HISPANIC STUDENTS. IT IS NOT IN MY -- IT IS NOT IN MY PURVIEW. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE ENROLLED THERE WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BILINGUAL PROGRAM WOULD -- WOULD HAVE BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH DEPENDING ON THE MAJORITY OF -- OF THE HOME LANGUAGE IN THE SCHOOL. AND THAT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAN THIS BOARD CURRENTLY WANTS TO INITIATE. Lynn Gray: SO CONCLUSIVELY WHAT IS GOING ON, WE HAVE A HIGHER NEED POPULATION, BUT THE NEEDS OF THAT POPULATION RIGHT NOW FROM WHAT YOU ARE SHARING DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RECIPROCATED WITH TEACHING
082IDENTIFYING WITH THOSE PROGRAMS ESE, HIGH NEEDS KIDS, LUNCH AND HISPANIC KIDS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE HAVE A PROGRAM -- AN APPLICATION, BUT -- WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT HAS SOME TYPE OF MERIT THAT ADDRESSES THE STUDENTS THAT NEED THE SUPPORT AND THAT IS JUST AN OPEN COMMENT. IF FOR ESC THEY HAVE -- DURING THE CAPACITY INTERVIEW THAT WE MADE SURE THAT THE STAFFING PLAN WOULD HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY SUPPORT STAFF TO SUPPORT ESC STUDENTS AND F FOR E.L.L. THEY WILL HAVE THE STAPLE -- NOW NOT A SPECIFIC BILINGUAL PROGRAM WHERE THE TEACHER IS TEACHING BOTH LANGUAGES IN THE CLASSROOM AT THE SAME TIME. Lynn Gray: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATION AND IT IS REALLY WRITTEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I JUST WANTED A LITTLE
083MORE DETAIL. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CONTINUING, ONGOING ISSUE WITH EAST AND SOUTH COUNTY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF EAST AND SOUTH COUNTY. THE CONCERN THAT FAMILIES HAVE OF EAST AND SOUTH COUNTY FOR THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR OUR SCHOOLS OUT THERE. WHICH IS WHY WE CAN BECOME A HUB OF CHARTER SCHOOLS. I AM ALL FOR PARENTS' RIGHTS AND EACH CHILD NEEDS TO FINDS WHAT IS BEST TO THE SCHOOL. AND DISSERVICE TO THE STUDENTS OF EAST AND SOUTH COUNTY NOT GIVING THEM VIABLE MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS AND, THEREFORE, MORE AND MORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE BEING BOGGED DOWN BY THIS. AND CURRENTLY OUR PLAN IS, WE ARE
084THREE OR FOUR YEARS, ALMOST FIVE YEARS OUT OF MEETING THOSE NEEDS OF THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN EAST AND SOUTH COUNTY. AND SO, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A PLAN, SUPERINTENDENT, AS BOARD OF WHAT ELSE WE ARE GOING TO DO EXCEPT FOR LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS AND WE WAIT FOR NEW SCHOOLS TO BE BUILT AND JUST NOT GOOD AMOUNT ANYMORE. WE NEED TO REVISIT WHAT WE ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE OVERCROWDING AND INSUFFICIENT OPTIONS ESPECIALLY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE ARE SEEING THIS CHANGE IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAUSE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS NOT BEING VIABLE OPTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN EAST AND SOUTH COUNTY. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS MORE READILY THAN WAITING FOR THE BILLS TO BE DONE. SO I JUST ASK THAT WE
085ADDRESS THAT SOON WITH ALL BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN THAT AREA OF THE COUNTY. BECAUSE THESE ARE MORE AND MORE REASONS WHY OUR FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS AS A PRIMARY OPTION. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, AGAIN WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE DAIS. NEXT ITEM IS 5.04, STUDENT ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANKS JENNIFER SPORONO. WHEN I CAME SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE HAD THE CALENDAR OUT TWO YEARS AHEAD OF TIME. WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU IS '25-'26.
086OUR '24-'25 IS ALREADY SET AND OUR STUDENT ACADEMIC CALENDAR AND THANK YOU FOR GET THIS COMPLETED AS A BOARD AGENDA ITEM. SO SUMMER RISE, WE HAVE A DISTRICT CALENDAR COMMITTEE OF 31 MEMBERS OF ATTENDANCE IN ONE ONLINE MEETING HELD ON APRIL 25. THE MAKE-UP OF THIS COMMITTEE, 18 DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES, SCHOOL BASED ADMINISTRATORS, THREE, ONE REP, TWO TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF AND ONE HCF OFFICER. THERE WERE TWO CALENDAR MODELS WITH LITTLE VARIATION. THE COMMITTEE PROVIDED FEEDBACK REGARDING PREFERENCE FOR A NONSTUDENT DAY MARCH 28, 2026 OR APRIL 6, 2026. AND THE COMMITTEE HAD MODEL B MARCH 23, 2026. RECEIVED APPROVAL OF ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS APRIL 25. AND THE PROPOSED CALENDAR WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW MEETS THE REQUIRED MINUTES AND CREDIT HOURS PER FLORIDA STATUTE AND FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. ONCE AGAIN, THIS THE '25-'26 STUDENT ACADEMIC CALENDAR AND
087MISS SPORANO IS HERE WHO LED THE COMMITTEE AND GOT THIS AS AN AGENDA ITEM. IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DID, THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I ALWAYS PULL THIS TO BE INFORMATIONAL SO ALL OUR PARENTS AND FAMILIES CAN KNOW WELL IN ADVANCE WHAT THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WHEN OUR HOLIDAYS ARE GOING TO BE. I WOULD -- I THINK WE GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR. BUT I WOULD JUST LOVE FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN, AGAIN WHY WE RUN SO CLOSE UP TO
088THE WINTER HOLIDAY DUE TO TESTING AND HOW THAT ALL WORKS OUT, SO WHEN PEOPLE CONTACT ME, I CAN EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW WE DECIDE WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BREAK RIGHT BEFORE THE WINTER HOLIDAY GOES. YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN FOR YOUR QUESTION. SO STATUTE, YOU KNOW, INDICATES OR REQUIRES US TO HAVE SO MANY INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS PER SEMESTER. IN ADDITION TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS FOR A YEAR. FOR A SEMESTER COURSE, WE ARE TALKING -- PREDOMINANTLY HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE CREDIT IS WHAT DRIVES THE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. STUDENTS NEED 65.7 HOURS FOR A SEMESTER COURSE. SO WE HAVE TO GO -- WE HAVE TO GET THAT MANY HOURS IN THAT FIRST SEMESTER IN ORDER FOR THEIR DIPLOMA TO BE CERTIFIABLE. TO HELP ANSWER E-MAILS, HOW CAN OTHER COUNTIES DO IT DIFFERENTLY. DO THEY HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS?
089WE ABSOLUTELY DO. ONE OF THE BIGGEST VARIATIONS IN OUR CALENDAR COMPARED TO ANY OTHER DISTRICT AROUND US IS THAT WE NEGOTIATE AS PART OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THE EARLY RELEASE DAYS. AND SO THAT TIME SUBTRACTED FROM OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES PUSHES OUR CALENDAR. Jessica Vaughn: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. YES, MA'AM. Karen Perez: SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE DAIS. NEXT ITEM IS 6.01, CONTINUATION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 FOR ORDINARY EXPENSES. ROE JOHNSON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Roe Johnson: DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM? IT IS 2024 CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. IT IS ALLOWING THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUE SPENDING OF FISCAL YEAR UNTIL THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED IN
090SEPTEMBER. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.01. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YES, I DO. WITH OUR NEW RECENT COMPUTER SYSTEM WE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING, HOW IS THAT AFFECTING ALL OF OUR -- THE PROCESSES IN WHICH WE ARE WORKING WITH? BECAUSE WHEN WE REQUESTED SOME DATA AND INFORMATION, I AM HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IT BASED ON THE WORKING OF THE SYSTEM AND BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT DATA. ARE WE ABLE TO CAPTURE ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL DATA? HOW ARE WE MONITORING WITH TWO SYSTEMS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. Roe Johnson: WE HAVE CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE IMPROVED THE SYSTEM ALREADY. WE HAVE THEM IN
091HERE FOR ONE MONTH. THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINING WITH STAFF TO GET IN AND GET THE DATA AND REPORTS OUT OF THE NEW SYSTEM. THE N 4 SYSTEM. Patti Rendon: ALL OF OUR INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE? Roe Johnson: NOT ALL OF OUR INFORMATION, BUT ACCESS TO SOME OF THE DATA. IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO IT BECAUSE NOT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE UP AND RUNNING. WE ARE FUNCTIONAL, BUT GETTING REPORTS OUT OF THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT SOMETIMES. Patti Rendon: DO WE HAVE AN ANTICIPATION WHEN THE DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ONGOING REVIEW? Roe Johnson: WE HAVE THE CONTRACTORS HERE. WHEN WE PUT IN A TICKET THEY SHOW US HOW TO GET THE DATA. IF YOU HAVE A REQUEST AND YOU NEED SOME INFORMATION, WE CAN WORK WITH OUR TEAM AT R.P.I. TO GET
092TO THE DATA. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MISS JOHNSON, DUE TO THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP AND VOUCHERS, THE STATE FORECAST IS THAT WE WILL LOSE 7052 STUDENTS. THAT IS THE FORECAST WHICH IS EQUAL TO A LOSS OF 66 MILLION DOLLARS OF FTE. HOW WILL THAT AFFECT OUR FUND BALANCE AND YUKS AT THAT POSED WITH OUR TEACHES IF WE WERE TO HIRE TEACHERS. ALL THE TEACHERS, $47.5 MILLION. SO IF WE ARE ADDING THESE COSTS, MY CURIOSITY OR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO KEEP OUR FUND BALANCE HEALTHY. SO, ARE WE LOWERING OUR FUND BALANCE TO ACCOMMODATE THE LOSS OF FTE AND -- AND TEACHER ACCORDINGLY? Superintendent Ayres: BEFORE WE GET TO THAT. THIS ITEM IS A CONTINUATION OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET INTO JULY. IF YOU DON'T ADOPT THE BUDGET
093FOR NEXT YEAR. THIS HAS TO DO. AND THE OTHER QUESTION. WE ARE MONITORING. THIS IS PACED ON PROJECTION. WE DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE DO THE COUNT DAY AND INTERRUPT FROM THE THIRD CALCULATION FROM FEBRUARY. WE KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA IN OCTOBER WHAT OUR ACCOUNT IS. AND THE STATE FORECAST. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT AS A -- AS A -- AS A FUND BALANCE MOVING FORWARD? AND -- FUND BALANCE IS HEALTHY AND THE OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE. WE WILL NEED TO -- AND WE START SPENDING DOWN OUR FUND BALANCE, BUT RIGHT NOW MONITORING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY IN LINE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON ON GENERAL FUND AND THE HIRING AND EVERYTHING. AND HOW MANY UNITS WE ALLOCATED. WE ARE JUST CLOSELY MONITORING AND DON'T -- AND EXCEED OUR EXPENDITURES OR
094REVENUE. STAY ABOVE -- AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, WE ARE BEING LOOKED AT CLOSELY WITH -- WE HAVE A VERY COMFORTABLE FUND BALANCE THAT WE DO. BECAUSE ARE WE REMEMBER THE 3%. DR. HAHN REMEMBERS THAT. AND -- SO THE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED WITH SUCH A COMFORTABLE FUND BALANCE AND WE ARE ASKING FOR MILLAGE, AND THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT -- WE NEED TO IT BE SHOWING AND SHARING TO THE PU PUBLIC. SO -- TO YOUR QUESTION EARLIER, ARE -- ARE UNIT ALLOCATIONS. UNITS WE GIVE OUT TO SCHOOLS, THEY MAKE PROJECTIONS IN THE SPRINGTIME. AS MISS JOHNSON MENTIONED -- ALWAYS WHEN WE HAVE POOL PLACEMENTS AND MOVEMENTS. BUT OUR NUMBER OF PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE IS ALWAYS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE RECEIVE. THAT IS WHERE OUR PRINCIPALS WORK AND SUPERINTENDENTS WORK AND CHIEF
095OF SCHOOLS WITH MISS JOHNSON TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE CORRECT NUMBER OF TEACHER AND UNITS OUT AT SITES THAT IS EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE CURRENTLY ENROLLED. A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IT IS CHALLENGING AND THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE -- WE HAVE -- BECAUSE WE MOVE INTO NEXT YEAR. BOUNDARY SHIFTS THAT ARE COMING UP. AND SEEING WHERE OUR STUDENTS LAND IS MOBILE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE UNITS ARE AT THESE SITES THAT NEED THESE UNITS AND KNOW THAT IT IS ALWAYS BASED ON THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS. WE PROJECT IN THE SPRING, AND WE -- WE HAVE THOSE TEACHERS IN THOSE SCHOOLS ON THAT FIFTH DAY CO COUNT. Lynn Gray: LET ME LEAVE IT AT THAT. LOWERS THE FUND BALANCE. AND INTEREST RATES
096CAN GO UP. A LOT OF -- LET'S JUST SAY RESULTS THAT COULD HAPPEN. AND JUST -- JUST KEEPING AWARE OF THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST TO MAKE CLEAR MY UNDERSTANDING REVIEWING WITH BOTH MISS JOHNSON AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. YOU ARE CREATE CAN A BUDGET, OUR PRINCIPALS AND A YOU WILL OF OUR ADMINISTRATION THAT WE ARE CREATING A STRUCTURE WITHIN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE EDUCATIONAL TEACHERS AND SERVICES AND STAFF NECESSARY FOR CURRENTLY THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF STUDENTS. AND SO, WE ARE BUILDING A BUDGET AMONGST THE CONSERVATIVE VIEW OF THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE COMING. AT NO POINT IN TIME DO WE SEE A TIME WHERE WE ARE GOING TO
097HAVE TO REDUCE OUR FUND BALANCE BECAUSE A PROJECTION OF STRUCTURE THAT YOU ARE ANTICIPATING IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS. AM I CORRECT? WE HAVE TO CLOSELY MONITOR BECAUSE WE DO OUR PROJECTIONS IN THE SPRING BASED ON ACTUAL STUDENTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. WE TOOK THAT NUMBER IN THE FALL BASED ON ACTUAL STUDENT BODIES ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT. SO MONITORING HOW MANY VACANCIES WE HAVE OUT THERE A, AND HOW WE ARE STAFFING OUR FACILITIES. CORRECT. SO WHEN WE MET AND DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATING POTENTIAL OF INDIVIDUALS CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS AT SCHOOLS. WE ARE ON A CONSERVATIVE SIDE FOR OUR STAFFING PATTERN, ETC. THAT IS YOUR ANTICIPATION, CORRECT? YES, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE STATE EVEN PROJECTED A LOSS OF ENROLLMENT OF THAT NUMBER, 7,000. SO WE ARE JUST CLOSELY
098MONITORING BECAUSE WE NEVER HAD A PROJECTION FROM THE STATE THAT REDUCED OUR TRADITIONAL STUDENTS DOWN. Patti Rendon: CORRECT. MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE MET AND TALKED, YOU ARE CREATING A STRUCTURE IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR THAT PROJECTION. IF WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS, WE WILL INCREASE ALL OF OUR NUMBERS AND HAVE THAT WAITING IN LINE AND OUR PRINCIPALS ARE PREPARING AS IF PREPARING OUR NUMBERS OF ENROLLMENT. CORRECT? Roe Johnson: THAT'S CORRECT. Patti Rendon: LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CHOICES IN OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT FEAR THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE THE BEST PRODUCT FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE THE BEST PRODUCTS TO OFFER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT IS A MATTER OF -- WE ARE ANTICIPATING BASED ON THE STATE AND WHAT THEY ARE ANTICIPATING. SO WE HAVE A CONSERVATIVE VIEW OF MAKING SURE
099OUR STAFF SOMETHING WHERE IT IS. BUT OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, OUR REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS, OUR FINANCE, OUR HR ARE ALREADY FOR IF WE ARE MORE STUDENTS THAN PROJECTED TO PUT THOSE PEOPLE IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY. AM I CORRECT? Roe Johnson: THAT'S CORRECT. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, I AM CONFUSED IF THIS BUDGET THAT WE ARE APPROVING RIGHT NOW HAS ALL -- ALL THE EXTENSION OF THE BUDGET. THE EXTENSION FROM -- TO THE SUMMER PIECE. Roe Johnson: WHAT YOU ARE APPROVING IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE EXPENDITURES. NO REVENUES ARE IDENTIFIED. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WAS IT BUILT WITH THE VACANCIES INCLUDED? OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET. Roe Johnson: OUR PROJECTED BUDGET IS WITH THE VACANCIES INCLUDED. WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU IS
100NOT THE BUDGET AT ALL, A CONTINUATION FOR EXPENDITURES FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. Jessica Vaughn: YOU SAID THAT. I GOT THAT. IS EVERY SINGLE IN OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, MY QUESTION AGAIN, A BILL FOR EVERY SINGLE VACANCY TO BE FILLED IN IT. Roe Johnson: OUR BUDGET IS NEVER FILLED WITH ALL THE VACANCIES THE IT IS STRICT HAS. 100 MILLION OF VACANCIES THAT WE WERE COVERING ADVERTISED VACANCIES. THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET IS BEING BUILT WITH 50 MILLION OF VACANCIES, YOU KNOW, AND WE ARE GOING TO COVER THOSE VACANCIES THAT IS GOING TO BE ADVERTISED. THAT IS HOW THE BUDGET IS BUILT. BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE -- WE HAVE A NEWER NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT THIS BUDGET WE CAN AFFORD TO BUILD OUR BUDGET WITH. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN HILLSBOROUGH THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
101EVEN INCLUDE THE ADVERTISED VACANCIES TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST CAME. BECAUSE THE FIRST YEAR, I BUILT THE BUDGET -- MY FIRST YEAR, BASED ON FILL POSITION. AND NOW I INCLUDE THE ADVERTISED VACANCIES SO WE CAN COVER WHAT WE ARE HIRING AT THE TIME. BECAUSE WE HAVE A REDUCED ALL THE VACANCIES THAT IS IN THIS CAPACITY IN OUR DISTRICT. OKAY. I WANT TO RECLARIFY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, IT WAS NOT TO INCLUDE EVERY VACANCY. WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS IT ONLY INCLUDED THE ADVERTISED VACANCIES? Roe Johnson: CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: WHICH VACANCIES ARE THERE THAT ARE NOT ADVERTISED. Roe Johnson: WELL, PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENTS PUT HOLD ON SOME VACANCIES THAT WE WILL JUST HOLD OFF HIRING. AND WE WILL JUST ADVERTISE BASED ON TEACHER -- BASIC ALLOCATION FOR TEACHERS TO GET THE TEACHERS FILLED IN THE
102CLASSROOM. Jessica Vaughn: SOME POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANCIES THAT WE DIDN'T BUILD INTO FOR THE BUDGET THAT ARE ON HOLD THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDING THAT ARE -- THERE IS NOT -- WE CANNOT -- IF WE DECIDED TOMORROW TO ADVERTISE FOR THAT AND NEEDED THAT POSITION. AND NOT FUNDING IN OUR BUDGET FOR IT. Roe Johnson: LIMITED FUNDING. VACANCIES -- MORE VACANCIES THAN I CAN HAVE FUNDING FOR. SO THOSE POSITION ALSO NOT BE FILLED. WE HAVE TO BUILD THE BUDGET BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND BASED ON WHAT I HAVE AVAILABLE, ONLY BUILD BASED ON ADVERTISED POSITIONS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING -- GOING OUT TO HIRE. Jessica Vaughn: DOES THAT INCLUDE POSITIONS IN OUR SUCCESS CENTERS, YOU ESC CENTERS. THOSE ARE ALL ADVERTISED POSITIONS? Roe Johnson: ADVERTISED POSITIONS, WE COVER, YES. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY.
103CAN YOU SEND ME A LIST OF THE POSITIONS ON HOLD THAT ARE NOT BUILT IN THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE NOT ADVERTISING FOR SO GET AN IDEA WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND THE MONETARY VALUE FOR THAT? Roe Johnson: YES. Jessica Vaughn: WHILE I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MEMBER RENDON IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO SHALL COMPETITIVE, RIGHT. WE ARE IN THE ERA OF SCHOOL CHOICE. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES AND THE BEST OPTION, WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE THAT COST MONEY, RIGHT. WHEN WE ARE TALKING OF BUILDING OUT PROGRAMS. WHEN TALKING ABOUT ADDING MAGNET SCHOOL FOR PROGRAMS AND EXTRA RESOURCES, IT TAKES MONIES. AND FORTUNATELY FROM THE WAY I SEE IT. WE ARE IN A CIRCULAR SITUATION WHERE IF FAMILIES ARE INCLUDING
104OTHER CHOICES, WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS BY LAW OR MEANS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER RECRUITING OUR FAMILIES. THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN IT TO ME, THE WAY WE SAT DOWN, TAKES MONEY OUT OF OUR BUDGET. YOUR CONCERN WHEN WE TALKED, IF YOU DIDN'T CUT THOSE EXTRA POSITIONS IF THEY ARE ADVERTISED OR NOT, THE NEXT YEAR, IF WE FILLED ALL THOSE, WE WOULD BE IN A DEFICIT AGAIN. ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU EXPLAINED TO ME. THAT'S CORRECT. FUND BALANCE. WE HAVE OVER 2500 OR SOMETHING VACANT POSITIONS AND ONLY AFFORD $50 MILLION OF THAT WHICH WILL EQUATE WHERE WE ARE ADVERTISING NOW AND THAT EQUALS LIKE 717 VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE CAN FILL, BUT AS USUAL, PEOPLE LEAVE AND COME AND GO AND THEY FILL THEIR VACANCIES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. AS FAR AS ADDING
105TO THE TOTAL CAPACITY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A BUDGET THAT IS BASED ON CAPACITY AND EVERY POSITION THAT IS VACANT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT TAKES A TOTAL CAPACITY TO EDUCATE KIDS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DISTRICT WHICH IS THE SITE LOOK AT THE SITE FIRST AND WE PRIORITIZE KIDS FIRST AND HAVE A FUNDING FORMULA AND ALL THE POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT THE SITE ARE BASED ON PRIORITIZATION TO SERVICE KIDS. OTHER RESOURCES THAT ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF KIDS AT THE SITE. AND THE RESTRICTIVE RESOURCES TO HIRE VACANCIES. Jessica Vaughn: SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE VACANCIES ON HOLD. Superintendent Ayres: I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. IF YOU GO TO A SCHOOL SITE, AND THEY HAVE IN A SYSTEM THAT THEY SCHEDULE A SET NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THEIR SCHEDULERS. USE AN EXAMPLE,
1062,000 STUDENTS IN THEIR SCHEDULE. THEY ARE ANTICIPATING OVER THE SUMMER ANOTHER 00 STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO ENROLLED. Jessica Vaughn: I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HOLD ON. NOT AT SCHOOL SITES. WE ARE NOT TALKING AT SCHOOL SITES, THAT WE HAVE NOT BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET AS FAR AS VACANCIES ARE CONCERNED. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE ON HOLD? Roe Johnson: LET ME EXPLAIN THIS. SOME OF THE POSITIONS VACANT ARE NOT BASED ON STUDENT COUNT. WHEN WE -- WITH STAFF AT THE SITE BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT. SO WE MIGHT HAVE SOME VACANCIES OF PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN WE HAVE THAT CAPACITY OF THAT NUMBER OF STUDENT, BUT WHEN WE DON'T, WE HAVE TO PIVOT WITH THE NUMBER OF ENROLLED THAT
107WE HAVE ON THE SITE. WE CAN'T OVERHIRE, BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE VACANCIES PREVIOUS YEARS THAT WE KEPT ON THE BOOK AND WE NEVER REDUCED STAFF BY THAT. BECAUSE THEY ARE VACANT. WE NEVER TOOK A DETAILED LOOK AT OUR STRUCTURE AND SAY, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE ALL THESE SS VACANCIES. Jessica Vaughn: WE DO. WE DID THAT MANY YEARS IN A ROW. THAT IS WHAT WE DID FOR MANY YEARS. WE LOOKED AT THOSE AND PART OF THE PAINFUL PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TO REALLOCATE AND CUT THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE OVER. WE NEVER CUT TO OUR TOTAL CAPACITY. I AM SAYING WE OVER -- WHEN I CAME IN, WE HAD OVER 8,000. WE ARE DOWN TO ONLY 2500. WE HAD OVER 8,000 VACANCIES ON THE BOOKS THAT WE WEREN'T GOING
108TO FILL ALL THOSE POSITIONS BASED ON THE CAPACITY OF THE DISTRICT. Jessica Vaughn: I AM CONFUSED BECAUSE I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MEMBER RENDON ASKED. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE EXTRA PEOPLE AT SCHOOL SITES. I AM CONFUSED NOT AT SCHOOL SITES WHERE -- BECAUSE STUDENT ENROLL ISN'T AS HIGH, WE HAVE TO CUT THOSE POSITIONS. THERE ARE VACANT POSITIONS. THEY ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, RIGHT. Jessica Vaughn: NOT HELD UP BY STUDENT ENROLLMENT. Roe Johnson: BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT, SOME OF THESE POSITION ALSO NOT BE FILLED. Jessica Vaughn: THE QUESTION SHE SAID IS, IF ENROLLMENT CHANGES AND THAT POSITION -- THAT SCHOOL GROWS AND WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS IN THAT SCHOOL, WHAT I UNDERSTAND FOR YOU TO SAY TO HER, THEY HAD THOSE POSITIONS READY TO GO. SO -- IF YOU ARE SAYING
109WE ARE CUTTING THOSE BECAUSE -- HOW DO WE HAVE THEM READY TO GO IF THE SCHOOL EXPANDS IF WE ARE CUTTING THOSE POSITIONS AND NOT BUILDING THEM -- Roe Johnson: WE HAVE NOT CUT ANY VACANCIES. I AM TELLING YOU THAT THEY ARE STILL ON THE BOOKS. WHAT WE HAVE DONE, STAFFING BASED ON ENROLLMENT NOW AND ALLOCATED RESOURCES BASED ON ENROLLMENT NOW. IF WE ARE STAFFING AT 180,000 STUDENTS RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT IS AROUND 184,000. AND PROJECTED ONLY 176,000 STUDENT. BUT I AM STILL PROJECTING HIGHER STAFFING AND WHAT I AM COVERING, THE STUFFING WE ARE PROJECTING AT A HIGHER ENROLLMENT. THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT THAT WE HAVE NOW. NOT THE REDUCTION OF ENROLLMENT. WE WILL BE HIRING VACANCIES OVER THE SUMMER TO GET STAFFING TO THAT CAPACITY. AND AT SOME POINT, IF WE DON'T -- WHEN
110THEY COME IN AND DO THE ACCOUNT AND WE DON'T HAVE -- WE DON'T NEED ALL THAT STAFF THAT WE ARE STAFFING. WE WILL DO A SHIFT TO WHERE THE KIDS ARE, AND THAT WE WILL STILL BE HIRING IF WE NEED MORE ADDITIONAL STAFF. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. BUT THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT AT THE SCHOOL SITES. THAT IS WHAT I WAS ORIGINALLY ASKING ABOUT. Roe Johnson: NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AT THE POSITIONS AT THE SCHOOL SITE. DISTRICT POSITIONS THAT WE ARE STILL FILLING. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. Jessica Vaughn: WERE THOSE POSITIONS INCLUDED WIN WE BUILT THE BUDGET. Roe Johnson: NO. Jessica Vaughn: I WILL ASK MORE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS LATER. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER GRAY AWAY FROM
111THE DAIS. WE WILL NOW PAUSE FOR TIME CERTAIN. EMPLOYEE CO-COMMENT. WE WILL TAKE EMPLOYEE INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES IN OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4:00. 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 THE EMPLOYEES TO -- OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. BUT RATHER, AN OPPORTUNITY
112FOR TO YOU 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 ONLY SPEAKER. ONLY SPEAKER. HI, EVERYONE. VALLEY, CHEMISTRY TEACHER, SERVING AS SECRETARY-TREASURER. PROBABLY THE ONLY SPEAKER BECAUSE OUR TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE PROBABLY OUT ON WELL-DESERVED BREAKS CHECK OUT RECH RECHARGING. HOPE YOU HAD THAT TOO. YOU HAVE GRADUATION-PALOOZA. I HOPE YOUR CAR MEANT GETS REFRESHED AND RECHARGED TIME. FIRST, HE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS NOT PROMOTION. AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THIS RECOGNITION IS TELLING MARGINALIZED KIDS, I SEE YOU. AND IN TODAY'S WORLD WHERE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE'S FIRST INSTINCT IS TO GO ON THE ATTACK, THIS REALLY
113DOES MEAN A LOT TO KIDS WHO ARE SOMETIMES VERY SCARED TO BE WHO THEY ARE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT RECOGNITION. IT REALLY DOES MEAN A LOT TO -- TO SOME OF OUR KIDS. NOW ON A PROFESSIONAL NOTE, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEGUN. AND HONESTLY, I THINK IT IS THE EARLIEST I CAN EVER REMEMBER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE ARE ALREADY AT THE TABLE. WE GO BACK TO THE TABLE AGAIN ON THURSDAY. AND IF WE COME TO AN AGREEMENT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, I MEAN, THAT WILL REALLY BE UNPRECEDENTED, I THINK. AND TOTALLY BOOST MORALE. SO WE AT HCTA ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT WE BELIEVE IS FAIR BUT DOES COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES FOR -- FOR WHAT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING. WE HAVE
114-- WE HAVE -- GIVEN YOU A -- A PROPOSAL, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE COMING BACK ON THURSDAY. HOPE YOU ARE STRONGLY CONSIDERING THIS. AND WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO -- TO HEARING YOUR RESPONSE ON THURSDAY. SO THANK YOU. AND HAPPY SUMMER AGAIN. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. AND NOW WE WILL ALSO LISTEN TO A TIME CERTAIN FOR PUBLIC HEARING. PUBLIC HEARING ON ADOPTION OF REVISED POLICIES FROM GOVERNOR -- GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. I WILL NOW OPEN -- OH -- CLOSE -- OKAY. MR. PORTER, SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WILL HIGHLIGHT IN ITEM. Jim Porter: ALONG WITH MISS DAVIS. WE WORK IN TANDEM ON THIS. THIS IS PUBLIC HEARING FOR POLICIES YOU PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED AT A WORKSHOP. NOT ABOUT THE CELL PHONE POLICY. THAT IS COMING BACK AT A LATER DATE. BUT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, THAT IS STILL BEING WORKED
115ON. THESE POLICIES ARE CLEANUP POLICIES BROUGHT BY STAFF FOR KERR STATE LAW. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THEM, BUT TO FORMALLY ADOPT THE POLICIES THAT YOU HEARD IF MISS DAVIS WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING. BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, MADAM CHAIR, YOU NEED TO ASK IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS. Karen Perez: DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ADOPTION OF REVISED POLICY? SEEING NONE -- Jim Porter: CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Karen Perez: SEEING NONE, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE POLICY. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MEMBER COMBS AWAY FROM THE
116DAIS. NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO OUR -- OUR BOARD MEETING -- CLOSE OUT THE -- THE PUBLIC -- PUBLIC HEARING. AND GO BACK TO OUR BOARD MEETING. THE NEXT ITEM IS 7.08, APPROVE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FOUNTAIN OAKS BUSINESS CENTER FOR CLASSROOM SPACE, CAREER RECRUITMENT AND INSTITUTION AND BASIC ENGLISH PROGRAM FOR 2024-2028 TERM. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT IN ITEM. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FOUNTAIN OAKS BUSINESS CENTER FOR CAREER RECRUITMENT INSTRUCTION AND BASIC INSTRUCTION. CARIBE. THIS IS FUND THE THROUGH THE CARIBE GRANT AT 31 WEST WATERS AVENUE. ADULT EDUCATION LEASE COMMENCE MAY 2024 AND EXPIRE MAY 26, 2029 ALREADY SERVES ADULT LEARNERS ENROLLED IN CARIBE. THE ANNUAL COST OF THIS LEASE 49,95. 4962 PER MONTH EXCLUDING CUSTODIAL, 4500 SECURITY POSIT, 2% BASE RENT INCREASE FOR YEARS TWO. AND 3% FOR YEARS
117THREE, FOUR AND FIVE. LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE CARIBE. AND MR. SCOTT BROOKS IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THIS LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FOUNTAIN OAKS BUSINESS CENTER. Karen Perez: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.08. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON AND MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER RENDON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. A WORTHWHILE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THIS LOCAL AREA WHO ARE ABLE TO LEARN ENGLISH AND FUNCTION BETTER IN OUR COMMUNITY ASSIST OUR FAMILIES, ETC., IT IS GREAT. WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS WE HAVE NO COMPARABLES. WE HAVE ZERO COMPARABLES FOR SPACE, PRICE FOR ANY OF THESE LEASES NO COMPARISON OF ANY OTHER OPTIONS OR ANY OTHER COMPS
118FOR ANY OTHER THINGS IN THE AREA. SO THAT IS ONE OF MY ISSUES. THE SECOND ISSUE, ANY TIME I HAVE DONE A LEASE ESPECIALLY OVER MULTIYEAR, THE BENEFIT OF DOING IT OVER MULTIYEAR, WE DON'T HAVE AN INCREASE. THEY ACTUALLY GIVE US A DISCOUNT BECAUSE WE SIGNED A THREE OR FOUR-YEAR LEASE. SOME REASON, THE DISTRICT BEING CHARGED MORE FOR A MULTIYEAR LEASE. I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE NO COMPARABLE COMPS FOR ANY BUILDINGS IN THIS CURRENT AREA OR FOR THE SIZE AND SPACE. WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE. AND, AGAIN, WE HAVE A LEASE WHERE WE ARE NOT BEING -- THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE. AND CONTINUED TO INCREASE. AND SIGN THE MULTIYEAR LEASE IN ANY CORPORATIONS, THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT HAVING THE RATE INCREASE. I SIGNED MULTIPLE RATE -- EXCUSE ME LEASES WITH MY BUSINESS AND THINGS
119OVER THE YEARS AND THAT WAS ALWAYS THE ADVANTAGE. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD BE EVEN SIGNING A LEASE THAT GUARANTEES AN INCREASE AND I HAVE NO CAMPS TO COMPARE IT TOO. I DON'T KNOW IN THE AREA ANYWHERE ELSE. IT DOES SEEM VERY HIGH. FOR THAT -- EVEN FOR THE SPACE IN COMPARISON. SO -- SO FAR THAT, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE NO, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE PROVIDED US THE PROPER -- THE PROPER THINGS TO EVEN HAVE A COMPARABLE TOO. AND SO -- LIKE I SAID, IT IS NOT ABOUT THE -- ABOUT THE ISSUE WE ARE DEALING WITH, IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE BEST RATE AND GETTING THE BEST SPACE FOR THE BEST COST. WE HAVE NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TOO. FOR ME, I AM
120GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THIS. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: CONVERSELY, WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH OF IMMIGRANTS AND TOWN AND COUNTRY IS THE HEART OF -- IT IS THE HEART OF WHERE MANY OF THEM ARE. LETO INCLUSIVELY. THE OFFICE SPACE IS DRESSED UP KIND OF NICE. IT GIVES -- IT GIVES IMMIGRATION -- IMMIGRANTS, EXCUSE ME, A FEELING OF DIGNITY. THE EASE OF TRANSPORTATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF TOWN. AND -- I THINK -- I THINK JUST THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE HAVE TO HAVE ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT THE -- THE ONUS ON THE QUESTION THAT MEMBER RENDON ASKED WILL BE ON YOU, SCOTT, IF YOU CAN JUST SHARE. AND THAT QUESTION WOULD BE, ALSO, WHY FIVE YEARS? I -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXPLANATION. SO IF
121YOU CAN SHARE THAT. YES, MA'AM, WE WERE LOOKING LONG-TERM WITH OUR GRANT AND WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES THAT HAVE COME INTO THE AREA. A HUGE AMOUNT. OUR TEAM WENT AROUND, AND WE LOOKED AND KNEW WE HAD VACANT SCHOOLS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT REALLY LOCATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE NEED THEM. TO EXPECT FOLKS TO HAVE TO DRIVE ACROSS TOWN AND UBER IS REALLY NOT -- IT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT GOING TO SERVE WHAT WE NEED. WHEN OUR TEAM WORKED WITH THE FACILITY TEAM, THE OPERATIONS TEAM TO FIND THE SPACE AND WE LOCATED THE PLACE THERE, WE LOOKED AT WANTING TO GO OUT AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AND THERE WAS SOME STABILITY. WE ARE WORKING WITH LUTHERAN SERVICES AND THEY ARE THE ONES WORKING COMING IN HERE. WORKING ON HOUSING
122AND OTHER TYPES OF THINGS. WORKING ON HOUSING AND FOLKS MOVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT GIVES US AT LEAST FOR A FIVE-YEAR FOOTPRINT OF US BEING THERE. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS AND WE LOOKED AT THE LEASE SPACE AND THE PRICE. AND WE LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF FTE THAT WE GENERATED, WE FELT THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE EXPENSE FOR US WHEN WE LOOK AT HAVING 300 STUDENT SERVED DURING THE YEAR AND THAT WAS REALLY THE THOUGHT PROCESS FOR US. Lynn Gray: THE FTE BRINGING THAT IN WILL MAKE THE COST NEUTRAL BY THE END OF FIVE YEARS. IS THAT BASICALLY CORRECT? NEUTRAL THE EXPENDITURE? NO, MA'AM. IF WE HAVE 11 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, THAT WILL PAY FOR THE ENTIRE RENTAL PER YEAR. AS LONG AS WE HAVE 11 PER YEAR, THEN WE WILL BE -- THE 12th STUDENT
123IS PUSHES US OVER THE EDGE OF BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR ALL THE RENT. SO WE FEEL LIKE WE WILL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH FTE TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE. THIS IS FUNDED OUT OF OUR CARIBE GRANT. GRANT WE GET OUT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THAT GRANT COMES IN. AND WE DO WITH THESE STUDENTS. THE ADULT STUDENTS, GENERATE FTE. ALL THESE HOURS AND NUMBERS ARE IN THE STATE AND ON ADULT SIDE FOR THE DISTRICT. IN FACT, WE MAY EVEN GAIN ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THIS -- FROM THIS. YES, MA'AM, THERE IS NO WAY I CAN BRING AN ITEM OR ASK M MR. AYRES ON AN ITEM I THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE MONEY OR GO IN THE HOLE ON. WHEN OUR TEAM STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE LOOKED AT, THE FEASIBILITY OF THE
124PROFIT. HOW MUCH WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AND MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T LOSE MONEY AS WE STAFF THIS. WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE THAT -- AND WE LEASED A LOT OF PROPERTY IN THE PAST. WAY BEFORE MY TIME. OUR DISTRICT HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN DR. LENNARD WAS AROUND AND ADULT ED RENTED SPACES, CHURCHES AND DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND. THE TRICK IS, AS THE IMMIGRATION POPULATION MOVES AND CHANGES, IT HAS GOT TO BE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Lynn Gray: UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF IMMIGRANTS, OVER 2,000 I BELIEVE JUST CAME THIS YEAR TO YOUR POINT AND THE IDEA OF HAVING HAVING A PLACE RIGHT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE AND FIND TRANSPORTATION. HARTLINE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. UBER IS TOO EXPENSIVE. FOR ME, IT FILLS TOO MANY
125DIFFERENT BOXES. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EXPLORING AND LOOKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY OF THE ADULT STUDENTS, THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY QUESTIONS THE NEED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I THINK MEMBER RENDON'S QUESTIONS AROUND THE COST ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. AND SO THIS GRANT JUST BASICALLY COVERS THE FIRST YEAR OF RENT, CORRECT? NO? NO, MA'AM. WE GET THE GRANT EVERY YEAR. Stacy Hahn: EVERY YEAR YOU WILL GET THIS GRANT? YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE LEFTOVER DOLLARS. DO YOU GET TO SPEND IT ON OTHER THINGS? YES, MA'AM. THE GRANT IS WAY LARGER THAN THIS. WE HAVE -- Stacy Hahn: OKAY. -- BUT IT IS A LITTLE TRICKY. WE HAVE A LARGE
126ADULT EDUCATION GRANT ALSO THAT COMES IN AND ALSO THE CARIBE IS A SMALL PIECE OF. SO THE CARIBE IS A VERY SPECIFIC GRANT TO WORK WITH ONLY T THE ASYLEES AND REFUGEES. A SMALLER GRANT FROM A LARGER GRANT AND THEY ARE BRAIDED AND WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. Stacy Hahn: RIGHT. BUT IF THERE IS EXTRA MONEY LEFTOVER AFTER THIS GRANT AFTER ALL THE RENT IS PAID, THEN -- THEN ALL -- THOSE ARE MONTHLY OPERATING EXPENSES. SO NOT ANY MONEY LEFT OVER OPINION IF THERE WAS MONEY LEFT OVER FROM THE GRANT, COULD YOU USE IT ON OTHER THINGS. YOU DON'T JUST HAVE TO SPEND IT ON RENT, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY. RENT IS ONE OF THE FACTORS THEY GIVE US -- WHEN THIS GRANT COMES DO US, ONE OF THE LINE ITEMS THEY GAVE. THEY WANT US
127PUTTING FACILITIES IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE IMMIGRANTS ARE. THE POINT IS ABOUT HER QUESTION ABOUT THE COMPS, BECAUSE IF YOU WERE PAYING LESS RENT, WILL HAVE MORE MONEY TO PAY ON OTHER THINGS. I DO AGREE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE SOME COMPS, AND -- BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY KIND OF CONSIDERATION FOR SIGNING A LONG LEASE. I AM KIND OF SURPRISED AS WELL. DID WE EVER GET THE SIGN ISSUE STRAIGHTENED OUT, MR. FARKAS? BECAUSE THE LEASE SAID YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A SIGN. IF YOU CAN'T HAVE A SIGN, HOW DOES ANYONE KNOW YOU ARE THERE? SO I AM HOPING THAT WAS WORKED OUT, BECAUSE WHEN I DRIVE BY, I WANT TO SEE A SIGN. AND THEN SOME. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FIND IT.
128BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THIS MIGHT BE A GREAT DEAL. AND I SAY "MIGHT" BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. SO I THINK THE PROBLEM IS -- THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE BRINGING THINGS LIKE THIS TO THE BOARD, WE NEED MORE INFORMATION THAN JUST THE LEASE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE GETTING A FAIR DEAL. AND, YOU KNOW, THESE -- AND IT MAY SEEM LIKE SOMETHING SMALL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO ANSWER TO. SO IT IS NOT SMALL TO US. AND I WOULD IMAGINE YOU PROBABLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE HOW COULD YOU NOT LOOK AT THE COMPS AND ENGAGE IN A LEASE LIKE THIS. SO IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY EASY TO BRING THAT. INFORMATION. SO, YOU KNOW, I -- I APPRECIATE
129MEMBER RENDON BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOES CAUSE ME SOME CONCERN. YOU KNOW, I -- YOU HAVE TO EXPEND THIS MONEY BY A CERTAIN DATE? NO? OKAY. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. RENDON. Patti Rendon: I AM TRYING TO LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW. WHEN DOES THIS LEASE START ANY KNOW YOU SAID IT IN THE BEGINNING. WELL, IT WAS DATED FOR APRIL 24. IS THIS -- ARE WE ALREADY IN THIS LEASE? THE DATE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED. WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT. Patti Rendon: OKAY. SUPERINTENDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T HAVE AN ACCURATE DATE ON THIS LEASE. I LOOK AT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC. THIS A CRITICAL SERVICE THAT WE
130PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO GET THIS RIGHT. I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS A CRITICAL SERVICE. A CRITICAL SERVICE FOR OUR STUDENT. A CRITICAL SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND BY NO MEANS DO I QUESTION THIS LEASE THAT I QUESTIONING THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE. WE NEED TO DO THIS WITH DUE DILIGENCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THE ITEM. Jim Porter: A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT REQUIRES A SECOND. A SECOND BY DR. HAHN. IF YOU CAN CLEAR THE BOARD. MADAM CHAIR, YOU CAN ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS TABLING IT. A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. THIS IS TO TABLE IT AND WILL COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME. Superintendent Ayres: BEING THERE IS A LEASE
131AGREEMENT ON THE WRONG DATE. IF I CAN JUST WITHDRAW THE ITEM AND BRING IT BACK. Jim Porter: THE SUPERINTENDENT IS WITHDRAWING THE ITEM AND NO NEED TO VOTE. YOU WILL BRING IT BACK -- Superintendent Ayres: WITH THE INFORMATION AND THE DATE IS WRONG. I WILL WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AND BRING IT BACK AT A LATER DATE. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: MOVING ON TO -- THAT'S IT. WE MOVE ON SO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATES ARE FOR TODAY, JUNE 4. SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER. HARD TO BELIEVE. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. THIS 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR IS OFFICIALLY OVER. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR EN SIRE HCPS FAMILY FOR AN INCREDIBLE YEAR. HOPE EVERYONE HAS A RESTFUL AND SAFE SUMMER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING FAMILIES AND STUDENTS BACK
132ALL 12 FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. I KNOW THAT WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE ALTHOUGH IT AUGUST 12. AND I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO -- TO CONGRATULATE -- CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASS OF 2024. LAST WEEK, WE CONCLUDED OUR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES FOR THE CLASS OF 2024. WE HAD OVER 14,000 SENIORS IN EIGHT DAYS WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AT THE FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS TO RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMAS. HUGE THANK YOU TO FAMILY, SECURITY TEAM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, SCHOOL AND STAFF FOR MAKING THIS YEAR'S GRADUATION SEASON SUCCESSFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE HARD WORK THAT OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM DID TO SHOWCASE EVERY SINGLE MOMENT FROM START TO FINISH. THEY MADE A COLLECTIVE 202 SOCIAL MEDIA POST ACROSS THREE PLATFORMS DURING GRADUATION SEASON. ALSO, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. DISTRICT
133FACEBOOK PAGE. RECEIVED 1.9 MILLION IMPRESSIONS OVER THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY POSTED ENTERED A USER'S SCREEN AND DISTRICT GRAM 40,000 PEOPLE WHO SAW OUR CONTENT. POSTS OF OUR HOMECOMING SURPRISE PERFORMED THE BEST. OUR FAMILIES THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE CEREMONIES WE LIVESTREAMED GRADUATIONS WITH THE HELP. AND WE SAW AN INCREASE OF 34% FOR THOSE BROADCASTS INCREASE 4%. 09,000 STREAM REQUESTS. WE HAVE FAMILIES IN OVER 113 COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, FRANCE, NEW ZEALAND AND SINGAPORE TO TUNE IN TO SUPPORT OUR GRADUATES. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE INVOLVED AND TO OUR GRADUATES AND A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT ONCE AGAIN FOR MISS JENNIFER SORANO WHO DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. TO OUR SCHOOLS, JENNIFER -- WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT ON A GRADUATION CEREMONY. STUDENTS DON'T JUST SHOW UP AND WALK. THE TIME, AND ATTENTION BY PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL
134LEADERS AND GIVING TO THAT POINT. TRULY INCREDIBLE AND THANK YOU TO JENNIFER ONCE BEGIN FOR PUTTING ALL TOGETHER AND MANAGING THAT SEAMLESS. OUR SNOWFALLACPS LITERACY SYMPOSIUM. TEACHERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE AT HARD WORK. AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IS THROUGH T THE HCPS LITERACY SYMPOSIUM. LAST WEEK, PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS AND HEARD FROM SEVERAL KEY NOTE SPEAKERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF READING AND PROFICIENCY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. THANK YOU TO THE EDUCATORS FOR TAKING TIME TO LEARN NEW STRATEGIES TO HELP INVEST IN STUDENTS. I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATIONS LEI LATE OUR HEALTHY SCHOOL AWARD QUINERS. GOLD WINNER, 55 IN ELEMENTARY, FOUR IN K-8, 11 IN MIDDLE AND 11 IN HIGH. SILVER IN ELEMENTARY AND BRONZE BREAKDOWN. A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SCHOOL FOR MAKING OUR HEALTHY SCHOOLS IMPORTANT, AND THE AWARDS WE GIVE THEM.
135YESTERDAY AT -- AT ARMWOOD, A LOT OF THEM RECEIVED PLAQUES. AND SO IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY -- JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR SCHOOLS AND AWARD-WINNING. AND WE ALL HEARD OF THIS ONE, RISING 8th GRADER ON BEING NAMED THE 2024 SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE CHAMPION. HE WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST THURSDAY IN THE COMPETITION'S SECOND ROUND IN THE SECOND-EVER SPELL OFF. 92 WORDS SPELLED CORRECTLY IN THE SHOWDOWN. WE ARE PROUD OF HIM AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WHAT A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND THE DAY AFTER HE WAS DONE, HE GOT A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR -- FOR -- NUMBER ONE, THE STATE OF FLORIDA BEING THE WINNER AND, OF COURSE, RIGHT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, TUR TURNER BARTEL. CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO BRUHA. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, BUT JUST MAY 15. MAY 15 --
136DOESN'T IT? OUR DISTRICT AND STATE LEADERSHIP SURPRISED AND CONGRATULATED DR. CLAYTON FOR A TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST. TEACHER AT BLAKE. HONORED HIM AS HIKING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REPRESENTS ALL THE TREMENDOUS EDUCATORS IN OUR DISTRICT. I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR HIM. ONE STATE FINALISTS CHOSEN FROM 74 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN ORLANDO. 74 TEMP HERE'S IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. RIGHT HIRE, DR. NYLAN IS ONE OF FIVE AND FIND OUT ON JULY 25 WHO THE FLORIDA STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR WINNER IS. CONGRATULATIONS TO CLAYTON. SUCH A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND THIS IS ONE THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF. THE FLORIDA GREEN SCHOOL DESIGNATION. WANT TO GRADUATE EARNING GREEN APPLE DESIGNATION IN THE FLORIDA GREEN SCHOOL DESIGNATION PROGRAM. ALLOWS THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS
137THAT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CON SERVE AND PROTECT FLORIDA'S NATURAL RESOURCE, RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF 65 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE AND OUR FIRST IN THE DISTRICT TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THIS ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE. CONGRATULATIONS TO RIVER VIEW. MR. SPIRO AND MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING. Karen Perez: ALL RIGHT. MEMBER GRAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK OUR HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOL COMMITTEE WHO HELPED PUT TOGETHER A SURVEY AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP GUIDE OUR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO ADVOCATE HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL WELL BEING TO EACH OF OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS. AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN AWARD. WE WILL CONTINUE THAT ON TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY MORNING, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE RECOGNITION TO COACH ROY HARRISON
138AS A -- AS A FELLOW COACH AND FRIEND OF ROY HARRISON. WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING COACHES IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. COUNTLESS STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM AS YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE TAMPA BAY REGION HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE OF HIS CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING. AND WE ARE REMINDED THAT OUR COACHES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS WITH POSITIVE MIND SET, GOAL-SEEKING BEHAVIORS, TREMENDOUS DISCIPLINE, AND ENDURING ATTITUDE BOTH PHYSICALLY AND ACADEMICALLY. COACH HARRISON AS LIFE-LONG COACH EXEMPT FRIED THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE BOYS AND GIRLS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF LIFE. WHILE AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, ROY'S COACHING RESULTED IN 30 STATE QUALIFYING TEAMS, 12 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 12 STATE TITLES. NOT EVER BEEN REPEATED BY ANY IMAGINATION AND ANY STATISTICS. EVEN BILL
139WARD WOULD AGREE. ACCOMPLISHED SEVEN INDIVIDUAL STATE TITLE, COACH HARRISON ALSO RECOGNIZED BOTH IN THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND FLORIDA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME. IN 2018, THE TAMPA BAY TIMES REPORTED THAT THEY RANKED HIM 21st ON THEIR LIST OF THE GREATEST COACHES IN THE BAY AREA. ONE FORMER STUDENT OF ROY'S, WHICH YOU MET TO WAS KRISTEN CHITENDIN. HER TESTIMONY INCLUDED COACH ROY'S MANY LIFE LESSONS. DESCRIPTION DESCRIBE THE GREATNESS THAT COACH HARRISON INSTILLS. AND REPORTED HELPED TO BUILD YOUNG CHILDREN'S MINE SETS TO DEVELOP INTO THE CROSS COUNTRY SPORT. HE CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED AND BUILT THE CONFIDENCE OF COUNTLESS WOMEN WHO RAN FOR HIM AND PHYSICALLY WITH HIM ON THE BAYSHORE. HE MADE STUDENTS BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS IN LIFE IF THEY PRACTICE DISCIPLINE, HAVE A POSITIVE MIND SET AND THE COURAGE
140TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND WHO THEY WERE AND WHAT THEY CAN BE. ALTHOUGH RUN SOMETHING A VERY INDIVIDUAL SPORT, AND I THINK SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, YOU WILL AGREE, COACH HARRISON ALSO BUILT TEAMS AND CAMARADERIE THAT REMAIN ALMOST 30 YEARS OR MORE LA LATER. HE DID THIS KEEPING THINGS FUN AND HUMOROUS. HE TRULY EMBODIED A WELL BALANCED COACH. TESTIMONIAL AND THE ONES WE HEARD THIS EVENING IS GREAT MAN COACH AND ROLE MODEL FOR OUR YOUTH THAT COACH ROY HARRISON IS. GOD BLESS HIM. ALSO TONIGHT -- NOT TONIGHT, BUT THIS AFTERNOON. SPOTTO HIGH SCHOOL HAD A HUGE CAMBRIDGE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. AND THE LARGEST IN AMERICA. BUILT IN WITH BRIAN HOOVER TO A POINT WHERE THE ACE PROGRAMS ARE NOW SPREAD, AS WE ALL KNOW, THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. I THINK WE HAVE EIGHT AND OVER 26 HIGH SCHOOLS.
141THIS PROGRAM AND MY BELIEF AS A FORMER AP TEACH WILL RAISE THE ACADEMIC BAR OF MANY OF OUR STUDENTS IN MANY WAYS. GREAT ACADEMICS REALLY DOES LEAD TO GREAT MENTAL HEALTH, BY THE WAY. IT GIVES THE KIDS CONFIDENCE AND VALIDATES THE HARD WORK AND HARD STUDY HAS POSITIVE RESULTS. LAST. I WISH ALL OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF, TEACHERS AND BOARD A WONDERFUL SUMMER. HOPEFULLY WE ALL GAIN A LITTLE BIRTHDAYS OF REST. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR PEREZ. SUPERINTENDENT, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON APOLLO BEACH K-8 AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE OR CAN EXPECT FOR SIXTH GRADE? Superintendent Ayres: GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE. MR. FARKAS, IF YOU CAN -- Christopher Farkas: OVER 1350 APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN. -- 150 APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN.
142116 THAT ACCEPTED THOSE. 116 FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT IS BEFORE THE JULY APPLICATION PERIOD WILL BE OPEN FOR AS WELL AS WELL. SO WE HAVE 116 THAT WILL BE THERE NOW. Superintendent Ayres: GREAT, THANK YOU. Stacy Hahn: OKAY. RADIO THOSE -- HOW MANY ARE MATRICULATING FROM THE FIFTH GRADE? Christopher Farkas: GOOD QUESTION. THAT IS WHAT WE LOOKED AT TOO, 30 TO 40 KIDS OUTSIDE OF APOLLO BEACH THAT WANT TO GO TO APOLLO BEACH, SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. HARD TO TELL IF THEY WERE THERE AND MOVED BACK IN. 40 OR 50 KIDS JOINING APOLLO BEACH. Stacy Hahn: INCLUDED IN THE 116 YOU JUST GAVE ME. Christopher Farkas: IN THE 150 NUMBER THAT APPLIED FOR IT TOO. I WILL GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER ON THE APPLICATIONS AND SEND IT TO THE BOARD. Stacy Hahn: ALL RIGHT.
143WE ARE GETTING -- NO, SOME OF THEM ARE CHOICING IN. WE ARE GETTING A GOOD RESPONSE. AND WE ARE RETAINING IT LOOKS LIKE QUITE A FEW STUDENTS FROM THE FIFTH GRADE. AND MAYBE GETTING STUDENTS BACK IN THE FUTURE THAT WE HAVE LOST IN THE PAST. Christopher Farkas: 85 KIDS IN THE FIFTH GRADE AND AT LEAST 40 KIDS THAT WILL BE -- THAT WE ARE GETTING BACK FROM SOMEWHERE. Stacy Hahn: GLAD WE ARE GETTING A GOOD RESPONSE. MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN, MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WILL BE BRIEF TONIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WOMEN OF COLOR FOR -- THEY DONATED $13,000 OF GOLF EQUIPMENT TO MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. AND THAT INCLUDED GOLF CLUBS AND UNIFORMS FOR THE LADIES
144-- YOUNG LADIES THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MISS PERRY. SECOND OF ALL WHICH IS LAST FOR ME. I HAD A GREAT -- I HAD A CHANCE TO CONFIRM MY GRANDSON'S GRADUATION AT SUTTON. HE WAS SHOCKED. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I WAS DOING IT. BUT IT WAS REALLY GREAT. WE HAD GREAT GRADUATION THIS YEAR. IT WENT SMOOTHLY AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB. YOU KNOW SHE -- SHE -- SHE LEFT? Superintendent Ayres: I THINK SHE LEFT. Henry "Shake" Washington: SHE DOES A GREAT JOB. VERY ORGANIZED. ON TOP OF EVERYTHING, IT WAS GREAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: JUST BRIEFLY. I WANT TO REITERATE. I AM GLAD TO SEE THE NUMBERS FOR APOLLO BEACH BECAUSE IT DOES SHOW A NEED FOR US TO DO
145A DEEPER DIVE IN THE SOUTH AND EAST COUNTY AND THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WANT TO CHOICE INTO APOLLO BEACH. I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID THERE IS ABOUT 40 THAT ARE -- RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE ASKED TO CHOICE IN. BUT -- AND THEN ONES THAT HAVEN'T CHOICED IN, THE FIFTH GRADE, WE ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD WHICH IS GREAT. AND WE ARE PRIORITIZE THE STUDENTS THAT NOT ONLY STUDENTS IN APOLLO BEACH, BUT IN THE -- IN THE ZONE FOR THE ENTIRE APOLLO BEACH BEACH ELEMENTARY, CORRECT? Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM, THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. Patti Rendon: I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR ON THAT. I WANTED TO LOOK AT THE LARGER CONCERN. WE MAY BE MEETING A SMALL NEED, BUT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT NEED FOR THAT
146ENTIRE AREA OF THE COUNTY. WE HAVE GOT AN INCREASE OF 200 ENROLLMENTS AT SHIELDS SINCE JANUARY, YOU KNOW. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE SIXTH GRADE STILL SITTING IN PORTABLES. I AM EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A PLACE FOR OTHER STUDENTS TO GO, BUT IMPLORE CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE A LARGER PROBLEM WITHIN THE ENTIRE SOUTH AND EAST COUNTY, OVERCROWDING. TOO MANY STUDENTS. NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF. SO, AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WE BRING A PLAN TO THIS BOARD OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY IN PARTICULAR. IT IS A LARGER ISSUE THAT EXPANDS, BECAUSE WITH I HAVE TO PLAN AND PREPARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I DO WANT TO
147THANK THE CABINET AND ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS THROUGH ROSAC FOR THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GOING ON THIS WEEK THAT HIT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS THE LAST TWO DAYS. WE WILL BE DOING OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THE NEXT TWO DAYS. I THINK THEY ARE -- I THINK THEY ARE A PROFOUND BEGINNING OF REALLY FOCUSING ON WHAT WE ARE DOING GOOD IN OUR DISTRICT AND WHAT WE CAN EXPAND ON. I BELIEVE OUR -- OUR PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS WERE EXTREMELY RECEPTIVE. OUR STAFF DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM OUR PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATION AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE BOARD BE PART OF THAT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT. GRADUATION. WHAT A HIGHLIGHT FOR US TO BE CONFER THESE GRADUATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE WELL
148OVER 15,000 THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WAS QUITE AMAZING FOR 15,000 IN NINE DAYS. THANK YOU, SUPERIN SUPERINTENDENT AYERES. IT WAS A LIFT. YOU PRETTY MUCH LIVED AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND YOU HAD THE JOY OF DOING EVERY GRADUATION AND WE HAD THE LUXURY OF COME AND GOING. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EFFORTS YOU PUT INTO IT AND ALL OF YOUR STAFF AND THE TIME THEY TOOK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WENT FLAWLESS. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. YOU KNOW, FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK JENNIFER SPERANO. SHE WAS THERE DAY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END, YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE SAT WITH SOME OF OUR -- SOME OF OUR -- CAN YOU SHOW HER -- HIGHLIGHT HER PICTURE JUST IN CASES THERE STAFF HERE THAT DO NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS.
149YOU KNOW, SHE -- FROM THE MOMENT THAT -- THAT THE -- THAT THE FAIRGROUNDS OPENED TO THE EVENING, SHE SAT SOMETIMES WITH STUDENTS WHO WERE WAITING FOR THEIR PARENTS TO COME OR AA RIDE. SHE SAT FAITHFULLY THERE, YOU KNOW. ADDRESSED SOME FALLING RACCOONS. I MEAN, SHE WAS THERE. SHE WAS AMAZING. FROM MAKING SURE OUR STAFF WAS FED AND BAND-AIDS WERE -- EVERYTHING. AND SHE WAS -- SHE WAS AMAZING. COULD YOU ASK HER FOR A KITCHEN SICK AND RUN AND GET IT AND GIVE -- I MEAN, SHE WAS GREAT. JUST GREAT. AND, YOU ARE KNOW, HAVING STAFF LIKE THAT -- SUPERINTENDENT, THAT'S MAKES THIS DISTRICT GREAT. DEDICATION. YOU KNOW, LOYALTY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST -- IT -- I MEAN, WHEN YOU WATCH, THE WELL OILED MACHINE FOR GRADUATIONS AND THE WAY THINGS WERE RUNNING,
150IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF, OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS STANDING ON THE STAGE AND ON THE PLATFORM WATCHING EVERY STUDENT, YOU KNOW, WALK PAST THAT -- YOU THAT THRESHOLD OF GRADUATION. IT WAS FANTASTIC. YOU KNOW, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THAT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION THAT CAN FINISH. YOU KNOW, AND MAKE THAT -- THAT ALSO GET TO THAT THRESHOLD OF -- OF GRADUATION THIS SUMMER. CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT REAL QUICKLY, PLEASE? Superintendent Ayres: SURE. I THINK OUR NUMBER -- WE ARE WAITING FOR MISS FAUCET -- FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN WITH NUMBERS. BUT WE HAVE 400 RIGHT NOW CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETIONS AN WE ARE WAITING FOR THE LAST RESULTS FROM OUR CLT TESTS TO COME IN. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION ARE STUDENTS THAT MET
151EVERY OTHER REQUIREMENT, GPA, CREDITS IN ALL AREAS BUT THE ONLY PART MISS SOMETHING THE GRADUATION BENCHMARK TEST IN READ AND MATH. I WANT TO ADD IN MATHEMATICS, 99%. WE WENT UP THREE PERCENTAGE POINT. 99% OF OUR KIDS -- OUR THE STUDENTS MADE THE BENCHMARK WITH MATHEMATICS WITH 95% IN READING. PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE. 95% MET THE READING BENCHMARK AND 99 WITH THE MATH. 99% IS NOT AND 5% OF 15,000 IS A LOT. 400. WHAT IS IT -- 471. Superintendent Ayres: 471 OF STUDENTS STILL WAITING FOR THAT BENCHMARK FOR READING TO COME IN. BUT WE WILL CONTINUE THAT WORK. AND MR. MURILLO AND MR. ROSS AND ANDERSON AND HIS TEAM TO GIVE US AN EXAMPLE. WAS IT ANOTHER 100, I THINK? YEAH. THE TEAM HAS WORKED ARDUOUSLY AND 1100 AT THIS TIME. 471. STILL A LOT
152OF WORK INSTEAD AND WE WILL WORK UNTIL AUGUST AND HOPEFULLY A LOT LESS THAN WHAT WE SEE IN THE DISTRICT. . Superintendent Ayres: THANK YOU, MISS MURILLO. Karen Perez: THE STUDENTS CAN MAKE UP THE CREDITS AND GO AHEAD AND GET -- Superintendent Ayres: RIGHT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHERE M MR. MURILLO, HIS TEAM AND MR. SANDERSON WILL WORK REQUEST THE SCHOOLS. IT STARTS AT SCHOOL LEVEL. MR. MURILLO AND MR. ROSS ANDER SONT TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS ARE IN FRONT OF A TEST TO MEET THAT BENCHMARK, SAT, CLT. AND ONCE OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE, WE DON'T -- WE CONTINUE TO WORK JUST LIKE WE DID THIS PAST YEAR WORKING WITH OUR SENIOR WHO GRADUATED LAST YEAR WORKING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COCs. SOMETHING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE STUDENT LEAVE OUR DISTRICT WE CONTINUE TO
153WORK WITH THEM AND WE WANT ZERO CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETIONS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. PUBLIC SOMETIMES -- A COC MEANS THEY MET EVERY OTHER BENCHMARK BUT THAT BENCHMARK FOR READING AND MATH. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: FABULOUS. ABSENCES. WE HAVE STUDENTS WITH IEPs THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE MARKING THEM ABSENT BECAUSE THEY ARE SPENDING THEM HOME. THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SUPERINTENDENT. WE NEED STUDENTS WITH IEPs TO STAY IN SCHOOL, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT -- AT THAT THE DATA TO SEE WHAT STUDENTS ARE BEING SENT HOME WITH IEPs BECAUSE THAT -- THAT IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE THAT -- THAT IS BEING REPORTED. WHEN THE SCHOOL -- WHEN THE SCHOOL CAN'T HANDLE THE STUDENT WITH THE IEP. THEY CALL MOM, DAD AND GRANDMA TO COME PICK UP THAT STUDENT AND MARK THAT STUDENT
154ABSENT. SO THAT DATA NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. AND THEN ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE. AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS -- OUR -- THIS BEHAVIOR HAPPENS MORE THAN NOT AND OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING HURT IN OUR SCHOOLS. DUE TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. AND WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS. WITH THAT SAID, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.