10/17/2023 - Regular Meeting

001HI. I'M NADIA COMBS, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS. THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH ADULTS IN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM. I'M HENRY SHAKE WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA. AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF MORE THAN 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT NEARLY 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO E-MAIL OR MEET WITH ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH

002SCHOOLS TV, ON SPECTRUM CABLE CHANNEL 635 AND FRONTIER CABLE CHANNEL 32. MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIAL CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS, EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 2023, IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW

003LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Henry "Shake" Washington: YOU MAY BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU NOW PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. Henry "Shake" Washington: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PLANT CELEBRATION, PLANT HIGH SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE PRINCIPAL KELLY. AND THE MUSIC DIRECTOR. THE WONDERFUL STUDENTS WHO ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING. WE'D LIKE YOU TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE. HI. I'M KALE FRANCISCO. 9th GRADE. I'M ALEX BRITT, I AM IN 10th GRADE. I AM IN THE 11th GRADE. I AM LUKE DUNBAR, 11th GRADE. SPENCER YELLIN, 11th GRADE. ZOEY, 11th GRADE. MARRON

004KENNEL, 12th GRADE. VIVIAN LOCKLEAR, 9th GRADE. COLIN FENTON, 9th FRAYED. LYDIA WILSON, 12th GRADE. KYLE GOLDBERG, 11th GRADE. NICOLE, 12th GRADE. COHEN JONES, 11th GRADE. 9th GRADE. STEVEN BOSSERT AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAS AT H.B. PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS THE CELLO CHOIR THAT PERFORMED FOR YOU GUYS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING MUSIC EDUCATION AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOP 100 MUSIC EDUCATION COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. LET'S GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. IF ANY PARENTS WANT TO COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES, PLEASE DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. GREAT PERFORMERS. Nadia Combs: WONDERFUL JOB. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE MUSIC

005INSTRUCTORS WHO DO SUCH A GREAT JOB BRINGING EVERYBODY HERE EACH AND EVERY TIME. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TODAY. WE HAVE THREE SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING; SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING; SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE

006FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE 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 THOUGHTS. AFTERWARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE

007VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS, ON LIVE WEBCAST, ON CABLE TV, ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. ALSO IT CAN BE VIEWED IN CLOSED CAPTION IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN. 7.01 PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN 6.01, EMPLOYEE INPUT. I WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER

008OR A STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. IF YOU WILL LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL AND WE'LL BEGIN TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. CINDY STUART, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CLERK OF COURT AND COMPTROLLER HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND I AM A

009FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AS MOST OF YOU KNOW. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MORT ELEMENTARY AND THE LATE SAM BELL. SAM BELL AND I STARTED SOMETHING AT MORT THAT I BELIEVE WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO THAT COMMUNITY AND THE CONCEPT HAS BEEN PUSHED THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT, THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CONCEPT. I FEEL COMPELLED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK ON ITS MERITS AND IMPORTANCE TO THE SCHOOL ESPECIALLY THE EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY. MORT HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION IN THE COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL WORK DEVELOPED COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LONG-STANDING PROGRAMMING THAT COLOCATES RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED AREAS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WITH PRINCIPAL BROWN ANNOUNCING HER RESIGNATION A FEW WEEKS AGO FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALTOGETHER, THIS COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST IN ITS RANKS TO KEEP THIS VISION MOVING

010FORWARD. I'M THRILLED TO KNOW THAT KELLY SNELLGROVE IS ON THE LIST TO BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT WITH YOUR AFFIRMATION AND A VOTE. I CONGRATULATE HER IN ADVANCE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. I WON'T BE DISGUISED. I'M SUSAN VIRGINIA DAVIS, A FORMER TEACHER. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEVER KNEW, I'M ALSO A VERY STRONG UAW FORMER WORKER. I'M A UAW WOMAN. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE TEACHER PAY RAISES AND STAFF RAISES. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY ALL CAN LIVE A DECENT LIVING WAGE AND AFFORD THEIR RETIREMENT. THANK GOODNESS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, THOUGH. THAT PAYS MOST OF MY MONTHLY BILLS, THE TEACHER RETIREMENT WOULDN'T EVEN COVER MY MONTHLY HOUSE COSTS. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO BRING UP IS STUDENT SAFETY. I KNOW MOST OF YOU, AND I NEVER

011SPOKE ABOUT IT IN 1989 WHEN I HAD A STUDENT ALMOST KILL ANOTHER STUDENT, NOT UNDER MY SUPERVISION. IT WAS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED, AND I WAS DRIVING FROM VENICE ALL THE WAY TO PORTAL TO MY NEW JOB AS VE TEACHER. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A VE TEACHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN I SIGNED THE CONTRACT. BUT I HAD A STUDENT BANG REPEATEDLY A BOY'S HEAD INTO THE SIDEWALK AND CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE. THAT WAS MY FIRST YEAR WORKING IN FLORIDA. I WAS NOT AT THE CAMPUS. I WAS DRIVING FROM VENICE TO PORT CHARLOTTE, BUT I DIDN'T STAND UP AT ANY SCHOOL BOARD AND STRESS STUDENT SAFETY. THE FLORIDA STATUTES DO REQUIRE ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS SCHOOL BOARDS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. I UNDERSTAND AT FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL THERE WAS A BOY THAT HAD BRAIN

012DAMAGE. I'M ALSO ON THE PTA. HE HAD BRAIN DAMAGE. A GROUP OF KIDS BEAT THE HECK OUT OF HIM AND KICKED HIM WHILE HE WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR AND THERE WERE LIKE 20 KIDS IN THE HALLWAYS. YOU ALL MAY HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT HE ENDED UP WITH BRAIN DAMAGE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOSE VALIENTE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE HONOR TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY GOOD FRIEND EMILEIANO JOSE SAL SEEN EASY -- SALCINES. JUDGE SALCINES IS A SON OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BORN AND RAISED. IN HIS LIFETIME, HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AND HELPED SO MANY. IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO ENUMERATE

013EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE. I WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART WHICH IS HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH USF. EJ WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE USF LATIN COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE 32 YEARS AGO. IN THAT COMMITTEE, THE USF LATINO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS BORN. THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO LATINO STUDENTS, MOST OF THEM, THE MAJORITY WHO ARE FIRST TIME IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE. THE GRADUATION RATE OF STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM IS OVER 95%. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE LATINO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAS RAISED OVER $9 MILLION, HAS AWARDED OVER $5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO OVER 1100 STUDENTS, AND THE ENDOWMENT WILL REMAIN IN PERPETUITY. AT THE MOST RECENT USF GRADUATION CEREMONY, USF PRESIDENT RHEA LAW AWARDED EJ SALCINES WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE OF HUMANITIES

014DEGREE FOR HIS SERVICE TO USF AND THE COMMUNITY. AND IN 1993, EJ ALSO RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS AWARD FROM THEN PRESIDENT FRANK BORKOWSKI. I WANT TO THANK EJ FOR HIS VISION 32 YEARS AGO FOR CREATING A PROGRAM THAT HAS HELPED AND WILL CONTINUE TO HELP MANY STUDENTS THAT NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR EDUCATION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS TODAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AND IF I COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10 PLEASE LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS MICHAEL ALBRITTON. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW US TO COME HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT MY WIFE, SYLVIA ALBRITTON AND HOPEFULLY CONSIDER HER FOR THE NAMING OF THE NEW PREK-8 MAGNET

015SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA. ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK SHE'S MORE THAN JUST IDENTIFY, ONE, SHE IS A FLORIDA NATIVE AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND, IN FACT, SHE IS A PRODUCT OF THIS VERY SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE ATTENDED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT BALLAST POINT, MONROE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. AND GREW UP IN SOUTH TAMPA. UNTIL RECENTLY WE LIVED THERE FOR ALL OUR LIVES. SHE IS A LIFETIME LEARNER AND SPENT A LIFETIME INSTILLING THE LOVE OF LEARNING IN OTHERS. WHEN SHE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, SHE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STARTED TEACHING HERE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE WAS THE FIRST GRADUATE OF HER FAMILY AND SHE WANTED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS AND SERVING AS THE PRINCIPAL AT HER ALMA MATER OF ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL WAS SOMETHING SHE WOULD

016CHERISH HER ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS CHERISHED IT. SHE HAS SPENT 45 YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I BETTER SPEED IT UP. SHE WAS AN INNOVATOR IN MANY -- SETTING MANY PROGRAMS. ONE I KNOW SHE'S VERY PROUD OF IS THE NJRTC PROGRAMS THAT SHE HELPED ESTABLISH AT ROBINSON AND ELSEWHERE. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION A COUPLE OF STUDENTS THAT HELPED GET THIS WHOLE EFFORT STARTED. ONE IS AN ACTIVE DUTY COLONEL AT FORT BRAGG, STATIONED AT FORT BRAGG. ANOTHER IS AN AIR FORCE -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN. Nadia Combs: I KNOW THE TWO MINUTES GOES FAST. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BIANCA GHOULSBY, FOUNDER OF TEACHING FOR THE CULTURE. I

017WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO UPLIFT THE EDUCATORS, THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY BURNT OUT AFTER THE FIRST GRADING PERIOD. THEY NEED MORE THAN PLASTIC PINS AND MORE THAN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. AS RENT, INSURANCE, AND UTILITIES RISE, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY WITH THE PAY. AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THESE ISSUES, OUR LINK TO THE STATE AND SOME FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT IN THE PAST, THE DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE NATION. THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF INFLUENCE THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE AS A BOARD AND AN ORGANIZATION. WE NEED FOLKS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, TO BE TRANSPARENT, AND TO OPERATE WITH INTEGRITY IF WE'RE TRULY GOING TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. IF LEADERS IN OUR STATE WILL NOT

018DO WHAT'S NECESSARY, YOUR INFLUENCE AS A SCHOOL BOARD, AS AN ORGANIZATION COULD SHIFT THE CONVERSATION TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC FACTORS IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. MY LAST CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT. ON NOVEMBER 6, WE ARE HOSTING A VITAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF A.I. IN OUR EDUCATION SPACES. THIS IS WHAT THE CYBER TASK FORCE, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, KAREN PEREZ, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THAT. AS TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST BE INTENTIONAL WITH ADDRESSING THE PRIVACY AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY CONCERNS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST. THE CONVERSATION STARTS AT 6:30 ON NOVEMBER 6 AT CHECK THE CELL PHONE.COM. DESCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST TO RECEIVE UPDATES. AGAIN, I THANK YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL THAT YOU DO BUT WE REALLY NEED YOUR INFLUENCE IN THIS STATE TO MAKE A CHANGE BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS

019AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PATRICK CHIMINO, THE TREASURER OF THE UNITED CIVIC ORGANIZATION OF TAMPA, ALSO KNOWN AT CLUB UNICO. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER E.J. SALCINES, A LONGTIME MEMBER. UNICO WAS FOUND IN 1951 BY MEMBERS OF THE SPANISH, SICILIAN AND CUBAN COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE INITIAL MEMBERS WERE PROMPTED TO VALUE EDUCATION BY THE WORLD WAR II EXPERIENCES. THE CLUB STARTED GIVING STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR ARTS AND LANGUAGE. EVENTUALLY UNICO WAS ESTABLISHED AS A NOT FOR PROFIT AND BEGAN RAISING MONEY FOR GRANTING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. IT HAS GIVEN OVER $3,350,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS -- $350,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS PRIMARILY BASED ON NEED. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, WE HAVE ENDOWMENTS AT USF, UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA,

020AND THE HCC. UNICO'S PRIMARY FUND-RAISER HAS BEEN A CRAB DINNER, BUT NOW WE ALSO SPONSOR A BOCCI TOURNAMENT. UNICO IS ONE STEPPING-STONE FOR E.J. SALCINES' TREMENDOUS SUPPORT OF EDUCATION. E.J. HAS BEEN A MEMBER FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE NOT FOR PROFIT STATUS. E.J. IS AT HEART AN EDUCATOR WITH AN ESTEEMED CAREER AS AN ATTORNEY AND JUDGE. HE HAS MENTORED AND ENCOURAGED NUMEROUS STUDENTS IN PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY LAW. HE IS A RENOWNED HISTORIAN, ESPECIAL YBOR AND EAST TAMPA AND JOSE MARTI OF THE CUBAN INDEPENDENCE. HAPPENS THAT HIS FATHER'S STORE WAS NEXT DOOR TO MY GRANDFATHER'S STORE ON HOWARD NEAR MAIN STREET. IT IS VERY FITTING TO NAME A SCHOOL FOR E.J. SALCINES FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF EDUCATION, CLUB UNICO LENDS ITS FULL SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE. THANK YOU.

021Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER. AND SPEAKERS 11 THROUGH 20 PLEASE LINE UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ROSA LYNNE WEB. I'M FROM SOUTH TAMPA. ROBINSON GRAD. ROBINSON RETIRED TEACHER AND HERE, OBVIOUSLY, FOR SYLVIA ALBRITTON. MADAM CHAIRMAN AND HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY. I THINK WE ALL KNOW WE'VE BEEN READING AND LOOKING AT EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAID, BUT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH TAMPA, THEY WANT THIS SCHOOL TO REFLECT THEIR COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE GIVEN US SO MUCH WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW FUTURISTIC SCHOOL, REVITALIZING ROBINSON, AND THAT'S VERY MEANINGFUL TO ALL OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE'RE EXCITED. WE'RE THRIVING, AND WE'RE REBUILDING THE COMMUNITY. AMONG ALL THE VOTES THAT WERE CAST, THE ONE PERSON WHO STANDS OUT AS HAVING THE MOST INTENSE TIES TO THE SOUTH TAMPA COMMUNITY IS SYLVIA. SHE WAS RAISED IN SOUTH TAMPA, WENT TO

022SOUTH TAMPA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CAME BACK TO TEACH IN OUR SCHOOLS, WAS AN ADMINISTRATOR FIRST AT ROBINSON, THEN AT PLANT, BACK TO ROBINSON AND BECAME OUR PRINCIPAL FOR SIX YEARS, SIX WONDERFUL YEARS, WHERE SHE INSTITUTED MANY CHANGES, INCLUDING THAT BEAUTIFUL GRADUATION CEREMONY THAT WAS HER BRAINCHILD AND TOOK OVER THE WHOLE COUNTY. YOU SEE IT EVERY YEAR NOW. SO WE'RE ASKING YOU WITH US TO TOUCH THE FUTURE OF SOUTH TAMPA AND GIVE US ONE OF OUR OWN AND TO TELL THE CHILDREN OF SOUTH TAMPA THAT THEY DARE TO DREAM. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN COMBS AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RICHARD DIAZ. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SYLVIA CAN TREMENDOUSLY ALBRITTON, JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. I GREW UP IN SOUTH TAMPA, SO DID SYLVIA, HER PARENTS

023AND MY PARENTS MOVED TO THE INTERBAY IN 1953. I'VE KNOWN HER FOR 70 YEARS. SHE'S BEEN A LOCAL SCHOOL ATTENDANT, BALLAST POINT ELEMENTARY, MONROE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND FINALLY ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATING THERE. SHE MOVED ON TO FSU. CONTINUED HER EDUCATION, CAME BACK TO TAMPA AS A TEACHER, LATER ON AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AND ULTIMATELY A PRINCIPAL. SYLVIA HAS DEDICATED HER ENTIRE LIFE TOWARDS EDUCATION. SHE'S CHANGED THE LIVES OF MANY, MANY STUDENTS IN THAT MANY OF WHICH ARE HERE TODAY AND I'M SURE THEY'LL ATTEST TO THE EDUCATION THEY GOT AND HOW THEIR CAREERS, HOW THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY SYLVIA'S DEDICATION. SHE IS TRULY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT SOUTH TAMPA CAN DO FOR EDUCATION. SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE LEADER. BUT IN ADDITION TO HER EDUCATION AND HER QUALIFICATIONS, SHE'S ALSO AN AWESOME WIFE, MOTHER, AND

024A GRANDMOTHER AS WELL. SO SHE'S HANDLED -- SHE'S JUGGLED A LOT OF IMPORTANT JOBS. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO NAME AN IMPORTANT FACILITY IN SOUTH TAMPA. I THINK SYLVIA CANTRELL IS DESERVING OF HER NAME ON THE NEW K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL, AND WE WOULD SUPPORT YOUR CHOICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. SO I CAME HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I CAN TELL FROM WHO'S HERE THAT WE'RE JUST PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE THIS REPEAT OF WHAT WE HAD IN JUNE. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DOES NOT HELP ANY CHILDREN, INCLUDING MINE. INSTEAD OF SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO, I'LL SAVE THAT FOR NEXT MONTH WHEN I GET MY FULL THREE MINUTES. NOW I STAND HERE AND SAY I'M TIRED OF PLAYING BINGO WITH BAD-FAITH

025ARGUMENTS THAT ARE DUPLICATES OF THE ONES MADE IN JUNE. I GOT EARLY TO SIGN IN AND PREEMPTIVELY MAKE THEM. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO MAKE ALL SO I'LL MAKE ONE THAT PERTAINS TO ME AND MY FAMILY. FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET UP TO THIS PODIUM AND SAY WHAT ABOUT THIS GROUP, WHAT ABOUT THIS MONTH, WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MONTH FOR THIS MONTH. THIS MONTH IS QUEER HISTORY MONTH AND ALSO PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS MONTH. SIGNIFICANT FOR ME. I EXPERIENCED TWO MISCARRIAGES. MY FAMILY IS PUERTO RICAN. LATER THIS MONTH IS LATIN HERITAGE MONTH. SHOUT-OUT TO MY SCHOOL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING IT. WE DON'T CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING BUT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ME COME DOWN HERE AND ADVOCATE THAT MY KID'S SCHOOL STOP CELEBRATING IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW ADULTS CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT -- THIS MONTH CELEBRATES

026MULTIPLE THINGS. IF I CAN SHARE, SO CAN YOU. THESE ARE INTEGRAL TO MY FAMILY BUT WE'RE ALSO AN ACTIVE DUTY FAMILY. IN JUNE, WE HAD PEOPLE SAYING WHAT ABOUT MILITARY FAMILIES. WHEN DO THEY GET A MONTH? IF YOU CARED ABOUT MILITARY FAMILIES. WE GET SEVERAL. APRIL MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. NOVEMBER MILITARY FAMILY MONTH AND MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEK WHICH IS THE SPIRIT WEEK CELEBRATED IN MY KIDS' SCHOOL ON BASE. YOU-ALL DON'T CARE. DON'T USE US AS A WHAT ABOUT ISM, AN EXCUSE THAT QUEER SHOULDN'T BE MENTIONED. OUR FAMILIES ARE REAL. NOT GOTCHA ARGUMENTS. DON'T DEHUMANIZE LIKE THAT IN FRONT OF OUR OWN CHILDREN'S SCHOOL BOARD. BY THE WAY, TO THE MEMBER WHO WROTE MY NEIGHBOR, POORLY CONSTRUCTED E-MAIL ACKNOWLEDGING QUEER HISTORY IS NOT AKIN TO, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY 3:15 IS WHEN THE STUDENTS.

027Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MY NAME IS SANDRA SMITH. I AM A SOUTH TAMPA RESIDENT FOR 64 YEARS. I'M ONE OF THOSE WHO WENT TO ROOSEVELT, MADISON JUNIOR HIGH, ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. CLASS OF 1975. AFTER GRADUATING FROM USF, I WAS HIRED BACK TO TEACH AT ROBINSON. WHERE I PROCEEDED TO TEACH FOR 39 YEARS. MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING, HOWEVER, MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR WAS SYLVIA ALBRITTON. SYLVIA WAS WARM, WELCOMING, KIND, AND A MENTOR. THIS IS BEFORE MENTOR PROGRAMS WERE ALL THE RAGE, BUT SHE WAS A MENTOR. I'VE KNOWN SYLVIA NOW FOR 43 YEARS, MOST OF MY LIFE. AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO HAVE SEEN HER BE PROMOTED FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL TO DOWNTOWN AND TO WORK WITH INCARCERATED YOUTH TO BECOME

028A PROFESSOR AT UT. SHE IS AN AMAZING WOMAN. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THIS INSTANCE IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO INFLUENCE NOT JUST THE COUNTY, NOT JUST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT SOUTH TAMPA AS WELL. HAVING SYLVIA NAMED FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND HONOR WOULD BE TREMENDOUSLY WONDERFUL FOR NOT ONLY SOUTH TAMPA BUT FOR ALL OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GLORIA VEGA HUTT. A TAMPA NATIVE. I ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT OF NAMING THE NEW K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA AFTER DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. I AM A LIFELONG FRIEND OF DR. ALBRITTON. SYLVIA IS ALSO A TAMPA NATIVE AND SOMEONE I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 60 YEARS. SYLVIA'S DEDICATION TO THE TEACHING

029PROFESSION HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE A LIFELONG CALLING. THIS VOCATION HAS GUIDED HER OVER THE YEARS WITH ENVIABLE ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FROM HER PEERS. SHE IS AN UPRIGHT CITIZEN OF OUR FINE COMMUNITY AND AN EXEMPLARY LEADER AND ORGANIZER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING ME TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BOB SMITH. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. KNOWN SYLVIA ALL MY LIFE. WE STARTED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOGETHER. WENT ON TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT'S WHERE SHE REALLY STARTED TO SHINE. WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT KIND OF CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE SPONSORED BY THE TEACHERS, SHE REALLY STARTED LEARNING A LOT FROM THE TEACHING BY BEING INVOLVED IN THOSE

030ORGANIZATIONS. BY THE TIME WE GOT INTO HIGH SCHOOL, NOT ONLY WAS SHE STILL GOING TO PART OF THOSE ORGANIZATION, BUT NOW SHE HAD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEM. SHE WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WAS GOING ON. BUT THE MAIN THING SHE WAS LEARNING, SHE WAS TEACHING, SHE WAS TRAINING. SHE WAS PART OF THE MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS KEEPING PEOPLE INFORMED, STUDENT COUNCIL, EVERYTHING. SHE WAS A PART OF THE FUTURE TEACHERS OF AMERICA. SHE WAS REALLY STARTING TO BLOSSOM AND BLOOM. SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU, CHEERLEADER, ENCOURAGING. SHE WAS VOTED MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED. I KNOW THAT YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I KNOW YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT SYLVIA ALREADY, WHAT SHE'S DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED, BUT SHE GOT HER START WHILE SHE WAS IN SCHOOL JUST LIKE THE YOUNGSTERS THAT COME UP HERE EARLIER FROM

031PLANT THAT YOU ALL PRESENTED. THE STUDENT WAS THERE FOR HER AT THAT TIME. AND SHE REALLY -- SHE GOT CLOSE TO THOSE TEACHERS, AND THOSE TEACHERS WERE ABLE TO BRING OUT IN HER WHAT ONLY A TEACHER CAN SEE SOMETIMES. SHE TOOK EVERY BIT OF THAT, USED IT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, DID WHAT SHE HAD TO DO. SHE CAME BACK AND THE REST IS HISTORY. YOU KNOW THAT. I THINK NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER HER NOT ONLY WOULD BE AN HONOR FOR HER, BUT IT WOULD BE AN HONOR ALSO FOR ALL THOSE TEACHERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN HER LIFE AND BROUGHT OUT WHAT WAS INSIDE OF HER AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE SHARED IN THE NAMING OF THAT SCHOOL ALSO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, BOARD

032MEMBERS. I'M MARY FRANCIS LIDO. I AM A RETIRED ADMINISTRATOR WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE BOARD FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION TO NAME THE K-12 SCHOOL AFTER KEN EDAM. WHEN YOU SAY THE NAMES VANDERBILT, ROCKEFELLER, CARNEGIE, MELON, WE KNOW THE NAMES. THEY ARE ON BUILDINGS, MONUMENTS, PARKS, BUT DO WE REALLY KNOW THE PERSON? IN MY 35-YEAR CAREER WITH THIS DISTRICT, I HAVE HAD THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING FABULOUS BOSSES. MR. ADAM WAS NO EXCEPTION. HE WAS AN INCREDIBLE BOSS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T JUST TELL YOU HOW TO LEAD. HE SHOWED YOU HOW TO LEAD. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I TAKE AWAY FROM KEN IS THAT HE WAS A CHAMPION FOR ALL CHILDREN. IT DIDN'T MATTER TO KEN WHAT COLOR THEY WERE, WHAT ETHNICITY THEY WERE. THE ONLY THING

033THAT MATTERED WAS MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED. HE WAS IN OUR SCHOOLS. HE WAS IN OUR CLASSROOMS AS A TEACHER, AS A PRINCIPAL AND THEN AS AN AREA DIRECTOR. HE HELPED WHENEVER HE COULD. HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN SOME WAY. WHEN I LOOK AT A BUILDING AND OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES GO IN, I WANT TO KNOW WHO IS THE NAME BEHIND THAT BUILDING. WHEN SOMEONE EMBODIES CHARACTER, HARD WORK AND A DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE, THAT'S WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU GIVE MR. ADAM'S NAME GREAT CONSIDERATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MY NAME IS DONNA PERINO. UNLIKE MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NAME BUILDINGS, PROGRAMS, LABS, GALLERIES, HALLS, ANYTHING THAT'S ATTACHED FOR VERY GENEROUS DONORS. HERE IS AN

034EXCEPTION. THE SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW IN HOUSTON IS NAMED THE STUDENT LOUNGE AT THE SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW IN HOUSTON, NAMED FOR JUDGE E.J. SALCINES, NOT BECAUSE HE WROTE A FIVE, SIX, OR SEVEN FIGURE CHECK. NO. THE COLLEGE NAMED IT FOR HIM BECAUSE AS A DEVOTED ALUMNUS AND LIFELONG EDUCATION ADVOCATE, E.J. HAS MENTORED AND RECRUITED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TO THE COLLEGE. AND MOST OF THEM WERE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. THOSE LOCAL STUDENTS HAVE GONE ON TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN LAW, JUDICIARY, POLITICS RIGHT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THUS CONSISTENT WITH THIS BOARD'S TRADITION OF NAMING BUILDINGS FOR PERSONS OUTSTANDING IN THEIR SERVICE TO ITS SCHOOLS AND ITS STUDENTS, IT IS FITTING THAT A NEW SCHOOL BE NAMED FOR THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES. QUIETLY, WITHOUT FANFARE, HE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR

035DECADES IN THE LIVES OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS. FURTHER, E.J. HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN OTHER ARENAS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE HIGH VALUES AND ETHICS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SHATTERING RACIAL AND ABLEIST AND GENDER BARRIERS THROUGH HIS HIRE AS A STATE ATTORNEY AND IN BEING A LIFELONG DEVOTEE OF LEARNING. AT 85, HE'S STILL GIVING BACK. I HEARD HIM SPEAK A FEW MONTHS AGO IN SPANISH TO LATINOS AND ACTION GROUP AT A SOUTH COUNTY SCHOOL. THOSE STUDENTS PEPPERED HIM WITH QUESTIONS EAGER TO HEAR MORE OF THIS NEWLY DISCOVERED ROLE MODEL. YOU MIGHT FIND SOMEONE AS WORTHY -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MY NAME IS DR. BOBBY SMITH. I'M THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL OF WEST UNIVERSITY AND SEMINOLE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOLS. IT'S

036NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU AGAIN. I WANT TO THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR THE DISTRICT. I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE GOT A DECISION TO MAKE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE NEW SOUTH TAMPA SCHOOL BE NAMED IN HONOR OF DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. DR. ALBRITTON IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU ARE BLESSED TO KNOW. THE TYPE THAT COMES INTO YOUR LIFE AND SIMPLY MAKES IT BETTER. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH SYLVIA IN SEVERAL CAPACITIES OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES. FIRST, WHILE I WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT BENITO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SHE WAS THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL DIRECTOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. SHE WAS THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL, EXPANDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. OUR PATHS CROSSED AGAIN LATER AS I

037WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT SEMINOLE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, A SCHOOL THAT SPECIALIZES IN DROPOUT PREVENTION AND RECOVERY. BY THIS TIME, SYLVIA HAD RETIRED FROM HER POSITION AS GENERAL DIRECTOR AND RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM, TEACHING ENGLISH TO INCARCERATED YOUTH. PERIODICALLY, SYLVIA WOULD CALL ME TO TELL ME ABOUT A STUDENT WHO WAS BEING RELEASED AND COULD BENEFIT FROM A FRESH START IN OUR PROGRAM. YOU WON'T FIND ANYONE WITH A BIGGER HEART FOR CHILDREN, FOR STUDENTS THAN DR. ALBRITTON. I WAS THRILLED WHEN SHE JOINED THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR SEMINOLE HEIGHTS IN WEST UNIVERSITY. AS A GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER, DR. ALBRITTON HAS CONTINUED TO BE A POSITIVE FORCE. SHE HOLDS HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT ENSURES THAT STUDENT SUCCESS IS THE OUTCOME FOR BOTH SCHOOLS. SINCE JOINING THE BOARD, MORE THAN 1,030 STUDENTS HAVE EARNED ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FROM THE TWO

038SCHOOLS. HER ENERGY IS ABUNDANT AND HER LOVE FOR STUDENTS IS ENDLESS. FOR THOSE REASONS AND MANY MORE, I FELT COMPELLED TO SHARE MY FEELINGS WITH YOU TODAY, AND THAT'S WHY I RECOMMEND THE SCHOOL BE NAMED IN HONOR OF DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. LAST YEAR, HERE'S GOV GOVERNOR R DEFUROR GETTING A SWORD FROM MOMS FOR STUPIDITY, THE SWORD OF STUPIDITY. HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT? WELL, HERE THEY WANT TO NAME A SCHOOL. LOOK AT THIS HEADLINE. HEAT WAVES, HIGH WATER, HURRICANES, NOW WHAT? NATURAL DISASTERS CAN DEVASTATE LEARNING AND SCHOOLS ARE NOT READY. WELL, GUESS WHAT, WE HAVE A CORRELATION. YOU KEEP MAKING STUPID SCHOOLS LIKE THESE PEOPLE WANT TO NAME AND THE CARBON KEEPS BELCHING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND WE HAVE HEADLINES LIKE THIS ONE

039HERE. RESEARCHERS SEE MASS MORTALITY AMID FLORIDA KEYS BLEACHING CRISIS. USF SETS RECORD FOR BILLION -- U.S. SETS RECORD FOR BILLION DOLLAR WEATHER DISASTERS. EARTH ENDURED ITS MOST SIZZLING SUMMER. HURRICANE SHATTERS WEATHER RULES. WORLD'S AMPHIBIANS RISK BEING CLIMATE CAPTIVES. IT'S A SHAME THEY ARE JUST CLAMORING TO HAVE A NAME FOR A STUPID BUILDING. WHAT A LEGACY YOU LEAVE. IT'S JUST A DOGGONE SHAME. YOU IGNORE THE SCIENCE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE, PASSIVE SOLAR BUILDING. WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF WE COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 20 TO 25 TO PLEASE LINE UP. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT. KEN ADAM, PRINCIPAL KEN ADAM WAS A MAN DEDICATED TO HIS FAMILY AND DEDICATED TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS BICARI KENNEDY, PRESIDENT

040AND OWNER OF CONSTRUCTION DYNAMICS. WE ARE THE MINORITY CONSTRUCTION PARTNER FOR THE BUILDING OF THE NEW MANHATTAN K-8 SCHOOL. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TO SUPPORT THE KEN ADAM FAMILY IN SUPPORTING THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL AFTER HIM. WHEN THEY FIRST REACHED OUT TO ME, I WAS SHOCKED, BUT ALSO WAS CONCERNED, WHAT DID I HAVE IN COMMON WITH KEN ADAM. WITH A FEW PHONE CALLS AND A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT HE WAS A MAN DEDICATED TO HIS FAMILY, A MAN WHO WAS GUIDED BY FAITH, A MAN THAT IS -- HAS SUPER SUPPORT OF NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND A MAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO HAVING LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO US AS CONTRACTORS,

041AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HERE IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. I AM A PRODUCT OF FANTASTIC ADMINISTRATORS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. FROM WORKING WITH ELEMENTARY TO WEB JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TO LETO HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WITH A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, I WANT TO SUPPORT KEN ADAM BECAUSE WHAT HE HAS DONE THROUGHOUT ALL HIS YEARS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND SUPPORT STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF. I LOOK FORWARD TO COMPLETING THE SCHOOL WITH HIS NAME. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD, AND GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS DENEEN PARIS. I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE KEN ADUM TO YOU. HE WAS MY PRINCIPAL WHILE I WAS AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL AS A TEACHER. 37 YEARS KEN WAS AN EDUCATOR, ADMINISTRATOR, HE WAS A LEADER.

042KEN WAS ALSO AN ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM COACH. IN 1970, KEN STARTED HIS EDUCATIONAL CAREER AS A CLASSROOM SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER FOR SIX YEARS. THEN HE BECAME THE DEAN OF BOYS AT MADISON JUNIOR HIGH FOR EIGHT YEARS. FOLLOWING THAT, HE WAS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS. THE PRINCIPAL AT ADAMS FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THEN HE BECAME THE PRINCIPAL AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT IS WHERE I MET KEN AND HE WAS THERE FOR TEN YEARS. KEN HAS MANY AND WONDERFUL QUALITIES I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. HE'S PERSONABLE, PROFESSIONAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE, APPROACHABLE, CONFIDENT, DEDICATED, HONEST, A GOOD LISTENER, A GOOD COMMUNICATOR AND ALWAYS WILLING TO PROVIDE GOOD, APPLICABLE FEEDBACK TO HIS STAFF AND TO OTHERS. KEN HAD A HEART FOR HELPING THOSE WHO WERE IN NEED AND HUNGRY. AND IN 2003, KEN

043AND HIS WIFE LINDA AND MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND AND ONE OTHER COUPLE WENT TO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES TO ASK HOW WE COULD HAVE A PRESENCE TO BE THE BEACON OF METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES IN NEW TAMPA. AND THAT WAS IN 2003. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO WERE IN NEED AND HUNGRY AND NEEDING TOYS AND THINGS FOR THE HOLIDAYS FOR THEIR CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE. THIS YEAR MARKS 20 YEARS THAT OUR METROPOLITAN TENT HAD A PRESENCE IN NEW TAMPA. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER KEN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD, AND SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN HONOR OR IN SUPPORT OF KEN. ALTHOUGH I NEVER WORKED DIRECTLY FOR THIS GENTLEMAN, I KNOW THAT HE IS A GENTLEMAN

044AND A TRUE EDUCATOR. WE CAME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT THE SAME TIME IN THE LATE '60s WHEN IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO FIND A JOB THAT WE WANTED. KEN WAS DETERMINED TO BE A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TEACHER. FEW WEEKS INTO THE YEAR A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON NEEDED TO RESIGN AND KEN BEGAN TEACHING THERE AND THUS STARTED A STELLAR 37-YEAR CAREER WITH OUR COUNTY. I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAILS WITH YOU. MUCH OF IT HAS BEEN SAID. I HAVE KNOWN HIM BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND AS A PARENT, AS OUR DAUGHTERS BOTH ATTENDED CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER AND OFTEN AMY WOULD GIVE OUR DAUGHTER A RIDE HOME SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PICK HER UP. SO I APPRECIATED THAT AND FOR KEN SUPPLYING THE CAR. I AM TOLD

045THAT KEN ONLY EVER WANTED TO BE AN EDUCATOR, AND THAT'S WHAT HE FINALLY DID WHEN HE GOT THE JOB AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE OTHER JOBS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. HIS CAREER IS STELLAR. HE'S A GENTLEMAN, A MAN OF GOOD FAITH. THAT WAS SAID BEFORE. A FAMILY MAN. BUT MOST IMPORTANT, HE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS. HE WANTS WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM. KEN AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AND AS AN AREA DIRECTOR WHICH ENDED HIS CAREER FROM CLASSROOM TEACHER TO AREA DIRECTOR WANTED TO BE PRESENT IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE WAS WORKING WITH AND WORKING FOR, SO HE WAS WITH HIS STAFF AND STUDENTS AS MUCH AS HE COULD BE. AS A YOUNG EDUCATOR AND A YOUNG ADMINISTRATOR, I LOOKED UP TO HIM. AND I HOPE YOU WILL

046CONSIDER HIS NAME FOR OUR NEW SCHOOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. I'M LOIS QUINN. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE NAME OF KEN ADUM FOR YOUR NEW MAGNET SCHOOL. WE KNEW KEN IN HIS RETIREMENT YEARS FROM WORKING WITH HIM AT CHURCH AND ALSO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES. WE IMAGINE THE CHILDREN ATTENDING THIS SCHOOL ASKING, WHY IS OUR SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THIS ADUM GUY? THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WOULD RESPOND, MR. ADUM WAS A LEADER AND A MENTOR IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND IN ANY ORGANIZATION HE WAS INVOLVED. HE WAS A CENSUS TAKER OF IDEAS, WHICH MADE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK AND SERVE WITH HIM AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. HE WOULD PRAISE A PERSON PUBLICLY, CREATING A COMMUNITY OF APPRECIATION, WARMTH, KINDNESS, AND LOVE, SPRINKLED WITH A LITTLE HUMOR. MR. ADUM

047WAS CONSTANTLY DOING GOOD DEEDS IN SERVING OTHERS. HE WAS A RELATIONSHIP KIND OF GUY, OPENING HIS HOME TO EVERYONE HE KNEW. IN HIS FINAL DAYS, HE PERSEVERED BY EXTENDING HIS LAST TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP AS HE VISITED WITH EACH ONE OF HIS FRIENDS, REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES THEY SHARED. HIS DESIRE FOR CHILDREN WOULD BE TO WORK HARD, TO PERSEVERE, BE A LEADER, WHILE SHOWING APPRECIATION, WARMTH, KINDNESS, AND LOVE WITH A LITTLE HUMOR. WITH THAT, WE BELIEVE THESE CHILDREN WOULD BE PROUD TO GO TO THEIR NEW SCHOOL NAMED KENNETH E. ADUM MAGNET SCHOOL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NOW IF I COULD PLEASE CALL UP SPEAKERS 26 TO 30. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MY NAME IS GEORGE GAFFNEY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MR. KEN ADUM IN SUPPORT OF HIS NAME

048BEING PUT ON THE NEW SCHOOL DOWN IN SOUTH TAMPA. I GOT TO TELL YOU, I SPENT 36 YEARS IN THE DISTRICT AND I WORKED WITH A LOT OF GREAT ADMINISTRATORS. SOME SITTING UP HERE ON THE DAIS RIGHT NOW ALSO. I GOT TO TELL YOU, THERE ARE GREAT ONES IN THIS ROOM AND MANY GREAT ONES THAT I'VE WORKED FOR. NONE OF GREATER THAN KEN ADUM. HE WAS AWESOME. I WORKED FOR HIM AS A TEACHER, A COACH, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND LATER ON WORKED WITH HIM AS A COLLEAGUE FOR A SHORT TIME ON THE SENIOR HIGH PRINCIPALS COUNCIL BEFORE HE WAS PROMOTED TO AREA DIRECTOR. YOU WILL NEVER MEET ANOTHER GENTLEMAN OR LADY THAT CARES MORE FOR KIDS. I KNOW OUT THERE THAT CARE JUST AS MUCH. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THERE AREN'T, BUT YOU WILL NOT

049MEET ANYBODY THAT CARES MORE FOR KIDS THAN HE DOES. THE PROGRAMS THAT HE WOULD PUT FORTH AT ADAMS, THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, THE PROGRAMS THAT HE PUT FORTH, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AT GAITHER, THE STAMPEDE FOR ESE KIDS, JUST SECOND TO NONE. HE WOULD ALWAYS QUESTION WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD FOR KIDS. I SAW HIM VISIBLY UPSET ONE DAY COMING BACK FROM A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S MEETING, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW THAT SCHOOL OVER THERE, THEY DON'T HAVE ASSEMBLIES FOR KIDS BECAUSE THEY MISBEHAVE. HE SAID, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? HE SAID, WHAT ABOUT ALL THE GOOD KIDS IN THAT SCHOOL THAT DESERVE THAT? WHY DON'T YOU DEAL WITH THOSE BAD ONES BUT DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE GOOD KIDS, AND THAT WAS HIS FIRM BELIEF. HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CHILDREN

050OF THE SCHOOL AND HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO PUT HIS FOOT FORWARD FIRST TO BE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. I THINK HE WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS SERENA NELSON. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH TAMPA. I MET KEN ADUM WHEN I ATTENDED MADISON JUNIOR HIGH. I LIVE TWO STREETS OVER, ACTUALLY, FROM MADISON IN MY YEARS OF GROWING UP. AT MADISON, I BECAME KEN'S ASSISTANT AND THAT YEAR TOTALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. I BECAME FRIENDS WITH KEN AND HIS FAMILY, AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS, I WAS THE YOUNGEST OUT OF FOUR, SINGLE PARENT, AND I WAS DEALING WITH MY HANDICAP, AND I HAD NEVER HAD A TEACHER OR A

051PERSON THAT HAD INVESTED IN MY LIFE. AND I WAS SEEN FOR ONCE. I FELT LIKE -- WE DO A LOT MORE NOWADAYS TO HELP CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO BE SEEN, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I WAS EVER SEEN UP UNTIL THAT YEAR. THEY GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE A PERSON AND TO CARRY OUT MY DREAMS. I'VE BEEN LIFELONG FRIENDS WITH KEN AND HIS FAMILY. HE'S BEEN A MENTOR IN MY LIFE FOR ALL THESE YEARS. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WENT ON TO COLLEGE. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK I COULD GO TO COLLEGE. I WENT ON TO COLLEGE AND BECAME A TEACHER MYSELF DUE TO THE INFLUENCE. AND JUST ALSO THE SAFETY FACTOR IN MY LIFE. I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING HOW I FELT SAFE WHEN I WAS AT MADISON WHEN THE BRIDGE

052COLLAPSED, I WALKED IN THE RAIN TO GET TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I KNEW THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY NET FOR ME. SO GROWING UP IN THIS AREA, AND STILL LIVE IN THIS AREA, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE BY AND SEE HIS NAME ON A SCHOOL SO CLOSE TO THE AREA I LIVE AND HAVE ENJOYED MY LIFE. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT AND THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS JOHN DEMARTINO. I HAVE KNOWN KEN ADUM SINCE 1963. BOTH OF US GRADUATED FROM HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAD MUCH IN COMMON HAVING IMMIGRANT FATHERS. MY MENTALLY CHALLENGED SISTER AND I HAVE BEEN PART OF HIS EXTENDED FAMILY EVER SINCE. KEN WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND WAS DETERMINED TO BECOME

053A TEACHER. HIS DRIVE AND DEDICATION EARNED HIM POSITIONS OF DEAN, VICE PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL, AND LATER ON AREA DIRECTOR, ALL WHILE RAISING A FAMILY. BECAUSE OF HIS GOOD EXAMPLE, HIS TWO DAUGHTERS ARE PRESENTLY PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS. I'VE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND POSITIVE EFFECT WITH KEN ON FORMER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. AT THE MALL, NEVER TURN THEM DOWN. HE WOULD STAY WITH THEM AND ACTUALLY KNOW THEIR NAMES. I BELIEVE HE DESERVES THIS MEMORIAL FOR HIS COMMITMENT AND DILIGENCE IN PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD MEMORIALIZE EDUCATORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND I WOULD PREDICT THAT KEN HAD AN EFFECT ON AT LEAST ONE OF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW. I REQUEST THIS SCHOOL BEAR HIS NAME AS A TRIBUTE TO A RESPECTED EDUCATOR, A MAN OF FAITH AND A

054GREAT PERSON. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, AND STAFF. COUNSELOR FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WORKING AT ADAMS JUNIOR HIGH WAS THE PEAK OF MY CAREER BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO WORK UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KEN ADUM. KEN ADUM'S LEADERSHIP STYLE WAS ONE THAT INSPIRED, MOTIVATED, AND SUPPORTED ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS. KEN WAS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS AND ENCOURAGED YOU TO TAKE INITIATIVES BRINGING MORE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE CULTURE AND CLIMATE OF THE SCHOOL WHICH ULTIMATELY IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING. WE WERE ALL PART OF A TEAM AND EVERYONE FROM THE BUS DRIVERS TO THE APs WERE ALL EQUAL IN THE EDUCATION OF THE STUDENTS IN HIS CHARGE. AND HE WAS ALWAYS GENUINE AND OUTSPOKEN WITH HIS PRAISE FOR EACH OF US. IT WAS NEVER ABOUT HIM,

055BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DID GREAT THINGS FOR THE STUDENTS IN HIS SCHOOL. FINDING A WAY TO EXPAND HIS CAREER REPERTOIRE, KEN WAS THRILLED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA. MY HUSBAND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MADE COMMENT. STUDENT EVALUATIONS MANIFESTED THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF KEN ADUM CONCERNING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOLTEACHERS. HIS HONEST AND MOTIVATIONAL TEACHING INSPIRED MANY OF OUR UT STUDENTS TO BECOME TEACHERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. TEACHERS, LIKE KEN ADUM, WILL NEVER DIE. THEY LIVE FOREVER IN THE HEIGHTS AND THE MINDS AND THE SOULS OF THE STUDENTS THEY HAVE TOUCHED. THE NEW PREK-8 SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA NAMED AFTER THE LATE KEN ADUM WOULD BE A TRIBUTE TO HIS CHARACTER. PLEASE LET THIS LEGACY MARKED BY SERVICE OF DISTINCTION, LOYALTY,

056AND HONOR AS A MAN AND AS AN EDUCATOR BE AN INSPIRATION TO THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS, AND THE STAFF WHO WILL IN THE HALLS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKERS, 31 THROUGH 35 LINE UP, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND FELLOW EDUCATORS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE STANDING HERE IN REFERENCE TO, AGAIN, THE WONDERFUL MAN THAT YOU'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT, KENNETH ADUM. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE IN YOUR PRESENCE AND FORTUNATELY WHEN I WAS, IT WAS FOR DR. JACK LAMB, AND YOU WERE SO KIND AS TO SEE THAT HE WAS A VERY DESERVING INDIVIDUAL. I MENTION THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL CANDIDATES OUT THERE THAT TRULY ARE DESERVING. IF YOU ONLY KNEW FROM THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL UP HOW MUCH THEY GIVE AND CHOOSE TO GIVE

057AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THEIR POCKET. I'M TALKING ABOUT TIME, THE HARDEST THING TO GIVE AT THIS TIME. WHEN I MET KEN, AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM FOR 42 YEARS, WHEN I MET KEN, IT WAS THROUGH A MUTUAL FRIEND. I AGAIN CONTINUED TO MEET HIM AT RETIREMENT GET-TOGETHERS, SCHOOL MEETINGS, SOCIAL EVENTS, AND I REALLY AND TRULY ADMIRED ALL THE THINGS THAT MY PEERS AT CLAYWELL ELEMENTARY TOLD ME ABOUT KEN BECAUSE MOST OF THEIR CHILDREN WERE ATTENDING GAITHER, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE TOOK THE JOB OF DOUBLE SESSION AS THE ONLY PRINCIPAL AT GAITHER. YES, HE IS A FORMIDABLE PERSON, BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW HE WOULD BE MY EXTENDED FAMILY LATER IN LIFE. AND THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT HIS PHILANTHROPY, HIS KINDNESS. HE HAD YEARLY EVENTS AT HIS HOME ON THE HOLIDAYS AND YOUR

058ONLY TICKET TO ENTER, IF YOU CHOSE, WAS TO HELP -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN DO NO WRONG BY SELECTING MR. ADUM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR COMING. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JENNA McCLURE. I AM READING THIS LETTER ON BEHALF OF JERRY MURRAY, WHO IS CURRENTLY STUCK IN TRAFFIC. MR. MURRAY IS A TEACHER AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN TEACHING IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE PAST 53 YEARS. IN 1994, HE WAS SELECTED AS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND LATER AS FLORIDA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR. HE TELLS YOU THIS NOT BECAUSE OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR HIS OWN, BUT THEY WERE NURTURED BY MANY MENTORS UP TO THIS POINT. IT WAS

059BECAUSE OF ONE GENTLEMAN THAT ENCOUNTERED AND GUIDED HIS CAREER THAT HELPED HIM ACHIEVE THIS RECOGNITION, AND THAT PERSON WAS MR. KEN ADUM. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT KEN ADUM WOULD BE USED FOR THE NAMING OF THE NEW K-8 SCHOOL. I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE CRITERIA USED FOR SUCH PROCESS, BUT I MUST BELIEVE THE NAMING CHOSEN RECOGNIZES AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS GIVEN GREAT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT KEN ACHIEVED FOR THE SYSTEM. I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A LEADER IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION HE WAS A MENTOR TO MANY, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WENT ON TO SERVE IN MANY CAPACITIES FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. EXCEPTIONAL IN RECOGNIZING TALENTED INDIVIDUALS IN ALL AREAS OF EDUCATION, DEVOTED TO DEVELOPING THEIR EXPERTISE, DEDICATED TO HELPING

060THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND INSPIRING THEM TO REACH BEYOND THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND THEIR SPECIFIC TALENT. LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION IS WHAT MR. ADUM DID FOR MANY WHO HAVE THESE ROLES BOTH PAST AND PRESENT TODAY. HIS LIFETIME OF GIVING HIMSELF TO THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD NOT BE BETTER RECOGNIZED THAN USING HIS NAME, KEN ADUM FOR OUR NEW SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND STAFF. MY NAME IS AMY ADUM SIMMONS. I AM SO EXCITED HERE TODAY TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AND ASK YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER NAMING THIS NEW SCHOOL THE PRE-K 8 MAGNET SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA AFTER MY DAD, KEN ADUM. HE WAS A DEDICATED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

061EMPLOYEE FOR 37 YEARS, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, WHO ALSO WAS A PRODUCT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. HE GRADUATED FROM HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IN 1964. HE ALSO WENT TO BALLAST POINT ELEMENTARY. MAYBE HE WAS THERE WITH DR. ALBRITTON. WE WEAR ORANGE THIS EVENING IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY FATHER, OUR FAMILY MEMBER, AND TO SHOW AWARENESS OF KIDNEY CANCER. RECENTLY WE DROVE BY THE NEW SCHOOL SITE AND I SAW THINGS THAT REMINDED ME OF DAD, INCLUDING A SIGN THAT SAID "KEN-STRUCTION DYNAMICS." IT COMPELLED ME TO LOOK ONLINE ABOUT THE COMPANY. THE PARALLELS OF THIS COMPANY'S FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE. GO LOOK, YOU WILL SEE THEM, BETWEEN THIS COMPANY AND MY FATHER. I REALIZE THAT KENINSTRUCTION DYNAMICS EXEMPLIFIES THE SAME DYNAMICS THAT MY DAD PERSONIFIED. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK HOW SPECIAL THIS WOULD BE FOR THIS

062NEW SCHOOL'S FOUNDATION TO BE ROOTED IN A COMPANY WITH SUCH STRONG VALUES, AND NAMED AFTER A LEADER WITH THE SAME ATTRIBUTES. MY SISTER AND I WERE PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THE STUDENT BODY OF TWO OF HIS SCHOOLS, AND TODAY WE ARE PROUD TO LIVE OUT HIS LEGACY AS EDUCATORS IN THE COUNTY. AS A FAMILY WHO SUPPORTED DAD THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER, THE ADUM FAMILY IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THIS NEW SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS WHO WILL FILL THE HALLS AND ALL THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME. NOW A WORD FROM HIS GRANDCHILDREN. SHERWIN SIMMONS. MY NAME IS KENNEDY. I HOPE YOU VOTE MY GRANDPA FOR THE NAME. RILEY AND I HOPE YOU LET ME GRANDPA -- MY NAME IS KALE SIMMONS. I HOPE YOU CONSIDER VOTING FOR MY GRANDFATHER. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

063NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JENNIFER TISHLER. I GRADUATED FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL IN 1988. LEGEND HAS IT THAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR SYLVIA ALBRITTON, I MIGHT STILL BE THERE, AT THIS POINT ALONGSIDE MY THIRD CHILD TO GRACE THOSE SAME HALLS. BUT HERE I AM. THERE ARE A FEW TIMES IN LIFE WE GET TO TRULY RETURN THE DEEPEST LEVELS OF GRATITUDE AND FOR ME THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES. I WAS A REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, TRULY I HAD NO CAUSE. I DIDN'T HAVE A REASON. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE REBELLION. I JUST REALLY DIDN'T LIKE TO GO TO SCHOOL SO MUCH. I HAD MANEUVERED THE SYSTEM, GO, GO TO HOME ROOM, DON'T END UP ON THE ABSENTEE LIST. YOUR MOM DOESN'T GET CALLED AND YOU GO TO THE BEACH, DAVIS

064ISLAND, WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MS. ALBRITTON'S OFFICE. WE WERE CLOSE. SHE WAS ALWAYS WARM. SHE HANDLED ME WITH GRACE AND WITH KINDNESS AND SHE NEVER RAISED HER VOICE. AND SHE GAVE ME THE GRACE I ACTUALLY DIDN'T GIVE MYSELF MUCH OF THE TIME. I WOULD SAUNTER IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL SOMETIMES LONGER, SOMETIMES STAY LONGER THAN OTHERS. AT ONE POINT I WAS THERE TOO LONG BECAUSE I GOT A BLUE SLIP TO COME TO HER OFFICE OR GO TO HER OFFICE. I GO TO HER OFFICE AND THERE IS MY MOM AND MS. ALBRITTON. I'M LIKE, -OH, BECAUSE WE USUALLY CAME TO A PEACE AGREEMENT ON OUR OWN WITHOUT MY MOM. ANYWAY, WHAT MS. ALBRITTON DID IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE. SHE DREW A

065BELL CURVE BECAUSE I HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF AND FOR NO REASON EXCEPT THAT I WAS JUST WHO KNOWS, A WANDERER. SHE DREW A BELL CURVE. THIS SIDE WAS BELOW AVERAGE, TOP WAS AVERAGE, THIS SIDE WAS ABOVE AVERAGE. SHE SAID WE GOT THE STATE TESTING BACK THAT SAYS JT BECAUSE YOU SCORED IN THE 98 PERCENTILE. I SAID I NEED TO GET THIS DONE. I NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND I DID. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I'M SO SORRY. IF EVER THERE WAS A PERSON TO NAME A SCHOOL AFTER, IT'S HER. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GEMMA RILEY. I'M HERE TODAY TO PROPOSE A MOTION DEAR TO MY HEART AND THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY. IT IS A SENTIMENTAL PROPOSAL ROOTED IN A PROFOUND RESPECT

066FOR DR. SYLVIA ALBRITTON'S DISTRIBUTIONS AND THE DESIRE TO PRESERVE HER LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN THE EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FEW NAMES EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE AND TRANSFORMATION AS DR. ALBRITTON. SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PRINCIPAL OF ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL, BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS AND PAVING THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SHE PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED MY LIFE, A TESTAMENT TO THE FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE OF A GREAT EDUCATOR AND LEADER. DR. ALBRITTON KNEW HER STUDENTS HAD TOUGH LIVES. SOME WERE LIKE ME, A MILITARY CHILD WITH NO PERMANENT PLACE TO CALL HOME AND OTHERS WHO HAD IT ROUGH AT HOME. DR. ALBRITTON FOSTERED A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVITY AND RESPECT, DEMONSTRATING A DEEP UNDERSTANDING THAT EDUCATION IS NOT MERELY ABOUT ACADEMICS, BUT ALSO ABOUT CHARACTER BUILDING. I WAS WITH A GROUP OF TALENTED AND DIVERSE GIRLS WHO ACHIEVED GREAT

067SUCCESS IN BASKETBALL, WINNING SEVERAL TITLES AND MAKING IT TO THE STATE FINAL FOUR. DR. ALBRITTON BELIEVED IN US. SHE ENCOURAGED US AND CHEERED US ON. I RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY AFTER SERVING 21 YEARS, COMPLETED FOUR COMBAT TOURS AND TRANSFORMED CIVILIANS INTO SERGEANTS IN A MALE DOMINATED UNIT. I AM ONE OF A SELECT FEW WHO MADE IT INTO THE WARRANT OFFICER, COMPRISING LESS THAN 3% OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCE. DR. ALBRITTON LIT THAT SPARK IN ME. SHE WAS NOT JUST A PRINCIPAL, BUT A MENTOR, A GUIDE AND A CATALYST FOR CHANGE. SHE INSTILLED A CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS, DREAMS, AND POSSIBILITIES. AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENT FELT VALUED, EVERY TEACHER FELT EMPOWERED AND EVERY PARENT FELT ENGAGED. SHE WAS A VISIONARY, TRAILBLAZER, A BEACON OF HOPE FOR COUNTLESS YOUNG GIRLS LIKE ME WHO LOOKED UP

068TO HER AND SAID, I TOO CAN LEAD. I TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MADAM CHAIR AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS LOUIE DIEZ. I AM A REQUIRED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EMPLOYEE. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO GROW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY. I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 70 YEARS, AND I'VE HAD A GREAT TIME WORKING FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT NONE OF THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR SYLVIA ALBRITTON, MS. CANTRELL. SEE, I MET SYLVIA AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT SYLVIA THAT'S WELL KNOWN. WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, I WAS ONE OF SYLVIA'S FIRST STUDENTS AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1968. SHE CAME IN FROM FLORIDA STATE, AND I WON'T

069MENTION THAT I'M A GATOR. WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. NONETHELESS, WHEN SHE WALKED IN, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT THE SURPRISE THAT I RECEIVED, THE HUMANITY THAT I SENSE, THE GOODWILL THAT SHE GAVE TO ALL THESE STUDENTS, AND THAT WAS NOT AN EASY CLASS. IT WAS A BUNCH OF US GUYS FROM WEST TAMPA AND THEY WEREN'T EASY. I WILL TELL YOU THAT SHE HAD US UNDER CONTROL. SHE TAUGHT US. SHE LOVED US. SHE CARED ABOUT US, AND SHE GAVE EVERYTHING SHE HAD TO MAKE US BETTER STUDENTS AND BETTER PEOPLE. I DIDN'T KNOW BACK THEN THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A TEACHER AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL IN HER CLASS. EVEN MY FIRST DEGREE WAS NOT IN EDUCATION, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. WHEN I DID THINK ABOUT BEING AN EDUCATOR, I THOUGHT OF

070SYLVIA ALBRITTON AND THE THINGS THAT SHE TAUGHT ME. AND THE LESSONS THAT SHE GAVE ME THAT MADE MY CAREER AS A TEACHER VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. I'M VERY HUMBLED TO BE HERE TO RECOMMEND SYLVIA FOR THIS HONOR. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE IN CONTENTION, BUT I HAD TO COME AND SPEAK BECAUSE I HAD TO DO SOMETHING I NEVER DID, THANK SYLVIA ALBRITTON FOR MAKING ME BELIEVE IN MYSELF TO BE AN EDUCATOR AND SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATOR I HOPE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE BEING HERE. I LOVE SYLVIA. I KNOW YOU ALL DO, TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF WE COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 36 TO 40 TO PLEASE LINE UP. HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS JOHN MICHAEL RAY.

071EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS ME AS COACH. I TAUGHT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR 37 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN RETIRED FOR 473 DAYS. WHO'S COUNTING? I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE NAMING OF THE NEW SCHOOL, THE K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL AT WHICH I AM NEXT DOOR. I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING TO HEAR THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE LAST 368 DAYS. BUT THAT'S OKAY. I WAKE UP AND I SEE A SCHOOL THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF SOUTH TAMPA. WHEN YOU THINK OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH TAMPA, EVERYBODY I KNOW THINKS SYLVIA ALBRITTON. IN FACT, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS A DOCTOR, BUT THAT'S OKAY. SHE WAS A PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND 17,229 DAYS AGO, I FIRST MET MS. ALBRITTON. SHE WAS MY ENGLISH TEACHER AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. 13,956 DAYS AGO, I MET MS. ALBRITTON AGAIN AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

072AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. 11,399 DAYS AGO, I MET MS. ALBRITTON AS A PRINCIPAL AND SHE INVITED ME TO TEACH AT MY ALMA MATER, ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ENHANCEMENT AS WELL AS IMPACT. WELL, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I HAVE ADMIRED THIS LADY FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE. I FOLLOWED HER EDUCATION FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. WE WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO BE NAMED MS. ALBRITTON. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL ALBRITTON. THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER, DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. I'M SEMI CONFLICTED SPEAKING ON MY MOTHER'S BEHALF BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS PREACHED HARD WORK AND EARN YOUR WAY, BUT WITH THE NUMBER

073OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PRECEDED ME THAT HAD MANY KIND WORDS OF AFFIRMATION AND THOSE TO FOLLOW I THINK THEY HAVE KIND OF SAID THINGS THAT I CAN MAYBE HIT ON DIFFERENT ITEMS. MY MOTHER IS THE EPITOME OF SOUTH TAMPA EDUCATION SYSTEM BEING A STUDENT, TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR, AND PRINCIPAL. EDUCATION HAS TRULY BEEN MY MOTHER'S LIFE WORK AND I KNOW SHE'S LOVED AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYED EVERY DAY OF IT. LIFE IS ALSO ABOUT BALANCE AND FAMILY IS A MAJOR PART OF IT. SHE'S BEEN BOTH A LOVING DAUGHTER AND SISTER IN ADDITION TO HAVING BEEN MARRIED TO MY FATHER FOR 51 YEARS AND A WONDERFUL MOTHER TO ME AND MY BROTHER WILLIAM. SHE RAN A TIGHT SHIP FOR ME AND MY BROTHER. LIFE WASN'T ALWAYS EASY BEING A PRINCIPAL'S KID. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WE BOTH CAN SAY IT SERVED

074US WELL AS WE MATURED IN LIFE AND BECOME FATHERS TO CHILDREN OF OUR OWN AND SEE THE JOY THAT SHE HAS BEING A GRANDMOTHER CALLED MIMI. MY BROTHER HAS BEEN A TEACHER FOR 15 YEARS AND I DIDN'T -- ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T GET INTO EDUCATION, I STAYED WORKING ON SHIPS. AN EDUCATOR NEVER STOPS TEACHING. UPON, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, RETIREMENT, MY MOTHER OBTAINED HER A DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION IN ADDITION TO TEACHING AT RIVERSIDE ACADEMY AND ORIENT ROAD JAIL. JOBS PROBABLY AREN'T IN HIGH DEMAND FOR APPLICANTS. SHE HAS ALSO TAUGHT AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL AT UT AND USF. IT'S BEEN SAID THAT WHEN YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, YOU NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE. I BELIEVE THAT IS A PERFECT WAY TO DESCRIBE MY MOM AND WHAT EDUCATION MEANS TO HER. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME

075TO SPEAK ON MY MOTHER'S BEHALF AND FOR HER CONSIDERATION FOR THIS NEW K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL NAMING. HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MELANIE LAX. I'VE LIVED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ABOUT 23 YEARS NOW, AND I THANK THE BOARD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY AND HEARD ALL THESE STORIES ABOUT THESE AMAZING AND INSPIRING EDUCATORS. YOU HAVE A VERY HARD CHOICE AHEAD OF YOU. MY PART I CAME HERE TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR RECOGNIZING LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH. IN AN IDEAL WORLD WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SPECIALLY RECOGNIZE GROUPS, BUT WE DON'T LIVE IN THAT WORLD. WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS SEEN THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THEIR STRUGGLES SYSTEMATICALLY ERASED AND

076IGNORED AND EDITED OUT OF HISTORY. THIS IS A SIMPLE THING, THE RECOGNITION. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE CURRICULUM. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE'S SCHOOL DAY, BUT IT PROVIDES RESPECT AND SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL'S LGBTQ COMMUNITY. AND THEY WILL FEEL SEEN. AND I GREATLY THANK YOU FOLKS FOR PROVIDING THAT TO THAT COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HENRY MARSETTE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, AND SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SYLVIA ALBRITTON. I FIRST MET MS. ALBRITTON AS A STUDENT AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL. I LATER DID MY PRACTICUM INTERNSHIP AND GOT A JOB FROM HER AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. I WORKED WITH HER THEN AT TAMPA BAY TECH AS SHE PROMOTED ME TO DEPARTMENT CHILDREN AND ESE SPECIALIST. THROUGHOUT THE

077YEARS, MRS. ALBRITTON HAS WORKED IN ACCELERATING STUDENTS AND MOVING THEM FORWARD, ALWAYS INCLUDING THE ESE STUDENTS. WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT YOUTH SERVICES, MRS. ALBRITTON WAS THERE AND WORKED WITH OUR STUDENTS AND ALWAYS ENSURED THAT THEY ALWAYS GOT THEIR FAIR CHANCE. SHE PUSHED FOR THEM TO GRADUATE. WHEN SHE GAME DIRECTOR -- NOT ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS -- ADULT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS, SHE PUSHED TO GET ROTC IN ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH -- HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH SHE DID. I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK OF MS. ALBRITTON WHEN YOU NAME THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CAROL FERNANDEZ, PRINCIPAL OF EISENHOWER EXCEPTIONAL CENTER. I WANT TO THANK MR. VAN AYRES AND ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M SO HONORED TO HAVE THE

078PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING FOR DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. FIRST OF ALL, MS. ALBRITTON HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR LIFE. SHE SAYS 40 PLUS YEARS, BUT IT'S GENUINELY FOR LIFE. SHE'S RETIRED, THEN CAME BACK TO WORK. THAT'S WHERE I MET MRS. ALBRITTON. I WAS APC AT YOUTH SERVICES. SHE AT THAT POINT WAS THE LITTLE TINY LADY THAT WE KNOW LOOKING UP AT THE INCARCERATED STUDENTS OF ORIENT ROAD JAIL. SHE MOVED THAT CLASSROOM MULTIPLE TIMES, MADE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS HAD ALL THE NEEDS THEY NEEDED IN JAIL SO THEY COULD PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION. MANY OF THEM GRADUATED UNDER HER AND BECAUSE OF HER. MS. ALBRITTON HAS BEEN A TEACHER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, A PRINCIPAL, A DIRECTOR, A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA. SHE HAS BEEN ALL OVER THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH TAMPA. NAMING THIS PREK-8

079SCHOOL AFTER HER WOULD BE THE IDEAL PLACE AND LOCATION FOR HER. THE COMMUNITY KNOWS HER. THEY RECOGNIZE THE NAME AND THE IMPACT THAT SHE HAS MADE ON THE COMMUNITY. SYLVIA HAS BEEN A ROLE MODEL FOR MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILY FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY, BUT ALSO FOR MANY TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO CAME BEFORE AND AFTER HER. DR. ALBRITTON SOMEHOW ALWAYS FINDS THE TIME FOR ANYTHING ANYONE ASKS, ALONG WITH BALANCING HER FAMILY. SHE HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND, PLEASE CONSIDER DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON TO BE THE -- TO BE NAMED AFTER THE NEW SCHOOL LOCATION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 41 TO 45 LINE UP. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND STAFF.

080MY NAME IS KATHY BONNER. I AM THE PROUD SISTER-IN-LAW OF THE LATE KEN ADUM. I COULDN'T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS WITHOUT SPEAKING AND ASKING THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION IN NAMING THE NEW PREK-8 SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA AFTER MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, KEN ADUM. MY HUSBAND AND I PREVIOUSLY LIVED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET ON BAY VILLA FROM MANHATTAN ELEMENTARY WHERE HE AND HIS SIBLINGS ATTENDED YEARS PRIOR. I MYSELF ATTENDED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR MY ENTIRE EDUCATION, ATTENDING FOREST HILLS, ADAMS AND CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN MY SISTER MET KEN, I WAS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD. THEY MARRIED THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND KEN QUICKLY BECAME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR FAMILY. KEN BEGAN HIS TEACHING CAREER SOON AFTER AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. HE THEN GAVE ME ONE OF MY FIRST PAYING JOBS, IRONING HIS WORK SHIRTS FOR 50 CENTS EACH. OVER

081HIS ENTIRE 37-YEAR CAREER IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, I PERSONALLY WITNESSED HIS COMMITMENT AND ENTHUSIASM TO HIS ENTIRE STAFF, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, BUS AND CAFETERIA WORKERS ALIKE. HE TREATED ALL FAIRLY. KEN AND HIS FAMILY WERE AMONG THE FIRST MEMBERS OF ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. HE SERVED AS AN USHER ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESCHOOL BOARD. IN 2003, HE AND OTHER CHURCH MEMBERS MET WITH METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES AND THUS BEGAN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAY TENT IN NEW TAMPA. KEN WOULD RALLY THE LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR A FRIENDLY COMPETITION AS TO WHO COULD RAISE THE MOST DONATIONS. THAT TRADITION CONTINUES TODAY WITH HIS DAUGHTERS RAISING DONATIONS AT THEIR SCHOOLS. IN 2021, THE TWO SCHOOLS ALONE COLLECTED NEARLY 6800 POUNDS OF FOOD AND TOYS. ALONG WITH BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COLLECTING AND PERSONALLY DELIVERING

082THE FOOD AND TOYS TO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES, KEN AND LINDA HOSTED SPECTACULAR YEARLY OPEN HOUSES DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AT THEIR HOME WHERE ATTENDEES WERE ALSO ASKED TO BRING FOOD AND TOY DONATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. MATTHEW JOHNSON. I AM NOT HERE TO ASK TO NAME A SCHOOL. I'M THE FATHER OF TWO STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT TO BRAG ON MY YOUNGEST. HE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE GIFTED PROGRAM LAST WEEK WHERE HE BELONGS AND HE IS STILL TRANSGENDERED. SO I WAS HAPPY TO LEARN LAST MEETING THAT LGBTQ GUIDELINES WERE RELEASED AND IN READING THEM, I UNDERSTOOD WHY SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ACCOMMODATIONS WERE STRIPPED AWAY FROM THE PRIOR VERSIONS. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS STILL A COMPELLING RATIONALE FOR SUPPORTING OUR TRANS-STUDENTS. TEACHERS WANT TO TREAT ALL OF

083OUR KIDS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT AND I SEE THESE GUIDELINES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM EDUCATORS HOW THEY CAN STILL DO SO IN THIS CLIMATE. MY WIFE HAPPENS TO TEACH AT OUR SON'S SCHOOL, SO I WAS CURIOUS HOW THESE WERE COMMUNICATED TO STAFF. MY WIFE WAS UNAWARE THAT LGBTQ GUIDELINES WERE RELEASED, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ACRONYM THAT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT HER EYE. I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO ASK THAT YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE TEACHERS RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR LGBTQ STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI. MY NAME IS DAVE COLEMAN. SOME WONDERFUL SPEAKERS AND SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS SAID ABOUT TEACHERS. HILLSBOROUGH IS ACTUALLY A MIXED BAG. MY DAUGHTER WENT ON TO USF. MY SON WAS TOLD TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT THE PARENTAL CONSENT

084AT GAITHER AT THE AGE OF 16. I MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON. LGBTQ EVERY INDIVIDUAL GOES THROUGH THEIR OWN UNIQUE COMING OUT JOURNEY. THAT IS FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LGBTQ AND DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. THEY SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE EVERYONE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR PATH. THIS WAS FROM THEM ON THE NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY. THAT PATH PROBABLY BEGINS DURING SCHOOL AGE. NO ONE SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR OF FREE SPEECH. HISTORY IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST METHODS OF FREE SPEECH. MY CHILD WAS STRUGGLING IN THE FIRST GRADE. I MET THEIR TEACHER. SHE SAID IT WAS HER JOB DURING THOSE SIX HOURS TO LOVE MY CHILD. LOOKING BACK I FIGURED THAT IS THE KID THAT PLAYS WITH TRUCKS OR FLOWERS. THEY WOULD LOVE AND PROTECT BOTH EQUALLY. TEACHERS ROCK. THEY CAN DO THAT IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

085YOU AS A BOARD NEED TO SUPPORT THEM. I BET YOU WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE YOUR BOARD BELIEVES IN FREE SPEECH. I ATTENDED A MEETING ABOUT STUDENTS VOTE TO REMOVE THE CHAMBERLAIN MASCOT. A STUDENT WAS BULLIED TO TEARS IN THIS VERY ROOM. I ATTENDED A MEETING ABOUT MASKS WHERE A MAGA SCREAMED DEATH BOMBS AT VESTED POLICE IN FRONT OF AN ASL CLASS TRYING TO GIVE A PERFORMANCE. TOLD SIGN FREE ZONE AND TEACHERS WOULD BE FIRED IF THEY HAD ONE UP THERE. FREE SPEECH, YET THEY ROLLED OUT A TV AND OUT CAME ALL KINDS OF MAGA FLAGS AND BANNERS. SOMETIME LATER I ATTENDED A SMALL WEDNESDAY NOON GATHERING IN THE PARKING LOT AND ELDER WAS TOLD COULDN'T SIT ON THE STEPS. IS THAT FREE SPEECH IN ATTENDED A BOOK MEETING, MAGA GOT UP TELLING ME HOW I

086WAS WRONG AND FOLLOWED ME OUT IN THE HALLWAY. THE NEXT BOOK MEETING, CARLA WAS HERE AND LEFT THE ROOM AFTER UPSETTING SOME PEOPLE AND WAS TOLD SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO COME BACK IN. ARE YOU ENCOURAGING OUR KIDS WITH FREE SPEECH -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TABITHA. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I GRADUATED FROM ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. I HAVE A CHILD THAT ATTENDS THE FOURTH GRADE IN THIS COUNTY. ALSO A COLLEGE PROFESSOR AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THIS COUNTY. FIRST, HAPPY PRIDE HISTORY MONTH. SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE WITH THE BOARD MEMBER THROUGH AN E-MAIL THAT THEY SENT. THIRD, SPEAKING AS AN DISABLED VETERAN, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE STAND BEFORE THIS BOARD AND THEY BRING UP ISSUES WITH PRIDE AND OTHER

087RECOGNITION BY COMPARING IT TO THE MILITARY COMMUNITY. JUST AS INFORMATION HAS, THERE ARE FOUR INDIVIDUAL SOLID MONTHS MAKING AWARENESS FOR THE MILITARY AS WELL AS 36 INDIVIDUAL DAYS. THAT IS ALMOST HALF OF THE YEAR TO RECOGNIZE THAT. I WOULD ASK INDIVIDUALS TO STOP USING THAT COMPARISON BEFORE THIS BOARD. AS A FORMER EVANGELICAL, I NO, THEY WON'T. SPEAKING AS A PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, WRITING AND LITERATURE, ASPECTS I SEE AMONG ADULT STUDENTS IS THEY HAVE NO ACTUAL ACKNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE INTENTIONAL EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN GROUPS FROM BOTH EDUCATION AND LITERATURE PRESENTED IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. AND THIS MAKES THEM ANGRY WHEN THEY HAVE TOE PLAY CATCH-UP AS AN ADULT. IN REGARDS TO THE E-MAIL THAT WAS SENT, LIKENING SIMPLY MENTIONING THE FACT THAT OCTOBER IS LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH TO SEGREGATION AS A BOARD MEMBER DID AND NOT

088GIVING RECOGNITION OF THE LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH IS JUST ABOUT DENYING A GROUP RECOGNITION. IT'S ALSO ABOUT TELLING THEM THAT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY DOESN'T MATTER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. AND IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 46 TO 50 TO PLEASE LINE UP. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, COACH WASHINGTON, MY NAME IS SCOTT BURKETT. I AM A SOUTH TAMPA NATIVE. LIVED ALL -- WELL, IT WILL BE 63 YEARS COMING UP IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. ALL OF THAT TIME I LIVED IN SOUTH TAMPA. FIRST MET SYLVIA ALBRITTON IN THE FALL OF 1975 AS A SOPHOMORE AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE KNOWN HER EVER SINCE THAT TIME. I ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO ROBINSON AND WAS ABLE TO TEACH THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, DURING

089THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT SHE WAS THE PRINCIPAL. ROBINSON HAS BEEN BLESSED IN THAT IT'S HAD GREAT ADMINISTRATORS OVER THE YEARS. ONE OF THEM BETH SHIELDS, WHO WAS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL THERE AT ROBINSON WHEN I WAS THERE, WENT ON TO PRINCIPAL AT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL, HAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL NAMED FOR HER. IT'S DOWN IN RUSKIN, EVEN THOUGH HER FAMILY IS A SOUTH TAMPA FAMILY. MY PRINCIPAL WAS PETE DAVIDSEN WHO STARTED HIS ADMINISTRATIVE CAREER AT MADISON AND THEN WAS MY PRINCIPAL AT ROBINSON AND THIS DISTRICT NAMED A SCHOOL FOR HIM AND IT'S IN WESTCHASE. SYLVIA WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH TAMPA, JUST LIKE ME. SHE'S LIVED AS YOU HEARD HER HUSBAND SAY MOST OF HER LIFE IN SOUTH TAMPA. THEY RECENTLY MOVED, BUT SHE IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO HAS AN EFFECT ON THE LIVES

090OF STUDENTS LONG AFTER THEY ARE HER STUDENTS. SHE IS STILL TEACHING STUDENTS TODAY BECAUSE THE STUDENTS THAT SHE HAD REMEMBER THE THINGS THAT SHE TAUGHT THEM, NOT JUST IN THE ENGLISH CLASS, BUT HOW TO BE REGULAR PEOPLE. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY IF YOU NAME THE NEW SCHOOL, THE MAGNET SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA FOR SYLVIA, SYLVIA WILL BE THERE AND SHE WILL BE THERE AS A MENTOR TO THE PRINCIPAL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, TO THE TEACHERS, AND TO THE STUDENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS CONSIDERATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. RICK WARNER, CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE AND SUPPORTER OF BETTER FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS. I DON'T ENVY YOU, THE DECISION ON THIS NAMING TODAY AMONG ALL THESE DESERVING CANDIDATES, BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON A

091DIFFERENT SUBJECT. TODAY'S BOARD MEMBER VOTE ON WHETHER TO PLACE A ONE MILL PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM ON THE NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT WILL BE A MAJOR STEP IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE DISTRICT IS ABLE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO PAY THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL OF SALARIES NEEDED FOR STAFF RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT. RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN DANGEROUS INCREASE IN TEACHERS LEAVING THE PROFESSION AND DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITING, AS EVIDENCED BY OUR HIGH TEACHER AND BUS DRIVER VACANCY LEVELS. THOSE REALITIES CLEARLY HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE DISTRICT'S CAPABILITY TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION TO ALL STUDENTS. LAST YEAR'S 4-3 BOARD VOTE WAS PERHAPS THE SINGLE BIGGEST REASON FOR THE NARROW DEFEAT OF THE 2022 REFERENDUM. HOPEFULLY THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL SHOW GREATER SUPPORT FOR THIS URGENT NEED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. ALSO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, HOW

092ARE YOU TODAY? I'M KERRY WEST, PRESIDENT OF TAMPA PRIDE. I'M COMING HERE TO THANK YOU. THANKING ALL OF YOU BECAUSE ON BEHALF OF LGBT MONTH, IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO LET ALL THE STUDENTS AND LET YOU AND THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOATS. THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE, YES, WE HAVE SPORTS, WE HAVE TECHNICAL, WE HAVE MUSICAL TALENT, BUT GREATEST OF ALL TIME, YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE AND TEACHING AND LEADING THE WAYS OF WHAT A FUTURE IS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE, DIVERSITY, BESIDES DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, BESIDES INCLUSION, IT'S ALL OF US ENCOMPASSING. AND WE ARE A GREAT AREA, A GREAT TALENT, AND THE TAMPA PRIDE IS -- I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AND HAVING INCLUSIVE, INCLUDING ALL THE PEOPLE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE HAVE MOTHERS TAKING

093STROLLERS. WE HAVE A FULL DIVERSITY OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND EVEN SOME AREA, PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT COME THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR BANDS AND PERFORMANCES WITH EVERYBODY COMING AND TAKING PART. THIS IS NOT A CHOICE UPON US. THIS IS NOT A CHOICE THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE DON'T OFFER. IT'S NOT OFFERED WHEN THEY ARE BORN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE -- IT'S OURSELVES AND IT'S OURSELVES THAT WE CAN'T CHANGE. AND THIS IS WHO WE REALLY ARE. AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOE EBBING, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE FATHER OF TWO BOYS THAT GRADUATED FROM CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL. ONE EARNING A PARTIAL

094SCHOLARSHIP PLAYING SOCCER, THE OTHER WENT ON TO THE UNIVERSITY -- OR UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. IT WAS DURING HIS FRESHMAN YEAR THERE THAT SOMEONE ON HIS FLOOR DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO OUT HIM SIMPLY FOR BEING A GUY QUESTIONING WHETHER HE WAS GAY OR STRAIGHT. BEING A COMMUNAL BATHROOM AND RESTROOMS IN THE COLLEGE DORM, HE BEGAN TO FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY AS HE WAS BULLIED BY A SMALL HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS. BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FOR RECOGNIZING LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE IN DOING THAT IT CREATES AWARENESS, AND THAT AWARENESS MAY HELP OTHER KIDS DOWN THE ROAD. THAT AWARENESS ALSO LET'S KIDS KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, TEACHERS, SPORTS PEOPLE, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, EVERYWHERE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND IT HELPS CREATE AWARENESS AND

095HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE, AND I BELIEVE IT WILL ALSO HELP HAVE SAFER SCHOOLS FOR ALL KIDS. AFTER ALL, WE ARE ONE HUMAN FAMILY AND NO ONE SHOULD BE OUTED FOR WHO THEY ARE NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE, ESPECIALLY IN A COLLEGE DORM. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. SPEAKERS 50 TO 55 PLEASE LINE UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. PETER HORSEMAN. I EXTEND MY THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE RECOGNITION OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH. I REALIZE THE COURAGE IT HAS TAKEN TO REMAIN WOKE IN THIS TRYING POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. I'M SPEAKING TODAY NOT ONLY AS A GAY CITIZEN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUT A MEMBER OF FAITH FAMILY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHICH IS AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION WITHIN THE FLORIDA

096CONFERENCE OF THE UCC. AT LAST WEEK'S GATHERING OF OUR FLORIDA CONFERENCE, OUR CONGREGATION SIGNED ON TO A LETTER REGARDING THE STATUS OF EDUCATION WITHIN OUR STATE. I AM QUOTING MOSTLY FROM THE SECTIONS THAT PERTAIN TO LGBTQ+ ISSUES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALTHOUGH THE FULLER COVERS HIGHER EDUCATION AND ALL TOPICS THAT ARE BEING CENSORED AND/OR WHITE WASHED. AND I QUOTE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT POLICIES AND RHETORIC TOWARD LGBTQ+ STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND FACULTY FEEL TARGETED AND LESS SAFE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT BOOKS LIFTING UP DIVERSITY AND THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF LIBRARY SHELVES, SOMETIMES AS A RESPONSE TO SELF CENSORSHIP BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED. TO BUILD ABOVE A COMMUNITY, WE MUST ENSURE OUR CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT THE RICHNESS AND COMPLEXITIES OF OUR COLLECTIVE PAST, THE GOOD AS WELL

097AS THE BAD. TEACHING CHILDREN A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HISTORY WILL FOSTER EMPATHY, CRITICAL THINKING, AND A DEEPER SENSE OF UNITY AND WILL EMPOWER THEM TO RECOGNIZE INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION AND WORK TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE. WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR DEDICATED EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS AND COMMIT TO SUPPORTING THEM IN HELPING NURTURE OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THESE EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS CARE DEEPLY AND PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR SOCIETY. THEY INSPIRE, CHALLENGE, AND OPEN YOUNG MINDS TO THE WONDERS OF KNOWLEDGE. LET US WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A BELOVED COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY CHILD GROWS UP WITH AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR THE DIVERSE TAPESTRY THAT HAS BEEN WOVEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS TIME FOR US. MY

098NAME IS KIM. I, TOO, AM A FLORIDA NATIVE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING UP HERE, BUT REST ASSURED UNLESS OR UNTIL THE PATH WE'RE CURRENTLY ON CHANGES IT CERTAINLY WON'T BE MY LAST. I'M HERE TODAY FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN. WHO ARE MY WORLD. I WANT THEM TO KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT IN THE WORLD AND THAT WE MUST ALL TAKE A STAND, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR EACH OTHER. STRENGTH COMES IN NUMBERS. GOOD BEATS EVIL AND IN THE END, LOVE ALWAYS WINS. IGNORANCE, RACISM, BIGOTRY AND HATRED ARE SPE SPEWING FROM THE WOODWORK IN TODAY'S WORLD. IT LITERALLY MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME AND IS BEYOND DESPICABLE. NO MATTER HOW HARD SOME MAY TRY, HISTORY CANNOT AND WILL NOT EVER BE ALTERED OR ERASED AS IT'S WRITTEN IN STONE BY

099WAY OF BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS, AND HUMAN LIFE. TO THOSE OF YOU BEFORE ME WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT BY PROTECTING HISTORY IN ITS TRUE INVALUABLE FORM, WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU. WE THANK YOU. AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE DEARLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MADAM CHAIR, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, CABINET MEMBERS, STAFF, MY NAME IS THELMA RODRIGUEZ. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES FOR THE K-8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'VE KNOWN E.J. SINCE I WAS LITTLE. I USED TO BUY HATS FROM HIS FATHER IN WEST TAMPA. I TOO LIKE HIM AM A NATIVE WEST TAMPANIAN. I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE E.J. IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST HONORABLE MEN I KNOW, NOT BECAUSE HE'S AN ATTORNEY,

100NOT BECAUSE HE'S A JUDGE, BUT BECAUSE THAT IS WHO HE IS. HE IS AN ORATOR AND WE HAVE VERY FEW OF THOSE LEFT. HE IS A HISTORIAN. YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WEST TAMPA OR YBOR CITY OR EVEN TAMPA, ASK E.J., AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT, GO ON YouTube. HE HAS MADE SOME EXCELLENT PRESENTATIONS. HE IS A MAN OF TAMPA, AND I REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR E.J. SALCINES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. I'M DR. ELIZABETH FREEMAN, FOURTH GENERATION FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BORN AND RAISED IN WEST TAMPA. PRODUCT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE. SO I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING HISTORIC. I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE NEW PREK-8 SCHOOL

101IN SOUTH TAMPA BE NAMED AFTER THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES. E.J. SALCINES IS A LEGEND, PERIOD. HE HAS BEEN A PILLAR IN THE TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY FOR DECADES, SERVING AS A RESPECTED JUDGE, PROSECUTOR, AND HISTORIAN, AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE. NAMING A SCHOOL, NAMING THIS SCHOOL AFTER HIM WOULD BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HIS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, JUSTICE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. NAMING A SCHOOL AFTER HIM IS ALSO A POWERFUL STATEMENT TO ALL STUDENTS AND ESPECIALLY TO HISPANIC STUDENTS WHO REPRESENT ABOUT 36% OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS TICKET, THAT THEIR HERITAGE IS STRENGTH, A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND ALSO BE A TESTAMENT TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY CAN MAKE THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN MAKE TO SOCIETY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES RECEIVED AN HONORARY DEGREE IN HUMANITIES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT THIS

102IS IN ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF ACCOLADES HE RECEIVED, INCLUDING THE MEDAL OF HONOR FROM THE FLORIDA BAR ASSOCIATION. THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH BAR ASSOCIATION. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HALL OF FAME. THE ACCOLADES GO ON AND ON. LEADERSHIP IN THE INNOCENCE PROJECT WHERE HE HELPED TO FREE HUNDREDS OF WRONGLY INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN. AS I MENTIONED, THE ACCOLADES GO ON AND ON. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE SCHOOL BE NAMED AFTER HIM. WHAT I CAN TELL FROM TODAY IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE A DIFFICULT DECISION AHEAD OF YOU. AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE HONORABLE E.J. SALCINES, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CONSTRUCTING A SCHOOL FIT FOR THE 21st CENTURY. THOSE TYPE OF SCHOOLS ARE MULTILINGUAL. THEY SHOW THAT STUDENTS CAN MOVE BETWEEN DIFFERENT AREAS TO MAKE

103A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO AND GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I AM HERE TO VOICE MY SPECIAL APPRECIATION FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH BY THE SCHOOL BOARD. AS WE HAVE HEARD EXTENSIVELY THIS AFTERNOON, EDUCATORS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAVE IMMENSE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THEIR STUDENTS. BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORY OF LGBTQ CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THE STUDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT FEAR THEIR IDENTIFICATION AS PART OF THAT GROUP, THIS ORGANIZATION HAS MADE A NECESSARY STEP FORWARD TO ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY. THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND IN THE LAST YEAR OF MY LIFE. I RECENTLY WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS THE LEAD

104FOR THE LGBTQ OUTREACH ORGANIZATION FOR ALL STATE PROTECTION PLANS. THROUGHOUT OUR SOCIETY AT ALL LEVELS, WHETHER IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR BUSINESSES WE SEE WE'RE PROTECTING THE NEEDS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS VITAL TO OUR PROGRESS AS A GROUP. I THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR TAKING STEPS TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SHARON GRAHAM. AND I AM HERE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY IN UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT OF THE PROCLAMATION FOR LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH. I AM A THERAPIST AND ALSO I'M A PERSON OF FAITH. AND I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HERE BECAUSE IT ALSO GETS THROWN AROUND FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. BUT I AM SOMEONE OF A VERY DEEP-SEATED FAITH WHO STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT NUMBER ONE, GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES

105IN CREATING PEOPLE AS THEY ARE. NUMBER TWO, WE SHOW OUR LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ALL PEOPLE. ALL OF GOD'S CREATION WHEN WE TELL THE TRUTH OF OUR HISTORY. AND LEARN FROM IT. WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING RECOGNITION OF THEIR FULL IDENTITIES. NUMBER THREE, THAT IT TAKES NO RIGHTS OR RESPECTS AWAY FROM ME OR ANY OTHER GROUP TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ALL OF US. IT IS, IN FACT, QUITE TO THE CONTRARY. WE ARE ENRICHED BY LEARNING OUR HISTORY SO WE CAN BE, DO, AND LOVE BETTER. MOST OF US BELIEVE IN INCLUSION AND EQUITY FOR ALL. AND IN THE ACCURATE AND FULL HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF OUR HISTORY. BUT THERE ARE A FEW, A LOUD FEW, WHO WOULD LIKE US DIVIDED AND LIVING IN FEAR OF ONE ANOTHER AND OUR TRUTH. IN

106SPITE OF THAT HATRED AND FEAR, WE STAND UNITED AND IN SUPPORT OF LEARNING OUR HISTORY HONESTLY AND FULLY. WE STAND UNITED IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF US AND IN EQUITY FOR ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PROCLAMATION FOR LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I AM NICKY RIVERA. THIS EVENING, I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AMY MARIE GRANGER WELCH WHO IS OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COUNCIL PTA PRESIDENT. SHE WRITES, FIRST, THANK YOU TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT, VAN AYRES, AND HIS TEAM FOR WORKING HARD TO REACH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR PAY INCREASES FOR OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ HISTORY PROCLAMATION. PTA SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE CRITERIA

107IN K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. AS THE LARGEST CHILD ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION IN THE NATION, PTA SUPPORTS MEASURES THAT ENSURE THE TEACHING OF HISTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN, LATINX, NATIVE AMERICAN, ASIAN, AND LGBTQ GROUPS, ACCURATELY REPRESENTED AND TAUGHT. PTA SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR INCLUSIVE K-12 CURRICULA AND MULTICULTURAL RESOURCES AND MATERIALS TO EMPOWER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES MORE EFFECTIVELY IN RELATION TO OTHERS. LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO CONTINUE BUILDING WELCOMING SCHOOLS THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSE HISTORIES AND BREAK DOWN EXISTING BARRIERS. DOING SO MAY INCREASE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND DRIVE FURTHER STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS. SO I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU, HONORABLE CHAIR, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HONORABLE EMPLOYEES, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. IT'S MY

108PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO BE BEFORE YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR GOOD FRIEND THAT HAS DONE SO MANY THINGS FOR ALL TAMPANIANS AND ALL CITIZENS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. E.J. IS A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. HE WAS ELECTED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A STATE ATTORNEY FOR 16 YEARS. HE WAS THE FIRST HISPANIC PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THAT'S NUMBER TWO. AND I SEE THESE WORDS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND IT COMES TO OTHER THINGS THAT HE'S DONE THAT MEETS HERE WHAT HE HAS DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO AS HE'S STILL DOING FOR HELPING PEOPLE. WHAT DID HE DO WHEN HE WAS STATE ATTORNEY? HE WAS THE FIRST TO HIRE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NAMED GEORGE EDGECOMB. THERE IS A BUILDING NAMED AFTER HIM. HE WAS THE FIRST TO HIRE FEMALE PROSECUTOR NAMED GWEN MILLER -- EXCUSE ME, GWENDOLYN YOUNG. HE

109WAS THE FIRST ONE TO HIRE A PROSECUTOR WITH DISABILITIES, BUT THAT'S NOT THE STORY ABOUT E.J. SALCINES. IT IS ABOUT THE FOUR WORDS THAT I READ THERE, "PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE." THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE'S DONE HIS WHOLE LIFE, NO MATTER IF IT WAS HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, OR LAW. IN FACT, IN WEST TAMPA, WE DON'T CALL IT SOUTH TEXAS UNIVERSITY. WE CALL IT E.J. UNIVERSITY BECAUSE HE HAS SENT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS AND GUIDED THEM TO BE ATTORNEYS WITH A PROMISE THAT IF THEY FINISH LAW SCHOOL, THEY MIGHT HAVE A JOB WHERE HE'S AT. I KNOW YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB. YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE REPRESENTING THEIR CANDIDATES, AND THEY HAVE ALL GOOD CANDIDATES SEEKING THIS NAME FOR THIS SCHOOL. GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK GOD YOU'RE MAKING THE DECISION, NOT I.

110CONGRATULATIONS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. JOE ROBINSON, TAXPAYER, RESIDENT OF WEST TAMPA SINCE 1962. WEST TAMPA CRA, CAC CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD, HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT 4.03. PLEASE GET APPROVED THE SALARIES FOR THE TEACHERS, NEGOTIATE, MR. VAN AYRES, YOU DID A GOOD JOB. WE NEED TO KEEP YOU HERE. THE OTHER ITEM SPEAKING ABOUT IS 7.20, I'LL COME BACK TO THAT. ALSO, GIVE THE TAXPAYERS A CHANCE TO VOTE ON 11.02 WITH A RESOLUTION SO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH TEACHERS. MY MOTHER WAS A TEACHER. SHE DIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. I WANT TO THANK THE PRINCIPAL AT BLAKE, MS. VALERIE NEWTON, CHRIS FARKAS AND CARLA, ROBINSON, AND

111OTHERS FOR LOOKING AT THIS. ONE IS I'M FROM WEST TAMPA. WEST TAMPA IS HAVING A RESURGENCE. I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN SPORTS, HAVING SERVED ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. LOCATED IN WEST TAMPA. USING BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ON A RIVER. IT'S BLAKE CAN HAVE ITS BAND, SHOWCASED WITH THE BAND ALMOST EQUIVALENT TO FAMU FROM WHAT I'M SINGING. IMPROVE EXISTING FACILITIES AT NO COST TO THE DISTRICT AND ANY COSTS THAT COME UP ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT, IT SAYS THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. IN THE WEST TAMPA COMMUNITY AND CRA AREA WOULD ONLY BENEFIT FROM IT. ROME YARD, WEST RIVER. TRYING TO GET A BRAND-NEW SCHOOL, RIGHT? AND SO I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I WOULD ASK THAT THEY CONSIDER PUTTING, MAKING IT WIDE ENOUGH TO PUT AN EIGHT-LANE TRACT AROUND IT WHEN THEY LEAVE SO THAT TRACT SITTING

112BEHIND JUST CAN BE MOVED AND SO THAT AREA CAN BE DEVELOPED FOR TEACHER HOUSING AND WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WE'LL DO A COUPLE MORE SPEAKERS AND THEN MOVE TO EMPLOYEE INPUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SIX EMPLOYEES HERE. HI. IF I CAN, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A MINUTE FOR ANYONE WITH KIDS TO TAKE THEM OUT. THIS IS YOUR EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING HERE. I APOLOGIZE. I'D LIKE TO WAIT. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT TO THE CHILDREN HERE. I WAITED HERE TWO HOURS TO SPEAK. I HAVE SOMETHING VERY -- Nadia Combs: EVERYONE HAS THE SAME RULES. THANK YOU. PLEASE MOVE AHEAD. OKAY. WELL, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I REFUSE TO SAY A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I PLANNED TO SAY, BUT I'D

113LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BLANKETS REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT HAPPENED AT PLANT CITY. I REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STEP OUT WITH YOUR SMALL CHILDREN. I'M HERE TO REPORT TO YOU ABOUT THE COMMITTEE THAT MET ON SEPTEMBER 18th ABOUT THE BOOK BLANKETS. I WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING AT PLANT TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE 15 PAGE BEDROOM SCENE THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN THAT BOOK CHALLENGE THAT WAS FILED. IT INCLUDES ERECTION, BREAST FONDLING, BITING, TASTING, ORAL COPULATION, STRIPPING OFF CLOTHES IN HEATED PASSION, 22 IMAGES OF THE AROUSED COUPLE, 10 IMAGES OF HER NAKED BREASTS. THE BOOK ALSO CONTAINS CRASS TALK LIKE THIS, CHURCH CAMP IS THE BEST PLACE TO SCORE PUSSY. ALSO, DID YOU FEEL UP HER TITIS. IMAGES OF MASTURBATION, NAKED BOYS PEAKING ON EACH OTHER, SEXUAL ASSAULT, MORE NUDITY, MALE AND

114FEMALE. I IMAGINE WE'RE UNCOMFORTABLE NOW. THIS IS SHAMEFUL, BASE AND DEGRADING. ALL SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WERE ALSO ASKED TO LOOK AT THIS IMAGE. THIS WAS IN THE BOOK, AND THEY ALL UNANIMOUSLY SAID THAT THIS, ALONG WITH THAT 15-PAGE -- THIS IS IN CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES. HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. APPROVED BY THAT COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY AT PLANT HIGH. IT'S IN MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. TEN IMAGES OF THAT WOMAN'S NAKED BREAST IN THAT BOOK. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO BRING DISPLAYS. AM I RIGHT? THIS IS IN A LIBRARY BOOK IN YOUR CLASSROOMS. WE CAN'T SHOW THAT HERE? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. WE ALL HAVE THE SAME RULES. EVERYONE GETS TWO MINUTES AND WE'RE CONSISTENT. THE TIME STARTS WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER BEFORE WE MOVE TO EMPLOYEE

115INPUT, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GILL HERNANDEZ. I LIVE AT 3121 WEST OAKLAND AVENUE IN TAMPA, SOUTH TAMPA. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT NAMING THE SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA AFTER E.J. SALCINES. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, INCLUDING COUNCILMAN MIRANDA VERY WELL. I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU FROM MY HEART. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED, BUT I'VE KNOWN E.J. SINCE 1971. WHEN I FIRST CAME TO TAMPA FROM NEW YORK CITY WHERE A PERSON BY THE NAME OF HERNANDEZ LIKE ME, OR SALCINES WAS NEVER CONSIDERED TO BE ANYTHING IMPORTANT. IN CITY GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE. I CAME HERE AND HE WAS THE STATE ATTORNEY. THERE WERE OTHER MEMBERS OF MY HERITAGE IN GOVERNMENT, BUT HE WAS A STATE ATTORNEY. A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HIM. AMONG ALL

116THE ACCOLADES THAT HE HAS RECEIVED, THE ONE THAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS THAT, IN MY OPINION, THERE IS NO ONE TODAY ALIVE THAT REPRESENTS THE HISPANIC OR LATIN OR SPANISH OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTY BETTER THAN E.J. SALCINES. I DO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OTHER INTRAMURAL CANDIDATES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT MR. SALCINES, JUDGE SALCINES HAS EARNED THE POSITION OF HAVING A SCHOOL IN OUR COUNTY NAMED AFTER HIM. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO EMPLOYEE INPUT BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES DO COME FOR A LONG WAY AND WE'LL RETURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS GET TWO MINUTES AND THE MOMENT STARTS WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING AND THERE ARE NO DISPLAYS ALLOWED. HANDOUTS ARE OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH

117THE RULES AMONGST EVERYONE. I WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT -- SORRY, NOT PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT OUR COMMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, INCLUDING THROUGH UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE'RE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA,

118BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. WE'LL CALL UP THE FIRST SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE AND, OF COURSE, I'M FROM HECF AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THIS YEAR THROUGH NEGOTIATION, IT WAS A DIFFERENT YEAR. WE WANT TO THANK THE NEGOTIATING TEAM OF THE DISTRICT AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK PUT IN. WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO A CONCLUSION AND OUR MEMBERS RATIFIED IT AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE HAPPY. WE'RE HAPPY. AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WE'LL JUST KEEP WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES MAKE A LIVING WAGE. AND THIS WAS THE FIRST STEP INTO

119THAT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY MAKE A LIVING WAGE. I WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT AYRES FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO THANK DR. MARIE WHELAN AND DANIELLE SHOTWELL FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE AND THE WHOLE NEGOTIATING TEAM. WE'RE HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE INCREASE -- SALARY INCREASE FOR HCEF. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. ROB KRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING AND KEEPING THIS TIME KIND OF HOLDING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GETTING UP SUPER EARLY AND STAYING UP SUPER LATE GRADING PAPERS, BUT THE ABILITY TO COME DOWN AFTER DONE WITH SCHOOL AND TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT WHATEVER ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING I THINK IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I

120ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF HCEF AND JOE ROBINSON. I WISH HE WAS HERE HAS MY SPOKESPERSON. WE THOROUGHLY APPRECIATE THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS WE'VE MADE WITH YOU GUYS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE WORK THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR, WITH THE HR DEPARTMENT IS AMAZING. I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT COLLABORATION AND GREAT WORK. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE FULLY SUPPORT THAT, AND OUR DATA SAYS THAT DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND INDEPENDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN THE TEACHERS WE HAVE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DOING THE GREAT WORK. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT

121MORE. BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE COULD DO WITH AN INITIATIVE THAT YOU GUYS WILL TALK ABOUT. TALK ABOUT EXPANDING ART, MUSIC, PE AT ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. INCREASING EARLY LEARNING. WE TALK ABOUT KIDS STRUGGLING TO READ IN THIRD GRADE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING OR NOT BEING ABLE TO DO FOR EARLY LEARNING. THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY ALL OF US HERE, BUT THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO EXPANDS OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND WE WANT TO GO RIGHT BACK TO IT. KEEP THE GREAT TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE HERE, THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE SO FAR ARE HELPING THAT BUT WE COULD DO MORE AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, AND EVERYONE IN THEIR

122RESPECTIVE PLACES. MY NAME IS TROY VON DAWKINS. SECRETARY 4 AT SULPHUR SPRINGS K-8. I HAVE COME TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NON-REPRESENTED STAFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OUR SECRETARY FORCE, HEAD CUSTODIANS AND STUDENT NUTRITION MANAGERS ALL OF WHICH SERVE AS SUPERVISORS IN SOME CAPACITY OR ANOTHER, THESE NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES SUPERVISE A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT MADE ANYWHERE FROM $11.80 AN HOUR TO $13.16 AN HOUR ACCORDING TO THE 2021-22 SALARY SCHEDULE. IN 2022, THE DISTRICT RAISED THE MINIMUM TO $15 AN HOUR TO MEET FEDERAL GUIDELINES. HOWEVER, YOUR NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES PAY WAS NOT ADJUSTED. WE ONCE MADE 3 TO 4 DOLLARS MORE THAN THOSE WE SUPERVISE. WE NOW ONLY MAKE 61 CENTS TO A DOLLAR MORE. THE NEW PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE SHOWS THAT SECRETARY 4s WOULD MAKE $1.93 MORE THAN SECRETARY 1s, BUT IN 2021,

123THERE WAS A $3.88 DIFFERENCE. THE PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE ONLY SHOWS SECRETARY 4 MAKING 99 CENTS MORE THAN BOOKKEEPERS BUT IN 2021, THERE WAS A $2.10 DIFFERENCE. KEEP IN MIND YOUR SECRETARY 4s, THEY WORK 12 MONTHS. WE INITIATE AND SOMETIMES APPROVE HIRING ACTIONS FOR OUR PRINCIPALS, ENTER, VERIFY, AND IF NEEDED, APPROVE PAYROLL. WE RECRUIT AND SUBMIT NEW-HIRE OFFERS, WE ORDER SUPPLIES FOR ALL STAFF, SOME ARE BACKUPS, SUBMIT MAINTENANCE REQUESTS, MANAGE VISITOR LOGS, SUBMIT ADDITIONAL PAY ASSIGNMENTS LIKE TESSA, ELP, WE SUPERVISE THE FRONT OFFICE, SET UP FUND-RAISER, BANK RECONCILIATION, BOOK FIELD TRIPS, ORGANIZE SCHOOL EVENTS LIKE PICTURE DAY, TEACHER APPRECIATION AND PREPLANNING IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER TASKS OUR PRINCIPALS MAY REQUIRE OF US. YOUR NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED AS WE DO NOT FALL IN TOP PRIORITY TO ADJUST THE PAY TO BE PROPORTIONATE BASED ON

124POSITION AND WORKLOAD. THE DISTRICT MUST REVISIT THIS DECISION TO PAY NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS OTHER SUPPORT EMPLOYEES PROPORTIONATELY. IF A SECRETARY ONE CAN GET A $3.20 RAISE TO MEET MINIMUM WAGE GUIDELINES DUE TO COST-OF-LIVING, THEN SO SHOULD YOUR SECRETARY 4s AND OTHER NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES. GIVING US A 30-CENT STEP INCREASE IS NOT PROPORTIONATE AND NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY REVISED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME IS LAURA HOTTENSTEIN. FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU SINCE YOU BECAME SUPERINTENDENT, SO CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. TO ALL OF YOU UP HERE, MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME SPEAK ON BEHALF OF COUNSELORS ONE. BIG SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THE SECRETARIES IN OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR SCHOOLS. SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. I'M HERE ACTUALLY,

125I AM THE HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL COUNSELING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, THANK YOU FOR GOING TO THE TABLE AND PUTTING US ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE WHICH WE ARE MEANT TO BE AND WHICH WE DESERVE. WE HOLD MASTERS FOR OUR POSITION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS, SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT AS WE GO INTO CONTRACT LANGUAGE, I WANT TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS. WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF VACANCIES OF COUNSELORS IN OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE 26 IN ELEMENTARY ALONE. 26. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THERE IS ONE ELEMENTARY COUNSELOR PER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEY HAVE COVERAGE. THEY HAVE A PLAN, BUT IT'S 26 VACANCIES. 15 IN THE MIDDLE AND ROUGHLY 6, PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE IN

126HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE IF WE DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE FOR US. WE HOLD A LOT OF POSITIONS IN WHICH WE ARE PSEUDOADMIN OR WE ARE RUNNING AROUND US. WE DO LUNCH DUTY. WE DO MULTIPLE LUNCH DUTIES, TESTING, WHICH TAKES UP A TON OF OUR TIME. DOING THINGS THAT ARE ALSO OUT OF OUR JOB DESCRIPTION. IT LEAVES US LESS TIME TO TALK TO THE STUDENTS IN NEED, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, TO ADDRESS ACADEMICS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A HIGHER GRADUATION RATE, TALK ABOUT POSTSECONDARY OPTIONS TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR ELEMENTARY. IT'S INTERVENTION. IT IS RTI. MTSS, IT'S ALL OF THAT. COUNSELORS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT AND HAVE 26 VACANCIES, IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE IF WE DO

127NOT START RESPECTING THE JOB IN WHICH WE HOLD. I WAS NOT TRAINED TO BE IN LUNCH DUTY ALL THE TIME. I WAS TRAINED TO WORK WITH STUDENTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GO AND PUT MY TWO CENTS IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, EVERYBODY. HIEDI GLICK, ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL. I ALSO WANT TO ECHO WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR, TOP OF THE SCALE, WORK TWO JOBS, GETTING SOMETHING, FINALLY A NICE RAISE. JUST AS A THOUGHT WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT TO PASS MILLAGE, I WILL ACTUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY AFTER I RETIRE BETWEEN -- I HAVE THREE PENSIONS. NEW YORK JUST GAVE A COST OF LIVING,

128MARYLAND GAVE A COST OF LIVING. WHEN I START COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY, MY INCOME AND WITH THE RETIREMENT FROM THIS DISTRICT, I'LL ACTUALLY BE MAKING MORE THAN I AM NOW. BUT I'M NOT LEAVING YET. YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME, NOT YET. WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS CLASS SIZES. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT IS ONLY FOR SPECIFIC CORE CLASSES. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. E-1 TEACHERS ARE BIOLOGY TEACHERS WOULD HAVE A CLASS OF 25. HAVEN'T HAD MATH SINCE 1975, IF I SCREW THIS UP, SOMEBODY FIX ME. SIX CLASSES AT 25 EACH IS 150 STUDENTS. OUR TEACHERS ARE LOOKING AT 200 PLUS STUDENTS TO PAY THEM. GIVE THEM, AWARD THEM A PAYROLL BECAUSE BASICALLY YOU'RE GETTING ALL OF THAT FOR FREE. WHEN I GO -- I TEACH AN ELECTIVE. I'M

129HAPPY TO HAVE MY ELECTIVE. I HAVE 36 AND 40 IN A CLASS, AND THAT'S GREAT. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT. BUT MY TEACHERS THAT ARE TEACHING E-1 AND ALGEBRA ONE AND NEED TO PASS THESE KIDS ON TO THE NEXT LOAD, THEY ARE NOT ASKING -- THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEIR PLANNING PERIOD. WHAT THEY WANT IS TO BE PAID FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING. SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, LIKE ONCE YOU'RE OVER A CERTAIN NUMBER, WHICH I PERSONALLY THINK SHOULD BE 150 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT SAYS, BECAUSE TEACHERS AREN'T COMING HERE. THE SCALE IS BETTER, BUT IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T MAKE MORE MONEY WHEN I RETIRE THAN WHEN I DO WHEN I'M WORKING. AND THAT'S SORT OF -- I MEAN, I NEED

130TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT, BUT AGAIN I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I NEED YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHO IS DECIDING HOW MANY TEACHERS NEED TO BE AT EACH SCHOOL, BUT THEY NEED TO STOP, AND THEY NEED TO NOT DO IT ANYMORE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE LOWER CLASS LOADS IN ACCESS CLASS, AND YOU HAVE LOWER NUMBERS IN IB CLASS AND LOWER NUMBERS IN YOUR COLLEGIATE CLASSES, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS, YOU CANNOT SAY, OKAY, YOU HAVE THIS MANY STUDENTS. YOU NEED THIS MANY TEACHERS. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW MANY ARE IN THIS GRADE AND HOW MANY ARE IN THAT GRADE, AND ANYONE WHO HAS A LOAD OVER WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE SHOULD BE GETTING T PAYROLLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD

131EVENING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI. I'M NICOLE FROM BRANDON. EXCUSE ME. IT IS CHARACTER DAY AT MY SCHOOL. I AM HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE LGBTQIA + HISTORY MONTH. SO OFTEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS -- THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY GO UNNOTICED. AS A TEACHER WHO WANTS ALL STUDENTS IN MY ROOM TO FEEL SEEN AND HEARD AND AS A PARENT OF A LESBIAN DAUGHTER, I WANT THE LGBTQ+IA + COMMUNITY TO BE SEEN. I WANT ALL MY STUDENTS AND CHILD TO LIVE OPENLY AND PROUDLY AND TO SEE MANY PEOPLE LIKE THEMSELVES WHO HAVE HELPED TO MOVE SOCIETY FORWARD. MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL CELEBRATED "SAY HELLO WEEK" RECENTLY WITH THE SANDY HOOK PROMISE. AND THERE WAS ONE DAY WHERE TEACHERS AND STAFF TALKED TO THE WALK AND DREW DRAWINGS TO WELCOME STUDENTS.

132MY DAUGHTER CAME HOME SO EXCITED THAT DAY BECAUSE ONE OF THE DRAWINGS WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE HOLDING HANDS AND IT SAID ALL ARE WELCOME HERE. AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED BECAUSE SHE FELT SEEN AND SHE FELT LIKE HER SCHOOL RECOGNIZED THAT SHE WAS A PART OF THEIR SCHOOL AND WELCOMED THERE. AND THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO HER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FEEL SEEN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL EMPLOYEE. PLEMPLOYEE SPEAKER. HELLO. JEN HART. I'M A PROUD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SINCE 2004. TONIGHT AS A TEACHER I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MOST MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR STANDING UP FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SUPPORT LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH IN OCTOBER. IF WE SAY WE ARE A SCHOOL DISTRICT

133FOCUSED ON HELPING CHILDREN SUCCEED, THEN THAT MEANS EVERY CHILD. WE CANNOT CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE IN SCHOOLS THAT ONE TYPE OF CHILD OR TEACHER HAS AN EXISTENCE THAT CANNOT BE TALKED ABOUT OR CELEBRATED BECAUSE ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE DO NOT APPROVE. STUDENTS ONLY STAND TO GAIN EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING FROM LEARNING ABOUT DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING IS WHAT THE WORLD REALLY NEEDS MORE OF NOW MORE THAN EVER. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE AND ACCEPTED AT SCHOOL SO THEY CAN GROW AND LEARN AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR THAT STEP. I TRUST YOU GUYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW RESUME PUBLIC COMMENT. SO SPEAKERS 59

134TO 65, PLEASE LINE UP. 59 TO 65. MY NAME IS LOUIS SAL CZAR, PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST START BY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH. I KNOW BY THE SOUNDS OF HATEFUL RHETORIC I'VE HEARD IN THESE WALLS THAT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE. HISTORY. AND ESPECIALLY THE HISTORY OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE CELEBRATED ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT HISTORY COMES IN THE PLACE EVER TOLERANCE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING. I GREW UP IN A PLACE MORE INTOLERANT THAN THE TIMES WE ARE IN NOW. MY HISTORY AS LGBTQ PERSON AND LATINO WAS NOT SOMETHING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. I HAD TO GATHER BITS AND PIECES FROM THE ELDERS IN MY TWO COMMUNITIES TO KNOW WHO I AM AND MY PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY. THROUGH THE PROCESS,

135I HAVE COME TO LEARN THAT I TOO HAVE HEROES AND I'M ALSO PART OF A VERY RICH HISTORY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I LEARN THAT MY HISTORY WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE AMERICAN MANTRA WHICH I SPOKE EVERY DAY IN SCHOOLS OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ONE WHICH NO -- COULD TAKE AWAY FROM US. WE AS A -- SORRY, EXCUSE ME. WE AS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY MUST MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. WE CAN ONLY DO THAT WHEN WE LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER AND LEARN TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT WHERE WE'RE AT YET. BUT WE CAN LEARN THAT STEP FROM THE HISTORY THAT WE SHARE. I LEAVE YOU WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON HISTORY CAN TEACH US, AND THAT IS IN THE TIME OF OUR KNOWN HUMAN RECORD, THOSE WHO BAN BOOKS, DENY OTHERS EDUCATION AND

136DEGRADE IN OUR GENERALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE NOT THE PEOPLE WE WANT TO BE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CAP MARGO. I'M 20 YEARS OLD AND I IDENTIFY AS QUEER AND TRANS NONBINARY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION OF LGBTQ+ MONTH. WHILE THE RECOGNITION IS SIMPLE, THIS IS AN ACT FROM ALL OF YOU AS A STANCE IN SOLIDARITY OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. AS I STAND BEFORE YOU, I'M AWARE OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AND PERHAPS IN THIS ROOM WHO RESENT MY EXISTENCE WITHOUT KNOWING A BIT ABOUT ME. ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, HOW I WOULD LIKE TO BE KNOWN. TO MY FRIENDS, I AM KIND, MY PEERS, I AM SMART. TO SHOWS WHO WORK WITH ME I'M RESILIENT AND

137TO MY PARTNER I'M LOVING. I'M PASSIONATE, DETERMINED OPINIONATED, FUNNY, REFLECTIVE, HARDWORKING, CAREFUL, CAUTIOUS, AND AT THIS TIME I'M SCARED. THESE ARE THE QUALITIES THAT I'M ABLE TO TAKE THE TIME TO SEE IN THE QUEER TRAILBLAZERS BEFORE ME. THIS MONTH I'M ABLE TO REFLECT ON THEIR ENERGY, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THEIR SUCCESS. I ALLOW THIS KNOWLEDGE TO WASH OVER ME LIKE A COMFORTING BLANKET AS THOUGH TIMES ARE HARD, WE CAN STILL PERSEVERE. I HOPE THIS RECOGNITION MEANS YOU STAND ALONGSIDE ME AND MY COMMUNITY AS WE DO THIS TOGETHER AS UNITY IN FORCE. I REFERENCE THE SIMPLICITY OF RECOGNITION, A SIMPLE CONFIRMATION OF SOMETHING THAT IS JUST SIMPLY FACT, THAT OCTOBER IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH NO MATTER WHAT. BUT NEVERTHELESS, THIS IS A NEED. AS POLITICAL AGENDAS RAIN UPON OUR STUDENTS, WE MUST

138EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR SUCCESS. I WILL CONFIRM TO YOU THAT THIS DOES NOT COME FROM COWARDICE, HIDING OR BACKING DOWN, COULDLESS FROM FIGHTING FOR OUR STUDENTS. FIGHTING FOR THEIR TRUE PROTECTION AND STANDING PROUDLY ALONGSIDE THEM AS THEY GROW AND BECOME THEIR TRUE SELVES. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE BOARD FOR THE RECOGNITION, BUT REMEMBER OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU, AND IT NEEDS MORE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI. MY NAME IS SUE MARA APSELL. I FULLY SUPPORT RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS A SOCIETY, WE ARE FAILING OUR LGBTQ+ YOUTH. IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH BEING A TEENAGER. IT'S EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BEING AN LGBTQ TEEN AND BECOME EVEN HARDER IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR YOUR CALL TO ACTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

139TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE EQUAL PROTECTION OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER EXPRESSION, OR GENDER IDENTITY. OUR LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY NEED TO HEAR THIS. TOO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY'S LGBTQ YOUTH ARE STIGMATIZED, NEGLECTED AND MISTREATED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. A FEW STATISTICS. 60% OF LGBTQ YOUTH WHO WANTED MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE PAST YEAR WERE UNABLE TO GET IT. 73% OF LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTED EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND 58% REPORTED EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION. THESE YOUTH ARE ALSO FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY AS THEIR PEERS TO COMMIT SUICIDE. SO, YEAH, THESE YOUTH ESPECIALLY NEED TO HEAR THAT THEY ARE VALUED. I HAVE NO ILLUSIONS THAT RECOGNIZING LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH WILL MAGICALLY FIX EVERYTHING. BUT IT DOES SEND AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO LGBTQ+ STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT YOU MATTER, YOU'RE VALUED, AND

140THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO EMBRACE YOU AS IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I THANK YOU, THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHO DEMONSTRATED YOUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING A WELCOMING AND EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BY RECOGNIZING LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. SPEAKERS 66 THROUGH 70 PLEASE LINE UP. IF WE CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP TO 70, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS SIMON KANASSI. I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF NAMING THE NEW SCHOOL AFTER MY DEAR FRIEND E.J. SALCINES. THERE ARE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES TONIGHT THAT YOU HAVE TO ALSO CONSIDER, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT AFTER STANDING HERE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS AND LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAME FORWARD FOR THOSE OTHER TWO

141CANDIDATES, YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE TO MAKE. BUT AT THE END, NO MATTER WHAT CHOICE YOU'VE MADE, YOU HAVE HONORED A VERY WORTHY INDIVIDUAL. HOWEVER, I'M ONLY HERE TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THEM, AND THAT'S MY GOOD FRIEND E.J. WHEN I THINK ABOUT E.J., WORDS COME TO MIND. EDUCATOR, NURTURER, ICONIC. ASK ANY LAWYER OR ANY JUDGE THAT YOU KNOW IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT E.J. MENTORED, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT E.J. HELPED GET INTO SOUTH TEXAS % úTHAT WORK FOR E.J., THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MAN WAS SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THEIR CAREER AND THEY OWE THEIR CAREER TO E.J. SALCINES. THE LOVE AND RESPECT THAT E.J. ENJOYS IN THE COMMUNITY IS SECOND TO NONE. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT IT. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE SERVED ON THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE YEARS AGO THAT

142SENT E.J.'S NAME TO THE GOVERNOR FOR APPOINTMENT TO THAT APPELLATE COURT. HE SERVED THAT COURT WITH HONOR, WITH DISTINCTION, WITH CONGENIALITY, AND, ABOVE ALL, WITH A TREMENDOUS HEAD FOR THE LAW. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY GOOD FRIEND E.J. AND THE DESERVING OF THIS SCHOOL BEING NAMED AFTER HIM. I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THOUGHT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT THIS. ONLY COMMUNISTS AND NAZIS BAN BOOKS. WHEN YOU BAN BOOKS, YOU AFFECT CRITICAL THINKING. REMEMBER THAT. I SAY THAT AS A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BETSY BRADEN. I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRIDE PROCLAMATION IN JUNE. MANY LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE BEING MARGINALIZED AND

143BULLIED AND NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING AND ALLOWING LGBTQ GUIDELINES IN THE CLASSROOMS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE GUIDELINES AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED. THANK YOU FOR THE OCTOBER PROCLAMATION FOR LGBTQ HISTORY. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THESE STUDENTS SINCE THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE BY ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS. RECENTLY, THIS BOOK IS GAY WAS REMOVED FROM ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BAN THIS BOOK DUE TO MINORITY EXTREMISTS. PARENTAL RIGHTS ALSO INCLUDE PARENTS WHO WANT THIS BOOK AVAILABLE TO THEIR CHILDREN. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE MARGINALIZED STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS JENNIFER. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO COME IN HERE TODAY AND HEAR SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT MS. ALBRITTON TO

144ME BECAUSE I KNEW HER BACK BEFORE SHE WAS A DOCTOR. THAT MAKES ME FEEL EXCEPTIONALLY OLD. SHE WAS DEFINITELY A HUGE IMPACT ON MY LIFE AND BLESSED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HER TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHY I WAS HERE. I AM A CONCERNED MOTHER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE, UNWAVERING ADVOCATE FOR BOTH TEACHERS, SAFETY, AND TRANSPORTATION FOR FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS BOARD. IN MY CANDIDACY FOR SCHOOL BOARD IS PINNACLE ON THESE TOPICS. IN 2022, SPEARHEADED BY NUMEROUS ON THIS BOARD, A SIMILAR PROPOSITION WAS INTRODUCED. OUR COMMUNITY MADE THEIR STANCE CLEAR. THEY VOTED IT DOWN. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT WE LOOK AT THE CURRENT CLIMATE WITH WHERE WE ARE FROM A MONETARY STANDPOINT WHERE OUR PARENTS ARE PLACED THAT WE FIND OURSELVES HERE ONCE AGAIN. WHAT WE'RE REVISITING

145AN ISSUE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS THOUGHT WAS SETTLED, THE QUESTION ARISES, ARE WE REALLY LISTENING? DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES? DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE PARENTS THAT CAN'T PAY RENT, THAT CAN'T PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL THAT'S ALSO THREE TIMES THE NORMAL AMOUNT? TODAY THE COMMUNITY STANDS YET AGAIN AT CROSS ROADS FACING A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HIKE THE MILLAGE RATE FOR A DOLLAR EVERY THOUSAND OF HOME VALUE. AT A TIME WHEN THE FAMILIES ARE WRESTLING WITH FINANCIAL BLOWS OF INFLATION, IS IT FAIR TO ASK THEM TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS? I STAND HERE TODAY NOT JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL VOICE BUT A REFLECTION OF MANY WHO FILL THIS ROOM AND MANY MORE OUTSIDE IT. THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE NEED FOR BETTER PAY, MORE RESOURCES FOR OUR TEACHERS, BUT THROWING FIRE -- OR

146THROWING FUEL ON A FIRE DOES NOT DOUSE THE FLAMES, IT USUALLY ONLY EXACERBATES IT. THE FISCAL TRANSPARENCY OF THE BOARD NEEDS TO COME TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE EVALUATING -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. DEBBIE HUNT, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, I COME TODAY ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES. THE FIRST IS THE RECOGNITION OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH. I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO PURSUE A RECOGNITION WHERE IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT YOU HAVE A POLICY OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD GUIDE THAT. SUGGESTING THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOT EVEN FOLLOWING YOUR OWN GUIDELINES. TO CIRCUMVENT THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE BY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE HISTORY MONTH THAT IF TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

147HOWEVER, THIS LAW WAS CLEARLY SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED WITHIN THE GOVERNING FLORIDA STATUTES FOR THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. I ALSO FIND IT DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST FAITH. I ALSO WANT IT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK ON PEOPLE WHO ARE GAY OR LESBIANS OR OTHER CHOICES. THIS IS ABOUT A SCHOOL BOARD WHO CONTINUES TO DEVIATE FROM OUR NATION'S CONSTITUTION, WHICH YOU SWORE TO UPHOLD. MY SECOND ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH INCREASING TAXES. PLEASE VOTE NO. THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE GOTTEN IN ORDER WITHIN THE BUDGETS THAT YOU HAVE. I DO THINK IT'S EXCEPTIONAL THAT AS A DISTRICT AND ESPECIALLY AS LARGE A DISTRICT THAT WE ARE, THAT WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE RANKING OF BEING THE HIGHEST NATIONALLY FOR FOURTH GRADE MATH AND READING AND EIGHTH GRADERS RANKED HIGH

148IN MATH AS WELL. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LED THE NATION WITH OUR MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS' SCORES. THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS VERY MUCH FOR THEIR DEDICATION. BUT WHO IS GOING TO SUFFER THE MOST FROM THE MILLAGE INCREASE? THE TEACHERS AND THE FAMILIES WHO RENT. PLEASE RECONSIDER. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ASK FOR MORE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DesMARAIS ALLEN. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE AND I HAVE TWO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE STUDENTS. THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS MY ALMA MATER -- PLANT HIGH SCHOOL -- WHO HAS A BECOME BEING CHALLENGED. I FIND IT INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WE HAD TO READ THIS BOOK CALLED "CRAZY IN ALABAMA," AND A WOMAN CARRIED AROUND A MAN'S HEAD IN A

149HAT BOX AND PARENTS WERE SO FURIOUS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE AUDACITY TO BE TAUGHT THIS BOOK. LET ME TELL YOU, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY FRIENDS READ EVERY SINGLE PAGE. I'M GRATEFUL THAT I GREW UP IN A TIME WHEN 1069 DIDN'T EXIST, WHEN I COULD EXPLORE TERRIBLE LITERATURE LIKE V.C. ANDREWS THAT WAS HORRIFIC, BUT THEN ALSO LEARN THAT I LOVED THE CLASSICS. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT KIDS GET ENGAGED WITH, AND I'M NOT SAYING TO PUT PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS. LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IF WE WANT A GENERATION OF KIDS WHO LOVE BOOKS, WHO READ BOOKS, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM ACTUAL BOOKS. ALSO, ABOUT THE LGBTQ PROCLAMATION OF THE HISTORY MONTH, PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR

150STUDENTS ARE PEOPLE. THEY ARE CHILDREN THAT COME FROM FAMILIES WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, WHO HAVE PARENTS WHO ARE LGBTQ, WHO HAVE SIBLINGS WHO ARE LGBTQ, WHO ARE LGBTQ THEMSELVES. AND WE NEED TO PUT ASIDE OUR PERSONAL AGENDAS AND RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE LOVED AND ACCEPTED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER SEOULS. I AM FROM SOUTH TAMPA AND ATTENDED TR ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 1994. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON. MY GOAL TODAY IS TO URGE YOU TO NAME THE NEW K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL IN SOUTH TAMPA AFTER HER TO HONOR HER LEGACY IN EDUCATION. SHE SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL OF ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1990 TO 1996 AND SHE WAS NOT ONLY THE

151FIRST FEMALE PRINCIPAL BUT ALSO THE FIRST GRADUATE TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION AS SHE WAS A GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 1967. IN THE 1993 TO 1994 SCHOOL YEAR, I WAS DR. ALBRITTON'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT. DR. ALBRITTON FOSTERED A CULTURE WHERE I AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO EXCEL WITH LEARNING AND PRACTICING LIFE SKILLS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO THRIVE IN LEARNING HOW TO BE A STUDENT LEADER. THIS EXPERIENCE ALLOWED ME TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, TO PLAN AND EXECUTE EVENTS AND DANCES, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL TEAMS WHICH ENABLED ME TO CONTINUE BUILDING MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WHERE I WENT ON TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AROUND THE WORLD, COMMANDING AN AIR FORCE SQUADRON AND RETIRING AS

152LIEUTENANT COLONEL. THE PRACTICAL SKILLS I LEARNED FROM MY SCHOOL CAREER HAVE STAYED WITH ME MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT OUR PRINCIPAL CREATED. NOT EVERYONE HAD A GREAT HOME LIFE SO COMING TO SCHOOL EACH DAY TO A WARM AND CARING FACULTY WAS VITAL TO SO MANY OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS. I COULD GO ON AND ON WITH THE MANY ACCOLADES SHE GARNERED IN HER CAREER AS EDUCATOR BUT A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH WOULD GIVE YOU THAT. INSTEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE I HAVE FOR MR. DR. ALBRITTON. FOR ME SHE MODELED HOW TO BE A FEMALE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION AND HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WORKING MOM AND THIS INSPIRED ME AS A YOUNG TEENAGER TO DREAM BIG FOR MY FUTURE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU.

153NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. MY NAME IS CARA SMELLENS. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY BUT ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH. I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE AFFIRMED LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH AS SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY. THIS MONTH GIVES STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO LEARN FROM THE LGBTQ RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WHICH HELPED SHAPE OUR NATION. THE FUTURE IS IN THE HANDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE THEM HONEST ACCESS TO PRICELESS LEARNING RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW. LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH ALSO GIVES KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE LUCKY TO BE SEEN IN ANY CONTENT IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE NONSENSE COMING FROM THE FLORIDA CAPITAL. WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, STUDENTS LIKE ME, LGBTQ STUDENTS

154FEEL INVISIBLE. AND THAT INCREASES OUR RISK OF SUICIDE, WHICH IS ALREADY FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN OUR PEERS. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR. I REMEMBER SITTING THROUGH 12 YEARS OF HISTORY CLASS AND RARELY SEEING ME IN MY COMMUNITY REPRESENTED. I REMEMBER READING ABOUT SALLY K. RIDE, THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN TO GO TO SPACE. I DON'T REMEMBER READING THAT SHE WAS ALSO IN A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH A WOMAN FOR 30 YEARS. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT LGBTQ PEOPLE CAN GO ON TO BECOME MORE THAN OUTCASTS AT THE LUNCH TABLE, MORE THAN VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES ON THE NEWS, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS DEPRESSED AS I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. OVERALL, YOUR RECOGNITION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE LGBTQ HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. AND IF WE JUST FIGHT THE LOSS OF OUR SMALLEST PART OF HISTORY WE

155MIGHT AS WELL FORFEIT ALL OF IT BECAUSE AT THAT POINT WE ALL LOSE, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE ON. I THANK AGAIN THIS BOARD FOR HONORING LGBTQ HISTORY, AMERICAN HISTORY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF WE COULD PLEASE LINE UP OUR FINAL SPEAKERS, SPEAKERS 71 THROUGH 76. OUR LAST SIX SPEAKERS. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR ALLOWING US TIME TO SPEAK. I DO -- MY NAME IS ANT AVILA. I AM THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HERE IN TAMPA BAY FOR EQUALITY FLORIDA. AND I'M HERE TO ECHO THE GRATITUDE THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH. THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND THE -- I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

156WE FOR THE LAST TWO MEETINGS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME HERE AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FIRST FOR THE RELEASE OF WRITTEN GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND NOW FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE BECAUSE BEING CIVICALLY ENGAGED IS IMPORTANT TO THE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE SEEING TONIGHT, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE HERE AS ALLIES TO YOU AS YOU CONTINUE TO CREATE SPACES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE TO EVERY STUDENT, THAT RESPECT EVERY FAMILY. BUT WE WILL BE HERE TO HOLD YOU TO ACCOUNT AND TO BE HERE AS ALLIES TO YOUR GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THIS DISTRICT. GUARANTEE WE WILL BE HERE AND GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL NOT BE AS DISTURBING AS SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO SPEAK TO YOU. WE WANT

157TO BE HERE TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND TO SUPPORT YOU IN STEWARDING THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. MY NAME IS BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. I GREW UP, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WEST HYDE PARK. AND I SAY THAT TO SAY THIS, THAT I AM A PRODUCT OF HOWARD W. BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I AM A BISHOP OF A CHURCH. I ALSO AM THE COHOST OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING THAT AIRS EVERY SATURDAY MORNING ON WTMP. NOW WE HAVE GONE ON TO SPECTRUM. ALSO STATION 189. MY HUSBAND AND I, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO BARCELONA, SPAIN. SOCCER IS KING IN SPAIN AND OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD. AND I SAID THIS TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE. WE NEED TO

158ALLOW THEM TO COME TO BLAKE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HIRE AFRICAN AMERICANS TO WORK ON THE EXPANSION OF THE STADIUM. WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE THEM MAYBE GIVE OUT SOME SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE KIDS. WHAT MANY DON'T KNOW, ESPECIALLY BLACK KIDS, THAT IT IS A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS TO BE A SOCCER PLAYER. BUT YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN PLAYING SOCCER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INTRODUCED. SO THIS IS A WIN-WIN-WIN FOR THIS COMMUNITY IF YOU ALLOW THIS TO TAKE PLACE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULDN'T ALLOW IT TO TAKE PLACE WHEN THEY ARE TAKING ON THE BRUNT OF PAYING THE MONEY TO DO THIS. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE TEACHERS. THEY ARE NOT JUST TEACHING THESE DAYS, THEY ARE HAVING TO BE

159REFEREES. THEY ARE HAVING TO BE PASTORS. THEY ARE HAVING TO BE COUNSELORS. THEY ARE HAVING TO DO SO MANY OTHER JOBS THAN JUST TEACH. THEY DESERVE A RAISE. THEY WORK HARD. THEY DESERVE THAT. THEY GIVE OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ANY CHILD TO GO IN NEED. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD BE HESITATING TO GIVE THEM A RAISE. IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THESE SCHOOLS TODAY, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM YESTERDAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING FOR RECOGNIZING LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL THESE CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED, APPRECIATED, AND TO PUT DOWN BULLYING. WE SPEAK ABOUT EDUCATION.

160WE SPEAK ABOUT, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF EDUCATION IS SOCIALIZATION. IF THESE CHILDREN TODAY ARE GOING TO GROW AND LIVE AND WORK IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND STAY WITHIN A SMALL WORLD, MAYBE IT'S FINE TO DENY THEM CERTAIN FACTS OF BLACK HISTORY, OF LGBTQ HISTORY, OF LATINO HISTORY. BUT THESE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GO OUT INTO THE WORKFORCE. DEAL WITH A WORLD ECONOMY, A WORLD -- COMPETE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY. AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE, THEY ARE GOING TO FAIL. I GREW UP IN NEW YORK CITY. I HAD WONDERFUL PARENTS. GREW UP IN A VERY DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, A MASTERS. I HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT JP MORGAN, AND IT WAS NOT MY EDUCATION THAT GOT ME MY SUCCESS IN MY CAREER, BUT

161THE FACT THAT I HAD UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY, RESPECT OF OTHER PEOPLE, AND CAN DEAL WITH DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS, DIFFERENT RACIAL GROUPS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE. SO IF WE WANT TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, EDUCATE THEM, SOCIALIZE THEM TO COMPETE IN A WORLD ECONOMY. IF YOU REALLY CARE. AND WE STARTED THIS MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND THERE ARE TWO WORDS, THREE WORDS, JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER. JUSTICE FOR ALL. NOT TO ISOLATE ANY ONE GROUP, ANY INDIVIDUAL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. I'M ASHLEY. I AM A MOTHER IN THIS COUNTY AND I'VE BEEN IN FLORIDA FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND I WROTE THIS BECAUSE I AM SHAKING. AS YOU KNOW, THIS MONTH IS LGBT HISTORY MONTH. TEACHING LGBTQIA + AND TRANSGENDER HISTORY INCLUDING THE STORIES

162OF BLACK PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IS CRUCIAL TO CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCEPTING SOCIETY. AS ONE OF TWO MOTHERS OF OUR BIRACIAL CHILD, I AM COGNIZANT OF THIS FACT. BY SHINING A LIGHT ON THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE CAN LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCES WITHIN AND WORK TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL. GROWING UP I WAS NOT REPRESENTED. I SAW NO ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME, NO ONE THAT FELT LIKE ME. I FELT VERY ISOLATED. I HAD A LOT OF STRUGGLES GROWING UP. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN HISTORY AS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE AN LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH HERE. I HOPE THAT MORE COUNTIES DO FOLLOW THAT BECAUSE MY NEPHEWS, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY OVER IN

163PASCO. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO PEOPLE THAT THE PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT STRUGGLE TO EXIST AND BE ACCEPTED WERE TOLD AND BULLIED AND BEAT UP, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE NOT TO EXIST. I WAS TOLD MORE THAN ONCE TO KILL MYSELF BY OTHER KIDS, ADULTS, PEOPLE. OUR CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTY DESERVE BETTER, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR STICKING UP FOR THEM. SO MANY THINGS. OUR CHILDREN DO DESERVE BETTER. I DON'T WANT OUR CHILDREN'S PARENTS HISTORY OR BLACK HISTORY TO CONTINUE TO BE A DECISION MADE BY PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I JUST WANT US TO BE INCLUDED. I HOPE ALL OF YOU WHO SHOWED UP TO NAME A SCHOOL, WHICH IS GREAT, ALSO SHOW UP FOR ALL THE CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE VOICES, THE CHILDREN THAT ARE LGBTQIA, THE BLACK

164STUDENTS, INDIGENOUS STUDENTS, THE CHILDREN OF POVERTY. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, GOOD EVENING. I AM DR. DAWN COMITCHELL. I WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY SISTER WHO UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO ONGOING WORLD EVENTS IS UNABLE TO BE PRESENT TODAY. WE ARE BOTH PROUD GRADUATES OF TR ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PROPOSE THE NAMING OF THE NEW SOUTH TAMPA K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL IN HONOR OF THE REMARKABLE DR. SYLVIA CANTRELL ALBRITTON, A WOMAN WHO IS A GUIDING LIGHT IN THE WORLD OF EDUCATION. DR. ALBRITTON'S IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS SHE SERVES IS IMMEASURABLE. SHE FOSTERS A GENUINE CONNECTION WITH STUDENTS AS WE WERE NOT MERE NUMBERS, WE WERE PART OF HER EXTENDED FAMILY. VISION, LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION FOR STUDENTS WERE TRULY

165UNPARALLELED. MY SISTER AND I ATTRIBUTE MUCH OF OUR SUCCESS TO THE FOUNDATION SHE HELPED BUILD. DUE TO UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND TIRELESS EFFORTS TO INTRODUCE SCHOLARSHIP PRODUCING PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE NAVAL JUNIOR ROTC PROGRAM THAT OPENED UP NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HER STUDENTS TO EXCEL MY SISTER AND I WERE BOTH AWARDED FOUR-YEAR ARMY RO IT, C SCHOLARSHIPS. BOTH GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA MY SISTER CURRENTLY SERVING WITH OVER 24 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY WAS THE FIRST COMMISSIONED OFFICER FROM THE ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL NAVAL JUNIOR ROTC PROGRAM. FOR ME DR. ALBRITTON'S IMPACT WAS TRANSFORMATIVE. A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL WERE FROM MILITARY FAMILIES AND DR. ALBRITTON LED WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND SACRIFICES MILITARY FAMILIES FACE, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME SERVICES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

166WERE LIMITED TO NONEXISTENT. SHE LED ME INTO A JOURNEY TO BECOME A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. I'M COMMITTED TO BEING FOR FAMILIES AND SERVICE MEMBERS WHAT DR. ALBRITTON WAS FOR ME. MINORITY FEMALE LEADER, DR. AL BRITTEN IS A TRAILBLAZER AND REPRESENTS THE VERY ESSENCE OF SOUTH TAMPA, A COMMUNITY KNOWN FOR ITS COMMITMENT FOR SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER DR. ALBRITTON IS A TRIBUTE TO HER AND A SIGNAL TO CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS THAT WE CELEBRATE THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, CHALLENGING NAMES AND CHAMPIONING INCLUSION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING. HI. LAMAR CALLAHAN. I AM THE FOUNDER OF TUTORS FOR YOU.ORG. I AM SIMPLY LOOKING TO WORK WITH

167THE BOARD. WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED TUTORS FOR YOU.ORG. WE PROVIDE LIVE ONLINE TUTORING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS FOR $5 AN HOUR WORLDWIDE. AND WHAT WE DO IS OUR CLASSES ARE FROM ACCOUNTING TO YOGA. WE HAVE PRESCHOOL TO COLLEGE PREP, SAT, ACT, GED CLASSES, COMPUTER, 30 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, READING, MATH, HISTORY, SCIENCE, MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCES, SPECIAL NEEDS, MUSIC, WE HAVE OVER 100 CLASSES. THE BACKBONE OF OUR SERVICE ARE TUTORS. ALL OF OUR TUTORS ARE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS. WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN TEACHING OVER 30 YEARS AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15 DOCTORS. OUR WEBSITE IS TUTORS FOR YOU.ORG TUTORSFORYOU.ORG. WE ARE A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT. I'M NOT ASKING FOR DONATIONS, WHICH WE CAN ACCEPT. SIMPLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE BOARD TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND 30 TO 300 DOLLARS FOR A

168TUTOR. WE SIMPLY CHARGE $5. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, YOU CAN REACH US AT OUR WEBSITE. THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND A WEEKEND. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENT. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. THE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH, OCTOBER 2023. I'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROCLAMATION. OCTOBER MARKS THE CELEBRATION OF A SPECIAL GROUP OF LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING OUR STUDENTS' FUTURES AND THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR SCHOOL. A STRONG PRINCIPAL OFTEN MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN THE CULTURE AND THE DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOL. SO MANY TEACHERS WILL TELL YOU THEY WILL FOLLOW A GOOD PRINCIPAL FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS DEDICATED TO HONORING OUR LEADERS -- OUR

169LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROFILED SOME OF OUR LEADERS FOR NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH IN A VIDEO SERIES CALLED PRINCIPALS PERSPECTIVE, INSIGHT AND INSPIRATION. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THESE VIDEOS ON OUR DISTRICT SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES. THANK YOU TO OUR PRINCIPALS FOR DEADING YOURSELF TO YOUR SCHOOL, STAFF AND STUDENTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH, OCTOBER 2023. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? I'M JUST GOING TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE KEY TO STUDENT SUCCESS IS A GREAT SCHOOL, AND THE KEY TO A GREAT SCHOOL IS A GREAT PRINCIPAL. AND THAT IS REALLY TRUE. I KNOW FOR ME AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, I WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED SOME OF MY PRINCIPALS ANYWHERE THEY WENT. TO ME,

170STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS BUT REALLY THE LEADERSHIP AT THE SCHOOL IS SO IMPORTANT, AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO AND HOW HARD THAT THEY WORK. I MEAN, I OFTEN SEE NOWADAYS ON Facebook WHERE PRINCIPALS ARE TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE, LOOK FOR PEOPLE. THEY WORK DAY IN, DAY OUT, AFTER-SCHOOL EVENTS. THEY ARE REALLY THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR DISTRICT AND I WANT TO THANK THEM. THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE START PAYING OUR ADMINISTRATORS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MORE BECAUSE THEY DO WORK SO HARD. AND I KNOW THEY COULD BE CEOs ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY ARE CEOs OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND THAT'S FOR OUR STUDENTS. I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: WELL,

171DITTO. AND I APPRECIATE THOSE REMARKS, MADAM CHAIR. AND I THINK WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THE PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, ALWAYS BEEN SAID THAT THEY LEAVE PRINCIPALS NOT SCHOOLS OR COME TO THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE PRINCIPAL. PRINCIPAL CULTURE, ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SAFETY-WISE, THEY ARE THE INSTRUMENTAL PROCURERS OF A STUDENT'S SUCCESS. AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE TEACHERS WHO LOVE THEIR PRINCIPALS WILL WORK MIGHTY HARD AND ABSOLUTELY TRANSFER A LOT MORE ACADEMICALLY TO THEIR STUDENTS AND WORK EXTRACURRICULARLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SUCH A WORD. TEACHERS ARE APT TO WORK AFTER SCHOOL, WHICH THEY USUALLY DO, BUT DURING THE HOURS RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKENDS, AND THIS ALL BECOMES REAL BECAUSE OF THE PRINCIPAL. WE JUST WENT TO A VERY, VERY NICE EVENT ON SATURDAY, MEMBER RENDON WAS THERE AS WELL, WHICH REALLY GAVE THE VETERANS A LOT

172OF DESERVED NOTORIETY, AND THAT'S BECAUSE -- I MEAN, ONE REASON WE WENT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT PRINCIPAL AT NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE DRAWS A LOT OF MAGNIFICENT SPEAKERS AND AUDIENCES, BUT WE HAD -- HELP ME OUT, MEMBER RENDON, I THINK IT WAS RUSS PARKER WHO CAME TO NEWSOME AS A VETERAN, CHOSE NEWSOME OUT OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, WAS IT THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA OR HE HAD THE WHOLE UNITED STATES TO CHOOSE. THIS IS A VETERAN, AND IT'S THE ORGANIZATION I JUST GAVE OUT, BUT IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION. AND IT HELPS THE VETERANS AND SUPPORT THEIR LIFESTYLES AS THEY MATURE. ANYWAY, REAL FAST, THE WHOLE UNITED STATES HE CHOSE NEWSOME, LITHIA, WHICH NEWSOME IS RIGHT THERE, AND HE CHOSE LITHIA BECAUSE NEWSOME WAS THE BEST SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IN THE WHOLE UNITED

173STATES THAT HE FELT HE COULD REALLY HAVE A GREAT LIFESTYLE. ALL THIS IS TO SAY PRINCIPALS SUCH AS KATIE ROCHA AND SO MANY OF THEM REALLY MAKE COMMUNITIES ROCK, AND THEY MAKE THEIR TEACHERS STAY, AND THEY MAKE THEIR STUDENTS, THEY HELP MAKE OUR STUDENTS BECOME VERY POWERFULLY STRONG ACADEMICALLY AND ALL THE OTHER DOMAINS. A LOT OF TALK. SORRY ABOUT THAT, MADAM CHAIR. BUT THEY DESERVE A LOT OF RECOGNITION. THANKS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS AND OUR SUPPORT STAFF, AS WE SHOULD. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE DON'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME TALKING ABOUT OUR ADMINISTRATORS. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN MY SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 3 ESPECIALLY RECENTLY, AND THERE'S NOT ONE ADMINISTRATOR

174THAT I'M JUST NOT COMPLETELY HONORED AND JUST COMPLTELY AT AWE AT HOW MUCH WORK THEY DO AND HOW PASSIONATE THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEES, THEIR STUDENTS, THEIR SCHOOLS, HOW MUCH ENERGY THEY INVEST. I MEAN, HONESTLY, HALF THE TIME I CAN'T EVEN WALK THE SCHOOL WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO USED TO WALKING SO QUICKLY TO EITHER BE THERE TO DO AN OBSERVATION OR TO HANDLE A DISPUTE OR MAKE SURE THAT LUNCHES ARE BEING SERVED. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH OUR ADMINISTRATORS DO. AND I REALLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM AS OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED, AN ADMINISTRATOR CAN REALLY CHANGE THE TONE OF A SCHOOL. I'VE SEEN SOME SCHOOLS REALLY TRANSFORM JUST BY HAVING THE RIGHT ADMINISTRATOR IN THERE. I REALLY

175APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION. I KNOW IT'S ADMINISTRATOR MONTH, SO HAPPY ADMINISTRATOR MONTH TO OUR PRINCIPALS. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE ONE THING WE DO KNOW IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE HAVE SOME GREAT PRINCIPALS, WITHOUT A DOUBT. AND BEING A PRINCIPAL IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB. WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SCHOOL, YOU CAN TELL HOW OR WHAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP IS IN THAT SCHOOL BY HOW THE SECRETARIES, HOW THE STUDENTS AND JUST THAT COMMUNITY GREETS YOU WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SCHOOL. I TELL YOU, A PRINCIPAL'S JOB IS TO BE A LEADER. YOU INSPIRE, YOU MOTIVATE AND YOU STAY LATE. AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF IS

176DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE THESE STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL. AND MORE THAN ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, TOO. SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY BEING A PRINCIPAL IS A GREAT JOB. SOMETIMES IT'S THANKLESS. SOMETIMES -- YOU KNOW THAT, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. AND THE APs CONTROL THE STUDENT POPULATION. IF YOU ARE A GOOD AP, YOU CONTROL THE STUDENT POPULATION. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO COME SEE YOU. WHEN THEY COME TO SEE YOU, THEY KNOW YOU GOT SOME CANDY FOR THEM. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, PRINCIPALS AND APs FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND KEEP UP DOING A GREAT JOB IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF

177OUR SCHOOLS HAS STRONG ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT STRONG LEADERSHIP WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR FACULTY. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE HILLSBOROUGH STRONG. WE ARE UNITED AS ONE FROM THE TOP ALL THE WAY DOWN. AND I DON'T MEAN THAT FROM A LAYER POINT OF VIEW, BUT JUST FROM A DIVERSITY POINT OF VIEW. FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS IN EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS, IT STARTS WITH A LEADER. AND IT STARTS WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS. AND WE ARE FORTUNATE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO HAVE AMAZING LEADERSHIP AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. WHEN WE'RE CALLED ONCE IN A WHILE TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL PRINCIPAL, IT'S NEVER JUST ONE PERSON. THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY LEADERS THAT ARE DEMONSTRATING STRENGTH, COURAGE, DEDICATION TO EACH OF

178OUR STUDENTS. WHEN WE HAVE UNIQUE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHETHER IT'S HURRICANES OR OTHER DISASTERS OR OTHER UNIQUE THINGS THAT HAPPEN, IT IS OUR PRINCIPALS THAT STEP UP FIRST AND FOREMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, LAST AT NIGHT TO GO HOME. SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WELL, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OVER MY CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR TO WORK AND WORK FOR AND WITH MANY PRINCIPALS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THEY ARE TRULY THE AMBASSADORS OF OUR SCHOOLS. AND TONIGHT, SO FITTING DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TO HEAR SOME OF THE WONDERFUL STORIES AND REMARKS ABOUT SOME OF

179THE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE NAMES WERE PUT FORTH FOR THE SCHOOL. AND I'M SURE THERE ARE SO MANY MORE STORIES OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HIGHLIGHT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS OUR PRINCIPALS DO. SO TONIGHT'S RECOGNITION IS WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I WILL ECHO EVERYTHING ALL MY BOARD MEMBERS SAY BUT ALSO I BELIEVE THAT ON THE APPLICATION FOR BEING A PRINCIPAL, THE FIRST QUESTION IS HOW GOOD ARE THEY IN HERDING CATS BECAUSE I HAVE GONE TO SCHOOLS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, IN SECONDS, WHEN ALL THE STUDENTS COME OUT, THEY KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE THEY KNOW THE NAMES OF EVERY SINGLE STUDENT ON THAT CAMPUS. AND I AM JUST TOTALLY AMAZED BECAUSE I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. I CAN'T GET THEIR NAMES RIGHT. MY HAT IS

180OFF TO OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND JUST THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS JUST IN PLACE AND OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. A 02, THE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION OF NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK. MEMBER RENDON WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROCLAMATION. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK IS RECOGNIZED AS A WEEK OF OCTOBER 16 THROUGH THE 20. THIS IS A WEEK TO HONOR AND SAY THANK YOU TO OUR BUS DRIVERS, MECHANICS, AND OPERATORS WHO GET STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOLS SAFELY EVERY DAY. MORE THAN 75,000 STUDENTS RIDE THE BUS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR FIELD TRIPS, AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING

181A SAFE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THESE STUDENTS WHENEVER THEY GET ON OUR BUSES. SCHOOL BUS SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY. DRIVERS KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SCHOOL BUSES AND BUS STOPS. DRIVERS MUST STOP WHEN THE SCHOOL BUS IS STOPPED, WHEN THE STOPPED ARM EXTENDS, AND THE RED LIGHT IS FLASHING. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS GRATEFUL FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION OF EACH OF OUR BUS DRIVERS. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY JUST LIKE WE SPEAK TO OUR ADMINISTRATORS, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF

182OUR BUS DRIVERS FOR PRIORITIZING SCHOOL SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND GETTING THEM TO SCHOOL. I HAD RECENTLY SOMEONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SEND ME AN E-MAIL BECAUSE THEY SAW SUCH KINDNESS WITH A DISABLED STUDENT FROM THE BUS DRIVER WHO STOPPED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE TRAFFIC STOPPED AND REALLY GOT THEM ON THE BUS SAFELY. SOMEONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS SO MOVED BY THE LOVING GESTURE FROM OUR BUS DRIVER. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR BUS DRIVERS FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT OUR BUS DRIVERS SEE, THEY ARE THE FIRST TO SEE OUR STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY

183ARE THE LAST TO SEE OUR STUDENTS HOME SAFELY. AND SO I HAVE SO MUCH APPRECIATION. WHEN I SEE A BUS DRIVER, I'M JUST SO EXCITED, WHEN I PULL UP NEXT TO A BUS. BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND SECURING OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ONE-THIRD OF OUR STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAKE PUBLIC -- OR PUBLIC BUSES THROUGH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT'S THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS. ANY ONE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN ON ONE OF THOSE BUSES RECOGNIZE HOW THEY ARE BUILT, THE SAFETY THAT WE PUT INTO THAT. THERE IS NO SAFER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH A BUS BEFORE, SO I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT I AM NOT THE ONE

184ON THE OTHER SIDE. BUT THE OTHER THING IS, WE ARE ALL SO FRUSTRATED BY ALL OF OUR TRAFFIC ON AN ONGOING BASIS. LET ALONE THINKING OF HAVING 50 SOME STUDENTS IN OUR VEHICLE EACH AND EVERY DAY AS THEY ARE DRIVING THOSE SAME ROADS WE ARE, THOSE SAME TRAFFIC SIGNALS, THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE CUTTING IN FRONT OF YOU. TO OUR BUS DRIVERS, OUR MECHANICS AND EVERYONE WITHIN OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, INCLUDING OUR DISPATCHERS WHO HAVE TO COORDINATE OUR ENTIRE FLEET OF THOUSANDS OF BUSES TO AND FROM SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, FIELD TRIPS, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO SUCH A THANKLESS JOB. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. A 03 IS THE RECOGNITION OF LGBTQ+

185HISTORY MONTH, OCTOBER 2023. MEMBER PEREZ WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. Karen Perez: AND IT'S MY HONOR TO HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. IN OCTOBER WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. THE MONTHLONG CELEBRATION COMMEMORATES EXEMPLARY ROLE MODELS IN THE HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY OF THE LGBTQ+ MOVEMENT IN ENSURING REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF EDUCATING AND CALLING TO ACTION THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER AND PROMOTE EQUAL PROTECTION OF ALL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS AND STAFF REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER EXPRESSION OR GENDER IDENTITY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WON'T BE VOTING, BUT WE WILL HAVE BOARD COMMENTS. MEMBER PEREZ, I WILL LET YOU CONTINUE FIRST AND THEN IT WILL BE

186MEMBER VAUGHN. Karen Perez: JOHN F. KENNEDY SAID INTOLERANCE IMPLIES NO LACK OF COMMITMENT TO ONE'S BELIEF BUT RATHER CONDEMNS THE PERSECUTION OF OTHERS. WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, HISPANIC HISTORY MONTH AND LGBT HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE THE REST OF THE YEAR IS DEDICATED TO WHITE HISTORY. I AM SO HONORED THAT -- YOU KNOW, AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT WE ARE -- AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT I'M SERVING A COMMUNITY AND A DISTRICT THAT CONTINUES TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS ON EMPATHY, TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, AND EMBRACING DIVERSITY. LGBTQ MONTH IS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER AS IT FALLS WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR. AS WE WATCH OUR CHILDREN WATCHING THE HATE THAT IS UNFOLDING THROUGHOUT OUR WORLD, WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND CONTINUE TO ENFOLD THEM IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, AND DIVERSITY IS IN OUR WORLD. Nadia

187Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRSTLY, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT AND SPOKE IN FAVOR OF HISTORY. I'M A HISTORY BUFF. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I HAVE SO MANY HEROES IN MY LIFE WHO INSPIRED ME TO BE IN THE POSITION WHERE I AM TODAY. WE CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD AND PROGRESS BY STUDYING OUR HISTORY AND BY LOOKING AT WAYS WHERE WE CAN DO BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE. YOU KNOW, OFTEN I FIND MYSELF UP HERE ADVOCATING FOR DIFFERENT HISTORIES THAT ARE TRYING TO BE ERASED WHETHER BLACK HISTORY OR LGBTQA + HISTORY. I FIND MYSELF SAYING OVER AND OVER ALL HISTORY MATTERS. FOR ME WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT HISTORY, ONE OF MY BIGGEST IDOLS THAT INSPIRED ME

188TO STAY POLITICALLY ACTIVE WAS HARVEY MILK. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHO HARVEY MILK WAS, MILK BECAME ONE OF THE OPENLY GAY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTRY WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO A SEAT IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN 1977. SO IN HONOR OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH, STUDYING OUR HISTORY OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING OUR COUNTRY WHAT IT IS, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE HARVEY MILK. IT TAKES NO COMPROMISING TO GIVE PEOPLE THEIR RIGHTS. IT TAKES NO MONEY TO RESPECT THE INDIVIDUAL. IT TAKES NO POLITICAL DEAL TO GIVE PEOPLE FREEDOM. AND IT TAKES NO SURVEY TO REMOVE OPPRESSION. AGAIN, HARVEY MILK WAS A HUGE INSPIRATION TO ME AND THE REASON WHY I FIGHT FOR THE THINGS I DO AND FOR EDUCATION SO PASSIONATELY AS WERE SO MANY OTHER

189PEOPLE LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT LANGUAGESSTON HUGHES AND THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE AND WHAT AN IMPACT THAT HAD ON ME. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND TALKING ABOUT HISTORY IN GENERAL AND SUPPORTING HISTORY OF ALL MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN, FOR THAT PARTICULAR ACCOLADES FOR HISTORY. I TAUGHT HISTORY MOST OF MY LIFE OVER THE DECADES IN TEACHING. AND TO NOT APPRECIATE A GROUP'S HISTORY OR A CLUB'S HISTORY IS TO REALLY WITHHOLD A LOT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION, CULTURAL IDENTITY. IT SUBTRACTS FROM A STUDENT'S LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A TEACHER'S POINT OF VIEW, WHAT WE WANT FROM THE STUDENT IS A DIVERSE, OBVIOUSLY, EQUITABLE, BUT AN INCLUSIVE TYPE

190OF PANORAMA OF GROUPS AND THEIR HISTORY BECAUSE IF WE TAUGHT TO STUDENTS WHO ONLY WENT TO THE SAME CLUBS AND HAD THE SAME HOMOGENEOUS ONE PARTICULAR GROUP THAT THEY ONLY BELONGED TO, THEN SIMILARLY THEY WOULD ALL BE THINKING VERY SIMILAR THOUGHTS, WHICH MIGHT BE COMFORTABLE FOR US, BUT FAST-FORWARD, SHOULD THEY HAVE TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY OR SHOULD THEY GO TO OTHER STATES. THEY ARE GOING TO BE HIT HARD WITH THE AMOUNT OF DIVERSE THINKING AND PERSONALITIES AND HISTORIES. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH, IT'S SO CRITICAL. BECAUSE AGAIN, IF THE ANALOGY COMES TO US FROM BOOKS, WE ALL READ THE SAME BOOKS, SAY I'M THE TEACHER AND I HAVE 200 BOOKS IN MY CLASSROOM, AND THAT'S THE ONLY BOOKS YOU CAN READ, WELL, THEN THOSE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE THE SAME THOUGHTS. DO

191WE REALLY WANT THAT? SAME THING WITH GROUPS. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE DIVERSITY OF GROUPS, THE APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION MUCH THOSE GROUPS' HISTORIES ARE AND WHAT THE PEOPLE, THE STUDENTS ARE ALL ABOUT. AND THAT BRINGS TOLERANCE. IT LESSENS RESENTMENT, AND IT DEFINITELY BRIDGES SO MANY CULTURAL GAPS AND BULLYING AND ALL THE OTHER MISCHIEF THAT WE'RE HEARING AMONG OUR STUDENTS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LGBTQ. I APPRECIATE THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO PUT THIS FORWARD. AGAIN, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT INCLUSION TYPE OF THINKING. WE NEED TO HAVE THE DIVERSITY TYPE OF THINKING, AND WE NEED TO EXPAND AS A BOARD OUR ACTUAL PHILOSOPHY SO OUR STUDENTS CAN ENJOY THE EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES IN OTHER GROUPS. SO A LOT IS SAID RIGHT NOW. BUT IT'S REALLY A GREAT OCCASION THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT

192THIS SO FREELY. AND I THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'LL BE REAL BRIEF. IT'S OUR JOB TO RESPECT AND LOVE ALL PEOPLE AND NEVER FORGET ABOUT THEIR HISTORY BECAUSE THAT HISTORY IS IMPORTANT IN THEIR LIVES. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR RECOGNIZING LGBTQ TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT HISTORY. NEVER FORGET YOUR HISTORY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE YOUNG SPEAKERS WHO REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE HIGH SUICIDE RATE AND HOW THEY FELT AT SCHOOL. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE WANT EVERY CHILD TO FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL AND THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND SUPPORTED

193IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REMEMBER, NEVER BE BULLIED INTO SILENCE, NEVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE MADE A VICTIM. ACCEPT NO ONE'S DEFINITION OF YOUR LIFE BUT DEFINE YOURSELF. AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW AND WE WANT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE SUPPORT EVERYBODY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 4.03, C 4.04, C 5.02, C 6.01, 7.01, 7.12, 7.13, 7.18, 7.20, 7.22, 7.23, 10.01 AND 11.02. WE'LL BEGIN WITH 5.02, NAMING THE K-8 SCHOOLS. WE HAVE OUR PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. Nadia Combs: WE

194WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THE PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS FIRST. I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE AGENDA. IT WASN'T ON THERE. WE'LL START WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND NAMING. THANK YOU, PRINCIPALS. THIS IS YOUR MONTH AND YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR HOURS. CHRISTIAN, ARE YOU THERE? KELLY, JENNIFER. Van Ayres: ON THE 4.02 THIS EVENING, WE HAVE THREE PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE AND I'LL GO ONE AT A TIME. THE FIRST IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THAT IS CHRISTIAN FINCH. CHRISTIAN, COME ON DOWN, BUDDY. YOU WAITED THREE HOURS AND 15 MINUTES. COME ON DOWN. CHRISTIAN BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 2000 AS BAND DIRECTOR. IN 2006, HE OPENED SPOTO AS BAND DIRECTOR AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO NEWSOME IN 2009. APPOINTED AP IN 2013. 2016 PROMOTED TO APC AT BLAKE AND ALSO AT KING. CURRENTLY

195HE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF STATE ACCOUNTABILITY ON OUR ASSESSMENT OFFICE. I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE CHRISTIAN FINCH, OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF EISENHOWER MIDDLE. CONGRATULATIONS, CHRISTIAN. NEXT PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT, KELLY SNELLGROVE. KELLY, COME ON DOWN, KELLY. KELLY IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL OF MORT ELEMENTARY. BEGAN HER CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2011 AS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AT LAKE MAGDALENE ELEMENTARY. ALSO TAUGHT AT CARROLLWOOD AND MORT. 2017 SHE WAS APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT TAMPA PALMS. 2019 APPOINTED AS AP AT MORT WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES. GRAILS TO OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT MORT -- CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT MORT, KELLY SNELLGROVE. THIRD PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT THIS EVENING ON THE 4.01, DR. JENNIFER DAMES, PRINCIPAL. DR. JENNIFER DAMES IS OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT POTTER ELEMENTARY. PROVIDING JOINING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHE SERVED AS MIDDLE SCHOOL AP IN BREVARD COUNTY. 2017

196SHE JOINED HCPS AS RESOURCE TEACHER AT GRAHAM. SERVED AS AP AT FOSTER AND SEMINOLE HEIGHTS FROM 2018 TO 2021. AND IN 2021, SHE WAS APPOINTED AS PRINCIPAL AT REDDICK WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AND HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB AT REDDICK. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW APPOINTMENT, PRINCIPAL AT POTTER ELEMENTARY. Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PRINCIPALITIES. AND -- PRINCIPALS AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND FAMILIES HERE TO SUPPORT OUR ADMINISTRATORS WHO SAT HERE SO, SO, SO PATIENTLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND CONGRATULATIONS. LOOK AT ALL THAT SUPPORT. THAT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR FIRST DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS 5.02, WHICH IS THE NAMING OF THE K-8 SCHOOL IN THE FORMER MANHATTAN LOCATION. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THE NEW NAMING OF

197THE FORMER MANHATTAN BUILDING PK-8 SCHOOL. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE'RE EXCITED TO OFFER ANOTHER EDUCATION OPTION FOR FAMILIES. NEW PK-8 SCHOOL WILL OPEN IN SOUTH TAMPA IN AUGUST 2024. THE SCHOOL IS BUILT ON BAY VILLA AVENUE, FORMER SITE OF THE MANHATTAN CENTER. THIS SCHOOL WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HOLD UP TO 1620 STUDENTS. 100% APPLICATION BASED MAGNET SCHOOL AND THEME WILL BE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AS WE BEGIN AUTHORIZATION PROCESS TO BECOME AN IB WORLD SCHOOL. FAMILIES CAN APPLY FOR THIS NEW SCHOOL DURING THE UPCOMING SCHOOL CHOICE AND MAGNET APPLICATION WINDOW WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT LATER WHICH BEGINS ON NOVEMBER 1st AND THROUGH DECEMBER 15. THIS IS ABOUT THE NAMING. THIS AGENDA ITEM IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS I DON'T COME WITH A RECOMMENDATION. I'LL THROW IT OVER TO MR. PORTER, THE POLICY OF NAMING AND MS.

198BURKETT TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROCESS AND PROCEDURE AND WHAT'S GOTTEN US TO TODAY AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH DISCUSSION. Jim Porter: AS THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID, THE BOARD HAS A POLICY ON THE NAMING OF SCHOOLS. POLICY 7250. IT'S A LONG POLICY THAT'S BEEN AMENDED MANY TIMES, BUT I WANT TO READ SOME CRITICAL PARTS TO YOU SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE WITH YOUR DECISION MAKING TONIGHT. SO THE NAMING AND RENAMING OF ALL SCHOOL SITE FACILITIES SHALL RESPECT ALL RACE, CULTURAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES AND VALUES. FURTHERMORE, THE SCHOOL BOARD PROHIBITS THE USE OF ANY SCHOOL OR FACILITY NAME THAT IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 2260 NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY. NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. THESE ARE AGAIN PARAMETERS. SCHOOL SITE FACILITIES SHALL BE NAMED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE

199RENDERED OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND FOR GROUPS AND CLUBS AS INDICATED. ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. YOU CAN NAME THEM, YOU CAN NAME THE SCHOOL FOR U.S. PRESIDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, EDUCATORS, OUTSTANDING CITIZENS IN GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS. ELECTED OFFICIAL PROPOSED FOR A SCHOOL NAME SHALL HAVE LEFT PUBLIC OFFICE FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. NO CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE SHALL BE CONSIDERED. THOSE ARE THE BROAD PARAMETERS OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CONSIDERING TONIGHT. THE WAY YOU WILL BE VOTING IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. YOU WILL BE VOTING LIKE YOU DO FOR THE CHAIR. YOU WILL RECEIVE WRITTEN BALLOTS. ON THE BALLOTS YOU WILL WRITE YOUR NAME AND YOUR SELECTION. THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL THEN ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS WITH WHO VOTED FOR WHO. THE WINNING CANDIDATE MUST RECEIVE AT LEAST FOUR VOTES.

200ONCE THAT IS ACHIEVED THERE WILL NEED TO BE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT TO MEMORIALIZE THE SELECTION. SO YOU'LL VOTE BY BALLOT. THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS AND THEN THERE EVENTUALLY WILL BE A MOTION. IF ON THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING NO CANDIDATE RECEIVES AT LEAST FOUR VOTES, YOU WILL CONTINUE VOTING UNTIL A CANDIDATE HAS FOUR VOTES AND THAT WILL BE THE NAME OF THE NEW SCHOOL. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MS. BURKETT AT THIS POINT WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH HOW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROCESS GOT YOU TO THIS POINT. Sue Burkett: THANK YOU. SEPTEMBER 14 WE BEGAN THE NAMING PROCESS AND TOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY ON A NAME. A SURVEY WAS CREATED ASKING FOR NAME RECOMMENDATIONS AND RATIONALE. WE PUSHED OUT A PRESS RELEASE AND

201MENTIONED ON MULTIPLE LOCAL NEWS STATIONS. IT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DISTRICT HOME PAGE, SHARED WITH STAFF MEMBERS THROUGH NEWSLETTERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND IT WAS SHARED MULTIPLE TIMES ON SCHOOL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING Facebook, TWITTER, X AND INSTAGRAM AND IT WAS POSTED ON DISTRICT NEXT DOOR ACCOUNTS AND SHARED WITH FAMILIES VIA PEACH JAR AND PARENT NEWSLETTERS. THE SURVEY WAS OPEN FOR THREE WEEKS AND CLOSED AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 1,568 RESPONSES. YOU WERE GIVEN THE NAMES ALPHA BEADVERTISED TO REVIEW PRIOR TO BOARD VOTE AND THEN E-MAILS WITH ATTACHMENTS SENT TO BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WERE COLLECTED FOR REVIEW ALONG WITH A SURVEY TALLY RESULTS. Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, TYPICALLY YOU WOULD HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BEFORE YOU HAVE DISCUSSION.

202GIVEN YOUR VOTING METHOD, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE DISCUSSION NOW IF YOU WISH. Nadia Combs: BOARD MEMBERS, BEGIN WITH MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN THE NAMING OF OUR SCHOOLS, WE HAVE HAD 34 SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS AND 7 AFTER HISPANIC LEADERS AND 7 AFTER ITALIAN LEADERS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD THE NAME OF E.J. SALCINES. IN A DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE 29% OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY, E.J. SALCINES HAS PROVEN HIMSELF A LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY. HE HAS BEEN AN UPLIFTER OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AS WE KNOW, THE FACT THAT HE HAS, YOU KNOW, BECOME THE ARCHITECT OF THE BRIDGE BETWEEN FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY TAMPA, TO UPLIFT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WITH GETTING THEM THROUGH LAW SCHOOL AND GETTING

203THEM TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND MANY OF THEM BEING MINORITIES AND WOMEN. WHO ATTRIBUTE THEIR ENROLLMENT AND SUCCESS IN BECOMING LAWYERS TO E.J. SALCINES. IN 2021, THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION RECOGNIZED SALCINES WITH THE HIGHEST AWARD, THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS. TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THROUGH HIS LEGAL CAREER, HIS RESEARCH, WRITING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND SERVICE TO EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. WHILE HIS DEDICATION TO LAW CONSUMES SALCINES' PROFESSIONAL LIFE, HE ALSO, HIS AFFECTION FOR HIS COMMUNITY, HE ENSURED THAT HE BECAME A COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR. E.J.'S INVOLVEMENT ON BOARDS AND COUNCILS ARE NUMEROUS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. OVERWHELMED BY HUNDREDS OF APPEARANCES AT LUNCHEONS, FUND-RAISERS, CONFERENCES, PUBLIC SCHOOL EVENTS, BOTH IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH IS ALREADY KNOWN. HE WAS AT THE DEDICATION LIKE AT JACK LAMB'S ELEMENTARY. THE GROUNDBREAKINGS BETWEEN

204RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS THAT HE WAS THE FEATURED SPEAKER. ALWAYS UPLIFTING OUR SCHOOLS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL FOR E.J. SALCINES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ONLY SEVEN SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER HISPANIC LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THTHANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NAME A SCHOOL AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER A FEW TIMES. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A FEW MORE TIMES BECAUSE WE HAVE AT LEAST A DOZEN MORE SCHOOLS WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING OVER THE NEXT DECADE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE ALL THE NAMES THAT ARE PUT FORWARD ARE REALLY -- ARE REMARKABLE PEOPLE

205IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A SCHOOL NAMING. THIS SCHOOL HAPPENS TO BE IN MY DISTRICT. IT IS A MAGNET SCHOOL, SO IT WILL SERVE STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NOT JUST STUDENTS FROM SOUTH TAMPA. SO I LOVE THAT. THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT THERE ARE SO FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO REALLY RECOGNIZE K-12 EDUCATORS, NOT JUST IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT REALLY IN OUR SOCIETY. WE DON'T SEE THEM GETTING RECOGNITIONS ON TVS OR WINNING BIG FANCY AWARDS. A LOT OF THE TIMES WE RECOGNIZE OUR EDUCATORS IT'S WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE WHEN IT COMES TO A NAMING OF A SCHOOL. IT IS, I FEEL INCREDIBLY STRONG ABOUT WHOEVER'S NAME GOES ON A SCHOOL BUILDING SHOULD BE A LIFELONG EDUCATOR IN K-12,

206AND I WOULD EVEN GO A STEP FURTHER TO SAY I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE -- SHOULD HAVE SERVED THEIR COMMUNITY IN THAT CAPACITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO THAT CERTAINLY HELPS ME NARROW THE LIST DOWN BECAUSE, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SO FEW TIMES WE GET TO RECOGNIZE GREAT EDUCATORS, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST HONORS. I CAN GO AROUND ALL THE CAMPUSES ON COLLEGE AND AROUND THIS TOWN AND SEE NAMES ON BUILDINGS THAT HAVE COST A LOT OF PEOPLE MONEY TO PUT THEIR NAMES ON BUILDINGS OR THEY'VE HAD REMARKABLE CAREERS IN VERY SPECIFIC FIELDS. AND THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS OUR EDUCATION COMMUNITY, AND NAMING OF SCHOOLS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED IN EDUCATION. I RECEIVED SOME OF THE MOST MOVING LETTERS FROM KEN ADUM'S FAMILY

207AND FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS. I'D LIKE TO READ A FEW OF THOSE COMMENTS. I KNOW WE HEARD A LOT OF THEM TONIGHT. BUT, YOU KNOW, HIS FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE LOVED TEACHING IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION ANSWERED EARNED THE RESPECT OF EVERYONE HE MET BECAUSE OF HIS INTEGRITY, HONESTY AND WORK ETHIC BOTH IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM MANY OF HIS FRIENDS HOW MUCH TIME HE DEVOTED TO THE MOST NEEDY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES. STUDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT MR. ADUM, HE WAS AN AMAZING MAN. HE HAD A WAY OF CALMING NERVES. HE WAS A SMART GUY AND SO KIND AND A GREAT LISTENER AND AFTER ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT, I THOUGHT OF MR. ADUM AND I THOUGHT HE IS THE TYPE

208OF LEADER WE NEED RIGHT NOW IN OUR SCHOOLS TO SOOTHE OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS. OTHER TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT HAVE SAID IN ALL MY EXPERIENCE THERE'S BEEN NO ONE LIKE HIM. HE IS A CHAMPION OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND STAFF. THEY ARE IN AWE WHEN THEY REMEMBER THAT HE CAME BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS AFTER RETIREMENT AND VOLUNTEERED AND MENTORED YOUNG TEACHERS, A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF STUDENTS WHO HE CHOSE TO LOVE. I ALSO LOOKED AT THE COMMUNITY INPUT, THE DATA FROM THE VOTING AND MR. ADUM RECEIVED AT LEAST HALF THE VOTES OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO VOTED. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT, MR. ADUM REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME. AND I WOULD BE VERY PROUD IF HIS NAME WAS ON ONE OF MY SCHOOLS IN SOUTH TAMPA. SO TONIGHT

209I'M GOING TO SUPPORT HIS NAME BE ON THE NEW K-8. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FOR THE OPENING PART, I ABSOLUTELY ECHO DR. HAHN'S SENTIMENTS. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS BUT ALSO ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD DECISIONS THAT COME BEFORE US AS A SCHOOL BOARD ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE COME, THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT OUR EDUCATORS. I THINK IT REALLY HAS DEMONSTRATED THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATORS AND HOW THEY CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF JUST ONE LIFE WITH CARING AND BEING THERE. AND IT'S ALWAYS SO HARD BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING NO TO ONE COMMUNITY OR EDUCATOR BY CHOOSING

210ONE NAME, AND THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES ME SOLACE, AS DR. HAHN MENTIONED, WE HAVE LOTS OF SCHOOLS COMING UP THAT WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NAME. SO IF FOR SOME REASON WE DON'T CHOOSE THE PERSON THAT YOU CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECONSIDER THEM IN THE NEXT SCHOOL NAMING BECAUSE I HATE TO TURN ANY SPEAKERS AWAY WHO FEEL SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY MEMBER OR THE EDUCATOR THAT THEY HAVE NOMINATED. IT'S A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD DECISION. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE NAMES SPECIFICALLY THAT WE SEEM TO GET A LOT OF E-MAILS, AND AS YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT, PUBLIC COMMENT AROUND, AND A LOT OF SUPPORT. SO THAT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT HELPFUL TO NARROW DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE COME TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUES -- NOT TO THE ISSUES, TO

211THE PEOPLE WHO WE'RE CONSIDERING NAMING THE SCHOOL ABOUT. FOR ME, IT'S REALLY COME DOWN TO TWO EDUCATORS WHO WE HEARD SUCH MOVING PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT TONIGHT. BUT I DO THINK THAT I WILL END UP SUPPORTING MR. ADUM. YOU GUYS HAVE COME TO SO MANY BOARD MEETINGS AND SPOKEN SO PASSIONATELY. I KNOW MY OWN COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S METROPOLITAN MINISTRY AND SEEING HOW MUCH FOOD IS COLLECTED OR WHAT AN IMPACT HE'S HAD IN MY COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY AROUND ME, THAT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY MOVING, NOT TO SAY THAT THE OTHER EDUCATOR OR ANY OTHER MEMBERS WHO WERE SPOKEN ABOUT, THAT THEY ARE NOT VALUED AND THEY HAVEN'T CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING, AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THESE EDUCATORS OR THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AGAIN WHEN WE LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD WITH SCHOOL NAMES. BUT I'VE

212BEEN MOVED OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR I THINK OVER A YEAR FROM MR. ADUM'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND EDUCATORS IN MY COMMUNITY. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND EACH OF YOUR WONDERFUL REMARKS AND COMMENTS TONIGHT. ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VERY, VERY COMMENDABLE MEMBERS THAT ARE UP FOR SCHOOL NAMING. WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH AN EXPERT GROUP THAT WOULD BE EMBLEMATIC OF A PROUD TITLE TO HAVE THEIR NAMES ON THIS SCHOOL. I LOOK AT AND THIS COMES BACK TO BEING A HISTORY TEACHER. SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT THE MOST EXCITING, BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND HISTORY AND WHAT IT MATTERS. YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS TWO WAYS. ONE WAY IS THE IMMEDIATE AREA

213OF MANHATTAN IS SOUTH TAMPA. AND YET THERE'S ONE CANDIDATE THAT REPRESENTS PARTS OF THE NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST TAMPA AND OTHER AREAS THAT WOULD SHOW OUTREACH THAT AFFECTS ALL AREAS IN A WAY. METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES, SPECIAL OLYMPICS. THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER GREAT CANDIDATE WHO REPRESENTS SOUTH TAMPA AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY, JUST A PARAMOUNT VISIONARY WHO HAS HELPED SO MANY STUDENTS AND SO MUCH FOR EDUCATION AND MUCH DESERVING OF A SCHOOL. WITHSTOOD THE TEACH OF TIME, WHEN I SAY EACH OF YOU, I'M LOOKING AT BOTH OF YOU AS ENTITIES IN THIS ROOM. ONE OTHER ASPECT THAT I THINK I WANT TO LOOK AT, AND I WILL LOOK AT AND I WILL MAKE A DECISION, I ALREADY HAVE, I'M LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. AND WHICH ONE WOULD BE EMBLEMATIC FOR HISTORICAL POINT OF VIEW THAT ALL OF TAMPA

214WILL REFLECT ON AND KNOW THAT PERSON, WHO HE IS AND REFLECTS THE TAMPANIAN CULTURE, ESPECIALLY WEST TAMPA. I AM MORE ATTUNED TO GO WITH E.J. -- JUDGE E.J. SALCINES BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, THE HISPANIC HERITAGE. WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF THAT. YET AGAIN THIS MAN REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. NONE OF THE CHOICES HAVE BEEN MADE YET. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO VOTE. I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR EACH BOARD MEMBER. BUT AT ANY RATE, THAT'S MY TWO CENTS ON THIS VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE BEFORE US. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH TWO GREAT EDUCATORS. MR. ALBRITTON AND MR. ADUM. WE JUST GOT TWO GREAT PEOPLE HERE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION. I'VE HAD MORE OPPORTUNITY TO

215WORK WITH KEN ADUM BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST BECAME A PRINCIPAL IN 19 -- I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY AGE AWAY -- IN THE '90s, KEN ADUM WHEN I BECAME THE PRINCIPAL AT CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL, KEN WAS MY MENTOR. YOU SEE, I'VE BEEN BLESSED BECAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH GREAT ADMINISTRATORS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND THEY TAUGHT ME THROUGH MY LIFE, KEN IS ALWAYS -- THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STANDUP GUY. SAID, SHAKE, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WANT TO BE A PRINCIPAL. I SAID, KEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I ALWAYS WANTED. HE SAID, BUT I'M HERE TO HELP YOU. BECAUSE DR. LENNARD AND MR. POINDEXTER AND DR. HAMILTON SAY THIS IS YOUR MAN. YOU TAKE HIM AND MOLD HIM. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO MOLD AND SHAPE TO BE A PRINCIPAL.

216KEN, WHATEVER PROBLEM I HAD, I PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALL HIM. HE CALLED ME HANK. HE SAID, HANK, YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTIME OF THE NIGHT WHENEVER YOU NEED SOMETHING. YOU THINK OF SOMETHING, HE SAID, YOU CALL ME. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL HIM TO SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST -- ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT KEN HAS EVER DONE FOR ME AS A PERSON, CHAMBERLAIN WAS PLAYING GAITHER. WE HAD A GREAT FOOTBALL TEAM. AND WE PLAYED AT GAITHER. AND WE WON BECAUSE BILLY TURNER WAS THE COACH. THAT WAS THE YEAR WE WENT TO THE STATE. AND THIS PLAYER ON GAITHER TEAM CUSSED OUT ONE OF OUR COACHES. SO WE FOUND OUT HIS NAME. WE DIDN'T KNOW HIS NAME. SAW HIS NUMBER AND ALL THAT.

217KEN CALLED ME AND SAID I'LL SEND THE PARENTS OVER TO SEE YOU. HE SAID, HANK, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS GUY, YOU DO IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE, A PRINCIPAL SEND A KID TO ME AND HE'S NOT MY STUDENT. HE SENT THE KID TO ME AND THE PARENT. WHEN THEY CAME IN, THEY SAID WE DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE. YOU KNOW WHY, MR. ADUM TOLD YOU TO COME SEE ME. YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO GIVE SOME CONSEQUENCES. AND I WENT ON AND I DID SUSPEND THE KID BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE KIDS DOING THAT. I CALLED KEN. KEN SAID, HOW MANY DAYS YOU GAVE HIM? I SAID I GAVE HIM FIVE. HE SAID SHOULD HAVE GAVE HIM MORE. BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET -- WE CAN'T LET STUDENTS CUSS

218OUT TEACHERS. CAN'T DO THAT, COACHES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. FROM THAT POINT, WE BECAME THE BEST OF FRIENDS. AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A STANDUP GUY AND HELP SO MANY PEOPLE DURING THEIR LIFETIME BECAUSE HE LOVED STUDENTS. HE LOVED THE EDUCATION PROCESS. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO WITH KEN ADUM, AND I KNOW KEN MUST BE SMILING BECAUSE HE WAS A GREAT PERSON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: NOW I HAVE TO GO AFTER THAT. THANK YOU, SHAKE. YOU KNOW IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SIT HERE ON THE DAIS ON SO MANY OCCASIONS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A LEGACY TO NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS THAT THEY SUPPORTED. AND IN SO MANY OF OUR CASES FROM SO MANY OF

219OUR NOMINEES, IT WASN'T JUST THE SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT IT WAS THE SUPPORT OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE ARE SO BLESSED WITH SO MANY ADMINISTRATORS THAT JUST DON'T FINISH THEIR DAY OR BEGIN THEIR DAY AT SCHOOL. IT'S SO MUCH MORE. IT'S WHAT THEY GIVE TO THEIR STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL, DURING SCHOOL, ON THE WEEKENDS, WHAT THEY GIVE TO THEIR COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY TEACH THOSE AROUND THEM, WHAT THEY TEACH TO PEOPLE WHO EVEN DON'T HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I WANT TO THANK THE 1500 PEOPLE THAT RECOGNIZED THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HONORED THEM AND NOMINATED THEM FOR OUR SCHOOLS. AND FOR THE SMALLER AMOUNT THAT HAD THE HIGHEST VOTES, WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF

220YOU THAT THEY WERE RECOGNIZED FOR NOT ONLY THEIR EDUCATION AS AN EDUCATOR, AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND IT IS AN HONOR FOR US TO TAKE THE TIME TO NAME A SCHOOL AND PROVIDE THAT LEGACY TO NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL BUT THEIR FAMILIES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I'LL CLOSE WITH SAYING IT FEELS LIKE SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO HEAR ABOUT SO MANY WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH IN THE COMMUNITY, E.J. SALCINES AND DR. SNELLGROVE ALBRITTON AND TO HEAR -- DR. ALBRITTON. AND THEN TO HERE ABOUT KEN ADUM. IT'S HUGE AND TO KNOW THAT'S WHAT IS LEAVING A LEGACY AND IMPACTING STUDENTS SO MUCH. I REALLY READ EVERY LETTER THAT PEOPLE SENT. I LOOKED AT

221ALL THE INFORMATION, ALL THE SURVEYS, AND I EVEN ASKED, YOU KNOW, LAST TIME, YOU KNOW, WHO HAD THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF SURVEYS. AND I REMEMBER AFTER THE VOTE, WE WERE SO EXCITED THAT YORK WAS NAMED YORK, AND WE KNOW THAT KEN ADUM HAD HUNDREDS OF VOTES MORE, BUT YORK WAS THE RIGHT PERSON BECAUSE THAT WAS AN EDUCATOR AND I KNOW BECAUSE I DID SEE HIS DAUGHTER IN A RESTAURANT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT KEN WOULD WANT. HE WOULD REALLY WANT A LIFELONG EDUCATOR TO BE NAMED AFTER THAT. I DO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, IN WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IN THE COMMUNITY. AND BOTH THE LAST TIME AND THIS TIME KEN ADUM RECEIVED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MORE SURVEY RESULTS. NOT ONLY THAT, I LOOKED AT SOMEONE WHO SERVED 37 YEARS IN THE DISTRICT WHO

222HAS TWO DAUGHTERS AND ESPECIALLY SO DEDICATED COMING IN HERE FOR MONTHS AND CONSTANTLY REMINDING US THE LEGACY THAT YOUR FATHER LEFT, ALSO, THIS IS THE MONTH WHERE WE'RE RECOGNIZING ADMINISTRATORS. YOUR FATHER WAS THE HASA PRESIDENT. OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR THREE TIMES. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I THINK IS THE LEGACY OF BRINGING AND REMEMBERING STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS AND BRINGING THE STAMPEDE TO GAITHER AND NOW HOW IT'S EXPANDED. SO I DO BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME. THERE ARE GOING TO BE OTHER SCHOOLS AND EVERYBODY IS REALLY WORTHY, BUT I HAVE TO LOOK AND SAY THAT FOR ME, TODAY, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE ADUM FAMILY AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND I THINK LIKE THE KEN CONSTRUCTION AND HIM COMING. I THINK ABOUT THAT AND THE TIMING OF

223THAT. I DO BELIEVE IN THINGS LIKE THAT. I SEE SO MUCH ORANGE THERE, AND TO THINK ABOUT THE FIGHT THAT HE FOUGHT FOR CANCER. I KNOW HE'S LOOKING DOWN AND JUST PROUD OF ALL OF YOU AND COMING HERE AND SUPPORTING HIM. THANK YOU. Jim Porter: UNLESS THERE ARE MORE BOARD COMMENTS, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BALLOTS AND VOTE AND GO FROM THERE. PLEASE, BOARD MEMBERS, MAKE SURE YOU SIGN THE BALLOTS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC RECORD PURPOSES THAT YOUR NAME IS ON THESE. Van Ayres: MR. PORTER AND BOARD MEMBERS, I DO HAVE THE RESULTS. WITH FIVE VOTES, KEN ADUM, TWO VOTES, E.J. SALCINES. SO THE VOTES FOR KEN ADUM WERE STACY HAHN, HENRY WASHINGTON, NADIA COMBS, JESSICA VAUGHN, AND PATTI RENDON. THE TWO VOTES FOR E.J. SALCINES, KAREN PEREZ AND LYNN GRAY. Jim Porter: MADAM CHAIR,

224YOU WOULD NEED TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO MEM MORALIZE THAT. THE MOTION MOTION WOULD BE TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER KEN ADUM. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION TO MEMORIALIZE THE FINAL RESULT, WHICH WOULD BE KEN ADUM. MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN, A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. Jim Porter: YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN HAVE BOARD DISCUSSION OR JUST VOTE. YOU'VE HAD DISCUSSION. IT'S UP TO YOU ALL. Nadia Combs: BOARD MEMBERS. OKAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW TAKE A TEN-MINUTE RECESS. [RECESS] Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. AND WE WILL NOW CONTINUE. WE WILL START WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF REVISED POLICIES. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REVISED POLICIES ADOPTION PROCESS. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND BOARD POLICY. THIS

225IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE POLICIES WERE ADVERTISED AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. MR. JIM PORTER, SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS YOU POINTED OUT, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. YOU DO YOUR MAIN POLICY WORK IN WORKSHOPS. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL ADOPTION OF THEM. YOU HAVE ONE POLICY BROUGHT FORWARD BY A BOARD MEMBER, MEMBER RENDON, ON THE POLICY REVIEW CYCLE, POLICY ON TECHNOLOGY, ANOTHER POLICY ON TECHNOLOGY, ANOTHER POLICY -- WELL, FOUR POLICIES ON TECHNOLOGY AND ONE ON CHARTER SCHOOLS. YOU SHOULD ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF NOT THE BOARD IS FREE TO VOTE ON THESE OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS. YOU'VE GONE THROUGH

226THESE BEFORE. YOU HASHED THEM OUT IN WORKSHOPS AND POLICIES HAVE BEEN AMENDED AND REVISED PURSUANT TO YOUR DISCUSSIONS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED POLICIES? OKAY. I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE POLICY. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH OUR AGENDA. OUR SECOND DISCUSSION AGENDA FOR TONIGHT IS 11.02, THE RESOLUTION 23-R-1 FOR A REFERENDUM FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE DULY QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A QUESTION REGARDING A LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR OPERATING EXPENSES. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van

227Ayres: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. BEFORE I GET INTO THIS ITEM, I WANT TO LEVEL SET WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT I'M ASKING DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD IN APPROVAL. JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, AUGUST OF 2022, WE HAD OUR ONE MILL REFERENDUM THAT WAS TAKEN TO TAXPAYERS AND IT DID NOT PASS BY I THINK AROUND 500 VOTES. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE AS A SUPERINTENDENT, OUR PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD WERE VERY CLEAR WITH THE INTENTIONS TO BE BACK OUT IN NOVEMBER OF 2024. THE ITEM YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS FROM ME AS SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CLEAR OUR INTENTIONS IN NOVEMBER 2024 ABOUT ASKING OUR TAXPAYERS FOR ADDITIONAL 1.0 MILL TO ATTAIN AND RECRUIT THE BEST EMPLOYEES TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I JUST WANT TO START WITH SOME NUMBERS SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

228THIS IS REALLY ABOUT LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD. THIS IS ABOUT LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M GOING TO START WITH THE TOP FIVE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE START OFF WITH MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, US, ORANGE, AND THEN FINALLY PALM BEACH. THERE IS ONE OF THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL OPERATING 1.0 MILL OF REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THAT'S US. OF OUR TOP FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THERE IS ONLY ONE, THAT BEING US, THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL 1.0 MILL OF OPERATING REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS IS ABOUT LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TOP, THE BEST EMPLOYEES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT COMES DOWN TO OUR STUDENTS.

229WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THE VERY BEST. IT'S ABOUT RECRUITING AND RETAINING THOSE EMPLOYEES. I TALKED ABOUT THE TOP FIVE. I WANT TO ALSO LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING -- AROUND OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES. CURRENTLY, PASCO HAS THE ADDITIONAL ONE MILL. PINELLAS HAS THE .5 MILL. THEY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MILL. SARASOTA AND MANATEE. THIS IS ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BEING ABLE TO KEEP EMPLOYEES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS THE VERY BEST EDUCATION. THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE ASPIRE TO DO THAT. IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE NEED A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD TO COMPETE WITH SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE TRY TO A LOT OF TIMES COMPLICATE THINGS. THIS IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED. THIS IS ABOUT EQUALITY AND BEING EQUAL AND LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD SO WE

230CAN COMPETE WITH SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I JUST WANTED TO START WITH THAT. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I WANTED TO LEVEL SET AT THE BEGINNING THAT WE WERE VERY CLEAR IN AUGUST OF '22 WHEN IT DID NOT PASS THAT WE BE BACK. WHAT THIS IS FOR IS REALLY TO PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE IN NOVEMBER 2024 AND NEED THE SUPPORT. WE ARE 13 MONTHS AWAY FROM NOVEMBER 2024 IN TAKING THIS TO THE BALLOT TO VOTE. THIS IS, AGAIN, ABOUT REALLY BEING CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHERE WE'RE AT AND THE NEED FOR TOP EDUCATORS, TOP STAFF. WE TALKED ABOUT PRINCIPALS TODAY. WE TALKED ABOUT TEACHERS. WE TALKED ABOUT BUS DRIVERS. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE VERY BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. MR. PORTER, I THINK

231YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE. Jim Porter: ADD SOME PROCEDURAL COMMENTS. IN ORDER TO PLACE THIS ON THE BALLOT, THERE IS A PROCESS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTES. THE BOARD MUST ADOPT A RESOLUTION WHICH IS IN FRONT OF YOU AT A PUBLIC MEETING WHICH IS TODAY. AFTER THAT, IF THE BOARD PASSES THIS, IT WOULD BE SENT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION WHO THEN BY STATUTE MANDATORILY HAS TO SEND IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. THE STATE LAW CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME THE BOARD CONSIDERED THIS. AT THAT TIME, AS MR. AYRES SAID, WE PLACED THE REFERENDUM ON A PRIMARY BALLOT, THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THAT. WE CAN ONLY DO IT IN A GENERAL ELECTION. SO THIS CAN BE DONE IN NOVEMBER OF 2024. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE SUPERVISOR

232OF ELECTIONS. HE NEEDS THIS LANGUAGE NO LATER THAN THE DAY AFTER THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN AUGUST. SO BACKING INTO IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION IN TIME FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THEIR AGENDA PROCESS AND HAVE IT ON THEIR AGENDA. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID, WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON THIS AND WE'RE GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF IT AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS NOW AND WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. SO IF THIS PASSES TODAY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE SEND IT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION PROBABLY NO LATER THAN LATE APRIL OR MAY. BUT AGAIN, THERE'S TIME. IF THE BOARD WANTS TO PASS IT TODAY BUT THINK ABOUT LANGUAGE CHANGES, THAT CAN BE DONE, TOO. IT WOULD NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD

233IN THE FORM OF A MODIFIED RESOLUTION. SO THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING TODAY AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I THINK SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS. MEMBER PEREZ, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FIRST? Karen Perez: YES. I KNOW IN PAST YEARS, SUPERINTENDENT ADSON ASKED FOR A ASH ADDISON ASKED FOR A SALARY STUDY. CAN YOU TELL US IF THAT SALARY STUDY HAS BEEN CONDUCTED OR WHETHER YOU'LL CONDUCT ONE IF IT HASN'T? Van Ayres: I'LL TOSS THAT OVER TO MS. WHELAN ON THE SALARY STUDY. Marie Whelan: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. THERE IS INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED FROM OUR OTHER DISTRICTS THROUGH OUR FLORIDA EDUCATIONAL NEGOTIATORS ASSOCIATION THAT WE ARE MEMBERS OF. AND SO THE MOST RECENT SURVEY DATA AS OF 9/28, MANY OF THE DISTRICTS THAT MR. AYRES ALREADY MENTIONED THAT

234PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING RECEIVED THAT FOR SALARIES FOR EDUCATORS. FOR MIAMI-DADE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR INFORMATION IS THAT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 7 PERCENT TO THEIR SALARIES BECAUSE THAT IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE REFERENDUM. IN PALM BEACH, IT IS BASED ON TEACHER EXPERIENCE AND THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE ADDITIONAL SALARY INCREASES. THOSE WITH 10 PLUS YEARS RECEIVED UP TO $10,000 MORE TO THEIR ANNUAL SALARIES. IT'S DONE THE SAME WAY IN MARTIN COUNTY. SO THERE IS A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS DO THAT. SO WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU. Van Ayres: I THINK YOUR QUESTION WAS, THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL SALARY STUDY AND THE ANSWER IS NO. THAT IS CORRECT. Van Ayres: THERE ISN'T AN OFFICIAL SALARY STUDY DONE BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IT IS US LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT

235SALARIES, US DOING THE RESEARCH ON OUR OWN. WE HAVE NOT SPENT MONEY AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DO A SALARY STUDY FOR BUS DRIVERS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS. NO, MA'AM. Nadia Combs: I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, MEMBER PEREZ, I THINK THAT'S MORE FOR DISCUSSION. LET'S GET A MOTION. LET'S GET A SECOND. AND THEN LET'S OPEN IT UP. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMMENTS. THAT WAY IT IS MORE CLEAR. LET'S GO AHEAD AND CLEAR THE BOARD, IF YOU CAN. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 11.02. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER VAUGHN, AND MYSELF, WE ALL PULLED THIS ITEM. EVERYONE GET UP INTO THE QUEUE THAT WAY IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY CAN BEGIN. MEMBER PEREZ, DO YOU WANT

236TO FINISH YOUR QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE? Karen Perez: THANK YOU. CAN WE GET -- CAN THE BOARD RECEIVE A SALARY STUDY SO WE CAN COMPARE AND CONTRAST WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US IN THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, PLEASE? AND THEN SECOND, CAN YOU PROVIDE US WITH HOW WE ARE AS FAR AS THIS BOARD IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING LIKE SO THAT FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT IT'S LOOKING LIKE FOR US RIGHT NOW? Van Ayres: ABSOLUTELY. NUMBER ONE, SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OPERATING A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE SYSTEM IS MY TOP PRIORITY. AND WE HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, RO JOHNSON, A REMARKABLE JOB OF CREATING A SYSTEM TO WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE. IN THIS MILL, I WANT TO

237BE CLEAR, THIS MILL IS NOT ABOUT US -- IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND TRYING TO CREATE A BUDGET TO HELP US. THIS IS ABOUT TO BE COMPETITIVE AND TO ATTRACT TEACHERS, TOP EMPLOYEES INTO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD. MS. JOHNSON, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING JUST ON THE BUDGET AND WHERE WE ARE? Ro Johnson: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS DISTRICT IS STABLE. OUR BOND, WE JUST GOT OUR BOND RATING, AND WE ARE FROM NEGATIVE, FITCH RATING AGENCIES, WE'RE STABLE AND THEY ARE GOING TO DEFINITELY MONITOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY STABLE. BUT REFERENDUM DEFINITELY WILL MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE TO OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. Nadia Combs: MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. FIRST, LET ME SAY I WHOLEHEARTEDLY VALUE THE HARD

238WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPALS AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD BOTH LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR TO INCREASE COMPENSATION AND WE'VE PUT OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER. BUT TODAY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE YOU'RE COMING TO US WITHOUT A PLAN. WHEN THE DISTRICT WENT OUT FOR THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX, SUPERINTENDENT EAKINS BROUGHT A PLAN. HE SAID WE HAVE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE THESE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THESE ISSUES. WE HAVE THIS PLAN TO BUILD SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE NO MONEY. THIS IS HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST. HE ESTIMATED HOW MUCH THE HALF CENT WOULD BRING IN, AND HE SAID AND THIS IS HOW I CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHIN TEN YEARS. HE HAD A CLEAR PLAN. PEOPLE KNEW EXACTLY WHY THEY WERE SUPPORTING THE REFERENDUM AND

239HOW THEIR MONEY WAS GOING TO BE SPENT. THE ISSUE TODAY IS THAT YOU BROUGHT AN ASK TO THE BOARD. YOU BROUGHT AN ASK TO THE BOARD AND TO THIS COMMUNITY WITH NO PLAN. THE ONLY THING YOU'VE SAID IS YOU NEED TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU NEED MORE MONEY TO SPEND IT. THAT'S YOUR PLAN. AND DURING THIS ECONOMIC TIME, I THINK OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A MORE EXPLICIT DESCRIPTION OF HOW THEIR MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT. THE LANGUAGE IS NOT EXPLICIT. IT SAYS, IT'S WRITTEN SO GENERALLY. AGAIN NO PROBLEM, NO SOLUTION IS LAID OUT. IT SAYS FUNDING FOR INCREASED COMPENSATION TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED DISTRICT PERSONNEL. THAT CAN BE ANYBODY. ANYONE FROM A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT MAKING A HUNDRED THOUSAND A YEAR TO THE MAINTENANCE CREW MAKING AN HOURLY WAGE.

240I WANT TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, THIS ISN'T GUARANTEEING YOU A RAISE. MANY OF THE DISTRICTS WHO HAVE THESE REFERENDUMS, IT IS SPECIFICALLY WRITTEN FOR TEACHERS' RAISES, PERIOD. THEN THE SECOND PART, HMM. IT SAYS FUNDING OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL RELATED EXPENSES. KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE A SLUSH FUND. KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE A BIG BLACK HOLE. I SIT ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND I WOULDN'T WANT MY MONEY GOING INTO THAT BIG BLACK HOLE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'D WANT MY MONEY GOING INTO, SUPPORTING TEACHER SALARIES. THAT'S VERY EXPLICIT. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME, WE CAN PUT IT PAST TODAY AND CHANGE THE LANGUAGE AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. HONESTLY, THAT MAKES US, IT'S CONFUSING TO THE COMMUNITY. IT LOOKS VERY MESSY. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, PEOPLE, YOU'RE ASKING THEM FOR THEIR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS.

241HAVE WE NOT LEARNED ANYTHING FROM LAST TIME? TIMING IS EVERYTHING. I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOU I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES. WE WERE TOO LATE LAST TIME. YOU'RE TOO EARLY THIS TIME. YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A SOLID PLAN. YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD BETTER LANGUAGE AND THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE BOARD. MR. PORTER JUST SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION BY APRIL OR MAY. IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE BALLOT OR SENT TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE BY AUGUST. WE'RE SITTING HERE IN OCTOBER, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN. IT'S NOT BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT. I'M SORRY. LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. MEMBER PEREZ BROUGHT IT UP. WE ARE GETTING READY TO APPROVE $62 MILLION IN REOCCURRING RAISES. WE HAVE TODAY CLOSE TO $300 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES.

242BY DECEMBER WE'LL HAVE CLOSE TO $500 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES. THE PROPERTY TAX BASE HAS GONE UP AND THAT INCREASE FROM ABOUT 153 BILLION TO 178 BILLION HAS BROUGHT IN $73 MILLION INTO THIS DISTRICT, AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING NON-HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES, SECOND HOMES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ABOUT THAT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES CANNOT INCREASE BY MORE THAN 10% A YEAR EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL BOARD EXPENSES. THERE IS NO CAP. SO WE'RE GETTING THAT MONEY. WE'RE ALSO GETTING 25% OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX. IN THESE WAYS, BETWEEN PROPERTY TAXES ALREADY, NON-HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES, AND THE COMMUNITY TAX, THE COMMUNITY IS ALREADY CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR FINANCIAL GROWTH. AND GIVEN THIS FINANCIAL STRENGTH, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE EXPLORED EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE AND BROUGHT A PLAN ON HOW INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES AT THIS

243TIME SOLVES A PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES. WE WANT TO ENSURE OUR TEACHERS ARE PAID A LIVING WAGE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'M TELLING THE UNION, THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT. THIS GUARANTEES MONEY GOES INTO A BLACK HOLE AND THE DISTRICT CAN SUSPEND IT HOWEVER THEY WANT. HOPE IS NOT A PLAN. THANK YOU. Van Ayres: IF I CAN RESPOND TO THAT. IF WE COULD BE CLEAR JUST ON THE OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE BECAUSE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WAS SUBMITTED AS THE AGENDA ITEM SAYS THAT SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LEVY AN AD VALOREM OPERATING MILLAGE OF ONE MILL, JULY 1, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2029 FOR A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR HILLSBOROUGH CHILDREN BY PROVIDING COMPETITIVE SALARIES TO

244ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF. SHARING FUNDS WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS PROPORTIONATE WITH STUDENT ENROLLMENT AS REQUIRED BY LAW. THAT IS THE CURRENT RESOLUTION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA ITEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE'S NO -- THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS CLEAR THAT WE -- THAT THIS MONEY THAT WOULD BE GENERATED FROM THIS MILL IS TO GO TO WHAT IT SAYS, TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN. I WOULD GO BACK TO MY POINT AND MEMBER HAHN, I TOTALLY -- Stacy Hahn: IT SAYS ALSO AND FUND OTHER ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSES. Jim Porter: IF I COULD JUMP IN. YOU'RE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE, THERE ARE MANY PIECES TO THIS. SOME ARE SUMMARIES AND SOME IS THE OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE. THE CRITICAL LANGUAGE IS THE

245OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE, WHICH MR. AYRES READ TO YOU. AND IT'S THIS PAGE HERE. IT'S ON THE BOTTOM. THE OTHERS ARE SUMMARIES. THOSE CAN BE CHANGED. THEY HAVE TO BE INCLUDED LEGALLY BUT THE LEGAL LANGUAGE IS IN THE OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE. Stacy Hahn: YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS HOW I'M GOING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY. Jim Porter: THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY. Stacy Hahn: WHAT IS THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE? Jim Porter: THIS IS ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION. AGAIN, THERE ARE PIECES TO THIS PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH. WHAT THE VOTERS WILL SEE IS THE OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE. Stacy Hahn: RIGHT, BUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO BE SPENDING THE MONEY ON OTHER EXPENSES. Nadia Combs: YOUR TIME IS UP. MEMBER HAHN, YOU CAN

246GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE AND WE WILL GO NOW TO MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE SETTLED SALARY NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE WE BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD. I THINK PART OF THE FRUSTRATION LAST YEAR IS THAT SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES FELT IT WAS CONTINGENT FOR PASSING THIS REFERENDUM AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAID OUR EMPLOYEES AND THAT WE VALUED THEM BEFORE WE WENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE ASKED FOR MORE HELP. I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO ASK OUR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL TAX. AND I HEARD SPEAKERS TONIGHT SPEAK ABOUT OUR

247FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH RAISED UTILITIES, THE HOUSE PRICING, INFLATION, ALL THE OTHER FEES, BUT THOSE ARE THE SAME FEES THAT ARE DRIVING OUR EMPLOYEES OUT OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT GO WITH SUSTAINING PUBLIC EDUCATION IS NOT MATCHING INFLATION. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. I APPRECIATE MEMBER HAHN TALKING ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE'RE FUNDED BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE POINTS SHE MADE, WHAT I HEAR IS WE HAVE A HUGE FUND BALANCE, BUT THAT'S NOT REOCCURRING FEES. EVENTUALLY WE START TO CHIP AWAY AT THAT AND THAT'S WHERE WE GOT INTO TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE IS I DON'T FEEL THE PUBLIC REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE SPENDING MORE THAN WE BROUGHT IN AT

248THAT POINT. SO FOR ME, A LARGE FUND BALANCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO UTILIZE THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE TO ME, IF THAT'S OUR MAIN SOURCE OF TALKING ABOUT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RAISES AND GOING FORWARD IN THE ONCOMING YEARS. ALSO, THE HOMESTEAD, I KNOW LEGISLATION BROUGHT FORWARD RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK BY A LEGISLATOR TO ACTUALLY REMOVE THAT EXTRA EDUCATION FUNDING FROM THE HOMESTEADED PIECE. SO THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MIGHT GO AWAY EVEN AS QUICKLY AS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX, I KNOW THAT'S UP FOR ANOTHER VOTE. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, I KNOW WE'VE HAD REALLY LONG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THERE'S STILL A CAP ON THAT AND DOESN'T MATTER

249-- I'LL USE THIS WORD -- RAISE EXPONENTIALLY. WE DON'T JUST GET THAT MONEY. THERE IS A CAP ON THAT. WHILE I THINK THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT SOURCES OF REVENUE TO TALK ABOUT, THEY ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION, AND THAT'S WHY EVERY SINGLE COUNTY THAT'S OUR SIZE AND SCOPE HAVE HAD TO GO OUT FOR THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND EVEN COUNTIES THAT AREN'T OUR SIZE HAVE HAD TO GO OUT FOR THIS FUNDING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PASCO AND OTHER COUNTIES. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR WITH VOTERS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. I ALSO DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT BY VOTING FOR THIS SUPPORTING A TAX. WE'RE PUTTING THIS IN FRONT OF OUR VOTERS, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT. GRANTED THEY DID NOT SUPPORT THIS LAST TIME, BUT THERE

250WAS A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT IT THAT I'VE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPEAK TO ME, IF I REALLY UNDERSTOOD IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY. I HOPE WITH MORE TIME WE HAVE THAT AVAILABILITY TO GET IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS AND BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT IT. I ALSO THINK THAT WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR, WE NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATION AND COMES TO CATEGORICALS AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO FUND AND AREN'T GOING TO FUND. IF WE TIE OURSELVES TO A VERY NARROW SPENDING OF IT, IT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN UTILIZE WHEN WE NEED TO IF THERE ARE CHANGES MADE. WHILE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, I DON'T WANT TO PIGEONHOLE US

251INTO SOMETHING AND HAVE A CATEGORICAL CHANGE AND NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THAT AS WELL. WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR AS A BOARD FOR THE MOST PART THAT WE NEED MORE EDUCATION FUNDING PERIOD. WHETHER IT'S FOR TEACHERS, SPECIFICALLY FOR RAISES OR WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT HAVING MORE BODIES AND MORE TEACHERS AND ALLOTTING MORE UNITS. BECAUSE NOW THAT WE'VE GIVEN RAISES, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS WE HAVE ARE CLASS SIZES. THAT COMES TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN HIRE, NOT JUST SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE'RE PAYING THEM. SO THERE ARE SO MANY PIECES THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK OUR VOTERS FOR IT. I WISH IT CAME FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATORS WHO PRIORITIZE THAT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT AND THIS IS THE

252POSITION THAT WE'RE IN. WHEN IT COMES TO ME I WILL ALWAYS GIVE THE VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET US KNOW IF THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS. I'M NOT A CLAIRVOYANT. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE RIGHT TIMING IS, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AS MUCH FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS AND REALLY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WE ARE LOSING TEACHERS LEFT AND RIGHT. WE LOST TWO ADMINISTRATORS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS TO NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS. IF YOU ASK THEM WHY

253THEY LEFT, IT WAS BECAUSE OF COMPENSATION BECAUSE THEY CAN GO ACROSS THE BAY AND MAKE ABOUT $20,000 MORE. I PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND. NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE TAXES. I PERSONALLY, I TURNED OFF MY CABLE. I'M DRIVING A 15-YEAR-OLD CAR, NOBODY WANTS TO PAY EXTRA TAXES. WE DON'T. JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I WILL HAVE ONE VOTE AT THE VOTING BOOTH. WE ARE JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, AS A SYSTEM AND AS A DISTRICT, WE NEED MORE SUPPORT. WE HAVE MADE SOME VERY HARD FISCAL DECISIONS. WE ARE LOOKING AT REPURPOSING. WE'VE REPURPOSED SIX SCHOOLS. WE'RE TIGHTENING OUR BELTS. WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT. LAST MEETING LAST WEEK AT THE WORKSHOP, I TALKED ABOUT RIGHT SIZING THIS DISTRICT AND REPURPOSING SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERENROLLED. I TALKED ABOUT LEASING BUILDINGS AND OTHER PLACES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING FISCALLY

254RIGHT DECISIONS SO OUR VOTERS KNOW WE'RE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS. I EVEN TALKED ABOUT RUNNING DISTRICT RUN CHARTERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH FLEXIBILITY, AN ABILITY WE DON'T HAVE, TO PAY THE BONUSES, TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE. BUT THE FACTS ARE THIS. NUMBER ONE, FLORIDA RANKS 48th IN AVERAGE TEACHER SALARIES, AND HERE WE ARE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF INFLATION. NUMBER TWO, COMPARED TO ALL OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS, WHICH ARE CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS, 100% OF THOSE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SUPPORTED THEIR DISTRICT. PINELLAS COUNTY LAST TIME, ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, GENERALLY CONSERVATIVE, SUPPORTED THAT. PASCO COUNTY, POLK COUNTY, ALL THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU HAD A 7-0 VOTE. BUT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE DID NOT. WE HAD A 4-3. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THE VOTERS TO GO OUT THERE AND

255SUPPORT THAT IF OUR OWN SCHOOL BOARD DOESN'T SUPPORT OUR OWN TEACHERS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT CONTINUE BEING AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF PAYING OUR TEACHERS. WE LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, TO HAVE JOBS WHERE PEOPLE -- WHERE WE'RE EDUCATING PEOPLE, WHERE THEY CAN SUPPORT US, WELL, THAT REQUIRES STUDENTS TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION. WHEN YOU TURN AROUND AND YOU LOOK AT A SCHOOL, I THINK ABOUT JUST, WHEN YOU HAVE 14 OUT OF 28 TEACHERS OF SUBS, I HAVE A SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, FIVE VACANCIES, AND WHY IS THAT? IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UNDERPAID. AS A BOARD, WE HAVE ONE VOTE WHEN WE GO INTO THAT BOOTH, BUT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT JUST LIKE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS HAVE, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT

256THE TIMING BECAUSE WE HAD THE TIMING. WE HAD THE PLAN. WE HAD THE BALLOT LANGUAGE LAST TIME, BUT THIS BOARD DID NOT SUPPORT THAT. SO I HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WILL PUT AWAY PARTISAN ISSUES AND LOOK AT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY. AND THAT IS TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I SUPPORT THE BIG PICTURE OF LETTING THE VOTERS DECIDE. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS. BUT WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS A DISTRICT, AS A COMMUNITY, AS A TOWN THAT'S NOW GROWING AND IS THRIVING, DO WE WANT TO JUST GIVE EDUCATION AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS WITH MOSTLY SUBS OR MANY OF THEM ARE SUBS? WHERE DO WE WANT TO SEE OUR STUDENTS IN FIVE OR TEN YEARS? WE

257DON'T INVEST IN QUALITY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, HOW WILL THIS DISTRICT OR THE OTHER 13 WHO HAVE, HOW CAN ANY DISTRICT SURVIVE WHEN OVER 50% OF OUR TEACHERS ARE ON FOOD STAMPS, SOME LIVING OUT OF THEIR CARS? I TRAVEL THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THIS IS NO LIE. THIS IS THE REALITY. YOU LOOK AT A 23-YEAR TEACHER, THAT'S TOP OF OUR SALARY, MAKING 68,000, THEN YOU GO INTO THE COST OF LIVING. YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I HAVE IT ALL WRITTEN DOWN, THIS IS A PERSON THAT HAS NO CHILDREN AND THAT IS SOLO INCOME, MAKING FOR 23 YEARS UP TO 68,000 PERIOD SERVES NOT ONLY THEIR 8 DAY OR 8-HOUR SCHOOL DAY, WORKS ONE OR TWO HOURS USUALLY GRADING PAPERS, WORKS ONE OR TWO HOURS WITH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, WORKS ON THE WEEKENDS AND ON TOP OF IT, WORKS ANOTHER JOB.

258NOW, HOW CAN WE EMPLOY THOSE WORKERS THAT ARE TIRED, THAT ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR HOUSING, IT IS THE REAL THING. EVERY ONE OF US KNOW HOW MUCH OUR RENT OR HOW MUCH OUR MORTGAGE, HOW MUCH FOOD COSTS, HOW MUCH GAS COSTS, HOW MUCH CHILD CARE COSTS. I CAN GO ON AND ON. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE WORLD AND THE TEACHERS CANNOT MAKE IT ON THE SALARY -- WELL, THAT IS THE HEIGHT OF THE SALARY. IN MY MIND, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST GIVE THE VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, YES, I HAVE HAD THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE WITH THE TEACHER. I KNOW SHE OR HE CHANGED MY LIFE OR SAY THESE TEACHERS JUST GET PAID TOO MUCH AND I'M SURE IF THEY SQUEEZE THE BUDGET EVEN MORE. I WANT TO GET IT BACK INTO THE

259BUDGET. I KNOW THAT OUR CFO DID A MARVELOUS JOB. WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS BUDGET, FUND BALANCE, BUT THE REALITY IS, WHEN WE HAVE OUR THIRD CALCULATION, WHICH IS COMING IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, WE ALREADY LOST 33,254 STUDENTS FTE. UNWEIGHTED, FTE, WHICH EQUIVOCATE TO -- EQUIVOCATES TO ALMOST AND RO ALREADY PUT A $40 MILLION PREDICTION OR, YOU KNOW, CALCULATION TO COVER IT, BUT THAT'S JUST IN OCTOBER. THIS IS THE SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER. WHEN WE HAVE THE THIRD CALCULATION, THAT 35,000 AND WHEN WE COUNT UP OUR PRIVATE SCHOOL AND OUR HOME-PSYCHOLOGICALING, THAT MONEY, THAT FUND -- HOMESCHOOLING, THAT FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO CHANGE. THAT IS THE REALITY. FAST-FORWARD, WE THINK WE'RE IN A LUXURY CITY WHEN ALL THE WHILE WE ARE HAVING FROM THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE PLAN, CHANGING THE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION, CHANGING NOT REALLY

260GIVING AS MUCH AS PULLING AWAY THE FUNDS. SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND, WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY? LOOK AT YOUR CHILDREN. LOOK AT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION DO YOU WANT FOR THEM? I WOULD WANT THE BEST OF THE BEST AS WE ALWAYS SAY, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE SCHOOL WITH SUBS OR HAVING A TEACHER THAT IS THERE FOR SOME OF THE MONTHS AND THEN HAVE ANOTHER SUB OR A LONG-TERM SUB. THAT IS NOT QUALITY EDUCATION. SO I THINK WE EITHER STAND FOR EXCELLENCE OR WE STAND TO MARGINALIZE, OUR TEACHER SALARIES, THEREFORE MARGINALIZING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT IS EVERYONE'S FUTURE. IN A NUTSHELL, LET'S AT LEAST LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. LET'S AT LEAST PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. AND

261TO MEMBER HAHN'S POINT, SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WHEN YOU READ THAT LANGUAGE ON THE TOP AND PORTER, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT IS VERY NEBULOUS. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU READ IT ON THE BOTTOM, THE ACTUAL BALLOT LANGUAGE IS VERY SUCCINCT. IT IS FOR TEACHERS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: MR. PORTER, MAY I PLEASE ASK WHY WE EVEN HAVE THE TOP PORTION THERE IF IT DOESN'T COUNT? Jim Porter: STATUTE REQUIRES A SUMMARY AND THE STATUTE REQUIRES BALLOT LANGUAGE. SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU COMPORTS WITH THE STATUTE. SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS WE HAVE TO HAVE THERE. IT COUNTS IN THE SENSE OF IT HAS TO BE THERE, AND THERE ARE WORD LIMITATIONS ON BOTH THAT AND THE TITLE AND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF. BY THE WAY,

262THE LANGUAGE IS YOUR LANGUAGE. IT CAN BE MODIFIED. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHAT IT IS. THIS IS BEFORE YOU FOR DISCUSSION. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LANGUAGE, HAPPY TO CHANGE IT. Patti Rendon: OKAY. LET ME CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE IF THE TOP PORTION OF THE RESOLUTION IS A SUMMARY, THEN EVEN IF THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, AS WE ALL BOTH KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO LEGALITY WISE, THE BALLOT MAY BE A PARAGRAPH BUT THEN THE LEGALITY OF THE ENTIRE REFERENDUM IS GOING TO BE MULTILAYER OF -- SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TWO. WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE THAT INCLUDED IN THE SUMMARY IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE INCLUDED? Jim Porter: THE WAY THE STATUTE IS WORDED, IT TELLS YOU THAT YOU HAVE -- BALLOT LANGUAGE -- LET'S START WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE BECAUSE THAT'S

263WHAT THE VOTERS WILL BE VOTING ON. THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF HAS TO BE SPECIFIC AND IT CAN BE NO MORE THAN 75 WORDS. SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WHERE IT SAYS OFFICIAL. AGAIN, THE RESOLUTION AND THIS, THEY ARE ATTACHED. BUT THE RESOLUTION SORT OF SETS THROUGH THE WHEREAS CLAUSES AND WHY. LET'S START WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. HAS TO BE 75 WORDS AND HAS TO BE SPECIFIC, AND THAT'S WHAT IS HERE. STATUTE ALSO REQUIRES THAT THERE BE A TITLE AND A SUMMARY, AND THERE ARE WORD LIMITATIONS ON THAT AS WELL. THOSE ARE JUST REFLECTING MORE GENERALLY WHAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF IS SAYING. AGAIN, THIS LANGUAGE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. IT CAN BE MODIFIED IF THE BOARD DOESN'T LIKE THIS OR YOU WANT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE TO CHANGE OR THE SUMMARY TO CHANGE, WE

264CAN DO THAT. BUT THE WAY THIS IS WORDED AND THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED COMPORTS WITH FLORIDA STATUTES. Patti Rendon: I UNDERSTAND THE LEGALITY OF ALL THAT. WHAT I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY AND I'M NOT GETTING AN ANSWER THAT I'M CLEAR ON IS I UNDERSTAND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS ONLY 75 WORDS. I UNDERSTAND IT SAYS SPECIFICALLY. HOWEVER, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, THE BEGINNING PARAGRAPH OF THE RESOLUTION IS STILL A SUMMARY OF WHAT THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE IS GOING TO BE ALLOWED. Jim Porter: CORRECT. Patti Rendon: RIGHT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, MEMBER HAHN IS CORRECT THAT EVEN IF THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE IS USED AND PASSED, IT DOES GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY OF HOW THAT MONEY COULD BE SPENT. Jim Porter: IT DOES NOT. LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. Patti Rendon: WHY NOT? Jim Porter: BECAUSE YOU'RE CONFLATING

265TWO SEPARATE REQUIREMENTS. IN ORDER TO GET THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT, THERE HAS TO BE A RESOLUTION PASSED. THIS IS THE RESOLUTION. THE LAW REQUIRES THE RESOLUTION CONTAINS CERTAIN PARAGRAPHS AND CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND CERTAIN SUMMARIES. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL BE LEGALLY BINDING ON THIS DISTRICT AND ON THE VOTERS IS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF. WHAT I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU IS, THE BOARD HAS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS. IF YOU FEEL LIKE THE SUMMARY OR THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION IS TOO VAGUE, WE'RE HAPPY TO CHANGE IT. ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO MAKE IT HAPPY TO THEM A TO MAKE IT COMPORT. I DON'T WANT ANY CONFUSION OR UNCLARITY, IF THIS GETS ON THE BALLOT AND THIS PASSES, THE OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE WILL BE THE LEGAL PARAMETERS OF HOW THE MONEY

266CAN GET SPENT, PERIOD. Patti Rendon: LET ME CLARIFY. ACCORDING TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, MONEY ONLY SPENT FOR COMPETITIVE SALARIES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF. IT'S NOT JUST TEACHERS. Jim Porter: IT'S NOT JUST TEACHERS, NO. Patti Rendon: SHARING FUNDS WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS. I UNDERSTAND IT'S BY LAW. AND THAT'S IT. Jim Porter: THAT'S IT. Patti Rendon: IT IS NOT GOING TO THE ARTS. Jim Porter: NO. Patti Rendon: IT IS NOT GOING TO ANY OTHER ASPECTS. Jim Porter: NO. IT CAN. AND THE LAST TIME -- Patti Rendon: WAIT A MINUTE, YOU SAID YOU CAN. Jim Porter: YOU CAN CHANGE THE LANGUAGE. Patti Rendon: TODAY, ACCORDING TO THIS -- Jim Porter: CORRECT. IF YOU'LL RECALL WHEN THIS WENT TO THE VOTERS TWO YEARS AGO, OTHER THINGS WERE CONSIDERED AND IT DID NOT PASS. THE FEEDBACK RECEIVED

267HERE THAT THIS WAS TO BE TEACHER AND STAFF SALARIES. THAT'S WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU. PLEASE REACT TO IT. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, WE'LL CHANGE IT. WE CAN ADD WHATEVER YOU LIKE. IF YOU WANT TO ADD THE ARTS, IF YOU WANT TO ADD TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN DO THAT, ABSOLUTELY. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THAT. DO YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT AND VOTE ON THIS TODAY AND BRING IT BACK, WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL. THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF DOING IT THIS EARLY AND GETTING FEEDBACK. THIS IS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS ONLY FOR TEACHER AND STAFF SALARIES, PERIOD. Patti Rendon: MAKE SURE I CLARIFY THIS AS WELL BECAUSE, AGAIN, LIKE OTHER DISTRICTS, WHEN THAT HAS PASSED AND MONEY HAS

268COME IN, EACH INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT HAS CHOSEN HOW THAT MONEY GOES TO TEACHERS AND BASED UPON THAT. IS THAT GOING TO BE A BOARD DECISION OR IS THAT A NEGOTIATED DECISION WITH THE UNION? Jim Porter: BOTH -- WELL, IT WILL BE A NEGOTIATED DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE -- Patti Rendon: WHEN THE MONEY COMES IN AS A BOARD OR A DISTRICT, ARE WE IN CONTROL OF HOW THE TEACHERS -- Jim Porter: ULTIMATELY VOTE ON IT SO ULTIMATELY THE BOARD'S DECISION. Patti Rendon: BUT NEGOTIATED. WE DO NOT HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY OF SPENDING THE MONEY AS WE WOULD LIKE TOWARD TEACHERS SINGLE-HANDEDLY. Jim Porter: JUST AS YOU DO NOW, YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE SALARIES, IT'S PART OF HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. THAT WOULDN'T CHANGE. Patti Rendon: AGAIN, ONLY FOR FOUR YEARS. Jim Porter: CORRECT. Patti Rendon: FIRST

269OF ALL, LET ME CLARIFY MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. WHETHER OR NOT I VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THIS DOES NOT MEAN I DO NOT PRIORITIZE THE TEACHERS OF THIS DISTRICT. I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF ESSER DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. STATING THAT WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, I CAN'T SAY, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO HAVE SAT ON THIS BOARD, THAT WE'VE MADE A HUNDRED TOUGH DECISIONS THAT HAVE SAVED US MONEY. THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE DONE, WE DID NOT GO WITH THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE REBOUNDING TO MAKE THE MAX. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS OF SAVING THIS DISTRICT

270MONEY. YES, WE TALKED ABOUT PROPERTY BUT WE HAVE NOT MADE ANY DECISIONS ON THAT. THEREFORE AS A DISTRICT WE HAVE NOT PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND REALLY MADE HARD DECISIONS. WE'VE NOT LIMITED SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE. WE'VE NOT LIMITED SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AS A WHOLE TO THIS ENTIRE DISTRICT AT WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. SO YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE SENSE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS, BUT WE'VE NOT HAD TO DO THAT THE LAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD AN INFLUX OF FUNDING THAT WE'VE USED ACROSS THE BOARD FOR A MAGNITUDE OF THINGS. I DO STAND HERE AND I DO SUPPORT TEACHERS AND I DO SUPPORT OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND I DO SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS IN THIS DISTRICT, BUT JUST

271BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MAKE SURE WE TAKE TIME TO MAKE SURE THIS BALLOT GOES OUT AT THE RIGHT TIME, UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES, DONE THE CORRECT WAY, BECAUSE WE JUST HAD IN THIS COUNTY THE CITY BALLOT WHERE THERE WAS AN UPROAR OF CITIZENS REFUSING TO ALLOW THAT TO EVEN BE ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE THIS FACILITATION WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT. NOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT INFLATION IS STILL AFFECTING OUR TEACHERS AND I AM WELL AWARE OF THAT. WE ARE ALL LIVING IN THAT SAME SOCIETY. BUT TO SIT HERE AND SAY WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN IN THIS DISTRICT, WE CAN'T DO THAT YET. I CANNOT DO THAT YET. I CANNOT SAY THAT I'VE LOOKED THROUGH THIS ENTIRE BUDGET AND WE'VE CUT CORNERS BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVEN'T. BECAUSE I KNOW

272I WANT TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOW WE HALL OUR INSURANCE WHERE WE COULD SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND I DIDN'T GET THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD TO EVEN BRING IT TO A DISCUSSION. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD AND WE COULD NOT DO THAT WE'VE NOT DECIDED. AND IT IS A BIGGER PICTURE THAN JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. BECAUSE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ALREADY SAID WE DON'T WANT MORE TAXES. WE ARE ALREADY THE HIGHEST TAX BRACKET IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITH OR WITHOUT A REFERENDUM. SO IT IS A LOT TO CONSIDER RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST THAT. BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I 100% SUPPORT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE FISCALLY

273RESPONSIBLE IN HOW WE HANDLE THINGS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, MEMBER RENDON, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, TOO, I THINK IT'S VERY UNFAIR TO SAY THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR TEACHERS AND THE STAFF IF WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS. AND IT'S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. THIS IS NOT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL TO KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. YOU'RE RIGHT. A LOT OF COUNTIES DO HAVE REFERENDUMS. THEY ALSO PUT THEM OUT DURING VERY DIFFERENT ECONOMIC TIMES AND WHAT WE'RE FACING NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PLAN THAT SAYS THIS IS HOW THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED TO MEET THIS GOAL. MAYBE ONE OF THE GOALS IS WE

274WANT TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE STARTING SALARIES BY THIS YEAR AND GET OUR STARTING SALARIES AT 55, 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY THIS TAX MAY BRING IN AND THIS IS HOW MUCH, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN ALLOT TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S A GOAL I WANT FOR THIS REFERENDUM. AND ANOTHER GOAL MIGHT BE INCREASING THE STEPS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STARTING SALARY AND THIS IS WHAT THAT WOULD COST. BUT NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. THERE IS NO PLAN, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE TALKED PRIVATELY. I DO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BEING PUSHED TO DO THIS NOW. I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TIME AS A NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ONLY ON THE JOB A FEW MONTHS, DEALING WITH A LOT OF OTHER SERIOUS ISSUES THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE

275TIME TO REALLY GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TALK TO CONSTITUENTS, TALK TO BUSINESS LEADERS, GET A PLAN TOGETHER, DO A SALARY STUDY. ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WHEN YOU SAY WE COULD WRITE THE LANGUAGE TONIGHT -- Jim Porter: NO, NO. YOU CAN. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT. Stacy Hahn: NO, I WOULD NOT EITHER BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY TWO LAWSUITS GOING ON AT THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE. ATTORNEYS NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT. Jim Porter: IF I COULD HIT PAUSE FOR A MINUTE, MEMBER HAHN. STOP HER TIME. I WANT TO CONVEY ULTIMATELY WHATEVER LANGUAGE IS VOTED ON IS YOUR LANGUAGE. THE LANGUAGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TIME, YOU COULD PASS THIS TONIGHT AND WE COULD COME BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR AND WE COULD GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU AND TRUST ME, WE'LL PUT IT IN

276TERMS WE CAN DEFEND LEGALLY. AND I DON'T RECOMMEND DOING THAT TONIGHT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S YOUR LANGUAGE. Stacy Hahn: WHY WOULDN'T WE WORK ON THE LANGUAGE AND THEN BRING IT BACK FOR THE FIRST VOTE. WHY AM I VOTING ON SOMETHING, WHERE, LOOK, I COULD VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT AND YOU ALL COULD NEVER BRING IT BACK AND THAT'S THE TRUTH. THAT IS THE TRUTH. I WOULD LOVE THAT WE'RE NOT 48th IN OUR SALARIES. BUT, AGAIN, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM WITH THIS? WHERE IS THAT PLAN FOR THAT? IT HAS TO BE MORE THAN JUST REFERENDUM LANGUAGE. THERE IS A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. YEAH, YOU COULD PUT IT OUT TO THE VOTER, BUT THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY IN HOW YOU DO THAT. AND MESSAGING FROM THE VERY

277BEGINNING IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU GET ONE SHOT OUT OF THE GATE. SO TO SAY WE CAN BRING IT BACK IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND REDO THE LANGUAGE, TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST IS A VERY, VERY CRITICAL PART OF THE PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW WHY ALL THIS WASN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT BEFORE IT EVER CAME TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO TRUST HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO BE HERE SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS OR LONGER. I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF HE WAS PERMANENT IN APPROACHING THE COMMUNITY WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS. ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE BRING HIS CONTRACT TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND MAKE HIM A PERMANENT -- TO DISCUSS MAKING HIM A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.

278Jim Porter: LET'S HIT PAUSE. YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. LET'S GET THROUGH WITH THIS AND IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT, WE CAN. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. Stacy Hahn: THAT'S FINE. I THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS IT. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE TO SET THE TABLE BEFORE YOU SERVE DINNER. YOU'RE SERVING DINNER AND THERE'S NOTHING ON THE TABLE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME. AGAIN, THE MESSAGE WAS VERY CONVOLUTED. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS OUT THERE. IT WAS TOO LATE. THIS IS TOO EARLY. IT WAS TOO LATE LAST TIME. WE RUSHED AND NOW YOU'RE COMING TOO EARLY AND YOU'RE NOT PREPARED. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS. I KNOW YOU

279WANT TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU NEEDED MORE TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS GETTING CLARITY AROUND THE LANGUAGE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THIS CAME SO SOON BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP AROUND THIS WHERE WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT. SO I WAS SURPRISED AT THE TIMING OF THAT. HOWEVER, FOR ME, WHILE I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE TIME TO DISCUSS IT AND GET MORE CLARITY ON IT, IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN SPENDING YEARS TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY WHY WE NEED THIS. I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALWAYS SAYING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON THE BUDGET, NUMBER ONE.

280AND WHILE I APPRECIATE MEMBER RENDON'S VIEWPOINT, WE HAVE MADE INCREDIBLY HARD DECISIONS AS A BOARD. WE FACE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES WHERE THERE WERE CUTS HAVING TO BE MADE IN VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIMES AND WE HAD TO FACE TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO LOST THEIR JOBS WITH VERY LITTLE NOTICE. WE HAD TO SPEND DUAL YEARS HAVING MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE MEETINGS OF EMPLOYEES COMING AND BEGGING REPEATEDLY FOR A LIVABLE WAGE AND HAVING TO WAIT AND HOLD OFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FINANCIALLY STABLE FOR THAT. EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEETING THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S A PLETHORA OF AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED BECAUSE WE SO ACUTELY TALK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE ENTIRE BUDGET, WHETHER THEY MAKE SENSE FISCALLY. WE'VE SAID NO TO SOME CONTRACTS. WE'VE ALTERED OTHER CONTRACTS. WE HAVE AS A BOARD, HONESTLY, I WATCH A LOT OF OTHER

281SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND THE TRUTH IS, WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE FINANCES AND SCRUTINIZE WHAT COMES BEFORE US IN A WAY THAT I DON'T SEE A LOT OF OTHER BOARDS DOING. I TRUST YOU AND I TRUST MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND I TRUST THE VOTERS OF THIS COUNTY TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE JUST LIKE THEY DO WITH THE REFERENDUM THAT WE DID FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY, WHERE THAT MONEY IS ABSOLUTELY TRANSPARENTLY NOT ONLY IS THERE A PUBLIC COMMITTEE THAT TALKS ABOUT IT, NOT ONLY IS IT ON OUR WEBSITE, NOT ONLY DO WE VOTE ON IT BEFORE IT COMES BEFORE US, IN ALL FAIRNESS TO ACT LIKE ANY MONEY THAT COMES TO US IS A BLACK HOLE ISN'T FAIR BECAUSE WE WORK REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT WHERE EVERY SINGLE PENNY GOES AND WE ARE VERY

282PUBLIC AND WE HAVE ALL WORKED VERY HARD TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT IN WHAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING, WHAT OUR BUDGET IS. WE'VE TALKED ALMOST AD NAUSEAM ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH FUNDING AND WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO. WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO COME AND TALK ABOUT IT. WHILE I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED MORE TIME, I WILL ALWAYS JUMP TO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION AND EDUCATION. AND EVEN THOUGH THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ASKING OUR VOTERS AT A TIME WHEN IT'S UNPRECEDENTED TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC EDUCATION, PASCO DID IT LAST TERM, WHEN INFLATION WAS JUST AS HIGH. WE ARE COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC. YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR MENTALING WAS, IT WASN'T LONG, IT WASN'T COMPLICATED. I DROVE THROUGHOUT PASCO. IT SIMPLY HAD A SIGN THAT SAID SUPPORT

283OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS AND PUT THEM FIRST AND THAT'S IT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER THE TIMING IS BAD, I TRUST THIS BOARD, I TRUST YOU, I TRUST OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE MONEY THAT WAY TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE. AND I AM ALWAYS GOING TO STAND WITH SUPPORTING PUBLIC EDUCATION FINANCIALLY, IF THAT'S AN OPTION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M KIND OF CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT. I THOUGHT TONIGHT WE WERE GIVING PERMISSION FOR HIM TO GO AHEAD AND START WORKING ON IT, NOT TO COME WITH A PLAN TONIGHT. IS THAT THE UNDERSTANDING? Van Ayres: NO. WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU -- ME AS SUPERINTENDENT, I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. THIS IS A DECISION WHERE

284I COULD BE SECOND-GUESSED OF WHEN TO ACTUALLY COME OUT WITH THIS LANGUAGE AND WHEN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. IT IS A POSITION WHERE I CAN BE SECOND-GUESSED EITHER WAY. THE POSITION I MADE WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO OUR COMMUNITY OUR INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER 2024. IT WAS CLEAR IN AUGUST OF 2022. I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR NOW. I HEAR ALL OUR BOARD MEMBERS, I HEAR THE COMMENTS AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE EVERYONE IS COMING FROM. BUT IN THE END, WE DO NOT NEED TO OVERCOMPLICATE THIS. THIS IS ABOUT AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT ON IT. I'VE GOT PASCO, PINELLAS, SARASOTA, MANATEE, AND ALL THE OTHER FOUR LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT BRING IN MORE REVENUE THAN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND IF

285THIS BOARD ASKS ME TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OTHERS AND TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT TEACHERS INTO THIS DISTRICT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE REVENUE IN ORDER TO DO SO. I HAD TO MAKE A STATEMENT, I HAD TO TAKE A POSITION OF WHEN TO COME OUT AND DO THIS. WHAT'S ON HERE IS MY AGENDA. THIS IS MY AGENDA I BRING FORWARD AND MY RECOMMENDATION. I CAN BE SECOND-GUESSED ON IT. COME NOVEMBER 2024, IT IS A REFERENDUM BUT ALSO A REFERENDUM ON MY LEADERSHIP AS WELL. Henry "Shake" Washington: SO, MR. PORTER, QUESTION TO YOU -- YOU'RE SAYING WE CAN CORRECT SOME OF THIS. Jim Porter: WHAT THIS DOES TONIGHT, IF YOU VOTE YES, YOU GIVE AUTHORIZATION TO SEND TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. IT WOULD ALSO GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT

286TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AND ALSO I SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE. IF DURING THE COURSE OF DEVELOPING THE PLAN HE DETERMINES OTHER NEEDS, TECHNOLOGY NEEDS THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TEACHER SALARIES, WE'LL AMEND THE LANGUAGE AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR AMENDED RESOLUTION. ALL YOU'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT IS PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT AND GIVE HIM TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAN, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, AS YOU HEAR INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY OR AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND OTHER THINGS, MEMBER RENDON, THE ARTS, FOR INSTANCE. I KEEP COMING BACK TO TECHNOLOGY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE USED. WE CAN CHANGE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TIME BEFORE IT NEEDS TO BE OFFICIALLY SENT TO THE

287COUNTY COMMISSION. YES, YOU VOTE ON IT TONIGHT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. GIVES HIM TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND GIVES THIS BOARD TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THE LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE AMENDED. Van Ayres: IF I CAN ADD, THE POINT OF THIS IS TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT IN NOVEMBER 2024 WE WERE GOING TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL LUV. IF I HEAR FROM THE BOARD THAT THERE WANTS TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES, WE HAVE UNTIL APRIL TO DO SO, BUT THE POINT OF TONIGHT WAS TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE COMPETITIVE, WE NEED TO BE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH THE FIVE LARGE -- WITH THE OTHER FOUR LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND OUR SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I'M OPEN TO MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS

288THAT THIS BOARD WISHES. Henry "Shake" Washington: OKAY. I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A VIEWPOINT OF WE NEED TO WORK AS A TEAM. I THINK THAT'S A FAIR ASSESSMENT. I MEAN WE HAVE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SUPERINTENDENT. IF WE VOTE ON A YEA TONIGHT, WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE HONEST WITH US AND COME BACK AND NOT PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT THAT SHOULD NOT BE THERE. BECAUSE WE SUPPORT YOU 100%. I HAVE A FAIR ASSESSMENT ON THAT THEN. THAT IS A CLEAR POINT. I JUST DIDN'T WANT -- I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WE DON'T JUST PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. BRING IT BACK BECAUSE THE BOARD MAKES THE FINAL APPROVAL OF WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO PUT ON THE BALLOT AND WE CAN MAKE CHANGES. THAT'S WHAT

289I NEED TO UNDERSTAND, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES. OKAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. THOSE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND THE TRANSPARENCY OF ANSWERS ARE EQUALLY SO. I KNOW WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THOSE PARTICULAR REMARKS, THIS IS TOO SOON, THIS IS TOO MUCH, THIS IS THE WRONG TIME. AT LEAST DURING MY EIGHT YEARS HERE THERE'S NEVER BEEN A GOOD TIME TO ASK TAXPAYERS, NEVER HAS BEEN. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN DIRE SITUATION, AND THIS HAS BEEN ARTICULATED BY EVERY ONE OF US WITH NOT HAVING TEACHERS, EFFECTIVE TEACHERS OR ABLE TO KEEP OUR TEACHERS. WE KNOW THAT PASCO COUNTY IS OFFERING 6,000 MORE SALARY FOR OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, AND THEY ARE GOING THERE. AND WE'RE LOSING FOLKS TO PINELLAS.

290THE COUNTIES, THE 13 COUNTIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS HAVE DONE IT FOR A REASON SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO RETAIN AND GET THE BEST TEACHERS THEY CAN GET. AND TO HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION. NOW, ALL THIS -- THIS IS NOT FACTUAL INFORMATION NOR IS IT EFFECTIVE TO THE EARS THAT ARE LISTENING RIGHT NOW, BUT I WILL TELL YOU FROM THE LAST REFERENDUM -- AND FARKAS, YOU REMEMBER AND I PRESSED HARD FOR IT FOR FOUR BOARD MEETINGS BECAUSE OUR ROOFS WERE CAVING IN AND WE DIDN'T HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING -- PORTER AND I AND A FEW OTHERS WE PUT TOGETHER A REFERENDUM TO ADDRESS IT. NOW, THAT WASN'T A GOOD TIME. WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY. IN FACT, WE HAD TO ASK -- AT THE TIME WE HAD TO ASK FOR A LOAN. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BEST

291TIME IS ANYMORE. I THINK RIGHT NOW THE BEST TIME AND THE BEST SITUATION WE CAN GIVE OUR STUDENTS IS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM A VERY EFFECTIVE TEACHER, AND THE TEACHERS WILL NOT COME HERE FIRST. THEY'LL COME TO PASCO OR PINELLAS OR IN THE CASE OF MARYLAND, WE'RE 47th, NOT 48th, WE'RE 47th. MARYLAND IS THE 9th. THEY START OUT THEIR SALARY WITH $74,000 PER YEAR. SO WE ARE SO FAR REMOVED FROM A BASIC STANDARD SALARY, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE HOW OUR TEACHERS ARE STILL HERE, AND THEY ARE LOOKING. SO SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING A STAND. YOU'RE MAKING A POSITION STATEMENT, AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, HEY, I'VE GOT TO GO AHEAD AND GOT TO BE A LEADER. I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT

292THE BOARD IS COMPLETELY BEHIND ME BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE ASK, AND YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW AND IT'S UP TO US TO BE BEHIND YOU. AND I WILL SAY, I AM BEHIND YOU. FOR MANY REASONS. BUT AT ANY RATE, PERFECT TIME. NOW, I DO THINK WE OWE DR. HAHN A PARTICULAR, LET'S JUST SAY, AN ANSWER TO HER CONCERN. THERE SHOULD BE A TIMELINE. WE SHOULD HAVE A TIMELINE OF WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE OCCURRING. ALSO TO MEMBER RENDON, SHE HAS A VERY GOOD POINT. IF I WERE JUST GOING ON THE BOARD A FEW MONTHS BEFORE, I WOULD SAY, WELL, WHAT THE HECK HAVE WE DONE. HAVE WE DONE EVERYTHING AND I WOULD THEN ASK MEMBER -- OUR CFO RO JOHNSON, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO RATTLE OUT

293ALL THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAD TO CUT BECAUSE WE HIRED ADDISON DAVIS SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE VERY REASON HE WAS AN OUTSIDER AND HE COULD CUT SO MANY POSITIONS AND HE DID. I THINK YOU OWE MEMBER RENDON ALL OF THE CUTS, THE STEPS THAT WE DID TO SAVE MONEY. I THINK THAT'S ONLY RIGHT. AND THEN PERHAPS YOU CAN READ THAT AND SAY, OH, I GUESS WE DID DO THINGS BECAUSE YOU NEED IT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER, SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE DID DO. BECAUSE HER CONSTITUENTS, WHICH ARE NINE ALSO, ARE ASKING WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU DONE SO FAR, SO SHE DOES HAVE THAT PARTICULAR -- SHE NEEDS TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I HOPE YOU'LL GET THAT TO HER. IS THAT A YEA? OKAY. I'M DONE TALKING. I

294STAND BY YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS -- I MEAN, SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES, INTERIM. AND I KNOW WE CAN'T MAKE A MOTION TONIGHT TO HAVE YOU AS A SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH I WISH WE COULD, BUT AT ANY RATE, ENOUGH SAID. BYE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT TAKES A LOT TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR TEACHERS, IF YOU GO INTO OUR SCHOOLS NOW, THE CLASS SIZES ARE LARGER THAN EVER. YOU WALK INTO THE CLASSES, TODAY, WE HAD EMPLOYEES COME IN AND TALK ABOUT IT. I SPOKE TO A PRINCIPAL THE OTHER DAY THAT SAID TO ME I ACTUALLY MAKE $40 LESS THAN MY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE YEARS IN. THAT'S THE FACTS. THE FACTS ARE OUR EMPLOYEES

295ARE TRULY UNDERPAID. YOU HEARD A SECRETARY COME IN TODAY AND TALK ABOUT HOW UNDERPAID THEY ARE. EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE COMING. OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND, THEY HAVE A CHECK AND THEN THEY HAVE A LINE WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING. NOW, WE CAN PLAY THIS CONFUSION, AND WE CAN SAY IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME OR YOU'RE THE INTERIM OR QUESTION THE ATTORNEY AND CREATE ALL THIS CHAOS AND CONFUSION. THE TABLE WAS SET A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND PEOPLE DIDN'T SUPPORT IT. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW THE TABLE IS SET. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT MAKING ADDITIONAL MONEY COMPARED TO ALL THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS THAT RECEIVE IT? ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT THE TOP FIVE THAT RECEIVE ALL THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

296DOESN'T. ARE YOU GOING TO OR ARE YOU NOT? YOU CAN CREATE CONFUSION. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE ATTORNEY. YOU CAN CREATE WORDING, YOU CAN SAY ALL THESE THINGS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD, WHO ARE UNDERPAID, WHO HAVE CLASS SIZES, WHO ARE SUBBING, WHO ARE COVERING, YOU HEARD SOMEBODY FROM ALONSO TODAY SAYING, GUESS WHAT, I DESERVE A T PAYROLL. HOW ABOUT JUST PAYING THEM EQUALLY TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. SO ALL OF THIS CHAOS AND CONFUSION, PLEASE, JUST ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM? WE CAN CHANGE THE LANGUAGE. WE CAN CHANGE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT EVERY OTHER DISTRICT HAS? AND, BY THE WAY, THIS DISTRICT WAS THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT LOST THE REFERENDUM IN THE ENTIRE STATE

297OF FLORIDA. AND EVERY OTHER DISTRICT, AS I SAID, BECAUSE TODAY, I CALLED PINELLAS COUNTY AND I SAID, I'M CURIOUS, WHAT WAS THE VOTE? IT WAS 7-0. EVERYBODY SUPPORTED THAT. I CALLED OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND THE AREA, ALL OF THEM, ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SUPPORTED IT. THIS DISTRICT DID NOT SUPPORT IT FULLY LAST TIME AND I HOPE IT WILL CHANGE THIS TIME. THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. NO ONE IS SAYING THAT WE DON'T TRUST YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. I WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I'VE SUPPORTED YOU FROM DAY ONE. I WANTED YOU TO HAVE A 12-MONTH CONTRACT. I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE PERMANENT. IF WE COULD VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, I WOULD VOTE ON IT, AND I DO THINK IT WOULD INSTILL A LITTLE BIT MORE STABILITY AROUND THIS DISCUSSION IF

298YOU WERE PERMANENT. BUT NOT EVEN TO HAVE THE TIMELINE, AS MEMBER GRAY SAID, AT THE VERY LEAST, AND NOT TO HAVE A WORKSHOP. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE SO, LIKE, I'M DOING THIS NO MATTER WHAT AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT I DO THINK OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THAT CONVERSATION TO BE HEARD. I THINK THAT IF WE HAD MORE PLANNING AND CONVERSATIONS IT WOULD MAKE SOME OF US FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER ABOUT WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT FORTH TONIGHT. I THINK THAT'S ALL ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT AND BUILDING TRUST. THAT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S CRUCIAL WHEN YOU'RE TAG PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE RIGHT NOW AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE TEACHERS AS WELL AND OUR STAFF AND I GET IT. AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AS WELL, IT HELPS THOSE PEOPLE

299IF YOU HAVE A LOT MORE DIALOGUE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT. AND I THINK A WORKSHOP WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT FIRST STEP IN THAT. I THINK THAT A TIMELINE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR CONCERNS WOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP DURING THAT WORKSHOP ON, WELL, WHEN YOU COME TO THE BOARD, WE EXPECT A TIMELINE. WE EXPECT A PLAN. AND WE WEREN'T GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN FURTHER GET INTO THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSION. THAT'S ALL REALLY IMPORTANT. AND WHEN I SAY SET THE TABLE, I'M NOT BEING FLIP. I'M SAYING THAT THOSE ARE IMPORTANT PIECES TO PASSING A REFERENDA. IT'S MORE THAN JUST THROWING IT ON THE BALLOT AND GOING, YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT TEACHERS TO SUPPORT THIS. THERE'S MORE THAT GOES INTO IT. AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT AROUND RUNNING A REFERENDUM, BUT I KNOW THAT

300MUCH. AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE. AND I JUST SEE A LOT OF THE SAME KIND OF PITFALLS. SO I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS. I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HOW THIS HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT TONIGHT. AND I'VE SHARED THAT WITH YOU. I'M NOT SURPRISING HIM. HE UNDERSTOOD MY CONCERNS BEFORE THIS EVENING. AGAIN, TO SAY YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT, YOU DON'T SUPPORT TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES, I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT. I DON'T SUPPORT THE PROCESS REALLY OF HOW THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD. I THINK IT'S JUST NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT AND I JUST THINK IT'S VERY UNFAIR TO KIND OF TELL MEMBERS THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH THIS TONIGHT THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES. WE'RE GETTING READY TO RATIFY A RAISE THAT I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF. SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY UNFAIR

301STATEMENT BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL DO KNOW EACH OTHER WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WE CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS DISTRICT AND THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF AND ALL OUR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, DR. HAHN. AND WHILE I DO AGREE THAT I WISH THERE HAD BEEN SOME MORE TIME TO DISCUSS IT AS A BOARD, I DON'T KNOW IF DISCUSSING IT AT A WORKSHOP WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH OUR WORKSHOPS AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN SMALLER VENUES AS WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE ATTEMPTED TO DO LAST TIME. WHILE I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME ABOUT IT, I THINK

302THAT SUPPORTING IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HAVING THOSE WORKSHOPS AND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WHILE I APPRECIATE YOU WOULD LIKE THOSE BEFOREHAND, I DO. THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT NOW. AND I LOOK FORWARD REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW, IF WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS A BOARD AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND GOING TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT, AGAIN, WE WENT OUT FOR THIS LAST TIME. WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN LENGTH. WE TALKED ABOUT IT COMING BACK. WE'VE ALL HAD OUR COMMENTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES TO TALK ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE NOT ALL, BUT A LOT OF US HAD TIME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE, HOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING, WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE

303COMMUNITY. SO WHILE IT IS WHAT IT IS, I THINK WE CAN STILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK WE CAN STILL HAVE A WORKSHOP. I THINK WE CAN STILL TALK ABOUT IT AS A BOARD HOW WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE IT. I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC, WHY WOULD WE GO BACK AND CHANGE THE WORDING, IF THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW, AT LEAST WE STILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, SO I DON'T WANT ANY OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE EXCLUDED FROM THAT PROCESS BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD PRIORITIZES OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR EDUCATORS AND THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE DO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE HAVE THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO THE ESSER COMMENT, WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE

304THE HE ISERS. EVEN WITH THAT -- HE ISERS. EVEN WITH THAT, FUNDING WAS OVERSAW BY THE STATE AND PUT INTO BUCKETS AND VERY SPECIFIC AND COULDN'T USE IT IN WAYS WE ORIGINALLY WANTED TO AND WAYS WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WE WOULD. THAT LACK OF FLEXIBILITY AS A DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL IN OUR FUNDING WHEN IT COMES FROM THE STATE LEGISLATION TO ME IS EXACTLY WHY WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE SALARIES AND IF ESSER MONEY COMES, IT DOESN'T GET SWEPT AWAY IN A BUCKET OR TOLD WE CAN ONLY USE IT TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY, THAT HOPEFULLY IT ALLOWS OUR COMMUNITY TO VOICE AND SAY THAT OUR PRIORITY IS THE SALARIES OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES

305DOWN TO IT, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS AND AROUND OUR KIDS EVERY DAY ARE THE ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE AND BEING ABLE TO PAY THEM COMPETITIVE AND LIVABLE WAGES HAS GOT TO BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION. I'M NOT SAYING BY NOT SUPPORTING THIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE PROCESS, THAT'S NOT YOUR PRIORITY, I'M JUST SAYING COLLECTIVELY AS A SCHOOL BOARD THAT HAS GOT TO BE OUR PRIORITY GOING FORWARD IN MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER GRAY, LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR A YEAR, I WOULD NEVER COME TO A VOTE ON THIS BOARD AND THIS

306DAIS WITHOUT DOING MY HOMEWORK AND RESEARCH. WE HAVE ACCESS TO EVERY SINGLE MEETING WE'VE HAD AND I'M WELL AWARE WHERE PLACES WERE CUT AND WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT CUT THOSE POSITIONS. I'M ALSO WELL AWARE THE POSITIONS WERE CREATED SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER AND WERE NEVER TAKEN OFF THE BOOKS. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE PEOPLE'S JOBS THAT WERE FIRED. HOWEVER I AM NOT IGNORANT TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED. I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I'M COMING TO THIS DAIS PREPARED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH OUR CFO AND I'M WELL AWARE. I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR ON THIS DAIS. BUT, MR. PORTER, IF I COULD ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. MAYBE ACTUALLY SUPERINTENDENT OR MR. PORTER, EITHER ONE OF YOU MAY KNOW. THERE WERE 13 COUNTIES THAT WENT UP FOR THE REFERENDUM. 12 OF THE 13

307PASSED THEM. THOSE ARE THE FIRST TIME -- DO WE HAVE ANY COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT AFTER THE FIRST REFERENDUM IT WAS REPASSED? Jim Porter: I BELIEVE PINELLAS WAS REPASSED. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER BUT I THINK PINELLAS WAS THE MOST RECENT ONE REPASSED. WE CAN DO THAT RESEARCH AND COME BACK. Patti Rendon: TO ME IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT PUT OUT THE PIE IN THE SKY INFORMATION. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, TEACHERS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT LIKE MEMBER COMBS SAID, IT IS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM ON YOUR PAYCHECK. DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR DIRECT SALARIES UNLESS WE DECIDE DIFFERENTLY TO MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT IT IS A TIME LIMITED. YOUR PAY WILL THEN GO BACK IF WE DON'T REPASS THIS AFTER FOUR YEARS. Jim Porter: I HAVE THE LANGUAGE FROM

308PINELLAS AND THIS IS FROM I GUESS 2020. SHALL THE PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BE CONTINUED. SO THAT SUGGESTION HAD BEEN RECONTINUED. PASCO IT APPEARED TO BE A NEW ONE IN 2022. WE CAN DO THE RESEARCH UNLESS DR. WHELAN HAS THAT INFORMATION NOW, BUT WE CAN FIND THAT FOR YOU. Patti Rendon: AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, EVEN IF WE PASS IT TODAY, IT IS A TIME LIMITED RESOURCES TO OUR FAMILIES. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ONGOING AND IT IS ONLY LIKE MEMBER COMBS, YOU SAID IT'S A SEPARATE LINE ITEM IN YOUR PAYCHECK. DOESN'T GO TOWARDS YOUR BUILDUP OF YOUR RETIREMENT. DOESN'T GO TOWARDS OTHER THINGS. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. YOU MENTIONED ALSO WHEN MEMBER WASHINGTON WAS CONVERSING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF WE PASS IT TODAY,

309WE'RE GIVING THE SUPERINTENDENT PERMISSION TO GO AFTER THE REFERENDUM. HOWEVER, IS THE SUPERINTENDENT REQUIRED TO COME BACK WITH FINAL LANGUAGE IF THEY CHOOSE TO CHANGE IT OR IF HE DOESN'T CHOOSE TO CHANGE IT, DO WE HAVE TO COME BACK NO MATTER WHAT FOR A FINAL DECISION? Jim Porter: LET'S UNPACK THAT. ANY CHANGES AT ALL TO THE LANGUAGE YOU APPROVE TODAY HAS TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A VOTE, PERIOD. IF HE DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING, TEN IT STAYS LIKE THIS AND GOES FORWARD. BUT THE BOARD ALSO COULD REQUEST THE SUPERINTENDENT TO COME BACK WITH OTHER LANGUAGE. SO IT'S NOT ONE OR ALL. Patti Rendon: DOES IT HAVE TO BE A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD TO BRING IT BACK? Jim Porter: WELL, TYPICALLY I THINK THE WAY IT WORKS IS IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S AGENDA. HE'S

310ULTIMATELY IN CHARGE OF WHAT GOES ON THE AGENDA. IF BOARD MEMBERS REQUESTED IT AND HE CHOSE NOT TO DO IT, I THINK THAT'S ON HIM. LEGALLY, HE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S UNLIKELY TO THE POINT OF NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Patti Rendon: THIS IS NOT AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT. I WANT SOME CLARIFICATION ON BECAUSE WHEN MEMBER WASHINGTON WAS ASKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS ANSWERED THAT YES, IT WOULD COME BACK FOR A FINAL VOTE. EARLIER I KIND OF GOT THE IMPRESSION IT DIDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK. Jim Porter: IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT AND NO CHANGES ARE REQUESTED OR DESIRED ABOUT THE LANGUAGE, NO OTHER ACTION BY THE BOARD IS NEEDED. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT IS THAT THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DEVELOP A PLAN. SOME OF

311YOU MAY GO OUT AND GET COMMUNITY INPUT. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THE MONEY MIGHT BE SPENT. THE SUPERINTENDENT MIGHT, THE UNION MIGHT. IN THAT CASE, THE LANGUAGE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE AND ONLY THE BOARD COULD CHANGE THE LANGUAGE THROUGH THE VEHICLE OF A PUBLIC VOTE WITH ANOTHER RESOLUTION. Van Ayres: I AM OPEN TO -- SO FOR TONIGHT, IF APPROVED, THAT IS THE APPROVAL THAT WE WOULD BE ON THAT NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT. I CAN BRING FORWARD, WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP. WE CAN TALK THROUGH. IF THIS BOARD WANTS MY TRUST THAT I WOULD BRING FORWARD ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM IN THE FUTURE, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET IT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION UNTIL APRIL, IF TOWARDS JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, IF -- JUST THROWING SOME THINGS OUT. IF WE WANT TO HAVE A WORKSHOP

312AND BRING THE LANGUAGE, THE ENTIRE REFERENDUM LANGUAGE, THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, TALK THROUGH THAT, I AM OPEN TO DO SO. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU AND PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL BRING SOMETHING FORWARD AT THE START OF THE YEAR WITH THE FINAL LANGUAGE. IF THAT MAKES THE BOARD COMFORTABLE TONIGHT IN MAKING THIS DECISION, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING BACK LANGUAGE. MAYBE IT'S THE SAME, MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BUT WE CAN BRING THAT FORWARD AT A LATER DATE. Patti Rendon: MR. PORTER, I HAVE A QUESTION. AGAIN, PROCESS. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR APPROVAL OF THIS. HOWEVER, CAN I AMEND THE MOTION TO REQUEST THAT WE TAKE A VOTE TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE WE BRING THIS MOTION TO A VOTE? Jim Porter: YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE CONTINUING THE ITEM UNTIL A

313FUTURE DATE UNTIL A PLAN WAS DEVELOPED. IT WOULD BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. Patti Rendon: YES. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO BRING THIS BACK AT A LATER DATE WHEN WE HAVE A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS REFERENDUM. Jim Porter: YOU NEED A SECOND TO THE MOTION. MADAM CHAIR, SHE'S MAKING A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS -- Nadia Combs: IS THERE A SECOND? Jim Porter: CLEAR THE BOARD, PLEASE. THERE IS A MOTION. SECOND BY DR. HAHN. BOARD MEMBERS, THE MOTION -- THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM, SO YOU WOULDN'T VOTE ON IT TONIGHT. IT WOULD COME BACK AT A FUTURE TIME WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS A PLAN IN PLACE TO PRESENT TO YOU. THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. THAT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION OR YOU CAN VOTE

314ON THAT. IF -- LET ME BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT AND MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE VOTERS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 2024, VOTE NO. IF YOU WANT TO NOT VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT AND HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE, VOTE YES. THAT'S THE MOTION. VOTE YES IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT AND YOU WANT A PLAN IN PLACE. VOTE NO IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT. YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN DISCUSS IT. I CAN SEE CONFUSION. BASICALLY, WHAT MEMBER RENDON HAS DONE IS MADE A MOTION THAT YOU WOULD NOT VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT. YOU WOULD NOT VOTE ON IT UNTIL SOME FUTURE TIME WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT BROUGHT BACK A PLAN THAT DR. HAHN HAS REFERENCED AND SOME OF THE OTHER BOARD

315MEMBERS HAVE REFERENCED. IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF NOT VOTING ON THIS TONIGHT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, VOTE YES. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT VOTE NO AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE MAIN DISCUSSION. Nadia Combs: CAN WE DISCUSS THAT? WELL, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT IF I FEEL THAT BOARD MEMBERS WILL SUPPORT THAT MORE. MY CONCERN IS ARE WE GOING TO -- ONCE THE PLAN IS THERE AND THE VERBIAGE IS THERE, ARE YOU MORE LIKELY, ARE YOU MORE INCLINED TO SUPPORT THAT. BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE TABLE WAS REALLY SET LAST TIME A FEW YEARS AGO AND IT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY MANY BOARD MEMBERS. I'M JUST HOPING THAT IF YOU HAVE THE ADDITIONAL TIME AND IF YOU HAVE THE PLAN, ARE YOU GOING TO BE

316OPEN OR IS THIS JUST KIND OF DELAYING THAT. THAT'S MY CONCERN. THAT WOULD BE MY BIGGEST CONCERN. ARE YOU SAYING IF THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE AND THE LANGUAGE, OR ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE GOING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAY OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EMPLOYEES MORE IN 2024 AND PLACE THAT IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT -- WE'RE NOT DELAYING SOMETHING. IN THE END, THE RESULT IS GOING TO BE THE SAME BECAUSE I OFTEN FEEL THAT THIS BOARD HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE MILLAGE IN THE PAST. LOOKING AT SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, WHEN IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTED AND LAST TIME, THE TABLE WAS SET. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT, EVERYTHING WAS GOOD, BUT

317BOARD MEMBERS STILL DID NOT SUPPORT THAT. I GUESS FOR ME, WHAT TYPE OF TIMELINE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT TYPE OF DETAILS? BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT A WAY OF DELAYING SOMETHING. AND IN THE END, THE VOTE BEING EXACTLY WHAT I THINK IT WOULD BE TONIGHT. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. I AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS IN THE FACT THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IF WE JUST LEAVE IT OPEN-ENDED AS BRING IT BACK AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS IT. FOR ME TO EVEN CONSIDER SUPPORTING MEMBER RENDON'S SUBSTITUTE MOTION, IS THAT WHAT IT IS -- SUBSTITUTE MOTION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A DATE OF WHEN IT WILL COME BACK BY, LIKE A CAP ON THAT. IF WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND REVISIT THIS IN TWO MONTHS TO GIVE A

318TIME FOR A PLAN AND FOR US TO HAVE A WORKSHOP, I WOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING IT. BUT WITHOUT A DATE IN MIND OF COMING BACK, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT MOTION. Van Ayres: I WOULD BE OPEN TO A WORKSHOP AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY AND THEN IF WE WANT TO BRING AN ITEM TO THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. I COULD DO THAT. Jim Porter: I DON'T THINK PRACTICALLY SPEAKING TO DO ANYTHING IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER ISN'T REALLY PRACTICAL. Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE MORE TIME. YOU SAID BY WHAT DATE? Van Ayres: SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP. IF THIS DOES NOT PASS TONIGHT, WE WOULD BRING THIS LANGUAGE, BRING THE PLAN TO A JANUARY WORKSHOP. DISCUSS THE BALLOT REFERENDUM LANGUAGE THE FIRST WORKSHOP IN JANUARY. HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AS A BOARD. AFTER THAT WORKSHOP, LIKE ALL

319WORKSHOPS, I GET DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD AND FEEDBACK. THEN I WOULD BRING THAT ITEM TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Jessica Vaughn: LATE JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY. Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Van Ayres: FOR TONIGHT, I WANT THE BOARD TO KNOW, THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW I'M BEING REAL CLEAR THAT THIS IS SOMETHING A SUPERINTENDENT OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT I'VE BEEN IN FOR 27 YEARS THE NEED FOR US TO BE COMPETITIVE TO HAVE THIS ONE MILL ON THAT NOVEMBER BALLOT. WE NEED IT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE ARE NOT ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. I'LL SAY IT 20 TIMES TONIGHT, WE'RE NOT ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD BUT I DO UNDERSTAND AND HEAR MY BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT AND IF THAT HELPS WITH THE CLARITY OF BRINGING IT FORWARD IN JANUARY AND

320WORKSHOPPING THIS EXACT ITEM WE HAVE HERE AND BRINGING FORWARD AT THE END OF JANUARY, FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY, I'M OPEN TO DO SO. Nadia Combs: MEMBER PE LES. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. I JUST NEED TO SAY THIS. JUST BECAUSE WE SUPPORT OR DON'T SUPPORT A VOTE DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE NOT UNITED AS A BOARD. IT MEANS THAT WE ARE INDIVIDUAL CRITICAL THINKERS AND HAVE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS WITH CONSTITUENTS. I'M GOING TO ADDRESS NOT ON THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD ISSUE, BUT IN A DIFFERENT. MANY IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ME, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE IS THE RATE OF STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING DIPLOMAS IS HIGH. AND WHERE THE DROPOUT RATE IS HIGH, WHERE THE STUDENTS HAVE IN THE PAST RECEIVED

321CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION, AND THAT'S THEIR ANGST ABOUT THIS MILLAGE. THE SAME COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE RECENTLY STRUGGLED WITH A HIGH RATE OF HOMELESSNESS, FOOD INSECURITIES, SINGLE PARENT, EMPLOYMENT, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND I SUPPORT STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ALL STAFF. SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS OFFICIAL BALLOT. IT SAYS TO RETAIN QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF. BUT IT DOESN'T SAY SUPPORT STAFF. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SUPPORT STAFF AND SOMEBODY CAME TO US TONIGHT IN COMMENTS, IN OUR -- YEAH, AND TALKED ABOUT THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS LAST, DON'T GET THE RAISES. ARE YOU GOING TO INDICATE THAT NOT ONLY STAFF BUT ALSO SUPPORT STAFF -- YEAH. BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALWAYS LEAVE THEM OUT. THEY ARE ALWAYS LAST AND THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN UNION MATTERS. Van Ayres: THAT LANGUAGE IS MEANT TO BE ALL

322STAFF, BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HELPS AND YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT A WORKSHOP, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TALK THROUGH, BUT THAT AND THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN THERE IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL STAFF. Karen Perez: OKAY, A LOT OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF ARE LATINO AND AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH LOW WAGES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS INDICATED IN THIS DOCUMENT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. MEMBER COMBS, I CAN'T GIVE YOU A GUARANTEE ON HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE WITHOUT HAVING A PLAN. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT. THE REASON I MADE THIS IS BECAUSE I WANT TO BE PREPARED. I WANT TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE. I WANT TO HAVE THE INFORMATION. I WANT TO BE PREPARED SO I'M NOT GOING TO

323COMMIT TO ANYTHING UNTIL I HAVE THAT, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER WORKS TO THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. THERE ARE FOUR TUESDAYS IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY. BETWEEN THE 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO A WORKSHOP AND A BOARD MEETING SO I DO BELIEVE IF THIS REFERENDUM GOES ON THE BALLOT, IT HAS TO BE DONE IN JANUARY. I THINK THERE IS A PLAN. I THINK HISTORICALLY ENOUGH TIME AND BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS THE MOST SUCCESS OVER TIME. I DO AGREE THERE NEEDS TO BE A TIME SET. I COULD NOT DO THAT IN MY AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT WAS A SUPERINTENDENT DECISION ON WHEN YOU WOULD WANT TO DO IT. BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS WE MAKE THEM AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD ABOUT WHAT IS

324THE PLAN, WHAT'S THIS, THE STATUS, THAT IT OBVIOUSLY IS BRINGING TO LIGHT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS YET. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BE A UNITED BOARD UNDER A REFERENDUM, WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE THE FACTS. WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE THE PLAN. WE ALL HAVE TO BE UNITED WHEN WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO HAVE A TIME TO DO THAT AND BE GIVEN THE INFORMATION PROPERLY WITH THE PROPER PLAN MOVING FORWARD. MEMBER PEREZ ASKING, DOES THIS INCLUDE ALL STAFF? DOES IT NOT? THOSE ARE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE INFORMATION FULLY AWARE OF ALL OF US MOVING FORWARD AND THAT'S WHY I MADE THE SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Henry "Shake" Washington: THE ONE THING I DO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE

325TO ALL BE ON THE SAME PLAN. SO IMPORTANT, THE LAST TIME, I SPOKE TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY SAY, WELL, SHAKE, SOME VOTED NO AND SOME VOTED YES. SO THAT WAS DIVISIVE. IF WE COME BACK WITH A PLAN, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ALL BE ON THE PLAN TOGETHER SO WHEN WE GO OUT, WE GO OUT AS A TEAM AND CONFRONT AS A TEAM. WHEN WE GO TO THE WORKSHOP, IF SOMEBODY DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, LET'S WORK IT OUT. LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN WORK IT OUT TO MAKE IT WORK BECAUSE WE ARE ONE PART OF A BODY, AND IF WE DON'T WORK IT OUT AS A TEAM, WE WILL NEVER PASS BECAUSE ALL THE COUNTIES THAT PASS, PEOPLE, THEY ALL WENT 7-0. SO WHATEVER -- IF WE COME UP WITH SOMETHING AND SOMEBODY DISLIKE

326IT, OKAY, LET'S WORK IT OUT SO WHEN WE LEAVE THERE, SUPERINTENDENT, I WANT TO LEAVE THERE WITH MY HEAD CLEAR THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. SO IF JANUARY GOING TO DO IT, LET'S DO IT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: I WANT TO CLARIFY, COULD THE MOTION CONTAIN THE DATE OF WHEN WE'RE COMING BACK? Jim Porter: IT CAN. HONESTLY, I THINK IT'S BETTER -- HE DOESN'T HAVE A CALENDAR IN FRONT OF HIM. Jessica Vaughn: YOU ARE ASSURING US IN GOOD FAITH, I'LL USE THOSE TWO WORDS A LOT IN THE STATEMENT IN GENERAL, IN GOOD FAITH THAT IF WE LISTEN TO OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE IN GOOD FAITH ASKING US FOR MORE TIME TO HAVE THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS, AND WE SUPPORT THIS MOTION TO GIVE MORE TIME, THAT

327YOU WILL SCHEDULE AND COMPLETE A WORKSHOP IN JANUARY AND THEN THE NEXT AVAILABLE BOARD MEETING THIS WILL COME BEFORE US ON AN AGENDA. Van Ayres: YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION, ONE. NUMBER TWO, AGAIN, FOR ME TO DELAY IT IS ONLY A RESPECTFUL GESTURE TO MY OTHER FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS SO MUCH, AND TO ME, BRINGING SOMETHING FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AGAIN, WE ARE NOT MAKING THE DECISION ON THIS. THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE DECIDING WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT IT AT A WORKSHOP, WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT IT AT ANOTHER ADDITIONAL BOARD, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BECAUSE AS MEMBER RENDON SAID, THEN WE CAN BE GOOD STEWARDS AND GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE NOT MAKING THIS

328DECISION. THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE DOING BY DECIDING THIS IS PUTTING IT IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS AND GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND TO PRIORITIZE THAT. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT AGAIN, THAT I WILL GO AHEAD AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS MOTION FOR RESPECT OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR MORE TIME IN GOOD FAITH AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR A COMMITMENT FOR YOUR VOTE. BUT I AM ASKING FOR A COMMITMENT THAT IT IS IN GOOD FAITH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS SERIOUS THOUGHT AND BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT WHICH I KNOW YOU WILL. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED I HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD COLLECTIVELY AS A BOARD ON THIS. WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, I WILL SUPPORT THIS

329SUBSTITUTE MOTION OUT OF RESPECT FOR MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. Nadia Combs: I ALSO CONCUR. I WILL SUPPORT BUT I HOPE IT'S NOT TO DELAY AND IN THE END IT WILL BE THE SAME OUTCOME THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE TONIGHT. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL REALLY ENGAGE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, ENGAGE AND LOOK AT OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS AND NOT TURN AROUND AND I FELT LIKE TONIGHT WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, QUESTIONING, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY CLEAR WITH WHAT MR. PORTER BROUGHT AND A LOT OF CONFUSION BEING BROUGHT IN, AND I THINK THAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AND IT WILL BE IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT YOU WILL REALLY ENGAGE. AND WHEN WE DO HAVE THE WORKSHOP, THAT IT IS REALLY GOING TO BE A SUPPORTIVE BOARD THAT'S GOING

330TO SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS AND IT'S NOT JUST A WAY OF PUSHING THE INEVITABLE OUT AND IT WON'T BE THE SAME AS LAST TIME. BECAUSE WE'VE HAD YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND ENGAGE, AND IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THIS WAS COMING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION TO VOTE. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: I'M SORRY YOU FIND OUR QUESTIONS CONFUSING, BUT I'M ALLOTTED TIME TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. AND TO GET SOME CLARITY. AND KNOWING SOMETHING IS COMING AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING GIVEN A TIMELINE, I DON'T FIND THAT TO BE VERY GOOD PLANNING. WE ARE HERE. WE ARE HERE WHERE WE ARE. I DO APPRECIATE MEMBER VAUGHN YOU WILLING -- I KNOW YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND YOU'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, JUST A WONDERFUL PROPORTIONATE

331OF THIS, BUT I DO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US SOME MORE TIME ON THIS. I KNOW THAT WASN'T AN EASY DECISION FOR YOU TO COME TO. YOU ARE ALWAYS VERY RESPECTFUL OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE ON THINGS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO APPRECIATE, MEMBER PEREZ, YOU ALWAYS ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE MINORITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SHAKE, YOU ALWAYS DO THE SAME AND ARE VERY CAREFUL, INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR WORDS, AND SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. Van Ayres: IF I COULD JUMP IN REAL QUICK, DR. HAHN, YOU TALKED ABOUT TIMELINE. SOME DATES WE COULD LOOK AT, JANUARY 16th WOULD BE A DATE WE CAN LOOK AT FOR THE WORKSHOP AND THEN WE DO HAVE A BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 6. THAT WOULD

332GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME FROM THE 16th WORKSHOP ON THAT TUESDAY, A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS PUT TOGETHER FOR FEBRUARY 6 WHERE I WOULD BRING THIS AGENDA ITEM. Nadia Combs: MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I GUESS I'M NOT IN THE LONG LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT GIVE THE PATIENCE OR TOLERANCE FOR A WORKSHOP, BUT, IN FACT, I AM. IN FACT, LET ME ADD SOMETHING TO THAT. I DO THINK WE NEED TO WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF A WORKSHOP DISCUSS AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THE ONE WE HAVE NOW HAS DONE A STELLAR JOB AND WILL GIVE CONFIDENCE TO THE VOTERS AS WELL. SO I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO BE COVERED WITHIN THAT, LET'S JUST CALL IT A WORKSHOP FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS. THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT

333TO CONTINUE THIS TO JANUARY, VOTE YES. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO JANUARY, VOTE NO. IF YOU WANT TO WAIT TO JANUARY, VOTE YES. Nadia Combs: THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS 4.03, NEGOTIATED ECONOMIC SALARY PROPOSAL FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FEDERATION. 2024 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU. SO THIS IS HCPS AND HSEF REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT UNDER THE HSEF BARGAINING UNIT. RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1, 2023. HSEF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE INCLUDE 4,300 EMPLOYEES INCLUDING CUSTODIANS, STUDENT NUTRITION, BUS DRIVERS, BUS ATTENDANTS AND SECURITY AMONG OTHER JOB TYPES. THE TOTAL FINANCIAL IMPACT IS APPROXIMATELY $11.5 MILLION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 4.03. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. SECOND

334BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER VAUGHN YOU PULLED THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE FOR BOTH THIS AND THE ONE COMING AFTER THIS OUR TEAM'S COMMITMENT TO GETTING THIS DONE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOR -- TO PRIORITIZE THIS IN A TIMELY MANNER. I THINK THAT EVERY YEAR THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY AS OUR EMPLOYEES WAIT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY A LOT OF THE BILLS BASED ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE THEY WERE EXPECTING. I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, IN GENERAL, THESE ARE SOME OF OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES WHO DO SOME OF THE MOST PHYSICAL LABORIOUS WORK. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS MAKING

335SURE I'M TALKING TO THE CUSTODIANS AND NUTRITIONAL STAFF AND RESOURCE OFFICERS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES, BUS DRIVERS, WHEN I'M GOING INTO SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. SO WHILE I SO APPRECIATE THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE IN GENERAL THAT EVEN OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. SO WHILE THIS IS A FIRST GREAT STEP, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS TO KEEP THESE EMPLOYEES AT THE FOREFRONT TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE. I AM THRILLED WE GOT THIS DONE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AROUND THIS. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO WORKS SO HARD FOR THIS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: AGAIN, I ECHO WHAT

336MEMBER VAUGHN HAS SAID AND ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MS. SHOTWELL AND MS. JOHNSON FOR NEGOTIATING THIS. IT'S ABOUT TIME, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO OUR BUS DRIVERS. MY GOODNESS, THEY ARE, AS WE HAVE ALL AGREED, A FIRST POINT OF SERVICE TO A LOT OF THE, LET'S JUST SAY DISCUSSIONS, IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STUDENTS. THEY ARE GOOD LISTENERS AND SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. FINALLY ABLE TO GIVE THE SUPPORT STAFF THEIR DESERVED SALARY. OF COURSE, IT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH. A LOT MORE SHOULD BE GIVEN, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS TEAM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT INTO THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND MS. JOHNSON FOR BEING AT THAT TABLE

337AND WORKING WITH THE CABINET AND DOING ALL THE MAGIC YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THESE RAISES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALWAYS MAKING SOUND DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE MONEY TO DO THIS TODAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT AYRES SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. THIS IS THE SMOOTHEST IT'S GONE WITH NEGOTIATIONS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR NONINSTRUCTIONAL STAFF WORKS SO HARD. EVEN TODAY WHEN I HEARD THE EMPLOYEES TALKING ABOUT A SUPERVISOR MAKING SUCH A COUPLE DOLLARS MORE, THIS IS WHY THE REFERENDUM IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE AND BE ABLE TO PAY OUR SUPERVISORS. I

338KNOW SOME OF OUR SECRETARIAL STAFF DID NOT GET SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT THEY WERE HOPING. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN PEOPLE TALK TO ME, IT'S REALLY NOT A LOCAL ISSUE. IT IS A STATE ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WITH OUR INCREASE OF INFLATION SO HIGH IN THIS AREA AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A 5% INCREASE AND EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP SO HIGH, SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH HARD AT THE STATE LEVEL TO PROVIDE FUNDING SO THAT WAY IT TRICKLES DOWN TO OUR MOST DESERVING EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 4.04, ECONOMIC SALARY PROPOSAL FOR NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. THIS IS OUR NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES. AND THESE EMPLOYEES INCLUDE 1,100

339OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HEAD CUSTODIANS, SECRETARY 4, STUDENT NUTRITION MANAGERS, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIES, ACCOUNTANTS, ANALYST AND TECH SUPPORT SITE REPRESENTATIVES AMONG OTHER JOB TYPES. ELIGIBLE NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES CREDITED YEAR OF SERVICE FOR 2021 SCHOOL YEAR THAT HAD NOT BEEN AWARDED THAT LAST YEAR. EMPLOYEES AT THE TOP OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PAY GRADE WILL RECEIVE A ONE-TIME $1,000 PAYMENT. TOTAL FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS APPROXIMATELY $3.4 MILLION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 4.04. MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: NO. THIS IS A DUPLICATE REMARK, ACTUALLY, BUT I'M GLAD -- AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I'M SO GLAD THAT WE ARE CAPTURING THIS GROUP AS WELL BECAUSE

340SO MANY TIMES, AGAIN, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE AFFORDABILITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND THANK YOU MS. RO JOHNSON AND MS. SHOTWELL. VERY WELL DONE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LONG NIGHT AND LONG AGENDA. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE, ALL MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS. I HOPE ALTHOUGH THIS ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO ENOUGH, IT IS A STEP TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE VALUE AND SUPPORT YOU AND THIS AT LEAST MAKES THE YEAR A LITTLE MORE -- A LITTLE LESS STRESSFUL HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT FINANCES AND BEING ABLE TO FOCUS A HUNDRED PERCENT ON OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU AGAIN

341FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.01, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR PERIOD JULY 1, 2023 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2023. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. OUR CFO, MS. JOHNSON, WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS AGENDA ITEM. Ro Johnson: GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT WE DISCUSSED, I'M READY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 6.01. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I JUST TALKED TO MS. JOHNSON THIS MORNING. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO WHAT GOES ON IN TRUEING OUR BUDGET

342OR GETTING TO THE BUDGET DEEPLY, BUT NEXT MONTH I SHALL FOR SURE. LET IT REST RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IF WE'LL JUST WAIT ABOUT 20 MORE SECONDS. TAKE YOUR TIME. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.0 IS, PIGGYBACK 23109-PGB-MST 20-10 PV-01, CUSTODIAL, GROUND AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. Van Ayres: WE HAVE EIGHT ITEMS TO GO. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO FILL NEEDS IN GROUNDS KEEPING DUE TO STAFFING CHALLENGES. THIS ABM INDUSTRY GROUP, LLC OFFERS A SOLUTION WITH STRONG TRACK RECORD IN THIS AREA. PARTNERING WITH ABM IS A COST-EFFICIENT APPROACH THAT OPTIMIZES SPENDING WHILE ADDRESSING IMMEDIATE SERVICE NEEDS. THAT IS AGENDA ITEM 7.01. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C 7.01. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN,

343YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: THIS IS GOING TO MAKE OUR GROUNDS KEEPING A LOT EASIER, CORRECT? Christopher Farkas: THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS THE IDEA. Jessica Vaughn: OUR SCHOOLS COULD REALLY USE THAT. THIS IS GOOD NEWS. Christopher Farkas: TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OFF THE SITE ADMINISTRATION AND NOW WE HAVE A QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION GROUP THAT WILL FOCUS ON THAT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT ON THE RECORD ON THE DAIS AND MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THIS. BECAUSE WE'RE BRINGING IN THIS OUTSIDE PIGGYBACK AND OUTSIDE COMPANY, THEY WILL BE DOING THE OVERSEEING, TAKE THE HEAT OFF. ALSO WHEN WE HAVE ONE OF OUR OTHER PREVIOUS CONTRACTORS WALK AWAY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THEM

344COME IN AND DO THE DIRECT SERVICE, SO THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE TO OUR SCHOOLS. Christopher Farkas: EXACTLY. 90% OF THE TIME I GET A CALL FROM A BOARD MEMBER, HEY, THE GRASS IS THIS HIGH. THAT'S BECAUSE OF A DEFAULT. THEY ARE SMALLER COMPANIES. THIS WILL FILL THE GAP. SO IT WILL FILL THAT UP, NOT HAVE THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD BEFORE AND THEY WILL BE THE BUT AN THAT MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. Patti Rendon: THE COST CURRENTLY ON THIS AGENDA ITEM IS THE MAXIMUM COST. IT'S ONLY SO THEY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO PICK UP THE CONTRACTS IF SOMEONE WALKS AWAY. Christopher Farkas: 100% ACCURATE. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.12,

345APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE FOR THE WELDING LAB PROJECT AT ERWIN TECHNICAL CENTER, PROJECT 100450. Van Ayres: THIS PROJECT SCOPE PROVIDED FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING WELDING LAB AT ERWIN TECH. THIS NEW WELDING EQUIPMENT AND IMPROVED ELECTRICAL AND HEATING VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING HVAC SYSTEM WERE PROVIDED TO IMPROVE THE PREVIOUS WELDING LAB. STUDENTS AT ERWIN TECH WILL CONTINUE TO MASTER WELDING SKILLS THROUGH THE USE OF THE NEW AND IMPROVED FACILITY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.12. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Patti Rendon: SO, MR. FARKAS, WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GO ON THE RECORD BECAUSE A LARGE PORTION OF THIS IS

346COMING OUT OF GENERAL REVENUE AND NOT OUT OF CAPITAL FUNDS. COULD WE HAVE SOME EXPLANATION ON THE RECORD OF WHY THE FUNDING IS THE WAY IT IS? Christopher Farkas: GREAT QUESTION. THIS IS COMING FROM THE CTE FUNDS. ADULT EDUCATION IS ALLOWED TO PAY FOR THE MATERIALS. THEIR CATEGORICAL IS IN THE GENERAL FUND, NOT CAPITAL DOLLARS. NOT MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT SOMEWHERE ELSE. ONLY SPENT ON ADULT EDUCATION THROUGH SCOTT BROOKS AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION. THEREFORE LISTED AS GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT SITS. THIS IS PAID FOR BY THE STUDENTS AND BY THE MONEY THEY EARN IN THE TECHNICAL PROGRAMS. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.13, APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE PROJECT OF THE REFERENDUM YEAR THREE

347PHASE TWO PROJECT AT FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL, PROJECT 100229. Van Ayres: THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK FOR PHASE TWO PROVIDED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING FIRE ALARM SYSTEM AND RELATED ELECTRICAL WORK AT FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL FIRE'S ALARM WAS OUTDATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE. UPGRADING THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM ELIMINATED DISRUPTIVE NUISANCE ALARMS. COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT PROVIDED AN ENHANCED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 7.13. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I PULLED THIS ITEM. I JUST WANTED TO REALLY QUICKLY SAY THAT I RECEIVED QUITE A FEW PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS REGARDING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD THIS YEAR. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF THAT

348AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF. ALSO, I THINK MR. OTERO WORKED SO HARD WITH THE AC AND OFTEN WHEN AIR DOES GO OUT, WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PUTTING HANDLERS IN THERE AND WORKING REALLY HARD. IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I WILL SAY WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING SO HARD IN DEALING WITH THE ISSUES. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE -- BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.18, APPROVE THE FINAL 2023-2024 FACILITIES FIVE-YEAR WORK PLAN. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: BOARD MEMBERS, FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIRES EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DEVELOP AND APPROVE A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL OUTLAY WORK PLAN WHICH IS SUBMITTED TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUALLY

349AND INCLUDES A SCHEDULE OF ALL MAJOR REPAIRS, RENOVATIONS, NEWLY PLANNED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, CLASS SIZE INFORMATION AND THE USE OF PORTABLE CLASSROOMS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS PLAN IDENTIFIES 237 MILLION IN FUNDED MAINTENANCE AND MAJOR REPAIR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND 52 MILLION OF IMPACT FEES DEDICATED TO NEW STUDENT CAPACITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. DISTRICT STAFF REQUESTED REVIEW FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PER THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THEIR COMMENTS ARE ATTACHED IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.18. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. I PULLED THIS ITEM. MR. FARKAS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. TWO OF MY CONCERNS IS FROM THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE FIVE-YEAR WORK PLAN. I DID HAVE TWO SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS, ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS LOOKING FOR THE

350SECOND FLOOR. THEY HAVE A LOT OF FLOATING TEACHERS, ESE TEACHERS RIGHT NOW WITH THAT IB AND THEN IN ADDITION, STEINBRENNER HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS EXTREMELY OVERCROWDED AND LOOKING AT THAT ADDITIONAL WING. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND IF YOU JUST WANT TO REMARK ON THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. Christopher Farkas: SURE. WE MADE CHANGES IN BETWEEN THE FIRST TO THE SECOND ONE. WE SENT IT OUT AFTER THE FIRST READING TO EACH COUNTIES -- THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION IN OUR STAFF ON ADDING THE ITEMS TO THAT BEFORE IT WENT OUT. WE DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT CHANGING THE BOARD ITEM ONCE THE OTHER ENTITIES ALREADY REVIEWED IT. THAT WILL BE REFLECTED NEXT YEAR. GREAT THING ABOUT FIVE-YEAR WORK PLAN IT IS FLUID AND CAN CHANGE THAT. YOU WILL SEE STEINBRENNER AND ALSO ALONSO ON NEXT YEAR'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

351ALSO SEE SOME OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS. TO YOUR POINT, PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL, STRAWBERRY CREST, OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE COMING. YOU'LL SEE PROJECTS IN FRONT OF YOU. TO YOUR QUESTION, ALONSO AND STEINBRENNER WILL BE ON THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY, THE CITY, PLANT CITY, TEMPLE TERRACE TO REVIEW THOSE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. FARKAS, I JUST HAD A QUESTION. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR REFERENDUM AND ITS DUE DATE IS IN I THINK FOUR YEARS AND THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR WORK PLAN. I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 3, SALES TAX REVENUE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO OR WHEN ARE WE GOING TO KNOW THE AFFORDABILITY FROM US IF WE SAY WE DO NOT GET THAT REFERENDUM PASSED AGAIN. Christopher Farkas: WELL,

352THE BOARD WILL DICTATE IF WE GO BACK OUT FOR IT. AS I'VE TOLD CITIZENS OVERSIGHT AND MY STAFF WE'RE IN A TEN-YEAR RESUMÉ. WE'RE SCHEDULED TO GO FOR THE NEXT ONE. IF -- WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK. YOUR POINT, MS. GRAY, IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO WHAT WE HAVE. WE WOULD BE IN THE SITUATION OTHER COUNTIES ARE IN. BASED ON SUPERINTENDENT APPROVAL AND BOARD APPROVAL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO THE BOARD IN 2026, BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE A GENERAL ELECTION, TO RENEW IT FOR ANOTHER PERIOD, WHATEVER THE WILL OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. BACK IN 26, SO WE'LL KNOW BEFORE IT ENDS. WORST-CASE SCENARIO,

353IF IT DOESN'T END, SOME OF OUR DEBT SERVICE COMES OFF THE BOOKS BUT IT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. VERY HARD TO REPLICATE AND COME IN WITH 170, $180 MILLION BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. ALSO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE SEEN. PAINTING BUILDINGS, DOING OTHER THINGS THAT ARE THE NORMAL THINGS DEFERRED OVER TIME. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, I BELIEVE, IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE, WE TALK ABOUT BEING COMPETITIVE WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS, BEING THE BEST CHOICE OUT THERE. PART OF THAT IS AESTHETICS AND FUNCTIONALITY AND CONDUCIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. I WELCOME THAT. IN 2026 WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND ASK FOR THAT, I THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD RESUMÉ. I ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO TO THE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT PAGE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT EVERY DOLLAR AND WHERE IT IS SPENT.

354VERY MUCH MONITORS EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND. MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE MEETING AND CAN ATTEST TO THAT. I THINK WE SET UP A RESUMÉ. LONG ANSWER TO A SHORT QUESTION. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GO BACK OUT IN 2026 TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO OUR PEOPLE. IF WE DON'T, THIS FIVE-YEAR PLAN WILL ALTER -- IT WILL IMPACT LOCAL ECONOMY AND IMPACT OUR SCHOOLS. Lynn Gray: IT WILL IMPACT THE CITY OF AND ALL THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE ARE A HUGE EMPLOYER. I'M HOPEFUL. I DEFINITELY THINK, AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES INTERIM, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A PROJECTION THOUGH IN CASE THIS HAPPENS. Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. I'LL DO THAT FOR YOU. Lynn Gray: THAT'S ONLY RIGHT. I ASKED THIS BEFORE AT THE WORKSHOP, WHAT ABOUT JUST ELEMENTARY? I KNOW

355YOU MENTIONED TO MEMBER COMBS THAT THOSE TWO SCHOOLS WILL BE ON HERE NEXT YEAR, BUT JUST ELEMENTARY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND SOME TYPE OF K-8 OR EARLY CHILDHOOD, WE DON'T HAVE IT ON HERE NOW. Christopher Farkas: WE DO NOT. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES AND I TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE WE PUT A REAL BUDGET AND NOT AN ENIGMA. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DEFINED IDEA, BOARD DISCRETION OR COMMITTEE DISCRETION, THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DO WITH THE PROPERTY AND PUT A COST TO IT. THE DOLLAR FIGURE THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH JUST WOULD BE ACCURATE FOR WHAT WE'LL ACTUALLY DO WITH THE PROPERTY. Lynn Gray: THAT'S FAIR. THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER GRAY. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES

356UNANIMOUSLY. 7.20, APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND FLORIDA COMMUNITY EVENTS, LLC AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: TAMPA IS SET TO WELCOME ITS FIRST WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM REPRESENTING A SIGNIFICANT STEP FOR THE LOCAL SPORTS SCENE. THE TEAM WILL BE PART OF THE SUPER LEAGUE IN NEWLY LAUNCHED PROFESSIONAL WOMEN SOCCER LEAGUE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN AUGUST 2024. THIS TEAM'S INAUGURAL SEASON IS PLANNED TO KICK OFF AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM. THE TEAM INITIALLY PLAY AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL FOR FIRST THREE TO FIVE SEASONS UNTIL A PERMANENT STADIUM IS CONSTRUCTED. CURRENT VENUE 1800 SEATS BUT TEAM AIMS TO EXPAND TO 5,000 SEATS AND MAKE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR UPGRADES, IMPROVEMENTS TO TURF FIELD, LOCKER ROOMS AND OTHER LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS. THE TEAM INTENDS TO COVER

357THE COST OF THE UPGRADES IN STADIUM CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT RELYING ON TAXPAYER MONEY EMPHASIZING ITS DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY. SUPER LEAGUE TAMPA BAY HAS EXPRESSED BELIEF THAT THE NEW STADIUM WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ACKNOWLEDGE THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HCPS STUDENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.20. MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER GRAY AND MYSELF, WE ALL PULLED THIS. I CAN BEGIN WITH YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S KIND OF EXCITING WHAT'S COMING OVER TO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND SPEAK TO THE PERTAIN APPROXIMATELY, MRS. NEWTON, AND SHE

358WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT HAVING A PRO WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM THERE AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS. WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF BACKING OVER THERE FOR THE SOCCER FIELD TO BE CHANGED. WE HAVE THE CRA WHICH IS JOE ROBINSON AND THEIR GROUP. THEY ARE BEHIND IT 100%. WE ALSO HAVE THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FROM BLAKE, AND THEY ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR IT, TOO. THE STADIUM IS GOING TO IMPROVE FROM 1800 TO UP TO 5,000 SEATS. WITH NO COST TO THE COUNTY. THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BUILD A STAGE AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL FOR PERFORMANCES OUT AT THE STADIUM. THEY ARE GOING TO UP -- THEY ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THE LOCKER ROOMS, MAKE IT REALLY NICE LOCKER ROOM FOR THE TEAM TO PLAY. ALSO UPGRADE THE RESTROOM AREAS. THEY ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL

359NOW TO MAKE IT REAL, REAL -- MAKING SOME CHANGES UP FRONT. SO THEY ARE DOING A LOT OVER AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO REALLY BE GREAT FOR BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL IN AN UPROAR. THE KIDS ARE EXCITED. EVERYBODY IS EXCITED. WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO DO AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND PLUS THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THE UPKEEP OF THE STADIUM. UPKEEP OF THE STADIUM IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN THEY PLAY GAMES, WHEN THEY PLAY THE GAMES, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP -- WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STADIUM. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE OUR KIDS OUT THERE TO PLAY AND THEY KEEP THE UPKEEP. I THINK THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY

360GIVING US A LOT. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THE PRINCIPAL IS HAPPY, THE KIDS ARE HAPPY. THE COMMUNITY IS HAPPY. JOE ROBINSON IS HAPPY. SO I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING GOING PRETTY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, I'M SORRY, MEMBER GRAY WAS NEXT BECAUSE SHE PULLED THE ITEM. Lynn Gray: WHEN WE LOOK AT A CONTRACT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERY DETAIL PUT INTO IT. AND, YES, MEMBER WASHINGTON, MS. NEWTON IS EXCITED. THE COMMUNITY IS EXCITED. IT'S SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE ALL EXCITED. HOWEVER, LOOKING AT A CONTRACT THAT DOES NOT SPELL OUT ACTUAL MAINTENANCE TERMS, HOW WILL WE SUSTAIN THE GROUNDS? HOW WILL WE SUSTAIN SAY THE RESTROOMS? WHAT TYPE OF FOOD SALES WILL GO ON. THE DETAILS OF A CONTRACT

361SEEM TO BE VERY LITTLE. I WOULD FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE IF IT WAS MUCH MORE DETAILED ON EVERY SPACE. NOW I'M NOT A LEGAL EXPERT AND I DON'T PRETEND TO BE, BY GOLLY, WE'VE HAD MANY CONTRACTS GO THROUGH HERE AS A SCHOOL BOARD AND DETAILS WERE A LOT MORE PLENTIFUL. BUT LET ME GET BACK TO SOMETHING ELSE. IF THIS PROPERTY HAS A VALUE OF 30 TO 50 MILLION DOLLARS, HAVE WE LOOKED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN MORE MONEY FROM THIS OTHER THAN THE USAGE. I KNOW 12 TIMES THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE AND THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND UTILIZE IT. BUT WHAT ABOUT PARKING, LIKE AT JESUIT, WE HAVE THE DAD'S CLUB, WE GAIN MONEY FOR PARKING. WHAT OTHER IDEAS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN GAINING MORE REVENUE FROM THIS SITUATION. AGAIN, THINK ABOUT,

362THIS PROPERTY IS LIKE GOLD. 50 MILLION POSSIBLE. AND I WOULD HATE FOR US TO NOT GET THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK, IF YOU WILL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, BUT I'M BRINGING IT OUT RIGHT NOW. Christopher Farkas: HAPPY TO RESPOND TO IT AND SUPERINTENDENT FEEL FREE TO REACH IN. WE'RE NOT GIVING UP THE PROPERTY. STILL OUR PROPERTY. NOT SELLING THE PROPERTY. THAT HAPPENS NOT ON THE TABLE. IT IS FOR USE 12 TIMES. THE CONTRACT CLEARLY STATES THAT IT'S OUR DISCRETION. HEY, WE HAVE A DISCRETION IN 30 DAYS TO END THE CONTRACT. WE ALSO HAVE THE DISCRETION WHERE IT'S OUR CHOICE WHEN THEY USE IT AND HOW THEY USE IT. A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES. ALL THEY SAY IS THEY HAVE THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL. AGAIN IN THE CONTRACT IT SAYS

363THEY'LL GIVE US THEIR GAME SCHEDULE. IT ALSO SAYS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE APPROVE ALL THE UPGRADES. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER CONTRACTS THAT ARE SIMILAR WHERE THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CONTRACTS WHERE INSTEAD OF RENTAL, THEY DO UPKEEP OF THE FIELD. MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS THAT. MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS A SOCCER LEAGUE WHERE THEY PROVIDE LIGHTS AND CUT THE GRASS AND DO THAT. MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL, LACROSSE TEAM. SAME THING. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE DOING A HUGE UPGRADE TO THE FACILITY IN RETURN FOR RENTAL. WHEN WE RENT TO A CONCERT, SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, MANY OF THE ITEMS WE RENT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE RENT THE FACILITY AND THEY GET TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO DO TICKET SALES, COST, CHURCHES,

364ANYTHING WE DO, ONCE THEY RENT THE FACILITY, THEIR FACILITY FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. HOW THEY DO PARKING, HOW THEY DO THE CONCESSIONS, HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE FOR THE 5,000 SEATS TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN UP TO THE RENTER. AND WE'RE TRADING THE RENTAL FOR THE UPGRADES TO THE STADIUM WHICH AGAIN IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED. WE'VE DONE THAT A FEW OTHER TIMES. NO, WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT COST OF PARKING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WITH THEM. THE AMOUNT OF UPGRADES TO THE STADIUM, EVEN IF THEY JUST DID THE BLEACHERS AND DIDN'T DO THE THINGS THAT BOARD MEMBER WASHINGTON TALKED ABOUT, THE RENTAL COST FOR OUR FIELDS ARE $100 AN HOUR WITH A FOUR-HOUR MINIMUM. EVEN IF THEY HAD IT ALL DAY LONG, 800 TO THOUSAND DOLLAR RENTAL FEE TO DO THAT. 12 GAMES, ABOUT $12,000 A YEAR. THE UPGRADES

365THEY HAVE FAR OUTWEIGH THE COST OF THE RENTAL. WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR BOTH SIDES. THEY GET A GREAT PLACE TO PLAY. AWESOME LOCATION ON THE WATER. IN RETURN, FACILITY UPGRADES FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME THAT BENEFIT THE SCHOOL AND LONG-TERM THE KIDS AT THE SCHOOL. WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER DETAILS BECAUSE THAT'S TRADITIONALLY NOT HOW THE BOARD APPROACHED RENTAL AGREEMENTS OR MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH OUTSIDE ENTITIES USING OUR FACILITIES. Lynn Gray: I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER. TWO THINGS HAVE COME UP. NUMBER ONE, FIRST THING IS WHO IS DOING THE OVERSIGHT? HOW ARE WE MAINTAINING EYES ON THIS OPERATION? IS IT YOU, MR. FARKAS? IS IT R JOHNSON, THE CFO? Christopher Farkas: ALL CONSTRUCTION UPGRADES WILL BE DONE. BECAUSE IT IS OUR FACILITY, OUR BUILDING CODE INSPECTOR, SCOTT

366ANDERSON, LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR OUR DISTRICT WILL BE THE PERSON THAT OVERSEES ALL THE UPGRADES. HE HAS TO SIGN OFF ON EVERY SINGLE THING. THE ACTUAL WORK AT THE SCHOOL APPROVED BY ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES. THE WORK AND THE CHECK THAT INCLUDES INSPECTIONS OF WHAT THEY DO, APPROVAL OF THE DESIGN, ALL THOSE THINGS. THAT WILL BE DONE FOR THE ACTUAL SUBSTANTIAL STUFF. WHEN IT COMES TIME TO THE ACTUAL GAME TIME, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS LEAVING THE WAY THEY FOUND IT, CLEANUP, ALL THAT PART OF IT. WHILE THE FINAL DETAILS HAVEN'T WORKED OUT, MY ASSUMPTION HIRE A CUSTODIAN -- CHECK ON THE FACILITY TO MAKE SURE. MOST OF OUR FOOTBALL GAMES ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, MAKING SURE WE HIRE A CUSTODIAN TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEANED UP BEFORE THEY LEAVE SO IT IS

367READY ON MONDAY MORNING. SAME THING HERE, BLAKE COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE IT'S CLEAN. CONSTRUCTION DONE BY THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT, SCHOOL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THEY HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN FOR MAKING SURE IT IS CLEAN AND GOOD FACILITY FOR THEM TO COME BACK TO ON A MONDAY. Lynn Gray: SHOULDN'T THAT BE PUT INTO THE CONTRACT? IN OTHER WORDS THE OBLIGATIONS, SHOULDN'T THAT BE SPELLED OUT AND APPROVED BEFORE WE SAY, WELL, IN THE FUTURE THE SCHOOL OR THE PRINCIPAL WILL WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE VARIED PRINCIPALS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON, SHOULDN'T WE BE MUCH MORE CAREFUL AND PRECISE AND ENVELOPE ANY POSSIBILITY WITHIN THIS CONTRACT. YOU KNOW CONTRACTS AND YOU KNOW WHAT CAN GO WRONG AND WHAT CAN GO RIGHT. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE

368DEVIL'S -- THE BAD NEWS, DEBBIE DOWNER, BUT THIS IS A BIG OPERATION. Christopher Farkas: I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY AND I WELCOME THE CONVERSATION AS PART OF YOUR ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER. I THINK IN ARTICLE III, WHICH IS ON THE PAGE 2 OF THE DOCUMENT IS WHERE WE COVER IT, WHICH SAYS ALL COSTS OF SERVICES WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROVIDER. SO ANYTHING THAT'S DONE THAT WILL MAKE SURE THIS PLACE IS CLEAN, TO MAKE SURE ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THE SOCCER TEAM, THAT ENTITY HAS TO PAY FOR THE COSTS. ANYTHING THAT IMPACTS THE SCHOOL, THEY PAY THOSE COSTS TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE. NOT BE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR HOLDING THOSE EVENTS. Lynn Gray: THE POINT IS, DON'T WANT TO BELABOR IT, MR. GIBSON IF YOU'RE WRITING THIS LEGAL CONTRACT, I WOULD LIKE FOR SOME

369OF THE WORDS THAT WE'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW TO BE PUT IN THERE. I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER AND MR. FARKAS WILL ALSO. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND THE SCOPE IS VERY LARGE. THIS IS NEW FOR US AND THIS IS A NEW COMPANY. IT'S NOT BEEN TESTED THIS SPECIFIC SPORT. I THINK THEY ARE LOCATED IN MIAMI, NOT SURE. WE HAVE NOT DEALT WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE. ANYWAY, CAUTION BUT EXCITEMENT. CAUTIOUS EXCITEMENT. Christopher Farkas: ONE QUICK RESPONSE. IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONTRACT, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEY ARE A LOCAL COMPANY AND THE OWNERS ARE HERE IN TAMPA. IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK, WE HAVE A 30 DAY OUT IN THE CONTRACT. COME IN THE FIRST DAY AND THEY ARE NOT COVERING THE COST OR SOMETHING NOT GOING

370THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO, SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS 30 DAY OUT WITH NO COST TO EITHER SIDE. IF THEY HAVE DONE UPGRADES AND WE KICK THEM UP, IN THEORY WE KEEP THE UPGRADE. Lynn Gray: I WANT TO THANK MR. FARKAS FOR BEING COMPREHENSIVE ON THIS AND ANSWERING AND KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ALSO BE LOOKING AT THIS AS TIME GOES ON. IN SOCCER, WOMEN'S SOCCER, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, RIGHT? I'LL WAIVE MY TIME TO OUR NEXT BOARD MEMBER WHO MIGHT HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY AS WELL. THANKS. Nadia Combs: BOARD MEMBER SHAKE, LYNN AND I PULLED IT. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF HAVING WOMEN'S SOCCER AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE IDEA OF THAT. THAT'S VERY EXCITING. I WORK ON BEHALF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC

371SCHOOLS AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK I WAS ELECTED IS BECAUSE OF MY BUSINESS AND MY EDUCATION BACKGROUND AND LOOKING AT A BUSINESS AND LOOKING AT CONTRACTS, EVERY CONTRACT THAT COMES BEFORE ME, I LOOK AT THIS VERY CLEARLY. TO ME, THIS CONTRACT, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT AND I 100 SUPPORT THE CONCEPT, THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT ARE JUST HORRIBLE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING FISCAL STEWARDS AND BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, I SEE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SHINY PENNY. WE'RE A $4 BILLION ENTITY. WE BUILD STADIUMS. WE BUILD $150 MILLION SCHOOLS. WE DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS. THIS IS PRIME PROPERTY. THE FLORIDA COMMUNITY EVENTS, THEY LOOKED EVERYWHERE. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH. THEY WENT TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY. THIS WAS THEIR REALLY FINAL OPTION. TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RIVER WALK, WHAT

372ARE THEY GOING TO PROFIT ON? THEY ARE GOING TO PROFIT ON THE PARKING. I CAN'T IMAGINE. TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD MAKES SO MUCH MONEY JUST FROM BEING LOCATED TO THE STADIUM. SO WE ARE OPTING OUT ON GETTING ANY FINANCIAL MONEY FOR PARKING. WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY PERCENTAGE OF THE TICKET SALES. WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY CONCESSIONS. WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY MERCHANDISE. THEY ARE BUILDING A BRAND. THERE'S GOING TO BE SPONSORSHIP THERE ON THEIR BOARDS AND THEY WILL BE BENEFITING FROM ALL OF THAT. THE YMCA JUST DOWN THE ROAD NEGOTIATED ON OVER $600 MILLION DEAL BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS AWAY FOR A FIELD AND SOME LOCKERS. IT'S SO SHORTSIGHTED. IN ADDITION, ONCE THIS IS DONE WITH THE CONTRACT, JUST LIKE YOU LOOK AT THESE BIG STADIUMS FROM THE OLYMPICS, ONCE THEY ARE GONE, I DON'T SEE

373IN THE CONTRACT ANYTHING ABOUT REPLACING THESE BLEACHERS, UPKEEP OF THE MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE OF THE FIELD. IS THERE GOING TO BE ALCOHOL SERVED RIGHT THERE? YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OUR DISTRICT IS NEGOTIATING. WE TALK ABOUT BEING FISCAL STEWARDS AND BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND NOT ASKING TAXPAYERS AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ACCESS TO A FIELD WITH A CONTRACT THAT'S LIKE FOUR PAGES LONG THAT HAS NO CLARITY ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS. THIS COULD BE A MONEY PIT ONCE WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLEACHERS. THIS IS ACCESS TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT AND MAKE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING SOME OF THAT MONEY AND PUTTING IT BACK INTO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL? OFFERING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, HELPING FAMILIES THAT ARE IN BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL THAT MIGHT BE FINANCIALLY IMPACTED, MAKING SURE

374THOSE STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE UNIFORMS OR WHO DON'T HAVE THINGS ARE BENEFITING. WE ARE LOOKING SO SHORTSIGHTED ON THESE CONTRACTS. FOR ME, WITH MY BUSINESS BACKGROUND, THIS IS WHAT I'M HERE FOR, TO MAKE SURE WE STOP GIVING THINGS AWAY AND WE START MAKING MONEY ON ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES AND ALL OF OUR ASSETS. I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS CONTRACT SOONER AND I WILL MAKE A MOTION, BUT I WILL LET MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS SPEAK FIRST. THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. FIRST LET ME SAY THAT THE OWNERS OF THIS TEAM ARE LOCAL. THEY GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY. THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. WE JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION THAT'S FROM OUT OF TOWN. THE OWNERS OF THIS TEAM WHO ARE BRINGING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO

375US ARE LOCAL MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. THAT'S WHAT AN MOU IS. IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PARTNERS. IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN A CONTRACT BETWEEN A CURRICULUM COMPANY. THIS IS GOING TO BRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UPGRADES. PROGRAMS, UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FEMALE AND MINORITY STUDENTS, AND IT'S A WIN-WIN. IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR BOTH BLAKE AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ROOM FOR GREED IN A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, AND I'M JUST CONFUSED WITH SOME OF MY BOARD MEMBERS. THIS WILL BRING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES INTO OUR DISTRICT. AND IT'S GOING TO DIRECTLY IMPACT SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS. THIS IS GOOD. LIKE, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO

376COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, LET'S DO A PARTNERSHIP, AND WE EACH GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. AND NOW YOU WANT TO IMPOSE MORE ON SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AND MINORITIES. AND YOU WANT TO DO IT ALL IN THE NAME OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. READY TO SUPPORT A REFERENDUM WITH NO PLAN FOR SPENDING, AND YOU THINK THAT THIS IS NOW A POINT TONIGHT WHERE YOU WANT TO DEMONSTRATE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I'M SORRY. I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THE RATIONALE. I'M SUPPORTING THIS. THIS IS A GOOD PARTNERSHIP. I HOPE WE CAN ATTRACT OTHER PARTNERS TO THIS COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO WORK WITH US AROUND THESE REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES. I'M SORRY, BUT I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. I THINK THIS IS A POSITIVE THING. I AGREE WITH MEMBER WASHINGTON. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK

377YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER AGENCIES THAT TURNED THIS PROPOSITION AWAY BEFORE IT CAME TO US. SO I, LIKE SEVERAL OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LIABILITY? I HEARD WORD ON THE STREET IS THEY WANTED TO HIRE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS TO WORK IN THE PARKING LOT. SO WHO, IF ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS GOT INJURED, WHO WOULD BE HOLDING THE LIABILITY FOR THESE STUDENTS? Christopher Farkas: ON PAGE THREE, UNDER INDEMNIFICATION, THEY HOLD THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EVENTS WHILE THEY ARE THERE. THEY HOLD US -- INDEMNIFY, WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE -- IF OUR KIDS ARE WORKING FOR THEM, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CHILDREN. Karen Perez: PARENTS WILL COME AFTER US FIRST. Christopher Farkas: [INAUDIBLE] CLEARLY IN

378THE CONTRACT -- [INAUDIBLE] Karen Perez: DO WE HAVE LIKE AN IDEA WHAT THE TOTAL OF REVENUE PER GAME THAT THEY WOULD BE RECEIVING? Christopher Farkas: DOLLAR FIGURE IS ABOUT $4 MILLION, THE ESTIMATE FOR WHAT THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE COMMITTING THAT NUMBER. THE PRESEASON TICKET SALES PRICE ONLINE IS $24 OR 20 DOLLARS ROUGHLY. SO THEY HAVE 5,000 SEATS. SO THE MATH ON THAT IS PRETTY SIMPLE ON HOW MUCH MONEY, IF THEY SOLD OUT EVERY SINGLE GAME, ROWDIES AVERAGED OVER 5,000 PEOPLE AT THEIR GAMES. 20, 24 DOLLARS A TICKET, I'M SURE THEY HAVE PROJECTIONS OF WHAT THE SALES OR PARKING WOULD BE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY ARE CHARGING FOR PARKING. THAT'S NOT A CONVERSATION WE HAVE WHICH WE TRADITIONALLY DON'T DO WHEN RENTING OUT FACILITIES. Karen Perez: WHAT WILL HAPPEN

379WHEN THE LEASE ENDS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE REMOVAL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAYBE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS DECIDES THAT THEY DON'T WANT. Christopher Farkas: ONCE THEY PUT THE ITEMS THERE, IF THEY DECIDE THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE, WE CAN DECIDE IF WE WANT TO KEEP THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OR GET RID OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S OURS. IF WE KICK THEM OUT. OR IF THEY STAY AS LONG AS THEY CAN, WE KEEP THAT. IT'S UP TO US. IT'S OUR ITEMS. ONCE THEY DONATE THAT $4 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE IT BECOMES HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPERTY. Karen Perez: WHAT WAS THE PRICE TAG IF WE NEED TO REMOVE IT? Christopher Farkas: WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN DEMOLITION ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE SEATS, BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR THE BOARD. Karen Perez: IF YOU DON'T MIND.

380NEW SCOREBOARDS, WHO WILL BE MAINTAINING THE YEARLY AGREEMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW SCOREBOARDS, ESPECIALLY THE UPKEEP FOR THE TECHNOLOGY? WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? Christopher Farkas: TRADITIONALLY COME WITH A WARRANTY. THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US THE SPECIFICATION FOR THIS ONE TOO. JUST AS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCOREBOARDS, IT WILL BE OUR PROPERTY AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING IT. WE HAVE NEW SCOREBOARDS WITH VIDEO SCREENS AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL AND IN GYMS, IT WILL BE A SIMILAR SCOREBOARD BUT BIGGER. Karen Perez: WILL ALCOHOL BE SOLD? Christopher Farkas: I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. Karen Perez: IF IT IS, WILL THEY BE HOLDING THE LICENSE? Christopher Farkas: IT'S AGAINST DISTRICT POLICY FOR THE SCHOOL -- AGAINST DISTRICT POLICY FOR US TO HOLD IT. WE'RE IN THE ALLOWED TO SELL IT. IT IS A

381DISTRICT BOARD POLICY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEP RES. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I AM NOT SURPRISED THERE IS SO MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN QUITE A FEW CALLS BOTH IN FAVOR AND WITH SOME CONCERN. SO I CAN SEE SOME CONCERNS AND I ALSO SEE WHY THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THING. I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. ONE, I WOULD ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE CONTRACT. SO I'M NOT SURPRISED SOME OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. IN THE CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY, IF EITHER ONE OF US, EITHER ONE PARTY DECIDE THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK FOR US, WHAT IS THE CLAUSE FOR GETTING OUT OF THE CONTRACT? Christopher Farkas: IT IS 30 DAYS. I'LL FIND IT IN THE CONTRACT. Jessica Vaughn:

382THAT'S FOR BOTH OF US. 30 DAYS. DOES THAT MEAN THEY COULD WALK AWAY MID BUILD? Christopher Farkas: IN THEORY, YES. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. THAT'S CONCERNING. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME DEDICATION TO COMPLETION BEFORE WE ENTER INTO THIS CONTRACT. NUMBER TWO, ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO SELL ALCOHOL AT THIS GAME? Christopher Farkas: THAT WON'T BE OUR CALL. ONCE WE RENT THE FACILITY, WE WOULDN'T GIVE THE PERMIT, THE CITY OF OF TAMPA -- Jim Porter: THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY DOESN'T ALLOW US TO SEEK AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE USE PERMIT FOR OUR PROPERTY. IF THEY DID IT ON THEIR OWN, THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE DISCUSSION. Jessica Vaughn: OTHER SCHOOLS THEY HAVE GIVEN PERMITS WHERE -- Christopher Farkas: EVENTS WHERE ALCOHOL ON PREMISES. VIETNAMESE THING AT WEB, THEY SERVED ALCOHOL. Jessica Vaughn:

383WHAT ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR VERSUS THE LEAGUE'S CALENDAR. WHAT TAKES PRECEDENCE IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PLANNED ON THE SAME DATE? Christopher Farkas: 100% US. WE HAVE PRECEDENT OVER THAT. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET OUR CALENDAR FIRST. THEY WILL GIVE US THE CALENDAR UP FRONT OF WHAT THE DATES ARE OF THE HOME GAMES. IF -- AGAIN, IT IS A SATURDAY. NOT A LOT OF SATURDAY EVENTS THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE ON THAT FIELD RIGHT NOW. BUT WE HAVE PRECEDENT. IT'S OUR FIELD FIRST. Jim Porter: BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE, IT SPELLS IT OUT. HOWEVER, THE RIGHT TO USE THE SITE DESIGNATED BY THE SCHOOL MAY BE DENIED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SOLE DISCRETION SUCH USE INTERFERE WITH CONDUCT OR OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: I LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION

384SO PEOPLE AT HOME WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY WATCHING THIS CAN SEE IT. ALSO I HAD CONFLICTING INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO WHETHER OTHER EVENTS BE ALLOWED BY THE VENDOR THEMSELVES AT THIS SITE. ARE THEY ALLOWED TO HAVE CONCERTS OR HOST OTHER EVENTS OR ONLY ALLOWED TO HOST THE 12 GAMES THAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD HOST THERE? Christopher Farkas: I BELIEVE 12 GAMES. NO, NO OTHER AGREEMENTS -- ONLY CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD IS ABOUT PROFESSIONAL SOCCERS GAMES. Jessica Vaughn: WHEN YOU SAY WE, DO YOU MEAN YOU, THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHO IS WE? Christopher Farkas: WE IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT. SO -- Jessica Vaughn: IF THEY WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER EVENT, IT WOULD COME BEFORE THE BOARD. Christopher Farkas: UNLESS IT COMES TO US, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

385HONEST ANSWER, WE'VE HAD ZERO CONVERSATION ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN SOCCER HAPPENING AT THAT FIELD. Jessica Vaughn: I HEARD MEMBER WASHINGTON TALK ABOUT THE UPGRADES, THE THEATER WHICH I HEARD COMING. I THINK YOU MENTIONED THE LOCKER ROOM. IS THAT SEPARATE FROM THIS CONTRACT AND SOMETHING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS INVESTING IN SOLITARILY OR IS THIS CONNECTED TO THIS CONTRACT. Christopher Farkas: IT IS THE CONTRACT. IT'S WHAT THE SOCCER TEAM IS GOING TO DO TO IMPROVE THE FACILITIES. Jessica Vaughn: WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE THEATER -- Christopher Farkas: THEY MET WITH PRINCIPAL NEWTON WHO SAID WE REALLY NEED AN OUTDOOR THEATER. WE NEED A PLACE FOR PERFORMING ART KIDS TO PERFORM. THEY AGREED TO BUILD. THAT SAID, ALSO A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE FOR THE INTERNAL THEATER, WHICH ALREADY EXISTS CURRENTLY THERE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THAT'S

386HAD A RENOVATION. SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A RENOVATION OF THEIR PERFORMING ARTS FACILITIES THAT IS TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THIS CONTRACT. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY. AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT UNFORTUNATELY I THINK A LOT OF THIS -- THESE QUESTIONS STEMS FROM A LACK OF TRUST OF A PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WITH THE DECISIONS THAT WE MADE AROUND JUST, WHETHER THEY WERE JUST IDENTIFY OR NOT, THEY LOST A LOT OF TRUST WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THERE ARE MEMBERS WHO ARE STILL CONCERNED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS OVER VERY VALUABLE LAND WHERE THERE ARE RUMORS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO SELL OFF THOSE PIECES OF LAND, OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN TRUST OR NOT. AND

387I THINK IT IS A SYMPTOM, AS WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT, BUILDING THRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY OR NOT, THAT WE STILL HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF BUILDING TRUST WITH THAT COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY. I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS. I'M GOING TO KIND OF SIT BACK. THERE IS A LOT IN THE QUEUE AND SEE WHAT MY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SAY. Christopher Farkas: JUST AS A REMINDER, ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY WE WOULD SELL, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD COME TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE TO DECLARE IT SURPLUS AND THEN APPROVE ANY SALE OF ANY PROPERTY IN THIS DISTRICT. Nadia Combs: MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUBLICLY REMIND OUR PUBLIC THAT WE AS A BOARD COLLECTIVELY STATED THAT WE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF SELLING ANY SCHOOLS. AND I THINK

388THAT'S CRITICAL TO GO ON THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE WE REMIND THIS PUBLIC THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. I DO THINK THERE IS A BALANCE BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS. I THINK IT'S ALSO KNOWN THAT I KNOW THIS IS A LARGE ENTITY, BRINGING IN A LOT OF MONEY, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO INVEST. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT -- I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT AN EXPERIMENT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A NEW LEAGUE. AND JUST LIKE THE MEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT DIDN'T JUST KICK-START RIGHT AWAY. THERE WAS SOME TIME TO BUILD. THERE WAS SOME TIME THAT BROUGHT IN THE PUBLIC FOR THAT. THE SAME THING IS GOING TO GO WITH A BRAND-NEW WOMEN'S SPORTS LEAGUE. WMBA WAS THE SAME WAY.

389THEY WEREN'T SELLING OUT GAMES THE FIRST TWO YEARS. THEY WEREN'T BUILDING -- THEY WERE BUILDING A FAN BASE. THEY WERE BUILDING UP A NETWORK. WE'RE VERY LUCKY RIGHT NOW THAT SOCCER IS VERY LARGE WITHIN OUR FEMALE COMMUNITIES, OF OUR TEENAGERS AND OUR YOUTH, BUT THAT DOESN'T EQUATE ALWAYS TO HAVING THAT IN A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE. THE ROWDIES IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM. HAVE A GREAT PRACTICE FACILITY IN HILLSBOROUGH. THEY HAVE A GREAT FACILITY RIGHT THERE ON THE WATER OF THE BAY. BUT, AGAIN, THEY HAVE 5,000 SEATS THAT THEY ARE FILLING OUT. THIS IS PROFESSIONAL SOCCER WHERE YOU HIT MIAMI OR YOU HIT PORTLAND, OREGON, 20, 30 THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THOSE STADIUMS. SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MUCH HIGHER ANTICIPATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE SELL OUT AND THEY ARE

390ALL GOING TO MAKE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I THINK THERE IS A RISK THAT GOES INTO THAT OTHER SIDE. THE COMPANY THAT'S COMING IN ON THIS. I AM GLAD THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO AT LEAST PUT IN ALL THE UPGRADES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M EXCITED FOR BLAKE FOR THAT. I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY FROM THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ART SCHOOL AND THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOME SPORTS IN THAT SCHOOL AND FEMALE SPORTS IN AN ART SCHOOL I THINK IS REALLY UNIQUE AND VERY SPECIAL. BUT I DO THINK THAT I LIKE THE AGREEMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO KIND OF BRING BACK TO THE BOARD SOME STATUS OF THAT. IF IT'S POSSIBLE COULD WE GIVE THE BOARD A 90 DAY UPGRADE ON THE FINALIZATION OF THIS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT. Christopher Farkas:

391100%. MORE THAN HAPPY. CONCEPTUAL WHAT'S APPROVED TO THE CONSTRUCTION, INFORMATION ITEM, I WILL BE HAPPY TO KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. JUST ONE THING THAT YOU SAID, MS. RENDON I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON. IF THEY SOLD OUT ALL 5,000 SEATS AT $20 A POP, $100,000. THAT IS NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE TO MAKE MONEY. THIS ISN'T A CASH COW FROM THAT STANDPOINT, TOO, EVEN IF THEY SELL OUT EVERY SINGLE GAME. Patti Rendon: THERE WILL BE MORE REVENUES AND I'M HOPING EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND BUILDS FROM THERE. AND THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL. NO ONE IS -- LIKE A PROFESSIONAL SPORT NOT TO, AND I WANT TO SEE WOMEN'S SPORTS ELEVATED. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT PART. THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS AS WE'RE TALKING,

392BECAUSE I KNOW AS THEY MADE THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE EVEN ACCOUNTANT TAMPA, ONE OF THE THINGS THIS LEAGUE WANTS TO DO IS TO DO MUCH MORE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING IN CAMPS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ROWDIES DO, CAMPS WITH THE YOUTH AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO USE THIS STADIUM OR PRACTICE FACILITY BUILT THAT THEY WILL BE DOING SOME OF THAT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PRIOR TO? Christopher Farkas: WITH OUR PERMISSION. AGAIN, WE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO DECIDE TO HAVE A PRACTICE FACILITY. I ASSUME JOINT PRACTICES WITH OUR KIDS, IT WOULD BE APT THEIR PRACTICE FACILITY. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO SUPPORT, THEY HAVE TO COME TO US. IT IS OUR CALL. THEY CAN'T JUST USE OUR FACILITY TO DO THAT. SO IT WOULD BE OUR CALL WHETHER

393THEY DID THAT. WE'D LOVE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. LOVE FOR OUR KIDS TO PLAY WITH A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM AND OUR GIRLS DO THAT, NOT JUST AT BLAKE BUT ALL OUR SCHOOLS TO GROW THAT SPORT. Patti Rendon: I KNOW THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND INTEGRATE MORE OF THE GIRL SPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND LIKE I SAID, THE ROWDIES ARE DOING IT NOW, I WAS OUT THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THEY HAVE GOT YOUTH OUT THERE PLAYING IN THEIR PRACTICE FACILITIES. I'M EXCITED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN TO BLAKE IN OUR AREA, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I KNOW PRACTICE FACILITY IS GOING TO BE DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AT BLAKE. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT

394TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAVE ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT, WE WANT TO MAKE THIS A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, NOT JUST FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE FACILITIES, BUT MOVING FORWARD. Christopher Farkas: WELL, THEY HAVE SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO WANTING TO DO THAT. I THINK IT'S FAIR WHAT YOU ASK. Patti Rendon: IT IS AN AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T HAVE THE -- IT'S KIND OF OR AT LEAST WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS AND THEY ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ARE COMING. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WITHIN 90 DAYS AND BEFORE WE MAKE ANY FINAL COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE THE DETAILS TO THE BOARD SO THEY'VE GOT AN UNDERSTANDING AND WE MAKE SURE THAT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT ALLOWS THE BOARD TO GIVE YOU THE PERMISSION TO TAKE THIS AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GAINING

395THE DETAILS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU. Christopher Farkas: PERFECTLY REASONABLE. Nadia Combs: MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW, MR. FARKAS. AND THERE IS AN ANALOGY EVEN WHEN WE HAD THE MILLAGE DISCUSSION, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WEREN'T ANSWERED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BUT THERE IS A SENSE OF NOT BEING READY TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS HAPPENING AROUND THIS, IT'S A GREAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S NO QUESTION, BUT WE CAN'T BE BLINDED BY THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE PARTNERSHIP IN THE FACE OF HAVING NOT ENOUGH DETAILS. P HAD. WE HAD ONE SIDE. WE HAD THE FLORIDA COMMUNITY EVENTS. IF WE TALK ABOUT A PARTNERSHIP THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE PERSONAL, PERSONALITY, IT'S MUCH MORE CLOSE. I'D LIKE

396TO SEE WHAT ARE THEIR EXPECTATIONS. I'D LIKE TO ALSO KNOW THAT ARE WE MEETING, AND THIS WOULD GO TO OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. HAVE WE MET WITH THIS GROUP ONE ON ONE. HAS THIS BEEN DISCUSSED? I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE. IT DID COME FROM LAST WEEK, AND I THINK WE'RE VERY EXCITED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON HERE. LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN JUST MENTIONED, WELL, WHAT IF THEY WALK AWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR CONTRACT. I KNOW WE CAN DO THINGS WITHIN 30 DAYS, BUT DON'T YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE SCRUTINY AND A LOT MORE DETAILS BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THIS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE -- AND I KNOW OUR PROPERTY WE DECIDE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY AND VALUE WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING

397ABOUT. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT 30 MILLION THAT WE HAVE, OR 50 MILLION, AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE, BUT THERE'S QUESTIONS AS TO THE THOROUGHNESS OF THIS PARTICULAR MOU. SO I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT HAVING A MUCH MORE IN DETAIL, MR. GIBSON, A CONTRACT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE FROM US. IT'S A PARTNERSHIP. SHOULD GO BOTH WAYS. MR. FARKAS, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT? Christopher Farkas: A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD SAY. IF YOU'RE BY BLAKE ON SATURDAY IT IS A BLANK FIELD. AND I THINK THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE -- OUR GIVE AWAY IS SOMETHING LARGE. I DON'T THINK OUR GIVE AWAY IS SOMETHING LARGE. I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE HAD. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY I HEAR THE CONVERSATION ABOUT

398DETAILS AROUND THAT. I GUESS I'M ALSO GOING ON PRECEDENT OF WHAT THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED. THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED AGREEMENTS AND MOUs WITH LOCAL AGENCIES, SOCCER CLUBS HERE THAT WE'VE GIVEN FREE RENTAL TO WITH A LOT LESS DETAIL AND WITH A WHOLE LOT LESS OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR OUR DISTRICT. AND WE'VE GIVEN THEM SPOT. MADISON AND MONROE AS EXAMPLE. MADISON AND MONROE ARE IN SOUTH TAMPA WHERE THERE'S NO LAND WHATSOEVER. WE COULD SELL THE LAND OFF TO RUN SOCCER LEAGUES OR DO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT WE DON'T. WE GIVE THAT AWAY FOR FREE AND HAVE DONE THAT FOR YEARS AS AGREEMENT FOR THEM TAKING CARE OF THINGS. I SAW THIS AS LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE IS A VALUE ADDED TO IT. WHEN THE TEAM LEAVES THE MONROE FIELD, THERE ARE LIGHTS THERE

399BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT LEFT. MADISON, LACROSSE TEAM, NOTHING LEFT THERE. THAT AGREEMENT DIES. WITH THIS THERE IS A SUSTAIABLE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD. WE'VE HAD TONS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT EXPECTATIONS ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. THE NARRATIVE THAT EVERYONE ELSE TURN THEM AWAY IS ALSO NOT ACCURATE BASED ON INFORMATION THAT I HAVE. THEY WANTED TO BE IN TAMPA. THEY WANTED TO BE IN THE CORE. SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT NARRATIVE CAME FROM, THE INFORMATION WE GOT, THAT'S NOT AN ACCURATE NARRATIVE. THEY HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO, AND THEY COULD PLAY AT OTHER FIELDS. BUT THEY WANTED TO BE IN THE CORE. WANTED TO BE IN THE CITY CENTER OF TAMPA AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE IN WEST TAMPA AND THAT'S WHY YOU HEAR

400THE PRESIDENT OF THE WEST TAMPA CRA COME AND SUPPORT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD FOR THAT COMMUNITY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. I'M STILL ON THE FENCE SO TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS IS RUSHED. AND WHEN YOU SAY THE TABLE IS NOT SET, I FEEL LIKE THE TABLE IS NOT SET FOR THIS EITHER. THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. I REMEMBER I THINK A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I SAW THE NEWS AND IT SAID THIS SOCCER LEAGUE IS GOING TO BE AT BLAKE AND I THOUGHT WE HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT IT. WE HAVEN'T EVEN VOTED ON IT. THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO ENGAGE. I MEAN, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL PROFIT FOR THEM MAKING?

401WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL PROFIT THAT WE'RE LOSING OUT ON AT LEAST SOMETHING LIKE PARKING, RIGHT? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN THERE IS A DEINSTRUCTION OR SOMEBODY CLIMBS OVER THE FENCE AND DESTROYS SOMETHING AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL? WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S ALCOHOL? WHEN DOES THE CONTRACT START? WHEN DOES THE CONTRACT END? IS, I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS VERY RUSHED. THIS IS SETTING A PRECEDENT WHERE I THINK THIS IS PRIME REAL ESTATE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONING IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT IN THE FUTURE AND YOU'RE ALLOWING SOMEONE FROM THE INSIDE, OKAY. THEY ARE LOCAL, TO HAVE PRIME REAL ESTATE AND TO HAVE THAT RIVER WALK WALK THROUGH AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING, A FIELD THAT WE HAVE TO UPKEEP LATER ON. WHAT DOES IT

402LOOK LIKE TO UPKEEP THE BLEACHERS? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE BLEACHERS DOWN? WHAT WILL IT COST WHEN WE DO THE FIELD? I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS. I MOVE THAT WE CONTINUE THIS ITEM NUMBER THE -- UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND REQUEST THE STAFF TO NEGOTIATE AND TALK TO BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PROVIDER TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE MORE FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE DISTRICT. SO I MAKE THAT MOTION. Jim Porter: PASS THE GAVEL TO MEMBER WASHINGTON BECAUSE THE CHAIR CAN'T MAKE A MOTION. YOU MADE THE MOTION. MR. WASHINGTON, YOU NEED TO ASK FOR A SECOND TO THAT MOTION. THE MOTION WOULD BE TO NOT VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, TO CONTINUE THIS TO ANOTHER TIME AND DIRECT STAFF TO FURTHER NEGOTIATE BASED ON THE BOARD COMMENTS. THERE IS A MOTION AND

403YOU NEED A SECOND. CLEAR THE BOARD, PABLO. IS THERE A SECOND? MS. GRAY HAS SECONDED IT. NOW YOU CAN DISCUSS WHETHER YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THIS TO ANOTHER MEETING. Van Ayres: CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? IN THIS SCENARIO -- Jim Porter: -- UNTIL THIS IS DONE. Van Ayres: WE WERE APPROACHED IN THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. AND IF I WERE TO SIT HERE AS SUPERINTENDENT AND SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS. YOU TALK ABOUT THIS BEING -- I HEARD PRIME REAL ESTATE, THIS IS PRIME REAL ESTATE THAT WE OWN. THIS IS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT IS BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING NOWHERE. THAT STADIUM THAT'S THERE NOW HAS THE ABILITY TO -- THEY ARE GOING TO USE IT FOR 12 GAMES AT A YEAR AND WE'LL HAVE THAT FOR

404OUR STUDENTS AND BE PART OF BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL FOREVER. THAT UPKEEP WE TALK ABOUT AND MAINTENANCE, GUESS WHAT, WE HAVE A TURF FIELD THERE ALREADY. WE HAVE A TURF FIELD. ANY MAINTENANCE THAT GOES INTO THAT, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE BLEACHERS. THE BLEACHERS ARE MOVING FROM 1800 TO 5,000. AS I LOOKED AT THIS AS A SUPERINTENDENT, THIS WAS MY DECISION TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO GET -- TO GAIN SOMETHING OUT OF THIS. WHAT WOULD I DO AND TURN AWAY AND SAY WE WANT NOTHING? I MAKE THAT DECISION TO BRING FORWARD AS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND BRING SOMETHING GREAT. THIS BRINGS NOTORIETY TO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. THIS BRINGS ATTENTION TO BLAKE AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. SO I STAND BY THIS AND I WOULD

405HOPE WE WOULDN'T TURN AWAY AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS WHEN WHAT'S TO GAIN OTHERWISE? NOTHING. Nadia Combs: WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT I DO SUPPORT THAT, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THE NEGOTIATIONS. I THINK WE ARE BEING SHORTSIGHTED TO NOT THINK THAT IN ALMOST ANY OTHER EVENT WE GET MONEY FOR PARKING. THERE IS FUNDING THAT WE CAN BRING BACK TO OUR DISTRICT. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COST IS FOR THE BLEACHERS IF WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. I THINK WE ARE GOING TOO QUICKLY, AND I HAVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A FISCAL STEWARD. IF I SEE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE COULD STILL HAVE THE FIELD AND NEGOTIATE SOMETHING BETTER, I AM NOT HERE TO GIVE AWAY THINGS. I

406WOULD LIKE TO NEGOTIATE BETTER TERMS AND ALSO LIKE TO NEGOTIATE THE CLOSING OF THAT. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NEGOTIATE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AFTERWARDS WHEN THEY LEAVE, IF I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLEACHERS OR SOME THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN. I FEEL LIKE A BIG STATEMENT LIKE THAT, I HAVE NOT HAD TIME ENOUGH TO ENGAGE WITH MY COMMUNITY. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THESE PARTNERS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY SPONSORS WILL THEY HAVE. WHAT WILL BE THE COST TO THE SPONSORSHIP? WHY AM I NOT GETTING ANY OF THAT EXCEPT FOR A SHINY PENNY AND A FIELD. WE'RE A $4 BILLION ENTITY. I AM NOT GOING TO BE STARSTRUCK BY A FIELD AND SOME LOCKERS. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SEE AS SOMEBODY WHO IS A BUSINESS PERSON, I MEAN, SURE, WE

407GIVE THINGS AWAY ALL THE TIME. I SAY THAT ALL THE TIME. I AM HERE TO REPRESENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE'RE ASKING FOR LEFT DUMBS. WE'RE ASKING FOR OTHER THINGS, WHY WOULDN'T I SIT DOWN WITH THIS ORGANIZATION AND SEE IF I CAN NEGOTIATE SOMETHING BETTER? BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH US. THEY MAY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN HAVE THAT PARKING AND THAT MONEY CAN GO BACK TO THE STUDENTS AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. THAT CAN ENSURE THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, THAT CAN MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR THEY HAVE SOME NEED, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A POT OF MONEY. WE'RE MAKING PEOPLE RICHER. Van Ayres: I HEAR YOU. I, ALONG WITH MR. FARKAS NEGOTIATE THOSE TERMS. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PROCESS. WE

408BRING IT BEFORE THE BOARD. Nadia Combs: AND I DISAGREE WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO NEGOTIATE WITH THAT ENTITY. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK TO THEM. YOU BROUGHT ME A CONTRACT THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE THINNEST CONTRACTS I HAVE SEEN WITHOUT ENDING TERMS, VERY FEW TERMS. JUST A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE TERMS ARE VERY, VERY WEAK. THE ENTIRE CONTRACT IS ONE OF THE WEAKEST CONTRACTS THAT I HAVE SEEN SINCE BEING ON THIS BOARD. Christopher Farkas: I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE OTHER THING. 100% THE BOARD'S CHOICE. YOU ARE THE ONES THAT APPROVE OR DENY THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THAT THEY START PLAYING GAMES IN AUGUST. THAT'S WHEN THEIR SEASON BEGINS. THERE IS A VERY REALISTIC -- AND THIS

409IS NOT A FEAR TACTIC. THIS IS MAKING SURE THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY -- IF THEY DON'T APPROVE THIS, IF WE DON'T TAKE THIS NOW, THEY MAY HAVE TO PURSUE OTHER FIELD OPPORTUNITIES. AND THAT'S YOUR CHOICE AS THE BOARD AND THEIR CHOICE AS OUTSIDE ENTITY, BUT A VERY REALISTIC CHANCE THEY WOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THE TIMING ON IT MAY IMPACT WHETHER THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THE FIELD DONE IN TIME BECAUSE I THINK THE FIRST GAME IS THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST. NOT POSITIVE, AUGUST 24th I THINK WAS THE DATE, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MIDDLE OF AUGUST, LET'S SAY, BUT THEY NEED TO GET UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND GET THE DESIGN DONE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AGAIN, NOT A PRESSURE TACTIC. WE MAY LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO -- Nadia Combs: I'M SURE WITHIN

410THE NEXT TEN DAYS THEY COULD CONTACT EACH BOARD MEMBER AND NEGOTIATE SOMETHING IF THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY WANTED. I THINK THAT SEVEN DAYS OR TEN DAYS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO NEGOTIATE AND TALK AT LEAST ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. AS A BOARD MEMBER, THERE'S NO WAY I CAN VOTE ON SOMETHING WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTER THE BLEACHERS, THE REPLACEMENT, THE FIELD, IS THERE ALCOHOL THERE? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. I MEAN, TO BE ABLE TO FOR ME TO SUPPORT A CONTRACT LIKE THAT WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA, I MEAN THAT WOULD BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF ME. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: YEAH, I'M JUST WONDERING, SUPERINTENDENT INTERIM VAN AYRES, MR. FARKAS, WOULD THERE BE ANY HARM IN BRINGING BACK AN MOU WITH A LITTLE MORE DETAIL

411TO REPLICATE OR AT LEAST ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITHIN A TIME PERIOD OF I KNOW OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER -- Van Ayres: MID NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 14 I THINK IS THE NEXT SCHEDULED. Lynn Gray: I AGREE, THAT MIGHT BE IF THERE IS A TIME SITUATION, THAT MIGHT BE WAY TOO LATE, BUT WOULD IT BE A PROBLEM IS THAT WE COULD DELAY THIS DECISION FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS OR SO UNTIL ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT BOARD MEMBERS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ARE ADDRESSED. NO, NOT MAKING A MOTION. JUST TRYING TO GET -- YEAH, YEAH. I SECONDED THE MOTION. WELL AT ANY RATE, I JUST THINK THAT PROBABLY THESE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED VERSUS US JUST JUMPING RIGHT INTO IT. IT'S REALLY TRUE THAT WHEN YOU HEAR OF SOMETHING JUST A WEEK

412AGO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO ASK PERHAPS THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, BUT WE ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE PREPARED AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS SHOWN BY THIS CONTRACT. I WOULD SAY THAT ADDRESSING THIS IN MORE DETAIL, EVEN ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. Van Ayres: I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, THAT PROCESS OF US NEGOTIATING AGAIN AND BRINGING FORWARD ANOTHER MOU I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT TIMETABLE IS WITH THE ORGANIZATION, IF THAT MEETS ANY TIMETABLE. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HOW IT STATES RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHY MY AGENDA ITEM IS AS IT IS. YES, MA'AM. Lynn Gray: OKAY. Jim Porter: [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE RUNNING THE MEETING BECAUSE SHE MADE THE MOTION. UNTIL THIS MOTION IS DONE, ASK THE PEOPLE TO SPEAK.

413Henry "Shake" Washington: I'M REALLY KIND OF TICKED A LITTLE BIT. COMMUNITY IS FEELING LET DOWN IN WEST TAMPA AS IT IS. AND WE SITTING UP HERE DEBATING ABOUT HAVING SOCCER. CAN WE GET SOMETHING IN WEST TAMPA WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO DEBATE AND DON'T WANT IT ON THE FIELD? YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, WE ALL VOTE, BUT THAT'S DISTRICT 5. THAT'S MY DISTRICT. AND I DON'T GO INTO NOBODY DISTRICT AND TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. NOW, I'M REALLY PISSED BECAUSE I NEVER -- I NEVER WENT INTO ANYBODY DISTRICT TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR DISTRICT AND YOU KNOW YOUR DISTRICT. I MAY COME AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. WE GOT FULL AGREEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. WE GOT THE AGREEMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL. WE GOT THE AGREEMENT OF THE

414CRA. WE HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF THE ALUMNI. WE HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF ALL IN THAT AREA AND THIS IS WHAT WE WANT AND NOW WE COMING UP NAKED. YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE EXCUSES. OPINION LIKE A DOOR KNOB, EVERYBODY GET A TURN. AND WE ALL COME UP WITH EXCUSES, OH, YEAH, YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE UP EXCUSES, WHEN SOMETHING POSITIVE, YOU CAN MAKE UP EXCUSES. YEAH, 15 YEARS FROM NOW, WE HAVE TO BUY BLEACHERS SOMEWHERE ELSE. 20 YEARS FROM NOW, BUY SEATS SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING, TO DO REALLY SOMETHING GOOD IN WEST TAMPA THAT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE COMING UP WITH THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GETTING IT FROM. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT SELLING BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU CAN'T SELL BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU CAN'T SELL BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

415BECAUSE BLAKE IS ON A LANDMARKER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SELL THE SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T. I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS, IF I DID MY WORK, HOW MANY OF YOU ALL TALKED TO THE PRINCIPAL? AND SHE TOLD YOU -- I'M NOT GOING TO GO OUT OF LINE. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE MERE FACT IS WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I TRUST MR. FARKAS. MR. FARKAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I LOOKED AT THEM. I LOOKED AT THE CLINTON. I TALKED TO THEM. I GET UPSET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN NOBODY UP HERE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING WITH HOW OF WE COULD MAKE MONEY. NOW WE CAN MAKE MONEY. WE COULD HAVE STATE SOCCER TOURNAMENTS THERE. YOU COULD HAVE STATE FOOTBALL, 5,000 SEAT IS A HELL

416OF A LOT OF SEATS. YOU COULD HAVE A FOOTBALL GAME, STATE PLAYOFFS THERE WHERE THE SCHOOL COULD MAKE MONEY. WE WANT ALL OF THIS AND YOU WANT TO SEND IT BACK. I DON'T WANT TO SEND IT BACK. I'M GOING TO THE VOTE -- EVERY PERSON CAN VOTE THE WAY THEY WANT TO, BUT I WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR MY COMMUNITY, WHAT IS BEST FOR BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAVE A CLOSE CONNECTION OVER THERE WITH FRIENDS AND PEOPLE AND THE TEACHERS. I'LL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. I DON'T CARE IF WE ARE HERE UNTIL 5:00 IN THE MORNING. Karen Perez: WHENEVER ANYONE COMES THEY HAVE IDEAS FOR OUR BLACK AND LATINO SCHOOLS. OUT OF 250 SCHOOLS WHY DIDN'T IT GO TO STEINBRENNER, NEWSOME, PLANT? WHY BLAKE? Christopher Farkas: MY CONVERSATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE

417TEAM IS ABOUT LOCATION. THEY WANTED TO BE IN THE CORE OF THE CITY. THEY WANTED TO BE IN THE CITY THAT'S THERE. HOWEVER THERE ARE MANY, MANY DAYS WHEN BLAKE IS NOT RENTED OUT. IT IS NOT LIKE THERE IS A WAITING LIST FOR ALL THE TIMES TO GET OUT. WE CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. HER IS MUCH MORE OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I DO RESPECT AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, MS. PEREZ. FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN MYSELF. DAD FROM GUATEMALA. MOM FROM HONDURAS. NOT MANY TIMES IN LIFE ONE GETS A PLATFORM THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SUCH INCREDIBLE IMPACT. WITH MR. WASHINGTON, BEFORE I KNEW THIS TAMPA BAY AREA, AND I'M FROM THE SARASOTA AREA, BEFORE I CAME TO THE TAMPA BAY AREA, I

418DID MY HOMEWORK AS WELL, TOO. WE TOOK A LOOK TO SEE WHERE WE WOULD PUT THE FIRST WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL TEAM EVER IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA, WHICH BLOWS MY MIND THAT WE NEVER HAD ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE SAID IT'S GOT TO BE IN THE HEART OF THE TAMPA BAY AREA. WE TOOK A LOOK AT ALL THE FACILITIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE THAT, WE SAW THAT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS THAT CAPACITY. I DID MY HOME WORK TO LEARN WHO BLAKE IS. BROKE MY HEART TO KNOW THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TWO ONLY HIGH SCHOOLS DURING THE SEGREGATION ERA WHICH WASN'T THAT LONG AGO AND I MYSELF WAS ALSO BUSSED IN FORT MYERS FROM SCHOOLS FAR, FAR AWAY. ABOUT AN HOUR DRIVE ON THE BUS JUST TO SEGREGATE. WITH THE ALUMNI OF THE

419YELLOW JACKETS, TO LEARN THE NAMING, TO LEARN THE HISTORY, TO LEARN HOW WE COULD HAVE THIS IMPACT US AS A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM. WHY, BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN A RIGHT TO PLAY SPORTS. ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHT TO DO SO. SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO A COMMUNITY THAT I SHARE A LOT OF HISTORY WITH, WHETHER IT'S SEGREGATION ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S CULTURALLY DISADVANTAGED, WHETHER IT'S OBSTACLES AND TO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE OWNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND BEFORE I SAID YES TO BEING THE PRESIDENT, I DID MY HOMEWORK THERE, TOO. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HEART AND A LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ELEVATING AND BRINGING EVERYONE UP WITH IT. INSTEAD OF YOUR POINT TAKING A LOOK AT OTHER SCHOOLS AND OTHER VENUES THAT MAY BE MORE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED AND/OR WHETHER THAT

420IS BY ALUMNI BOOSTERS, THIS IS A SCHOOL, YES, IT'S LOCATED IN THE PRIME LOCATION AND THAT IS A BLESSING. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL. FOR US TO BE ABLE TO INVEST AT LEAST AT A MINIMUM OF 4 MILLION AND THAT'S ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LEAVE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND LEAVE A LEGACY WITH THE YELLOW JACKETS IN THESE SCHOOLS AND TO TALK WITH THESE KIDS FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS SIDE TO THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO DO MORE IN SPORTS, LEARNING FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW LAST YEAR THERE WERE 35 KIDS WHO SIGNED UP FOR FOOTBALL. AMERICAN FOOTBALL, CLARIFY THAT. NOT FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, RIGHT. AND TO KNOW THIS YEAR 85 KIDS HAVE SIGNED UP AND ONLY GROWING TO TALK TO PRINCIPAL TO KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE YET

421A SOCCER COACH FOR THE MEN OR WOMEN'S TEAMS AND THAT WE CAN HELP OUT BY PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS AND HELPING TO TRAIN THEIR COACHES TO TEACH THEM HOW TO FISH ESSENTIALLY. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. I REALLY LOVE THAT QUESTION. BECAUSE I WENT AND SPOKE TO PRINCIPAL NEWMAN, SHOWED THE CONCEPTUAL RENDERS, I PRAY TO GOD THAT THE GROUP LOOKS AT IT AND UNDERSTANDS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND TAKES A LOOK AT MOU, YES, IF WE DON'T LIKE IT, WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO STEP OUT. TO ME, LAWYER AS A BACKGROUND, I HAD THE BLESSING OF MY GRANDPARENTS WHO MOVED TO THE COUNTRY TO SEE ME BECOME BARRED AND A FLORIDA LAWYER TO KNOW THERE IS A 30-DAY OUT CLAUSE. DANG, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR YOU GUYS, RIGHT? WE'RE ALL INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL RISING IT

422UP. I PERSONALLY AM PROUD -- THAT GAVE ME GOOSE BUMPS BECAUSE NOT MANY TIMES IN LIFE THAT YOU CAN DO THAT. Karen Perez: I NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE BUSED INTO BLAKE? Van Ayres: IT'S A MAGNET SCHOOL. MAGNET TRANSPORTATION. I DON'T HAVE THE -- WHEN I WAS THERE, WE HAD SEVEN OR EIGHT BUSES OF TRADITIONAL STUDENTS THAT CAME IN. THAT WAS TEN YEARS AGO OR MORE. SO I DON'T KNOW NOW. I COULD FIND OUT. Karen Perez: ALMOST THAT ENTIRE SCHOOL IS BUSED IN, RIGHT? Van Ayres: -- THERE ARE MAGNET BUSES THAT BRING THE MAGNET STUDENTS INTO BLAKE FROM FOUR OF OUR RAMPS, YOU'VE PROBABLY GOT FIVE OR SIX HUNDRED, OFF THE CUFF I WOULD SAY THAT IS THE NUMBER. Karen Perez: COMING IN FROM OUT OF THE DISTRICT. Van Ayres: IT IS A

423MAGNET SCHOOL. HALF OF THE STUDENTS THERE ARE FROM ALL OVER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YES, MA'AM. Karen Perez: WHAT IS THE TOTAL OF THE SCHOOL. Van Ayres: TOTAL ENROLLMENT, 1600, PROBABLY. I WOULD GUESS PROBABLY 1600. GETTING THE NOD, SAY YES, MA'AM, 1600. 1585. I WAS CLOSE. Jessica Vaughn: I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR IN THIS MEETING AND I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. Jim Porter: IF THERE'S NO MORE DEBATE, YOU NEED A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION. CALLING THE QUESTION MEANS DEBATE ENDS AND YOU VOTE. YOU NEED A SECOND TO THAT. MOTION TO CONTINUE, BUT THIS IS A PRIVILEGED MOTION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOTION BEFORE ANY MORE DISCUSSION. DO YOU WANT TO STOP DEBATE NOW, YOU NEED TO SECOND IT. THAT DIES. WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT WHETHER TO CONTINUE THE ITEM, NOT THE

424MAIN MOTION. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT AND FOR YOUR PASSIONATE WORDS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE HERE AROUND THE COMPENSATION THIS DISTRICT MIGHT BE GETTING. BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN, THIS IS IN MY VIEW, I KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, A WIN-WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE DISTRICT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATIVELY $4 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS. IF IN TWO YEARS THEY WALK AWAY, THE DISTRICT TAKES IN $2 MILLION EACH OF THOSE YEARS. THAT'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT AND RESOURCES FLOODING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, I MEAN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AGAIN, I AM TAKEN ABACK BY HOW THIS IS NOT SEEN AS AN OPPORTUNITY. I APPRECIATE ALSO MEMBER WASHINGTON'S WORDS AND HIS PASSION. I CAN

425ONLY IMAGINE HOW FRUSTRATED YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY. I THINK YOUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THIS. I THINK THE DISTRICT IS GETTING A LOT FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP IN RETURN. I THINK THERE'S EVEN GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES. I LOVE THAT YOU MENTIONED MENTORING WITH COACHES AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. THERE MAY BE SCHOLARSHIP. I MEAN, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO COME FROM THIS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN THINK OF RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE GOING TO ORGANICALLY COME FROM IT, AS YOU GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY EVEN MORE AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR NEEDS. IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SHINY PENNY. I THINK THIS IS -- I KNOW FOR TWO WEEKS NOW, THIS HAS BEEN IN OUR PACKETS. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. FARKAS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. I'VE DONE

426MY DUE DILIGENCE AND ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS SO I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT, AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING TABLING THIS ITEM. Henry "Shake" Washington: CHAIR COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, CHAIR WASHINGTON, AS I SAID MULTIPLE TIMES, I 100% SUPPORT THIS IDEA AND I REALLY THINK IT'S WONDERFUL FOR ME. A QUESTION ABOUT THE CONTRACT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. WASHINGTON, ALTHOUGH I REPRESENT DISTRICT 1 -- I DO ENGAGE AND SPEAK TO THE NAACP AND SHE DID HAVE CONCERNS. I DID SPEAK TO HER TODAY AND I DID SPEAK TO THE URBAN LEAGUE. I DID SPEAK TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA JUST AS I DID, BUT WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DETAILS IN THE CONTRACT AND THE WORDING AND THE LANGUAGE WAS SO VAGUE. MY QUESTION WOULD BE,

427WHEN DID THESE NEGOTIATIONS START? WHEN WAS THE ENGAGEMENT? BECAUSE FOR ME TO FIND OUT JUST TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. AS I SAID, I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE. I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP IS GREAT. I JUST HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE DURING, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTERWARDS. HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU WILL GENERATE, WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING A LITTLE PART OF THAT PARKING? WHAT HAPPENS WITH CONCESSIONS? SO I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN. PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU FOR LIKE AN HOUR OR TWO AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR ME TO SET A PRECEDENT LIKE THIS, ALTHOUGH IT'S A WONDERFUL THING, AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS. AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE,

428I'M A FISCAL STEWARD OF THIS DISTRICT, AND I CAN'T JUST LOOK AT IT AS THIS IS GREAT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE? WHAT DO THOSE BLEACHERS LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THE REPLACEMENT LOOK LIKE? THE MAINTENANCE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL CUSTODIANS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AREA. FOR ME, YOU ARE THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN YOU, FIRST TIME I MET WITH YOU. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT. I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. I LOVE YOUR STORY. I HAVE A VERY SIMILAR STORY MYSELF. BEING FIRST GENERATION. I AM A STEWARD OF THE DISTRICT AND WHEN WE MAKE THIS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. SO I KNOW AS WELL THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN I CALLED MANY ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS

429HAPPENING. MANY OF THESE LARGE BLACK ORGANIZATIONS DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS A -- BECAUSE IT CAME VERY QUICKLY AND WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACT. SO I AM GOING TO STAND FIRM WITH THAT I SUPPORT THIS, BUT I JUST NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT SOME DETAILS AND HAVE A STRONGER CONTRACT. THANK YOU. Lynn Gray: IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK IT OUT IN A TRANSPARENT WAY AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? I DIDN'T WANT -- CHRISTINA UNCLE. PRESIDENT OF THE SOCCER LEAGUE TAMPA BAY. Lynn Gray: I'M GLAD TO MEET YOU AND GLAD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE. MEMBER WASHINGTON, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT -- OUR CRITIQUES OR OUR FISCAL QUERIES ABOUT THE MAKING MONEY OR THE COST, IF THEY WALK OUT, ANY OF

430THOSE, IT'S JUST A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. IT'S NOT AGAINST ANYTHING OF THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART, AND, YES, ALL OF US, EVERY ONE OF US ON THE BOARD ARE IN CHARGE OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, NOT JUST ONE PART OF THE DISTRICT. SO WE DO LOOK AT THINGS AS A BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, IF I WOULD HAVE HEARD YOUR VOICE, YOUR STAND, IT WAS FROM YOU, MY VERBIAGE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN CURTAILED BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS YOU WHO DIRECTED THIS PARTNERSHIP. I HAD THOUGHT IT WAS MR. FARKAS. SO NOW THAT YOU'RE THE AUTHOR OF THIS, GO AHEAD, YOU'RE ABOUT READY TO SAY SOMETHING. Van Ayres: I'M TRYING TO THINK BACK. Lynn Gray: I KNOW. YOU CAME IN A LITTLE BIT LATER. MR. FARKAS WAS ASKED

431-- Van Ayres: THIS STARTED WITH MR. FARKAS IN HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SUPER LEAGUE ON THE SOCCER TEAM. THEN HE BROUGHT ME INTO IT AND THAT WAS PROBABLY, TRYING TO THINK OF TIME FRAME, SIX WEEKS AGO, PROBABLY. YEAH, BUT THIS IS MY AGENDA. MY AGENDA ITEM. AND ANY TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP LIKE THIS, THIS IS THE PROCESS. I BRING THIS FORWARD AS AN AGENDA ITEM. YOU AS A BOARD THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU DON'T AGREE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE PROCESS. BUT KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I AS SUPERINTENDENT WITH MR. FARKAS MADE THIS ADDITION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE I SAW IT ADVANTAGEOUS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. Lynn Gray: WOULD YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD

432QUESTIONS THAT HAVE FISCAL -- COULD HAVE FISCAL REPERCUSSIONS, IS THAT COMMENSURATE WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION? IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE HAVE AN AVENUE OF DISTASTE TO TWO OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO SEEM TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS WHEN REALLY THOSE ARE SMART QUESTIONS FROM EACH BOARD MEMBER AND SMART REMARKS. THEY SHOULD BE HAVING THAT. ANYWAY, I'M MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW IT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT I HAD TO KNOW AND WE HAVE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. WE WOULD BE FOOLISH IF WE DIDN'T. I STILL DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT I'M GOING ON THE GOODWILL OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO I AM GOING TO TAKE HIS RECOMMENDATION AND MR. FARKAS, I SAID IT BEFORE, YOU DID A COMPREHENSIVE JOB WITH SHARING THE INFORMATION AND ALSO THE GREAT LEADER THAT YOU HAVE NEXT DOOR. YOU MUST BE ONE HECK OF

433A PLAYER, TOO, RIGHT? I WAS BACK IN THE DAY. BUT I JUST PLAYED WITH MY DAUGHTER'S U-10 TEAM LAST NIGHT AND I'M STILL HURTING SO NOT ANYMORE. Lynn Gray: THIS IS THE END, BUT I DO, AND MR. FARKAS, MR. GIBSON, YOU DO HAVE SOME EXPECTATIONS. I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR TO FILL IN THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I'M SORRY, BUT YOU DON'T GET TO SIT ON THE FENCE TONIGHT. YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS. IF YOU SUPPORTED IT, YOU WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT. THIS HAS BEEN IN OUR PACKET FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW, WHAT, TWO WEEKS IS WHEN I GOT IT. I HAD A ONE-ON-ONE. I ASKED ALL MY QUESTIONS. WHY HAVEN'T SOME OF YOU ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS DURING YOUR ONE-ON-ONE? WHY IS IT

434ALL OF A SUDDEN A SURPRISE? YOU DIDN'T JUST GET HANDED THIS A WEEK AGO. I'M SORRY, BUT I AM UTTERLY TAKEN ABACK BY THE SHOCK THAT SOME OF YOU SEEM TO HAVE IN REGARD TO THIS. IF YOU SUPPORTED THIS, YOU WOULD VOTE FOR IT TONIGHT. I'M THINKING ABOUT THE REFERENDUM, RIGHT? THAT IS SOMETHING, THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR. AND THAT DESERVED SO MUCH MORE PLANNING, SO MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION, AND WITH AN MOU AND A PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. YOU'RE NOT READY. I MEAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF US NOT BEING READY FOR A REFERENDUM THAT HAS SOME MAJOR IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BUT AS MEMBER WASHINGTON LAID OUT FOR YOU, ALL OF THE BENEFITS TO HIS COMMUNITY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S NOT REALLY OF VALUE TO SOME

435OF YOU IN THIS CONVERSATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE MONEY. THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE. LIKE I SAID, THERE IS NO ROOM IN A PARTNERSHIP FOR GREED. IT'S A WIN-WIN. IT'S NOT A WIN FOR JUST US. THERE IS A WIN-WIN. THERE ARE BENEFITS FOR OUR PARTNER. THERE ARE BENEFITS FOR US. THAT'S HOW THESE PARTNERSHIPS WORK. WE'VE DISCUSSED PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PAST, AND AT THAT TIME THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE SOME DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT A PARTNERSHIP, THE VALUE IN PARTNERSHIPS, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT TONIGHT AS WELL. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. Nadia Combs: ONCE AGAIN, I SPOKE TO MR. FARKAS SEVERAL TIMES, THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT WERE NOT VERY CLEAR TO ME, THE AFTER AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONTRACT HOLISTICALLY. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS

436NUMEROUS TIMES THAT I JUST DID NOT FEEL LIKE THE CONTRACT. IT IS NOT A SURPRISE. I ALWAYS PREPARE. MY CONCERNS OF THE CONTRACT WERE NOT GOING TO BE MODIFIED UNTIL I TALKED ABOUT IT HERE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE ABOUT, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LIABILITY IS CLEAR, THE AFTER, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THAT AND WE'RE SETTING A PRECEDENT. I ALSO FEEL THAT WHEN I CALLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MANY MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS. A LOT OF LARGE ORGANIZATIONS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. SO I THINK THAT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THIS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. WE DID NOT HAVE TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE MET WITH YOU. I MEAN, AS I SAID, I HAVE MANY, MANY QUESTIONS. I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT. I JUST HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT

437THE CONTRACT. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY FAIR, AND THAT IS MY JOB AS A BOARD MEMBER TO MAKE SURE I'M A FISCAL STEWARD AND THAT I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS SO WE DON'T SET A PRECEDENT. AND WHEN YOU COMPARE THOSE FIELDS IN SOUTH TAMPA, THOSE FIELDS WERE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY. IT'S NOT ADULTS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GENERATE REVENUE. IT'S NOT SOMETHING -- IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU OPEN UP THAT AREA, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S DESTRUCTION IN THE AREA. I STILL DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE COMPUTER MODEL SERVED. I DON'T KNOW EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO I THINK THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR ME. SO AS I SAID, I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT. I JUST NEED TO HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS AND I'D LIKE TO LOOK

438AT THE CONTRACT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RUSH IS. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MAKE SURE THE CONTRACT IS VERY GOOD AND THAT BOARD MEMBERS DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T SUPPORT MR. WASHINGTON. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T SUPPORT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T SUPPORT THIS CONCEPT. I JUST, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTRACT AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD LOOK AT THE CONTRACT AND SEE HOW, HOW VAGUE THE ENTIRE CONTRACT IS. IT DOESN'T EVEN SAY A POTENTIAL ENDING DATE. IT'S JUST VERY VAGUE, THE ENTIRE CONTRACT. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WEAKEST CONTRACTS THAT'S COME BEFORE ME AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IN A THE PUBLIC WAS AWARE OF THAT. Henry "Shake" Washington: THIS IS MY LAST PITCH.

439BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU'RE BRINGING SOMETHING THAT THEY NEVER HAVE HAD BEFORE IN TAMPA AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPLANATION ABOUT HAVING WOMEN'S SOCCER IN TAMPA. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER HAD BEFORE. AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAY YOU DON'T SUPPORT IT, I MEAN, YOU SUPPORT IT, BUT WHEN YOU SUPPORT SOMETHING, YOU GET BEHIND IT 100%. WORRIES SPEAK -- YOU JUST SAY SOMETHING AND IT'S NOT -- I DON'T THINK IT'S REAL PURE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. IT'S SOMETHING BEHIND IT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. BUT WHAT I DO KNOW, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS, THEY DON'T LIVE IN WEST TAMPA. THEY ARE NOT PART OF THAT AREA, SOME OF THEM. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY AND I LOOKED

440AT THE PEOPLE WHO I'VE SPOKEN TO, THEY SUPPORT IT. I SUPPORT IT. AND I LOOKED -- AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH CONTRACTS, AND WHEN WE OPEN UP MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD ALL THESE CONTRACTS AND ALL THAT INFORMATION WAS IN THERE. BUT THE PRINCIPAL HAS THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE CERTAIN THINGS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT. SO I WANT THE GIRLS SOCCER TEAM AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. AND JUST ME BY MYSELF. I THANK YOU DR. HAHN. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ALL SUPPORT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE VALUE OF HAVING PARTNERSHIPS, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. THAT'S WHAT MAKES SCHOOLS GO A GREAT DEAL. MRS. PEREZ -- Karen Perez: I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION. HOW DOES THIS WHOLE THING SUPPORT THE FEEDER SCHOOLS STEWART AND JUST. Van Ayres: SUPPORTIVE OF THE FEEDER SCHOOLS -- Karen Perez: THE FEEDER SCHOOLS,

441STUART AND JUST? Van Ayres: RIGHT NOW, THE TALK HAS BEEN WITH THE UPGRADE OF THE STADIUM AT BLAKE AND THEN THE STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN TALK OTHERWISE. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER. WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE IS WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AND -- Karen Perez: BLAKE. Jim Porter: WITH THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, MS. COMBS' MOTION, THAT'S TO CONTINUE THE ITEM. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT AND VOTE ON THIS AT SOME FUTURE DATE, VOTE YES. IF YOU DO WANT TO VOTE, VOTE NO. IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF MS. COMBS MOTION TO CONTINUE OR TABLE THIS, VOTE YES. IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF NOT DOING THAT, VOTE NO. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS LET ME KNOW. THE MOTION

442FAILED. SO THAT MEANS YOUR MAIN MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AS IS. THAT'S THE MOTION. MEMBER COMBS, YOU TAKE THE GAVEL BACK. THE MOTION IS READY TO BE VOTED ON. Nadia Combs: BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE -- Jim Porter: IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THE MOA VOTE YES, IF YOU ARE AGAINST IT, VOTE NO. Nadia Combs: IT PASSES 6 YESES AND 1 NO. MOVING ON. 7.22, APPROVE THE AMENDED DEED RESTRICTIONS BETWEEN CITY OF AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. WE'RE REQUESTING TO AMEND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS BETWEEN THE CITY OF AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO ACCOMMODATE THE MOU JUST APPROVED. APPROVAL WILL PERMIT GREATER ACCESS TO THE RIVER WALK DURING

443PLANNED EVENTS WHILE MAINTAINING NECESSARY SECURITY. THE CITY OF WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE GATE AND THE RIVER. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.22. MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER HAHN, MEMBER GRAY, AND I, WE PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? 7.22. ANY BOARD MEMBERS? NO. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES 6 VOTES YES AND MEMBER PEREZ VOTING NO. 7.23, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ENFORCE THE STOP ARM LAW. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS TO CLEARLY DEFINE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S

444OFFICE AND ENFORCING THE FLORIDA STOP ARM LAW USING SCHOOL BUS INFRACTION DETECTION SYSTEMS. MANDATED BY THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BUS INFRACTION DETECTION -- COLLABORATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT. THE AGREEMENT ENSURES THAT THE SCHOOL BUS INFRACTION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE COST NEUTRAL FOR THE SHERIFF WITH REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEIR PERSONNEL TIME BASED ON AN HOURLY RATE. THE SHERIFF IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT MONTHLY INVOICES WITH PERSONAL HOURS RELATED TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF STOP ARM VIOLATIONS AND DISTRICT OR VENDOR MUST MAKE REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING THE INVOICE. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR COORDINATION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND SHERIFF ENSURING THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE STOP ARM LAW IS CLEAR AND COMPLIANT WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS BENEFITING THE SAFETY AND STUDENTS AND DRIVERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND

445SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 7.23. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: WELL, ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. I'M GLAD IT'S HAPPENING AND IT'S VERY NEEDED. WE HAVE PEOPLE, MANY OF THE ROADS ON CLEVELAND, SOME OF THE OTHER ROADS, THERE ARE FAST CARS GOING AND THEY ARE NOT STOPPING FOR THE BUS. NO MATTER WHAT. SO IT'S NECESSARY AND VERY PROTECTIVE FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Christopher Farkas: ONE OF THE THINGS SENATOR BURR JESS IS ONE THAT BROUGHT THE RULE FORWARD AND CHAD CHRONISTER. HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP KIDS SAFE. SOME OF THE VIDEOS WE SEE IN TRANSPORTATION ARE ALARMING AND DISTURBING WITH DRIVERS THAT PASS OPEN STOPPED

446ARMS. ONE OTHER REMINDER AS THIS LAW COMES THROUGH AND THE DISTRICT WILL GET MONEY FROM THE FINES, 100% OF THE MONEY HAS TO GO TOWARD TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. IT'S IN THE STATUTE. THE MONEY HAS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR, DIFFERENT ACCOUNT AND GOES DIRECTLY TOWARD TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND STAYS WHERE IT WAS INTENDED. WONDERFUL LAW AND WE WELCOME THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SHERIFF CHRONISTER. Lynn Gray: TO THAT EFFECT, I WILL ALSO THANK PUBLICLY SHERIFF CHAD CHRONISTER AND SENATOR BURGESS. VERY GREAT EFFORT AND GREAT COLLABORATION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YES, THANK YOU. I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT A SHOUT-OUT AGAIN TO SENATOR BURGESS AND SHERIFF CHRONISTER. WHILE THIS BILL WAS ACTUALLY BEING DEBATED ON THE FLOOR, A STUDENT WAS KILLED IN DUVAL COUNTY IN

447CROSSING A ROAD WHILE GETTING OFF A BUS. SO TO SAY THAT THIS BILL WAS PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SO THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY MEASURE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK KRISTIN DAVIS AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FOR MAKING IT A PRIORITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THE REIMBURSEMENT COSTS WE'LL BE GETTING FROM SOME OF THE FINES WE WILL LOOK AT POSSIBLY WORKING FOR BUS DRIVERS AND THANK YOU AGAIN, SENATOR BURGESS, FOR BEING A CHAMPION FOR DOING THAT FOR BEING ABLE TO USE SOME OF OUR MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE STAFF TO HAVE OUR KIDS' SAFETY EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THEIR HANDS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE NOTHING IS BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs:

448THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 10.01, APPROVE RFP 23174-DST-EJ COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS, DOCKING STATIONS AND MONITORS. SUPERINTENDENT AYRES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Van Ayres: THIS WILL SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 33,000 STUDENT LAPTOPS. 1200 EMPLOYEE LAPTOPS OR DESKTOPS 500 MONITORS, 700 DOCKING STATIONS. THIS WILL UTILIZE THE BULK OF REMAINING ESSER 3 DOLLARS IDENTIFIED FOR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND PURCHASE PRICE IS $16 MILLION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1/.01. MOTION BY -- 10.01. MEMBER BY -- MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON, SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER HAHN YOU PULLED THE ITEM. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. GETTING TIRED. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WHO AM I ASKING THIS QUESTION TO? Van Ayres: CHRIS, ME. Jessica Vaughn: THISS THIS THE

449LAST AGENDA ITEM OF THIS PHASE? Christopher Farkas: YES, LITTLE BIT OF TECHNOLOGY MONEY LEFT. MINIMAL. THIS IS THE LARGEST CHUNK. ESSER. THIS IS THE MAJORITY OF THAT. Jessica Vaughn: WHAT PERCENTAGE DOES THIS BRING US ONE TO ONE IN OUR PLAN TO BRING 100% ONE TO ONE DEVICES. WHERE DOES THIS GET US AFTER WE APPROVE. ABOUT 33,000 DEVICES. REPLACE AGED OUT DEVICES. WE NEEDED ABOUT 10,000 MORE DEVICES TO BRING TO THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS, BUT ONE TO ONE WITH ABOUT A 15% OVERAGE BASED ON THEIR FTE COUNTS. SO THAT'S 3 33,000. Jessica Vaughn: AFTER WE APPROVE, WE'LL BE ONE TO ONE -- WE'RE STARTING THE REFRESH. DOESN'T REFRESH ALL THE DEVICES BUT BRINGS US UP TO ONE TO ONE WITHIN THE FOUR-YEAR -- Jessica Vaughn: REPLACING SOME FROM 2018 AND 2019. EXPECTING THESE TO HAVE

450A LONGER LIFE THAN FOUR YEARS. HOW LONG ARE WE EXPECTING THE LIFETIME? FOUR YEARS TARGETED LIFE SPAN FOR DEVICES ARE. Jessica Vaughn: ONCE THESE ARE DONE IN FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE NO MONEY TO REPLACE AND GO BACKWARDS FROM ONE TO ONE? WE ARE EXPLORING A DEVICE OF SERVICE LEASING MODEL SO WE CAN HAVE A MORE STABILIZED EXPENDITURE YEAR OVER YEAR. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SUSTAINABILITY AS WE KIND OF GOT OURSELVES OUT OF THE TECHNOLOGY DEBT. Christopher Farkas: TO DOVETAIL ON WHAT SCOTT SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE BOARD DESERVES IS A TECHNOLOGY PLAN. AS YOU KNOW WITH THE CYBERSECURITY, MR. AYRES WILL TALK ABOUT IT ON ONE OF HIS SLIDES THAT WE'LL HIT, PART OF THE RECOVERY OF THAT IS REALIZING WHAT WE NEEDED GOING FORWARD. YOU WILL

451SEE A PLAN, FOUR TO FIVE YEARS IS THE TIME THAT IT'S RECOMMENDED NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE TO REPLACE THOSE DEVICES. THERE WILL BE A FUND. BUDGET THE MONEY FOR THAT. CAPITAL DOLLARS PAY FOR THAT. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT ITEM IN THE NEXT PROBABLY 60 TO 90 DAYS, A PLAN THAT WILL SHOW HOW MUCH WE SPEND EVERY YEAR, WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM. EVERY DEVICE, AS MR. GAFNER SAID, NOT JUST THE ONE TO ONE DEVICES BUT OVERAGE. THINGS BREAK, KIDS LOSE STUFF. FOUR TO FIVE YEARS IS THE REPLACEMENT CYCLE FOR EVERY DEVICE WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THE POINTS BETWEEN ALL THE COMPANIES THAT WERE BEING CONSIDERED AND THERE WAS A PRETTY LARGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN GOV CONNECTION,

452THE ONE WHO WON THE BID AND THE SECOND HIGHEST COMPANY AND THE THIRD. LIKE A 40-POINT DIFFERENCE. AND THEN OVER A 50-POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND THE THIRD CHOICE. WHAT MAKES THEM SO EXCEPTIONAL COMPARED TO THE OTHER TWO WHERE THERE IS A 40% DIFFERENCE IN THE RUBRIC SCORE. ARE THEY BRINGING SOMETHING MORE TO THE TABLE? I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE BIDS AND THESE POINTS ARE USUALLY NOT SO FAR APART, ESPECIALLY FROM THE TOP THREE BIDDERS. ALL RESPONDENTS WERE BID ON OR SCORED EVEN IF THEY DID NOT QUITE MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WE ASKED FOR. SO THAT WAS SOME OF THE DISCREPANCIES THAT YOU'RE SEEING. IF THEY DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATION ONE OF THE CATEGORICALS THEY GOT MARKED DOWN LOWER. OTHERS WERE ABOUT THE OTHER VARIATIONS AROUND THE SERVICES PROVIDED, GOV CONNECTIONS HAS BEEN WORKING

453WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY UNDERSTAND OUR PROCESSES OF WHAT WE NEED, HOW TO DELIVER THEM. THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THAT. THAT WAS BASED ON THEIR CAPABILITIES VERSUS OTHERS. OTHER DISCREPANCIES FROM A KNOWN PRODUCT BASED ON OUR PRIOR CHANCE THAT WE TOOK WITH A DIFFERENT DEVICE MODEL, THERE WAS ANOTHER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NUMBER TWO VOTED ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EQUIVALENT OF A NO-NAMED MACHINE THAT WAS JUST BEING CUSTOM BUILT FOR US. Stacy Hahn: SINCE WE'RE ALL ABOUT MONEY TONIGHT, WHAT WAS THE PRICE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST THREE? I DON'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I CAN PULL IT BACK UP. I HAVE IT ON MY COMPUTER OVER THERE. Stacy Hahn: YOU'RE LOOKING AT -- BASICALLY GOV CONNECT GOT ALMOST 90 POINTS OUT OF A HUNDRED. THAT'S

454A LOT OF POINTS. I'M WONDERING, WAS THERE A PRICE THAT MUCH BETTER TO WHERE THEY SCORED SO HIGH. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HIT THE BULK OF THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WE ASKED FOR ON THE DEVICES. THE MAJORITY OF THEM GOT MARKED DO UNIS THE SUBSTITUTED OUT -- SUBSTITUTED OUT EQUIVALENT DEVICE OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT DIDN'T MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS LOOKING FOR. EITHER LESS RAM SO WOULDN'T BE AS PER FORMATIVE OF A SYSTEM, DIFFERENT SCREEN SIZE THAN WE WERE LOOKING FOR. THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THAT WAS COMING FROM. Stacy Hahn: I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A COPY FOR ALL THE RUBRICS FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES, TO SEE THE BID PACKETS PLEASE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW RIGHT NOW AND EVEN

455IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE'S BEEN A SHORTAGE OF DEVICES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE NEED LARGE QUANTITIES. WAS THAT PART OF THE RUBRIC ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY TO GET THE DEVICES TO US. NO, BUT HAVE PARTNERED WITH US AND PUT US AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE RUBRIC AS THE ONE TO RECEIVE THEM. KIND OF GETTING OUT OF THAT SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINT, PERSONAL COMPUTERS. Christopher Farkas: THREE CATEGORIES, SPECIFICATION, SCOPE, THE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE HOW THEY WERE GOING TO BRING IT TO THE TABLE AND THEN THE CORE BEST VALUE PRICE. THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN CATEGORIES WHERE THEY SCORED. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 12.01 IS THE SCHOOL SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT FINDINGS

456AND RECOMMENDED OPERATIONS. MR. FARKAS, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Christopher Farkas: SO THIS IS A STATE REQUIREMENT. JIM I'M SURE -- MR. PORTER -- WE HAD OUR CLOSED DOOR SESSION TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY. PART OF WHAT THE STATE ASKED US IS TO QUANTIFY THAT. IT IS A FORMALITY, CHECKING THE BOX IN MAKING SURE WE FORMALLY SAY WE HAD THE MEETING. APPRISED OF THE SECURITY SITUATION AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING IT IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE WILL NOW MOVE TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THIS EVENING. OCTOBER, AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS, OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ALSO, WHAT WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING, NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK. I WAS ABLE TO GO

457OUT WITH DR. HAHN, MR. WASHINGTON AND MS. GRAY. NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK, ALSO SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK AND ALSO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE CELEBRATING THIS WEEK. SO WITH ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SELECTED BY BEST BUY IN BRANDON TO RECEIVE A DONATION OF MORE THAN $17,000. THE STORE TOOK PART IN A SUMMER LEARNING COMPETITION CALLED INTEL PC CHAMPIONS. THEY WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO CHOOSE A LOCAL SCHOOL TO RECEIVE A DONATION. ARMWOOD RECEIVED DEL LAPTOPS AND MONITORS, $5,000 GRANT, AND NORTON SOFTWARE. -- THIS CELEBRATION WAS MEANT TO ENERGIZE THE K-12 TEACHING COMMUNITY INSPIRING TO CREATE THE OUTSIDE THE BOX EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO BRING LIFE TO THE CLASSROOM ON THAT DAY. WE TALKED ABOUT ENROLLMENT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE DID HAVE TWO NEW STUDENTS ENROLLED AT FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL.

458THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUNNIER IF IT WAS 7:30 AND NOT 11:30. HA HA HA. THERE WE GO. WE DID HAVE TWO NEW STUDENTS ENROLLED AT FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFIED VETERINARY ASSISTANT PROGRAM. TWO NEW STUDENTS ARE RILEY AND BAXTER. THEY HAVE JOINED THE SCHOOLS FULLY SERVICED DOGGY DAY CARE PROGRAM WHICH HAS ABOUT 25 DIFFERENT DOGS THAT ROTATE ON A SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE PROGRAM WHICH CONTINUES TO GROW EACH YEAR. THOSE ARE MS. PEREZ, BAXTER AND RILEY. YOU ALWAYS HEAR THEM BARKING IN THE BACKGROUND, TOO. PRIORITY OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. BIG APPLICATION WINDOW FOR US IS UPCOMING. THIS IS A QUESTION AND CABINET MEMBERS, YOU WILL GET QUITE A BIT ABOUT APPLICATION WINDOW. REMINDER THAT IS NOVEMBER 1st THROUGH DECEMBER 15th. WE HAVE 42 MAGNET SCHOOLS WITH OVER 80 PROGRAMS

459ACROSS OUR DISTRICT FOR FAMILIES TO APPLY TO. THE CON FELLOWSHIP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR 2022 CON FELLOWS PRESENTED THEIR YEARLONG CONFERENCE IN THE 2023, AT THE 2023 CON FELLOWSHIP ANNUAL LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON IN NEW YORK. SOME OF OUR NEW CAHN FELLOWS ONES FROM THE 2022 COHORT, BERETTA WILSON, KELLY McMILLAN, AND -- [INDISCERNIBLE] CONGRATULATE MELISSA MORGADO, SHE WAS NAMED 2023 TAMPA BAY HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMUNITY HEROES DISTINGUISHED EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE MELISSA. FISCAL AND OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATION NATIONAL STATUS FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. MORE THAN 50 OF OUR PROPERTIES QUALIFY FOR THE ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATION WHICH EARNED THIS IMPRESSIVE STATUS. SO WE HAVE SOME SUSPENDED AGENDA. ONE OF THEM AS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS AROUND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. DO YOU WANT TO GIVE

460IT A SHOT? HOW MANY SLIDES YOU GOT? HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO. WE'LL SCHEDULE SOME ONE-ON-ONEs AROUND OUR READING UPDATES TO GET THOSE OUT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME SLIDES THAT ARE LENGTHY THERE. WE'LL HAVE THOSE UPDATES ON SUSPENDED AGENDA. PROBABLY NOT THE BEST FOR 11:30. GOOD JOB, COLLEEN. SHAKE, CAN YOU DO IT QUICKLY? ROLLING OUT PHASE ONE OF BOUNDARY UPDATES. AS YOU KNOW WE DID PASS NEW BOUNDARIES. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ROUGHLY OVER 15,000 STUDENTS. BE AWARE STARTING TOMORROW WE'LL SEND OUT DISTRICT-WIDE PARENT LINKS TO THOSE PARENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED. WE ALSO ARE LAW FIRMING OUR WEBSITE AND FAQs ON THE HOME PAGE OF THE WEBSITE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEARCH ALL OVER FOR IT. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SCHOOL CHOICE WINDOW, WE ARE ASKING PARENTS THAT WANT TO BE GRANDFATHERED INTO THE SCHOOL

461THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN, THIS WILL BE FOR A RISING FIFTH, 8th, 11th OR 12th GRADERS THAT NEED TO GO ONLINE AND COMPLETE SCHOOL CHOICE SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO STAY AT THE SCHOOL. ALSO, WE'RE ASKING SCHOOLS THAT HAVE OPEN HOUSES, SO ANY SCHOOL THAT'S GOING TO BE RECEIVING STUDENTS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS DIRECTLY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE. GIVES THE PARENTS OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND SEE THE NEW SCHOOL, AND WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF OUR CHOICE WINDOW. ALL STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER 1st, SO EVERYONE THAT'S IMPACTED THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY ROLL OVER TO THE NEW SCHOOL. PARENTS DO NOT HAVE TO REREGISTER THEIR STUDENTS. ALSO, WE WANT TO BE CLEAR PUBLICLY THAT ALL HCPS

462STAFF THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY BOUNDARIES WILL HAVE A POSITION. EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A JOB IN RELATION TO BOUNDARY CHANGES. SO WE DON'T WANT ANY STAFF TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF BOUNDARIES ON SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. Van Ayres: THANK YOU, MS. McRAE. MS. VAUGHN, I DO REMEMBER, ON THE DAY I WAS APPOINTED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU AND THE BOARD HELD ME ACCOUNTABLE TO WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOUNDARY PLAN. REST ASSURED. THIS IS PHASE ONE. WE'LL CONTINUE THE OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR FAMILIES AND ALSO WITH THE BOARD AROUND OUR BOUNDARIES AND OUR PHASES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN. MY LAST SLIDE IS ON THE CYBERSECURITY UPDATE. SO JUST AN UPDATE THERE, APPROXIMATELY 98% COMPLETE. WE ARE REVIEWING PROPOSALS WITH THIRD PARTY EXPERTS REGARDING ONGOING CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT. AGAIN, YOU CAN READ THERE

463THE SERVICES -- STRATEGIC RESPONSE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MEETING TO ASSIST THE INITIAL STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ESTABLISH SERVICE EXPECTATIONS. THAT'S MY SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES. WILL NOW GO TO BOARD COMMENTS. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN A LOT OF MY SCHOOLS THIS WEEK AND A LOT OF SHARES AS FAR AS PICTURES ARE CONCERNED AND A LOT OF THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT, BUT IT'S LATE. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO JUST REALLY SAVE MY THOUGHTS FOR ONE COMMENT. I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF E-MAILS AND PHONE CALLS ABOUT SOME DIVISIVE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN HITTING OUR SCHOOLS. AND I JUST WANT TO USE MY TIME UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE

464ARE ALL ONE COMMUNITY. AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ROOM IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC, HOMOPHOBIA, DIVISION, AND HATE. AND THAT INSTEAD WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON AS ONE COMMUNITY WHO CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS EQUALLY IS TOLERANCE, PEACE, LOVE, AND ACCEPTANCE. AND FOR ME AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I WILL NOT STAND FOR ANYTHING IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT PROMOTES DIVISION, HATE, THAT PITS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU, WHO DOESN'T LOVE LIKE YOU, WHO DOESN'T SPEAK LIKE YOU, WHO DOESN'T WORSHIP THE SAME GOD AS YOU, THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING AMERICANS AND EMBRACING THIS CONCEPT OF FREEDOM IS MUTUAL RESPECT AND THE FREEDOM TO BE DIFFERENT. IT'S BEEN REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR WORLD DIVIDED. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE LOVE AND TOLERANCE AND PEACE AND ACCEPTANCE. AND THAT

465TO SAY THAT ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE HATES OR DISLIKES OR TO DEHUMANIZE OR DEMONIZE ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY STANDS FOR. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD. I SUPPORT AND STAND WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF, AGAIN, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, WHAT THEY BELIEVE, WHAT COLOR THEY ARE, WHO THEY LOVE. IT'S ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR STAFF. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: MEMBER VAUGHN, THAT'S SO APPLICABLE. I KNOW THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM, HOLLY SAIA PUT OUT, I THINK IT IS ABOUT A FIVE-PAGE BOOKLET ABOUT, TO OUR TEACHERS ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE HATE AND HOW TO BRIDGE THE GAP OF THE CAUSTIC STATEMENTS AND

466BASICALLY STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS JUST TO REALLY SMOOTH OUT THOSE ROUGH, MANY ROUGH EDGES AND THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP IS SO CRITICAL. WE'VE GOT TO -- WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND BE THE ROLE MODELS THAT ARE THE OPPOSITE AND IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH. FOLLOWING THAT, I DO WANT TO SA SAY, THE GREAT JOB OF CHAIR COMBS THAT SHE DID AT LETO, THE LATINO FESTIVAL, AND I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NAME, BUT I KNOW IT IS A BETTER NAME THAN THAT, SHE HAD OVER 800 OR MORE FOLKS, BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE TALK ABOUT GROUPS AND THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, WITHIN THAT FESTIVAL, THERE WERE OVER 15 TO 20 SMALL GROUPS, CLUBS THAT HAD EVERYTHING FROM A MIGRANT CLUB, LATINX CLUB, DECA. THEY HAD SO MUCH DIVERSITY PRESENT, THAT IN

467ITSELF, AND AT ANY RATE, WE WANT TO THANK PRINCIPAL LARISSA McCOY. HER STAFF WAS ON -- ABSOLUTELY STELLAR. OUR HISPANIC FORUM WAS THERE. OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PTA WAS THERE. WE HAD OUR HILLSBOROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOL MEMBERS THERE. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU HAD THE WHOLE WORLD THERE EMBRACING THE LATIN, THE WHOLE HERITAGE AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN TO SOMETHING THAT LARGE. THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE WANT TO THANK ALSO THE BRINK FOUNDATION WHO CONTRIBUTED ZILLIONS OF PIZZA THAT WAS FITTING, IN MELISSA MORGADO'S CAR. AT ANY RATE, THEY CONTRIBUTED A LOT OF FOOD. PLUS OUR CULINARY STAFF AT LETO DESERVES A LOT OF ACCOLADES. THEY WERE THERE WITH ENDLESS SERVINGS OF GREAT DISHES. I HOPE VAN AYRES, DID YOU GET SOME OF THOSE DISHES

468FROM THE CULINARY. THEY WERE DELICIOUS. MISSED IT, HUH? WELL, I DID. I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME EATING. AT ANY RATE, FAST-FORWARD, WE DO HAVE A SHORT VIDEO, PBIS. I KNOW THAT BOARD MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER WASHINGTON WERE THERE FOR THE CELEBRATION. SO SUPER-DUPER CHIME IN WHEN YOU WANT TO. THIS IS PRINCIPAL McCLOONEY WHO HAS TURNED THE SCHOOL FROM AN F TO A B -- SO YOU CAN SEE THE PBIS, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT SYSTEM REWARDING KIDS FOR VERY POSITIVE BEHAVIOR WORKS AND WE'RE PUTTING IT AT EVERY SCHOOL NOW, I DO BELIEVE. THANK YOU, MS. McRAE. AND ALSO, BOARD MEMBERS, AM I OUT OF TIME? Nadia Combs: YES, YOU ARE. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: OH, OKAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: MINE IS VERY FAST, QUICK AND IN

469A HURRY. CYBER TASK FORCE AS YOU HEARD BIANCA GHOULSBY MENTION NOVEMBER 6 AT 6:30. JUST REMINDING THE PARENTS, KEEPING THEM UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH AI AND OUR STUDENTS. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH VALDEZ HOSTING A TRUNK-OWEEN AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 29 FROM 4 TO 6. BRING YOUR CARS, FILL THEM WITH CANDY AND LET'S GET THE CHILDREN TO THE DENTIST. JUST SAYING. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: I'LL BE REAL QUICK. ARE WE GIVING COMP TIME TOMORROW OR WHAT? FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD A GREAT FORUM AT FAMU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AT THE TAMPA CHAPTER. MS. KIM BROWN AND DR. CAROLYN COLLINS AND WE HAD A FORUM ON EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, JUSTICE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. IT WAS REALLY A GOOD FORUM WE HAD. AND THEN ON

470THE 27th WE HAD THE LUNCHEON WITH JOHNNY BUSH. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE DOING AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE DOING. AND THE SUPERINTENDENT VAN AYRES WAS THERE. WE HAD A REALLY, REALLY GOOD TIME. AND THEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO GO THE PACE CENTER. I HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO THE PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS. HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, AND THEY HAD A GREAT -- THEY HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE KIDS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, VOCATION AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING. WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY, IT'S NICE TO GO BY THE PAY CENTER. THEN I HAD JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOOD PANTRY. THAT DAY I WENT ON THAT WEDNESDAY, WHICH I THINK OCTOBER THE 12th.

471THEY HAD 25 -- WE GAVE AWAY 25 -- FOOD AWAY TO 25 FAMILIES AND 100 INDIVIDUALS DURING MY VISIT. QUITE A FEW PEOPLE. AND I HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO THE BEST MEDICAL SUPPORT DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH. THEY HAD A GALA AND WE HAD DUNBAR, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY DO THAT WHITE COAT CEREMONY AND SO FORTH. WE HAD TAMPA BAY TECH. IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM. ACKNOWLEDGING KIDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH DR. FREDERICK. AND I THINK THAT WILL BE ALL FOR THE NIGHT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE CAN MAKE IT TO MIDNIGHT. I'M KIDDING. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: I WILL TALK VERY SLOW AND INTENTIONALLY NOW. NO, QUICKLY, HAD A GREAT VISIT AT PALM RIVER AS MEMBER GRAY AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE THINGS. MEMBER

472WASHINGTON, MEMBER GRAY AND I AND SUPERINTENDENT AYRES MET WITH THE HEAD OF HEAD START AND WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HEAD START AND HAD A REALLY PHENOMENAL CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MORE WITH HEAD START TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM. I ALSO HAD A MacDILL LUNCH AND LEARN AT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE. THE MILITARY FAMILIES, MANY OF THEM VERY NEW TO OUR COMMUNITY THIS YEAR, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AT OUR DISTRICT AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THEY GOT QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THEY GOT FREE RESOURCES. THEY GOT FREE BOOKS. SURPRISE, SURPRISE. AND THEY ALSO GOT A FREE LUNCH THANKS TO SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION WHO PROVIDED A BOX LUNCH FROM PUBLIX AND PUBLIX CAME AND SET EVERYTHING UP. THEY HAD ALL THE DRINKS. I MEAN, THEY WERE

473PHENOMENAL. SO THANK YOU TO SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION. THANK YOU TO MARCOS MURILLO AND KIM AND ANN MARIE COURTNEY FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID TO MAKE THIS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. ANN MARIE'S TEAM, ALL THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THAT CAME OUT, THE DISTRICT STAFF, THE SCHOOL STAFF. ALL THE FEEDBACK I'VE GOT FROM MacDILL LEADERSHIP AND THE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN VERY PHENOMENAL. REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR YOUR TIME THAT AFTERNOON. WE DID IT DURING LUNCH, SO MANY OF THE MILITARY FOLKS THAT COME OUT DURING THE LUNCH HOURS, IT WAS VERY CONVENIENT FOR THEM AND MacDILL GAVE US A BEAUTIFUL VENUE TO UTILIZE FOR THE EVENT. SO LOOKING FORWARD, THAT'S GOING TO BECOME AN ANNUAL SIGNATURE EVENT. WE DID SOMETHING ON A VERY SMALLER SCALE THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT THIS YEAR WE KIND OF PUT IT ON STEROIDS. SO

474IT WAS GREAT. AND JUST THE LAST THING AS I MENTIONED EARLIER TONIGHT, SUPERINTENDENT AYRES, I WANT YOU TO BE PERMANENT. I KNOW YOU HAVE A HEAVY LOAD TO CARRY. YOU'RE GETTING READY TO CARRY THAT FOR US, AND I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT TO HAVE STABILITY AND CLARITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRACT COMING BEFORE THIS BOARD SOONER THAN LATER. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. Van Ayres: BEFORE YOU GO, THE LONGEST BOARD MEETING EVER ON RECORD IS 11:52. YOU NEED TO TALK MORE THAN THREE MINUTES, WE'LL BREAK THE RECORD FOR THE LONGEST BOARD MEETING IN HISTORY. Nadia Combs: THIS IS LIKE MY LAST FORMAL MEETING AS CHAIR. Van Ayres: THREE MINUTES, WE COULD BREAK A RECORD TONIGHT. Nadia Combs: WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO CONCUR WITH MEMBER HAHN SAID. YOU HAVE

475REALLY WORKED VERY, VERY HARD, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRACT COMING UP VERY SOON. AND JUST YOUR HARD WORK AND THEN YOUR CABINET HAS WORKED HAVE HE HARD. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKED SO, SO HARD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR ATTENDING THE HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION. IT WAS OUR SECOND YEAR, AND I WANT TO THANK PRINCIPAL LARISSA McCOY WHO IS LIKE SUCH AN AMAZING INDIVIDUAL, SUCH AN AMAZING LEADER AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL. SHE IS SO TOP-NOTCH. I WANT TO THANK THE BRINK FAMILY FOUNDATION WHO SUPPORTS OUR DISTRICT IN COUNTLESS WAYS AND SUPPORTS SO MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS. ANYTIME I NEED ANYTHING FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE AND STEP UP AND THERE. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM AS PARTNERS. I

476WANT TO THANK THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. MARCOS MURILLO WHO IS SUCH A WONDERFUL LEADER AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP. MELISSA MORGADO, SO MUCH, THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE MUSIC TEACHERS WHO DID THE PERFORMANCES. IT WAS OUTSTANDING, AND WE HAD SO MANY PARTNERS. I THINK WE HAD -- I THINK WE HAD 58 BOOTHS. IT WAS REALLY PACKED AND ALSO TO SEBASTIAN ARVALATEZ, HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT, IN COMMUNICATIONS WHO CREATED THE VIDEO. PABLO, I THINK THE VIDEO IS 30 SECONDS LONG. WE'RE CLOSE TO THE 11:52. WE ARE HERE AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATING OUR SECOND HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION. WE HAVE SO MANY STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHO ARE HERE. WE HAVE OVER 25 SCHOOLS. WE HAVE OVER 27 VENDORS HERE TO SUPPORT

477OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY. IT'S SO EXCITING. WE HAVE STUDENTS CELEBRATING FROM ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. WE WANT OUR FAMILIES TO KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND THAT WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE THAT EACH AND EVERY CULTURE AND WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. WHAT TIME IS IT RIGHT NOW? Van Ayres: HOLD ON. PATTY NEEDS TO TALK. Nadia Combs: I REALLY LIKE TO BREAK RECORDS. I DO WANT TO SAY I THINK THIS IS OFFICIALLY MY LAST MEETING AS CHAIR, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH TODAY WAS A LOT OF DEBATE, A LOT OF DISCUSSION, I THINK TOGETHER WE WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER AND I THINK WE ALL RESPECT EACH OTHER AND REALLY, REALLY

478WORK TOGETHER. IT'S REALLY SUCH A PLEASURE BEING ABLE TO BE WITH A STRONG BOARD. I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. ARE WE AT 11:52? WELL, MEMBER RENDON, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? Patti Rendon: SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. THEY HAVE KICKED OFF THEIR BUSINESS PANELS. THEY ARE INTRODUCING TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND SENIORS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOT ONLY JOBS, BUT CAREERS THAT OFFER BENEFITS THAT WILL HIRE YOU DIRECTLY OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, SO THANK YOU TO THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AS THEY PARTNER WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS GIVING ALL OF OUR SENIORS AN OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN LITHIA, FLORIDA, SPONSORING A HOME FOR SERGEANT CARTER COMING UP. WE HAVE NOW BROKEN

479THE RECORD. Van Ayres: DID IT. Nadia Combs: I FEEL LIKE WE CAN BREAK IT MORE AND MORE. NO, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.