04/18/2023 - 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 APRIL 18, 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. TODAY, WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS FROM DAWSON ELEMENTARY, WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY JOINING US TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN SPANISH AND THEN ENGLISH. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN SPANISH] [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN ENGLISH] Henry "Shake" Washington: GREAT JOB. YOU MAY BE SEATED. I GOT A LITTLE EXCITED AND FORGOT TO TELL YOU ALL TO BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: GREAT JOB. MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT SINCE WE HAD TWO WONDERFUL GROUPS TONIGHT? Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY INSTRUMENT CHANGE BAND ALONG WITH THE BAND

004DIRECTOR, CHARLA KERWIN AND THE PRINCIPAL. STUDENTS FROM DAUSOME AND SUMMERFIELD CROSSING. THEY ENTERTAINED US PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. HI. MY NAME IS ABBICA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. MY NAME IS JOSCELYN. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. MY NAME IS JASMINE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. MY NAME IS ADDISON WISE AND I AM IN THE FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ELLA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS KENSA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. ZYLA AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS HANNA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS BIRDIE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS MARIAH. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS EVELYN. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ZYRA. I'M IN

005FIFTH GRADE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ANTHONY. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS RAMONA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS LOGAN. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS PEYTON. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. I'M SOPHIA. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS LIAM. I AM IN FIFTH GRADE. HI. I'M JACKSON. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. I'M JACKIE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. SPRINGHEAD MUSIC TEACHER. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE DIRECTORS AT SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY. I AM THE ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER ALONG WITH HAILEY AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND WHO ALSO TEACHES THE TRUMPETS, MR. KERWIN. WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST TAKE TWO SECONDS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE. INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE IS A WONDERFUL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PUTS THEIR PROGRAM INTO TITLE I SCHOOLS. GLEN SHUBERT

006IS WITH US TONIGHT. THESE STUDENTS WILL BE GRADUATING ON THURSDAY NIGHT. THEY HAVE PASSED OFF ALL THEIR SONGS AND ACCOMPLISHED ALL THEIR GOALS THIS YEAR. WHEN THEY JOIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JOIN A BAND, INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE PRESENTS THEM WITH THEIR OWN FOREVER INSTRUMENT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM BACK IN JANUARY, DECEMBER, TO PRESENT THEM WITH THEIR FOREVER INSTRUMENT. WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK MR. SHUBERT. I'M GLEN SHUBERT. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY, MICHELLE McCLELLAN. Henry "Shake" Washington: IF WE HAVE ANY PARENTS WANTING TO TAKE PICTURES, PLEASE COME UP, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR SETTING THE TONE FOR THE MEETING. IT WAS GREAT. GREAT JOB. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

007WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TODAY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT 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. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON

008WILL 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 MEETINGS. MEANS SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS ON LIVE WEBCAST, ON CABLE TV, AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN -- ACTUALLY, TWO ITEMS. 5.01, PUBLIC HEARING, AND 6:00, EMPLOYEE INPUT. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL BE MOVING TO OUR INFORMATION ITEM. 12.01, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE, 2023 HIGH SCHOOLS VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

009AND WINNERS OF THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL FUTURE VOTER ART CONTEST. MARIE ROGERS, SUPERVISOR OF K-5 SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, AND BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION, MR. CRAIG LATIMER WHO WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS AND PRESENT THOSE AWARDS. MR. LATIMER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CHAIR, DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND COUNCIL, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN A TERRIFIC PARTNER OF OURS FOR MANY YEARS. WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH REGISTER AND PREREGISTER TO VOTE. YOU CAN PREREGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA 16 AND 17 YEARS OLD. YOU CAN'T VOTE UNTIL YOU'RE 18 THOUGH. EVERY SEMESTER, WE'RE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AT LEAST TWICE, EVERY SCHOOL YEAR WE'RE AT

010LEAST TWICE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS YEAR WE ALREADY PREREGISTERED OVER 2700 STUDENTS. SINCE 2012, WHEN I STARTED REALLY A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE NOW REGISTERED MORE THAN 29,000 STUDENTS, FUTURE VOTERS, AS WE WOULD CALL THEM. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE THEME FOR TODAY, TOO. WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE START VOTING AT AN EARLY AGE, THEY CONTINUE VOTING. THEY GET ENGAGED CIVICALLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IT'S ALL GOOD THINGS. IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO START TALKING ABOUT VOTING EVEN SOONER. WE DID SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WE ADDED AN ART CONTEST TO THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. PREVIOUSLY, IT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH AIMED AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS. AND WE HAD SOME OVERWHELMING RESPONSES I'LL TALK ABOUT. BUT BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS, I WANT TO

011ACKNOWLEDGE KELLY BRINNEN, LORI HOBBY AND MARIE ROGERS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE ASSISTANCE THEY GAVE US WITH THE SOCIAL STUDIES AND ART TEACHERS WHO HAVE HELPED US PROMOTE THIS VOTER REGISTRATION AND ART CONTEST. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND WILL BE AWARDING PRIZES TO OUR WINNING ARTISTS. THE GLAZER CHILDREN MUSEUM, THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM, AND ZOO TAMPA. I ALSO HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE FROM MY OFFICE HERE TO HELP OUT WITH THIS TODAY. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY REGISTERING THE STUDENTS AND DOING A GREAT JOB OUT THERE. WINNERS OF OUR VOTER REGISTRATION CONTEST. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THIRD PLACE SPOTO HIGH SCHOOL, ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS TERESA, SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT HEAD. SECOND PLACE, HOWARD W.

012BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS SONYA CASTRO. FIRST PLACE, PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS VINCENT DEAKONTO. THERE WILL BE GOOD CONVERSATION TONIGHT BETWEEN FIRST AND THIRD AT THE DINNER TABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I TOLD YOU WE PUT THE CHALLENGE OUT TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TO DESIGN A FUTURE VOTER STICKER. THIS IS SOMETHING WE GIVE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. PARENTS ARE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO VOTE OR THEY ARE REGISTERING TO VOTE. THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM AND WE LIKE TO GIVE THE STICKERS OUT, AGAIN, TO CREATE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE WERE STUNNED, QUITE FRANKLY. WE HAD OVER 140 ENTRIES. 140 ENTRIES INTO THIS CONTEST. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THIS ARTWORK IN OUR VOTER EDUCATION OUTREACH EFFORTS AND WE'LL BE HANDING OUT THE TWO WINNING STICKERS, THE

013ONE FROM ELEMENTARY AND THE ONE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, WILL BE HANDED OUT AT OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS. A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE GO THROUGH 140 OF THESE ENTRIES AND PICK THE WINNERS. WE DID SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE. WE VOTED ON THEM. SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP KATE WHITE, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, FOR GLAZER CHILDREN MUSEUM TO SAY WHAT SHE'S GOING TO BE AWARDING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. WE ARE SO HONORED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM. THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THESE YOUNG FUTURE CIVIC LEADERS, THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS VERY PROUD OF THESE KIDS, THE CREATIVITY THAT THEY HAVE SHARED, THE SYMBOLISM THEY HAVE INCLUDED IN THEIR ARTWORK, THE CLEAR THOUGHT THAT THEY HAVE PUT INTO HOW THEY CAN REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THEIR

014FUTURE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES. SO WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY MEMBERSHIPS TO THE MUSEUM FOR THE FIRST PLACE PRIZE, WE HAVE PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP. THE SECOND PLACE PRIZE IS A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP. THE THIRD PLACE PRIZE IS A FOUR PACK OF TICKETS TO THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THESE KIDS CAN COME BACK AND PLAY WITH US ALL YEAR AND EVEN COME AND SEE A DINOSAUR IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN WE OPEN THAT EXHIBIT TO CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING AND THEIR PASSION FOR THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THANK YOU. TONY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM, WITH GLAZER, WITH YOU, CRAIG, AND THE REST JUST TO HONOR THESE KIDS. THEY ARE SO AWE INSPIRING. WHAT A GREAT GIFT IN OUR COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE A

015CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT AND WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO THROUGH THIS CONTEST. WE ARE JUST SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO AWARD EVERYONE WHO IS NOW FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD, THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND TO BE OUR GUEST AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM AND THEY CAN BRING UP TO 8 GUESTS AS WELL WITH THEM. WE'RE PROUD TO PRESENT THEM WITH A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, AND THANK YOU, CRAIG, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND HAVE US A PART OF IT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A REALLY GREAT PLACE. MARK HANEY, CHIEF EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER FOR ZOO TAMPA. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. WE SAY AT THE ZOO WE'RE NOT JUST ABOUT ANIMALS, WE'RE ABOUT PEOPLE. IF WE ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO

016VOTE, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE COUNTRY, REALLY. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS FOR THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE FOUR PASSES AND A TUMBLER. FOR SECOND PLACE, WE'VE GOT SIX PASSES AND A TUMBLER. AND THEN FIRST PLACE GETS A BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIP TOUR FOR EIGHT PEOPLE. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT GET TO FEED A RHINO. I'M JUST SAYING. BUT WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE PART OF THIS. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIRD PLACE GOES TO SUA KIM, CHILES ELEMENTARY. SECOND PLACE, MABEL MARIE RENDLEMAN, STOWERS ELEMENTARY. FIRST PLACE -- I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE -- JYOTSNA TATIKONDA, LOWRY ELEMENTARY. ON TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIRD PLACE, ISLA GAUDREAU, HOMESCHOOL. SECOND PLACE, FROM TURNER/BARTELS K-8 SCHOOL, LUCY LINTON. ALL RIGHT. AND

017FIRST PLACE, FROM WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL, NATHANIEL FREEMAN. WE WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT THESE TALENTED, TALENTED STUDENTS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I KNOW SOME MEMBERS WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. MEMBER GRAY PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: WELL, LET THE EXCITEMENT -- I THINK THEY ARE REMOVING THEMSELVES, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK JUST REAL SHORT. HONORABLE CRAIG LATIMER, THANK YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE DOING THROUGH YOUR OFFICE AND YOU INTEGRATED OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN SUCH AN ENGAGING WAY, IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IS MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT AS WE GET INTO MORE CONTENTIOUS SUBJECTS. AND LEARNING HOW TO SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS THE IDEAL THAT WE TEACH AND WANT TO

018TEACH. AND I THANK OUR SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT, CERTAINLY GLAZER MUSEUM, ZOO TAMPA AND FLORIDA, EXCUSE ME, AND THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM. BUT ALL IN ALL, BRINGING TOGETHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, BUSINESS PARTNERS AND BRINGING OUR SCHOOLKIDS FOR THIS ENDEAVOR HAS REALLY -- IT MAKES A HUGE IMPACT. SO I THANK YOU. WE ALL THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR HELPING US ENGAGE WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS AND GET THIS DONE. SO THANK YOU, SIR. ALSO, IF YOU ALL WILL GO TO MY TWITTER PAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE VIDEO THAT WE DID ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A VOTING CONTEST BEFORE LONG. DON'T TALK ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT HERE, RIGHT? OKAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. LATIMER AS FAR

019AS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM AND THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND ZOO TAMPA. WE'RE JUST SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS JUST OPENLY WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS. AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT. I ALSO JUST WANT TO END BY, ONE, THANKING THEM AGAIN. THANKING ALL THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED, THE FAMILIES AND THE TEACHERS WHO SUPPORTED THEM AND THEIR PARTICIPATION OF THIS. AND WHOEVER WON THE BACKSTAGE TOUR OF THE ZOO, YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT. I'M JUST SAYING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, CRAIG LATIMER, ZOO TAMPA, GLAZER MUSEUM, AND THE AQUARIUM. FIRST OF ALL, I'M JUST IMPRESSED AT THE FACT THAT THESE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO DO THESE DRAWINGS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE

020THAT THEY HAVE FOR VOTING. BEING ABLE TO GET THEM EARLY AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE VOTING PROCESS IS INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: OF COURSE, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, BUT IT'S SO VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND THEIR RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND THEIR RIGHT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. SO TEACHING OUR CHILDREN FROM SUCH A YOUNG AGE AS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ABOUT WHAT THAT PROCESS STANDS FOR AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND FOR THEM TO BE A PART OF IT IS JUST HEARTWARMING AND HEARTFELT TO ME TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS OUT THERE LEARNING SUCH A

021PROCESS AND SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF BEING PART OF THIS COUNTRY. AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS GOT TO HAVE THAT VERY SPECIAL GIFT TO LEARN SO EARLY ON. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ASSISTING US AND BEING ABLE TO BRING THAT TO EACH OF OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU, AGAIN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. I WANT TO ECHO THE BOARD. WE APPRECIATE CRAIG FOR HIS CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN EVERY ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. OUR TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THAT NUMBER. 2700 STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE REGISTERED THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPOSE THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WE REALLY THINK THAT TRANSITIONING TO THE ELEMENTARY AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS YEAR, ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS TO ACTIVELY COMPETE IN A

022CONTEST, ALL CENTERED AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING REALLY WILL GET OUR STUDENTS EXPOSED TO THIS AT AN EARLIER AGE. WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW THIS INITIATIVE. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THE FIRST ONE THROUGH SEVEN SPEAKERS CAN PLEASE LINE UP. 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 WE'LL 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, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD

023MEMBER OR 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 THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, RED LIGHT AND CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. IF THE FIRST SPEAKER WOULD PLEASE COME UP, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHERYL PATTERSON. I'M FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU GUYS TO RECONSIDER THE CLOSING OF JUST ELEMENTARY. AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S A STOP AND SHOP. YOU HAVE YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE. YOU

024FEED INTO YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEN YOU GOT YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN YOU GOT THE HIGH SCHOOL. A LOT OF PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO WALK THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. NOW, THIS BUSING, I THOUGHT WE WERE BEYOND BUSING A WHILE BACK, AND HAVING TO BUS MY BABIES OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S A LITTLE SCARY. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I WAS IN THAT -- I GREW UP IN THAT ERA. AND I REMEMBER LEAVING ONE SCHOOL, GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. THE SCARINESS, THE BULLYING, THE THINGS THAT I HAD TO DO TO TRY TO FIT IN. WHEN ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT OUR BABIES HAVE ALREADY GROWN TO KNOW EACH OTHER. SOME OF THE PARENTS TAKE JOY IN WALKING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. SOME OF THEM, IF YOU GOT A CHILD AT JUST AND YOU HAVE A HARDHEADED

025ONE AT STUART, YOU CAN JUST WALK FROM JUST TO STEWART. EVEN YOUR OLDER KIDS, IF YOU WANT YOUR OLDER KIDS TO PICK UP YOUR BABY FROM JUST, ALL THEY GOT TO DO IS LEAVE BLAKE. PLEASE, YOU GUYS, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT -- IT'S MORE ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE THAT IT DOES TO CHILDREN. THEY ARE MAKING A LOT OF PLANS FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA FROM NORTH BOULEVARD TO ROME. BUT I DON'T SEE THE PLAY AREA FOR THE CHILDREN. I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE FOR THOSE CHILDREN TO GROW AND BECOME LEON McRAE OR BECOME THELMA OR BECOME LARRY. ALL THE PEOPLE TAMPA CATHOLIC, CAME TO THE PROJECTS AND RECRUITED WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. PLEASE, IN GOD'S NAME, DON'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM OUR BABIES. OKAY. THE SECOND THING IS IF THE POPULATION -- I

026MEAN, THE SCHOOL POPULATION IS DOWN, WELL, WEST TAMPA IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITIES IN TAMPA. SO IT AIN'T GOING TO BE NO PROBLEM FILLING THOSE SCHOOLS UP. OKAY. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY, THE COMMUNITY DON'T WANT TO SEPARATE THEIR BABIES. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU, AND JUST LOOK IT OVER. BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE ARTICLE ABOUT WHO JUST WAS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THOSE ROLE MODELS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR ME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STANLEY GRAY. I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF AS WELL AS THE URBAN LEAGUE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE MISSION OF THE URBAN LEAGUE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS TO ASSIST WITH THE ATTAINMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY. THE

027FIRST AND THE MOST VITAL PRINCIPLE TO THAT IS HAVING ADEQUATE EDUCATION. I UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT NUMBERS PLAY IN THIS EQUATION, THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AT THE REDISTRICTING AND BUSING PLANS AT HAND. THE LAST TIME I STOOD BEFORE THIS BOARD I ASKED YOU TO LOOK THROUGH A PRISM OF EQUITY AS YOU DETERMINE YOUR ACTIONS. I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE YOUR PLAN SEEMS TO HONOR THE SACRED COWS OF OUR COUNTY SCHOOLS WHILE NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT STYLE OF ACHIEVEMENT IMPROVEMENT IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY. THIS PLAN LACKS THE APPEARANCE OR SEMBLANCE OF EQUITY. THIS PLAN WILL NOT IMPROVE EDUCATION OUTPUTS OR ACHIEVEMENTS. BUSING KIDS IN MOST CASES NEGATES PARENT PARTICIPATION. PARENT PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF ACADEMIC AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. THIS PLAN FEEDS INTO THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES THAT INHIBIT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RATHER THAN

028ADDRESSING AND IMPROVING IT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND ADMINISTRATION. MY NAME IS FRED HEARNS. 15 YEARS AGO, I WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE JUST GENTLEMEN'S CLUB AT EARNEST JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPONSORED BY THE CHAPTER OF THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED. SEVERAL OF MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS ARE HERE WITH ME THIS EVENING. I'M SURE MANY OTHERS WATCHING ON TELEVISION. AND WE SUPPORT JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REMAINING A PLACE WHERE WE CAN TEACH YOUNG SOULS FROM WEST TAMPA AND PERHAPS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, AND CONTINUE AS A SCHOOL. I KNOW THE PLAN IS TO REPURPOSE THAT BUILDING TO MAKE IT AN ADMINISTRATIVE SITE. WE RECOMMEND THAT IT REMAIN A SCHOOL. I'D LIKE TO GO ON RECORD SAYING THAT IS MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION ALSO. BEFORE YOU MAKE THE

029DECISION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHO EARNEST EVERETT JUST WAS. HE WAS BORN IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, IN POVERTY. HE MADE HIS WAY TO DARTMOUTH COLLEGE WHERE HE GRADUATED AT THE AGE OF 21 MAGNA CUM LAUDE. HE WENT FROM THERE TO TEACH AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND REMAINED ON THE FACULTY THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, REALLY UP UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1941. HE WAS A MICROBIOLOGIST SUPREME. HAD HE BEEN WHITE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TEACHING AT ALL OF THE MAJOR UNIVERSITIES. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEEKING HIM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. BUT BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK AS HAD BEEN MANY OF THE STUDENTS WHO WALKED THE HALLS OF JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND BEFORE THAT, JUST MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE OF THAT, HE WAS FORCED TO PURSUE HIS STUDIES AND HIS PROFESSION

030IN EUROPE. AND HE BECAME A STAR IN GERMANY, IN ITALY, AND FRANCE UP UNTIL THE GERMANS FORCED HIM OUT AND HE WAS ACTUALLY A P.O.W. FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES. HE PUBLISHED OVER 70 SCHOLARLY PAPERS. HE WROTE TWO OR THREE BOOKS AND MOST OF HIS SCHOLARSHIP WAS HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD FOR SOME 30 OR 40 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. IT WAS ONLY IN THE 1980s THAT HIS WORK WAS REDISCOVERED. I'M ASKING YOU TO MAINTAIN JUST AS A SCHOOL WHERE WE CAN TEACH STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHAT COLOR THEY ARE SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ERNEST E. JUST DIDN'T HAVE, AND THAT HE HAD TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES TO PURSUE IN A FOREIGN LAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK

031THE CHAIRMAN AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. KEITH SMILEY. I'M A NATIVE OF TAMPA, FLORIDA. I GREW UP IN EAST TAMPA. I ATTENDED ORANGE GROVE ELEMENTARY, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. AND THEN WE WERE BUSED OUT TO MADISON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND OUT TO ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I GRADUATED. I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA AFTER THAT, SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, SERVED WITH MY BELOVED FRATERNITY BROTHERS IN OMEGA PSI PHI. WHEN WE RESTARTED OUR MENTOR PROGRAM AT ERNEST E. JUST AND AT G.V. STEWART MIDDLE. IT'S IMPORTANT THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THE BUSING AND MOVING CHILDREN FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER, I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN YOU MOVE CHILDREN, YOU LOSE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND YOU LOSE A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS. SO WHEN THE KIDS GROW UP TOGETHER,

032THEY KNOW EACH OTHER. AS YOU KNOW EACH OTHER AND YOU KNOW YOUR TEACHERS AND YOU BECOME A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU DECREASE VIOLENCE AND CRIME BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO ROB YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR SISTER. THINK THIS THING ALL THE WAY THROUGH. KEEP ERNEST E. JUST ELEMENTARY IN WEST TAMPA. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. AND IF THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS WILL PLEASE LINE UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME MORE IN THE ROOM. SO THE FIRST THREE GENTLEMEN THAT YOU HEARD FROM ARE MEMBERS OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED. I'M HOPING YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME. Nadia Combs: IF YOU CAN SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE MIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE, PLEASE. SURE. IT'S FOR SHORT PEOPLE. Nadia Combs: I KNOW. SO YOU ALREADY HAVE A HISTORY LESSON. I WAS GOING TO

033START OFF WITH THE HISTORY CONTEXT. I'LL GO DOWN TO THIS POINT. DR. JUST, A GRADUATE OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ON NOVEMBER 17, 1911, HE ALONG WITH THREE OTHER UNDERGRADUATES STARTED THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED. WE HAVE A CONCLAVE COMING IN TAMPA IN 2024. THE FOUNDERS, OSCAR JAMES COOPER, FRANK COLEMAN AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ERNEST EVERETT JUST. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND TO EACH BOARD MEMBER TO READ A HIGHLY FAVORABLE BOOK, BLACK APOLLO SCIENCES. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, WE'LL GIVE YOU A COPY. THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL OF THE NAACP IN 1916, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AWARDED HIM A Ph.D. WE GIVE YOU ALL THIS TO SAY FLORIDA AS A DEI ISSUE. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. WHEN YOU COME UP

034WITH THESE DECISION FACTORS, ALL OF THESE GUYS ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY. TALLAHASSEE IS CRAZY. DON'T SOUND AS CRAZY AS TALLAHASSEE. YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT VOTING EARLIER. WE ARE HERE. WE DO NOT SUPPORT MOVING OUR FOUNDER FROM THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S DEEP. THIS IS ALL HERE. THE KIDS NEED TO SEE THAT. OUR KIDS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS MAR LOW BLAIR. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED. MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WERE SCHOOLTEACHERS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WENT TO THE SCHOOL THAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT AT, WHICH WAS HENDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HENDERSON WAS CLOSED AND WAS MADE AN OFFICE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. AT THIS TIME, THERE DOES NOT EXIST A HENDERSON AND MOST OF YOU DON'T REMEMBER THAT. WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS

035SOMEONE TO FORGET OUR FOUNDER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD, EVENING. I'M SHORT, SO I CAN SPEAK INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. REALLY WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD THOSE GENTLEMEN THAT WERE JUST STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR WHAT THEIR HEART AND WHAT THEIR TRUTH BELIEVES IN. SO I REALLY APPLAUD WHAT YOU GUYS AND I'M SURE YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY IS FOR JUST SCHOOL. NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY I ADVOCATE FOR MY FAMILY AND MY SON WHO IS IN A VERY SMALL DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN THE BON AIR WEST PALM, PALMS AREA. MINIMAL AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE AREA THAT ARE IN THIS CROSSHAIRS OF BOUNDARIES CHANGES. MY SON IS IN SCOUTS. HE PLAYS HOCKEY OVER OUT IN BRANDON AND HE'S DOING A LOT

036OF THE COMMUNITY THINGS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE'S CHILDREN ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY SUMMER IS COMING UP AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE FRIENDSHIPS MOVING INTO HIS NEXT SCHOOL, WHICH AT THIS POINT IS COLEMAN AND THE WAY THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING NOW, HE MIGHT GO INTO FIRST YEAR OF COLEMAN. MIGHT GO OUT SECOND YEAR. WE'RE NOT SURE. WE'RE HOPING WITH EVERYBODY ADVOCATING TO HAVE THAT SMALL LITTLE PIECE, I BELIEVE IT'S 88 STUDENTS THAT IT'S GOING TO AFFECT. IT MAY BE 100 PER HIGH SCHOOL, THAT WE ARE EXCLUDED FROM THESE BOUNDARY CHANGES AND KEEP US WITHIN THAT AREA OF THE COLEMAN AND FUTURE DOWN TO PLANT. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION. ANOTHER THING, ALSO, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE I GUESS DECEMBER HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND MOST OF THE TIME I'M PRETTY HAPPY AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES

037I'M FRUSTRATED OR ANXIETIES MOVING TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU GUYS WANT TO FINISH THIS UP AND GET YOUR VOTE IN AND MOVE ON. I'VE NEVER, EVER WANTED TO OFFEND ANYBODY WITH MY COMMENTS, WHETHER IT BE AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, THOSE CHILDREN ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN MY CHILD. THEY WANT TO BE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND MY CHILD WANTS TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT WE DON'T WANT TO INTERMIX OR ANYTHING, BUT THAT'S JUST THE CASE, JUST LIKE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE GENTLEMEN WERE SAYING, WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY NOW. DON'T KEEP OVER HERE, OVER HERE, OVER HERE AND ALL THAT. SO, AGAIN, IT'S NEVER BEEN MY AGENDA OR MY NARRATIVE TO UPSET ANYBODY IN THE PROCESS. SO I THANK YOU GUYS AND, AGAIN, GOOD LUCK AND HOPEFULLY WE GET THIS DONE SOON. THANK YOU.

038Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. I HAVE PREPARED REMARKS. MY NAME IS ROBERT PETE EDWARDS. BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER 50 YEARS. MARCH 16, 2001, 11th CIRCUIT DECLARED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS OBTAINED UNITARY STATUS AND RELEASED FROM THE 1971 DESEGREGATION, LED BY THEN EDWARDS AND TOM GONZALEZ ALONG WITH SEVERAL CITIZENS INCLUDING MYSELF AND THE LATE SAM HORTON. IT WAS THE HOPE THEN AND IT WAS DECIDED IN APPELLATE DECISION AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN 2004, THAT NOT ONLY FORCED BUSING WOULD STOP, BUT BEEF UP PROGRAMMING IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN AN OPEN EFFORT BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND I DETERMINED AT LEAST THREE PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO CLOSE DOWN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND

039INCREASE MANDATORY BUSING OF MINORITY KIDS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MANY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT ONLY THE RUSH TO CLOSE JUST, BUT ALSO THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES STONEWALLING ON PROVIDING TRUTHFUL, AND I MEAN TRUTHFUL INFORMATION ON THE FUTURE OF STEWART, KIMBELL, BLAKE, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND THE CURRENT SITE LOCATION FOR A SUPPOSEDLY FUTURE MEACHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. LIKE YOU BOARD MEMBER WASHINGTON, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT SURPRISED THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT BENEFIT THEM POLITICALLY THAT THE OTHER BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS COUNTY HAVE NOT COME FORTH IN A PUBLIC MEETING OR EDITORIAL SETTING TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THEY HAVE ABANDONED YOU BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY HAVE ABANDONED OUR CHILDREN. AS I CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS TODAY, I APPEAL TO THOSE CONNECTED WITH MOMS OF LIBERTY AND CONSERVATIVE LEGAL GROUP AND FOUNDATION

040TO TAKE UP THE CALL FOR IMMEDIATE IN THIS MATTER AND ALL RELATED MATTERS WITH REGARDS TO CERTAIN SCHOOL PROPERTY CLOSING THE SCHOOLS. I KNOW MANY WHITE, LATINO AND BLACK CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED AND QUESTIONING THIS RUSH WITH ALL THE SCHOOL FOOLISHNESS, BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RETRIBUTION AND RETALIATION. I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE IN MY 50 YEARS WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IF ANY LAW FIRM, ANY LEGAL FOUNDATION CAN PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES, I'M WILLING IF NECESSARY TO STAND ALONE AS A PLAINTIFF TO SEEK IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM THE PROPOSED ACTIONS THAT WILL PROBABLY PASS TODAY OR REAL SOON AFTER. I ASK YOU ALL BEFORE TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION BY THE STATEWIDE GRAND JURY, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STATE GRAND JURY, OR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FEDERAL INSPECTOR GENERAL.

041LIKE BEFORE WHEN THE INFORMATION WAS LEAKED UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION OF JEFF AIKENS AND ALL -- JEFF EAKINS, THERE WAS A DRIVE TO SELL THE SCHOOLS OFF THE RIVER, THEY'LL LEAK IT AGAIN. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY BOARD MEMBER TIED UP KNOWING ALL THE TIME WHAT THE REAL PLAN IS BEHIND THE SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M PETER HORSESMITH. I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO POINT OUT THE MARVELOUS DIVERSITY THAT WE SAW EARLIER TODAY, THE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM DIFFERENT GROUNDS, DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES, DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL LEVELS. JUST THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE THERE. SO IT MAKES ME VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT I NEED TO BE HERE TODAY

042TO DISCUSS THE FACT THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING CHANGING OUR CURRENT BOOK REVIEW POLICY. I IMPLORE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE BEST EDUCATION THAT IS AVAILABLE. THIS MEANS HAVING ACCESS TO ALL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT DESCRIBE THE WORLD AROUND THEM, CHALLENGING THEIR MINDS TO DECIDE WHAT THIS WORLD IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW THEY WILL BECOME PART OF IT AND CONTRIBUTE TO IT WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS. FRANKLY, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY BOOK SHOULD BE BANNED. IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH ITS CONTENTS SO THOSE CONTENTS CAN BE DISCUSSED OPENLY. DO NOT SUCCUMB TO THE PRESSURE BEING PLACED ON YOU BY THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE IDEALOSTS TO LIMIT WHAT CHILDREN LEARN. OUR CURRENT BOOK REVIEW POLICIES WORK VERY

043WELL. IT IS BAD ENOUGH WE ARE ALREADY IN SITUATIONS WHERE ONE PERSON GETS TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. DON'T MAKE IT EASIER INSTEAD OF HARDER FOR THAT TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS SHARON GRAHAM. I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF THE CURRENT BOOK REVIEW POLICY THAT IS IN PLACE. IT IS A SITE-SPECIFIC POLICY, A BOOK-SPECIFIC POLICY, AND THERE IS SO MUCH WISDOM IN THAT. AND I AM JUST IMPLORING YOU TO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN PLACE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND ENJOY ENGAGING IN SOMETHING CALLED FLOODING. MY FELLOW THERAPIST, MEMBER PEREZ KNOWS WHAT THIS IS. IT'S AN INTENTIONAL TACTIC TO SHOCK

044PEOPLE BY EXPOSING THEM TO OFFENSIVE CONTENT. AND IT MASKS THE BROADER CONTEXT AND THE POINT OF WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THAT, AGAIN, GOES BACK TO THE WISDOM OF THE PROCESS THAT'S IN PLACE. WE HAVE COMMITTEES WHO REVIEW THESE BOOKS AND MAKE DETERMINATIONS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC STRESSORS THAT EXIST WITHIN THESE ROOMS. AND SO ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT PARENTS CAN ALWAYS OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF ANY SPECIFIC TEXT THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILD TO READ. AND THAT IS IMPORTANT. ALSO, THE SITE-SPECIFIC REVIEW AND THE BOOK-SPECIFIC REVIEW IS JUST PHENOMENALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR LIBRARIANS CURATE THE COLLECTIONS, AND THEY DO THAT BASED ON REQUESTS THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THEIR STUDENTS. SO EACH COMMUNITY HAS UNIQUE STUDENTS. UNIQUE NEEDS. AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WISDOM OF THE

045PROCESS WE HAVE IN PLACE. AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M JUST IMPLORING YOU TO MAINTAIN THAT AS YOU CONSIDER IT NEXT WEEK IN THE WORKSHOP. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M ALSO ASKING YOU WHEN YOU MEET NEXT WEEK TO PLEASE KEEP THE CURRENT BOOK REVIEW POLICY IN PLACE AS IS BECAUSE IT WORKS. AND ANY PARENT WHO DOES NOT LIKE WHAT IS IN THE LIBRARY IS EMPOWERED TO NOTIFY THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AND MAKE SURE THEIR CHILD DOES NOT TAKE OUT BOOKS THAT DON'T REFLECT THAT FAMILY'S VALUES. WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IS MAKE THAT DECISION FOR ALL FAMILIES. AS YOU WELL KNOW, THERE ARE OVER 200,000 CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY COME FROM ALL KINDS OF DIVERSE FAMILIES. THEY

046HAVE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. THEY COME FROM FAMILIES WITH DIFFERENT SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES, DIFFERENT HISTORIES. AND ALL OF THESE PARENTS HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL LIBRARIES, WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO SEE, WHAT THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO SEE. WHAT REALLY CONCERNS ME IS THAT VULNERABLE KIDS WILL BE HURT THE MOST BECAUSE THE TARGETED BOOKS TEND TO BE THOSE THAT HAVE THEMES OR CHARACTERS THAT ARE LGBTQ OR STORIES WITH ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES OR DEAL WITH MINORITY HISTORY. AND THESE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BACKGROUNDS RELATING TO THAT HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO SEE THEIR STORIES IN THESE LIBRARIES AS ANY OTHER CHILD WHO ATTENDS THESE SCHOOLS. CURRENT POLICY CENTERS THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND EMPOWERS THEIR PARENTS. IT CONSIDERS THE NEEDS OF EACH SCHOOL, WHICH IS A DISTINCT COMMUNITY, AND IT

047EMPOWERS THE SCHOOL TO SERVE THEIR STUDENTS BEST. DO NOT MAKE DISTRICTWIDE BANS WHERE WELL-FUNDED, LOUD PEARL CLUTCHERS GET TO DECIDE BASED ON QUOTES THAT ARE NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING BUT USING SHOCKING LANGUAGE, BUT DO NOT REALLY SHOW WHETHER A BOOK HAS VALUE TO A STUDENT IN A GIVEN COMMUNITY OR NOT. LET'S RESPECT INDIVIDUAL PARENTS' RIGHTS, AS BOARD MEMBER RENDON SAID EARLIER, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE. PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AWAY WITH DISTRICTWIDE BANS. THE CURRENT POLICY WORKS. IT RESPECTS EVERYONE. PLEASE KEEP IT IN PLACE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS JEN HART. I LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND I TEACH IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO, OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT NEXT TUESDAY THERE IS A SCHOOL BOARD

048WORKSHOP TYPE MEETING THINGY FOR YOU TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT BOOK REVIEW PROCESS IN PLACE FOR MEDIA MATERIALS IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IF A CONCERNED CITIZEN THINKS A BOOK IS INAPPROPRIATE, THEY CAN SUBMIT A FORM REQUESTING TO CHALLENGE THE BOOK AND THEN EACH SCHOOL SITE HAS AN EDUCATIONAL MEDIA MATERIALS COMMITTEE MADE UP OF FACULTY AND PARENTS UNIQUE TO THAT SCHOOL SITE THAT MUST MEET TO READ, DISCUSS, AND EVENTUALLY VOTE ON THAT BOOK AND THEY MUST START MEETING WITHIN AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS. WOW, WHAT A PERFECTLY REASONABLE AND UNDERSTANDING PROCESS. THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ABOUT IT REALLY ASTOUNDS ME. WHAT WOULD NOT BE REASONABLE IS TAKING AWAY THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO HAVE SAY ABOUT THE MEDIA THAT IS AVAILABLE AT THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL BECAUSE A MINORITY GROUP

049OF PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DECIDE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR EVERYBODY. PLEASE KEEP THE PROCESS THAT EXISTS IN PLACE AND STAND AGAINST BANNING BOOKS ACROSS SCHOOLS, DEMOCRACY AND FREE SPEECH ARE AT STAKE. BANNING BOOKS FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES NOT ONLY TAKES RIGHTS AWAY FROM SCHOOLS AND PARENTS IT IS UN-AMERICAN. HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, BOOK BANNING HAS BEEN A PRECURSOR PAVING THE ROAD TO TYRANNY. THEN IT LEADS TO BANNING LGBTQ THEMES, RACIAL THEMES, THEMES OF DISCRIMINATION, ANYTHING A GROUP CAN ARGUE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THEM. WHEN WE LIMIT OUR STUDENTS' ABILITY TO READ AND LEARN FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES WE ARE LIMITING THEIR HUMILITY -- HUMANITY. MY BAD. EVEN WORSE, WE MAY BE TAKING AWAY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A STUDENT TO BE REPRESENTED IN A BOOK CHARACTER TO FEEL SEEN AND HEARD. I REJECT THE IDEA

050THAT BOOKS HURT CHILDREN. I THINK 99.9% OF THE TIME BOOKS SAVE THEM. PLEASE KEEP OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES SAFE AND VOTE TO KEEP THE LIBRARY MATERIALS CHALLENGE PROCESS IN PLACE. I WILL END WITH THIS FABULOUS QUOTE FROM JUDY BLOOM THAT I RAN OUT OF TIME FOR LAST MEETING. IT SAYS, IN THE AGE OF CENSORSHIP I MOURN THE LOSS OF BOOKS NEVER WRITTEN, MOURN THE VOICES THAT WILL BE SILENCED. WRITERS' VOICES, TEACHERS' VOICES, STUDENTS' VOICES AND ALL BECAUSE OF FEAR. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY. TRISHA LONG. I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO CURRENT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND I, TOO, AM HERE TO DISCUSS THE COUNTY'S BOOK REVIEW POLICY. THE CURRENT REVIEW POLICY IN MY OPINION IS RESPECTFUL OF OUR

051COMMUNITIES, OUR PARENTS AND OUR CHILDREN. WHEN I READ ABOUT THE REVIEW PROCESS THAT WAS FOLLOWED FOR THIS BOOK IS GAY I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE THOROUGHNESS OF THE COMMITTEE'S REVIEWS AND THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF THEIR CONSIDERATION AS IT WAS REFLECTED IN THE REVIEW MATERIALS. AS OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE STATED, THE COMMITTEES INCLUDE PARENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND LIBRARIANS FROM THE SCHOOLS WHERE THE BOOKS ARE. THEY KNOW THEIR STUDENT COMMUNITIES THE BEST, AND THEIR BEST POSITION TO SAY IF A BOOK IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR UNIQUE COMMUNITY OR NOT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND NOT DISMISSED. THE CURRENT POLICY IS TRANSPARENT. DECISIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT CHALLENGED BOOKS ARE KEPT ON THE SHELF ARE MADE BY PEOPLE KNOWN BY AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND

052TO OUR DISTRICT. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE POLICY CHANGE TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY TOTALLY UNACCOUNTABLE TO VOTERS IN THIS DISTRICT TO REMOVE BOOKS FROM OUR SCHOOLS. I DO NOT WANT SHADOW BANS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER FLORIDA COUNTIES WHERE BOOKS ARE REMOVED WITHOUT ANY ABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A SAY IN IT. FINALLY, AS WE CONSIDER REMOVING BOOKS, I WANT US TO APPLY TO OURSELVES THE SAME STANDARDS THAT WE REQUIRE OF OUR CHILDREN IN CLASS. THAT IS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OUR CLAIMS. IN THIS CLAIM, IN THIS CASE, THE CLAIM IS THAT READING BOOKS CAUSES CHILDREN TO ACT IN TROUBLING WAYS THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE BOOKS ACT OR TO ABANDON THE VALUES THAT THEIR PARENTS HAVE TAUGHT THEM. MANY OF

053THE BOOKS WHICH HAVE BEEN READ BEFORE THIS SCHOOL BOARD OVER THE PAST YEAR AS EXAMPLES OF HARMFUL MATERIALS ARE NOT NEW BOOKS. THEY HAVE BEEN ON OUR SCHOOL SHELVES FOR YEARS. SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAUSE YOUNG READERS TO PERFORM HARMFUL ACTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXAMINE WHETHER OR NOT A COMIC BOOK SERIES CAUSES CHILDREN TO WANT TO ASSASSINATE THEIR TEACHERS JUST BY READING IT? HOW SHOULD WE ASSESS THAT? WE COULD LOOK AT JAPAN, THE COUNTRY WHERE THIS SERIES ORIGINATED AND HAS BEEN IN CIRCULATION FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS. HAS JAPAN EXPERIENCED ANY TEACHER ASSASSINATIONS CARRIED OUT BY STUDENTS THAT WERE INSPIRED BY THIS BOOK SERIES? THE ANSWER, OF COURSE, IS NO. EVEN IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS ARE SADLY MUCH MORE FREQUENT,

054WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS SERIES HAS INSPIRED ANY VIOLENCE AT ALL. EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM WANTS TO PREVENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, TEACHER ASSASSINATIONS AND ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT BANNING THIS SERIES WILL NOT HELP. THE SAME STANDARD SHOULD BE APPLIED TO ANY BOOK THAT IS CHALLENGED. IF EVIDENCE OF HARM DOES NOT EXIST, THE BOOK SHOULD REMAIN AVAILABLE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER AND THEN WE'LL DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT SPEAKER. NOT PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL HAVE THE TIME CERTAIN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND -- AM I UP? SUPERINTENDENT, I'M REPRESENTING THE TAMPA ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AFFAIRS. WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZED SINCE 1979, SO WE'RE IN OUR 44th YEAR OF HAVING SOME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE GENERALLY OPERATE ON DATA AND FACTS.

055WE GENERALLY DON'T COME TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING UNTIL WE TALK TO EVERYONE THAT'S IN CHARGE. YOU HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES, SO WE DON'T TALK -- WE DEFINITELY CONTACT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND WE TRY TO REACH EACH ONE OF YOU TO GET OUR DATA AND FACTS TOGETHER BEFORE WE COME UP AND SPEAK BEFORE THIS BODY. WE ALSO, IN THIS CASE, ASKED BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO TALK AND GET OUR OWN INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL. WE TALKED WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE PRINCIPAL IN THIS CASE, THE JUST PRINCIPAL, WHO IS A PHENOMENAL PRINCIPAL. WE LOOKED AT HER BACKGROUND AND THE THINGS SHE ACHIEVED IN TURNING AROUND SCHOOLS. THAT IS REALLY GOOD. WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE DID ALL OF OUR HOMEWORK. WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES FINANCIALLY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS NOT

056DOING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD WITH THE EDUCATION, SO THEY ARE BEING GRADED POORLY. WE CONCLUDED THAT WITH ALL THAT SAID, A SOLUTION TO EDUCATING STUDENTS BETTER IN THIS CASE, PARTICULARLY JUST, DOESN'T MEAN RELOCATING THE STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL TO SOMEPLACE ELSE TO GET A BETTER EDUCATION. WE ALSO DON'T SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SELLING OR CLOSING SCHOOLS IN THE URBAN CORE WHERE THERE'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT LIKE IN WEST TAMPA, THE WESTSHORE YACHT CLUB AREA, ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY WHERE THERE'S GROWTH WITH FAMILIES COMING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, WE DON'T SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SELLING PROPERTY TO GET MONEY THAT'S GOING TO GO IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND NOT IN THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT WILL HELP PAY TEACHER SALARIES AND THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE CHALLENGES FOR THE DISTRICT. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU WOULD

057AGREE WITH US THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY. YOU ONLY HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES. THE ATTORNEY, MR. PORTER, YOU HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT, AND YOU ARE THE POLICY AND THE GOVERNANCE BOARD FOR THIS ORGANIZATION SO WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE SUPERINTENDENT TO COME TO YOU WITH IDEAS. AND I ASK HIM THIS QUESTION, I SAID WHAT IF THE BOARD DOESN'T SUPPORT YOU WITH YOUR OPTIONS? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? I'M QUOTING MR. DAVIS SAYING I ALWAYS HAVE ANOTHER PLAN. WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PLAN IS IF YOU DON'T GET THE SUPPORT TODAY FROM THIS BOARD WHAT THE OTHER PLAN IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER PLAN OTHER THAN RELOCATING THE STUDENTS. WE DON'T SUPPORT THAT. WE DON'T SUPPORT ANY SCHOOL IN THE URBAN CORE BEING SOLD. CERTAINLY FOR THE SAKE OF THE

058FINANCIAL WOES OF THE DISTRICT, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS. WE ALL INHERITED THE LEGISLATURE WE HAVE BECAUSE THE VOTERS VOTED THEM IN. I DIDN'T VOTE THEM IN. SOMEBODY ELSE DID. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THIS GOVERNOR. SOMEBODY ELSE DID. SO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE, BUT DON'T HURT THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES TRYING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WITH THAT, I SAY MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE, FIND ANOTHER OPTION, BUT THERE IS NO OPTION TO RELOCATE THE STUDENTS AND SELL THE SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW PAUSE PUBLIC COMMENT TO DO OUR PUBLIC HEARING. F .01, PUBLIC HEARING FOR RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS SOCIAL STUDIES (ACADEMIC STUDIES) I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTION PROCESS. THIS IS

059A REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND BOARD POLICY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. THE MATTERS WERE ADVERTISED AND HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. I WILL NOW ASK TERRY CONNOR, TO PRESENT THE ITEM. AFTER, ANY MEMBER MAY SPEAK TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD. Terry Connor: GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF, AT THIS TIME THE BOARD IS CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. THE LIST OF MATERIALS IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM AND IT INCLUDES MATERIALS FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES. THESE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY DISTRICT ADOPTION COMMITTEE IN A DISTRICTWIDE TEACHER VOTE WAS CONDUCTED. AS REQUIRED BY

060STATE STATUTE, A 20-DAY PUBLIC REVIEW OF RECOMMENDED MATERIALS AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE BOARD CAN VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION. THE PUBLIC REVIEW REQUIRES THAT THE DISTRICT PROVIDE DIGITAL ACCESS TO THE RECOMMENDED MATERIALS VIA THE DISTRICT WEBSITE. THE PUBLIC REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BEGINNING MARCH 29th, 2023, AND ENDING ON APRIL 18, 2023. THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING IS TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE COMMENTS ABOUT THESE MATERIALS WITH THE BOARD. THE BOARD DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE ACTION AT THIS TIME, BUT WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING ON MAY 9, 2023. AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR. I WILL NOW CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. IS THERE ANYONE HERE? WE HAVE ONE PERSON. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

061DEBBIE HUNT, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM, MY CONCERN ABOUT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CURRICULUM THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, BUT THE FACT THAT KNOWING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS DOING THEIR SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM AND REVIEW THIS YEAR AND WILL BE POSTING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CURRICULUM IMMINENTLY. WHY WOULD WE HAVE PUT SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS AND GOING THROUGH CURRICULUM WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS GETTING READY TO PUT OUT THAT SAME INFORMATION? THERE WERE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE CURRICULUM. I WAS ON ONE OF THE REVIEW TEAMS. SPENT ABOUT 40 HOURS REVIEWING ONE OF THE ECONOMIC CURRICULUMS, AND THERE WERE MANY CONCERNS WITH IT. THIS PARTICULAR CURRICULUM WAS REVIEWED BY ANOTHER GROUP, THE ONE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THAT IS A PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND I JUST

062BELIEVE THAT THE MANY TEACHERS THAT WERE ALSO COUNTED AS PARENTS WHEN THERE WERE ONLY FOUR ACTUAL PARENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC INCLUDED ON THE COMMITTEE, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF SKEWING THAT A LITTLE BIT. AND FROM HAVING HAD 30 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR A LARGE ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE STATE, IF THERE WAS INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT OUT BY THOSE WHO OVERSAW THE ORGANIZATION AND WE IGNORED IT, IT WAS CONSIDERED CIRCUMVENTION OF THAT PROCESS. I HAVE CONCERNS WITH WHY THAT TIME WAS SPENT BY THE COMMITTEE KNOWING THAT THERE WERE ALSO REVIEWS GOING ON STATEWIDE FOR THE SAME TYPE OF CURRICULUM. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY. I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE WILL RESUME PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. MY NAME IS BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. I

063AM A FORMER STUDENT OF ERNEST E. JUST. OVER 55-PLUS YEARS AGO. I STAND HERE BECAUSE THIS PAST SATURDAY I HAD THE HONOR TO SIT AT THE DOROTHY C. YORK ACADEMY. AS I SAT IN THAT AUDITORIUM, I LOOKED AROUND AND SAID, WHY COULD THIS SCHOOL NOT BE JUST? WHY NOT? ALL WE HAVE TO DO TO BRING MORE STUDENTS AND PEOPLE TO THAT SCHOOL IS TO HAVE IT LOOK LIKE DOROTHY C. YORK SCHOOL. YOU LOOK AT MANY PEOPLE, THEY ARE SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T GET THE STUDENT, YOU LOOK AT THE BUILDING. IF I'M ALMOST 70 YEARS OLD, IT'S THE BUILDING. YOU'RE NOT MARKETING THE BUILDING, MEANING THAT WE NEED TO START FROM PRE-K TO 8th GRADE BECAUSE WHEN I ATTENDED JUST, WE WENT FROM 7th TO 8th, AND NEXT DOOR TO HOWARD W. BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE

064MS. YORK WAS A TEACHER. SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT, WE CAME FAMILY. WE BECAME A BOND. I WON'T BE REDUNDANT AND TALK ABOUT MR. JUST, BUT DO YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GEM. HE WAS HONORED BY THE UNITED STATES BY PUBLISHING A STAMP. THERE IS A STAMP, AND WHEN I GO TO THE POST OFFICE, I ASK FOR THAT STAMP BECAUSE THAT IS MY BLACK HISTORY THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF. AND IF WE PUT THAT AND INSTILL IT INTO OUR KIDS, MAYBE WE WON'T HAVE ALL THE FIGHTING AND THE UPROAR, BUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DON'T REMOVE ERNEST E. JUST SCHOOL, YOU MAKE IT BETTER. AND THEN WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE WE

065HAVE ROME YARD, HYDE PARK, WHERE I GREW UP, THEY ARE ALL BUILDING UP. THE CHILDREN, THEY WILL COME. THE PARENTS WILL BE GLAD FOR THEM TO COME. AND THIS SCHOOL BOARD, WITH THE MONIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND WITH THE INTELLIGENCE THAT YOU ALL HAVE, I KNOW THAT THIS CAN BE DONE. I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ON-SLAUGHT TO ERASE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. BUT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE ANSWER SHOULD BE NO. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE IT. WE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY A GREAT MAN WHO GAVE SO MUCH TO THE WORLD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. YVETTE LOUIS, PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP. I COME TO YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. I COME TO YOU TO

066TALK ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS THAT IS SLOWLY BEING ERASED AND ERADICATED. I COME TO YOU TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE NEED TO KEEP OUR HISTORY INTACT AND THE NEED FOR OUR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORY AND FOR THEM TO KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO GO. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IN THE YEAR 2003 THAT I AM HERE STANDING BEFORE YOU BEGGING AND PLEADING THAT YOU HOLD ON TO OUR HISTORY AND NOT ERASE IT. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO US. AND WHEN I SAY "US," AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT THERE BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING OF BLAKE. I DID THE HISTORY. LOOKED ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE, AND THE SCHOOL WEBSITE STARTS AT 2004. THEN I MADE SOME

067PHONE CALLS AND REALIZED THAT THE HISTORY GOES FAR BEYOND THAT. SO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE THERE NOW, YOU'RE STILL FAILING THOSE STUDENTS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT EVEN TELLING THEM THE REAL AND TRUE HISTORY OF THAT SCHOOL AND WHY AND HOW IT GOT THERE. IT IS NOT THE PARENTS' FAULT NOR THE STUDENTS' FAULT THAT THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH MOVEMENT GOING ON IN THAT COMMUNITY, BUT WHY SHOULD THEY BEAR THE BRUNT OR BE AT FAULT AND HAVE TO MOVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. IF YOU'RE GONNA BUS THEM IN, BUS THEM OUT, BUS THE OTHER KIDS IN. OR BETTER YET, THERE IS ANOTHER SCHOOL AT THE END OF THE ROAD CALLED DUNBAR. PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR. ANOTHER HISTORY SCHOOL. LET THE KIDS GO THERE. OPEN UP THESE MAGNET SCHOOLS, AND LET THE KIDS GO THERE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY

068OUR KIDS KEEP RIDING PAST THESE MAGNET SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY AND THE HONOR TO GO THERE. DO YOU NOT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WORTHY OF THAT TYPE OF EDUCATION? IT IS A SHAME BEFORE GOD THAT I AM HERE PLEADING WITH YOU ALL TO SAVE OUR KIDS IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS HOW WE GOT THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NAACP. PLEASE DON'T LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU, WE HAVE A NATIONAL AND WE HAVE LEGAL AND WE WILL LITIGATE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS ALEXIS. I AM THE PTA PRESIDENT AT CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OUR COMMUNITY WAS ECSTATIC WHEN CARROLLWOOD K-8 WAS ADDED AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR TODAY'S MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR

069HEARING OUR CONCERNS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TRANSITIONING TO A K-8 MODEL WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH US PERSONALLY AT YOUR OFFICES, VISIT OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOL, TAKE OUR PHONE CALLS, AND ANSWER OUR VERY IMPASSIONED E-MAILS. WHAT STARTED OUT AS AN INFORMAL MEETING IN AUGUST WITH A SMALL GROUP OF PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENTS LEAVING OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOL, MORPHED INTO A COMMUNITYWIDE MISSION. I'M NOT SURE ANY OF US COULD HAVE FORESEEN THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM NOT ONLY YOU, BUT FROM OTHER PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT. WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS CHANGE WILL HELP OUR SCHOOL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH, KEEP CHILDREN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, THAT'S A COMMON THEME TODAY, AND MOST CRUCIAL PREVENT FUNDING FROM LEAVING HILLSBOROUGH

070COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PLEASE VOTE YES TODAY ON TRANSITIONING CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY TO CARROLLWOOD K-8. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME IS JOHN BURRILO. MY TWO SONS ATTENDED CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THE TEAM HAS PUT IN OVER THE LAST YEAR PLUS WORKING TO MAKE CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY A K-8. I SPENT THREE YEARS AS THE DADS CLUB PRESIDENT, FOUR YEARS ON THE PTA, INCLUDING TWO AS VICE PRESIDENT. YOU COULD SAY THAT I CARED AND STILL CARE A LOT ABOUT THE SCHOOL EVEN THOUGH MY KIDS DON'T GO THERE ANYMORE. LIKE ALEXIS SAID AND ALL THE MANY PEOPLE BEFORE US, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL IN THAT COMMUNITY. MY SON WHO IS

071A FIFTH GRADER AT CARROLLWOOD LAST YEAR WAS INCREDIBLY SAD TO LEAVE FRIENDS THAT HE SPENT YEARS WITH THERE. I REMEMBER A DAY OVER LAST SUMMER, HE GATHERED FOR A GRADUATION PARTY AFTER FIFTH GRADE WITH THEM AND THERE WERE SEVEN STUDENTS. WE REALIZED THAT ALL SEVEN WERE GOING TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. NOW, THIS WASN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPLORING AERONAUTICAL PROGRAMS OR SPECIAL MATHEMATIC AT MAGNET SCHOOLS. IT WAS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY WERE NOT GOING TO GO TO THEIR AREA SCHOOL AND AS A MATTER OF FACT NONE OF THE ENTIRE FIFTH GRADE FROM CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY AS FAR AS I KNOW WHEN TO THEIR ATTENDANCE AREA SCHOOL. ONE CHILD OF THE GROUP OF SEVEN WENT TO A LOCAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL, WHICH IS ANY FAMILY'S CHOICE TO DO, RIGHT, BUT THE OTHER SIX ALL WENT TO EITHER DIFFERENT CHARTER OR PUBLIC

072SCHOOLS. MY TWO SCHOOLCHILDREN NOW, TWO BOYS ARE IN 6 AND 7 GRADE AT RAM PALA. WE LOVE THAT SCHOOL. I'M LUCKY THAT I WORK NEAR DOWNTOWN SO THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE. I CAN EASILY TRANSPORT THEM ON MY WAY TO AND FROM WORK. UNFORTUNATELY NOT ALL PARENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR CHILDREN FAR ENOUGH AWAY FOR A GOOD SCHOOL. GREAT K-8 SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. I KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN AN OPTION FOR THEM TO STAY TOGETHER AT CARROLLWOOD K-8 THAT SIX OF THEM WOULD HAVE. THE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FROM EARLY ON IN CARROLLWOOD BY OUR PARENT FRIENDS, AS YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD HERE BEFORE AND WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE IN KINDERGARTEN, PEOPLE SAID TO ME, WHERE WILL YOUR KIDS GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL? I WOULD SAY I DON'T KNOW. I'LL THINK ABOUT

073THAT IN A FEW YEARS. THEN A FEW YEARS GOT THERE AND WE HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT. UNFORTUNATELY WE KNEW THAT OUR ATTENDANCE AREA SCHOOL WASN'T AN OPTION. BACK IN EARLY 2020, I REMEMBER WHEN SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS FIRST ARRIVED HERE, THERE WERE SOME OF US THAT WERE GOING TO LAUNCH AN INITIATIVE TO MAKE CARROLLWOOD A K-8. THEN UNFORTUNATELY IN MARCH OF 2020, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE WORLD KIND OF SHUT DOWN AND THAT WAS PUT ON THE BACK BURNER. I DID NOT GET TO BE PART OF THE INCREDIBLE PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING. SO I MAY NOT BE AT THE SCHOOL ANY LONGER. BUT I STILL LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR THESE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF WE COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 19 TO

07423 TO PLEASE LINE UP. 19 TO 23. NEXT SPEAKER, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME IS KRISTA MILLS. I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. TODAY IS THE DAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, THAT WE'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR. WE ARE EQUAL PARTS EXCITED AND VERY NERVOUS. THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE YEAR'S WORTH OF WORK BOILS DOWN TO THIS WEEK AND THEN THREE WEEKS FROM NOW IS A LITTLE BIT NERVE-WRACKING. LAST NIGHT I WAS TALKING WITH MY HUSBAND. WHEN WE DECIDED LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE THE CHAIRS FOR THE INITIATIVE FOR CARROLLWOOD'S K-8, IT WAS A PIPE DREAM. WE HAD A GROUP OF MOMS WHO WENT TO A MEETING AND BEGAN A SMALL COMMITTEE THAT WE WERE GOING TO SERVE THE TEACHERS. AND WHEN WE STARTED

075TALKING AT THAT MEETING, WE REALIZED WE HAD A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM AND WE LEFT THAT MEETING WITH A MUCH BIGGER ROLE THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO. AND SO WE TALKED CANDIDLY ABOUT HOW MUCH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS HURTING BECAUSE OF THE WAY KIDS WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE COUNTY. NONE OF US HAD A CLUE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AND WHAT WE WERE UP AGAINST. YOU HEARD THE STATEMENT THE IGNORANCE ON FIRE IS BETTER THAN ACKNOWLEDGE ON ICE AND I WOULD SAY THAT WAS US. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE HAD TO DO BUT COMMITTED TO DOING IT RIGHT. WE LIT OUR MATCHES AND GOT OUR FIRES BURNING TOGETHER. WE WORKED HARD FOR MANY MONTHS. WHAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT WAS OUR COMMUNITY TO LIGHT THEIR MATCHES AND COME ALONGSIDE US. EVERYBODY KNEW THERE WAS A

076NEED. NO ONE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ATTENDING OUR ZONED SCHOOLS BUT WE DIDN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP THE WAY THAT THEY DID. WE DEVISED A PLAN AND KEPT THE BALL ROLLING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY IS SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. JUST YESTERDAY, A GENTLEMAN STOPPED ME WHILE I WAS WALKING MY KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL AND HE SAID, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT THING. YOU DON'T KNOW THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPTION. I DIDN'T GET HIS NAME BUT I KNOW THAT HE WAS RIGHT. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THIS WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I JUST TALKED TO A LADY IN THE BATHROOM, SHE SAID CARROLLWOOD, I WOULD SAY

077GOOD LUCK, BUT YOU DON'T NEED LUCK BECAUSE YOU HAVE FACTS ON YOUR SIDE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING US AND FOR GIVING US FEEDBACK AND GUIDING US ALONG THE WAY. YOUR SUPPORT WILL BE CHANGING THE COURSE OF SCHOOLING FOR SO MANY KIDS AND YOU CAN LEAVE A LEGACY AT OUR SCHOOL. WE ARE HOPING FOR A 7-0 VOTE TODAY. AND WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR US TO SUPPORT YOU, KNOW THAT WE WILL BE AT THE POLLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS HERMARA. I LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WAS HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND I SPENT MY TIME EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING POLICY AND PROCEDURE. FOUR OF YOU CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW POLICY AND VOTED TO BAN A BOOK COUNTYWIDE, EVEN THOUGH WRITTEN POLICY, WRITTEN

078PROCEDURE IS TO DO IT SCHOOL BY SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH LEGAL COUNSEL REMINDED YOU MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THIS IS NOT FOLLOWING YOUR OWN POLICY AND PROCEDURE. NOW WE'RE BACK TODAY, AND YOU WERE, I FIND OUT THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT GOING AND CHANGING THE POLICY. THE POLICY THAT IS IN PLACE WORKS PERFECTLY FINE. IN FACT, THE THEME TODAY WAS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP SCHOOLS AND DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR SCHOOLS LOCAL, NOT COUNTYWIDE, LOCAL. AND THAT'S BEEN THE THEME OF EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN HERE, SPEAKERS 1 THROUGH 17 WHO PRECEDED ME. THE BOOK REVIEW POLICY WORKS WHEN IT'S FOLLOWED, AND THERE'S NO NEED TO CHANGE IT. IF IT'S NOT BROKE -- IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. IT'S NOT BROKEN. SO PLEASE KEEP THE CURRENT BOOK REVIEW POLICY IN PLACE. BOOK CHALLENGES SHOULD START

079WITH A PARENT AT AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BUILDING. PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CIRCUMVENT THAT PROCESS BY BEING THE LOUDEST VOICES IN THE ROOM, FLOODING THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH INDIGNANT PUBLIC COMMENTS, INFLAMMATORY CITATIONS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. THESE PEOPLE ARE TAKING AWAY PARENTS' RIGHTS, TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO CAN READ WHAT FOR ALL SCHOOLS AND ALL PARENTS COUNTYWIDE. REGARDLESS OF THE DIVERSITY AND THE DIFFERENT CONTEXT IN OUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. WE HAVE MEDIA SPECIALISTS. THEY ARE HIGHLY TRAINED, AND THEY ARE GREAT AT WHAT THEY DO. THAT'S WHY YOU HIRED THEM. THEY CHOOSE TITLES THAT RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY KNOW THE STUDENTS IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS IN THOSE SCHOOLS. PARENTS WHO LIVE 45 MINUTES AWAY, MOST LIKELY DO NOT UNDERSTAND. IT IS THE LOCAL MEDIA SPECIALISTS

080THAT UNDERSTAND. SO THE BOOKS ARE CHOSEN BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE STUDENTS AT THAT SCHOOL EVERY DAY SEE A NEED FOR IT. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE SWEEPING DISTRICTWIDE BANS BECAUSE ONE BOOK MAY NOT FIT IN EVERY PLACE. VULNERABLE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES WHO SUFFER THE MOST FROM CHANGING THIS PROCESS. MANY OF THE TITLES THAT ARE TARGETED SHINE A LIGHT ON DIVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. THE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE LEFT OUT ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF MINORITY CHILDREN, REFUGEE CHILDREN, LOW-INCOME CHILDREN, LGBTQ+ CHILDREN, YOU GET THE PICTURE. ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE THEMSELVES AND THEIR STORIES REFLECTED IN THEIR SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER, SO PLEASE DO NOT START A PATTERN OF PREEMPTION. LET INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS DECIDE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. DEBBIE HANNIGAN. I LIVE IN

081HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I DIDN'T ORIGINALLY COME TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE COMMENTS TODAY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. BOOK CHALLENGES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE WHEN A BOOK HAS OBSCENE LANGUAGE AND PICTURES IN IT, BREAKING FLORIDA STATUTE 847, THAT HAS CRIMINAL PENALTIES. IT'S ILLEGAL TO PROVIDE THIS MATERIAL, LIBRARY BOOKS OR OTHERWISE, TO STUDENTS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. BOOK BANNING IS THE DISCUSSION THAT KEEPS COMING UP, AND EVERYBODY KEEPS CALLING IT BOOK BANNING. BOOK BANNING, IF YOU RECALL FROM HISTORY YEARS AGO IS WHEN SOMETHING WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM EXISTENCE. IN THIS CASE, BOOKS CAN BE FOUND IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR THEY CAN BE FOUND IN BOOKSTORES IF THAT'S WHAT PARENTS BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO READ. I WOULD EXPECT THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO PRESERVE THE TRUST OF PARENTS BY PROVIDING AGE-APPROPRIATE

082BOOKS IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES. THEY HAVE ENTRUSTED YOU TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO THEM. IT IS ILLEGAL, AS I'LL REITERATE, FOR CHILDREN TO BE GIVEN A BOOK WITH OBSCENE PICTURES OR OTHERWISE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. THE ISSUE I DID COME TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY IS THE GAGGLE. THERE'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT ON THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M ASSUMING, AND I WILL SAY TRULY I AM ASSUMING, IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT. THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. IT'S ALREADY BEING TESTED BASED ON THE INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKAGE. IT'S ALREADY BEING TESTED ON STUDENTS. THE PARENTS GIVEN THE OPTION TO OPT OUT AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF A PARENT OPTS THEIR CHILD OUT, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO USE THEIR PERSONAL E-MAIL TO BE ABLE

083TO DO SCHOOL BUSINESS BECAUSE THE GAGGLE DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PULL INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OUT AND NOT MONITOR THEM. I LOOKED FOR HOURS FOR INFORMATION ON GAGGLE TO SEE WHAT WAS OUT THERE ABOUT IT. MOST OF WHAT WAS OUT THERE WAS NOT POSITIVE. IT'S AN INVASION OF PRIVACY OF MINORS BY OTHERS THAN THEIR OWN PARENTS, WHICH IS A FOURTH AMENDMENT ISSUE IN THE CONSTITUTION. THE COMPANY CLAIMS THAT IT HAS TRAINED SECURITY EXPERTS. HOWEVER, RESEARCH THAT DUG INTO IT SAID THAT THEIR MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ACTUALLY MONITORING ALL OF THESE ACCOUNTS. THERE MAY BE HIGHER LEVEL PEOPLE WITH BACKGROUND IN THIS TYPE OF WORK AT THE NEXT LEVELS BUT NOT AT THE INITIAL. THE COMPANY IS NOT IMMUNE TO DATA LEAKS, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MINORS' INFORMATION. AND THE SCHOOL SURVEILLANCE DOESN'T END AT THE

084END OF THE DAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. GOOD SEEING ALL OF YOU AGAIN. I'M VIRGINIA DAVIS. I'M MOSTLY HERE ON FOUR OR FIVE ITEMS. DO KEEP TO YOUR CURRENT POLICY. IT'S WORKING. THE LOCAL SCHOOL SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT CONSIDERS IT ON THEIR REVIEW COMMITTEE. AND THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD, THESE COMMITTEES. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT I USED THE ANNE FRANK DIARY WHEN I WAS A READING RESOURCE TEACHER, AND I ALSO TAUGHT ROMEO AND JULIET, SHAKESPEARE YOU'VE HEARD OF. MY FIFTH GRADERS COMPETED FOR THE JULIET ROLE AND THIS WAS AT ROBLES ELEMENTARY. I TOO HAVE TAUGHT OVER AT JUST ON SATURDAY MORNINGS WHEN JUST WAS NEW SCHOOL. AND I'M SHOCKED THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING CLOSING A PRETTY NEW SCHOOL. I REALLY ENJOYED DOING

085SATURDAY CLASSES THERE. NEXT WITH THE KANSAS CITY SHOOTING, I'M FROM KANSAS CITY. VERY FRIENDLY PEOPLE, BUT THAT MAN WAS HORRIBLE WITH HIS GUN AND I SUGGEST SCHOOLS STOP DOING DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES. I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF KIDS ARE DOING THAT FOR THE PRINCIPAL'S FUND-RAISING, BUT I KNOW I HAD ONE SHOW UP AT MY HOUSE, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T THINK OF EVEN SHOOTING THE KID. SHE LOOKED AWFUL TALL, BUT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER. SHE WAS A GRANDMOTHER'S CHILD. I KNEW A GRANDMOTHER ON THE NEXT BLOCK. SHE SENT I GUESS HER GRANDMOTHER TO MY HOUSE TO SELL CANDY FOR HER SCHOOL. SO PLEASE STOP ALL THE DOOR-TO-DOOR FUND-RAISING. IT'S WAY TOO DANGEROUS SINCE WHAT HAPPENED IN KANSAS CITY. NO, I'M NOT 84 AND I DON'T SHOOT PEOPLE AT MY DOOR, BUT I AM SCARED

086ABOUT OPENING MY DOOR TO ALL THESE SOLICITORS THAT COME THERE. I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE TEACHER PAY. I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT I'M PROUD YOU GOT A DEAL GOING. I HOPE IT'S REAL GOOD. LITTLE LATE IN THE YEAR, BUT I'M GLAD YOU GOT THAT DONE. AND I REALLY LOVE THE FIVE-MINUTE TIME LIMITS FOR ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE WHOEVER THOUGHT OF THAT IS A GENIUS. I USED TO SIT HERE WHEN SOMEBODY WOULD GO ON AND ON FOR 20 MINUTES. I'D GET SO BORED IN THE AUDIENCE. SO I'M REALLY GLAD YOU'RE ON THE FIVE-MINUTE. I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER JUST. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME, AND SO WAS ROBLES AND ALSO DOING THE ANNE FRANK DIARY.I DID WANT TO STRESS THAT I'VE DONE SOME NO-NOES MAYBE, BUT THE KIDS REALLY LOVED

087THOSE BOOKS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HOW CAN I FOLLOW THAT? HI. MY NAME IS ROBIN LOCKETT. I'M HERE ABOUT, OF COURSE, JUST. I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME I'VE STATED THAT YOU GUYS HAD A BIG DILEMMA ON YOUR HANDS. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BUSED IN AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE BUSED OUT. NOW, WHO GETS THE WIN? WHO GETS THE WIN? IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE ARE GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK BECAUSE WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT JUST WILL BE CLOSED. YOU CAN CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT. CLOSED, REPURPOSING, WHATEVER. JUST IS BEING AFFECTED. WHY CAN'T JUST BECOME A K-8 SCHOOL LIKE CARROLLWOOD K-8? THEY ARE JOYOUS. THEY ARE HAPPY. WE WANT

088TO BE HAPPY. AND BE A FEEDER SCHOOL TO BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. THE WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT PROMISES THAT WERE MADE HAVE BEEN BROKEN. HOW IS THE REBUILDING OF MEACHAM ELEMENTARY? I KEEP ASKING AROUND, IS THIS JUST SUPERINTENDENT ADDISON'S DECISION, AND WORD IS, NO, IT'S THE BOARD. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING, WHETHER IT'S ON PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS, IN THE STORE, WHATEVER, RIGHT? YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE BLACK COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT THE CLOSURE OR THE REPURPOSING OR ANYTHING BEING DONE OF JUST. SO IF YOU HAVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, ELECTEDS, YOU WILL VOTE NO TODAY ON THE CLOSURE OF JUST. IT UNNERVES ME EACH TIME WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE BEGGING. THAT PUTS SOMETHING IN MY SPIRIT WHEN I HEAR BEGGING. AND I DON'T WANT TO

089BEG. I DON'T WANT TO BEG. WE SHOULDN'T BE BEGGING FOR ANYTHING. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU COME IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU GET OUR VOTES, SO YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS FOR US. I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS IN SCHOOL, BUT I STILL CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND I FELT IT WAS MY DUTY TO COME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PRIOR AND YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ME BEFORE. NOT PLEASE. THE EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU WILL NOT -- YOU WILL VOTE NO IN REGARDS TO CLOSING JUST. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DR. WILLIAM LAFAYETTE MONDAY. I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND I'M A MEMBER OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT

090ERNEST JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND TO CHALLENGE YOU TO CHALLENGE US. WE HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THAT'S PART OF OUR FRATERNITY. OUR ROLE TO UPLIFT THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU'VE SEEN HOW DEDICATED WE ARE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I'M JUST ASKING YOU, BEFORE YOU GET RID OF THE SCHOOL, CONSIDER THE IDEA OF ASKING US TO STEP UP. ASKING US TO PLAY AN OFFICIAL ROLE IN THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL'S PROBLEMS AND HELP THEM OVERCOME THE BARRIERS THEY ARE HAVING TO REACHING EDUCATIONAL LEVELS THEY NEED. I GREW UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN THE INNER CITY, SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GROW UP IN THE INNER CITY. WE DIDN'T HAVE BOOKS. WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THESE THINGS. I WENT ON TO GET MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MARYLAND AT COLLEGE PARK, MY MASTERS HERE AND MY

091Ph.D. AT USF. I'M NOT BY MYSELF CONQUERING THESE CHALLENGES. THERE'S OVER 200 MEMBERS, JUST OUR CHAPTER ALONE HERE IN TAMPA. LAWYERS, DOCTORS, EDUCATORS, PRINCIPALS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, PEOPLE IN ADMINISTRATION OVER TOP OF PRINCIPALS ARE PART OF THIS CHAPTER. CHALLENGED US TO COME INTO JUST AND CHANGE WHAT'S GOING ON TO A POINT WHERE THESE STUDENTS CAN EXCEL. WE'VE SEEN THE FOOTBALL PLAYER, WHAT'S HIS NAME? YOU ALL KNOW -- DEION SANDERS. THE NAME HE MADE AND WE HAVE MEMBERS IN OUR FRATERNITY WHO ARE OF THAT STATUS. EVEN THE BASKETBALL PLAYER, WHAT'S HIS NAME? MICHAEL JORDAN IS ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, YOU KNOW. SHAQ. IF WE TAKE THIS IN, IF YOU CHALLENGE US TO MAKE THIS WORK, WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO IT. YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY, GIVE US THE LEEWAY

092AND JUST PUT IT IN OUR COURT, YOU ALL WANT IT THAT BAD, SHOW US. WE'LL GIVE YOU TWO, FIVE YEARS, WHATEVER TO BRING THIS SCHOOL UP TO STANDARD. IF YOU ALL CAN DO IT, YOU ALL KEEP JUST. I THINK THAT IS A FAIR CHALLENGE. I'M NOT BEGGING OR ASKING FOR ANYTHING. I CHALLENGE YOU TO CHALLENGE US. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, BOARD. MY NAME IS DORIAN HARRIS. I'M A MEMBER OF THE TAMPA ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AFFAIRS. I ALSO SERVE ON MAYOR JANE CASTOR'S AFRICAN AMERICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL. I SHARE IN SUPPORT HER VISION OF TRANSFORMING TAMPA'S TOMORROW. SHE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT LEAVING NO RESIDENT BEHIND AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO NOT LEAVE ANY SCHOOL BEHIND. I'M A NATIVE OF TAMPA. I GREW UP HERE. AND I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT CHILDREN

093AND THEIR EDUCATION. MY FATHER TAUGHT ME THAT FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE. HE WAS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA. PRESIDENT OF THE DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE FOUNDATION HERE IN TAMPA. TODAY, BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO REINTRODUCE THE PENNY. THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PENNY, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO REIMAGINE THE VALUE OF THE PENNY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PENNY IN 2023, IT SEEMS INSIGNIFICANT, PETTY, NOT ENOUGH VALUE TO STAND A CHANCE AGAINST REAL MONEY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PENNY, IN FACT, MR. WASHINGTON, IF I WAS TO GIVE YOU THIS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, YOU WOULD SAY WAIT A MINUTE, WHY I DESERVE A PENNY FOR MY BIRTHDAY. WHAT IF WE REVALUE THE PENNY AND A SIGNIFICANT VALUE ON THE PENNY TO SEE IT AS NOT ONLY JUST THE FIRST

094AMERICAN CURRENCY TO EXIST BUT ALSO TO PUT IT OUT THERE TO SAY EVEN OUR SCHOOLS THAT WE SEE AS INSIGNIFICANT AND IRRELEVANT AND NOT ENOUGH VALUE TO STAND AGAINST A CHANCE AGAINST THESE OTHER ELABORATE A-GRADED SCHOOLS, I THINK THAT'S A SUCCESSFUL LIE. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY WE SHOULD REVALUE JUST ELEMENTARY AND I'M HERE TO PETITION THE BOARD, PLEASE RECONSIDER CLOSING SUCH A VALUABLE COMMODITY TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD. CONNIE BURTON. HISTORY PROVED THAT OLD GOING TOISTS, ALTHOUGH THEY -- SEGREGATIONISTS, ALTHOUGH THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING RIGHT, HISTORY HAS PROVEN THEM WRONG. WHAT WE SEE NOW IS THE ATTACK TO ELIMINATE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF AFRICAN PEOPLE. WE HEAR TERMS, WHERE WOKE GOES TO DIE. WE ALSO HEAR TERMS WHERE PEOPLE SAYING WE'RE DOING

095IT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF BROWN AND BLACK CHILDREN. WE ALSO HEAR TERMS SUCH AS BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING FINANCIALLY TO DO. ALL SOUNDING LIKE SEGREGATIONISTS. WE ARE HERE TO SAY, LIKE SISTER ROBIN SAID, WE'RE BEYOND BEGGING. IN 1954, JUST 69 SHORT YEARS, THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WROTE CHILDREN SHOULD NOT FEEL INFERIORITY TOWARD OTHERS. WE HAVE GIVEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SO MANY CHANCE TO MOVE WITH DELIBERATE SPEED IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. WE'VE GOTTEN BROKEN PROMISE AND BROKEN CHILDREN. WE WATCHED THE CLOSING OF MIDDLETON, BROKEN COMMUNITY, REBUILT LATER, DAMAGE DONE. MEACHAM DESTROYED. BLAKE CLOSED. DAMAGE ALREADY DONE. COMMUNITIES RAISED WITH THE HOPES OF A BETTER COMMUNITY BUT MANY IN THE COMMUNITY CAN'T EVEN COME BACK. YOU-ALL KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS. BUT WHAT WE ARE HOPING NOW THAT YOU SEE VALUE IN CHILDREN

096THAT HAVE HAD TO LEVERAGE ALL OF THE PLANS OF I CONSIDER THEM TO BE HATE, WHEN WE DON'T SEE VALUE IN ALL CHILDREN. CHILDREN HAVE BEEN GIVEN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS AND EHD, ALL ALPHABETS AND WITHIN REACH OF MAGNET SCHOOLS, THEY CANNOT EVEN ATTEND. THE MOVE OF YOUNG SEGREGATIONISTS OF THIS ERA, CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT. BECAUSE RIGHT THERE DUNBAR, RIGHT THERE ORANGE GROVE. RIGHT THERE, LOCKHART. OUR CHILDREN CANNOT EVEN ATTEND THESE MAGNET SCHOOLS. SO HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO FEEL A SENSE OF PRIDE? NOT ON OUR BACKS ANYMORE. YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUILDING HERE THAT YOU WANT TO SELL IT. SELL THIS. DO NOT MOVE JUST. OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. YOU HAVE LIT A FIRE ON OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE CAN

097HONESTLY SAY FINANCIALLY OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY WILL NOT BURN -- THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. ERNEST EVERETT JUST. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT NAME. TODAY I STAND ON BEHALF OF THE WORKING MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO FEEL THEIR VOICES CANNOT BE HEARD, THOSE WHO COULD NOT ATTEND TODAY BECAUSE THE MEETING STARTS AT 4:00. I STAND FOR THEM. TAMPA IS A CITY THAT SHOULD ALWAYS REFLECT GREAT LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AND REPRESENTATION FOR THE THOUGHTS OF ALL. I AM CALLING UPON THIS BOARD TO DEFY THE STATUS QUOTE AND TO NOT DO WHAT IS TYPICALLY DONE IN THESE INSTANCES AND DENY THE REQUEST OF THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES. I CALL UPON YOUR LEADERSHIP TO TAKE A STANCE AND MAKE A CHANGE

098IN REDEFINING YOUR LEGACIES FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. JUST ELEMENTARY SHOULD REMAIN OPEN, AND WE CAN NO LONGER AND WILL NO LONGER ALLOW BLACK AND LATINO CHILDREN TO BE UTILIZED AS PAWNS TO PAY THE PRICE FOR INEQUATES TO BE UTILIZED AS GO-TO OPTIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL BOARD SOLUTIONS. WE CAN NO LONGER DISRUPT AND PLACE THE OPPRESSION AND BURDEN ON THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO ARE ALREADY UNDERSERVED AND OVERLOOKED FOR THE SAKE OF UNDISCOVERED AND HIDDEN PLANS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY REDEVELOP THIS PRIME REAL ESTATE. EACH BOARD MEMBER WAS ELECTED AND EACH OF YOU TOOK AN OATH AND ONE WAS APPOINTED. NOT FOR THEIR CONSTITUENT PARENTS, BUT FOR THE CHILDREN IN EVERY DISTRICT, NOT JUST YOUR DISTRICT ALONE. WE HAVE SEEN WHAT POWER THIS BOARD HAS BY THE DECISIONS THAT YOU'VE MADE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES

099AND TODAY I STAND HERE WITH BOLDNESS AND COURAGE AND SAY TO YOU, DO NOT REPURPOSE A HISTORICAL SCHOOL. AND MAKE EXCUSES, BUT STAND FIRM AND HONOR WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS QUOTE. ETHICS AND THE PRINCIPLES, ETHICS, EQUITY, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE DO NOT CHANGE WITH THE CALENDAR YEAR. D.H. LAWRENCE. SO I IMPLORE EACH OF YOU TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND CHECK YOUR PRINCIPLES. VOTE NO ON CLOSING OR REPURPOSING JUST ELEMENTARY. I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU. JOSEPH SESSION. Nadia Combs: TALK INTO THE MIKE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS JOSEPH SESSION. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENT, GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. IN RECENT YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A SPIKE IN MISINFORMATION CONCERNING

100PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN FACT, A LOT OF THIS MISINFORMATION IS SURROUNDED BY THE MOVEMENT TO DECONTEXTUALIZE OUR TEXTBOOKS TO WHITEWASH AMERICAN HISTORY AND TO TRANSFORM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THEIR LIBRARIES, INTO COLOR BLIND INSTITUTIONS. THIS IN ITSELF IS THE INJUSTICE OF THIS IS SELF-EVIDENT. BY CONSEQUENCE OF THIS MISINFORMATION, PARENTS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY MISINFORMED ABOUT THE CURRICULUM STANDARDS AND TEACHING PRACTICES OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE, WHETHER IT BE FROM INTERNET CONSPIRACY THEORIES OR DISINFORMATION FROM STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS, FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS UNFAIR AND UNJUST. TO BOTH OUR TEACHERS AND PARENTS. THEREFORE, I'VE COME TO THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WITH THE PROPOSAL REQUEST THAT I'M CONFIDENT REQUEST HELP US OVERCOME. IMPLEMENT MEASURES THAT REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS TO INTEGRATE INSTRUCTIONAL SESSIONS FOR PARENTS CONCERNING THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THEM AS

101PART OF THE RECURRING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES. RESOURCES AS AN EXAMPLE OF CLEVER.COM AND CANVAS AS WELL AS OTHER PLATFORMS THAT I BELIEVE YOU GUYS ARE VOTING ON IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IF NOT ALREADY HAVE. THESE SESSIONS ARE TO FOCUS ON INFORMING PARENTS OF THREE THINGS. FIRST, WHAT ONLINE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS LIKE CANVAS. TWO, WHY ARE THESE RESOURCES IMPORTANT AND USEFUL FOR PARENTS, TRANSPARENCY. AND THREE, HOW CAN PARENTS SUCCESSFULLY USE THESE RESOURCES? MANY PARENTS MAY ACTUALLY BE AWARE OF THESE ALREADY BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE A TOOL, HOW CAN YOU TUESDAY? THIS PROPOSAL THAT I ASK, IT IS COST-EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT WILL NOT AFFECT ANY OF THE SCHOOL BUDGET OF ANY OF THE DISTRICTS, NOR WILL IT REQUIRE THE EMPLOYMENT OF ANY NEW EMPLOYEES OR

102THE REASSIGNMENT OF ANY GIVEN STAFF MEMBERS. THE INTEREST HERE IS TO HELP PARENTS MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL AS FOR PARENTS TO HAVE A MORE TRANSPARENT SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THEIR CHILD OR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL AND EDUCATION. THE INTEREST IS ALSO TO MAKE SURE WE REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF US FLORIDIANS AND NOT POLITICIANS WHO SAY WHATEVER THEY NEED TO FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR BOARD COMMENTS, OR OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR TODAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. WE HAVE THREE TODAY. A 01, ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION, NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH. APRIL 2023. I WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. IN ALL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA CENTERS, STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO PRINT BOOKS, AUDIO

103BOOKS, E-BOOKS, ONLINE DATABASES, ROBOTS, MAKER SPACES, QUIET READING NOOKS, ACTIVE COLLABORATIVE LEARNING SPACES AND FULL-TIME CERTIFIED SCHOOL MEDIA SPECIALISTS. SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO THE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL STUDENTS WHILE FOSTERING BOTH EXCELLENT AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION. DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH, WE CELEBRATE ALL THE WAYS SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAMS ENSURE STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE EFFECTIVE USERS OF IDEAS, INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH, APRIL 2023. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? I WANTED TO QUICKLY SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO LIBBY COPE FROM LETO HIGH SCHOOL FOR AN AMAZING, AMAZING MEDIA SPECIALIST BANQUET YESTERDAY. I KNOW SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS WENT. MEMBER RENDON, MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER WASHINGTON AND I,

104WE ATTENDED. AND WE WANTED TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE SPECIALISTS. THERE WERE READING TEACHERS THERE. THERE WERE SECRETARIES, OF COURSE, OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS, MANY OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS. AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE ADMINISTRATOR ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR WAS PRINCIPAL MICHELLE TESCANI FROM BELLAMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OUR RISING STAR MEDIA SPECIALIST WAS KATHERINE PETIT FROM MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL. ELEMENTARY MEDIA SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR WAS KAREN EBERLE FROM MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SECONDARY MEDIA SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR WAS DR. JENNIFER DYLAN FROM STEINBRENNER HIGH SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I'M HONORED TO GO TO SO MANY BANQUETS AND EVENTS. I HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN. IT WAS A GREAT TIME. AND IT WAS JUST GREAT TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO REALLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LITERACY AND HOW THAT REALLY IS THE

105EQUALIZER AND THAT REALLY OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR SO MANY CHILDREN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE READING AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT LITERACY. SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED SUPPORT THAT AND, OF COURSE, ANOTHER SHOUT-OUT TO LIBBY FROM LETO HIGH SCHOOL WHO DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB WITH THAT. THANK YOU. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. I CONCUR. I ALSO WANTED TO BRING UP THE HASLEM BANQUET LAST NIGHT. WE ATTEND A LOT OF BANQUETS, A LOT OF CEREMONIES AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THAT'S ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. THE ENERGY THAT COMES OUT OF IT, AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR KIDS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN READ, BUT NOT JUST MAKING

106SURE THAT THEY CAN READ, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR READING AND THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND AND CONTEXTUALIZE WHAT THEY ARE READING AND TAKE MEANING FROM IT. OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS HAVE ALL BEEN TRAINED FOR THAT. WHEN YOU GO TO AN EVENT AND THEY ARE GIVING AWAY AMAZING BOOKS AND ALL THE RAFFLES ARE AROUND LITERACY, IT JUST REALLY REMINDS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AGAIN, TO HAVE RELEVANT MATERIAL IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO BACK AND I SPEAK TO SO MANY MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AND I SAY WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR STUDENTS NOT JUST TO GET THEM TO READ, BUT INSTILL THAT PASSION, IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO CULTURALLY RELATIVE MATERIAL OR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THINGS OUR STUDENTS CAN RELATE TO OR SOMETHING THAT CAPTURES

107THEIR INTEREST. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS. SOME OF THEM CAME UP TO ME PRIVATELY AND SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY HURT BY SOME OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT WE'VE HAD RECENTLY REGARDING OUR BOOKS. TO BE LIKENED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO HURT OUR CHILDREN IS SUCH A DISSERVICE TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL AND WHO PRIORITIZE MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO LITERATURE. IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO SEE SOME OF THE NARRATIVES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. I WANT TO SAY I STAND WITH OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND I APPRECIATE THEM SO MUCH. I VALUE THEM. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION. I HEARD THAT ON THE STATE LEVEL THEY ARE NOT DOING THIS PROCLAMATION, SO THE FACT THAT

108HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS BRINGING THIS FORWARD MEANS A LOT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YEAH, I WANT TO AGAIN ECHO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. THE EVENT LAST NIGHT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR VERY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL STAFF THAT DO AN AMAZING JOB IN ENHANCING AND ENCOURAGING LITERACY AMONGST ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE A COMMUNITY. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AMONGST THEM. THEY WERE FRIENDS AMONGST FRIENDS. AND SO IT WAS JUST A JOY TO BE A PART OF THAT. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS IN THE COUNTY. WE RECOGNIZE UP HERE THAT YOUR JOB IS NOT JUST CATEGORIZING BOOKS. IN MANY WAYS YOU HELP WITH TESTING. YOU HELP WITH LAMB NATING.

109YOU HELP WITH SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA NOR DO THEY SEE. SO WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE YOU AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU DO SO MUCH MORE THAN THE JOB TITLE SAYS. YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERACY IS SUCH A GREAT EQUALIZER IN OUR COMMUNITY. ANYONE WHO CAN READ CAN DO ANYTHING. ANYONE WHO CAN READ CAN BE ANYTHING, AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AMONGST ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COUNTIES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND BIG THANK YOU TO LIBBY COPE FOR HER LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY IS THE MOST AND THE LARGEST LEARNING CENTER IN THE SCHOOL. EVERY ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID IT ELOQUENTLY. THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO THE

110DISCIPLINES OF READING, LITERACY, COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS ALL THE COMPONENTS, GOOD LISTENING, SO MANY VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS GET TAUGHT IN THE LIBRARY. I KNOW I SEE ONE LIBRARIAN IN THE CROWD RIGHT NOW. MAYBE THERE ARE MORE, BUT WHAT A GREAT GALA YOU ALL HAD, TOO, AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW. THERE'S NO QUESTION. WE'RE BEING QUESTIONED. YOU'RE BEING QUESTIONED, AND IT IS A TIME OF ALL OF US THAT IS COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED AT THIS TIME. SO STAY WITH US, AND WE WILL STAY WITH YOU AND BACK YOU UP AS BEST WE CAN. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ALSO WANT TO ECHO BOARD MEMBERS. LAST NIGHT WAS A GREAT EVENT. MEDIA SPECIALISTS, I TELL YOU, THEY

111HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, THEY SAY, WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE LIBRARY, BUT SO MUCH THAT GOES ON IN THAT MEDIA CENTER TO HELP KIDS READ. READING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS MORE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER SUBJECT. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO READ. AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH THAT. I WANT TO THANK LIBBY COPE FOR PUTTING THE PROGRAM ON LAST NIGHT. IT WAS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. GOT A CHANCE TO MEET SOME OF MY FORMER LIBRARIANS I HADN'T SEEN IN YEARS. WE JUST ENJOYED AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. SO CONTINUING DOING YOUR GREAT JOB, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, READING IS FUNDAMENTALLY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1966, 56 YEARS AGO. AND AS A

112BOARD MEMBER, I'M COMMITTED TO LITERACY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. BUT OUR MEDIA SPECIALISTS ARE COMMITTED EVEN MORE. THEY ENSURE THAT THE PASSION FOR READING REMAINS IN OUR SCHOOLS, WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO LITERACY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I JUST AS YOU ALL KNOW LOVE THE SCHOOL LIBRARY, LOVE BOOKS AND UNDERSTAND GREATLY THE IMPORTANCE OF READING AS A LONGTIME TEACHER IN SPECIAL EDUCATION I SAW FIRSTHAND HOW UNLOCKING OUR LANGUAGE TO KIDS AND ALLOWING THEM TO DECODE LETTERS AND WORDS CHANGED THEIR LIVES AND THEIR ENTIRE WORLD. SO NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE ON SOME OF TODAY'S ISSUES AROUND BOOKS, I THINK THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER

113AT THIS DAY AND AGREE THAT BOOKS ALLOW KIDS TO VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT PLACES. IT OPENS UP THEIR IMAGINATION, AND I THINK THE ONE COMMONALTY THAT WE CAN ALL RALLY AROUND IS THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING A LOVE FOR BOOKS AND STORIES IN REGARD TO SETTING CHILDREN ON THE RIGHT PATH TO A LIFE WHERE THEY WILL HAVE LITERACY AND READING AS A STRONG FOUNDATION. AND THAT WILL REALLY CARRY THEM THROUGH ANYTHING THEY WANT TO DO IN LIFE. SO I'M HAPPY TO CELEBRATE LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND MEDIA SPECIALISTS, AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I'M GOING TO MOVE THE SCHEDULE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE

114DO HAVE EMPLOYEE INPUT IN A FEW MINUTES AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE BEFORE EMPLOYEE INPUT. I'LL GO AHEAD FIRST AND I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE -- I WILL NOW CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY. TONIGHT, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR LEADERS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, THOSE WHO WILL BE TRANSITIONING FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT AND ALSO NEW LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIRST ONE I WANT

115TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BELMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MS. CANDACE DODD. SHE IS THE CURRENT PRINCIPAL AT EDISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. STARTED IN 2019, INSTRUMENTALLAL IN OUR DISTRICT. CANDICE, YOU HAVE TO WALK DOWN LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAD. MATH COACH, TEACHER. SHE'S DONE REALLY COOL THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT. WE THANK HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP. SHE HAS BEEN IN TRANSFORMATION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE WILL SADLY MISS YOU IN TRANSFORMATION, BUT WE GLADLY ACCEPT YOU IN TRADITIONAL. BUT OPENLY, WHAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IS TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT WILL HAVE OPEN ARMS FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION THAT PRINCIPAL BLACK HAS CREATED AND WE LOOK FORWARD FOR YOU DOING REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR CHILDREN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO

116GO TO ONE OF THE LARGEST SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT AND TRULY MAKE A GENUINE DIFFERENCE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GOT TO WALK THAT WALK, CANDICE. ALSO, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAME A NEW PRINCIPAL AT BUCKHORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS IS INDIVIDUAL THAT IS A PRODUCT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, ALSO ATTENDED ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WAS A TEACHER, LEADER, DISTRICT MENTOR ALSO A RESOURCE TEACHER AS WELL AND WAS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND TRANSITIONED TO BE THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL THAT HAS DONE REALLY GOOD THINGS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. NEW PRINCIPAL AT BUCKHORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS MRS. CORRIE HEIDT. PLEASE COME ON UP. THANK YOU, AND WELCOME. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. LISTEN, WE UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T DO THIS IN ISOLATION. WE'LL DO THIS TOGETHER, THIS ENTIRE BOARD WILL HELP YOU. EVERYONE IN THE FRONT ROW AND

117AUDIENCE WILL HELP YOU AS WELL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND TO A GREAT SUCCESS AS YOU START TOMORROW. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME. OUR NEXT LEADER IS A LEADER THAT BEGAN HER WORK IN 2005 AND HAS HAD OVER 20 YEARS OF TEACHING IN EDUCATION. WAS 11 YEARS I BELIEVE AT VALRICO, THREE YEARS AS A LEADER AT LINCOLN, TRANSITIONED ONE YEAR AT DOVER, ALSO WAS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MANGO AT 2019 AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, TRANSITIONED TO 2022 AND BECAME THE PRINCIPAL AT DOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. NOW GETS A CHANCE TO GO BACK TO MANGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THIS IS MRS. KIMBERLY PARKE. CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT MANGO. THANK YOU, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION. AND THEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE THE CURRENT

118PRINCIPAL AT WILLIAMS TO A SUPERVISOR ACCELERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO FIND A LEADER THAT CAN TRANSITION TO WILLIAMS MAGNET TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION THAT SHELLY HAS REALLY IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THAT SCHOOL. THIS INDIVIDUAL STARTED A CAREER IN ORANGE COUNTY AS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER, THIRD GRADE TEACHER, BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST, TRANSITIONED TO TURNAROUND WORK, WORKED IN PINELLAS FROM 2005, 2008, TRANSITIONED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN 2014. WAS AN AP MAN AND TRANSITIONED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL AT BURNETT. CAME BACK TO BE THE PRINCIPAL AT MANN IN 2019 AND NOW HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO WILLIAMS, EXPAND THAT MAGNET INITIATIVE, BUILD ON THE FOUNDATIONS AND DO REALLY GOOD THINGS. NEW PRINCIPAL OF WILLIAMS MIDDLE IS DANTE JONES. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THAT IS IT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY

119THIS EVENING, CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND, OF COURSE, THEIR FAMILIES FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT. Addison Davis: THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: WE WILL NOW MOVE TO EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE WOULD LIKE NOW -- WE WOULD LIKE TO NOW TAKE EMPLOYEE INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND 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. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE

120DISTRICT 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, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR THE DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. IF THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS PLEASE LINE UP. FIRST SPEAKER. SORRY. I WAS DILLYDALLYING IN THE BACK. ROB KRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. THE DISTRICT IS ITS PEOPLE. THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF THE MAGISTRATE AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE. THE MAGISTRATE ACKNOWLEDGED ATTA'S WILLINGNESS TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE DISTRICT IN THE RULING. WE IN TURN APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THIS VOTE WHICH WAS RATIFIED BY OUR MEMBERS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS DISTRICT TONIGHT. THIS IS JUST A

121SMALL STEP IN STABILIZING OUR DISTRICT THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. AND AS THE DOE CONSISTENTLY ASKED MR. DAVIS TO EXPLAIN THE HOLDUP OF THIS AGREEMENT, WE MAINTAIN THAT THE DECISION BY THE MAGISTRATE HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR A UNION TO FIGHT FOR THE STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD DESERVES. SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PATIENCE THROUGHOUT THIS GLACIAL PROCESS, ONE THAT TOOK LONGER THAN WE ALL AGREE SHOULD HAVE AND TRULY HOPE WE CAN AGREE SOONER LEARNING THAT LESSON. I SURE HOPE THAT I HAVE HAVE YOUR COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION WITH THAT. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. WE THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE VOTE YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE TODAY. MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS

122A WAY TO MOVE THAT UP IN THE AGENDA AS WELL AS WE HAVE MEMBERS BOTH HERE AND AT HOME TONIGHT ON THAT. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT HILLSBOROUGH IS THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN AND TEACH. THANK YOU, MR. ARE THE TOER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. ROGER MARCEL LIS. ELA TEACHER AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENTLY, THE DISTRICT'S I.T. DEPARTMENT HAS BLOCKED WIKIPEDIA AND OTHER REPOSITORIES OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH ARE BEING LABELED AS BLOGS. AS AN ELA TEACHER I STRONGLY URGE YOU NOT TO BLOCK ACCESS TO THESE DATABASES. THESE RESOURCES PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION AND CAN BE INCREDIBLY USEFUL TOOLS FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN AND CONDUCT RESEARCH. WIKIPEDIA ALLOWS STUDENTS TO OBTAIN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A TOPIC QUICKLY. IT IS TRUE THAT THERE ARE SOME INACCURACIES AND BIASES THAT CAN BE

123FOUND ON WIKIPEDIA BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS HOW TO QUICKLY EVALUATE SOURCES AND VERIFY INFORMATION. BANNING THESE RESOURCES ALTOGETHER DOES NOT PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THESE SKILLS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GROWTH. BY USING WIKIPEDIA, STUDENTS CAN GAIN A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOPIC BEFORE DELVING INTO MORE SPECIFIC AND CREDIBLE RESOURCES. BLOCKING ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES CAN ALSO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION AT HOME. MANY STUDENTS RELY ON SCHOOL-PROVIDED TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES TO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AND LIMITING THEIR ACCESS TO INFORMATION COULD PUT THEM AT A DISADVANTAGE. INSTEAD OF BLOCKING ACCESS, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO USE THESE RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY. WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES THEY

124NEED TO EVALUATE SOURCES AND VERIFY INFORMATION. WHILE STILL ALLOWING THEM TO ACCESS THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE. I AM ALSO HERE TO ASK THAT THE DISTRICT PROVIDE PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE AND AI CONTENT DETECTION SOFTWARE WITHIN CANVAS ITSELF TO ASSIST TEACHERS IN GRADING. AS AN ELA TEACHER I CAN ATTEST TO THE TREMENDOUS BENEFITS THAT SUCH TOOLS WOULD PROVIDE FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE. GRADING STUDENT WORK IS A TIME-CONSUMING AND CHALLENGING TASK, ESPECIALLY FOR ELA TEACHERS WITH A ROSTER OF 180 STUDENTS. PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO ASSESSING WRITTEN ASSESSMENTS. PLAGIARISM AND CONTENT DUPLICATION ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT TEACHERS MUST ADDRESS AND IT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY INSTANCES OF PLAGIARISM WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS. BY INCLUDING THESE SOFTWARES WITHIN CANVAS, TEACHERS CAN QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY IDENTIFY INSTANCES OF PLAGIARISM AND ENSURE

125THAT STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING GRADES BASED ON THEIR ORIGINAL WORK. BY PROVIDING THESE TOOLS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND ENSURE THAT TEACHERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION. THIS WILL HELP BUILD TRUST WITH PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY AND FOSTER A CULTURE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. IN CONCLUSION, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO STOP BLOCKING WEBSITES SUCH AS WIKIPEDIA AND TO PROVIDE PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE AND AI CONTENT DETECTION SOFTWARE WITHIN CANVAS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. JOHNNY GREEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF ACTA. I WANT TO COME TO YOU TONIGHT AND SAY, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS VOTE UP TONIGHT. WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS FOR BOTH SIDES. NOT AN EASY PROCESS FOR OUR MEMBERS AS WELL. WE ASK YOU TO JUST

126BE MINDFUL OF WHAT WE ALL HAVE COME FROM AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO TO MOVE SOME THINGS FORWARD. LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. LET'S OFFER OUR ESPs BE MORE CREATIVE IN THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, BUT ALSO MORE MINDFUL OF SOME PD TRAINING AS WELL FOR YOU. LET'S COME TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER TO DO THINGS FOR THE DISTRICT. THIS IS A GREAT DISTRICT, BORN AND RAISED IN THE DISTRICT. THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, BUT LET'S BE MINDFUL WHERE WE WANT TO GO REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S COMING OUT OF TALLAHASSEE. LET'S OWN IT AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE TONIGHT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THE BEST I CAN WITH THE

127MICROPHONE. DAVID WAGNER FROM ALONSO HIGH SCHOOL. AND IN ANTICIPATION OF THE VOTE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS EVENING, I JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND SAY IF YOU DO VOTE TO ACCEPT THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. HOPEFULLY THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS UP HERE AND SPOKE TO YOU ALL I PRETTY WELL EXCORIATED THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR THE HANDLING OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES AT THAT POINT, INCLUDING TEACHER SALARIES NOT COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER FLORIDA DISTRICTS, IN PARTICULAR BROWARD WHERE I TAUGHT BEFORE. THE STEPS TO VETERAN TEACHERS AND ADVERTISED FOR NEW HIRES INCLUDING MYSELF WITHOUT COMMUNICATION OF THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE PLACED AT THAT POINT EARLIER IN THE YEAR TWO STEPS LOWER ON THE SALARY SCALE THAN ADVERTISED. ADVANCED DEGREE PAY SUPPLEMENTS FOR TEACHERS AS WELL,

128WHICH ARE TAKEN FOR GRANTED IN OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY WHICH WERE NOT AT THAT POINT OFFERED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND THE EFFECT THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAD HAD IN CREATING AND PERPETUATING THE STAFFING SHORTAGES THAT HAVE SO PROFOUNDLY AND DETRIMENTALLY AFFECTED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS THIS YEAR. ALL OF THAT SAID, IF YOU VOTE TO ACCEPT THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS THIS EVENING YOU WILL HAVE TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, WHICH WILL HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, BOTH THIS YEAR AND MOVING INTO THE FUTURE. SO IN FAIRNESS, I WILL PROBABLY BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU SOON TO SPEAK ABOUT AREAS WHERE THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. AFTER THE AREAS RECOMMENDED BY

129THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, INCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE SUPPLEMENTS WHICH STILL LAGS BEHIND THE SUPPLEMENTS RECOMMENDED WHICH STILL LAGS BEHIND THE AMOUNTS OFFERED ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE, INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR STAFF, INCLUDING TRULY COMPETITIVE PAY GIVEN THAT TAMPA IS BOTH THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AND ALSO THE CITY WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF INFLATION OVER THE LAST YEAR. 11% ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND PROBABLY HASN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER. BUT FOR TODAY, IN ADVANCE OF THE VOTE THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE, IF YOU VOTE TO ACCEPT THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS THE LAST FEW MONTHS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NICOLE TEA GARTEN. I AM A SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT HERITAGE ELEMENTARY. I'M HERE TODAY

130TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MY UNION AND THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS IN WINNING IMPASSE OVER THE PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON SALARY STEP INCREASES. THIS ACHIEVEMENT DEMONSTRATES THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR UNION TO SECURE FAIR COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES' HARD WORK. HOWEVER, I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE FACT THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 1500 INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES IN THIS COUNTY. WHICH SIGNALS A SEVERE NEED FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR ALL. THE SHORTAGE OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF HAS FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS. THESE VACANCIES CAUSE DISRUPTIONS TO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, INCREASED CLASS SIZES AND LIMIT THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES. I'M WEARING MY INFAMOUS INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES SHIRT AS A GLARING REMINDER OF HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO FIX COMPENSATION

131ISSUES. WE NEED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST EDUCATORS FOR OUR SCHOOLS. SALARY STEPS SHOULD BE THE BARE MINIMUM OF BARGAINING AND IMPROVEMENT TO OUR SALARY SCALE SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE BARGAINING PROCESS, I URGE THE DISTRICT'S BARGAINING TEAM TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TEACHERS UNION TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THE COST OF DRAGGING BARGAINING OUT. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION TO OUR STUDENTS. THE DISTRICT HAS DROPPED THE BALL THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THE COST HAS BEEN CLASSROOMS WITHOUT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WITH MASSIVE GAPS IN THEIR LEARNING. WHILE THE WIN FOR HCTA IS CERTAINLY CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT STILL LIE AHEAD.

132PLEASE REMEMBER THAT TEACHERS, PARAS, AND STAFF ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES ARE THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE DESERVE BETTER. THE MAGISTRATE CLEARLY RECOGNIZED THIS IN HIS RULING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE AMICABLE BARGAINING PROCESS THIS NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. I HAVE LARYNGITIS. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. SURE MY STUDENTS ARE CHEERING RIGHT ABOUT NOW. THANK GOD FOR NICOLE BECAUSE SHE SAID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY. WE DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU WILL BE VOTING TONIGHT AND AS ROB ASKED, I'D APPRECIATE IT IF IT GOT MOVED UP SO I COULD GO HOME AND GO TO SLEEP. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD TO REALIZE THAT THE BARGAINING TEAM IS THERE TO BARGAIN AND WORK WITH US, NOT AGAINST US.

133AND WHEN I SAY US, I MEAN THE EMPLOYEES, THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILDREN, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A SENSE KEEPING THIS DISTRICT ALIVE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR VOTE. I HOPE YOU CAN MOVE IT UP AND THANK YOU, NICOLE, FOR SAYING EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY. OKAY, BYE. Nadia Combs: OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING. KIM ENRIQUEZ FROM LOWRY ELEMENTARY. KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. HAVEN'T SEEN YOU GUYS IN A WHILE. BEEN BUSY. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT FOR LISTENING TO THE MAGISTRATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOLLOWING THEM WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH ANY FURTHER STUFF. OUR GOVERNOR LIKES THAT WORD. STUFF. THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR CONSIDERING OUR VOTE TONIGHT. I'M NOT CELEBRATING JUST YET BECAUSE IT HASN'T HAPPENED. DO YOU NEED

134ME TO SING THE FAT LADY, GET IT. I CAN SING IF YOU WANT. NEVER MIND. I'M APPRECIATIVE FOR THE RAISE BECAUSE IT WILL HELP PAY FOR THE $10 PARKING I PAY FOR EVERY TIME I COME HERE. I THINK I'M PARKING IN THE WRONG SPOT. ALSO TO PAY FOR SOME KRISPY KREME CELEBRATION DOUGHNUTS FOR MY FOREVER FIANCÉ. EVERY TIME I COME DOWN HERE, HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THAT. RANDOM RAMBLINGS FROM THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. SORRY. I'VE BEEN WITH FIVE AND SIX-YEAR-OLDS ALL DAY. BUT I DID HAVE MY EVALUATION THIS AFTERNOON. I LIKE IT. IT'S STREAMLINED. IT'S GOOD. I LIKE THAT. I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE SELF-EVALUATION PROCESS. IT'S GOOD TO REFLECT ON THOSE THINGS, AND I TOOK THE TIME TO DO THAT, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY SCORES WERE GOING TO BE BASED ON THE THREE

135OBSERVATIONS THAT I HAD. I'M LIKE, WHY DID I SPEND ALL THIS TIME ON A SELF-EVALUATION JUST TO BE TOLD THAT, WELL, YEAH, I DID GET SOME ACCOMPLISHED. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO GET EXEMPLARY. YOU NEVER GET THERE. I'M ALL RIGHT WITH THAT. BUT I'M READING CERTIFIED. AND WHEN I HEAR THAT MY READING PRACTICES ARE JUST PROGRESSING, I GET A LITTLE PERTURBED. PROGRESSING IS OKAY. I GET THAT. BUT I KNOW HOW TO TEACH MY KIDS TO READ AND TO LOVE READING. AND I FEEL LIKE IT WASN'T EVEN REFLECTED. GRANTED, WHEN THEY COME IN THE ROOM AND THE KIDS -- THEY ARE FIVE AND SIX. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT. I KNOW THAT. I LOVE THEM IN SPITE OF IT AND THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO THINGS. IF I

136DON'T CLIP THEM DOWN OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY ARE EXPECTING TO SEE FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, I'VE GOT A GREAT CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT BUT THEN I GET TOLD, WELL, YOU'RE NOT BEING HARD ENOUGH. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE MY PRINCIPAL, LOVE MY SCHOOL, THAT'S WHY I'M THERE. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WAY I TEACH. THANKS FOR STREAMLINING IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR EMPLOYEE INPUT. NOW WHAT WE'LL DO IS FINISH THE PROCLAMATIONS AND THEN WE'LL DO 7.04, 4.3 AND 4.04 AND CONTINUE IN THAT ORDER, BOARD MEMBERS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, WHICH WILL BE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION EL DIÁ DE LOS NIÑOS CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS DAY APRIL 30, 2023. MEMBER PEREZ WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROCLAMATION. Karen Perez: IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. [SPEAKING SPANISH]

137EL DIÁ DE LOS NIÑOS WAS FIRST RECOGNIZED TO PROMOTE CHILD WELFARE IN 1924 AND CELEBRATED THROUGH LITERACY IN THE CHILD'S HOME LANGUAGE. EL DIÁ DE LOS NIÑOS DAY HONORS HOME LANGUAGES AND CULTURES AND PROMOTES BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL LITERACY AND GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH READING. OUR DISTRICT IS RECOGNIZING THIS DAY BY JOINING THE INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION THROUGH GUEST READINGS AND SUPPORT FOR HOME LANGUAGE LITERACY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE EL DIÁ DE LOS NIÑOS DAY CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS DAY APRIL 30, 2023. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I WANT TO THANK MEMBER PEREZ FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION. I WANT TO THANK MELISSA MORGADO FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD AND ALSO FOR HELPING LEAD THE HISPANIC

138FORUM. THE IDEA IS VERY SIMILAR, ANALOGOUS TO ALL CULTURES. THE HISPANIC CULTURE IS SO MUCH NEEDED TO BE ENHANCED AND LET'S GO FOR EXPLORED AND THEN ENHANCED, RECOGNIZE HIGHLY AS A NEED AND PART OF THE FABRIC WITHIN OUR SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM AND ART CURRICULUM AND OTHER RELATED CURRICULUMS WHEREVER WE CAN PUT IN AND INTEGRATE HISPANIC CULTURE AND LEARNING, ESPECIALLY -- AND THIS IS MORE PRAGMATIC, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO READING. READING, LITERACY, THE COMPONENTS OF, AGAIN, COMMUNICATION, LISTENING, WRITING IS SO CRITICAL NOW FOR OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS AND THIS PROCLAMATION SPELLS THAT OUT AS WELL. AGAIN, WE ALL THINK THIS PROCLAMATION HAS BEEN FORMATTED AND READ AND MEMBER PEREZ, I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AS WELL. I SEE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU,

139MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MELISSA MORGADO FOR BEING SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR BILINGUAL PROGRAM, FOR OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY. THIS FEELS VERY TIMELY. MEMBER PEREZ AND I, THANK YOU TO MELISSA MORGADO, ACTUALLY ATTENDED CHAMBERLAIN'S SPANISH HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION TODAY, CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS AND OUR ALUMNI. AND MOST OF IT IS HOSTED IN SPANISH, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GLEAN ALL OF THE STUDENTS PRESENTING THEIR HERITAGE, COUNTRIES THAT THEY CAME FROM, POEMS ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE FROM, DANCES, WE GOT TO SEE BEAUTIFUL DANCES. SO TO LIVE IN A COUNTY WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SO MUCH DIVERSITY AND WE EMBRACE OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE ALL SO DIVERSE, WHETHER IT'S ATTENDING OUR MIGRANT GRADUATION IN RIVERVIEW WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO DO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I THINK THAT WHEN

140I LOOK AT THIS PROCLAMATION, WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME IS RESPECT FOR CULTURE, HERITAGE, TRADITION, AND LANGUAGE AS POWERFUL TOOLS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS AND OUR BILINGUAL STUDENTS, IT'S ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. AS WE'VE SEEN TONIGHT, OUR COMMUNITY IS DIVERSE. SO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENGAGING ALL OF THE MEMBERS, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND REALLY, REALLY CELEBRATING EACH INDIVIDUAL HERITAGE, ESPECIALLY THROUGH LANGUAGE, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT. SUCH A TOOL TO OPEN UP SO MUCH IS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND INCLUDING US AND FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS THIS AND MEMBER PEREZ FOR YOUR TIRELESS ADVOCATATION FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND FOR READING THE PROCLAMATION TONIGHT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK

141YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: WELL, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW SUIT WITH MEMBER VAUGHN. THE SPANISH NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION TODAY WAS JUST SO TIMELY WITH THIS. AND THANK YOU, MELISSA MORGADO FOR THAT. WE WATCHED LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN SAID, THE STUDENTS READING POETRY AND READING THINGS IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. SO WE'RE NOT ONLY ASSURING THAT OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS MAINTAIN THEIR NATIVE TONGUE AND LANGUAGE, BUT WE ARE ALSO ENSURING THAT THEY SPEAK ENGLISH PROFICIENTLY AND THEY WILL BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS BILINGUAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YES, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS THAT WE CAN ALL HONOR AND CELEBRATE. AND

142THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS VERY SPECIAL WITH THE AREA FOUR THAT I REPRESENT. WE HAVE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THAT CULTURE AND HONOR THAT HERITAGE. WE ARE EXCITED WE'VE GOT SO MANY THINGS THAT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND BRING SUCH ATTENTION TO IT IS JUST AN HONOR FOR US TO DO. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN SO MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS TO BRING HIGHLIGHT TO THAT, BRING EDUCATION TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VARIOUS CULTURES. AND TO PRAISE AND ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT ARE FROM THE VARIOUS CULTURES AND BEING WHO THEY ARE SO THAT THEY HAVE HONOR AND PRIDE IN EVERYTHING THEY DO. THANK

143YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MRS. MORGADO BECAUSE SHE DOES A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT. ALSO, MRS. PEREZ, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION. IT WAS WONDERFUL. I JUST FOUND OUT HER HUSBAND WENT TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL SO WE GOT TO HANG OUT A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT SPORTS BACK THEN. YES, YES, YES. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE REALLY BEEN A WARRIOR FOR HISPANICS. I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. IN DISTRICT ONE WHERE TOWN N' COUNTRY IS, OR REALLY THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT, ALMOST 40% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HISPANIC. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE LARGE NUMBER OF HISPANIC STUDENTS WE

144HAVE. AND IN DISTRICT ONE WE HAVE SO MANY DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS THAT ARE JUST THRIVING, OUR ELL STUDENTS ARE THRIVING. SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT I WANT TO THANK, BUT I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MEMBER GRAY FOR STARTING THE HISPANIC TASK FORCE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE MEET REGULARLY, AND WE HAVE MADE SO MANY STRIDES BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZED WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD, I REALIZE WE HAVE A LARGE HISPANIC POPULATION, BUT I'M NOT SEEING AS MANY TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS, UPPER STAFF THAT ARE FROM THAT HISPANIC POPULATION, AND I THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. WE STILL HAVE A WAY TO GO. WE ARE MAKING SOME STRIDES, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING TO MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS WHEN THEY SEE PEOPLE, THEY ARE SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HIGH

145LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THAT ARE IN HIGH PLACES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ALSO THE VOICE OF STUDENTS BECAUSE WE NEED TO -- STUDENTS NEED -- OFTEN I WILL GO TO A SCHOOL AND YOU FIND STUDENTS WHO HAVE JUST RECENTLY COME FROM CUBA OR MAYBE HAVE TRAVELED FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS HERE AND BEING ABLE TO GO INTO A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM OR BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH A TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL OR BEING ABLE FOR THAT FAMILY TO COME TO THAT SCHOOL IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUT THAT AT THE FOREFRONT AND CONTINUE DOING PROCLAMATIONS, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AND LOOKING AT THAT STAFF AND LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS AND SEEING THAT OUR WORK IS REALLY COMING TRUE. SO THANK YOU, BOARD, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING

146ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION, NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, APRIL 2023. MEMBER GRAY WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROCLAMATION. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M PRESSING BUTTONS AND TALKING AT THE SAME TIME. HOLD ON. HERE WE GO. WHEREAS, THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND REQUIRES A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO THE APPROPRIATELY VALUE, NURTURE, SUPPORT, AND ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN. AND, WHEREAS, CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND ALL CHILDREN DESERVE THE RIGHT TO GROW AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN A SAFE AND SECURE HOME. AND, WHEREAS, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN GROW UP IN

147A SAFE NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO SEEK HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND ARE MORE RESILIENT. AND WHEREAS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHILDREN'S BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MUST WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND HOW IT CAN BE STOPPED. AS PREVENTION REMAINS AS ALWAYS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND WHEREAS, THE CHILDREN'S BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY KEEPING KIDS SAFE PARTNERSHIP IN COLLABORATION WITH PREVENT CHILD ABUSE FLORIDA'S PINWHEELS FOR PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND OUNCE OF PREVENTION FLORIDA ARE ENGAGING IN EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY PROMOTING AWARENESS OF HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, POSITIVE PARENTING PRACTICES AND

148TYPES OF CONCRETE SUPPORT FAMILIES NEED. WHEREAS, WE URGE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY SUPPORTING FAMILIES, PROMOTING POSITIVE PARENTING PRACTICES, AND REPORTING SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT, WE ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL CHILDREN IN TAMPA BAY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- AND THIS WILL COME UP FOR A VOTE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR, SOCIAL WORKER.

149EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WORKS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. YOU ARE THE LINE OF DEFENSE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE. THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, DURING COVID, THE NUMBER OF ABUSE CALLS DECREASED BY OVER 25%. AND EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL YEAR, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, YOU FIND ACTUALLY AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER YOU FIND THE MOST ABUSE CALLS ALL YEAR LONG, AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU, THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE PROTECTING OUR KIDS. AS A MANDATORY REPORTER, WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS GUT-WRENCHING, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERY MOMENT THAT YOU ARE WITH OUR CHILDREN, FOR EVERY EYEBALL YOU PUT ON THEM AND EVERY PHONE CALL YOU MAKE, WHETHER YOU KNOW OR YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE. BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME AND YOU MAKE THE

150DECISION TO CALL. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. EXACTLY SO. IF WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, WHICH ARE VERY FRIGHTENING, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OF CHILD ABUSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND RECORDED. THE HIGHEST. AND SECONDLY, FOUR CHILDREN PER DAY ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOUSE DUE TO CHILD ABUSE. FOUR CHILDREN PER DAY. THIRD, AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION DIRECTLY, OVER, OR LESS THAN, JUST LESS THAN 50% COME TO OUR SCHOOLS READY TO LEARN WITH ZERO READING BACKGROUND. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CHILDREN'S BOARD, AND THANK YOU, MS. PARIS AND WONDERFUL BOARD, AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO BRIDGE THE GAP, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WONDERFUL BOARD MEMBERS, MS. RENDON, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO

151DO IN CAPTURING, AND YES, WE DO THANK THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO HAVE THAT GUT-WRENCHING JOB BECAUSE THEY SEE WHAT GOES ON. BUT AT ANY RATE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION FOR TODAY IS ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD, APRIL 2023. STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIP. MEMBER HAHN WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROCLAMATION. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROCLAMATIONS OF THE YEAR. THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. MORE THAN 4600 CHILDREN OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORMS ARE STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHERE THEY BRING A SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP, CARING, AND ACHIEVEMENT TO OUR CAMPUSES. CHILDREN OF SERVICE MEMBERS ARE A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND

152HONOR TO US ALL, AND IT IS VITAL TO RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, CELEBRATE THEIR STRENGTH, AND LET OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM KNOW THAT WHILE THEY ARE SERVING OUR NATION, WE ARE SERVING THEIR CHILDREN. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE KNOWN AS THE MacDILL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE. WHICH CREATES A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MILITARY LEADERS, EDUCATORS, AND OUR COMMUNITY. EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO WEAR PURPLE TOMORROW, APRIL 19, AS A VISIBLE SIGN TO THANK MILITARY CHILDREN FOR THEIR STRENGTH AND SACRIFICES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? Stacy Hahn: I DON'T KNOW WHY MY BUTTONS ARE NOT WORKING. THANK YOU,

153MEMBER COMBS. MILITARY CHILDREN FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES, AS THEY MOVE FREQUENTLY WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THEY LEAVE FRIENDS BEHIND, THEIR SCHOOL BEHIND THE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES BEHIND. AND THEY SOMETIMES HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO DEPLOYING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SPEND MANY MONTHS OR YEARS AWAY FROM LOVED ONES. THIS MONTH AND EVERY MONTH I SHARE MY GRATITUDE FOR THESE CHILDREN, AND AS A BOARD MEMBER WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. AS A MEMBER OF A MILITARY FAMILY MYSELF, MY HUSBAND, HIS FATHER, HIS BROTHER ALL WENT TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY AND SERVED IN THE MILITARY, AND MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS MOVED ALL AROUND THIS COUNTRY GROWING UP, AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE SACRIFICES MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE HAD TO MAKE AND HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENT WHILE THEY ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY.

154SO I HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN ME THIS MONTH IN CELEBRATING OUR MILITARY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. AND TOMORROW, I HOPE THAT IN SOME WAY YOU'LL FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF PURPLE TO YOUR CLOTHING OR WHAT YOU'RE WEARING TO CELEBRATE THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR PURPLE HEART SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT. TAKING THE EXTRA TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES FEEL CONNECTORED, THAT -- CONNECTED, THAT THEY FEEL HEARD, THAT THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MET. IT TAKES AN EXTRA EFFORT BY FACULTY AND BY OUR ADMINISTRATION. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR PURPLE HEART COOLS. ALSO A SHOUT-OUT TO ALL MILITARY ADVOCATES WHO ACKNOWLEDGE EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON

155WITH OUR STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND THE NEEDS THEY HAVE, UNIQUE AS THEY ARE, AS THEY MOVE AROUND MANY TIMES WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS, SOMETIMES EVEN WITHIN THE SAME YEAR. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR MILITARY ADVOCATES AROUND THE STATE AND LOCAL HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MILITARY FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AS THEY MOVE FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT AND WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE HAPPEN. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE MILITARY FAMILIES. THE SACRIFICES YOU GIVE TO OUR COUNTRY EVERY SINGLE DAY, THIS IS JUST A TOKEN OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAY THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. PLEASE VOTE -- ANYONE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL

156NOW BE HEARD, C 1.03, 1.04, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 5.01, 6.01, 7.04, 7.05, 7.06, 7.10, 7.11, 10.01. I WILL BE MOVING A COUPLE AROUND. 5.01, NAMING OF THE MUSIC SUITE AT SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. PERFECTLY DONE. TONIGHT IS ABOUT WHERE OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE, GIVEN 35 YEARS TO SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH THE PRINCIPAL MRS. McCLELLAN, AT THE SAME TOKEN ALL OF THE STAFF THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND BEST REPRESENT AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS KNOWN FOR BROADWAY LIKE PRODUCTIONS AND FESTIVAL DANCES AND OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. VERY CONNECTED TO THE PLANT CITY, WHETHER THE VETERANS PROGRAM EMPTY BOWLS OR STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL ALWAYS COMES TO CREATE THE BEST IN HER SCHOOL. NOT ONLY DOES SHE TEACH MUSIC AT SPRINGHEAD

157ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUT OVER AND BEYOND FOR EXTRACURRICULAR TOOK THIS THROUGH CHORUS AND BAND. SHE SPOKE TONIGHT, HER PARTNERSHIP THAT SHE HAS FOR INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE WAS -- WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS INSTRUMENTS AND AS THEY GRADUATE OUT OF SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE INSTRUMENTS ARE GIVEN TO THE STUDENTS THAT TRANSITION WITH THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIFE AS THEY CONTINUE TO INTERACT WITH MUSIC. TONIGHT, OUR PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE AND NAME MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE MUSIC SUITE AT SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY CHARLA KERWIN MUSIC SUITE. SHE DIDN'T KNOW. MAY HAVE TO ASK HER FOR A SPEECH, RIGHT? THANK YOU. I AM A PRODUCT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'VE BEEN AT SPRINGHEAD MY ENTIRE CAREER AND I AM BLESSED TO SAY I SERVED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BLESSED TO SERVE THE PLANT CITY AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Addison Davis:

158THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MICHELLE AB. MICHELLE, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 5.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: YES, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR FIRST OF ALL FOR HER INCREDIBLE SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE DISTRICT. AND ALSO FOR THE DEDICATION YOU HAVE FOR OUR STUDENTS. THAT MUSIC FOR CHANGE, INSTRUMENTS FOR CHANGE NOT ONLY HELPED DEVELOP OUR CHILDREN, BUT IT CHANGES THEM. THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD REGARDING YOUR PROGRAM, IT'S INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I THINK SHE WAS SURPRISED TONIGHT BECAUSE HER STAFF SURPRISED HER. BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND YOU KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE A HOME IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THANK

159YOU FOR YOUR CONSTANT COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, TO MUSIC AND STUDENTS AND TO YOUR SCHOOL. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE HONORED. THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE TO 4.03. ECONOMIC SALARY PROPOSAL NEGOTIATED WITH HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION HCTA FOR INSTRUCTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL ESP EMPLOYEES FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS NEGOTIATED SALARY AGREEMENT WITH CTA. I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH A LONG PROCESS TO MAKE CERTAIN WE ARRIVE AT A SPACE WHERE -- IMPASSE. PROVIDING A RULING. IN THAT RULING DID IDENTIFY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVED TWO LEVEL STEPS FOR REOCCURRING MOVEMENT ON THE RESPECTIVE PAY SCHEDULES AT THE SAME TOKEN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A ONE-TIME ADDITIONAL PAYMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT THE TOP OF THE SALARY SCHEDULE, RECEIVE $2200

160ADDITIONAL PAYMENT. AND ESPs 1100 ADDITIONAL PAYMENT. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AT THE TOP OF THE SALARY SCHEDULE AWARDED ONE TIME MOVEMENT AND RECEIVE ONE TIME ADDITIONAL PAYMENT AS WELL. THOSE INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES, RECEIVE $1100 IN THEIR PAYMENT AND $500 -- $550 FOR EMPLOYEE'S STATUS AND ALSO ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $300 PAID TO INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES ON E 00 THROUGH E 05 ON A PAY SCALE WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE OR RECOGNIZE ANY OF THE SALARY INCREASE MOVE TO THE DUE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SALARY SCHEDULE DUE TO THE FACT IT IS COMPRESSED AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT INCREASING THE INSTRUCTIONAL AND ATHLETIC SUPPLEMENTS FOR RANGE OF 12% OF AN INCREASE AS WELL. THE MAGISTRATE WENT ON ADDITIONALLY AND ADDED ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS RELATED TO ADVANCED DEGREES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. WHELAN

161TO ADD ANY OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO THE BOARD AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT ON THE AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE WERE TEN ITEMS THAT WERE AGREED TO AT THE BARGAINING TABLE. SO WE DID GO THROUGH THE BARGAINING PROCESS AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH CTA AND CONTINUING TO GO TO THE TABLE. I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. THAT'S WHY THE AGENDA ITEM IS HIGHLIGHTED IN SUCH A WAY. THE REMAINING THREE ITEMS ARE WHAT WE WERE WAITING FOR THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE TO GIVE US A RECOMMENDATION ON. AND YOU'LL FIND THOSE ITEMS ON 11, 12, AND 13. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THE REVISION WAS THAT THE SALARY, THE ESTIMATED IMPACT IS ON THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR LINE

162INSTEAD OF THE 2023 TO 2024 SCHOOL YEAR LINE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT YET IMPLEMENTED THAT TOTAL COST. AS I MENTIONED TO EACH OF YOU, WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETINGS, WE ARE DEVELOPING THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE ADVANCED DEGREE SUPPLEMENTS ALIGN WITH WHAT TEACHERS HAVE ON THEIR CERTIFICATE, AND IT WILL MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOME INFORMATION THAT WE'LL HAVE TO RECEIVE FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BACK IN 2024 WHEN WE CREATED OUR EDUCATIONAL REIMBURSEMENT SUPPLEMENT. THAT MEANT AS EMPLOYEES WERE EARNING A DEGREE AND HAD COMPLETED THAT DEGREE, THAT WAS AN MOU THAT WAS WORKED OUT WITH THE UNION AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. THAT IS A 33 -- $3,387 PAYMENT THAT EMPLOYEES CAN GET UPON FOUR TIMES. THAT'S AN OVER $13,000 EDUCATIONAL REIMBURSEMENT SUPPLEMENT FOR

163ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAD IN PLACE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. WE ALSO STILL HAVE 104 EMPLOYEES ON OUR GRANDFATHERED SALARY SCHEDULE. THAT MET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS MADE THE DECISION NOT TO OPT IN TO THE PERFORMANCE SALARY SCHEDULE BECAUSE THEY WERE RECEIVING ADVANCED DEGREE SUPPLEMENTS FOR THEIR ADVANCED DEGREES THAT THEY HELD PRIOR TO THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT CHANGING. SO I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT AS WELL RELATED TO THE AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, DR. WHELAN. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 4.03. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE'RE ALL VERY HAPPY. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT OUR TEACHERS GET PAID

164MORE AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR PARAS AND DOWN THE LINE BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THEIR SERVICE IS, REMINDERS ME, JUST CANNOT BE MATCHED BY MONEY ALONE. AND I'M GLAD WITH THE ADVANCED DEGREES BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT WAS WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL, AND I THINK ADVANCED DEGREES DID REMARKABLY CORRELATE WITH EFFECTIVE TEACHERS AS WELL. WHAT I QUESTION IS THE STEPS THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH. FIRST, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AS I'VE WRITTEN DOWN. FIRST, WE GO OUT FOR A MILLAGE IN AUGUST 2022. IT DOESN'T QUITE MAKE IT, BUT THAT INDICATES THAT WE DID NEED MONEY FOR THE TEACHER SALARIES. THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT, LET'S JUST SAY, INCENTIVES, AT LEAST FOR ME TO BACK THE MILLAGE. AND I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF BECAUSE NOT ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS

165MIGHT AGREE. SECOND, BECAUSE THAT FAILED, WE WENT INTO A FISCAL SAVINGS PLAN. THANK YOU RO JOHNSON, CFO, WHO HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB IN SAVING MONIES. OF COURSE, THE TAMPA BAY TIMES CITED THAT TO BE MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THEN WE TALKED ABOUT A STEP AND A BONUS TO MATCH THE CONCERN WITH OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. THEN WE WENT FROM THAT TO A SECOND STEP TO MAKE THINGS WHERE THEY SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE, MOST OF US GREW UP WITH THE STEPS AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TEACHERS TO BUDGET, TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING EACH YEAR AND SO MANY OTHER REASONS, NOT TO MENTION THE HOUSING COST AND EVERYTHING ELSE ARE OUTRAGEOUS. SO NOW WE HAVE THIS, THE JUDGE'S DECISION, THE MAGISTRATE. I HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PERHAPS THE CFO. WHERE IT HAS AND

166DOESN'T HAVE A PAGE NUMBER, NUMBER FIVE, AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, AND IT SAYS, WHILE THE DISTRICT PRIMARY FOCUS ON SUBSECTION 5, WHICH IS THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, OUTLINING IN GREAT DETAIL THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE DISTRICT, THE UNION PRESENTED ITS ARGUMENT RELYING UPON MOST OF THE STATUTORY FACTORS. THE UNION PRESENTED A COMPARISON OF THE COMPENSATION OF A VARIETY OF OTHER COMPARABLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR EMPLOYEES PERFORMING THE SAME OR SIMILAR WORK. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHO IS OFFERING THE DECISION FISCALLY. ARE WE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE? CAN WE SUSTAIN THAT? IT'S OKAY THAT MR. KRIETE AND EVERYONE HEARS THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT OUR DISTRICT TO SUSTAIN ITSELF, AND WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO HAVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF PAY. BUT I'M ASKING YOU, THE MAGISTRATE SEEMS TO SAY YES, CAN WE SUSTAIN THIS RAISE? Addison Davis:

167YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I CAN ANSWER THAT. SO THE MAGISTRATE DIDN'T ADDRESS ANY OF THE FINANCIAL COMPONENTS OF THE DISTRICT THAT WERE PRESENTED. ANY OF THE FINDINGS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED IN THE IMPASSE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE FINANCIALLY. DIDN'T TALK ABOUT A RECOVERY PLAN, WHERE WE WERE IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND WHERE WE HAVE TO GO. WITH THAT SAID, WHAT THE MAGISTRATE DID DO IS RECOGNIZE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BETTER INCENTIVE PACKAGES TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TEACHERS. WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT PERSPECTIVE, THAT THERE'S OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. THERE'S GREATER FUND BALANCES, AND THAT TEACHERS DESERVE MORE. WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT. WE DO NOT DISCOUNT THAT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES HISTORICALLY DO NOT GET PAID ENOUGH. THAT IS COMPLETELY ACCURATE. AS

168IT RELATES TO WHERE WE ARE FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE OPENLY, FOR US, WE ARE GOING TO GO AND HAVE TO CUT FUNDING FOR THE SECOND STEP. SO THAT FUNDING WILL BE USED AND LEVERAGED ON OUTLINED ON VACANCIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. WE HAVE TO USE SOME OF THAT FUNDING. HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, LOOKING AT CONTRACTED SERVICES, LOOK ATTIC IT SCHOOLS. THAT MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. OPENLY I AGREE THAT TEACHERS SHOULD GET PAID THREE, FOUR STEPS IF WE HAD THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THEY DESERVE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. AS INDIVIDUALS SAY, THEY ALWAYS SHOW UP AND I THINK MS. GLICK ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT THAT AND I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH HER. OPENLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO

169OUR BUDGET IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULING. AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH MRS. JOHNSON. $28 MILLION I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE RECURRING AND $12 MILLION WILL BE NON-REOCCURRING WHICH IS ONE TIME ADDITIONAL PAY. THAT'S $40 MILLION RELATED TO OUR SURPLUS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT TO REINVENT OUR BUDGET AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND THIS YEAR AS WELL. MRS. JOHNSON, ANYTHING? Lynn Gray: SO THE QUESTION AND THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL DATA ALSO SUGGESTS, AND THIS IS NOT PROVEN YET, THAT THE HOUSE BILL 1 WILL SUBTRACT MONIES FROM OUR FTE. IT IS ALSO VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE BILL THAT'S BEING SIGNED, MAYBE IT'S ALREADY BEEN SIGNED OR GETTING SIGNED, SORRY, KRISTIN, I'VE GOT TO USE THE RIGHT WORDS THERE, BUT THERE IS A BILL THAT WOULD SHARE OUR CAPITAL

170FUNDS WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE ESTIMATED, THIS COMES FROM MS. ROMANEIR THAT'S 30 MILLION A YEAR. CAN WE SUSTAIN? THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE FTE THAT WE'RE ALREADY MINUS FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH IS 150 SOMETHING. MILLION. I MEAN, I MIGHT BE THROWING THESE FACTS AROUND. BUT THE 30 MILLION QUOTED AND ALSO THE HOUSE BILL ONE. MY TIME IS UP. PERHAPS YOU WANT TO ANSWER. I DON'T NEED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. Addison Davis: AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE COMPLYING THROUGH THE APPROVAL THROUGH THE BOARD WITHOUT A DOUBT. AND THEN WORK DILIGENTLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO LOOK AT THE BUDGETS, GENERAL FUND REVENUES TO DETERMINE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY APPROVE THIS INITIATIVE BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS

171THE SALARY SCHEDULE. HOUSE BILL ONE WE HAVE NO IDEA RELATED TO WHAT THAT IMPACT WILL BE UNTIL WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR NEXT YEAR. BUT REGARDLESS, WE ALL KNOW THAT AS STUDENTS TRANSITION TO OUR SCHOOLS AND THAT KIND OF GENERATES THE FUNDING THAT GOES TO EACH PARTICULAR SCHOOL. IF ADJUSTMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE FIRST TEN DAYS, WE'LL MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS ALONG THE WAY. OPENLY, ONE THING WE WANT TO DO IS WE ARE COMMITTED TO LOOKING AT IS TRYING TO FIND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE COMPRESSED SALARY SCHEDULE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD DOWN THE ROAD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCES BECAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US ON THE

172BOARD SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE FISCALLY SOUND AS POSSIBLE AND IT'S IMPORTANT. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND WE SIT UP HERE ON THE BOARD EVERY DAY OR ONCE A WEEK OR HOWEVER MANY TIMES AND WE LISTEN TO SOME REALLY HEAVY ISSUES IN FRONT OF US. BUT FOR ME, THE MOST CHALLENGING HAS BEEN WATCHING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF WHO ROSE TO THE FRONT LINES WHEN WE CALLED ON THEM. COVID HIT US AND EVERYONE BEGGED US TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN BECAUSE THEY SAW THE VALUE IN WHAT WE NEEDED, IN WHAT OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF PROVIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. AND TO SEE THAT THEY JUMPED THROUGH SO MANY HOOPS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND TRIED TO

173MAKE SURE THAT OUR LEARNING LOSSES WERE MINIMAL AND SUPPORT OUR KIDS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MAKING SURE THEY GET THE FOOD THAT THEY NEED OR KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS OPEN OR WHATEVER, TO SEE OUR AMAZING EMPLOYEES JUMP THROUGH HOOPS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEN TO HAVE TO WATCH THEM COME AND BEG FOR WHAT THEY ARE OWED AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS. I MEAN, I WAS THERE LAST NIGHT AFTER A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION AND SPEAKING WITH ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WAS LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE CLIPPING COUPONS JUST TO BE ABLE TO BUY FOOD. WE TALK ABOUT HOW EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SOCIETY AND HOW IT'S THE BIGGEST EQUALIZER BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SYMBOLIZE

174OUR EDUCATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION IS UNDER ATTACK AND WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS AND WE CAN'T JUST PAY EVERYBODY EVERYTHING THAT WE WISH WE COULD. BUT IF THERE'S ONE HILL I'M WILLING TO DIE ON IT'S MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES AND THAT OUR STAFF HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE AND THAT FOR ALL THAT THEY INVEST INTO OUR KIDS, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO AT LEAST PAY THEIR BILLS AND LIVE IN A COUNTY AND NO ONE IS ASKING TO BE RICH. I REALLY THANK THE UNION. I KNOW THAT IT'S A TIME WHERE YOU ARE BEING DEMONIZED AND ALL THIS IS BEING BLAMED ON YOU AND ALL YOU DO IS ORGANIZE TO MAKE SURE WORKERS' RIGHTS, THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE BEST WE CAN GIVE THEM, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH CARE OR WHETHER IT'S MAKING SURE THAT

175THEIR DAYS ARE MANAGED AND WE'RE NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH ON THEM. ALL YOU DO IS ADVOCATE FOR EMPLOYEES. SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, WAY TOO LONG IN MY OPINION. I SERIOUSLY HOPE NEXT BARGAINING SESSION DOESN'T TAKE THIS LONG BECAUSE I HONESTLY CAN'T SIT THROUGH MULTIPLE BOARD MEETINGS OF WATCHING OUR EMPLOYEES HAVING TO BEG FOR THE BARE MINIMUM OF WHAT THEY NEED. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THAT I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AND I THINK THAT EVEN IF IT MEANT CUTTING EVERYTHING ELSE TO THE BONE OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO, THE NUMBER ONE THING IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR STAFF AND EMPLOYEES HAVE A BASIC LIVABLE WAGE. THAT IS THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE CAN DO. AGAIN, THANK

176YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, HOW PATIENT YOU'VE BEEN, ORGANIZE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF, EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR STUDENTS. EVERY DAY I GO INTO SCHOOLS I'M AMAZED BY THE COMMITMENT OF OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND EVERYBODY WORKING IN THIS DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, TEACHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION, YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT. WE TALK ABOUT A BUDGET, BUT WITHOUT STUDENTS IN THE SEATS AND TEACHERS IN FRONT OF THEM, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY, FOR SHOWING UP, EVEN WHEN SHOWING UP COST YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT GO

177ON IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE MIGHT SO MANY THINGS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOMS, WE DON'T HAVE SCHOOLS. AND SO WE AS A BOARD ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SACRIFICE, AND IT'S NOT EVEN A SACRIFICE. IT'S JUST CHOICES, RIGHT? WE'LL HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE THING OVER ANOTHER. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR DISTRICT HAVE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUR FIRST CHOICE. YES, HOUSE BILL 1 IS OUT THERE. I DON'T FEAR HOUSE BILL 1. I KNOW IT WILL IMPACT US BUT I KNOW THEY'LL COME BACK BECAUSE OF OUR TEACHERS, BECAUSE OF OUR PRINCIPALS, BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, YOU DO

178IT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE COULD. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. WE RECOGNIZE YOU AS A PRIORITY IN THIS DISTRICT. DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONSTANTLY ON THE PULSE. WE'LL BE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE IN HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH NEW FUNDS AND NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. TEACHING IS HARD. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT JOBS IN THE WORLD BEING A TEACHER. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, TEACHERS HAVE WORKED HARD. EVEN DURING COVID WE STILL MOVE THE NEEDLE IN EDUCATION. ACADEMICALLY, WE

179MOVED IT. BECAUSE OF YOUR HARD WORK AND YOU BELIEVE IN THE STUDENTS. THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT. I TAUGHT FOR 14 YEARS, AND IN ALL THOSE 14 YEARS, I HAD TO HAVE TWO OR THREE JOBS. I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY. EVERY DAY YOU COME AND WORK, EVERY DAY FOR PENNIES, BUT YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. I'M KIND OF EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I LOVE THE PROFESSION. THAT'S WHY I STAYED HERE 42 YEARS. NOT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY. I STAYED IN BECAUSE I LOVE STUDENTS AND WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL, I LOVED MY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU TO HAVE THIS RAISE BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. IT'S WELL DESERVED AND HOPEFULLY MORE MONEY. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, HEY, I LOVE YOU GUYS BECAUSE WE CAN'T SURVIVE. WE

180CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT TEACHERS. TEACHERS IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS, AND ANY PLACE YOU GO WHERE THERE'S NO TEACHING, THERE'S NO LEARNING. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE MY BACKING. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF OUR TEACHERS. MY COLLEAGUES' HEARTFELT MESSAGES TODAY ARE JUST REALLY WONDERFUL AND HEARTWARMING TO HEAR, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR COMMENTS. THEY REALLY TRULY ARE CHAMPIONS FOR THE MANY, MANY EMPLOYEES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. OUR TEACHERS ARE THE BACKBONES OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE ALL KNOW THAT. MANY OF US SERVED IN THOSE POSITIONS THROUGHOUT OUR CAREER. YOU ALL DEDICATE YOURSELVES TO EDUCATING AND INSPIRING OUR CHILDREN. THE SALARY INCREASE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY AND VOTING

181ON IS JUST ONE SMALL WAY. THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT YOU, BUT THIS IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE YOUR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION. I APPRECIATE THE MANY INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THROUGH E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, AND LETTERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE TALKING TO MANY OF YOU PERSONALLY AROUND THIS ISSUE. IT WAS NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT OUR DISTRICT FOUND ITSELF IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS. AND WE'RE FINALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE. WE ARE STABLE FISCALLY, BUT THAT CAME WITH MAKING SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS AT THE ENORMOUS SACRIFICE, WHICH WE'VE HEARD ABOUT ACROSS MANY MEETINGS FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. EVEN TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH TIGHT BUDGETS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT ARE OFTEN STRETCHED THIN, SO WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC AND RESPONSIBLE IN OUR APPROACH, TAKING INTO

182ACCOUNT THE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES AND BALANCING THAT AGAINST ALL OF THE PRIORITIES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BY ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION TO OUR STUDENTS. AND CERTAINLY, I THINK WE'D ALL AGREE THAT OUR TEACHERS HAVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR DISTRICT ARE COMPLEX AND THEY ARE MULTIFACETED. AND THERE ARE VARIOUS FACTORS AT PLAY, INCLUDING BUDGET LIMITATIONS, FUNDING CUTS AND INCREASED COST TO EDUCATION. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TODAY WAS NOT MADE POSSIBLE BY A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. OR MAGICAL POT OF MONEY THAT WAS FOUND SOMEWHERE. IT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MANY STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY AND ON THIS DAIS THAT COME TO

183THE MEETINGS AND TALK TO US EVERY FEW WEEKS. THEY HAVE MADE CAREFUL DECISIONS. THEY HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THIS DISTRICT. THEY HAVE MADE SACRIFICES TO THIS DISTRICT AND A COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS. THAT'S WHAT HAS ALLOWED US TO REACH THIS LEVEL OF FISCAL STABILITY. BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS SO THAT WE CAN FULFILL THIS PROMISE TODAY. ONE OF THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS IS A MUST, THAT MUST HAPPEN IS TO RIGHT SIZE SCHOOLS BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT. AND THIS COULD INVOLVE CLOSING JOB VACANCIES, ELIMINATING POSITIONS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS, RESTRUCTURING SCHOOL PROGRAMS, BUT BY ALIGNING STAFFING LEVELS WITH STUDENT ENROLLMENT COUNTS, WE CAN ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE UTILIZED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WHILE ALSO PRIORITIZING TEACHER COMPENSATION. I SAY ALL THOSE THINGS JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT IN THAT

184WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN ENSURING THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING A FISCAL RECOVERY PLAN. I'M SURE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. RIGHT SIZING SCHOOLS BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT IS NOT A NEW IDEA. IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. A LOT OF PEOPLE PRACTICE IT. BUT BECAUSE OF A LOT OF COMPETING INTERESTS, IT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN VERY CHALLENGING STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT. BUT I THINK LOOKING AT DECISIONS THROUGH A STUDENT-FOCUSED LENS WILL HELP GUIDE OUR DECISION MAKING. ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM. OUR TEACHERS ARE VALUABLE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOLS. I'M HEARTBROKEN WHEN I LISTEN TO THE STRUGGLES AS MEMBER VAUGHN SO ELOQUENTLY SHARED WITH US TODAY OF OUR TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. AFTER COUNTLESS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE CFO, HUMAN RESOURCES, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES, I'M HAPPY TO

185SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TODAY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT I KNOW THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO REMEMBERING THAT WE MUST PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM ALONG THE WAY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, I HAD THE HONOR AND I TAUGHT IN ASIA. I TAUGHT IN JAPAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, THE ELDERLY AND EDUCATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WHEN I TAUGHT IN JAPAN, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, AND TEACHERS WERE THE MOST HIGHLY PAID AND THE

186MOST HIGHLY RESPECTED. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN THIS COUNTRY AND PARTICULARLY IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE STATES TO LIVE IN. I'M SEEING THAT EVERY DAY AND WE HAPPEN TO LIVE IN TAMPA WHICH HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF INFLATION IN THE COUNTRY. NEVERTHELESS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR VETERAN TEACHERS ARE PAID 47th WORST IN THE NATION. SO WHEN YOU SEE SMALL RURAL TOWNS, WHERE YOU CAN FIND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE, TEACHERS ARE PAID MORE THERE THAN HERE. AND THAT IS OUR REALITY. REGARDLESS OF THAT, WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS. IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR STUDENTS. YOU CAN BE OUTSIDE TEACHING. WHAT MATTERS IS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHER IN FRONT OF YOU OR

187THE QUALITY OF THE PARAPROFESSIONAL. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. AND SO I ALSO AGREE, THERE ARE SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT WE WILL NEED TO MAKE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REPURPOSE SOME SCHOOLS, AT LEAST I FEEL THAT WE WILL NEED TO. BECAUSE IF YOU ASK TEACHERS ALL THE TIME, WHAT THEY SAY IS, I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY HOUSE. I HAVE TO PAY FOR FOOD. I CANNOT LIVE WHEN I'M NOT MAKING A SALARY. WHAT JOB THE FIRST SIX YEARS YOU DON'T GET A SALARY AND YEAR 7 YOU GET A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I DON'T KNOW OF ANOTHER SINGLE JOB LIKE THAT. THAT IS THE REALITY. AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IF OUR COUNTRY IS NOT PRIORITIZING EDUCATION OR IF OUR STATE IS NOT PRIORITIZING EDUCATORS, WE NEED TO AS A DISTRICT AND WE

188NEED TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS TO DO THAT. I HAVE TO SAY THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN REALLY HARD. I'VE HAD MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. I'VE WORRIED SO MUCH. EVERY TIME SOMEBODY HAS COME TO SPEAK HERE IN CTA, IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPACTED ME MORE THAN ANYBODY CAN THINK. I'M SURROUNDED BY EDUCATORS IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I AM AN EDUCATOR. AND SO FOR ME I AM SO GLAD THAT I SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION AND I THINK THIS DISTRICT NEEDS TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE POSITION AT THE UPPER LEVEL, EVERY SINGLE POSITION AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZE OUR STUDENTS. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THIS BUILDING, THIS DAIS, THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT. WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE PEOPLE IN THEIR SCHOOLS THAT ARE PAID, THAT CAN

189LIVE -- TEACHERS DIDN'T COME IN, THEY DIDN'T GO INTO EDUCATION TO BECOME WEALTHY, BUT THEY ALSO DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE THEY CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE IN. SO I APPRECIATE THIS RECOMMENDATION. WE NEED TO KEEP LOOKING HARD AT EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO PEOPLE AND NOT THINGS. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I JUST HAD ONE BIG THING TO SAY, ONE SMALL BIG THING. I RECOGNIZE BECAUSE I'VE TAUGHT ALL MY LIFE, AND I'VE TAUGHT EVERY GRADE LEVEL, EXCEPT FOR FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, AND I ALWAYS HOPE THAT TEACHERS WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE WHAT I HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS, BEFORE I GOT MARRIED, AND NOW MANY OF YOU WORKING THREE JOBS, I ALWAYS HOPED IT WOULD BE BETTER BY NOW, BUT

190IT DIDN'T. IT GOT WORSE, THE COST OF LIVING AND WE CAN GO ON AND ON. THIS IS MAYBE MY THIRD OR FOURTH TIME, MR. KRIETE PROBABLY REMEMBERS, THAT -- AND I WROTE IT IN THE TAMPA BAY TIMES ON NOVEMBER 15, 2016, THE NEED TO RESPECT AND VALUE OUR TEACHERS. I'M JUST GOING TO READ. ONLY TAKE ONE MINUTE. THE WAY I FEEL, THE WAY I SAID IN FRONT OF BOARD MEMBERS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TEACHERS ARE THE ENGINE THAT DRIVE THE TRAIN OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL AFFECT EVERY ASPECT OF A CHILD'S LIFE. THEY ARE THE STUDENTS' LIFELINE OF INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. HOW DO WE MEASURE THE VALUE OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO AFFECTS OUR CHILDREN ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF EACH DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK? HOW CAN WE MEASURE FINANCIALLY

191THE PASSIONATE ENERGY FROM TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF THAT MAKES A CHILD WANT TO LEARN, WANT TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WANT TO EXCEL. I SAID THAT VERBALLY. BOARD MEMBERS ARE SAYING IT AS WELL. WE STAND BY OUR TEACHERS AND WE ALWAYS WILL, BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU GUYS, WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OUR KIDS WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL AND THEREFORE WE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE HERE. AT ANY RATE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THAT. I HAD THE BAD COP SPEECH, I WANTED TO DO MAYBE THE GOOD COP, BUT IT REALLY DOES COME FROM MANY YEARS OF TEACHING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT A TEACHER DOES DAY TO DAY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I THINK WE CAN ALL STAND

192UP FOR THAT. 4.04, ECONOMIC SALARY PROPOSAL FOR ADMINISTRATORS FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: BEFORE I START, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE 9,000 PLUS NONINSTRUCTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE PART OF THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU TEACHERS. THANK YOU NONINSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT STAFF FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUOUSLY DO EVERY DAY FOR OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS A PART WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MATCH THE SAME INTENSITY OF WHAT WE WILL DO FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND FOR OUR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR ADMINISTRATORS TWO STEPS RELATED TO A REOCCURRING FOR RESPECTIVE SALARY SCHEDULES AS WELL. WE KNOW NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH OUR TEACHERS AND THEIR COMPENSATION BUT ALSO WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AS WELL. WE HAVE SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO POACH OUR BEST

193LEADERS AND OUR BEST TEACHERS AS WELL TO GO INTO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE MORE AGGRESSIVE INCENTIVE PACKAGES. TWO STEP LEVEL INCREASES ALONG WITH BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS ELIGIBLE ADMINISTRATORS WHO AT THE TOP OF THEIR SALARY SCHEDULE FOR ONE TIME 2200 NON-REOCCURRING PAYMENT AND THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ONE MOVEMENT AT THE TOP OF THEIR SALARY SCHEDULE, REOCCURRING ONE TIME 1100 NON-REOCCURRING PAYMENT AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 4.04. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO. I WOULD -- FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE PASSING THIS ON TO OUR ADMINISTRATORS. I'VE HAD A LOT OF

194ADMINISTRATORS ASKING ME ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR THEM. SO I WOULD JUST LOVE TO -- I'M SURE WE DO ANYWAY, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT A VERY CLEAR E-MAIL FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS SO THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE EVEN AS WE KIND OF HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND UNCERTAINTY, AND BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE SAME CONTACT AND TOUCH POINTS WITH THE UNION, PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION. IF WE CAN MAKE SURE IF THIS AGENDA ITEM PASSES THAT WE SEND OUT AN E-MAIL THAT'S VERY CLEAR SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE PASSING. Addison Davis: YES. OUR PLAN IS TO SEND A COMMUNICATION TO EVERY GROUP THAT WAS APPROVED THIS EVENING TO BE ABLE TO SEND

195OUT AND AT THE SAME TOKEN BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT PAYMENT SCHEDULE MAY LOOK LIKE AS WELL. IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, EVERYONE RECEIVED A RAISE EXCEPT FOR ME AS SUPERINTENDENT. THAT IS SOMETHING WE AGREED UPON, THAT I WOULD NOT ACCEPT OR QUALIFY FOR THIS YEAR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I GOT SO DISTRACTED WITH THAT. MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: OKAY. WELL, I'M GOING TO SPEAK. WE HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IN EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM AND THE TEACHERS AND WHAT GOES ON, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO A TEAM, THE PLAYERS ARE ON THE FIELD BUT IT IS THE LEADERS, THE COACHES THAT GET YOU THROUGH. THEY HAVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN. THEY TAKE THE HEAT. THEY ARE 24/7, ALWAYS AVAILABLE. THEY ARE THERE WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED OR

196THE ALARM GOES OFF OR THEY ARE THERE OVER THE SUMMER. THEY ARE THERE THE EXTRA HOURS. IF THERE ARE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THEY ARE THERE. THEY ARE THERE TO TALK THE TEACHERS DOWN. THEY ARE THERE TO TALK THE TEACHERS UP. THEY ARE THERE TO PLAN THAT NEXT STEP. SO WE WANT EVERYONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TEACHERS BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR STAFF AND EVERYONE PLAYS A ROLE AND EVERY SUCCESS OF A STUDENT. SO WE NEED EACH OF THESE ROLES TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS A DISTRICT AND AS A BOARD. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND EVERYTHING YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES ON EVERY SINGLE DAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU MEMBER RENDON. AND I JUST WANTED

197TO SAY ALSO THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE LEADERSHIP, THE PRINCIPALS, THEY TOO WERE OUT THERE DURING COVID. THEY ACTUALLY WORKED ALMOST, MANY OF THEM AS SOCIAL WORKERS IN THEIR OFF HOURS CALLING UP PARENTS, TRYING TO FIND THE KIDS. 24/7 WORK DONE BY OUR PRINCIPALS AND THEY ARE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS. SO I'M SO GLAD, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ALSO OFFER THEM. MS. JOHNSON IS NOT HERE, BUT REAL QUICK, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD GIVEN PRINCIPALS A RAISE? BEEN A WHILE. Addison Davis: I DON'T HAVE IT ON ME. LAST YEAR, WE GAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PAYMENT, BUT IT WASN'T A SALARY ADJUSTMENT IN THEIR SCHEDULE. MARIE WHELAN MAY HAVE THAT. LOOKING THROUGH LOTS OF PAPERS. IT'S NOT AS FREQUENT AS IT NEEDS TO BE. Lynn Gray: I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO GO

198SEARCH. IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE TRULY THEY HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN A LONG TIME. MS. BURKETT, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER. Addison Davis: IN THE '90s. I JUST ASKED AND SHE SAID IN THE '90s. IF I COULD ADDRESS IT. ONE-TIME PAYMENTS WE DID DO THOSE IN 2021. IN THE 19-20 SCHOOL YEAR IS WHEN WE HAD MOVEMENT ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS. 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR. Lynn Gray: IT'S BEEN LONG ENOUGH. I'M GLAD THE PRINCIPALS HAVE GOTTEN AND THEY DESERVE A LOT MORE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. BEING A FORMER ADMINISTRATOR, ADMINISTRATORS WORK HARD. THEY REALLY DO. DEPENDING WHICH SCHOOL AND WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAN OTHER SCHOOLS AND ADMINISTRATORS, ESPECIALLY, ALL ADMINISTRATORS WORK HARD. I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT IN HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE I

199WORKED AS A PRINCIPAL THERE FOR NINE YEARS AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. AND EVENTS AT NIGHT, DURING THE DAY, THOSE EVALUATIONS. EVERYTHING THAT CAME DOWN THEY CALLED THE PRINCIPAL. AND ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATORS. AP-1s. THE AP-1s WORK REALLY HARD BECAUSE THEY CONTROL THE STUDENT POPULATION. AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU CONTROL THE STUDENT POPULATION, YOU HAVE TO BE OUT THERE WITH THOSE STUDENTS. WHEN THAT BELL RINGS IN THE HALLWAYS, WALKING THE HALLWAYS, ALWAYS SUPERVISION IN THE CAFETERIA, AT GAMES. SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. AND THEY DESERVE A PAY RAISE. AND PRINCIPALS, YOU REALLY WORK HARD. YOU KNOW THE ONE THING I ALWAYS SAID RIGHT NOW, SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, SHAKE -- NO, I DON'T WANT TO BE A PRINCIPAL AGAIN. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, LIFE ITSELF HAS CHANGED A LOT. THE SCHOOL

200SYSTEM HAS CHANGED A LOT. THERE'S A LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATORS THAN IT WAS WHEN I WAS AN ADMINISTRATOR. SO THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND YOU DESERVE A PAY RAISE. THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT, WE APPRECIATE THAT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON OR MEMBER WASHINGTON. I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE ARE LOSING ADMINISTRATORS TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY MORE THAN WE'RE ABLE TO PAY AND I WILL SAY WHEN I WAS A TEACHER, I NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO MY BOARD. DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. WHO I PAID ATTENTION TO WAS MY PRINCIPAL EVERY DAY. AND I WOULD FOLLOW A PRINCIPAL WHEREVER THEY WENT BECAUSE FOR ME STUDENTS WERE STUDENTS AND MAYBE SOME STUDENTS I HAD TO BE A LITTLE MORE STRONG WITH MY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT OR MAYBE I NEEDED TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES.

201BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LEADERSHIP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION IN THIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. WHO THE PRINCIPAL IS AND WHO THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PRINCIPALS THAT I WOULD HAVE DRIVEN AN HOUR TO FOLLOW THEM. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS FOR BEING SO PATIENT. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIND MORE MONEY. WE NEED TO CONTINUE PAYING PEOPLE AND PRIORITIZING. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK FROM HOME WHEN COVID CAME. THEY HAD TO GO IN EVERY DAY. THEY HAD TO COVER CLASSES. THEY ARE REALLY THE ACADEMIC LEADERS. THEY ARE THE BEHAVIOR LEADERS. I'VE SAID THIS OVER AND OVER. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK I FIND THAT IS

202VERY, VERY STRONG ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP IS YOU FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE RIGHT SCHOOL AND I HAVE SEEN MANY OF MY SCHOOLS WHO WERE GOOD SCHOOLS BECOME GREAT SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND YOUR CABINET FOR ALWAYS MAKING SURE THE RIGHT PERSON IS IN THE RIGHT SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR NEXT HIRE AND IT IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP. AND FOR US THEY HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN WE SUPPORT THEM AND BUILD THEIR CAPACITY IN IN WAY, SHAPE, FORM, ALLOW THEM TO BE PROBLEM SOLVERS AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES

203UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE ITEM OUT OF ORDER AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL CONTINUE ON THE RIGHT ORDER. 7.04, THE REVISED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES PLANNING SITING AND CONCURRENCY. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: 2016, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND IDENTIFY HOW WE OPENLY SELECT SITES, HOW DO WE LOOK AT FACILITY PLANNING, WHAT DO WE DO FROM A CONCURRENCY PERSPECTIVE AND THERE WAS DEFINITELY A NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE OUR RELATIONSHIP AND COME TOGETHER TO REALLY DEFINE OUR ROLES AND OUR INTERACTION. I WANT TO THANK GREG. GREG IS HERE TONIGHT FROM THE COUNTY. DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE BOCC. A TRUE CHAMPION OF THIS WORK. WORKED COLLECTIVELY WITH CHRIS FARKAS AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE IT A REALITY. THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT IS REALLY

204A DEFINED CREATION OF A STAFF WORKING GROUP. THAT'S BETWEEN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STAFF AND THE BOCC STAFF REALLY TO COME TOGETHER AND BUILD TASK FORCE AROUND TRANSPORTATION, SIDEWALKS, TRAFFIC COUNTS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS, ZONING, ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS TO BE ABLE TO DECLARE WHAT IS THE BEST TO CREATE NEW SCHOOLS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, BEING ABLE TO LOOK AND DEFINE HOW MANY TIMES WE COME TOGETHER TO MEET FREQUENTLY TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THESE PRESSING ISSUES AND THEN MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL, WHETHER IT BE THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OR THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY ARE AT THESE MEETINGS TO HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND THEN BEING ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE IS PROPER PLANNING IN

205PLACE ABOUT HOW THESE INITIATIVES COME ABOUT. AND THIS IS REALLY LOOKING AT DEFINING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS WE NEED FOR SITING, BUILDING FACILITIES AND ADDING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THAT'S LOOKING AT WHAT THE ROADS HAVE TO LOOK LIKE. WHAT ARE THE SIDEWALKS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE? WHAT DOES THE WATER MITIGATION, WHAT DOES THE SOUND MITIGATION HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE ADDED AND WHAT THE TRAFFIC COUNTS MAY BE. WE'RE REALLY THANKFUL FOR THIS PROCESS IT REALLY CLEANS UP ANY APPEAL IF THERE'S ANY CONFLICT IN THIS INTERSECTION AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND FINITE THE ACTUAL TIME THAT WE RESPOND ON OUR SIDE AND THEIR SIDE JUST TO BRING CLARITY. ALSO GOES FURTHER TO TALK ABOUT ANY CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HOW THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT REALLY CHRIS AND GREG HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHEN WE BUY PARCELS,

206AT THE SAME SEAT AND EXTEND REALLY AT THE FOREFRONT HELPING US. 2016 TO WHERE WE ARE NOW AND YEAR AGO TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY. IT'S BECAUSE WE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES AND PUT OUR SHOULDER TO THE TIRE AND TO THE WHEEL TO MAKE THIS A REALITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. GLAD TO BRING THIS UPDATED, REVISED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO EACH OF YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING MR. FARKAS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MR. FARKAS. Christopher Farkas: THIS IS A FORMALITY. GREG HORDLE WHO IS IN THE AUDITORIUM AND GOT TO SEE OUR FUN BOARD MEETING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS WHILE SITTING HERE. GREG, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AFTER HIS LONG DAY. HONESTLY, WE ALREADY STARTED THAT WORK. GREG AND I WHEN HE FIRST GOT IN THE POSITION WE'VE

207HAD SOME CHANGES, TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE SAME COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WE DO. LOTS OF NEED, NOT AS MUCH MONEY. WE ALREADY HAVE SOME SUCCESSES. COLLINS K-8 OPENING IN THE FALL, THAT IS A COUNTY AREA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SHARE LAND ON THAT PART OF IT, TOO. WEST LAKE WHERE THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL GOES, THAT'S LAND THEY PROPOSED, HEY, PROBABLY A GOOD SITE FOR YOU GUYS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THANK GREG AND THE COUNTY STAFF BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A CHALLENGE. THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE AND GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO BUDGET TIME AND HELP CREATE RESOURCES SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. GREG, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY FOR BEING HERE, COME UP TO THE MIKE

208AND GIVE YOUR TWO MINUTES, YOU'VE BEEN HERE THREE HOURS. Addison Davis: GREG, DO YOU WANT ME TO COME TOMORROW NIGHT? I KNOW THIS GOES TO YOUR BOARD TOMORROW NIGHT. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATOR, EXCUSE ME, THE SUPERINTENDENT, SORRY, I'M USED TO SAYING ADMINISTRATOR BECAUSE MY BOSS IS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. SO SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, CHRIS FARKAS HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. MICHELLE HORTON. GREAT LEGAL SUPPORT FROM NOT ONLY JIM PORTER BUT EVERYBODY ON HIS TEAM. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS, THE PROS IN THESE AGREEMENTS IS -- THE PROSE IN THE AGREEMENTS IS VERY DRY. DOESN'T BEGIN TO CAPTURE THE COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION WE'VE HAD WITH YOUR STAFF. AS CHRIS MENTIONED, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY COME DOWN THE PIKE. WE'RE SEEING GREAT SUCCESS IN WORKING WITH YOUR

209STAFF AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, OUR BOARD, MY BOARD, IS DEALING WITH THIS TOMORROW AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR STRONG SUPPORT AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOU HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES TO DEAL WITH TONIGHT CLEARLY. I HOPE THIS ONE IS A NICE, GOOD POSITIVE ONE FOR YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.04. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THE ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Patti Rendon: I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THE COUNTY COMMISSION TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH US IN PARTNERSHIP. AS FAR AS MY REPRESENTATION IN DISTRICT FOUR, WE ARE A FAST-MOVING, GROWING,

210MORE ROADS, MORE THINGS ARE NEEDED. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE ARE A LONG INHABITANTS OF THIS AREA SO WE HAVE MANY ROADS THAT NEED REPAIR, MANY AREAS WHERE BUSES AND STUDENTS CAN CROSS SAFELY. SO HAVING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND AN ONGOING DISCUSSION OF THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS SUCH A VITAL IMPORTANCE TO BOTH THE SUCCESS OF NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT OVERALL COUNTY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR MAKING THIS AS MUCH OF A PRIORITY AS WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE AS WELL. THANK YOU TO BOTH YOURSELF AND THE COMMISSION. Nadia Combs: MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AS A BOARD MEMBER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN THE MOST DISMAYED ABOUT AND THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS, WAS THE FACT

211THAT I FEEL LIKE WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WE HAVEN'T HAD A REALLY CLEAR PARTNERSHIP. AND JUST TRYING TO GET SOME ISSUES, I SIT ON THE TPO, JUST TRYING TO GET SOME ISSUES RESOLVED HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLY CHALLENGING. SO ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A PARTNERSHIP IS WONDERFUL. I WILL ADMIT THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT SOMETHING AS BIG AS THIS WITH A LOT OF CHANGES, AND I KIND OF LOOKED OVER THE PAPER, MR. FARKAS SENT. I WISH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA ITEM, THAT HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE CHANGES TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT QUICKLY AT AN AGENDA ITEM. I REALLY WAS HOPING FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ABOUT IT SO WE COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. I

212HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO SITS ON THOSE COMMITTEES NOW THAT WE'RE FORMING THEM AND HOW DOES THAT WORK? I JUST HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS NOT IN A BAD WAY, BUT JUST SO THAT WE CAN BE AS INFORMED AS POSSIBLE. AS WE WORK TOGETHER, WE HAVE AS MUCH UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AND WHAT WE'RE AGREEING TO. SO I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. I'M DISAPPOINTED THIS AGENDA ITEM STILL CAME FORWARD AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SPACE TO REALLY TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT KIND OF GOVERNORS AS WE -- GOVERNS AS WE EXPAND AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT HOW THE GROWTH IS SO BIG AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AND CHALLENGES WE'LL HAVE DUE TO OTHER -- TO NOT HAVE THE SPACE TO TALK

213ABOUT IT MORE IS DISAPPOINTING TO ME. I'LL GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE ITEM BECAUSE FROM WHAT I COULD GLEAN IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOOD FOR US AND IT'S BUILDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT I WOULD HAVE REALLY LIKED AGAIN THE SPACE AND TIME TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE HAD A MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT INITIATING THE CHANGES AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE. SO I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE KIND OF A MORE COLLABORATIVE FOLLOW-UP. I GUESS I'LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. GLAD THIS WAS PULLED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING WITH US. AND CHRIS FARKAS KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL HOW WE ALMOST HAD FIST FIGHTS TO GET SIDEWALKS

214PUT IN AND I'LL JUST SAY WITH BELMONT, SOME OF THE SCHOOLS WERE LIKE, HEY, DON'T YOU PUT A SIDEWALK IN, DON'T YOU PUT A STOPLIGHT ON. WE WENT THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS. IT WAS A HARD ROAD. BUT FAST-FORWARD, IT'S GOING WELL, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL FOR SURE. I DO BELIEVE THE INTERCONNECTIVITY AMONG THE AGENCIES OR LET'S JUST SAY ADMINISTRATORS, NOT ONLY THE BOCC, BUT OUR CHAMBERS AND OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CITY OF TAMPA, THE MAYOR, THE MORE WE WORK TOGETHER, THE MORE, LET'S JUST SAY MORE PAIN-FREE WE'LL GET THINGS DONE AND MORE EFFICIENTLY. GREAT ITEM TO BE PULLED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 1.03, SOLE SOURCE, 23043-SSD-SK TESTING VOUCHERS/TOON BOOM ANIMATION. Addison Davis:

215THIS IS -- TOON BOOM IS A COMPANY THAT BUILDS INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE REALLY POWERFUL STORYBOARDING, OFFERING ANIMATION, CAPACITIES AND STREAMLINE PRODUCTIONS FOR THE PROCESS FOR ARTIST STUDIOS AND STUDENTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. BRINGING TO THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PURCHASE SOFTWARE AND LICENSURES FOR STUDENTS TO USE TESTING VOUCHERS TO BE ABLE TO EARN CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATIONS. THROUGH STORYBOARD AND ANIMATION AND SOFTWARE AS WELL. PERKINS DOLLARS AND CTE DOLLARS. THANK OUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO FIND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON CTE. AMOUNT OF JANUARY, HUNDRED STUDENTS ALREADY PASSED THIS INITIATIVE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN WE PROVIDE THIS IN OUR TV PRODUCTION OFFERINGS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1.03. MOTION

216BY MEMBER RENDON AND SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Patti Rendon: I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THIS. I DIDN'T SEE EXACTLY WHAT SCHOOLS. DO WE KNOW WHAT SCHOOLS? Addison Davis: I'LL GET A LIST OF ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT OFFER TV PRODUCTION FOR THE BOARD. Patti Rendon: I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE CERTIFICATE WILL BE. WHEN I WENT ON THE WEBSITE FOR TOON BOOM, IT WAS A LOT OF ANIMATION, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THAT RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE TV PRODUCTION BECAUSE I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN ANY KIND OF ANIMATION IN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. SO I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CERTIFICATE WOULD BE. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, A YEAR AGO, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MOVED THE ADOBE CTE

217ASSESSMENTS TO MAKING CERTAIN STUDENTS COMPLETE THE ENTIRE SUITE OF ADOBE ASSESSMENTS. THAT BECAME VERY COMPLEX AND SO LONG TO BE ABLE TO DO. IT'S BECOME REALLY DIFFICULT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO MASTER THAT. WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE DO IS FIND ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EARN CTE CERTIFICATIONS. THIS IS THROUGH THE STUDIO PRODUCTION. ANIMATION IS ALL LINKED TO THE STUDIOS WHERE STUDENTS ARE INTERACTING WITH TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THIS PROCESS. FROM US, I'LL GET AN UNPACKED VERSION OF WHAT THAT LEADS TO RELATED TO CAREER AND THEN ALSO HOW THAT IMPACTS GRADES WITHIN THE TV PRODUCTION AS WELL ALONG WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS. Patti Rendon: DO WE KNOW WHAT THE CERTIFICATE IS ACTUALLY FOR? Addison Davis: IT IS ALL THROUGH BUILDING STORYBOARD ANIMATIONS AND STORIES RELATED TO TV PRODUCTION AND HOW THEY PUT ANIMATION AND STORIES TOGETHER.

218Patti Rendon: ARE THERE OTHER CERTIFICATES THROUGH TV PRODUCTION THEY CAN EARN OR IS THIS THE ONLY ONE? Addison Davis: NO, THERE ARE OTHER ONES. ADOBE SUITE IS THE BIGGEST BUT IT TAKES SO LONG TO DO. CAN'T TAKE ONE SILO OF ADOBE. NOW THE ENTIRE SUITE WHICH TAKES AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS ANOTHER AVENUE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE AND HELP WITH THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS AND FOR THEM TO START USING THIS IN TV PRODUCTION STUDIOS. Patti Rendon: DO WE KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT? Addison Davis: UP TO 500 STUDENTS. ANYTHING BEYOND 500 STUDENTS WE HAVE TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD BECAUSE OF THE EXPENDITURE. RIGHT NOW IT'S AT THE 500. WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSESS STUDENTS ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND THROUGH THE SUMMER

219THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE. ANY LICENSE VOUCHER THAT WE DO NOT USE, STUDENTS WHETHER THEY PASS OR DON'T PASS AND EXTENDED LEFT OVER, THAT WILL ROTATE OVER TO THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 1.04, PURCHASE OF PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE GAP YEAR 2023-2024. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: 2018 THE SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTED THE SCIENCE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR GRADES 6-8 IN A FIVE-YEAR SPAN. THAT COMES TO END JUNE 30 OF 2023. IN 2020, THE STATE OF FLORIDA READJUSTED THEIR ADOPTION SCHEDULES. WROTE AND DRAFTED NEW STANDARDS. THEY ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR TO THE SCIENCE ADOPTION SELECTION PROCESS. WE'RE CREATING A GAP YEAR FOR THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR. AS THAT PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, WE'RE ASKING THE

220BOARD TO FILL THAT GAP YEAR WITH CURRENT CURRICULUM AND CONSUMABLES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE. USE $1.3 MILLION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FUNDING WHICH IS A CATEGORICAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT SCIENCE CURRICULUM NOT ONLY FOR CONSUMABLES BUT ALSO DIGITAL ACCESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER RENDON, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Patti Rendon: I JUST BRIEFLY WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST REITERATE THE FACT IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES WITH ANY OF THE STATUTES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY THAT AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, ANY CHANGES TO THE STANDARDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING OUR

221TEACHERS UP TO SPEED AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD OVER THE SUMMER BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT ANY CURRICULUM BEGINNING IN AUGUST. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, YES, MA'AM, ABSOLUTELY. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. I'M SORRY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1.04. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER RENDON, YOU ALREADY COMMENTED. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THANK YOU. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 4.02, INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR KELLY SERVICES, INCORPORATED, INVITATION TO NEGOTIATE 19213-DST-IV SUBSTITUTE SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PARTNERSHIP WITH KELLY SUBSTITUTE SERVICES. WE KNOW THAT WE STARTED THIS INITIATIVE IN 2014 AND THEY STARTED OFF TO

222BE TREMENDOUS RELATED TO THE FIELD RATE. AS WE STARTED TO GET TO COVID, COVID IMPACTED THE FIELD RATE TREMENDOUSLY IN 2020-2021 AND THEN FELL AGAIN IN 2021-2022 DUE TO THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT TRANSITIONING TO BE SUBSTITUTES. WE DO SEE A MAJOR UPTICK. LAST THREE YEARS, PROGRESSION 65% FIELD RATE TO 60% FIELD RATE AND THIS YEAR UP TO 70% FIELD RATE. STAIRCASE APPROACH MOVING FORWARD AS WE CONTINUE TO OPEN OUR SCHOOLS AND SERVE OUR CHILDREN. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE IS AN EXTENSIVE NUMBER OF TRAINING IS CONDUCTED THROUGH OUR SUBSTITUTES THAT ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. SINCE 2014, WE HELPED RECRUIT OVER 2200 SUBSTITUTES TO KELLY SERVICES. THEY COMPLETE LEVEL TWO BACKGROUND SCREENINGS. NATIONAL, DO A NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER SCREENING. THEY LOOK AT CODE OF ETHICS. THEY LOOK

223AT SOCIAL BEHAVIORS, POLICIES AND BEST PRACTICES, IMPLEMENTATION. AND THEN ALSO PERSONAL SAFETY AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AS WELL IS IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR INITIATIVE. I KNOW THERE WAS A DISCUSSION BEFORE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAD IT IN-HOUSE AND I BELIEVE THAT LAST YEAR WAS 2013-2014. IN THAT LAST YEAR, THAT SPEND WAS OVER $19 MILLION AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TRANSITIONED TO KELLY SERVICES, SAVED AROUND $3 MILLION, NO LONGER HAD TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES. THAT NUMBER TODAY WOULD BE TREMENDOUSLY MORE AS WE LOOK AT BEING ABLE TO FILL THE CURRENT VACANCIES AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, BUT AS WE HAVE GROWING VACANCIES, WE BRING TO THE BOARD $23.5 MILLION EXPENDITURE. WE KNOW IT'S AN INCREASE BUT WITH ALL THE VACANCIES WE HAVE TO PLAN AND PREPARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR

224AND HOPEFULLY FILL THOSE POSITIONS AS WE START THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR NEXT YEAR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 4.02. MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER VAUGHN AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A FEW QUESTIONS, AND THANK YOU, DR. WHELAN, FOR CALLING ME AND SHARING THE KELLY SERVICES. I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. WE ALL DO, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SUBSTITUTES IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR AGAIN THAT THEY HAVE A LEVEL 2 SECURITY. GLAD TO HEAR THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE I GUESS THIS IS PD AND PERSONAL SAFETY MEASURES. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A DECLARATIVE SENTENCE, BUT HOPEFULLY, YES. OKAY. MY

225THIRD CONCERN WOULD BE THE AVERAGE CHILD, THE AVERAGE CHILD, MANY CHILDREN HAVE COMING INTO THE SCHOOLS WITH TRAUMA ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE, ARE THEY TRAUMA-BASED TRAIN THESE SUBSTITUTES, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS OR DR. WHELAN. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BE ADDRESSING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE SCHOOL BASED ON AND I PROVIDED THE LAST TIME WHEN WE DID THE WORKSHOP ON MAY 21st OF 2021, RELATED TO THE CLASS SMARTS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT TRAINING MODULES THAT OUR SUBSTITUTES GO THROUGH. SO I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AGAIN. BUT THEY ARE ALERTED TO WHAT THOSE WARNING SIGNS ARE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGING APPROPRIATE STAFF AT THE SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' NEEDS. Lynn Gray: THE ALERT IS APPRECIATED BUT DEFINITELY THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THOSE ARE SIGNS THAT THESE KIDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID ARE EMOTIONALLY

226DISTRESSED IN MANY, MANY WAYS AND MANY GRADES. SO THANK YOU, DR. WHELAN. I'LL GET INTO THAT MORE LATER WITH YOU. THE OTHER QUESTION IS, ARE OUR SUBSTITUTES PREPARED FOR THESE NEW PROGRAMS, SYNERGY COMING UP, AND IF IT'S PASSED TONIGHT, GAGGLE, THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. SO OUR SUBSTITUTES ARE IN THIS CLASS, AND I SERVED AS ONE IN SULPHUR SPRINGS AS A SUBSTITUTE, HOW PREPARED ARE THEY TO HANDLE THESE PROGRAMS IF AT ALL? Addison Davis: INITIAL SUBSTITUTES THERE FOR A DAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH SYNERGY AND SIS. IF A AN INDIVIDUAL IS A LONG-TERM SUB, THEN AGREEMENT FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND PROVIDE ONGOING TRAINING FOR THAT PROCESS. AS IT RELATES TO GAGGLE THIS EVENING, IF APPROVED, THAT IS GOING TO BE LED THROUGH OUR SECURITY TEAM, OUR LEADERSHIP AT SCHOOLS, OUR

227MENTAL HEALTH IF NEED BE, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TRIAGE, LEAD THAT INITIATIVE AND LEAD THAT WORK AT THE SCHOOL BASED LEVEL. Lynn Gray: WE'RE ASKING A LOT FROM SUBSTITUTES, BUT THEY ARE IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN AND IT'S VERY CRITICAL THAT WE SPEND TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ARE ABSOLUTELY SAVVY AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR STUDENTS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: JUST BRIEFLY, I DON'T THINK -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH KELLY SERVICES, IF WE COULD TAKE NOTE THAT IF WE COULD LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND DO AN ANALYSIS OF WHEN WE HAD IN-HOUSE COMPARED TO KELLY SERVICES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE, TO MAKE SURE

228WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MEASURES. I KNOW IF WE BRING IN-HOUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT. IT WOULD ALSO BE, WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT ANY KIND OF FINGERPRINTING AND THINGS IN-HOUSE FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR SUBSTITUTES. BUT IT COULD END UP THE SAME WAY WHERE WE'RE BACK WITH KELLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONSTANTLY KEEPING OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF POTENTIAL AREAS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. JUST SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR AS WE MOVE FORWARD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, AND I DO APPRECIATE KELLY -- TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR BOTH OUR COUNTY IN-HOUSE AND THROUGH KELLY SERVICES, I'VE BEEN PRETTY TRANSPARENT ABOUT

229EXPRESSING SOME CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT KELLY. AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT FISCALLY WE'RE BACK WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT, ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT MAKING THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, I REALLY HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO FEEL THAT SINCE WE TOOK IT OUT OF HOUSE AND OUTSOURCED IT'S BEEN A DISSERVICE AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF FRUSTRATIONS WITH KELLY IN GENERAL, WITH THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN REQUEST THINGS AUTOMATEDED, WHETHER THEY HAVE TO CALL IN. THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AROUND THAT. AND WHILE I APPRECIATE, AGAIN, WE'RE MAKING THE MOST FISCALLY SOUND DECISIONS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY CAN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION, I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THIS, THIS ITEM. ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD IS AS SOMEONE WHO IS A CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

230WORKING AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE MY CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM TO RENEW MY CERTIFICATION. WHEN IT WAS DONE IN-HOUSE, THE DISTRICT RECOGNIZED ME AS AN EMPLOYEE AND I COULD USE THOSE HOURS TO KEEP MY CERTIFICATION AND NOW EVEN IF I'M IN THE CLASSROOM AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER USING MY CERTIFICATION, I HAVE TO GO AN ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY AND I HAVE TO EITHER TAKE EIGHT CLASSES AT HCC TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION OR I HAVE TO TAKE CERTIFICATION TESTS. IT'S A REALLY BIG CHALLENGE TO KEEP MY CERTIFICATION, EVEN IF I'M IN THE CLASSROOM EVERY DAY. TO ME, THAT'S NOT ENCOURAGING OUR CERTIFIED TEACHERS WHO WANT TO KEEP THEIR CERTIFICATION TO STAY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL AND TO BE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. SO WHILE I APPRECIATE IT AND IT'S NOT AN INSULT

231OR A SLEIGHT TO KELLY, PERSONALLY, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: NOT THAT MY QUESTION IS GOING TO SWAY MEMBER VAUGHN, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. TAKE A SHOT. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO -- THAT WAS AN INTERESTING POINT AT THE END THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TO OPEN UP OUR -- OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES TO HELP SUBSTITUTES GAIN SOME HOURS TO RECERTIFY? THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING TO EXPLORE THROUGH THE PD DEPARTMENT. Stacy Hahn: I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH EXPLORING. Addison Davis: I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. ALSO, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE FACT, MS. VAUGHN TALKED ABOUT TIME ON TASK. IF WE CAN LEAD THAT AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING

232WE CAN CONSIDER. Nadia Combs: I WAS GOING TO MENTION REALLY QUICKLY I KNOW WHEN I RENEWED MY CERTIFICATION A FEW YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SOME FREE PROGRAMS UNLIKE YEARS AGO WHERE I HAD TO PAY FOR A CLASS AT HCC. THERE ARE SOME FREE PROGRAMS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFERS. MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE SOME -- I DID A READING CLASS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S AVAILABLE AND LET KELLY KNOW ABOUT THAT. I KNOW I TOOK SOME CLASSES SIX YEARS AGO I HAD TO PAY AND RECENTLY I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES WITH FIVE YESES AND TWO NOES FROM MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER PEREZ. THE NEXT ITEM IS 6.01, BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31,

2332023. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS OUR MONTHLY ENDING IN MARCH 31 OF OUR BUDGET AMENDMENTS. TRANSITION TO OUR CFO, MRS. RO JOHNSON. Ro Johnson: GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. THIS WILL BE A BRIEF PRESENTATION. THE IMPACT OF THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT IN THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT UP FRONT. SUSAN GARCIA WILL BE PRESENTING THE BUDGET FOR THIS MONTH. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. SO THE BUDGET AT THE END OF MARCH 31st, THE OVERALL BUDGET DID NOT CHANGE AS COMPARED TO FEBRUARY. EVERYTHING REMAINED THE SAME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW FUNCTIONS WHICH WERE THE REVENUE. THERE WAS MOVEMENT THERE. BUT OVERALL BUDGET DIDN'T CHANGE. ENDING FUND BALANCE STILL PROJECTED AT THE END OF MARCH TO BE $210.3 MILLION. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE

234ACTUAL EXPENDITURES COMPARED TO THE BUDGET AT THE END OF MARCH, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE SPENT -- RECEIVED 79% OF OUR REVENUE AND WE'VE EXPENDED 67% OF OUR EXPENDITURES. THE IF YOU DID BALANCE AT THE END OF -- FUND BALANCE $405.3 MILLION. AS COMPARED TO THE 210.3 THAT WE PROJECT. THAT 210.3 DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SALARY INCREASES. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ESSER MOVEMENT EITHER. THIS SLIDE, WE SHOW IT EVERY MONTH. BASICALLY IT SHOWS THE BELL CURVE OF THE FUND BALANCE. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE RECEIVED MOST OF OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IN THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY. THOSE ARE THE HIGHEST FUND BALANCE. THEY START DECREASING AS THE EXPENDITURES START CATCHING UP, AND YOU CAN SEE AT THE END OF JUNE, IT IS PROJECTED TO BE AT $210.4 MILLION. AGAIN, THIS

235DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE SALARY INCREASES NOR THE MOVEMENT TO ESSERS. AND THIS LAST SLIDE JUST COMPARES THE TWO SIDE BY SIDE. THE MONTH OF MARCH, THE ACTUAL WAS 405.2 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS 31% OF OUR ESTIMATED REVENUE, AND THE PROJECTED AT THIS TIME IS STILL $210.3 MILLION. ANY QUESTIONS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MS. GARCIA. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 6.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MS. GARCIA, MS. ROMANEIR. QUESTION NUMBER ONE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SALARY INCREASE, I AM THINKING AND HOPING THAT WE'LL SEE THAT FIGURE, THE FUND BALANCE, THAT IS, ON OUR NEXT MONTH

236STATEMENT. Ro Johnson: THAT'S CORRECT. Lynn Gray: I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE -- AND YOU CAN JUST GIVE IT TO ME AND ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AS THE MONTHS GO ON, AS WE GET -- WE HAVE THE PROPERTY TAX WHICH WE'RE AT STILL A HIGH, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, CAN WE NOT SHARE THE LINEAR LOOK OF THE FISCAL DIRECTION WE'RE GOING WITH THE SALARY INCREASE. Ro Johnson: YES. WE JUST GOT THE FOURTH CALCULATION. SHOWS THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS GREW A LITTLE BIT. SO THEY GOT, WE DECREASE OUR BUDGET AND INCREASE THEIRS BY 7.4 MILLION. THE OVERALL IMPACT WAS TO NOT -- WE'LL BE IN A FINANCIAL DEFICIT. WE PUT THAT ALL IN THE SLIDES, $13.1 MILLION. BUT DO YOU WANT THE OVERALL IMPACT FROM THE VACANCY SAVINGS AND ESSER MOVEMENT ALSO? Lynn Gray: YES. I WILL DEFINITELY

237APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND THIS COMES FROM SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND MYSELF ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA TO PUT THE FTE AS WE GO INTO THE TEN-DAY COUNT OF THE HOUSE BILL ONE. SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THAT DEFICIT. IN ADDITION, WE SHOULD ALSO REMIND US THAT THE CAPITAL FUNDS, 30 MILLION, IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE, TOO. SO I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO HAVE A SNAPSHOT AS FUNDS ARE BEING DELETED AND WE HAD ESSER WAS ADDED, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE GONE WITHIN A YEAR OR SO, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD HAVE THAT INFORMATION. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE -- WE'LL SEND THE BOARD DAILY UPDATES OF WHERE WE ARE AND THE

238FIRST 20 DAYS FOR OUR ENROLLMENT, SEE IT BY SCHOOL AND OVERALL. ANYTHING IMPACTED IF LEGISLATION IS APPROVED AT SENATE LEVEL AND HOUSE RELATED TO CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING, POTENTIALLY $40 MILLION HAVE TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD A NEW PLAN AND IDENTIFY WHAT PROJECTS WILL HAVE TO BE DELAYED AND WHAT PROJECTS WILL HAVE TO BE RE-- WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE LIST TO PRIORITIZE OUR EFFORTS AND HOW THAT WILL IMPACT US ON A FIVE-YEAR BASIS. Lynn Gray: WHAT WE DON'T SEE WANT IS WHAT WE HAD IN 2017-18 WHERE WE HAD TO GO FOR A REFERENDUM FOR DELAYED MAINTENANCE. ROOFS CAVING IN, AIR CONDITIONING BREAKING DOWN. WE DON'T WANT TO BE UNPREPARED. WE WANT TO BE PREPARED. IF IT'S BAD NEWS OR NOT WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR, WE NEED TO HEAR IT, NEED TO

239KNOW IT AND KNOW IT BY THE MONTH. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR A WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN ACCUSATIONS AROUND THE BOARD AS FAR AS MISMANAGEMENT. ALL OF OUR FINANCIALS ARE TRANSPARENT AND PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS AND SEE WHERE WE SPEND MONEY ALL OF THE TIME, NOT ONLY DO WE VOTE ON AGENDA ITEMS EVERYTHING THAT WE BUDGET RIGHT HERE AND HAVE LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, EVERYTHING IN OUR BUDGET IS ACCESSIBLE IN THE SUNSHINE AND EVERYONE CAN SEE EVERY PENNY THAT WE SPEND. IS THAT CORRECT? Ro Johnson: WE POST OUR BUDGET MONTHLY. Jessica Vaughn: I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE THIS PERVASIVE IDEA WITHIN

240THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE'S MONEY THEY DON'T SEE OR THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OR THERE'S SOME KIND OF MISMANAGEMENT AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR EVERY MEETING WE HAVE WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. YOU GO OVER THE FINANCIALS. THERE'S NOTHING OUT OF THE SUNSHINE OR THAT'S NOT HIDDEN AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND IT, IF THEY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON MAYBE A LINE ITEM OR A FUNCTION ITEM, THEY CAN EITHER GET A RED BOOK OR ASK US THEIR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL GET THEM THAT INFORMATION FOR THAT CATEGORY, IS THAT CORRECT? Ro Johnson: THAT IS CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: I WANT TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD. NEXT THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT MY SUPPORT FOR OUR STAFF AND THE STEPS AND WHY I MAY NOT AGREE WITH

241THE SUPERINTENDENT ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADJUST THINGS NOW THAT WE'VE COMMITTED, PER YOUR REPORTS, THIS DOES PUT US IN A DEFICIT IF NOTHING ELSE CHANGES, SO APPROVING THESE STEPS WE ARE GOING TO BE DIPPING INTO OUR FUND BALANCE NEXT YEAR IF OUR BUDGET WAS TO STAY EXACTLY THE SAME WITH THESE INCREASES, IS THAT CORRECT? Ro Johnson: THAT IS CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR BECAUSE AS PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATORS AND WE'RE PRIORITIZING THAT AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHTING THE SHIP FINANCIALLY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS, THAT'S STILL OBLIGATING US AND RIGHT NOW WHAT WE WILL BE RELYING ON AGAIN IS OUR FUND BALANCE. WHETHER WE ALL DISAGREE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WE EITHER HAVE TO FIND

242NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE OR HAVE OTHER DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE AS WE STAND, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IS DIPPING BACK INTO OUR FUND BALANCE AND OUR SAVINGS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THIS. Ro Johnson: THAT'S CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AS WELL FOR EVERYONE. AS WE HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS AND WE GO FORWARD, WE HAVE ALREADY KIND OF ESTABLISHED THAT THROUGH THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING. THE LAST THING AND I DON'T EXPECT FOR YOU TO ANSWER IT NOW, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK ABOUT IT NEXT TIME. BY THE WAY, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME IN OUR BUDGET MEETINGS. I ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WHERE DO WE BUILD IN OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE RETIRING IN OUR BUDGET AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE

243WHO ASK ME QUESTIONS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STEPS AND SALARIES IS THAT THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS THAT AS OUR OLDER TEACHERS MATRICULATE AND RETIRE WHO MAKE HIGHER SALARIES, THAT WOULD LEAVE MORE ROOM IN OUR BUDGET FOR OUR YOUNGER TEACHERS TO GO UP THE STEP. THAT'S HOW THE WHOLE PROCESS IS. I'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT AS OUR TEACHERS ENTER DROP OR THEY RETIRE, WHERE IS THAT BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AND SEE THAT REFLECTED AND COMPARE THAT, THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS WHO ARE RETIRING AT A SALARY LEVEL COMPARED TO NEW TEACHERS WE'RE HIRING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SO WE CAN HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THAT. Ro Johnson: THEY ARE BUILDING OTHER WAGES IN DROP AND THEN WE HAVE AN UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. EVERY YEAR, WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THE DISTRICT, WE

244ARE PAYING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE VACATION, SICK TIME, OR EVERYTHING. SO THAT KIND OF COMBATS THAT RETIREMENT BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING THAT MONEY OUT. Jessica Vaughn: IN THE SALARY PORTION OF OUR GENERAL FUND, EVERY YEAR, YOU LOOK AT THE DROPS AND THEN YOU CALCULATE THAT INTO THE BUDGET, IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S BUILT IN? Ro Johnson: YES, OTHER WAGES. CLASSIFICATION IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS CALLED OTHER WAGES, ALL THOSE OTHER SALARIES OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL SALARY IS BUILT IN THERE. Jessica Vaughn: WE'LL HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT IN OUR MEETING. Ro Johnson: STIPENDS, TOO. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED. I'M GOING TO REPEAT WHAT I SAID

245EARLIER BEFORE WE APPROVED THE RAISES AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EXTENSIVELY IN MANY CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND CFO IS REALLY USING THAT STUDENT COUNT TO DRIVE STAFFING AND EXPENDITURE DECISIONS IS REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP US KIND OF ON A HEALTHY -- TO MANAGING OUR FUNDING. I KNOW IT'S HARD BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE UP FRONT, BUT THAT IS -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, A VERY STRONG STRATEGY TO USE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE USING YOUR DOLLARS EFFECTIVELY FOR STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, BECAUSE THEY NEED TEACHERS AS WE'VE ALL SAID TONIGHT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER RESOURCES COMBINED WITH TEACHERS THAT STUDENTS NEED. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS -- FOR

246THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO WORK ON AND BRING TO THE BOARD TO DISCUSS. IN REGARD TO THE FTE ACCOUNT THAT MEMBER GRAY ASKED FOR. WILL THE STATE SEND US, THESE ARE HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS. Ro Johnson: WE'RE NOT SURE HOW THE STATE IS GOING TO ALLOCATE IT, IT BECOMES A PASS-THROUGH OR IF THE STATE WILL. Stacy Hahn: WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE TECHNICAL PAPER. Addison Davis: WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FROM THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THEY WILL IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO PAY HOMESCHOOL OR THEY PAY HOMESCHOOL, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE SOME TYPE OF INDICATOR THAT WE CAN TRACK THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INITIATIVE THAT WOULD BE PROJECTED TO US. Stacy Hahn: RIGHT. IT MAY

247-- SO WE KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS, HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE KIND OF BEING PULLED OUT. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER, HAHN, MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT MEMBER HAHN AND DR. HAHN SAID, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY, TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PATHS THAT WILL BE VARIED FROM PERHAPS PUBLIC SCHOOL TO HOMESCHOOL, NOT LIKE IN HOMESCHOOL TO CHARTER SCHOOL, NOT LIKE IN CHARTER SCHOOL TO PRIVATE SCHOOL. SO ALL OF THIS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO, IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WILL BE PLUSES AND MINUSES -- Ro Johnson: WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE I.T. DEPARTMENT AND THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO GIVE THE -- AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT GIVES DATA TO THE STATE. AS FAR AS THE ACCOUNT INTERNALLY, WE MAKE

248SURE IT IS TRUED UP WITH THE STATE AND COUNTING ALL OUR STUDENTS ACCURATELY. Lynn Gray: IT'S A WORK GOING TO BE IN PROGRESS. IT'S A LOT. THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, FOR YOUR SERVICE. REAL QUICK, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PAY RAISE, HOW WILL IT AFFECT IN YOUR ESTIMATION, HOW WILL IT AFFECT OUR FUND BALANCE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR BOND RATING? Addison Davis: I'LL START WITH THIS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE IMPACTED BY $40 MILLION. BECAUSE 28 WAS REOCCURRING AND 12 NON-REOCCURRING, $40 MILLION WILL DEFINITELY IMPACT THE FUND BALANCE. AS IT RELATES TO BOND RATING, WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BEING ABLE TO SHOW FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR BOND RATING WILL CONTINUE TO BE STABLE AND IDENTIFIED TO BE STABLE AND POTENTIALLY

249MOVE UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT WE'RE WAITING FOR FORMAL VALIDATION OF THAT AND WE WON'T SAY ANYTHING TODAY, BUT ONCE WE GET IN WRITING WE'LL SHARE IT WITH THE BOARD. Lynn Gray: CFO, STAFF. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.05, 22226-XMT-IV LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS FURTHER PROTECTION FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. ANYTHING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WITH RISK MANAGEMENT, WITH WORKERS COMPENSATION, WE HIRE A LAW FIRM TO BE ABLE TO HELP US AND ADVISE US TO FURTHER PROTECT US. THIS IS MAKING CERTAIN, TELL US HOW TO BE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MEETING WITH WORKERS COMP ISSUES. THIS CONTRACT WILL ONCE UPON APPROVAL THROUGH JUNE 2024 AND BRING BACK

250TO THE BOARD IF NEED BE FOR CONTINUED RECOMMENDATION. ONGOING RELATIONSHIP FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EFFICIENT TO HELP US WITH ANY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE RELATED TO ACTIONS, CLAIMS, DAMAGES OR ANY POTENTIAL LOSSES. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.05. MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER RENDON AND I BOTH PULLED IT. Patti Rendon: THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE I SEE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SCOPE AS A DISTRICT IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE DOING BUSINESS. I HIGHLY RESPECT LEGAL SERVICES, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT $45,000, WHEN IT COMES TO THE VAST AMOUNT OF THINGS THEY SAID THIS LEGAL SERVICES IS GOING TO DO, IT'S JUST THAT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY IF WE REALLY HAVE A VERY STRONG WORKERS

251COMP ISSUE, IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE CASES. THIS IS A MINIMUM OF WHAT WE ARE. BUT I LOOK AT THIS FROM A BROADER SPECTRUM IN WHICH WE CAN LOOK AT REALLY SHORING UP OUR RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND HAVING A CERTIFIED RISK MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT THESE KIND OF CONCERNS BUT AREAS AROUND OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT COST SAVINGS, DOING BUSINESS, STUDENT RISK, A WAY IN WHICH WE'VE GOT PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF EVERYTHING WE DO TO REDUCE THE RISK, REDUCE OUR LEGAL FEES, REDUCE SOME OF OUR POTENTIAL RISKS OF LAWSUITS, ALL OF THAT. I HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM AS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT PARTICULAR PERSON COULD BE LOOKING AT OUR OVERALL DISTRICT AND THEN THIS BEING ONE OF THE

252WAYS IN WHICH WE'LL BE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT COULD SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN WHEN A CERTIFIED RISK MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST COULD LOOK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AND HOW WE DO BUSINESS. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I PULLED IT SIMILAR, BUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THIS LAW FIRM HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE 1977. THEY HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. THEY HAVE A GREAT HISTORY. I'VE SAID THIS OVER AND OVER. WE ARE THE 7th LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE NATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP 50 LARGE DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY, YOU'LL SEE EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE IN-HOUSE, SOME TYPE OF COUNSEL, SOME TYPE OF PARALEGAL. IF YOU LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE IN FLORIDA, BESIDES PASCO COUNTY BECAUSE THEY HAVE ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT, EVERY SINGLE

253ONE ALSO HAS IN-HOUSE ATTORNEYS OR SOME TYPE OF PARALEGAL. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH I'VE HEARD STAFF SAY I'VE GOT TO INTERPRET THIS BECAUSE I'M KIND OF A PARALEGAL. I FEEL LIKE WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING FROM THE DOE AND ALL THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FROM CHARTER TO CHOICE, WE NEED TO GET -- I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT IT ALMOST EVERY TIME I MEET WITH YOU I SAY TO YOU WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT TIMELINE LOOK LIKE? WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE IN-HOUSE COUNCIL, SOME PARALEGAL SO PEOPLE AREN'T INTERPRETING THE LAW. FIRST OF ALL, IT MAKES AN INCREASED RISK TO US AND SECOND OF ALL, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE STAFF TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT. EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAS

254SAID THE SAME THING. THEY FEEL THE NEED. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT. I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD, WHAT DOES THAT TIMELINE LOOK LIKE, WITH WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BE A $4 BILLION INDUSTRY WITH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES AND NOT HAVE ANY IN-HOUSE COUNCIL. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL. YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW AND BE ON RECORD. MAYBE WHAT I NEED TO DO IS ASK FOR A WORKSHOP AND LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE CLOSER AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT CHANCE TO BE ON RECORD TO SAY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE. I DON'T KNOW OF ANOTHER COMPANY IN TAMPA OR PROBABLY FLORIDA OF

255THIS SIZE THAT DOESN'T HAVE IN-HOUSE COUNSEL. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: ACTUALLY, THE FIVE MAJOR DISTRICTS HAVE EIGHT TO TEN ATTORNEYS WORKING ON DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE LEGISLATIVELY DIRECTED. AND AS IT EXPANDS AND I ACTUALLY WROTE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS TODAY AS WE GET INTO BOOK CHALLENGES WHERE CERTAIN BOARD MEMBERS MIGHT BE CHALLENGED LEGALLY AS WE GET INTO THE HOUSE BILL ONE, AS WE GET INTO SECURITY, ONE OF THE SENATORS IS PUSHING THROUGH A LOT OF SECURITY MEASURES THAT'S GOING INTO OUR SCHOOLS POSSIBLY, BUT NONETHELESS, SO MUCH IS COMING TO THE BOARD, WE DIDN'T USED TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION. DIDN'T HAVE TO MEMORIZE A BILL FOR THE VARIOUS LAWS THAT ARE BEING PUT FORTH. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE ATTORNEYS THAT SPEAK AND HANDLE IT BEFORE IT COMES TO THE BOARD.

256WE ARE JUST RIGHT NOW IT'S LIKE WHAT ELSE IS COMING AT US? CAN WE SHARE AND RESPOND ARTICULATELY? I'M NOT LEGALLY PREPARED. SOME PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE. THEY ARE. BUT I DEFINITELY THINK A HOUSE ATTORNEY, IF WE TALK ABOUT SAVINGS, WE WENT THROUGH THAT. WITH ONE HOUSE ATTORNEY VERSUS HAVING FIVE OR SIX INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEYS INCLUDING RISK MANAGEMENT, WE WOULD SAVE OVER 300 TO 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT BRIEFLY. THERE WAS KIND OF A WORKSHOP. I THINK MEMBER COMBS DID BRING IT UP BRIEFLY, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED. BOARD MEMBERS, I'M TELLING YOU, WE ARE FRONT AND CENTER LEGALLY. WE COULD BE CHALLENGED AT ANY TIME AND IN A POSITION TO DEFEND ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU SAY, WHAT I SAY, ANYONE SAYS ON THIS DAIS, INCLUDING SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND YOUR

257CABINET. SO I THINK TO BE LEGALLY PREPARED IS CERTAINLY, AT LEAST IN MY INDIVIDUAL VIEW, IS IN THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND AS WELL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE JUST FINISHED HAVING A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT TIGHTENING OUR BELTS TO GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES RAISES AND IN THE LAST TWO ITEMS WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT HIRING MORE PEOPLE. I HAVE NO WORDS, QUITE FRANKLY. YOU WANT TO HIRE ONE IN-HOUSE ATTORNEY AND SOME PARALEGALS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE BREADTH OR DEPTH OR EXPERTISE TO HANDLE ALL THE VARIOUS TYPES OF LITIGATION THAT GOES ON IN THIS DISTRICT. YOU'LL HAVE TO HIRE A TEAM OF ATTORNEYS IN-HOUSE AND THAT MIGHT BE MORE CONVENIENT, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WE HAVE GOT TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.

258WE HAVE TEACHERS WE'RE TELLING. WE CAN'T PAY YOU MORE THAN TWO STEPS. YOU'LL HAVE TO SIT AT YOUR KITCHEN TABLE AND WRITE THE CHECKS AND TIGHTEN YOUR BELT. WE HAVE TAXPAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE TURN AROUND, WE NEED A REFERENDUM. WE NEED MORE OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS. BUT THEY ARE SITTING AT THEIR TABLES. THEY ARE TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS. NOW WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT HIRING MORE PEOPLE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. LIKE, I AM JUST A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK THAT I GET YOU WANT TO EXPLORE IF THERE IS A SAVINGS, BUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS JUST -- I'M JUST SHOCKED THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS COMING ON JUST THE TAIL OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL DECISIONS WE MAKE THIS YEAR, HIRING MORE PEOPLE. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. YOU CAN'T HIRE MORE

259PEOPLE AND GIVE EMPLOYEES RAISES. I MEAN, IT JUST, THAT'S NOT EVEN LOGICAL, BUT I'M GOING TO STOP HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I'M GETTING AGGRAVATED AND I JUST REALLY, REALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, REALLY AM FEELING FRUSTRATED. I THINK WE DID A GREAT THING TONIGHT GIVING THOSE RAISES, BUT CAN -- WE JUST HAVE TO REALLY COMMIT TO THINKING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE FINANCIAL DECISION. Jim Porter: ASK ME TO JUMP IN, FELT LIKE WE WERE GETTING SORT OF FAR AFIELD. YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM ABOUT A SPECIFIC LAW FIRM THAT AS MS. COMBS POINTED OUT BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT 40 YEARS. GOOD CONVERSATION BUT NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM. YOU COULD HAVE A WORKSHOP, TALK ABOUT IT. REALLY THE AGENDA ITEM IS WHETHER TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT WITH JIM MURMAN WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS DISTRICT A

260LONG TIME. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO STAY FOCUSED ON THAT. I AGREE. I DO HAVE TO RESPOND A LITTLE BIT TO MEMBER HAHN. I THINK THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN LIABILITY. AND WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR STAFF AND YOUR CABINET SAYING THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED SUPPORT TO INTERPRET DOCUMENTS AND INTERPRET CONTRACTS AND I'M HEARING THAT OVER AND OVER FROM A SURVEY, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LIABILITY, ONE LAWSUIT, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RISK AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK WE CAN'T SAY HOW DOES EVERY OTHER LARGE -- LARGEST 50 DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY DO THAT AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY WORKING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT OUR STAFF IS NOT FEELING THAT SUPPORT. -- ONE LOSS OR LAWSUIT, THEN YOU ARE PAYING OVER TIME. I THINK TWO COMPLETELY SEPARATE

261CONVERSATIONS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANOTHER. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LAWSUITS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AND HOW MUCH YOU'RE OPENING UP YOURSELF FOR FUTURE LAWSUITS THAT ARE OCCURRING AND HOW MUCH WE'RE PAYING FOR ATTORNEYS BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE TOTALS, WE WERE ACTUALLY PAYING MORE. WITH THAT, MAYBE I'LL PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION. BUT I WANTED TO RESPOND UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. PLEASE VOTE. LET'S CLEAR THE BOARD AND PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. WE'LL OPEN IT UP. MR. PORTER, I THINK PEOPLE WILL OPEN UP TO THE TOPIC WITH THIS. Jim Porter: REMIND YOU BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND ONE YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DISCUSS AND SHOULD DISCUSS.

262BUT THERE IS A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM. AND THE CONVERSATION HAS GOTTEN FAR AFIELD. IT'S UP TO YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO THROW MYSELF IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE BUT YOU ASKED ME TO INTERVENE WHEN THINGS STARTED TO GO FAR AFIELD. THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE. IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO GOVERN YOURSELVES. Jessica Vaughn: I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. CAN I CALL THE QUESTION? Jim Porter: SURE. YOU NEED A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION. THERE IS A SECOND. YOU NEED TO IMMEDIATELY VOTE ON CALLING THE QUESTION. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THIS NOW, VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO DEBATE, VOTE NO. Nadia Combs: THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. Jim Porter: YOU IMMEDIATELY VOTE ON ITEM 7.05. Nadia Combs: SO YOU ARE GOING TO BE VOTING

263YES TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT, ITEM 7 .05. YOU PRESS YES IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THAT AND NO IF YOU DON'T. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7 PENALTIES 06. PIGGYBACK. 2305, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. ONE THING YOU ALWAYS DO IN TRANSPORTATION IS CONTINUE TO REFRESHES OF OUR BUSES. THOSE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SOME YEARS TO ABLE TO ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE NEW FLEET IN OUR DISTRICT. THE PIGGYBACK IS BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS IDENTIFIED THREE FIRMS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE OUR BUSES FROM. ONE IS MATTHEWS. ONE IS BLUEBIRD. AND THE OTHER ONE IS IG. SO BRINGING TO THE BOARD A PIGGYBACK TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE 100 BUSES. THOSE WILL BE 77 PASSENGER BUSES THAT ARE THOMAS BUILT

264AND THEN ESE CLASS C BUSES THAT HAVE ESC LIST TO SERVE OUR CHILDREN WHO HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS. THIS IS A TEN YEAR REPLACEMENT PLAN. EVERY BUS WILL HAVE AC AND USING CAPITAL MILLAGE FUNDING TO THE TUNE OF $14 MILLION. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, SIR? Nadia Combs: MR. FARKAS, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE C-7.06. I HAVE A SOAKED BUT MEMBER RENDON. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF -- SO I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED AND I WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE I GOT DIFFERENT INFORMATION. WE ARE ALREADY IN A CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THESE BUSES WITH THE STATE, IN GENERAL, PERIOD. CORRECT? THE STATE ALLOWS ONLY THREE COMPANIES THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE FROM. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES,

265YES. Jessica Vaughn: BUT FOR SO MANY YEARS WE WERE GOING TO BUY SO MANY BUSES AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW? Christopher Farkas: WE HAD A PURCHASE PLAN OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS AS THE SUPERINTENDENT REFERENCED THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUY 100 BUSES EACH OF THOSE YEARS. YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: CAN WE AGAIN -- BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE TIME WE SPEND MONEY ON TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S MISINFORMATION THAT FLOATS AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON BUSES AND TRANSPORTATION AN NOT PAYING OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF. CAN WE EXPLAIN ONCE AGAIN THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPITAL MONEY AND GENERAL FUND MONEY AND EVEN IF WE APPROVE THIS, THAT IS NOT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND NOT MONEY THAT WE CAN -- FIRST OF ALL YOU DID PAY TEACHERS MONEY. Jessica

266Vaughn: THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME. Christopher Farkas: BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THIS CANNOT BE USED FOR SALARIES, CANNOT BE USED AS PARTED OF THAT EXPENDITURE. Jessica Vaughn: FINALLY, WHERE ARE WE AT WITH ELECTRICAL BUSES BEFORE I APPROVE THIS? Christopher Farkas: 100%, THESE PRICES WENT UP AS OPPOSED TO ELECTRICAL BUS WHICH ARE ABOUT $330,000, THESE ARE ABOUT 110 OR 115. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR EVERY GRANT THAT HAS COMB COME ACROSS, REQUEST SOME MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT KEEPS AN EYE ON THAT. WE WILL APPLY EVERY SINGLE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THEM. IF WE CAN GET EXTERNAL FUNDING OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, MR. BEAKMAN HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE ELECTRIC BUSES, WE JUST HAVE TO SUSTAIN THAT. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY AND CONTINUES TO SEEK FUNDING FOR

267ELECTRIC BUSES. Addison Davis: AND ONE THING TO RECOGNIZE IS WHILE ALL THESE GRANTS EXIST FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND LOOK AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ONLY THREE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS GRANT. OF THE THREE COUNTIES, WE ONLY HAVE 30 ELECTRIC BUSES IN THE ENTIRE STATE. SO IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO PLUG AND PLACING THE STATIONS AS WELL. Jessica Vaughn: LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST WELFARE OF OUR STUDENTS, IN THE BEST INTERESTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REPLACING THE BUSES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND PUTTING THE MOST STURDY, WELL EQUIPPED, NEWER BUSES ON THE ROAD, AND THAT'S WHY ARE WE WOULD BE PRIORITIZING THIS OVER TIME TO PURCHASE ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? AND ONCE AGAIN WE CAN'T USE THIS IN GENERAL FUNDS. Christopher Farkas: CANNOT USE IT.

268Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 7.10. CARROLLWOOD SCHOOL. PRE-K THROUGH 8, BOUNDARY CHANGE PROPOSALS. SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. WAITING TREMENDOUSLY FOR MANY MONTHS, AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, JUST BRINGING A COUPLE OF ITEMS OF THE ORIGINAL BOUNDARY CHANGES IN ISOLATION. WE SEE THAT IT IS UNIQUE IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY, WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CREATE BOUNDARIES FOR K-8. AND THEY HAD ROOM. THE CURRENT UTILIZATION OF THE 73%, THEY SERVE 638 STUDENTS, THEY HAVE A CAPACITY TO SERVE 886 STUDENTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THEIR DATA THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE SLATED TO ATTENDED A APPLES IS AROUND 170-R PLUS STUDENTS AND HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL IS 100 PLUS STUDENTS. THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE

269ARE THANKFUL THAT A MAJORITY OF THOSE STUDENTS STAY WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TRUST US TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEIR CHILDREN, TO BE ABLE TO BRING TO THE BOARD A MULTIYEAR PHASE PROJECT WHERE NEXT YEAR WE WILL ADD 6th GRADE AND 2024 ADD 7th GRADE AND 2025, ADD 8th GRADE WITH THE FULL UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW THEY ARE NOT A COMPREHENSIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ATHLETICS AND THE CURRENTS INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO GYMNASIUMS OR ANY TYPE OF ADDITIONAL BUILDING THAT OTHER COMPREHENSIVE MIDDLE SCHOOLS THEY HAVE. SO IF WE HAVE PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITIES TO CHOOSE AND WANT TO ELECT TO PARTICIPATE, THEN THEY WILL HAVE THE CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-7.10. I

270HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER RENDON AND MYSELF, WE ALL PULLED THIS ITEM. I WILL START WITH YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN, SINCE IT IS YOUR DISTRICT. Jessica Vaughn: I APPRECIATE THAT. NOT ONLY MY DISTRICT. IT'S WHERE I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OWLS, HOO-HOO. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, RIGHT? AND YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT WHEN I MET WITH YOU THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT UP A LOT OF CONCERNS AND I WANTED YOU GUYS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE GETTING YOURSELVES INTO, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS HIGHLIGHTED THAT, RIGHT? WE ARE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE APPROVING THIS AND LETTING YOU KNOW LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY ARE GOING TO BE -- THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHALLENGES. IT'S NOT YOUR AVERAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL, RIGHT?

271LESS ACCESS TO GYMNASIUMS. THERE ARE THINGS YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE BY KEEPING A SMALL K-8 EXPERIENCE IN YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING ON RECORD NOW, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN WE APPROVE THESE PARENTS WHO WANT THEM ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM AND THEN FIVE YEARS LATER NEW PARENTS COME IN AND THEY WANT GROWTH AND ACCESSIBILITY TO THOSE PROGRAMS. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THE FOUNDERS WHO STARTED THIS INITIATIVE, WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THAT. IT'S BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS, TO WATCH YOU GROW, AND TO SEE HOW DEDICATED YOU HAVE BEEN, AND HOW THOUGHTFUL YOU HAVE BEEN ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I WISH ADAMS WAS THE SCHOOL CHOICE BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT A DISTRICT.

272AS WE TALK ABOUT NAVIGATING THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, I KNOW DR. HAHN IS VERY FOCUSED ON WE NEED TO TRUE UP OUR TEACHER RATIO TO OUR STUDENT COUNT, AND I DON'T DISAGREE, BUT FOR ME WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO IS LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? AND THE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE THE GUIDING LIGHT IN ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TELLING US WHAT THEY NEED FROM US AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE. AND SO I'M REALLY LEANING IN AND LISTENING TO YOU GUYS. AGAIN, I HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, K-8s ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT, I WOULD LOVE TO PUT THAT K-8 OPTION AS A HUGE TRANSITION FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT HAS A LOT OF FEARS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT. SO

273I THINK THAT THE MORE K-8 THAT WE CAN EXPAND THE BETTER SO I AM REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION, YOUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. I ONLY HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THIS PASSION AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS WHICH I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE AND A FIRST ADVOCATE ABOUT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE YOU SEWED OVER AND OVER THE REASON YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR THIS IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE OTHER CHOICES, YOU WANT TO SUPPORT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND SO AGAIN I HOPE THAT YOU USE THE SKILL SET THAT YOU HAVE FOUND WITHIN OURSELVES -- YOURSELVES TO ORGANIZE AND REALLY BE ADVOCATES FOR WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO BE THAT AND USE THAT VOICE FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT. GOING FORWARD. AND I DO

274BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE ON THE ONE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO ADD, AND YOU GUYS KNOW THIS AS WELL, SINCE WE ARE BOUNDERING THIS K-8, AND OFFICIALLY ASKING ON RECORD SO THAT THERE IS EQUITY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, THAT THE OTHER TWO SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT, LUTZ AND MANISCALCO, ARE ALSO REBOUNDRIED SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND I MADE THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR WHY I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. AGAIN I AM GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AS WE MAKE THIS DECISION, IN THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE APPROVING TONIGHT, WE ARE APPROVING BOUNDARIES FOR CARROLLWOOD K-8. I WOULD LIKE THAT EXTENDED TO THE OTHER K-8s. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS NEED THEM IN YOUR DISTRICT OR NOT BUT IT'S ONLY

275FAIR SO THAT PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUALLY GO THROUGH THAT CHOICE. THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT. AGAIN THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOO-HOO. THAT'S ALL I AM GOING TO SAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS. I AM REALLY GOING OUT FOR SOMETHING. I L I APPLAUD YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE, THE TIME YOU HAVE PUT INTO IT. NOT ONLY YOURSELVES BUT YOUR ADMINISTRATION OF YOUR SCHOOL. SHE'S MADE A DEEP COMMITMENT. SHE'S BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY WITH OTHER K-8s REALLY PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR THIS NEED. AND LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN, I SAT THERE WITH YOU GUYS BEFORE AND SAID, OKAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS WITH YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO DIFFERENTIATE YOUR 5th GRADERS AND 8th GRADERS? I WAS A PARENT THAT JUMPED FROM THE BUBBLE

276RIGHT INTO THE FRYING PAN INTO A MIDDLE SCHOOL OUT OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND KNOW THE FOUNDATION THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN GIVE MY KID. WHETHER IT'S THE BAND OR THE COORDINATION OFFICE OR THE STUDENTS GOVERNMENT. OUR CAUSES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT COME FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE SO CRITICAL IN THEIR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. AND SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON, BUT YOU ALSO TOOK ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS GET A FULL, WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION TO GO INTO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THEY NEED AN AVENUE WHEN THEY GET THERE. SO I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, AND EXCITED FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AND AS A PARENT GROUP, YOU GUYS CAN LEAD THE CHARGE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S NEXT, GYMNASIUM, EVERYTHING ELSE. START BUILDING, YOU KNOW. NOT GOING TO -- NO, NO. WE GAVE

277YOU THE BOX. NOW YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. AND I ALSO WANT TO Nadia Combs: I ALSO WANT TO SAY IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATION TO EVERY CHILD REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE. I BASICALLY SPEND EVERY DAY IN THE CARROLLWOOD AREA. I LIVE IN THE CARROLLWOOD AREA. I'VE BEEN TO CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAD MY CENTER LOCATED THERE. I KNOW SOME TEACHERS FROM THERE. SO I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU AND SPOKEN WITH MS. PA LERO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES ON THE PHONE LATE AT NIGHT. WE WORKED HARD TO ADVOCATE. WE SEE THERE IS A NEED WHERE STUDENTS NORTH CHOOSING TO STAY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING EDUCATION THAT

278WE PROVIDE. I WOULD PUT US UP AGAINST ANY CHARTER SCHOOL, ANY PRIVATE SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OR THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I AM REALLY PROUD OF OUR SCHOOLS. AND WITH THIS BOUNDARY AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING RESPONSIBLE, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ANALYZING SCHOOLS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHERE WE ARE LOSING STUDENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT COMMUNITY AND THEN WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT THERE IS A HUGE INCREASE IN ELEMENTARY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A DECREASE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE DON'T GET ALL THE STUDENTS BACK BUT WE GET QUITE A FEW OF THEM. I DO THINK THAT THE MODEL OF K-8 IS WHAT COMMUNITIES WANT, IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND IS ALSO GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. AS WE BUILD SCHOOLS OR REPURPOSE

279SCHOOLS, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING US. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS, FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW CARROLLWOOD, THAT COMMUNITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT, IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE, AND I AM REALLY, REALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT ADAMS WILL ALSO, ONCE WE LOOK AT ADAMS AND MAKE SOME CHANGES, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT ADAMS AND BLAKE WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND DO WELL. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, FOR YOUR FAMILIES, TO -- YOU GUYS, ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO RUN ONE DAY AND BE UP HERE. I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL SEE. THANK YOU. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen

280Perez: THANK YOU. I HAVE GOT TO GIVE IT TO YOU. YOU ARE THESE COLLABORATIVE, UNITED GROUP THAT JUST EVERY OTHER WEEK YOU GUYS ARE SO DEDICATED. I HOPE YOU'RE GETTING POINTS FOR THIS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY I REALLY LOVE ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP STUDENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. RAISING THAT ALARM FOR US, LETTING US KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT A CHOICE IF NOT FOR THIS. SO YOU'RE LETTING US KNOW THAT THOSE STUDENTS WILL STAY AS STUDENTS IN OUR SEATS, IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU CHAMPIONING THAT. THANK YOU. OH, AND THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR BABIES. THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL, THERE'S A TRANSITION THAT HAPPENS THERE WITH OUR CHILDREN. AND THEIR

281MENTAL WELLNESS AT THAT POINT IS VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY PORTION ON TO THIS, BECAUSE I THINK K-8 IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK I HAD CARROLLWOOD FROM 2006 TO 2017 WHEN I RETIRED. THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE ALWAYS WAS CLOSE-KNITTED FAMILY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TEACHERS. WE HAD A LOT OF KIDS. AND THEN BACK THEN, YOU WERE FEEDING TO CHAMBERLAIN BECAUSE I CAME TO CHAMBERLAIN IN 1996, I BELIEVE. 1996, AND THAT'S WHEN CARROLLWOOD WAS FEEDING, AT FIRST YOU WERE NOT FEEDING INTO CHAMBERLAIN, BUT WHEN I GOT THERE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND AND CAME TO CHAMBERLAIN. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. NOW IT'S GOING

282TO BE HARD WORK, AND WE GOT BELIEF IN YOU. I BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT. YOU GOT TO KEEP THE KIDS THERE. KEEP THESE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NOT GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND NOT GO TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. SO WE GOT TO DO A LOT OF WORK. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD BEFORE. I TELL YOU WHAT, IF I HAD A FOOTBALL TEAM, I WANT YOU ALL ON MY TEAM BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE PERSISTENT. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING TO K-8 CARROLLWOOD. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAID. I AGREE. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: WELL, DITTO, DITTO, DITTO. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT YOU MAY JUST BE VERY HARD WORKERS AND KNOW YOUR CRAFT. THERE IS A VERY

283KNOWN EQUATION THAT THE COMMUNITIES MAKE OUR SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOLS MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES. AS I RUN MANY, MANY YEARS AND LIVED IN CARROLLWOOD, I KNOW THAT THIS SCHOOL IS A VERY STRONG, STRONG BAND OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I DO THINK THE K-8 MODEL IS PROBABLY THE GOLD STANDARD THAT WE NEED TO EMULATE WITH MORE OF THE SCHOOLS BEING IN TRANSITION. IT'S VERY STABLE FOR THE CHILDREN, STABLE FOR THE TEACHERS AND IT DOES ALLOW FOR THAT PEER INTERACTION, JUST A LOT OF PLUSES, RIGHT? BUT THE MAIN THING THAT YOU'RE CHALLENGED WITH, WHICH YOU CAN HEAR THE BOARD SAYING THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER, AND I AGREE BUT YOU ARE ALSO CHALLENGED WITH DIVERSITY AND I SAID THIS TO YOU EARLY ON, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HIGH-NEEDS CHILDREN. WE HAVE TO

284TAKE CARE OF ACKNOWLEDGING WE HAVE A HIGH HISPANIC POPULATION COMING IN. SOME WILL BE IMMIGRANTS. WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE MULTICULTURAL STUDIES THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND JUST BE OPEN AS YOU ARE TO ENJOY THE DIVERSE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING TO YOU. WE HOPE YOUR SCHOOL, WELL, OUR SCHOOL GETS AS FULL AS HECK AND QUICKLY SO. AND GODSPEED TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. YOU ARE TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: MEMBER COMBS, WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF TENACITY. YOU REALLY HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL ROLE MODELS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AT CARROLLWOOD. YOU'RE HERE EVERY MEETING. YOU'RE E-MAILING WITH INFORMATION, AND I'M VERY HAPPY FOR ALL OF YOU TONIGHT. MY CHILDREN ATTEND AND DID ATTEND, THE OLDER ONES, A K-8. SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE

285COMFORT AS A PARENT THAT BROUGHT ME, ME AND MY HUSBAND WHEN THEY WERE TRANCING FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT CAN BE A STRESSFUL TRANSITION FOR THE JUST FOR PARENTS BUT KIDS, TOO. I'M SURE THAT YOUR FAMILIES WILL FIND A LOT OF COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE UNDER THAT SAME ROOF FOR THE K-8 YEARS. I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BE VERY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THE SCHOOL IS A SUCCESS EVEN IF YOUR KIDS ARE CLOSE TO MATRICULATING OUT OF THAT PROGRAM, I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO STAY VERY COMMITTED. THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE, IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE, WHO SPOKE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHO NO LONGER HAD CHILDREN THERE, BUT FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT REALLY WENT A LONG WAY WITH ME PERSONALLY THAT

286THIS REALLY WAS ABOUT A COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST THE SCHOOL ITSELF. SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT AND CONGRATULATIONS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD AND STAKEHOLDERS THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST READING -- I'M SO SORRY THAT YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FINAL READING. WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THEM RIGHT NOW. REMIND THE BOARD, IT IS THE FIRST READING AND HAS TO COME BACK AGAIN FOR THE FINAL READING ON MAY THE 9th. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. WE'LL MAKE SURE WE MOVE THAT UP THE AGENDA. IF IT PASSES. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. Nadia Combs: 7.11, INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR

287RFP 21039-MST-IV, ELECTRICAL SERVICES. Addison Davis: INCREASE FOR EXPENDITURE FOR ELECTRICAL SERVICES. THIS IS TO ADDRESS ANY FIXTURE, APPLIANCES, REPAIRS, INSTALLS, SERVICES, REMODELING FOR THE EVERYDAY WORK ELECTRICAL THAT WE DO WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN THIS USING MILLAGE MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL NETWORK TO BE ABLE TO REFRESH ALL OF OUR MEDIA CENTERS AND MAKE CERTAIN THEY HAVE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND SOPHISTICATION TO ACCOMMODATE THE REFRESHES. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND FOR C 7.11. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. I HAD MY QUESTION ANSWERED. ANY COMMENTS? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. GO AHEAD AND VOTE. IT PASSES WITH FIVE MEMBERS WITH MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER GRAY AWAY FROM THE DAIS. 7.12, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

288BOUNDARY CHANGES AND JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPURPOSING. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET ME THANK INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT TO SUPPORT JUST. WE APPRECIATE THEIR VIEWPOINTS, THEIR FIGHT, THEIR TENACITY, THEIR EDUCATION ON HOW ERNEST JUST IS AND WHAT THAT INDIVIDUAL MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO OUR NATION. WITH THAT SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT AND THE COMMUNITY TALKED ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT VALUE IN CHILDREN. AT THE SAME TOKEN, MAKING CERTAIN WE HAVE DELIBERATE SPEED AND ALSO INCREASE IN PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR SITUATION, IT BREAKS MY HEART. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SCHOOL -- LOOK AT 2015, 550 STUDENTS AND HOLD CLOSE TO 600 STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. 2015 AND WE SEE WHERE IT

289IS TODAY IN 2022, 2022-23 IS THAT IT CURRENTLY HAS 284 STUDENTS. BEEN A STEADY DECLINE. I DON'T DISAGREE. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO COME UP WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DETERMINATION WHETHER OR NOT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTING JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THAT POINT. IF YOU LOOK AT ANALYTICS AND TAKE EMOTION OUT, THE ANSWER IS NO. WE'RE AT 47% CAPACITY AT THIS SCHOOL AND WE LOOK AT WHERE THESE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN, RIGHT NOW, WE LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S ANALYTICS, SCHOOL WAS RATED F SCHOOL WITH 11% OF THE STUDENT BODY PROFICIENT IN THE AREA OF LITERACY. MATHEMATICS, 22% PROFICIENCY IN THE AREA OF MATHEMATICS. YOU COMPARE THAT LITERACY FROM 11% TO MATH WHICH IS 53% AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL THERE IS A MAJOR

290DISCONNECT, A MAJOR GAP. THIS YEAR, PMA 1 AND PMA 2, PROGRESS MONITOR ASSESSMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IMPLEMENTED WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND YOU LOOK AT THIRD GRADE, BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, 4% OF THE STUDENTS WERE PROFICIENT IN THIRD GRADE, IN OUR LAST ASSESSMENT, ONLY 11% OF THIRD GRADE IS PROFICIENT. FOURTH GRADE, 7% OF THE STUDENT BODY IS PROFICIENT. SECOND PMA, MONTHS, MONTHS LATER, ONLY 8% PROFICIENT. FIFTH GRADE, 3% STARTED SCHOOL YEAR PROFICIENT. CURRENTLY 3% STAND PROFICIENT. THIS IS NOT BECAUSE THE STAFF IS NOT WORKING HARD AT THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL. YOU HAVE STAFF THAT IS DEDICATED, COMMITTED TO THE SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN FROM A SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE ON TASK, 18 ALLOCATIONS AT THIS SCHOOL. I'M ASKING THIS

291BOARD TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND WHILE 18 STAFF ALLOCATIONS, ONLY 11 FILLED. 7 ALLOCATION OR VACANCIES THAT TEACHERS ARE COVERING CLASSROOMS. COACHES ARE NOT ABLE TO DEVELOP TEACHERS THAT ARE COVERING CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTES TRYING TO BUILD INITIATIVES. DISTRICT STAFF TO COVER STUDENTS. WE HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH CREATING THE BEST EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR 284 STUDENTS. IF I KNEW THIS WAS STABILITY, IF I KNEW THIS COMMUNITY, THE INDIVIDUALS IN THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WERE PICKING JUST AND WE SAW THE FORECASTABILITY OF GROWTH, THIS WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. OPENLY, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT. WHEN WE HAVE SEVEN INSTRUCTIONAL VACANCIES TO THE SCHOOL, THIS SCHOOL QUALIFIES FOR -- GRANT. HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AND QUALIFY FOR $15,000 ADDITIONAL PAY ON THEIR SALARY. ALSO, TEACHERS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE IN THE SCHOOL

292DISTRICT ON THEIR VAM. THEY QUALIFY THROUGH -- FOR ADDITIONAL $7500. WE CAN'T RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS TO THE SCHOOL TO SERVE CHILDREN. THAT IS A DISSERVICE TO CHILDREN. WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TAKING TEACHERS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND MOVING THEM TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT THAT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DO THAT OR WE WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO GO TO THE SCHOOL. NEED THEM TO MOVE, MOVE AN EDUCATOR FROM A TO B. WE CANNOT DO THAT. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW OUR LANGUAGE. IN THIS PROCESS, WE TALK ABOUT KIDS AND TALK ABOUT PERFORMANCE. THEY ARE MOVING TO TWO SCHOOLS WITH BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND AT THE SAME TIME TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD THAT ARE BOTH 2.3 MILES AWAY FROM JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 2.3 MILES AWAY.

293COMMUNITY MEMBERS TALKED ABOUT DUNBAR. DUNBAR IS RELATIVELY CLOSE AND TAMPA HEIGHTS IS CLOSE. THOSE ARE ALSO MAGNET SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO EVENTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT. WITH THIS SAID, THE BIGGEST THING WE TALK ABOUT IS MOVING AND IMPROVING THE EXPERIENCE. IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY TEACHING TIER 1 QUALITY AND PROVIDING QUALITY INSTRUCTION ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THESE TWO PARTICULAR SCHOOLS, B.T. WASHINGTON, WITH TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD WE HAVE THOSE AVAILABILITIES TO BE STRONGER IN FRONT OF CHILDREN. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF JUST WHICH IS A SCHOOL GRADE. WE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL GRADES DON'T DEFINE US -- IMPROVED EXPERIENCES WHERE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON IS C. TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD IS C SCHOOL AS WELL. ONE THING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID BEFORE

294I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION HERE IN 2019, THIS SCHOOL WAS REBRANDED IN 2019. THIS IS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. BEFORE IN 2019 WHICH WAS TO LOOK AT AND THEY BROUGHT ON THE RIVERWALK S.T.E.M. ACADEMY? AUGUST OF 2019. REBRAND, BRING IN TECHNOLOGY. S.T.E.M. PROJECT BASED OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE SCHOOL TO IMPROVE THOSE EXPERIENCES. THAT WASN'T A SUPER ATTRACTOR TO HAVE GRAVITATION TO STUDENTS WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. OTHER THING TO NOTE, WHY JUST IS IDENTIFIED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS F, IF JUST IS A DOUBLE F OR ANYTHING UNDER A C IN TWO CONSISTENT YEARS WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE PER FLORIDA STATUTE 38001 WHICH YOU'LL HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL SELECT EXTERNAL OPERATOR TO HELP JUST, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL

295CLOSE THE SCHOOL OR WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL TURN THE SCHOOL OVER TO A CHARTER SCHOOL. FOR US TO BRING THIS ACCOUNT, SERVE 84 STUDENTS IN A BETTER MANNER. NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, WE HAD ORIGINALLY TALKED ABOUT POTENTIAL SALE. THROUGH THE BOARD WORKSHOP, VERY CLEAR THAT SALE WAS NOT AN OPTION. THAT IS OFF THE TABLE. THEREFORE THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO TRY TO REBOOT AND REALLY GO TO THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, GOING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BRING YOU BACK TO THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL, HOW DO WE PARTICULARLY REBRAND THIS SCHOOL, DO WE USE THIS AS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY? DO WE CREATE A S.T.E.M. HUB FOR THE DISTRICT IN BEING ABLE TO ALLOW TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

296TO HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCES TO THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL AND UNTIL WE ACTUALLY NEED IT IN MULTIPLE YEARS WE REGAIN THE TRUST OF OUR COMMUNITY, A NUMBER OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN. WITH THIS SAID, I'LL RELEASE IT TO SHAY McRAE TO TALK ABOUT CURRENT SPACES AND MAYBE TRANSITION TO MR. FARKAS AS WELL AND HAVE INTERACTION. I APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOWING UP. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING NOW TO ADDRESS THE 284 STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL. Shay McRae: I WANT TO MAKE A CORRECTION ON THE FLORIDA STATUTE. I GAVE YOU THE WRONG STATUTE. FLORIDA STATUTE 1,008.33. THAT IS THE STATUTE THAT GOVERNS OUR D AND F SCHOOLS. PART OF THE STATUTE IS WHEN A SCHOOL BECOMES A FIRST-TIME F OR DOUBLE D, THEIR SECOND D, WE BEGIN THE TURNAROUND PROCESS. THEY ARE PART OF THE TURNAROUND

297PROCESS. THE STATE ACTUALLY JOINS THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. THERE IS A STATE TEAM THAT IS AT THE SCHOOL EVERY WEEK PROVIDING SUPPORT AS WELL AS A TRANSFORMATION NETWORK TO HELP IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES OF THE SCHOOL. AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF EITHER, ANOTHER D OR AN F, THAT'S WHEN THE STATE ASKS US TO GO IN PLANNING MODE TO THEN DECIDE ONE OF THREE OPTIONS. EITHER ONE WE CLOSE THE SCHOOL, REASSIGN STUDENTS AND PROGRESS MONITOR THAT REASSIGNMENT. TWO, WE CLOSE THE SCHOOL. WE COMMIT TO A CHARTER SCHOOL WHICH HAS TO HAVE A GOVERNING BOARD. THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT MANAGED CHARTER. THIS IS OUTSIDE CHARTER SCHOOL WITH GOVERNING BOARD OR THREE WE HAVE TO GET CONTRACTED EXTERNAL SERVICES, THAT'S OUR EXTERNAL OPERATOR SERVICES WHICH CAN COST UPWARDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE WILL

298FORCE US TO DO IN THIS PROCESS IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT SHOW IMPROVEMENT A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. NOW, THIS YEAR, WE DON'T GET GRADED. WE ARE AT A BY YEAR. FOLLOWING YEAR, 24 YEAR, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT GRADE IS THE STATE WILL THEN ASK US TO GO INTO A PLANNING PROCESS IF WE DON'T IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES. I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE DID HAVE SEVEN VACANCIES THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND AGAIN, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF INTERNAL AGREEMENT WITH THE UNION OR DO WE HAVE A DISTRICT PROCESS OR PROCEDURE THAT ALLOWS US TO INVOLUNTARILY MOVE TEACHERS. TEACHERS HAVE TO WANT TO BE AT THE SCHOOL. THEY HAVE TO VOLUNTEER. THEY HAVE TO INTERVIEW TO BE HIRED. WE DO OFFER THE -- BONUS. A TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. ADDITIONAL PAY BONUS FOR ALL

299OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS, JUST IS INCLUDED, EXTRA $5,000 PER YEAR FOR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF. THAT IS ALREADY ON THE TABLE. I THINK MR. DAVIS DID A GREAT JOB GOING OVER THE FACTS OF THE SCHOOL AS IT STANDS. MR. FARKAS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD FOR FACILITY OR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES? Christopher Farkas: I DEFINITELY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONCEPT. KIDS FROM JUST, WHERE DO THEY GO TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL? JUST STUDENTS GO TO MADISON AND MONROE. THEY ARE BUSSED TO SOUTH TAMPA FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL. THEN THEY COME BACK TO BLAKE FOR HIGH SCHOOL. IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, THERE ARE 17 KIDS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 275 THAT GO TO PLANT FROM JUST THAT ARE SCHEDULED THAT WAY. THE REST OF THEM ARE IN THAT SITUATION. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND

300THE MAY 9th CONCEPT BRING BACK REBOUNDING PROCESS, SOME OF THAT CHANGED. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE STUDENTS AT JUST LEAVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER THAT YEAR. ONE OTHER PART I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, WHAT ARE THE CHOICES IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD AND WHAT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. THREE MAGNET SCHOOLS IN THREE MILE RADIUS. ALL HAVE CAPACITY AT THIS POINT. LOCKHART, DUNBAR AND TAMPA HEIGHTS ARE ALL WITHIN THAT THREE MILE RADIUS AND ALL HAVE AVAILABILITY AND INCLUDE BUSING FOR PARENTS INTERESTED IN THAT. Addison Davis: THANK YOU, BOTH. IN ADDITION, WE PUT DAPHNEE OVER THERE TO BE OUR LEADER BECAUSE SHE MOVED KIMBELL FROM AN F TO A C. OPENLY, HAVING MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH HER, SHE UNDERSTANDS HOW HARD AND DIFFICULT IT'S BEEN TO BE ABLE

301TO SERVE CHILDREN AND DO IT, WHERE SHE'S TEACHING CLASSROOMS AND EVERY SINGLE DAY BREAKING UP CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COVERED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE'S SOME TYPE OF INSTRUCTION CONTINUALLY TAKING PLACE. I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE GETTING THE BEST EDUCATION EVERY DAY. THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUS ON IN OUR NETWORK IS MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE BEST EDUCATION EVERY DAY. WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE MAKING SURE WE GET THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT NEED IT THE MOST. JUST AT THIS POINT IS THE SCHOOL THAT NEEDED THE MOST IN THE DISTRICT. IT IS THE SCHOOL THAT IS IN NEED OF THE MOST SUPPORT. OUR ONLY F SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. GETTING TEACHERS

302IN FRONT OF KIDS IS A TOP PRIORITY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.12. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER PEREZ, MEMBER GRAY, MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER WASHINGTON PULLED THIS ITEM. WE'LL JUST BEGIN WITH MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, SUPERINTENDENT. IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE REALLY WORKED TO ADVERTISE THE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE MUST BE AWARE OF HOW WE MOVE BLACK AND BROWN KIDS IN THIS SITUATION. AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW NOT MAKING THE GRADES, NOT DOING THAT, BUT WHAT HAVE WE DONE AS A DISTRICT TO REALLY HELP THAT SCHOOL? BECAUSE I WAS THE AREA SUPERINTENDENT FOR A LOT OF YEARS. IT WASN'T

303IN MY AREA. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE TREAT OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND REPURPOSE OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS IT'S ALWAYS THE BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS OR IT'S ALWAYS A SCHOOL IN THE UNDERSERVED AREA. WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THAT BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS ALWAYS MOVED OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS. NOTHING HAS CHANGED THOUGH BECAUSE WHEN YOU MOVE IT JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE FROM CARROLLWOOD, THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR KIDS, EVERYBODY WANTS TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY WANT TO KEEP OUR KIDS AT THE SCHOOL. EVEN IF IT'S 250 KIDS, THEY ARE STUDENTS. LOOK LIKE IT WOULD BE MORE EASY, MORE EASY FOR US TO ACCOMMODATE 250 KIDS THAN IT WOULD BE FOR 400 KIDS. BECAUSE WE GOT TO GET THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP THE STUDENTS. THAT'S

304IMPORTANT. NUMBER TWO I THINK IS IMPORTANT. YOU SAY YOU'RE DRIVING TWO MILES OR 2.6 MILES, IT DON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE -- THE KIDS ARE STILL LEAVING THE AREA. THEY WANT TO BE AROUND THEIR FRIENDS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER STUDENTS. THEY COME -- CAME IN TONIGHT AND MY CONSTITUENTS, I'M WITH MY CONSTITUENTS. WE CAN'T DO THAT. WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW TO MAKE JUST A FAMOUS SCHOOL. THE PERSON IS FAMOUS. WE HAVE TO WORK JUST AS HARD AT JUST AS WE WOULD AT CARTER OR ANY OTHER SCHOOL OR LOCKHART. WE HAD F SCHOOLS THERE AND WORKED HARD TO GET THAT BACK. WHY WE CAN WORK HARD TO GET THE SCHOOL BACK, WHY? NOTHING HAS CHANGED. PEOPLE, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I'M 74 YEARS OLD AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. IT'S ALWAYS OUR COMMUNITIES, ALWAYS OUR

305KIDS THAT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE DON'T DO DIDDLY-SQUAT. WE DON'T DO ANYTHING. I REALLY BEEN UP. MY WIFE CAN TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN UP. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MIGHT HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT THE PROCESS IS FLAWED. YOU MAY IN YOUR MIND, OH, YEAH, I KNOW WE NEED TO DO THIS AND DO THAT BUT PROCESS WE HAVE GOING TO MAKE THAT SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM. WE ARE THE 7th LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN AMERICA AND WE DON'T HAVE A PROCESS TO MAKE JUST SUCCESSFUL. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT. THAT'S FLAWED. IF WE -- WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR JUST. I'M TELLING YOU NOW I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO FOR THIS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH

306IMPROVEMENT TO HELP JUST OUT. PLUS UNDERSERVED AREA. THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE INFORMATION HERE. IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MOVING. I HAVE IT. I HAVE THE DATA IN FRONT OF ME. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THEN WHAT WE GOING TO DO? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT NOW, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THEN? WE GOT TO BRING ALL THOSE KIDS COMING IN THAT AREA. I JUST FAIL TO BELIEVE, I JUST FAIL TO BELIEVE LIKE HELL THAT WE CAN'T GET THAT SCHOOL PASSING. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT. IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, 7th LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN AMERICA, WE CAN'T GET 254 KIDS PASSED BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET TEACHERS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE. PUT

307ME BACK IN THE QUEUE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE TALK ABOUT KELLY SERVICES IN THIS DISTRICT. AND KELLY SERVICES, YOU WANT THE CONTRACT FOR US TO BRING THEM ON BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THE SCHOOLS THAT WE NEED THEM IN. YOU TALK ABOUT THE EMPTY CLASSROOMS AND HOW WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS. WHEN HAVE YOU GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ASK WHAT THEY CAN DO? THAT'S A QUESTION. WHEN DID YOU GET WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ASK THEM HOW THEY COULD SUPPORT THE SCHOOL? Addison Davis: WE HAD MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS RELATED TO BOUNDARY INITIATIVES. Karen Perez: PLEASE STOP MY TIME. Addison Davis: WE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES RELATED TO BOUNDARY CHANGES AND HOW THEY WOULD PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PROCESS

308AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK. EVERYONE IS WILLING TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND JUST LIKE EVERYBODY IS WILLING TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND A RECOMMENDATION WITH MONROE, WHETHER IT BE OTHER SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED RELATED TO McLANE THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN OUR REPACKAGING PROCESS. THE ISSUE IS IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE PROPERLY SERVE CHILDREN BY HAVING HIGHLY QUALIFIED SKILLED TEACHERS. THERE ARE SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MOVE THE NEEDLE WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. ABILITIES AND CAPABILITIES, TOOK HISTORICAL, HISTORICAL 28 D AND F SCHOOLS TO 5 WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THAT WE HAVE IMPROVED THE INITIATIVES. I WOULD NOT -- I'VE BEEN IN THREE DISTRICTS. I'VE DONE A LOT OF THE SAME WORK IN DUVAL COUNTY, DIFFERENT WORK IN CLAY COUNTY AND

309COMING HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH. I WOULDN'T BRING THIS TO YOU IF IT WASN'T A POINT WHERE IT IS VERY SERIOUSLY TO PROPERLY SERVE CHILDREN AND MAKE CERTAIN WE HAVE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM. THERE IS A RECIPE THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIONAL NETWORK WE OUTLINED, MAKE CERTAIN TIER ONE INSTRUCTION IN FRONT OF CHILDREN EVERY DAY. HIGH EXPECTATIONS, DEMONSTRATING OWNERSHIP. DEMONSTRATING UNDERSTANDING, AND THAT WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. THAT IS THE RECIPE, HAVING THE RIGHT CURRICULUM, SUPPORTS AND ONGOING. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS DEPLOYED MR. CONNOR'S TEAM FROM ACADEMIC SERVICES TO ASSIST, TAKE TRANSFORMATION PERSONNEL TO GO ASSIST. WE HAVE THE STATE THERE BEING ABLE TO HELP TRY TO SERVE OUR SCHOOL AS WELL AND WE'RE FLOUNDERING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENCY ALONG WITH FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE

310PEOPLE, HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY, I NEED THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US RECRUIT TEACHERS IN THAT SPACE, TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY TEACHERS THAT THEY KNOW AND LOVE AND COMMUNITY STEP UP. WE DO WANT MENTOR AND VOLUNTEERS IN THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, BUT WE NEED ASSISTANCE TO BRING INDIVIDUALS TO THE SCHOOL AND NOT ONLY DO IT, BUT WANT TO STAY THERE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR AND BE ABLE TO SERVE CHILDREN IN ONE OF OUR GREATEST NEEDS. NOT ABOUT THE ABILITY CAN WE MOVE IT, IT'S 250 KIDS. LETTER GRADE F. 250 STUDENTS IN THAT PARTICULAR BODY AND ON ME THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE COUNT, EVERY KID COUNTS IN EVERY SILO. EVERY KID COUNTS. THERE'S NO ROOM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE UP, IF YOU HAVE A NUMBER

311OF UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTS ONES AND TWOS AND LIMITED NUMBERS IN THREE, FOUR, FIVE, THEY ALL COUNT WHICH BECOMES DIFFICULT BECAUSE ALL THE STUDENTS ARE IN THE DENOMINATOR TO CONTINUE MOVING. IT'S CONSISTENCY AND HIGH QUALITY TEACHES IN THE PROCESS. Karen Perez: CONSISTENCY AND HIGH QUALITY AND ADMINISTRATION THAT BELIEVES IN OUR CHILDREN. NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR WHO CALLS ME AND SAYS TO ME THAT THESE CHILDREN ONLY WANT TO BE MAMAS. NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT SAYS THAT THE GREATEST OUTING IN THE STUDENTS' LIVES IS GOING TO WALMART. FOR ME, THE SCHOOL, WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, EQUALITY, DIVERSION, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIO. IT DOESN'T HELP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUST ELEMENTARY AS A JUNK, A MESS, RUN DOWN, AND INSIGNIFICANT. AND THOSE ARE THE WORDS I'VE HEARD USED WHEN DESCRIBING JUST ELEMENTARY. JUST ELEMENTARY WAS REBRANDED ACTUALLY IN 2021. THEY PUT NEW

312FURNITURE, NEW ROBOTICS, NEW COMPUTERS, EVEN PAINTED THE SCHOOL. BUT THAT WAS DONE JUST BEFORE GOING INTO -- GOING BACK TO SCHOOL FROM COVID. HOW WAS THE COMMUNITY OR ANYONE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THIS SCHOOL WAS REBRANDED BY DOING IT THAT WAY? TO ME, YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE DONE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NOT SAID A WORD. HERE, IT TAKES COMMUNITY, AND IT TAKES YEARS FOR COMMUNITIES AND STUDENTS TO HAVE A TRUST IN US. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A TOTAL -- THERE WAS 670 UNITS DEMOLISHED IN 2018. AND RIGHT NOW, AS OF TODAY, THERE'S 1,529 HOUSING UNITS THERE. ALSO, WEST RIVER WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1,800. FOR MEMBER WASHINGTON, I'M GOING TO STATE THE NUMBERS FOR THE RECORD. AND THEN ALSO, THEY ARE GOING TO BE REPLACING ANOTHER 3,000 UNITS. BUT YOU WANT

313TO MOVE SOME BABIES. THE BABIES THAT YOU WANT THEM TO WALK FOR TWO MILES. HEY, NOT A PROBLEM. TWO MILES AWAY. THEN WE VILIFY PARENTS WHEN THEY DON'T SHOW UP FOR THE MEETINGS WITH TEACHERS. AND LET ME TELL YOU, TEACHERS TALK BAD ABOUT THEM. WE VILIFY THE PARENTS. I HAVE PARENTS NOW, RIGHT NOW IN THIS DISTRICT THAT HAVE NOT VISITED THEIR SCHOOLS WITH THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE IT'S TOO FAR. THEY HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE. AND FOR ME, WE'RE DOING JUST A DISSERVICE, WHETHER IT'S FIVE STUDENTS, WHETHER IT'S TEN STUDENTS OR 200 STUDENTS. THOSE PARENTS ARE ABLE TO GET TO THAT SCHOOL. THOSE PARENTS ARE ABLE TO WORK ALONG WITH THOSE KIDS IN THAT SCHOOL. AND THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN. THE COMMUNITY HAS TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HONORING AND SEEING OUR CHILDREN

314SEEING THEMSELVES TO REFLECT THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM. BUT IT'S NOT BY SHUTTING DOWN THEIR SCHOOLS. AND THE COMMUNITY TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS SCHOOL IS NAMED FOR A DISTINGUISHED PERSON THAT OUR CHILDREN COULD LOOK THEMSELVES AT THIS PERSON AND SEE THEMSELVES IN THIS PERSON. I'M SORRY, BUT I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS. I'M GOING TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY. YOU TALK ABOUT LITERACY AND MATH, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT LITERACY AND MATH. IF YOU HAD YOUR STAFF IN THERE TEACHING THEM, THEN SHAME ON YOU BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING FROM YOUR STAFF. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, YOU WANTED TO RESPOND. Addison Davis: LISTEN I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION. TALKING ABOUT STAFF, HIGHLY QUALIFIED, CERTIFIED TEACHERS THAT ARE ACADEMIC COACHES THAT ARE MENTORS, GOING THERE TEACHING KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THOSE OF

315YOU WATCHING, NEVER SHAME ON YOU. YOU'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB LEADING CHILDREN EVERY DAY AND WE NEED YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION. AT THE SAME TIME, LET ME REITERATE, 2019 IS WHEN THIS DISTRICT REBRANDED THE SCHOOL. NOT IN BACKUP. IN 2021, WE MAY HAVE ADDED INITIATIVES TO A THEME THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAME ABOUT. YOU CAN ASK EVERYBODY BEEN HERE, 2019, NOT 2021. AT THE SAME TOKEN, WE TALK ABOUT TEACHERS THAT TALK BAD. TEACHERS BE THAT TALK BAD ABOUT PARENTS, LET US KNOW AND WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE. WE WANT PARENTS TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. WHEN WE HAVE 1500 UNITS CURRENTLY THERE, THEY ARE NOT SELECTING US. THAT DATA HAS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THAT. I DID DID LOOK AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MS. PEREZ WHEN YOU HAD A CONVERSATION

316WITH A LEADER THAT TALKED ABOUT WALMART OR MOMS AND SHE DENIES THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING. I'M NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NOBODY FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION IS EVER IN THIS FRONT ROW OR AT THE SCHOOL TALKED ABOUT JUST BEING JUNK, MESSY, OR RUN DOWN. IT'S ACTUALLY A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. THEY PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN IT RELATED TO CAPITAL WORK, CHRIS AND HIS TEAM. WE'LL CONTINUE TO HELP KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND GETTING THEM IN FRONT OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS IS THE GREATEST PRIORITY EVERY SINGLE DAY UNDER MY BELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Jessica Vaughn: I FEEL LIKE THERE'S TENSION HERE AND THERE SHOULD BE. BUT I BELIEVE IT'S FROM EVERYBODY WANTING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT'S AN

317HONOR TO SERVE WITH BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE SEE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING AT OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS AND THEY DON'T SOUND LIKE THIS. I THINK WE'RE ALL DEDICATED TO THE SAME THING. I'M GOING TO START WITH SOME QUESTIONS LIKE I NORMALLY DO. I'LL PROBABLY END UP GETTING BACK IN THE QUEUE. WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, MR. FARKAS, AGAIN, I ASKED FOR SOME INFORMATION. I KNOW YOU SENT IT TO ME. I LOOKED IT OVER. COULDN'T PULL IT BACK UP. SO I COULD LOOK AT IT OR HAVE IT WHEN I REQUEST INFORMATION AT THE DAIS SO I DON'T HAVE TO SCROLL THROUGH MY PHONE TO REFERENCE THINGS. WHERE ARE STUDENTS GOING? ZONE FOR 550, ALMOST 600 STUDENTS. AT HALF CAPACITY, WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS GOING IN YOUR ESTIMATION? Christopher Farkas:

318IT IS THE FOURTH ATTACHMENT. IT IS A PIE CHART. ALL THE KIDS ASSIGNED THERE AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING. WE HAVE 63 KIDS THAT CHOICE OUT. WE HAVE HUNDRED THAT GO TO MAGNET AND ABOUT 45 THAT GO TO PARTNERSHIP OR CHARTER SCHOOLS. EITHER RELIGIOUS SCHOOL OR CHARTER SCHOOL THAT ARE ASSIGNED THERE. THE REST ARE THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS. Jessica Vaughn: CHOICE OUT MEANS? Christopher Farkas: SCHOOL UNDER CAPACITY ALLOWED TO CHOICE INTO. CHOOSE A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT A MAGNET SCHOOL, TRADITIONAL SCHOOL BUT ROOM IN THE SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: BUT THEY ARE IN THE DISTRICT. Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: I'M HEARING FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT YOUR PRIORITY AND THE REASON THAT YOU'RE PUSHING THIS FEWrd IS BECAUSE YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION AND HAVING CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS. I'M SURE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS

319WILL TALK TO THE FINANCIAL ATTRIBUTES OF IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTRIBUTION AS WE'VE HAD NONSTOP ABOUT OUR FINANCES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THE MONEY ASPECT OF IT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SALARY HEAVY WHICH AGAIN WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO PLACE THOSE TEACHERS SOMEWHERE ELSE. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR THE SALARY. IN ESTIMATION, TALKING ABOUT ONE OR TWO MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR THAT WE'RE SAVING AND REPURPOSING THAT. AM I GETTING THE NUMBERS ABOUT RIGHT BASED ON THE ESTIMATIONS YOU SENT ME. THAT IS THE MONEY ASPECT OF IT. FOR ME, WHAT I'M HEARING, AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO MAKE MY DECISIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS VERY COMPLICATED EDUCATIONAL TIMES ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING US. WHILE I HEAR YOU SAY WE'VE INVESTED

320WHAT WE CAN AND WHAT WE KNOW AND I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF. I KNOW WE MOVED A LOT AROUND. I'M NOT ACCUSING US OF NOT INVESTING. THERE ARE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS. MUCH LONGER CONVERSATION THAN JUST WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING. HOWEVER, WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD AND WHAT I AM HEARING IS THE COMMUNITY SAYING CHALLENGE US. WE HAD MEMBERS HERE TODAY. I THINK HIS NAME WAS DR. MOODY, LAFAYETTE, WHO SAID, YOU'RE SAYING, YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN THE COMMUNITY A CHANCE. WE UNDERSTAND NOW WHAT'S ON THE TABLE. CHALLENGE US AND WE WANT TO RISE TO THE OCCASION. AND WHILE I THINK THAT MAY BE ACADEMICALLY INTERNALLY WE MIGHT HAVE DONE THAT, I DON'T THINK WE'VE GIVEN THE COMMUNITY THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. WHAT I'M HEARING IS WE STILL

321HAVE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW AFTER THIS TO MAKE DECISIONS, THATTINGS THIS KIND OF THE CRUNCH TIME. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET GRADED THIS YEAR. 2024 PERSONALLY NOW THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TO US AND CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SCHOOL TO US, WE WANT TO INVEST AND FIGURE OUT AND PARTNER WITH YOU ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE THE SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL, I WOULD PREFER AS A BOARD MEMBER TO LEAN INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY. IF STATE MANDATE SAYS THAT IF 23, 24 WE'RE STILL FAILING THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IS OKAY WITH THAT, THEY ARE SAYING GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY WHILE KNOWING, I WANT EVERYONE WHO SPOKE HERE TONIGHT TO UNDERSTAND, IF WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE SCHOOL AROUND, THAT'S MORE TIME KIDS WILL SIT IN A SCHOOL

322THAT DON'T HAVE QUALIFIED TEACHERS. THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FROM US. HOPEFULLY THE PARTNERSHIP AND CHALLENGE IS WE'LL GET QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE DON'T DO A DISSERVICE TO OUR KIDS. IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY. PERSONALLY, I DON'T SEE A FINANCIAL BENEFIT THAT FOR TWO YEARS IN THAT TIME PERIOD THAT MONEY THAT WE'RE SAVING IS ENOUGH BECAUSE WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN IS IF WE CLOSE THE SCHOOL, OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY WILL DISTRUST US MORE. AS SCHOOLS OF HOPE BUILD IN THESE COMMUNITIES, WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS THE BEST CHOICE, THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE TRUST IN OUR DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THOSE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND AS MUCH AS WE GAIN BY MAYBE REPURPOSING THE SCHOOL,

323WE'LL LOSE THOSE CHILDREN TO IDEAS AND OTHER SCHOOLS OF HOPE THAT COME IN. I HATE TO REITERATE THAT WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE ATTACK ON IT AND WE'VE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHO IT'S GOING TO HURT MOST IS THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, NOT GOING TO HURT MY KID. MY KID WILL BE FINE. WHAT WE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHO IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AND WHO WILL BE HURT MOST IS OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND I'LL VOTE TO GIVE THIS COMMUNITY THE CHANCE TO REINVEST IN THE SCHOOL AND NOT SUPPORT THIS AGENDA ITEM, I HOPE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT JUST REINVESTING IN THIS SCHOOL BUT FIGHTING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN GENERAL. AGAIN, AS THIS IS UNDER ATTACK, THE PEOPLE WHO HURT MOST, THE COMMUNITIES HURT THE

324MOST ARE OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. I HOPE THIS IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR ALL OF US TO COLLABORATE AND BE PARTNERS MOVING FORWARD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Addison Davis: TO THAT RESPONSE, THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT EVERY YEAR THAT WE GO, THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP COULD BE POTENTIALLY EXACERBATED. WE ALREADY HAD COVID AND THEN HERE WE ARE AGAIN AND WE START ANOTHER INITIATIVE WHERE MAJORITY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALREADY CHOICED OUT TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FOR NEXT YEAR AND ACTUALLY THE ENTIRE STAFF HAS CHOICED OUT TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. THEY WANT CLARITY AND STABILITY AS WELL. NOW WE HAVE TO START THERE THE GROUND UP FILLING 18 POSITIONS NEXT YEAR AND THAT STARTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GREATER SEPARATION OF STUDENT OUTCOMES THAT WE MAY HAVE TO BE

325ABLE TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THE NIGHT IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT OLDER AND OLDER AS WE ALL ARE. THE CLOSING OF JUST IS NOT REALLY REFLECTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITIES. I WILL SAY TONIGHT WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE URBAN LEAGUE, TOBBA, THE FRATERNITIES, NAACP, FRED HEARNS, OMEGA PSI PHI, ALL THESE ARE AGENCIES, GROUPS, COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT CAN, IN FACT, MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO A SCHOOL. I AM REMINDED WHEN WE, ALBERT FIELDS FROM THE NAACP, WHEN WE VISITED TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS IN ST. PETE AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS, SHAY McRAE, MELROSE WAS THE LOWEST SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY BROUGHT DOWN WOMEN FROM WASHINGTON, I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME, BUT SHE LIVED IN THE MELROSE AVENUE

326AREA, AND SHE HAD THE COMMUNITY COME INTO THE SCHOOL. ONE STUDENT HAD A TUTOR, ONE TO TWO STUDENTS HAD A TUTOR. ONE STUDENT HAD A MENTAL HEALTH, ONE OR TWO STUDENTS, AND, OF COURSE, THEY HAD A CERTIFIED TEACHER. BUT IT TOOK THE COMMUNITY TO CHANGE THAT SCHOOL AND THEN THEY HAD THAT MODEL. IT WENT FROM AN F TO AN A. COULDN'T STAY THERE. THEY WENT DOWN TO A B. SHE USED THAT MODEL WITH OTHER FAILING SCHOOLS. WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS I AGREE -- SHOWS THAT THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE FAILING OR SHOULD FAIL CAN BE CHANGED WITH COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL SUPPORT. WHAT WE'RE MISSING IS THE COMMUNITY. AND I SAY THROUGH PRINCIPAL KEVIN McDONALD, WHO I'M FRIENDS WITH AND MANY FOLKS KNOW THAT, I'VE BEEN AT JUST MORE TIMES THAN I CAN EVEN REMEMBER

327IN 2019, COVID, WE DID THE LUNCH, GRAB AND GO. 2020, WE GAVE THEM S.T.E.M. WE GAVE THEM THE PBIS. WE GAVE THEM LEGO. THEN IN 2021, $50,000 WAS INVESTED FOR TECHNOLOGY. SO ALL THIS WAS A GIVE AND THEN SHAY ALWAYS ON THE PHONE. GIVE YOU WHATEVER WE CAN. WANTED TO BE A TRANSFORMATION SCHOOL, DIDN'T FIT. THEN DAPHNEE CAME, AN EXCELLENT PRINCIPAL, HAS THE SAME MOTIVATION, CHANGE THE SCHOOL, GET IT TO THE GRADE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. YOU HAD EFFECTIVE LEADERS AND YOU HAD EFFECTIVE TEACHERS. NOW, YOU HAVE SUBSTITUTES AND YOU HAVE SOME EFFECTIVE TEACHERS. AND IT AIN'T WORKING. ALL RIGHT. NOW THE COMMUNITY COMES TO THIS BOARDROOM AND VERY, VERY UNIFIED. AND NOW, ACCORDING TO DR. LAFAYETTE MONDAY, HOPE I GOT THE NAME RIGHT, SAYS HE'S PREPARED TO GIVE US THE JOBS AND LET THE

328COMMUNITY HELP THAT SCHOOL SUCCEED. SO IN VERY MUCH IN THE SAME VEIN THAT MEMBER VAUGHN HAS SAID, THE CHALLENGE HASN'T BEEN GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO STEP UP. THIS IS THE FIRST READING. I WISH I COULD SAY AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I APOLOGIZE. I USUALLY DON'T CHANGE MY STANCE, BUT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE PUT DOWN NO MATTER WHAT AREA THAT YOU RESIDE IN. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE SO IMPORTANT. IF IT IS THAT IMPORTANT, I'M LOOKING AT YOU JAMES BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT THERE, IF IT'S THAT IMPORTANT, THEN WE CHALLENGE AND I'LL SPEAK FOR THE TWO OF US, THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US MAKE THIS SCHOOL WHOLE AND MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL. AND THE TEACHERS, WE WILL HAVE TO START THERE BECAUSE WITHOUT EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, WE'RE GOING

329TO BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE, AND I'M OUT OF TIME, BUT I'M LISTENING AND I'M STILL ON THE FENCE. I'M NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED IF THE COMMUNITY IS UP TO IT BECAUSE IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. I'LL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY STUDENT FOCUSED TONIGHT AND I LOVE THAT BECAUSE I DO APPROACH MY ROLE LOOKING THROUGH A STUDENT LENS, NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE. I KNOW THAT TONIGHT IT WAS NOT EASY FOR MS. McRAE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BRING THIS TO THE BOARD. I KNOW, SHAY, YOU HAVE PUT EVERY RESOURCE, FOR FIVE YEARS ON THIS BOARD WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT JUST AND PUSHING RESOURCES

330INTO THIS SCHOOL. IT'S NOT ABOUT A BUILDING. NOT ABOUT BOUNDARIES. IT'S NOT ABOUT A NAME ON A BUILDING. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ADULTS. THIS IS ABOUT 284 KIDS. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE PASSION ON THIS BOARD TONIGHT. EVERYONE HAS REALLY BROUGHT UP GREAT POINTS, BUT I KEEP GOING BACK TO 284 KIDS. THIS SCHOOL IS NO LONGER AN INTERVENTION MODE. LOOK AT THE DATA. THIS SCHOOL -- THESE KIDS ARE IN CRISIS. HAVING THE COMMUNITY GO IN AND PROVIDE SERVICES, THAT'S AN INTERVENTION STAGE. WE HAVE LONG PASSED THE INTERVENTION STAGE. THIS IS IN CRISIS MODE. YOU THINK YOU HAVE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW AND YOU TALK ABOUT -- THAT'S A BIG RISK WITH KIDS TO SAY NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THIS INTERVENTION. IN TWO YEARS, LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS. YOU HAVE PMA SCORES, 3% OF FIFTH GRADERS

331WITH PMA-1. 3% OF FIFTH GRADERS WITH PMA-2. AND YOU WANT TO RISK THEIR FUTURE BY AN INTERVENTION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TWO YEARS AGO, QUITE FRANKLY. THESE KIDS ARE IN CRISIS. WHERE ARE THE PMI -- PMAs GOING TO BE IN TWO YEARS? THEN, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I HEARD TONIGHT, IF KIDS ARE FAILING IN TWO YEARS, THEN WE CAN CLOSE THE SCHOOL AND WE CAN MOVE THEM. WHERE ARE THESE SECOND, THIRD -- THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH GRADERS GOING TO BE IN TWO YEARS? YOU'RE RIGHT, SUPERINTENDENT. I'M SORRY, BUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS GOING TO BE ENORMOUS. THESE KIDS THAT YOU ARE RISKING, THAT YOU ARE PLAYING A RISKY GAME WITH TONIGHT ARE GOING TO BE LOST IN THE SYSTEM. THEY DON'T HAVE TWO YEARS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHERS FOR KIDS' SUCCESS. AND

332THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED IN RELATION TO THIS BOUNDARY DISCUSSION. HOW WILL THIS PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH BETTER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES? IN THIS CASE, THAT'S BEEN ASKED BY BOARD MEMBERS WHEN WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BOUNDARIES. AND IN THIS CASE, THE ANSWERS CAN BE GIVEN. THIS WILL STABILIZE THE TEACHER WORKFORCE. I EVEN THOUGHT YOU TOLD ME THAT SOME OF THESE TEACHERS MIGHT MOVE WITH THESE KIDS TO THESE OTHER TWO SCHOOLS. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE HAVE ASPIRATIONS WHEN ALLOCATIONS MOVE, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO -- Stacy Hahn: INCREASE IN WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS. INCREASE IN ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS. THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE KNOW THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR KIDS. THIS IS ABOUT THE 284 KIDS. IMMEDIATE NEEDS. THIS IS NOT A JUDGMENT ON THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE

333AT JUST. I'M SURE THEY ARE REMARKABLE IN THEIR EFFORTS, BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS CLOSING A SCHOOL AT LOW ENROLLMENT LIKE THIS IN THIS TYPE OF CRISIS CAN HELP US MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN REGARD TO THE RESOURCES WE'RE PROVIDING. I'M NOT EVEN LIKE -- I'M NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT THE FINANCES, QUITE FRANKLY. I'M THINKING ABOUT THESE KIDS. AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE TAKE SUCH A BIG RISK WITH THESE KIDS. I KNOW IN SPEAKING TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I UNDERSTAND YOUR PASSION FOR WANTING TO KEEP JUST OPEN. I DO. I'M NOT WANTING TO SELL JUST. NONE OF US HAVE WANTED TO SELL JUST. I KNOW THAT NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SHARED ABOUT COMMUNITY GROWTH THAT'S GOING TO COME AND MAYBE WHEN THAT COMES, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT REOPENING A SCHOOL, BUT

334RIGHT NOW THE REALITY FOR THESE KIDS TODAY, THEY ARE IN A FAILING SITUATION. THEY NEED STABILITY. THEY NEED HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS. THEY NEED MORE SERVICES. THEY ARE IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW. WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING WITH THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE AT AN INTERVENTION STATE. I WORKED AT TURNAROUND SCHOOLS. I CAN RECOGNIZE THIS. THEY ARE IN JEOPARDY. PLEASE DO NOT RISK THEIR FUTURE. PLEASE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER PEREZ, MEMBER VAUGHN, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DECISION, AND NONE OF US CAN UNDERSTAND MEMBER WASHINGTON WHAT YOU HAVE WALKED THROUGH OVER YOUR YEARS, NOR WOULD I EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND. I HAVE TO ASK MS. McRAE A LITTLE MORE, I NEED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE LONG TERM. QUOTE, UNQUOTE, GRADES. BUT WE DO

335HAVE NUMBERS AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT IN 2021, WHAT WERE OUR STATS AT THAT POINT. IN 2021, WE WERE NOT GRADED THAT YEAR. ANY SCHOOL THAT WAS BELOW A C DID NOT RECEIVE A GRADE. SO JUST WAS A C SCHOOL IN 2018-2019. IN 2020, WE WEREN'T IN SCHOOL. IN 2021, THE BOTTOM FELL OUT. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A GRADE BECAUSE IT WASN'T A C AT THAT POINT. WE DROPPED TO A D. JUST LAST YEAR, WE WENT DOWN TO AN F. WE WERE NOT GRADED IN 2021, AND THEN WE WERE F IN 2022. THIS YEAR, WE WILL NOT BE GRADED AGAIN. HERE IS WHERE THERE IS -- Patti Rendon: -- TODAY WE WOULD BE AN F. WOULD BE A SECOND YEAR. BUT THE YEAR WE WERE A D BUT NOT GRADED, WE DO HAVE THE STATS

336OF WHERE WE STOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS, RIGHT. ELA AND FSA STATS. Addison Davis: IN 2021, IRK LA 16% OF THE STUDENT BODY PROFICIENT. MATHEMATICS 31% PROFICIENT. 261 TOTAL POINTS WHICH IS AN F. Patti Rendon: WE HAD SOME GRACE TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT. DURING THOSE TWO YEARS, WHAT OTHER RESOURCES WE HAVE WE PUT INTO THE SCHOOL. WE'VE GOT THE STATE COMING IN. WE'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN THERE AS WELL. Shay McRae: THREE COLLEGE FELLOWS. WE DO HAVE OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK TEAM, NORMALLY, OUR TEAM GOES AND WE SUPPORT THE PLANNING PROCESS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT OUR TEAM HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN CLASSROOMS AND TEACHING THIS YEAR TO TAKE OVER FOR THE GAP. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER DISTRICT STAFF FROM

337ACADEMIC SERVICES THAT HAVE GONE AND PROVIDED SUPPORT AS WELL AS OUR VE STAFF HAVE GONE IN AND PROVIDED SUPPORT THIS YEAR FOR THE SCHOOL AS THE DISTRICT STAFF TO TRY TO MEND SOME OF THE GAPS. CAVEAT TO EXPRESS FOR THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY TO BE CLEAR, THIS YEAR, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING NEW STATE STANDARDS. WE HAVE NEW CURRICULUM AND WE HAVE A NEW ASSESSMENT. IT'S ALL VERY NEW. AGAIN, WE ARE LEARNING AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S WHY WE WON'T BE GRADED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE DATA BUT WON'T BE GRADED. IT GIVES US ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUTCOME. I WANT TO ADD WHILE LOOKING AT SCHOOL GRADES, WE ALSO HAVE CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT CHANGE OUR SYSTEM FOR TESTING OUR STATE STANDARDS AS

338WELL AS OUR CURRICULUM. Addison Davis: WHICH MEANS IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FULL STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TEACH CHILDREN CORE CONCEPTS, ESSENTIAL VOCABULARIES. Shay McRae: THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES THAT ARE NOT IN OUR CONTROL. Patti Rendon: I WANT TO APPLAUD THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE COME OUT, BECAUSE THEY SEE A NEED AND THEY SEE A NEED TO SOLVE THAT. I APPLAUD THEM FOR STEPPING UP TO DO THAT. AND I APPLAUD THE OMEGA PSI, BECAUSE AS THEY SPOKE THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS MENTORING. THIS IS NOT JUST A PLEA TODAY. THEY ALREADY SAID WHEN THEY SPOKE TODAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE SCHOOL. THEY HAVE BEEN MENTORING IN THE SCHOOL. I BEYOND APPLAUD THEM. I HOPE NO MATTER WHAT DECISION THEY MAKE THEY FOLLOW THE CHILDREN OR THEY CONTINUE

339IF THE DECISION IS TO STAY AT JUST. EITHER WAY, I HOPE THEY CONTINUE AND BUILD AND GROW ON WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS. I DON'T CARE HOW OLD A STUDENT IS, ANY DIRECT INVOLVEMENT CAN SUPPORT A STUDENT IS PHENOMENAL. MY DAUGHTER ALONE HAS HAD EXPERIENCES THE LAST WEEK WHERE I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR THOSE MENTORS IN HER LIVES BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING I COULD NOT GIVE HER THAT SHE NEEDED. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THOSE MENTORS THAT CAN STEP UP. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE AS WELL THAT THERE IS A LARGE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE NOT SPEAKING ABOUT, AND THAT COMMUNITY THAT HAS SPOKEN VERY LOUDLY ARE NOT AT JUST ANYMORE. THEY HAVE MADE THE CHOICE TO LEAVE. THAT IS THE COMMUNITY AROUND JUST, THAT IS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL, THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S DIRECTLY

340AFFECTED BY JUST IS MAKING THAT COMMITMENT AND MAKING THAT DECISION, NOT TO BE A PART OF JUST. SO I THINK IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR THAT AND WE HEAR THEM SPEAKING. IS IT BECAUSE WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT, THAT THOSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CHOICES. SO WE'RE NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT THEY NEED THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS. I KNOW THAT A LARGE PART OF THE JUST COMMUNITY IS MAKING A CHOICE. THEY ARE MAKING VOICES HEARD BY LEAVING JUST. I HAVE TO ECHO MEMBER HAHN, WE ARE IN CRISIS. THESE 284 STUDENTS ARE IN CRISIS. WE ALL KNOW FROM OUR HISTORY AND OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT IF WE DON'T GET THEM UNDER CONTROL AND GET THEM INTO A PASSING STATE, BY THE

341TIME THEY ARE IN FIFTH GRADE, IT'S JUST A DOWNHILL SPIRAL FROM THERE BECAUSE IT JUST KEEPS ROLLING. SO I AGREE, WE ARE IN DESPERATE, DIRE CRISIS FOR THESE STUDENTS, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM RIGHT NOW. IT IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T WAIT. LIKE MS. McRAE HAS SAID, THIS IS NOT YEAR ONE. THIS IS YEAR THREE. AND IN THREE YEARS OF A SIX-YEAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BE AT THAT LEVEL, WE ARE YOLANDA RECOVERY, IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM THAT NEXT STEP. SO AGAIN, I CANNOT THANK THE COMMUNITY ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND WHAT THEIR WILLING TO DO, AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING CURRENTLY IN JUST. AND I DO -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS,

342WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE WORKSHOP. WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS SCHOOL MOVING FORWARD, AND FOR ITS NAMESAKE MAKING SURE WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HONOR THAT LEGACY THAT HE LEFT BEHIND. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I WANT TO SAY, I WAS REALLY OBVIOUSLY VERY MOVED BY EVERYONE WHO CAME TODAY. WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE STUDENTS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT TYPE OF CYCLE OF POVERTY HAVE WE GIVEN THOSE STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE STILL NOT READING, THEY ARE STILL NOT DOING MATH. OVER AND OVER, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE FAILED THOSE STUDENTS? ON THE WAY IN I SPOKE TO ONE OF OUR HIGH SUPERVISORS WHO I KNOW LOVES, LOVES CHILDREN, AND SHE SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I LOVE KIDS, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE FAILED

343THOSE STUDENTS, AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO FAIL THEM. THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY SERVICES PROVIDED IN THAT SCHOOL, THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THERE'S BEEN SUPERVISORS, THERE'S BEEN FUNDING, THERE'S BEEN REBRANDING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WHEN EVERYONE -- AS A TEACHER, WHEN I WOULD BRING STUDENTS TOGETHER, WHEN YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STUDENTS, THEY ALL LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE STUDENTS THERE WORKING BELOW LEVEL, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER? HOW ARE THEY PRACTICING FLUENCY, ALL THOSE THINGS? I ALSO WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW HARD THE JUST STAFF HAS WORKED, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE TEACHERS, THEY HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD. WE ARE SHORT 1500 TEACHERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND NO MATTER WHAT, TEACHERS CAN CHOOSE WHEREVER

344THEY WANT TO GO. WHEN I APPLIED MANY YEARS AGO, I TOOK A JOB, I DIDN'T EVEN THOUGH KNOW, I JUST WANT TO GET A JOB BECAUSE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A JOB AS A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT. THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE. A TEACHER CAN GRADUATE AND CHOOSE ANY SCHOOL THEY GO TO AND THE EXTRA FUNDING YOU ARE ASKING, THEY DON'T EVEN WANT THAT. SO TEACHERS FOR WHATEVER REASON ARE NOT CHOOSING THOSE SCHOOLS. SO YOU HAVE -- HALF THE TEACHERS LONG-TERM SUBS THERE. ALTHOUGH I AM SURE THEY DO A GREAT JOB IT'S NOT THE SAME AS HAVING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER. I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD, BECAUSE PINELLAS COUNTY, THEY CLOSED TEN SCHOOLS AND REPURPOSED. PASCO COUNTY HAS DONE THAT. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT. I MEAN, AND

345I DID AN ANALYSIS AND I WANT TO PASS THIS OUT TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THEM TO SEE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AROUND JUST ELEMENTARY, WHAT I DID WAS LOOKED AT THE 15-YEAR ENROLLMENT, LOOKED AT THE 10-YEAR ENROLLMENT AND LOOKED AT THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT. AND YOU CAN SEE THE SCHOOLS AND ALL THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD 8,000 STUDENTS IN CHARTER SCHOOL TEN YEARS AGO. WE HAVE 35,000 NOW. WE HAVE HOME SCHOOLS, 63,000 HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO JUST BUT ARE CHOOSING OTHER SCHOOLS. IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE ABANDONED JUST, BUT PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING OTHER CHOICES. THAT'S WHAT PARENT CHOICE IS ALL ABOUT. PARENTS ARE CHOOSING PRIVATE SCHOOLS. I MEAN, THERE'S MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME AND SPOKEN HERE AND

346THEY WENT TO JUST BUT THEY DON'T SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO JUST. SO THAT'S MY QUESTION. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ENROLLMENT OF THAT AREA, YOU WILL SEE -- I MEAN, TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD HAS 125 NUANCE, NOW 478. JUST, 15 YEARS AGO, 608 STUDENTS, 283 STUDENTS. ALL THE WAY ACROSS, YOU CAN SEE ON THE GRAPH THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT. WHEN YOU HAVE 1500 TEACHERS WHO WE HAVE ALL THOSE VACANCIES, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A MASSIVE SHORTAGE WHERE WE ARE PAYING OUR VETERAN TEACHERS 47th IN THE COUNTRY, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THAT? THERE ARE REPLICATIONS, PRINCIPALS, MEDIA SPECIALISTS, ESE ASSUMPTION ADVICE OR, LUNCH, MAINTENANCE. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MILLION A MILLION DOLLARS SAVINGS. ONE SCHOOL IS JUST THE BEGINNING. OTHER SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DIAGNOSE THAT. THE MORE

347THAT WE CAN PUT INTO OUR STUDENTS, THE BETTER. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BUILDING, IT'S ABOUT HAVING THOSE RESOURCES, SAVING THOSE RESOURCES, GETTING THE AMAZING PRINCIPAL, THAT AMAZE ESE SPECIALIST AND PUTTING THEM INTO A SCHOOL WHERE YOU HAVE 5 OR 600 STUDENTS. I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP A SCHOOL OPEN WITH 200 STUDENTS BUT AT 8,500 THAT WE GET PER STUDENT AND IT COSTS 43,000 FOR BERKELEY, I DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION ANYMORE. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. AND I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY. AND GUESS WHAT, THERE'S TEN OTHER SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA THAT WE NEED ALL OF US, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, THE COUNSELORS, THE NEEDS FOR THOSE STUDENTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS A SCHOOL THAT'S HIGHLY

348ENROLLED. THANK YOU. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: I GOT UP IN THE QUEUE SO FAST BUT I AM GOING TO TAKE MY TIME. MR. FARKAS, WHERE ARE WE SENDING THESE CHILDREN TO INSTEAD? PAUSE MY TIME, PLEASE, WHILE HE ANSWERS THIS. THANK YOU. Christopher Farkas: WHERE ARE WE SENDING THE JUST STUDENTS TO? BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD. Jessica Vaughn: WHAT ARE THEIR LETTER GRADES IN SCHOOLS? ALL C SCHOOLS? OKAY. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT C SCHOOLS. WHAT'S THEIR RATE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEE RATIO? WHAT ARE THEIR VACANCIES? BOOKER. THE HAS NONE AT THIS TIME. TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD HAS TWO VACANCIES AT THIS TIME. Jessica Vaughn: SO I HEAR YOUR POINT, DR. HAHN, AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY WANTS WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENT AND OUR STUDENTS. FOR ME FOUNTAIN WAS A MAGIC BULLET THAT WE

349WERE GOING TO TAKE THESE KIDS, WHERE THEY ARE ALREADY AT, SEND THEM TO A BRAND NEW SCHOOL, AND BECAUSE THEY HAD A HIRE FAIL RATE AND THEY WERE A C SCHOOL ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGED IT'S ACADEMIC TRAJECTORY AND THAT WAS THE MAGIC FIX, I WOULD VOTE FOR THAT IN A HEARTBEAT. HOWEVER, I DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT DISRUPTING OUR STUDENTS, SENDING THEM TO A NEW SCHOOL, THE ACCLIMATION THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN FRONT OF THEM IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE TEACHERS STILL HAVE A FULL DOCKET OF KIDS IN FRONT OF THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO SERVICE AND I AM NOT SURE THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT THEY NEED FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUCH REMEDIAL NEED WHEN YOU ARE

350TALKING ABOUT LEARNING LOSS TO ALL OF A SUDDEN SERVICE THESE KIDS AND BE THIS MAGIC BULLET TO MAKE SURE THESE KIDS ARE GETTING THE ACADEMIC SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED. I MEAN, YOU GO TO A LOT OF OUR TITLE 1 MARGINALIZED SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE READING RATE ISN'T MUCH HIGHER THAN THIS. SO REALLY WHAT I HEAR IS IT'S THE ACCESS TO QUALIFIED TEACHERS. BUT IF OUR CLASSROOMS ARE COMPLETELY FULL, AND THESE SCHOOLS ARE FULL AND THE TEACHERS ARE SERVICING 24, 25 OTHER STUDENTS, I DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE. I WISH I DID. AND IT'S NOT ANY REFLECTION ON OUR TEACHERS, NOT THAT THEY ARE GREAT, NOT THAT THEY AREN'T QUALIFIED, KNOW THAT THE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILL SET. I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE BAND WIDTH IT TAKES TO TAKE STUDENTS WHO DON'T READ ON LEVEL

351ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR MIDDLE AND UPPER GRADES, THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE, IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FIRST OR SECOND GRADE, MAYBE, TO REMEDIATE. WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO BRING AND IT'S ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF THAT WE SAY, WE DON'T HAVE AT JUST ELEMENTARY OR WE HAVE. SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND, WHAT I AM TAKING AWAY FROM A MAJORITY OF THIS CONVERSATION, IS THE BIG PUSH ON THIS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING KIDS IN FRONT OF QUALIFIED STUDENTS, TEACHERS. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN NOT TO GET QUALIFIED TEACHERS AT THIS SCHOOL, AND THAT DISRUPTING OUR STUDENTS AND SENDING THEM TO A C SCHOOL THAT COULD BE 1.2 MILES AWAY, WHICH WE SAID DO WE HAVE BUSING, DO WE NOT HAVE BUSING

352WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TWO MILE RADIUS, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE SENDING KIDS TO DARK NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE STREETLIGHTS, WITH FIGHT OR FLIGHT MODE WHEN WE GET TO A BRAND NEW SCHOOL, AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT NOT EVEN BREAKING UP SATELLITE SCHOOLS AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN, AND INTRODUCING A NEW POPULATION OF STUDENTS IS REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY. SO IF YOU COULD SAY TO ME, ABSOLUTELY, MS. VAUGHN, THE SECOND THAT WE REPURPOSE JUST AND BEE SEND THEM TO THESE OTHER C SCHOOLS WHERE THEY HAVE QUALIFIED TEACHERS, WE ARE SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS AND THE TRANSITION ISN'T GOING TO BE FACTORED INTO THAT AND AUTOMATICALLY THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO EVERY RESOURCE THEY NEED AND THEN GOING TO SUCCEED, IT

353WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE. AND IF THAT WAS THE CASE WE WOULDN'T HAVE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT WITH MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. AND SO AGAIN, IF I HEAR A COMMUNITY SAYING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO INVEST IN A SCHOOL AND GIVE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO, MAYBE WE ARE GOING TO SEND THEM TO BC GRAHAM AND MAYBE THERE'S QUALIFIED TEACHERS BUT THE TEACHERS DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DIFFERENTIATE OR DON'T HAVE THE STUDENT RATIO TO GIVE THEM THE SUPPORTS THAT WE NEED, I DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MAGIC BULLET TO ALL OF A SUDDEN NOT BE GIVING THESE KIDS WHAT THEY NEED. AND SO THAT'S WHERE MY THOUGHT LOGIC IS. I JUST WANT TO KIND

354OF ADDRESS THE FACT THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SAY, HEY, WE ARE FAILING KIDS, LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER TWO YEARS, THAT CAUSES SOME CONCERN. MY CONFIDENCE IS JUST THAT THIS CHANGE ISN'T GOING TO BE THE MAGIC FIX THAT WE ARE ACTING LIKE IT IS AND WE ARE GOING TO ALIENATE ANOTHER COMMUNITY AND CLOSE A SCHOOL AND WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BACKS OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT SAY WE DON'T WANT THIS. AND THAT'S WHERE I AM LANDING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. AND I APPRECIATE THAT VIEWPOINT. ONE THING THAT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD HAVE PROVEN IS THE ABILITY TO RETAIN TEACHERS AND I THINK THAT IS STRONG. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WE HAVEN'T

355DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN, WE PUT MAJOR INCENTIVES IN THESE SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT, AND ONE THING THAT JUST HAS IS WE DO ALL THE TRANSFER WINDOWS, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO FIRST AND THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD. AND WE TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS NOT JUST FOR THE JUST COMMUNITY BUT THIS IS FOR THE ENTIRE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. OUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN EVERY DAY TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THEY ARE OPEN EVERY DAY FOR THEM TO BE MENTORS AND TO BE VOLUNTEERS. I KNOW THAT WE HAD A TIME WHEN WE KIND OF SHUT DOWN DURING COVID BUT WE OPENED UP OUR DOORS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THERE'S NO ONE STOPPING OUR COMMUNITY BEING ACTIVE PARTNERS IN THIS PROCESS, AND WE SEE THAT SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY

356MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES AND TRULY GENUINELY WANT TO MAKE A STAND FOR CHILDREN, THEY KNOCK ON OUR DOORS, THEY SHOW UP. BUT WE WILL OPENLY CONTINUE TO TRY TO EXTEND AND INVITE EVERYBODY AS OFTEN AS WE CAN. BUT OPENLY WE TALK ABOUT 284 KIDS, IT DOES MATTER TO BE GO TO A SCHOOL, AND IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE 284 KIDS AND PUTTING THEM SCHOOLS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO ADD ONTO THE STRUCTURE THAT THEY HAVE AND INCREASE CLASS SIZE, BECAUSE THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE, THEY ARE THRIVING AND MOVING THE NEEDLE, BECAUSE ACADEMICALLY ALLOWS THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT RECRUITABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE CHILDREN. IT'S -- TIER ONE IS GREAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE, A HIGH DOSAGE OF HIGH QUALITY TEACHING IN FRONT OF CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE

357DAY. BUT YOU GO INTO A SCHOOL THAT HAS GREATER STABILITY AND GREATER CLIMATE AND CULTURE AND LOOK AT WHAT THEY OFFER FURTHER, AND THEY HAVE GREATER ACCESSIBILITY, AND THEY HAVE GREATER ACCESSIBILITY TO HAVE INTERVENTIONS, TO HAVE PUSH-IN MODELS, SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTIONND AND ALL THESE SCHOOLS HAVE THE SAME ABILITY WHETHER IT'S THROUGH HOST OR BOYS AND GIRLS, BEFORE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL INITIATIVE AS WELL, AND WE CONTINUE TO USE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. BUT I YIELD BACK TO MS. COMBS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MR. WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU. FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE NEIGHBORS FOR COMING OUT AND SHOWING SUPPORT, TOBA, NAACP, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING ALSO, WE DON'T HAVE KIDS AT JUST BECAUSE IT'S

358AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO THEY CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO STAY IN THAT AREA. THEY ARE MOVING OUT TO OTHER AREAS. SO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF KIDS OVER THERE BECAUSE OF THAT. YOU KNOW, I GO BACK, I AM GOING A LITTLE FURTHER BACK NOW. THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN US BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ASSURING THEM THE THINGS THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME YEARS AGO, WE CLOSED DOWN CHRISTINA MEACHUM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE ARE AWARE OF THAT, AREN'T WE? WE CLOSED CHRISTINA MEACHUM DOWN. WE SAID IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A SCHOOL. EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER SCHOOL FOR US TO GO TO. WE HAVEN'T HEARD NOTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. LOSS OF CONFIDENCE. THE MORE WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO

359DO AND THE LESS WE DO, WE ARE NOT BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN THEM, IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NEXT QUESTION, AND WHY ARE PEOPLE -- WHY ARE THE TEACHERS LEAVING? MS. McRAE? Shay McRae: I DON'T KNOW WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING. I KNOW OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AT A R WE STARTED A PROCESS SO THREE OF THE ELEVEN HAVE ALREADY TRANSFERRED TO OTHER SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR. THAT DOES LEAVE THE REMAINING 8 THAT ARE STILL THERE BUT NO, I DO NOT KNOW WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING. Addison Davis: WE CAN DO SOME EXIT INTERVIEWS AS WELL. Henry "Shake" Washington: WE NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHY. Addison Davis: WE DO EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT LEAVE THE PROFESSION. BECAUSE A LOOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COULD LEAVE AND HAVE THE ENERGY TRANSFER, I KNOW THAT'S BEEN THERE

360FOR A WHILE SO THEY CAN GET CLOSER TO THE PROXIMITY OF THEIR HOME. WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LEAVING A SCHOOL THAT YOU ARE GETTING OVER, YOLANDA YOUR COMPENSATION PACKAGES, THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON RELATED TO OVERLOADING, HAVING A COUPLE OF CLASSES, AND JUST ASKED TO DO MORE FOR LESS AND I THINK THAT BECOMES UNFAIR TO THAT PROFESSION. Henry "Shake" Washington: BECA USE WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE LEAVING. THERE'S MANY REASONS WHY PEOPLE LEAVE, AND A LOT OF TIMES HAS TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP. NOT SAYING THAT THEY HAVE BAD LEADER SCHUH BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH LEADERSHIP WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE SCHOOL. AND I KNOW THAT'S FAR BACK. BUT WE ARE NOT GUARANTEEING WHEN THESE KIDS LEAVE THE SCHOOL THEY ARE GOING TO GET

361A BETTER EDUCATION. THAT'S YOUR BELIEF AS THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT BELIEF IN YOUR DISTRICT. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE ANALYTICS AND THE CULTURE, THE ANSWER TO THAT RIGHT NOW, THAT THEY WOULD BE PROVIDED THAT. AND THEY WOULD HAVE GREATER CONSISTENCY, THEY WOULD BE IN A CULTURE THAT HAS GREATER SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES IN PLACE, AND THAT THERE'S BETTER STUDENT OUTCOMES, WHICH MEANS THERE'S BETTER GROWTH IN THESE TWO PARTICULAR SCHOOLS WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN TIER 1 INSTRUCTION BUT ALSO DIFFERENTIATED NEEDS OF BOTH BOOKER T. AND AT TAMPA BOULEVARD, AND WHAT'S HAPPENED AT JUST IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE Henry "Shake" Washington: OKAY , I'M LOOKING AT THE ETHNICITY NOW BECAUSE I HAVE DONE SOME WORK. YOU KNOW, THOSE BUILDINGS, PEOPLE JUST MOVED

362IN. THEY HAVE 41% BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS. THEY HAVE 23% IN ONE HISPANIC. AND TIER 2 THEY HAVE HIS PAP I CAN 20%, AND BLACK 62%. IN TOWER 3 THEY HAVE 23% HISPANIC, AND 56% BLACK. AND THEN IN TOWER 4 THEY HAVE 22% HISPANICS AND 26% BLACKS. I JUST FAILED TO REALIZE, WE ARE NOT -- THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOT COMING THERE. IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST HARD TO BELIEVE. BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO CATCH A BUS AND GO -- UNLESS IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL, AND THE SCHOOLS WE TALK ABOUT, I MEAN, I DON'T EVER PUT GRADES FOR A SCHOOL BECAUSE GRADES IS JUST A MINUTE PART OF THE SCHOOL. IT'S THE OPERATION AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL THAT MAKES IT GREAT AS HELL, NOTHING ELSE. BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SCHOOL

363WITH HARD SCHOOLS. I HAVE SEEN SCHOOLS WITH LESS GRADES AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH STUDENTS BECAUSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT CARING AND TAKING CARE OF STUDENTS. I JUST BELIEVE -- WE HAVE TO -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE IN THE LAST YEARS WE HAVE CHANGED OUR SCHOOL MANY A TIMES. BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL WAS THE HUB OF ALL OF WEST TAMPA IN ONE PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE SERVICE CENTERS THERE, ALONG WITH STUDENTS, BUT NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OUT. WHAT PEOPLE WILL BE MOVING BACK IN. BECAUSE I HAVE THE INFORMATION HERE. THEY WILL BE MOVING BACK IN. AND SUPERINTENDENT, WHEN THEY MOVE BACK IN, WE NEED TO HAVE A SCHOOL FOR THEM TO GO TO. BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO CONCENTRATED AS

364OF NOW ON THESE STUDENTS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT MAKING THE GRADE, AND WE KNOW GRADE IS IMPORTANT, WE KNOW THAT, BUT WE ALSO KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP PEOPLE TOGETHER AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER, BECAUSE EVEN WHEN PEOPLE COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT GOING, WE WANT OUR KIDS TO STAY TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT BUILDS STABILITY. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THESE KIDS. BUT WE HAVE GOT TO GIVE THEM THE BEST SUPPORT THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM, I THINK, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE AND SURVIVE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT. SO AGAIN, I'M NOT -- I CAN'T VOTE FOR THIS. SO THAT'S IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ME BACK IN THE QUEUE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, I'M SO SORRY.

365AND THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON, I APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. ONE THING WE TALK ABOUT IS KEEPING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. WHEN THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE BEING MOVED TO TAMPA BAY, AND ONLY 55 STUDENTS ARE BEING MOVED TO THE OTHER LOCATION, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, WE ARE COG OUR BEST TO KEEP THE MAJORITY OF THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS A SUBSET, AND ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID ONE OF THE GREATEST EQUALIZERS IS EDUCATION, AND I COMPLETELY BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR THESE CHILDREN, FORENAME TO BELIEVE THIS,IS HARD BUT THE SAME TOKEN IT'S A MUST TODAY. IT'S A MUST TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR THESE CHILDREN AND PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE GREATER SUCCESS. Nadia

366Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK TOO THE BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE WHOEVER IS LISTENING AND LOOKING, WE REALLY DO CARE AND ARE CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING A DECISION. I'M LISTENING AND TAKING NOTES FROM EVERY ONE OF THEM. AND MY STANCE ON THE GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN WE TALK TO WEST RIVER, THOSE APARTMENTS THAT WENT UP, AND THERE ARE MANY, WE HAD THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A HUGE INFLUX AT JUST. IN FACT, WE WERE PREPARING TO ASK FOR MORE UNITS, AND THEY DIDN'T COME. THEY DID CHOOSE PRIVATE, THEY DID CHOOSE CHARTER. THE REASON WAS THE PERCEPTION OF THE SCHOOL. NOW, WHETHER THAT'S AGREEABLE OR NOT, THAT WAS THE REALITY. THEY HAD FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHATEVER NOT FAVORABLE OPINIONS. SO FAST FORWARD,

367NOW WE HAVE MORE DEVELOPMENT, AND A LITTLE BIT HIGHER INCOME DEVELOPMENT AT THAT. WILL THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO JUST? AND I DON'T KNOW. THAT IS A SUPPOSITION THAT WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW IF ALL THESE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO GO, BE LURED INTO JUST. SO THAT'S AN X FACTOR RIGHT THERE. I DO THINK IF WE CONVERTED ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS AND DID A DIAGRAM AND IN THE MIDDLE EVERY ONE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS -- I SHOULDN'T SAY EVEN, BUT IF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT, ARE THE CHILDREN. THAT IS THE COMMONALITY. AND THE COMMONALITY AS FAR AS THE NUMERICAL AMOUNT IS 264 KIDS. IS THAT CORRECT? Addison Davis: 284, YES. Lynn Gray: 284. SO I'M DOWN TO WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK IS SO CRITICAL, OR THE

368CHILDREN? WELL, IT'S A HORRIBLE CHOICE TO MAKE, BUT I WILL SAY RIGHT NOW, I CARE FOR VERY MUCH BOTH OF THEM, OF COURSE, THOSE TWO ENTITIES, BUT I CARE -- AND I AM A CHILD CENTERED EDUCATOR AS WELL. SO THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE MY PRIORITY. THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. I WOULD SAY WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I DEFINITELY RESPECT AND WORK WITH MANY OF THEM, THAT THEY TOO CAN HELP IN VARIOUS WAYS WITH THE NEW SCHOOLS THAT THE CHILDREN WILL GO TO. BUT I HAVE TO SAY -- AND MEMBER HAHN, CRISIS MODE, I TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS THAT HAD KIDS ON THE EDGE OF DESPERATION, IN MANY CASES. I DON'T KNOW, SHAY McRAE, IF YOU WOULD LABEL THESE KIDS AT THIS POINT IN TIME -- AND I WILL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BECAUSE

369YOU ARE A MIGHTY FINE PERSON AND NOW THAT SCHOOL WELL, ARE THESE KIDS IN CRISIS MODE? Shay McRae: IN THE ABSENCE OF A TEACHER, YES, THEY ARE, IN THE ABSENCE OF A TEACHER. I THINK OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEARN. I THINK THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW. AND I THINK ACHIEVEMENT IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR OUR STUDENTS. THEY JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TYPE OF FACILITATION OF LEARNING AND THEY NEED TO HAVE CERTIFIED TEACHERS. THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN FRONT OF THEM EVERY DAY. Lynn Gray: WELL, THE BEST SCENARIO, THANK YOU, IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ALSO EMBRACE AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THAT IS BEST FOR THESE KIDS. AND AS I THINK IT WAS MEMBER RENDON SAID, THE EMBLEMATIC IMPLICATION, THE HISTORICAL AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT

370ERNEST JUST, CAN BE DONE IN A WAY THAT IS INDICATIVE OF HIS GREATNESS. I ALSO WILL SAY, GOD WILLING, WE CAN BUILD A SCHOOL OF NOTE RIGHT IN THAT AREA AND -- NOTE RIGHT AND CALL IT JUST AND DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW THE TRANSITION OF THESE KIDS IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND WE CARE ABOUT THE KIDS, SO I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU SAID SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT. WHEN DID THE TEACHERS START TRANSFERRING? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE STARTED -- THEY HAVEN'T TRANSFERRED OUT. THE TRANSFER WINDOW IS STARTING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR. WE ALWAYS DO THAT, CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO DO THAT SO THEY CAN SELF

371SELECT TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD FOR THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR. Karen Perez: HOW MANY TEACHERS? Shay McRae: SO FAR IN THE TRANSFER PERIOD, THREE TEACHERS. YES, MA'AM. Karen Perez: SO ALONG WITH BOARD MEMBER WASHINGTON, THE STUDENTS WERE MOVED OUT OF THIS AREA BECAUSE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THE STUDENTS WERE THERE. BUT THEN DEVELOPERS CAME ALONG. AND MOVED ALL THOSE CHILDREN OUT OF THAT AREA. IT WASN'T A CHOICE. PARENTS JUST DIDN'T PICK UP AND MOVE. AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS, THIS IS ABOUT THEM, TOO. THEY HAVE ALREADY LOST FRIENDS FROM THIS MOVE. THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE COMMUNITY FROM THIS MOVE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR FELLOW CLASSMATES FROM THIS MOVE. WE TALK ABOUT CULTURE. AND I HAVE NOTICED OOH MAJOR CULTURE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THAT SCHOOLS PREDOMINANTLY

372WHITE ARE NOT CLOSED. BUT THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK ARE. PREDOMINANTLY BALLPARK AND LATINO. WE CAN PLAY CHESS WITH THESE KID. WE KEEP MOVING THEM HOPING WITH THE HOPES OF IN THE NEXT SCHOOL THEY GET EDUCATION. BUT NOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT SCHOOL? THOSE CHILDREN ARE IGNORED AGAIN. FOR YEARS, SUPERINTENDENT, THEY WERE GETTING OUT CERTIFIED -- YOU KNOW, STUDENTS, NOT DIPLOMAS. SO THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION. SO OUR CHILDREN, OUR BLACK AND LATINO CHILDREN, END UP CAUGHT UP IN THIS CROSS FIRE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND BETWEEN US. AND FOR ME, MOVING THESE KIDS, IT SAYS THAT, YEAH, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS, BUT ALSO WE ARE IMPOSING ON THESE CHILDREN SOME MAJOR ISSUES. AND SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT I SAID EARLIER WAS THAT YOU HAVE FAILED, NOT OUR CHILDREN,

373NOT OUR TEACHERS. YOU HAVE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE A SCHOOL THAT'S STRUGGLING, FOR YOU TO PUT TEACHERS INTO THAT SCHOOL TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS, IT'S A MUST. AND WHEN YOU SAW THE DRAINING OF THAT SCHOOL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT GOING UP THERE, EVEN MORE SO TO PUT SUPPORT IN THOSE SCHOOLS. I FEEL JUST LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN SAID THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GET LOST IN A CLASSROOM OF 20, 16 KIDS. WHAT MAKES ME THINK THAT TEACHER IS GOING TO TAKE THE TIME FOR THOSE STUDENTS? SO I'M STANDING ON HOW I AM GOING TO VOTE, AND I CANNOT SUPPORT IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. HAPP HAHN MEMBER COMBS, I WANT TO THANK MS. McRAE FOR HER CANDOR TONIGHT. I REALLY DO RESPECT HER EXPERTISE AND OPINION ON ALL OF THIS. THAT'S WEIGHING

374HEAVILY INTO MY THINKING AROUND THIS RECOMMENDATION. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SAID THAT WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TONIGHT IS A SILVER BULLET TO MIRACULOUSLY CHANGE THINGS. BUT WHAT I THINK I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE IS THAT MOVING THESE STUDENTS INTO A SCHOOL WHERE WE KNOW WE CAN GUARANTEE THEM WITH MORE TEACHER STABILITY AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND EXTRA RESOURCES IS A LOWER RISK THAN THE OTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE TONIGHT. I THINK WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S A LITTLE RISKIER. AND I THINK EVERYTHING WE KNOW, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT BOOKER T. AND TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD ARE A BETTER OPTION TO KIDS, ALL THE RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE DONE AROUND WHAT'S EFFECTIVE IN MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR KIDS SUPPORTS MY OPINION ON THAT. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FACTS BEHIND ALL

375OF THAT. AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAD BIG IMPLICATIONS ON THIS, BUT I CAN'T CONTROL THAT. AND I ALSO CAN'T COUNT ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TWO, THREE, FOYER YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE STUDENTS, 284 STUDENTS. YES, THE COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT. ABSOLUTELY. BUT NO ONE IS DISCOUNTING THAT. BUT I GO BACK TO THESE KIDS ARE IN CRISIS. AND I AM NOT WILLING TO TAKE A BIG RISK ON WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING. THAT'S JUST MY STANCE. AND I THINK THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AS THE DISTRICT WORKS TO DECIDE IF WE MOVE FORWARD AND HOW TO UTILIZE JUST BUILDING. I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SET A

376FOUNDATION FOR MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD. SO I DO THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND TRUST. IT MAY NOT BE AS JUST AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, AND UNDERSTANDABLY, PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF CLOSING THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL. SO I WOULD ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO REALLY WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES, PROVIDE THEM THE SUPPORT FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION, AND THAT MAY INCLUDE SOME COUNSELING SERVICES IF NEEDED FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE PRINCIPALS AND THE FACULTY AND THE STAFF AT BOTH BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY WILL CLOSELY WORK WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO FACILITATE NEW CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS FOR STUDENTS. OVERALL, THOUGH, I JUST FEEL THE DECISION TODAY FOR ME IS MADE WITH THE

377BEST INTENT OF THE STUDENT IN MIND. AND IMPROVING THEIR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND OPPORTUNITIES. SO I AM STILL SUPPORTING THIS. AND WE MAY HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE. AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT WE ARE ALL BEING VERY STUDENT CENTERED. WE HAVE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO THIS VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM. AND I THINK WE ALL ARE BEING VERY RESPECTFUL OF THAT, BUT I HAVE LIKE MANY OF YOU WORKED IN SCHOOLS AND SPECIFICALLY DONE A LOT OF TURN AROUND WORK AT USF, AND I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING SUCH A BIG RISK WITH STUDENTS' LIVES. WE ARE HERE TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE. WE CAN'T DO THAT IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE BEST EDUCATIONAL SETTING POSSIBLE. BUT I AM JUST GOING TO STOP HERE, AND I APPRECIATE, THOUGH, EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS TONIGHT, AND THE COMMUNITY'S COMMENTS ARE NOT LOST

378ON ME. I JUST THINK THAT WE ARE IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW WITH THESE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS INCREDIBLY HARD DECISIONS THAT WE ARE MAKING AND TALKING ABOUT, SO I DO APPRECIATE EVEN WITH THE PASSION, AGAIN TO BACK UP WHAT DR. HAHN IS SAYING, IT'S A VERY THOROUGH CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST HOLISTIC DECISION. MY KIND OF PERSPECTIVE AT THIS POINT IS, NOW YOU MENTION THAT A GOOD MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS CHOICE OUT, SO THERE ARE CHOICE OPTIONS. HOWEVER, THE PARENTS THAT AREN'T CHOICING OUT ARE MAKING AN INTENTIONAL DECISION TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS HERE. I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY HAS MADE A DECISION, BUT THERE ARE 286 PARENTS THAT COULD CHOICE OUT

379AND MAKE OTHER CHOICES, WHETHER IT'S A MAGNET OR WHETHER IT'S TAMPA BAY OR WHATEVER. NOW, ARE THEY NOT CHOICING OUT BECAUSE THAT'S THE CHOICE THEY ARE MAKING? DO THEY LOVE JUST? DO THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT? IS THAT WHY THEY ARE MAKING THAT CHOICE? DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND THE OTHER PROCESS? FOR ME TO MAKE THIS DECISION AND GO AGAINST THE VERY VEIN OF CHOICE, THEY HAVE MADE A CHOICE TO STAY IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE THINK THAT YOU ARE MAKING THE WRONG CHOICE, YOU ARE NOT MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR KIDS, WE ARE IN CRISIS AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS CHOICE FOR YOU AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE YOUR KIDS WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING YOU AGREE TO OR WHETHER THAT'S A CHOICE YOU WANT TO MAKE OR NOT. THAT'S SOMETHING

380WE ARE DOING IN WE MAKE THIS DECISION. AND THAT'S NOT TO JUDGE ANYBODY FROM MAKING THAT DECISION BECAUSE THESE DECISIONS ARE VERY HARD BUT THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE TELLING THESE PARENTS THEY NO LONGER HAVE THAT CHOICE BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT CHOICE THAT THEY SHOULD BE MAKING. SO WHAT I AM FRUSTRATED WITH IS AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, WE DON'T KNOW WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING AND MAYBE WE HAVEN'T DONE AN EXIT INTERVIEW PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THAT WASN'T OUR PRACTICE WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRANSFER PERIODS AND WHY TEACHERS ARE CHANGING, BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE SCHOOLS IN CRISIS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING BIG DECISIONS, LIKE FOR ME UNDERSTANDING WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING WOULD BE A HUGE FACTOR IN HELPING ME MAKE THIS DECISION. THE

381NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, IF WE MAKE THIS DECISION REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE VOTE AS A BOARD, I WOULD LIKE DATA ON THE STUDENTS. I WOULD LIKE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, JUST IS JUST ONE SCHOOL THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN A MASSIVE BOUNDARY CHANGE. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN OUR WORKSHOP TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT FIVE AND HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED. IF WE ARE SAYING THAT A LOT OF BOARD MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, I WANT THE DATA TO BACK THAT UP. LET'S TRACK THIS COHORT IF THIS IS THE DECISION. I WANT TO KNOW IN TWO OR THREE YEARS WHAT THEIR PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THEIR READING READINESS LOOKS LIKE, IS

382IT JUST THE IT'S THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS? REGARDLESS OF WHERE THIS OWNED IF IT MOVES IN A DIRECTION GOING FORWARD, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE FACE MORE AND MORE DECISIONS AND WE HAVE TO FACE COMMUNITIES TO NOT BE LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING OR WE ARE THINK THIS IS THE BEST DECISION. LET'S USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT THE DATA SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE CAN HAVE A WELL-ROUNDED CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. ALSO, YOU SAID THAT WE GOT COMMUNITIES DURING THE BOUNDARY CHANGES. WHERE WAS THE CLOSEST COMMUNITY MEETING WHEN WE HOSTED COMMUNITY EMGS MEETINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED JUST TO COME AND GIVE FEEDBACK? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THAT WAS MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. Jessica Vaughn: I'M SORRY. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW FAR AWAY THAT IS? Addison Davis: IT WAS

383MIDDLETON, I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK, BUT WE HAD OVER 15 MEETINGS. I HAVE TO GLOW BACK. THE FIRST ONE WAS MIDDLETON. THE SECOND ROUND WE WENT TO AS WELL. Jessica Vaughn: HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER 1.2-MILE RADIUS WOULD BE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE CLOSEST COMMUNITY MEETING WHICH I BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES, ARE WE HOLDING COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE TALK ABOUT MIGHT BE SIX TO SEVENPHILES MILES AWAY. AND IN THAT WONDERFUL TOOL THAT WAS CREATED TO CAPTURE ALL OF THE FEEDBACK, WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM FAMILIES AROUND JUST SPECIFICALLY, MR. FARKAS? Christopher Farkas: I DON'T HAVE IN THE FRONT OF ME BUT I CAN PICK IT UP FOR YOU. Jessica Vaughn: IT WOULD BE NICE IF THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SAYING

384WE DID TO GET COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE MAKING OUR DECISIONS ON, TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE. BECAUSE THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY WE GOT, RIGHT, TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY -- AND WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PARENTS WHO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO THAT SCHOOL. AND THAT'S WHAT I AM REFERENCING WHICH -- BY THAT COUPLE COMMENT. SO AGAIN, WHEN WE ARE MAKING THESE VERY COMPLICATE COMPLICATED DECISIONS THAT HAVE A LOT OF MULTI-FACETED PIECES AND WE WANT TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION, GO BACK BACK TO TRYING TO HAVE AS MUCH DATA AS POSSIBLE. AND ANSWERS LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHY TEACHERS ARE LEAVING, MAYBE WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING SIX MILES AWAY AND WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE FEEDBACK THAT THE FAMILY GAVE US DOESN'T GIVE ME CONFIDENCE TO

385SAY I AM GOING TO SUPERSEDE WHAT THESE FAMILIES WANT, NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY ELSE IS, BUT FOR ME, AND IMPOSE MY DECISIONS WITHOUT MORE FEEDBACK ON THIS. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT A COUPLE YEARS, THEN I SAY PUT THIS OFF TILL THE NEXT BOUNDARY MEETING OR PUT THIS OFF A FEW MORE MONTHS, BECAUSE AGAIN I AM NOT SEEING THE DATA THAT I NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION. SO THAT'S JUST MY FEEDBACK ON THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: I AM REMINISCING UP HERE. THIS IS NOT THE WORST SITUATION WE HAVE BEEN IN. THE WORST SITUATION WE HAVE BEEN IN WAS POTTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THAT'S THE WORST. BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS SAYING, THAT SCHOOL IS HARD, UNTIL WE BROUGHT TRACYE BROWN THERE. WHEN WE MOVED TRACY THAT COMPLETELY TURNED THE H

386THE SCHOOL AROUND. 100%. AND EVERYBODY, THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT A K-3, KINDERGARTEN. AT ONE TIME IT WAS KINDERGARTEN. BECAUSE I WAS THERE AREA DIRECTOR THEN. SO WE SAID DON'T EVERYBODY PANIC AND GOING CRAZY, TILL WE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON IN THERE. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS. THEY HAD TEACHERS LEAVING, THE KIDS WERE LEAVING. WE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON IN THERE TO THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT TURNED AROUND. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL ANGLES WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND I THINK WE ARE REALLY DIFFERENT THAN WE WERE YEARS AGO. I MEAN, THERE'S A HUGE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS. I FEEL REALLY SAD FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAD MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, WHO HAVEN'T HAD A CONNECTION. I MEAN, WE ARE FAILING THOSE KIDS. THE IDEA

387THAT HALF THE STAFF IS NONCERTIFIED AND PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND OUT OF THOSE CHILDREN'S LIVES, I THINK IS VERY UNFAIR. ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS WOULD GO IS TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD. THAT SCHOOL WAS ALMOST -- THOSE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, THEY HAVE A GOOD CULTURE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BECAME A PRINCIPAL THERE. THERE'S A STRONG CULTURE. THOSE TEACHERS GOING IN THERE, THOSE KIDS GOING IN THERE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE CERTIFIED TEACHERS. I MEAN, AS MUCH AS I REALLY RESPECT EVERY SINGLE GROUP THAT CAME HERE, I HAVE TO REMEMBER WHY DID I DECIDE TO BE A BOARD MEMBER? I DECIDED TO BE A BOARD MEMBER BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT KIDS. AND I WANT KIDS TO SUCCEED. AND I

388WANT KIDS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THAT CYCLE OF POVERTY OR TO MOVE TO A HIGHER LEVEL OR TO HAVE THE SAME TEACHER FOR YEARS, OR TO HAVE THE SAME PRINCIPAL, TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. WE HAVE REALLY GOT TO FOCUS ON THAT. AND WE ARE NOT SELLING THE BUILDING. IT'S GOING TO BE THERE. IF THERE'S AN INCREASE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST THAT I GAVE YOU, JUST, GRAHAM, TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD, WASHINGTON, WEST TAMPA, ALL OF THOSE SCHOOLS, EACH GORRIE ELEMENTARY, EVERY ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS THE ENROLLMENT HAS GONE DOWN BY ALMOST 50% OR 20%. EVERY ENROLL MENT IN THOSE SCHOOLS. IT IS GOING DOWN. OUR ENROLLINGMENT IS GOING DOWN BECAUSE PARENT CHOICE IS UP. SO WE CANNOT KEEP TINY SCHOOLS OPEN WHEN WE ARE NOT

389GETTING THE FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A REFERENDUM, WHEN WE ARE GETTING 8,500 PER CHILD. AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT IS NOT AT LEAST 15,000. OKAY? BERKELEY, 33. CARROLLWOOD, 23,000. I MEAN, TELL ME HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET A QUALITY EDUCATION WHEN THOSE TEACHERS AREN'T EVEN CERTIFIED? I WANT TO SAY I KNOW THE PEOPLE AT JUST HAVE WORKED VERY HARD, AND THE COMMUNITY IS VERY HARD WHEN THEY HAVE TO BE A PART. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE PEOPLE HAVE GREAT POSITIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE CREATING AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER IN THAT COMMUNITY, SOMETHING, K-8, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR

390COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO WORK DIAGNOSE. EVERYONE WHO CAME TOGETHER, WE NEED TO CONTINUE STRENGTHENING THAT COMMUNITY, SO THAT WAY WE DON'T CONTINUE TO HAVE A HUGE DECREASE ACROSS ALL THESE SCHOOLS, ACROSS THE DISTRICT. BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE GROWING. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT CERTIFIED TEACHERS. IF YOU ARE A PARENT AT JUST, YOU WANT THE SAME THING AS A PARENT AT McKIN TRICK. YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE A CERTIFIED TEACHER, TO HAVE A COUNSELOR, AND WE CAN'T DOUGH THAT WITHOUT PROVIDING THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND PROVIDING THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE SCHOOLS. SO WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT. SO BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. Jim Porter: THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION, AND SO IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THE

391RECOMMENDATION WHICH IS TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL, YOU SHOULD VOTE YES. IF YOU ARE AGAINST CLOSING THE SCHOOL, YOU SHOULD VOTE NO. ô>Nadia Combs: OKAY. AND IT PA -- PASSES WITH BOARD MEMBERS SAYING YES, GRAY, RENDON, HAHN AND MYSELF, AND THE NAYS ARE MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER VAUGHN, AND MEMBER PEREZ. Jim Porter: THE SECOND READING WILL BE ON MAY 9th. Nadia Combs: OKAY. NOW WE WILL GO TO OUR FINAL ITEM OF THE NIGHT. 10.01. PIGGYBACK 23012, DIGITAL PGB -- IV STUDENT DIGITAL SECURITY. Nadia Combs: THIS IS TO MAINTAIN SAFE LEARN ENVIRONMENT, WHICH THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE AND COORDINATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE TRAINED EXPERTS FOR ANY CONTENT THAT IS IN OUR CURRENT DISTRICT MANAGED COMMUNICATION TOOLS. HERE TONIGHT WE HAVE DR. WEEKS AND ALSO MR. HART WILL BE ABLE

392TO SPEAK ABOUT GAGGLE AND WHAT THAT BRINGS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, HOW WE PROTECT STUDENT INFORMATION AND HAVE BEING SEES TO INFORMATION TO TRY TO BRING THIS INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO HELP CHILDREN. Thomas Weeks: GOOD EVENING. SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, STUDENT, DISTRICT STAFF. FIRST THANK YOU FOR STICKING THROUGH. I KNOW THIS IS ALONG HAUL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE STICKING THROUGH TO THIS. I THINK IN IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND HOPEFULLY WE COME TO AGREEMENT ON THAT. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS THE DISTRICT HAS RAPIDLY INCREASED OUR DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CREATING A SPACE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, COMMUNICATING AND COLLABORATING AS PART OF THEIR MIDDAY LEARNING, TO FOSTER SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THESE DIGITAL HALLWAYS ARE SAFE SPACES FOR OUR STUDENTS, PROMOTING THEIR

393PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. THROUGH THIS SYSTEM, THE DISTRICT WILL USE GAGGLE'S COMBINATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND TRAINED SAFETY EXPERTS TO PROVIDE 24/7, 365 ANALYSIS OF CONTENT, CREATED AND STORED IN STUDENTS DISTRICT, MICROSOFT 365 ONE-DRIVE AND ACCOUNTS. THE TECHNOLOGY STEMS SPECIFICALLY FOR HARMFUL CONTENT AND ALERTS DISTRICT OFFERINGS IFS THE STUDENT SHOWS SIGNED OF SELF HARM, DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, CYBERBULLYING, CREDIBLE THREATS OF VIOLENCE TOWARDS OTHERS, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, PICTURES OF WEAPONS OR POTENTIAL HARMFUL SITUATIONS, AND HELP US FIND THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY OTHER MEANS AND DELIVER CRITICAL SUPPORT WHERE NEEDED. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES HAS BEEN COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL SECURITY AND STUDENT SERVICES TEAMS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT WORKS WITHIN OUR CURRENT PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES RELATED TO THE STATED CATEGORIES. RESPECTING THE PRIVACY OF OUR

394STUDENTS IS IMPORTANT. GAGGLE WILL NEVER SEARCH THE CONTENT OF A STUDENT'S PERSONAL DEVICE, PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS OR PERSONAL E-MAILS. STUDENT DATA WILL NEVER BE SHARED WITH THIRD PARTIES AND NIP PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO DESIGNATED SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL TO HELP WITH INTERVENTION AND ENSURE STUDENT SAFETY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-10-01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER RENDON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Patti Rendon: I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ANOTHER SET OF EYES FOR OUR STUDENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND LOOKING BACK OVER NOT ONLY THE VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL

395OVER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE USING THIS BUT WHAT IT MEANS, RIGHT? AROUND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND VERY IMPORTANT IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO AND THE LAWS, AND SO THIS PARTICULAR TECHNOLOGY DOES MEET THE CHILDREN'S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT OF 1998 WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT DOES RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF STUDENTS. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE IN TEXT MESSAGES OR E-MAILS OUTSIDE OF OUR DEVICES. SO FAMILIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE USING OUR DEVICES THAT THIS IS SOMETHING. I WOULD ASK SUPERINTENDENT THAT WHEN WE GO LIVE WITH THIS THAT WE GET A MASSIVE COMMUNICATION TO OUR FAMILIES, JUST TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. I AM VERY ENCOURAGED THAT SOMETIMES STUDENTS SAY THINGS WITHOUT SAYING SOMETHING, FOR THOSE OF MYSELF AND MEMBER PEREZ THAT HAVE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS

396WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INDIVIDUALS WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT SOCIOSITUATIONS, SOMETIMES THEY SAY SOMETHING WITHOUT COMING OUT AND SAYING THEY R THAT THIS IS ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION FOR THESE STUDENTS, FROM SELF-HARM, SOME BULLYING, SOME POTENTIAL DANGER TO OTHER STUDENTS, AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE EXTRA TIME TO JUST GIVE IT ONE MORE LAYER THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS IN MANY WAYS. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THANK YOU. I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WE WERE ON THE PHONE SO I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHO ANSWERED AT ONE TIME. THIS IS SOMETHING LIKE AUTOMATICALLY, IT'S NOT SOMETHING DRIVEN BY THE TEACHERS OR ANYTHING. I KNOW MEMBER GRAY HAD

397ASKED WOULD SUBS ARE ABLE TO USE IT BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS EMBEDDED WITHIN OUR SYSTEM AND IT'S AUTOMATIC. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, RIGHT? Addison Davis: CORRECT. THE ONLY PEOPLE INVOLVED FROM THE SCHOOL SITE ARE THE -- THERE IS AN ALERT FOR A STUDENT AT THAT SCHOOL, IS THE ADMINISTRATION. THE ADMINISTRATION AT THAT SITE WOULD THEN DELEGATE IT TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL SUCH AS THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, OR SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM IS NEVER INVOLVED UNLESS THAT PROCEDURE THAT'S ALREADY EXISTING AT THE SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE TEACHER. BUT THERE IS NO ALERT THAT GOES TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHER IN THIS CASE. Jessica Vaughn: I KNOW I DID ASK BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT PART OF IT WOULD BE NOTIFYING PARENTS BECAUSE I

398HAVE SIMILAR CONCERN AS MEMBER RENDON THAT OUR FAMILIES UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE SIGNING UP BY USING OUR COMPUTERS AND ACCESSING OUR E-MAILS, MAKE SURE STUDENTS TAKE THIS RESPONSIBLY AS WELL AS FAMILIES. IS THAT ALREADY EMBEDDED IN THE POLICIES THAT WE GIVE OUT ON THE FIRST DAY PACKET? I KNOW YOU GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO ME AND MAYBE I MISSED THAT. BUT IS THAT SOMETHING WE ARE ALREADY NOTIFYING FAMILIES ABOUT? IT IS. THE ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY THAT'S VOTED ON BY THE BOARD AND UPDATED AS PART OF THE STUDENT HANDBOOK EVERY SINGLE YEAR IS INCLUDED IN THE FIRST DAY PACKET AND SIGNED BY BOTH THE PARENT AND THE STUDENT. Jessica Vaughn: SO I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT AS A PARENT, LIKE THAT INFORMATION IS LIKE MANY CONTRACTS, RIGHT, SINCE IT IS GOING TO BE VERY

399SERIOUS, RIGHT? WE ARE GOING TO BE IDENTIFYING STUDENTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE OF HARM TO THEMSELVES, TO SOMEONE ELSE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE THE SERVICES NEEDED FOR IT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO APPROACH IT AS A SUPPORTIVE USE OF OUR FACILITIES AN NOT SO MUCH PUNITIVE. WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT NEED SUPPORT AND ACT EARLY, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IF IT'S EMBEDDED IN THERE THAT WE ARE TAKING IT OUT, THAT IT IS HIGHLIGHTED, AND AGAIN TO MEMBER RENDON'S POINT, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR FAMILY UNDERSTANDS WE ARE GOING TO BE UTILIZING THIS BY ACCESSING OUR E-MAIL AND USING OUR DEVICES, LIKE YOUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE MONITORED FOR WHAT THEY SAY, AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS AND

400RESPONSIBILITIES OF THEIR CONDUCT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE IN THE REAL WORLD, VIRTUALLY, AND THE SAME AMOUNT OF CONSEQUENCES AND ALERTS, LIKE I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE CLEAR TO OUR FAMILIES AS WE MOVE AND TRANSFER AND ADAPT TO THE DIGITAL AGE, AND IT'S GOT TO BE JUST AS CLEAR TO OUR FAMILIES. SO I AGREE WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE SHUSH THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE REALLY AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE AGAIN STUDENTS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, THAT THE VIRTUAL WORLD IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE REAL WORLD, AND THERE ARE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES AND I DON'T WANTS TO SEE THE OUR STUDENTS GET CAUGHT UP IN SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW OR DON'T MEAN AND HAVE CONSEQUENCES WHEN IF THEY UNDERSTOOD, THIS IS REAL WORLD, WE ARE MONITORING YOU JUST LIKE WE WOULD, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT. SO THAT

401WAS MY ONLY POINT TO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. TONIGHT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE HAD TO BRING TO THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO DISRUPT CHILDREN I.WANT YOU TO KNOW EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY I FIGHT FOR KIDS. AND YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY ON THIS FRONT ROW WITH ME OR WITHOUT ME, AND THEY WOULD ALL SAY PUSH THE PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY MORE THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN PUSHED BEFORE. I PRIDE MYSELF ON THAT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND CONTINUE TO BE PROFESSIONAL WHEN I DO THAT.

402AT THE SAME TOKEN TONIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE. TONIGHT, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT CELEBRATIONS, APPLICATION WINDOWS, CONSENT AGENDA, AND SOME OTHER ELEMENTS. WE HAVE HAD SOME REALLY COOL SELL BRACES. ATTENDED THE ISC WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION AWARDS BANQUET. THEY DID SUCH A REALLY GOOD JOB I.DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE ISC WHEN WE WALKED IN THERE. AND AGAIN I THANK OUR SIMMONS CAREER ACADEMY FOR THE CULINARY. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL I.DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT BUT IT WAS -- IT LOOKED DELICIOUS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THESE INDIVIDUALS COME BACK TOGETHER AND JUST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW PROFESSIONALISM AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER, IT WAS SO REWARDING. AND WE THINK EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT AND FOR THEIR ACKNOWLEDGMENT. ALSO THE TEACHER CAREER ACADEMY JOB FAIR CONTINUES TO BE

403ABLE TO PROVIDE ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. I AM GOING TO PASS OUT A SURVEY, AND THE SURVEY TALKS ABOUT HOW TEACHER CAREER ACADEMY IS REALLY MAKING -- MOVING OUR CHILDREN, AND THIS IS GIVEN TO YOU REALLY TALKS ABOUT HOW CHILDREN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, WHAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HOW THEY -- WHERE THEY LIVE IN 24 COMMUNITY, IF THEY FEEL SUPPORTED IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAININGS THEY BELIEVE IN, AND DID THEY KNOW THAT EXISTING COMMUNITIES, AGENCIES ARE OUT THERE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY CAN REALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH AND TRANSITION TO. SO IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE, A LOT OF CELEBRATION, A LOT OF INTERACTION, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO SEE WHO THEY ARE,. AND ALSO THIS PAST SATURDAY I WASN'T ABLE

404TO GO BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING MY DAUGHTER SOFTBALL, AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS AS SHE RETIRES, AND I AM ABLE TO BE WITH HER, BUT THIS EVENT WAS SO -- DEDICATION WAS SO AWESOME, SO GRACEFULLY LED BY MRS. LENNARD AND HER TEAM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE AND HIGHLIGHTING THIS OPENING FOR THIS SCHOOL. THEY ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB. IT IS REALLY HARD TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A CLIMATE AND CULTURE ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAND NEW. I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THE LAST FEW DAYS AND HOW MISSY HAS DONE THAT, AND SHE'S A REMARKABLE LEADER AND CONTINUES TO HAVE AN OVERALL FOLLOWING. THIS GOES RIGHT TO WHAT MR. WASHINGTON TALKED ABOUT LEADERSHIP MATTERS. THIS IS A PEER EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP. I

405HAD AN CHANCE TO GO TO THE CYBER SECURITY COMPETITION, AND THE MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS WERE THERE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WON ONE OF THESE INITIATIVES AND SO PROUD OF THEM. STUDENTS GIVE THEM A PROBLEM PRACTICE AND THEY PROBLEM SOLVE AND COLLABORATING. IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO SEE HOW LEVEL SOPHISTICATION, INTERACTION, AND SO PROUD OF WHAT OUR CTE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO DO, TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND INITIATIVES AND CYBER SECURITY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. AND WE THINK THIS EVENING FOR THE RESOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THE MONTE OF MILITARY CHILD, IS SO IMPORTANT, AS WE KNOW THEY HAVE 4600 STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE, WITHIN -- THAT ARE ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS -- CHILDREN, 8500 MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS. THEY MOVED SO MANY TIMES WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR SO WE BRING THEM STABILITY. WE HAD THE PURPLE STAFFER, TAMPA'S

406DISTINCTION IS SOMETHING WE HAD IN THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM NO WE PUSHED TO GET THE STATE TO RECOGNIZE, AND HAVE A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS, AND AS DR. HAHN SAID WEDNESDAY IS PURPLE UP DAY. GOING TO DO IT TWO DAYS IN A ROW. SHE'S PREPARED. AND MR. CONNOR, TOO, I GUESS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD FOR THIS -- PROBABLY TOMORROW. SO REALLY THANKFUL. AND JUST REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE CHOICE WINDOW IS THE OPEN TO APRIL 30th. THERE ARE SO MANY CHOICES WE OFFER IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE INNOVATIVE SPACES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN, AND WE THANK THE BOARD FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE TRANSITIONING TO NEW YORK, TO ORLANDO, TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE AND CONFERENCES AND EXPERIENCES THAT REALLY

407STRENGTHEN WHO THEY ARE AS A PERSON AND ALSO AS AN EDUCATIONAL LEADER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO CHAMPION THROUGH THIS TESTING WINDOW. AND ONCE AGAIN THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR WILLINGNESS TO BE ABLE TO DIVE INTO SOME VERY HARD DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE FACED WITH, AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO BE ABLE TO LEAD US THROUGH IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Henry "Shake" Washington: [ OF F MICROPHONE ] OKAY. EXCUSE ME. OKAY. SO DURING THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE BEEN TO A LOT OF EVENTS, R, AND I AM JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE TAMPA GENTEL LE HEALTH. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE -- WE HAVE A VIRTUAL HEALTH KIT THAT THEY CAN USE AT THE SCHOOLS WHEN A STUDENT

408IS SICK, YOU DON'T NEED INSURANCE TO SPEAK TO A PROVIDER. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM SO HAPPY THAT THE BOARD PASSED THIS WAS THE MERE FACT WE CAN KEEP MORE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE KIDS TO COME UP SICK OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE. SO WE HAVE A NURSE AT THE SCHOOL. THE ONLY TIME THEY NEED INSURANCE IS WHENEVER THE PROVIDER PRESCRIBES A PRESCRIPTION FOR THEM. THEY WILL NEED INSURANCE TO GET A PRESCRIPTION OR PAY CASH. AND AS OF NOW, WE HAVE FIVE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WANT TO ADD MORE ONTO THE NEXT YEAR. AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE PUSH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. ALSO, WE HAVE THIS HEALTH

409KIT VIRTUAL TELEHEALTH IN SPANISH, ALSO. SO WE HAVE IT COVERED BOTH WAYS. AND I THINK SOME OF THE STUDENTS ARE IN IT NOW AND THEY ARE USING IT AND IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL. I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY A GAME CHANGER FOR A LOT OF SCHOOLS WHENEVER THE KIDS ARE NOT FEELING WELL. SO THAT'S ALL I AM SAYING TONIGHT. SHORT AND SWEET. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: YES, MINE WILL BE SHORT AS WELL. STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY PANEL WAS HOSTED BY GAITHER, TOMMY MORE REALLY, THE PRINCIPAL, THANK YOU. AND WE ARE GIVING PREVENTION ADVANTAGES AND AWARENESS TO MARTINEZ. WE HAD NOT ONLY SKIPPER BUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MAJOR RULE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE COLONEL LINDEMAN, THANK YOU, CONNIE ROSE, SURVIVOR, AND WE WILL BE MEETING ANOTHER

410LENNARD TOMORROW. TOMORROW NIGHT. AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY PANEL FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PARENTS, AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COME AND BECOME ENGAGED. NEXT, I WANT TO SAY -- AND I WASN'T SURE IF WE HAD TEACHER APPRECIATION FALLING WITHIN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, BUT I DO WANT TO EXPRESS THE TEACHER APPRECIATION IS COMING UP MAY 3rd THROUGH THE 7th, AND WE DID ONE APPRECIATION, AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE SALARY INCREASE. BUT WE APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEACHERS EVERY DAY, EVERY MOMENT, AND HOPEFULLY THEY ARE GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. THEY PROBABLY WON'T HEAR THIS, BUT EVERY ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THINK SO HIGHLY OF EVERY ONE OF YOU. ALSO, THERE IS A TIE CEREMONY. THAT'S FOR THE 5,000 ROLE MODELS OF EXCELLENCE. AND WE ARE INVITED. AND NO DOUBT MEMBER

411WASHINGTON WILL ATTEND. BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THAT AS WELL. AND THANK YOU, MISSY LENNARD FOR DOING EXTRAORDINARILY COMPREHENSIVE JOB WITH THE DOROTHY YORK DEDICATION, AND YOUR STAFF DID MARVELOUS. AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMUNITY LEADERS, MRS. COLON, WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN. GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: LET ME MAKE IT REAL QUICK BECAUSE EVERYONE COVERED A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE DONE. BUT CHAMINO ELEMENTARY CELEBRATED ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY. IT IS A VITAL ASPECT OF THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. SO-SO CONGRATULATIONS. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A HIGHLIGHT OUT TO ALL OF OUR CHAMBERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. WHATEVER THEY DO FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, ARE

412TREMENDOUS. SO I WANT TO THANK EACH OF OUR CHAMBERS THAT CONTINUE SUPPORTING US. WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. I AM GOING TO TRY TO KEEP IT REALLY SHORT. I HAVE HAD LOTS OF GREAT SCHOOL VISITS. JUST A SHOUTOUT TO SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, TITUS O'NEIL GAVE ME A GREAT TOUR A COUPLE WEEKS BACK AND ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO PEPIN ACADEMY WHICH IS AMAZING WITH THE TEAM AND BE ABLE TO SEE THAT. AND THEN THE MARITIME MARINE EXPLORATION, WE WENT TO THE OTHER DAY, IT'S JUST AMAZING U.EVEN WENT TO AN HONORS EVENT WITH STEINBRENNER AND ANOTHER STUDENT GOT INTO WEST POINT LIKE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING EXCEPTIONAL THINGS. BUT FINALLY, TEACHER CAREER ACADEMY, SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TOMORROW MORNING AT 7 SO I AM

413GOING TO GET READY TO GO. BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT EVENTS, AND THEY HAVE JUST BEEN AMAZING. BUT I WANTED TO GIVE A BIG SHOUTOUT TO ONE OF OUR OWN SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, MR. COLLINS. HE WAS THERE, AND HE WAS ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO SPOKE TO THE STUDENTS WHICH WAS AMAZING. AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS LAST VIDEO WITH OUR OWN CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, THIS FINAL SHORT VIDEO REALLY TO REMIND US, LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHY WE ARE HERE, BUT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW WE ARE REALLY CHANGING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, AND THANK YOU, YVONNE FRY AND EVERYBODY FOR WHAT THEY DO. PABLO, IF YOU COULD SHOW THAT QUICKLY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS REALLY ONCE IN A LIFETIME FOR STUDENTS. BEING

414A PART OF THIS EVENT TODAY IS QUITE AMAZING TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THESE KIDS ARE GETTING IS SO IMPRESSIVE. THE ENERGY HERE, I JUST WAS WALKING AROUND AND HEARD SOME FOLKS GETTING OFFERED JOBS, WHICH IS SO DESPITING. THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE EMPLOYERS AS THE CHILDREN CAME INTO THE BUILDING TODAY. THIS IS A REALLY GREAT STEP FOR THE FUTURE. I LOVED THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH ALL THE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. EVERYONE WAS SUPER WELCOMING AND INVITING AND VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TO SHARE WHAT THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO A LOT OF THEM ARE COMING TO THE TABLE WITH SPECIFICS. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT SO IT'S JUST PROVIDING THEM THOSE RESOURCES AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. STUDENTS ARE ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS, GETTING A LOT OF INSIGHT. IT'S BEEN AWESOME. I

415GOT TO MEET WITH A LOT OF NEW COMPANIES THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IN THE AREA. THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE ME SOME GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO WITH THEM OR HOW I CAN START MY JOB WITH OPPORTUNITIES. THE STUDENTS ARE VERY RESPECTFUL. THEY REALLY DO WANT WORK IN THE FUTURE. AND A LOT OF THEM ARE READY TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW. I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF NICE PEOPLE FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES. I GOT TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY. I GOT TO LEARN WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. AND HE WAS REALLY NICE, AND HEAR CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THE EMPLOYERS. GETTING TO TALK TO THESE PEOPLE ONE ON ONE WAS REALLY A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THEM. YOU KNOW, GRADUATION IS COMING UP AND THIS IS JUST SUCH

416A FUN DAY TO JUST LIFT THEM UP AND SHOW THEM WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM AS SOON AS THEY GRADUATE. IT'S A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE ALL AROUND. TO SEE THIS NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS COME IN, ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, GET SOME ADVICE, APPLY FOR JOBS, AND THEN APPLY FOR THE LITTLE WISDOM FROM ALL THE PANELISTS, IT GIVES ME HOPE. OUR STUDENTS ARE WORKING ON FAITH THAT ONE DAY IT'S GOING TO PAY OFF, THE RESULT IS SOMETHING MONETARY, SO TODAY IS THAT DAY FOR OUR SENIORS. WHEN YOU HAVE OPTIONS TO MAKE MONEY AND BE EMPLOYED, IN YOUR COMMUNITY, BY PEOPLE OF YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS WHY IT'S A GREAT OPTION FOR THEM. AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE OF MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES ARE STRONG TOGETHER, THIS COUNTY WILL BE THE BEST

417THERE IS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. AND ONE LAST THING. THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SWIFTIE AND FAMOUS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THAT WAS AN AMAZING THING THAT YOUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT DID BECAUSE WE DID GO VIRAL ALL OVER WITH THAT LETTER AND YOUR SONG. WITH THAT IN MIND, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. [MEETING ADJOURNED]