001HI. I'M NADIA COMBS, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME TO YOU 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 IN 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 MARCH 21st, 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: THTHANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE HONORABLE SAM BELL THAT SERVED OUR COMMUNITY THE MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE. PLEASE JOIN ME. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] YOU MAY BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR WONDERFUL STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR TODAY. Henry "Shake" Washington: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COLEMAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALONG WITH BRAN DIRECTOR HERRON AND DR. PRICHER. WOULD THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS COME UP AND MAKE A GREAT INTRODUCTION. MAX MINGLESON. I'M IN 7th GRADE. I PLAY THE BASS. MY NAME IS MADELEINE. I PLAY THE DRUMS AND I'M 8th GRADE. MY NAME IS EMERY. 8th GRADE AND PLAY PERCUSSION. MY NAME
004IS ASH. I'M IN 8th GRADE AND PLAY PIANO. MY NAME IS NEIL. I'M IN 7th GRADE AND PLAY THE GUITAR. MY NAME IS REED. 8th GRADE, I PLAY THE TRUMPET. MY NAME IS DOUG LYNNE, 8th GRADE AND PLAY THE TRUMPET. MY NAME IS LUKE. I'M IN 8th GRADE AND PLAY THE TRUMPET. MY NAME IS GABE. 8th GRADE, PLAY THE TRUMPET. MY NAME IS PHIL. 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TRUMPET. MY NAME IS GRAHAM. 7th GRADE AND PLAY THE TROMBONE. MY NAME IS CONNOR. I'M IN 8th GRADE AND PLAY THE TROMBONE. MY NAME IS GARRETT. 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TROMBONE. MY NAME IS GABBY. 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TROMBONE. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH. I'M IN 8th GRADE. I PLAY THE SAXOPHONE. MY NAME IS PILLAR. 8th GRADE. PLAY THE SAXOPHONE. MY
005NAME IS ELIE. 7th GRADE AND PLAY THE SAXOPHONE. MY NAME IS MATTHEW. I'M IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY -- MY NAME IS GRADY. I'M IN 8th GRADE AND I PLAY THE TENOR SAXOPHONE. MY NAME IS RYAN HERRING. BAND DIRECTOR AT COLEMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND PERFORM FOR YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING A GREAT JOB TODAY. IF YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU CAN COME UP AND TAKE YOUR PICTURES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU ALL. WHEN I WAS SITTING THERE LISTENING, I WAS LIKE, ARE YOU SURE THIS IS MIDDLE SCHOOL? SOUNDS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. REALLY A LOT OF AMAZING, AMAZING PERFORMERS OUT THERE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY.
006I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THANK YOU, MEMBERS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TODAY. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. THAT'S MARCH 7, 2023, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE'RE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED
007TO 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 ARE ASKED TO GET BACK INTO THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV, ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO
008CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AND THAT'S 6:00 AND THAT'S EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THOSE 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 THE BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING
009WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR TWO MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN, A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS, IF YOU CAN PLEASE COME UP. THANK YOU. HI. I'M DANIELLE EICHMANN. I'M HERE AGAIN FROM THE CARROLLWOOD K-8 INITIATIVE. ALTHOUGH I WILL BE THE ONLY SPEAKER FROM CARROLLWOOD TODAY, I REPRESENT A VERY LARGE COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS THAT COULDN'T BE HERE. AT THE LAST WORKSHOP MEETING ON THE 9th, WE HEARD FROM MS. GRAY HOW K-8 SCHOOLS ARE NOT ONLY
010DESIRED BUT NEEDED. WE ALSO HEARD MS. HAHN, MS. RENDON AND MS. VAUGHN PROPOSE A PIECE MEAL APPROACH TO THE BOUNDARY ANALYSIS CHANGE AND PASSING ITEMS THAT CAN BE VOTED ON NOW LIKE CARROLLWOOD K-8. THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR US. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO SEPARATE THIS ITEM. WE CAN'T REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PASSED AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE AT A CROSSROAD AND ARE HAVING TO TAKE OTHER OPTIONS BECAUSE THE TIMELINE IS GETTING SHORT. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS AS A FORMAL REQUEST TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS TERRY KEMPLE. I
011LEAD ONE LOCAL ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY ISSUES COUNCIL AND ONE STATEWIDE, PROTECT OUR CHILDREN PROJECT. WE'RE PROUD TO BE MEMBERS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH GRASSROOTS GROUP. YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM PEOPLE FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH GRASSROOTS GROUP. WE'RE HERE TO REMIND YOU OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS' RECENT ACCUSATION THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS UNLAWFUL PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS IN YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. I'M READING NOW FROM STATE STATUTE 847.012 (3) A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWING SELL, RENT OR LOAN FOR MONETARY CONSIDERATION TO A MINOR ANY PICTURE, PHOTOGRAPH, DRAWING WHICH DEPICTS NUDITY OR SEXUAL CONDUCT, SEXUAL EXCITEMENT, SEXUAL BATTERY, OR ANY BOOK, PAMPHLET, MAGAZINE, PRINTED MATTER, HOWEVER REPRODUCED THAT CONTAINS ANY EXPLICIT AND DETAILED NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS OF SEXUAL EXCITEMENT OR SEXUAL CONDUCT AND THAT IS HARMFUL TO MINORS. SUBSEC 5 GOES ON TO STATE, AN ADULT MAY NOT KNOWINGLY DISTRIBUTE TO A MINOR ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR
012POST ON SCHOOL PROPERTY ANY MATERIAL DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION 3. PLEASE KEEP THE LAW IN MIND AS PEOPLE READ FROM BOOKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. THERE ARE SCHOOLCHILDREN WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE ASK TO YOU ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK FIRST SO THEY CAN LEAVE BEFORE PEOPLE START READING THE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REMOVE FROM YOUR LIBRARIES. YOU'LL HEAR LOTS OF DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS AND ABOUT OUR EFFORTS, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT YOU HAVE ILLEGAL PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS IN YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO REMOVE THEM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND CERTAINLY SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME IS BILL KERBER. I'M HERE READING STATUTES TODAY FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM. I'M HERE TO
013READ A COUPLE OF STATUTES, 847-001 WHICH STATES HARMFUL TO MINORS MEANS ANY REPRODUCTION, IMITATION, CHARACTERIZATION, DESCRIPTION, EXHIBITION, PRESENTATION, REPRESENTATION OF WHATEVER KIND OR FORM DEPICTING NUDITY, SEXUAL CONDUCT, OR SEXUAL EXCITEMENT WHEN IT IS PATENTLY OFFENSIVE TO PREVAILING STANDARDS IN ADULT COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT IS SUITABLE MATERIAL OR CONDUCT FOR MINORS AND TAKEN AS A WHOLE IS WITHOUT SERIOUS LITERARY, ARTISTIC, POLITICAL, OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE FOR MINORS. THE ONE THAT SHOULD CONCERN US ALL IS FLORIDA STATUTE 1,006.34. IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR IN SAYING THAT ANY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL CONTAINING PORNOGRAPHY OR OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY STATUTE 847 MAY NOT BE USED OR MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL. WE'RE HERE TO ASK TODAY THAT THIS BOARD STEP UP AND TAKE THIS MATERIAL OFF THE COUNTER, OUT OF THE SCHOOLS LIBRARIES' SHELVES. THIS MATERIAL IS INCREDIBLY BAD.
014YOU'LL HEAR SOME THINGS TODAY THAT ACTUALLY MAKE ME CRINGE. I VOLUNTEERED TO READ THE STATUTES INSTEAD OF A BOOK, THAT'S HOW BAD SOME OF THIS STUFF IS. I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE, STEP UP AND TAKE THESE BOOKS OFF THE SHELF OR MOVE ON AND LET US PUT SOME PEOPLE IN PLACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JALISA. I'M 13 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW THE BASICS OF SEX. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THESE BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES, I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE. NOT EVEN FOR ME. I HAVE SMALLER SIBLINGS AND I WOULDN'T WANT THEM KNOWING NOR SEEING ANY INAPPROPRIATE IMAGES AT THEIR AGE. MY MOM IS SMART ENOUGH THAT SHE PUT ME IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE PUBLIC
015SCHOOLS ARE NOT TAKING THE BEST INTERESTS IN THEIR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING, ALL OF THE ABOVE. SHAWN ROBERTS. FOUNDER OF ANTI-BULLY ORGANIZATION CALLED AMARAC. I'M HERE TO READ SOME BOOKS, EXCUSE ME, ONE PARTICULAR BOOK THAT'S FOUND IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS TODAY. IT'S CALLED "NORMAL PEOPLE." A NOVEL BY SALLY ROONEY. THE SECRET WAVE INSIDE HER BODY PLEASURABLELY, PRESSING DOWN HER PELL VIN BONE WHEN SHE MOVED. WHEN HE TOUCHED HER, THE NIGHT SHE WAS SO WET SHE ROLLED HER EYES BACK INTO HER HEAD AND SAID, GOD, YES, AND SHE WAS ALLOWED TO SAY IT. HE WAS AFRAID HE WOULD COME THEN AND JUST FROM TOUCHING HER LIKE THAT. WHEN THEY WENT UPSTAIRS, HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. HE LET HER TALK. THAT'S SO GOOD. SHE KEPT SAYING, THAT
016FEELS SO GOOD. HER BODY WAS SO SOFT, WHITE LIKE FLOUR DOUGH. HE SEEMED TO FIT PERFECTLY INSIDE HER. PHYSICALLY, IT JUST FELT RIGHT, AND THEN HE UNDERSTOOD WHY PEOPLE SAYING THINGS FOR SEXUAL REASONS THEN. HER BREATH SOUNDED RAGGED THERE. HE PULLED HER LIPS BACK AGAINST HIS BODY AND THEN RELEASED HER SLIGHTLY. SHE MADE A NOISE LIKE SHE WAS CHOKING AND THEN AGAIN AND TOLD HIM SHE WAS GOING TO COME. I'M JUST READING SOME OF THE EXCERPTS OF SOME OF THE BOOKS IN THE SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE WERE KIDS. WE ENJOYED OURSELVES. WE HAD FUN. IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME AND IT TAKES LEADERSHIP TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS TO SAVE THE KIDS. SO I LEAVE EVERYONE HERE WITH THIS. IT'S A SPIRITUAL WAR AND WE HAVE TO PICK THE RIGHT SIDE TO HELP THE
017KIDS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS DAVE COLEMAN. FROM NORTH FLORIDA AVENUE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 22 YEARS. I RECENTLY VIEWED A WORKSHOP WHERE IT HAD TO BE DISCUSSED WHETHER THE WORDS SYSTEMIC RACISM EVEN EXIST. I WATCHED MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD BROUGHT TO TEARS OVER THAT. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEXT WEEK, THERE IS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION, A SPECIAL OPEN MEETING ON ONE BOOK, A BOOK CALLED THIS BOOK IS GAY BY JUNEAU DAWSON. THERE IS AN OPENING LINE THAT I JUST READ THIS MORNING. I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK, BUT IT SAYS IN CHALLENGING TIMES IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. IT ALL STARTS WITH KINDNESS
018AND COMPASSION AND YOU. AND IT IS GOING TO BE UP TO YOU. AS WELL AS I NEED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN THAT POLITICAL AIMS AND BASE RATTLING IS REACHING INTO OUR CLASSROOMS ALL THE WAY FROM TALLAHASSEE, RIGHT HERE AT HOME. MY SCHOOL BOARD IS NOT SOME KIND OF RADICAL LEFT WING AGENDA GROOMING CHILD ENTITY. YOU WERE NOT THAT. YOU WERE NEVER THAT. THE THINGS READ TO YOU DON'T EVEN EXIST IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOU GUYS ARE HARDWORKING ELECTEDS THAT WOULDN'T ALLOW HATE AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES GROOMING CHILDREN TO OCCUR ANYWHERE NEAR OUR CHILDREN. AND THE SO-CALLED PARENTAL RIGHTS BY THE GOVERNOR AND HIS OL' GARLICS ARE FINE FOR THEM EXCEPT WHEN THEY TELL THIS PARENT WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE AND WHERE THEY STOP. YOU CANNOT TELL ME HOW I RAISE MY CHILD. YOU CANNOT TELL ME
019WHAT BOOKS ARE IN THE SCHOOL FOR MY CHILD TO SEE. YOU CAN STOP IT AT YOUR FRONT DOOR AND I CAN STOP IT AT MY FRONT DOOR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CAMDEN. I TURN 18 THIS THURSDAY. FOR FUN I PLAY VOLLEYBALL, I HANG OUT WITH MY SISTERS AND FRIENDS. I MAKE BRACELETS FOR MY COMPANY. I DO NOT WATCH PORN, READ PORN, DO NOT DO DRUGS OR SLEEP AROUND. I DO NOT DESIRE TO DO THESE THINGS. NO KIDS SHOULD DESIRE TO DO THESE THINGS. WATCHING PORN ISN'T AS COMMON AS YOU THINK IT IS. BUT YOU PUSH IT BECAUSE OF YOUR MARXIST AGENDA TO SEXUALIZE CHILDREN. THREE YEARS AGO I GOT A READING ASSIGNMENT. I CAME HOME AND ASKED MY MOM TO BUY THE BOOK.
020ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE CLASS IS READING THE SAME BOOK SINCE THE TEACHER INDICATED IT IS A BOOK MANY COLLEGES REQUIRE. I FIGURED IT WAS THE BEST CHOICE. I WAS 15. I WENT HOME AND ASKED MY MOM TO GET ME THE BOOK. BEFORE BUYING IT, MY MOM FOUND A REVIEW FOR THE BOOK ONLINE. UNDER SEXUAL CONTENT THE REVIEW SAID, QUOTE GRAPHIC DETAIL IS GIVE BEEN THE INCESTUOUS RAPE OF THE 11-YEAR-OLD MAIN CHARACTER. ORGASMS, PROSTITUTION, INCEST, RAPE, NUDITY, PEDOPHILIA, SEXUALITY, BESTIALITY AND SODOMY. I NEVER HEARD OF SOME OF THE WORDS. I HAD NO IDEA MY TEACHER WOULD SUGGEST A BOOK LIKE THIS. I WAS 15. IF AT 15 YEARS OLD I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL. I DIDN'T WANT TO READ IT THEN AND I DO NOT WANT TO READ IT NOW AT 18-YEAR-OLDS. WHY WOULD
021YOU PUT THIS IN SCHOOL OR ALLOW THIS? I KNOW, YOU ARE DESENSITIZING ME, MY FRIENDS, MY CLASSMATES AND MY ENTIRE GENERATION. BECOMES THE GOAL TO SEXUALIZE US WHEN YOU SIT BACK AND ALLOW THIS TO BE DONE IN THE SCHOOLS. EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T PERSONALLY ADMIT THE BOOKS INTO SCHOOLS YOU ARE JUST AS GUILTY AS THE ONES WHO DO BECAUSE YOU SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MACY GEPHARDT. PROUD DAUGHTER OF JULIE GEPHARDT. I JUST TURNED 16-YEAR-OLDS. I GO TO COFFEE SHOPS WITH MY FRIENDS SINGING, PLAYING PIANO AND GUITAR. I LOVE TO READ. A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN A FRIEND OFFERED A BOOK FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARY I FIGURED IT WOULDN'T BE POLLUTED. WHEN I BROUGHT IT HOME, WE LOOKED IT, HAD A CONVERSATION AND RETURNED
022TO MY FRIEND. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T READ FAR ENOUGH TO BE EXPOSED TO THE QUESTIONABLE CONTENT. I WAS IN 7th GRADE, 11 YEARS OLD AND TO BE EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FROM THE SCHOOL. OVER 80% OF MY FRIENDS HAVE NEVER EVEN GONE AS FAR AS HAVING OUR FIRST KISS. EVEN HIGH SCHOOLERS -- EVEN IF HIGH SCHOOLERS WERE AS SEXUALLY ACTIVE AS YOU CLAIM IS IT REALLY A GOOD IDEA TO NORMALIZE IT FURTHER? SHOULDN'T WE BE ENCOURAGING ABSTINENCE. I ASK YOU TO THINK, THINK OF THE WAY IT IS IMPACTING THE FUTURE GENERATION. THINK OF THE WAY IT IS TURNING MY GENERATION TO THINK. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A PLACE TO LEARN MATH, SCIENCE, READING, WRITING, HISTORY, WHAT IS NECESSARY, NOT A PLACE TO HAND PORN TO KIDS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. MY
023NAME IS DAX AGAIN HART. I'M IN THE 7th GRADE. BASKETBALL, RIDING MY BIKE, LEARNING NEW SONGS ON MY GUITAR, MAKING FUNNY VIDEOS WITH MY FRIENDS. I ALSO LIKE TO READ. RIGHT NOW, I AM READING A REALLY GOOD BOOK CALLED CRISPIN. AN ORPHAN BOYS WHO OWN TOWN IS CHASING HIM DOWN AND HE HAS TO MAKE DECISIONS. INSPIRING ADVENTURES CHALLENGING AND HEROES AND VILLAINS. I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR KIDS NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN LIFE. IF THEY HAVE GOOD FAMILY, BAD FAMILY, OR NO FAMILY. THEY CAN READ THIS BOOK AND INSPIRES THEM AND SHOWS THEM A BETTER WAY, A WAY TO GO THROUGH BAD THINGS AND STILL MAKE GOOD CHOICES. MAYBE THEY NEED TO ESCAPE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT GIVES THEM HOPE. LIKE SO MANY OF THE BOOKS MY MOM HAS TOLD
024YOU ABOUT, TRAPS THEM IN BAD SITUATIONS. BOOKS LIKE CRISPIN KIDS SHOULD BE READING. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PUT THE BAD ONES? KIDS MY AGE DO NOT NEED TO READ THESE BOOKS AND SOME PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO. KIDS WON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE PICKING UP A BAD BOOK OR GOOD BOOK IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY. WHEN THEY GO TO THE SCHOOL LIBRARY, THEY WON'T -- THEY WOULD NOT THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A BAD ONE. IF I PICKED UP A BOOK THAT HAD DETAILS ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS MY AGE DOING INAPPROPRIATE THINGS TOGETHER, LIKE HOW MY MOM HAS TALKED TO YOU ABOUT, I WOULD KNOW THE RIGHT WAY THAT I SHOULDN'T BE READING IT AND SHOULD BE TELLING MY PARENTS. I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED. THAT'S WHY THE PARENTS SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DECIDE. WHY CAN'T
025YOU JUST HAVE BOOKS LIKE THE ONES I'M READING? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT TEMPTING FOR KIDS AND SHOW THEM THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT OR THINKING ABOUT. THESE ARE TOPICS WAY TO ADVANCE FOR KIDS THIS AGE. PLEASE DON'T TEACH KIDS ABOUT THIS MY AGE. IT IS WRONG. YOU AS ADULTS SHOULD BE THE ONES TO KNOW BEST. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE.ER. A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, ALSO A RETIRED TEACHER. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M OPPOSED TO HCPS SELLING ANY PROPERTIES, PERIOD. I'M OPPOSED TO MONROE BEING SUBDIVIDED AND BEING SOLD, PERIOD. I LIVE SOUTH OF GANDY. THAT'S WHAT SOG MEANS. SO THOSE 25 ACRES, IT IS IN A COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA. I HAVE SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS OF MY LIFE
026FIGHTING DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE FULL. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA I'VE GIVEN YOU, I'VE GIVEN YOU A LOT OF DATA. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I ALREADY CALLED YOUR ASSISTANTS OR SENT E-MAILS AND REQUESTED A MEETING SO I COULD EXPLAIN THIS DATA TO YOU. I DON'T COME TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OFTEN. THIS CHHA, WHICH IS THE COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA, IT SAYS THERE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ANY NEW DENSITY IN THESE AREAS, YET, IF MONROE IS SOLD, WE ARE LOOKING AT BETWEEN 250 AND 675 NEW HOUSING UNITS. WHERE WILL YOU SEND THOSE CHILDREN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL? I MEAN, SERIOUSLY. YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN SAY, OH, LET'S BUILD 675 UNITS. IT MAKES NO SENSE. MADISON
027AND MONROE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 4179 UNITS, THAT'S NOT COUNTING SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. THAT DOES NOT COUNT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. IN OUR FOUR SQUARE MILES OF SOUTH OF GANDY, WEST OF DALE MABRY, 41,000. WHERE ARE THOSE KIDS GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, ALL THE DATA ON THOSE SHEETS I HAVE PULLED FROM GIS. ALL OF THOSE MAPS WERE MADE BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. ALL OF THE DATA I PULLED SPECIFICALLY FROM THE WEB SITE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION IN THERE. I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME SO WE CAN SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THIS. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE HAD MY THREE MINUTES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. BOB CLARK. I WOULD LIKE TO READ TO YOU A SMALL EXCERPT FROM EMPIRE
028THE STORMS BY MRS. SARAH MAAZ. SHE DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN AS SHE TRACED HER TONGUE OVER THE SEAM OF HIS LIPS, AS HER FINGERS UNLATCHED THE BUCKLE OF HIS WORN SWORD BELT. AND JUST TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD DO, JUST TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD DO, SHE PALMED HIM THROUGH HIS PANTS. I WAS VICTIMIZED AT 8 BY SOMEBODY WHO WAS AGGRESSIVE AND USED MY NAÏVETÉ TO TRAP ME. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT LASTED FOR A DECADE. I WAS INNOCENT BEFORE, AND I WISH TO HAVE MAINTAINED THAT INNOCENCE UNTIL I WAS MORE MATURE. AS A CITIZEN, I DON'T INTEND TO COME UP HERE AND TO BE A PROPONENT OF CENSORSHIP FOR FULLY MATURE ADULTS. THIS TYPE OF THING IS CAUSING VICTIMS AND THIS TYPE OF LITERATURE IS GROOMING PEOPLE TO A DESTRUCTIVE LIFESTYLE THAT
029IS EVIDENT TO ME AS I GO BACK TO EVERY CLASS REUNION TO THE FOLKS THAT FELL IN IT. PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALFRED JOHNSON. BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. I NOW LEAD A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CALLED THE FAITH ACTION MINISTRY ALLIANCE. QUOTE FOR YOU, LEADERSHIP THAT EXPLOITS AND SACRIFICES YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE ALTAR OF ITS GOALS IS NOTHING MORE THAN RAW DEMONIC POWER. GENUINE LEADERSHIP IS FOUND IN CEASELY EFFORTS TO FOSTER YOUNG PEOPLE AND PAVE THE WAY FORWARD FOR THEM. WHAT I'M ABOUT TO READ TO YOU RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE WAY FORWARD. COMES FROM A BOOK CALLED IT ENDS WITH US BY COLLEEN HOOVER. ONE OF HIS HANDS MOVES TO THE BACK OF MY BRA AND HE UNFASTENS
030IT WITH EASE. HE PULLS MY SHIRT AND BRA OVER MY HEAD. I BEGIN TO PUSH MYSELF OFF OF HIM SO I CAN PULL OFF HIS JEANS BUT HE PULLS ME BACK ONTO HIS LAP. HE LOWERS HIS MOUTH TO MY CHEST AND MY EYES FALL SHUT. WHEN I FEEL HIS TONGUE ACROSS MY BREAST. HIS OTHER HAND FINDS HIS WAY BETWEEN MY LEGS, INSIDE MY PANTIES AND THEN INSIDE ME. HE PULLS MY HIPS BACK TO MEET HIM AND THEN I CAN FEEL HIM FREEING HIMSELF FROM HIS SCRUBS. HE GRIPS MY HIP WITH ONE HAND WHILE SHOVING MY PANTIES ASIDE WITH THE OTHER. HE PUSHES FORWARD UNTIL HE IS ALL THE WAY INSIDE OF ME. HIS LAND SLIDES DOWN MY STOMACH AND SETTLES BETWEEN MY LEGS. I CAN NO LONGER KEEP UP WITH HIS RHYTHM, BARELY STAY ON
031MY KNEES. SOMEHOW HOLDING ME UP WITH ONE HAND AND DESTROYING ME IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY WITH THE OTHER HAND. THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE IS VERY EMBARRASSING FOR ME TO READ TO YOU AS A PASTOR IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE'VE GOT TO WAKE UP. YOU CAN'T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN. LAST VERSE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE SAYS THIS. I'M GOING TO SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU TO RESTORE THE HEARTS OF FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS. IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I WILL SMITE THE EARTH WITH A CURSE. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAD POLICY THAT'S AFFECTING OUR COUNTRY, HOW IT'S PLAYING OUT IN OUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND OUR TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS, I NEED FOR YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT WE FALL IN THE
032CATEGORY OF THOSE THAT REJECTED THAT ADMONITION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS, MEMBERS, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME IS DOROTHY PULCHER. I LIVE IN WIMAUMA IN THE COUNTY. I'LL BE READING FROM RAINBOW BOYS BY ALEX SANCHEZ. THERE ARE 13 BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY. THEN HE WOULD SLIP HIS HAND INTO HER BLOUSE AND SHE WOULD REMOVE HER BRA. HER BREATHING WOULD COME IN SHORT LITTLE BURSTS. THEN SLIDE HIS HAND INTO HER PANTS AND HER BREATHING WOULD BECOME LONGER AND DEEPER. ONCE SHE BEGAN TO MOAN, HE KNEW SHE WAS READIED FOR HIM. -- SHE WAS READY FOR HIM. QUOTE, TELL HIM YOU WANT TO SUCK HIS DICK, END QUOTE. BLAKE THINK HE WAS TOO SMALL? IF HE DIDN'T, IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM WHAT HE WAS
033DOING. NELSON BREATHED FAST, HIS HEART POUNDING, HE FELT READY TO EXPLODE. BLAKE RETRACTED HIS HAND, LEANED BACK IN THE SEAT AND GRINNED EXPECTANTLY. NELSON WONDERED WHAT BLAKE EXPECTED HIM TO DO. FORTUNATELY BLAKE HELPED BY GUIDING HIS HAND. NELSON COULDN'T BELIEVE TO WHERE. ONCE HE GOT OVER HIS ASTONISHMENT HE TRIED UNBUCKLE BLAKE'S BELT. NELSON PROPPED HIS ELBOW ON THE STICK SHIFT AND THE BELT BUCKLE SNAPPED OPEN. HE TUCKED OPEN BLAKE'S ZIPPER. BLAKE LAID A HAND BEHIND NELSON'S NECK GENTLY DIRECTING HIS HEAD DOWN. A RICH, SMELL WAFTED UP. THEN HE REMEMBERED SOMETHING. WHAT ABOUT A CONDOM. HIS HEART THUNDERED FASTER AND HARDER UNTIL IT SEEMED TO BURST. SOFT BLOND HAIR AND BROAD SHOULDERS OF THE MAN HE LET INSIDE HIM. WHEN THEIR MOUTHS REUNITED AND KISSED WITH AN URGENCY FROM WHICH THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK HE
034MOVED HIS HANDS DOWN HIS BACK AND FELT HOW HARD HIS BODY WAS. THEIR MOVEMENTS HASTENED AS THEY GROPED AND BUMPED AND KYLE'S EXCITEMENT MOUNTED UNTIL HE FEARED HE COULDN'T CONTAIN IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. RICARDO RODRIGUEZ. PARENT OF TWO BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. TODAY I WILL BE PRESENTING ABOUT THE BOOK, THIS BOOK IS GAY BY JUNEAU DAWSON. TOTAL OF TWO COPIES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, KIDS ABOUT THE AGE -- DAX TALKED A COUPLE MINUTES AGO OR THE KIDS IN THE BANDS. IT VIOLATES THE FLORIDA STATUTE AND PEDOPHILIA AND SEXUAL CONTENT AT A VERY EARLY AGE, WHICH WE TALK ABOUT KIDS AROUND 11 YEARS OLD TO 14-YEAR-OLDS. 182-83 PAGES, HOW TO SIGN UP FOR PROFILE GRINDER. ADULT PROFILE FOR GAY COUPLES THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE 18 YEARS OLD. PAGE 184 TO 86 GIVE
035REVIEWS FOR MEN 20 YEARS OLD TO 34 ON HOW THIS APP CAN HELP YOU TO FIND QUICK, EASY, AND UNCOMPLICATED SEX. BUT WHAT I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION IS A FEW PAGES OF SEXUAL CONTENT. FIRST PAGE ON 199 MARRIED MAN HAVE SEX WITH 16-YEAR-OLD BOY. LAST TIME I CHECKED THIS WAS AGAINST THE LAW AND CALLED PEDOPHILIA. PAGE 200, SECTION CALLED BUMP. I QUOTE, OF YOUR BUMP YOU HAVE A PROSTATE GLAND WHICH FEELS NICE WHEN MASSAGED OR SHOULD I TALK ABOUT PAGE 201, A GOOD HANDLE IS ALL ABOUT THE ACTION, RUB THE HEAD OF THE DOCK BACK AND FORTH WITH YOUR HANDS. PAGE 202, SECTION CALLED BLOWIES. IT'S NOT MORE ABOUT SUCKING, IT'S MORE ABOUT SLIDING YOUR MOUTH UP AND DOWN THE SHAFT OF HIS COCK. LETTING A GUY COME IN YOUR MOUTH IS SAFE
036SEX NO-NO. PORN IS HARMFUL AND ILLEGAL FOR MINORS AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WE GIVE YOU THE TRUST TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF THIS TRAGEDY FOR THE SCHOOL, MY MESSAGE TO YOU ISAIAH, SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND CALL UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR AND HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION OF YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. CHAIRMAN COMBS. ADMINISTRATOR DAVIS, BOB PERRATO. AS A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA BOARD OF PHARMACY, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEDICINAL HEALTH OF OUR PATIENTS HERE IN FLORIDA. MY WIFE WAS A SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 35 YEARS. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. I HAVE FOUR GRANDCHILDREN. 11 TO 16. AND THIS JUST CONCERNS ME.
037I'M GOING TO READ SOME EXCERPTS. MY WIFE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME READ THIS AND SHE COULDN'T DO IT. I TOLD HER I WOULD DO IT FOR HER AND TODAY IS OUR 53rd ANNIVERSARY. THAT'S MY ANNIVERSARY PRESENT TO HER. ANYWAY, I'LL READ FROM A BOOK LIVING DEAD GIRL BY ELIZABETH SCOTT. THERE ARE 11 COPIES OF THIS BOOK IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I TABBED FIVE PAGES OUT OF 70 THAT ALL HAD EXTREMELY WORRISOME THINGS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO HEAR. I'LL READ A FEW. I KNOW SILLY GIRL, MY GIRL, AS HE UNBUCKLES HIS PANTS, OPENS HIS PANTS. COME OVER HERE AND GIVE ME A KISS HELLO. I GET UP AND WALK OVER TO HIM. HE FROWNS AND I HUNCH OVER SO I BARELY COME UP TO HIS SHOULDER. THEN HE SHOVES ME
038TO MY KNEES. WHEN HE IS FINISHED HE THROWS THE REST OF MY YOGURT AWAY. WE HAVE A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE FATHER AND DAUGHTER AND HE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF ME, WANTS ME TO HAVE MY OWN ROOM LIKE OTHER LITTLE GIRLS AND THEN HE CRAWLS INTO MY BED WITH ME. LOVE YOU, HE SAYS, BEFORE HE FALLS ASLEEP. LOVE YOU, TOO, BUT IT IS NONE TOO LATE AS HE HOLDS ME DOWN BREATHING HARD AND FAST, SHOW ME, HE SAYS, SHOW ME, SO I DO. THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE FIVE VERY DISTURBING PAGES I HAD HERE TO READ. I KNOW MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HE CRIES AND SAYS HE'S SORRY, SO SORRY, AND DO I FORGIVE HIM. HEAD ON MY LAP, BREATH HOT ON MY THIGHS. I SAY YES FOR HER, I SAY
039YES AND I USED TO FIGURE OUT HOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS ANITA MURPHY. I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. THIS IS HORRIBLE. THIS BOOK IS CALLED TRIANGLES BY ELLEN HOPKINS. THERE ARE SIX BOOKS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS IS PAGE 40. THE KISS I RETURNED IS NOT GENTLE. THIS ONE MAY HAVE BEEN READ PREVIOUSLY. I'LL SKIP. SORRY. THIS IS PAGE 140. IN UNISON TO THE TAUT KNOTS THAT ARE MY NIP AMS HE GROWS RIGID AGAINST MY LEG AND I SIGH BUT SAY NOTHING, AFRAID WORDS WILL WAKE ME FROM WHATEVER DREAM THIS HAS BECOME. ONE FINGER, TWO GO INSIDE ME, THREE, PLUNGING, I AM CLOSE BUT FIGHT CRESTING WITH ALL I HAVE. HE LICKS ALONG MY TORSO AND HIS FACE SEEKS THE V
040BETWEEN MY THIGHS, TONGUE JOINING FINGERS. BUT WHEN HE PUSHES INSIDE ME, THE INTENSITY OF HIS THRUST IS NOTHING I'VE EVER KNOWN. THIS IS PAGE 160. SHE IS BOLD KISSING ME WITHOUT CLEAR INVITATION OR MAYBE I DID INVITE HER SOMEHOW. NO MATTER, I CAN'T HELP BUT KISS HER BACK. I'M SORRY. HER POUT IS YIELDING. HER TONGUE, THE GENTLE FLICK OF A SERPENT TESTING AND SHE TASTES OF BERRIES. LIE BACK, SHE SAYS. LIFTS MY TOP, LICKS ME FROM MY NAVAL UPWARD. HER HAIR A SOFT TRICKLE OVER MY BELLY. SMELLS OF SUMMER, A HINT OF GRASS, I CLOSE MY EYES, GIVE MYSELF UP TO THE WORLD, GLOSSED LIPS AND PRACTICED TONGUE CIRCLING, CIRCLING, LIFTING ME CLOSER TO THE HORIZON. WHEN SHE GOES DOWN ON ME, THERE IS AN ELOQUENCE NO MAN CAN MATCH, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY SHE
041SAID BEING WITH WOMEN IS EASY. NAIVE ABOUT HOW TO GIVE BACK, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TRY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARY WELLS. THE NOWHERE GIRLS BY AMY REED. 77 IN HIGH SCHOOLS OF THESE. 11 ARE CURRENTLY CHECKED OUT. PAGE 9, IN A VERY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD, A VERY DIFFERENT GIRL CLOSES HER EYES AND LET'S GO. FEELS THE BOY'S HEAD BETWEEN HER LEGS, PAINTING PLEASURE ON HER BODY WITH HIS TONGUE, JUST LIKE SHE TAUGHT HIM. PAGE 46, VIRGINS COUNT DOUBLE HE SAYS MOST OF THE GUYS LEFT. START WITH THE FRESHMEN. THEY ARE THE EASIEST. PAGE 62, I'M 15 AND ABOUT TO MAKE OUT WITH ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SENIORS IN THE SCHOOL. I'M NOT EVEN SURE HE KNOWS MY NAME EVEN THOUGH HIS BODY SO HEAVY ON TOP
042OF MINE, I CAN'T MOVE, I CAN'T BREATHE, I DON'T WANT THIS. I DON'T WANT THIS ANYMORE. I WANT TO PUSH BUT MY WRISTS ARE PINNED DOWN AND MY PANTS ARE OFF. IT'S TOO LATE TO SAY NO. HER LAST SOLID MEMORY IS PAIN, THEN BLACK, THEN NOTHING, THEN GASPS FOR AIR, BRIGHT FLASHES IN THE DARKNESS, MEMORY SURFACE LIKE BUBBLES. A SEARING INEVIDENTABLY A LIFE TAKEN AND REDEFINED. STILLNESS, HEAVY BLANKET OF FLESH UNMOVING. SHE LETS HERSELF HOPE IT IS OVER. ANOTHER VOICE, YEAH, NO ONE IS COMING. DID YOU LOCK THE DOOR? HIS VOICE, ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU GOING TO BE A PUSSY, ANOTHER VOICE. EVERYBODY KNOWS ERIC JORDAN VOICE. ONE, TWO, THREE, HOW MANY CAN THERE BE. I'M GOING TO DIE ROCKING, THRASHING, NO MORE, NO MORE THAN POSSIBLY I IMAGINE. VOICE, TURN ON THE LIGHTS.
043I WANT TO SEE HER. SHOVING HER VOICE BACK INSIDE SHE SEES NOTHING, SHE IS DEAD, WHALE CARCASS TORN APART BY THE SEA. SHE'S PUKING. TURN HER OVER. HER HAIR IS CAKED WITH PUKE. SHE HURTS ALL OVER. HURT INSIDE. FLOOR IS LITTERED WITH CRUMPLED FLOORS AND HALF A DOZEN OF USED CONDOMS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CHAIRMAN COMBS, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PEOPLE TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS R.L. HILL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BUT I CANNOT DO THAT TODAY. INSTEAD, I TURN TO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS EFFORTS AND TIME TO EXPOSE THE PORNOGRAPHY THAT THIS BOARD HAS ALLOWED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PEOPLE I'M REFERRING TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE
044SO PUBLICLY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. TO THE BOARD, YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ALLOWING THIS PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL INTO OUR SCHOOLS. ALL OF YOU. BUT EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE BECOMING AWARE OF THE MARXIST AGENDA THAT YOU SUPPORT. IN TIME IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE LAWS AND/OR STATUTES THAT ADDRESS PROHIBITING PORNOGRAPHIC FILTH TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL BE ENFORCED AND ALL OF YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ANSWER BEFORE THE END OF THIS MEETING WHY IF THIS IS A PART-TIME JOB WE CANNOT MEET AT 7:00 IN THE EVENING INSTEAD OF 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WORK FOR A LIVING CAN MAKE THE MEETING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER,
045PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS, MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME IS SERENITY BALL. THE NAME OF THE BOOK REFERENCING TODAY IS THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. ONE BOOK AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST THE MAJORITY OF THE BOOK IS HORRIFIC. THIS IS THE VALENTINE'S DAY EDITION. I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S NINE AND IMAGINE HER READING THIS BOOK. SHE COULD READ IT NOW. IT'S EASIER ENOUGH TO READ BUT THE THOUGHT OF HER GETTING HER HANDS ON IT IS MAKING ME SHAKE. I SLID IT IN MY VAGINA. IT WAS SUDDENLY EASY AND FIT. YOUNG, READY, PULSING, YOUNG, READY, ALIVE. WITHOUT LOOKING, EYES STILL CLOSED, I PUT THE FINGER ON WHAT SUDDENLY BECAME ME. SUDDEN QUIVERING AT FIRST AND THEN THE QUIVERING BECAME A QUAKE, ERUPTION, THE QUAKING BROKE OPEN INTO AN ANCIENT HORIZON OF LIGHT AND SILENCE WHICH OPENED TO
046A PLANE OF MUSIC COLOR INNOCENCE AND LONGING, I FELT CONNECTION, CALLING CONNECTION, I LAID THERE THRASHING ABOUT ON MY LITTLE BLUE MAT. I -- LACE AND SILK AND LEATHER. I USED PROPS, WHIPS, HANDCUFFS, ROPES, DILDOS, NO WETNESS, NO DARKNESS MYSTERIOUS FOREPLAY. NO ERECT NIPPLES, NO DELICIOUS MOUTHS, MAINLY NO MOANER. I BECAME A MOANER. IT MADE MOST MEN ANXIOUS. FRANKLY TERRIFIED THEM. I WAS LOUD AND COULDN'T CONCENTRATE ON WHAT THEY WERE DOING. LOSE FOCUS, LOSE EVERYTHING. THEY COULDN'T MAKE LOVE IN THE HOME THE WALLS WERE TOO THIN. I HAD GOTTEN A REPUTATION IN MY BUILDING AND PEOPLE STARTED STARING AT ME WITH CONTEMPT IN THE ELEVATORS. MEN THOUGHT I WAS TOO INTENSE. SOME CALLED ME INSANE. I MADE NOISE -- I LEARNED TO CHOKE ON MY OWN MOLD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, IF WE
047COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 18 TO 25 PLEASE LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS, MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, MEMBER VAUGHN, I HOPE WE'RE NOT BORING YOU DURING THIS. I'M GOING TO BE READING -- STEVEN GALINDO. I'LL BE READING THE EXCERPTS FROM DOING IT, LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX BY HANNA WHITTEN. THIS BOOK IS IN TWO OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS. HE'S JUST CHASED YOU THROUGH AN AIRPORT TO STOP YOU FROM GETTING ON AN AIRPLANE AND FLYING TO YOUR NEW DREAM JOB. WOULD YOU GIVE UP SAID DREAM JOB FOR MR. SEXY METAL HAND? I SLEPT WITH SOMEBODY'S WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AND HE HAD A BIRTHMARK IN THE SHAPE OF A HEART ON HIS PENIS. FROM PAGE 29. WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, MOSTLY INSPIRED BY ANGUS THONGS AND FULL FRONTAL NOTHING MY
048FRIENDS AND I CAME UP WITH OUR OWN KISSING SCALE. LEVEL 3 IS WE SHOULD DATE OR HANG OUT. POTENTIAL TO DATE. THE IDEA OF SEEING YOU NAKED DOES NOT REPULSE ME, KNOWS HOW TO DRESS. WE CAN MAINTAIN A CONVERSATION. I'M CONFIDENT OF MY BEHAVIOR BETWEEN YOU. FIRE IN MY LOINS, SEX WITH YOU MULTIPLE TIMES. YOU ARE MY NUMBER ONE. I THINK ABOUT YOU A LOT. I WISH YOU WERE HERE. THIS IS FROM PAGE 49, WHAT IF I COME EARLY. SEX ISN'T AN ENDURANCE TEST, LIKE YOU SEE IN SOME PORN, ALSO IT'S QUITE LIKELY THAT IF YOU HAVE A PENIS THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE SEX YOU WILL EJACULATE QUICKLY AND THAT'S FINE IF YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE AND THEY COME EARLY, DON'T MAKE THEM FEEL EMBARRASSED LIKE THEY PROBABLY ALREADY FEEL. AND WHAT IF I
049DON'T COME AT ALL? FROM PAGE 54, MY TIPS FOR HAVING NON-PAINFUL SEX. LUBE. GO SLOW. LOTS OF FOREPLAY. RELAX, BREATHE, AND HAVE FUN. REMEMBER, YOU CAN STOP AT ANY POINT AND BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU ARE IN CONTROL, I.E., ON TOP. FROM PAGE 99, ALCOHOL AND SEX. I KNOW THIS BOOK IS AIMED FOR READERS 14 AND OLDER. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS KAREN LEONARDO. I'LL BE READING FROM TRICKS. ANOTHER LOVELY BOOK BY ELLEN HOPKINS, NOT REALLY. 33 BOOKS ARE IN OUR AREA HIGH SCHOOLS. FIRST PART I'M GOING TO READ IS VERY MILD. HE IS AND LET HIS HANDS EXPLORE THE ROUNDS OF MY BREAST, MOVE IN TIGHTER AND TIGHTER, ORBITS, AND NOW FINGERS CIRCLE THE HARD CENTER NUBS RAISED LIKE IT'S COLD IN HERE. BY THE WAY, THIS BOOK
050NORMALIZES TEENAGE SEX, RAPE, AND PAYING FOR SEX. SECOND, PAGE 120, BUT PAGE ONCE EVEN MORE, DID YOU LIKE USE YOUR MOUTH? HER EYES LIGHT UP. IS SHE WAITING FOR A BLOW-BY-BLOW DESCRIPTION? PAGE 268, SO, I'LL GO FIND A SPONSOR. SOME OLD VIAGRA STIFF QUEEN, HOPEFUL THAT BUYING A DRINK MEANS BUYING A LAY. THEY WERE THICK AS FLIES. THE TRUTH, THIS IS PAGE 291. THE TRUTH, I TOTALLY WANTED TO POP YOUR CHERRY. YOU WERE MY FIRST VIRGIN AND YOU'LL PROBABLY BE MY LAST BECAUSE, SORRY, BUT VIRGIN SEX ISN'T REALLY VERY GOOD. I JERKED MY HANDS OFF HIS LEGS, WOBBLED TO MY FEET, F YOU. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S ALL YOU MEANT -- ALL I MEANT TO YOU. ONE MORE GULP AND I REPEAT F YOU. PAGE 300 AND 301, I STARE AT EVIL. I SAID NO,
051NO EXTRA CHARGE, ALREADY PAID $200 FOR A GOOD TIME WITH YOU. MIGHT AS WELL MAKE IT VERY GOD. HE'S ON ME, YANKING MY HAIR, PUSHING ME TO MY KNEES. FLIPS ME OVER, YOU ARE EVEN PRETTIER FROM BEHIND. KNOW THAT, I HEAR A ZIPPER LOWER, LOUDEST SOUND EVER. DON'T, I TRIED BUT STICKS. LODGED IN MY THROAT. USELESS TO PLEAD, USELESS TO FIGHT, HE YANKS DOWN MY SHORTS IN A SINGLE SWIFT MOTION. HE IS ON ME, IN ME, HUMILIATING ME IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY RIGHT HERE ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS, MEMBERS. JEFFREY FRANKLIN. I AM HERE TODAY TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ANOTHER BOOK, KITE RUNNER, BY CALED HUSSEINY. HE HANDED HIS CIGARETTE TO THE GUY NEXT TO HIM, MADE A CIRCLE WITH THE THUMB AND INDEX
052FINGER OF ONE HAND. POKED THE MIDDLE FINGER OF HIS OTHER HAND THROUGH THE CIRCLE. POKED IT IN AND OUT. IN AND OUT. I KNEW YOUR MOTHER. DID YOU KNOW THAT? I KNEW HER REAL GOOD. I TOOK HER FROM BEHIND BY THE CREEK OVER THERE. WHAT A TIGHT LITTLE SUGARY CUNT SHE HAD. IT GOES ON, FINE, HE SNAPPED. ALL I WANT YOU WEAKLINGS TO DO IS HOLD HIM DOWN. CAN YOU MANAGE THAT. NODDED THEY LOOKED RELIEVE. PUT HIS HANDS ON THE HIPS AND LIFTED HIS BARE BUTTOCKS. KEPT ONE HAND ON THE BACK AND UNDID THE BELT BUCKLE WITH FREE HAND. UNZIPPED HIS JEANS, DROPPED HIS UNDERWEAR. HE POSITIONED HIMSELF BEHIND HAS SAN. HAS SAN DIDN'T STRUGGLE OR WHIMPER. MOVED HIS HEAD SLIGHTLY AND SAW A GLIMPSE OF THE FACE, SAW RESIGNATION ON IT, IT WAS A
053LOOK I HAD SEEN BEFORE. IT WAS THE LOOK OF THE LAMB. IT GOES ON, MY MIND FLASHED TO THAT WINTER DAY SIX YEARS AGO, ME, PEERING AROUND THE CORNER IN THE ALLEY, CAMEL AND WALLY HOLDING DOWN, BUTTOCK MUSCLES CLENCHING AND UNCLENCHING, HIS HIPS THRUSTING BACK AND FORTH. YOU HAVE THE LOOK OF A DESPERATE MAN. HE WAS QUIET FOR A LONG TIME. THERE IS THE OFFICIAL, HE MUTTERED HE VISITED ONCE EVERY OTHER MONTH OR TWO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS VINCENT MURPHY AND THIS BOOK IS IN 12 HIGH SCHOOLS. WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF. I'LL BE STARTING ON PAGE 34. IN MY ROOM I LIT CANDLES WHICH SETH DIDN'T MENTION. WHEN HE THROWS ME ONTO THE BED, THE ONE ON THE NIGHT STAND FLICKERS OUT. GETS OUT
054OF THE SWEATER, PULSE T-SHIRT OVER THE HEAD, TOSSES IT ASIDE AND KICKS OFF SHOES AND YANKS DOWN JEANS AND UNDERWEAR. ONE FIERCE MOVEMENT THERE HE IS NAKED, THICK THORN OF HIM, WET TIPPED AND HARD AND RUSH OF WETNESS FLOODS THE COTTON LINING OF MY THONG. TAKE OFF YOUR BRA. LATER ON IT SAYS SETH THRUST FORWARD ONTO THE BED AND BETWEEN MY LEGS AND THE THIN LACE BARRIER THAT SEPARATES US. MY THONG GETS TWISTED AS SETH TAKES IT OFF AND I HEAR IT RIP WHEN HE GROWS ANXIOUS AND RIPS TOO HARD. THEN SETH RISES ABOVE ME LIKE A WAVE OF SMELLS AND I SMILE BACK, PUSHES IN HARD AND FAST, IT HURTS AND FEELS GOOD ALL MIXED TOGETHER. PUTS ONE HAND ON MY STOMACH TO HOLD ME STILL. HE LIKES IT BEST HE SAYS WHEN I
055DON'T MOVE A LOT, WHEN I LET HIM BE IN CHARGE AND I KNOW HE LIKES TO FEEL HIMSELF INSIDE ME, UNDER HIS HAND, THE BACK AND FORTH MOTION OF IT. I BRACED MYSELF FOR A SECOND FOR THE WAY HE USUALLY PULLS OUT ROUGHLY AT THE END, THEN LOOKS IN MY EYES AND GRINS AND ASKS, OKAY, OKAY, I ANSWER. HIS EYES CLOSE AND HIS MOUTH TWISTS AND A VEIN ON HIS FORWARD BULGES OUT AND THRUSTS AGAIN AND AGAIN HARD INTO THE CENTER OF ME. I WANT TO LIKE IT BUT SORT OF DON'T. I FEEL HIM SPASM AND SPASM AND HE MAKES A SOUND THAT WOULD BE FUNNY IN A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE. THIS BOOK IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD.
056MAXIM, U.S. ARMY RETIRED. I WAS AT GOVERNOR DESANTIS' BRIEF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I WAS VERY DISTURBED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTY. AS A RETIRED ARMY OFFICER, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS CLEAR CRIMES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED RIGHT NOW. I ASK THE BOARD TO ENFORCE THE LAW BECAUSE IF I DID THIS, I WOULD BE ARRESTED, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ENFORCE THE LAW. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COMBS, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME IS SUE ZEALY. THE BOOK I'VE GOT TODAY, I DON'T HAVE THE COMPLETE BOOK, BUT IT IS CALLED THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN BY GARTH STEIN. THERE ARE 17 OF THESE BOOKS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. ON THE SURFACE IT LOOKS LIKE
057A REALLY CUTE BOOK BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN FROM THE DOG'S POINT OF VIEW, FROM THE TIME HE IS A PUPPY UNTIL HE HAS TO BE EUTHANIZED BUT ON THE COVER OF THE BOOK IT CLEARLY STATES ADULT, AND IT STATES CONTENT WARNING AND THEN GOES INTO THE CONTENT WARNING THAT IT'S FOR ADULTS. SO THIS BOOK IS IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE STATUTES THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED. THE FIRST ONE THAT I FOUND ON PAGE 17, THEY FELL INTO BED AND HE MOUNTED HER AND SHE SAID, THE FIELD IS FERTILE, BEWARE. AND HE SAID, I EMBRACE FERTILITY AND HE PLOWED THE FIELD UNTIL GRASPED THE SHEETS IN THE FISTS, AMPED THE BACK AND CRIED OUT WITH JOY. OF COURSE, SHE HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF HER TONGUE AND THUMB, WHEN I WATCHED HER KISS AND FONDLE HIM, SOMETIMES SHE
058WOULD GLANCE AT ME AND WINK AS TO GLOAT. THIS IS WRITTEN FROM THE DOG'S POINT OF VIEW. HE HAS NO THUMBS. ONE EVENING AFTER DINNER, WHICH WAS A SPECIAL ONE, THOUGH I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY, DENNY SUDDENLY APPEARED NAKED IN THE BEDROOM AND EVE WAS NAKED ON THE BED. SEEMS SO ODD THEY HADN'T MOUNTED OR PLAYED WITH EACH OTHER IN A LONG TIME. HE POSITIONED HIMSELF OVER HERE AND SAID THE FIELD IS FERTILE, I EMBRACE FERTILITY IT GETS WORSE AND THEY HAVE A SCENE OF RAPE WITH AN UNDERAGED PERSON. I IMPLORE YOU, REMOVE THE BOOKS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS. CHILDREN DON'T NEED TO BE READING THESE. LET THEM BE KIDS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 30 TO 35 LINE UP AGAINST
059THE WALL. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US SPEAK HERE. IT'S TERRIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I'M AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF MY CHURCH. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL. AND THERE'S A BOOK I'M GOING TO BE READING AN EXCERPT FROM. I'M NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNED WITH FINISHING IT BECAUSE I'VE SCANNED THROUGH IT AND THERE ARE COUNTLESS SCENES AND IT IS THE GIST YOU GET. MY PRAYER COMING OVER HERE WHAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE. WHAT IS AN EFFECTIVE SOUNDING BOARD FOR YOU GUYS. I THINK YOU'RE HEARING CONTENT. I'LL SHARE SOME CONTENT. THIS BOOK IS MAYBE NOT. BY COLLEEN HOOVER. IT'S ON THE WEBSITE OF THE AUTHOR AND ANOTHER COLLEEN HOOVER BOOK, 17 AND UP. IT'S AN EASY ONE. IT'S IN ONE SCHOOL, ONE HIGH SCHOOL. WE NEED TO GET IT
060REMOVED. I THINK THIS WILL BE EASY AFTER THIS BRIEF EXCERPT HERE. DISCIPLINE -- SELF-DISCIPLINE IS PRACTICED AND THESE BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR CHILDREN ISN'T HOW WE PRACTICE THAT. SHE STOPS MID AS SOON AS I CUP HER BETWEEN THE LEGS. I REACH DOWN TO HER THIGHS AND SPREAD HER LEG WITH MY HANDS. KEEP MY EYES FOCUSED ON HER AS I SLOWLY PUSH TWO FINGERS INSIDE HER WAITING FOR HER TO MOAN INTO HER PILLOW. DOESN'T MAKE A SOUND, I PULL OUT AND REENTER WITH THREE FINGERS. SHE PULLS AT MY HAIR AND SPREADS HER LEGS FOR ME WANTING ME TO BURY MYSELF IN HER. I DO. I SHOVE INTO HER SO HARD AND FAST SHE LETS OUT A MOAN. I TAKE ONE OF HER BREASTS IN MY HAND AND BRING IT TO MY MOUTH. I SMILE TRIUMPHANTLY. MY TONGUE
061SLIDES AGAINST HER, SEPARATING HER. LIFTS HER HIPS SEVERAL INCHES OFF THE BED SO I GRIP HER HIPS -- I CONTINUE TO LICK HER, DEVOUR HER, RUN MY TONGUE OVER EVERY BARE PART OF HER. LET'S JUST GET IT OUT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. JENNIFER FURLOUGH. I JUST RECENTLY RELOCATED FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, TO GET MY THREE CHILDREN OUT OF THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT I'M SEEING BEING BACK FOR SIX WEEKS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I INITIALLY TOLD OUR GROUP I WOULD BE HAPPY TO READ THE MOST WORSE CONTROVERSIAL BOOK THAT YOU COULD HEAR THAT IS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I WAS FLABBERGASTED TO SEE OUT OF 29 HIGH SCHOOLS, IT'S IN 6. IT TOOK ME UNTIL WAY INTO MY ADULTHOOD TO SAY A COUPLE OF
062THESE WORDS AND ONLY TO EXPLAIN HOW INAPPROPRIATE THEY WERE TO MY CHILDREN AT THE TIME. I HAVE A 21-YEAR-OLD GRADUATE IN COLLEGE, 13-YEAR-OLD AND A 9-YEAR-OLD. THE WORD COCK WAS LISTED 16 TIMES ON ONE PAGE. JUST ONCE. I WOULD IMPLORE YOU ALL TO GET THESE OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. THESE KIDS DON'T NEED IT. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE BOYS. I HAVE RAISED THESE BOYS TO BE RESPECTFUL, STRONG COMMUNITY PEOPLE. I LOOK UP AT ALL OF YOU AND I SEE NO REACTION. I'M FLABBERGASTED. WHEN I SAY I HAVE RUN VERY LARGE BOARDS IN VIRGINA, I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE I WOULD BE SITTING IN YOUR SPOT DEVASTATED. MY FACE WOULD DROP. IN ALL DUE RESPECT I SEE NO REACTION OUT OF ANY OF YOU. MY SUPERINTENDENT KNEW ME BY FACE, BY NAME AND SAW ME COMING
063THROUGH THE DOOR AND HER SHOULDERS SHRUGGED EVERY TIME BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT I WAS NEVER GOING TO STOP UNTIL THIS WAS OUT OF MY KIDS' FACE. IT IS SEXUALIZATION. NOT POLITICAL, NOT RELIGIOUS, IN SOME CASES FOR SOME OF US THAT IS RELIGIOUS, BUT THAT'S US AS PARENTS' CHOICE AND DETERMINATION. IF THERE IS A PARENT WHO WANTS TO TEACH THESE KIDS THESE BOOKS, BY ALL MEANS. LET THEM ON THEIR OWN TIME, NOT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE MY NINE-YEAR-OLD WHO IS THE WORST OF THE WORST WILL FIND HIS WAY TO THESE BOOKS AND COME HOME AND BE LIKE, WHOO-HOO, MOMMY, LOOK WHAT I FOUND. IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU, CHAIR, BOARD, AND SUPERINTENDENT. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO ALL OF THIS AFTERNOON. THE BOOK I AM
064READING FROM IS WINTER KEEP BY KRISTIN CASHOUR. AT LEAST 13 BOOKS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL LIBRARIES, HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO THIS IS FOR 11-YEAR-OLDS. CONVINCE MOTHER THAT SHE WOULD COME TO THE ATTIC FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE. SHE THOUGHT THEY PROBABLY SHOULD STAY THERE KISSING FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DO MUCH MORE. THE GUARD DIDN'T TRY TO PRESS HER. HE WAS MUCH LESS GRABBY THAN SHE WAS USED TO BUT SHE FELT HIM GROW HARD AND HEARD THE SOFT DESIRING NOISES HE MADE. HIS HANDS WERE GENTLE, WISHFUL BUT CAUTIOUS. IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE SHE HAD KISSED. GOES ON. SHE REACHED FOR HIS HAND AND PUT IT INSIDE HER ROBE MOVING IT AGAINST HER BREAST, A TECHNIQUE THAT HAD WORKED FOR EVERYONE BEFORE HIM. IT WORKED THIS TIME, TOO, BUT
065THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE HIS HAND WAS SHAKING AND HIS BREATH WAS CATCHING. THIS WAS PAGE 82, GOES ON TO PAGE 83. THEN SHE SAT UP REMEMBERING THE TEA SHE NEEDED TO DRINK TO GUARD AGAINST PREGNANCY. HAD SEX WITH ONE OF HER PARENT'S GUARDS. STILL DIDN'T KNOW THE GUARD'S NAME. WAS THAT NORMAL? 11-YEAR-OLDS. WE'RE GIVING THIS TO 11-YEAR-OLDS IN OUR SCHOOLS. SHE COULDN'T STOP -- WE DON'T NEED TO READ THAT ONE. SHE TOOK HOLD OF HIS HAND AND PUT IT INSIDE HER FUR COAT THANKING THE COLD FOR HER HARD NIPPLES. SHE GAVE HIM A MINUTE TO TOUCH HER, KISS HER THROAT. WASN'T TERRIBLE, ACTUALLY, IT WAS EVEN A LITTLE EXCITING. YOU'LL HAVE SEX WITH ANYTHING, WON'T YOU, PAGE 222, WHEN HE GRABBED HER AND HE WAS GRABBING HER HARD, MAN HANDLING HER AS HE HADN'T
066BEFORE. HE SHOVED HER HARDER PRESSING DOWN ON HER SHOULDERS, GET DOWN, HE SAID, THIS HAD BETTER BE A GOOD SCREW. THIS JUST GOES ON AND ON. 11-YEAR-OLDS. I WOULD REALLY EXPECT TO SEE A LITTLE MORE REACTION AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHEZ. I'M 21 YEARS OLD. I'M GETTING MARRIED IN MAY. I'M SO GLAD THAT I'M NOT BRINGING A BUNCH OF BAGGAGE INTO MY MARRIAGE. I AM THANKFUL THAT I NEVER HAPPENED UPON ONE OF THESE DESPICABLE, SHAMEFUL BOOKS IN MY SCHOOL LIBRARY. WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT THESE BOOKS FROM THIS BATTLE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS THAT YOUR HIRED LIBRARIANS HAVE CHOSEN THESE BOOKS FOR STUDENTS, CHILDREN, BOOKS THAT CONTAIN MORE EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT THAN MANY ADULTS EVEN WANT TO READ. THE GROUP I AM PART OF, YOUNG PEOPLE
067IN MY CIRCLES, WE DON'T DISCUSS THIS EXPLICIT CONTENT AND DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO TAKE PART IN IT. AN AGE THAT CAMDEN, MACY, DAX, THEIR FRIENDS AGE NO WAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THESE THINGS AT THEIR AGE AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THEIR NAMES. MY LIFE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE SAME IF I WAS EXPOSED AND CURIOSITY AWAKEN THAT EARLY. I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY ENCOUNTERED ANY OF THESE SITUATIONS IN THE REAL WORLD AND I GET SICK BEING EXPOSED TO THEM IN LITERATURE. I'M SICK RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T IMAGINE TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS OR ANYONE IN AUTHORITY WANTING TO GIVE THIS TO CHILDREN. IF IT CAN'T BE GIVEN TO KIDS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL WHICH WE KNOW IS A FELONY, CAN'T BE ON TV, NOT IN NEWSPAPERS, IF THEY CUT AWAY FROM THE VIDEO WITH THE IMAGES
068FROM THE BOOKS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING STANDING BY WHILE THEY DISH THIS OUT TO MINORS? HOW DO YOU DO NOTHING AND AVERT YOUR EYES AND IGNORE THIS? ALL THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND SICK HEARING THESE THINGS. WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? THE RATE WE'RE HEARING THESE THINGS REPEATED IN THE MEETINGS IS THE RATE THESE KIDS BY THE THOUSANDS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO THEM. IF YOU'VE BEEN SILENT ON THE ISSUE, AS I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE, THEN YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE. BUT YOU ARE NOT ULTIMATELY ACCOUNTABLE TO ME OR THESE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WELL, I'M GLAD FOR MY CHILDREN TO TAKE PART AND TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE. SUPER PROUD OF THEM, AND I'M TEMPTED TO COMPLETELY DITCH WHAT
069I HAD PLANNED BECAUSE I TOO AM JUST FLABBERGASTED TO SEE JUST THE BLANK FACES AND FOR TWO YEARS THE LACK OF THE COMPLETE, ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM MOST PEOPLE ON THE BOARD. I'VE HAD A FEW PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE GONE ANYWHERE FOR THE MOST PART. I KNOW THAT A COUPLE OF YOU ARE WORKING. WELL, AGAIN, THIS BOOK IS GAY, JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, I NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN BECAUSE THIS WAS CHOSEN BY A MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN, PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. YOU HEARD ABOUT IT TODAY. CONTAINS UNCONDEMNED PEDESTRIAN PHYLLO, HOW TO USE THE SEX HOOKUP APP. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO PUT IN THE HANDS OF THE WRONG PERSON LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THEIR BRAINS ARE NOT YET FULLY DEVELOPED. YET THE COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWED THE BOOK CHALLENGE CONTAINING THE
070PRINCIPAL AND LIBRARIAN OF THE SCHOOL UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO KEEP THIS BOOK THEN THE DISTRICTWIDE COMMITTEE CONTAINING THE SUPERVISOR OF LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST K-12 AND K-5, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LITERACY, SUPERVISOR, SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES 6-8, SUPERVISOR OF SITE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR DISTRICT WHO ALSO VOTED TO KEEP THIS BOOK IN THE SCHOOLS. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY BOOK. THIS IS THE BEGINNING. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY MARCH 28th, I'VE HEARD, THAT YOU WILL BE DECIDING ON THIS BOOK AS A DISTRICT. I HOPE YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. PARENTS, PLEASE BE AWARE. GO LOOK AT BOOK LOOKS.ORG AND COMPARE THOSE BOOKS WITH THE CONTENT THERE. BOOK LOOKS.ORG COMPARE WITH OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VIRTUAL LIBRARY AND YOU WILL SEE FOR YOURSELF.
071IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ALL THESE PEOPLE, GO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS WILL WHIT. READING AN EXCERPT FROM BOOK CALLED LUCKY. STARTED HUMPING ME WILDLY. BASE OF MY SPINE CRUSHED INTO THE GROUND. RAISE YOUR LEGS, SPREAD THEM. HAND ON EACH CALF AND PRESSED FARTHER THAN I COULD HOLD. KEEP THEM HERE. KNEAD HIS FIST AGAINST THE OPENING OF MY VAGINA. INSERTED FINGER THREE OR FOUR AT A TIME. SOMETHING TORE. I BEGAN TO BLEED. I WAS WET. HE WAS EXCITED. AS HE WORKED HIS FIST INTO MY VAGINA, HE KICKED ME AND I CURLED INTO A BALL. I WANT A BLOW JOB. I NEVER DONE IT I'M A VIRGIN. PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH. KNEEL BEFORE HIM. GUYS, SERIOUSLY, WOULD YOU EVER READ THIS TO YOUR
072OWN CHILDREN? NO? IF YOU WOULDN'T READ IT TO YOUR OWN CHILDREN, THEN WHY IS THIS IN THE SCHOOLS? IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A BOOK LIKE THIS AND GO OUT ONTO THE STREET AND READ IT TO CHILDREN, YOU COULD BE ARRESTED FOR THE PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGERY THAT IS IN THIS BOOK. I CALL ON ALL OF YOU TO DO YOUR JOB, WHICH IS TO PROTECT AND TO REPRESENT CHILDREN, AND IF YOU DO NOTHING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO EXCUSES, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEXUALIZATION OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. DEBBIE HUNT. CHAIR, MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, I BRING TO YOU A BOOK CALLED PROSTITUTION AND SEX TRAFFICKING. AND THIS IS IN TWO OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, JUST THE CLEAR TITLE OF IT IS IN VIOLATION OF 847.001, HARMFUL TO MINORS.
073THE INFORMATION THAT IS IN HERE IS DAMAGING TO THEM. ON PAGE 64, PIMPS HAVING EVEN MORE POWER, CONTINUE THREATENING AND BRUTALIZING THE WOMEN THEY CONTROL. BUYERS CONTINUE TO ABUSE WOMEN, REFUSE TO WEAR CONDOMS AND SPREAD THE HIV VIRUS AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES TO THEIR WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS. SIGMA ADVERTISED BY IDENTITY CARDS AND MEDICAL INSPECTIONS, PROSTITUTED WOMEN ARE EVEN MORE MARGINALIZED AND TIGHTLY LOCKED INTO THE SYSTEM OF ORGANIZED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION WHILE THE STATE NOW AN OFFICIAL PARTY TO THE EXPLOITATION HAS BECOME THE BIGGEST PIMP OF ALL. ON PAGE 115, GROWING UP IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE, BOYFRIEND DA MYERS LOOK -- BRENDA MYERS LOOKED UP TO THE PROSTITUTES WORKING OUTSIDE HER WINDOW. I ASKED MY GRANDMOTHER WHAT THOSE WOMEN WERE DOING. SHE SAID THEY TAKE THEIR PANTIES OFF FOR MONEY. AT AGE 9 THIS IDEA DIDN'T
074STRIKE MYERS AS ODD. A FAMILY MEMBER HAD BEEN MOLESTING HER FOR YEARS AND SHE GREW UP UNDERSTANDING THAT HER BODY WOULD BE THE WAY SHE GOT BY. I WAS THINKING, WELL, THEY ARE ALREADY TAKING MY PANTIES OFF AND I WASN'T GETTING ANY MONEY, SO I'LL MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT. MYERS BECAME MIRED IN A CYCLE OF DEPENDENCY ON DRUGS, ALCOHOL, PROSTITUTION AND ABUSE OF RELATIONSHIPS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PAGES IN THIS BOOK AS WELL THAT ARE EQUALLY PORNOGRAPHIC OR DAMAGING, HARMFUL TO CHILDREN, BUT THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHICH IS GAIL SINGAUGE LEARNING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. ANTONIO ANISEY. I'LL PREFACE MY COMMENT BY REMINDING YOU OF FLORIDA STATUTE 847.012, A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWINGLY SELL, RENT, OR LOAN TO A
075MINOR ANY BOOK, PAMPHLET OR MAGAZINE EXPLICIT AND DETAILED VERBAL DESCRIPTIONS OR NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS OF SEXUAL EXCITEMENT OR SEXUAL CONDUCT THAT IS HARMFUL TO MINORS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CARNIVAL AT BRAY BY JESSE ANN FOLEY. THIS BOOK IS IN NINE HIGH SCHOOLS AND YOUTH SERVICES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SHE COULD FEEL HER NIPPLES PUCKER AND TIGHTEN IN THE SALTED WIND. HE BEGAN TO SUCK THEM HARD AND SHE GRIMACED LOOKING OVER HIS HEAD. HE FOUND HER WARM OPENING AND TWISTED TWO FINGERS INSIDE. HE PULLED HIS HAND FROM BETWEEN HER LEGS AND SHE HEARD THE DULL CLINKING OF HIS BELT BUCKLE, SHARP EXHALE OF THE ZIPPER BEING UNDONE. PUT YOUR MOUTH ON IT, HE WHISPERED. HE PUT HIS HANDS ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD AND PUSHED HER CLOSER TO HER THIGHS SO SHE WAS NEARLY CHOKING ON
076IT. TO STOP HERSELF FROM VOMITING, SHE SPIT IT ON THE WET GROUND. HOW CAN FIVE OF SEVEN OF YOU SIT HERE AND TELL ALL OF US AND EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTY THAT THIS DOES NOT VIOLATE THIS CRIMINAL STATUTE? THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. RIVERA FROM BRANDON, RETIRED TEACHER. I AM GOING TO READ, FROM THE BOOK LILA. THERE ARE FIVE OF THESE BOOKS IN HIGH SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND RATED 17-PLUS IN COLLEEN HOOVER AUTHOR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COVER OF THIS BOOK, YOU WILL SAY, OH, LOVE -- OH, A LOVELY TEENAGER STORY, BUT NOT. THERE IS A LOT OF SEXUAL CONTENT IN THIS BOOK. ALL THE PAGES I MARKED THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONTENT. BEFORE I HAVE A CHANCE TO READ ANYTHING, LET ME SAY SOMETHING. FOR MANY
077GENERATIONS, MANY GENERATIONS, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WERE ALLOWED. WE WERE IN CHARGE OF STUDENT'S EDUCATION. WE ARE. STILL ARE, BECAUSE YOU ARE DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY AND WE DELEGATED AN AUTHORITY THAT WE CAN REMOVE FROM YOU GUYS. DON'T SIT THERE VERY COMPLICIT AND HEADS DOWN BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THIS. WE ARE ALL TIRED OF THIS AND WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT ANYMORE. IT IS ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSING THAT WE HAVE TO READ TO PARENTS IN ESPANOL OR IN ENGLISH, THE KIND OF WORDS THAT WE HEAR. LIKE THIS ONE, I TOLD HER A FEW MINUTES AGO SHE WAS THE BEST SEX I EVER HAD. I EXPECTED HER TO RETURN THE COMPLIMENT, BUT SHE JUST SMILED AND SAID, OH, WE ALWAYS THINK THAT WHEN
078WE ARE -- BUT IT'S JUST ALWAYS THE SAME THING WHEN IT COMES AROUND. LET ME TELL YOU, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR PROMISCUOUS LIFE. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THAT. PREPARING STUDENTS FOR PROMISCUOUS LIFE. SORRY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LAURA KISSIC. I AM A MOM OF THREE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TWO POINTS, MAINLY ABOUT FLORIDA STATUTE 847.012 AND SINCE MANY HAVE READ IT IN FULL I WANT TO ZERO IN ON THE PART THAT SAYS ANY ADULT MAY NOT KNOWINGLY DISTRIBUTE. KNOWINGLY IS THE KEY. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN READING FROM THESE BOOKS FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF AND YOU DEFINITELY KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH THIS INFORMATION TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND THEREFORE KNOWINGLY PROVIDING PORN TO MINORS AS
079STATED IN 847.012 WHICH IS A THIRD DEGREE FELONY. INTERESTINGLY, THE ONLY ACTION HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS TAKEN IS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON PROVIDING PORN TO MINORS BY KEEPING THIS BOOK IS GAY ON THE SHELF AT PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS IS A BOOK THAT PROVIDES MIDDLE SCHOOLERS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE AN ONLINE ADULT SEX APP. AND TELLS STUDENTS, QUOTE, PORN IS FINE IN FUN. THEY ARE TELLING 12-YEAR-OLDS THAT. RATHER THAN SIMPLY REMOVE THE BOOK FOR BEING AGAINST FLORIDA LAW, THE COMMITTEE DETERMINED THE BOOK REMAIN BECAUSE IT HAS CONCEPTS THAT SUPPORT THE TEEN GAY COMMUNITY. SUPPORTING THE TEEN GAY COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT ENTAIL STEERING MINORS TOWARDS APPS THAT ARE MEANT FOR ADULTS AND CAN ALSO SET THEM UP TO LEAD TO PEDOPHILES AND SEX TRAFFICKERS. THIS THEN LEADS TO MY SECOND POINT. AN ATTORNEY FOR THE
080AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IS ON RECORD FOR SAYING, MESSAGING REGARDING BOOKS THAT ARE SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR MINORS NEEDS TO BE REFRAMED AS PROMOTING DIVERSE MATERIALS THAT ARE ABOUT INCLUSION AND FAIRNESS. THAT IS EXACTLY THE GAME PLAYED HERE AT PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ORDER TO WASH THEIR HANDS CLEAN OF INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL MATERIALS FOR MINORS THEY REPACKAGE THEM AS INFORMATIVE CONCEPTS TO SUPPORT THE GAY COMMUNITY AND VOILA, NOTHING TO SEE HERE. LUCKILY WE HAVE AN ARMY OF CONCERNED PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE WISE TO THESE GAMES AND ARE WILLING TO CONTINUALLY SPEAK OUT AGAINST THESE PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES. WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THEN IF WE COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 37 TO 43. I'LL BE READING FROM GIRL TO GIRL, WHICH IS IN THREE HILLSBOROUGH
081HIGH SCHOOLS. BY JULIE ANN PETERS. TWO OF THEM LUNGED AT ME TRAPPING MY ARMS BEHIND THE MY BACK. WREAKED OF BEER, WE'D AND CIGARETTES. SUDDEN CHILL ON MY STOMACH MADE ME GASP. LOOK AT THAT. HIS FOREHEAD TOUCHED MY BREAST BONE. THERE IS SOMETHING DOWN THERE. HANDS PRESSED AGAINST BOTH BREASTS. I SEE CLEAVAGE. INSERTED INDEX FINGER BETWEEN ME. FOUND THE END OF THE BANDAGE AND SPUN ME ROUND AND ROUND AS HE UNWRAPPED IT. TRIED TO PLANT MY FEET, KICK, ELBOW, BUT THEY KEPT SPINNING AND SPINNING ME. THE WRAP BECAME FREE. WHOA, NICE RACK. ANOTHER ONE WENT, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO COVER UP THESE PRETTY THINGS. SOMEONE PINCHED MY NIPPLE. I THOUGHT IT ISN'T ME. THEY ARE NOT MY BREASTS. THEY ARE COMING OFF. CUT FACE TRIED TO TWIST ME. GROSS, YOU KNOW YOU'RE KISSING A
082GUY. HE GRABBED MY BOOBS, SQUEEZED HARD, SUCTIONED HIS LIPS ONTO MINE. HAND SLID BETWEEN MY LEGS, WHOA, HO, WHAT HAVE WE HERE. CUT FACE UNZIPPED MY PANTS. WE'RE JUST HAVING A LITTLE FUN HERE. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO SAID YOU ARE BORED WITH FEMALE. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WANTED TO GO CRUISING AND FIND A CHEAP HO. YOU GOT YOUR WISH. I TRIED TO MOVE, RUN, BUT MY PANTS WERE AROUND MY ANKLES. THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ROOM IN OUR LIBRARIES. YOU'RE REMOVING CLASSICS, CLASSICS, OTHER BOOKS WITH VALUABLE MATERIAL ABOUT OUR COMMON CULTURAL HERITAGE. OUR COMMON CULTURAL HERITAGE. AND INSTEAD YOU'RE PUTTING PORNOGRAPHY IN ITS PLACE. THIS ISN'T ACCEPTABLE. IT NEEDS TO STOP. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MEA. I WANT TO START BY SAYING I HAVE LISTENED TO
083A LOT OF THE BOOKS, A LOT OF THE EXCERPTS AND AS AN ADULT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE. I AM CRINGING IN MY SEAT, EVEN AT THE WALL. I'M SHUTTERING AT THE THOUGHT OF HALF OF THE IMAGES. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR CHILDREN TO BE EXPOSED TO THIS. BOOK READING FROM IS SLOPPY FIRST. HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE MESSY BY MEGAN McCAFFERTY. THIS IS IN TEN HIGH SCHOOLS. LET ME START BY READING ONE PORTION. IT STARTS BY SAYING ROB'S RECENT CLAIM TO FAME IS THAT HE CELEBRATED A VICTORY BY PERSUADING A FRESHMAN CHEERLEADER TO HIDE UNDER HIS VARSITY JACKET AND SUCK HIM OFF IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE BUS. THAT'S PAGE 21. ANOTHER EXCERPT, PAGE 352 SAYS, THIS IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I WAS BASICALLY A BORN AGAIN VIRGIN, SO IN A WAY I DON'T
084BLAME BLAKE FOR SCREWING MIRANDA. HE WAS REALLY HORNY. AGAIN, THIS IS MATERIAL THAT IS BEING READ TO TEENAGERS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN YOU EXPOSE TEENAGERS TO PORNOGRAPHY, YOUNG PEOPLE TO PORNOGRAPHY EARLY ON, NOT ONLY ARE THEY HYPERSEXUALIZED, THEY ARE OPEN TO MORE STDs. THERE IS A HIGHER CHANCE OF ABORTION. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THIS HAS AN IMPACT ON. THIS IS A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT. I'M ASKING WHAT TYPE OF CHILDREN OR WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE ARE YOU ALLOWING TO BE RELEASED INTO SOCIETY. RIGHT NOW IT MIGHT SEEM BENIGN BUT THEY WILL GROW UP. THEY WILL BE GROWN HAVING ALREADY BEEN EXPOSED TO ALL OF THIS AND WE HAVE NO IDEA OF THE IMPACT, THE LASTING IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON US AS A WHOLE. I ASK THAT THESE BOOKS BE REMOVED. Nadia Combs:
085THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT, NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS ALL TO PIGGYBACK OFF THE LAST SPEAKER, YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THE EFFECTS SOME OF THIS IS HAVING ON OUR WHOLE SOCIETY. YOU SEE THE SUICIDE. YOU SEE THE STDs. YOU SEE THE ABORTIONS. YOU SEE THE DEVASTATED TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO COPE WITH LIFE. HOW ARE WE PREPARING OUR STUDENTS? ARE WE PREPARING THEM WITH A TRUE ABILITY TO COPE WITH THIS SOCIETY WITH THIS WORLD THAT THEY ARE LIVING IN? ARE WE PREPARING THEM FOR SUICIDE FOR DEAD END. MY NAME IS SARAH WILLIAMS. I AM A PARENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MY KIDS ARE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS IF YOU GUYS DON'T REMOVE THEM. I FIGHT VERY HARD
086FOR THEM. I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE DESTROYED BY THIS MATERIAL. I HAVE A BOOK CALLED EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE BY JONATHAN SAFFRON FOYER. IT IS IN 23 HIGH SCHOOLS HERE AND ONE YOUTH SERVICES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. ON PAGE 177, I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR HIM, MAYBE THAT WAS MY SICKNESS. WE MADE LOVE IN NOTHING PLACES AND TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF. IT FELT LIKE CRYING. WE COULD NOT LOOK AT EACH OTHER. AND IT ALWAYS HAD TO BE FROM BEHIND, LIKE THAT FIRST TIME. AND I KNEW THAT HE WASN'T THINKING OF ME. ME, PAGE 145, I KNEW HIM, HORATIO, A JERK OF INFINITE STUPIDITY, MOST EXCELLENT MASTURBATOR IN THE SECOND FLOORS BATHROOM. I HAVE PROOF. HE'S ALSO DYSLEXIC. WHERE ARE YOUR GAMBLES, YOUR SONGS. JIMMY SAID, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? RAISE HIS HAND
087TO SCOREBOARD, YOU FUDGING CREVICE HOLE DIPA SHITAKE. SHE DIDN'T TURN HER HEAD TO THE SIDE, DIDN'T CLOSE HER EYES, STARE -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. DESPICABLE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. FRED ROCK. I'M A FATHER AND A GRANDFATHER. THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY IS JUST APPALLING. I HAVE EXCERPTS TO READ, BUT I'M LOOKING AT FACES, ONE PARTICULAR ONE THAT I WISHED FROM DISTRICT TWO WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, WHETHER SHE'S INTERESTED, I DON'T KNOW. WHY AM I CALLING HER OUT? BECAUSE INACTIVITY IS CAUSING PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE PLACE. LONG STORY SHORT, YOUR JOB IS A LOT EASIER -- Jim Porter: THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT. IT IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK. THE BOARD DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN YOU SPEAK. WE WOULD RESPECT THE RIGHT FOR YOU TO
088SPEAK, BUT WE ALSO NEED YOU TO RESPECT THE BOARD. WE DON'T NEED TO CALL NAMES. WE DON'T NEED TO CHEER AND APPLAUD WHILE TRYING TO SPEAK. IT INTERRUPTS EVERYONE. WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE, BUT WE CAN'T LET THIS DEVOLVE INTO SOME SORT OF RIOT. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING. THANK YOU. YOUR JOB, THE HARD, HEAVY LIFTING IS ALREADY DONE. THE LAWS ARE IN PLACE. YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE ENFORCING OF THESE LAWS. YOU HAVE STAFF THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BOOKS THAT ARE IN OUR LIBRARIES AND POINTED THEM OUT TO YOU. YOU'VE GOT A ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE POINTING EACH INDIVIDUAL EXCERPT FOR YOU. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE AS THE CONSTITUENTS HERE NEED TO DO, BUT DO THE RIGHT
089THING. WE NEED YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND I BELIEVE IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION YOU WILL. THANK YOU. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MY NAME IS TERRY ROCK. I AM A PRODUCT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. I CAN HONESTLY SAY TILL I OPENED THIS BOOK, CRANK BY ELLEN HOPKINS, I'D NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF SMUT. AND IT'S IN 48 HIGH SCHOOLS AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS BOOK IS DISGUSTING. I WAS AN AVID READER. I'M STILL AN AVID READER, BUT I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT'S IN THIS BOOK. JUST A SMALL AMOUNT. CRANK EYED PISTONS FIRING FULL BORE. PASSIONS FIRECRACKERED IN TINY BURSTS. FROM THE THIGH TO THE BELLY BUTTON, OH, BABY, I WANT YOU SO BAD, BAD TO THE BONE. WE LAUGHED BUT IT WASN'T A JOKE, NOT FOR LONG. MY
090SHIRT TORE OPEN. WAIT, I'VE WAITED FOR WEEKS. PUT UP AND SHUT UP. OFF CAME THE SHORTS, DOWN WENT HIS ZIPPER. I REALIZED I WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. I'LL SCREAM. GO AHEAD. NO ONE CAN HEAR BUT THE SKUNKS AND THE COYOTES. STILL AS I OPENED MY MOUTH HE SLAPPED HIS HAND OVER IT. REALLY? DO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO READ? IT'S DISGUSTING. PLEASE DO WHAT'S RIGHT. IT'S THE LAW. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN COMBS, MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHRIS KOONTZ. I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN IN RIVERVIEW. THIS IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME. I THINK ABOUT YOU ALL FACING OUT AND SEEING US. I KNOW IT CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU ALL, SO I AM SORRY. BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EDUCATION THAT MY
091GRANDCHILDREN ARE GETTING AND ALL THIS GENERATION OF CHILDREN. YOU ALL SAW THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THAT CAME IN AND HEARD SOME OF THE SPEAKERS AND THE BOOK THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT, THIS PART I'M GOING TO READ, THE MAIN CHARACTERS ARE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER, OLDER MIDDLE SCHOOLER, AND A HIGH SCHOOLERS. IT'S FROM THE BOOK CALLED BEAUTIFUL BY AMY REED. IF I HAD BEEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SAW LIKE THIS PICTURE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO IT. IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE GIRLS ARE SELF CONSCIOUS, THEY WANT TO READ IT. ANYWAY, IT IS IN FIVE SCHOOLS. THIS IS FROM PAGE 25. IT SAYS, THE WALLS ARE DRIPPING BECAUSE I AM ON ACID. HE IS NOT YET ON ACID. THE TAB IS STILL ON HIS TONGUE, DISSOLVING, TASTING LIKE A SPIT WAD. I'M
0921 AND ON ACID. HE'S 15 AND WILL BE ON ACID SOON. THEN HIS TONGUE GOES IN MY MOUTH AND THIS IS NOTHING LIKE A FIRST KISS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AND JAMES' TONGUE IS IN MY MOUTH AND IT TASTES LIKE SOMETHING DUSTY, SMALL, DARTING AROUND AND HITTING MY TEETH LIKE IT IS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET INSIDE OF ME. A TRAPPED DOOR, SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING HIDDEN AND UNLOCK. MY TEETH OPEN AND HIS TONGUE GOES INSIDE AND I TRY TO KEEP UP BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING AND I'M SCARED BECAUSE IT IS JUST ME AND HIM. THE SOUND OF A ZIPPER UNZIPPING AND I'M WEARING A WHITE COTTON BALL THAT IS NOT A BAD GIRL BRA. HE SAID, IS THIS A TRAINING BRA? I SHRUG -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
093GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US TALK. I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO DO THIS. IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. I'LL BE READING FROM A BOOK CALLED BREATHLESS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S FULL OF ALL KINDS OF GREAT STUFF. THERE ARE 13 COPIES, 13 SCHOOLS, THREE CHECKED OUT. I WANTED TO READ YOU THE WARNING, SUMMARY OF CONCERNS. THE BOOK CONTAINS OBSCENE SEXUAL ACTIVITIES, SEXUAL NUDITY, CONTROVERSIAL AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY, ALTERNATE SEXUALITIES, REFERENCE TO SUICIDE, PROFANITY, ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE BY MINORS. SHANE IS KISSING ME AND HIS HANDS ARE EVERYWHERE. OH, YEAH, I THINK THERE. THAT'S GOOD. EVEN AS I'M HELPING HIM UNZIP HIS JEANS AND THEN WE'RE KISSING AGAIN, HARDER AND HARDER UNTIL I HALF EXPECT HIM TO INHALE MY MOUTH, TONGUE, ENTIRE FACE. IN THE MOMENT I WANT HIM TO BECAUSE OF THE WAY MY
094BODY IS PRESSING INTO HIS, WANTING TO FEEL MORE. SHANE HAS HIS TONGUE IN MY EAR BUT CAN I STILL HEAR THE MUSIC OUTSIDE. BEING HOT IS NOT WHAT I'M KNOWN FOR. I KISS HIM A WHILE LONGER. THEN HE GIVES MY UNDERWEAR A TUG. SHANE'S HANDS ARE SNAKING THEIR WAY DOWN AND SUDDENLY SOMETHING HARD AND DAMP AGAINST MY THIGH. I SHIFT A LITTLE SO HE CAN'T SLIDE IT IN. ALWAYS ENDS THE SAME WAY. HIM COMING INTO THE AIR, ON HIS SHIRT, HIMSELF OR MY LEG. SHANE IS STARING AT ME AND EYES ROLLING AND BREATH COMING FASTER AND FASTER AND HUMPING MY LEG LIKE A DOG. THEN HE GROANS AND EXPLODES ALL OVER MY INNER THIGH. THIS IS WHEN I FREAK OUT. I SWEAR, I CAN FEEL SOME OF IT DRIPPING INTO ME. I WANT TO SAY
095THAT IF YOU ALL THINK, AND I THINK THERE IS A PLAN FOR YOU TO LOOK AT A BOOK, IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ONE AND TAKE IT DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY, I'M SORRY, BUT WE WON'T. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS CHRIS BEARD. I AM READING FROM THE BOOK CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE. THERE ARE 58 OF THESE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. 58 OF THEM FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. I'M GOING TO READ. HE WENT DOWN ON HIS KNEES ON THE POWDERY SAND BEACH LAYING HER AS GENTLY AS HE COULD ON TOP OF THE PILE OF THEIR HEAPED CLOTHES. SHE SCRAMBLED AND THEN GAVE UP, LYING BACK AND PULLING HIM DOWN
096ON TOP OF HER, KISSING FIERCELY UNTIL HE GROAN AND WHISPERED. YOU HAVE TO TELL ME. I CAN'T THINK. IT'S OKAY SHE WHISPERED BACK. IT'S OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE TO STOP. I WANT TO. SHE KISSED HIM SLOW AND HARD. I WANT TO, IF YOU DO. IF I WANT TO. THERE WAS A WILD EDGE TO HIS SOFT LAUGH. CAN'T YOU TELL. AND THEN HE WAS KISSING HER AGAIN, SUCKING HER LOWER LIP INTO HIS MOUTH, KISSING HER THROAT AND MOUTHING HER COLLARBONE AS SHE RAN HER HANDS ALL OVER HIM. FREE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE COULD TOUCH HIM AS MUCH AS SHE LIKED. HOWEVER SHE LIKED. SHE FELT AS IF SHE WERE DRAWING HIM, HER HANDS MAPPING HIS BODY, THE SCOPE OF HIS BACK, FLAT STOMACH, INDENTATIONS ABOVE THE HIPS, MUSCLES IN THE ARMS AS IF LIKE A
097PAINTING HE WERE COMING TO LIFE UNDER HER HANDS. WHEN HIS HANDS SLID UNDERNEATH HER BRA SHE GASPED AT THE SENSATION AND THEN NODDED AT HIM. WHEN HE FROZE, HIS EYES QUESTIONING. THE CURRENT SEXUAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM IN HILLSBOROUGH AND MANY OTHER COUNTIES THROUGHOUT OUR NATION NOT ONLY ENCOURAGES SEX, BUT PROVIDES INFORMATION TO INCLUDE EXPLICIT PICTURES OF A VARIETY OF SEXUAL ACTIVITIES WITH MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIP OPTIONS. THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. IF I COULD HAVE SPEAKERS 44 TO 52 TO PLEASE LINE UP. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS VANESSA VASQUEZ. I AM A HILLSBOROUGH RESIDENT AND PARENT. I STAND HERE BECAUSE IT SHOULD TROUBLE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT ONE OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WAS RECENTLY CAUGHT RED-HANDED ON CAMERA IN A SECRET MEETING
098WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF THE MURDEROUS CUBAN REGIME. CUBA IS THE NUMBER ONE STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM, ACCORDING TO OUR U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT. THE FACT THAT THIS MEETING TOOK PLACE IS REPREHENSIBLE AND NOT ONLY SENDS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO AMERICANS AND THE WORLD, BUT IT ALSO DIRECTLY UNDERMINES OUR COUNTRY'S FOREIGN POLICY POSITION ON ONE OF OUR NATION'S MOST OLDEST FOREIGN ADVERSARIES. THIS ACT BY THIS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CAN BE EASILY VIEWED AS TREASONOUS. WHY? BECAUSE SHE NOT ONLY VIOLATED THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION POTENTIALLY BUT ALSO MULTIPLE FEDERAL LAWS. JUST TO NAME A FEW, TRADING WITH THE ENEMY, ACT OF 1917. THE LOGAN ACT. THE FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT, AND THE UNITED STATES EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST YOU WITH OUR CHILDREN? ANY TYPE OF PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CUBAN REGIME IS NOT ONE THAT WE
099VALUE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THESE VALUES AND IDEALS ARE THREATENED WHEN LOCAL MEMBERS OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND ANY MEET WITH FOREIGN TERRORIST COUNTRY MEMBERS. SO I AM HERE STANDING TO CALL FOR THE RESIGNATION OF KAREN PEREZ. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. I'M TERESA MILLER. I AM A LIFE ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. TODAY I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR THOSE INNOCENT CHILDREN THAT ARE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS. I SAW YOUR MOTTO THERE. AND YOUR MOTTO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, BUT THESE BOOKS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A LIFE OF POLL DANCING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND PORN FILM STARS. PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE SILENT NO MORE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. AS A
100CHRISTIAN, I'M CALLED TO BE GOD'S MESSENGER. WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH OUR MESSAGE WILL BE BETWEEN YOU AND GOD ON JUDGMENT DAY. SO THE BOOK, MINE IS A DELUXE EDITION. MORE HAPPY THAN NOT. AND THIS POOR YOUNG BOY HAS LOST HIS DAD. APPARENTLY THE ANSWER TO HAPPINESS AND GRIEVING IS TO HAVE SEX, BOTH GAY SEX AND STRAIGHT SEX. IN THIS BOOK, HE GOT IT ON -- OH, COLIN HAS LOST BOTH VIRGINITIES. HE GOT IT ON WITH HIS GIRL WHEN HE WAS ONLY 14 AFTER SHE GAVE HIM A HAND JOB UNDER THE BLEACHERS IN THE GYM. THEN HE LET A GUY BLOW HIM LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS VACATIONING IN THE POCONOS. I SHOVE HIM. HE SHOVES ME BACK. I TACKLE HIM AGAINST THE WALL, UNBUTTONING HIS SHIRT AND IT'S ALL CONDOMS AND AWKWARD MEMORIES
101FROM THERE ON. THIS PAGE, THE ONE PARAGRAPH HAS THE F WORD 24 TIMES IN IT IN THAT ONE COLUMN, OR ONE PARAGRAPH. SO BASICALLY I DON'T NEED TO READ IT. IT JUST REPEATS THE F WORD SEVERAL TIMES. I REALLY HOPE THESE AREN'T THE BOOKS THAT YOU CHOOSE TO LEAD TO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AT NIGHT. I USED TO CHECKBOOKS OUT FROM MY KIDS' LIBRARIES AND I WOULD READ THEM. NONE OF THESE SHOULD BE IN THE LIBRARIES FOR ANYONE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KALEB MOYER. I'LL READ A SMALL SECTION FROM A BOOK CALLED EXIT HERE BY JASON MYERS. YOU WOULD FIND THIS IN BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. SHE STRADDLES ME. I SLIP HER NAVY BLUE TOP OFF AND SQUEEZE HER BREASTS. THEY ARE A LOT BIGGER THAN WE WERE 15. SHE
102LAUGHS AND TAKES A HUGE PULL FROM THE BOTTLE AND LEANS DOWN AND STARTS KISSING ME. JIM BEAM RUNS DOWN MY CHIN, THE SIDES OF MY FACE, OVER MY CHEST AND BEFORE I CLOSE MY MOUTH, SHE SPITS MORE BOOZE INTO IT AND I SWALLOW. I WANT YOU INSIDE ME, SHE MOANS. I SIT UP AND PUT MY HANDS ON THE SIDE OF HER WAIST AND ROLL HER OVER PINNING HER BACK AGAINST THE COOL SURFACE OF THE SLIDE. I UNBUTTON THE JEANS AND SHE DOES THE SAME AND WRAPS HER HANDS AROUND MY DICK AND BEGINS MASSAGE IT. I LEAN CLOSER PLANTING -- WE RUB THE TIPS OF HUR TONGUES. SPIT IN MY MOUTH. I DRAW A GLOB AND DROP IT INTO HERS. AWESOME. SHE SWALLOWS. I PUSH HER LEGS FARTHER APART AND WRAPS THE TIP OF MY PENIS
103AROUND THE VAGINA UNTIL SHE GRABS MY NECK. GO AHEAD. I SLIDE MYSELF INSIDE AND THRUST AS HARD AS I CAN. SKIN GOING SMACK, SMACK, SMACK. DIGGING NAILS INTO MY BACK, LAURA GOES, I WANT YOU INSIDE ME, DO NOT PULL OUT. OKAY. WE BLEEP FOR LIKE HALF AN HOUR UNTIL I CAN HOLD NO MORE AND COME INSIDE HER. I GIVE THIS TO A 15-YEAR-OLD, I GET ARRESTED. YOU PUT IT IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY, AND, OH, FORWARD THINKING, IT'S SO BRAVE. THAT'S NONSENSE. DON'T GIVE THIS LAME EXCUSE OF ALL THE BUREAUCRACY. IT TAKES TIME TO GET THESE BOOKS -- NO, WE ARE NOT A NATION OF LAWS, NEVER HAVE. WE ARE A NATION OF POLITICAL WILL AND ALWAYS WILL BE. IF YOU CARED ABOUT THE CHILDREN, YOU WOULD BE DRAFTING STUFF TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE FIRST THING
104TOMORROW MORNING YOU CAN START PHYSICALLY REMOVING ALL THIS NONSENSE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS WANDA TOREZ. I'LL BE READING FROM LOVELY RESPECTFUL BOOK CALLED READY OR NOT BY MEG CAVIT WHICH IS FOUND IN 10 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. SAYS, COME ON, DAVID SAID, HIS HAND CREEPING UP MY SHIRT, SAY YES. NO FAIR. HE'S USING HIS EXTREMELY TALENTED FINGERS TO MANIPULATE MY EMOTIONS OR NOT MY EMOTIONS, MORE LIKE MY APPENDAGES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW THAT IT IS VERY HARD TO KNOW WHAT -- WHAT'S RIGHT TO SAY AND IT IS WHEN A GUY, WHEN A GUY HAS HIS HAND UP YOUR BRA. I'LL COME, I HEARD MYSELF WHISPER. SHE WAS PROBABLY -- THAT WAS ON PAGE 51. NOW ON PAGE 61 IT SAYS, SHE'S PROBABLY PSYCHOLOGICALLY SCARRED FROM THE
105GUY WHIPPING IT OUT RIGHT AND LEFT IN FRONT OF HER. EWW. YOU SAW A SKANKY MODEL'S PENIS BEFORE YOU SAW YOUR OWN BOYFRIEND'S. SO -- I'M AN AVID READER, AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO READ THIS CONTENT ON THEIR OWN, BY ALL MEANS, THAT IS THEIR RIGHT. HOWEVER, IT HAS NO BUSINESS IN YOUR SCHOOLS WHERE A FOURTH OF YOUR STUDENTS ARE READING BELOW LEVEL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. CARMEN EDMONDS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. I'M READING FROM LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB, 21 BOOKS IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. AS I START READING THIS, THIS WAS RATED A 4 OUT OF 5 NOT FOR MINORS, BUT IT IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND MOST OF THOSE KIDS ARE MINORS. AND THEN ONE OF THE PEOPLE KIND OF TALKING
106ABOUT THIS BOOK IS GIVING IT JUST PRAISE FOR A TEEN BOOK, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT WRITTEN FOR TEENS, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. CATH HESITATED, ARE YOU SURE? PLEASE LILY SAID. CAT PUT HER HAND BETWEEN LILY'S LEGS AND HELPED HER FUMBLING WITH THE UNDERWEAR. WHEN THE FINGERS TOUCHED, THEY BOTH GASPED. ARE THEY IN THE RIGHT PLACE? YES. THE FINGERS RUBBED AND RUBBED, SO MARVELOUS SO INTOXICATING. SHE REALLY NEVER TOUCHED HERSELF LIKE THIS BEFORE AND NOW PINNED AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE FILE CABINET. I'M SORRY, BUT COULDN'T REALLY BE SORRY BECAUSE IT WAS ALL HAPPENING SO QUICKLY, SO UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE CLUTCHED CAT CLOSE TO HER. SHOULDERING AND PRESSED HER FACE IN THE NECK. BREATHED IN AND OUT. GOES ON AND ON. SO IT WAS JUST VERY -- THERE'S MORE BUT I DON'T WANT TO READ THAT. IT'S
107JUST EXPLICIT CONVERSATIONS AND WRITTEN WORD ABOUT WHAT IS TOTALLY AGAINST THE FLORIDA STATE STATUTE THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, WE'VE ALREADY GONE OVER IT. THESE ARE IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE OF WHAT THEY ARE DESCRIBING IN THESE BOOKS AND WE HAVE THIS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS. AND YOU ALL KNOW, YOU ALL ARE IN EDUCATION. I'M SURE YOU HAD WORKSHOPS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHAT LEADS KIDS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND BEING VULNERABLE AND VICTIMS. THIS IS IT. THEY ARE BEING GROOMED AND GROOMED WITHIN THE WALLS OF OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S INAPPROPRIATE. IT'S HEART-WRENCHING TO KNOW WHAT CHILDREN GO THROUGH WHEN THEY ARE TRAFFICKED. CARTELS AND TRAFFICKERS KNOW THIS. THEY ARE A COMMODITY THAT IS USED OVER AND OVER AND THEY MAKE MONEY -- Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. NAME
108IS LEE KARDON. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. EACH OF THE BOOKS YOU HEARD READ FROM TODAY MEET THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF OBSCENE AND HARMFUL TO MINORS. THEY HAVE NO SERIOUS LITERARY VALUE. THAT'S THE STANDARD. THE BAD NEWS, THERE ARE AT LEAST 200 MORE BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARIES RIGHT NOW WHO MEET THIS STANDARD AS WELL. IT'S A CRIME. IT'S A THIRD DEGREE FELONY TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO CHILDREN. ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES PICTURES THIS, CAN YOU SEE IT? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAS LITERARY VALUE TO OUR CHILDREN? NO. IT HAS HARMFUL TO MINORS' VALUE. THIS BOARD HAS A LEGAL, A CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING. YOUR CONTINUED FAILURE TO DO THIS MAKES YOU LEGALLY CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR
109PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION TO CHILDREN. SOME OF YOU HAVE EVEN PUBLICLY CONFLATED REMOVING PORNOGRAPHY FROM OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES WITH, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, BOOK BANNING, THE AUDACITY. STOP MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. DO YOUR DUTY AND REMOVE THE BOOKS, SAYING THAT THESE BOOKS HAVE SERIOUS LITERARY VALUE WOULD BE LIKE SAYING READING PENTHOUSE, YOU'RE READING PENTHOUSE FOR THE GOOD ARTICLES. IT'S NOT CREDIBLE. SOME OF YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY STATED THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED THIS INFORMATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN. THEY DO NOT, AND THAT IS INSULTING AND MISREPRESENTING OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS ABUSE OF CHILDREN, AND WE ARE EITHER GOING TO HAVE THESE BOOKS REMOVED OR HAVE THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THIS INFORMATION BE REMOVED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MR. DAVIS, SCHOOL BOARD, MY NAME IS SHARON BROWN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF
110OF MY DAUGHTER MELANIE COPELAND. SHE WAS FEATURED IN AN ARTICLE IN THE TAMPA BAY TIMES ABOUT A TEACHER CALLING HER A MUTT BECAUSE SHE IS BIRACIAL. IF ANY OF YOU READ THIS ARTICLE AND WEREN'T PERSONALLY DEVASTATED BY THE FACT THAT THIS TEACHER IS STILL IN A SCHOOL, THAT TWO OF MY CHILDREN CURRENTLY ATTEND, YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE ON THIS BOARD. HE DIDN'T JUST CALL HER A MUTT. HE HARASSED HER FOR DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, UNTIL I PULLED HER OUT AT THE END OF HER SOPHOMORE YEAR. EVERY TIME I FOUND OUT ABOUT AN INCIDENT, I REPORTED THIS TO THE SCHOOL. PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS, EVEN SHOWING UP IN PERSON. I WAS TOLD EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT THIS WAS BEING INVESTIGATED. SIX YEARS NOW, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE FROM THE SCHOOL OR DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE
111FOUND OUT THAT MELANIE'S REPORT IS MISSING. THERE IS EITHER ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY BY THE SCHOOL, OVERSIGHT BY THIS BOARD. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A STUDENT GOES TO AN OFFICE TO REPORT A TEACHER, THEIR PARENTS SHOW UP AND IT'S MISSING. HE'S GOING TO RETURN TO THE SCHOOL BASED OFF OF REPORTS MY CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY THERE TOMORROW, WHERE HE WILL TORMENT ADDITIONAL KIDS. I'M NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL SOMEBODY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WHETHER THAT'S HIM OR ANY OF YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS BOBBY EWING. I LIVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO DEFEND TRANS AND QUEER PEOPLE AND TO STAND AGAINST THE ATTACKS FROM THE FAR RIGHT AGAINST OUR SCHOOLS AND AGAINST THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
112TODAY, AS YOU CAN SEE, RIGHT WINGERS HAVE TRAVELED HERE FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO TRY AND CONVINCE TO YOU BAN BOOKS. I COULD STAND HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW SEX EDUCATION IS A VITAL PART OF EDUCATION OR ABOUT HOW KIDS ARE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT SEX WITHOUT BEING HARMED BY IT. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THIS IS A THINLY VEILED ATTACK ON QUEER PEOPLE. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FAR RIGHT RELEASED A TORRENT OF ATTACKS ON TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WITH THE GOAL OF PUSHING TRANSPEOPLE FURTHER INTO THE MARGINS OF U.S. SOCIETY. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR TRANSPEOPLE TO OPENLY EXIST AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP WITH TRANSPEOPLE. THEY DON'T WANT TO TEACH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY ARE TRYING TO DESTROY UNIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH BILLS
113LIKE SB 256, HB 1, AND HB 999 AND THEY HAVE ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY ROLLED BACK THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION FOR MILLIONS OF WOMEN AROUND THE COUNTRY. THIS IS ALL PART OF A LARGER RIGHT-WING CAMPAIGN TO DISMANTLE EVERY RIGHT THAT THE WORKING CLASS AND THE DEPRESSED PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND WON THROUGHOUT HISTORY. DESANTIS AND THE REACTIONARY ANTIDEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN OF THE RIGHT WING IS DEEPLY UNPOPULAR AND CAN ONLY SUCCEED BY SUPPRESSING POOR AND BLACK VOTERS, OPPRESSING DISSENT AND INTIMIDATING THOSE THAT OPPOSE THEM LIKE USF WHERE POLICE VIOLENTLY ATTACKED STUDENTS WHO WERE PROTESTING PEACEFULLY TO DEFEND DEI PROGRAMS ON THE CAMPUS. WE CAN'T LET THIS FROM CONTINUING TO ORGANIZE AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE FAR RIGHT. HISTORICALLY, THIS HAS BEEN THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE ABLE TO COMBAT THE REACTIONARY
114ATTACKS AGAINST OUR RIGHTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR TODAY. HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANITA BARNES. I AM A HILLSBOROUGH RESIDENT. I'M A MOTHER AND I'M A GRANDMOTHER. I'M APPALLED. I'M REALLY SICK AT THE DISCUSSION TODAY. I'M EVEN MORE DISTURBED WATCHING YOUR FACES. IF YOU ALL THINK THAT YOU JUST GET TO PUT UP WITH THIS AND THEN GO HOME AND IT'S GOING TO BLOW OVER, I ASSURE YOU, AS PARENTS, THESE CONCERNED PARENTS WILL FIGHT. WE WON'T QUIT FIGHTING. IF WE DON'T GET ACCOMPLISHED, ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED WITH YOU, WE'LL GO BEYOND YOU. SO YOU REALLY NEED TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A BOOK, HALF OF A YELLOW SUN BY CHIMANDA DOES ADISHI. THIS BOOK IS IN THREE HIGH SCHOOLS. THE SUMMARY, THIS BOOK CONTAINS
115SEXUAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL NUDITY, PROFANITY, DEROGATORY TERMS, VIOLENCE, CONTROVERSIAL AND INFLAMMATORY RACIAL COMMENTARY. WHAT ABOUT THIS HAS ANY VALUE? WHAT ABOUT THIS HAS ANYTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE GAY RIGHTS, ZIP, ZERO, NOTHING. THIS IS ABOUT DESTRUCTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THAT WILL COMMENCE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO EMPLOYEE INPUT SINCE IT'S SO CLOSE TO 6:00. WE'LL NOW TAKE EMPLOYEE INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES OF OUR DISTRICT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4. 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 THE
116SECTION OF OUR AGENDA, WE ARE CREATING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES ON YOUR MIND. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, BUT RATHER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR JOB OR DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. I'LL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST SPEAKER. ROB KRIETE, PRESIDENT OF CTA. IT'S CLEAR TONIGHT THAT WE HAVE MANY, MANY ISSUES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN FLORIDA, AND WE ARE GROUND ZERO HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES ARE COMING EVERY DAY OUT OF TALLAHASSEE. SO I BESEECH UPON YOU THE ABILITY TO FIND COMPROMISE WITH
117US IN GETTING SOME CONCLUSION TO THE CONTRACT STATUS THAT WE'RE AT. I'M FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FROM MAGISTRATE. COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE GOTTEN OURSELVES HERE. COLLECTIVELY WE CAN GET OURSELVES OUT. FRANKLY, I KNOW MANY OF YOU AND MEMBER RENDON, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THINGS YOU ARE SAYING AND DOING HERE AS A BOARD MEMBER. I KNOW MR. DAVIS AND I KNOW WHERE ALL YOUR HEARTS ARE IN THE WORK YOU WANT TO DO IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE FIRST STEP IS SOLVING THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CONTRACT AND GIVE THE EMPLOYEES THE TWO STEPS THAT THEY DESERVE. LET'S NOT WAIT ON THIS GUY ANY LONGER. I CANNOT TELL YOU THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL THAT I'M FEELING, THAT YOU'RE FEELING, THAT
118EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THIS DISTRICT IS, BUT I ASK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND FIGURE THIS OUT AND THEN LET'S SIT DOWN AND TALK IT OUT AND GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR OUR STUDENTS GOING FORWARD TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, I'M A MATH TEACHER AT RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS MY 20th YEAR. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE 10-YEAR SERVICE PIN AS WELL AS 17 YEARS OF SALARY PAY THAT YOU'RE PAYING ME. THIS DISTRICT, WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY OR RENT IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE. WHILE WE ARE SHORT TEACHERS IN ALL AREAS, MATH AND SCIENCE ARE TWO CORE
119SUBJECTS THAT HAVE A CRITICAL SHORTAGE. THIS BOARD HAS SPOKEN DIRECTLY ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ITS EMPLOYEES. LYNN GRAY EVEN SAID TEACHERS SHOULD TAKE TIME FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND KAREN PEREZ IS DEFINITELY AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH FOR NOT ONLY THE EMPLOYEES BUT THE STUDENTS. HOWEVER, WHEN A TEACHER DOES THAT, THEY ARE QUESTIONED ON WHY THEY ARE TAKING DAYS OFF. DAYS OFF THAT THEY EARN THROUGH YEARS OF SERVICE. SURELY THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. ONE OF MY DEER FRIENDS HAD TO TAKE OFF THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR AND WILL LIKELY NOT BE RETURNING BECAUSE THIS JOB HAS DESTROYED THEM. THEY WERE AN EXCELLENT TEACHER WHO REACHED THROUGH TO ALL STUDENTS. YOU KEEP DEMANDING MORE AND MORE FROM TEACHERS AND GIVING THEM LESS AND LESS WHILE REFUSING TO PAY THEM WHAT YOU ALREADY
120AGREED TO. TEACHERS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AND YOU REFUSE TO PAY THEM WHAT YOU ALREADY AGREED TO. YOU GIVE THEM MEANINGLESS SERVICE PINS AS IF THIS HELPS. MANY TEACHERS FELT IT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE. LIKE A CORPORATION MAKING BILLIONS IN PROFITS AND OFFERING THEIR EMPLOYEES A PIZZA PARTY. ALL OF THIS WHILE YOU SAY TEACHERS MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT. TEACHERS ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED WAITING ON THE DECISION FROM THE MAGISTRATE REGARDING NEGOTIATIONS. YOU CAN END THIS NOW. YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS PAY US WHAT WAS ALREADY AGREED TO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE READ NOT FROM A PIECE OF PAPER OR A SCRIPT BECAUSE ACTUALLY I WAS ON MY WAY HOME. I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS
121I'VE HAD TODAY AND PREVIOUS DAYS AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF MY Facebook MEMORIES. THREE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE JUST LIKE, OH, TEACHERS ARE THE BEST, EDUCATORS ARE THE BEST. WE DESERVE TO BE PAID. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HOME FOR TWO WEEKS WITH MY KIDS. YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID A LOT OF MONEY. THIS IS OUR RESPECT. AND NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE BASICALLY SUBJECT TO A THIRD DEGREE FELONY IF THEY HAVE A BOOK ON THEIR SHELF THAT'S BEEN THERE, BY THE WAY, PROBABLY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT SUDDENLY IS A PROBLEM. WE'RE ALSO NOT GETTING PAID. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR TEN YEARS. AS YOU CAN SEE, MY PIN IS ON ME MAINLY BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME I STILL HAVE A FIGHT TO FIGHT. AS A
122COUNSELOR, I AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ORDER TO HOLD MY POSITION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I AM NOT COMPENSATED FOR THAT. NO COUNSELOR IS. THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE HAVE 55 COUNSELOR VACANCIES IN THIS DISTRICT. MOST OF THEM IN ELEMENTARY. THAT IS WHERE ALL OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION HAPPENS. THAT'S WHERE ALL THIS STUFF HAPPENS. MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT, BUT WE ARE LOSING COUNSELORS AND WE'RE LOSING GOOD EMPLOYEES IN DROVES. AND THIS CAN BE SOLVED. AND, YEAH, EVERYBODY WILL GO, THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM. OH, THIS IS A STATE PROBLEM. IT IS A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT IS IN CRISIS. AND IT'S GETTING WORSE. PEOPLE AREN'T COMING BACK. SO WHEN THIS KIND OF GOOD FAITH STUFF HAPPENS, WHEN WE GET OUR TWO STEPS OF PAY, IT'S GOOD FAITH. IT'S
123NOT GOING TO STOP EVERYBODY FROM LEAVING EDUCATION. IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THE STATE FROM MAKING HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE LEGISLATION, BUT IT WILL SHOW A STATE THAT YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN US AND THAT YOU BELIEVE IN US MORE THAN SAYING, OH, YOU GUYS ARE SO IMPORTANT. THAT'S ALL I ASK OF YOU IS TO REALLY CONSIDER THIS BECAUSE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SHORTAGES. YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CLASS SIZES OF 35 TO 40 KIDS IN A CLASSROOM THAT DOES NOT HOLD 35 TO 40 DESKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS SUSAN FLAWS. I TEACH MATH. I AM THE CURRENT TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT DURANT HIGH SCHOOL. I'M RATED HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND MY GEOMETRY HONOR STUDENTS ENDED LAST YEAR WITH A 99%
124PASS RATE ON THE STATE EOC. I SAY THIS NOT TO DRAG, BUT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M DOING THE JOB FOR WHICH I WAS HIRED. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, TO PLAN LESSONS, TEACH THOSE LESSONS SIX TIMES A DAY, TO REFLECT ON AND EVALUATE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS, TO PREPARE AND ASSESS MEANINGFUL DAILY ASSIGNMENTS UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY, TO DIFFERENTIATE THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR STUDENTS WITH VARYING EXCEPTIONALITIES, TO WRITE AND GRADE 166 TESTS AND QUIZZES OF WHICH THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PER WEEK, TO PLAN FOR AND MEET WITH MY PLC TWICE A MONTH, TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS, IN ORDER TO DO ALL THAT AND TO BE HONEST, MUCH MORE. I WORK AT LEAST A 50-HOUR WEEK, SOME WEEKS 55 TO 60 HOURS. THAT KIND OF WORKWEEK IS NOT AN BE BORE RATION. ALL -- ABERRATION. ALL THE COWORKERS
125PUT IN THOSE HOURS. WE GET UP EARLY, WE STAY AFTER SCHOOL TO REPLY TO MORE E-MAILS, SET UP FOR THE NEXT DAY AND COMPLETE THE MYRIAD REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM CASEWORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. WE WORK EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS TO GRADE PAPERS SO OUR STUDENTS HAVE MEANINGFUL AND TIMELY FEEDBACK. MY POINT IS, WE DO OUR JOBS WITH FIDELITY. WE'RE PROFESSIONALS AND WE'RE DEDICATED. BUT WE'RE DEMORALIZED. ACCORDING TO THE PUBLISHED SALARY SCHEDULES FOR THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR, OUR PAY LEVELS ARE BASED ON, AND I QUOTE, COMPLETED YEARS OF CREDITABLE TEACHING EXPERIENCE. FUNNY THING, I'VE BEEN ON THE SAME LEVEL FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. ALL MY HARD WORK EARNS ME NO CREDIT. THAT'S DEMORALIZING. I'M NOT ASKING FOR A PAY RAISE, ALTHOUGH A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT WOULD BE NICE. WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS TO BE ON THE
126LEVEL THAT I DESERVE, THAT I'VE LEGITIMATELY EARNED, WHICH CARRIES WITH IT PAY COMMENSURATE WITH THAT LEVEL. AS I LISTENED TO MY COLLEAGUES WITH FAMILIES, AS THEY SHARE STRUGGLES WITH WORK-LIFE BALANCE, WITH PAYING FOR NECESSITIES, WHICH CONTINUE TO RISE IN PRICE, I AM FILLED WITH A SENSE OF FEAR, EVEN TO BE DRAMATIC, DOOM, FOR OUR DISTRICT. I FEAR THAT WE'LL LOSE MANY HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS TO OTHER PROFESSIONS THAT OFFER MORE MONEY, BETTER WORK LIFE BALANCE AND PERHAPS MORE RESPECT IN THE HONORING OF EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS. PLEASE DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR TEACHERS BY PAYING US WHAT IS DUE US. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. CHRIS FROM GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT HERE BECAUSE I WAS IN A PLC MEETING UNTIL ABOUT 5:00 TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS LAST CHAPTER IN MY
127ALGEBRA TWO CLASS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THAT UP VERY WELL, BUT SHE DID AMAZING, BUT I WANT TO KIND OF CONTINUE ON WITH WHAT SHE WAS SAYING IN THE FACT THAT IN MY DEPARTMENT AND I DON'T WANT TO OUT THEM, BUT I KNOW OF THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER ACTIVELY IN COURSES SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF EDUCATION, OR THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKING THE SUMMER TO GET OUT OF EDUCATION. AND THEN I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER THAT IS LOOKING FOR THINGS MAYBE IN EDUCATION BUT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM OUTSIDE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT BIG OF A MATH DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE HAVE 10 OR 11 PEOPLE IN THERE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 40% OF THE TEACHERS THAT ARE THERE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS THAT ARE CHOOSING THAT THIS
128ISN'T THE WAY TO GO ANYMORE. THE BIG PART IS THE PAY. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GUESS WHAT OUR PAY IS GOING TO BE. IT SHOULD BE MET AUTOMATICALLY. IN FACT, WHAT WE SHOULD BE ARGUING ABOUT IS MAYBE IF -- THERE SHOULD BE A COLA, WE SHOULD BE ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A BONUS ASSIGNED TO US. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BECAUSE WE'RE STILL HERE AND SO MANY AREN'T. BUT WE'RE NOT. WE'RE SAYING MAKE US WHOLE. MAKE US WHAT WE DESERVE, AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THIS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW AS WELL THAT OF THOSE THREE, I WILL OUT MYSELF. I AM PLANNING ON TAKING THE SUMMER TO TAKE WHATEVER COURSES THAT I NEED TO AND LEAVE BECAUSE THERE IS -- I DON'T SEE ANOTHER 14 YEARS OF THIS. I ALSO WANT
129TO POINT OUT THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY, I HAVE SOMETHING LIKE NINE WEEKS OF SICK TIME BUILT UP. THAT'S AFTER TAKING THREE -- BEING PREGNANT THREE TIMES AND TAKING MATERNITY LEAVE. I HAVE NINE WEEKS BUILT UP. THAT TELS YOU HOW DEDICATED ADMITTEDLY, PROBABLY WRONGLY, ADMITTEDLY, I'M HERE. I'M IN MY CLASSROOM EVERY SINGLE DAY. I TAKE SO FEW DAYS OFF BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE BEHIND. AND IF I'M TAKING THAT SO SERIOUSLY, WHY AM I AND MY PAY NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY TO FOLLOW SUIT WITH THAT? I HOPE THAT WE'RE DONE. I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS GET IT TOGETHER AND DECIDE THAT WE'RE WORTH IT BECAUSE WE ARE. THANKS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR EMPLOYEE INPUT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE
130THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 1.01, C 1.02, C 6.01, C 7.01, C 11.01. 1.01, PURCHASE OF PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES FOR GAP YEAR 2023-2024. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR,. I WOULD LIKE TO LUMP 1.01 AND 1.02 TOGETHER. THEY ARE BOTH LINKED TO ADOPTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES FOR ELEMENTARY AND ALSO THE SAME TOKEN FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. BACK IN 2018, WE ADOPTED A PROCESS OF ELEMENTARY, SOCIAL STUDIES FROM 2018 WHICH ENDED ON JUNE 30th OF 2022. WE CAME TO THE BOARD ONCE AGAIN AND ASKED THE
131BOARD FOR A GAP YEAR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE STATE WAS GOING THROUGH BRAND-NEW STANDARDS TO ADOPT BRAND-NEW STANDARDS. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT NEW MATERIALS IN BOTH SECONDARY -- I MEAN BOTH SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY WITH NEW STANDARDS COMING ON BOARD. SO BRINGING TO THE BOARD AND ASKING THE BOARD FOR A ONE-YEAR TO ROLL OVER AND EXTEND THE CURRENT ADOPTION PROCESS TO AN ADDITIONAL YEAR TO USE THE CURRENT CURRICULUM WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND BUY ALL THE MATERIALS NECESSARY. ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE IN A PROCESS WHERE THE STATE IS TIMELINED. THEY HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE NEW ADOPTED MATERIALS RELATED TO SOCIAL STUDIES FOR ELEMENTARY AND ALSO THROUGH SECONDARY. COME TO THE BOARD AND ASKING THE BOARD FOR ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER DELAY IN THAT PROCESS. AS
132WE SEE THAT ONCE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SELECTS NEW MATERIALS, THAT COULD BE FROM APRIL. THAT COULD BE TO MAY. THAT COULD BE IN JUNE. AND THEN ONCE AGAIN WE'RE KIND OF FACING AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE WITH S.T.E.M. SKILLS AND MATHEMATICS WHICH A NUMBER OF THOSE MATERIALS WERE CHALLENGED FOR THE VENDORS AND THAT PUT US BACK TO NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE MATERIALS, HALF A YEAR OR SOMETIMES MORE, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR TEACHERS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO BEING ABLE TO USE, ONCE AGAIN, AN EXTENSION OF A GAP YEAR TO ALLOW US TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE MATERIALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THOROUGHLY VETTED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THOROUGHLY VETTED THROUGH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND EXTENDING THAT PROCESS SO WE CAN START ONCE AGAIN FOR 24-25
133PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT. WE'LL BE USING $1.3 MILLION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS CATEGORICAL TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT OR PURCHASE ANY GAP YEAR NEEDED MATERIALS FOR ELEMENTARY AND ALSO FOR SECONDARY, WE'LL BE USING $573,000 OF THIS PROCESS. SO BRINGING TO THE BOARD TO MAKE CERTAIN WE CAN PURCHASE CONSUMABLES AND ALSO HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS FOR BOTH OF THOSE GRADE BANDS TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 1.01 AND C 1..02. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND -- DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANYONE? BY MEMBER RENDON. THANK YOU BOTH. MEMBER VAUGHN AND MEMBER RENDON PULLED THE ITEM. WE'LL GET STARTED. START WITH MEMBER RENDON. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I SPOKE IN GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE
134I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED. SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION BEHIND IT. AFTER I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD WITH OUR BOOK ADOPTION GETTING OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS WHAT THEY NEEDED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, IF WE DO THIS, THEN THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH MATERIALS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR OUR TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE AND SPENDING THE EXTRA MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MATERIALS READY TO GO BY NEXT YEAR. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURERS. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY BACK LOG ON THIS. HAVE WE WRITTEN SOMETHING IN THIS CONTRACT TO
135MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ALL THE MATERIALS WILL BE HERE ON TIME. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF WE WAIT AND WAIT FOR THE RELEASE APRIL, MAY, JUNE FOR WHAT MAY COME OUT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, I GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT BE HERE FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. HOWEVER, ALL OF THE CONSUMABLES THAT SHOULD BE READY AND AVAILABLE THAT WE PURCHASED IN 2018, IN 2017 FOR SECONDARY, 2018 FOR ELEMENTARY SHOULD BE REALLY FOR US TO ASSUME AND TRANSITION THERE IN THE SUMMER FOR THE START OF SCHOOL. WE DON'T FORECAST THERE BEING MAJOR ISSUES. THE GOOD THING IS THAT ALL OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE THE TEACHER EDITIONS. THEY KNOW WHAT TO TEACH. THEY HAVE CURRICULUM GUIDES TO
136FILL ANY POTENTIAL GAPS. ALL WE'RE DOING IS GETTING THE CONSUMEABLES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND WE ALREADY HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS. WE'RE JUST REPURCHASING THE DIGITAL ACCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WELL. Jessica Vaughn: WE ALREADY NARROWED DOWN AND MADE IT CLEAR WITH THE TIMELINE WITH THE PUBLISHERS WHO ARE PURCHASING THIS FROM. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR,. Jessica Vaughn: ANY REPERCUSSION IF THEY CAN'T MEET THE TIMELINE? YES, MA'AM. THERE IS A STATE CONTRACT AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES PROVISIONS IN THAT CONTRACT IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO NOT RECEIVE THOSE MATERIALS, AND IT IS A BY DAY IN TERMS OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. THIS IS OUR BEST OPTION TO GET MATERIALS IN OUR SCHOOLS BY DAY ONE. OUR FLAWLESS OPENING IS TO TRY TO HAVE ALL MATERIALS IN SCHOOLS BY DAY ONE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S POINT, IF WE GO FOR THE
137NEW ADOPTION, WE ARE PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEED WE WILL NOT HAVE THE MATERIALS BY DAY ONE, WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGES, ALL OF THE THINGS WE KNOW WE FACE, WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS PROACTIVE BY GOING THROUGH A GAP YEAR EXTENSION HERE. Jessica Vaughn: PER THE CONTRACT, WE'RE EXPECTING THEM BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR. IF WE DON'T GET THEM IN TIME THERE IS LIABILITY FOR THAT WHERE MONETARY EXPENSES CAN BE RECOUPED PER THE STATE WITH THIS CONTRACT. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR, AND YOUR TEAM FOR MEETING WITH ME. I READ OVER A LOT OF MATERIAL. YOU ADDRESSED SEVERAL OF MY CONCERNS. I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE DOE. I DID VERIFY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT THEY ARE
138NOT PREPARED TO RELEASE WHAT THE LIST OF APPROVED CURRICULUM IS UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF APRIL OR BEGINNING OF MAY. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DO NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT CURRICULUM IN ORDER TO HAVE SOCIAL STUDIES MATERIAL. HOWEVER, WITH THAT BEING SAID, SUPERINTENDENT, I WOULD LIKE A COMMITMENT FROM THE DISTRICT THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAIR THIS CURRENT CURRICULUM WITH THE NEW STANDARDS WHEN THEY ARE OUT IN MAY AND HAVE WORKSHOPS FOR OUR STAFF OVER THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING THE STATE STANDARDS WHEN WE IMPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, ABSOLUTELY WE WILL. WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN EVERYTHING IS ALIGNED. ANY KIND OF CURRICULUM THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO MAKE CERTAIN LINES TO NEW STANDARDS, REVISED
139STANDARDS. ALL LINKED TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT, WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT AND WHAT SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS CONSISTENTLY. WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR US. Patti Rendon: THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ORDERING THE MATERIAL THAT % 2018. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GETTING NEW MATERIAL BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT ON THE SOFT MATERIAL, ON THE ONLINE MATERIAL, THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH THEY DO MAKE PROVISIONS AND THEY DO MAKE CHANGES TO THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MATERIAL THAT WE'RE GETTING AND THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES SO THAT YOU KNOW BOARD TO THAT ONLINE MATERIAL SINCE WE HAVE APPROVED IT IN 2018, THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT WE DID NOT
140APPROVE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THIS TIME WE ORDER MATERIAL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE MARRIAGE THAT TO THE STANDARDS, AND THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VENDORS THAT WHEN THEY DO ANYTHING ONLINE, ANY OF THOSE CHANGES, THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATED. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE WILL BE ADOPTING AND CONTINUING FOR SECONDARY WHAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2017 AND FOR ELEMENTARY 2018. ANY UPDATES RELATED TO VENDORS AND WHAT THEY ARE MAKING TO ANY OF THEIR CONTENT, WHETHER IT BE FROM A DIGITAL PERSPECTIVE OR IN PRINT, THAT ALL HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THEY CAN ONLY CHANGE ELEMENTS THAT ARE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS FOUND IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, ANYTHING THAT, ANY ERRORS OF FACTS, ALL THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED
141BY THE PUBLISHER AND THAT ALL HAS TO BE SYNCED AND LOCKED IN. FOR US, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE THESE NUMBER OF VENDORS, WHETHER IT BE HGH, McGRAW, TEACHER CURRICULUM INSTITUTE AND PEARSON. WE HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS. WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE COLLABORATION TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH STANDARDS SO WE CAN BE CONSISTENTLY IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN, THE RIGHT MATERIALS. THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION, WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD NEXT MONTH THE ADOPTION FOR CIVICS. THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT AREA IS BECAUSE NEW STANDARDS WILL BE IN PLACE BEGINNING THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REVISE OUR CURRENT CURRICULUM TO THE NEW STANDARDS AND THEN REDO THAT WORK AGAIN, ONCE WE DO ADOPT, WE
142DECIDED THAT IT'S BEST TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT AREA FOR THE ADOPTION, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY PREPARED OUR SUPERVISORS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR TEACHERS THAT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THOSE MATERIALS WILL BE IN PLACE BY DAY ONE, SO WE ALREADY HAVE A GAME PLAN TO USE THE CURRENT MATERIALS UNTIL THE NEW MATERIALS ARRIVE. YOU WILL BE SEEING THAT COMING FORTH, ALONG WITH SOME AP COURSES AS WELL. Addison Davis: THANK YOU, SIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: YEAH, LIKE I SAID, MY MAIN THING IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO VET THE CURRENT CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING WITH THE NEW STANDARDS THAT ARE GOING INTO EFFECT AND TRAINING OUR STAFF THROUGH WORKSHOPS ON THAT. BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT AS
143A DISTRICT WE ARE MAINTAINING AND FOLLOWING THE LAW, WHICH MEANS WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STANDARDS BECAUSE BY DOING THIS, THERE ARE STANDARDS THAT WILL CHANGE, AND WE ARE APPROVING A CURRICULUM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE PART OF THE STANDARDS, SO WE MUST HAVE A WAY IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THE LAW. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS WHERE OUR CURRICULUM GUIDES AND MATERIALS REALLY COME IN TO FILL ANY POTENTIAL GAPS THAT WE SEE. ADOPT ANY TEXTBOOK, WE KNOW THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO FILL AND MAKE SURE WE DILIGENTLY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND MAKE SURE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ALIGNED TO STANDARDS AND OUR CURRICULUM GUIDES MAP OUT A YEAR AT A GLANCE, ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY, AND RIGOR INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER
144HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. THE MATERIAL ADOPTION LIST THAT WILL COME OUT IN MAY, THAT'S FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR? Addison Davis: IT'S FOR THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT. THE ISSUES, CONCERN IS BEING ABLE TO, WHEN IT COMES OUT, THERE'S GOING TO BE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES. AS THE WAY MATH CAME OUT AND MATH BOOKS HAD TO BE PULLED BACK. OUR ISSUE IS NOT ONLY COULD BE A POTENTIAL CHALLENGE PROCESS AS THE CONTENT IS PUSHED OUT, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO GET THAT IN PARTICULAR TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COVER AND USE THAT MATERIAL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. Stacy Hahn: WHAT IF THIS BOOK ISN'T ON THE LIST AND WE PURCHASED IT? Addison Davis: WELL, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE. 2018 AND 2017. Stacy Hahn:
145THE NEW LIST IS COMING OUT IN MAY, BUT IT SAYS -- I'M LOOKING AT THE LAST SENTENCE. SELECTION AND PURCHASE OF NEWLY ADOPTED -- EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED FOR 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. THE LIST THAT'S COMING OUT IN MAY IS FOR 23-24, AND 24-25? CON CONSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL ADOPTION HAPPEN ON FIVE-YEAR CYCLES. WE'LL HAVE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL STUDIES IN 23-24. STATUTES PROVIDE PROVISIONS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE UP TO THREE YEARS WITHIN THAT CYCLE TO PURCHASE FOR THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO DELAY ONE OF THOSE YEARS AND PURCHASE THE SECOND YEAR. Stacy Hahn: THAT'S IN LINE WITH THE STATE. Terry Connor: YES, MA'AM. Stacy Hahn: WE WON'T GET DINGED. Addison Davis: NO, MA'AM. MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL FOLLOW THIS DECISION THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO GET CONTENT
146IN THE HANDS OF STAFF. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING FORWARD THINKING, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND MR. CONNOR. I KNOW TODAY I WAS UP IN ACADEMIC SERVICES AND I ENDED UP SEEING ALL THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES SUPERVISORS. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THEY ARE SO PROFESSIONAL. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS FOLLOW STATE STATUTE AND IT'S GOING TO ALIGN WITH OUR SKILLS AND OUR STRATEGIES AND THE CURRICULUM. THAT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED. THAT'S NOTHING NEW, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT OUR CABINET REALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHEN I SPOKE TO THEM AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THIS PLAN, THEY THOUGHT
147HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THIS OUT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, AND IF THERE IS THAT GAP, THEY DO HAVE THAT CURRICULUM. I JUST WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC IT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED. I TAUGHT SOCIAL STUDIES 30 YEARS AGO. WE ALWAYS ALIGNED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAW, THE STANDARDS. THINGS, TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS. NONE OF THAT IS NEW. ALL OF THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN PLACE AND I WANTED TO MENTION THAT. THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. REALLY, IT'S AN IMPORTANT, IT'S A RELEVANT QUESTION. IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE DID THE FSA STANDARDS, WE DELAY, WE DIDN'T PREORDER SO TO SPEAK. THEN WE WENT THROUGH AND I KNOW DEBBIE PEPPY REMEMBERS, WE WENT THROUGH ALMOST
148A SEMESTER WITH NO BOOKS FOR THE KIDS. I THINK IT WAS SOCIAL STUDIES. BUT THERE IS A FINE LINE. THEN WE'RE JUMPING, NOW WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY PROPER WAY, BECAUSE THE OTHER WAY, THE KIDS DIDN'T HAVE THE LEARNING MATERIALS. IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING, BUT IT'S A FAIR QUESTION. YOU WANT TO HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE START LINE TOGETHER, BUT I THINK I AGREE THE PROACTIVE WAY RIGHT NOW AND IT DOES MATTER THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STANDARDS. GO AHEAD, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. SORRY, MADAM CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, YOU SAY THAT, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT. REMEMBER, THIS YEAR IS A BASELINE YEAR FOR ALL OF THE ASSESSMENTS. NEXT YEAR WILL BE AN ACCOUNTABILITY YEAR AT SCALE. BRINGING CURRICULUM
149MIDYEAR WILL CREATE MAJOR DISRUPTION AND FRUSTRATION FROM FAMILIES, TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, CURRICULUM AND SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT. SO WE APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND TRUST IN THIS PROCESS. Lynn Gray: IT WAS A BIG DILEMMA. I REMEMBER THAT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.01, BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2023. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT FOR THE ENDING OF FEBRUARY 28, 2023. TRANSITION TO OUR CFO MRS. JOHNSON. Ro Johnson: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION BY MS. GARCIA ON OUR MONTH END BUDGET FOR FEBRUARY 28, 2023. FOR THE BUDGET ENDING FEBRUARY AS COMPARED TO THE BUDGET ENDING JANUARY, THERE WAS NO OVERALL CHANGES TO THE BUDGET. REALLY REMAINED THE SAME. THE ONLY CHANGES
150WERE SMALL AMOUNTS WITHIN CATEGORIES. AND AT THIS POINT -- I'M SORRY. SO AT THIS POINT WE'RE STILL PROJECTING $210.3 MILLION ENDING FUND BALANCE. THIS NEXT SLIDE COMPARES OUR ACTUALS TO THE END OF FEBRUARY BUDGET. WE'VE RECEIVED 74% OF OUR REVENUE SO FAR AND WE'VE EXPENDED 60%. IF YOU LOOK AT COLUMN E, YOU CAN SEE THAT AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, WE ACTUALLY HAD A $425.8 MILLION ENDING FUND BALANCE. THIS SLIDE KIND OF SHOWS THE PROGRESSION OF WHERE WE THINK OUR FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO BE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. YOU CAN SEE WE HAD 425.8 AND THE PROJECTED WE'LL KEEP GOING DOWN UNTIL WE HAVE THE 210.4. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY ONETIME MOVEMENTS TO ESSER NOR DOES IT INCLUDE THE RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS. AS FOR THE CASH, YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE SAME
151THING. AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, WE HAD $415 MILLION IN CASH, AND WE PROJECT AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO END THE YEAR WITH $206.3 MILLION IN CASH. AND THE LAST SLIDE JUST COMPARES THE ORIGINAL PROJECTION WHERE WE PROJECT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 210.3 TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, WHICH WAS $425.8 MILLION ENDING FUND BALANCE. ANY QUESTIONS? Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WAS JUST WONDERING TO DATE HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN IN THE BUDGET FOR OUR VACANCIES. UNFILLED VACANCIES. Ro Johnson: WELL, THAT VARIES. WHEN WE BUILD THE BUDGET IT START AT 155 MILLION, SO WE ARE FILLING POSITIONS AS
152WE SPEAK, SO IT CAN GO UP AND DOWN. THERE'S NO CLEAR CALCULATION BUT WE FEEL AS OF TODAY WE HAVE OVER 100 MILLION THAT'S IN VACANCIES RIGHT NOW. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, MS. JOHNSON, WITH THE HOUSE BILL ONE AND/OR 202 AFFECTING OUR AMOUNT OF STUDENTS, AND I THINK WE HAD A PERSPECTIVE ON IT THAT PERHAPS THE FIRST SEVEN DAY COUNT WE WON'T HAVE A CLUE. THE FIRST SEMESTER LET'S SAY WE WON'T HAVE A CLUE. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, DO YOU THINK THAT BY THE SECOND SEMESTER WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE SOLICITATIONS RIGHT NOW TO PARENTS TO GO TO PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, THINK WE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT BY THE SECOND SEMESTER FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE FTE. Addison Davis: THROUGH
153THE CHAIR, RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT SEEING A BIG MOVEMENT OF STUDENTS TRANSITIONING OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE DON'T SEE IT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN THE SECOND SEMESTER AS WE STARTED IN JANUARY. WE CAN'T FORECAST WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS THE SUMMER COMES AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL SEATINGS FOR WHETHER IT BE HOMESCHOOL INCENTIVES, WHETHER IT BE PRIVATE SCHOOL, INSTITUTIONAL, FINANCING, WHAT WE DO KNOW THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A BUDGET ON WHAT OUR FORECAST WILL BE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AFTER THAT FIRST CALCULATION. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS REALLY -- I THINK IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THE OTHER DAY WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT BOUNDARIES IS REALLY FOCUS ON US AND NOT FOCUS ON EVERYONE ELSE. IF WE FOCUS ON US FROM AN
154ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE OFFERING, DOUBLING DOWN ON MAKING CERTAIN WE HAVE HIGH DOSAGE OF HIGH QUALITY TEACHING, HIGH DOSAGE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS, A HIGH DOSAGE OF STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING UNDERSTANDING AND TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING, THEN I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY. I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO DO A CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE OFFER FROM OUR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES TO BE A PART OF THE HOLISTIC COMMUNITY AND HAVE PRIDE IN OUR SCHOOLS. I THINK IF WE DO THOSE THINGS, AND THAT WILL TAKE CARE AND BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK TO US. BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE, AND MS. RENDON TALKS ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE OF ATHLETICS AND EVERY OTHER BOARD MEMBER TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE EXPAND FOR THE VISUAL PERFORMING
155ARTS. IF WE CONTINUE TO OFFER PATHWAYS AND CTE AND ADDRESS GREAT EXPOSURE FOR OUR CHILDREN, THEY WILL SELECT US AND WE FOCUS ON US, I THINK WE'LL WIN IN THE END. Lynn Gray: I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AND OUR TEACHERS ARE SO VERY, VERY VALUABLE AND THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AS OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE AS WELL. I'M MORE OF A PRAGMATIST. I WOULD RATHER US BE PROACTIVE. THE ANALOGY WOULD BE WITH THE BOOKS, ORDERING THE BOOKS. I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT A RAISE FOR THE TEACHERS, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT BOUNDARY SAVINGS, WHICH, IF WE GO WITH FOUR, IT'S NOT AS GREAT AS PERHAPS SCENARIO FOUR, I MEAN, SCENARIO TWO, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST COMING TO US AND THE DEFICITS PERHAPS HAPPENING WITH THE FTE IN
1562024, 2023-24, POSSIBLY 2024, THE BEGINNING, I WONDERED IF YOU WOULD STILL GO OUT FOR A MILLAGE. JUST, AGAIN, FOR PROACTIVITY CONVERSATION. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LEAD IN A WAY, AND THAT'S JUST ALL OF US FROM A 360 ACCOUNTABILITY. EVERYBODY HERE, EVERYBODY IN EDUCATION, IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO LEAD IN A WAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY FEELS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TRUST US WITH HOW WE'RE SPENDING EVERY DOLLAR AND EVERY CENT. AT THE SAME TOKEN, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE MAKING REALLY HARD DECISIONS THAT PROTECT US FINANCIALLY AND PROTECT THIS ORGANIZATION TO HELP CHILDREN AS WELL. SO THERE IS A BALANCE IN THAT PROCESS. I THINK THAT AS WE CLOSE THIS SCHOOL YEAR UP WITH SOME VERY HARD DECISIONS THAT WE'LL MAKE, WE'LL HAVE
157A GREAT TEMPERATURE OF WHERE WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY AS WE GET OUR LAST CALCULATION COMING IN AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MOVEMENT WE'VE MADE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT'S ALL TO BE DETERMINED. FROM US AS A BOARD AS WE SEEK THAT, WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT MORE, ADDITIONAL FUNDING -- -- IS THAT MY TIME? ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO OUR TEACHERS. I APPRECIATE THEM COMING AND CREATING THAT VOICE. WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND WE ARE FOLLOWING OUR ACTIVE FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN IN A SENSE TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS MAY BE. WE'RE WORKING THAT PLAN EVERY SINGLE DAY. MS. JOHNSON FULLY UNDERSTANDS AND HER TEAMS, WHAT I NEED, WHEN WE NEED, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO
158FOR TEACHERS. WE REALLY HAVE TO RETHINK HOW WE PAY EVERY TEACHER WITH A SALARY SCHEDULE, EVERY SUPPORT STAFF IN THE SALARY SCHEDULE AND ADMINISTRATORS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AS WELL. ALL THOSE THREE ENTITIES HAVE TO BE BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS, ACTIVE CONSERVINGS HOW -- CONSERVATIONS HOW WE DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT MS. JOHNSON AND MS. GARCIA, YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. YOUR FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN FITS THE NEED FOR SURE. WELL, WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND KEEPING THOSE CLOSE CALCULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, FOR YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON. I KNOW YOU AND THE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE WORKED VERY HARD THE LAST
159THREE, FOUR YEARS TO REALLY BRING OUR BUDGET UP TO AN EVEN KEEL AND GET US OUT FROM BEING UNDER BUDGET -- SORRY, OVER BUDGET. AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO -- MEMBER GRAY, AS YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOES WITH HOUSE BILL 1 AND SENATE BILL 202 IS A COMMITTEE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKING TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE SOME OF THE CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I THINK IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC BE AWARE AND US MEMBERS BE AWARE THAT OUR VOICE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE VALUE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, TO THE VALUE OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, OUR COACHES, OUR ARTS TEACHERS, ALL BRING TO THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I
160THINK THAT ALONG WITH GIVING FAMILIES CHOICE, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE NOT ALL, EVERY BOX FITS FOR EVERY CHILD. SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE CHOICES WITHIN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR WHATEVER THAT MEANS, WHETHER IT'S OUR MAGNET SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS, NO MATTER WHAT THAT IS, WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AS WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD. I THINK IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE AS PART OF THE LEGISLATION COME SOME DEREGULATING OF OUR SCHOOLS, GIVING US MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR IS WE ARE CONSTRAINED BY SOME OF OUR CATEGORICALS WITH SOME OF OUR FUNDING. IN MANY AREAS IT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CATEGORICALS REMAINED IN PLACE WHEN THEY WERE BUILT SO SCHOOL BOARDS
161AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE WERE PRIORITIES WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT GIVING US THAT FLEXIBILITY IS GOING TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR BUDGET AND OUR CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT. BUT WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE AS A BOARD ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OUR ESSER DOLLARS ARE GOING TO RUN OUT. WE HAVE VITAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF MANY OF OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE MANY THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IN A DISTRICT. EVEN WHEN WE WANT TO ORDER TEXTBOOKS, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE THESE VACANCIES OF $100 MILLION, THAT DOESN'T MAKE OUR FUND BALANCE VERY BIG ANYMORE. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL WHEN WE HAVE
162-- SOMETHING IS NEW. SOMETHING WILL BE SHINY AND SOMETHING NEW. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY IT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A SACRIFICE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT IN THE NEXT YEAR. SO I JUST WANT TO TALK TO OUR WHOLE STAFF, OUR CABINET, OUR STAFF AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE OUR TEACHERS. WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE OUR DIRECT STAFF. THEY HAVE TO COME FIRST IN EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD. SO I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR BUDGET. I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MRS. JOHNSON FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT IN MAKING THE SACRIFICES SO FAR, BUT NOW IT'S UP TO US TO LOOK AT THOSE SACRIFICES AND IT CANNOT AFFECT OUR TEACHERS. IT CANNOT AFFECT OUR
163DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF. IT CANNOT AFFECT OUR LUNCHROOM STAFF, CUSTODIAL STAFF. IT MUST AFFECT US FIRST AND FOREMOST. THEY ARE ON THE FRONT LINES. THEY HAVE TO BE THE PRIORITY IN EVERY DECISION WE MAKE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WE'RE TRACKING, PEOPLE HAVE TO REGISTER WHEN THEY HOMESCHOOL, IS THAT CORRECT? THEY HAVE TO UNENROLL AND GIVE US THEIR INTENTION TO HOMESCHOOL? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THROUGH THE CHAIR, EVERYONE WHO HAS THE INTENTION TO HOMESCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO SEND AN INTENT FORM AND CONNECT WITH THEIR HOME EDUCATION, AND THAT IS PROCESSED WITH THE PARENT AND THROUGH OUR DIVISION. Jessica Vaughn: SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THIS HB 1 IS GOING TO BE AN EXPANSION FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. BUT WHAT I
164HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT OF CONVERSATION IS AROUND THAT EXPANSION TO HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES. WHILE YOU SAID WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN PRIVATE SCHOOLS NECESSARILY YET OR MOVEMENT TO MAGNET SCHOOLS, ABOUT HOW MANY DO WE KNOW PARENTS ALREADY HOMESCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MONETIZING FAMILIES THAT HOMESCHOOL? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I'LL HAVE TO GET THE EXACT NUMBER FOR THE BOARD AND PUT IT IN MY FOLLOW-UP. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THE SECOND SEMESTER BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED BUT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HOME SCHOOLING OR POTENTIALLY HOME SCHOOLING, THEY'LL HAVE A SPENDING ACCOUNT OF OVER $8,000 THAT WILL GO TO THEM TO HELP WITH THE PROCESS. WE'LL GET THE NUMBER FOR YOU. Jessica
165Vaughn: I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT IT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HIJACK THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. I WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD ABOUT THE NUMBER, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. ALSO FOR MYSELF, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OVERSIGHT ON HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES LOOK LIKE. WE HAVE SO MUCH DISCUSSION, EVEN TONIGHT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE, AND SO MANY PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I'M CURIOUS WHAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY OR OVERSIGHT OR HOW MUCH WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HOME SCHOOLS BECAUSE I READ A VERY DISTURBING ARTICLE FROM VICE MAGAZINE THAT IN OHIO THERE WAS A NAZI HOMESCHOOL OF OVER 3,500 KIDS. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS TO HOMESCHOOL WHAT THAT
166LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS ACCOUNTABILITY SINCE WE HAVE SO MUCH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AND THIS BOARD AND SO MUCH HE IS THERE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS THIS BILL EXPANDS. THANK YOU. Lynn Gray: WELL, MEMBER VAUGHN, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I HAVE TO SAY, MY BIGGEST FEAR ALSO, AND I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO THE AUDITS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE, THIS IS JUST A BROAD STATEMENT. SCHOOL CHOICE IS A GREAT AVENUE FOR PARENTS TO, , OF COURSE, I'L GO RIGHT BACK TO THE BUDGET, MR. PORTER. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT WAY TO MEET THE CHILD'S NEEDS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE. BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT OF NOT ONLY DOES, BUT EVERY CHARTER, EVERY PRIVATE, EVERY ENTITY THAT ENTERTAINS TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN. MY
167ONLY FEAR IS, WELL, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CELEBRATE AND HAVE REGULAR HOLIDAY ON SCHOOL CHOICE, WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A SCHOOL BOARD, th LARGE IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY ADAPT IN FINDING, LET'S JUST SAY, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THEIR FINANCIAL INFORMATION AS WELL, IF WE'RE CALLING IT A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. SO I KNOW THAT I USED TO ASK FOR AUDITS FOR MANY OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND I DID GET THEM, BUT I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT THAT WE START GETTING THAT INFORMATION. SO THERE IS A BIT OF OVERSIGHT. YOU KNOW, CINZIA IS NOT HERE, DR. DELANGE, BUT DOING A GREAT JOB SHARING REFERRALS, FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, MINORITY DEMOGRAPHICS. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT EDUCATES US. AND IF WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THEN WE
168CAN BE MORE, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF GRADES, THE AMOUNT OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS VERSUS SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE ENTERTAINED DON'T HAVE THAT. SO I THINK MORE AND MORE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTING, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE FOCUS ON THOSE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS THAT ARE OPENING UP IS WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, MS. JOHNSON? Addison Davis: WE'RE REQUIRED AS THE LEA TO MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE FUNCTIONING FINANCIALLY. AND WHEN THEY DO NOT, WE MAKE CERTAIN WE ADDRESS THAT IMMEDIATELY. ANYTIME WE HAVE A RED FLAG RELATED TO FINANCIALS, RELATED TO ANY SCHOOL THAT'S OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT MANAGED SCHOOL, WE WILL ENGAGE THEM, LOOK AT PROBLEM SOLVE, ACTION PLAN PROCESS AND SEND ANY TYPE OF FORMAL LETTERS AND WE CONTINUE
169TO SHARE THAT WITH THE BOARD. THERE'S GREAT ACCOUNTABILITY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WELL, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE COLLABORATING AND COMPETITIVE IN THE SAME SPIRIT. Lynn Gray: I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT. THANK YOU. I'LL SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT. Nadia Combs: I HAD A QUICK QUESTION SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FINANCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I ASKED YOU BEFORE, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WITH THE MAGISTRATE, WHEN WILL THAT BE RESOLVED? I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? Addison Davis: FIRST AND FOREMOST, I APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE OF EVERYONE. THIS STARTED I BELIEVE IN OCTOBER, AND WE ARE DESPERATELY WAITING ON AN ANSWER. AND WE'RE A COUPLE OF WEEKS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE. SO WE WORKED WITH OUR LEGAL
170TEAM AND WORKED WITH HILLSBOROUGH TEACHER ASSOCIATION TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND ACCEPTED A JOINT COMMUNICATION OFF TO -- SEND A JOINT COMMUNICATION OFF TO THIS INDIVIDUAL. WHERE ARE WE? CAN WE HAVE AN UPDATE OF WHAT'S GOING ON? WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK SINCE WE SENT THAT COMMUNICATION OUT. WE HOPE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL IS OKAY THERE A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE. IF NOT, WE'LL CONNECT WITH PERK AS EARLY AS TOMORROW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO EXPEDITE THIS. ALL SUFFICIENT INFORMATION WAS SUBMITTED. WE'VE BEEN IN COLLABORATION WITH CTA IN THE PROCESS AND WE DESPERATELY NEED IT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT FINANCES. THE SAME TOKEN, WE ALSO NEED VALIDATION FROM A CONTRACTUAL PERSPECTIVE OF
171WHAT SHOULD BE MANDATED OR AGREED UPON EVERY SINGLE YEAR FROM THE STEP STRUCTURE JUST TO GIVE US CLARITY ABOUT WHERE THAT PROCESS IS. THAT'S GOING TO HELP EVERYONE IN THIS PROCESS MOVE FORWARD. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE STILL WAITING. WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PERK, AND WE HOPE THIS INDIVIDUAL IS OKAY. Nadia Combs: I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION IS, MONTHS AGO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND I APPRECIATE MEMBER RENDON AND ALL THE COMMENTS FROM MY OTHER MEMBERS BECAUSE THERE'S NO QUESTION, THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF, THEY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT. MONTHS AGO, YOU SAID IN APRIL YOU WOULD LOOK AT IT. BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT SO MANY VACANCIES THAT ARE UNFILLED AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING COVERING CLASSES AND DOING SO MUCH, AND YOU SAID IN APRIL YOU
172WOULD HAVE MORE CLARITY, EVEN IF WE THOUGHT THE MAGISTRATE WOULD COME BACK. WHERE ARE WE LOOKING NOW? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE LAST CALCULATION TO COME THROUGH FROM FEBRUARY. ONCE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, IT WILL BE A BETTER SENSE. WE KNOW KIND OF WHERE WE ARE PROJECTED TO BE, BUT WE WANT TO VALIDATE THAT WITH HARD NUMBERS. I'VE HAD CONVERSATION WITH THE ENTIRE CABINET AS EARLY AS TODAY ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO. WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF HIRING INDIVIDUALS. WE'RE NOT, AND I KNOW ONE OF OUR EDUCATORS SAID -- I WAS AT THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS THIS WEEKEND, THE RETENTION HAS BEEN HORRIBLE EVERY WHY WHERE. WE TALK ABOUT STRATEGIES. TALKED ABOUT MS. JOHNSON THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE HAVE GOT
173TO MAKE A SPLASH FINANCIALLY WITH TEACHERS. GOT TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THEM, PICK US RATHER THAN SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT DO HAVE OTHER AVENUES. AS LATE AS TODAY, RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING, WE MET ABOUT POTENTIAL MODELS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOREFUTURE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE THING WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'LL EXPAND THIS VACANCY MONEY BECAUSE WE WANT TO HIRE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, TO MAKE CERTAIN THE CLASSROOMS ARE SMALLER FOR THE TEACHERS. THIS YEAR OUR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN PRESSED AGAINST THE WALL EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT WE ARE IN A BETTER SPOT EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE LEAD MAKING INTENTIONAL MOVEMENTS FINANCIALLY. I THINK THIS CABINET HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF LEVERAGING EVERY FEDERAL DOLLAR THAT WE CAN, MEDICAID DOLLARS THAT WE CAN TO
174ALLEVIATE GENERAL FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD UP BETTER FUNDING TO HELP WITH REOCCURRING COSTS, NOT ONLY FOR SUPPORT STAFF BUT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL, ADMINISTRATORS AT THE SCHOOL BASED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. ONE LAST COMMENT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, I HOPE AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR AND LOOK AT BOUNDARIES AND REPURPOSING SCHOOLS, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD BE VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE SO THAT WAY NEXT YEAR WHEN TEACHERS ARE COMING IN THE FALL, THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF. AM I RIGHT, IF WE REPURPOSE THE SCHOOL THAT'S SURROUNDED BY UNDERENROLLED SCHOOLS YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OF REOCCURRING COSTS FOR EACH SITE, IS THAT CORRECT, OR NOT? Addison Davis: IT'S CLOSE. YEAH. Nadia Combs: 900,000. Addison Davis: ABSOLUTELY. SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE, ABSOLUTELY. THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT
175IN MY ASPIRATIONS THIS SUMMER, MY ASPIRATIONS ARE AGGRESSIVELY NOW TO MAKE CERTAIN WE CLOSE THIS YEAR UP AND START IMMEDIATELY TO MOVE FOR WHAT NEXT YEAR WILL BE, BY THE TIME TEACHERS COME BACK, IT IS OVER. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AS AN ORGANIZATION IS ANY TYPE OF LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF OUR STAFF THAT WE WANT TO LOOK FROM A CONTRACTUAL PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE FINANCES DONE. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SAY BEFORE THEY COME BACK THAT THERE IS A SENSE OF HOPE AND VALUE WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY AS NEXT YEAR WE GO INTO A BIG GIANT ACCOUNTABILITY YEAR, AND WE NEED HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH DOSAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING EVERY DAY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS. Nadia Combs: I APOLOGIZE
176FOR DIGRESSING. I WAS AT CANNELLA TODAY. SO MANY TEACHERS SO MANY SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING SO HARD. EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING WHEN I WALK OUT. WHEN IS THIS CONTRACT GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF? PEOPLE ARE REALLY VERY FRUSTRATED. THANK YOU. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS I HAD ON MY MIND. I WANT TO GIVE -- MS. JOHNSON AND MS. GARCIA. Addison Davis: THEY ARE CHAMPIONS. Henry "Shake" Washington: AT THE TOP. Addison Davis: TEAM OF LIKE THREE TO FOUR. THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN A $4.3 BILLION BUDGET INCLUSIVE OF ESSER. I'M PROUD OF THEM. Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OUR LAST ITEM, 7.01, APPROVE THE PIGGYBACK AGREEMENT 23032-PGB-LG
177CONTRACT LABOR, KITCHEN EQUIPMENT. Addison Davis: AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR STRUCTURES AT OUR SCHOOLS AND REALLY IDENTIFY COMMON AREAS THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS INTERACT WITH. ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS OUR CAFES. EVERY STUDENT WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ALWAYS GO TO THE CAFETERIA, WHETHER IT BE FOR BREAKFAST OR LUNCH. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT REMODELING, REBRANDING CAFETERIAS IN THREE SCHOOLS. ONE BEING CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL, HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND LOPEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND THOSE THREE SCHOOLS WERE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED. SOME OF THEM SINCE 1956. THEY HAVE THE OLD EXISTING FLOOR. OLD EXISTING LINES, OLD EXISTING KITCHEN EQUIPMENT. SO THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO START MOVING AND ADDRESSING CAFES WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS WITH NEW LINES, NEW BRANDING, NEW
178KITCHEN, NEW SEATS, NEW FLOORING, JUST A BETTER FLOW WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THIS IS JUST THE START OF THAT. THIS ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE CAPITAL DOLLARS TO DO SO. NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO START MOVING TO ADDRESS CAFETERIAS, WE'VE GOT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE RETHINK THE WAY OUR MEDIA CENTERS ARE REFRESHED AS WELL. STARTING WITH CAFETERIAS AND ALSO TRANSITION TO MEDIA, WITH OUR MEDIA CENTERS, JUST ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OLD OUTDATED FACILITIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND HAVE BETTER FLOWS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I LIED BECAUSE THERE IS ONE OTHER ITEM. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 7.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. THANK YOU.
179MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO. THANK YOU. I MEAN, AS FAR AS UPDATING OUR CAFETERIAS, I THINK THAT'S VITAL AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THAT. ONE, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I WOULD LOVE TO JUST SEE US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME OF THESE GO OUT FOR BIDS LOCALLY SO WE COULD SEE EMPLOY LOCAL PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS INSTEAD OF CONTINUALLY PIGGYBACKING. I KNOW THAT THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS IT KEEPS IT AFFORDABLE BUT I'M NOT EVEN SEEING IF WE ARE BIDDING, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE LOCALLY THAT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS PRICE RANGE AND AGAIN EMPLOY PEOPLE LOCALLY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE GO OUT FOR
180A BID AND FIND SOMETHING ON A PIGGYBACK THAT'S LESS EXPENSIVE, THEN I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. TO ME, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUMPING TO A LOT OF PIGGYBACKS WITHOUT OPENING UP THE OPPORTUNITY LOCALLY. I WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. AS WELL AS I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS IN MY DISTRICT. I DON'T KNOW IF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS DO WITH THE QUALITY OF LUNCHES AND FOOD THAT'S BEING SERVED. I GUESS WHAT MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE EXPANDING THE CAFETERIAS TO INCLUDE THESE KITCHEN REFRIGERATORS, GAS SYSTEMS IS THAT GOING TO ALLOW US TO OFFER -- OH, SIRI HEARD THAT -- IS THAT GOING TO ALLOW US TO OFFER A DIFFERENT MENU. WHEN I LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, I SEE THAT CONSISTENTLY. OUR FOOD SERVICE BUDGET IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST BUDGETS AND YET AGAIN I
181GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE QUALITY. WILL THESE REVAMPS ALSO ALLOW US TO LOOK AT OUR MENUS AND NUTRITIONAL OPTIONS THAT WE'RE SERVING IN THE SCHOOLS? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES WE WANT TO TRY TO SPEARHEAD NEXT YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS PUTTING LIKE A DELI PUB SUB AT HIGH SCHOOLS AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE EXCITEMENT AROUND THAT TYPE OF INITIATIVE. REMEMBER, THERE ARE A LOT OF RESTRAINTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN PURCHASE AND WHAT WE CANNOT PURCHASE. SOME OF THE RESTRAINTS LIFTED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. BUT TO REDEFINE OUR MENU, ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT TO DO THAT. BE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE WE CAN FOR STUDENTS SO THEY CAN BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS AS WE KNOW THEY MAY
182NOT EAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE OFFERINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. IT JUST GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND. Jessica Vaughn: ASIDE FROM JUST FEEDING THEIR TASTE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING THEM GOOD NUTRITIONAL VALUE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. I TOOK AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE DOING A REFRESH. IT IS A PRIORITY. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PICK PIGGYBACK. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT'S NOT LOCAL. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE COMPANIES LISTED ON HERE, THREE ARE FROM THE NORTH FLORIDA AREA, JACKSONVILLE AND ULI. ONE FROM RIVERVIEW, ONE LOCAL, THE OTHER FROM WEST PALM. SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. MY CONCERN, THOUGH, IS ALSO WITH THE, AND THE PRICE, TOO. MEMBER
183VAUGHN BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE ASK ABOUT WHY ARE WE PIGGYBACKING AND WE OFTEN GET THE RESPONSE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GET A BETTER PRICE. THIS WAS APPROVED IN JANUARY OF '23. I DON'T THINK THEY GOT A BETTER PRICE THAN WHAT WE'RE GETTING NOW. I COULD SEE IF IT WAS APPROVED IN JANUARY OF '21. I WOULD SAY, WELL, MAYBE THE PRICES WERE A LITTLE BETTER THEN. THE OTHER PIECE IS WITH THE PIGGYBACK ITSELF. ONE, THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO US IS A VERY BARE, SKELETON AGREEMENT. IF THIS IS THE AGREEMENT THAT THE DUVAL SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED, WOW. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MEAT ON IT. HERE'S MY FIRST CONCERN. ARTICLE I, ITB, INVITATION TO BID. IT SAYS HERE THE CONTRACT SHALL PROVIDE THE DISTRICT THE SERVICES SET
184FORTH IN THE INVITATION TO BID. WE WEREN'T PROVIDED THE ITB. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING TO US NOR DO I KNOW WHAT THEY PROVIDED TO DUVAL, WHICH IS NOT REALLY MY CONCERN. I SEE THAT THE PRICES ON HERE, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS PROVIDED IN EXHIBIT B. THE RENEWAL, THIS AGREEMENT IS UP FOR A FOUR-YEAR ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR TERM, FOUR YEARS OF RENEWAL. THEN IF YOU GO TO OUR COVER SHEET, IT SAYS THAT THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE REVIEWED AND EVALUATED ANNUALLY AND MAY BE RENEWED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT PER THE TERMS OF THE SPECIFICATIONS. SO THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL GET TO DECIDE IF THIS IS RENEWED FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S REALLY BEEN THE PREFERENCE OF THIS BOARD THAT WE GET TO TERM THAT, NOT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF THAT IT
185WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS BOARD PER OUR FINANCIAL CONCERNS, AND SO THAT'S REALLY ANOTHER NONSTARTER FOR ME. THE NEXT PIECE IS UNDER ARTICLE 4. AGAIN, THIS CONTRACT MAY BE TERMINATED AS SET FORTH IN THE ITB, YET WE DON'T HAVE THE ITB. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TERMINATION IS FOR THIS CONTRACT. I'M A NO ON THIS CONTRACT AT THIS TIME. I WOULD PREFER US TO GO OUT FOR OUR OWN IRB LOCALLY, AND IF NOT, I WOULD PREFER THAT YOU PULL THIS AND PROVIDE THE MATERIAL OF THE ITB AS WELL AS A RATIONALE AS TO WHY WE NEED THIS PIGGYBACKED. AND ALSO WITH THE CHANGE TO THE RENEWAL AT YOUR DISCRETION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. WHY ARE WE DOING A PIGGYBACK
186WHEN WE HAVE -- CAN'T WE NOT USE REFERENDUM MONEY FROM THE 2018 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE'RE USING CAPITAL FUNDING. FOR US, WE COULD USE REFERENDUM MONEY IF IT WENT THROUGH THE REFERENDUM COMMITTEE BUT WE HAVE CAPITAL TO USE THIS PROCESS. ONE THING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANDERSON, ANDERSON IS THE LLC THAT IS MOVING FORWARD. THEY WILL JUST MANAGE THIS PROJECT. WE WILL BE USING LOCAL PROVIDERS AND ENTITIES. I DO THINK IT'S FAIR TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE THE INVITATION TO BID. IT IS A 30-DAY TERMINATION CLAUSE. I KNOW IT'S IN LANGUAGE AND STRENGTHEN IT. ALWAYS BRING IT TO THE BOARD. DO NOTHING IN ISOLATION TO APPROVE ITEMS, ESPECIALLY THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN BRING THIS BACK, MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE HAS THE
187INVITATION TO BID AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CLARITY ON THE VENDORS THAT ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED, HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE LOCAL VENDORS AND THEN MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE REVISE IT. THE BOARD WILL HAVE FINAL SAY RELATED TO WHAT WE DO FROM AN ANNUAL PERSPECTIVE. Karen Perez: THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY POINT. BECAUSE UNDER THEIR REFERENDUM MONEY, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GROUP THAT ALREADY LOOKS AT THE REFERENDUM MONEY. THEY GET THE CONTRACTS LOCALLY, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO EXPLORE, ESPECIALLY PROVIDING THE BUSINESS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THIS IMPACT TO OUR SCHOOLS. MY FEAR IS THAT IF IT'S SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S LOCAL LABOR, BUT LOCAL LABOR, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY ARE RIGHT HERE, THE NEED FOR REPAIRS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT ALSO
188WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WITH THE WORK. Addison Davis: ANDERSON IS A LEADING AGENT, AND WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO TRANSFORM CAFETERIAS. AND WE WILL BE USING FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE IS USING HORACE, A BEAUTIFUL PARTNER FOR US WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. OPENLY, NO PROBLEMS WITH MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO PULL THIS AND BRINGING BACK STRONGER EVIDENCE AND CONVERSATIONS DURING ONE-ON-ONES TO MAKE SURE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS. Jim Porter: YOU'RE REQUESTING THIS BE PULLED. THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE EITHER THE MAKER OF THE MOTION WITHDRAW THAT. MS. GRAY MADE THE MOTION. IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION FOR APPROVAL. Lynn Gray: I'LL WITHDRAW. Jim Porter: NOW THERE IS NO MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I THINK THE
189APPROPRIATE ACTION WOULD BE FOR A BOARD MEMBER TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS UNTIL THE SUPERINTENDENT BRINGS IT BACK. LOOKS LIKE DR. HAHN IS POISED TO DO THAT. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS TO BE PULLED FROM THE AGENDA TODAY AND REVISED WITH THE -- Jim Porter: I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT HEARD. HE'LL COME BACK WITH HIS RECOMMENDATION. MS. VAUGHN SECONDED IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. SO NOW WE KNOW THAT THE ITEM IS GOING TO BE PULLED. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE RIGHT NOW IF WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS OFF. THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL WORK ON IT AND BRING IT BACK AT ANOTHER TIME. PLEASE VOTE. VOTE YES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT PULLED FOR ANOTHER TIME. THANK YOU. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK
190YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL THAT ITEM. NOW WE'LL GO TO THE LAST ITEM, WHICH IS 11.01, WHICH IS SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VERSUS JUUL LABS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I'LL TRANSITION AND PASS THIS OFF TO MR. PORTER. Jim Porter: ACTUALLY, THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO END THE BOARD MEETING, MEMBERS. THIS IS A VERY GOOD NEWS ITEM. JULY 28 OF 2020, WHICH IS BEFORE SEVERAL OF YOU WERE ON THE BOARD, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED PARTICIPATION IN LITIGATION AGAINST JUUL LABS WHICH PROVIDES VAPING AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES FOR STUDENTS. AND IT WAS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT. CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. THE BOARD OPTED IN AT NO COST. SO THERE HAS BEEN NO COST TO THE DISTRICT. THE DEAL THAT WAS STRUCK WAS IF A SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED
191THE BOARD WOULD GET A PIECE OF THAT. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE BOARD -- THE DISTRICT WILL BE RECEIVING MONEY BASED ON THE SETTLEMENT. THESE ARE ROUGH NUMBERS, BUT WE'LL GET IT FINALIZED. IT'S A GOOD THING. YOU'LL BE GETTING -- THE DISTRICT WILL BE GETTING APPROXIMATELY $7.7 MILLION WITH THE FIRST PAYMENT DUE IN DECEMBER OF 2023 AND THEN THREE PAYMENTS ANY SUBSEQUENT YEAR. THE ONLY ACTION TODAY IS THAT YOU APPROVE THAT. WHEN WE GET ALL THE FINAL NUMBERS, WE'LL CERTAINLY INFORM THE BOARD OF THAT. THE NUMBER IS BASED ON A FORMULA, SIZE OF THE SCHOOL, SIZE OF THE DISTRICT, THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE PARTICIPATED. AGAIN, THERE'S BEEN NO COST TO THE DISTRICT BUT WE'RE RECEIVING $7.7 MILLION FROM THE SETTLEMENT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. I NEED A MOTION
192AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 11.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: NO DISCUSSION. I JUST HAD A QUESTION. WHAT FUNDS DOES THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY GO TO? Jim Porter: EVEN BETTER, THEY ARE UNRESTRICTED. Lynn Gray: UNRESTRICTED. YEAH, IT WAS A GOOD FIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON. NO DOUBT YOU HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SAY-SO OR HELPFULNESS AND THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. Jim Porter: THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM THAT DID THIS. MR. GIBSON AND I LOOKED AT IT, BUT WE CAN'T TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR THIS, EITHER ONE OF US. Lynn Gray: WELL, THANK YOU THE POWERS THAT BE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL NOW
193MOVE ON TO COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT, WE WILL START WITH YOU. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR,. I ONLY HAVE ONE SLIDE THIS EVENING. OPENLY, IT'S JUST A WELCOME EVERYONE BACK. MAYBE WE HAVE NO SLIDES TONIGHT. WELCOME EVERYONE BACK FROM SPRING BREAK. WE APPRECIATE IT. I FOUND THAT I PERSONALLY REENERGIZED, READY TO COME BACK. THE CABINET, IS, DUDE, WHAT'S THE MATTER, TAKING OFF. I'M READY AND PREPARED TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL YEAR OUT AND START PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO OUR CHILDREN. I THANK THIS BOARD FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AS WELL. WE HAVE HARD DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE BUT WE'LL DO IT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PABLO, ARE YOU
194READY? ON 3/11, THE WEEKEND PAST, THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE BREAK, WE HAD A HOPE FOR TAMPA COMMUNITY AT SULPHUR SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND IT WAS A KICKOFF BREAK SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITHIN OUR TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND FAMILIES, ABOUT 50 VENDORS AND NEARLY 200 VOLUNTEERS. IT REALLY WORKED WELL FOR SULPHUR SPRINGS AREA. VERY FEW TIMES WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN SULPHUR SPRINGS AND GIVE TO THAT PARTICULAR AREA. SO IT REALLY WENT GREAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU, MS. SHAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRANSFORMATION. YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB. YES, MA'AM. TRACY WAS THERE. THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. YOU CAN SEE WE WERE STANDING UP HAVING FUN TALKING TO PEOPLE. AND IT WAS REALLY NICE. WE ENJOYED. ALSO, YOU KNOW, I
195WANT TO SAY -- YEAH, YES. YOU CAN SEE WE HAD THE NAACP. THEY WERE THERE. WE JUST HAD A GREAT TIME AND SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS REALLY GOOD. AND MS. PEREZ, YOU WERE THERE. I THINK WE TOOK A PICTURE TOGETHER. YOU MADE ME LOOK GOOD IN THE PICTURE. I SAW THAT. IT REALLY WENT NICE, AND WE ENJOYED. MOVING ON, WE ALSO HAD, ALSO 3/13 I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND MEET WITH MRS. DORIS ROSS REDDICK. SHE TURNED 96 YEARS OLD. VERY SHARP. SHE STILL KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SHE IS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. WE HAD A GREAT TIME CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY. SHE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE'S STILL IN WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I TELL YOU. SHE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO
196HER FOR THAT 96th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER PEREZ. I WAS THINKING, IT'S AMAZING SHE'S 96. THAT GIVES US HOPE THAT WE CAN LIVE THAT LONG AND BE ON THE BOARD. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I HAD THE AMAZING PRIVILEGE OF SPENDING MY SPRING BREAK UP IN TALLY. AND I HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME, AND SHE DID THE PACKAGER PAG PROGRAM UP IN TALLAHASSEE. THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM FOR THE KIDS. DURING SPRING BREAK SHE HAD TO GET UP BY 8:00 AND BE IN TALLAHASSEE AND WORKING WITH -- SHE REALLY DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT TOO MUCH. BUT, HEY. BUT SHE LEARNED. SHE WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PAGERS AND WORK ON POLICY. HER LITTLE POLICY THING WAS CHOSEN AND SHE GOT TO DEFEND IT
197AND WORK ON IT. IT WAS REALLY AMAZING. AS SHE GOT TO SEE EVERYBODY IN CHAMBER AND HOW OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE UP THERE FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS. LUCKILY THEY DIDN'T REALLY FIGHT, BUT IT ALMOST GOT THERE. AND ALSO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY CYBER TASK FORCE. WE MET LAST MONTH, AND THE EDUCATOR WHO IS WORKING WITH ME ON THAT CYBER TASK FORCE, BIANCA GOOLSBY, SHE PROVIDED A PRESENTATION ON AIR DROP. AIR DROP IS A FEATURE JUST ON THE APPLE DEVICES TO WIRELESSLY SEND THE CONTENT TO OTHER APPLE DEVICES. AND THIS HAS CAUSED DISTURBANCES ACROSS THE NATION AND PARENTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF IT. OUR NEXT TASK FORCE MEETING WILL BE APRIL 3rd AT 6:30. AND MS. GOOLSBY WILL BE SHARING A PRESENTATION ON GHOST APPS, ON WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
198THEM. OUR CYBER TASK FORCE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE LAST YEAR, AND PARENTS ARE STARTING TO ENJOY AND REALLY TALK ABOUT THE APPLE DEVICES AND ALSO THE COMPUTERS AND HOW THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO BLOCK THEIR CHILDREN USING CERTAIN APPS ON THE PHONE. IT'S BEEN REALLY AN EDUCATION FORWARD FOR ESPECIALLY FOR ME, TOO, BECAUSE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN. AND ALSO, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'M GOING TO START A BOOK CLUB. YOU KNOW, MEMBER VAUGHN, WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN, LITERACY REALLY MATTERS. BUT WHEN THE PARENTS ARE NOT AVID READERS, THE CHILDREN TEND NOT TO BE READERS THEMSELVES. I'M GOING TO BE STARTING A BOOK CLUB FOR THE PARENTS. WHILE YOU READ WITH THE CHILDREN, I'LL BE READING WITH THE PARENTS. THE FIRST MEETING WILL BE APRIL 15 AT 6 P.M. IT WILL BE A SATURDAY NIGHT. AND
199WE ARE ABLE TO MEET. PLEASE JOIN ME. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO READING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. I THINK IT GOES GREAT. Stacy Hahn: LOOK AT HOW THE JOY OF READING BOOKS IS CONTAGIOUS. THAT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY. CONGRATULATIONS. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK WITH THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPDATES. THAT'S FANTASTIC. SO MY COMMENTS ARE AROUND BOOKS, TOO. SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, ACTUALLY, THAT I'D LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON, GIVEN THAT A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK. ONE IS HOW MANY ACTIVE BOOK CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DATE? DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ON THAT BY ANY CHANCE? Addison Davis: DO WE HAVE THAT, MR. CONNOR? Terry Connor: I THINK CURRENTLY AT TWO WITH THE ONE GOING TO THE
200BOARD ON TUESDAY AND WE HAVE ONE CURRENTLY AT FARRELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. Stacy Hahn: THAT'S RIGHT NOW AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. Terry Connor: IT IS. Stacy Hahn: SAME BOOK, DIFFERENT BOOK? Terry Connor: DIFFERENT BOOK. IF THERE HAS BEEN ANYTHING SUBMITTED WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I CAN FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL ONES. Stacy Hahn: ALSO, IS IT THE SAME COMMITTEE EACH TIME AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL OR DOES THAT COMMITTEE CHANGE IN ANY WAY? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT IS THE SAME SUPERVISORS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. THE ONLY THING THAT MAY CHANGE IS A PTA REPRESENTATIVE, AS PTA HAS AVAILABILITY AND ANY OTHER CHANGES. OTHER THAN THAT, IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY THE SAME. Stacy Hahn: IF A BOOK IS CHALLENGED AT THE SAME SCHOOL, ANOTHER BOOK, IS
201IT THE SAME COMMITTEE OR DOES THAT CHANGE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL FOR EACH CHALLENGE? Addison Davis: IT'S THE SAME COMMITTEE. Stacy Hahn: OKAY. SO ONLY ONE TO DATE HAS GONE THROUGH OUR PROCESS, CORRECT? THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Jim Porter: JUST A QUESTION THE WAY IT WORKS. I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU WANT TO ASK THEM AND HAVE HIM GET BACK WITH YOU? Nadia Combs: ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID ABOUT WAY OF WORK, JUST BECAUSE IF THE ANSWERS AREN'T THERE, IF THEY ARE NOT ACCURATE, THEN THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CABINET AREN'T READY, LIKE IF YOU ARE GIVING MISINFORMATION WITHOUT HAVING THE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT WITH WAY OF WORK. Stacy Hahn: I WILL CERTAINLY GIVE MR. CONNOR GRACE IF IT'S TWO
202OR FOUR. Jim Porter: IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS. JUST A QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY ARE PREPARING -- Stacy Hahn: I HAVE ONE MORE, AND NOTHING THAT'S EARTH SHATTERING BY ANY MEANS OR DIFFICULT TO ANSWER. MR. PORTER THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU. THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR CHALLENGING BOOKS IS A PROCESS, NOT A POLICY. Jim Porter: THERE IS A VERY GENERAL POLICY. Stacy Hahn: TALKS ABOUT THE BOARD HAVING THE DISCRETION TO REMOVE A BOOK. Jim Porter: THAT TRACKS STATE STATUTE. THE SUPERINTENDENT DEVELOPS PROCEDURES. Stacy Hahn: GIVEN THAT'S NOT POLICY AND IT'S A PROCEDURE, AT ANY TIME DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE BOARD CHAIR HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CALL A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WHEN A BOOK IS BEING CHALLENGED OR IF THERE'S AN ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF CONCERN OVER A BOOK OR CERTAIN BOOKS
203SINCE IT'S NOT POLICY? Jim Porter: THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE ARE ADOPTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT. THE CHAIR OR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AREN'T INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROCEDURES. THE PROCEDURES CALL FOR THE CHALLENGE TO ULTIMATELY BE HEARD BY THE BOARD IF THE PERSON SEEKING THE APPEAL TAKES IT TO THE BOARD LEVEL. AND THE PROCEDURE SEND OUT TWO WEEKS NOTICE AND OTHER PROCEDURAL THINGS. THAT'S ON THE SUPERINTENDENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, NOT THE CHAIR OR THE BOARD. IT CALLS FOR A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING TO HEAR IT. THAT'S WHY HE SET THE MEETING. Stacy Hahn: AT HIS DISCRETION CAN HE CALL A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING AT ANY TIME TO HEAR -- FOR A BOOK? IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. Jim Porter: YES, IT -- NO, IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
204UNLESS HE CHANGES THE PROCEDURES. Stacy Hahn: IT'S AT HIS DISCRETION TO CHANGE THE PROCEDURES. Jim Porter: LET ME BE CLEAR. THE FLORIDA STATUTES REQUIRE THE DISTRICT DEVELOP A PROCESS FOR HEARING BOOK CHALLENGES. THAT'S ON HIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE. HE'S DONE THAT. IT HASN'T REALLY HAPPENED HERE BEFORE. THIS IS A NEW PROCESS FOR THE DISTRICT THAT THESE PROCEDURES WERE ADOPTED FAIRLY RECENTLY. WE NEED TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS. THE ONLY WAY YOU WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL-CALLED BOARD MEETING IS IF A PARENT OR SOMEONE ELSE ELIGIBLE TO FILE AN APPEAL FILES AN APPEAL. HE WOULDN'T DO IT ON HIS OWN. HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO BRING A BOOK TO YOU ON HIS OWN. THAT'S THE CURRENT POLICY AND THE CURRENT PROCEDURE. I'M CONFUSED. Addison Davis: I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU. Stacy Hahn: I CAN GIVE
205YOU A BOOK TO BRING? Jim Porter: I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING. Addison Davis: CONTINUE, SIR. Jim Porter: IF THE BOARD WANTS TO LOOK AT ITS POLICY OR LOOK AT THE PROCEDURES, YOU COULD -- THERE IS A WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2nd I THINK WHERE YOU WILL BE DISCUSSING THESE. AT THAT TIME, YOU CAN GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT INPUT ON THE PROCEDURES OR CHANGE YOUR OWN POLICY. THAT'S WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD, BUT CURRENTLY, THE ONLY WAY A BOOK GETS TO THIS BOARD IS IF SOMEONE CHALLENGES IT AND IT IS BROUGHT BEFORE YOU THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS AND THERE ARE TWO LAYERS BEFORE THAT. THAT CAN CHANGE. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. Stacy Hahn: I'M ASKING. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE GETTING INUNDATED WITH A LOT OF THE PROCEDURAL TYPES OF QUESTIONS. I NEED SOME CLARITY
206AROUND THAT. Jim Porter: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS BOARD MEETING TONIGHT AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST. I THINK THE INTENT IS BEFORE YOUR MEETING NEXT TUESDAY TO BRIEF YOU ALL ON WHAT YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BE DOING. NEXT TUESDAY IS NOT A TIME FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. IT'S AN APPEAL OF A BOOK. I AM GOING TO INTRUDE ON YOUR CONVERSATION IF IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE REALLY GETTING INTO A BROADER DISCUSSION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE TIME FOR IT. Stacy Hahn: THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING NOW. Jim Porter: RIGHT. Stacy Hahn: BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THIS IS THE ONLY PUBLIC PLACE THAT WE CAN ALL HEAR THE ANSWERS TO ALL THIS AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD ASK JUST IN MY TIME RUNNING OUT, MOVING
207FORWARD, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD GET WEEKLY OR BIWEEKLY UPDATES ON THE NUMBER OF BOOK CHALLENGES AS THEY CHANGE, WHETHER VIA E-MAIL OR SOME TYPE OF FORMAT THAT MR. CONNOR -- Addison Davis: I CAN ANSWER THAT. THROUGH THE CHAIR, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS, IF THERE IS A CHALLENGE ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS, IF WE SEE A MAJOR NUMBER TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD. I'M SORRY TO DISRUPT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. I DO BELIEVE THE OTHER ISSUE IS THERE IS CONVERSATION ABOUT A WORKSHOP THAT'S FORTHCOMING TO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT PROCEDURES, WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT TRAINING WE'RE PROVIDING, HOW WE REVIEW AND HOW ARE WE SELECTING, WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE. THE ISSUE IS, IT KEEPS GETTING PUSHED BACK. I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE MADE A PRIORITY. Stacy Hahn: I WOULD LOVE IF
208YOU AND THE CHAIR WOULD MAKE THAT A PRIORITY. GIVEN CERTAINLY -- Addison Davis: IT NEEDS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. I DIDN'T MEAN TO DISRUPT MR. PORTER BECAUSE MR. PORTER IS SPOT ON WITH THIS CONVERSATION, IS THAT RIGHT NOW AS SUPERINTENDENT, I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR THE POWER TO MAKE ANY OF THOSE HARD DECISIONS. Stacy Hahn: RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET ON THE RECORD THAT -- LIKE I SAID, I'M GETTING INUNDATED WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO CLEAR THIS UP. AND THERE'S ALSO JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND, I THINK THERE IS THIS PERCEPTION THAT WE'VE GOT 50 OR 100 BOOK CHALLENGES. HONESTLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE THAN TWO MYSELF. SO I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED IT'S ONLY TWO. I UNDERSTAND
209THAT IS NOT A HARD FAST NUMBER. IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT THAT NUMBER IS JUST SO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT TO EXPECT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THESE PROCESSES. I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORKSHOP. I KNOW I REQUESTED THAT BACK IN DECEMBER. I KNOW WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAP ALL THIS OUT. I'M SURE MANY OF US ARE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, WHEREVER YOU STAND ON THE ISSUE, PEOPLE ARE KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO HOW THIS IS BEING MANAGED. I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. THANKS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBER HAHN. I AGREE. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GET THIS CLEARED UP AS BEST WE CAN AS A BOARD IN THE SUNSHINE. IT'S GOING TO BE FOR
210THE CLARITY OF OUR PARENTS AND EVEN MORE FOR MYSELF AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS NO DOUBT. MY COMMENTS ARE, WELL, THIS IS THE DoDEA GRANTS, $1.7 MILLION WAS GIVEN TO THE S.T.E.M. SCHOOLS RIGHT AROUND THE MacDILL AIR FORCE. AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE CHILDREN, AS WE ALL KNOW, FROM MacDILL TRAVEL A LOT, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ONE PLACE TO STAY FOR A LONG TIME, AND THIS GRANT IS REALLY GOING TO THE S.T.E.M. AND S.T.E.A.M. SCHOOLS WITHIN REGIONS, AND OURS IS THE MacDILL REGION, AND THIS IS A NICE, HEALTHY GRANT. THANK YOU TO MELISSA MA GATO AND MR. McAULEY WHO WAS ALSO THERE WITH THE CELEBRATORY CHECK. WE WANT TO THANK WING COMMANDER COLONEL ADAM BINGHAM FROM MacDILL WHO SHARED A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT WE DO GIVE THE HIGHER LEVEL LEARNING
211THINKING SKILLS TO OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, AND WE'RE JUST BLESSED TO HAVE RECEIVED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. THANK YOU, DoDEA. AND NEXT IS, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUB THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE, LED BY MYSELF AND FRED HEARNS AND SHAKE WASHINGTON, WE DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT WHO PUT TOGETHER ALL THESE THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS. THIS IS THE JUDGE THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, CIVIL LIBERTIES, LIMITING THE SCOPE OF CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT, A LOT OF AREAS THAT SHOW EQUITY AND EQUAL TREATMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DECIDED WAS TO HAVE THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS, BUT ALLISON EDGECOMB WAS THE ONE WHO PROMOTED IT AS MUCH AS SHE POSSIBLY CAN, ONE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY MEMBER, THANK YOU, ALLISON, AND SO FAR SHE HAS EIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 16 IN MIDDLE
212SCHOOLS, AND 11 IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, TOTAL AMOUNT OF CLUBS, AND THIS STARTED JUST, THE CLUB STARTED LAST YEAR, SO IT'S 35 CLUBS, THURGOOD MARSHALL CLUBS, AND I JUST THINK SHE JUST DID A LOT OF WORK, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE HER COMBINING HISTORY, AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY INTO THE CLUBS THAT REALLY ARE EMBLEMATIC OF DIVERSITY. SO THE OTHER NEWS ITEM THAT I HAVE, AND I MENTIONED IT AT THE WORKSHOP, WAS THE MARITIME COURSE TAUGHT BY JOHN PERATUS AT JEFFERSON. AND THIS WAS OUT OF THE UNITED STATES, ONE OF 50 MARITIME COURSES IN THE STATE, AND IT'S AT JEFFERSON. ONE OF THE STUDENTS, HIS NAME IS JORDAN WASHINGTON, WAS ACCEPTED TO THE MARITIME MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY. MARITIME MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY AND ALL THE TUITION PAID FOR. BUT THIS IS A TEACHER THAT WORKS, JUST LIKE WE HEARD
213TODAY SO MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, IN THE MORNING, DURING THE DAY, OF COURSE, AND THEN AT NIGHT AND THE WEEKENDS AND HIS WIFE ALSO TEACHES THERE. SO JUST BRILLIANT TEACHERS WHO GIVE AND GIVE AND REALLY, REALLY WANT TO THANK THIS WONDERFUL TEACHER, JOHN PERATUS. LAST -- WELL, NEVER LAST, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RACE FOR EDUCATION VAN AYRES IS IN THE BACKGROUND WHO WANTS TO REALLY COME IN FIRST PLACE, THE RACE FOR EDUCATION 5K AND ONE-MILE FUN RUN IS APRIL 1st, A SATURDAY, AND I DID PROMISE THE BOARD STOP WATCHES IN CASE THEY WOULD LIKE TO BEAT THEIR LAST 5K TIME OR COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER. SO EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE GETTING A STOPWATCH. IF YOU DON'T WANT ONE, GIVE IT TO YOUR, MAYBE YOUR SON OR YOUR FRIEND. JESSICA VAUGHN, YOU DON'T WANT ONE.
214I MIGHT RUN OUT. THAT'S THE END OF MY COMMENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. THESE LOOK SO EXPENSIVE. YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE PRICE OFF BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE A LOT MORE THAN THEY ARE. I MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY. I MEAN THAT IN A POSITIVE WAY. I'M DIGRESSING. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO COVER IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. I'LL MOVE FAST. FIRST OF ALL. THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT AIR DROP, MEMBER PEREZ, AND YOUR WORK ON TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET. I THINK THAT IS A CONVERSATION WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE AS A BOARD COLLECTIVELY. SECONDLY, ALSO, THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON, FOR TAKING THE MOMENT OF SILENCE TO DEDICATE TO SAM BELL. THAT IS A HUGE
215CRUSHING LOSS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, HE WAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THEN HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE USF COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. HIS WIFE WAS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND PRESIDENT OF USF FOR A LONG TIME. HIS DAUGHTER IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE HOUSE AND HIS OTHER DAUGHTER ACTUALLY SERVES ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT ORANGE COUNTY. SO THAT FAMILY HAS DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND EDUCATION AND BEEN FIERCE CHAMPIONS FOR EDUCATION. I WANT TO SEND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THAT FAMILY. SAM, I GOT TO SEE HIM A FEW MONTHS AGO. HE WAS ALWAYS A BIG SUPPORTER OF MORT COMMUNITY SCHOOL. HE PUT A LOT INTO THAT SCHOOL SO I GOT TO SEE HIM. VERY SAD TO HEAR THAT WE'VE LOST HIM. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST FOR THE RECORD,
216SINCE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LEGISLATION AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US, I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS LEGISLATION TO CHARGE PEOPLE WHO HOUSE UNDOCUMENTED CITIZENS WITH A FELONY. AND SINCE WE DO HAVE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF THAT LEGISLATION PASSES FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM GOING TO SCHOOL AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF PUT THAT OUT THERE SO WE CAN START HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY ASK, SINCE WE ALL KIND OF CAME TO CONSENSUS ABOUT IT AND THEY HAVE BEEN SO PATIENT TO PUT CARROLLWOOD K-8 ON THE NEXT AGENDA, SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CHOICING OUT OF THAT SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY THIS
217YEAR WAITING FOR AN ANSWER ON THAT. WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT RETENTION TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES IN THE SCHOOL. IT SOUNDS LIKE AT THE LAST WORKSHOP WE DID HAVE SOME CONSENSUS WITH THAT. I KNOW WORKED VERY HARD TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT AND VERY KIND AND VERY DILIGENT. SO AS A BOARD MEMBER, ESPECIALLY FOR DISTRICT THREE, I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY REQUEST THAT. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND OUR SCHOOLS AND EVERYONE AT THE DISTRICT, WELCOME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK. I HOPE IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECHARGE. I KNOW THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ANOTHER YEAR OF CHALLENGING YEARS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM ALL OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY MEMBER RENDON ABOUT PRIORITIZING OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
218COMES TO LIVABLE WAGES. I THINK THAT AS A BOARD I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT'S A PRIORITY COMING FORWARD. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE MAGISTRATE SOON SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AS A BOARD. THAT IS ANOTHER REQUEST. I KNOW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PROBABLY ARE INTERESTED, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY REQUESTED IT, IT'S TIME THAT WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR FROM THE MAGISTRATE. FINALLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY WE ALL AS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO REALLY DECIDE HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS. FOR ME, I TRY TO BE REALLY REFLECTIVE OF MY COMMUNITY. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN DISTRICT 3 TALKING TO PEOPLE IN MY SCHOOLS, MY NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I LIKE TO GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON ALMOST
219EVERY DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED ME. I TAKE A LOT OF STOCK IN THE FEEDBACK I GET FROM MY COMMUNITY. AND I'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MY COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO ANSWER MY CALLS ON ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD COMING UP THAT I WANT TO GET FEEDBACK ON, PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE AISLE, ACROSS THE AISLE, WHO HAVE ALL BEEN VERY KIND AND TAKEN THE TIME TO REALLY HAVE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS AND HELP ME SEE THINGS FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE AND THE SIDE OF THINGS. FOR ANYONE WHO IS ENGAGING IN POLITICS RIGHT NOW, FROM A PLACE OF KINDNESS AND A WAY OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE MEET OR WHERE WE
220AGREE AND MOVE FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES SEEING ALL THE HATRED AND ANGER AND INDICATIONS THAT ARE -- ACCUSATIONS THAT ARE UNFAIR REALLY MAKE THIS JOB FRUSTRATING. WHAT KEEPS ME GOING AND MAKES IT POSITIVE IS WHEN I GET INTO MY COMMUNITY AND I HAVE REALLY GOOD INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO AGAIN I MAY NOT AGREE WITH. I JUST WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE WHEN I CALL OR MEETS FOR LUNCH OR TAKES THE TIME TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH ME AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD COLLECTIVELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER RENDON. Patti Rendon: WELL, I LIKE TO ECHO WELCOME BACK TO ALL OF OUR STAFF ACROSS THE DISTRICT. I
221HOPE THEY HAD A WELL-DESERVED BREAK. I KNOW MY DAUGHTER ENJOYED HER TIME OFF. I HAD ALL THREE OF THEM OFF WHICH IS A BIG FEAT. BUT I ALSO WANT TO TAKE TIME TO THANK ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS UP IN TALLAHASSEE, BOTH OF OUR SENATORS AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES. IT IS A TIRELESS JOB THAT THEY ARE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES ON AN ONGOING BASIS, AND WE DEAL WITH ONE DISTRICT. THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE ENTIRE STATE. SO THEY ARE TRULY OUT THERE TRYING TO DO THE GOOD OF OUR ENTIRE STATE AND MAKING IT AS BEST AS THEY CAN. AND RIGHT NOW, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING UP THERE LAST WEEK AND GOING TO MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, MEETING WITH MANY LEGISLATORS, AND REALLY THEIR FOCUS IS REALLY ON OUR CHILDREN RIGHT NOW. THEIR
222FOCUS IS REALLY ON WHAT'S GOOD FOR OUR KIDS, CHOICES FOR OUR FAMILIES, AND IT'S AN ONGOING, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S PARENT RIGHTS, WHATEVER IT IS, THEY HAVE A LARGE FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE AND THE CHILDREN. SO I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM FOR THE TIME THAT THEY PUT IN. I KNOW IT'S HOURS THAT ARE COUNTLESS WITHOUT THEIR FAMILIES, LIKE I SAID, AND, LOOK, THEIR REIMBURSEMENT IS EVEN LESS THAN OURS. THEY DO A LOT. SO I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THEM. I ALSO WANT TO THANK TONY SALADINO AND THE SALADINO FAMILY FOR THE SALADINO TOURNAMENT THIS PAST WEEK. ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WITHIN THE COUNTY PARTICIPATED IN THAT BASEBALL TOURNAMENT. I DID ENJOY GOING TO SEE BLOOMINGDALE AND STRAWBERRY CREST BEFORE
223I LEFT FOR TALLAHASSEE. BLOOMINGDALE DID LOSE, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO JESUIT. I BELIEVE THEY WERE THE WINNERS OF THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT. BUT YET, YET PLANT GAVE IT ITS ALL INTO THE FINALS. BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR DEDICATED STUDENTS, WHETHER IT'S IN ART OR MUSIC OR ATHLETICS THAT THESE KIDS ARE WORKING ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE STRIVING FOR GOALS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE. I WANT TO TAKE AN EXTRA MINUTE JUST TO SAY GOOD FOR YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE PARENTS, TO THE COACHES, TO THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE HOSTS. IT TOOK THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO PUT THIS TOURNAMENT ON EACH AND EVERY YEAR. SO THANK YOU, THE SALADINO FAMILY, FOR EVERYTHING THEY CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. TONY WAS AN EDUCATOR, A TEACHER, SO
224WHAT A PLACE TO GIVE BACK BUT TO OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN. WE HAD A LOT OF COMMENT TONIGHT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS MULTIPLE TIMES, A STATUTE WAS REFERENCED. THAT WAS STATUTE I BELIEVE 847. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT, WHETHER THROUGH THE DISTRICT OR THROUGH YOU, MR. PORTER, ON THAT REFERENCE TO THAT STATUTE THAT WE CAN ALL BE UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THAT WAS COMING FROM. I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS IN REFERENCE AT ONE POINT TO THE BOOK WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED. SO IF WE COULD GET A COPY -- THE BOARD GET A COPY OF THAT. Jim Porter: I THINK WHAT WOULD BE
225HELPFUL FOR ALL THE BOARD IS TO PROVIDE YOU A COMPREHENSIVE SORT OF PACKET FOR THIS. I KNOW MS. PEPPY AND TERRY CONNOR IS WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. FROM MY END, LEGAL END, GIVING YOU CONTEXT FOR THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL. THE MEETING IS NEXT WEEK. MY GOAL IS TO HAVE YOU GET THROUGH THIS MEETING TONIGHT AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU THIS WEEK. I'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT. I HAVE IN MIND WHAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU, BUT ANY INPUT YOU NEED THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL I WOULD APPRECIATE AS WELL AND GET THAT FOR YOU. I'LL CERTAINLY PROVIDE ALL THE STATUTES REFERENCED AS WELL AS THE POLICIES AND THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. Patti Rendon: RIGHT. AGAIN, I WAS GOING TO REFERENCE BACK TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A
226POLICY THAT WE ARE REFERENCING. THAT POLICY HAD TO COME FROM SOME STATUTE. Jim Porter: IT'S ALL THERE. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. Patti Rendon: RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK I MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR ON AN ONGOING BASIS THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR BOARD TO FOLLOW STATUTE AND RULE FROM THE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DID SPEAK WITH THE DOE ABOUT RECENTLY ABOUT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. SO IF WE COULD ALSO AS A DISTRICT PROVIDE THE BOARD ON EXACTLY HOW WE GOT TO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AS OUR REFERENCE FOR DOING THINGS, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT PART OF THE ROLE OF THE DOE. HOWEVER WE GOT THERE AS A DISTRICT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD GET THAT INFORMATION. Jim Porter: AGAIN,
227I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE WORKSHOP. IT CAN PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR YOU, BUT, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT TUESDAY'S MEETING IS ABOUT A SPECIFIC BOOK. ALL THIS IS IMPORTANT. IT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AND YOU SHOULD HAVE INPUT ON IT. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU DISCUSS NEXT TUESDAY. THE SELECTION PROCESS IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO THIS WHOLE THING, BUT THE CONTEXT OF WHICH YOU CONSIDER IT NEXT TUESDAY ABSOLUTELY FOR THE WORKSHOP. BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU ON THE SELECTION PROCESS. Patti Rendon: NOT JUST THE SELECTION PROCESS, BUT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IS WHAT WE HAVE REFERENCED IN OUR PROCEDURES TO HOW WE'VE COME UP WITH THE CHECKLIST THAT OUR COMMITTEES ARE USING, THE PROCESS IN WHICH WE ARE PUTTING BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARY, THE
228PROCESS IN WHICH THIS BOOK GOT TO WHERE IT WENT TO AND THEN THE PROCESS IN WHICH WE ARE VETTING IT. BECAUSE WE ARE USING AND REFERENCE THAT ASSOCIATION IS OUR REFERENCE TO HOW WE'RE DOING BUSINESS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET -- HOW DO WE COME TO THAT? BECAUSE IT IS NOT PART OF STATE RULE THAT WE USE THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. AGAIN, I'M GOING BACK TO RULE AND LAW SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON THAT. I DID CONSULT WITH THE DOE THAT IS NOT PART OF THE DOE RULE. I KNOW IT WAS NOT REALLY A QUESTION. IT WAS MORE OF COULD WE GET FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD THAT INFORMATION? AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER RENDON. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, MEMBER
229VAUGHN, FOR OUR CONDOLENCES WITH SAM BELL. SOMEONE AND A FAMILY, ENTIRE FAMILY OF SAM HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. ALSO, MEMBER HAHN, I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AGENDA. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING AND THEY ARE VERY CURIOUS. IF WE CAN MOVE THAT UP, I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN MOVE IT UP SOONER SO THAT WAY WE CAN REALLY TACKLE THIS AND LOOK AT THIS. BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT NOBODY WANTS PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS LIKE I'VE SAID. THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON UP HERE WHO WANTS THIS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A PROCESS AND A PROCESS THAT WITHSTANDS 10, 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW. WHAT MIGHT SEEM HORRIBLE A YEAR FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM
230NOW WHO KNOWS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE. I DON'T THINK WE EVER THOUGHT THINGS WOULD LOOK LIKE THEY DO NOW. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MEMBER PEREZ REGARDING THE CYBER TASK FORCE. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT. PORNOGRAPHY ANYWHERE IS A PROBLEM. IT'S SUCH A PROBLEM WITH OUR PHONES. THERE'S SO MUCH VIOLENCE. THERE'S DRUGS. THERE'S PORNOGRAPHY. JUST EVEN TODAY IF YOU WERE OUT HERE, YOU GO TO ANY SCHOOL AND TAKE YOUR AIR DROP OFF AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THESE ARE REALLY BIG ISSUES. WE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SCHOOLS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. WE WANT THE PARENTS TO BE IN CHARGE. SO WHEN PARENTS HAND THEIR PHONES TO KIDS WHEN THEY ARE 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE NOT REALLY MONITORING THAT, WE
231AREN'T THE PARENTS. PARENTS ARE THEIR OWN PARENTS OF THEIR CHILDREN BUT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES GOING ON. COUPLE OF THINGS, THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY FOR THE WATCH, BUT REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT RACE FOR EDUCATION. I THOUGHT IT WAS AMAZING LAST YEAR. IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING RACE. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WALK AGAIN THIS YEAR IN IT. THANK YOU. I'LL USE MY WATCH TO SEE HOW FAST I CAN WALK. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WOMEN AND HOW MUCH WE DO. I STARTED THAT MONTH WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA WITH THE EVENT OF WOMEN IN DISTINCTION WHERE THEY HONORED SO MANY WONDERFUL WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY IN WHAT THEY DO, AND THAT WAS SO AMAZING
232TO HEAR THESE WOMEN AND TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR GIRL SCOUTS THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOLS. I HAD ALL THESE GREAT PICTURES OF ALL THESE GIRL SCOUTS BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF I HAD THE PHOTO RELEASE SO I DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE IT. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THESE YOUNG LADIES AND SEE ALL THESE ROLE MODELS IN FRONT OF THEM. THAT WAS AN AMAZING LUNCH. AND THEN FINALLY, JUST A REMINDER, THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH IS REALLY GETTING THE STUDENTS OUT THERE TO GET THE JOB. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR COMPANIES THAT NEED EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THIS WILL BE OPEN TO ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. ONCE THAT IS DONE, IT IS OPEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO
233SHARE A FEW DAYS, APRIL 6 WILL BE EAST TAMPA, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED IN THE EMBASSY SUITES, CENTRAL AND SOUTH TAMPA WILL BE APRIL 11 AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST TAMPA WILL BE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER APRIL 12. SOUTH HILLSBOROUGH WILL BE AT THE REGENT ON APRIL 19. EAST HILLSBOROUGH APRIL 20th. AND THEN PLANT CITY APRIL 27th AT THE TRINKLE CENTER. ALL OF THESE EVENTS ARE FROM 8 TO 2. IF YOU KNOW OF A COMPANY LOOKING TO HIRE EMPLOYEES, PLEASE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY AND LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PARTICIPATE. I KNOW I'M PARTICIPATING IN SEVERAL OF THESE DATES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT SPRING BREAK. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.