001Hi, I AM NADIA COMBS, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANTS TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS. THAT INCLUDE STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH ADULTS IN OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAM. I AM HENRY SHAKE WASHINGTON, THE BOARD VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT NEARLY 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATEOUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM AT 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 MEETING COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS
002TV ON SPECTRUM CABLE CHANNEL 635. MEETINGS ARE STREAMLINED ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGH. SCHOOLS.COM. CLOSED CAPTION IS AVAILABLE ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS IN ARCHIVES. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE WILL HAVE TIME TO ADDRESS THAT. OUR BOARD MEMBERS CAN BE REVIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. OUR MISSION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. AND THIS MEANS ALL STUDENTS. EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FEATURE. Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF MAY 10, 2022 IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL JOIN US WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Henry Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE
003JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] Henry Washington: THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Henry Washington: YOU MAY BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: MR. WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR TODAY. Henry Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ROOSEVELT ROCK BAND ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR ERNESTO CHOCALATI. SHE IS -- BUT SHE IS BETTER KNOWN AS THE CHICK IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS ENTERTAINED US TONIGHT -- THIS AFTERNOON AT OUR BOARD MEETING. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. ARE YOU READY? READY. MY NAME IS ELI BRAND AND I AM IN FIFTH GRADE. JACKSON MYERS AND TIME IN FIFTH GRADE. I AM BIRD O'DONNELL AND I AM 5th SFRAID. SELENA AND
004IN THE FOURTH GRADE. GRAYSON DUNBAR AND IN FOURTH GRADE. MATT COOPER AND FIFTH GRADE. JACK CAMO AND FIRST GRADE. JACK DEGEORGE AND FOURTH GRADE. ROCCO AND TIME IN FOURTH GRADE. MY NAME IS SOPHIA, AND I AM IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ANA MALLORY AND I AM IN FOURTH GRADE. MY NAME IS MASON MYERS AND I AM FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS VINCEZO AND I AM IN FIFTH GRADE. I AM KENISHA JOHNSON AND STUDENT INTERN AND DIRECTOR OF BAND AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. I AM THEIR TEACHER ERNESTA, AND I AM FROM ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY AND DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS HERE TODAY. Henry Washington: THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING A GREAT JOB. PARENTS, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME PICTURES, PLEASE DO SO. YEAH, COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES. GIVING THAT BIG SMILE
005THERE N NOW. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THIS IS REALLY WHAT IT IS BALL. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT AND I KNOW EVERYBODY INSIDE HERE WERE ABLE TO HEAR THEM ROCK OUT. TO THEIR AMAZING TEACHER. I SAW SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS ALSO ROCKING OUT WITH THEM TODAY. THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE. SO WE HAVE ONE WITHDRAWN ITEM 7:19, PROOF OF PURCHASE FROM PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER -- SORRY, TURN THIS AROUND. OKAY, BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. WE WILL HAVE TO TURN THIS AROUND. OKAY. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY APRIL 12, 2022
006SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION AND APRIL 22, 2022. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND DECISIONS WITH UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTER THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AS WE BEGIN THIS
007MEETING, LET ME REVIEW THE RULES. PLEASE SILENCE ALL THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS TO HAVE BOARD MEMBERS HEAR. THIS MEET ASKING BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTION ON CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING WITH THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN WHICH IS AT 6 P.M. THAT IS EMPLOYEE INPUT. PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD WELCOME COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND PROVIDES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP YOU INFORMED OF OUR RESPONSES. WE RESPECT THE RIGHT FOR YOU SPEAKING TO THE BOARD AND THAT YOU ARE HERE. WE SAY THAT THE COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE ADDRESSED PERSONALLY TO THE BOARD MEMBER BUT JUST AT
008THE ISSUES. ANY ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT THE MEET ALSO NOT BE ALLOWED. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY IN THE MICROPHONE. EACH PERSON WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND 30 SECONDS, A YELLOW LIGHT AND A RED LIGHT AND THEN CHIME TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR TIME IS UP. FIRST HAVE THE SPEAKERS AND LINE UP AT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI THERE. KATHLEEN DANIELS. AND I AM THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AT A LOCAL PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE CURRENT STATE NOMINATED STATE NOMINATED FOR MEDIA EDUCATORS PRESIDENT-ELECT. I WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO TELL YOU HOW YOUR SUPPORT HELPS THE STUDENTS. RECOGNIZING THAT EACH SCHOOL HAS AN UNIQUE CULTURE AND DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND NO WHEN SCHOOL SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING US HAVING A
009PUBLIC VIRTUAL CATALOG WHERE ANYONE CAN SEE WHAT EACH SCHOOL HAS IN THEIR COLLECTION SO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT BOOKS THEIR STUDENTS ARE READING AND PROMOTE PARENT AND STUDENT CHOICE OF READING. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND VALUING OUR TIME AND ENERGY AWAY FROM FIXING TECH AND INVENTORY AND INSTEAD TOWARD CURE ATEING AND ENGAGING IN REPRESENTATIVE MATERIALS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES TO OUR STUDENTS FOR AUTHOR EVENTS SUCH AS SLAM SHOWCASE. THROUGH OUR ARTS DEPARTMENT AND LIBRARY SUPERVISORS. I PRIDE MYSELF BEING DATA DRIVEN AND INCLUDING STUDENT INPUT. I BUY BOOKS AND CREATE PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY MEET THE NEEDS FOR OUR MULTIPLE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE SERVICES. LAST MONTH, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO OPEN BACK UP FROM TESTING CLOSURES FOR WRITING AND HAD AN ANONYMOUS I LOVE MY
010LIBRARY BECAUSE DISPLAY FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH WHERE STUDENTS WROTE AND POSTED THEIR RESPONSES ON OUR GLASS DOOR ENTRYWAY. HERE IS ONE RESPONSE FROM THE FIRST DAY. ALSO THE STUDENT DID WRITE THERE IS A TRIGGER WARNING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. SO APPROPRIATE THOUGH. I LOVE MY LIBRARY BECAUSE IT HAS BOOKS WHEREIN I FIND TOPICS AND SITUATIONS THAT I CAN RELATE TO. IT IS AMAZING TO FIND REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY IN HARD TOPICS SUCH AS SUICIDE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. I AM THANKFUL FOR THIS RETREAT AND ITS ROLE IN ME STILL BEING HERE. THAT IS A LITTLE HEART TO LOVE THIS PLACE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING KIDS ALIVE BY ALLOWING STUDENTS TO BOOKS THEY RELATE TO EVEN IF WE WISH THEY DIDN'T RELATE TO THEM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, ALISON
011FERNANDEZ. I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE FIRST IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. THAT MEANS WE ARE NOT A GENERIC FORM OF A DEMOCRACY. WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. THAT MEANS THAT ALL POWER FOR EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL EMANATES FOR THE PEOPLE. WE THE PEOPLE CONSENT TO BE GOVERNED. WE THE PEOPLE PROVIDE ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENDS. PEOPLE PROVIDE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT THIS DISTRICT OPERATES ON AND WE, THE PEOPLE, DESERVE TO HAVE ABSOLUTE, FULL DISCLOSURE AND TRANSPARENCY IN ALL MATTERS OF THE SCHOOL BO BOARD, NOT JUST FINANCIAL, BUT, YOU KNOW I AM PROBABLY GOING TO SAY FINANCIAL AS WELL. BUT THE THINGS IS -- THING IS IN PAST MEETINGS, PEOPLE HAVE -- BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MADE COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE MEE MEETING. AND WHEN
012THE PUBLIC COMES UP TO ADDRESS WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS BOARD MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY. HOWEVER, THAT IS -- THAT IS A DEFINITELY A VIOLATION OF MY RIGHT TO SPEAK. THAT IS, IF YOU WERE SAYING SOMETHING AT A BOARD MEETING, I HAVE A RIGHT TO ADDRESS THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND IT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN A CONFRONTATIONAL AGGRESSIVE MANNER BUT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID. AND YOU, IN YOUR ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER, IF IT BOTHERS YOU THAT PEOPLE COME HERE AND POINT OUT WHAT IS SAID BY BOARD MEMBERS IN THE MEETING, THEN MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE ROLE FOR YOU. BUT THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
013THAT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I ADDRESS ARE THAT THERE IS FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. THERE IS FINANCIAL DISCUSSION THAT GOES ON. AND MY POINTS WITH ASKING YOU ALL TO DO MORE AND BE MORE TRANSPARENT IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU GO THROUGH EVERY SPENDING LINE OF THE BUDGET WHILE YOU ARE MAKING A BUDGET. EVERY SPENDING LINE WHEN YOU ARE GOING OVER THE RESULTS. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND YET WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY AND A HIGHER MILLAGE R RATE. WHY AS A TAXPAYER SHOULD I BE TRUSTING YOU TO SPEND MORE MONEY WHEN I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPENDING THE MONEY ENOUGH A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW PROPERTY VALUES ARE ESCALATING AT VERY HIGH RATE, WHICH MEANS THAT
014THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE COMING IN THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES WITH NO MILLAGE INCREASE WILL ALREADY BE HIGHER. WELL, AS A TAXPAYER, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW HOW THAT FUNDING WILL ACTUALLY LOOK IN THE FALL. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT CAN BE DONE. I DID SIT AT A TEMPLE TERRACE CITY COUNCILPERSON AND USED MILLAGE RATES TO FUNDS OUR GENERAL FUND AND DID GET ESTIMATES. THAT'S ALL I AM ASKING FOR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, KELLY CARLIN AND I AM THE MOTHER OF FOUR CHILDREN ATTENDING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS SCHOOL BOARD WASTED $9 MILLION TO SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS OVER THE DeSANTIS ADMINISTRATION. 500 PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE SIGNED A PETITION TO RECTIFY THE LOSS OF $9 MILLION FOR VIOLATING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EMERGENCY RULE. WHEN
015THE BOARD VOTED TO IMPOSE A MANDATORY MASK MANDATE WITHOUT A PARENTAL OPT OUT, THE DISTRICT BECAME INELIGIBLE FOR SCHOOL RECOGNITION FUNDS. THESE FUNDS REWARD HARD-WORKING TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THEIR SCHOOL RATING. A SCHOOL LIKE PLANT HIGH SCHOOL THAT RECEIVED $234,000 PREVIOUSLY WILL BE GETTING NOTHING. AT A TIME WHEN THE BOARD IS VIGOROUSLY ARGUING FOR A TAX HIKE TO INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES AND FILL THE THOUSANDS OF VACANCY A, I AM BAFFLE THE WHY YOU IGNORED OUR OFFER TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO RECOUP THOSE LOST FUNDS. THE OP FIX ARE NOT GOOD. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS WITH THE GOVERNOR RATHER THAN PUTTING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FIRST. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER AND IF THE NEXT FOUR WILL LINE UP, I
016WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JULIE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY AN EXCERPT FROM THE LAST BOARD MEETING TO GIVE A CONCEPT. 2022, NO BOOKS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED IN THESE SCHOOLS? NO MA'AM. WHERE CAN SOMEONE CHALLENGE THAT PROCESS? IT THAT PROCESS ONLINE? THROUGH THE CHAIR, YES, MA'AM, YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON LIBRARY MEDIA SERVICES WEB PAGE. ALTHOUGH THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF HOW TO CHALLENGE AND RECONSIDER ANY BOOKS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO WITHIN THAT SCHOOL, THAT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, WE HAD SO MUCH PUBLIC COMMENT AROUND THAT AND I AM CURIOUS OF THE NUMBER OF BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN CHAL CHALLENGED. OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR THE RECORD. AT THE TIME OF THE BOARD MEETING WHEN THE STATEMENTS WERE
017MADE THIS PROCESS YOU SPOKE OF DID NOT EXIST ANYWHERE ONLINE. I DID THE RESEARCH AND FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS, NO FORMS ON SCHOOL, WEB SITE OR DISTRICT. I SENT AN E-MAIL ON APRIL 24 AND GOT A REPLAY. MRS. DEFUSCA WILL BE ADDING THAT FORM TO THE WEB SITE SO WE CAN ACCESS IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM, EITHER SOMEONE WAS UNTRUTHFUL OR MADE A LARGE BLUNDER. THE BOOK CHALLENGE, THE PROBLEM IS IT DIDN'T EXIST AND WHY IT HAVEN'T BEEN USED THE LAST 10 TO 11 YEARS THAT WAS DECLARED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING. THE BOOK CHALLENGE INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE WEB SITE BUT THE FORM TO FILL OUT COMES WITH THE WORD SAMPLE ALL ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF IT WHICH JUST ADDS ONE MORE BUREAUCRATIC LAYER TO THIS NONSENSE FORCING THE PARENTS TO DO MORE
018WORK TO CHALLENGE A LOOK LIKE THIS ONE "PUSH"BY SAPPHIRE. I AM GOING TO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT SMALL CONTENT WARNING. PUSH BY SAPPHIRE WHICH I HAVE SHARED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THROUGH E-MAIL AND RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE WHICH WAS NOT RECEPTIVE BUT A LITTLE DEFENSIVE. TEN COPIES IN OUR SCHOOL CURRENTLY CHECKED OUT BY A CHILD IN YOUTH SERVICES WHICH IS MY UNDERSTANDING JUVENILE HALL. THREE MONTHS AFTER BABY BORN, I STILL 12 WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. MAMA SLAPDZ ME HARD AND PICKED UP CAST IRON SKILL ET. THANK GOD NO HOT GREASE. HIT ME FAR BACK AND I FELL ON FLOOR AND KICKED ME IN RIB AND SAID THANK YOU MISS CLARISE JONES FOR FING MY HUSBAND YOU NASTY -- I FEEL I AM GOING TO DIE. CAN'T BREATHE WHERE I HAVE B BABY. -- HE DONE QUIT
019ME AND LEFT ME BECAUSE OF YOU. WHAT YOU TELL THEM MOTHER F--ORS AT DAMN HOSPITAL. I AM LYING ON THE FLOOR SCARED GOING TO KILL ME. GET UP AND GET YOUR JEZEBEL -- BEFORE I GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON SCHOOL BOARD. RILEY GEPHART. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND IT IS SICKENING. NO WAY THAT MOST OF YOU ON THE BOARD THINK THAT BOOKS LIKE THIS HAVE ACTUAL REDEMPTIVE CONTENT IN THEM. YOU ARE JUST AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING. THESE BOOKS THAT THE SYSTEM ARE ALLOWING TO EXIST, BOOKS INVOLVING RAPE, DRUG USE, CASUAL SEX CONVERSATIONS, SUICIDES, ORGIES AND BEASTIALTIES OF A RIPPING AWAY OF INNOCENCE AN USE. YOUR LOGIC ESCAPES ME. YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE
020THESE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE THINGS TO UN SUSPECTING MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS. YOU ARE DRIVING A WEDGE BETWEEN KIDS AND PARENTS. IF PARENTS HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IS HAPPENING, THEY WOULD BE COMPLETELY OUTRAGE $. THIS IS GROOMING IN EVERY DEFINITION OF THE WORD PRETENDING THAT EVERYONE'S LIFE IS MADE UP OF THIS. AS IF THIS IS WHAT 7th SEX ED IS TEACHING THEM. THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW. THE LIAM MALIK SEX ED AS IF 7th GRADERS WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS DEGENERECY. I DON'T THINK THE BOARD THINK THAT ANYTHING IS GOOD IN THESE BOOKS. IF YOU THINK THESE SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES, YOU SHOULD BE IN PRISON. I DON'T THINK YOU THINK THIS IS GOOD CONDUCT, BUT I THINK YOU ARE AFRAID TO DO SOMETHING AND THAT IS JUST AS BAD AS THE PEOPLE WHO THINK
021IT IS GOOD. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NOELLE OAKMAN AND I AM A MOTHER AND THREE. LAST MONTH I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE LITERATURE CHOSEN FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIBRARY. I UNCOMFORTABLY READ EXPLICITS PASSAGES FROM A BOOK, ONE OF HUNDREDS, IN HOPES THAT RESPONSIBLE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. MANY OTHER PARENT FEEL AS STRONGLY AS I DO AND MANY ADULTS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE READING ALOUD IN PUBLIC WHAT YOU BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN SHOULD READ. I WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO ANOTHER BOOK "IDENTICAL" BY ELLEN HOPKINS. CONTAINS PLENTY OF GRAPHIC TEEN SEX AND MULTIPLE USES OF PROFANITY PALES IN COMPARISON OF THE THEMES, INCEST, RAPE AND DEPRESSION. TO MAKE IT WORSE, THEY GLAMORIZE BULIMIA, ALCOHOL, CUTTING, CASUAL SEX AND SUICIDE AS SOLUTIONS TO DEAL
022WITH THE PAIN. FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I CAN ONLY READ A LITTLE. I WILL ALSO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT WARNING IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. HOWEVER THE PORTIONS I AM READING ARE MILD BECAUSE I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO READS THE GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF A FATHER MOLESTING HIS SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD WHILE HER IS IN THE ROOM. AND IT IS FROM THE DAUGHTER'S. PERSPECTIVE. IT IS DARK. HARD TO READ. I AM AN ADULT. I AM MARRIED. I STRUGGLED WITH THIS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE A CHILD READDING WHAT I HAVE TO READ LAST NIGHT. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY MORE VIOLENT. I ALSO LEFT OUTS OTHER PORTIONS OF RAPE OR FANTASIZING HAVING SEX WITH HER ELDER TEACHER. MILD PORTIONS OF THE BOOK. PAGE 236. MOST PEOPLE HATE TO VOMIT. THEY CAN'T STAND THE PROTEST OF AN UPSET STOMACH. OKAY, I DON'T
023LIKE THAT PART MUCH MYSELF BUT THE COOL OF THE PORCELAIN ON MY FACE AND MY BELLIED EMPTIED TEMPORARILY OF FOOD, OF FAT, OF PAIN. NOW THAT I EVACUATED MY STOMACH SWALLOW THE OXY, POP THE PILL, CHASE IT WITH WHISKEY AND GO TO BED AND HOPE FOR DREAMLESS SPEECH. BLEEDING OUT, EBBING AWAY ONE HEARTBEAT EVER SLOWER AT A T TIME, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP UNTIL YOU LOOK DEATH RIGHT IN THE EYE AND YOU DECIDE YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE. PAGE 471. I WANT DRUGS. LIQUOR, FUN, MORE DRUGS, BETTER DRUGS. MAYBE IT IS TIME TO GRADUATE FROM POT, HASH AND PILLS TO SOMETHING STRONGER. I WONDER WHAT HEROIN IS LIKE. I HEAR IT DROPS YOU WAY DOWN WHERE PAIN CAN'T FIND YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MARK KLUTH O, LARGO. FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN'T
024HAVE GOOD OPTICS WITH DeSANTIS. THAT'S FOR SURE. HERE WE HAVE 603 RAMPS AND SYSTEMS FOR MODULAR PORTABLE, RELOCATIBLE BUILDINGS. WRONG KIND OF BUILDINGS. 708-713, ALL KINDS OF WRONG BUILDINGS. AND WE HAVE THESE POSTERS BY THE CHILDREN OUT THERE. SEEMS LIKE THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON THAN YOU DO, DOESN'T IT. THEY WANT THE FUTURE PROTECTED, BUT THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU ARE MAKING, ALL WRONG. HEADLINE, CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN FOUR MILLION YEARS. HIGHER FUTURE IS CERTAIN, UN SAYS, IMMEDIATE ACTION TO EASE PERILS. AND THEN I HAVE HAD THIS HERE A NUMBER OF TIMES, GIVING AGENT BUILDING A GREEN MAKEOVER. DEVELOPERS ARE DEVISING WAYS TO RETROFIT NEW YORK'S OLDEST STRUCTURES TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINTS. BUT YOUR BUILDINGS KEEP ON BELCHING. ONLY BIG STEPS WILL SAVE EARTH. BOARD EMERGENCY, TWO-THIRDS AT
025RISK. MOMS FOR LIBERTY AND EDUCATION ARMY BUILDS SHOULD READ MOMS FOR STUPIDITY. THE PAST SEVEN YEARS HAS BEEN THE PLANET'S HOTTEST BY FAR. RECORD WARMTH HAS MELTED OL OLDEST, THICKEST ARCTIC ICE. REPORT. SEA WISE IS CLEAR AND PRESENT RISK. AND HERE THIS IS A TEMPLATE FOR WHICH YOUR BUILDINGS SHOULD RESEMBLE. NET ZERO. NET ZERO ENERGY USE. A RATIO. YOU NOTICE THE WEST WALL, EAST WALLS DON'T HAVE ANY GLAZING. YOU CAN'T GET IT RIGHT. THE PLAN IS IN -- THE PLANET IS IN PERIL. THIS IS YOUR LEGACY. AND THE CHILDREN WILL SUFFER. IT'S YOUR LEGACY. A DOGGONE SHAME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. IF THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WILL LINE UP, PLEASE. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE A WARNING WITH ANYONE WITH CHILDREN IN THE BUILDING. I WILL BE READING STRAIGHT FROM A
0267th GRADE LESSON THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO MY DAUGHTER THIS WEEK HAD I NOT OPTED HER OUT. I BELIEVE THAT PARENTS NEED AN OPT-IN, BECAUSE THESE SLIDES WERE BURIED, HIDDEN, AND I HAD BEEN REQUESTING THIS INFORMATION BY E-MAIL SINCE OCTOBER. I E-MAILED YOU ALL, THE BOARD, ONCE I RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION, WENT THROUGH 122 SLIDES, WHICH I BELIEVE IN MY HEART HAD YOU LOOKED THROUGH, WOULD YOU HAVE OBJECTED AS W WELL. BUT BECAUSE YOU WANT OUR 7th GRADER TO SIT THROUGH THIS, I WANT TO READ IT TO YOU. MAL IK HAS BEEN WITH LEAH FOR ALMOST A YEAR. LEAH HAS BEEN BRINGING UP WHETHER THEY SHOULD START HAVING SEX. AND MALIK IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THE TIME IS RIGHT. HE NEVER HAD SEX BEFORE. AND HE IS NERVOUS OF GETTING LEAH PREGNANT OR GETTING
027A STD. LEA HAD SEX ONCE AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. MALIK IS CURIOUS BUT HE IS NOT SURE WHETHER THE TIME IS RIGHT. HE HAS A LOT OF PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND IF HE ENDS UP GETTING LEAH PREGNANT OR EITHER OF THEM HAVE A SERIOUS S TD COULD IMPACT HIS HOPES FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER. MALIK'S BEST FRIEND HAD SEX AND REGULARLY ASK MALIK WHAT HE IS WAITING FOR. ASKED MALIK A FEW TIMES IF HE IS NERVOUS BECAUSE HE LIKES GUYS BUT NOT GIRLS. MALIK WATCHES PORN WHEN HE IS ALONE AND NERVOUS WHETHER HE WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO. MALIK'S PARENTS ARE VERY RELIGIOUS AND WON'T TALK ABOUT SEX AND SEXUALITY EXCEPT ABSTINENCE AND WAITING FOR MARRIAGE. MALIK HAS THREE ELDER SIBLINGS AND HE DOESN'T LIVE WITH THEM AND DOESN'T FEEL CLOSE TO THEM. WHEN
028HE GET STRESSED UP HE DRINKS AND FEELS THE MOST COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT SEX WITH LEAH AND IF THEY ARE REALLY CLOSE. TEACHERS WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THIS OUT AND ANOTHER SIDE WRITTEN FROM THE DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. AND THE CHILDREN WERE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS DRINKING, PORN AND HAVING SEX. THEN EACH STUDENT WOULD BE READING EACH PARAGRAPH TO THE CLASS. I CAN'T IMAGINE A CHILD READING ABOUT PORN AND SEX WITH THEIR PEERS AND DISCUSSING IT LIKE IT IS A CASUAL THING. WHERE IS MALIK'S PARENTS. WHERE ARE LEAH'S PARENTS. THEY ARE 12 AND 13. DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS APPROPRIATE? I DUG A LITTLE DEEPER AND CDC FUNDED A GRANT THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ACCEPTED AND THAT IS FULL OF CRT. IT IS WOKE. I DON'T LIKE THOSE TERMS. I AM AIST. I KNOW KIDS SEE THINGS.
029WHEN I GIVE THEM TO YOU, I DON'T WANT THEM SEEING IT. OTHER PARENTS WHO ARE OKAY WITH IT, DO IT IN YOUR OWN HOME. EVERY FAMILY LOOK DIFFERENT AND SHOULD GUARD THE CHILDREN TO THE MOST HIGHEST EXTENT KEEPING IT AS INNOCENT AS POSSIBLE. TEACH THEM SEX ED BUT NOT PORN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, ELIZABETH THOMAS. I AM A PARENT IN THE DISTRICT. IN MARCH, OUR GROUP OF INVESTED PARENTS PROPOSED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADVOCATE AND ASSIST IN ACTIVITIES TO RECLAIM THE FLORIDA SCHOOL RECOGNITION FUNDS THAT WERE LOST DUE TO BLATANT DISREGARD TO PARENT CHOICE. I WANT TO USE THESE THREE MINUTES TO INFORM OUR COMMUNITY AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE MISCALCULATED THE BOARD'S DESIRE TO ENGAGE IN A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACH. IT IS CLEAR US TO THAT POLITICAL
030THEATRE IS MORE ENGAGING AND BYLAWS AND OATH OF OFFICE ARE SIMPLY FOR OPTICS. THE PATTERNS OF INCONSISTENCY OF THE MESSAGES AT THESE BOARD MEETINGS ARE BOUNDLESS. THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS ON HIGH ALERT AND NOT DISTORTED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VEHICLE CALLED THE BOARD MEETING. HOW CAN A SCHOOL BOARD MAKE A DECISION THAT DIRECTLY TAKES $9 MILLION OF BONUS PAY OUT OF STAFF AND TEACHERS' POCKETS, DISMISS ITS IMPORTANCE BUT SAY THEIR PRIORITY IS THE EMPL EMPLOYEES. THE ADMINISTRATION STATED IN A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING THAT THE DISTRICT IS FINANCIALLY STABLE. AND LAST MONTH, A BOARD MEMBER CLAIMED $117 MILLION IN NEW PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS EXPECTED BASED ON INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES THIS YEAR. WITH ALL OF THAT, THE BOARD VOTED TO ASK TAXPAYERS TO PAY MORE IN A PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM. IS THERE A PARADOX WE ARE
031ALL MISS SOMETHING IN IN CLOS CLOSEERING, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEDICATED TO THOSE THAT EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UP WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT. WE ARE NOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH ALL OF OUR ALLIANCE PARTNERS TO HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS TO THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS WITHOUT BURDENING TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO, EVERYONE. I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT, YOU KNOW, TO LISTEN TO BEFORE I COME UP HERE. SO I AM A LITTLE BIT DIST DISTRACTED. GWEN HENDERSON. I AM 28-YEAR TEACHER AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. WELL, I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 22 YEARS, BUT A 28-YEAR EDUCATOR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND I ALSO GRADUATED
032FROM JEFFERSON. SO I AM VERY EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE, BUT I SAW VAN AYERS AND IT THREW ME YOU HAVE A. SO I ACTUALLY AM HERE NOT JUST ABOUT JEFFERSON PER SE, BUT I'M HERE FOR ALL SCHOOLS BECAUSE I READ THE SUPERINTENDENT'S STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH I HAVE DONE A FEW TIMES. AND INCREASING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT. BEING CULTURALLY RESPECTED OF DIFFERENCES IS IMPORTANT. BUT NOT WHEN IT IS TIME TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. WE TELL KIDS TO BE ENGAGED, TO BE INVOLVED. WE ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT US, BUT AT GRADUATION, PRINCIPALS AS MY STUDENTS WILL SAY ARE DOING TOO. ED A ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING TOO MUCH. WHEN THEY MAKE DECISIONS WHAT YOU CAN WEAR ON YOUR PERSON AT GRADUATION. AND ACTUALLY, IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS TO APPOINT. --
033TO A POINT. SHOULD NOT MATTER IF SOMEONE WEARS A BUTTON REPRESENTING THEIR GRANDMOTHER. A MEDAL THAT THEIR TEACHER GAVE THEM FOR A CLUB OR A CUSTOM STOLL THAT CELEBRATES THE THINGS THAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEONE TO BE AT GRADUATION AND BEFORE THEY WALK ON STAGE AND AN ADMINISTRATOR MAKES A TERRIBLE DECISION TO DECIDE THAT YOU CAN'T WEAR THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATCH WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS WEARING. WE TEACH THEM -- WE TEACH THEM TO RESPECT EACH OTHERS' DIFFERENCES, BUT WHEN IT IS TIME TO EXPRESS WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU REPRESENTED WHILE IN YOU OPINION HIGH SCHOOL, IT IS A PROBLEM. NOT JUST JEFFERSON. THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS WHO S SAY, WE WANT TO YOU LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE. YOU ARE DOING TOO MUCH. YOU SHOULDN'T BE
034CONCERNED -- THANK YOU. YOU SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED ABOUT A SIMPLE DETAIL THAT DOESN'T HURT GRADUATION. YOU SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT A CEREMONY GOING VERY WELL. NOT HAVING MAJOR DISTRACTIONS. STUDENTS GRABBING MIC. ACTING THE FOOL AS MY MOTHER WOULD SAY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT. 30 SECONDS LEFT. OH, MY GOSH. GOSH, THREE MINUTES IS FAST. I AM WEARING A STOLL RIGHT NOW FROM KING HIGH SCHOOL. I ACTUALLY MADE THIS STOLL. AND THIS IS NOT A JEFFERSON STOLL TO I AM NOT DISCRIMINATING. STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND PRINCIPALS SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY. THAT IS JUST THE BOTTOM LINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. I BELIEVE I SAW CHILDREN IN THE ROOM. I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A WARNING RIGHT
035NOW. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPLICIT. I AM GOING TO TALK FOR A SECOND AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TAKE THEM OUT. I AM GOING TO BE READING FROM "LUCKY"BY ALICE SEBOLD. 19 COPIES IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS AND ARE IN HIGH SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT, THE BOOK CONTAINS ILLICIT DRUG USE. I HOPE I CAN RECLAIM SOME OF MY TIME. I WATCHED HIM AS HE UNZIPPED HIS PANTS AND LET THEM FALL AROUND HIS ANKLES. HE LAID DOWN ON TOP OF ME AND STARTED HUMPING, WORKED HIS WAY WORKING TO REACH WITH HIS -- I STARTED TO STARE IN HIS EYES. I WAS TOO AFRAID NOT TO, HE CALLED ME -- HE TOLD ME I WAS DRY. I AM SORRY, I SAID. I NEVER STOPPED APOLOGIZING. I AM A VIRGIN. HE SAID STOP LOOKING AT
036ME. SHUT YOUR EYES. STOP SHAKING. I CAN'T. STOP IT OR YOU WILL BE SORRY. I DID. MY FOCUS WAS ACUTE. I STARED HARDER AND HE KNEED HIS FIST INSERTING HIS FINGERS. SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE -- I WAS WET NOW, THAT MADE HIM EXCITED AND I WAS INTRIGUED. HE WORKED HIS HOLE FIST, IT WENT TO MY BRAIN. STOP STARING AT ME. I AM SORRY. YOU ARE STRONG. GLASS CUT ME ON MY BACK AND BEHIND. HE KNEELED BACK. SPREAD THEM. I DID. MY LEGS WERE LIKE PLASTIC BARBIES, INFLEXIBLE. PUT A HAND ON THE CALF KEEP THEM THERE. HE SAID. HE TRIED AGAIN AND WORKED HIS FIST. GRABBED MY BREASTS AND LAPPED AT THEM. AND TEARS CAME FROM THE CORNERS OF MY EYES. I WAS LEAVING AND HEAVING AND I HEARD SOUNDS. ON THE PATH. PEOPLE, A GROUP
037OF BOYS AND GIRLS PASSING. I LOOKED AT HIM. HE DID NOT HEAR THEM. THIS WAS IT. I MADE AN ABRUPT SCREAM AND HE SHOVED HIS HAND IN MY MOUTH. SIMULTANEOUSLY I HEARD LAUGHTER AND DIRECTED TO THE TUNNELS. YELLS, TAUNTS, GOOD TIME NO NOISES. HIS HANDPRESSED MY MOUTH. HE ORDERED ME TO STAND UP AND PUT ON MY PANTIES. I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER. I WAS TREMBLING -- BLOOD WAS EVERYWHERE AND I THOUGHT HE HAD DONE WHAT HE HAD COME FOR. I WANT TO ASK YOU AND THE LIBRARY EXPERT WHAT CULTURE THIS SERVES. CAN ANY ONE OF YOU TELL ME WHY THIS MATERIAL WILL BE PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED IN OUR SCHOOLS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. AND IF THE FINAL FEW SPEAKERS LINE UP, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. SPELL LOW. MY NAME
038IS ALYSSA. I'M HERE TO ASK EACH OF YOU A FEW QUESTIONS. IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WITH YOUR HOME ADDRESSES, YOUR CONTROL PHONE NUMBERS, YOUR HOME NUMBERS AND YOUR E-MAILS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK FOR ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS OF EACH SCHOOLS ALONG WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION AND MEDIA SPECIALISTS. SOUNDS CRAZY, RIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE AN INVASION OF PRIVACY AND NOT THE SAFEST WAY TO PROVIDE YOUR HOME AND FAMILY. THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT IS EXPECTED FROM US AS A CITIZEN WHO WANTS TO CHALLENGE ANY INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS. FOR EACH SCHOOL AND EACH BOOK, THAT IS OVER 300 SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATORS, MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND WHOEVER ELSE IS LOOKING OVER THAT FORM WHEN WE CHALLENGE EACH BOOK. WHY WOULD A PERSON CHALLENGING THESE BOOKS FEEL PROTECTED AND SAFE WITH ALL OF THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN THE HANDS OF THE SAME
039PEOPLE WHO APPROVE THESE VERY SEXUAL, EXPLICIT BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF OUR CHILDREN. WHY DO WE HAVE -- WHY DO WE, AS CONCERNED PARENTS, HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION BUT YOU REFUSE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION ON WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT APPROVE THESE BOOKS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND HOW THEY ARE DECIDED ON BOOKS BEING APPROVED. NOW A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS HAND-PICKED COMMITTEE. HAVE EACH OF THESE MEMBERS WHO APPROVE THESE BOOKS READ AND VIEWED THEM IN THEIR ENTIRETY? SINCE THAT IS A BOX THAT ANYONE THAT CHAL LOS ANGELES BOOK MUCH CHECK, THEY READ THE BOOKS IN ITS ENTIRETY. WHICH I WOULD BE NERVOUS TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION RAISES RED FLAGS. ANY HUMAN BEING THAT READ THESE BOOKS AND THINK THEY ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE AROUND
040CHILDREN AT ALL. IF THEY HAVEN'T READ THEM IN THEIR ENTIRETY, HOW CAN THEY CONFIRM IT IS A BOOK THAT MEETS THEIR REQUIREMENTS. THE NEXT CONCERN COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SELECTION OF MATERIALS. IT CONTAINS SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. WHY ARE NO PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING FOR THE CONTENT THAT IS PLACED IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE MEDIA SPECIALIST SELECTS THE BEST BOOKS OR MATERIALS THAT SATISFY THE NEEDS, INTEREST, AND CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL. WHAT PART OF THIS SEXUAL CONTENT DOES THAT SATISFY FOR ANY OF THOSE. EDUCATION SUITABLE APPROPRIATENESS AND AGE AND MATURITY. BOOKS WITH RAPE, PEDOPHILIA, INCEST AND MORE, ARE THEY AGE APPROPRIATE? EVEN BOOKS THAT HAVE IT ON THE BACK. NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS. THE
041AUTHORS DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE MEANT FOR YOUNG READERS AND OUR COMMITTEE DOES. THIS GETS SCARY AS PARENTS AND A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. BOOK AND MEDIA IS PICKED TO FOLLOW THE PHILOSOPHY OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSISTENT WITH THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. REALLY, SEXUAL GROOMING INTRODUCING THEM TO THE CONTENT MEETS THE PHILOSOPHY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. IS DISGUSTING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. FINAL SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DREW LEWIS AND I AM 22 YEARS OLD. I RECENTLY MOVED FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO BE IN THE BEAUTIFUL STATE OF FLORIDA WHERE THE SUN SHINES, FREEDOM RAINS AND MY PERSONAL VALUES WILL BE REPRESENTED I AM YOUNG, WORKING HARD AND PLANNING MY LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL. I PLAN TO GET MARRIED AND ST STARTING A FAMILY OF MY OWN. I AM
042NOW PAYING TAXES FOR THESE FLORIDA INSTITUTIONS. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING AND KEEPING UP TO DATE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST YEAR AS I HAVE ANTICIPATED MOVING HERE. HEARING AND SEEING THE WICKED AND DESPICABLE PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT IN YOUR SCHOOL'S LIBRARIES ARE BEING SUBJECTED IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAVE SEEN AS A 22-YEAR-OLD. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD WANT TO KEEP THESE BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARIES ARE PEDOPHILES AND CHILD GROOMERS. NO EXCUSES. TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLES FROM A BOOK CALLED "THE NOWHERE GIRLS" BY AMY REED. 87 COPIES OF BOOK IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. HERE ARE SOME QUOTES. NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS ONE. DID HER IN THE BACK OF MY CAR AND NEVER CALLED HER BACK. 15-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN NOBODY. GOT HER SO DRUNK SHE COULDN'T SAY NO. KIND OF MESSY AND MOSTLY JUST LAID
043THERE. BUT BUSTING A NUT IS BUSTING A NUT. 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM CHUBBY SCHOOL. I HAD GRANDPARENT GIRLFRIEND AND SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND AND GOT DRUNK AT A PARTY AND HE WAS OUT OF TOWN AND TOLD ME HAD A CRUSH ON ME SINCE THE SIXTH GRADE. FAT GIRLS ARE SO EASY. MOSTLY A -- ON MY PART. SHE WAS SO GRATEFUL. 16-YEAR-OLD FOLLOWED ME AROUND AT SCHOOL LIKE A PUPPY. GRATEFUL TO KISS HER AT A PARTY. DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO GET HER UPSTAIRS AND NAKED. BORING AND NEEDY. 16-YEAR-OLD HOT GIRL, GOT HER DRUNK AND SHE TURNED INTO A -- AND STARTED GETTING CLINGY AND WANTING COMMITMENT AND THEN I KICKED HER TO THE CURB. THE WAY THESE BOOKS OBJECTIFY YOUNG GIRLS IS DISGRACEFUL. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW -- I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHERE OUR
044SO-CALLED FEMINISTS ARE ON THIS ISSUE AND WHY THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR THESE BOOKS TO BE TAKEN OUT IMMEDIATELY. NOW CONCLUDE, IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT YOU, THE SCHOOL BOARD, WOULD SIT THERE AND DO NOTHING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM THIS REPULSIVE MATERIAL THAT IS IN OUR SCHOOLS. ACTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AND IS ON YOU TO DO SO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR RECOGNITIONS. THE RECOGNITION FROM TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP. ELIZABETH FRAZIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY AND INITIATIVES. ELIZABETH LED A TRANSFORMATION OF THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION AND THE LIGHTNING COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF JEFF VINICK OF THE LIGHTNING HEROES PROGRAM WHICH JUST RECENTLY HONORED OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND
045THE HILLSBOROUGH FOUNDATION AT A RECENT GAME. ELIZABETH IS HERE THIS EVENING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE DISTRICT IN HONOR OF THE AMAZING PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE DEVELOPED TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS. WELCOME, ELIZABETH. PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. AND YOU ARE HERE. I'M HERE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT DA DAVIS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE AND JOINING YOU TODAY. WE HAVE A PIVOTAL GAME 5 TONIGHT IN TORONTO THAT WE ARE PLAYING -- BUT I DID WANT TO PRESENT YOU -- I DID WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE FROM OUR BACK-TO-BACK CHA CHAMPIONSHIP FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS. A RING ON IT WITH A REAL AUTHENTIC RING PURCHASED FROM THE VINICK BE AND BLACK FROM HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED
046AND HONORED TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN SO MANY WAYS. SO WE HAVE THIS COMMISSIONED -- CUSTOM MADE FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WE HAVE BEEN HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IS IN THE DOZENS. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS NEXT WEEK ON THE COMMUNITY HOCKEY TEAM, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 200,000 STICKS AND BALLS. THE TEAM IS DOING GREAT THINGS ON THE ICE, THE GREAT GAME OF HOCKEY YOU HAVE A THE ICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT PHILANTHROPIC AND GROWTH OF THE GAME. WE WILL BE VISITING OUR 1,000th SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND WE WILL HAVE 700 KIDS OUT THERE WITH CLINICS GOING AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. WE ARE ABLE -- ABLE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER NONPROFITS FINANCIALLY THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE VINICKS AND THE GRASS-ROOTS, THE COMMUNITY ACTIVATION TO
047LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF US DO GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY. WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. THANK YOU ALL. Nadia Combs: WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE RECOGNITION AND PROCLAMATION. FIRST ONE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, MAY 10, 2022. MEMBER VAUGHN WILL BE HIGH HIGHLIGHTING IN PROCLAMATION. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION, THE DISTRICT HONORS THE ENTIRE STUDENT SERVICES DENT OF THE TEAMS THAT PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND EDUCATIONAL WEALTH. THEY INCLUDE SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES, SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AND THE DISTRICT MENTAL HEALTH TEAM. IN ADDITION, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS -- PARTNERSHIPS ARE INVALUABLE OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO
048OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MORE THAN 11,000 STAFF HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID THAT PROMOTES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES. THIS YEAR, OUR MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND A STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN CREATED TO PROMOTE EMOTIONAL WELLNESS THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ART CONTEST HIGHLIGHTING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATION ON TOPICS SUCH AS DEESCALATION STRATEGIES, TRAUMA SENSITIVE PRACTICES, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND THE THREE ASSESSMENT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH MAY 10, 2022. A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND IS SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: YES, THANK YOU,
049MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER VAUGHN FOR BRINGING UP THIS PROCLAMATION. YOU KNOW, THE THEME FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH MONTH THIS YEAR IS TOGETHER FOR MENTAL HEALTH. AND IT IS SO TIMELY. MENTAL HEALTH TODAY IS ENTERING MORE INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS DEMONSTRATING HOW CRITICAL IT IS AT ALL LEVELS AND AT ALL HAVE SOLID FOUNDATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH. IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, OUR STAFF PROVIDE INFORMATION. SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ON WHAT FAMILIES CAN TO DO ASSIST MENTAL HEALTH AND PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS. SINCE 12020, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES HAVE INCR INCREASED. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMINDS EVERYONE THAT MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS IS REAL. AND RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. AND WE DO HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST ANYONE TO NAVIGATE
050ANY AND ALL CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS RELATED TO SEEKING AND SECURING ASSISTANCE RELATED TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: VERY TIMELY. THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN, FOR SHARING THAT VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE AND PROCLAMATION. WE ARE REMINDED THAT ANY OF US RIGHT NOW CAN GO TO A SCHOOL AS EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS AND WHEN TALKING WITH THE PRINCIPALS, WHEN ASKED WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN, THE RETURN MESSAGE IS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND W WELLNESS OF OUR CHILDREN. MY CHILDREN -- BECAUSE PRINCIPALS THINK OF THEM AS THEIR CHILDREN. AND IT IS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY INSURMOUNTABLE, BUT WE ARE -- WE DEFINITELY, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, HAVE A HUGE CHALLENGE. AND EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, THERE IS SO MANY CRIES FOR URGENCY, ATTENTION, AND
051I ONLY SAY THIS BECAUSE THE PROCLAMATION INDICATES A REMINDER FOR EACH OF US TO REACH OUT AND -- AND DO THOSE ACTS OF KINDNESS, SUPPORT EACH OTHER, BE COLLABORATIVE, BE A FRIEND, SET THE -- SET THE ROLE MODEL OURSELVES SO CHILDREN CAN ALSO BE SEEING US AS COMFORTABLE -- COMFORTING AND ADDING A LEVEL OF SECURITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN, FOR HAVING THAT READ AGAIN, MEMBER VAUGHN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. AND JUST BRIEFLY, I THINK THAT WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SCHOOL EVERY DAY, YOU ARE REALLY SEEING THAT NOT ONLY ARE THE TEACHERS, YOU SEE THE PRIN PRINCIPALS AND OUR STUDENT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. I THINK POST-PANDEMIC, WE ARE SEEING THERE IS SUCH LARGE ISSUES WITH KIDS THAT ARE ISOLATED AND NOW COMING BACK IN THE SCHOOLS. AND WE ARE SO MANY
052ISSUES WITH HOUSING AND SO MANY ISSUES AND I APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WE TALKED A LOT OF CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR COUNSELORERS. WORKING WITH MENTAL HEALTH. SUPPORTING OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS. NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED FOR EVERYBODY TO COME IN AND BE AWARE THAT WE ARE AWARE AND RECOGNIZING AND SEEING THE PATTERNS. OFTEN YOU DON'T SEE THE PATTERNS AT HOME. AND I SAY IQ IS IMPORTANT BUT EQ IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE FEELING STRONG. THEY ARE FEELING HEALTHY. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GO TO A TEACHER OR GO TO A PARAPROFESSIONAL AND TALK TO SOMEONE. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DAY WE ARE AWARE OF THIS AND THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT NOW MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS FOR CONTINUING TO
053DO THIS WORK AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO REACH DIFFERENT STUDENT THAT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE THEY TRADITIONALLY DID. MAYBE TELEHEALTH. DIFFERENT AREAS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME. SO PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION OF NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY, MAY 11, 2022. MEMBER HAHN WILL BE HIGH HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROCLAMATION. AVRIL HAINES THANK YOU, -- THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL NURSES AND OBSERVE ALL THEY DO FOR THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. SCHOOL NURSES ENSURE THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. THEY ACT AS CASE MANAGERS BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, HOME AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THEY DETERMINE HOW
054TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS' ILLNESSES AND WHEN THE CHILD SHOULD GO HOME, GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR GO BACK TO CLASS. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, SCHOOL NURSES HAVE CARED FOR NEARLY 420,000 STUDENT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN THE CLINIC AND PROVIDED 53,000 PROCEDURES TO STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSES DAY, MAY 10, 2022. A MOTION AND SECOND. SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: FIRST YOU HAVE A, THANK THE 310 -- OR 307 NURSES WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY ARE DOING MORE THAN JUST THE PHYSICAL WELLNESS. THEY INTERFACE, ALSO, THE AGAIN, THE MENTAL WELLNESS OF OUR STUDENT. AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANTLY AJOHN IN TO TELL AND TO SHARE WITH
055BOTH PARENT AND THEIR TEACHERS HOW THE CHILD IS DOING. SO OUR NURSES ARE CARRYING A VERY LARGE LOAD, BUT THEY ARE VERY DEVOTED AND DEDICATED AND SO IN MY MIND AND I THANK MEMBER HAHN FOR READING THIS AND RECOGNIZING OUR NURSES AND THANK YOU ALL NURSES OUT THERE. THANK YOU DR. MARIA ROSS, OUR DIRECTOR WHO IS IN CHARGE OF OUR NURSES. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS A PRACTITIONER THAT WORKS WITH NURSES ON A DAILY BASIS. I APPRECIATE OUR NURSES. BECAUSE THEY CATCH THINGS THAT MANY DOCTORS DON'T. THEY ARE THE FIRST ONE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE PATIENT AND STUDENT, AND THEY HAVE EYES ON THOSE KIDS. THEY ARE FABULOUS. SO THANK YOU, NURSES OUT THERE. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE THE FIRST ONE
056ON GROUND SEEING THESE KIDS. WHEN YOU SEND THEM HOME, THERE IS A REASON. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS. I KNOW I APPRECIATE YOU SO TOTALLY. THANKS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT APPEARS. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. RECOGNITION OF KIDS TAG ART WINNERS. MEMBER GRAY ALONG WITH NANCY MILAN, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS RECOGNITION. Lynn Gray: SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME SLIDES AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THANKING MISS NANCY C. MILAN, OUR TAX COLLECTOR. IN IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS FUNDRAISER. AND OUR STUDENTS TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY. THE FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN TITLE I SCHOOLS WERE INVITED TO DESIGN THEIR FRONT-FACING VANITY LICENSE PLATES AND THE BOARD MEMBERS GOT TO SEE LAST MEETING THAT IT WAS
057REALLY IMPRESSIVE. THANK YOU, LAURA HOBBY AND SUNCOAST AND I AM SURE OTHER FOLKS RIGHT UP THERE. DEBRA VALANTE. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE OTHER PERSON'S NAME AND I THINK I WILL LET NANCY MILA NEW YORK CITY TAKE OVER. GOOD AFTERNOON IS THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. I AM VERY PROUD. OUR FIRST ANNUAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR KIDS TAG ART PROGRAM. WE ARE HERE FROM GARY FROM S SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION AND CINDY HILTON ALSO FROM THE FOUNDATION WHO ARE OUR TITLE SPONSORS HELPED US LAUNCH THIS PROGRAM. THE COOL THING IS, THIS ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS FROM TITLE I FI FIFTH-GRADE CLASSROOMS TO, YOU KNOW, DISPLAY AND SHOWCASE THEIR ARTISTIC ABILITY BY DESIGNING THESE LICENSE PLATES. THE PROCEEDS FROM THE LICENSE PLATES AND SPONSORSHIP GOES BACK TO THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO HELP SUPPORT
058THEIR ART PROGRAMS. THIS WAS INITIATED BACK ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AT POLK COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. AND SINCE THEN, A NUMBER OF COUNTIES THAT HAVE JUMPED ON BOARD. I AM HAPPY TO BE THE FIRST IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO DO THIS. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR. WE ARE REALLY PROUD. WE HAVE 30 OF 91 TITLE I SCHOOLS WHO PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM THERE. AND PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE THESE ONLINE. AND WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE RAISED $33,769 ON OUR FIRST YEAR. WHAT THAT MEANS -- -- IT IS OUR FIRST YEAR. AND I WAS HOPING TO GET TO $50,000. BUT NEXT YEAR IS ANOTHER STORY. BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS $1200 -- AT LEAST -- $1200 WILL GO BACK TO EACH OF THOSE PARTICIPATING ART TEACHERS. SO
059THEY WILL GET $1200 BACK. AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND THAT ON PROJECTS AND ART SUPPLIES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SOME TOP STUDENT WINNERS FROM THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. THEY HAD -- WE GAVE THEM PR PRIZES, PDQ WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR SPONSORS. WE HAD THE TOP CHOICE AWARD FOR SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION. THEY PICKED A YOUNG LEADER. HER NAME NIELI VARGAS. SHE IS FROM JS ROBINSON ELEMENTARY. WE WENT TO SEE HER YESTERDAY. AND WE HAD A SECOND, WHICH WAS THE TAX COLLECTOR CHOICE AWARD WHICH IS THE ONE WE ARE DISPLAYING HERE. NOELI PENA FROM BAYCREST ELEMENTARY. WE WERE SO PROUD OF THESE STUDENTS AND SO THRILLED. THEIR ART TEACHERS WERE THRILLED TO HAVE US THERE. AND KNOW THAT WE ARE OUT THERE. I KNOW THE
060TAX COLLECTOR IS NOT A FANCY, YOU KNOW -- I AM TRYING TO MAKE IT SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE MORE THAN JUST COLLECTING YOUR TAXES. AND WE ARE -- IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE AND WE WANT TO BE PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK AND IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS EASY FOR US AND REALLY BENEFITS OUR KIDS. AND TEACHING THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR OFFICE. SO WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO SUNCOAST. THANK YOU. LET ME NAME YOU HAVE A SOME OF OUR SPONSORS. SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION, BROOKS FAMILY FOUNDATION, DEREK BROOKS IS A HUGE FAN OF THIS PROGRAM. PDQ. FLORIDA WEST COAST CREDIT UN UNION, WILD ARCHITECTURE AND MISS PEGGY LAMB WAS OUR SPONSOR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU TO ALL
061OF THEM. I LOOK FORWARD. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS INITIATIVE. THEY HELPED WITH US COLLECTING THE FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN. AND MISS LAURA HOBBY, YOUR DISTRICT ART DIRECTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL OF HELPING TO HAVE THE PROGRAM FOR THE ART TEACHERS. SHE IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PROGRAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR BEING SUPPORT I HAVE IT AND HELPING US LAUNCH THIS IN THE SUMMER. WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY THIS SUMMER GETTING IT READY FOR TEACHERS NEXT YEAR AND HOP HOPEFULLY BRING YOU A LARGER CHECK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Lynn Gray: NANCY, I FORGOT ONE PERSON. THE PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU, OF COURSE, IS VERY MEANINGFUL, BUT FORGET LINDA COX. YES, SHE WAS RECOGNIZED. Lynn
062Gray: THE TAMPA BAY TIMES TEACHER OF THE YEAR. SO, BOY, OH, BOY, WE WANT TO THANK HER AS WELL. FROM BAYCREST. Lynn Gray: FROM BAYCREST. Nadia Combs: SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. Addison Davis: WE CAN'T APPRECIATE YOU ENOUGH FOR LITTLE LOWING THIS COMPETITION TO TAKE PLACE. SO BEAUTIFUL FOR OUR CHILDREN TO DISPLAY THEIR PASSIONS AND THEIR SKILLS. THIS IS A MESSAGE TO EVERY ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS, TITLE I PRINCIPALS THAT ARE OUT THERE. A CHALLENGE. 30 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR TO GET $1200. MAKE SURE TRUCK IN A PRIN PRINCIPAL'S MEETING TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE TO GROW IT NEXT YEAR. BUT THANK YOU, SUNCOAST AS WELL AND NANCY AND DEBBY AND LAURA HOBBY HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING THIS YEAR. SHE IS EVERYWHERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING COOL THINGS AND WE APPRECIATE
063YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED. I WILL CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, TO THE CHAIR, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR NEW LEADERS FOR THE 2 2022-'23 SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR EDUCATORS THAT ARE RETIRING, THAT ARE GIVING SO MUCH BEST EFFORT. IF YOU ARE RETIRING, PLEASE STAND UP. PRINCIPALS, LEADERS, IF YOU WERE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR
064YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION. BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, A NEW JOURNEYS FOR A BUNCH OF LEADERS WHO ARE REMARKABLE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM WORKING BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE LEADER WHERE THEY EMPOWER TEACHERS, FOCUS ON THE WELL BEING, PROVIDE STRATEGIC PLANNING, AN LILT CAL, BUILDING A CLIMATE AND CULTURE, OPERATIONAL EXPERTS, I THINK STRUNGSAL LEADERS AND REALLY TAKES A LOT NOWADAYS TO LEAD A SCHOOL AND A COHORT OF LEADERS TO DO SPECIAL THINGS FOR CHILDREN. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE MOVE UP. FIRST IS JOHAN VON ANCKEN. AN ADMINISTRATOR AT TAMPA BAY TECH, ROBINSON, EISENHOWER. CURRENT PRINCIPAL NOW AND CONGRATULATIONS TO BE THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HIGH SCHOOLS. ALSO MOVING TO APARICI O-LEVY, JESSIE SALTERS. EDUCATION AT
065SLIGH AND DONE WONDERFUL THINGS. HE HAS BEEN AT BLAKE FOR A LONG TIME. WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS OF YOUR NEW JOURNEY AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PARTNER IN THIS WORK. CONGRATULATIONS, JESSIE. A NEW LEADER AT BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO STARTED HER CAREER IN THE ELA DEPARTMENT AT DURANT. WAS A INSTRUCTION ALMOND FOR AND A APC CURRENTLY AT EAST BAY MISS ANDREA CUMMINGS, THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BARRINGTON. ALSO WE -- THIS GENTLEMAN HAD A CHANCE TO COME HERE LAST YEAR AND WE PUT HIM AT THE -- I HAD A CHANCE TO RECRUIT ONE OF THE BEST PRINCIPALS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE A REGENCYAL SUPERINTENDENT. FELL IN LOVE WITH, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTOOD HOW MUCH SHE LOVED THE PRINCIPALSHIP AND WHY NOT PUT HER BACK TO A SCHOOL WHERE SHE DID REALLY COOL THINGS AND
066AFTER TALKING TO MR. WILLIAMS WHO SHE WORKED WITH DILIGENTLY, MR. WILLIAMS UNDERSTANDS THE NEW OPPORTUNITY. THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BENI TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. COME ON UP. 22 YEARS IN SERVICE AND EDUCATION. AS A TEACHER, PEER EVALUATOR, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND PRINCIPAL. NO WAY THAT YOU -- WHAT ARE WE DOING BACK THERE DID YOU GET STUCK? YOU ARE A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. YOU ARE ON ROLLER SKATES EVERY DAY. 22 YEARS. WAS AT SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL. DID REALLY COOL THINGS WITH ANTHONY JONES. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. NEXT. I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS NOW GOING TO BE THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, JAMAL CROOK. PLEASE COME UP. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 2012. TAUGHT AT CHAMBERLAIN, BRANDON, MONROE. AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BLOOMINGDALE AS WELL AND APC AT BEN HILL AND
067NOW THE NEW LEADER AT BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I TOLD HIM, DIFFERENT FROM BEING AN AP TO A PRINCIPAL. BEST OF LUCK. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. YOU WILL DO GREAT. YOU WILL DO GREAT THINGS. ALSO I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOING ON AT BLOOMINGDALE, MAYBE BLAME SUE BURKETT WHO IS A GREAT LEADER AS WELL AND TIP OF THE HAT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A CAPACITY OF LEADERS. LOOK AT NATE. HE IS READY TO GO. HE IS WALKING DOWN. I GOT YOU, CROOK. HIS BUDDY. HIS PARTNER IN THIS WORK IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL IS NATE FRANCIS. HE HAS BEEN IN EDUCATION SINCE 2005. HE UNDERSTANDS INSTRUCTION. UNDERSTAND HOW TO BRIDGE THE COMMUNITY AND HIGH EDUCATION OF GROOMING AND GROWING A GREAT EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AT EISENHOWER. CONGRATULATIONS NATE. ALSO AN INDIVIDUAL
068I JUST GAVE PROPS. YOU HAVE TO COME UP HERE AND GO BACK TO A SCHOOL, 24 YEARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. COME ON UP APRIL GILLYARD. SHE IS LIKE I AM NOT COMING UP HERE. THAT'S RIGHT. CURRENT REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT. LOVES IT. TELL YOU PRINCIPAL, THE BEST JOB TO HAVE IS BEING A PRINCIPAL AND SHE WILL TELL YOU AND I WILL TELL YOU. IT MEANS YOU GET SO MUCH IMPACT WITH THE STUDENTS, COMMUNITY, OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILY. WELCOME BACK TO MEMORIAL! WHOO-HOO! ALL RIGHT, WE HAD TO BEG HER TO COME OUT OF MEMORIAL. WE DID NOT HAVE TO BEG HER TO GO BACK. SHE WAS BEGGING US. ALSO WE HAVE LEADER THAT HAS DONE EXCEPTIONAL WORK WITH EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS FOR MANY YEARS AT MENDEZ IN DOROTHY THOMAS. NOW THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT MONROE MIDDLE. KIMBERLY JAHN. WE
069SEE -- YOU SEE THE ENERGY, THE INTENSITY AND THE WALK. CALLING ME TELLING ME WHAT SHE NEEDS TO GO LEAD HER SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, THIS. I JUST SAY, YES, MA'AM. ROCK AND ROLL AND SHE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT LEADER. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. ALSO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A SKILLED LEADER WHO HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS AT WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT AND HAS A CHANCE TO GO NEARBY, CLOSE BY AT MARY BRYANT ELISE SUAREZ, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. AND ALSO A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE 1996. HE TAUGHT AT MANY SCHOOLS AT FOREST HILLS. I THINK SEFFNER, PRIDE, DUNBAR. HE HAS BEEN AT RIVERHILLS AT IB FOR 11 YEARS AND TRANSITION AS NEW PRINCIPAL AT CHILES ELEMENTARY. MR.
070TODD CONNOLLY. CONGRATULATIONS. NURTURING. I KNOW, RIGHT. HE IS BACK THERE NURTURING HIS BABY. DOING A GOOD JOB. READY TO GO. GOOD LEADER. EXCITED FOR HIM. ALSO I WANTS TO SAY THIS. A NEW LEADER GOING TO DAWSON LEM BUT GIVE PROPS TO JENNIFER WEST. JENNIFER WEST WAS OUR GIFTED SUPERVISOR AND LEAD. WE ASKED HER TO STEP INTO DAWSON AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, WE HAVE JASA WOMACK ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SINCE 2010. AND SHE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. JENNIFER, I AM SORRY, YOU GOT TO COME UP TOO. JENNIFER DID A GOOD JOB THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO SHOW A SENSE -- OOH -- SENSE OF CARE TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND SHE HAS BEEN DOING BOTH ROLES OF DRIVING GIFTED AND THE SAME TOKEN SUPPORTING A SCHOOL. MISS WOMACK IS READY.
071I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH HER TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS. AND WELCOME TO DAWSON. ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FIND A LEADER AN AP AT APOLLO BEACH AND CORE. MAGNIFICENT SKILLS WITH INSTRUCTIONAL CULTURE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM. AN ADJUNCT TEACHER AT UT. NEW PRINCIPAL AT DOBY ELEMENTARY. MR. BRADLEY FULLER. ALL RIGHT, TIME TO GO TO WORK. CALL U. T. AND TELL THEM THERE IS NO TIME. SO SORRY! JUST KIDDING, U. T., IF YOU WERE WATCHING, YOU ARE A GREAT PARTNER. ALSO IT IS HARD TO FIND SOME OF OUR LEADERS WHO GET RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO BE CREDENTIALED AND MOVE THE WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS AND TRANSFORMATIONAL NETWORK AND WE HAVE TO FIND LEADERS WITH SYSTEMIC CHANGES AND PROVEN CONFIDENCE AND THE STATE HAS TO APPROVE LEADERS. AN OPENING AT JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND THIS LEADER
072KEPT COMING ON THE LIST IN THE COUNTY. AND WE KNOW HE HAS DONE REALLY COOL THINGS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, BUT HE IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PRINCIPAL AT JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS IS A GREAT LEADER. AND WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE THE LAST TWO YEARS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. THAT WORK WILL CONTINUES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MOVED THE SCHOOL FROM AN F TO A B IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE SAME THINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. MURPHY. ALSO A NEW LEADER GOING TO LEWIS MIDDLE SCHOOL. HAS BEEN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SINCE 2000. A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND AP. AN A P AT DAVIS. A PRINCIPAL AT TOWN AND COU COUNTRY, PRINCIPAL CURRENTLY AT FULSOM AND TRANSITION BACK TO LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE.
073THANK YOU MISS BABANATS, MELISSA. ALSO A LEAD OTHER HAS BEEN A PRINCIPAL IN LITHIA SPRINGS SINCE 2016. SYSTEMIC AIDE AND HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN THIS ENVIRONMENT TO GO TO MINTZ ELEMENTARY. MR. KEVIN MARTIN. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS FROM YOU, SIR. ALSO WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEGAN HER CAREER IN 2002 IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. DONE REALLY GREAT WORK. LAKE MAG. PRINCIPAL AT TEMPLE TERRACE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND TRANSITION TO RIVERHILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MISS CRYSTAL BROWN. CONGRATULATIONS. AND ALSO LOOKING FOR CONTINUED LEADERS THAT UNDERSTAND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. UNDERSTAND THE FAST PACE. UNDERSTAND HOW TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS AND TEACHERS THAT ARE INSPIRED AND ARE VERY ANALYTICAL, THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS CONTINUED TO BE DRIVEN. HE HAS BEEN AN AP SINCE 2010. FOUR
074SCHOOLS HE LED AT. A NEW PRINCIPAL TO ROBINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MR. TIMOTHY DELGADO. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. LAST ONE. -OH. SORRY, I CLICKED IT TOO MUCH. ALSO LOOKING FOR LEADERS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAD -- HAD REALLY BEEN A STAPLE IN THE TAMPA PALMS COMMUNITY. SHE WAS AN AP. SHE WAS A PRINCIPAL. I THINK 18 YEARS, RIGHT? 18 YEARS. AND IN TAMPA PALMS. AND THIS COMMUNITY WILL MISS YOU DEARLY, BUT UNDERSTAND A NEW OPPORTUNITY AND A NEW DOOR OPENS. SCHMIDT ELEMENTARY. MISS MARYANN LIPICK WILL BE THE NEW PRINCIPAL. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE IN THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DO LOVE YOU. ALSO LOOKING FOR LEADERS TO GO TO SEFFNER. AND INDIVIDUAL THAT STARTED HIS CAREER IN 2000 AT McDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WAS AN AP AT MOSI AND FOUR YEARS AT SHAW. SEFFNER. MR. REN EL
075MATHURIN. THEN WE HAD INDIVIDUAL STARTED HER CAREER IN 2000 AT KI KINGSWOOD, MITCHELL, AP AT LANIER. SINCE 2013, THE PRINCIPAL SINCE 2018. MOVED LANIER FROM A C TO A B. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT QUALIFIED TO GO TO TRANSFORMATIONAL NETWORK AS OUTLINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THEY WILL MISS YOU COMPLETELY. BUT SARAH GARCIA WILL BE THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT SHAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. THE NEXT LEADER IS 15 YEARS ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE. MOST IN THE FISHHAWK COMMUNITY. WAS AN AP AND PRINCIPAL AT BEVIS, GIVES THE CHANCE TO GO HOME BACK TO THE FISHHAWK COMMUNITY AND IT MAKES SENSE TO MAKE MELANIE COCHRAN AT STOWERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE LEADERS AND ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE. EVERYONE THAT'S A FAMILY MEMBER OR COLLEAGUE THAT'S HERE TO SUPPORT THESE LEADERS,
076THEY WILL NEED YOU AS THEY TRANSITION TO NEW FACILITIES. THAT MEANS THERE MAY BE A LOT OF EARLY MORNINGS, EVENING EVENTS AND NIGHT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT PLEASE CARE ABOUT THEM, UNDERSTAND IT AND NOVEMBER THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM AS WELL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME GREAT THINGS FROM EACH OF YOU AS A TURN KEY AND HELP OUR CHILDREN EXCEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOMS. CONGRATULATIONS. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. GO HOME. Nadia Combs: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU AND WE WILL GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES TO EXIT. BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU AND THANK YOU. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 120-01. D-402. 403. C 608. C 609. C 610. C 612. 14. 16. 618. 620. 71. AND E 12.01. WE BEGIN WITH 10.01. SUPERINTENDENT
077DAVIS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT THAT WAS -- THAT CURRENTLY HAS IN PLACE FOR FOCUS ACADEMY. THERE IS CURRENTLY A 9 THROUGH 12 SERVING STUDENTS AND WITH EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS, ACCESS POINTS WHERE THEY SERVE ABOUT 101 STUDENTS AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION TO OFFER SERVICES TO STUDENTS FROM 6th THROUGH 12 ADDING 6th, 7th AND 8th GRADE. THE PROJECTION OF THIS PROCESS IS FOR THEM TO HAVE AROUND 130 STUDENTS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. IF APPROVED, AND THEN THEY WILL BE ON THE RENEWAL CYCLE FOR THE 202-23 SCHOOL YEAR. THIS IS LOCATED IN THE TEMPLE TERRACE. THEY OPENED UP IN 2013 AND RENEWED ORIGINALLY AT 2018 AND THE NEXT RENEWAL IN THE L 22-23. Addison Davis: I R. Nadia Combs: I
078NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 1001. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER HAHN. YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. Lynn Gray: I JUST WAS DIGGING INTO THIS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE VARIOUS CHARTERS, ACADEMY ITSELF, ELSE, AND I FOUND THAT WE ALL SHOULD FIND THAT THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH MANY THINGS FOR EOC, AUTISM, INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED AND HEALTH IMPAIRED. THEY FOUND THE RIGHT TEACHING, THE RIGHT TEACHERS AND THE RATE STAFF, BIG TIME EMPHASIS OF ARTS AND MUSIC AND MATH CLASSES, THEY TARGET SPECIFIC NEEDS AREAS. I WANTED TO SAY, AND I SHARED THIS WITH SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, THAT THEY HAVE A SMALL POPULATION, DR. DELANEY, HOW MANY STUDENTS DO THEY HAVE THERE? THEY HAVE 101 STUDENTS. Lynn Gray: SO THE ONLY DISAPPOINTMENT COMES
079WHEN WE FIND OUT THAT OUR SCHOOLS THAT ALSO SERVE -- AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT SPEAK ON THIS. SO THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT EXACTLY MILEAGE CLOSE, BUT NOT THAT FAR, IS CAMADINI, LAVOY EXCEPTIONAL SATISFACTORY, AND LOPEZ CENTER, UNSATISFACTORY, SO THIS BECOMES A REAL BIG CRAYOUT THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC AVAILABILITIES AND ASPECT OF THE ESE POPULATION. SUPERINTENDENT? Addison Davis: I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE LOOK AT FOCUS ACADEMY AND WE LOOK AT THE EXCEPTIONAL CENTERS WE HAVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE HAVE TO MATCH WHAT SCHOOLS THEY HAVE RELATED TO DEMOGRAPHIC THEY SERVE. THEY ARE MORE OF A COMPARISON TO MENÉNDEZ AND SIMMONS WHICH IS MAINTAINING IDENTIFIED BUILT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND IF WE LOOK AT THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT
080OPENLY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS UNSATISFACTORY THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC THAT THEY SERVE SO FOCUS HAS 33%, THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, WHEREAS IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SITES THAT WE SERVE, SERVE IN OUR DISTRICT, 89%. SO THERE'S A VERY DIFFERENT COMPLEXITY NOT ONLY OF EXCEPTIONS THAT WE SERVE BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS AS WELL. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THE GRADES. THE LAST GRADES AND INFORMATION THAT THESE SCHOOLS RECEIVED WAS FROM 18 AND 19 VERSUS WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO WE ARE WORKING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORTS, THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS AND LEADERS AND MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT RATING WHICH WE HOPE TO SEE IN THE COMING
081YEARS. SO DO MACH A SCHOOL'S GRADES VERY MUCH PARALLEL. ALSO, THE SECOND THING IS WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION VERY CLOSELY TO OUR ESE CENTERS, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT I WANTED TO CONVEY. LET MAKE THEM COMMENDABLE VERSUS UNSATISFACTORY, AND EVEN IF THE POPULATION IS NOT, LET'S JUST SAY, EASY TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL POPULATION, WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY, WAYS, PLURAL, TO MAKE THOSE POPULATIONS SUCCESSFUL AND THAT'S CRITICAL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: I'M JUST CURIOUS. I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A PARENT GETTING INTO THE SCHOOL? IT IS LOTTERY BASED YOU, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S A VERY SMALL SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. SO THEY HAVE SPACE UP TO 150 STUDENTS, I BELIEVE, SO THEY HAVE SPACE SO THEY ARE NOT UTILIZING
082THE LOTTO RIGHT NOW. AND AS LONG AS ASD, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED OR OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRED, THEY CAN ATTEND. Jessica Vaughn: THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE FOR THIS ONE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 4.302. ADDITIONAL ONE-TIME FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYEES FROM 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE A ONE-TIME FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES CONDITION OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THIS IS IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR BARGAINING UNITS, THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON PROVIDING OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, PROFESSIONALS, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, ALL A ONE-TIME INCREASE JUST TO SHOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR.
083WE WISH IT WAS MORE BUT THE GOOD THING IS THIS FUNDING WILL GO UNDER FRS AND ASSIST WITH OUR TOP FIVE RECOGNITION RELATED TO RETIREMENT. SO THIS IS -- WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE BARGAINING UNITS COMING TO THE TABLE, WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THE BOARD'S APPROVAL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO MOVE ITEM 4.022. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON, A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ABOUT TALKING ABOUT OUR TEACHERS AND COMPENSATING THEM AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN OUR CLASSROOM BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE DISTRICT AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. I DO HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO EVEN THOUGH
084WE ARE GIVING THIS ONE-TIME BONUS, A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE MOVED BECAUSE OF THE STATE LEGISLATION THAT'S MOVING EMPLOYEES UP. ANYTHING LOWER TO 15 DOLLARS AN HOUR, CORRECT? SO WHAT I AM WONDERING, THE EMPLOYEES ARE SEEING THIS ONE TIME, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE GETTING THIS BONUS BUT ARE WE LETTING THEM TO CORRECT EXPECT THAT COME NEXT YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL RAISE AND THEY WILL BE MOVED UP TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING RETENTION OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE? THAT WILL BE PART OF THE BARGAINING PROCESS WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE TABLE IN JUNE WITH THOSE OF OUR UNION GROUPS WILL BE DISCUSSING THE IMPACT OF MINIMUM WAGE. Jessica Vaughn: IT HAS TO GO THROUGH BARGAINING FIRST BEFORE WE CAN TALK
085ABOUT IT. OKAY, THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I THINK WHAT I WANT TO SAY ON THIS ONE IS THE GENESIS IS THAT WE REALLY DO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES, WITH THE BUS DRIVERS AND THE PARAS, MANY TIMES FOLKS DON'T REALLY REALIZE THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND WE CERTAINLY DID. WE HAD MANY SESSIONS, I AM GLAD, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE THIS INCENTIVE MONEY, AND WE WILL WORK HARD AS WE HAVE BEEN TO CONTINUE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE VERY VALUABLE EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. AND PAY ATTENTION. AND THESE ARE OUR POINT OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES, SO THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND BOARD MEMBERS, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs:
086THANK YOU MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 4.03. NEGOTIATED TRANSFORMATION NETWORK MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, EMPLOYEE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: AS WE KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INITIATIVE CALLED SPARK, TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT TEACHERS OR HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS TO OUR UNDERPERFORM SCHOOLS. I THINK IT WAS A REALLY SMART STRATEGY. LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS IDENTIFIED THAT WE CAN ONLY USE 60% OF THE TITLE 1 FUNDING TOWARDS SPARK, WHEREAS THE ENTIRE PROCESS FOR TITLE 1 WAS GOING TO PICK UP ALL OF THE FUNDING TO SEND TO OUR TEACHERS ANDERS THAT WOULD TRANSITION IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME. WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE AND AS SPARK SUNSETTED THIS
087SCHOOL YEAR AND WORKED WITH CT RAH TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES A WAS MOVE FORWARD IN THE TRANSFORMATION A NETWORK, TO PROVIDE $5,000 ADDITIONAL PAY FOR THOSE TEACHERS WHO ARE TEACHING AND QUALIFIED IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL NETWORK, FOR TEACHERS $750 FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS, 50 FOR PRINCIPALS AND 500 FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, TO SHOW VALUE AND CARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE SOME OF OUR MOST NEEDY SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM CONTINUE TO EXCEL AND CREATE AWESOME EXPECTATIONS ACT CHEM DEMOCRATICALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 4.03. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN, SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: FOR TEACHERS, IN THESE SCHOOLS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, IS THERE A QUICK COMPARE AND CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE SMOU AND THE PREVIOUS SPARK? Addison Davis: WE
088HAVE THAT. I THINK WE WENT FROM 7500 TO $5,000 THAT WAS FOR OUR TEACHERS. AND THIS WAS JUST ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF FINDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCE. AND WE ARE ABLE TO USE AND HISTORICALLY USING ALL TITLE 1 DOLLARS, NO LONGER CAN DO THAT, SO WE HAD TO BE ABLE TO DRILL DOWN AND FIND SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. NOW, THERE'S ALSO INCENTIVE PAY FROM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHICH IS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING THAT TEACHERS CAN QUALIFY UP TO $15 THAT YOU, AS A RECRUITING TOOL. THAT MEANS THAT IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THE $15,000 AND THE $5,000, WE WILL NOT HAVE TO EXTEND BUT IF THEY GET WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER INCREASE, AND WE WORK WITH MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT. Jessica Vaughn: ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT WE ARE GOING
089TO LOSE SOME TEACHERS IN THESE SCHOOLS DUE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR I AM NOT, BECAUSE A LOT QUALIFY FOR THE STATE INITIATIVE FUNDING, AND WHILE WE WOULD LOVE TO GET $73500 WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO SO. Jessica Vaughn: WAS THAT PART OF THIS LEGISLATION OR WHAT CHANGED THAT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO USE OUR TITLE 1 WITH FLEXIBILITY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT? Addison Davis: DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT? THANK YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, THROUGH THE CHAIR. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THEY ESTABLISH GUIDELINES. THOSE GUIDELINES ALLOW US TO PAY THE PERCENT OF TEACHERS THAT REPRESENT THE TOTAL PERCENT OF TEACHERS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE OR HIGHER THAN THEIR OVERALL VAM SCORE. SO THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 60% OF OUR TEACHERS ARE EFFECTIVE OR HIGHER AND
090OF THOSE TEACHER THOSE THAT ARE IN CORE CLASSROOMS ARE THE ONES THAT TITLE 1 CAN FUND. Addison Davis: ORIGINALLY THEY APPROVED TO USE ALL TITLE 1 FUNDS AND FOR THE LAST YEAR, PUT DIFFERENT GUIDELINES IN CHANGING THE PLANS, AND WE IMPLEMENT THEM, WHICH WE PUSHED BACK. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.08. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, 22005 MST-KJ HVAC COIL CLEANING. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Nadia Combs: THIS IS TO CONDUCT HVAC COIL CLEANING. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF UNITS THAT NEED UPDATE DEEP CLEANINGS, LOOK AT DUCT CLEANING, SO THIS IS IDENTIFYING TWO CONES THAT HAVE WON THIS BID TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR SCHOOLS SO WE CAN MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE EFFICIENT HVAC SYSTEMS EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Nadia Combs: I NEED
091A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-608. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: YES, THIS COMMENT WILL BE AN INTERESTING ONE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT THE ACTUAL COIL CLEANING -- AND I'LL ADDRESS THIS TO MR. FARKAS -- IS A QUESTION. MY QUESTION IS, AND A CONCERN, IS THAT IF I AM LOOKING AT THESE LISTS OF BIDDERS -- AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING MORE THAN THREE ON EVERY ONE OF YOUR VENDORS -- HOW WOULD WE KNOW IF THEY ARE MINORITY CONTRACTORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS? NOW, THE REASON I AM ASKING IS BECAUSE MORE AND MORE, WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION -- THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS -- TO MINORITY CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS. AND IF WE LOOK
092AT USF AND THEY DO THE AGGREGATE SCORING OF RACE AND THEIR DIVERSITY, THERE'S A SCORING MECHANISM, AND THEY ACTUALLY INDICATE PER CONTRACT OR SUBCONTRACTOR THE SCORE IF THEY LEND THEMSELVES TO MINORITY STATUS. SO I WAS WONDERING IF -- SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, IF WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE VERBIAGE, AND EVEN IF IT'S ON THE LAST PART AS WE IT IS THE SCRIPTER, IF WE CAN PUT A SCORING SYSTEM SUCH AS WHAT THEY DO AT USF, SO WE CAN KNOW, AS BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THEY MINORITY, OR NOT MINORITY CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS? I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU, BUT A LITTLE DIGGING. MR. FARKAS? Christopher Farkas: WE HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAM WHICH IS UNDERNEATH DR. VERY A TIER RAD O.IT ACTUALLY HAS THE SCORING FOR THAT. IT'S UTILIZATION OF HCPS REGISTERED ENTERPRISES. WE
093DO SCORE ON THAT. WE ONLY DO WEIGHTING ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR THE WMBE, SO MINORITY, SMALL BUSINESS ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAM. WE CAN DEFINITELY DO ONE ON ONE WITH BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A 25 MINUTE EXPLANATION WHY WE DO ONE AND NOT THE OTHER BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. SO I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE THAT. IT'S LISTED ON THE SCORING SHEET AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE SMALL BUSINESS. NONE OF THESE ARE MINORITY BUSINESS. IT'S ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE DOCUMENT. Lynn Gray: SO WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, MR. FARKAS, IN DENOTING? Christopher Farkas: ALWAYS. YES, MA'AM. Lynn Gray: I THINK MONICA WANTS TO TALK. TRIED TRIED THE. Monica Verra-Tirado: I THINK THERE'S A BROAD QUANTUM YUM OF FOLKS THAT ARE INCLUDED WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR
094SMALL MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES. THANK YOU. Lynn Gray: I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT ON THE AGENDA WHEN WE DEAL WITH VENDORS. WE'LL TALK MORE. BUT THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ON THIS EXAMPLE. THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU, MR. FARKAS INCLUDED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.09. AMENDMENT 1 OF THE AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES, 21178-ATS -- IV WITH TEACH FOR AMERICA INCORPORATED. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOR TEACH FOR AMERICA. ORIGINALLY WE THOUGHT THEY COULD STAND UP 40 EDUCATORS AND BY THIS SCHOOL YEAR THEY STRUGGLED THROUGHOUT, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS AS A VENDOR. SO THIS IS GOING BACK AND TAKING THE ORIGINAL
095CONTRACT FROM 200 THAT YOU TO 100,000 FROM 40 EDUCATORS TO 20 EDUCATORS AND BEING ABLE TO CUT THAT PRICE IN HALF. SO IN HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS SO THEY CAN FIND HIGH QUALITY EDUCATORS TO GO AND SERVE TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, AND JUST MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT FINANCIALLY AND THE NUMBER OF EDUCATORS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BRING. THEY HAVE NOT HAD SUCCESS TO DATE AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO BRING THEM IN AT THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR BUT THEY ARE FORECAST OF THE 20 FOR NEXT YEAR SO WE'LL TAKE EVERY ONE THAT WE CAN TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR MOST NEEDY SCHOOLS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.6.09. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER -- COME ON, I
096DON'T HAVE ANY MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.10. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 22001-DST-KJ TITLE 1 EQUITY SERVICES FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: TITLE 1 EQUITY SERVICES ALLOWS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO UTILIZE A THIRD PARTY PROVIDER TO SERVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN NEED, AND THIS PROVIDES ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS, PROVIDE ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS OF HOW TO BE EDUCATIONAL ADVOCATES AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ONGOING TUTORIALS FOR STUDENTS IN THE AREA OF MATHEMATICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. THERE'S AROUND 4900 STUDENTS THAT ARE UNDER THIS UMBRELLA THAT TRANSITION TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS SO THIS IS A PASS THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THESE STUDENTS, AND THEY HAVE MATH AND ELA
097SERVICES THAT ARE TWICE A WEEK THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE. THIS HAS BEEN A 15 YEAR STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH CATAPULT WITH A PRIVATE ENTITIES, AND THIS IS A $4 MILLION TRANSFER OF PASS-THROUGH FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 610. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: I DO. Lynn Gray: THERE IS A JUMP AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU PURSUED THIS AND THEN I AM GOING TO JUMP RIGHT TO THE OTHER SUBJECT, THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. CAN YOU SHARE YOUR
098RATIONALE? RAISE IN EXPENDITURE. IT'S BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ELIGIBLE. THAT NUMBER IS BASED ON STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR TITLE 1 SERVICES THAT ARE IN OUR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. AND THAT IS WHAT THAT IS -- THAT'S WHY THERE WAS AN INCREASE. AS YOU WILL NOTE, THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 2 THAT YOU KIDS THAT WERE SERVED THE PRAYER YEAR, AND WE HAVE ABOUT OVER 4,000 THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT. AND THAT AMOUNT IS UP TO $4 MILLION AMOUNT. Lynn Gray: AND I ASK THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHY I AM CURIOUS. WE HAVE ANOTHER HUGE EXPENDITURE THAT WE INVEST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION AND THE HISPANIC OUTREACH. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND I SAW ALSO -- AND I HEARD THIS FROM THE COMMUNITY, ACTUALLY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS GROUP, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS A
099MUCH LOWER AMOUNT. IN OTHER WORDS, I FOUND OUT TWO WEEKS AGO THAT THERE WAS A ROLE FOR BAYOU OF $23 MILLION WHICH SUBTRACTED THE EFFICACY, FIDELITY OF THE FACE PROGRAM, AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT TWO EMPLOYEES WERE IN FACT ELIMINATED FROM AN E-MAIL BY YOU THAT SUGGESTED OR ACTUALLY WAS PUT IN E-MAIL THAT THEY WERE NOT A DISTRICT PRIORITY. I WORRY NOW ABOUT YOUR MANAGEMENT SKILLS OF MONEY, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT DONE. I ALSO AM VERY, VERY IN TUNE WITH THE HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION THAT THESE EMPLOYEES UNDER YOUR ROOF HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY GIVEN, AND I HAVE ENOUGH DOCUMENTATION ON ALL THAT. I'M DONE WITH IT. I'M JUST SAYING. MR. PORTER. Jim Porter: THE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE DIRECTING THOSE COMMENTS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND ALSO REMAINED THE BOARD THAT YOU
100HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO BE ACCEPTING THAT. BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT CHALLENGING INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES FROM THE DAIS WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE SUPERVISOR OVER THAT EMPLOYEE. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, I'LL SAY THIS. ANYTIME THAT THE ANY EMPLOYEE FEELS THAT THEY NEED ADDITIONAL SERVICES OR SUPPORTS WITH THE WORKING CONDITIONS OR ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S A PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED BUT HUMAN RESOURCES. AS RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY IMPROVED FOR 15 YEARS BY PRIVATE ENTITIES WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE DECISION MAKING AS RELATES TO BEING ABLE TO TRANSITION TO FACE. WE ARE WORKING TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH MRS. BROWN AND
101FEDERAL DOLLARS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT'S A PRIORITY WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, AND ALSO FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, WE'LL LOOK INTO WHATEVER FINANCES WE ARE FROM A ROLLOVER SIDE OF IT, TO DETERMINE WHY THAT ROLLOVER MAY HAVE OCCURRED, AND I'LL REPORT BACK TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. Lynn Gray: AND I THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, AND WE'LL JUST STICK TO THE SUBJECT R CATAPULT, AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH CATAPULT. Nadia Combs: OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE WE STICK TO THE AGENDA AND IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK FOR FOUGHT MEMBERS FOR THIS ITEM, 6.10, LET'S CONTINUE JUST TALKING ABOUT 6.10. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. THIS ITEM IS ON OUR AGENDA EVERY YEAR. Addison Davis: THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FUNDING. Stacy Hahn: THANK
102YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. WASHINGTON BEING OFF THE DAIS. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS 6.12. Addison Davis: 6.12 IS OUR INVITATION TO BID FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TRY TO FIND PROACTIVE WAYS TO UPDATE OUR EQUIPMENT WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THE DISTRICT HAS EXPENDED AROUND $300,000 IN TITLE 4 FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE MATERIALS, EQUIPMENTALITY OUR SCHOOLS, FOR THE REMAINDER IS FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO USE INTERNAL ACCOUNTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE MATERIALS AND INSTRUMENTS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-612. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN.
103ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER SNIVELY? I.I KNOW WE HAD MENTIONED IT BEFORE BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DO HELP US LOCATE GENTLY USED INSTRUMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND TO THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND JUST SO HAPPY THAT WE DO HAVE PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP FIND INSTRUMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: AND THAT'S REALLY SO TRUE. AND MUSIC, ARTS IN EDUCATION IS A VERY BIG PRIORITIES OF ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND THIS IS MUCH NEEDED. WE HAVE SO MUCH OUTDATED EQUIPMENT. SO I JUST APPLAUD THIS AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.14. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MONTESSORI ACADEMY. : THIS IS THE FIRST MONTESSORI PROGRAM
104TO BRING TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE'S 20 PRIVATE MONTESSORI PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. NONE OF THEM FROM A PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE. THIS IS A UNIQUE WAY TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND ATTRACT NEWCOMERS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND ESSRIG IS A GREAT PLACEMENT, YOU HAVE A WILLING PRINCIPAL, 70% UTILIZATION, SO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND, AND MONTESSORI REALLY FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES, CHILD CENTRIC LEARNING, NATURAL LEARNING THROUGH SELF-DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH SELF-DISCIPLINE, THEY ARE LEARNING TO BE INSPIRED THROUGH CREATIVITY, AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADD ANOTHER PROGRAM TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS IS A HAND-ON OPPORTUNITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MODEL NOT ONLY FOR ESSRIG BUT TO HAVE POTENTIAL EXPANSION. THIS IS A $1.9 MILLION SPENCE EXPENDITURE OVER A
105SIX YEAR SPAN. WE DO BELIEVE THAT OVER THOSE SIX YEARS WE CAN RECRUIT AROUND 216 STUDENTS F.THESE ARE NEWCOMERS TO THE ORGANIZATION, AND LET'S JUST SAY 80% OF THE 216 ARE NEWCOMERS, THAT'S AROUND 1.3, 1.4 MILLION THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GENERATE NEW FTE AND THEN WE HAVE CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING THAT WILL HELP US WITH LOOKING AT STRUCTURES, FURNITURE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT FACILITIES, AND HOPLY THE REMAINDER TO PROVIDE ONGOING TRAINING TO OUR TEACHERS. WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH CTA ABOUT A MOU FOE R FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO AGREE. THE INTENT TO STAY FOR THREE YEARS, BECAUSE THE TRAINING IS EXTENSIVE THIS PROCESS AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO GROW. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT? THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS, THROUGH THE CHAIR. I JUST FEEL RIGHT NOW AS
106OUR STUDENTS ARE RETURNING FROM STILL POST COVID EXPERIENCES, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH GETTING BARK INTO THE SOCIAL SETTING OF THE CLASSROOM, AND THESE SELF-PACED CLASSROOMS IN THE MONTESSORI MODEL WILL ALLOW FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE AT THEIR OWN ABILITY, TO BE ABLE TO BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR IMMEDIATIEST LEARNERS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-614. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY AND I PULLED THIS ITEM. WE'LL START WITH MEMBER GRAY. DO YOU
107HAVE ANY COMMENTS? Lynn Gray: YES, I BELIEVE THE -- AND THANK YOU, MS. BAYS, FOR REALLY PUTTING THIS TO TASK. I MEAN, THIS STUDY OF IT. I AM PERSONALLY NOT FAMILIAR WITH MONTESSORI BUT I MADE MACE WITH IT AND IT WAS MATCHING THE VERY PRIORITY TRACY IRVIN HAD SHARED ABOUT THE READING STAMINA, THE LACK OF READING STAMINA. VERY INTERESTING THAT THE MONTESSORI REALLY DOES PAY ATTENTION TO THAT DEVELOPMENTAL AND READING EMPHASIS AND WRITING EMPHASIS WHICH IS KIN SET HE CAN WHICH TAKES A LOT OF BRAIN TOWER AND SUSTAINABILITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STAMINA, THERE'S A LEARNING TERM, BY THE WAY, FROM THE LENGTH OF TIME A READER CAN PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE PASSAGES ON THE FSA PREVIOUS AND ON THE NEW ONES COMING, IT'S SO CRITICAL, AND ANOTHER REMINDER, AND MAYBE MEMBER SNIVELY WILL ENJOY
108THIS, YEARS AGO WE HAD SONGS THAT HAD REALLY BIG STORIES AND A LOT OF MESSAGES, THE BEATLES, ABOUT YOU NOW YOU HEAR MUSIC WITH SNAPSHOTS, ONE SENTENCE TYPE OF SOUND. SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DEVELOPING THE AMOUNT OF TIME A CHILD CAN PAY ATTENTION TO THE READING LENGTH, TO THE LENGTH OF ANY STANZA AND THE CHORUS, ET CETERA, AND I THINK THAT THE MONTESSORI WILL FILL THE BILL, AND LASTLY, THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU DID ON THIS ONE. Nadia Combs: I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE SAME SENTIMENTS. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE INNOVATION AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. I LITERALLY LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS AGO AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT LOCATION THAT YOU CHOSE. IF I LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE,
109THERE'S A MONTESSORI SCHOOL VERY NEAR THERE THAT ALWAYS HAD A WAITING LIST AND I THINK ABOUT THE CHARTERS IN THAT AREA. I THINK IT'S A GREAT SPACE, VERY INNOVATIVE. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE MONTESSORI CURRICULUM, EDUCATION. I THINK PARENTS ARE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS FOR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN HAVE MAYBE NOT BEEN TO SCHOOL, AS SOMEONE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT, IN THE LAST YEAR, OR SOMEBODY WHO IS REALLY WORKING AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND THEY WANT TO BE PUSHED. I THINK IT'S GREAT, INNOVATIVE AND I AM GLAD TO BE SEE WE ARE DOING THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE INNOVATION. MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CHAIR GRAY. I MEAN, CHAIR COMBS. CHAIR COMBS. I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW I AM EXCITED I AM ABOUT THIS MONTESSORI SCHOOL. AS MEMBER GRAY, THAT'S WHY SHE WAS ON MY MIND,
110WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM AND ESE WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL THAT WE APPROVED, MONTESSORI IS FANTASTIC FOR A NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS. IT BUILD AN INTRINSIC LOVE OF LEARNING THAT IS SO DEEPLY EMBEDDED WITH THEM. MY SON WENT TO MONTESSORI AND NOW AT TAMPA PALMS. AND GOING TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL, IT TAKES AWAY THAT BARRIER, BECAUSE FOR SO LONG PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO ACCESS MONTESSORI ARE ONLY PARENTS TO ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY NOR THAT PRIVATELY. SO TO BRING THIS TO OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND GIVE EVERYBODY THAT ACCESS IS SO FANTASTIC BECAUSE AGAIN THAT INTRINSIC LOVE OF LEARNING, THAT ABILITY TO REALLY BREAK IT DOWN, MANIPULATIVE, TACTILE, SENSORY ISSUES, IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM IF IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY AND THIS IS SUCH A
111GOOD FEEDER. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE GET OUR KID TO STAY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND CHOOSE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE. ALL OF THE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE WAIT LISTED FOR YEARS. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN THERE. SO TALK ABOUT A SUSS SAFELY SUSTAINING MODEL GETTING KIDS INTO THAT PROGRAM AND KEEPING THEM IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO WAS A PARTNER IN THIS. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THIS SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE. I HAVE TEACHERS AT THAT SCHOOL WHO ARE SO EXCITED THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR KIDS IN THAT PROGRAM AND TEACH AT THEIR SCHOOL AND I AM SO EXCITED. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE WE
112GET AS MANY OF THESE AS POSSIBLE, LIKE EXPAND AND SPREAD. SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WELL, I DO KNOW A LOT ABOUT MONTESSORI. PH.D. PH.D. IN EARLY CHILD CHILDHOOD, LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MONTESSORI. I WISH I COULD SHARE THE ENTHUSIASM OF MY COLLEAGUES BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS. THIS ISN'T JUST A MONTESSORI CLASSROOM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. THIS IS ACTUALLY A WHOLE SCHOOL THAT YOU WANT TO CONVERT. SO MUCH LIKE WE DID FOR CAREER AND TECH ED, I WOULD HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED A WORKSHOP AROUND THIS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND IT'S COMING OUT OF GENERAL FUNDS, AND TWO WEEKS AGO WE JUST ASKED -- THIS BOARD JUST VOTED FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT FOR MORE TAX DOLLARS. SO
113FIRST, MONTESSORI, IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE TRAINED TO TEACH IN A MONTESSORI SCHOOL, TYPICALLY IT TAKES A YEAR TO TWO YEARS TO ACTUALLY GET CERTIFIED IN TEACHING MONTESSORI. SO I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW IS THIS GOING TO ALIGN WITH OUR STANDARD? BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM. YOU WANT TO PULL THIS FOR THE WHO WILL SCHOOL HOW FAST DOES THIS ALIGN MONTESSORI? I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER BUT HOW IS IT GOING TO ALIGN WITH THE BEST STANDARD? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. AND I WILL LET MS. BAYS GET INTO FURTHER DETAIL. RIGHT IN AND OUT THE MENTALITY IS TO EMBED A SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL, AND IF IT GROSS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL AND THERE'S MORE INTEREST OF THE STUDENT BODY AND TEACHERS AND WE HAVE THE
114MONEY TO DO SO, THEN WE CAN DO IT. WE WANT TO START SMALL AT THAT PROCESS, THAT'S WHY 216 STUDENTS. THIS SCHOOL HOLD MORE THAN 216 STUDENTS. BUT BEING ABLE TO GRADUALLY TRANSITION TO THAT PROCESS. SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE ALL DO THIS RELATED TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A BRIDGE BETWEEN STANDARDS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE CURRICULUM, OR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ASSESSED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. Stacy Hahn: YOU SAID YOU HAVE ALL THIS TINT. INTEREST. WHAT KIND OF DATA HAVE YOU COLLECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY? HAVE YOU COLLECTED -- HAVE YOU HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS? OR IS IT JUST -- Addison Davis: NO, MA'AM, EVERYWHERE WE GO WE TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DATE RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO
115SHOW BUT Stacy Hahn: YOU WANT TO SPEND $2 MILLION AND THERE'S NO ANALYTICAL DATA. Addison Davis: I APPRECIATE THAT. Stacy Hahn: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ALIGN MONTESSORI CURRICULUM WITH THE BEST STANDARDS? Kim Bays: RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CROSSWALK BETWEEN THE FLORIDA STANDARDS AND THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM. THESE BEEN DEVELOPED. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE EIGHT OTHER DISTRICTS THAT HAVE PUBLIC MONTESSORI PROGRAMS IN PLACE AND ARE USING THAT CROSSWALK. YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 3rd D. ALL OF THE TEACH OARS ARE REQUIRED TO DO TWO WEEKS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING DURING THE SUMMER, AND THEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO COMMIT TO FOUR OTHER WEEKEND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR EACH QUARTER TO MAINTAIN THEIR TRAINING. IN ADDITION TO THE TEACHERS BEING TRAINED, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM IS THAT EVERY CLASSROOM HAS AN ASSISTANT
116TEACHER WHO ARE ALSO PUT THROUGH THE SAME RIGOROUS TRAINING AND THAT'S CONTINUOUSLY DONE AS WELL. SO THE PD IS BROUGHT UP TO SPEED. Stacy Hahn: WHO IS DOING THE PD? THIS IS FROM THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM NATIONALLY. Stacy Hahn: TYPICALLY A YEAR TO TWO YEARS TO GET TO TEACH MONTESSORI AND WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AT A PRETTY QUICK CLIP. I KNOW THAT MONTESSORI IS A REALLY WONDERFUL PROGRAM, SO I AM NOT SAYING IT'S NOT. I WANT IT TO BE QUALITY. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE TRAINED TO WHERE THEY ARE NOT FEELING ANY EXTRA STRESS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT TEACHERS THAT HAVE TO LEARN PROGRESS MONITORING, NEW STANDARDS. NOW WE WANT TO PUT THIS ON THEM. I MEAN, IT'S A LOT. IT'S A LOT WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW OUR
117TEACHERS ARE STRESS. AND I'M JUST NOT REALLY CLEAR ON HOW THIS IS REALLY GOING TO IMPACT THE HACKETT. I KNOW YOU HAD POINTS, AND HOW IS IT GOING TO IMPACT TEACHERS PRAYER TO THE TRANSFER PERIODS TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO GO O OR STAY AT THIS SCHOOL, OR IF OTHER TEACHERS WANT TO GO MOVE INTO THE SCHOOLS? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE TRANSFER PERIOD? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED STAFF AND ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ANALYTICS, WHEN YOU HAVE 20 SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW MONTESSORI IS WANTED IN THIS COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE HAD A WAITING LIST. THEY CONTINUE USELY HAVE WAIT LISTS. I HAVE OPENED -- Stacy Hahn: ALSO HAVE REPUTATIONS THAT DEVELOP FOR YEARS AND YEARS. BERNS STEAKHOUSE HAS AN
118WAIT LIST. IF I OPEN A STEAKHOUSE TOMORROW THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE CLAMORING TO COME TO MY STEAKHOUSE. THEY HAVE REPUTATIONS, YOU KNOW. SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PILOT A MONTESSORI PRE-K. YOU ARE ASKING US TO CHANGE AN ENTIRE SCHOOL. WE HAVEN'T HAD A WORKSHOP ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND SO I AM JUST -- I AM GOING TO GET BACK -- YOU CAN GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. Stacy Hahn: BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS I NEED SOME MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND MY CONCERN IS, AND THEN I WILL BE QUIET, YOU KNOW, I DO HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND THE REASON I LIKE A WORKSHOP IS BECAUSE DURING TOO MANY IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AT THIS DAIS, IN VERY RECENT MONTHS, I TRIED TO ASK ALL M MY QUESTIONS AND
119SOMEBODY CALLS THE VOTE AND I GET MAYBE ONE TIME THROUGH THE QUEUE. SO I HOPE I CAN GET MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, CAN I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION? WE ARE NOT ASKING TO TAKE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR FROM PRE-K TO FIFTH GRADE AND MAKE IT A MONTESSORI. WE WILL NOT DO THAT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- THIS IS A SIX YEAR PLAN THAT'S AN AGENDA ITEM YEAR ONE SINCE KINDERGARTEN, 3 YEAR OLDS, FOUR-YEAR-OLD, FIVE YEARS OLD. THIS IS A SIX YEAR CONTINUUM THAT WILL PHASE THIS PROCESS IN. NO ONE IS ASKING TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL ITSELF. THIS THAT IS NOT HOW YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED. I IMPLEMENTED THIS IN CLAY COUNTY AND DUVAL COUNTY. WE WILL OPEN THIS UP AND IT WILL FILL COMPLETELY. AND I GET THE CONCERNS FROM THE
120FINANCIAL STAND, FROM 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL FUNDS AND ALSO NEW ENROLLMENT. WE GET TO A POINT WHERE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE LOSE MONEY ON IB EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE DO. BUT THIS IS GOOD FOR KIDS. WE TRAIN TEACHERS. WE TRAIN ALL THOSE. I AM JUST GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SAID OF IT. AND MY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER SHOW TONIGHT IS TO LOOK AT EVERY DOLLAR AND EVERY CENT. THIS IS A PRIORITIES FOR ME TO BE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE SO BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND CARVE OUT 1.9 MILLION OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE HUNN HUNN ARE THERE NOT ANY CHOICE GRANTS THAT WE CAN TAP INTO TO SUPPORT THIS
121WORK, OR IS IT ALL COMING OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND? Addison Davis: AS OF RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY BUT WE CAN LOOK AT OUR TEAM TO SEE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SUSTAINABLE FUND BEING. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LENGTHY CONVERSATION WITH L WITH THIS AND I THINK SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. WE DO HAVE SOME EMPLOYEES HERE, JUST FOR CONSIDERATION OF THEIR TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE EMPLOYEE INPUT. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE WILL GO BACK TO DISCUSSING THIS. SO IF YOU CAN JUST LEAVE YOUR NAMES UP THERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE ON FROM THERE. PUBLIC COMMENT. THE
122BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS THAT 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. SORRY. I THINK I AM JUST LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO A MICROPHONE. THIS AFTERNOON EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECOND LEFT YOU WILL SEE A YELLOW LINE LIGHT ON THE LECTERN. THE LIGHT WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. WELCOME. GOOD HONOR HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MR. DAVIS, STAFF. STUDIES ON STUDENTS LEARNING LOSSES DURING THE PANDEMIC IN FLORIDA AND NATIONWIDE. OF COURSE OUR FLORIDA STUDENTS ARE NO EXCEPTION AND THIS SHOULD BE A SURPRISE TO NO ONE. EVEN IN A STATE WHERE
123OUR STUDENTS WERE LIMITED IN TIME AWAY FROM CLASSROOMS MEASURABLE LEARNING LOSSES WERE OCCURRED. IT ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE VALUE OF OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. OUR EDUCATORS ARE VITAL TO THE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL SUCCESSES. THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IS UNMATCHED. WE MUST NEVER UNDERVALUE THEIR IMPACT ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EVERY DAY. AND AS MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS INCREASE, THEY ONCE AGAIN WILL BE ON THE FRONT LINES FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. IN A STATE WHERE THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF VACANT POSITIONS WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A DISTRICT AND A COMMUNITY TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT TEACHERS IN EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING TO OUR ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR
124SUPERINTENDENT. I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND LEARN PERSONALLY I AM FEELING A LOT BETTER. THE REASON I AM FEELING BETTER IS BECAUSE I AM WORKING A CONTRACT. SO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DID. I SLEPT 20 MINUTES LATER THAN NORMAL AND WAS STILL AT WORK BEFORE THE SIGN THE-IN TIME, 30 MINUTES BEFORE SIGN IN BUT A GOOD TEN MINUTES BEFORE. I CHECKED MY FREE LUNCH EACH DAY AND I RELAXED. I ACTUALLY PLAYED A GAME ON MY PHONE. PLANNING PERIOD BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT. I DIDN'T HAVE TO COVER. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET ALL OF MY LESSONS READY FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. IT DECREED ALL OF MY LESSONS, POSTED THEM, POSTED ALL THE LINKS FOR THE ASSIGNMENTS, THE
125ATTACHMENTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE WORK SUCCESSFULLY. I ALSO USED MY PLANNING PERIOD BEFORE SCHOOL AND SINCE I WAS ABLE TO HAVE PLANNING THIS WEEK, I WAS ABLE TO GET A LOT OF MY PAPERS GRADED. THOSE NOT GRADED BY THE END OF THE WORK DAY HAD TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE NEXT DAYS BECAUSE I AM NOT TAKING ANYTHING AT HOME. FOR THOSE UNAWARE OF WORKING AT CONTRACT, I COME IN WHEN ASSIGNED TO START, LEAVE, I ATTEND MY FACULTY MEETINGS, I ATTEND MY PLC AND ALSO TAKE IN A WORK HOME WITH ME. I DO NOT A TONED ANY AFTER SCHOOL EVENTS AND I THINK THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOU TO HEAR THAT I DON'T. OUR GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL IS TOO GOOD TO MISS SO I WAS ATTENDING THOSE. AND I HAVE BEEN TO SOME OF THE
126PLAYS LATELY BECAUSE I FEEL I CAN DO THAT NOW. I AM DOING THIS BECAUSE MY PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION TO STAND UP FOR MY STUDENTS AND MY PROFESSION. I SACRIFICE MY TIME, MY FAMILY, MY MONEY MORE SO THAN I HAVE IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND I'M TIRED, EXHAUSTED. HAVING TO TAKE BREAKS IN MY OWN HOW MANY BECAUSE OF THE STRESSES OF THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND I AGREE WITH WHAT ROB SAID, WE ARE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS AND TO THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO SECURE, RECRUIT AND RETAIN NEW TEACHERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE ART DEPARTMENT NEEDS SOME HELP, TOO. I
127IN A FOR ALONZO WE NEED A NEW KILN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH 6.14 WHICH IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MONTESSORI ACADEMY AT ESSRIRG ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, DR. HAHN. I THINK ANYTIME WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MONTESSORI IT'S IMPORTNT THAT WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS AND ENSURING THE QUALITY OF MONTESSORI IN THE PROGRAM. AND I DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH BOTH MS. BAYS AND MR. COX ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO MONTESSORI. MY SISTER IS A MONTESSORI TEACHER IN WASHINGTON STATE. IN REGARDS TO CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, SINCE THAT IS MY SCHOOL AND MY COMMUNITY, THAT I GREW UP IN, I HAVE MY IN-LAWS IN, I AM VERY CLOSE WITH THE COMMUNITY, I
128AM VERY CLOSE WITH PEOPLE IN THAT SCHOOL. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNTS OF EXCITEMENT FROM NOT JUST THE TEACHERS AND STAFF BUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY, WHO CANNOT WAIT TO PUT THEIR KIDS IN A PROGRAM LIKE THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT COMMUNITY WHO IS VERY CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITY THEY ABSOLUTELY WANT THIS AND VERY SHE EXCITED ABOUT IT SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL EASE A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONCERNS WITH HE THAT COMES TO THIS. AS FAR AS A WORKSHOP, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT TEN THINGS THAT WERE SAID AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE MILLAGE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ABOUT AND STRAIGHTEN OUT. I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS
129NOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE THOROUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO ESPECIALLY SINCE WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON THINGS. BUT HONESTLY, I DIDN'T SEE A WORKSHOP WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE WOULD YOU KNOW CHURCH GROUP THAT WE DO APPRAISE-K IN OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FEEDER? GRACE? NO? Addison Davis: I HAVE LOST IT NOW. CROWDER, MORGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? IT'S ROOSEVELT, A CHILDHOOD PROGRAM, AND CORNERSTONE. Jessica Vaughn: CORNERSTONE, THANK YOU. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE A MORE THOROUGH WORKSHOP ABOUT CORN STONE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD ON THAT IS IT'S GOING TO BE A FEEDER PROGRAM, IT'S GOING TO BE A FEEDER PATTERN THAT ALLOWS OUR KIDS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THOSE SCHOOLS AND
130TO FIND A REASON TO STAY. NOW, I AM GLAD THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS IMPORTANT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTED AND TRAINED IN THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING TWO WEEKS, AND THEN ANOTHER FOUR-WEEK COURSE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DO HAVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF IT. WITH YOU I O BUT I DID 2022 CLARIFY BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS SOME MACE COMMUNICATION. YOU MENTIONED SOMEWHERE SIMILAR TO AN IB OR 3-D-E OR SOME OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS, YOU ARE NOT TRANSITIONING THIS ENTIRE ESSRIRG SCHOOL OVER TO MONTESSORI, CORRECT? CORRECT. Jessica Vaughn: SO NOT SURE WHERE THAT MISCOMMUNICATION IS COMING FROM IN REGARDS TO. THAT IT WILL BE STAGGERED WHERE THERE ARE MORE
131GRADES ADDED SO WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GIVE THE MONTESSORI, BECAUSE IT GOES IN COHORTS. YOU HAVE TO DO PRE-K AND THEN FIRST GRADE. WE WANT TO THACK MAKE SURE WE COHORT THOSE STUDENTS. BUT I THINK ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ASKED AND MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I DON'T HAVE A DOCTORATE, IS REALLY GREAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS, DR. HAHN. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER PEREZ? Karen Perez: SO WITH THE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS, I HAD AS A PARENT THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE OF SENDING MY CHILDREN THROUGH MONTESSORI SCHOOLS BEFORE THEY WENT INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL. AND THE DIFFERENCE IS SO EARY BECAUSE I PULLED MY CHILDREN'S PHOTOS FROM THEIR SCHOOL PICTURES. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PICTURES, WITH THEIR CLASSES, AND THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL PICTURES WITH THEIR CLASSES, IS
132THEY WERE THE ONLY STUDENTS THAT LOOKED LIKE US. AND THE TEACHERS LOOK MORE LIKE THE REST OF THE STUDENTS THAN THEY DID LIKE MY CHILDREN. SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW -- AND I WAS MENTIONING TO BOARD MEMBER WASHINGTON HOW EXCITED I WAS THIS EVENING TO SEE YOU SELECT MORE PRINCIPALS THAT WERE LOOKING LIKE OUR STUDENT POPULATION HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT MICK TURF MY CHILDREN, AND MONTESSORI SCHOOLS, AND THE POPULATION TONIGHT OF THE REPRESENTATION FOR OUR STUDENT POPULATION, WHICH I THANK YOU FOR, BY THE WAY, SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WITH THE MAGNET SCHOOLS, A LOT OF THE PARENTS WHO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN ARE NOT WHAT THE POPULATION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LOOKS LIKE. SO I WANT TO ASK THAT
133QUESTION, YOU KNOW. IN ORDER FOR OUR PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT THAT ENROLLMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND WHO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT WAITING LIST, WHO IS GOING TO ATTEND THOSE SCHOOLS, AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. THIS WOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT THAN THE LOTTERY WE HAVE IN CHOICE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT'S A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS. MS. BAYS, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE IN DEPTH? Kim Bays: CERTAINLY. WE ARE GOING TO OPEN ON JUNE 18th AND RUN THROUGH THE 25th. I WANT TO BRING TO THE POINT AS WELL THAT RIGHT NOW THE ENROLLMENT IS 65%IS HISPANIC, 2% WHITE. SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE
134STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO APPLY FOR THIS BEING INDICATIVE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THE SCHOOL WILL ALSO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT. SO IT IS GOING TO HAVE KIND OF ACROSS CULTURAL ENROLLMENT THAT WE ANTICIPATE. Karen Perez: SO YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE DIVERSITY OF THAT -- Kim Bays: YES. AND THAT STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER AND DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS CAN APPLY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. IT SAYS HERE THAT THERE WILL BE A CHARGE FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS CONSISTENT WITH DISTRICT COSTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE COSTS WILL BE TO PARENTS? WE ARE GOING TO BE MAINTAINING THE SAME COSTS WE HAVE FOR OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD. SINCE OUR 3-YEAR-OLDS AND 4-YEAR-OLD, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS
135WITH THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, TO SUPPLY THE SUPPLIES ADD MATERIALS WITH THOSE GRADE LEVELS. Stacy Hahn: WHAT'S THE COST? Kim Bays: I THINK IT'S AT $10. Addison Davis: I WILL GET BACK TO YOU. Kim Bays: AND FOR REDUCED LUNCH IT WILL BE $20 A WEEK AND IF THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH IT'S $75 PER WEEK. Stacy Hahn: YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MONTESSORI IS A GREAT PROGRAM. I AM JUST CONCERNED OBVIOUSLY ABOUT THE TRAINING. I KNOW THAT THE PD FOR THE TEACHERS YOU MENTIONED, HOW ABOUT FOR THE ADMINISTRATORS? Kim Bays: FIRST OF ALL THE PD IS COMING FROM THE NATIONAL MONTESSORI ORGANIZATION, SO THEY HAVE TWO INTENSIVE WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER AND THEN A FOUR WEEKEND QUARTERLY FOR THE REMAINING YEAR. AS WE PRESENTED THIS AND STARTED TO
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tacy Hahn: AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS ADDING A GRADE EACH YEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IF, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, FOR EVERY GRADE YOU ADD, THERE'S GOING TO BE A NON-MONTESSORI OPTION AT THE SCHOOL AS WELL, CORRECT? IT'S
137NOT AN ENTIRE WALL TO WALL MONTESSORI. IT'S GOING TO STILL HAVE AN OPTION FOR TRADITIONAL? Addison Davis: THAT'S CORRECT. Stacy Hahn: WILL THERE BE A TRADITIONAL VPK? Addison Davis: WE CAN DO THAT, SIDE BY SIDE, VPK THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, BECAUSE MONTESSORI, AND TO MS. PEREZ STANDPOINT, MAY NOT BE FOR EVERY LEARNER, EVERY PARENT, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM OFFERS AND TRANSITION TO. WE MAY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WON A LOTTERY FROM FIRST GRADE TO SECOND GRADE BECAUSE THEY HEARD ABOUT IT. Stacy Hahn: I AM GLAD ABOUT THAT BECAUSE AS MEMBER PEREZ SAID, THIS IS NOT A GREAT FIT, IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC TYPE OF PROGRAM AND SOME KIDS DO PHENOMENAL IN IT AND SOME STRUGGLE IN MONTESSORI. SO THE FACT THAT I AM GLAD THEY HAVE AN OPTION IF THEY ARE
138FINDING IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT, THEY CAN MOVE THEM INTO A TRADITIONAL VPK CLASSROOM, BECAUSE -- AND I THINK THE ONE THING TO LOOK OUT FOR, I AM SURE THEY WILL TALK TO TEACHERS ABOUT THIS, WHEN KIDS ARE IN MONTESSORI CLASSROOMS, IT'S A LOT OF SELF-SELECTION AND CHOICE, AND THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE IT DEVELOPS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY, BUT IF STUDENTS ARE NOT ALWAYS SELF-SELECTING, LET'S SAY, MATH AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, AND NOT READING ACTIVITIES, THEN WE TRADITIONALLY SEE WHEN THEY MOVE UP IN GRADES THAT THERE'S A GAP, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE RECOGNIZING THAT, MAKING SURE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SELF-SELECTION AND CHOICE, THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO REALLY HAVE A BALANCED DAY, AND THEY ARE NOT JUST ALWAYS GOING CHOOSING WHERE THEIR COMFORT LEVEL IS, BECAUSE OTHER
139WAYS, AND THAT'S THE DOWNFALL FALL OF MONTESSORI TRADITIONALLY WHEN KIDS MOVE FROM MONTESSORI INTO A TRADITIONAL SETTING IS THAT YOU START TO SEE THESE GAPS IN THEIR LEARNING. SO IT'S GREAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY INVOLVED IS REALLY TRAINED TO WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. SO WE CAN'T AFFORD THOSE GAPS IN THE BUSINESS WE ARE IN. THERE'S A LOT OF HIGH STAKES AS WE KNOW. HOW DOES THE PROGRESS MONITORING AND THE ASSESSMENT PIECE THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO DO, HOW DOES THAT WORK IN A MONTESSORI, WHETHER IT'S KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE, AS WE BUILD THIS PROGRAM, HOW WE RECONCILE THAT? BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T FIT OBVIOUSLY A MONTESSORI MODEL. Kim Bays: HONESTLY I AM NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH HOW THE PROGRESS MONITORING IS GOING TO WORK. Stacy Hahn: SCHOOL GRADE, ALL OF THAT. LIKE YOU
140DID IT IN CLAY COUNTY. MAYBE THE OLD WAY, LIKE HOW DO YOU MARRY THOSE TWO? Addison Davis: ALL OF THOSE STILL REMAIN THE SAME. FSA, WE USE THAT BRIDGE WALK TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY CURRICULUM, CURRICULUM GUIDES, ALL THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITIBLE MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE AND FOLLOW THE SAME EVALUATION PROCESS, THEY'LL FOLLOW ADDITIONAL SUBSTANCE FOR CURRICULUM GUIDES, AS CONNECTED TO MONTESSORI, BUT ANY GRADE, ANY KIND OF ABILITY SYSTEM WILL BE IDENTIFIED FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS STILL IN PLAY. NOTHING IN ISOLATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: JUST REAL QUICK. SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS, IN THE BIG PICTURE AND BEING PRAGMATIC, HOW DOES THIS FIT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EARLY LEARNING? BECAUSE THAT'S A PRIORITY OF ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, IS THE FOCUS ON EARLY LEARNING EDUCATION. HOW DOES THIS FIT WITHIN
141THAT PLAN? Addison Davis: I THINK IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE OFFER FOR PARENTS. THE BIGGEST THING WE WANTED TO DO WAS HAVE GREATER ACCESSIBILITY TO STUDENTS IN 3-YEAR-OLD, 4-YEAR-OLD PROGRAMS AND KINDERGARTEN, VPK, SO I THINK THIS EXPANSION OF SERVICES TO PROVIDE MOSTLY ATTRACTIVE TO A PARENT, AND IN ESSRIG YOU HAVE FOUR TO SIX DIFFERENT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THAT ARE RISING AT A YOUNGER AGE, SO THIS JUST OPENS ADDITIONAL SEATS AND ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS A POTENTIAL FIRST SO GET THEM INTO OUR CLASSROOMS AND WE CAN GROW THEM ALONG THE WAY WITH EXPECTATIONS, NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY, BUT JUST CREATES SYSTEMS FOR STUDENTS AND LEARNERS AND GIVES THEM A SENSE OF OPPORTUNITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. Lynn Gray: I'M JUST EXCITED, TOO, BECAUSE I AGAIN AND AGAIN WHAT YOU ARE SHARING --
142THANK YOU, MRS. BAYS AGAIN -- SO INFORMATIVE -- YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE VALUE OF PRE-K AND THE VALUE OF A BUSINESS -- NOT BUSINESS MODEL, A SCHOOL MODEL THAT DOES ACCELERATE VPK LEARNING -- I MEAN, EARLY LEARNING. SO I AM GLAD THAT THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MEMBER PEREZ. MY CONCERN -- AND MS. BAYS, YOU SAID IT CORRECTLY -- MY CONCERN WAS THE DIVERSITY AT THE SCHOOL, BUT I SEE THAT WE HAVE THAT UNDER CONTROL, SO IT SHOULD BE A GREAT OUTSTANDING SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. JUST ONE -- I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, FIRST, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO -- THIS IS
143A SIX YEAR COMMITMENT. IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM THAT WE ARE PILOTING. THAT WAS A YON-YEAR PILOTING. SO I THINK IT DOES DESERVE A WORKSHOP. WE DID HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THE MILLAGE. SO I DO THINK THIS DESERVED A WORKSHOP. SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO MY QUESTIONS ON GRANTS, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAVE ENCOURAGED YOU TO DO INNOVATIVE THINGS, AND THIS IS INNOVATIVE. I JUST WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE US TO EXPLORE GRANTS. THIS IS A CHOICE PROGRAM. IT IS INNOVATIVE. I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MONEY OUT THERE, SO WE ARE NOT USING -- GOING INTO OUR GENERAL FUND. AND SO I WOULD LIKE SOME COMMITMENT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS FROM THE MONEY STANDPOINT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOUR
144STAFF WILL EXPLORE THOSE AREAS. I MEAN, I HAVE JUST GOT TO BELIEVE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME DOLLARS OUT THERE TO SUPPORT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF MARKETING PLAN BROUGHT TO THE BOARD, JUST HOW WE ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT, HOW WE ARE SHARING THIS WITH, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU -- AND PERHAPS A WORKSHOP AFTER THE FIRST YEAR TO DISCUSS THE DATA, AND THEN HOW THAT MAY, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO FUEL THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, OR MAYBEPIST IN CERTAIN WAYS PIVOT, AND I WOULD LIKE A WORKSHOP ON THAT, TO DISCUSS THAT, AND ALL THE DATA. BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW, I HOPE YOU WOULD BE WORKING WITH YOUR EVALUATION STAFF, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING I
145DON'T SEE IN THIS, IS HOW YOU ARE EVALUATING THIS PROGRAM. PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR SOMEBODY, FOR A BOARD TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND KNOW THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY IN AN EFFICIENT AND IMPACTFUL WAY, PROGRAM EVALUATION IS A HUGE PART OF THAT. AND MAYBE THAT'S THE ACADEMIC SIDE OF ME, ANYTIME YOU GET A GRANT, YOU HAVE GOT TO PROVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING THEY ASK, RIGHT, IS HOW YOU ARE EVALUATING THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THE MONEY WAS SPENT IN AN IMPACTFUL WAY, IF THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF WE COULD HAVE SOME PROGRAM EVALUATION DONE AS WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THIS, JUST FROM A FISCAL POINT OF VIEW. WE REALLY NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE BEING FISCALLY
146RESPONSIBLE. SO I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE IF, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD PUT ON THE RECORD THOSE THINGS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE SO THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD IN COMFORT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. I THINK ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE VALID. I GET IT. $IT'S A SIX YEAR COMMITMENT AND I WILL COMMIT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT GRANTS, TO BE ABLE TO ALLEVIATE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. Stacy Hahn: THINGS LIKE PD. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, WITHOUT A DOUBT, OR USE TITLE 2 FUNDING FOR THIS AND THAT MAY QUALIFY AND TAKE SOME OF THE FUNDING OFF. ALSO A VISION FOR EXPANSE, WHAT DOES THAT EXPANSION LOOK LIKE? BUT I THINK WITH EVALUATION OF THIS PROGRAM THAT HAPPENS ANNUALLY FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, LOOKING AT
147ENROLLMENT, LOOKING AT FT, EXPENDED, OVERALL TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS, LOOKING AT STUDENT PERFORMANCE, BEHAVIOR OUTCOMES, ALL OF THOSE TO DO, AND MAYBE WE INVITE SOMEBODY THAT'S DONE IT SYSTEMICALLY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR PRIVATE EDUCATION, IT WOULD BE COACHES FROM A LOCAL OR THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT EFFICIENTLY. Stacy Hahn: I APPRECIATE THAT AND I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING I KNOW I ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST THINK THIS IS WHY WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO SHOW THAT IF WE ARE SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY HOW WE ARE MONITORING THAT SPENDING, AND ARE THE DELIVERABLES PROVIDING US WITH, YOU KNOW, THE EXPECTED IMPACT FOR OUR STUDENTS? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GREAT WE WANT TO INVEST IN OUR STUDENT AND DO IT IN INNOVATIVE WAYS
148BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IMPACTING THEM IN THE MOST POSITIVE WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HAVING REALLY GOOD ACADEMIC SUCCESS AROUND THESE INNOVATIVE IDEAS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SEEING ME IN THE QUEUE SO MUCH BUT I AM OBVIOUSLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU AGAIN, DR. HAHN, TO ARE YOUR QUESTIONS. I THINK ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT GRANTS IS A WONDERFUL THING AND ANYWAY THIS WE CAN ADD MORE, YOU KNOW, REVENUE TO DIFFERENT THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS GREAT. ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALSO GOOD. ONE THING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD USE WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MONITORING THIS IS READING READINESS, BECAUSE THE WAY THAT MONTESSORI TEACHES READING WHERE YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY LEARN THE LETTER NAMES, YOU LEARN
149THE PHONE NET I CAN SOUNDS BEFORE YOU LEARN THOSE LETTERS SO YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THE CONVERSION OF A SAYS AH, B SAYS BAH, RIGHT OFF THE BAT YOU KNOW THAT'S A BAH. I THINK THE READINESS LEVELS THAT I HAVE SEEN COME OUT OF MONDAY TIP SORRY FOR MY OWN SON'S CLASSMATES WILL BE A GREAT GREAT BENCHMARK BECAUSE THAT IS ONE WAY THAT MONTESSORI IS PARALLEL TO A LOT OF THE LEARNING, A LOT OF OTHER LEARNING STRATEGIES. I LOVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND DIVERSITY. ANYBODY WHO SPENDS TIME IN MONTESSORI KNOWS THAT DIVERSITY IS THE CENTER OF THE MONTESSORI LEARNING, THAT TEACHING GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY, HOW TO BE A GLOBAL CITIZEN, I MEAN, I'M ASHAMED TO ADMIT BUT MY KID KNOWS MORE ABOUT GEOGRAPHY THAN PROBABLY ANYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, HE CAN IDENTIFY THE SMALLEST CITIES
150AND COUNTIES ON THE MAP BECAUSE THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB OF TEACHING EVERYTHING FROM A WORLD PERSPECTIVE AND FOCUSING ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY FEELS VALUED, AND THAT THERE'S VALUE IN LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES, AND INCLUDING THAT, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO PROJECT BASED LEARNING THAT WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED B.ONE THING YOU TOUCHED ON, TRYING TO GET THAT COFFEE MAKER TO WORK, IS THE TRANSITION, THAT IT IS A DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT PROGRAM AND WILL BE A CHALLENGE FROM KID WHO TRANSITION FROM MONTESSORI TO MORE OF A TRADITIONAL LEARNING SETTING, AND I HAD MANY OF THOSE MYSELF WITH MY OWN SON, AND MY NEPHEW ALSO TRANSITIONED, IS FANTASTIC, BUT A DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLE AND HARD TO BEING FROM VERY HANDS ON TO GO INTO A MORE TRADITIONAL MODEL. I THINK THAT IS
151ALL GOOD THINGS TO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SHOCK SHOP SIX MONTHS, A YEAR INTO THIS AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING AND HAVING IT'S CREATED SOMETHING I THINK IS GOING TO BE. SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THAT, SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER VAUGHN. AND WHAT I AM HEARING IS WE HAD AN EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKSHOP AND I AM HEARING THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, AND LOOKING AT THIS, SO I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I ENGAGE WITH EVERY BOARD MEMBER SO THAT WHICH WEAK DECIDE IF THIS WILL BE A FUTURE WORKSHOP. I ALSO THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CORNERSTONE AND ALSO MIRRORING SOMETHING THAT'S SIMILAR TO THAT IN OUR OWN DISTRICT AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. I
152LIVED IN THAT AREA AS I SAID FOR 20 YEARS, AND THERE IS A MONTESSORI THAT I ACTUALLY TRIED TO GET MY OWN CHILDREN IN BUT THERE WAS SUCH A LONG WAIT, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE SCHOOL. SO AS I SAID, I AM VERY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA. I DRIVE BY THAT AREA ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY. THERE IS CHARTER SCHOOLS. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY NOT DOING WELL IN THAT AREA. WE HAVE SO MANY SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA, THEY ARE DOING SO MUCH BETTER, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY OF GETTING OUR STUDENTS BACK, BECAUSE PARENTS WANT THAT. AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A VERY LONG WAITING LIST FOR ME, FOR THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW THE POPULATION THAT LIVES IN THAT AREA, I KNOW THE PARENTS THAT ARE
153LOOKING FOR SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA, AND I KNOW THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO GROW, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO PARENTS AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. WE ARE BEING INNOVATIVE. OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO COST MONEY BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM, LIKE HOW IS THAT GOING TO POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS, DRIVE STUDENTS BACK TO OUR DISTRICT, BENEFIT STUDENTS, HOW IS THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOING TO NOT ONLY GO IN THAT AREA. I CAN GUARANTEE KNEW FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THAT EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE, AND PARENTS WANT THAT UNIQUE PROGRAM. SO I AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS, AND ONCE AGAIN, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Lynn Gray: I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING INNOVATIVE AND THINKING
154OF THIS AND I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS. AND I WILL GO ON. I WAS GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY SPEAK. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. SO THERE IS A FEE FOR THE STUDENTS. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT'S ONLY FOR OUR 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS THAT WE DO NOT RECEIVE FDE FOR. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE OFFER FOR OUR COMP PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES OR SUNDAY SURROUNDING PRIVATE AGENCIES AS WELL. Karen Perez: SO I AM GOING TO GO HERE, AS A SOCIAL WORKER, WITH THE CURRENT CLIMATE THAT WE HAVE, WITH THE FINANCIAL, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING, NOT JUST IN FLORIDA BUT IN THE NATION, FINANCIALLY, THE STUDENTS WHO PROBABLY WILL NEED THIS PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT
155MORE, YOU KNOW, TO GET THEM NO BETTER SPACE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THIS PROGRAM, IF THEY HAVE TO PAY A FEE. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THERE'S A SLIDING SCALE FINANCIALLY. Karen Perez: I SEE THAT, THE REDUCED. BUT EVEN PROBABLY AT $20, IT'S PROBABLY -- OR EVEN 10, THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO. SO IT'S GOING TO ELIMINATE A WHOLE BUCKET OF OUR STUDENTS THAT WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THAT. BASE BECAUSE I WANT TO CLARIFY. THANK YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE FEE THAT MRS. BAYS IS A WRAP AROUND FEE WHICH MEANS FOR THE EXTENDED DAY FOR A STUDENT THAT IS GOING TO BE IN VPK CLASSROOM WHICH IS FOUR 4-YEAR-OLDS ONLY. THAT FEE, BECAUSE VPK IS ONLY A 3 HOUR A DAY PROGRAM,
156THE EXTENDED DAY IS WHAT PARENTS PAY FOR. WE DO HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT FUNDING SUPPORTS THAT COULD SUPPLEMENT WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING, AND BECAUSE AS TITLE 1 SCHOOL, IT IS A POSSIBILITY THAT TITLE 1 COULD SUPPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. Karen Perez: OKAY, SO IF WE HAVE A WORKSHOP ON, MADAM CHAIR, COULD WE SPEAK TO THOSE POSSIBILITIES OF SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS OR WHATEVER TO HELP THESE PARENTS? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO NEED THESE, YOU KNOW, LIKE MEMBER VAUGHN SPOKE ABOUT, THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE AUTISM OR, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE GOING TO PROBABLY REQUIRE THESE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY YOUR 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE, THAT INFORMATION TO THOSE PARENTS. AND ALSO THE DIVERSITY IN THE TEACHER POPULATION. WHAT IS THAT GOING
157TO LOOK LIKE BEYOND THE STUDENT DIVERSITY? Tracye Brown: AS ALWAYS WE ARE TRYING TO MATCH THE TEACHERS DIVERSITY, POPULATION DIVERSITY. JUST AS YOU SAW THIS EVENING AS WE ARE TRYING TO SELECT MORE DIVERSE POPULATIONS IN OUR ADMINISTRATION WE ARE TRYING TO DO THAT WITH THE TEACHERS AS WELL. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER SNIVELY? Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. A WORTHWHILE DISCUSSION, HAVING WITH REGARD TO THIS. VERY GOOD POINTS. I CAN APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT STANDPOINT ON THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE. I LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE ARE PROVIDING CHOICES FOR PARENTS WHO MIGHT LIKE THE IDEA OF A DIFFERENT WAY OF CURRICULUM, WHICH IS THE MONTESSORI CURRICULUM. I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S A SLOW MOVE, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AT ONCE AND THAT THERE WILL BE CHOICES FOR
158THE STUDENTS OR PARENTS THAT DON'T WANT MONTESSORI AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL. I AM UNDERSTANDING THAT. SO IF I AM A PARENT AND MY CHILD GOES TO THAT SCHOOL, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THEM IN THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM, IT'S NOT REQUIRED, OBVIOUSLY. OKAY. SO I APPRECIATE THE DATA POINT THAT DR. HAHN MENTIONED AND THE CONCERNS THAT SHE HAS FINANCIALLY, IT'S A HARD BALANCE. MEMBER COMBS MENTIONED WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM BIG PICTURE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH OUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A SCHOOL BOARD. I AM NOT PARTICULARLY OPPOSED TO THIS. I THINK THE MORE CHOICES THAT PARENTS HAVE, I AM DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THAT. I AM CONCERNED WITH SOME OF THE LACK OF DATA AND THE LACK OF DISCUSSION AROUND IT. AND SO MY COMMENT IS REALLY MORE ABOUT MAYBE
159NOT NECESSARILY THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HAVING A WORKSHOP OR HAVING MORE DISCUSSION, MAGNET SCHOOLS ARE ALL EXPENSIVE. I DON'T KNOW AS A BOARD THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND THE IMPACTS THAT MAGNET SCHOOLS HAVE HAD ON OUR DISTRICT WITH REGARDS TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT, BALANCED WITH FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE LOVE PUTTING OUT MAG MAGNET PROGRAMS, BUT WE DON'T TALK NECESSARILY ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE FINANCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY ON OUR STUDENT. SO PERHAPS IT WOULD BEHOOVE US AS A BOARD NOT NATURALLY TO HAVE A WORKSHOP JUST ON THIS, WE COULD CERTAINLY INCORPORATE MUCH OF THE INFORMATION THAT HELPS YOU MAKE THIS DECISION, BUT ALSO IN THE MAGNET PROGRAMS IN GENERAL TO EDUCATE THE BOARD ABOUT BALANCING THOSE TWO THINGS, THOSE TWO ITEMS. Addison Davis: I THINK
160IT'S PERFECT. THROUGH THE CHAIR, ONE THING I HAVE ASKED OUR STAFF TO DO IS DO AN AUDIT OF EVERY ONE OF OUR CHOICE AND MAGNET PROGRAMS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE THRIVING, LOOK AT THE OVER OVERALL FINANCIAL COST, LOOK AT THE ENROLL. , THE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, PERFORMANCE, RETENTION OF TEACHERS, THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. I ASKED MS. BAYS AND HER WHOLE TEAM TO DO THAT DISTRICTWISE, AND THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WORKSHOP AND NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT, WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY, WHAT WE NEED TO REBRAND, WHAT DO WE NEED TO MOVE FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO POTENTIALLY ADD AND THEN BEING ABLE TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE THIS COMMUNITY AND TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE IN
161THE CHOICE PROGRAM. MS. BAYS? Kim Bays: THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS, THROUGH THE CHAIR. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, SIMILAR FOE BABB WE DID IN THE FALL WHEN WE DID AN AUDIT OF ALL OF OUR CTE PROGRAMS. WE ARE LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT, DIVERSITY, SCHOOL GRADE, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, TEACHER RETENTION, LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT THAT WE CAN. WHAT WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO DO IS CREATE AND RECOMMEND PRE-K THROUGH 12 PATHWAYS SO INSTEAD OF HAVING MANY RANDOM PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE UNRELATED TO EACH OTHER WE ARE GOING TO OFFER PATHWAYS OF CHOICE THAT THEY CAN START IN A YOUNG AGE, PRE-K, KINDERGARTEN, AND THEN TRAVEL ALL THE WAY THROUGH 12th GRADE. AT THE BOARD REQUEST WHENEVER THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A WORKSHOP WE WILL BE READY TO GO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU
162SO MUCH, MS. BAYS. Melissa Snively: I THINK AS BOARD MEMBERS IT WOULD BENEFIT US IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE A RICH, RICH HISTORY IN MAGNET PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT SUCCESS IN THAT AREA. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT THAT YOU ARE PERFORMING AND HOW IT CAN IMPACT THE DISTRICT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: IT'S PROBABLY NOT NECESSARY BUB I WAS GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION. BUT SAY IT ANYWAY. OKAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS 6.16. AGREEMENT 2288 SMT-GL. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TOOL WE USE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO ENGAGE OUR PARENTS WHETHER IT BE RELATED TO EVENTS, TO
163ANY POTENTIAL INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO TRANSITION TO OUR COMMUNITIES, WE USE IT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, ALSO USE IT GEOGRAPHICALLY AND EVERY SCHOOL USES IT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILY. JUST BRINGING THIS EXPENDITURE BACK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR APPROVAL. THE REASON IT'S ON THE DISCUSSION IS BECAUSE WE USE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, WHATNT TO BE SURE WE ARE TRANSPARENT BY USING GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, THIS IS $167 THAT YOU EXPENDITURE WHICH WE HAVE USED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-6-16. I HAVE A MOTION BY WASHINGTON, SECOND BY SNIVELY. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER SNIVELY? Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. I WILL SAY THAT WHEN YOU SAY MANY, MANY YEARS, I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING THIS NECESSARILY WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED OR AT LEAST WE WEREN'T IMPLEMENTING IT AS MUCH, BUT I
164WILL SAY I HAVE SEEN OVER TIME AN IMPROVEMENT, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS AT 5:30 WHEN THE PHONE RINGS, RIGHT? BUT I WOULD RATHER -- AND SOMETIMES WE ALL ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, GO TO VOICE MAIL SO I CAN LISTEN TO IT LATER. BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION THAN A PHONE CALL AND A TEXT MESSAGE THAN WHERE WE WERE MAYBE TEN YEARS AGO WHERE WE DIDN'T, AS A PARENT, WE HARDLY GOT ANY COMMUNICATION. AND SO I AM HAPPY TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING PARENT LINK OR A WAY FOR US AS A DISTRICT TO CONTINUE PUSHING INFORMATION OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS SO THAT HOWEVER PARENTS LIKE TO BE CONTACTED AND COMMUNICATED WITH THAT THEY ARE GETTING THAT INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S TEXT OR E-MAIL OR PHONE DETAIL. SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE COME A
165LONG WAY. BUT TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S A LOT MORE WAYS TO GO, AT LEAST IN THIS AREA, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6 .18. PURCHASE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKS TO SUPPORT ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND READING CURRICULUM IN GRADES 2-12. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: OVER THE LAST COUPLE MEETINGS WE HAVE APPROVED CODEABLES AND CLASSROOM LIBRARIES, TO STRENGTHEN OUR CLASSROOM LIBRARIES FROM GRADES 2-12, AND TRANSITION THIS TO MR. CONNOR AND TRACY AS WELL AND THEY CAN SPECK THEY CAN SPEAK TO THIS INITIATIVE AND TO WHY IT'S CATEGORICAL FUNDING, CATEGORICAL ALLOCATIONS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD AND MATCH. Terry Connor: AS YOU RECALL OUR VERY FIRST PURCHASE THAT OUR ENDEAVOR WAS THE BEST BOOK LIST. AND THE CHARGE FROM THIS BOARD WAS TO
166GO BACK AND TO REVIEW WHAT SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS THAT WE COULD USE TO INCORPORATE INTO THE CURRICULUM, A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND THIS TEAM DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN REVIEWING THOSE MATERIALS AND COME UP WITH THIS SELECTION WITH A LOT OF TEACHER FEEDBACK AND INPUT. I AM GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO BE TRACY BERGMAN TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT THAT PROCESS. GOOD EVENING. SO WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE BOOKS, AND JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL, RIGHT, SO WE HAD THE NOVEL STUDIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE SUPPLEMENTAL FOR THE WONDERS, AND THEN THE NOVEL STUDIES, ACTUALLY PART OF THE STUDIES WITH CHOICES, THAT WE COULD MAKE TO INCLUDE WITHIN OUR UNITS OF STUDY, AND SO WITH THAT, MY SUPERVISORS
167PUT OUT SOME INPUT SURVEYS TO TEACHERS AND JUST SAID, HEY, WHICH BOOKS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN, TEACHING, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE? AND SO FROM ALL THE BOOKS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE TONIGHT, WE ARE LOOKING AT, EVERY GRADE LEVEL, 75 PERCENT TOP CHOICE FROM THE TEACHERS. FROM THERE WE THEN TOOK A LOOK AT THE DIVERSITY LEVEL IN TERMS OF DID WE REPRESENT, ONE OF THE THINGS LAST TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT WAS THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION. WE SAID THAT THE BEST BOOKLETS HAD 79% OF THE AUTHORS WERE WHITE WITH 21% REMITTING ALL THE MINORITIES PUT TOGETHER, 63% WERE MALE, AND 35% ER FEMALE. SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT OUR DIVERSITY. ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO TAKE A LOOK AND TRY TO GET RID OF THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT OUR POPULATION IS
168AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS READ. AND SO WE LOOK AT THAT, AND WE LOOK AT WE HAVE 33% OF OUR STUDENTS WHITE, 27 BLACK, HAD% ASIAN, 5% OTHER. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS BOOK LIST, OUR GOAL IS TO MATCH THAT THE BEST WE COULD. SO WE ARE AT 39% WHITE, 20% BLACK, 31% HISPANIC, 7% ASIAN, AND 3% OTHER. THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE, AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN GET. WE TAKE A LOOK AT BOOKS THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, IN 2019, WE CERTAINLY HAVE DONE DUE JILL DILIGENCE IN SEEKING OUT THOSE BOOKS AND BEING INTENTIONAL. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE CONSIDERED AS WELL WERE JUST THE TOPICS AND THE TIME PERIODS AND WE DO HAVE THAT OBLIGATION FOR OUR STUDENT. SO WE ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT JUST THE INTEREST LEVEL OF
169THE STUDENTS, THE STANDARDS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO TEACH, THE LANGUAGE USED IN THE STANDARD, AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE WOULD BE TO BRING IN DISCUSSION AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS WITHIN THE INSTRUCTION THAT COULD BE USED WITH THESE TEXTS. SO THAT IS PRETTY MUCH A SUMMATION OF HOW WE LANDED HERE TODAY WITH THE PURCHASE OF THOSE TEXT ITSELF, WITH THE REQUEST FOR IT, IN ADDITION AS YOU MENTIONED WE ARE AT 62% FEMALE. JUST A LITTLE SHOUTOUT THERE. ANYWAY, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE LANDED. WE ARE EXCITED TO BRING YOU THESE TEXTS, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-6 .18. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER GRAY AND I PULLED THIS ITEM SO
170WE'LL SPEAK FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN GET IN THE QUEUE. I HAVE A MOTION BY -- I SAID THAT. I'M SORRY. MESH GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MS. BERGMAN AND MR. CONNOR. THIS IS WORTH BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE. AS YOU WELL KNOW YOU ARE ON THERE. I BROUGHT IT FORTH BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO BE AWARE THAT THE FIRST PART OF THE BEST BOOK LIST WAS NOT EXEMPLARY OF DIVERSITY AT ALL. AND I WANTED, AS KIND OF A WARNING, AND THEN OF COURSE YOUR PART 2 WHICH I WILL PRESENT LATER ON THIS MONTH, IN FACT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DIVERSITY. AND I JUST APPLAUD THAT, AND THIS WOULD BE SHARED ALSO THROUGH THE HISPANIC TASK FORCE. SO I THINK THAT WHENEVER -- AND THIS
171GOES TO MS. PEREZH COMMENT, AND PROBABLY ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, WE NEED TO DO ALL THE TIME MATCH WHAT WE ARE TEACHING INCLUDING THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATORS WITH THE ACTUAL POPULATION. THAT'S HOW THE KID WILL LEARN. THEY CAN IDENTIFY. THEY CAN APPRECIATE THEIR CULTURE. AND THEY WILL GROW WITH MORE WISDOM AND HOPEFULLY MORE MORAL SPIRIT AND FORTITUDE THAT THIS IS PART OF THEIR HERITAGE. SO ALL THIS THAT IS TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR GETTING TO THIS POINT AND RECOGNIZING, AND THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, FOR ALSO PUTTING THIS AS A PRIORITY, DIVERSITY IN OUR TEXTBOOKS, DIVERSITY IN OUR CURRICULUM, AND THE STUDENT BODY WILL DEFINITELY PROFIT FROM IT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT AS WELL. SORRY FOR MESSING UP BECAUSE I WAS SO INTRIGUED WITH YOUR
172NUMBERS AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY BOOKS, AND I AM HAPPY TO SEE THE SHOWMAN'S FUNDING THAT WE ARE PUTTING INTO MOTION TO MAKE SURE THAT -- THE ESSRIG -- SO WHEN ESSER FUNDING IS DONE THAT SET OF OUTSIDERS OR WHATEVER BACK, NOW, IS AVAILABLE, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A BALANCE OF BOOKS THAT ARE REPRESENTED, AND REMEMBER THAT IF A PARENT FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE THEY CAN OPT OUT OF THAT BOOK, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT LOOKING AT THAT LIST OF BOOKS. THOSE ARE A LOT OF CLASSICS THAT I GREW UP WITH AND I KNOW IT'S VERY CONTROVERSIAL NOW WITH BOOKS, AND I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN SUCH A DIFFERENT ARRAY OF BOOKS WITH OUR STUDENTS. AT THE END OF
173THE DAY, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY 3 YEARS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THIS DISTRICT, BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY -- WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG ACADEMIC SERVICE TEAM. THERE IS NO QUESTION. I WOULD CHALLENGE OUR ACADEMIC SERVICE TEAM AGAINST ANYBODY IN THE NATION. I AM REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND I THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR AND TRACY AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING AND MAKING SURE, AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR GETTING THESE BOOKS OUT THERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. MR. WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: I WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, ALSO. YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE WE WERE ON THE TASK FORCE, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DIVERSITY. IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU GOT 20%. THAT'S PHENOMENAL.
174BECAUSE WE NEED SOMETIMES, READ BOOKS, SEE PICTURES, WE WANT TO BE SEE PEOPLE JUST LIKE THAT. AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU REALLY HAVE. YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEEN DONE ABOUT IT? YOU CAN OPT OUT. I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THE BOOK. IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR KIDS IN, YOU CAN OPT OUT. AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND SUPERINTENDENT, HATS OFF TO YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I AM BEYOND THRILLED. LET ME SAY THAT. YOU KNOW, TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY IN OUR BOOKS, TO ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO SEE -- TO BECOME WELL-ROUNDED, CULTURALLY COMPETENT, YOU KNOW, AND CRITICALLY THINKING INDIVIDUAL, BECAUSE THEY SEE THEMSELVES, THIS IS THE BEST BOOK -- THANK
175YOU. THANK YOU. NOW WE CAN CALL IT THE BEST. YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION. AND THEY HAVE THE FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN THESE BOOKS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU MEETING THE CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, AND GOING FORTH AND BRINGING US BACK, YOU KNOW, AND MEETING THE -- LEADING THE CHARGE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, NOT JUST TO BRING THIS LIST, BUT ALSO FOR YOU WHEN YOU PRESENT IT TO THE STUDENT POPULATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. GOT THAT ONE RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS SAID. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, BUT ALSO THANK YOU -- THAT'S WHERE I AM
176GOING TO GO, DON'T WORRY OY LOWE BUT THANK YOU FOR LITERACY AND ACADEMIC SERVICES, AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE LISTENING TO WHAT WE SAID AND DO ALL OF THE HARD WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPLEMENTING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE MISSING FROM SOME OF THE STATE CURRICULUM TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO READ LITERATURE THAT REPRESENTS THEM, THAT THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN OR RELATE TO. I BROUGHT UP BEFORE, BUT WHEN I GO INTO LIBRARIES AND SPEAK TO LIBRARIANS ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET OUR STUDENTS NOT JUST AT READING LEVEL BUT PASSIONATE READING, OVER AND OVER AGAIN THEY SAY GIVE THEM ACCESS TO BOOKS THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN, THAT REFLECTS THEIR REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT SPEAKS TO THEM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE WAY TO BUILD THAT
177PASSION, AND KIDS WILL READ. I JUST WANT TO ECHO ALL OF THAT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, AND WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THANKS AGAIN. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MY TEAM. I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE MIND BEHIND ME. THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB IN DIGGING THROUGH TEXT AFTER TEXT AND REVIEWS AND TALKING TO TEACHERS AND TALKING JUST IN GENERAL, EDUCATORS IN GENERAL, TO SELECT THE TAILLIGHTS. SO AGAIN THERE'S A LOT OF INTENTION, A LOT OF PASSION BEHIND THE WORK THEY DID. SO WE ARE EXCITED TO HOPEFULLY SHARE THESE WITH OUR STUDENTS NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE VERY INTENT ON THE DIRECTION THAT GOES,
178WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. I HAD MENTIONED IT BEFORE, SOME OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT CERTAIN BOOKS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT GET PRESENTED TO US DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS NOW ONLINE A FORM THAT PARENTS CAN CHOOSE TO OPT OUT OF SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION. I DO NOT SEE MR. WASHINGTON, I DO NOT SEE A FORM FOR OPTING OUT OF ANY OF THE BOOKS THAT ARE ON HERE NOW. DON'T GET ME WRONG. SOME OF MISTHESE BOOKS ARE CLASSICS AND I GREW UP WITH THEM AND VERY APPRECIATIVE AND I KNOW THERE ARE PARENTS THAT ARE -- SOME PARENTS ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE AS WELL. BUT IF THERE ARE PARENTS WHO DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILD TO ACCESS ANY BOOKS ON THAT LIST, I AM NOT FAMILIAR
179WITH ANY OPT-OUT FORMS FOR ANY OF THOSE BOOKS. IT'S NOT ON THE WEBSITE THAT I CAN SEE. I SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING. IT IS NOT UNDER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. IT'S NOT ANYWHERE THAT I COULD FIND FOR A PARENT WHO DOES NOT WANT TO EX-MOWS THEIR MAILED TO ANY OF THOSE BACKS. SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE HEAR WE ARE AGAIN SAYING THINGS LIKE WE CAN OPT OUT, AND THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT THERE, THE FORM IS NOT THERE, THERE'S NOTHING THERE ON THE WEBSITE THAT IS OBVIOUS FOR A PARENT WITHOUT SPENDING AN HOUR TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING. SO FOR THE PARENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT NEED TO BE HEARD AND REPRESENTED THAT MAY NOT WANT THEIR CHILD TO READ THOSE BOOKS OR BE EXPOSED WE NEED TO
180HAVE THAT OPTION VERY VALUABLE TO THEM AS WELL, OKAY, BOTH SIDES NEED TO BE REPRESENTED. SO THAT'S ALL I AM GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: MEMB ER SNIVELY, I WASN'T TALKING TO THOSE BOOKS. Melissa Snively: I DON'T SEE AN OPT OUT. Nadia Combs: AND MR. CONNOR, YOU ARE GOING TO GO OVER THAT BECAUSE I KNOW I WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH MY DAUGHTER, TOO. Terry Connor: THROUGH THE CHAIR, AS WE MET WITH BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS ITEM, WE SHARED WITH YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED TEXT. THIS IS GOING TO BE BUILT INTO THE CURRICULUM GUIDE. SO THE PROCESS FOR THAT, THAT WE SHARED WITH EVERY BOARD MEMBER, WE DID E-MAIL EVERY BOARD MEMBER A CONE OF A SPANISH VERSION
181AND ENGLISH VERSION OF WHAT WE WILL SENDING HOME DURING THE FIRST PACKETS AND THEY WILL LIST ALL THE BOOKS THAT ARE BEING PURCHASED, AND THEN PARENTS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHECK THOSE BOOKS THAT THEY WANT TO OPT OUT OF, AND THEN SEND THAT BACK TO THE SCHOOL. Melissa Snively: WILL THERE BE AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THAT? BECAUSE HAVE YOU SEEN THE PACKETS THAT SCOM HOME ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL? AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN COULD YOU SPEND TWO WEEKS GOING THROUGH THOSE PACKETS. SO IN MY OPINION, THAT'S GREAT, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING IT IN AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF ALLOWING PARENTS TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO SEE. SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER WASHINGTON? WERE YOU GOING TO HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
182Henry "Shake" Washington: NO. THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.20. INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR PIGGYBACK 21016 PGB-SK COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. Addison Davis: THAT ALLOWS FOR DISPATCHERS. TO MOBILE RAIDAS OWES IN THEIR DISPATCH CENTER. THESE RADIOS NEED TO BE UPDATED. THEY ARE IN ADD QUALITY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL OF OUR CONTROL CENTERS AND OUR EMPLOYEES WITH AN UPDATED VERSION FOR RADIOS THAT HAVE GREATER TRANSITIONS, MORE ACCESSIBILITY, DIFFERENT TONES, ALSO BEING ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN OFFICERS, DRIVERS, SECURITY STAFF, THIS ALLOWS US TO SHRINK THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM RELATED TO SAFETY. SO THIS IS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, FINANCIALLY. IT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO PUT NEW MOBILE DEVICE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN NEED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR
183LIGHTS APPEAR. SORRY. Jim Porter: CLARIFICATION S.THIS AN ITEM? Nadia Combs: IS THIS AN ITEM? IS THIS SOMETHING -- ON MY AGENDA I DON'T HAVE THAT AS AN AGENDA. Jim Porter: SOMETHING THE BOARD NEEDS TO VOTE ON OR WHETHER AN INFORMATION ITEM. Addison Davis: NO, NEEDS TO BE A PROVED. Nadia Combs: IT WASN'T ON MY SCRIPT. NO PROBLEM. MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 6.20. MEMBER BY MEMBER WASHINGTON, SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER SNIVELY? Melissa Snively: JUST A QUICK QUESTION. IF SOMEONE COULD EXPLAIN REGARDING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, PERHAPS WHY IT'S MORE THAN 10% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. Christopher Farkas: IT'S THE SAME COMPANY BUT TWO DIFFERENT PRODUCTS. THEY HAVE A BIO DIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS. AND IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE ACTUALLY CHANGING OVER TO A NEW RADIO SO IT'S A MORE EXPENSIVE PRODUCT. THAT'S
184A ONE-TIME COST. THE MAINTENANCE COST IS STILL IN THERE. BUT THIS GIVES US A NEW RADIO. MEMBER SNIVELY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MEMBER VAUGHN? Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. IN FOLLOW-UP TO MEMBER SNIVELY'S QUESTION, SO THIS IS A $6.5 MILLION PURCHASE? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT $1.9 MILLION PURCHASE AND HERE IS 6.1 SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM IS 6.18, APPROVED THE PROPOSED BELL SCHEDULES FOR 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF BRINGING SCHOOL HOURS TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE THESE HOURS TO OUR
185CONSTITUENTS. AND THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN THESE HOURS WOULD BE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE BUSING AND TRANSPORTATION HAS IMPACTED THEM IN A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE WAY. WE DO BELIEVE GOING BACK TO A START TIME BETWEEN 9:25 AND 9:35 WOULD BE A BET ARE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR STUDENTS IN FOR US TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE CONTINUOUS STUDENTS LATE RELATED TO TRANSACTION CONCERNS THAT WE EXPERIENCED AND ALSO EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO THIS JUST BRINGS OUR HOURS FOR APPROVAL, AND JUST RECOGNIZE IT IS MIDDLE SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-7 .18. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANY
186QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I GENERALLY PULL ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT PARENTAL CHANGES, WHETHER IT'S BELL SCHEDULES OR WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE APPROVE THE CALENDAR, SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAVE WITH THE CALENDAR. R I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A THOROUGH CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CALENDAR CHANGE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AND HOW TESTING WAS REALLY FORCING US TO PICK THE DATES THAT WE DID FOR WINTER BREAK, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS BUT I AM GETTING E-MAILS FROM PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT SO WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I PULLED THIS ITEM BUT I KNOW THAT PARENTS ARE BUSY AND NOT EVERYBODY CAN WATCH A LENGTHY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. WHEN WE MAKE CHANGES LIKE THIS, A BELL SCHEDULE, THE
187ACADEMIC CALENDAR, CAN WE DO SOMETHING WHERE WE INFORM PARENTS LIKE RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENS SO I AM NOT GETTING E-MAILS SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS AFTER WE HAD THE CONVERSATION WHEN THEY REALIZE THESE CHANGES ARE GOING THROUGH? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL SEND THAT INFORMATION TO ALL OF OUR -- TO ORGANIZATION USE PARENT LINK TO DO THAT AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL SO EVERYONE CONTINUOUSLY KNOWS THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN ENACTED. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE ONE INFORMATION ITEM, WHICH IS THE SURPLUS AUCTION. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: WE HAVE A 25 YEAR AGREEMENT WITH CAPITAL AND BE ABLE TO REPRAISE LED LIGHTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS
188SO THEY CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT. THERE'S A LOT OF PARTS AND EQUIPMENT LEFT OVER. SO THIS BRINGS TO THE BOARD THAT THIS EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO AN AUCTION AND THAT MONEY THAT WE GENERATE WILL BE PUSHED BACK INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS, JUST AS AN FY TO THE BOARD. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER GRAY, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? Lynn Gray: YES, JUST A QUESTION AND PERHAPS MR. FARKAS, ADDRESSING SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, WHERE WE CREATE 1,620 THAT YOU? I THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT, A GREAT FIND, BUT WHY IS THIS THE ONLY TIME THAT WE WANT TO GENERATE TO GET THIS TYPE OF MONEY? Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE DISTRICT ENGAGED INNERS YEARS
189AGO A NUMBER OF EQUIPMENT TO BE REVAMPED, SO JUST HAVING ADDITIONAL PARTS AND MATERIALS LEFT OVER, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDING OUT OF IT. WE DO IT ALL THE TIME THROUGH GOV.DEALS, JUST BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE TO THE BOARD THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING WE DO FROM AN LED PERSPECTIVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT ON THE MARKET TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS BACK TO US SO WE CAN USE IT THROUGH CAPITAL FUNDING. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING? Christopher Farkas: SO PART OF THE EQUIPMENT, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING LATE BULBS, SO TRADITIONALLY WE HOLD THESE IN CASE SOMETHING BROKE, BECAUSE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT, THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO HOLD THOSE ITEMS FOR THE NEXT 24 YEARS OR 23 YEARS LEFT ON THAT DEAL. SO WE ARE GOING TO
190GO TO AUCTO. THE BOOK VALUE IS 1.6 MILLION. WE DON'T NOBODY THAT WE'LL GET THAT EXACT COST BUT HELP PAY FOR THAT. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY. OBVIOUSLY WE WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH HOW MUCH IT SOLD FOR. WE WORK WITH BUSINESS FOR KIND OF BEST WAY TO DO THIS SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT TURNING SOME OF THIS EXCESS ITEMS INTO CAPITAL DOLLARS. Lynn Gray: WILL WE HAVE THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR, EVERY YEAR? NO, THIS IS A ONE-TIME EXCESS SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN SELL ALL OF THIS NOW. WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO AUCTO. THIS IS A ONE-TIME FIND. Lynn Gray: GREAT NEWS. Nadia Combs: WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO A LOT OF UPDATES THIS EVENING, FIRST WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE,
191IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO ROOSEVELT, IT IS OUTSTANDING, BLOWN AWAY THE ABILITIES THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE, THEIR PASSION, AND HER WAY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST OUT OF EVERY ONE OF THE LEARNERS THROUGH MUSIC. THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON THE PLAZA THIS EVENING HIGHLIGHTS TO THEM. TALKING ABOUT ACADEMIC SERVICES HIGHLIGHTS, AND SALES TAX REFERENDUM, IN OUR SUSPENDED AGENDA. THE FIRST ONE WHICH HIGHLIGHTS ALL OF OUR UPDATES YOU THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLANS GOALS 1 THROUGH 4 IS TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY MARINESHIPS. AND CHEERS TO PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE, AND RECOGNIZED IN THE MONTH OF MAY. THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE A FOUNDATION THAT INVITES FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND PARENTS OF EDUCATORS THAT CONTINUE TO GIVE AND IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WITHIN
192OUR COMMUNITY. AND EVERY ONE OF THESE TEACHERS, I BELIEVE THERE'S 20, THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, 19 ARE FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THEY ARE REWARDED A THOUSAND DOLLARS PLUS GIFTS FROM PILLAR PARTNERS. THERE'S A NUMBER OF DATES AROUND THE COUNTY THAT THEY WILL RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS AND HATS OFF TO THEM FOR CONTINUING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER. AND HERE ARE THE WINNERS. AND YOU CAN SEE IT MAKES UP FROM SECOND GRADE, FIRST GRADE, ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS, AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO JASON AND IRISH 31 FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND HIGHLIGHTING OUR TEACHERS TO CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOMS. ALSO, FLORIDA'S TOP, "NEWSWEEK" RANKS HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THREE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS BEING RECOGNIZED
193AS FLORIDA'S TO 50, PLANT STY SCHOOL 39, STEINBRENNER 41 AND NEWSOME 48 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND NOTE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE RANKED NATIONAL LIL THROUGH U.S. NEWS RANKINGS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE CELEBRATION, SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE DOING TO BE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND BE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY. THEN ALSO WANT TO BRING TO THE BOARD THAT THE REFERENDUM UPDATE, THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVING IT ON THE 19th OF APRIL AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET AND THEY APPROVED IT ON MAY 4th WHICH WILL BE PUSHED THROUGH THE AUGUST 23rd REFERENDUM FOR THE PRIMARY BALLOT. MORE INFORMATION, WE HAVE A WEBSITE UP THAT PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION, FAQs, ALL ABOUT THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE FINANCIALLY, AND HOW WE USE THESE FUNDS TO
194BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE OUR STAFF, EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO EXPAND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THEN ALSO TONIGHT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GOING TO COMPETE, A NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS GOING TO BE COMPETE AT GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL, GOING TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS COMPETITION IN ORLANDO, ALSO ROLAND PARK BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE WORLD FINALS IN IOWA, AND THEN CHAMBERLAIN BEING AUTOMOBILE TO NAME THEIR CHORAL SUITE, CONGRATULATIONS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, THEN TONIGHT ON 6.01 WE HAD AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HILLSBOROUGH FIRE RESCUE TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH US IN OUR TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTERS AS WE SEEK AND RECEIVE MONEY FROM THEM TO TRAIN ALL OF THEIR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY ARE READY TO BE FIRST RESPONDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
195SO THIS HATS OFF TO THEM. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. ALSO, SENT OUT TODAY OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR TEACHERS. THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 341 SESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE RANGING FROM ELA MATH, AND ALSO INSTRUCTIONAL BEST PRACTICES, SO OUR TEACHERS CAN GO ON AND IDENTIFY WHAT'S CONNECTED TO THEM, THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO APPROVE THEIR CRAFT. WE KNOW ELA AND MATH STUDENTS STANDARDS WILL BE NEW AND TRAINED TRANSITION TO NEXT YEAR AND CONTINUE THE BEST TRAINING A STIPEND OF $15 PER HOUR AND TEACHERS CAN USE POTENTIAL POINTS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING JULY IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TO USE INFORMATION FROM SIGN-UPS IN THE N THIS MONTH OF MAY TO DETERMINE WHAT WE'LL NEED TO PROGRESS IN THE MONTH OF JULY.
196THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO TONIGHT IS REALLY TALK ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF OUR LIBRARY LEAD YEAH MATERIALS. WE ARE GOING TO ASK KIM TO REALLY SPEAK ABOUT THE PROCESS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE. WE HAD PARENTS CONTINUING TO ASK ABOUT THIS PROCESS. SO I THINK IT'S TONIGHT TO YIELD MY TIME TO KIM AND LET KIM TALK ABOUT OUR SYSTEMS AND WHERE WE ARE GOING AS AN ORGANIZATION. GOOD EVENING. I'M KIM SCONE SUPERVISOR FOR GRADES 6-12 AND HERE TO SHED ADDITIONAL LATE ON THE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES FOR OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY. SO FIRST, ALL MATERIALS THROUGH THE SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER ARE VOLUNTARY INQUIRIES, SELECTED BY STUDENTS, NOT REQUIRED READING. FAMILIES ARE THE ARBITER OF STUDENTS' MEDIA CONSUMPTION IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY SPECIALISTS ARE A KEY PARTNER IN RESOURCE FOR HELPING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FIND
197MATERIALS THAT MEAT STUDENTS' INTEREST AND FAMILY OPERATORS AND VALUES. ADDITIONALLY OUR ONLINE CATALOGUE IS AVAILABLE FOR SEARCHES, READING AND RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CUSTOM CURATED LISTS THAT FAMILIES CAN MAKE THEMSELVES FOR THEIR OWN READER. OUR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS IN HILLSBOROUGH HOLD A FLORIDA K-PAY THROUGH 12, AND EITHER A MASTER'S DEGREE IN LIBRARY AND MASTER OR COMPLETE AT MINIMUM 18 MASTERS LOCAL CREDIT HOURS AND SCHOOL LIBRARY COURSE WORK INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION OF A SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAM, LIBRARY CLERKS DEVELOPMENT AND LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. WHEN BUILDING AND EVALUATING THE COLLECTIONS, THEY UTILIZE SELECTION CRITERIA THAT INCLUDE INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND STUDENT PLEASURE READING, PROFESSIONALLY REVIEWED RECOMMENDATIONS, MATERIALS THAT REPRESENT DIVERSITY AND AUTHORSHIP, CHARACTER, EXPERIENCE AND STORIES, SUPPORT THE SCHOOL'S UNIQUE NEEDS COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS AND DATA, AND ARE EVALUATED ON THE
198THEMES AND LITERARY VALUE OF THE WORK AS A WHOLE, NOT INTERPRETS REMOVED FROM CONTEXT. SO EVEN WITH THE CREDENTIALS OF THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST AND THE CARE TAKEN IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, OCCASIONAL OBJECTIONS TO SOME OF THE MATERIALS MAY BE VOICED BY THE PUBLIC. LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS THAT ARE SENSITIVE OR MATURED IN NATURE MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL READERS AT A SCHOOL, BUT COULD BE APPROPRIATE TO REMAIN A PART OF THE COLLECTION TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SOME OF THE READING COMMUNITY. EACH CONCERN IS REVIEWED WITH THOUGHT AND GRAVITY USING THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS PROCEDURES WHICH ALIGN WITH NATIONAL AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES RECOMMENDATIONS. FOR STEP ONE IN THAT PROCESS IS FOR A COMPLAINANT TO SHARE THEIR CONCERN WITH THE SCHOOL'S LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST. FOR DISCUSSION
199ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS AND THE PLACE OF THE MATERIAL WITH THE COLLECTION AS WELL AS THE SPECIFIC CONCERN OF THE CITIZEN AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESOLUTION. IF FURTHER REVIEW FOR REMOVAL IS REQUESTED BY THE COMPLAINANT, THE MEDIA SPECIALIST PROVIDES THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION FORM WHICH CONSISTS OF 8 QUESTIONS FOR THE COMPLAINANT TO ATTEST TO READING THE MATERIAL IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND TO DOCUMENT THE SPECIFICS OF THEIR CONCERNS. UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED FORM, THE SCHOOL THEN PROVIDES A COPY OF THE MATERIAL TO THE EDUCATIONAL MEDIA MATERIALS COMMITTEE AT THAT SCHOOL SITE. THAT COMMITTEE READS IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THEY CONSULT PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS. THEY REVIEW THE COMPLAINANT'S SUBMITTED FORM. THEY WEIGH THE MERITS AND ALLEGED FAULTS OF THE MATERIAL AGAINST THE SELECTION POLICY. AND THEY REACH A DECISION. SO EACH SCHOOL'S EDUCATIONAL MEDIA MATERIALS COMMITTEE IS FORMED
200BY THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST WITH THE SUPPORT FROM ADMINISTRATION AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH AND EVERY SCHOOL YEAR. AND IT CONSISTS OF AN ADMINISTRATOR, THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST, SCHOOL FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBER. HEY SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO INCLUDE A STUDENT ON THE COMMITTEE WITH PARENT PERMISSION. DUE TO THE VAST DIVERSITY OF EACH SCHOOL'S COMMUNITY, THE DECISION OF THE SCHOOL'S EDUCATION MEDIA EDUCATIONAL MEDIA MATERIALS COMMITTEE APPLIES ONLY TO THEIR OWN SCHOOL. AN OVERVIEW OF THIS PROCESS HAS LONG BEEN ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, ON THE LIBRARY MEDIA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE. AN EXPANDED DESCRIPTION OF THE STEP BY STEP PROCEDURES WAS POSTED AND UPDATED IN APRIL. Addison Davis: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THAT PROCESS, AND THEN ALSO TONIGHT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SALES TAX REFERENDUM.
201THANK YOU, KIM. I APPRECIATE IT. STAY THERE, THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF 8.1 MILLION THAT CAPE TO THE BOARD TONIGHT FOR APPROVAL FOR OUR PROJECTS. THANK YOU TO OUR HALF CENT PENNY TAX FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL TO REVIEW THIS, EVERY PROJECT, AND MAKE SURE THERE'S CONNECTION ALONG THE WAY. WE APPRECIATE THEM. THEN ALSO SUSPENDED AGENDA, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS ABOUT TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR COLLEGE FELLOWS. AS WE ARE KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO BE INNOVATIVE TO BRING INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS TO OUR CHILDREN TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A TALENT WAR TO BRING QUALIFIED SKILLED TEACHERS OH OUR DISTRICT, TO BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE ESSER FUND. 13 TOTAL
202APPLICANTS. 81 ASSIGNED TO SCHOOLS OR IN THE HR PAPER LANE. 28 TRANSFORMATION NETWORK. AT LEAST ONE CF. AND 3 TEACHER RECRUITMENT 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR. SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS WORKING AS STUDENTS BUT BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT THEM TO EXTEND THEM OPEN CONTRACTS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEM IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS WITH A CERTIFICATION FOR STABILITY. SO JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR FELLOWSHIPS. THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE AND WE THANK THEM FOR ALLOWING TO US BRING STUDENTS. THEN ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO OUR LITERACY. MR. CONNOR, DO YOU WANT TO HIT WHERE WE ARE? Terry Connor: WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED A LOT OF BOOKS OVER THE
203LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND SO WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS SLIDE. I KNOW IT'S A LOT THERE BUT I WANTED TO DEBRIEF A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE PURCHASES FOR THE BOARD AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN MADE AS WE TRANSITION TO THE BEST STANDARDS NEXT YEAR AND THE ALIGNMENT TO THE ADOPTION, CURRICULUM ADOPTION FOR ELA. SO BACK IN FEBRUARY, WE PURCHASED FROM THE BEST BOOK LIST AND PURCHASED OVER 145,000 COPIES OF THOSE TITLES TO BE SPREAD ACROSS OUR CLASSROOMS. AND THEN IN MARCH WE BROUGHT TWO PURCHASES FOR K-2, SPECIFICALLY TO CODABLE READERS AS WE BUILD SKILLS IN GRADES 1 AND 2, BOUGHT SETS OF THE CODABLE READERS FOR KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE, BOUGHT OVER 3,000 BOOKS THAT COULD BE TAKE HOME BOOKS FOR STUDENTS AS WELL AS 750 COPIES OF
204SPANISH TAKE HOME BOOKS ACROSS 30 TITLES IN OUR TRANSFORMATION, KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE CLASSROOMS. ADDITIONALLY WE BOUGHT 1 IT BOOKS FOR KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM TO ALIGN WITH THE WONDERS CURRICULUM AND SUPPLEMENT INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING. AND THEN TONIGHT WE PURCHASED OVER 572,000 NOVELS THAT WILL BE PROVIDED PER CHILD AS THEY BEGIN TO EMBARK ON THIS NEW CURRICULUM THAT WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING NEXT WE'RE. SO $6.19 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED IN OUR CLASSROOM WITH BOOKS, AND SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE HOW THIS WILL HELP ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM, AND WE JUST WANTED TO RECOUP THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE BROUGHT A LOT OF PURCHASES LATELY. THAT'S A SUMMATION OF EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. Addison Davis: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR. THIS IS A WAY TO STRENGTHEN LITERACY AND STRENGTHEN OUR CORE INSTRUCTION. SO I APPRECIATE THE TEAM. THEY
205HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB, AND THE TEAM HAS DONE SOME COOL THINGS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR OUR TEACHERS. AND THAT'S IT. WE APPRECIATE IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER PEREZ? Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I ATTENDED A BINGO GAME, WITH COMBS. I DON'T PLAY BING-BUT IT WAS A FUNDRAISER FOR BLAKE PERFORMING ARTS. AND IT WAS REALLY NEAT. NOT THAT I AM GOING TO GET IN THE HABIT OF PLAYING BINGO BUT IT WAS COOL. ALSO, I DID A RIDE ALONG ON APRIL 30th. NOW, BOARD MEMBERS, LET ME SAY THIS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE-ALONG WITH THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT OF THE TAMPA PD. IT WAS RAINING. BUT I WAS ABLE TO SEE HOW HOMELESSNESS IS TRAWL AFFECTING OUR STUDENTS' ABILITY, AND THUS AFFECTING THEIR EDUCATION AS WELL. YOU KNOW, OUR
206FAMILIES ARE COUCH SURFING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR BEING PRICE OUT OF THEIR RENTALS THAT THEY WERE RESIDING IN. BUT I WAS TRAWL ENCOURAGED BY WITNESSING OUR TAMPA PD, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES, OR MAKING DECISIONS, AND THAT EVENING WAS VERY EYE OPENING FOR ME. BUT I WANT TO BE SAY TO YOU, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, THAT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A RAID-ALONG WITH OUR POLICE, OUR SHERIFF, OUR TAMPA PD, DO IT, BECAUSE IT IS TRULY, TRAWL AN EXPERIENCE TO SEE WHAT OUR CHILDREN, WHAT OUR STUDENTS DEAL WITH AND WHAT OUR TAMPA PD REALLY DO, ESPECIALLY DO IT IN A MID SHAT SHIFT, DON'T DO IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. I'M JUST SAYING. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO
207BE AWAKE. AND THEN YOU REALLY EXPERIENCE THE THINGS IN THE EVENING. AND ALSO, MEMBER WASHINGTON AND I HAD THE AMAZING EXPERIENCE OF ATTENDING THE 2021-22 EXCELLENCE IN ACTION AWARD. FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE NOMINEES. AND THEN I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING WINNERS. IN ADMINISTRATION, FROM DURANTE HIGH SCHOOL, GARY GRANT. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT STAFF FROM PETERS ESE CENTER, STACY McGRILLEN. SUPPORT STAFF, ARBOR CALDORRI FROM MINTZ ELEMENTARY. ALEXA BORN FROM NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY. AND TRANSPORTATION, COURTNEY WILLIS FROM ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY. AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HOPE CHURCH AND VOLUNTEERS NICHOLAS CAPOLLA. AND SOME OF THE WINNERS, THEY WERE LIKE RELATIVES. IT WAS REALLY NEAT. AND ALSO DR. MONICA VERRA TER RAD OH WAS THERE AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: IT WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL EVENT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME,
208MEMBER PEREZ AND I. SOME OF THE WINNERS FROM THAT EVENT, FROM ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAD RICHARD ROY, SECONDARY TEACHER FROM BONITA. WE HAD MARY JANE SKILLIO. IT TAKES A TEAM. CHRISTIAN BERNARD EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION PRE-K FROM LUTZ KA. WE HAD DIANA JOHNSON, EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT TEACHER FROM TAMANETTI. WE HAD MICHAEL SMITH, EXCEPTION MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER FROM PEPIN ACADEMY. AND WE HAD GEORGE COLLINS, EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION FROM WHARTON HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT REALLY WAS A GREAT EVENT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. MOVING ON TO SOME OTHER EVENTS, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO THE NAACP, THE NEW LOCATION, THE OPEN HOUSE, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, MEMBER COMBS, MEMBER VAUGHN AND MESH GRAY, WE ALL ATTENDED THAT. IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING. IT WAS REALLY A NICE EVENT. AND THEN ON
209MAY 1st WE WENT TO THE -- I WENT TO THE JOHNSON WAY HOUSE ON POLK AND THIS IS A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, A FORMER STUDENT AT MILLTON HIGH SCHOOL, SO HIS FATHER STARTED IN OCTOBER, JUST GOT IT STARTED IN OCTOBER, THEY HAD AN EVENT, AND IT'S CALLED THE JOHNSON RAY OF HOPE. THEY GAVE OUT 15 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS. AND THEY GAVE THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS APIECE. WHAT A GREAT FUNDRAISER. THEY SOLD ME. I TOLD THEM FROM NOW ON I WOULD BE DONATING TO THAT FOUNDATION, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY NICE. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE STUDENTS CAME FROM MILTON HIGH SCHOOL. GO TIGERS. SO AND THEN ON APRIL 23rd, I FORGOT TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A DEDICATION AT KING HIGH SCHOOL, THE BASEBALL COMPLEX
210WAS NAMED FOR JIM MIKALUSA. THEY HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THAT. IT WAS REALLY NICE. LET ME NOT LEAVE OUT, I GOT THE SUPPORT THE SUNCOAST SUPPORT EDUCATION SYSTEM. WE DO HAVE SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS IN EDUCATION. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO, THEY CAN -- YOU GOT IT. DR. WHELAN ON THIS ALSO. BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FORM. WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION NOW. AND AS I LOOK AT IT, THE LAST THREE, MY WIFE AND I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, MANY YEARS AGO. SO THEY HAVE ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS. IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AT THE END OF THE DAY. THAT'S WHAT HELPS. EVERY LITTLE BIT. THEN MOVING ON, AND MEMBER GRAY AND I, WE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SELMA JOHNS WITH
211THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE SUMMER JOBS, NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR TEACHERS. YOU HAVE A SLIDE FOR THAT. OKAY. I AM GOING TO -- YES, MA'AM. OKAY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES. IN FACT WHEN I WAS -- I WORKED AT THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT SOMETIME MYSELF. SO IT WAS GREAT. NOW, NOW, PABLO. LOOK, WHEN YOU SEE SHAKE WASHINGTON, I AM ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN NOW. THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. OKAY. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD A KAPPA ALPHA PSI DERBY DAY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THAT'S MY FRATERNITY THERE. RATE. NOW LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAD A REALLY, REALLY UNBELIEVABLE TIME, AS YOU CAN SEE, SUPERINTENDENTS IN THERE. LOOK, HE WON THE PRAISE. THAT'S THE BEST DRESSED SLACKS
212WE SAW ALL NIGHT. YES, YES. THEY ARE SLACKS. AND HE HAD ON HIS COWBOY BOOTS. SO HE WAS A GREAT FUNDRAISER FOR US, FOR THE KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY. WE REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME. YOU CAN SEE WE HAD MRS. LUNI ON THE BOARD. HE HAD HIS WIFE THERE. SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME. YOU CAN TAKE THAT DOWN, PABLO. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU. WE REALLY ENJOY IT SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: CHUCKLE, CHUCKLE. MR. FARKAS, YOU PROBABLY BROKE ONE IN THE COLOR CODE DEPARTMENT. SO MY COMMENTS INCLUDE THE FLORIDA TAX WATCH, RECOGNIZE CHAMBERLAIN PRINCIPAL JAKE RUSSELL FOR BEING THE FLORIDA'S MOST EFFECTIVE HEY RISK PRINCIPAL, AND I WAS JOINED BY SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND MEMBER VAUGHN, AND WE ALSO HAD CHAMBERLAIN'S JENNIFER CORREA WHO ALSO
213RECEIVED SOME MONEY. MEMBER VAUGHN, HOW MUCH MONEY DID SHE -- OH, IT WASN'T MONEY, IT WAS A TWO-YEAR PREPAID COLLEGE. SO THE GENEROSITY WAS WONDERFUL. THE CASPARS GOOD CHARACTER AWARD. WE TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND THE MORAL COMPASS, BUT THE GOOD CHARACTER AWARD, I KNOW SHAKE WASHINGTON ATTENDED THAT AND I BELIEVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER DID, BUT JUNTA HAD ALL THREE GRADE LEVELS. OH, MEMBER VAUGHN ALSO DID. I COULDN'T REMEMBER THE THIRD ONE. WERE REPRESENTED. BUT LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T HAVE A SNAPSHOT, PABLO. DID WE -- I THINK WE GOT A LITTLE VIDEO OF THE CASPARS? OR AM I? IS THAT A YAY? NEGATIVE. OKAY. PABLO? BUT, ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO FORGIVE PABLO. HERE IS THE BIG ONE. WE HAD A HUGE -- I WANT TO THAN THE CABINET, A HUGE HISPANIC WOMB OUTREACH
214WHERE THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE SOUTH SHORE WIMAUMA PARENTS AND FORMER STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY BUSINESS LEADERS SHARED WHAT THEY SEE TO BE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WIMAUMA AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A GOOD COMPARISON BUT IT'S GROWING SO QUICK, AND MR. FARKAS KNOWS THAT IT'S GOING TO SURPASS POPULATION JUST RECORD BREAKING. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEW BRANDON OUT THERE OR NOT BUT IT'S GETTING PRETTY BUSY. BUT I WANTED TO THANK ENTERPRISING LATINOS, PRINCIPAL LEBRON, WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, OUR CABINET MEMBERS, AND THEY ARE ALL SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. THEY WERE ALL THERE. JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CARE AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH INVOLVED. YES, WE HAVE A SLIDE SHOW. HERE
215COMES THE SLIDE SHOW. NO VOICE. AND IT'S ODD TO SEE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS NOT HAVE A VOICE, BUT HE HAS THE WELCOME. MONICA VERY RAH TIRADO. AND CABINET MEMBERS WILL BE GETTING BACK. PARENTS. VERY ACTIVE. THE MIGRANT LIAISON. OH, THERE'S DENISE, PRINCIPAL AT LENNARD. LOTS OF INTERACTION. LOTS OF LEARNING. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WHAT DID YOU LEARN MORE THAN ANYTHING? I ALWAYS PUT PEOPLE ON THE SPOT. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT? THROUGH THE FAIR, FIRST I LEARNED THAT THE WIMAUMA COMMUNITY IS A COHESIVE UNIT AND THEY VALUE EDUCATION, AND THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE SO THEY CAN COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING. I THINK WE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAINTS PARENTS, WANTED TO ASK ABOUT EXTENDED LEARNING
216OPPORTUNITIES, TO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS BULLYING, HOW THEY CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND I THINK OUR TEAM DID A GOOD JOB BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS FOR OUR FAMILIES SO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE, AND I THINK THE BETTER SENSE OF CARE, TRUST THAT WE CREATE, AND IT WAS A GOOD EVENT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMMUNITY GROWING. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. GREAT STUDENTS. MS. MONICA, WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY, REAL QUICK? I'M OVER MY TIME. YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY. Monica Verra-Tirado: WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT YOU TO BE OVER YOUR TIME BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT AND THOUGH WERE ALL APPRECIATIVE THUS FAR AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE SEND OUT IN ENGLISH IS GETTING TO THEM IN SPANISH AS WELL,
217AND WE ARE REALLY STARTING TO SEE DIFFERENCE THAT IS MAKING. SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD AND PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, COLLEAGUES OUT THERE, AND HOPEFULLY DO CONTINUE THESE KIND OF ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. OUR HISPANIC POPULATION IS CERTAINLY NOT JUST WIMAUMA. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. Lynn Gray: AND THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, AND THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR, MS. BURKETT, AND LEADERSHIP DEFINITELY CARS IN OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DO I HAVE TIME FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA SUMMER POSITIONS BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF SHAKE'S, TOO. ALL RIGHT. SO THE CITY OF TAMPA HAS OVER A THOUSAND JOBS, SUMMER JOBS, AND THEY CAME TO US, AND WANTED US TO PRETTY MUCH SAY TO OUR STUDENTS AND ADULTS THAT THEY ARE HIRING, AND THESE ARE REALLY SOPHISTICATED JOBS, NOT NECESSARILY JUST
218IN THE CAMPING OR THE ROWING BUT ALSO IN CAREER, FUTURE JOBS. SO FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THEM, AND THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. SO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. I KNOW I WENT OVER, ALMOST. OOPS. NINE SECOND. OKAY. Nadia Combs: AND COUNTING, THOUGH. MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: I AM GOING TO TRAY -- I KNOW I AM OUTNUMBERED ON THIS BUT I APPRECIATE EVERY PEACE OF INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED TODAY ABOUT THE PROCESS SO THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU WORK HARD TO MANGE SURE THAT YOU ARE COMMUNICATING THAT OUT, AND MR. CONNOR AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT. I APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS TO KEEP PUSHING THAT INFORMATION OUT. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT IN OUR
219SCHOOLS AND OUR MEDIA CENTERS, AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE IT JUST AS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS THAT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, JUST AS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN FROM IT. THAT'S ALL I AM ASKING, OKAY? SO JUST LET'S MAKE AT TWO-WAY STREET AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT SOME PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO READ AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT PARENTS DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO READ AND WE HAVE TO MAKE IT EQUALLY AS EASY FOR ALL PARENTS. THAT'S IT. OKAY. NOW GOOD STUFF. TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, I HOW MUCH EVERYONE FELT APPRECIATED. I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF LOVE GOING AROUND THE DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING TEACHERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST AMAZING, AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. SO HAPPY APPRECIATION TEACHER
220WEEK. THANK YOU TO MY REPS. I WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LAST MEETING AND I WANT TO THANK MR. SCOTT BROOKS FOR TALKING ABOUT OUR CTE PROGRAM AND WHAT'S DEVELOPING WITH CTE AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WE ARE REACHING FOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, WHICH IS AN AMAZING NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE ARE PREPARING FOR LIFE. SPEAKING OF THAT, GRADUATION SEASON IS HERE, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR SENIORS WHO ARE GRADUATING. I KNOW THAT BOARD MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING PROBABLY NOT EVERY SINGLE GRADUATION CEREMONY, BUT WE WILL HAVE A ROTATION, AND WE WILL ALL GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE GRADUATING SENIORS OUT THERE. BIG TIME. AND THEN JUST A QUICK CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THEY SHIFT EVERY YEAR. WE DO THIS FOR NEW LEADERSHIP
221IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, AND WE WISH THEM THE BEST, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE IT THEIR ALL FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. SINCE YOU WENT AHEAD AND SHARED SOME OF YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT SOME THINGS BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE POSITIVE THINGS, I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO BE SAY IN THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE ABOUT OUR PROCESS AND OUR LIBRARY MATERIALS, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS WHEN WE HAVE SPEAKERS WHO COME AND USE WORDS LIKE PEDOPHILES AND GROOMING AROUND THIS PROCESS. YOU KNOW, TO MISLABEL THE WORD GROOMING OR THE WORD PEDOPHILE, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE HAVE TO
222BE VERY ON GUARD, TO EXACTLY TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE WORDS MEAN, BECAUSE TO USE THEM OUT OF PLACE CAN BE DANGEROUS. IF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT GROOMING LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT A DANGER THAT IS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S BEING USED BECAUSE SOMEBODY DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU ON SOMETHING POLITICALLY, IT CREATES A PROBLEM WHEN YOU WATER DOWN THAT WORD AND IT CREATES CONFUSION, AND IT'S INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS. SO I WOULD JUST ASK EVERYBODY TO BE INTENTIONAL WITH THEIR WORDS WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT AND SAY THIS IS LITERALLY THE DEFINITION OF GROOMING AND IT'S NOT LITERALLY THE DEFINITION OF GROOMING. THAT'S PROBLEMATIC. AND WE NEED TO REALLY BE SCALE AS WE TALK ABOUT SERIOUS SUBJECTS LIKE THAT. SO I'LL QUICKLY SAY THAT AND THEN MOVE ON AS WELL I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT COLLEGE FELLOWS.
223I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN MY SCHOOLS AND WAS VERY CONFUSED AS FIRST, LIKE WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THAT LOOK LIKE THEY DON'T BELONG HERE? BUT THEN I REALIZE THAT THEY ARE OUR COLLEGE FELLOWS, AND I JUST MEAN BECAUSE THEY LOOK SO YOUNG, NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON, NOT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ENGAGED, BUT THEN I REALIZE WHO THEY WERE AND DID SEE THEM ENGAGING WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM ON OUR CAMPUSES AND TO SEE THAT IN ACTION. ALSO, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE CASPARS, THE CHARACTER AWARD THAT MEMBER GRAY BROUGHT UP. I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT AT ONE OF MY SCHOOLS AND IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE A COMPANY REWARDING STUDENTS FOR JUST BEING GOOD PEOPLE, AND BEING KIND, AND SHARING
224MESSAGES, AND BEING THOUGHTFUL. I MEAN, KINDNESS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK GOING INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON AS A COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WHAT LEIGH WE LOOK FOR IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THE CASPARS, RECEIVED AN AWARD IN MY SCHOOL SCHOOL, HIS FELLOW STUDENTS ALMOST STOOD UP AND APPLAUDED BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT HE GOT THAT. SO I LOVE THAT WE ARE DOING STUFF LIKE THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS. ALSO I WANTED TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO THIS WEEK, AGAIN MY SON WAS VERY EXCITED TO RUSH INTO SCHOOL AND GET 100%. DOES HE GET SOMETHING FROM THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE HE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. Addison Davis: YES, THROUGH THE CHAIR, HE GETS A LETTER, IF THEY ARE 100%. HE'S HOPING TO
225GET THAT LETTER BUT GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY THAT'S TAKING THE FSA. WE ARE GEARING UP FOR GRADUATION SO I WANT TO MIRROR MEMBER SNIVELY'S COMMENTS ABOUT THAT. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR SENIORS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING. I HAVE MY GODSON GRADUATING AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE THAT JOURNEY. FINALLY, I HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AT SOME OF MY NEWER SCHOOLS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, WE TRANSITIONED AWAY FROM HOPEFULLY THE MOST SPHERE'S STRESS IT WILL PART OF COVID WITH A LOT OF IN SIGs DECISION AND WHICH DIRECTION DO WE NEED TO GO BUT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A HARDER YEAR THAN THE YEAR PREVIOUS, IF YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, OUR STAFF, AND THEY ARE -- EVERYONE IS REALLY HOPEFUL AS WE TRANSITION INTO
226THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AGAIN WHAT WE CAN FOCUS ON IS KINDNESS AND TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, GIVING EACH OTHER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF GOT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE ARE ALL KIND OF DEALING WITH DIFFERENT STAGES OF TRAUMA, BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR, WHAT WE SAW FROM THE PANDEMIC IS HOW VALUABLE EDUCATION IS, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE PARENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE BEGGING FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN BECAUSE THEY REALIZE HOW VALUABLE IT IS, AND WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINS, OUR CAFETERIA WORKERS, BUS DRIVERS, JANITORS, EVERYBODY IN THE SCHOOL DISCUSS, BECAUSE QUITE LESSONSLY WE CAN TALK ABOUT TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, AND SEND GIFT TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL BUT THEY ARE
227NOT FEELING VERY APPRECIATIVE. AND WHERE THAT COMES FROM IS A MUTUAL RESPECT GIVING PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT THEY ARE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND THAT THEY WORK HARD. SO AS WE KIND OF END THE SCHOOL YEAR I AM JUST HOPE PHILFUL THAT WE WILL GO INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOCUSING ON KINDNESS AND REALLY SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND FOCUSING ON OUR STUDENTS, AND DOING THE BEST THINGS FOR EDUCATION. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SO I GOT TO GO OUT WITH THE CASPARS FOLKS TO TINKER AND WAS THEREBY WHEN THEY GAVE OUT THE GOOD CHARACTER AWARD AND IT WAS VERY EXCITING. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK CASPARS MCDONALD
228FOR THEIR PARTNER AROUND THAT AND HELPING TO SHARE KINDNESS AND MAKE KINDNESS CONTAGIOUS. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MICHAEL SMITH, ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE EXCELLENCE IN ACTION AWARD. TEACHER AT PEPIN, MICHAEL WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS WHEN I WAS A PROFESSOR AT USF, AND SO I AM NOT SURPRISED HE WON THIS AWARD. HE IS REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY. HE'S A WONDERFUL SPECIAL ED TEACHER. AND CONGRATS, MIKE. YOU ARE A GREAT GUY AND A GREAT TEACHER. SO I AM JUST HAPPY TO SEE THAT HE WON THAT AWARD. AND WE HAD THE LAST 08 CHILD TO LITERACY FAIR AT SCHOOL ON SATURDAY, AT MEL WON'T ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THEY GAVE OVER 3,000 BOOKS OUT TO OVER 700 CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY IN JUST TWO AND A HALF HOURS. AND
229IT WASN'T JUST ALL ABOUT BOOKS. WE WERE JOINED BY DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO GAVE OUT VARIOUS RESOURCES TO FAMILIES. WE HAD THE BUCS, TAMPA BAY, THE LIGHTNING, COALITION, FRAME WORKS TO NAME A FEW THERE. WERE SO MANY NEEDS BEING MET BEYOND THE BOOKS. FOOD AND SECURITIES AND CHILD CARE AND HEALTH AND LITERACY NEEDS, JUST REALLY HEARTWARMING TO SEE EVERYBODY COME OUT. AND ONCE AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR AND THE 7th TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD COME OUT AND SUPPORT THAT INITIATIVE. THE MOST REWARDING PART OF THE DAY BY FAR IS THE CHILDREN'S FACES WHEN THEY ARE RECEIVING ALL OF THESE ITEMS. WE HAD LIKE I MENTIONED, OVER 700 KIDS, AND WE HAD CHRISTIAN, MEG RANT ASSOCIATION COME OUT WITH TWO BUSES OF THEIR STUDENTS, AND THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING,
230AND SO I APPRECIATE THEM BEING A PART OF IT AS WELL. YOU HAVE JUST A QUICK VIDEO, ONLY ABOUT A MINUTE LONG. SO PABLO. I JUST WANT DO THANK A FEW FOLKS. SHARON O'CONNOR, EMILY COURTNEY, YOU ARE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THIS EVENT, COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT BOTH OF THEM. THANK YOU TO JULIAN DAVID COLE AND MICHELLE ROGERS, WONDERFUL MYON PARTNERS. THEY HELPED ME FULFILL THE HOME LIBRARIES BEFORE THE EVENT AND SET UP THE DAY OF AND THERE FROM BEGINNING TO END. JOHN MILL BORN WHO SHARES A PASSION FOR THIS WORK, GIVES A LOT OF HIS TIME TO THE EVENT. MR. FARKAS FOR INSTRUMENTAL IN ARRANGING THE FACILITIES FOR THE DAY. CHIEF NEWMAN FOR ARRANGING THE SECURITY. AND STAFF OUT THERE, TRACYE BROWN, MONICA, TRACY BERGMAN, AND MANY OTHERS. THANK YOU
231SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. YOU REALLY HELP MAKE IT A WONDERFUL EVENT FOR EVERYBODY. LAURA AND COMMUNICATIONS, SHE NOT ONLY COMES OUT AND TAKES PHOTOS BUT SHE DJs LATELY TOO FOR THE EVENT. SHE'S VERY, VERY TALENTED. AND THE FOUNDATION THROUGH THEIR GENEROUS GRANT, FUNDED THIS EVENT. SO THANK YOU TO THE TRIAD FOUNDATION. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE SITTING IN THIS FRONT ROW TONIGHT. YOU ARE EH ALL VERY APPRECIATED. YOU ALL WORK VERY, VERY HARD. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING KIND AND SHOWING KINDNESS, YOU SHOULD MODEL THAT FROM THIS DAIS. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. JUST WITH CLOSING, JUST A COUPLE THINGS. LAST WEEK AT THE RECOGNITION MEETING IT WAS AMAZING RECOGNIZING ALL THE STUDENTS BUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY SATURDAY OUT TO ME WAS THE NUMBER OF
232TEACHERS THAT CAME TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS. IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING, AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK. IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW MUCH OUR TEACHERS DO ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND JUST A COUPLE I WANTED TO MENTION, I WANTED TO MENTION SHANNON BARTELL AND STAIN BRENNER HIGH SCHOOL WHO IS GOING OUT AND TRYING TO MAKE CURRICULUM COME ALIVE, AND SHE HAD A LUNCHEON AND LEARN LAST SATURDAY AT PINELLAS. NOT ONLY IS SHE DOING SOMETHING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HOCKET BUT SHE'S STRETCHING ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO HAVE CURRICULUM COME TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS. THEN JUST A FEW DAYS AGO I WENT TO A RETIREMENT PARTY, A PARAPROFESSIONAL AT LETO HIGH SCHOOL, ONCE AGAIN THERE WAS THE PRINCIPAL REQUEST HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, AND TEACHERS JUST SUPPORTING SARAH WHO I WORKED WITH
233AT DAVISSON MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO ENDED HER CAREER AT LETO. SO OVER AND OVER WE SEE SO MANY TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS IN OUR ENTIRE STAFF AND FACULTY DOING SO MUCH AND I WANT TO SAY IT REALLY TRULY IS APPRECIATED, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE PUSHING THAT APPRECIATION, FINANCIAL APPRECIATION AS WELL, AND NOT JUST WORD. AND I APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING TO PUSH THIS MILLAGE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THAT THEY CAN FEED THEIR FAMILIES BY DOING THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS TEACHING AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN. ALSO, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS THERE'S BEEN SO MANY GREAT PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENTS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND. ONE WAS WITH TRACYE BROWN
234WHO ORGANIZED A PANEL OF EARLY EDUCATORS, WHO WE WERE ABLE TO SEE OUR INTERNS FROM USF AND HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY CAN WORK WITH EARLY EDUCATION. OUR FRIEND OF CHILDREN WHERE WE FIND MENTORS TO WORK WITH CHILDREN THROUGH THE FOSTER CARE FRAME WORKS, ALSO WE CELEBRATED 40 YEARS TO SUPPORT OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEN WE WENT TO THE JK FOUNDATION WHICH SUPPORTS THE BLAKES ART. AND FINALLY, PROBABLY NOR ME ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND EVENTS THAT I HAVE BEEN TO SINCE BEING ON THE BOARD IS THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY CHILD IS GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO COLLEGE, OR THE MILITARY, AND THEN NOT EVERY CHILD IS GOING TO GO DIRECTLY INTO CTE EITHER. THEY MAY WANT TO GO DIRECTLY INTO THE
235WORKFORCE. SO YVONNE FRY IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB, AND I KNOW MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER GRAY AND I, WE WENT OUT TO THE PLANT CITY EVENT, AND THAT WAS JUST AMAZING TO SEE HUNDREDS OF KIDS COMING IN, BEING CELEBRATED, LOOKING FOR JOBS, AND ALL THE COMPANIES THAT WERE THERE. IT WAS SO IMPACTFUL. AND THEN HEARING FROM THE LEGENDARY MAYOR LOTT COMING AND TALKING ABOUT HIS LIFE EXPERIENCE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ONE THING THAT RANG THROUGH OVER AND OVER IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO HAVING A GOOD WORK ETHIC AND REALLY JUST HAVING THAT FAITH IN EDUCATION AND OPENING UP. SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PICTURES THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY. PABLO? JUST GOING TO SHOW A COUPLE OF THESE. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN KIND OF NARRATING
236THIS AT THE SAME TIME. AND THE ONE EXCITING THING, THIS STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, AND I KNOW MEMBER SNIVELY YOU WERE THERE AT THE VERY BEGINNING, AND BECAUSE OF THE NEED AND THE DEMAND, WE ARE REALLY GOING TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YVONNE FRYE AND FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE CONTRARY ACADEMY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE REALLY HEARD. WE HAD SO MANY INDIVIDUAL. WE EVEN HAD MR. CONA WAS THERE TALKING ABOUT JOBS. WE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL IN THE COMMUNITY. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WAS LIKE PACKED HOUSE. AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS AFTER THE STUDENTS LEAVE, THEY KEEP IT OPEN FOR ADULTS, TOO, TO FIND JOBS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF
237THE DAY, IF WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY, THEN WE CAN STRENGTHEN WHERE WE LIVE EVERY DAY. YOU CAN SEE THE EXCITEMENT AND AS MANY ADULTS IN THE BACK AND ALL THE CHILDREN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A NICE OWNING. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.