001HI, I AM NADIA COMBS. SHARE OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS. THAT INCLUDE CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH ADULT IN OUR WORK PROGRAM. Henry Washington: I AM WASHINGTON D.C. OUR DIG STRICT IS SEVENTH LARGEST AND 124,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT NEARLY 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. OUR BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNION IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO E-MAIL OR MEET WITH ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM CHANNEL 635 AND FRONTIER CABLE 32.
002MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOO SCHOOLS.ORG. CLOSED CAPTIONING PRO PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCAST AND PAST MEETINGS IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE WILL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE REVIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE AND POSTED ON OUR WEB SITE AT HILLSBOROUGHSCHOOLS.ORG. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE, AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Nadia Combs: THE BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 22, 2022 IS CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY A PLEDGE OF ALLY BEGAN. Henry
003Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU. NOW STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AME AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR AT WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, DIDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. Henry Washington: YOU MAY BE SEATED. Nadia Combs: MEMBER WASHINGTON, WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STUDENT ENTERTAINMENT. Henry Washington: YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE ROLAND PARK VIOLIN AND CONDUCTED BY RAYMOND VANCE EVIS. MR. EVIS, I AM GLAD I SPOKE TO YOU EARLIER AND I WOULD HAVE CALLED YOUR NAME SOMETHING E ELSE. I GOT TO PRACTICE. THAT'S RIGHT. WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOU UP TO THE PODIUM WHERE YOU ARE TO DIRECT IT AND LET YOU INTRODUCE
004-- I WANT THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. MORE EXCITING WHEN THEY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. OKAY. WHO IS FIRST. MY NAME IS LONNIE MADISON AND I AM IN THE THIRD GRADE. I AM AUDREY AND TIME IN FIFTH GRADE. HELLO, I AM REGAN AND TIME IN FOURTH. HELLO, MY NAME IS OLIVIA AND I AM IN FOURTH GRADE. MY NAME IS CORRINE AND I AM IN SECOND GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS HUNTER AND I AM IN FOURTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS EVAN AND I AM IN FOURTH GRADE. HI, MY NAME IS RENTON AND I AM IN FOURTH GRADE. HI, I AM CULL TER AND IN FOURTH GRADE. . I AM IN THE THIRD GRADE. HELLO, MIGUEL AND TIME IN FIFTH GRADE. HELLO, MY NAME IS CORY AND TIME IN FIFTH GRADE. I AM CORRINE AND I AM IN FIFTH
005GRADE. . HELLO, I AM ALINA AND TIME IN FIFTH GRADE. HELLO, I AM DAVID, AND I AM IN FOURTH GRADE. HELLO, I AM RAYMOND THE VIOLIN TEACHER AT ROLAND PARK AND THANK THE BOARD AND MR. DAVIS AND EVERYONE FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY. Henry Washington: THANK YOU. YOU DID A GREAT JOB FOR ENTERTAINMENT ALSO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS. A LOT OF US HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT THERE AND LISTEN TO YOU AND SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE ALL OF YOU BACK AND HAVE LIVE MUSIC AT OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE HAVE TWO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. 401 A APPROVED EMPLOYMENT TRANSFERS FROM THE CHIEF OF SCHOOLS AND 7.14, AND BUILDING TOMORROW SCHOOLS, INC. FOR HIGH PUBLIC QUALITY EDUCATION FACILITIES. I
006NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT AN AGENDA. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER VAUGHN WHO WILL BE ATTENDING VIRT VIRTUALLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUES QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND 30 SECONDS TO COMPLETE THEIR THOUGHTS. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. MEMBER WASHINGTON
007WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Henry Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN OUR AFTERNOON MEETING, LET US REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM THAT ALLOW MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING WITH BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCAST, CABLE TV AND VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM AND CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN WHICH IS 6 P.M. AND THIS IS EMPLOYEE INPUT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COMMENTS, WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP THE BOARD UP TO DATE ON
008THE RESPONSES. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE; HOWEVER, IT IS ADDRESSED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUE. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. ALL CIVILITY POLICIES ARE IN PLACE. WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD SPEAK YOUR NAME AND CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES REASON AND 30 SECONDS, A YELLOW AND RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER. MY NAME IS BOB SMITH. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SYLVIA CANTRELL. THE NAMING OF THE NEW SCHOOL. I KNOWN SILL STRIA SINCE THE SECOND GRADE WHEN SHE SHOWED UP AT 1955 AT BALLAST POINT HIGH SCHOOL -- ELEMENTARY
009SCHOOL. FROM BALLAST POINT TO MONROE WHERE SHE WAS PART OF FIVE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, CHEERLEADER, FUTURE TEACHERS OF AMERICA AND OTHERS. FROM ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL, SHE WAS PART OF 15 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, CHEERLEADERS, FUTURE TEACHERS, AGAIN, EVERYTHING SHE IS PART OF HAD TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL BODY ITSELF. COUNCIL. SHE WAS PART OF STUDENT COU COUNCIL. EVERYTHING SHE DID WAS UNITING THE STUDENTS AND THE FACULTY AND PEOPLE TOGETHER. SHE WAS JUST A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. IF YOU GO BACK INTO BIBLICAL TIMES, YOU EARNED YOUR NAME SOMETIMES. WHEN YOU WERE BORN, YOU WERE GIVEN A NAME AND THROUGH YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, YOU WERE GIVEN -- OR, YOU ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU WERE GIVEN A NAME. IT BRINGS THE NAME OF ME -- OF A PERSON HAD BY THE NAME OF JOSEPH AND NOT THE JOSEPH YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT. THIS
010IS JOSEPH WHO WENT AROUND WITH ALL THE DISCIPLES AND ALL THE APOSTLES DOING EVERYTHING HE COULD BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO DO TO GET THE JOB DONE. THE PERSON GOT A NEW NAME AND HIS NAME WAS BARNABUS. IT WAS THE ENCOURAGER. SYLVIA CANTRELL HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGER ALL THE LIFE. TO THE WONDER YEARS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN WE WONDER WHAT WE WILL DO. SYLVIE THAT HAD NO DOUBT WHAT IT WAS HER ENTIRE LIFE WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO. SHE WANTED TO WORK.EDUCATION. SHE DID THAT NOT ONLY WHILE IN SCHOOL. SHE DID THAT AFTER SHE GRADUATED. SHE GOT HER FIRST TEACHING JOB IN 1970. FROM THERE SHE WENT ON AND SHE ENCOURAGED -- SHE HAD MANY ACCOLADES. ONE OF -- SHE HAD A PhD. SHE HAD A MASTER'S. SHE HAD ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. SHE TOOK
011ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT LESSONS AND EVERYTHING SHE ACCOMPLISHED WAS NOT FOR HER, BUT IT WAS FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. IT WAS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THOSE AROUND HERE. SHE WAS A TEACHER'S TEACHER. SHE WAS SOMEONE THE STUDENTS COULD GO TO. SHE WAS THERE FOR THEM AND NOBODY ELSE. COULD YOU ALWAYS COME TO SYLVIA. SHE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO ENCOURAGE YOU NO MATTER WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND I GUARANTEE YOU TODAY IF YOU WOULD TO ASK HER HOW SHE FELT ABOUT THIS, SHE WOULD SAY MANY MORE PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE MUCH MORE WORTHY THAN WHAT I AM. JUST AN HONOR TO JUST BE NOMINATED BECAUSE THAT IS SYLVIA. NOT ONLY IS SHE AN ENCOURAGER BUT ONE OF THE MOST HUMBLE PEOPLE I EVER MET AND I'M HERE AS HER ENCOURAGER TO SPEAK TO HER TO ENCOURAGE
012YOU TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER HER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. BOARD OF EDUCATION, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS EDGAR FOSSET. VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR TRONE BANKS. I SPENT 26 YEARS FOR THE NEW YORK PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. THE LAST 15 YEARS AS HEARING OFFICER AND 90% -- 80% OF HEARINGS WERE DUE TO OVERBILLING BY UTILITY COMPANIES. DURING THE 26 YEARS I SPENT 20 YEARS ON A SCHOOL BOARD. 15 AS THE PRESIDENT. THE LAST -- IN 2017, I CONTACTED THE HILLSBOROUGH CFO FOR POSSIBILITY OF AUDITING THE SCHOOL'S UTILITY AND ACCOUNTS. IN 2018, TRONE BANKS RECEIVED A SIGNED CONTRACT, LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION TO BEGIN THE AUDIT. THE AUDIT HAD $MILLION. BANKS FOUND WHERE TECO IS OVERBILLING THE SCHOOL EACH MONTH FOR FRANCHISE P PASS-THROUGH
013FEES. IN 2019, MILL ISED A PLAN TO TECO AND IT WAS DENIED. TRONE BANKS WENT AND CLAIMED THAT THE CLAIM WAS WARRANTED. TECO STONE WALLED THE EFFORT TO GET THE BILLING CORRECTED. OVERBILLING CLAIMS -- THIS OVERBILLING CLAIM IS WORTH OVER $1 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS CLAIM SINCE THE INITIAL CLAIM LETTER. THE BANKS SUCCEEDED IN GETTING ANOTHER LOA IN 2000. OUR ENERGY AUDITOR LOOKED AGAIN AT THE SCHOOL'S BILLS. ANOTHER $300,000 OVERBILLING HAD OCCURRED SINCE WE DID THE LAST AUDIT. THE SCHOOL BOARD ADMINISTRATION IS LEGAL, MORAL GUARDIANS OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY. THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION CANNOT LET THE OVERBILLING CONTINUE. TRONE BANKS HAVE PROVIDED THE KNOWLEDGE OF OVERBILLING, THE PROOF OF OVERBILLING AND EXPERTISE TO RECOVER THESE FUNDS. WHAT WE NEED NOW FOR THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION TO
014STEP UP WITH THE PLATE AND WORK WITH TRONE BANKS TO RESOLVE THESE TECO ISSUES. SO FAR THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. IN MY 50 YEARS OF DEALING WITH OVERBILLING ISSUES, I NEVER SEEN ANY BUSINESS OR SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT WANTING TO HELP SECURE RIGHTFULLY OWNED REF REFUNDS. IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS. IT IS TIME TO WRAP UP THESE OVERBILLING ISSUES. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, ED FOSSET. THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, PAULA COSTAN O, PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES. ALL PARENTS WHO CHOOSE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD SEND THEIR CHOICE TO BE FULLY FUNDED SCHOOLS SET UP FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. TEXAS, CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA ARE THE MOST POPULATED STATES AND BELOW THE 2022 NATIONAL AVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY $12,000. FLORIDA IS AT APPROXIMATELY $7758 PER PUPIL. AND ALONG WITH THESE TWO STATES HAS THE HIGHEST, YOU GUESSED IT, CHARTER SCHOOL NUMBERS. PROVIDING MORE
015SUBSTANDARD SCHOOL CHOICES FOR OUR BROWN AND BLACK POPULATION WITH LIMITED OVERSIGHT IS NOT THE ANSWER. MANY LEGISLATORS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL COMMISSIONER HAS TIES TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. MR. COCHRAN VISITED KLAING CLASSICAL CHARTER THAT HOSTED THE CITY COUNCIL FORUM WITH LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND WAS ALSO HOSTED BY A POLITICAL GROUP. HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES IS NONPARTISAN. I AM A NO PARTY AFFILIATE. POLITICS AND MONEY SHOULD NOT BE PLAYING A ROLE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE TAMPA BAY TIMES CHAIRMAN OWNS AN OUTSIDE COMPANY THAT HELPED BAIL OUT THE PAPER. TWO WELL-RESPECTED CHARTER SCHOOL BILLIONAIRES ARE IN THAT COMPANY. ONE HAS A TIE TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SCHOOL OF HOPE. SO THE SAME PAPER COMPARES HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO PASCO AND PINELLAS AS A FORMER INTELLIGENCE ANALYST, I CAN EXPLAIN WHY THAT AMALL IN AND MANY OTHER
016POINTS WERE FLAWED FROM THAT PAPER. THE ARTICLE TRIED TO REFUTE HUNDREDS OF STUDIES. SOME MOST RECENTLY FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. ALL THE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT POVERTY-RELATED DISPARITIES ARE CORRELATED TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS. PLEASE NOTE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE NATION'S SEVENTH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A POVERTY RATE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. CLOSING SCHOOLS PROVIDING MORE SUB STANDARD SCHOOLS IS NOT THE ANSWER. CALIFORNIA HAS FIGURED IT OUT. A COMMUNITY SCHOOLS APPROACH ADDRESSES THE WHOLE CHILD. PLEASE LISTEN TO PATMENT TO. YOU NEED TO TAKE A STAND AND VIOLATE THE CORRUPT LEGISLATION COMING FROM OUR FLORIDA LEGISLATURE OR NOTHING IN THIS COUNTY OR STATE WILL CHANGE. VICE-CHAIR WASHINGTON, ONE POINT I WANT TO MAKE TO YOU THAT COULD HELP WITH THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK WITH THE STATE DIRECTOR OF HIPY JUST CALLED ME, DR. JORDAN.
017SHE IS THEY NOMINAL. IF YOU NEVER TALKED TO HER AND ADDISON, WOULD YOU LOVE HER BECAUSE EVERYTHING SHE DOES IS WITH HIPE FOR HOME INSTRUCTION OF PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL YOUNGSTERS AND HE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO HER IN MARCH AND SHE CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF SPEAKERS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN LINE UP. SPEAKER FOUR, IF YOU CAN COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE REMAINDER STAND UP AGAINST THE WALL, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MICHAEL ALBRITON. I'M HERE, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS, TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT MY WIFE OF 50 YEARS, SYLVIA ALBRITON. THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER SYLVIA TO BE NAMED FOR THE NEW SCHOOL. PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS SHE IS
018A PRODUCT OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. UPON GARAGE LATEING FROM FSU, SHE CAME BACK AS A TEACHER, A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT THE AGE OF 20 AND BEGAN OUR TEACHING CAREER IN LETO HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WENT TO ROBINSON. SHE BECAME A DEAN AT PLANT. STAYED THERE AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. WENT BACK TO ROBINSON, WAS PRINCIPAL AND FROM THERE TAMPA BAY TECH AND AFTER THAT ANOTHER COUNTY-LEVEL JOB AND WORKED MANY. THE NONTRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE FIRST GRADUATE OF HER FAMILY. SO SHE WANTED TO SHAKE THEIR THAT PEOPLE -- MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE HER WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE SYSTEM CAN OFFER. SHE WAS MOST PROUD SHE WENT BACK TO ROBINSON AS A PRINCIPAL AND FROM THERE WENT ON. SHE WAS A
019INNOVATOR AT MANY PROGRAMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. AND ONE OF THOSE WAS WHILE SHE WAS AT PLANT, THEY BEGAN WEARING COLLEGE REGALA AT GRADUATION AND CHANGED THE WHOLE FACE AND THE WHOLE TEMPO OF GRADUATIONS. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN MANY, MANY OTHER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT SHE HELPED INTRODUCE AND FOSTER HERE AT -- AS A PRINCIPAL AND A COUNTY-WIDE ADMINISTRATOR. BUT TODAY, SHE CONTINUES TO TEACH EVEN AFTER BEING RETIRED AFTER A CAREER 45 YEARS. IN FACT, TONIGHT SHE IS AT UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA TEACHING A PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION COURSE TO TEACHERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT ARE ASPIRING TO GET THEIR MASTER'S. SO I COULD GO ON AND ON AND PERHAPS MANY OF THE LETTERS, KIND WORDS AND THOUGHTS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED. I THINK WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SAY IS THAT MANY
020OF THE TEACHERS -- FORMER STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COLLEAGUES STEP FORTH AND SAID SHE WAS DESERVING. SHE WAS MOST APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF THAT AND SHE WOULD SAY ONE THING ONLY. AND THAT IS GIVE ME THE KIDS. THAT'S WHERE I AM GOING TO BE THE BEST. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HELLO. I AM ALSO SPEAKING TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER NAMING THE NEW SCHOOL AFTER DR. SYLVIA C CANTRELL ALBRITON. MY NAME IS WILLIAM ALBRITON. WHEN MY BROTHER AND I WERE CHILDREN, EVERYWHERE WE WENT, AS A FAMILY WE WOULD STOP, RESTAURANT, MALLS, PARKING L LOTS. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY KNEW MY MOM AND WANTED TO SPEAK WITH HER. IT WAS WEIRD. I THOUGHT SHE WAS FAMOUS. IT GAVE ME AN UNREALISTIC NOTION HOW EDUCATORS WERE VIEWED BY SOCIETY. MY MOM WASN'T FAMOUS
021BUT RESPECTED FOR MAKING A COUNTLESS IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AT THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN SOUTH TAMPA. AS A TEACHER MYSELF, I CAN SAY THAT NOT ALL THOSE IN EDUCATION ARE TREATED WITH SUCH LOVE. I WAS AT A CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE MAIN EVENT VIDEO GAME PLACE RECENTLY AND TWO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND MY SCHOOL PRETENDED NOT TO SEE ME. IT'S FINE. I AM NOT MY MOM. WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A SCHOOL TO HIRE ME, MY MOTHER ASKED ME IF I WAS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE JAIL, LIKE HER. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. SHE RETIRED AFTER BEING A PRINCIPAL FOR 15 YEARS AND TAUGHT IN THE JAIL. I SAID, NO, NOT INTERESTED. SORRY, MOM. SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT SHE WAS CRAZY FOR DOING THAT. NOT HER. SHE SAID THOSE KIDS NEEDED A TEACHER TOO. ANYWAY,
022MY BROTHER AND I WERE THE PRINCIPAL'S KIDS WHEN WE ATTENDED ROBINSON. UNLIKE WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, IT WASN'T WEIRD. WE COULD SEE FIRST HAND WHY PEOPLE STOPPED US WITH THE AMAZING RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD WITH OUR FELLOW STUDENTS. WE WERE ALL HER KIDS. IF THEY ARE NAME WERE PLACED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD BLACK OR SCHOOL BUILDING, A LASTING REMINDER OF THE LASTING IMPACT SHE HAD ON ALL OF US. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KAREN CLAY AND I AM A DISABILITY ADVOCATE. I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DISABILITY CAUCUS. AND WE STRONGLY CONDEMN THE ACTION OF THE BUS DRIVER THAT PLACED A CHOKEHOLD ON A CHILD WITH AUTISM. WE ARE CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ACTIONS OF THE DRIVER AND AN IMMEDIATE REVIEW
023REGARDING THE POLICY INFORMATION PLACE TO PROTECT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CLASSROOM, ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, AND WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED BY BUS IN THE USE OF ANY TYPE OF RESTRAINT. THE HISTORY OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS REFLECTS A LONG-STANDING DISREGARD TO THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND APPARENTLY CONTINUES TO DO SO. FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.573 ADDRESSES WIDESPREAD CONCERN ABOUT THE USE OF RESTRAIMENT ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. THE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, 2010. THE LAW ESTABLISHED STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE, MONITORING, DOCUMENTATION, AND REPORTING OF RESTRAINT ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE LAW ESTABLISHES THREE IMPORTANT RIGHTS. ONE, NOTIFICATION AND COPIES OF INCIDENT REPORTS. TWO, PROTECTION AGAINST MECHANICAL RESTRAINT THAT RESTRICTS A STUDENT'S BREA BREATHING. AND THREE, PROTECTIONS AGAINST MANUAL OR PHYSICAL RESTRAINT THAT RESTRICTS A STUDENT'S BREATHING. FLORIDA STATUTES IN
0242021 FURTHER CLARIFIED RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES MAY NOT BE USED TO INFLICT PAIN TO INDUCE COMPLIANCE. AND FURTHER GOES ON TO SAY THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ADOPT POSITIVE INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS AND IDENTIFY ALL SCHOOL PERSONNEL AUTHORIZED TO USE THE INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS. WHERE IS YOUR PLAN? BELLA HERRERA, JENNY CABELL O, ANYBODY REMEMBER THEIR NAMES? TWO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO DIED WITHIN THE CARE OF THIS DISTRICT. I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T LEARNED. THE VIDEO SHARED WITH WFLA WAS PROVIDED BY A STUDENT ON THE BUS. BECAUSE OF A HARD DRIVE ISSUE, THE CAMERA ON THE BUS DID NOT CAPTURE THE INCIDENT. THE POLICE DETERMINED NO CRIME HAD BEEN COMMITTED IF THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO SIMPLY RELY ON THE WORDS OF THE BUS DRIVER. WHERE ANY POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS TRIED?
025AND OBVIOUSLY TERRIFIED CHILD IS HEARD TO SAY IF YOU ARE GOING TO KILL ME, KILL ME NOW. HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE. IF THE BUS DRIVER THOUGHT THIS CHILD WAS GOING TO GET OFF AT THE WRONG STOP, WHY DIDN'T HE SIMPLY CLOSE THE DOOR. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER -- IF WE CAN HAVE SPEAKERS 8-11 LINE UP AGAINST THE DOOR, THAT WILL BE GREAT -- OR AGAINST THE WALL. THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS JESSICA DUBOIS AND THE SHARE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL ADVOCATES. WHEN I WAS A CHILD I LOVED NANCY DREW AND HAD A WAY TO SOLVE CLUES AND WORLD MYST MYSTERIES. BUN ALWAYS A RED HERRING THAT THROUGH HER OFF HER CASE. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND ACROSS THE STATE. I AM PLEADING
026WITH PARENTS WATCHING AT HOME, WITH MEDIA INVOLVING PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICIALS AND ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. WAKE UP. LET'S REVIEW SOME FACTS. FLORIDA IS THE THIRD MOST POPULACE STATE IN THE COUNTRY WITH TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RANKED AS THE 15th FASTEST GROWING CITY ACCORDING TO REAL ESTATE NEWS. YET WE HAVE $5,000 LESS PER PUPIL FUNDING JUST TO MEET THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. DON'T BELIEVE ARTICLES OF PROPOSALS PASSING THROUGH THE SENATE THAT ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING. CURRENT PROPOSED LEGISLATION JUST GIVES US $239 EXTRA PER STUDENT. MANY TACTICS BEING USED TO SIPHON FUNS AWAY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION INCLUDING FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR LOCAL MASK MANDATE ALSO TEACHER PAY IS AT THE BOTTOM FIVE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CHARTER SCHOOLS TAKE AWAY FROM THE FINITE POT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND IN SOME CASES, DELIVER POORER RESULTS.
027FIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE DOCKET TODAY. I URGE THE BOARD TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE GRADE EACH OF THE CHARTERS GOT COMPARED TO THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS. ENROLLMENT PREDICTIONS COMPARED TO TODAY'S ACTUALS. AND I THINK YOU WILL FIND HIGH HOPES IN TERMS OF INCREASED ENROLLMENT THIS. AND THE LENGTH OF THE RENEWAL TERM ASKED. IS SIPHONING MONEY AWAY FROM SCHOOLS BETTER IN EACH OF THESE COMMUNITIES? I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT H PSA IS NOT AGAINST CHARTERS. WE ARE NEUTRAL ON THE ISSUE. BUT NOT EVERY CHARTER SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. BACK TO NANCY DREW. FOLLOW THE CLUES. DON'T GET DIVERTED BY STORIES OF GRAND FUNDING INCREASES AND POLARIZING STORIES OF BOOK SENSORSHIPS, MASK MANDATES AND OTHER DEVISIVE TACTICS. THESE TOPICS ARE DESIGNED TO DISTRACT YOU. A RED HERRING, IF YOU WILL. IF YOU FOLLOW THE FACTS, THE
028TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS OUR STATE OFFICIALS ARE CHIPPING AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM FOLLOWING A MULTIMODAL ATTACK. BELIEVES IN EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER IN ALL FRONTS. I URGE THE BOARD WE NEED HELP NOW. LET'S REACH OUT TO THE CITY AND FIND COMMUNITY COALITIONS AND ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THE ISSUE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE RENAMING OR NAMING OF A SCHOOL IN SOUTHEASTERN COUNTY TO THE HONOR OF THE LATE DOROTHY YORK. MY NAME IS BARBARA JEFFERSON REAGAN, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THIS DISTRICT. TO MISS COMBS, CHAIRMAN, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, DR. DAVIS, AND OTHERS WHO SERVE IN OFFICIAL CAPACITIES, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE PK-8 SCHOOL BEING CONSTRUCTED IN SOUTHEASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY THE APOLLO BEACH AND WATER
029SET AREA BE NAMED IN HONOR MISS DOROTHY CARTER YORK. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER AMONG FOR FORWARD-THINKING EDUCATIONAL GIANTS. AND I AM SO VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF A DISTRICT THAT STILL TODAY CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES ACADEMIC LEADERS AND WINNERS. MRS. DOROTHY CARTER YORK WAS AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER, AUTHOR, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WHO, IN HER 44-YEAR TENURE, TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS INCLUDING STUDENTS, PARENTS, SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEVEL INDIVIDUALS. SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PE PERSONS SOUGHT BY DISTRICT LEADERS TO HELP INNOVATE SCHOOLS. SHE POSSESSED EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE SKILLS AND UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO REACH ACROSS THE TABLE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR ALL CHILDREN. HER LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE, WITH GRACIOUSNESS, FUELED BY COOPERATIVENESS, SUSTAINED BY A "WE CAN"ATTITUDE DESCRIBED THEN AS NOW A RECIPE FOR
030STUDENT PROGRESS. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SHE RECOGNIZED THAT THESE CHARACTERISTICS WERE NECESSARY FOR MEANINGFUL AND POSITIVE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE STUDENTS WHO CROSS THRESHOLDS IN CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY. HER DAILY FOCUS REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE WAS TO CONVINCE EVERY STUDENT OF HIS OR HER CAPABILITIES TO ACHIEVE STAR STATUS IN HER CLASS AND BEYOND. THIS WAS THE TYPE OF CONFIDENCE THAT THE LATE MRS. DOROTHY CARTER YORK GAVE TO STUDENTS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE HER AS THEIR TEACHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LIZ YORK COHEN. SOME LEGENDS ARE CELEBRITIES, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE UNSUNG HEROES WHO ARE JUST EVERYDAY PEOPLE. EVERYDAY PEOPLE, ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, SUCH AS MY MOTHER DOROTHY C. YORK. SHE WASN'T JUST A TEACHER. THAT WOULD
031HAVE BEEN TOO EASY TO WORK TO A CONTRACT. TO GO HOME AT 3:30 AND ENJOY WONDERFUL ME AND WONDERFUL DAD. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO EASY. INSTEAD, SHE WAS THE VOICE OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU SEE, THERE IS A TIME WHEN OUR SUSPENSION RATES IN OUR COUNTY SCHOOLS WERE EXCEP EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH. PARENTS WERE TERRIFIED THAT THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE DISCARDED AND THEY WOULD BE NOBODY, MY MOTHER, THE VOICE OF COMPASSION THAT HELD MANY HANDS AT SUSPENSION HEARINGS FOR EXPULSION AND SUSPENSION. SHE WAS THAT VOICE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, HE OR SHE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. WE NEED TO GET THIS CHILD BACK INTO SCHOOL. VOICE OF COMPASSION. SHE WAS ALSO THE VOICE OF REASON. I DON'T THINK DAD AND I COULD REASON WITH HER BECAUSE SHE HAD THIS PROGRAM WHERE HUNDREDS OF KIDS
032CAME TO OUR HOME FOR -- ARE YOU READY FOR THIS -- FREE TUTORING. FREE! FREE SAT PREP, FREE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT. SHE KNEW THAT STUDENTS NEEDED MORE. SOME FAMILIES COULDN'T AFFORD A TUTOR AND SHE WAS THERE. SHE EVEN HAD HER FAMOUS FISH AND GRITS SATURDAYS. WHY FISH AND GRITS? BECAUSE IT IS YOUR DAY TO LE LEARN. IT WAS IN GRITS, MOM WAS AN ENGLISH TEACHER. SHE WAS ALSO THE VOICE OF GOOD WILL. DURING HER FINAL DAYS HERE ON PLANET EARTH IN AN ASSISTED LIVING HERE IN TAMPA, SHE HAD HER WEEKLY GRAMMAR LESSONS WITH STAFF. SEEMS ODD, ISN'T IT? IT WASN'T ODD TO HER. KNEW THAT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. KNEW THAT ATTAINING THE GED WAS THE FIRST STEP TO HELP SOME ADULTS OUT OF POVERTY. TO BREAK THAT CYCLE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT EDUCATION, YOU ARE
033NEVER GOING TO BREAK THAT CYCLE. ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SHE DID. MAHER VOICE OF COMPASSION FOR SECONDS CHANCES, MAY VOICE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND VOICE OF LEARNING FOR A LIFE-LONG ENDEAVOR BE ECHOED IN THE HALLS OF THE NEW SCHOOL OF APOLLO BEACH. SHE STOOD UP FOR THE COMMUNITY AND GUESS WHAT, THE COMMUNITY IS HERE TO SNATCHED UP FOR HER TODAY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. IF WE CAN SIGN UP SPEAKERS 12-16. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, MY NAME IS WILLIE L. PARKER JR., RETIRED MAJOR AFTER 37 AND A HALF YEARS WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND I AM ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER MISS DOROTHY YORK -- THE LATE MRS. DOROTHY YORK. SOMEONE SAID, HE
034WHO STARTS BEHIND IN THE GREAT RACE OF LIFE MUST REMAIN BEHIND OR RUN FASTER THAN THE MAN IN FRONT. I DON'T KNOW WHO SAID IT. BUT I AM NOT TAKING CREDIT. THOSE ARE NOT MY OWN WORDS, BUT I BELIEVE IN THEM. AND I BASE THIS AND STATE THAT TO FOLLOW UP. WHEN I MET MRS. YORK IN THE 11th GRADE, THE SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WERE SEGREGATED. AND, OF COURSE, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEVER RECEIVED THE LATEST EDITIONS OF THE BOOKS -- EDUCATIONAL BOOKS THAT WERE PUBLISHED. THAT WAS A FACT THAT PLAYED A PART OF KEEPING AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS BEHIND. BUT THAT WAS NOT A DETERRENT TO ALL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEACHERS IN HILLSBOROUGH CO COUNTY. AND ESPECIALLY MRS. YORK. OF ALL THE TEACHERS THAT I HAVE IN MY 12 YEARS OF SCHOOL, MRS. YORK
035WAS THE TOUGHEST OF THEM ALL. BARRING NONE -- I HAD SOME TOUGH TEACHERS, BUT SHE WAS THE TOUGHEST. MRS. YORK WAS MY 11th GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER AND SHE TAUGHT ENGLISH TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM. ALL OF HER EXAMS WERE TIMED WITH THE AID OF A TIMED ALARM CLOCK. THE EXAMS WERE NEVER MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. AND EACH SECTION OF IT WAS T TIMED WITH THE ALARM GOING OFF. IF IT WAS COMPLETION. IF IT WAS FILL IN THE PWLAIPTION. A MINUTE AND A HALF. TRUE AND FALSE, A MINUTE. , ETC. I LEARNED MORE -- MUCH MORE THAN ENGLISH IN MRS. YORK'S CLASS. SHE TAUGHT RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY. THE FIRST TEACHER TO GIVE AN ASSIGNMENT THAT WAS DUE 30 DAYS AHEAD OF TIME AND NEVER MENTIONED IT UNTIL THE DAY IT WAS TO BE TURNED IN.
036IF YOU WERE ABSENT THAT DAY, TOO BAD. YOU DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE. TOO BAD. SHE USED TO SAY YOU COULD BE SICK FOR 30 DAYS. I AM NOT GOING TO CALL YOU, AND WHEN YOU COME BACK, YOU BETTER HAVE EVERY SINGLE ASSIGNMENT THAT I GAVE OUT. SHE TAUGHT YOU HOW TO SPEAK BEFORE THE CLASS. SHE EXPECTED HER STUDENTS TO BE WELL READ IN HER READING ASSIGNMENTS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. EMILY ANN KLUM. BOOK BANNING. THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL, AND THE ANTI-WOKE BILL. WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT. ONE THAT HUMAN KIND HAS EXPERIENCED ANY TIME SOCIETY AS A WHOLE SAYS WE MUST DO BETTER. SOME FOLKS JUST NEED TO BE DRAGGED, KICKING AND SCREAMING INTO THE LIGHT OF LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING.
037IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING MANY PEOPLE BEFORE THIS BODY YELLING ABOUT WANTING BOOKS BANNED. THINKING THAT THEY WILL SOMEHOW HARM THEIR CHILDREN OR THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE HARMED BY FEELING BAD FOR OTHERS. ARE WE NOW RAISING OUR CHILDREN TO BE FRAGILE? ARE WE WORRIED THAT THERE WILL BE SCARRED FOR LIFE IF THEY READ A BOOK THAT WAS ACTUALLY SCARRED FOR LIFE. I HEAR FROM SOME OF THOSE FO FOLKS, TERMS LIKE INDOCTRINATION AND HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE CODE FOR, IF WE MAKE LBGTQ STUDENTS AND FAMILY SAFE AT SCHOOL, IT MAY MAKE MY CHILD GAY. AND I'M HERE TO TELL THAT YOU NO ONE CHOOSES TO BE GAY. JUST LISTEN TO OR READ THE STORIES OF ANGUISH AND YET THOSE ARE THE STORIES TRYING TO BE SILENCED. WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. AFTER EMANCIPATION,
038THE B BACKLASH WAS SO STRONG THE JIM CROW LAWS TO KEEP AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM BEING FULL PARTICIPANTS IN SOCIETY. FROM THE TULSA UPRISING TO SIGNS SAYING WHITE AND COLORED, FROM THE BACKS OF BUSES AND SEPARATE SCHOOLS, PEOPLE STARTED MARCHING, RAISING THEIR VOICES TO SAY THIS IS NOT RI RIGHT. NO ONE CAN FORGET THE IMAGES OF WHITE PARENTS HURLING ESPECIALLY AT THE TIMES AND REFUGE -- EPITETS AND REFUSE TO BLACK CHILDREN SIMPLY TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND GET AN EDUCATION. HERE WE GO AGAIN. PAST DAYS COMPANIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAY WE NEED TO BE BETTER. COMPANIES WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY ALLOWED DIVERSE VOICES TO THE TABLE. SCHOOL DISTRICTS REALIZED IN ORDER FOR ALL STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL BETTER TO UNDERSTAND EXPERIENCES AND EMBRACE THEM. ALLOWING CHILDREN TO READ STORIES THAT ARE LIVES DIFFERENT THAN THEIR
039OWN. LIVES ARE MUCH MORE TRAUMATIC THAN THEIRS TEACHES THEM PEOPLE THEE AND CARING. WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT AND WE MUST DO BETTER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JULIE GEPHART AND I WANT TO ISSUE AN EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING FOR ANY CHILDREN WHO MIGHT BE IN THE ROOM. I'M HERE TODAY AGAIN ON BEHALF OF PARENT AND CHILDREN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PORNOGRAPHY THAT FILLS OUR SCHOOL SHELVES. MORE AND MORE CONVINCED THAT THE SCHOOL VIOLATED OBSCENE TEE LAWS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL PARENTS TO LOOK THIS UP. AGAIN CHAPTER 847 SECTION 012. PART OF THE EXCEPTION READS AS FOLLOWS: A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWINGLY SELL, RENT OR LOAN FOR MONETARY CONSIDERATION FOR A MINOR ANY PICTURE OR PHOTOGRAPH DRAWING OR SIMILAR VISUAL REPRESENTATION OR A PERSON THAT DEPICTS
040NUDITY, SEXUAL CONDUCT, SEXUAL EXCITEMENT WHICH IS HARMFUL TO MINORS ANY BOOK, PAMPHLET, PRINTED MATTER HOWEVER REPRODUCED THAT CONTAINED EXPLICIT AND DETAILED VERBAL DESCRIPTION OF SEXUAL EXCITEMENT AND SEXUAL CONDUCT THAT IS HARMFUL TO MINORS. I READ SEVERAL SECTIONS BEFORE AND THIS IS "MILK AND HONEY." 50 KINDS OF IT IN OUR LIBR LIBRARIES. LITTLE ME DOWN, LAY ME OPEN LIKE A MAT. KISS ME LIKE THE CENTER POINT OF GRAVITY TEE. WHEN YOUR MOUTH IS KISSING, MY LEG ALSO SPLIT APART OUT OF HABIT AND I PULL NEW, WELCOME YOU HOME, WHETHER THESE FLAMES BEGIN WITH OUR ANGER OR PAS PASSION, I WILL SMILE, THROW MY HEAD BACK, ARCH MY BODY LIKE A MOUNTAIN YOU WANT TO SPLIT IN HALF. BABY LICK ME. FIND YOUR FAVORITE PAGE IN THE SOFT SPOT AND READ IT CAREFULLY, FLUIDLY. DON'T LEAVE A
041SINGLE WORD UNTOUCHED AND MY END ALSO SO GOOD, LAST FEW WORDS WILL COME RUNNING TO YOUR MOUTH. WHEN YOU ARE DONE, TAKE A SEAT BECAUSE MY TIME IN MAKE MUSIC WITH KNEES PRESSED TO THE GROUND. SWEET BABY THIS HOW WE PULL LANGUAGE OUT OF OUR MOUTH WITH THE FLICK OF OUR TONGUES. BACK TO THE FLORIDA STATUTE, A ADULT MAY NOT DISTRIBUTE TO A MINOR ANY MATERIAL DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTIONS 3 WHICH IS WHAT I WAS READING TO YOU BEFORE. MY HEART IS RACING. THIS IS REALLY TROUBLING. UNLESS ACCORDING TO THE STATUTE THESE ARE SCHOOL APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT, BY DESIGN, SERVE AS A MAJOR TOOL FOR ASSISTING IN THE INSTRUCTION OF A SUBJECT. THIS CONSTITUTES INNUMERABLE INSEPARABLE OFFENSES ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA STATUTES. TEN MONTHS I HAVE BEEN COMING TO INFORM YOU. TEN MONTHS OF DISTRIBUTING
042PORN. YOUR DISCUSSION ON BOOKS ON THE AGENDA 6.04. I URGE YOU STRONGLY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE BOOKS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT, CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DESIREE JACKSON AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF DOROTHY CARTER YORK. SHE WAS BORN, RAISED AND EDUCATED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. WHEN DOROTHY CARTER YORK PU PURSUED HER COLLEGE EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT WAS HER VOW TO BRING LIFE TO HER DREAM TO BECOME AN EDUCATOR. SHE WAS DETERMINED TO CHANGE LIVES FOR THE GOOD, FOR THE BETTER, FOR THE GREATER. SHE WANTED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON HER HOMETOWN. STARTING THE DAYS OF SEGREGATION, DOROTHY YORK WORKED TO UNITE, OVERCOME TENSIONS AND UNCERTAINTY IN THE ONSET OF SAID INTEGRATION. SHE MADE HER STUDENTS FEEL SAFE, COMFORTABLE AND CARED ABOUT. FOR 40 YEARS
043MOTIVATED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, HILLSBOROUGH HIGH, USF UPWARD BOUND, HCC AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. HER GOAL WAS SUCCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT. DOROTHY CARTER YORK WENT DEEP. SHE WENT TO KNOW HER STUDENTS ON INTENSE LEVELS AND IN FACT, MRS. YORK IS THE ONLY EDUCATOR THAT I KNOW WHO KNEW THE NAMES OF HER STUDENTS' PARENTS, THEIR SIBLINGS, AND RECITE UNTIL SHE LEFT THIS EARTH THEIR HOME ADDRESSES ALSO. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THE TOTAL COMMUNITY, NO MATTER WHICH COMMUNITIES HER STUDENTS CAME FROM. SHE GAVE HER TIME, TALENTS AND RESOURCES ON AND OFF THE CLOCK. SHE SPONSORED MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES, PUSHED STUDENTS TO PURSUE HIGHER AND HIGHER THROUGH EDUCATION. SHE ORGANIZED EVENTS. RAISE AND GAVE SCHOLARSHIP MONDAY. TUTORED ANY STUDENT THAT NEEDED OR WANTED ASSISTANCE. AFTER HER
044RETIREMENT SHE FOUNDED A COMMUNITY NONPROFIT TO MAKE COLLEGE POSSIBLE FOR SOME WHOSE OTHERS COUNTED OUT. FROM THE HALLS OF HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, MRS. YORK IGNITED AND INFUSED THE FIRE IN THE HEART OF ME. AND IN SO MANY OTHERS. I WAS A GIRL FROM TAMPA'S EAST SIDE GOING ON TO ATTEND FSU, USF AND ULTIMATELY TO ACHIEVE A DOCTORATE A DEGREE. FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AND MANY OTHERS APPEAL TO YOU, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, TO DESIGNATE PK-8 TO BE NAMED DOROTHY CARTER YORK PRE PRE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. I AM JULE BIRD WARREN. A MAGNET SCHOOL NEEDS A MAGNET NAME. DOROTHY CARTER YORK. DOROTHY CARTER YORK HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. A NOTABLE EDUCATION OF 45 YE YEARS, WHICH INCLUDED HILLSBOROUGH, BLAKE, HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PROJECT
045UPWARD BOUND, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. DOROTHY CARTER YORK DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP TOWARD THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMANITY AS AN ADVOCATE FOR UNDESERVING CHILDREN. HOME SCHOOLING FOR TUTORS AND PROVIDING HEALTHY SNACKS. DOROTHY CARTER YORK. SHE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND PARENTS. WHY? THEY SAW THE GROG CONGRESS. SHE WAS VERY INSPIRATIONAL IN HELPING CHILDREN. SHE HELPED THEM TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER THEIR OWN CREATIVITY. IDEAS, AND APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE THEY HAD LEARNED IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. SHE WAS A VOICE -- DO YOU HEAR ME? A VOICE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, APPRECIATION. SUPPORT AND RESPECT. DOROTHY CARTER YORK DEMONSTRATED CHARACTER AS A DEVOTED MENTOR. INSPIRED ALL OF THE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES, TALENTS AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS MORAL CHARACTER, GOOD STUDY HABITS, BETTER DECISION MAKING AND GOAL SETTING. DOROTHY CARTER YORK WAS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. CIVIC,
046A CHURCH, 29th CHURCH OF GOD AND BELOVED ALPHA KAPPA AUTHORITY,INC. SHE FACED CHALLENGES ALREADY AND FACED IT WITH GRIT. GOOD COMMUNICATION SCALES CATSKILLS. VISION, PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE. SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES. THEREFORE, I ENCOURAGE A VOTE FOR DOROTHY CARTER YORK. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. IF WE CAN PLEASE SIGN UP SPEAKERS 17-20. GOOD AFTERNOON. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, MISS VAUGHN, MISS SNIVELY, MISS WASHINGTON, MISS GRAY, MISS PEREZ, CHAIR COMBS AND DR. HAHN , OUR AREA REP THAT THE SCHOOL WILL BE LOCATED. I'M HERE TO NAME THE FIRST PK-8 SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER MY GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS A TEACHER IN SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR 43 YEARS AT WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY. BEING A TEACHER IN THOSE TIMES FROM 1966 TO 2009 WAS NO EASY JOB. AS THIS AREA WAS DESTITUTE, IT WAS NOT
047A PLACE THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD TRAVEL TO TEACH CHILDREN IN WIMAUMA, RUSKIN, APOLLO BEACH, AND GIBSONTON; HOWEVER, MY GRANDMOTHER DID. SHE NOT ONLY TAUGHT STUDENTS, SHE TAUGHT THEIR PARENTS. IF ENGLISH WAS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, SHE WOULD HAVE THE PARENTS COME TO HER HOME TO TEACH THEM ENGLISH. SHE WOULD TEACH THEM HOW TO READ AND WRITE. A PILLAR OF THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THIS SCHOOL WILL BE PLACED. MY GRANDMOTHER'S LEGACY IN SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ONE THAT YOU CAN GO RIGHT NOW TO WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY, THE WILDCATS AND ASK ABOUT MISS MORGAN, AND THEY WILL SPEAK ABOUT HOW WHEN A PARENTS, A TEACHER, ANYONE NEEDED HER, THAT SHE WAS THERE. SHE ALWAYS SAID THAT IF SHE LIVED THIS LIFE AND WAS ABLE TO HELP ONE PERSON, THEN HER LIVING WAS NOT IN VAIN. PARENTS WILL REQUEST MY
048GRANDMOTHER TO TEACH THEIR STUDENTS BECAUSE SHE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EDUCATION WAS THE PRIORITY IN HER CLASS. NO FUN UNTIL IT WAS TIME FOR SCHOOL PLAYS, SCIENCE PROJECTS, OR IF SHE HAD A TIME TO TEACH THEM ORATORICAL SPEAKING WHICH SHE WAS SO PROUD OF. I BELIEVE LIKE THE CURRENT PRINCIPAL MISS LEONARD STATED, HER FATHER SAID YOU HAVE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT GAVE YOU SO MUCH. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS NAME, MORGAN MAGNET WATER SET PK-8 TO MY GRANDMOTHER MISS MORGAN WHO WAS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THIS SCHOOL IS PLACED. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO LAY THE BLUEPRINT FOR SO MANY TO PULL TO OUR AREA, PULL TO SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. MY GRANDMOTHER WANTED ME TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL HOW SHE TOOK HER
049STUDENTS' CLOTHES, MADE SURE AT A PTA, WAS 80 YEARS OLD AND UNABLE TO JOIN AND WANT MOOD TOE SHARE TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY FELT IT WAS AN HONOR TO ME TO SUBMIT HER NAME AS I HAVE BEEN PETITIONING FOR FIVE YEARS AND I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WITH BELMONT, DR. HAHN STATED SHE LISTENED TO THE CONSTITUENTS TO NAME IT BELMONT ELEMENTARY, AND I AM A CONSTITUENT OF SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND HOPING THAT YOU NAME THIS SCHOOL MORGAN MAGNET PK-8 AFTER MY BLOOD GRANDMOTHER. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. WELL, THAT IS HARD TO FO FOLLOW. I HAVE WATCHED SO MANY OF THESE MEETINGS WITH REPLAY AND NOW I'M HERE LIVE AND GRATEFUL TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO THIS BOARD. I AM ALSO THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF AQUILA MORGAN, AN ACTUAL 55-YEAR PROFESSOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
050SHE STARTED FROM THE KITCHEN. AND WHEN A PERSONAL TRAGEDY BROUGHT DEATH INTO HER LIFE AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGHER LEARNING, SHE TOOK IT AND RETURNED WITH AN EDUCATION, REMEMBER DEGREE, HER DOCTORATE DEGREE IN EDUCATION AND RE REMAINED A SCHOOLTEACHER FOR 43 YEARS. SHE WOULD HAVE STAYED LONGER IF NOT SUFFERED KIDNEY FAILURE. EVEN WHEN WE WERE SCARED OF LOSING HER, ALL SHE COULD THINK ABOUT IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CHILDREN? WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY CLASSROOM. MY GRANDMOTHER MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A PRINCIPAL, BUT SHE HAD THE DRIVE TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM AT HER SCHOOL WITH THE CHILDREN SHE LOVED. AND ALL THE WAY INTO THE DAY SHE LEFT THOSE DOORS. IF WOULD YOU HAVE LOOKED IN HER DRAWER, SHE HAD EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL PHOTO OF ALL HER STUDENTS WITH THEIR NAMES,
051THEIR AGES, THE YEAR. AND SHE COULD RECITE THEM ALL. I LITERALLY HAD TO GROW A BEARD AND A GOATEE, BECAUSE IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE I WAS A PREVIOUS -- I WAS A CHEF BEFORE I CAME TO THE COUNTY. AS I APPROACHED MY FIRST 20 YEARS, I WOULD LIKE THE HONOR OF CONTINUING THE REST OF MY CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AT K-8. AQUILA MORGAN MAGNET SCHOOL. SHE HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH TO THIS COUNTY, TO HER STUDENTS, AND TO THE LIVES AND ENRICHMENT OF SO MANY AND MYSELF INCLUDED. IT WAS THROUGH HER UNDERSTANDING, HER LOVE AND HER EDUCATION THAT THE DILIGENCE IN MY OWN CAREER IN THIS COUNTY HAS FLOURISHED. I AM A TWO-TIME WINNER OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A THIRD BUT LIKE OPRAH, I DECIDED STEP ASIDE AND LET
052ELLEN TAKE THE AWARD THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD THROUGH THE -- THIS -- THIS ENTIRE MEETING THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE EQUALLY DESERVING. AND I JUST KNOW WITH THE GROWTH OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT THERE WILL ALL BE SCHOOLS THAT I PRAY THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET THEIR NAME. BUT I WOULD LOVE BEFORE MY GRANDMA TO LEAVES THIS EARTH THAT SHE WOULD SHOW SHE WOULD BE MEMORIALIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AS A SC SCHOOLTEACHER WITH THIS PK-8. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, CHAIR COMBS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM A MEMBER OF A THIRD AND FOURTH GRADER. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT FOR THE DUAL PROGRAM AT WESTCHASE FOR A NEW INCOMING KINDERGARTEN CLASS FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR AND CONTINUITY OF THE PROGRAM AT
053WHESCHASE FOR THOSE CURRENTLY ENROLLED. BROWSING THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 2021-'26 STRATEGIC P PLAN. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE SAME PASSION FOR DUAL LANGUAGE. OBJECTIVE 4 TRANSPARENTLY THROUGH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION TAKEN FROM YOUR STRATEGIC PLANS. THE OBJECTIVES AND KEY RESULTS THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION PROGRAM WITH ANNUAL AND TRIANNUAL OBJECTIVES AND TO HAVE POSITIVE AUTHORITIES SPECIFICALLY SHOWCASING DUAL LANGUAGE. I WANT TO KNOW THE ANNUAL AND TRIANNUAL OBJECTIVES AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROGRAM LIKE WESTCHASE'S DUAL LANGUAGE FIT INTO THESE RESULTS. THE RECENT NEWS ARTICLE BY THE DO-DEA OF SPANISH LANGUAGE AND FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NEAR MacDILL OUR WORLD LANGUAGE SUPERVISOR TO SAY THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM THAT CAN BE REPLICATED ANY PLACE IN THE DISTRICT. THIS EXPANSION OF LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IS GREAT NEWS, BUT YOU CANNOT FORGET ABOUT SUSTAINING EXISTING PROGRAMS LIKE WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY.
054THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. AN ASSIGNMENT -- ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. IT MEETS TO BE MARKETOUR WEB SITE PROMOTE DUAL LANGUAGE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH TO RESPECTIVE FAMILIES. SECOND, WE NEED MORE KIDS IN A PROGRAM. IT IS TO FILL A PROGRAM WHERE NO ONE KNOWS EXISTS, AT LOCAL ROUND-UP AND PK-8. AND THIRD, THIS PROGRAM NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE 2 A MODEL WITH CLASSES ONE IN ENGLISH AND ONE IN SPANISH. THIS PROGRAM HAS MOVED TO A 1 A MODEL AND WE ARE LOSING TEA TEACHERS MIDYEAR AND DO NOT FEEL SUPPORTED TEACHING ALL SUBJECTS AND BOTH LANGUAGES. IF WE GET IT BACK IN TWO-WAY MODEL WE WILL FIND TEACHERS. FOURTH, TO ENSURE THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. FIFTH WE NEED A DUAL LANGUAGE CHAIR IN THE PTA. SUSTAINING A DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM AND SCHOLARLY
055ARTICLES, THE MESSAGE IS THE SAME, FOR DUAL LANGUAGE IS SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS MUST BE READY. THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE ARE COMMITTED. I ASK THE SAME FROM THE DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. AND IF WE CAN HAVE SPEAKERS 19-22 LINE UP AS WELL. THANK YOU. HELLO. I AM PATRICIA HALL. AND AS YOU LOOK AT RENEWALS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS OPENED IN 2017, HERE ARE SOME SALIENT FACTS. EXCELSIOR PREP AT UNIVERSITY SQUARE MALL IS SERVING 82% L LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WHO NEED THE MOST HELP, THE BEST TEACHERS AND THREE F GRADES WHILE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEARBY HAD BETTER SCORES AND GRADES. WHEN HAS A TRIPLE F SCHOOL BEEN RENEWED? HELP THESE CHILDREN AND PARENTS FIND BETTER SCHOOLS. IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2021, VICTORY,
056FORMERLY AVANT-GARDE IS MANAGED BY NATIONAL ACADEMIC EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS OR ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. TWO DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE BOOK. HOW DOES THE CHARTER OFFICE VET A NEW OWNER THAT HAVEN'T DONE BUSINESS IN HILLSBOROUGH CO COUNTY. NEGATIVE FUND BALANCES WERE UP TO $228,000 THREE YEARS IN A ROW UNTIL TAKEOVER. ALL SCHOOLS SURROUNDING THIS ONE HAVE HIGHER GRADES. MATH AND SCIENCE SCORES A VICTORY ARE VERY LOW COMPARED TO OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS. PLATO AND CARROLLWOOD HAS GOOD GRADES, BUT SO DO ALL SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY ASKING FOR A 15-YEAR RENEWAL WHEN OUR DISTRICT AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS SUCH POOR FINANCIAL STATUS. 15 YEARS HELPS REAL ESTATE INVESTORS AND ROBS PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF EDUCATION DOLLARS. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, SLAM HAS HAD A DECLINING ENROLLMENT FROM 532 TO 436 TO 355 AND WITH THAT,
057SO HAS THE FUND BALANCE GONE DOWN TO $24,000. TIME FOR PIT BULL, THE INVESTOR, TO PONY UP SOME CASH TO ACADEMIA. ALL SCHOOLS HAVE BETTER GRADES AROUND SLAM. FOUR PRINCIPALS IN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. WHY A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL. BRIDGE PREP HAS A GOOD LOCATION IN RIVERVIEW AND A LARGE ENROLLMENT, BUT THEIR C GRADE IS NOT AS GOOD AS PROGRESS VILLAGE MAGNET OR RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY. THEIR NEW HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE ON THE SAME CAMPUS AND TRAFFIC IS ALREADY A BIG PROBLEM IN THAT AREA. BIG PICTURE, THIS IS AN ENDLESS DRAIN ON SCARCE RESOURCES. $233 MILLION GO TO CHARTERS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND $12 MILLION MORE IN CAPITAL OUTLIE FOR THE BRAND-NEW BUILDINGS. 13 PRINCIPALS IN FIVE SCHOOLS IN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. GOOD FOR KIDS? NO. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
058GOOD AFTERNOON. TO ALL OUR SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND EVERYONE HERE, MY NAME IS SHEILA HELMS. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY MOTHER, AQUILA MORGAN, AND WHY IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO HAVE A NAME -- A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HER BY THE NAME OF AQILA MORGAN MAGNET WATERSET PK-8. SHE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL TEACHER. SHE MADE AN IMPACT ON ALL OF HER STUDENTS' LIVES. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE EVERY TIME THEY SEE ME, THEY STOP ME AND TELL ME HOW SHE MOTIVATED THEM AND INFLUENCED THEM TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY COULD BE AND HOW WE WENT ON TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION BECAUSE OF HER. SHE WAS A DEDICATED AND VERY COMPASSIONATE ABOUT HER JOB AND HER STUDENTS. SHE WAS PATIENT WITH THEM AND TAUGHT THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY WOULD
059UNDERSTAND. SHE WOULD GO OUT OF HER WAY, MAKE PHONE CALLS, AND EVEN HOME VISITS. AND SHE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE PARENTS WOULD KNOW HOW THE CHILDREN WERE DOING ACADEMICALLY. SHE TAUGHT THE CHILDREN HOW TO APPLY THEMSELVES. AND SHE DIDN'T SEE ANY FAILURE IN HER STUDENTS. SHE MADE SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD WHY SHE WAS TEACHING THEM AND WHAT SHE WAS TEACHING. SHE IS ALSO A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE SCHOOL WILL BE. AND SHE IS ALWAYS GIVING BACK. SHE IS VERY WELL-RESPECTED. AND SHE HAS ALSO MADE AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WHAT A WELL-DESERVING AND HONORABLE OCCASION TO HAVE A NAME -- SCHOOL NAMED AFTER MY MOTHER. AQUILA MORGAN MAGNET WATERSET PK-8. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY.
060I AM A GRADUATE OF HOWARD W. BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. MISS YORK WAS MY TEACHER DURING SEGREGATION. A TIME WHEN WE WERE BEING CALLED EVERYTHING BUT A CHILD OF GOD. IT WAS MISS YORK WHO TOLD US AND TAUGHT US THAT THE ONLY THING THAT COULD HOLD US BACK WAS OURSELVES. THAT HE -- IF WE DIDN'T GET A GOOD EDUCATION, WE WERE GOING NOWHERE. SHE WAS THAT INSPIRATION AND WHEN SHE TRANSITIONED INTO INTEGRATION, IT WAS NOT EASY. WE LOST ALOFT BLACK TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FEEL -- OR THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE WANTED OR NEEDED. THAT FEAR NEVER CROSSED MISS DOROTHY YORK. BECAUSE SHE HAS SEEN ALL CHILDREN, CHILDREN AS CHILDREN THAT NEEDED TO LEARN. SHE DIDN'T LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. BUT SHE WAS LOOKING AT THAT BRAIN THAT NEEDED TO BE
061EDUCATED. AND THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY ASKING THIS BOARD THAT WE IN 2022, THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THAT WE TAKE A FIRM STEP AND SAY THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING BACK. WE ARE GOING FORWARD. SO THAT SCHOOL IN APOLLO BEACH, WHEN THE BLACK CHILDREN AND WHITE CHILDREN AND BROWN CHILDREN, YELLOW CHILDREN SAY WHO IS THAT LADY NAMED THIS ON THAT WALL? WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WAS AN EDUCATOR WHO HAD COMPASSION, WHO HAD LOVE, WHO HAD CONCERN FOR YOU. AND THAT'S WHY I AM STANDING AS A TESTIMONY, AS A LIVING WITNESS THAT THIS DAY, IT SHOULD BE DEEMED, DECLARED DOROTHY CARTER YORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. MADAM CHAIR, ADDISON DAVIS, SUPERINTENDENT. AIN'T NO -- A TOUGH ACT FOR ME TO FOLLOW. I'M HERE TO
062TELL YOU NOW. I'M HERE TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER DOROTHY YORK. EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU ALL, ELECTED OFFICIALS, RAN ON DIVERSITY. WANT IT FAIR. ALL OF Y'ALL. EVERYTHING THAT WE DID. I WANT -- YEAH, THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID. NOW IT IS TIME FOR SHOW TIME! SHOW TIME! YOU GOT TO DO THIS. SEE IF YOU ARE REALLY ABOUT DIVERSITY. IT IS REALLY SIMPLE. ABOUT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS. IT IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE. I AM GOING TO ASK ALL OF Y'ALL AND ADDISON DAVIS, YOU CAN GET THE COUNT ON THIS. HOW MANY SCHOOLS DO YOU HAVE NAMED AFTER BLACK PEOPLE? ALL RIGHT THEN. WHEN SEGREGATION NOW WE GOT TO COME IN HERE AND BEG AND PLEAD TO GET A NAMED AFTER AN EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN. DOROTHY YORK. HER DAUGHTER CAME AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT COMING DOWN
063HERE. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE. EVERY I AM FROM DAWSON GEORGIA. I AM NOT FROM HERE. I HAVE BEEN AT 35 YEARS IN MY HOME. I ASKED ABOUT HER, EVERYTHING ASKED ABOUT HER CAME BACK CLEAN. I ASKED AND CAME BACK CLEAN. EVERYBODY I ASKED CAME BACK CLEAN. SHE SET THAT BAR REAL HIGH FOR EDUCATORS. EDUCATORS RIGHT NOW -- I CAN REMEMBER MY 11th GRADE TEACHER MISS MARSHA. SHE SENT ME A CHECK OF $25. AND THAT WAS THE TEACHER THAT GOT ME INTERESTED IN EDUCATION. BEFORE THEN I WASN'T INTE INTERESTED. I WAS TRYING TO GET ME A GIRL AND HANG OUT. AND WAIT FOR THE BELL TO RING. BUT GOOD TEACHERS, MA'AM, GOOD TEACHERS, SIR, CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE BECAUSE SHE CHANGED MINE. MISS YOU DOROTHY YORK CHANGED PEOPLE'S LIFE. CHANGED THEIR BANK ACCOUNT. CHANGED THEIR
064ADDRESS. POVERTY IS TIED TO EDUCATION. CRIME IS TIED TO POVERTY -- LACK OF EDUCATION. YOU WANT TO THE SAME THING AND TALK ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND PUTTING THIS UP HERE AND SAY A BLACK CHILD, A LATINO CHILD CAN -- THAT IS NAMED AFTER A BLACK PERSON.3 WHEN I CAME TO THE TOWN, I NEVER KNEW THE SCHOOL GOING TO I-4 WAS A BLACK LADY. YOU KNOW THEY PLAYED FOOTBALL. COME ON, COACH. I DIDN'T KNOW EVEN A BLACK WOMAN. WE NEED TO GET MORE SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER SUCCESSFUL EDU EDUCATORS. LET ME SAY THIS IN MY CONCLUSION. WE ARE NOT SAYING JUST BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK. DON'T DO IT FOR THAT. DO IT BECAUSE OF HER CHARACTER AND SHE REPRESENTED EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. COUNTY COMMISSIONER GWEN MYERS. AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK
065HISTORY MONTH, LET US CONSIDER NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER DOROTHY CARTER YORK DURING THIS MONTH. WE AS BLACKS, WE DON'T ASK FOR THAT MUCH. BUT THIS IS THE TIME AS WE CELEBRATE, WE ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING. TO BE -- TO HAVE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER DOROTHY CARTER YORK. YOU SEE, SHE TAUGHT MANY STUDENTS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT. IF ALL OF HER STUDENTS CAN COME BACK TODAY, THEY WILL SAY, BOARD MEMBERS, DO THE RIGHT THING AND NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER A TEACHER WE SO LOVED AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. THAT WAS MY SCHOOL. 1990 -- 1970 BEFORE SEGREGATION. HER ENGLISH CLASS, IMPACTFUL. VERY IMPACTFUL. YOU KNOW WHY? SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR. A FEARLESS LEADER. A NO-NONSENSE TEACHER. BUT CARING ABOUT HER STUDENTS. JUST THE LOOK MISS
066YORK GAVE US, WE THOUGHT WE HAD SERVED MANY YEARS IN THE MILITARY BECAUSE WE KNEW MISS YORK WANTED US TO STRAIGHTEN UP AS HER STUDENTS. SO TODAY, I AM STANDING WITH THE FAMILY. ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY SCHOOLS NAMED AFTER BLACKS. I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST ONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ATTORNEY GENERAL WARREN DAWSON. NOT SURE. BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LAST ONE THAT WAS LIKE YESTERYEARS. IT WASN'T TWO DAYS WHERE I CAN REMEMBER OR TWO YEARS AGO. OKAY. BUT, AGAIN, DOROTHY YORK WAS A SPECIAL TEACHER. AND I'M HERE TO ASK THIS BOARD TO HONOR HER. HONOR HER BECAUSE SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR. HONOR HER BECAUSE SHE TAUGHT IN THE DISTRICT. HONOR HERE BECAUSE SHE WAS LOVED BY SO MANY STUDENTS.
067HONOR HER BECAUSE SHE WAS AN AMAZING TEACHER THAT BELIEVED IN THE STUDENTS HAVING EDUCATION BECAUSE WHAT WE SAY ABOUT AN EDUCATION IS IT IS VITAL TO OUR CITY, OUR COUNTY, OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. THAT WAS DOROTHY YORK. SO TO HONOR HER WITH THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL, ALL I CAN SAY, BOARD MEMBERS, DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK OR THINK HARD. AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY, MAKE DOROTHY YORK A PART OF OUR HISTORY TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. IF WE CAN PLEASE HAVE SPEAKERS 24-27 LINE UP AS WELL. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. WHAT IS TRULY APPROPRIATE FOR OUR CHILDREN. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS. THERE IS AN ITEM ON YOUR AG AGENDA, I BELIEVE, 6.05 INVOLVING THE PURCHASING OF A BOOK TO PUT INTO
068OUR SCHOOLS THAT IS SO DIRTY AND SO DISGUSTING THAT I DARE NOT SAY ITS NAME. BUT I WILL GIVE YOU THE DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER WHEN I AM DONE. I WANT ALL OF TO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN IT. AMONG OTHER SICK AND OBSCENE STORIES OF TWO GIRLS AND A FATHER. I APOLOGIZE FOR FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE. TWO GIRLS AND A FATHER AND ONE DAY THE GIRLS DECIDED TO GET THE FATHER DRUNK ON WINE IN ORDER TO MOLEST THIS MAN. BASICALLY RAPE THIS MAN IN ORDER TO PROCREATE, TO IMPREGNATE AND HAVE BABIES. INCEST. SOME UP HERE TALKING OF "MILK AND HONEY"THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO -- NOTHING ON THIS BOOK I AM TALKING ABOUT. WOULD YOU AGREE THAT GIRLS HAVING SEX WITH A FATHER IS AN INAPPROPRIATE THING TO HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN?
069APPARENTLY THERE IS EVEN A MANGA VERSION OF THIS IN THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW WITH PIC PICTURES. AND IT IS ON THE SHELVES AT EXCUSE MAKE ANY NEWSOM, SIC SICKLES. NOW YOU WANT TO BUY MORE OF THIS BOOK. A BOOK THINK THAT KNOW FOR A FACT HAS A CHILD -- HAS INSPIRED PEDOPHILIA IN THE CHURCH. AND YOU WANT TO FURTHER IT IN THE CLASSROOM? DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER 220.5 HOL. PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS BOOK. YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE GOING TO BAN ANY BOOK, THIS IS THE BOOK. THIS IS THE ONE BOOK AND NORMALLY I AM NOT AN ADVOCATE BUT THIS IS THE ONE BOOK THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAUGHT TO OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS THE BIBLE. THAT IS THE PUNCHLINE. OKAY, THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER. TO CHAIRMAN COMBS
070AND BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, I AM JACQUELINE JOHNSON JONES, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MISS AQUILA MORGAN, NAMING YOUR UPCOMING SCHOOL AFTER HER. I WAS LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. I AM AN EDUCATOR AS WELL, 40-PLUS YEARS. I AM EXCITED TO RETIRE SOON, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. AND AS WE HEARD ALL OF THE OTHERS SPOKE -- SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR DESIRE AND SUPPORT IN NAMING OF THE SCHOOL, I AM SURE THEIR DESIRES AS EDUCATORS WERE THE SAME. PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE. EXACTLY ONE MONTH AGO TODAY, OUR OWN DR. SEUSS WROTE THE FAMOUS BOOK THAT SO MANY OF US USED DURING OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS. "ALL THE PLACES YOU WILL GO." THAT BOOK HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR. SIGNED OFF BY MANY
071PRINCIPALS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATORS AND GIVEN AS GIFTS TO THOSE GRADUATING STUDENTS SO THAT THEY WILL SEE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET THERE. AND I SAY THAT TODAY AND BASICALLY STATED THAT DR. SEUSS CONSIDERED HIS WORK HIS FINAL SALUTE, THIS PARTICULAR BOOK, ADDRESSING LIFE'S OBSTACLES AND FEARS WHILE OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT TO STUDENTS. AFTER AN EXCITING CELEBRATION OF HIS WORK AND HIS LIFE. MANY CELEBRATED IN THEIR OWN WAY AT THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT CONFERENCES. I AM STANDING HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF MISS AQUILA MORGAN. I HAVE WRITTEN HERE FOUR PAGES. AND I AM SAYING, BUT JACKIE, THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU DO. DO AS MRS. MORGAN DID. SHE TAUGHT FROM HER HEART. I WILL SPEAK FROM MY HEART. SHE WAS SUCH A GRACEFUL AND STILL IS POISED, VERY
072DIGN DIGNIFIED. LOVED LIFE TO ITS FULLEST. SHE SHARED HER LOVE THROUGH HER CHILDREN. NOT ONLY HER BIOLOGICAL, BUT HER CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS. AS YOU HEARD, SHE TAUGHT FROM HER OWN HOME AFTER LEAVING THE SCHOOL CAMPUS TEACHING PARENTS HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. WHAT AN EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN. I SAY TO YOU WITH LESS THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT, THE DESIRES OF THE HEART SO GREAT THE GENUINEEST OF IT IS SO GREAT, SHE STANDS FOR A LOT. WHO DO YOU KNOW TAUGHT THEIR LITTLE SISTERS AND FRIENDS AT AN EARLY AGE TO READ AND WRITE? SHE DID IT BECAUSE SHE WAS THAT BOSSY LEVEL GIRL. BUT STILL TO YOU TODAY, I STAND BEFORE YOU TO CONSIDER A LADY OF DIGNITY, POISE AND CLASS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT
073DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK FOR A FEW MINUTES. MY NAME IS MATT GUNNARSON AND CEO OF PLATO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND ALSO THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA A SCHOOL THAT IS MANY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THIS EVENING. I WANT TO YOU KNOW THE STORY OF PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA BEFORE YOU VOTE WHETHER OR NOT TO RENEW THE CONTRACT. PLATO ACADEMY AS A SCHOOL OF CHOICE IS GREAT FOR KIDS, IT IS GREAT FOR PARENTS AND GREAT PLACE FOR TEACHERS TO WORK. WHY IS THAT? THE REASON IS, WE PUT OUR STUDENTS FIRST IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WE PUT THEM FIRST IN EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AND WE ALWAYS ASK OURSELVES WHAT IS BEST FOR CHILDREN. WE TREAT OUR TEACHERS LIKE ADULTS. WE GIVE
074THEM AUTONOMY TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEIR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND GIVE THEM SOME ABILITY TO MAKE SPECIFIC DECISIONS REGARDING THEIR SPECIFIC COHORTS. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA IS MANAGED BY OUR BOARD WHICH IS PLATO ACADEMY SCHOOL CORPORATION. FULLY NOT-FOR-PROFIT. WE DO NOT WORK FOR A FOR-PROFIT MANAGEMENT COMPANY. WE STARTED WITH JUST FIVE CLASSROOMS, LEASING SPACE FROM BIBLE-BASED FELLOWSHIP CHURCH. AND WE HAVE SINCE PURCHASED OUR OWN BUILDING THAT WE -- IT IS THE FORMER CITRUS PARK CHRISTIAN AND WE ARE PROUD TO CALL IT HOME. IT IS AN OLDER BUILDING, BUT OUR FAMILIES LOVE IT AND WE FEEL VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR FUTURE THERE. PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA HAS BEEN AN A-RATED SCHOOL. WE WERE RECENTLY DESIGNATED A HIGHER PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. IT IS
075PART OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE SYSTEM OF CHARTER SCHOOLS. EIGHT OTHER PLATO ACADEMIES. AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT OUR PARENTS ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE OUR SCHOOL EVERY DAY THAT THEY DROP THEIR CHILDREN OFF. AND WE ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROVIDED FOR US BY THE DISTRICT THROUGH THE CHARTER OFFICE. OUR STUDENTS LEARNED THE GREEK LANGUAGE EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM GRADES K-8. THEY ARE LEARNING GREEK LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS. AND AS YOU KNOW, GREEK TRADITIONS ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD -- I AM GOING TO SAY A FEW NUMBERS REALLY QUICKLY HERE. OUR ACADEMICS ARE EXCELLENT. NOT JUST -- WE ESPECIALLY HELP THE KIDS THAT NEED THE MOST HELP. OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING 100% BETTER THAN THEIR PEE RS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ESOL HAVE 192% GREATER THAN THEIR
076PEERS IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IF I COULD HAVE THE FOLKS FROM PLATO PLEASE STAND UP. WE HAVE TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE PRINCIPAL AND ONE VERY SPECIAL STUDENT NAMED OLIVIA HERE WITH US TONIGHT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. IF WE COULD HAVE THE FINAL SPEAKERS FROM 27-30 LINE UP, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND TO THE AUDIENCE AT LARGE. MY NAME IS IDA BOOTH. A SCHOOL OR ANY INSTITUTION REALLY SHOULD EMBODY THE SPIRIT AND IDEAS OF THE PERSON FOR WHOM IT IS NAMED. DOROTHY C. YORK, AS HAS BEEN STATED, WAS AN EDUCATOR IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 45 LONG YEARS AT BLAKE AND HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOLS. SHE CHAMPIONED A DIVERSE CROSS SECTION OF YOUTH IN THIS COUNTY BY PREPARING THEM FOR AN UNKNOWN
077FUTURE AS AN ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR TO AND PROLIFIC WRITER HERSELF. THIS MUCH SHE SHOULD KNOW AND COULD FORESEE THEY WOULD NEED A STRONG SOLID FOUNDATION IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. MRS. YORK EMPTIED HERSELF FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNION BY MENTORING, ADVOCATING AND LENDING HER VOICE TO UPLIFT OUR YOUTH. THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING IT WERE NAMED IN HER HONOR I FEEL CONFIDENT IT WOULD EMBODY HER SPIRIT AND WOULD INSPIRE THE STUDENTS TO EXCELLENCE, THE INSTRUCTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO DEDICATION. AND THE PARENTS OF ALL TO PARTICIPATION. I JOIN THOSE PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON AND THOSE WHO COMMUNICATED BY E-MAIL AND PETITION BY ASKING THAT YOU CAST YOUR VOTE FOR DOROTHY C. YASHING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MY NAME
078IS SHEILA GREEN AND I AM A LABOR MEDIA SPECIALIST AT TITLE I HIGH SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AS A PARENT AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT. LIKE MOST MEDIA SPECIALISTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I HOLD A MASTER'S DEGREE IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ATTEND THESE MEETINGS AND READ ALOUD EXTREMELY PASSAGES FROM BOOKS AND SUGGEST WE HAVE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS IN OUR MEDIA CENTERS. DUE TO THIS NARROW LENS, EVEN PASSAGES FROM CLASSIC NOVELS OR RELIGIOUS TEXTS AS THE LAST MAN STATED CAN ALSO BE EASILY TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. THIS IS WHY CONTEXT MATTERS AND MATERIALS SHOULD BE JUDGED AS A WHOLE. BECAUSE OF THIS, I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADDRESS THE PROCEDURES FOR THE SELECTION OF MATERIALS IN OUR LIBRARIES. OUR
079SELECTION PROCESS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ADHERES TO THE STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. I HAVE OVER 4,000 BOOKS IN OUR MEDIA CENTER. I HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR SELECTION PROCESS EITHER PURCHASING THE BOOKS OR WEEDING THEM OUT. MOST MEDIA SPECIALISTS NEED HOURS CURATING BOOKS. WE RELY ON STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. RELY ON PEER REVIEW JOURNALS LIKE THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES. EACH BOOK THAT I SELECT FOR MY LIBRARY HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO FIT A SPECIFIC NEED AND TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE POPULATION OF STUDENTS THAT I SERVE. MY CURRENT SCHOOL HAS A DIVERSE GROUP OF LBGTQ, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC STUDENTS. BOOKS THAT I ORDER ARE SPECIFIC TO THEIR TASTE AND CULTURE. I WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO SELECT THESE BOOKS THAT KIDS WITH SEE PEOPLE LIKE THEMSELVES AND WHERE THEY CAN LEARN
080ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES. AS A LIBRARIAN, BOOKS IN MY COLLECTION FOR EVERY STUDENT; HOWEVER, NOT EVERY BOOK IS FOR EVERY STUDENT. MY ROLE IS TO WORK AND SUPPORT STUDENTS IN FINDING THE RIGHT BOOK TO SUPPORT THEIR NEEDS. IN MY SIX YEARS AS A MEDIA SPECIALIST, I NEVER HAD ANYONE CHALLENGE A BOOK IN MY LIBRARY; HOWEVER, IF THEY DID, WE HAVE A PROCESS OF WHICH RECONSIDERATION CAN HAPPEN. THE PROCESS IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL RECOMMENDATION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CONSISTS OF A COMMITTEE AT EACH SCHOOL THAT CONSISTS OF PARENTS, STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT WILL REVIEW THE MATERIAL AS A WHOLE. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL TYPES OF MEDIA IN THEIR LIVES. CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS IN THEIR HOMES, VIDEO GAMES, APPS AND TV SHOWS.
081OUR LIBRARIES ARE HERE TO BUILD CRITICAL THINKERS. WHERE WE EMPOWER STUDENTS TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES WITH THE MEDIA THEY CHOOSE TO INTERACT WITH. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES. I AM BEVERLY SIMPSON, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DR. SYLVIA ALBRITON. I AM NOT HERE TO TELL OF ALL HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACCOLADES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARD THEM ALL AND IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN AN AFTERNOON; HOW HOWEVER, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL AFTER HER. LET'S FACE FACTS. A SCHOOL SHOULD NOT ONLY BE A BUILDING. IT SHOULD BE AN OASIS WHERE A TRAVELER CAN STOP AND HAVE SOME COOL DRINK OF WATER. IT SHOULD ALSO BE A LIGHTHOUSE WHERE TRAVELERS CAN GUIDE THE VESSELS IN AND OUT SAFELY. IT SHOULD
082ALSO BE A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN LEAN AND GET SOME ADVICE AND STAND FIRM. AND IT SHOULD BE A MEMORIAL WHERE THE PRESENT AND FUTURE CAN LEARN. THEY CAN LOOK AND REFLECT ON THE GOOD OF OTHERS WHO HAVE LAID THEIR FOUNDATION FOR THE BENEFITS OF ALL. JOHN DEWEY ALSO ENFORCED THIS BY SAYING, THE SCHOOL MUST BE A GENUINE FORM OF ACTIVE COMMUNITY LIFE INSTEAD OF A PLACE SET APART IN WHICH TO LEARN LESSONS. THE NAMING OF THIS SCHOOL SHOULD ALSO BE PERMANENT. NOTHING THAT AFTER A FEW YEARS YOU ARE GOING TO SAY, WELL, WE WILL WANT TO CHANGE THE NAME. IF THIS SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER DR. ALBRITTON, YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL. SHE HAS PROVEN TO BE A MOTHER OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THAT SHE HAS NOT
083BIRTHED BECAUSE SHE IS ALWAYS IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH THEM. I HAVE A SON WHO CAME HERE WHEN -- WHEN MISS ALBRITTON WHEN HE WAS TWO. AND SHE WOULD SAY HOW IS THAT LITTLE MAN OF YOURS? SHE IS THAT TYPE OF PERSON. SHE IS ALSO A FAITHFUL FRIEND. A FRIEND OF ALL FRIENDS, AND A CONFIDENT LEADER WITH MORALS THAT YOU WILL WANT TO FOLLOW. HER WORK, HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HER ETHICS, HER MORALS, THEY ALL SPEAK OF HER. AND SO I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE, CONSIDER HER AND NAME THE SCHOOL. YOU WILL HAVE NO REGRETS BECAUSE SHE WILL STAND AS THE FOUNDATION, A CATALYST FOR PROVIDING ONE OF THE SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD AND MR. DAVIS, SIR. THANK
084YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT. MY NAME IS BARBARA FIDELI, AND I AM THE PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN CURRENTLY ENROLLED TO PLATO ACADEMY. YOU CALLED A VOTE ON THE CHARTER RENEWAL WE QUALIFIED FOR 15-YEAR RENEWAL BASED ON OUR CHILDREN'S HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. ALL OF THE ACADEMIC SUCCESSES ARE THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED AS YOU ALREADY KNOW. WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING ARE THE THINGS I CANNOT SHOW YOU ON PAPER NOR CAN I QUANTIFY IT THROUGH THE USE OF STATE SCORES. I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR LITTLE SCHOOL WITH A BIG HEART. FIVE YEARS AGO, DURING THE INAUGURAL YEAR OF OUR TAMPA CAMPUS, I FOUND MYSELF IN NEED OF A NEW SCHOOL TO TRANSFER MY DAUGHTER TO. IT WAS NOT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT
085TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM WINTER BREAK. GIANNA WAS AT A LOCAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE WAS BEHIND ACT DEM DEMOCRATICALLY AND WAS STRUGGLING FOR BONDS AND ENDURED BULLYING, LOST ALL CONFIDENCE AND LOST HOPE. THAT WAS A VERY SAD THING TO SAY ABOUT A SIX-YEAR-OLD. YOU SEE MY DAUGHTER GIANNA WHO IS NOW 10 AND IN THE FOURTH GRADE HAVE MIXED TISSUE DISEASE AND SPECIFIC ANTIBODY DISORDER TOP GIVE YOU A BRIEF DESCRIPTION TO UNDERSTAND OUR STRUGGLE. AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER THAT CAUSES HER BODY TO ATTACK ITSELF AND EFFECTS HER LUNGS, BRAINS, INTESTINES, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, MUSCLES AND HER JOINTS. GIANNA HAVE CERTAIN IMMUNITY TO CERTAIN STEREOTYPES, OF MONO, STREP JUST TO NAME A FEW. MY CHILD HAS A SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUE THAT REQUIRES AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND COUNSELORS WORK WITH HER AND OUR FAMILY AS WE
086NAVIGATE THROUGH MANY HOSPITALIZATION AND THE CONTINUATION OF HER EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I FOUND THAT PERFECT SCHOOL FOR MY CHILD. A PLACE THAT TRULY CARES WHAT SHE NEEDS, HOW SHE IS DOING NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY BUT SOCIALLY. A SCHOOL THAT CARES ABOUT HER HEALTH AND MENTAL WELL BEING. I FOUND PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA. I REMEMBER SENDING FLORIDA GUNNARSON THE NOW CEO AN E-MAIL TELLING HIM ABOUT GIANNA AND WHEN SHE NEEDED TO TRANSFER. MR. GUNNARSON ASKED US TO COME IN TO MEET HER. PLATO ACADEMY STAFF -- THEY MADE A HUGE IMPRESSION. I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THEY DO IN OUR SCHOOL. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW NOW SHE IS THRIVING. SHE IS NO LONGER BEHIND. SHE IS NOT AFRAID TO TALK TO OTHERS. SHE HAS FRIENDS. AND WE
087HAVE A SCHOOL THAT I KNOW IS THERE TO SUPPORT US NO MATTER WHAT. NOT JUST THE CHILD ON CAMPUS, BUT ONCE THE CHILD GOES HOME TOO. AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER. HI, GOOD EVENING AGAIN. MY NAME IS AMY SIMMONS, AND I AM THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF THE LATHE KENNETH ADM. I COME MULTIPLE TIMES WITH FAMILY, CO-WORKERS, MANY COMMUNITY WORKERS TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL NAMING AND AT MANY BOARD MEETINGS I ASKED TO YOU STRONGLY ENCOURAGE -- TO NAME THE NEW SCHOOL IN APOLLO BEACH AFTER MY FATHER KENNETH E. ADUM. I WANT TO READING IS THAT MY SISTER AND I BOTH COME UP WITH AND COME FROM OUR HEART AND WE WANT TO YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER MY DAD'S NAME AS HE WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT FOR
08837 YEARS. DURING MY DAD'S TIME IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, HE WAS -- HE HAD A LEGACY AND PASSION FOR EDUCATION FROM TEACHER TO DEAN TO PRINCIPAL TO AREA DIRECTOR HE DEDICATED 37 YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO PROFESSION AND EDUCATION. AS AN EDUCATOR MYSELF OF 17 YEARS, AS WELL AS MY SISTERS, WE SAW THAT HIS DAYS STRETCHED WAY BEYOND THE TYPICAL WORKWEEK -- WORK DAY OF EIGHT HOURS. HE WAS AT SCHOOL PRACTICALLY EVERY NIGHT, WHETHER IT WAS AWARDS PROGRAMS, INDUCTION CEREMONIES, CONCERTS, SPORTING EVENTS, YOU NAME IT. HE WAS THERE CHEERING YOU ON AND SUPPORTING EVERYBODY. HE WAS AN INCREDIBLY HARD WORKER INTENT ON GETTING THE JOB DONE. NOT JUST DOING IT TO GET IT DONE BUT DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO ADAMS. MY SISTER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING
089TO GAITHER. MY SISTER SAW IT ON DOUBLE SESSION IN GAITHER. HE WAS CONSISTENT. HE WAS FAIR. HE HELD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. IT NEVER TOOK LONG -- SORRY -- I JUST LOST MY NOTES. NEVER TOOK PEOPLE LONG FOR THEM TO APPRECIATE AND THRIVE UNDER HIS SYSTEM. HE SET CLEAR, HIGH EXPECTATION FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF ALIKE. EVERYONE WAS EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE AND PULL THEIR WEIGHT AND GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE DID. NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO, BUT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. STUDENTS AND STAFF FELT EMP EMPOWERED TO DO GREAT THINGS. HE HAD HIS TEACHERS' BACKS. ALWAYS ON THEIR TEAM AND ALWAYS CLEAR DEFINITELY AN ADVOCATE FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT. HE LOVED THE KIDS. THAT IS WHAT MADE HIM GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. HE CAME UP WITH PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES TO HELP EVERYONE REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND
090REWARD THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORT. HE VALUED EVERY MEMBER OF THE STAFF FROM ADMINISTRATORS TO CAFETERIA WORKERS TO TEACHERS AND BUS DRIVERS, HE VALUED THEIR OPINIONS AND HELD THEIR BACK. HE WAS A MASTER MOTIVATOR AND TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN HIS SCH SCHOOLS. HE WAS METICULOUS, ORGANIZED AND HELPED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. HE WAS A STRONG COMMUNITY MEMBER AFTER HE RETIRED AND DEDICATED A LOT OF HIS LIFE TO HELP OTHERS. SO, PLEASE, STRONGLY CONSIDER THE NAME KENNETH E. ATUM FOR THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL NEW IN APOLLO BEACH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WHAT WE WILL DO TODAY IS DO THE PROCLAMATION AFTERWARDS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE HERE FOR THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOLS. WHAT WE WILL FIRST DO IS GO AHEAD AND DO THE CONSENT AGENDA
091SO I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO 5.04, APPROVE THE NAMING OF NEW PK-8 UU AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. YES, MA'AM, FOR THE CHAIR, 5.04 APPROVAL FOR NAMING OF THE NEW PK-8 SCHOOL UU. AND AN OPTION FOR NEW PK-8 SCHOOL IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHICH WILL BE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MRS. MISSY LEN ORLANDO. THIS MAGNET SCHOOL WILL BE THE FIRST INNOVATION ACADEMY BROUGHT TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR EWE PHOENIX FINE ARTS AND TOKEN AND PATHWAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND EXPOSED TO DIGITAL ARTS AND CONTINUE TO COMPETE FROM A STEM PERSPECTIVE. ASPIRATIONS TO EXPAND THIS INITIATIVE TO ADD
092AND EXPAND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AT THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL, BUT IT IS A SCHOOL THAT WE SEE GREAT INTEREST IN. AFTER THE FIRST WAVE OF OUR CHOICE WINDOW, WE SEE THAT OVER 660 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SELECTED THIS SCHOOL TO TRANSITION. 1500 STUDENT STATIONS AND ANOTHER WAVE OF ACCEPTANCE MARCH 22. AT THIS TIME I AM TO ASK THAT OUR CHIEF OF SCHOOLS MISS SUE BRICK KET DISCUSS ALL THE STEPS WITH THE NAMING PROCESS AND PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH UPDATES RELATED TO THIS CONTEXT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE STARTED ADVERTISING NAMING OF THE SCHOOL ON DECEMBER 15. WE DID IT THROUGH ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, DISTRICT WEB SITED, FAMILY AND STAFF NEWS LEADERS. WE NOTIFIED LOCAL MEDIA OUT OUTLETS, SENT PARENT LINKS THROUGH PEACH STAR AND PARENT LINK. AND THEN AT THE MEET AND GREET THAT WE HAD
093WHERE WE INTRODUCED MISS LEONARD AS THE NEW PRINCIPAL, WE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL NAMES THEN FROM DECEMBER 15 TO JANUARY 21 TO ACCEPT NAMES. SINCE THERE IS NO BOUNDARY A AREA, WE WENT DISTRICT WIDE AND WENT OPEN FOR NAMING OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, COUNTYWIDE TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR IT. CUOMO COMB THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND GO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION, IF COMMUNICATIONS WILL TALK ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO VOTE, THAT WILL BE GREAT. AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PASS OUT THE BALLOTS AFTER THAT. OKAY. WE WILL GO OVER THAT IN A FEW MINUTES. FIRST, I JUST WANTED TO OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE
094DISCUSS? MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. ANYBODY WANT TO DISCUSS THIS? OKAY. MADAM CHAIR, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF YOU READ THE POLICY OF MAKING THE SELECTION TODAY. THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY IS EMBEDDED IN 72.50, THE NAMING AND RENAMING OF ALL SCHOOL SITES AND FACILITIES SHOULD RESPECT PRAISE, CULTURAL AND ETHNIC VALUES. AND ANY NAME THAT IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO EQUAL TUNE. SCHOOL SITES AND FACILITIES SHALL BE NAMED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO RENDERED OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, GEOGRAPHICAL AND GROUPS AND CLUBS AS INDICATED. ELEMENTARY SECONDARY SCHOOLS, U.S. PRESIDENTS, SPWOOBD MEMBERS, EDUCATORS, OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION. ELECTED OFFICIAL PROPOSED FOR SCHOOL NAME SHOULD LEFT PUBLIC OFFICE OF NO LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AND NO CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. MORE CRITERIA BUT THE GENERAL DECISION. COMMUNICATION ALSO PROVIDE YOU A LIST
095OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED. YOU FREE TO SELECT ONE OF THOSE AND YOU CAN SELECT ANOTHER ONE AS WELL. THE NAME MUST RECEIVE FOUR VOTES TO BE ACHIEVED AS A NAME FOR THE SCHOOL. IF THE NAME DOES NOT RECEIVE FOUR VOTES. IF NO NAME RECEIVES FOUR VOTE. YOU WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE UNTIL A NAME RECEIVES FOUR VOTES AT THE TIME. YOU WILL MAKE A MOTION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. WHAT WE WILL DO IS OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION FOR EACH MEMBER TO DISCUSS THAT. THEN WE WILL PASS OUT THOSE BALLOTS AND VOTE. I THINK AT THAT TIME, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK, AN INTERMISSION. AND LOOK IF WE HAVE TO REVOTE OR WHAT THAT PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD. MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST
096I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERY CONSTITUENT, EVERY PERSON WHO REACHED OUTS TO THE BOARD WHO CAME TO A BOARD MEETING, WHO SENT AN E-MAIL, MADE A PHONE CALL, WROTE A LETTER. I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BOARD RECEIVED MANY, MANY, MANY WONDERFUL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS VERY DIFFICULT DECISION THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. PORTER, FOR READING THE GUIDELINES VIA OUR POLICY AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I REALLY DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY ONE STRONG OPINION, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT CANDIDATES THAT HAVE ACCO ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AND GIVEN SO MUCH BACK TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR STUDENTS. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH DECISION I THINK FOR US TO MAKE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOL
097BOARD MEMBERS AND SEE WHAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE, AND REALLY L LEANING ON -- A LITTLE BIT. NO PRESSURE, DR. HAHN, BUT THIS IS YOUR AREA. THESE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THEY ARE ALL OUR CONSTITUENTS AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THIS IS THE AREA YOU DO REPRESENT. I WILL LEAN A LITTLE BIT ON DR. HAHN TO SEE WHAT HER OPINION IS. I WILL STAY SAY THAT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES -- I DO LEAN TOWARD NAMING A SCHOOL TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE GOT A LIST FROM OUR COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT AND MISS BRICKETT AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T NECESSARILY IMPACTED OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I AM NOT INTERESTED IN OF A GATING FOR THOSE BUT OF THOSE WHO DIRECTLY IMPACTED OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I MIGHT JUMP
098BACK IN THE DISCUSSION ONCE WE HEAR FROM OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I MAINLY WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CONTACTED US AND TELL EVERYONE HOW TOUGH -- WHAT A TOUGH DECISION THIS IS GOING TO BE TODAY BECAUSE SOME VERY FORMIDABLE CANDIDATES FOR THE SCHOOL NAMING. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER PEREZ? Karen Perez: THANK YOU. THERE WAS A GREAT QUESTION I WAS ASKED TODAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER AS FAR AS DIVERSITY IS CONCERN AND NAMING OF SCHOOLS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WHAT IS THE -- YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT LOOK LIKE HERE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS FAR AS DIVERSITY IS CONCERNED AND NAMING OF SCH SCHOOLS? SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. YES, I AGREE THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION. AND MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS I HAVEN'T HEARD THE QUESTION BEING POSED. WE
099OBTAINED THAT INFORMATION AND WILL PROVIDE THAT IN THE FOLLOW-UP AND NUMBER OF BREAKDOWNS, ETHNIC BREAKDOWNS OF SCHOOLS AND WHETHER IT IS NAMED AFTER A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. I WILL PRESENT THAT INFORMS TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. FOR ME I AIM AT REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND HERE -- WE HAVE DIVERSITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE HAVE POPULATIONS THAT ARE LARGER THAN OTHERS. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, LOOKING AT THOSE POPULATIONS THAT REPRESENT. AND YOU KNOW, NEW SCHOOL IS GOING UP, REPRESENTING A LARGE POPULATIONS. AND MYSELF AND BOARD MEMBER GRAY AND YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBER HAHN REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY? Linda Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK STAFF ALSO -- OOPS -- AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, AS YOU CAN SEE. AND TRY
100TOY SHARE THIS WHEN YOU WERE MAKING SOME REMARKS, BUT LOOK AT THIS BOOKLET FULL OF FANTASTIC GIVERS TO OUR STUDENTS. AND I AM -- I AM JUST -- YOU KNOW, I AM HONORED. HONORED TO HEAR FROM SUCH WONDERFUL BELIEVERS IN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SH SHARED. I ALSO -- I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE -- THE COMMUNICATION THAT CAME FROM EACH OF YOU WHO SPOKE WAS ALL ABOUT WHICH PERSON DOES THE BEST ARE WAS THE BEST, IS THE BEST FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN. AND IN MY MIND IN LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT -- YES, I AM COUNTYWIDE. THERE IS A HUGE NEED FOR DIVERSITY AND EQUITY. AND WE NEED TO TURN SOME PAGES. WE ARE WAY BEHIND. AND SO I FULLY ENJOYED THE COMMUNICATION. I HAD A PHONE CALL TODAY. AND I
101AM SURE THE BOARD MEMBERS DID AS WELL. SO IT IS A TOUGHIE, YOU KNOW, SO MANY GREAT FOLKS LOOKING FOR THIS NAME TO BE NAMED. AND WE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. SO I AM GOING TO THANK EVERYONE AND -- AND THE TIME IS GETTING NEAR WHERE THE CHOICE WILL BE MADE. SO LETS '-- LET'S HEAR FROM THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND HEAR WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. PERSONALLY, I WANT TO TELL YOU IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION WE MADE TODAY. A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE OUT TH THERE. THE SCHOOL COULD BE NAMED AFTER, BUT I AM LOOKING FOR DIVERSITY BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME DIVERSITY. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SCHOOLS NAMED FOR BLACKS OR LATINOS
102OR HISPANICS. I AM LOOKING AT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. EVERY TIME A KID LOOK UP ON THAT WALL AND THEY SEE THAT NAME, THEY RECOGNIZE WHO THEY CAN BE IN LIFE. YOU CAN BE ANYBODY YOU WANT TO BE. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO HAVE THE NAME UP ON THE SCHOOL. LOOKING FOR DIVERSITY 100%. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? Nadia Combs: YES, WE CAN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WANT TO ECHO MANY OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS' SENTIMENT. SOME OF THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS HAD A CHALLENGING YEAR WITH A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE. AND THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY HARD DECISION BECAUSE TO ECHO MEMBER GRAY, IT HAS BEEN SUCH
103AN HONOR TO LISTEN ALL THE PASSIONATE TRIBUTES TO HEROES OF OUR COMMUNITY, EDUCATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I REALLY LOVED LEARNING OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED AND E-MAILED OR COME DOWN TO SPEAK ABOUT EACH PERSON WHO WAS SUGGESTED TO US. I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE FEELS SLIGHTED IF A SPECIFIC BOARD MEMBER DOESN'T VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE HOPING THE SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER, BECAUSE HONESTLY, IF I COULD PICK ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE GOTTEN OR RECEIVED E-MAILS ABOUT OR HEARD ABOUT, I COULD. AND IT IS REALLY HARD TO NARROW IT DOWN. I WANT TO ECHO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT SO MANY MEMBERS
104WHO HAVE REALLY, YOU KNOW, BEEN CHAMPIONS OF EDUCATION AND IT WILL BE A REALLY HARD DECISION. THANKS AGAIN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS ABOUT SITTING IN MY DISTRICT AND TAKING THAT -- YOU KNOW, TAKING MY THOUGHTS INTO HEAVY CONSIDERATION, BUT AS MEMBER PEREZ SAYS, MEMBER GRAY AND MEMBER PEREZ AND I, BUT ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS SCHOOL IN OUR -- IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I DON'T -- I DON'T WANT MY WORDS TO WEIGH ANY HEAVY IRON ANYBODY'S'S DECISION BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. EVERYONE'S SCHOOL. BUT I WILL SAY, ONE, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING AND YOUR STORIES ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES AND YOUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE VERY MOVING AND MAKES
105ME ASPIRE TO BE A BETTER PERSON. IT SOUNDS CORNY, MAYBE. BUT WHEN I HEAR THE WONDERFUL THINGS AND THE IMPACT I HAVE HAD, IT MAKES ME WANT TO DO MORE AND MORE FOR PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY. AND THERE IS GOING TO BE LOTS MORE SCHOOLS BUILT. AND SO MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS, SO I THINK FOR ME, SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I MEAN, THE STORIES, THE E- E-MAILS, THE PHONE CALLS ARE ALL VERY MOVING. THERE WAS A PARTICULAR STORY THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH. THAT RESONATED WITH ME. THAT MOVED ME. THAT JUST WAS VERY SPECIAL. AND I THINK IT DID SO BECAUSE I AM A TEACHER. AND WITHOUT REVEALING MUCH M MORE, I REALLY WANT TO NAME THE SCHOOL AFTER A TEACHER. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR DISTRICT. AND THEY ARE
106IN THE TRENCHES EVERY DAY. AND I KNOW WE HAD MANY WONDERFUL TEACHERS NOMINATED AND THAT MAKES US EVEN THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. SO, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT REVEALING TOO MUCH, IT IS -- IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I THINK IT REALLY DOES SEND A MESSAGE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE YOU KNOW -- OFTEN WE NAME SCHOOLS AFTER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ROSE VERY, VERY HIGH IN THE RANKS OR VERY, VERY HIGH IN PRESTIGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TEACHERS TO KNOW THAT THEIR WORK IS VALUED AND THEIR LEGACY -- IF WE CAN CONTINUE THAT LEGACY BY HONORING SOME OF OUR TEACHERS WITH THIS HONOR, THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS IMPO IMPORTANT. SO, THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKERS
107WHO CAME TODAY. AND REMEMBER WE HAD SPEAKERS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS COMING AND TALKING ABOUT NAMING. FOR ME PERSONALLY, I LOOK AT OVERALL THE HOLE WHING, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT I LOOK AT OVERALL EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL, EACH PERSON THAT WE NOMINATED THAT IS ON THAT LIST COULD EASILY BE THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL -- THAT THE SCHOOL COULD BE NAMED AFTER THEM. AND I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS -- IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION. AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, I JUST LOOK AT THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE OVERALL -- AND EVERYONE CONTRIBUTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SO I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS, IT IS NOT -- IT IS -- IT IS NOT INCREASING, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S ELEVATION OR DECREASING SOMEBODY ELSE. BUT IT MEANS THAT EVERYBODY IS
108REALLY WORTHWHILE OF THAT NAMING AND THEY MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR A WHILE. SO FOR ME, IT IS REALLY GOING -- LOOK AT THE OVERALL IMPACT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AND THAT IS HOW I MADE MY DECISION. THANK YOU. AND MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK WHAT THINGS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. I WILL REITERATE THAT SUPERINTENDENT, HOW MANY MORE SCHOOLS DO WE HAVE TO BUILD IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, I WOULD GO IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS WE HAVE TO BUILD 18 SCHOOLS. A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR COMMUNITY. MAJORITY ON THE SOUTH COUNTY SIDE OF IT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING
109THE BUILDS AND BEING ABLE TO NAME THEM AFTER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAIL BLAZERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. Melissa Snively: I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE NAMES ON HERE WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES COME UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO AS OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FOR WHATEVER REASON, A SCHOOL IS NOT NAMED AFTER A PERSON YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR TODAY, THE CHANCES ARE REALLY GOOD IF YOU CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE OVER THE NEXT 10, 15 YEARS, THERE IS GOING TO BE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THAT INDIVIDUAL. AND THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS SITTING ON THE BOARD THAT I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS LIST AND I KNOW IT IS TOUGH. IT IS TOUGH BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY YES TO EVERYONE AND
110OBVIOUSLY THAT IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK; HOWEVER, THE CHANCES ARE VERY GOOD, IF YOU CONTINUED A VOID SKATING THAT, AND YOU GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED, WHETHER IT IS BY PETITION OR BY COMING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND BY CONTACTING BOARD MEMBERS DIRECTLY, I THINK ANYBODY ON THIS LIST WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO -- DIRECTLY TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE A VET GOOD CHANCE OF HAVING A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THEM. I AM NOT MAKE ANYTHING PRO PROMISES, BUT -- BUT I HAVE A FEELING -- I KNOW THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURE. FOR SURE. SO FOR -- THIS IS ALL VERY EXCITING. ALL VERY EXCITING WHEN WE NAME A NEW SCHOOL. BUT I KNOW THAT WHATEVER THE BOARD DECIDES, IT WILL BE AFTER A PERSON WHO WE WILL BE HONORED FOR A SCHOOL TO
111BE IN THEIR NAME, TO BE BUILT IN THEIR N NAME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER HAHN? MEMBER PEREZ? Nadia Combs: I WANTED TO CIRCLE AROUND AND NEGLECTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK, TO SHARE YOUR STORIES. YOU KNOW TO TAKE THE TIME TO LET US KNOW HOW YOU FELT. AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND ALL THE OTHER NIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT TO REALLY TALK ABOUT AND SHOW YOU PASSION FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND WHO YOU BELIEVE IN AND WANT TO JUST SAY THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry Washington: GOT BACK REAL QUICK TO ME. YOU KNOW, I HAD TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. AND YOU HAD
112A GREAT POINT, DR. HAHN, WHEN YOU SAY TEACHERS NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TEACHER'S NAME ON A BUILDING. BECAUSE TEACHER HAVE INFLUENCED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES YOU ARE NAMING AREA SUPERINTENDENTS, PRINCIPALS, SUPERINTENDENTS. LET'S GIVE A TEACHER A CHANCE. LET'S HAVE -- LET'S GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND I KNOW WE WILL. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT. A LADY WORKS -- A MAN RELATED -- WHOEVER MIGHT WORK 40, 50 YEARS, GIVE THEM A CHANCE. AND ONLY THING THEY DID WAS A TEACHER, THAT IS NOT GOOD BY NO MEANS. GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY. I WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE. YOU SAY HOW MANY SCHOOLS --
113Addison Davis: YES, 18 IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS. 18 -- GUESS HOW MANY NAMES ARE ON HERE? 18. WE WILL DO THEM ALL TONIGHT. .>Addiso Addison Davis: ALL AT ONE TIME FONT. GET PUN. YOU GET ONE. Henry Washington: AND WE WOULD NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM. Nadia Combs: WE WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE SPEAKERS COMING IN WALKER WASHINGTON I WANT TO SAY THAT. LET'S KEEP THE TEACHERS FOREFRONT IN MIND WHEN THINKING OF NAMING SCHOOLS OR BUILDINGS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Linda Gray: YOU TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, MEMBER WASHINGTON. IT IS YEAR OF THE TEACHER. ALWAYS THE YEAR OF THE TEACHER. IT ALWAYS WILL BE THE TEACHER. THEY ARE THE TRAINING THAT KEEPS THE SCHOOLS MOVING FORWARD SAID BY LATE EARL LENNARD. I -- ANYWAY, I
114DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, WE ARE GIVING LITTLE TIDBITS, SO I AM GOING TO BE QUIET AND WE WILL GO V VOTE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. WHAT WE WILL DO IS PASS OUT THE BALLOTS. AT THAT TIME, WE WILL START PREPARING FOR OUR EMPLOYEE COMMENT, WHICH IS AT 6:00. AND AFTER EMPLOYEE COMMENT, WE WILL TAKE A SHORT BREAK. Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, MAKE SURE YOU SIGN YOUR BALLOTS PLEASE. Nadia Combs: JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, MEMBERS. PUT THE PREFERENCE, NAME OF THE PERSON AND PLEASE SIGN IT FOR THE FIRST BALLOT. Nadia Combs: OKAY, IT WILL BE PROBABLY ABOUT 30 MORE SECONDS. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING. EVERYBODY READY? ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO ALL THE VOTES ARE IN. Nadia Combs: SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: ALL THE VOTES ARE IN
115AND DRUM ROLL IS RIGHT. THE -- IT IS UNANIMOUS 7-0. THE NEW SCHOOL FOR PK-8 WILL BE NAME MISS DOROTHY CARTER YORK! Jim Porter: MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS -- Nadia Combs: YES, MR. PORTER. WE WILL NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. Jim Porter: A MOTION ORIGINALLY TO APPROVE THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOL AND CODIFY DOROTHY C. YORK AS THE NAME. A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DO THAT. Nadia Combs: I WILL NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. Jim Porter: IT IS ALREADY ON THE FLOOR. Nadia Combs: IT IS ON THERE. OKAY. Jim Porter: IF WE COULD ASK THE AUDIENCE TO -- Nadia Combs: YEAH, IF WE COULD JUST -- Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS, A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND VOTE FOR DOROTHY C. YORK AS THE NAMING OF SCHOOL. Nadia Combs: MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE
116WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY, THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE. WE WILL START AT 6:10 WITH EMPLOYEE INPUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: OKAY, EVERYBODY. IF YOU WANT TO START GETTING IN .>Nadia Nadia Combs: OKAY, OUR MEETING WILL NOW RESUME. MR. PORTER WILL GO OVER A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ARIZONA WE CONTINUE. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN. WE HAVE HOUSEKEEPING. NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER MISS YORK, THE SCHOOL DID NOT IDENTIFY AN OFFICIAL NAME. MANY VARIATIONS ON THE BALLOT. WITH MISS BRICKETT AND MR. DAVIS AND THE PREFERRED IS DOROTHY C. YORK PK-8 MAGNET SCHOOL. IF WE CAN HAVE A MOTION. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND ANEED A SECOND. A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON.
117A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. OKAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. Jim Porter: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED TODAY. EMPLOYEE COMMENT. THANKS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO HAD TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER. A VERY EXCITING NIGHT WITH THE NAMING OF A NEW SCHOOL. WE WILL TAKE EMPLOYEE INPUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT 4 P.M. MANY WAYS TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD UNION REPRESENTATIVES, E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, ONE TO ONE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC XHIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. THE BOARD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THIS SECTION OF THE AGENDA A WAY FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. SETTING ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR ANY EMPLOYEE TO SPEAK OF ANY ISSUES THAT ARE
118ON YOUR MIND. NOT INTENDED FOR SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ON ANY IS ISSUES RELATING TO YOUR JOB OR DISTRICT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THE FIRST SPEAKER. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL EMPLOYEE FEDERATION. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND STAFF. I ENCOURAGE TO YOU VOTE FOR THE UPGRADE FOR BUS DRIVERS. BUS DRIVERS, REGRADING FOR BUS DRIVERS. JUST A SMALL STEP IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS GET THE SERVICES THEY DESERVE. IT IS A SMALL STEP IN MAKING SURE THAT BUS DRIVERS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT IN THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. THEY DIDN'T STAY AT HOME. THEY WORKED ALL THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. THEY ARE -- WE ARE
119SHORT ABOUT 150 BUS DRIVERS. THEY DO DOUBLE RUNS, TRIPLE R RUNS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME. AND THIS SMALL STEP WILL ASSURE THAT WE CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN SOME OF THE PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO WORK AND BY THAT SAME TOKEN, WE ALSO HAVE TO -- I AM GLAD WE ARE SITTING DOWN WITH THE DISTRICT TOMORROW. BECAUSE BY THAT SAME TOKEN, WE ARE SHORT EMPLOYEES. AND WE ARE ALSO SHORT CUST CUSTODIANS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE, VOTE TO REGRADE THESE BUS DRIVERS TO A PAY GRADE 23 SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST RECRUIT AND RETAIN THEM TO GIVE THE SERVICES TO THESE STUDENTS THAT THEY SO JUSTLY DESERVE. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HEY, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ROB CREED, THE PRESIDENT OF
120THE HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. OUR STATE ORGANIZATION, THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, JUST RELEASED A STATEWIDE POLL OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN FLORIDA. THIS IS A POLL THAT DEALT WITH DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND NBAs AND IT WAS DONE BY CLEAR VIEW RESEARCH. AND I AM GOING TO SHARE ALL OF THESE RESULTS JUST RELEASED TODAY. I WILL E-MAIL ALL OF YOU GUYS SO YOU HAVE THESE TO TAKE A LOOK AT. I PULLED THREE OF THEM OFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT TONIGHT WITH Y YOU. 92% OF THOSE POLLED SAY WE NEED TO PAY OUR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES MORE SO THAT FLORIDA CAN HAVE STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PRESIDENT'S POINT REGRADING THE BUS DRIVERS IS THE FIRST GREAT STEP. WE NEED LUNCH WORKERS AND ESPs IN OUR CLASSROOM. WE NEED PARAS, THOSE ARE DOING THE WORK WITH THE KIDS AND WE
121NEED TO FIND WAYS TO FUND THAT APPROPRIATELY AND LOOK AT 92% OF VOTERS SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW STRONGLY IN FLORIDA WE WANT STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT HERE AND IN THE STATE. 88% POLLED BELIEVE THAT EXPERIENCED SEARCHERS SHOULD HAVE COMESS RATE RAISES. 88%. RATIFICATION OF A CONTRACT SETTLEMENT THAT WE TOOK FROM YOU GUYS WHICH IS CREATIVE BECAUSE WE HAD TO OVERCOME AN OBSTACLE KNOWN AS THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHICH STATES THAT FIRST-YEAR CAREER EDUCATORS HAVE TO GET 150% OF ANYTHING THAT VETERAN EDUCATOR WILL ALSO RECEIVE. THIS MAKES EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO TO HELP THESE KIDS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. WE LOOKED AT SOMETHING CREATIVE THIS YEAR AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO IT NEXT YEAR BECAUSE HIT THE BELL RINGER NUMBER, ARBITRARY NUMBER FOR FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS TO LOOK
122AT MORE HOLISTICALLY OUR SCALE AND WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR OUR VETERAN TEACHERS. THAT IS IMPORTANT. SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT, 90% OF THOSE POLLED AGREED THAT WE CANNOT LET GROUPS OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PEOPLE DIVIDE PARENTS AND TEACHERS FROM WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP STUDENTS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH AND WE CAN COULD A GOOD JOB AND DO BETTER AND COLLABORATE AND HAVE A PLANS FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING IN SCHOOLS. 18 IN 15 YEARS. THAT IS -- GOING TO BE DIFFICULT WITH YOUR LEGISLATURE AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY. WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN VETERAN TEACHERS. WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY, BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE WHAT -- ARE WHAT WE ARE HERE ABOUT AND WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS. THANK YOU
123FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. I AM CHRIS ADENIKA FROM GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL. FIRST THING, I NEED TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS. ONE, GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT. I THINK IT WAS AN INTERESTING SOLUTION TO OUR CONFLICT. IT LEAVES A GIANT ISSUE THOUGH. THERE IS NO STEP INCREASE. I UNDERSTAND THE AIM WAS TO NOT TO INCREASE RECURRING EXPENSES, BUT WHY WOULD WE AGREE TO POTENTIALLY EARNING LESS MONEY NEXT YEAR. A POSSIBLE SOLUTION -- BECAUSE I LIKE TO DO THAT -- WOULD BE TO INCLUDE THE YEAR OF SERVICE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR SO IT IS NOT AFFECTING THIS YEAR. AND STILL ALLOWS US TO IT BE AT LEAST WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR. SO, OF COURSE,
124YES, THIS INCREASES THE -- THE EXPENSES FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT DOESN'T LEAVE INSTRUCTORS HOPING SOMETHING WILL WORK OUT FOR NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU EVER HAVE BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR IN THIS DISTRICT, YOU KNOW THAT IF IT IS NOT IN WRITING, YOU JUST SHOULDN'T EXPECT IT. SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO WORK CONDITIONS. I AM SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT I DO KNOW OTHER TEACHERS THAT HAVE SAID SIMILAR THINGS. I CAN'T COMPLETE LIE JOB WITHIN EIGHT HOURS. WE TRY TO DO WORK TO CONTRACT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK THE KRINGTD CONTRACT FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEK NOW. I CAN'T DO IT. WE ARE EXPECTED TO CREATE STUDENTS CENTERED AND DIFFERENTIATED LESSONS. THAT TAKES TIME TO PLAN AND THEY TAKE EVEN MORE TIME IN CLASS. I CAN'T GO AT THE SPEED
125THAT I AM REQUIRED TO GO BY THE STATE AND DO STUDENT-CENTERED -- IT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE TO EITHER CUT CURRICULUM OR -- I CANNOT HAVE THAT WORK. THEN I HAVE GOT TO HAVE EVERYTHING ON CANVAS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FRANKLY FOR THE ABSENT STUDENTS. I GOT TO KEEP CANVAS GRADES UPGRADED. LET'S JUST THINK OF THIS. IF 150, 120 JUST FOR EASY MATH. 120 STUDENTS TAKE A -- AND I TAKE A MINUTE TO GRADE EACH QUIZ. WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND TWO HOURS TO GRADE EACH ONE OF THOSE QUIZZES. AND TEACH. DON'T FORGET, THAT IS MY MAIN JOB, TEACH. OUTSIDE OF THAT. EITHER WE ARE EXPECT TO WORK FOR FREE AFTER HOURS OR DOOMED TO FAIL. PLEASE NOTE, THINK THAT DIDN'T MENTION E-MAILED FROM ADMIN, PARENTS, STUDENTS, KEEPING UP WITH TEAMS OR CALENDAR CHANGES
126TO MY CLASSROOM. SO ALL OF THESE -- I JUST DON'T KNOW OF -- OF A WAY. I WISH I HAD A SOLUTION ACTUALLY, BUT I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE SAY. ADDITIONALLY LET ME -- IT WAS 2-2-TUESDAY WHICH IS WHY I AM IN THIS IS WHY I AM LOOKING VERY FESTIVE TODAY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR RECOGNITION AND PROCLAMATIONS PART OF OUR MEETING. RECOGNITION OF INFINITE SCH SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIP. OVER 600 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN INFINITE SCHOLARS FAIR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA IS THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY WITH THE COLLABORATION OF HORACE ACADEMY AND INFINITE SCHOLARS PLANNED THIS EVENT AND STUDENTS ATTENDED FREE OF CHARGE. JUNIORS AN SENIORS WITH DISTRICT'S HIGH SCHOOLS
127TO MEET WITH 25 COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES ALONG WITH THE ABILITY TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM CAREER SOURCE. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, A PARTNER WITH INFINITE SCHOLARS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. I CAN'T THANK INFINITE SCHOLARS AS WELL AS THEM FOR BEING ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS AND MR. GRAHAM WHO HAS BEEN -- WHO HAS BEEN A TRUE PARTNER NOT ONLY BUILDING OUR NEW SCHOOL THAT WAS JUST NAMED THIS EVENING, AND CONTINUES TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, THE BEST EXPERIENCES, THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND I WILL LET MR. GRAHAM KIND OF SPEAK TO THIS. AN AWESOME PARTNER BRINGING THIS TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND IT. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I THINK
128TODAY WAS AN EXCITING DAY FOR EVERYONE WITH THIS K-8 BEING NAMED, BUT I THINK ON JANUARY 19, MORE EXCITING THINGS HAPPEN. HISTORY WAS MADE. AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE HERE ON THE BOARD SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF HISTORY WAS MADE. AND WHAT IT TOOK TO MAKE IT. IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE LIKE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, VAN VAN AYRES AND TERRY CONNOR, THINGS LIKE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. BUT WE WILL PLAY A CLIP. PABLO, CAN YOU HELP US OUT A BIT. ♪ ♪. WE HAD WORKSHOPS. WE HAD OVER 600 PEOPLE, 600 STUDENTS COME OUT. AND WITH 28 COLLEGES THAT GAVE THEM -- WE GAVE THEM OVER $16 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS. WINNING A SCHOLARSHIP FEELS REALLY GREAT. THE STRUGGLE OF HAVING TO SIGN UP FOR COLLEGES WAS A
129STRESS TOLL FOR ME AND BEING FIRST GENERATION TO GO TO COLLEGE IN MY FAMILY. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE FROM A ARMWOOD, FULL RIDE! HEY, FAMU GOT A FULL-RIDE, EVERYBODY! 15,000 AND 17,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP. THAT IS PER YEAR. THOSE NUMBERS ARE PER YEAR. ♪ ♪. WHEN HE CAME HERE TODAY, HE DIDN'T KNOW HE WOULD GET $15,000. WE BOTH JUST GOT FULL RIDES TO DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY. ♪ ♪ ♪ $17,000! AND $15,000! ♪ ♪ ♪ THING WAS A MAJOR EVENT FOR YOU ALL AS BOARD MEMBERS AND IT COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, VAN VAN AYRES AND TERRY CONNOR AND IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WORK TIRELESSLY. WE HAVE GISELE WITH HER STAFF -- WHERE IS GISELLE AT? GISELLE WITH HER STAFF. KIANA, JASMINE AND CRYSTAL. AND THEY WERE WORKING
130-- COME ON UP. THEY WERE WORKING AT NIGHTTIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS -- THIS PARTICULAR THING HAPPENED. AND THEN THE STAFF THAT WORKS WITH ME ALSO, LENA MORRIS WHICH ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO MAKE SOME NOTES. WE SET A RECORD IN OUR INAUGURAL YEAR ACROSS THE NATION. ACROSS THE NATION. WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN OUR INAUGURAL YEAR. AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT THE NEXT FEW YEARS. BUT IT TOOK LENA AND NATALIE WITH HER, PART OF OUR TEAM, HORUS ACADEMY TEAM. BUT THE STAFF HERE THAT WORKED AND GOT ALL THE PAPERWORK THAT WAS TIRELESS. PAPERWORK THAT HAD TO HAPPEN. THEY MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS FILLED OUT PROPERLY SO NOTHING WRONG WITH ALL THE KIDS COMING INTO U.S.A. USF THAT PROVIDED THEIR EVENT CENTER TO DO IT AT.
131VAN WHO MADE SURE THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE BUSING WAS DONE. IF IT WASN'T FOR ADDISON. IT HAD BEEN TRIED TO DO IN HILLSBOROUGH BEFORE, BUT ADDISON NEEDED WHAT WAS NEEDED AND HOW GOOD THIS WAS GOING TO BE AND REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW GOOD IT WAS GOING TO BE BECAUSE IT SET A RECORD BUT HE UNSTOOD THE VALUE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE. SO IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. I WANTED TO LET ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES -- THE TWO YOUNG LADIES COME UP AND TALK ABOUT GOOD HENNING. I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY EXPERIENCE WAS -- THIS PARTICULAR COLLEGE, I APPLIED FOR IT, WENT STRAIGHT TO COLLEGE, SO THE FRESHMAN YEAR OUT OF THIS COUNTRY, AND IN ITALY, AND SCHOLARSHIP. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS LAUREN SCOTTLY, A SENIOR AT MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL. YES. AND
132MY EXPERIENCE AT UF WAS REALLY A POSITIVE AND BENEFICIAL ONE. THEY REALLY TOOK CARE OF US THERE. THEY GAVE US A -- HOW TO PRESENT OURSELVES ON THE COLLEGES. THERE WERE SO MANY COLLEGES THERE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AS WELL AS THE ARMY RECRUITERS THERE TO GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES, AND I WAS FORTUNATES TO HAVE TO RECEIVE A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO FAMU UNIVERSITY SO THAT I CAN PURSUE CIVIL ENGINEERING, AND GET MY MASTERS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE AN INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY WITH CONSTRUCTION, SO I WOULD SAY THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS VERY BENEFICIAL TO ME, AND I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT I ATTENDED. NOW ZIZEL LEAND HER TEAM. I WANT TO THANK OUR ADMINISTRATORS, HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, AND COORDINATORS AT THE SCHOOLS WHO REALLY CAME TOGETHER AND HELPED US GET OVER 600 KIDS TO USF TO
133TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY SO THANK YOU TO THE SCHOLARS. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? WE WAITED TWO AND A HALF HOURS. I JUST WANT TO SAY, HOW MUCH WE GOT BACK FROM OUR STUDENTS, AND STAFF, HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL, WITH RETROSPECT, WE CAN REALLY CHANGE -- WE TALK ABOUT PARENTS, AND WE PREPARE THEM FOR THAT POST-SECONDARY OPTION. WE KNOW THAT THEY NEED MONEY, RIGHT? AND THAT FINANCIAL AID IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PHYSICALLY SEE AND THE KIDS ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO SEE THAT THEIR FUTURE IS NOT JUST LEFT UP IN THE HANDS OF A QUESTION OR APPLICATION, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY FINANCIAL MONEY GIVEN TO THEM TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I WILL JUST DITTO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID. IT WAS DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORTS. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATES IN
134ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS TO BE CONNECTED TO AVID, OUR AVID COORDINATEDDORS ARE PHENOMENAL, ON THE GROUND MAKING SURE THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS A QUICK TURNAROUND TIME FOR US TO GET THIS DONE BUT I THINK HE SAID IT BEST, HE KNOWS WHO TO GO TO WHEN IT'S CRUNCH TIME AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND THAT IS DEFINITELY THE ACCELERATOR TEAM THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT INCLUDING THE AVID COORDINATE OR. AND THEN THE STUDENTS, ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL TO SEE THEM. FROM HEAD TO TO PREPARED TO PRESENTS THEMSELVES FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. SO WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED. I DON'T KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO SHARE WHAT YOU SHARED WITH US, THE NUMBERS? THE BREAKDOWN? IS THAT COMING? OKAY. SO I WILL LET YOU ALL SEE THAT FOR YOURSELVES BUT I HAVE TO SAY WHEN WE HAVE
135OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE THE OUTCOME WE WERE BLOWN AWAY, AND IT ALLOWED FOR US TO JUST REALLY REFLECT ON THE HARD WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO IT, AND JUST NOTE THAT IT WAS WORTH IT. IT WAS SO WORTH TO THE SEE THE EXCITEMENT ON THEIR FACE, AND WHEN HE SHARED THE OUTCOME, YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THAT. SO JUST LIKE SHE MENTIONED, YOU ALL HAVE YOUR HANDOUTS WHICH WE HAVE THE NUMBERS WE WANTED YOU ALL TO SEE. $16.2 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS. THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK PAGE IT TALKS ABOUT THE OTHER AREAS THAT -- I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE ATTENTION TO LENA, MORRIS AND NATALIE. SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH IMMINENT SCHOLARS FOR THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AND SHE DEMANDED THAT WE DO IT
136IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND ADDISON REALLY SAID, YES, WE ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE, BUT JUST LIKE ZIZELLE SAID IF IT WASN'T FOR EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER IN THEIR GROUP TAKING APPORTION OF WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BUT THE RESULT, 619 STUDENTS ATTENDED, 619, 259 FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, 240 STUDENTS RECEIVED MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS ON-SITE. IT WAS FIVE HOURS, AND WE DID $16 MILLION WORTH OF STUFF. I HAVE DONE OR BEEN A PART OF A LOT OF THINGS, BUT BEING A PART OF THIS TEAM, WITH THIS TEAM AND HAVING THIS HAPPEN FOR KIDS PREPARING THEM, TALKING ABOUT PREPARING THEM, THIS IS ALL THE CULMINATION OF THE REASON THAT YOU ALL SIT UP HERE AND ADDISON AND ALL THE TEACHERS, WHAT THEY DO, THE CULMINATION IN WHAT WAS DONE ON
137JANUARY 19. SO WE JUST HAD TO BRING TO THE YOU AND LET YOU SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND WE ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR TO GET IT DONE AND TO BREAK THIS RECORD. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TURNOUT. ORRS ACADEMY HAD A SURFACE THAT WAS GOING TO BE GIVEN IN A RAFFLE, SO EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO AT LEAST THREE COLLEGES TO APPLY AND THEN ONE WORKSHOP AND THEN I GET PUT YOUR RAFFLE TICKET IN. SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE 100 PEOPLE THERE. SO WE THOUGHT A SURFACE WOULD BE GREAT. WE HAD 600 PEOPLE. SO HORACE ACADEMY ALONG WITH HORACE CONSTRUCTION GAVE $1,000 TO TWO INDIVIDUALS ON A RAFFLE AND WE WERE SO GLAD. THEY HADN'T GOTTEN A SCHOLARSHIP BUT THEY GOT $1,000 FOR BEING THERE AND SHE'S ONE
138OF THE PERSONS, AND JENNA HAD TO LEAVE AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOURS. MY NAME IS SOPHIA. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE SPEAKING TO YOU ALL, AND VERY THANKFUL, ALSO SEEING MY FRIENDS WHO I GO EVERY DAY TO SCHOOL WITH, SEEING THEM GET THE SCHOLARSHIPS, ALSO JUST MADE MY HEART SO HAPPY BECAUSE FINANCIAL IS A BIG PART OF WHY SOME STUDENTS DON'T GET TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AND HAVING THAT CHOICE IS A PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. HAVE DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING? Nadia Combs: NO, BUT I THINK A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS BUT I FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THE CABINET, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, TERRY CONNOR, DAN, AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK
139SO HARD TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S REALLY ABOUT LOOKING AROUND AND LIFTING PEOPLE UP AND HELPING THEM AND SUPPORTING THEM AND BY GIVING CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES WITH COLLEGE AND HAVING SCHOLARSHIP AND FUTURE AND REALLY SEEING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE FIRST GENERATION GOING TO COLLEGE IS JUST AMAZING AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY ELSE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING THAT POSSIBLE. MEMBER HAHN, YOU HAD A COMMENT? Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS. IT'S SO EXCITING AND I LOVE HEARING FROM THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CREATE AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS, AND 600 PEOPLE SHOW UP, YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE FILLING A
140NEED. AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD FEELING. AND SO I AM REALLY THRILLED TO GO TO USF, I LOVE USF. YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, NOT JUST GETTING THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR BUT ONCE THEY ARE IN, HELPING SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS, THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE. SO GOING TO ALL DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND I AM SURE THEY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT YOU IN THE SAME WAY, AND I ALWAYS -- BEFORE I CAME ONTO THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH THE WORK I DID AT USF, I ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IS TO EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING THROUGH THIS PROJECT. YOU ARE EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION. AND SO MY ONLY PARTING WORDS TO YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT WHEN YOU ARE GRADUATED
141AND YOU ARE OUT IN YOUR CAREER, HELP EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION. LIFT SOMEBODY ELSE UP THAT LADDER WITH YOU. AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND ALLOW THE HORACE ACADEMY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ACTIONS. SO REMEMBER THIS EXPERIENCE, EVERYTHING YOU ARE RECEIVING FROM IT OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND THEN WHEN YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN TURN AROUND AND DO THAT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. BECAUSE I WAS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. AND I HAD A LOT OF GREAT MENTORS AND SUPPORT THAT DIDN'T JUST GET ME THROUGH MY FOUR YEARS BUT CARRIED ME ALL THE WAY THROUGH MY PH.D. PROGRAM AND CONTINUED TO CARRY ME THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE. SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. ONE QUICK THING. I
142DO HAVE TO MENTION OUR SPONSORS. IT WAS DNI CONTRACTORS, NUFU CONSULTANTS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HCC, OF COURSE ONYX MAGAZINE AND HORACE ACADEMY WHO WERE THE SPONSORS TO MAKE ALL OF THIS HAPPEN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I AM GOING TO ECHO EXACTLY WHAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER HAHN SAID. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WAS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE BUT I RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP. IT'S LIKE SON BELIEVES IN ME. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT. BUT WHAT'S REALLY AMAZING IS THE CORPORATIONS WHO PROVIDED MY SCHOLARSHIP TODAY STILL IS A PARTNER IN ANY MY LIFE. AND I GET THAT. I ALSO -- FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS A YEAR TO GIVE BACK TO WHAT WAS DONE FOR ME. SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR HORACE FOR WHAT
143YOU HAVE DONE FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND TO SEE THAT 600, 600 SHOWED UP FOR THIS. IT SCREAMS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED. YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN SAY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS THAT WANT TO? THAT WANT TO GO. THE AMOUNT THAT CAME FROM THEIR HEART WAS DEFINITELY OF GETTING EVERYONE ENGAGED IN IT. Karen Perez: AND FOR YOU TO EDUCATE THESE STUDENTS ON HOW TO APPLY, HOW TO GET THE SCHOLARSHIPS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE STUDENTS AS YOU SAID, THE FIRST TIME, FOR THE FAMILIES, AND THE FAMILIES DO NOT KNOW HOW TO APPLY, HOW TO EVEN APPROACH, OR HOW TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO TO GIVE THEM THE EXPERIENCE AND FOR THIS YOUNG LADY
144TO HAVE A FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP, CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD BLESS YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S AMAZING, MR. GRANT, YOU GET $15,000 A YEAR. THAT'S $60,000. I'M A FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATE ALSO GENERATION, AND YOU ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SOMEONE TO HAVE A GROUP LIKE THIS TO HELP. BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THERE ARE HARD TIMES. AND WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THIS BACKING YOU, I KNOW YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. BUT THE ONE THING THIS OLD MAN WANTS YOU TO DO, ONCE YOU GET THAT DEGREE, COME BACK TO TAMPA AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING. OKAY? THAT'S A PROMISE? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. OKAY, GOOD. THANK YOU. YEAH, WE HAVE YOU ON CAMERA. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS? Addison Davis: I
145JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM. OUR TEAM WAS MAGNIFICENT IN THIS PROCESS. THEY WERE TRUE CHAMPIONS, AND THANK YOU, LENA, FOR MAKING THIS A REALITY AND NATALIE, THANK YOU FOR DEALING WITH EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU FOR ACT CHAMPION OF CHANGE. WHEN YOU COME BACK WE HAVE TEACHING POSITIONS FOR EVERYONE. SO DON'T BE AFRAID OF IT, YOU KNOW. YOU WANT A JOB, WE HAVE ONE WAITING FOR YOU. THANK YOU AND BEST OF LUCK. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. WOOL KNOW MOVE TO 8 .02. BY USING THE NEWSPAPER AS A TEACHING SCHOOL. STUDIES SHOW STUDENTS WHO LEARN USING THE NEWSPAPER BECOME MORE ENGAGED CITIZENS AS ADULTS AND GROW UP TO VOTE IN COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES" NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS SERVED HCPS EDUCATORS, STUDENTS,
146AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING CLASSROOM NEWSPAPERS, MATERIALS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT. THE NEWSPAPER AND EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDED MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PRINT COPIES AND MORE THAN 10 MILLION DIGITAL EDITIONS OF THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES" TO CLASSROOMS ACROSS HILLSBOROUGH IN THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 8.03. PROCLAMATION. THE SECURITY AND IMAGINE MANAGEMENT. MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL BE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS TRULY A GREAT HONOR TO DO THIS. JANUARY 22 MARKED THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM. THE DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN THROUGHOUT THE PAST FIVE DECADES, ESPECIALLY
147SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TRAGEDY AT MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA. THE AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PART OF THE SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF EVERY DAY, BUT THEY HOLD NUMEROUS FUNDRAISING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO RAISE MONEY TO FURTHER SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND SCHOOL. WE CANNOT THANK THE PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT ENOUGH FOR THEIR SACRIFICE AND THEIR DUTIES. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MEMBER -- MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER PEREZ? Karen Perez: I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS. AND EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, I KNOW, I SAY THAT TO YOU, BUT SINCERELY, THANK YOU FOR
148WHAT YOU DO, FOR US, THIS COMMUNITY, AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: YES, AS YOU ALL STAND BEFORE US, WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE CARE THAT YOU GIVE OUR DISTRICT, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR STUDENTS WHO YOU INTERFACE WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS. CHIEF NEWMAN, YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US AS YOU WELL KNOW YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND WE KNOW THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP DIGGIFIES EVERY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS ROOM, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. BLESS EACH OF YOU AND PLEASE BE SAFE AND THANKS FOR KEEPING US SAFE AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: PERS ONALLY, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE. YOU ALL
149DO A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND I KNOW YOUR TASK MUST BE DIFFICULT, BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THAT YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. CHIEF, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL. WE GO BACK A LONG WAYS. YOU HAVE DONE MANY THINGS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU DICE DO BUT YOU KEEP US SAFE EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH STAFF WITH STUDENTS. SO YOU WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU DESERVE A LOT MORE THAN THIS. I WISHED A MILLION DOLLARS. I WOULD GIVE EACH ONE OF YOU SOME MONEY. BUT SINCE I DON'T, IRK GIVE YOU ALL MY LOVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, CHAIR COMBS. THERE IS AN UNSPOKEN UNDERSTANDING
150BETWEEN PARENTS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THE EXPECTATION IS WE'LL KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE. SO CHIEF NEWMAN, I KNOW THAT YOU MORE THAN ANYBODY UNDERSTAND IT IS IMPORTANCE OF THAT, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL YOUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO EVERY DAY MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, OUR BUILDINGS ARE SAFE, AND I KNOW SOME DAYS ARE VERY DIFFICULT, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ALL ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I WANT TO AGAIN ECHO WHAT MANY OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID, NOT JUST ABOUT -- BUT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MANY OF MIGHT HAVE SCHOOLS AND TO SEE, YOU
151KNOW, SECURITY OFFICERS AND RESOURCE OFFICERS INTERACTING WITH THE STUDENTS AND DIRECTING AND INTERACTING WITH THE PARENTS AND REALLY PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, KEEPING US SAFE DURING MEETINGS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT. AND THANK YOU AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER SNIVELY? Melissa Snively: THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MANY OF YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND I AM COMPLETELY HONORED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH AN ESTEEMED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS. AND I CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE GET TO TALK TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND WE GET TO SOMETIMES MEET WITH OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND COMPARE NOTES ABOUT THIS PART OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THAT PART OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THIS SCHOOL
152DISTRICT HAD AN INCREDIBLE REPUTATION FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. AND I CANNOT THANK CHIEF NEWMAN AND ALL OF YOU ENOUGH? FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO PROTECT EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND LIKE DR. HAHN SAID, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT WHEN WE SEND OUR CHILDREN OFF TO SCHOOL THAT WE ARE LEAVING THEM IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THEY CAN LEARN AND FLOURISH. AND WITHOUT YOU, THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AND KNOW THAT WE FEEL VERY, VERY SAFE WHENEVER WE SEE YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. AND I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT I THINK IN THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN OUR SCHOOLS CHANGE SO MUCH, AND WE WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WE HOPE THAT WE
153WILL NEVER NEED YOU FOR AN EMERGENCY, BUT DAY TO DAY, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS, OUR CHILDREN, AND HAVING THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT CHILDREN MAKE MISTAKES AND THEY ARE LEARNING THROUGH YOU, I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. HAVING TWO HIGH SCHOOLCHILDREN, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES CHILDREN MAKE BAD DECISIONS AND FOR YOU TO REALLY MAKE SURE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND TRAY TO LEAD THEM IN THE RIGHT PATH, WE ARE SEEING A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE THE ARRESTS DECREASING, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TRYING TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOU AND YOUR WORK, NOT JUST FOR SAFETY BUT DAY TO DAY THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE ARE BUILDING. AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR COMMITMENT AND TO
154MAKING OUR SCHOOLS SAFER AND BETTER AND TO WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS BECAUSE I HAVE LIKE A LITTLE 45 SECOND ON A 2-MINUTE VIDEO THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. BACK IN 1972 THE SCHOOL BOARD THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO CREATE A SECURITY SERVICES DIVISION, A GROUP OF ABOUT A COUPLE DOZEN PEOPLE THAT WENT OUT AND CHECKED ON ALARMS, PROTECTED THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS, SOME EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT ISSUES AND SOMETIMES GOT CALLED TO A SCHOOL SITE. YOU FAST FORWARD FIFTY YEARS LATER, A LOT HAS CHANGED. COLUMBINE 1999, CHARLIE IN 04, SANDY HOOK IN 2012, BERM A IN 2017, OBVIOUSLY THE FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR STONEMAN DOUGLAS WAS LAST TUESDAY. SO THE ARC OF SCHOOL SECURITY IS ALWAYS
155CHANGING IN THIS COUNTRY AND THIS DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HASN'T CHANGED, THE SUPPORT FROM THE LEADERSHIP, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE GREAT STAFF THAT I WORK WITH. THINK ABOUT ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BETWEEN THEN AND NOW. THEY STILL KEPT US AROUND. AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE GOTTEN BIGGER BECAUSE OF THOSE TRAGEDIES, AND WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THEM. BUT WE DID IT BASED ON THREE GOOD THINGS. ONE, THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAD WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS ABOVE REPROACH. I GO TO OTHER DISTRICT LIKE MRS. SNIVELY SAID AND THEY ASK ME HOW DO WE DO IT, GET ALONG WITH SHERIFF CHRONISTER AND CHIEF BRAD WHO WAS HERE EARLIER FROM PLANT CITY, HAD TO LEAVE. I WAS GOING GIVE HIM GAS MONEY BECAUSE HE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM PLANT
156CITY. BUT WE GET IT DONE BECAUSE WE ARE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND VERY TASK ORIENTED. IT'S ALSO BUILT ON THE GREAT TEAM THAT I HAVE. I HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND I DON'T TELL THEM THANK YOU ENOUGH. ALL HOURS OF NIGHT, THE CRAZY GUY BEHIND THE CURTAIN CALLS THEM AND THEY ARE THERE TO HELP, TO DO WHATEVER TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFELY. LASTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF. THOSE THREE THINGS TOGETHER AR GOOD FORMULA AND I THINK WE PROVIDE A VERY GOOD SERVICE. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, I WANT MY GRANDSON TO COME HOME SAFE FROM K-8. I WANT MY LIFE WHO IS A TEACHER AT MARTINEZ TO GO HOME SIEVE, AND EVERYBODY ELSE, FAMILY, FRIENDS OR CHILDREN. SO WE APPRECIATE THE PROCLAMATION.
157I'M NOT SURE, HE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS FOR BEING HERE FOR 2 HOURS 45 MINUTES, I THINK AT LEAST HE HAS A CHANCE TO SAY HELLO, MY NAME IS CURT. HELLO. MY NAME IS CURT. THANK YOU. NO, ON BEHALF OF TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE JUST WANT TO SAY HOW PROUD WE ARE TO SERVE THE SCHOOL SECURITY. PROFESSIONALISM AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ENJOY CHIEF NEWMAN AND HIS ENTIRE COMMAND STAFF AND ALL THE OFFICERS THAT MAKE UP SCHOOL SCHOOL FORCES, THEY ARE PHENOMENAL. THE CHIEF SAYS IT IS A PARTNERSHIP. I HAVE NEVER BEEN AROUND ANY OTHER GROUP OF AGENCIES BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, TAMPA POLICE, PLANT CITY POLICE, TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE, SCHOOL SECURITY, THEY ALL COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, AND DO THE JOB THAT WE DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. SO WE COUNT IT
158A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH THEM, AND WE HAVE YOUR BACKS, I KNOW YOU HAVE OURS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PABLO, I DID NOT GIVE YOU THIS VIDEO. OH, THERE'S NO MUSIC SO MAYBE WE'LL HUM. OKAY. THIS IS THE OLD CHANGE. I DO GET A CHUCKLE OUT OF SOME OF THE UNIFORMS. THIS IS DONNA. SHE'S RETIRED. THAT'S OUR FIRST PATROL CAR. WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS -- LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT CARS. 1994, OUR FIRST OFFICIAL PATROL CAR. I THINK THAT GUY IN THE SHORTS PROBABLY DROVE IT. WE STARTED GOING BACK, WE HAVE HAD FOUR CHIEFS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SADLY, OUR CHIEF, MY PREDECESSOR, PASSED AWAY ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME REALLY TALENTED PEOPLE TO RUN THIS DIVISION. BUT I'LL TELL YOU SINCE I GOT HERE,
159I GOT HERE WITH 78 PEOPLE BACK IN 2014, AND NOW WE ARE A DEPARTMENT OF ALMOST 385. THAT COMES WITH A BIG LIFT. THAT COMES WITH A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF SUPPORT. I UNDERSTAND IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING AT SUZY WHEN I SAID IT, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT IN THE HABIT OF BUYING GUNS AND BULLETS AND CARS AND VESTS AND LEATHER GEAR. FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A RESULT, OF STONEMAN DOUGLAS, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. IT'S A GOOD LOOKING GROUP. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BECAUSE THIS WILL WRAP UP HERE SHORTLY, I WAS GOING TO PLAY THE MUSIC OF "BAD BOYS." LASTLY, DON'T EVER STAND UP AND LOOK AT THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD WONDERING WHO IS THE BALD GUY AT THE PODIUM AND YOU REALIZE IT'S YOU. THANK
160YOU ALL VERY MUCH. SO WE ARE THE -- APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT VERY MUCH. Addison Davis: THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU HAVE TO SING "BAD BOYS." Nadia Combs: AND PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 504. C 602. C 604. C 607. C 608. C 6:10. C 611. 13, 1002. 10 OH 3. 1004. D 1201. WE'LL START WITH 5.04. I'M SORRY, WE ALREADY DID 5.04. WE MOVE ON TO BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 31st, 2022. SUCH DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THIS IS OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 31 OF 2020. I WILL GOING TO TRANSITION OVER TO OUR
161BUDGET TEAM. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT, CONSTITUENTS, THIS WILL BE A SHORT PRESENTATION DONE BY OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR. WE HAVE BROKEN UP THE SLIDES INTO INDIVIDUAL PIECES SO YOU CAN SEE IT BETTER SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BETTER THAN BEFORE. THE FIRST LIGHT WAS ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 9th OF 2020-21. THE BUNDLE WAS 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS AND THE EXPENDITURE BUDGET WAS 1.6 BILLION WHICH WAS GOING TO CREATE A DEFICIT OF $61.4 MILLION. WE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE TO END AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR UGH. 83.1 MILLION. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REVISED BUDGET OF DECEMBER 31st AND JANUARY 31st BUDGET, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S VERY LITTLE CHANGE, ONLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS CHANGE, THE OVERALL BUDGET DID NOT CHANGE. THE PROJECTED REVENUE AS OF JANUARY 31st WOULD BE
1621.5 BILLION AND THE PROJECTED EXPENDITURES WOULD BE 1.6 BILLION, WHICH LEAVES A FUND BALANCE OF 57.8 BILLION. AND THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE 28 ADDITIONAL MILLION FROM THE SCHOLARSHIP IN OCTOBER. THIS SLIDE, WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE JANUARY 31st, WE RECEIVED 1 BILLION IN REVENUE, AND WE ONLY HAD $910 MILLION IN EXPENSES. THE FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF JANUARY WAS $275.1 MILLION. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS REALLY HIGH, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT THE REVENUE WE RECEIVED IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WE RECEIVED. AND YOU WILL SEE AS TIME GOES BY, THE EXPENDITURES START COMING -- OVERCOMING THE REVENUE. WE SHOW YOU THIS SLIDE EVERY TIME. THIS IS JUST ABOUT -- YOU CAN SEE DECEMBER AND JANUARY ARE THE HIGHEST, THE MONTHS WITH THE HIGHEST TAX.
163WE PROJECT ENDING THE YEAR WITH $90 MILLION IN CASH. THIS SLIDE ACTUALLY COMPARES THE JANUARY FUND BALANCE WITH THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SO AS OF JANUARY WE HAD $275 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE. WE PROJECT 57-POINT MILLION DOLLARS IN FUND BALANCE. THAT IS IF NOTHING HAPPENS, IF THE SCHOOL RECOVERY PLAN IS NOT IMPLEMENTED AND THERE ARE NO CHANGES. WE DO HAVE A PHYSICAL RECOVERY PLAN OH THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE DO HAVE THINGS IN THE WORK. YOU WILL PROBABLY START SEEING THE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. AND THIS LAST SLIDE ACTUALLY BREAKS UP THE FUND BALANCE INTO THE NONSPENDABLE, THE RESTRICTED AND THE UNRESTRICTED. FOR THE $57.8 MILLION FUND BALANCE, WE WILL HAVE AN $18.3 MILLION UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE. THIS IS WHAT THE DOE -- SO IN
164ORDER TO HAVE THE STATE REQUIRED FUND BALANCE WE WOULD NEED 48.8 -- 45.8 MILLION AND THE MALL, WE WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL FROM WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND FOR THE 2%, WE WOULD NEED AN ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION TO GET TO THE $30.5 MILLION, 2% FUND BALANCE. YOU WILL SEE THE RECOVERY PLAN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-601. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.02. AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES. 22008 ATS INDIKUS EVALUATION PLANNING FOR THE TITLE 4 PROJECTS. Addison Davis: TITLE 4 GRANT PROVIDES STUDENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WE DO IS LEVERAGING TITLE
1654 DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE USED THIS TO BE ABLE TO ENRICH EXPERIENCES WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, AS A REMINDER WHAT WE DID AT THIS SUMMER WITH OUR TRANSFORM ILLATIONAL NETWORK WE OFFERED THE BACK AROUND THE WORLD INITIATIVE WHICH EXPOSED OUR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE ART, MUSIC AND PE INITIATIVES. WE USE THESE DOLLARS, CULTURE AND RESOURCE TEACHERS IN EVERY ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE ONGOING SUPPORT. WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN EVALUATION PROCESS WITH OUR TITLE 4 GRANTS TO MANGE SURE WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY IDENTIFIED IN THE SCOPE OF THE SEQUENCE, AND INDIKUS EVALUATION IS THE EVALUATOR IN THIS PROCESS. THEY IT IS A $20,000 EXPENDITURE THAT IS OUT OF THE TITLE 4 GRANT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION
166AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 602. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO. I KNOW THAT THE PRICE HAS GONE DOWN $10,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS. WHAT'S THE REASONING BEHIND THAT? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE REASON IT WENT DOWN $10,000. WE CELEBRATE THE SAVINGS, BUT I CAN GET THAT ANSWER IN MY FOLLOW-UP. Jessica Vaughn: AND THE $10,000 MORE OF THIS GRANT MONEY TOWARDS THE ITEMS THAT YOU MENTIONED OF THIS GRANT IS ALLOCATED FOR IT? Addison Davis: ABSOLUTELY. WE USE THAT MONEY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME INITIATIVES AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ENRICH THE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS PARTICULARLY SCHOOLS IN NEED. Jessica Vaughn: IS ONE OF
167THE EVALUATORS AVAILABLE THAT WE COULD HAVE CHOSEN FROM? HAVE WE BEEN COMPETITIVE TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE COMPETITIVE PRICING? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THERE ARE OTHER VENDORS THAT CAN COME AND GIVE THE EVALUATION AND WE DO PUT THIS OUT BUT THIS ONE CONTINUES TO BE A GOOD PARTNER WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE THE LOWEST PRICE AND OFFER A QUALITY EVALUATION RELATED TO OUR WORK. Jessica Vaughn: OKAY, THANK YOU. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.04. THE PURCHASE OF NONADOPTIVE BOOKS FOR K-5 CLASSROOMS IN 6-12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS FOR SCHOOL SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED WHICH IS UNDER ACADEMIC SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: 6.04 IS A PURCHASE OF NONADOPTED BOOKS FOR K-5 AND GRADES 6-12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
168AND READING CLASSROOMS AS WELL. AS NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS IDENTIFIED A SUITE, A BOOK LIST THAT ALIGNS TO THE BEST STANDARDS, FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, FROM OUR PRE-K TO SECOND GRADE AND TRANSITION TO 3rd THROUGH 12TH NEXT YEAR. THIS SUITE OF BOOKS ARE PART OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE AWE LINED TO THE STANDARDS, AND 30% OF THE STATE ASSESSMENT COULD BE LINKED TO THE TEXTS THAT ARE ADOPTED BY THE OR IMPLEMENTED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THESE TEXTS ARE GRADE LEVEL TEXTS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF STUDENTS CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND THE SAME TOKEN BUILD BACK THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO LITERACY AND INFORMATIONAL TEXTS. THIS DID -- THESE TEXTS DID NOT COME WITH THE ORIGINAL ADOPTION. THESE ARE ADDITIONAL TEXTS TO ENRICH THE LEARNING PROCESS. AT THIS TIME I AM GOING TO
169TRANSITION TO MR. CONNOR AND HIS TEAM TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THIS COHORT OF BOOKS AND WHY WE ADOPTED IT AND PUT THEM IN OUR CLASSROOMS. Terry Connor: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THESE SPECIFIC BOOKS THAT ARE LISTED HERE ARE MART OF THE STATE RECOMMENDED BOOK LIST. IN THE NEW STANDARDS, US A KNOW, WE ARE TRANSITIONING TO THE BEST STANDARDS, AND WE ARE IMPLEMENTING AT K-2 CURRENTLY THE NEW STANDARDS, AND BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, WE START IMPLEMENTING AT GRADES 3-12 FOR ELA, AND K-12 MATH IN ITS ENTIRETY. SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PURCHASE IS THAT WE FELT IT NEEDED FOR OUR TEACHERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS WE BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT THESE STANDARDS TO PROVIDE THEM ACCESS TO THE SUGGESTED BOOK LISTS THAT ARE EMBEDDED AND INTEGRATED BY THE STANDARD. SO WHEN
170YOU LOOK AT THE STANDARDS DOCUMENT PROVIDED BY THE DOE, THERE ARE -- THESE RECOMMENDED BOOKS BY GRADE LEVEL. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DOE THAT 30% OF THE ASSESSMENT THAT THE STUDENTS WILL TAKE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE NEW BEST ASSESSMENT, WILL INCORPORATE READINGS. WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES, SO WE FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO PURCHASE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT'S LISTED ON HERE THAT'S EITHER IN PRINT OR AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE, TO AFFORD OUR TEACHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS AND INCORPORATE THAT AS THEY INSTRUCT AND SERVICE OF THESE NEW STANDARDS. SO THAT'S THE IMPETUS FOR THIS PURCHASE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.04. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN AND I PULLED THIS
171ITEM. AND WE'LL START WITH MEMBER -- OKAY, MEMBER VAUGHN AND THEN MYSELF. Jessica Vaughn: FIRST I WANT TO THANK DANIELA WHO PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AND TIME AROUND THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I AM GOING TO BE HONEST. THIS IS ONE AGENDA ITEM THAT I AM VERY TORN ON, BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE STATE WHO IS PROVIDING THE SUGGESTED READING LIST, AND NOT SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKES A DECISION ON. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PURCHASING THIS TO GIVE TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS THE BEST SUCCESS, THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS, AT DOING WELL ON OUR STANDARDIZED TESTS, AND HOW MUCH IS ACCOMPANIED TO THAT. HOWEVER, I HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE SUBJECTIVE LIST. YOU KNOW, WE SIT
172THROUGH THESE MEETINGS AND WE HAD A LOT OF PARENTS TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT PARENTAL CHOICE AND CONCERNS ABOUT INDOCTRINATION WITHIN OUR CLASSROOMS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND WE ALSO TALK A LOT ABOUT DIVERSITY AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS REPRESENTED. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RACIAL DIVERSITY, IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY, AND IN THIS CASE RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY. YOU KNOW, AND I AM FRUSTRATED THAT THERE ARE BOOKS ON THIS LIST THAT COME DIRECTLY FROM THE BIBLE AND THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT INDICATE, YOU KNOW, HOW SOMEONE, A YOUNG LADY SHOULD BE SUB MISSIVE TO HER HUSBAND, OR THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN VALUES OR ETHICAL DECISIONS THAT CHILDREN SHOULD MAKE, AND I DON'T SEE OTHER RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATIVES HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE VALUES OF OTHER RELIGIOUS. SO AS MUCH AS
173AGAIN I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD PUT OUR TEACHERS, OUR STUDENTS IN ANY SORT OF ISSUE OF NOT BEING SET UP FOR SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVE TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT MY VOTE ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM. AGAIN I KNOW THAT IT'S IT'S THE STATE BUT I JUST WANT TO VOICE MY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. AND I ALSO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS, JUDAISM, HOUND BEHIND OHISM, CONSISTENTOISM, AND I GREW UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS IN MY HOUSEHOLD. MR. PORTER, I AM LOOKING AT THE BEST BOOK LIST AND I AM ONLY SEEING ONE RELIGION REPRESENTED IN THE BEST BOOKS FROM FLORIDA. IS THAT CORRECT? Jim Porter: THAT'S MY
174UNDERSTANDING BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE TEXTS THAT ARE BEING SUBMITTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT, AS MR. CONNOR SAID, ARE COMING FROM THE STATE, AND THEY ARE ALIGNED TO TESTING. AND SO THEY ARE BEING USED FOR SECULAR PURPOSES, NOT RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND TWO THINGS. ONE, THESE ARE STATE RECOMMENDED BOOKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ALIGNED TO TESTING FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND TWO, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE USED OR CANNOT BE USED FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. THEY NEED TO BE USED FOR SECULAR PURPOSES. BUT TO YOUR POINT, THE SPECIFIC TEXTS THAT ARE IN THERE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND STAFF IS BETTER ABLE TO ANSWER THAT, THAT THE ONLY TEXTS THAT HAVE ANY SORT OF RELIGIOUS OVERTONES ARE R, FROM MY
175UNDERSTANDING, BUT STAFF WITH CONFIRM THAT. Nadia Combs: I HAD A QUESTION BECAUSE I REVIEWED THIS LIST VERY THOROUGHLY AND I FOUND, I THINK IT WAS 7, YOU CAN SEE TABS, BUT ONLY FROM ONE RELIGIOUS -- FROM ONE RELIGION. IS THAT CORRECT? ARE THERE ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS, CONFUSIONISM? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS REPRESENTED IN THESE BOOKS? IN THE BEST BOOK LIST? THE SPECIFIC TITLES YOU ARE REFERENCING DO COME FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT, SO THAT IS ADJUDICATE AISM AND CHRISTIANITY OF THE JUDEO CHRISTIAN FAITH. SO THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THIS BOOK LIST. REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE. THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY BOOKS OR TEXTSS THAT TEACHERS ARE ALLOWED TO INCORPORATE INTO THEIR INSTRUCTION, WHEN THEY ARE DOING ANALYTIC REVIEW OF THE HISTORY, THE CULTURE, LITERARY VALUE OF SPECIFIC TEXTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO JUST THESE
176BOOKS. WE FELT IT NECESSARY THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC IN THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT PROVIDED BY THE STATE RELATED TO THESE STANDARDS THAT WE WOULD PURCHASE THEM. Nadia Combs: AND I GUESS I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE LOOK AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WITH SUCH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE ASIAN INFLUENCE, A VERY LARGE ISLAMIC GROUP AS WELL IN TEMPLE TERRACE, AND I KNOW YOU SAID THAT OTHER BOOKS CAN BE USED BUT THROUGH THIS TEXT WHEN STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE TESTED, 30%, ARE WE LOOKING AT ONLY ONE -- ARE WE ONLY LOOKING AT ONE BOOK OF FAITH THAT IS BEING REPRESENTED HERE BY THE STATE? MANDATED? I KNOW THAT TEACHERS CAN DO OUTSIDE OF THAT. AS FAR AS MANDATING BY THE STATE, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FIRST CONSTITUTION OF
177SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW THAT IS OCCURRING, AND WHY, THAT ONLY ONE RELIGION IS REPRESENTED. THERE MAY BE TWO, BUT ONE BOOK. I CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFIC TO THE ACTUAL ASSESSMENT. WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE NEW ASSESSMENT, THE PROGRESS MONITORING ASSESSMENT THAT THE STATE IS PUTTING OUT AND THEY WILL BE PROVIDING MORE GUIDANCE WITH TEST SPECIFICATIONS. I WILL BELIEVE, AND I CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE STATE, WE DO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SHARED WITH US THAT 30% OF THE ASSESSMENT COULD CONTAIN CONTENT FROM THESE BOOKS SPECIFICALLY. THE OTHER 70% COULD COME FROM THE VARIETY OF SOURCES. SO IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE LIMITED TO JUST THESE SPECIFIC TITLES, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY 30% OF THE ASSESSMENT. Nadia Combs: OKAY, THANK YOU. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU,
178TRACY BERGMAN. I KNOW YOU READ EVERY ONE OF THE BOOKS. NOW WHAT'S GOING OPENING. MICHAEL, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND REVIEW OR OVERVIEW, ACTUALLY. I'M PROBABLY LEAVING SOMEONE OUT. WELL, I'M PRAGMATIC AND HAVE GERMAN SO TO PLAY TO WIN YOU MUST HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE PREPARATION. SO, YES, TO THIS ITEM. AND ALSO WHAT WE ARE SEEING, I THIS THINK ALL OF US HAVE SEEN ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE LEANING TO TWO EXTREMES, THE FAR LEFT WITH SEXUAL, EXPLICIT SEX GOING ON IN SOME OF OUR LIBRARY BOOKS, WITH LESSONS, AND ON THE OTHER EXTREME THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF SOLOMON, AND THE BOOK OF SOMS, SOME OF THE BOOKS ON THIS LIST -- PSALMS, THE BOOK OF DIVERSITY WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. TWO EXTREMES. WHAT HAPPENS
179IS, IF YOU ARE AN AP TEACHER WHICH I HAVE BEEN MANY YEARS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS LOOK AT BOTH EXTREMES, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS YOU DON'T WANT TO BAN BOOKS, BUT RATHER YOU WANT THEM TO EXPLORE BE IT EXTREME OR NOT SO THEY CAN BECOME CRITICAL THINKERS. AND CRITICAL THINKING IS A SKILL THAT SHOULD BEGIN EARLY ON, SHOULD BEGIN IN GRADES ONE. IN OTHER WORDS, A CRITICAL THINKER ASKS ABOUT THE DETAILS, THE WHYS, THE RATIONALE, AND THEN TRIES TO BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION, TRIES TO MAKE A CONCLUSION, AND I BELIEVE THE BEST STANDARDS WANT THIS TO OCCUR WITH OUR STUDENTS, TO BECOME CRITICAL THINKERS. SO IF THIS IS PART OF THE PLAN, WE WILL QUESTION IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE 300 BOOKS AND YOU HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW OF 1.4%
180GIVEN TO NATIVE AMERICANS, 2.4% OF THE BOOKS FOR ASIANS, 4.6% FOR HISPANIC, 10.5% FOR BLACK, AND WHAT IS IT, 79% FOR WHITE. NOW, THAT TO ME IS PRETTY DARN DISCRIMINATORY, BUT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING. IT'S MANDATED BY THE STATE. AND I AM OUT OF TIME TO SPEAK. BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF -- OUTRAGEOUSNESS ON THIS WHOLE SITUATION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: IF RACE HAD A HISTORY, IT HAS NO WORTHWHILE TRADITION. IT BECOMES NEGLECTABLE, A NEGLECTABLE FACTOR IN THOUGHT OF THE WORLD AND IT STANDS IN DANGER OF BEING EXTERMINATED. THAT'S A QUOTE FROM WOODSON. OUR POPULATION HAS A RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR EDUCATION. AND HAR YET TUBMAN IS WRITTEN BY A CAUCASIAN AUTHOR. SO I HAVE A QUESTION. WHEN OUR TEACHERS ARE PREPARING THE
181STUDENTS FOR THEIR PROFICIENCY TEST, HOW LONG DOES THIS PREPARATION TAKE? DOES AT THAT TIME MONTHS, OR WEEKS? : YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE SPEND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR BEING ABLE TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY, SO WE STAY WITHIN THE CONTENT LIMITS, THE SCOPES OF OUR STANDARDS, BUT WE BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND USE INFORMATIONAL TEXTS TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW OUR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO COMPETE EVERY SINGLE DAY. Karen Perez: CURRENTLY THERE'S LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED TO TIE THIS TO TEACHER PAY. IS THAT TRUE? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THAT IS ACCURATE. Karen Perez: SO WHAT I AM HEARING IS THAT PUNISHING TEACHERS BY THEIR PAY IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN REWARDING OUR TEACHERS FOR HELPING OUR STUDENTS BECOME WELL-ROUNDED, CULTURALLY COMPETENT, CRITICAL THINKERS, AND READY TO FACE THEIR FUTURES, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHO THEY
182ARE. THE LIST PROVIDED TO ME IS A LIST OF BOOKS WHICH 80% ARE WRITTEN BY CAUCASIAN AUTHORS, 55% ARE WHITE MALE, AND ONLY 35% ARE THE FEMALE VOICE REPRESENTED. 20% OF THE BOOKS ARE WRITTEN BY A COMBINATION OF BLACK, HISPANIC NATIVE AMERICAN AND ASIAN AUTHORS. SO TO PUT IN THE PERSPECTIVE 293 OF THE BOOKS ON THIS LIST ARE WRITTEN BY CAUCASIAN AUTHORS AND 77 BOOKS REPRESENT WRITERS FROM OTHER ETHNICITIES. HOW IS THIS IN THE LEAST OF THEIR REPRESENTATION OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION? THAT'S A QUESTION. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. I WOULD SAY THAT MY JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO CONTENT THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITHIN THE GRAY BANDS. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR FOR US TO NOT PUT TEXT IN FRONT OF CHILDREN THAT ARE GOING
183TO BE ASSESSED UPON, AND AT THE SAME TOKEN AS SPOKE ABOUT A MINUTE AGO THERE'S POTENTIAL LANGUAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE LINKED TO EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ARM OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I THINK FROM THIS PROCESS, ARE THERE BOOKS ON THERE THAT WE AGREE WITH OR DISAGREE WITH? THE ANSWER COULD SHALL YES FOR EVERY ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY, BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE LIST THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS 30% OF THE ASSESSMENT, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR FOR US NOT TO PUT THIS CONTENT IN FRONTS OF CHILDREN. Karen Perez: SO DO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS A FAIR REPRESENTATION
184OF OUR STUDENTS, OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION? GREAT QUESTION, THROUGH THE CHAIR, ABSOLUTELY. OUR TEAM AND ACADEMIC SERVICES ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND SO THIS IS ONLY STAGE ONE OF A FEW PURCHASES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO SUPPLEMENT THE CURRENT CURRICULUM. WE ALSO FEEL OUR TEAM HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY THIS YEAR IN K-2 AND WORKING THROUGH 3-12 TO BUILD A ROBUST CURRICULUM THAT NOT ONLY EXCLUDES WHAT I WOULD CALL REQUIRED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE PART AFT ASSESSMENT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, IN THIS LIST, BUT TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE ROBUST CURRICULUM THAT IS DIVERSE THAT REPRESENTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT COMMUNITY AND REFLECT OUR VALUES. SO ABSOLUTELY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UCLA AND THE INFORMATIONAL ARTICLES THAT ARE
185PROVIDED THROUGH THERE WITH SOME DIVERSE REPRESENTATION THAT WE CAN SUPPLEMENT, SOME OF THE PURCHASES THAT WILL BE FORTH COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH DIVERSITY AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT IS ALL TO BRING THIS ONE COHESIVE ROBUST CURRICULUM THAT I THINK WE WILL BE PROUD TO STAND BY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO HAVE THEIR VOICES BE HEARD, THEIR HISTORY TOLD, HERITAGE, DIGNIFIED TO INCLUDE YOUNG PEOPLE, DIFFERENTLY ABLED, LGBT AND ANYONE ELSE INCLUDED IN THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. SO, YOU KNOW, I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO BE PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE MATERIALS THAT WE KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE ASSESSED ON, AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO KNOW IT'S GOING
186TO BE TIED TO TEACHER PERFORMANCE PERHAPS AT SOME POINT. SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO NOT PROVIDE THEM THOSE THINGS BUT FIND A WAY TO DO IT AND BUILD UPON IT SO THAT IT IS MORE EXPANSIVE FOR OUR STUDENTS. I AM PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FAR INCLUSIVE WAYS TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS FOR BOOKS FOR STUDENTS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, OR THROUGH THE SUPERINTENDENT, TO A STAFF, IS IF THERE IS A PARENT WHO IS UNHAPPY WITH ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT IS ON THIS LIST, WHAT IS THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE FOR THEM TO OPT OUT? AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT IF A PARENT REALLY CAME AND SAID, I REALLY AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH MY CHILD READING X BOOK. WHAT IS
187THE PROCESS THAT YOU ARE CREATING FOR THEM? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. I THINK WITH THESE TEXTS THAT WE WILL ADOPT, WE WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE AN OPT-OUT VERSION. I WILL LET MR. CONNOR OR TRACY KIND OF WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND WE'LL LAUNCH THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. Terry Connor: THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WILL SAY WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY RIGHT NOW,ING WOULD WITH CTA AND BRINGING GROUPS OF TEACHERS TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT PROCESS AS EASY FOR THE TEACHER AS POSSIBLE, AND LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR REALLY FRONT LOADING WHAT PARTICULAR TEXT THE TEACHER MATE SELECT SELECT AS PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM FOR THE YEAR AND GIVING THAT INFORMATION TO PARENTS EARLY ON SO
188THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION TO OPT OUT OR TO BE INCLUDED IN THOSE SPECIFIC TEXTS FOR THOSE LESSONS, SO-SO THAT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT BEFORE WE PUSH OUT ANY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE TO OUR TEACH e, SO WE HAVE ALREADY WORKED THROUGH THAT, AND TRACY AND HER TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT. WE WON'T GIVE THE SPECIFICS RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE HAVE BLESSING FROM ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, BUT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE IT WILL BE A SOLID PROCESS THAT PARENTS WILL KNOW WELL IN ADVANCE TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEIR CHILD. Stacy Hahn: I APPRECIATE THAT AND I AM GLAD YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT
189BECAUSE LIKE MRS. GRAY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO -- WE WANT PARENTS TO PUT IN WITH THEIR CHILD IS READING AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF BOARD MEMBERS. I WOULD BE IMAGINE YOU WANT SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO WEIGH INTO THAT. ANOTHER WAY TO APPROACH IT TOO MAY BE, I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SENDING AN OPT-OUT FORM HOME THAT FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL AND KEEPING THAT ON RECORD. AND IF YOU SENT OUT THE LIST OF BOOKS, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SAY OKAY, THESE ARE THE BOOKS, YOU CAN SEND IT ELECTRONICALLY, I'M OPTING OUT THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO COLLECT EVERY TEACHER'S LIST, RIGHT, WHICH COULD BE CUMBERSOME AND TEACHERS MIGHT CHANGE THEIR MIND AND DECIDE THREE MONTHS FROM NOW I AM GOING TO USE THIS BOOK, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO
190BE GOING BACK TO PARENTS FOUR OR FIVE OR SIX TIMES A YEAR EVERY TIME THE TEACHER PICKS A BOOK. SO JUST SEND THE LIST OUT. PARENTS OPT OUT OF THEIR BOOKS. THEY SEND THE LIST BACK. YOU KEEP IT ON RECORD. AND WHEN THE TEACHER PICKS A BOOK SHE LOOKS AT THE LIST. THESE FIVE KIDS HAVE OPTED OUT. I NEED TO HAVE A SECONDARY CHOICE. BOOM. DONE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS' CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION, DR. HAHN. I DO AGREE WE NEED AN OPT OUT IN GENERAL. SOME THINGS I WANTED TO RESPOND TO, WHEREWITHAL DUE RESPECT, MEMBER GRAY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SEXUAL CONTENT BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS AROUND SOME OF THE FOLKS
191THAT PARENTS HAVE CONCERNS WITH, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY FROM THE DAIS. AND ALSO I THINK THAT CRITICAL THINKING IS IMPORTANT, AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE CRITICAL THINKING, YOU HAVE TO BE EXPOSED TO AS MANY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT AND PERSPECTIVES ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER IT'S BEING TAUGHT SECULAR WHEN YOU ARE INTERMINGLING RELIGIOUS TEACHING INTO A CURRICULUM. ALSO, I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS NOT BOOK BANNING, IF THAT IF WE WERE TO VOTE NO ON THIS AGENDA ITEM WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY SAYING WE ARE STOPPING CHILDREN FROM HAVING ACCESS TO THIS, THAT THESE BOOKS CAN'T BE IN OUR LIBRARIES. MANY OF THEM ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
192IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO SPEND $1.2 MILLION TO PROVIDE A STET FOR EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM. SO THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN BOOK BANNING. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT MEMBER PEREZ SAID, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AS WELL. I THINK PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS LIST, WHICH WAS ADOPTED VERY QUICKLY, THESE STANDARDS WERE ADOPTED VERY QUICKLY, MORE QUICKLY THAN I BELIEVE ANY STANDARDS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MUCH OF THE VETTING PROCESS AND ALSO MANY CONCERNS FROM, YOU KNOW, AUTHORS AND SCHOLARS AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER STATES ABOUT THE STANDARDS IN GENERAL, IS THAT THERE ISN'T DIVERSITY, THERE ARE MANY BOOKS ABOUT BLACK HISTORY WRITTEN BY WHITE AUTHORS. AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND MR. CONNOR
193ARE LOOKING AT MAKING OUR CRIM CURRICULUM DIVERSE AND ADDING THINGS TO SUPPLEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FOR, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKERS, YOU KNOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS NOT ABOUT LIMITING ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE, IT'S JUST ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING $1.2 MILLION TO FURNISH ONE IN EVERY CLASSROOM, THINKING THAT THERE'S A 30% CHANCE THAT SOME OF IT MIGHT BE ON A STANDARDIS TEST. NOW, IF I DO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, WHICH HONESTLY I AM TOTH STILL NOT SURE DOWN TOW TO THE VERY LAST MOMENT, IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL TIE TO TEACHER PAY THAT MIGHT BE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, AND HOW THAT PUTSNESS A VERY
194UNFAIR ADVANTAGE THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEIR SALARY AND UNLIVABLE WAGE SO LONG, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS FURTHER, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE RELIGIOUS TEXTS IN THE CLASS RUTH RAMS. BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THAT THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MEMBER HAHN, I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT CODING, I MEAN, THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO CODE WHICH BOOKS STUDENTS WANTS AND NEW BOOKS COME IN, AND THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE FOR A TEACHER TO CHECK WHICH BOOK IS GOING TO BE CHECKED OUT, WHICH BOOK IS NOT, A LIBRARIAN KEEPING UP WITH IT. WE ARE TALKING
195ABOUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS WHEN PARENTS, WE WANT PARENTS INVOLVED. THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED. THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT BOOKS THEY ARE CHOOSING FROM THE LIBRARY, CHOOSING A BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY AND THAT CHOICE IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN MANDATING A LIST OF BOOKS. MAYBE I MISS UNDERSTOOD, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIBRARY BOOKS THAT CHILDREN GO IN AND CHOOSE, AND THEN A LIST OF BOOKS THAT MANDATED AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS LIST BE AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS TO KNOW, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT OTHER RELIGIOUS SHOULD KNOW THAT ONLY ONE RELIGION IS BEING REALLY BEING TACKET TALKED ABOUT IN OUR DISTRICT, OR IN OUR STATE. AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW OUR FIRST AMENDMENT OF SEPARATION AND CHURCH AND STATE AND MR. PORTER, YOU GAVE ME
196COUNTLESS CASES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, IN OUR STATE. WE ARE LOOKING AT BANNING BOOKS THAT KIDS GET TO CHOOSE, AND THEN WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THESE BOOKS HAVE TO BE CHOSEN. SO IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO ME, AND I OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I AM GOING TO SUPPORT TEACHERS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANTS TEACHERS TO NOT RECEIVE MONEY, THEY OBVIOUSLY DESERVE BECAUSE OF THAT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CHOOSING OTHER BOOKS THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE STUDENTS, AND WE ARE ALSO GIVING THAT BALANCE, BECAUSE WE SHOULD NOT BE JUST TEACHING ONE RELIGION IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING ANY RELIGION, BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT BY WAY OF STORY, THEN LET'S
197MAKE SURE OTHER STORIES ARE ALSO REPRESENTED. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. THANK YOU. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU. AS I SAT HERE AND ANALYZE, IT SEEMS LIKE POWER TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO MAKE DECISIONS ON LEARNING. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE IN A CATCH-22 EITHER WAY, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN IF WE SAY, NO, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HARM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FROM BEING PROGRESSIVE. WE HAVE TO REALLY THINK -- AND I AGREE WITH MEMBER PEREZ -- HOW WE CAN GET BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED. AND WE
198DO HAVE SOME AUTHORS, AND I REMEMBER YOU AND I, MR. CONNOR, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET-OH HE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE LEARNING, YOU HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT -- AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN OUT, AND WE DON'T HAVE AN OUT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT STUDENTS, TEACHERS, DENIED THE RIGHT FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO I AM GOING TO VOTE YES ON THAT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WE ARE USING THE WORD SUPPLEMENTS, AND TO YOUR
199CREDIT, MR. CONNOR, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, AS MEMBER WASHINGTON AND I GO THROUGH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE, YOU ARE CONTINUALLY ADDING SUPPLEMENTS. AND GREAT TEACHERS, GOOD TEACHERS, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SUPPLEMENTS, BUT TEXTBOOK IS OLD-FASHIONED, USE THAT BUT ALWAYS GO FOR SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL. SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, AND YOU ARE PROBABLY ON THIS ALREADY, IS TAKE THE NATIVE AMERICAN WHICH IS 1.4%, FIND THOSE SUPPLEMENTS, GIVE US BOARD MEMBERS A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF, DO THE SAME FOR THE ASIAN, HISPANIC, THE BLACK, THE WHITE, AND ALSO THE CULTURAL STIGMA THAT'S PUT ONTO THE GUY, THE LGBT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE AREN'T SHUTTING THE DOORS OWN THAT COLUMN AS WELL. SO AS FAR AS THIS BOARD, I THINK WHAT WE ARE ASKING, WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE WE WANT TEACHERS TO
200BE SUCCESSFUL AND THE STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL IN THE TEST. HOWEVER, WE DO NEED TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME RELIEF. SO SUPPLEMENTS, I THINK, IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR CRITICAL THINKING. OF COURSE IT IS. AND SECONDARY SOURCES, ET CETERA. REGARDING -- I THINK IT WAS THE LAWN BOY IN A REMARK MADE BY MEMBER VAUGHN, THIS WAS TAUGHT IN A SCHOOL AND IT WAS TAUGHT, IT IS GRAPHIC, WISDOM AND COMEDY AT THE SAME TIME SHOWING FONDNESS OF CHILD GIRLS. THAT INDICATES A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE EXTREME, IN MY MIND, AND WHAT HAPPENED, THOUGH, IS IT WAS A GOOD RESULT BECAUSE THE TEACHER USED IT AS A LESSON WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SO IT ACTUALLY WAS A LESSON, BUT THE ANALOGY STILL, WHEN YOU TEACH A LESSON THAT'S STILL ASSESSABLE, IN OTHER WORDS ASSESSMENTS ARE DONE ON THAT
201LEVEL JUST AS THEY WILL BE DONE WITH THE 300 OR THE 30% OF THE 300 BOOKS. SO WE ARE SEEING THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, BUT ALL THE WHILE, WE ARE ALL SHARING THAT WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN BANNING BOOKS, WE WANT THE KIDS TO HAVE THE EXTREMES AND IN THE MIDDLE. BUT AT ANY RATE, I THINK THE MODIFIER WOULD BE THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT, YOU ARE AGREEING WITH ME, BUT PLEASE DO SPEAK. Terry Connor: I AM GOING TO HAVE TRACY BERGMAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT. WE WILL HAVE PROPOSALS COMING FORWARD AS I MENTIONED EARLIER AROUND SUPPLEMENTING NOT ONLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE BUT GOING BEYOND THAT TO CREATE THAT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE DESIGNED. THE PARTICULAR PURCHASES THAT ARE COMING OPEN, LIKE YOU SUGGESTED,
202ONE OF THE REASONS, WE WANT TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ACCESS TO THE BEST THEY CAN AND ASSESSMENTS THAT WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT, THAT WE KNOW WAS COMING AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE CONNECTED TO PAY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT IN THE MOST IMPORTANT SIDE OF IT IS THE LITERACY SIDE OF IT AND LITERACY ACCESS OF IT. SO WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEST STANDARDS, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE DESIGN FIRST, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO STUDY LIVE DIFFERENT LITERARY ELEMENTS AND ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENT TO GET INTO THAT CRITICAL THINKING. SO SOME OF THE TITLES WERE SELECTED, AND WILL MATCH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE BEST STANDARDS DIRECTLY. SO THAT IS HOW SOME OF THE TITLES LANDED ON THE BEST LIST. BUT THEY ARE ONE PIECE. THEY ARE 30%, RIGHT? IF
203YOU TAKE DOWN THE BREAKDOWN RATE: 30%, THAT LEAVES US 70%. SO JUST LIKE ANY CURRICULUM THAT YOU BUY WHETHER YOU ARE BUYING LITERACY, WHETHER YOU ARE BUYING IN MATH, OUR DISTRICT, OUR TEACHERS AND KIDS DESERVE THE BEST THEY CAN AND THAT'S WHERE MY TEAM AND SUPERVISORS AND TEACHERS COME IN AS WELL AND SEEKING THAT INPUT. RIGHT ACROSS ALL 200 SOME ODD SCHOOLS, SO REALLY SEEKING THEIR INPUT, GETTING INPUT OF WHAT TEXT, SELECTIONS, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TYPES OF AUTHORS, WE THINK ABOUT THE LACK OF DIVERSITY BRAT UP ON THE BEST LIST, THINK ABOUT THE DIVERSITY THAT REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT. SO TRYING TO COME DOWN TO YOU HAVE GOT TO GET 36% HISPANICS, THAT MEANS WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO COME PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT MATCH, RIGHT? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. SO PART
204OF THE PROCESS IS TO GET THE CURRICULUM DESIGN AND SAIA, THIS IS PART OF IT. WE NEED TO INCLUDE IT. WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS BUT WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEN HOW ELSE DO WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE CURRICULUMS TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A ONE SIDED PIECE AND AGAIN THAT'S WHERE THE CURRICULUM AND LOOKING REALLY AT WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS? WHAT ARE THOSE EXPECTATIONS? IT IS KNOWLEDGE ABILITY, IT IS COGNITIVE DRIVEN. ARGUMENT, RHETORIC, UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE, AND HOW DO WE BEST SUPPORT THAT? AND SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKERS IS TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES? SO LOOKING AT THINGS, DIFFERENT THINGS. AND PART OF WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH IT. AS WE BEGIN THAT PROCESS. AND THE BEST LIST, THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST THE BEGINNING, AT
205THIS TIME FOUNDATIONAL PIECE, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR TEACHERS TO NOT GIVE THEM ACCESS BUT IT'S NOT THE END ALL BE ALL AND CERTAINLY NOT WHERE OUR TEAM STOPS IN TERMS OF THE STANDARDS. Terry Connor: AND OUR TEACHERS AND WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO SELECT THE BOOKS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY DETAILED AND THOROUGH ANSWER. MEMBER HAHN? Stacy Hahn: I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS GETTING A LITTLE CONVOLUTED BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING BETWEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM AND THEN SOME MEMBERS ARE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY AND MY BOARD MEMBERS THAT WHEN I PROVIDED THAT HAVING PARENTS LOOK AT A LIST OF BOOKS, IT WASN'T LIBRARY BOOKS,
206I WAS SPEAKING TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, NOT TO A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO HAVE, AND I WILL BE REQUESTING A WORKSHOP ON IT, BUT FOR TONIGHT, I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND IT IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF BOOKS, AND BOARD MEMBERS BROUGHT UP CONCERNS ABOUT CERTAIN BOOKS ON IT, AND THAT MADE ME THINK ONLY WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING THE LIST, GO HOME TO PARENTS AND FIGURING OUT A WAY IF PARENTS WANT TO OPT OUT OF CERTAIN BOOKS THAT THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THAT. IT WHATS NOT ABOUT CODING A LIBRARY OF BOOKS. I WAS SPEAKING TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE THOSE TWO CONVERSATIONS. SO FOR THIS ITEM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM PARENTS AROUND BOOKS,
207WHETHER IT'S ON, YOU KNOW, ON THIS LIST, THEN PROVIDE THEM A VOICE IN THAT. AND THAT'S ALL I WAS SAYING. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE I THINK, OH, CONVERSATIONS, WERE GETTING MESHED WITH BIGGER CONVERSATIONS. AND I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE THE COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AROUND THAT. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I REMEMBER YEARS AGO, WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH CERTAIN GROUPS, ETHNICITIES, UNDERSTANDING, LIKE THE WORD YOT. KIDS DID NOT UNDERSTAND THOSE WORDS, OR CERTAIN WORDS THAT ARE IN OUR LITERATURE THAT CERTAIN GROUPS DID NOT UNDERSTAND. OKAY. AND IT'S I LONIC THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CALL THIS STUFF BEST, YOU KNOW, STANDARDS. I JUST HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. WHEN YOU ARE ASKING STUDENTS, 30% OF THE LITERATURE, AND
208THE AUTHORS THAT WERE SELECTED, AND 80% OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE POPULATION, ESPECIALLY THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION WE HAVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO SUPERINTENDENT, CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME, WHEN WILL THAT BE BROUGHT TO US? WE ARE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT. AND WHEN WOULD THE OTHER BOOKS BE SELECTED? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT? AND WILL THEY NARROW BY DIVERSITY THE BOOKS THAT ARE ON THIS LIST, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOING TO BE -- WILL IT BE, AS FAR AS EVEN, YOU KNOW, 30% AS WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SAME CONCEPT THAT THESE BOOKS HAVE AS WELL? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE WILL BRING THIS IN THE COMING WEEKS TO THE BOARD FOR BOARD APPROVAL. I WILL LET TRACY
209SPEAK TO THE BREAKDOWN RELATED TO HOW WE SELECTED BOOKS AND HOW WE WOULD DIVERSIFY OUR CLASSROOM. YOU WILL BE SEEING A LOT OF ME BECAUSE I HAVE QUITE A FEW BOOK PURCHASES IN MY HEAD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOU AND THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL, OBVIOUSLY WE WILL BE BACK IN A FEW MONTHS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING. I CAN'T GIVE YOU A TITLE. AND FROM THERE, IT'S LOOKING AT A CURRICULUM, MATERIALS LOOKING AT STANDARDS AND STUFF THAT ARE IN SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THAT'S NOT GOING DO HELP BUILD VOCABULARY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT YES, TO SUPPORT THE CURRICULUM, IN TERMS OF THE CURRICULUM, STUDY WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE SEEKING, IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING LEVELS, AND IN THE ELEMENTARY LAND, AND THEN FROM THERE,
210WE ARE GOING TO BUILD OUT GOALS ULTIMATELY GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM LIBRARY AS WELL SO WHEN I GO TO THE SHELF THAT LITTLE THIRD GRADER, YOU KNOW, I AM HISPANIC, I CAN LOOK AT THAT SHELF AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, HERE ARE SOME BOOKS WHERE THE CHARACTERS LOOK LIKE ME ON THE COLOR, RIGHT? OR IF I AM AFRICAN AND THERE ARE SOME BOOKS THAT LOOK LIKE ME. SO IT IS A TIERED, I AM GOING TO CALL IT TIERED FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, OUT ON THE CURRICULUM, BUDGETED FROM OUR K-12, THIS IS PART OF OUR ALLOCATION, THAT TEXT IS IMPORTANT, THE WAY YOU TEACH KIDS TO READ, RIGHT? IS BY GIVING THEM BOOKS. SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR POINT THERE, IS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS. AND AS WELL AS KEEPING THE
211STANDARDS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH IT BUT KIND OF PUTTING ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN PLACE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. BERGMAN. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS LEFT. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REMINDED THAT WHEN THE OTHER ITEMS ARE BROUGHT BACK TO THIS, THAT THIS IF -- THAT IF AN ONGOING ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE, AND THIS WHEN YOU BRING BACK THE OTHER BOOKS THAT IT'S A WHOLLY NEW ITEM, THAT THIS IS INCLUDED, THOSE BOOKS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS VOTE, BECAUSE MY WORRY IS THAT WE VOTE FOR THIS, AND THEN THE OTHER BOOKS ARE BROUGHT BACK, AND IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT APPROVED. I THINK YOU SAID THE KEY WORD THERE, BOARD MEMBER
212PEREZ, ONGOING. OUR COMMUNITY IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING. TO STAY RELEVANT IN THE LITERACY WORLD IS TO STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND US, GOING FORWARD AS WELL. SO I THINK ONGOING IS THAT KEY POINT. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MR. PORTER? Jim Porter: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A FEW POINTS HERE. Nadia Combs: CAN WE HAVE MS. SNIVELY? AND THEN WE CAN WRAP THAT UP. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MAD MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPLANATION, YOU ARTICULATED THAT VERY WELL, I THINK, BECAUSE AT THE PD OF THE DAY, THIS LIST THAT IS APPROVED BUILT IT DOE IS TIED TO ASSESSMENT AND IT'S TIED TO TEACHER PAY, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO, EVEN IF SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO HOLD THEIR NOSE WHILE THEY PRESS
213THE YES BUTTON, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT NOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR TEACHERS, AND AT THIS JUNCTURE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO APPROVE THIS PROVIDED BY THE DOE. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO REMIND BOARD MEMBERS, TWO THINGS, ONE, OUR POPULATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME POPULATION, TALKING ABOUT RACE AND ETHNICITY AS THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, SO WHEN THAT LIST WAS DEVELOPED BY DOE, I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS ON DIVERSITY AND THE CONCERN ABOUT DIVERSITY. I AGREE THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE DIVERSIFIED, ROBUST SELECTION OF BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT THE DOE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE STATE POPULATION AND THEIR ETHNICITY AND RACE OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHICH IS 77% CAUCASIAN, 17% AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 26% HISPANIC AND LATINO. SO
214THAT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY HOW IT'S REPRESENTED ON THIS PARTICULAR LIST, BUT THE GOOD PART IS THAT IT'S ONLY 30% OF THE ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON TEXT -- I'M SORRY, ON PORTIONS OF THESE BOOKS, RIGHT? RIGHT. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE ENTIRE BOOK. IT'S JUST PORTIONS OF THE BOOK THAT ARE BEING UTILIZED TO STUD FOR AND PREPARE FOR THE ASSESSMENT. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT 70% LIKE HE SAID, THIS IS A FOUNDATION, IT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO CREATE A ROBUST SET OF BOOKS FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT WILL HOPEFULLY WORK TOWARDS MATCHING THE RACE AND ETHNICITY THAT REPRESENTS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RIGHT? SO I AM OBVIOUSLY GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HEAR FROM YOU ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO
215BE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ARE GOING TO CREATE THAT ADDITIONAL DIVERSE PERCENTAGE OF BOOKS THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO, SO IT'S RELATABLE TO THOSE STUDENTS. SO I PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM. THANKS FOR THE CONVERSATION FROM ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. AND DR. HAHN'S WORKSHOP. Nadia Combs: MEMBER SNIVELY, THANK YOU. AND MR. PORTER, JUST WRAP THIS UP. Jim Porter: I WILL WRAP IT UP BRIEFLY BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF CONTEXTS AND IT WAS A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT A VERY WEIGHTY ISSUE ABOUT YOU SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND ALSO BRING THE BOARD BACK TO WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY VOTING ON TONIGHT. FIRST OF ALL THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. THAT CONCEPT IS EMBEDDED IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
216THAT SAYS CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION AND THE COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED THAT THROUGH THE YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE KNOW ASPIRATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, AND THERE ARE A BODY OF CASES WITHOUT THE CENTURY RELATED TO THAT. AND SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SUBJECT TO THAT. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE ASSISTING RELIGION OR PROMOTING OF RELIGION OR ALSO INHIBITING RELIGION. YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THAT. TO THE CHAIR'S POINT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT THERE ARES ON THIS LIST THAT COULD IMPLY THAT RELIGION WAS GOING TO BE TAUGHT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE LIST IS COMING FROM THE STATE, AND IF THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT RELIGION IS PLAYING AN INAPPROPRIATE
217ROLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THAT REALLY IS A CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH THE STATE. WHAT THE BOARD IS VOTING ON HERE TODAY IS A LIST PROVIDED BY THE STATE THAT WILL AFFECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS, AND SO THAT'S SORT OF WHAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO FOCUS ON. OF COURSE THERE ARE CONCERNS. AND IF THERE ARE CONCERNS, AGAIN THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THAT UP WITH IS REALLY THE STATE. THE OTHER PIECE THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED TONIGHT IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY OR THE BOARD HAS THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO IN THE FUTURE. WHEN YOU START BRINGING IN RELIGIOUS TENTS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY ARE, THE DISTRICT HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT THE IN INCLUDES OF
218THOSE TEXTS DO NOT SEEM TO BE PROMOTING OR ASSISTING OF RELIGION OR INHIBITING IT. SO THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS THIS GOES FORWARD. BUT AGAIN, TONIGHT, THE FOCUS ON WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT IS TO VOTE YES OR NO ON THIS APPROVED BOOK LIST FROM THE STATE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. WE COULD BE HERE TILL MIDNIGHT SO LET'S PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES 6 TO 1 WITH MEMBER PEREZ VOTING NO. OKAY. NEXT IS 6 .07. PIGGYBACK NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, FRESH DELIVERED PIZZA. SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS, WILL YOU HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. I WANT TO THANK MR. CONNOR, DANIELA, ALSO TRACY, TIM AND AN GELO, LUCY, AND DEBBY. THAT TEAM IS ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH AND WE ARE
219REALLY STARTING TO GEL AND DOING SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR KIDS AND TEACHERS. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 6 .07. THIS IS A PIGGYBACK, A NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM TO PIGGYBACK WITH DOMINOS. WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW THAT THERE IS A SUPPLY CHAIN, YOU KNOW, CONCERN RELATED TO BEING ABLE TO GET SUFFICIENT FOOD AND PRODUCTS FOR OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION, AND AT THE SAME TOKEN THERE'S ALSO THE INABILITY TO BE ABLE TO HIRE PROPER AND SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PERSONNEL TO BE ABLE TO COOK CERTAIN INGREDIENTS AND MENU OFFERINGS WITH OUR CAFETERIASS EVERY DAY. SO IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT AND BE ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHERE WE OFFER PIZZA, IT'S ON THE MENU. WE ARE COORDINATING OUR EFFORTS WITH DOMINOS FOR GRADES 6-12 AND THIS WILL BE AN EVERYDAY ORDER THAT WHEN PETRAEUS IS ON
220THE MENU TO BRING PIZZA TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY DO HAVE A PIZZA THAT IS LOW-FAT CRUST, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT IS ALIGNED TO THE USDA NATIONAL REGULATIONS SO THAT WE ARE HAVING OOPS OPTION HEALTHY PIZZA IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IT WILL BE A STANDARD ORDER EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVE IT ON THE MENU AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FRONT LOADED AT THE BEGINNING OF LUNCH. IT WILL BE SCHOOL ERRED AND YOU WILL SEE THESE DELIVERIES ON OUR CAMPUSES. MAN. Lynn Gray: DIDN'T HAVE THAT WHEN I WAS A KID BUT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION FUND AND THANK YOU TO MRS. HALL FOR BEING ABLE TO BRING THIS AS A SOLUTION WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU,
221SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-607. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO, THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, IS THIS GOING TO BE JUST INCLUDED WHEN WE WOULD HAVE PIZZA DAY, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE LIKE AN ADDITIONAL FEE THAT KIDS PAY EXTRA FOR TO ACCESS THIS PIZZA? Addison Davis: NO, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THIS IS ONLY GOING TO BE INCLUSIVE WHEN WE OFFER PIZZA FOR THE MENU, ONLY TO BE A SUPPLEMENT TO REALLY HELP US OUT. Jessica Vaughn: BECAUSE WE DID HAVE PIZZA HUT AND GAITHER ELEMENTARY BUT YOU HAD TO PURCHASE IT SEPARATELY SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE IN
222LIEU OF THE PIZZA THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY MAKE. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.08. PIGGYBACK, 21193, BGH COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY CONSULTING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS A PIGGYBACK FOR COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY CONSULTING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. CURRENTLY WE USE NATURAL GAS AND WE ARE MOVING TO MORE NATURAL GAS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO SAVE US MONEY AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP OR PIGGYBACK WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHICH HAS A FLUCTUATING PRICE PER UNIT, AND DTH, SO -- BJH, SO THESE CONSULTANTS WITH FOUND AND IDENTIFIED ANOTHER PIGGYBACK THAT GIVES US A STABLE PRICE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND REALLY ALLOWS US TO MOVE TO MORE NATURAL GAS AT A
223MORE CONSISTENT LOWER LEVEL COST TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE WE ARE SPENDING 8.8.33 PER GALLON AND WHAT THIS DOES DUE TO A STATIONERY COST TAKES US DOWN TO $4.68 PER GALLON FOR NATURAL GAS, AND THIS IS GOING TO SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. COULD FLUCTUATE BETWEEN $134,000 A YEAR TO $340,000 A YEAR. IT JUST DEPENDS ON OUR OVERALL USE. AND THIS WILL BE -- (INTERFERENCE) THAT'S NOT PART OF THE AGENDA ITEM. BUT PULL THIS FOR DISCUSSION ALSO BECAUSE IT WILL USE GENERAL FUND TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED WHAT MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-608. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE
224ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DON'T HAVE THIS ON THE LIST THAT WAS PULLED. I THOUGHT IT WAS GENERAL FUNDS. BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.09. PIGGYBACK 22030 PGB-LG PROVIDERS OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS. Addison Davis: WE HAVE TO FIND CONTINUED SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO FILL INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AS WE KNOW THERE'S A NATURAL SHORTAGE. I READ A ARTICLE THIS WEEK THAT SAYS THAT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, TO CURRENTLY NOW, WE HAVE 567,000 LESS EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS AND THROUGHOUT THIS NATION. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH A PROVIDER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO TAMPA AND BE ABLE TO FILL POSITIONS. THIS
225IS GOING TO BE AROUND 75 POSITIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING THIS VENDOR TO BE ABLE TO BRING TO US AND THIS IS A $1 MILLION COST AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THEY ARE INTERACTIVE WITH FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND VIRGINIA AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-609. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY -- I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: NO, I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING AS MANY TEACHERS AND ADULTS INTO OUR CLASSROOM, AND I KNOW WE BRIEFLY SPOKE ABOUT IT BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS A
226RETAINING THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING ANY EXTRA MONEY, THAT WE ARE MAKING THAT UP IN RETIREMENT AND HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE, SO I JUST DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC CONCERNED THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR TEACHERS AND WE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING OUR TEACHERS. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO GET AS MANY TEACHERS AND BODIES IN OUR SCHOOLS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: JUST TWO QUESTIONS. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WHICH SCHOOLS ARE CHOSEN AND HOW ARE THEY SELECTED? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. EVERY SCHOOL COULD BE COLLECT SELECTED. IT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON NEED. WE HAD A PARENT TONIGHT TALK ABOUT WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
227THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN COME FILL THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND BE ABLE TO ALLOW THAT PROGRAM TO CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AND EXPAND. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE OVERALL CERTIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING INTO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE WILL MATCH THEM UP WITH OUR NEEDS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU. AND WHAT A CUE DECAT. I THINK THAT'S A RICH DIVERSITY TYPE OF PROGRAM FOR OUR EDUCATORS, FOURTH FUTURE OF OUR KID, TOO. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: MEMBER PEREZ? Karen Perez: CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT KELLY SERVICES IS DOING RIGHT NOW TO HELP FILL THESE VACANCIES? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN UPWARD MOVEMENT OF KELLY SERVICES BEING ABLE TO FILL POSITIONS. IT CONTINUES TO FLUCTUATE RELATED TO ACCESSIBILITY,
228THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE. WE KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE A LONG WEEKEND IT COULD SOMETIMES BE MORE CHALLENGING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THE POSITIONS. WE DO NOT THAT THE DISTRICT STAFF HAS BEEN TRYING TO FILL POSITIONS WHERE NEEDED, BUT WE CONTINUE TO COACH AND WORK WITH KELLY SERVICES TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO BRING INDIVIDUALS BACK, TO BE ABLE TO FILL. AND I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WE SEE NOW IS THAT OUR PRINCIPALS, ONCE THEY GET A SUBSTITUTE, THAT IS WORKING DILIGENTLY AND WORKING HARD AND LEARNING THE CURRICULUM AND LEARNING THE PLCs, CONTINUING TO HAVE THEM ON CALL LIST AND ASKING THEM TO STAY WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS. I WENT TO CYPRESS CREEK BEFORE I WENT TO WOMB AND SAW TWO SUBSTITUTES THAT WERE REMARKABLE IN WORKING WITH STUDENTS. SO WE KNOW
229THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND I WILL LET DR. WAY LAND EXPAND. Nadia Combs: AND ALSO SHARE IT? BOARD MEMBER UPDATES IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY KELLY SERVICES ADDED 150 STUDENTS FOR SO THEY ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING AS WELL. I KNOW YOU SEE THE SIGNS QUESTION YOU GO TO THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA THAT YOU VISIT THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THEY ALSO ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL RECRUITERS ASSOCIATION WE HAVE FOUR RECRUITERS THAT WORK EXCLUSIVELY WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. IT SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT UPDATE PURCHASE LLY AS WELL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, DR. WAY LAN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.10. SOLE SOURCE DOCUMENT 221208. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THIS ONCE AGAIN GOES TO OUR CONSEQUENCE STRIKES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IRWIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE OFFERS SURGICAL TECHNICIANS AND
230TECHNOLOGY TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE 600 CLINICAL HOURS TO BE ABLE HANDS-ON TRAINING TO BE CREDENTIALED AND WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS BEING ABLE TO EXPAND TO HAVE A VIRTUAL LAPAROSCOPIC TRAINING SYSTEM WHERE STUDENTS GET A CHANCE TO INTERACTED WITH SURGICAL CAMERA, NOVEMBER GATION, LOOK AT THE SURGICAL ANATOMY AND ALSO USE OF CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE REALLY WORKING IN THE CURRENT ROLE RIGHT NOW WITHIN THAT PROFESSION AND THAT FIELD. ONCE AGAIN WE CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE WORKFORCE CARES ACT 3 MONEY, ALL WORKFORCE, AND THIS WILL BE A $245,000 EXPENDITURE WITH THAT CATEGORICAL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.10. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
231OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: NO, MY QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 6.11. PIGGYBACK 21198 DST-LG CHARTER BUS RENTALS, ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND CAR RENTALS. SUPER DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM 123450 YES, MA'AM. CURRENTLY ALC SUPPLEMENTS OUR DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION BY USING SUVs, MINI-VANS, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VANS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT OUR STUDENTS IN NEED. SO WE ARE ABLE TO BRING A PIGGYBACK TO CONTINUE THOSE RENTALS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT STUDENTS CONTINUE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO OUR CURRENT SITES, BE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM SCHOOLS OR EVENTS. ONE THING WE USE THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES SO WE DO NOT USE OUR YELLOW FLEET AND HAVE SUCH A AN OPEN FORM OF CAPACITY AND THIS IS LOWERING OUR FUEL AS WELL. Nadia Combs:
232THANK YOU. NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.11. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: NO, THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER GENERAL FUND ITEM THAT GETS PELD PULLED DOWN. Nadia Combs: PLEASE VOTE -- DO WE HAVE MORE COMMENTS? MEMBER GRAY. I'M SORRY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE HAD I BELIEVE, MEMBER SNIVELY, IF YOU REMEMBER THIS, THIS IS AN ULTIMATE TRANSPORTATION. YOU BELIEVE WE DID THE SAME ONE BEFORE. AND THIS IS BEFORE YOU CAME, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. ALL TRANSPORTATION INVOLVES THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTING THEM. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE -- AND I'M SURE THE BOARD DOES AS WELL -- ARE THESE FOLKS GETTING --
233I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LEVEL 2 BACKGROUND CHECKS. I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN ANSWER THAT. USUALLY MR. FARKAS WOULD. BUT IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN ANSWER THAT AT THIS TIME? Nadia Combs: DR. WAY LAND? YES, WE WOULD PROCESS THEM AS A VENDOR AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET THE SAME REQUIREMENTS THAT ANY OF OUR OTHER VENDORS WOULD HAVE TO MEET. SO WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND PROVIDE YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF THOSE STEPS. PLEASE DO. AND THE SECOND QUESTION, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, BUS DRIVERS ARE TRAUMA BASED TRAINING, AND BECAUSE KIDS CAN BE VOLATILE, THERE CAN BE ALL KIND OF MOODS. ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS, THESE DRIVERS, GOING TO THE SAME TYPE OF PD AS OUR NORMAL BUS DRIVERS? Marie Whelan: THAT I CURRENTLY DON'T
234HAVE THE ANSWER. AND YOU WILL GET THAT BACK TO ME AS WELL. LAST, ARE THEY DRUG TESTED AS WELL? Marie Whelan: WE'LL GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. SO INFORMATION UPCOMING. THANK YOU, DR. WHELAN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. MEMBER SNIVELY? Melissa Snively: SUPERINTENDEN T, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND IS THIS SUPPOSED TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT NOT TO PAY FOR UNUSED CAPACITY IN VEHICLES? HELP ME HOW WE ARE SAVING MONEY AS OPPOSED TO A FINANCIAL IMPACT OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THROUGH THE CHAIR, THIS IS A CURRENT EXPENSE THAT THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, SO THE CHARTS IDENTIFY THE $500,000 HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SO IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL 500 THAT YOU THAT WILL IMPACT OUR GENERAL FUND. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE MOVING FROM ONE AGREEMENT
235TO ANOTHER AGREEMENT. IDEALLY, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE MULTIPLE VENDORS AND WE HAVE ACL AND HOSKET DRIVE BUT THIS IS JUST SUBSTITUTING A BRIEF AGREEMENT IN TRANSITIONING TO THE SAME FINANCIAL IMPACT. Melissa Snively: SO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS NOT CHANGING. Addison Davis: THAT'S CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. Melissa Snively: THEN STILL I GUESS I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND HOW WE ARE -- ARE WE SAVING MONEY? THE WAY THAT THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE DESCRIPTION MAKES IT SOUND LIKE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE SMALLER CAPACITY VEHICLES THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY BY USING TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES, BECAUSE ALC MAYBE USES LARGER CAPACITY VEHICLES THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED WHEN WE ARE ONLY TRANSPORTING ONE OR TWO STUDENTS. SO IF WE ARE USING THIS AND ALC, THEN TECHNICALLY WE
236SHOULD BE SAVING MONEY. SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. THE SAVINGS COMES WITH US NOT USING OUR YELLOW FLEET WITH OUR BUSES VERSUS JUST USING THESE INDIVIDUALS AND SOTOMAYOR SMALLER CAPACITY -- Melissa Snively: SO WHERE IS THE SAVINGS? Addison Davis: WELL, I COULD RUN THE NUMBERS FOR YOU HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST US TO RUN THE BUSES. WE ARE NOT SAVING FROM AGREEMENT TO AGREEMENT. WE ARE SAVING FROM USING THE YELLOW FLEET VERSUS USING THEIR SMALLER CAPACITY VEHICLES. Melissa Snively: I THINK WITH THE CONCERNS THAT MRS. GRAY HAS AND THE CONCERNS I HAVE, WE MIGHT NEED TO TABLE THIS ONE. Jim Porter: THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO DO. YOU NEED TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT WHETHER THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVETOMY AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THAT AND
237THEN YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. SO I WOULD FIRST ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT WHETHER THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE ITEM. Addison Davis: AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, FROM MY SIDE OF IT, IF YOU WANT TO PULL IT, WE CAN. IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO RUN, THERE'S A TIME SENSITIVE RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND I WILL HAVE TO GET WITH TRANSPORTATION, WE WILL JUST HAVE TO USE OUR YELLOW FLEET IN THAT PROCESS. BUT RELATED TO THIS, THIS SAME EXPENDITURES THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST USING IT CURRENTLY. SO RELATED -- I KNOW THE QUESTION WAS ASKED IS IT SAVING MONEY? IT'S MORE IN OH THEORY USING YELLOW FLEET VERSUS THESE SIMILAR VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION TO AND FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. Melissa Snively: I WOULD
238LIKE TO SEE A PROPOSAL IF THE THEORY IS WE ARE GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE ALREADY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ALC, SO I AM GUESSING THAT IT WON'T IMPACT OUR SERVICES TO STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ALC. THIS IS JUST AN ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT WITH AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SOURCE THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT, MS. GRAY AND I. SO IF I AM ASSUMING CORRECTLY THAT WE CAN STILL CONTINUE TO USE ALC TO PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, THEN PERHAPS WE CAN POSTPONE THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM FOR ONE MORE MEETING TO GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IS THAT CORRECT? Addison Davis: WE CAN. Jim Porter: MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE, THAT WILL REQUIRE A SECOND. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
239A MOTION TO CONTINUE UNTIL ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED. Jim Porter: AND A TIME. Melissa Snively: THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. WE WILL BE READY FOR THAT. Nadia Combs: I HAVE A MEMBER BY -- MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY TO CONTINUE AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. Jim Porter: NOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? AND THEN -- ABOUT THE CONTINUATION? IF NOT, LET'S VOTE TO SEE IF WE WILL CONTINUE. IS THAT CORRECT? LET'S GO AHEAD. RIGHT NOW YOU ARE VOTING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. Jim Porter: TO VOTE YES THAT MEANS IT WILL NOT BE HEARD TONIGHT AND HEARD AT NEXT BOARD MEETING. IF YOU VOTE NO, IT WILL BE HEARD TONIGHT. SO IT PASSES SO THIS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK AT
240THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ITEM WHICH IS 6 .13 AGREEMENT 20206, PGG-LG COMPUTER SUPPLIES AND SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT TAPES WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPUTER HARDWARE SOFTWARE SUPPLIES AND SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND PROVIDE EQUIPMENT TO OUR STUDENT. THIS ALLOWS US TO PURCHASE 32,000 LAPTOPS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND ALSO 14,000 TEACHER LAPTOPS. TRANSITIONING TWO YEARS AGO, ONE THING THAT WE IDENTIFIED IS THAT WHEN WE HIRED TEACHERS, OUR CURRENT TEACHERS, WE DO NOT HAND THEM LAPTOPS AS A STANDARD PROTOCOL OF EQUIPMENT SO THIS ALLOWS US TO HAVE THIS OVERALL REFRESH AND GIVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS THE OVERALL NEEDS THEY
241NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THIS COMES WITH COMPUTER SOFTWARE AS WELL, WITH HAVING LIGHT SPEED CONTENT FILTER WHICH IS OUR INTERVENTION PROTECTIVE ACT AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN OUR COMPUTERS. THIS ALLOWS OUR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR THE VENDOR TO BE ABLE TO DO AN ASSET COLLECTION AND ALSO IMAGING FOR OUR SOFTWARE SO THEY ARE UP AND READY, ALIGNED WITH ALL OF OUR PLATFORMS AUTHORIZE THEM TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. YOU NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-613. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER VAUGHN AND I BOTH PULLED THIS ITEM. MEMBER VAUGHN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Jessica Vaughn: I DO, THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WE A FEW MONTHS AGO APPROVED ANOTHER $27
242MILLION THROUGH CARES ACT MONEY ON ONE TO ONE DEVICES S.THAT A CONTINUATION OF THAT? Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THAT IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT PROCESS. AS A REMINDER, ONE DEVICE FOR EVERY SIX STUDENTS AND WE ARE TRANSITIONING RIGHT NOW FOR ONE DEVICE FOR EVERY TWO STUDENTS AND ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY FOR THAT ONE TO ONE ACCESSIBLIBILITY IN OUR CLASSROOMS. Jessica Vaughn: SO THAT WOULD MEAN THE TOTAL SPENT IS 54 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? Addison Davis: IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE. WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FROM GOING TO 28,000 TO FUNCTIONAL LAPTOPS TO NOW OVER 120,000 LAPTOPS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. Jessica Vaughn: WILL THIS COMPLETE THIS? WILL THIS GIVE US ONE TO ONE OR IS THERE ANOTHER PHASE THIS WHAT PERCENTAGE WILL THIS GIVE US TO THE
243ONE TO ONE GOAL THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT? MEMBER VAUGHN, TO THE QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WILL GET US APPROXIMATELY TO THE 160 TO 170,000 MARK. WE PLAN ON UTILIZING ESSER 3 FUNDS WITH GETTING US UP AND OVER THAT ONE TO ONE MARK SO THAT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE US TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 220, 230,000 DEVICES, AND THAT'S ACROSS STUDENTS AND STAFF AT THAT POINT. Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THAT WILL GET US TO A LITTLE OVER WILL 0% TO GET CLOSE TO THAT ONE TO ONE. DO YOU ANTICIPATE BRINGING ANOTHER ITEM SIMILAR TO THIS COST AND SCOPE BEFORE US IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS? Thomas Weeks: YES, MA'AM, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO PART OF YOUR EARLIER QUESTION. AS TO THE
244ACTUAL SPEND ON THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY 27.65 MILLION. SO THIS IS PART OF THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION FUND GRANT THAT WE HAD APPROVED FOR US WITH AN VALUE OF ABOUT $15.4 MILLION. OUR TOTAL SPEND WILL BE 27.65, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF REIMBURSEMENT OF 15.4 OF THAT. SO WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A NET COST OUT OF CAPITAL OF APPROXIMATELY 12 AND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS. Jessica Vaughn: SO WHAT ARE THE -- WHAT ARE HOPEFUL -- YOU SAY POSSIBLE. HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY WILL BE REIMBURSED? Thomas Weeks: IT IS EXTREMELY LIKELY. IT IS HANDLED BY THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION CORPORATION, WHICH IS THE SAME COMPANY THAT HANDLES ALL OF OUR E-RATE PROCESSES. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH SOME HOOPS TO GET THIS, BUT IN GENERAL WE RECEIVE THE VAST MAJORITY IF NOT 100% OF
245ALL THE REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE APPLY FOR. Jessica Vaughn: I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER PURCHASE, I REALLY EVALUATED THOSE LAPTOPS. ARE THESE THE SAME OR ARE NOW THESE DIFFERENT? BECAUSE THE WHOLE THING WE WERE CUSTOM MAKING OUR OWN AND THEY WERE ALL WEB BASED APPLICATIONS AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH ISSUES. ARE THESE THE SAME DEVICES, OR HAVE WE IDENTIFIED WE WANT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH THESE? Thomas Weeks: NO, MA'AM, THESE ARE NOT THE SAME DEVICES. I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS PROBABLY A FEW BOARD MEETINGS AGO. SO I WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THIS. THAT SPECIFIC DEVICE, THE EVOLVE DEVICE, WE HAD TWO ISSUES WITH THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCT LINE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE VENDOR TO ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCT MEETS THE STANDARDS FOR A
246QUALITY PERSPECTIVE, WE REQUIRE AS A DISTRICT. HOWEVER, THAT THE POINT WEE WE ARE STILL NOT COMPLETELY STAFFED THAT THEY ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE. SO WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO OUT AND PUT FORWARD A SUBSTITUTION FOR DEVICES WHEN IT CAME TO SUBMITTING THIS GRANT. WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING WITH WINDOW DEVICES AT THIS POINT. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SPEND. THE WAY THE GRANT IS WRITTEN, YOU HAD TO PROPOSE A SPECIFIC PRODUCT AT A SPECIFIC PRICE POINT. FOR US, IT ACTUALLY CAME IN MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT THE HE INVOLVES WOULD HAVE. WE RENEGOTIATED THAT PRICE DOWNWARD, SO WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS, AND ITS ACTUAL VALUE OUT OF APPROXIMATELY $800,000 IN ADDITIONAL VALUE FOR COMPUTERS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING FOR THAT
247SAME $27.65 MILLION. SO IT'S APPROXIMATELY $29 MILLION WORTH OF COMPUTERS FOR A NET SPEND OF 12.25 MILLION. HOPEFULLY. FINGERS CROSSED. THANK YOU. YOU APPRECIATE IT. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I ALSO PULLED THIS ITEM. AND DR. WEEKS, WE SPOKE AS WELL. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS ITEM, THE RFP WAS REALLY JUST THE DETAILS. IF I AM GOING TO APPROVE SOMETHING WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT JUST THE FLEXIBILITY OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, SUPPLIES, WHEN I SEE SOFTWARE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PURCHASING ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE. I'M THINKING OF COMPUTERS AND STUDENT HANDS AND TEACHERS HANDS ARE DIFFERENT, SO FOR ME THE RFP WAS NOT AS CLEAR, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED CLARIFICATION FROM THAT. SO I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION. WITH THIS RFP, EXACTLY HOW MANY TEACHER COMPUTERS ARE WE GOING TO HAVE,
248EXACTLY HOW MANY STUDENT COMPUTERS ARE WE GOING TO BE PURCHASING, AND WHAT OTHER MATERIALS ARE WE GOING TO PURCHASE? AND THEN LASTLY, FOR FUTURE ITEMS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT, IN ORDER TO APPROVE SOMETHING SO LARGE LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. AND I ALSO 2022 SEE THE FOLLOW-UP FROM THE PREVIOUS PURCHASES THAT WE HAD, AND I NOTICE THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE COMPUTERS, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW IS THAT BEING RESOLVED BEFORE -- AND I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM BEFORE WE SEE FUTURE ITEMS. Thomas Weeks: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS SPECIFIC RFP, SINCE THIS IS A PIGGYBACK, IT IS WRITTEN SO THAT IT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR DEVICES OR PURCHASING OF SOFTWARE ACCESSORIES OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE INTENTION
249OF THIS SPECIFIC ITEM IS FOR. SO JUST TO STATE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WORD, WITH THIS PURCHASE, WE ARE LOOKING AT 32,217 STUDENT DEVICES. THIS INCLUDES THE SOFTWARE AS MR. DAVIS HAD MENTIONED. THAT WE LOAD ON ALL OF OUR DEVICES TO ENSURE THAT WE HANDLE THE CONTENT FILTERING THAT'S PART OF THE CHILDREN'S INTERNET PROTECTION ACT. SO THAT'S -- WE HAVE THEM ON EVERY LAPTOP WITHIN THE DISTRICT. WE ARE ALSO PAYING FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES WHICH ARE FOR THE VENDOR TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE IMAGING AND SO WHEN WE RECEIVE THE COMPUTERS AT THE DISTRICT, WE ARE READY TO DEPLOY THEM RIGHT OUT TO THE SCHOOLS. WE DO NOT REALLY HAVE TO TOUCH THEM OTHER THAN TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THEM FROM OUR LOADING DOCKS ONTO A TRUCK OUT OF THE SCHOOL SITES. FROM A TEACHER PECK
250SPEAKER TIFF, THIS WILL PROVIDE 14,167 TEACHER DEVICES. THESE WILL BE MICROSOFT SURFACES. THIS WILL BE A FULL BUNDLE, SO IN IS A DOCKING STATION, MONITORS, SO THIS IS A FULL-BLOWN IMPLEMENTATION FOR ALL OF OUR TEACHERS. SO EVERY TEACHER WITHIN THIS DISTRICT WILL HAVE A BRAND NEW DEVICE, SO THAT IS WHAT THAT $27.65 MILLION SPEND IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE. 32,217 DEVICES, 14,167 TEACHER DEVICES, AND THE ASSOCIATED FEES IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO US READY TO GO OUT THE DOOR. Nadia Combs: YES, THANK YOU, DR. WEEKS. JUST IN THE FUTURE I JUST WANT THOSE DETAILS IN THE RFP SO THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER SO I DON'T HAVE TO PULL THE ITEM FOR FUTURE ITEMS. MEMBER GRAY? Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND MR. WEEKS, CAN YOU COME OUT FROM THE -- OUT THERE? I
251WANT TO SEE YOU BECAUSE I HATE TO SPEAK TO THE ABYSS. CAN YOU STAND UP SO WE CAN HAVE A DIALOGUE FACE TO FACE? FIRST OFF, WE NEED THIS. THE TEACHERS, THE STAFF MEMBERS AND STUDENTS NEED THE TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION. WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE, IN LISTENING TO THE PRINCIPALS AS WELL, WE HAVE -- AND I SAY WE. OUR ADMINISTRATORS, BOARD MEMBERS, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS EXPENDITURE FITS IN A LONG-RANGE PLAN. SO AS MEMBER COMBS SAID, THE BREAKDOWN OF THIS EXPENDITURE IS SO CRITICAL, BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU BECAUSE WE CAN ALL SEE THAT AS WELL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TIMELINE IN A WAY THAT SHARES -- NOT UNLIKE THE STRATEGIC PLAN -- WHERE WE ARE EXPENDING THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR
252WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SO-AND-SO. SO THE VISUAL WOULD BE THAT WE ARE EXPANDING OUR TECHNOLOGY. THIS CATCHING UP, WHICH I KNOW WE ARE STILL ON CATCH UP, SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY. AND I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS. IT WOULD HELP THE BOARD, MYSELF, I WILL JUST MENTION THIS FOR MY OWN SELF, TO KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT PLACE WHERE THESE LARGE EXPENDITURES WILL NOT HAVE TO BE MADE TO THIS DEGREE. AND THAT WELL BE -- WE WILL BE UP AND RUNNING LIKE OTHER DISTRICTS, WE WOULD BE COMPETITIVE. SO THAT WOULD BE MY ASK. AND MR. WEEKS, I DON'T KNOW -- I KNOW THIS IS A GRANT, AND SOON THERE MAY BE -- WE'LL HAVE CAPITAL FUNDS, BUT THE FINANCIAL PIECE AS WELL,
253AND THAT WILL BE ASKED BY MEMBER SNIVELY, NO DOUBT. SO LET'S LOOK FOR A TIMELINE. AND DO YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK? Thomas Weeks: YES, MA'AM. SO FOR US, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY, BUT I WILL STATE OFFICIALLY FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE WORKING ON AN OVERALL TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE EMBARKING ON A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES, LOOKING AT BASICALLY TECHNOLOGIES STRATEGIC PLAN. WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE ONE-TIME DOLLARS THAT WE ARE USING FOR MOST OF THESE PURCHASES. WE KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN TO AVOID FALLING TO THE SAME TRAP THAT WE REALLY FELL INTO FOR THE PAST DECADE, ROUGHLY. SO I AM WORKING WITH THAT, AND I AM ALSO LOOKING AT EXAMINING OUR STANDARDS FOR CLASSROOM
254TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION. WE ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A GROUP, THIS IS A CROSS FUNCTIONAL EFFORT THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. SO WE ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE EXAMINING HOW WE UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM, WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TO BE UTILIZED, REALLY TO SUPPLEMENT THE TEACHERS AND PLOY THE BEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. I NEED TO PROVIDE GREATER TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PURCHASES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MADE. WE HAVE BEEN UNDER THE GUN CONSTANTLY FOR THE PAST ALMOST TWO YEARS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD MONEY COMING IN TO US RELATIVELY RAPIDLY. WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT TECHNOLOGICAL DEFICIT THAT WE NEEDED TO RECOVER FROM. SO WHILE SOME OF THIS HAPPENED WITH MY PREDECESSOR, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT. AT SOME POINT I CAN PROVIDE A GREATER LEVEL OF DETAIL WITH WHERE WE ARE. AND THEN TO
255YOUR POINT TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT TIMELINE IS FOR US TO GET TO THE DESIRED ACHIEVABLE RESULT, WHICH IS WHERE WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY ONE TO ONE DEVICES FOR STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, I CAN LOOK AT HOW WE PLAN ON MAKING THIS A SUSTAINABLE EFFORT THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH, HAVE A SPEND THAT WE CAN COUNT ON ASKING FOR ANNUALLY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT LOSE THE DEVICE CURRENCY THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AFFORDED BECAUSE OF THESE ONE-TIME DOLLARS. Lynn Gray: I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TIMELINE, AND I WILL ALWAYS ASK FOR IT WHEN I MEET WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: AND I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK JUST WITH THE PROGRESS MONITORING, ALL THE NEEDS FOR COMPUTERS NOW, IT MAY BE A GOOD TIME
256TO LOOK AT HAVING A WORKSHOP AND LOOKING AT WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE GOING, AND TO SEE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE BEST CHOICES FOR OUR DISTRICT. MEMBER WASHINGTON? Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. WEEKS, HOW ARE YOU DOING THERE, SIR? YOU KNOW WHAT MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU HAVE A GAME PLAN HOW WE ARE GOING TO DIVIDE THE COMPUTERS UP? WHO IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE COMPUTERS FIRST? BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT DIVIDE. Thomas Weeks: ABSOLUTELY, YOU ARE CORRECT. AND WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THIS BUT TO SHARE THIS TO THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT OUR CHALLENGE HAS BEEN RECOVERING FROM THE TECHNOLOGY CAL DEFICIT. WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT STILL HAVE AGING DEVICES. SO DEVICES THAT
257WE CONSIDER NONVIABLE TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE CLASSROOM OF TODAY, UNABLE TO RUN THE SOFTWARE THAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR US EITHER FROM ATTESTING PERSPECTIVE OR FROM A CURRICULUM PERSPECTIVE. SO WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM HAVING THOSE OLDER DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM. TO DO THAT, AND TO YOUR POINT, TO DO THAT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO FIRST ERASE, AND WE ARE TARGETING ANY DEVICE THAT'S OVER THE FIVE YEARS IN OUR DISTRICT, WE NEED TO FIRST ERASE ALL OF THOSE DEVICES OW OF THE DISTRICT FROM BEING IN CIRCULATION. THAT'S OUR ULTIMATE PLAN, RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. WE ARE EXAMINING THE OLDER DEVICES THAT ARE OUT AT THE SCHOOL SITES. WE NEED TO PULL THOSE OUT. THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT QUANTITY, AND IT'S A KNOWN QUANTITY AT THIS
258POINT, ONCE WE HAVE THAT QUANTITY REPLACED, REEXAMINE EACH AND EVERY SCHOOL TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY HAVE VERSUS THE NUMBER OF DEVICES THAT THEY HAVE. SO FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT, WE ARE RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE ONE TO ONE MARK. FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THAT WILL BE OUR NEXT LEVEL OF EFFORT. AND THEN WE WILL WORK DOWN TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING EQUITY IN THE CLASSROOM. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE DEVICES THAT THEY REQUIRE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE TASKS, REALLY AS PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM, NECESSITATES. SO FOR THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO, I HAVE ASKED ALL THE PRINCIPALS -- AND THIS IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PRINCIPALS,
259ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND MEETING WITH ALL OF THE PRINCIPALS, I HAVE ASKED THEM SPECIFICALLY IF THEY HAVE CHALLENGES, SPECIFIC CHALLENGES WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL SITE, TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME DIRECTLY. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPALS, TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE MOVING DEVICES OUT TO EACH OF THE SCHOOL SITES THAT MOST NEED THEM. AS WE GET MORE DEVICES IN, THEN WE CAN LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD EVEN FURTHER. Henry "Shake" Washington: ONE LAST ONE BECAUSE I KNOW WE REALLY NEED A WORKSHOP ON THIS. AND SOMETHING ELSE. AND MY QUESTION IS, BECAUSE YOU MAY GET THE COMPUTERS OUT, THE LAPTOPS OUT TO STUDENTS BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE WI-FI, WHAT IS OUR PLAN? Thomas Weeks: THE WIRELESS REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS NOW FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH. WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH, SO
260WE HAVE -- AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET YOU AN ACTUAL NUMBER. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY MORE SCHOOL SITES WE HAVE ACTUALLY RECOVERED IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE SITES, AND I WILL MENTION, I WILL CALL OUT ARMWOOD SPECIFICALLY. I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM PRINCIPAL LANGSTON OVER AT ARMWOOD JUST TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE WIRELESS. I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY REPLACING THE WIRELESS OVER AT ARMWOOD NEXT WEEK. SO IT'S ALREADY ON THE SCHEDULE. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS FIRST. THEN WE ARE GOING BACK AND WORKING GEOGRAPHICALLY TO REPLACE THOSE I.ADOPT ANTICIPATE THAT WE HAVE MUCH MORE THAN ABOUT 7,500,208,000 OF THOSE DEVICES TO REPLACE AT THIS POINT. THE INITIAL ROUND IS ABOUT 6,000 DEVICES. AGAIN WE
261HAVE ONLY BEEN BACK IN PRODUCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. THE VENDOR IS WORKING WITH US AND THEY HAVE GUARANTEED US THAT WE WILL HAVE EVERY ONE OF THOSE DEVICES REPLACED BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THAT WHEN WE START NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THAT WIRELESS WILL BE OPTIMIZED, IT WILL BE A BRAND NEW PRODUCT. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU. THAT'S FREE OF CHARGE. Henry "Shake" Washington: CORR ECT. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBER SNIVELY? THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER SNIVELY? Melissa Snively: REALLY, EITHER ONE IF YOU COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION. IT'S REALLY A GENERAL QUESTION. I DO AGREE THAT SOME OF THE CONTACTS TO THE COVER SHEET THAT YOU PROVIDED WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK MAYBE MEMBER GRAY OR MEMBER COMBS SUGGESTED THAT. THAT WOULD BE GOOD. DEFINITELY A
262STRATEGIC PLAN FOR TECHNOLOGY. THAT SHOULD BE PART OF OUR OVERALL STRATEGIC PLAN. I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THOSE EVER. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT. PREVIOUS TO YOU, PREVIOUS TO MR. BUNKLEY, I ASKED FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN AND NEVER SEEMED TO GET ONE FOR TECHNOLOGY. POSSIBLY BASED ON THE GIBSONTON REPORT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE WHERE WE ARE COMPARED TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MADE BACK IN 2016, I THINK IT WAS, THAT IDENTIFIED HOW FAR BEHIND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT REALLY WAS WITH TECHNOLOGY. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES STEMS FROM THE STUDENT CONVERSATION I HAD RECENTLY AT THE STUDENT FORUM BECAUSE THERE WAS MAYBE A MISUNDERSTANDING OR PERCEPTION THAT WE ARE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY ON TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD BE SPENT ON TEACHERS, AND TEACHER SALARY.
263SO CAN YOU CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO BUCKETS, EITHER ONE? CERTAINLY. I CAN TAKE IT. SO THIS SPECIFIC SPEND, THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT UTILIZING SO THE UCF GRANT MONEY, I WAS ONLY ABLE TO -- AND ANYBODY WAS ONLY ABLE TO WRITE THIS GRANT FOR THREE SPECIFIC ITEMS. STUDENT DEVICES, TEACHER DEVICES, OR INTERNET TEXT CONNECTIVITY. SO THOSE ARE CATEGORICAL DOLLARS THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THOSE DEVIES SO THE $15.47 MILLION THAT WE WERE APPROVED WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT. SO FOR US AGAIN LOOKING AT WHERE OUR TOTAL SPEND IS, AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE THE PRICING ON THE PRODUCT, GET BETTER PRODUCT AT THE SAME PRICE, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT VALUE ADDED TO THE DISTRICT. THE AMOUNT OF DEVICES THAT WE ARE RECEIVING,
264WE ARE PAYING LITERALLY PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. Melissa Snively: AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. I SAY I APPRECIATE THAT UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE NOW. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR BECAUSE THAT IS THE PERCEPTION OUT THERE WHEN WE HAD THESE BIG NUMBER ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA, WHERE ARE Y ARE WE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY ON TECHNOLOGY WHEN WE COULD BE PAYING TEACHERS MORE? AND THIS MONEY IS VERY SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED AND TIED TO SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY CAL DEVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS, A CANNOT, CANNOT BE SPENT, UNFORTUNATELY, CANNOT BE SPENT ON TEACHER SALARIES. ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS ONLY TO CAPITAL FUNDING WHICH IS LINKED TO TECHNOLOGY AT THE SAME TIME, USING ESSER FUNDING WHICH IS IDENTIFIED BY ASSURANCES OF THE STATE AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL
265REOCCURRING EXPENSE. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, DR. WEEKS. Nadia Combs: AND I HEAR THAT WE NEED A WORKSHOP OR IN AN A SUSPENDED ITEM BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE FACING. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING A LOT OF FUNDING FOR THAT. SO WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. OH, NO. LET'S PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE ARE NOW MOVING TO 10.01 WHICH IS APPROVE THE CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR EXCELSIOR PREP CHARTER SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. THIS IS APPROVAL OF CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR EXCELSIOR PREP CHARTER SCHOOL. THEY OPENED IN 2017, LOCATED IN UNIVERSITY MALL AND SERVE AROUND 232 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN F FOR THE LAST GRADING PERIOD. WE SENT THEM A
266LETTER IN JANUARY, IDENTIFYING THAT IF THEY RECEIVE AN F THIS SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO CLOSURE. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY ARE IN STANDING RELATED TO BEING SATISFACTORY WITH A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEM TO IMPROVE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FORTHEM WITH OUR STAFF. AND THEY ARE CLEAR ABOUT THEIR CURRENT STATUS RELATED TO MOVING THE NEEDLE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS. Nadia Combs: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-10.01. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER GRAY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. AND I PULLED THIS ITEM SO I WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS VERY QUICKLY FIRST. THERE'S BEEN A LOT IN THE NEWSPAPER, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT ON MEDIA. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS TALKING ABOUT OUR TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE THINGS I READ
267FROM THE ARTICLE, IT GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT IF A CHILD WAS ATTENDING AN F SCHOOL THAT THERE WOULD BE AN A CHARTER SCHOOL ON GEOGRAPHICALLY BY THEM, AND I SPENT QUITE A FEW HOURS LOOKING AT THAT, AND I DON'T SEE THAT EXISTS. SO DR., IS THAT CORRECT? IS THERE AN F SCHOOL AND THERE'S AN A CHARTER SCHOOL GEOGRAPHICALLY NEAR THAT? THERE ARE NO A CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA. THE CLOSEST ONE IS THE -- AND HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT ITEM 10.061 WITH EXCELSIOR, AN F SCHOOL, BUT WHAT ARE THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS BY THEM? THOSE ARE NOT F SCHOOLS, IS THAT CORRECT? YOU MEAN THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS? Nadia Combs: YES. THE TRANSFORMATION OF SCHOOLS Addison Davis: THE ANSWER IS NO. WE HAVE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE D AND ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT
268IS AN A. Nadia Combs: BECAUSE I GET THE IMPRESSION WHEN I READ THINGS AND SEE THINGS THAT SAYS, HEY, YOU ARE IN AN F SCHOOL AND RIGHT BY THEM IS AN A CHARTER SCHOOL AND THAT IS NOT CORRECT AND I READ QUITE A FEW ARTICLES DISCUSSING THAT AND I THINK IT'S MISGUIDED AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. THERE'S A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE MOSTLY, THE MOST AT-RISK STUDENTS WHICH ARE OUR ELL STUDENTS AND OUR ESE STUDENTS, AND ARE YOU SEEING ANY PROGRESS WITH THIS? BECAUSE I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME WITH THIS CHARTER SCHOOL. YES, MA'AM. WE ARE KEEPING A VERY CLOSE PULSE ON ACADEMICS BECAUSE OF THEIR SCHOOL GRADES, AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE THEY RECEIVED THE F. THEY HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE
269OF COVID TO APPROVE, YOU KNOW, TO RECEIVE ANOTHER SCHOOL GRADE. HOWEVER, WE DO PROGRESS MONITOR THEM AND TO RECEIVE DATA. CURRENTLY THE iReady ASSESSMENTS ARE SHOWING -- AND IF I MAY SAY, THE YEAR THEY RECEIVED AN F WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE LEARNING GRADES. IT WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR BEING GRADED SO THAT F WAS BASED MERELY ON THE TWO CELLS REFLECTING PROFICIENCY IN READING AND THE MATH. Nadia Combs: BUT THEY DID HAVE THREE YEARS WHERE THEY DIDN'T SHOW ANY GRADE. ISN'T THAT CORRECT, THE FIRST THREE YEARS THEY DON'T SHOW GRADES? NO, THE FIRST YEAR, THEY WEREN'T GRADED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS IN THEIR GRADE. THEY OPENED AS A K-3 BUT ONLY HAD A HAND FULL OF THIRD GRADERS. THE SECOND YEAR WAS THE TWO CELLS WHICH ARE REFLECTED IN THE F GRADE.
270AND THEN THERE WAS COVID YEAR. AND THEN THEY DID NOT OPT IN TO EARN A GRADE THAT LAST YEAR. SO THIS YEAR WILL BE THE TELLING YEAR, AND IF THEY RECEIVE AN F, IT WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC CLOSURE. IF THEY RECEIVED A D, IT WILL STILL BE ON THE SCORE IMPROVEMENT, AND TRACT, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON. Nadia Combs: WELL, I PERSONALLY AM GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL WHEN YOU SEE THERE'S AN F SCHOOL AND SURROUNDING SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT F SO I KNOW THAT THE CONSEQUENCES, THERE MAY BE SOME CONSEQUENCES WITH THAT. MR. PORTER, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DISCUSS THAT. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT -- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE -- THERE'S AN
271F SCHOOL OUT THERE AND THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS ARE NOT F AND THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED BY THE NEWSPAPER AND THE MEDIA, NOT OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE BEING HIGHLIGHTED THESE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. DELANGE. MEMBER GRAY. DR. DELANGE, I AM GOING TO MAKE REMARKS. DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE ME THREE MINUTES TO READ THIS. THE BOARD MEMBERS ASSESSING ANY SCHOOL OF CHOICE BE IT CHARTER OR MAGNET, SCHOOLS OF CHOICE IN MY MIND ARE BOARD SCRUTINY SINCE THESE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS ARE AWARE OUR CHILDREN EXPERIENCE AND RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION. I FEEL OUR CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS FAILED TO VET MANY OF OUR PRIORITY AND TODAY CHARTER SCHOOLS. IF YOU LOOK AT AGENDA 10.01 AS MEMBER COMBS JUST HAD US DO, EXCELSIOR PREP IS ANst SCHOOL WITH PARTIALLY
272IF SCORES AND SERVICES FOR ELL. NOW HOW DOES A CHARTER SCHOOL COMMITTEE HAVE THE RATIONALE TO PASS THIS SCHOOL ONTO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN TO US? IS IT BECAUSE OF JUST COMPLIANCE TO THE LAW? OR HOW DOES IT AN F GET GRADED AS A PASS ON EVERY ASPECT SHOWN ON THIS CHART, AND THEN WE ARE TO EXPECT THAT THIS CHARTER HAS VALIDITY? AN F SCHOOL PASSES THE REPORT CARD GIVEN TO EVERY CHARTER SCHOOL, AND THIS IS AN F, AND IT'S PASS, PASS, PASS. SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME MORE EDUCATIONALLY COMPETITIVE IN LIGHT OF GROWING AMOUNTS OF SCHOOL CHOICES. BUT AGAIN ACCEPTING A C OR LOWER GRADE SUCH AS EXCELSIOR PREP, AND CHARTER C, BRIDGEPREP A C, SLAM A C, YET SURROUNDED BY ANY OF
273THESE SCHOOLS SHOULD REQUIRE THAT OUR COMMITTEE SHARE IN DETAIL THEIR RATIONALE BEHIND ACCEPTANCE OR AGAIN DO WE JUST SIGN OFF BECAUSE OF FLORIDA STATUTE COMPLIANCE? WHY IS OUR CHARTER SCHOOL COMMUNITY NOT MORE CAREFUL IN SCRUTINIZING THOSE NEW CHARTERS WHO HAVE LITTLE EQUITY BUILT WITHIN THEIR STUDENT POPULATION SUCH AS LOWER LUNCHES, ELL POPULATION, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, GIFTED POPULATION, ESE POPULATION, LOW ABILITIES OF STUDENTS OF COLOR, BLACK AND BROWN. WHY ARE WE NOT, THIS COMMITTEE, GIVING US THE RATIONALE OF PASSING SUCH A SCHOOL? I AM SORRY, I AM GOING FAST. THREE MINUTES. DEMOGRAPHIC SHEETS. WHAT I WANT TO SEE FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS, I WANT TO SEE THAT WE ADD READING AND MATH SCORES FOR THE PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS, JUST LIKE THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES" HAS DONE. LET ME READ A LITTLE MORE. I'M ALMOST
274DONE. PLEASE ALSO SHARE THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS READING AND MATH SCORES, FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND CONTINUE TO SHARE DEMOGRAPHICS AS YOU ARE DOING. AND SHARE IT IN A BRIEF PARAGRAPH OF WHY YOU, THE COMMITTEE, PASSED THIS CHARTER SCHOOL. AGAIN, WAS IT JUST BECAUSE OF COMPLIANCE? HERE ARE MY GENERAL COMMENTS. NUMBER ONE, MOST CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE LOW PERCENTAGES OF ELL AND ESE POPULATIONS, PLUS FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES COMPARED TO THE SURROUNDING TRADITIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS. FOR EXAMPLE, BRIDGEPREP, I THINK THAT'S THE ONE EXCELSIOR, THE ELL POPULATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS 53, 22%, AND EXTENDED BY A LOWER AMOUNT ON THE ACTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL, LOWER PERCENTAGE. I HAVE ALL THE DATA HERE. AND LAST, IS IT BECAUSE -- THIS IS WAY THINK, AND I WANT THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES" TO NOTE THIS -- IS IT
275BECAUSE OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS OUR ESE AND HEY NEEDS POPULATION MUST HAVE QUALIFIED TEACHERS PLUS RESOURCES THAT COST MORE MONEY? IS THAT THE REASON? ALSO, IS IT BECAUSE WHEN THESE MIGRANT STUDENTS OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARE NEWLY ENROLLED ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WHO COME, IS IT BECAUSE THEY TAKE A TEST, IT WILL LOWER THE SCHOOL'S GRADE? BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DO NOT KNOW THE LANGUAGE? WHAT I WANT THIS -- AND I AM GOING TO SHUT UP IN A MINUTE -- WHAT I WANT THE COMMITTEE TO DO TO START EXECUTING A HIGH AMOUNT OF BENCHMARKS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, JUST LIKE THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES," SO WE AS AN AUDIENCE CAN MAKE A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION. CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHATEVER SCHOOL THAT COMES ABOUT, WE NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY INFORMED. AND I AM NOT YELLING AT YOU,
276DR. DELANGE, I THINK THE WORLD OF YOU. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: THAT YOU CAN. SO MY CONCERNS ARE AROUND THE REQUIRED REPORTING CHART AS WELL. AND I AM A LITTLE PERPLEXED ABOUT HOW AN F SCHOOL SHOWS NO NONCOMPLIANCE. NONCOMPLIANCE IS DEFINED HERE AS COMPLIANCE WITH CRITERIA IS NOT EVIDENT THROUGH CONTINUOUS MONITORING, REVIEW, OBSERVATION, OR INTERVIEW, SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ARE NOTED. THIS IS A FAILING SCHOOL, AND THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS NOTED BY OUR STAFF WHO I ASSUME HAS GONE INTO THE SCHOOL, WALKED THE HALLS, TALKED TO THE TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS. THAT'S NOT LOGICAL. HOW DO YOU HAVE A FAILING SCHOOL, AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING NOTED HERE THAT'S OF CONCERN. AND MAYBE YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CHECKLIST TOO LITERALLY. I AM NOT SURE, BUT THERE'S A
277DISCONNECT FOR ME, LIKE MS. GRAY MENTIONED. I WOULD HAVE THE SAME CONCERN IF YOU HAD A FAILING SCHOOL IN THIS CHECKLIST IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THIS CHECKLIST WAS USED AND THERE WAS NOTHING OF CONCERN. IT'S NOT LOGICAL. IF IT'S AN F SCHOOL, WE MUST HAVE SOME CONCERNS. OTHERWISE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING BACK AND MONITORING? ARE YOU JUST LOOKING AT THE GRADE, THE SCHOOL GRADE? THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT, THAT I'M SURE FALL ON THIS LIST SOMEWHERE. SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE DRIVEN BY THE LAW. I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL GRADE, AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME, WHEN IT COMES TO US, HAVE ANYTHING OTHER TO GO ON WHEN
278WE MAKE OUR DECISION. BUT BEFORE IT COMES TO THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAYS TO HOLD THESE SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE OTHER THAN THIS CHECKLIST. SO I AM CONCERNED. WHEN I LOOK AT THIS CHECKLIST, AND IT'S ALL PERFECT, AND IT'S AN F SCHOOL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS, NOT JUST ABOUT THIS SCHOOL BUT MOST OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT NIGHT, OTHER THAN PLATO, BECAUSE AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THEY ARE EITHER LOWER GRADED SCHOOLS OR ON PAR WITH THE GRADES OF THE SCHOOLS AROUND THEM, SO THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE OUTPERFORMING OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND AS MENTIONED WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, MOST ARE OPERATING WITH LESS ESE STUDENTS, LESS ESOL STUDENTS, AND ON A FEW INDICATIONS THEY MIGHT
279BE RIGHT AT OUR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE LESS OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, MORE SUPPORT, AND YET THEY ARE NOT PERFORMING BETTER THAN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE AREAS FROM THE LIST THAT I SEE HERE. ONE THING THAT I WANT TO KIND OF LOOK AT AND POINT OUT AND TALK ABOUT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS APPLICATION RENEWALS IS, FOR THE RENEWAL, I AM REALLY GLAD, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT IT WAS MEMBER PEREZ OR WHOEVER DID ASK FOR THE REFERRAL COUNT, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO LOOK AT ESPECIALLY SINCE EARLIER IN THE YEAR WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, HOW A MAJORITY OF THESE SCHOOLS REGARDLESS OF THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, THEIR REFERRALS ARE PREDOMINANTLY FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN
280STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE'S A MAJORITY OF, YOU KNOW, CAUCASIAN OR WHITE STUDENTS OR OTHER, THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE REFERRALS ARE SPECIFICALLY AIMED IN A HIGHER NUMBER AT OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND I FIND THAT CONCERNING AS WE MOVE ON AND WE TALK ABOUT THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW. I INTEND TO VOTE NO ON THIS AS WELL, BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FAILING SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, AS WELL IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THESE THOUGHTS AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE REFERRALS AS WE GO FORWARD ON THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU, MADAM CHAIR. DR. DELANGE, ARE WE ON THE SAME SCALE, OR DO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SCALE WHEN IT COMES TO
281CHARTER SCHOOLS, AS FAR AS EVALUATING A SCHOOL? ASSESSMENT GOES? THE STATE ASSESSMENT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS. AND THE F WAS EARNED IN 2018-19. SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN EACH YEAR, THEY DID HAVE A SWITCH OF PRINCIPALS IN 2019, AND THIS CURRENT PRINCIPAL HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2019, JANUARY 2019. SO THE REVIEW THAT IS BEFORE YOU DOES HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT'S NOT PERFECT BUT IT DOES HAVE RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE REVIEWERS, TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS ALREADY IN PLACE, AND AGAIN, WE ARE MONITORING THEIR PROGRESS MONITORING DATA TO ENSURE THAT LEARNING GAINS ARE OCCURRING. Henry "Shake" Washington: DO THEY HAVE THE SAME APPRAISALS OR HAVE THEY CHANGED PRINCIPALS QUITE A FEW TIMES? NO, THEY HAVE HAD TWO PRINCIPALS SINCE OPENING THEIR DOORS, AND WHEN THE SCHOOL RECEIVED AN
282F, THE BOARD OPTED TO CHANGE THE PRINCIPAL, AND MS. MULLINS IS THE CURRENT PRINCIPAL, AND SHE'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE JANUARY 2019. Henry "Shake" Washington: BECA USE THAT SCHOOL IS AN F NOW, HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY STUDENTS LEAVING? NO, SIR. ACTUALLY, THEIR ENROLLMENT HAS INCREASED GREATLY SINCE THEY OPENED THEIR DOORS. SO I HAVE THAT NUMBER HERE. THEY OPENED WITH 68 STUDENTS, AND THEY NOW HAVE 232. K-5. SO SCHOOL CHOICE, AND 95% OF THEIR STUDENTS RETURNED THIS YEAR. Henry "Shake" Washington: DO THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREE AND REDUCED STUDENTS THERE? YES, SIR. THEY ARE COMPLETELY TITLE 1 SCHOOL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: MEMBER SNIVELY -- MEMBER PEREZ AND THEN -- MEMBER PEREZ? Karen Perez: SO THIS SCHOOL IS IN A VERY LOW ECONOMIC POVERTY-STRICKEN AREA. THE UNIVERSITY SQUARE MALL
283IS LIKE -- IT'S NOW LIKE ALMOST ABANDONED. AT THIS POINT. THERE'S HARDLY NOTHING THERE. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS AREA, AND THE HOUSING SURROUNDING THIS AREA, COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE AN EFFECT THAT THE PARENTS CONTINUE TO SEND THE CHILDREN TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT FOR THEM? AND BY CONVENIENT, I MEAN THAT SOME OF THESE PARENTS DON'T WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN ON A SCHOOL BUS, BUT THEY CAN WALK THEIR CHILDREN TO THE SCHOOL? THEY CAN WALK BUT THE SCHOOL ALSO HAS A BUS. Karen Perez: BUT STILL THE CONVENIENCE FACTOR IS THIS IS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE PARENTS ARE ABLE TO GET THE STUDENTS HERE, BECAUSE IT'S AN F SCHOOL, AND IT'S 232? BECAUSE IT SAYS 233 STUDENTS HERE. 232 STUDENTS. AND FOR THE PARENTS TO CONTINUE TO SEND
284THEIR STUDENTS TO A SCHOOL THAT IS FAILING, I'M GOING TO JUST MAYBE BET ON THE FACT THAT MAYBE IT'S FOR THEM, EITHER THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THE SCHOOL IS FAILING, OR THAT IT'S IN THAT AREA MORE A CONVENIENCE FACTOR FOR THEM. WELL, THEY ARE VERY CLOSE TO IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT'S A LITTLE FURTHER UP THE STREET. YES, MAYBE ABOUT TWO MILES FURTHER UP. FROM WHERE THIS SCHOOL IS. SO MS. PEREZ, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW. YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A CONVENIENCE FACTOR FOR CERTAIN PARENTS, BUT THEY DO HAVE A BUS THAT PICKS UP WITHIN A TWO-MILE RADIUS THE STUDENTS. SO THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO, YOU KNOW, ACCOMMODATE THE STUDENTS THAT LIVE FURTHER THAN JUST THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Karen Perez: STILL, ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS -- I'M LOOKING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE NEIGHBORHOOD
285IS LOW-INCOME, SOCIOECONOMICALLY POOR, AND IT'S IN SUITCASE CITY. YOU KNOW, WHERE THE PARENTS PROBABLY TRY TO GO TO WORK TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AND GET THE STUDENT WHERE THEY ARE IN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THEIR HOME. FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO KNOW WHERE THAT AREA IS THERE, IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA. SO THAT'S MY CONCERN. THAT THE PARENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE KEEPING THE STUDENTS THERE FOR THAT. AND IT'S NOT GIVING THE SCHOOL ANY REASON TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THAT F GRADE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I AM TROUBLED WITH SOME OF MY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK I AM THE PRO CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WHICH I AM PRO CHOICE, AND I DO APPRECIATE CHARTER SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY
286OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY THAT SOMETIMES IS A BETTER FIT FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WAY CARE ABOUT THE MOST IS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY CAN THRIVE, AND SOMETIMES IT'S THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S THE CHARTER SCHOOL, TOO. AND SO SOME OF THIS INFORMATION ON A FEW OF THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS IS IN CONGRUENT, AND WHAT BOTHERS ME ON AT LEAST THREE OF THESE CHARTER SCHOOL SITUATIONS -- AND I HAVE TO TEACHER THIS BECAUSE BEING A BUSINESS PERSON, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT BEING THE FIRST AND BEST CHOICE FOR OUR STUDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION. BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS
287THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO ALLOW THOSE NATURAL THINGS TO HAPPEN, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENT AND SOME OF OUR FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR CHARTER, THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL MIGHT BE EQUAL TO A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION. I ALSO DO KNOW THAT FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, CHARTER SCHOOLS MARKET TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, OKAY? THEY GET MARKETING MATERIAL IN THE MAIL, PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE MARKETING TO OUR THAT ADDITION -- TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, FAMILIES. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DO THE SAME THING AND EDUCATE THE FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT ARE LITERALLY MINUTES AWAY WITH As AND Bs FROM THESE Cs
288AND Ds AND Fs, OKAY? YOU HAVE GOT EXCELSIOR PREP, AN F SCHOOL FOUR MINUTES FROM MULLER, AN A SCHOOL. YOU HAVE CITRUS PARK WHICH IS A B SCHOOL. AND THEN YOU HAVE A C SCHOOL MINUTES TO, ABOUT TEN MINUTES AWAY, FROM BEN HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS AN A SCHOOL. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A DISTRICT? SOME OF THIS WE CAN'T CONTROL BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T CONTROL BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT WE CAN CONTROL TO WIN THESE STUDENTS BACK TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH OUR BETTER PERFORMING SCHOOLS MINUTES AWAY? THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. OPENLY AGREE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY OUR MARKETING PROCESS. THIS IS WHY WE MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO
289LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT BE ON EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY ALL OF THE POSITIVES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE SCHOOL, ALL THE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT SEPARATES US FROM NON-DISTRICT MANAGED SCHOOLS. AND AT THE SAME TOKEN, WE SEE SOME OF OUR LEADERS THAT CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH OUR FAMILY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER TO GO OUT TO THE HOME ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, TO GO OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS. THIS WEEKEND WE WENT TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY EVENT TO TALK ABOUT TELLING OUR STORY, WHAT WE OFFER AND AT THE SAME TOKEN BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT PERSONNEL AS WELL. OPENLY, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEND ANYTHING SUCH AS CHARTER SCHOOLS IT WILL TAKE FUNDING TO DO IT. WE GET POSTCARDS. WE SEE RADIO ADS. WE SEE ALL
290INFORMATION YOU WALK THROUGH OUR MALLS ON AND POST IT. WE DID THAT CAMPAIGN DURING THE WINTER BREAK TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR STUDENTS BACK AND ALSO DURING THE SUMMER AND WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT PARTICULAR AND BE SURGICAL ABOUT WHAT SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER TO DO THAT ONCE AGAIN. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. AND WALKING DISTANCE, IT IS IRONIC THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE HAVING THREE SCHOOLS, TO YOUR POINT, MEMBER PEREZ, THEY ARE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. THE KIDS CAN WALK TO THE SCHOOL. PIZZO, MILES, SHAW, THEY ARE ALL KIND OF NEAR EACH OTHER. TO SNIVELY'S POINT, REAL QUICK, WE ARE REMIND THAT THE IDEA SCHOOLS SPEND
291150 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS IN A MATTER OF TWO MONTHS WHERE OUR YEARLY BUDGET IS FOR TANYA ARJA, YOUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, SHE CAN ONLY HAVE, WHAT, 56,000 IN TERMS OF MARKETING. SO MAYBE THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW, ARE WE READY TO GIVE MORE MONIES TOWARDS MARKETING JUST TO EXCEED, AT LEAST STAY STABLE FOR FTE BUT MAYBE EVEN TO EXCEED SO THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT GETTING ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. ONE THING WE SHOULD BRAG ABOUT, WHEN WE COMPARE SCHOOLS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF COMPARING AND WRITING IT DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER SO THE BOARD MEMBERS CAN SEE, PIZZO ELEMENTARY, MILES ELEMENTARY, SHORE ELEMENTARY HAD 33% OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS FOR SUBGROUP PERFORMANCE, AND THAT GROUP, THEY MADE A GAIN OF 35% PIZZO. MILES 36%.
292AND THESE ARE LEARNING GAINS. SHAW ELEMENTARY, 34%. THE ACQUISITION, THE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PRESSING OF -- PROGRESS OF THE SCHOOLS, PIZZO 46.8% GROWTH. MILES ELEMENTARY, 66.1% GROWTH. SHORE ELEMENTARY, 36.2%. WHY ARE WE NOT MARKETING THE GREAT THINGS THAT THESE SCHOOLS, THESE PRINCIPALS, THESE TEACHERS ARE DOING IN THESE SCHOOLS. AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, WHY ARE THEY DISENFRANCHISING OUR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ACTUAL DATA THAT I'M STARING AT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, AND THAT IS A REALLY BIG SHAME. AND SHAME ON THEM. AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY I'M SO SORRY, PRINCIPALS, THAT YOU HAD TO READ SOME OF THAT DEROGATORY REMARKS WITH ALL THE PROGRESS THAT REALLY IS BEING MADE INTENTIONALLY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEMBER GRAY. JUST CLOSING, I REALLY CAN'T,
293FOR EVERY BOARD MEMBER WHO SPOKE ABOUT THIS, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT CHILDREN. WE WANT PARENTS TO HAVE CHOICES, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF THEM. WHEN YOU'RE SEEING NEWSPAPERS AND MEDIA THAT ARE ONLY GIVING ONE SIDE OF THE STORY, THAT'S VERY UNFAIR. IT'S VERY UNFAIR TO GOOD SCHOOLS. I SEE SOME CHARTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE, TODAY THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPROVED THAT ARE GREAT SCHOOLS. IT'S UNFAIR FOR CHARTERS DOING A GOOD JOB AND UNFAIR FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT GRADES ARE SUBJECTIVE. YOU CAN MAKE STRAIGHT As AND FEEL LIKE YOUR CHILD IS DOING GREAT. WHEN THEY TAKE A TEST, THEY MIGHT BE AT THE BOTTOM QUARTILE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
294REMEMBER THAT THE GRADES ARE SUBJECTIVE. ALSO BUSING, ALSO, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE SUCH AS NURSES, LIBRARIES. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AND INSTEAD WE FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE INSTEAD OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HAVE AND HOW WELL OUR PRINCIPALS HAVE DONE. AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. WHAT'S THE BIG PICTURE? THE BIG PICTURE IS THE STATE LEGISLATOR COMING IN WITH THESE SCHOOLS OF HOPE THAT ARE NONCERTIFIED TEACHERS AND MAYBE THOSE TEACHERS, THOSE SCHOOLS ARE NOW FILLED WITH CERTIFIED TEACHERS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE TWO OR THREE YEARS. WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED? WHY? BECAUSE OF MONEY. THAT'S WHY. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THAT IS
295A CONCERN. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M GLAD THAT THIS BOARD IS FINALLY TALKING ABOUT. I'M GLAD WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IF A SCHOOL IS GREAT FOR A CHILD, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EVERY CHILD AND INFORM THE PARENTS. I KNOW MR. PORTER, YOU'RE GOING TO TALK NOW ABOUT WHAT THE LAW IS. SOMETIMES MAYBE WE HAVE TO SAY NO TO THINGS BECAUSE MAYBE EVENTUALLY THE NEWSPAPER AND THE MEDIA WILL START GIVING THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT'S OCCURRING IN OUR SCHOOLS. Jim Porter: THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, AND BOARD MEMBERS. I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE CREATED BY FLORIDA STATUTE. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT RENEW. THAT'S CLEARLY EMBEDDED IN THE STATUTE. THAT'S WHY IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT FOR A VOTE. BUT YOU NEED TO TIE YOUR DECISION
296TO THE STATUTE. YOU MAY NOT BASE YOUR DECISION ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE STATUTE. BY THAT I MEAN, IF YOU FEEL THAT ONE OF THE CRITERIA THAT I'M ABOUT TO READ TO YOU HAS BEEN MET FOR NONRENEWAL, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO NOT RENEW IT BASED ON THAT. WHAT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS BASING YOUR DECISION IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO RENEW ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A PERMISSIBLE REASON. BASING YOUR DECISION ON A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IS NOT A PERMISSIBLE REASON TO NOT RENEW. COMPARING SCHOOLS -- WELL, THAT'S ON THE RECORD. THIS IS A RECORD WE HAVE TO DEFEND. YOUR DECISION IS BASED ON YOUR WORDS AND YOUR MOTIONS. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO RENEW OR NOT RENEW, IT NEEDS
297TO BE BASED ON ONE OF THESE. AND THE MOTION NEEDS TO INCLUDE THAT, SO IF WE ARE CHALLENGED WE CAN BETTER DEFEND THE STATUTE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, YOUR HANDS ARE NOT TIED. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DECISION BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE LAW. I'LL READ TO YOU FROM THE STATUTE. I APOLOGIZE FOR READING. CAUSE FOR NONRENEWAL OR TERMINATION OF CHARTER. THE SPONSOR, THAT'S YOU ALL, THE SCHOOL BOARD SHALL MAKE STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER TO RENEW OR TERMINATE THE CONTRACT. THE SPONSOR MAY ALSO CHOOSE NOT TO RENEW, TERMINATE THE CHARTER IF THE SPONSOR FINDS THAT ONE OF THE GROUNDS SET FORTH BELOW EXISTS BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE. NUMBER ONE, FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE'S EDUCATION
298ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM OR FAILURE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE STATED IN THE CHARTER. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, FAILURE TO MEET GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT. NUMBER THREE, MATERIAL VIOLATION OF LAW OR, NUMBER FOUR, FOR OTHER GOOD CAUSE SHOWN. SO YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF THAT IN THEIR OPINION THEY ARE RECOMMENDING RENEWAL OF THE CHARTER. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT, I'M ASKING YOU THEN TO ARTICULATE YOUR REASONS AND TIE IT TO ONE OF THE FOUR CRITERIA THAT I MENTIONED. THAT'S SORT OF YOUR ROLE TODAY. I'M HAPPY TO HELP YOU THROUGH THAT. IF YOU NEED MORE TIME TO DO THAT, TAKE YOUR TIME, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE LETTER OF THE LAW AS FOUND IN FLORIDA STATUTES. Nadia Combs: THANK
299YOU, MR. PORTER. NOW WE WILL GO TO VOTE. IS THAT CORRECT? Jim Porter: THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO APPROVE. SO YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THAT. IF THAT FAILS, THEN YOU NEED AN AFFIRMATIVE MOTION TO DENY BASED ON ONE OF THESE CRITERIA. NOT TO CONFUSE EVERYONE -- AND THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, CORRECT? THANK YOU. IF YOU VOTE YES, THAT MEANS YOU APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF THE CHARTER. IF YOU VOTE NO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION. Nadia Combs: OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY. IT PASSES 4 YESES, THAT'S MR. WASHINGTON, MEMBER PEREZ, MEMBER SNIVELY, AND MEMBER HAHN. THE THREE WHO DENIED IT ARE MEMBER VAUGHN, MEMBER GRAY, AND MYSELF, MEMBER COMBS. SO IT PASSES. WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT, 10.02, TO APPROVE THE VICTORY
300CHARTER SCHOOL. Addison Davis: THIS IS THE CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR VICTORY CHARTER. K-8. OPENED IN 2017. CURRENTLY ACCOUNTABILITY GRADES ARE A DOUBLE C IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY SERVE AROUND 301 STUDENTS AT THEIR PARTICULAR SCHOOL. THEY CAME OUT WITH OVERALL RATING OF SATISFACTORY WITH TWO PARTICULAR AREAS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS TO MAKE SURE THEY CONTINUE TO UPDATE AND SUBMIT ALL OF THEIR DOCUMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER TO CHARTERS LINK AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY CONTINUE TO RENEW 504 PLANS BASED ON THEIR ANNUAL TIMELINE RELATED TO THEIR IEP PROCESS. MY CURRENT RECOMMENDATION IS FOR A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 10.02. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER -- I HAVE A MOTION BY SOMEBODY.
301MEMBER SNIVELY. AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND DR. DELANGE, IF YOU'LL ENTERTAIN SOME OF THE ANSWERS HERE. MY QUESTION IS, I KNOW IT USED TO BE AVANT-GARDE, BUT HOW DID THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, HOW WERE THEY VETTED BY OUR OWN CHARTER SCHOOL COMMITTEE? Cinzia DeLange: IT DOESN'T GO TO A COMMITTEE. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THEN AVANT-GARDE DISMISSED THE PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND CAME TO US WITH THEIR PROPOSAL FOR HIRING THE MANAGEMENT -- THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, NAEP. AND BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A GOOD TRACK RECORD IN TRANSFORMATION, WE AGREED THAT IT WAS A BETTER MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. IN FACT, THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THAT SCHOOL, AND WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS TRANSFORMATION IN THAT SCHOOL SINCE CHANGING THEIR
302NAME TO VICTORY AND CHANGING THEIR MANAGEMENT COMPANY. THE BOARD CHAIR OF VICTORY CHARTER SCHOOL IS A VERY INVOLVED BOARD MEMBER, AND HE IS -- HE FREQUENTLY KEEPS US -- KEEPS IN CONTACT TO GIVE US HIS THOUGHTS AND HIS DESIRES TO SEE THE GOALS THAT HE HAS FOR THAT SCHOOL, AND THERE ARE MANY GOALS. BOTH THE GOVERNING CHAIR AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAVE VERY HIGH GOALS FOR EVEN ENHANCING THE EXISTING SCHOOL. SO RIGHT NOW, THE SCHOOL IS AN IB SCHOOL CANDIDATE, AND IF EVERYTHING GOES THE WAY THEY WANT IT TO GO, THERE WILL BE AN IB SCHOOL IN OCTOBER, I BELIEVE. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE. IF WE'RE SEEING A FUND BALANCE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEGATIVE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHICH WAS LAST THREE YEARS ON THE AUDIT, AND
303THIS WAS IN A ROW, AND THEN THERE'S ON PAGE 3 UNDER FINANCE UNDER THE REPORT CARD, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A PARTIALLY MET. IN OTHER WORDS, EVERYTHING IS CHECKED OFF SATISFACTORY IN TERMS OF FINANCE, YET THEY HAD HAD A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THIS IS NOT EVEN INCLUDING, AGAIN, THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS. THERE'S A CITRUS PARK A B, HAMMOND A B, BEN HILL, A. SMITH IS A B. AND HERE WE ARE ASKED TO ACCEPT A FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE CHARTER SCHOOL. SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I HAD PRIVY TO THE AUDIT -- WELL, IN MY SPARE TIME, LOOK AT ALL THE FINANCES. GO AHEAD. Cinzia DeLange: YES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE GOVERNING CHAIR AND BOARD OF THAT SCHOOL RID THEMSELVES OF THE PREVIOUS
304MANAGEMENT COMPANY BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIALS. AND THE ACTION PLAN THAT THEY WERE ON AND SINCE, THEY HAVE BEEN IMPROVING AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT IN A FINANCIAL -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. Lynn Gray: WELL, THE FUND BALANCE, THERE IS AN AUDIT ABOUT THREE PAGES LONG, AND IT SHOWS HOW MUCH -- THERE ARE LINE ITEMS HOW MUCH MONEY IS -- Cinzia DeLange: I'M AWARE OF WHAT IT IS. Lynn Gray: IF YOU LOOK AT THAT CAREFULLY AND START SEEING THE NUMBERS WILL TELL A STORY. A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE IS NOT A GOOD INDICATION OF FINANCIAL WELLNESS. THE POINT IS, DR. DELANGE AND THE COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD ASK MORE FROM THESE BOARDS. WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE. WE SHOULD ASK MORE QUESTIONS, AND IT CERTAINLY SHOULD INCLUDE THE FINANCES. SO I'M JUST SHARING
305THAT WITH YOU. AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PREPARED WITH IT. I DON'T MEAN TO CATCH YOU UNGUARDED ON THAT. Cinzia DeLange: NO, NO. WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE THAT EXISTED, BUT I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT SINCE THE TAKEOVER OF THE NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY, THAT FUND BALANCE IS NOW IN THE POSITIVE. SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT LAST YEAR'S AUDIT, THIS YEAR'S AUDIT COMES OUT I BELIEVE IN JULY, BUT I CAN GET TO WHAT -- WE LOOK AT FINANCIALS EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD PULSE ON ALL THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S FINANCES. SO I CAN GET YOU EXACTLY THEIR FINANCES AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW. Lynn Gray: PERHAPS THERE'S ANOTHER WAY OF SHARING THAT ON A DOCUMENT, THEIR FINANCIALS, JUST AS MS. JOHNSON SHARES OUR FINANCES. BECAUSE
306AGAIN, SCHOOL BY SCHOOL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE FINANCIAL DELIBERATING BOARD AS WELL. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I DO HAVE HOPE WITH THIS NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY, BECAUSE WE DID GO OUT THERE, BECAUSE THAT'S A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT I DRIVE BY EVERY DAY. SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THAT WAS I KNEW THAT THEY WERE NOT DOING A GREAT JOB, AND THEN THEY CLOSED THIS CHARTER SCHOOL AND THEY REOPENED UNDER A NEW MANAGEMENT. SO I AM ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THOSE STUDENTS WHO WENT THROUGH THAT SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS THAT DIDN'T GET A GREAT EDUCATION. I KNEW ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR WHO HAD STRAIGHT As AND CAME THROUGH MY TUTORING CENTER AND THEY WERE WORKING TWO OR THREE GRADE LEVELS BELOW LEVEL. HONESTLY, THAT
307WAS ONE OF MY MOTIVATIONS TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY QUESTION IS, I KNOW THEY CHANGED, BUT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HOW MANY PRINCIPALS HAVE THEY HAD? Cinzia DeLange: THEY HAVE HAD -- THEY ARE ON THEIR THIRD. AGAIN, THIS CURRENT PRINCIPAL NOW IS -- WAS HIRED BY THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AND SHE HAS BEEN THE PRINCIPAL -- SHE'S IN HER SECOND YEAR AT THAT SCHOOL. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE SCHOOL NEVER CLOSED. Nadia Combs: THEY DIDN'T CLOSE, BUT THEY RENAMED THEMSELVES. Cinzia DeLange: THEY REBRANDED, YES. Nadia Combs: THEY REBRANDED. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS REBRANDING, IT'S REALLY A WAY TO NOT SHOW -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW YOUR GRADES, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE YEAR THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SHOW THEIR TEST SCORES, WAS
308THAT THE YEAR THAT THEY -- THEY REBRANDED THEMSELVES THREE YEARS AGO, CORRECT? OR TWO YEARS AGO. Cinzia DeLange: TWO YEARS AGO. THIS IS THEIR SECOND YEAR WITH THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY. BUT THE SCHOOL GRADE REMAINS THE SAME. SO THE REFLECTED SCHOOL GRADES ARE FROM THE PAST BECAUSE THE GOVERNING BOARD IS THE BODY THAT ACTUALLY OPERATES THE SCHOOL SO THE GOVERNING BOARD HAS NOT CHANGED, AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SELECTED -- Nadia Combs: THEY HIRED A NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY. Cinzia DeLange: FOR THEIR SERVICES, YES. Nadia Combs: I THINK THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR PARENTS IF THEY DON'T KNOW THAT AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT MAYBE THEY ARE IN A SCHOOL THAT MAYBE IS NOT DOING A GREAT JOB OR THEY ARE CONCERNED, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL, OR NOT MEETING THE ESE NEEDS OR
309ELL NEEDS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE WHEN THERE'S REBRANDING GOING ON THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE LET PARENTS KNOW OF THAT SO THAT WAY THE PARENTS, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT PARENT CHOICE, BUT WE WANT PARENTS TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. Cinzia DeLange: SURE. AGAIN THIS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, I HAVE WITNESSED IT, THEY ARE IN THE SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS SUPPORTING THE TEACHERS AND THE PRINCIPAL, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS TRANSFORMATION BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND OPERATIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. SO THEY ARE VERY VISIBLE ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY DO OPERATE ANOTHER SCHOOL IN OSCEOLA WHICH WAS AVANT-GARDE AS WELL. IT'S A SMALL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, BUT THEY ARE VERY INVOLVED. AND I
310KNOW THAT THE PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE VISIBLE. SO WE HAVE HIGH HOPES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, DR. DELANGE. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES WITH SIX VOTES, WITH JUST MEMBER VAUGHN VOTING NO. NEXT IS 10.03, APPROVE THE CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA CHARTER SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THE RECOMMENDATION HERE IS FOR PLATO ACADEMY TAMPA CHARTER SCHOOL WHO OPENED UP IN 2017 TO TRANSITION TO A 15-YEAR CONTRACT. THEY QUALIFY BY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AS A HIGH-PERFORMING DESIGNATION SCHOOL. CURRENTLY THEY ARE A K-8. SERVE AROUND 350 STUDENTS. THEY ARE DOUBLE A AND THEY HAVE MET SATISFACTORY REQUIREMENTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE IS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY UPDATE ALL OF THEIR COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTATION
311IN THE TIMELINE IDENTIFIED. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 10.03. MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER PEREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER VAUGHN, DID YOU HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? Jessica Vaughn: YES. THANK YOU. IT'S SAYING HERE THERE A IN THE LAST YEAR THEY HAD NO REFERRALS, IS THAT TRUE? THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE ON THE LIST THAT SAID THEY HAD NO REFERRALS. I'M ASSUMING WE VERIFY THAT, RIGHT? Nadia Combs: I SEE THE PRINCIPAL AND FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT. BEEN HERE QUITE A FEW HOURS. I SEE HIM NODDING YES, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY REFERRALS. OKAY, STAFF, DR. DELANGE. Cinzia DeLange: BY CONTRACT, THEY MUST SUBMIT DISCIPLINE REFERRALS INTO OUR ED CONNECT IF IT'S A SUCCESSOR INCIDENT.
312THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY SUCCESSOR INCIDENTS. ALL DISCIPLINES ARE TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN THE HOUSE AND WITH COLLABORATION OF THE PARENTS. Jessica Vaughn: I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARTNERING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S AWESOME. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEIR NUMBERS OF ESE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BE A LITTLE HIGHER. IT'S QUITE LOW IN COMPARISON TO OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OTHER THAN THAT, THIS APPLICATION LOOKS GOOD. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: I WANT TO THANK I THINK THE PLATO BOARD MEMBERS ARE IN THE BACK. IS THAT CORRECT? OH, PRINCIPAL AND PARENTS. THANK YOU FOR ENDURING THIS. I JUST HAVE MAYBE A CHALLENGE, TOO. IF WE'RE 32% FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH IN THE
313PLATO VERSUS THE 80% OR HIGHER IN THE HILL, CITRUS PARK, ESSRIG AND SURROUNDING SCHOOLS INCLUSIVE OF PAUL SMITH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR HIGH-NEEDS STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND AT SCHOOL SO THAT PERCENTAGE IS UP. I ALSO WOULD LIKE -- AND YOU CAN'T COMMENT, BUT DR. DELANGE CAN. IN YEAR 2018 AND 19, AGAIN, A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL BE IMPROVED. SO DO YOU WANT TO REMARK ON THAT? Cinzia DeLange: ABSOLUTELY. YOU'RE CORRECT. EVEN THIS SCHOOL HAS UNDERGONE QUITE A BIG CHANGE. USED TO BE MANAGED BY SUPERIOR SCHOOLS, AND IT NO LONGER IS. AGAIN, THEY ARE IN THE SECOND YEAR WITHOUT A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AND THEY'VE BEEN DIGGING THEMSELVES OUT OF THE HOLE -- FINANCIAL HOLE, AND THEY ARE IN THE BLACK RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT IS WHY THERE
314WAS -- THEY WERE ON AN ACTION PLAN SIMPLY BECAUSE THE -- THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. AGAIN, THIS IS A SCHOOL OR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT MANY IN PINELLAS AS WELL, A GOVERNING BOARD THAT IS VERY, VERY INVOLVED, ENGAGED, AND THEY LOOK AT THEIR FINANCES VERY CLOSELY, AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT DECIDED TO RID THEMSELVES OF SUPERIOR SCHOOLS. I BELIEVE THE FOUNDER OF SUPERIOR SCHOOL, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, UNFORTUNATELY, PASSED, AND IT ALL KIND OF FELL APART FROM THERE. SO THE GOVERNING BOARD MADE A REALLY GOOD DECISION TO LET GO AND BECOME JUST AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNING BOARD WITH SCHOOLS IN PINELLAS AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD ALSO TO SEEING MUCH HEALTHIER FINANCIALS AS WELL AS THIS GOES ALONG. FOLLOWING THAT, I JUST WANT TO WISH THE PRINCIPAL AND
315THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS. WE'RE ALL VERY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S SUCCESSFUL AND STABLE. SO THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I ONLY HAD ONE QUESTION REGARDING THIS. A 15-YEAR RENEWAL CONTRACT, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WHY IS IT NOT FIVE YEARS OR SOMETHING? Cinzia DeLange: GREAT QUESTION, CHAIR COMBS. THERE IS A STATUTE, THERE IS ANOTHER STATUTE, CHARTER STATUTE CALLED THE 1,002.331. AND THAT IS PERTINENT TO HIGH-PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND THE STATUTE SAYS THAT IF THE SCHOOL RECEIVES TWO SCHOOL GRADES OF AN A, NO SCHOOL GRADE BELOW B DURING EACH OF THE PREVIOUS THREE SCHOOL YEARS OR RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL GRADES OF A, WHICH IS THIS CASE, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO A 15-YEAR RENEWAL CONTRACT ON TOP OF
316OTHER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. Jim Porter: IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE STATUTE ALSO PROVIDES FOR AN ANNUAL REVIEW AND ABILITY TO TERMINATE IF THE CHARTER DOES NOT MAINTAIN WHAT IT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN OR OTHER FACTORS ARE MET IN THE STATUTE. IF THAT EVER HAPPENS, YOU'RE ABLE TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT IF IT'S APPROPRIATE. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS 10.04, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR SPORTS LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ACADEMY. INNOVATION. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: THIS IS A CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR THE SPORTS LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT ACADEMY, SLAM, LOCATED IN THE CITRUS PARK AREA. SERVE 351 STUDENTS. THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS A DOUBLE C RELATED TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. OVERALL, THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH OUR INTERNAL MEASURES HAVE BEEN
317DEEMED SATISFACTORY WITH TWO AREAS MAKING CERTAIN THEY ENTER STUDENTS' GRADES IN A TIMELY MANNER. AT THE SAME TOKEN, CONTINUE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION THAT IS ON TIME. THE RECOMMENDATION HERE FOR THIS SCHOOL WHICH IS 612 IS FOR A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 10.04. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING THING, NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR SLAM. BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION ON THE COVER PAGE WITH REGARD TO REFERRAL COUNTS, IF YOU COULD ADD THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT DEMOGRAPHIC THAT YOU LIST. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THIS PARTICULAR REPORT, IF YOU GO DOWN TO LINE THREE,
318IT SAYS THERE WERE 50 REFERRALS FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS IN THE 21-22 REFERRAL COUNT AS OF 2/14. AND THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE A LOT OF REFERRALS FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS, EXCEPT THAT 73% OF THEIR POPULATION IS HISPANIC. SO I THINK TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THAT, IT MIGHT HELP FOR THAT TO BE ADDED TO MAYBE A SECOND COLUMN IN THAT REFERRALS TABLE SO THAT THERE'S CONTEXT AROUND THAT. Cinzia DeLange: WE COULD DO THAT. ABSOLUTELY. Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND ALSO, SINCE WE'RE LOOKING AT A SCHOOL THAT HAS DECREASING ENROLLMENT EACH YEAR, AND THAT'S WORRISOME, BUT ALSO, AGAIN, A VERY SMALL FUND BALANCE DURING ITS LAST YEAR, CERTAINLY, A SCHOOL THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, BUT THE OTHER ITEM IS EQUITY.
319AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT SLAM WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, BUT NOW WHEN WE GET INTO THE DATA AND THE DETAILS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, THEY ARE AT A VERY LOW 19% OR I SHOULD SAY -- 19 KIDS, 6%. AND THAT IS IN A GROUP NEARBY CHARTER SCHOOL -- I MEAN NEARBY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH AN AVERAGE OF 36%. SO MY QUESTION IS, AND I GUESS THIS IS JUST SELECTION. HOW ARE THESE HISPANIC STUDENTS, HOW ARE THEY BEING SELECTED OR NEGLECTED WITH SUCH A LOW AMOUNT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS? WELL, THE SCHOOL FOLLOWS OUR ESOL PROGRAMMATIC BY CONTRACT. SO WHEN THEY REGISTER, WHEN STUDENTS REGISTER AND THEY FOLLOW EXACTLY THE SAME PROCEDURES AS OURS DO AND IF THEY IDENTIFY AS ESOL STUDENTS, THEY FOLLOW THE SAME EXACT TESTING AND SERVING
320THE STUDENTS WITH THEIR NEEDS. SO IS YOUR QUESTION DESPITE THE -- Lynn Gray: IT'S A PRETTY OPEN-ENDED QUESTION, DR. DELANGE. IT'S JUST TO EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU START GRADING A SCHOOL SUCH AS OUR TRADITIONAL, YOU LOOK AT HOW THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE AREA. SO IF WE LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS WITH A HIGHER PERCENTILE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL WITH ONLY 19 KIDS, IT BEGS THE QUESTION, HOW ARE YOU GUYS -- I SAY YOU GUYS, IT'S A NEW YORK EXPRESSION -- HOW IS THIS COMMITTEE, THE CHARTER COMMITTEE LOOKING AT MAKING SURE OUR HISPANIC CHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN BEING REPRESENTED? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR A LATER DATE, MAYBE. Cinzia DeLange: NO, NO, NO. AGAIN, OUR REVIEWER FROM THE ESOL DEPARTMENT THAT GOES
321IN THERE AND ACTUALLY OUR DRT GOES IN THERE ON A DAILY BASIS, NOT AROUND SCHOOLS, AND MAKES SURE SURE THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE FOLLOWING OUR PROGRAMMATIC AND THAT ESOL STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED CORRECTLY AND PROVIDED SERVICES CORRECTLY. SO I HEAR YOU THAT THEY'VE GOT 73% HISPANIC STUDENTS AND ONLY 5.5 PERCENT OF THOSE HISPANIC STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED ESOL. THAT'S YOUR CONCERN. Lynn Gray: YEAH, AND, AGAIN, WE CAN DO BETTER WITH SHARING THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION SO US BOARD MEMBERS CAN DEFINITIVELY VOTE CORRECTLY, AND THIS IS REGARDING ANY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT COMES IN FRONT OF US. DR. DELANGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Cinzia DeLange: VERY WELCOME. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. IT PASSES 6 WITH MEMBER VAUGHN VOTING NO. 6-1. NEXT IS 10.05, APPROVE THE CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR BRIDGEPREP ACADEMY OF
322RIVERVIEW. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THIS IS BRIDGEPREP ACADEMY OF RIVERVIEW. THEY OPENED UP IN 2017. THEY SERVE AROUND 1100 STUDENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL. THIS IS A K-8 GRADE. THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A DOUBLE C THROUGH THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WITH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. ON TOP OF THAT, INTERNALLY THROUGH OUR OWN REVIEW, THEY HAVE BEEN DEEMED SATISFACTORY. SAME TOKEN, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED UPON. ONE IS BEING ABLE TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION BEING ABLE TO SUBMIT IT IN A TIMELY MANNER. ALSO BEING ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY FOLLOW POLICY FROM THEIR PARTICULAR BOARD OF ALL THE INVENTORY AND ASSET CONTROLS. NUMBER THREE, BEING ABLE TO PLAN CORRECTLY TO CAPTURE FTE, DISPLAY AND SHOW THE VALIDATION INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS. ALSO,
323FOUR, BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH SYSTEMS FOR UPDATING STAFF WHEN THEY HAVE OUT-OF-COUNTY STUDENTS THAT MAY BE DEEMED OR IDENTIFIED WITH THE 504 OR AN IEP TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEM PROPERLY. THE RECOMMENDATION AND REQUEST IS A FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION DUE TO THE CURRENT STATUS OF THEIR CURRENT GRADE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEIR SATISFACTORY RELATED TO INTERNAL, THE RECOMMENDATION IS A FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C 10.05. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER HAHN. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A QUESTION ON THE ENROLLMENT, IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FROM 1100 UP TO MORE THAN 1300. MY ONLY QUESTION IS, IS THERE A SQUARE FOOTAGE PER PUPIL STANDARD FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT'S THE SAFETY STANDARD? IS
324IT GOING TO BE OVERCROWDED? IS IT PLENTY OF SPACE? Cinzia DeLange: IT'S THE CAPACITY OF THE ACTUAL FACILITY. WE CAN'T CAP THEM UNLESS, YOU KNOW, THEY GO BEYOND THE ALLOWABLE CAPACITY OF THE FACILITY. Addison Davis: WHICH IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THEIR FISH REPORT. Lynn Gray: ALL RIGHT. JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OH, MEMBER VAUGHN HAD A COMMENT OR QUESTION. Jessica Vaughn: SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. TO SPEAK TO MEMBER SNIVELY'S POINTS ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS WHEN IT CAME TO REFERRALS, FOR THIS ONE, THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK STUDENTS ARE 36.1 AND THEY HAD FOR BLACK STUDENTS 36 REFERRALS, WHICH IS, WHAT, 100% AT THIS POINT AND 74 STUDENTS AND 7 REFERRALS -- OR 74 WHITE -- OH, NO, SORRY. 7.6
325WHITE AND SEVEN POINT -- WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE FOR -- IS THIS PERCENTAGE MIRRORING THEIR POPULATION WHEN IT COMES TO REFERRALS? OR AM I READING THAT WRONG? Cinzia DeLange: I'M NOT SURE, MEMBER VAUGHN. I DID THE DEMOGRAPHICS SEPARATE FROM THE RETRIEVAL OF THE REFERRAL NUMBERS FROM ED CONNECT. SO I DIDN'T COMPARE THEM. Jessica Vaughn: I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO MEMBER SNIVELY'S REQUEST THAT THE PERCENTAGE WOULD BE HELPFUL GOING FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOU ADDING THAT. THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENTS I'LL MAKE SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY. IT PASSES 6-1 WITH MEMBER VAUGHN VOTING NO. WE WILL NOW GO TO THE FINAL INFORMATION ITEMS. 12.01, THE FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SO PATIENT.
326I THINK IN THE FUTURE WE WILL CONSIDER MOVING THIS AGENDA ITEM UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A VOLUNTEER POSITION AT SIX HOURS LATER. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AS YOU KNOW, RICK WARRINER, CHAIR OF YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ELLEN LYONS, OUR VICE-CHAIR IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING. YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENT THAT I'M GOING TO READ PARTIALLY FROM. I'LL MAKE IT FAIRLY SHORT. AT OUR FEBRUARY 2nd MEETING, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS ADDRESSED THE COMMITTEE AND ASKED FOR ITS SUPPORT IN THE UPCOMING EFFORT TO PLACE A PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM FOR SCHOOL OPERATING EXPENSES ON THE NOVEMBER '22 BALLOT. A ONE MILL REFERENDUM ESTIMATED TO INCREASE RECURRING REVENUE BY APPROXIMATELY 120 MILLION PER YEAR AND UNDER LINE THAT WORD RECURRING. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE HAVE ASKED THAT THE CASE FOR SUCH A REFERENDUM BE PRESENTED AT OUR
327MARCH 2nd MEETING. I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE. BETWEEN MOVING ON TO A DIFFERENT SUBJECT, BETWEEN OUR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY MEETINGS, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS RANKED 16 PRIORITIES WHICH HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING PREVIOUS MEETINGS. THE FIVE PRIORITIES RECEIVING THE HIGHEST RANKINGS WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO THREE THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL INITIALLY FOCUS ON IN THE ATTEMPT TO ARRIVE AT RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRING RECURRING EXPENSES INTO LINE WITH RECURRING REVENUE. THOSE THREE AREAS ARE STAFFING, TEACHER, NON-TEACHER, AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFING AS THE FIRST ITEM THAT GOT THE MOST VOTES IN A VOTE THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO YOUR RANKED CHOICE VOTING THAT YOU USED TO SET YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. SECOND ITEM WAS REVENUES IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE. AND THE THIRD ITEM WAS LOOKING AT THE GIBSON REPORT FOR COST SAVINGS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED. THE
328TABULATION OF THE COMMITTEE VOTING ON ALL 16 OF THE AREAS IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AT THIS LATE HOUR ON THAT OR AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE IF YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME. THE COMMITTEE MADE A MOTION TO FORM SUBCOMMITTEES AROUND THOSE THREE AREAS. MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND THE SUBCOMMITTEES WERE FORMED AND ARE BEGINNING THEIR RESEARCH. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS WILL NOT BE AN EASY JOB. THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT HAS ALREADY BEEN PICKED, AND INADEQUATELY FUNDED BUDGET WILL BE AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT PLACE TO FIND COST SAVINGS. AND WITH THAT, I WILL ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK FOR THE COMMITTEE. Nadia Combs: DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. BUT WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
329ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE COUNTLESS HOURS. I KNOW YOU'VE EVEN MET ME OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS. YOU JUST SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WITH BOARD MEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO DO THAT AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND ALLOWING US TO GET ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR FINANCES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS? IT IS NOW TIME FOR YOUR COMMENTS. Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WISH EVERY BOARD MEMBER WAS HERE TO WITNESS THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO BYPASS -- OH, HERE WE COME. THEY HAVE COFFEE. I'M GOING TO BYPASS -- Nadia Combs: REMEMBER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES
330WITH 30 SECONDS. Addison Davis: I AM BYPASSING MY PowerPoint THIS EVENING AS A GIFT. JUST TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WATCH THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE RELATED TO OUR BUDGETS, BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE BEEN PUBLISHED. WE KNOW IN THE NEXT 12 DAYS WHILE SESSION IS IN PLACE WE'LL COME TO A FINALIZED BUDGET. WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE BOARD UPDATED. AT THE SAME TOKEN, WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO THANK THE HALF CENT STEERING COMMITTEE BECAUSE TONIGHT WE APPROVED AROUND $50 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES TO BE ABLE TO PUSH OUT FOR OUR SCHOOLS. REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT COMMITTEE. THAT CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AT THE SAME TOKEN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS IDENTIFIED BY THE BOARD THIS EVENING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
331THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK. I'VE GOT ROLLOVER MINUTES. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. YES, WE'LL GIVE YOU EXTRA MINUTES NEXT TIME. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER WASHINGTON. Henry "Shake" Washington: THAT WAS PRETTY QUICK. WE NEED THAT EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN WE COME TO MEETING. I HAVE A COUPLE HERE. I'LL TALK ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WE'RE GOING TO DECORATE, HONOR AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGACIES IN OUR COUNTRY BEEN PLANNED BY OUR DISTRICT. ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES COORDINATED BY THE FACE TEAM INCLUDES A DOOR DECORATING CONTEST FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE. THAT WOULD BE JUDGED BY THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TASK FORCE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY THE 24th. WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 50 DOORS TO BE DECORATED. 32. WE GOT SEVEN AT THE ROTH
332SITE. 11 AT THE VELASCO AND ISC HAS 32. DOORS WILL BE JUDGED ON CREATED ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION, NEATNESS, ORGANIZATION, COLOR USE, AND INTERPRETATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY THE 25th. SO, PLEASE, IF YOU WANT TO DECORATE SOME DOORS, LET'S GO. WE SHOULD HAVE A GREAT TIME. NOW, I'M GOING TO BE QUICK. DO A LITTLE BIT OF BLACK HISTORY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. I THINK THIS IS -- THE FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WE HAD WAS REVEREND DR. LEON LAWRIE. HE SERVED FROM 1976 TO 1992, 16 YEARS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. THE SECOND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WE HAVE WAS DORIS ROSS REDDICK. SHE SERVED 12 YEARS FROM 1992 TO 2004. THE THIRD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WE HAD WAS MRS. DORETHA EDGECOMB AND SHE SERVED FROM 2004 TO 2016. 12 YEARS. THE FOURTH
333ONE WAS TAMARA SHAMBURGER. SERVED FROM 2016 UNTIL 2020. AND THE LAST IS THE ROOKIE, ME, FROM 2020. SO THAT'S THE HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD. THANK YOU ALSO. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK DR. HAHN. YOU KNOW WHEN WE ARE DOING SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER. I WANT TO THANK DR. HAHN IN HER BOOK BECAUSE SHE WILL BE COMING BACK TO EAST TAMPA AGAIN. AND WE LOOK FORWARD. I THANK YOU FOR HELPING US BRINGING THEM BACK TO EAST TAMPA. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT OUT THERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER PEREZ. Karen Perez: THANK YOU. I WANT TO FIRST MENTION THIS TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT THAT I DID A RADIO SHOW LAST WEDNESDAY, AND IT WAS WITH iHeartRadio. AND FOR SOME REASON, RIGHT AFTER I FINISHED THE RADIO SHOW,
334THE STATION MANAGER SAID THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE PHONES WERE BLOWING UP AND E-MAILS COMING IN. PARENTS CALLING, REQUESTING FOR ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSION POSSIBLY FOR NEXT MONTH. THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AND THAT THEIR STUDENTS REQUIRE ON HOW TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. I THINK YOU AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR STUDENTS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND THEY NEED THESE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO KEEP FOXXED. -- TO KEEP FOCUSED. I'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER DISCUSSION. I DID HAVE A STATE OF EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TOWN HALL WHICH I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT, AGAIN, FOR OUR STUDENTS AND
335THEIR PARENTS, THE RESOURCES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR OUR STUDENTS. ALSO, I WAS ABLE TO JOIN OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, OUR VERY OWN CHET CHRONISTER SHERIFF AT THE STATE COUNTY FAIR WITH OUR STUDENTS. WE DID THE COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM ON FRIDAY, THE 18th. LET ME TELL YOU, THAT NIGHT THERE WERE 460,000 PEOPLE AT THE FAIR. AND I THINK THERE WERE 460,000 STUDENTS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT AT THE FAIR THAT DAY FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THERE WERE SO MANY STUDENTS. BUT THE SHERIFF, TAMPA POLICE, AND SOME OF OUR VERY OWN FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE THERE DURING THE RIDE-ALONG WITH THE SHERIFF, IT WAS AMAZING. AND ALSO, YESTERDAY, I ATTENDED THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS BANQUET. AND ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, ALICIA JENKINS, SHE -- HER AND HER ALPACA WON. HER ALPACA IS CHI. WON FIRST PLACE AS
336GRAND CHAMPION IN SHOWMANSHIP IN THE SENIOR DIVISION. SHE ATTENDS SICKLES. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, SHE IS INVOLVED WITH THE JACK AND JILL, IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT EXPOSES BLACK YOUTH TO CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND PHILANTHROPIC AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SHE IS REALLY AWESOME. THEY ARE JUST CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS YESTERDAY. BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND JUST REALLY -- YESTERDAY WAS THE LAST DAY OF THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR, AND IT WAS PACKED YESTERDAY, TOO. BUT I HAD A GREAT TIME. THANK YOU. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER GRAY. Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND TALKING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE HAD AN AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN. THE FACE TEAM COORDINATED IT WITH THE MAYOR. JUST YESTERDAY, THE MAYOR READ THE POEM "I DREAM
337A WORLD" BY LANGSTON HUGHES TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE POEM BY MAYA ANGELOU TO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEME, HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN OUR HEALTHY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE, SHE READ THE BOOK WRITTEN BY TWO LOCAL AUTHORS, CARTER AND SHEILA B. PAGEANT CALLED IT'S TIME TO START EATING SMART. SO THE MAYOR WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WE WANT TO THANK FACE AND DR. FELITA AND HER STAFF AND EVERYONE WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER. ALSO, THANK YOU, SHAKE WASHINGTON, WHO TOOK PLACE ON THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GASPARILLA TRAINING CLINIC, WHICH I TRIED TO BE THE BOSS OF, AND HE RAN. SHAKE WASHINGTON ACTUALLY RAN A 400 IN THREE MINUTES AND 52. HE DID. THAT WAS AFTER WARMING UP WITH WALKING, BUT HE DID A GREAT JOB.
338ALSO WANT TO SAY GREAT JOB PARHAM FOR THE BLACK HISTORY BRAIN BALL. WE'LL HAVE THE BIG HAPPENING ON FEBRUARY 26 BUT ALREADY WE HAVE PRELIMINARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS. I THINK PROBABLY GOING TO PLAY A LITTLE TAPE, THE ELEMENTARY FIRST PLACE WAS LIE MoMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SECOND WAS BRYANT BULLDOGS AND THIRD WAS BROOKER AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE ACTION THAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE BRAIN BOWL. THANK YOU AGAIN, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. HERE WE GO. ♪ I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMPETITION, AND I HOPE YOU ARE. ARE YOU ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT? ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT? YEAH! ♪ Lynn Gray: SO A BIG THANK YOU ALSO TO TERRY CONNOR, OUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO WAS BACKING THIS WHOLE ENTIRE, LET'S JUST SAY, COMPETITIVE EVENT. WE'RE NOT DONE
339YET. WE HAVE A BIG ONE ON FEBRUARY 26 AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL ALL DAY. A LOT OF SUSPENSE AND A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE FROM OUR STUDENTS. ALSO, JUMPING OVER TO CLAIRE REYNOLDS, I USED TO TRAIN HER IN RUNNING AND SHE IS IN CHARGE OF THE CRISES CENTER. WE DEFINITELY AND THANK YOU, JIM PORTER. I BELIEVE YOU BOUGHT US A TABLE. SHE SAYS THIS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE SEE THEIR NEED AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, WE MAY NOT KNOW NECESSARILY HOW TO HELP THEM. SO THE MENTAL SUPPORTS THAT THE CRISES CENTER GIVES, IS SO CRITICAL. AND THEY HAVE EXPANDED THEIR SERVICES. NOW THEY HAVE EVEN ON THE SKYWAY THEY HAVE A SINGLE POINT PHONE ON THERE, ACCESS TO 2 -- ACCESS 211 AND THEY HAVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUPPORT SYSTEMS
340AND THEY HAVE A 24/7 SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT TEAM LOCATED NOW IN RUSKIN. PUT IT MILDLY, CLARA HAS BEEN QUITE BUSY AND SOURCES HER WONDERFUL -- SO HAS HER WONDERFUL STAFF AT THE CRISES CENTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. BIG SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THE SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND OUR SHERIFF OFFICES AND MANY OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR ALLOWING THE CRISES CENTER TO BE SUPPORTED AND EXPANDED. I THINK MY TIME IS UP. I BETTER NOT FINISH. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU. YOU DID HAVE 20 SECONDS, BUT NOW IT'S GONE. MEMBER HAHN. Stacy Hahn: I HAVE THREE MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS. I LOVE CLARA REYNOLDS AT THE CRISIS CENTER. I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR OVER 20 YEARS. SHE'S ALWAYS DONE WONDERFUL WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, CLARA. PABLO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE FLYER FOR
341THE LITERACY FAIR. AS MEMBER WASHINGTON SAID, THE NEXT FAIR IS MARCH 5. SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AGAIN, AMAZING PARTNERS AROUND THIS INITIATIVE THAT WILL BE THERE PROVIDING NOT JUST FREE BOOKS, BUT ALSO A LOT OF GREAT SWAG FROM OUR SPORTS TEAMS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. I WILL BE GIVING OUT MY HOME LIBRARIES AGAIN. LAST YEAR WE HAD, I THINK WE GAVE OUT 800 HOME LIBRARIES, IF NOT MORE, IN JUST TWO AND A HALF HOURS. THERE IS A LINK THERE TO REGISTER. IT JUST GIVES US, IF YOU WANT TO COME, IT JUST GIVES US A SENSE OF HOW MANY TO EXPECT SO WE HAVE ENOUGH PRODUCT. AND PARENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CHILD. AND THANK YOU, MR. WASHINGTON, FOR YOUR DONATION TO THE FAIR. I APPRECIATE IT. VERY GENEROUS OF YOU. myON, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO myON. I
342HAVE A VIDEO, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW IT. IT'S LATE. I'LL SHOW IT NEXT TIME. BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT MYON, IT'S BEEN AROUND TEN YEARS, WHICH IS A VERY LONG TIME, AND IT'S HERE BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY AND PARTNERSHIPS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ACTUALLY HELP PAY FOR THIS. AND EVERY CHILD, FROM BIRTH TO SCHOOL AGE WHO LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVERY CHILD HAS FREE ACCESS TO IT. JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SENSE OF THE IMPACT THEY'VE HAD OVER TEN YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 71 MILLION BOOKS ACCESSED AND OVER 336 MILLION MINUTES SPENT READING ON myON AND 39% OF THE BOOKS THAT CHILDREN ACCESS ON myON ARE ACCESSED OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY, WHICH IS REALLY COOL. I KNOW A LOT OF OUR TEACHERS USE IT. IT JUST REALLY
343PROVIDES JUST ACCESS. THE BOOKS COME IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, IF YOU ARE A NONREADER, THE BOOKS WILL BE READ TO YOU, AND IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM SOME PARENTS WHO ACTUALLY AFTER THEIR CHILDREN KIND OF GO TO BED AT NIGHT, THEY ACCESS THE BOOKS AND THEY HAVE THE BOOKS READ TO THEM AND IT'S HELPING THEM IMPROVE ON THEIR LITERACY SCHOOLS FOR A LOT OF PARENTS WHO ARE NONREADERS OR STRUGGLING READERS. AND IT WAS ALWAYS KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, SOME OF THE LOG-ON TIMES ARE LIKE 10:00, 11:00, 12:00. LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON. IN FACT, IT'S OUR PARENTS UTILIZING IT TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR LITERACY SCHOOLS. ANYWAY, THEY'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO HAPPY TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO myON. I'LL SHOW THE VIDEO NEXT TIME. ONE LAST
344COMMENT -- IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD PROVIDE A REPORT GIVEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT ON THE TRAINING OF STAFF ACROSS THE DISTRICT ON SPECIAL ED CHILDREN AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME TRAINING IMPLEMENTED BEFORE I BECAME A BOARD MEMBER, AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW STAFF ARE TRAINED. IF YOU'RE NOT TRAINED AS A SPECIAL ED TEACHER, RIGHT, WHAT KIND OF TRAINING ARE OUR STAFF AND TEACHERS BOTH INSIDE THE SCHOOLHOUSE AND OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLHOUSE GETTING? AND THAT WILL KIND OF GIVE US A STARTING POINT TO SEE WHERE MAYBE WE NEED TO UPDATE OR IMPROVE ON SOME OF THAT TRAINING. THAT'S REALLY IT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. Nadia Combs: MEMBER HAHN AND MEMBER SNIVELY. Melissa Snively: WE'RE GETTING SQUIRRELY
345HERE. IT'S GETTING LATE. TOO MUCH COFFEE. FIRST, THE HEAVY. THE HEAVY LIFT. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND TALK ABOUT VETTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FROM MEDIA CENTERS. I THINK THAT DR. HAHN ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER IN THE MEETING, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP TO TALK ABOUT ANY POLICY AND PROCEDURES, POLICY ON US, PROCEDURES AROUND YOU TO CLARIFY AND MAYBE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL BE -- WHERE WE CAN ALL BE HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I THINK THAT A LOT OF US ARE TAKING ABACK BY SOME OF THE I WILL CALL IT OFFENSIVE MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN WRITTEN. I UNDERSTAND IT'S LITERATURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT MEDIA SPECIALISTS ARE PUT INTO PROBABLY A PRECARIOUS SITUATION WHEN
346THEY ARE HAVING TO CHOOSE SOME OF THAT MATERIAL. THERE'S GOT TO BE A COMPROMISE SOMEWHERE, THOUGH. I THINK THE ARGUMENT THAT I HAVE IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS SAID THERE IS A LOT OF INFLUENCES THAT ARE -- SUCH AS CELL PHONES AND MEDIA AND OTHER THINGS, BUT MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE, MY TAXPAYER DOLLARS PAY FOR THE BOOKS THAT GO INTO THE MEDIA CENTER. THEY DO NOT PAY FOR A CHILD'S CELL PHONE OR WHATEVER APPS THEY HAVE ON THEIR PHONE. AS A PARENT, THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A PARENT TO BE MONITORING THAT AND CARING FOR THEIR CHILD AND MAKING SURE THEIR CHILD IS USING THAT APPROPRIATELY. BUT MY TAX DOLLARS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING FOR THOSE BOOKS THAT GO INTO THE LIBRARY. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THOSE
347BOOKS ARE, WHERE CAN WE GET TO A COMPROMISE TO WHERE WE'RE NOT BANNING BOOKS BUT ALSO VETTING THE PROCESS THAT PUTS THOSE BOOKS ON THE SHELVES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING IT TRANSPARENTLY TO PARENTS IF THEY WANT A SAY IN THE PROCESS. THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY WE CAN GET THERE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON. I'M HOPING WE CAN MAYBE DO THAT IN A WORKSHOP SETTING SO WE CAN HAVE AN HONEST AND OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE THINK SHOULD HAPPEN AROUND THAT. THAT'S THE HEAVY STUFF. MORE FUN STUFF. LITTLE MORE HEAVY. COULD WE POSSIBLY ADD A TECHNOLOGY TIMELINE TO THE SUSPENDED AGENDA FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD? WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA TRANSFORMATION SCHOOL NETWORK UPDATE, LITERACY UPDATE, GENERAL FUND BALANCE, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND COVID UPDATES. SO I WOULD LOVE TO
348SEE TECHNOLOGY. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT COMES UP FREQUENTLY AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY A SUGGESTION, I THINK MS. GRAY MADE A LITTLE EARLIER TODAY. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT, MR. PORTER, DO WE? DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON ADDING THAT? OKAY. GOOD. A COUPLE OF FUN THINGS. STUDENT FORUM. WE HAVE STUDENT FORUM ON THE 15th OF FEBRUARY, AND, MAN, THOSE KIDS ARE -- THEY BRING THEIR STUFF TO THE TABLE. THEY ARE SMART. THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY GAVE US GREAT FEEDBACK. I WASN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FORUM, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL FORUM, AND THAT WAS FANTASTIC. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STUDENTS AND ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT FORUM BECAUSE IT WAS FANTASTIC. AND
349THEN TODAY IN WIMAUMA, IT WAS GREAT. WE HAD A NEWS CONFERENCE OR A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE WIMAUMA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THEIR COMMUNITY HOSTED BY LIZ GUTIERREZ, FOUNDER AND CEO OF ENTERPRISING LATINAS. THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS THERE AND DISCUSSED THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING UP. WE HEARD STORIES OF INSPIRATION AND SUCCESS FROM WIMAUMA RESIDENTS, AND JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WORK HARD TO COLLABORATE TO MAKE THIS PLAN THAT MAKES WIMAUMA NOT JUST A DESTINATION BUT THE EPICENTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND THEN BEFORE I SHOW A VIDEO -- I'M SORRY, I'LL GO A LITTLE BIT OVER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNN GRAY. HOPE YOU HAD A NICE BIRTHDAY. WE WON'T TELL ANYBODY HOW OLD YOU ARE, BUT IT RHYMES WITH HEAVENLY. FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY, THANKS TO
350THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, YVONNE FRYE AND ALL HER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY IN PUTTING THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY TOGETHER. MS. COMBS AND I HAD A CHANCE TO CHAPERON AT THEIR FIELD TRIP, WHICH INCLUDED ARMWOOD -- THESE ARE ALL HIGH SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW THAT WERE PARTICIPATING. ARMWOOD, KING, MIDDLETON, DURANT, STRAWBERRY CREST, PLANT CITY, SIMMONS, NEWSOME, LEONARD AND EAST BAY. THEY GOT TO GO OUT AND VISIT HANDS ON ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE TAMPA BAY AREA. THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS OUT THERE FOR THEM AND WE JUST HAVE TO PREPARE THEM. I APOLOGIZE. I CAN GET BACK IN THE QUEUE IF YOU WANT ME TO. I WAS GOING TO SHOW A QUICK VIDEO FOR
351THE FUTURE CAREER FAIR THAT PABLO HAS HOPEFULLY CUED UP ON THE VIDEO SCREEN. HELLO PLANT CITY. BILL MACK DANIEL, YOUR CITY MANAGER. TODAY WE'RE AT THE GLOVER SCHOOL, A TRUE PART OF PLANT CITY'S HISTORY. THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK HAS PROVIDED EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. Melissa Snively: I THINK I SENT YOU THE WRONG LINK. NEXT BOARD MEETING, I'LL GET THE RIGHT LINK TO PABLO TO HIGHLIGHT OUR FUTURE ACADEMY CAREER. Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. I'LL TRY TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES. I'LL GO HEAVY, LIGHT, THEN HEAVY. MY HEAVY IS THE RESPONSE TO THE BOOKS. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS A BIG HOT TOPIC. I WOULD DISAGREE THAT THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY WHEN WE'RE PAYING FOR THE WIFI AS WELL AS DESTRUCTION WITH TIKTOKs AND FIGHTING AND HAVING OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. SO I WOULD
352BEG TO DISAGREE THAT YOU CAN GET ANY BOOK THAT YOU'D LIKE ON PDF HERE AVAILABLE. ALSO, IF YOU PUT IN YOUR STUDENT NUMBER, YOU CAN GO INTO LIBRARY AND HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OF THOSE BOOKS. I WOULD BEG TO DISAGREE WITH THAT AS FAR AS THE TAXPAYER MONEY. I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY LOSING MUCH MORE TAXPAYER MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE, I WANT TO THANK GAITHER HIGH SCHOOL FOR HOSTING THE FALL STAMPEDE WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS. IT WAS JUST A REALLY AMAZING EXPERIENCE SEEING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND WE HAD MANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO CAME AS WELL AS JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE FUTURE CAREER ACADEMY WITH YVONNE FRYE. THAT WAS SO POWERFUL AS WELL AS STUDENT FORUMS. THE ONE THING I HEARD OVER AND OVER IS THAT STUDENTS JUST WANT
353MORE INDIVIDUALS, MORE TEACHERS TO BE REPRESENTING AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD. LASTLY, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY TODAY. I CAN SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE TESTED MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. I HOPE THAT THE VOTERS WILL GO OUT AND TALK ABOUT THAT AND REALLY FOCUS ON THE AMOUNT OF TESTING THAT'S HAPPENING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE PROACTIVE. I FEEL LIKE NOW MORE THAN EVER MENTAL HEALTH IS SUCH A HUGE ISSUE. OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND OUR LIBRARIANS, HAVE BECOME OUR TEST TAKERS. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. WE ARE SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS, PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING LITERACY, READING, LIBRARIES AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WHO -- WHO WERE TRYING TO -- WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND CAREERS
354FOR CHILDREN, TRYING TO PROTECT THEM, TRYING TO SCHEDULE THEM AND THEN ALSO TO HEAR THEM, I REALLY WOULD LIKES TO A PROACTIVE MAYBE USING SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT STAFF AS WE GO ON TO OUR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS HAVE TIME TO ACTUALLY WORK IN THE POSITION THAT THEY WERE HIRED TO BE IN. WHICH IS TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND TO HELP THEM GUIDE OUR STUDENTS AND NOT PROCTORING TESTS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT. I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF HEAVY. I'LL KEEP IT LIGHT SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LYNN. I'M NOT A BIG BIRTHDAY PERSON, BUT I DID GET LYNN A LITTLE SOMETHING. BECAUSE SHE IS SO AMAZING, I WON'T SAY HER AGE, BUT BE READY FOR HER TO WIN A LOT OF FIRST
355PLACES IN RUNNING FROM HERE ON OUT. WITH THAT, OUR LONGEST MEETING, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.