001All right. Thank you everybody for your patience. Good evening everyone. We're ready to begin the evening's board meeting. Sergeant-at-Arms, has the front lobby been cleared? >> Yes. >> Thank you. We request that all electronic devices be turned off or put in silent mode. Also, please refrain from using flash photography except during the special presentation portion of the meeting. I'm pleased to welcome you uh to the May 12th, 2026 schoolboard meeting. The time is 6:06 p.m. This meeting is called to order. The district's mission and vision, I want to remind people, is to ensure that each student achieves his or high or her highest personal potential and the district's vision to be a worldclass school system. Approval of the agenda as order of the business tonight includes the invitation, [snorts] presentation of colors and pledge of
002allegiance, acknowledgements, recognitions, public comment, consent action items which include three items under board office, two items under executive services, four items under academic student services, eight items under school choice and administration, five items under strategy, Six items under business services, five items under human resources, three items under safety and security and fleet operations, and 39 items under facility operations. Then we have one item under res resolutions, three items under public hearings, and four items under good of the order business. Board members, is there a motion to adopt the agenda? >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay, Mr. Ribble. Second, M. Okay. Seconded by Mr. Fiser. You'll please record your vote. Motion carries 70. As the custom of the board, I will lead us in the invocation and then Mr. Ribble will lead us in the
003presentation of colors and pledge of allegiance. If you would please stand. You'll pray with me. We gather today with a shared purpose and a heavy responsibility. We ask for the grace to set aside our personal biases and strength to open our hearts and minds. Grant us the patience to truly listen, not to just hear words, but to understand the diverse perspectives, concerns, and hopes of all sides brought before us. In every debate and every vote, lead us back to our primary mission. help us navigate complex challenges with clarity, ensuring that we keep our students first in every decision we make. May our choices pave the way for their growth, success, and well-being. Lastly, we lift up our school, our school community. We ask for a wall of protection over our classrooms, hallways, and offices. Keep
004all our students, teachers, and staff safe from harm. and foster an environment where every individual feels secure, valued, and empowered to learn and lead. Amen. >> Introducing the cadet who is presenting the national colors for our pledge of allegiance tonight is Sergeant Major James Havener, Army Instructor from Cape Carl High School. Sergeant Major Havar served 36 years in the Army Reserves in numerous assignments and retired as a brigadier operations sergeant major for the second brigade 84th division. This is Sergeant Major Hover's seventh year as a JOTC instructor in the district. >> Thank you, sir. Presenting the national colors this evening is cadet Victor De Jesus, command sergeant major of the Cape Coral High School Seahawks junior RTC. He has been selected as the incoming command sergeant major for the school year 2627. Cadet De Jesus
005is a dedicated member of the nationally ranked drill and exhibition team where he currently serves as a color guard commander. Following graduation, Cadet De Jesus plans to enlist in the Army Reserve while attending a technical college to earn a certification in automotive field. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [snorts] >> Okay, please be seated. The the character word for May is patience. The ability to wait calmly without complaining. The design displayed on the screen was created by Abigail Curillo, a 10th grade student at Astero High School. Board member superintendent, it's time for recogn recognitions. you'll join me.
006The Mariner High School JRTC Leadership Academy proudly celebrates an exceptional achievement as two of its elite drill teams earned Florida State Championship this season. The male armed platoon led by senior team commander Tristan Wyman and or Hyman, excuse me, a distinguished four-year varsity letter recipient demonstrated precision, discipline, and unwavering leadership to secure the state title. Equally impressive, the female dual exhibition team led by senior Megan Santel alongside incoming brigade brigade commander Ivy Lesie Santiago delivered a commanding and technically outstanding performance to capture their own state championship. These victories reflect not only the individ individual excellence but also the collective commitment, preparation and pride that define the mariner program. This accomplish accomplishment continues a powerful legacy of excellence marking the 11th consecutive year mariner has qualified for both state and national championships. An extraordinary standard sustained
007over more than a decade. Their success is guided by the dedicated leadership of the head coach first sergeant Steve Geramel Millow a 2016 golden apple recipient and command sergeant major Turillo cross weight al whose mentorship and high standards continue to shape cadetses into disciplined leaders to of character. Mariner JOTC remains a model of excellence, not only in competition, but in developing young leaders prepared for success beyond high school. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp on the left side of the boardroom. Colonel Rodney Robinson, director of Army Instruction, will present you with your certificates. We kindly ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. FE the female dual exhibition team is Megan Saintil Ivalis Santiago and the male armed platoon Tristan Heyman Victor Carillo Ashton Vargas Blake
008Manning Braden Krookstrom Nicholas Zylvevelo Gabrielle Clisser Vigil Miss Eel Gonzalez Troy Tiara Ethan Moore Angel Pard Ard, Sophia Guapacha Hernandez, my apologies, Tyler Williamham. The school board and the superintendent are proud to recognize these students and their coaches for their hard work and dedication that led to this outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations. [applause] Congratulations. >> [applause] >> the school district of Lee County is proud to recognize the 2026 Florida High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Champions Competition. The competition was held at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kiss Me, Florida from March 5th to the 7th, 2026. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp to my left side of the boardroom. Dave Larosa, director of athlet athletics, will present you with your certificate. Kale Sineka. Kale is a senior at Fort Meyers High School
009and won the 2A state title in the 126 pound weight class. While he is unable to be here tonight, we would like to recognize Eric Bush from Riverdale High School, who won the two-way state title in the 120 pound weight class. Accepting the award on his behalf is head wrestling coach Keith Evans. The school board and superintendent are pleased to recognize these students along with their coaches for the commitment, determination, and hard work that led to this outstanding achievement. [applause] Okay. Odyssey of the Minds. Okay. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativities to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literacy classics. Through this process, students develop skills in
010problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, math, language arts, science, writing, engineering, and performing arts. They then bring their solutions to competitions at the local, state, and world levels. This year's state competition was held on April 4th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Both teams placed first in their division and are now eligible to compete in the world's final in Iowa State University. When your name is called, please line up on the ramp on the left side of the boardroom. Danielle Knap, coordinator of teaching and learning, will present your certificates. We kindly ask that all recipients remain remain in place until everyone has been recognized. Please help us recognize the following outstanding students. Cape Elementary School team members. Norah Logan, Grant Ko, Highly Quenbush, Stella Harley Ara, and I apologize if I mispronounce your
011name, Azam, Carl Gotthrey. Parent coaches, Miss Quenbush and Dr. Amaz. Teacher sponsor, Brick, Brittany Harley. One more coming. One more coming. [applause] Okay, that we have more coming. So, thank you for that. They deserve that. So, Northvart Meyers High School team members Tristan Cordell, Maya Catherman, Odyssey of the Mind state competition winners, Rihanna Catherman, Khloe Deeds, Hope Felicia, Felicia, Katherine Hernandez, Joselyn Thomas, team coach Wendy Sams. The team from North Fort Meyers High School also received the Renistra Fosca Award for creativity. The board members and superintendent are proud to recognize and congratulate the teams from Cape Carl Elementary School, North Very High School on their truly worldclass accomplishments. We also thank them for representing the school district of Lee County with excellence at the prestige state academic competitions. Congratulations [applause] Each year, the Florida Junior
012Thespians Organization hosts statewide individual events and a one-act competition for the middle school theater. I I apologize for the wrong one. Mock trial first. Oh well, >> where's the trial? >> I'll have a talk with the chair. The Lee County mock trial competition was held on February 3rd and 6, 2026 at Lee County Public Education Center and the Lee County Justice Center hosted in conjunction with the Lee County Bar Association. Among nine high schools that competed, one team earned the opportunity to advance to the 20th judic judicial circuit mock trial competition at the Charlotte County Justice Center, where they went on to win. That team then represented Lee County at the Florida High School mock trial competition, placing seventh in the state. The following members of the 2026 Lee County and the 20th Judicial Circuit
013High School school mock trial competition championship team from the Fort Myers High School are being recognized today. When your name is called, please line up in the ramp to the left side of the boardroom. Melissa Zimmer, assistant director of curriculum, will be there to greet you. We kindly ask all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. Team sponsor is Orin Wright. Members are Anna Bogs, Victoria Bush, Vienna Bush, Sebastian, Canazarus, Ava Garcia, Gia Ra, Julia Ra, or is that close? Chiara, I'm going to say >> those names before >> they phonetically spell these for me and that's harder than actually looking at the name. >> Kendall Loftess Matan Marcino Marciano, excuse me, Tara Shan Austin Sumi Sienna Young Zara Ramen. The board members and superintendent are proud to recognize and congratulate the Fort
014Myers High School mock trial team on their accomplishments. Congratulations. [applause] >> Great job, guys. On January 24th, the school district of Lee County held the regional history fair at Dunar High. This year's event featured 101 talented students from seven different schools. We are proud to recognize the following students who earned first or second place finishes and have advanced to the Florida History Fair in Tallahassee on May 5th. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp on the left side of the boardroom. Melissa Zeamer, assistant director of curriculum will be there to greet you. We kindly ask that all recipients remain in remain in place until everyone has been recognized. Diplomat Middle, Abigail Waters, Zoe Vermillion, Amaya Wilcox, Nia Toby, Valerie Riviera Vasquez, Michaela Lacante, Molina Facy, Cooper Cony, Jackson Owen, Liam Boyce,
015Evie Gomez, Maya Carmichael, Kalia Meek, Adrienne Manuel, John Belcastro, Everett Chandler, Kian Wood, Travis Opalsski, Stephanie Homerbacher, Gracie Hammerbacher, Olivia Obach. Sponsors were Lisa Larson and Tracy Weller from Lehi Middle School. Thomi Trung, Gabriella Rundon, Catalana Jacques, Milan Ramaro, sponsor Andrew Coven from Three Oaks Middle, Teen Bo, Sophia Pelano, sponsor, Gabriel Waldinger from Fort Myers High School, Isa Abby, Lola Pette, Anika Azi, Sarah Huda, Danielle Luzada, Matan Marciano, Samuel O'Brien, Lauren Guch, Zoe Saline Chang, Lily Welbborne, Kylie Witten Co, Llaya Parker, Olivia Alexander, Sarah Buntrock, Madison Baker, Zarah Raman, Kendall Loftess, Jack Sabbo, Ibrahim Zufar, Austin Sunumi, Brandon Siri, sponsor Scott Whitimore. The board members and superintendent are proud to recognize and congratulate each one of you on your outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations [applause] Each year, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office invites all public
016high schools to participate in its high school voter registration challenge. Since 1999, this outreach has been successful in the registration of thousands of new young voters. When a high school responds to the challenge issued by the elections office, representatives provide voter education presentations, after which all eligible students are invited to register to vote. This year, the following 13 Lee County high schools participated, including charter. Bonita Springs High, Kip Coral High, Cypress Lake High, Dumbar High, Eastley County High, Eststerero High School, Ida Baker High, Island Coast High, Leh High Senior High, Mariner High, Northport Meyers High, Oasis High, and Southport Meyers High. From August 2025 to February of this year, the Supervisor of Elections Office was able to register 1,275 new voters and update the voter information of 685 students. The winners are determined by calculating
017the percentage of eligible students at each school age 16 and up who registered. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp on the left side of the boardroom. Melissa Zyr, assistant director of core curriculum instruction and assessment will present your certificates. In third place, registering 146 new voters, 11% total registered for Mariner High School. Receiving the award on their behalf is Dr. Thomas Michael, Mariner High School principal. In second place, registering 120 120 new voters, 12% total percentage registered was Bonita High School, Bonita Springs High School. Receiving the award on their behalf is Colonel Adam Lewis, senior Army instructor. And finally, in first place, registering 152 new voters, 28% the total percent registered is Oasis High School. Receiving the award on their behalf is Jack uh Jack Conan, government teacher. The school
018board and superintendent are pleased to recognize the first and second and third place winners of this year's high school voter registration challenge. And thank you, Lee County Elections Office, for hosting this, as well as all the high schools and students that participated. Congratulations. [applause] Thanks. [laughter] The school district of Lee County proudly recognizes the dedication impact of our firstear teachers supported through the apples program accomplished professional practices for the Lee County education system. This program provides job embedded support to new teachers during their first year in the classroom. The nominees are firstear Apple educators who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in their roles earning the respect and admiration of students, colleagues, administrators, parents, and the community. A selection committee of principles, teacher representatives, and district staff reviewed applications and conducted interviews to determine the
019regional finalists and districtwide honore. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp on your right, my left side of the boardroom. Dana Philpot, coordinator of organizational development and retention, will present your award. We kindly ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. At this time, we're pleased to acknowledge our Apple's new teacher of the year regional finalists. First is Kora Lexi McCreary from Mariner Middle School, West Region. Next is Caitlyn Deramo from LML Teal Middle School, East Region. Next up is Kyle Tvares, Cypress Lake High School, South Region. Please join me in congratulating these exceptional educators. Your dedication in helping shape the future of education in Lee County [applause] visit to her school. This evening, we're proud to formally celebrate her achievement in the presence of the school
020board and our community. The school board and superintendent are honored to recognize Julia Mimolei, kindergarten teacher at JC Colen English Elementary as a 2025 2026 Apple's new teacher of the year. [applause] >> [applause] >> On behalf of the entire district, we thank you for your dedication, your unwavering commitment to excellence, and the lasting impact you have made on our students and school communities. Congratulations. 2026 Apple's mentor of the year regional finalist and district recipient. The Apple's menal mentor of the year program celebrates the dedication and impact of mentors who invest their time and expertise in developing firstear educators. This recognition is awarded to one outstanding mentor who demonstrates excellence in coaching, modeling effective instructional practices, and supporting new teachers in building confidence and capacity. Nominees are selected in their exceptional skill, professionalism, commitment to students
021and teacher success, earning the respect of students, colleagues, administrators, families, and the wider community. A selection committee of principles, teacher representatives, and district staff reviewed applications and conducted interviews to determine the regional finalists and dis districtwide recipient. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp on the left side of the boardroom. Kendra Pennants, coordinator of organizational development and retention, will present your award. We kindly ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. At this time, I would like to acknowledge our regional finalists for the Apple's mentor of the year award. As I read your name, please come forward to be recognized. Ebony Williams, Gateway High School, East Region. Katherine Wyatt, Cape Coral Technical College at Large Region. Jill Tomlinson, Paul Lawrence, Dumbar Middle School, South Region. Thear Herman
022Challenger Middle School West region. Last month, the Apple's mentor of the year received the exciting news of her selection during a surprise visit to her school. This evening, we are proud to formally celebrate her achievement in the presence of the school board and our community. The school board and superintendent are honored to recognize Katherine Griffin peer collective teacher Dumbar High School at the 2020 2526 Apple's mentor mentor of the year. On behalf of the entire district, we thank you for your dedication, unwavering commitment to excellence and the lasting impact you have had on our students and school communities. Please join me in c congratulating these outstanding ex educators. Your work is helping shape the future of education in Lee County. The school district of Lee County continues to stren strengthen the commitment to high quality
023teaching and learning through the Mazano high reliability schools framework which recognizes schools for strong culture, effective instruction, and aligned systems that support student success. Tonight, we're proud to recognize schools that have earned high reliability school certification at levels two and levels three. [clears throat] When your school is called, please line up at on the on the ramp to my left of the boardroom. Kinder Pennants, coordinator of organizational development and retention, will present your award. We kindly ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. Level two certification reflects a school success in ensuring effective teaching in every classroom with a strong focus on instructional quality consistency. Lee County now has 29 level two certified schools bring the total nationwide to 487. This designation is earned through focused professional learning, reflection on instructional
024practice, stakeholder feedback, and targeted action with all work validated through an external review process. At this time, we're pleased to recognize Diplomat Elementary, led by principal Dr. David Sano, for earning the level two certification. Level three certification reflects the deeper level of systems alignment where schools have established a guaranteed and viable curriculum consistently delivering high quality instruction in every classroom. This ensures strong alignment among standards, instruction, and assessment so all students experience rigorous meaningful learning. Lee County is proud to have three schools earn this distinction, representing all level three schools in Florida and among the 195 nationwide. This achievement reflects sustained systemwide commitment to professional learning, curriculum coherence, consistency across classrooms with all work validated through an external review process. At this time, we're honored to recognize Three Oaks Middle School, led by Principal Forest
025Walker, Jr. for earning level three certification. Congratulations to both schools. [applause] The school district of Lee County continues to strengthen instructional excellence through the high reliable teachers certification framework which recognizes educators who demonstrates effective instructions ongoing professional growth and a strong focus on student learning. Teachers who earn this certificate uh certification complete advanced professional learning met vigorous applications requirements and submitted evidence on their practice for expert reviewing both individual excellence and the district's commitment to high quality instructions. Level one certification recognizes educators who demonstrate strong instructional practices continuously refine their teaching and uses student data to guide their work. These educate educators joined a distinguished group of fewer than 600 teachers nationwide. When your name is called, please join please line up on the ramp to the left of the boardroom with Kendra. Miss Kendra
026over there, coordinator of organizational development and retention. And she will present your awards. Level one certified teacher to be recognized. And I was not supposed to read that, I don't think, but I read it. Uh, April Mlin Johnson, elementary math teacher, Hancock Creek Elementary. Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment and for the meaningful impact you continue to make on your students in the districts. Thank you. [applause] All right. Each year, the Florida Junior Thespian Organization hosts statewide individual events and a one-act competition for middle school theater students. This year, Lee County Junior Thespian students competed at the state level in events such as technical costume design, solo musical performances, du duet acting, improvis improvis improvisation improvisation. >> Thank you. [laughter] And ensemble acting. The students we recognized this evening received the highest rating of superior at
027this prestigious competition. Some of the students honored here tonight were unable to make this recognition as they are preparing for their end of the year performances. We are proud to honor the following junior thespians. When your name is called, please line up the lamp ramp on my left side of the boardroom. Dr. Jason Thomaseski, assistant director of arts, athletics, and activities and administration will present your certificates. We kindly ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. Challenger Middle School teacher Mrs. Barbara Junes. Okay. As she said, principal Christopher Drake, student Luca Distl distill golf middle school. Y'all need to bear with me. I've got about 200 names here. Teacher, Miss Julie Solomon, principal, Miss West Morland, Mr. West Morland. students Ryden Belchure, Tyler Ernest, Ava Gonzalez, Greta Van Galan, Justinda Williams,
028Lizzy Vita, Bradley Mcjury, Gianna Es Espanol, Isabella Christopher, Norport Myers Academy of the Arts, Teacher, Mrs. Kathy Riva Riv Rivadra >> principal Mr. Andy Miller students are Kinsley Marie Bradford, Leah Oliver, Ashley Otero Miranda, Emily Serrano Alaga, Ella Alaro, Mald Maldonado, Samantha Balu Balu Balua, Camila Carbalo, Anna Carzansza Solana, Telicia Carter, Tatiana Cordell, Jacob Coerson, Caroline Dilla, Lillian Downing, Isla Foley, Lily Gillis, Payton Marquez, Olivia Mintosh, Macy Meeks, Franciscoca, Mia, Sedoni Mitchell, Zoa Malone, Malona, Emily Moreno, Diaz, Isabella, Pant Pantalon, Jane Peek, Georgiana, >> Pippetoni or Pipetone, [clears throat] Ree Rero, Tyler Ree, Ernesto Santana Dakota Scod Scoduda Go Audrey Short and I do apologize for these names y'all. Emily Skzik, Samara Solomon, Sadie Soros, Serena Worster, and Haven Wright. Congratulations to all y'all. [applause] The class of 2026 is preparing for their graduation ceremonies
029this the weekend of May 28th to June 1st. The school district of Lee County takes great pride in celebrating this pinnacle of academic achievement for our seniors and their families. We look forward to being there with them. In a special tribute, each high school will honor the students with the highest grade point averages. The titles of valadictorian and saludiatoran represent years of rigorous dedication, intellectual curiosity, and disciplined study. For the class of 2026, these high achieving students have earned GPA ranging from 5.3 to 6.7. They represent less than 2% of high school seniors earning an international balora diploma or a Cambridge diploma. They've also served as leaders and role models with their schools and our community. Valadictorians and saludiatorans are selected based on their com cumulative hum weighted GPA at the end of their seventh
030semester of high school. Grade point averages are calculated to the 10,000th place to determine class rankings. The school board and superintendent are proud to recognize and celebrate these amazing students. We will first introduce our valadictorians and take a group photo with them and then call up our salud saludiatorans for a group photo. Valadictorians, when your name is called, please line up at the ramp to my left at the back of the boardroom. Dr. Nathan Shaker, chief academic officer, will present you your certificates. And we kindly ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. The class of 2026, valadictorians are Alina Austinine, Bonita Springs High. Janelle Bombino, Cape Coral High. Caitlyn Hulcom, Cypress Lake High. Nishini Fernando, Dunbar High School. Ellis Rodriguez, East Lee County High. Ryder Celich, Eststerero High School. Jennifer
031Dong, Fort Meyers High. Gavin Griffith, Gateway High School. Siobhan Sony, Ida Baker High. Genesis Zapata Basquez, Island Coast High School. Alyssa Torres, Montacino, Lehi Senior High. Gia Shanti Fus Mariner High, Justin Wang, North Fort Meyers High. Evan Mintz, Riverdale High, and Sailor Davis from South Fort Meyers High. Congratulations to the 2026 valadictorians. [applause] [applause] Congratulations. Excellent job. Great job, guys. Saludiatorans, when your name is called, please line up at the ramp to my left side of the back of the boardroom and Dr. Nathan Shaker will present you your certificates. The class of 2026 saludiatorans. Mason Burks from Bonita High, Bonita Springs High. Mason Huffman, Cape Coral High School. Gus Leser from Cypress Lake High. Diet Gojini from Dunvar High School. Grace Crowder, East Lee County High. Miles Brown, Eststerero High School. Tanish Madar, Fort Meyers
032High. Elliot Cabrera, Gateway High School. Anna Suarez, Ida Baker High. Allison Cabrera, Island Coast High School. Darlene Tberz, Lehi Senior High. Yinas Lady Diaz, Mariner High. Sebastian Jean Pierre, North Fort Myers High. Keelin Mi Mesador, Riverdale High School, and Miley San from South Fort Meyers High. Congratulations to the 2026 Saludiator. [applause] I'm the last one. The second annual Florida Invention Convention was held at the University of South Florida on April 11th, 2026. Among students from Southwest Florida who participated, the following students from the school district of Lee County received high honors and will have a chance to participate in the invention convention. US Nationals. When your name is called, please line up at the ramp on the left side of the boardroom. Danielle Nap, coordinator of teacher and learning, will present your certificates. We kindly
033ask that all recipients remain in place until everyone has been recognized. Please help us recognize the following outstanding students. Gateway Charter Elementary School, Olivia Areola, first place award for hair hairband bumper. Zarena Lozada, best display board for EC banana exploding clock. Aaron Njian first place award for safety sidekick. Lucas Stevens second place award for smart bin. Pinewoods elementary school. Sedar brades first place for zooi broommy the dustbuster drone. Magdalena Corollola Gerald third place for easil easy jelly. Uh Gilchrist first place and best affair for pora popper dumbar high school. Nashini Fernando second place award for baby beats 3.0 development of a sustainable and cost-effective fetal heart monitoring device for settings with resource and economic challenges. Fort Myers High School Dear Sharma best prototype award for Derera revolution revolutionizing assistive technology. The board members and superintendent
034are pleased to recognize and congratulate Olivia, Zerena, Aaron, Lucas, Sedarth, Magdalena, Hadley, Nashini, and Dyra on their truly world-class STEM accomplishments. We also thank these students representing the school district of Lee County so well at the state academic competition. Thank you. Congratulations. [applause] We'll take just a brief pause here. If all those that received awards would like to leave, they can do so at this time. Folks, please take a seat so we can get started. >> Just Everyone would please find their seat. We're going to start. >> All right. I'd like to thank everybody for your patience. That was a lot of recognitions, but we wanted to get it done before the end of the school year. So, thanks again. Next item on our agenda is public comment. Mr. Dodig, would you please address the
035item of public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Chair. Schoolboard policy provides the opportunity at this point in the meeting to address the board concerning any matter on this meeting's agenda or any other matter relevant to the operation of the school district. Please complete a public comment card and place it in the provided basket. If you need one, our staff can provide one. The rules concerning public comments are posted in the back and comments will be made from the podium in the front center aisle. Please be advised that the board will not respond during public comment to remarks made by speakers. The purpose of public comment is to provide feedback on district issues such as duties, responsibilities, decisions, and the general operation of the district. The school board is viewpoint neutral during public comment. We ask that
036to quorum be maintained and respect be shown as expected when a government agency conducts its official business. Therefore, abuse of language defined as swearing, use of profanity or name calling is prohib prohibited. In addition, clapping, hissing, booing, or a display of temper during public comment is prohibited. Speakers who fail to follow proper decorum in the chambers will be ruled out of order by the board chair or the board attorney. Any speaker continuing with such remarks will be required to relinquish the microphone per board policy 016-9.1 and may be removed from the chambers by the sergeant at arms. Per board policy 0169.1. The time per speaker is 3 minutes if there are 1 to 20 speakers, 2 minutes if there are 21 to 30, and 1 minute if there are 31 or more speakers. The maximum
037time allotted for public comment is 1 hour 60 speakers. You will find a countdown on the big screens in front of the room. Once your time has elapsed, the microphone will automatically shut off. Please state your name when you approach the microphone. I will call your names five speakers at a time. Please follow the staff's direction when lining up. Mr. Chair, there are 36 speakers who wish to address the board this evening. Speakers will have one minute to speak. >> Thank you. Is there anyone who did not fill out a comment card and would like to do so at this time? I do don't see anyone. So, thank you. Uh, Mr. Dodic, please proceed with public comment. Would the following individuals line up in the back of the room? Daniel Becker, Charlotte Fox, Michael Borbina,
038India Palencia, and Robert Daniels. And will Mr. Becker please approach the podium? Good evening. >> My name is Daniel Becker. I'm a resident of Lee County School District 2. I know they're supposed to be nonpartisan, but the superintendent and six of the seven Lee County board members identify as Republicans as faithfully follow the parties in Tallahassy's agenda. One of the key Republican positions is to not support public schools. Instead, they promote universal school choice, which is a thinly veiled term for promoting stateported educational options like private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling. What that means is directly or indirectly the superintendent and the board are committed to making sure the Lee County public schools fail. An example of this is having a $45 million deficit. >> Thank you. Your time time is up. >> Time's up,
039sir. >> Sir, your time is up. >> Thank you, >> Miss Fox. Charlotte Fox. Good evening, boards, superintendent, and chair. My name is Charla Fox. I've spent 25 years in Lee County classrooms. I've seen leadership come and go, but I have never seen morale as fragile as it is today. Last year, the narrative was desperation. We were hiring internationally because we could not fill seats. This year, the narrative has shifted to rightsizing the budget. But let's be clear, calling these nonrenewals instead of cuts is a sematic game that our students are losing. When a principal is forced to cut 10 to 20 teachers to meet budget targets, we aren't just losing employees. We are losing music programs, specialized electives, and mentorships that only experienced educators can provide. The timing of these cuts during teacher appreciation
040week was a gut punch to the professionals who show >> your time's up. >> Thank you, Miss Fox. County's children, >> Michael Borbina, Michael Borbena, Beayshore Elementary student parents, Riverdale High School teacher, t member, building rep. Last night, Kurt showed everyone just how different the budget is each year from what actually gets spent. always a lot of million dollars left over. Then a tiny offer made. I remember when one of the schoolboard members came to Riverdale High School about a millillage for buildings wanting our support. Where is that millillage for teachers? I want us to follow I want to follow Santa's lead and start getting a naughty and nice list together of who's willing to talk about a millillage for teachers and get that list out to anyone that's going to go vote when it's
041time to fill these seats up here. >> We need money for raises, not bonus schemes. Every cut made is a real person's life made extremely difficult. Thank you. >> Thank you. with the following individuals line up. Jacqueline Perez, Denise Nestrom, Ann Leesque, Kay Pollston, and Trey Grimit. The next speaker is India Palencia. >> India Palencia, this community is being asked to accept deep school cuts as responsible leadership, but you cannot claim students come first when classrooms are the ones absorbing your instability. A 3% cut in a school means teachers, support, staff, arts, electives, technology programs, and student services disappear. A 3% cut in bureaucracy often means delayed purchasing or postponed initiatives. And those impacts are not equal. A potential $92 million deficit does not happen overnight. That points to years of failed forecasting, failed planning,
042and failed oversight. If most working people contributed to the losses on that scale, they would not be rewarded with media interviews explaining why everyone else has to sacrifice. They would be held accountable. Instead, schools are absorbing the instability while administrative growth and expensive spending continue. And now the public is being told these will continue to be ongoing cuts. The district keeps discussing symptoms while avoiding the root causes. You cannot fix what you refuse to face. Thank you. Robert Daniels. No clapping, please. >> Robert Daniels. There's been talk that we put students first here in Lee County. I've been coming here with numbers for years in a row, always explaining how we seem to always lose the money when it comes to when it goes to the teachers and the students in the classrooms. This is
043just the latest example of money disappearing and it being being borne the brunt of by the students. In the school year 2011, we had the same number of teachers employed in this district as we do today with only 81,000 FTE. The numbers reported for this year was 108,380. How can we cut over 400 and count in positions across all of our schools, bringing us to the lowest number of teachers we've had in over 25 years while having more students than ever without this affecting the students. Class size has ballooned from what used to be 15 to1 to 20 to1 studenttoteer ratio. That is not world class. >> No clapping. Jacqueline Perez is the next speaker. Good evening, board. This afternoon, you spoke about Fort Meyers's uh um beach school. I'd like you to consider doing
044that for the Buckingham School and extending that proposition as well. Um in February, you traveled to Tallahassee with an agenda, legislative agenda. You didn't even consider making that proposition of enrollment for for children and changing legislative laws to change the bills that are being passed by people by your legislative relationships that you have with Jonathan Martin and all these other bills that you have that are being passed that are hurting the enrollment rates and and and you supposedly have this great relationship with your legislators. I I don't know what you're doing. You're taking all these donations from your local legislators that are hurting teachers enrollments and you claim that you have all these great relationships. It's hurting all these bills that are being passed are hurting the school rates for all these enrollment rates. What
045are you doing? It's like you are the Trojan horses that are hurting our Mr. President. Denise Nestrom. Good evening. There are dots that need to be connected so that everybody here understands. The superintendent and five out of seven board members use the same campaign manager, Terry Miller. Your campaign manager is also a lobbyist and lobbies the county commissioners for Neil Builders, the developer who wants to build over a thousand homes in Alva. Four out of the five commissioners use Terry Miller for their campaign manager. That's why the district is spending $100 million to build a high school in Alva that is out in the middle of nowhere. It is my understanding that the district is also responsible for the infra the infrastructure, the sewer, the water, the electric. So the superintendent and board members get
046elected to office and then they follow the marching orders of their campaign manager. The students and the staff should be the priority, not building a school in rural Alba. You have time to cancel this. Support the teachers and your staff. >> Ann Leesque, I'm a student from Gateway High School. I want to speak on behalf of all the students who have been impacted by the district cuts. Hundreds of teachers have been cut with at least 100 of them being art teachers in my school. The art department of theater, which has fostered creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression within dozens of students, has been cut entirely from our school. Not just this, but similar programs like dance are simultaneously being scaled down. While this may not be significant to some, a lot of people's worlds were
047turned upside down due to this decision, as theater was their livelihoods. I'm here to represent a petition brought by the students of Gateway High School to revoke such actions, setting emphasis on its significance. One of our theater students started a petition 5 days ago to gain recognition for this cause. It has gained nearly 600 signatures in less than a week. This petition is just one example of emotional of the emotional impact inflicted on students amplifying the significance of such programs being disengaged by your system. with consideration of your message to put students first. Please notice the students who are being who are advocating for their department. >> Thank you. Would the following individuals please line up? Sandy Clark, CC Caniani, Daniel Levesque, Gage Griffith, and Gwyn Gittens. The next speaker is Kay Poston. Hello, I'm
048Kay Poston, counselor at Edison Park Elementary. I'd like to thank each school member and superintendent for your service for our school district. I wanted to bring to your attention that my position has been cut to half time as many other schools in the district. Mental health is not a part-time job. A student in mental health crisis won't always happen on the 2.5 days that a part-time counselor will be at the school. It can happen at any time. The past two years I've offered small groupoup therapy for students experiencing divorce and also I've done self uh self-confidence groups, groups on anxiety, social skills, self-regulation. I've also done individual counseling for over 65 students so they can be better equipped to ready to be learned and excel in the classroom. Now going to halftime. This my role
049next year will only be crisis counseling which will be reactive instead of proactive services. I ask the board to make it a priority to have at least one full-time counselor in every Lee County school so we can put students first so they can help. >> Your time's up. >> Thank you. >> Treya Grimit. >> Good evening. My name is Trey Grimit and I'm a senior at Cypress Lake High School. I moved here my sophomore year from a small town in Illinois, not knowing anyone and feeling completely out of place. That changed because of one teacher, my world history teacher. He made me feel seen and welcome. He connected with his students every day. I'm speaking about him in past tense because you guys cut him. At Cypress Lake alone, around 20 teachers were cut. That's
050not just number. That's mentors and hundreds of students impacted. I've also been involved in the Be a Buddy Special Olympics event and serve as an aid in an ESC classroom. I've built real relationships with those students and they've inspired my future in special education. Now, with ESC students being moved, those connections are at risk. From a student's perspective, this feels driven by money, not people. You're cutting teachers and programs while adding highpaying positions and building a new school you may not even have staff for. When you remove teachers, you remove stability. When you move ESC students, you remove belonging. Everyone in this room wearing black supports my message too and is affected by these cuts as well. We are asking you to do better to listen, reconsider, and remember this is not >> Thank you.
051Time's up. >> No clapping. Sandy Clark. And I ask you to adjust the microphone to your height when you get up there. If you We have a hard time hearing some folks. Thank you. You can raise it higher. There you go. Go. My name is Sandy Clark and I'm one of over 5,000 teachers in our district. At my school, 33% of teachers were not renewed. The district is losing hundreds of teachers. Even schools who have no change in enrollment numbers have seen a massive budget cut. The district is touting fiscal responsibility and professing, "We aren't cutting arts, we are cutting waste." If that is what we are to the district, waste, something to be discarded. The truth. With no money in the budget, highly effective teachers are being let go and programs are being cut.
052Those teachers who remain next year will have 30% more students to support. High schools are predicting class sizes of 40 to 50 students. The law is no more than 25 students per class. All while the district claims these cuts will not impact students. How can the board help? Stop rubber stamping every new executive level position. Stop building Alva High School, which is $40 million over budget. This is not fiscal responsibility. This is a dismantling of >> Thank you. Time's up. Time's up. >> No clapping. Thank you, CC Caniani. >> Good evening. I'm a teacher for 25 years in this county and I am extremely familiar with the students at Royal Palm and Buckingham and I would just like you to understand that although I know that it has been put on pause that is just
053a pause and I'm afraid of the storm that might come. So I implore you to talk with teachers, parents and experts to ready the building to meet all of the students. Do I think it's it could be a success? Absolutely I do. But do I think it can happen overnight without any funds? No, I do not. Okay, let's get it right. Let's do it the right way. Let's let's make it right for our most fragile students and and the students that bring the biggest dollar into this district, okay? And the biggest dollar for teachers as well. >> So, in advance of of the fact that you do a change, please consult with professionals that know what needs to happen in that building for a change. Thank you, Daniel Levesque. >> Thank you for your time.
054I'm here on behalf of my daughter and all the other arts students whose future you have in your hands. Right now, this board is considering cutting arts funding in in schools in favor of athletics. While I do appreciate the value of of athletics and what students learn from healthy competition, others who are not athletically inclined gain much of the same benefits from participating in the arts. Teamwork, excellence through practice, focus, and how to cope with failure. Taking the arts away from these students will not move them to become athletes to gain these benefits. Instead, they will leave them aimless and without a healthy outlet. More than that, I would argue that the arts actually holds greater importance than athletics for cultural reasons. Our culture defines who we are as a people. And while while athletics
055have their part, it is not the most lasting or impactful. I doubt that anyone here can name a single gold medal winner from the 1960 Olympics, but everyone knows the Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, and Ernest Hemingway. All artists from around the same era and all with an impact on our culture that remains to this day. Art education is far more important than many people give her credit for. Consider the impact of the musical Westside Story and how people viewed civil rights and race relations or how the outsiders in Greece showcase the staff between people of different classes and backgrounds with the need for harmony as one. >> Thank you. >> Would the following individuals please line up? Sergio Cruz, George Fox, Jacob Mossholder, Chelsea Clark, and Peggy Stamper. The next speaker is Gage Griffith. Um,
056my name is Gage Griffin. Thank you, board, for letting me come before you today. I come um to represent my wife [snorts] um a soontobe Lee County public school teacher and it's sorry it's because of her that we could afford to buy our first home. It's because of her I was able to go back to school. And it is because of you she no longer has a job. And I understand that the superintendent's heart goes out to us cuz she also lost her job early on. But it's hard to believe that you can say fiscal responsibility is the reason that you're cutting waste when what's being cut is my wife's job, my family's home. And it's shameful to say that she's waste. And to stand in front of us and lie about what you can
057do is wrong. >> Thank you. Times up >> clapping. Okay. The dangers of the shell game keeping voters, parents, and students wondering what's under which cup. The budget is under one cup and as you stated for four years some schools received more money than they should have. How is that hidden? Another cup enrollment. Um you needed more money so you blamed in low enrollment but the east zone numbers quote are 102% over not going down end quote. How many times have you heard me say that here? And there the large staff and salaries at the district office are under a cup. And we are forced to sh you're forced to share the data. You cut and you add. Right sizing is not just trying to wear a size eight shoe when you really wear a
05810. Your lives and ours would be much happier if you share more information. >> Times up. >> Thank you, Sergio Cruz. Good evening. My name is Sergio Cruz and I serve in several capacities locally around the state and nationally um advocating for individuals and families with disabilities. Um but here um tonight I'm here on behalf of the students and families of Buckingham Exceptional Student Center to ask for stability and reassurance. For many of these students, consistency is critical to their emotional well-being, academic success, and daily routines. Buckingham is more than a school building. It is their home. It is their safe place. Families learned about this possible relocation very late in the process, leaving little opportunity for community discussion, planning, or problem solving. Many parents feel blindsided and unheard. Tonight, I'm asking the district to
059guarantee Buckingham Exceptional Student Center will remain at its current location for at least the next school year. I know the verbiage sent out on the um correspondence with them said until further notice. I would hope that we can give them some clarity and some expectation that going into the 2627 school year that that is exactly what is going to occur that they will at least have that next year to be able to explore all options and see what they can do to potentially save their school from the next year. Thank you >> George Fox. Thank you. Yes. One place the board can find over $40 million is the interest that gets paid on the capital debt, which is a billion dollars. When we set up the halfsent sales tax those many years ago, the idea
060was to save the money so you could open the school debtree. Somehow the politics in Tallahassee and the ideology behind it changed the law to where you have to use a cops, which is a ripoff. It's terrible. And it cost the taxpayers and the students all kinds of money which you could use today to help these people keep their jobs. If you would do your job and challenge that system that's up there that's ripping off all that money and skimming it off the off the off the taxpayers's taxes. That's your job. That's what you're elected for. And until you do that, you're just going to hurt people when you really could be fighting for them. Thank you. Thank you, >> Jacob Mossholder. Good evening. My name is Jacob Molderer. >> Raise the mic, sir. Just
061raise it up a little so we can hear you. There you go. >> All right. Um, I had a bunch of stuff written here. You're hearing it all. I mean, we've got teachers lining up here one after another. They're they're the foundation of our community. You know that. You all know that. You ran for these positions. You were elected to these positions. You know what's right. You know what's wrong. At the end of the day, we can't cut our way to an A-rated school district. You go find the money. You go do the lobbying that's been done to you. We've got a ton of things we're not using. We've got textbooks that we aren't using from what I hear. We've got technology being force-fed down our students throats. It's ineffective. We're raising the first generation
062that is going to test lower than the generation prior to it. That's what you're doing right now. Figure it out. I trust you can. I appreciate you all being here. You're going to continue hearing it for another what 20 minutes. Hopefully it sinks in. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> Will the following individuals line up? Todd Dooenberry, Lulu Dooenberry, Christy Steinamp, McKenzie Canny, and Martha Kate. Chelsea Clark is the next speaker. >> Chelsea Clark, as the saying goes, I can't believe what you say because I see what you do. The district says it wants to achieve A-level performance. Yet, we are preparing to adopt yet another screenbased ELA textbook subscription. Since the adoption of screenbased instruction, reading proficiency in Lee County has dropped from 75% in 2009 to 54% last year. At FMHS, my
063team has largely moved away from digital textbooks and instead uses paperbased resources aligned to Florida reading lists. By my estimates, Think Circle will cost about $1.3 million annually, while AI supported and open educational resources like those we use at FHS would cost roughly $165,000 districtwide. That is a potential savings of more than 1 million per year at the high school ELA level alone. Despite this, we are told not to consider cost, only instructional effectiveness. My concern is that this program is neither most effective nor the most efficient option. A fraction of that funding could support a teacher created paper-based curriculum that improves proficiency and gives teachers greater ownership. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Peggy Stamper. I yield my time. Chelsea Clerk, >> you can't do that. You can >> Yeah, that's not allowed under our
064board rules. >> High School support the approach. My current proficiency is 67%. Fort Myers High School overall is 68% and 8% gain from last year. I believe this makes us one, if not the best, ELA departments in the district. I am also concerned about district priorities. Recently, FMHS students and staff lost access to the gym during the school day so the district could host a political press conference. PE students were forced outside in extreme heat as a little wave of graduation celebration. Actions like these make staff question whether the students and teachers are truly the priority. F. Finally, the district continues to site enrollment declines and legacy funding issues to explain major budget cuts. Yet, you have failed to define legacy funds. My assumption is that your failure to define the term legacy funds is
065because you are referring to title one funds which equally the same amount. I hope I am wrong, but if my assumption is correct, why would we voluntarily cut programs supporting high poverty students? Nearly 40% of our students come from low-income families. In closing, I hope the district will prioritize policy district. >> Todd Dooenberry. Okay. Todd Denbury. I teach at Cypress Lake High School. I've been here many, many times already about uh be a buddy, life skills, and special Olympics. Real quick, Cypress Lake High School is one of the original first four schools in Lee County. And for over two decades, our identity has been defined by an inclusive culture supported by staff, administration, and a community that embraces students of all abilities. A culture of remembrance and legacy. I've said this to you already. There's
066five designs on the t-shirt. The butterfly is for Selena, an ESC student who lived for this day. The angel is for Miss Cathy, a helping teacher and true angel. We raised 25,000 in a single year for a scholarship in her name for students pursuing careers and disability. The morning glories for Miss Winnie Reed, a profound classroom teacher whose devotion to her students survive seizures and brain surgery. The coins for Carson, a student athlete who loved the West Wing and our AC students. Though co took her graduation walk, she has been at every Special Olympics since. Cannon Strong, Coach Cannon, Marine Cannon, 29-year veteran teacher. She was a backbone of this event and though she never got to finish her 30th year, her spirit remains. These individuals took a piece of my heart with them when
067they pass. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. >> Lulu Dooenberry. Real quick before you start, Lulu is a former student from Cypress Lake High School. She's also asking for ADA accommodations so that she can get her speech read by someone else. It would take her >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Thank you. >> I am honored to speak on behalf of Lulu. My name is Lulu and I am known as Ms. Unstoppable. I am proud to graduate a graduate of late of Cypress Lake High School and a former ESC student born with cereable palsy. I mention my dis disease because it's what placed me in ESSE. The Lee County Schools ensure disability never defined me. When I think of Cypress Lake, the only word that fits is home. It's a place of pure acceptance where students
068with and without disabilities are in the same building and they're just friends. I see the magic every year at the Special Olympics. Students start unsure and they leave as friends. That is the the Panther vibe. That is inclusion. That inclusion made me the woman that I am today. I went on to go to Fort Myers. >> Thank you. >> The time's up. >> Christy Steinamp. [applause] >> No clapping. >> Christy Steinamp. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. Hello, I'm Christy and this is my daughter Aubrey. Aubrey is rare being she's the only one out of three in the world known with her variant of G&B1 and the only one known in the United States. Something else that's rare is a school that meets all the needs for our medically fragile kids like Buckingham does. [snorts] Everything from
069its caring staff, adapted equipment and areas, airond conditioned hallways, carpeted classrooms to its safe location and bus as drop off meets the unique needs to our fragile kids. The school just the way it is now is the definition of safety, quality care, and inclusion that I would think you all as a school board would be so proud to have in your district and not try to make changes to something that's already so perfect for the most fragile. Please keep the pause permanent because this school is so beautifully rare just like my Aubrey. Our kids and all future medically fragile kids deserve to have a place such as Buckingham exactly how it is now to have all their needs met while getting an education. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Will the following individuals please line
070up? Katie Peterson, Kevin Daly, Dr. Ker Fazone, Cindy Bier, and Carlen Staint Tillis. Next speaker is McKenzie Cammy. >> Good evening. My name is Mackenzie Cany and I'm a senior at Cypress Lake High School. One of the most meaningful parts of my high school experience has been being involved in the Beody program and working alongside our life skills students. Through Special Olympic events, classroom activities, and everyday interactions, I've learned lessons about patience, kindness, resilience, and joy that cannot be taught from a textbook. These students are not separate from our school community. They are part of the heart of it. They have impacted me and so many other students in ways that are difficult to fully explain unless you've experienced it yourself. The friendships built through these programs changed people, and they changed me. I'm asking
071you to please allow life skills students to remain at Cypress Lake High School after next year and to assign Cypress Lake High School the cluster service delivery models that include life skills. Programs like these matters deeply to students and families. As a student who has also attended Edison Park Elementary, I want to speak in support of small school allocation. Smaller schools do not generate enough funding through FTE process to provide the same staff resources positions as larger schools. But schools like ours offer opportunities that shape. >> Thank you, >> Martha Kra. >> Good evening, board members and superintendent. Tonight, the superintendent is asking the board to approve more than $135 million in district spending under one consent action item with no discussion and one single vote for the board to approve. Consent agenda items are
072intended for routine matters, not major financial decisions that deserve public review and board discussion. Placing large spending items under consent reduces transparency and limits accountability. Items involving significant funding should be listed as regular agenda items so the public can hear the discussion. Understand what is being recommended and how each dollar is being spent. If additional discussion makes meetings longer, then perhaps it's time to return to holding two meetings a month. Thank you. Thank you, Katie Peterson. No clapping, please. Good evening. My name is Katie Peterson. My daughter Grace is a second grader at Buckingham Exceptional Student Center. I first want to thank you for pausing the relocation of the Buckingham students. I continue to urge you to make the pause permanent, but tonight I want to initiate a broader conversation. When people pass by individuals
073with visible exceptionalities, why do they so often avoid engaging with them? Why are they the student why are the students featured on social media by the school district almost exclusively those who appear typical instead of also including more students with obvious exceptionalities like my daughter or other students in her school? And why are life-changing decisions like displacing our students even being considered for our exceptional students without meaningful input from those who care for them every day? I doubt these decisions are made with malicious intent, but hopefully instead from a lack of understanding and a desire to avoid saying or doing the wrong thing. But while I appreciate the desire to not do the wrong thing, I believe we need to swing the pendulum the other way and instead f focus on doing the right thing
074and see how truly exceptional these students really are. Thank you. Thank you, Kevin Daly. [snorts] >> Good evening, board and superintendent. My name is Kevin Daly. I'm the current president of the Teachers Association of Lee County. I rise tonight not to add to what is being said, but to say I have been saying these things since I had hair and didn't need these glasses. It's very important that you hear from the staff members because maybe you will believe them. I'm here tonight to stand with the teachers and the parents and the students who have come to tell you what you are doing is wrong with the cuts and the right sizing. We need to move in a direction that gives schools and students what they need. And I also think on top of all that,
075leave Buckingham alone. It is a wonderful school that provides a very niche educational experience where the students would not come close to be as successful in other settings in the community. So thank >> thank you >> Dr. Fizone. [snorts] >> Hey, good evening. Kerazone director, chief negotiator for TAC. Over the last several weeks, we've continued to hear rhetoric that paints unions and instructional staff as barriers instead of partners. That's disappointing and harmful to the bargaining process. Teachers are not waste. They are not the problem. And our union is not the problem. Last night, the district presented approximately $5 million in bargaining authority for TAC. Yet most appears to be TISA funding from the state, not new local investment by this board into instructional staff. And quite frankly, it's nowhere near enough to retain the highquality
076instructional staff this district says it wants to retain. At the same time, you're prepping or preparing to renew a divisive bonus scheme that creates halves and have nots among employees based on where they work and what they teach. You cannot claim financial crisis on one hand while writing a blank check with the other. Tonight, you had the opportunity to correct that injustice. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would the following individuals please line up? Felicia Wilson, Crystal Johnson, Cassandra Stafford, Kalissa Kennaly, and Katie Ireland. The next speaker is Cindy Bet. Hello everyone. Thank you for having us here tonight. My name is Cindy Bany and I'm speaking as a mother of three public school children here in Lee County, one in each grade level because I am very fortunate and I am very dismayed when I
077hear from the teachers that their jobs are no no longer going to be renewed that arts programs are being cut and things are going wrong in their schools. And then I hear about lobbying contracts and new buildings and the school district essentially blaming the the teachers for the problems that we have. I think this is disrespectful and I want to see more emphasis on our kids. Stop with the fiscal conservative malarkey. Thank you >> Carlen St. tell us. >> Good evening. The word that best describes this district right now is contradictory. We were told there was a budget crisis. Hundreds of effective teachers and school staff lost their jobs under the phrase cutting waste. Waste. Meanwhile, six figure central office positions remained untouched. And tonight, this board is preparing to approve up to $19 million
078for guest teacher services. So, here's the obvious question. If onethird of that money, roughly $6 million, had been redirected towards retention, how many teachers, how many educators could still have their jobs serving students today. And here's another contradiction. Duval County serves nearly 130,000 students with one superintendent and three regional supers. Yet this district serving fewer students operates with one super, one deputy super, four regional supers, and expand and expanding layers of six-f figureure administration central office jobs. So apparently there's enough money for bureaucracy but not enough money for class. >> Thank you. >> No clapping. Crystal Johnson is the next speaker. >> Crystal Johnson. Oh, you did a high five. >> We have what? Three more. >> Folks, if we don't keep it down, we're going to have to take a break. So, >> we
079want to move as fast as we can. We only have six. >> Listen, we chair. Point of order. Yes, >> we have six speakers left. So, you guys have been great. Go ahead, ma'am. >> Good evening. I am Crystal Johnson. In the debate over budget and vouchers, we are forgetting a fundamental truth of child psychology. Stability is the absolute foundation of learning. Children cannot learn if they do not feel safe and they cannot feel safe in an environment of constant disruption. Decades of de developmental research shows that consistent relationships with trusted teachers are what regulate a child's nervous system, allowing them to focus, absorb information, and build resilience. When Lee County cuts school budgets and issues non-renewal notices to excellent teachers, we aren't just shifting personnel, we are se severing the vital bonds our children
080rely on. A child who loses their favorite teacher, their art program, or their familiar school structure loses their footing. A school district budget should not >> Your time's up. Yeah. >> Cassandra Stafford. My name is Cassandra Stafford and I'm here for Victor and children like him. Victor was in a car accident when he was two and a half years old and lost his mother, my sister, and soon after that he lost his grandparents, which were my parents. Victor suffers a traumatic brain injury that changed his life forever. He's non-verbal, potty trained because of Buckingham, and uses a sign language device tablet. But every single day, Victor keeps fighting. After losing so much, Victor and Buckingham became family. The teachers, the staff, the therapists, students became his support system. Children like Victor, this school is not
081just a building. It's a lifeline. Our children do not fit in a one-sizefits-all environment. They need sta stability, routine, and people who truly understand them. Please see the human side of this decision and don't place it on just a hold. We need our school back. These families need our children just like our children need them. Please save these little voices of Buckingham. Nothing about us without us. >> Kalissa Kennaly. Good evening. I'm Kalissa Kennaly, a Lee County Public Schools graduate and the daughter of a teacher this district has cut. My mother has taught in Lee County since 2012 and the last several years in our virtual school, a program that serves medically fragile students, kids with anxiety, and families who depend on it to keep their children learning. Many of my mom's former students have
082moved on to excel in future careers and schooling thanks to her work and the work of other teachers. This week, Superintendent Carlin told the public, "This district is cutting waste while also supporting teachers." However, these are not the results of waste. My mother is not waste. You cannot support teachers while firing them. You cannot claim to focus on students and in classrooms while shutting down the classrooms and teachers that keep these students in schools. I'm asking the board to reconsider these cuts. Be honest to the public about what is being cut and remember the students who will pay the price from your infliction. Everyone wearing black supports my message today. Thank you. Would the following individuals please line up? Gian Gianna Zulia Gibvis Gus Leinger and Jason Lin. The next speaker is Katie Ireland. First
083of all, I believe we have a speaker skipped back there. Um, good evening. My name is Katie Ireland. I'm a graduate of Cypress Lake High School and I currently attend Boston University. My entire public education was at Lee County and in that education as well as my experience in Boston. Every brilliant and inspired student that I have met has had their lives shaped by a brilliant and inspired teacher. Many of those teachers are here today. Thank you to the board. Your partisan politics have invaded our classrooms. Your budget cuts have left these teachers that shape our lives and livelihoods floundering. Ask yourselves, why do your political agendas thrive when students and teachers suffer. Your minds are not with the students best interests. They are with satisfying your sponsors. That is not doing your job. That
084is a gross abuse of power. Additionally, keep your hands off Buckingham. Thank you, >> Giana Zulya. forgive us. I am so sorry. >> We just didn't call her up. >> Hello, my name is Giana Zalagaras and I am a senior at Cypress Lake High School who will be attending FSU for physics and astrophysics. Teachers are the foundation of our education. I had Miss Camp who brought our mocktra team to championships three of the four years I was in high school. I had Miss Burnham who taught me how to tap dance in mere months and Miss Crusard who'd stay after school till 1000 p.m. to that allowed us to do our senior musical that just went best musical at HSMTA's last week. I would not be the person I am today without these teachers. I would
085not have a 5.1 GPA, a three-year varsity athlete, and I would not be winning such awards like best musical without these teachers. There are students who want to be involved in everything just like I have, and they deserve to have their voice heard as well as the ability to be able to do so. Thank you, >> Gus Leinger. My name is Gus Leinger. I'm a senior at Cypress Lake High School and next year I'll be attending the University of Florida to study mechanical engineering. I was recognized earlier today as a saludiatoran at my high school and I greatly appreciate the board's recognition as such. But I must honor those who got me here, not those who recognize me today. The teachers at Cypress Lake High School, those who now face the loss of their jobs
086thanks to these budget cuts. I again want to notify the board of the importance of special needs and life skills classes at schools like Cypress Lake and all high schools in Lee County. My freshman year, I was assaulted in a gym class and for was moved as an aid into a life skills class with Todd Dooberry. It was because of that experience and seeing the passion and the care and the perseverance that those students in the life skills class show that I got back on my feet and I made my way to saludiatoran of the high school and to my accomplishments. And without them, I wouldn't be where I am. Cypress Lake High School has taught me many lessons both of curriculum and character that I will never forget. The board gave me a piece
087of paper. I ask you again, who is the waste? Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Jason Larkin. [clears throat] Um, we're hearing a lot about teachers being cut. I'm one of them. Um, I'm a career changer. I used to work in the real estate and mortgage industry. The one thing I've ever only ever wanted to do in my life was to teach and I decided to get into it. And for the last nine years, I've been a highly effective teacher here in Lee County. I teach learning strategies for ESSE students. And I'm also the case manager for nearly 30 students with IEPs, students who need to start over yet again, trying to build trust with just another new case manager. That's happened so many times before. Additionally, I've been the the varsity beach volleyball coach
088since his exception inception and I've grown the program quite considerably. And you're right, you're not cutting the arts or the athletics. You're just cutting the people who run them. >> So, thank you for your time. I'd like my job back. Thank you, [applause] >> Felicia Wilson. >> Dad. Felicia Wilson, taxpayer, parent, and a member of this community. I have two students, one that attends Royal Palm and one that attends Buckingham. I assure you, the change to put them together is not the right move. For security purposes and structure, your building is not compatible to Buckingham. For our students at Royal Palm, we tooured. You guys don't even have the space for our wheelchairs. Don't have rugs. You guys also took the capacity number off of students from your website when we brought it up to
089your attention and also attached the governor to it. Capacity will be at its max if you combine both students together. It is not okay to do that. And members of the board, you guys say you care about our students when your personals from the district went to tour Buckingham. If you care about our students so much, why did you throw away our belongings that were donated to our special needs children because they weren't a part of the district? You don't care for our students if you're throwing away belongings that were donated to the special needs. Thank >> Thank you, [applause] >> m Mr. Chair. That is that concludes public comment this evening. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for all the speakers and everybody being basically civil. Next on our agenda. >> Next on our
090agenda, >> point of order. Point of order. >> Point of order. >> Recess. Hey, Hey, All right. Next on the agenda is consent items. The documentation for action items listed under consent is made available to board members seven business days prior to the board meeting. We expect to review all the material. We have an opportunity to speak with the superintendent with any questions we may have regarding the recommendations. Board members, are there any agenda items you wish to pull for discussion? Mr. Fischer, >> I have no such items. >> M. Janelli, >> I have three. >> Okay. >> H2, approval to propose and the terms of the interlocal agreement with the town of Fort Myers Beach. Um M3, approval to adopt and revise and sunset job descriptions for human resources. And H, not H, excuse
091me, M5, approval of employment contract with Kevin William Penley, Esquire. >> So that was H2, H3, and M5. >> No, M. >> M5. >> M3 and M5. >> Yes. Thank you. >> N M >> M. Okay, >> Mr. Ribble. >> None. >> Miss Jordan. >> Yes, I'm pulling uh H1, the um H1. And I was told I did not need to pull u the resolution. So, H1. >> Okay. M. Langford Fleming. >> I have none. Miss >> Shaveaniano, >> I have none. >> And I have none. Is there a motion to approve the agenda's consent items with the exception of the pulled items? Mr. Fischer. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda items without the pulled items. >> Second. >> I'll second the motion. >> Dribble. Okay. If everybody will record their vote. Motion carries
09270. [clears throat] Dr. Carla, will you please introduce any administrators in attendance with a new assignment approval under the consent agenda? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, we are very proud to announce the following uh assignments. So, congratulations to the following administrators. Alm Ahmad, the uh assistant director for financial accounting and property records. [applause] Christopher Drake, principal, North Fort Myers High School. [applause] Ashley Lamar, principal, Success Academy. [applause] Julie Powell, principal, River Riverdale High School. Sorry about that. [applause] Jennifer Wilin, principal, River Hall Elementary. [applause] Scott Cook, principal, Patriot Elementary. [applause] Nicole Osterhome, principal, Koosa Elementary. >> [applause] >> Mason Clark, principal, Challenger Middle, [applause] Ryan Atwood, principal, Mariner Middle, [applause] and Christine Sunund, principal, Cape Elementary School. [applause] Congratulations to all of our new administrators. Thank you very much for what we know. you
093will do a great job at our schools and our uh respective departments. Thank you. [applause] >> Those that were recognized can actually leave so they can get to work in time tomorrow if they would like to. [laughter] Thank you for being here. Next is our unfinished business tabled items. Is there a motion to approve Dr. Carlin's recommendation for H2. >> I'll make the motion to approve of H2. >> Okay. Second, >> Mr. Fischer. >> Hold on, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Dr. Carlin has to read her recommendation because it's I was going to have her read it next discussion, but Okay. >> Then the motion comes after. >> Got it. Would you read your motion for HD, please? Your recommendation. >> Chair. Thank you very much. Um, so H2, approval to propose the terms
094of an interlocal agreement with the town of Fort Myers Beach. Approval authorizes the superintendent to execute all related documents. >> Thank you. Now, do we have a motion to approve Dr. Carlin's recommendation? >> I'll make the motion. >> Okay, Mr. Ribble. Second by Mr. Fiser. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? Janelli, did you want to say anything? Did >> two I thought you were going to do H1. H1's before too. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> It's okay. I think it's because you pulled the items first. So, yeah, it's okay. >> Do that. I was just waiting for H1. Sorry. >> Um H2. Um I pulled H1. >> H2. >> No, H2. H2. See, I've already moved. I've only concentrating on the one. Okay. I approved that was the interlocal agreement with Fort Myers Beach. Um
095actually and this has been long overdue. I support that this evening, but I thought it was important to pull and to have a separate vote because this I want to show that we do value and care about the community. Um and I think that this board has worked diligently as well as staff at the district to come to a resolution for the best interest of all parties. And I look forward to assisting and helping all the um the everyone at Fort Myers Beach to help get their school back up ever how they see uh they see that they're going to, you know, deem to do it. I think it's going to be a charter school, but it's going to be on the um the that community to do so because they really wanted the school
096really bad. So, I just wanted to bring that to the attention of how important it is to separate this one out um just for the community in itself to know that we support the um Fort Myers Beach. And if anybody wants to have other comment, that's fine. Otherwise, I'll call for the vote. >> Thank you. We had a long discussion on this during the workshop today. If anybody would like to >> I think Mr. Fischer wants to >> Yes. say something. >> Okay. I just wanted to uh highlight uh I'm going to support this. I've been uh through this entire time consistent on that. I appreciate everything um on Fort Myers Beach, but it would be fiscally irresponsible at this moment to continue with that. I do support this. One of the big things I
097want to make sure the public is aware of the uh reversionary clause in it that if after 3 years essentially if they're not able to um have a charter school or if it closes that it will come back to us. So I think that that will be my reason for supporting. I just wanted to make sure the public was aware of that. Thank you. Any other discussion? All right. Seeing none, this will be a roll call vote on H2. Mr. Fischer, >> I. >> Miss Janelli, >> yes. >> Mr. Ribble, >> I. >> Miss Jordan, >> I. >> Miss Langford Fleming, >> I >> Miss Shaviano, >> I. >> And I am an I. Motion carries 70. We will go to H1 now. If you would, you like to read your recommendation. [snorts] Thank you,
098Mr. Chairman. Uh my recommendation is approval to renew ITN number N237438 JA for marketing services awarded to Priority Marketing of Southwest Florida, Inc. in Fort Myers, Florida for the first renewal period of June 6, 2026 through June 5th, 2027 for up to $326,000 pursuant to the same terms and conditions as previously approved by the board. Approval authorizes the superintendent to execute all related documents. >> Thank you. Any discussion, M. Jordan? >> Yes. Uh I pulled this because of the amount of dollars that that we have on here. Uh it's has nothing to do personally with their uh their marketing service. Priority marketing has always been a a good partner with the district. However, [clears throat] when I when we just added actually another person into our marketing department, um that seems to me it's like,
099okay, so we just had another person. What are we um what items can we pull off of priority marketing that our in-house people can do to save money? Because if we're all about saving money right now, we need to look within. And I know that we're going around to the departments, but that was something that I had looked at because we have $50,000 also. I mean 50,000 for talent acquisition department as well. So I just need more information on this because I cannot vote on this. I will not um support this with the amount of money that that it is right now because of the fact of the matter that we're losing we're losing teachers, we're losing people. So I cannot support this. >> Okay, Mr. Shaviano. >> So I actually had a conversation and
100was going to pull but then you pulled it so we're good. Um the one piece because I did have some issues with some of the callouts and I got clarification and my understanding is this was cut by 129,000 cuz the previous contract was 455 and now it's down to 326. So there was a cut. I did ask why the specific breakouts were made for the specific high school. That's actually in their budget. So, it's on them to use those dollars um because it's only it's the only high school that's listed. There's no other high school, right? >> Um so, I'd had that question specifically on that. And then the other schools and departments is needed. Again, that's something that they already do and they have to go through their line item on their [clears throat]
101budget to use those funds and request it. Um that request goes through the communications team. If they have that line item in their budget to support it, then they can make that ask. Um, but I appreciate you bringing it up because this was the same question I had, but my understanding is there was a cut for of 129,000 because I had the question on the dollars. So, just clarification on what the questions I asked, >> Jordan. >> So, thank you for that, Miss Chaviano, because if we have already cut [clears throat] that, I still I did we have we went outside and looked to see is there any other way for us to cut? Is there any other way that we can do this stuff in-house with the with the talent that we have because
102we have people who are here and we did add that other extra person in that department now to lead that department which was on the I think it was last month. So to me it's like if we're asking everybody else to cut we need and and I appreciate the fact that you said we already cut here. How much more can we cut that we can that we can do inhouse and save dollars? That's that's my >> superintendent. >> Yeah, I'd be happy to answer some of those questions. First of all, just a point of clarification, Miss Jordan, we did not add an additional person into our budget. We took an additional resource and we shifted that over. So, I just want to clarify for the public that was not an additional um cost in terms
103of a person. We actually took a person who was a director and moved that over to uh communications and government relations. there may have been a slight bump up in salary, but I want to be clear that is not a completely new position. We actually took a position and slid it over. So, just point of clarification on that. Um, I also want to just clarify the the the request um through the board agenda item and and I think when I read it, it was for up to up to $326,000, which does not mean that all of this is going to be expended. Um, and I just want to piggyback off of something that Mr. Shavaniano said a number of these are already in the school budgets. Uh Gateway is a perfect example of that. We
104do know that talent acquisition utilizes um that uh service through priority marketing to get wider reach. So if and when we need to hire any position uh that is available. We do know that uh the amount has been uh reduced significantly from the last time this came before the board. That was uh prior to me as superintendent. Um, but there was a much greater uh amount that was approved by this board prior uh in prior years. So, I do want to just make make that point that this is an approval for up to $326,000. Uh, that does not mean that each one of those items will be spent in its entirety. Uh, we do uh absolutely hear you and we are committed to fiscal responsibility and I'm going to be very clear. uh this uh
105new uh communications team has talked about taking on more projects, making sure that they are able to let schools know that they are available to be able to help support the social media ads and different things that they want to do to get the word out. So, just to be clear, this is something that you all have approved, you know, several times um and and it's been a much larger price tag. So, we are we have made cuts to this and these are approvals for up to a certain amount. Thank you. Mr. Ribble. >> Yeah. I want to make a comment. I'm having I'm having a conflict here. The last two meetings we made comments about our lack of being able to communicate properly and questioning some of the things we've done. Yet, here we
106have the top firm in Lee County. I mean, if you if you get on uh online tonight and you Google's of distinction, which is a a a top uh recognition system for women in Lee County that are business professionals that have done well, uh they're they're running that sh that uh program I think in two months. But take a look at the history of this organization. They're first class. They do a great job and we might be able to learn something from these folks. So I totally support uh this initiative. >> Miss Janelli. >> So I just need a few a clarity because um first of all priority marketing is top-notch. So I don't think anybody's questioning that at all. In fact they do a quite a quite a lot. They actually just did did
107the national prayer breakfast and did a beautiful job. Uh everything they do is like I said is topnotch. That's not the question here. I think the question is the the expenditure itself. Um I received information because I had questions as well. In 24 we spent 298,000 and some change with them. And then in FI25 we spent 346,000. I think that's how they arrived at this new amount um reducing it. But in 26 to date we've only spent 204,000 and some change of that. I think the question here is something what I brought up last um last month at the last meeting is we have contracts that we um increase all the time and in the middle of contracts and why can't we decrease contracts and here's a perfect um [snorts] perfect opportunity that we've done
108it apparently. So, but I So, I have to ask though, this is where I need clarity, is when did we actually reduce it? Because it's always been in the threes for as for for what I I can remember. So, if I could get that answer, I would like to know that. Um >> I I don't have that off the top of my head, but I would be happy to provide that. >> Okay. Because I think that goes back before you with if the amount was in the fours because I thought for a while it's been at the three in the threes and some change. And so I would like clarity of that. But back to my question is why can't we reduce this contract down uh as just to save that would save a$126,000 if
109we're only spending you know um 200 this year. I think that I think Miss Jordan's point is that we're trying to save money. We need to show uh we're asking schools to do it. Why aren't we doing it at the district as well? And this is a small little opportunity to for $100,000 that pays almost two teachers. >> Mr. Fischer. >> Thank you, Chair. Through the chair, I'd like to ask attorney Dodie a question. Can you explain the difference between a specified contract budget expenditure versus spending authority? >> Sure. So, it's a great question, especially considering this agreement. This is basically giving the authority for us to spend up to $326,000 versus a contract that specifies exactly how much money we're going to spend. So, we could literally not spend a cent of this money
110if if that were to happen. It's just the board approving that threshold. Yes. >> Thank you, Attorney Dod. I agree that we obviously have to make sure we're watching this and we need to be careful with it, but um we just need to make smart decisions. Thank you. Any other comments down here? Okay, M. Jordan. >> Thank you, Mr. Fischer. I But I did understand that and I know the difference. I just to me, we're we're not telling our schools, we're not telling them I'm going to give you up to this amount to spend. We're telling you this is what you're spending. So when I'm looking at this, that means they can spend up to this if need be. So that's how I'm that's how I perceive this to be. And and yes, they are
111top-notch. I have to agree with you. Thank you. Okay. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Sir, I would just say I think you have to have a motion. I don't think we did the motion after superintendent read the recommendation. >> What a night. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. >> I'll make a motion to move this. >> All right. Second, Mr. Fischer. Okay. >> Any other dis further discussion? All right. I'm going to have everybody repeat what they said in the right note. Just kidding. >> All right, we will now do a voice vote. Mr. Fiser, >> I. >> Miss Janelli, >> I'm a no. Thank you. >> Mr. Ribble, >> I. >> Miss Jordan, >> may I Fleming? >> I shave >> I. >> And I am an I. Motion passes 52. Well, now
112and I'll see if I can get in the right order this time. We'll now move to M3. Dr. Carlin, your recommendation. >> Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Chairman. M3, approval to adopt, revise, and sunset job descriptions for the human resources division as part of the phase 2 job architecture review for transportation. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve Dr. Carlin's recommendation? Mr. Fischer. >> Motion to approve Dr. Carlin's recommendation for M3. >> Okay. Second. >> I'll second. >> And Miss Jordan is a second. >> Discussion, please. >> Thank you. >> I pulled this item because under the circumstances with the cuts that are going on, this is just not the time to be giving promotions or reclassifying or any kind of job or department. Um, as a board member, my job is
113oversight of the budget. And this strictly does impact the budget. Maybe not today, but I will tell you that tomorrow or in a week it will impact the budget where with where people are getting promoted and then they get raises and that impacts the budget and that is a budget increase from what it is this year. And I know that they're realigning and and I I don't deny that it probably is needed, but this is not the time when we're asking the community and asking schools to get lean and and cut budgets and when teachers don't have jobs. And it's not just surplus jobs. It's jobs. I've been told by numerous teachers they do not have a job next year and they are not surplused. And they're interviewing at charter schools. They're they're interviewing at
114at Gartner. They're trying to find a job and I can't it this is about a matter of principle and I can't support that at this time that I just think this is bad timing. It looks terrible on us. I don't think it it shows that we value our employees. I think that it looks like we um just are frankly don't care and I don't and I am going to definitely not send that kind of message. Also, I was told there was a hiring freeze. How can there be a hiring pre freeze when we're we're adding on um 10 new jobs? I don't understand that. Um and it concerns me and I just can't support that this at this time. That doesn't mean I I won't support it in a few months when when I know
115teachers have jobs and staff has jobs. I'll do that then. But I just don't think this is the time. Uh again, I think it's it's just the wrong message we're sending. um staff staff they need to feel valued and I don't think that sends that message. So I will stand strong and not vote for this at this time. Thank you >> Dr. Carlin. >> Uh thank you very much. Uh just a a point of clarification uh to ensure that the public knows what we're doing uh with this work. Phase two has been ongoing. It is a very large body of work that uh human resources continues to do. It's actually quite frankly overdue. Uh we need to continue to look at our job descriptions, make sure that they are um up to date with what
116is currently happening in our schools, in our system. Uh this is work that has happened in other divisions where we look at job descriptions. We look at what's most appropriate. I I'll share something I shared this afternoon at the workshop. When I was in HR a decade ago, we had a job description from uh for principal that was um probably 20 or 30 years old. Uh when I read it, it it did not even feel familiar and yet I had just been a principal the year before. Um so basically it was a completely outdated job description. It did not even attempt to describe what today's principal does. We also redid the assistant principal job description which was not even close to what assistant principles do. So this is this is work that high-erforming school districts
117and organizations routinely uh do and engage in. and we want to make sure that we are a high performing school district and that is part of this work is to update and make sure that people's job descriptions reflect what is actually occurring. So, thank you >> Mr. Ribble and then Miss Jaden Langford Fleming. >> Yeah, I already you the board's already heard my comments on this issue this afternoon because we talked about at the workshop, but for you folks that weren't there or don't have the ability to go back and look at the tape, I'll tell you what my position is. I feel very strongly about safety. I think we do an excellent job with our teachers and making sure our teachers are qualified. However, we do have auto crashes or bus crashes if you
118will and coming with a very 35 years in that industry and I oversaw the risk management group in the safety group. We lacked enough trainers and safety trainers to ride with our drivers, our bus drivers. What happens in the industry in the large trucking companies and bus companies, they have safety trainers that reertify every driver, every employee every year to make sure they're DOT qualified, certified, and can drive safely knowing the 5C inhabits and 10 commentary drill points that's known in the insurance industry. So, we have somebody here in Lee County runs in the back of a bus. We don't really have a problem get on liability on that one. But what happens if we make a have a bus driver make a left-hand turn and they cut off a motorcycle or or a vehicle
119coming the other way and there's a people get injured or there's a fatality, there's major liability there. So, we have to make sure that we have the right drivers on the street each and every year and they're certified and qualified. And I don't think we want to make cuts by delaying safety training and certification uh protecting our our district and protecting our employees because they want to do the right thing. just like Fleming. >> So, thank you for um I appreciate the poll because it's important for our public to understand what is going on behind the scenes whenever these things end up on the agenda. [snorts] Um I was under the impression that these were updated job qualifications. Um and that's really all there there that this really meant. Um and to your point, Mr.
120Ribble, we all up here have said safety is our number one priority. Then we have to make sure that we are following what we are are saying whether it's here or when we're out in the public. Um it is it was not my impression that seeing this agenda item um on consent that this was a job creation opportunity because we are in a hiring freeze. So, I just wanted to make sure that the public understood because I think there's some some cloudy or misinformation about what this item is. So, I don't I mean, Dr. Carlin, you already touched on it, but I I would love to hear if you have a follow-up on that. >> Yeah, absolutely. And so, just like the other phase 2 work that we have brought before the board, this is
121not the first time we've done this. Um, this, like I said, this is work that is very overdue in our school district. This is something that should happen on a regular cycle on an annual to every uh two-year uh cycle. And so what you see if you look closely at the agenda item is there is the adoption of new job descriptions um to to Mr. Ribbles's point um trainers different folks like that. Then you see revisions which were the revisions I referenced before like the principal [snorts] ship, assistant principal. Those are revisions to update. And then you'll even see at the end of the agenda item some sunset items. So those are job descriptions that will no longer be in effect. That is very routine work that occurs again in high performing school districts uh
122with uh highly effective HR departments where they are regularly reviewing people's job descriptions. If something is no longer appropriate, they sunset it. If something is appropriate but not quite right, hasn't been updated, they they will update. And then if something is like, boy, we need this job description, let's go ahead and and incorporate that as an adoption. So that's really just in prior uh phase 2 work that we brought before the board with other divisions. This is very much in line with those that type of work as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other discussion, Mr. Jordan? >> I have to agree with Miss Juvenelli. Uh actually it has both the it's not about the the ones that are sunset it because they are up updating the other ones but we also included in
123this it's one like a train bill. We have that in there too. So we have the sunset the revision and then we also have the new job descriptions. And I'm hoping that right now that with the staff that we have and uh Mr. Nulan back there that we are and I was part of some of the trainings that the bus drivers were doing. So I know we're doing uh safety uh training on with our bus drivers and we're giving them the um information and the tools that they need to be safe drivers because yes, we all believe that safety is our number one. So I can't imagine that we are not giving that to our um to our our staff the the training that they need. But then also because of the fact that they
124have put this together as one I almost said bill but one um item I I will not be um voting on this either at this time. >> Mr. Fischer just just for reference we amend and add job descriptions almost every other meeting if not every meeting. This is not out of the ordinary so I don't understand what the difference on this one. Thank you Mr. Janelli. >> So, I'll I'll reiterate it's the impact that it's reclassifying jobs that gives promotions in a in the in a time when we're cutting teachers. That is the that is the reason why I pulled it. It's because of the impact and the message that it sends to the community and to our employees that we don't care. I'm telling you this can wait. It's waited this long. It can
125wait a little bit longer. That's all I'm asking for. And I don't think we are sending the message, to the community, to the people, to the staff, to the taxpayers. It's just adding. We're increasing our budget. I don't care what anybody says. It doesn't impact it today, but I promise you it will impact being they they will get I already know two people that are getting raises and getting one of these the getting these jobs and it's upsetting to me and it's planned already and you know what they can wait. That's how that's my opinion. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to call the question. >> All right, we will now take a roll call vote. >> Mr. Fischer. >> Hi. >> Miss Janelli. >> No. >> Mr. Ribble. >> Hi. >> Miss Jordan. >> Hi.
126>> Mr. Langford. Fleming. >> Hi. >> Shaveaniano. >> Hi. >> And I am an I. Motion carries 52. Superintendent. Would you read your recommendation for M5? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. M5, approval of the employment contract with Kevin William Pennley, Esquire to serve as chief staff attorney from May 13, 2026 through June 30, 2028 in the amount of 339,6126. This action approves the specific terms, conditions, and compensation as outlined in the agreement and authorizes the superintendent to execute all related documents necessary for its implementation. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve this? I'll move >> Miss Jordan. Second. >> I'll second. >> Miss Shaviano. Moved by M Miss Jordan. Second by Miss Saviano. Discussion. Jadelli. >> Again, I pulled this item because this um has nothing to do with the hire. This is
127strictly budgetary. We have a hiring freeze. With all due respect to the superintendent, we are asking schools to reduce their budgets and we need to be doing the same thing here at the district. I don't see the need at for the superintendent to have another attorney when she hasn't had one for 18 months. And prior to that, the the um superintendent before that didn't have a an attorney and the prior superintendent to that did not have an attorney. We do have a team of attorneys that work at the district and that has been servicing the district just fine. Um so I just don't see the need at this time. Again, I feel like this is sending the message that we do not care about our teachers and our um employees of the district. Um, if
128we want to have a balanced budget and that's what we're truly wanting and we expect our schools to do it, we should be doing that, too. Maybe in a year from now when money's flowing, we can have an attorney >> um for the superintendent. Uh, I think this is taking money from the classroom. I'd like to finish. I This is taking money from classrooms. um $339,000 can go quite far for teachers or staff in in the schools. Being a board member, it is my job for oversight of the budget and I will not support that this at this time and again this sends the message that we should not be doing this and doing this at the time. It sends the wrong message and I will not be voting and supporting this at this time.
129Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Yeah, let's tell the whole whole story. Mr. Dodic, are we down four full-time equivalents in the legal group? >> Yes, there's currently only two attorneys. >> So, if we if we hire this person, we'll only we'll still be down three. Is that correct? >> We'll still be down two at that point. >> Down two. Okay. So, we we are operating with less votes. We have had to cut back. >> And we had two parallegals leave the district a week ago. Yes. >> So, let's look at the total package. Let's look at the what we're doing here. >> Any other discussion? No, he made >> Shaviano. >> So, Mr. Dodic or through the chair to Mr. Dodic, and you can correct me since this is your higher date. Um, when
130we brought you on under the contingency that we'd be splitting the structure of our board because prior to Mr. Dodic, when we had our previous attorney, that attorney was split between the board and the superintendent. We made the decision as a board and voted to split that structure. >> So this is where this is coming from that we agreed 2 3 months ago and you can >> no that's correct. Um the board chose this model and one of the things that was made clear is that there would be a chief staff attorney that board that that job description was approved by this board. Um, and it's been a process to get this position filled, but I'm pleased to say that Mr. Penley's here. So, yeah. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> She still good.
131>> Okay, wrap it up, please. >> So, we've had two attorneys for a very long time. We didn't have a legal team until uh uh Dupri Bruno Bruno um you know actually put a a legal team together um and she's gone and they did we did change it back and again I'm not it has nothing to do with the hire. It has to do with the timing of this hire. And when we have a district that's got a hiring freeze it sends the wrong message. If we truly have a hiring freeze, then why would we do something like this at this point in time? We would wait. We've waited this long. We've waited 18 months. We could wait a little bit longer. And because again, it sends the wrong message. And I'm not going to
132I just it's about principle and sending the wrong message. If we truly stand with teachers, with students, then we shouldn't be doing the having these kind of actions at this time. Thank you. >> All right. Yeah. I'll just speak to the fact that we are currently because we're down to at three attorneys sending all of the legal work that I used to do in human resources out. We are also sending all of the work from operations and construction out. which is going to cost us a far more than $300,000 in a year. >> Thank you. I uh Shiano and then I will >> Yes. >> So, this pay is it's two-year, >> right? Thank you. Outside of the two-year pay for the attorney, just like the auditor that was mentioned during workshop today, saying that
133we need and we have a budget for that as our board, as our hire, we've had issues finding someone qualified to fill that position. Much like getting a school district attorney, that position has been open for months and to the point of legal, we are outsourcing it. and spending more money. That's >> right. >> To outsource it. So that's not responsible with the dollars we have when we can have someone in house and save that money. >> I'm done. >> All right. Thank you. Uh anyone other than Miss Janelli here? >> Sam, did you want to say any more? >> Mr. Dodig already said it. I mean, what would the you know, generally >> Okay. Which is more costefficient? Having council or outside private counsel is much cheaper. >> All right, real quick. >> Thank
134you. So, I don't deny that we we've been outsourcing for as long as I've been on the board. That's all I'm going to say. I don't deny that it might be more expensive or costly, but I think if we do things right, this is about principle and timing. And that's all I'll just >> cough. >> All right. Before we do the vote, I just want to say that our outsourcing now is pretty much limited to huge lawsuits where you need a whole firm, you know, like the uh sales tax with the charters and and several of the other ones. the the Alfie Oaks case and things like this and except right now we're having to outsource the small things. So we will always have some outsourcing. You are correct about that Mr. Chief Venelli but
135in-house is the way to go there and it's very difficult to get a qualified. You just don't walk out and say I'm going to hire an attorney to be a chief of staff or a board attorney. Both of those have to have a very unique knowledge and I don't want to say it but you almost have to steal them from somewhere. So uh we will now do a roll call vote. Mr. Fischer >> I miss Janelli. >> No. >> Mr. Ribble [snorts] >> I. >> Miss Jordan >> I Lankford Fleming. >> I shave >> I. >> And I'm an I. Motion carries 61. Next on the board agenda, our resolutions. Dr. Carlin, would you please present your recommendation for this evening's resolution? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Approval of resolution resolution 2026512, establishing salary incentives
136for teachers. The school board of Lee County affirms its commitment and duty to support and retain high quality teachers by providing incentives as permitted by Florida law and aligned with the state's accountability and school improvement priorities. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the school board of Lee County and will be implemented during and remain in effect throughout the 2026 2027 school year. This resolution is statutoily distinct and separate from the ongoing negotiations with talc. A resolution of the school board of Lee County, Florida, establishing salary incentives for teachers assigned to schools identified as low performing, high-risisk, or designated for support by the Bureau of School Improvement, BSI, pursuant to state law, providing for a targeted compensation [snorts] framework based on an educational risk rating system to attract and retain highquality teachers
137in the district's most academically challenged schools and in critical subject areas to proactively mitigate the impact of and prevent future educational emergencies and providing an effective date. Board members, is there a motion to approve? >> I move. >> Mr. Bankford Fleming second. >> Mr. Ribble, is there any discussion? >> Yes, Miss Jordan. >> Uh, thank you. I thought I had to pull this. Uh, I know that last time this came before us, I I voted on this because of the fact that I felt that when we were speaking about making sure that every classroom [snorts] had a qualified teacher in that room and making sure that every school was filled with our teachers, not substitute teachers teachers, real teachers and they're not that they're not real teachers. Let me clarify that. But since we have
138you know had such a great year last year making sure that everyone was all the everything was filled with 95% um you know you had to keep 95% now all of a sudden we are losing all of our teachers some are being surplus some are not and and not only that it goes beyond just our teachers it's our maintenance it's our AV it's it's everybody that's being affected but because of that reason I cannot not support this um at this time this resolution. And I just don't feel that because my okay my question is what you know we are paying the extra money what has and I haven't seen any data maybe there is data that I have not seen you know being paid that extra money in those schools has that has that changed
139the data and what does that look like I've not seen you know what that looks like because no one has shown us that the gains that have been made and two are the gains that are made from those teachers who are not in those high-risisk schools. How are they being compensated or being appreciated because they are working diligently to make sure that um that the children are getting the gains and the schools are succeeding and they're bringing up the grades in the schools. So that at this time um I I cannot uh support this. >> Any other discussion? Chief Vanelli >> um through the chair to the superintendent um regarding the um actual like bonuses or I don't >> incentives. So would I got to make sure I say this right? So with the are
140we are we going to struggle with teachers in this year when we are letting teachers go? Are we going to have a difficult time filling positions? That was the reason for the the incentives to begin with. I'm asking because I would think that a teacher right now that doesn't have a job would be uh inclined to go where the need is because that was the reason for the incentives. >> So, let me make sure I understand your question. >> I'm sorry. Yeah, I think your question is is this going to help us retain highquality teachers particularly at our level three and risk level three and risk level four schools, >> right? But it but it was because we had a shortage and trying to retain them. So that's why we we did the incentives last
141year. So I get the really the question is do we need to do this now? >> Yep. So thank you for the question. So, what we always want to make sure that we're doing is holding on to our very best and brightest in all of our schools to include our schools that struggle the most. Um, I would be remiss to say, you know, my forecasting, you know, I I hope we're going to keep our teachers. I hope that they're going to stay in level four, three, and level four schools. Um, quite frankly, I I can't guarantee you that. I don't know what is going to happen in the next couple of months. Um, do I believe that we'll have teachers in our schools? I do hope we will have teachers in our schools. Right now,
142it looks pretty good that we're going to be doing better than we were this time last year. However, I will share with you um we are working very diligently and if you notice on page four, I'll reference you to page four of the U resolution. Um you will see that there that the criteria um has and the amounts have changed a little bit since last year. So, you'll see risk level three and risk level four. Um, particularly risk level four, teachers can earn between 3,000 and $10,000. Additionally, I think the maximum was 9,000 last year. Um, so I I think what we're what we're wanting to do is make sure that we have highquality teachers in all of our schools. I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know exactly what's going to happen over
143the summer. I don't know who we're going to who's going to move to a different school. Um, our goal is to keep highquality teachers at all of our risk level schools, particularly at our risk level threes and fours. It is extremely important that all children have a high level highquality teacher. So, in order to answer your question, I would need to, you know, see what August and September and October and November look like. Uh, I don't have that information in front of me. Uh, I will let you know that I do believe that and I have visited those schools. Mr. persons uh and I go out frequently to the east region where we see the level of work that is required in our risk level three and four schools is dramatically different than in our
144risk level one and two schools. And uh it is my opinion uh in my educational opinion that our teachers deserve to have these incentives to keep them to keep them with those schools. And here's the reality. Let's just be honest. what happened the last couple of years in this district. We had children that were at our most struggling schools that did not consistently have a teacher. I will share with you I went to a kindergarten class last year that had 46 children. And the reason that occurred was because she couldn't bear to look at the classroom next to her and see the flavor of the month. And again, no disrespect meant to our substitute teachers, please don't mistake it, but somebody coming in differently with their 5-year-olds. She couldn't bear it. She took on 46
145children with an assistant in the room and [clears throat] asked her principal if she could do that. Do I know for certain that is never going to happen? I don't know. So, I want to make sure that we have a sustainable model in place that takes care of all of our children, including our children that are our most struggling schools. They deserve to have teachers for two years in a row. >> Yeah. >> They deserve to have teachers for three and four and five and six years in a row. So, I'm going to do everything in my power as superintendent of schools to make sure that our children, all of our children have highquality teachers. That's what this incentive program does. >> Mr. Ribble. Yeah. You know, we had a workshop today. We Dr. Savage
146spent almost 40 minutes talking about this thing and the plan he has put in place and how it's going to be carried out. We clicked on the links. He had links there for us. We saw this whole thing. So, now we're questioning our superintendent on what our game plan is. We have a game plan now. We have to have be patient. We have to execute the game plan. And as far as incentives go, I've I said this how many times in the day? I come a strong labor background. Okay. In in in the teamster world I come from in the contracts, it's called maintenance of standards, which means you can never pay less, but you can always pay more to incent people that are taking on more responsibility and doing different tasks that other folks
147don't want to do. It's voluntary. No one's making these people take on these positions, but it's voluntary. If somebody wants to do it, step up and put your name on the list. That's how I looked at it. >> Thank you, Shaviano. And then Miss Langford Fleming. >> And just to kind of go over because I know we touched on this before, but last year there wasn't a risk level one, >> right? So now we are offering dollars at a risk level one. So we're touching a broader scope of teachers, possibly not even in the east zone. Um I was one of the parents that had a kid um reading at a first grade level in third grade. So very aware of kind of where those students are and that's in the wome. Um, so just
148to kind of highlight that, yes, there's differences from last year, there's increases from last year, but there's also the additional level that was added to to kind of widen the range of of who's getting that additional compensation. So, just wanted to make sure we mentioned that. >> Okay, Miss Lford, >> that's actually what I was exact that's exactly what I was getting ready to say. So, um I I guess the only thing I would add is I've worked at schools um at risk level three and four. Um it is more challenging. Um but I am a firm believer that every single child deserves an equal education. um no matter their background, demographic, where they're from, where they live. Um but I'm glad you actually brought up the fact that this is also occurring not just
149in east zone. We have schools here in the in the south zone that have um you know, students who who they all deserve a teacher in the classroom, a certified teacher in the classroom. So I understand your point, Miss Giovanelli, um and your and your question, do we have to do this now? But the the other thing I would probably add just a kind of a common sense piece. We have and I and I think you can probably attest this Mr. Persons cuz you're out in the east zone a lot. We have a lot of teachers that are teaching in the east zone that are driving from all across the district. They're leaving Northwest Cape to drive all the way out to Lehi. And I think there should be compensation with that. There would be
150in corporate America. Um, you know, there are people that are living in Bonita Springs to drive out to um some of our eastern schools and even some of our northwestern schools. So, I think that I I think they deserve compensation for the fact that they're spending 40 minutes in a car two times a day um away from their family and um to go help kids in a classroom that need and deserve a classroom teacher. Thanks, >> uh Mr. Fischer and then Miss Jordan. >> Thank you, Chair. I'm going to support this for the same reasons I did last time. And it kind of piggybacks on what Superintendent Carlin said. I remember a few years ago going out to school in the east zone and there were three classes with a substitute in a cafeteria. And
151I don't want to ever see that again. And that's the reason I'm supporting this. Um clarifying question for you through the chair to the superintendent. Are we losing all of our teachers? >> We are not losing all uh 5,000 of our teachers. We are we are right sizing um our school district uh based on the $35 million additional over and above allocation that was put out to the schools. Um but we are not losing all 5,000 of our teachers. No, sir. >> Thank you, Madam Superintendent. >> Mr. Jordan, >> you know, just our teachers drive all over Lee County and some of them come in from outside of our county to be in our schools to teach our children. So that means we need to compensate all of them for their travel as well. And
152as far as um I believe that our teachers are there because they want to be there and they want to teach and have and have we had a bunch of teachers that moved from one location two. We don't even I don't I've never seen those numbers either. So I don't know how many teachers actually went into this incentive program. I do know though going into a lot of my schools and in the east zone because I I am everywhere in this county. Um, I do see that it did create that problem of the halves and the halves not and pitting teachers to at each other in their own schools. I did see that taking place and we had three people here today that said they will work. So, I mean, they don't have their jobs,
153they lost their jobs, they need mortgages. There was three that were that came this morning. >> Janelli So, thank you ladies for bringing that up because I was that was one thing I was trying to get to was the level the the the structure has changed somewhat. Um, and I think that's important because it's not just the E zone that it touches the the levels. Um, all due respect, Miss Jordan, I I know all teachers could use more money. So, I I I have to support this because of that because they need to get paid as much as they can. And so this this helps with that. So, um, I'm going to support it this evening. Thank you. >> All right. >> Can I just >> real quick >> if I may, and I'm not
154sure who I need to ask this question to, if if I'm not mistaken, and I see how you're how this is written, that teachers that it's spread out and that certain people are getting it. It was that way the last time as well. Correct. So for >> people weren't getting it. It was >> So for level one, we had I believe and I'll I'll have to defer to my staff, but believe we had um some of our uh incentives going to like our ESC teachers and and some of those folks in our in our critical subject areas, right? Certain grade levels at risk level one. So it wasn't like there was no incentive at level one. Risk level one. Uh there was there was an incentive. I I could I could give you the the
155amount. was somewhere in the area of $500 to a,000. Um, but I just I just want to be clear. Um, we would like to be an a school district. We would like to ensure that we have our very best teachers, very best teachers that are working with our students. I know that you all have been throughout various schools throughout our district and you've seen the disparity like I have. You've seen where some of our schools have been fully staffed and they've been fully staffed for years. And then you've seen some schools where that has not occurred. I also want to point out the critical subject areas and courses. Why do we have the most money there? Because those are core areas. Reading, writing, math, science, social studies, civics. Those are those core skill areas where
156children need to be proficient. Not to say we don't value the arts. We do. We value all of our teachers. But if children do not learn to read and write and do mathematics, we've heard throughout our country where children do not understand civics, they don't know who the president is, vice president, they don't know who the speaker of the house is, they they don't know general things about our country. We need our very best best teachers in our core academic areas. There's no doubt about it. So that is another reason why we are we are bringing and advocating for this incentive program. Thank you. >> All right. Let me say something then we'll call for a vote. I just want to say that you know obviously the east zone most my schools are in that
157and I am out there all the time and there there [snorts] has been a market difference. I've talked to the teachers. I've talked to the principal especially the principles. They're looking at the data. We've done our uh walkthroughs at the schools and Mr. Ribble and I were proctoring exams and they were I believe they got an A. They went up HR Marsh. They had one more test to take, but they had done really really well and the kids were jumping up and down and screaming cuz you know to get the results the next day and they were just all excited about it. So it it is working. I mean, that's a definite improvement from where they were last year. But the the bottom line is if we did away with all the incentives, how long
158do you think until all those vacancies wouldn't be back in the east zone again or at the other title one, I mean, not title one, title four schools. It just would happen. I mean, that's history. When I got on the board, there were all those openings. We gave raises. No one went to the more challenging positions. I'll say it that way as and it would happen again. Sure, right now maybe someone would jump out there because, you know, they they want it, but they weren't going to go before. So it it's it's difficult choice but we we need to make sure that we keep those staffed at least for now because they're going to be challenging schools because of the social economic conditions that they have when they come in. They don't have a lot
159of them don't have the backgrounds. They test very low when they come in in their kindergarten. They test very low and when they go into middle school and they test very low when they go into high school. And it's up to those teachers to take those challenging kids and get them all the way up to where they need to be and they're doing a good job, but they deserve some extra for it. And that's I think it's the only way we're going to be able to staff those schools, you know, because we tried the other way and it didn't work. Okay. >> So, quick. So just on that point you just said, so kindergarten for a second, you're you need to have these great teachers in there to get those kids ready so that when
160they get to the third, fourth and do those testings, they're already prepared, but they're not the ones who are getting incentives. >> Yeah, let me just point of clarification, Miss Jordan. Uh they are receiving incentives. They are the complimentary subjecting courses. So in column four on page four, so those teachers are receiving the incentives. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, we'll do a roll call vote. Is this a roll call? I believe. >> Nope. Okay. Oh jeez. >> It'll be uh digital. >> Okay. If everybody record their vote, >> you're off too, right? One second. >> Yeah, I'm off. I'm offline. >> Hold on. Get here. He is. >> Here we go. Okay. The motion passes 61. We will now move on to public hearing. Dr. Carlin, will you please present your recommendations for this
161evening's public hearing items? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh number one, approval to adopt the 202627 student progression plan, including secondary course catalog. The student progression plan is reviewed and updated annually if necessary and presented to the board for adoption. The effective date of this adoption shall be May 13, 2026. Number two, approval to adopt the annual instructional materials plan for school year 2026 2027, which will include the adoption of K5 ELA benchmark 612 ELA think circa 612 intensive reading level one students HMH read 180 level two students perfection learning and 9 through 12 personal financial literacy McGra Hill. The total estimated cost for the current adoption year, which is based on estimated enrollments, is 17,786,36067. Approval authorizes the superintendent to execute all related documents. And number three, approval to adopt new and revised board
162policies in compliance with changes in related rules, regulations and statutes to adopt best practices and promote transparency and accountability. The effective date of this adoption shall be May 13, 2026. >> Thank you. We will now recess the regular school board meeting and open the public hearing. The time is 9:11 p.m. At this time, the public will be invited to speak on these three items that we just read that superintendent just read. The time allowed for public comment is three minutes. Is there anyone wishes to speak on any one of these three? Seeing none. [snorts] >> You're good, sir. You don't have to go chapter by chapter. >> Okay. Good. >> All right. >> So, but we do vote on each one separately, right? >> Yeah. Yeah, you have to close the public hearing. So, page
16310. >> Okay. Would you read your Let me go back one page. Sorry, I went >> So, you have to close the public hearing. It's >> Oh, you're right. It's on >> I knew I went too far. >> Yep. There you go. >> All right. I will now close the public hearing and reconvene the regular school board meeting of May 12th. The time is 9:12 p.m. Dr. Carlin, please restate your recommendation of this evening's public hearing items one at a time. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Number one, approval to adopt the 2026 2027 student progression plan, including secondary course catalog. The student progression plan is reviewed and updated annually if necessary and presented to the board for adoption. The effective date of this adoption shall be May 13, 2026. >> You've heard the superintendent's recommendation
164that the board approve to adopt the 20 26, 2027 student progression plan, including secondary course catalog. The student progression plan is reviewed and updated annually if necessary and presented to the board for adoption. The effective date of this adoption shall be May 13, 2026. Board members, is there a motion to approve? >> Make the motion. >> Mr. Ribble second. >> Second it. >> Miss Jordan. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please record your vote. Motion passes 70. Dr. Carlin, would you please read your second recommendation? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Number two, approval to adopt the annual instructional materials plan for school year 2026 2027, which will include the adoption of K5 ELA benchmark 612 ELA think circa 612 intensive reading level one students HMH read 180 level two students perfection learning and 9 through
16512 personal financial literacy McGra Hill. The total estimated cost for the current adoption year, which is based on estimated enrollments, is 17,786,36067. Approval authorizes the superintendent to execute all related documents. >> You've heard the superintendent's recommendation. The board approved to adopt the annual instructional materials plan for the school year 2026 2027 which will include the adoption of K5 ELA benchmark 6 through 12th ELA. Thanks. Circa 6 through 12 intensive reading level one students HMH read uh 180 level two students perfection learning and 9 through 12 personal financial literacy McGra Hill. The total estimate cost of this current adoption year, which is based on estimated enrollments, is 17 million786,360 and67. Approval authorizes the superintendent to execute all related documents. Board members, is there a motion? Mr. Fiser, >> motion to approve item V2. >> Second, >>
166Miss Jordan. Is there any discussion? >> I have something. >> Okay, Mr. Linker Fleming. >> Um, I just I I know I've touched on this before and I'm I'm going to support this tonight, but I just want to reiterate one more time as a teacher. you know, we've adopted multiple curriculum over the years and just to make sure that we're utilizing every piece of material that is coming through >> on this price tag because um you know, I'm sure there there were teachers in the room that can talk about workbooks that have sat on shelves and for 5 years of an adoption and never opened up. So, I just I I know that we have had that [clears throat and cough] conversation. I'm confident that >> [snorts] >> um we're going to follow through with
167that, but I just I just felt like I needed to point that out this evening. Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Jordan. >> Thank you. Uh, Miss Lford [cough] because I was going to ask that question as well. Is this is for uh through the chair to superintendent. This is for one year and I know that I've spoken to some of the other um counties that they did not do that uh do this this year. They were uh holding off on that based on what Miss Le just said as well. >> Yeah. Um so, Dr. Shaker, I'm just looking to you. Five-year approval, one-year approval, five years. Yeah. >> Fiveyear adoption and we pay shipping on any materials. That's all for the next five years. >> Thank you. Thank you. [snorts] >> Okay. Any other discussion?
168Please record your vote. We've we've reached the meeting. We've reached the from the ground point audience. >> Motion carries 70. Dr. Carl, would you please read your recommendation for item number three? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Approval to adopt new and revised board policies and compliance with changes in related rules, regulations, and statutes. to adopt best practices and promote transparency and accountability. The effective date of this adoption shall be May 13, 2026. >> You have heard the superintendent's recommendation. The board approved to adopt new and revised board policies in compliance with changes in related rules, regulations, and statutes to adopt best practices and promote transparency and accountability. The effective date of this adoption shall be May 13, 2026. Board members, is there a motion to approve? Mr. Fischer. >> Motion to approve item V3. >>
169Second. >> I'll second it. >> Miss Jordan. Is there any discussion? >> Seeing none, please record your vote. The motion carries 70. Now we move on to the good of the order and other business board members comments. And we're going to start with Miss Shavaniano tonight since she never gets everybody always says what they're going to say before it gets to her. >> I think between today's workshop and today I think I've said enough. But, um, I think with everything kind of going on and and again with everyone that showed up to public comment today, thank you. Um, I literally respond to every email and again always welcome any meeting, but I think it's kind of important to highlight that we haven't even passed the budget yet for the upcoming school year. So, that's one
170piece. Um, so everything is kind of up in the air as far as as where that stands. Um, but two, again, we hit on where we've been, and this is prior to me because I think amongst Bill, I'm one of the youngest on the board. um sitting in the seat. But when we look at what we've spent, well, youngest and seat term, not an age, but um when we look at what's been done in prior and trying to and I hate to I hate the right size, but it's kind of reorganizing and and getting within our budget. I stress that it's again it's it's never an easy conversation especially when 80% of our money is in people and that's a hard pull and it's never an easy pull and I don't know where the the
171waste comment came from because I don't think that's anyone on on this board has ever said that previous teacher previous teacher [snorts] we've been there Um, and it was never a waste. So, that was [clears throat] never the intention, at least on this side. So, I guess what I can say is continue to ask the questions, but to continue to get clarity because I think there's a lot of also miscommunication and pieces that are taken from the bigger puzzle that only tells one part of the story. Um, I think I need to stress that a lot because I always har on like communications and the issues I have with the communications that this district puts out that we're not responsible for. We have no oversight into how the district communicates because that is separate from
172the board. So, I have to stress that also because that was also brought up. We do not control district communication. So, fun fact on that. Um, but we need to do a better job with what our expectations are and stressing that communication for the district to put out on their side. We can't do anything about that. But we've had a lot of conversation as far as us telling our story and doing a better job of getting that information out to our schools, our staff, our teachers before it comes out to the public. So there's a clear understanding and there's an opportunity to ask the questions of why for the what. Um so again I understand this is not a fun time very aware of the impact and what's happening across the district. Um but we
173as a board have not passed a budget for this upcoming school year as of yet. So to put that out there as well. We're still waiting on the state to finalize the dollars that we're going to get. So again, I thank you for taking the time out of your nights and away from your families to come here and share your concerns with us because they don't go undefearsed. Um, my door is always open. My number's out there, my emails out there. I answer them all. Um, I welcome the opportunity. So again, thank you for everything. Thank you to our staff for hanging out as well. Um, it's a fun time. So, but thank you. I appreciate it. That's all. Thank you. I've reserved um a lot of my comments for this evening, so please bear
174with me. Um and once again, um happy birthday, Mr. Ribble. Um hope you have a blessed um year around the sun. Um a couple of things. We have talked about athletics and we've talked about arts. And if you've listened to any board meeting in the last three years, you know I'm passionate about both. um under my watch, we're not going to lose either one of these um you know, programs at any one of our schools. I I can I can promise you that. Um I want to applaud the superintendent though for um the allocation. We received an email today and um and I do think that perhaps athletic transportation coming out of the central office, it actually may take a lot of weight off of our 80s and our administration. Um, and I know that
175that is a very big chunk of what they have to do. Um, when you've got 13 sports in the spring alone, um, that's a lot of moving parts. So, [snorts] thank you for reconsidering that. And, um, and appreciate that. I, um, coached a fall sport, so I needed to make sure that my funding was ready to go in May. And so I I really appreciate you considering those things because I had uniforms or net systems or um you know maybe we're going to go to a tournament somewhere else. Well, that all had to be ready before August. So, thank you for thinking outside the box on how to you know you that tells me you're listening and I I really appreciate that you and your team. Um, I won't go ahead and talk about how
176I wanted to discuss adding men's volleyball in high school next year at this time, even though I've mentioned it multiple times. Um, so I'll revisit that later. Um, [snorts] as far as the arts, I also um loved participating that when I was a student and my band director had huge impact on me. I I love seeing how talented our thespians are and our musicians and there's just so much to um those programs that we had several students that were courageous enough to come up here tonight and talk about those um things that impacted their life and that has not fallen on deaf ears. I think all of us appreciate public comment but when a student comes up um it it rings a little differently. So, I want to thank those children for being they're they
177they probably would be rather be called young adults um to to be bold enough and courageous enough because you're our future and um to not sit down and be complacent no matter what that looks like. Even if we don't agree, at least um get involved and and get in the game. Um, I also want to say thank you to Fort Myers Beach for being patient with us and this board has been patient with them and we're coming to an understanding that the most important thing is that students are going to have an opportunity and part of our community that has been here for generations and has impacted generations, it's just going to look a little different. So, I appreciate that. Um, I I will say a suggestion, recommendation because that's all I can do as
178a board member and stay in my lane. Um, I taught PE for five years and I was privy to I was privileged enough to get to attend the unified Special Olympics at Cypress High. Um, I had two students that qualified to be able to participate at the time. So, um I I'm really trying not to tell anybody what to do. I'm only sending my wishes. We have two that I'm aware of. We have two very strong unified programs in the district. One of them is at Cypress Lake and one of them is at Fort Myers High. And and there may be another one and I apologize if I'm and I'm if I'm not aware of that one. Um, I have been to these events. They are lifech changing for the athletes and for the students
179that are partnering helping these athletes. Um, it really does create a sense of community and um, I would just I would be remissed if I did not say that publicly that I truly support unified sports and these two gentlemen um, that run those two programs are very respected um, and quite frankly have earned the right to be able to run those programs and I would love to see more models like that throughout the district. Um, so not just at the two I'm talking about. Like I said, I hope they're I hope they're I'm not missing anybody. Um, so thank you so much. I appreciate the Buckingham families coming out. Um, and thank you again for pivoting, Dr. Carlin. That tells me that you're listening to the community and um, I look forward to more conversations
180about that. Um, and then I'm gonna end on a positive note because I I just have to after um a kind of a challenging night. Um, thank [snorts] you teachers. Thank you educators because of what you do. In two weeks, we're going to watch thousands of students cross the stage and receive a diploma. And that is why we are all here. to watch the successive of these ch the successes of these children from prek to 12. You've made an impact on them. And there isn't a child that's going to not w that's going to walk across that stage that won't remember at least one, two, maybe dozens of teachers that made that impact. So, thank you. These are hard times. um we have a lot to work through and um and I really look forward
181to our graduations in a couple of weeks. I also want to say thank you to our SRO's and our officers because some of you may not know but today or this week is National Police Officers Week. So, thank you so much. We always talk about safety as our number one priority and you are the you are the men and women on the front lines. So, thank you so much for all you do. Miss Jordan. >> Okay, Melissa, you were supposed to go and we were supposed to say ditto, but okay. So, this last month has been uh very impactful. We've had so many different places to be and and to see Golden Apple, visiting many schools, multiple schools, the high school musical that just took place this past the awards that just took place the
182other night. And uh I just think that everything when we're out there in the community and we're at our schools and we're visiting and we're seeing our students, our teachers, our families and our community. I I believe that that's what makes us who we are. You know, that's we're we are a community and we need to, you know, kind of like stick together. I love the fact that people were here tonight advocating. I don't believe that anything is a protest. I believe that is consider advocating for yourselves. So I I love the fact that uh the little voices were here again and I love their motto nothing about us without us. And it's not just about them the little voices and that that saying that they have but if you look at that nothing about
183us without us that goes far beyond them. I mean with the teachers and our families that's that saying I I stole their saying because I really believe in that and having conversation is really what we need to make sure that we are having the conversation and that we are not just hearing what people are saying that we're listening and we are we are acting on what they're saying. We're coming up with some kind of solutions and not just okay it's there you know we'll just put it to the back right now. But I just thank you everyone who was here today, the the teachers, the our bus drivers when we celebrated them all today for their 25 years and 30 years uh for longevity. It's just when you see the 25 years and 30-year employees
184who came here and they were from all, you know, parts of the district. That's pretty amazing to to see that they have been here that long and that we really need to appreciate, you know, who they are and what they've done. So, I I just want to, you know, thank them and congratulate them on that as well. And I know a couple people have already mentioned the waste. You are absolutely not waste. And I feel um saddened that you would even um that those words just need to just be thrown to the side and just because you know that you're not that. And just finally um congratulations to all of our graduates as um my colleague just spoke about. You know I know they're going to go out there and make their mark on the
185world and I can't wait to see what they do. I'm I'm really excited for that and just everybody just wishing you all the the very best. Thank you, >> Mr. Ribble. Okay, I'm just going to make this quick. I I gave some comments at the workshop. Uh I'm just really excited about the community uh with the scholarships that are being given out. We had a a great session last week at Aero High School where I got to have a great session Thursday night in Bonita Springs and uh looking at Golden Apple and some of these other things we've done. Why the community's definitely stepped up to recognize our teachers and uh to reward them accordingly and our students. So, I yield the rest of my time time to my good friend Melissa Jvenelli. >> I'll
186be fast, too, because I for some reason I uh must have getting a cold or something. Um happy birthday, Mr. Ribble. And uh first of all and I really want to say um welcome Mr. Pinley if you're here. I don't really So I wanted to be the first to say that. So I got to be so and yeah because don't let the vote uh discourage you. Um my vote anyways. So that's water over the dam now. So today's Mars is a new day. Um so uh I want to congratulate to all the 25 and 30-year [clears throat] employees that we um for the longevity uh ceremony that we that we did this evening as well. I want to congratulate all the new positions. Um exciting most of them were principles and I think it was
187I'm excited to see new new position new principles at new new schools and position positions for them. I think that um there's always it's always time for change I think and that's a good thing. Um excited about the graduations that are coming up. We have been very busy as uh Miss Jordan and Mr. Ribble both we've been going to a lot of events and that will continue with graduation and that's the exciting part of our job is to shake the students hands and see them cross that um threshold of being a a product of the Lee County school system. first of all, and second of all, going and being uh going into the le going into Lee County and being [cough and clears throat] the best that they can be and hopefully giving back to
188our community. Um, a couple questions for the superintendent. She don't have to answer today, but the some of the speakers tonight. I took notes and I was a little concerned over some of the cuts regarding at Cyprus and and um as well as uh gosh, there was another one. I thought I wrote that down, but I guess I did not. Um if you could just get back to me on on Cypress and I thought I wrote the other school down, but my apologies I didn't. Um and then I'll say just thank you Fort Myers Beach uh town um or the town of Fort Myers Beach. Thank you for being patient and I think I look forward to your new school in that um on the Fort Myers Beach and I think I've hit my notes.
189Thank you. Uh one other question through for the superintendent and this is actually for Dr. Shaker too. Um, I've had people ask me about do we h offer AI classes at middle school and um like just standard AI classes or in high school because that is a need and schools are doing that and um I wasn't aware to answer that but I thought it was a pretty important idea and it should just be standard almost like another um like math is what I was being told and that was by an educator. So and that's it. Thank you. Thank you, >> Mr. Fischer. >> Thank you, Chair. Going to reiterate some of uh like uh member Duvenelli said, this entire board's been busy. We've been all over the place. It feels like some amazing things. Uh
190excellence in education, the uh Mariner Career Advisory Board, Kani Scholarship dinner, state of our schools. I mean, we've all been over the place seeing some amazing things from our our students and our teachers and it's been fantastic. So, um, definitely been quite a meeting today and before. And I want to reiterate to the public, um, we support public education, all of us up here. I don't think we'd be doing this unless we did. So, as I said during the workshop, I chose to put my three kids in these schools. I love it. I'm going to continue to support it. I know my board members will do the same and our superintendent as well. So, these are not my schools. They're not your schools. They're all of our schools. and I would want to see the
191continue the community continue to support and help out our amazing teachers and students. So, I want to end with uh middle of testing for most right now. So, I want to wish students, teachers, and everyone great uh job testing, great rest of your year, and I'll see many of you graduation. Thank you. >> Now, I got to go last. Uh, next week I'm going to be going to DC for four days of meetings with all the different federal agencies and congressmen and senators, our lobbyists to be able to get a lot of great appointments and we're just basically looking for more revenue is what that's the whole purpose of this and a few possible statutes to change. I met with the federal monitoring unit for the Head Start program we have. I wasn't real sure
192what to expect when I met with them, but they were so excited. They saying, "We're doing," they'd been going to county to county to county. They were out of Atlanta and they said, "We're just doing a fantastic job. They'll be issuing a report later, but they were very impressed with all our program there. We don't talk, I don't think, enough about our Head Start program. Probably should do it a little bit more." And when I told them that all our new high schools basically are having programs where they teach the high school students how to take care of young children of the teachers, you know, we're getting these programs going now. It's on child care. So, they were all excited about that even though it's not under their program. And finally, I had the uh
193went to and I didn't know what to expect for sure. It was ES drumming experience at Varsity Lakes Middle. I went there and they were all on the stage. They all had their little drums and their their teacher went and did a rhythm and then they would all copy it. You know, he did all these different rhythm. And then they got one of the students at one at a time. They went up there and they were able to lead them because they had hand signals. When they went like this, they got really loud. They went down like this, they got really low. When they went like this, everybody stopped and they had they did their own little rhythm and everybody copied it and they they took them through it and it was it was really
194interesting. It was great and I enjoyed it. Got a little preoccupied and left my phone there for the weekend, but they they took care of it for me. Uh, so now I'll move on to Attorney Dodic. >> Do you have any chair? >> I just want to welcome Mr. Penley um to the district. We've always worked sort of in conjunction with each other but never together. So first time for everything and I look forward to starting that in a few short hours tomorrow morning. >> That's all I have, sir. >> Awesome. Yeah, you better be bright and early tomorrow morning. Normally we'll let you go after rec recognitions but and then we'll finish with the superintendent. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it. Um I'll just uh add on to the congratulations
195to Mr. Penley as our new chief staff attorney. Really appreciate uh you being with us this evening. We went a little bit into overtime and uh really appreciate your dedication to being here this evening. Um as you know, you you've I'm sure by now seen Mr. Penley's resume. Um we are extremely extremely fortunate. uh to have him come here from Manatee uh County Schools. Um he has previously worked in in Collier County. Um his record as an attorney is impeccable and uh we have really really um enhanced our legal team and so I am so happy. I know he's worked closely with Mr. Dodig in the past and I know one of the um concerns that was mentioned by our board a few board members was we want to make sure our chief staff attorney
196and our and our board attorney work hand inand uh based on the reception I saw with both of them today I have no doubt that they will be working hand inand our legal team will be stronger because we now have an additional uh team member and and I will just you know remind folks that you know I was married to an attorney so I know a little bit about it I uh I don't profess to be one but I know one area of huge huge tremendous risk in a in any organization can be the legal team and making sure that we have appropriate legal counsel and with this team of lawyers I feel like we are really ready to hit a home run. So just thank you to all of our lawyers um for the
197work that they do in our legal team. I do uh I also failed to to recognize Jessica Osbbor. I don't know if she's still here. um coordinator for adult and career ed. [applause] >> Jessica, you and Kevin get the um awards for persistence and and uh resilience. So, thank you very much and thank you for the great work that you we know you're going to do in adult and career ed. So, thank you for that. Um I do also want to thank our foundation for Lee County Schools. I know we mentioned before the business partners breakfast and the state of our schools, but just want to appreciate all of you for being there uh to support uh our business partners that uh work very closely with our schools and they they give a lot of
198human uh resources and uh financial resources to our schools and it's just an honor to see some of our business partners that were honored at that breakfast. um also state of our schools. I get the chance to stand up in front of our community and share what's going on, all the great things that are going on our school system and I just appreciate you being there. I do want to uh uh share uh a message uh to our public tonight um regarding the right sizing of our school district and u if you'll allow me a moment. As superintendent, one of my legal responsibilities is to present our board with a balanced budget every single year. I also have a moral obligation to our taxpayers, our students, and employees to ensure that tax dollars are used
199responsibly with the goal of providing the best educational opportunities possible for each and every student. Now, we are applying that same level of accountability districtwide. Our principles have worked hard to rebuild their budgets based on their enrollment and their needs of their students today, not based on formula formulas or legacy spending patterns from years ago. I appreciate and applaud our principal's professionalism and their leadership through this very difficult process. Our focus remains on protecting classroom instruction, supporting teachers. By the way, I am a teacher. Uh I worked in schools for 22 years. So, uh just like my colleagues at the very end of the DAS, I too have a pretty big affinity for teachers. I am a teacher. So I always want to make sure that uh folks understand uh that I also want to
200make sure that resources are directed where they have the greatest impact and that is on student achievement. I also understand the important role that the arts, athletics and extracurricular uh activities play in helping students to grow. Uh my youngest son went to Edison Park. So uh my husband and I obviously support the arts and I have two division one uh athletes that live in my home. Um so we certainly support athletics as well. So, I want to make sure that we clear up any misnomer that could be out there uh about the superintendent and how I feel about extracurriculars. Um, it's very important uh these programs to have these in our school district because they remain a vital part of the educational experience and we want well-rounded students. These budgetary impacts uh and decisions are
201not easy decisions. Leadership is not easy. It is not. but they are the responsible and the correct decisions. I also want to acknowledge that striking the balance comes at a human cost. These reductions involve real people. Real people. And I understand jobs are impacted. I did share a story this afternoon that I was actually surplused my first year of teaching. So I remember how that feels having student loans. My parents did not pay for my college. I paid for my college. I'm one of seven children. Nothing was handed to me. And so it's very important and I do remember that. So I have empathy for what people are going through. This is not something I take lightly and I know our board does not either. This board and this administration were entrusted to be good
202stewards of our taxpayer dollars while continuing to move our schools forward and that is exactly what we intend to do. I know these conversations can be very difficult. I know there are very strong feelings surrounding these decisions and please know I appreciate the input as does the board and yes we even appreciate the constructive criticism that helps us get better. This is part of my job. It is what I was elected to do and I want our teachers, parents, employees and community members knowing every decision made is rooted in the best long-term interests of our students and the future financial stability of this school district. So, thank you for giving me a point of uh privilege on that. I do want to end on a very very positive note. Uh today we had the privilege
203of honoring one of our our teachers, Laurel Blackburn, who uh was one of five finalists for the Florida Teacher of the Year. So, that was very exciting. Thank you to our board members who were able to join us. Want to uh thank you for joining senior chancellor uh Burns and his team from the Florida Department of Education, my staff, and me in honoring Mrs. Blackburn. and she will be going forward. Uh they have a gayla in uh the middle of the state and July 23rd is when I u just received notice that that will occur. We'll make sure you get that information um so that we can go celebrate with Mrs. Blackburn. So more information to come on that. And with that uh I thank you again for the privilege of serving as your superintendent
204and getting the opportunity to work with my colleagues on the board. Have a good evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next board meeting will be on our board meetings. There's several of them on June 9th. And at this point, having no other business to come for this body and seeing no objection, this meeting is adjourned. The time is 9:47 p.m.