OCPS | 2026-01-13 School Board Meeting

001Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Orange County School Board's meeting Tuesday this Tuesday, January 13, 2026. All of our board members are present and on time. And just for the record, board members, we started at exactly 1 second before 501. They were challenging our U vice chair who thought she was going to have to stand in for me to start the meeting on time. Yeah. So, you're on next time. to all of our board members and let me remind our board members and the public. We've all committed not to engage in any outside electronics communication while we're here so that we can pay full attention to the matters in front of us. I would also ask that anybody who's going to use their microphone please talk directly into it. These things are very sensitive

002and we want to make sure that our audience here and our YouTube audience is able to hear clearly what what everyone has to say. I want to thank you all for being here this evening and we will now take a moment of silence. I'll invite you to join us in the pledge of allegiance. And now for the pledge. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, Dr. Bazquez, let me start with a question. Do we have any changes to the agenda that's been published? no, Madam Chair. There are no changes to the agenda. Okay. Thank you. Since there are no changes, I'll open the floor for a motion to approve the agenda as advertised.

003Motion by member Fon, seconded by member Douglas. All in favor, please say I. I. Opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Okay. So now it's the time in our meeting where we have an opportunity to highlight and celebrate excellent among our own staff. Each board member has the opportunity to highlight two employees to recognize their dedication. And each board member rotates their turns. So today it is member Vanos's opportunity. And with that, member Vanos, I will turn the floor to you. No, why don't you go down to the podium? I apologize. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much, Chair Jacobs. good evening. Tonight, I am incredibly proud to recognize two women who have improved the culture of Rididgewood Park Elementary. Please join me in welcoming our parent engagement liaison, Trayana, and if I say this wrong, please excuse

004me, Trayana Gibbs, and fourth grade teacher, Paris Hendris. Miss Gibbs and Miss Hendricks, would you please come forward to the dis, it is such a privilege to have you here so we can celebrate the incredible work that you are doing for our students. Ms. Gibbs, can you raise your hand? Thank you. Began her journey at Rididgewood Park as a parent volunteer. She soon moved into tutoring and her leadership was so clear that she was asked to become the school's parent engagement liaison. In her very first year in that role, she was named the school's 2023 2024 support person of the year. Miss Hendris joined the Rididgewood Park family as a dedicated educator with a passion for student success and community engagement. A graduate of Bthoon Cookman University. Her commitment to academic excellence and student growth

005led to her selection at the school's 2024 2025 teacher of the year. In 2022, Miss Gibbs said she recognized a strong need for mentorship, self-love, and emotional support among the school students, especially among young girls. She wanted them to learn how to handle conflict, practice etiquette, and value their education. She shared this vision vision with principal Yedbnik, principal Y, who was an enthusiastic supporter. That year, Miss Gibbs launched Growl, which stands for Girls Realizing Our Willingness to Lead. After a year, as the program grew, Miss Hendris was one of a group at the school who joined Miss Gibbs to support the program. The name Growl represents more than just a club. It is a commitment to empowerment. What started as a small idea now serves over 90 students in third through fifth grades. Miss Gibbs

006and Miss Hendricks meet with participants every week during lunch. During these sessions, they mentor the girls on essential life skills like hygiene, bullying prevention, and preparing for middle school. Oh, so important. They invite guest speakers and parents to share different career paths, helping the girls to see what is possible for their futures. Because of the dedication of these two professionals, Growl has expanded to include a step team, a dance team, and a cheer team. They perform at school events and give the girls a sense of pride and teamwork. They also host an annual mother-daughter fashion tea party which celebrates family connection and a positive self-image. We see the results of their hard work every day. There is less conflict in the hallways at Rididgewood Park because these girls have built real lasting relationships. They are

007a sisterhood and they know they have a village of advocates standing behind them. Miss Gibbs and Miss Hendris, thank you for seeing the potential in our students and for your tireless energy. You have helped make Ridgewood Park a place where every girl feels that she belongs. So, let's take a photo and please join me in celebrating Miss Gibbs and Miss Hendris. No worries. Yeah. There's a pop. Miss Hendricks, Miss Gibbs, you guys are such role models for our whole district. Thank you for leading by example and your the students they're impacting are so blessed. Miss Fanos, thank you. All right. let me check to see if we have any newly appointed administrators to recognize today. Dr. Vasquez. Yes, Madam Chair. We have one newly appointed administrator. We have Brenda Lee Reyes who is going to

008be the new assistant principal at Tildenville Elementary. Good evening everyone. I'm truly grateful to be here tonight. I would like to begin by thanking Miss Melissa Bird, Dr. Maria Vasquez, Mr. Martinez, Dr. Jones, Dr. Meredith Leftkus, and all the staff for this incredible opportunity. I am extremely proud to begin my assistant principal journey at Tildenville Elementary. I look forward to working closely with the families, faculty, and staff, and most importantly serving the students to support their academic success and overall growth. I would also like to extend a special thank you to some of the great principles I have had the privilege of working with throughout my career. Dr. Julio Vay, Mr. Robert Reiner, Miss Rebecca Watson, and Miss Irene James. Your leadership, mentorship, and support have been instrumental in my journey. You all exemplify what

009true leadership looks like. The guidance received from each of you has prepared me for this role and I am excited to bring that commitment to Tilenville. After 20 years in education, my experiences in and out of the classroom has strengthened my understanding of leadership, collaboration, and supporting teachers while keeping students at the center of my work. I would also like to thank my parents, Sarah Roman and Wilfredo Rosa, for instilling in me a love for education at a very young age and teaching me that hard work and faith truly pays off. To my family and friends, especially those that are here with me tonight, thank you for your constant love, encouragement, and support. And finally, to my son Jaden, you inspire me every single day to be a better person. This accomplishment is as much

010yours is as it is mine. You are truly my engine. Once again, thank you Dr. Vasquez, Mrs. Alvarez, Dr. Left Takis, and all the members of the board for your support. I am truly honored. Photo Frank Do we have your permission? Congratulations. Approved. Frank approved. You look just like city. Yeah, we were. We were. What's your favorite thing to do? oh. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You stay for the photo. Please do. Oh, that's a great one. the beautiful flowers, right? But is there anyone else here? Family, friends, or co-workers, or anybody else? Come on up. Ah, perfect. Boy, it's like they know where to line up. Oh, we got him. You're getting close to your mom. Move your head that way. J. All right, we've never seen that one before. That was fun. Okay.

011now I'm pleased to welcome students from West Orange High School. They're joining us as members of the Superintendent Student Advisory Council. Dr. Vasquez, I'll turn the floor over to you to introduce them. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am delighted that you're going to have an opportunity to hear from two students from my advisory council representing West Orange High School. Yes. We have Daniel Douglas and Angelina Delgado. You guys can take it away. That's 1%. I'm trying to find the percent, guys. Here we go. Yes. All right. Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to start this off with saying thank you to having this thank you for letting us have this opportunity to speak to all of you today. Nice to meet all of you today. It's been a it's been a great opportunity to see

012all of you. I'm Daniel Douglas and I am the president of the National Honor Society at West Orange High School. And hi, my name is Angelina Delgado and I am proud to be the West Orange student body president. All right guys, so we're going to kick this off with an overview. What are we up to at West Orange and what makes West Orange so amazing? So, something I want to touch on is our high achieving sports team. So, we have an incredible varsity football team who's been state quarterfinalists for a couple years. And not only are these students athletes, but they are student athletes. So, our varsity football team in quarter 1 of this school year had an average unweighted GPA of 3.34, which is an average of a B+, which is incredible. So, shout

013out to them for that. Right. And we also have an amazing lacrosse team, soccer team, water polo team, just awesome sports teams with awesome students all around. we also have over 50 clubs and organizations at West Orange. And there are so many opportunities for students to be involved in anything that they're interested in. SGA if you're interested in student government, NHS, we have an awesome FFA with national titles, and we have so many amazing animals on campus you can be involved in and take care of. and our awesome ROC. We have so many great opportunities for students and not just clubs and organizations, but we have excellence in academics. So, our reading scores are 30% higher than the state average and our science scores are 20% higher than the state average. and going on from

014that, we also have great diversity at West Orange. So all students from all walks of lives, you know, 55% minority ethnic groups go to our school, which is incredible just to have that collaboration amongst people from all all over, you know, and that's really amazing. That's what I personally really love about West Orange is our diversity. So here at West Orange, we have a few key values that define who we are. Firstly, we seek to prepare graduated students for an inspired, thriving future at OCPS or through OCPS portrait of a graduate vision. Some ways we do that include college and career guidance, personal support with college admissions and specialized class tracks leading to future career paths such as agriculture, construction, and even engineering. Another thing we prioritize Another thing we prioritize is connection to students,

015families, and community. We equip students with the tools to impact their schools, community, and even the world. Our strong social media presence helps establish our impact in the community and has a positive influence among our over 8,000 followers. West Orange also believes in empowering success in academics. With a with high-quality teachers pouring thoughtful effort into each lesson, students are motivated to achieve highly to push themselves to be better than they were yesterday. Another important factor is equipping students with lifelong fundamental skills that serve them no matter where they end up. Lastly, we're committed to creating opportunities at for every single Warrior to succeed. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in leaders leadership positions, every student, every student and warrior has been given the chance to work hard to succeed as excellence. All right.

016So, I'm gonna take a minute and we're going to talk about our Warrior culture. I it's amazing to be a warrior as I would say west side best by side. so school engagement that is something we're very very heavy on and we are both very involved in as SGA and NHS president. So we all know about connectivity day but if at West Orange if we do something we're going to do it well. All right. So we have food trucks, bounce house, DJ, food, you know, the kids love the food and just keep these kids engaged and wanting to go, you know, and it's just been such an amazing experience just to see everyone get together in one space. It's rare that we have that, you know, lunches are split and different time. It's like everyone

017get to be together and so many clubs get to be involved and so many kids get that awesome opportunity to be together. we have fun events outside of school like for community involvement such as our fall festival that NHS puts on which is like a Halloween event. where we have free food and activities and trunk or tree and competitions. even our homecoming. This is something I'm very I'm very proud about and I love to look over every single year. West Orange has the highest rate of student attendance in Orange County Public Schools for our homecoming which is so amazing. We really do that awesome. And also our pep rallies. We try to keep them extremely interactive. You know, including students from the crowds, having them come down, you know, everyone's dancing. We have our DJ,

018just something I'm very proud of there. also, we do have a strong emphasis on college readiness, as he was saying. We have an amazing college and career counselor. She is award-winning, Miss Moro. She's a very patient woman, very patient woman. and we really try to emphasize that college and career readiness and she's very knowledgeable and just will help if let's say college isn't for you, we have other options and to teach you like what what those next steps look like. they like consistent personalized guidance and it's not just one-on-one. We have group workshops where you get to work with each other. Maybe we're looking at FAFSA, maybe we're looking at bright future. Just so much informative help there that all the students have exactly what resources they need. And again, here at West Orange, Warrior

019culture doesn't stop at our campus gates. We take pride in extending our impact through the into the West Orange County and beyond. An example of this will be our fall fall festival. Like she was saying earlier, at our fall festival, it's a schoolwide event that brings together students, teachers, families, and members of the local community with free food, activities, costume, costume competitions, and trunk-or-treating. This event creates welcoming space for and that strengthens our connection with local families. Additionally, our annual shoe drive demonstrates commitment to global service. This year alone, we collected over 2,000 pairs of shoes that were donated to children and adults in Honduras. Through these efforts, through efforts like these, our students learn the importance of service, empathy, and making a difference on both a local and global scale. All right. So, something

020we like to have a focus on as student leaders in our organizations is our social media involvement. So, let's be honest, guys. We all spend a lot more times on our phones than we probably should be. And I think that's an amazing way to reach our kids. you know, if you're already on the phone, you're already on Instagram and you're just scrolling and you see this information about maybe there's a sports event coming up, maybe a connectivity day, a schedule, maybe there's achievements of students or staff that we want to put out there on social media just to keep everyone informed and feel like they're prepared and have all the knowledge that they need to be successful in our school. our social media reaches an average of 400,000 viewers per month. we try to stay

021consistent on that and sometimes it's lighthearted, sometimes it's a PSA about something like our blood drives or our dance marathon which is going to be happening in March, March 6th. but yeah, so we really just want to have a focus on this to get the word out there because what's what's the good if you're doing stuff but you're not letting anyone know about it. So that's something we are very passionate about. Looking forward, we are excited to introduce a new initiative called warrior walls. These will be large bulletin boards placed throughout the hallways or existing bulletin boards featuring a unique prompt designed to spark creativity, reflection, and encouragement. Students will be encouraged to contribute their thoughts, ideas, and artwork using provided materials, giving them a visible platform to express themselves. Warrior walls are meant to

022celebrate student voice, showcase creativity, and create moments of connection during the school day in a simple but meaningful way. All right. So, we're going to take a second and we're going to touch on what are our big goals as a school. What are we all doing this for? So, first off, we want to give a voice to students who may feel overlooked. And I think that the best way that we do this is by giving them opportunities to join clubs and run for leadership and just get their voice out there and heard and let them know that they have so much upward mobility there if they're interested in that. also, so second, to provide a creative outlet to foster school engagement. So, we have amazing performing arts at school. We have w wood shop, we

023have construction classes, just such an incredible variety of whatever you are interested in to get real world experience. That is so amazing and something that really is a goal that we want to push as a school. also we want to create a low pressure environment for anonymous expression. So we want students to feel comfortable if they want to come forward and say something about their beliefs and how they feel. And we really want to make it a accepting place where everyone feels like they belong. And finally, we want to install a physical location to foster peer-to-peer interaction. So, we don't just go to school to learn things. We learn, we go to school to learn things about communication and collaboration and just have that opportunity to make friends, lifelong friends, and lifelong connections. And we

024want to have a space where students can feel comfortable doing that with each other. All right, guys. We just want to say thank you so much for your time. I hope you enjoyed this presentation about our lovely school. THANK YOU GUYS. AND ONE MORE THING, we have some little gifts for all of you. So, thank you. And here we go. Oh, yeah. Right. I know. Yeah. Really? Thank you so much. You were so chill. All right, hang hang on, guys. hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're not done. Oh, besides the picture. Okay, it gets colder by the hour, too. Yay. I'm going to use No, of course not. This squishy ball is perfect for my stress level. I understand you have quite a sense of humor. You need to get trying to get on.

025We got to get creative to She is so funny. Oh, you really will. Can I say it again? Yes. Good. Who blinked? Stay there. One more. Are we clear? Can I see something? Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Okay. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Before, before you all get away from us, I've got some very frustrated board members up here. you. Yes. Well, I have two here. Three here want to talk and one who is absolutely demanding her right because it's her district to speak first. So, go for it. That's why I wanted to say something. Member Douglas, you are recognized. I just wanted to say I'm I was absolutely mesmerized by your presentation and your presence. Yes, the West is the best. All right. And I just want to say in district 4, we always expect more and

026this is definitely what you gave us today and I appreciate you. And Daniel, we have the same last name. Let's look at let's look at ancestry.com and see. We'll see. Anyway, thank you. Very good. Very good. Couple more board members. You're welcome to sit now. there won't be any questions. Okay. All right, there could be questions. Member Bird. Yes. Mr. Howitt, are you in the room? Oh, he's not here. Okay. So, are you are you going to tell him he's he's out of Mr. Howitt is our communications director and I will be speaking to him about when next time he needs to hire someone for his department that he needs to be reaching out to you too. You are amazing. your communication skills are on point. So, I know that are you both seniors? Okay.

027Well, let's just you definitely both need to be looking into the field of communications or marketing or public relations, something like that, because wow, you guys did an amazing job and you made me want to go back to high school and come visit West Orange because I'm telling you, man, it's it's so Yeah, you're so witty and just it was it was really great and thank you for your passion for your school. it we could feel it you guys tremendous job. Thank you. Member Bird member Farat. Yeah. We couldn't let you guys leave without just giving a shout out. Just your presence, the way you presented yourselves, the way you speak, your smiles on your faces. I mean, everything. This is really what we're looking for when we look at a portrait of a graduate.

028This is what we want to see. kids who are able to look adults in the eyes who are able to communicate well and who show the amazing things that are happening at your school. So really excellent work. So excited. I agree with member Bird. We need to get you hired somehow. Get even if it was Listen, we've been talking to you about promoting our schools and maybe you already do this, but being doing reals on on your Instagram or whatever you guys are on. Instagram is probably old by now and you're on to something else. But but even doing that, you guys, the way you communicate is so well done and well spoken and exactly what she was saying. I just want to go visit and check it out and you guys are doing phenomenal

029stuff and shout out to your principal. Thank you for being here and awesome. Thank you. Great work. Member Gallo. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, you guys have some serious life goals. Y'all crushed that. That was phenomenal. When I grow up, I want to be just like y'all because you're more articulate than I am at times. I just congratulations. Great job. I was so impressed with your wit and your presentation and all the work and just the way you interact with adults. Like it is this is what we want to see in young students. just being able to interact and look them in the eye and I'm just so thrilled that you came tonight and I was happy to hear that your principal has such a sense of humor. Hopefully they're not all dad jokes mostly.

030Thank you all again for being here. It was wonderful. Thank you all. let me close out with this. Everybody said it, but your enthusiasm, your confidence, the content, all all of it was outstanding. And I'm with member Bird. I am ready to go back to high school and I'm going to West Orange. No two ways about it. So, thank you. Thank you. The West is the best. All right. Thank you. Okay. Wasn't that fun? all right. Next, I would like to introduce Desiree Hitchman H. Hotton, elementary principal representative with the Orange County Association of School Administrators. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you so much. I have a tough act to follow. So, good evening, Chair Jacobs, board members, Superintendent Vasquez, Deputy Superintendent Martinez, and staff. My name is Desiree Hitchman Holton, principal of Shannondoa Elementary School

031and Okasa's principal representative. So, what are principles doing on this side of the year? Well, we are realizing that there is a new year. It's time for new perspectives, datadriven decisionmaking while we're analyzing our PM2 data to examine student growth. As we move forward into this new year with our shared focus on positive student culture and student achievement, I want to emphasize the importance of datadriven decisionmaking in everything that we do. During this time of year, principles are engaged in analyzing student achievement data with their principal leaders, their faculty. Together through collaboration and our collective expertise, we are determining the best course of action for the remaining of the school for the remainder of the school year. We are working closely with our leadership teams, teachers, and parents to assess what individual students need to

032thrive in their learning environment. Data is more than numbers. It's a story about our students, their progress, and the opportunities we have to help them succeed. As principles know that when we use data effectively, we identify and close learning gaps, provide targeted support, allocate available resources, and plan for human resources where there will have great the greatest impact. The sweat equity has the greatest impact. Deputy Superintendent Martinez reminds us as school leaders to continue to examine the structures and systems that enable success, aligning professional learning for staff, ensuring strong sense of belonging, clear academic and behavior expectations for students and welldesigned operational systems from the foundation of a form the foundation of effective schools. As we make decisions for our schools based on our most current data, use fresh eyes. Every decision we make will

033be grounded in evidence and not assumptions. This approach builds trust, fosters collaboration, and ensures that our efforts truly make a difference for every student. I would like to thank the school board, Superintendent Vasquez, her leadership team, principal leaders, building leaders, and teachers for your commitment to academic excellence for all our OCPS learners. Thank you all so much. Thank you so much. So, for those of you who have been here before, but not in a few years, we've changed our practice when it comes to proclamations and recognitions. We still issue proclamations and you'll still see on our marquees as you drive around recognitions and celebrations. The board has adopted all of them the beginning of each school year. So we won't be announcing them today, but if you are interested in seeing them, a list remains

034on our agenda for the entire year. So, just didn't want you to think that we weren't still celebrating really important milestones like Black History Month, for instance, or Martin Luther King Day or all of those important important memories and distinctions. So, with that, let me we're on to the business portion of our meeting. Mr. Pomearini, do we have anyone? Okay. Yeah. No, we thought we were going to We have two other organizations that we thought were going to speak, but they're not. So, we're Mr. Pomearini, do we have anyone registered to speak today? Yes, Madam Chair, we have 12 speakers on the consent agenda and then two speakers on non-consent items. Okay. Okay. member Fant did Oh, thank you. A reminder. Yes, some of you may have come to celebrate. and so I don't want

035you to feel like you have to stay for the rest of the meeting. You're welcome to, but if you don't want to, this would be the time when you can politely excuse yourself, which is always a lot more fun than sneaking out. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, member. Okay. Well, thank you, whoever. Tim, I thought you were trying to find out. So that's why if I could jump to that. Okay. Yeah. Okay. All right, Mr. Pomearini, I believe you said we have 12 speakers on the consent agenda. We do, Madam Chair. So, just as a reminder to the board under your policy, Beedh. If you have 11, between 11 and 20 speakers, we take the normal three minutes and go down to two minutes. Okay. So, we have 12. it would be my recommendation

036to the board that we allow everyone to keep to the three minutes. Does anybody disagree with that? Okay. I recognize it's in our policy and we rarely deviate from our policy, but I think it's really important that we hear from everybody. So, that is that is no problem. I was just tasked to remind you. No, I appreciate that. I very much appreciate that. let let me point out before we open up to public comment, and we want to hear from the public before we take up the consent agenda because of those of you who want to have an opportunity to share your opinions before we vote. we do have some ground rules and I don't think most of them are necessary, we have a great group of individuals here. The one thing I would ask

037is if somebody is speaking and you agree with them, the inclination is to clap. if somebody is speaking and you don't agree with them, every now and then somebody takes it upon themselves to, I don't know, boo or something. but we would ask that you refrain from any audible sounds, audible comments, comments would have to be audible. if you're in favor and you want to show support for the speaker, by all means, give us a thumbs up. If you disagree, just politely give us a thumbs down. I do ask that you not do like multi-fingers and thumbs because I get a little dyslexic and not always sure what that means. So, with that, we are going, we have a couple people just joined us. We're going to go ahead and take our first speaker from

038on the consent agenda only. I'm going to go for the first four. the first four speakers are NYI, followed by Coulson Fry, followed by Taus Mack, followed by Regina Hill. All right. and as and why the coming forward, let me also say at the front at the forefront of this, one of the things that I most dislike about serving as chair is having to tell people when their time is up. So, please work with me on this because if I don't stop the speaking when the time is up, it's not fair for some people to have more time than others. So, again, I apologize that we have to have a time limit and then I have to be the bad guy, but I will be if I need to be. So, whoa, a lot of

039documents in there. Welcome. Thank you. NYi Association to preserve the Eatenville community. Our mission is to preserve, protect, and promote historic Eatenville for today and posterity. I'm here to bring unpleasant comments. I'm here to represent truth to power. And it's personally uncomfortable for me because over the last three decades, our organization has worked very closely with Orange County Public Schools at all levels. From the superintendent, Dr. Shot in the 1990s all the way to Superintendent Barbara Jenkins. We've actually provided professional training and development for teachers at Orange County Public Schools. And most recently, over the last 10 years, our organization has been responsible for an innovative program called the Zora STEM Conference for Middle School students and have worked very closely with senior staff member Kim Gilbert. So to have to make these comments bringing

040speaking truth to power is unpleasant. But the fact is because of the process that you have followed for whatever reason a more private process a flawed process you really have set yourselves to a place where you are illinformed and in fact the truth is you do not know what you do not know examples you speak in terms of the importance of historic Eatenville but the connection between your stewardship and the legacy of the land and the museum possibilities that Eatenville as a living museum represents has not been there. You do not know for example in 2023 that there was research and a 10-year plan which we call Eatenville Renaissance was developed and that as a portion of that property the Zora Neilhursten Festival and Campus for the Arts, Humanities and Sciences is a part of

041that mission that can bring true his sustainability to Eatenville. In 2023 figures that campus would cost 87,857,254. You do not know that currently a national firm is conducting an economic impact feasibility study on cultural heritage tourism as an economic impact. Again, looking at Eattonville as a living museum. And you do not know that experts in historic preservation, community planning, and architecture, landscape architecture have reviewed and analyzed that quote unquote community master planning project model that has been pedled to you and that you have embraced that it is outofdate, that it is inappropriate, that it is in it. it this in other words these are things that are really the case and so tonight as you prepare to take a vote thank you thank you miss the next speaker is Coulson Fry followed by Taurus Mack

042Regina Hill and seven Charleston Then Hi, I'm speaking on two different agenda items. So, would you like me to like separate them out or or are they both on consent? yeah. One's for 1504 and one's for 1701. Mr. Palmer, 1701's non-consent. I'm sorry, non-consent. So, if you would restrict your comments to 1504 and then when we get to non-consent, we'll call in you again. Thank you. Okay, sounds good. Thank you. Well, good evening. My name is Coulson Fry and I'm speaking as an Orange County community member and se Alliance organizer. No one wants profiteering charter operators to move into public schools and steer steal our land. At the same time, the people of Eatenville have communicated clearly, consistently, and overwhelmingly that they feel cut out of the process. The community of Eatenville should be partners

043in this decision, not an afterthought. We understand the choices being made are and the work being done is challenging, but I encourage the board to reach out and collaborate with community partners. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Next speaker is Taurus Mack followed by Regina Hill 7 Charleston and then John Beichchum. Good evening chair board members superintendent and everybody else in their respective places as far as I got a lot of concerns but I can't get too much into all the details of it. it's only one reason that we're here today and that's from the you know mayor of the town of Eenville making her own recommendations going behind the council back essentially to come up with her own theory on what she want instead of what the council wants for the entire town.

044last time I checked, I work for the citizens of Eatenville and for you to promote your own opportunity to seek a sit down visit with Dr. Phillips Foundation charity who I have no issues with, as well as OCPS, who I have great respect for. But anytime I'm put in a position like this to make these decisions based off of what has been handed to me, it's problematic. and what she's done to this community of Eatenville is something that I would never do. And all the mayors that have been through this process have been asked to do deals they never went forth with it. And for one reason because of the history that we have in Eville. I was, you know, one of the kids that actually had an opportunity to grow up in Eville and

045seeing all the things that I've seen knowing that it's the oldest black communicipality in America, established August 15, 1887. and I hear the language about we can't do this and we can't do that. U, we've been self-sufficient for a long time. We've been our own government body. Even though we sit in the county of Orange County, we do independently board ourselves in terms of government. And I feel like who's the better tell us what can come in our community than the people? That's why we have engagement in terms of what the citizens want. Who's to better tell me or any board member or any other entity outside of Eatenville to tell us what we need in our community? I know what we need in our community. That's one of the first things that I promoted

046once I got select well once I got elected in the town of Eatenville almost 10 years ago and it still sits with me. I know we're in a critical time right now in terms of just trying to build economic growth in our community. I know we need to grow. I know we need to do things that's going to help, you know, sustain the tax base that we do need here. I do want to establish businesses coming in our community that's going to make sense. But, you know, according to theou and the proposal that has been proposed to us is something that I'm definitely not in favor of for a lot of reasons. And the reason I would say it's not bringing tax base to our community. I love the nonprofit idea, but I do welcome

047it. But at this end of the day, it's not helping us economically. It's not helping us on the tax base. Even though I've heard the language from this particular board saying that it does. And if you're looking out for the best interest of the town of Venville, give us the land. That's what I'm demanding. That's what I'm asking. That's what I've been asking. Please give us the land. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Next speaker. Oh, I'm sorry. Next speaker is Regina Hill. No, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Good evening and thank you for allowing me to come before you all to speak. say what is Regina Hill doing here in in the Edenville issue? Well, I think I have somewhat expertise in the transformation of the West Lakes community where we were able to work with

048Mr. Terry Prather in lift Orlando and transform a disinvested area into now a thriving community of businesses, mixed income apartments, senior homes, early learning center, boys and girls club and working with or lift working with elementary and the homeowners within that area. property values start to increase and is very desired and also had the opportunity to work with Dr. Phillips and Mr. Ken Robinson on a major project now called the packing district. But what many didn't realize part of the packing district straddled the Mercy Drive WD judge area and working with them what I did see I was hesitant when I first got in office and started working with them. but what I saw was transformational change for that community. I found them to be very honest. they engaged the community. It took us a

049couple years to put all these cherettes together, but they allowed the community to lead and they assisted. They did the heavy lifting with finances. These big projects can't be done unless you have public private partnerships to do it. Even Mayor Dyer told me when I had angx that commissioner, you have big dreams and big goals. It's a great plan, but the city can't. The city of Orlando can't afford a billion dollars to put this into action and we need partners. And I gave Dr. Phillips a chance. I gave Mr. Prather a chance and they honored their commitments to those areas and prioritized the people first from that area for all these new wraparound services and apartments and homes. That's the only thing I saw in yourou that I would ask you all to put in.

050It was only geared towards teachers and the people of that zip code wasn't placed in it. Nor was public safety officers. I didn't see that in workers. So, so I came to the workshop. I hate that we're here because all council members should have been involved in a decision such as this, but I can read the room and I know you all going to vote on this today and it seems like you have the votes. So I would just encourage the council members to do what I did and it became a huge win is to work with Dr. Phillips and work with Mr. breakthrough, which I know is a honest man and a good man, and both of them are and they got the money, they have the funds, and you and I would ask

051that Dr. Phillips do the same thing that they did in West Lakes in the Vatican district is include contractors from the area and include employment from the area and let it be peopleled if you all get the vote today. But thank you for helping me transform District 5. Thank you, commissioner, for being here and sharing your perspective. Next speaker is seven Charleston, followed by John Bechum and Wanda Randolph. Oh, okay. I didn't know I could do that. Good evening you all. my name is Seven Charleston. I'm the executive director of the Seats of Pine Hills. And yeah, Eatenville isn't somewhere that I was born and raised or lived in at all, but Orange County is my home. And I know that sovereignty anywhere in Orange County affects sovereignty all over Orange County. And especially with

052a predominantly black area like Eatenville, I understand what it means to want sovereignty, to want to want the ability for residents to be in the the seat of change. You know, it is good to have great partners, but I would listen to the community first and especially having a very powerful organization come into a community. it's it's great to have powerful partners, but at the same time, you know, you don't have you don't want to have the people at the mercy of an organization with more power than than most of the residents. You know, overwhelmingly the majority of Eatenville residents are asking for power over the land to get the land returned and I'm with the people. please listen to Eatenville residents. Thank you, sir. Next speaker is John Beichchum followed by Wanda Randolph and

053then Stan Morris. Good evening. My name is John Buchum and I'm with the preserve the history of Maitelland Edenville. Historic Edenville is not the 3285. It's not the 3281 and it's not West 32789. It is the 751. It is historic. Historic Edenville is just as important as a Spanish history in St. Augustine. In Edenville, you have American history. You have white Mland, Negro Edenville. In 1887, the people of Edenville had to sign Matland charter for Maitland to incorporate because women's couldn't vote and look at us today. And then Matland helped Edenville sign their charter. And Edenville became the first black and corporate Mr. Pal in America. It was so important that every newspaper around America said, "How can these negroes self-govern themselves?" Because remember there was enslaved and it's true. How can these negroes New

054York Times St. Louis times how can they self-govern themselves for 138 years? Edenville have self-governed themselves. Dr. Phillip, you walk in flood hospital and you see their name. But however, we want the deal that the packing house district got. They're not the owners of the property. They are the investor. They're an investor. We don't need Dr. Phillips to tell us how to run our business. But if they want to do something novel, invest in Edenville and let Edenville dream come true. Edenville is very important to Orange County because we got 77 million visitors that come to OIa every day. Edenville is a destination. Just go to Zoro Hershey Museum on Friday. They come in in trucks, buses. I'll be doing a walking MLK walking tour this weekend starting at Lake Lily in the 1800s was

055called St. John's Hole. Joe Clark is the founder, a black gentleman slave from Georgia is a founder. We have an opportunity to take these kids from OCPS, the Christian schools and bring them around Lake Lily so they make has let us build a living museum. So these kids can come at that museum like they do at Arland History Museum. they can sit down and understand American history. You see, our tour is about better together. And what you're going to do now is kind of separate it. Edenville 3281, 32 805, and then 3279 Paramore. Let's go with 3281. When we leave here tonight, just drive under in the bridge. His homelessness, this was caused because affordable housing. Affordable housing gives tax credit to the to the to the contractor. Does nothing for the city. It's going

056to increase inville police department. all the essential service, water, sewage, everything. They're going have to raise the taxes on their people. And that's what start the segregation, you know, that's called it segregation. some people call it gentrification. That's what it caused. Evil has the lowest crime rate, lowest crime rate in Orange County. Why? Why? There's a secret sauce there. And that secret sauce is a 32751. It's historic. And us, we the people of Orange County can invest in that. and we can make this place a better world to live in this time under your watch. You have an opportunity to do the right thing. I'm leaving. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you for sharing with us. Wanda Randolph, then Stan Morris, and then Liam Borg, Councilwoman Re. welcome. Good evening. Good evening, staff.

057the board, I certainly appreciate this opportunity chair to be here today and to address my concerns as a council elected member of town of Eatenville. Thank you. First of all, I'd like to say that I know that we're at the final vote today and I know you've had a lot of things on your mind that you have to really think about. I just want to say that prior to me being here today, everything that we've asked for has been rejected upon your means as to how you view what we need in Eatenville. You rejected our extension for 90 days to collaborate for a partner plan between Dr. Phillips and the town of Edenville. That didn't go through. You rejected also the request for the town of Edenville to own the property to own the land.

058Okay. The memorandum of understanding that was signed on September the 30th. That's actually in conflict with the legislative body. also being insensitive to the needs of the town when it comes to economics that just mentioned and also historic sensitivity possibly with this process in place. there could be some issues concerning code ethics, concerning an employee who was able to negotiate or to meet with you who works for the Orange County School Board and also works for you. And I mean our mayor, and that means signing documents, maybe being in meetings. I think a lot of that has to me is a conflict. and not coming back to us in order to let us know exactly what's going on. So, we still trying to move forward despite all these things that we are being confronted with.

059We totally disagree. I totally disagree with the terms of the real estate purchase agreement. We could have been offered the same. The last time I was here, I believe that it was mentioned there were at least eight contracts that came before you. Actually, in our records, we only have about two. The others were outside of Eaten. It wasn't the town of Eatenville. And if I need to be corrected, please correct me. But however, it is hopeful that even at all those things that we still will be able to collaborate with Dr. fellows and we are hoping that you have a listening ear to listen to what we want as officials and what the community wants best for Eatenville. As you know that we express our roads and our infrastructure that really needs a lot of

060attention. We need revenue. We are willing to be one of the smart cities of our size in technology in years to come. Thank you, Councilwoman. Your time is up. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Thank you very much. Thank you. may God bless each and every one of you all. Thank you for this time. Thank you. Next speaker is Stan Morris, followed by Liam Borg and then Marissa Bellinger. Welcome, sir. All right. my name is Stan Morris and I'm from Orlando, born and raised here. this has got nothing to do with politics on my part in terms of just the story of Edenville is so phenomenal. I mean, in terms of helping with the building of Maitelland around Lake Gilly and as they recruited and the connection and then the separation, Edenville being u named after Joseph

061Eden, which is a white man. Now, it has such a unique story for 27 registered voters unanimously agreeing to incorporate the city that stands to this day. even having a newspaper back then, the Edenville speaker, which on his 22nd January edition quoted, you know, negroes solving the great race problem by securing a home in Edenville, Florida, a negro city governed by Negroes. Even to this point, it's a story. It's about a coming together in a separation and a building. It has such a powerful story, it's phenomenal. The problem is that at some point if the house dies, if Edenville being the house being the physical beautiful landmark where it's located, then our contents as black people won't survive. I mean, if the house doesn't matter, how can the contents matter? This is not a racial

062meeting or it's not about race. It's not about Dr. Phillips. It's about as much as you look at a black man standing up and we're supposed to be the head and the capacity and the uniqueness of it of 27 registered voters that's saying that we were voting in 1887. You know, it's it's not a question of who's right or who's wrong. It's the preservation. There's probably 43 million blacks in America. If we only gave $1 a year, we'd create a tax base. It's not a big rush because in actuality Edenville has done a good job at this point. Drive through there and see how good it looks. there's economic disparity in a lot of areas in that respect in terms of making decisions in terms that could affect us that when we're in our graves

063and stuff that it doesn't have any effect on our legacy where the kids can look at the collaboration that blacks and whites and other groups came together and able to tell their individual stories. You know all of us have a story. History is a prefix, two words his story. Well, I think we should have the opportunity to tell our story in that respect and not point fingers at who's right or who's wrong, but still uphold this legacy in terms of us having the opportunity, for an example, dismissing certain books out of the school system. we would have the opportunity to put and tell the story the way we want the legacy to be passed on to our children to where there is a positive connection in terms of what we've accomplished and not being one

064individual or group trying to get some glorified recognition for something that the Edenville speaker said we saw that great race problem. This is not about race. It's about legacy. It's about us having the ability to come together and to market that town in terms of letting blacks be responsible for in some sense black affairs. for a kid to be a Thank you. Thank you, sir. next speaker is Liam Borg followed by Melissa or Marissa Bellinger, excuse me. Which which microphone? Either of them. It looks like it works. Okay. Thank you so much. before I speak, I would like to thank all the speakers before me and I would also like to apologize that this is the first time I've been in this room. I have never been this disappointed in my school district before and

065I'm very saddened to say that, but I saw this very recently. I was faced with this news. My boyfriend grew up in Eatenville. Unfortunately, could not join me today. However, I would like to make him proud with the speech. with the numbers I was provided that this sale is going to potentially go through for that would be giving up the land for roughly $10,000 per acre. The median cost of land in Orange County right now is 100 grand per acre. It is 10 times what this is being sold for. This is being sold for pocket change to the Dr. Phillips incorporated. And I don't see how that is supposed to be significantly beneficial. As most people from Ethanville are saying, this sale likely won't end up helping the people in Eatenville whatsoever. this is also

066leaving a lot of expectations on Dr. Phillips. It is leaving a lot of expectations on the privatization. Privatization does not work. We have seen this time and time again. I've been working in politics since I was 15 years old. And time and time again, what I see is that every study that comes out, every survey, everything we ever see about privatization shows that it doesn't work. It is bad for the economy. It is bad for the locality. It is bad for autonomy. What we are trying to do now is to privatize a very historically important area in Eatenville that could be used by the city for much more important things. Now, again, I have not had the most time to do my research. I was actually found out about this last night. And so I

067would like if anyone can correct me on this, please feel free. But when I checked, I believe that there are zero public middle or high schools in Eatenville. And if anyone's able to correct me on that, please feel free. however, I was not able to find any conflicting information about that in Eatenville proper. This parcel of land can be used for significantly more important uses for the people in Eatenville. a museum would be another wonderful thing. Sure. in fact, unfortunately, our governor denied the idea of putting a African-American history museum in Eatenville. And I think that would have been a wonderful idea, but there's just so much more that could be done. And I think that it is a mistake for this school board to sell that land and to privatize it. I believe that

068the autonomy of Ethanville is very, very important here. And I think that autonomy should be recognized and that autonomy should be granted. I believe that Eatenville has all rights to this parcel of land or at least should in an ideal world and I believe that it would be more important to either sell or gift this land to the city of Eatenville. Thank you very much and I se my time. Thank you, sir. I hope you have an opportunity to stay around long enough for answers to some of your questions and responses. Mr. Pomearini. next speaker is Marissa Bellinger. Okay. Then followed by Ryan Smith and Jim Willard. Thank you, Marissa Bellinger. All right. next speaker then is Ryan Smith, followed by Jim Willard. And Madame Chair, just wanted to let you know, Commissioner Urebe from

069the Orange County Commission is here and she wanted to also speak on Fort Gatlin. She's left her okay meeting to come over here to do that as All right. and Mr. Willard is here. Oh, I'm You're right. It's on consent. I'm sorry. Welcome, sir. Thanks for the time. So, I'm I'm here as a resident of South Orlando. I know West is the best, I think. so I think is South the proud side. Is that what it is? so I'm here representing South Orlando. it has to do with Fort Gatlin. I know that's a subject change from the prior comments. so for those of you who are not familiar with Fort Gatlin, I wouldn't dare put it on the screen because there would be an exodus from the room. It is, for those of you not

070familiar with Fort Gatlin, take one of the more blighted areas of your of maybe where you live and this would probably, put it to shame. So, we are a proud community of a lot of young kids. There's not a lot of parks. and so, a private, benefactor has stepped up. represented by Mr. Willard who I know, like, and trust to a significant degree. and so I just wanted to say thank you more than anything. you know, other residents of South Orlando are here. It's been a pretty beautiful picture of citizens getting together, working with many of you fine folks, and I want to thank many of the board members for making their time available and listening and hearing and giving advice. you know, this is not something I've ever participated in. So, I found it

071refreshing. so I just wanted to say thank you. Alisha, I will also say to you, thank you very much for spearheading and all of your efforts. So, I just wanted to recognize you for your contribution. and Miss Urebe as well who's here, she was absolutely wonderful and I loved watching you two work together. So, it was refreshing on a lot of different angles. So, I just wanted to thank you. and as it pertains to kind of where we are, I ask that you accept the agreement and move forward and make the Fort Gatlin site a beautiful park for our kids and for our community. So that's all I have to say and all right. Hurrah. All right. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Mr. Willard, good to see you. Madam Chair, good to see you as

072well. other members of the school board. My name is Jim Willard and I'm a an attorney here in Orlando. Have been around for quite some time and I've got the privilege of representing a gentleman that is probably one of the most generous benefactors I've had the privilege of representing. he is a resident of Orlando, grew up in this area and has stepped up to fund the demolition of the buildings the former state or US Navy buildings then occupied by the school board for a period of time to demolish it and convert the property to a community park. your attorney's office and myself have worked out a purchase agreement that is very well represented in the summary in your agenda today. it's as simple as that. he intends to after a lot of due diligence demolish

073the buildings, construct a park, and hopefully after that turn it over to Orange County for maintenance. It's a relatively small area. We think the maintenance cost will be nominal and once the existing buildings are demolished in the park construction, we believe that the county will be very open to taking ownership of it and continuing it in a as a public park. although initially we're going to have to go through a zoning process to identify, you know, the development plan. which there'll be tons of public input at that time. but at the end of the day he's funding it all. So it's quite a remarkable opportunity. So I would hopefully encourage you to vote favorably on it tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Willard. Thank you for showing up to share your comments on

074behalf of your client. Quite amazing. Thank you. Good evening, school board members and superintendent. It's a pleasure to see all of you guys. It's so great to be on the other side sometimes. I want to take this moment to just be here to support this incredible community that's come out and Mr. Willard and his client. And I wanted to give some assurances that we have fought very hard. I would be remiss if I didn't thank schoolboard member Alicia Ferrant that I will honestly say together we tag team this issue and made it a top priority of communicating not only with our respective agencies that we represent, but the people that we represent. And what you see today is a perfect example. I know that a lot of things have happened very quickly and I have

075been very prudent on getting on our county administrator to make sure that we're in a good position on this. I did receive a document from our deputy county administrator that felt really confident. But I wanted to assure you that if you allow this transaction to go on and there are a lot of stipulations that have to be done by Mr. Willard and his client in a very specific period of time. I will be the number one advocate fighting to make sure that Orange County accepts this property, cares for it, and protects its future. I do want to take one additional step, and you may hear some of our constituents say Fort Gatlin is history, right? There are some incredible monuments there that some very famous football players by the name of Townsen have done their

076Eagle Scout projects there. And I also plan on working very hard once it's part of our parks and wreck to honor that history of Fort Gatlin, whether it's with mile markers, presentations of what's been done, because I think the biggest part of Pine Castle, and for all of you who know it or don't, I'm an Oakidge High School grad, so go Pioneers, right, Miss Felder? But we always want to preserve and protect and celebrate our history that we have in Pine Castle and in Central Florida. It's one of the oldest areas of Orange County. So, thank you all for being so supportive of us. Thank you for your team who showed up, dealt with our team, and just feel assured today as you make this decision that I will be advocating. It doesn't stop today.

077Our advocacy will continue all the way till we make sure that this is done, sealed, and delivered if this, you know what they say. So, and there's so much pressure with this clock. I'm not I'm not normally happy to be on this other side, but I did want to take a moment and thank you for being so generous. I did run over from the border county commission and thank you for that and thank you for all you do for your service to our community and for your love and compassion for our children. Thank you commissioner. Thank you as well and thank you for taking the time out to to join us for this. Thank you. that is your last consent agenda speaker. All right. we have a number of board members who'd like to speak.

078Let me start with member Vanos. Thank you. Thank you so much, Madam Chair. as a school board member for Orange County and also the historic town of Eatenville, I wanted to speak just to give some context for my vote today. reaching this point of having to vote on this purchase and sale agreement has been a long time coming. it has taken quite a process to get here and I'll be the first to say it has not been a perfect process. it's involved a long history and we've had a lot of really difficult conversations, but I first want to give a huge thanks to the Eatenville Town Council for welcoming me to all of your meetings and sharing your concerns with me. taking me on tours. I want to thank the Eatenville residents for your phone

079calls, emails, handwritten notes, coffees, tours, history lessons. I've cleaned up trash with you and you provided insights. So, I really appreciate those conversations as well. And of course, also want to thank Dr. Phillips for being so invested willing to invest in the town and also for their involvement and conversations and willingness to stand up to questions after question after question during the previous few work sessions. with respect to the purchase and sale agreement, I recognize that many of the members of the town council along with a few other town residents have concerns. and I've attended the council meetings and I feel that I have raised all of the questions that you have asked during the work sessions and I think when it comes to the concerns regarding the tax base when it concern comes to

080concerns regarding affordable housing I do believe that they have been adequately addressed to where we are now and more work needs to be done and more input needs to be taken but from what I can tell the real I would say eye I'm feeling has more to do with the way that the mayor went about the process. And I completely understand this concern. it doesn't feel good to to feel excluded. It's embarrassing. It doesn't feel transparent. And I agree that it's not, you know, the ideal way to conduct business. however, I struggle with some of the comments I hear that the town had no agency or that there was an unequal opportunity that was given to Dr. Phillips that wasn't given to the town. And I need to push back a little bit on that

081narrative because the town council members, they were I don't believe they were completely in the dark. two years ago, after a failed sale of the property and after a lawsuit was filed, town residents began attending publicly noticed workshops took whole town input and devised a plan for Eatenville. And over the course of 18 months and several workshops, a master plan reflecting the town's desires was developed. and those desires from that plan have been incorporated into this purchase and sale agreement. And I understand that some council members and residents disagreed with the master plan process. But here's the important point. The denters were on notice as to what was happening. And rather than working to devise an alternate, viable and financially feasible plan, the denters were silent and our general counsel stated that we would have

082considered any plan that had been brought to the board. But no additional plan was ever offered. And so when the town council says that they were not given the same opportunity for consideration as Dr. Phillips, I just I don't believe that is true. The only other plan that was discussed and considered was presented during a work session by the town in June of 2025. And a couple of things emerged from that session. First, the majority of the board needed a financially viable plan that could be accomplished. Second, the board was very clear about prioritizing the longevity of the town and the necessity of developing a sustainable tax base. And third, board members believe that the school district should realize some kind of consideration or benefit in exchange of the land. And this was directly tied

083to some of the board members concerns about the legality of conveying the property under the proposed $1 lease purchase sale agreement. Now, personally, I thought the lease purchase agreement concept was lawful, and I said that at the meeting, but reasonable people can reach different conclusions, and a plan that doesn't have at least four votes on this board is a plan with no viable future. And so, I understand why Mayor Gardner chose a new path. Moreover, she publicly stated that she came to realize that the town did not have the expertise, the experience, the financial wherewithal, and the personnel to develop this property on its own. And I find this assessment by the mayor of the town to be extremely influential. Now, some were offended by that statement, but concerns about Eatenville's ability to develop a

084100acre parcel doesn't mean that Eatenville is incompetent or bad or dying. It just means it's still growing. And some have claimed that they are going to fight for Eatenville. But to me, fighting for Eatenville means taking a hard look at the town's resources and saying yes to a needed gift that comes your way. And to me, fighting for Eatenville means May I continue? Yes, I will be. No, I Madam Chair, it's up to you. We normally when we have debate on or discussion of consent agenda items, we run the fiveminute clock, but I will defer to you if you want to let the member Vanos continue. Thank you. To me, finding for eatenville means showing up at workshops and providing your input or simultaneously developing developing an alternate plan for consideration. It would be wonderful

085to have more than one plan to look at right now. And to me, fighting for Eatenville means letting go of your own plan or your own personal deal and doing the pragmatic work to move the land from the school district back to the benefit of the town. I have heard from so many Eatenville residents who support this agreement and ask us to be strong and to fight for Eatenville. This agreement gives the school district the benefits and value it needs to be able to convey the property. And the town devises the plan, but they are not responsible for funding and can lean on the network of Dr. Phillips relationships. To me, this is a win-win. And for those asking for a 90-day delay, that might seem reasonable, but there are real risks in not moving

086forward with this agreement today. The days of allowing property to exist in surplus of a school board are over. With changes and potential changes to the law, leaving this land as surplus puts it at risk for being taken by a privately operated charter school company or worse, potentially the state of Florida. And if that happens, the Orange County School Board and the town both lose the ability to protect this land and develop it for the benefit of the town. I can also not ignore the history of the school boards and the town's attempts to move this property out of school district control and back to the town. we talked at the last work session about eight extensions given to the town. We talked about the school district putting out a request for for bids to

087help develop the town in the way that the town requested and for it to ultimately fail. and delaying also ignores the work of the town residents through the workshop. You know, we're in the business of operating schools, not developing property. as was mentioned today, the town of Eatenville exists because of partnerships. The Hungerford School existed because of partnerships. And I the process in developing the partnership with Dr. Phillips was imperfect. I acknowledge that and I understand the concern that some feel about the Dr. Phillips partnership. But I believe that it is another strong partnership that will enable the town to grow and prosper. And it won't be without accountability. And I believe there should be constant vigilance, review of finances, and real opportunities for consideration given to the advisory council. And it is my hope

088that as we move forward, there will be a strong working relationship between the town council and Dr. Phillips that is based on trust and collaboration. This property is not an heirloom. The people of Eatenville deserve progress and the benefits of this land development and that is why I will vote in favor favor of this agreement. I care deeply about the preservation and progress of Eatenville and I believe this agreement aligns with those values. Thank you. Thank you, member Vanos. Member Galla. Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't think I could say it better than how Member Vanos just said what she said. So, I'll make it I'll make this very brief. I will be supporting this. I will be supporting this on the agenda tonight. I think that Dr. Phillips charities coming in does provide the

089opportunities that Eatenville is looking for. I believe in collaboration. I think there will be collaboration. We as a board have encouraged collaboration if there needs to be amendments or changes made to the contract. At a work session, we all said that we are immunable to that, that we want what's best for the town of Eatenville. So, if what is written right now, they come to the conclusion it's not a good fit, then we can revisit that and make changes as needed through the collaboration between Eatenville and Dr. Phillips. And I do believe at the end of it all that Eatenville will will be prosperous. They will have a sustainable tax base and they will be able to move forward with this property. So I want to thank everybody that came out tonight, the town council

090and everybody who shared their concerns with us. and I also want to say how proud I am that we were able to reach u a decision with the Gatlin property. That's an example of when we all come together, good things happen. And I'm glad that we were able to find a way to make that work and remove the buildings and provide a park for that area. So, congratulations, and I look forward to voting for that as well. Thank you, member Fant. You're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I also wanted to share about the Fort Gatlin property and so thankful for the Fort Gatlin community that came out tonight and has really put on one of the best campaigns in the area to really showcase the concern from residents wanting to make sure that this

091property turns into a park. Extremely thankful. Mr. Willard, I hope you will share with your client that we are beyond grateful for his generosity to come together for the community, for the good of the community. I know with young kids myself, I'm I love parks and this is something that young families will love and as well as all ages being able to walk to the park, see this and have it really the eyesore that has been on this property for too long. We are very very thankful. I'm extremely thankful to Commissioner Urebe for all of her work and effort at the county. I know that there has been a little bit of a concern with continuing the maintaining like a historic aspect of the property and so commissioner Urebe and I have been in discussion

092with that will go during the reszoning to make it a park. I know the community would really love, at least the historic Fort Gatlin community would love for it to have an aspect of it to be historic or even be able to be there in a in a be in attendance as it gets excavated to see if there are artifacts. pretty amazing. If you don't know the history of Fort Gatlin, I encourage you to take a Google search and just check it out. Pretty awesome. It was the very first area that was like that created Orlando. Fort Gatlin is where Orlando started. very amazing history and I think something that our students be really cool for them to be able to learn about that as well and just the history that we have here. and

093so thank you again for being here, Mr. Willard. Thank you for being here and representing your client for Gatlin community for everything you guys have done and just the communication back and forth. It's been really fun to work with with each of you. and then I just wanted to transition real quick to Eatenville. thank you all for coming tonight and this really has been a long long history, a long discussion. I've been on the board almost four years and something that's continually been on the discussion a lot of pausing giving those like a 90day giving six months giving a year constant kind of just putting it back in Eatenville's court to come up with a plan or come up with something that would work and when this came about where Dr. Phillips Charities has come

094forward to want to partner. it this is literally going to be incredible for your community. the amount of Eatenville residents who have come here from young we had a young boy all the way to older grandparents Eatenville residents who have come here saying please do this. We want this for our town. I know that not everybody will see the same, but very very thankful. Thank you again, Dr. Phillips Charities, for your generosity and wanting to partner. I actually just drove through the packing packing district two days ago. Highly impressed. My goodness, it's been about a year since I'd been through there and the what what you've done to transform that area and what really had been again another kind of eyesore of Orlando fully transformed. And so to see that I just I'm so excited

095and hopeful for what you will bring along in collaboration with the town of Eatenville and the residents to really make a huge impact. So, thank you again and thank you to everyone who is here tonight. Thank you, Member Fant. It's it's hard to say much more than Member Vanos did. I think that your recap of the of the situation and your assessment. I completely agree with with maybe one minor exception and it because I hear this a lot in the town and it may seem like an indistinguishable difference but factually the property was never owned by the town of Eatenville. And again, at the end of the day, I don't know that's all that material, but I do think that when people feel like it was taken and not given back, that's that's just not

096a reality. It was owned by Charles Hungerford. He through his trust and his family's interest in making sure there was a way for at the time it was, I think, only males, but African-American males to have education. they donated not donated they gave the money to acquire the land and build a boarding school and at I don't remember the exact year but at some time was it 1951 what year was it 1951 the school district acquired the property from the trust again the trust was from Mr. Hungerford. And so over the years, Orange County has operated a school on the property, Hungerford Elementary School. Dr. Vasquez, can you speak to the issue of education and the availability of education to our students that are in Eatenville because I mean there was a comment that there

097are no schools in Edenville. thank you, Madam Chair. We currently have Hungerford elementary which is a gem in in the community. It is benefiting from partnerships with different agencies including travel and leisure. students that attend there also have the advantage of preschool services to them and also have opportunities for different magnet programs or this their zone middle schools of College Park Middle, Lockheart Middle and Maitland Middle offer opportunities for them to explore and then their zoned high school is Edgewater High School and so we expect that through the partnership. there will be other opportunities both for early childhood both for various industry certifications and for our students to be able to benefit from the different services and potential new aspects of the town through with the land. All right. Thank you. I also do want

098to clarify for anybody who's perhaps your first time here, the issue of a museum has been something that's been very important to the town. There was an opportunity a couple of years back for state funding for a museum. And I can't for the life of me understand how I think Jacksonville if I'm not mistaken, Sarasota. St. Augustine. how St. Augustine won that grant as opposed to Eatenville is beyond my comprehension. But part of the plan the that Dr. Phillips working with the town through the community meetings that were explained by member of Annos. A part of that is to build that museum and discussion about tax base. It's extremely important. Absolutely extremely important. The assets that Dr. Phillips is obligated to build according to this contract are take up a very small number of acres.

099This is over a 100 acre parcel. So the m vast majority of this land will be decided through collaboration between Dr. Philips found charities, the town, town council to work together to decide what is in the best interest of the town and other comments that I just I want to be clear on. I think there was some confusion over the number of contracts. I think Mr. Pomearini in our last meeting you referenced if you would the eight go ahead. So thank you Madam Chair. member Vanos stated this in her comments, too, but there was a contract in 2010 for the purchase of the property that we have with the town of Edenville. There were eight separate extensions granted to the town of Edenville over a 9-year period that this board granted in order to allow

100for the closing to go on. the closing failed in March of 20 March of 2019 because there was not closing. And then there was a second contract in 2019, September 2019. we put out three separate requests for proposal to get a developer to come develop the property. the proceeds of the sale would come to us and with some portion of it going to the town of Eatenville. And after the third request for proposal, we the developer was awarded the contract. the developer needed some comprehensive plan changes in order to develop the property and those were denied by the town of Eatenville. So, there were two contracts, but there were numerous extensions on both contracts within those periods. Thank you. one other comment in terms of the purchase price, the $1 million is essentially a down

101payment made at the time the contract is signed. The actual price of the property is $14 million. The remainder, the $13 million, is due unless Dr. Philips Charities builds the certain venues that have been established and meets the criteria by the deadline that's been established. So, parts of that 13 million get forgiven as they honor their commitment. And if they don't, there's provisions for that. So, I just wanted to make sure that nobody walked out of here thinking that it was a $1 million contract. And then I think the last isn't a clarification or correction, but a reference to there being some sort of an ethics or a conflict of interest. I'm not familiar with that. I would certainly if there is evidence or anything that you can provide us with, councilwoman, I would definitely

102want to take a look at that because that's extremely important to us, but I'm I'm I'm not aware of it. So, I would appreciate you and I maybe having an opportunity to talk about that. Thank you. with that, if there's No, we have one more board member. Member Felder, let me go to you. Thank you. I just wanted just a little clarification. I remember first of all, thank you for all of the commentary that came also with Fort Gatlin. I was excited to know that we were able to preserve that area historically. I remember Fort Gatlin and I am happy about that. Also, I do remember when I came on the board in 2020, there was conversation prior to that regarding Eatenville and the property. And I just want to get some clarification that is

103there not John some sort of law where if there's property that schoolboard districts own and we do own that property was you know we got it straight out it's ours. isn't there a law if if if there is a law where you can't just give the property could you ex go over that with me please? thank you madam member Felder members of the board. so there was two separate statutes. The statute that we're going under tonight is 101328 and it says a couple things. one, it says, "Subject to the rules of the state board of education, a district school board may dispose of any land or real property to which the board holds title which by resolution of the board is determined to be unnecessary for educational purposes as recommended in education plan survey." By

104the way, thank you because this was going to dovetail into what I was actually going to say. So, by resolution tonight, we have a separate item 1503 where we have updated our educational plant survey with the state to surplus all of the property at issue. This board surplus all of the property that we're disposing of tonight byou on September 30th and by board action on September 30th. But we are updating this the plant survey with DOE tonight. And so we're reaffirming by your action on the consent agenda that we are disposing this property is no longer needed for educational purposes. So that's part one of the statute. So and then it says that the school board shall take diligent measures to dispose of educational property only in the best interest of the public. So in

105the best interest of the public is we have to get compensation for that property. Now, as the chair said, we have a contract here that is for $14 million. We are forgiving $13 million of the price to the extent that certain milestones are met, which is building of the early learning center, which is going to benefit the school district because our kids will come in better educated when they get to to Hungerford Elementary School. We are forgiving a portion of the purchase price for the building of a community hub and healthc care facility. We're going to get benefit for that and it's in the best interest of the public because those students will come to school healthier. They'll miss less school because they're going to go to those healthcare facilities on the property. We are

106forgiving a portion of the price for the construction of a green space and a community community pavilion. our kids will get benefit because they will get to use those facilities. I'm certain the town will host things for the benefit of our children at those facilities, thereby providing an ed educational benefit to our students. It's in the best interest of the public that we do that. There's also going to be donation of land to the town for the new town hall building that they could build and a museum. The museum has a benefit for us because and as part of the commitment to the extent we can and it's permitted by law, which we think it is, our students would get to go to that history museum within the town for free. That would be certainly

107an educational benefit for our children for them to do that. Also in this contract is the provision of affordable housing. And to to be clear, the contract talks about both single family and multifamily housing. The contract does give preference not only to our educational instructional employees, our support employees for the single family homes. It gives preference to those residents then living in the town of Eatenville and for first responders employed by the town of Edenville. But certainly there is a benefit to us and it's in the best interest of the public for us to have housing built so we can obtain and retain teachers. One of the barriers for us obtaining and retaining teachers is affordable housing within Orange County. And to the extent that our folks get priority for affordable housing, that's of educational

108benefit to us, it's in the best interest of the public for us to get those teachers. So all of that goes to say is while we're forgiving portions of the purchase price, we are getting educational benefit for our students, we're getting benefit for our employees that in the end long run will make up for the value that we are forgiving. It will be beneficial for us to have all of those things go on. But when we have a valuable piece of property for us to just give it away, that is not what is contemplated by the statutes. It's not contemplated that we don't get value on it. Member Vanos and I have talked about the lease purchase agreement that was at issue. You know, I think that skirts the the intent and spirit of the

109law, but as she said, reasonable people can have discussions with respect to the lease purchase agreement. But for a straight up giving the property away, I don't believe the statute allows us to do that. We've structured this deal in such a way that we are going to get the purchase price. And by the way, just to make this clear for everybody here, looked up there were some questions about the value of this property, right? So I went on the property appraisers website and looked up the market value of these parcels. It's roughly $14 million. So the purchase price that we are getting is roughly equivalent to what the property appraiser values the market value of this property. So yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. And I just Yes. I needed you to do what you just did.

110I needed that explanation, that clarity. That's so important that those who are listening understand that this is what we're doing and why we're doing it. And because we a as a board in as a board district in the state of Florida, there are so many things that we have to make sure that it's happening so that we can remain an effective working board. I so do not want the state or some random charter school to come with property that's been in the hands of people of color for hundreds of ye a hundred or more years to come and take it and then because we are bound by stature to obey the laws that are set down from the Florida state legislature we have to do our policies are made based on the policies that come

111from the governor and the state legislature. And so while we have this in our power, and we do, we must do the best that we can to make sure that we all are winners. And you so beautifully explained and broke down what we're going to do because the promise was we get the land and we have it that it was going to be used for educational purposes. I remember the inception of the Zor and Herson Festival. I worked with NY theory and the vision that the Edenville people had with NY to do what they did with the Zora festival was beautiful and is consistently and steadily growing and doing so well. If we were to not take away our hands and somebody just come and stop all of that, that's what would happen. So, I'm

112I'm saying I'm in favor. I thank I'm appreciative the Dr. Phillips charity because says they're going to do what they say they're going to do. If they don't, then we can come back and deal with it. So, I appreciate that we're going to get hold on to that land and the residents that are there, they have input of how the their their centers, their museums, their school, all of that. They'll have all of that within their power. But we have the funds with the Dr. Philips charities to do that because you know they promise us 40 acres in a mule. All we got is our land. So if we're going to use it to benefit and there's possibility to help us do just that, we must do just that. Thank you. Thank you, Member Felder.

113Member Salamanca. thank you, Chair. yes, I will also be voting in support of this. As some of my fellow board members mentioned, this is something that's been on discussion for for years. as our general counsel mentioned, there was eight extensions on what we could do with this land or what the town of Eatenville would propose to us. Eight extensions for them to propose something to us. On top of that, there were three different times of requests, proposals, requests for folks, anyone out there, developers, community leaders, the town to tell this school board what are ways that they would want to develop or support with this land. There has never been any one solution that has been presented to us or that we have discussed or seriously considered, including the museum, that had full agreement. There

114was always folks who were against and pro the various proposals including within the same town of Eatenville. And the Dr. Phillips Foundation is a nonprofit who spent over a year having community meetings from the grassroots of folks designing their own plans of things that they wanted of which is what came about. Right? It is an educational center. It is a museum. It's a healthc care hub. It is affordable housing for the citizens as well as public servants. We have had folks who've wanted to develop this land for forprofit reasons. We've also had folks that had very specific points of view on how to do this. And it's really we're never going to have a solution or the correct answer to all of this that fits every criteria by every stakeholder. That is the really tough

115part. of doing public policy. But what this board is really saying with this decision and with this vote today is that the cost of inaction, the cost of another aid extensions, the cost of going back to a request for proposal is really high. It's higher than it's ever been over the last decades that we have held this land. The cost of us not voting for this today and doing nothing is one losing a nonprofit organization with a long record of doing really great work in our city and second that the state of Florida does whatever it wants with this orless land and nobody gets a say. That is a really high cost that I am not willing to take. when I have a really incredible opportunity that does have the input of the community and

116folks that have come to us and said we do support this. It's not perfect. It's not perfect and this is just the beginning of a process for input. And so what I say to all the folks that maybe just found out about this last night and are getting caught up, right? We have years and decades of this information. So your best use of time, resources, and advocacy, which we welcome, is spent in the process that's about to begin on how to develop and work with Dr. Phillips Foundation and the community to better refine and have accountability for what goes with this land. But in action is is a choice and a really costly choice that I won't I won't be making today and I will be supporting and pushing this forward. So thank you. Thank

117you, Member Salmona. Member Douglas Well, my the other school members have, you know, school board members have said a lot. I just wanted to say what matters to me is the collaboration with Dr. Phillips charities. this is very important. Let's ensure that the people of Edenville are included in the decision making. they're part of the process and they feel like they are also part of the transformation of Eatenville. So, yes, I'm also in agreement with what they're saying. however, just let's want to make sure that the historical city of Edenville keeps that authentic authenticity that they have. They are, you know, historical black city and I would like it to to remain so to remain to have that flare. When we go to Eatenville, we can feel that we are in some somewhere different in

118the middle of Orlando. If we can keep that, I think that will be a wonderful a wonderful thing. So I just want to conclude that I I agree with them and I just want to make sure that collaboration persist and resist and stays with the city of all of the people of Edenville. So that's my take on it. Thank you so much. Thank you, member Douglas. All right, we're going to I'm going to call for the vote in just a minute. I do want to Mr. Willlet, I'm sure you will probably get up and hit the road as soon as this is over. I can guarantee you this is going to vote. I really pass very but I want to thank you for again for taking this cause on. I know you have a client.

119I have no idea who it is. Please tell your client how much I appreciate it. This is very very important to the nearby community and we were we have struggled for years with the federal government to get to the point where we could do something with the property and then once we had it was what are we going to do and the county as you know wasn't wasn't at the place of of taking the bull by the horns and we're really grateful that your client is. Thank you. okay. I will call for the question Mr. Pomearini. Before I do that, I think there's an important component of the motion. If you would address that, please. Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make sure that when the members of the board vote on

120to approve the consent agenda that it encompasses the legal requirements for the purchase and sale of the property. So, by voting for the consent agenda, you are adopting the statement that it's in the best interest of the public as I've described it to you tonight to make this deal. that you are reaffirming that all of the property here is surplus in accordance with the spot survey that you're also approving as item 1503 and that you are approving the purchase and sale agreement. So that your vote on item 1504 encompasses your finding that this is in the best interest of the public that all the property is surplus and that the purchase and sale agreement is made. All right, I will entertain a motion mo member font. So moved incorporating all of the that Mr. Palmer

121just said with and a second by member Vanos. Yes. Sorry about that. Okay. All in favor, please say I. I opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Sorry. I do want to make one comment before we move on to the next item on the agenda. However anybody feels about how we got here, there's a huge process ahead of us and I would encourage everyone to work together with Dr. Phillips Charities. a lot of collaboration, a lot of decisions, important decisions to be made and we can only make them if everybody who has a voice shows up with that spirit of collaboration. And with that, we will move on to our next item, Dr. Vasquez. thank you, Madam Chair. I do want to personally thank board member Vanos. she came to the board newbie and really found that this

122was an issue that our board had been dealing with. she was so engaged in the community meetings really talking to the residents and getting to the heart of what was in the best interest of the town. And I know that coming in as a new board member, it was it was a difficult transition, but I applaud your engagement in the community and how invested you were to ensure that this board was well informed and that we were able to make the best decision for our children in our community. So, thank you. The next item on the agenda. Next item is 17.01. So did you want to say anything on it before? Madam Chair, may I or your please? Yes. Okay. So, we are on item 17.01. I am going to ask if Allison Kib is

123still here if she doesn't mind coming up. in case there are questions, I would ask her to for the benefit of the public and those that are here. I'd like for her to just give a brief overview of why we are here outlining the challenge process and what we are expecting of our board today. Madam Chair and Miss Kibby could Madam Chair, we have three speakers on this item. Would you care to take the speakers first before or would you rather hear from Miss Miss Kibby first? I'm at the board's pleasure. Thank you. Much appreciated for the lowering. so the reason we're here tonight is for the school board to share their recommendation about the books Do Animals Fall in Love? It is a book that we had three copies of within the district in

124middle school libraries. so the book immediately went to a district literacy council for review because of how the challenge form was completed. The district literacy council met on November 7th, 2025 and they recommended to retain the book. just to provide a bit of an overview of what the district literacy council process is like. we select random members who apply to be part of the district literacy council from throughout the community. They identify the area of their expertise whether it be elementary school, middle school or high school. And so we form various committees that we have at the ready for elementary, for middle school, and for high school. So this was a middle school committee and involved a principal, a media specialist, a classroom teacher, a parent, and a school counselor. They met. The district literacy

125council meeting is something where I am merely a facilitator. and then two of my team members take minutes in accordance with the sunshine laws. And we really turn this over to the district literacy council and we say this is your time to discuss. We provide a u guiding checklist of sorts so that the members of the district literacy council kind of have specific things to think about and consider as they have a discussion. And it's always a very rich discussion. It is like going to the most well- readad book club you've ever been to. it's very very thoughtful and everybody on the district literacy council understands the magnitude of what their decision is going to be and how that affects students in our district. does that cover everything Dr. Vasquez? Thank you so much. That

126does cover. We don't do this very often and so I want on the spot members of the public and those that are here to understand the process. so madame chair we will now allow the board to have conversation. I think the board would probably like to hear from the public first. Sure. Okay, let's do that. Thank you, Miss Kibby. Thank you very much. That was very helpful. All right, our first speaker. We have three speakers. First speaker is Coulson Fry, followed by Stefan Frell and Terresa Malay. Good evening again. my name is Coulson Fry. I'm speaking as an Orange County community member and se Alliance organizer again. I want to say plainly that it's frustrating that in 2026 we are still spending board time debating individual library books while former serious threats to public education

127are actively advancing. Our schools are under pressure from forced charter expansions, schools of hope collocation and policies that strip resources and control away from local communities. These are structural threats that close schools, destabilize neighborhoods, and permanently reshape public education. Compared to that, debating whether a professionally reviewed book belongs on a library shelf is misplaced. It's a distraction. The district literary council reviewed this material and recommended that it remain available. That process worked as designed. Relitigating it at the board level pulls attention away from defending public schools against policies that actually undermine them. Libraries do not force content on students. Schools of hope force decisions on communities. One expands access to information while the other removes local control. If we care about protecting students, educators, and public education itself, this board needs to focus on the

128real fights, not endless cycles of censorship that consume time, energy, and trust. I urge you to uphold the professional recommendation, retain this book, and keep your attention on defending public education from policies that truly threaten his future. Thank you. Thank you. Your next speaker, Stefan Frell. Hi board. Stefan Ferrell, 34787. I am a current OCPS parent of a middle school student and I strongly support retaining Do Animals Fall in Love in the School Library. The challenge before you seeks to permanently remove access to this book for my child and the overwhelming majority of OCPS middle school students whose families have dis have placed have not placed reading restrictions on them. A reasonable compromise already exists. Individual parents may restrict access for their own children and in this case the objector does not even have a

129child with access to books. This book in one of our schools. When Senator Gruters made his closing argument in defense of HB1467 back in 2022, he said, "One person may object to a book, but the community will decide the outcome." The review committee unanimously recommended retention and specifically noted the book's educational value and alignment with sixth and seventh grade science standards. I agree with that conclusion. Last year, my son in sixth grade studied asexual and sexual reproduction in sixth grade's life science class, and he observed animal behavior firsthand at a class field trip to Animal Kingdom. The content of this book is age appropriate, factual, and well within students ability to understand. Finally, both Judge Mendoza's ruling and the Florida Department of Education's 2024 update to the principles of professional conduct recognize the harm caused

130when students are denied access to educationally sound, age appropriate materials. Why threaten a principal certification for preventing students from accessing materials in the library if not for acknowledging that students are harmed by that act? Retaining this book respects students educational needs, parental choice, and the professional judgment of exercise already exercised by the district. Please uphold the committee's decision to retain. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Frell. All right. we have one more speaker. Is that correct? Terresa Malay. Okay. I believe she's left. Okay. floor is open for a motion or discussion. Member Banos. I'm happy to have a discussion. I actually attended the review of this book. I heard the principal, the teacher, the school counselor, the media specialist, and the parent all discuss it. I some of the comments that stood out to me were

131just sharing that this book is you know learning about things that students are already learning about middle school characteristics of living things that our schools have agricultural programs again where students this is pertinent to that education and so I would support retaining this book and respecting the community members observations and conclusions. Thank you. All right. Thank you, member Farat. Thank you, Madam Chair. This book is highly concerning. Something that I've seen when we look at the committee review, something that is shared, it says that they one of the members declared that the purpose of the book in question was to discuss animal reproduction, including animal courting, falling in love. they began discussing and referred to the statutes which discuss humans not animals and that the statute does not apply in this case because we cannot

132protect human project human morality on animal behavior. However, the moment that the animals begin speaking like humans, it's different. So now it's a different story. this book as we go through it, it is I mean whoever did the illustrations, cute drawings u but perversion all over it. There's absolutely no reason that we need to be promoting threesomes, masturbation. and so when I looked up all the sixth and seventh grade curriculum, at no time are students discussing masturbation, threesomes. They're taught about sexual the act of reproduction, how that happens. A lot of it happen is discussed in generalities but not with full color depictions and then of animals just really inappropriate as we as I read through it just on page 52 multiple partners. again they speak as if they're humans. I don't care if they're

133little ladybugs. It doesn't matter to me the moment that you write this as if they are humans talking. you now have 11 an 11year-old my son is in fifth grade so I can't imagine him being in sixth grade and being handed a book like this or having access to a book like this where there is no adult here discussing this and actually one of the commenters in the discussion stated that acknowledged that while some people might be uncomfortable with the topic the book is not required reading and if students have questions well this book can provide answers well I'm Sorry, but most parents that I talked to said that they would not want their child learning any of about sexual acts anything that reproduction as described in this book. It is perverted. It is inappropriate.

134Highly inappropriate. And I'm just I'm so livid. I just think it's ridiculous that in this, as stated in 2026, we still have people who are putting we have media specialists who have these books on hand for children as young as three years old or excuse me, three years old, 11 years old. the only thing that I thought was cute in this book was the very ending of it. it begins to talk about the animals like how they the they form inside of the mother. I thought that was really beautifully written. I think that was awesome. It talks about just even even after that how the mothers or the parents come alongside and take care of the animals. but everything else in here, that comes before it, even the very first, hold on, let me get

135to it. The very first thing that kids will read, it says, I like you. This chapter is called the art of seduction. I'm sorry. In sixth and seventh grade science curriculum, we are not teaching kids the art of seduction, which according to the Webster's dictionary is the enticement of a person to sexual intercourse or temptation. Absolutely. This is filth. And if you're wondering why parents are leaving the district, this would be one of the reasons. And sadly, most parents don't even realize this filth is in their child's school. So, I will be voting to remove this completely, all four copies. All right. we don't have any further comments. Is there a mo I'm sorry, member Salamanca, did you just press that? A little bit ago. It's all right. Thank you. Thank you. I you know

136it is beyond this board on I think it's it's not very productive to sexualize biology and science because that's not what biology and sciences but you can always sexualize anything in our curriculum if that's how you interpret it and I just I don't know you can project whatever you want into biology and science but that's still biology and science. I think overall and this has been consistent with how I have voted with every single book is we have a process a process that has been told to us as well as part of the legislature by elected officials and by the department of education that those that know best are these committees of composed of parents in these schools and composed of parents who have students in these schools and I believe in parents rights. to

137what is best for their children's education. And I believe in the process of why we have these committees. Just because the outcome of a committee is not what I agree or disagree with does not make the process something that I'm against or for. I believe in the process. I believe in committee input. I believe in parents rights. the committee made a decision to retain this book. They felt it was appropriate for their students. They're okay with it. and I don't have a reason to see otherwise. So, I'm not gonna vote against a parent's own choice of what they want their students and kids to learn. That is a parents rights. And I can agree or disagree with it, but that is their rights. And the legislature gave us a process outlined on what these committees

138are and community input. And that process has been met. And the point of this board is to say, did we meet the process or did we not? Not to debate the contents of these books. Either we believe that the parents know what's best for their kids or we don't believe that the parents know what's best for their kids. But we don't get to choose just because the parents made a different decision than what we would have made for our kids. That suddenly this process is wrong and that we actually want to nitpick at what books or what things we want or not. And so I think I'm all about the process on this one. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Member Salamanca. Member Gallo. Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree with member Vanos and member

139Salamanca. I believe in the process and the policy that we have put forward. I trust that process. I trust those that sat on that committee that deemed that this boat, this book was appropriate for the age group listed. I, you know, it's anatomy, it's biology. If someone can tell me that anything in this book is not factual or not true or not anatomically correct, then I might have reached a different decision. But this is just talking about animals and how animals reproduce. it is just anatomy. And when we take biology and anatomy and we make it filthy or or gross or disgusting, it's disheartening. I don't view it that way. I view it as the cycle of life. This is what happens. This is what happened in the world. This is how God created us.

140so I will be voting to uphold the committee's decision decision as well. Thank you. I was hoping we weren't going to debate this. there's some things we're just not going to agree on and I'm trying really hard to to stick to what is my vote. Member Fant. Thank you. one question that I have then for the superintendent. at any time in our sixth, seventh, or eighth grade curriculum for science, are students learning about a masturbation or threesomes? I no, those are not part of the standards. Okay. So if they're not part of the standards, why are we allowing those this book to have topics of that nature to introduce these topics to students, other people's children, books are there in our library to accompany and to be a an added bonus to the standards that

141we are teaching, not to introduce new standards. So, I'd like the board to think of that when you make this decision. But one thing that was stated by one of the speakers that they said that there are far more serious threats out there than reviewing books. And for me, re removing sexually inapprop inappropriate content is a threat to the innocence of our children. And I've been elected by parents of my district to protect the minds of our children. And there is nothing greater and nothing no hill that I wouldn't stand on and die on, but to protect the innocence of children. And when I look at this book, and it's just amazing to me that adults here just say, "Well, it's animal reproduction. No big deal." I'm all for animal reproduction. you show them the

142more age appropriate just in generalities, but when you begin to put human terminology on them on page 46 about the rat and how he just can't get enough sex and we got to have sex all day and it's just so amazing. on page 48, the lion as he's the girl lion saying, "Help, I need a break." These are all this is we're putting human terminology into this and when we put as if they're humans now we have students this is it's off topic of what the standard is being taught. Thank you. Member Felder. Thank you. I remember when I was about 12 years old, my dad took me to a ranch in Oklahoma. He not Oklahoma, Ocala. He was raised in a place called Shady Grove. I remember the first time I saw cows mating.

143I'm 69 years old and that sight has not left my mind even today. However, it was nothing my parents could do to blind me from seeing that you can walk down the street. You can be shopping if it's mating season for dogs or you could be at your home at night if it's mating seating for cats. The noises they make. I mean, it happens. It happens. And I, you know, it happens. But I I believe and we can't control that. You know, your kid may ask you as I asked my mom and dad, you know, what was going on cuz it was God, it was devastating. However, I believe that and I've always believed the fact that parents can choose. you can choose and if you don't want your child to read that book then

144you have the right the choice to not allow them but I don't think that we should choose for other parents because it is your responsibility your moral responsibility to teach your children the morality that you live in as a parent or as parents that is your responsibility ility. It is not my responsibility to infringe my morality thoughts on others. Unless you ask, you ask me why I believe the way that I believe or why I behave the way I behave, then I can give you that answer. But when I'm in an environment where there are people from all walks of life, I must trust the fact that choice, choice, choice. I speak vently about that because there was a time in history when people that looked like me didn't have a choice. But I now

145walk in a choice. You have a choice. and I will stand on that. I want to keep my choice and I will keep my choice. So I still believe in choice for parents. Thank you. Okay. is there a motion? Member Banos. I move to adopt the recommendation of the committee, the review committee for do animals fall in love to retain this book. We have a motion by member Vanos. Do we have a second? We have a second by member Bird. All in favor, please say I. I. Opposed? No. All right. So, the motion passes with majority voting in the affirmative with member Fant and myself voting in opposition. I'll speak to this very quickly. I did not want to debate it. I certainly don't think this is, you know, some book that needs to be

146burned or anything. I it's not doesn't fall in that category. I think just so that our media specialists who might be watching I feel like there are so many choices that we can make in terms of books and this I just don't I can't believe that there's not a better choice. So I know we can't expect that we all agree on what that right choice should be. I will tell you why one big disappointment when I saw the title I was looking forward to reading it because I've often you know you hear about elephants and how they mourn when one dies and you different types of animals that you know even my own dogs I just lost one and the other one I swear if that if my dogs aren't in love I don't know

147cuz they just you know and they love me and I know they feel that. So, I thought I was going to be reading a little bit more about the emotional attachments of these animals and so I was kind of like stunned because it had nothing to do with love and which left me thinking that if I'm picking up a book to read about love and I'm reading about nothing but sex, which is not the same as love, that was anyway that I was struggled with that and then I started thinking, okay, we've got female animals that are eating the male, which I left me just going, this is not love. Anyhow, just an insight into my head. It's a weird place is all I can tell you. It's just a weird place up there. So,

148this isn't something that I do wish we hadn't had to spend time debating. So, but we do. And so part of the process, and this will be my one debate, part of the process is we're part of the process. So I would have loved if we didn't have any of this, but we do. And we're we still sit here and we're still part of the process and we still have to vote. So I voted the way I think. but I certainly respect where you all are coming from because this is not this I could fall either way. all right. Enough of me. Let's go on to our last item on the agenda. Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Last item on the agenda this evening is the approval of the application for Wild Oaks Preparator Preparatory

149Academy Charter School. Wow, that's a lot. we have Mr. Greg Moody, who will introduce his his staff, who will then give us information about the application and then be ready to answer any questions the board might have. All right. Thank you, Madam Superintendent, board chair, board members. It's always a pleasure to be before you. I'd like to introduce our fin our fantastic, pardon me, maybe I can't speak tonight. our fantastic charter team. We have Dr. Kia Scott, Gina Dole, and Margaret Elmo. And Gina, I mean Kia Scott is going to walk us through this agenda item 1702. Mr. it's old age or something. Moody. Yeah. Thank you for doing that because it makes me feel better because I have those moments where I almost can't remember. Yeah. I can't figure out whether to call my

150husband by his name or one of the kids or one of the dogs. So there you go. Thank you, Madam Chair, board members, and superintendent. This evening, we bring before you board item 17.02, requesting approval of the application, oh, for Wild Oaks Preparatory Academy Charter School. Wild Oaks Preparatory Academy submitted an application seeking sponsorship for enrollment capacity of up to 1,535 students in grades kindergarten through 12th. The application was submitted on October 21st, 2025. The district convened a review panel composed of administrators and staff with expertise in charter school application review as well as specialized knowledge in areas such as exceptional student education, curriculum development, curriculum development, student services and guidance, assessment and accountability. The charter application was reviewed was reviewed in accordance with the Florida Department of Education's model charter school application evaluation instrument

151as required by statute. A schoolboard work session was held on November 18th, 2025, where the applicant was able to present the concept of the proposed school as well as participate in a question and answer session. Following a comprehensive review and an adherence to statutory requirements, the district finds sufficient grounds to conclude that Wild Oaks Preparatory Academy Charter School has met the criteria established under Florida statute 10002.33. The required application components necessary for the effective administration and operation of a charter school have been appropriately addressed. We are therefore recommending approval of the application for Wild Oaks Preparatory Academy Charter School. Thank you, Dr. Basquez. Thank you so much. And now, Madam Chair, we're ready to, answer any questions or have the board provide comments. All right. Member Vanos, you're recognized. It's been a long night. I

152just have a couple of questions. thank you so much for describing the evaluation tool and I just wanted to ask Mr. Paul Marini, if the charter school meets all of the requirements under 102.33, does the school board have any discretion to deny this application? no. You'll get overturned immediately by the Charter School Appeals Commission if you do. Okay. So, in essence, we have to vote a yes here. Yeah. It this board can Let me re let me back up and make sure I am clear. This board could always choose to vote no on the application. There are 21 separate categories. I think on 20 categories they have been rated by our staff as meets the standard. one which is partially meets the standard which we can take care of in contract negotiations. If this board

153were to vote no tonight, it would be appealed to the Charter School Appeals Commission. In my experience in front of the Charter School Appeals Commission, and Dr. Scott has sat on the Charter School Appeals Commission, so I'm sure she can back me up. If we if the Charter School Appeals Commission sees us deny an application where 20 out of the 21 categories were rated rated as meets the standard and one is rated as partially meets the standard, in our experience, the Charter School Appeals Commission has overturned that and done so very quickly. So, while the board has the option to vote no, I would not recommend it. And I think if we were to vote no, it would be overturned. So, I apologize for not giving that longer explanation first and cutting straight to it,

154but I would not recommend a no vote from a legal standpoint. Thank you. I appreciate that. And I would just encourage there was a work session as was mentioned on November 18th and would encourage people to go back and to listen to the questions that were posed to this charter school company. staff asked questions at time stamp 340 and board members asked questions at time stamp 354. and I would just be remiss if I didn't point out three really important points I think that were raised that we're not even able to consider in this vote. one of the school board members whose district this charter school will be in raised a point about not really needing this school to support the population there and that it may conflict with the long-term planning of OCPS for

155schools that we have had planned for that area. but that can't even be part of our conversation. another schoolboard member brought up concerns and that was me about the fact that the developer of this property will own this land and will own this school that is paid for with taxpayer dollars even if the school closes. And another board member astutely pointed out that there's really no difference between what this charter school even articulates that it is offering and what OCPS offers. So I'm not sure where the innovation pieces, but those I think important points can't even be part of this conversation of approval. So I just wanted to highlight that. Thank you. All right. Any no further questions? Is there a motion? Motion. We have a motion of approval by member Ferrron. Do we have

156a second? Second by member Gallo. All in favor, please say I. I. Opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Dr. Scott. All right. this is terrible. Dr. Baz, you have a report for the board. You know, I look at the clock and I feel like it's been such much longer night. So, I am going to just I just have one celebration this evening. graduation rates were released today from the state. and I am elated and thankful to the work of our teachers, support staff, our administrators, district staff, parents, our students that our traditional graduation rate, our overall graduation rate, which includes all of the schools, the charters, for the very first time is over 90%. I am proud to say that we are at 92.7% graduation. and over it and the graduation rate for our traditional

157schools, traditional high schools, 97.2%. So, thank you all that are, you know, working each and every day in those classrooms, supporting our students, our families that choose OCPS. this is just an incredible testament to what a great great school system we have. So, that is my report, Madam Chair. Oh my gosh. I literally have goosebumps. I literally have goose That is incredible. Whoa. All right. The board's lit up. are these related to because should I hear from John? Okay, John. Mr. Pomarini, I'm just going to be very brief. I had Sergio Ruiz in here from my staff and Chris Wilson. Sergio said he was gonna call it a night. he's been putting in a lot of time and hours both on the Dr. Phillips agreement and the Fort Gatlin agreement. So, I wanted to personally

158thank him and Chris Wilson for all of their hard work getting these agreements across. It was negotiating with both of those parties. We had to take care of some issues and they did a superb job and I just wanted to thank them publicly for the work they did on it. So, that's it for me. Thank you, Sean. Member Bird, I was just going to comment on or congratulate Akoi High School for being one of the top three graduation rates in the district with 99.2% graduation rate. So, yay, Coey. That was it. Yes. Where's Where's yours? What? No, no, but you're included. So, I'll I'll I'll see if I find it before the end of the meeting. Member Gallo. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have just a few things to report. Number one, the legislative committee

159did meet last week and it was approved tonight on our consent agenda. We did add a blurb about the schools of hope asking for clarification and more guard rails around charter schools being able to move into our buildings. So that gives the authority to to Mr. Miller McMiller to go up to Tallahassee and talk on our behalf, which I'm I'm thrilled about. The second thing I wanted to bring up was that Senate Bill 318, which is the bill by Senator Gates that puts some accountability measures in the taxpayer funded vouchers, is being heard on the Senate floor tomorrow. I know that we're going to put something out thanking Senator Gates, but I wanted to take a moment to personally thank Senator Gates for his hard work on this bill. it's a first step in the

160right direction towards transparency and accountability so we know how this money is spent. we'll be able to track the students. I think the audit general found that 30,000 students were unable to be found last school year and this will prevent that from happening this year. So, I encourage all to reach out to your senator and encourage them to vote yes on this. It did a pass appropriation unanimously. It was it's this is a bipartisan bill and I would also encourage everybody if anybody's still paying attention to please reach out to your Florida House rep and encourage them to support this bill. when it comes to the House, it there is no companion. So, I'd also encourage them to work with their education committees to create a bill to support Senator Gates's good work. It's it's

161a first step. We still need some more. We need still to make sure that kids are learning and that there's accountability around academics, but this is a great first step and I applaud Senator Gates for his work on this measure. The second thing I wanted to bring up is on Friday night, last Friday night, three three of the board members here went to a meeting for Orange Center Elementary and it was where they were having conversations about converting it to the charter school. The vote is happening this week all week long and then and then the votes will be tallied and discussed next week. So if you're an Orange Center Elementary parent, I encourage you to please vote. It's been all over the news. Lyft Orlando's done a really great job of getting the word

162out. So, we're thrilled for this community. We're thrilled for this to become a charter. We did. They had a photo booth. So, I did bring You can't see them. I did bring some pictures. So, here I don't know. We were having a good time at the dinner with the Orange Center families. And so, here's just a few pictures. We got in front of the photo booth and we were we were having a good time for ourselves. So, I just encourage everybody that is a member of Orange Center to please take time out this week to vote and I'm so looking forward to the partnership with Lyft and all the good things that will come from that partnership. And that's all I have. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Member Galla. Member Douglas. I just wanted

163to say how elated and proud to be in OCPS. Oh, sorry. I thought I did. how elated and proud to be in OCPS to be part of OCPS. This is a testament of how wonderful our teachers and staff are and the performance that they've done this year with the graduation rate is absolutely outstanding. And I just will incidentally I would like to mention that Winder Mayor High School which is one of my schools is actually the second at 99.5% in graduation rate. So we are one of the best district if it's not the best. And I just I'm absolutely just in the clouds to know that and you know just to see that people are talking about or you know our district and how you know we're not performing well and all this nonsense that

164we usually hearing. This is a fact. This is a fact that we can rely on and I'm just really proud of it. Thank you know superintendent. you have done a good job as well and all these wonderful people in the back. Congratulations to all of you. The congrat and parents congratulations. Yeah, Thank you member Douglas. Member Ferrant. Madam Chair, I wanted to jump on the congratulations wagon here and say just a shout out to all the schools who have worked so incredibly hard for this high achievement with our graduation rate. And you know, as we I look at our schools and just I'm thankful for the teachers. I'm thankful for the direction that the district is heading with just really that high achievement with academics and keeping academics at the top priority, which is really

165why we're all here. So, but I want to encourage parents as well cuz parent involvement is really where it's at. When parents are involved in their kids education, making sure that assignments are in or checking in on how their day was, checking in to see what what they're learning. And when you ask those kind of questions over dinner, it really helps your child to remember what they were learning in school and helps bring up those those academic, you know, things that they did. And even while they're at school, then maybe they are thinking, hey, I can't wait to tell my parents about what what we did today. It just creates this unity and it helps to elevate that excitement in your own child. So encouraging parents again, just make sure that you're involved. Ask those

166great questions to your kids and just stay involved with your school. that's where it's at. Parent involvement is really a top priority. So thank you. Thank you, member. Member Felder. Yes. Thank you. what I'm going to say is a is an attest well testament I should say to the greatness of traditional public schools on last Monday had the opportunity January 7th to along with and Valencia Community College one of the schools in my district John's high school they gave offer offered the opportunity for every student and I understand the thing went viral cuz people was calling me all over saying they saw it on TV. Say it went viral that every kid was given an opportunity not only just to go to Valencia if you want to go to trade school if you want to

167go to on a program what takes three weeks or four weeks or two weeks they were paying for it and this is in a traditional public school. This opportunity was in a traditional public school. And then later on that day, that evening, I went over to Dr. Phillips and Horus Academy, a part of the Horus Construction out of Tampa. They came over, Evans and some other schools brought bus loads of students, seniors, and they came over with their transcripts and there were SC there were like 27 colleges from all over the country offered the children scholarships right on the spot. full ride right on the spot. And so this is a testament of the wonderful more than accolades that we have for traditional public schools because had you not been in a traditional public school,

168you may not have had that opportunity. You may not even known about the opportunity, your parents may not have known. And there were parents there with their children from all over the district to take advantage of that. So again, we were rated the second year as an A district and you just mentioned all these schools already in January with a 90 plus% graduation rate. Thank God we must be doing something right. The teachers, the principles, the students, something must got to be working for us. And so I just, as member Douglas said, she's so proud to be a part of this district. So am I. And I'm proud to say that I was educated in this district. My mama worked in this district as a teacher and a counselor and a dean. So I'm so

169grateful for OCPS. And you know, it's not perfect. There are a lot of things that may need to improve, but that's what growth is all about. But I just want to encourage those of you that are on the line trying to determine, decide what you're going to do. The traditional public school is my vote. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Member Felder. Member Salamanca. okay. Of course, it's it's going to be here. Lake Nona High School was number one in graduation rates. So, District 2 obviously is going to celebrate this broadly. but but no really I did also want to say thanks and congratulate our staff, our teachers obviously do so much work to get a lot of our students prepared and through all all the ups and downs that comes with the

170graduation requirements through the high school journey for many students and I know one of the things about Lake Nona High School is we have a lot of students that come for the first time into this country and have to figure out and it's it's a really high immigrant population and figure out the school system and graduation requirements and really hit the ground running. And it is so impressive that's kind of where the graduation area is for the school and other schools around the district because we truly are a very diverse district with so many folks in different experiences and journeys of of how they encounter our education system. and you know obviously huge shout out to our superintendent and our district staff Martinez Arm Brewster who have really prioritize and continue to communicate that we're

171here to educate and we have a really high bar for what we're here to do and constantly remind this board to stay focused on the issues that matter most. and so thank you for that. It is incredibly difficult in today's environment where public education is really under attack and both economically as well as in some other really systematic ways to continue meeting these goals and exceeding them. and that is only possible because we have a superintendent and leadership at this district that cares above all else about academics and instruction. And that is not true for many other parts of this country. And so we are lucky. I do not take that for granted that we have a leader like Dr. Vasquez that continues to to do such an incredible job. and I'm very proud to

172be part of Orange County. Thank you. Thank you, Member Salamanca. Well, that was exactly where I wanted to close. So, I'm glad you said that. I you know, it does it takes everybody. It does take our parents to be engaged. It takes our students to be motivated. It's so cool to see our students motivating our students. What a great I mean, great job on that, superintendent. you got them all jazzed up about being inclusive. It is pretty cool. Every time we see them, it's neat. yeah, and you've put together just an excellent team and but you know it all it all does start at the top and that's the board who chose you. What? Huh? Right. Yeah, it is. Some of that. No, no, you do. No, you do deserve the accolades because you provide

173u the leadership to enable us to do the work that needs to be done and you support our teachers, our staff. and so none of this would be possible without the phenomenal board. And I say that to my fellow superintendent quite often that I am very lucky with the board that I have that although we may not agree on everything, we do agree that students are our number one priority and so I'm very thankful for that. Yes. Yeah. Well, well, thank you for that. I do know the most important decision a board will ever make is choosing a superintendent. and we did a darn good job on that. And I am I'm really proud of this board, too, because we come from different places. We rarely disagree, but when we do, we do it with

174respect. And I hope that's something that trickles down as well. All right, everybody has said everything, and if anybody is half as exhausted as I am, I'm just going to say drive safe on the way home. And been a great meeting. I'm glad we can put this all behind us. Heat. Heat. Heat.