School Board Work Session | April 14, 2026

001Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Good afternoon. Actually, good morning. Sorry, and welcome to the Poke County School Board work session. We will now call the work session for April 14th, 2026 to order. Thank you to our staff who are available and accessible to help address any questions we have. As a board, we strive to work with you to ensure we achieve our mission to provide a highquality education for all students. I would like to start by reading our who are we statement. We are the Poke County Leadership Governance Team. If we were to pick one phrase to define us, it would be student centered. Because when we come together to work, we lean on our diverse backgrounds and experiences to ensure that our decisions are focused on providing a highquality education for all students. The four

002most important things to our governance team are operating with integrity, respecting our students, staff, families, and each other, establishing a culture where our stakeholders feel valued, supported, and have opportunities for personal and professional growth, and supporting an approach of continuous improvement to ensure student outcomes. Collectively, we work on behalf of the children we serve and find avenues of agreement so that we can cover govern the district in an effective manner. There is no acceptable alternative. We will always collaborate in a respectful manner in order to enhance opportunities for each student and staff member. We will not disparrage others. Our students will thrive because we will remain committed to supporting the whole child. We hope to engage and empower our students and stakeholders to create a community of lifelong learners. At this time, I would like

003to turn o turn it over to Superintendent Hyde to lead us in our work session today. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair. Good morning to all of our staff. Thank you for all of our visitors here today. Um, so at this time, we'll go ahead and get started. And the first item before us today in our workshop is Dr. Annie Roberts Elementary School. and they are here to discuss the potential rebranding of their school logo and mascot. Good morning, Miss Wearth. >> Good morning. >> And Miss Kangelus. >> Good morning, Chair Sharpless, board members, and Superintendent Hyde. My name is Dr. Amy Weingart, and I'm the principal at Dr. Annie Roberts Elementary. I want to thank you for allowing me to be here this morning to share with you our proposal for a rebranding of our

004school logo. Um I do want to thank uh some people this morning, our leadership team at our school as well as our school advisory council. They were big part of this project. Also, I would like to thank uh Mrs. Kendrick. She's our previous regional and Mrs. Canangelos, our current regent regional for supporting our initiatives at our school. And also I would like to thank the public relations department. they have been huge in collaborating with us in this rebranding design. So I want to thank Jason Giri and his team uh Mr. Garcia, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Why have been phenomenal. So I want to give them a plug because they are doing great work in our public relations department. So thank them very much. So we have a need for a new look at our school.

005Our school opened in 2002 and the current logo as you can see um represents various colors. It was designed by a staff member years ago. Uh currently we have several colors of shirts just through the years on our campus. So we do need a more modern design um a design that's colorful that aims uh to represent our student body and our population. Um so I did reach out at last school year at the beginning in 2024 to our public relations department team to talk about how we even go about rebranding for this school year previous school year. So the rebranding effort began through a leadership team discussion with my leadership team. My leadership team was 100% on board to start the rebranding process. Um and then our SAC committee met in 2024 as well and

006we they were 100% on board. They were ready to go with the rebranding process. So we had that um underway and then after that we moved back to the public relations department and they began their work and their process of rebranding. We're keeping our Robert's Rocket lo uh mascot. So, we're still the Rockets, but we just need an upcoming fresh design. Um I was working on creating banners and I wanted to get things made for our school and I was coming into roadblocks because I had just a piece of clip art. So, I'm really looking to really rebrand our school, look, uh take our Rocket logo and just have a total fresh look on our campus. So for community feedback um after the logo was designed um our public relations department got back with me

007and my team. So we followed all the procedures and policies for the PK county public schools rebranding toolkit. So that was all completed and then we started uh looking at community feedback. So, first the survey was given to my staff and then the survey was provided to our community and our families and I made sure that I sent out every possible way to let them know that the survey was there through Facebook, through social media. We did flyers with QR codes. I did a connected call. I also did a focus communications and I pushed it out through there so that everybody could show and give us feedback on the the logo. Um so after that uh we had overwhelming support of positivity. So some of the things that we heard most in the comments were

008this is fresh, this is modern, this is clean, this is a great look, we're super excited, we can't wait to see the final the product uh um and unveil on student shirts and so on and so forth. So some of the questions were the first question was how well does the proposed new logo represent Dr. Annie Roberts Elementary? So you can see that very well, somewhat well, neutral, not well at all, not at all, not very well. And you can see the percentages there. So we had in the about 80 upper 80s percent for somewhat well and very well. Also, our community feedback, do you recommend Dr. Annie Roberts Elementary to adopt the proposed logo? We had yes, no, and I am unsure at this time. So yes was um 83% approximately 83% and unsure

009was about 10%. So you can see that our community did really rally behind us with this new logo. Um so the overall response from our community feedback, we we felt it was very confident. It was they were enthusiastic about it. Um they had a sense of pride. So a lot of families were excited when they typed in the comments, we can't wait to see the product. We're excited that this is happening on our campus. So the new logo really embodies empowerment for our students aiming high taking initiative in their work. Um it really captures and evokes the energy enthusiasm on our campus and it's bright bright and vibrant. As you can see the logo here we have various colors that contrast and the design is recognizable and it's very memorable uh opposed to what we

010had in the past. So core beliefs, values and vision of our school. Um we have our Robert's rocket rockets. We soar we it symbolizes forward movement. It symbolizes limitless potential. It symbolizes that journey into the education of our students. It also really the the circular emblem focuses on that inclusion and togetherness of of our our staff and our students and our community as a whole. Um also it just in symbolizes pride. We we want our students to feel connected as a whole and our stakeholders. So we felt like this logo really does embody our our campus. So as I said where students launch into future success um we teach our students every day growth is great progress is wonderful. Um the momentum setting high goals being ambitious and that is all our rocket and it

011soaring. Um so we're keeping our rocket just making it fresh. So benefits of adopting our new logo, it does create school identity. Um it also builds excitement on our campus. It also promotes teamwork as well as just that positive can do attitude. And then also it establishes a style guide. So you'll see in a few moments we're going to have various style guide colors. We'll have the font labeled. Um in years to come this will be at our campus and it's our brand. um future administrators, future students can look at this and and move forward with it and buy products and things of that nature. So, some things to consider with rebranding. Um we definitely are keeping our rocket uh mascot, so we're not changing that. There will be no site updates needed on our

012campus. Um no painting needs to be done. Uh families are not going to need to purchase anything. they're still able to wear their current shirts um and or purchase the shirts that we currently have. This is just going to be a phase in. So, we're going to phase in new shirts onto our campus um for our students and that will be as the years progress. Some other considerations, our campus already has a strong blue presence. So, you see some of our colors have the blue hues. um our marquee, our roof lines, our exterior doors, our interior doors, all of our trim, everything is blue on our campus. So the red, white, and blue color palette, it associates with the rocket lifting into the sky. It creates that a sense of identity. It appeals to adults

013and children. The shirts look great for the children. It also will look great on a bag for the adults or um a notebook. Um it does reflect the pride that we have on our campus. And also red, white, and blue are the official colors of the USA. So, I want to share the style guide with you today. So, our colors, primary and secondary colors, as well as our font are listed for you to see. So, you'll see the blue hues as well as toning in the red. And then our secondary will be the black and white. Here's some horizontal logo designs that we'll be able to utilize on our campus. And you can see there's color and there's the black and white. So, we can utilize the black and white when we because we don't

014always use color when we're printing and things of that nature. There's also the vertical logos as well that our public relations team has designed for us. Here's some samples of just some ideas of things that we could probably possibly purchase for our campus. So, there are flags and you can see how it looks with the font and the color the color contrast. Also, some examples of other items that we could potentially purchase for our campus. Excuse me. There's some um examples of shirts. So that's I love those. They look great. And I wanted to say this is my second time going through the rebranding process with PK County Public Schools because I was a principal at Highland City Elementary. So when our district first rolled out the rebranding process, I was one of the schools

015that was able to first do that over at Highland City Elementary as a principal and now I'm doing it here with Dr. Annie Roberts. I think it's such a valuable toolkit and I think our district has done a phenomenal job and Jason Gary and his team with the rebranding process. So I did want to share that because it is very easy for a principal to pick up this toolkit and walk through the steps of what we need to do as a principal to rebrand our school whether it be looking at a different logo or looking at a different mascot or changing things on your canvas. So I did want to share that they have been a phenomenal team to work with and their um toolkit is amazing. So, it's the second time I've been through

016it and it is they work phenomenally with principles. So, I did want to share that as well. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You want to add? >> And I just wanted to uh to add uh we really appreciate working with uh Dr. Andy Roberts. They were great to work with. Um and uh you know, they there were a lot of months and a lot of weeks of kind of getting back and getting feedback, but ultimately I think the the end result um is really really well done. Uh, I also wanted to share that idx, a pole county, uh, based company that specializes in custom branded merchandise. Uh, Ryan Deivvener, the president of IDX, he's offering to donate a starter package of of uh, merchandise, custom merchandise featuring the new logo for them. The donation

017is completely free. Um, it's only available to schools who successfully complete a rebrand and follow all of the official procedures of of the uh, district's u rebranding procedures. Uh idx is making the donation possible because they believe in the importance of branding. They know good branding can and really build positive school culture uh which leads to student success. Uh we greatly appreciate their support and partnership. Um because Dr. Annie Roberts followed the uh rebranding process, they would be eligible for this generous donation. It includes 300 custom printed t-shirts, 1,00 pens, one step and repeat backdrop that's good for special events and also for photo back as a photo backdrop, a customized table cover uh and a polo and a tumbler for each staff member. >> Thank you, >> Miss Miller. >> Thank you. >> Hang

018on, Miss Miller. >> Somehow you disappeared from the list. Go ahead, Miss Miller. >> You might want to make me disappear sometimes. Um um thank you. I was a Robert's Rocket, not as a student, as a teacher. My very short-term teaching in 2003. Um that tells you I'm old, but I want to say thank you for this long explanation, which I think is great for the community to hear, as well as the phasing in process for students who parents who may feel like they need to run out and buy all these new shirts. They're not going to have to do that. Um that's a very generous offer from idx and we appreciate their partnership. Um my question are there any other costs associated with this these rebrandings? >> No I don't have any other cost

019associated with rebranding on my campus. So I don't know if the district would is >> uh other that mean there's staff time but um that's you know in-house staff work. So so no no other uh expenses that I'm aware of. >> And I know Dr. Roberts any Roberts was with us when I worked there but I know he's no longer but his family is still involved. So, I'm sure they um have seen this or will receive some kind of um information on the new rebrand. >> Yes, ma'am. They were they we provided them as well as Charlene Brenson. She's a very >> That was my principal. Yes. >> Yes, ma'am. She's very much an active participant in our school, so they both have as well. And we we will definitely provide them with some some

020goodies to their family. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Allen. Thank you, Superintendent. Um, good morning. This is How are you? >> I'm well, thank you. >> All right. Thanks for the passion on this presentation. Pretty exciting. Timely as well. You know, I've got all these images of the Artemis 2 in my mind right now and I'm just thinking like 27,000 miles per hour. How can that thing travel so fast? Um, but yeah, the process is so incredible and you've done it twice. So, thanks for giving that shout out as well. Um, I do have a question for Jason as it relates to timeline and waiting list and things like that if we have. I was trying to look back. I know we made that policy adjustment as you noted um

021as well. So the process is extremely thorough. Uh you know looking at it where it was to where it is. I mean it's so much more modern progressive. You went from like this um serif base font to a modern sand serif. The colors got a little pop to it. So great uh decisions for sure. So appreciate that work on that. So just those couple questions. Do we have a like a waiting list of schools that are looking to to update and transition? >> Yes, sir, we do. Um, it takes anywhere from on the on the low end, it would take maybe potentially six months to be able to do it just because if you're going to have do it thoughtfully, have multiple meetings. There's a logo committee of various folks who um look at the

022design and decide whether it needs to go forward before we get community support. So, there are multiple steps. So, yes, there is a waiting list. Um we've done several since the uh the procedures went in place, but you know obviously um there are a lot more schools that would like to do it. We kind of work them through especially the ones who some might just want to refresh. They don't necessarily want to completely change much like this one. There were a lot of things going for it. They didn't want to change the mascot. Um really it was the color scheme that was really kind of the thing we had to focus on. Uh but there are some schools that want to completely change a mascot. That's a much that that is a a much heavier

023lift because you want to be able to make sure that if you're going to do something that's significant, you have the backing and the support of the community and that it's the right thing to do. >> Yeah. I appreciate the work. I mean, it's a lifetime memory. I mean, the brand equity around this, even as Miss Miller noted, um, her being a rocket, so thanks for the work. Appreciate the passion around this one. That's all I have. Superintendent. >> Thank you, sir. Mr. Sharpless. Um, first I just want to say thank you to idx truly uh that that's an amazing um opportunity for that donation. Appreciate that they are donating uh based on following our procedures and our rebranding. I think that's great. Um I you know I was going to mention something about Artemis

024but uh Dr. Allen already beat me to that one. But I will say this, it's very timely the fact that we're changing to a um to a red, white, and blue. This is America's 250th anniversary. I think uh you know with it's rockets are even in our national anthem, right? And so um I think it's very timely and I think it's a great uh patriotic feel as well and um hopefully maybe instill some patriotism in our our students while they're there. So uh thank you for this for going through the rebranding process and thank you to the team for supporting them. >> Thank you >> Miss White. >> Thank you. I my question kind of goes along the same line of Dr. Allen. So we have and this is for Jason. So, we have a

025waiting list. Do we Is it just first come first serve or do we look at the current state of their logos? >> It's it's first come first serve with the caveat being what does the work entail? If there's one that is a quicker one that we can turn around a lot faster, obviously even if they were not necessarily next in line, per se, it may be more it may be a smarter use of time to do that because we can complete it faster. There's one school in particular right now. Um it's not going to be that difficult. Hopefully, if we are able to work with them um during graduation season and and continue to uh um make progress, you hopefully would be able to see that one over the summer. So, we're trying to get

026them done. It's a it is a first come first serve, at least in my mind, but at the same time, it's also which ones are um a little easier to do so that we can move them faster. So, that may bump somebody up. >> Gotcha. Makes sense. >> I um I ask mainly because I don't know, we've seen several rebrandings. I don't know that we've seen a stronger case for needing a rebranding um than the the original clip art logo um that you know >> could >> I know you know it was it was great in >> it was really hard to try to buy things like >> well that's exactly >> so I I well I had already went through it with Highland City so I was like >> anytime there's gradient colors in

027a logo we should probably look to rebrand because gradients are just hard to do really anything with um even printing in black and white is hard gradients. Um, so that's really my question behind it. I just want to say thank you to um the team because we always get the data on what how people voted, but we don't always get the comments. And I personally love reading through the comments, but I particularly love that some of the comments are, "This was completed by this first grade class. This was completed by this second grade class." So, I love that you were able to use it. I'm assuming probably in your lessons with some of your classes um and get them to truly vote on it, engage. >> I asked my teachers to because it's it's there.

028It's the students logo, too. So, I wanted my students to have a voice. So, I definitely had the teachers in primary. They were the ones that sat with their school their students and said, "Okay, we're thinking about changing our logo. Do we like this?" And so, they completed it as a class. Well, I I love that because I think it's so important that we get that student feedback and it is hard to to capture when they're elementary um or even just to make them do it as an assignment. So, I love that you were able to incorporate that. Um but it's it looks great. I'm excited to to support it and I'm assuming we're going to this will roll out for next school year. >> That was the plan. >> If approved. >> Yes. If

029it's approved, that was the plan. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes, >> Miss Fields. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. I love the new look and the comment that Miss Miller made was very impactful where you're transitioning in and phasing it in because of parents not being able to sometimes afford to get new uh new school wear. Um and I also like the idea that you all are communicating with Dr. Robert's family. I know that his son is very active in the community. Uh so I think that's a good thing. So, thank you all for the excellent presentation and we look forward to the new look. >> Thank you. >> There are no further questions or comments. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Board members, the next item before

030you is the Berkeley accelerated contract modification. So, I will bring Miss Amato forward. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Let's see. Okay. So, before you you have the Berkeley Accelerated Contract Modification looking for grade expansion. They are high performing. They're seeking to add uh not only grades 11 and 12 because they currently serve grades 6 through 8 or excuse me 6 through 10. They also are looking to add a new elementary school in that area. As high performing, uh they do have the autonomy to expand grade levels. It's pretty simple. >> Miss Miller, >> thank you. This is District 7 um in Auburndale. And I just want to thank um the Berkeley Charter School, including Miss Bolander, who brought me in and we had this discussion before um this was brought to us today with

031them being high performing there. You know, she I did not have to be included, but she's al she's always been very collaborative in the efforts in Auburndale because that is their community. they own every school and they're very much um interested in in seeing all of the growth. So Berkeley will have that new campus. There's a lot of there's a lot going on in Arberdale the next few years with um Pulk schools, but we will intend to keep that relationship to work together to make sure everything is happening in Ardell is for our our blood hounds. >> Thank you. >> There are no further questions or comments. Thank you, Miss M. Thank you, as always. Board members, the next item up for today's workshop is the proposed rule rule development for schoolboard policies. Bring forward

032Miss Teresa Griffin, assistant director for policy and public records. >> Good morning. >> We have 16 policies before you today. These are going through the first step of rulemaking and then they'll come back in June for public hearing. Um, I should be bringing another batch to you guys. Um, not the next work session, but the May 5th work session as well. All right. So, the first two are actually board bylaws. The first one is uh 143.1 residence areas and this is just revised to align with U Florida statute. Um, Miss White, I you may recall you brought this up to us um a couple months ago and we took it to Niola and they actually made the change and sent it out to all the districts. So now it just mirrors the language in the

033statute about the 270 days before a general election. And then bylaw 169.1 public participation at board meetings. This isn't necessarily a change in statute. They're just trying to make it more clear in our bylaw that presiding officers must first warn an individual before ordering their removal from a public meeting. So it that's always been the case, but it's just trying to make it a little more clear in policy. Our next few policies are um human resource related policies. The whistleblower protection policies 1211, 3211, and 4211 are just revised um to clarify that only certain reports are protected under the Florida whistle whistleblowers act. And then policy 4120, employment of support staff, is revised um to update various parent notice requirements under the elementary and secondary education act. And it removes the term highly qualified and

034replaces it with the actual state level requirements. Do we have any questions so far, >> Dr. Allen? >> Yeah, very minor. Uh, and this would be probably towards Mr. Green. In the whistleblower protection, there's just the minor language addition where it states upon receipt of a and this was the additional language legally sufficient uh report made by administrative staff. >> Any clarification on what that would mean? what is legally sufficient. >> I'll I'll >> but and I don't need an answer right at this moment, but my am I live? Do I need to press a button here? >> Hang on, Mr. Green. >> All right. Um >> Yes, sir. Your your mic's on. >> I don't know if that came from the statute cited below. I'd have to see. My guess is those statutes maybe

035give some clarity as to that specific term. It might have been defined in the statute. >> Um I can loop back and see if that's where that came from and what that exactly means. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> As opposed to this sort of general statement that is undefined. >> Sure. >> I'll loop I can loop back with you and let you know what >> if that's where it came from because it was a it's an addition, right? That correct new language. >> Yeah. Before it just said upon receipt of a report and now it's upon receipt of a legally sufficient report. Okay. >> Mhm. >> Thank you, Superintendent. That's all I have. >> Miss White, >> thank you. >> For the public participation at board meetings, um the line that was added about giving

036notice before removal, is that a verbal notice? And Mr. Green, this may be something for is that that we actually would have to say last chance you're being removed or is that in because before it's been, you know, sometimes it's the gavl repeatedly, things like that. Is there a >> we are on um >> listen none of you have had underwear >> 169.1 >> well >> 169.1 >> and it's the >> that it must make it clear that the presiding officer first warn an individual before ordering their removal. So that will be a verbal warning >> has to be verbal. Okay. >> And then the second time it will be a direction for removal. >> Thank you. >> Yes ma'am. Miss Miller. >> Thank you. I have two. Um I'll start with that one with

037public participation with that um the verbal warnings given. Is there documentation other than video of the of the removal or when they when that occurs or is it just per meeting? >> Ultimately it would be determined based off the behavior of the individual. >> Okay. If so, the video would serve as evidence that the warning was issued, not the behavior warranted removal. >> Okay. >> Beyond that, any additional documentation ultimately could involve arrest or trespass. But again, that is to be determined based off the behavior of the individual involved. So, that would be the only other documentation that would be available. >> Thank you. under the whistleblower protection. Um I would would like to know how staff would be informed that those protections exist. Is that something HR does? I don't want to discourage I

038don't want unintentionally discourage someone um from sharing information they feel is important to our department. So how did how do our how is our staff informed of these things? >> Mr. Davis, >> I can tell you that our staff are well informed and know very very u well how to how to exercise their whistleblower rights because that's something that I've had I've handled myself. When I get those whistleblower complaints, I then inform them on what the law does and does not protect and I help them walk through the process uh to make sure that they understand that, you know, you'll be protected from retaliation. um you know as we look into these matters we will you know keep you informed but then anything that comes after that as far as you know if they talk

039about it with other people we can't protect them from that if it becomes a hostile work environment because you know they're somehow trying to weaponize it and that's what the law is really the legally sufficient is really aiming at trying to to protect the process from being turned into um some form of a you know retaliation against you know supervisor but but they they they do know what that is. In fact, I' I dare say they don't fully understand it because they try to exercise it a lot and then we have to explain to them what it actually is and what it isn't. Um whistleblowers, you know, it it covers some protections, but it does not give you full, you know, coverage to just start making allegations that are unfounded. >> And you explain that

040to them in their initial >> I do. Yes. Yes. and and so far uh they we've had very good um very good response from from the employees. We take it very seriously. Um you know, we we uh um we want to make sure that that we're doing the right thing and I've not had any any issues so far with it getting out of hand. >> Thank you, >> Miss Wyatt. >> Thank you. Along those lines with whistleblower is and I'm I'm glad that once people come to you that we're able to give them that education. there still from generations past is a little bit of a holdover of you know even if you say I'm not going to be retaliated against what is that work what does that really look like and can I prove

041that it's retaliation um how are we do we have anywhere that we explain the whistleblower process before they come to you that they can read on it whether it's a knowledge base or >> yeah it's in the policy they can read the policy and see go through it step by step um I will say some of my experience with whistleblower complaints has been someone who's already, you know, having some some workplace issues >> and so it's kind of a last stitch thing. So what they perceive as retaliation was really some accountability that was already taking place. So I understand that. I do work with supervisors and their supervisors to make sure everyone is on the same page. And I also explain to the whistleblower complaintants that if they have any if it's ever brought up,

042I I tell everybody, you do not talk about this. If you talk about this, I can't protect you. And then I have if they hear from their supervisors, they report to me so I can look into it, make sure that the supervisors as well know that they are not to be talking about it, retaliating. Um so we we follow up with those supervisors as well. We we take that um that position that we have to ensure that they are not being retaliated against. We take that on ourselves. >> Thank you. I I think it would be helpful to have something that's I love that we refer them back to policy, but our policy is not always the most English version of of something to easiest to understand that if we have a document that they

043can find before coming to you because I think several people that think may you know, do I have a whistleblower complaint? They're worried if they even approach the issue without to have that conversation that they might be retaliated against if that makes sense. So it would just for what it's worth it would be helpful I think to have that. We are working on an employee handbook and I'll be working on my legal FAQs. I'd be more than happy to include that as a topic. >> That sounds great. Thank you so much. >> There are no further questions or comments. >> Okay, moving. >> Yeah, >> you good. >> I'm I'm looking at the statute now just to clarify. So, this is 1123187. Um it doesn't define legally sufficient, but what it does say the it's

044the intent of the legislature to prevent agencies from taking retaliatory action against an employee who reports to an appropriate agency violations of law uh that create a substantial impact. Uh it's further the intent of legislature to prevent agencies from takingtory action against a person who discloses information alleging improper use of government office gross waste of funds or any other abuse or gross neglect. So I think that's the that's the legally sufficient part. Is there a violation of law or is it this person I don't like this person cuz they're mean to me? That doesn't rise to the level of a legally sufficient claim. It would have to be something within that part two of the the statute. All right. >> Go ahead, M. >> Okay. Um, moving on to policy 2266, which is our title

0459 policy, and this is just revised based on the national incident based reporting system. The definition of fondling has changed to criminal sexual contact. So, that's been changed in policy. Policy 2421 is our career and technical education policy and it's revised to incorporate language from Florida statute 103.4203 um it includes a new section related to digital materials and CA digital tool certificates and industry certifications. Policy 2450, our adult and community education policy, incorporates amendments to a Florida rule related to requirements for registering and enrolling um students in adult general education and post-secary CTE programs. Policy 3120.04, employment of substitute short-term and part-time instructional staff. This policy is being revised based on Neiola's ongoing work um and information obtained from Florida Department of Education. It includes the incorporation of language from Florida statute related to required

046qualifications of substitute teachers and required safety training and performance appraisals for those employees in that category. Policy 5330.01 01 which is our um self-administered medication policy and then policy 5780 student and parent rights. Both of those are being revised to um add language related to epinephrine auto injection injectors and our anaphilaxets policy and that's just based on um some amendments to a couple of Florida rules. And then additional revisions to policy 5780 include some updated statutory citations as well as language modifications related to the new world scholarships and students with deficiencies in reading and math questions. >> Hang on, Miss Griffin. >> Back to the substitute the 3120. >> When it says performance appraisals, is that done by the district performance appraisals or is that done by our third party substitute company? Um, it's my

047understanding that's done by um third party. I don't think Mr. Oh, I was looking to see if Mr. Warren or um Miss Kendrick were here, but >> we'll follow up with that. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Mr. Sharpless. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> Um, I I have a question on policies of 5330.01 as well as 5780. um in reference to the epinephrine >> um epipens so to speak. >> Um and so in there um in both policies you'll I noticed there's a a term there and then we define that term a little bit and I just want to >> I just walk with me for a second. So we talk about how each each school serving students in kindergarten through 8th grade shall provide training to an adequate number of school personnel. Right? and

048adequate that that term is up to you know you know >> we have to figure out what adequate is and so you you define it a little bit later uh it talks about adequate number of school personnel um >> and contracted personnel identified for training each school site shall consider the following the number of students with an uh individual healthcare plan number of students who have experienced or at risk of experiencing allergic reactions including including anaphilaxis, the accessibility of healthcare personnel at the school, and the number of trained persons needed to ensure coverage of areas. So, I think it's it's a good definition. I'm I'm just concerned that we're not capturing everything there, and I don't know how to I don't know what to add to make me feel more comfortable. I'm just thinking if

049there is, you know, an a significant number of students at at the school that is allergic, um, how are we covering all areas of the campus at once? I just again, I don't know if this is something for you guys to answer right now. I'm just I just and I I understand it's most likely coming from state statute, which I'm sure you can explain that, but um I'm just I just have a little bit of hesitancy. Again, I think it's a good start. And maybe we might need to define it a little more. I'm not sure. >> So, um I'm going to interject here. That would be done in procedure, not in policy. So, the policy is ensuring that the board has adopted appropriate statutory language as it relates to these topics. Procedurally, you're deferring

050that to my office for implementation. My office is responsible for the implementation. >> Um so, it should not be defined in policy is my recommendation. we will come back and define based off specific criteria how we will determine what an appropriate number of staff are and quite frankly the state should have helped us define that to begin with rather than just passing the buck. So at the end of the day we can provide you a procedural update. >> I tend to agree with you superintendent on that. The state probably should have been a little more on def defining. I just again when it comes to procedure I want to make sure that we're covering all areas of the campus cuz I would hate for something bad to happen to one of our students. Um and

051I didn't know if maybe we need to have more guard rails in policy to help with that. I will but I will defer maybe I can get some comment from from uh you both as well. >> Sure. Your your angst is well placed because um that was actually big topic of conversation after that law passed. a bunch of US attorneys when we were meeting were discussing what is adequate, but that is exactly what the statute says. Um, and to my knowledge, we've not received any guidance yet from the state on how on what that would mean. Um, I'm I'm sure they probably think that it would differ based on the school and based on the, you know, how large it is, how the population is. Um that is certainly something we'll take into consideration with

052procedures um because we we want to make sure that we have enough staff to be able to handle the need. But uh but yeah, when they put that in statute, we kind of are asking the exact same question. And right now we don't have any additional clarification, but our our policies we tend to line up with statute um to make sure we're in compliance with the state. But anything else we can revisit with procedure and uh and we'll continue to speak with the state and see if they give us any guidance in the future. Typically, you want these to reside in procedure because a policy change takes forever versus procedurally I can make a change instantaneously and then we would provide an update to the board that we've modified something. Um, but so that's that's

053part of the why there. It's really not it's it's a partially a purview issue and how do we separate the duties and responsibilities but also how do we provide the greatest amount of flexibility based off new research new information because should the state then come out with a better definition >> about what they how they defined an appropriate number of staff even then we would have questions. So if they let's just assume somebody came out and said well you need to train 30% of the staff. Well, arguably we would want to train more than that because of absenteeism, because of other issues. So, we wouldn't want to be under that umbrella. So, I I would allow, if you would, the board would allow us to go ahead and work with Audrey Kelly and her team

054and we can come up with some criteria about how we determine what an appropriate number of staff are. It will largely be grade dependent and needs dependent. Um, so >> I think it's a great plan. And I just uh you know policy is the guardrails and then you guys work within the road there. So I just I just wanted to make sure our guardrails are where they're needed where they need to be and so it sounds like you have put sufficient thought into that. So thank you both. >> Yes sir. >> Miss Wyatt. >> Thank you. And just to add on to that I um appreciate have keeping it with procedure because every school to your point is very different. When you have a school like Inwood where even I could throw a rock from

055one side to the other. it doesn't have the same needs as a Winter Haven High School that's expanding blocks of of the city. Um, so thank you for for being able to take that on a a campus by campus basis. Um, the question I had was back on the substitute policy. the additional language that's being added about um a min minimum education level or equivalent but potential substitutes with no prior teaching experience as determined by the district must complete an additional training program that includes classroom management and instructional strategies. Is that something that we already do >> and we're just codifying it? Okay. >> Well, we do but this is now being required but we do that in partnership with our current substitute group. We take them through a number of trainings including safety obviously

056and what to do under certain emergencies and that can vary from district to district um procedurally. So yes, we spend an inordinate amount of time. We also provide a great deal of instructional training um as far as our curriculum materials and our lesson plans and those things. You may recall that we worked very closely with them um in particular to ensure that they were following and adhering our district lesson plan and pacing guides uh for each grade level in each content area and we provided those lessons too for a starting point. Um so we do quite a bit of training with them in collaboration with our provider. >> Thank you. And in reading the policy updates it sounded like things that we already do. So that's why it it doesn't appear that there's anything new

057that we're not already doing. Is that your understanding as well? >> I I just think this the statute the legislature codified this and wants us to adopt it formally in the policy. We just happen to be proactively doing it. I think most districts do to a certain extent especially when it comes to student safety, classroom management um because that's a mutually beneficial opportunity to ensure that those people can be successful. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Mr. Keys. >> All right. Thank you. Um thank you to Miss Miller. My first one was on 31204 and how do we measure that performance? So, I'm anxious to hear on that. Um, but the other one I had was kind of getting in the weeds a little bit on 5780. Um, under the subsection educational choice and

058section E, there's the mention of the new world scholarships. And my concern on this is that we took out a lot of language um just to basically leave it. The parent or student uh kindergarten through K5 may seek a scholarship. From what I understand, funding is no longer available for the scholarships. So, I know they're maintaining it. They have to show use within that year to keep it, but for the policy to say they may seek a scholarship when that scholarship isn't currently available, I'm a little concerned about that. Um, and I I like I said, I only know what I've read and what's readily available, but as my understanding is July 1st of last year, the funding was cut for that and those no new scholarships are being administered for the New Worlds. You

059know, great program for reading and and that, but I think that if it's not available to say that they can seek a scholarship kind of throws us out a little bit. Um, from my understanding, the way the reason a lot of this was cut out and the just to make it say may seek a scholarship in accordance with state law would be so that if the scholarship comes back, you know, it's always going to coincide with the law. So, we took out all of the other verbiage in there and it just just as with state law. So, if it's if it's there again, we have it in policy. Parents can seek it according to state law. If the scholarship's gone, >> then it makes sense what you're saying. Yeah, but but you know what it

060caught me and said, "Okay, may seek a scholarship." They say, "Well, if you go out and seek it and it's not there, you know, that was my only concern." But I understand what you're saying, too. And that kind of makes sense if it does come back just in the nature of of cuts that we're seeing, you know, the likelihood. >> Probably not. But I was just I was just concerned about saying that something could happen and actually can at this point. So >> I I think ultimately what would happen there um Mr. vice chair would be a parent would then contact DOE and be directed to other scholarship opportunities that exist. So I think that's kind of a indirect reference for families uh that if should they reach out to apply because I think it

061makes generic uh reference to may seek a scholarship in accordance with state law. There are variety of student scholarships available. So I think that's what they intend there. Um, if you'd like us to >> Well, the only and the only I guess the only thing I would say is does that subtitle section E as it relates to say New Worlds have to be redetermined as because New Worlds there other scholarship opportunities may be available but not the New World scholarships. >> Yeah, we'll follow up with Niola just to make sure that there's not currently a statutory requirement that we include this specific language because as you pointed out there are families who are currently under that scholarship. So, it may be that we just come back with another policy revision next year when that expires,

062but we'll we'll explore that. >> Thank you, sir, >> Miss Wyatt. >> Thank you. Have you gotten through the full list yet or do you >> No, I still have a couple more. >> Mine's on the last one, so >> I still have a few more. If there's no more questions about these, >> go ahead. >> Okay. Um, policy 5460 is our graduation requirement. It removes a reference all references to I'm sorry. It removes all references to certificate of completions as they are being phased out. And as Florida and/or local school boards may expand the types of programs available to students, a reference to other state or board approved programs is added to the commencement exercise section of the policy. Policy 8405 is our school safety and security policy. The revisions are the result of

063amendments to Florida rule and includes a new provision requiring the designation of primary and secondary threat management coordinators and also that notice of their contact information will be sent to the office of safe schools by August 1st of each year. And it also modifies the membership of threat management teams including um the addition of the core 4. And these are our last two policies. policy 8420, emergency management, emergency preparedness and emergency response agencies. Um, these are also being revised to incorporate amendments to Florida rule and the revisions relate to open or unlock gates or access points with access to an exclusive zone requirements for instructional spaces for CTE programs that are designated as open areas and then the FSAT documentation requirements. And then finally, policy 8470, which is our registered sexual predators and offenders policy.

064And this just removes the requirement that schools maintain like a physical binder of um offenders. And now schools can just direct parents or whomever to the FDLE website where this information is housed. >> Miss White, >> thank you. Um, we don't often take time to say thank you to our delegation when they do clarify things for us and make it make sense. Um, but so I want to take the opportunity just to to thank our delegation for the updates that we can make to policy 8420 because while the school safety laws that have come down have been great. Some of them we've realized when we're trying to do, you know, some of our campuses have a full body shop so they can teach automotives, keeping a garage door shut when you're you're working on automotives

065can be very dangerous. Um, so I just want to say thank you to our delegation who's helped us us clean up some of those things so that we can still keep kids safe, um, but do it in a a common sense approach to make sure that they're still getting the opportunities that that they deserve to to receive. Um, and then on 8470, I just want to say thank you for getting rid of binders um, and paper. Um, but I also think it's a great opportunity just as we look at creating policies to to make sure we're looking at it with that lens of as technology changes, are we hamstringing ourselves and that we're specifically saying how it has to be stored, especially if the law doesn't. Um because I do think we get caught up

066often, at least I know I do, of you know, making sure that we're creating a a policy for today when, you know, 15 years ago it was a great idea to keep everything in binders, but how long have we been holding on to that shelf space that it can be online? So, thank you so much, >> Mr. Sharpless. Want to reiterate board member Wyatt's comment um and then a little something. I have a question. So, I remember a while back when we were we're looking at a policy and we're referencing specific social medias and we had Twitter on there and we had to update it to X and everything. So, yeah, the more vague we can be on some of those kind of things, the better. Um, I So, the only I have a question

067about 8470. >> Okay. >> First, I I understand we're getting rid of the binder because we don't legally have to have it anymore. However, some of our some of our families are um have lacked access to technology. And so, I'm just curious how how are we allowing or how are we going to help those uh help them have access to the that uh this important information on registered sexual predators um if they lack the technology to be able to go and look at the website? Are we offering that? And this will be more procedurally. I think it's not a policy question. It's more procedure. So, Superintendent Hyde, feel free to jump in here, but are we offering uh technology at the school site or are we offering some sort of other I mean, we're deleting

068the requirement. Are we still going to have them in there or I'm just curious if you could help me to understand that? >> Um, I'm not I can't speak to I'm not sure if schools will allow access like computer access for parents to look that up. >> We we would not, >> right? I'm not sure I >> I'm to the extent so between cell phone access web- based phones and other utilities I I if a family came to us and shared that they had a deficit in that regard. Um I think we would I'd have to check with it to see if student issues issued devices would be able to access that site. um if they are a family could use that at home uh through our protected filter and Wi-Fi network. Um we'd have

069to explore that. But at the end of the day, I I it hasn't presented as a problem to date, but um nor is the use of the notebook ever been >> I I I want to be clear. I am not advocating that we put the >> No, no, no. I know you're not, >> but I'm just trying to figure out where the need is. I'm just thinking if there's a parent if there's a if there's a parent that comes in and says, "Hey, you know, I would like to have access to this information." I think it's very important information, right? Um, you know, and they don't have access to that technology. There's pockets of our communities that don't. Um, and I just again, it may not be a huge need. I just wanted to to

070ask the question. >> In all honesty, I think that would actually become a conversation between the administrator and the parent and they could take them into their office and they could explore that. They could work with the school guardian or SRO. Um, we could connect them with somebody from safe schools if need be. We could direct them to a public library where they would have access. Um, so I it ultimately I just think it's informing our administrators if you're presented with this problem, here's how you'd address it. Um, because in that same scenario, how do I communicate that to the parent ahead of time? Um, typically we do it through email, connected, those types of things. But if they don't have that technology, then how then do I make sure that they're even informed that

071there are other processes and steps. So based off our retreat conversation about communication, um, give us a little bit of time to work through that. But I think the solution is making sure that the parent or guardian can directly communicate with the school cuz that's where their primary concerns are going to be anyways, right? The potential exposure of a child within the community or within the school setting. So, probably best addressed that way, but let me work with safe schools and the team and we can come up with a formal written response to the board. >> Thank you, Superintendent. >> Yes, sir. >> Was Griffin, I see no further questions or comments. >> Well, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Board members, this is an update for you on the Alta Vista K8 reszoning

072recommendation. Um, board members, this has been discussed with you previously. We I believe we've already reached some level of consensus around here this, but we did provide opportunities for continued community feedback. In this case, you're getting the update from the team post town hall. Um, and I believe uh Mr. McLemore will share that information with you just now. Go ahead, Mr. Mackmore. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Superintendent Hyde. U this is uh being consistent with how the district has proceeded with resoning opportunities. We always conduct uh town halls to collect community feedback and input based off the various options that the attendance boundary committee reviews and considers. Uh we never want to make a decision in a vacuum. We want to hear all uh sides to the coin, so to speak.

073Uh so staff did execute and conduct a town hall at U Alt Vista K8 on site on February 18th and I have to extend my appreciation sincere thanks to Mr. Cummings and his entire team out there. They were absolutely phenomenal. Uh we're grateful for their support. Uh but to that point uh we we utilize the same uh marketing methodology we used with comprehensive high school resoning efforts trying to put it out on uh newsletters uh using uh uh the school's website page and Mr. Cummings to his credit make sure he pushed that message uh to his students as well saying all that we did not have anybody attend the town hall meeting >> we did >> well there was a staff there was a staff member who was already there at the site working it's

074one of the custodial members who who has a grandchild present at that school and we we we discussed the reasonzoning what the whole purpose was there and they they they liked and appreciated the recommended option. Uh but outside of that, >> but keep in mind for clarification, and this is not just for you, this is for our audience members who may be shocked that only one person attended. And while she is an employee, she's still a grandparent and potential guardian to one of those students. There had been considerable amounts of communication and town hall meetings involving myself, staff, with that community, with staff, with for multiple months. Um and I believe that the principal has done a very good job at communicating these things. Um prior to this meeting, this was not just communicated to

075existing parents. This was communicated by virtue of all of the feeder pattern principles at all of the other schools as well. So it was well advertised, well noticed. I think it what happened here in this particular case was it's more of an example that we had been communicating all along more efficiently and effectively that we didn't necessarily have any concerns or push back um as it relates to this because as you all may recall and I believe at least one board member was in attendance at the Alta Vista uh town hall at their previous site and it was so wellreceived that when we offered the opportunity to relocate the only question they had repeated repeatedly was why do we have to wait till the end of the year? Why can't we move right now? Um

076both because we have another school there right now. So it it was I I think it was well done. So I I didn't want John, Mr. McLemore and the team not getting the credit for their efforts to communicate and convey this to our stakeholders. Um but I think it was a job well done. Go ahead, Mr. Mmore. >> Uh so just to wrap this up then. So uh this matter will be brought back before you as with all res um matters. Uh these require two uh public board meetings. Uh the first uh board meeting is tenatively scheduled for April 28th. Uh with the se uh and during that one is more of a public opportunity for comment. No action uh would be sought after uh from the board at that time. But the second uh

077action/adoption meeting is tenatively scheduled for June. We have to make sure we have uh at least 30 days between the board meetings before an actual action is adopted. So uh in the notes it references May 5th. However, that doesn't give us a 30-day requirement between the two. So, it'll actually be in June when the second and final adoption hearing will be. So, pinning your questions. >> Okay, Mr. Keys. >> So, I want to just echo what the superintendent has already said, Mr. More and your team. Thank you for your communication there and and I think we hit the nail on the head. I think the response was so positive when we decided to utilize that campus for out Vista. Everybody was really excited and that's probably the lack of participation there. Um, this is more

078of a just a question for knowledgewise. I know that we have um not as many as Hane City Senior High School, but at Boone Middle, a plethora of portables, which I know that some board members absolutely love. Um, that being said, do we know what the real number is of relief as far as students go when Aliva Vista K8 is fully I know this year they took sixth grade and the plans are seventh grade and eighth grade. in the subsequent years what the relief will be numbers wise to Boone because with I think the last utilization record I had showed 21 portals to Boone right I've been out there it's a city unto itself and I'm I'm wondering what the real numbers are of relief to Boone will be >> let me go back to

079my office and get you that exact number um but we'll follow up with you and get you that exact number >> yeah we just reviewed this the other day in fact um so we'll provide that the summary responses to the board today >> okay yeah because I know that when when I went out there I guess coming into the role. Um, and I I I went to Boone Middle School and it wasn't like that when I was there. Obviously, that was some time ago as somebody had mentioned another board member won't mention their name that we're getting old, but um, and seeing that I I thought I was just astonished at not only the distance that students have to travel to go out there, but the enormity of what happened. And we're talking about there's

080no sidewalks, it's just dirt walking out there. and just if if I was a student and I that was where I had to be housed during the day I it's kind of you know affects morale a little bit. So I'm excited when we said hey we're utilizing now the the formerly scenic ter scenic terrace campus to do that um wondering what that relief is going to be and then obviously in our our capital outlay going forward um plans for that area. appreciate the work you're doing and like I said the the community output at least from what I've heard that uh being the board member that represents that district has been absolutely phenomenal and again and kudos to your team but also you hit the nail on the head too Mr. Cummings is absolutely fantastic

081and a good support to the community and we're glad to have him there. >> The one thing to keep in mind Mr. Keys and board members when we provide you that data keep it's a three-year phase in for the impact because we're allowing families to choice so they can stay where they're at. We don't do a forced reassignment. Um, so I just want to make sure that that was reiterated here. Miss Fields, >> I I just had comments about no one attending except for one person. Uh, and Superintendent High, this is just my thoughts. Um, for whatever it's worth, have we considered maybe doing some type of survey and finding out why uh there was no u interest from the community? because that's a lot of time and energy that the staff uh take to

082prepare and then show up and one person present. One person is good. It's better than no person. But I'm I'm just saying >> we we could put something out um have Mr. Cummings put something out and ask if we'd have to work carefully on the on the wording for the survey so it's not leading people to a response. But again, I think the I think the simple explanation is we've been meeting with that community of stakeholders for six, seven months repeatedly. U multiple meetings and town halls were held. The first few meetings were standing room only with parents in particular at their at their previous site cuz I was in attendance there and spoke. Um, so I I think that's part of it, but we'd be happy to see and we can ask our principles

083as well to see if we know why we may not have had more attendance >> and that might help us for future purposes as well. If we don't need to have those meetings, then we don't need to have them. >> Certainly, Dr. Allen, >> thank you, Superintendent. Going back to your statement around the phase in um so I was, you know, in the numbers that's presented, I think on the second slide, uh, yeah, right there. So are those future projections? It's not current enrollment. Um right. So what is the current enrollment now of that school site? >> I don't have this week's current enrollment data, but I can follow up and I'll get you the exact enrollment figure for you. >> Do we have an idea? So within this phase in uh how many or

084how long is it going to take to get to that projection that we're seeing out there >> it's going to take because we're adding one year at a time at least three years. >> Mhm. And no like ball ballpark figure on what the current enrollment is. >> Uh I don't have that enrollment table with me right now sir. Okay. I'll get it to you. >> All right. Great. Thank you. That's all I have. >> There are no further questions or comments. Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. More. >> Good morning again, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Superintendent Hyde, this next matter uh the staff's bringing before you is uh we are seeking an amendment to the charge sheet uh for the uh half penny sales tax committee. Uh specifically, we're wanting to revise some of

085the language that really stipulated the restrictions on how many terms uh committee members may serve on this committee. Um from both our uh staff's observations, uh we realize it is uh sometimes uh challenging to identify individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and serve on these committees. Uh and when we do find them, uh it's sad for us to see them leave and sometimes it's hard to find replacements for them. So what we are seeking to uh propose here is that we amend and remove the language that limited uh committee members to only serving two terms uh on the committee itself uh and replacing that with pretty much they can be reappointed for additional terms at the pleasure of the school board itself pending your questions. Before I go to questions um Dr. Dr.

086Allen, the current enrollment at that school is 991 students. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Sharpless. >> Um, I just want to say first the halfsent sales tax committee does a really really important job of keeping us accountable to the community for the halfsent sales tax that they approved, the voters approved for us. Um, I will tell you sometimes appointing someone on there it's it gets hard uh because if they're not if they're not consistent in showing up then that's not the full community participation. So if you have someone that is very interested that is showing up that's engaged um it's important to have them on the committee and this isn't this doesn't mean that they have a lifetime appointment. they still only have their term, right? And the board member can can reappoint that at that

087point or they can appoint someone else, right? And so it this just gives them the option to do that because currently we don't have the option to do that. Basically, oh, you served your time, you're done, you can't you can't be on the committee, right? Um so I definitely uh agree with this change to the charge sheet. Um you know, and I and I look forward to to eventually voting on that. So, thank you for thank you for thinking uh thinking through this process. Josh, >> Mr. Keys, >> I'm just I'm happy to see these things come about as we try to streamline the way our committees look overall and try to get some, you know, uniformity across. Um, and to Mr. Sharpless saying, you know, this it is important that we identify the need

088to let those folks continue to serve because actually in the charge sheet, you'll see down there it says a minimum requirement of 80%. It's a very important committee. So, I think um those people that do show up, we want them to keep showing up if they're willing to. And and speaking to that that comment about a lifetime appointment, what happens usually with those that are loved to serve, they end up on the school board through committees. I think there's a couple that could attest to that. But, but again, those people can also change as as new school board members come about. But I I think that we did a very good job there saying, "Hey, this doesn't we're we're limiting our ability to place qualified individuals who are willing to serve on those committees." So,

089I was happy to see this. >> Miss Miller, >> thank you. I um we've done this with other committees that we have to to find people to serve on. I do want to say I think that we have been proactive in trying to engage the members there. I think membership and attendance had a lot to do with the value the people felt as and what those meetings meant. Um I hope I hope that our citizens feel that it's valuable because it's very important to have them a part of those discussions. Um I think this is a positive thing that we're doing because I do know trying to find people to commit to serve to drive to Barto from North Lakeland and Auburndale isn't always convenient. Um and we have some great people. I had someone

090else on the um audit committee yesterday that serving again because he just enjoys doing it. So, I think we should do that, but we should also also always look at how they're being engaged in those meetings so they feel valued. I think once they commit um they do that with good intent and then sometimes we do have them drop off because they just feel that maybe it's not as meaningful as they thought it would be or um the experience is what wasn't what they thought it would be. So, I appreciate you looking at those committees to make them engaging. And to your point, that's why we're we try to think and we try to always plan ahead an offsite um uh meeting to be held at a project site that was actually funded through the

091house penny sales stack. So last year we actually held a committee meeting at Elbert Elementary. >> Miss Fields, >> thank you. I I agree with the idea of allowing members that are actually wanting to be on the committee to continue. uh typically it's a two three-year term not one. So having an option for them to do additional time I think is great but making sure that when they become stagnant and when they aren't attending meetings that they are ask if they still want to serve and if not then finding someone who does. >> Matt, >> thank you. I know a um former committee chair that's going to be very excited about this revision. Um but to everyone else's point, when you find someone that's passionate and wants to serve, um I I'm excited to be

092able to give them that opportunity. Um and I I just want to thank you for making it a true reappoint. It's not a you know, we've we've had several contracts that we've been trying to get things out of that it doesn't automatically renew. So, their terms do not automatically renew it. even if if even if we want them to serve again, it has to come to a board meeting and for them to be reappointed. Um, which I know you will give us the the nod when we have to to do those things. Um, but I did want to ask because I know we recently updated we went through kind of a weeding process to make sure that the people on the committee were people that actually wanted to serve have gotten some new faces in

093there, but we've also made sure that the meetings are scheduled and on people's calendars. Have we had a a better attendance or are we still working? >> Yes, we actually have. >> Yeah. Awesome. >> Compared to a year ago, yes, we've had far more attendance. >> Awesome. Thank you so much, >> Dr. Allen. >> Yeah, I'll I'll just add to that. I see faces out in the audience that actually serve on that committee. So, appreciate your service. Um, and just being at the last meeting, I think uh I overheard someone say this was like one of the best meetings uh we've had in a long time. So, appreciate the work and just the the allowance of, you know, the eb and flow and the the rubbing of, you know, different ideas. And I I thought

094it was, you know, very thorough, good process. Um wondering in this discussion, I know with the FSBA, as we're looking at various committees within that state organization, we're we're considering our term limits, right? You know, from 12 years to 8 years. So, and maybe this is a question for superintendent, but as we look at these chart sheets, um how does it work? I know we don't have anything in these chart sheets as it relates to you know the expiration of our term in a sense and you know just because we don't have we have a different eb and flow it's not like a hard start for our committee appointees so just something to consider moving forward so if I appoint somebody let's just say in my last uh six weeks of my term and I've

095appointed them for three years and then somebody comes to take my seat um does that appointee stay. >> They do. >> Mhm. Right. So, has that been an issue in the past? But just a as a a point of discussion. Right. So, I I know for me when I came in in 2020, you know, I reached out to all the members who were appointed previously just to ask if they wanted to maintain uh that appointment and so forth for the goodwill of that. Um but just wondering if this has been a part of the discussion as we look at these charge sheets. it it has not um and historically it's not been an issue. Board members do a very good job of ensuring that whoever they're going to nominate for a position on those committees

096um have served well and within the constraints outlined in the charter. Should someone operate outside of those, then they could be removed. There there is nothing that prevents us from removing a member um especially for good cause. lack of attendance, lack of preparation, lack of part, you know, those types of things, they could be removed. Um, but to date, in 12 years in my current role, five here, I've never had that come up as an issue. >> Um, again, I think that's simply because the board members do their due diligence to assign someone or ask someone to serve in that capacity who has a sincere interest and is willing to commit themselves in service. um as Mr. Keys pointed out earlier. So, um but if that's something that the board would like to pursue as

097far as you'd have we'd have to amend the charter to say that within the last year of a board member's term, they can't appoint someone or we would f we would restrict that appointee to serve for the same duration of the board member. I'll leave that to the board. Um and if board members want to provide some direction that you'd like to see some options there, we could explore that. But I don't know. Again, we've not had an issue with it, but if that's a concern, happy to see if we can address that. >> All right. Thank you, >> Miss Miller. >> Thank you. Um, I appreciate that question, Dr. Allen. I think in the past it's worked well only because I don't want to make those appointments political at all. Like, I don't want

098to remove somebody because someone else comes into office. That's very um that just brings another element that may discourage people from wanting to do it. Um I had some people appointed when I arrived from Mr. Harris and they were I I contacted them and then I contacted the chair of the committee and they were good members and they were very well-versed and I didn't want to upset you know I would never want to um upset what they had going in the committee. So I I understand it coming in new probably would be a question of of who was appointed but I think the way we do it keeps it more servant leadership. So, um, I haven't thought of that before, but I do appreciate you bringing it up, >> Miss Fields. >> Thank you. I've

099never known that to be an issue, Dr. Allen. I think that when people agree to serve, it doesn't matter what board member asks them to serve, they are serving to better the students and the uh and the school uh system. So, I would think that if there's an issue as it progresses with the new board member, that would be something that u that person could uh deal with behind the scene. But I I think that the way that it it's done now has worked well. >> See, no further questions or comments. Thank you, >> board members. The next item that we have before us is the employee evaluation system support. We'll wait for the room to clear. Thank you all very much for joining us today and we hope that you're all excited to run

100for school board seats in the future. >> Thank you, Mr. Baron. Appreciate it. board members, we did provide a challenge coin for each one of the members who were here today. >> It's only It was had only been an hour, but if you'd like to, we can. >> We can. I'm trying to go as quick as I can because you have a hard out at noon. So, all right. Um, for the room, uh, Mr. Chair, there's been a request for a short break. So we will if you could sir if we could do that after this presentation that gives the um technology team enough time to prepare to take us offline um and then Mr. Mr. Chair, if you would, is 15 minutes sufficient? >> That's sufficient. >> Okay. >> Overall. >> All right. >>

101We'll do. >> So, board members, this is a followup to a conversation that was that we um and a presentation that occurred um a couple months back, but we wanted to go ahead and address some of the questions that were provided at that time. And so I'm very happy to have Miss Smith and Miss Rouse here to do this presentation for us today on employee centralized evaluation team. Um as you know evaluation instruments come up very frequently and making sure that evaluations truly reflect the duties and responsibilities of our employees rather than a generic kind of generalist approach. um that becomes very difficult for employees and the board themselves have faced this situation with a generic evaluation instrument. So um that being said, I'll turn it over. Thank you ladies for being here. >> Good

102morning chair. Good morning board members and good morning superintendent. Uh previously we shared the complexity of our employee evaluation um process and the strain it creates uh by managing it as a secondary responsibility and the operational risks of having fragmented ownership over that system. We discussed um that we want to focus on transparency for our employees, building capacity among evaluators and ensuring ensuring the evaluation system is fair, defensible and um consistent across all divisions and departments. So we took the board's feedback and questions and today we will provide an overview of the information requested as well as plans for next steps. So the purpose of a centralized evaluation team is to ensure a legally um required district-wide system is implemented with consistency, fairness, and integrity. Um s by centralizing our evaluation system under HR we

103create ownership for compliance training calibration data integrity and leadership reporting and therefore ensuring that existing standards are applied uniformly across schools and district departments. Hopefully reducing operational risk by strengthening our guidance, our timelines and our quality asurances through ongoing training and calibration. So, last time we were able to speak with you, we appreciated the um recommendations to go and look at Houston, Charlotte, um and Chicago, excuse me, to see what they did for their evaluation systems um to see what success may look like in those districts compared to what we were um proposing. However, when we did that research, what we found was that there were so many comparisons that were different outside of their systems and ours. It was hard to make that crosswalk. Um, so one is the contextual differences really made it

104hard to directly replicate one system from one area or state to another area or state. um we found no direct evidence or causal links between evaluation systems and student achievement. But what we found over and over was the connection between professional growth and retention between evaluation systems and that data. So um as in the professional development world or professional growth world, it's really difficult to do a direct link to because we learned this students were able to do this. There's so many things that happen in between, but what we could direct um was a link between uh professional growth and uh staff retention. So, um we also found in looking at all the research of these areas in our own districts in the state is that they don't share a lot of this information publicly

105on their public facing pages. Um, so what we did find was though that they were best understood as supporting conditions for growth and retention. So with that, we said, okay, well, what would success look like in Pulk? And I believe Dr. Ellen, that was your specific question last time. What would success um look like? So under evaluation systems that influence conditions uh for educators, we found that there's consistent high-quality feedback that the staff can trust. They can act on that. There's improved inator reliability across schools and supervisors across the district departments. It's there's a fair and transparent experience for all employees. There's stronger retention of teachers and reduced avoidable turnover. And then of course that results in greater staffing stability um especially in high need schools and roles. And so we were able to link

106that research there and you can see our reference in the bottom corner. Um so to us success in Pole County would be us being able to show evidence of these um indicators. So, we continue we continued our deep dive on a surrounding and like districts and we were able to find more information from uh we had a conversation with Penllis County. Uh we went through a great deal of effort and an epic phone tag um round and still have no data from Miami Dade, but we did try. Um, however, what we found overall in our research, each district really organizes their evaluation system a bit differently. However, the common thread was that they treat it as a centralized function um with dedicated ownership. It's not that fragmented ownership. Okay. What we're looking at here is

107two years of of data from a snapshot of districtbased uh supervisor and professional staff evaluation groups. So that top section that's in sort of the light green is uh from 2324. The bottom section in the darker green is from 2425. So you're looking at in that first column of numbers, that's the total number of employees that reside in that evaluation group. The next column is the number of those employees that had a finalized evaluation. The next column, those employees had evaluations started but not finalized. And that last column there is the number of employees that were eligible for an evaluation but no evaluation was started for them. So what's important is when evaluation lacks centralization oversight completion does become inconsistent and we need to remember that these are not just data points. These are these

108represent employees who did not receive formal feedback and over time that can erode trust in our overall system. Um and it creates inconsistencies in how expectations are communicated and recorded. This obviously will lead to frustration especially for our employees that are looking for growth and they're not sure what next steps to take. So in preparation for the summer leadership academy, we're going to have learning sessions this year for our executive staff that we haven't had before on the operations side which we're really excited about. So we sent them a survey and said, "What topics would you like to see at the leadership academy to learn more about to help you with your leadership?" Um, and what was incredible is the top results were around they wanted action planning and monitoring. They wanted strategies for promoting

109a positive work environment and they wanted support and coaching and feedback for their employees. And what's nice is when you have a strong employee evaluation system, you can accomplish all those through those through that system. of course you need to layer things with it but um through the evaluation cycle when it's done with fidelity you are action planning and monitoring with your employees um that trust that relationship that open feedback and growth opportunities promotes that positive work environment those conditions for that and there's quality coaching and feedback um so having a dedicated centralized team um would really focus on the professional learning around that quality cycle and that would help meet a lot of the needs that our executive administrators are asking for. So the district plans to centralize this evaluation team through these uh

110three um roles. A director who would be the ultimate leader of the strategy. They would ensure the compi the compliance be the liaison between all the different departments and the leaders around school and district um positions and areas. There would be two senior coordinators, one that would um be the lead. So, so to say the lead, they would all share in it, but the lead u for evaluator training, which is a huge heavy lift. We're always onboarding new administrators and evaluators that need um really deep support. Um they would work on feedback, quality, continuous improvement, and then the other senior coordinator would be the lead for all of the management pieces around the creation of the timelines from year to year for all the different employee groups and systems, the reporting of the data um

111for that data integrity and doing audits along the way to ensure we're meeting our benchmarks and seeing success. So this centralized team would pour their efforts into doing that with direct ownership um to increase our our system. So with that, we just uh appreciate the opportunity to come back and share this information with you. Um and we are very confident that the plan will help strengthen the district systems for our employees. There are no questions or comments. >> Thank you. >> Or maybe there's one. >> I didn't push the button. >> I was I was looking at the research that was shared. So, I appreciate the hyperlink in the very bottom and uh it looks pretty intriguing. So, and the fact that it was a meta analysis really intrigued me as well. Um just for

112sake of clarity and um for our general public the evaluation types those acronyms that are listed. >> Oh yes >> just some clarity on those. >> Absolutely. So when you see IP that's instructional professional technical so those are typically like coordinators senior coordinators on the instructional side of the house at the district level. Um ISP are the supervisors within that instructional area. the NIP or non-instructional professional technical, so your coordinators and above who are more on the operation side. Um, NISP or the non-instructional supervisors and then of course nutrition. So, this is just one snapshot of some districtbased positions and employee groups. um not looking at data in other groups because honestly our schools have, you know, better implementation and and rates there because they're held accountable more where you have to report that to

113the state annually. Um so we just need stronger systems for all of our employees, not just our school staff. >> Yeah. And I I appreciate the the data on the not finalized um I mean 20 nearly 28% seems pretty high, >> right? Um, and then anything that would be a double digit, you know, I I don't I don't know what the eb and flow would that be over like a fiveyear period, but I appreciate we're looking at it over a two-year uh time period as well. Um, and then in the three and just and in the proposal of the three positions, was there any type of ratio that you were considering? Uh, you know, because obviously you're looking at the staff models, you know, you've got anywhere from eight roles, you know, eight positions to

114two positions. Um I know Pulk's sort of in between. So was there a ratio that you looked at just to determine the three roles? >> Yes. So when we looked at that chart from the comparable districts, although we're a little bit larger um than this than Lee, Panelis, and Pasco and Duval there, but which are we bigger than Duval? That's that's >> Employee count. Yeah. Um, we thought it would be reasonable and we weren't asking too much to ask for three positions to see, you know, what what could the workload look like and be manageable for those three over time. If we needed to grow that, we would come back to the board, but we're confident and very happy to have a team of three >> to make some really huge improvements. >> Yeah. All

115right. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Great. Thanks. Thanks for the presentation. Thank you, Dr. Allen, for affirming their work and asking a good question uh to to the team. They've done a great job and and they were really um interested in doing the presentation today because you had asked the the board had asked multiple questions last time this was presented. So, they wanted to be very intentional and bring back the data for you. So, Mr. Chair, as requested um and hopefully the IT team in the back took note. Um at this time, sir, it is exactly 10:30. We will come back at 10. >> At 10:45, >> we have a recess. >> Thank you, sir. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. At this time, I would like to call this meeting back to order and turn it

116over to Superintendent Hyde to finish leading off our work session today. Sir, the next item, >> the next item, Mr. Chair, members of the board, is a discussion about policy 0147. And unfortunately, the policy title is called compensation, but the discussion today, which is going to be led by Mr. Green, I is specific to uh membership dues and fees and and things of that nature. Um, so Mr. Green, >> thank you, Mr. Superintendent. Um, so I want to walk you through this. I'll I'll tee up the issue for you and I'm going to just kind of walk through um what the goal is today. So, first under policy 0131, the board may hold workshops for the purpose of policy development. That's what we're trying to do today. Um the threshold question for consideration is whether

117their board desires the district to develop a proposal to amend uh 0147. Specifically the first sentence of the second paragraph which says the board may authorize all approved expenses for membership of its board members in recognized school board associations. The I believe the two recognized schoolboard associations in Florida are FSBA and Leadership Florida. So if the board does wish to uh pursue a amendment um then under 0147 um the district can move forward at a future meeting at which the superintendent would recommend for the board's consideration revisions to that policy. Before leaving to the board for discussion, I can provide a brief statutory analysis for the board's consideration of this issue if if you wish. So if you look at uh 0147, it cites one statute 1395 and that's specific and the title of the

118policy is compensation. That statute is specific to compensation. uh the statute unfortunately does not address anything about membership or expenses for membership and associations. So to try to figure out well what might be permitted um in a if the board were consider amendment I looked at a statute in Florida. It's 216.345. The title is professional or other organization membership dues. um that specific statute is limited by its language to state agencies. So it says a state agency or other component of state government, here's the key phrase, may utilize state funds for the purpose of paying dues for membership in a professional or other organization only when such membership is essential to the statutory duties and responsibilities of the state agency. I looked at um has any Florida court interpreted that statute only once since the

119statute was first passed I think 1995. There's a case from 2011 where the court um interpreted that statute and basically said the statute allows use of state funds for membership dues only when such membership is essential to the statutory duties and responsibilities. Um basically citing the statute. So while while that specific statute doesn't say anything about uh local agencies or school boards explicitly um it does say that those particular agencies may utilize state funds only when membership is essential for their their duties. So you could find that persuasive perhaps that you know to the extent that a school board or local agency is utilizing state funds that same standard might apply if if uh you know there was a a case that brought before a court. Um so that's um that's my briefing. I want

120to just tee this up and I'll turn it over for the board for discussion. This is this is your uh your item, correct? >> It's on your agenda. So, >> it's on my agenda, but Mr. Green was the presenter. >> Okay, >> Mr. Miss Miller. >> Thanks, Mr. Green. Um, I did send you Hillsboro's policy and I think you had time to review that. Um, the local chambers have been paid differently in the past through the district. I know I called around to find out our status of with several of the chambers. Um, in Auburndale there's they're still single memberships where all my schools join and I join separately. In Lakeland, we're at a tiered system. Um, right now I'm going to meet with them to see what they'll offer for another tier. Um, district

1212 used to be a member, but I think just how it was how it we've moved along with the with the inind of just being a part of the city and community, we've just not had a system. I I'm not opposed to paying the chamber memberships out of our budgets because I think what I get from meeting with the business community is very valuable. Um and so I I do think we should update this because there are lots of organizations that I think are are pertinent to this job and most of them are are right here locally what we can do locally. I was just with leadership Barto and um toured a business that now our medicalies are going to go see. I think what we've had a lot of opportunities to make those local

122connections as board members through the chambers. I love that our chambers are so inclusive. Like if I go out to the Northeast Chamber, they don't ask for a membership card. Um they're very welcoming to any of the members as well as Lakeland and Winter Haven and Auburnale. They're all really good at that. So I think it's important that we're seen. I think it's important that we listen um and make those connections. And I I am I don't have an opinion on where the line item comes from. I just think it's important that we're involved at that at that level. Thank you, >> Miss Wyatt. >> Thank you. Um, I would tend to agree with Miss Miller. I I think that some of the most important work that we do are right here in our own

123districts and organizations that we're a part of. Um, you know, I've I've been a part of FSBA. I've been a part of Leadership Florida for several years. I will venture to say that the most impactful things that shape what I do for PK County Public Schools every day are in organizations that are right here in PK County and that understand our landscape that the business community especially as we look at some of ouries and and how we get businesses engaged. Um I think they're great organizations. I think the larger question is specific to chambers and um Mr. Green, thank you for calling me last night since it was too late for me to call you. um thank you for calling me last night so that we could chat um about kind of what this where

124this topic came from because I did do a little bit of homework this morning with some of the chambers and I think it would be beneficial for the district as a whole to be members of the chambers. Um you know every chamber does it a little bit differently. um Winter Haven, every individual school is a member, but then also several departments are members that best practice and across the the country really with chambers. Usually the district is a member and then every organization under the district, so every school, any department, they can actually be listed out separately on the chamber page, but then everyone gets access. Um so I think that that could be is probably the way to go specific to chamber memberships. Um, I don't think that we each need our own individual

125membership, but I think the district as a whole needs to be a member of all of our local organizations, though we need to have a presence in those areas. Um, and Superintendent Hyde and I have talked about this several times before. Um, just how do we, you know, there's opportunities. I think I could talk all day about the benefits of chambers for schools, but I think one of the greatest opportunities we have is that several of our chambers have young professionals groups. They have other you know specific whether it's socials or happy hours or things that if we are a member as a district especially at most of the them have like a highest tier that every employee no matter if you have 50 employees or 13,000 employees every employee can can attend and and

126participate. um that some of those things are would be really great um benefits for especially those employees that we're recruiting from Pennsylvania or Puerto Rico or other places to come and move here. Once they move here, how are we getting them connected? How are we giving them opportunities to really get involved and engaged in the community? Um but I think it serves a bigger purpose than just having board members have a membership. Um, so that would be on on the chamber side that that's my stance on where we should be joining for chambers. Um, but I don't necessarily think that we should be limited to the recognized schoolboard associations. I think our jobs as board members is to figure out what we need to best serve our community. And sometimes that looks like schoolboard education.

127Sometimes that looks like better understanding your community where you are. Um, sometimes that looks like best understanding maybe a pocket of your community that you don't really know that you know, whether it's NAACP or the Florence Villa Community Association in my area, things like that that are really important for us to be able to to get involved with and understand. Um, I'm not sure, and uh, Mr. Green and I talked about this last night, I'm not sure that 216 is relevant because it specifically says a state department. Um, and as we well know, the state treats us very different than any any of their their own rules. Um, be it sunshine or gift laws or anything. So, I don't know that because it's silent on school boards, I don't know that that really applies to

128us. Um, but those are my thoughts. >> Miss Fields, >> I would agree with Miss Wyatt as it relates to the chamber. Um I I don't I don't uh see the value of having individual board membership. Uh I think that it needs to be uh district uh membership and then board members can be listed or anybody else that need to be listed. Uh and and there is value in being a member of the chamber. And I'm sure that um everyone here would attest to that. I um I think the question for me is if anything outside of the um schoolboard association or the or the leadership uh state uh association uh is um in question for a board member who determines and maybe no one determines maybe you self report yourself. I I don't know

129how it works, but how would you keep a handle on what um membership can be um done by board members and what's appropriate and what's not appropriate. I I think that's the thing for me. But then I guess as I said a few minutes ago, everybody have to sit on their own bottom and they would have to decide whether or not what they're doing is in alignment with what's expected of them as a schoolboard member and what the taxpayers expect of us because at the end of the day uh all of the expenses can be audited and then we'd have to explain why we are expending dollars that way. So that's just my take on it. >> Mr. Sharpless. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Um, if we're looking at board policy 00147 and we're we're talking

130about potentially ways to um to amend that, I want to make sure that whatever we put in there, we have whenever we're spending money um our own budgets, it needs to have some tie to education. I don't want a rogue board member in the future. I don't think anyone up here. I'm not this isn't about anyone up here. It's about again policy drives our organization, right? And so when I think of future organiza people in the organization, um you know, maybe there's a a rogue board member that wants to join some crazy organization. I have no idea, right? Um and I know we police oursel, but we still have to have guardrails. And so we we develop guardrails for the superintendent and policy. We need to make guard rails for oursel. So again, I'm not

131suggesting the language, but it has to have some sort of educational tie. And I don't think anything we talked about the chamber has an educational tie. The NAACP that that uh you mentioned educational tie. Everything we've talked about has an educational tie. So that's not an issue for me. Um, but we need have something, it needs to be reflective in there that is somehow some sort of tie of educa to education because, you know, a political party, what if someone wanted to pay their their dues to a political party out of their schoolboard budget? I'd have a I'd have an issue with that, right? Um, because I don't believe our taxpayer dollars should be going towards that. Um, that's the first thing. Second thing I will tell you that personally my participation in the Florida

132School Board Association has been vital to my development as a as a school board member. So I know it may not be that way for other board members, but for me the mentoring I I get there, the ed the professional development I get there is it has helped me to become a better board member and I would not be the the board member I am today without that organization. Um and also I will say that the money that we pay in dues towards that organization also goes to the advocacy e efforts of our state which we'll be talking about here in a little bit. Uh a item about our advocacy committee representative that has a direct tie. Okay. It has a direct tie to our FEFP to our uh any kind of advocacy we do

133on the state level on the national level. I know both my colleagues to my right here have went to the COSBA uh national advocacy conference. Um, so I think that's important. And so again, whatever it says and however it's changed, as long as we have a tie to education to it, that's going to be critical for me to whether I do an up vote or down vote on anything that that that gets amended. So that's just my opinion on it. Thank you for hearing me out, >> Mr. Keys. >> Well, thank you for that, Mr. Sharpas. And I just I want to echo that it should always be tied back to education. Um and then I was going to echo what Miss Wyatt said also that I think um and Miss Fields in seconded that

134I think uh membership in the chamber as a as a whole not individually is very very important. Um that's the boots on the ground in our community. We can find these access and resources get people tied in not only us to those communities but the also for those communities to the district. So I think our presence there is valued and I think it would be a good thing um also for district staff at time as they travel the county that indeed you include community leaison to be able to have access to those um organizations. So I'm definitely in favor of that >> Miller. >> Um thank you Mr. Keys. I agree that it's it's vital. It's not the only organization to be involved in just like FSBA because we all have different needs in our

135in our leadership and we're at different levels. Um, and so I appreciate that that FSBA is not removing it doesn't remove the importance of the organization. It just varies. It gives other board members that opportunity to have their needs met. And I think what Hillsboro County did is they they use the word appropriate um expenses and members of inappropriate associations. But I did, you know, discuss with Mr. Green at least by email that that word appropriate um can be, you know, it's not very it's not very firm on what that would be. But I don't know that we need to get too detailed in it. I mean, you are an elected official. The budgets are public record. I think we are doing a much better job and transparency on the cost of some of these

136things um that we're involved in and what we bring back to the district with them. Um and so I'm not concerned with inappropriate use of it. I don't know that I've seen other districts do that. I think that um leaders in the community have shown that being a part of multiple organizations is helpful to their district. So, I don't know that we need to copy Hillsboro word for word, but I think using them as a reference is great. I think this is going to go much back to procedure, uh, where some of us have more money in our accounts because we're not involved in as many associations or the dollars don't cost or the associations we're involved with involved with don't cost as much as others. Um, we need to look at what those district

137memberships would look like. And, you know, I'm I pay for the Abundale membership, but it's singular. I don't know that they offer a district-wide membership, but I think we need to do a little research on what's available and make sure that the district is represented and anyone involved in the district feels welcomed and a part of our chambers. Thank you, >> Mr. Green. On that point, I know that um staff is looking into each chamber for instance to see if they offer a a group membership if that's um you know something that the board desires to expand on this. Um to the extent that there's individual memberships now and would it be more cost effective to to have a one for the whole district or one for the board kind of thing. Um we're researching

138that what the cost is and and whether that's an option. Um since uh Miss Fields brought up about um accountability and you know will this be subject to you know oversight the another chapter I didn't mention in my statutory review is 119 specifically 11901 subsection 3 it says if public funds are expended by an agency and that would include school board uh this policy is uh reply applies to state county municipal records. If public funds are expended by an agency and payment of dues or membership contributions for any person, all the membership records of that person are public records. Just, you know, for consideration on how this is expanded. That's it. >> Miss Wyatt, >> thank you. Um, and as it should be, I think it's important that the community knows what we're involved in.

139Um, you know, one of the things I said when I was first running was that we don't need seven 23 year olds on the school board, but we need one is valuable to have. But I think that speaks true for for each of the topics that we represent. You know, I would would hope that we have someone that is more involved in agriculture than I am because I can't grow anything and keep it green. Um, but if that's something that that there's organizations that you should be a a deeper part of to be able to really engage in that space, then I think that's something that we should make sure that that we have board members representing different spaces. Um the sheriff's department does a really good job of making sure that their leadership team

140is all members of different Rotaries Kuanas clubs that they really are fully represented that I don't know for those of you that go to Rotary Kuanas I don't know that I've ever been to a meeting anywhere in the county that there has not been at least one representative from PK County Sheriff's Department if not two or three. Um, but it really just does give the ability for us to to be in the community and see see additional things going on. Um, and be be present and available in that space. Um, but I did want to and I actually pressed the button before you said it, but political parties is one that I think that that definitely whether that needs to be specifically written in there or whether that could become um just part of appropriate,

141you know, there are definitely things I think that if it goes against what we are trying to do in public education. Um, we want to make sure that that's not uh something that we're supporting. Um however I think when we look across the full gamut how many things are not education that when we start looking at the different industries that you know we have an academy for everything um different industries that are involved in our school district things like that that um I think it gives we have a really great opportunity here to make sure that our board is as involved and and present moving forward as we we have been thus far. So thank you >> Dr. Allen. >> Thanks superintendent. Yeah, I mean I'm definitely in support of uh all the discussion thus

142far. Um I think from my perspective is maybe it's uh and it is within our policy I believe somewhere and Mr. Green can affirm that or reject that but the fact that we're supposed to uh approve our budget like our board budget annually. So, um I don't know if we can codify a formalized process for um approving memberships or if that's needed or not, but just um to know what all membership involvement is as a board. So, I mean, obviously, we report things these things out so we have like an idea what we're all doing uh membership wise, but um from a transparency standpoint, yes, it's uh in public record. Um, I don't think I've ever like, you know, wanted to at this point wanted to make a records request on what all membership everybody's

143involved in. Um, but I think it would just be something that could be a part of that annual when we're discussing our board budget and approving our board budget on that annual basis. I think it's in July, uh, June possibly. that is just a point of that discussion would be my only recommendation and maybe it's something that could be included in the policy as well so it's codified. That's my only comment. Thank you. So, so there are a couple things just want to clarify too. The statute says and when you do the research on the legal ability for schoolboard members to belong to associations outside of traditional or formalized schoolboard organizations. the the there's a consistent pattern that comes up in the legal review. Number one, it must be directly related to your duties and

144responsibilities as a schoolboard member and it cannot benefit a school board member politically. And so, as Dr. Allen just mentioned, the recommendation, happy to work on it with staff and and Mr. green um is to develop a process and a timeline each year where the board will have to vote to approve what organizations you want to be members of. But along with that, the board also needs to come up with policy or procedures on how you exit from a group. Because should a group take a position politically, which they do quite frequently that does not align with the school board, your responsibility as a school board members to support the district, not personal opinion and viewpoints. So, you're going to need an exit strategy. Should a group, Rotary, chamber, whatever other groups you ultimately approve,

145you're going to need to have a formalized process to withdraw from that organization at that time. So, it's going to create an additional burden of us having to monitor all their legislative platform initiatives and other things that they're actively engaged in because they very well may be counterproductive for the district as a whole. So, those are the things I would encourage you to consider as we move forward. We're happy to reach out. I know Miss Miller and I have had conversations about this for some time now. We're happy to try and reach out to see if we can get a school board membership. I I do not support a district-wide membership. Um I would support a school board membership because trying to go to 14,000 employees, the cost is going to be prohibitive um for

146those organizations. So at the end of the day, we could bargain that or try to negotiate a consistent fee across all chambers and they should all have the same fee structure. You're not going to pay more for one and more for another or less than here. So, we're re more than happy to reach out and ask if we can see if they're willing to add a fee structure for membership for the school board. Um, and then when to Dr. Allen's point, when you approve your budget each year, when you approve the district budget during that process, you're approving the budget that goes to board members for the purposes of membership, travel, and those things. And then we would take the total amount for if the board agrees to this. I'm just kind of trying to

147outlay kind of a road map of where we might go. So, let's say total for across across PK County, let's say it's $2,000 for every chamber, every rotary, all those things. We would simply divide it by seven and it would be deducted from your your budget statement so that you're paying your proportionate share of that membership. I think that also makes it cleaner in your budget to restrict it to the board and not expand it beyond you as a group. Um, I get invited anytime there's a topic related to education. So, I I don't require a membership. Um, most more often than not, many of you don't either. You get invited quite frequently as well. So, I I would just offer that and just have you contemplate the reality that at some point you may

148need to retreat from a group because our our priorities no longer align. So, it's just something to consider. What happens if what happens if um the board members thoughts and ideas align with the group that is not in alignment with the school district? Are you understanding what I'm saying? >> Yes. >> I I would argue at that point and and I would obviously defer to legal. I would argue that that board member is now in conflict with the intent of the statute. The intent of the statute is not to allow your personal ideology to move forward. Your membership and allowance to participate in these organizations is very specifically stated in the statute that it is support the school district not the individual. So I would be my response to that but I I don't know

149if Mr. Green has anything to add to that. Um >> yeah so right now the policy is very narrow. It's it's uh currently the board may authorize expenses in recognized school board associations that I think that's two groups. So the discussion today was does the board wish to expand it beyond those two groups on you know whatever tied to education. I don't know. I think it's helpful to define it can be expand but I think it's helpful to define because um you know what's appropriate to one person might be inappropriate to another. And again this is the board has to make this decision. What what does the board what's the board's will on allowing expenses to be paid out of the board budget um for these types of things? Is it is it broad? Is

150it going to continue to be narrow? Just for discussion because it it's come up on on maybe it's too narrow. So you know what how you want to expand it. We can offer some language choices and you can say that's still too narrow or that's good. But >> and much like you would approve your budgets each year as you do >> for your individual board member or the collective board and then it's distributed equally amongst all of you. I would encourage that the process involve an annual approval for what groups are going to participate because much to that question these things may evolve over time but I think to that extent we would also uh profer language that essentially would place some restrictions on membership groups because I think as it was said earlier there's

151a lot we can categorize as education related the question is is it in the district's best interest? Is it in the board's best interest to allow certain groups to become or board members to become members of certain groups? Um, and and you don't have to you don't have to name a group. You could simply say the board agrees not to align or not to approve memberships within groups that align themselves solely in a political ideology. It could it doesn't even have to be specific to a political party. It could simply say we're not going to take a position in that or but we can play with the language. Ultimately the board will approve it or deny it or ask for modifications so at least we have a starting point. Hopefully this is making sense. I

152I really wanted to make sure I listened to the majority of your comments um so that we could actually come up with a plan on how to best address this. But again I think simply stated each year we would bring a list forward for the board to approve. These are the memberships that we are approving this year. You'd then subsequently approve your board budget and allow us to attempt to see if we can come to some understanding with all of those respective groups as to one standardized fee structure for seven board members. I think that's fair and I I think they would be very receptive to that. They'd rather have your involvement than not have your involvement quite frankly. Um, and I think that's a good it's good stewardship on your behalf in those areas.

153So, Miss Miller, >> I just have a couple things. First, I want to thank Dr. Allen um for bringing up that board budget. I am requesting again now publicly that we have that discussion about our budgets and it's transparent with the community on the dollars that are being spent. Um, and plus just to learn more about it, maybe there, you know, learn how it works, learn if there needs to be changes in how it is developed or how it changes. Um, so I'm making that request that we do that in a in a have it with the the district's budget, but but have us look at our budget because it's been very difficult to to get that and understand um specifically what we are spending. I'm trying and my mind is racing right now because

154I think being in in law that you are going to that extreme and I'm I'm trying to think of organizations locally that we wouldn't want to be a part of. So I don't know, but maybe the superintendent will tell me later how that could go ary. I do want to make a public statement that Kuanas and Rotary are nonpartisan community organizations that go out of their way to show that they are not a partisan organization. So, I don't want them to feel like they're being um targeted there. We're also not the only elected group in the county or the state. I'd be interested in what the city um the cities are doing, the municipalities and or the the uh BOCC with membership. So, if you could do a little research on that, that might be

155helpful. Um, and then are we going to I feel like we're getting so narrow in this and we may need to because of legal reasons, but I don't mind, you know, the list. This is all the organizations your school, your school board belongs to. Individuals belong to these certain organizations. Is that going to go into conferences and things? Because we all do kind of have our own um, you know, background and interest. I may not have an interest in some educational practices that other board members have an interest in. And there then there might be discussion. and do I need to agree with all of them for them to be able to attend? And I don't feel that. Um I don't want that to be an issue. But I do want to allow the opportunity,

156you know, us that have done Cosb in the past and there's two or three that go now, there may be another um another event or conference that would be beneficial to our district that one of us could go to. But I don't think it's my place to tell someone even if they're going to learn about more of an educational practice that may not be something I 100% agree with. I don't know that I need to vote them not allowed to go. So I I don't know how narrow we need to get in this. I prefer not to go that narrow with people because we are elected officials and at the end you are responsible to your community for the dollars you spend in what you do and you will be held accountable hopefully. Um but

157I would like some research done on how other either districts or municipalities or the BOCC board handle some of their memberships. Thank you >> Mr. Sharpless. Thank you, Superintendent. Um, I'm going to go back to a point uh uh that uh was made earlier about um you know, educational relevance, that kind of thing. And and and and to address something that board member Wyatt said um just about, you know, different careermies and that well, that's that's a direct tie to education. So it may not be an educational organization but they have to in my opinion again however we capture that language I don't know how that language is captured it needs to be able to tie again to our school district and the advancement of our school district. Okay. Um, I'll also, uh, like to

158point out, um, and just put on the record that when we went to individual board member budgets and we talked about, you know, board members having membership in certain organizations or not, the whole point of it was to give autonomy to our board members. And now we're talking about being members of chambers and not having a choice in that, right? We're saying, "Okay, we're using that budget. You know, we're spreading it across seven board members. You know what? If one of our board members didn't want to be a member of of a of a chamber, please don't take my comments as saying that I don't value the chamber work because I do. What I'm saying is if we're giving autonomy to board members to be a member of, let's say, FSBA or not, then we

159also should give autonomy on whether or not board members should be members of other organizations. So, in that case, I don't think it should be board member um should not be board memberships. It should be individual memberships because each individual member gets to do that. Now, unless there's some sort of opt out, opt in policy. I don't know. But but you get my point here, right? We the reason we did that was to give board members autonomy and now we're saying we're not giving board members autonomy. So, I just I just want to make sure that we that we we're fair in this and we're doing this uh the right way. I at the end of the day, do I think we're all going to make the right decisions for us as individual board members?

160Yes. I do. I think the the u the voters of this county will hold us accountable if we don't. Yes. Um, I will also ask, you know, when we when we go and and I hear you loud and clear, board member Miller, that when we have our budget uh discussion, we should be talking about our individual budgets as well in addition to the school board budget. So, I concur as board chair. That's what I would want to do as well. Okay. But I I I hold firm to the fact that we are all capable individuals. We are all we all six of us as well as board member Wallace, all seven of us want what's best for the school district and we're going to be held accountable if the voters do not think we're doing

161that. And that's my piece. >> Thank you. I'm going to um take Mr. Sharplet's piece too. Um because I do believe it's important for the board members to have autonomy in whether or not they're members of any organization. Um I you know you mentioned chambers and I would love the opportunity and we can do this offline but to talk a little bit more with you about what chamber membership at a district level looks like because I would be very concerned if we were paying the same amount for a membership in each of our chambers at a district level just because they're very different organizations. You have a Lakeland chamber that has over a thousand members. You have smaller chambers that are smaller municipalities that may have a hundred members. So, they're their membership tiers are

162structured to be representative of that. Um, so I want to make sure that we're not paying the same for every chamber because that would not be the best fiduciary responsibility for us. Um, but I do think that there's it concerns me that we we wouldn't look to at least explore that opportunity as a districtwide to have memberships because we already require many of our schools to have a membership in their local chamber. Um, but I think that there's a lot more to it than so I would love to have to explore that conversation further. >> Mr. Green, >> I had um a couple thoughts. First, I did um check in the fall with my counterparts uh in FSBA about, you know, whether membership in a voluntary organization outside of the recognized schoolboard associations, you know,

163is permitted in their districts and gave an example of Kuanas and the consensus was no. Uh of the five who responded that they don't allow it. they they wouldn't if it had come up they wouldn't they don't currently um just for that for purposes of comparison of what are other districts doing. Um another thought too is to the extent that a board member finds a particular membership valuable outside of the recognized schoolboard associations that the board currently allows for. there's nothing stopping you from joining that as as you know a member. Um it's just we're looking at the specific phrase of will the board approve that expense. That's all that you know do we want to expand it beyond what we're currently allowing. That's it. >> Mr. Keys, >> I'm going to try to be

164extremely brief. Um I worry about on the approval side of things the possibility of the d the dynamics of our board currently are very favorable towards this discussion and we should have the autonomy. But I wonder about when we talk about approval of um that there may be situation in the future where we have a majority of wanting something and a minority not wanting the same thing or we have the back and forth about what's applicable what's not. So we have to be very cognizant of when we set that policy what that looks like. Um, and I tend to favor Miss Wyatt says I think I I would find it very odd on the chamber particular discussion that they would not want us to be a part of that, right? And I think that we

165just need to define really what membership looks like in those particular areas. Um, and and again what Mr. Sharp said I think that's after we having the discussion that's why this discussion is so helpful is that not all seven of us may not find uh value in that and to to take those memberships as a whole and divide them amongst I think really takes away from the spirit of what we're trying to do here but I think that is going to come to light in discussion with the individual chambers and maybe that whole group the all of them as a whole saying what would you like from your school board and the county and how can we play a part in your organization um and make sense of that. But and then what Mr. Green

166finally said, you know, I'm a little bit I guess on this one, I was a Rotarian before I was on the school board and I'll probably be Rotarian after I was school board and but that's a personal choice. Um there's nothing stopping you from saying if we're not saying that that's educated related. I know they're very neutral um politically speaking, but there's nothing stopping us from board members who are paid for this position to exercise our membership in those organizations outside of our official duties. So, I'm not too concerned about that. But again, I think the the spirit of it is we have to be very specific in the way we line this out as policy-wise, not only for us currently, we work well together, but what happens after we're not here. So, that's all

167I have to say. I think that was brief. Miss Miller, I >> just want to let the board know that currently the Lakeland Chamber, the lower the lowest tier is $432 and that's where we are as a district, but no, none of the board members are listed as members. Um, and those spots that are allowed at that tier are taken up by others in the district. So, it'll be interesting to see what the chambers offer. Um, you know, I want to go back to again saying, um, I think we need if there's an issue that arises in the future, you can always amend policy, but to restrict and not provide autonomy to board members, you'll get into the back and forth. And I don't I do not think that's fair to to the board members

168or, you know, their every everybody has their own personal decisions on what they joined and to be a part of. I don't know that we need to get in the back and forth on whose ideas um and whose organizations are are more than or greater than. I would like to line up the dollars. If I'm assigned a certain amount of dollars and I can use them to do 15 things, that is what I should be doing as a board member. If another board member is an own organization that takes most of that money because they find value in it, then that's their purview. I don't know that the board needs to decide that for each other. So, I do not want us to get down the road of telling making us look at each other

169and and have the conversation about whose organization is superior to the that is so off the charts for an elected board. So, please do not send us that direction. Um, and I'm looking forward to seeing what your your wording looks like in the amendment. Thank you, >> Miss Wyatt. >> Thank you. I agree. And I just want to because we in our in our board budgets have them both listed. This would include we we look at both memberships and conferences. So I want to make sure that as we're going down this road that we do keep it where each member has autonomy because you know I may find that being a member of Rotary which again I was a member before I was on the board and I'll be a member probably till the day

170I die. But if being a member of Rotary and going every Thursday is what you as a board member feel is the best way for you to serve as a school board member, then I would much rather you be able to spend that $500 there than going to a conference for two days and soaking up a ton of information. But whichever I want you to be able to make the decision of which one you feel like is best able to support your work on the school board and your education as a school board member. Um, so I just wanted to to throw that out there that it I think it it leads into both categories, not just the membership since they're all budgeted together. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Sharpless. >> The only other thing

171I want to say is that um many times we might find out about an organization during the year that we might want to be a member of. So while while our budgets we approve um and we're not getting into the granular of approving each individual organization, I think we also need to have some something in there about flexibility. um whenever your budget isn't being used uh you know for certain things we can use for others you know um also uh I think you know we should be able to within let's say I'm going to give you an example okay because currently I serve as the treasurer of the Florida schoolboard association because of my service on there they cover my conference registrations right I'm saving the district money they're not paying for me to do

172that right? Because FSBA is. And so I also think we should have the flexibility to be able to gift um parts of our budget to other board members. Let's say um another board member has a conference, they and they've ran out of money and I and I don't and I want to be able to help them, right? I should be able to gift that to them because um you know or any of us. I think that's that's important and somehow if we can capture that in a policy where our we can assign uh board members have the autonomy to assign um parts of our budgets to other board members to help them. I think you know fulfill their duties in this. I think that's an important piece and so um yeah that's that's the last

173thing I'll add to it. >> Mr. Green. >> Um just to I guess maybe bring it full circle. So, um I I don't want we're looking at this policy and whether the board wishes to authorize expenses beyond the two recognized schoolboard associations. So, to the extent that um that revised language doesn't include a specific group, it's not telling you you can't be a member of that group and you don't have the autonomy to become a member, a Rotarian or whatever it may be. It's simply the board doesn't want to use its funds to to pay those expenses. That's all. So I I think it would be easiest for purposes of if we're going to do an amendment being transparent as to we know what recognized schoolboard associations are. There's two of them. So does that

174include chamber? Does that include Kuanas? Does that include Rotary? Does that include to to define it so everyone knows what the board's budget is being used for for expenses? That would be the easiest way to draft it as opposed to using words like appropriate because that's again that's a very um arbitrary or hard hard term to define. Um tied to education again that's that's another tough one. It's hard. I mean I understand the intent. I think that's good. You know any any fund should be tied to that but how tenuous can that tie you know how tenuous is the tie? I think we know all the me all the associations you're members of. Now there that's a defined set. So um is the board good with paying the expense expenses of those particular organizations outside

175of FSBA and Leadership Florida? That that's really kind of the issue of whether the board wishes to do that or not. So So the only thing Mr. screen that I heard you say that I want to make sure I clarify. You said the board members wouldn't pay for that and and that's not true. The board members will pay for that from their individual budgets. The district will not cover those costs outside of what the budget is that the board approves annually. Board members presently get a considerable amount of money for travel memberships and they should be able to work within that. To Mr. Sharpless's point, the request that board members have flexibility that they could reassign dollars to other board members was addressed when we first rolled out your individual budgets. That was addressed publicly.

176Um, we can definitely make sure that we get that into the language. Um, moving forward, that would require a board vote because for transparency purposes, you're moving budgets between budget items. So, you would need to say we're transferring dollars from here to there. Um and that could be done through action item or consent at subsequent board meetings. Um the things I would encourage the board to reflect on further um so from what I heard we don't want to see if we can get one standard fee structure for everyone across the board. As such you pay what you pay um for each one of those respective groups. So if one group charges 500 and another commensurate group charges 700, your part your participation is your decision and you'll pay that fee structure based off of what

177they charge. Um if they don't presently have something, we happy to reach out and see if we can have a conversation with them um to see if there's something that they could do. the benefit was and and in my initial conversations with Miss Miller, the concern was are all seven board members paying the same fee rather than can we get one lump sum charge which would be significantly lower and cover all seven, but clearly you're not interested in that. Um, so if you want that flexibility, I I'm still going to encourage the board to come up with language about what groups you should not participate in or which groups should cause pause to be paid for from school district funds. If you don't set those guard rails, it's going to become a conversation for some

178of you. It just is by by virtue of your outside affiliations. And it's not just this board, it's the board in general moving forward. You want to provide some protections there. Um, so definitely we can work with Mr. Green, but that's the summary of what I've heard. So for us as far as action steps moving forward, Mr. Green will work to address the existing policy to provide the flexibility the board's requested. And that basically captures it in a nutshell. So, >> not a total nation because you have a speaker. >> Miss Miller, >> I just want this is my last comment on this subject because I feel like we've done this for a while. Um the reason Hillsboro County uses the word appropriate is because they do not and a lot as you see in

179a lot of um policy especially at the state level when you start being finite with what it is or you start listing organizations if something comes up where the school board member wants to be a part of go to a go to something that's affiliated with unless you start with some kind of really low discretionary dollars that can be used. they're going to be trying to amend policies to add. I just think it's it's it's poor governance. I think that there's a reason that um those that language was used. If we want to add in it can't be a political affiliation, that's perfectly fine. I didn't even imagine that, but I guess that could be a problem at some point. Um but to go in and try to start listing, I just don't you're talking

180about local control. You're taking away board members how they decide to be a part of the community. So, I think there's a reason you saw other districts use that kind of broad language and we and I would rather go that direction than trying to add things throughout the year when we have packed agendas doing important work. We're entrusted by the vote. Some of us, you know, that went to general elections by 100,000 plus votes. I think that we need to take that responsibility and use it um as it's intended and not be and not be micromanaged into list of what we'll belong to. >> Miss Wyatt, >> thank you. Um, my concerns were along the same because when you recaped it, Mr. Green, that it's there part of it went in direct conflict, I think,

181of what I heard the rest of the board say, which is that we don't want a specific list of organizations or types of organizations, for the very reasons that Miss Miller um, has alluded to and for the very reasons that we've talked about earlier when we were addressing policy today that, you know, how long has it taken us to get a binder out of a book that's it just isn't relevant anymore even though it was very relevant back then. So I would encourage us not to create a list of what's allowed but rather to if we have types of organizations that are not allowed um and have the rest be you know as as long as it supports is appropriate and supports education supports the work of the the board members um which cannot include

182political organizations whatever the language ends up being but not to create a specific list um but to to just make sure it ties back to education in supporting the role of a school board member. >> Miss Fields, >> I feel like we're beating this horse horse to death. Uh I agree with Superintendent High and I think that we need to have some type of guardrails on what we don't want to see because we're not going to be in these seats forever and we need to make sure that we have some thing uh that's going to be amunable for our uh kids and our employees long term. Okay, seeing no further questions or comments, thank you board members. At this time, we are going to go into a close session, Mr. Chair. So, we will need

183to clear the room with the exception of our safe school specialist also give this also give our people time to transition. >> Yes. >> Miss Jenkins, could you check with it next door and make sure that they let us know when we're off >> and that they're not recording? cops. Um we have three different series we've listed there. Our annual lease payments are approximately 22.5 million through fiscal year 2028. Then they decreased to 5.1 million and then um in 2029 to 4.9 million and 2030 is the final maturity. In addition to those, the district also makes a $4 million lease payment every year for Scenic Terrace. We have 114.9 million of series 2019 sales tax revenue bonds outstanding and their final maturity is October of 2033. The average annual debt service is 16.2 million. All

184that being said and only referring to comps, not sales tax, we have a borrowing capacity of 883 million. Any questions on that slide? No ma'am. >> Yes sir. Um the major projects that we are recommending for borrowing for um the cops is in the amount of $37 million. That includes Alta Vista, Lake Alfred, Wanita, a gym auditorium at Mclofflin Middle, Floral Al Floral Avenue Elementary, and deferred maintenance. Um the four schools are renovation and capacity addition. It's basically a redo of the schools, a new auditorium and then deferred maintenance um would be decided >> pause there for a second. >> Miss Jenkins, thank you. Um looking at that 63 million for deferred maintenance, we just had our board uh retreat and we saw, you know, by Yeah, our our big sticker shock of over $1

185billion in deferred maintenance. Do because of that report from Alpha, do we want to potentially increase the amount we're borrowing to to um address of deferred maintenance? And I'm not sure if that's a question for you or that's a question for Superintendent Hyde. I'm asking the question to you, Superintendent Hyde, and you can tell me which one. >> Yes, sir. So, I I will allow Miss Jenkins to answer after what I share. Now there there is a cap on how much we can borrow. Um so we want to stay within that threshold. We also want to be respectful of what we can afford to borrow and repay so that we don't leave a legacy debt behind. Um in addition, part of this contemplates some of the corrections. If you recall from the retreat, some of

186those recommended issues will be addressed through new construction and renovation of existing buildings. But from there, I'll let Miss Jenkins explain further if there is any room left that we could increase that dollar amount um for for debt purposes. But Miss Jenkins, >> you answered it beautifully. I don't have anything to add. >> I get lucky every once in a while. >> Um what we did do is we took a look at our projects that we were planning on paying for with sales tax because you can't use impact fees for deferred maintenance. So, we've looked taken a look at our whole project list and kind of realigned and we're borrowing against those funds that will essentially free up a little bit more to be added to the maintenance. We already budget 10 million a year

187for deferred 10 million for current maintenance and then that would add 63 which could then be used for specific things like roofing or HVAC. we could and those are tangible items that will aid in our deferred and then if we have um we can we'll do a review and what's left over can then be allocated to additional projects. So I'm going to try and explain that the next couple slides are are a little heavy but I wanted to give you all as much information as I could. >> Hang on one second Miss Jenkins. Also, board members, as you look at the list there, there there could obviously the board could reject this list and say we'd like more capital shifted towards deferred maintenance projects. The only thing is I would just asked if we go

188line by line if if we defer Alta Vista, we were going to replace their their previous site and then use that as a swing site for Nina Vista. So part of that, just keep in mind, is if we defer one, it may impact others. The two that are geographically landlocked or isolated would be Wanita or Floral Avenue. If if the board wanted to to arrive at a decision to defer the replacement for those schools, however, I'd want to make sure I speak with Miss Jenkins further that neither one of them is being covered by impact fees or by additional dollars. But since they're listed here, the argument is they're not. These are being these are dollars we're borrowing for these projects. So, you do have some options there if you wanted to shift more funding.

189Just understand that it then defers some of these schools for a year or two further. Um, and then we would have to potentially go back to the 5-year capital plan and restructure that to address these schools differently. The only project that's on here um is the Mlofflin Middle Senior Auditorium that to make it commensurate with all other high schools and 612s, they really do need an auditorium. Um, so that that would be the only other thing I would add or contribute there. Miss Miller, >> hi. Um, I just have a quick question. We start talking about bonding. Some of us that have been around a long time sit up a little straighter because there was a time in this district where we were in trouble with with what we were doing. Um, and it wasn't

190done in with intent. the economy went down and um there was a we had a lot of debt and and our constituents reminded us of that daily and so um you know I have I have faith there are people in place. I just want to assure the public there are systems in place and procedures to review the bond, review um cost-saving measures as time goes on so we do not find ourselves in that position again because we have great people that move on and sometimes systems and procedures are not kept. >> Yes, ma'am. Um I've been here six years. So when I came we did have five different debt instruments. Um and we have paid a lot of those off. We had some complicated pieces too. Um they we had swaps. We had done a

191lot of interesting financing and those are almost well those are paid off and and we're down to a very minimal amount of debt. This was um is being presented with intention and we do understand that and don't want to put the district in in a place again. Um, as for the 63 million for deferred maintenance, that's the largest amount we can borrow for deferred maintenance, but we can change the projects as the superintendent stated and then divert those funds to deferred maintenance. Um, and I will as we move on try to I'll show you our funding and then maybe that will help clear it up a little bit. >> Mr. Keys, >> I'm just going to make a kind of a catchall comment. And I think that um as a board we do need to

192look at knowing now more realistically what um the maintenance going to cost us looking at those projects of the future and saying hey based on capacities and what we gauge enrollment to be in the future can we put some of these projects off one or two years I think we need to have an item on the agenda coming up sooner than later to really look at that and potentially shift our five-year capital outlay to take care of some of the maintenance issues. Go ahead, Miss Jenkins. >> Okay, this slide is our capital uh long range projection out to 2030. So, it shows you our estimated collections for impact fees, sales tax, local capital improvement, LCI, CO and DS, um capital outlay and debt service. That's an allocation we receive from the state. And then um

193our debt service payments along with our scenic terrace payment. Um our total existing debt is around 42.7 million out until we hit 2029 and then it reduces to 25 um 25,300 a year as you go. You'll see on the next slide we went out a couple more years so it goes out lower. um our new cops estimation and again this is just an estimation they market changes daily is 27 million for the debt service payment. So the following line shows you um our remaining revenue after debt service. We would have in 2627 about 200 million in remaining revenue after we made all of our debt service payments including the new amount. If you look at just sales tax and LCI, which that's what can be used for deferred maintenance, um we'd have 137 million. Then

194it goes up to 144. It increases each year. Um, if you take out our LCI estimated budget, and that's for things like our onetoone, our school buses, our athletic equipment, different pieces make up that budget. Um, we end up at around 116 million goes out to 141. Um, or that's how much that budget is, my apologies. And then our remaining budget is about 20 million that could be reallocated. Again, this is a lot of information on one slide. I apologize. If we look out, this goes out to 203637. We took it out this far because I wanted you to see at 2034 is where um everything is paid off. Even the new bond would be paid off and we would just have the scenic terrace debt remaining. Do all have questions? Does that make sense?

195Okay. I referred to the LCI budget, so I wanted to list what was in that. We have yearly maintenance, safety and security, technology, transportation, bus and fleet vehicles, athletic and fine arts. We do supply instruments for our schools as well. That's one big piece of our budget every year. And a portion of the maintenance and bus driver salaries are charged to capital. The estimated expense is about 112 million a year. For borrowing our timeline, we participated in a ratings call last week. We will have the results of that today actually after this meeting. Um, our insurance proposals are supposed to come in on April 16th. We have a something we are completing called a preliminary offering statement, POSOS. The deadline for final comments on that is April 23rd, followed by a due diligence conference call.

196Um those different documents rate our attractiveness to um to purchasers that would purchase the bonds that would fund our projects. And then the negotiated sale date would be May 5th. That's when they actually sell the bonds. And then we would have a pre-closing and a closing date after that. So the timeline is can occur rather quickly. And with the state of the market, it's recommended that if this is something the board chooses to do that we move forward with it. >> Miss Miller, >> there's a question of have we always used that or used that same um budget piece for a portion of maintenance and bus driver salaries? >> No, ma'am. There was a legislative change a couple years ago. Um, and this year is where we added bus driver salaries into that piece. >>

197Okay. I I have not seen that before. So, >> thank you, >> Mr. Keys. >> Just real quick, and you don't have to spit it out to me um immediately, but with the new cops for 2627, give me a ballpark where our DSCR would be based on the revenue. Because when I'm adding up just roughly I'm like at a 386 close to Is that sound accurate or we is that off? >> Sounds close. >> Okay. Go ahead, Miss Jenkins. >> I'm finished. >> Okay. >> There are no further questions or comments. >> Thank you. Board members, as it relates to this, just before Miss Jenkins leaves, um, while you may not have any further questions or comments, is there any further information you'd like to see presented at the next workshop? >> Lots of things.

198>> I always have a list >> as it relates to this topic. >> Yeah, >> I thought that's what I said. >> I just heard, did you have a list for the next work session? >> Sorry, that's the same thing I heard. that that that would be under old or new business. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Allen. >> Yeah, I mean it seemed like there's a a proposed um discussion around whether we would want to reallocate within within that. So, I don't know if you wanted to further that conversation or not. It was just sort of, you know, lowhanging fruit there. I wasn't sure if that was a prompt to have a further discussion on that. Um but maybe you know hearing some of your thoughts on that. >> Yeah. And that's why I was

199that within the construct of the of in the framework that was provided is that if the board wanted to defer additional dollars or redirect some of those proposed dollars to deferred maintenance, we would need to know that >> um because it would affect overall what we communicate and convey to lenders and to the community as a whole. And then again, anything that would change on here potentially has an impact to a five-year capital plan as well because one of these projects obviously there there are a couple on here, you know, the Alta Vista serving as a swing school and allowing us to address another campus which is landlocked and has no physical space for expansion or re renovation. Um it it it's conting one's contingent directly contingent upon the other. Um so that in and

200of itself removes over hund00 million from that budget, but that doesn't remove our obligation or need to address those schools campuses in the future. Um, so it's just something that to keep in mind, redirect funds now. We still have to figure out a mechanism to cover those expenses in the future. But, um, but we always want to be respectful of the board's concerns and the whole intent behind the retreat to give you the list of deferred maintenance was to stop kicking a can down the road. >> Mhm. you know, our our our unfortunate reality is funding's funding. And to Miss Miller's point, you know, previously we were not in a good place with our borrowing. District worked very aggressively over the years to have addressed that. We have probably one of the best debt ratios

201in the entire state as a school district. Um, but a lot of that too comes at the at the cost of not doing deferred maintenance. So, I I think it needs to be communicated well. And then additionally, it needs to be included in an overarching conversation about what we're doing with the half penny sales tax, what we're doing with impact fees. So again, happy to bring this back for further discussion at the next workshop workshop. Um, so that board members can ask over the next couple weeks for any background information you feel that you need in order for us to have a productive conversation at that time. >> So, did I answer your question, Dr. Al? >> Yes, sir. Thank you, >> Mr. Sharpless. I would I would like to see on on this slide

202uh about the different projects um the projects that are listed here that would be addressed with the cops. I would like to see if we go through with that project. This helps me in my decision-m if we go through with that project for for the especially for the ones that are renovation. Um how much of our deferred maintenance budget are we actually how much of it would the project eliminate? like you know does the renovation to Alta Vista you know help with this deferred maintenance or what you you get you get the point I'm trying to make? >> Yeah, we can do that. We have that analysis by site and Mr. Hannon presented it generally speaking at the retreat but we could we could carve it out by school site >> only for the cop

203stuff here. Yeah, thank you. That would help me. Well, actually, I would ask that we go just the next step further that anything else that we're addressing through half penny sales tax for thing or the five-year capital plan that the board has already committed to. >> Yes. >> That we'll go ahead and include those as well because might as well give you all the information at one time. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Keys, >> really quickly, I think some of that was addressed. I said we've seen that number go down and so for instance, the outage situation if there were as an assessment of that site that we were deficient on that went away because that's being demolished. Correct. Am I correct in saying so? >> Right. Replaced. Yes, sir.

204>> Or replace. Yeah, that's right. So, I like that word better. Um, no, but I but again, I think I'm I'm echoing what Mr. Sharpa said, what was previously said. It would be nice to have a list of saying, "Hey, these is what, you know, that series 2026 would include." And then if we can say, "Hey, well, these priorities need to shift, you know, in the future a little bit more and let's address because me personally, I want to see addressed, you know, maintenance items, deferred maintenance now first. those especially those ones we seen that were the reds kind of so to speak so to speak and then maybe divert some of those funds to that first and then push off a project a little bit later if >> and we'll provide a narrative for

205each one as far as implications perceived implications should a project be deferred one year two years three years we'll we'll we'll provide a narrative to explain what that might mean and then when we would expect to see that project come back Um because at that point we may have, like I said, should the board vote to do that, I I would arguably bring back the 5-year capital plan to readjust and rep prioritize those projects. And I know that that becomes we want to do that very cautiously because that's become it's become a frustration point and a joke at the same time for some of our building leaders because the five-year capital plan is the 5-year capital plan that well this year the 5-year capital plan says something different than next year's 5-year capital plan versus

206the last year because unfortunately new priorities arise and and projects get bumped. So if we do so, we want to make sure we do so carefully and with a high level of communication and transparency. So okay, thank you, Miss Jenkins. I see no further questions. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I will turn it over to you at this point. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Um, you see we haveformational item Head Start services report for your review. We don't have a board meeting, so we don't have an agenda review. However, we do have unfinished business. Um, the high school update. Superintendent. Um, >> Mr. Green, >> thank you. Um, so I wanted to give the board a quick update of where we are with the project. Um, it changes almost by the minute or hour

207at this point. So, I developed a a timeline to kind of help help myself keep track of where we are. And I'll just kind of review it with you quickly here. So, the goal is um let me back up one second. Right now, the current status of the agreement, we're at the um trying to approve the 90% plans. So, the 90% plans are one of the items in the interim agreement. And what the the interim agreement says is that upon the school board's acceptance of the 90% plans and the project budget, the school board and developer will in good faith negotiate the terms and conditions of the comprehensive agreement. What we've been doing in an effort to stay on schedule and again the schedule the the looming date in the future is um opening the

208school in August of 2028. In order to do that, you backtrack. We got to break ground very soon. And so because we haven't finalized the 90% plans and and approve them, we've been working in parallel trying to get a finalized comprehensive agreement. Bottom line is we're we're close. So the goal, just to lay out the timeline for you, um tomorrow's April 15th. Besides tax day, it's also the deadline for the agenda for the April 28th agenda. Um that's the work session, April 28th. Our goal is to um have a approved by both parties comprehensive agreement and approved 90% plans by tomorrow. um that would then allow for placement of those items at the April 28th work session so that the board could consider potential approval at its next meeting on May 5th. Um we are

209currently in the process of we sent and for the comprehensive agreement we sent a um we thought was a fair and uh could be potentially final draft to Fortress. They revised it, sent it back to us, and now we're kind of in that middle area of negotiating the back and forth of that. We have a meeting today at 1:30. Um, again, with the goal of trying to finalize by tomorrow, so that's on a a tight timeline. That other piece though, the prerequisite to finalizing, even negotiating the comprehensive is approval of the 90% plans. So, where are we with that? Um, our facilities department has been working very closely almost on a daily basis with Fortress and the their architectural engineering team to look at the plans and add notes and to make sure those notes

210are incorporated in the updated plans because we're again pushing up against a hard deadline. uh a workaround we're trying to do because the plans have not been finalized the 90% plans. So the workaround is there is going to be a um what do we call it here? Make sure I get the terminology right here. Um a clarification page um that will have all of the notes um that aren't reflected in the 90% plans. is sort of like an addendum basically that will show that all of our notes have been accepted. Um not in the plans because it takes some time to update that document but basically um both parties are in agreement to the design portions of the plans. Um so wanted to provide that update to you so you kind of know you know

211as of the 12:18 p.m. today we're close. Uh the goal is to get this to you um on the agenda for the next work session, April 28th. >> Excellent. Uh fellow board members, you have any questions for Mr. Green? Please signify. >> Board member Miller, you are now recognized. >> Mr. Green, can we get an update after that meeting today so we know that you're on schedule? >> Yes. Can do. Any other board member comments or questions? >> No. M. Mr. Green, I do have one question. Does that timeline that that you're mentioning that you've developed, is that uh correlate with the timeline that we've been given? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Same one. >> So then I just want to make sure that if there's anything that's different, I would like to know that

212information. Yeah, that I've developed the timeline in not it's not me but in coordination with Fortress, in coordination with our our team of you know when do we try and open the school, when do we need to break ground and and then all the things that need to happen to get to that point. So I've put it on paper um and it shared it with everybody so everyone's on the same sheet of music and yeah, it's it's one we're all operating off of right now. >> Thank you, sir. >> Sure. All right, seeing no other board member comments or questions about that, we do have one uh piece of new business to discuss. Um, so in order to have us prepared for the new uh FSBA year, we need to have a discussion um on

213our advocacy representative, our uh our FSBA board of director position. That's a two-year position. And so, um, board member Allen will fulfill his second year of that because he's only he's in year one right now. So, we don't have to address that. It automatically carries over. However, our advocacy committee representative is uh something that happens every year. Um, a new person. I can tell you I just want to take a point of personal privilege as an executive officer in FSBA. I um I'm a member of every committee and so I attend our advocacy committee and I can tell you board member Fields is our representative now of the committee and she does a great job in the committee. So thank you for your service um truly. Um and so I do want to open it

214up for just discussion um on you know we will have uh another discussion on the next work session and then we'll have it for a vote um at the end of the month for our next year's representative. So um starting July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. So board members, do I have any discussion on this? Mr. Keys, you're recognized. >> I want to echo your sentiment and to Miss Fields, she's done a great job on that and um I enjoy serving currently as the alternate for that. So, just looking forward to um continuing to support in any way that we can. >> Thank you, Mr. Keys. Do any other members have any comments? Mrs. Fields, you are now recognized. >> Thank you. I would just say that uh serving on the advocacy committee uh

215is uh is u very intense and it takes great commitment uh especially during the legislative session. It's like every Friday their legislative meetings uh and a lots of times it conflicts with things that we have here uh and trying to balance all of that. So whoever uh chooses to do that just have to keep that in mind that it is a great commitment to uh to be able to do it and I'm very thankful uh that sometimes and I'm not able to to be there um chair uh sharpless is is present. So I just want to make sure that whoever does that they understand the commitment. Thank you. >> Thank you board member Fields. Anyone else have any discussion on this? Seeing none, I would like to just say that our next work session, I

216would like to have an idea of who we are going to uh actually uh you know make the motion that night to uh to fulfill this obligation. So, um please um consider it everyone and make sure to uh to come next work session with uh maybe a a motion, not a motion, but a idea of who you might want there so we can make the decision that night. Okay. There's no other discussion on this item. We are now going down to board member comments. So, um, I'm opening up. Do we have anyone have any liaison reports? Please signify by pushing your button for speaker list. Board member Wyatt, you are now recognized. >> Mine is less of a liaison report, but I just want to take a point of privilege. Today, we're doing the ribbon

217cutting for the SEU Winter Haven campus, um, which will have lots of dual enrollment opportunities. So, you all should have received an invite, but would love to see you there if you're available. Thank you, board member Wyatt. Does anyone else have any uh liaison reports? All right, seeing none, this work session of the Poke County School Board is adjourned.