School Board Meeting | November 18, 2025

001[music] Hey, heat. Hey. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Good evening. All right. So glad that you're here and you've joined us tonight. Uh this is probably one of the most exciting um board meetings in the whole year. I mean, this is a pretty exciting night. So, I wish to extend a warm welcome to everyone present on this fine Tuesday. It's November 18th. Uh the board, the superintendent, and I. We're pleased that you've joined us. We're here to celebrate student achievement. That's going to be the first thing that we do. We're so happy we have a guest. Uh we're going to hear all about his bio and the work that he's doing, uh all that he's accomplished, and

002that's where we start. Um we love to honor students, and that's what we're all about. Uh we're going to review some information tonight. We're going to make some policy decisions related to the effective operation of the PK County School Board. Um I would like to call the um November 18th regular school board meeting to order. Uh now if we could all stand. I'd like to ask Dr. Craig Miles if you can come forward and lead us in our invocation and we can please uh remain standing after for the pledge. >> Please let me pray for you. Father, we want to thank you so much for this day and Lord for your blessings. Lord, we are humbled that you've allowed us to be here tonight safely. And Lord, there's a time of celebration tonight. There's a

003time of decision. And Father, we ask for your grace and for your wisdom to be present, Lord, with each and every decision that is made. And Father, Lord, we want to thank you for what you are doing in students, in families, Lord, Lord, with our staff, with our faculty. Lord, you have been such a good God to us and you have blessed us richly. Thank you for allowing us to come together in this time of the year to celebrate all that you have done. Lord, would you please guide each and every board member here tonight as they make decisions, Lord, as they uh take care of the important business before them, Lord, may they make the decisions that do the most good for the most people and bring you praise, honor, and glory. Lord, may

004your blessings be upon each and every person here. Lord, you know the burdens that each of them bear. Would you let them feel those burdens to be lightened even now by your grace? We ask all of these things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Amen. Dr. >> Rick Miles, Mr. Hendry, if you can step up the microphone there and lead us in our pledge tonight. I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, and liy and justice for all. >> Right. Thank you. Thank you. You all can be seated at this time except our guest can remain standing. So, we are so thankful that you're here. Um, would you please so kindly uh

005introduce yourself and any guests that you have with us tonight? >> My name is Kimani Henry and my family's from uh Jamaica. >> All right. All right. Very good. Thank you. So, we are so thankful that y'all joined us tonight as well. Um, man, we've we've got a lot of of questions to Can we ask some questions? Is that okay? >> Yes. >> All right. Very good. Um, let's um let's hear a little bit about you. What maybe some hobbies or some things that you're interested in outside of school. >> Um, I like geography and study flags and and name them. >> And I also like to build Legos. Yeah, man. So, when I read that, um, geography and Legos, I mean, this is all about spatial type things, spatial cognition, and I mean, pretty

006impressive. Some big stuff that you've got going on there that you're learning, um, but that you you you enjoy thinking about. So, um, how about favorite subjects in school? >> Um, math and reading. Wow. All right. Very good. Math and reading. Um, would you say you have a favorite subject in general? >> Math. >> Yeah. Out of those two. All right. Very good. Um, no. Tell us tell us something about um more about this exploring geography. We mentioned this earlier today. Um, but you've got an interest in cgraphy. >> Yes. >> What is that even? Well, I mean, tell us a little bit about that. Like, where did you like find out about this? >> Uh, it was when my dad bought this book about this country world country book and then I just started

007reading it and drawing flags. >> Wow, that is amazing. That is amazing. um you are just extremely brilliant and uh maybe tell us something about your school um that we should know about. >> Um it's called Winston Academy of Engineering and and Renee School and >> Yeah. >> We focus on STEM a lot. >> Indeed. Indeed. So, I mean, we just hear all these things and it's it's clear that you you've got this engineering mind. Uh, just brilliant. Brilliant. Um, I don't know if you had um an opportunity to tell us what your biggest dreams are. Like, if you could look in the future, what would that be? >> Probably soccer player. >> A soccer player. Wow. Wow. Um, now there was some interesting stuff about your family um that struck me as well when

008I read your bio. Do you want to do you have any history about your family that you can share with us? >> Um, >> I was thinking maybe actually your grandfather. There was something in your bio about your grandfather. >> Um, he's from Tallahassee and he was the first pediatrician Yeah. Yeah. So, here's the statement that uh I saw in your bio. It says that uh your grandfather was actually the first black pediatrician in Tallahassee and he's actually recognized in the US Congressional Record. >> Wow. [applause] Um so, so Mr. Henry, continue pursuing pursuing those dreams. Um it it's clear that you can see spaces that we don't see uh in your mind. So continue pursuing that. We're so thankful that you're here in the boardroom. Uh just really appreciate the family being here. Um

009and you're at a incredible school that's doing great things and it's clearly because of you, the student. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, if y'all could as a family come stand here in the middle uh and we're going to get a picture with you all being in the boardroom tonight. >> Thank you. Scratches. Awesome. [applause] both Mr. Henry's uh parents, our educators, and our system. So, we really appreciate your service as well. All right. Um board members, the first item on our agenda is to accept our agenda for tonight. Superintendent Hyde, are there any revisions to the agenda as printed? >> There are, Mr. Chair. Item B number one, oath of office, Kate Wallace, school board member, District 3. [clears throat] Excuse me. An item was added. Item C number one, nomination for

010board chair. Description was updated. Item C number two, nomination of vice chair. Description was updated. Item D number one, new administrators and attachment was updated. Item O number one, non-instructional personnel items, actions, attachment was added and updated. Item O number two, administrative instructional personnel actions. An attachment was added. Item N number two, purchase of Lake Maran site for district development of the northeast area for future school site. Item was moved to action agenda. Item P is in Paul number one IBM consulting services data warehouse. The attachment was added. Item V is in Victor number two STEM career exploration bus attachment was added. And lastly, item W number one committee appointments item was removed. >> All right. Thank you, Superintendent. Uh so at this time the chair will entertain a motion to accept the agenda for

011the November 18th 2025 with the not revisions. Do I have a second move? >> He's right on it. Mr. Keys has made the motion. I need a second. >> And Mr. Sharpless has second it. >> U so the motion on the floor is to accept the November 18th, 2025 school board agenda as printed. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? And that motion carries. Superintendent. >> Good evening. It's a pleasure to welcome you to November 18th, 2025 meeting of the school board of PK County, Florida. The board chair has called this meeting to order and pursuant to Florida statute 10001.371 and I, as the superintendent will now act as chair until the organization of the board has been completed. At this time, we request all cell phones and/or other devices

012to be turned off. >> What? swear in. Oh, I apologize. I jumped ahead. >> At this time, Kate Wallace will receive the oath of office from Pastor Jim Hatch. I don't understand why it's a function of my office. Okay. I get to read the whole thing all over again. >> [clears throat] >> You go. >> Okay. Kate, your mom is holding your father's Bible. It's been his Bible as long as I've known him and you 30 years. And I would say that that book, the words of that book probably has more to do with your being here tonight than anything else. So I would ask you to place your right hand on the Bible and raise your other hand, please, and repeat after me. I, Kate Wallace, do solemnly swear >> I, Kate Wallace, do

013solemnly swear >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> the Constitution and government of the United States >> the Constitution and government of the United States >> and of the State of Florida. >> That I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution. >> That I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution. and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties >> and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties >> of school board member of Pulk County Schools >> of a school board member of Pulk County Public Schools >> on which I am now about to enter. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations and thank you for your service. [applause] some pictures. >> Family is nice. Awesome. Anybody else? Come on. Do you like? >> Okay, >>

014one last one. my two former teachers. [laughter] >> Oh, and administrators if y'all want to join too. understand anybody. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Do I push the >> All right. So glad that you're here. Um, Miss Wallace, you are recognized. >> Help me with my button operation. Okay. >> Good evening. Uh, I do have some prepared remarks. I ask that all of you give me some grace. I'm from a family of criers and so uh when the annual holiday Publix commercial comes on or anything like that, I'm done. Um this is this is a a a time to give thanks to so many people and experiences and this system and this community. So I'm going to do my best to to hold it together and I promise that

015that won't compromise my commitment to this job or my professionalism. But uh I'm just this is a um a huge honor. So, I'm really thrilled to to be here. And if you'll indulge me for just a few minutes, um I'd like to just provide some prepared remarks. So, I first want to give thanks to the many people who've helped me get to this moment. And following that, I'd like to share a little bit about my background and why I'm excited to serve my fellow Pulk Countyians on this board and the ways I hope to make a positive impact during our time together. First, I give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for without him, none of this would be possible. I'm deeply grateful to Governor Ronda Santis and his team for entrusting me

016with this responsibility. To Jenna Noli, who's here this evening, and the entire Noli family, thank you for being here. I offer my heartfelt condolences and hope to honor your father Rick's legacy through my service. Thank you. I also want to thank all of the district's staff um including Superintendent Hyde and the whole team who worked tirelessly on very short notice to get me on boarded. Um that that's a that's no uh short order all the all the paperwork and all the legal things you have to do. So again, thank you for working with me and helping me make it to this point. uh to the many family members, friends, former teachers, classmates, colleagues, mentors, peers I've grew up with who now work for the district that are here tonight. Um anybody watching online, thank you

017so much. Um your support means the world. My journey to this moment of course starts with my family. I come from a family of educators and schoolboard members. Many of you from BTO may not know that. My great-grandfather was a schoolboard member in Pit County, North Carolina. That's home to East Carolina University. And right now, they have a football player who graduated from Barto High School and played basketball for my brother. So, we're very proud of him. Uh he's on a full scholarship getting his education first and foremost. My great-grandfather's daughter, my paternal grandmother, Marvel Stokes Wallace, she's a retired Duvall County Public School English teacher of 30 plus years. She is 95 years young, watching from her home in Jacksonville. Grandmama, I love you. Thank you. Her first son is my father. We'll get

018to his contributions in a minute. Her second son, Stokes, married a teacher, my aunt Donna Wallace, who taught in Florida public schools, primarily Orange, a little bit in Penelis. Um, she taught for 36 years. She tried to retire, but she missed it too much. and now she's back in the classroom in Orlando full-time with Kelly Services serving her grandchildren and their peers um in her Orange County community. Thank you, Aunt Donna, for your service. My grandmother's third child and my dad's little sister is another name many longtime locals or career PCPS employees from the 80s and 90s might recognize, Kit Wallace Kramer. She's a former head of public relations for Pulk County Public Schools, working here from 1983 to 1991. And after taking a new opportunity at Charlotte Meckllinburgg Public School, she was eventually elected

019to their school board in 2004. But wait, there's more. There are hundreds of registered nurses in Pt County. There are hundreds of registered nurses in P County. and surrounding areas who can thank my mother. She told me, she was the one who told me not to cry. Um, okay, got it. There are hundreds of registered nurses in Pt County and surrounding areas who can thank my mother, Jenny Wallace, for their strong foundational nursing skills as she taught them in nursing one at then PK Community College in the 1990s. Side note, I remember watching her grade their labs while she was watching me at swim practice or volunteering at my school. So, thank you, Mom. Last but not least, my older brother, Coach Trip Wallace. He's been a teacher and a coach with Barto High and

020Barto Middle for the last 15 years. He's a big reason why Barto, here's a fun fact, had two of its former players and students sharing an NBA court on national television earlier this month. But more importantly, more importantly, he's helped dozens of young boys grow up to be strong men and leaders in their own communities. I love you. As for my dad and with the support of my mom, I want everyone to know the kind of example they've set before I was born all my life and to this day. My parents moved to Barto in 1981. They're from Jacksonville and a friend of theirs invited them to move here and they moved here to set out on a new career path. I grew up watching my parents lead the PTO, the Barto booster club, Barto

021High Booster Club. They organized and donated toward efforts to bring the IB school to Barto and I was only seven years old when they were doing that and I would end up being their only child to graduate from that program. They supported youth and high school athletics, youth ministries. Uh, another one that I hope to celebrate before this board next year is that they have been feeding the BTO and softball and basketball teams for 30 consecutive years to date. And I might add, they have 12 state titles to their credit in counting. Um, if if you want to Google Jenny Wallace or Hal Wallace in the ledger, you'll find the story. But as Rick Brown reported in the ledger in 2011 about my mom and all of that winning, it must be the cooking. Can't

022attest to that. So, I come from a family who loves Barto and P County Public Schools. All three of my siblings and I are proud PCPS graduates. And Dr. Allen, isn't it great to be from the home of champions? >> That's right. Go tell. >> There were several turning points as I look back. There were several turning points in my life that brought me to this moment in terms of why I'm here, why I wanted this role and what formed and shaped my paradigm about why this was important to me and why this is my calling. The first one is in 1992 and again all of you who are from here or if you've studied the history of our school board, you know that there was a uh federal civil rights lawsuit and the judge

023ordered that our whole district reszone. And I like many other 30 40omes [laughter] may remember that you might have been impacted if you were in a neighborhood public school in PK County at the time. And I was um attending Floral Avenue and I was reszoned to Gibbon Street Elementary on the east side of Barto. Uh and my parents and our community were supportive of that effort even though it caused some disruption. And uh as a seven-year-old when I set foot on campus, I noticed a difference in that campus and not in a good way. It didn't have the same resources. It the library was a fraction of the size of the one at Floral Avenue. It didn't have a computer lab. Um it didn't I knew at seven that it was a little different than

024the school I had just come from. And at that age I tender I internalized the fact that address does have a role in playing um or informing access and I carried that with me and I had a number of wonderful teachers administrators but there's two here from that tonight. um Miss Linda S. Monroe who is an assistant or a kindergarten teacher during that time eventually AP. And then Mrs. Anne Whitehead who is my fifth grade teacher. God bless her. But Mrs. Whitehead and Miss Fenroe, thank you for your service and thank you for giving me so many memories uh wonderful memories and to prepare me for the rigors of middle school. As I made my way into high school, I I took on, speaking of riggers, the rigors of IB and fulfilled what was then

025my lifelong childhood dream of serving as Miss Barto High School. And uh I just if you are familiar with that, it's an ambassador role. It was not a beauty pageant, I can guarantee you. But I when I was a little girl, I I saw some older young ladies um hold that title and that was something I aspired for and prepared for. So when I got that opportunity to serve and represent my school, I still consider it one of my proudest achievements. Another turning point in my life was the drama of the 2000 presidential election and soon after 911 and the aftermath which changed all of our lives forever. I was in high school. By the way, the teacher I was with that fateful morning and so who so aly guided me and my classmates through

026that initial shock of the footage of the burning towers is here tonight. Senora Martha Larret, thank you. Thank you for being here. And um she also helped me become conversational in Spanish and I still use those skills to this day. So, thank you, Cinderella. Much much gracias. Um the national response and conversations around how to keep our country safe fascinated me. I even did my IB extended essay on the history of American free speech during times of war. And being a Barto kid, I had many prominent local examples to look to when entering the world of politics. Former Secretary of State Katherine Harris and former Congressman Adam Putnham right here from Barto, Barto High School graduates in our backyard. An internship with Congressman Putnham led to work in Washington and eventually to the foundation of

027ex Foundation for excellence in education where I saw how critical policies and especially great teachers led by strong principles can change lives. Today, we're in a time of incredible change. I come from the cable industry where longtime legacy providers are retooling themselves as new competition enters the market. Think about it. Less than 20 years ago, most people only had one option for connecting to the internet, one to two options for watching TV, and not many choices for mobile phone services. Now, the options and combinations are endless. Customers are driving the design of products and services. You can bundle or unbundle anything, and one customer at one address can a can access endless options. Does that sound familiar? That's why I'm here. I will be a schoolboard member for all students, all parents, all educators, and

028all schools, traditional, charter, private, home, virtual, everywhere in between. My door and my mind will always be open. I love Pulk County because Pulk County has loved me. I want to give back and leave our school stronger than I found them, always putting students first, serving with humility, and learning from each of you. Superintendent Hyde, fellow board members, staff, thank you for welcoming me. I'm ready to get to work. God bless you all. God bless Pulk County Public Schools, the great state of Florida, and the United States of America. Thank you, [applause] Miss Wallace. Welcome aboard. Um, superintendent, I'm going to now pass it back to you. >> And we are at the reorganization portion, correct? Okay. Just want to make sure. I apologize. I'm going to start again. So, good evening everyone. It's a

029pleasure to welcome you to the November 18th, 2025 meeting of the school board of P County, Florida. The board chair has called this meeting to order and pursuant to Florida statute 10001.371 and I as superintendent will now act as chair until the organization of the board has been completed. At this time we request all cell phones and/or other devices to be turned off or put in silent mode. Our next order of business is to elect a board chair. I will use the following procedure. In a moment I'll open the floor to nominations. Anyone can make a nomination, including self-nominations. Nominations are made by the standard speaking order established through our electronic system. Nominations do not require a second. Now, for the sake of this evening being Miss Wallace's first evening, does she know Miss Wallace?

030Are you familiar with how to signal that you want to speak? >> I am. Is there an electronic voting or >> You're not voting. You're going to indicate that you're interested in joining the speakers list and that's how we'll call you. >> Okay. for nominations. I just want to make sure that you're familiar with Miss Vega. Would you please go and stand next to Miss Wallace just in case there's an issue with her clicking. Okay. Okay. Again, anyone can make a nomination, including self-nominations. Nominations are made by the standard speaking order established through our electronic system. Nominations do not require a second. Election. Elections of officers shall be by roll call majority vote of members physically present taken by the presiding officer. The presiding officer shall ask for a voice roll call vote in which

031each member has the opportunity to vote for one of the individual nominees. The member receiving a majority of the votes cast is elected. Where no such majority exists on the first vote, a second vote shall be cast for the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes. If there's a tie or no one receives a majority of votes cast, a third vote must be taken. Additional votes will be taken as necessary to elect the final or one candidate. At this time, I will now accept nominations for chairman. Nominations again do not require a second. I'll allow time for nominations. You're supposed to be indicating by signing up to speak. I see two names. I just want to make sure I gave everybody enough time. >> Miss Wyatt, >> I'd like to nominate Lisa Miller.

032>> Dr. Allen, I would like to nominate Mr. Sharpless. I will now entertain a motion that nominations be closed. >> I have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a second. At this time, we will all in favor, please say I. >> I. I [clears throat] will now conduct a roll call vote by district. I will call each board each member by district. So, please indicate the nominee you support by name. Are you keeping a line? Okay. District one, Justin Sharpless. District two, >> Justin Sharpless. >> District three, >> Justin Sharpless. >> District four, >> Lisa Miller. >> District five, >> ma'am. >> Mr. Green, have a question. >> I would like to ask Mr. Sharpens a question. Am I able to do that? who you can ask. Yes. >> Okay. Mr. Sharpness, I know

033that you are treasurer for the Florida School Board Association. >> So my question to you, do you feel that you'll be able to do both the treasurer of the Florida School Board Association and the chair of the school district? >> Yes, the Florida School Board Association dates and everything are way in advance. We know all those and there's only a few commitments per like a virtual meeting in a m and a monthly virtual meeting which I could easily do that as well as many of the times that I'm representing um the Florida schoolboard association will be as a school board member. So I think it would be very very doable. >> Thank you. Uh so my my vote would be for Justin Sharpley >> and District 7. >> I think this board is under well

034uh lots of uh great leadership here and obviously Mr. Sharpus I think you'll do a great job as our next chair. >> Thank you. >> There is a majority at this time. So we'll move on. I'll now accept nominations for vice chair. Mr. Sharpless. >> I nominate Travis Keys. >> Miss Wyatt. >> I nominate Lisa Miller. >> Dr. Allen. >> Um, my nominee has been mentioned already. So, the two nominees right now are Travis Keys and Lisa Miller. I'll now entertain a motion that the nominations be closed. >> Move. >> I have a motion. I have a second. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. And now conduct a roll call vote by district. I'll call each member by district. So, please indicate the nominee you support by

035name. District one. >> Travis Keys. >> District two. >> I humbly accept the nomination. >> I don't believe that constit. Yes, Travis Keys. >> Your name, sir. [laughter] >> Travis Keys. >> Thank you. District three. >> Travis Keys. >> District four, >> Travis Keys. Because it sounds like my nominee did not humbly accept their nomination. They want to keep their seat. >> District five. >> I like my seat. [laughter] Travis Keys. >> District six. >> Travis Keys. >> District seven. >> I'm voting for Travis Keys. I do not want to give up my quick exit. Thank you. [laughter] There are a lot of reasons. [laughter] We have a majority. So, congratulations. At this time, I'll conclude here in a moment, but we have elected as chair, Mr. Justin Sharpless, and as vice chair, Mr. Travis

036Keys. The next item is the designation of time, date, and place of the schoolboard meetings. I recommend that the board hold meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:00 PM with these meetings to be held in the schoolboard auditorium at the administrative offices here in Barto, Florida. I'll now entertain a motion to that effect. So move second. >> I have a motion. I have a second. Any discussion? I'll entertain a vote, please. All in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? The next item is the approval of resolution for 20252026-07 authorizing the banks of Pulk County, Florida as depositories of school funds to honor and cash warrants drawn against said funds when signed by the board chair and secretary of the board. I'll now entertain a motion. >> I have a motion. >>

037Second. >> I have a second. Any discussion? With no discussion at this time, I'll call ask for a vote. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? And the vote passes. The next item on today's reorganization agenda is my recommendation that proceedings of the schoolboard meetings be held in accordance with Robert's rules of order, revised, and the rules of the administrative procedures act. I'll now entertain a motion. >> Second. >> Have a motion. I have a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, I'll call for a vote. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> Any opposed? Vote passes. That completes the reorganization of our board. I'll now turn the the meeting over to our new chair, Mr. Justin Sharpless. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Um, the next item on our agenda

038is new administrators. Superintendent Hyde, would you lead us through our next item? >> Yes, sir. It' be my pleasure. The first administrator we have to recognize is Mr. Josh Bieber, teacher at Southwest Elementary School, being promoted to assistant principal at Southwest Elementary. [applause] Want to take a moment to express my gratitude to Superintendent Hyde, Miss Collins, Miss Nave, Miss Sloan for entrusting me with this opportunity to serve as assistant principal at Southwest Elementary. This is not just a role. It's a responsibility to our students, staff, and community. And I am honored to step into it. I'm looking forward to working alongside you and our dedicated team to continue building an environment where excellence, equity, and opportunity at the forefront. Thank you again for this incredible opportunity. Eagle, eager to serve and contribute to the success

039of our school community. >> Congratulations. If you'll please join us up front for a photo. [applause] Are you joined by any family or colleagues or Okay. >> Oh, it's not just you. Next we have Aaron Bay, administrative assistant from Hannes City High School, being promoted to acting assistant principal at Hayes City High School. Congratulations. [applause] >> I just want to take this opportunity to give some gratitude to Mr. Tarver and administration team over at Hayes City High School. Um he came in over at Hay City. I believe it was about two two two or three years ago. It's a it's a blur. Um but he took a chance on me, pulled me out the classroom and really built me up to the leader that I am today. And I really appreciate that. And thank you,

040Mr. Hyde, for the opportunity to lead one in one of our schools. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Please feel free to join him. Yes. >> Congratulations again. I'll pause for a moment to let the room clear. >> And next we have Christy Floyd, reading coach at Barto High School, being promoted to acting assistant principal at Kathleen High School. [applause] >> Hello. I just want to say thank you for this opportunity. Um, God had a place for me at Catholine and I want to give a thanks to um, Miss Aikens for recommending me and Miss Mr. Jones for um, allowing me to grow and prosper at Kathleen High School. >> Congratulations. [applause] There's shoes inside. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Way to go, Rick. [applause] >> And I know this was a possibility this person

041would not be with us. Miss Frasier with us this evening. Okay. Carissa Frasier, assistant principal at Wakulla High School, new appointment head to head of program at Kathleen High School. We'll recognize her at a future meeting. John Gully, assistant principal at Kathleen High School, being promoted to head of program at CFAA. [applause] All right. Good evening, board chair, esteemed board members, and superintendent Hyde. truly honored to be recognized as the head of program for the Central Florida Aerospace Academy at Kathleen High School. This recognition means a great deal to me and I'm grateful for the trust and confidence you've placed in our program and me. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Miss Collins, Mr. Bruno, Miss Clark, and Mr. Derford Jones for their leadership, guidance, and unwavering support. Each of them has played

042an essential role in strengthening CFA and ensuring our students have access to opportunities that prepare them for the success in aviation, aerospace, and beyond. Once again, I want to thank everybody for this incredible honor. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Next, we have Colin Hansen, administrative assistant at Malbury Middle School, being promoted to acting assistant principal at Sleepy Hill Middle. >> [applause] >> I want to express my gratitude to Superintendent Hyde, Chief of Schools, uh, Tracy Collins, Regional Superintendent Cynthia Canangelos, uh, and the school board members, uh, for tonight's recognition. It is truly an honor to serve as acting assistant principal of Sleepy Hill Middle School and to support our Jaguars, our Jaguar students, staff, and community. Thank you for your trust and continued commitment to excellence in education. I want to thank the incredible leaders that

043I've been able to learn from. I'm committed to honoring their legacy by continuing the work they started and striving for excellence in everything that I do. [snorts] And a special thank you to my principal, D. Clark, for her guidance, mentorship, and support as I begin my administrative journey. Your leadership, and collaboration make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students every day. I would not be standing here tonight without the unwavering support and encouragement of my family. Even on nights like tonight when my wife has her band concert, my daughter's at Girl Scouts, and my son is in his T-ball playoff game. Their understanding and sacrifices make it possible for me to give my best every day. As Ken Blanchard said, servant leadership is all about making the goals clear and then rolling up

044your sleeves and doing whatever it takes to help people win. I am proud to lead with that mindset and work alongside a team dedicated to putting students first. >> Congratulations, sir. [applause] Come on, D. He has a softball game to get to. [laughter] >> Volleyball. Sorry. >> Those heels. Next we have Tamisa Moore, TRST at Stevens Elementary School, being promoted to acting assistant principal at Summ Elementary. [applause] >> Good evening, superintendent, school board members. It is truly an honor to stand before you today as the new assistant principal of Sorm Elementary. I am deeply grateful and humbled for the trust that you have placed in me and I am excited to serve our students, our families and staff with integrity, passion, and a commitment to excellence. I want to sincerely thank the Pulk County School

045Board and the district leadership for this incredible opportunity. Thank you for the many leaders who have guided me throughout my career. Your dedication has truly inspired me. A special thank you to Miss Hardy for teaching me what it truly means to be an instructional leader. Your mentorship and belief in my potential have made a profound impact on my educational journey. [snorts] I would also like to acknowledge and thank my family for the reason I am able to do this work. To my husband, Steven, thank you for your unwavering support, your patience, and belief in me. To my son, Lane, I hope I make you proud. And I hope you always see the importance and the power of hard work and the service to others. And to my parents, thank you for always pushing me to

046pursue my dreams and reminding me that I am capable of achieving them. I look forward to working alongside our school community to ensure that every student feels valued, supported, and challenged. Thank you again for this opportunity. I'm truly honored, humbled, and blessed. Thank you. Thank you. >> Congratulations. [applause] Next we have Mr. Wayne Rulfich, formerly superintendent Lake Welsh Charter School, new appointment to assistant director at Travis Technical Center. >> [applause] >> Just want to say thank you to the board. Thank you to Mr. Hyde. I've had an incredible experience since I started working here in the district. Uh at Travis, we're doing some really cool and fun things for students and it's just super exciting to be part of a school system, one of the fastest growing systems in the country, and I'm so eager

047for the challenge that's ahead of us. Thank you. This is my son. >> I didn't get to bring my three daughters there tonight. [laughter] >> Sharp looking boy. >> You're very welcome, sir. Next we have James Slaughter, administrative assistant at Lakeland Highlands Middle School, being promoted to acting assistant principal at Lakeland Highlands Middle. [applause] >> Good evening. Um, first I want to thank my family. Um, my [clears throat] my three sons who I strive to make proud every day. Um, my wife who pushes me to be the better version of myself. um my colleagues, the assistant principles, principles, and all the teachers that I've worked with over the years that have kind of molded me into the person uh that I am. Um I'm especially thankful for the wonderful Miss Nave um who I don't

048know why I saw something um that that um deserved a promotion and I appreciate you. Um Miss Leslie Roberts as well. um my team and my school family who I I couldn't be more thankful for to work with such a great group of people. Um and then lastly and not least, Christ who um above all and first was always a servant and I try to reflect to be that every day. So thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Thank you. That shark. [clears throat] [applause] Not with us this evening is Britney Smith, administrative assistant at Ridge Community High School, acting head of program at Tenner Rock High School is her promotion and we will invite her back at another date because she's unable to be with us this evening. And lastly, we have David Ulch, assistant

049principal, Winter Haven High School, being promoted to acting head of program at Summerland Academy. Congratulations, sir. [applause] Thank you. Thank you, Super the Superintendent Hyde. board members. Thank you for having me this evening. Um I am very grateful to be up here today to speak to all of you and obviously you guys um introducing me to everyone. It's it's a great honor to be able to take this role. Um I thank I'm very thankful for the opportunity to be able to continue the customs and traditions of Summerland Academy on top of um instilling the importance of building leadership skills and civic duty within our cadetses. Um, and having been there for a month now, it's it's been great to see that transition from Winon High School into Summerland and seeing the the progress our our

050cadets have already made and I look forward to continuing that um in their pursuit of any career that they they look into, especially into the military. So, I look forward to continuing that um as we go forward. Again, thank you for this great opportunity. I look forward to go forward. Thank you. [applause] At this time, I'd like to invite uh Mr. Sharpless to step down for this evening's recognition, or at least a portion of it. In addition, I'd like to ask Mr. Keys to please step down for tonight's recognitions and invite our representative from the Florida School Boards Association to the podium. >> Thank you uh Mr. Superintendent and board members. Welcome, Miss Wallace. Looking forward to working with you. I'm here today on behalf of the Florida School Boards Association where we are proud

051to recognize Travis Keys. Where did he go? Over here. Um from as the newest member of the class of emerging leaders. He is the 19th member of his uh election class out of 65 members to earn his emerging leader pin. And what that means is that he had to complete 48 hours of professional development within one year of election. So these hours are earned through participation in the new schoolboard member training parts one and two and attendance at our forums, the school finance forum, policy governance forum, and bargaining 101. He also attended our Washington DC lobbying trip, I should say. uh by earning this distinction, I think it's important to to recognize that he has demonstrated his commitment to the PK County School District to professionalism and we expect great continued contributions. So, thank you

052and good luck. Congratulations. [applause] >> Oh, okay. >> You'll take a photo. Mr. Keys will return. Mr. Sharpless, if you'll stay still, stay for recognition. [snorts] But wait, there's more. Isn't that what you said, Kate? [laughter] Um, I'm also here today to recognize with a distinguished recognition the um the honor of certified support professional. We call it our CSP program. >> [snorts] >> This distinguished honor is awarded to school board support professionals, support personnel professionals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to professional development and service to public education. Um, the certified support professional program is designed to elevate and acknowledge the vital role that support staff play in the daily operations and long-term success of Florida's public schools and very specifically the schoolboard members themselves. By completing the program's training and development requirements, both Iet Vega and

053Linda Baldick have shown continued uh dedication and continuous improvement in their roles serving their schoolboard members. These support professionals are often the unsung heroes of the school system and we want to make sure that you recognize that they have proactively invested in their own professional development. This is a very new certification program that we have. Um it was just recently uh uh designed by some of their peers and Ivette and Linda are numbers 37 and 38 from across the state of Florida of 86 peers across the state. So we wanted to recognize them, thank them for the work that they do on behalf of the school board members and say thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your professionalism. [applause] Thank you very much. Next, I'd like to invite Janette Crowley, director of strategic planning

054and partnerships, to please come forward for the recognition of the focused on excellence winners. >> Fixed stand up here. >> So, they'll I apologize. The script was had an error. Um, Miss Crowley is here to recognize public's charities for their donations for the school uh for our school board school pantries. >> Thank you, Superintendent Hyde. Chair, school board member, Superintendent Hyde. Public's charities endeavors to support nonprofit organizations that assist people in need within our communities so that they have the opportunity to lead successful lives. [clears throat] Public's Charities is dedicated to preserving the dignity and value of the human spirit in the face of adversity. determined to offer people hope and a choice for the future and devoted to the highest standards of community involvement and demonstrated by their founder George W. Jenkins. This past

055summer, the strategic partnerships team worked with Tracy Collins and the regionals, Dr. Shannon Gillespie from student services and the community liaison to compile a list of school sites that indicated they had a school food pantry on site. public's charities conducted site visits before the school year to see the location of the food pantry, meet the principal and school staff, and learn more about the work being done along with the needs and the challenges of each site. I'm thrilled to share that public's charities has donated $100,000 to PK County Public Schools for the school food pantry program. [applause] The funding will help supplement 20 existing school food pantries for the 2526 school year. I had the pleasure of collaborating with John Dorne, executive director for public charities in Lakeland native to bring the school food pantry

056program to fruition. During Mr. Dorne's 23 years as a public's associate, he has served in the various roles throughout the company and worked closely with many nonprofits in Central Florida. We are grateful for public's charities and Mr. Dorne's support and are excited about the impact the school food pantry program is going to have for our students and families. At this time, I'd like to invite Mr. Dorne to the podium to say a few remarks. >> Good evening. Thank you for having me. Uh, Superintendent Hyde and schoolboard members really appreciate the opportunity to be here. Uh, as Janette mentioned, I'm a Lakeland native. I'm actually a a son of the P County school system. I I attended Dixie Land Elementary uh Southwest Middle School and graduated as a dreadnot from Lakeland High School. So, it's my

057great pleasure to be able to represent public's charities and to provide this $100,000 donation uh to P County Public Schools to support the uh the food pantries as Janette mentioned. So, during the summer, I I did spend a lot of time traveling P County. I think it was somewhere in the range of about a thousand miles that I covered criss-crossing the the county back and forth. But I I really appreciate the at the time that that was given to me by by all the folks at the schools and I'm so proud to have some of them here tonight. Um they were they allowed us to walk the grounds to see the pantries to talk about the issues that they're actually working through and the the different nuances that each school is really working through to

058to address the needs not only for their students but for their staff and for their neighborhoods that surround them. Um so I'm I'm I'm really glad that we're able to uh to to to do all of this. We have so many good people that are working very long hours. they're putting in the extra time and they're putting in the extra effort to support their communities and we're really honored to be walking alongside them and helping out with this. So, funding from public charities is intended to augment the existing partnerships and donations that the schools have established. Uh we want to work with others in the communities and school leadership to improve food variety, food quality, and food quantity in each one of these pantries. And this is a program that we look forward to evolving

059in the future. We're going to work very closely with Pulk County Public Schools to understand um all the different challenges that the schools are facing and where the needs are actually greater. Uh so thank you again for this recognition and the opportunity to be here tonight to share this with you and I do have a giant check that we can >> Thank you very much. [applause] >> Real quick before we do the photo I do want to acknowledge because we do have some of our stu our schools here. So I would like I'm going to acknowledge all the schools um and then I'd like to do a group photo. So with us the following schools are classified as a community supported site and will receive $1,000. We have Crystal Lake Middle, Davenport School of the

060Arts, George Jenkins Senior High, Lake Region Senior High, Lakeland Senior High, Laughman Oaks Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, Roosevelt Academy, Sleepy Hill Elementary, Southwest Middle, and Spook Elementary. The f the following schools uh are classified as a pro programmatically supported site and we will receive $500 and this is just an initial distribution. The schools are also allowed to to increase that over time as well as the need increases. We have BTO Senior High, Crystal Lake Elementary, Dennis Middle, Fort me Middle, Senior, Lake Marian Creek Middle, Louisanna Woodbury Elementary, McGlaughlin Academy of Excellence, Ridge Community Senior High, and Westwood Middle. So, can we give a round of applause all these schools participating [applause] and thank you for the generous support of public's charities. Thank you, Mr. Dorne. All right. >> Go ahead and get up on the I'll

061hold it. >> A little bit members. >> [clears throat] >> Mr. Keys. Yeah. >> Get on your tippy toes, Travis. [laughter] >> You can't see me sucking at the mic either. All right, here we go. >> [applause] >> Hey, what's up >> [snorts] >> Thank you. That concludes my presentation. [applause] >> Mr. Chair, that concludes special recognitions. Thank you, Superintendent. Um, the next item of [clears throat] business is public comment on agenda items. Um, before we begin, I would like to welcome the public and go over public comment process and opportunities for this evening. We will we have actually the opportunity for three different spots for public comment. Um, the first will be this evening's agenda items to be voted on. The second normally is our um our public hearing. We don't have a public

062hearing today. Um and lastly, at the end of the meeting, we'll have an additional opportunity for the public to comment on items that are not on this evening's agenda. To register to speak, community members must fill out a speaker card in the lobby prior to the meeting. All speakers will be given three minutes. The light will turn yellow when you have one minute left, and you will hear a beep when your time is concluded. All comments should be directed to myself as the board chair. As a reminder, public comments are an opportunity for us uh for us collectively to hear your thoughts and comments. This is not a question and answer session and comments are not to be directed at individual board members. However, if you are seeking additional information, I encourage you to contact

063any of us or the superintendent's office outside of board meetings and we would be happy to have a deeper conversation with you. We have no one signed up for uh comments on agenda items. So, next we will go to our consent. Uh no, next we'll go to approval of the minutes. Board members, we now need to approve two sets of minutes. The first set of minutes is for the October 28th, 2025 work session meeting. The chair will entertain a motion to accept the minutes as presented. So move second. >> Mr. Keys made the motion. Dr. Allen seconded it. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. >> The eyes have it. The ne uh next our next set of minutes is from the October 28th, 2025 school board meeting.

064Do I hear a motion for approval? Board member Wyatt made the motion to approve. Board member Fields seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, I would like to call for a vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> All those opposed say nay. The eyes have it unanimously and is passed. The next item is approval of today's consent agenda. The chair will entertain a motion to accept the November 18th, 2025 consent agenda as printed. Do I have a motion? So move. >> Board member Allen made the motion. Do I hear of a second? Board member Wyatt seconded I believe. Okay. I would like Is there any discussion? Seeing none, I would like to call for a vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> All those opposed say nay. The

065motion carries unanimously. Scrolling down here. Next up, we have our action agenda item. The first, the only item on our action agenda is W1, purchase of the Lake Marian site for district development in the northeast area for future school. >> Do I have a motion? It's been moved by board member Wyatt. Do I have a second? Seconded by board member Fields. Is there any discussion? Board member Keys, you're recognized. >> So, this was brought up before um I'm going to right now stand out in opposition to this. I know this discussion was um originally created before I came on the board, but I think the land grab at a time right now is illtimed. I also think that the support that's there, there is no infrastructure, there's no plan, a timeline for infrastructure to be

066there and there are parcels within that purchase agreement that I think are not needed for the entirety of the site. So, I can in good conscience um support this initiative at this time. >> All right. Thank you. Next up, uh, board member, uh, sorry, uh, board chair or sorry, board member Allen. Sorry, that's all right. Thank you, chair. Uh, I will not be supporting this as well this evening. Um, I was, you know, um, alarmed that it was on a consent agenda with an item that's such a heavy price at this point. I think there's more that should be communicated to us in regards to um what the services are uh as it relates to that piece of property. Um secondly, um this is way uh close to our P3 high school project that we

067um are currently under um construction and I have not heard an update as it relates to uh that P3 P3 project. I would appreciate superintendent some uh direction on where we're going with that P3. I I think this has been slated uh parenthetical wise as a high school and I'm trying to understand and just wrap my head around the property because even in the the documents themselves it's alluded to as a high school property. So I have a little confusion on it. I just think it would be um wise to get more information on this particular item. So I will not be voting in favor of this item tonight. All right. Um, so, uh, I'm I'm the one who pulled this from the consent agenda and asked for it to be put on the action

068agenda because I wanted to hear my colleagues comments on it. Um, this item is uh let me see here as a was a [snorts] a significant purchase and that's um something I would like again that's why I wanted to have a discussion on. I sent some questions I had to superintendent Hyde about this. Um, I I'm concerned right now with everything that's coming from the Schools of Hope initiative. Um, I I could see the legislature looking at unused properties next. And I'm I'm just concerned about land banking right now when we have um additional properties around the district that aren't being used. Um, and so I just, you know, I genuinely am just concerned. Um, I know we had a work agenda, a work agenda item, work session agenda item on this. Um, but for

069me, I'm just hesitant. I'm hesitant. Um, and so for that, I I plan on or I will be voting in opposition. I feel like we can get some more information, come back. I think it would be a wise decision. Next up, board member Fields. >> I had I have a question for Superintendent Hyde. Haven't we been discussing this property for a minute now? Superintendent Hyde? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And I think that when we last had conversation about it, I had some concerns and I know that those concerns were addressed by you and Mr. Fix. I believe of >> Mr. McLemore. >> Yes, sir. So, do can you provide your comments, please? >> Yes, ma'am. So, in the presentation that was provided to the board, it was never referenced for a high school. And if

070it was, it was whether or not a high school could fit on that property, not that it was being used for a high school. Actually, the three recommendations that we made and we've discussed during the workshops was the possibility for a facilities location, for a bus depot, andor other facilities maintenance areas, and warehousing. We also looked at it for potential for an elementary site or even a K8 site given its proximity. Um, I think Mr. Sharpless's points are are valid as far as a concern for what the legislature may do potentially in the future, but I'm just going to urge some caution as we look at things like this because land banking gives the school district the best possible opportunity to secure land now at more affordable pricing. land is becoming more and more difficult,

071especially buildable land that provides the acreage that we need in order to be able to satisfy our growth. And while we do own 12 properties here in Pulk County, those are not areas with high growth. And so just so the board understands, it's it's it's it's a very mixed bag where ultimately we're going to have to make some tougher decisions then in the future because if we forfeit land banking as an option, especially in high growth areas, your only remaining available option is going to be reszoning schools and having students travel long distances to get to the next closest school. So or we're going to pay much more in the future based off the price point of that land. So, those are some of the concerns that the board needs to be cognizant of. I

072will be happy to bring this back if it does not pass this evening. The board has indicated you have more questions. I'll be happy to have you submit those to my office and then we will put together another workshop presentation on this topic. >> Mrs. Fields, are you concluded? >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Thank you. Board member Miller. >> Thank you. I um also had questions about this that were answered and I just have a question about procedure and maybe we need to look at this. Um, this would have been a great topic for work session. Um, to pull something off an agenda because you wanted to hear what your board members had to say. I want us to make sure that we're in the sunshine. Your board members didn't mention that in the

073work session and so it would have been a great time to talk about the talk about this in the work session. So, we'd have a longer time to bring it back. I am up to whatever the the majority of the board feels. I thought this had been reviewed. Um, but if there's still questions and the superintendent needs to bring it back, then I'm I'm willing to to wait for that vote if you think this isn't going to affect the actual deal. But that's why the work sessions are so important. Um, you can pull things at last minute and have comment at last minute, not to obviously not to vote on them during the board meeting. Uh, but to infer questions at the time it was pulled, it would it would have been I think it

074would have been best use of our time to discuss them there. But I do appreciate you bringing these matters up at this time. Thank you. Right. Next up, we have board member Allen. >> All right. So, yeah, I again, I think it's fruitful that we have this conversation at this time. Um, superintendent, I would like to hear on record that because in the presentation, it's noted as high school. And I I think that's where I'm struggling because we do have the P3 point Sienna project that we have yet to hear an update on. Uh the last question I had um stating as it relates to the dates, it had been pushed off a year. So I just want to make sure that this property is not being purchased to supplement the property for the point

075Sienna project. That's what I just want to >> that I can answer without Mr. Pittz. The answer is no. >> Okay, >> you can come to the microphone because Mr. Fix please join. Um and Josh, thank you. Um, this attachment here, there was a separate attachment that was con that was covered in a previous presentation that showed the three options that I just shared with you because we determined this was not going to be a high school site given its proximity and where our and basically based off of our needs. But that's the point behind land banking as well, which is we don't necessarily always have the best ability to project what areas are going to grow and which ones are not. Um, and this was initially provided to us as potentially an alternative site

076for the high school instead of the P3 proposal that we're currently following. And so I think that's where some of the conversation maybe even the slides cuz I'm looking through them now. And I think that's where our analysis came through that we were showing why we were looking at this site and whether or not it would fit at the time. But again, the three recommendations right now is a facilities warehouse area, an elementary school, andor a K8. K8 would make more sense. But Mr. Fix and Mr. Mlemore, I'd let you do that, but Mr. Pittz, I'd like you to address um and Dr. Allen's question about the status of the high school, the new high school. >> I appreciate that and I think please put it in the context of the property that should have

077been obtained or should be obtained for the point. So, I'm trying to make sure that um because my understanding we we that property is not secured yet. So, I just want that to be on the record. >> So, we signed an interim agreement with Fortress Secured back in in April. Um, and we are moving through a comprehensive agreement with Fortress Secured. Um, there's several environmental uh tests um that are undergoing. The last one would be in January. Um, and we'll be moving to get that assignment of land uh here very quickly. We're still on schedule, the schedule that was presented to you previously. Um it so we're still on schedule with as soon as we uh get that assignment of land um get the comprehensive agreement signed um we're looking to break around in the

078spring. >> Okay. >> So for example, as Mr. Pitts pointed out, Dr. Allen, and for the rest of the board, there are thankfully now there are actually two windows per year versus one. That law changed I believe just within the last two years where a school district when we procure land we have to go out and actually do an assessment to determine if there's any endangered species on the location that have to be remediated or potentially it could ultimately result in us not being able to use a parcel. So that process has is very timeline specific and calendarized by the state. And so we just completed the skink study and we were very fortunate to not have um a population of skinks that would have to be relocated or remediated or again would potentially make

079the land unusable for us because of the population density. So that has to occur along with several other species of birds, gopher tortoises, burrowing owls, there's there's any number of those. But it used to be again that you you were limited to one specific time frame per year. Now they allow us to do it twice two times per year. So that's where we are in the process. But I'll have Mr. Pittz finalize that and put together the complete timeline for you. But we are on track to finalize that property for procurement because it would not make sense for us to rush that process to ultimately find out that there's an issue there where the cost of remediation to relocate those animals or have to do a workaround to avoid certain p portions of the land

080would essentially cost us significantly more money. Um, so that's where we are right now. Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Yep. >> And Mr. Mlemore or Mr. Fix, could you address the high school site or the three sites or three uses that we proposed or as the superintendent's already alluded to, this process has been going on for quite some time. And when we first started down this initiative, it was for as an possibility of it being a high school site. uh with the uh onset of a P3 process and a district going through that avenue um uh we we saw that while the district is going down that P3 initiative, we continued to have discussions for this site for other uses outside of a high school. So so the imagery that is in the slide deck

081still is reflective of a high school, but also in terms of when we were assessing and analyzing this site, uh we assessed it based off of what is the most intense thing that a school district uses land for. That's a high school because you have stadium lights, you have noise, you have a lot of traffic. So where we still use those impacts to try to gauge is this site suitable for a very intense thing recognizing at this point it's not going to be a high school but we are still when we do our analysis assessing the most impactful thing a school district can use property for. So we try to use that as like worst case scenario. Could this how would this impact the land? How would this impact the nearby infrastructure? And my memory

082is not the best, but I think it was you, Mrs. Fields, that had asked us if you could if if we were to, of course, being a year ago, if we were to look at this site, could we in fact fit a high school on it, should we need to? And that was part of the genesis of of laying out that initial slide all that long ago to look at that, just as Mr. McLemore said >> if if should the board ask us to bring this back in December to address any further questions before a vote, does that in any way to Miss Miller's question earlier impact the timeline that we're on or the possibility of securing this property at the price point that's been quoted to us? >> I haven't voiced any I haven't

083heard anything from the u the sellers themselves is that it would we would lose the opportunity. Um but again, I mean we're still in talks with them. So >> Okay. So there's no there's no executed contract. >> No, there's not >> timeline until the board votes. >> Correct. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chair, >> recognize board member Fields. >> I agree with uh Miss Miller. I think that if we were going to have any hesitation about this being approved, this should have been discussed in my opinion during the work session. Uh it's very uh confusing now to me cuz some of us have already wrote it. I know I have as it relates to what has come before me. Um so and then Superintendent Hyde is going to have to backtrack and he says he's okay

084doing that um and bring something back to us next month. So I think we need clarity on are we going to this should have been probably pulled if we were not going to be in agreement. I don't know. It's just a right now it's a hot mess. Thank you board member fields board member keys. >> So I'll go back and say that you know we have had previous discussions about it and on those previous discussions I made the comment already about the utilities and the lack thereof and what the time frame was from those and the answer to that is there is no time frame. We don't know when. So I think you know right now we've had a lengthy discussion amongst the board about this and to move forward with still questions not answered

085um I think doesn't behoo responsible being responsible with the district's money when there's still questions outlying. So there's no danger if there's no contract been signed for us to to talk about it more before we go spending you know over $9 million on a property that we may not be able to utilize for some time based on utilities. >> Mr. Green, >> would you please walk the chair and the board through the process of the motion that needs to be made in order to table this and bring it back to a subsequent meeting? >> Table to to would you make a motion to table this? >> We have a motion on the >> correct but then a mo you can parliamentary procedure wise you could you could move to mo to table this motion on

086top of the motion that's already made. >> Yeah. So I I would make a motion that we amend u the motion and table it. >> You don't need to. Okay. So for parliamentary procedure wise, you don't have to amend the motion. >> I make a motion that we table this agenda item >> to the December meeting. >> There's been a motion to table this agenda item to our December regular scheduled December meeting. Is there a second? >> Second. It has been moved and properly seconded that we table this motion to the or this yeah this item of business to the dece regular scheduled December meeting. Is there any discussion on that motion? Seeing none, there's no discussion on tableabling it. We will now proceed to vote. All those in favor of tableabling this motion to

087the regularly scheduled December meeting say I. >> I. All those I. All those opposed, same size. >> I. >> You're with what? >> Okay. All those opposed to tableabling say I. >> Okay. >> We're just ignoring this vote that's currently up on our screen. >> That Okay. So, that that vote is pending on the current vote we have. So, what do you want me to do with that? >> That that's technology. I'm talking about parliamentary procedure- wise. >> But for recordeping, what would you like for us to do with what the current >> We could we could clear that. >> If I It's not finalized yet. >> If I may offer a suggestion, Mr. Sure. Um the cleanest way to do this is to withdraw the that motion and then have the original original person

088who made the initial motion to approve to withdraw their emotion or amend their motion to table the topic. So it's it's it seems convoluted but is the cleanest way for recordkeeping and for the voting for that to take place. So I believe >> so so not parliamentary procedure wise but for our rec internal electronic recordkeeping it's the best way >> it will meet it will meet both >> all right so >> whoever made the the last motion needs to withdraw their motion >> that would be board member >> you were the first I'll resend my motion to table the item >> okay >> and then Miss Wyatt you will need to amend your motion or withdraw your motion >> I will withdraw my motion Okay. Do we need a vote to withdraw or not? No.

089Okay. All right. So, >> wait. Now you need someone needs to make the motion to table it to the next meeting. >> So, do I have a motion to table it to the next meeting in December? >> I will motion to table. >> Okay. It has been moved and properly seconded to table this motion, this item of business to our regularly scheduled December meeting. Is there any discussion? seeing no discussion, we will >> I didn't press the right button. >> Okay, there is discussion. Board member Wallace, >> thank you. I would just like to say that um Superintendent Hyde, I appreciate your comments because I date a real estate attorney and I'm intimately familiar with a lot of the challenges that um you mentioned and um I have done my best to prepare for this

090meeting. Although I'm not going to lie, having one more month to more intimately understand it, but I want you to know that I understand the challenges and and intend on supporting making this deal happen given the needs that there are and the robust growth there is. So, thank you. >> All right, seeing no additional um discussion, we will now proceed to vote. All those in favor, please sign of tableabling this motion to our regular scheduled December meeting, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, please say nay. >> Okay. I hear a five to two vote in favor of tableabling this to December. It passes. All right. Sorry. Let me pull this up now. Okay, now we're to the part of our meeting. Sorry, I have to scroll through. Give me one second. Um,

091superintendent report. Superintendent, you are now recognized. Do you have any report for us? >> I do. So, I'm going to start with the Inspire Awards. And I could say a lot, but I think the video we're about to show you >> Oh, good. >> says all that needs to be said. We want to congratulate our principal of the year, assistant principal of the year, our teacher of the year, and our employee of the year. That's not the video. I'm trying to stall. Oh, here we go. [clears throat] I am so excited to introduce you to a dynamic educator who truly exemplifies [music] servant leadership. Please welcome the Pulk County Principal of the [applause] Year, Rhonda Carter from Westwood Middle School. >> Post school [music] teachers are much more than just teachers of M. >> I'm

092so excited to introduce you to a dynamic educator who truly exemplifies [music] servant leadership. Please welcome the Pulk County Principal [applause] of the Year, Rhonda Carter from Westwood Middle School. Public school teachers [music] are much more than just teachers of math, science, reading, and writing. They are teachers of life. [music] We motivate, inspire, and mold the future of our country. As public educators, we accept [music] all students as they are, and we work to make sure they are all successful. Remember, behind every competent student is an educator who quietly fought [music] for them to be seen, heard, and believed in. Let us all continually strive to be [music] these types of educators. When you're [music] standing up here on stage, and many of you in the audience obviously saw them for the first time today,

093you can't help but be touched by the stories. You can't help but be inspired by the passion and the commitment that these individuals demonstrate. And what's even more [music] amazing is that these are only 14 of 14,000 stories being told in our schools every single day by our amazing dedicated staff and our leaders. [music] And for that, I sincerely say thank you. It truly takes a village and you are an amazing group of villagers doing amazing things and inspirational things with our kids every day. And I'm blessed to know you. I'm blessed to work with you each day. So without further ado, let's find out together who our school related employee of the year is. Angelica Ortiz from [music] Winston Academy of Engineering District 5. [applause] It's that awesome um feeling, you know, feeding kids.

094I'm grateful [music] being able to provide nourishment for them. working for P County School have been a blessing for my life. So, thank you for the opportunity. [applause and music] >> And now it's time to find out who our teacher of the year is. Elizabeth Heaton, Marco Ivy, Summerland District 3. [applause] [music] >> The students have given me so much. They've taught me so much and they've invited me to be part of their journey which makes me so happy and so proud every day. I'm so glad [music] to be part of Poke County Public Schools. [applause] And so I'd also conclude that comment >> with recognizing Mr. Giri and his amazing team. I don't know if we can bring them in here for a moment because I know they're manning the the screens next door

095and our social media and everything else that's going on. But between this graduation, the about face awards and everything else, I think this team deserves some public recognition for all their hard work, their countless hours and dedication because they really do go above and beyond. And I don't think you realize the turnaround time on a video like that. So, thank you all. [applause] And so we have no Rick, we have no there's more than three. I can promise you there's more than three. Um but in the videos that they put together, you know, truly inspirational videos. Um one that just for whatever reason stands out the most to me. Not that it's better, it just has a very different story. And it touched my heart to hear about one of our school social workers or

096psychologists, counselors, um, who basically grew up in a war torn community and literally went to school every day and had to look on the wall to see if one of her classmates had been killed uh, the night before. and to overcome that adversity and to get to a level that she's achieved and to work with our students every day who are in crisis. I mean that's an amazing story and as I pointed out though that's just one of all the amazing people who are working in our schools every single day to make the magic happen. So uh very much appreciate that and thank you board members for your attendance and participation. It's a wonderful event and uh one very much worth celebrating. Um, I wish the community as a whole could participate and cherish these

097individuals as much as we do. So, thank you for that time. Um, board members, as you know, I do have some prepared comments because I want to make sure that what I say comes across the way it was intended. Um, I'll say good evening to you again. As you know, the PK County Board of Comm County Commissioners voted today to approve or move the school board's resolution requesting placement of the millillage referendum on the November 2026 ballot as required by Florida's statute. This action ensures that the direction or decision now rests exactly where the law intends with the voters of Pole County. Now, I want to address a narrative that surfaced during the commissioner's discussion. Several expressed concerns about being blamed for voting for a tax increase. And I want to continue to reiterate and

098make sure it's very clearly stated that that concern is a flawed concern. The BOCC did not vote to raise taxes. They fulfilled their statutory and constitutional obligations by allowing this issue to move forward so that voters and voters alone can decide whether or not to self-impose a millage tax referendum to support public education. That decision rests with the people of Pulk County, not solely with the commission, not solely with our school board. I also want to address repeated claims of a breakdown of communication between the school board and the BOCC. While we do not expect the commissioners to watch every school board meeting, it is simply not accurate to suggest that the county was unaware of this effort. Our staff coordinated consistently with the BOCC staff regarding required notes, statutory steps, and agenda placement. And

099the school board's vote was prominently covered by local media. So, while no one expects individuals to monitor all of our meetings minute-by minute, I do expect honesty and transparency about the fact that conversations did occur, information was readily available, and the district did its part to maintain open communication. Lastly, I want to address comments made by one of our commissioners who stated that based solely on a handful of comments during our meeting today that the school district is broken. That characterization is not only inaccurate, it's uninformed. Here are the facts about PK County Public Schools over the past four years. Our district grade has improved to a beat. Student performance continues to rise. Graduation rates continue to improve. In fact, our preliminary data right now shows that we will see yet another increase in our

100graduation rate for the 24-25 school year. We've expanded our workforce and career teched pathways. The number of industry certifications has improved year-over-year. AP IB certifications or passing scores and tests and not only those, but participation rates have continued to increase. We've expanded our early childhood initiatives. We have been innovators in this area, partnering with outside providers to reduce the overall cost for them and for our own employees so they can participate in early childhood options. We've stabilized our staffing to the extent that we can with an 88% retention rate. However, the referendum is the differencemaker as we see it. We've increased our transparency. We publish more data, more dashboards, more newsletters, more social media posts and podcasts than at any other time in our district's history. School safety enhancements have continued to be implemented. We've

101earned national recognition for our career education, arts programming, and community partnerships, including our partnerships at Florida Southern College, Disney Imagination Campus, Publiclix's Charities recognized this evening, Tiko, and countless others. These are not indicators of a broken system. They are indicators of a district that's improving, innovating, and moving forward despite funding limitations and increased demands. It's unfortunate to hear one of our elected officials make sweeping judgments without engaging in any substantive conversations or attempts to become knowledgeable regarding our operations, our performance data, or our overall achievements. PK County Public School educates more than 116,000 students. We employ nearly 14,000 dedicated professionals. As a result, we contribute significantly to the economic future of this county. One would think that as arguably the largest employer in Pole County and the only one whose end product has a direct

102impact on sustaining our county's future, that a commissioner would take time to become better informed. Anyone who speaks about Pole County Public Schools should do so with an understanding of the facts, not assumptions or speculation. As a result, I feel obligated to personally invite all of our county commissioners to participate in next year's class of Pulk County Public Schools um cadre for inside PCPS. There are always issues that plague systems and as shared by one of our commissioners, there's an acknowledgement that the issues shared today have have existed for a very long time in P County. Yet, we strive daily to address these issues despite our constraints. I can assure you that PK County Public Schools is far from broken. PK County Public Schools is stronger today than it's been in many years and we're

103just getting started. But we must be able to be competitive when it comes to salaries and benefits to solidify what we've achieved and to ensure that we're able to maintain our positive trajectory. And I thank you for the opportunity this evening for the superintendent report. And I will conclude with the next work session and board meeting will be held on December 9th, 2025. >> [applause] >> I will I will give you money afterwards. [laughter] Work session will begin session tomorrow. [laughter] >> That's good. >> Yeah, that was >> that's actually good. That's good. Work session work session will begin at 12:30 p.m. and the board meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. The meetings will be held at the district office located at 1915 South Floral Avenue in Barto. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Superintendent.

104Um, next we will move to our attorney's report. Uh, Mr. Green, do you have a report tonight? >> No, I do not. >> Thank you, sir. Uh, next, uh, item on our agenda is the auditor's report. Do you have a report tonight, Miss Matthews? >> All right. Thank you. Uh, next we're going to go to our board member reports. So, I'm going to start we'll start with district one and work our way down. So, we'll start with board member Allen. District one. Thank you, Chair Sharpless. Uh, first of all, I want to say congrats to our newest board member, Kate Wallace. Well done. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Um, congrats to our chair and vice chair. Appreciate your willingness to step in and serve. I want to say congrats to Miss

105Vega, Miss Linda for your continued pursuit of excellence. So, uh, great to recognize you all tonight. Uh first of all, PCPS teacher and school related employee of the year event was definitely a success. Uh love the um the vid. Um all of that content just um churning on on the stories. Without their stories, uh the video, the film would be empty. And uh so I appreciate the work of our team, the PR staff um for building such quality content. uh it demonstrates excellence in the way that we present the great work that's being done around the county. So, thank you to our PR team uh for the great work. I want to say thanks to Mid Florida Credit Union uh and then the collective generosity of all of our sponsors. Uh without them, we would

106not be able to um honor in such capacity. Um secondly, uh the air traffic control program. This initiative has been moving forward and we have had our very first certified control tower operator. Um, and we celebrated her. Madison Gandandy uh is our first alumni. Uh, so I'm thinking about, you know, we always want to track our alumni. So, we've got one alumni to track thus far. uh but we look forward to celebrating her and the critical work that uh she has done uh in being our very first graduate of the air traffic control program at Travis. Uh huge accomplishment. Um I wanted to draw attention to the Florida School Counselor Association uh event that happened last week. I want to say congrats to our very own Rachel comes from uh Carlton Palmer Elementary. Yeah, [screaming]

107absolutely. Um, she was honored actually as the Florida school counselor rising star. Um, so congrats to her. Uh, I know I passed by Carlton Palmer. I pulled it in the driveway and noticed that the principal's car was missing and I shot him a text. I'm like, "Principal Draper, where are you, man?" And he shot me a text. He was sitting at dinner uh, celebrating her in Orlando last week. So, uh, congrats also to Ashley Scott from Sleepy Hill Elementary who was recognized as the, uh, school counselor of the year nominee. We're definitely proud. I would say that Pulk County, I saw this, uh, it was noted that Pulk County had the largest number of counselors in attendance, which was pretty cool. Well done. Um, and Superintendent, I appreciate your strong uh, staunch words. Uh I

108was in the boardroom today and I reject uh the words stated from one particular commissioner as well. I think the absurdity of his language uh demonstrated a minimal sense of knowing um and it's it's clear that they haven't sat on our front porch and um but we haven't sat on their front porches as well. So I know there's a mutual thing that we can do to better communication across the board. Um but uh it was quite startling to hear those words today in the boardroom for sure and and that is not the case. It's not true at all and I reject those words for sure. Um Chair Sharpless, that's all I have tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, board member Allen. Next, we will go to board member Travis Keys. >> All right. Well, hold

109on to your seats cuz I got a list and I'll try to go fast. So, um I [clears throat] want to say that um number one, I was absolutely floored by um the environment walking into the um Inspire Awards, right? Having never been before, this was my first sentence as a board member. I was just in awe and and I should be because we owe it to our educators and our school related employees those honors. Um and to have that many people in a room celebrating each other was just absolutely fantastic. I felt like I was at a worldclass gayla and it and it's meant to be that way. So, what an awesome experience. Um, also, um, was honored to share our legislative agenda with inside PCPS, um, and and give that to our community

110members and and garner their support for our legislative initiatives. Um, got to attend the marching band MPA competition at Dennis High School as a board member. And I will tell you, just to see the amount of talent we have, absolutely fantastic. I'm I'm often I'm often amazed but I'm never surprised because we have quite a quite a number of talented students and to see the joy in their faces. They're announcing these scores and they're announcing superior superior and you could just see the drum majors light up and get so excited. I'm right there with them like I want to yell and shout too. So that was absolutely fantastic event. Um the ribbon cutting for the new cafeteria at Spook Hill. What a wonderful facility that it's not just a cafeteria but multi-use I think with

111the with the auditorium and the classrooms in the back. What a what a good use of space. And thank you to Rod Construction, their team for helping out with that. Um, and then the Farm Bureau shoot aim up for a in support of education. It's always fun when you get to get a gun in your hands and bus clays. So, thank you for PEF for getting us a spot there and um, sponsoring that. It was quite a good time. Um, because uh, a and education is big thing. Mr. Sharpless, I know supports that avidly, but what a great opportunity. Um, also [clears throat] want to thank the superintendent for your comments. I think it's good that we show solidarity and support behind those initiatives and to call out um errors as we see them. And

112so, thank you for your for your words. And then last but certainly um not least, and this is one I kind of get on my soap box on, I was able to after um the event um um AIM up for a I was notified by my wife that our daughter's schools at Davenport School of the Arts had their junior thespian program, which I didn't think I was able to attend, but she sent me a message and um and I brag on them a little bit, but also it's it's it's one of my schools. Um they um did 18 acts at the junior thespian awards for district 9. Achieved 14 superiors, four high excellence, four out of eight critics choice which is best in show, right? Two honorable mentions and three perfect scores. Never in the

113history of Davenport school of arts have they ever hide or or scored that well. Um and what an amazing experience. So congratulations to Mrs. Kane and Mr. Mosenberg for the success they had there. Um, you guys know I'm an just such an advocate for the arts in our schools and I think they enrich the students. So, what a good job they did there and great job DSA for that. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, board member Keys. Now, we'll go to board member Wallace for her report. >> Thank you. I'll keep it quick, too. First, I'd like to thank Elizabeth Heaton, who was acknowledged as the PK County Teacher of the Year because she is from uh my district as well as my alma mater. So, we are not personally acquainted, but I

114certainly look forward to meeting her, congratulating her, and uh as a new board member, I look forward to reaching out to all of the schools in my district and making sure that they know me and I know them and um getting to know uh I've had the pleasure and privilege of growing up here and being around here, but not at that level. So, I really look forward to digging in and and making sure um that I really get more intimately familiar with the district and seeing all the great things that are happening um and making sure I'm out there. We're still setting up my email. We're still setting up some of those things. Um I I started a Facebook group for anybody who wants to follow me. It's um Kate Wallace, PK County Public Po

115District 3. So, f find me there. Um, if anybody who wants to reach me or the or the board uh office can help contact me, if anybody from the public wants to um contact me, invite me to something, tell me something I need to show up to, let me know. I'm I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running even with the holidays. Uh, I'd also like to just share a wealth of congratulations across the board, everybody. All the um recognitions, our new chair and vice chair, looking forward to working with you all. Um, thank you again. Congratulations to the district on um outstanding inspire awards event that I was not yet eligible to attend, but I look forward to hopefully attending um in the future. And then I'd like to acknowledge a student who is

116in the audience speaking of the MPA, but he is a drum major for Barto's band, which I know got a superior. So, congratulations Trey over there in the audience. Way to go. [applause] And then there is one last person that I wanted to specifically acknowledge that did not make it into my remarks earlier because I was squarely focused on my biological family and my roots being from Barto. But someone came along after those things and that's my boyfriend Jonathan. So [laughter] he's here. Um we met we met here in Lakeland. We had a boss in common and he is that real estate attorney I was mentioning. He's been an indelible force, presence, support. Um, this has been a while. I'm not complaining. I'm so thrilled to be here. Uh, when you sign up for something

117like this, it's a part-time job. Marrying that with a a full-time job, it affects the people in your life mostly in a good way. But he's been supporting me and I just want to tell you I love you and I appreciate you. And that concludes my comments. >> Thank you. Thank you, board member Wallace. Now I will go to board member Wyatt. Thank you, Jonathan. We'll get you in touch with the spouses support group um before you leave. Um [laughter] but I Kate, congratulations. We're um thrilled to have you up here with us. Um congratulations on your appointment. And I also want to congratulate you because you don't know this yet, but you are getting a steal from Winter Haven High School and Mr. Ulch. Um I am very sad to see him leaving Winter

118Haven, but I am thrilled for all of the things he'll be doing at Summerland. So, um, congratulations on that as well because he's a winner. Um, but I don't have a ton of comments for this month. I had, um, a little life event, so I've been a little MIA the past couple weeks. Um, but I do want to give a shout out to our risk management department because we had, um, a very lengthy conversation at our October work session, beginning of October. Um, and they made some very swift and significant changes to open enrollment to extend it. um making it through the end of October. Um also to convert some of those um one-on-one meetings to virtual meetings so that our teachers and staff members that don't necessarily work at the district office could still

119attend those during the regular workday. Um there's still a lot of a lot of room for growth as we we all know, but um I just want to thank them for implementing some of those as swiftly as they did um to make sure that our employees had the best opportunity to really understand what their health insurance plan was. um and look forward to all of the improvements to come as well. That concludes my report. >> Thank you, board member Wyatt. Now, I'll recognize board member Fields. >> Thank you. I have a couple of items. Uh I wanted to uh give a shout out to the first South Florida Missionary Baptist Association. Uh last week they recognized three of our schools. Um, they received uh $325 I'm I'm sorry, $325 $10 Walmart gift cards. Uh, the

120value of that is like close to $4,000 for each school. And that would be North Lakeland, Purcell, and Crystal Lake Elementary. And u I have asked Superintendent Hyde if we can recognize them at our December board meeting. So hopefully we're going to be able to get that to happen. And I appreciate Superintendent Hyde u suggesting that. And uh I serve on the legislative uh subcommittee and the advocacy committee for the Florida School Board Association. We've been having meetings almost every week. Uh and so we're just about at a point, I think, of being able to conclude that as we get ready to uh attend the uh the uh winter school board association conference. And the inspire awards was so inspiring. Uh an appropriate word I would say a description. And uh one of the things

121that was so impressive to me was the school related employee of the year. Angelica Ortiz talked about what she valued most in her position is knowing that kids are fed and many kids don't get a meal other than what they get at school. And to me that was just so encouraging to know that uh she has a passion and a love to make sure that that our kids are taken care of. So we want to congratulate her and also uh Miss Eaton uh for her uh award is the teacher of the year. Now the last thing that I would like to say had a chance to go to the agenda study for the board of county commissioners on Friday and then uh at went to the board meeting on uh this morning and I would

122say that I was very disturbed uh what I heard in conversation and prior to that very disturbed uh when they had had a prior meeting and they in implied that we were disingenous. And I don't know what that means. Disingenious. And one of the things that one of the commissioners wanted to know on Friday is if we were going to advocate for the tax referendum. So, I don't know why we would put something on uh referendum on uh the ballot for voters and not advocate for it. Uh, and I don't know how it would be thought that we would not do our very best to educate the voters so that they would know what they need to vote for. And I think the the biggest factor is we were not trying to put any ownership

123uh to the board of county commissioners as it relates to a tax increase. We were just trying to get them to do what they are required to do. And thank God that they did that today. Um, I think that one of the things that we all know, we all have been talking about this for over a year. So, it's not like this is something that just came out of the clear blue sky. Uh, and we know that there's going to be a lot of work involved and we are up for the task. And to me, and this is just my thought is that we have not been respected and we are an elected body just as they are. And uh I think that [clears throat] just as we would go to their house and respect

124them, they should come to our house and respect us. And I would encourage us to encourage them to maybe visit some of our schools. It's been a day and find out what's involved because our school district is not broken. Uh are we perfect? No, we're not. But we are making a lot of progress and I am proud to be a part of the Poke County Public School. And [snorts] that is the end of my report. >> Thank you, board member Fields. I will now recognize board member Miller. >> Thank you. I'll um I have just a few comments. I also want to u mention the MPA marching band competition. I'm very proud of Tenok, the Tener Marching Titans for the first time since they have been in existence. They receive straight superiors and that is

125a lot of work. Um, and we love that the dedication to that those band members and some of them are new to instruments when they get there. These aren't students who've had a lot of work with instruments. So, the fact the fact that they can come in and work hard to get straight superiors, I think is an amazing feat. Um, I also want to mention the fun I had with board member Wyatt. Probably too much fun speaking to the Randy Roberts Foundation. Mayor Electarley has a foundation in memory of her husband that was involved in politics and all the work done in teaching kids the political process. And so they asked different elected officials to come and share their information, share things about them. We got off on all kinds of fun topics. Um but

126just listening to the kids and the hope they have and what the future holds for them and holds for the process um was exciting and knowing that we're building those leaders right here in Pulk County. If you've not had your child, if they're a junior or um upcoming junior in high school, they really should look into that program. It's one of the many leadership opportunities we offer for students and I was very excited to take part in that. Um listening to the comments, I think Miss Field said it best and she does have the historical content and has been here to share um the history of the school board and how people look at the school board in Pulk County. I joked um that this is the first superintendent [laughter] um maybe that would have

127responded so quickly and fiercely to some of the comments that were um that were mentioned at the board meeting. I have invited our our county commissioner, my county commissioner to events. I want us to have them and make those invitations open because I always try to see the light and maybe they maybe you just don't know maybe you don't know what we're doing here. If you've never had kids in our system, if you haven't um volunteered in our schools, then some of the things you see in the news or you think nationally you see nationally, maybe you do believe it's happening. Um maybe you haven't seen the work we've done in audits and all the work that's done here. So, I'm just going to keep that door open and hope that my other colleagues do

128that as well and invite them everything. You know, we had mayor we had Melanie Bell show up to probably every graduation. I think she's one of a few elected officials that just was super involved with what was going on in our schools and I think we need more of that especially when we should be working in a collaborative effort. Um so I'm looking forward to having them get involved and maybe opening opening others eyes to what we do here. It's going to be a heavy lift. I don't care how much marketing we do which we should start today. Um it will be a heavy lift this referendum in this time and it will be a lot of work and it will take everyone working and moving in the same direction. And so, and that's difficult.

129We do need to remind people that we are the largest employer in this county, even though we flip that with Publix every once in a while. We um we do educate the majority of the students in this county and you know, we want accountability and we want best practice for every student no matter what school you go to. And I think that has to be part of our message. Um but I appreciate the people that came tonight. I'm not going to take up any more of your time. Thank you, Chair Sharpless. >> Thank you, board member Miller. I will be brief with my comments tonight. Um, first I um want to congratulate Kate Wallace, the newest board member for District 3. Um, Kate, I you know, it's been a long time since since the University

130of Florida as freshman and crossing each other's paths. um you know uh I've seen you and our friendship throughout many years grow um to where you were an expert in educational policy. So I welcome you on this board as a fellow board member. I know you will you will add significant knowledge to us and for that I thank you. Um I also want to thank you Kate for inviting uh Jenna Noli here tonight. Um that was a class act. Um, try not to get emotional. [sighs and gasps] Rick and I became friends as new board members and um, and it was [snorts] tough. It was a tough to see him go. Um, that being said, uh, thank you for inviting his his daughter here tonight. Um, I know that means a lot to their family.

131Um, I want to congratulate Ivet and Linda. Ivet vega Linda Baldick earning the distinction of the Florida School Board Association certified support professional. It took a lot of training. I know because I went through and I became a certified board member through the same organization. So I know the value that's there. Um want to thank you for taking your job seriously and for going and and and earning those and and Linda, I know Linda's not in here, but Linda as well. Um, I want to thank another person in the audience that hasn't been recognized. Uh, Hayne City Commissioner Omar Royo. He's here tonight. Uh, thank you for being an elected official just like we were talking about and being here and listening to us. We appreciate that, Omar. Um, >> I'm sorry. >> Ice cream

132to your kids. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Thank you for bringing ice cream to our students as well. Um, but seriously, thank you for taking that that initiative to being here for being here tonight. We appreciate that. Um, I I'm only going to talk about a couple events. Um, three to be exact. The first one, um, Inspire Awards. Uh, I say it every year. It is appropriately named because I sit there every year and I come away inspired. our teachers, our school related employees, they do the work every day, the hands-on work with our students. And we talk about students first, right? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to our staff for all the hard work you do. Um, board member Keys mentioned this, but um, me and him both attended Spook Hills Cafeteria Ribbit ribbon

133cutting. Um, first want to thank the voters who approved the halfsent sales tax that funded that uh addition because again we we need additional funds. That sales tax goes specifically only to construction. It cannot go towards salaries or anything. And that was uh approved back in 2018. And it's helped us out. And I serve on the half cent sales tax committee um as a board representative. I know the hard work the committee does, all the different construction projects we have around the district. And personally, that ribbon cutting meant a lot to me because it was the first one that I got to attend in my district that my father, who is one of our uh construction coordinators for our district, it was his project. So, I got to be there at the project in my

134district in my hometown that my dad was the one that was in charge of the project from the district standpoint. it just meant a lot to me. So, thank you board member Keys for being there, too. Um, and the last thing I'll talk about, I'm going to end on somewhat of a sad note. But this morning before uh our work session, I attended the um the funeral of Fort Me Commissioner James Pawsum Sha Pawsum. As if I got to know him, they said the the preacher said it correctly. the first person when they went to draw their blood that they drew out black and gold because that man, that commissioner eat, sleep, breathe the Fortme community. He loved the Fortme community. Um he's also a former uh sheriff's uh officer, deputy officer. Um and again,

135current he was a he passed away as a city commissioner in Fort Me. Everyone in that community, they they said when they had an issue when he was a a deputy, they didn't call the sheriff's office. They just went by Pawsum's house and they said, "Hey, we have an issue over here." And Possum would go take care of it. He will be remembered by one word, servant. He served the public as a commissioner, as a deputy, as a guy who would drive the bus, the school bus, uh, full of football players to a playoff game, just truly cared about the schools down there, the community down there. And it was my honor to attend Commissioner Shale's funeral. And with that, um, it will conclude our board reports. The next item on our agenda is public

136comments addressing items not on our agenda tonight. As noted earlier, to register to speak, community members must fill out a speaker card in the lobby prior to the meeting. All speakers will be given three minutes. The light will turn yellow uh when you have one minute left and then the light you'll hear a beep when your time is concluded. Please note that although board the board encourages community participation, no immediate action will be taken on items presented during the public comment portion of the meeting tonight. If you f if follow-up board action is required, then the matter may be placed on the agenda at a subsequent meeting in accordance with schoolboard policy. I have a list of individuals who have signed up to speak today. Could you please come forward when your name is called?

137Additionally, there is a red line over here. And so when when you are on deck, please stand behind the red line. First off, we have Christy Kirkland. And on deck is Teresa McKay. Good evening. First, I'd like to thank um Miss Keys, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Hyde for joining us this morning at the board of commissioners meetings. We really appreciate the stance that you took with us. Um then I'd like to point out some discrepancies for the salaries that teachers and our school board members are making. Um we talked about fiscal responsibility with the way we spend our money, purchasing property, that type of thing, and what our environment is right now. Um, one of the my biggest concerns was our last bargaining meeting. Heather Jenkins made the statement that if we've budgeted for every

138expense we have to budget for and there are funds left over, that is what we take would take to Mr. Hyde and say this is available and go from there. That was in response to how is budgeting done for teacher salary. That's a slap in the face. We have educators that have been here forever that have had I don't know how much you know of the history. 2009 2010 our veteran teachers took a pay cut some of them by $2,000. You can pull up the salary scales. Email me. I'll be happy to send you the pictures of the salary scales from those times. Um in that proportionate time we'll start with 2016 and compare it to last year. Please do not take any offense to this. I am not trying to say these people don't

139deserve what they've earned. Okay. Um, our district attorney, his salary has gone up by 8%. The human relations chief by 27%. Our superintendent by 25%. A 23-year veteran teacher 4.8%. There's a huge discrepancy. We have to do better for our teachers. >> Thank you, Miss Kirkland. Next up is Teresa McKay. On deck is Stephanie Yokum. >> Um, good evening, chair, members of the board, Superintendent Hyde. My name is Dr. Terresa McKay and I teach second grade at Garden Grove Elementary. I'm here tonight to discuss an issue that affects classrooms across Pulk County and it happens every single day. The need for a policy that allows violent or severely aggressive students to be removed from the classroom for the remainder of the day following a major incident. As teachers, we believe deeply in supporting the whole

140child. We use PBIS, restorative practices, deescalation strategies, and referrals to counseling. But even with all of these supports, some students have significant emotional and behavioral disorders that require interventions beyond what a general education classroom can safely provide. This year, I have a student diagnosed with DMD, that is disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. This child experiences extreme emotional outbursts. He came at me with a sharpened pencil to stab me. He throws objects, flips chairs, desks, and makes threats. These crises can last from 20 to 40 minutes. During that time, instruction stops, learning stops, and my other students are frightened. Some cry, some cover their ears, and several have told me they no longer feel safe. One of my students actually commented that she had thought that I had died because he came at me with a pencil.

141Yet, after these episodes, current procedures often require that the student be returned to the class almost immediately. This means that my students and I go right back into an unstable environment waiting for the next crisis. I have tremendous compassion for this child. But keeping him in the classroom during acute dysregulation is unsafe for them, unsafe for their peers, and incredibly disruptive to everyone's learning. Full day removal is not punishment, is a necessary safety measure that allows a child in crisis to receive appropriate behavioral support, counseling, regulation time, and a structured plan for re-entry. It also protects the instructional rights and emotional well-being of the 18 to other 20 children in the classroom who deserve a calm, secure learning environment. Our instructors, I mean, I'm sorry, our administrators have been incredibly supportive of this and of

142us. Um, I have a fellow teacher that is here with me who also has one of these students. Um, but often they will tell me that their hands are tied because of the paperwork that they have to go through, the documentation they have to collect, which is very unfair to us and to these students. So, I thank you for your time for listening to this and your dedication to the well-being of every child in Pulk County. [applause] Next up, we have Stephanie Yokum. And on deck, we have Cat Nickel. Hey guys, uh my name is Stephanie Yokum. I am the president of the Pulk Education Association. Um a few remarks. We go to bargaining again tomorrow and I believe it's our fifth time meeting. Um we have a reasonable request on the table. I gave

143you guys a paper minus you, Miss Wallace, that I will get to you and get you caught up to speed real quick on what's going on. Um what's on the table is very reasonable. It is a two and a half% increase with the commitment that the district team come and actually let's talk about the non-economics that we put on the table when we lowered the proposal after new uh personnel counts were were agreed to. Um most of the districts around Central Florida that have settled have settled between 2 and a half and 4%. Um with Orange County being kind of the outlier with 4% with their highly effective teachers. Um this is not an unreasonable request. you have the money within your budget to do it. Um, and if your CFO is telling you that

144you don't, you need to dig deep because we are on the horizon of a millage referendum. We are going to work vigorously and diligently to get this passed. Our folks will be the boots on the ground. We are bringing significant money to the table for this millillage and we expect our board to continue to support us in this endeavor. We have to get through two more school years before we start seeing millage money. if the voters when the voters of Pulk County pass this. And so we must also in the next two school years work to keep people here so that they don't leave in the interim. We have 450 substitutes in classrooms and we have 447 vacancies that those subs are filling right now. We must continue to work on the things that we

145can to keep people in the classrooms. And and honestly, it's not just money. I mean, even though money obviously helps, but when you heard Miss McCay talk, it's also the violent behavior we're dealing with with a very small minority of our children. They need help and they're not getting the help that they need in a classroom that can't support them. And so, we need to talk through those solutions. We need to support our educators so that it's not just the money because when you when you when you underpay somebody and then also make their working conditions untenable, then they leave. But if they are felt supported and they feel valued, they tend to because we know that hope is on the horizon with this mill referendum. And so we must continue to work and diligently

146put good money on the table, not out of the realm of your budget this 2 and a half% offer tomorrow. So Mr. Hyde, I hope that you meant what you said when you're because we are looking for the money tomorrow to get this deal done so that we can go into winter break happy and ready to work on this millage referendum. Thank you. [applause] Thank you, Miss Yokum. Next up is Cat Nickel. On deck is Meg Gadley. Good evening, distinguished board members. Um, and so I wanted I want to keep this brief. Um, I want to say that I was there at the BOCC meeting this morning. Um, and I don't think that they have an accurate picture of what's going on in P County Public Schools, even though I for a fact know a

147lot of the issues that we still face. And like Miss Fields says, we are not perfect. Um, but we see every day and in each one of your reports and in all of the events that you attend how hard our people are working, how much our children are learning and growing, and the amazing impact that we are making. But the trick here is that it is your employees in those schools that are making these amazing things happen. Yesterday, you had 450 Kelly subs covering instructional vacancies. That's not an absent Miss So and So got sick and had to fill in. This is a vacancy that you have been unable to fill as of November 18th. for those 450 classrooms. Those students are going perhaps from that classroom to another classroom and maybe they do have

148a certified teacher in their classroom, but they've just spent the last period or the last block of time with somebody who was not properly trained to handle and deal with some of these issues. And I truly believe that is where a lot of our behavior concerns are coming from is a lack of structure. And so if you do not want to see that vacancy number increase yet again from the last few years as it has, you are going to have to, as Miss Yokum said, dig deep, find every available penny to put into your raises, push your employees tomorrow at that bargaining table to come off as much as they can possibly can because you need to retain us for the next few years. I do hope and I am fairly confident that that millillage

149will pass. But that's a few years before we see that money. And no offense, but y'all have 450 teacher vacancies right now. That's 10% of your classroom staff. That is 10% of your classrooms do not have a certified teacher. That's over 90,000 9,000 students. That's roughly 10% of students who are not being served by a qualified professional every day. So please instruct your people as possible and to listen to our language concerns because also as Miss Yokum said it's not just about the money that does in this particular economy but we also have some upbringing because we need our work lives to be better if we're going to try to hobble through on the very not keeping up with inflation income that we're all working for. Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Nickel. Next up,

150we have Meg Gadley on deck, Patrick Bentley. >> Good evening. Um, my name is Meg Gadley. I work at Davenport Elementary. Um, I've been with you guys since 2020 when Davenport opened. So, I just kind of want to put a little bit of background. I came from Duvall County. Duval County had a little bit of reorganization. They needed a structure. I came down to PK County because I was, first off, I was happier. um you guys had a little bit of better understanding of what was going on for your students. Um you had a higher pay rate and all of that. [snorts] So, I'm going to kind of echo some of the colleagues as well. You need to dig a little deeper. And I'm not saying necessarily you guys, but we need to dig a

151little deeper. A lot of our staff right now are working multiple jobs to survive. Many cannot afford to live in Pulk County. Many are living outside of Park Pulk County and coming in to support the students that are here. We cannot continue to make our employees choose between paying their bills, paying their mortgage, buying groceries, or feeding their children. Competitive pay isn't optional. It's the only way to stabilize our workforce, reduce our VA vacancies, and give students the consistency they deserve. I'm asking you as a board to choose people. Choose your students. Choose your teachers. Choose to invest in every dollar bill into raising and recruiting educators who make this district functional. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Gadley. Next up, Patrick Bentley. On deck, Caitlyn Gaddy, I think. Did I say it? Okay. Uh,

152my name is Patrick Bentley. I am secretary treasurer for pea as well as I am still a classroom teacher at H City High School teaching economics. Um, I'm not going to beat the dead horse on pay. We know it's an issue. You guys know it's an issue. Continue to dig deeper. What I do want to bring up is we have a way for you guys to save some money. wasn't really enjoyed at the last bargaining session, but we have asked district personnel to fill in for sub slots. It cost you $0 because you're saving money from a Kelly sub and it puts you guys back in the classroom seeing what our dayto-day is. I love that you come out for our big events, our big haras, and our great moments, but you guys are missing

153the average day, the bad day, the worst day possible. Please, I challenge you all to find a school, cover for a teacher for the day. Go in. Our sub plans are ready. I promise you. Just be there for the kids and see what our normal day is. I'm pretty sure most of you have forgotten because we've all been out of the classroom for a very long time. Things are different. And it hurts for me to say that, but all of us can agree things are very different now. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bentley. Next up, Caitlyn Gaddy. On deck, Tyler Anderson. >> Good evening. Thank you for your time. I just want to start with that I have lived in PK County my entire life within 15 minutes of this very building. And I grew

154up in a mixture of private and public schools. And being able to see the difference makes me so grateful for our public schools. I am a passionate elementary teacher and I love my job and my kids, but each year I consider leaving more and more. I am proud of the work that is happening, the improvements we've discussed. Yet, many other counties and states are so far better off, and we have a long way to go to catch up, but I want to see my home improve. I don't want to give up and leave. I want our state to be better. I want this county and our state to be somewhere I can say I'm proud to be from. Subs put a stress, these long-term subs, to piggyback off of what others have said, they put

155a stress on our teachers because we are calming the storms from the classrooms that they are coming from that are disregulated. I would know because I've been in that position for the last three years and lost valuable instructional time nearly every day. We can't improve. We can't get better. We can't put students first when we don't put resources where they are needed. You say that, you know, our students come first and that you appreciate your teachers. You say yourself, "We're amazing." And we are. We care so much. We put in so much. But words mean little when your actions don't match them. I implore you to put your money where your mouth is. address the state about funding more aggressively and prove that you truly want to keep good teachers and truly give our students

156the best and put them first. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Gaddy. Next up, Tyler Anderson. On deck, Tamaris Ruff. >> Hi, thank you. Hello. I'm Tyler Anderson. I'm an elementary music teacher at Jesse Keen Elementary and I just want to really just really just bring out the idea that everyone's been talking about with the pays overall and that while basically the overall idea of a 1% wage is, you know, itself a gesture, we really need the support overall because what we're just missing is just the fact that we really need not a luxury or anything like that, but just overall making sure that everyone, our teachers, our staff, our paras, they're just having a stable type of bank account in general. Teachers are the heartbeat of our communities. They're the guiding hands. They're the

157ones that guide our generation. They encourage growth. And of course, they're there on the toughest days. And it's just challenging when overall our professionals are just having difficulties with paying for rent for apartments or for homes. I mean, even me, I'm trying to do something, for example, to support my parents, and it's challenging to do that when it's it's overall just difficult to have the money to be there consistently. And this is not just a personal hardship. It's showing that how we value the work that keeps our society moving forward. A 2.5 increase isn't just about money. It's about the retention. As some of the colleagues mentioned, this is the key to asssuring that we have enough teachers in PK County and that we have less of these vacancies for all these schools that we

158want to make sure we have qualified teachers for. But we've got to start at the roots of why we need to essentially like support ourselves financially as well. If we truly believe that education shapes the world, we have to stand by the the we have to stand by the people who deliver it every day. So the request is simple. Even though a 2.5% increase isn't really much in comparison to what we originally proposed in bargaining, that is the statement that shows that we we care about our teachers and that we care not for supporting a luxury but just for essential needs. As mentioned about the motto before, if we really want to truly follow the motto students first, we have to also make sure we're supporting our staff as well. and making sure that stable

159finances happen first as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Next up, we have Tamaris Ruff. And then on deck, we have Diane Drescller. I am Tamaris Strot and I am an inclusion teacher at um Lake Gibson Middle School and I am here today to address the um retention of teachers. There's currently multiple long-term subs at my school and in one class we are on I believe number three and it is an inclusion math class. So, the subs that are coming in, they're they're doing their best with what they have, but they are not trained to work with our students with disabilities. And as we all know that students with disabilities, sometimes they need um extra supports. And a lot of the um subs that I have dealt with, they don't understand how to

160um talk to the students calmly or even follow an IEP. And without the IPS being followed, these students are being left behind. I have students that I am their case manager for right now that are failing certain classes and when I speak to the teacher, they have no idea how to give them extra time or how to provide them with the text to speech or any of their accommodations. And these are teachers that are filling classes that are mostly filled with students with IEPs that have not tested well on their um state assessments. And I'm so I whatever we need to do to get certified teachers that are trained to work with our disabled students, we need to come to an agreement to make that happen. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Rock. Next up,

161we have Diane Drescller on deck. Bob Nickel. Uh, hello. My name is Diane Dresler. I'm a high school teacher at Kathleen Senior High School and I was recruited by Pulk County Public Schools from Ohio to come and teach back in 2017. And something that's become a bit of a culture shock that I still get annoyed to from time to time is we move much quicker with a lot more sense of urgency about things up north. And that's not something I've encountered very much of here. And I think that is one of the reasons why it's so frustrating when contract negotiations get drawn out, not week to week, but monthto month. Last year, we spent the whole entire school year negotiating a pay raise that we all agree was needed, but just squabbbling over what needed

162to be done and drawing out things that could have been done with much more urgency. It feels like the board approaches uh negotiations like they're discussing an elective cosmetic surgery when in reality we're running an ER. Uh you're hemorrhaging staff. Um just in the past month or two, a colleague said to me when I pulled into the staff parking lot how empty it was. We have lost a lot of staff members just in the past couple weeks. Um, just last week our veteran a teacher told me he's leaving for the private sector. He's already gone uh because he did the math and he said even at my top level pay that he could possibly make here at the county, it didn't even come close to what he was being offered and he had to do

163what was best for him and his family. even though he loved his job, even though he's been with Pulk County Schools for many, many years, and even knowing that if he left, he was leaving an entire department to be run by long-term subs. an agricultural department at a high school that boasts a proud FFA club that has machine equipment that has livestock that has plants that has certification programs now being run entirely by long-term subs because the highly qualified teachers who were in those classrooms needed to make hard decisions and they couldn't wait around for us to make those hard decisions at negotiation. So I implore you to approach negotiations with much more urgency because you can't wait 2 years as Stephanie Oak said for that referendum to get passed. You need to move now

164and you need to address this concerns that staff have now because they will be gone. There won't be anybody here to benefit from the referendum in two years. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Drestler. Next up, Bob Nickel. On deck, Brandon Santiago. >> Good evening. My name is Bob Nickel. I'm an ESC inclusion teacher at Boone Middle School. First off, Mr. Hyde, I want to really thank you for your strong words tonight because I was also at the uh uh county commission meeting this morning and it's it's it's really refreshing to hear a superintendent speak up the way you did. So, I I appreciate that. It's good to see Mr. Aoyo here. He came to our uh uh multicultural night at Boone Middle School, which was a fabulous event. And I also want to let

165you know that I actually watched the Inspire Awards on the district's YouTube channel from a hotel room in Leavonia, Georgia cuz I took my uh youngest son up to the FSU Clemson game and Miss Neil uh from Boone Middle was uh up for uh employee of the year and the band director at George Jenkins was up for teacher of the year and I was interested in that because I'm a little biased but George Jenkins has the most fabulous trumpet player in the entire county. My grandson [laughter] a few days ago, the reason I'm here tonight though is a few days ago a parrot came up to me and said, "Mr. nickel. I had to choose between paying my rent and making a car payment. I heard that from far too many teachers who tell me

166that there's far too much month at the end of the money. And that should not be the case for any employee for the Pulk County School District. Yet, here we are. And every year it's the same thing. The district says they have no money, yet magically they seem to find some money and here we are. So, I'm just saying let's just get this done. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Nickel. Next up, we have Brandon Santiago and on deck is Samuel Tala. >> Mr. chair, Mr. Subintend attended, school board members, thank you for having me. I'm a proud member, faculty member at Barto High School, teach mathematics. Um, each day when I walk into the high school, I notice that myself as well as my co-workers give everything they have to the students. that we

167give our time, we give our our hearts, we give our energy, uh even our emotions to the students and to the profession. Um we are not just teachers, we're mentors, we're counselors, we're motivators, we are encou encouraers, and we're the steady foundations to for our students. Yet despite all this, many of our teachers are struggling to afford the rise of cost of living to live in Pulk County, even have a difficult time putting gas in their cars to travel back and forth for work. The reality the reality is we lose we losing great educators to other to other counties, other school districts and even careers uh for more for more pay and and less stress and at the end of the day the the the people who are loffected the most is our students. Um,

168teachers should not have to work second jobs, second and third jobs to make end games neat. Um, we should not have choose between serving their students and providing our families. Um, tonight I'm just simply asking you to to come to the table tomorrow night with the two two and a half% and let's make the deal done. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Santiago. Next up, we have Samuel Tala. >> Hello. Thank you for the opportunity for letting me talk. I was a teacher for 12 years here at the district, Pulk County School District, a science teacher, 6th through 12th grade. I just want to say that I consider myself a successful teacher. Uh dedicated and highly qualified teacher. I am a certified teacher and u I just I love teaching. I love the the students

169in um in Poke County. The diversity, I love it. I come from a diverse background and growing up in Miami. And I I just wanted to come and and tell my story real quick. Um a year ago, I I was going through a lot in my my private life and my mother was in uh was in cancer treatment. She she recently passed away in November of last year. But as of April of last year, I was a situation where I um you know, I was going I was going through a lot and I was taking medication and I had a side effect and the side effect was that you know my and my my dad was there at the time and then he called the paramedics and in his shock the police came and then

170my dad he's from Nicaragua so he doesn't like to see and he doesn't like to see police officers and he got he was shocked and he was he didn't want to say anything to them. So they proceeded to take me without any questions because they he my father's a Christian. He believes in the Lord. He was praying and he had a mark here and they thought that I had hit my father which I didn't and they put me they took me to jail and um but ever since then everything was cleared up the the charges were dropped and um the case was expuned and I'm just here to just to present my story that you know I love being a teacher and I was a successful teacher for many years 12 years and and I

171would just love the opportunity go back and I think I contribute a lot to being a teacher and I know all my administrators and all my teachers that know me love me and know my dedication. I just come come before you humbly just to let you know if you can find it in your heart to because everything um was like speculation and it was a mis miscommunication misunderstanding and I would love to retake my my career as a science teacher and I know that's very much needed in this county. Um, like I said, I'm I consider myself a successful teacher and I know I've been highly qualified and I love to teach and I love I love the kids here. So, that's my story. I just wanted to present that to you humbly before you.

172Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, >> we'll have Miss Nave follow him out, get his details. We'll do a full review and then get in touch with him before the end of the week. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Thank you, Mr. Tala. Um, that [clears throat] concludes our speakers who have signed up uh to speak this evening. Uh board members, next order of business is adjournment. There being no further business, this meeting of the Poke County School Board meeting is now adjourned. Thank you. I can't print to your printer from here.