001to order and please stand for the pledge led by Miss Wagner and the invocation by Miss Gillard. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let us pray. Father, in the name of your son Jesus, we pause right now, God, to ask your direction, to ask your guidance, to ask, oh God, that you would direct our hearts, our thoughts, our minds, God, and to continue to keep us focused on the reason for us convening here today. that is for the welfare of our students, our district, and all of those, God, that come together to make this district a great place to work and to live. God, we pray your blessings
002upon our students as they are out for the summer break, some are working, gone off to school, or just having fun. God, keep them safe is our prayer. And as we recognize these young ladies here this afternoon, God, it keeps us grounded and reminded of our purpose, God. Now bless each of us here God that our hearts and minds God will be focused on what is for the good of all God. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Okay board we will move to uh item B1 and Miss Whitehurst the retirement recognitions. >> Good afternoon. It's always a pleasure to get to recognize um employees for their um dedication to our district. And so we have three today that we would we would like to recognize. Our first one is Miss Rosa Hamilton,
003who has been a custodian at Mosley. She's been with the district for 24 and a half years, but most recently at Mosley Elementary. Have you always been at Mosley or? >> Yeah. Okay. 24 and a half years at Mosley. >> Wow. So, Miss Rosa, if you want to come on up. [Applause] >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you for your service. [Music] [Applause] Our next um honore is Miss Tia Lingal. She has been a teacher here with us for 20 years and most recently at James A. Long. She's done a variety of things for us. Um so we are so excited that she gets to start retirement. Congratulations. [Applause] And I don't believe our next one is here, but I still want to recognize um Mr. Tommy Smith III from information services. Um he is leaving
004us some of that stuff that I was talking about earlier, you know, for other things. um he has uh served the district for 15 years and he is going to be greatly missed in our um IT department. So I just want to recognize him even though he is not here. [Applause] Okay board, we will move to presentation number two in Larkin Junior Senior High School. and Miss Cammy Forche, if you'll come forward and and uh bring your your girls with her, introduce them all to us and tell us what great things they've accomplished. >> You want to bring them up now or in a minute? Go ahead and bring them up and I'll do a little I'll say a few words and then we'll I'll turn it over to you. >> Welcome. Good afternoon, board.
005>> Good afternoon. >> My name is Diana Drew. I'm the director of student services and I am glad to be here today. I'm honored to take a moment to recognize an outstanding group of student athletes from Interlockan Junior Senior High School. The Interlock and competitive cheer team has shown incredible dedication, spirit, and skill this season. They were crowned FHSAA region one and please if I get it wrong tell me region one large non-tumbling champions and went on to an achieve to achieve an impressive third place finish at the state level. This is not just a victory in competition. It's a testament to their relentless hard work, teamwork, and the support of their coaches, school, and families. So, please join me in congratulating them after I need to let Miss Fosche say a few words. Then
006we'll congratulate them. >> Thanks. Um, so I just wrote wrote a couple things down really quickly so you could kind of get an idea of how the program has grown. Um, I'm super excited to recognize the Rams varsity competition cheer team for their accomplishment. So, three years ago, we started um competition cheer at Interlockan High School. And in 2023, we proudly pre placed 10th in regionals, and we thought we were doing amazing. Um and then following that in 2024, we advanced to fourth place. Um this past year, we won regionals, and I couldn't be more prouder um of them. For the past two years, they've actually qualified to go to the semifinals, but this year they were able to go straight to the finals. And even though we placed third, we lost second place by
007a tenth of a point. >> Wow. >> It was it was very bittersweet. Um, so I was really, really proud in that. Not only do they give me 110% on the mat, but they also work incredibly hard academically. So, um, they have an unweighted GPA, the team as a whole, um, 3.3. And I wanted to also recognize my assistant coach, uh, Megan Fleming. She's, uh, very creative, very dedicated. She does countless hours of hard work, and she helped bring our routine to life. She does all of our choreography um, for competition. She played a major role in us winning our performance, and we're very thankful for her leadership and her passion. >> By the way, she is the daughter of one of our recent retirees. She is. Uh, looking ahead, I just wanted to brag
008a little more about them. So, I'm really excited for our upcoming season. Um, we just attended summer camp and this is the most we've ever had make all-American and we have six girls that will be attending um, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They're raising money for that. We had six all-ameans this year. Um, and we also have three JV girls that will be performing at the Citrus Bowl. went beyond. >> Some go some went last year, didn't they? >> Carly did, who's here today, and Jocelyn. >> So, we had two make it last year and this year we had six recognized, possibly a seventh. We're waiting on one. So, >> um the program continues to grow and I just couldn't be more prouder of them. So, I just wanted to say a few stats with them because
009they've been working so hard. Can you introduce to her? >> Yes, absolutely. >> I can. So, Madison Parton. Um, she has been with me. I pulled her up in eighth grade for competition and she will be a junior this year. I have Samantha Warman and she is a senior this year. This is her se second year with me. Um, she did competition last year. Um, Ava Shaross, she has been with me for three years as well. I taught her in kindergarten as well. >> Uh Ryan Weaver, she graduated this past year and she is now one of my assistant coaches for JB. >> Um Maline Blevens, she is a senior as well. Um and she has been with me three years. Um Maya Vincent, she is I pulled her up as well in eighth grade
010for competition and she will be a junior this year. Jana O'Shea, my daughter, is a senior this year and she has done cheer with me all four years. Cameron Helm, who is also done, this will be her fourth year with me doing competition and varsity cheer. She is a senior. Lindy Hacker, who is also a senior this year. Um, it I'm losing a lot of seniors, but I can tell you I lose a lot of seniors almost every year. So, we do try to stay large so it doesn't hurt us as much. And my last one is Carly Jantry and she graduated this past year. She is also an all-American and she performed at the Pearl Harbor Parade. >> Awesome. [Applause] >> Are you sure? Yeah. >> Stand. >> Yeah. >> Wait, wait. Stay stay.
011She wants to take a picture. Stay right there. Congratulations. >> Oh boy. >> You know, board members, the these ladies are the athletes of the athletes. I mean, athleticism is their middle name. So congratulations to ladies girls. You know, >> Mr. Chair, I just want to point out that one of them I taught all of her tumbling and everything that since she was a >> I seriously doubt that >> my granddaughter. So I taught her everything, you know, as far as how to be >> all the very well. You were a good teacher. >> This one with red face out there. So >> all right board, uh, any public comment cards? All right. Anybody from the public would like to speak? All right. Seeing none, we will move to the consent agenda. And uh Miss
012Pickkins, we'll start with you. >> I have nothing to pull. >> All right, Mr. Buckles. >> I'm good. >> Miss Skillyard, >> I'm taken care of, sir. Miss >> I don't have anything to pull. >> And I don't have anything either. So, I will take a motion on the the entirety of the consent agenda. >> I offer a motion that we accept the entire consent agenda as written. >> Second. All right, I have a motion and a second. Uh, any discussion, questions? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Post like sign. Motion carries. We will move to uh emergency session. So, I will adjourn the regular meeting. We'll go into the board emergency session to take action on Do we have any items? >> No. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to.
013Go back in regular session. Okay. So, we have no unfinished business. Uh, new business. Um, I believe we covered pretty much in the workshop unless anybody has any >> any lingering questions or comments. Okay, we will uh just take no action on that and we will move to board reports and Miss Wagner, I will start with you. Well, I don't have a lot prepared for today as far as reports, but I will say um our workshop was um informative today and left me with a lot to think about and I look forward to uh additional conversations. And just just as a general comment on being on the school board, I was talking to somebody recently about school boards and the roles and and difficulties and and all of that. And I just want to say
014that there's a lot of there's a lot of public perception with what we do here and some of my comments earlier were related to that. And I just I really think um uh transparency and really helps that because our community really needs to know that we are doing things for our schools and for our children um and for our employees. Uh so um I'm hopeful that some some positive results come out of some of our recent conversations and I'll just leave it at that. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Guriel. Just one thing, um um the $10,000 grant that we received from United Way, the resilience roots program that's helping to enhance what we already do for mental health. It's dealing with youth mental health and the families. And um I did read in the paper
015they are now going to add Putnham to that >> uh St. John's County because they're not the only one supporting it. But I thought that was great to receive the grant there. It was a $15,000 grant, but they got 10,000. So, it's going to help tremendously >> very much. >> And that's it, sir. >> All right, Mr. Buckles. Um just kind of interesting to listen to the uh workshop today and it was a real treat to see all these students from Interlockan High School and how proud we are of not only the ones that have been in the past to Pearl Harbor but the ones that are going again and all you do is pretty neat and Miss Cammy you're you're to be commended for all you do with the children and the young ladies
016uh helping them grow and succeed at Interlockan High School and and you might you might teach Kobe how to how to cheer a little bit, but other than that it's all good. But uh it's just interesting to listen to the workshop today. I I uh I just guess I'm I'm not always uh I shouldn't be shocked after as many years as I've been around education, but um I I thought people really knew what their job descriptions were. But I think the Florida School Board Association needs to maybe communicate better to new board members so they will know uh in the future. And I I guarantee you I will be communicating with them as well. And I uh I anticipate uh probably a negative go with the governor and some of the federal dollars that are
017coming to the state of Florida. So I know the superintendent's trying to come up with strategies to help us get through the year without missing a beat for the kids. And for that I'm very appreciative. But that's it for me. >> Okay, Miss Pickkins. I'd also like to congratulate um your your cheer team. Uh with the improvement you've seen in the last couple of years, I kind of feel like you're going to be back next year with you know first place. >> So I look forward to that. And um and I personally would like to come to a competition if you know if we know it in advance. I think that'd be pretty exciting. So um >> we would love for you to come. >> They do them here. and we also go to so
018we kind of work >> okay good thank you and um I agree that the workshop was extremely um informative today and you know I think it's good that we have workshops so we can discuss things so I thought it was really good um and I also we passed the um code of student conduct um in our consent agenda and I had a good conversation with Miss Drew today. Uh it seems to me from and I I mentioned this to uh Miss Drew that we have at least beefed up the vaping problem that we have the the the conduct um code of conduct makes addresses it specifically and I think it will help our deans uh as far as enforcing you know the penalties. Um, I also, um, discussed the cell phone use, and I think
019we're really going to have to, um, stay on top of that and really support our schools and our principles and especially our teachers because they're the ones that are right right there. Um, and I' I'd like to see that it be very consistent throughout the district as to when the the phone can be used by the high school students. I think that it it shouldn't be at um interlock and they can use it, you know, in the hallways between CLA. No, I think that's against the law. So, um, if it's allowed in one school at lunch, then maybe we can be consistent. That's that's my only suggestion. Although, I wish that we were a pilot um district and we just had no phones. That that would be my wish. So, and >> that may be
020come true next legislative session. >> That's true. That's true. Most of you will be graduated by then, so don't worry about that. Um, and that's all I have. >> Okay. Very good. Um I would just like to say um congratulations to our teachers uh par profofessionals uh school administrators administration everybody involved the school grades and I know Dr. certainly going to talk about a little more but what an outstanding report and that we received uh from the state and you know I think it's even more um tangent from the standpoint of you know our teachers are the across the state are the lowest paid in the nation um which is just unbelievable to me and um and the difficulties that the teachers face in the classroom I mean it's it's very different from when we
021are all in school. And so, you know, I applaud them um for the outstanding work they did. Um the funding from both the legislature and and I don't know, Dr. Cerny, if you're going to talk about um and I think we're going to have a budget workshop coming up sometime soon about the the meeting that we had. Yes. Yes. >> That wasn't on my list to talk about, but feel >> No, no, no. Go ahead. >> I mean, I was not going to talk about, but if you want to. Well, I'd just like to mention um um the superintendent and um our board of counsel and I are we're still trying to get our wrap our hands and minds around um what has occurred with the property appraisers office and our projected revenues and specifically
022um the uh tangible personal property um monies that was paid by Florida Power and Light that were overpaid two years ago. And there was an agreement, non non-written agreement, I guess, with the the property appraiser that he decided that they would take that money out for over the next two years or maybe it was three years. I I I don't really have all the details on the time frame, but um that's going to impact our revenues to the district and even more so what's even uh you know normally uh the the state through their you know our funding from them they make up the difference if we have a drop in in in funding from our our our tax revenues and obviously they don't fund as much if our tax revenues go up like last
023year. Well, um it was pointed out to to the superintendent that what they're going to see is that the revenues, the the actual um assessments and value to the roles has gone up 5%, but we're not going to get that. And so we've got to figure out a way to cross that bridge because it could it could end up costing the district um you know substantial amount of money when we're already facing um you know this federal um issue with our our federal program. So Mr. >> Chair, I am expecting a call anytime from the chief financial officer from the department of education today. >> Okay, good. >> And um I know I was trying to get you and Jonathan on that call. So anyway, I should I I'll update you whenever I get a
024call. very good. Um the phones I agree I I'm adamantly uh supported the the pilot project and I'm hoping that that'll that'll continue on and and again I want to thank uh Miss Whitehurst for the outstanding job that she did. uh the information on the salary survey and everything I think really gives us a blueprint to move forward with making sure that we we do have uh we are competitive with other districts and even the public the uh public sector to a certain degree and um it was very informal for me in informative for me uh and I really appreciate all the hard work she put into it. Um so that's all I have. Mr. Mr. Holmes, do you have anything? All right, Dr. Cerny. >> Yeah. Um, hats off to our cheer team and
025I've actually seen you perform a number of times. So, not that I'm an expert, but you sure look good when you perform. So, but these young ladies that are going to Pearl Harbor, by the way, are raising money. So, if you see something on Facebook or you get anything at all, they are trying to pay their way to get there. So, um, please support them any way you can. I do want to mention about the federal funding and you've been reading this and hearing this on TV and in the news and all that and of course that's going to impact our district and right now I just want to say we are um we've been in contact with the state. We're going to be on a call Thursday with the state about the funding issue.
026right now, just in simplistic terms, we're going to continue on with our hiring teachers and doing everything that we plan to do, and we're we're just waiting for word, but we are prepared to do what we have to do. But we do not want to miss out on the chance to hire great teachers. So, we're not hiring. We're not freezing hiring or laying anybody off. Just want to make sure that, but we will u we'll adjust whenever we get the final word on that. Okay. our district and school grades. I can't say enough about our our like you have already alluded to our um all of our school staff, teachers, aids, administration, district staff that um you know have a part in that as well. And um I just want to say some people say
027hey it was a C and there's only eight C's in the state. You have to look at where this district has come from. Okay, eight years ago we were in the tank and we have continued to improve to the point now we are two points away from a B. So you know just looking at it and saying a C and it's not a B or an A. Look at where we've come and we are on the verge of being you know right there where we you know have made it our goal to be. So I can't be more proud and uh you know we're really in each of those categories we have shown improvement. So, except for two, I think. But anyway, I'm really proud of that. Uh, in the audience today, we had our
028construction managers. You approved the the u the appointment of our construction manager to start on our two newest schools, Kelly Smith and Melrose. So, I know we are very anxious to get started. Our architects have already started work on that. So, hopefully we'll start seeing some dirt flying pretty soon. Speaking of money, we uh I didn't want to say this till the governor signed it because it would jinx it, but the governor signed our the uh foundation's request to fund our flight program for a second year. This year it is $337,000, excuse me, three $337,000 to pay for flight time. And as you know, we have kids already doing solo flights. This will continue our flight program. and um you know it's one of the most unique programs in the entire state. So I'm very
029proud to continue that. We're doing a lot of trainings this summer to tomorrow we have an all day training with our directors and admin and uh district staff and then I think is it 24th Sarah Gene we have >> uh one for all day for uh principles and directors and what we do is we review our strategic plan. We look and see what we've achieved. What are some areas that we need to continue working on? What are some areas that we need to add? So, we do a lot of that, you know, look into that document. It's a living document, but that is really our roadmap for the district. So, we pay a lot of attention to that. And finally, I just want to say, and I say this on behalf of the district, um,
030I've been fortunate enough to be chosen to be on the board of directors for the Florida Association of District School Superintendent. So again, it's going to give our county um a little say so about the direction of our our superintendent superintendents across the state. So I'll keep you informed on that. And actually, we're going to be um I'll be attending a training later this month about that. So just a great opportunity for our district. So that's all I have. >> Okay. Uh any other Yes, ma'am. >> I do have a question. You made reference to a budget conference coming up. >> Budget workshop. >> Workshop. When when did I write I >> we we I don't think we set a date yet. >> We haven't set any dates, but typically we come in the day
031of the 24th that you would approve it and do something before that, >> right? So July 24th. >> July. >> Yeah, July 24th. >> Everybody put that on their calendar. >> Do you have those date? Have we given them the dates of our um >> so right now the final public budget hearing would be September 9th is scheduled. However, I'm I checked with the property appraiser and I was waiting for Susan to check with her. I'm trying to get a change to the 11th because we also have to do the AFR on the 11th. So instead of coming in for one thing right now that would be the 9th maybe. We'll we'll confirm that when Susan gets back. >> And that's July 24th. >> July 24th. >> September 9th. >> Okay. >> And that but
032that would be a 505 on the 24th. Correct. [Music] >> Yeah, I know. But I'm sorry. Both of those are >> 505. You know >> 505, right? That's >> because we don't have a regular meeting to approve that. >> Okay. Regular budget. >> All right. >> And and and hopefully um between the board council and the superintendent and we and I we can hopefully work through this um issue with the property appraiser and and the funding and and make sure that it doesn't, you know, penalize us with our our funding that the state will be our, you know. >> Yeah. And I want to say we we are working diligently on that and especially our board chair has been is working with the county commission chair and we're really trying to get this resolved and
033we're working with the state. So this this is a very powerful issue that we've got to get resolved um as soon as possible. So thank you for all the work you put into that. >> Bet. Thanks. Yeah, very complicated but um you know it's u something that I've never encountered. Anyway, any other comments by the board? Miss Cammy >> discussed >> does will pastor Jason be taking contributions for the trip to Pearl Harbor at his church like he did last year? >> Not sure, but >> check with him. >> He'll put it on Facebook. >> All right. Great idea. >> Okay. Nothing nothing else will stand.