(SOUNDING GAVEL).
>>Cindy Stuart: THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 6th TO ORDER. IF WE COULD PLEASE STAND, MS. HARRIS WILL LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>>Sally Harris: WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH A QUOTE, BY AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR. THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE ARE INTENDED TO MAKE US BETTER, NOT BITTER. AS THIS IS OUR LAST BOARD MEETING BEFORE THE HOLIDAY, I'D LIKE TO ASK US TO REMEMBER OUR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND FOR OUR MILITARY, ACTIVE AND NONACTIVE, DURING THIS TIME AS WE SHARE OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE]
>>Sally Harris: THANK YOU. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. I'D FIRST LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY OUR SIT SEVERS ADVISORY COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES JASMINE RENDRAD FROM SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL. WELCOME. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT JASON SALVATOR AND HIS TEACHER, MR. JOHN PARIS, PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR US THIS AFTERNOON. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JASON, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US WHAT GRADE LEVEL YOU'RE IN AT BLAKE.
>> I'M JASON SALVADOR, BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL. I'M A SENIOR AND I'M IN THE GUITAR PROGRAM. I WAS ALSO FORMER ORGANIZE TRUE MEMBER.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW IT WAS SHORT NOTICE.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, THIS IS NOT IN YOUR AGENDA. I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE OFF SCRIPT HERE AND TAKE LIBERTY AS CHAIR. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TODAY FIRST MS. SALLY HARRIS, WHO LAST WEEK AT OUR ANNUAL CONVENING OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS EARNED HER CERTIFIED FLORIDA BOARD MEMBER CERTIFICATION. WHICH IS A LOT OF HOURS AND A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, MS. HARRIS. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MS. VALDES, WHO WAS HONORED AT THAT SAME LUNCHEON FOR 10 YEARS AS A CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: WITH THAT, I ALSO, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US TODAY OVER THE WEEKEND, SOME OF US WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AN EVENT WITH THIS VERY, VERY FINE STUDENT THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE LIGHTNING INAUGURAL COMMUNITY YOUNG HERO AWARD OF TOMORROW, ACKNOWLEDGES THE WORK OF A STUDENT AGE TO 25, THAT SEVEN FEES A TRUE COMMUNITY HERO OF SERVICE, IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AT LARGE. ON SATURDAY NIGHT, MARY JANE TAYLOR FROM JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL WAS GIVEN A JERSEY AND AWARDED A $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP, 25,000 THAT SHE WILL GET TO KEEP FOR HER OWN COLLEGE-BOUND DREAMS. AND THE OTHER 25 SHE IS DONATING TO A CHARITY OF HER CHOICE. SO WE WERE VERY HONORED TO BE WITH YOU ON SATURDAY NIGHT, MARY JANE, AND ENJOY THAT EXPERIENCE AND CELEBRATE WITH YOU. IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED BY THIS COMMUNITY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE CORTEZ WILEY, WHO IS ALSO A JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. HE WAS NAMED AS WELL BY THE VINIK FAMILY FOUNDATION AS A COMMUNITY HERO, YOUNG AWARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO CORTEZ. I KNOW HE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. HE HAD TO WORK. SO, BUT WE BRING CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD, MS. WHALEY, TO ADDITIONAL YOUNG HERO AWARDS FROM THE RINIC FAMILIAR VINIK FAMILY FOUNDATION. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: BOARD MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS AND I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. HAVE A MOTION BY MS. HARRIS AND A SECOND BY MS. VALDES. IF YOU COULD PLEASE VOTE BY PUSHING YOUR BUTTONS. WHEN WE GET LIGHTS.
>>Cindy Stuart: IT IS UNANIMOUS. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. BOARD MEMBERS, IN YOUR PACKET WE HAD MANY MINUTES FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND TERMINATION HEARINGS. SO THE OCTOBER 27, 2016 TERMINATION HEARING NOVEMBER 11th, TERMINATION HEARING CONTINUATION, NOVEMBER 15th, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP, MORNING SESSION ON POLICIES, THE NOVEMBER 15th NOVEMBER 15th SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP ON DISCIPLINE, THE NOVEMBER IS A SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING, AND THE NOVEMBER 22nd SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION REORGANIZATION MEETING ARE ALL NEEDING APPROVAL. I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. HARRIS AND A SECOND BY MS. VALDES. PLEASE VOTE BY INDICATING.
>> I JUST HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECTED MINUTES HERE AT THE DAIS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CORRECTIONS THAT I SUBMITTED TO STAFF WERE DONE. WHICH WAS IN THE NOVEMBER 15th W THERE WERE TWO CORRECTIONS. ONE WAS THE RACIAL EQUITIY POLICY WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY MYSELF AND OVER IN THE OTHER CORRECTION THERE WAS -- IN ONE OF MY COMMENTS WOULD'VE BEEN COMPLAINT VERSUS COMPLAIN. AND ANOTHER ONE, 24% OF THE TEACHING STAFF AND IT SHOULD BE 74%. SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE TWO WERE CORRECTED.
>> THE BOARD HAS THE ABILITY TO APPROVE THOSE AND WE CAN GO BACK AND MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS. WITH THOSE CHANGES NOTED, YOU CAN APPROVE.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. VALDES, I BELIEVE THOSE CAME VIA EMAIL AND WE DIDN'T GET HARD COPIES.
>>Susan Valdes: THEY WERE E MADE. I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT MY EMAILS.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. GRIFFIN?
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. SO THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED WITH THE NOTATION MS. VALDES BROUGHT FORWARD. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, MEMBER HARRIS WILL READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES.
>>Sally Harris: AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THE BOARD'S AGENDA IS A CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ARE APPROVED UPON MOTION AND VOTE UNLESS AN ITEM IS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. THE AGENDA AND BACKUP DOCUMENTATION ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEB CAST ON CABLE TV AND ON THE VIDEO MONITOR HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT ALSO CAN BE VIEWED WITH THE CLOSED CAPTIONING LATER IN THE VIDEO ARCHIVES. DURING THE MEETING, THERE IS A TABLET AVAILABLE AT THE COMMUNICATIONS DESK THAT CAN BE USED TO VIEW THE LIVE WEB CAST WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE BACK ROOM THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 45 MINUTES ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SPEAKERS WILL BE GRANTED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM OR A TOTAL OF FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS TWO OR MORE AGENDA ITEMS. WHEN TEN OR MORE SPEAKERS WISH TO SPEAK TO THE SAME AGENDA ITEM, SPEAKING TIME WILL BE REDUCED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF THE REMAINDER OF THE SPEAKERS WILL BE HEARD PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. YOUR COMMENTS ARE IMPORTANT. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, THE STAFF WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSE. THE SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD, BUT WE CANNOT TOLERATE BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN EFFECT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. ABOUT BEFORE WE MOVE INTO AUDIENCE COMMENT, IF WE COULD WAIT A FEW MINUTES. BECAUSE OUR REORGANIZATION MEETING HAPPENED OVER THE THANKSGIVING BREAK, AND WE WERE ON A EXTREME SKELETON STAFF HERE FOR THAT REORGANIZATION, WE HAVE ASKED TBAE TO PROVIDE US WITH A SHORT VERSION OF THAT WE ARE GOING TO PLAY NOW SO EVERYONE IN THE AUDITORIUM CAN CELEBRATE WITH OUR NEWLY ELECTED AND APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER. AND THE REELECTED TOO.
>> SUSAN VALDES.
>> I, SUSAN VALDES.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND.
>> THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF THE STATE -- AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
>> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
>> AND THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE.
>> AND THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE.
>> UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.
>> UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.
>> AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES.
>> THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES.
>> AS A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA.
>> AS A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA.
>> ON WHICH I AM NOW ABOUT TO ENTER.
>> WHICH I AM NOW ABOUT TO ENTER.
>> SO HELP ME GOD. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MS. GRIFFIN, I ALONG WITH MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES WISH TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BOARD DURING THIS PAST YEAR AS OUR CHAIRWOMAN. WE PRESENT YOU TODAY WITH A PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT WAS CREATED FROM A PICTURE OF YOU ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL YEAR THIS YEAR AT BAILEY ELEMENTARY. YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY CHILDREN. YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO KEEP STUDENTS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL DECISIONS IS UNWAVERING AND YOU HAVE REPRESENTED US WELL IN THE LAST YEAR AND WE THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PICTURE.
>>Cindy Stuart: I WILL ENTERTAIN AT THIS TIME A MOTION AND A SECOND. FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. VALDES AND A SECOND BY MS. HARRIS. BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOUR LIGHTS COME UP, WILL YOU PLEASE VOTE? AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. CONGRATULATIONS, MS. GRIFFIN. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: AND YOUR GAVEL. I WILL NOW TURN THE GAVEL OVER TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT SO THAT HE CAN RUN OUR REORGANIZATION MEETING.
>>Jeffrey Eakins: AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR. MS. GRIFFIN? GRIFF BRING I NOMINATE CINDY STUART FOR CHAIR.
>>Jeffrey Eakins: ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? MS. STUART, CONGRATULATIONS, MADAM CHAIR. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Jeffrey Eakins: FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR.
>>Melissa Snively: I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE SALLY HARRIS FOR VICE CHAIR.
>>Jeffrey Eakins: ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: SHE BEAT ME TO IT.
>>Jeffrey Eakins: A SECOND FOR MISS HARRIS. NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED. SINCE WE HAVE NO OTHER, OTHER THAN MS. HARRIS, CONGRATULATIONS, MS. HARRIS, MADAM VICE CHAIR. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, PABLO. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS AND THE REELECTED BOARD MEMBERS. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MADAM CHAIR?
>>Cindy Stuart: YES, MA'AM.
>> AND NATIONS TO YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND TO YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL MOVE NOW INTO AUDIENCE COMMENTS. MS. HARRIS, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINE PREPARED BY OUR BOARD ATTORNEY?
>>Sally Harris: THE BOARD VALUES AND APPRECIATES YOUR COMMENTS. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO TELL THE BOARD WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY RAISE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, IT IS THE BOARD'S PRACTICE TO NOTE YOUR COMMENT AND TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT STAFF RESPOND TO YOU AFTER YOUR QUESTION HAS BEEN RESEARCHED. TO THAT END, THE BOARD WILL NOT TYPICALLY RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS.
>>Cindy Stuart: I WILL CALL UP THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS. ZANOBIA KAHN AND SIENNA BOWL. YOU SEARCH HAVE THREE MINUTES. FOLLOWED BY MR. KLUTHO, WHO HAS FIVE MINUTES.
>>Cindy Stuart: WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. MADAM CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT EAKINS AND TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT TODAY. I AM SPEAKING TO AGENDA ITEM 8.08, FOR THE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR ICAN LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER ACADEMY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS VISION STARTED WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL LIVING IN COMPTON, CALIFORNIA, AND WATCHING MY MOTHER WHO FORMED A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED CONCERNED PARENTS ORGANIZATION FOR YOUTH. SHE TOOK INNER CITY CHILDREN AND DID WONDERFUL THINGS WITH THEM. AND FROM THAT, I GATHERED A LOVE TO HELP WHERE I COULD, ADDING AN ACADEMIC COMPONENT, SO THE VISION HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR OVER POSITIVE YEARS. WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND THE RIGHT GROUP OF PEOPLE TO BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE. SO THAT WE COULD DO AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR PARENTS, AND TO BE A GREAT EXTENSION ARM WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO I STAND HERE REPRESENTING ICANN ACADEMIES, OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AS THE CEO AND PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD FOR AFFORDING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO THE VISION THAT MY MOTHER STARTED WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL. SHE IS DECEASED NOW, BUT I KNOW THAT SHE IS LOOKING DOWN AND SHE IS PROUD THAT HER LEGACY IS CONTINUING AND THE WORK THAT SHE DID IN THE COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT A GREAT VISION IS NOTHING ALONE. IT TAKES MANY PEOPLE TO BRING IT TO PASS. SO THERE WERE MANY PARTNERSHIPS, BUT THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAD WAS WITH OUR CHARTER OFFICE. JENNA HODGENS AND HER STAFF TOOK OUR VISION AND ADDED FEET TO IT. IT WAS A LONG PROCESS. IT WAS TOUGH. SHE WAS FAIR. HER STAFF WAS FAIR, THEY WERE FIRM. BUT I KNOW AT THIS POINT WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT THEIR GUIDANCE, WITHOUT HER SUPPORT, WITHOUT HER ENCOURAGEMENT AND THAT OF HER STAFF. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF THE VISION THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS IN THE COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHOICE FOR EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS CAYENNE BOWL AND I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AGENDA ITEM 8.07. I'M A PARENT AT KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS WELL AS THE GOVERNING BOARD CHAIR. I'VE BEEN A PARENT THERE AND A FAMILY MEMBER OF KCC FOR OVER SIX YEARS NOW. AND MY HUSBAND AND I FEEL IT'S BEEN THE BEST DECISION WE HAVE EVER MADE IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE THE KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL APPLICATION. KIDS CAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THEIR MISSION AND VISION HAS BEEN ABOUT THE DEDICATED WELL-BEING AND EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD. AND WE HAVE PROVEN THAT OVER THE YEARS. AND WE CONTINUE TO PROVE THAT. AND I LOVE TO SEE KCC GROW. OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IN RIVERVIEW ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE KCC CONTINUE TO GROW. SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND PLEASE HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE THE APPLICATION. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MR. KLUTHO? YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
>> MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. NUMBER 1204, KNOW TO THIS LAWYER AS I SAID THE FIRST TIME. ABSOLUTELY NO. 6.20, ELEMENTARY C. YEAH, ANOTHER SICK SCHOOL. 701. COOLING TOWER. WONDERFUL. AND 703, YOU HAVE THIS MECHANICAL ENGINEER AC ENERGY MANAGEMENT GUY. HMM. AND YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE REORGANIZATION AND REDIRECTION FOR THE OPERATIONS DIVISION AND PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR JOB DESCRIPTION. OH, I'M SURE THAT WILL FIX EVERYTHING. NOT. HERE, THE WRONG WAY TO FIX SCHOOLS. THIS IS A COLUMN ABOUT DETROIT AND BETSY DEVOS, THE NEW EDUCATION SECRETARY. HER PLAN TO DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION. ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY? AND YOU MENTIONED VINIK. OH, YEAH. HERE'S WHAT'S COMING. HE KILLED VAST STRETCH OF CORAL OFF OF AUSTRALIA. AND HALF OF THE RISE AND FIRE RISK IS TIED TO CLIMATE SHIFT. ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL? 60,000 WILDFIRES BURNING. CONCERNS RISE WITH SEA. EXPERTS SAY THE PAIN OF WATERFRONT REAL ESTATE MARKET COLLAPSE WOULD BE WIDESPREAD. THAT'S YOUR VINIK HERO. YEAH. AND THE IDIOTS AT USF ARE GOING TO MOVE DOWN OFF THE WATER AND STAY WHERE IT'S HIGH AND DRY UP THERE WHERE THEY ARE NOW. AND YOU WANT TO GO WITH THESE PEOPLE? HOW STUPID IS THAT? AND THEN HERE IS THIS ARTICLE, TAKING THE LONG VIEW. SHOPPING FOR A HOME IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. WELL, SEE, THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, MAY 29th, 1998. THE SEMINAR BROUGHT BILL BROWNING, THE AUTHOR OF PRIMER ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING. YOUR GUY IN CHARGE OF BUILDING SCHOOLS SAID WE'LL DO THEM DIFFERENTLY. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IS, MAYBE SO MUCH CARBON WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BELCHED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. BUT WHAT HAPPENED? YOU DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT. YOU KEPT MAKING STUPID BUILDINGS. ON THE ORDER OF OVER FOUR BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STUPID DUMB BUILDINGS. NOW WHAT ARE WE HEAR? THE OCEANS ARE RISING, THE CORAL IS DYING. WE HAVE WILDFIRES. THE FUTURE IS NOT BRIGHT FOR THESE LITTLE CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE. YOU WANT TO ACT LIKE EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY. NO, IT WON'T BE. NOT HARDLY. AND THEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT NOW THAT SAYS GLOBAL WARMING IS A HOAX. WELL, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE SURPRISED. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY. AND YOU JUST KEEP IGNORING SCIENCE. MAKING THE STUPID BUILDINGS. YOU JUST CAN'T GET THAT WORD. IT'S CORRELATION. YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE JAILED.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MR. KLUTHO. COREY WHITAKER. DR. CHRISTINE GO AND SUSAN LEGG. WELCOME, MR. WHITAKER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT, I'M COREY WHITAKER WITH LIGHT HOUSE ACADEMIES AND I FLIES SUPPORT OF 8.08 THE APPROVAL OF I CAN LIGHT HOUSE ACADEMY. I'M COMMITTED TO BE I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AS THE BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMISSION US TO GO FORWARD AND ACCOMPLISH THE VISION THAT DR. ZANOBIA KAHN RECENTLY SPOKE ABOUT. ONE OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT TO LIGHT HOUSE ACADEMIES IS WORKING WITH THE RIGHT PARTNERS. WE BELIEVE WE FOUND THAT WITH THE ICANN BOARD AND HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE CHARTER OFFICE BECAUSE WE DO WORK WITH CHARTER AUTHORIZERS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF SPACE. AND YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE. JENNA AND AMY AND ARE TOPNOTCHED. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS. VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE COLLEGIALITY, AND THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT THAT THEY PROVIDED AS WELL. AS WE WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO, MAJOR COULDIOSIOS TO KUDOS T THE CHARTER OFFICE. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD WITH WORKING WITH THE HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS. WE DO BELIEVE THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER FOR THE SAME PURPOSE, TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN. SO THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE ATTENDING ICAN LIGHTHOUSE ARE YOUR CHILDREN AS WELL. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN SUPPORT YOU GOING FORWARD AND PLACES IN THE DISTRICT WHERE YOU MIGHT NEED SUPPORT, PLACE IN THE DISTRICT WHERE YOU MIGHT NEED HELP, WE HAVE AN OPEN DOOR, OPEN DOOR POLICY AT LIGHT HOUSE. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE START OF OUR RELATIONSHIP AND CONTINUING TO WORK WELL, TO DO THE BEST FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE CAN HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. DR. KRISTIN NGO. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ITEM 8.06. THE COLLABORATORY CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH IS A HIGH PERFORMING REPLICATION. WE WORKED WITH THE FOUNDING GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONSULTING PURPLE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I'LL SAY THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH LOTS OF DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I FEMALE LIKE I'M SAYING THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE SAID, BUT THEY'RE REALLY TRUE STATEMENTS. WE CAME TO THE CHARTER APPLICANT TRAINING SESSION HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND TWO OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WERE THERE. NOT AT THE SAME TIME BUT THEY WERE THERE. AND THAT REALLY SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A COLLABORATIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT FROM THE BEGINNING. AND SO IT WAS SUCH A POSITIVE MESSAGE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOT BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE THERE AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHARTER APPLICATIONS AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE WERE LAID OUT FROM THE BEGINNING. I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN IT WAS A VERY RIGOROUS BUT TRANSPARENT SORT OF PROCESS. A LOT OF TIMES YOU WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND IT'S A GOTCHA TYPE OF THING. BUT THIS WAS NOT THAT CASE AT ALL. I KNOW HOW THE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS ARE LONG AND THEY'RE VERY DETAILED AND DIFFICULT. AND IT TAKES A LOT OF STAFF TO REVIEW THEM. I COMMEND THE CHARTER OFFICE AS WELL AS THE OTHER DISTRICT STAFF WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ THEM AND UNDERSTAND AND ASK DETAILED QUESTIONS WHEN WE CAME TO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. SO WE TOO ARE EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN THE COMING YEARS. AND I THINK TAKING A REPLICATION LIKE DAY SPRING AND PUTTING IT IN THIS HILLSBOROUGH AND WORKING WITH THE UP DOCTOR OF STUDENTS WHO NEED SOMETHING LIKE THAT THE MOST IS TRULY EXCITING. AND I THINK WILL BENEFIT THE STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SUSAN LEGG?
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SUSAN LEGG, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE COLLABORATORY CHARTER SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN WITH DAY SPRING ACADEMY IN PASCO COUNTY, WHICH IS THE REPLICATION FOR THE COLLABORATORY. I'VE BEEN WITH DAY SPRING SINCE, FOR 17 YEARS. AND WE HAVE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON HIGH ACADEMICS, THE ARTS AND CHARACTER. AND WE HOPE TO BRING THAT TO THE CHILDREN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION AND THE CHARTER SCHOOL OFFICE HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH. IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING THAT THEY CAME OUT TO OUR SCHOOL TO GET A TOUR, TO TALK TO THE FOLKS AT DAY SPRING. SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MATCHES UP WITH THE VISION OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND WELCOME THEM TO COME OUT TO OUR SCHOOL AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WELCOMING US AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, WE WOULD, THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THEM AND WORK ALONGSIDE OF YOU. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE MARTHA KABIERO. VANNICA GUTHRIE. AND MICHAEL KA SADDA. WELCOME. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, CHARTER OFFICE, PARENTS AND STUDENTS. MARTHA KABIERO, PRINCIPAL OF KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHARTER SCHOOL. SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM 8.07. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST FAMILY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF OUR KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY PROCESS. I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL. IT HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOU, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW. THE LONG DAYS AND NIGHTS WORKING AUTHORIZED GOAL ARE FINALLY A REALITY. THE SAME GRATITUDE GOES TO THOSE IN THE CHARTER OFFICE. MS. SARGENT AND HER TEAM. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AWAY FROM OTHER IMPORTANT TASKS SO THAT WE COULD MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY. TO MY SCHOOL BOARD AND THE STAFF, PLEASE PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK. YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT A HARD WORKING AND DEDICATED TEAM SHOULD BE BY COMING DAY AFTER DAY. AND AS PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD. AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WITHOUT YOUR SHARE, PRIDE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WE SIMPLY COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS GREAT NATION. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU HAVE INVESTED TO UNDERSTAND OUR VISION. I THANK YOU FOR TAKING ALL OF OUR NEEDS INTO CONSIDERATION. BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION AT KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DEDICATED TO THE WELL-BEING OF EDUCATION AND SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD. WE ARE EXCITED TO GROW OUR IB PROGRAM AND EXPAND OUR VISION TO FOSTER INTERNATIONAL MINDED LIFE LONG LEARNERS WHO WILL HELP SHAPE OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE WELL-BEING AND EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD. I'M SPEAKING TO AGENDA ITEM 8.07. FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP OVER THE YEARS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL OUR MISSION. I WANT TO SHARE A FEW QUICK HIGHLIGHTS. KCC NOW SERVES 960 STUDENTS IN THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE A CHARTER OF CHOICE IN THIS COMMUNITY. KCC SOUTHEAST IS THE ONLY APPROVED INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE IN THE COUNTY. KCC RECENTLY RECEIVED COMMENDATION FROM GOVERNOR SCOTT FOR RANKING IN THE TOP 10% OF SCHOOLS IN LA ACHIEVEMENT. BEFORE I LEAVE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A QUICK STORY WITH YOU ABOUT KALEY AND HER MOTHER'S OWN WORDS. KALEY BEGAN HER KCC JOURNEY IN KINDERGARTEN. AT FIRST HER FAMILY INTENDED TO MOVE BACK TO VIRGINIA TO BEGIN HER EDUCATION. BUT AFTER LEARNING ABOUT KCC AND THE IB PROGRAM THEY PLANTED ROOTS HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH. RIGHT FROM THE START, WE KNEW WE WERE HOME AND RIGHT WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE. THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEACHERS CULTIVATED A PERSONAL, CARING AND ACADEMICALLY RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THEY TOOK THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW KALEY, WHICH MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN SHE BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE READING. THE SCHOOL TOOK QUICK ACTION, KALEY WAS PROVIDED THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO SUCCEED. WE WERE AIDED IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO THE ROOT OF HER CHALLENGES. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DYSLEXIA. TODAY SHE IS THRIVING IN FOURTH GRADE. SHE WAS NEVER MADE TO FEEL DIFFERENT AND ISOLATED. SHE WAS EMBRACED AND CELEBRATED. THIS IS THE KCC WAY. KCC IS MORE THAN A SCHOOL TO US. IT'S A FAMILY. KALEY AND HER MOM ARE HERE TODAY WITH US. THEY'RE RIGHT BACK THERE. WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO PLEASE VOTE YES FOR THE APPROVAL OF KCC'S APPLICATION SO IT MAY CONTINUE THIS GREAT WORK FOR CHILDREN LIKE KALEY HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH. THANK YOU NO THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE INTO OUR NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS, SINCE THESE ARE AUDIENCE COMMENTS AND NOT SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT AGENDA ITEMS, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR OUR ATTORNEY TO BRIEF US ON STATEMENTS THAT COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SEVERAL SPEAKERS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO WHAT THEY ARE CALLING SAFETY ISSUES OF BEVIS ELEMENTARY. I'D ADVICE THE BOARD AND THE AUDIENCE THERE'S A DUE PROCESS PROCEEDING ONGOING. IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS BOARD TO DISCUSS THAT TONIGHT AND I'D ASK THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO NOT NAME ANY STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THERE IS AN ONGOING DUE PROCESS HAPPENING. SO I WOULD JUST ADVISE BOTH THE AUDIENCE AND THE BOARD TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND TO GUIDE YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. MR. KASEDA. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD. I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING. MY SON IS A THIRD GRADER AT BEVIS ELEMENTARY AND WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE A PATTERN OF SAFETY CONCERNS AND EDUCATIONAL DISRUPTIONS THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. MOST ACUTELY THE THIRD GRADE. WE NEED YOU TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE IMBALANCE OF TIME AND RESOURCE THAT IS TAKEN FROM STUDENTS AS A RESULT OF UNCONTROLLABLE BEHAVIORAL OUTBURSTS WHICH HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY VIOLENT. ALREADY INJURING ONE STAFF MEMBER. MORE PRECISELY, WE NEED YOU TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SOMETHING BEFORE A STUDENT OR ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER IS HURT. SOMETHING THAT WILL MEASURABLY IMPROVE OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND SAFETY. SOMETHING BEYOND SAYING IT'S A PRIVATE ISSUE AND YOU'RE WORKING ON IT. I NEED YOU TO DO SOMETHING SO THAT NONE OF THE 150 THIRD GRADERS HAVE TO EVACUATE THEIR CLASSROOM BEYOND THE 17 EVACUATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE THIS YEAR. CAUSED BY VIOLENT AND UNCONTROLLABLE BEHAVIOR. WE NEED YOU TO CONSIDER ALL 866 CHILDREN AT BEVIS WHO HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY EPISODES, EVEN BEYOND OUTSIDE -- OR EVEN BEYOND THIS YEAR'S 17 CLASSROOM EVACUATIONS. LIKE A QUOTE, 7 POINT LOCK DOWN WHILE A CHILD EVADED TEACHERS AND CLIMBED OUT ON A ROOF. PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN A CHILD BUILT A SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER, DRAWING BLOOD AND THEN BIT THROUGH A PUNCHING BAG AT THE NATIONAL TEACH-IN. HAVING ENTIRE CLASSES TAKE STANDARDIZED TESTS ON CLASSROOM -- LUNCHROOM STAGES WHILE AN UNCONTROLLABLE CHILD IS SECLUDED BY FIVE OR SIX TEACHERS IN THE SAME CLASSROOM WHERE TESTING WAS SCHEDULED IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. HOW YOU HAVE NOT MADE A CHANGE IS BEYOND MANY OF US. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO START DOING SOMETHING TODAY. DO SOMETHING THAT WILL REASSURE 96 ESE PARENTS THAT TEACHERS ALLOCATED FOR ALL EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE STRIPPED AWAY TO HANDLE A SINGLE CHILD NEITHER THEY NOR THE SCHOOL ARE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE SAFELY. DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILD RECEIVES THE SPECIALIZED ATTENTION THEY NEED AND THEY DESERVE FOR THEIR WELL-BEING AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT. OF DO SOMETHING TO DEMONSTRATE YOU'RE RAY BIDING BY THE STATE AND COUNTY ZERO TOLERANCE FOR BULLYING AND HARASSMENT. WHICH INCLUDES IN ITS DEFINITION PLACING A TONIGHT OR EMPLOYEE IN FEAR OF HARM OR FEAR OF DAMAGED PERSONAL PROPERTY, INTERFERING WITH A STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OR OPPORTUNITIES OR DISRUPTING THE ORDERLY OPERATION OF A SCHOOL. DO SOMETHING IS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL ALSO WE VOTED IN AND WE CAN VOTE OUT. DO SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THE PARENTS ARE UNITING AND WE WILL DO SOMETHING. WE WILL FILE COMPLAINTS. WE WILL SEND CELL PHONES TO CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH CHILDREN SO THEY CAN CALL FOR HELP WHEN THEY FEEL THEY ARE IN HARM. WE WILL CAMPAIGN FOR BOARD CHANGES AND WHEN THE TIME COMES, WE MAY ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF PUBLIC ADVOCATES LIKE MICHAEL BAR FIELD AND JOEL CHAPLER TO ASSIST US. I HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTH TO COMPILE ACCURATE INFORMATION. UNFORTUNATELY I'VE FOUND MOST OF YOU TO BE IN LOCKDOWN AND EVACUATED YOURSELF. NOT THE PHYSICAL LOCKDOWN LIKE OUR CHILDREN EXPERIENCED BUT LOCKDOWN OF INFORMATION AND ABSENT FROM THE VERY FEW MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD ON THIS TOPIC. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING --
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PAULETTE ALESNIK AND ALYSA SILVA. WELCOME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ABOUT A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. MY NAME IS PAULETTE ALESNIK AND I MANAGE THE MOBILE COMPONENT OF PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. I HOPE AT THE END OF THIS SPEECH YOU'LL REMEMBER WHO WE ARE AND YOU WILL HELP US. YES? GOOD. LET ME, ALLOW ME JUST TO SHARE A BACK STORY OF THE PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. 16 YEARS AGO, THE UNIVERSITY AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, LAUNCHED RIGHT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THEY LAUNCHED A RESEARCH BASE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR GRADES ONE THROUGH 12. AND AT THE TIME, A PROGRAM FROM 2000 TO 2015, THE PROGRAM WAS FULLY FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE UNIVERSITY. WE ARE CURRENTLY FULLY FUNDED UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEO. OUR GOALS IS TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE FOLLOWING. THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR THAT AFFECT DELINQUENCY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION SKILLS. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TO AVOID SCHOOL DROPOUTS. AND I'M SURE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF YOU, YES? EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND CAREER OPTIONS. FAMILY AND, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO AID A STUDENT IN THE SUCCESS OF THEIR SCHOOLING. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO REALLY ASK YOU, WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE BELIEVE THAT PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM AND EVERY STUDENT AT PRODIGY NEEDS A HIGH FIVE. HERE ARE THE FIVE COMPONENT WE FEEL IS SO IMPORTANTLY FOR YOU TO KNOW ABOUT PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. 3,400 STUDENTS WENT THROUGH OUR PROGRAM LAST YEAR. THAT WERE KEPT OFF THE STREET, THAT WERE KEPT SAFE AFTER SCHOOL. OF THOSE STUDENTS, 16, OVER 16,000 HOURS OF LIFE SKILLS WAS POURED INTO THEM. 98% OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM DID NOT GET IN TROUBLE WHILE ENROLLED INTO OUR PROGRAM. I THINK THAT'S AMAZING. IS HUNDRED PERCENT OF 100% OF THEM ACHIEVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. AND WAY THINK IS SO IMPORTANT, SO KEY IS THAT BEING ENROLLED IN PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM SAVED THE JUVENILE SYSTEM $160 MILLION, BY ALLOWING THEM, PREVENTING THEM TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM. SO WHAT AM I ASKING OF YOU? WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BRING US BEFORE YOUR LEGISLATORS, ADD US TO YOUR INNUENDO, SHARE THE VALUE OF OUR PROGRAM, HELP US RECEIVE NEW RESOURCES AND NEW FUNDING, OR POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. OR COME AND VISIT ONE OF OUR SITES SO YOU CAN SEE THE POWER OF PRODIGY. BECAUSE IT IS POWERFUL. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION AND I HOPE YOU REMEMBER PRODIGY CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. SILVA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. LISA SILVA. I'M THE HILLSBOROUGH MPO STAFF, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE LIAISON TO THE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH YOUR STAFF TO HELP DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THE COURTESY BUSING. WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE AN INFORMATION RESOURCE TO BRING TOGETHER ALL THE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. LOTS OF THE SAFETY EDUCATION. WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT GETTING STUDENTS TO AND FROM THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY. SO, JUST WANT TO EXPRESS AND APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP AND KEEP USING US TO DEAL WITH THOSE CHALLENGES AS YOU GO FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS, BOARD MEMBERS. TREY TRAVISSA. AND EDDIE ADAMS. WELCOME, REPRESENTATIVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
>>Cindy Stuart: I'M GETTING THE SCOOP UP HERE.
>> OKAY, GOOD. YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THIS IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE. I THINK I'LL BE A LITTLE REDUNDANT BUT TRY NOT TO BE TOO REDUN SANTA. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE COLLABORATORY SCHOOL CHARTER APPLICATION. I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE. I'M THE FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THAT SCHOOL AND WE HAVE WORKED HARD FOR THREE YEARS TO CONCEIVE OF AND PUT IN PLACE A PLAN NOW REFLECTED IN IN OUR APPLICATION TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE IS VERY SPECIAL FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. RECRUITING AN ORGANIZATION LIKE DAY SPRING ACADEMY WITH THEIR TRACK RECORD FROM PASCO COUNTY, FANTASTIC PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THAT ORGANIZATION. TO DO SOMETHING HERE IN OUR COUNTY I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE ARE ADDRESSING OR ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT WE THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY REAL AND THAT WE SHOULD ALL KIND OF JOIN HANDS AND FOCUS ON. AND THAT IS AS WE GO FORWARD, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS AROUND STEM, I'M SURE YOU'VE READ THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE READ. THAT THE JOBS IN THE FUTURE WILL BE THERE. WE HAVE SOME GAPS IN TERMS OF HOW THE STUDENTS OF TODAY ARE LEARNING THAT. AND SO, OVER THIS THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME WE TRIED TO THINK THROUGH WHAT COULD WE DO TO BE HELPFUL, TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY IN IMPORTANT WAY AND HOW DO WE MARSHAL THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT IN A SUCCESSFUL WAY? WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR APPLICATION IS THAT. IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE REPLY REWARDING PROCESS. YOUR PROCESS IS APPROPRIATELY DIFFICULT PROCESS. THERE IS A BARRIER TO ENTRY TO WHAT WE HAVE PUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND THERE SHOULD BE. I'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED WITH THE RIGOR OF THE PRO HE IS IS, THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THE GUY SAYS WE HAVE GOTTEN AND WE ASK F APPROVAL OF OUR APPLICATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PRODUCTIVE PARTNERS WITH YOU IN EVERYTHING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO FOR STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MR. ADAMS? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EADY ADAMS JUNIOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED. GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE. I COME TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT A PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE AND DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. AS IT STANDS, I AM, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A WAITING REQUIREMENT BEFORE YOU AWARD SCHOOLS TO PAST BOARD MEMBERS. SO THERE'S NO TIME PERIOD. THEY QUALIFY, I GUESS, AS THEY ACTUALLY SITTING ON THE BOARD. I WANT TO CONSIDER AND THE TIME PERIOD TO ME IS NOT IMPORTANT. FIVE YEARS, TWO YEARS, 10 YEARS. A WAITING PERIOD FROM THE TIME A PERSON IS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD BEFORE THEY CAN HAVE A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THEM BECAUSE THE WAY I SEE IT, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SEE IT, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A HALL OF FAME LEGACY AWARD FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY HAVE MADE OVER A LIFETIME. AND FOR A REGULAR CITIZEN TO BE CONSIDERED, IT APPEARS, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT APPEARANCES, THAT A PERSON THAT'S SAT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS AN ADVANTAGE OVER A PERSON THAT'S JUST A GREAT CITIZEN. AND TO EQUALIZE THE PROCESS SO THAT THE CONSIDERATIONS WOULD BE THE SAME AS OPPOSED TO, AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. YOU HAVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS STEP DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY GET A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THEM. SO IT'S NOT, OR IT SHOULD NOT BE AUTOMATIC. SO THERE SHOULD BE A CONSIDERATION, AND I WANT THERE TO BE A TIME CONSIDERATION SO THAT SITTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS GET A CHANCE TO CONSIDER AND PUT EXSCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN THE SAME LIGHT, IN THE SAME CONSIDERATION AS CITIZENS THAT'S COMING UP FOR THE NAMING OF THE SCHOOLS. BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO ALSO CONSIDER THE PROCESS. MANY OF YOU WHO SELECT THOSE FOLKS HAVE CURRENTLY, HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE BOARD, WORKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE, FORMING A RELATIONSHIP, HAVING A FEELING, GOOD OR BAD, ABOUT THEM WHERE A PERSON THAT'S A GENERAL CITIZEN APPLIES TO YOU, GIVE YOU INFORMATION, AND THEN YOU CONSIDER THAT INFORMATION AND THEY COULD'VE BEEN A TOTAL STRANGER. THEY COULD'VE BEEN EQUALLY AS QUALIFIED BUT YOU NOW HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PAST SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER MAKING SOME KIND OF TIME REQUIREMENT FOR A SCHOOL BOARD, EXSCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE NAMING OF A SCHOOL. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MR. ADAMS.
>> ONE MORE THING. ALSO, I AM WORKING ON SOMETHING, JEFF, AND AS YOU UNDERSTAND, GETTING STATE LEGISLATORS TOGETHER AT THIS TIME IS WORSE THAN HERDING CATS. SO I'M STILL ON IT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. THAT CONCLUDES OUR AUDIENCE COMMENTS FOR TODAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION A OF THE AGENDA. AND WE HAVE THE ADOPTION OF A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL INCLUSIVE SCHOOL WEEK. MS. KIMBERLY WORKMAN IS GOING TO COME FORWARD AND PRESENT THAT PROCLAMATION. SHE IS THE GENERAL DIRECTOR OF EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION AND DENISE FRIENDS, THE DISTRICT RESOURCE TEACHER FOR THE FLORIDA INCLUSION NETWORK FACILITATOR. WELCOME, LADIES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT EAKINS. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS WEEK IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER. IT'S A TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS THIS IN MOVING OUR SCHOOLS FORWARD TO BECOMING MORE INCLUSIVE. AND ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. THIS TIME WE ARE CELEBRATING SEVERAL SCHOOLS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT ARE MOVING OUR JOURNEY FORWARD TO PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR DIFFERENCES. AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE VIDEO THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SHOWING, REGARDLESS OF HOW CHALLENGING THIS WORK IS AND OFTEN IMPORTANT WORK IS CHALLENGING WORK, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT IS ALSO VERY REWARDING. MS. FRIENDS, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE PROCLAMATION?
>> WHEREAS, INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES PROMOTE RESPECT, ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING FOR ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. WHEREAS, THE EDUCATORS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZE THAT EACH CHILD IS UNIQUE AND LEARNS IN DIVERSE WAYS, WHEREAS THE TEACHERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES, AND WHEREAS THE TEACHERS, PARENT, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MERIT CELEBRATING INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON FURTHER IMPROVEMENT, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 5-9, 2016, AS NATIONAL INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WEEK. ADOPTED THIS SIXTH DAY OF DECEMBER 2016. PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS TOWARD INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES FOR A DIVERSE POPULATION OF STUDENTS. FURTHER, INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WEEK OFFERS A FORUM OF DISCUSSION TO IDENTIFY FURS EFFORTS TOWARDS INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. IF WE COULD HAVE THE VIDEO, PLEASE. ∫ [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, THE INCLUSIVE EFFORTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. BY LETTING YOU KNOW THAT LAST YEAR, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMPLETED A LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED PROCESS CALLED THE BEST PRACTICES FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION ASSESSMENT. IT WAS A PRETTY LENGTHY PROCESS AND IT WAS GRUELING DISTRICT-WIDE AND EACH SCHOOL WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS. BURNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL AS YOU SAW IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE VIDEO EMBRACED THIS TASK WITH RIGOR AND OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP. THEIR TEAM WAS LED BY LASHANDRA HOWARD, WHO IS THEIR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR CURRICULUM. AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY IDENTIFIED PRIORITY GOALS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND THEN THEY CREATED AN ACTION PLAN TO, THAT IS LEADING TO SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL. THIS ACTION PLAN INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ALL TEACHERS AND ALL STUDENTS. BURNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL STANDS AS A FLAGSHIP EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATIVE WORK AND CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BEST INCLUSIVE PRACTICES. I WOULD LIKE TO THE BOARD TO RECOGNIZE MR. DON'TY JONES, THE PRINCIPAL WHO LED THIS EFFORT AT BURNETT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION. MOTION BY MS. VALDES AND SECOND BY MS. HARRIS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE BY PRESSING YOUR BUTTONS. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, LADIES, FOR BEING HERE. AT THIS TIME, BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT.
>>Jeffrey Eakins: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. STUART ON THANK YOU MR. JONES FOR WHAT YOU DO IT AT BURNETT. AS WE WATCHED THAT VIDEO, I THINK THAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THIS DISTRICT IN ALL SCHOOLS. INCLUSIVE PRACTICES AND INCLUSION, THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR ALL KIDS. AND JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL IS THE HIGH SCHOOL BEING REPRESENTED THERE A LOT IN THAT VIDEO. SO BOARD MEMBERS, TWO ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED, APPROPRIATE SCREENINGS WERE HELD AND INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF STUDENT STAFF AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WERE CONDUCTED. THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD WAS FOLLOWED. IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT RICHARD LENO, CURRENTLY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLIANCE TO GENERAL MANAGER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WITH EFFECTIVE DATE OF JANUARY 2nd, 2017. MR. LENO BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A COMPUTER PROGRAMMER FOR INFORMATION SERVICES IN 1983. IN 1985 HE SERVED AS THE SENIOR COMPUTER PROGRAM AND BECAME THE PROGRAMMER ANALYST IN 1989. IN 1997 HE SERVED AS SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES ANALYST. FROM 2000 THROUGH 2013 HE WAS APPOINTED AS DATA CENTER MANAGER AND IN 2014, RICK WAS APPOINTED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL MANAGER OF INFORMATION OF TECHNOLOGY CHIEF OF STAFF. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. HARRIS AND A SECOND BY MS. GRIFFIN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE WHEN THE LIGHTS COME UP. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS WITH MS. VALDES IN THE BACK. MR. LENO, CONGRATULATIONS. PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT ARE WITH YOU TODAY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: CONGRATULATIONS. MR. SUPERINTENDENT?
>>Jeffrey Eakins: I THINK THE WHOLE I.T. DEPARTMENT WAS THERE. THINK YOU GOT SOME SUPPORT OUT THERE IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT DERRICK McLOUGHLIN, CURRENTLY THE PRINCIPAL SUMMERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TO THE PRINCIPAL OF ELEMENTARY C WITH EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 6, 2017. MR. McLOUGHLIN BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2002 AS A TEACHER AT MINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FROM 2003 THROUGH 2006 HE TAUGHT AT TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BRYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. IN 2007 HE WAS APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION FOR SUMMERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN 2012, DERRICK WAS APPOINTED AS PRINCIPAL FOR SUMMERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF ELEMENTARY C. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MS. GRIFFIN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE WHEN THE LIGHTS COME UP. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS WITH MS. VALDES IN THE BACK. MR. McLOUGHLIN, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR SUMMERFIELD FAMILY IS BACK THERE CHEERING YOU ON. WE HOPE TO NAME YOUR SCHOOL SOON, MR. McLOUGHLIN. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE FINISHED WITH THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR THOSE APPOINTMENTS, IF YOU WISH TO LEAVE AND GO CELEBRATE, YOU MAY LEAVE THE AUDITORIUM AT THIS TIME. BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION C, APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT REQUIRING APPROVAL. I'M GOING TO ASK BOARD MEMBERS IF YOU COULD PAY ATTENTION AS I READ THE LIST BECAUSE I KEEP GETTING NOTES FROM YOU THAT WE ARE MISSING ITEMS. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING THAT YOU DO NOT HEAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION IN A SEPARATE VOTE, ITEM C 101. C 301 C 401. C 407. C 607, C 611. C 614. C 618, C 619. C 621. C 705. C 708. C 806. C 807 EVERYTHING C 808. C IS THE 03. C 1204 AND C 1205. IS THERE ANYTHING MISSING? MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: I'M TRYING TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER WITH WHAT WE HAVE UP HERE AND WHAT I ASKED TO BE PULLED. I HAVE 604, 605 AND 606. AND THEN 701, 703, AND 704. AND ON 604 AND 605 -- I'M SORRY, 605 AND 606, I WANTED THOSE TOGETHER AS JUST A BRIEF HIGHLIGHT. OF THE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS TO APPROVE THE, THE EVALUATION OF IT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE JUST A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR WHAT WE'RE EVALUATING. SO A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT. AND THEN 701, 703, AND 704. AND THEN I BELIEVE 708 IS ON HERE. AND 705 I HAD PULLED. MY NAME'S ON THAT ONE. AND THEN THAT'S IT. AND I DID PULL THE ONES FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AS A CONVERSATION AND HIGHLIGHT.
>>Cindy Stuart: SO WE HAVE MOVED THOSE UP TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS. SO LAURIE, IF WE CAN JUST VERIFY WITH STAFF, IF SOMEONE CAN VERIFY WITH STAFF THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE TO SPEAK TO THESE AGENDA ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST SINCE THEY WERE NOT ON THE ORIGINAL LIST. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PULL THESE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. GRIFFIN AND A SECOND BY MS. HARRIS. PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE, BOARD MEMBERS, BY PUSHING YOUR BUTTONS.
>> OH, AND 1205.
>> IT'S ON THERE.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S UNANIMOUS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN MOVED UP ON THE AGENDA TO ACCOMMODATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY. THESE ITEMS WILL BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY. ITEM 8.06 IS THE APPROVE THE APPLICATION OF THE COLLABORATORY. MS. JENNA HODGENS, SUPERVISOR OF CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE THIS ITEM FOR US.
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st. AND WE DO ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. ANY TIME THAT AN APPLICANT CALLS AND WANTS HELP, WE TRY TO BE THERE TO HELP THEM. WE DO HAVE A FORMAL MEETING FOR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS IN APRIL. AND I DO BELIEVE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SPOKE TO TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS CAME BY THAT MEETING AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. THEY DON'T STAY THE WHOLE TIME BUT THEY COME BY AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLS AND ALSO THEIR WANT FOR THE SCHOOLS TO BE VERY, VERY HIGH PERFORMING AND GREAT FOR STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT. WE ALSO TALK WITH THEM AT THAT MEETING ABOUT STRUGGLES THAT OTHER APPLICANTS HAVE HAD, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE APPLICATION THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO USE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR DISTRICT. DISTRICT STAFF, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND ALSO OFFER THEM ANY OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THEY MAY NEED AT THAT TIME. AFTER THAT MEETING IS OVER, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A DRAFT APPLICATION ON MAY 1st. WITH A $500 FEE AND THEY GET INFORMATION BACK FROM US RELATED TO THE MATERIALS DEFICIENCY MATE AFTER WE RECEIVED THE APPLICATIONS ON AUGUST 1st, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY THOROUGH PROCESS. THE FIRST PIECE OF OUR PROCESS IS A PRESENTATION BY THE ACTUAL APPLICANTS. THAT IS NOT REQUIRED IN STATUTE BUT WE FOUND IT TO BE A WAY FOR THEM TO MEET THE REVIEW TEAM AND THE REVIEW TEAM TO MEET THEM AND IT USE, I FEEL LIKE IT MAKES FOR A GOOD START. WE DO IT ON WEEK ONE AND FROM THERE WE GET ROLLING. AFTER THAT PRESENTATION IS COMPLETED, EACH REVIEW TEAM MEMBER TAKES THE APPLICATIONS HOME. THEY READ THEM ON THEIR OWN TIME. AND I MUST TELL YOU MOST EVERYONE ON THAT TEAM DOES READ THESE APPLICATIONS ON THEIR OWN TIME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT INTO THEIR WORK SCHEDULE. THEN WE MEET IN MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE APPLICATIONS. WE COME UP WITH STRENGTH AND WEAKENS AND QUESTIONS WE ARE GOING TO ASK EACH APPLICANT AT THEIR INTERVIEW. WE DON'T ASK ANY ROUTINE OR RETRO QUESTIONS. EVERY QUESTION IS IN RELATION TO THEIR APPLICATION. AFTER THAT IS PLEATED, WE DO THE INTERVIEWS. WE INVITE THE APPLICANT TO THE INTERVIEW. WE ARE VERY PUSHY ABOUT GETTING ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE APPLICATION THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW ULTIMATELY YOU'RE GOING INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE APPLICATION OR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN JUST HAVING THE SCHOOL. WE TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKENS. WHEN, WHEN THE INTERVIEW IS OVER, THE REVIEW TEAM DISCUSSES WHETHER THE RECOMMENDS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE APPROVAL OR DENIAL. THEN WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO HIM. TONIGHT YOU HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE YOU. AND THAT'S TO APPROVE ALL THREE APPLICATIONS. WE DID RECEIVE SIX APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR. THREE OF THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE DEFICIENT. AND THOSE APPLICANTS WITHDREW THOSE APPLICATIONS AND HAVE AGREED TO WORK WITH US SO THERE WILL BE NO DENIALS, WHICH IS A BIG WIN FOR THE DISTRICT. THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE HERE BEFORE YOU, JUST BRIEFLY I WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE. THE APPLICATIONS BEFORE YOU HAVE MET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS WHICH INCLUDE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, DETAILED CURRICULUM PLAN, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING, READING CURRICULUM AND DIFFERENTIATED STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH ALL LEVELS OF READERS AND A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR EACH YEAR THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IN THEIR CONTRACT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS A APPROVED CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT. 40 THAT ARE OPERATING, 11 HAVE DEFEND. SO THIS WOULD BRING OUR TOTAL CHARTERS SCHOOLS TO 54. MAY I PLEASE RECOGNIZE VERY, VERY QUICKLY, PROMISE I'LL BE FAST. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE APPLICATION REVIEW TEAM BECAUSE I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE I WORK WITH EVERY DAY THAT DO CHARTER SCHOOLS AS THEIR FULL-TIME JOB. BUT THERE'S MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT THAT ARE A PART OF THIS TEAM AND THEY PUT IN ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET IT DONE. WE HAVE CHINSY DELANGLEY, SUPERVISOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT HER. SHE'S AMAZING. AMY AND TRIANO. THEY ALSO, ARE THEY BACK THERE? YES, THEY ARE. THEY ALSO WITHOUT THEM THERE'S NO WAY THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. IT'S A VERY, VERY LARGE TASK. THEY'RE ALWAYS HERE HELPING GET IT DONE. CAROLYN JOHNSON IS AN ACCOUNTANT THREE IN OUR OFFICE, SHE WAS VERY INTEGRAL IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS THIS YEAR. WE HAVE KEN COLEN, KELLY ODD DENIAL AND RILEY STERN. WE HAVE VEER ONA AND DESHAMA. MATT ROMANO BECAUSE WE HAD AN IB APPLICATION THIS YEAR, HE WAS VERY INTEGRAL IN THAT APPLICATION. LAURIE KIFFIN, OBVIOUSLY THE GURU OF GIFTED. MARTHA FORD, DAN McFARLAND, LAURIE REVILLE. DENA UPSHAW AND CARLA SPARKS. WE HAD A SINGLE GENDER SO WE HAD CARLA SPARKS INVOLVED. PATTY SIMMONS WORKED WITH US. SHE HAD THE BACKGROUND AND THE HISTORY SO SHE WORKED WITH US ON THE ASSESSMENT PIECE OF THE APPLICATION. PATRICIA ROYAL WAS THE ONE AND ONLY HR PERSON AND SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB. WE REALLY THANK HER. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK. IN FINANCE, GRETCHEN. GRETCHEN ALWAYS DOES AN APPLICATION FOR US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT SUSAN GARCIA, MANNY EPPOLITO AND BETH WHISTLER. WE ALSO INCLUDE CHARTER OPERATORS ON OUR TEAM. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST PRACTICES WITH OUR FLORIDA PRINCIPALS, WE USE OUTSIDE REVIEWERERS. WE HAD THREE OPERATORS WITH US THIS YEAR. BONNIE GARTHTON, THE PRINCIPAL AT LUTZ PREP. BOBBIE SMITH WHO REPRESENTS A MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND WORKS WITH THE ALS SCHOOLS, SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, TOWN AND COUNTRY AND WEST UNIVERSITY. FRAN McKIN MON, THE PRINCIPAL AT FOCUSND IS RETIRED NOW. SO THAT'S THE PROCESS. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY. THAT WAS FAST. WE'LL GO ON TO THE ACTUAL SCHOOLS NOW, PLEASE. THE FIRST SCHOOL THAT YOU HAVE IS 806, COLLABORATORY. THIS IS A HIGH PERFORMING REPLICATION. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT WE NOT JUST READ THE APPLICATION AND LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT BUT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE BY GOOGLE THINGS, SEARCHING PEOPLE, IF WE NEED TO, JUST GETTING AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO UP TO PASCO COUNTY AND VISIT THE SCHOOL. AND I THINK MS. LEGG, ELUDED TO THAT. WE SPENT A GOOD HALF DAY AT YOUR SCHOOLS, TWO OF THEM. IT WAS REALLY REFRESHING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS REPRESENTED IN HAD THE APPLICATION. IT WAS AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT REPLICATION, WRITTEN-WISE BECAUSE IT REALLY DID, WHAT WE SAW IN PRACTICE WAS WHAT WE SAW IN THE APPLICATION. THIS IS GOING TO BE A K-8 SCHOOL. OPEN TO SAUL STUDENTS BUT THEY'RE GOING TO TARGET HISTORICALLY UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTS. NORTH TAMPA AREA. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FACILITIES BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NORTH TAMPA AREA. I DO BELIEVE THEY'D BE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON AREAS WE NEED. FOCUS ON STEAM, NOT STEM BUT STEAM. AND YEAR ONE THEY'RE GOING TO START WITH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GREAT WITH 162 STUDENT. ALL LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND BEEN IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD. THE SECOND SCHOOL 807 IS KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST MIDDLE CHARTER SCHOOL. AN EXTENSION OF THE K 5 SCHOOL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS BEN APPROVED, IB, IT IS AN OFFICIAL IB SITE AT THIS TIME. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU FOR DOING THAT I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK FOR YOU. THIS SCHOOL WILL SERVE GRADES SIXTH THROUGH EIGHT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT IN THE SAME AREA AS THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. LIKE ADJACENT PIECE OF PROPERTY. AND THEY'RE BUILDING ON. THEY ARE ALREADY STARTING THE PROCESS. THEY'LL START IT RIGHT AWAY WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL BACK LAUREATE PROCESS. I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MATT COME UP AND EXPLAIN THE PROCESS. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, EXPLAINED IT VERY WELL IN THE APPLICATION AND THEY ALSO HAVE BEGUN THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE TO GET THAT DONE. THEY'LL START IN YEAR ONE WITH 176 STUDENTS AND ALSO HAVE LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS. THE LAST ONE 808 IS ICAN LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER ACADEMY. ZANOBIA WAS THE FIRST SPEAKER YOU HEARD. IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE PASSION IN HER VOICE. I'VE KNOWN HER A LONG TIME. I THINK SHE'S PARTNERED WITH A GOOD MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LIGHT HOUSE ACADEMIES. BUT I THINK SHE IS GOING TO DO AN AMAZING JOB WITH K-8 SCHOOL IN THE PLANT CITY AREA FOR LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC CHILDREN. THEY'RE GOING TO USE TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM WITH ARTS INFUSION AND ALSO GOING TO FOCUS ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE YEAR ROUND CALENDAR, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM ON HOW THAT WILL LOOKS. NOW THAT WE HAVE A NEW I.T. PERSON. START WITH 326 STUDENT. THEY ALSO HAVE LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS. NOW, AM I ALLOWED TO INTRODUCE ANYONE WHO IS HERE? SHOULD I TAKE QUESTIONS FIRST?
>>Cindy Stuart: ABSOLUTELY.
>> ASSOCIATION I USE WANT, I'M GOING TO DO JUST BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE WHEN I WENT AROUND EARLIER TO SAY WHO IS HERE, IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ASK EVERYBODY WITH THE SCHOOL TO STAND. ICAN LIGHTHOUSE, DR. ZANOBIA KAHN IS HERE. BOARD CHAIR. CONNIE MITCHELL, BOARD MEMBER. IF YOU WOULD STAND WITH YOUR SUPPORTERS. HE JUST WENT OUT. THEN ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE, WE HAVE ADVISORY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM ADVISORY PEOPLE HERE. WE HAVE LIGHTHOUSE ACADEMY CFO, CHIEF OF STAFF, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ICAN LIGHTHOUSE. THEN THE COLLABORATORY. TREY TRAVISSA, BOARD CHAIR. SUSAN LEGG, BOARD MEMBER AND DAREN CURTIS, BOARD MEMBER. THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HERE WHO SUPPORTED THE SCHOOL AND WORKED WITH THEM, THAT'S THE GROUP FROM THE COLLABORATORY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL. CAYENNE ALREADY CAME UP AND SPOSHES THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. AND CYNTHIA RHODEN IS VICE-PRESIDENT, TREASURER. WHENEVER I GO TO ANY FUNCTION THAT HAS TO DO WITH KCC, THESE LADIES ARE THERE. I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO. THEY HAVE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THEM TODAY, IF THEY COULD STAND ALSO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS, MS. STUART.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. HODGENS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY SO I NEED A MOTION AND VOTE ON ITEM 806. APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR THE CRAB TOMORROW. MOTION BY MS. SNIVELY AND SECOND BY MS. VALDES. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHT COMES UP. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] WELCOME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 807. BOARD MEMBER APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR KIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHEAST MIDDLE CHARTER SCHOOL. I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MS. VALDES. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS COME UP. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS AS WELL. WELCOME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: AND OUR LAST ITEM IS NUMBER 8.08, APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR ICAN LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER ACADEMY. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MS. VALDES. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS COME UP. CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN, PABLO? THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: AND IT IS UNANIMOUS AGAIN. WELCOME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. [ APPLAUSE ]
>>Cindy Stuart: ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, MOVING ON. WE HAVE PULLED UP ONE OTHER AGENDA ITEM TODAY. AND THAT IS THE APPROVE, AGENDA ITEM 7.05, APPROVE THE REMOVAL OF COURTESY BUSING FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO DO NOT MEET THE STATE HAZARDOUS CRITERIA AS DEFINED BY FLORIDA STATUTE 1006.23 FOR THE 17-18 SCHOOL YEAR. AND MR. GYM BEEKMAN, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF TRANSPORTATION WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AS A HIGHLIGHT BY MYSELF, MS. SNIVELY, MISS SHAMBURGER WITH MS. GRIFFIN COMMENTING.
>>Cindy Stuart: MR. BEEKMAN WAS CAUGHT IN SOME TRAFFIC WELCOME, MR. BEEKMAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT EAKINS. I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN TOWARDS COURTESY BUSING. AS YOU RECALL IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WE HAD A WORKSHOP SURROUNDING THIS TOPIC. WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WOULD BRING BACK FORWARD TO YOU AND THAT IS THIS EVENING'S, ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA. TO GO BACK, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT 12,000 KIDS THAT WERE RECEIVING BUSING THAT LIVED WITHIN TWO MILES OF SCHOOL THAT WERE NON-FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE. WE REFER TO THAT AS COURTESY BUSING BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PICKS UP THE TAB. AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, CURRENTLY, THE STATE ONLY FUNDS ABOUT 45 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR ALL THE TRANSPORTATION THAT THE DISTRICT DOES PROVIDE. WE ALSO, THAT WAS ALSO IDENTIFIED IN THE GIBSON REPORT THAT CAME FORWARD TO YOU AS A COST SAVINGS MEASURE TO LOOK AT REMOVING THAT COURTESY BUSING. WE CAME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL AND SHARED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE STATUTE ONLY COVERS K THROUGH 6th ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FOR HAZARD WALKING, WE CAME FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT IF THAT HAZARDOUS WALKING CRITERIA THAT IS NOT IDENTIFIED, OR NOT DEFINED BY THE DISTRICT BUT RATHER DEFINED BY STATE STATUTE, IS THOUSAND 6.23, THAT IF THAT SAME CRITERIA WAS APPLICABLE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THAT WE WOULD COME FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE THAT BUSING UNDER THE HAZARDOUS CRITERIA. STATUTE GIVES YOU THAT AUTHORITY TO DO THAT AND TO CLAIM IT AS THAT HAZARDOUS. HOWEVER, THE DISTRICT ITSELF WOULD PICK UP THE TAB FOR THAT. SINCE THAT WORKSHOP, WE HAVE BEEN SENDING TEAMS OUT VERY DILIGENTLY LOOKING AT ALL THESE LOCATIONS. WE LOOKED AT A TWO PHASED PROCESS. FIRST TO COME TO YOU WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. PRIOR TO THE CHRISTMAS BREAK, THAT WE COULD SEND OUT THOSE LETTERS OF NOTIFICATION FOR THAT CESSATION OF SERVICE FOR AUGUST OF 17-18. AND THEN TO CONTINUE ON LOOKING AT THE 4,000 OR SO ELEMENTARY AREAS FOR HAZARDOUS WALKING AND TO CONFIRM THOSE. AND BRING THOSE BACK TO YOU AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF CESSATION OF SERVICES FOR THE FOLLOWING 18-19 SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE GONE OUT WITH OUR TEAMS MUCH WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS OF THE DATE THAT WE SENT THE DOCUMENTATION TO YOU, 803 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT DID MEET, FALL WITHIN THAT CRITERIA OF HAZARDOUS WALKING. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO CONTINUE THOSE STUDENTS. WE HAVE 7,495 STUDENTS THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE MAY HAVE MET HAZARDOUS WALKING CRITERIA, BUT NO LONGER MEET THAT CRITERIA, FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY'VE BEEN PUT ON, WERE PUT ON BUSES. I THINK THE EARLIESTS WE LOOKED THROUGH THE ARCHIVES, THE EARLIEST ONE WE COULD FIND WAS IN 1996 THAT THAT DETERMINATION WAS MADE. PART OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN TRANSPORTATION IS LOOKING AT PROCESSES AND CLEANING UP PROCESSES. WHAT WE FOUND WAS WE HAD AN AVENUE THAT ALLOWED THE DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY AND PUT KIDS ON BUSES. BUT ONCE THE HAZARD WAS CORRECTED, AND EVEN AS STATUTE, EVEN IDENTIFIES THAT FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT TOOK THEM OFF. SO THEY JUST STAYED ON AND USE STAYED ON AND STAYED ON. SO WE ARE TRYING TO CLEAN THOSE PROCESSES UP. IT'S NOT A POPULAR THING TO DO. BUT IT'S ONE THAT IS, THAT'S NEEDED TO BE DONE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUITY AMONG OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING TRANSPORTED ON OUR BUSES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WE HAVE DONE THAT MUCH OUR PROPOSAL WAS, IS VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE PRESENTED AT THE WORKSHOP. WITH APPROVAL TONIGHT, WE WOULD FORWARD NOTIFICATION TO ALL THOSE PARENTS AND STUDENTS. THAT PROCESS WOULD BEGIN THIS WEEK, TO SEND THAT NOTIFICATION OUT, AND THAT NOTIFICATION IT OUTLINES WHAT THE STATUTE IS HAVEN'T IT IDENTIFIES ALSO FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND TALKS ABOUT, IDENTIFIES WHERE THEY'LL FIND THE INFORMATION FOR THE CRITERIA. IT WILL ALSO IDENTIFY FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE THAT POINTS OUT THAT IT IS A TWO MILE WALKING LIMIT FOR FUNDING. IT ALSO POISON OUT THAT WE ALSO MUST ENSURE FOR HOME ZONED SCHOOLS THAT OUR BUS STOPS ARE LOCATED WITHIN A MILE AND A HALF OF EACH RESIDENT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. WHEN WE RAN THE REPORT ON THAT, WE WERE ABOUT TWO TENTHS, BETWEEN TWO TENTHS AND THREE TENTHS OF A MILE, SO OUR SERVICE LEVELS FAR EXCEED WHAT THE STATE SAYS WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO. WE DON'T REQUIRE OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN HOME ZONED SCHOOLS TO WALK THAT MILE AND A HALF TO GET TO BUS STOPS. SO WE DO EXCEED THE SERVICE LEVELS ON THAT FRONT. SO THEY WILL GET A LETTER THAT IDENTIFIES THAT. ALSO, AS A REMINDER, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE ALSO OUTLINES THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE TO AND FROM THE BUS STOP BUT THEY'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO AND FROM SCHOOL, FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AGAIN, AT TWO MILES, WE DON'T TELL ANY CHILD THEY HAVE TO WALK. IT'S JUST UNDER TWO MILES, IT'S NON-FUNDED AND BECOMES PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. AND AS A SIDE NOTE, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU, WE ALSO HAVE A LITTLE OVER 55,000 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS CURRENTLY TODAY THAT LIVE WITHIN TWO MILES OF OUR SCHOOLS. THAT ARE NOT PROVIDED BUS TRANSPORTATION. OF THEY FALL UNDER THE SAME THING. THEY WALK OUR STREETS, THEY WALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY GO TO THE SCHOOL. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 55,000 OF THOSE STUDENTS TODAY. WHAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD TO YOU IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PORTION. THEY WOULD BE RECEIVING THOSE LETTERS WITH THAT INFORMATION. OF THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A FORM THAT OUTLINES THOSE STATUTORY CHECKPOINTS, BECAUSE IN CASE WE HAVE MISSED ANY LOCATION, IT GIVES THE PARENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THAT FORM OUT, SEND THAT FORM BACK IN AND WE CAN GO BACK OUT AND VERIFY THAT LOCATION TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA, OR IT DOES MEET THE CRITERIA. SO WE WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF THAT. THAT'S THE REASON WE ARE COMING TO YOU EARLY. WE WANT TO GIVE PARENTS AMPLE NOTIFICATION. WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE THAT PARENT THAT AVENUE TO COME BACK AND FILL OUT THAT FORM. AN SO WE CAN GO BACK AND VALIDATE WHETHER OR NOT IT DOES INDEED MEET THAT CRITERIA. THE SEC PIECE OF THAT IS, AS YOU'RE AWARE, STATUTORILY WE CANNOT DO IMPROVEMENTS BEYOND OUR OWN BORDERS MUCH YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO CROSSING GUARDS, THAT IS OWNED BY TYPICALLY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OWNS THE CROSSING GUARDS FOR THOSE LOCATIONS. SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, WE CAN USE MONEY TO BUILD ON OUR PROPERTY. WE DON'T BUILD IN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO, WE LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, WE WANT TO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. YOU HEARD MS. SILVA COME UP HERE EARLIER. THEY HAVE BEEN AN AWESOME PARTNER TO US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND THEY'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY AS WELL BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT BEYOND TO AND FROM SCHOOL, IT'S AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY EVENT. THESE KIDS ARE NOT WALKING, OR BIKING OR GOING IN THESE AREAS JUST TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THEY'RE GOING TO PLAYGROUND, THEY'RE GOING TO BASKETBALL COURTS. THEY'RE GOING ACROSS THE STREET TO THE 7-ELEVEN. SO IT'S MORE OF A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT AS WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO CREATE A SAFER COMMUNITY FOR ALL PEDESTRIANS. AND THEY ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARDS THAT. SO THEY WILL GET THAT AND PART OF THE FORM THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY PUT OUT TO PARENTS IS TO COLLECT SOME OF THAT DATA AS WELL. IF THEY FEEL LIKE THERE ARE STREETLIGHTS THAT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE, SIDEWALKS, ONE THING WE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE STATUTE, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT POINT OUT THAT SIDEWALKS DO NOT DETERMINE A HAZARD. ALL THEY TALK ABOUT IN STATUTE IS A FOUR FOOT WIDE WALKING SPACE. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE SIDEWALKS. MUCH SO IF THEY DO NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS, THAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A HAZARD BUT I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY AND SOME OF THE CITIES HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE CONTIGUOUS SIDEWALKS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES. THEN THE LAST THING THAT WILL GO OUT TO THEM IN THAT IS ALSO A REFERENCE SHEET. MS. SILVA REFERRED TO IT EARLIER. WE ARE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER FOR OTHER AVENUES. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TBARTA AND SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE TO PARENTS FOR TO AND FROM SCHOOL ISSUES. WE ALSO HAVE ARE WORKING ON EIGHT REGIONAL MEETINGS. WE WERE LOOKING AT THE TIMEFRAME OF FEBRUARY TO HOST THOSE. WE WANTED TO ALLOW PARENTS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND GET IT BACK IF THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS THAT WE NEEDED TO GO CHECK PRIOR TO SCHEDULING THE MEETINGS RIGHT AWAY. AND WE'LL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MPO TO GET THOSE PARTNERS THERE TO PROVIDE PARENTS SOME ASSISTANCE. EACH THOUGH THAT'S REALLY NOT OUR BAILIWICK. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT AND HELP WITH THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT CHANGE IS NOT EASY ON ANYONE, FOR ANY PARENT THAT MAY BE GOING THROUGH THIS. BUT AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE CURRENTLY TRANSPORT 92,000 STUDENTS. AND THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT 7495 AS OF 11, WHATEVER THE DATE THIS WAS, THAT WE RAN THE THINGS. ANY QUESTIONS?
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. WILL OPEN THE FLOOR UP NOW FOR DISCUSSION. MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THIS AGENDA COMING FORWARD AND I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE DID HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AT THE WORKSHOP. COUPLE OF THINGS. EXPLAIN THE REASONING WHY MAYBE WE DID NOT HAVE THESE COMMUNICATIONS WITH PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY PRIOR TO BRINGING THE AGENDA FOR TODAY? LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REASONING BEHIND THAT.
>> WELL, THE PROCESS WAS IS TO GO BACK, WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THESE AREAS DID NOT MEET. BECAUSE WHEN WE CAME TO YOU IN THE WORKSHOP, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD, IF IT MET HAZARDOUS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS. AND YOU ALL WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT IN THAT INITIATIVE. AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND SO WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AND WE WANTED TO GO THROUGH AND IDENTIFY THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS, TO LOOK AT THEM A SECOND TIME, TO ENSURE THAT THEY DID NOT MEET THAT.
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TODAY FROM ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND SHARED SOME CONCERNS. I KNOW THE AREA VERY WELL AS WELL. FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LOOK AT LINEBAUGH AND SHELDON. SOMETIMES, ALMOST EVERY DAY, AT PICKUP TIME FROM WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY, THE TRAFFIC IS GOING AROUND LITERALLY LINEBAUGH ON TO SHELDON WAITING FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON TO LINEBAUGH. SO CONSIDERING WHEN WE ARE REMOVING BUSES FROM THE STREET, DELIVERING OUR CHILDREN, WE ARE ADDING MORE VEHICLES TO THE ROADS. SO I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MS. SILVA AND THE MPO TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING, BECAUSE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS GROWING TREMENDOUSLY. WE ARE STILL GROWING. AND IT'S JUST A GREAT COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN. SO I GET IT AND I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. BUT HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY, EVEN MORE SO IN SOME OF THESE AREAS, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, NINE EAGLES ROAD IS A TWO-LANE ROAD. AND IT'S SWERVEY AND THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS. SO THERE IS CERTAIN CONCERNS WITH THE SAFETY. SO, I HAVE DOCUMENTS HERE FOR YOU GUYS TO, FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW AND SEE, TO SEE HOW MAYBE WE CAN, IF IT IS AN AREA OF CONCERN, THEN JUST TO GO OUT THERE AND REVIEW IT AND -- I UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED TODAY. AND THEY'RE TOUGH, TOUGH DECISIONS TO HAVE TO MAKE. BUT SO LONG AS WE JUST KEEP IN MIND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE CONCERN FOR SAFETY, THAT'S ALL THAT I REALLY ASK. THAT WE REALLY LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE THOROUGHLY AND MAKE A DETERMINES.
>> I DO WANT TO SHARE. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THE DISCUSSION, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT. SO IN SOME SCHOOLS, WE MAY ONLY BE LOOKING AT ONE TO 10 TO 12 KIDS, WHICH IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AS FAR AS TRAFFIC AND SOME OTHER ISSUES. OTHER SCHOOLS THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. AND SO, WE'RE MEETING WITH THE AREA ENGINEERS OF THOSE SPECIFIC, TO LOOK AT TRAFFIC FLOW AND OTHER THINGS. ALSO, ON-SITE, BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC AT SCHOOLS THAT'S BEARING TRAFFIC. SO WHAT CAN WE DO AS A DISTRICT? SOME CASES WE ARE PULL ALL THE DATA TO IDENTIFY AND SAY LOOK AT THOSE SCHOOLS AND SAY WOULD IT BE CONDUCIVE TO SWITCH TO PARENT PICKUP WITH THE BUS PICKUP? SO WE ARE MOVING BUSES OUT OF THAT AREA AND THE PARENT PICKUP IS A SMALLER AREA AND THEY HAVE A LARGER CUE TO WHERE WE CAN WORK AROUND THOSE. WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST AND WE ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS TO TRY TO MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS TO IT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MEMBER SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR GIBSON CONSULTING REPORT AT TIMES THAT MAKES SENSE FINANCIALLY. HOWEVER, MAY NOT ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR CORPS VALUES AND MISSION. CORE VALUES AND MISSION WITH OUR STUDENTS. IN MY OPINION, THIS WOULD BE ONE ITEM THAT I FEEL, I BELIEVE DOES NOT SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE FOR OUR STUDENTS. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL, BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THEIR AREA. AS YOU KNOW, MY AREA IS PROBABLY AFFECTED THE MOST BY THIS PARTICULAR DECISION, AS THERE ARE OVER 2300 STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT I REPRESENT, WHICH WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS, DIRECTLY AFFECTED AND IMPACTED BY THIS PARTICULAR DECISION. SO, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERN ME ARE, I WOULD LIKE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THIS DECISION OR THIS RECOMMENDATION SEEMS TO BE SOMEWHAT RASH, IF YOU WILL. OR PERHAPS NOT AS WELL THOUGHT OUT AS I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE, AS A BOARD MEMBER. WITH SOME INFORMATION THAT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO HAVE AND ABLE, IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE SURVEY, I RECEIVED A COPY OF THE SURVEYS FOR THE THREE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACT, THAT WOULD HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACT FROM THIS DECISION. AND THERE WASN'T MUCH INFORMATION. AND I KNOW THE SURVEY COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAFFIC COUNT, AND SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT WOULD, I WOULD THINK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE LIKE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR ROADWAY WOULD BE DEEMED HAZARDOUS, NOT JUST BY THE DEFINITION OF THE STATUTE OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, BUT JUST WHAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN THE SURVEYORERS OR WHEN THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT WENT OUT TO ACTUALLY SURVEY THE SITES, WERE THEY COUNTING TRAFFIC? WERE THERE DETAILS, ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE EMPLOYEES FROM OUR SAFETY DEPARTMENT SO WE COULD SUBSTANTIATE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND THE DATA THAT IS REQUIRED ON THAT VERY SIMPLISTIC SURVEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?
>> SO THE TRAFFIC COUNT IS NOT ACTUALLY DONE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE TRAFFIC COUNTS WE GAIN ARE DONE BY THE COUNTY OR THE JURISDICTION WHO HAS THAT, WHOEVER IS OVER THAT JURISDICTION. AND THEY PRODUCE THOSE TRAFFIC COUNTS AND THEY TRACK AT DIFFERENT INTERSECTIONS AND DIFFERENT PLACES. SO WE GET THAT FROM A DIFFERENT AGENCY. AND AS IT'S OUTLINED IN THE HAZARDOUS WALKING CRITERIA FOR, UNDER THE STATUTE, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. WE ONLY CONTROL A CERTAIN PART OF THAT. AND THAT IS WE CAN DETERMINATION THE PARALLEL WALK, THE DISTANCE, THE GAPS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT. BUT AS FAR AS TRAFFIC COUNTS, THAT IS NOT DONE BY THE DISTRICT. THAT IS DONE BY THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT LOOK AT THOSE COUNTS. TYPICALLY THOSE COUNTS ARE TOUGH TO REACH. I MEAN THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CARS BECAUSE IT'S OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. AND WHEN WE SEE CARS THAT AREN'T MOVING, FLOWING, THAT'S IN A, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A TWO-LANE ROAD, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH THOSE COUNTS. JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. TYPICALLY YOU'LL SEE THOSE COUNTS LIKE ON POSSIBLY A DALE MABRY OR MAYBE, MAYBE A HILLSBOROUGH, IF AND ONLY IF THERE'S NOT AN ACCIDENT AN YOU CATCH ALL THE GREEN LIGHTS. THERE'S JUST -- THOSE ARE TOUGH NUMBERS. IT'S USUALLY IN A SIX LANE, BUT THERE'S ALREADY OTHER PROVISIONS DO THAT. OKAY. SO, AS FAR AS THE OTHER THINGS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, WE ARE GOING STRICTLY BY THE STATE CRITERIA, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, WE ARE NOT TRAFFIC ENGINEERS. AND IF WE WENT OUT ON THIS CORNER RIGHT NOW AND LOOKED AND SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAZARDOUS AND WE ALL FILLED OUT A FORM AND THEN COMPARED OUR NOTES, I THINK WE WOULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE ALL LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE MORE HAZARDOUS THAN OTHERS. AND THAT, WE'RE NOT IN THAT POSITION AS A DISTRICT TO DO THAT, TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT HAZARD IS TO GO BEYOND WHAT THE STATE CRITERIA IS. AND THE DANGER IN THAT IS YOU OPEN YOURSELF UP TO SEVERE LITIGATION IF, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TRAFFIC ENGINEERS.
>>Melissa Snively: I WOULD AGREE THAT YOUR TIME IS WHEN SPENT IN TRANSPORTATION AND NOT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND I WILL APPROACH THAT WITH SOME SUGGESTION LATER. BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US FROM EXPERTS WHO ARE TRAFFIC ENGINEERS. SO, SO THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE ON TRAFFIC COUNT IS ACCESSIBLE TO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> YES.
>> OKAY. AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON A TWO-LANE ROAD WHEN YOU, YOU MUST KNOW FISHHAWK BOULEVARD BECAUSE MOSTLY TRAFFIC IS AT A STANDSTILL FOR HOURS AT A TIME. GETTING IN THIS AND OUT.
>> IN MY TWO YEARS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, I FOUND LOTS OF SPOTS THAT TRAFFIC IS AT A STAND TILL.
>>Melissa Snively: I GUARANTEE IT IS MORE THAN A 1 0 PER HOUR 180 PER HOUR. SO NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE HOW DOES THE COUNTY -- HAVE WE COMMUNICATED WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR POSSIBILITY AND HOW ARE THEY PREPARED -- ARE THEY PREPARED TO MAKE A CHANGE OR HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR, IF THIS CHANGE IS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED?
>> WELL, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU, WE SHARED THAT WITH THEM WHEN THEY WERE AT THE TABLE WITH THE MPO. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT FORWARD AS THE, WHEN WE DID THE WORKSHOP. WANTED TO KEEP THEM ABREAST OF THE SITUATION. WE ARE DOING A PRESENTATION TO THEM TOMORROW AFTERNOON, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE.
>>Melissa Snively: WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS IF THE COUNTY CAN'T PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM TO MITIGATE THE RISK THAT IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH OUR CHILDREN CROSSING A HAZARDOUS WALKWAYS?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU, BASED ON THE STATE'S CRITERIA, THEY'RE NOT HAZARDOUS WALKWAYS.
>> BASED ON STATE'S CRITERIA.
>> SO LET ME SHARE THAT. BUT AS IT GOES FOR THAT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY. ALL I CAN SPEAK IS FOR WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU TODAY. AND THAT IS THE PIECE BASED ON THE STATE'S CRITERIA,.
>>Melissa Snively: AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CRITERIA THAT IS DEVELOPED BY OUR LEADERS IN TALLAHASSEE, WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS, DOESN'T ALWAYS ALIGN WITH THE DEFINITIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ON A LOCAL LEVEL. NO DISRESPECT TO OUR DECISION-MAKERS IN TALLAHASSEE, BUT THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, SO WHAT THEY MAY DEEM AS HAZARDOUS IN A STATUTE OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE SAME DEFINITION OR HOW WE INTERPRET THE WORD HAZARDOUS ON A LOCAL LEVEL. AND THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY ASK MS. MEL LIT TOW TO ADDRESS IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED AS WELL AS THE FLORIDA ADMINISTER ITIVE CODE, WHICH BY, IRONICALLY HASN'T BEEN AMENDED IN 22 YEARS. SO IN 1994, WAS THE LAST TIME THAT THAT ADMINISTRATIVE CODE WAS ACTUALLY UPDATED AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS GROWN 59% SINCE 1990. INCLUDING ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE RURAL PARTS OF OUR COUNTY. SO, I THINK THAT THIS DECISION IF MADE IN HASTE AND WITHOUT A SOLID PLAN AND SOLID PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, I FEEL THAT, OR I BELIEVE THAT WE MIGHT THE ILL PREPARED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND THE MITIGATION OF RISK THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO TAKE. I THINK THAT WE NEED MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT PARENTS AND STUDENTS? AND WHAT SOLID PLAN OF ACTION IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE SAFE? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO, IT JUST -- I'M NOT COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. I UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF HAZARDOUS ROADWAY OR HAZARDOUS WALKWAY FROM THE STATUTE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO. BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE RISK THAT WE ARE TAKING HERE, THE IMPLICATION OF RISK THAT WE ARE TAKING HERE COULD BE DETRIMENTAL AND IT'S NOT REALLY TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO. AND THE COST SAVINGS IN MY OPINION, ALTHOUGH IT IS SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT, IT IS IN THE REALM OF THREE BILLION DOLLARS BUDGET, IT IS NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS NOT REALLY NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE IT'S ONLY THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WE ARE TALKING HERE, SO IT'S ABOUT HALF OF THAT. AND WHAT PERSONAL OF OUR THREE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS THAT? AND IS THAT WORTH, IS THAT COST SAVINGS WORTH TAKING THE RISK AND PUTTING THAT ON THE BACK OF VULNERABLE SCHOOL CHILDREN? AND I DON'T FEEL IT IS. I BELIEVE THAT THAT RISK, IT'S A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SAVINGS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET OF THAT SIZE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING IN OTHER PLACES IF WE'RE GOING TO BE COST CUTTING. AND I FEEL FOR MR. FARKAS, BECAUSE HIS OPERATIONS BUDGET HAS TAKEN A PRETTY HARD HIT AND MR. FARKAS, WHAT PERSONAL OF YOUR OPERATIONS BUDGET IS A PART OF THE THREE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET ITSELF? HAD.
>> ABOUT $150 MILLION.
>> HOW MUCH HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE GIBSON REPORT?
>> WELL, THEY HAVEN'T ALL BEEN REALIZED. THAT'S A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SOME OF THOSE SO DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A FALSE NUMBER.
>> WE HAVE REALIZED A FEW THINGS. WE KNOW THAT YOUR CONSTRUCTION BUDGET HAS BEEN CUT AND SOME OTHER PARTS OF YOUR BUDGET. WE HAVE ISSUES WITH MAINTENANCE, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, ISSUES WITH CONSTRUCTION. AND THE BULK OF OUR BUDGET REALLY IS IN HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE 86% OF OUR BUDGET BEING HUMAN RESOURCES. SO, MY OPINION IS THAT WE START LOOKING IN OTHER PLACES BESIDES OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION AND CONSIDER SAFETY WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS. JUST A COUPLE OTHER THINGS. REGARDING SAFETY. SOME OF THESE WALKWAYS, AND I JUST -- I KNOW MY AREA BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IMPACTS MS. VALDES' AREA SIGNIFICANTLY AND MS. STUART'S AREA SIGNIFICANTLY AND I KNOW THEY KNOW SOME OF THE INTERSECTIONS AND ROADWAYS IN THEIR AREA. SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I FEAR ARE CHILDREN CROSSING MAJOR ROADS, SOME WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE WALKWAY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SIDEWALK. IT JUST HAS TO BE, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT?
>> PATH.
>>Melissa Snively: IT JUST HAS TO BE A FLAT SURFACE?
>> CORRECT. MR. HE WILL ME DOESN'T EVEN.
>>Melissa Snively: DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A SIDEWALK?
>> CORRECT.
>>Melissa Snively: SOME OF THOSE, IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS, SOME IN THE DARK. OF BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT SCHOOL STARTS. RIGHT? DURING THAT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE UNFORTUNATELY HIGH NUMBERS OF FATALITIES, PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES. THERE'S HIGH AMOUNT OF CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN. ALL OF THESE THINGS I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE NOT -- NO AMOUNT OF COST SAVINGS JUSTIFIES EXPOSING OUR KIDS TO THOSE FORESEEABLE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. SO, I WILL STOP THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT I COULD ADD TO IT, BUT YOU OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM, THAT I JUST CANNOT SUPPORT THIS AT THIS TIME. I'M NOT SAYING NEVER BUT I'M JUST SAYING NOT RIGHT THIS MOMENT. IT DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT REALLY JUSTIFIABLE RIGHT NOW. I COULD SEE POSSIBLY DOING THIS IN PHASES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND LONGER PHASES, LESS IMPACTFUL PHASES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. I SPOKE WITH LEADERSHIP IN SEVERAL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS. AND THEY AGREE THAT, I MEAN, I HAVE ONE SCHOOL THAT A THIRD, ONE THIRD OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS. NOW, EVEN IF 50% OF THOSE PEOPLE DECIDE TO ACTUALLY WALK OR TAKE A BIKE TO SCHOOL, THAT MEANS THE OTHER 50% ARE GOING TO GET IN THE CAR LINE. NOW, CAR LINES ALREADY ARE HORRIFIC. OF WHERE WE ARE. I MEAN REALLY, REALLY BAD. TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE PARENTS DROPPING CHILDREN OFF AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SO THEY CAN WALK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL CAR LINE. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THIS IS GOING TO EXACERBATE THE CAR LINE SITUATION. AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN LOOK AT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND PLANS. I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO DO THAT, WHEN AN ENTIRE THIRD OF A SCHOOL IS AFFECTED, THAT CHANGES THE WAY YOU DO EVERYTHING IN THAT SCHOOL.
>> AND I'VE BEEN IN THAT AREA AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE DROPPING THEM OFF AT DIFFERENT PLACES. THEY'RE DROPPING THEM OFF ACROSS THE STREET AND THEY'RE COMING ACROSS THAT BOULEVARD AT THE CROSSWALK. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU TEACH THOUGH THAT WE'RE TAKING THESE OFF, WE STILL HAVE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN NOT BEING BUSSED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT. AND MANY OF THOSE ARE ELEMENTARY KIDS THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO, AS, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S A GLOBAL APPROACH THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
>>Melissa Snively: AND I SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE A CLOSER, MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT EACH SCHOOL SITE SCENARIOS AND WORK A LITTLE BIT CLOSER WITH EACH SCHOOL SITE IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS AND THOSE DECISIONS. THIS IS JUST KIND OF A SWEEPING, LIKE I MENTIONED, A SWEEPING, VERY RASH DECISION THAT AFFECT ALMOST 8,000 STUDENTS AT ONE TIME. THAT'S A HUGE AND VERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT SHOULD BE BUSSED THAT AREN'T BEING BUSSED, AND I BELIEVE IN EQUITY AND I BELIEVE IN CHILDREN BEING TREATED THE SAME, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE HAVE, PEOPLE HAVE CHALLENGES. PEOPLE HAVE BECOME, THEY'RE IN THE -- THEY HAVE BECOME ADJUSTED TO A CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION EXPECTATION. AND IF WE TAKE THAT AWAY IN A SWEEPING MANNER, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS BEING PUT IN A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION. SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE, LET'S WORK ON THIS PLAN TO, TO WORK WITH EACH SITE INDIVIDUALLY, TO WORK WITH THE PRINCIPALS INDIVIDUALLY, TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND NOT JUST BE REACTIVE AND NOT SAY OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE IT AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. LET'S COME UP WITH A PLAN FIRST AND SOLUTIONS FIRST AND BE TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS BEFORE WE MAKE THE DECISION TO TAKE THE COURTESY BUSING AWAY, BEFORE WE CEASE COURTESY BUSING. THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, TO TAKE A MUCH MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AND CONSIDERATION FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT, ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS DEEPLY AFFECTED, CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON SOME OF THOSE LARGER SCHOOLS.
>> OKAY.
>>Cindy Stuart: MA FARKAS, IS IT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT OR CAN I GO TO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? CAN I HEAR FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FIRST? THANK YOU, MS. SNIVELY. MS. GREENWICH [.
>>April Griffin: THANK YOU. IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE OVERNIGHT I TURNED INTO ONE OF THE OLD PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERIENCE. AND HINDSIGHT. MS. SNIVELY, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS COME FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD SO MANY REPORTS THAT OVER YEARS, AND COURTESY BUSING HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE THINGS THEY'VE SAID THAT WE ARE DOING TOO MUCH OF. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DOES MORE COURTESY BUSING THAN JUST ABOUT ANYBODY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. I REMEMBER THE FIRST CONVERSATION I WAS INVOLVED IN WAS IN 2007. AND IT'S A TOUGH CALL. IT'S A TOUGH DECISION. WE ARE TAKING SOMETHING AWAY FROM FAMILIES. AND THAT'S NEVER EASY. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP SAFETY AS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE THESE HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS VERY SERIOUSLY. AND MAYBE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, A STEP ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE LAW SAYS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS. I'M ALL FOR THAT. I MEAN ONCE WE LAY EYES ON SOMETHING LIKE YOU SAID, MR. BEEKMAN, IT MAY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT TO US THAN WHAT A TRUE HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS DEFINED AS. AND I HOPE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY SITUATION INDIVIDUALLY, SO THAT WE CAN DO THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE ALL COURTESY BUSING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS STILL THAT WE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THOSE, THE BUSING TO STUDENTS. BUT AGAIN, WILL YOU PLEASE SAY FOR THE PUBLIC WHEN THIS IS GOING -- BECAUSE MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK. AS MANY SCHOOLS ARE AFFECTED IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND MS. VALDES' DISTRICT AND THEY'RE ALL IN MY DISTRICT. SO MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK WITH THIS. AND CAN YOU AGAIN STATE WHEN THIS IS GOING TO TAKE EFFECT?
>> THIS WOULD TAKE EFFECT FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE 2017-18 ACADEMIC YEAR. SO THAT WOULD BE NEXT AUGUST.
>>Susan Valdes: THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING FAMILIES. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS TO BE PROACTIVE. WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING, WE NEED TO APPROACH THIS FROM A PROACTIVE POSITION. AND I BELIEVE THAT IN DOING THIS NOW, WE ARE BEING PROACTIVE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THOSE FAMILIES THE TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THOSE SCHOOLS THE TIME, BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND WE KNOW THAT. WE KNOW THAT THE CAR RIDER LONGS ARE GOING TO BE LONGER. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ON THE ROADS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. AND I HOPE IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE VERY, VERY CONSCIOUS OF THAT. BUT OUR SCHOOLS AND THE LEADERS IN OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH THAT, KNOWING THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INFLUX OF MORE CARS IN THAT LINE. AND WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON TRAFFIC ROUTES. I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING. SO OUR LEADERS AND THE SCHOOLS NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND BE VERY PROACTIVE ON THINK. I THINK COMING UP ON THIS PLAN NOW, PUTTING IT IN PLACE, ALLOWING OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE THE TIME TO PLAN IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL. AND AGAIN, TAKING SOMETHING AWAY FROM FAMILIES IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN PROVIDED THE FULL FUNDING FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. AND THE COURTESY BUSING THAT WE DO IS A BIG, BIG DRAIN, BUT COULD BE GOING INTO OTHER AREAS. FIXING OUR AIR CONDITIONERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. AND HIRING MORE BUS DRIVERS AND PUTTING SOME MONEY INTO MAYBE SOME MARKETING TO GET THEM ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT AREAS. SO WE DO NEED TO BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE RIPPLE EFFECTS. I'M HOPING THAT AS THIS GOES ON, MR. BEEKMAN, MR. FARKAS AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT, PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP THIS BOARD ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON SO THAT WE CAN THEN COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE'RE IN TOUCH WITH. HOW CAN WE -- BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE PARENTS THAT CAR POOLED. THE BUSING DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR ME, SO WE CAR POOLED. HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE MORE CAR POOLING? AND NOT JUST FOR ALL OF THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE NOW NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS COURTESY BUSING, BUT LET'S KIND OF MARRY SOME OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE ALREADY TRANSPORTING THEIR CHILDREN.
>> CORRECT. AND SO, WE HAVE LOOKED AT TBARTA RUNS A PROGRAM THAT HOOKS UP PARENTS WITH EACH OTHER, FOR THOSE CAR POOLING PIECES AND THEY HAVE A WEB SITE, SCHOOL POOL? IT'S CALLED SCHOOL POOL. CLEVER. AND SO, THEY HOOK UP THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER AND PUT PEOPLE IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER. ONE OF THE PROCESSES, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING THOSE REGIONAL MEETINGS. BUT WE JUST DON'T WANT TO INVITE THOSE WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED. WE WANT TO INVITE ALL THOSE WHO ARE WITHIN TWO MILES OF SCHOOL. BECAUSE NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL THOSE. BECAUSE AGAIN, REMEMBER, A NUMBER OF THESE SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE BUS TRANSPORTATION. ONLY POCKETS DO HAVE THEM OUT OF THERE. SO WE WANT TO BRING ALL THOSE SCHOOLS TOGETHER AND SAY LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, NOT A JOB FAIR BUT A RESOURCE FAIR TO PROVIDE THESE OTHER SERVICES, TO HOOK UP EACH OTHER, DO THE WEB ONLINE WITH THE SCHOOL POOL PROCESS. AND LOOK AT THOSE OTHERS. I'VE BEEN PART OF THOSE IN THE PAST. THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE A LOT OF ADVOCACY GROUPS OUT THERE WHO WORK WITH OUR PARENT AND OUR STUDENTS, WHO PROVIDE AMAZING PROGRAMS AT OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE BEHIND THE SCENES. THEY COME OUT AND THEY PROVIDE THOSE AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. THERE'S FDOT HAS A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT COME OUT. THERE ARE SAFE WAYS TO SCHOOL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES THAT WE REALLY DON'T TAP INTO IT. SO IT WILL ALSO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT THESE 74 BUT THE OTHER SEVERAL THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE, THAT HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT EITHER. SO IT ALSO MAY BE, MAY HELP IN SOME OTHER WAYS AS WELL. WE HAVE ALSO LOOKED AT HOV LANES FOR THOSE PARENTS THAT, IF THE SCHOOL WOULD PHYSICALLY MEET THOSE, THAT CRITERIA, TO WHERE.
>> WHAT IS AN HOV.
>> HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE. SO, IN OTHER WORDS, IF I'M A PARENT AND I'M GOING TO GET TWO OR THREE KIDS, THEN YOU'VE GOT A FAST TRACK. OKAY. IT'S LIKE FAST PASS AT DISNEY. YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH, GRAB YOUR KIDS AND GET OUT OF THERE. SO IT ENCOURAGES THOSE THINGS MUCH.
>> SCHOOL POOL WE HAVE HAD FOR YEARS. THAT'S NOT A NEW PROGRAM. WE HAVE SENT IT OUT, ASKED FOR LIAISONS AT SCHOOL SITES, INCLUDING THE SITES WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. BUT THERE WASN'T A BIG MOTIVATION TO GET THAT DONE. I THINK THIS WILL BE THE MOTIVATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATORS TO BE THAT LIAISON AND FOR THE PARENTS TO GET TOGETHER.
>> WE DO NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR OUR FAMILIES, BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU, IT WAS A STRUGGLE AS A PARENT, GETTING THE CAR POOL TOGETHER. IT REALLY WAS. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF WE DON'T LEAN ON OUR KIDS MORE HEAVILY WITH THIS, AND THEIR PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, WE WON'T GET ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY THE KIDS THAT FOUND THE CAR POOL PARTNERS. YOU KNOW, THEY SOCIALIZE WITH EACH OTHER, SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT CAN HAVE THIS. WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR KIDS AND BRING THEM INTO THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL. SO, YEAH, SO WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, PLEASE UPDATE US ON THAT. AND HOWEVER WE CAN HELP. MUCH REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A VOICE IN THIS COMMUNITY TOO. WE DO A LOT OF MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF HERE, WHERE WE ARE TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO ALL THE TALKING POINT THAT WE CAN HAVE, ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR FAMILIES TO HELP IN THIS TRANSITION, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT HE WOULD ARE AWARE OF THAT. BECAUSE WE WILL HELP YOU IN THAT. THAT'S OUR JOB TOO. AND MS. SNIVELY TALKED ABOUT 9.5 MILLION IN SAVINGS. IS THAT AN ACCURATE NUMBER?
>> NO.
>> PROJECTED SAVINGS.
>> NO.
>>Susan Valdes: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PROJECTED SAVINGS.
>> THE 9.5 IN THE GIBSON REPORT THAT YOU SAW REFLECTED BOTH HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OKAY. SO, WE STILL KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE OVER 4,000 ELEMENTARY SEMINOLES THAT REPORT. WE HAVE ALSO BROUGHT BACK TO YOU AN ALTERNATIVE AS WELL, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR UP TO, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SO FAR 803 STUDENTS THAT GIBSON DIDN'T. WE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IF IT MET THAT CRITERIA, THAT WE AS A DISTRICT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT TRANSPORTATION. AND WORK WITH THAT COMMUNITY TO GET THOSE HAZARDS THAT THE STATE IDENTIFIED RECTIFIED. AND FIXED. SO WE CAN DO THAT. SO THAT NUMBER WILL, IS NOT THERE. I WILL SHARE, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ABOUT 38 ROUTES. THAT'S ABOUT $3 MILLION OFF THE TOP. THE OTHER PIECE THAT HAS BEEN AN IMPACT TO OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THESE COURTESY ON A SHUTTLE PROCESS. SO IT'S IMPACTING THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE PRINCIPALS ARE HAVING TO KEEP THE STAFF AND WORK OVERTIME WITH THE STAFF. I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THOSE, I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THAT DOLLAR IMPACT IS. OR THAT IMPACT ON THEIR STAFF. OF BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE MANAGING THESE STUDENTS WHILE WE RUN SHUTTLE SERVICE. SO IT ALSO AFFECTS SERBS AT THE SERVICE AT THE SCHOOLS, BOTH A.M. AND P.M. FOR SCHOOL STAFF.
>>Susan Valdes: JUST TWO MORE THINGS. ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE PARENTS MADE, I TOLD THEM WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT AND WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MPO, IS WORKING WITH HARTLINE TO GIVE SOME SORT OF DISCOUNT PASS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TIMES WHERE THE STUDENTS RIDE FREE. BUT IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF DISCOUNT THAT WE COULD REALLY DEEP DISCOUNT THAT WE CAN WORK WITH FAMILIES AND HARTLINE, I'M SURE THEY WOULD LOVE THE RIDERSHIP AND WORKING THOSE SCHEDULES OUT TO MEET OUR BELL SCHEDULES AND OUR SCHOOLS. SO I KNOW THAT MS. STUART IS WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THAT I DO WANT TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE FAMILIES AS WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TOO, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE AVENUE WE CAN TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO, TO TAKE THIS AWAY. SO I KNOW MS. STUART WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. AS WE MOVE A FORWARD, COURTESY BUSING IS A HUGE THING. BUT I WANT TO PUT THIS OUT HERE AND START THIS PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOO. MAGNET SCHOOLS. WE HAVE MAGNET SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT SUCCEEDING. WE HAVE MAGNET SCHOOLS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT. AND OUR MAGNET PROGRAMS ARE HUGE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. AND THEY'RE GREAT. BUT WHEN WE STARTED MAGNETS, THEY WERE IN THE INNER CITIES. AND THEY WERE TO DRAW PEOPLE FROM THE SUBURBS TO THE INNER CITY SCHOOLS. AND WE HAVE EXPANDED THAT SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE MAGNET SCHOOLS ALL OVER THIS DISTRICT NOW. AND SOME ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND SOME OF THEM NOT SO MUCH. WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THE MAGNET BUSING IS A HUGE DRAIN ON OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. IT IS A HUGE DRAIN. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THESE TOUGH DECISIONS, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE AREAS WHERE WE'RE DOING THIS. AND IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS? ARE HAD PROGRAMS REALLY NECESSARY? AND DO WE NEED TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR THOSE? BECAUSE THE MAGNET BUSING IS HUGE. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY BOARD MEMBERS FROM WHAT THE INTENT OF MAGNET SCHOOLS WAS IN THE BEGINNING. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MR. BEEKMAN, YOU AND MR. FARKAS, YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL. YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT ON THIS AS A BOARD MEMBER TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MR. FARKAS, MS. VALDES HAS INDICATED SHE'S GOING TO LET YOU RESPOND BEFORE SHE COMMENTS.
>> I JUST WANT TO COVER A COUPLE THINGS. WE'RE SCHEDULED TO BE, OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T TALK TONIGHT. SORRY. WE ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN FRONT OF THE PRINCIPALS TOKE WITH MR. EAKINS TO HAVE QUESTION ANSWER SESSION AND GET INFORMATION OUT THERE. WE WANT THEM TO TALK ABOUT IT, THE COMMUNITY INOUT WE TALK ABOUT, THAT WILL BE PART OF IT. THE DESCRIPTION OF RASH IS ONE THAT STRIKES A CHORD WITH ME BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE BEEN THE ANTITHESIS OF THAT. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND REVIEWED EACH ONE OF THE ROUTES TO ENSURE IT'S THERE WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY ON THE FORUM WE ARE GIVING TO PARENTS WHICH IS DID WE MISS SOMETHING? PLEASE RERUE THIS, YOU MISSED SOMETHING. I THINK THAT'S UNUSUAL WAY TO APPROACH IT IF WE ARE TRYING TO STEAMROLL SOMETHING THROUGH. IMPORTANT PART IS WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THE MEETINGS THE COUNTY. TRANSPORTATION WORK GROUP WE HAVE WORKED WITH. LISA SILVA SPENDS MORE TIME THAN SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES DO. SHE'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNER. DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NO PAIN. BUT I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK IT WENT WITHOUT THOUGHT. WE KNEW IT WAS A CHALLENGE. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME VERIFYING ROUTES, JAMESSING WEARINGTON, OUR SAFETY SPECIALIST, HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB DOING THAT. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT. THE EXAMPLE THAT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT, WE TALK ABOUT THE NEWS SOME RANDALL ISSUE BROUGHT UP BY THE BOARD MEMBER. EITHER FISHHAWK BOULEVARD IS EITHER DANGEROUS TO CROSS OR IT'S NOT. ONCE YOU GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S PATH OF TRAILS THROUGH THERE. WE ARE PUTTING 1100 KIDS ON A BUS, WE ARE NOT PUTTING 1100 KIDS ON A BUS. THAT'S PRETTY BASIC YES OR NO ANSWER. WE KNOW IT DOESN'T MEET THE STATE CRITERIA, YOU GET TO DECIDE ON WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT. BUT THAT TO ME IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BLACK AND WHITE ISSUES. THERE'S LOTS OF GRAY IN A LOT OF AREAS. THE QUEUE LINES IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. THE QUEUE LINES AND THAT'S HOW MUCH WE HAVE OF THE WINDING ROADS IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A BUCS GAME. DEPENDING IF YOU WHERE I IN 3,000 KIDS AT ALONZO OR NEWSOME OR ANY SCHOOLS, IT IS VERY HARD TO FIT THEM ALL ON CAMPUS. SOME OLDER SCHOOLS HAVING LESS QUEUE LINES, WE HAVE GONE IN MOST CASES, THE FOOTAGE, WE GO AT LEAST DOUBLE THE SIZE OF WHAT NORMAL QUEUING IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE. IN ENACT AT RANDALL IT'S UGLY BUT WE PUT IN A LOOP RIGHT THERE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S MORE ROOM. NEWS SOME WE GO THROUGH THE RANDALL PARK LOT THROUGH NEWS SOME TO DO THAT. I ALSO THINK IT SETS UP, DIFFERENT LOOKING SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE TONS OF BUS RIDERS. SOME SCHOOLS ARE TONS OF PARENTS. WE MAY HAVE A LOT LESS GREENERY AND A LOT MORE CONCRETE IF WE DECIDE WE ARE GOING TO FIT ALL THOSE PEOPLE ON CAMPUS. AS MR. BEEKMAN REFERENCED, ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS ARE THE ONLY THINGS WE HAVE POWER TO IMPROVE. THE PRINCIPAL FOLLOWUP TOMORROW IS A QUESTION AND ANSWER, WE'LL BE BACK IN FEBRUARY. MISS SILVA, MS. STUART WILL BE THERE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS, WHEN ARE YOUR PARENT MEETINGS? AND WANT TO BRING THE VENDORS TOGETHER, SAY WHAT WORKS? SCHOOL SPOOL COMPUTER BASED PROGRAM, THEY CAN DO ON THEIR OWN. THE KIDS ARE EASIEST WAY TO GET CAR POOLING TOGETHER. IF THEY GET ALONG, THAT'S A BIG PART. IT'S HARD ENOUGH GETTING MY KIDS READY. CAR POOL IS NOT EASY. WE REALIZE THAT. MR. BEEKMAN AND I WILL NOT SIT IN FRONT OF YOU AND TELL YOU IT'S AN EASY DECISION BECAUSE IT'S NOT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TIME, OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE 7 BOARD MEMBERS AND TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THE DAIS IS TO MAKE SURE WE PRESENT YOU OPTIONS. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY WE ARE SPEND MUCH THE YOU IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. WE WOULD NOT BE DOING OUR OPTION, THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE TICKET. DOESN'T MEET STATE CRITERIA. THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION. THAT'S WHAT MR. EAKINS GAVE US THE ABILITY TO DO. THAT'S WHY HE'S SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT REGARDLESS OF THE OUT COME. IT IS IMPORTANT TO US. IT IS ONE WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS. MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU MR. FARKAS AND MR. BEEKMAN FOR THE EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. MEMBER SNIVELY, I REALLY DO AGREE WITH YOU WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND STATE STATUTE REALLY NOT -- IT HASN'T KEPT UP WITH OUR GROWTH. IT REALLY HASN'T. AND WE HAVE GROWN JUST SPORADICALLY AND QUICKLY THAT WHEN I FIRST CAME ON TO THE BOARD, WE HAD JUST WERE IN THE TAIL END OF FINISHING, TO HAVE BUILD 60 SCHOOLS IN A MATTER OF 10 YEARS. IT WAS MASSIVE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH. SO I HEAR, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. BUT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY, IS A LITTLE BIT SAD AND THE REALITY IS, YOU MENTIONED THE CUTS THAT THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? SERIOUSLY HISTORICALLY IN THE DISTRICT, THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT OR OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT REALLY NEVER HAD IN MY OPINION THE STRUCTURE LIKE THE INSTRUCTIONAL SITE HAS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE INSTRUCTIONAL SIDE, THERE'S STATE RULES, THEY HAVE TO MEET, THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED, YOU HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. WHEREAS IN THE NONINSTRUCTIONAL SIDE AND THE OPERATIONALS ASPECT, YOU HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING REALLY THAT GOVERNS THAT PARTICULAR AREA. SO, UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT THAT YOU MENTIONED, THINK ABOUT THE PRACTICES THAT WE HAD AT THAT TIME. WE HAD A STAFF OF ARCHITECTS AN ENGINEERS. YET WHEN WE WERE BUILDING SCHOOLS, WE WOULD STILL OUTSOURCE AN ARCHITECT, AN ENGINEER, PLUS PAYING THOSE SALARIES, AND THEY WEREN'T REALLY DRAFTING ANYTHING, RIGHT? SO ANYHOW, IT'S JUST SAD TO SEE HOW ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT KNOWING HISTORICALLY HOW IT OCCURS, IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE DONE WHAT, WHAT DOCTOR VAZQUEZ, ALONG WITH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF MR. FARKAS BEING ABLE TO DO THAT NOW. GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. TODAY WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT REFERENCES TO A PREVIOUS FIVE YEAR PLAN. I WONDER HOW MANY PREVIOUS PREVIOUS FIVE YEAR PLANS WAS THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ON BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECTS THAT WE APPROVED IN A FIVE YEAR PLAN WERE ACTUALLY DONE TIMELY. OR IF THINGS HAD NOT, WERE NOT DONE FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT COMMUNICATION, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ORGANIZE THEIR WAY OF WORK TO ENSURE THAT EQUITY IS ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FACILITIES. AND THEM HAVING TO GET, YOU KNOW, THEIR ROOFS REPAIRED ON A TIMELY BASIS, ON A SCHEDULE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT SYSTEMATICALLY. THAT'S AT LEAST WAY ENVISION THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, SO EQUITY WILL BE A DEFINITE ACROSS THE BOARD. NOW, IN REFERENCE TO THE, THIS AGENDA ITEM, LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS. HOW MANY STUDENTS DO WE NOW CURRENTLY HAVE THAT ARE LATE TO SCHOOL? BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BRING THIS TO THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND REALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COALITION AND I'M SURE THAT OUR OTHER COUNTIES INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR COALITION HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AND THE SAME ISSUES. YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T NEED A LOT MORE DRIVERS TO BE ABLE TO -- I MEAN, I THINK IT'S AS DIFFICULT AS THIS IS TO DO, I UNDERSTAND ORGANIZATIONALLY THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO DO THIS. AM I HAPPY ABOUT IT? NO. WOULD I WANT ALL OF OUR KIDS TO HAVE, ALL OF OUR KIDS TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION ON A DAILY BASIS AND KEEP THEM SAFE? ABSOLUTELY. THINK ABOUT THE INNER CITY KIDS WHO HAVE WALKED THESE SAME ROADS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. LONG, LONG TIME. CROSSING UNDER INTERSTATES. CROSSING OVER MARTIN LUTHER KING. CROSSING 40th TREAT. THESE ARE A LOT OF -- AND THEY WALK THEM. SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, IT IS NOT THAT ALL CHILDREN GET THE SAME THING. BUT THAT THE CHILDREN GET WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND I BELIEVE THAT OVER TIME, IF THE STATE WOULD ACTUALLY FUND TRANSPORTATION, THEN ACCORDINGLY, THEN MAYBE WE COULD REALLY EXPAND AND BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE CHILDREN. ABOUT YOU THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, I CAN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE, THAT THAT IS VERY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'RE CHARGED WITH. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, IT'S FINDING THAT BALANCE. SO, I'LL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE. I UNDERSTAND HAVEN'T I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING MORE MONEY FROM TALLAHASSEE. I REALLY DON'T. IT'S A TOUGH YEAR. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE DELEGATION. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE REMEMBER BOARD MEMBERS, LAST YEAR WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY CLOSE TO BEING EMBARRASSED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND BEING A NATIONAL JOKE BECAUSE OF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. AND I WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY. I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT, JEFF EAKINS, AND CHIEF OF STAFF, DR. VAZQUEZ, BECAUSE FOR THE DILIGENT WORK AND THE MANY, MANY HOURS THAT YOU BOTH PUT INTO THIS, YOU AVOIDED AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THIS BOARD, FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF IN MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS TOPIC AD NAUSEAM. EACH TODAY AT THE MPO MEETING IT CAME UP AND IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE MPO AS WELL AS I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT WE COULD GET OUR HANDS ON AT THE SCHOOL, TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP AND AS WELL AS MANY OF THE PARTNERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICE TO PARENTS, FAMILIES AND TUNE IN THIS DISTRICT. WE ARE GIVING GUIDELINES AND WE ARE GIVING GUIDELINES FOR A REASON. AND I THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM STICKING TO THOSE GUIDELINES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, THAT WE HAVE NOW PUT THIS OUT THERE AND WE HAVE 70,000 STUDENTS WHO MAY FALL WITHIN THE CRITERIA TO GET COURTESY BUSING AND THE PHONE IS GOING TO START RINGING THE OTHER WAY AND THAT THIS MOM INCLUDED IS GOING TO ASK FOR A BUS FROM MY HOUSE TO BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO CROSS A FOUR LANE UNDIVIDED HIGHWAY. I WATCH STUDENTS EVERY MORNING, YOUNG STUDENT CROSS FLORIDA AVENUE. NOW, THERE ARE TWO CROSSING GUARDS AS THEY GET TO -- THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL IS ESCAPING ME. BUT AS THEY CROSS OVER TO GO TO SCHOOL NEAR THE AREA 3 OFFICE, I WATCH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS, HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS CROSS BEARSS AVENUE TO GET TO MORT ELEMENTARY. THERE ARE NO BUSES AT MORT ELEMENTARY. WE DO NOT BUS ANY OF THOSE STUDENTS. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME ANYONE TRAVELED BEARSS AVENUE IN THAT SECTION, ABOUT YOU IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IN FACT, FDOT HAS AGREED TO DO IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THE MPO AND THROUGH THE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT ROAD. WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OUT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO ROAD WORK AND IT COMES TO SAFETY. I CAN ASSURE YOU AND YOU WILL GET AN UPDATE IN JANUARY. I HAVE LISA SILVA WILL COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A FULL UPDATE OF EVERYTHING THAT THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHING. BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES IN PLACE. WE INTEND TO GO TO THE PRINCIPALS MEETING TOMORROW ONCE THIS COMES FORWARD. THERE WILL BE A FULL PRESENTATION TO THE PRINCIPALS IN THIS THE FEBRUARY MEETING FOR RESOURCES FOR THEM, SO THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE. ASK QUESTIONS, TALK ABOUT HOW THEY REGISTER COMPLAINTS. WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH DIVISION WEB SITE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME ANYONE LOOKED AT TRANSPORTATION SIDE OF OUR WEB PAGE BUT IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY REVAMPED THANKS TO GREG HART OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, TO ADD A HOST OF INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS OUT THERE IN FRONT OF PARENTS. AND I WANT US TO BE EQUITABLE. WE TALK ABOUT ONE THIRD OF AN ENTIRE SCHOOL BEING AFFECTED. BUT IF WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE GAVE BUSING TO OTHER STUDENTS AT OTHER SCHOOLS, THAT ONE THIRD OF THE SCHOOL ALREADY HAS TO FIND THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION, OR HAS TO GET DRIVEN BY A PARENT OR CAR POOL. IF WE START OFFERING THAT SERVICE, I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM OPEN OUR HANDS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A PROCESS THAT -- THIS IS THE MOST EXPANSIVE ATTACK ON THIS THAT I THINK -- I KNOW THIS HAS COME BEFORE THE BOARD BEFORE BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE EVER TAKEN THE TIME TO GO OUT AND EVALUATE EVERY SINGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STOP BASED ON THE STANDARDS AND THE GUIDELINES. AND JAMIE WEARINGTON IS NOT HERE TONIGHT. HE'S PROBABLY EXHAUSTED FROM THE WORK THAT HE WAS DOING, BUT I KNOW THAT IN HIS WORLD, HE HAS SPENT SO MUCH TIME WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS SINCE EARLY OCTOBER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SITE WAS LOOKED AT. WE DO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE IN WHICH WE WILL LOOK AT, IF A PARENT CALLS AND SAYS I DON'T THINK OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE CROSSING THIS STREET AND WE LOOK AT WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE CROSSING THAT STREET, MY VERSION OF HAZARDOUS VERSUS MS. HARRIS' VERSION OF HARD MAY BE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. SO WE HAVE TO SET GUIDELINES IN PLACE FOR WHAT IT IS WE PUT IN FRONT OF PARENTS AND PUT CHILDREN IN THE MIDST OF. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. MOST MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING AND GETTING TO SCHOOL SOMETIMES AFTER THE TRAFFIC HOUR. I MEAN, I DON'T DROP MY CHILD OFF UNTIL 8:45. AND THEY'RE LEAVING SCHOOL BEFORE TRAFFIC GETS TOO HORRENDOUS IN THE AFTERNOON. CAR POOLS ARE OUT THERE. THERE'S OPTIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. I HAVE A CHILD WHO DRIVES TWO OR THREE OTHER KIDS HERSELF AND SHE'S BEEN IN A CAR POOL SINCE THE DAY SHE STEPPED FOOT INTO HIGH SCHOOL. SO I THINK PARENTS HAVE A LOT OF TIME RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GIVING THEM NINE MONTHS RIGHT NOW IF THIS IS APPROVED TODAY, TO THINK ABOUT, TALK ABOUT, WORK WITH FAMILIES HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MA I CAN THIS WORK FOR THEM FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. FINANCIALLY, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO TELL US THAT WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WILL BE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO TELL US NOT TO DO THIS. SO I THINK WE ARE IN A CATCH 22. WE HAVE GOT TO DECIDE TONIGHT WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE OR WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE THINK PARENTS THINK BEST WHEN WE, WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISION. SO, I AM FULLY IN FAVOR OF US MOVING FORWARD ON THIS. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO COME FORWARD AND IDENTIFY SPOTS THAT THINK, THEY THINK ARE MORE HAZARDOUS THAN OTHERS. THERE WILL BE ISSUES THAT COME UP IN THE FUTURE THAT WE HAVE TO DEEM A HAZARDOUS WALKING CONDITION AND WE WILL HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE BY WHICH WE WILL PUT BUSING IN THE PLACE FOR THAT WALKING CONDITION, FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF TIME. AND I THINK IT'S PORN TO UNDERSTAND, BOARD MEMBERS, THAT THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PROCESS BY WHICH WE REMOVE COURTESY BUSING. SO IF YOU WERE LIVING IN A PARTICULAR AREA AND THERE WASN'T A SIDEWALK FROM YOUR HOME TO THE SCHOOL WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, YOU GOT A BUS. THE SIDEWALKS BEEN BUILT FOR FIVE YEARS. WE NEVER TOOK THE BUS AWAY. SO THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PROCESS BY WHICH WE REMOVED COURTESY BUSING WHEN IT WASN'T NECESSARY ANY MORE FOR THE STUDENT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS. SIDEWALKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE. AND WE REALLY JUST HAVEN'T HAD A PROCESS IN PLACE TO REMOVE SOME OF THIS STUFF. SO, I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT MR. BEEKMAN AND YOUR TEAM AND MR. FARKAS AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMES FULL CIRCLE. BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW WE DID GET TALKING POINT. THEY WERE PREPARED FOR US. WE WERE GIVEN INFORMATION, IF YOU WISH TO RESPOND TO CONSTITUENTS BY EMAIL, THERE IS A FULL COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR US TO WORK FROM. AS YOU GET INFORMATION FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND I'M SURE MR. BEEKMAN AND MR. FARKAS' DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN. I WILL END WITH THOSE COMMENTS. MS. SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS. AND IT'S ACTUALLY EIGHT MONTHS. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I TEND TO CONSIDER MYSELF ONE OF THE FISCALLY -- WELL, I CONSIDER MYSELF A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M VERY CLEAR WHEN I SAY THAT I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, EACH THOUGH I'VE OPPOSED THIS, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE COST SAVINGS IS WORTH THE RISK AND THE SAFETY THAT WE ARE COMPROMISING FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS. SO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. WE ARE NOT READY. IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEDESTRIAN STUDIES, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN 2015, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WAS MORE DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS THAN ANY OTHER YEAR PRIOR. A 51 PEDESTRIANS WERE INVOLVED IN FATALITIES, WHICH IS A 50% INCREASE IN PEDESTRIAN DEATHS SINCE 2014. WHAT MY POINT IS BY SAYING THIS IS THAT THE COUNTY HAS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. AND WE ARE NOT READY TO MAKE THIS MOVE YET. AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE. AND HAVE A BETTER PLAN. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS, I AGREE WITH THAT. WE ARE HAVING YOUR PRINCIPAL MEETING TOMORROW. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE HAVE HAD HAD PRINCIPAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THIS PRIOR TO TOMORROW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH PRINCIPALS. I CAN TELL YOU THE ONES I'VE SPOKEN WITH WOULD PROBABLY NOT AGREE WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL. BUT I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE SITUATION, OR THE TREND THAT I HAVE SEEN SINCE BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, IS THAT WE ARE NOT AS PROACTIVE AS WE CAN BE. WE SHOULD BE HAVING COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEADERSHIP BEFORE WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND GET ALL THE INPUT AND HAVE A PLAN SO THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT AS DIFFICULT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AS THEY HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING. MS. VALDES WAS TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS BEING LATE OR MISSING SCHOOL. BUT NOW I WONDER HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE LATE OR MISS SCHOOL BECAUSE WE ARE CREATING ADDITIONAL HARDSHIPS FOR FAMILIES WHO ALREADY HAVE CHALLENGES. SO I FEEL LIKE -- BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONAL. DON'T GET ME WRONG. I JUST DON'T THINK WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE RAMIFICATIONS AND WENT RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT THIS WILL CAUSE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS AND SOME OF OUR FAMILIES. SO, AGAIN, I JUST DON'T THINK WE ARE READY FOR THIS. AND I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERSHIP. AND I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF RELATIVELY NEW BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST THAT I'M IT'S COME TO THIS BOARD, TO OTHER NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
>> IF I COULD SHARE ALSO, AGAIN, THERE WAS NO PROCESS TO TAKE ANY OF THESE STUDENTS OFF. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS, I'VE BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE CORRECTED THE HAZARDS. WE HAVE REMOVED STUDENTS IN PREVIOUS DISTRICTS. IT'S STILL NOT A POPULAR DECISION. BECAUSE ONCE THEY HAVE THE SERVICE, IT'S TAKING THAT SERVE AWAY. AND I KNOW HOW POPULAR THIS MAKES ME. ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I FEEL THAT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COME AND SAY HERE IS THAT STATE CRITERIA. HERE IS WHAT PROTECTS THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT OUR STUDENT AND PROTECT OUR DISTRICT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CAN'T BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE AND WE CAN'T BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PARENTS. BUT IT DOES BRING UP THE QUESTION IS, IF THAT'S -- IF YOU GO THAT ROUTE, WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENTS THAT HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT AND ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THAT CRITERIA IS JUST NOT THERE.
>>Cindy Stuart: MY LAST COMMENT WILL BE, I KNOW IT'S NOT POPULAR. I REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT POPULARITY AS MUCH AS I CARE ABOUT HAVING A NEW PLAN IN PLACE, COMMUNICATING IT WELL, IMPLEMENTING IT EFFECTIVELY AND KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFETY AS A TOP PRIORITY. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. SNIVELY. MEMBER SHAMBURGER?
>>Tamara Shamburger: THANK YOU, MR. BEEKMAN FOR THE INFORMATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AS A NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, OBVIOUSLY I HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVY TO THIS LONG CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN HAD. I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU THIS EVENING. SO SHOULD WE END COURTESY BUSING, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CONTINUALLY ASSESS OR REASSESS THESE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS? ARE WE DOWN THE ROAD GOING TO FIND OURSELF BACK TO SQUARE ONE WITH POTENTIAL COURTESY BUSING ISSUES? WHAT IS THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD? WHAT'S OUR LONG-TERM PLAN WITH ELIMINATING COURTESY BUSING IN.
>> WELL, THE PROCESS HAS TO -- THAT HAS TO BE US. THAT HAS TO BE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTABLE. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS SPLIT BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS. AND THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS THAT LACK OF COMMUNICATION, LIKE MS. SNIVELY HAS REFERRED TO. AND IT'S PLAGUED THE DISTRICT IN THIS A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS. THIS IS ONE AREA THAT'S IN PARTICULAR. OUR PROCESS IS TO SAY, WHEN IT DEALS WITH ELEMENTARY AGED STUDENTS, THE HANDLE WAS CHANGED THIS PAST YEAR AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE REIMBURSEMENT. THE ONLY CRITERIA THAT CHANGED, MOVED FROM THE 55-MILE AN HOUR ZONE TO A 50-MILE AN HOUR ZONE. THAT WAS THE ONLY CRITERIA THEY REALLY CHANGED. THE BIG CHANGE WAS IN THE FUNDING MILK NICHE. BECAUSE WE ALONE CANNOT MAKE THAT DETERMINES. THIS DISTRICT CANNOT SAY THIS MEETS THE HAZARDOUS CRITERIA, THEREFORE IT IS HAZARDOUS. IT TAKES A GROUP OF SIGNATURES. ONE IS THE JURISDICTION FROM WHOEVER THAT ENGINEERING GROUP IS. IF IT'S THE COUNTY COMMISSION OR IF IT'S A CITY ENTITY OR WHOEVER THAT IS ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER SIGNATURES THAT VALIDATE THAT THAT CRITERIA IN IN FACT IS. THERE'S ALSO A PIECE THAT WHOEVER OWNS THAT HAZARD, THEY HAVE TO SHOW A DUE DILIGENCE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CORRECTED WITHIN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD OR WHEN IT WILL BE SET TO BE REPAIRED. BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THEN THE FUNDING SUNSETS. SO IF THE COUNTY, IF IT'S A COUNTY-OWNED HAZARD AND THE COUNTY SAYS WE GOT THAT, IT'S IN OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN, AND AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS THEY SAY OOPS, BY THE WAY WE GOT HIT WITH THIS PROJECT, THIS PROJECT. IT'S NOW OUT TO YEAR EIGHT. WE ARE OUT OF FUNDING FOR THREE YEARS. THAT'S WHEN WE GET IN -- I SAY WE, SUPERINTENDENT, THE ATTORNEY, GET INTO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUNDING PIECE BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO AND LOOK AT AVENUES TO DO THAT. ORIGINALLY THE LANGUAGE THAT WENT BEFORE THE LEGISLATORS SAID THAT IF THE ENTITY DIDN'T FICK IT, THEN THE ENTITY WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THAT. HOWEVER, THEIR LOBBYISTS WERE MORE POWERFUL THAN OUR LOBBYISTS, SO THEREFORE THAT LANGUAGE WAS TAKEN OUT. THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
>> JIM, ONE IMPORTANT POINT. ACCOUNTABILITY STANDPOINT, OUR PROPOSAL IS ANY CRITERIA THAT MEETS HAZARDOUS WALKING CONDITIONS WILL BE A REPORT TO THE BOARD. SO YOU'LL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY KIDS AND WHY THEY'RE BEING TRANSPORTED, NOT BEING TRANSPORTED. THERE WASN'T THAT COMPREHENSIVE LIST BEFORE. SO THEIRS ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE. YOU'LL KNOW EVERY KID THAT DOESN'T MEET THE TWO MILE CRITERIA, SO YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER CAN SAY I KNOW 400 FOR THIS REASON, SO YOU'LL HAVE THAT OWNERSHIP OF WHO IS GETTING, WITHOUT DOING THE LOGS. I DON'T THINK EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE QUITE AS DEEP AS JIM IS. WE'LL TELL YOU EVERY KID ON THERE EVERY YEAR. APPEALS THEREON TOO. IF ANYBODY FINDS A NEW HAZARDOUS WHEN THEY START CONSTRUCTION, THEY DIDN'T NOTICE, SAY PLEASE REVIEW THIS AND WE'LL GO OUT THERE AT ANY TIME.
>> THAT IS ALSO ELECTRONIC ON OUR WEB SITE AS WELL.
>>Tamara Shamburger: IF I COULD MAKE ONE QUICK FOLLOW-UP. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AREAL PROCESS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT BRIEFLY THIS EVENING, SHOULD A PARENT PREVAIL ON THEIR APPEAL, NOW ONE STUDENT IS A WHOLE BUS STOP, CORRECT? DO YOU HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE WHERE NOW, I WON THE APPEAL, SO NOW I HAVE THE BUS STOP. WELL, THE PEOPLE AT THE NEXT BUS STOP WILL SAY OF COURSE, HEY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PICK THEM UP, WHY NOT PICK US UP. NOW THINK OF THIS CYCLICAL EFFECT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO TRANSPIRE. IS IT, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY EFFECTIVELY END COURTESY BUSING?
>> IN THAT PROCESS, WHAT WE ARE TELL THEM TO DO IS IDENTIFY THE CRITERIA WE MAY HAVE MISSED. IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT IS NOT BECAUSE HEY I DESERVE A BUS, GIVE ME A BUS. THAT'S NOT THE APPEAL PROCESS. IT IS BASED ON THE CRITERIA. SO IF WE MISSED THAT SPOT, THEY AUTOMATICALLY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THAT. PART OF THAT IN THAT TWO MILE, WE DRAW THE LINE AT TWO MILES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT TOUGH CONVERSATION WITH THE PARENTS THAT YOU'RE 1.99, YOU DON'T GET BUSING. BUT YOUR NATION, YOU KNOW, TWO HOUSES DOWN IS 2.0, THEY GET A BUS. AND THOSE ARE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD OVER MY CAREER. THE ONE THING I WON'T MISS WHEN I RETIRE. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> AMONG OTHERS.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. SHAMBURGER. MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: WHEN I CONVINCED MY HUSBAND TO HAVE OUR FIRST CHILD, HE SAID WE ARE NOT READY. THEN HE STARTED GIVING ME ALL THESE EXCUSES WHY. I SAID WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE READY. FINANCIALLY, THE MORE YOU MAKE, THE MORE YOU SPEND. SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO IT. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PAIN IN THIS, MS. SNIVELY. AND I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS AND I DO NOT THINK THAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE NOT VALID AT ALL. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY. WE KNOW THAT. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN US DO AS A DISTRICT, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE MORE WELL-THOUGHT-OUT PLANS THAT IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. WITH THE COUNTY AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO TRIP, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY, I REALLY, I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST PLANS I'VE SEEN COME FORWARD. AND I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS AGAIN, SO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, SINCE I KNOW MS. SNIVELY IS NOT WANTING TO SUPPORT THIS, THAT WE PULL THIS FOR A SEPARATE VOTE AND VOTE ON IT NOW.
>> ALREADY PULLED.
>>Cindy Stuart: I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. GREENWICH AND SECOND BY MS. VALDES TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM SEPARATELY. BOARD MEMBERS.
>> JUST TO EXPLAIN. SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR NOW IS TO JUST VOTE SEPARATELY ON, TO ALLOW YOU TO VOTE SEPARATELY. SO IF YOU'RE VOTING YES, THAT MEANS YOU WOULD AGREE YOU WOULD HAVE A SUBSEQUENT VOTE TO VOTE ON THIS SEPARATELY. IF YOU VOTE NO, THAT MEANS THIS WILL JUST STAY ON THE CONSENT INNUENDO AND YOU'LL APPROACH IT ALL AS ONE ITEM. A YES VOTE MEANS YOU'LL HAVE A SUBSEQUENT VOTE TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THIS.
>>Cindy Stuart: SO IT'S UNANIMOUS. WE WILL VOTE ON THIS ITEM SEPARATELY.
>> SO I MAKE A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE STUDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
>>Cindy Stuart: SO THERE'S A MOTION TO UPHOLD THE STUDENT'S RECOMMENDATION BY MS. GRIFFIN. MR.S GRIFFIN, IF YOU COULD WRITE THAT DOWN AND SECONDED BY MS. VALDES. BOARD MEMBERS, YOUR VOTE TONIGHT IS TO UPHOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE COURTESY BUSING AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS IN THE DISTRICT. AND YOU CAN VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS COME UP. AND THE VOTE IS 6-1 WITH MS. SNIVELY AGAINST. SUPERINTENDENT, I WOULD JUST ASK, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT BOARD MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY BOARD MEMBERS IN AREAS THAT ARE AFFECTED SIGNIFICANTLY AND WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE AREAS ARE GOING TO BE LOUD IN THEIR VOICE ABOUT THIS. AND WE SUPPORT AREA SUPERINTENDENTS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN GIVING THEM DOCUMENTATION INFORMATION, WHATEVER WE CAN. I KNOW THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE FROM THE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP TO BRING INFORMATION TO THOSE AREAS FOR EDUCATION, FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU KEEP THOSE BOARD MEMBERS, AND ALL OF US REALLY ABREAST OF HOW THIS IS GOING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE DID GET A COUPLE OF EMAILS TODAY, THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE, NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MORE AND THERE IS A BLANKET RESPONSE THAT WAS GIVEN TO BOARD MEMBERS TO RESPOND IF THEY CHOOSE TO ABOUT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE ARE GOING ABOUT IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL KEEP ALL BOARD MEMBERS INFORMED. ALL THE THINGS, AND I KNOW CAME UP THIS EVENING ARE ALREADY BEEN ANTICIPATED, THAT THOSE WOULD COME UP AS ISSUES, SO IN WORKING SPECIFICALLY WITH LEADERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOSTLY AFFECTED BY THIS, OUR STAFF ALONG WITH AREA SUPERINTENDENTS, OUR LEADERS AT OUR SCHOOLS WILL ALL KIND OF MAKE SURE WE HUDDLE AROUND THOSE COMMUNITIES AND DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN IN PROVIDING INFORMATION AND SUPPORT AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>> CAN I ALSO SHARE FROM THIS POINT NOW, WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS TOMORROW TO START THAT MAIL MERGE OF THOSE STUDENTS, TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO PARENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>>Cindy Stuart: YES, THE LETTER IS BEING TRANSLATED IN SPANISH, MS. VALDES.
>> HAS BEEN.
>>Cindy Stuart: IN FACT, DR. VAZQUEZ WAS WORKING ON IT LAST NIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. BEEKMAN AND MR. FARKAS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL MOVE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED AGENDA. STARTING WITH ITEM NUMBER C 10 IS, WHICH WAS PULLED FOR A HIGHLIGHT BY MS. VALDES AND HIGHLIGHT BY MS. GRIFFIN. AND LESLIE GREENWICH WILL PRESENT. SHE'S THE GENERALLY DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTAL LEADERSHIP AND HAS MS. BARBRA HANCOCK WITH HER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, NEW BOARD MEMBERS, WELCOME. SUPERINTENDENT EAKINS AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE STUDENT PROGRESSION PLAN. LET ME BEGIN BY GIVING YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT. THE STUDENT PROGRESSION PLAN IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE. IT IS COMPRISED OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND STATE LEGISLATION AND DISTRICT POLICIES AND IS THE PROCEDURES AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE POLICIES. WHICH IS WHY THE TIMING OF THIS DOCUMENT CAN SOMETIMES BE A LITTLE CHALLENGING AND OUT OF OUR CONTROL. WE MUST WAIT FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANT PAPERS FROM THE STATE. WE UNFORTUNATELY ARE STILL WAITING ON SMALL COMPONENTS OF THIS. THIS DOCUMENT IS ALIGNED WITH DISTRICT POLICIES AND DRIVES MANY PORTIONS OF STUDENT HANDBOOK. THE MAIN DOCUMENT THAT REFERENCES STUDENTS IN GUIDING THEM THROUGH SCHOOL. TONIGHT WE WILL ONLY HIGHLIGHT AREAS THAT ARE PRIMARY LANGUAGE CHANGES TO THE DISTRICT, FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE MARKED-UP DOCUMENT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALLER CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENT MORE STUDENT AND PARENT FRIENDLY. THESE CHANGES ARE MADE THROUGH REVIEW FROM REPRESENTATIVES IN EACH OF THE AREAS AND FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS OVER THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH AREA WHERE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE MADE TO SPEAK TO THE NEW HANDLE. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE HIGHLIGHTS OVER TO SHAN SHERA QUINN, MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDANCE SUPERVISOR TO SPEAK TO K IS THE GENERAL STATEMENT SECTION.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'LL BE SPEAKING TO SECTION 1. 1., WHICH PERTAINS TO SPECIAL PLACEMENT. AS IT RELATES TO GRADE LEVEL. IN THIS SECTION WE REMOVED THE LANG RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIONS INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE WE FELT THAT IT DILUTED THE ACTUAL PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. AND SO THAT INFORMATION IS ACTUALLY APPROPRIATELY PROVIDED THROUGH PROCEDURE IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING THAT WE HAVE FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE IN THE SECTION 1.3. NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MS. BARBRA HANCOCK WITH ELEMENTARY EDUCATED INDICATION.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING. WE HAD ONE CHANGE, ONE ADDITION BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT IT WAS IMPACTED IN K-12. AND THAT IS THAT PARENTS REQUEST A CLASSROOM CHANGE, NOT THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN GOING ON PRIOR TO THIS TIME. BUT IT DOES REQUIRE THE SCHOOLS TO NOTIFY THE PARENTS WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THAT DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THE MOVE WILL BE MADE AND SPECIFIC REASONS WHY. THE SECOND ONE FOR ELEMENTARY HAS TO DO WITH EXCEL. AT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS MAY BE ACCELERATED EITHER, IN A CONTENT AREA SINGLE SUBJECT OR ENTIRE GRADE LEVEL. WHAT WE ADDED TO THE CURRENT PLAN WAS MORE SPECIFICITY ON THE TIMELINE. SO PARENTS, IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT AS TO WHEN A PARENT NEED TO MAKE THAT REQUEST. THOSE REQUESTS COME FROM PARENTS. SO IT COULD BE FOR A WHOLE GRADE LEVEL PROMOTION OR SINGLE SUBJECT AREA. SO IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR. THEN ONCE THE SCHOOL NOTIFIES THEIR ELEMENTARY GENERALLYIST THAT THAT REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE, THE ELEMENTARY GENERALISTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE ELSE THING AND WORK WITH THE ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT. NOW JANET SPENCE WILL SHARE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> GOOD EVENING. THERE ARE NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE 3.0 MIDDLE SCHOOL PROCEDURE STATEMENTS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE EXTENSIVE MARK-UPS. AND THAT IS TO REFLECT A CHANGE IN THE ORDER OF THE CONTENT. SO THE ORGANIZATION CHANGED SOME UPDATES TO LANGUAGE HAVE CHANGED. AND THAT IS TO ALIGN WITH THE ORDER OF OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK. THERE IS A NEW SECTION, SECTION 3.2.3, AND THAT PERTAINS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT COURSES. THIS SECTION WAS ADDED AS IT IS STATED ALREADY IN OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK. SO AGAIN, NO CHANGE TO THE PROCESS.
>> OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEE THE BRUNT OF THE CHANGES FALL IN HIGH SCHOOL SECTION. SO I HAVE EIGHT CHANGES THAT ARE EAT DISTRICT PROCEDURES OR 2016 LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT. THE FIRST HIGHLIGHT I WANT TO FOCUS IS 4.1. IS, THE TENSION OF CREDIT. IN THIS SECTION A SMALL PORTION WAS REALIGNED TO PLACE THE QUALITY POINTS PORTION INTO THE GRADING SECTION. AND IT ALSO DELETED APARTMENT OUTDATED PORTION ABOUT SEMESTER EXAMS PERTAINING TO EARNING AN F BELOW 50, WHICH WAS REMOVED LAST YEAR IN 2015. THE NEXT SECTION 4.4.6 SPEAKS TO RANK IN CLASS. THIS IS A DISTRICT PROCEDURE. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH GUIDANCE, APCs, PRINCIPALS, VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, WE REVISED THE DEADLINE DATE FOR RANK IN CLASS AND SOME OF THE WORDING TO BE CLEAR FOR STUDENT AND PARENTS. THE DEADLINE WAS MOVED FROM THE LAST DAY OF THE FIRST SEMESTER TO THE SAME DATE THAT THE TEACHERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR GRADES AT THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER. APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS. THIS YEAR, THAT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 9th. THIS ALLOWS BOTH OUR BRICK AND MORTAR DEW POINT AND OUR VIRTUAL STUDENTS TO ALL HAVE THE DEADLINE. ALLOWING TEACHERS TO FINALIZE GRADES. ALSO AFTER DISCUSSION WITH A FEW PARENTS, WE REVISED SOME OF THE WORDING TO BE MORE STUDENT AND PARENT FRIENDLY IN AN EFFORT TO CLARIFY ALL DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES. THE NEXT SECTION BE 4.4.8 SIMILAR TO THE LAST, IN REFERENCE TO HONOR GRADS. THIS THIS IS ALSO A DISTRICT PROCEDURE. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WE REVISED THE DEADLINE DATE FOR HONOR GRADUATES DETERMINATION AND SOME OF THE WORDING TO BE CLEARER. THE DEADLINE FOR COURSE WORK TO BE CONSIDERED TO BE AN HONOR GRAD DETERMINES WAS MOVED FROM THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER, MOVED TO THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER WHEN TEACHERS GRADES ARE DUE. THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER, ALLOWING MORE STUDENTS TO EARN A 4.0 GPA TO BE RECOGNIZED AT GRADUATION IN THE HONOR COURT. WHILE NOT CHANGING THE RANK IN CLASS, WHICH IS ALREADY FROZEN ON A DESIGNATED DATE IN THE BEGINNING OF THIRD QUARTER. THIS YEAR THAT IS FEBRUARY 3rd FEBRUARY 3rd. SPECIFIC WORDING CHANGES WERE CENTERED AROUND OFFICIAL GRADE REPORTS WHICH IS THE CORRECT WORDING FOR OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TRANSCRIPTS, WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE NEXT HIGHLIGHTED AREA WAS 4.5.8, OUR SEAL OF BY LITERACY. THIS SECTION OUTLINES CRITERIA FOR NEW SEAL OF BILITERACY, WHICH WAS ADDED IN STATE STATUTE FROM HOUSE BILL 7029 AND OUR DISTRICT POLICY 5461. THE SEAL IS A NEW RECOGNITION PROGRAM TO BE AWARDED AT GRADUATION. WHERE A STUDENT HAS ATTAINED HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETENCY IN LISTENING, SPEAKING, READING HANDWRITING IN ONE OR MORE WORLD LANGUAGES IN ADDITION TO ENGLISH. THE STUDENT MUST EARN FOUR WORLD HANDLE COURSE CREDITS IN THE SAME WORLD LANGUAGE AND MAINTAIN A 3.0 GPA AS WELL AS EARN A SATISFYING SCORE ON A WORLD LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT THIS ASSESSMENT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED FROM THE STATE YET. AS THEY ARE TO GO TO RULE MAKING PROCESS TO DETERMINE THIS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WE ARE STILL WAITING FROM THE STATE. THE NEXT SESSION, 4.6.6 IN REFERENCE TO COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS CLEP TESTS. A NEW STATE LAW IN REFERENCE TO HOUSE BILL 7029. STUDENT CAN NOW EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT FOR PASSING THE CLEP TEST WITHOUT BEING ENROLLED IN A COURSE. THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT STUDENTS MUST ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVE COLLEGE OF CHOICE TO DETERMINE WHAT COURSES THEY WILL ACCEPT FOR COLLEGE CREDIT. EACH SCHOOL HAS THE ABILITY TO APPLY THIS DIFFERENTLY. THE NEXT AREA, 4.6.8 IN REFERENCE TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT. ALSO UNDER NEW HOUSE BILL 7029, A TONIGHT MAY NOW EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT THROUGH PASSAGE OF AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM BY EARNING A 3 OR BETTER OUT OF 5. WITHOUT BEING ENROLLED IN A COURSE. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO ALSO NOTE HERE THAT STUDENTS MUST COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVE COLLEGE OF CHOICE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SCORE THEY WILL ACCEPT TO AWARD CREDIT. AGAIN, THIS DETERMINATION IS MADE BY THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. THE NEXT SECTION 4.8.7 IN REFERENCE TO CHARACTER EDUCATION. UNDER NEW HOUSE BILL 1147, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM FOR GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELFTH WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A VARIOUS OF COURSES REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION. THESE COURSE FOR OUR DISTRICT ARE ENGLISH NINE THROUGH 12, WORLD AND AMERICAN HISTORY, ECONOMICS WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND HOPE. KEY SKILLS AND TOPICS WILL BE ADDRESSED WITHIN THESE COURSES. OUR LAST HIGHLIGHT FOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS 4.8.9. AND THIS IS A RECENT DISTRICT POLICY 2.18 -- 241 WITH REFERENCE TO CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION PROCEDURE. ALL STANDARD DIPLOMA STUDENTS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN COMPRESSION ONLY CPR AND AED INSTRUCTION. ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES LIKE ROTC, DANCE AND HEALTH SCIENCE ELECTIVES. WE WILL TRACK PROGRESS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES AS HOPE COURSES ARE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION COURSE. THIS CONCLUDES THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE TONIGHT HANDBOOK. AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SCRIES JARGO, DIRECTOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
>> THANK YOU. AS PART OF 7.1.4, WE ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION OR CTE, ACADEMIC COURSE SUBSTITUTIONS. THESE PERMIT A STUDENT FROM EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION, ESE, TO SUBSTITUTE CTE COURSE WITH CONTENT RELATED FOR ENGLISH 4, ONE MATH OR ONE SCIENCE CREDIT, EXCLUDING ALGEBRA ONE, GEOMETRY AND BIOLOGY ONE. THIS HAS BEEN A COMBINED EFFORT OF THE CTE DEPARTMENT, ESE DEPARTMENT, SECONDARY EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE SENSES. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A LIST OF CTE COURSES ALIGNED WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR EAT MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE OR ENGLISH 4. AS AN EXAMPLE, IF AN ESE STUDENT PASSES CULINARY ARTS ONE, THEY CAN SUBSTITUTE THAT COURSE FOR A SCIENCE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT EXCEPT FOR BIOLOGY 1. IF THAT SAME STUDENT A FEW YEARS LATER PASSES CULINARY ARTS 3, LATER IN THEIR CAREER THEY CAN SUBSTITUTE THAT FOR A CREDIT IN ENGLISH 4. THE STUDENTS WOULD WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEIR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO DETERMINE WHERE APPROPRIATE TO IMPLEMENT THIS TYPE OF SUBSTITUTION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BENEFITS OF THIS OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES TO OUR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION STUDENTS. THANK YOU. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER FOR QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF THESE TOPICS.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. VALDES? ARE.
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK STAFF AND MS. AGRESTA FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF OR SO THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM GOING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THIS DOCUMENT. I APPRECIATE THE TIME INVESTED IN MAKING THIS DOCUMENT AND BRINGING IT TO US TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL, AND THIS IS WHERE THE NEED COMES IN. A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING IN THIS PARTICULAR PLAN REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF MORE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, INVOLVEMENTS IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THIS OUT WITH FIDELITY. I CAN IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT AND IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THAT UNFORTUNATELY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OCCUR WITH FIDELITY BECAUSE OF -- THERE ARE SO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY, IF YOU WILL, FOR A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO. SO, AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND LOOKING AT HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ALLEVIATEING OR -- DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD RESTRUCTURING, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE DUTIES THAT THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS ARE CURRENTLY DOING IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE ARE REALLY WANTING THEM TO DO. SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW THIS WITH FIDELITY AND MAKE THE TWEAKS ALONG THE WAY THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT YESTERDAY, SO THAT THEN IT'S MORE TRANSPARENT DOCUMENT I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT I BELIEVE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE VERY SELDOM DO. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN RECENT TIMES DONE THIS. BUT ON PAGE 33, BOARD MEMBERS, NUMBER 6.2.4. RETURN TO HIGH SCHOOL. A STUDENT WITHDRAWN FROM A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND ACCEPTED INTO THE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT PROGRAM MAY RETURN TO A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRIOR TO HIS OR HER 18th BIRTHDAY. AREA SUPERINTENDENT, THIS IS IMPORTANT. MANY TIMES WE TAKE AWAY THE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT STUDENT WHO HAS HAD CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY, AND IS A CHILD. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY AGAINST ALL ODDS, I DID IT. LET'S CHANGE THIS. LET'S CHANGE THIS. LET'S MAKE THIS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY. THAT'S THE FIRST MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT. THEY COULD HAVE TROPHIES FOR CHEERLEADING, FOR BASEBALL, FOR SOCCER, FOR EVERYTHING. BUT THEIR FIRST TRUE, TRUE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS EARNING THAT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, NOT A CERTIFY OF COMPLETION. SO, MR. PETERS IS THERE, BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE IT. WE ARE EDUCATORS. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING KIDS, OUR CHILDREN UP, AND WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR CHALLENGES, IT'S NOT TIME TO KICK THEM TO THE CURB. IT'S TIME TO SAY YOU CAN DO THIS. AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET REWARDED IF YOU DO THINGS RIGHT AND WE'LL LET YOU COME BACK TO YOUR ALMA MATER. AND GRADUATE WITH DIGNITY THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. THAT ONE REALLY OBVIOUSLY BASED ON MY COMMENTS HERE, YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, BECAUSE IT IS CHILDREN HOPE, NOT A ROPE.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. I APPRECIATE ALL THE RED LINING IN THIS. I KNOW YOU GUYS I THINK WORKED REALLY HARD IN CLEANING UP THIS DOCUMENT AND MAKING IT A LOT MORE SUCCINCT AND I APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED AND THE BOARD GOT NOTIFICATION IN A FRIDAY REPORT LAST WEEK THAT THIS ACTUALLY REDUCES SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TESTING THAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING. SO YEA, WE REDUCED TESTING. MY CONCERN IS THAT I WANT TO KNOW HOW THE HANDBOOK AND THE PLAN ARE GOING TO BE UPDATED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CHANGES IN HERE. THIS IS A LOT TO COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS, ESPECIALLY HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS. LET ME FINISH, I HAVE MORE THAN ONE QUESTION. ALSO, SEMESTER GRADES AND CALCULATION OF SEMESTER GRADES. WHEN YOU HAVE AN IB STUDENT WHO IS TAKING IB EXAMS AND THE REDUCTION OF THE AP EXAM, HOW ARE WE CALCULATING END OF YEAR GPAs, HOW ARE WE CALCULATING, GPAs FOR SEMESTERS WHEN TALKING ABOUT REDUCTION OF SOME OF THESE EXAMS? MY GUESS IS THAT IT CHANGES HOW GRADES ARE GOING TO GET CALCULATED FROM THE CLASSROOM, FROM THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. AND I THINK THAT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SOME OF THEM ARE SENIORS, SOME OF THEM ARE -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS IN HOW THEIR GRADES ARE NOW BEING CALCULATED AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, A GPA OF X AND IT'S NOT GOING -- MAYBE GREATER. I. LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS. BUT I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE RUN THAT THROUGH HOW WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THAT FORMULA? I'M HOPING, I SEE DOCTOR BINDER OVER THERE, I'M HOPING AN ASSESSMENT WE HAVE CALCULATED A NEW FORMULA, HOW WE ARE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
>> BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY USES THE SAME GRADING SCALE THAT YOU SEE IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK UNDER SENIOR EXAM EXEMPTION. SO IT GOES BY QUALITY POINTS. SO IT'S BROKEN APART. I WISH I HAD MY NOTES SPECIFICALLY, THOUGH I'LL TALK FROM THE HIP AS MUCH AS I CAN. IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM HOW WE GRADE WHEN WE HAVE AN EXEMPTION, BECAUSE THE GRADE IS DETERMINED FROM EACH NINE WEEKS. SO THE NEW TESTING REDUCTION PIECE, I'LL GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION SINCE I PICKED UP ON THE SECOND PART FIRST. SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT IT WILL LOOK VERY PARALLEL TO WHAT YOU SEE FOR A SENIOR THAT'S TAKING, THAT IS NOT TAKING FINAL EXAMS. THEIR GRADES WILL BE THIRD NINE WEEKS AND FOURTH NINE WEEKS, WHERE THEY THERMALLY WOULD EXEMPT EXAMS. SO THE GRADES WILL BE CAM OUTED THE SAME WAY THEY DO THAT GROUP OF STUDENT.
>> SO WHEN IS THIS GOING INTO EFFECT?
>> SECOND SHE IS TEMPT.
>> BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING UNDER ONE SYLLABUS WHERE GRADES ARE BEING CALCULATED A PARTICULAR WAY. AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO CALCULATE GRADES DIFFERENTLY. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE NOT COMMUNICATED THAT TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPECTING THAT THEIR GRADES ARE CALCULATED IN A PARTICULAR WAY.
>> SO THE CALCULATIONS, LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T DO IN OTHER SCENARIOS. WHAT'S COMING OFF OF THAT IS THE 25% FOR THE EXAM. THE GRADE WILL COME FROM THE THIRD NINE WEEKS AND THE FOURTH NINE WEEKS. AS IF THAT STUDENT IS EXEMPTED THEIR EXAM. IT IS VERY PARALLEL TO OTHER PROCEDURES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE. FOR EXAMPLE, IB, MOST STUDENTS IN IB DON'T TAKE A FINAL EXAM ANYWAY. UNLESS FOR SOME REASON THEY HAD AN ATTEND PROBLEM, A FINAL EXAM, UNLESS THEY HAD AN ATTEND PROBLEM. THIS ELIMINATES THAT STUDENT FROM HAVING TO HAVE THAT PENALTY AT ALL. SO THOSE STUDENTS IN IB WILL NOT HAVE SENIOR YEAR, HAVE ANY EXAMS THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE FOR IB. SO THE DAY THAT THEY LEAVE FOR THEIR IB EXAMS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON IB. WON'T HAVE TO BE COMING BACK TO TAKE SENIOR EXAMS BECAUSE NORMALLY VERY FEW HAD TO ANYWAY. THEIR GRADES WERE ALREADY CALCULATED WITH THE TWO GRADES. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THAT THOUGHT PROCESS BEFORE YOU. LET ME GO BACK TO THE FIRST PIECE. WE FELT THAT THE FIRST KEY INFORMATION WAS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. WE HAVE WORKED WITH COMMITTEES, PRINCIPALS, APCs, TEACHERS TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. AND WENT THROUGH THAT. WE HAVE ALSO TALKED THE LAST COUPLE PRINCE MEETING, IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY THAT, BETWEEN AP, IB AN READING STUDENTS, IN FULL YEAR READING BECAUSE THEY TEST ALL THE TIME. AND WE WANT THEM TO FOCUS THEIR MOST ON THE TEST THAT ARE GOING TO COUNT WHETHER THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, IN REFERENCE TO THEIR READING OR WHETHER THEY'RE TAKING THE IB EXAMINATION OF THE AP EXAMINATION. SO THE EMPHASIS IS REALLY TO HAVE THEM BE ABLE TO PUT ALL THEIR TIME AND EFFORT INTO THE TEST THAT REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THEY GET THAT COLLEGE CREDIT OR IF THEY PASS THAT READING TEST TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE. SO IT'S THOSE THREE GROUPS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE SITUATION AT THIS TIME. AGAIN, THE ONLY GRADING CHANGE IS IT'S GOING TO LOOK PARALLEL TO OUR SENIOR EXAM EXEMPTION CRITERIA. IN REFERENCE TO COMMUNICATION, YES, THERE ARE LAYERS AND LAYERS THAT NEED TO BE DONE FROM THIS POINT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, PRINCIPALS AND APCs HAVE HEARD THIS, NEXT STEP, AN INDIVIDUAL LETTERS GUESS THOM EVERY STUDENT, TO EVERY TEACHER. THAT'S GOING TO START RIGHT BEGINNING OF SEMESTER TWO, THE SEMESTER THEY'RE GOING TO BE SITTING IN THAT CLASS. THEY NOW WILL KNOW THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM, THEIR GRADE ARE BASED OFF THIRD NINE WEEKS AND FOURTH NINE WEEKS, REALLY ALLOWING THE TEACHER TO BE THE EARTH OF KNOWING WHAT THEIR STUDENTS KNOW AND BEING ABLE TO LET THEM SHOW THAT.
>> MY LAST QUESTION IS, HOW THEN IS THIS GOING TO BE CALCULATED FOR A TEACHER'S VALUE ADD IF IT HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS NOW NOT TAKING THE EXAM?
>> WE WORKED WITH UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. THEY TOOK THE SAME DATA AND OVERLIED IT. WE WORKED THAT DIRECTLY WITH NICOLE, CHUN INDICATION WITH UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN, THEY PARALLELLED EXACTLY THE SAME SCENARIO OF STUDENT THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IT IMPACTED TEN TEACHERS. OF THOSE TEACHERS FIVE WERE FIRST YEAR TEACHERS AND THEIR SCORES WENT UP AND THEY WENT INTO HIGHER CATEGORY. ONLY TWO WENT DOWN OUT OF TEN AND THIS WAS ALL ENGLISH, ALL AP AND IB WERE FACTORED INTO THAT. BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THEIR FIRST NINE WEEKS, OR FIRST SEMESTER OF GRADES, THERE ARE OTHER BENCHMARKS THEY'RE USING. ALSO USING THE AP EXAM, IB EXAM AND LE TEST THEY'RE TAKING AS PART OF THEIR VAM SCORE.
>>Cindy Stuart: OKAY. I MEAN, IT'S GOOD NEWS. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE ARE REDUCING TESTING. I AM CERTAINLY GLAD TO HEAR FOR IB STUDENTS WE ARE REDUCING THE FACT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE FOCUS ON IB EXAMS AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TAKING BOTH, BECAUSE HAVING JUST LIVED THAT WITH A CHILD, IT IS CRAZY TO THINK THAT A CHILD CAN STUDY FOR IB EXAMS AND THEN TURN AROUND AND TAKE AN AP EXAM WHEN THE COURSE WORK IS NOT EEN THE SAME. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMUNICATION ON THIS AND HOW THAT'S GETTING TO PARENTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST A LETTER, THAT IT'S A PARENT LINK, IT IS OVERCOMMUNICATED BECAUSE I THINK ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SENIORS, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXACT ON THEM POTENTIALLY AND HOW THEIR GPA IS CALCULATED AND -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT NUMBER-WISE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR GPAs AND PARTICULAR SCORES TO GET INTO COLLEGE, ALREADY APPLIED TO COLLEGES, HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM. STUDENTS ARE ON THAT CUSP. THE KIDS WHO ARE ON THE CUSP AND LOOKING FOR I GOT TO PASS THIS CLASS BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO GET ME THE GPA I NEED TO GET INTO A PARTICULAR SCHOOL. SO I'M HINTED TO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNICATION PLAN IS ON THIS MOVING FORWARD. NOT JUST TO FAMILIES BUT TO COMMUNITIES. CAN'T JUST PUT IN THE HAND POOK AND PUT IT UP ON THE WEB SITE AND ANNOUNCE THERE'S A CHANGE. GOT TO BE MORE THAN THAT I KNOW OUR HANDBOOK IS ONLY AND WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO IT. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE OVERCOMMUNICATE. THEN THERE WILL BE CONFUSION. I KNOW, I THINK WE DID SOMETHING SIMILAR NOT THAT LONG AGO WHEN WE MADE CHANGES TO THE PERCENTAGES THAT THE EXAMS WOULD COUNT FOR. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION. ONCE EXAMS WERE OVER AND DONE WITH, PEOPLE REALIZED, MY GOSH, THAT EXAM COUNTED FOR MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BECAUSE IT WASN'T COMMUNICATED TO THEM. I THINK STUDENTS TOO. GOT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LEAVE STUDENT OUT OF THE COMMUNICATION AND THAT THEY'RE THE ONES ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SIT AND GO WELL, THE EXAM IS ONLY 20% OF MY GRADE AND I ONLY HAVE AN A SO I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE EXAM. OR THEY FRET ABOUT IT FOR WEEKS. I WILL TURN THINGS -- MS. GRIFFIN, YOU HAD PULLED THIS ITEM. DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS?
>>April Griffin: NO, I JUST WANTED A HIGHLIGHT. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU FOR THE FORMS OF I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. SO MOVING FORWARD, BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE AT ITEM IN 3. SO, WHICH WAS I BELIEVE PULLED BY MS. VALDES. AND MS. HARRIS IS HERE TO PRESENT. WELCOME, MS. HARRISON.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'LL BE GLAD TO PRESENT THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE DO WITH OUR STUDENT MONITORS AND BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. OUR STUDENT NUTRITION MONITORS, THEY WORK WITH US. THERE'S TWO IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THERE'S ONE 7-HOUR MONITOR AND ONE THREE AND A HALF HOUR. THAT 7-HOUR MONITOR ALSO WORKS IN OUR KITCHEN, USUALLY BETWEEN BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SERVICE. AND THEN THE THREE AND A HALF HOUR MONITOR COMES IN STRICTLY AT LUNCH. SO THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE HELPING WITH OUR CHILDREN DURING LUNCHTIME. SO, THIS PARTICULAR BOARD ITEM HELPS CHANGE THE JOB DESCRIPTION TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF THE SUBSTITUTE MONITOR. STRICTLY THE SUBSTITUTE. THAT SUBSTITUTE MONITOR FOR THE THREE AND A HALF HOUR EMPLOYEE, THAT PERSON'S SALARY WAS AT A PAY GRADE THAT WAS LOWER THAN THE REST OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO WE MOVED IT FROM A PAY GRADE 12 TO A PAY GRADE 15. AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE VERY SMALL AMOUNT THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED IN OUR BUDGET. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: YES, I HAVE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MS. HARRISON, WHAT IS THEIR STARTING SALARY NOW?
>> THEIR STARTING SALARY IS NOW ON PAY GRADE 12. AND I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT THAT STARTING SALARY AMOUNT IS.
>>Susan Valdes: CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT PAY GRADE 12 IS, PLEASE? IN REFERENCE TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION, I'M GOING TO -- OKAY, THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR A LONG, LONG TIME ABOUT JOB DESCRIPTION, SALARY STUDIES. I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION THIS AT THIS POINT WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE PAY GRADE IS. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE JOB DESCRIPTION, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE TWO, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT RE-REVIEW THESE JOB DESCRIPTIONS. DEPENDABILITY. THERE'S A COMMENT OR A SENTENCE THAT SAYS COMMITS TO DOING THE BEST JOB COMMITMENTS. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SAYS. QUALIFICATIONS, LANG SKILLS. IT SAYS READ AN INTERPRET DOCUMENTS SUCH AS SAFETY RULES, OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTION AND PROCEDURES MANUAL. WRITE ROUTINE REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE, SPEAK EFFECTIVELY BEFORE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS. DO OUR SUBSTITUTES IN THE CAFETERIA DO THAT? THE OTHER ONE IS, IS IT A CURRENT PRACTICE THAT, THAT THEY DO THIS? SO THIS IS WHY, THIS IS WHY I WAS GOING TO, HAD INTENDED ON PULLING THE 400 ITEMS. AND I DECIDED NOT TO. BECAUSE AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT AND IN CONSULTATION WITH STAFF, WITH DR. VAZQUEZ TODAY'S A NEW DAY. THE PAST IS THE PAST. BUT WE OWN IT NOW. WE HAVE OWNED IT. WE HAVE TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO EVALUATE ALL OF THESE JOB DESCRIPTIONS ALONGSIDE WITH OUR SALARY SCHEDULES. AND FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. THIS IS THE PROBLEM. THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS THE MACHINE OF THE DISTRICT. IT IS WHERE WE HIRE OUR TEACHERS, WHERE WE SHOULD HIRE ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT. BECAUSE THEN CLEAR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED. I FIND OUT THAT COMMITTEES ARE PUT TOGETHER BY THE INDIVIDUAL MANAGER WHO IS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT. THEN WE CAN GET INTO POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BECAUSE THERE IS NO CLEARANCE AS TO WHO IS SITTING AROUND THAT COMMITTEE, EVALUATING THE APPLICANTS, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN A CLEAR, NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST, NO RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HIRING OF A PERSON, INDIVIDUAL FOR A POSITION? WE JUST HAD ETHICS TRAINING. THAT'S CORRUPTION IF YOU INTERTWINE THINGS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT. WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY FOR THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO FIX THESE DISPARITIES. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE MANPOWER, THE KNOW-HOW TO DO A TRUE SALARY STUDY AND COMPARISON WITH JOB DESCRIPTIONS SO THAT WE CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN THE ORGANIZATION. AND REALLY CAPITALIZE ON THE TALENTS THAT WE HAVE AND FOR THEIR SKILLS AND PAY THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD GET PAID FOR THEIR DEGREES, THEIR POSITION, AND IT SHOULD MIRROR. SO, HAVING SAID THAT, I'M GOING TO PUT MY FAITH, AS I'VE HAD IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, THIS ADMINISTRATION OWNS THE ISSUES IN HR. WE MUST FIX THOSE, BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS IMPORTANT. THAT WE REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS FOR OUR DISTRICT, AS A PEOPLE ORIENTED ORGANIZATION. AND IT'S JUST IMPORTANT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF, IF MR. EAKINS OR DR. VAZQUEZ IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA AS TO WHAT IT IS WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE THINGS BECAUSE I, I HAVE TO HAVE FAITH IN THE HR PROCESS. LET ME REPEAT THAT. THE HR PROCESS. IT'S NOT INDIVIDUALS. IT'S PROCESSES. TO PUT ALL OF THE SAFETY NETS IN PLACE TO AVOID ANYTHING LATER ON, COMING BACK TO US FROM A LABOR PERSPECTIVE. SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH THESE INDIVIDUALS MAKE NOW IN THAT NEW PAY GRADE IS BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE WE ARE INCREASING SOME SALARIES TO THE MINIMUM WAGE OF $8.10 THAT IS COMING FORWARD IN JANUARY. SO, THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO FIND OUT, THAT THEN LATER ON WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM. BECAUSE ALL OF THESE HR ISSUES SHOULD'VE COME IN ONE BUCKET. IF WE KNEW THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE PIECEMEALING A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CORRECT. AND WHICH I'M OKAY WITH THAT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HR ISSUES AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LIVELIHOOD OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR RETIREMENT, THEIR BENEFITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WE HAVE GOT TO GET IT RIGHT. WE HAVE TO. WE HAVE TO. SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS AND WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS. BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I CAN'T. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MEMBER GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR TO DR. VAZQUEZ BECAUSE SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS TO RESPOND.
>> YES. JUST TO KIND OF ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF THE HR PROCESS. NOT TO SHY AWAY OR NOT TO KIND OF, KIND OF NOT ARGUE WITH OR DISAGREE WITH KIND OF THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS CONCERNS AND SO FORTH THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, MS. VALDES. THAT IS NOT NEW TO US AT THE TABLE WHEN WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HR TEAM ABOUT, OR EACH OF THE DIVISIONS WHEN I SIT WITH THEM AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY ANALYZING OR RE-CREATING THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS. THEY GO INTO THIS INTENSIVE PROCESS OF ASKING ABOUT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND MAKING SURE NUMBER ONE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THE LAW AND KIND OF THE LANGUAGE AND SO FORTH. BUT ALSO I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS CONCERNS THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. BOARD MEETINGS OR ON A ONE ON ONE CONSULTATIONS. IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE TART TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATIONS IN THE MAJOR REOREGONS IN THE PAST, THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED OR THE DEGREES REQUESTED FOR THE CERTAIN POSITIONS WERE NOT ALIGNED TO KIND OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT SPECIFIC JOB TITLE. SO WE STARTED TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS OF CHANGING. HOWEVER, WE HAVE A LIST OF PRIORITIES IN THE HR DEPARTMENT LIKE EACH OF THE OTHER DIVISIONS THAT WE KIND OF TAILORED AND HAD TO DISCUSS AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT ARE THE ITEMS THAT WE WANTED TO ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH AND COMPLETE. FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING THAT EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK PRESENTED AND APPROVED WAS A CONCERN OF THE BOARD AND THE TEAM OF THE HR DEPARTMENT MADE THAT HAPPEN. THE FACT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT FOCUS ALWAYS AND NUTS IN FRONT OF US AS A TEAM IS CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND THE HR DEPARTMENT STARTED TO KIND, IN THEIR REORGANIZATION, HOW ACTUALLY THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DELIVER THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE HR PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE YES, MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES, THAT'S THEIR FIRST PLACE THAT THEY COME TO AND SOMETIMES THAT'S THE LAST PLACE THAT THEY COME TO WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO RETIRE FROM THE DISTRICT. EVEN LOW JUST TICKLY THEY'VE, I'VE INVITED MANY BOARD MEMBERS TO WALK THE PROCESS, SEE WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY ENCOUNTER IN THIS THAT PROCESS. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. TO BE SINCERE WITH YOU, THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS A MONUMENTAL TASK, TO ACTUALLY GIVE A TIME CERTAIN DATE OF WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETE, I CANNOT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT IS MONUMENTAL. BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH DATABASE OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT CAN GO BACK YEARS AND YEARS. AND THAT WAS ALSO HIGHLIGHTED IN THE GIBSON REPORT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE UPDATE OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS. BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE ANTIQUATED AND MANY OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT AND WE ARE TRYING TO DO IT IN A PARALLEL WAY AS PEOPLE ARE ANALYZING JOB DESCRIPTIONS, LOOKING AT SALARY SCHEDULES, GET THEM FORWARD. BUT IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE DISTRICT TO CAIN OF GET THAT ALIGNED AND UPDATED ACCORDINGLY.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: THANK YOU. MY QUESTIONS WERE IN REFERENCE TO THE TRAINING THAT THESE LUNG ROOM MONITORS GET, BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SOME CONCERNS BROUGHT TO ME BY PEOPLE WORKING IN THE LUNG ROOM THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE SOME SPECIAL NEEDS, MAY LIKE TO ELOPE, AND THERE ARE SOME FEAR THERE ABOUT THE LIABILITY ON THEIR PART TOO BECAUSE SOME OF OUR LUNCHROOMS CAN OPEN UP TO SOME BUSY AREAS. AND SO I'M REQUEST JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE TRAINING IS FOR THESE EMPLOYEES.
>> WE HAVE BROUGHT THEM IN FOR TRAINING, BOTH 27-HOUR AND THE THREE AND A HALF HOUR EMPLOYEES BEFORE FOR TRAINING. CLEARLY ON WHAT WE FEEL LIKE THEIR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES ARE IN THAT CAFETERIA. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING CHILDREN. I MEAN EVERYTHING FROM OPENING A MILK CARTON TO A JUICE POUCH TO TELLING CHILDREN TO KEEP THEIR FEET ON THE FLOOR. THEY DO STILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR. THEY STILL NEED THE SUPERVISION OF PERHAPS ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, THE PRINCIPAL, THE TEACHER ON ASSIGNMENT IN THE CAFETERIA, TO HELP ON HANDLING SOME STUDENT ISSUES THAT MAY NEED A MORE EXPERIENCED THAN WHAT THESE PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES HAVE.
>>April Griffin: THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT RHETORICAL. BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, AND WITH OUR AREA SUPERINTENDENTS WITH OUR PRINCIPALS, THAT THE MONITORING IN THESE LUNG ROOMS CANNOT SOLELY FALL ON MS. HARRISON'S STAFF. BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. BUT THERE IS ALSO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT OUR EDUCATORS HAVE THAT THESE STUDENT NUTRITION SERBS WORKERS MIGHT NOT HAVE. AND A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY IS FALLING ON TO THESE MEN AND WOMEN'S SHOULDERS AND THERE'S A BIT OF CONCERN ON THEIR PART ABOUT THE STUDENTS' SAFETY AND THE LIABILITY FACTOR. SO, AS WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, I JUST DON'T WANT THESE WORKERS TO BECOME A CATCHAL FOR TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES IN THE LUNCH ROOM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS THEIR JOB. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS JOB DESCRIPTION ENTAILS. BUT SOME COULD THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I'LL RESPOND TO THAT, MY SUPERINTENDENT HAT AND FORMER PRINCIPAL HAT. BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT CLASSES WENT TO LUNCH AT WHAT TIMES AND WHEN I NEEDED TO BE THERE AND WHEN APs NEEDED TO BE THERE. I THINK TISSUE IS, IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SITE BASED ADMINISTRATOR TO DETERMINE THE SUPPORT NECESSARY AT THE TIMES NECESSARY THAT OUR LUNCHROOM PERSONNEL NEED EXTRA BODIES OF SUPPORT IN THERE. AND THENCE JUST THAT INITIAL, THEY'RE PART OF THE STAFF, SO THEY BECOME PART OF THE TRAINING THAT ALL THE OTHER STAFF GIVES AROUND THE SUPERVISION OF KIDS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THERE. SO AS SUPERINTENDENT I KNOW THE LEADERS ACROSS THIS DISTRICT. THAT'S PART OF MAKING SURE THEY EXECUTE THEIR SAFETY PLAN AT THEIR SCHOOL IS SUPERVISING STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES AND ALSO KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS. BECAUSE YOU KNOW AS A LEADER THOSE STUDENTS AT YOUR SCHOOL THAT MIGHT PRESENT SOME MORE CHALLENGES. THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO PRO I SOME EXTRA TRAINING TO PARTICULAR PERSONNEL THAT ARE WORKING WITH THEM IN A VERY SHORT SNIPPET OF TIME. BECAUSE THE CLASSROOM TEACHER HAS THAT LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. OUR LUNCH ROOM PERSONNEL ONLY GET HALF HOUR SNIPPETS WITH THEM. SO YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME EXTRA SUPPORT WITH THEM FOR CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. GREENWICH, WERE YOU FINISHED? THANK YOU. MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: JUST A FOLLOW-UP TO DR. VAZQUEZ'S REMARKS, SO WOULD THERE BE, MR. EAKINS, WOULD IT BE A CONSIDERATION JUST TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD POSSIBLY COST TO DO A, TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT THAT COULD HELP STAFF REVIEW THESE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND -- I JUSTRY THINK THAT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE ONCE -- I CONSIDER THAT THE FOUNDATION, IF YOU WILL, FOR, WELL, RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND REALLY SAYING THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THESE THINGS AND THAT WE ARE PAYING THE FAIR WAGE FOR THAT PARTICULAR JOB OR -- I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. SO I WONDER -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO THAT, PUT OUT AN RFP TO SEE WHAT, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER REALLY DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE DISTRICT IN ITS HISTORY TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF WE ARE ON TARGET. AND ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE INTENTION OF THE HR DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT, BUT AS DR. VAZQUEZ SAID, IT'S A DAUNTING TASK. HOW MANY JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE THERE IN THOUSANDS OF THEM, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO IT'S -- I JUST THINK THAT.
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO KNOW -- LIKE EVERY EMPLOYEE NEEDS TO KNOW THEIR WAY OF WORK AND HOW THEY'RE COMPENSATED AND MAKE SURE THERE'S EQUITY ACROSS FOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMPENSATION TO HOW, AND HOW EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES. ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOK AT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SOME, EVEN ONES ATTACHED TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT BECOME VERY, NOT AS SPECIFIC -- THERE'S SOME GENERAL STATEMENTS.
>>Susan Valdes: ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE FILLERS. BE NICE TO PEOPLE.
>>Jeffrey Eakins: I THINK PART OF IT IS GOING BACK AND REEVALUATING HOW OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS REALLY TELL THE STORY ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE REALLY AT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE JOB DESCRIPTION DOES GIVE THE EMPLOYEE A CLEAR INDICATION THIS IS WHAT I DO. RATHER THAN THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANYTHING I DO. I DO FIVE OF THESE THINGS BUT THE OTHER 20 I DON'T REALLY MATCH MY DAY-TO-DAY WORK. IT'S THAT KIND OF LEVEL WORK. WE CERTAINLY WILL LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE WE WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO FEEL LICK THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS A STORY OF WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. OKAY. BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU MS. HARRISON. WE ARE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4. SO.
>> WHILE SHE'S WALKING UP, THE PAY GRADE WAS ORIGINALLY $8.19. THEY MOVED IT TO $9.48.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. WOODFORD, WHO IS PRESENTING THIS? OH, SORRY.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. VALDES, YOU PULLED THIS ITEM? 4. SO. APPROVE THE PERSONNEL INSTRUCTION LIST, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT.
>>Susan Valdes: I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE ONES ADDED. I BELIEVE IT WAS MS. GRIFFIN'S. IS THAT CORRECT? NO?
>>April Griffin: THIS WAS THE AGENDA ITEM IN WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT, THE FREEZE AND -- MS. COLLINS AND I HAD A CONVERSATION, BOARD MEMBERS, IN REFERENCE TO, TALKING ABOUT OUR MESSAGE AND COMMUNICATION. WHEN WE ARE SAYING THAT WE HAVE A DISTRICT HIRING FREEZE BUT EVERY BOARD MEETING WE ARE APPROVING NEW PERSONNEL AND TRANSACTIONAL CHANGES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I BELIEVE THAT ON THE COVER SHEET, WE ACTUALLY STATE THAT BECAUSE WE ALL KNEW THAT THERE WAS A HIRING FREEZE. AND WE ALL KNEW ALSO THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN POSITIONS, SUCH AS, THAT AFFECT THE CLASSROOM THAT, IT WOULDN'T BE A FREEZE. BUT FOR THE AUDIENCE OUT THERE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION, THAT WE DO. SO WHEN WE, THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE AND THE COVER SHEET AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IS JUST TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THAT AGENDA ITEM AND WHAT IT IS. SO, I WANTED TO TAKE AFTER A CONVERSATION THAT MS. COLLINS AND I HAD IN REFERENCE TO TRYING TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, TO HAVE THE AGENDA ITEM REFLECT THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THAT, THOSE CHANGES AND FOR BEING MORE TRANSPARENT AND NOT JUST COPYING AND PASTING. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. THE NEXT BOARD ITEM IS NUMBER 4.07. I BELIEVE THIS WAS ALSO PULLED BY MS. VALDES. SO SHE'S GOOD. SO WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NO 604. I BELIEVE MS., DOCTOR BINDER IS GOING TO PRESENT. APPROVE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO NCS PURPOSE,. WELCOME, MS. BINDER. THIS WAS PULLED BY MS. GRIFFIN.
>> GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, STAFF, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE STANFORD ACHIEVEMENT TEST. WE HAVE USED THIS THIS ASSESSMENT FOR OVER 30 YEARS. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW. THIS IS JUST TO KEEP THAT CONTRACT GOING FOR THIS LAST YEAR OF. TO BEGIN, WE HAVE BEYOND USING THE TEST SINCE THE '80s, THE STATE REQUIRES WE HAVE A STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT AT GRADES ONE AND TWO. BECAUSE THIS FLORIDA STANDS ASSESSMENT IS NOT ADMINISTERED AT THOSE GRADE LEVELS. SO WE HAVE USED THE SAT 10. A REFERENCE ASSESSMENT SO IT GIVES US DIFFERENT KIND OF DATA THAN CRITERION REFERENCE, WHICH IS FSA. FINALLY THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THIS ASSENT MOVING FORWARD, IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME BACK TO OUR TEACHERS. SO WE ARE LIMITING THE TESTING EVENT TO INSTEAD OF TOTAL BATTERY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE READING COMP ONLY SUBTEST AND MATH PROBLEM SOLVING SUBTEST. I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: THANK YOU. I PULLED THIS ONE, I KNOW WE HAD A CONVERSATION EARLIER ABOUT LESSENING THE TESTING THAT WE ARE DOING ON OUR STUDENTS. AND WE REALLY HAVE WORKED TO GET THAT DOWN. THIS TEST, HOWEVER, IS ONE OF THOSE TESTS AND FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE CHALLENGED THE FSA SCHOOL GRADE RESULTS YET. BUT WITH FCAT, WE HAVE CHALLENGED MANY YEARS -- ACTUALLY I THINK EVERY YEAR THAT FCAT WAS IN PLACE. AND THERE WAS ONE YEAR -- WE HAVE WON THE CHALLENGE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, MINUS ONE YEAR. AND THAT WAS THE ONE YEAR THAT WE DID NOT PURCHASE THE STANFORD TEST. AND SO, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION PUBLICLY SO THAT THE TEACHERS WHO ARE WATCHING AND OUR STAFF WHO IS WATCHING UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ONE MORE OF THOSE TESTS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT ON THEM. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NATIONALLY NORM TEST THAT CAN TELL OUR TEACHERS WHERE THEIR STUDENTS ARE AND GET THE RESULTS BACK IMMEDIATELY. UNLIKE THE RESULTS FROM THE STATE. AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP GUIDE INSTRUCTION WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS. SO, THIS, ALTHOUGH IT PAINS ME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX THAT EXISTS IN OUR COUNTRY NOW. TO SPEND THE KIND OF MONEY THAT WE SPEND ON THIS I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXPENDITURES THAT IS WORTH IT.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THIS ASSESSMENT THIS YEAR, IN THE PAST AS YOU HAD NOTED, WE DID GIVE THIS ASSESSMENT ACROSS GRADE LEVELS. AND EVERY, WHEN THERE WAS A TRANSITION FROM FCAT 1 TO FCAT 2, WE GAVE THE ASSESSMENT TO NOT ONLY 1 AND 2 BUT ALSO 3 THROUGH SOME, SO WE COULD HAVE THAT OUTSIDE MEASURE AS A BAROMETER.
>> AND WE CAN. AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS I DON'T MIND BEING CORRECTED PUBLICLY. WE CAN USE THIS TEST TO CHALLENGE A CHILD BEING PROMOTED OR LACK THEREOF, SO IF THEY DON'T DO WELL ON THE STATE TEST, ON FSA, AN THEY DO VERY WELL ON THIS, THEN WE CAN USE THIS TO ADMINISTRATIVELY PROMOTE A CHILD TO THE FOURTH GRADE.
>> CORRECT. SO WE USE IT TO FULL, WE USE IT IN THIRD GRADE. WE GIVE THE ASSESSMENT AS WELL AS FSA BECAUSE WE WILL GET THE SAT 10 DATA BACK BECAUSE WE SCAN LOCALLY. SO WE WILL KNOW WHETHER OR NOT A STUDENT IS GOING TO BE RETAINED OR NOT BECAUSE WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS ALREADY. THEN WE ALSO USE THE SAT 10 BATTERY OVER THE SUMMER IN READING CAMP. SO THAT THEY CAN BE PROMOTED AT THE END OF SUMMER CAMP IF NEEDED.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT PARENT SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT WE ARE GIVING THAT AS A SAFETY NET TOO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. HOW CLOSELY DOES THE STAT SOME ALIGN TO FLORIDA STANDARD?
>> THE SAT SOME DOES NOT ALIGN TO THE STANDARDS AS YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD PULL THE STANDARDS FROM THE FLORIDA STANDARDS, THE GUIDEBOOK. IT'S NOTE THAT KIND OF ASSESSMENT. THE WAY THAT THE SAT 10 WAS CREATED, THESE ARE NATIONALLY NORMED ASSESSMENTS AND STANDARDS. THESE ARE WOULD STUDENT SHOULD KNOW AND LEARN IN THAT GRADE LEVEL ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION. SO THEY'RE NOT FLORIDA STANDARDS. THEY ARE WHAT FIRST GRADERS SHOULD KNOW. SO WHEN YOU BREAK OUT THE NORMED REFERENCE MANUAL AND GO THROUGH THE STANDARDS, THEY MATCH UP AND THEY ALIGN PER SE BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE ITEMS ON SAT 10 THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ON FLORIDA STANDARDS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GET THE RANK. SO IN SOME CASES A STUDENT WILL TAKE A TEST ON ITEMS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT CONTENT ON THEIR OWN. AND THAT'S GOING, BECAUSE THE CRITERION REFERENCE TEST ALLOWS A STUDENT TO GET A PERFECT SCORE. A SAT 10 TEST IS DESIGNED SO SOME STUDENTS WILL NOT NECESSARILY KNOW ALL THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT IN THAT GRADE PER SE.
>>Cindy Stuart: SO MY CONCERN IS WHEN WE USE SAT 10 FOR THIRD GRADE READING PROMOTION OR RETENTION AND HOW CLOSELY ARE WE ALIGNING WITH STANDARDS AND WITH READING STANDARDS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT USING THAT SAT 10 TO PROMOTE OR RETAIN?
>> WE ONLY USE THE READING PREVENTION SUBTEST, WHICH DOES ALIGN AND STATE SAYS IT'S OKAY TO USE FOR PROMOTION. AS A PIECE OF PORTFOLIO, OR A STRAIGHT PROMOTE.
>>Cindy Stuart: ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DR. BINDER. THE NEXT ITEM THAT WAS PULLED--I APOLOGIZE IF THESE, THERE WAS CONFUSION. DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY WERE PULLED LATE. IS THE APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES WITH PRISMATIC SERVICES FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE SCHOOL CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION GRANT PROJECT. AND MR. DWYER.
>> MADAM CHAIR, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF, ACTUALLY I BELIEVE THE, THAT THE DISCUSSION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT 6.05 AND 60. 06 BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH TIME GRANTS. SO, BOTH OF THESE ARE FOR THE EVALUATION OF EACH ONE OF THOSE GRANTS AND EACH GRANT REQUIRES THE SERVICES OF A THIRD PARTY EVALUATOR. BUT I BELIEVE MS. VALDES WANTED US TO TALK ABOUT -- HOW WAS IT?
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. GRIFFIN.
>> WANTED US TO TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL GRANTS THEMSELVES, SO CHRISTINE HENSLEY WAS INVOLVED IN BOTH SUBMISSION OF THE GRANTS AND ASSISTS WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF ALL THE TIME GRANTS AND IS THE BEST PERSON HERE TO DESCRIBE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THOSE GRANTS.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. GRIFFIN IS DYING TO SAY SOMETHING.
>>April Griffin: AND THE REASON, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ABOUT THE EVALUATION PIECE, WHICH WE HAVE TO DO. BUT WE HAVE TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS HERE. AND THESE GRANTS ARE REALLY LARGE PART OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A DISTRICT RIGHT NOW AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE MOVING PHILOSOPHICALLY. SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS, WHEN MR. DWYER AND I WERE TALKING, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY JUST TO HAVE A VERY BRIEF HIGHLIGHT OF THESE TWO GRANTS AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH CONVERSATIONS PRIVATELY ONE ON ONE WITH THE STAFF ON IT, THAT YOU COULD. BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REALLY TAKING TO HEART, SO YES, I WANTED A BRIEF HIGHLIGHT.
>>Cindy Stuart: WELCOME, MS. HENSLEY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ITEM 6.05 OR HIGHLIGHT SOME INFORMATION ON 6.05 AND 6.06 FOR YOU. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY PROJECT PROVEN AND SCHOOL CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION WERE BOTH AWARDED IN 2014-15 SCHOOL YEAR. BOTH OF THOSE GRANTS FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON IMPROVING SCHOOL CLIMATE AND SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THEY'RE VERY UNIQUE. I'LL TALK FIRST ABOUT THE HISTORY BEHIND HOW THEY WERE EVEN RELEASED AS OUR DISTRICT WENT TO APPLY FOR THEM. PRESIDENT OBAMA LAUNCHED THE NOW IS THE TIME INITIATIVE AFTER THE TRAGIC SHOOTING AT SANDY HOOK SCHOOL. THE OVERAMPING GOAL IS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING SCHOOL CLIMATE AND SAFETY AND INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. OUR DISTRICT WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THREE OF THE NOW IS THE TIME GRANTS PROJECT AWARE PREVENT IN SCHOOL CLIMATE. PROJECT AWARE HAS SUNSETTED SO I WON'T GET INTO THAT ONE BECAUSE I WASN'T ASKED TO. BUT I'LL MOVE ON TO SCHOOL CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION. SCHOOL CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION IS A FIVE YEAR GRANT THAT WILL SUNSET IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. THIS WAS A NEW GRANT INITIATIVE AS A RESULT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INITIATIVE THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE NEED TO IMPROVE OVERALL SCHOOL CLIMATE AND SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE PARTICULAR PROJECT FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE MULTI-SYSTEM FOR SUPPORT FOR BEHAVIOR AND CORRESPONDING INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENT IN PROJECT SCHOOLS. FIVE SCHOOLS ARE BEING ON BOARDED EACH YEAR OVER FIVE YEARS OF THIS THE PROJECT. PROJECT PREVENT IS ALSO A FIVE YEAR GRANT AWARD THAT WILL SUNSET IN SIP OF 2019. PRIOR TO THE NOW IS THE TIME INITIATIVE, PROJECT PREVENTS PURPOSE WAS TRULY REACTIONARY. OUR WORD WERE TARGETED TO TRIAGE SCHOOLS THAT EXPERIENCED TRAGEDIES AND MASS SHOOTINGS, SUCH AS COLUMBINE AND NEWTOWN. AFTER THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING, THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED QUICKLY WITH REVISED PROJECT PREVENT PURPOSE, ONE THAT FOCUSED WHOLEHEARTEDLY ON PREVENTION. THEY FINALLY RECOGNIZED COMING IN THIS AFTERWARDS WASN'T DOING ENOUGH. WE HAD TO THINK ABOUT MORE ABOUT PREVENTION. IN GENERAL PROJECT PREVENT AIMS AT IMPROVING SCHOOL WIDE BEHAVIOR AND CLIMATE, VERY SIMILAR AND COMPLEMENTARY TO SCHOOL CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION VISION AND MISSION. ALSO FOCUSES ON INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MITIGATING EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE WHILE CREATING SAFER ENVIRONMENT OVERALL FOR OUR STUDENTS. IN OUR DISTRICT PREVENT TARGET'S 21 OF OUR SCHOOLS, INCLUDING ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. IN CONCLUSION, TO VAST SUMMARIZE THE VALUE OF THE NOW IS THE TIME PROJECT TORE STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS I WILL SHARE A QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA. UPON RELEASING THIS INITIATIVE HIS QUOTE SAID WE WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP EVERY VIOLENT ACT BUT IF THERE IS EACH ONE THING WE CAN DO TO PREVENT ANY OF THESE EVENT, WE HAVE A DEEP OBLIGATION ALL OF US TO TRY. I HOPE THAT IN A NUTSHELL HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: THANK YOU. I'M REALLY, REALLY INTERESTED IN THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE OF THIS. CAN YOU GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DEPTH ON THAT.
>> YES. INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS A COMMON THREAD THROUGHOUT, ACTUALLY ALL OF THE NOW IS THE TIME GRANTS. ONE OF THE UNIQUE ASPECT OF ALL THREE OF THESE GRANTS IS ABOUT FINDING AND DEVELOPING SYSTEMS THAT WORK FOR IDENTIFYING STUDENTS EARLY AND FINDING THEM QUICKER AND EASIER ACCESS TO LYNCH ANNUALS TO EITHER INTERNAL, MEANING DISTRICT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT OR LINK ANNUALS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT. IN DOING THAT, ONE OF THE GRANTS THAT WE HAD THAT HAS SUNSETTED, PROJECT AWARE, INVOLVES A LOT OF TRAINING AROUND MENTAL, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, TRAINING SCHOOL STAFF TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT ARE IN CRISIS PRIOR TO SOMETHING HAPPENING. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PREVENTIVE PIECES AND A REAL HEAVY FOCUS ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND PROVIDING SUPPORTS TO STUDENTS SO WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MULTI-LAYERED PREVENTION GOING ON REALLY TO FOCUS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT ROLE THAT PLAYS IN SCHOOLS TO MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL. NOT ONLY SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONAL BUT ACADEMICALLY AS WELL AND OVERALL IMPROVING SCHOOL CLIMATE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. THE SMALLER SIZE OF THE PILOTS THAT WE CAN DO AT THE SCHOOLS, HAVING THE 21 SCHOOLS THAT PREVENT REALLY ALLOWS YOU TO TARGET SOME WORK WITH SMALLER NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN NEED, TO REPLICATE. SO I HOPE THAT HELPS.
>>April Griffin: THANK YOU. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE DATA THAT COMES OUT OF THIS AT THE END. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>Cindy Stuart: SO MS. HENSLEY, I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW WE ARE NOT THERE YET BUT I OFTEN WONDER, WE HAVE 21 SCHOOLS ON THIS PROJECT NOW AND WE HAVE, WE ARE IN YEAR THREE, SO AND IT'S A FIVE YEAR GRANT. SO, I QUESTION, AN THIS IS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GRANT END? WE PUT A LOT OF PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, SUPPORT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO DO? BECAUSE WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THE GRANT. LET'S NOT GET OURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOT LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OR START PULLING BACK THOSE SERVICES, WHATEVER WE DECIDE WE ARE GOING TO DO. THE OTHER THING, I WONDER, I KNOW YOU'RE DOING AN EVALUATION. DOES THE EVALUATION LOOK AT HOW, HOW IT OVERLAPS OR ALIGNS WITH WHAT WE WE ARE ALREADY DOING IN SOME SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THIS STUFF AND WERE DOING IT BEFORE WE GOT THERE WITH SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. IS THE EVALUATION GOING TO SHOW US WHAT WE ARE OVERLAPPING AND WHAT, WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS VERSUS WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE?
>> IF I MAY, I CAN ANSWER THE SUSTAINABILITY PIECE. THEN I'M GOING TO TURN TO TED TO ANSWER THE EVALUATION PIECE. WE ARE WORKING, I ACTUALLY JUST HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY. IN YEAR THREE OF ANY FIVE YEAR GRANT PROJECT, WHAT WE TRY TO DO IN WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THESE GRANTS,. THESE GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO HELP US IMPROVE SYSTEMS WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO FOR STUDENTS THAT ALREADY ALREADY EXISTING HERE. SO IT'S ABOUT FINDING WHAT WORKS. I HOPE TED CAN SPEAK TO THAT SOME OF WHAT THE EVALUATOR IS TRYING TO PULL OUT IS WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT. SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING NOW TO WORK ON SUSTAINABILITY IS WHAT'S WORKING AT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS IS PLANTING THOSE SEEDS AND SHARING IT WITH OTHER SCHOOLS TO REPLICATE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE KNOW THERE'S A SYSTEM IS SCHOOL IS USING, LIKE WE USE A CURRICULUM EVIDENCE BASED. IF I SHOWED YOU A CHART THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE, 21 SCHOOLS ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT 21 DIFFERENT WAYS TO TARGET THE SCHOOLS IN NEED. SO IT'S NOT HERE YOU HAVE TO USE IT THIS I WHAT. IT'S BEING USED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME WAYS WE HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF. I LIKE THAT ASPECT AND FLEXIBILITY OF THIS PROJECT. IT ALSO HELPS WITH SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS ON SUSTAINABILITY PLANS NOW IN YEAR THREE. SO HOW IS THIS, LIKE WHAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL IN FIVE YEARS? WHAT IS GOING TO BE WRITTEN INTO YOUR SCHOOL PLANS THAT'S GOING STAY? SO IT'S NOT ABOUT HERE, PUT THIS HAT ON FOR FIVE YEARS AND LET'S PRETEND THIS IS HAPPENING. IT'S REALLY ABOUT EMBEDDING AS A DISTRICT, I WOULD HOPE WE REALLY LOOK AT WHAT WORKS AND REPLICATE IT IN PLACES IT DOES, BECAUSE JUST IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS PROJECT, WE ARE SEEING SOME REALLY NEAT THINGS DEVELOP AT THE SCHOOLS. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK, HOW IT NEEDS TO WORK AT THEIR SCHOOLS. SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE. THERE'S A PIECE EMBEDDED IN THE PROJECT THAT WE WORK WITH EACH SITE INDIVIDUALLY ON CREATING A DOCUMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR CONCRETE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR PREVENT? OR SCHOOL CLIMATE IN HOW COULD YOU DESCRIBE IT TO SOMEBODY? AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP? WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT? SO WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE PLANS WITH THE GOAL THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT STAY AND IMPROVE SCHOOLS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED.
>> YOU BRING UP ANOTHER QUESTION. THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS OUT THERE, FRAMEWORKS HAS A PHENOMENAL SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM. ARE WE MARRYING WITH THAT? OR IS THAT ELSEWHERE AND THIS IS SPECIFIC TO 21 SCHOOLS? I KNOW WHAT THE 21 SCHOOLS ARE, I HAVE THE LIST AND HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROJECT FOR A WHILE. I'M CURIOUS IF FRAMEWORKS IS OPERATING WITH THIS OR IF THEY ARE SEPARATE AND ASIDE AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS?
>> FRAMEWORKS IS OPERATING, IF IT'S AT OUR SCHOOLS, IT'S WORKING WITH THE PROGRAM. A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS SECOND STEP, FOR EXAMPLE, FRAMEWORKS, THERE'S A COMMON GRADE LEVEL THREAD THAT'S RUNNING THROUGH, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THERE ONE GRADE LEVEL? OKAY, SIX AND SEVEN. SO IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, ALL STUDENT RUNNING THROUGH SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE WILL RECEIVE FRAMEWORKS. SECOND TARGETS SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS THAT NEED SERVICES ADDITIONAL TO THAT THAT'S YEAR TWO AND YEAR THREE. SO IT'S NOT BEING USED IN THE SAME FASHION AS FRAMEWORKS IS BEING USED. THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR PROJECT PREVENT WAS TARGETING AREA OF NEED WE HAD DISTRICT-WIDE THAT WE NEEDED TO WORK ON. WHICH WAS HOW ARE WE HANDLING THE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, AT THE 21 SCHOOLS PLENTY OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE TOP HEAVY IN TIER TWO AND THREE. THEY NEEDED SOMETHING TO WORK WITH TO TRY TO ASSIST STUDENT AT THOSE LEVELS. IT'S WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH COMPLIMENTING THAT PROGRAM.
>>Cindy Stuart: HAS THE BOARD GOTTEN THE DATA ON THIS YET NOW THAT WE ARE IN YEAR THREE IN OR IS THAT COMING OUT OF THE EVALUATION?
>> THERE'S DATA COMING OUT OF THE EVALUATION --
>>Cindy Stuart: I'M THINKING WE ARE IN YEAR THREE. WE SHOULD HAVE DATA. WE SHOULD HAVE EVALUATION DATA THAT TELLS US WHETHER OR NOT WE CONTINUE.
>> WE HAVE REPORT WE CAN PROVIDE. WE'D BE HAPPY TO.
>> I THINK IN SOME OF OUR, LIKE EACH OUR WORKSHOP, AROUND STUDENT DISCIPLINE, EPIC, A LOT OF THAT IS EMBEDDED RIGHT WITHIN THAT DATA. SO YOU SEE THE IMPACT OF THE PRACTICES AND THE PARTICULAR STRATEGIES THAT ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE AT THESE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS THAT ARE ENHANCING THAT PARTICULAR DATA. WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO GET AND I CAN HAVE STAFF WORK ON THAT, IS HOW WE PULL OUT THAT SEPARATELY SO YOU JUST SEE THOSE SCHOOLS' DATA.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU.
>> TED, DID YOU WANT TO ANSWER? WHY.
>> I THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN ALL THE ANSWERS BECAUSE IT'S A SUPPLEMENTAL FLAM WORKS ALONG WITH OUR TIER ONE PROGRAMS AT THE SCHOOLS. SO I THINK THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION THAT YOU HAD.
>> I THINK SO.
>>Cindy Stuart: BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE ITEM 6.07, PULLED BY MS. VALDES FOR A COMMENT. AND TED DWYER, DON'T GO FAR.
>> SO 6.07 IS ANOTHER EVALUATION CONTRACT FOR THE DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS GRANT. IT COMES THROUGH THE STATE. IT'S AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR AND I BELIEVE THAT MS. GRIFFIN WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN REST TO ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM?
>> THANK YOU, MR. DWYER. AND MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM AND IT'S GREAT THAT S THE COMING AFTER THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EVALUATION ABOUT WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING INFORMATION OR DATA IN REFERENCE TO THE EVALUATION. AND MR. DWYER AND I HAD AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT IN ITSELF BECAUSE WHAT WE TEND TO DO ON THE AGENDA ITEMS IS JUST GENERALLY PUT A BLANKET EVALUATION STATEMENT AS TO HOW THE EVALUATION IS GOING TO BE DONE. VERSUS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SWEET SPOTS OF THAT EVALUATION? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS? IS IT WORKING? WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT CAN WE DO? I ALSO UNDERSTAND IN SOME OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS BECAUSE WE ARE APPROVING AN EVALUATION OF A GRANT THROUGH AN OUTSIDE ENTITY, THAT THE DOLLARS KIND OF FLOW THROUGH US FOR THEM TO DO THE EVALUATION AND THE REPORT OF THE EVALUATION GOES BACK TO THE GRANT TORE. AND NOT NECESSARILY BACK TO US, SO THERE'S A WAY -- SO WE HAVE TALK ABOUT HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE EVALUATION SECTION OF THE AGENDA TO REALLY TELL US, GIVE ME SOMETHING, A GOOD REASON WHY THIS IS WORKING, LET'S APPROVE IT AND BE GUNG HO ABOUT IT. RATHER THAN USING THAT SAME STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS IS. BECAUSE REALLY THAT DOESN'T TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAM. THE EFFICIENCY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHAT WE NEED TO TWEAK AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND COMMENT ABOUT THIS ONE, I WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR PROVIDING THE BACKUP MATERIAL ON THIS AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE WE HAD REQUESTED THAT IN THE PAST. BUT IMAGINE IF WE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ELABORATE WHEN WE CAN, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOMETIMES WE CAN'T SAY MUCH ON THE EVALUATION PROCESS BECAUSE WE MAY NOT HAVE AN EVALUATION YET. SO DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, IF WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT'S WITHIN THE ATTACHMENT AND THE EVALUATION, AND THEN IF A BOARD MEMBER WANTS MORE INFORMATION, WE CAN JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL MR. DWYER AND SIT WITH HIM AND GO OVER THE GRANT OR WHATEVER. SO I JUST WANTED STAFF TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS ABOUT HOW WE CAN POSSIBLY ELABORATE IN THE EVALUATION SECTION OF THE AGENDA, SO THAT THEN WE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION FOR US AS FAR AS THE DATA. SOMETIMES WE JUST APPROVE THESE THINGS AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THEY'RE, HOW EFFICIENT THEY ARE AND IF THEY'RE REALLY WORKING. SO THAT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET US KNOW THIS IS A GOOD THING. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. USE AS A POINT OF CLARITY INDICATION, WE WORK REALLY HEART TO MAKE SURE THE FEEDBACK FROM EVALUATORS IS GOING THROUGH THE PERSONNEL WHO ARE WORKING ON THE GRANT FOR EXAMPLE, MS. McMAHAN IS WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE SHE INTEGRATED THE FEEDBACK FROM THE EVALUATOR LAST YEAR ON THE DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS GRANT INTO HER PLANS FOR THIS YEAR. SO, THERE IS A PROCESS THAT WE ARE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE USING THAT INFORMATION. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T SEE IT ON THE OUTSIDE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DEMONSTRATED IN HER OTHER INNUENDO ITEM WHERE SHE TALKED ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD FOUND IN THE EVALUATION.
>>April Griffin: BUT I'M VERY CONFIDENT WE'LL GET THERE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF THINKING ABOUT THINGS DIFFERENTLY. WHENEVER APPLICABLE, AS WE DISCUSSED. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE ARE GOING TO HOPEFULLY SEE SOME OF THESE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, MR. DWYER.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IT IS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE 7:00 AN WE HAVE EIGHT INNUENDO ITEMS LEFT. PLUS BOARD COMMENTS. SO, IF WE COULD KEEP OUR COMMENTS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 611. ACCEPT THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BID SUBMITTED BY VARIOUS VENDORS. AND GRETCHEN SAUNDERS.
>> THANK YOU, MS. STUART. WE ARE BRINGING THIS TO YOU ALL JUST FOR APPROVAL. WE WENT OUT ON BID FOR OUR SOIL SAND AND A ASPHALT AND THAN MR. P MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM MS. VALDES WAS LOOKING AT HAVE IT RENEWAL AND HOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HOW WE CAN APPROACH THAT DIFFERENTLY AND I THINK WE ARE ALMOST THERE. I THINK MAYBE WITH A FEW MORE TWEAKS WE MIGHT BE GETTING THAT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REVEAL PROCESS UP TO SPEED.
>> THANK YOU, MS. SAUNDERS. MADAM CHAIR THE REASON FOR THAT PARTICULAR STATEMENT OR, IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD THIS STATEMENT WHERE AUTOMATICALLY THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RENEW A CONTRACT. AND SOMETIMES THEY WERE RENEWED EVEN WITHOUT AN EVALUATION. IT WAS JUST DONE. SO BY PUTTING IN A STATEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE SUPERINTENDENT TO RENEW THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, SO LONG AS IT SAYS IT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REVIEWED AND EVALUATED, SO THAT WE ARE NOT TIED TO A SPECIFIC BUDGET WHEN WE MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE A BETTER DEAL IN PRICE IF YOU WILL. SO JUST TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE SO THAT THEN MOVING FORWARD, IF SOMETHING IS NOT -- WE NEED TO CHECK TO SEE IF WE ARE REALLY GETTING OUR BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. JUST ANOTHER SAFETY NET. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, MS. SAUNDERS.
>>Cindy Stuart: THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 6.14. APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD OF PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL AARON NAUGHT TICKS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING STEM GRANT PROJECT AND ASSOCIATED EXPENDITURES. MR. CHRIS JARRING CO WILL HIGHLIGHT FOR MS. VALDES.
>> MADAM CHAIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD OF PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR THE THIRD YEAR OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TAMPA BAY AIRPORTS ACADEMY. COLLABORATE BETWEEN PASCO COUNTY, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. FIRST PHASE BEGAN IN 2015. IN WHICH $211,000 WAS INVESTED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S AEROSPACE RELATED PROGRAMS. AT LOCKHART ELEMENTARY. MADISON AND MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. ITEMS PURCHASED WITH THESE FINDS INCLUDED FLIGHT SIMULATORS, PLANE BUILDING KITS AND WIND TUNNEL. SECOND YEAR OF THE PROJECT PROVIDED $90,000 FUNDING TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES AT THE PHASE ONE SITES AS WELL AS ADD BURNS, BARRINGTON AND RAN DOLL MIDDLE SCHOOL ALSO. AS WE EVALUATE THE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVENESS IN FIRST TWO YEARS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE HIGHLIGHTS THAT DEMONSTRATE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF TIME AND EVIDENT WE PLACED INTO THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE DELIVERED AEROSPACE RELATED CURRICULUM TO OVER 1,000 STUDENTS, INCLUDING 260 ELEMENTARY, 164 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. DEVELOPED A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EMBRY-RIDDLE AIRPORTAL UNIVERSITY, PROVIDING OVER 55 TIME ROLEMENT CREDITS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. TWO STUDENT PARTICIPATE IN INNOVATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AT THE TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE HAVE HAD ELEMENTARY STUDENT EARNING COMPUTER LITERACY CONVERSATIONS AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EARNING FAA PRIVATE PILOT GROUND KNOWLEDGE CERTIFICATION. ALSO HAD GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH DEDICATED AVIATION ACADEMY MANAGER BRIAN SAWYER, WHO ADVISES ON THE BEST PRACTICES FOR CURRICULUM AND TRAINING. AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU ESTABLISHES THIRD YEAR WHICH WILL PROVIDE $120,000 IN AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, TRAINING AND CONSUMABLE SUPPLIES. WILL CONTINUE THIS INITIATIVE AT PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO SITES BY EXPANDING NEEDS. ALSO LOOK AT VERY GRADE LEVELS TO EXPAND AROUND THE DISTRICT AND INCLUDING SUPPLEMENTING ACTIVITY AND DEDICATED STEM LABS AT TURNER-BARTELS K-8 SCHOOL. OVERARCHING GOAL IS ENCOURAGE THE EXPANSION OF AVIATION AND STEM ACTIVITY FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE TO HIGH AND PREPARE STUDENTS TO ENTER POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREERS IN THIS FIELD. THE WORKFORCE CONNECTION DIVISION WILL WORK WITH STAFF FROM EVEN TAKING AND LEARNING AND COLLABORATE TO IMMOMENT VARIOUS INITIATIVES. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU, MR. JARGO FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR HIGHLIGHT. YOU SEE WITHIN HIS COMMENTS, DIDN'T WE SEE PART OF THE EVALUATION? RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. LOOK AT ALL THESE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM -- THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ME WANT TO SAY YES, LET'S DO THIS BECAUSE WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT. SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE, STAFF, OF WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR ON THE EVALUATION. TELL ME WHY WE SHOULD CONTINUE THIS AND LET'S GET EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S HELPED ALL OF THESE CHILDREN REACH A PLACE THAT MAYBE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE. SO THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES. THOSE KINDS OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE EVALUATION SO WE CAN CELEBRATE THOSE GOOD THINGS. BY THE SAME TOKEN, IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES, LET'S PUT THOSE DOWN AS WELL SO WE CAN KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT IT'S NOT FOR A GOT CHA, JUST TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THESE AGENDA ITEMS IN A MUCH BROADER PERSPECTIVE AND GIVING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THAN WHAT WE ARE APPROVING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE SUCCESS WITH THIS. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. THANK YOU, MR. JARGO. 618 WAS PULLED BUT MS. GRIFFIN SAID SHE'S GOOD. SO WE MOVE TO 6.19, APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH ALMA ADVISORY GROUP. TRISH McMINIMUM NICE WILL ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THIS.
>> DID YOU WANT TO DO JUST A COMMENT?
>> AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS EVALUATION, I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK MS. McMANUS FOR THIS AGENDA COVER SHEET. AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE EVALUATION OF THIS PARTICULAR GRANT AND HOW IT'S -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE JUST THE CLARITY AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACTUALLY STATE THE EVALUATION AND WHAT OCCURRED. SO THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS ITEM 7.08. APPROVE REVISED BELL SCHEDULE TO COMPENSATE FOR LOSS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AT EXTENDED READING TIME SITES AS A RESULT OF HURRICANES HERMINE AND MATTHEW. MR. FARKAS.
>> THIS IS PRETTY SIMPLE ONE. BASED ON YEAR TEE TIMES, WE HAD TO ADD FIVE MINUTES TO THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF HURRICANE DAYS WE TOOK. WE FOUND ADDING FIVE MINUTES TO THE MORNING WAS EASIEST WAY. DIDN'T IMPACT OTHER SCHOOLS FOR TRANSPORTATION. EACH SCHOOLS THAT HAD BUSES ADDED FIVE MINUTES IN THE MORNING TO ACCOMMODATE FOR DAYS THAT WE MISSED BECAUSE OF HURRICANE. THAT'S IT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. I JUST HAD THIS ITEM HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ASKING, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP HEARING DAYS. SO WE KNOW IT IS ONLY ERT SCHOOLS. I MISTAKENLY SKIPPED 6.21, APPROVE THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR CYRUN AND SERVERS TO SUPPORT THE PLATFORM PLANNED NEWMAN IS HERE TO PRESENT.
>> MADAM CHAIR, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. FOR THE LAST 14 OR 15 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN USING A PLATFORM PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF TAMPA FOR OUR RECORD MANAGEMENT COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM. TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, I WAS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT BACK IN 2000. AND THIS PLATFORM WAS MORE EVENT PLANNER PLATFORM FOR LARGE EVENT THAT THE CITY HOSTS. WE TOOK IT, MODIFIED IT AND USED TO CAPTURE WORK PRODUCTIVITY, WHAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS DO ON SITE. SO BECAME INFORMAL RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. ASEAN 2017, THAT PLATFORM IS GOING TO SUNSET FOREVER. CITY GOING TO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLATFORM. SO OUT OF NECESSITY WE STARTED LOOKING AROUND FOR RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH FOR OUR SECURITY DIVISION. WHICH I LOOKED AT ALL THE DIFFERENT VENDORS OUT THERE, WE ALSO LOOKED FOR PORTABILITY AND EXPANDABILITY OF THIS SYSTEM SO IT INCLUDE OTHER FUNCTIONALITIES, LIKE OUR BUS INSPECTORS, OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. MR. LATHER SAFETY DIVISION. SO A LOT OF THOSE DISPARITY RECORD MANAGEMENTS OR FORMS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW CAN ALL FALL INTO THIS RMS. IT HAS A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY FEATURES. COULD BE CUSTOM MILESSED WHICH WE REALLY LIKE A LOT. SO WHATEVER WE THINK IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF NOT JUST WHAT MY FOLKS DO ON CAMPUSES BUT PERHAPS THAT HAPPEN ON CAMPUSES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR STUDENTS, WHETHER IT'S AN ACCIDENT OR SOME DAMAGE OR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED, IT'S A STANDARDIZED RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. JUST AS IMPORTANT IS THE CADD SYSTEM, COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH. WE DO A TREMENDOUS AM OF HOME VISITS. WE DROP OFF CIVILITY LETTERS. OUT IN THE FIELD AND IF OUR OFFICERS GOTTEN OUT ON THE RADIO OR DO GO OUT ON THE RADIO AND WE HAVE NO WAY TO CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION, THE CADD ALLOWS US TO TRACK OUR OFFICERS AND WHERE THEY'RE AT ON THE RADIO. WHICH COULD ALSO BE IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO VISIT A SITE AND WE'RE LOOKING TO FIND OUT HOW MANY TIMES SOMEBODY HAS BEEN TO A SITE. WHATEVER OTHER DEPARTMENT WANTS TO JUMP ON THIS RECORD MANAGEMENT CADD SYSTEM, THEY CAN. SO IT'S A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM. WEB BASED. SERGEANT NEPTUNE AND CAPTAIN 0 DAY DID A GREAT JOB MEETING WITH THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT I.T. FOLKS REQUEST THAT IT IS. THAT'S WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NO, THAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE RECORD, 7.03, 7.04 AND 7.01 WERE ALL PULLED. MS. GRIFFIN DOES NOT NEED A HIGHLIGHT THOUGH. SO WE ARE MOVING TO THE UNCLASSIFIED. MS. SAUNDERS FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE.
>> I'M SORRY, I WASN'T READY. YES. WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE BOARD. WE DID A SURVEY LAST YEAR, DID A SURVEY THIS YEAR. AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION -- WE ARE 12.04? -- BASED ON THE INFORMATION SENT OUT TO BOARD MEMBERS. WE DID THIS PRIOR TO THE NEW BOARD BEING SEATED BECAUSE THE TWO PRIOR BOARD MEMBERS WORKED WITH MR. PORTER. SO BASED ON THAT IT WAS, HE HAD RAVING REVIEWS ON HIS WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. SAUNDERS. MS. SNIVELY AND MS. GRIFFIN, YOU BOTH HAD THIS HIGHLIGHT FOR COMMENTS. DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT? MS. SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND MR. PORTER FOR DOING A WONDERFUL JOB FOR US OVER THE LAST YEAR AND PREVIOUSLY AS WELL. I ENJOYED READING YOUR EVALUATIONS AND THE COMMENT THAT OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MADE. AND LIKE THEM, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH YOUR RESPONSESIVENESS AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND YOUR ABILITY TO HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND OBVIOUSLY AFFECT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE BOARD. AND YOU'RE A SHARP DRESSER.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, AS I'VE SAID IN THE PAST, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SERVING THIS BOARD THE WAY THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE NATURE OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE SERVE IN THAT WE ARE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THAT WE SERVE A VERY BROAD CONSTITUENCY. THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US AS A WHOLE. AND I KNOW THAT YOU DO THAT VERY INTENTIONALLY. BUT ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE AT TIMES. AND I KNOW THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT AS FAR AS WE HAVE AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE WITHOUT YOUR STEADY HAND GUIDING US AND HELPING US. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I AM VERY, VERY GLAD TO CAST MY VOTE TO CONTINUE YOUR CONTRACT.
>>Cindy Stuart: I WAS GOING TO BE BRIEF AND JUST SAY DITTO.
>> I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AND FOR YOUR EVALUATION. I TAKE YOUR COMMENTS TO HEART. IT'S A COMPLETE HONOR FOR ME TO REPRESENT YOU ALL. AND REPRESENT THE DISTRICT. I VALUE WHAT YOU ALL DO. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND HOW EVEN HARDER IT IS TO SERVE ONCE ELECTED. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME. I APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE YOU GIVE ME AS YOUR NEW -- NOT SO MUCH NEW ANY MORE BUT AS NEWEST SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY AND I CONTINUE TO REALLY VALUE MY REPRESENTATION OF YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 12.04, WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO REORGANIZE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS. WHICH WE HAVE MANY. BOARD MEMBERS, AT THE DAIS, AT YOUR SEAT YOU WERE GIVEN A DRAFT COPY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I ASKED EACH OF YOU TO COMMENT BACK TO ME VIA EMAIL AND INDICATE YOUR WISHES FOR WHETHER YOU WANT TO REMAIN ON SOME OF THE BOARDS THAT YOU WERE ALREADY SEATED TO. OR YOU WANTED TO SWITCH. THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE LANDED. AND I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION IF ANYONE WANTS TO COMMENT. THERE IS ONE ASSIGNMENT THAT I CURRENTLY SERVE ON AND I WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO GIVE UP. I WILL STAY AS THE GLASER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM REPRESENTATIVE IF YOU WISH. WE HAVE TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS SO I WAS OFFERING THAT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE. I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENT IF THERE ARE ANY. AND I BELIEVE MR. PORTER WE DECIDED WE WOULD VOTE ON THIS AS A WHOLE SO WE 0 WOULD COVER ALL THE.
>> RIGHT.
>>Cindy Stuart: ASSIGNMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE VOTED ON.
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT NEED AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY THE OTHERS. OTHERS ARE USE APPOINTMENTS BY THE CHAIR OR CONSENSUS. THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE VOTED ON ARE INCLUDED. I VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ORGANIZATIONAL CHART COVERS YOU. BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE AGREE TO BE ON THE GLASER CHILDREN'S BOARD. THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY OR THE NEXT MEETING.
>> WHEN WAS THE MEETINGS? WHAT DAY FOR THE CHILDREN'S, THE GLASER'S CHILDREN'S MUSEUM?
>>Cindy Stuart: THEY ARE THURSDAYS AT 4:00. ONCE A MONTH AT THURSDAYS AT 4:00. OF.
>> IS IT ANY GIVEN THURSDAY? LIKE DO YOU KNOW WHAT THURSDAY OF THE MONTH?
>>Cindy Stuart: HAS HANCOCK, CAN YOU ANSWER IN THE THIRD THURSDAY.
>> THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN?
>>Cindy Stuart: LET'S DO THIS. I'LL CONTINUE TO SIT UNTIL SUCH TIME SOMEONE HAS A YEARNING TO -- I REALLY DEFERRED TO MS. HANCOCK A LOT ON THAT BOARD. SHE SITS AS WELL AS I DO AND SO, WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN MAKING SURE.
>> I CAN DO IT, NO MATTER. EITHER WAY.
>> YOUR CHAIR HAS ASKED ME TO COMPILE SORT OF A DATABASE OR A LIST OF ALL THESE BOARDS WHAT THEIR BYLAWS ARE, WHEN THEY MEET. I'LL BE WORKING ON THAT AND HOPE TO HAVE IT DONE IN JANUARY. GOING FORWARD AS YOU DECIDE, YOU'LL HAVE GUIDANCE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO THE QUESTIONS MS. VALDES JUST ASKED CAN BE ANSWERED AND WE'LL ALL KNOW THAT.
>> IS THAT A MOTION?
>> REALLY COMMENT.
>> ARE YOU MOVING THIS TO BE FOR SEPARATE VOTE? THIS IS TYPICALLY JUST ON THE AGENDA YOU WOULD JUST VOTE FOR.
>> THAT'S FINE.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. SNIVELY IN.
>>Melissa Snively: I JUST HAD A QUESTION. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT MR. PORTER WAS JUST SAYING ABOUT COMPILING INFORMATION AND MS. STUART AND I BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THIS MORNING THAT -- I'M JUST CURIOUS WHEN THE LAST TIME WE EVALUATED ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT WE HAVE HERE. SHOULD WE BE TAKING A LOOK AROUND TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SHOULD, ON WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION, BOARD WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION OR IF WE SHOULD SHIFT SOME THINGS. SO WHEN COMPILING THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THESE PARTICULAR ONES, WOULD YOU MIND KIND OF LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT NEED US TO BE REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? DO YOU SIT ON THE EDC FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN.
>> I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS VERY TIMELY IN THE PAST, SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAD ASKED US TO LOOK AT BEING REPRESENTED ON THE MPO BECAUSE OUR BUS SYSTEM IS LARGER THAN HARTLINE. AND THE IMPACT ON THE ROADWAY SYSTEM OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GREATER THAN HARTLINE. SO WE RESEARCHED THAT. WE WENT TO THE MPO AND THEY INCLUDED US. ONE OF YOU ALL AS A MEMBER. SO I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE C.
>> PERHAPS SOME OF THE OTHER PUERTO RICO MEMBERS MIGHT WANT TO SEND YOU SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. SO MAYBE WE SHOULD BE SITTING AS A BOARD MEMBER ON ONE OF THE CHAMBERS. OR THE EDC OR SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN, MAYBE WE HAVEN'T BEEN AND MAYBE THERE IS A VOID THERE. WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EDUCATION COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION AT THOSE MEETINGS. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. SO BOARD MEMBERS, THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 12.05. AND MR. PORTER, THIS IS ADOPTING OUR SCHOOL BOARD WAY OF WORK. MR. PORTER?
>> SO, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS DECIDED AS A BODY TO DEVELOP A WAY OF WORK. THE WAY OF WORK DOCUMENT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN FORMALLY ADOPTED BY THE BOARD. THE DOCUMENT WAS REALLY REVISED PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WITH A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD MADE UP OF THE CHAIR AT THE TIME, THE VICE CHAIR. I THINK IT WAS MS. KURDELL, MS. VALDES AND MS. STUART, THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER. WAY OF THE COMMUNITY WAS RECENTLY RECONSEQUENCE SUBSTITUTED WITH THE SIMILAR MAKEUP. AND THE DOCUMENT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE RESULT OF THAT. THE DOCUMENT IS NOT LAW. IT DOES NOT COMPEL YOU TO DO ANYTHING. BUT IT DOES SERVE AS YOUR COLLECTIVE WILLINGNESS TO BE GUIDED BY THIS. HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF IN A BOARD MEETING, HOW YOU CHOOSE TO GOVERN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO IT'S A DOCK UP THAT REALLY IS DEVELOPED BY YOU AND FOR YOU AND IS INTENDED TO HELP YOU BECOME BETTER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A GROUP. MS. GRIFFIN ALWAYS POINTS OUT THIS IS NOT LAW AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE COMPELLED TO DO. BUT IF YOU COLLECTIVELY AGREE TO IT, THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THE MEETINGS RUN A LITTLE MORE SMOOTHLY AND HELP YOU BECOME EFFECTIVE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THIS ROUND OF WAY OF WORK IN ADDITION TO YOUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES, THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS WERE TWO MAJOR CHANGES. ONE THE IDEA OF CREATING SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE BOARD. THAT WOULD BE OF COURSE FULLY HELD IN THE SUNSHINE. BUT THEY WOULD BE MADE UP OF THREE MEMBERS AND A LOT OF THE WORK OF THE BOARD WOULD BE IN THE COMMITTEES. THE IDEA IS IN THE SMALLER GROUP YOU COULD INTERACT WITH STAFF APPROPRIATE BUT ALLOW A LOT OF THE WORK TO BE DONE IN COMMITTEES AND WITH REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD. OTHER BIG CHANGE WAS ESTABLISHING A MORE TRANSPARENT AND EQUITABLE SYSTEM OF TRAVEL. THIS BOARD IS REQUIRED TO TRAVEL IN THE COURSE OF YOUR JOB. SOME OF THAT TRAVEL IS THE WAY OF WORK DESCRIBING NONDISCRETIONARY. IF YOU ARE REQUIRED BY VIRTUE OF MEMBERSHIP ON A COMMITTEE THAT THIS BOARD NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF, THAT'S NONDISCRETIONARY TRAVEL. SOMEONE HAS TO GO. DISCRETIONARY TRAVEL IS THAT SORT OF TRAVEL STILL SERVES A PUBLIC PURPOSE, THAT IS YOU'RE BENEFITING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BY ATTENDING BUT IS NOT MANDATORY. IS NOT MANDATED BY LAW. SO THE WAY OF WORK REALLY SET OUT TWO TYPES OF TRAVEL. AND THE GOAL OF THIS IS TO MAKE THE BOARD'S PUBLIC TRAVEL AGAIN MORE TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC AND MORE EQUITABLE. SO THOSE ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES YOU'VE SEEN IN THE DOCUMENT. OTHERWISE THE DOCUMENT SETS FORTH WHAT YOUR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE, WHAT THE REQUIREMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS, HOW YOU ALL PULL ITEMS OFF THE AGENDA. YOU WANT TO QUESTION, YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU WANT TO COMMENT. THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE IN HERE. HOW YOU INTERACT WITH THE SECRETARIES, HOW YOU INTERACT WITH ME. HOW YOU INTERACT WITH LETTERS OR EMAILS THAT COME IN. THOSE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS IN HERE, THEY SERVE AS GUIDANCE FOR YOU. THIS DOCUMENT HAS NEVER BEEN ADOPTED BY THE BOARD. IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A WHILE AND THE GOAL TODAY IS, IF YOU ADOPT IT, THEN YOU WILL COLLECTIVELY AGREE TO GOVERN YOURSELVES THROUGH IT. THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL. SNOW MS.
>>Cindy Stuart: MS. GRIFFIN?
>>April Griffin: FOR THE NEWER BOARD MEMBERS HERE, I WILL GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF HISTORY. I'VE NOT BEEN A FAN OF THIS WAY OF WORK FROM THE BEGINNING. BUT I'VE COME TO ACCEPT IT. MY RATIONALE FOR NOT BEING A FAN, I WILL TELL YOU THIS PUBLICLY, THERE IS, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT GUIDE YOU. THE LAWS THAT GOVERN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE CONSTITUTIONS. WELL, THREE THINGS, TWO CONSTITUTIONS, THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE NATION. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ULTIMATELY GOVERN US AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO DO THEIR JOBS. WE ALL SERVE VERY DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES AND WE HAVE TO SERVE THOSE CONSTITUENCIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. BELIEVING IN THE ABILITY OF ALL OF US TO SELF-GOVERN AND TO BE ABLE TO BEHAVE IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD ALL DO WITHOUT SOME SORT OF WAY OF WORK. BUT THAT BEING SAID, I'VE COME TO ACCEPT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT IS A GUIDE, THAT IS A GUIDE TO HELP YOU AND TO HELP ALL OF US KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM THAT WE WORK WITHIN, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS IN. AND JUST SOME GUIDANCE ON NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUB COMMITTEES, WHICH I AM IN FAVOR OF. AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT, WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO ARE TO WORK ON SOME WAYS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MEET WITH THOSE. BUT WITH THE TRAVEL AS WELL. I THINK IT'S A WAY IF WE LOOK AT OUR TRAVEL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AN TO GET SOME SORT OF GUIDELINES ON HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT -- WE ARE NOT PUTTING A BUDGET ON IT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE JUST ADOPTING THIS WAY OF WORK. THAT IS MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE'RE COUNTING ON STAFF RIGHT NOW TO COME UP WITH THOSE ARRANGES SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ARE. WE DO LIKE THE DISCRETIONARY AND NONDISCRETIONARY BECAUSE WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS THAT WE DO SERVE AND JUST HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS. WE SERVE ON THESE BOARDS THAT WE VOTE ON AND WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO REPRESENT. SO, THAT MONEY THAT WE SPEND FOR THOSE IS NONDISCRETIONARY MONEY. IT'S THERE. WE NEED THAT MONEY TO EVERYBODY IS IN THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE VOTED FOR ONE ANOTHER TO SERVE IN. THE OTHER IS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO BRING BACK TO THIS DISTRICT. WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE TRAVEL AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOO, DID WE CAPTURE THAT IN HERE ABOUT BRINGING BACK REPORTS AND INFORMATION? PAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. AND I WANT TO SAY KUDOS, MS. HARRIS, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST REPORTS, LIKE VERY, VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS ON TRAVEL THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER FOR US. AND THAT'S I THINK WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GO WHAT DOING THAT. IS IT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S WRITTEN OR SOMETHING THAT WE PRESENT AT OUR BOARD MEETING DURING BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS OR WHATEVER? SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN ITS FINAL FORM. BUT WE TRIED TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE I WAS NO LONGER CHAIR. THIS WAS ONE OF MY GOALS WAS TO HAVE THIS BEFORE BUT OUR SCHEDULES DID NOT ALLOW FOR THAT. SO, WE HAVE PUSHED IT AS HARD AS WE COULD TO MAKE SURE YOU TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THAT TO HELP YOU AS A GUIDE. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. GRIFFIN. MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS AND HOW IT HAS EVOLVED. IN REFERENCE TO THE BOARD MEMBER TRAVEL, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT, THAT WE HAVE AS SOON AS WE HAVE THOSE PROJECT NUMBERS, THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS SO THAT THEN WHEN RECONCILIATIONS OF REIMBURSEMENTS THAT COME IN ACTUALLY GET PUT INTO THE BUCKET, IF YOU WILL, OR THE DATE AND ALIGN THEM WITH THAT PARTICULAR TRAVEL BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PAST, THERE WAS NO -- IT WAS ALL JUST PUT INTO ONE FUND. ONE ACCOUNT. SO, THERE WAS NO WAY OF BEING ABLE TO CLEARLY DELINEATE THE REIMBURSEMENTS, FOR INSTANCE, OF MY TRAVEL WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I SERVE ON, FOR INSTANCE, NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION IS ONE. SO ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EACH OF US KNOW WHAT IS OUR PROJECT NUMBER, OR OUR LINE ITEM, SO THEN WE KNOW EXACTLY, AND I'M GOING TO REALLY -- WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE SURE, MR. EAKINS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS DONE CORRECTLY SO THAT I DON'T WANT ANY BOARD MEMBER TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH FOR SERVING. AND FOR DOING THE JOB. SO, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO RECONCILE AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TIMELINE IS GOING TO BE FOR THAT. AND HOW, WHEN THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR US AND WHEN THAT PROCESS WILL BEGIN. BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, WE DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNTANT ON, THAT'S ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE TURN IN YOUR RECEIPTS AND THE SECRETARIES KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. WE COUNT ON THAT. AND THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT. BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING INTO THIS WAY OF WORK, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE SAFETY NETS IN PLACE AND ALL OF THE ACCOUNTING PRACTICES IN PLACE SO THAT THEN NO LONGER WILL ANY BOARD MEMBER SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY GO THROUGH WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. MS. SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: I JUST HAD A QUESTION REGARDING SOME OF THE NEW ITEMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT ARENA TO TALK ABOUT, TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT. LIKE THE BOARD COMMITTEES, FOR EXAMPLE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE BOARD COMMITTEES. THAT'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS BENEFIT FROM MEMBERS WHO MAYBE HAVE A BACKGROUND IN CERTAIN AREAS OR EXPERTISE IN CERTAIN AREAS. SO TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME STANDING COMMITTEES THAT DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS CAN VOLUNTEER TO PAR ADVERTISE, ON WHICH TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH THAT'S GREAT. I WASN'T SURE IF THERE WAS ALREADY A PROCESS IN PLACE OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND WHO GET TO SIT ON WHAT COMMITTEE AND WHEN WE ARE GOING TO MEET AND THAT TYPE OF THING. SO COULD YOU ANSWER THAT FOR US?
>> THE IDEA IS A NEW ONE FOR THE DISTRICT. YOU'VE HAD AD HOC COMMITTEES IN THE PAST. TRAVEL COMMITTEE, WAY OF WORK COMMITTEE. BUT IF THIS DOCK UP IS APPROVED TONIGHT AND YOU GIVE AUTHORITY, I THINK WE COME BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING WITH HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK, BOTH THE TRAVEL AND THE COMMITTEES AND WORK WITH ASSIGNING TO COMMITTEES OR HAVING YOURSELF ASSIGN YOURSELF TO COMMITTEES, SORT OF LIKE YOU DID WITH THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COUNCILS YOU SIT ON. IF THIS APPROVED, I WOULD WORK WITH YOUR CHAIR TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO DO THAT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE TO EVERYONE, THESE COMMITTEES WOULD BE HELD FULLY IN THE SUNSHINE. THEY'D BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND MINUTE WOULD BE KEPT FOR ALL OF THEM. SO I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS TO APPROVE IT. THEN WE WOULD WORK WITH YA'LL ON YOUR PREFERENCES OF WHAT COMMITTEES YOU'D WANT TO SERVE ON. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ONLY HAVE THREE AND NO MORE. BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A FULL QUORUM, MEETING AS A COMMITTEE. SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE GENERAL PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE BOARD APPROVED IT WILL COME BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING WITH WHAT THAT REALLY REFLECT THE MECHANICS OF IT.
>> AND THEN IF THERE'S A WAY ON THE TRAVEL PART, COMING PACK WITH INFORMATION BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A PHENOMENAL IDEA, BECAUSE WE DON'T SHARE ENOUGH INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER WHEN WE VISIT A CONFERENCE OR A MEETING. AND IF THERE'S SOME CONSISTENT WAY, WHETHER IT'S A FORM THAT WE FILL OUT -- I DIDN'T SEE MRS. HARRIS' REPORT YET. YOU SAID -- I'LL CHECK. MAYBE I MISSED IT. I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT FORMAT THAT CAME IN AND IF WE COULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF MAYBE SIMILAR FORMAT FOR EACH THING. IF WE NEEDED TO ADD MATERIALS FOR REVIEW, IF YOU GET HANDOUTS OR PUBLICATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THAT, TO ENHANCE THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING BROUGHT BACK. WOULD LIKE TO JUST HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY ON THAT. AND THEN I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON THE MANDATORY TRAVEL. IS THE -- JUST THE BOARD ORGANIZATION ASSIGNMENTS. ARE THOSE MANDATED IN FOR US IN.
>> SOME ARE AND SOME AREN'T. BY MANDATED, EAT REQUIRED BY STATUTE OR FORMAL ORGANIZATION, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MANDATORY, MANDATED BY LAW.
>> DO WE HAVE TO TURN IN TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR THOSE? HOW DO WE KNOW WHETHER OUR ASSIGNMENT IS IN.
>> I THINK AS FAR AS REFERENCED THIS EARLIER, COMPILING A DATABASE OF WHAT THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE, WHY THE BOARD'S INVOLVED. I THINK -- ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU IF THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT A PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION OR PARTICULAR TYPE OF TRAVEL. I THINK THAT GOES TO COMING UP WITH SOMETHING SO EVERYONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S WHAT.
>>Melissa Snively: I THINK EVERYONE AT THIS POINT IS VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT. AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO CONSIDER THAT. I STILL, WITH MY ORGANIZATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS, AS LONG AS I DON'T ARE TO TURN IN REIMBURSEMENT FORMS, THEY'RE LOCAL MOSTLY LOCAL AND I STILL WOULD LIKE TO NOT TURN IN REQUESTS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THOSE ASSIGNMENTS. SO I JUST DON'T WANT TO BREAK ANY LAW. I DON'T PLAN ON TURNING IN ANY REQUESTS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MY NEW ASSIGNMENTS AS WELL. THEN I ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBERS TO RESEARCH FOR, IF THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY NEWER BOARD MEMBERS. I JUST ATTENDED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. A NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM CENTER, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY EDUCATIONAL, A GOOD EXPERIENCE. THEY OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP, SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE ALSO EXCEPT FOR MY MEALS, WHICH I WOULD TAKE ON MYSELF ANYWAY. BUT LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN HAVE THOSE, YOU CAN ATTEND THOSE CONFERENCES AND MAYBE WON'T HAVE ANY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES. THANK YOU.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. SNIVELY. MS. SHAMBURGER?
>>Tamara Shamburger: JUST A CLARIFICATION PLEASE, MR. PORTER. AS A NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, MEANING IT'S GOING TO BE AMENDED AS WE GO ON, CORRECT? YOU INDICATED AND SO DID MEMBER GRIFFIN THAT THIS IS A GUIDELINE. SHOULD BE USED AS A GUIDELINE. WHEN YOU SAY GUIDELINE, THAT MEANS THERE CAN BE DISCRETION ON WHEN THIS DOCK UP IS US DOCUMENT IS USED. A TRUE CHARACTERZATION OR IS THIS A BINDING DOCUMENT THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED AT ALL TIMES IN.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE. WHEN I SAY IT'S NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU'RE GOVERNED, AS MS. GRIFFIN POINTED OUT, YOU HAVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, MORE SPECIFICALLY FLORIDA STATUTES, WHICH SPELLS OUT THE ROLES OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND ROLES OF SUPERINTENDENTS. YOU ARE BOUND BY THAT. THAT, YOU CAN'T VIOLATE THAT. THAT'S A FLORIDA STATUTES, THAT'S A LAW. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU COLLECTIVELY WILL ADOPT BY GUIDELINE IT'S NOT SAME AS A STATUTE. IF YOU VIOLATE FLORIDA STATUTES, YOU CAN GET INTO TROUBLE. IF YOU VIOLATE THIS, YOUR COLLEAGUES MIGHT NOT BE HAPPY WITH YOU AND AS A BOARD, YOU WON'T BE AS EFFECTIVE. BUT THERE ARE NO PENALTIES, CRIMINAL OR OTHERWISE ASSOCIATED WITH NOT FOLLOWING THIS DOCUMENT. THE IDEA OF HAVING YOU ADOPT IT AS OPPOSED TO JUST HAVING A COMMITTEE DRAFT IT AND BRING IT IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO SORT OF REQUIREMENT THAT YOU FOLLOW IT AT ALL. IT ONLY WORKS IF YOU ALL DO IT. THE DIFFERENCE IS IF YOU VIOLATE THE FLORIDA STATUTES, THERE ARE PENALTIES ASSOCIATED. IF YOU VIOLATE THE ETHICS CODE, THERE ARE PENALTIES. THERE ARE NO PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLATING THIS. OR NOT FOLLOWING IT. IT'S UP TO YOU ALL REALLY. IT REALLY IS JUST FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO GOVERN YOURSELVES THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT DOCUMENT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: YES, I'M REMINDED THAT HE WOULD ARE IN A FISCAL CRISES. MY OWN PERSONAL FORECAST IS TO REALLY LIMIT MY DISCRETIONARY AND TO THIS END, I DON'T WANT TO SUBTRACT WHAT I MUST DO, BUT I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM FRUGAL IN SPENDING THE MONEY BECAUSE AS I SEE NOW WE ARE IN TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS AND TENSION AND ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS IN TRYING TO CUT OUR BUDGET DOWN. SO, I'M TAKING THE PART MORE LIKE MELISSA IN THIS TERMS OF BEING VERY CAREFUL AS WE GO TO THESE VARIOUS CONVENTIONS, ET CETERA.
>>Cindy Stuart: MR. EAKINS? EEJUST WANTED TO LET THE BOARD KNOW, IF ADOPTED TONIGHT AS THE WAY IT WORKS, THEN IT BECOMES ALSO FOR MY STAFF, KIND OF A TIME OF EDUCATION FOR THEM AS FAR AS KNOWING YOUR WAY OF WORK. SO WE ARE ABLE TO HONOR THAT AS WE, AS WE KIND OF GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT. I WILL TAKE THIS DOCK UP TO STAFF IF APPROVED SO THEY'RE AWARE OF THE ISSUES AROUND YOUR WAY OF WORK, HOW WE INTERACT, HOW YOU'RE EXPECTING US TO RESPOND TO YOU ON CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS. I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE THIS IS, HELPS US MONITOR OUR WAY OF WORKING WITH THE BOARD. NO THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. AT THIS POINT IN THE MEETING, WE NEED, I NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE ON THE PULLED ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. HARRIS AND A SECOND BY MS. VALDES. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA? BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTES WHEN YOUR LIGHTS COME UP. AND IT IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. I WILL CALL NOW ON, IT IS 7:30. WE HAVE SUSPENDED AGENDA FROM SUPERINTENDENT AND WE HAVE BOARD COMMENTS. SO, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW IN MS. GRIFFIN'S FOOTSTEPS AND SAY CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE IN IS A MINUTES? MR. EAKINS?
>>Jeffrey Eakins: I JUST HAD ONE COMMENT FOR THE SUSPENDED AGENDA I WOULD WANT TO BRING TO THE BOARD. IT'S NOT ANYTHING SPECIFIC RIGHT NOW BUT I KNOW THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF THIS BOARD IS GRADUATION RATES. THAT'S ONE OF YOUR FOUR HIGH PRIORITIES. SO JUST TO BE, MAKE THE BOARD MEMBERS AWARE, WE ARE LOOKING PROBABLY FOR RELEASE OF THAT DATA, KIND OF IMMINENT RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS US KNOWING THAT DATA TO BE ABLE TO SHARE. OBVIOUSLY 6:00 16 MONTHS AGO YOU KNOW THAT RATE WAS 73.5% FOR OUR DISTRICT. LAST YEAR IT MOVED TO 2.5 AND A HALF PERCENT TO 76. SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. WE ARE MONITORING THAT. I DO WANT TO JUST -- IT IS EVIDENCE THAT THE PROCESSES, I AT ONE TIME COMPLIMENT MR. HEIRS. OUR STUDENT SERVICES STAFF, STRATEGY MANAGEMENT AND OUR SCHOOLS WHO ARE DOING SOME TREMENDOUS WORK IN, AND I USE THE WORD TENACITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. IT TAKES TENACITY. THE ISSUE WITH GRADUATION RATES, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO MAKE TREMENDOUS LEAPS IN A YEAR. BECAUSE DECISIONS MADE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO COULD BE POTENTIALLY IMPACTING THAT RATE. SO WHAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OF OVER WHAT YOU DON'T IS LIMITED. SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT DATA IS GOING TO COME OUT SOON. WE WILL JUST AGGREGATE IT SO WE UNDERSTAND WHERE EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IS WITH REGARDS TO PROGRESS THERE. I WILL BE MAKING CONTACT TO BOARD MEMBERS WHEN THAT DOES COME OUT.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MR. EAKINS. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE BOARD COMMENT, IF YOU COULD INDICATE BY PUTTING YOURSELF UP ON THE BOARD. MS. VALDES?
>>Susan Valdes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST, THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE BEEN, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, PARTICULARLY I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THIS STAFF THAT WAS WITH US THIS PAST WEEKEND. AT THE PARADES. WE DID THE, THE PLANT CITY PARADE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME STAFF WITH US, MS. SAUNDERS WAS THERE AND MS. CORY. SHE'S GONE ALREADY. BUT SHE WAS THERE. AND YES WAS ALSO THERE. THE OTHER JEFF. AND IT WAS SUCH -- TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT -- I'M SURE THAT MEMBER HARRIS IS GOING TO SHOW PICTURES. THERE WAS SUCH A FABULOUS TIME. AND I WANTED TO ALSO THANK THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS OUR SECURITY DEPARTMENT, MR. NEWMAN, CHIEF NEWMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT THERE WAS PHENOMENAL. ON SATURDAY WE DID THE SANTA FEST. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN AS WELL. WANT TO THANK BEN MOORE. MR. MOORE, HE WAS THE SAVOR OF THE DAY. I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM AND ALSO OUR DRIVERS TERRENCE ANDERSON AND SHAWN THOMAS AS WELL FOR BEING THERE WITH US. AND THEN IN THE PLANT CITY PARADE, WE HAD OFFICER DANIELLE DELGADO. OFFICER JOSEPH AMIEL AND OFFICER KEVIN PONDER THAT WAS WITH US THAT DAY, THAT EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING THERE. AND THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE HAD SERGEANT AIDAN NEPTUNE. HE WAS SITTING THERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO. AGAIN, OFFICER KEVIN PONDER, OFFICER CALVIN BAILEY, OFFICER MICHAEL HUNT AND OFFICER MELANIE FLUELEN WHO HUNG OUT WITH US AT SANTA FEST. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE EFFORTS AND TRY AND BE OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SEEING US IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT, NOT JUST UP HERE MAKING THESE TOUGH DECISIONS BUT ACTUALLY REALIZE THAT WE ARE, WE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT, WELL, THAT LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS SUCH. AND BY THE WAY, WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE PICTURES, BUT OUR HOME MADE FLOAT, BECAUSE IT IS A HOMEMADE FLOAT, WAS TURNED INTO A GINGERBREAD HOUSE. IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL. THE DECORATIONS AND THEN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, I DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE SO ARTISTIC. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND THIS IS OUR LAST BUSINESS MEETING BEFORE WE BREAK FOR THE HOLIDAYS. SO I WOULD LOVE TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS, FELIZ NAVIDAD. HAPPY KWANZAA. WHAT AM I MISSING? HAPPY HOLIDAY. HANUKKAH. AND I MEAN IT'S JUST ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT WE SPEND TIME WITH OUR FAMILY AND JUST REALIZE THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE. AND JUST REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE TODAY BUT TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. MS. HARRIS?
>>Sally Harris: THANK YOU. I WILL SAY I DO HAVE MY SLIDE SHOW BUT I CONDENSED IT BECAUSE I GNAW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A LONG MEETING. SO I MADE COLLAGES. I WILL SAY THE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT THIS IS A TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE SCHOOLS LIKE TO SHINE AND THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT, THERE ARE SO MANY CONCERTS AND PLAYS AND ACTIVITIES GOING ON. SO TO THE PARENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING TONIGHT, AND TO THE STAFF, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL GO OUT. I WANT TO ALSO TELL YOU THAT PLANT HIGH SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY NIGHT WILL BE COMPETING AGAINST, FOR THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AND THAT WILL BE HELD AT THE CAMPER WORLD CONFERENCE CENTER, OR FOOTBALL FIELD IN ORLANDO. MS. VALDES DID STEAL A LITTLE BIT OF MY THUNDER ON THE FACT I WANTED -- THAT'S GOOD. THEY CAN HEAR IT TWICE. THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY DID THIS ON THEIR OWN TIME AND THEY PUT TOGETHER THAT MOST FABULOUS, FABULOUS FLOAT AND THE BUSES. THE BUS WAS LIT UP. I THINK THERE WERE PROBABLY 200 PEOPLE THERE WALKING WITH US. IT WAS INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. WE ATTENDED THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, MR. AYRES AND I DID, AND I TAUGHT HIM HOW TO DAB. I EMBARRASSED HIM. DURING, WE WENT TO THE PLANT CITY PARADE AND HAD A BIG EVENT THERE. THEN THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO THE SANTA FEST AND WE GOT TO WALK WITH THE MAYOR AND CHIEF WARD AND THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD EVENT. THEN THE LAST PICTURE THERE, MY FRIEND AT CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY HAD A PLEASANT VISIT TODAY. IT WAS A SURPRISE VISIT. THEY DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS COMING. MR. EAKINS, BEFORE HE GOT IN THE CAR, THEY KNEW ABOUT MY SLIDE SHOW, SO THEY MADE SURE THEY SENT ME THE PICTURE SO SHE COULD HAVE THEIR PICTURE UP ON HERE. WANT TO THANK YOU AND I TOO WANT TO SEND OUT A HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO EVERYONE. ENJOY YOUR FAMILY. FAMILY TIME CAN NEVER BE REMALESSED. SO TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. MR.S GRAY?
>>Lynn Gray: VERY BRIEFLY BUT AS A NEW SCHOOL MEMBER, I AM JUST SO IMPRESSED, SO THANKFUL TO THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE IS A OF. EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE MADE TAMARA'S AND MY LIFE EXTREMELY EXCITING. BUT VERY WELCOME. SECONDLY, IRY WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO OUR NEW MADAM BOARD CHAIR, CINDY STUART, FOR MAKING A VERY BIG POINT TO ENSURING THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK AS A TEAM, AS A SCHOOL BOARD. I THINK THIS HAS A LOT OF MERIT AND IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND THANK YOU, CINDY, FOR EMPHASIZING THAT THANKS, HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SEASON AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY AGAIN GREAT NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WERE IN THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE. I THINK MR. FARKAS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE SUPPORTING HIS DAUGHTERS IN THAT PARADE. IT WAS A VERY PROUD MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY WERE THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL IN FLORIDA THAT WAS IN THE PARADE. IN FACT, I BELIEVE THEY'RE THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT HAS EVER BEEN IN THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE. SO IT WAS A FANTASTIC AND EXCITING WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. A LIFETIME, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AT NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL. WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR THEIR EFFORT. WE ARE JUST SO PROUD OF THEM. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR A WONDERFUL, ANOTHER YEAR HAS GONE BY. THE HE WAS ON THE SHELVES THE ELVES ON THE SHELVES CAME OUT LAST NIGHT. SO MUCH PRESSURE. BUT HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON. HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND ENJOY IT. I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. MS. SHAMBURGER IN.
>>Tamara Shamburger: JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY THANK YOU EVERYONE. FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME, BEING SO GRACIOUS AND HAVING US AS BRAND NEW BOARD MEMBERS. EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. AND I'LL HAVE TO SAY AS PREVIOUS OUTSIDER NOW INSIDER, I AM JUST EXCITED TO BE HERE. ALL THE ENTHUSIASM, THE LOVE AND THE COMMUNITY IN THIS DISTRICT IS JUST PHENOMENAL. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THIS TEAM. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. SO, THE EXPECTATIONS ARE REALLY HIGH. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING SO GRACIOUS AND ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND JUST BEING THERE FOR ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO MAKE THE DISTRICT REALLY GREAT. MR. PORTER THANK YOU SO MUCH AND SUPERINTENDENT EAKINS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE.
>>Cindy Stuart: THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO TRANSPORTATION, I'VE ALREADY SAID, THANKED THEM. THEY DID, NEXT YEAR WE NEED SHIRT. THEY MADE SHIRT. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THE STUFF THAT THEY WENT THROUGH TO BE PART OF THIS PARADE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. WANT TO THANK THE MYON PARTNERSHIP. MR. EAGAN AND AND DR. SEUSS DEZ ATTENDED THE LUNCHEON. THEIR NUMBERS, THE KIDS THAT THEY ARE REACHING THROUGH MAYAN IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. JENNA HODGENS AND I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO LEARNING GATE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND ATTEND THEIR ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY LUNCH, WHICH IS ALWAYS A TREAT. IT WASN'T QUITE AS HOT THIS YEAR AS LAST YEAR. WANT TO THANK THE LEADERS AT FSBA, FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION. OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE WAS LAST WEEK. THAT'S WHY YOU COULDN'T REACH MOST OF US BECAUSE WE WERE IN MEETINGS. SO WE APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR THAT. THEY HAVE TWO CONFERENCES A YEAR. ONE IN DECEMBER AND ONE IN JUNE. UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF US WERE THERE, MS. NIGHTFALLLY WAS OUT OF TOWN BUT THE REST OF US WERE. SO UP IN OF US WERE AVAILABLE BY PHONE OR IN PERSON LAST WEEK. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT BOARD MEMBERS IN OUR EDUCATION AND OUR LEARNING AND BRINGING ISSUES FORWARD THAT THEY ARE SEEING ACROSS THE STATE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THEM. SO I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. I WANT TO THANK TBAE AND AGAIN THE STAFF THAT WAS HERE ON THE DAY OF OUR REORGANIZATION MEETING. THE REST, MOST EVERYONE ELSE WAS ON THANKSGIVING BREAK. BUT OUR SECRETARIES AND SOME OF THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF, THE SUPERINTENDENT, DR. VAZQUEZ, WE WERE ALL HERE TO DO THE REORGANIZATION, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTE ON THAT DAY. WE DON'T LIKE IT ANY MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE DOES BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO IT. SO WE APPRECIATE AGAIN ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED AND REELECTED AND ACROSS THIS DISTRICT, WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE NEWLY ELECTED TO SEATS AND NEWLY ELECTED TO SOME OF OUR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.