>>Lynn Gray: THE BOARD MEETING WILL BEGIN. OKAY, THE BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 15, 2020, WILL BE CALLED TO ORDER. MEMBER HAHN WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. HAHN HAHN THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO OPEN WITH A PRAYER THIS EVENING, THIS AFTERNOON. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY TO ASK YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM AND SUPPORT AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING. HELP US TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION, ALLOW US TO GROW CLOSER AS A GROUP AND NURTURE THE BONDS OF COMMUNITY. FILL US WITH YOUR GRACE AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND OVERALL COMMUNITY. AND CONTINUE TO REMIND US THAT ALL WE DO HERE TODAY, ALL OF IT WE PLUSH IS FOR THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF YOU AND FOR THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY. WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>>Lynn Gray: PROCEEDING. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY, BUT MEMBER HAHN, I THINK YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTERTAINMENT.
>>Stacy Hahn: YES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THE PROGRESS VILLAGE CHORUS, HOPEFULLY YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITIES TODAY BEFORE THE MEETING TO LISTEN TO THEM. THESE STUDENTS PERFORMED CHRISTMAS CAROLS BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING IN FULL PERIOD COSTUMES. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! THEY ARE LED BY DIRECTOR KRISTIN FRANZEN AND WE HAVE A VIDEO OF THEIR PERFORMANCE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND CHECK IT OUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE. IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL AND A WONDERFUL WAY TO KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT PROGRESS VILLAGE CHORUS FOR THESE PERFORMANCES TODAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY, AS I MENTIONED. AND AT THIS TIME, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY, AND SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. THANK YOU. ALL VOTES ARE IN. ROLL CALL. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. AND YES, WE ARE ALL HERE. WE HAVE THREE SETS OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY. WE HAVE THE SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP ON SEPTEMBER 8th, THE SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON OCTOBER 6. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN, AND SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. THAT YOU WILL. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE -- OH, I'M SO SORRY. OH, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE. THANK YOU. IT PASSES THE VOTE. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TONIGHT'S MEETING. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE SLOWLY GETTING BACK TO OUR NORMAL BOARD MEETING FORMAT. WE ARE PERMITTING UP TO FIFTY PEOPLE TO BE PRESENT IN THE BOARD ROOM. GIVEN THE SIZE AND ORIENTATION OF THE BOARD ROOM, WE CAN DO THIS SAFELY. CABINET MEMBERS ARE SPACED APART AT THE CABINET TABLE AND OTHER CABINET MEMBERS ARE SEATED IN THE FIRST ROW OF SEATS AGAIN SPACED APART. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SIT IN EVERY THIRD SEAT IN THE AUDITORIUM. THE LECTERN WILL BE CLEANED AFTER EACH SPEAKER. AS WE RECEIVE FURTHER DIRECTION FROM THE STATE, WE WILL ADDRESS THE PROTOCOLS OF THE MEETING ACCORDINGLY. AND FOR BOARD EFFICIENCY, EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON PROCLAMATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, THEIR OWN BOARD COMMENTS, AGENDA DISCUSSION ITEMS, AND THAT -- YEAH, THAT SHOULD BE IT. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANT TO REMEMBER AND REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS A NONPARTISAN BOARD, AND THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THE WELFARE OF ALL CHILDREN, AND THEREFORE OUR DISTRICT. BOARD GUIDELINES. MEMBER HAHN, WILL YOU NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES?
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, LET ME QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THE LIVE WEBCAST ON CABLE TV AND ON VIDEO MONITORS RIGHT HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING IN THE ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVES.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN, 5:01 P.M., PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION FOR THE NEW AND REVISED BOWLS ADOPTION PROCESS. NOW WE ARE GOING TO 12:.01, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAX REFERENDUM CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE UPDATE. AND WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF COMMITTEE CHAIR BETTY CASTOR WHO WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. WELCOME, MS. CASTOR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE NEW MEMBERS. SO WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL TO BE HERE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE THE REFERENDUM FOURTH HALF CENT SALES TAX PASSED. IN THAT TIME, WE HAVE SPENT OR RECEIVED MORE THAN $219 MILLION. THOSE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED AND DISBURSED. THEY ARE SOMEWHERE. YOUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS PROUD TO HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THIS MASSIVE COMMITMENT. SOME ARE HERE TODAY STANDING CLOSE TO MY LEFT. IT IS JOSE VALIANT-- E WHO IS A CPA, A PROUD GRADUATE OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND A VERY GOOD MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE. ED BROWN IS HERE. YOU KNOW HIM. HE'S BEEN AROUND THESE PARTS, OPENED THE NEW SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS ALSO BEEN VERY ACTIVE. THOSE NOT HERE ARE SHERIFF JACK CHRONISTER WHO ALSO HAS JUST BEEN A VERY VIGOROUS AND INTERESTED MEMBER OF OUR GROUP. BONNIE CARR WHO IS ALSO A CPA, ALONG WITH JOSE, AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF HCC. AND RESIDES IN PLANT CITY AS DOES RICK MOTT, THE MAYOR OF PLANT CITY WHO COULD NOT BE HERE, AND ED NORANE REPRESENTING OUR FORMER LEGISLATOR. HERE IS WHAT WE DO IN CASE ANYBODY DOESN'T KNOW. WE MEET MONTHLY. FOR THE MOST PART, WE MEET MONTHLY. AND VIRTUALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC. OURS HAVE INSISTED ON PULLING THE CURTAIN BACK ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE. AND YOUR STAFF HAS RESPONDED VERY, VERY WELL. CHRIS FARKAS AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. CHUCK PLANT SEEMS TO ANTICIPATE ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE HE ALWAYS HAS THE ANSWERS. TIM SAPP, YOUR ACCOUNTING MANAGER, HAS RESPONDED TO ALL JOSE AND BONNIE'S QUESTIONS AND MODIFIED OUR REPORT SO THAT WE GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE. THESE FUNDS, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, ARE NOT COMMINGLED WITH ANY OTHER CAPITAL OUTLAY. THEY ARE SEPARATE. THEY ARE SEPARATELY ACCOUNTED FOR. I BROUGHT TODAY JUST ONE OF -- NOT ONE, I BROUGHT HALF A DOZEN CHARTS. YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT BELIEVE ME, THERE'S A LOT OF DATA THAT WE SOFAS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I SOMETIMES THINK CHRIS PUTS IT ALL IN THERE TO CONFUSE US AND DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT WE FIGURE IT OUT. ANYWAY, WE KNOW THE RECEIPTS. WE KNOW THE ENTRY BALANCE. WE KNOW HOW MUCH IS EXPENDED WE GET A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION, AND JOSE AND BONNIE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE ALSO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF THE IMPACT THAT THE VIRUS IS HAVING ON THE INCOME FROM THE SALES TAX, AND BASICALLY IT COULD BE WORSE. I THINK AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY ARE AWARE, THE ECONOMY IS COMING BACK, SO IT'S NOT AS BAD AS WE THOUGHT INITIALLY IN THOSE FIRST FEW MONTHS WHEN WE GOT THE REPORTS AND THE SALES TAX REVENUE PLUMMETED. SO MY MESSAGE IS THAT IN ADDITION TO YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES HERE AT THE BOARD, YOU HAVE A WATCHDOG COMMITTEE THAT IS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER ON THESE REFERENDUM DOLLARS AND THE REPORT IS GOOD. SO WHAT'S THE IMPACT OVERALL? I WOULD SAY THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 101. ABOUT 85% OF THESE 200 MILLION-PLUS DOLLARS ARE EXPENDED LOCALLY. THAT IS A GOOD NEWS STORY. THOSE ARE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS, A LOT OF JOBS, AND A LOT OF OVERSIGHT. ABOUT A FIFTH OF THOSE DOLLARS, A LITTLE OVER A FIFTH OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT WITH SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS. THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD NEWS STORY. WE CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH TO THE PUBLIC THAT VOTED FOR THIS REFERENDUM. THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES ARE MAKING A FANTASTIC DIFFERENCE. SOME ARE BIG, AND THEY ARE DIRTY. REPLACING A ROOF OR REBUILDING THE AIR CONDITIONING IN A SCHOOL ARE NOT VERY GLAMOROUS JOBS. WHEN I VISITED DICKINSON ELEMENTARY THAT MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE STARTED OUR TOUR IN THE LIBRARY WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE CONTRACTOR WHO WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW DIRTY THE PROJECT WAS. IN FACT, THEY SAID, JUST LOOK UP AT THE CEILING. AND FROM THE CEILING TO THE ROOF, WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, WE HAD TO TAKE OUT A LOT OF STUFF, A LOT OF CRAP THAT HAD GOTTEN IN THERE AND HAD BUILT UP OVER THE YEARS. THAT WAS UNANTICIPATED BUT STILL IT HAD TO BE DONE. I WON'T DESCRIBE IT HERE, BUT IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT AS IMPORTANT AS THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE, THE HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS, THE HEALTH OF THE TEACHERS, AND STAFF, IS ALSO A POSITIVE FACTOR AND A CONSEQUENCE OF THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THE STAFF HAS ALSO MADE A WISE DECISION IN CONSOLIDATING UPGRADES AT OUR SCHOOLS. IF WE ARE WORKING ON A ROOF, OR ON THE AIR CONDITIONING, IT MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE TO REPAVE A PARKING AREA OR IMPROVE THE PLAYGROUND OR TAKE CARE OF THE GYM FLOOR, PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR PLAYGROUNDS. I REMEMBER JOSE AND DAVE, YOU WILL REMEMBER, WHEN WE WERE GETTING REPORTS ON MEMORIAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EVERY MONTH WE GET A REPORT ON WHETHER OR NOT THE AUDITORIUM SEATS HAD BEEN -- THE AUDITORIUM CHAIRS. ULTIMATELY THEY WERE, SO THAT WAS A GOOD NEWS STORY, TOO. YOU ALSO HAVE SIEVE SCHOOL FUNDING THAT YOU CAN DRAW FROM. SECURITY UPGRADES HAVE ALSO BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. AND SOME OF THEM LOOK REALLY GOOD. JOSE'S HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL VESTIBULE, FOR INSTANCE, IS BEAUTIFUL. WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETING THERE, AND WE LOOKED AT IT, WE SAID, WOW, THIS IS REALLY A GREAT CONSEQUENCE OF THESE FUNDS. SO I'M HERE TO CHEER AND TO SING TO THE CHOIR, AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME GLITCHES THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THESE TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT VERY WISELY. THE INFORMATION IS SO TRANSPARENT, IT'S ALL ON YOUR WEBSITE. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE STAFF AND THE INFORMATION THAT THEY PROVIDE TO US. A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CREDIT FOR THE REFERENDUM, STARTING WITH YOU, WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT I MUST SAY THAT THE HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDED A LOT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT BEHIND THAT REFERENDUM, AND HILLSBOROUGH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER AFFILIATED GROUPS OUT THERE WORKING FOR IT. SO IT'S A GOOD NEWS STORY, AND I AM DELIGHTED TO HEAR AND TO SHARE JUST A FEW COMMENTS WITH YOU AND TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MS. CASTOR. AND WHAT A COMPREHENSIVE JOB YOU ALL ARE DOING. WE ARE JUST SO GRATEFUL. WE HAVE A FEW COMMENTS. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS. AND SO TO BE SO DEDICATED WITH YOUR TIME AND COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AND HELPING AND SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND VOLUNTEERING, I'M GIVING YOU ALL A RAISE.
>> BETTY CASTOR: OH, GOOD. WE NEED TWO COPS OF CAFE -- [ LAUGHTER ]
>> BUT I WANT TO SINCERELY EXPRESS OUR GRADUATE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE TIME YOU SPEND AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO REPORT BACK ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE ARE MAKING AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND YOUR COMMITTEE AS THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL INTO NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. MEMBER PEREZ.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE -- BEING INCREDIBLE STEWARDS OF OUR COUNTY'S REFERENDUM DOLLARS BUT ALSO FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW VITAL IT IS TO IMPROVE THE BUILDINGS WHERE OUR STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOL. AND YOU ARE MAKING THEM FIT TO HOUSE OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND YOU COMPREHEND HOW -- YOU ARE MAKING THEM FIT, NOT JUST FOR THE EDUCATION BUT ALSO FOR THEIR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. AND THAT IS SO VITAL. AND I APPRECIATE THAT, COMING FROM THE MEDICAL SIDE AND ALSO THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE. SO MY APPRECIATION IS MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. I THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING SOME OF THE OVERSIGHT MEETINGS, AND I AM ALWAYS JUST SO IMPRESSED WITH THE QUESTIONS. I LEARN SO MUCH FROM ALL OF YOU. AND I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MANY OF WHO AREN'T HERE TONIGHT, THANK YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE. AND I ECHO A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS MY BOARD MEMBERS JUST EXPRESSED. BUT YOU BOTH DO SO MUCH FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR USF, AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND I KNOW YOU ARE VERY BUSY, AND YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE. AND I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH? ENOUGH FOR SERVING TO HELP US AND HELP OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND STAFF. I APPRECIATE IT.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON? WASHINGTON THANK YOU. YOU SAID A KEY WORD TODAY. YOU SAID TRANSPARENCY. AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING WESTBOUND THE MONEY. AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO TRANSPARENT, BECAUSE YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT. NOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO. BECAUSE IF YOU ARE EVER GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PEOPLE WANT TO NONWHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO. SO I REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE JOB THAT YOU ARE DOING AND CONTINUE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EACH OF YOU.
>> HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU, TOO. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOW DUE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND LET ME JUST READ TO YOU THE GUIDELINES. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP OUR BOARD MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK. TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD COMMENTS THAT BOARD COMMENTS ARE NOT -- EXCUSE ME, YOUR COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND I WILL CALL NOW THE FIRST SPEAKER AND I WILL GIVE A FINAL THOUGHT AT THE END OF TWO MINUTES AND 30 SECOND SO YOU CAN GET YOUR THOUGHTS FIGURED OUT AND CONCLUDE. SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MARIA -- AND I HOPE I DON'T MESS THE NAME UP TOO MUCH -- LOPEZ JIMENO. COME ON TO THE SPEAKER. COME UP TO THE SPEAKER. AND FOLLOWED BY RICK WARDNER AND FOLLOWED BY ALAN BREWSTER. GOOD EVENING AND SAFE HOLIDAY FOR EVERYONE. FELIZ NAVIDAD. I AM REPRESENTING THE 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF PUERTO RICO, BOYS IN ACTION OF PUERTO RICO. WE ARE WORKING ALONG WITH A GROUP OF CONVERSATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, WHAT IS CALLED COUNTY HISPANIC CONVOCATION, ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IS PRESENT TODAY, WITH THE TASK COORDINATE KNIGHTED OR OF THE NONPROFIT. HE IS HERE WITH US AS WELL. AND PARTICIPATIONS AS WE SAID BEFORE IN OUR COMMUNITY THE MOST AFFECTED BY COVID-19 AS WE ALL KNOW IS HISPANIC COMMUNITIES AND OTHER MINORITIES, AND IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SHARE THE ISSUES DUE TO INFORMATION. AND THE LACK OF PARTICIPATION IS NOT ALWAYS DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST, AS WE KNOW. IT SEEMS THERE ARE ENDLESS FACTORS INVOLVED. FACEBOOK, TWITTER, HAVE OFFERED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, AND WE HAVE GLADLY SHARED AND WILL SHARE MORE INFORMATION IF PROVIDED. MORE OVER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES OFFER ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AS YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATION, AND MANY RESOURCES CAN CAUSE PEOPLE NOT TO SPEAK TO YOU IN PERSON, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD IN A DIFFERENT SETTING. IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. BUT MAYBE A COMBINATION BETWEEN THE IN PERSON PARTICIPATION AND THE VISUAL PARTICIPATION, EVEN IF WE MOVE ON IN THE FUTURE, MIGHT BE SOMETHING WITH DIFFERENCE, AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TALK AS WE DID ALSO ABOUT THE REGISTRATION PROCESS THAT IS MORE AT HAND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AGENDA NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED FIRST IN ORDER FOR THE PERSON TO REGISTER, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN A MORE VISIBLE PLACE SO PEOPLE WOULD KNOW ABOUT THAT. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR MYSELF TO REGISTER AND TO CALL, ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOUR POLICY IS IN PLACE, BUT IT IS A LITTLE CHALLENGING FOR A PERSON TO FIND OUT HOW TO COME HERE. AND IT WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME AT FIRST, BUT IT IS MORE A PROBLEM WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT. THE LAST THING IF I JUST HAVE TWO SECONDS. I WOULD SAY THAT I MENTIONED THE VIRTUAL HEARING, MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HELP FROM OUR COMMUNITY. AND A COMBINATION ALSO OF VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON VOLUNTEERING WOULD BE SOMETHING MAYBE THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER, VERY HAPPY, AND HAPPY HOLIDAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE DO WANT TO THANK ALSO MR. FIDERA FOR CLEANING OUR LECTERN AT EACH JUNCTURE BEFORE A SPEAKER COMES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE RICK WARNER, AND AFTER RICK WARNER COMES ALAN BREWSTER AND THEN DESMARAIS ALLEN FOLLOWED BY JASON FERGER.
>> RICK WARNER. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT WE ARE IN CHALLENGING TIMES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THERE ARE MANY PERSPECTIVES ON THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS. PARENTS SEE THE PROBLEMS AS LACK OF SUFFICIENT RESOURCES BEING ALLOCATED TO THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL. TEACHERS, INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND SUPPORT STAFF SEE THE PROBLEM AS MONEY WHICH SHOULD GO TOWARD THEIR COMPENSATION BEING SPENT ON ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEXT NEW PROGRAM WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT. THE ADMINISTRATION SEES PART OF THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE TO ADJUST EACH SCHOOL'S STAFFING LEVEL FOR CHANGES IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT. BOARD MEMBERS FACE A DIZZYING ARRAY OF DECISIONS AS THEY MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING IS SPENT EQUITABLY TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS. WHAT EACH OF THESE PERSPECTIVES HAVE IN COMMON IS A DESIRE TO BA DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE KIDS AND THEIR EDUCATION. THE LARGER PROBLEM, WHICH WE TEND TO LOSE SIGHT OF IN OUR STRUGGLE TO LIVE WITHIN OUR BUDGET, IS THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FUNDING IS INADEQUATE. FLORIDA IS 44th IN THE NEA RANKINGS OF THE STATE IN PER PUPIL FUNDING. THAT IS SIMPLY DISGRACEFUL FOR THE THIRD LARGEST STATE IN THE NATION. ALSO, IN CERTAIN CASES, FUNDING IS NOT EQUITABLE. SCHOOL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IS BASED ON A STANDARD MILLAGE RATE WHICH BEARS LITTLE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT. GROWING STATISTICS WITH BELOW AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX ROLLS SUFFER WITH AGING, POORLY MAINTAINED SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND BUSES AND A LACK OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY. AND THIS MAY BE A SURPRISE TO SOME OF YOU, HILLSBOROUGH SUFFERS MORE THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT FROM THAT INEQUITY. THE DISTRICT'S LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS WERE THE SUBJECT OF THIS MORNING'S SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP. THE REQUESTS WERE MORE NUMEROUS, QUANTIFIED AND CLEARLY WRITTEN THAN IN PAST YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY STILL DO NOT IDENTIFY THE SIZE OF THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 7 AND 8 BILLION DOLLARS SHORTAGE STATE WIDE. AND THAT'S BILLION WITH A B. THAT AMOUNT OF FUNDING WOULD ENABLE US TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS INCLUDING MOVING OUR TEACHER PAY FROM 47th TO THE MEDIAN. WE MUST EXPLAIN THESE SIMPLE FACTS TO VOTERS WHO MUST DEMAND THAT THEIR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES PLACE TOP PRIORITY ON THE FUNDING ON PRE-K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. WARNER, SO MUCH. NEXT TO THE SPEAKER WILL BE ALAN BREWSTER. GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING. ALAN BREWSTER. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A TOPIC HYBRID. RECENTLY INQUIRED ABOUT HYBRID AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FROM A TENTH GRADER, AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE HYBRID AT JEFFERSON WAS YOU ATTEND THE FIRST THREE CLASSES OUT OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THEN THE REST OF THEIR CLASSES WOULD BE DISTANT LEARNING. AND I DID RESEARCH IN OTHER STATES, AND OTHER DISTRICTS ON THEIR HYBRID, AND THEIR HYBRID WAS MODEL A, YOU GO BRICK AND MORTAR FOR THREE DAYS AND THE OTHER DAYS WILL BE DISTANT LEARNING. I LIKE THAT HYBRID BETTER JUST FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE HYBRID AT JEFFERSON WHEN THE STUDENT IS TRAVELING BACK HOME TO DO DISTANT LEARNING, IF THEY RUN INTO TRAFFIC IS CONCERNED, THEY MISS THAT CLASS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO CONSIDER A ROBUST HYBRID PROGRAM. I THINK A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM HYBRID. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHOULD HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION. IT WOULD BE -- INNOVATION. AND ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS I AM STILL WAITING ON SOME TYPE OF PLATFORM FOR THE PARENTS. THEY ARE SMART AND INTELLIGENT PARENTS OUT HERE, AND THE MORE PARENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED AT THE SCHOOL, THE GREATER THE SCHOOL IS. YOU NEED THE PARENTS. PARENTS NEED A PLATFORM. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, IF YOU WILL JUST WAIT, MR. BREWSTER, FOR JUST A MOMENT. CAN WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER ADDRESS THIS PARTICULAR CONCERN? AND MR. CONNOR -- MR. BREWSTER, MR. CONNOR WILL BE ADDRESSING THE CONCERN. THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE LIST IS DESMARAIS ALLEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB, BUT I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO IT. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THREE THINGS TODAY. THE FIRST ONE IS COMMUNICATION. THE SECOND ONE IS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. SO THE FIRST ONE IS COMMUNICATION. I REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE GIVEN THAT WE ARE THE 7th LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ARE IN A TIME OF COVID WHERE PARENTS ARE TAXED AND STRESSED, AND EVERYBODY IS STRESSED. BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU CAN NEVER OVERCOMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED E-MAILS WHICH IS WHY I AM BRINGING THIS UP ABOUT THE DECLARATION, NOT THE DECLARATION, I KNOW IT WASN'T A DECLARATION, BUT THE CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE GOING BACK TO BRICK AND MORTAR, eLearning. I HAVE TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT PARENTS ARE CONCERNED, AND SO THE MORE YOU CAN COMMUNITY THE BETTER OFF WE ARE. AND YES, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CHALLENGES WITH THAT. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS ENGAGING STUDENTS IN THE PLANNING PROCESSES. SO ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS I GET TO DO THIS YEAR IS TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE CAC, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE CAC IS THAT WE HAVE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES. HALF OF THE SCHOOLS SEND REPRESENTATIVES FOR TWO YEARS AND THE OTHER HALF THE HIGH SCHOOL SENDS HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE OTHER TWO YEARS, SO WE HAVE A NEW CLASS OF JUNIORS, AND ANYONE WHO HAS COME -- THE TWO PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE CAC MEETING SO FAR, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND MEMBER PEREZ, CAN ATTEST THAT OUR STUDENTS INPUT HAS BEEN UNVALUABLE. THEY ASK INCREDIBLE QUESTIONS. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY ENGAGED, INCREDIBLY INFORMED, AND THEY BRING TO LIGHT THINGS THAT PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS MAY NOT OTHERWISE KNOW. SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ON ANY LEVEL OF PLANNING TO REALLY INCLUDE OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE THEY SEE THINGS, AND THE BEST THING ABOUT STUDENTS IS THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO SAY SOMETHING. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW TEENAGERS ARE BOLD. I HAVE TWO OF THEM IN MY HOUSE SO I KNOW HOW BOLD THEY CAN BE AND HOW UNAFRAID THEY CAN BE TO SAY SOMETHING AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY VALUABLE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO TAKE AN HONEST LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING OUR DISTRICT. AND THEN THE FINAL THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OF COURSE IS PARENT ENGAGEMENT. OBVIOUSLY, THE GREATEST INDICATION OF A STUDENT'S SUCCESS IS PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT AND THAT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE IN A TIME OF COVID. AND SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE INNOVATIVE, TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IN WAYS YOU CAN ENGAGE THE PARENTS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCACY, BECAUSE PARENTS CAN BE AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL VOICE. AND THIS MORNING YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, AND WE WANT TO BE PARTNERS WESTBOUND YOU IN THAT. WE ARE TIRED OF OUR SCHOOLS BEING UNDERFUNDED. WE ARE TIRED OF OUR KIDS GOING WITHOUT, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE WHAT WE NEED. AND WE WANT TO HELP YOU AND BE PARTNERS WITH YOU TO SEE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BE THE BEST. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MS. ALLEN. AND NOW WE WILL HAVE JASON FERGER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. FIGARELLA, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT PRONOUNCING YOUR NAME CORRECTLY MR. FERGER, I CAN PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
>> MY NAME IS JASON FERGER, A STAKEHOLDER. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S REFRESHING TO ME AS A TAXPAYER THAT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE A NEW POPULARITY CONTEST SO THE GOOD ONES CAN STAY AND SOMETIMES NEW ONE COMES. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW ONES AND TO THE ONES THAT ARE STILL HERE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 7 .2.1. I THINK 7.21, WHICH I JUST GAVE YOU, AND IT'S IN COLOR SO THERE ARE SOME NOTES IN THERE FOR YOU, BUT THIS LAST POPULARITY CONTEST THERE WAS A VIRAL VIDEO THAT WENT AROUND WHERE ONE OF THE POLITICIANS USED THE TERM CORN POP. CORN POP WAS A BAD DUDE. WELL, CORN POP IS THIS AGENDA ITEM. THIS AGENDA ITEM IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BAD DUDE. THE MAIN PURPOSE I THINK OF 7.21 AND THE SPIRIT OF THIS AT THE BEGINNING FOR THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IS IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME THE PREVIOUS BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WERE TRYING TO SAVE TAX DOLLARS AND PUT THINGS IN PLACE WHERE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND CAPITAL DOLLARS TO UPGRADE SCHOOL AND SO FORTH. SINCE 2017 THERE HAVE BEEN TEN AMENDMENTS TO THAT ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, ALL COMING TOGETHER UNDERNEATH THIS ONE HERE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE NOTES THAT ARE ON THERE, THREE MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH FOR SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF TO DO ANY JUSTICE. THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN DO IN THREE MINUTES IS A VERY SHORT STAND-UP COMEDY ROUTINE OR THROW INSULTS UP HERE. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THREE MINUTES FOR SOMEBODY TO TRULY GO INTO THE DEEP DIVE OF WHAT IS BAD WITH THIS. BUT A COUPLE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS, AGAIN, TEN AMENDMENTS. THIS WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS AND THEN WITHDRAWN. ESSENTIALLY, IF A MILLION DOLLARS IS SAVED, IN MY OPINION, AND IT COSTS $3 MILLION TO SAVE THAT MILLION DOLLARS, TAMPA DISTRICT IS ON THE HOOK FOR THE 3 MILLION BUCKS. IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. THE OTHER TWO ISSUES THAT I HAVE IS CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT THESE REFERENDUM DOLLARS AREN'T GOING TO GET INTERMIXED WITH THE MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE PAID OUT? THE OTHER THING IS IN THIS DOCUMENT HERE, AND IN ALL OF THE OTHER DOCUMENTATION THAT I HAVE SEEN, I CAN'T SEE WHAT MONEY HAS GONE OUT AND WHAT MONEY HAS BEEN SAVED. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THAT INFORMATION EITHER. SO I THINK YOU REALLY AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NOBODY HERE IN THIS ROOM THAT TRULY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S ALL IN THIS DOCUMENT AND WHAT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY IS, AND I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO VOTE NO AND CIRCLE BACK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. FERGER, FOR THIS INFORMATION AS WELL. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND NOW WE GO TO THE RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. AND AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COVER EITHER OR, AND WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN NOW WITH, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE MEMBER VAUGHN WILL BE PRESENTING THE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER FOR THE SCIENTIST OF THE FUTURE. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU K.EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY? SOUNDS LIKE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT CANCER HAS AFFECTED ME AND MY FAMILY DEEPLY. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. SO I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION. CANCER IS A DISEASE THAT AFFECTS NEARLY EVERY FAMILY WITH MORE THAN 17 MILLION PEOPLE NEWLY DIAGNOSED EVERY YEAR. MOFFITT CANCER CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO COMBAT THIS DISEASE WITH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND STATE-OF-THE-ART CANCER TREATMENT. MOFFITT ALSO COMBAT CANCER THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND ENCOURAGES ALL STUDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS TO CONSIDER CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. MOFFITT POST-DOCTORAL ASSOCIATION WISHES TO PARTNER WITH HILLSBOROUGH TEACHERS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE PURSUIT OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE EACH OF OUR GUESTS TODAY?
>>Jessica Vaughn: YES. SO THERE'S TRACY CREWER. JOHN DEMURO. AND DR. BOBBY McKEE.
>>Lynn Gray: AND OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO AS AN ORGANIZATION. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US RECOGNITION AND THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS DR. CREWER, A RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT MOFFITT AND WE ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MOFFITT AND ALSO THE POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. SO AS YOU KNOW, MOFFITT IS A PREMIER RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND CANCER TREATMENT CENTER, AND THAT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THIS OPPORTUNITY. BUT THE FUTURE OF CANCER RESEARCH AND THE FUTURE SUCCESSES OF MOFFITT ALSO DEPEND ON THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO GO INTO SCIENCE AND MED SUN CAREERS. SO JUST SPEAKING PERSONALLY, I GOT INTERESTED IN SCIENCE WEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND MY JOB AT MOFFITT INVOLVES STUDYING LEUKEMIA AND NEW TREATMENTS FOR LEUKEMIA. THE TYPE I WORK ON IS ACTUALLY INCURABLE SO I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT I AM HELPING PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK AND THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS. SO I REALLY WANT TO PASS THAT ALONG TO YOUNGER STUDENTS. SO LOOKING BACK TO WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I REALLY WISH I HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO SCIENCE AT A YOUNGER AGE LIKE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO I WANT THAT TO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN. I THINK WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, SCIENCE KIND OF SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING INTANGIBLE. I THINK IT STILL SEEMS INTANGIBLE TO PROBABLY A LOT OF STUDENTS AND PROBABLY A LOT OF ADULTS, TOO. SO OUR GOAL TODAY, AND BY TALKING TO YOU, IS JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS, AND HAVE A PLEASANT -- PRESENCE TON SHOW STUDENTS THAT SCIENCE CAN BE EXCITING AND FUN, AND THAT ANYBODY CAN BE A SCIENTIST. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE A GIRL OR BOY OR WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS. AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND YOU SPEAK VERY WISELY TO FUTURE SCIENTISTS THAT ARE WOMEN AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES?
>>Jim Porter: NEED A MOTION AND SECOND.
>>Lynn Gray: NEED A MOTION AND SECOND A.MOTION TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER VAUGHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON. OKAY, WE SEE THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETE YES. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT VOTE. THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT. AND THIS IS THE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION. SO IT LOOKS VERY WORDY. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, EXCUSE ME, A RESOLUTION. THIS IS THE USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, AND VICE CHAIR HAHN WILL BE PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, DR. HAHN. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THE RECENT DECISION BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA TO PHASE OUT ITS COLLEGE AND EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS WILL HAVE A LASTING EFFECT ON OUR DISTRICT, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY. MORE THAN 200 USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GRADUATES BEGIN THEIR CAREER IN A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM EACH YEAR. CURRENTLY, 28% OF K-12 TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT ARE USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GRADS. BEING PART OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, USF IS ABLE TO OFFER AN AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS AS OPPOSED TO PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHOSE ELEVATED TUITION AND INITIAL REQUIREMENTS CREATE BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPPORTS ALL EFFORTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN USF'S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION UNDERCONGRATULATE TEACHER PROGRAMS. THE BOARD IS EXCITED BY THE WAY USF IS REIMAGINING ITS GRADUATE PROGRAM AND EXPECT THE SAME THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION BE MADE FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS IN THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.
>>Lynn Gray: OKAY. SO THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS, AND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>>Jim Porter: LET ME JUST THROW IN THE WASHINGTON THE MOTION WAS BY MR. WASHINGTON AND SECONDED BY MS. COMBS.
>>Lynn Gray: I'M VERY SORRY. IF THERE'S NOT -- MEMBER HAHN, GO AHEAD.
>>Stacy Hahn: SO MOST OF MY CAREER MANY OF YOU KNOW IS SPENT AT USF AND THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AS A PROFESSOR PREPARING PARENT TEACHERS IN THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE TEACHERS WORK TODAY IN OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE SOME OF OUR WONDERFUL TEACHERS THAT WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY. I'M SO PROUD OF THEM. AND SO I DO LOOK FORWARD NOW AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO WORK WITH USF IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OR IF THEY DO CHOOSE TO MOVE TO A SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND REIMAGINING INNOVATIVE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP CREATE PATHWAYS THAT WILL HELP US RECRUIT FUTURE TEACHERS. SO I GUESS I'M A GLAD GLASS HALF FULL KIND OF PERSON. I ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS AS AN ENDING OF SOMETHING, JUST A CONTINUATION OF THE STORY PERHAPS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. BUT I DO FEEL VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR USF, WHETHER THEY CONTINUE AS A COLLEGE OF ED OR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION. AND GO BULLS!
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. AND JUST A REAL QUICK REMARK. I DID PUT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE PROCLAMATION ACROSS BECAUSE I AGREE WITH MEMBER HAHN AND PROBABLY THE REST OF THE BOARD THAT IF WE PUT A PRIORITY OF EDUCATION, WHICH WE SHOULD, WE HAVE TO PUT A PRIORITY IN TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND TEACHER TRAINING. AND THIS IS A BIG SHOUTOUT AND AFFIRMATION THAT WE AS A BOARD PRIORITIZE THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM FOR RECRUITING AND TEACHING, OR FOR FUTURE INDUCTEES EDUCATION. I WAS A PRODUCT OF USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, BY THE WAY. SO AT ANY RATE, I WOULD LIKE TO NOW CALL ON MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT I AM A GRADUATE FROM USF UNDERGRADUATE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM USF WHO COME TO OUR CAMPUSES EVERY DAY AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. WORKING ALONGSIDE TEACHERS AND HOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT PROGRAM. AND I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT NOT JUST KEEPING THE USF PROGRAM, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT TEACHING IS AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS SO MAKING SURE WE CHOOSE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUND IN HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, REALLY START BRINGING THAT INTEREST INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT IS CORRECT THEY MOVE ON TO USF. BECAUSE IF WE EXPECT USF TO STAY OPEN WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A PATHWAY FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL INTO USF. I REALLY THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS REALIZE NOT JUST THE INCREASING THE BASE SALARY BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING TEACHERS EVERY YEAR TO THE PROGRAM.
>>Lynn Gray: SUCH VALUABLE POINTS. THANK YOU MEMBER COLMES. MEMBER HAHN?
>>Stacy Hahn: I WOULD BE REMACE MISS IF I DID NOT THANK MEMBER GRAY FOR WORKING ON THIS RESOLUTION AND CRAFTING IT. SO THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. YOU HAVE A TEACHER'S HEART AND IT SHOWS EACH AND EVERY DAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS.
>>Lynn Gray: IT'S LIKE A LITTLE HOLIDAY PRESENT. THANK YOU, MEMBER MEMBER HAHN. YEAH. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE. SO PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON. OKAY. WE ARE UNANIMOUS. AND THE VOTE GOES THROUGH. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT RESOLUTION, WE HAVE A FEW THAT ARE PROCLAMATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. SO I ACTUALLY BELIEVE I HAVE A PROCLAMATION BEFORE ME. I WENT AHEAD AND PUT TOGETHER A REQUEST FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS PROCLAMATION, AND I AM GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF. I AM NOT GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION -- EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION HERE. BUT AT ANY RATE, ALMOST THE SAME DIFFERENCE. SO WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE IS WHAT WE ALL KNOW. THERE'S A TREMENDOUS UPCOMING DILEMMA CALLED THE SUPER BOWL THAT WILL PROBABLY BRING A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN INTO HARM'S WAY. I DON'T WANT TO BE AN ALARMIST. I DON'T MEAN TO GET INTO THIS IN A WAY TO SCARE PEOPLE. BUT I FIRST WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND SHERIFF CHRONISTER, MYSELF, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH PSAs TO HELP OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, OUR VARIOUS FACULTY MEMBERS, TO STRATEGICALLY WATCH OVER OUR CHILDREN. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING FORUM, WHICH WE MEET MONTHLY, MOSTLY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR DEDICATED TIME IN PROVIDING SO MANY RESOURCES AND BEING A COMMUNITY VOICE FOR THOSE AREAS SUCH AS DOVER, SEFFNER, RUSKIN, WIMAUMA, THOSE AREAS WHERE THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN CAN BE HOPEFULLY NOT VICTIMIZED BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS iWANT TO THANK ALSO OUR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SUCH AS DAVE BROWN, ACTUALLY, AND COLLEEN CARR SHIELDS, IN THAT AREA FOR TAKING THAT STRATEGIC AMOUNT OF OUTREACH FOR THE STUDENTS TO BECOME AWARE, AND OUR PARENTS IN THOSE AREAS. AND LASTLY, I WANT TOPPLES APPRECIATE OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PTA, FRANK RAYS WILL NOW PUT TOGETHER AN OUTREACH FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THE PARENTS CAN BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS, BUT ALSO OF STRATEGIES TO BUILD AWARENESS WITH OUR STUDENTS. AND AT LAST, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU COUNTY COMMISSIONER KIM OVERMAN FOR BEING PART -- A BIG PART OF THE TASK FORCE, AND OUR OWN BOARD MEMBER KAREN PEREZ FOR ALSO WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TOWARDS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS. AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY REMARKS. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID -- I'M SORRY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS PROCLAMATION. EXCUSE ME, I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. SO THIS CONCLUDES OUR RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. OUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT, IF YOU WILL, IS THE BOARD AUTHORIZATION ASSIGNMENTS. AND MOVING ONTO THIS, I WILL SAY THAT FIRST WE'LL HAVE JIM PORTER, OUR ATTORNEY HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. WE COULD HAVE HAD THE CHAIR PUT THIS IN A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN, BUT I THINK THE LATTER, BY A MORE DEMOCRATIC WAY, WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY VOTE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO BECOME PART OF THE MPO. SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO -- AND JIM PORTER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE FOR EACH BOARD MEMBER TO HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PRESENT THEIR BACKGROUND SO WE CAN REALLY GET A FEEL FOR THE VALUE THAT THEY CAN BRING TOWARD THE MPO. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, JIM? IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO SHARE WHAT THE MPO IS.
>>Jim Porter: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS. AS BOARD MEMBER GRAY SAID, THERE IS A DECISION TO BE MADE OPPORTUNITY ABOUT WHO WILL BE THE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MPO. THE MPO STANDS FOR METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION. IT'S A LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION GROUP THAT IS REQUIRED BY BOTH FEDERAL STATUTE AND FLORIDA LAW. IT'S MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE JURISDICTIONS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE COUNTY, TEMPLE TERRACE, PLANT CITY AND THE CITY OF TAMPA AS WELL AS ALL THE MAJOR TRANSPORTATION ENTITIES SUCH AS THE PORT AUTHORITY AND THE AVIATION AUTHORITY. THE SCHOOL BOARD TRADITIONALLY WAS NEVER A PART OF THE MPO. BUT A FEW YEARS AGO THIS BOARD MADE THE REQUEST TO THE MPO TO AMEND ITS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT BELONG TO IT TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ON THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IT'S MASSIVE. THE SCHOOL BUSES WE PUT ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY FAR OUTWAY WHAT HART PUTS ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DISTRICT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE. SINCE THE MPO AGREED TO ALLOW SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, THE BOARD MEMBER THAT SERVED ON IT WAS SINTY STUART. SHE'S NO LONGER ON THE BOARD. THE WAY THE BOARD DOES ITS ORGANIZATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS IS WHEN A BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO SIT ON A BOARD, IF NO OTHER BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO DO IT, BUT CONSENSUS THAT BOARD MEMBER HAS TO DO IT. AT THE BOARD RETREAT, BOTH BOARD MEMBER SNIVELY AND VAUGHN INDICATED A DESIRE TO SERVE ON THE MPO. SO AS THE CHAIR SAID NOW IT'S UP TO THIS BOARD TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES FOUR VOTES WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE OTHER PERSON WILL BE THE ALTERNATE AND WILL SERVE IN THAT BOARD MEMBER PLACE IF THAT BOARD MEMBER CANNOT SERVE. THE WAY YOU WILL DO THE VOTING TODAY IS THE CHAIR WILL CALL EACH NAME, AND IF YOU WISH TO VOTE FOR THAT BOARD MEMBER, YOU WILL RAISE YOUR HAND. WE CAN'T DO THE BUTTON BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S A YES OR NO. SO SHE'LL CALL EACH CANDIDATE'S NAME. YOU WILL VOTE AND THEN THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES FOUR VOTES WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE. AS THE CHAIR SAID IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE TWO CANDIDATES, IF YOU WILL, TO INDICATE WHY THEY WANT TO DO IT, THEIR BACKGROUND, AND IF ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO SPEAK THAT WOULD ALSO BE APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. AND WE'LL START OUT WITH MEMBER VAUGHN, AND THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR I.DON'T ANTICIPATE NEEDING THREE MINUTES. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHY I AM INTERESTED IN BEING ON THE MPO BOARD. MY INTEREST STEMS ESSENTIALLY FROM TWO PIECES. ONE BEARS MY OWN PERSONAL MASS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING. AND THEN SECONDLY, IT'S MY INTEREST IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW IT RELATES DIRECTLY TO OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I FOLLOWED THE MPO CLOSELY FOR MANY YEARS. I SPOKE AT SEVERAL MPO PUBLIC MEETINGS. AND I BUILT COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS ON THE MPO. I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SERVING MEMBERS TO BEING ON THIS BOARD. AND I HAVE ALREADY STARTED HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT STUDIES THAT WE CAN CREATE COLLABORATIVELY, TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOL STAFF THAT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION. I SEE MY STRENGTHS, MY KNOWLEDGE AND MY PASSION FOR BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION AS NOT ONLY ADDING A STRONG VOICE BUT ALSO HAVING AN IMPORTANT IMPACT AND BEING A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CURRENT MPO BOARD. AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. AND MEMBER SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE MPO. I WILL ALSO BE BRIEF. I DON'T THINK I WILL NEED THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES EITHER. BUT DURING MY SIX YEARS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS BUT ALSO HAVE MADE MY DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL STUDENTS. AND I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DON'T DO THAT ON THE MPO. MOST OF THE PROJECTED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO BE IN MY DISTRICT. AND MANY OF THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING THERE, I HAVE BEEN CONTENDING WITH THOSE ISSUES AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO I DO HAVE HISTORIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE HAVING, AND OBVIOUSLY A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN TRANSPORTATION AS WELL FOR OUR STUDENTS. TRANSPORTATION IS THE KEY ISSUE FACING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ESPECIALLY NOW AS WE RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS INCLUDING OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE CONNECTED TO JOBS AND HEALTH CARE AND ESPECIALLY EDUCATION. SO I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AND WORKED WITH SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED PATHWAYS TO SCHOOL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. SO I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY INTEREST, AND I HOPE THAT I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MPO. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. AND AT THIS TIME, MR. PORTER, CAN YOU LEAD US --
>>Jim Porter: I THINK I HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER THAT WANTS TO SPEAK.
>>Lynn Gray: WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSION, RIGHT? OH, I'M SO SORRY. MEMBER COMBS, GO AHEAD. AND WE DO HAVE DISCUSSION BEYOND MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: I THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL AT THE BOARD RETREAT HOW WE WERE ALL ABLE TO SELECT A COMMITTEE. AND IT WAS REALLY PRETTY FLAWLESS. AND I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE HAVE A BALANCE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE COMMITTEES, WE HAVE A BALANCE WITH NEW, AND THEN MORE EXPERIENCED BOARD MEMBERS. BUT I FEEL THAT YOU ARE SERVING IN THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD AND ALSO THE LEGISLATIVE BOARD. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE JESSICA VAUGHN BE ON THE MPO BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD CREATE SOME MORE BALANCE IN HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONE BOARD MEMBER HAS SO MANY COMMITTEES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE JESSICA VAUGHN BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT EVERYONE HAVING AN EQUAL NUMBER OF COMMITTEES AS MUCH AS HAVING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSON REPRESENTING US ON THESE COMMITTEES. SO HOW MANY COMMITTEES DO YOU BOTH CURRENTLY HAVE? IT'S NOT REALLY AN ISSUE FOR ME, IT'S REALLY THE FACT THAT MPO IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL COMMITTEES THAT WE SIT ON. I THINK THAT HAVING A SEASONED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER LIKE MS. SNIVELY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S THE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE CARRIES ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, ABOUT THE PROTOCOLS THAT EXIST IN THE DISTRICT, THAT WILL HELP HER NAVIGATE AND REPRESENT US WELL ON THE MPO. I THINK THERE ARE SOME COMMITTEES THAT WE ALL SIT ON THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON AS A BRAND NEW BOARD MEMBER, AND I AM HERE TWO YEARS, SO I AM NOT NEW BUT I AM ALSO NOTE AS SEASONED AS MS. GRAY AND MEMBER SNIVELY. BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME COMMITTEES THAT YOU CAN KIND OF HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, AND THERE ARE SOME THAT REALLY REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE. AND I THINK THE ALTERNATE TO MPO IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT POSITION, BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE A NEWER BOARD MEMBER THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THAT KNOWLEDGE AND BUILD OUR LEADERSHIP BENCH, SO THAT WHEN THESE BOARDS TURN OVER IN TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE REALLY WELL SEASONED, PREPARED INDIVIDUALS FOR SOME OF THESE MORE COMPLEX COMMITTEES THAT WE SIT ON. AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT BUILDING OUR BENCH, AS SOME OF US ROLL OFF AND ONTO THE BOARD, AND SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO PROVIDE SOME INPUT. THANK YOU. THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT PROCESS WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT DOING A PROCESS LIKE THIS.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. AND MR. PORTER, WOULD YOU GO AHEAD?
>>Jim Porter: AT THIS POINT WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS CALL THE NAME MUCH EACH CANDIDATE AND ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THAT PARTICULAR CANDIDATE TO RAISE THEIR HAND. THEN THE NEXT BOARD MEMBER.
>>Lynn Gray: OKAY, SO MEMBER VAUGHN? AND THEN WE WILL RAISE OUR HAND ACCORDINGLY, RIGHT? AND MEMBER SNIVELY? THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON BOTH COUNTS. OKAY. SO RIGHT NOW, WE WILL CONCLUDE ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AND WE WILL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. OH, I CAN'T REALLY DO THAT.
>>Jim Porter: YES.
>>Lynn Gray: I NEED A SECOND ON THIS ONE. I HAVE A SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. AND PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY. AND THIS IS UNANIMOUS WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOVING -- PORT.
>> YOU WILL NOTE THAT IT'S 5:02 AND YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE POLICIES.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WILL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE POLICIES, AND EXCUSE ME WHILE I FIND THE ACTUAL PAGE HERE.
>>Jim Porter: WHILE YOU ARE DOING THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE STAFF PRESENT IT AND THEN ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF ANYBODY WANTS. I BELIEVE MS. SAUNDERS. I'M NOT SURE IF THE SUPERINTENDENT OR MS. SAUNDERS IS GOING TO PRESENT.
>>Lynn Gray: AT THIS TIME, WILL THE STAFF PRESENT?
>>Gretchen Saunders: THANK YOU THROUGH THE CHAIR. AGENDA ITEM E-01 IS A POLICY REVISION BEING PROPOSED TO ALIVEN THE DISTRICT WITH FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 6-A-1.012 AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE DISTRICT WITH GREATER EFFICIENCIES WHEN NEEDED. JUST WANTED TO SAY A THANK YOU TO BE KRISTIN DAVIS, JIM PORTEDER, JEFF GIBSON AND COREY MURPHY FOR REVISING THIS ITEM AND BRINGING IT TO YOU. PER FLORIDA STATUTE 120, THE NOTICE OF RULE MAKING WAS PUBLISHED AND THE POLICY WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE STARTING ON NOVEMBER 18, 2020. THE POLICY REVISION WAS ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP ON SEPTEMBER 8th. THE REVISED LANGUAGE REFLECTS THE WORK COMPLETED AT THAT MEETING AS WELL AS BOARD MEMBER FEEDBACK AND STAFF REVISIONS. IF YOU QUO LIKE, I WILL JUST GO THROUGH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ITEM, THIS POLICY CHANGE.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU.
>>Gretchen Saunders: SO IF APPROVED, THE REVISED POLICY WILL PROVIDE THE SUPERINTENDENT GREATER EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT AND AWE LINE BOARD APPROVAL LIMITS AND VERBIAGE WITH THE FLAP ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 6-A-1.012. THE REQUEST IS TO MOVE THE LIMIT FROM 10,000 TO 50,000 TO BRING TO THE BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR 50,000. AN ACTUAL POLICY 6320 AND A FEW HIGHLIGHTS IT WOULD JUST BRING US IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, AND A FEW OF THE CHANGES ARE JUST WORD CLEAN-UP FROM THE POLICY WHERE WE TOOK OUT SUPPLIES, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT AND REPLACED IT WITH COMMODITIES AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, AND WE REFINED THE TERMS SUPERINTENDENT TO INCLUDE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE, AND THE DESIGNEE WAS DEFINED AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, CHIEF OF STAFF, CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER, OR GENERAL MANAGER OF PROCUREMENT. AGAIN, THIS WOULD RAISE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY NOW TO 50,000 OR THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IF THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 6-A CHANGES. SO WE KIND OF LEFT IT OPEN THERE. THE BOARD ALSO HAS DELEGATED LIMITED PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF EACH DEPARTMENT OR PRINCIPAL OF EACH SCHOOL TO CONTRACT FOR GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000. SO THAT'S AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL SITE. AGAIN, ALL OF THESE CHANGES ARE TO ALIGN WITH FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 6-A.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MS. SAUNDERS. DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEND FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF THIS REVISED POLICY? MEMBER HAHN? MEMBER HAHN WANTS TO SPEAK FIRST.
>>Jim Porter: YOU NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN GET A MOTION AND SECOND.
>>Lynn Gray: I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE POLICY. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN, AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. AND NOW I NEED ANY DISCUSSION? EXCUSE ME. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SO THIS WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND THEN WE PULLED IT FROM THE AGENDA AND ARE BRINGING IT FORTH NOW JUST TO GIVE SOME OF OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS SOME CONTACTS THAT IN LIGHT OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT WE ARE IN, AND TO GIVE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ACKLEY MATED TO THE FINANCIALS, I DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS AT THIS TIME ON RAISING THIS AMOUNT. I THINK THAT AT THIS TIME, THIS BOARD SHOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER SPENDING. AND RAISING THIS AMOUNT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK, IS RESPONSIBLE. AND I WOULD RATHER IT STAY LIKE THIS FOR NOW, AND THEN REVISIT THIS MAYBE NEXT YEAR, AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY FEELING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I KNOW THAT IT WAS DISCUSSED AGAIN BEFORE WE HAD THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I THINK THAT IN LIGHT OF A LOT OF THE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT WE ARE NOW HAVING, THIS BOARD NEED TO KNOW HOW EVERY PENNY IS BEING SPENT IN THIS DISTRICT. AND BY RAISING THIS LIMIT, IT ALLOWS A LOT OF PURCHASES TO BE MADE AND DECISIONS TO BE MADE WITHOUT THE OVERSIGHT OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD. SO THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER COMBS?
>>Nadia Combs: I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT MS. HAHN SAID. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME DOING AS A NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING, MEETING WITH MS. SAUNDERS, AND AT THIS TIME I THINK EVERY PENNY IS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OVERSIGHT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY PENNY THAT IS SPENT IN THIS DISTRICT, AND SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOWER IT AND NOT HAVE IT AT SUCH A HIGH AMOUNT, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
>>Lynn Gray: CLARIFICATION, MS. SAUNDERS. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US THE DIFFERENTIAL THAT THEY ARE EMBARKING ON FROM LAST TIME, LAST YEAR TO IN YEAR? IS UNDER A SAN IS UNDER A CURRENTLY PRIOR TO THE REVISION THE SUPERINTENDENT'S APPROVAL LIMIT IS UP TO 10,000. ANYTHING OVER THE 10,000 WE NEED TO BRING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. THE REQUEST IS TO ALIGN IT WITH FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 6-A WHICH RAISES THE LIMIT TO 50,000.
>>Lynn Gray: SO FROM 10,000 TO 50,000?
>>Gretchen Saunders: YES, MA'AM.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. MEMBER SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU BRING VERY GOOD POINTS TO THE BOARD, MEMBER HAHN, ESPECIALLY IN THIS PARTICULAR CRISIS THAT WE ARE IN FINANCIALLY. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMOUNT. IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO APPROVE IT TODAY, ARE THERE ANY REPERCUSSION WAS REGARD TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE? THAT ONE FIRST. THEN I HAVE A SUBSEQUENT --
>>Jim Porter: THE CODE GIVES YOU THE MAXIMUM THAT YOU CAN ALLOW SO WE ARE NOT REACHING THAT. THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH LEAVING IT WHERE IT IS.
>>Melissa Snively: MY SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE IF WE LEAVE THE AMOUNT AS IT IS AT 10, WE ARE HE ABLE TO AMEND THE POLICY THAT'S ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW TO KEEP IT AT 10 BUT KEEP THE OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICY AS THEY ARE?
>>Jim Porter: THAT'S THE BOARD'S DESIRE, YES.
>>Melissa Snively: WOULD THAT REQUIRE A MOTION, OR WITH WOULD THAT -- WOULD BE AMENDING THE POLICY?
>>Jim Porter: IT WOULD BE AMENDING THE POLICY BUT BEING MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN LIBERAL WITH THE POLICIES SO I THINK FROM A NOTICE REQUIREMENT THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE YOU VOTED. IS THERE A TIMING ISSUE, MRS. SAUNDERS, FOR GETTING THIS APPROVED TONIGHT?
>>Gretchen Saunders: I GUESS IT WOULD JUST BE FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
>>Jim Porter: SO IT MIGHT BE BEST IF YOU GIVE THE STAFF SOME GUIDANCE ON WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DID Q AND HAVE IT BROUGHT BACK TO A FUTURE MEETING.
>>Melissa Snively: SO THAT MEANS WOULD WE TABLE THIS?
>>Jim Porter: YES. AND IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS OR FURTHER GUIDANCE, NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO IT. WE WILL BE STARTING A NEW POLICY IN JANUARY WITH ALL NEW POLICIES, AND WE COULD ADD THAT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE.
>>Melissa Snively: DOES THAT REQUIRE A MOTION?
>>Jim Porter: IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE NEXT POLICY CYCLE.
>>Melissa Snively: I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION ON THIS PARTICULAR POLICY. SO WITH THAT I WILL MOVE TO CONTINUE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT POLICY CYCLE.
>>Lynn Gray: IS THAT A MOTION?
>>Melissa Snively: THAT IS A MOTION TO CONTINUE.
>>Jim Porter: JUST TO BE CLEAR PROCEDURALLY THERE, WAS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SO THIS WOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND WOULD YOU VOTE ON THE MOTION TO CONTINUE. IF THE MOTION TO CONTINUE PASSES, IT WILL BE CONTINUED. IF THE MOTION TO CONTINUE FAILS, THEN THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS BACK ON THE FLOOR.
>>Lynn Gray: DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? MEMBER SNIVELY. I HAVE A SECOND, MEMBER GRAY, WHICH I CANNOT SECOND. SO I WILL RECUSE MYSELF. AND I HAVE A SECOND FROM MEMBER VAUGHN. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION?
>>Jim Porter: BOARD MEMBERS ARE VOTING TO CONTINUE THIS OR TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT POLICY CYCLE WHICH WILL BE SOMETIME IN THE SPRING.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. AND THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY, FOR GIVING US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET EDUCATED WITH THIS ESPECIALLY OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS. IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, THEN PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. OKAY, IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE ARE GOING TO NOW BEGIN OUR SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I DO BELIEVE YOU ARE NEXT UP NEXT. AND GET RATE UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT HIGHLIGHTS.
>>Addison Davis: THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR. THIS EVENING WE'LL GET THE POWER POINT UP. THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND ALSO WITH OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. SO OVERALL, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO THANK THE PROGRESS VILLAGE MILLS SCHOOL AND MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL OF ARTS FOR THEIR GREAT JOB THEY DID TODAY. AS DR. HAHN SAID, THEY LOOKED BEAUTIFUL, SOUND BEAUTIFUL, IT WAS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR OUR STUDENTS INVOLVED IN PERFORMING ARTS AND ALSO THE CORE CHORUS DIRECTOR DID A REALLY NICE JOB PREPARING OUR CHILDREN TO BE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOMS AS WELL. ALSO A NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS OUT THIS EVENING WERE ALSO IDENTIFIED AS ALL STATE HONOR CHORUS MEMBERS. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US. SO OVERALL TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT REVIEW OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION NEW EMERGENCY ORDER, TALK ABOUT THE SECOND SEMESTER OF PLAN FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES THAT WE TRANSITION. FIRST QUARTER ACADEMIC AND ATTENDANCE PROFILES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR SALES TAX. AND THEN IDENTIFY LEADERS OF THE YEAR WHO REPRESENT BOTH THE COHORTS OF APPRAISALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AS WELL. BUT OVERALL WE KNOW THAT WE WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THEM TO EXTEND THEIR NEW EMERGENCY ORDER. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT EMERGENCY ORDER WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. HOWEVER, SINCE THE EMERGENCY ORDER WAS EXTENDED TO US ON NOVEMBER 307th, IT DEFINED A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS. ONE THAT WE ARE REQUIRED THAT WE OFFER MULTIPLE LEARNING MODALITIES AND SOLUTIONS FORTS SECOND SEMESTER. WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO OPEN UP OUR DOORS FOR STUDENTS FOR FIVE DAYS A WEEK, AS IS IDENTICAL IN THE FIRST EMERGENCY ORDER. WE ALSO HAD TO BUILD AND CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS MONITORING PLAN TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE PROVIDING STUDENT DATA, INFORMATION ANNAL IT'S TICKS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW WHAT STUDENTS ARE MAKING ADEQUATE PROGRESS TOWARD GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS, ALONG WITH MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE PERFORMING AT SCALE. AND IDENTIFYING CLOSE INTERVENTIONS AND DEMONSTRATE HOW WELL WE WILL ADDRESS NOT ONLY ATTENDANCE ISSUES BUT A TRUANCY ISSUES AS WELL AND BEING ABLE TO PULL TO A PLAN TO ADDRESS STUDENTS IN A REMOTE SETTING THAT HAVE NOT PROVED TO BE MEETING THE STANDARDS, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OUR FAMILIES TO BRING THEM BACK POTENTIALLY TO TALK ABOUT OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE SO THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP TO CONTINUE TO WIDEN IN THIS PANDEMIC. AND ALSO THANKFUL FOR WHAT THE STATE DID IN THE FIRST EMERGENCY ORDER. THEY HELD EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HARMLESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE ARE ALSO EQUALLY APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE IN THE SECOND EMERGENCY ORDER, THERE WILL BE -- THERE'S A PROJECTION OF A $17 MILLION HOLDBACK THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND INCLUSIVE OF THAT WITH HILLSBOROUGH WE ARE AROUND $1.7 MILLION THAT WE COULD BE POTENTIALLY IMPACT ITED. THAT NUMBER COULD BE GREATER BUT THIS IS JUST THE STARTING POINT OF THE CONVERSATION OVERALL. AND THIS NUMBER OVERALL, IF IT WASN'T PUT IN THE EMERGENCY ORDER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETWEEN LET'S JUST SAY 12 AND $20 MILLION THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE HELD BACK AND HAVING TO PAY BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHEREIN WE ARE RELATED TO RECRUITMENT, UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE ARE RELATED TO ENROLLMENT, UNDERSTANDING PARENT CHOICE, AND KNOWING THANK WE DO HAVE SYSTEMIC ISSUES OF LEARNERS NOT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SECOND SEMESTER PLAN, WE HAVE DONE A REALLY NICE JOB AND HATS OFF TO EVERY ONE OF OUR TEACHERS, EVERY ONE OF OUR LEADERS, SUPPORT STAFF, DISTRICT STAFF WHO HAVE REALLY DONE A NICE JOB OPENING UP IN A SAFE MANNER, SO WE WANT OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO -- DON'T MISS OUT. SCHOOL IS IN. AND WE ARE DOING IT IN APRIL PROFESSIONAL MANNER. OUR TEACHERS HAVE GOT SO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE. THEY ARE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND MY HAT GOES OFF TO THEM ALONG WITH OUR SCHOOL BASED LEADERS AND SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AS WELL. SO WHAT TO EXPECT FOR HILLSBOROUGH PRINCIPALS IS THIS PLAN THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO SUBMIT TO THE BOARD WHICH WE IMPROVED UPON ALONG THE WAY, EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE HAS TO CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL PLAN. WE DID NOT CREATE THE TEMPLATE. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GAVE US THE TEMPLATE AND ALLOWED US TO BUILD OUR OWN TEMPLATE PLATFORM BUT KNOW YOU WILL KIND OF GAVE APP TAILORED TEMPLATE THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE. BUT OR PLAN CONTINUES TO BE ANCHORED UPON OUR GUIDING PLATFORMS, PRINCIPALS, THAT WE FOCUS ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CONTINUE TO HAVE EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED AND PROVIDE VARIOUS DELIVERABLE MODELS FOR OUR PARENTS TO CHOOSE AND SELECT THE BEST MODALITY FOR THEM AND FOR US TO REALLY DO A GOOD JOB TO CREATE THAT PERSONALIZED LEARNING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE WILL FOCUS ON CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. THAT CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY. WE WILL LEVERAGE EARLY WARNING INDICATORS TO BE TRY TO DELAY ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR AND ACADEMICS TOGETHER TO FIND OUT IF WE HAVE COHORTS OF STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OBLIGATED TO DON SO IN A PROFESSIONAL MANDATORY SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AT THE SAME TIME STUDENTS IN NEED FOR DISABILITIES AND FOLLOW 504 PROCESSES AND THEN PRIORITIZE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL. WE KNOW THAT MORE THAN EVER THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RESOURCES, SO HOW ARE WE COORDINATING THOSE EFFORTS IN LEVERAGING WITHIN PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES, TO BE ABLE TO HELP. THEN LOOKING AT OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND MAKING CERTAIN WE HAVE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN STRENGTHEN. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME LEARNERS WHO ARE DOING REALLY NICE JOB IN THE REMOTE LEARNING PERSPECTIVE. WE KNOW WHETHER IT'S K-12 AND eLearning IN THEIR TRANSITION GROUP. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PRACTICES EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN STUDENTS ARE QUARANTINED TO BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN THOSE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, AND VERY THANKFUL FROM CTA TO OUR DISTRICT STAFF TO BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE WILL COLLECTIVELY FIGURE OUT PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS WHERE LEARNING IS SIMULTANEOUS FROM ONE TRANSITION TO THE OTHER, FROM ONE MODALITY TO THE OTHER. AND THEN BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE STRATEGIC OUTREACH OF DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCE. LOOKING AT THE COMMUNICATION PLAN, I CANNOT AGREE, OVERCOMMUNICATING IS ONE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUTFRONT. TO SAY WHAT WE DID DO IN OUR COMMUNITY STARTING ON NOVEMBER THE 10th, WE EXTENDED A SURVEY TO EVERY ONE OF OUR REMOTE LEARNERS AND NOT ONLY REMOTE LEARNERINGS, THOSE WHO ATTEND CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHO ARE ATTENDING HOME SCHOOL. WE SENT THIS SURVEY OUT TO TRULY ASK THEM WHAT THEIR ASPIRATIONS WERE D.THEY WANT TO RENINE THEIR CURRENT SETTING OR DID THEY WANT TO TRANSITION BACK TO BRICK AND MORTAR? OF THAT, WE DID NOT TARGET BRICK AND MORTAR STUDENTS. WE CONTINUE TO SEE A SCALE, 99% OF OUR STUDENTS WANTS TO REMAIN IN A FACE-TO-FACE SOLUTION, SO TODAY WE HAVE 51% OF OUR TARGETED FAMILIES THAT HAVE RESPONDED. THEREFORE, THE NEXT STEP FOR US IS TO PUSH OUR FINAL PUSH THAT WILL COME ON THURSDAY. THAT PUSH WILL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT SURVEY BE EXTENDED TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS. FOR PARENTS WHO ARE WATCHING IF YOU ALREADY COMPLETED THIS SURVEY IN THE NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER PUSH, THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY ONCE AGAIN, UNLESS YOU CHOOSE TO SELECT A DIFFERENT MODALITY FOR YOUR LEARNER. WE ARE GOING TO GIVE EVERYONE TO DECEMBER 30th TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. AND THE REASON WE MAY SAY WE PUSHED IT BACK TO DECEMBER 30th, WE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE WATCHING WHERE WE ARE FROM A COVID PERSPECTIVE AND THEY MAKE WANT TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. WE STAYED AWAY FROM THE DECLARATION. WE LEARNED QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND LOCALLY THAT TURNED OUT TO BE KIND OF AN UNPOPULAR WORD. SO JUST MAKING THAT A FINAL SURVEY TO OVERCOMMUNICATE. AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO ARE IN BRICK AND MORTAR, IF THEY CHOOSE, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO TRANSITION TO A REMOTE LEARNING PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR PRINCIPALS. THIS WORKED REALLY WELL IN THE FIRST SEMESTER. IT'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS. WE MADE THE ACCOMMODATIONS. AND THAT WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL. AND SO MORE INFORMATION. ALSO IN THAT INFORMATION, WE WILL IDENTIFY WHAT WE HAVE DONE WELL, AND JUST PUT REMINDERS OUT FOR PARENTS, FOR STUDENTS, FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL. THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WORK WITH CTA, WITH STEPHANIE AND ROB TO DETERMINE OVERALL NEEDS FROM THE SURVEY TO DETERMINE WHAT EDUCATORS WILL NEED TO COME BACK. WE WERE ONE OF THE ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO TRIAGE AND CREATE HARDSHIPS OF PLATFORMS. WE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE AT THE HIGHEST HERE. HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CREATIVE OWN OHIO THAT LOOKS, BECAUSE OVERALL, AS WE KNOW, STUDENTS TRANSITION AND DRIVE OUR NEEDS AT OUR SCHOOLS. BUT WE WILL WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. WE THINK WANT TO NOBODY THAT WE CARE FOR THEM, AND WILL FIND SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER HELP THEM. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE SECOND SEMESTER LOOKS LIKE, WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE INTENSIVE CARE ON INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN. THIS IS SOME OF THE RELATIVELY PLACEMENT DATA FROM FALL TO FALL, LOOKING AT 2018 ALL THE WAY TO 2021, OF DISTRIBUTION OF PLACEMENT RELATED TO iReady. THIS SHOWS THAT WHILE WE HAVE DONE A NICE JOB KEEPING OUR HIGH PERFORMERS AT THE MID LEVEL, MEETING STANDARDS, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME LEVEL THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE TWO OR MORE, THREE YEARS BEHIND THEIR CURRENT GRADE LEVELS. THIS IS AN AREA OF CONCENTRATION, WHY YOU LOOK AT THIS YOU DON'T SEE A SIGNIFICANT GAP. THAT MEANS OUR TEACH VERSE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. THEY HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A LEARNER IS SINCE MARCH TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS, LEVERAGE CURRICULUM, MAXIMIZE MOMENTS OF LEARNING, BUT YOU SEE THAT WE STILL HAVE A GAP THAT WE HAVE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT WAS LARGER THAN YEARS TO COME. AND THIS IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PLACEMENT IN iReady, I GIVE YOU THE iReady BECAUSE THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THIS IS FROM K-5. YOU SEE THAT OUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS DO A REALLY NICE JOB, FIRST GRADE AS QUELL. BUT AS YOU GROW AND HAVE A STAIRCASE APPROACH IN 3rd, FOURTH, FIFTH GRADE IN LITERACY, WE STILL HAVE STUDENTS TWO OR THREE MORE YEARS BEHIND IN GRADE LEVEL AND WE HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THOSE STUDENTS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SERVICES AND OVERALL CAUSATION, IS THAT BECAUSE IT'S ATTENDANCE, IS THAT CAUSATION RELATED TO THE CURRICULUM WE ARE USING, IS IT CAUSATION DELIVERY, IS IT CAUSATION THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME IN OUR INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO BE ABLE TO MEET CHILDREN WHERE THEY ARE, TO BE ABLE TO CONFERENCE, TO LEVERAGE OR SKILL REMEDIATION, AND WE HAVE TO DRIVE THAT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THEN THE SAME TRENDS WE SEE IN THE AREA OF MATHEMATICS. SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S GREATER, MORE STUDENTS THREE OR MORE YEARS BEHIND IN THE SAME PROGRESSION WE SEE AS WE LOOK AT THAT FROM A MATHEMATICAL PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS THAT WE TALKED, ABOUT FOCUS ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AND THAT'S REALLY MAJOR FOR US TO LOOK AT MORE INTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR OW STUDENTS, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT REMEDIATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN, AND CAN WE SELF-REFLECT ESPECIALLY IN OUR EDUCATIONAL PLAN WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE BEFORE, DURING, AFTER SCHOOL, OR HOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT BRIDGE DURING THE SUMMER TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE LEARNING LOSS, AND MOVE FORWARD. OVERALL ATTENDANCE, WE KNOW ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO BE PARTICULAR ISSUES. MORE FOR STUDENT WHO ARE eLearning BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE ASKING eLearning STUDENTS TO DO IS FOLLOW THAT RIGID SCHEDULE SO WE CAN HAVE THAT CONTACT HOURS. MANY OF OUR PARENTS ARE STAYING CONNECTED TO THE LEARNING PROCESSION MAKING CERTAIN STUDENTS ARE DOING THAT IN A PROACTIVE SYSTEMIC WAY EVERY DAY, AND MY HATS OFF TO THEM. BUT WE DO HAVE LEARNERS THAT MAY HAVE MORE THAN FIVE OR TEN DAYS, AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. SO WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THIS TIERED APPROACH FOR ATTENDANCE. THE TIER ONE IS ALL ABOUT LEVERAGING SCHOOL-BASED MOVEMENTS AND HOME VISITS, PHONE CALLS, PARENT LINKS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. TIER TWO GETS MORE INTENSIFIED. WE GET SOCIAL WORKERS, SOCIAL BASE ACTIVITY ENGAGED TO LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL MTSS SOLUTION PROCESSES. AND THEN TIER 3 IS WHERE THE HOLISTIC ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHERE DO WE GAUGE PUBLIC HOUSING, WHERE DO WE GAUGE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FAMILY SOLUTIONS TO FIND STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM TO A POINT WHEREIN THEY UNDERSTAND MORE NOW THAN EVER THAT THEY HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. SO REALLY THANKFUL FOR OUR TEAM TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOLUTIONS AND BE ABLE TO PUT THEM IN PLACE. AND WE HAVE OFFERED DISTRICT STAFF HAS BEEN REALLY AVAILABLE TO OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CALL TO HOME VISITS TO STUDENTS HOP MAY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED, TO MAKE SURE WE BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK TO THAT SECOND SEMESTER SO WE CAN GET THAT COMFORT IN HOW WE ARE DOING IN A SAFE MANNER. UPDATE ON COMMUNITY SALES TAX. THE CONSENT AGENDA, ONE THING WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OVER $13 MILLION, AND MS. CASTOR SPOKE ABOUT TODAY, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB AND WE THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR THAT. OVER $13 MILLION THAT WE APPROVED FOR FINAL COMPLETION TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS HVAC, INTERIOR, ROOF REFLIESMENTS, REFERENDUM, ADDRESSES, TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THE MOST WELCOME ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THEN FINALLY, IN THE LAST PIECE, I WANT TO CELEBRATE TWO LEADERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. THIS IS SO VERY HARD TO DO BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND APs ARE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE EVERY SINGLE DAY. BULLET WOULD BE REMISS TO HIGHLIGHT TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LED THE WORK, AND JAKE RUSSELL CONTINUES TO BE A PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY, A LEADER, CIVIC LEADER, AND HE IS OUR PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. AND THEN ZIM MAYO HARRIS AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, SHE STEPPED UP WHEN OUR EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN OUT, SHE CONTINUES TO BE PART OF THE CHANGE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS SCHOOL HAS DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS FROM UNDERPERFORMING TO, AND WE FORECAST IT TO BE BETTER, SHE'S BEEN A DRIVING FORCE. SO HATS OFF TO THEM. WE ARE GOING TO PUSH THEM TO BE HOPEFULLY STAND TO BE IDENTIFIED AND COMPETE FOR THE STATE LEVEL PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND I DO THINK THEY HAVE A CHANCE WITH THEIR BACKGROUND AND THEIR DEDICATION. AND THEN FINALLY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE. NO DIFFERENT THAN WE NEEDED A FALL BREAK FOR THAT ONE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING. WE REALLY NEED TWO WEEKS OFF FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, TO LET THEM THEIR HAIR DOWN, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THAT BALANCE, TO STEP AWAY FROM WORK TO REALLY SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR LOVED ONES, AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND DO IT IN A SAFE MANNER. CONTINUE TO FOLLOW PROTOCOLS, WEARING MASKS, BEING VERY MINDFUL ABOUT YOUR HYGIENE AND WHAT WE DO, AND TO FURTHER PROTECT OUR STUDENTS. WHEN WE COME BACK WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPEN OUR DOORS IN A SAFE MANNER. I THANK EVERYONE. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY TRYING YEAR FOR 2021. IT'S UNIMAGINABLE. WHEN I SIGNED THE CONTRACT IN JANUARY, NEVER KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PART OF THE BLUEPRINT, BUT WE ARE ALL HERE FOR A REASON, AND I THANK THIS BOARD FOR HELPING ME GROW PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IN THE YEAR 2020. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW INVITING EXCITING YEAR FOR 2021 BECAUSE WE NEED SOME UPPER MOVEMENT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, SUMMIT DAVIS, FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE GOING. I HAVE A FEW BOARD COMMENTS. AND WE ARE VERY MINDFUL THAT THREE MINUTES WILL INCLUDE ANYCOURSE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OR STAFF. SO BOARD MEMBERS, THREE MINUTES IT IS. AND WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH MEMBER PEREZ.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. SUPERINTENDENT, I KNOW YOU ADDRESSED ATTENDANCE STRATEGIES OF STUDENTS, ADDRESSING THE GAP. BUT COVID, THE IMPACT THAT COVID HAS HAD ON STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ONE. AND MANY FAMILIES NOW HERE IN DECEMBER WILL BE LOSING THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. AND COME JANUARY, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES WILL END UP HOMELESS. DUE TO RECEIVING EVICTION NOTICES. NOW, EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH FINDING SEVERAL OF OUR STUDENTS DUE TO A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS LEAVING, ALSO HOMELESS STUDENTS. BUT WITH THIS ISSUE, WITH THE EVICTION NOTICES, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THIS ISSUE FOR US. SO I WAS WONDERING, WITH WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT AND MAKING SURE THAT COME JANUARY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR THEM. BECAUSE THEY WILL BE AFFECTED BY EVICTION. WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR OUR STUDENTS COME JANUARY IF OUR STUDENTS ARE IMPACTED BY EVICTION?
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, I THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON. I DO BELIEVE THE IMPACTS OF COVID WILL CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER, POTENTIALLY JANUARY, FEBRUARY, RELATED TO OVERALL WHETHER IT BE PARENTS BEING FURLOUGHED, PARENTS, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESSES, CLOSURE, CLOSING BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY AND WHAT THE IMPACT HAS HAD ON THEIR BUSINESSES. AND I THINK IT WILL IMPACT OUR CHILDREN. ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT DISTRICT STAFF, SCHOOL BASED STAFF, SOCIAL WORKERS, THEY HAVE BEEN AMAZING. THEY TOOK A 7600 NUMBER STUDENTS THAT WERE MISSING AND GREW IT DOWN TO LESS THAN 700. AND OUR FULL COURT PRESS WILL CONTINUE. STRATEGY WILL LEVERAGING WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH BUT LEVERAGING SOCIAL WORKERS AGAIN, THE HOME VISITS, GOING TO CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS, THROWING SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRITE TO CONTACT OUR STUDENTS BUT BEING ABLE TO ACCURATELY INVOLVE PARTICULAR BUSINESSES IN LEVERAGING THE COMMUNICATION PLAN THAT WE JUST LAUNCHED OUT BUT DON'T MISS OUT. HOPEFULLY WE'LL CREATE SOME CONCENTRATION TO GET OUR INDIVIDUALS BACK TO US.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN PUT THAT CART BEFORE THE HORSE, YOU KNOW, NOT TO TRY TO ROUND UP THESE STUDENTS BEFORE WE LOSE THEM?
>>Addison Davis: YES, THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE HAVEN'T STOPPED BEING ABLE TO TRY TO FIND OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH OUR SCHOOLS. AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE IDENTIFIED EVERY -- MORE THAN FOUR INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR DIVISION TO BE ABLE AND TO PUT TO THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE PHONE CALLS, TO MAKE VISITS, TO DO IT. SO IT HADN'T STOPPED SINCE DAY ONE. I FEEL THAT IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, WE CAN'T A FOR ONE STUDENT NOT TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS KNOWING WHAT PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH, BECAUSE THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS. WE ARE THE FOUNDATIONS, CONT CONTINUE SY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU FOR, SUPERINTENDENT, ADDRESSING THE COMMUNICATION WITH REGARD TO THE SURVEY AND CLARIFYING THAT, BECAUSE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THE SURVEY, THE INTENTION OF THE SURVEY WAS, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT, AND GETTING THAT OUT TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS. THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE BEEN GETTING CONCERNED PARENTS CONTACTING ME IS ABOUT THE QUARANTINE, AND I KNOW WE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE QUARANTINE, LEARNING VERSUS THE BRICK AND MORTAR LEARNING, VERSUS eLearning, PARENTS ARE GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THERE'S INEQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED AT ONE SCHOOL VERSUS ANOTHER SCHOOL. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACHING, THE TEACHERS, AND THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO INSTRUCT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE NOT, AND THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOT ENGAGING WITH THE TEACHERS. AND SO IT'S JUST VERY INCONSISTENT RIGHT NOW. AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE DISTRICT LEVEL OR SOMETHING THAT IS A SITE BY SITE ISSUE WITH -- I KNOW WE ARE ASKING A LOT FROM THE TEACHERS RIGHT NOW. YOU MENTIONED THAT. WE ARE ASKING A LOT. AND IN SOME WAY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S SOME DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE SIMULTANEOUS -- WHY ARE SOME TEACHERS SAMUEL ALITOLY TEACHING AND SOME TEACHERS ARE NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACHING? AND HOW CAN WE BRING MORE EQUITY TO THE LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION THAT QUARANTINED STUDENTS GET, AND COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS CLEARLY THAT QUARANTINE IS NOT -- QUARANTINE, THERE'S THREE THINGS, QUARANTINE LEARNING, eLearning, BRICK AND MORTAR LEARNING, AND VIRTUAL. THERE'S REALLY FOUR. SO PARENTS RIGHT NOW ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN eLearning AND QUARANTINE LEARNING THINKING THAT QUARANTINE LEARNING MEANS, OH, MY CHILD IS GOING TO eLearn FOR TWO WEEKS. BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE. SO WITH CA K WE DO TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION FOR OUR STUDENTS?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WRAP OUR MIND AROUND HOW WE DON'T SUPPORT TEACHERS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT EASIER? SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING OPENLY IS WE SAID FROM DAY ONE WE ARE ASKING OUR TEACHERS TO VOLUNTEER TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND WE GOT SOME TEACHERS DOING IT REALLY WELL, WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS DOING IT REALLY WELL, AND WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT TRANSITIONED TO IT THAT MAY NOT HAVE AN APP TIDE TIGHT FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S HEAVY I AM TO BE ABLE TO CIRCULATE TO YOUR CLASSROOM AND MAKE SURE THE CAMERA IS CONNECTED WITH STUDENTS WHILE THEY ARE ON THE VIRTUAL SIDE OF IT. I THINK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE TO WORK WITH MR. CONNOR, AND I CAN LET MR. CONNOR SPEAK HERE IN JUST A MINUTE, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT RESOURCES CAN WE KIND OF UPLOAD FOR TEACHERS SO THEY CAN PULL UP AND UPLOAD. THERE'S A NUMBER MUCH RESOURCES WE HAVE, WHETHER IT BE INGENUITY, WHETHER IT ANYBODY OF OUR ELECTRIC TROLL TRON CAL RESOURCES, WE CAN LOOK AT TUTORIAL VIDEOS TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE TO BE ABLE TO SEND. BUT I DON'T DISAGREE. I MEAN, MY DAUGHTER OPENLY WAS QUARANTINED, AND WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S ALSO ABOUT BEING ABLE TO FURTHER EDUCATE OUR TEACHERS OF HOW TO DO IT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT ON THEIR PLATE, AND I WILL TRANSITION TO MR. CONNOR.
>>Lynn Gray: MR. CONNOR, IF YOU COULD BE BRIEF. WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU.
>> CONNOR: I WILL SAY THIS. IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE. SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT WORKING WITH TEACHERS. THEY ARE SO OVERLOADED IN WHAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO. AND IF WE HAD ENOUGH STAFF TO REALLY MULTIPLY OUR EFFORTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT LIVE INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED, IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE FOR US THAT THE STUDENTS, THE STUDENTS ARE TYPICALLY BRICK AND MORTAR. THEY GO INTO QUARANTINE BUT THOSE TEACHERS STILL HAVE BRICK AND MORTAR STUDENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO SERVICE. SO QUARANTINED STUDENTS ARE LACKING THE LIVE INSTRUCTION IN MANY PLACES. AND SO I THINK WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, MS. COMBS, MRS. SNIVELY THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT A RESOURCE BASE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST SOME SNIP ET CETERA OF LIVE INSTRUCTION WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TOPICS IN CERTAIN CONTENT AREAS, FOR INSTANCE, IN ALGEBRA, TALKING ABOUT POLY NOMIALS, AND THAT THEY CAN GO TO A RESOURCE PAGE, AND AT LEAST SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE ACADEMY BUT A LITTLE MORE ROBUST SO THEY CAN GET THE INSTRUCTION SOME WAY, SOMEHOW DURING QUARANTINE.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR. MEMBER SNIVELY, IF YOU QUICHE TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE THAT'S FINE. BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. WE ARE LEARNING AS WE GO ALONG. WE ARE VERY MUCH ADAPTING. SO THESE QUESTIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT. NOW GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO DR. HAHN. MEMBER HAHN, THANK YOU.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, YOU MENTIONED YOUR DON'T MISS OUT COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. THAT'S PART OF THE SECOND SEMESTER COMMUNICATIONS PLAN?
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE JUST USED AND LEVERAGED SOME OF THE SAME THINGS SO WE CAN CONNECT THEM TOGETHER TOGETHER. SO THE SECOND SEMESTER SURVEY, EDUCATIONAL PLAN WAS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE A TRUEN I OPTIONS. SO OUR CAMPAIGN, DON'T MUSS OUT, IS ALSO LINKED TO BEING ABLE TO GET NEWCOMERS AND INDIVIDUALS BACK TO US. SO IT'S KIND OF DOVE AND TAILED TOGETHER SO WE ARE KIND OF USING THE SAME CONSISTENT PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO STAY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT RECRUITMENT.
>>Stacy Hahn: I KNOW YOU SENT THIS BOARD LAST WEEK SOME BULLET POINTS AROUND THE COMMUNICATION PLAN, AND YOU ASKED FOR INPUT ON THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. BUT TO DATE NONE OF US, I BELIEVE HAVE, RECEIVED THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED THESE BULLET POINTS WHICH ARE JUST ACTION STEPS? SO AS I MENTIONED IN MY E-MAIL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE INPUT ON AN COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN YET. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT COMMUNICATIONS PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO PLAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE DAY AFTER YOU ASKED FOR OUR INPUT. SO IN FACT THAT WAS NOT REALLY AN ASK OF BOARD INPUT AS MUCH AS JUST AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE DISRESPECTFUL TO THE BOARD. IF YOU WANT OUR INPUT GIVE US TIME TO GIVE YOU INPUT. IF IT'S AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT. IS THERE A BUDGET WITH THIS? THESE BULLET POINTS? IS THERE A THANK YOU MAYBE WE COULD SEE HOW MUCH IS BEING SPENT ON THOSE?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. IT'S ON THE BACK OF THE FLIER THAT WAS SUBMITTED. I THINK IT'S AROUND $5,000. WE WERE -- $55,000. WE WERE USING THE STAPLES REBATE MONEY AND I WILL HAVE TO CIRCLE BACK WITH TANYA IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. I DON'T THINK IT STARTED 24 HOURS AFTER THE COMMUNICATION WAS SENT BUT I WILL CHECK AND CONFIRM. OPENLY I HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH THIS BOARD, WANT THE BOARD TO BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNICATION AS LONG THE WAY. WE DID CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND I WILL SEND THAT PLAN BACK TO YOU, TRY TO GET THE INFORMATION TO YOU SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO TARGET. AND IF THE -- SORRY. HAHN HAHN BECAUSE $55,000, WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO OUR PUBLIC. SO I THINK THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE BULLET POINTS HERE, WHO ARE YOU TARGETING WITH THIS SECOND SEMESTER WITH YOUR PLAN THAT YOU HAVE TO BE SEEN BY THIS BOARD?
>>Addison Davis: IT'S TARGETING, THROUGH THE CHAIR, EVERYONE, EVERY LEARNER THAT IS NOT, WHETHER THEY ARE AT HOME SCHOOL, WHETHER THEY ARE IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHETHER --
>>Stacy Hahn: NOT JUST ELEARNERS?
>>Addison Davis: HE LEARNERS, ANYONE. HAHN HAHN BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY ADDRESSING COVID. FOR MANY OF OUR eLearnERS THE REASON OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE NOT IN OUR SCHOOLS IS BECAUSE OF COVID. SO I JUST THINK HAVING A PLAN FOR THIS BOARD TO LOOK AT WOULD BE NICE, AND SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE, BECAUSE WE ALL GET ASKED QUESTIONS BY OUR CONSTITUENTS. ABOUT OUR STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOLS. I AM GOING TO WRAP UP IN TEN SECOND, MS. GRAY. THANK YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW NEW BOARD MEMBERS FEEL, EXISTING BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL PREPARED BASED ON THESE BULLET POINTS TO ANSWER MY CONSTITUENT QUESTIONS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEGUN, NOR DO I FEEL PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA, WHICH I AM ALREADY GETTING ASKED QUESTIONS, I'M SURE OTHER MEMBERS ARE AS WELL. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SECOND SEMESTER, AND GETTING STUDENTS BACK, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, AND ACADEMICS, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD PLAN WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE ANY STUDENTS BACK. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I WAS ALSO CURIOUS. WHEN PARENTS MAKE A DECISION FOR DECLARATION INTENT, CAN THEY RETURN AT ANY TIME IF THEY DECIDE TO DO eLearning IN JANUARY? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO RETURN? IF SO, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. THE BIGGEST THING WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS AND ALLOW STUDENTS TO RETURN. THE ISSUE BECOMES, SOME PARTICULAR ISSUES, MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STUDENT STATIONS AVAILABLE, MEANING THAT IF WE HAVE 22 OR 21 STUDENTS IN A KINDERGARTEN CLASS, WHICH IS THE CLASS REQUIREMENT IS 18, WE DON'T WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE GO TO 25 OR 26 AND FURTHER BURDEN THAT TEACHER. SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE CREATIVE IN OUR PLANNING, WORK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITE, WORK WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL TEACHER, AND PRINCIPAL THAT COVER THE OVERALL NEEDS. WE WANTS OUR CHILDREN TO SELECT THE BEST CHOICE FOR THEM. WE KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY BRICK AND MORTAR IS THE BEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. WE ALSO DRIVE THEM THROUGH THE eLearning PROCESS AS WELL. BUT WE WILL WORK AS WE DID THIS ENTIRE YEAR TO BRING STUDENTS BACK NO GRACEFUL MANNER BUT SOME AREAS IN THE FIRST SEMESTER WE FOUND OURSELVES ABLE TO DO IT WHETHER THAT'S PROTECTING THE HARDSHIP OF A TEACHER OR TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF STAFF TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE eLearnERS AND ALSO ACCOMMODATE BRICK AND MORTAR. IF YOU HAVE 20 KIDS NO CLASS AND 15 KIDS SELECT BRICK AND MORTAR, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE FIVE STUDENTS SELECT REMOTE LEARNING SIDE OF IT, SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ARE WE GOING TO CLUSTER THOSE STUDENTS? ARE THOSE FIVE STUDENTS WE NEED TO COACH THEM TO HILLSBOROUGH VIRTUAL? WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO COME BACK, BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY ORDER IS VERY CLEAR WE HAVE TO OPEN ARISTO SEATS TO STUDENTS WHO WANT TO COME BACK FIVE DAYS A WEEK COMBS COMES I WANT TO SEWAGE THAT LOOKS LUKE FOR A PARENT WHEN THEY DECIDE FOR eLearning, ARE THEY REALLY DECIDING FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR OR JUST DECIDING FOR THE THIRD NINE WEEKS? I KNOW IT DEPENDS SCHOOL BY SCHOOL WITH YOU BUT I THINK IT'S SUCH A BIG DECISION AND WHEN THE NUMBERS GO UP JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, I THINK WE NEED TO BE AHEAD OF THAT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR PARENTS. BECAUSE WHEN THE VACCINE COMES, WHAT DOES THAT ALL MEAN, AND DO WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT IN GENERAL?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE ACCOMMODATE PARENTS THIS ENTIRE TIME. SO WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING STUDENTS BACK SINCE DAY ONE THEIR ENTIRE FIRST SEMESTER. SO OUR SCHOOLS REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FORMAT, THE PROCESSES, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO BE OPEN. THE VACCINE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT, TO ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATORS TO BE A PART OF THAT BUT WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES RELATING TO EDUCATOR PART OF THE PROCESS.
>>Nadia Combs: AND BOTH MY CHILDREN ARE AT HOME RIGHT NOW QUARANTINED. SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND WE REALLY NEED TO COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, BECAUSE IT IS VERY INEQUITABLE AMONG HIGH SCHOOLS, AND JUST EVEN AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND HOW ARE WEE WE ARE WE REALLY GOING TO DEAL REQUEST THOSE KIDS THAT SHALL QUARANTINED TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE TIMES, EACH HIGH SCHOOL, HOW THEY ARE APPROACHING IT AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS ESPECIALLY IN SUBJECTS THAT ARE MATH AND SCIENCE THAT ARE REALLY DRIVEN THROUGH INSTRUCTION, AND UNABLE TO GET WHAT THEY NEED THROUGH CANVAS, OR EVEN INGENUITY. I REALLY THINK THAT HAS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY AS WE GO INTO THE NEW YEAR.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. THOSE ARE EXCELLENT POINTS. A LOT OF DIGGING IN. WE NEED TO HAVE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS DO. WHEN WE CONCLUDE REQUEST MEMBER SNIVELY, WE WILL MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION. MEMBER VAUGHN, YOU ARE NEXT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE SURVEY PURPOSES, FOR PARENTS WHO WERE CONFUSED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR ON OUR COMMUNICATION. ALTHOUGH ONE SURVEY WENT OUT THAT WAS NOT A BINDING SURVEY, AND WHAT WILL BE COMING OUT ADDITIONALLY THIS WEEK IS AN E-MAIL ADVISING PARENTS OF THAT, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IF THEY QUANTITY TO MAKE A CHANGE TO WHAT THEY FILLED OUT PREVIOUSLY, OR IF THEY DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THAT SURVEY, THIS WOULD BE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO CLICK THAT LINK, REACCESS THAT SURVEY, AND MAKE A CHANGE, OR MAKE THEIR INTENTION CLEAR. IS THAT CORRECT?
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, YES, MA'AM.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THEN ADDITIONALLY ON TOP OF THAT WE WILL HAVE A CAVEAT TO LET BRICK AND MORTAR PARENTS KNOW THAT IF ADDITIONALLY THEY WANT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, AND THE REASON I HAVE BEEN TOLD WE ARE NOT SERVING THOSE PARENTS IS BECAUSE IT'S SO SMALL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE REQUESTS AS THEY COME IN ADDITIONALLY, BUT IT WILL LET BRICK AND MORTAR PARENTS KNOW THAT THEY CAN ALSO ADDITIONALLY EITHER THROUGH THAT E-MAIL OR CONTACT THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A CHANGE AS WELL.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT, THAT THERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO NOW CEMENT THEIR DECISIONS FOR THE UPCOMING JANUARY. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE OF THAT IN A HIGH SCHOOL SETTING COMPARED TO ELEMENTARY SETTING. AND JUST IN GENERAL THE BENEFITS OF THAT COMPARED TO THE BURDEN THAT WE ARE ASKING OUR TEACHERS TO CARRY AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SECONDARY AND PRIMARY. SO I AM WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THAT MAYBE OR SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHERE WE CAN LEARN ABOUT SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING. AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT BASED ON THE MANDATE FROM THE STATE, THAT WE HAVE TO ORDER -- OFFER A FIVE-DAY BRICK AND MORTAR OPTION, FOR EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL, WHICH GIVES US ALMOST NO FLEXIBILITY BETWEEN MAKING ANY INTERNAL DECISIONS AS A COUNTY, ON WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AS FAR AS CLOSING SCHOOLS, THAT THE MORE WE ACCOMMODATE PARENTS, WHICH IS A GREAT THING, THE LESS WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE TEACHERS WHO ARE COACHED DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE THE MORE PARENTS THAT CHOOSE TO COME BACK TO BRICK AND MORTAR, WHICH IS THEIR CHOICE, THAT'S LESS FLEXIBILITY THAT WE CAN OFFER TEACHERS TO TEACH REMOTELY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION, THAT WAS WE FOCUS ON PARENTAL CHOICE WHICH IS GREAT. IT TAKES AWAY FROM TEACHERS CHOICE. SO THANK YOU INFORM THE TIME.
>>Lynn Gray: EXCELLENT POINTS, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: COUL D YOU EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE AGAIN HOW THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH eLearning? BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH PARENTS THAT HAVE SOME CONCERNED, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH eLearning, IT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATES WITH THE SCHOOL AND SO FROTH. COULD YOU GIVE US SOME INFORMATION AND LET THE PARENTS KNOW?
>>Addison Davis: YES, SIR, THERE THE CHAIR. THE BIGGESTENING THERE'S HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY, WHETHER IT THE CONNECTIVITY THROUGH LESSONS, WHETHER IT BE THE INABILITY TO CONNECT REQUEST CANVAS, WHETHER THEY ARE HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, OR WHETHER IT BE CONNECTIVITY THROUGH ZOOM OR TEAMS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING, WE WANT ALL OF OUR PARENTS TO PLEASE SOUND THE ALARMS AND TRY TO CALL WHETHER IT BE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, PRINCIPALS OR TEACHERS, ALL TO BE PROBLEM SOLVERS IN THAT PROCESS. WE F WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S BEEN DAYS OF INABILITY TO CONNECT, WHETHER THERE'S ASSIGNMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN EXTENDED, WE NEED TO KNOW SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CAUSATION MAY BE. SO OVERALL WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THROUGH eLearning IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT STUDENTS CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND FOLLOW THEIR SCHEDULE. eLearnERS SHOULD HAVE A FULL PLATE OF CONTENT TO BE ABLE TO DO INDEPENDENT PRACTICE. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ZOOM MEETINGS, TO COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PEERS, WHICH ARE ALWAYS SUPERVISEDED. WE WILL NEVER ENGAGE IN UNSUPERVISED CONVERSATIONS THROUGH ZOOM. WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO FILL UNINCLUSIVE JUST IF SAME WAY THEY WERE WITH BRICK AND MORTAR. JUST PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT. THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THEIR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. THEY CAN REACH OUT TO DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, MYSELF, TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: THAN K YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MS. HAHN BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SECOND SEMESTER CAMPAIGN, SO I APPRECIATE ANSWERING SOME OF THOSE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON PAGE 2 UNDERSTOOD THE CAMPAIGN TACTICS SECTION, IT SEEMS INCOMPLETE BECAUSE THE REACH OR THE ESTIMATED REACH IS ONLY COMPLETED ON THE FIRST PART OF THE CHART, AND SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE REST OF IT WITH THE ANTICIPATED REACH INTO THE REST OF IT. AND LIKE DR. HAHN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ACTUAL PLAN. KIND OF A BRIEF OVERVIEW, I THINK, OR HIGHLIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN. AND IF YOU REALLY WANT OUR INPUT, AS A PARENT, I THINK SOME OF US MAY HAVE SOME VALUABLE INPUT AS A PARENT AS FAR AS OUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT YOUR MESSAGING MIGHT BE TO HELP OUT WITH THAT. THE OTHER THING I WOULD ASK IS LOOKING FOR WHAT TARGET MARKETING APPROACH YOU ARE USING, BECAUSE I THINK YOU MENTIONED EARLY ON THAT YOU ARE TARGETING EVERYONE, BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T TARGET EVERYONE. THAT'S LIKE SAYING, I WANT TO SELL INSURANCE TO EVERYONE THOUGH HO BREATHES, RIGHT? SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT SOURCE OF DATA OR ANALYSIS ARE YOU USING TO REACH THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE REACHED. AND YOU HAVE GOT THE FIRST -- THAT'S NOT REALLY TARGET MARKETING AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DONE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND $55,000 ON A CAMPAIGN, IT REALLY SHOULD BE MUCH MORE TARGETED AND LASER TARGETED TO THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS THAT ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS. AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE STILL THE FIRST AND BEST CHOICE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. OKAY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. AND AS I HAVE NOTATED, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, IT SEEMS THE COMMUNICATION PLAN WILL HAVE TO BE MORE ROBUST, AND I KNOW THAT MEMBER COMBS MENTIONED MARKETING. I THINK WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR MUCH MORE ASTUTE MARKETING. ALSO, THE TYPES OF LEARNINGS eLearning, BRICK AND MORTAR, SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING, QUARANTINE, TYPE OF TEACHING DURING QUARANTINE, THESE ARE REAL SITUATIONS, AND I THINK AS I'M HEARING EVERY ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK WE NEED TO DEFINITELY GET GOOD EDIFICATION, AND SEE WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING. SO WE CAN GET INVOLVED AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. BUT EXCHANGING WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH COMMUNICATIONS, AND WHAT WE ARE REALLY DOING WITH OUR TEACHING METHODS. ANYWAY, THIS IS WHAT THE BOARD IS ASKING AMONG SOME OTHER THINGS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD RIGHT NOW, IF THE BOARD IS OKAY WITH THIS. WE DO HAVE TIME CERTAIN AT 6:00 FOR EMPLOYEE COMMENT. SO I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET'S START OUT. WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES. LET'S START ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA. AND ALSO, BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD A ONE-ON-ONE WITH SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WHICH I HOPE HAS HELPED GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS MANY OF YOUR AGENDA QUESTIONS. THERE'S ONLY 2001 REAMS OF PAPER, WHICH I KNOW IS A LOT. BUT AT ANY RATE, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE HAD THE ONE ON ONE, YOU MAY STILL WANT TO DISCUSS BEYOND IN TERMS OF THE DISCUSSION. SO WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. KEEPMIND, WE WANT TO KEEP THE THREE-MINUTE TIME PERIOD, AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY. NUMBER ONE, STAFF MEMBERS HAVE STARTED IN THE WE OURS OF THE HORNING. SECONDLY, THE MORE TIRED WE GOALS, OUR DECISION MAKING IS NOT AS ASTUTE. THIRD, WE ALSO HAVE NOT ONLY OUR COMMENTS, BOARD COMMENTS, BUT WE HAVE IMPORTANTLY OUR PUBLIC -- EXCUSE ME, OUR EMPLOYEE COMMENTS. SO BOARD, IF YOU WILL WORK WITH ME, AND KEEP OURSELVES TOGETHER. ALSO, STAFF, IF YOU WILL HELP MAKE YOUR COMMENTS BACK TO US AS SUCCINCT AS POSSIBLE. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOW BE HEARD. C 603, C 604, C 612, C 635, C 707, C 715, C 721, C 1103, C 1104, C 1105, C 1201, AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH 6.303. BUDGET AMENDMENT AND MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING OCTOBER 31st, 2020. AND ADDISON DAVIS, WILL YOU HIGHLIGHT THESE ITEMS? HOWEVER, WE WILL VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY.
>>Addison Davis: YES, SIR THROUGH THE CHAIR. 603 IS JUST BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER, AND I AM GOING TO LET MS. SAUNDERS TALK TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
>>Gretchen Saunders: THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. THROUGH THE CHAIR, JUST TO FAMILIARIZE EVERYBODY WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, BUDGET AMENDMENTS ARE COMPLETED EVERY MONTH, AFTER THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, SO WE APPROVE THE BUDGET SEPTEMBER 8, 2020. BUDGET AMENDMENT ARE A REQUIREMENT OF FLORIDA STATUTE 1011.02 THROUGH 1011.09 THIS AGENDA ITEM DESCRIBES THE CHANGES MADE TO THE BUDGET WHETHER IT'S PAYROLL CHANGES, MOVING DOLLARS BETWEEN FUNDS, IF WE HAD ANY INFORMATION FROM TALLAHASSEE THROUGH THE FDFP. WE UPDATE OUR ESTIMATED REFUSE NEWS TO THE EXPENDITURES. A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO OCTOBER JUST INCLUDES, WE HAD TO RECLASS SOME MONEY FROM THE FTFP THROUGH TAX COLLECTION. WE HAD ADULT WORKFORCE EXPENDITURES FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM AT BREWSTER. WE HAD SOME SCHOOL TRANSFERS FOR INTERNAL FUND. AND THEN WE ALSO NEEDED TO TRANSFER FUNDS IN SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNTS FOR THE GENERAL FUND MATCH TO PROJECTS THAT WAS PART OF THE CARES ACT, OR THE GEERS ACT WITH CET. CAN WE THROW UP THE BALANCE SHEETS? I KNOW IT'S HARD TO READ BUT IT'S OUT THERE ON THE AGENDA ITEM. THE BALANCE SHEET FOR OUR DISTRICT IS BROKEN UP INTO ASSETS AND LIABILITY. THE TOP PART SHOWS OUR CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND WE HAD 7.1 MILLION ON HAND. THOSE ARE LIQUID -- THOSE DOLLARS ON HAND, WE CAN USE THEM RIGHT NOW. OUR INVESTMENTS INCLUDED $101.1 MILLION. WITHIN THAT AS EVERYBODY REMEMBERS, THAT'S PART OF OUR 75 MILLION TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE WHICH WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT ON OCTOBER 29th. THE ACCOUNTS SERVING BALANCE OF 2.17 MILLION IS DISTRICT. IT'S REVENUE OWED TO OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE MONEY OWED FROM OTHER AGENCIES OF 39.3 MILLION DUE FROM OTHER FUND, 10.4 MILLION. THEN WE HAVE INVENTORY ON HAND. THE LIABILITIES MAKE UP OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE. THIS IS THAT WE OWE OUR VENDORS BUT HAVEN'T YET PAID. WE HAVE SALARIES AND PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS SUCH AS HEALTH INSURANCE, FRS, FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, WE HAVE GARN IRONMENTS WE HAVE TO PAY OUT ON BEHALF OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO HAVE WHAT'S DUE TOATES AGENCIES SUCH AS FINGERPRINTING FEES, WE HAVE DOLLARS LIKE I SAID DUE TO IRS AND MEDICARE, AND THEN ALSO UNDER OUR DEFERRED REVENUE, THE DEFERRED REVENUE INCLUDES WHAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON THE BOOKS FOR THE PAYBACK OF THE TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE. WHAT DOES ALL THAT DO? THAT BRINGS US TO THE FUND BALANCE. PABLO, NEXT SLIDE. SO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS WHEN WE STARTED THE YEAR WE HAD 161 WHEN WE ENDED JULY 161.6 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE AND REMEMBER FUND BALANCE IS OUR REVENUES LESS EXPENDITURES. AND AS WE WERE LIVING OFF THE STATE DOLLARS OF THE FEFP, THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE PROGRAM DOLLARS, THOSE DOLLARS SLOWLY DWINDLED AS WE ARE WAITING FOR THE SALES TAX, OR I'M SORRY, THE PROPERTY TAXES TO KICK IN IN NOVEMBER. SO THIS MONTH WE DID DROP DOWN TO $9 MILLION. PABLO, NEXT SLIDE. WE OVERLAY IT WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR. SO YOU CAN SEE IN JULY, WE STARTED OUT LOWER WITH A BALANCE THIS YEAR VERSUS LASS LAST YEAR. THEN IF YOU LOOK AT OCTOBER, LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE. BUT AGAIN IT'S DUE TO OUR FUND BALANCE BEING DOWN IN JULY WHERE WE STARTED LOWER. THE BUDGET AMENDMENT INCLUDES MULTIPLE ITEMS FOR REVIEW. WITHIN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, IT COVERS ALL CHECKBOOKS. WE CALL THEM COLLECT BOOKS. THE GENERAL FUND. IT'S THE DEBTS SERVICE, WHICH IS THE DOLLARS WE HAVE TO USE TO PAY OUR BOND PAYMENTS ON OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE THE CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND. WE HAVE THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WHICH INCLUDES OUR ESSERS MONEY, CARES ACT, OUR FOOD SERVICE, AND SPECIAL REFUSE PNEUMONIA TO INCLUDE IDEA AND TIME 1 TITLE PROGRAM, THEN WE HAVE THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. ALSO, WITHIN YOUR PACKET, YOU WILL FIND THE SALARY AND BENEFITS AND HOW THEY ARE BROKEN OUT BY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, AND ALSO THE GENERAL FUND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S A BREAKDOWN ON THE THREE YEAR TRIM DATA AND THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WEEKLY PAYMENT AND THE WEEKLY TRAVEL EXPENSES WHICH WE REALLY KEPT A LID ON THE TRAVEL EXPENSES SO THOSE HAVE COME DOWN WHICH HELPED THE BUDGET ALSO. AND THAT IS ITEM 6.03.
>>Lynn Gray: I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.303. I HAVE A MOTION -- 6.303. I HAVE A MOTION FROM MEMBER SNIVELY. AND A SECOND FROM MEMBER HAHN. AND ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER SNIVELY?
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I ASKED FOR THESE TWO ITEMS JUST TO BE PULLED DOWN TO THE DISCUSSION AGENDA. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO -- EVERY FINANCIAL REPORT OR AMENDMENT TO OUR BUDGET AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT NEEDS TO BE ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA FOR TRANSPARENCY. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL SOMETIMES TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL FUND. I FRESH WAY YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE REALLY ACCOMMODATED OUR BOARD REQUESTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO DO THE TREND DATA AND THE GENERAL FUND COMPARISON AND DO THE SNAPSHOT OF THE GENERAL FUND SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE WE ARE. SO I THANK YOU FOR PULLING THAT DOWN. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY NECESSARILY QUESTIONS ON 603 BECAUSE 604 KIND OF SUPERSEDES 603. AND THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND WAIT TILL WE GET TO THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING ACCOMMODATING.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I HAVE THE MOTION HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. IF YOU ALL WOULD NOW VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR, AND THIS AGAIN WILL BE FOR 6.03, NOT 6.04. PRESS YOUR BUTTON. A UNANIMOUS DECISION. OKAY. NEXT WE WILL GO TO 6.04. BUDGET AMENDMENT AND MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING NOVEMBER 30th. AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
>>Addison Davis: 604 IS ALL THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WERE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 30, 2020. I WILL LET MS. SAUNDERS CONTINUE THAT.
>>Gretchen Saunders: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. THROUGH THE CHAIR AGAIN WE ARE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE NOVEMBER FINANCIALS, AND WITHIN THE NOVEMBER FINANCIALS, IT'S THE SAME FORMAT AS THE OCTOBER. WE JUST HAVE THEM BACK TO BACK. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE, IN NOVEMBER, AS MS. SNIVELY SAID WE WANTED TO DIG DEEPER. AND I DIDN'T PUT A SLIDE BECAUSE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO NOTE ON THE BUDGET AMENDMENT UNDER SCHOOL RECOGNITION, AND WHEN I WAS TALKING TO MS. VAUGHN ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, THE QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT SCHOOL RECOGNITION, AND WHY IS IT ZERO? AND THAT WAS A RULE GOOD QUESTION. AND IF YOU WILL REMEMBER, THIS WAS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE BUDGET TO BALANCE THE BUDGET TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR, AND THE SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T RECEIVING GRADES IF R, IF THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING GRADES, THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO GIVE THEM FOR THEIR SCHOOL RECOGNITION. AND THAT ALSO TAGS ONTO THE DISCRETIONARY LOTTERY THAT WE RECEIVE. SO THOSE ARE BOTH ZERO. LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED ABOUT 9.4 MILLION FOR THOSE TWO POTS OF MONEY. AND THAT WAS JUST THE HIGHLIGHT ON THE REVENUE SIDE. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS CAME UP ABOUT WE HAVE A NEGATIVE $115,000, AND DOCTOR MONICA AND CHRIS FARKAS HAD WORKED WITH ONE OF THE VENDORS, AND OUR CAPITAL FUNDS ARE GOING TO PICK UP A VENDOR, SO WE WERE JUST MOVING THE DOLLARS AROUND. IF YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT NEGATIVE $115,000. SO THANK YOU, DR. MONICA, WORKING WITH CHRIS ON THAT TO SAVE THE GENERAL FUND SOME MONEY. ADDITIONALLY, THE QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT WHY DID TRAVEL GO UP FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER? IT WENT UP BECAUSE ACTUALLY WE HAD TEN BOARD MEMBERS IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER BECAUSE WE HAD SOME COMING IN AND SOME COMING OUT. SO AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WE HAVE THREE NEW GUNS. SO IF ANYBODY HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE GOT THE FOLLOW-UP. PABLO, DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PUT UP THE -- THERE WE GO. THERE'S OUR BALANCE SHEET AGAIN. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR BALANCE SHEET, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO OCTOBER, ALTHOUGH WE DID HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY COMING IN. WE SEE ADDITIONAL MONEY COMING IN. UNDER THE INVESTMENTS, WE STILL HAVE THE TAX AN ADVERTISINGS NOTE WE ARE CARRYING ON THE BOOKS UNDER INVESTMENTS FOR ASSETS. THEN UNDER LIABILITY, WE DO HAVE THE TAX ANTICIPATION LISTED ON THE BOMB OH BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO BREAK IT APART. SO WE BRAKE IT APART DOWN THERE AND ALSO HAVE A FOOTNOTE AT THE BOTTOM. THAT PAYMENT, WE WILL CARRY THAT ON THE BOOKS THROUGH DECEMBER AND JANUARY. IT'S DUE BACK JANUARY 29th, 2021. PABLO, NEXT SLIDE. WE GET TO OUR FUND BALANCE HERE. AND IF YOU LOOK, OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR NOVEMBER WAS $46.2 MILLION. AND THE REASON, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE CAME UP, WE HAD THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR. PABLO, DO YOU WANT TO PULL UP THE NEXT ONE OVER LAST YEAR? SO FULL LOOK LAST YEAR WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO RECORD ONE PAYMENT OF THE FEFP. IF YOU REMEMBER THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE PROGRAM COMES IN TWICE A MONTH AFTER THE 10th AND THE 26th BECAUSE AS OF LAST YEAR, THANKSGIVING WEEK, WE WERE OFF, AND WHEN WE CAME BACK AFTER THANKSGIVING BREAK, IT WAS DECEMBER 2nd. SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO BOOK BOTH FEFP PAYMENTS LAST YEAR SO NOVEMBER WAS DOWN. AND THIS YEAR, THIS DISTRICT WAS OPEN, WE WERELE ACTUALLY ON OPEN MONDAY NOVEMBER 307th SO WE WERE ABLE TO BOOK THAT TRANSACTION. AND IF YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE GROWING WITH OUR FUND BALANCE. YOU WILL SEE THAT IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE HAD RECEIVED TWO PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS. THEY ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN WE HAD EXPECTED. AND WE ARE HOPING JANUARY COMES BACK WITH A ROAR. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE ON THAT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION COMING FORWARD. THE REMAINING SLIDES, WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE UNDER SECTION I, THAT IS THE THREE-YEAR TREND DATA. WE ARE KIND OF TRACKING OUR -- VERNA HURLEY IS WORKING WITH THE MEDICAID OFFICE. MONICA HELPED HER REACH OUT TO SOME NEW FOLKS UP AT THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION. SO THEY HAVE OPENED UP AND LOOKED AT OUR CLAIMS. SO WE ARE RECEIVING SOME EXTRA DOLLARS FOR THAT. WE HAVE A REALLY BIG PUSH OUT THERE FOR OUR FEDERAL IMPACT IN GETTING THOSE SURVEYS BACK. SO PARENTS, THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THOSE SURVEYS THAT WE PUT OUT THERE THAT HELPS OUR STUDENTS COME FORWARD WITH MORE MONEY. AND REMEMBER ONE OF THE WAYS, HOW CAN WE BUILD MONEY FOR THE DISTRICT, IS BRING BACK THOSE KIDS. SO WE LOVE TO HAVE OUR KIDS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S GENERATING REVENUE FOR OUR DISTRICT AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THEM BACK IN CLASS. WITH THAT, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>Lynn Gray: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C-604. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON AND A SECOND BY MEMBER SNIVELY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE DISCUSSION. ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER VAUGHN? MEMBER WASHINGTON?
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. MRS. SAUNDERS, I THIS I THIS IS IMPORTANT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BECAUSE WE NEED TO SEE WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO. ANYTIME WE HAVE A BUDGET MEETING, WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE REPORT IN FRONT OF US AND HAVE IT ON DISPLAY SO THE CONSTITUENTS CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO AND BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHERE IT'S BEING SPENT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I REALLY DO.
>>Gretchen Saunders: THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON, MEMBER VAUGHN, AND THEN MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS PULLED BECAUSE IT ALLOWED ME TO SPEND HOURS WITH MS. SAUNDERS GOING LINE ITEM BY EACH AND EVERYTHING IN OUR GENERAL FUND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S REVENUE AND WHAT'S NOT. ONE THING I DID WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT IS IN OUR CONVERSATION, WHAT I SEE TO BE A TREND IS THERE MIGHT BE SOME OVERINFLATION ON THE REVENUE SIDE BASED ON THE MONEY THAT WE TAKE IN, AND THEN SEND RIGHT BACK OUT TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY BROKEN DOWN BY LINE ITEM, SO THAT WE CAN SEE IF THAT MONEY IS REALLY JUST PASSES THROUGH US. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE GOING THROUGH AND AS WE GO FORWARD, MORE CLARIFICATION, SO WE CAN REALLY GAUGE HOW MUCH MONEY IS PASSING THROUGH US AND OVERINFLATING OUR BUDGET AND REALLY GOING TO SCHOOL CHOICE. SO THAT IS JUST WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ON SECTION -- HOLD ON. I HAVE TO GET TO THE FIRST PAGE OF THE SECTION. SECTION I. ON SECTION I, WHERE YOU HAVE THE THREE-YEAR TREND DATA, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, AND YOU HAD MENTIONED AN EXAMPLE, FEDERAL REVENUE AS WELL AS MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TREND DATA AND YOU DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CONTEXT AROUND IT, THE NUMBERS CAN BE A LITTLE SHOCKING. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, WHEN WE GO FROM A 2019, 1.56 MILLION IN REVENUE, TO 2020, 247,000 IN REVENUE, BUT THEN ARE WE PROJECTING IN 2021, 504,000?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE COLLECTED.
>>Melissa Snively: WE HAVE COLLECTED. I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE PRESENT TIME THAT WAS ACTUAL OR PROJECTED. BUT THEN ALSO IF THERE'S A STRATEGY BEHIND IT, LIKE YOU MENTIONED ABOUT MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THAT SECTION UNDERNEATH TO THE PUT AN EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT STRATEGIES WE ARE IMPLEMENTING TO IMPROVE OUR REVENUE IN CERTAIN AREAS. SO THAT WAY, WE DON'T GET TOO FRIGHTENED WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS. SOME OF THEM ARE FRIGHTENING, HONESTLY. BUT I DO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE HAVING ON REVENUE COMING INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT WILL BE GREAT.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY. I KNOW IT'S BROUGHT THIS UP A FINANCIAL COMMITTEE OR A WORKSHOP, BUT I COULD DO THINK THAT THESE QUESTIONS AND THE TREND DATA AND MONEY COMING IN, REVENUE IN, AND THE EXPENDITURES OUT, I THINK THE BOARD MEMBERS MUST HAVE A CONTINUAL FLOW OF INFORMATION AS A BOARD, NOT IN A SUNG WILL MEETING. SO I AM GOING TO -- AND I WILL GETS CONSENSUS HOPEFULLY THAT PERHAPS THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE OPEN TO MEETING PER MONTH NO WORKSHOP FORMAT SO WE CAN SEE AND TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF OUR DISTRICT. AND THAT'S A BROAD ASK, BUT I AM ALMOST CERTAIN THAT BOARD MEMBERS WILL SHARE WITH ME THEIR INPUT ON THAT IDEA. AND IMPORTANTLY, WE MUST AS A BOARD HAVE OVERSIGHT JUST LIKE WE HAVE WITH THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE REFERENDUM MONEY. WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE ANALOGY, SO WE HAVE OVERSIGHT INTO OUR OWN BUDGET? AND I AM LOOKING AT MEMBER NAVAL FOR A SHAKE OF THE HEAD, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE START -- I AM GOING TO SHUT UP IN A MINUTE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BEGIN THAT PROCESS. MEMBER SNIVELY WORKS YOU LIKE TO REMARK ON THAT AND THEN I WILL GET INTO PUBLIC --
>>Melissa Snively: NOT SURE WHAT YOU MANY BLIP BY HEAD NOD, ABOUT BUT MY FEEDBACK QUO BE OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE OVERSIGHT, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE HAVE OVERSIGHT IS DIFFERENT THAN HAVING AN OVERSIGHT, THAT THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DOES. SO I THINK THAT IT COULD -- IT'S VERY CRITICAL FOR US TO HAVE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FINANCES, AND IF WE CAN GET THERE THROUGH A WORKSHOP, THEN YES, THEN WE SHOULD. IF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS MEETING MONTHLY AND THOSE ARE VOLUNTEERS, THEN WHY AREN'T WE AS PAID BOARD MEMBERS MEETING ON HERE, BUT BY THE TIME IT GETS TO US HERE, IT'S JUST HERE TO BE APPROVED, AND THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND IT, RIGHT? SO I THINK WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO GO WITH THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAVING SOME KIND OF MONTHLY WORKSHOP OR UPDATE OR SOMEWHERE, WHERE WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DEEP DIVE ON THE FINANCES SO THAT WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO ANSWER TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THAT, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE SURPRISED SOME BOARD MEMBERS. SO WE ARE CHALLENGED BY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PHYSICAL AWARENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND I THINK DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL.
>>Lynn Gray: AND THANK YOU. BEING PROACTIVE IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD FOR THE FINANCIAL INTRICACIES, I THINK CAN NEVER BE UNDERESTIMATED. BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE NOW GOING TO SWITCH LANES FROM OUR DISCUSSION -- OH, I'M SO SORRY. WE HAVEN'T DISPOSED OF THE MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY -- WE ALREADY HAVE OUR MOTION. AND WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR FOR ITEMS 6.04. AND WE ARE UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR EMPLOYEE COMMENTS. AND MY APOLOGIES TO BEING A LITTLE BIT LATE. ROB CREED, YOU ARE FIRST. THEN HEIDI GLICKMAN. BRYAN HACZYNSKI. THAT'S IT. OKAY.
>> GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY HOLIDAY HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND STAFF. LOOK, THE ART OF MULTITASKING IS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO MASTER. EVEN THOSE THAT DO IT WELL ARE IN ESSENCE VACILLATING BETWEEN TWO OR MORE TASKS DOING THAT WORK. SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING IS THE MULTITASKING OF TEACHING, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO MASTER. PARENTS CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN FACE TO FACE AND eLearning FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT HOW MANY OF THEM WOULD CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD TAUGHT USING THIS SIMULTANEOUS METHOD? NOT ONLY IS SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING LESS EFFECTIVE THAN FACE TO FACE OR eLearning, IT REQUIRES DOUBLE THE WORK IN PREPARING AND IS DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND PRE-K STUDENTS. EDUCATORS BEING ASKED TO MULTITASK AND MONITORING OF YOUNG CHILDREN CHILE DELIVERING HEY QUALITY LESSONS NEED TO END WITH THE FIRST SEMESTER. IF WE TRULY WANT TO SET UP EVERY STUDENT AND EVERY TEACHER FOR SUCCESS, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING IS AN OBSTACLE, NOT A SOLUTION, AND CERTAINLY NOT A SOLUTION FOR OUR QUARANTINED STUDENTS AS QUELL. BOTTOM LINE, TEACHERS CANNOT MONITOR STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND IN THEIR HOMES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE ONLY BENEFIT OF SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING IS INEES OF SCHEDULING. FOR THE SAKE OF THE STUDENTS' SAFETY AND EDUCATION, LET'S GET RID OF SIMULTANEOUS TEACHING AT THE PRE-K AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVELS AND ONLY SCHEDULE IT FOR TEACHERS THAT VOLUNTEER TO DO IT IN SECONDARY WHERE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU ALL. HAPPY HOLIDAY. BE SAFE.
>>Lynn Gray: MS. GLICKMAN WILL BE NEXT WITH A BIG SMILE ON HER FACE. THAT'S A GOOD THING.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. HE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, OUR CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT AND OF COURSE TO OUR AUDIENCE HERE TODAY AND THOSE WATCHING US ONLINE OR WILL BE WATCHING AT A MORE CONVENIENT TIME. MY NAME IS HEIDI GLICK AND I AM LUCKY YET EXHAUSTED AS A TEACHER. I WORK AT ALONZO HIGH SCHOOL, THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR COUNTY, AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY ON UGLY SWEATER DAY. YOU KNOW. BUT LET ME GET TO THE REASON WHY I AM EXHAUSTED. I WILL DO THAT IN A MINUTE. FIRST CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS NEWLY-ELECTED AND REELECTED AND WELCOME OUR BOARD. AND I DO MEAN OUR BOARD. AS WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE. DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WELL, OUR GOVERNOR AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OPENED OUR SCHOOLS, I HAVE BEEN SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACHING SIX PERIODS A DAY, WITH FOR PREP. THAT MEANS I TEACH FOUR DIFFERENT COURSES AND THREE OF WHICH THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR TEACHING. I ALSO HAVE A T-PAY WHICH MEANS I AM TEACHING AN EXTRA CLASS, ONE MORE THAN IS REQUIRED FOR MY POSITION. THAT'S WHY I AM EXHAUSTED. WHEN I GO HOME TONIGHT, I PROBABLY HAVE TEN OR 15 MULTI-PAGE ESSAYS TO GRADE ON TWO DIFFERENT TOPICS, BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM TWO DIFFERENT CLASSES THAT I TEACH. BUT I AGREED TO DO THIS TO KEEP THE AVID PROGRAM ALIVE AT ALONZO. SO IT'S NOT EASY. WITH INTERNET ISSUES, AS A MATTER OF FACT, TODAY MY ENTIRE SYSTEM WENT DOWN TWICE. THANKFULLY, I HAVE A GREAT TEACHER RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR AND IT WAS HI PLANNING PERIOD AND HE CAME IN WHILE I WAS IN A PANIC GOT EVERYTHING FIXED, SO THE SECOND TIME IT WENT DOWN, YOU WAS ABLE TO FIX IT MYSELF. BUT NOW IT IS TIME FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK AT SECOND SEMESTER. AS AN ELECTIVE TEACHER I WILL DON'T SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACH. DO I WANT TO? NO. I WE PREFER NOT TO BUT I WILL TO KEEP MY PROGRAM ALIVE. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE REST OF OUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO? WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR TEACHERS TO SAY NO AND ONLY DO BRICK AND MORTAR OR ONLY DO eLearning? OUR TEACHERS ARE ANXIOUS. THEY ARE SCARED. THEY WANT TO KNOW YESTERDAY. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, YOU SAID CHILDREN SELECT THE BEST PROCESS FOR THEM. WE NEED TO DO THAT. WELL WELL, WHAT ABOUT OUR TEACHERS? WHAT'S THE BEST THING FOR US? I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBER VAUGHN, FOR WORRYING ABOUT US, TEACHERS ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. WE ARE EXHAUSTED. AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACH, I'M AT ALONZO. COME ON BY. AND, OH, HAPPY HOLIDAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MS. GLICK. INDEED I HAVE WITNESSED YOUR TEACHING TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. NEXT, WE HAVE RYAN HAHNCZYNSKI.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I WANT TO COME HERE THIS EVENING TO FORMALLY CONGRATULATE OUR NEWLY-ELECTED MEMBERS. I KNOW YOU WEREN'T UP HERE LAST TIME WHEN I CAME TO SPEAK SO I THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NEEDED. AND TIMELY THAT I CAME IN, AND ALL THE DISCUSSION WAS ON FINANCE. SO I HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR PENS READY BECAUSE I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A BUNCH OF NUMBERS. NUMBERS DON'T LIE. YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH MATH. IT'S QUITE SIMPLE. FLORIDA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS STUDENTS. IT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS EDUCATORS. THIS IS AMPLY EVIDENT IN THE FACT THAT IN 2007, 2008, WE REACHED THE HEY WATER MARK FOR PER PAPER I WILL FUNDING. $7,186. TODAY, WE ARE GIVEN 7,793. IF WE ADJUST INFLATION FROM 12 YEARS AGO THAT NUMBER WOULD NEED TO BE ALMOST $8900 TO KEEP UP WITH 2007 AND 2008 COSTS IN TERMS OF REAL DOLLARS. I HAVE BEEN COMING BEFORE THIS BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS NOW. MR. PORTER MAY REMEMBER IN LATE 2017 WHEN I APPROACHED HIM AND MR. EAKINS ABOUT THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM, AND BROUGHT SOME INITIAL NUMBERS AFTER DIGGING THROUGH TAX ROLLS. SO I ALSO WANTED TO COME HERE AND SAY THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING LEADERSHIP. I'M TALKING ABOUT A MILLAGE. IT'S LONG OVERDUE. FLORIDA, WE PAY NOTHING IN THIS STATE. AND THIS IS WHY OUR SESSION SERVICES ARE TERRIBLE. WE ARE 46th IN PER CAPITA TAX COLLECTION. AND JUST DO A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT WITH ME. IMAGINE IF FLORIDA HAD AT LEAST KEPT UP WITH INFLATION AND HAD ACTUALLY INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS, IN THE HUMAN CAPITAL. THINK ABOUT THE EDUCATION WE COULD BE GIVING STUDENTS AND THE TRILLION DOLLAR ECONOMY LIKE FLORIDA. WE ARE THE FOURTH BIGGEST ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE 17th BIGGEST ONE IN THE WORLD. IT IS REPREHENSIBLE THAT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS HAMSTRUNG US. I FEEL SO BAD FOR MS. SAUNDERS. THERE'S ALL THIS TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT. IT'S PRETTY HARD WHEN COSTS GO UP A DOLLAR AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE GIVES YOU A DIME EVERY YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANYBODY BALANCE THEIR BUDGET WITH THAT. HONESTLY. WE NEED THIS MILLAGE. WE NEED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS. WE NEED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR TEACHERS AND WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THAT FOR 12 YEARS, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY SHORT SIGHTED BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE CREATED A CYCLE OF VIRTUAL ST. LUKE OF ECONOMIC BENEVOLENCE IF WE WERE BEING PAID MORE, WE WOULD BE INJECTING THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE ECONOMY AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES HELPING THOSE. EVERYONE WOULD PROSPER. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO ADVOCATE. WE CANNOT AFFORD SILENCE ANY LONGER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CONCLUDE EMPLOYEE COMMENTS, AND WE WILL MOVE NOW INTO ITEM -- AGENDA ITEM C-612, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NURSE STAFFING SERVICES. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, IF YOU WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. AND THANK YOU.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM THROUGH THE CHAIR. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. FOR NURSING STAFF AND SERVICES UNDER DIVISION PLAN OF CULTURE, ALL ABOUT HEALTH SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND BEING ABLE TO SEND OUT THE RFP, WE HAVE CAPTURED SEVEN ADDITIONAL AGENCIES TO DEAL WITH FURTHER SUPPORT, OUR SCHOOLS RELATED TO SERVING OUR CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT OPENLY HISTORICALLY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATED, IS HAVING A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME BEING ABLE TO FILL NURSING LPNs, RPNs, OR ASSISTANTS WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS OF OUR SCHOOLS AND DUE TO THE UNATTRACTIVE SALARIES THAT ARE OFFERED. HOWEVER, WE CONTINUE TO FIND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE COVERAGE IN EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS WHICH WE DO, BUT THIS IS JUST TO GO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF AGENCIES TO PUT THE NECESSARY SUPPORTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS ALONG THE WAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 6.12. MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER COMBS. ANY DISCUSSION? OOPS. WE HAVE A RUNNER HERE. BY THE NAME OF MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: I'M SORRY. YOU JEST WENT TOO FAST, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I BRIEFLY WANTED TO SAY THE REASON WHY I PULLED THIS DOWN TO THE DISCUSSION AGENDA WAS BECAUSE SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT THIS IS COMING FROM IS OUR GENERAL FUND. AND SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS BE ACCOMMODATING IS REALLY ANY AGENDA ITEM FROM THIS POINT FORWARD THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS SHOULD BE ON THE DISCUSSION, AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE DISCUSSION AGENDA, AND NOT THAT I DON'T MIND GOING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ITEM, BUT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO SEE WHICH ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY -- OR WHICH WILL IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND. SO THAT'S MY REQUEST MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THAT'S AN EXCELLENT REQUEST. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WOULD THAT BE AGREEABLE?
>>Addison Davis: YES, THROUGH THE CHAIR, ALSO IDEA FUND TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE I.DON'T DISAGREE.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE OUR MOTIONS, AND WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, BOARD. NOW WE WILL GO TO THE CAFR REPORT WHICH IS 6.35, COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, AKA CAFR, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THIS IS FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR IN JUNE 30th, 2020, THIS IS ALL ABOUT LOOKING AT THE AUDITED FINANCES, EVERY ONE OF OUR STATEMENTS. WE HAVE KPMG THE FIRM THAT IS LICENSED AND CREDENTIALED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT -- PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR TRANSACTIONS FROM A LOCAL AND STATED PERSPECTIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING IS IN ACCORDANCE IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS AND I WILL LET MS. SAUNDERS KIND OF GO THROUGH THE DETAILS.
>>Gretchen Saunders: THROUGH THE CHAIR, IF I COULD DIGRESS FOR ONE SECOND. IF YOU WILL NOTICE, IF YOU LOOK ONLINE, THE FRONT OF THE CAFR IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. THAT WAS PICKED -- WAS GIVEN TO US BY DAPHNE PEREZ, A 12th GRADER AT BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, AND SO WE HAVE A GIFT CARD FOR HER AND WE HAVE A CARD FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO SIGN TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRETTY. BEFORE I BRING MR. WEBBSTER UP, I JUST WANTED TO WALK A FEW OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT? THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT IS THE AUDITED VERSION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU ALL SEPTEMBER 8th. WHEN WE BROUGHT THAT AND PRESENTED IT TO YOU BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THE FIRM KPMG AS THEY GO THROUGH AND AUDIT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. THIS DEPICTS OUR COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT REALLY DIGS DOWN TO THE DETAILS WHAT OUR FINANCIALS LOOK LIKE, IT'S BROKEN OUT INTO SECTIONS, THERE'S A BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT, FOOTNOTE DISCLOSURES, WHICH WILL EXPAND ON ANY INFORMATION AND THE BASIC STATEMENTS. WE HAVE THE CHARTER SCHOOL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH WE PROVIDE IN THE CAFR, AND A STATISTICAL SECTION THAT JUST BREAKS DOWN FINANCIAL TRENDS, REVENUE SOURCES, OUR DEBT LEVELS AND DEMOGRAPHIC ECONOMIC INDICATORS. WE WILL SEND IT ONCE IT'S APPROVED TONIGHT, WE WILL SEND IT TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR REVIEW, AND IT'S A SPECIAL REVIEW OF FINANCE OFFICERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THEY PICK APART THE CAFRS, AND WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO EARN THIS AWARD FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS. AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY A GREAT HUGE BIG THANK YOU AND HUGS TO THE FINANCE TEAM, JENNIFER PARKER, HAM HENDRICKSON, JENNIFER NOVAK, COREY MURPHY AND HER PROCUREMENT TEAM, VERNA, SUCCESS ACTION, STEVE, BRENDA, AND CHRIS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR HELP, THIS COULDN'T BE DONE. THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION TO BRING TOGETHER IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. WE HAVE ALSO WITHIN THE CAFR REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS FOR ANY CHANGES. WE HAVE ENGAGEMENT LETTER, WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATION LETTER, INCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS, AND LIKE I SAID, BEFORE I BRING TODD UP, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE MOST PROUD OF IS THE CAFR IS AN UNMODIFIED OPINION MEANING IT'S CLEAN SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE, TOO. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO BRING TODD WEBSTER TO THE LECTERN. HE'S AN AUDIT PARTNER WITH KPMG, FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS, DURING WHICH TIME HE HAS PRIMARILY SERVED CLIENTS IN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARENA, BUT ALSO INCLUDING HEALTH CARE AND NOT FOR PROFIT INDUSTRIES. HE COMPLETED A FOUR YEAR ROTATION REQUEST KPMG DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE HISS HIS ROLE WAS TO FUNCTION AS A TECHNICAL RESOURCE FOR ENGAGEMENT STEAMS PROVIDING AUDIT SERVICES TO THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, HEALTH CARE, AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. AS PART OF HIS ROTATION IN NEW YORK TODD SERVED AS A PRACTICE FELLOW FOR THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD FOR TWO YEARS WHICH MEANS TODD IS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NEW YORK, AND NORTH CAROLINA. HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND THE FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS. TODD WEBSTER. THANK YOU.
>> TODD WEBSTER: THANK YOU. THAT WAS A LOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. WELCOME EVERYONE. FOR THOSE OF YOU I HAVEN'T MET, MY NAME IS TODD WEBSTER, A PARTNER HERE IN TAMPA. I HAVE MET WITH A FEW OF YOU OVER THE YEARS AND DISCUSSED THE CAFR, THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF WHEN IT WAS ISSUED AND THIS MEETING WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET INDIVIDUALLY BUT HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE DETAILS. WHAT I WILL COVER RIGHT NOW IS WHAT I HAVE HISTORICALLY COVERED IN THOSE MEETINGS. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. AS AN AUDITOR, WE HAVE SEVERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE ARE INDEPENDENT FIRST AND FOREMOST. THAT MEANS WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMAIN INDEPENDENT. WE DON'T HAVE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ORGANIZATION THAT COULD EITHER IN FACT OR IN APPEARANCE INTERFERE WITH OUR INDEPENDENCE. WE DON'T ALLOW OUR PARTNERS OR MANAGERS TO INVEST IN THE PUBLIC DEBT OF THE DISTRICT. AGAIN THAT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS IMPACTING INDEPENDENCE. SO THE FIRST AND FOREMOST RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE IS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT, IN OUR ROLE AS THE AUDITORS. WE ARE ALSO HIRED TO ISSUE AN OPINION ON THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARD, AND WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARD. THE CAFR IS PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT. IT'S NOT PREPARED BY KPNMG. WE JUST OPINE ON THAT. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE. BEEN ASKED ABOUT A PARTICULAR DISCLOSURE OR HOW A TRANSACTION SHOULD WORK, BUT MANAGEMENT TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND WE WORK WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PREPARING THE FINANCIAL REPORTING. WE A SURE -- ISSUE OUR OPINION ON WHETHER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FREE OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS. IT'S NOT 100% ABSOLUTELY ASSURANCE. ABSOLUTE A I ASSURANCE WOULD MEAN WE WOULD HAVE TO AUDIT EVERY SINGLE TRANSACTION THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE DISTRICT. THERE'S NEITHER EFFICIENT NOR EFFECTIVE AND THE AWED TINGS STANDARDS ALLOW US TO ESTABLISH A THRESHOLD. NOW, THE REASONABLE ASSURANCE IS STILL A HIGH LEVEL OF ASSURANCE AND YOU SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE BASED ON THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE. AS PART OF OUR AUDIT, WE PREPARE AUDIT PLANS, AND WE PRESENT THAT TO MANAGEMENT AT THE BEGINNING, USUALLY IN APRIL OR MAY. OUR AUDIT PLAN REALLY HASN'T CHANGED FROM WHAT WE PRESENTED, ALTHOUGH COVID DID PROVIDE SOME IMPACTS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN WHAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THROUGH. WE DID THIS AUDIT 100% VIRTUALLY OR REMOTE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE MARCH. OUR OFFICES HERE IN TAMPA HAVE BEEN CLOSED ACTUALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND OUR STAFF HAVE WORKED REMOTELY THE ENTIRE TIME. NOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A FIRM FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE TO SORT OF WORK IN THAT WAY. WE HAVE JUST BEEN REALLY PUSHED QUICKLY INTO THIS WORLD. NOW, DOES IT MEAN WE DIDN'T MEET WITH MANAGEMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS? WE USED MICROSOFT TEAMS. WE USED SKYPE MEETINGS. WE HAD CALLS REGULARLY. TO BE ABLE TO DO A VIRTUAL AUDIT, YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL IN PLACE. WE ESTABLISHED THAT UP FRONT, NOT JUST BETWEEN KPMG AND MANAGEMENT BUT WITH MY STAFF AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS THOROUGH OVERSIGHT AND REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE NOT ONLY EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE BY THE YOU WERE STILL GETTING THAT QUALITY OF AUDIT THAT YOU ARE EXPECTING FROM A FIRM LIKE KPMG. SO THAT WAS THE EMBARKED THAT COVID HAD ON THE AUDIT BUT OUR AUDIT PLAN REALLY REMAINED THE SAME THAT THE WE ESTABLISHED AND PRESENTED TO MANAGEMENT IN MAY. SO OUR AUDIT IS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PROCESS. WE SPEND ABOUT 13 TO 15 WEEKS ON-SITE DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN ANY SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTIONS BUT THIS YEAR WE WERE ABOUT 13 WEEKS ON-SITE. WE TEST CONTROLS, BOTH MANUAL AND IR I.T. CONTROLS. WE DO WHAT WE REFER TO AS STANDARD TESTING OF BALANCES SO THE BALANCES THAT GRETCHEN WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, WE DO A LOT OF DETAIL TESTING OVER THAT. THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IN OUR TEST EXPERT. IT'S NOT A FRAUD AUDIT. BUT THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL SKEPTICISM. NO YEAR LIKE THIS YEAR, THAT'S EVEN HEIGHTENED EVEN MORE. WE DON'T CERTAINLY EXPECT FRAUD, BUT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AS POTENTIALLY THERE. BUT WE DO HAVE A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF AWARENESS AND WE DO BUILD IN THOSE ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE IN OUR AUDIT. AND THAT'S BY THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLES THAT WE SELECT. MANAGEMENT HAS NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SELECT. A LOT ■OF IT IS USING STATISTICA SAMPLING WOMEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SELECT UNTIL WE RUN THE STATISTICS. SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE. WE USE DATA AND ANALYST KNICKS OUR AUDIT AS WELL. WHEN WE LOOK AT JOURNAL ENTRIES WE ARE ABLE TO SET CERTAIN CATEGORIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE WANTS TO LOOK AT A JOURNAL ENTRY THAT'S BOOKED ON A HOLIDAY ON A JOURNAL ENTRY BY A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL. WE CAN RUN USE OUR DATA TO PULL THOSE JOURNAL ENTRIES AND WE CAN TEST THEM. FORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T FIND ANY IN THOSE CATEGORIES, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO RUN STATISTICS AND LOOK FOR AS PART OF THE AUDIT.
>>Lynn Gray: FINAL THOUGHTS.
>> OH, SORRY. OKAY. SO ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE DID GET TO AN UNQUALIFIED AUDIT OPINION, AND AS GRETCHEN MENTIONED IT'S A CLEAN OPINION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING AND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. IT'S NOT GUARANTEED ON THE OUTSET. BUT WE GOT FULL COOPERATION WITH MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. WHICH WE FULLY EXPECT ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. WE HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT. THE REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU DETAIL ALL OF THAT OUT. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TODAY OR TOMORROW, WHENEVER, IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME, GRETCHEN KNOWS HOW TO REACH ME AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU ON ANYTHING. BUT THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF KPMG'S PARTNERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP, AND WORKING WITH MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU THANK YOU, GRETCHEN, TO ARE ALL OF YOUR HELP.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEW. AID QUESTION FOR MRS. SAUNDERS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CHARACTER -- AND THEY LOOK FAMILIAR, BUT CAN YOU SHARE HOW THAT DIFFERENTIATES FROM THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS? WE HAVE HAD AUDITS, AND THAT'S ANOTHER AUDIT, IF YOU CAN JUST SHARE THAT IN A NUTSHELL.
>>Gretchen Saunders: SO THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITIES SCHOOL AUDIT VERSUS THE COMPREHENSIVE DATA FINANCIAL AUDIT BY KPMG,S CAN WAS ACTUALLY AUDITING OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHEN THE GROUP CAME IN FROM THE COUNCIL OF GREAT SCHOOLS, THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR AN OPERATIONAL VIEWPOINT OR EFFICIENT VIEWPOINT, NOT SO MUCH AS STATEMENTS, AS A BACKUP TO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CHECK SUCH AS MR. WEBBSTER'S GROUP REALLY LOOKS AT THE DETAILS OF THE TRANSACTIONS. GREAT SCHOOLS COMES IN LIKE A 10,000 20:THOUSAND FOOT VIEW TO SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING IN THE DAYING TO DAY OPERATIONS. SO TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT AUDITS. AND ADDITIONALLY IF I CAN SAY THERE'S TWO MORE AUDITS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW. WE ARE WORKING WITH MR. DAVIS TO SENTENCED OUR PRELIMINARY DATA LETTERS UP FORFEIT AUDITOR GENERAL. THAT'S ALSO AN OPERATIONAL AUDIT AND WE HAVE AN FTE AUDIT FOR THE FEFP SO THERE'S ACTUALLY FOUR AUDITS GOING ON. THIS IS THE FINISH OF THIS ONE SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. WEBBSTER. THANK YOU, MS. SAUNDERS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY, THIS IS MS. SAUNDERS LAST MEETING AS A CFO, AND WE HAVE OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO YOU AS YOU TALK ABOUT MONEY. AND YOUR TEAM IS SUCH A GREAT TEAM, STEPHANIE HEATON, COREY MURPHY, THE TEAM WHICH YOU HAVE SHOWN SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP. AND I DON'T KNOW IF SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. MS. SAUNDERS HAS BEEN AWESOME. NO MATTER HOW HARD THE DAY MAY BE, SHE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE AND SHE ALWAYS HAS A CARE BAG FULL OF NOT HEALTHY GIFTS FOR US, SO SHE DOESN'T HELP THAT PROGRAM AT ALL, BUT NONETHELESS WE NEED A PICK ME UP AND SHE'S ALWAYS THERE. SO SHE'S BEEN VERY RATIONAL, AND I WISH HER NOTHING BUT THE BEST, AND I'M SURE WE'LL CONTINUE TO CALL HER AND REACH OUT TO HER AS SHE CONTINUES THE GREAT WORK AT ST. JOHNS. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT ITEM -- I'M SORRY. WE NEED A MOTION. TO APPROVE THE CAFR. AND THAT WOULD BE ITEM C-635. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND WE DO DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY, WANT TO THANK MR. WEBBSTER FOR HIS TIME, COMMITMENT, AND FOR AGAIN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, WHICH IS ALWAYS GREAT HE HAD FAKES FOR OUR FINANCIAL BRAINS WHICH WE NEED TO GET MORE OF IN THAT AREA. SO THANK YOU. IT IS UNANIMOUS. AND NOW WE WILL GO TO ITEM 7.07, APPROVE THE PIGGYBACK OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GORDIAN BOOK AND THE CITY OF TAMPA.
>>Addison Davis: 7.07 IS A BIG I BACK, THE GORDIAN GROUP OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, THIS IS FOR US TO INSERT AND INSTALL TOUCHLESS WATER FOUNTAINS IN OUR SCHOOLS. TO DATE, WE KNOW THAT COVID, WE HAVE SHUT ALL OF OUR WATER FOUNTAINS DOWN AND SPENT OVER -- AND I WILL LET MR. FARKAS CONFIRM -- CLOSE TO $2 MILLION ON A QUARTERLY BASIS ON BOTTLED WATER WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY FOR 7.07. THERE'S ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM THAT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THIS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE TOUCHLESS WATER FOUNTAINS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS IS OVERALL USED WITH CAPITAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO SO, AND IS PROVIDING THAT UPGRADE. AND MR. FARKAS, DO YOU WANT TO DETAIL?
>>Christopher Farkas: CDC AND AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION BOTH SAY TOUCHLESS WATER FOUNTAINS -- EVEN WHEN COVID IS NOT AROUND. AND THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 7.07 AND 7.15. GOREDION GOT A LITTLE HEAD START WHICH HAS GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT A LITTLE QUICKER. BUT OUR GOAL WAS TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SO GORDIAN GOT IT A LITTLE HEAD START BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO GET THEM INTO SCHOOLS. WE HAVE 32 SCHOOLS AS OF RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOLS ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. STUDENTS AND PARENTS, TOO. WE ARE EXCITED TO GET THIS DONE AND GET A HEALTHIER PLACE FOR OUR KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL;
>>Jim Porter: I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST YOU COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR BOTH ITEMS.
>>Stacy Hahn: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE 7.07 AND 7.15. I HAVE A MOTION FOR FROM MEMBER COMBS AND A SECOND FROM MEMBER WASHINGTON. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MEMBER COMBS?
>>Nadia Combs: I DID HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS. WHAT COMPLETION DATE DO YOU THINK? BECAUSE I COULD SEE THAT PART OF THE CONTRACT WAS COMPLETED AND NOW SOMEBODY ELSE IS WORKING ON THE OTHER PART.
>>Christopher Farkas: WE BELIEVE MARCH IS WHEN IT WILL BE DONE WITH ALL SCHOOLS BUT THEY ARE GOING AS QUICK AS THEY CAN. BUT MARCH WILL BE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. BUT BY MARCH.
>>Nadia Combs: GOING TO SCHOOLS AND VISITING SCHOOLS, I SEE SOME SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN A SURPLUS OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOLS. HOW ARE WE MONITORING THAT? AND HOW ARE WE ABLE TO SEE? BECAUSE I AM SEEING ONE SCHOOL I WENT TO, THEY HAD PALLETS OF WATER AND HOW ARE WE MONITORING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY?
>> PALLETING WATER WAS NOT A DEGREE, THEY DIDN'T COVER THAT IN EDUCATION SCHOOL. SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A TRIAL AND ERROR EXPERIENCE. IRONICALLY TODAY WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT AND ON ZOOM AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE SCHOOL. WE HAVE A NEW ONLINE SYSTEM, AN EASY QUAY FOR SCHOOLS TO DO THAT. NO ONE HAD EXTRA WATER INTENTIONALLY. WE JUST GET WATER BOTTLES BUT SOME SCHOOLS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE DRINK MORE WATER THAN OTHER SCHOOLS DO. THAT WILL END AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER. SCHOOLS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORDERING THEIR OWN EASY QUAY TO DO IT UP FRONT. WE ALSO HAVE A CHECKLIST TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS IN THE RIGHT WAY. THEY ALSO HAD TO GO ON AN INVOICE AND GO THROUGH A BUNCH OF EXTRA STEPS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO, THROUGH THE HELP OF MRS. BAYS AND THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ELIMINATED ALL OF THAT, SO THAT WAS AGAIN NOT INTENTIONAL BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS HAVE WATER. NO, WE HAVE GOT ENOUGH, WE DON'T NEED THAT MUCH. BECAUSE THE CONSUMPTION OF WATER BOTTLES AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IS AMAZING REQUEST THE SAME POPULATION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PREFERENCE, BUT WE HAVE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE IT'S LITERALLY A THREE TO WII ONE CONTAINING. BUM WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ELIMINATE THAT BY GETTING ALL THE DIVISIONS TOGETHER AND HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. SO COME JANUARY 4th WILL BE THE FIRST DATE WE MOVE TO THAT ONLINE FORUM AND DO THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT HELPING US SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. BUT YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT IT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN WE HAD A COUPLE EARNS CAN, BOTTLED WATER IN HALLWAYS, AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. THOSE ARE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS AND MANY ARE CURIOUS. THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, FOR ANSWERING THEM. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND WITH WASHINGTON AWAY, AND MEMBER NAVAL, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO THISS PASS. THANK YOU. NEXT WILL BE ON 7.21, AGREEMENT WITH GENERAL RATE CAPITAL. SUPERSEDING THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AGREEMENT FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, 7.21 IS A NEW AGREEMENT WITH CAPITAL, GENERAL RATE CAPITAL, AND HISTORICALLY IN 2017 THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT WITH MINIMIZE AND ALL LINKED TO BEING ABLE TO FIND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE UPGRADES TO OUR FACILITIES, AT THE SAME TIME BE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY ON A MONTHLY BASIS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CONTRACT WAS ORIGINALLY AGREED UPON HAD A VERY LONG TIME, 25 YEAR CONTRACT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE CHANGE IN GENERATE CAPITAL COMING INTO PLAY TO KIND OF OWN THIS CONTRACT AND MOVE IT FORWARD, WE HAVE COME TO A PART WHERE WE HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONTRACT AND PUT THE DISTRICT IN A BETTER POSITION, AND THE AGREEMENT WITHOUT OUR CONSENT, TO BE ABLE TO WE MOVE ANY RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR ANY WORK RELATED TO OUR FACILITIES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, IN ADDITION TO REMOVE ANY EXTENSION EXTENSION TO THE NO CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN AGREEMENT, AND AT THE SAME TIME BEING ABLE TO GRANT APPROVAL RIGHTS FOR OUR COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO SELECT SUBCONTRACTORS AND TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT CONSTRUCTION OF ANY SOLAR PROJECT THE DISTRICT IS TRULY ALIGNED WITH THE CAPITAL OUTLAY AGREEMENT, ALSO WITH FLORIDA LAW. WHAT THIS DOES IS TAKE A CONTRACT THAT WAS SIGNED AND AGREED UPON IN 2017, AND REALLY TRY TO MOVE IT IN A DIRECTION WHERE IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BETTER FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, SIR?
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C-721. I HAVE A MOTION BY -- AND SHOULD WE GET TO THESE MOTIONS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT. MEMBER SNIVELY. AND THEN A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM? MEMBER VAUGHN. AND THEN MEMBER HAHN. HAHN HAHN SO MY UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS WE HAD ALREADY SIGNED A 25 YEAR CONTRACT IN 2017 TO CONTRACT WORK FOR IMPROVEMENTS WHEN IT CAME TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY. AND THEN SUNS THEN THAT CONTRACT HAS BEEN SOLD, AND THIS IS THE NEW CONTRACT THAT WE ARE KIND OF NEGOTIATING. WE CAN'T GET OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TERMS FOR THE 25 YEARS, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN CHANGE, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO RENEGOTIATE SOME THINGS WITHIN THE CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MORE FAVORABLE TOWARDS US. SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WOULD BE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAD SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY TO THIS ITEM. WHAT IS OUR TIME FRAME ON RENEGOTIATIONS FOR THIS? IF WE DID HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THIS CONTRACT, MAYBE EVEN ON TIMING OF APPROVAL OF JOBS APPROVAL TIME, BECAUSE I NOTICE AND SOMEONE POINTED OUT TO ME SOME OF THESE JOBS WE ONLY HAVE 12 DAYS TO APPROVE. CAN WE DELAY THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING? IS THERE A DATE ON THIS THAT WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE BY, OR WE ARE GOING TO VOID OUR ABILITY TO RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT? HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THESE KIND OF RENEGOTIATIONS IF YOU CAN PLEASE.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE DID IDENTIFY SOME AREAS IN THE CONTRACT THAT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED SO WE EXTENDED THE 30 DAYS TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW ANY BASELINE MEASURES THROUGH MEASURES OF VALIDATION, AT THE SAME TIME BEING ABLE TO ALLOW US 30 ADDITIONAL DAYS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ANY END MEASURABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ENERGY EFFICIENCIES. THERE'S REALLY NO TIMELINE. HOWEVER, WE ARE IN SO MUCH A BETTER SPOT THAN WE WERE TO BEING ABLE TO GET WIND FOR THE ORGANIZATION NOW ON THE AGREEMENTS. OPENLY, WHEN WE COME IN, WHEN WE WERE A PRIZED THIS CONTRACT, THIS CONTRACT, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, WITH GENERATE CAPITAL, AND IT'S TAKEN MONTHS TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND FEEL SO MUCH BETTER, AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAVE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONTRACT, IF THERE'S A WILL, BUT BEING ABLE TO PUT US IN A BETTER SITUATION ON MULTIPLE LEVELS, THIS CONTRACT DOES THAT.
>>Jessica Vaughn: CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION, 40 SECOND LEFT ON THE CLOCK? ONCE WE MAKE THIS CONTRACT, AND WE CAN'T GO BACK, AND EVEN RENEGOTIATE FURTHER WITHOUT RESETTING THE 25 YEAR --
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR I BELIEVE WE ELIMINATE THAT AND I WILL LET MR. FARKAS ADDRESS.
>>Christopher Farkas: ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ANYTIME WE HAD A NEW TASK WITH THE OLD CONTRACT THE 25 YEARS RESTARTED. THIS CONTRACT VOIDS THAT. SO WHENEVER WE START WITH THE 25 YEARS IT DOESN'T REAP START THAT PART OF IT TOO. NOTHING WOULD PROHIBIT US FROM GOING BACK AND REVISITING THIS CONTRACT. OBVIOUSLY BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO AGREE TO THE TERMS. BUT, NO, THERE'S NO THOUGHT THAT WE CAN'T GO IN AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN, AND MR. FARKAS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: IT'S A REAL PLAY, HAHN, VAUGHN? WE HAVE TO COORDINATE OUR TIME TO SPEAK. ANYWAY, THANK YOU, MR. FARKAS, FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS ITEM. THIS -- I INHERITED THIS. IT WAS APPROVED THE YEAR BEFORE I BECAME A BOARD MEMBER. AND I TOO HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS AS MR. FARKAS CAN ATTEST TO, SPENT HOURS DISCUSSING THIS CONTRACT, AND GOING BACK AND RENEGOTIATING. SO THIS IS JUST ONE TOOL, THOUGH, IN OUR TOOL BOX TO DO CERTAIN CAPITAL JOBS, OR PROJECTS. AND IN A DISTRICT THIS SIZE WE NEED LOTS OF DIFFERENT TOOLS. WE HAVE THIS CONTRACT, WE HAVE SERVICE AGREEMENTS, WE HAVE -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER TOOLS, WE HAVE MR. FARKAS?
>>Christopher Farkas: CONTINUING SERVICES AND WE DO A NORMAL SELECTION.
>>Stacy Hahn: SO IT GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO DO THE JOB THAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY NOW, WHEN WE HAVE BEEN DOING SO MUCH HVAC JOBS, IT'S BEEN HARD TO FIND A CONTRACTOR. SO THEN WE NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOL BOX. AND THIS COULD BE ONE OF THOSE COOLS. I AM REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE FIVE THINGS THAT WERE ADJUSTED IN THIS CONTRACT, THAT MAKES ME A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE, ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE CONTRACT DOESN'T START EVERY 25 YEARS, THAT REALLY STUCK IN MY CRAW. I COULD NOT ACCEPT THAT. SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY WHEN THAT WAS RENEGOTIATED. SO I JUST WANT TO STRESS, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A BIG CONTRACT FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS. 25 YEARS, IT'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF ITERATIONS, AND SO I GUESS THE SIMPLEST WAY FOR ME TO SAY IT, THIS IS JUST A TOOL IN OUR TOOL BOX. AND WE CAN USE IT WHEN WE NEED TO USE IT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOR EVERY SINGLE JOB. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. BUT IT DOES ALLOW ARE US FOR A DISTRICT THIS SIZE TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY. AND WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AT A SCHOOL, WE CAN GET IT DONE QUICKLY. AND MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN CRAYONICALLY AN ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO A LOT OF OUR HVAC SYSTEMS SO THIS DOES HELP WITH US THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE SYSTEMS WHEN WE REPLACE THEM AND SO FORTH. [BELL SOUNDS] SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THIS CONTRACT TO GET IT EACH AND EVERY TIME TO A BETTER PLACE. SO THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. IF I MAY SAY A FEW THINGS. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE SEE THE MONTHLY UPDATES TO THE PROJECTS THAT THIS CONTRACT COVERS. I HAVEN'T SEEN YET A MONTHLY UPDATE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT OUR BOARD MEMBERS SEE THE SAVINGS THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE PROVIDING OUR DISTRICT. AND I GO BACK TO THE MINIMIZE, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED WITH THEM FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, BUT WE WERE PROMISED SAVINGS, AND YOU DEFINITELY THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO US, IT'S A VALID, YOU KNOW, SITUATION WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A HUGE ENTITY, AND THEY ARE GUARANTEEING US SAVINGS. SO I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BEFORE, AT LEAST MY APPROVAL, AND ALSO ON THE OTHER END, THE SOLAR PLANS, I HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE SCHOOLS SOLAR ACTIVITY, IF THERE IS ONE, I BEG FORGIVENESS. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE SIGNED THIS 257 YEARS THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOLAR ENERGY, AND SOLAR PLANS IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS WELL. I THINK I AM -- ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, ANYTIME WE SIGN A 25 YEAR CONTRACT, I GET NERVOUS, UNLESS ALL THE DOTS ARE CONNECTED. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT UNTIL WE HAVE THE MONTHLY UPDATES. WE SEE THE ACTUAL SAVINGS, AND OF COURSE SEE THE SOLAR PROJECTS THAT WERE PROMISED. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS. MEMBER PEREZ.
>>Karen Perez: WHAT HAS BEEN THE SAVINGS TO DATE? AND WHERE IS THAT ON OUR BUDGET?
>>Christopher Farkas: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THIS PAST YEAR I WAS DUE TO COVID OUR TECO BILL WAS ABOUT $4 MILLION LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. BUT THERE WAS ALSO COVID, SO THERE WERE NO BASEBALL GAMES THIS SPRING, A LOT OF THINGS HE SEW WE SAT DOWN AND SAID THIS YEAR WE NEED TO TAKE THIS OUT OF THE EQUATION. POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, THEY WOULDN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SAVINGS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T A TRIBUTE IT TO THEM WHETHER IT WAS THE LED LIGHTING OR THE COVID NOT HAVING BASEBALL GAMES AND USING OUTDOOR LIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN IN, THEY DID ABOUT 85% OF LED LIGHTS. SINCE THEY HAVE DONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE COVID SITUATION. SO IF I GAVE YOU SAVINGS IT WOULD BE ON A FALSE NUMBER. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A REAL NUMBER. THEY AGREED TO THAT. OUR TECO BILL WAS DOWN. BUT THERE'S OTHER VARIABLES THAT I THINK AFFECTED WHERE THAT SAVINGS CAME FROM. BUT PART OF WHAT THE AGREEMENT WAS IN THE DASHBOARD IS THE INFORMATION THAT MS. GRAY ASKED FOR, THE ACTUAL SAVINGS THAT ARE DONE. THEY GIVE US MONTHLY PROJECT UPDATES, SHARE WITH THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE WE SHOW THE PUBLIC, TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, HOW MANY LIGHT FIXTURES IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL, ALL OF THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS THERE WITH THE PROJECT, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. SHARING INFORMATION IS NOT ONE OF THEIR SHORTFALLS. THEY SHARE A LOT OF DATA WITH US. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER PEREZ AND MEMBER COMBS.
>>Nadia Combs: I FEEL AT THIS POINT, WITH CONCERN, I AM HEARING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, AND THAT THIS IS A LONG CONTRACT. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. AND I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY CONSTITUENTS. SO I DO THINK MAYBE WE NEED TO TABLE THIS AND DIG A LITTLE DEEPER AND DO A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH ON THIS ON WHAT THE SAVINGS REALLY LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO COME AS A NEW BOARD MEMBER AND MAKE A DECISION ON CONTINUING SUCH A LONG CONTRACT WITHOUT REALLY BEING ABLE TO ASK MY CONSTITUENTS AND ASKING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS, VERY GOOD POINT. AND MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: I WOULD AGREE WITH MEMBER COMBS, BUT IT MUST BE DIFFICULT TO WALK INTO THIS CONTRACT WITHOUT HAVING SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE TO IT, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE DISADVANTAGE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE THIS TO GIVE THE SCHOOL BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TON UNDERSTAND WHERE WE STARTED, WHAT THE CONTRACT LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT WAS FIRST APPROVED, UNTIL NOW, UNTIL -- AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACTS, AND WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR MAKING THOSE PROPOSALS, THE PROPOSED CHANGES. SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THIS, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SERIOUS FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLEX CONTRACT. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK BOARD MEMBERS WOULD APPRECIATE UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE DEEPER, THE COMMITMENT THAT WE ARE MAKING THROUGH THIS CONTRACT. MR. PORTER WORKS THAT BE -- WELL, LET ME ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>>Addison Davis: YES, THROUGH THE CHAIR I.DON'T BELIEVE DELAYING IT TO JANUARY HAS ANY FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. BUT WHAT IT DOES IS WE ARE IN A GOOD SPOT WHERE THE CONTRACT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ENDED IN 2017, WE ARE NO BETTER SPOT FROM A LANGUAGE PERSPECTIVE. SO FOR ME, I'M TRYING TO CHAMPION WINS FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH CONTENT, THROUGH THE LANGUAGE. I DON'T DISAGREE THAT WITH MONTHLY PROJECTS SHOULD BE PROVIDED, FIGURING OUT WHAT THE SAVINGS MAY BE, BECAUSE THERE'S AGREED UPON IN THE CONTRACT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SAVINGS SHOULD BE, BACK IN 2017, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS AROUND 17%. I DO BELIEVE AND I AGREE WITH MR. FARKAS THAT WITH COVID, IT COULD BE REALLY GRAY AREA OF WHO OWNS THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS. MR. FARKAS, ANYTHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED?
>>Christopher Farkas: NO. AS I SAID IN SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS WITH BOARD MEMBERS, THERE IS ALREADY AN AGREEMENT. BY NOT APPROVING THIS AGREEMENT, THERE STILL IS AN EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WE DIDN'T LIKE THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS. SO IT'S STILL THERE. YOU ARE STILL IN A 25 YEAR CONTRACT, AND EVERY TIME YOU DO A CONTRACT, NOT PUSHING YOU ONE WAY THE OTHER, ABOUT YOU THAT'S STILL THERE.
>>Melissa Snively: THAT'S THE ONE PART I DON'T LIKE I.DON'T KNOW THAT ONE MONTH WILL MAKE SIGNIFICANT -- IF WE REQUEST CONTINUING THIS FOR ANOTHER YEAR, THAT MIGHT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BUT IF WE ONLY CONTINUE IT FOR A MONTH, JUST SO THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS CAN WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CONTRACT AND HOW IT BENEFITS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I DON'T SEE ANY FOUL IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I HAD ANOTHER COMMENT BUT I WILL GET BACK WITH YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: NEXT WE HAVE MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT APPROVING -- THIS CONTRACT WILL EXIST WHETHER WE VOTE ON IT TONIGHT OR NOT. JUST SO THAT'S REALLY CLEAR. WE ARE IN A CONTRACT WITH THESE FOLKS. WE ARE IN A 25-YEAR CONTRACT. SO DELAYING IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACT. WE HAVE A CONTRACT. SO WE ARE NOT VOTING -- SOME OF THE LANGUAGE FOLKS ARE USE IT, IT SOUND LIKE, IT'S MAKING IT APPEAR THAT WE ARE VOTING THON FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT. WHAT THIS IS DOING, WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TON IMPROVE ON A FEW OF THE LANGUAGE THAT EXIST. THAT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AT LEAST, AND SO THIS IS IMPROVING THAT LANGUAGE IN WAYS THAT DO BENEFIT US. MR. FARKAS, COULD YOU PLEASE GO OVER THE FOUR THINGS THAT WERE CHANGED? ONE, WE HAVE ALREADY KIND OF DISCUSSED WHICH WAS THE 25 YEAR, DOESN'T RESTART EVERY JOB, EVERY TIME WE ENGAGE IN A PROJECT. WHAT ARE THE OTHER CHANGES, PLEASE? GO OVER THAT, THAT BENEFIT THE DISTRICT.
>>Christopher Farkas: THERE'S ACTUALLY FIVE OF THEM. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT IT ELIMINATES THE ABILITY TO GENERATE TO ASSIGN THE FULL CONTRACT TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHICH IS A BIG ONE. HAHN HAHN SO RIGHT NOW IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS TONIGHT THEY CAN TURN AROUND AND SELL THIS TO ANYBODY THAT THEY WANT. SO THAT'S HUGE. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE WON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH LIKE WE DID WITH THE FIRST CONTRACT, AN RFP, TO EFFECT THE VENDOR.
>>Christopher Farkas: THE SECOND ONE IS JUST AS PROBLEMATIC FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. REMOVE THE PERPETUAL RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR ANY WORK PERFORMED, THAT INVOLVES ENERGY MANAGEMENT, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE THAT AND DO THE WORK THEMSELVES.
>>Stacy Hahn: SO RIGHT NOW IF WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT JOB, WE CANNOT PROCURE IT ON THE STREET. THAT HURTS OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE THE FIRST RIGHT TO DO IT. NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE. THAT'S A REALLY BIG CONCERN. GO AHEAD.
>> THIRD ONE IS THE ONE YOU DISCUSSED. IT REMOVES THE PERPETUAL EXTENSION AGREEMENT HAHN HAHN WHICH MEANS -- LET ME JUST COMMENT AGAIN -- THAT EVERY TIME WE ENGAGE IN A JOB, IT ADDED 25 MORE YEARS. SO RESTARTED THE ENTIRE CONTRACT. SO MEANING IT WOULD OUTLIVE EVERY ONE OF US, OUTLIVE US! SO AGAIN, THROUGH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT, THAT IS NOW REMOVED.
>>Christopher Farkas: RIGHT. IT GRANTS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THE APPROVAL RIGHTS TO SELECT SUBCONTRACTORS. RIGHT NOW THEY CAN PICK WHOEVER THEY WANT TO DO TO DO THE WORK. WE HAVE TO APPROVE IT AND WEE DIVERSITY, MINORITY BUSINESSES, ALL OF THAT.
>>Stacy Hahn: WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKING SURE KEEP BUSINESSES LOCAL, HAVE MINORITY BUSINESSES INVOLVED. SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE APPROVING TONIGHT. WE ARE NOT APPROVING THIS CONTRACT. GO AHEAD.
>>Christopher Farkas: I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU BUT IT GOES TO WHAT MS. GRAY SAID. THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS IN LINE WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA SOLAR PROJECTS. THE REASON WE COULDN'T IS BECAUSE THIS ALIGNS WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA GUIDELINES SO NOW WE CAN ACTUALLY APPLY UP THERE TECO AND GET SOLAR PROJECTS OFF THE GROUND FROM OUR OUR ATTORNEYS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS SAID.
>>Addison Davis: AND THROUGH THE CHAIR, AND I'M SORRY, DR. HAHN, TO INTERJECT. I'M NOT CERTAIN I CAN BRING THESE SAME POSITIVE ELEMENTS BACK IN ONE MONTH FROM NOW. SO IF WE ARE GOING TO ROLL THE DICE, YOU CAN. I DON'T RECOMMEND WE DO THIS. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO CHAMPION. HONESTLY, THIS IS A SITUATION WE ARE IN. MY JOB IS TO MAKE IT BETTER. I GET A CHANCE TO GET QUICK WINS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THE WINS WHEN WE CAN GET THEM HAHN HAHN SO WE CAN BRING THIS BACK, THIS MAY BE OFF THE TABLE, AND THEY MAY SAY, NOW WHAT? YOU ARE NOT BRINGING IT BACK. WE ARE GOING TO STICK WITH THE OLD CONTRACT. AND QUEER STUCK WITH ALL OF THOSE FIVE THINGS THAT MR. FARKAS JUST WENT OVER, WE ARE STUCK WITH IT, RENEWING EVERY 25 JEERS, NO SOLAR, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THAT'S MY CONCERN. AND LOOK, I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH ON THIS CONTRACT HOW MANY TIMES NOW?
>>Lynn Gray: FINAL THOUGHTS. AND -- HAHN HAHN AGAIN I APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A 25 YEAR CONTRACT. I THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME AND ALLOWING MR. FARKAS AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT TO EXPAND ON THE COMMENTS. BUT I GUESS MY FEAR IS ROLLING THE DICE, AND THESE FOUR THINGS TAKEN OFF THE TABLE AND NOW WE HAVE A 25 YEAR CONTRACT WITH FIVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO STRANGLE US FINANCIALLY. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER HAHN, YOU MADE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, AND AS A FORMER AP TEACHER, GREAT POSITION STATEMENT, AND PROOF. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY BUT I HAVE TO HOLD BACK ALL THE TIME. MEMBER SNIVELY? EXCUSE ME, MEMBER VAUGHN. AFTER HAHN IS VAUGHN. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I ASK ASKED THIS QUESTION PREVIOUSLY BUT LET ME MAKE IT MORE CLEAR. IF WE PASS THIS RIGHT NOW, WE MADE THESE CHANGES. NEXT MONTH WE CAN COME BACK WITH ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT BASED ON FEEDBACK THAT WE ARE SEEING, AND WE CAN STILL PRESENT THOSE ADDITIONAL CHANGES AND ASK THEM TO RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT EVEN THOUGH WE PASS THESE TO MAKE IT FRIENDLIER TOWARDS US RIGHT NOW?
>>Christopher Farkas: YES, MA'AM. AGAIN BOTH PARTIES HAVE THAN TO BE AGREE. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE CAN HAVE MORE CHANGES NEXT MONTH.
>>Jessica Vaughn: AND THEN I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I DO SEE HERE WHERE YOU HAVE CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT TO 12 DAYS TO THE 30 DAYS. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES FROM WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED THAT WE CAN HIGHLIGHT AND TALK ABOUT?
>>Christopher Farkas: THERE'S ONE OTHER THING I CHANGE I WANT TO MENTION. THE 30 DAYS IS IN ABOUT 404th DIFFERENT PLACES BUT IS CONSISTENT. THEY HAVE AN EBO A THIRD PARTY TO VERIFY THE SAVINGS. IN THE ORIGINAL CARAT IT SAYS THEY HIRE THAT PERSON. NOW IT'S A MUTUALLY AGREED HIRE. SO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT THIRD PARTY AS WELL. BUT THAT'S A CHANGE, IT SAYS MUTUALLY AGREED UPON.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MAD ANNAL CHAIR. COMPELLING ARGUMENT, DR. HAHN, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING CANDID BECAUSE WHEN I ASKED ABOUT REPERCUSSIONS THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I AM ASKING ABOUT, RIGHT? IF WE WAIT ANOTHER MONTH, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, OR WHAT COULD HAPPEN? AND IT'S A MATTER OF PUTTING US IN A BETTER SITUATION, AND IF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS RECOMMENDING IT, AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS GONE OVER WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AND MR. FARKAS WHO LIVES IT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS TELLING US THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CONTRACT MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEN YOU ARE RIGHT, IF WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, WE CAN COME BACK AND HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE NUTS AND BOLTS AND GET THE DATA, WE CAN PUT IT ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA, WE CAN GET QUARTERLY UPDATES WHEREVER MR. FARKAS, AND WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE SUSPENDED AGENDA FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE CONTRACT WORKS. I THINK THAT'S REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT THE BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO TRUST THE ADMINISTRATION, AND OUR LEGAL COUNCIL WHO ARE MAKING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, FANNED WE HAVE TO RENEGOTIATE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TON RENEGOTIATE. I DON'T WANT TO BE PUT AT A DISADVANTAGED SITUATION, IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH IT TODAY. AND YOU ARE NODDING YOUR HEAD SO THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE INDICATION RIGHT THERE. SO WITH THAT, AT SOME POINT, I DON'T -- I HAVEN'T SEEN A SUSPENDED AGENDA IN A WHILE FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD, BUT WHEN THE TIME IS APPROPRIATE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PUT THIS CONTRACT ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA FOR MAYBE A QUARTERLY UPDATE ON THE DATA THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUESTING. WITH THAT, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT.
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER SNIVELY, IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD MINIMIZED, WE DID HAVE IT ON THE SUSPENDED AGENDA. THE SAVINGS THAT WE HAD, THE ENERGY SAVINGS, SO I WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT THAT MOTION AS WELL SHOULD YOU MAKE IT.
>>Melissa Snively: AND ALSO WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, WAS THAT THE MOST UPDATED VERSION OF THE CONTRACT? I AM GETTING A HEAD SHAKING BY MR. GIBSON. IT WHATS NOT THE MOST UPDATED VERSION OF THE CONTRACT. SO I DON'T WANT THAT TO CONFUSE, BOARD MEMBERS.
>> A COMMENT ABOUT THE 12 DAYS, THE 30 DAYS CHANGING, BEING ABLE TO VETO. IT'S NOW IN THIS CURRENT VERSION THAT IS WAS NOT IN THAT ONE.
>>Melissa Snively: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO REPEAT THAT FOR THE RECORD SINCE OWE EVERYONE MICROPHONE JUST CAME ON.
>> THE ELEMENTS THAT MR. FARKAS JUST COMMENTED ON TO A POSITIVE DAY TURN AROUND, THAT'S IN THE CONTRACT SEVERAL PLACES AND THE CHANGE THAT WE HAVE A VETO OVER THE PROFESSIONAL WHO COMES IN AND REVIEWS THE ENERGY SAVINGS EVERYBODY ADDED SINCE THE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THE VERSION THAT WAS HANDED TO YOU GUYS EARLIER TODAY.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON FOR THAT EDIFICATION. WE HAVE MEMBER WASHINGTON FOLLOWED BY MEMBER COMBS.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT LENS. IF WE PASS THE FIVE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TONIGHT, I DON'T SEE IN ANOTHER 30 DAYS COMING BACK TO CHANGE SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE ON THE CONTRACT -- AND THIS IS A LONG DRAWN OUT CONTRACT. AND I TRUST THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF AND HIS PEOPLE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. SO I WOULD GO ALONG WITH THAT. I WOULD NOT GO BACK AND TRY TO DO 30 DAYS FROM NOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE. I MEAN, IT MAKES SENSE TO JUST DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER WASHINGTON, AGREED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENT. MEMBER COMBS. COMES.
>>Nadia Combs: IS THERE A CLAUSE THAT SAYS WE CAN REVISIT OR READJUST IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT, I DID NOT SEE THAT THAT WE COULD REVISIT IT IN A MONTH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, ANY CONTRACT WE CAN GO, WE CAN RENEGOTIATE AT ANY POINT IN TIME, IF WE FIND ELEMENTS THAT ARE NOT WORKING FOR BOTH PARTIES, GENERATE CAPITAL, CAN BRING IT TO US AND IF WE AGREE WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS JUST LIKE WHEN WE SEE AREAS THAT MAY BE GRAY FOR US AND WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OR BEING ABLE TO ADD OR REMOVE, IN THEIR AGREEMENT, WE CAN MAKE THAT AND MAKE ANY TYPE OF ADJUSTMENTS OR ANY AMENDMENT AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
>>Nadia Combs: IT DOES NOT RESTART THE CLOCK FOR 25 YEARS?
>>Addison Davis: NO, MA'AM THAT CONTRACT STOPS ALL OF THAT AND DOESN'T ALLOW US TO HAVE THAT 25 YEAR ONCE THE PROJECT IS INITIATED BY WHICH IS BENEFICIAL FOR THIS DISTRICT.
>>Nadia Combs: THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU MEMBER COMBS, AND THANK YOU FORR BORD BOBBED MEMBERS. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A CONSENSUS BUT WE NEED TO VOTE. PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND MEMBER VAUGHN IS ON HER WAY. OKAY, IT IS UNANIMOUS. WE ARE APPROVING GENERAL RATE. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE THE 11.303 APPROVE THE SPRING 2021 EDUCATION PLAN. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THIS IS 11.03 THE APPROVE THE SPRING 20231 EDUCATIONAL PLAN. AS NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS REQUIRED TO US BRING TO THE BOARD THE FIRST SEMESTER PLAN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO APPROVE IN THE SAME TOKEN AS WITH THE SECOND EMERGENCY ORDER AS WELL. SO IT'S BEEN KIND OF AN EXPEDITED TOMB LINE. WE RECENTLY HAVE GOT THE TEMPLATE IN EARLY DECEMBER, IN THE PLAN, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN WORKING STAFF HARD, MR. CONNOR AND HIS TEAM TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE INVEST EVERY ELEMENT ALONG WITH ASSURANCES AND I APPRECIATE THE BOARD PRESENTING THIS FOR FEEDBACK AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO REFINURE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN IT TO SERVE CHILDREN. YOU HIGHLIGHTED THIS IN MY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. SO I WANT TO YIELD TO MR. CONNOR IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR WE CAN MOVE THE DISCUSSION. MR. CONNOR?
>>Steve Cona: I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>Lynn Gray: I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE C-11303. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER SNIVELY AND A SECOND BY MEMBER VAUGHN. AND IS THERE DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME? MEMBER VAUGHN? EXCUSE ME, MEMBER SNIVELY? AND THEN MEMBER VAUGHN. OKAY, MEMBER VAUGHN?
>>Jessica Vaughn: SO I ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHT ABOUT THIS. I MIGHT HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. BUT FIRST OF ALL, I KIND OF WANTED TO CLARIFY. WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE ABILITY -- AND I KNOW I KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS BEFORE, BUT I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. WE DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECIDE IF WE WANTED TO GO STRICTLY TO eLearning REGARDLESS OF WHAT OUR NUMBERS IN OUR COUNTIES ARE.
>> YES.
>>Jessica Vaughn: BASED ON THE STATE MANDATE TO PAPER FOR eLearning STUDENTS PER PUPIL, WE HAVE TO OFFER A FIVE-DAY BRICK AND MORTAR OPTION AT EVERY SCHOOL OR WE WOULD BE IN VIOLATION, POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE STATE AND THEY COULD WITHHOLD THAT PER PUPIL FUNDING WHICH AGAIN GOES INTO OUR GENERAL BUDGET THAT WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A FINANCIAL CRISIS. SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTONOMY WITHOUT TAKING A HUGE FINANCIAL PENALTY, RIGHT?
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, YOU ARE CORRECT. AT ONE POINT TIME IT WAS CLOSE TO 200 MILLION THAT WE WOULD SUFFER FINANCIALLY BUT YOU ARE CORRECT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTONOMY FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. AND WHAT I WANT TO ADDITIONALLY ADD IS THAT HOW THIS DIFFERS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND I APPRECIATE MR. CONNOR SPENDING HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH ME ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, IS I WANT PARENTS TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A NEW COMPONENT OF THIS IS IF eLearning STUDENTS, BY WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED AND WE HAVE A TIERED WEIGHTED STRUCTURE, IF eLearning STUDENTS AREN'T MAKING GAINS, THEY ARE NOT PROGRESSING IN eLearning, PER THIS NEW TEMPLATE AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THEY ARE ASKED TO GO BACK TO BRICK AND MORTAR, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY PARENTS HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR STUDENT IN eLearning, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION THROUGH WRITING, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY SAY THAT DESPITE THE LOSSES, ACADEMICALLY, THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS IN THE eLearning ENVIRONMENT.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR, THESE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THE NEW EMERGENCY ORDER REQUIRES THAT WE IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING, AND THAT WE HAVE TO REACH OUT AND TALK ABOUT THEIR LEARNING MODALITY, ASK THOSE INDIVIDUAL IN REMOTE LEARNING TO BRING THEM IMPACT TO BRICK AND MORTAR, AT THAT POINT THE PARENT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WILL ACCEPT THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THEIR CHILD IS UNDERPERFORMING AND THEY HAVE A CHOICE TO BRING THAT CHILD BACK TO COORDINATE REQUEST THE SCHOOL IN BRICK AND MORTAR OR REMAIN IN REMOTE LONGER, JUST SIGN THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM TO CONSENT TO REMAINING IN THAT MODALITY.
>>Jessica Vaughn: AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO BACK IN THE QUEUE IS HAVE MR. CONNOR EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE USING TO MONITOR THAT PROGRESS AND KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT CHART SO PARENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT DATA WE ARE USING TO GAUGE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE STUDENTS ARE MAKING PROGRESS OR NOT, AND WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO GO BACK IN BRICK AND MORTAR.
>> CONNOR: WE CREATED AN INDEX FOR THAN THE eLearning SUCCESS INDEX, AND IN THAT INDEX WE ARE LOOKING AT AN FEW THINGS, BUT VERY WEIGHTEDLY WE ARE LOOKING AT OBVIOUSLY GRADES, WE WANT TO SEE THAT STUDENTS ARE HAVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND STAYING ON TRACK WITH THEIR GRADES. WE ARE LOOKING AT A DENY DANCE, MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING AND ENGAGED ON A DAILY BASIS. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT BASE LANE DATA, BECAUSE THAT GIVES US A STARTING POINT, IF A STUDENT STARTS WAY BEHIND THEIR PEERS ON THE BASELINE DATA, THAT IS AN INDICATION OF HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY MAY BE AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THE YEAR. SO IN THAT, WITH THOSE ELEMENTS, WE ARE LOOKING AT FOUR TIERS, SO WE HAVE BROKEN IT DOWN TO FOUR TIERS TO SAY THAT A STUDENT IN TIER ONE IS PERFORMING SUCCESSFULLY, IN TIER TWO, SUCCESSFUL ENOUGH TO CONTINUE IN eLearning BUT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE STUDENTS, AND IN TIERS THREE AND FOUR, STUDENTS ARE REALLY SHOWING THAT THEY ARE NOT PROGRESSING AS THEY SHOULD IN eLearning ENVIRONMENT. SO THOSE STUDENTS WE WOULD LOOK AT AS REQUESTING BACK TO SCHOOL AND WE WOULD SEND ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM TO SAY WE REALLY NEED YOU TO COME BACK, WE NEED TO SET UP SOME CONFERENCE WAS THE SCHOOL, AND THEN AGAIN, LIKE TO MS. VAUGHN'S POINT, THEY COULD ACKNOWLEDGE WHETHER THEY WOULD BE RETURNING BACK OR ACKNOWLEDGING THE ENACT THEY ARE NOT PROGRESSING, BUT THIS IS THE BEST OPTION FOR THEM TO REMAIN IN eLearning. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE INDEX IS CREATED.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. MR. CONNOR, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT OR TWO. LOOKING AT PAGE 3, ASSURANCE FOR CONTINUED CHARTER SCHOOL FLEXIBILITY, WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE, THE DISTRICT AGREED TO BE CONTINUE TO EXTEND THE SAME FLEXIBILITY AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND FUNDING TO EVERY CHARTER SCHOOL. NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING, AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN, IS THIS FUNDING BEING TAKEN OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND?
>>Addison Davis: SO THE ONLY WAY WE GET IMPACTED FINANCIAL REPLY IS FINANCE WE DON'T HAVE A LEARNER THAT WE CAN COUNT IN THE NEXT SURVEY, IN FEBRUARY, SO OVERALL IT DOESN'T IMPACT AT ALL. NEW, WHAT WE DO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SAI FUNDING IF WE WANT TO OFFER ANY TYPE OF LEARNING SOLUTION OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE OFFER DURING THE DAY, WHETHER IT'S BEFORE OR AFTER OR DURING THE SUMMER THAT WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT GENERAL FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO AND THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW. BUT OVERALL THIS DOESN'T DISCOUNT ANYTHING FROM A FUNDING PER RESPECTIVE.
>> CONNOR: BECAUSE THE DISTRICT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING THE PLANS FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOL AT THE DISTRICT, OUR PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE STATE. BUT CHARTER SCHOOLS MUST SUBMIT THEIR PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT. AND WHAT THE ASSURANCE IS SAYING IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO WITHHOLD THEIR FUNDING BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE WHAT'S IN THEIR PLAN. AS LONG AS WE ARE MEETING THE ASSURANCES AND THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A PLAN, THAT PASSES, THEN WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE GIVE THEM ALL THE FUNDING THAT'S DUE THEM.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. ON PAGE 4, IT SAYS, AND THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE TO THE OFFER A FIVE-DAY-PER-WEEK ON-SITE OPTION TO STUDENTS. DO WE HAVE THE HOST ALSO, POSSIBILITY TO OFFER THIS DURING HOST?
>> SCHOOLS DO HAVE THE OPTION TO OFFER HOST. THAT WILL BE A SCHOOL BASED DECISION. BUT FOR SPECIFICS, THIS PLAN BASED ON THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A FIVE-DAY TRADITIONAL OPTION FOR STUDENTS JUST LIKE WE DID IN SEMESTER ONE.
>>Lynn Gray: BUT THE HOST COULD EXTEND EVEN MORE REMEDIATION? JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. AND LAST, PAGE NINE, TIER 3 INSTRUCTION, FOR GRADES K-5, iReady, iReady IS THE TOOL FOR MULTI-TIERED BUT WE ARE REMINDED THAT iReady, WE USE IT SIMPLY FOR DIAGNOSTIC, RIGHT? WE ALL AGREED THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE AS A TEACHING MODALITY, BUT DIAGNOSTIC IS -- 123479 THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT'S NOT ONLY A DIAGNOSTIC. IT'S AWAY TO DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTION FOR A CHILD, GIVES THEM AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLATFORM, AND IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM IS IT TRYING TO REPLACE A QUALITY EDUCATOR. BUT WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY WHERE THAT LEARNER IS AND THEN THE TEACHERS WILL HAVE A TOOL IN THE TOOLKIT THAT WILL ALREADY DIFFERENTIATE THE DIFFERENTIAL PROGRESS AT A PARTICULAR TIME TO FURTHER HELP CHILDREN DURING CONFERENCING OR REMEDIATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKILL OR STANDARD.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. I WILL GO BACK IN THE LINE. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I APOLOGIZE AGAIN. BACK IN THE QUEUE. SO ONE THING THAT I FEEL LIKE IS THERE'S A TON OF ANXIETY AROUND OUR PLAN, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON OUR OWN COUNTY NEEDS, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WE HAVE HERE. SO SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTONOMY TO DECIDE, TO CLOSE SCHOOLS WITHOUT POSSIBLY TAKING A HUGE FINANCIAL PENALTY, WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A COUNTY TO BUILD IN SAFETY PROCEDURES THAT WE DO HAVE AUTONOMY, THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND SAY, WE CAN'T CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS BUT WE ARE PRIORITIZING SAFETY AND NOT JUST OUR STUDENTS BUT ALSO OUR STAFF, AND HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THOSE PROMISES OF SAFETY THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SAY, WE DO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY, AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THIS VIRUS IS SERIOUS, AND HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING, THAT WE HAVE AUTONOMY TO BUILD IN SAFETY INTO THE PLAN THAT WE ARE MAKING?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. THE BIGGEST THING, AND I SAID THIS IN THE SUMMER, IN EDUCATIONAL SETTING IT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTY WE HAVE IS TO BE ABLE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE. IT IS VERY HARD TO DO IN EDUCATION. WE ARE JUST NOT BUILT TO DO IT TO ITS PURITY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE STUDENTS THAT GOING TO BE COMING BACK. AND ONE THING I GIVE HATS OFF TO OUR TEACHERS, THEY WORKED DILIGENT LIP TO MODIFY THEIR STRUCTURES AND THEIR CLASSROOMS, TO REMOVE ANY PARTICULAR EQUIPMENT OR RESOURCES THAT THEY DON'T NEED THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE LEARNING, TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THAT SAVE SAFE SPACE. I WALK THROUGH 'EM MANY CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY TO BE ABLE TO BE SEE STUDENTS INTERACTING IN A SAFE PLACE. WE ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER AND ENHANCE OUR SANITATION STATIONS IN OUR CLASSROOMS, WHETHER THAT BE WIPES, MASKS, WHETHER IT BE SANITATION, WHETHER THAT BE ADDITIONAL GLOVES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHEN WE WALK OUR SCHOOLS DURING THE CLASSROOM TRANSITIONS THAT THERE IS CONTINUED SIGNAGE ABOUT ONE WAY DIRECTIONAL HALLWAYS OR BYE DIRECTIONAL HALLWAYS THAT ARE CARVED OUT FOR SAFETY. WE SEE A NUMBER OF OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB SEPARATING THEIR CLASSROOM, THEY MOVE FROM ONE CLASS TO THE NEXT, ARE THEY GOING TO SPECIAL CLASSROOMS? WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE COMMON AREAS, YOU WILL SEE SANITATION STATIONS AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER PROVIDE. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE DONE A REALLY NICE JOB OF MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COAST. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH TGH AND USF, WE HAD WEEKLY PHONE CALLS WITH THEM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO TALK ABOUT PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS, WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTY, AND THAT WHEN WE SEE NUMBERS THAT MAY POTENTIALLY SPIKE IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS OR CERTAIN SCHOOLS, WE ARE ASKING TGH AND USF HEALTH TO WALK THROUGH THE SCHOOLS WITH US TO DETERMINE WHAT THE OVERALL CAUSATION MAY BE. IS IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT ENFORCING AT OTHER SCHOOLS? DO WE HAVE TO CHANGE AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO OUR PRACTICE? OR IS IT A COMMUNITY ISSUE THAT'S BEING BROUGHT INTO OUR SCHOOLS? SO BEING ABLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE FOLLOW ALL THE REGULATIONS THAT IDENTIFY ESPECIALLY WHEN GETTING ORPHAN SCHOOL BUSES WE ARE GIVING THEM PORTABLE DISPOSABLE MASKS AND TO EVERY STUDENT, EVERY LEARNER THAT COMES ON, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO CERTAIN THAT MASKS ARE PRIORITY FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER THROUGHOUT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. EXCELLENT QUESTIONS. MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Melissa Snively: YOU MAKE SOME REALLY GREAT POINTS I.DON'T NOTICE WHAT PART OF THAT IS IN YOUR MARKETING CAMPAIGN STRATEGY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY HEARD WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HEAR WHAT YOU JUST SAID PROBABLY AREN'T WATCHING OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. SO I'M SORRY TO A SAY THAT BUT IT'S TRUE. IT'S TRUE, RIGHT? AND SO, YES, THE FEEDBACK I AM GETTING FROM FACULTY IS THAT THEY HAVE GOT WIPES, HAND SANITIZERS, EVERYTHING THEY NEED. WEPT WENT INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, PEOPLE WERE VERY CRITICAL OF US SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, AND THE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, AND GUESS WHAT, WE GAVE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED AND THEN SOME. AND THEN SOME. AND SO NOW WHAT I AM HEARING IS WE HAVE GOT PLENTY OF WHAT WE NEED. NOW, LIKE TO MS. VAUGHN'S POINT, WEEKI WACHEE TO COMMUNICATE THAT OUT. WE HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THOSE, THOSE SAFETY ASSURANCES ARE IN PLACE BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, IN THIS PLAN, IS THAT TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS IT'S GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE SIGNING A FORM THAT SAYS, THE ASSOCIATED RISKS WITH CONTINUING WITH THE CURRENT MODEL OF INSTRUCTION WILL VERY LIKELY CULP RETENTION, COURSE FAILURE OR THE INABILITY TO GRADUATE. SO YOU MAY HAVE A PARENT THAT GETS TO APRIL, AND WE HAVE TO TELL THEM, JOHNNY DOESN'T GET TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S A TOUGH CONVERSATION TO HAVE. RIGHT? AND SO WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MANAGE THE EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS? BECAUSE I GET IT. BUT YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS SAFE, MY CHILDREN HAVE ALL BEEN IN BRICK AND MORTAR, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN QUARANTINED YET, BUT THEY ARE ALL IN BRICK AND MORTAR. I FEEL VERY SAFE AS A PARENT SENDING MY CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO CONVINCE THE OTHER PARENTS THAT THIS IS THE BEST ROUTE FOR THEM, AND WHAT CONSIDERATIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERIOUS COMORBIDITIES OR LIVING WITH REFUSAL TIFFS WITH SERIOUS COMORBIDITY ISSUES?
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO COACH PARENTS WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE AND WE DO A NICE JOB WITH OUR TEACHERS GIVING PROGRESS MONITORING, UPDATES WITH PROGRESS REPORTS, GOING OUT ON EVERY FOUR AND A HALF WEEKS, BUT FROM THIS PARTICULAR POINT, WHEN WE SEE THAT KIDS ARE UNDERPERFORMING, WE HAVE GOT TO SOUND THE ALARM. AND TO BE VERY FRANK, THE WHOLE CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS AND TRUE CONVERSATIONS OF WHERE THEIR LEARNERS ARE AND WHAT THE PROJECTED CONSEQUENCES COULD BE BASED ON THEIR DECISIONS. WE WANT TO SUPPORT EVERY PARENT ALONG THE WAY, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO BE REALISTIC WITH THEM ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE, AND I GET IT. MANY FAMILIES ARE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION TO FURTHER PROTECT THEMSELVES IN THEIR LOVED ONES AND THE ONES THEY CARE FOR, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM FROM REMOTE LEARNING PERSPECTIVE AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH THEM ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE CAN ATTACH TO WHEN WE BRING THEM BACK IN PERSON. ON THE OTHER SIDE, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TRAINING AND HELPING TEACHERS BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE REMOTE LEARNING SIDE, HOW CAN WE GIVE THEM RESOURCES, HOW CAN WE HELP THEM BE A TABLE COACH, HOW CAN WE LISTEN AND LEARN FOR THOSE WHO ARE HAVING SUCCESS, AND I THINK THAT MAY STRENGTHEN AND LUM NIGHT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT POTENTIALLY MEETING THE STANDARD RELATED TO GRADE LEVEL EQUIVALENCYS.
>>Melissa Snively: I WILL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE AS WELL BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEXT IS THE LIABILITY, RIGHT? AND WHO IS GOING TO POINT FINGERS AT WHO? RIGHT? THANKS.
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER SNIVELY IS GOING TO PUT HERSELF IN THE CUE BECAUSE UPON COMPLETION OF HER STATEMENT WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM. SO WHAT I THINK MEMBER SNIVELY IS SAYING, WE WANT ARTICULATION THAT WILL COME FROM YOU ABOUT ADDRESSING THESE PROBABLY HEATED COMMENTS, AND WE WILL SURELY GET THEM. I KNOW THAT ALREADY. HAVING THEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THREE QUESTIONS. ONE, FULL COMMUNICATION. THIS IS ON PAGE 6. FIRST LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AND I KNOW VERONICA KNOWS THIS BUT WE HAVE GOT TO EXPAND HISPANIC LANGUAGE, THAT LANGUAGE HAS TO BE -- EVERYTHING HAS TO BE IN HISPANIC -- I MEAN, IN SPANISH AS WELL AS ENGLISH AS WE GO ALONG. AND I HOPE THAT TALLAHASSEE RECOGNIZES THAT. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPERATIVE. AND IF YOU WANT TO REMARK ON THAT, FEEL FREE. BUT ON PAGE 16, ON THE READING, WHAT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS ARE USING ACHIEVE3000? EVENTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO NEED THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE COMPREHENSION, GENERAL LITERACY, THE ACHIEVEMENT, GENERAL LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT, READING FLUENCY AND ALPHA BEETED I CANS. AND THE DATA IS WHAT I THINK MOVING FORWARD THAT WE WILL NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TO BUY INTO HOPEFULLY THE ACHIEVE 3000. SO THAT'S WHAT I AM GOING TO HOPEFULLY WE WILL RECEIVE THAT. OKAY, THAT IS AN AFFIRMATION. OKAY. AND THEN ON PAGE 19, JUST A HEADS UP ON THE EVENING INGENUITY. THIS SUPPORTS THE FIRST BULLET, 1-C, INNOVATIVE LEARNING MODEL AND READING MATH AND ATTENDANCE. THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING IS ON INGENUITY IS NOT BEEN SOME OF THE TEACHERS, I WON'T MENTION OBVIOUSLY WHO, BUT I HAVE BEEN GETTING FEEDBACK THAT THIS IS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE. IT MAY THAT THEY ARE JUST STARTING IT. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. THIS IS A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE TOOL, AND IT REALLY -- DOES A NICE JOB ALIGNING AND DOVE TAILING WITH FLORIDA STANDARD. IT UNPACKS CENTRAL ROLES, UNPACKS ESSENTIAL LEARNING FOR EVERY ONE OF THE LEARNERS. IT ALSO GOES GOES AND PROVIDES YOU THE YOU TORIALS TO WATCH TO BE ABLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SKILLS THAT THEY ARE BEING EXPOSED TO. IS IT VERY COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT? IT'S REALLY HARD. IT'S HARD FOR A STUDENT TO BE ABLE TO GO ON INJUN GENERAL UTE, FORECAST THROUGH THE ENTIRE COURSE WHICH COULD TAKE THE ENTIRE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO PROVE COMPETENCE, AND IT'S VERY RIGOROUS. IT IS NOT BY ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM EASY. I THINK COMPASS USED TON THE CAREGIVER THAT WAS USED HISTORICALLY IN THE DISTRICT. AND THE COMPLEXITIES ARE DEFINITELY AT A DIFFERENT RANGE. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO IS CONTINUE TO HELP TEACHERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO LEVERAGE THIS TOOL. IT IS NOT A SIT AND GET TOOL AS DESIGNED. ONE THING WE CAN DO ALWAYS IS BE ABLE TO USE LESSONS LEARNED, USE WHAT IT'S OPTIONAL UNIT ASSESSMENTS, BASED ON ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE WHAT STANDARDS A CHILD ALREADY HAS MASTERED, AND THEN GOING INTO INGENUITY BY EACH COURSE SELECTIVELY REMOVING THOSE STANDARDS WHICH A KID HAS PROVED COMPETENCE TON AND ASSIGNING STANDARDS THEY NEED REINFORCEMENT TO OR BE INTRODUCED TO SO WE DON'T WASTE TIME ON ANYTHING THEY HAVE ALREADY MASTERED.
>> CONNOR. THE INGENUITY IS USED IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION. IT REALLY IS DESIGNED FOR THE VIRTUAL STUDENT, VIRTUAL SCHOOL STUDENT. AND SO TEACHERS CAN HAVE A HARD TIME BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CURRICULUM IS DEVELOPED, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY STUDENTS ARE SELF-PAID, THEY CAN DO THE ENTIRE COURSE THROUGH INGENUITY, TEACHERS FINDING HOW TO MAKE IT COME A LYFT, HOW DO YOU OWN THAT CURRICULUM IN THE CLASSROOM WITH STUDENTS THROUGH eLearning, WHETHER IT'S VIRTUAL CLASSROOM OR WHATEVER. THAT'S THE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO COMPREHENSIVE. AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE USED WITHIN UNGENERAL UTE, THE READINGS, THE TEXT SELECTION, ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE ONES THAT WE USE IN OUR ADOPTED CURRICULUM SO HOW MANY DO YOU MARRY THE TWO, IT'S BECOME A CHALLENGE FOR TEACHERS. SO I DO MANAGE THAT TEACHERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT, SO THEY ARE HAVING TO GIVE UP SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT I AM USED TO USING IN THE CLASSROOM, AND GO SOLELY WITH INGENUITY. IT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S OVER HERE, AND I MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S OVER HERE SO MUCH. SO WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH TEACHERS AND CONTINUE, HOW ARE -- HOW THEY CHOOSE TO USE IT IN THE CLASSROOM WILL REALLY DICTATE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. CONNOR. AND IT'S SO VERY HELPFUL THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU THE FEEDBACK INFORMATION. I KNOW CAMPUS IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM, OR NOT PROBLEM, BUT CHALLENGE FOR MANY OF OUR TEACHERS. THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH HAHN AND THEN VAUGHN AND THEN COMBS AND THEN SNIVELY. WE WILL CONCLUDE AND GO TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU. MEMBER HAHN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. I JUST WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE CONVERSATION REGARDING OVERSIGHT OF SCHOOLS IN RESPONSE TO COVID. AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND MEMBER VAUGHN'S CONCERNS AROUND OVERSIGHT. PLAINLY, THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY THE COUNTY DO NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER WHETHER WE OPEN OR CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS. THAT IS AND SHOULD REMAIN A DECISION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT WE MAKE ALONG WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF. THIS BOARD AND THIS DISTRICT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. NOT ANOTHER ELECTED BODY, AND NOT THE STATE. AND ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS HAS MADE, IS TO PARTNER WITH TGH AND USF. THEY ARE PROVIDING THE EXPERTISE THAT IS HELPING US PUT PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFE. DO WE HAVE OUTBREAKS? YES. BUT WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED, NOT JUST THROUGH OUR DISTRICT, BUT READING THE NATIONAL DATA AND RESEARCH, SCHOOLS ARE NOT THE SUPER SPREADERS THAT PEOPLE MADE THEM AND THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE. ME BEING ONE OF THEM. THEY ARE NOT. IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR COUNTY IS HELPING US KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE BY PUSHING OUT PSAs AND COMMUNICATION AROUND BEHAVIORS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO COVID RISING, BUT IT IS NOT OUR SCHOOLS THAT SEEM TO BE THE CONTRIBUTORS OF THAT. WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY SUPERINTENDENT, TO QUARANTINE, CLOSE SCHOOLS IF WE NEED TO. CERTAINLY AN ALL OR NOTHING APPROACH IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS. SOME SCHOOLS ARE NOT HAVING ISSUES WITH COVID NUMBERS RISING AND OUTBREAKS. SOME SCHOOLS ARE. AND WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS A BOARD WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD STAY. THIS IS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BOARD OVERSIGHT, NOT A STATE, AND CERTAINLY NOT COUNTY OVERSIGHT. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: WE MIGHT ACTUALLY NOT NEED TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS? BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE DON'T. THAT'S ONE QUESTION. I AM GOING TO ASK MR. SESSIONS SO YOUR ANSWER DOESN'T USE UP MY TIME AND I DON'T GET TO ASK THE NEXT ONE. ONE, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT. TWO, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IN CONJUNCTION MAKING OUR SCHOOLS SAFER, IT'S NOT JUST IN THE IDEA FOR STUDENTS, AND IT'S NOT IN MY QUESTIONING IN A WAY TO HOW DO WE ATTRACT STUDENTS BACK IF THEIR PARENTS DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SENDING THEM. MY STUDENTS IS IN eLearning AND I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE IN THAT DECISION. MY QUESTION IS OVERALL SCHOOL SAFETY. AGAIN WE ARE ASKING TEACHERS BASED ON PARENTAL CHOICE, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH DECISION MAKING TO COME BACK, SO HOW ARE WE GUARANTEEING MAKING SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS BUT FOR OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR SCHOOL STAFF THAT WE ARE ASKING TO COME ON THE FRONT LINES? AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF PEOPLE FEEL THEY SEE THINGS IN OUR SCHOOL ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT, IF MASKS AREN'T BEING WORN, IF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING AREN'T BEING ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED, WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE FOR THAT? CAN THEY REPORT THAT ANONYMOUSLY SO WE HAVE THAT FEEDBACK SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMEONE GETTING AN E-MAIL THAT WE HAVE TO THEN TAN AND GO ON? IS THERE A PROCEDURE FOR THAT? AND THEN THE LAST TWO QUESTIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDBACK I GET FROM MY CONSTITUENTS ON MAKING THINGS SAFER, NUMBER ONE, WE EVALUATING DOING TEMPERATURE CHECKS ESPECIALLY IN THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, HIGH SCHOOLS ARE MANAGEABLE. I TALKED TO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IN OTHER COUNTIES WESTBOUND SCHOOLS SIMILAR IN SIZE THAT ARE MAKING IT WORK. AND TWO, I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RAPID TESTING ON CAMPUS, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO WHY YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE. SO I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE TRANSPARENT AND FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SO THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT. THANK YOU.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. SO FIRST OF ALL, IF WE SEE A SCHOOL THAT NEEDS TO BE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH NUMBER OF QURAN TEENS, WE CAN TRANSITION THAT SCHOOL TO eLearning. WE DO HAVE AVAILABILITY AND THE POWER TO DO THAT. WE JUST -- THIEF TO RAISE A NUMBER OF CRITERION THAT THEY HAVE TO HIT. ANY SCHOOL THAT GOES OVER LET'S SAY 10 TO 12%, THAT SENDS UP RED FLAGS, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE QUARANTINED. ANYBODY THAT HITS THE THRESHOLD OF 15% OR ABOVE, WE REALLY START LOOKING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PARTICULAR ISSUES, AND WE HAVE TO GET OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN THERE WITH TGH AND USF HEALTH. WHAT'S GOING ON AND DETERMINED DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN A CLASSROOM OR WING OF THE SCHOLARR PARTICULAR SCHOOL AND BE ABLE TO STOP THE SPREAD SO WE CAN IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR ISSUE. OVERALL, SAFETY FROM ADULTS, THE BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH TGH AND USF HEALTHING THAT ALLOWED US TO GROW LEGS AND CREATE RAPID ASSESSMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT MEANS IF THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF SYMPTOMS, THEY DON'T FEEL WELL, THEN THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITHIN 24 HOURS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IF THEY NEED THAT ASSESSMENT, THEY CAN GO TO A FAST TRACK LOCATION, THE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED WITHIN OUR COUNTY TWO, OTHER COUNTIES, BASED ON WHERE THEY LIVE, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT RAPID ASSESSMENT TO FURTHER HELP THEM. OVERALL, WE ARE ALWAYS CONTINUING TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY PPE AND ARE PROTECTED, AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE PRIORITY OF THE HARDSHIP OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND PROTECT THOSE WHERE AND WHEN WE CAN WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AS IT RELATES TO THE REPORTS, WHAT WAS THE THIRD ONE? OH, REPORTING, OKAY. SO TANYA, PLEASE HELP ME OUT. THERE'S AN E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT THE CONSTITUENTS SEND THAT COMES DIRECTLY TO ME OTHER THAN BEING SENT TON MY E-MAIL ADDRESS AS WELL. THERE'S I THINK IT'S ON LINE AND I WILL GET IT BUT IF YOU CAN GO TO ADDISON.DAVIS, AND IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL ISSUE THAT YOU FEEL THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT FOLLOWING ANY TYPE OF PROGRESSIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME. I WILL RESPOND TO EVERY E-MAIL AND WE WILL LOOK INTO IT. BECAUSE WE NEED CONSISTENCY WHEN WE HAVE APP POSITIVE CASE, DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT, TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE OUR CONSTITUENTS ON WHAT THEY DO, AND WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL.
>>Jim Porter: AND I HAVE A CLARIFICATION BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT THE BOARD MADE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THE BOARD UNDERSTAND IT IS STATE DIRECTED US TO DEVELOP A PLAN FIVE DAYS A WEEK SO WE MUST HAVE THAT OPTION. I THINK THE QUESTION OF WHETHER WE CAN CLOSE SCHOOLS THAT GOES DOWN TO LOCAL CONTROL AND IF WE HAVE AN OUTBREAK THAT IS AN OUTRAGEOUS TYPE OF SITUATION, WE HAVE TO CONTROL TO DEAL WITH THAT IN A WAY THAT WE THINK, AND THIS COULD INCLUDE MAKING THAT SCHOOL eLearning. SO I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A MUSS UNDERSTANDING. THERE IS A STATE MANDATE AND THAT IS HERE IS A PLAN AND YOUR PLAN HAS TO INCLUDE BRICK AND MORTAR OR WE LOSE RISK LOSING A SERIOUS AMOUNT OF FUNDING. AND ONCE THAT GOES INTO EFFECT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THAT PLAN AND THAT INCLUDES STRATEGIES THAT DEAL WITH THE OUTBREAK. I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET ON THE RECORD BASED ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR ALSO, FOR THOSE, THE RAPID ASSESSMENTS ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO CARRY OUR HUMANA INSURANCE AS WELL AND TEMPERATURE CHECKS. WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS AND WE HAVE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THAT LOOKS AT THE SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY LEVEL WILL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. WE TRIAL TO LOOK AT A MORE MANAGEMENT WAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE SAFEGUARDS FOR ANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS. WE ARE TAKING THEIR TEMPERATURES TO BE ABLE TO I HAD THE IF I, IF THEY ARE ABLE TO COME IN AND INTERACT WITH OUR CHILDREN. BUT WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE FOR STUDENTS? AND OVERALL FROM WE TALK ABOUT SECONDARY, WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT POINTS OF ENTRY FOR 2800 TO 4,000 KIDS, VERY COMPLEX TO DO, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE ELEMENTARY TO LOOK AT AS WELL. IT JUST COMES DOWN TO BEING AUTOMOBILE TO HAVE THE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS TO BE OUT IN FRONT, TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO GAIN ACCESS INTO OUR SCHOOL TO TAKE THEIR TEMPERATURES, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH SOME TYPE OF BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE FOR LACK OF SAYING A TEMPERATURE, WAND, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE THAT TSA MIND-SET WHERE THE LINE IS FOREVER, LOSE INSTRUCTIONAL TOMB TO GET OUR CHILDREN IN. HENCE THE REASON WE ARE TRYING TO EDUCATE OUR PARENTS TO BE TAN PROACTIVE STEPS BEFORE THEY COME TO SCHOOL, TAKE YOUR CHILD'S TEMPERATURE, IDENTIFY AND HAVE CONVERSATION IFS THEY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS, KEEP THEM HOME IF THEY DO, WE WILL HELP THEM THROUGH THAT PROGRESS. BUT WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO FIGURE OUT, AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT, ANDISM JUST AFRAID WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME OR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO DO IT OUT FRONT. IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT. WE THINK IT'S AN AWESOME SOLUTION BUT WE NEED PARENTS' HELP ON THIS PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN OUR DOORS S.THERE ANY OTHER ONE?
>>Lynn Gray: BOY THAT WAS PRETTY RAPID FIRE.
>>Addison Davis: AND TANYA, DID WE HAVE -- OKAY. OKAY, OKAY. I GET A FUNNY E-MAIL ALL THE TIME AND I DON'T KNOW. OH, IT'S TO CONTACT US. GO AHEAD. SORRY, MR. BUCKLEY.
>> IT'S ON THE CONTACT. IT'S CONTACT AT THE TO RIGHT OF THE WEB PAGE. YOU FILL THAT OUT AND IT ACTUALLY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, OR THE CHIEF BENNETT.
>>Addison Davis: I GET THOSE ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU FOR THE PARENTS TO SENDING ME STUFF. I LOOK INTO INTO EVERYTHING AND I RESPOND TO EVERY ONE OF THEM AS WELL.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU MEMBER VAUGHN AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. EXCUSE ME, MEMBER COMBS AND THEN MEMBER SNIVELY.
>>Nadia Combs: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT. I REALLY THINK WITHOUT IT BEING MORE WORK ON THE TEACHERS, I THINK WE NEED TO BE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH THESE QUARANTINED STUDENTS, FROM A PARENT WHOSE BOTH CHILDREN ARE QUARANTINED RIGHT NOW, SEPARATE DAYS AT THE SCHOOL, AND MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN QUARANTINED SEVERAL TIMES. SO I BELIEVE FOR HER AND MY FAMILY BRICK AND MORTAR IS THE BEST CHOICE BUT I REALLY THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THAT AND COME UP WITH REAL WORLD SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK. AND IT'S NOT MORE WORK FOR THE TEACHERS. I REALLY CANNOT EMPHASIZE MORE THAT WE JUST CAN'T PLACE MORE ON OUR TEACHERS THAN WE ALREADY HAVE. I THINK IT NEEDS TO COME FROM SUPERVISORS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO -- WE REALLY NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT, AND I DON'T THINK INGENUITY IS THE ANSWER. I THINK WE NEED TO THINK OF MAYBE USING TBAE OR MAYBE USING YOUTUBE OR SOMETHING ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT -- AND GRADES 3 AND UNDER WITH READING. PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING eLearning, I THINK WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, FOR A PARENT WHOSE CHILD HAS BEEN QUARANTINED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I FEEL MY CHILD IS MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND DO I WANT MY CHILD TO BE IN SCHOOL? YES. BUT I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO REALLY IMPORTANTLY LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN REACH STUDENTS SO THAT WAY THEY DON'T HAVE HUGE GAPS. BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO CREATED A HUGE INEQUITY WITH STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS. WE ARE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THE QUARANTINE SITUATION. I APPRECIATE THOSE REMARKS. AND I THINK SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS HAS DEFINITELY WILL ADDRESS THAT SITUATION, THAT LEARNING OR LACK OF LEARNING SITUATION. MEMBER SNIVELY AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>>Melissa Snively: THANK YOU. WE STILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.
>>Lynn Gray: YES, WE DO.
>>Melissa Snively: SO QUICK ON CDC, QUARANTINE UPDATE. NEW GUIDELINES.
>>Addison Davis: YES, MA'AM. SO THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, WHILE CDC CAME OUT WITH GUIDELINES, WE HAVE BEEN OPENLY WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN HILLSBOROUGH, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND THEY RECENT LIP SENT OUT GUIDELINES TO WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO OR OVERALL EDUCATIONALLY. SO MS. BROWN, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT STEPS WE ARE GOING TO TAKE? WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS WEEK LAUNCHING THE NEW PROPERTY-COLUMNS, HOWEVER, BEING ABLE TO TRANSITION THROUGH THIS, THE END OF THIS WEEK, AND WE GO FOR WINTER BREAK, IT REALLY ERASES ALL OF THE QUARANTINE WHERE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO START OVER. SO IT JUST GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO START FRESH IN JANUARY. WE WILL BE SENDING OUT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THIS WEEK TO OUR PARENTS RELATED TO THE MUGU LINES RELATED TO QUARANTINE OF TEN DAYS AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEND THAT INFORMATION OUT OVER BREAK AND UPON RETURN, SO WE START TO ELIMINATE THE 14 DAYS DOWN TO TEN DAYS. MS. BROWN, DID YOU WANT TO ADD MORE? THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT'S A GRATE GRADUATE QUESTION. BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF -- BEING IMPLEMENTED, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CHASE SO MANY STUDENTS BEING QUARANTINED TO BE ABLE, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO THAT TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO COME BACK AND JUST A CLEAN BREAK IN DECEMBER, AND THEN WHEN WE START IN JANUARY WE WILL BE ABLE TO START TEN DAYS.
>>Melissa Snively: 14 TO SO DAYS. HOW MANY STUDENTS -- TO 10 DAYS. AND YOU CAN GET BACK TO US. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE CONTRACTED COVID FROM THE STUDENTS HONOR WERE TESTED POSITIVE, AND THOSE STUDENTS WERE QUARANTINED. WHAT I AM GETTING AT IS, I HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN QUARANTINED BECAUSE OF A STUDENT WHO TESTED POSITIVE, THOSE STUDENTS TESTING POSITIVE. THE QUARANTINES, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO ASK THIS. HOW MANY QUARANTINED STUDENTS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID FROM THE STUDENT THAT WAS TESTED POSITIVE COVID? DO YOU KNOW THAT?
>> MS. BROWN: WE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND I CAN TELL YOU IT IS MINIMAL TRANSMISSION WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS FROM STUDENT TO STUDENT. IT IS RARE THAT THAT HAPPENS. MOST OFTEN, IT IS WHERE IT HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL BASED ON SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND KIDS GATHERING, AND HAVING SOCIAL EVENTS. WE DO HAVE A FEW CASES, BUT AGAIN, THEY ARE MINIMAL WHERE THEY ARE BEING TRANSMITTED WITHIN THE SCHOOLS FROM STUDENT TO STUDENT OR STUDENT TO STAFF OR STAFF TO STUDENT.
>>Melissa Snively: JUST TO REAP ITERATE DR. HAHN'S POINT EARLIER THAT WE ARE NOT THE SUPER SPREADERS AND IF WE CAN GET NIP OF THAT DATA THAT COULD HELPFUL FOR OUR CASE AND ASSURING PARENTS THAT WE ARE A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN. OKAY. I HAD OTHER THINGS BUT I WILL GET WITH YOU SEPARATELY ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE GOT EXCELLENT QUESTIONS. AT THIS POINT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THIS WILL BE REGARDING THE SPRING 2021 EDUCATIONAL PLAN. VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON. IT IS UNANIMOUS. AND OFF WE GO. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS, WILL BRING TO OUR ATTENTION THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM. SUPERINTENDENTS DAVIS, PLEASE HIGHLIGHT.
>>Addison Davis: THROUGH THE CHAIR. FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS, OUR STAFF AND KD, KRISTIN DAVIS TO PROVIDE AN A RARE OF ACTIVITY TO PURPOSE ON OUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TAKEN ALL THE BIG TICKET ITEMS FROM THE BOARD'S DIRECTION TODAY AND MADE THEM ON THE FRONT PAGE. AND THEN PROVIDED FOR EACH OF YOU TO REVIEW AND TO APPROVE THIS EVENING. MS. DAVIS, ANYTHING ELSE?
>>Kristin Davis: I THINK THAT COVERS IT. AS YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET, THERE'S THREE ONE-PAGERS, A LOCAL PRIORITY, A STATE PRIORITIES, AND A FEDERAL PRIORITIES, AND THOSE ARE FOR THE DISCUSSION AND REQUESTS FROM THE WORKSHOP. THOSE ARE THE IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES, AND TO A ONE-PAGE FORMAT. THEN YOU WILL SEE STAPLED IN THE PACKET AS WELL THE ITEMS THAT WERE REVIEWED BEFORE ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT WERE REVIEWED THIS MORNING AT THE WORKSHOP.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MS. DAVIS. AND I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ITEMS C 1105. I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER HAHN AND I HAVE A SECOND -- EXCUSE ME NAVAL AND A SECOND BY MEMBER WASHINGTON. AND ANY DISCUSSION? AND WE HAVE DISCUSSION STARTING WITH MEMBER HAHN BECAUSE I THINK SHE FIRST SAID IT. AND THEN MEMBER VAUGHN. BEGIN.
>>Stacy Hahn: THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY. THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THIS SEEMS REALLY RUSHED TO ME. THIS MORNING, WE HAD A WORKSHOP ON THIS, OUT OF RESPECT FOR OUR NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED THIS MORNING. THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION. IT WAS VERY OVERWHELMING. AND AT THIS POINT NOW, WE HAVE AND THANK YOU, MS. DAVIS, FOR GETTING THIS SO QUICKLY, THE ONE PAGERS. HOWEVER I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE TIME AND THOUGHTFUL REFLECTION ON THE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, AS WELL AS LOOK OVER EVERYTHING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS AGENDA ITEM. AND PERHAPS IN JANUARY, WE COULD COME BACK AND YOUR TEAM WILL HAVE -- YOU WILL HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE OR FOUR PRIORITIES, AND WE WILL HAVE ONE-PAGERS FOR EACH OF THOSE PRIORITIES, AND WE CAN HAVE BOTH OF OUR LONE TEAMS HERE, WHICH I'M SURE OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVEN'T MET YET, AND THEY COULD PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT AROUND THE PRIORITIES, AS WELL AS THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH, BECAUSE SINCE COVID, THAT PROCESS, I AM SURE, HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED FROM EVEN WHAT I AM USED TO. AND SO, AGAIN, IT JUST FEELS VERY RUSHED. AND THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE ARE DOING THIS YEAR. THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A BIG POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT AS WELL AS POLICY IMPACT. SO AGAIN MY MOTION IS TO TABLE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU.
>>Jim Porter: YOU WOULD NEED A SECOND. YOU ALSO NEED TO HEAR FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OR STAFF ABOUT ANY IMPLICATIONS ABOUT A CONTINUE AG ANSWER. SO IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO EXPLAIN WHAT A MONTH'S DELAY TO DO TO THE PROGRAM.
>> SO WE KNOW OF COURSE INTERIM COMMITTEE WEEKS DO START JANUARY 11th. THE SESSION STARTS MARCH 2nd. AS WE KNOW AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, THAT IT'S EMBER DIFFERENT TO GET SPONSORS, THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, THE HOUSE WILL BE DOING SO THIS WEEK. SO I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, DR. HAHN.
>> [ OFF MICROPHONE ] I'M SO SORRY. PROBLEM. THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND HISTORICALLY WE SEEM TO BE ALWAYS RUSHED AROUND THIS. AND IN ALL HONESTY, THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER. AND WE SHOULD HAVE HAD LEGISLATORS LINED UP TO SUPPORT OUR PRIORITIES OVER THE SUMMER. MY GUESS IS, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, MEMBER SNIVELY, BUT PROBABLY ALREADY IDENTIFIED THEIR PRIORITIES FOR SESSION. THE SESSION IS IN JANUARY. SO IN JANUARY. COMMITTEE WEEK, SORRY. CAN COMMITTEE WEEK STARTS IN JANUARY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE CUTTING IT CLOSE. BUT WE CUT IT CLOGS THIS MORNING WITH THIS CONVERSATION. SO I THINK SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT, A FEW MORE WEEKS, YOU CAN TIGHTEN UP YOUR PRIORITIES OFF OF THAT LIST, AND NOT FEEL MAYBE SO RUSHED, AND THEY MAY CHANGE FROM WHAT YOU IDENTIFIED THIS MORNING HAVING MORE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF, AND A LOBBY TEAM TO SEE WHISTLE RATS REALISTIC FOR US TO BE GOING AFTER AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR LOBBY TEAMS TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION.
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER HAHN, AND I KNOW MEN SNIVELY IS GOING TO MENTION A FEW THINGS. JUST TO VALIDATE MS. DAVIS WHY IT IS CRITICAL, IF IT IS, THAT WE PASS THIS TODAY, OPPORTUNITY, AND WHY WE CANNOT WAIT ANOTHER BOARD MEETING, WHICH IS MID JANUARY.
>>Kristin Davis: AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY, STAFF AND CABINET, ON THE PRIORITIES. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR LOBBYING FIRMS. AND MAYBE FOLKS INCLUDING OUR LOBBYING FIRM AS WELL AS LEGISLATIVE STAFF DID RECOMMEND TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ALONE, WE DO HAVE FIVE NEW MEMBERS. SO BEFORE -- THERE WAS NO COMMITTAL. WE HAD A LOT TO HO DID GET RECOMMITTED WHO DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD NECESSARILY BE REELECTED SO THEY WEREN'T COMMITTING TO ANYTHING JUST YET BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING. WE HAVE SOME SMALL DISTRICT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SO WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THAT BUT DEFINITELY THE PIECE UNTIL THE ELECTION WAS HEAVILY ENCOURAGED BUT OUR LOBBYING FIRM.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU. MS. DAVIS. AND MEMBER SNIVELY WILL ALSO HELP US OUT: THANK YOU, AND THAT IS THE MAIN REASON, I THINK, THAT YOU GOT AN ENTIRE -- ALMOST AN ENTIRE NEW BOARD. YOU GOT NEW BOARD MEMBERS HERE. DIRECTION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE DISTRICT, AND SO I THINK A LOT OF IT IS WAS WAITING THROUGH THE ELECTION TO SEE WHO WE ARE GOING TO BE OUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, AND OUR COMMISSIONERS AND OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS, JUST TO WAIT AND SEE WHO THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE. WHERE THE URGENCY COMES IN, THE SENATE HAS ALREADY DETERMINED COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE HOUSE IS PROBABLY GOING TOASTED THIS WEEK WHO IS GOING TO BE ON EACH COMMITTEE. AND SO AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE SOME LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS, AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM, ONCE THEY GET ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC COMMITTEE, THAT'S WHEN IT'S TIME TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, BECAUSE USUALLY THAT YOU ARE BILLS ARE GOING TO BE RELATED TO THE COMMITTEES ON WHICH THEY SERVE. SO WANT TO FIND OUT WHO IS ON APPROPRIATIONS, A PARTICULAR SUBCOMMITTEE, EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, K-12, APPROPRIATIONS, ALL OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO. WE CAN WAIT. IF WE DO, WE WAIT, BECAUSE COMMITTEE WEEK STARTS IN JANUARY. BUT THEN WE ARE KIND OF BEHIND THAN THE 8 BALL. WE ARE ALREADY A LITTLE BEHIND THE 8 BALL. BUT THEN WE ARE GOING REALLY GOING TO BE BEHIND THE 8 BALL IN JANUARY. AND I THINK TO STRESS ON THIS, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DID BETWEEN THIS WORKSHOP THIS MORNING AND RIGHT NOW, ON GETTING THIS TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO US, IS I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, DR. HAHN, BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WEAVER COLLABORATING WITH OUR LOBBYISTS, AND WE PROBABLY COULD DO MORE OF THAT, MAYBE HAVE SOME OTHER TYPE OF I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE A WORKSHOP OR A SESSION WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS, WITH OUR LOBBYISTS, OR INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, SO EACH ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS CAN GET TO KNOW BOTH FIRMS. BUT THIS IS A GOOD START. I THINK IT'S A GOOD START. WE AGREED ON SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES THIS MORNING. THERE WERE SOME GENERAL CONSENSUS. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING DRASTICALLY CHANGE EVEN IF WE WAITED UNTIL JANUARY. WE MAY TWEAK IT. BUT IT'S GOING TO GET TWEAKED PROBABLY 27 MORE TIMES BEFORE MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THE START OF SESSION. SO I THINK THIS IS JUST A NICE ROAD M.A.P. TO START WITH, SO WE CAN AT LEAST START HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO BE PRIORITIES FIRST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY ARGUMENT FOR TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE TONIGHT. I KNOW IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT RUSHED BECAUSE WE JUST HAD THE WORKSHOP THIS MORNING AND NOW WE HAVE GOT THIS IN FRONT OF US BUT I THOUGHT WE HAD A REALLY GOOD WORKSHOP AND HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES. AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR US. IT WILL CHANGE. IT WILL CHANGE. BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD. FROM NOW.
>>Lynn Gray: POINT WELL SAID. AND ALSO, MEMBER HAHN, DEFINITE WILL YOU, I FELT THE SAME. BUT I WILL DEFER TO MEMBER SNIVELY ON THAT ONE. BUT LET'S HEAR FROM MEMBER VAUGHN, AND THEN AFTER MEMBER VAUGHN WILL BE MEMBER HAHN. DOING IT ON PURPOSE.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, FOR BRINGING THAT TO LIGHT BECAUSE I WILL SAY I FELT SOME MISCOMMUNICATION FROM THE WORKSHOP ABOUT ORIGINALLY WHAT WE WERE GOING IN THERE TO DO. AND IF I UNDERSTOOD WE WERE KIND OF NARROWING IT DOWN MORE I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED TO HAVE A FULLER DISCUSSION AND PARTICIPANT IN THAT. SO I APPRECIATE IN GENERAL HOW YOU HAVE BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL TO THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT IN OUR TRANSITION. AND I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE ALSO SAYING. I AM TORN BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE WORKSHOP TO REALLY CONTRIBUTE IN THE WAY THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO. I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF IT SO I DON'T FEEL THIS IS NECESSARILY REFLECTIVE OF FULL DISCUSSION OF MY PRIORITIES. BUT I ALSO HEAR THAT WE ARE ON A TIMELINE. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IT WAS EXPLAINED AS A LIVING DOCUMENT AND I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE CAN ALSO GO BACK AND FORTH AND REPRIORITIZE. I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IF WE PASS THIS FORD AND DON'T TABLE DIABETES WE SET UP ANOTHER THING WHERE WE ARE KIND OF REEVALUATING, REHAVING THAT DISCUSSION, AND THEN IDENTIFYING WHETHER WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD? SO WE KIND OF MARRY THE TWO BETWEEN MAKING SURE THAT'S ON OUR LIST AND WE ARE REVISITING IT BUT NOT NECESSARILY HOLDING THINGS UP AS WELL DUE TO A TIMELINE?
>>Kristin Davis: ABSOLUTELY. TO YOUR POINT, IN COMMITTEE WEEKS AND THE DIALOGUE, IS GOING IN ONE DIRECTION THAT COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT FUNDING, FUNDING CUTS, OR SOMETHING THAT WE JUST REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO, WE CAN REGROUP. WE SHOULD REGROUP. AND WE SHOULD RELOOK AT THINGS. MAYBE TAKE A FEW THINGS OFF, MAYBE ADD A FEW OTHER THINGS, ABSOLUTELY. AND OUR LOBBYING TEAMS ARE READY TO JOIN US, AND TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. VERY GOOD POINTS.
>>Addison Davis: AND I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY, MS. VAUGHN AND DR. HAHN, AND I MAY HAVE SKIPPED SOMEBODY. BUT THE FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PLATFORMS, AND ALL THAT STUFF HAS HAPPENED IN MID NOVEMBER. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALIGNING THE STARS AND MAKING SURE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING, IT'S A GOOD PARTED FOR US TO LOOK AT. DON'T DISAGREE EARLIER THAT WE CAN LOOK AT PLATFORMS, INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIME WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW. BUT LISTEN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, AND PROBABLE FEEDBACK AND APPRECIATIVE THIS MORNING. I'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE WE BRING IT EARLIER IN THE FUTURE.
>>Lynn Gray: AND THESE ARE NOT PERFECT TIMES. AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ROOM FOR THAT. LAST COMMENT WILL BE FROM MEMBER HAHN AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO VOTE AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO GO TO OUR BOARD COMMENTS. SO MEMBER HAHN, FINISH US OFF. THANK YOU.
>>Stacy Hahn: SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. I THINK THE PROCESS IS WHAT I ASSUME DISAPPOINTED IN. YES, WE GOT FSDA'S PLATFORM LAST WEEK BUT I BET THEY HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS BEFORE THEY SENT THAT PLATFORM OUT LAST WEEK. AND WE HAVE HAD ONE THIS MORNING, WHAT, THREE, FOUR HOURS BEFORE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO VOTE. YOU COULD HAVE HAD A SPECIAL WORKSHOP FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHEN -- THE WEEK AFTER THEY GOT ELECTED, TO ONBOARD THEM ABOUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PRIORITIES, GET THEIR INPUT, YOU COULD HAVE CALLED A SPECIAL CALLED WORKSHOP FOR THIS BOARD, AND NOT WAITED UNTIL THE DAY WE ARE VOTING ON IT SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE AMPLE TIME TO DIGEST ALL OF THE INFORMATION, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND NOW WE ARE SITTING HERE HAVING TO DIGEST IT VERY QUICKLY WITH THREE BRAND NEW BOARD MEMBERS, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT, AND IT'S FLUID, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT ALLOW THIS BOARD TO RECEIVE INFORMATION, SYMPATHIZE IT, DISCUSS IT, MAKE CHANGES, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THE ONE PAGERS BUT ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS COPY AND PASTE THE BULLET POINTS THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED. SO, YOU KNOW. SO THIS PROCESS WAS MESSY THIS MORNING. AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER. YOUR STAFF NEEDS TO DO BETTER. SO THANK YOU.
>>Jim Porter: SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS A MOTION TO TABLE. SO THAT'S THE MOTION YOU HAVE TO DISPOSE OF. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS AND HAVE IT BROUGHT BACK IN JANUARY, YOU SHOULD VOTE YES. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TONIGHT TO APPROVE THIS, YOU SHOULD VOTE NO AND THEN YOU WILL GET TO THE MAIN MOTION.
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER HAHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WITHDRAW? OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON IT. AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE AT THIS TIME.
>>Jim Porter: I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING. IF YOU VOTE YES, THAT MEANS THIS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK IN JANUARY AND YOU WON'T VOTE ON IT TONIGHT. IF YOU VOTE NO, THEN YOU HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN ON WHETHER TO APPROVE IT OR NOT. THIS IS ONLY ABOUT WHEN TO CONTINUE THIS UNTIL JANUARY. THAT'S THE VOTE RIGHT NOW. SO THE MOTION FAILED 4 TO 3 WITH GRAY, SNIVELY, VAUGHN AND PEREZ VOTING THE NO. THAT MEANS NOW YOUR MAIN MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM.
>>Lynn Gray: OKAY. SORRY. LET'S PLEASE VOTE QUESTION YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. TO ADAPT THE PLATFORM AS IT IS AT THIS TIME. OKAY, WE HAVE ONE DISSENTING VOTE FROM MEMBER HAHN. THE REST OF US ARE FINE. AND VERY WELL EXPECTED, DR. HAHN, AND I THINK MEMBER DAVIS, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF CATCHING UP ONLY, FRUSTRATION AMONG SOME OF US, AND THAT'S THE PROCESS WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT NEEDS TO HAVE A LITTLE IMPROVED. BUT I KNOW YOU ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. BUT THOSE REMARKS STAND. HERE WE GO. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. WE ARE AT THREE MINUTES AND PRESS -- AND ACTUALLY, MEMBER HAHN, AND I DISCUSSED THIS. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MEMBER HAHN, MEMBER PEREZ, BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE TO GO LAST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT'S DONE. SO YOU ALL PRESS YOUR BUTTONS. IT'S GOING TO KILL ME BUT I WILL GET OVER IT.
>>Stacy Hahn: [ OFF MICROPHONE ]
>>Lynn Gray: YES, YOU CAN. SO LET'S START WITH MEMBER HAHN. GO AHEAD.
>>Stacy Hahn: [ OFF MICROPHONE ] THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY FAILED BEFORE THAT EVERYTHING SO PABLO IS GOING TO SHOW A VERY QUICK VIDEO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT.
>> BECAUSE OF COVID, WE ARE DOING A DRIVE-THROUGH. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BOOKS IN THEIR HOME, KNOW WHEN -- WHEN CHILDREN EVERY DAY, THERE'S A BETTER OUTCOME IN SCHOOL. SEWING EVERY CHILD THAT COMES TODAY TO A LIBRARY. NOT BECAUSE OF THE BOOKS BUT THEY ALSO KEEP TO HAVE SO MANY PARTNERS. WE HAVE THE CHILDREN'S BOOKS TODAY. AND PROVIDED BOOKS. PROVIDING COUPONS TO MCDONALD. AND IT'S BEEN A GRADUATE TURNOUT. AND IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW WITH COVID, WITH EACH OTHER. (MUSIC PLAYS)
>> WE HAD MIGRANT FAMILIES. IT WAS WONDERFUL FIRST HAND THAT WE ARE MAKING. IT WAS SO EXCITING TO GET THE BOOKS, TO GET THE OTHER ITEMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE PROVIDING. SOME OF THEM CONTINUED THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS CHRISTMAS AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED, AND THEY OPENED THEIR BAGS, AND THIS IS REALLY MY PASSION AND I AM JUST SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERS TON BRING THIS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO FAMILIES.
>>Stacy Hahn: THAT WAS AN AMAZING DAY AND IT WHATS A SUCCESS BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND AMAZING PEOPLE ON OUR STAFF. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK FOLKS AND I WILL WRAP IT UP. I WANT TO THANK THE WONDERFUL TEAM OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE DISTRICT WHO MAUDE THIS POSSIBLE. THEY WORKED WITH ME. WE SHARED PASSION FOR LITERACY. MARY LOU WHALEY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE WATCHING OR LISTENING BUT I DO THANK YOU AND MISS YOU. SHE'S BEEN AMAZING FROM THE FIRST FAIR TO THIS FAIR. JULIE COLE, DAVE COLE FROM MY-ON, LAURA CROSS WHO CAME THAT DAY, SHE CAME ON A SATURDAY, SHE TOOK PICTURES, DID THE VIDEO. DANIELA, DANNY COOK, MICHELLE ROGERS, TRACY BODEMAN, MY SECRETARY LINDA WHO HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, CHAD, DJ CHAD, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT IT, CHAD, IN THE BACK, HI, CHAD. HE WAS THE DJ THAT DAY, DID IT ALL FOR FREE. HAD ALL THE EQUIPMENT THERE. IT WAS FUN. IT WAS GREAT. VICKY GUMBAR WHO WAS ONE OF OUR SECRETARIES WHO CAME OUT AND VOLUNTEERED THAT DAY. SHE WAS WONDERFUL. VIRGINIA VASQUEZ. WE HAD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VOLUNTEERING GETTING THEIR SERVICE HOURS. WAS REALLY A COMMUNITY EFFORT. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTNERED IN THE OCTOBER VIRTUAL BOOK, MANY OF OUR STAFF EXTREMELY GENEROUS IN WHAT THEY DONATED DURING THAT BOOK DRIVE-THROUGH. MEMBER PEREZ, EXTREMELY GENEROUS IN THE CHECK THAT SHE GAVE TO MAKE -- TO PURCHASE BOOKS FOR THIS EVENT. THANK YOU. THAT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU. REAL QUICK, CASPERS McDONALD'S, THEY CREATED SUPPOSE BOOK MARKS JUST FOR THIS EVENT, WITH COUPONS THAT KIDS COULD PULL OFF AND GO TO McDONALD'S. THEY PROVIDED SNACK HE AT THE EVENT. THE CHILDREN'S BOARD BOOKS, FEEDING TAMPA BAY, DID A POP-UP THE SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, GAVE OUT THANKSGIVING BOXES TO FAMILIARLESS. A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THESE EVENTS AND LITERACY. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH. THANK YOU TO THEM. SENIORS IN SERVICE GAVE OUT BACKPACKS. SENIOR SERVICE, THE LIGHTNING. OH, MY GOSH, THEY GAVE OUT BURKES FLAGS AND BOOKS AND THE THUNDER BUG WAS THERE. TOOTH BRUSHES. UNITED WAY GOV OUT BOOKS. YMCA. MY-ON GAVE OUT BOOKS. BOARDS AND GIRLS CLUB. HEAD STARTED. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION. TAMPA HOUSING UNITED WAY AND THE YMCA, ALL MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. THEY ALL DONATED BOOKS. THEIR TIME, THEY RESOURCES, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN COMING IN FEBRUARY. THE JANUARY MEETING FOR FEBRUARY FOR THE NEXT FAIR, AND I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED. LOOK, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING BOOKS IN KIDS' HANDS. THAT IS MY MASS. THAT IS MY GOAL. BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE CHILD DESERVE IT IS RIGHT TO SAY THEY OWN A BOOK AND TO HAVE A BOOK. AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY RENT AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD BOOKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. SO THIS IS A WAY TO BUILD A LOVE FOR READING THAT WILL CARRY THEM THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. IT WILL MAKE THEM STRONGER STUDENTS AND WILL MAKE THEM MORE SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE ADULTS IF THEY CAN READ, PERIOD. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO AND CUTS ACROSS EVERYTHING IN OUR SOCIETY. SO THANK YOU, MEMBER GRAY, FOR THE EXTRA TIME. AND THAN --
>>Lynn Gray: MEMBER HAHN, YOU HAVE DONE SUCH BREAK THROUGH WORK IN LITERACY, AND I CANNOT -- WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH, AND YOU HAVE MADE MORE THAN A DENT IN THE READING ABILITIES MUCH OUR CHILDREN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: I WAS --
>>Lynn Gray: OH, MEMBER PEREZ. SORRY.
>>Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO AS WE MOVE INTO HOLIDAY SEASON, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS AND REMAIN -- FOCUS REMAIN ON STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS, AND DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY LIFE STALE TO PREVENT THE ONSET OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. AND WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH AETNA AND CVS HEALTH, LOUIS BETTS AND KATHRYN OY GARRY, AETNA AND CVS WILL BE DONATING 20,000 TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS ALONG WITH FEEDING TAMPA BAY, IN ORDER TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO ABOUT 800 OF OUR STUDENTS. AND THEIR FAMILIES BEGINNING DECEMBER 18. AS WELL AS THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING A PRERECORDED QUELLNESS VIDEO SERIES ON WELLNESS AND YOGA. AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THIS, THESE VIDEOS, FIVE-MINUTES EACH, AND THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEW YEAR. AETNA ALSO PARTNERED WITH OUR MOVES YOGA TO DONATE SIX MONTHS OF FREE VIRTUAL YOGA SESSIONS, AND THIS ALSO WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEW YEAR. I AM GOING TO BE PRESENTING TOMORROW A TELECOMMUNITY CONVERSATION, WELLNESS DURING THE HOLIDAY, AND I INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME IN THIS CONVERSATION, AND THEN STARTING THURSDAY, THURSDAY, THE 15th -- ACTUALLY -- IT'S GOING TO BE THE 12 DAYS OF WELLNESS. AND WE WILL BE TALKING EVERY DAY ON THE DIFFERENT MENTAL HEALTH REFLECTION, LIKE REFLECTION, GRATITUDE, MINDFULNESS, COMPASSION, AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING EVERYONE ON DIRECTION ON HOW TO WORK WITH US, AND REFLECT ON THE 12 DAYS OF GRATITUDE AND WELLNESS. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE YOU JOIN ME, AETNA, CVS, AND ALSO OUR MENTAL HEALTH TEAM, TO WORK ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS DURING THE HOLIDAY. AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE.
>>Lynn Gray: AND MEMBER PEREZ, YOU ARE DOING AMAZING WORK. THANK YOU FOR THE HEARTFELT OUTREACH. WE ARE GOING TO GO NOW TO MEMBER VAUGHN.
>>Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU BOTH, MEMBER PEREZ AND HAHN FOR SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY GOODINGS THAT WE ARE DOING. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND MONTH SINCE WE HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD, AND BALANCING KIND OF LEARNING INTERNALLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND GETTING OUT TO OUR SCHOOLS. THERE IS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT THE MORE TRANSPARENT WE ARE IN THESE BOARD MEETINGS AND THE MORE COMMUNICATIVE AND THE MORE WE ARE COMMITTED TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, THE MORE THAT WE KIND OF DOES SPELL SOME OF THAT FRUSTRATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO SAY THAT WHILE I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US, WHEN IT COMES TO BOTH MITIGATING THE PANDEMIC AND BUDGETING RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER THINGS, I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF OUR NEW BOARD. I FEEL THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE SAME THING AND HAVING STRONG CONVERSATIONS, AND I DON'T DISCOUNT THAT WE WILL DISAGREE A LOT IN THE FUTURE AND THERE MAY BE SOME HEATED CONVERSATIONS, BUT I FEEL REALLY POSITIVE ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO REALLY DIG IN DEEP AND WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS AND THE ENTIRE STAFF WHO MET WITH US FOR HOURS ON END TO REALLY HELP US UNDERSTAND THINGS. I DO SEE AREAS WHERE WE CAN GET BETTER AND I APPRECIATE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. AND JUST IN CLOSING, I REALLY WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A SAFE HOLIDAY. WHILE I WANT TO CELEBRATE IWANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CLEAR THAT THERE IS STILL A PANDEMIC AND THAT WE ARE ALL BEING SAFE AND WASHING OUR HANDS AND WE ARE BEING SMART IN THE HOLIDAY CHOICES THAT WE MAKE, AS WELL AS REALLY THANKING ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR SCHOOLS WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD THROUGH THIS. WE HAVE TEACHERS TALKING ABOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, AND REALLY WISH EVERYONE AS BEST AS THEY CAN A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER VAUGHN. MEMBER WASHINGTON.
>>Henry "Shake" Washington: I WANT TO SAY I AM SO PLEASED WITH THIS BOARD. WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING SOME THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO, AND I FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A TEAM NOW, YOU KNOW. AND WE HAVE ONLY BEEN TOGETHER A FEW DAYS BUT WE ARE MENDING TOGETHER, AND I REALLY LOVE IT. I HAD SOME GREAT TIMES GOING ON, ON NOVEMBER 20 I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SEMINOLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH MS. LAZARUS AND DOCTORATE GAINES AND APP AN 80-FOOT MIRROR AND IT WAS REALLY NICE. YOU KNOW, I HAD A PRETTY GOOD TIME MYSELF BECAUSE I ENDED UP DANCING WITH THE STUDENTS. SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE HAD PEOPLE PARTICIPATE. WE HAD CHRISTIAN BROWN FROM THE SEMINOLE HEIGHTS TO COME OVER AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. GOING ON, THEN I HAD A CHANCE TO GONE TO MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEKEND, DECEMBER 12, WEEKEND PASS, AND ABOUT 280 GIVES TO THE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I HAD A FOUNDATION, TONY DUNGY FOUNDATION AND CHILDREN OF VISION. WE REALLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND WE GAVE OUT GIFTS IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE HAD A GREAT TIME, WE HAD A GREAT TIME. PABLO, ARE YOU READY? THAT'S TAMPA HEIGHTS. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. AND YOU SEE THE WOOD. THAT WOOD IS FROM THE OLD ROBERT E. LEE. THEY STAINED IT AND CHRIS FARKAS, YOU CAN JUMP IN IF YOU WANT TO BECAUSE YOU GAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE ALSO. IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL. WE REALLY HAD A GRADUATE TIME. WE HAD THE NEWS THERE. THE NETWORKS. WE -- LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL, TAMPA HEIGHTS. YES, IT IS, ONE OF THE TOP NOTCH. I KNOW THAT COMMUNITY IS REALLY PROUD OF THAT SCHOOL. LOOK AT IT. YES. AND THAT WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND THE PRINCIPAL WAS SPEAKING. MRS. WENDY HARRISON. SHE DID A GREAT JOB. DID A GREAT JOB, GETTING SOME STORIES ABOUT WHEN IT WAS ROBERT E. LEE. FOR 42 YEARS. I HAVE SOME STORIES TO TELL. BUT IT REALLY WAS NICE. IT REALLY CALM OUT NICE. AND LOOK AT THE FLOOR. BEAUTIFUL. AND ON JANUARY THE 4th, WE ARE GOING TO -- THEY ARE GOING TO OPEN IT UP ON JANUARY 4th, AND I HAVE SOME INFORMATION HERE, A WELCOME BACK FOR STAFF AND GUESTS. AND I WANT EVERYONE TO COME OUT. IT SHOULD BE REALLY NICE, AND WE WANT TO WELCOME BACK THE STAFF AND STUDENTS TO BE A NEWLY BUILT SCHOOL FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF CEREMONY. AND IN CLOSING, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE THREE Ws. WEAR YOUR MANAGEMENT WATCH YOUR DISTANCE. WASH YOUR HANDS. ENJOY. HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY. THANK YOU.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU MEMBER WASHINGTON. I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE AN CLAP-IN ON MONDAY MORNING THAT WE ARE GOING TO INVITE THE BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. AND I THINK THAT WE WILL ALL BE THRILLED IF WE CAN ALL BE PART OF THAT. AND I KNOW THAT TANYA ARJA AND YOUR SECRETARIES WILL SHARE THAT ON YOUR CALENDARS SHOULD YOU WANT TO COME. ALSO, NEXT, WE HAVE MEMBER COMBS. NEXT.
>>Nadia Combs: I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I REALLY HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROBABLY GO OUT TO THE HALF OF MY SCHOOLS. I HAVE BEEN TO BE LIKE 16 OR 17 SCHOOLS. AND I AM JUST TRULY AMAZED BY ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THE TEACHERS, THE SUPPORTING PERSONNEL, I MEAN, WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL TO DO IS JUST AMAZING. AND TO BE SEE THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN OUR SCHOOL AND TEACHERS BEING SO FLEXIBLE AND SUPPORTING STAFF BEING SO FLEXIBLE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT TEACHERS DEALING WESTBOUND STUDENTS WHO ARE eLearning, SIMULTANEOUS, BRICK AND MORTAR, QUARANTINE STUDENTS. WE ARE ASKING SO MUCH FROM OUR SCHOOL STAFF, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY QUESTION I GO OUT THERE AND I SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING, I AM REALLY HUMBLED BY ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING. OUR SCHOOLS PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE NO LONGER JUST SCHOOLS. WE ARE SOCIAL WORKERS, AND WE ARE NURSES, AND I MEAN I WENT TO A SCHOOL WHERE THEY HAD A COVID TEST WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE TO MITIGATE THAT SOMETHING WOULD OCCUR BUT THEY QUANTITIED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS. SO I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. AND I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE TEACHER FINALISTS, LAW ARENA ME HAHN FROM EXCEPTIONAL CENTER AND SHE HAD SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS AND THE WAY SHE WAS WORKING WITH THEM, I THINK MOST OF US WITH BROUGHT TO TEARS, AND ALSO SELENA PEREZ MIDDLETON, THE WAY SHE WAS WORKING WITH STUDENTS, IN THE GYM WAS JUST AMAZING. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR SUPPORTING STAFF FOR ALL THAT THEY ARE DOING, AND IT'S SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME IN HISTORY AND HOW THEY ARE FLEXIBLE AND WORKING AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MEET THE NEEDS, NOT JUST OF OUR CHILDREN, OF OUR COMMUNITY, TOO. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER COMBS, FOR BEING THE EYES AND EARS OF OWE ARE DISTRICT. EXCELLENT UNSIGHT. MEMBER SNIVELY, AND THEN MEMBER HAHN, YOU WILL FINISH UP AND THEN MEMBER GRAY AS CHAIR.
>>Melissa Snively: JUST A COUPLE THINGS. I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT IS COMING UP SOON. I AM ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE OF BRINGING THE BUS COMMUNITY TOGETHER REQUEST THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. AND SO ONE THING THANK WE PARTICIPATE IN EACH YEAR THAT DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS AND HILLSBOROUGH EDUCATION FOUNDATION COORDINATE IS THE CEOs IN THE SCHOOL, INSPIRED BY BRIAN BUTLER, CEO OF COMMUNICATIONS ANDED WITH WOODLAND JOHNSON WHO USED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL AT MORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY SET A DATE TOGETHER AND INSPIRED THEM TO DO THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, TO HAVE CEOs OF OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESSES, SMALL AND LARGE, COME SPEND A DAY WITH A PRINCIPAL, AND SHARE ABOUT BEST PRACTICES WITH EACH OTHER AND THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES THAT A BUSINESS OWNER MIGHT HAVE WITH A PRINCIPAL, BECAUSE BEING A PRINCIPAL IS VERY MUCH LIKE BEING A CEO. IT'S THE CEO OF YOUR SCHOOL SITE. SOME OF THE SAME BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT APPLY IN THE BUSINESS WORLD CAN ALSO APPLY SOMETIMES IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY. AND SO IF YOU VISIT THE WEBSITE IS ONE DAY OF CHANGE, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE, 1 DAY OF CHANGE DOT COM, YOU CAN GO IN AND CHOOSE A SCHOOL. THERE ARE ABOUT 45 SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MOST OF THEM, I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT TO EAST COUNTY, YOU ALL NEED TO STEP UP BECAUSE MOST OF THE SCHOOLS GOT ON THE LIST IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE. SO I NEED BRANDON, VALRICO, ROUGHER VIEW, PLANT CITY, WIMAUMA, BLOOMINGDALE, LITHIA PEOPLE TOM STEP UP, THE CEOs IN THE SCHOOL FOR THAT DAY. THE KENTUCKYOFF IS IN JANUARY. AND THE ACTUAL DAY IS FEBRUARY 19th. AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE VIRTUAL THIS YEAR. BUT QUALIFIER THE CASE IS, THOSE FOLKS IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN TEACH AND HAVE AN IMPACT AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPALS WHO REALLY GIVE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT ITSELF LIKE IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES. A LOT OF CONNECTIONS GET MADE WHERE BUSINESSES NOW SUPPORT THOSE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PRINCIPAL NEEDS SOMETHING, THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET ANDth THEY HAVE A CONNECTION WITH A BUSINESS COMMUNITY MEMBER THEY CAN GO OUT AND MAYBE GET A DONATION OR CONNECT WITH OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE NEED OF THOSE SCHOOLS. SO I JUST WANTED TO PROMOTE THAT. AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS CONGRATULATIONS TON THE EXCELLENT EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION ONERS. THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN. ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS GET TO DO IS GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS AND SURPRISING OUR FINALISTS, AND THEN JUST A THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR FOR EVERYONE, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOUR STAFF, THE TEACHERS, THE FACULTY, PARENTS, I MEAN, STUDENTS, EVERYONE TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE BEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WILL END WITH A QUOTE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. IT IS NOT HOW MUCH WE GIVE BUT HOW MUCH LOVE WE PUT INTO GIVING. MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY HANUKKAH. HAPPY KWANZAA. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER SNIVELY FOR THAT WONDERFUL EXPRESSION, HEARTFELT. MEMBER HAHN, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE?
>>Stacy Hahn: I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THINK BRIAN MURPHY FAMILY FOR THEIR GENEROSITY FOR THE LITERACY FAIRS AND MIAH AUTHORIZES CHAT BOOK CLUB, ALSO VERY GENEROUS. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO OUR OWN LARRY PLANK, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY MEET LARRY BUT I AM SURE YOU WILL. LARRY, CONGRATULATIONS IF YOU ARE OUT THERE LISTENING. HE WAS AWARDED THE K-8 PIPELINE TO CAREERS GRANT. IT IS A 2.93 MILLION GRANT THAT STRIPPED 2023. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EVER RECEIVE THIS AWARD OF THIS TYPE, AND IS ONE OF 12 AWARDEES FOR 2020, A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NEVER EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THIS GRANT GOTTEN A GRANT. BUT WE GOT IT. AND IT'S GOING TO ALLOW THIS DISTRICT TO EXPAND ITS GREAT WORK IN SCIENCE AND STEM BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM, AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME OPTIONS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO LARRY AND HIS TEAM. THIS IS A HUGE WIN AND A FEATHER IN OUR CAP AND THESE LOOK LIKE THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE COMMUNICATING TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS DISTRICT. SOMETIMES WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT THEM AT THESE MEETINGS BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CELEBRATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES. SO THANK YOU, MS. GRAY, FLOOR LAST MINUTE, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY.
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, MEMBER HAHN. AND JUST REAL QUICK. PABLO, DO YOU HAVE MY VIDEO? I NEED TO DO THIS IN THREE MINUTES OR LESS. BUT BEFORE WE START, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR SUPERINTENDENT DAVIS. HE WAS A FINALIST FOR THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS, AND WAS AWARDED THE NATIONAL GREEN GARNER AWARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS. WELL, HE WAS A FINALIST. SHE'S STILL CLAPPING. AT ANY RATE, I WANTED TO -- IT'S STILL GOOD. YOU ARE JUST BEGINNING. OKAY, PABLO, SEITZ SETS SEE IF WE CAN GET OURSELVES REENERGIZED WITH MY ENERGY VIDEO. (MUSIC PLAYS).
>> HELLO. I AM GINA MARSHALL. WELL-BEING COORDINATOR FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY AT SLIGH MIDDLE MAGNET. I WANT TO WELCOME SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN MS. LYNN GRAY AND SHE IS GOING TO BE TAKING US THROUGH A WALK TO RUN FITNESS CLINICS THIS YEAR VIRTUALLY.
>> THANK YOU, DINA. EIGHTS PLEASURE TO BE HERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL ANTHONY JONES FROM SLIGH MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AS WELL. AND DINA, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO SET THE TABLING IS, WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED AND OUR EMPLOYEES WILL APPRECIATE THIS, THERE'S ONLY THREE TENETS OF WALK TO RUN TRAINING THAT YOU ALWAYS SHOULD PRACTICE. IT'S THE DURATION. HOW MUCH TIME PER WORK OUT CAN THEY GIVE TO THAT WORKOUT? IS IT 20 MINUTES, AN HOUR? ALSO, HOW MANY TIMES PER WEEK, THE FREQUENCY, ARE THEY WILLING TO FACILITATE EXERCISE? AND LAST, DO THEY WANT TO BECOME BETTER? DO THEY WANT TO BECOME MORE FIT? SO THEN WE HAVE TO ADD RESISTANCE TRAINING. SO THOSE ARE THE THREE TENETS THAT WE WILL BE COVERING THROUGHOUT OUR WORKOUT SESSION. . ∫ ∫
>>Lynn Gray: THANK YOU, ASHLEY AND DIN A MARSHALL AND THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE VIDEO. HE'S A RUNNER AS WELL. I WANT TO ALSO WISH OUR FACULTY, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, OUR PARA-ESPs, BUS DRIVERS, A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, AND OUR TEACHERS, PLEASE, RELAX AND BE HEALTHY. ALL OF THAT, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. I KNOW I WANTED YOU OUT EARLIER. YOU APOLOGIZE, EVERYBODY. BUT I THINK WE DID THE BEST WE COULD. SO THANK YOU ALL. AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME I AM GOING TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.